Gateway Nation / Sports Forums / Missouri State / Missouri State Football

MO State to play @ K-State in 2007

douglasdmb — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 15:22:26 GMT

As announced by our Athletic Director at the Bears Caravan in Kansas City this week.

Dedric Ward feature article

douglasdmb — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 22:01:50 GMT

Good read on new Bears receivers' coach, Dedric Ward.

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060807/SPORTS0401/608070355/1052

[quote]
First-hand knowledge

MSU receivers coach played eight seasons in NFL, won Super Bowl. Dedric Ward knows what it takes to succeed in the Gateway

by Kyle Neddenriep

Footballs whizzed behind helmets, careened off shoulder pads and just past the outstretched fingertips of wide receivers.

A couple balls even bounced off of facemasks, then rolled away awkwardly on the turf.

Dedric Ward, who had been on the other end of these drills hundreds of times before, was the one doing the firing this time.

"Am I throwing too hard?" Ward asked loudly, repeating himself several times as the drill continued for several minutes during Missouri State's first fall practice.

No one dared answered "Yes!" for the fear that Ward really might start putting some mustard on the ball.

That's the thing about having an eight-year NFL veteran as a coach. The respect tends to be there even before any face-to-face meetings.

"When a guy has a Super Bowl ring, you tend to look up to him," said junior receiver Jeremy Nicholson. "That's a dream. And then you add those Gateway (Conference) championships that he won. That's what we're striving for."

Ward won those championships during his playing days at Northern Iowa from 1993-96, where he was a two-time All-American and still tops the school's all-time receiving yardage list with 4,539 yards.

He's reunited here with coach Terry Allen, who left Northern Iowa for Kansas the same year Ward was drafted in the third round by the New York Jets.

Allen said the leadership qualities that have drawn Ward into coaching were evident early on. A nudge from Bill Parcells, who Ward played under for five of his eight NFL seasons, was all the incentive he needed to give coaching a shot.

"Coach Parcells wanted him to become a coach (and) I have an awful lot of respect for Coach Parcells," Allen said. "That seemed like an easy fit. Dedric's work ethic has always impressed me and he's decided this is what he wants to do. He has a great understanding of the game."

Ward spent four seasons with the Jets, his best coming in 2000, when he caught 54 passes for 801 yards and three touchdowns. After that season, he spent two years with the Miami Dolphins, then played for the Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots in 2003, before closing his career with Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys in '04.

After he decided it was time to get out of football, Ward took Parcells' advice and decided to give coaching a try. He said working with Allen again, this time as a colleague, is a natural fit.

"He's a guy who gave me an opportunity from the beginning so it was a no-brainer," Ward said. "It came down to me looking at coaching as a career and a realistic possibility for my future. After being around a guy like Parcells, who expects his players to be like coaches on the field, it's kind of a natural transition."

Though he currently has a home in Las Vegas and has lived in New York and Miami, moving back to the Midwest wasn't a tough sell.

A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ward said living in Springfield won't be a culture shock for him.

"I've lived on both coasts so I've seen what it's like everywhere," he said. "People are great in the Midwest. I always enjoy being back here. You drive down the street and people wave at you. When you're at a stoplight, people aren't honking at you right when the light turns green. It's more of a comfortable, friendly atmosphere."

That's not to say he'll be taking on an overly-friendly relationship with his group of receivers this fall.

He takes his coaching style from Parcells, who is known for his no-nonsense approach.

That showed during the Bears' first practice on Thursday, as Ward both encouraged and corrected during a "bad ball" drill, where receivers attempt to make catches on balls thrown in tough-to-catch places.

Ward believes there are a few able-bodies at a position that is searching for a playmaker after the graduation of Michael Sparks, who accounted for a team-high 663 receiving yards last year.

Senior Calvin Nealy (28 catches, 327 yards) is the top returnee by the numbers, along with Nicholson (15 for 187) and sophomore Chris Geisz, who saw action on special teams last year.

Tamarkus McElvane and Eric Davis join the Bears from the California junior college ranks with designs on cracking the starting lineup.

Getting to the top of the Gateway — something Ward knows plenty about — will depend a lot on how the receivers perform in Allen's pass-happy attack.

"We have 12 (receivers) and I told them at our first meeting that it's a great situation because everyone is going to be evaluated the same and the best guys will play," he said. "Whether you are a freshman or a transfer or been here for four years, playing time will be decided on how you practice."

Ward knows it's a long shot to turn out any NFL players, though at 5-foot-9 he defied the odds himself in making it.

But now that he has the ear of these young athletes, Ward hopes that he can make a difference in more places than just the football field.

"I know it helps that I've been there and been in the fire and know what it means to compete at a high level," he said. "But hopefully this isn't all about X's and O's and football only. It should be about life lessons.

