Ohio Valley Conference

EIU quarterback Tony Romo

EASTERN ILLINOIS (8-4 overall, 6-1 in OVC)

Eastern Illinois will be among the favorites to capture its first OVC title after a sensational 2000 campaign that included an 8-4 overall record, a #17 national ranking and a berth in the I-AA playoffs for the first time since 1996. Head coach Bob Spoo welcomes back 14 starters from a squad that ranked among the top teams in I-AA in both total offense and defense.

Five starters are back from an offense which set school records for points (39.1 ppg) and yardage (452.9 ypg). Leading the attack is junior quarterback Tony Romo (164-278-12, 2583 yds, 27 TD's), who earned OVC Offensive Player of the Year honors after ranking 2nd in I-AA in pass efficiency and throwing at least one TD pass in every game. At receiver, 2nd-team All-OVC pick Frank Cutolo (33-710 yds, 4 TD's) is back along with senior Ken Alsop (24-406 yds, 6 TD's) and junior Will Bumphus (7 TD's). The backfield is also solid with the tailback tandem of J.R. Taylor (129-739 yds, 7 TD's) and Andre Raymond (51-433 yds, 4 TD's) and fullback Andre Jones. Two regulars return on the offensive line.

Eight starters return to a Panthers' defense which gave up just 291.9 ypg and 17.9 ppg. Seniors Gonzalo Segovia and Brad Metzger are back at the tackle spots, but EIU must find new starters on the ends. The linebacking corps is led by 2nd team All-OVC pick Nick Ricks, who recorded a team-high 93 tackles and 5 sacks as a true freshman. Also back at linebacker is sophomore Fred Miller (56 tackles, 10 TFL). The secondary is excellent with 1st team All-OVC selection Kourtney Young (7 int.) and Antwan Oliver at the corners and seniors John Williams (87 tackles) and Corey Lewis (85 tackles) at safety. Senior Bill Besenhofer will do the kicking and punting.


EASTERN KENTUCKY (6-5 overall, 3-4 in OVC)

Eastern Kentucky extended its amazing string of consecutive winning seasons to 23 with a 6-5 overall mark a year ago, but the Colonels' fifth-place OVC finish was its lowest since 1972. Head coach Roy Kidd, who enters his 38th season just one victory shy of the coveted 300-win mark, is looking for improvement with 14 starters back among 31 lettermen.

EKU's strength will be on defense, where eight starters return to a unit which ranked 4th nationally in total defense (259.6 ypg) and 5th in scoring defense (14.2 ppg). Up front, junior end Nick Hill (74 tackles, 8 TFL) was a 1st team All-OVC pick and senior tackle Marcus Adams earned 2nd-team All-OVC honors. Four of the team's top five linebackers are back, led by senior Nick Sullivan (80 tackles, 11 TFL) an honorable mention All-OVC selection, and senior Tim Gibbens. Three starters return in the secondary, including 1st team All-OVC free safety Yeremiah Bell (team-high 110 tackles), senior cornerback Eric Sims (4 int.) and junior rover Tim Roberts.

The Colonels have many holes to fill offensively. Four of the unit's five returning starters are up front with three offensive linemen and tight end Antonio Brooks. Also back are a pair of veteran fullbacks in Chad Culver (150 yds) and Corey Pritchard (147 yds). Battling for the quarterback job will be sophomore returnee Toki McCray and Virginia Tech transfer Travis Turner. At tailback, Florida transfer Chuck Marks and redshirt freshman C.J. Hudson are the top candidates. Junior Aaron McKee is the lone returnee at wide receiver. The kicking duties will again be shared by Jamie Flynn and Adam Smith.


MURRAY STATE (6-5 overall, 4-3 in OVC)

Murray State captured three of its final four games last season to finish 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the OVC in head coach Joe Pannunzio's first year. The Racers should be among the contenders for the league title with 13 returning starters, including seven from an offense that was among the most high-powered in Division I-AA.

