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Show THE HERALD, Provo, Utah, Football Section, Wednesday, August Page 8 26, 1992 Expectation high at Weber Also, two offensive linemen By DOROTHY KNOELL Herald Sports Writer - OGPHN Weber State coach D.ne Arlanian can't wait for the to begin. 12Andseason it's eas to see wh. His ildcats are picked to finish hich in the Big Sk race they are n polls already ranked in A and they return the Div. Play er ot the Year at quarterback. W A "We're in a position to be a contender." Arslanian said, agreeing w ith the reports on hit who have moved on to jobs in the CFL have left big gaps in the line that protected Martin last y ear. 0 "On offense, we have some young players who are waiting for a chance to play. We believe in them, and they believe they can. So. we'll see what happens," Ar- slanian said. ",''", Alex Leonard leads the running back corps, while injury-redshi- rt Trevor Shaw, an outstanding tight end from two years ago. is back to anchor the receiver position. Transfers should help fill the holes on the line. Arslanian added. On defense. Arslanian said his squad should be improved. Nine starters return. y pre-seas- his team. We've worked extremely hard to be there. And I can tell you. it's more tun to be picked in the upper eschelon than in the " low I crone. he cautioned, "that doesn't win any games. The Big Sky w ill be tough this year. I w on't guarantee e en one w in in the con- "But." ference." But he and the Wildcats are hke-- 1 to get quite a tew more than one win. "whether Arslanian will guarantee them or not. The major reason for that is Jamie Martin, the W ildcats' senior quarterback who was the Walter Pay ton Trophy winner in Di. last year. Martin, a 2 Impound tw o--y ear starter w ho is already Weber State's career, season and single game leader in total offense and passing. He completed 5lO-of-50- 1 passes'for 4.125 yards 0 and 35 touchdow ns last season. "He's in a class by himself." Arslanian said. "He's worked hard and continues to imp e." But. Arslanian admitted, it will J "We have to move to the upper Jamie Martin third of the conference in defense if w e expect to w in the title. Statistake more than Martin to be suctically . the team that w ins the Big cessful. in the top third is "The key to our season is to Sky title always of the defensively league ," Arsolidfv the supporting cast around we have believe said. slanian "I Jamie on offense, we've got a lot who can do that . "" of holes to fill." Arslanian said. the people Arslanian said he is also looking "And we have to move from a for a "big play" athlete for special team, that of just teams. having offense, to having a complete team. "We've been as good as we could be on offense some years, but had terrible defense and special teams. We've got to get better on defense and special teams. That w ill be a key to success. " On offense, the Wildcats hav e to replace four graduated receivers w ho had better than 3.00 y ards of receptions betw een them, plus running back Geoff Mitchell, who rushed for 1 . 1 ?0 ards and scored I 0 points. The Wildcats have a difficult schedule, once again opening on the road against a Division I school (New Mexico State), but Arslanian said he thinks his squad should be competitive in every game. "The schedule may be a little more difficult that last year (when Weber State finished 84). but we have the potential to win every game." hes said. "We don't play any weak sisters, but we play teams I think we can compete Utah State picked in middle of Big West Coaches and media representatives have picked Utah State to finish fourth in the Big West Conference race this year. Still, as Weatherbie notes, "it's not the quarterback that wins championships for you. It's defense. So that's where our emphas- First-ye- is LOGAN coach ar Charlie Weather-bi- e doesn't mind. "That's a great place to start." Weather-bi- e said. "We don't know , realhow ly good we be." Ideally, can the Charlie Weatherbie Aggies will cele- brate their 100th year of collegiate football with a league title. It won't be easy, of course. First of all, the Aggies lack experience at key positions. They have only returnee (fullback Chad Tigert) at an offensive skill position. Greg Angelovic, who redshirted last year, appears to be the quarterback-apparent. But junior college This i i rw for CMC GO the National Fcvxball League. The league that envy pc f:ng itself up actually has put out a wleo in w h:ch it play s itself do At the behest of coileg; coache. the NFL has prwiuced a 1 2- - met; kieo begging, pieadmg. nr(or-tr.- g undercUssraen to stay ir. joooi and rKX corrs out for be drift, where teants will be force-- to pick them. The video rair.ts a bleak picture tor college paye-- s w ho dream of the N FL. "There is the dream." tre narhigh-quali- ty over drinuiiv mux". But there is also rie reality . " wtth The film cuts to interne NFL Corrjr.rsvxvxT Pju! Tagiu-bcDetroit Lkxts runnirg back Barry Sanders. Lions coach Focces. Texas coach John Mackov w ind Redsltns Joe Gifrs. imori others-- It throws out siatrs-- t cs: For even 50.OX) college fcvtball piiyersl oci 150 nuke k rator say " e. as avkies. Scan sroff. trvieevl. "Wca I tik to coilege piayers. seil thets tN; best thci tho can TiLsicte do cs sciy ic cofk-iX-I " MEW SEASON West center Warren K STUFF, NEW FLAGS fI "Y to II OX in 2 Funk, Greg O'Banion and Joe Moore. The Aggies' offense will be different, w ith one back and sets. Former Seattle quarterback Jim Zorn is the new offensive no-ba- ck Dees Your Heart Good. American Heart Association CTSICOT KE3E CUSTOMIZED TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES OVER 25 YRS. OF PROFESS A IONAL FITNESS VI EXPERIENCE JI U 1 11 I I U . I v III AD I I 1 I & CAPS, JACKETS & pI sizes ami new in Sag n Tin 2 sizes!!! Scye: Oxfccj rVcr. tn Be READY FOfl TH se-c- SEASON!!!! COUGARBILIA YOUR OFFICIAL BYU TEAM SHOP 1 c Csrycf! RD - its! sccr: or tne saoum 6x. he: ers, Jaceson Maughan, Brian SWEATS . - 1965. Bow- NEW SHIRTS Ur)V( Barkers Arizona Gale Sayers of the Chicago Bears scored 132 points during his rookie season in Whoever gets the nod should All-Bi- g it Oct. 2 at BYU Oct. 17 Kansas St. Oct 24 San Joee St Oct 31 at CSuMon Nov. 7 UNLV Nov. 14 at Nevada Nov. 21 at Pacific have adequate protection. Returnees on the offensive line include & COACHING TIME FOR: NEW MUGS, KIDS' Sep. S Sep. 12 Utah Sep. 19 at Baylor Sep. 26 NMei St UTAH COUNTY'S LARGEST FREE WEIGHT SELECTION ADJUSTABLE AEROBIC STEPS & EQUIPMENT IT'S A Bv ED SHERMAN plish." impressive in fall drills, too. CULTS video pleads 'stay in school' Backups return at nearly every spot where a senior starter has been lost. Fifteen of the top 22 defensive players from last season are back. Among those to watch are free safety Damon Smith and defensive tackle Joe Jacobs. "W'e have some fine talent on this team," Weatherbie said. "We're excited about our prospects. If we play as a team there's no telling what we can accom- transfer Tony Calvillo has been with." NFL lies." 5-- 5. Mcr-3-c HEXKEADOUSSCEUS OOLY 07 PER LB. sojd srm. coNSTTicnoN 13 SO. SWE OfiEH. UT 8058 224-830- 6 |