THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 1, 1994 TAG: 9408270352
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: R14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Preview: College Football '94
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
By the time George Moody conducted his first practice last summer, it was already third and long at Elizabeth City State.
Head coach Alvin Kelley had resigned under pressure, and Moody, a last-minute replacement, started practice a week late with a team depleted by academic problems.
Considering the chaos he inherited, Moody did well to go 2-8.
Now that he's had a year under his belt, Moody expects to do better this year. Much better.
``We'll be very competitive,'' Moody says. ``I'll be very disappointed if we're not.''
Moody's goal is to finish in the top three in the conference. The league's other coaches don't like his chances - they picked Elizabeth City eighth.
Still, few doubt that Elizabeth City will be improved.
For one thing, several players who missed 1993 are back. Chief among them are offensive tackles Herbert Kemp (6-4, 300) and Lamont Mabry (6-4, 310).
Also back is tailback Aaron Murchison, last year's CIAA rookie of the year, and big defensive tackle Reggie World (6-4, 315).
``I have an even shot this year, and that's all I ask,'' Moody said.
Virginia State: Picked seventh in the conference last year, the Trojans finished 10-1. Not surprisingly, expectations are a little higher this year. Virginia State is ranked 13th in the nation in preseason.
``It's hard to tell anyone you're going to be better than 10-1,'' coach Lou Anderson said. ``But we want to get better.''
They'll have to do it without quarterback Greg Clark, who threw for 3,437 yards and 38 touchdowns. Rodney Granger, from Portsmouth, and Andre Savage, from Smithfield, are vying to replace Clark.
North Carolina Central: They're going to miss Joe Simmons in Durham.
A bowling ball of a tailback at 5-9 and 220 pounds, Simmons ran for a CIAA record 1,699 yards in '93.
Most of the linemen who blocked for Simmons are gone, too. But as coach Larry Little said: ``If anyone can put together an offensive line, I think I can.''
Little, an NFL Hall of Fame lineman, won't need to spend as much time on the defense. The Eagles should have one of the CIAA's best, led by linebacker Tevin Boggan and tackle James Grant, last year's CIAA defensive rookie of the year.
Winston-Salem State: The Rams have a pair of big-time talents in running back Richard Huntley and wide receiver Oronde Gadsden, both preseason All-Americans. Huntley rambled for 1,570 yards and Gadsden caught 13 TD passes.
Six other starters are back on offense, and seven return on defense. Look for the Rams to be near the top.
Fayetteville State: Clifton Davis, who ran for better than 1,500 yards, is back. So is quarterback Robert Harrington, who threw for more than 1,400 yards.
But most of the offensive line is gone, and that has coach Jerome Harper worried.
Asked at the conference media day what the key to the Bronco season is, Harper repeated the words ``offensive line'' four times.
Bowie State: Second-year coach Sherman Wood brought in 34 freshmen to add to the holdovers from last year's 3-6-1 team.
``I guess you could say experience will be something we'll be weak on,'' Wood said.
True, but Wood seems to have Bowie headed in the right direction. Last year's three wins were two more than the year before. With most of the offense back, along with a good chunk of the defense, Bowie can't be taken lightly anymore.
Virginia Union: Bobby Phillips rushed for 1,507 yards last year, and according to coach Hank Lattimore, 1,500 of those were behind guard Corey Durham.
This year's game plan?
``Give the ball to Bobby, behind Corey,'' Lattimore says.
Phillips, a preseason All-American, should run wild again. Another player to watch is All-CIAA tight end Stacey Graves. There are just four starters back on defense, but the Panthers will probably improve on last year's 2-8-1 mark.
Johnson C. Smith: The Golden Bulls went 3-8 last season, and coach Ray Lee doesn't exactly sound enthusiastic about his recruiting class.
``I went out recruiting, but I only got what came to me,'' Lee said. ``I can't force anybody to come to Johnson C. Smith University.''
You know a team doesn't have much returning talent when the preseason hype centers on the punter. Senior Carl Lyles is one of the nation's best, with a 42.2-yard average last year. He should also be one of the nation's busiest.
Livingstone: Most everyone is gone from last year's 1-10 team - including most of the coaching staff - which is not necessarily a bad thing. Coming aboard are 35 freshmen. ``We will show up,'' assistant coach Gilbert Wiggins said. ``What happens when we get there, I don't know.'' by CNB