The Weber State Wildcats are going into the 1996 football season with a proven quarterback, a solid runningback and a pair of tight ends that most I-AA teams can only covet.
In a program where the best defense traditionally is the offense and the endzones, that offensive promise alone would seem to give coach Dave Arslanian and his staff ample reason to be optimistic for the upcoming season.However, strange things are happening in 'Cat country. This fall, defense isn't just a liability, it should be the Wildcats biggest asset. That's not to say Weber will struggle to put points on the board, though.
"We're going to be very balanced," said Arslanian, who's entering his eighth season at the helm of the Wildcats. "I don't even know what our strength is going to be yet."
The return of several key players, who missed 1995 due to either injuries or academic problems, will boost the 'Cats defense which improved dramatically over the final four games last year.
"We're going to surprise a lot of people this year," said linebacker Naki Pilivi, the leading tackler last year, of the 'Cats improvement. "Everybody's got a grasp of what we're doing."
Defensive ends Brandon Smith, a 6-4, 265-pounder, and 6-5, 280-pound Weston Weaver highlight a formidable frontline for the Wildcats. And the 'Cats defense gets even better behind them.
Weber will be very solid in the linebacker slots. Naki Pilivi (6-foot, 240 pounds) returns at the weak inside linebacker position for his senior season after leading WSU in total tackles in '95. Also returning is Eric Lichter, a 6-foot, 240-pound senior who missed '95 with a torn knee ligament.
Depth will be WSU's ally in the secondary. Cornerback Max Mitchell (5-10, 175 pounds) is healthy after missing all but one game in '95 for a neck injury. He'll be joined by Stanford transfer Jami Webb, who's expected to make an immediate impact in the opposite corner.
Offensively, the Wildcats are only returning three starters (six or more games), but several players played extensively in back-up roles last year. The biggest offensive load will be placed on the shoulders of senior quarterback Roger Cook.
"He's a winner. He finds a way to make things happen," Arslanian said of Cook, the former Carbon High standout who earned NJCAA offensive player of the year honors at Dixie College in 1993.
Cook will be joined in the backfield by senior runningback Clemente Sainten, who led WSU in rushing last season.
The biggest void the Wildcats have offensively is in the receiving corps. Gone is first team All-American Pokey Eckford who led the top receiving trio in the nation last year. Arslanian is counting on junior Taurus McGhee (5-11, 175), senior Kyhaunn Woods (5-8, 170) and junior Tyler Harlan (6-foot, 180) to fill the gap.
Cook will look to his tight ends quite often, also. Senior Lance Mimnaugh (6-4, 245) and junior Cam Quayle (6-7, 245) return as a talented 1-2 combo.
Special teams will be a strength of the Wildcats. Scott Shields made 16-of-18 field goals last season as a freshman year and earned second-team All-America. He'll handle the punting duties as well.
The Big Sky will have a new look to it in 1996. Boise State and Idaho both moved to the Big West. The Big Sky, meantime, added three new schools in Cal-State Sacramento, Cal-State Northridge and Portland State.
WSU begins its 1996 campaign at Wildcat Stadium against conference foe Eastern Washington on Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
'96 WSU schedule
Date Opponent Time
Sept. 7 E. Washington 6 p.m.
Sept. 14 Western St. 6 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Cal Poly-SLO 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Toledo 5 p.m.
Oct. 5 at N. Arizona 5 p.m.
Oct. 12 CS-Northridge 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Portland St. 8 p.m.
Nov. 2 Montana St. Noon
Nov. 9 at CS-Sacra. 7 p.m.
Nov. 16 Montana Noon
Nov. 23 at Idaho St. 12:35 p.m.
Radio: Wildcat Radio Network - 106.3 FM, 800 AM.
Tickets: 626-8500