THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508280114
SECTION: FOOTBALL '95 PAGE: Z19 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COLLEGE FORECAST
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Last year, they were Division II football players. Then someone at the NCAA stamped a few papers and they became I-AA football players.
So forgive the Hampton Pirates, as they move up this year, if they don't feel like much has changed.
``Football is football,'' defensive end Hugh Hunter said.
For the Pirates, the move to Division I-AA feels less like a dramatic leap than a short step, a natural progression for a program that seems to get better each year.
``We feel good about it,'' coach Joe Taylor said. ``Two or three years ago I would have been concerned. Now there are guys who know what it takes to win.''
Under Taylor, now in his fourth year, Hampton has done little but win. The Pirates have gone 31-4-1 since he arrived from Virginia Union, including 22-0-1 in the CIAA, a conference they mercifully leave behind this year.
Last year, the Pirates finished 10-1 and might have won the Division II national championship, had they been eligible. They settled for the Sheridan Black College title.
Hampton has looked like a Division I-AA team for at least two years. Now, it's official.
``For the last three years we've had the talent to compete in Division I,'' defensive back Kevin Williams said. ``Now we get the chance.''
The Pirates have gone 2-1 against I-AA competition the last two years. They'll face seven I-AA opponents this year, five on the road. In fact, Hampton won't be at home until Oct. 7, against Delaware State.
``That's one difficulty of moving up,'' Taylor said. ``People are willing to play you, but they know you need a game so you have to come to them.''
Another difficulty of moving up is that Hampton won't be eligible to compete for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title this year. Although the Pirates will be conference members, they won't play enough conference games to qualify.
It's a pity, because the Pirates might have won the MEAC, loaded as they are.
Fifteen starters return, and even those players who were reserves last year have plenty of experience. When you beat foes by an average of 34 points, as Hampton did last year, the second-teamers play early and often.
``Our second team is just as good as our first,'' tailback Lamonte Still said.
A scary thought, when you look at the first unit.
Start in the offensive backfield, where Still, a former star at Cox High School in Virginia Beach, ran for 1,174 yards on just 165 carries last year. He also caught a team-high 38 passes. Still could be the best running back in the state at any level.
At fullback is senior Anthony Smith, who has rushed for 1,795 yards the past two years. In an indication of Hampton's depth, Smith was being pushed for his starting job during preseason by sophomore Tyrone Mayer.
The big loss on offense is quarterback Matt Montgomery, a four-year starter who is the school's all-time leading passer. He'll be replaced by redshirt freshman Matt Williams, who can be brought along slowly given the talent surrounding him.
Up front is a big offensive line anchored by tackles Roderick Briggs (6-5, 285) and Quincey Wynn (6-6, 330). The wide receiving corps returns intact.
The defense, best in the nation against the run last year, loses four starters, including All-American linebacker John Meredith and 300-pound tackle Corey Swinson. But the line should be quicker overall.
``We should be able to do a little more because we have more speed,'' Hunter said.
Few defensive ends in the nation have more speed than Hunter, a 260-pound senior who set a school record with 19 sacks last year.
``Everybody's saying we may go down or whatever,'' with the move to I-AA, Hunter said. ``I'm not a believer in that.'' MEMO: Special Section ILLUSTRATION: Photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/Staff
Former Cox star Lamonte Still ran for 1,174 yards and caught a
team-leading 38 passes for Hampton in 1994.
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