THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608250370
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: V24 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: College Forecast
SOURCE: BY MIKE NORBUT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 99 lines
It's only his second year at Richmond, but the pressure has already begun to mount for coach Jim Reid.
In what was supposed to be a rebuilding season for the Spiders in 1995, Reid surprised nearly everyone with a 7-3-1 record. Richmond climbed to 20th in the Division I-AA polls and narrowly missed the NCAA playoffs, while Reid earned Yankee Conference Co-Coach of the Year honors.
Naturally, with 15 returning starters and a year to get used to a new coach, Richmond is expected to be even stronger this year.
``People have high expectations for us,'' Reid said. ``In reality, we might not have the talent or depth to meet them. But, I'd much rather be 7-3-1 and have to build on that than be 1-10 and have no expectations for this year.''
Reid is quick to point out that in five of the Spiders' seven wins, the opponent outgained them in every category except the score. That means this season still should fall under the ``rebuilding'' header.
``If anything has changed for us,'' Reid said, ``it's that we're now on other people's payback lists.''
Even with the loss of leading tackler Bryan Liebrand, the Spiders are solid defensively behind tackle and team captain Art Blanchard (89 tackles, 5 sacks in '95), linebacker Shawn Barber (73 tackles, 7 sacks) and cornerback Winston October (79 tackles, 3 interceptions).
The pressure will rest on the offense, which fell into the one-dimensional trap of running the ball with Minoso Rodgers last year. While Rodgers, a Suffolk native and Lakeland High School graduate, piled up 911 yards rushing, a more-balanced attack will be a priority.
Quarterback Joe Elrod will be protected by only two returning starters, left guard Lee Owens and left tackle Joe Douglas. His targets, Denver Haught and Brian Holtorf, are also inexperienced, leaving Reid concerned with the passing game.
``We have some young men who can pass block,'' Reid said. ``And I have great faith in Joe Elrod. Sure, we're going to have more pressure on us, but it's more fun that way.''
A quick look at other state and area schools:
JAMES MADISON: The Dukes and Alex Wood may find their road to a third straight Division I-AA playoff appearance obstructed by a few gaping holes in the starting lineup.
``We're definitely rebuilding,'' Wood said. ``We have some very good players returning, but there are a lot of questions between those guys.''
The most glaring loss is that of quarterback Mike Cawley, a sixth-round draft choice of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. His replacement, Georgia Tech transfer Willie Gonzalez, has thrown only seven passes in a JMU uniform.
Wood's biggest offensive threat may be kicker John Coursey, a first-team All-American last year. Defensively, the Dukes are strong in the secondary behind safeties David Lee and John Stein.
LIBERTY: Coach Sam Rutigliano has his Flames driving for their first Division I-AA playoff berth. With 16 returning starters and a preseason ranking of 14th, they're off to a good start.
Rutigliano's biggest question lies in a quarterback derby between junior Ben Anderson and red-shirt freshman Glenwood Ferebee, a former star at Green Run High in Virginia Beach. While Anderson represents the conservative style typical of Rutigliano quarterbacks, Ferebee's talent, especially in running the option, has the coach giving him more consideration.
``I realize running the option at Liberty is like changing religions,'' Rutigliano said, ``but wait until you see what kind of excitement this kid brings.''
Liberty graduated its two top tacklers from last season, which means senior linebacker Damon Bomar and junior defensive back Kenyatta Murray will have to step up.
NAVY: Only a one-point loss to Army kept the Midshipmen from having their first winning season since 1982. Confidence is soaring with this experienced group, which returns 16 starters.
``We are not starting from scratch in our offensive or defensive schemes,'' second-year coach Charlie Weatherbie said. ``We don't have to think so much.''
The explosive spread offense will face some challenging defenses, as it does every year. A rigorous Division I schedule doesn't always help the Mids' chances of getting to a bowl, but a win over Army would make up for it.
VMI: The Keydets gradually have progressed under third-year coach Bill Stewart. They'll look for this season to be their breakthrough year in the Southern Conference.
Any team with senior Thomas Haskins, a first-team Division I-AA All-American last year with 1,548 yards rushing, can be a force offensively. But VMI's defense could be its strong point. Nine starters return to a unit that improved drastically over the course of last season. In the first eight games, the Keydets gave up an average of 450 yards per game. In the last three? Just 302. ILLUSTRATION: B\W photo by Richmond University Sports Information.
[side bars]
James Madison
Liberty
Navy
Richmond
VMI
[info about each school's football team, coach and program]
[For complete copy, see microfilm]
KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION PREVIEW by CNB