"I want to be able to show these guys some leadership and things that they can take with them when they are done playing. Whether that's the next level in the NFL or another part of their life, hopefully my experiences can help these young guys make good decisions down the road."
[/quote]

Feature article about preseason Gateway first-teamers...

douglasdmb — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 12:49:17 GMT

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060805/SPORTS0401/608050375/1002

[quote]
Building blocks

At least two starting spots are filled for the Bears Justin Williamson and Derrick Byrd are two fewer Bears to worry about.

by Joe Cress

More questions than answers surround his program as Terry Allen prepares for his first season as football coach at Missouri State University.

Are the Bears better than their seventh-place pick in the Gateway Conference? Remains to be seen. Who's the starting quarterback? Check back later. Who's the kicker? Don't ask right now.

Yet, just two days into practice, Allen can already visualize a few things happening on the new turf at Plaster Sports Complex this fall.

He can see Justin Williamson clearing a path for a running back or giving his quarterback — whoever it is — time to throw. And he can see Derrick Byrd chasing down an opposing running back, or knocking the ball loose from a receiver coming over the middle.

If the Bears are to be successful in the first year of the Allen era, it will be on the backs of players like the senior duo, looking to end their college careers on a high note.

Both Williamson, an offensive tackle from Glendale High School, and Byrd, a linebacker from Kenner, La., were named to the Gateway's preseason all-conference team. At Friday's media day, Allen said it makes his job that much easier to know two key positions are already filled.

"I'm somewhat limited on what I can say about Justin, because I've only seen him practice once," Allen said about Williamson, who missed spring drills while recovering from shoulder surgery. "But anybody who gains the respect of the other coaches, you know there's something to him. ... And I know our players turn to him.

"If his ability is up to that of his personality, we've got a great one."

Allen has more first-hand knowledge of Byrd, who he named a co-captain at the end of spring practice.

"If we had 11 Derrick Byrds on defense," Allen said. "We'd be in great shape."

Williamson and Byrd come from different parts of the country and play on different sides of the ball, but they've also faced a lot of the same things at Missouri State, including position and coaching changes.

Williamson was all smiles Friday, as he was in uniform for the first time since the end of last season. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound right tackle got his left arm caught on another player against Youngstown State in the seventh game last season, tearing the labrum. He played the final three games in pain, then had surgery in late November.

His rehab forced him to miss spring drills, so he was clearly excited about Thursday's start of fall practice.

"I'm 100 percent," Williamson said of his shoulder. "It's actually stronger than it was before. For the first time in a while, I really feel healthy."

That's saying something. In addition to the shoulder, Williamson missed part of his redshirt freshman season (2003) with mono and, more severely, missed the 2004 season after tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee in that season's opener against Drake.

In addition to the injuries, Williamson has moved from tight end to left tackle to — at the start of last season — right tackle during his time with the Bears. That last move certainly agreed with him, as he earned second-team all-Gateway honors in 2005.

Senior Steve Kohenskey, who lines up alongside Williamson at right guard, says a healthy Williamson is a good thing for the Missouri State offense.

"The offensive line needs to come up big this year, and he's a big part of it," Kohenskey said. "We came in together, and we've been roommates and good friends on and off the field. ... He's a great guy who's fought back from a lot of injuries and never used that as an excuse."

Change has been a constant for Byrd, too, during his college career. He played one year at NAIA St. Mary (Kan.), then sat out the 2003 season here after transferring.

He was a reserve safety in 2004, before former coach Randy Ball and his staff decided the 6-1, 225-pound Byrd had sufficient size to play linebacker.

"I was nervous, man," Byrd said about the switch. "At that time I was, like, 205 pounds, but you've got to have a big heart. My dad taught me not to fear anything ... and I figured I was quick enough that if I attack I have a shot to get a hit on somebody. It worked out well."

To say the least. Byrd had a team-high 87 tackles last year, including 40 solo stops. He also forced a fumble and recovered two others.

"He's that new breed of linebacker you see now," junior linebacker Kevin Sears said. "Safety-type guys that are faster who can come up and make plays. ... He's exceptionally strong for someone his size and speed, and he'll sneak up on some guys and really give a blow and shake somebody up."

Sears said Byrd's play on the field usually speaks for itself, and calls him a leader who doesn't need to say anything to be respected.

"He's a captain now, and it's something he deserved the year before," Sears said. "He leads by example — not a lot of talking, just a lot of really good playing."

Both are expected to graduate next May, Williamson with a degree in construction management, Byrd in logistics and transportation. Williamson says he hopes to become a general contractor locally, while Byrd wants to get involved with the shipping industry back home in New Orleans.

