Winning seasons are becoming a tradition at ETSU as this season’s Buccaneer team became the first since the 1952-1955 squad to record three straight winning seasons.
The Bucs finished the season with a record of 6-5 overall and 4-4 in the Southern Conference for the third consecutive year.
“I thought we were going to have to work very hard,” said head coach Paul Hamilton of his team putting together a +.500 record.
“We knew we could face some adversity and there were going to be some tough times, but I believed we could do it (have a winning season), but it was going to take a lot of work.”
Tough times began early as ETSU began the season with a 2-4 record going into its Oct. 27 game with the then No. 1 Georgia Southern Eagles.
After losses to Pittsburgh, which could be playing in an NCAA Division I bowl game, Western Carolina (7-4), and a pair of NCAA I-AA top-10 teams in No. 4 Furman and No. 8 Appalachian State, the Bucs shocked the top-ranked Eagles, 19-16, beginning their three-game winning streak.
“Our team believed we could win, we knew if we kept working we could become a better team,” Hamilton said. “The turning point was the Georgia Southern game.
“I told the team all week long that we were going to win. We were going to go out on that field and find a way to win.”
ETSU ended its season winning four of its last five games, only falling to Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C., in what could have been a rebuilding year with this season’s young and inexperienced Buccaneer team.
“This was a year in transition where a lot of programs would have had a very difficult season,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton said there are two things his senior class could take away from this season and be proud of – the three straight winning seasons and the victory over Georgia Southern.
“Those are two significant accomplishments for a team that had a lot of growing up to do going all the way back to spring practice,” he said.
Early in the season, after the 2-4 start and as the Bucs’ offensive unit struggled, scoring six points or less in three of the four losses, Hamilton and senior quarterback Matt Wilhjelm faced criticism from the media over whether Wilhjelm should be the team’s starting quarterback.
Hamilton, however, never believed it was an issue and stuck with the fifth-year senior as his starter.
“We had to go out and understand who we were as an offense,” Hamilton said. “We did not have an explosive offense like we’ve had in the past at ETSU.
“It was important to put a guy on the field that gave us the right leadership skills and took care of the football . and Matt was the guy to get that done for us.”
Wilhjelm finished the season ranked third in the conference in passing yards (1,461), passing yards per game (132.8) and touchdown passes (eight). However, he did lead the conference in interceptions (12) and was sixth in passing efficiency rating (97.2).
“I never weathered from him (Wilhjelm) being the guy,” Hamilton said. “I though ultimately in the end he would be the one that gave us the best chance to be successful and have a positive season.”
One of the positives of this season was the Bucs’ turnover margin, which is a statistic the Bucs led the conference (+8) as they forced 27 turnovers to their 19.
“For us to have a chance to win this year that was an area we had to be great at,” he said.
Even with the offensive woes that plagued ETSU at times throughout the season, all-conference wide receiver Cecil Moore was able to put up some impressive numbers and made big plays when the Bucs needed them including key receptions in victories over The Citadel and Georgia Southern.
“Cecil’s value on our football team goes beyond words this year,” said Hamilton of Moore who had led the conference in receiving yards (908), receiving yards per game (82.5) and receptions per game (5.18).
“He was a guy that had to make big plays for us . back at the Georgia Southern game we had our shots and had to take them and he stood up with Matt and made plays. He’s proved to be one of the better players in I-AA football.”
After three straight 6-5 seasons, ETSU will be looking to add some more wins to its record next season and in years to come.
Along with the return of Moore next season, 21 of 22 defensive starters will be back, including sophomore Tony Tiller, who was the conference leader in interceptions (seven).
“We have some good, young athletes in the program and that gives you a positive sense of enthusiasm looking to the future,” Hamilton said. “The league will always be tough . our players and everyone in the conference expects ETSU football to win.
“Now we have to put the rest of the pieces together to get over the hump and get into the top three (of the conference) and overtake the top three . and be in the mix nationally.”
Notes: Cecil Moore, senior tight end Nick Hendrickson and sophomore defensive lineman Brandon Calton were selected to the All-Southern Conference team.
Moore was a member of the first team and Hendrickson and Calton were on the second team.

Author