College notebook

Date published: 10/26/2005

R ESERVE PLAYERS RARELY receive the credit they deserve until a crisis situation emerges and their services are required.

Defensive coordinator Bob Haley of Shepherd (W.Va.) University knows the correlation of having capable reserves and establishing a successful program.

"I get a little nervous about playing a lot of people," the Rams coach admitted in a phone interview yesterday. "One of the keys [to our success] is having people who can play just as well the next week. We're fortunate to have enough depth.

Earlier this month, junior linebacker Donte McCoy (North Stafford) moved into the starting lineup due to an injury and led the team in tackles against West Virginia Tech. Practically the same thing occurred last week when Joey Hooks filled a vacancy in the team's linebacking corps as the Rams routed West Virginia Wesleyan, 51-0.

These are heady days in Shepherdstown where the Rams are riding a 16-game winning streak and currently find themselves ranked first in the NCAA Division II Football Committee's Northeast Region poll--the first time a West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team has ever enjoyed a top ranking.

In nine games, the Rams have outscored their opponents, 230-52. The defensive effort compares favorably to the 1999 playoff-bound team that ranked fourth in the nation in rushing defense (64.7), sixth in total defense (236.7) and seventh in scoring defense (12.5).

Senior linebacker Jeremy Bailey (Culpeper) is the unit's standout performer, both in terms of statistics and field leadership. His 50 tackles is top on the team. Eight of his tackles were for losses, he has an interception and a fumble recovery and has broken up two passes.

"Jeremy is very intelligent and doesn't need any prodding about what needs to be done," said Haley, a one-time University of Maryland standout who had a tryout with the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers. "He makes all our front reads and does a good job of dropping back in pass coverage."

Bailey's flexibility of playing either the weak or strong-side spot eased the Rams' difficulty during its recent plague of injuries.

His biggest play of the occurred the second week of the season when he batted away a two-point pass conversion attempt with 1:43 remaining to preserve Shepherd's 34-32 victory over Shippensburg (Pa.) University.

McKoy has appeared in eight games and has registered 15 tackles. Freshman Omar Josephs (Culpeper) has seen spot duty in the Rams' secondary this fall.

Two newcomers to the program, offensive lineman Matt Ware (Brooke Point) and defensive back Justin Toney (North Stafford) have not played a down this season, but both are regarding as promising prospects and are likely to be red-shirted, gaining them an extra year of eligibility.

If victorious in their remaining two games against homecoming opponent West Liberty State and West Virginia State, the Rams would achieved their unbeaten regular season in 50 years.

Date published: 10/26/2005