By Mike Marzelli, Pine Bluff Commercial
As the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff prepares to begin its third week of preseason camp, the focus continues to shift towards preparing for Mississippi Valley State.
After organizing the depth chart and improving conditioning over the first few weeks of practice, UAPB is now engulfed in gameplanning for what will be a new-look Delta Devils team that will welcome the Golden Lions to Itta Bena, Miss. on Sept. 1 for a 1 p.m. game that will air nationally on ESPNU.
“We don’t know much about them because they graduated a lot of guys and have some new faces,” head coach Mo Forte said. “They have a new defensive coordinator and a new quarterback and some new skill guys so we don’t necessarily know what to expect, which is usually how it is for every season opener because you don’t know what the new year will bring for any team.”
Valley defeated UAPB 10-0 in the Chicago Classic to open the 2006 season and went on to finish one win shy of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship, but more than 20 lettermen who formed the core of that team graduated, leaving head coach Willie Totten with a rebuilding project of sorts.
Totten, a SWAC legend himself who gained fame in the early 1980’s as the quarterback of Valley’s “Satellite Express” offense that included Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice, has lead the Devils to consecutive winning seasons for the first time in two decades, and Forte believes that his offensive prowess will make Valley formidable again in 2007.
“We don’t know a lot about what they have but we know Willie will have them ready to attack and be a difficult football team to stop,” Forte said. “Willie knows what it takes to win in this league and he’ll have his team ready to play on Sept. 1.”
The major task for Totten will be replacing quarterback Aries Nelson, the 2005 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year. The early nod will go to Paul Roberts, who saw action last season as Nelson’s backup.
“Supposedly he’s a pretty good quarterback,” Forte said of Roberts. “One thing about Willie is that he’s always going to have a good quarterback because he thinks like a quarterback. He knows how to communicate the leadership qualities needed to play the position and every year his quarterback is an outstanding technician.
“I don’t expect that to be any different this year.”
Forte also expects Valley to focus on its running game this year despite Totten’s propensity for using a pass-happy offense. The Devils return four starters along the offensive line as well as running back Johey Hargrett, who gained 756 yards last season.
“They had a good run game last year and those guys are back,” Forte said. “Conventional wisdom is that they’re going to want to run this year but with Willie you just don’t know, so we’re preparing for everything.”
As the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff prepares to begin its third week of preseason camp, the focus continues to shift towards preparing for Mississippi Valley State.
After organizing the depth chart and improving conditioning over the first few weeks of practice, UAPB is now engulfed in gameplanning for what will be a new-look Delta Devils team that will welcome the Golden Lions to Itta Bena, Miss. on Sept. 1 for a 1 p.m. game that will air nationally on ESPNU.
“We don’t know much about them because they graduated a lot of guys and have some new faces,” head coach Mo Forte said. “They have a new defensive coordinator and a new quarterback and some new skill guys so we don’t necessarily know what to expect, which is usually how it is for every season opener because you don’t know what the new year will bring for any team.”
Valley defeated UAPB 10-0 in the Chicago Classic to open the 2006 season and went on to finish one win shy of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship, but more than 20 lettermen who formed the core of that team graduated, leaving head coach Willie Totten with a rebuilding project of sorts.
Totten, a SWAC legend himself who gained fame in the early 1980’s as the quarterback of Valley’s “Satellite Express” offense that included Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice, has lead the Devils to consecutive winning seasons for the first time in two decades, and Forte believes that his offensive prowess will make Valley formidable again in 2007.
“We don’t know a lot about what they have but we know Willie will have them ready to attack and be a difficult football team to stop,” Forte said. “Willie knows what it takes to win in this league and he’ll have his team ready to play on Sept. 1.”
The major task for Totten will be replacing quarterback Aries Nelson, the 2005 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year. The early nod will go to Paul Roberts, who saw action last season as Nelson’s backup.
“Supposedly he’s a pretty good quarterback,” Forte said of Roberts. “One thing about Willie is that he’s always going to have a good quarterback because he thinks like a quarterback. He knows how to communicate the leadership qualities needed to play the position and every year his quarterback is an outstanding technician.
“I don’t expect that to be any different this year.”
Forte also expects Valley to focus on its running game this year despite Totten’s propensity for using a pass-happy offense. The Devils return four starters along the offensive line as well as running back Johey Hargrett, who gained 756 yards last season.
“They had a good run game last year and those guys are back,” Forte said. “Conventional wisdom is that they’re going to want to run this year but with Willie you just don’t know, so we’re preparing for everything.”
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