Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408260025
SECTION: COLLEGE FOOTBALL PAGE: FB10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FERRUM LENGTH: Long
Dave Davis, Ferrum's new head football coach, looks relaxed and comfortable in his new office at Norton Fieldhouse - the same one occupied for 23 years by the building's namesake, the legendary Hank Norton.
Davis has moved some furniture and hung some new pictures here and there, but it still hasn't soaked in:
He's in charge.
After spending 10 years as an assistant to Norton, who retired last year after 34 seasons at Ferrum, Davis is running the show.
``I really don't know why it hasn't soaked in,'' Davis said. ``There's not that drastic difference between this and what I've done in years past. A lot of the day-to-day operations, Hank would just leave up to me. I certainly don't feel any pressure.''
And if there was ever a time for Davis to be feeling a bit tense, this would be it. His young Panthers team opens the season Saturday at home against Rowan, ranked fifth in the NCAA Division III preseason poll. The Profs were the 1993 national runners-up, losing 34-24 to Mount Union (Ohio) in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl at Salem Stadium.
Scheduling the matchup was one of Davis' first accomplishments after taking over as head coach. Playing a tough schedule is a Ferrum tradition. Davis said he planned on maintaining that tradition and he's hoping history will repeat itself.
In 1988, the Panthers traveled to Staten Island, N.Y., for the second game of the season and gave Wagner, the 1987 national champion, a 40-13 shellacking.
``It's been a long-standing philosophy here,'' Davis said. ``We've always wanted to play the best to see where we are.''
The Panthers lost 16 seniors from a team that went 5-4. Five starters return on offense and five on defense, leaving Davis understandably concerned.
Millard Vining, last year's starting quarterback, returns to lead Ferrum's wishbone offense. Although Davis said he doesn't plan any drastic changes, he indicated some small alterations would be made to help take pressure off the 5-foot-6 junior, who set single-season records in '93 for pass attempts (128) and completions (68).
``We're going to do some things to help him out,'' Davis said. ``There will be some subtle changes in the passing game and a few differences in the running game.''
In the backfield, Davis will have to find a replacement for running back Eric Bates, the Panthers' leading rusher in 1993. Top prospects include junior Roshan Myers, also a punt-returner, and sophomore David Anthony.
John Poindexter, a backup quarterback last season, has moved to wide receiver, where he joins senior Ray Brawley, who led the Panthers with 16 receptions for 226 yards last year. Ferrum must replace James Williams, the Panthers' leading scorer last season, who set a school record for longest pass play with an 82-yard reception against Montclair (N.J.) State.
The offensive line is the area Davis pointed out took the hardest hit this season. Tackles Chris Glascock and Zack Thomas are the only returning starters, although Brian Hilgert, who saw considerable playing time last season, is back at guard.
``There are a lot of young players who look like they might be ready to play right away,'' Glascock said. ``The attitude is positive. Everyone wants to win.''
The Panthers also are coping with the loss of starting center Chad Bowman, who was killed in a car crash the week before practice opened. Ferrum has dedicated its season to Bowman, who would have been a junior and a candidate for academic All-America honors this season.
Davis said he felt comfortable with the 4-3 defensive unit he directed under Norton, with the exception of the secondary, which has only one starter back - strong safety Donald Grimes.
Grimes is being promoted as a candidate for All-America honors. The senior had 76 tackles, three pass breakups and two interceptions last year.
Ends Billy Ray Ellis and Walter Bryant, starters last season, will anchor the defensive line. Expected to fill vacancies are juniors Troy Day and Walter Bryant and sophomores Rick Debolt, Calvin Baldwin and Andy Mitchell.
``We have a lot of young kids ... but I've seen a lot of progress already,'' said Ellis, who won the national collegiate powerlifting title at 242 pounds in the spring and could vie for All-America honors.
The linebacking corps is young, but already has considerable experience. Sophomore Chris Denhoff led the team in tackles last year with 80 and was one short of Ferrum's single-game record with a 22-tackle effort against Division II Mansfield (Pa.).
Juniors Kevin Slough of Penhook, Kareem Woods and Ian Edwards also will vie for starting jobs at linebacker.
The special teams appear to be solid with junior David Waddell returning at punter. Waddell, who averaged 38.4 yards per kick last season, set a school record with a 65-yard effort against Montclair State.
Myers will handle the punt returns again for the Panthers. He averaged 9 yards per return in '93.
``I'm not going to make too many changes,'' Davis said. ``When you do make changes, you want to take what the players know best and what they're capable of and put that in a package.
``I'm going to be myself. I'm not going to do some things just because Hank did them that way.''
But you can bet there's one aspect of Norton's tenure at Ferrum that Davis would like to duplicate: winning.
by CNB