CFB Forum

MAC Notes, assorted other tidbits

Posted By: Ben Dover
Date: 9 Aug 03, 11:51 am

UCF: The loss of senior MLB Chad Mascoe to academics may not be as big as some think. Starters Antoine Poe, Stanford Rhule and Gerren Bray aren't that big, but each has good quickness. In addition, coaches expect help from JC transfer Craig Harvey. Tackle Marcus Clemons, a sophomore from Titusville Astronaut projected to fight redshirt freshman Larry Peoples for a starting job, has been suspended for a violation of team rules and may not return. One area of concern for Kruczek is the loss of all-MAC second team punter Ryan Flinn. “Right now our punting is a major drop off from Ryan Flinn last year,” stated Kruczek.

Kent State: Ex ECU O Coordinator moving to spread offense, one back. Offense boasts new look, new options. Under new offensive coordinator Doug Martin's direction, Kent State's offense will have a different look this season, one which features three wide receivers and should lead to more open-field opportunities. "Our biggest goals on offense are getting balance between our running and passing games and creating more big-play opportunities," said Pees. "This offense offers a lot of options and hopefully will manufacture long-yardage plays for us." At the heart of the offense is the highlight-reel tandem of junior quarterback Joshua Cribbs and senior tailback David Alston.

Ohio U - Knorr and offensive coordinator Greg Gregory both provided reasons for a two-quarterback system the team plans to showcase this season. “We’re very excited about both quarterbacks,” said Knorr. “Fred Ray and Ryan Hawk give us an opportunity offensively to continue to expand our attack. They’re both very athletic and will be very impressive throwing the ball as well.” Ray, a senior from Martins Ferry, will start the first series in the season opener and then Hawk – a junior from Centerville who transferred to Ohio prior to last season – will run the offense for the second series. From there, according to Gregory, anything can happen. “You may think it’s a quarterback controversy but we think it’s a great situation,” said Gregory. “Our two best offensive players might be our two quarterbacks. There will be times you might see both of them on the field at the same time.” On the defensive side, the Bobcats return eight starters and have improved their overall strength and quickness. “We have very good speed on defense and we’re very strong up front,” said defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter. “That’s a natural by-product of being in the second year of a system; guys aren’t thinking about their assignments anymore so they’re playing faster.” Despite a tough schedule that includes Iowa State, Minnesota and Kentucky, Ohio’s coaches believe the team can improve on its 4-8 record from a year ago. “I think this is the best defensive football team in the three years I’ve been here and I am very confident in our quarterbacks,” said Gregory. “I believe if you’re good on defense and you’re good at quarterback, you’ve got a pretty good chance at having a very good football team.”

Buffalo: At least UB is looking more like a I-A program. The offensive linemen are mammoth and the speed at tailback goes far beyond Leeper. During a conditioning test, freshman defensive back Delando Bradford and senior linebacker Chris Clifton ran 25 wind sprints with the rest of the team then looked as if they could run 25 more. "We don't have the wins or whatever, but we've got the athletes here," said Graham, one of 17 returning starters. "It's a mental thing, I think the guys are starting to see that. The problem is when something goes wrong we hang our head and say, "Here we go again.' Once we understand it, there won't be any stopping us. Coach (Jim) Hofher said for us to be good, we have to beat somebody good."

Bowling Green: Brandon, who was named to replace Urban Meyer as the team’s coach last Dec. 19, said one of the key positions to watch in training camp is the battle for spots on the offensive line. "We lost three starters, and we’re going to have to fill that void," Brandon said. "But it’s different than it has been the last couple years in that we have guys; we have some depth at that position. We’ll just have to bring them along during the early portion of the schedule."

