THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508270147
SECTION: FOOTBALL '95 PAGE: Z21 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COLLEGE FORECAST
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
As the new coaches on the state I-AA scene, Richmond's Jim Reid and James Madison's Alex Wood have something in common: an unblemished record.
But that's where the similarities end.
While Wood is just trying to maintain what former coach Rip Scherer started, Reid, taking over for Jim Marshall, is trying desperately to get something started.
With 35 of the top 44 players back from last year's 10-3 team, the Dukes will be expected to reach the I-AA playoffs again, or Wood is sure to be criticized.
That's fine with him.
``I'd rather walk into a situation where you know you can win rather than one where you know you don't have a chance,'' he said.
Reid, meanwhile, takes over a team that has gone 19-47 the last six years, including 3-8 last year.
``What we need to do is strip this program down to the barest and build it back up,'' Reid said.
JMU, ranked as high as 10th in some preseason polls, should contend with William and Mary for the right to be called the state's top I-AA team. Liberty, coming off a 5-6 season, also should be strong, and has an outside chance of making the playoffs.
Richmond and VMI will be rebuilding.
A quick look at state and area schools:
JAMES MADISON: The Dukes return nine players who were All-Yankee Conference last year, led by quarterback Mike Cawley, tight end Ed Perry and tailback Kelvin Jeter.
``If we can get the new coaching staff and the players on the same page, we could take off,'' junior wide receiver Jay Jones said.
Cawley passed for 2,035 yards last year and ran for 589 more. He accounted for 23 touchdowns, throwing for 11 and running for 12.
``He has a quick release, he's mobile, (and) his ability to escape is second to none,'' Wood said.
The defense, toughest to score on in the conference last year (15.4 ppg), has six starters back, led by All-Yankee linemen Marcus Cuttino and Julius Williams.
The Dukes have a difficult schedule, with three playoff teams as well as William and Mary and Delaware on tap.
LIBERTY: The Flames should have a potent offense, with quarterback Antwan Chiles and running backs J.T. Morris and Lawrence Worthington returning.
Chiles threw for 2,823 yards last year. Worthington, filling in for the injured Morris, had an incredible freshman year, running for 1,224 yards and catching 48 passes.
The defense was small last year, but with nine starters back, it should be improved. The Flames have a new defensive coordinator, and will switch from a 4-3 to a 4-4 in an attempt to stop the run.
Last year, Liberty was hurt by preseason cockiness. Some Flames seemed to be taking a playoff appearance for granted, and there was even talk of a national championship.
``We're taking it one game at a time,'' said senior linebacker David Long. ``Last year, we kind of skipped over some games.''
RICHMOND: Reid is considered a master motivator whose teams at UMass were noted for their intensity.
It'll take more than that for the Spiders to turn things around. Only seven starters are back, and a handful of other players quit during spring drills rather than work as hard as Reid demanded.
``Our best friends were the gas station attendants around here, because (players) were running up and down I-95 as fast as they could,'' Reid said.
Alas, teams could run up and down the field on the Spiders this year, unless Reid can turn things around quickly.
VMI: The young Keydets took their lumps last year, as first-year coach Bill Stewart relied heavily on freshmen and sophomores.
Those players are a year older, and that should make VMI a little better.
``Last year, we spent spring practice trying to find personnel - get 'em tough, see who would fight and compete,'' Stewart said. ``This year, we know about our personnel.''
Everyone in the Southern Conference knows tailback Thomas Haskins, who rushed for 1,216 yards last year. Stewart would like to develop another back to complement him.
The defense will again be small. The conference schedule is brutal. But look for VMI to do better than last year's 1-10 record.
NAVY: The Midshipmen have 15 starters back from a 3-8 team, and will have a revamped offense under new coach Charlie Weatherbie.
``I see it as a challenge,'' Weatherbie said of his new job. ``The key to winning at a service academy is attitude. You want to approach every day with a positive attitude, an upbeat tempo and enthusiasm.''
Having talent also helps, and this is where Navy has come up short for 12 straight seasons. The Middies have not had a winning year since 1982 and probably won't break that string this year. MEMO: Special Section
KEYWORDS: SUPPLEMENT SPECIAL SECTION VIRGINIA COLLEGE
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