DATE: Saturday, October 11, 1997            TAG: 9710110602

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG                      LENGTH:   54 lines

JMU CLASH IS ``DO-OR-DIE,'' TRIBE SAYS

From No. 2 to 1-2.

That's the plunge William and Mary has taken in the past three weeks, going from second in one Division I-AA poll to 1-2 in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

The skid has put the Tribe's playoff hopes in jeopardy. That and the emotional baggage that comes with playing archrival James Madison make today's game at Zable Stadium much more than the usual midseason affair, cornerback Ron Harrison said.

``This week is basically a do-or-die situation,'' Harrison said. ``We definitely know we can't afford another loss. Three losses won't really get you in the playoffs anymore.''

What a time, then, for the Dukes to come to town. JMU (3-2, 2-1) has beaten No. 23 William and Mary (4-2) three years in a row and five times in the last six years. No member of the Tribe has played in a victory over JMU.

Not that William and Mary hasn't had its chances. Last year, the Tribe led 14-0 before falling 26-21. A 94-yard interception return by JMU's Tony Jordan was the key play.

The year before, William and Mary blew a 17-6 lead and fell 24-21. A blocked punt started the JMU comeback.

``The past two years, they've just outplayed us, outhustled us,'' tackle Greg Whirley said.

``Bad breaks,'' Harrison said.

Bad breaks have been the story of the Tribe's season. Quarterback Mike Cook, a preseason All-American, has been out four weeks with a knee injury. Both of his backups, Steve Fill and Daron Pope, have been knocked from games with injuries.

The Tribe's first loss, at New Hampshire three weeks ago, came when tailback Alvin Porch fumbled in the end zone.

Last week, both Fill and Pope went down with injuries in a 33-12 loss to Northeastern. Fill returned and will start Saturday.

``I think everyone's disappointed, but I think they understand why,'' Laycock said. ``We're not the same team offensively, maybe all over, without Mike Cook.''

Cook, who had surgery Sept. 16, is ``chomping at the bit'' to return, Laycock said. ``I know he's going to want to come back sooner than he's ready, We're not going to let him.''

Even if Cook returns in the next week or two, the Tribe faces an uphill battle. The four opponents after JMU - Connecticut, Villanova, Delaware and Richmond - are all in the top 25. One slip-up and the Tribe could miss the playoffs.

``From most people's perspective, things might look kind of bleak,'' Harrison said. ``I think we're holding up pretty well, considering the circumstances.''

Maybe it's a good time to be playing JMU after all.

``There's not anyone on this team that has beaten JMU,'' Harrison said. ``If that's not motivation enough, I don't know what is.''

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