Millsaps College -- Under the guidance of head coach Bob Tyler, the Millsaps College football team romped its way to a 6-4 record in 2001, the first winning season for the Purple and White since the 1996 campaign. Inspired by last year's success, the 2002 Majors seek to claim their first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title in six years. With the 2001 SCAC Defensive Player of the Year at the helm of one of the league's best defenses, senior linebacker Matt O'Bryant and his troops look to stifle their opponents once again this fall, and a revamped offense should add excitement and productivity to a veteran team.
The Majors return 9 starters to an aggressive and experienced defensive unit that led the SCAC in total defense in 2001, allowing just 258.5 yards per game. Heading the squad will be 2002 Div. III pre-season All-American and 2001 All-SCAC first-teamer O'Bryant, who led the conference with 121 tackles, including 11 stops for a loss. Aiding O'Bryant will be junior linebackers Steven Campbell and Luke Cochran and fellow senior linebackers Boo Zinn and William Jorden, who tallied 49 and 48 tackles respectively in 2001.
Anchoring the defensive line will be juniors Eugene Lamberth and Derriaux Gadlin. Lamberth accounted for 30 tackles last season, while the versatile Gadlin will make his return to the Majors after sitting out last year. Also returning is senior defensive end Jed Mooney who led the conference with 8.5 sacks for a loss of 112 yards in 2001. The formidable Mooney, a 2001 All-SCAC 2nd team selection has excelled as a linebacker and defensive end for the Majors for three years. Patrolling the secondary will be seniors Jahreese Jones, Reggie Young, and Craig Bowman. Bowman led the Majors in interceptions with 4 picks in 2001, while Jones added 3 thefts and Young managed one take-away.
Adding depth to the defense will be junior linebacker Stephen Cutter, sophomore linebacker George Fowler, and sophomore defensive back Tarrance Miller. Newcomers include freshman defensive end David Cutter and freshman linebackers Ross Rutledge and Web Walters.
Offensively, Millsaps will look to establish a strong ground attack with returning senior running backs Brent LeJeune and Chris Schiro leading the charge. LeJeune and Schiro, both hampered with season long nagging injuries, rushed for just 177 yards combined in 2001. Now healthy, the duo seeks to replace the running prowess of graduated 2001 All-SCAC first team selection Casey Macke, who scampered for 516 yards last year. Other returning rushers include sophomore tailback Jay Liles and sophomore fullback Brett Burgess, who rushed for 161 and 80 yards respectively last season. New additions will be freshmen tailbacks Stephens McVea and David Simoneaux.
Seeking to pave the way for their teammates, the strong men on the offensive line include junior Jesse Anderson and seniors Michael Phillips and Steve Sloan. Also playing up front will be junior Matt Cartwright, Sophomore Matt McCollough, and senior tight end Tyler Erb.
The Majors aerial attack will be composed of a stellar wide receiving corps led by junior wide receivers Thomas Bowden and Louisiana State University transfer Jack Casanova. Bowden hauled in 21 passes for 269 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2001, while Casanova emerged as a late season threat and caught 9 throws for 101 yards. Other wide-outs include seniors Wayne Brown and and freshman Hunter Perrett. Vying for the role of quarterback will be sophomore Brandon Morris and Freshmen Garner Wetzel and Christian Johnson.
Handling kicking responsibilities will be sophomores Robert Ezelle and John Festa and freshman Nick Fowler.
Millsaps will kick off the 2002 season with cross-town rival Mississippi College in the third annual Mississippi Backyard Brawl on September 7th at Mississippi Veterans' Memorial Stadium in Jackson, MS. The Majors will host five home games in 2002, including a September 14th contest with first time opponent the University of Wisconsin - Stout, a Family Day contest versus first time foe the University of South Alabama on September 28, an October 12th battle with Centre College, a Homecoming showdown with DePauw University on October 26, and the ever-entertaining rumble with Trinity University (Texas) on Nov. 16. Road games consist of trips to Maryville College (Oct. 5), Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Oct. 19), University of the South - Sewanee (Nov. 2), and Rhodes College (Nov. 9).
