2000

East Central looking for respect Evan Smith The Meridian Star Despite losing 18 starters off a team that went 8-3 last year, East Central Commu– nity College head coach Terry Underwood likes his team's chances for the upcoming season. "We feel good about our team," Underwood ~aid Thur sday at the school's annual Media Day. "We lost some folks but we're opti– mistic about the group of kids we've got. We've got 19 sophomores and 36 fresh– men. They reported in good shape and they're responding to everything we're thro\',:ing at them." According to Underwood. the Warriors should be solid at the skill positions on both sides of the ball. But when it comes to the linemen - both offensively and defensively - there are some questi~n marks. "We lost four out of fnre starters in our offensive line and we lost our whole start– ing four on the defensive line," Underwood said. 'We've got some people there

Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star HORSING AROUND - East Central Community Col– lege sophomore Rashad Blalock horses around with a much bigger Terrance DeGraffenried during the War– ners annual Media Day.

who we feel good about and who are doing a good job and getting better, but they're not truly tested yet. And until we get out and go to war and see how t h ey're going to respond, that's going to be somewhat of a question to us." The Warriors led the

league in rushing last season and Underwood says estab– lishing a strong ground attack will be his top offen– sive priority again this year. '' Obviously, our main objective is going to be to run the ball," Underwood said. See ECCC, Page 3C

ECCC

thing else will come off of that." As they prepare for the 2000 campaign, Underwood and his coaching staff are primarily focusing on using the first three games to set the tone for the rest of the season.

"Webre~ the season into thirds ," Underwood said. "We're looking at the first three games. And if we can be on the plus side after the first three games ... we feel like we'll have a chance to have a really good year. "That's not to say that if

we were 1-2 or 0-3 that ..-;e still couldn't have a gooa year, but in this leve. a;1:. this league you need t C) ~t off to a good start :n my opinion." Evan Smith is a sports -...~·.er The Meridian Star. E-ma " - ~ esmith@meridianstar.cor.l.

Continued from page 1C

"We feel like we can throw and catch it better than we have in prior years and we're going to attempt to. But if we can run the ball, every-

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