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Bulldogs not afraid
to accept a big challengeEditor's noteThis is the seventh in a series of 13 features on Hawaii's opponents this season.
Like those other Bulldogs a few time zones west at Fresno State, Louisiana Tech knows no fear.
Coach Jack Bicknell's crew, less than three years removed from independent status, is willing to play anyone, anywhere. LaTech opens next Saturday against Miami (No. 3 in the AP poll) and also plays at Michigan State and at Louisiana State (No. 14).
This is nothing new for the Bulldogs, who have played 39 games on the road against BCS conference teams since joining Division I-A in 1989. They don't usually win, but they don't usually embarrass themselves, either.
The game they lost at Miami, 42-31 in 2001 -- the year LaTech won the Western Athletic Conference title -- was typical.
"Opening with Miami is a very exciting thing for us. If you're a college football fan, there's a good chance you'll have that on. If you ask for the best college program over the last 20 years I'll pick Miami," Bicknell said. "Our goal is to hang around until the fourth quarter and see what happens."
The Miami game has the added attraction of homecoming for Brock Berlin, a star quarterback when he went to high school in Shreveport, La. The highly touted Berlin will be in a Hurricane uniform, but he won't be the most established QB on the field -- it is LaTech senior Luke McCown (6-feet-4, 200 pounds).
He enters 2003 first in the nation among returning players in career passing yards (9,748) and touchdowns (69). Bicknell hopes he can cut back on the 19 interceptions during last year's 4-8 season.
"Luke is a fantastic player," Bicknell said. "But stats are always tricky, especially when you play against great teams. Luke got into some bad situations not of his own making, but then he'd make some decisions that hurt us at times. I want to get him to pull the ball down and run sometimes instead of throwing one up."
McCown has lots of experienced receivers to go to, including senior D.J. Curry (5-10, 180), who is 13th among the nation's returnees in career catches with 121. Seniors Chris Norwood (6-0, 181) and Erick Franklin (5-11, 181) and junior Tramissian Davis (6-0, 175) are the other projected starters.
Stud running back Joe Smith (1,216 yards last year) is done and replaced by senior Ralph Davis (6-0, 218), and when a tight end is used it will usually be Aaron Capps (6-6, 250).
The offensive line loses three starters. Michael Gilmore (6-5, 308) returns at right tackle and sophomore Aaron Lips (6-5, 292) is the right guard again. New left tackle Clarence Casey (6-3, 297), a junior, will be a key to the Bulldogs' success and McCown's health.
Five starters return on defense, but that could mean anything since the Bulldogs were 104th in the nation in scoring defense (35.5 points per game) and 105th in total defense (441.2 yards per game).
Junior Chris Van Hoy (6-4, 293) is one of the league's better defensive tackles. He's joined up front by senior tackle Lacorey Street (6-7, 314) and ends Booker T. Washington (6-3, 249), a senior, and junior Travon Brown (6-2, 251).
The linebackers are seniors Antonio Crow (6-0, 230) and Jonte Price (5-11, 227), who flank junior John Nash (6-0, 237). All four defensive backs are seniors: corners Kevin Brown (6-0, 171) and Corey Brazil (5-7, 190), strong safety Gavin Cato (6-0, 190) and free safety Michael Johnson (5-10, 193).
Brazil also returns punts, and Franklin handles kickoffs.
Dustin Upton and Josh Scobee, both seniors and fourth-year starters, are among the most experienced pair of kickers in the country. Upton has punted 175 times for a 38.3-yard average and Scobee has made 45 of his 61 field goal tries.
It's not a lineup anyone expects to beat Miami. But if the defense falls into place, Louisiana Tech could contend in the WAC again.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
2003 schedule
Aug. 30 Miami Sept. 6 at Louisiana-Lafayette Sept. 13 at Michigan State Sept. 20 at Fresno State Oct. 4 Boise State Oct. 11 at Texas-El Paso Oct. 18 Hawaii Oct. 25 at Nevada Nov. 1 at Louisiana State Nov. 8 at Southern Methodist Nov. 15 at Tulsa Nov. 29 Rice 2002 results
4-8 overall, 3-5 WAC
Aug. 31 Oklahoma State W, 39-36 Sept. 7 at Clemson L, 13-33 Sept. 14 at Tulsa W, 53-9 Sept. 21 at Penn State L, 17-49 Sept. 28 at Texas A&M L, 3-31 Oct. 5 Rice L, 20-37 Oct. 19 Southern Methodist L, 34-37 Oct. 26 Nevada W, 50-47 Nov. 9 at San Jose State L, 30-42 Nov. 16 at Boise State L, 10-36 Nov. 23 Texas-El Paso W, 38-24 Dec. 5 Fresno State L, 13-45
