Bulldogs will have to scrap again

(Editor's Note: This is the second of nine stories previewing football teams in the Western Athletic Conference. Today, the Appeal looks at Louisiana Tech).

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

It was a bittersweet 2005 season for Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs won five of their last six games, including beating Fresno State on the road, yet were left out of the postseason fun despite a 7-4 record.

That gives coach Jack Bicknell plenty of fodder heading into this season. Bicknell fields one of his youngest teams ever. Only nine starters return, and the Bulldogs have another tough schedule awaiting them.

Tech opens at Nebraska, hosts Nicholl State and then goes back on the road for games at Texas A & M, Clemson and Boise State. Ouch. Somebody shoot that schedule maker. Bicknell remains upbeat, however.

"I'm looking forward to this year," Bicknell said. "We have a young football team and I think we're going to be a good football team. We have some good, young players.

"It's tough. It seems like we can't quite hit it right. If they would have had the New Mexico Bowl last year, we would have been in a bowl game. If we hadn't lost the San Jose bowl (Silicon Valley Classic). The year we went 6-6, that was not eligible, and this year it's eligible. I felt really bad for the seniors last year. I don't know of too many teams with a 7-4 record and 6-2 in conference that didn't go to a bowl."

Things were tough enough with the schedule and inexperience, but Bicknell had his defensive coordinator, Randy Bates, leave for a job at Northwestern. Bicknell promoted George Darlington to coordinator, and he's currently looking for a linebacker coach. "Not something you want to have happen on your last day of vacation sitting in a pontoon boat in New Hampshire and getting a call saying he's not going to be there," Bicknell said. "It's a difficult thing, I'm not going to try and tell you it's not.

"We have George and all of his experience. He coached at Nebraska for 30 years . I'm trying to hire a linebacker coach now. It's just something else we have to overcome."

When you look at Tech's team, you see a lot of athleticism but no experience.

Bicknell enters the season without a proven quarterback. In fact, returnee Zac Champion was 2-for-2 for 16 yards in two mop-up outings in 2005. Michael Mosley, a redshirt freshman, and Joe Danna, a JC transfer, also are in contention to start.

Champion, a junior, is in his fourth year in the Tech program, which gives him somewhat of an edge over the other two. Champion has attempted just eight passes in his career.

"The quarterback is key," Bicknell said. "I want to resolve that in a hurry. We feel we have a good handle on Zac. We had one kid (Mosley) that we redshirted and sent him over to the scout team and worked with him for 15 days. We signed Danna and only worked with him for 15 days. By the time the Boise State game rolls around, we want to have one guy to lead us.

"They (Mosley and Danna) spent that time trying to figure out the offense, and they aren't playing that well. At the end of spring, they come around and start to push Zac. We have to figure out a way to separate. It's difficult to tell who can play in practice."

Of course, Bicknell wishes he could have either Tim Rattay or Luke McCown, both who are in the NFL. He went through those two eras not worrying about who was under center. Quarterback has been a problem area the last couple of seasons.

Bicknell is changing up the running back position, however.

He's trying to move Mark Dillard (5-11, 208) to either safety or linebacker, which leaves the starting job to sophomore Patrick Jackson (5-10, 192), who rushed for 367 yards and six scores last year.

Bicknell made the move because he likes three freshmen he recruited - Daniel Porter, William Griffin (5-11, 200) and Myke Compton (5-9, 195). Also in the picture is returnee Freddie Franklin (6-0, 178), a junior, who rushed for 448 yards and four scores. Franklin is currently getting his academics in order.

Tech boasts a veteran receiver corp led by senior Johnathan Holland (6-0, 189), sophomore Josh Wheeler (6-4, 200) and senior Eric Newman (6-0, 187).

Holland, one of the fastest receivers in the nation, caught 29 passes for 451 yards and two scores, Wheeler caught seven for 163 and a score, and Newman caught 26 for 511 and eight scores.

"Wheeler is a big, strong receiver that we haven't had here," Bicknell said. "He can go up and get the ball."

"I have great confidence in our offense," Newman said. "We'll be fine once we settle down and get to know each other. We've got a lot of talent on this side of the ball."

Senior Anthony James (6-6, 265) leads the tight end contingent. He caught 15 balls for 201 yards. Sophomore Anthony Harrison (6-3, 225), who caught 11 passes for 98 yards, is a competent back-up.

The Bulldogs lost left guard Aaron Lips and center Marcus Stewart to graduation, and those are two big spots to fill. Lips started 47 straight games.

Senior Jacob Peeler (6-3, 261) and sophomore David Accardo (6-5, 316) are the favorites to step in for Stewart and Lips. At left tackle is junior Tyler Miller (6-7, 309), at right guard is senior Marcus Lindsey (6-7, 386) and at right tackle is junior Ryan Considine (6-5, 297). Ryan Snell, Jason Lewis and Jason Gooch are the top reserves.

The defensive front is new for the Bulldogs. Senior Sammie Collins (6-3, 249), who had 26 stops last year, will start at defensive end in the 3-4 alignment. Junior Josh Muse (6-3, 210) starts at nose after a 22-tackle season a year ago and sophomore Wes Day (6-4, 249) enters camp as the top tackle. The depth here is young and inexperienced.

Tech also lost three of its four starting linebackers a year ago, including Byron Santiago. Junior Brannon Jackson (6-2, 263), who had 54 stops last year, starts at one middle spot. Junior Anthony Crosby (6-0, 227) enters camp at the other middle slot. Crosby had five stops in limited duty last year.

Senior Marquis Spurgon (6-0, 187) and sophomore Quin Harris (6-3, 221) man the outside spots as camp opens. Harris had 30 stops a year ago. Spurgon played safety a year ago. Junior Tim Reddick and junior Chris Lowery are top back-ups.

Dillard, who missed spring ball for personal reasons, will get a shot at linebacker as well as safety.

"We needed him in defense," Bicknell said, explaining why he was switched. "He played both ways in high school, and actually likes to play defense more which is unusual for a running back. I know he can play linebacker. We were hoping to see him (at safety) in spring ball."

Dillard will play some strong safety, battling sophomore Weldon Brown (5-10, 180), freshman Deon Young (5-11, 191) and senior Keeven Moore (5-11, 190) for the top spot.

Brown played running back and wide receiver last year, and made the move to give the 'Dogs more speed and athleticism on the defensive side of the ball.

Senior Dez Abrams (6-0, 198) and sophomore Justin Johnson (6-0, 197) are at free safety.

Abrams said he needs to be more of a playmaker. Abrams, who came to Tech as a cornerback, had 52 tackles but didn't have an interception.

Senior Sandy Ray Collins (5-10, 187) and senior Tony Moss (5-10, 183) will start at the corners. Moss had 19 stops last season. Senior Torrance Hampton and junior Lee Brown are the top reserves.

The WAC's top kicker, Danny Horwedel returns. Punter Chris Keagle, who averaged 37.4 on 52 punts, also is back.

LOUISIANA TECH

Mascot: Bulldogs

Home stadium: Joe Aillet Stadium (30,600)

2005 record: 7-4, 6-2 in conference

Head coach: Jack Bicknell (8th season)

Lettermen returning: 49 (26 offense, 20 defense, 3 specialists)

Lettermen lost: 24 (7 offense, 17 defense)