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News Nuggets, 09.10.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

ECU boomer Dougherty nominated for punting award

East Carolina sophomore Ryan Dougherty is among four Conference USA punters named to the Watch List for the Ray Guy Award.

Dougherty, an Orlando, FL, native, ranks No. 14 in the nation after averaging 45.3 yards per punt during the Pirates' opener at West Virginia last week.

He joins Luke Johnson of Southern Mississippi, John Braziel of Texas Christian and Chris Beckman of Tulane as C-USA representatives on the preseason list of 36 candidates.

Ryan Plackemeier of Wake Forest and David Wooldridge of North Carolina also made the list, as did John Braziel and Ryan Mentzel of future C-USA members Texas-El Paso and Southern Methodist, respectively.

The award, named in honor of Southern Miss punting legend and former NFL great Ray Guy, will be presented to the nation's best collegiate punter as determined by a national selection committee of sports writers, college football coaches, sports information directors, former punters and members designated by the Greater Augusta Sports Council.

Among the statistics to be included in determining the Ray Guy Award winner are total yardage, number of times a punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside of the opponent's 20-yard line, net average, average return yardage and percentage not returned.

The organization strives to select a winner who has displayed leadership and self-discipline and has had a positive impact on the team's success.

Army's Ross still fired up about coaching

WEST POINT � Retirement hasn't changed Bobby Ross much. He's waiting for the same pre-game goose bumps he always felt in his years of coaching college and pro football. He's reverted to his old coaching habits and is relishing the time spent with his new players, starting at 5:45 a.m. and often putting in 16 or 17 hour days.

"I'm approaching things pretty much the same," Ross said. "My wife said, `You have to learn to pace yourself.' And I'm not doing that. I'm not that smart. I need to work hard and I try to be real detail-conscious."

Ross was lured out of retirement last December to try to revive an Army team that set an NCAA record for futility last year in losing all of its 13 games. The academy fired Todd Berry in October with the team at 5-35 in his four seasons. John Mumford acted as interim coach, going 0-7 after replacing Berry.

Ross hasn't coached since 2000, when he quit the Detroit Lions after nine games. His Chargers lost their only Super Bowl appearance, 49-26 to the San Francisco 49ers. His NFL record was 77-68.

The 67-year-old spent 15 years as a college coach, including stints with The Citadel (1973-77), Maryland (1982-86) and Georgia Tech (1987-91). His national champion Georgia Tech team went 11-0-1 in 1990, sharing the title with Colorado. His college record was 94-76-2.

Ross says he has missed the competition and camaraderie of football, as well as the chance to help young players develop, on and off the field.

"I'm enjoying it here and I'm enjoying these players," he said. "The wild-eyed excitement they show is fun to me. And they really do care. They feel like they have something to prove. That's a real strong motivation for me."

Ross has replaced Berry's relaxed manner with a hard-nosed approach that demands players correct mistakes immediately.

"The biggest difference is in discipline," said fifth-year senior guard Adam Wojcik. "Coach Ross brings intensity to the field. If you make a mistake, it's corrected right away on the field instead of waiting until after you watch the film. It's going to be done right, right now."

While much is the same for Ross, he's also taking on some new challenges.

Students at the academy regularly take 18 to 21 credits a semester. Many football players at other colleges take the NCAA minimum of 12 hours, Ross said. And West Point's military obligations demand every student get out of bed at 5 a.m.

Those factors mean Ross's cadets are students first, football players second.

"These are not things I didn't expect," Ross said. "We cannot and will not use that as an excuse."

Ross's arrival at West Point has been accompanied by high expectations among alumnus and fans hungry for a return to the academy's glory days. And the coach's experience immediately commanded respect among players.

Joe Steffy, who played at West Point in the mid 1940s and has been to every Army home football game since 1952, says he's never before seen the kind of excitement he's seen among fans and alumnus heading into this season.

"Ross comes to us unlike any other coach since Blaik," Steffy said, referring to Earl "Red" Blaik, who coached the Black Knights to national championships in 1944 and 1945. "He's a proven winner and a proven football coach. Nothing matches this year. Everyone is very enthusiastic."

Ross isn't making any predictions. His goal is to have a competitive team that has a chance to win going into the fourth quarter of every game.

"I don't worry about what legacy I may have," he said. "That's immaterial to me. I just care about coaching. Legacies and past records mean nothing."

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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