The rich are getting a little richer this week. Cornerback Calvin Bannister and nose tackle Melvin Massey return to the starting lineup Saturday for No. 3 Hampton University's game at Bethune-Cookman.
Bannister, who led Division I-AA with 19 pass breakups last season, has not played since tearing ankle ligaments against Morgan State on Sept. 24. Massey, a transfer from the University of Virginia, has been out since Oct. 1, when he fractured a bone in his foot against Delaware State.
The depth-laden Pirates (8-0) have fared well without them. They rank first nationally in pass defense at 114.50 yards per game, second in points allowed at 12.5 per game and fourth in yards allowed at 235.75 per game.
Despite the defense's success, the return of the duo comes at a great time. Bethune-Cookman ranks eighth nationally with a 38.25 scoring average out of a triple-option attack.
"Every time you put in a defensive scheme against the triple option, you've got to multiply it by three," Hampton coach Joe Taylor said. "The quarterback can take the ball, the pitch man (tailback) can get it or the dive man (fullback) can get it.
"The key is to be physical and not think so much that you create paralysis by analysis. The same is true on offense. The team that wins will be the one that executes, protects the football and is the most physical."
NOT CONCERNED
Hampton (8-0) was idle last week, so it remained the only unbeaten team in Division I-AA. But the Pirates remained No. 3 in this week's Sports Network poll, though top-ranked Western Kentucky lost.
Furman moved from second to first, while New Hampshire leapfrogged from fourth to second by virtue of its victory over nationally ranked Massachusetts. The series of events was a source of consternation from numerous Hampton fans visiting Internet chat sites, but did not faze the Pirates' players one bit.
"You can't help but notice the polls, but they're no big deal," Bannister said. "They really don't have anything to do with where we're going and where we want to be."
Tailback Ardell Daniels added: "It's not where you're at, it's where you end up. We're of the mindset that if we take care of what's in front of us on the field, the rewards will take care of themselves."
The No. 3 ranking is the second-highest for Hampton since it moved to I-AA. The Pirates were ranked No. 2 after winning their first eight games of the 1998 season.
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Wednesday, November 2nd 2005 at 10:08AM
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