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Show Poer 4 • The Summerbird • August 3, 1992 • Page 5 ~ S&anmnbird • Aup.st 3, 1992 All--America running back Zed Robinson (right) returns for the Thunderbirds in what promises to be a history--making year for SUU. Jack Bishop's squad has been ranked in many pre--season national polls as highly as 14th among NCAA Division II schools. Robinson was the country's foremost rusher-on all divisions-last year. Thunderbird gridders gird for 1992 season i I 1 When Southern Utah University head football coach Jack Bishop looks at his 1992 Thunderbirds, he sees a team with heavy potential This year's T-Birds, who hope t!) challenge for their first-ever Western Football Conference title, are as strong, deep and fast as they have ever been. "We should have a pretty good football team chis year," Bishop says. "Physically, depth-wise and speed-wise, we're as good- if not better- than we've ever been. I'm especially pleased with the depth o n chis year's squad; we have more good players than we've ever had and in face, ..,ne problem we mighr have this ye~r could be keeping everybody happy:' If the T-Birds are to build on che success of lase year's ,;quad (4-l in the WFC for a second-place finish, 7-3-1 overall), they will have co do it against a tougher ~hedule this year. Noc only is the non-conference !>Chedule more difficult m 1992, with three games against \!CAA Division I-AA opponents, but competition in che ct1nference will be tougher, as SUU and three of the five \VFC teams prepare to move with the conference co the I-AA level in 1993. The season begins Sept. 5 a t Northern Amona University, while the first home game is Sept. 19 when the 'Birds host the Bronchos of Central Oklahoma. "We play a very cough schedule this year, meeting three I-AA schools (in the i,ame season] for the first nme as well as two Lone Scar Conference schools;' Bishop pointed out. "Then when we get into conference play, there are no easy games; everyone in our conference is capable of whipping someone on any given night.'' Traditionally, SUU has lived on its offense but the strength of this year's team may just be on the defensive side of the ball. After leading the WFC in total defense lase year, the T-Birds are optimistic that this fall's defensive unit could be even better. Seven starters return co bolster the squad which allowed just 344.4 yards per game and only 126.9 on the ground. Returning along the line are last year's sacks (71/2) and cackles for losses (9) leader, rush end Dave Porter, and end Dave McMullin, who totalled 39 tackles and 21/z sacks in 1991. "(Porter] can be a d ominating player;' says defensive coordinator Dale Pehrson. "He's got good size and quickness and (with a year's experience] he's getting comfortable with the position. [McMullin] will be a real forct>; he does what it cakes and can be the heart of this defense." Filling in the other slots along the line will be Roger Clawson, who switches from tight end to defensive end this year; senior Maranda Doss; redshirt freshmen Jeff Galyean, Jason Woodger and Garett Moon; sophomore S hawn Blackham; and transfers David Ayers and C hris Kruger. At linebacker, the T-Birds lost WFC Defensive Player of the Year Clint C hristiansen in the middle, but Marc DeCol (44 tackles, four sacks) and Joel Wilson (37 tackles) return at the ouside spots. "(DeCol) is probably our best all-around football player;' Pehrson notes:'He's got speed, he can cover, he can blitz; he does all the little things. [Wilson! has also got good speed, is intelligent and is another all-around player:' Several players will be battling for Christiansen's spot. Junior Jared Hunsaker and JC transfer David Benedict look to have the inside track, but redshirt freshman Jeff Jones should see action as well. Sophomore James Bleak could also wind up m the middle but will be a key backup at the outside spots. In the backfield, last year's interception leader, Darren DeGracie (four lNTs), returns at free safety, while paretime starters Lawrence Gilbert and James Sprague return at the corners. Dean Fonua, who started part time at free safety last season, moves to strong safety this year, where he will battle Wade Turley and transfer Caylor Dalley for a starting position. "Our secondary, physically and in terms of speed, is probably better than it was Last year;' Pehrson points out. "They're not as experienced but as far as what we need, I think we'll be better:' Helping with the improvement is transfer Randy Roskelly at corner, and a walk-on who earned a scholarship with his play in the spring, Joe Straw, at free safety. On the offensive side of the ball, the T-Birds return just two full-time starters, _but they were two of SUU's most productive last season. Tight End Ryan Moynier caught eight touchdown passes last year-setting school and conference records with four in one game against San Francisco State-to lead the team in receiving touchdowns. Tailback Zed Robinson, who led the nation-all divisions-with 1,828 yards rushing last year also returns. Robinson averaged 7.2 yards per carry, scored 18 touchdowns and had a high game of 348 yards on the ground (against Santa Clara), the ninth-best effort in NCAA Division lI history. Robinson also set NCAA records for yards gamed in four (975) and five (1,075) consecutive games last season. In the backtteld, the T-Birds are "probably more sound than we've ever been:' offens ive coordinator