THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408250163
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: P04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Special '94\
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines
First of all, let's state the obvious. It's highly unlikely Norcom will be as good as it was last year.
Then again, the Greyhounds don't have to be. A team doesn't have to win 14 games, shut out nine opponents and allow less than three points a game to win a Group AAA, Division 5 state title, or even a Southeastern District title. The fact that Norcom did all those things last year simply cemented its status as one of the most dominant area teams in recent memory.
But the Greyhounds don't have to be that good again. They just have to be good enough.
``I'm not going to try to pressure the kids to try and be at that level,'' venerable Norcom coach Joe Langston said. ``We don't even talk about last year. We're concerned about the development of this team.''
On the surface, Norcom would seem to be in for a major rebuilding job after bidding adieu to the likes of Terry Ricks, Larry Staton, Jay Clarke, Jeronne Coleman and David Turner. But Langston said those marquee players got their minutes at the expense of a host of quality players who have been groomed to assume star billing in 1994.
``We lost some great talent, but we have some great talent coming back,'' Langston said. ``People just didn't see 'em.''
They must not have been watching closely, because since many of Norcom's games a year ago were decided early, these players saw action last year on virtually a regular basis. So while there will be a lot of new faces in the starting lineup this year, Norcom will still be an experienced team.
Quarterback Rod Richardson is one of the few returning starters. Richardson passed for more than 1,000 yards last year but had problems with interceptions. Langston said Norcom fans will see a more confident - and more run-oriented - Richardson this season. Should he falter, all-purpose Octavious Brothers and sophomore Mike Ponds will see action.
Super targets Staton and Clarke are gone, leaving senior Jermaine Granger as the probable primary pass-catcher.
Another familiar face will be Rudy Howard, the All-Tidewater defensive back and the Greyhounds' leading returning rusher. Although Langston said Howard will concentrate primarily on defense, don't be surprised to see him pulling a lot of double-duty.
``Oh, he'll run some,'' Langston said. ``I'd be a fool not to let him run at all.''
Mike Ricks, the brother of South Hampton's all-time leading rusher Terry, is one of five tailbacks bidding to start.
Maceo Thomas (6-3, 230), Jermaine Bullock (6-2, 276) and Lavar Bowers (6-3, 250) will anchor what Langston called ``potentially one of the best lines we've ever had.'' There will be no lack of size - the three players vying for one of the tackle slots weigh in at 294, 305 and 314 pounds.
The Greyhounds may not be as dangerous a passing team as they were a year ago, but they should be just as strong in stopping the pass with Brothers and Howard returning to the secondary. The defensive line also features returners Kevin Mapp, Ricky DeBerry and Marte McCall, although Turner's absence will be felt.
``You don't replace a David Turner,'' Langston said.
But while Norcom's defense will be hard-pressed to approach last season's dominance, it still figures to be a quality unit. Ten of the projected starters saw significant time last year.
Finally, there's Langston, who battled back from stomach aneurysm surgery last January to return for his 21st year as Norcom's head coach. Although the 52-year-old Langston has directed early practices with his typical gusto, he's making no promises about coaching after this season, and even made reference to how much talent would be around if another coach took over in 1995.
No one is saying Langston is prepared to hang it up. But even the chance, however remote, that this could be Langston's last year figures to provide even more motivation for the Greyhounds to make every 1994 game count. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Quarterback Rod Richardson, who passed for more than 1,000 years in
1993, is one of the returning starters from last season's
championship team, and he wants to lead the Greyhounds to another
title this season.
Octavious Brothers
Will anchor secondary
Rudy Howard
Team's leading rusher
Maceo Thomas
Leads the way on line
by CNB