Show Eagal (27 tackles) started three games last year and Brerit Passey Aggies £ i I Continued from Page 3 the bowl bid Then came a collapse at North Texas in the season finale and an embarrassing 33-1- 9 loss to Cincinnati at the Humanitarian Bowl “North Texas taught us we need to be ready to play all the time” Dicko said “We led the league in a lot of categories last year but as a (defensive) unit we rue placing high expectations on ourselves this year We need to be more consistent” Leading the team in its run for another bowl berth will be an experienced defense The Aggies return six starters from a group that led the Big West in every statistical category and ranked 23th in the nation in rushing defense USU also ranked llth in the country in sacks with 42 “Tony D’ Amato and Johndale Catty are a couple of great leaders on our defense” Arslanian said “Their work ethic is a great example to the rest of the team" D Amato and Carty were the leading tacklers in 1997 with 124 and 110 respectively They will both be called upon to guide the Aggie D Gone is Big West Defensive Player of the Year Ben Crosland That leaves a big hole on the defensive line Crosland had 88 tackles including team highs in tackles for loss (14) and sacks (18 tackles) saw action in most games Another sophomore Ibny Newsoo who saw some playing time last year will add depth ‘Tony D’ Amato is the heart and soul of our defense” linebacker coach Tom McMahon said “Tony is definitely the player to watch no question He is one of the toughest kids I've ever been around” Aggie linebacker Tony D Amato (46) eacke year D'Amato the leaclng tackier a year ago (9) Also gone are linebackers (64 tackJeremy les) and Todd Sofonia (108 tackles) defensive tackle John Latu (33 tackles 8 for loss) and Bashir Levingston (34 tackles 8 pass break-up“We are not too deep up front and need players in the secondary to step up” Arslanian said TWo starters are back up front in junior Caleb Smith (88 tackles 6 sacks) who played tackle last year and is now at an end and Hunt-Lovele- ss ck s) ' MfehMaacaroHmldJounMl lest wM anchor the defense a Nevada quarterback senior Lindsay Hassell (63 tackles 7 sacks) Senior Walter Fiefla (16 tackles) who has started 21 games as an Aggie but was slowed by an injury last year will anchor the middle with his junior brother Vaea “We lost some great guys but we’ve got some good ones to replace them” Hassell said “We're going to be all right” Joining D’Amato a Butkus candidate in the linebacker corps are a couple of sophomores Blake Best-Rent- er Bargain-Rent- er $1 since taking over the Aggies is finding replacements for seven lost starters on an offense that ranked ninth in the nation in total offense 14th in passing offense and 17th in scoring offeree Gone are quarterback Matt Sauk (2896 yards passing 16 TDi) the top two wide receivers in Nakia Jenkins (73 catches Before Levingston quit the 1086 yards) and Steve Smith (37 team this spring it looked like catches 686 yards) tight end the Aggie secondary would Guillermo Chavez backup runreturn intact But there are plenty ning back Melvin Blue (741 of talented athletes fighting for yards 9 TDs) and three offensive the two starting cornerback spots linemen — Brandon Dyson The safeties are already locked Mark Rommel and Mauricio up with Dicko (34 tackles 7 pass Jourdan — who started together break ups) and Carty who led the for two years The good news is junior runBig Wat and ranked 10th in the nation with six interceptions ning bock Demario Brown (791 Dicko started all 11 games last yards 10 TDs) is back He averyear while Catty has started 23 aged 1214 yards a game last season missing three contests with games in his career Junior Vashon Garmon (49 an injured knee Arslanian calls him “one of the best running tackles) started nine games at corbacks I’ve been around” ner but is now backing up Dicko “We (offense) are going to be Holding the starting spots after spring ball at cornerback were all right we are close” Brown said “This unit plays together u senior Craig Miller (27 tackles) who has 17 career starts and a team Last year we had too many individuals” junior transfer Greg White Freshman Tony Walker has also been Redshirt freshman John Roberts junior college transfers turning some heads in practice “A lot is expected from the Damon Moore and Joe Sdosabal defense and we are expecting a and true freshman Emmett White lot” Dicko said “For a long time add depth at running back in the the offense has carried this team one-baAggie offense putting up a lot of points and See AGGIES on Page 7 yards It's time for a change and ck END OF THE SEASON Our Movie Rental Rates New Release aa defense that td be known goes oat and stops people” Arslanian’s biggest challenge 99onc-day rental 99two-da- y rental 49cwo-da-y rental I CLEARANCE I nMaHaadiawMliAkdiii Get your FREE BefrRcmer cr Bapnv '01 coupon atTheBocic'EMe k nnm Food! 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