1979 EKU FOOTBALL PROSPECTUS

As ce rta in as the leaves turn brown each fall , the folks at Eastern Kentuck y University expect another winning football season from coach Roy Kidd's Colonel s

With 38 lettermen r eturnin g from last yea r 's team that finished 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference there appears to be good rea son for s uch loft y expectations in 1979 Howeve r, the Colonels may be hardpressed to equal their 1978 performance a s t hey face a strong I I-game schedule, called by Kidd, "the toughest we have ever had ."

"We could possibly ha ve a better team personnel- wise this season , but from the looks of these team s on th e sc hedule, our record might not be as good as in '78 ," said Kidd, who begi ns his 16th year at the Colo nels' helm with a 100-48-6 coaching mark.

Highlighting the 1979 schedule are home dates with 1978 Division I-AA playoff semifinalist Ja ckso n State; D iv ision I foe California State-Fullerton; Division II powe rhouse Troy State ; and the traditiona l homecoming battle with arch-rival Western Kentucky It was Western that handed the Colonels their only OVC setb ack las t year, 17-16, in an ABC-TV regional game of the week.

If there is a question mark about this sq uad , Kidd feels it would ha ve to be the lack of experienced depth at th e run ningback and offensive line positions. Gone at those positions from last year's team are All-OVC selections Stan Mitchell , tailback, and offensive guard Dean Stucky. Another key position that Kidd must fill is one of the defens ive end slots left vacant by Chris Roberts, another All-OVC performer.

Otherwise the EK U fortunes a ppear s trong as a legion of fleet-footed receive rs return along with a tested quarterback, All-OVC fullback and kicking specialist, and an exp er ie n ced defensive line and secondary to lead the Colonels in their effort to capture th ei r first OVC title since 1976.

"General" Dale Patton, a junior fullba ck from Cincinnati, Jed the Colonels' ground a ttack last year as he rus h ed for 985 yards on 206 carries and reached enemy paydirt I 5 times for touchdowns.

Also expec ted to share the running load are junior tailback Bruce Cox, of Miami, Fla., who has been hampered by injuries during his E K U career, and junior fullbac k Alvin Miller, Ft. Pierce, Fla.

Returning for his senior year at quarterback is Bill Hughes, of Lancaste r, Ohio, who took command of the Colonels' offense las t season after serving as understudy for two years t o All -OVC se lection Ernie House. Hughes accounted for 1,039 total ya rds offense and passed for five touchdowns. H is accurate passing (47 for 89, a .528 p e rcentage) proved a perfect complimen t for Eastern's s trong ground game Waiting in th e wings at quarterback is sop homore Chris Isaac, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., who saw considerable action last year and executes the option pla y with precision.

On the receiving end of t hose Hughes and I saac aerials will be split ends David Booze and Jerry Parrish, flanker Rick Sang, of Ashland, and tight ends Carl Greene, Cincinnati, and C ris Curtis. Booze, of St. Petersburg, Fla., led Eastern's receivers last year with 18 catches for 406 yards and four TDs. Kidd says Parrish, of Auburndale, Fla. , is the fastest pla ye r he ha s ever had at Eastern Last year, as a freshman, Parrish caught I I pa sses for 192 yards and one touchdown while showing he can break a long play at any time. C urtis, from Titusville, Fla. , had 133 yards o n eight catches.

Eastern's kicking game could be considered second to none in the OVC with junior placekicker and second t ea m All- OVC pick David Flores, of C incinnati , coming back along with punter Joel Scrafton of Marion, Ind. Flores set an Eastern team record for most points by a kicker with 59 as he converted 32 of 33 extra points and hit 9 of 14 field goal attempts Scrafton missed the seco nd half of last season with a broken arm s uffered in the Western game, but he is expected to b e fully recovered to resume th e punting dutie s. At the time of his injur y he had averaged 42.5 ya rds on 22 kicks. Leadin g the offen s ive line will be senior center David Neal of Lexington , an All-OVC selection last year.

Junior tackle Jame s Shelton and se nior linebacker Bob Mclnt vrc will also be back on the Colonel defense. ·whi le 4uarte r back Bill Hu g he s will be back to call signals for hi s sen ,or season.

Losses due to graduation inclu de t h ree AIIOVC selections. offensive guard Dean Stu cky and defensive end Chris Roberts. both fi rst team selections: and tailback Stan M itc hel l. off the second t eam

Coach Ro y Kidd. beginning his 16th yea r at the Colond h el m. is optimistic and feels the Colonels "ill be in t he thick of the OVC race this t imc around.

Offense - !- Pro-Set.

Defense - 5-2 or Oklahoma.

St rengths - Recei vers : Ki c king Game: Defensive Line: Defensi ve Secondary.

Weaknesses - Lack of experienced depth at Runnin gback and Offensive Lin c.

Lettermen Lost - 7.

Lettermen Returning (38)

Ends David BooLe Ri ck Sang, Carl Greene. Tim Frommeyer .Jerry Parrish. Ed Laski. Cris Curtis. David H olla nd .

Tackles - Budd y Moor. J ames Shelton, Ri c kie Rhod es Darryl Lawson. David Dihrk op

Guards - Joe Sehipske. Danny H ope Kevin Greve.

Centers - David Nea l. Prentis Ragland. No seguard - Jo e Ri chard. Tom Berger.

Tai lback s Bruce Cox.

Fullbacks - Dale Pat1on. Alvin M iller

Qua rte rbacks - Bill Hugh es, Chr is Isaac

Lin e backers - Bob Mc Int yre. Ed Finella, Gary Ford. Fred Griffin. H e nry R obi nson .

Secondary Danny Martin. R odney Byrd. S t eve Fletcher. T o m White. Charles Brunson. George Fl oy d.

K ick in g Spec iali st Da vid I-lores. Jo el Scrafto n.