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News Nuggets, 09.06.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Standing room only for debut of Chanticleers' football program

CONWAY — When David Bennett is busy buying 40 pizzas for more than 400 fans camping out for a week for tickets to Coastal Carolina's season opener, the coach believes his team has arrived as a Division I-AA program.

Then he watches his 10-year-old daughter outrun some of his players and Bennett realizes the Chanticleers have a long way to go.

“There's no more waiting. It's going to happen,” Bennett said. “But there's still so much we have to learn. ... But that's our job, that's our responsibility to get it done.”

Students began camping out at the new $11 million Brooks Stadium on Monday in anticipation of Coastal's first-ever game this Saturday against Newberry. However, the players and coaches weren't able to get into the new locker room until Thursday, less than 48 hours before kickoff.

The building, which holds 6,400, was long ago a sellout and school leaders are expecting close to 8,000 in all for the Chanticleers' debut.

“I wish I had about 4,000 more seats to give out,” Coastal Carolina athletic director Warren ``Moose'' Koegel said.

So does Bennett. He wants local high school coaches to come watch former players and build a rapport with Coastal coaches. He set aside about 12 tickets for family members coming in, then found out this week his mother-in-law would attend as well.

“I can't very well leave my wife's momma without a ticket,” said Bennett, a South Carolina native.

But that kind of resourceful spirit has been part of Coastal's program since a football advisory board, which included former college coaching great Dick Sheridan and Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry, helped planned the program several years ago.

Bennett was hired two seasons ago after leading Catawba to 33 wins and three straight Division II South Atlantic Conference titles. He lured players with the promise of making plays and history. And when practice fields weren't available, he brought the handful of players he had to driving ranges and parking lots for drills.

“It was really hard that first year,” said Aundres Perkins, Coastal's starting tailback. “I'd be sitting around and seeing guys I knew play and saying, 'Hey man, I should be doing that.’ ”

As this year grew closer, the isolation felt by some members disappeared, Perkins said, and the team worked on learning how to succeed.

That might be difficult, despite the enthusiasm.

Bennett says Newberry's roster is filled with upperclassmen, while the Chants have only seven players with even so much as a down worth of college football experience.

Koegel, a Penn State co-captain for coach Joe Paterno in the early 1970s, says fans should be patient.

“They're going to stumble at times,” he said.

The excitement is there. Koegel expects Hall of Fame Day against Gardner-Webb on Oct. 4 and homecoming against VMI on Nov. 1 to be sellouts.

Koegel says he'll soon meet with members of the Board of Trustees, who'll be on hand for the opener, to discuss stadium expansion. Blueprints call for a capacity of up 17,000 and Koegel says that may come sooner than later.

He's also begun inquiring as to the possibility of scheduling Division I-A opponents in the future, in an attempt to increase visibility and revenue for the program.

On the field, Bennett knows he'll have a hard time with losing. He doesn't let his daughter Hayes or 7-year-old son, Jeb, beat him in sprints around the family home. “Can't settle for mediocre,” he tells his players. “If you do, there are a lot of Joe Averages in the world.”

Still, Bennett wants to grow his young team like he would his children — a job that won't end with the first game. Most established programs might count on five freshman playing, Bennett said.

“Well, last time I checked, out of about 35 kids getting money, 30 of them are freshmen,” he said. “So we're in a different scenario than any other school in America.”

No. 25 TCU faces unconventional attack after abnormal week

FORT WORTH — Texas Christian coach Gary Patterson jokes that he could write the book about preparing for abnormal game weeks. He's certainly getting plenty of practice at it.

The No. 25 Horned Frogs began working on Navy's triple-option offense last spring. They had no choice, knowing Saturday's home opener against the Midshipmen was just five days after playing at pass-happy Tulane.

``You have only an x-amount of work when you get yourselves in this situation,'' Patterson said.

TCU, which held off Tulane's furious fourth-quarter rally Monday night to win 38-35, will play its 12 games on five different days of the week. The gap between the first and second games is the shortest, and comes against probably the most drastically different offensive teams on the schedule.

``They're going to do what they do, and they do it perfect,'' said TCU safety Marvin Godbolt. ``You make one mistake on the option, it can go for a long play. Or they are willing to grind it out.''

Navy had 598 total yards _ 370 yards rushing _ in its season-opening 31-7 win over VMI. Senior quarterback Craig Candeto ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns and completed seven of 16 passes for 161 yards.

``Navy has been able to move the ball on everybody. Defensively, we have to be very assignment oriented,'' Patterson said. ``What we can't let them do is get an easy throw. The biggest concern is Candeto is different from other option quarterbacks and has been able to throw the ball.''

