THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 30, 1995 TAG: 9509300411
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Long : 163 lines
You know Jimmye Laycock has been around a while not just because he won his 100th game last week, but because he has finally coached at William and Mary long enough to make the following statement, one many longtime Tribe fans probably thought they'd never hear.
``Obviously,'' Laycock said at his weekly press conference. ``The defense this year looks to be the strength of our team.''
Come again? The defense doing the heavy lifting at William and Mary? Grabbing a little glory, even? That's like John Daly becoming known for his putting, Shaquille O'Neal for his 3-point shooting, Carl Lewis for his singing.
It's out of character, to say the least. But you need not be a statistician to see that it's true.
In the past two weeks, William and Mary's defense has not been violated once. It's the first time since 1948 that William and Mary has posted consecutive shutouts. Toss out the Virginia game and the Tribe's defense has given up just one touchdown all season, and just 16 total points.
``I'm sure there's room for improvement,'' Laycock said. ``But when you have back-to-back shutouts, it's hard to convince the players of that.''
Improvement, in this case, has been gradual, coming over a number of years. Laycock, now in his 16th year, earned a national reputation for his sophisticated passing offense. The Tribe has also had some fine running backs - like current Chicago Bear Robert Green. Scoring points has rarely been a problem.
Stopping the other guys, however, has been a different story. William and Mary has struggled defensively much of Laycock's career. Things came to a head in 1991, when the Tribe's normally-potent offense averaged 31 points per game, but the defense gave up 29. The result was a 5-6 finish.
Defensive end Melvin Griffin, a fifth-year senior, was a freshman in 1991 and remembers the low point of the season - consecutive losses to Lehigh and Villanova in which the Tribe gave up more than 1,000 yards of total offense combined.
``That's when we knew things had to change,'' Griffin said. ``We felt like the offense was blaming us'' for the losses.
For Laycock and his staff, the first - and biggest - step was increasing the talent level. They'd already gotten a start with the class that included Griffin and four other players who are starting this year as fifth-year seniors.
Griffin has seen more talent added each year, and says this year's defensive success is a result of those additions.
``We do have better athletes,'' Griffin said. ``We have more speed and quickness.''
The best examples of the Tribe's new athleticism are linebackers Stefon Moody and Jude Waddy and safety Darren Sharper. Moody leads the team in tackles, Waddy is fourth and Sharper fifth. Moody and Sharper are juniors, Waddy a sophomore. Two other sophomores, Luke Cullinane and Peter Coyne, start on the defensive line.
But fifth-year seniors like Griffin, middle linebacker Jason Miller and defensive tackle Jim Simpkins have been huge factors as well. Miller is the second-leading tackler. Simpkins has three sacks and last week returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown.
``All the areas are solid, and we've got some depth, too,'' Laycock said. ``We've got good players. You can talk about schemes all you want but you've got to have the players.''
Still, the Tribe has made some changes in its defensive approach, Griffin said.
``In the past we were more read and react,'' he said. ``This year we're playing more aggressively on the defensive line, and the linebackers have freedom to make plays.''
It's not as if they weren't making some plays before. Last year, the Tribe's defense was ranked second in the Yankee Conference. The year before, the defense was rated first in the conference.
But with the offense not quite as high-powered as usual, and with the defense posting consecutive shutouts for the first time in 47 years, this year's defense is getting more attention than any in Laycock's tenure.
That's fine with the players.
``We've got some very hard workers, and that just lends itself to a positive attitude and a certain level of conditioning,'' Cullinane said. ``We just refuse to be beaten.'' ILLUSTRATION: Chart
AREA AT A GLANCE
WILLIAM AND MARY vs. VMI
Where: Alumni Memorial Field (10,000) in Lexington
When: 1:30 p.m.
Records: The Tribe is 2-2 and ranked 18th nationally; VMI is
2-2.
Radio: WXGM, 99.1 FM
Key to the game: VMI has scored only three times in the last 10
quarters against the Tribe, and this William and Mary defense could
be its best ever. The Tribe is coming off shutout wins over
Northeastern and New Hampshire, and has won nine straight over VMI.
WEST VIRGINIA vs. ECU
Where: Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (35,000) in Greenville, N.C.
When: Noon
Records: Mountaineers are 2-2, Pirates are 2-2.
Radio: WVAB, 1450-AM
Key to the game: East Carolina's big-play offense must get back
on track after a shutout loss to Illinois last week. The Pirates
have yet to beat West Virginia in eight tries, but with Marcus
Crandell at quarterback, this could be the year.
JAMES MADISON vs. MAINE
Where: Alumni Field (10,000) in Orono, Maine.
When: 1 p.m.
Records: JMU is 3-1 and ranked 7th nationally; Maine is 1-2.
Key to the game: Injuries forced JMU to go with a patchwork
lineup in a 28-27 overtime win over Villanova last week. Tailback
Kelvin Jeter is expected back, but three of the top six defensive
lineman remain out. Still, the Dukes should have enough to get by
the Black Bears, whose only win is over Division II Lock Haven.
HAMPTON vs. BETHUNE-COOKMAN
Where: Municipal Stadium (10,000) in Jacksonville, Fla.
When: 8 p.m.
Records: Hampton is 2-2; Bethune-Cookman is 2-1.
Radio: WHOV, 88.1-FM
Key to the game: Hampton must defend the pass better than it did
in losses to Howard and Southern. Bethune-Cookman has the top-rated
passing game in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Wildcats
are also second-ranked in total defense, and Hampton will be without
leading rusher Lamonte Still, out for the year with a knee injury.
RICHMOND vs. BOSTON U.
Where: UR Stadium (22,611) in Richmond
When: 1 p.m.
Records: Boston U. is 2-1 and ranked 21st nationally; Richmond is
3-0 and ranked 16th.
Key to the game: Boston U. will try to spread the field to take
advantage of its speed and its dangerous quarterback, Kevin Foley,
who has thrown for 961 yards in three games. Richmond will seek to
run on a Terrier defense that is rated 11th in the 12-team Yankee
Conference. Slight edge to the Terriers, who have taken four of the
last six from Richmond.
NSU vs. DELAWARE STATE
Where: Alumni Stadium (5,000) Dover, Del.
When: 1 p.m.
Records: NSU is 3-1; Delaware State is 0-3.
Radio: WNSB 91.1-FM
Key to the game: After averaging 52 points in its last two games,
can anyone slow down Norfolk State's offense? Delaware State doesn't
appear ready to stop the Spartans, particularly after giving up 41
points in each of its last two games to Western Illinois and
Liberty. NSU's Aaron Sparrow has thrown for 889 yards the last two
weeks.
ECSU vs. N.C. CENTRAL
Where: Roebuck Stadium (6,200) Elizabeth City, N.C.
When: 1:30 p.m.
Records: Elizabeth City State is 3-1, 3-1 in CIAA; N.C. Central
is 2-2, 1-1.
Key to the game: Can ECSU run against the CIAA's top defense?
N.C. Central is allowing just 231 total yards per game. ECSU has
averaged 251 yards in rushing alone. The Vikings, however, must
rebound from the sting of a 62-50 loss to Norfolk State last
weekend.
by CNB