Central Michigan University Athletics
Football Preseason Outlook
8/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 11, 2000
MOUNT PLEASANT - From the second Mike DeBord was introduced as Central Michigan University's new football coach early in December, the Chippewas have been focused on one overriding theme: "Win Today."
When you hear and see DeBord in action, you know it's not just a motto ... he communicates it to everyone around. He believes it.
"We will enter every season with the goal of winning the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship," said DeBord, who came to CMU from the University of Michigan where winning was a given.
More specific to the 2000 football season, DeBord said: "I like this football team's attitude and spirit. It's a group that has done a great job of taking to new leadership. The coaching staff is looking forward to working with this team in the fall."
DeBord is realistic, however, when he looks at the 2000 football schedule.
"The first half will be awfully difficult," he said, pointing to road games at Purdue, Wyoming and Toledo and home encounters with Akron and Boise State. "It's challenging but there's not a game on the schedule we can't win.
"I believe that the foundation we have set with work ethic and an attitude to finish will carry us through the football season."
DeBord will count on the return of 36 lettermen, 15 of them starters, to form the nucleus of the 2000 football team. Of the returning starters, six are from offense, seven defense and two special teams from a squad that was 4-7 overall and finished 3-5 in the MAC.
"We'll have a nice blend of veterans and young players on this year's team," DeBord said. "We believe in a standard of play at all positions and the best players will play."
To emphasize that, the Chippewa football staff went through all of spring drills without a two-deep. "Every player had a chance to compete for a starting job," DeBord said. "And, some remain open."
Foremost among that group is at quarterback where four players are listed as the starter including incumbent Pete Shepherd, Central's starting signal caller for the past two seasons. Sophomore Derek Gorney and redshirt freshmen Darren Tooley and Derrick Vickers are also listed as starters.
"We put in a new offense and it was especially difficult for the quarterbacks to pick up everything," DeBord said. "I like the young men we have back there but after spring drills we didn't feel anyone had reached that standard to be named a starter.
"They're all battling for the position and it's important how they develop over the summer and into fall drills before a decision will be made."
As to what type of offense the starting quarterback will run, DeBord said the Chippewas will be "pro-style and diverse."
"In today's football, you have to be able to throw it and you have to be able to run it, it's that simple," DeBord said. "You can't be one dimensional. Whatever an opponent gives you, you have to try and take advantage of it.
"If there's nine guys up front, you'd better go with play action and throw it. If less, you've got to run it."
The Chippewa offense will feature a veteran and talented line.
"We have a solid group of players up front and that's a great place to build an offense," DeBord said. "They can pass block as well as run block."
Starters returning on the line include 6-7, 305-pound junior tackle Matt Brayton, 6-4, 270-pound senior guard James Alexander, 6-5, 290-pound junior guard/tackle Nick Ferguson, 6-3, 290-pound sophomore guard Kyle Croskey and 6-5, 280-pound junior center Anders Hill. The lone loss is at tackle where two-year regular Eric Page has graduated.
Moving into Page's starting tackle role will be 6-4, 290-pound sophomore Paul Brieger. Senior Kevin Barry (6-3, 275) and junior Eric Dumont (6-6, 295), both part-time starters in the past, join Ferguson to provide quality depth up front.
Another position on the offensive side of the ball that combines quality and quantity is at wide receiver where starter senior David Hannah returns.
"We have talent at our wide receivers," DeBord said. "They can make plays. We have to get them the ball in a lot of ways."
Hannah caught 24 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns a year ago.
Versatile senior Ira Gooch, who rushed for 438 yards at tailback in 1999, will move back to receiver this season. He caught 26 balls for 236 yards, many of them out of the backfield. Sophomore Rob Turner snared 11 passes for 121 as a true freshman. Providing depth will be senior Shelton Lewis and sophomore Roderick Means.
Who will be throwing the ball at quarterback won't be decided until fall drills begin in August.
Shepherd returns as the proven quarterback after passing for 2,295 yards while completing 171-of-320 passes in 1999. He threw for nine touchdowns and had 12 intercepted.
Gorney saw limited action behind the center, completing just one of two passes. Tooley and Vickers were redshirted.