Graduation and jobs and the rest of their lives are still months away, though. For now, it's hours of practice in the hot sun and only 11 more Saturdays to put on the maroon and white.

"It's been a long journey, but it's still hard to believe my senior year is already here," Williamson said. "My main goal is to work hard every time out, stay injury free — that would be nice — and just do my best."

At least that much Allen can count on this fall.

[/quote]

Feature article about preseason Gateway first-teamers...

douglasdmb — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 12:41:12 GMT

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060805/SPORTS0401/608050375/1002

[quote]Building blocks

At least two starting spots are filled for the Bears Justin Williamson and Derrick Byrd are two fewer Bears to worry about.

by Joe Cress

More questions than answers surround his program as Terry Allen prepares for his first season as football coach at Missouri State University.

Are the Bears better than their seventh-place pick in the Gateway Conference? Remains to be seen. Who's the starting quarterback? Check back later. Who's the kicker? Don't ask right now.

Yet, just two days into practice, Allen can already visualize a few things happening on the new turf at Plaster Sports Complex this fall.

He can see Justin Williamson clearing a path for a running back or giving his quarterback — whoever it is — time to throw. And he can see Derrick Byrd chasing down an opposing running back, or knocking the ball loose from a receiver coming over the middle.

If the Bears are to be successful in the first year of the Allen era, it will be on the backs of players like the senior duo, looking to end their college careers on a high note.

Both Williamson, an offensive tackle from Glendale High School, and Byrd, a linebacker from Kenner, La., were named to the Gateway's preseason all-conference team. At Friday's media day, Allen said it makes his job that much easier to know two key positions are already filled.

"I'm somewhat limited on what I can say about Justin, because I've only seen him practice once," Allen said about Williamson, who missed spring drills while recovering from shoulder surgery. "But anybody who gains the respect of the other coaches, you know there's something to him. ... And I know our players turn to him.

"If his ability is up to that of his personality, we've got a great one."

Allen has more first-hand knowledge of Byrd, who he named a co-captain at the end of spring practice.

"If we had 11 Derrick Byrds on defense," Allen said. "We'd be in great shape."

Williamson and Byrd come from different parts of the country and play on different sides of the ball, but they've also faced a lot of the same things at Missouri State, including position and coaching changes.

Williamson was all smiles Friday, as he was in uniform for the first time since the end of last season. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound right tackle got his left arm caught on another player against Youngstown State in the seventh game last season, tearing the labrum. He played the final three games in pain, then had surgery in late November.

His rehab forced him to miss spring drills, so he was clearly excited about Thursday's start of fall practice.

"I'm 100 percent," Williamson said of his shoulder. "It's actually stronger than it was before. For the first time in a while, I really feel healthy."

That's saying something. In addition to the shoulder, Williamson missed part of his redshirt freshman season (2003) with mono and, more severely, missed the 2004 season after tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee in that season's opener against Drake.

In addition to the injuries, Williamson has moved from tight end to left tackle to — at the start of last season — right tackle during his time with the Bears. That last move certainly agreed with him, as he earned second-team all-Gateway honors in 2005.

Senior Steve Kohenskey, who lines up alongside Williamson at right guard, says a healthy Williamson is a good thing for the Missouri State offense.

"The offensive line needs to come up big this year, and he's a big part of it," Kohenskey said. "We came in together, and we've been roommates and good friends on and off the field. ... He's a great guy who's fought back from a lot of injuries and never used that as an excuse."

Change has been a constant for Byrd, too, during his college career. He played one year at NAIA St. Mary (Kan.), then sat out the 2003 season here after transferring.

He was a reserve safety in 2004, before former coach Randy Ball and his staff decided the 6-1, 225-pound Byrd had sufficient size to play linebacker.

"I was nervous, man," Byrd said about the switch. "At that time I was, like, 205 pounds, but you've got to have a big heart. My dad taught me not to fear anything ... and I figured I was quick enough that if I attack I have a shot to get a hit on somebody. It worked out well."

To say the least. Byrd had a team-high 87 tackles last year, including 40 solo stops. He also forced a fumble and recovered two others.

"He's that new breed of linebacker you see now," junior linebacker Kevin Sears said. "Safety-type guys that are faster who can come up and make plays. ... He's exceptionally strong for someone his size and speed, and he'll sneak up on some guys and really give a blow and shake somebody up."

Sears said Byrd's play on the field usually speaks for itself, and calls him a leader who doesn't need to say anything to be respected.

"He's a captain now, and it's something he deserved the year before," Sears said. "He leads by example — not a lot of talking, just a lot of really good playing."

Both are expected to graduate next May, Williamson with a degree in construction management, Byrd in logistics and transportation. Williamson says he hopes to become a general contractor locally, while Byrd wants to get involved with the shipping industry back home in New Orleans.

