In an attempt to help us all think about football again, and resume some semblance of “normalcy,” here are a few observations about the Bucs’ first two contests, a 31-0 loss at Pittsburgh and a 30-17 home-opening win over Gardner-Webb …
As strange as it may seem for a team that lost 31-0, ETSU had to have come away satisfied with the way they played at Pittsburgh, if not with the final score. But for a few gaffes, it would have been a tight game.
Before the Panther offense began to wear them down in the second half, the Bucs’ defensive line, where the core of experience on an otherwise novice defense lies, held its own against a much huskier Pitt offensive front. To their credit, the secondary, anchored by senior Ocasio Cofield, overachieved, even considering Pitt’s loss of Antonio Bryant, who left early with an injury. Amongst the youngsters, Allen Davis was the standout.
After that Saturday, ETSU looked like it had done everything a small-time school could do at Pittsburgh. Then, the very next week, South Florida, a college that only began playing football in 1997, went into Heinz Field and shocked the Antonio Bryant-less Panthers, 35-26. Ouch, babe …
After a shaky start to the campaign at Pittsburgh for Matt Wiljhelm, in part because his offensive line was overwhelmed in the second half, the fifth-year senior and first-year starter was on-target against Gardner-Webb. He went completed his first 11 passes, finished 16-for-25 and racked up 228 yards in the air …
One sure sign of youth is over-eagerness. That’s just what ETSU’s young linebackers have shown, biting twice on misdirection plays that sent a ball carrier to one side while the defense collapsed in the middle. It happened against Gardner-Webb, but more spectacularly against Pittsburgh, on David Priestley’s 85-yard dance that set a record for the longest run ever by a Pittsburgh quarterback.
Another trait endemic to youth, however, is trial-by-error learning. So, here’s betting they don’t go for a fake a third time …
Terry Copeland stepped in admirably for Corey Carter at running back versus Gardner-Webb, totting up 62 yards on 15 carries. The real story in the backfield, however, is the continued quiet diligence of junior fullback Scott Carter, who actually led the Bucs with 68 rushing yards against the Bulldogs. After starting all 11 games in 1999, he took a back seat to Corey Carter last year, who has since become a tailback. Now, he’s back in the starting lineup, and well on his way to becoming one of the top fullbacks in the Southern Conference. …
In fact, running backs are performing well whenever ETSU plays, whether it be the Bucs’ ball carriers or the opponents. Raymond Kirkley rushed for 90 yards in his first college game for Pittsburgh while Justin Richardson pounded his way to 133 yards for Gardner-Webb. This does not bode well for a defense that must face two Walter Payton Award-winning running backs in Georgia Southern’s Adrian Peterson and Furman’s Louis Ivory down the road.
ETSU will visit App. State and games against Georgia Southern and Furman will come in back-to-back weeks in October.

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