Preview: At Hampton, a new coach grabs the reins

HAMPTON

Some big names are on the roster, including Jeremy Gilchrist and Dennis Conley.

Other big names have moved on to the NFL: Marcus Dixon signed with the Dallas Cowboys and Kendall Langford was drafted in the third round by the Miami Dolphins. Joe Taylor, the biggest name in Hampton University history, now coaches at Florida A&M, vacating the position he held for 16 years.

In his place is Jerry Holmes, who has zero wins as a head coach. Taylor is three victories shy of 200; no wonder Holmes insists he has no intention of filling Taylor’s shoes at Hampton – something he said as he tossed his own shoe from the podium at MEAC media day last month.

“Joe put together a very successful program at Hampton,” said Holmes, Taylor’s defensive coordinator the past three seasons. “We’re not going to change a lot. We’ll be tweaking things here and there.”

One change Holmes would like to see is a more competitive team than the one he saw in 2007. Hampton had won the MEAC four straight times before last year, when the Pirates slipped to fourth. Close losses hurt; Hampton fell 20-19

to Norfolk State and 28-24 to South Carolina State.

“Last season, toward the end of the season, it was a pretty bad feeling,” defensive end Charles Young said. “Guys were just playing so they could go home afterward. We’re not used to that.”

Conley, a three-year starter at guard, was among the disappointed. He said he’s doing his part to ensure this year is not a repeat.

“I take a lot of last year on myself,” he said. “What we needed was better leadership. When you lose games by one or a few points, there’s a lot more going on than guys missing assignments. Are guys staying up too late? Am I saying enough? Now I want them to see me do it – so they’ll do it.”

One leader expected to be back is gone. T.J. Mitchell, the MEAC’s leading passer last year and first-team preseason all-MEAC this fall, is ineligible . Mitchell would have had the chance to turn the Hampton offense into a page out of Lands-town High School’s playbook, given that Eagles graduate Gilchrist was his favorite receiver last fall and Damon McDaniel, also of Landstown, transferred in from Florida State.

Instead, Herb Bynes will be the starting quarterback. The redshirt sophomore saw action in three games last season, throwing for 114 yards.

Gilchrist said the Pirates will miss Mitchell’s leadership but added, “Herb’s a real good leader. We’re going to do what we have to do to win.”

Bynes sounds confident in his abilities.

“I’m going to be putting us in the best situation to win games,” said Bynes, pointing to Hampton’s problems scoring in the red zone last fall is the biggest mistake the Pirates hope to correct.

Defensively, Hampton will miss Dixon, Langford and Vernon Bryant, all starters on the line. Only one lineman with any experience, Franklin Frazier, returns.

The secondary is in better shape thanks to the return of seniors Sam Pope and Jackie Bates. Pope was second in the MEAC with five interceptions in 2007; Bates led the league in passes defended.

Vicki L. Friedman, (757) 477-6874, VickiL120@cox.net

About Hampton

Coach Jerry Holmes, first year at Hampton

Last year 6-5, fourth in MEAC

Returning starters 7 on offense, 7 on defense, placekicker and punter

Impact players Landstown High School grad Jeremy Gilchrist caught a conference-best 69 passes for 1,043 yards but will have a new QB tossing him the ball. Herb Bynes, a 6-foot-5 redshirt sophomore who saw minimal playing time in 2007, replaces T.J. Mitchell, sidelined by grades. The entire offensive line returns, led by junior guard Dennis Conley (6-4, 257). The linebacking corps is the defensive strength, led by seniors Charles Robinson and Wakeem Goode. The secondary is lucky to have senior Sam Pope, the MEAC’s No. 2 man in interceptions in ’07.

Good news Well, there’s Gilchrist for starters, perhaps the most talented player in the league. He has great hands and is among the top return specialists in the nation. The Pirates are also boosted by an influx of eight transfers, including WR Damon McDaniel (a Landstown grad) of Florida State, running back LaMarcus Coker of Tennessee and linebacker Charles Baker of Penn State.

Bad news No Joe Taylor and no T.J. Mitchell add up to no experience in key areas.

The big game Nov. 15 at Florida A&M. The Pirates face old coach Joe Taylor, who stunned fans when he left the program he built .

Bottom line With Mitchell, this team would be a title contender. Without him, quarterback is a question mark – and so is Hampton.