Wednesday, August 8, 2001

AIR RAID 2001…. RELOAD!
(2001 Tusculum College Football Outlook)

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum College football team will have a tough act to follow, but that is the game plan as the Pioneers head into the 2001 campaign. Fourth-year head coach Frankie DeBusk has reasons to be optimistic about his team’s chances in the upcoming year, which begins Thursday, August 30 as Tusculum travels to NCAA Division I-AA Morehead State University.

Last season’s club posted a 7-4 mark and finished fourth in the South Atlantic Conference. That was a five-win improvement from a season before, the fifth best improvement in NCAA Division II. DeBusk also has the return of 44 lettermen from last year’s squad, including 17 starters highlighted by All-American kicker Paul Czerniak (Syracuse, N.Y.) Also back are 2000 All-South Atlantic Conference selection D.J. Starling at defensive back as well as linebacker Craig Pritchett, last year’s SAC Defensive Freshman of the Year. Offensively, senior quarterback Caleb Slover (Lake City, Tenn.) returns to direct to Pioneer aerial attack, as will favorite targets WR Antwain Glenn and RB Aaron Claridy (Jasper, Fla.).

"I think we have a better football team than we’ve ever had in my tenure at Tusculum," said DeBusk. "We’re not as good as we’re going to be, but this the best we’ve been… on both sides of the ball. If we can stay healthy and keep some key players on the field, we have a chance to contend."

In 2000, the emphasis was placed on the Tusculum offense with a wide-open attack that could light scoreboards throughout the South Atlantic Conference. But it was the Tusculum defense, which proved to be the catalyst in the Pioneers’ success run that saw them win four games in a row.

The defense forced a school record 31 turnovers and allowed 22.3 points per game. The Pioneers were especially tough against the run allowing only 134.0 yards rushing per game, which was 42^nd in the nation. TC was also ranked 29th in passing efficiency defense (99.1) and 31^st in turnover margin (.63).

For the most part, the defensive unit is well intact with the return of seven starters, but of the four that are gone, three of those garnered All-Conference honors 2000, including TC’s all-time sack leader Tracy Branner, who earned All-Region accolades as well.

Anchoring the TC secondary is All-Conference defensive back D.J. Starling. Starling is Tusculum’s leading returning tackler after accounting for 88 hits in 2000, including 12 for loss, which was third on the club. Starling proved he had the knack in making the big stop in crunch time, including last year’s Homecoming game when he blocked a potential game-winning field goal on a 10-9 win over Lenoir-Rhyne College.

Preseason All-SAC honoree Rashaun Strickland (Chattanooga, Tenn.) also returns to the defensive backfield. Strickland established a new TC single-season records last year with five interceptions and 16 pass defenses. He also made 60 tackles, including five for loss. He enters the 2001 campaign needing four more interceptions to become Tusculum’s all-time pass defender.

Sophomore Jahmaal Nelson (Spartanburg, S.C.) is back in the starting lineup after making 34 stops as a rookie. Hamilton, N.C. junior Greg Rush is expected to have another fine season as he posted 23 tackles and picked off two interceptions in 2000.

Junior Eddie Spradlen (Powell, Tenn.) and sophomores Derek Stinson (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Donald Amaker (Bluefield, W.V.) are also back. Spradlen tallied 19 tackles and recovered a fumble for a touchdown, while Stinson accounted for eight stops as a freshman. Amaker, who also shined on Tusculum’s special teams, recorded 20 tackles in the secondary. Sophomore Lewis Smith (Miami, Fla.) made a dozen tackles in 2000.

Also looking to crack the Tusculum lineup are newcomers Robert Ramirez (Avondale, Ariz.), Keddrain Bowen (Greenville, N.C.) and Jarod Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.). Brown garnered Second Team All-Conference accolades at Ventura College, while Smith was a 1998 preseason JUCO All-American at Mt. San Antonio College, where he posted 157 tackles and six interceptions in his two seasons there.

