DATE: Saturday, August 30, 1997             TAG: 9708300586

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   46 lines

W&M AND HAMPTON HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS

William and Mary coach Jimmye Laycock looks at Hampton University's defense and sees a transfer from Virginia Tech at linebacker, and a transfer from Florida at defensive tackle.

``That kind of worries you when they start throwing those kinds of guys at you,'' Laycock said.

Hampton coach Joe Taylor looks at the Tribe's defense and sees cause for concern everywhere.

``You see why they had a No. 2 ranking,'' Taylor said. ``That's no fluke.''

The Tribe again has a No. 2 national ranking, this time in some pre-season magazines. Hampton has completed just two seasons at the Division I-AA level. The teams meet for the first time today at 1 p.m. at William and Mary's Zable Stadium. It's a game Taylor says is ``long overdue.''

``The close proximity makes it a natural,'' he said. ``It's a game that this community deserves to have.''

It will have it this year and next. Beyond that, no one can say. Much depends on the crowd turnout. Neither school is known for drawing big home crowds.

And despite the proximity, the teams are not very familiar with one another.

``We're playing a team we know very little about,'' Laycock said. ``I don't know what they do in certain situations. We're going to have to go in as broad-based, as prepared as possible, and make adjustments.''

Taylor knows the Tribe by reputation, and even attended a coaching clinic at William and Mary.

``They don't make a lot of errors. They're going to sit in that even front on defense.

``He's been known for putting together some offensive schemes. I don't care where you are, you don't win big until you start playing good defense.''

Six starters are back from the nation's second-ranked defense. Quarterback Mike Cook and tailback Alvin Porch lead a typically-explosive Tribe offense.

Hampton's defense was bolstered by the transfer of linebacker Tony Morrison from Virginia Tech and tackle Keith Council from Florida. The offense should again revolve around fullback Tyrone Mayer, who needs 805 yards to become Hampton's career rushing leader.

Peninsula bragging rights are on the line.

``They're definitely going to be out to get us,'' Tribe linebacker Jude Waddy said. ``We look at it as having something to defend.''

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