During spring drills, the Frogs spent five of their 15 workouts on Navy. After returning in August, they took time every third practice or so to review the seldom-seen option.

In this abbreviated game week, which included just one full-length practice in pads, the emphasis was put on mental rather than physical preparation.

TCU beat Navy 24-0 in their only other meeting three years ago. LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 121 yards, one more yard than the Midshipmen had in total offense.

Even with its youngest team in school history _ 14 freshmen dressed for the opener _ Navy has consecutive wins for the first time since 1999. Candeto rushed for six TDs in the 58-12 win over Army that ended last season. The Midshipmen haven't started 2-0 in seven years.

``We have to go in there and play up to our capabilities, have a good plan and try to execute it,'' said second-year Navy coach Paul Johnson. ``We have to hang around. You hang around long enough, who knows what might happen.''

Navy has lost 34 straight games to ranked opponents since a 17-13 win over No. 20 Virginia on Sept. 20, 1985. Of those 34 losses, 16 have been to Notre Dame, including last year and every season from 1985-98.

As for TCU's sporadic schedule and short turnaround, it's similar to last season when the Frogs lost their Labor Day Conference USA opener before winning a day game the next weekend. There are some important differences this time.

``At least we're playing at home and playing at night. Plus, we won (the opener),'' Patterson said.

``We've done this before, it's not a shock,'' said junior offensive tackle Anthony Alabi. ``We know what we're doing.''

Capsules of televised Conference USA games

Houston (1-0) at No. 5 Michigan (1-0), Noon, ESPN.

Opening Line: Michigan by 28.
Series Record: Michigan leads, 2-0.
Last Meeting: 1993, Michigan, 42-21.

What to Watch: Michigan's offense got off to a fast start — TB Chris Perry ran for a career-high 232 yards and two TDs against Central Michigan last week. Third-year starting QB John Navarre was 19-of-33 for 245 yards with two touchdowns. Michigan's big concern is on defense, however. They'll be tuning up for Notre Dame next week, and their defense struggled to make tackles against Central Michigan _ the Chippewas gained 218 yards on the ground in Michigan's 45-7 win. All-Big Ten DB Marlin Jackson will return from a one-game suspension after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge for a June altercation with another student. Houston QB Kevin Kolb, a freshman, will be a test for the Wolverines. He finished 17-of-22 for 246 yards with two touchdowns against Rice, he scored two TDs on the ground, but rushed for a net negative. The Wolverines usually struggle against QBs who can make plays with their feet. Michigan's kicking game is another question mark — Adam Finley missed FGs of 25 and 47 yards.

Streaks, Stats and Notes: Central Michigan's 218 yards rushing is more than the Wolverines' allowed in a game last season. ... Michigan is looking for its 825th win. The Wolverines have the most Division I wins, with a 824-269-36 in record in 124 years of football. ... It's the second game for Houston coach Art Briles. ... Two former Michigan backup QBs are on the Wolverines depth chart at other positions. Andy Mignery plays TE and Jermaine Gonzales at WR. They are backups at their current positions.

Mississippi (1-0) at Memphis (1-0), Noon, ESPN2.

Opening Line: Mississippi by 8.
Series Record: Mississippi leads 42-8-2.
Last Meeting: 2002, Mississippi, 38-16.

What to Watch: Eli Manning goes against Memphis' Danny Wimprine in a matchup of record-setting quarterbacks. Both set school records for completions last week. Manning's next TD will tie him with his father, Archie Manning, for the Ole Miss record with 56. One of Manning's favorite targets is WR Chris Collins. RB Tremaine Turner averaged 4.2 yards on 13 carries against Vanderbilt. Wimprine has a more substantial rushing threat in TB DeAngelo Williams, a preseason Doak Walker Award candidate. The Tigers' defense has an emerging star in S O.C. Collins and LB Derrick Ballard had 13 tackles for a loss last season. Also, Memphis defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn is a former Ole Miss and Mississippi State assistant, and is somewhat familiar with the Rebels offense.

Streaks, Stats and Notes: The Rebels have not allowed a rushing TD in 19 quarters. ... The Rebels are aiming for the 575th win in the program's history ... Ole Miss enters Saturday's game at Memphis with an all-time record of 574-425-35 (.572 winning pct.) ... With a win, Mississippi would become the 30th program in NCAA Division I-A history to win 575 games. ... Ole Miss K Jonathan Nichols was the SEC player of the week after kicking three FGs in the Rebels' 24-21 win over Vanderbilt., including a 54-yarder to break a 21-all tie. ... The Rebels held Vanderbilt to 22 yards rushing on 23 carries after the first quarter last week.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2003 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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