By David Shaw
dshaw@salisburypost.com
The first question coach Joe Pinyan was asked Saturday was straightforward.
Is everybody eligible?
“We’re checking and double-checking,” he replied after a hearty laugh at Salisbury’s practice field, where the Hornets enjoyed their first day of football practice. “We’ve got Dr. (Windsor) Eagle making sure. Last year, that was just one of those things that got overlooked. I don’t blame anybody, but I think there are some people who could have taken the high road on this deal and they didn’t.”
Last year an administrative error cost Salisbury four victories and a chance to host a postseason game. It also turned an impressive 11-1 on-the-field record into a pedestrian 7-5 mark in the books.
“Most of the team has put that behind us,” senior fullback Ike Whitaker said during a short break. “The rules are the rules and we’ve got to go by them. We’re not angry. We feel like we’ve got something to prove every year.”
It was under that guise that Salisbury launched its 2009 season. Pinyan ó now in his seventh year on Lincolnton Road ó reported 75 varsity and jayvee players in uniform, though equipment was issued to 102.
“We’ve got 27 missing,” he said. “Some we knew weren’t gonna be here because they’re on vacation or church trips and things like that. They’re gonna have to make up time and probably have to wait their turn. We strive every year to have 100 kids ó and we’d like 25 in each class. That would be a perfect world, but that doesn’t always happen.”
The Hornets, with a small senior class, are far from perfect. That doesn’t concern free safety Dominique Phillips, an in-your-face senior who also worked out with the wide receivers.
“The seniors all know it’s a big year, their biggest year ever,” he said. “And the juniors know how important it is to us, how we want to win every game. I’m sure they’re going to play hard for us.”
Salisbury’s defense, under the tutelage of fifth-year coordinator Ryan Crowder, was off to a quick start yesterday. The reason?
“I think we’ve got the right people in the right spots already,” Phillips said. “Most of the defense is back, so we’re gonna make plays. This is what we love to do.”
Pinyan’s cool with that. “We’ve got about eight or nine guys with a lot of playing experience coming back,” he said. “The secondary, all three linebackers, even some linemen are back. Our nose guard, middle linebacker and free safety, the three guys right up the middle, are all seniors. So we feel real good about our defense.”
An early look at Salisbury’s offense reveals more question marks than pound signs. Quarterback John Knox was back at the wheel and speedster Romar Morris ó Rowan County’s fastest player ó lined up at fullback. But the brick-and-mortar of all championship teams is its linemen, and Salisbury’s are a work-in-progress.
“Our problem is we’re inexperienced on the offensive line,” Pinyan said. “Right now our guys are practicing both ways, just to make sure we can come up with five that can play.”
Morris, who returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in Salisbury’s final CCC game last fall, found something to like.
“They’re all pretty good linemen,” he noted. “I like how they stay together and keep pushing themselves. They run these drills and they keep their spirits up. I think they’ll be ready to play.”
Pinyan, whose day began at 6:30 a.m. ó some two-and-a-half hours before the season’s first whistle ó remains cautious.
“I’m concerned about the linemen,” he said. “I think, watching them today, they’re better than I thought they’d be. They’re doing a lot and not complaining about having to sweat. Put it this way ó I’m a little more optimistic about them than I was when I rolled out here at 6:30.”
At the same time, they’ve put 2008 precisely where it belongs. “In the can,” Pinyan said. “It’s a new year and we hope we’re playing in November.”
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NOTES: Scott Eagle has returned to Salisbury as a wide receivers coach. He spent the past few years at North Rowan and South Rowan. … Another new assistant ó an unnamed former Catawba player ó may join the staff Monday. … Salisbury’s first scrimmage is scheduled Aug. 15 at Albemarle. A third, undetermined team may also participate. The Hornets open the regular season Aug. 21 against South Rowan.