Ohio Valley Conference

Eastern Kentucky “Colonels” at Central Michigan “Chippewas”

Stadium: Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,199)
Location: Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Field: Artificial Turf
Time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
Series Record: Central Michigan leads, 5-1
Last Meeting: 1973 - Central Michigan 21, Eastern Kentucky 7 (in Richmond, Ky.)
Team Records: EKU: 0-0 overall, 0-0 in OVC
CMU: 0-0 overall, 0-0 in MAC
Last Week: First game of season
Coaches:
EKU: Roy Kidd (Eastern Kentucky ‘55)
38th season at EKU (299-117-8)
CMU: Mike DeBord (Manchester, ‘78)
2nd season at CMU (2-9)

Games Notes: Eastern Kentucky’s 6-5 record a year ago marked its 23rd consecutive winning season, but left head coach Roy Kidd one victory shy of the 300-win mark.

Offense: EKU’s offense will have a new look following the loss of some key players. Four of the five returning starters are on the front line 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.). Sophomore returnee Toki McCray makes his first career start at quarterback , and he’ll be handing off to a pair of Florida products in tailbacks Chuck Marks, a Florida transfer, and C.J. Hudson, a redshirt freshman. Junior Aaron McKee is the lone returnee at wide receiver but will be challenged by true rookie Allen Evans.

Defense: Eight starters return from a defensive unit that recorded four shutouts last season, ranking fourth nationally in total defense (259.6 ypg) and fifth in scoring defense (14.2 ppg). Up front, junior end Nick Hill (74 tackles, 8 TFL) was a 1st-team All-OVC selection and senior tackle Marcus Adams captured 2nd-team All-OVC honors. Four of the team’s five linebackers are back, led by senior All-OVC honorable mention Nick Sullivan (80 tackles, 11 TFL) and senior Tim Gibbens. Three starters return in the secondary, including 1st-team All-OVC free safety Yeremiah Bell (110 tackles), senior cornerback Eric Sims (4 int.) and junior rover Tim Roberts.

Opponent: Central Michigan won the last meeting (21-7) 28 years ago and holds a 5-1 margin in the series that began in 1939. The Chippewas return 16 starters from a squad that struggled to a 2-9 record in coach Mike DeBord’s first season. CMU also boasts a strong defensive unit, leading the nation in pass defense (149.7 ypg) a year ago, but will be without the services of starting defensive tackle Dominic Mancini, who is out for 3-4 weeks after sustaining a knee injury last week in practice. Sophomore quarterback Derrick Vickers (83-180, 1059 yds., 7 TD’s) returns after starting the final five games last year, including a 21-17 upset of ranked MAC rival Western Michigan.


Gardner-Webb “Runnin’ Bulldogs” at Tennessee-Martin “Skyhawks”

Stadium: Graham Stadium (7,500)
Location: Martin, Tennessee
Field: Grass
Time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Team Records: GWU: 0-0 overall, 0-0 in SAC
UTM: 0-0 overall, 0-0 in OVC
Last Week: First game of season
Coaches:
GWU: Steve Patton (Furman, ‘77)
5th season at GWU (28-16)
UTM: Sam McCorkle (Livingston ‘72)
2nd season at UTM (2-9)

Games Notes: Tennessee-Martin plays host to Gardner-Webb in the first meeting of a four-game series as GWU makes the transition to Division I-AA from the Division II ranks. UT Martin is coming off a 2-9 effort in Coach Sam McCorkle’s first year and will be looking for continued improvement from 34 returning lettermen.

Offense: Sophomore quarterback Robert Hines will run a multiple option offense that ranked fourth in the league in rushing (187.6 ypg) a year ago. Senior tackle Ben Gallian is one of six primary starters returning to the front line, which will be boosted by the transfer of center Jason Underwood, who started all 11 games as a sophomore at LSU two seasons ago.

Defense: The Skyhawks’ defensive unit should be vastly improved with the return of 10 players who logged time as starters last year. Senior defensive end Nick Stamper (58 takcles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks) was a 2nd-team All-OVC pick in 2000, while senior defensive back Vincent Thomas (133 tackles, 2 int.) earned All-OVC honorable mention. Sharing kicking duties with junior college transfer Jimmy John Bolm will be homegrown Martin prep standout Brent Harris.

Opponent: Nineteeen starters are back for a 7-4 Gardner-Webb squad that finished the 2000 campaign on a five-game winning streak, including a 38-35 road upset of D-IAA nationally-ranked New Hampshire. The Bulldogs return several key performers on both sides of the ball, especially on an offensive unit that averaged almost 400 yards a game a year ago. Junior signal-caller Jeremy Martin (192-382, 2551 yds, 18 TDs) has a favorite target in sophomore William Andrews, Jr. (70, 933 yds, 8 TD’s), son of the former NFL standout running back.


Fayetteville State “Broncos” at Tennessee Tech “Golden Eagles”

Stadium: Tucker Stadium (16,500)
Location: Cookeville, Tennessee
Field: Stadia Turf
Time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Team Records: FSU: 1-0 overall, 0-0 in CIAA
TTU: 0-0 overall, 0-0 in MAC
Last Week: Fayetteville State 23,
Benedict College 17
Tennessee Tech -First game
Coaches:
FSU: Kenny Phillips (East Carolina ‘84)
2nd season at FSU (4-7)
TTU: Mike Hennigan (Tennessee Tech ‘ 73)
6th season at TTU (28-26)

Game Notes: Tennessee Tech is ranked 23rd in the ESPN/USA Today preseason poll following an 8-3 effort last season, their best since 1993. The Golden Eagles, who bring a four-game win streak into their season opener, return a wealth of experience in the form of 17 starters, including 10 on offense.

Offense: Guiding the attack for the third straight year is senior quarterback Grant Swallows (93-167-4, 1037 yds., 3 TD’s). All four Tech receivers are back, including junior Stevland Sills (24-373 yds.) and senior Tedarrell Scott (24-219 yds.). The Golden Eagles’ ground game is also in fine shape with the return of two explosive senior tailbacks in Travis Rogers (137-809 yds., 11 TD’s) and Nick Solomon (132-617 yds, 6 TD’s). Sophomore Jason Ballard moves over to fullback after rushing for 364 yards as a rookie.

Defense: Tech’s strength has long been its defensive unit and 2001 should be no different. Three returnees are back on the front line in 1st team All-OVC end D.J. Bleisath (23 TFL, 7 sacks) and tackles Eric Allen (16 TFL, 4 sacks) and Deon Taylor (12 TFL, 6 sacks). Sophomore Greg Hunnicutt will slide over to replace replace All-American middle linebacker Chad Evitts and Mahlon Long reprises his role on the outside. Junior Jameel Brown, ranked 11th in the OVC with 95 tackles as a free safety a year ago, moves over to rover as the sole returning starter in the secondary. Senior All-OVC kicker David Collett is poised to become Tech’s all-time scoring leader.

Opponent: NAIA opponent Fayetteville State posted a 23-17 come-from-behind win over Benedict College last week. FSU amassed 361 yards in total offense and allowed 243. Nathaniel Benton led the attack with 96 yards rushing in 17 carries, while quarterback Victor Leath passed for 120 yards and one TD. Clenton Cochran and Dominic Backman led the FSU defense with 10 tackles each.