THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 10, 1994 TAG: 9409100377
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Zable Stadium is hardly a pit. The setting is stunningly beautiful, especially in autumn. The fans are affable. The playing surface is immaculate.
Yet it has proven to be a most inhospitable place for visiting teams. William and Mary has won 11 in a row at home, two short of the school record.
The Tribe dearly hopes to make Delaware victim No. 12 today when the Blue Hens visit Zable Stadium at 1 p.m.
A near-sellout crowd of 15,000 is expected for the Yankee Conference game, which matches nationally ranked teams that advanced to the Division I-AA playoffs last season.
Delaware, ranked 12th, is the preseason Yankee favorite. William and Mary, ranked 18th after beating Rhode Island last week in its opener, is hoping to stamp itself as the conference front-runner.
Revenge is another motive for William and Mary. Delaware held off a late Tribe rally in a 42-35 victory in Newark, Del., last season that cost William and Mary a share of the Yankee title.
The Tribe won the Yankee Mid-Atlantic title, finishing ahead of Delaware, but Boston University claimed the league crown.
``We'd have rings on our fingers if it hadn't been for that game,'' Tribe tailback Troy Keen said. ``We can't replay last year's game, and we won't take a vengeful attitude. But we do remember that loss.
``Last year it was a pivotal game, and it should be again this year. The difference is that we're playing at our place this year.''
The Tribe hasn't lost at Zable since falling to Terry Bowden and Samford, 35-13, in 1991. William and Mary coach Jimmye Laycock is 49-14-1 at Zable, including a 30-3-1 record the last 34 games.
``I've never lost at home,'' Keen said. ``We take a lot of pride in winning at home. We've established a tradition here.''
Elsewhere today, James Madison will attempt to establish its credentials as a top-25 team at home against traditional I-AA power Middle Tennessee State at 7 p.m.
Richmond, a three-point winner over Virginia Military Institute last week, hosts Yankee Conference rival Massachusetts at 1 p.m. Massachusetts was a preseason top-25 choice but fell out of the rankings after not playing last week. VMI is off this week.
Tribe coach Laycock said he always looks forward to playing Delaware.
``It's a tough game, a challenge to go up against them,'' Laycock said. ``Just the fact that they're the preseason top pick in the Yankee Conference means a lot, and they have such a football tradition. A lot of our games with them come right down to the wire.''
Indeed they do. The Tribe won by a touchdown two years ago and by a field goal two years before that. In 1988 the Blue Hens won by three.
``It's developed into a great rivalry,'' Delaware coach Tubby Raymond said.
William and Mary's toughest task will be attempting to stop fullback Daryl Brown, a 6-foot-3, 256-pound senior who was preseason national I-AA player of the year, according to Don Hansen's Football Gazette. Brown rushed for 1,469 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, including 174 and two touchdowns against the Tribe. He needs 1,150 yards to become the Yankee Conference's top career rusher.
``He's very, very good,'' Laycock said. ``We've got to get extra people in on the play to stop him. You've got to have people make quick decisions as to who has the ball. If he's carrying the football, you need to get everybody there.''
Defensively, the Blue Hens are paced by end Pat Mulhern, a two-time All-Yankee pick, and free safety Kenny Bailey, a transfer from Virginia Tech who had 88 tackles last season.
``There's a lot of talent and a lot of experience on that team,'' Laycock said.
But there's also some inexperience. Nine players will be making their first start for Delaware. Eight freshmen or redshirt freshmen are listed as backups on the defense.
The Tribe replaced 10 starters this year, including its entire offensive line. But said Raymond: ``William and Mary has played a game and we haven't. That should be an advantage for them.''
The Tribe suffered a major loss in the victory at Rhode Island - linebacker Jason Miller, who was sidelined with a knee injury. Redshirt freshman Brett Tillett likely will start in his place. by CNB