http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080824/SPORTS/80821029ULM SEASON PREVIEW: Warhawks bank on breakthrough
By Paul J. Letlow • pletlow@thenewsstar.com • August 24, 2008
Three years ago, ULM started the season with a veteran quarterback and a talented new starter at running back.
The Warhawks, led by quarterback Steven Jyles and tailback Calvin Dawson, won a share of the Sun Belt Conference championship.Fast forward to 2008, where quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster will enter his third year as a first team. Redshirt sophomore Frank Goodin is replacing Dawson, ULM’s career rushing leader.
Whether or not ULM can repeat history remains to be determined over a 12-game schedule. But the Warhawks believe this could be the year things come together for a bowl bid.
“Expectations,” ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie said as the preseason began, “are grande.”
ULM last year finished 6-6 with a non-losing record for the first time since 1993. The Warhawks were 4-3 against the Sun Belt and beat conference champion Florida Atlantic.
Out of conference, ULM recorded one of its biggest wins ever with a 21-14 decision at Alabama. The Warhawks kept the Crimson Tide scoreless for the final 42 minutes to shock Nick Saban and a dismayed stadium of 92,000.
ULM brings back 12 starters from a team that won five of the last six games, momentum players and coaches say carried into the offseason.Coming off its best season in 13 years, ULM was picked to finish third in the Sun Belt in a preseason poll of the league’s coaches and media. It’s the highest predicted finish for ULM since the Sun Belt began sponsoring football in 2001.
Over the past four seasons, the Warhawks have the second best conference record (16-12) among all Division I schools in the state of Louisiana and have the third best mark in the Sun Belt — including the shared conference title in 2005.
“We’ve got a chance to be a real fine football team,” Weatherbie said. “We’ll see. It’s going to come down to how healthy we can stay, and keeping players on the field.”
Adding a touch of newness and energy to the program are four new coaches, including former LSU, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Boston College defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian.After working at Nebraska, Elmassian joined the ULM staff as co-coordinator. He shares the title with ULM defensive line coach Manny Michel, who begins his 10th season with the program.
Assistant head coach Mark Tommerdahl will handle tight ends and special teams. He worked the past five years at Texas A&M.
Linebackers coach Demetrius Adams comes to ULM after two years at North Carolina A&T, where he worked with Monroe native Lee Fobbs.
Defensive backs coach Darrell Perkins was the Charleston Southern defensive coordinator before coming to ULM.
The new assistants join running backs coach Bob Leahy, offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Steve Farmer, wide receivers coach Luke Wells, quarterbacks coach Jonas Weatherbie and Michel.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Entering his third season as a starter, senior Kinsmon Lancaster has enjoyed a solid career. He enters the year ranked sixth on ULM’s career list in completions and passing yards.
“Kinsmon has come 100 miles and taken a leadership role,” ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie said.
The biggest turnover takes place on the offensive line, where right tackle Larry Shappley is the lone returning starter. The West Monroe product has started 33 of 35 games in his career.
The firepower is still in place from an offense that last year averaged 23.5 points and 385.7 yards per game.
What ULM lacks in experience, it could make up for in depth with a collection of rising underclassmen and junior college transfers Ryan Dercher and Keating Helms.
Senior wide receivers Marty Humphrey, Darrell McNeal and LaGregory Sapp accounted for a combined 1,158 yards and nine touchdowns last year. McNeal, the former Neville star, led ULM with 54 catches for 502 yards and four touchdowns.
Tight end Zeek Zacharie is an All-Sun Belt preseason selection after making 30 grabs for 405 yards and six touchdowns as a junior.
Although ULM’s career rushing leader Calvin Dawson is no longer in the fold, West Monroe product Frank Goodin is expected to be an able replacement. Goodin gained 596 yards and scored four touchdowns on 116 carries as a redshirt freshman.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
The strength of the ULM defense is its experienced and talented collection of safeties.
Junior free safety Greg James, the Carroll product and All-Sun Belt performer, led ULM last year with five interceptions and has 10 in his two-year career.
Bandit safety James Truxillo started 10 games last year and finished third on the team with 68 tackles.
Rover safety Josh Thompson, an All-Sun Belt pick in 2006, was limited to just three games last year before suffering a torn pectoral muscle. Thompson’s return will be a huge boost.
ULM has also added junior college transfer Troy Giddens, a speedy former LSU signee who played at Hinds Community College.
Former Wossman linebacker Cardia Jackson earned second-team All-Sun Belt and led ULM with 79 tackles as a sophomore. Josh Thomas and Theo Smith were also starters in ULM’s two-linebacker scheme last year. Thomas started all 12 games and has more than 100 career tackles in 23 contests with two interceptions.
The defensive line and cornerback positions are both in transition. Junior college signee Otis Stamps is a contender to claim one of the cornerback jobs. Redshirt freshman Nate Brown was also making a push for first-team snaps in the pre-season.
Defensive ends Aaron Morgan, Alaric Coleman and Jameson Jordan all started at least one game last year. Coleman started all 12 games, while Morgan was a first-teamer in eight contests.
Defensive tackles Alex Ford, Aaron Williams and Thomas Robinson are new to ULM but familiar with each other.
They were teammates at Pearl River Community College last year.
Returnees with experience include senior DeMarcus Carmouche and Victor Gaines.
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