MSU ranked 11th nationally in total offense (452.3 ypg), 13th in passing (276.4 ypg) and 23rd in scoring (33.3 ppg) in 2000, and several key contributors return. Sophomore quarterback Stewart Childress (230-392-10, 2928 yds, 20 TD's) passed for the 3rd-most yards in OVC history in his rookie year, earning 2nd team All-OVC honors. The Racers also have 1st team All-OVC receiver Michael Slater (43-819 yds, 7 TD's) and 2nd-team All-OVC tight end Josh McKeel back. On the ground, senior Mario Riley (113-852 yds, 7 TD's) and junior Garner Byars (131-788 yds, 6 TD's) both made the All-OVC 2nd team after combining for over 1,600 yards. Center Josh Foster, a 2nd-team All-OVC pick, anchors the line.

The Racers hope to improve on a defense that allowed more than 425 yards and 30 points per game last season. Two starters are back on the defensive front, with junior tackle James Bridges and senior end Chad Lamb. MSU lost five lettermen at linebacker, with senior Zelbert Johnson (46 tackles) the lone returnee. In the secondary, cornerbacks Cornelius Denman and Josh Catlett both started more than half of the games a year ago. Senior free safety Jeremy Davis is also back after a broken arm cost him most of the 2000 season. Junior Brian Bivens has been one of the top punters in I-AA over the past two years.


SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE (3-8 overall, 1-6 in OVC)

Southeast Missouri is looking for continued improvement as head coach Tim Billings begins his second season. The Indians were just 3-8 overall a year ago, but did record a pair of impressive non-conference wins over Southern Illinois and Illinois State. With 14 starters back and the addition of several impressive transfers, Southeast should be better in 2001.

Seven starters return to an offense which got nearly 70% of its yards through the air. Multi-talented quarterback Rashad West (313 yds rushing/911 yds passing) is questionable after suffering aknee injury over the summer, but senior Bobby Brune (112-197-4, 1363 yds, 9 TD's) has plenty of experience. While the Indians lost their top two receivers, returnees Curtis Cooper, Jerl Huling and Tarik Simpson combined for 74 catches and 801 yards. Transfers Willie Ponder and Adrian Sanders are expected to be impact players at receiver. Junior Iven Brown (168 yds) will battle with Cooper at running back. Two starters return on the line.

Southeast hopes to shore up a defense which allowed over 440 yards and 36 points per game. Three starters return up front with junior tackles James Jennette and Jermaine Motley and end Tatum Kitchen. At linebacker, senior Corey Mathis was a 2nd team All-OVC pick after ranking among league leaders in tackles (97), tackles for loss (19) and sacks (7). Sophomore Ricky Farmer made 55 stops in just four games before getting hurt. Cornerbacks Demar Winston and Marco Tipton return in the secondary and the team is high on transfer Prince Anderson at free safety.


TENNESSEE-MARTIN (2-9 overall, 0-7 in OVC)

The rebuilding process continues at Tennessee-Martin, where head coach Sam McCorkle guided the Skyhawks to a 2-9 mark in his inaugural season. UTM had 20 freshmen either start or see significant playing time in 2000, and McCorkle is hoping the experience his young squad gained a year ago will lead to improvement and more victories.

UTM ranked 4th in the OVC in rushing last year (187.6 ypg) with its new multiple option offense, and six starters return to the unit. Quarterback Robert Hines (264 yds rush/241 yds pass) is back to trigger the attack after splitting time as the starter as a true freshman. Also returning are a pair of receivers who saw significant action in senior Travis Parker (13-195 yds) and sophomore David Dobbins. The Skyhawks must replace their top two rushers from a year ago, but whoever gets the job will run behind a veteran offensive line that features five returning starters. Senior tackle Ben Gallian and junior tackle Guy Pryor lead the group.

