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Much of the talk by the South Atlantic Conference coaches at the Operation SAC football press conference Friday morning did not center on the football teams but the football facilities.
Catawba’s David Bennett talked about the last year of Shuford Stadium, which will crumble to the ground after the season so a brand-spanking new stadium can be erected.
Presbyterian’s Tommy Spangler pointed out the artist’s rendering in the media guide of the new Blue Hose stadium, to be built after this season.
And then, there was Tusculum’s Frankie DeBusk, who already has the makings of the finest Division II facilities anywhere.
“We have a man who keeps giving money,” DeBusk said.
How about $10 million for the football/soccer facility that is almost completed?
How about a $2 million baseball stadium?
How about $500,000 on landscaping alone?
Bennett pointed toward one other piece of property on the Tusculum campus — an 85-yard indoor football practice facility.
“That dadgum indoor practice facility is bigger than our whole campus, almost,” he said.
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1 THROUGH 8: Carson-Newman and Catawba were picked 1-2 in the preseason coaches poll.
Presbyterian was third, followed by Tusculum, Mars Hill, Lenoir-Rhyne, Newberry and Wingate.
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ALL-CONFERENCE: For a team that lost 16 starters, Catawba fared well on the preseason All-SAC team.
The Indians placed 10 on the squad, matching Tusculum.
The three Catawba players on first-team offense were lineman Cole Bean and wide receivers Nick Means and Cedric Squirewell.
Defensively, All-American linebacker Shaun Sanders and All-Region Shawn McBride, along with defensive back Ryan Norman were named.
Second team Indians were linebacker Todd McComb, defensive lineman David Huey, defensive back Corey Reese and kicker Matt Gross.
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GO FIGURE:To show how good the SAC is, Huey and McComb were second-team picks but Street &Smith have both as first-team Division II All-Americans.
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NEW COACHES: Spangler and Joe Reich of Wingate come on board this season.
Spangler was Presbyterian’s assistant head coach before Daryl Dickey left.
Reich came down from the University of Buffalo to try and turn around the fortunes of a team that went 1-10.
“The SAC has a great reputation,” said Reich.. “Everybody was calling me telling me what a great conference it is.”
What has Spangler learned since becoming the head man?
“I’ve learned how to e-mail and transfer calls,” he said.
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FAREWELL: Missing in action this season is Newberry quarterback Dustin Coates to graduation, who started 32 straight games for Mike Taylor.
Mars Hill coach Tim Clifton lost All-American running back Derrick Stokes, the school’s all-time leading rusher, who did something that no one else did: he ran through and around the Catawba defense in the Lions’ loss.
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HART TO HART: Lenoir-Rhyne’s Bill Hart said this is the first year he will be bringing back skill people of a good caliber. It should prevent what happened last year. L-R lost four games by six points or less and finished 4-7.
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NAME GAME:Among the best names in the SAC this year are Presbyterian’s defensive lineman Nacomma Maxwell, Carson-Newman’s offensive lineman Bakari Wilkerson, Wingate running back Kenyatta Stackhouse and Mars Hill linebacker Khalid Abdullah.
All were names on the SAC preseason team.
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FUTURE QB: Don’t be surprised to see Ty DeBusk quarterbacking a college team one day. He has potential.
Rather, he has the genes. Daddy DeBusk’s first child was born last spring. But when asked about a future quarterback, the Tusculum coach, who has put on 30 or so pounds since his All-American days at Furman, laughed.
“No, Ty’s fat like his daddy. I put him down and he wants to put a hand on the ground and play OL or DL.”
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I REMEMBER: One of Tusculum’s assistants, Jeff Byrd, has been here before.
He was an assistant last season for Delta State and stood in the torrential downpour as his team beat Catawba 20-14 in the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs. Delta State eventually won the whole thing, beating Bloomsburg (Pa.).
“The last three games we played before the national championship were in the mud,” Byrd said. “When we played North Dakota State (in the semifinals) our field was a mess. So we were used to that.”
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NOTES: Carson-Newman has won the SAC 15 times and Ken Sparks is the winningest coach in SAC history. ... The Eagles placed seven on the preseason team. ... Lenoir-Rhyne’s training staff was voted as the SAC’s best. ... Davie County’s Zeke Earle will be a redshirt freshman at Mars hill this year. He may be moved from defensive back to linebacker. ... Big games: Catawba plays at Presbyterian Sept. 22 and at Carson-Newman Oct. 27. The Indians host a talented Tusculum club Oct. 6. Mars Hill comes in Nov. 3. ... Catawba opens at home against cross-town rival Livingstone on Sept. 1.
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Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4256 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com
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