Most people wouldn’t dream of juggling the Christmas holiday, postseason football playoffs against perennial power Georgia Southern and interviewing for their first head coaching job.

Then again, most people don’t have the energy and desire of 35-year-old New Hampshire grad Matt Griffin.

Celebrating Christmas in New England was no problem for Griffin. Helping lead the University of Maine to a win over Georgia Southern in the second round of the I-AA football playoffs was elusive. Securing his first head football coaching job was easy, but the travel was just as ominous as Santa's around-the-world venture, when you consider Griffin had to fly into Nashville from Statesboro, Ga., interview in Martin and then fly back to Maine. Griffin made two trips from Martin to Maine and back look like a lunchtime run through the local park.

After being named head coach Dec. 12, Griffin hired a staff and hit the recruiting trail before the ball could fall in Times Square.

When Cupid pulled back that bow with his annual arrow of love in February, Griffin and the Skyhawks had inked 30 players from seven states and laid the foundation for an exciting brand of football. The Skyhawk premiere will be unveiled Aug. 28 at Hardy M. Graham Stadium when Pioneer League foe Austin Peay State University invades Martin for a Thursday night contest.

When fall camp opened Aug. 4, Griffin and his staff welcomed back 18 starters and 26 lettermen. The returning players posted a 2-10 worksheet a year ago under the direction of Sam McCorkle and interim head coach Johnny Jernigan. The Skyhawks failed to win an OVC game in six attempts. After a decade of Division I-AA football, the Skyhawks are desperately seeking to put the brakes on an embarrassing 42-game OVC losing streak.

Among the returning players are senior captains Lee Lawrence and Michael Jackson, both offensive linemen, and defensive end John Gray. Jackson has started in 25 games while Lawrence has started in 29 games, including 28 consecutive games for the Skyhawks. Lawrence was an All-OVC first team member as a sophomore, and was voted preseason first team All-OVC this past season. Gray has started in 15 games and played in 28 games in three years.

Last year, Gray made 35 tackles, five for a loss, one sack, broke up two passes, and recovered a fumble. Martin native Brent Harris returns for his junior season, and he will handle all of the place kicking chores and possibly the punting duties. Harris kicked 13 of 15 extra points and 11 of 16 field goals, with 51 yards being his longest against Tusculum College.

Brady Wahlberg, who scored four touchdowns against Eastern Illinois and threw for more than 1,000 yards in limited playing time, returns for his sophomore season.

OFFENSE

Griffin and his staff will abort the option attack implemented two years ago in favor of a pro style offense that fancies a wide-open passing attack. “We will throw it all over the yard,” Griffin said. The Skyhawks have lived by the rushing game the past two seasons. The Skyhawks rushed 541 times for 1,732 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. When it comes to passing, they threw the ball 318 times for 1,456 yards and five touchdowns a year ago. The Skyhawks enjoyed two big offensive games last season against Southeast Missouri State and Eastern Illinois. In both cases, the Skyhawks relied on a passing attack to set up the running game. Despite the two big point productions, the Skyhawks averaged just 15.5 points per game last season. To Griffin’s credit, he served as an assistant coach at UTM during the 1997 and 1998 seasons under head coach Jim Marshall. In that first season, Marshall favored the run. Calling the shots as the offensive coordinator for Marshall, Griffin's Skyhawks rushed for 1,106 yards. In his second season, Griffin ordered the pass on a regular basis. The Skyhawks almost doubled their passing yardage that season as well as doubled their point production. While serving as the offensive line coach at the University of Maine this past season, Griffin’s linemen allowed Maine quarterbacks to throw for more than 2,200 yards and advance to the Division I-AA playoffs.

The Maine influence will continue at UTM this season because Griffin hired former University of Maine and Arena Football League quarterback Mickey Fein to serve as the offensive coordinator. Guess what Fein likes to do? Pass the ball. Here’s a look at the Skyhawks’ cast of characters.

QUARTERBACKS

Brady Wahlberg, a sophomore from Florida, is the only returning Skyhawk QB. He started three games, played in all 11, and threw for 1,145 yards. He scored four touchdowns. Wahlberg averaged 111 yards of total offense per game last season. Wahlberg threw for 198 yards against Eastern Illinois last year, and had a 121.70 pass efficiency rating. Chad Nash, also a sophomore and also from Florida, was signed as a quarterback a year ago, but was moved to wide receiver before the season started. Both Wahlberg and Nash enjoyed a solid spring camp.