The Skyhawks made strides defensively last season and should continue to improve with 10 starters back. Senior defensive end Nick Stamper (58 tackles, 3 sacks) was a 2nd team All-OVC pick, and he is joined by senior tackles Juricus Boyd and Nick Nordstrom. At linebacker, junior Jonathan Leddy (83 tackles) returns along with juniors John Gray and Mark Calixte. In the secondary, senior safety Vincent Thomas ranked 3rd in the league in tackles (133) and earned honorable mention All-OVC. Also returning are Trent Findley, who was 5th in the league with four interceptions, Raphel Hines and Kendrick Smith.


TENNESSEE STATE (3-8 overall, 2-5 in OVC)

After capturing back-to-back OVC titles, Tennessee State posted a 3-8 overall record and slipped to sixth place in the league standings last season. Second-year head coach James Reese is confident the Tigers will be back in the hunt for a conference crown in 2001 with 15 starters returning and several newcomers expected to make an impact.

TSU's offense averaged 395.5 yards per game last year and ranked 23rd in I-AA in passing (252.9 ypg). Senior Shannon Harris (69-140-8, 650 yds, 3 TD's), who made two starts in 2000, will battle Marshall transfer Kenny Irby for the quarterback spot. The Tigers return a trio of talented receivers in honorable mention All-OVC pick C.J. Johnson (42-853 yds, 7 TD's), Ron Jackson (24-214 yds) and Patrick Jenkins, who was injured much of last year. TSU sports a veteran backfield with senior tailback Marvin Jones (79-442 yds) and senior fullback KaRon Key. On the line, tackle Lawrence Smith and center Benedict Ibisi were both All-OVC selections.

Nine starters are back on a Tigers' defense which needs to improve on the 33.8 ppg it allowed a year ago. Defensive ends Curley Grayson (9 TFL) and Desmond Scantling (8 sacks, 13 TFL) both earned All-OVC honors last year, while Danny Roberson and Manny Robles are two-year starters at tackle. At linebacker, 1st team All-OVC pick Walter Reese (69 tackles, 7 sacks) will again be joined by Jermaine Beale (58 tackles) and B.J. Fletcher. Safety Marquis Stephens (71 tackles) is the top returnee in the secondary, which will be helped by the return of senior Eric Joyce.


TENNESSEE TECH (8-3 overall, 5-2 in OVC)

Expectations are high at Tennessee Tech, where the Golden Eagles are coming off their best season since 1993, posting an 8-3 overall record and finishing the year ranked 22nd in the final I-AA Top 25 polls. Head coach Mike Hennigan should have the Golden Eagles ready for another run at the OVC title in 2001 as 17 starters return.

Ten of Tech's 11 starters are back from an offense which posted the 2nd-highest point total in school history. Senior quarterback Grant Swallows (93-167-4, 1037 yds, 3 TD's) guides the attack for the third straight year, and the team's top four receivers return, led by junior Stevland Sills (24-373 yds) and senior Tedarrell Scott (24-219 yds). The Golden Eagles feature a talented group of tailbacks in seniors Travis Rogers (137-809 yds, 11 TD's) and Nick Solomon (132-617 yds, 6 TD's) and sophomore Jason Ballard (364 yds, 3 TD's). Also back is starting fullback Ronnie Sidler. All-OVC center Joey Bishop anchors a veteran offensive line.

Defense has traditionally been the strength of the Golden Eagles, and six starters are back on that unit. Three players return up front with 1st team All-OVC end D.J. Bleisath (23 TFL, 7 sacks) and tackles Eric Allen (16 TFL) and Deon Taylor (12 TFL, 6 sacks). Tech must replace All-America middle linebacker Chad Evitts, but Greg Hunnicutt and Mahlon Logan are back on the outside. Junior free safety Jameel Brown, who was 11th in the OVC with 95 tackles, is the lone returnee in the secondary. Senior All-OVC kicker David Collett, who is set to become Tech's all-time leading scorer, will also take on the punting duties this season.