Graduation and jobs and the rest of their lives are still months away, though. For now, it's hours of practice in the hot sun and only 11 more Saturdays to put on the maroon and white.

"It's been a long journey, but it's still hard to believe my senior year is already here," Williamson said. "My main goal is to work hard every time out, stay injury free — that would be nice — and just do my best."

At least that much Allen can count on this fall.

[/quote]

Article about Bears' Linebacking Corps...

douglasdmb — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 14:54:36 GMT

Article Linky

From the Springfield News-Leader...

[quote]No guarantees

Veterans like Kevin Sears will have to fight for playing time Bears' defense getting plenty of competition among veterans, newcomers.

by Kyle Neddenriep

There isn't even a hint of a smirk on Kevin Sears' face when he says he fears for playing time this season.

Sounds odd coming from a guy considered to be one of the stalwarts of a defense expected to be the strength of this Missouri State football team.

Defensive coordinator D.J. Vokolek likes knowing his veterans aren't going to be kicking back in their La-Z-Boys during fall practices, knowing their jobs are already sewn up.

"It's going to be really, really interesting to see who emerges between all of those guys," Vokolek said. "There is some depth and good players, so that's going to create some competition among those guys."

It would still be a surprise if Sears didn't assert himself as one of the leaders of a deep linebacking corps. A 6-foot-2, 245-pound junior, the Kansas City native ranked second behind fellow linebacker Derrick Byrd last season with 86 tackles.

Known as a cerebral player, senior linebacker Michael Evans calls Sears "Questions."

" 'Questions' is the man to go to," Evans said with a laugh. "If you have anything you need to know or don't know what you're doing, Kevin is the man. He is the teacher on the field. And he can play. Some guys know what to do, but they can't play.

"It's a big help to have somebody on the field that is directing guys and telling them where to be."

Sears made an immediate impact for the Bears in 2003 out of Rockhurst High School, starting five games and accounting for 40 tackles as a freshman.

A broken leg forced him to miss the 2004 season, but he came back even stronger as a redshirt sophomore.

Evans went through the same thing last year, missing the entire season with a broken arm.

"He was there for me when I was having a hard time and I was there for him," Sears said. "It's never easy when you have to sit out. There's nothing anybody can really tell you to make you feel better. Having Mike back adds an intensity to practice and means some hard hitting. He brings an edge out there that we might not have otherwise."

Add Darryl Johnson to the mix --he was granted a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA this week after missing most of last year with an injured left knee --and the Bears have the makings of putting a playmaking group of linebackers on the field.

Vokolek's attacking style of defense should suit this team well.

"It's simple enough to where everybody can get on one page and do their job," Evans said. "Everybody knows their objective and what they need to do. When the coaches put us in the right positions, it works --less thinking and more playing."

Sears and Evans know there is a long way to go: In Randy Ball's last season, the Bears allowed 31.2 points a game a year ago to rank sixth in the eight-team Gateway Conference and allowed 423 yards game, better than only 0-11 Indiana State.

But finally healthy and with depth behind them for the first time --sophomores Jeremy Dawson, Cory Harbor and Dan Graham are all expected to compete for playing time --the experienced players know there is talent behind them.

"I feel great about the (depth) in the fact that I feel uneasy about my position," Sears said. "We've needed guys to be pushed in different angles and different ways for a long time. It's a good thing for us."

Still, Vokolek knows Sears will figure in the plans if Terry Allen gets the Bears off to the flying start that he's hoping for in his first season.

"Kevin is a sharp kid with a lot of experience and can get guys lined up," Vokolek said. "He's a guy who pretty much knows every position. It's big to have a guy that's like a coach out on the field."

Yet Sears makes it clear --despite his teaching nature --that he has no plans on going into coaching.

He and Evans both plan on getting into the construction business. That makes sense, considering they figure to be the leaders of a defense looking to rebuild from the ground up beginning with the first practice on Thursday.

"We're all still teaching each other," Sears said. "We looked at our playbooks from the spring and what we got handed (Thursday) and it's like three times the size. The best way to keep everybody on the same page is if you're always talking."[/quote]

Team in 2006?

Killtoppers90 — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 07:32:20 GMT

So what does the 2006 season hold for you guys? How are you guys going to look? Any injuries, updates, predictions?

MO State signs stud JUCO linebacker

douglasdmb — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 10:49:41 GMT

Terry Allen picks up his final, and one of his best, recruits of the 2006 season in Jeron Poole. Poole, a 6-0, 240 pound MLB from College of the Seqouias CC in California, was also recruited by Arizona St., San Jose St., Marshall, Hawaii, Boise St., UNI, Minnesota, and TCU.

For more info, including a highlight reel, visit his Interactive Sport Profile