“I am very pleased by the progress of both quarterbacks,” Griffin said. “They both showed tremendous characteristics that you want in a quarterback.”

Griffin says the starting QB job is up for grabs, and newcomer Brett Hall, a transfer from Temple University, could challenge for the starting job.

RUNNING BACKS

With the conversion to the passing game, the Skyhawks have moved tailback Damien Harris to the wide receiver position. That move leaves Arthur Bryant and Andrew Staten in the backfield. Injuries slowed down the entire backfield last season. Harris led the pack a year ago with 322 yards rushing. Bryant, who only played in two games last season, rushed for 98 yards on 14 attempts. Staten played in 11 games a year ago and rushed for 116 yards on 32 carries.

Griffin said the coaching staff was impressed with Bryant, who had a solid spring camp.

RECEIVERS

The receivers will be a key part of the Skyhawk offense this season. Senior Damien Harris will serve as the team leader. He moves to the receiving corps from the stable of running backs that the Skyhawks used last year.

Harris has caught 21 passes for 243 yards last season. "We are certainly not as deep as we need to be at the receiver position," Griffin said. "We have some newcomers who will have to play right away." Sophomore Orentheus Taylor returns to the wide receiver position. He saw extensive action and caught 24 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown. The Skyhawks, as a team last season, racked up 1,456 yards of receiving on 99 catches. They averaged 14.7 yards a catch and 121.3 yards of receiving per game.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The offensive line is certainly one of the strongest positions for the Skyhawks going into fall camp. The line is anchored by seniors Lee Lawrence (6-3, 290 pounds), Michael Jackson (6-7, 285 pounds) and Marshall Romero (6-3, 300 pounds). Lawrence started in six games as a freshman and has started in 28 consecutive games going back to his freshman season. He was named to the All OVC first team as a sophomore and he was named to the preseason first All-OVC team last season. Jackson has started in the past 23 consecutive games for the Skyhawks. He also started in two games as a freshman. Romero transferred to Tennessee-Martin from Mississippi Delta Community College last season. After these three, things are wide open, Griffin said. "We have a few guys who need to step it up and play." At the tight end position, one of the primary receiving positions a year ago, is a battle between Chris Alles and Jason Wilson.

DEFENSIVE LINE

While the offensive line was the strongest spot for the Skyhawks, the defensive line will be young. Senior John Gray (6-3, 235 pounds) will have to lead. Gray, from Danville, Ky., is a fifth-year senior. He made 39 total tackles last season with five tackles for a loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. He's among the top four returning tacklers. After Gray, Griffin said he is committed to playing his best personnel regardless if it is three on four. "Our depth is going to have to come from our first-year players."

LINEBACKERS

Senior Jordon Hankins (6-0, 225 pounds) will lead the linebacker corps. Hankins led all linebackers with 25 tackles last season. "We are going to be looking at Jordon for leadership, as well as his play on the field," Griffin said. "He's an extremely hard worker." Lucas Ingram will move to an inside linebacker position. Russell Gambrel will handle one of the outside linebacker spots, while Brett Hinson also sees action at linebacker.

SECONDARY

Jason Coleman returns to the corner position and will have to serve as the leader. Griffin said first year players will have to step up and provide the depth. Chad McMahan will play free safety, while Bart Browder makes the move from quarterback to free safety.

SPECIALISTS

Brent Harris, a Martin native, returns to the lineup for his junior season. He has led the Skyhawks in scoring the past two seasons. He made 13-of-15 extra points last season and he connected on 11-of-16 with his longest field goal being from 51 yards out. He racked up 46 points. Harris also took over as the Skyhawks' punter midway through the season. Harris had 18 punts for a total of 596 yards. He averaged 33.1 yards per kick. Newcomer Blake Butler could step in and handle the punting chores.

GAMES ON TV

UTM will have two home games televised on The Football Network (TFN). The Skyhawks’ second game of the season against East Tennessee State (Sept. 11) and the season finale against Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State (Nov. 13) will both be televised on the new cable network.

Both games have 7:05 p.m. kickoffs at Hardy M. Graham Stadium.

The Skyhawks’ two games on TFN are part of a 15-game OVC television schedule. In addition to games on TFN, other OVC games will be televised on Black Entertainment Television (BET), Fox Sports Net and College Sports Television.

“For the first time in conference history, each team in the league will make at least one television appearance during the 2003 season,” said Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher, OVC Commissioner.