Even if he had a completely new team consisting entirely of freshmen straight out of high school, Weber State Coach Dave Arslanian would probably still say his team was the greatest and should win every game.
That's just the way Arslanian is, perhaps the most optimistic coach in America. While most coaches run away from high expectations, every year Arslanian complains his team isn't picked as high as it should be. This year he was chagrined when his Wildcats were picked for sixth in the league and he promised that they'd finish much higher. More than likely they will.The fact is, the Wildcats return only seven starters from last year's 7-4 team and haven't even decided on a quarterback yet.
However, Arslanian has been stockpiling several redshirts, who will move into starting roles this year and surprise a few opponents with their abilities.
Here's a look at the 1997 Wildcats at the various positions.
QUARTERBACK
The four-man race is now down to two.
This week Arslanian decided that even though "there wasn't much separation" among his four quarterbacks, he had to cut the competition down to two. So juniors Steve Buck and John Fassel will share time on Saturday against Western State, while sophomore Chris Wallace and redshirt freshman Josh Heupel will wait their turns.
"I'd like to see every young man have the opportunity to shine, but I decided to go with the two juniors," said Arslanian. "The other two will get their chance to shine later."
Arslanian said both Buck, a transfer from UCLA, and Fassel, son of New York Giant Coach Jim Fassel and a University of Pacific transfer, have similar traits - "excellent athletes with very good arms."
He said it may take three games to find a starter, but that's OK because the first Big Sky game isn't until Sept. 27 against Eastern Washington.
RUNNING BACKS
Between them last year, Clemente Sainten and Marlon Pierre rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the Wildcats. However, both have graduated, leaving the Wildcats rushing corps with a couple of runners who combined for less than 100 yards on the ground last year.
Still Arslanian feels good about Morgan Welch and Bryan Rubin, who should handle most of the duty at running back this year. The 5-foot-8 190-pound Welch is a sophomore from Alberta, while Rubin is nearly the exact same size and hails from San Bernadino, Calif. Derek Poole is a JC transfer from Las Vegas who could see some action, while Nick Chournos, who scored 36 touchdowns for Bear River last year, could play unless he is redshirted.
RECEIVERS
Don't get Arslanian started on tight end Cam Quayle, who despite only starting two games last year, is the top returning statistical leader among NCAA Division I-AA tight ends.
"He's as good as there is in the entire country," says Arslanian, who includes even the major colleges in that statement."I wouldn't trade him for anyone."
Quayle came from nearby Ben Lomond High School as an average-size player, but has since grown into a 6-7, 250-pound specimen. He caught 62 passes for 658 yards last year.
Taurus McGhee, who prepped at Layton High, was second behind Quayle last year with 55 receptions for 778 yards and five touchdowns. Tyler Harlan, a transfer from Dixie College and Richard Clarke a sophomore from Ontario, are the other starting wide receivers with senior Mandel Brown pushing for playing time.
The receiving corps is solid - the only question is whether there will be a good enough quarterback to get the ball to them.
OFFENSIVE LINE
"It's a little frightening," said Arslanian in discussing his O-line.
He's not talking about center Kris Jackson, the only starter returning from last year's line. What scares the coach is that he may be starting a pair of identical twin redshirt freshmen at the two starting guard positions.
Rick Judd and Russ Judd, who both check in at 6-2, 270 pounds, are penciled in at the guard spots. A couple of 300-pounders, Phil Bunch and Tomas Goode will man the tackle positions. They'll need to mature in a hurry to keep the new quarterbacks from being overly harassed.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Senior Weston Weaver anchors what Arslanian calls the "strength of our defense." Weaver will be joined at the other tackle spot by 25-year-old Santos Carrillo, who spent four years in the Navy after junior college.
Eric Weston and local product Jim Slaugh will give some bulk and experience as starters at the end positions.
"On defense we need to stay on track where we were last year when we were No. 1 in the Big Sky," said Arslanian.
LINEBACKER
David Stroshine may not look the part of a college linebacker, at 6-1, 215 pounds, but he's another one of those players that makes Arslanian do back flips.
Stroshine (Mountain View High) is the leading returning tackler from last year's team and will man one of the outside linebacker spots this year. He'll be joined by Havili Reeves (Delta) and Adam Casto (West Jordan) at the other linebacker positions.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The safety spots are solid with Scott Shields at free safety and Junior Baker at the other. Shields came up with 10 interceptions last year and 73 tackles, while Baker, a senior who has started the majority of the Wildcats' games all four years, had nine pass deflectons and three interceptions.
The corner positions will be manned by a pair of transfers from Mesa State in Colorado. Both Anthony Parker and Wade Davis are Colorado natives as well, Parker from Denver and Davis from Aurora.
SPECIAL TEAMS
With all-American Shields back to handle the punting and placekicking chores, the Wildcats are in terrific shape in that department. Shields has a remarkable 81 percent success rate on field goals the past two years (34 for 42) and also averages 40.4 yards in his punting.
Throw in McGhee, a top return man along with Rubin, you see how loaded the Wildcats are with their special teams.
"Our kicking game is in good shape," said Arslanian.
COACHES
The Weber coaches certainly rate an "A" for their enthusiasm and optimism. Arslanian has a knack for getting the most out an average bunch of players and is known for his imaginative offenses. Only a lack of experience among the assistants keeps the staff from getting a higher mark.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Following three non-league games to open the season, the Wildcats will find out in a hurry how good they are when they meet a couple of the preseason favorites, Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona. If one of the quarterbacks can quickly develop, the Wildcats, with their strong defense, could find themselves in postseason play for the first time in six years.
*****
Additional Information
Report card
Graded against teams in their own conference
Quarterback - B
Running backs - B-
Receivers - B+
Offensive line - C+
Defensive line - B+
Linebackers - B-
Defensive backs - B
Special teams - A-
Coaching - B+