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Western Carolinian Volume 65 (66) Number 02

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  • A WESTERN 4B CAROLINIAN FOOTBALL Fall 2000 Sports The Catamounts Turn to Transfer in 2000 by Mike Poston Staff Writer When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. That's what the Catamounts lave done after the injury-plagued 3- ^ season of a year ago. This year the Cats will be making plenty of lemonade as they return 17 starters eight on offense, eight on defense, and one on special teams. Despite the loss of the majority of last year's offensive output, nearly 80%, the Cats remain optimistic about the season ahead. "I'm really optimistic about this year," said fourth-year head coach Bill Bleil. "These kids have really worked hard. I think the offense is executing as well at this point as I've seen at any place I've been." He added, "Defensively, I think we're running at the ball very well. We're getting great leadership out of the captains and out of the seniors." One of the biggest challenges for the Cats in the off season was deciding which transfer will be the quarterback; senior Justin Cella or David Rivers. Cella is in his third season with the Cats after transferring form the University of Illinois. He helped the Cats to a 6-5 record and a win against Appalachian State during his sophomore season. However, Rivers, who transferred from the University of Virginia, has been named the starter. He started four games for the Cavaliers and is most noted for leading a come from behind win against Georgia Tech last season. In that game he completed 18- of-30 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns. "I think he (Rivers) has created great competition for that position, which I think we needed," Bleil said in a press conference on Monday. "Cella is playing as well as he's ever played here, David is playing just as productive. We just feel his top-end is a little bit higher." photo courtesy Mark Haskett UVa transfer David Rivers will start for the Cats at LSU. Running backs Donnie Bryant, Fred Boateng, and Lee Williams are the top three up for the job of replacing the graduate Brad Hoover. Also returning is senior Tracy Biggs, who was out last season recovering from ankle surgery. In addition to the running backs, River will be joined by an experienced corps of wide receivers. Michael Banks and Aaron Wright will be the starters and they are both candidates for all-star honors. Joining Banks and Wright is senior Caesar Campana. Campana was voted by his teammates to be one of team captains for the new season. Joining Campana as a team captain is starting fullback Walter Gary. Gary is coming off a breakthrough year last season, where he averaged 4.7 yards per carry and 7.6 yards per reception. Gary is also a candidate for all-star honors. No offense is complete without an offensive line and the Cats have an experienced offensive line. Coming off last year's multiple injuries the offensive line is healthy and looking good. They are coming into this season with experience and depth, which is important for a position that can become injury prone. On the defensive side of the ball the Cats look very strong. Coming back to lead the Catamount defense is senior linebacker Cedric Crudup. Last year Crudup lead the team in tackles, with 59, and interceptions, with three. Crudup is also on of the teams captains and yet another candidate for all-star honors. Joining Crudup is Seth Hanssen at the strong linebacker position and converted cornerback Patrick Leach as the weak side linebacker. The defensive line will be anchored by defensive tackles junior Jeff Chambers and senior Andre Miller. Miller recorded 30 tackles last season and is 2000 Catamount Football Schedule Sept. 2 @ Louisiana State 8 PM Sept. 9 Lenoir-Rhyne 6 PM Sept. 16 @ The Citadel 7 PM Sept. 23 E. Tennessee St. 6 PM Sept. 30 @ Furman 2 PM Oct. 7 Ga. Southern 6 PM Oct. 14 @ Wofford 1:30 PM Oct. 21 Chattanooga 1 PM Oct. 28 @ VMI 1 PM Nov. 11 Appalachian St. 1 PM £Iov. 18 Tennessee Tech 1 PM a candidate for all-star honors. The defensive ends will be Ryan Lawrence and Larry Jones. Lawrence recorded 42 tackles including five for losses last season. The defensive back field has also made great strides in the off season. The defensive backs will be lead by all-star candidate Lorenzo Ferguson. Ferguson transferred from Virginia Tech last year and in seven games he recorded 31 tackles as the strong safety. Joining Ferguson is Justin Fryer who was converted from wide receiver to free safety last year and recorded 53 tackles and one interception. The starting cornerbacks will be seniors Randy Shaw and Lamont Ransby. Ransby recorded 35 tackles and one interception while starting every game last year. Shaw, also returning as the starter, made 46 tackles and broke up six passes. The special teams are just that, special. Ail-American Josh Jones returns this season to solidify the special teams. Last year Jones connected on 13 of 16 field goal attempts and a perfect 6 for 6 against Samford. (WELL, AT LEAST THE CD WE RE GIVING AWAY DOES) J^l FREE TUNES WHEN YOU OPEN A WACHOVIA COU.EGE account. And .) im: check card, inx- m »i WKhmifai ATMs &hejr"« all am rtv pfee) and hn-Onhw Banking fry to find another Kink i th», plus the mosK of Irdin. Jctsh Joplin, Slir and lOoiJvi g TO OPEN * COLLEGE ACCOUNT AND RECEIvfc A m*H co' stop ev any branch or fob more RETAILS. CHECK OUT WWLWl&uam£Q.ti uMrted 'One CO pet account, wtafc soppV, b« W* novta Bank. N.A., is yl member I ■^ ■ ■' > ' > ' ' ' M ' 1 1 ■nuuiin . , ,
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