Central Michigan University Athletics
Football Starts Spring Drills
3/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 19, 2001
MOUNT PLEASANT - Second-year Central Michigan University head football coach Mike DeBord is anxious for the start of spring drills on Tuesday.
"I want to see how far we've come in one year," said DeBord, whose Chippewas posted a mark of 2-9 this past fall. "I was excited last year at this time, too, just to see where we were.
"I'll be interested to see how we've improved in terms of strength, fundamentals and leadership. The last one could be a key because we only have nine seniors on the roster this year."
The Chippewas will practice on Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday of each week beginning at 9:30 a.m. They'll be in Kelly/Shorts Stadium unless weather forces them to use the turf room at the Indoor Athletic Complex.
CMU will be in shorts and helmets on Tuesday and Thursday of this week before going to full pads on Saturday with some scrimmage work scheduled.
DeBord enters his second spring with two major goals in mind: one, individual improvement, and two, implementing new schemes.
"The most important thing is for all of our players to improve fundamentally," DeBord said. "That's an area we were not good in last season. And, then, as the spring goes on we'll look to put in new schemes on offense and defense."
Although Central Michigan returns 16 starters (seven on offense and nine on
defense), DeBord said all positions are open.
"Our program is not to the point where we can say this guy is a starter in spring ball," DeBord said. "It's wide open. We will start with people in those slots but we're looking for competition at each position."
Returning as starters on offense will be: quarterback, Derrick Vickers (Miami, Fla./So.), tailback, Vince Webber (Elgin, Ill./Jr.), tackles Matt Brayton (Traverse City/Sr.) and Paul Brieger (Almont/Jr.), guards Derek McLaughlin (Berrien Springs/So.) and Kyle Croskey (East Lansing/Jr.), and center Anders Hill (Hancock/Sr.).
Those back on defense are: ends Matt Reynolds (Port Huron/Jr.) and Cullen Jenkins (Belleville/Jr.), tackle, Marvin Smith (Wellington, Fla./Jr.), middle guard Dominic Mancini (Hinsdale, Ill./Jr.), linebackers James Westrich (Niagara, Wis./Sr.) and Darvin Lewis (Detroit/Jr.), cornerbacks Tedaro France (Port Huron/Sr.) and Wayne Dudley (Baltimore, Md./Sr.), and roverback, Rodrico Epps (Oak Park/Sr.).
CMU is slated to conclude drills with a spring game on Saturday, April 21.
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In related news, DeBord announced a couple of position and title changes on the coaching staff:
Butch Jones will become the offensive coordinator as well as remain the running backs coach.
Jim Schulte will become the assistant head coach in addition to being the defensive line mentor.
Plas Presnell will become the director of football operations as well as handling the tight ends.
Defensive coordinator John Milligan will coach the outside linebackers instead of inside linebackers.
George Ricumstrict will handle the inside linebackers as well as be the special teams coach.
"I will still call the plays and be heavily involved with the offense," said DeBord, who served as the offensive coordinator in 2000. "But, in fairness to Butch, he organizes the offense and deserves the title.
"Willie Martinez (now on the staff at Georgia) served as the assistant head coach last year and I wanted somebody with great experience to serve in this capacity and Jim fits the role perfectly. He's a veteran coach who knows a lot of people on and off campus.
"Plas coordinates a lot of different things for us from travel to camps to recruiting, and the title of director of football operations was a perfect match for all he does."