Western Michigan: The highlight of the Virginia game, orchestrated by Darnell for WMU's Centennial because he is a friend of Virginia head coach Al Groh, will be StevieY’s induction into the Western Michigan Athletic Hall of Shame ;) a pair of likely defensive starters were absent on Wednesday and may not be back. Sophomore linebacker Josh Behrens missed spring drills with an injury and is now out indefinitely, further depleting an already thin linebacking corps. "(Behrens) is a medical situation right now and that's about all we can say about it," Darnell said. "I would say that it's unlikely we'll see him, so we have to move on." The Broncos were also without starting cornerback Tony Carr, whose status is up in the air with academic problems. The two keys to success this year will be found at quarterback and within the offensive line. A year ago, WMU relied on two quarterbacks with starter Jon Drach and understudy Chad Munson, who took over midway through the season after Drach was injured. Neither quarterback was able to get much going, with Munson throwing for 2,160 yards and 14 touchdowns, but also 17 interceptions. A few days into preseason camp, Darnell calls the quarterback race wide open. "Jon has well earned an opportunity to have time in there," Darnell said. "Jon had a tremendous spring and a tremendous summer. There's no reason for us to favor one or the other right now. "The (eventual starter) does not have to be the most talented. The guy has to be the most consistent, the most reliable, the most responsible. That's why you have to go with one." The lone returning starter to the offensive line, which allowed a MAC-high 35 quarterback sacks in '02, junior guard Kyle Ras of Jenison. Senior center Charles Missant and tackle Chad Wangerin, a senior from Caledonia and a converted defensive lineman a year ago at this time, also return. "Everyone says we're young and inexperienced, but we have a lot to prove and we have the talent to do it," Wangerin said. "We all need to come together and get the job done, just like this entire team needs to get the job done after two terrible seasons."

Central Michigan: The fourth year coach is happy with the way the team has performed early on. As much as the on-field play has pleased DeBord, it has been the mental preparation that has impressed him the most. "This team has better focus than any of the other teams I have seen in my four years here," DeBord proclaimed. "They are not just focused on the field but in the meetings and training as well."

Eastern Michigan: More depth. The last thing Jeff Woodruff said at Tuesday's Mid-American Conference Football Media Day carried the most weight. Pointing to a piece of paper listing the MAC preseason football poll, which had Eastern Michigan University picked last in the West Division for the third consecutive year, he said, "I guarantee you we won't finish where that thing says we will." In his opening statement, Woodruff immediately addressed the media with the facts: 18 starters return, 31 players who have started at EMU, no freshmen will be pressed into action and, for the first time, his team has depth. In short, Woodruff has never been so excited to start a season at Eastern Michigan. "No question," Woodruff said. "I just know we'll be a lot more competitive; we'll be in a lot more games. "Every year prior to this, I've been sitting here at this meeting excited about the season, but also in the back of my mind, knowing and thinking about, 'OK this freshman's going to have to come in and start here, this freshman has to come here.' But right now we're not considering any freshmen for a starter's job." Lusky, a co-captain, is sure the defense will improve. Last year's unit, which started 10 freshmen and sophomores in different games, set NCAA Division I records for most points and yards allowed. This season, Lusky pointed out, will feature a big junior class and players who are finally ready to be deemed legitimate starters. "I think, just with what coach is saying, players who shouldn't have been playing a couple years ago, I think are finally ready to play," Lusky said. "Last year we were so young on defense, so that's why I feel this is the year we can turn it around. I think we will." The status of junior offensive tackle Dan Davis' injury remains unclear. He suffered trauma to the head and neck in a game last year, and doctors are still examining test results. He started 11 games last year.

West Virginia: WVU may have lost a left offensive tackle, but Josh Stewart likely gained significant playing time for this season. Junior-college transfer Michael Watson, who played with the No. 1 offense much of spring practice, left the team this week. He is the second personnel line casualty of the week. Moorefield's Justin Williams, a backup center, did not report with the rest of the team Sunday.
Suddenly, Stewart, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound sophomore from University High, is locked into the second-team left tackle spot behind junior Jeff Berk, who had shifted from guard to move ahead of Watson.
"Josh Stewart is coming along well enough where we can play Josh," said Rick Trickett, the Mountaineers' offensive line coach. Should injuries plague the position, Trickett said senior starting center Ben Timmons, who previously played tackle, could fill in there with redshirt freshman Jeremy Hines taking over at center.
"We beat Temple and Boston College (in 2002) with Timmons at tackle," Trickett said.