Other newcomers include Michael Anderson (Cairo, Ga.), Camian Carter (West Point, Ga.), Javier Jones (Inman, S.C.), Prince McKinney (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Marcus Robinson (Clarksville, Tenn.), Joe Shepherd (Humboldt, Tenn.), Marvin Smith (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Jeremiah Warner (LaGrange, Ga.)

Last season, the Tusculum linebacker position proved to be the most talented. It featured three South Atlantic Conference honorees, including graduated seniors Tracy Branner and Ryan Cuthbert. The only returning starter is SAC Defensive Freshman of the Year Craig Pritchett. He will be looked to lead the middle after posting 66 tackles, including nine for loss and a pair of sacks in 2000. Pritchett also accounted for four interceptions, the most ever by a Tusculum College rookie.

Returning veterans Walter Johnson (Ft. Valley, Ga.) and Clenzie Kyles (Jackson, Tenn.) have their sights on cracking the starting lineup. Johnson was responsible for 24 tackles, including three for loss and a pair of sacks in his six games of action. Kyles accounted for 14 hits in his nine appearances as a rookie. Milton, Vermont sophomore Donny LeFleur is also expected to return after missing last season due to injury.

Tusculum will also have the services of newcomers Alan Commons (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Dustin Cresswell (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Daris Robinson (Birmingham, Ala.) to rely upon. Commons posted 75 tackles last season at Reedley JC in California last season. Cresswell, playing in his first season, will be battling for playing time after missing spring drills due to injury, while Robinson has emerged as one of the hardest hitters on the Tusculum defense.

Several players will also be looking to contribute at linebacker including: Blu Davis (Mesa Arizona), Jason Bass (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Marcus Brooks (Spartanburg, S.C.), Clayton Collins (Lexington, S.C.), Mike Greene (Spring City, Tenn.), Dave Mullins (Clintwood, Va.), Adam Parker (Iva, S.C.), Alex Quick (Seymour, Tenn.), Larry Ross, Jr. (West Point, Ga.), Daverus Sands (West Point, Ga.), Brett Sivert (Rogersville, Tenn.), Damian Walker (Mayo, Fla.) and Josh Whitehead (Maryville, Tenn.).

Once again, the defensive front unit will be a young one, but it gained a baptism by fire in 2000 and emerged in one of the best in the South Atlantic Conference. Two starters return to the trenches including junior Chris Jackson (Neptune Beach, Fla.) and sophomore Keno Ward (Crawford, Ga.). Jackson made 19 stops, including five for loss, two sacks and an interception. Ward shined in his freshman campaign with 22 tackles, including three for loss.

Sophomore Emerson Creed (West Palm Beach, Fla.) also returns, accounting for 15 tackles, including three for loss and a sack a year ago. Sophomore Gary Holmes (Greenville, S.C.) is back after his 20-hit performance last season, including two tackles for loss and a sack.

Mike Hobbs (Greenville, N.C.), Kelvin Davis (Big Stone Gap, Va.), Greg Stanley (Rockford, Tenn.), Matt Cook (Alamo, Tenn.) Josh McDavid (Fall Branch, Tenn.), Lebron Johnson (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Terrance Horne (Atlanta, Ga.) also return for the Pioneers.

Newcomers on the defensive line include: Aaron Bagley (Franklin, Tenn.), Alex Brice (Greeneville, Tenn.), Miguel Crawford (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Thomas Davidson (Gulf Shores, Ala.), Trent Dyer (Blairsville, Ga.) and Travis Ueltschi (Ventura, Calif.).

The offensive output at Tusculum College has exploded during the Frankie DeBusk era as several school records have been broken since his arrival in 1998. But it was last season that TC enjoyed its finest offensive season, smashing over 40 records in the process, while establishing itself as one of the most entertaining and explosive offenses in the nation.

Last year’s club averaged a school record 332.3 yards per game offensively, including 224.8 yards via the air. That passing offense was second in the conference and 32nd in NCAA II.

The Pioneer "Air Raid 2000" attack put some impressive numbers on the board last season in breaking several school records. Caleb Slover (Preseason All-SAC Second Team) established top passing marks with 2,204 yards (205-369) and 17 touchdowns which were all second in the league. At 6-3, the TC field general will hope to use last season’s "baptism by fire" in getting the ball into the end zone even more.

