TSU opens up Saturday night at Adelphia

It's that great time of the year for football players. They finally get to hit on the other guys.

Just ask any member of the Tennessee State University football team as they prepare for Saturday's John Merritt Football Classic showdown with Alabama A&M at Adelphia Coliseum (kickoff: 7 p.m.).

"They're excited," said second-year head coach James Reese of his Tigers as they readied to take on the Bulldogs in the season opener for both schools. "They're tired of hitting on one another and looking forward to hitting on an opponent."

That opponent was the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Eastern Division champion last year with a 7-5 overall mark under Ron Cooper, who is back for fourth season in Normal, Ala. They've lost eight starters from 2000 but return 13, and Reese figures his guys had better be as sharp as possible even though it will only be the first day of September.

"We're going to have to protect our passer. We've got to stop the run and do good things on special teams, so we have to be solid in all three phases of the game and I think it will again be true that the team that makes the least mistakes will win," the TSU skipper said.

The Bulldogs last year were 10th in total defense (averaging 273 yards allowed per game) and No. 1 against the run in NCAA Division I-AA, surrendering a measly average of 39.7 yards a contest. Their offense still sports All-SWAC RB Curtis Donnell and three-year OL starter Ron Wilson among others.

"We think they're going to try to run the ball. They have a new offensive coordinator who came in from Troy State, and we think he's going to have them trying to run it. We know we've got to stop the run to win this game," Reese said. "They have a couple of good running backs we want to keep bottled up, and some receivers that are a threat downfield. We'll need our 'A' game against them."

Reese will have a good opportunity to do that with a veteran-laden defense that includes defensive end/middle linebacker Curley Grayson, defensive tackle Danny Roberson, junior nose guard Manny Robles, defensive end Orlando Dutson, linebacker Walter Reese, cornerback Eric Joyce and free safety Marquis Stephens among others.

Seniors Marvin Jones and KaRon Key will be the veteran runners Reese calls on to challenge the Bulldogs defense, while junior college product Shannon Harris (69 of 140 passes for 650 yards and three touchdowns in 2000) returns to TSU as a senior and will start following the graduation of Kenton Evans.

Sophomore wide receiver and Glencliff High alum C.J. Johnson (42 receptions for 853 yards and seven touchdowns) is an All-OVC preseason pick who's expected to lead the way at that position again this year, but he'll have help from fellow receiver and punt return specialist Carlos Wright (who earned preseason all-conference status this year after league honors in 2000 for a 16 attempt, 220 yards and one TD season). Junior Patrick Jenkins has returned from an injury-shortened 2000 campaign and Reese hopes he'll also give Alabama A&M plenty to think about.

The Tigers head into their first game relatively healthy - except for their head coach, whose arm was in a sling this week after sustaining an injury. "I was demonstrating in practice, and I managed to tear a tendon in my ring finger. I had surgery (on Tuesday) and it's supposed to take about five weeks to heal.

"We're pretty healthy going into this first game, and of course that's where you want to be. Of course, we expect to come out of this game with some bumps and bruises, but we have an off week for those to heal (before playing Jackson State University in the Southern Heritage Classic on Sept. 15 at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis)."

Reese knows there's a lot of excitement about fresh possibilities for TSU following last year's 3-8 season. He also knows it pays not to get too high or too low, especially with 10 remaining regular season games after Saturday's contest.

"We just try to keep them on an even keel, and take it one game at a time," he said. "That's the best thing we can do."

Tickets: TSU Ticket Office (963-5841) or Ticketmaster (255-9600).

Web Site: www.teamstsu.com

TSU vs. Alabama A&M

Adelphia Coliseum