THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608270502
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: V23 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: College Forecast
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: 74 lines
After a year as an independent, the Hampton Pirates are joining a conference.
But is it the MEAC, or the NFC?
Hampton will play as many games in NFL stadiums as it does at home. The Pirates play four ``classics'' in NFL stadiums - three of them NFC stadiums - and four games at home. Three other games are on the road.
``This is the most aggressive schedule in school history,'' coach Joe Taylor said.
Hampton had little trouble making the jump from Division II to Division I-AA last year, going 8-3 and flirting with a spot in the I-AA playoffs.
``I thought 9-2 would have probably gotten us in,'' coach Joe Taylor said.
Winning the MEAC - the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference - will get them in this year. The conference winner gets an automatic bid. Here are the some questions Pirate fans would like answered:
How will joining the MEAC benefit the Pirates?
It allows them to play for a conference title for the first time in two years. Because they were moving to Division I-AA, the Pirates were ineligible for the CIAA title in 1994, their final year in the conference.
``(The conference title) is that carrot that's dangling in front of you, that keeps you chasing, keeps you motivated,'' Taylor said.
What is the condition of tailback Lamonte Still?
Still has recovered from a knee injury that caused him to miss eight games last year, and forced Hampton to change its offense.
``You don't replace a Lamonte Still,'' Taylor said. ``When he went down, we went to a two tight-end, one back set.''
The primary beneficiary was fullback Tyrone Mayer, the lone back. Mayer rushed for 1,193 yards.
Still rushed for 1,174 in 1994.
``Now, you put both of them in there and you have a decent running game,'' Taylor said.
More than decent.
How has receiver Michael Jenkins changed the Hampton offense?
``Because of him, we will throw the ball more than normal,'' Taylor said. ``He's earned it.''
Jenkins, a senior from Portsmouth, caught 52 passes for 836 yards a year ago. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, he's the prototypical big, strong receiver who can catch the ball over the middle, or go deep.
How much does mammoth right tackle Quincy Wynn weigh?
``We don't know,'' Taylor said. ``We can't weigh him. Our scale only goes up to 350 pounds.''
Wynn is one of several behemoths on a line that was built for one thing: to run the ball.
``We know what we want to do, and what we want when we go recruiting,'' Taylor said. ``We don't recruit small, quick guys.''
How will Hampton make up for the loss of All-American defensive end Hugh Hunter?
With quantity. Hampton will rotate T.C. Buckner, Tony Altman and Lloyd Tucker at end. All are veterans.
The anchor of the defense will be middle linebacker Darrell Flythe.
What two former I.C. Norcom stars will be re-united in the Hampton secondary?
Jay Clarke is the starting free safety, and Donald Turner is penciled in at right cornerback. Cordell Taylor, a Booker T. Washington graduate, is the starting left corner, and the team's main ``cover guy.''
Hampton has 19 players from South Hampton Roads. Eight are starters. ILLUSTRATION: B\W photo
Graphic
Hampton University
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