Standing in the wings as the aire apparents for Slover are a pair of signal callers who are vying for playing time in 2001. Jeff Cordova, a 6-2 junior from Hawaiian Gardens, Calif., comes to the Greeneville campus from Mt. San Antonio College. Cordova garnered team MVP honors while posting a 17-5 record as Mt. San Antonio’s starting quarterback. The two-time All-Conference performer led his JUCO squad to a pair of league titles and a bowl berth last season.

Also competing for playing time at quarterback are newcomers Ricky Stevens (Simpsonville, S.C.), Matt Quillen (Greeneville, Tenn.), Walt Roark (Greenwood, S.C.) and Ben Whitson (Crossville, Tenn.).

The cogs that kept the Air Raid attack airborne was the Tusculum receiving corps. Gone is two-time All-SAC receiver J.R. Wooten, who rewrote the Pioneer record book in receptions. But TC has more in the arsenal returning, including preseason All-Conference receiver Antwain Glenn. The Moore, S.C. sophomore hauled in 28 catches last season for 434 yards and four touchdowns. In his last four games, he is averaging 5.8 receptions per contest for 86.0 yards an outing.

Coming out of nowhere last season was Crossville, Tenn. native Kevin Wolcott, who recorded 20 catches for 201 yards in the last half of the season. The 6-3 sophomore will be expected to step up and continue his solid play in 2001.

Sophomore Marvin Kelly (Bennettsville, S.C.) is one of the most exciting players to watch on the TC roster. He proved to be an effective weapon at several positions, including special teams, but it was receiver that he shined. Kelly posted 13 receptions for 87 yards and emerged as one of the Pioneers top kickoff return threats averaging 18.9 yards per return.

But the coaching staff has their sights set on the return of junior receiver Bobby Thompson. The Inman, S.C. native missed the first four games due to injury and he never got on track of the pace he set as a rookie in 1999 when he led TC in scoring with five touchdowns and tallied 28 catches for 285 yards. In 2000 he accounted for a respectable 15 receptions for 180 yards, but failed to get into the end zone.

Also returning from last year’s receiving corps are Josh Campbell (Maryville, Tenn.), Sammy Foster (Alexander City, Ala.), Reggie Jones (Bunnell, Fla.) and Travis Rader (Greeneville, Tenn.). Redshirt freshman Sam Dowels (Jasper, Fla.) will be playing in his first collegiate campaign this year.

Several newcomers will also be in quest of cracking the Tusculum lineup. Those new faces include, Jason Nance (Lakeland, Fla.), Tyler Baker (Jonesborough, Tenn.), Jonathan Brewer (Sevierville, Tenn.), Teddy Bruton (Duncan, S.C.), Clay Cope (Greenback, Tenn.), Tory Dandy (Woodruff, S.C.), Tyler Finnell (Cleveland, Tenn.), Adam Huizenga (Bristol, Verm.), Joseph Ormsbee (Greeneville, Tenn.), Matt Riggs (Dayton, Tenn.), and Ryan Tassell (Lodi, Calif).

The Tusculum backfield has been a one-man wrecking machine for the past two seasons with the running exploits of preseason All-Conference back Aaron Claridy. The 5-6 junior is already TC’s fourth all-time leading rusher with 1,359 yards in his first two campaigns as a Pioneer. Last season his offensive output increased, leading Tusculum with 1,027 all-purpose yards. Claridy rushed for 853 yards and scored four touchdowns, while also tallying 29 receptions (2nd on team) for 174 yards and a TD.

Making the transition to running back from the defensive side of the ball is former linebacker Tori Plummer (Chattanooga, Tenn.). Sophomore Kendon Moore (Dunnellton, Fla.) also returns after a fine spring.

Entering their first seasons in the Tusculum backfield are Kenya Dease (Bennettsville, S.C.), Demetrius Henderson (Florala, Ala.), Justin Polchinski (Midlothian, Va.), Luke Trantum (Hendersonville, Tenn.) and Jimmy Williams (Alamo, Tenn.).