DeBord also likes what he sees in the all-important tailback slot ... even if they are young and, for the most part, unproven.
"We have a group of good young backs that can run as well as catch the ball," he said. "I'm anxious to have them all healthy in the fall and see the battle there."
They'll be looking to take the place of three-year starter, Eric Flowers, who finished his career with 3,122 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Sophomore Vince Webber, who gained 232 yards on 37 carries as a true freshman in 1998, is the most experienced and is listed as the starter. He was redshirted a year ago after breaking his jaw in the loss at Syracuse. He gained 149 yards in two games before being sidelined.
Sophomores Robbie Mixon and Alan Parks were thrown into the "fire" at Purdue last season after the Chippewas lost Flowers and Webber to injuries at Syracuse. Mixon and Parks were both injured during the season and missed a number of games.
Mixon rushed for 124 yards in three games while Parks netted 55 yards in four games.
Depth is a concern at fullback and tight end with the graduation of starters Jason Meyer and Mark Swetz, respectively. However, CMU has a pair of veterans in starting roles at both spots.
Senior D.J. McClure, a 5-10, 225-pounder, claimed the fullback slot with an excellent spring. A punishing blocker and capable receiver, McClure carried only 10 times last season for seven yards and one touchdown.
"We will use D.J. in a number of different ways," DeBord said. "He was one of the pleasant surprises in the spring."
Senior Eric Salani saw plenty of action at tight end last fall and will be the starter in 2000. The 6-3, 240-pound converted outside linebacker is a good blocker but caught just one pass a year ago. Redshirt freshman David Watson, a 6-4, 250-pounder, also will see action.
Redshirt frosh Adam Supianoski could play both positions at 6-3 and 230 pounds. "We'll use him as an `H' back which is a combination of fullback and tight end, " DeBord said.
"Aggressive" is the key word on defense for the Chippewas.
"We don't believe in sitting there and letting people block you," DeBord explained of his variable defense. "You have to have movement from the defense. We want to attack with linebackers and secondary with blitzes.
"We'll also mix our coverages in the secondary to keep opposing offenses off balance."
The Chippewa secondary figures to be the strength of the defense. It combines experience with talent.
"I feel good about the secondary," DeBord said. "We have proven players and depth."
The heart and soul of the defense is senior Brian Leigeb, a three-year starter at free safety. He's led CMU in tackles for three straight seasons and stands to be Central's No. 1 career tackler. The 6-2, 205-pounder has 343 tackles and needs 101 more to surpass former NFL standout Ray Bentley (443).
"Brian is a great football player and the defense is built around him making a lot of plays," DeBord said.
The corners also return in juniors Tedaro France and Wayne Dudley. France was a second team All-MAC pick in 1998 and has four career interceptions and 26 pass breakups. Dudley led the MAC in pass breakups as a frosh with 16 and has 24 for his career and two interceptions.
Senior Scott Naz is a veteran cornerback who saw action in all 11 games a year ago and had 50 tackles, three for losses of 17 yards.
Junior Rodrico Epps is the incumbent at rover and was second in tackles last season with 77.
While the linebacking corps is young, DeBord is encouraged by their progress.
"Our inside linebackers are young but athletic and tough," he said. "I like the way they developed in the spring.
"We're looking forward to Ralph Sewell's return in the fall at outside linebacker. We're counting on him to bring leadership and experience to that position."
Sophomore Darvin Lewis established himself in 1999 as one of the top young linebackers in the MAC. He led the Chippewas with five interceptions to match the school mark for linebackers held by Bentley. Darvin was third on the team in tackles with 76.
Senior Casey Laughlin, the lone veteran among the inside backers, will be back in action this fall after sitting out the spring. Injuries have hindered his progress but he still made 43 tackles in six games last fall.
Junior James Westrich is the lone backup with any experience at linebacker after playing in 11 games last season and making 28 tackles. Redshirt freshmen Derrick Wallace and Kyle Tafelski will also battle for the starting positions.
Sewell missed spring drills with injury but he's coming off a solid season with 72 tackles, seven of them for losses of 25 yards. He had four quarterback sacks and led CMU with three fumble recoveries.
