Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 29, 1993 TAG: 9308310100
SECTION: COLLEGE FOOTBALL PAGE: FB10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
"We've said from the beginning that we want to be a consistent, winning football program," Marshall said. "Now comes the hard part."
After winning a total of four games in his first three seasons, Marshall's Spiders broke through for a 7-4 record in 1992.
Richmond set school records with 338 points, 46 touchdowns, 4,761 yards and 250 first downs. The Spiders spent seven weeks in the Division I-AA Top 20, and Marshall was named coach of the year in the Yankee Conference.
The Spiders have virtually everyone back from that team, and Marshall knows the pressure is on to improve on that record this year.
"The outlook should be bright," Marshall said. "We should continue with the success of last season due to the fact that so many guys return.
"We all got a little taste of success last year, and the players have worked hard since then to take their game to the next level."
Richmond's 17 returning starters include most of the main cogs in last year's powerful offense.
Quarterback Greg Lilly, now a senior, passed for a school-record 2,704 yards and 19 touchdowns on the way to being voted the conference's top offensive player.
Richmond's returning receivers include Rod Boothes, a third-team All-American last year, as well as Rodney Bowens and tight end Price Williams.
When Lilly's not throwing the ball, he'll be handing it off to a group of talented runners. Uly Scott rushed for 1,318 yards and scored 13 touchdowns last fall. Fullback Michael Henderson and tailback Jon Strashensky combined for 540 rushing yards a year ago.
The Spiders also are strong defensively, but they must replace their leading tackler of 1992, linebacker Eric Johnson.
"The schedule is stronger than what it was last year," Marshall said. "It will be tough on the road the final three games of the season."
by CNB