OFFENSIVE LINE

Once again, the play of the Tusculum offensive line could prove to be the deciding factor in the continued success of the Air Raid attack. Last year, the task was accomplished with a compilation of "smoke and mirrors" with a very young unit. But the baptism by fire has resulted in a year’s experience and a more veteran group in the trenches.

Returning starters Alan Dunn (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Kevin Weston (Campbellton, Fla.) will anchor the line. Dunn, a preseason All-Conference selection, had a fine rookie campaign in 2000, while Weston has emerged as a fine blocker after making the transition from tight end a year ago. Veterans Garrison Gibson (Rogersville, Tenn.) and Carl Pieczonka (Cincinnati, Ohio) are back as are Adrian Westfield (Cleveland, Tenn.), Robby Gentry (Rutledge, Tenn.), Will Goode (Greeneville, Tenn.), David Johnson (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Byron Simmons (Hernando Fla.).

Greeneville native Josh Quillen returns home after playing at NCAA Division I-AA Austin Peay. The 6-5, 285-pounder is expected to bring some valuable experience with him in his first TC campaign. The offensive front will also feature newcomers Doug Holmberg (Pittsburg, Calif.), Joshua Stork (Stockton, Calif.), Carlos Meza (Stockton, Calif.), John Plappert (Stockton, Calif.), Bobby Hurst (Panama City, Fla.), Bull Brown (Douglas, Ga.), Josh Grantham (Sterrett, Ala.), Matt Calvert (Gaston, S.C.), Michael Cowart (Bristol, Tenn.), Ben Dunn (Star, S.C.), Joey Falcone (Roan Mountain, Tenn.), Fred Ferrell (Jackson, Tenn.), Derrick Haynes (Conover, N.C.), Tom McCullough (Madison, Fla.), Jesse Powell (Alamo, Tenn.), Philip Reagan (Cleveland, Tenn.), T.J. Stapleton (Chuckey, Tenn.), Matthew Welborn (Piedmont, S.C.) and Patrick Wolak (Clemson, S.C.).

The strength of Tusuclum’s turnaround season in 2000 was the play of its special teams. A critical field goal or a blocked punt gave the Pioneers the edge in several contests last year. Leading the charge in 2001 once again is senior All-American kicker Paul Czerniak. Czerniak enjoyed one of the finest kicking campaigns in South Atlantic Conference history, scoring 81 points (the most ever by a TC kicker) and converting on 19 field goals, which was tops in NCAA Division II. He averaged 1.73 field goals per game and was successful on 24-of-27 of his extra point attempts. Czerniak established several game and single-season marks, including points kicking in a game (14) and connected on a pair of 52-yard field goals, the longest in Tusculum history.

Paul also got the job done in the punting department. Czerniak earned First Team All-SAC honors as a punter and kicker, averaging 39.0 yards per kick and pinned the opposition inside the 20 on 14 occasions. He set new school marks for punts and punting yards in a season.

But waiting in the wings is newcomer Brice Stefanick (Travelers Rest, S.C.). The 6-1 sophomore comes to TC after a successful rookie season at The Citadel. Stefanick led the Bulldogs in scoring with 36 points and was a perfect 18-for-18 on extra points. He also boomed six field goals and was successful on three of his last four attempts. He could also be called upon to punt if needed. Stefanick averaged 42.0 per punt in his final two prep seasons at Travelers Rest High School.

The Pioneers will also have the kicking services of Ben Arndt (Young Harris, Ga.) and Adam Huizenga to rely upon this year.

Greeneville sophomore Matt Ball returns after a splendid rookie campaign as the Pioneers’ long snapper. His talents have been recognized being named to the preseason All-Conference First Team as a snapper.

For the first part of the season, Tusculum was lacking an effective punt returner. But help was not far away as Donald Amaker answered the call. In the last five games of the season, Amaker averaged 10.7 yards per return, which led the South Atlantic Conference. The 2001 preseason All-SAC standout, also returned four kickoffs for a 24.5 yards average a year ago.

Tusculum will also look to Marvin Kelly for help on the special teams. Last season, Kelly brought back 10 kickoffs for an 18.9 yards average.