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July 31, 2007 FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The 2006 Methodist football season did not live up to Head Coach Jim Sypult’s expectations. Coming off of a USA South Athletic Conference Championship in 2005, everyone knew there would be necessary adjustments, but a 2-5 conference record was not on the agenda. Sypult hopes the lessons learned last season will translate into greater success in 2007. The Monarchs have been picked third in the USA South Athletic Conference preseason poll and hope behind North Carolina Wesleyan and Christopher Newport. This season Sypult has a wealth of experience returning and is counting on the team to come through with the big plays. Last season the Monarchs battled through a 4-6 overall record to go along with their 2-5 USA South record ranking them fifth in the conference. All season, Sypult and his staff knew they would have to deal with a rookie quarterback. The Monarchs started off the season with Antonio Bartee before turning to Brandon Parks in week three. They lost key starters to injuries including offensive lineman Rhyan Breen who Sypult deemed “our top guy who was also a tremendous leader.” Personnel questions aside, Sypult acknowledges, “We had many opportunities in the red zone that we didn’t convert into points. Our playmakers didn’t make plays.” Sypult has retained a core group of players who played a part of the 2005 Conference Championship and hopes their leadership and experience will help to prepare the team for the upcoming season. OFFENSE After enduring 2006 with a rookie quarterback, Sypult is confident in the position this fall. “We have a quarterback with fire under his belt. Parks is our guy.” Brandon Parks will return this season as a sophomore and a year of experience. Last year, Parks saw action in all ten games while throwing for 675 yards. He threw for three touchdowns while scoring four on the run. Sypult is certain sophomore Erik Teague can also step in and play while four newcomers will battle for time. Waiting on the other end of the pass are senior wide receivers Patrick Doleman and Jonathan Mularski. A USA South Honorable Mention selection last season, Doleman led the team in receptions with thirty for 403 yards. In 2005, Doleman caught seven touchdowns currently ranking him sixth on the career touchdown chart. Sypult heralds Doleman as a “big play guy.” Mularski battled injury last year to still see action in nine games with 123 yards receiving including a touchdown catch against Maryville College. Mularski has shown vast improvement throughout his career at Methodist to become a formidable threat at receiver. Newcomers are also expected to be able to step in for the Monarchs. Methodist tailback Mike Hill already holds the season rushing yardage and season rushing attempts records but will look to take over All-American DeCarlos West’s career records this season. Averaging 789 yards in his first three seasons, Hill needs just 392 yards to conquer the career yardage record. The Methodist offense was essentially reduced to Hill last season. Sypult watched as “defenses loaded up on Mike and basically said go ahead, beat us with your rookie quarterback.” The coaching staff is bringing in thirteen running backs this year with the hopes someone can take the heat off of Hill. The Monarchs lost three seniors from the offensive line, but Sypult said he is “really excited about the talent [this year]. They could be as good as we’ve ever had.” The line will be highlighted by youth including sophomore center Joshua Kessler. Kessler spent the offseason working hard to move from 265 to 290 pounds this summer. Returners will combine with fifteen freshman joining the mix. While the offense is bringing back experienced players, the kicking game is yet to be determined. Patrick Larkin finished his career with the Monarchs last season as the Methodist leader in career points, point after attempts, and field goals. Larkin’s replacement will likely be found in one of two strong freshman commitments. George Sands took over as the return specialist for the Monarchs in 2006. He ran for more than 600 yards in punt and kick returns on his way to be named an Honorable Mention All-American selection by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. Sands completed his eligibility last fall and the position is wide open entering the 2007 season. DEFENSE Sypult’s primary defensive goal is to “shore it up in the secondary.” Methodist led the conference in rushing defense, but struggled with the long ball. Returning to the team are juniors Antwin Shuford, Mitchell Collier, and Christopher Oden along with sophomore Demory Williams. The coaching staff has recruited a wealth of new players to fill in the holes. Senior Sean Merritt returns for his fifth year and will likely move to the noseguard position in place of All-Conference performer John Northern. Sypult is eager to insert sophomore Eric Wilson into the defensive line. Senior Brandon Hayden will flank Merritt on the other side as an experienced starter. Linebacker Daryl Lawrence returns for his senior season as one of the team’s top athletes. Lawrence led the team in tackles as a sophomore before ranking second on the team in 2006. Last season Lawrence picked up three sacks on the way to a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss. Joining Lawrence will be seniors Philip Burlingame and Jeremy Perkins. When talking about his five defensive seniors, Sypult’s face lights up, “Coaching those five [Merritt, Hayden, Lawrence, Burlingame, Perkins] is like coaching heaven. All of them are great people, good students who bring leadership and experience to the team.” OVERALL The 2007 campaign is going to be a team effort on both sides of the ball. The USA South Athletic Conference continues to be competitive with Sypult acknowledging the strengths across the board. “Christopher Newport is always tough, while North Carolina Wesleyan is in position to vie for the championship in the program’s fourth year,” he adds. He does not want to underestimate Greensboro, and knows Maryville, Shenandoah, Ferrum, and Averett all have the potential to make a run through the conference. Sypult is surrounded by a talented staff. Michael Maraschiello joins the staff full-time this year, but has been a part of the Monarchs’ program for the past seven years as a student-athlete and student coach. Sypult says, “I couldn’t be more blessed to have the guys I have. They have the experience, they’re great recruiters, and they know what needs to be done.” Sypult hopes to include former student-athletes Chris Gauntlett (2003-06) and Jeremy Priebe (1999-2001) in part-time roles this fall. Methodist
will open the season at home on September
8th against Guilford College before traveling
to Chowan. The team will kick off conference
play hosting North Carolina Wesleyan on September
22nd. Non-conference opponent Emory &
Henry will visit to close out September before
the Monarchs complete the regular season against
the USA South. Homecoming on October 20th
will feature the Christopher Newport Captains
before finishing the season at home on November
10th against Shenandoah. Complete
Methodist Preseason Prospectus
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