THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996 TAG: 9608170515
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 76 lines
Don't expect to see many familiar faces on the Hampton Roads Sharks football team this season - only 18 members of last year's squad have returned.
This year's lineup is considerably younger and has significantly less minor league football experience.
Less than half the players on the 60-man roster have collegiate experience and only a handful played at the Division I level.
Toss in the fact that first-year head coach Billy O'Brien resigned after last Saturday's exhibition game and you've got the potential for a rough season.
But the Sharks, who open their Mason-Dixon Football League season at 7:30 tonight at Kempsville High against the Washington Panthers, don't see it that way.
Despite the inexperience, the Sharks feel they have a shot at matching last year's 8-2 record and winning a third straight Southern Division title.
``I don't know if we're going to have the same kind of talent we did last year, but we have a lot more commitment than we did,'' said Sharks owner Dr. T.J. Morgan, who has pressed himself into service as head coach in the wake of O'Brien's resignation.
Morgan will be assisted by Jim Grigsby (defensive coordinator), Jody Gonzalez (defensive backs) and John Brown (backs and receivers). Morgan will run the offense.
The four coaches are three less than a year ago. That's intentional. Morgan felt the 1995 team's continuity was hampered by the presence of too many people giving directions.
``And the team will either take a knee behind the coaches box or be sitting on the benches this year,'' Morgan said. ``There was too much confusion last year.''
A welcome addition to the lineup will be 12 members of the Peninsula Poseidons - a rival Mason-Dixon team Hampton Roads management purchased during the offseason.
The Sharks lineup will again carry a distinct military flair, with 18 players on active duty in the Armed Forces. The Sharks also have a considerable local feel. Thirty-three of them played on Eastern Region high school teams.
The Sharks will run a power-I offense that Morgan decided to implement after O'Brien's resignation.
``It's right out of the Ralph Gahagan play book,'' said Morgan, referring to the offense run by his high school coach when Kempsville advanced to the 1983 Group AAA state championship with Morgan as the featured running back.
``Everybody seems to like it, but it will take us a few weeks to get it going.''
Tony Ringgold, who saw time at Norfolk State, will start at quarterback. Tailback Dean Devlin and fullback Charles Conner will be the primary ballcarriers.
The offensive line is big, featuring the likes of James Remsey - a member of the Air Force who has made quite an impression on Morgan. Both lines feature good size - with most players weighing in at 260 pounds or more.
Until the offense comes together, defense will have to carry the Sharks.
Defensive mainstays include Darryl Nimmo and Darryl Jackson, a pair of minor league veterans who have been with the team for more than 10 years. A newcomer expected to solidify the defense will be former First Colonial High standout Odell Joyner. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Sharks owner Dr. T.J. Morgan took over head coaching duties after
Billy O'Brien resigned.
Graphic
Hampton Roads Sharks Glance
Schedule
Roster
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Graphic
Gamewatch
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