Wayne McQuivey observes. "Of course we expect big things from Zed-he had a very good spring-but we've got very good backups as well. Wt!ve got five tailbacks who can all play. When we go from one guy to the next, we do n't lose anything. Included among that list of tailbacks is returning letterman Eric Campbell, who got off to a good start last year before being slowed by injury, and transfers Shawn Jones, Danny Harris and Joe Dodgson. At fullback, the T-Birds have three returning players who can all contribute Senior Kevin McKiernan, who was the primary back-up last year; redshirt freshman Benji Hoskins, who had a great spring; and sophomore Matt Labrum, who switches from linebacker. All should see plenty of time on che field this fall. "We've got three good fullbacks this year," McQuivey says. "Although we lost a good one [Scott Firestone), all three of the guys we have coming back can come in and play. We've also got a good transfer in Rob Warden!' Quarterback is one position where the T-Birds will be looking for a player to step up and take charge. Last year's backups, senior Bret Barben and redshirt freshman Rick Robins, are bo~h talented players. "Both quarterbacks can do great things;' McQuivcy points out. "Hopefully we can have a good combination-using their respective strengths-where both can play. They're both very competitive guys, and the competition between then should make both better players." Freshmen Austin Lindsay and Ray Larsen will also be available at quarterback if needed. Tight end is another position where the T-Birds are relatively deep. In Moynier, Southern Utah has its most experienced and one of its most versatile players, but the backups are solid as well. Transfers Brad Fausett and Scott Lavender, senior A~ndra Johnson, and redshirt freshman Brandon Griffiths give SUU depth in both blocking and receiving tight ends. "Tight end is probably our most experienced position;' McQuivey notes. "We have maturity and leadership in Moynier, who is a versatile guy we can split out if we wane to. We also have the more traditional blocking tight ends in Fausett, Griffiths and Lavender." The two areas on the offensive side of rhe ball which were most hurt by graduation were at wide receiver and along the line Boch starting wideouts and all five linemen who were starting at the end of 1991 were lost to graduation. The prognosis in not dire for either, however, as backups and transfers have bolstered both positions. Wide receiver is "the position where someone will have to come th rough and make up for the loss of two threeyear starters," McQuivey notes, referring to the loss of Bob Stookey and Dan S ilcox. "It will be a task, but we've got some talented kids." Daniel Rederford returns after backing up Silcox last year, while transfer Mike Key will be looked to to make a n immediate impact. Redshirt freshman Kevin Cuthbertson had a good spring and will be expected to contribute, while Moynicr may see action as a wide receiver as well. Along the line, juniors Paul Bittmenn, Jeff Fisher and Kevin Boyer all saw a lot of action last season. Bittmenn and Boyer both started at times during 1991, while Fisher was a critical backup. Clark Smngfellow, another junior, !;hould contribute after sitting out last season with an tnJury, while transfers Nat Adams, Jeff Martin, Rod Stone and James Brown will also be expected to contribute. "While we don't have the age maturity (the line had last year), we have more linemen and better sized linemen this year;' McQuivey points out of a unit which i~ devoid of seniors. "We do have two players who started last year and two who have been significant backups. Our JC kids looked good in the spring coo; they were all starters last year (in junior college] and the prospects arc good that they will come through for us." Redshirt freshmen Jason Tabor and Travis Workman add depth to the line, prompting McQuivey co note, "we have better numbers [on the linel than we've had in the past, which makes for a very competitive unit. The competition among the guys will be a key co how well they come together." Special teams is the one area of the game where the TBirds may be the most suspect. Three-time all-WFC punter Steve McDowell has graduated, and last year's kicker, Jason Haslam, has departed for an LOS mission, meaning new faces in the kicking game. Moynier has been the backup punter for three years, but impressive JC transfer Matt Gordon will probably end up with both the place.-kicking and punting chores. The return units are much more defined. Rederford is back after ranking among the nation's top-20 punt returners last season (9.8 ypr). Key and transfer Shane Sudbury are also ralented punt return men. Kickoff return duties will be handled by Robinson, who averaged 2J.2 yards last year, and Harris, who led all California JuCo return men last season. 1992 THUNDERBIRD FOOfBALL SCHEDULE (Times at site of game) Date Opponent Site Time Sept. 5 Northern Arizona Flagstaff, AZ 6:05 p.m. Sept. 12 Weber State Ogden, UT 6:05 p.m. Sept. 19 Central Oklahoma Cedar City 7 p.m. Sept. 26 Angelo State Cedar City 7 p.m. Oct. 3 Portland State Portland, OR 7 p.m. Oct. 10 Santa C lara Santa Clara, CA 7 p.m. Oct. 17 St. Mary's Cedar City 1 p.m. Oct. 24 Sacramento State Cedar C ity 1 p.m. Oct. 31 Cal State Northridge Cedar City p.m. Nov. 7 Cal Poly,San Lu is Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA 7 p.m. Nov. 14 Idaho State Pocatello, ID 6:05 p.m. |