ACU-Central Arkansas preview
ACU opens 2003 campaign at No. 19 Central Arkansas
#23 ABILENE CHRISTIAN WILDCATS (0-0)
vs. #19 Central Arkansas Bears (0-0)
Thursday, September 4, 2003 / 7 p.m.
Estes Stadium (8,500 / Grass) / Conway, Ark.
Click here to listen to the game
SETTING THE SCENE: The Wildcats open their 2003 season Thursday night when they take on Central Arkansas in a battle of nationally ranked teams at Estes Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.
Central Arkansas, which went 8-3 last season, enters the game ranked 19th in the nation in the American Football Coaches' Association poll, while the Wildcats enter the game at No. 23.
ACU finished 6-4 last season (including a 6-1 finish after an 0-3 start) and has been picked to finish third in the Lone Star Conference South Division in 2003. The Wildcats, though, believe 2003 could be the season they end their 25-year playoff drought.
The Wildcats haven't played in the post-season since the 1977 team won the NAIA Division I national championship. ACU has never played an NCAA Division II football playoff game. But the return of 15 starters from last year's team has the Wildcats hopeful that this season will be a special one. Leading the list of returning players is senior quarterback Colby Freeman, who led all LSC South Division quarterbacks in passing yards in 2002 (2,039 yards), and has been named the LSC South Division Pre-Season Player of the Year.
Defensively, the Wildcats return 2002 all-conference players in DT Devian Mims, DE Brad Walton, LB Shawn Taylor and CB Kendrick Walker. Linebacker Randall Webb (transfer from Texas A&M) and safety Danieal Manning (redshirt freshman) promise to be critical additions to the defense.
Central Arkansas suffered a severe blow during summer drills when senior quarterback Zak Clark went down with a broken right (throwing) hand and will miss at least the season's first five games. Clark was a finalist for the 2002 Harlon Hill Award, the NCAA Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. Clark will be replaced at quarterback by Henry Young.
RADIO: KULL 92.5 FM. David Bacon (play-by-play) and Chuck Statler (color commentary). ACU football games can be heard on www.tsrnsports.com.
WILDCAT OFFENSE
The Wildcats will have to replace departed running back Eric Polk, who rushed for more than 2,000 yards and scored 21 touchdowns in his two seasons as a Wildcat. The only returning tailback is junior Willie Williams, who will fight transfers Richard Whitaker (Texas A&M) and Rashon Myles (Indiana) for the starting spot. ... Whitaker was a part-time starter for Texas A&M as a freshman in 2000 before knee injuries limited his playing time in 2001. He "retired" from football before the start of the 2002 season, but has transferred to ACU in hopes of re-igniting his career. ... Myles was a standout at Dallas Christian High School before signing with Indiana where he played for two seasons. ... ACU does return its unquestioned leader in senior quarterback Colby Freeman, who threw for 2,093 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2002 on his way to earning honorable mention all-LSC South Division honors. Freeman led all LSC South Division quarterbacks in passing yards, and he has already been voted the LSC South Division Pre-Season Offensive Player of the Year. .. The Wildcats' group of wide receivers could be among the best in the conference with all-America DaRay Sims leading the bunch. Sims, a second team all-LSC South receiver last year, was an all-America kickoff returner. ... The offensive line lacks depth, but senior starters Britt Lively and Blake Lewis return for their third seasons as starters at left tackle and center, respectively, to anchor the line.
WILDCAT DEFENSE
One area where the Wildcats took care of business last year was defensively where they went from allowing 409 points in 2001 to 224 in 2002. ... The defense could be better in 2003 with the additions of Texas Tech transfer Joe Edwards at tackle and Texas A&M transfers Randall Webb at outside linebacker and Dawon Gentry and Adam Black in the secondary. ... Webb had seven sacks for Texas A&M last year, and started at outside linebacker in the Aggies' final two games against Missouri and Texas. He would have contended for a starting spot for the Aggies in 2003 before transferring to ACU. ... Aside from the transfers, the one player's name in every conversation seems to be redshirt freshman Daniel Manning, who will start at strong safety. Manning originally signed with the University of Nebraska in February 2001 as one of the top defensive backs in the nation out of Waxahachie High School. However, he enrolled at ACU in January 2002 and has been waiting since the fall of 2000 to play in a real game. ... Outside linebacker Shawn Taylor returns for his third season as a starter. Taylor was a second team all-LSC player in 2002 after recording 91 tackles and twice earning LSC South Division Defensive Player of the Week honors.
WILDCAT SPECIAL TEAMS
The Wildcats' special teams units should also be among the league's best with junior Eben Nelson -- who has four game-winning field goals to his credit in two seasons -- returning as the placekicker and sophomore Chase Fishback back to handle the punting chores. Nelson's biggest moment to date was his 49-yard game-winning field goal into the wind last October against Eastern New Mexico. ... Sims, Kendrick Walker, Manning, Gentry are among the candidates to handle the return duties.
INJURY UPDATE
DB David Jones (torn right achilles tendon / out for season)
OL Jeff Shelburne (dislocated right shoulder / out indefinitely)
LB Daniel Evans-Pickens (sprained MCL in left knee / out 2 weeks)
DT Joe Edwards (broken right hand / out 1 week)
