THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511181750
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
Each year during Oyster Bowl week, it seems that VMI comes limping into town at the tail end of another long season. The Keydets have played in the last five Oyster Bowls, and their combined record in those seasons was 13-42.
This year, however, the Keydets arrive with a little more spring in their step. VMI enters today's contest against Georgia Southern at Foreman Field with a 4-6 record. A win in today's season finale would give VMI its best record since 1982.
``VMI stood in the rain for a long time,'' coach Bill Stewart said. ``We've been kicked in the teeth pretty good, and had the scores run up on us a bunch.''
The Keydets have been in nearly every game they've played this year, no small feat in the nation's toughest Division I-AA conference, the Southern.
Stuart, a second-year coach, started from scratch last year, employing a lineup made up almost exclusively of freshmen and sophomores. The Keydets went 1-10 but upset nationally ranked Appalachian State in the season finale.
``That really did set the tone for the winter as well as the summer months of training,'' tailback Thomas Haskins said. ``There's a lot of mature guys on the team now, we're growing up.''
The Keydets will need to step up to have a chance against Georgia Southern, ranked 17th in the nation. VMI, thinned by injuries, has two players starting both ways.
``We're going to try to hold it together one more time,'' Stewart said.
In other area games, Hampton (7-3) will try to put a bow on its first I-AA season with a win at home over Morgan State. The win would be the 100th career victory for coach Joe Taylor. Hampton receiver Michael Jenkins, a Portsmouth native, also needs one catch to set a single-season record for receptions. by CNB