No Excuse ... No Explanation ... No Surrender

Skyhawk quarterback Brady Wahlberg’s biggest opponent the past two seasons hasn’t been the teams he’s been playing against; it’s been his health. Playing in just eight games in each of the last two years, one of the major concerns is how to keep him on the field for all 11.

“We have a bigger offensive line this season,” said head coach Matt Griffin of the efforts to keep Wahlberg healthy. “We’re much stronger and a little deeper than before. The strength coach has really made a difference with those guys.”

Looking to improve upon last year’s efficiency rating of 103.27, Wahlberg knows that he has to make changes himself; it’s not all up to his line.

“I’ve rehabbed all summer,” said Wahlberg. “I’ve worked out in the weight room a lot. I need to be smarter and be able to get down when the linebackers are coming at me. I need to be able to slide and get out of the way.”

Wahlberg serves as one of four team captains, all seniors, for the 2005 season. Joining him are defensive end Andre Plummer, offensive lineman Jody Womble and free safety Chad McMahan, who like Wahlberg, has had to make changes in the offseason.

“I’ve moved from rover to free safety this year,” McMahan. “It’s basically the quarterback of the defense. I think the Coaches put me back there because I have a good knowledge of our defense after starting the past couple years.”

“I have to get everyone in line, as far as strengths. I give the coverages and exactly what is everyone is expected to do every play. The position that I played last year didn’t have as much communication as now,” McMahan said.

Despite being picked to finish 9th in the OVC, people are taking notice of the improvements that Skyhawk football has made during Griffin’s three-year tenure at UTM.

Five Skyhawks were named to the All-OVC Preseason Team for the 1st time in school history.

UTM’s five players were the second most of any school in the conference; only Eastern Illinois had more with six.

These players are sophomore tailback Donald Chapman, junior wide receiver Taurean Stephens, senior cornerback Jason Coleman, Plummer and junior linebacker Markeseo Jackson.

“It is a great honor to have five players named to this preseason team,” Griffin said. “All five are outstanding young men with great character. But, [it doesn’t] mean anything. The postseason accolades are what matter. And if we get out there and win games, they’ll come.”

Each of the five preseason picks finished among the conference leaders in their respective categories.

Chapman, who was the 2004 OVC Freshman of the Year, finished fourth in the league in rushing yards with a school record 1,084 and finished 15th nationally in rushing with 108.4 yards per game. “He possesses the ability to get the tough yards,” said Skyhawk offensive coordinator Mickey Fein. “He’s definitely the [player] that on the 3rd- or 4th-and-short that you want to get the ball.”

Stephens earned 2nd team All-OVC honors last season after having 67 catches for 732 yards to rank second and third in the league, respectively, in receptions and receiving yardage. Stephen also finished tied for 18th in the nation in receptions (6.7 per game).

“Taurean has a promising season coming up,” said wide receivers coach Kevin Cahill. “He’s worked very hard in the weight room and he’s dedicated to the program.”

Coleman had four interceptions for 73 yards in 2004 with 45 solo tackles. “[Coleman] is probably the best tackler we have, “ said cornerbacks coach Matt Wise. “He has the physically abilities for man coverage ... can play great zone coverage ... and he recognizes route combinations and is mentally the best in the group.”

Plummer finished tied for fifth in the league last season in tackles with ten for 29 yards. He had 46 total tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2004. “He has really come along quite a ways,” said defensive coordinator Mark Lister. “He was second-team all-conference last year and will definitely make contributions on the defensive line.”

Rounding out the Skyhawks picked for the preseason team is Jackson, who finished an impressive second in the nation in solo tackles (6.73 per game), tied for 9th in forced fumbles (0.36 per game) and tied for 19th in total tackles (10.55 per game). He also had three sacks and was named Onamed the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year in Lindy’s Preseason Football.

First up for the Skyhawks is the University of Central Arkansas.

The Bears are coming off a season-opening, 51-0, win against East New Mexico last Thursday. “They’ve scored some points. I’ve seen their track record,” Griffin said. “They’re a game ahead of us. They’re good on defense and they run very well. I think we’ll have our hands full.”

After Thursday’s game in which they allowed ENMU to gain just 125 yards total, only one of which was passing, it looks like Wahlberg will have the most diffuculty against the Bears.

“Without a doubt, they’re an excellent team,” Wahlberg said. “They do great things on both sides. We need to focus on ourselves. Execution is going to be key in this game.”

UCA is a Division II school in UTM’s old conference, the Gulf South. UTM saw much success in the GSC, earning tri-championship honors in 1988.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Graham Stadium. The Skyhawks play two other non-conference games in 2005. The second of the three is against Arkansas State at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at Indian Stadium in Jonesboro.

After returning home for an OVC contest against Tennessee State, the Skyhawks will then travel to North Carolina to face Gardner-Webb at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 24 in Boiling Springs.

Overall, the team is optimistic about the upcoming season.

“We expect things to be better than they’ve been,” McMahan said. “We definitely have the talent to be better than what people expect.” “We have really good schemes to best our chances of being successful. There’s a different feeling with this team than last year. There’s a lot more excitement and a lot more guys excited to win,” McMahan said.

“We’re looking at a great year this year,” Wahlberg said. “Our team chemistry is much better and the attitude of our players has improved so much.”

“We have so many playmakers this year like [Stepehns], Cole Duncan, and [Chapman] that we will definitely be successful.” To encourage that success, the team’s nine seniors, McMahan, Wahlberg, Plummer, Womble, Coleman, Taylor Brown, Joseph Threats, Zac Scott and Rogric Smith, along with Coach Griffin, have adopted the motto of “No excuse ... no explanation ... no surrender.”

“We’ve decided to live by that motto,” said Wahlberg. “When we factor in the first two things, we will not surrender. We won’t have to.”