The defensive line was the hardest hit by graduation, losing all four starters (Gabe McMasters, Walter Jenkins, Joe Adam and Jerry Stempien) and two key reserves (Darnell Wilson and Jerry Zaremba). DeBord, however, anticipates steady improvement from his front four.
"It's the youngest unit on the team," DeBord said. "But, they're athletic and I like their work ethic and attitude. I think they'll get better every game."
Sophomores Dominic Mancini (6-3, 250 pounds) and Marvin Smith (6-1, 255) anchor the interior from their middle guard and tackle slots, respectively. Both were effective in limited action as true freshmen in 1999 and had solid springs.
Sophomore Matt Reynolds (6-3, 235) earned the starting job at left end with redshirt freshman Charles Harris (6-3, 242) the backup. A pair of redshirt frosh will be at the right end in Cullen Jenkins (6-3, 240) and Ike Ajoku (6-2, 243).
DeBord hopes his special teams will be just that in 2000.
"We spent a lot of time on special teams in the spring and we will again in the fall," he said. "We'll keep experimenting with return men but most of the other spots are set."
Redshirt freshman Brian Brandt will handle the punting chores with senior Zach Poff back for his fourth season as the long snapper.
A battle looms at place-kicker, though.
Junior Paul Savich, the starter the past two seasons, was beaten out by sophomore Adam Clyne in the spring. Savich nailed 13-of-18 field goals last season and has converted 24-of-38 in his career.
THE SCHEDULE
There's no question that the 2000 Chippewa football schedule is top heavy.
The first five opponents were 37-21 last season and played in two bowl games (Purdue and Boise State). The final six foes - all from the MAC - posted a mark of 23-44 in 1999.
CMU opens at Purdue, a 58-16 winner over Central a year ago, on Sept. 2 before playing a solid Akron club in its home and MAC lidlifter on Sept. 9.
The Chippewas then play at Wyoming (Sept. 16), home against Boise State (Sept. 23) and at perennial MAC West Division contender Toledo (Sept. 30).
"We open with one of the best football teams in the Big 10," DeBord said of his baptism by fire. "Purdue will challenge for the Big 10 title and Drew Brees (Boilermaker QB) is a possible Heisman candidate. I have great respect for his mental toughness and physical ability. Purdue will throw the ball all over the field and we'll have to be ready to play as a team.
"Akron was down for many years but Lee Owens has done a great job bringing that program back. It'll be a great game ... our home opener.
"Wyoming and Boise figure to feature wide-open offenses. Wyoming has a new coach that will make it a little tougher in preparation for us. Boise has turned its program around and features one of the top quarterbacks in the country in Bart Hendricks."
The Chippewas then jump into the heart of the MAC slate with the Toledo battle marking the first of seven straight conference tilts to close the regular season. The East and West Division winners will square off in Huntington, W. Va., on Dec. 1 to decide the MAC champion and Motor City Bowl representative.
THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
DeBord may have coached at Michigan the past eight seasons but he's well aware of the MAC and has tremendous respect for the league.
Raised in Gaston, Ind., not far from Ball State, DeBord served as an assistant for one season with the Cardinals and helped lead them to a MAC championship in 1989.
"The MAC is a well-coached conference," DeBord said. "The talent level in the MAC has drastically improved. There's so much more speed now than when I coached 11 years ago.
"It's an excellent conference and it takes something special to be the champion. Just look how well Marshall has done in the Motor City Bowl (two wins and one loss) against nationally prominent foes."
As to the West, DeBord points to Toledo and Western Michigan as two teams you must get by first.
"They've done a great job challenging each year and I expect more of the same this season," DeBord said. "Joe Novak has rebuilt the Northern Illinois program into a contender with outstanding defense and ball control offense.
"Eastern Michigan has a new coach and new enthusiasm and I have great respect for Bill Lynch at Ball State. I expect him to get his program back to where it was."
Western Michigan won the West in 1999 and Toledo the previous two seasons. However, Marshall won the MAC playoff all three years of its existence.
Despite losing a lot of key players, DeBord sees Marshall as the team to beat in the East with Miami leading a strong contingent of contenders.
