Central Michigan University Athletics
Football Launches Spring Drills
3/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 22, 2000
MOUNT PLEASANT - There's no such thing as a starter when Central Michigan University launches spring football drills on Saturday.
More than 70 Chippewas will be on hand when new head coach Mike DeBord blows his whistle at 10 a.m., and every one of them will have an equal chance to earn a starting role.
"We're entering spring ball without a depth chart," DeBord said. "Every player will have the opportunity to play and prove themselves.
"We'll create a depth chart after awhile but it'll be wide open to start."
DeBord, an assistant coach at the University of Michigan for the past eight years and the offensive coordinator for the past three, was named CMU's 23rd head coach on Friday, Dec. 3.
While all the starting jobs are open, Central Michigan does return 16 starters from last year's club that went 4-7 and finished 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
Foremost among them offensively are senior quarterback Pete Shepherd (Mount Pleasant) who passed for 2,295 yards on 171-of-320 passes and sophomore split end Jammarl O'Neal (Riviera Beach, Fla.) who earned third team Freshman All-American honors after catching 59 passes for 1,085 yards.
Also back on offense are 6-7, 300-pound junior tackle Matt Brayton (Traverse City), 6-4, 270-pound senior guard James Alexander (Detroit/King), 6-5, 290-pound junior guard Nick Ferguson (Harrison), 6-3, 290-pound sophomore guard Kyle Croskey (East Lansing), 6-5, 280-pound junior center Anders Hill (Hancock) and flanker David Hannah (Clinton Township/Clintondale).
The Chippewas return seven starters on defense, headed by three-year regular Brian Leigeb (Midland/Dow/Sr.) at free safety. Others returning are linebackers Darvin Lewis (Farmington Hills/Renaissance/So.), Abdullah Muhammad (East Lansing/Jr.) and Ralph Sewell (Detroit/Denby/Jr.), roverback Rodrico Epps (Oak Park/St. Mary's/Jr.) and cornerbacks Scott Naz (Port Huron/Walled Lake/Sr.) and Tedaro France (New Haven/Jr.).
Special team starters back are senior long snapper Zach Poff (Mount Pleasant) and junior place-kicker Paul Savich (St. Clair Shores/Lakeview).
"Our main goal this spring is to help every player improve and teach them how to win," DeBord said. "We'll also develop our philosophy of football and our system on offense, defense and special teams."
Thanks to productive winter drills, DeBord likes what he's seen thus far.
"We wanted to lay a foundation for this football team in the winter by improving strength and conditioning," DeBord said. "We wanted to establish a work ethic where the players understand that only your best is good enough.
"We also wanted to create a concept where the team is most important in winning ... not individuals. I'm pleased with what I've seen so far. We have some hungry football players and I like that."
The Chippewas have no-pad drills slated for Saturday and Monday with pads added for drills next Wednesday and Friday. The first scrimmage is set for Saturday, April 1, at 10 a.m. The final practice is set for Wednesday, April 19.