Tulane: Unfortunately for Scelfo that talk included the announcement that highly touted freshman defensive tackle Elijah Robinson of Camden. N.J., is academically ineligible and won't play this season.
The defensive line is one of the last areas of the team that could afford any more attrition as four seniors exhausted their eligibility last season, and four other linemen have since been lost -- Chris Williams and Jay Ashton to academics and Brandon Rottmayer and Lonnie Crayton to medical redshirts.
"You don't plan for that in recruiting," Scelfo said. "So we've got to overcome that with the freshmen we're bringing in and hopefully they'll provide us some depth there."
The loss of Robinson leaves four true freshmen that could play on the defensive line -- Tremell Jack of Jeanerette, Alvin Johnson of Harvey, Billy Harrison of Pensacola, Fla., and Justin Wade of Ellenwood, Ga.
"The next three weeks are going to be critical for us," said sophomore defensive tackle Bamm Mateen. "We've got to get the returnees ready and we've got to find out who among the freshmen is going to step in and help. We're going to need some help from them."
The only three returning starters on defense are linebackers. That group should be bolstered by the return of sophomore Brandon Spincer, who played in every game as a freshman two years ago but was academically ineligible last season.
The offense should be aided by the return of junior wide receiver Roydell Williams, the Green Wave's best receiving threat who suffered a season-ending broken ankle in the fourth game of last season.
Williams said he's about 95 percent healthy and Scelfo said he'll take it easy on him until he feels 100 percent. Scelfo expects him to be full speed by the opener, which should help a group that struggled after he was injured.
"We can't afford the dropped balls or busted routes we had last year," Scelfo said. "We're not going to tolerate that this year, no matter what your classification is."
Senior quarterback J.P Losman, who said he added about 12 pounds of muscle since the end of last season, and Williams have worked out regularly during the summer.
"It's great to get him back," Losman said. "He makes those other receivers 10 times better because they can look at him and see how it's done."
Backup quarterback Billy Don Malone won't play this season because of a heart condition, Scelfo said. That leaves Nick Cannon, a redshirt freshman from Hahnville, and true freshman Richard Irvin of Santa Monica, Calif., who graduated early and enrolled at Tulane in January, as the backups.
Wide receiver Cletus McGee, who played in 10 games and caught 16 passes for 117 yards and touchdown last season, left school to transfer to a I-AA program, Scelfo said.
Scelfo said his biggest concern going into camp is how well a true freshman place-kicker -- Barrett Pepper -- and a redshirt freshman punter who was hurt in spring practice -- Chris Beckman -- will replace four-year starter Seth Marler, who handled both duties as a senior.

Georgia: Georgia safety Kentrell Curry, a preseason All-SEC choice, has a stress fracture in his right leg, and coaches are unsure whether he'll be ready for the Aug. 30 opener at Clemson.
Curry, a senior from Toccoa, said the leg has been bothering him all summer, and X-rays on Friday confirmed the fracture. Curry said doctors told him he'd be sidelined "six weeks at most."
He left the locker room Friday wearing an air cast that covered his foot and stopped below his knee.
"We know it's been bothering him for a while," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "What we don't know is if there's already been some healing started. These are hard to detect. He might be a couple of weeks into the healing." If Curry is out for the opener, it would be a big blow to the Bulldogs' secondary, which already will be without cornerbacks Tim Jennings, DeMario Minter and B.J. Fields, who are suspended for that game. Sophomore Greg Blue, who played in all 14 games and had 42 tackles last season, is the No. 2 safety.

Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech moved Damarius Bilbo from No. 1 quarterback to tailback on Friday, opening the door for Reggie Ball to become the first freshman to start at quarterback for the Yellow Jackets in more than two decades. "It just didn't work out for Damarius at quarterback for us," Tech coach Chan Gailey said after Bilbo went from taking two-thirds of the snaps at quarterback on Thursday to running zero plays at tailback during Friday's seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills. "We felt if we were going to do right by our football team and do right by Damarius, now was the time to make the decision," Gailey added.

Messages In This Thread

MAC Notes, assorted other tidbits -- Ben Dover -- 9 Aug 03, 11:51 am

Nice job, Ben. 1) Isn't Hawk the guy who -- Bob Milo -- 9 Aug 03, 12:04 pm

Same Hawk, thx for the stiff ID, will file it way (nt) -- Ben Dover -- 9 Aug 03, 12:06 pm

Note on WMU's "QB race" -- StevieY -- 11 Aug 03, 7:59 am

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