Patrick Wray and Joe Dalton were listed as seniors on last season’s Arkansas-Pine Bluff football roster. Both knew they had another year left.
That is making coach Monte Coleman happy.
“You’re pretty much talking about the nucleus of our offense and defense with Patrick Wray and Joe Dalton,” Coleman said. “A lot of these guys could have opted to say, ‘Well I’m finished,’ but because of injuries they are able to come back another year, and I’m excited — I’m ecstatic, to be honest with you — that these guys get an opportunity to play another year. I’m counting on them.”
Linebacker Dalton played in 10 of UAPB’s 11 games last season, but tight end Wray was limited to three games for the second straight season. He suffered a concussion during a win over Clark Atlanta in St. Louis on Sept. 24 and made one catch for 12 yards the entire year.
Wray received an extra season of eligibility because he broke his ankle three games into the 2010 season. He was looking forward to making big strides at tight end, but he was used more as what he called during the fall “extra help,” helping block on the offensive line.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Going into the 2012 season, Coleman has high hopes for Wray.
“This year will be a great year for him,” Coleman said. “We’ll utilize the tight end position with him as a tight end a lot more than in the past. He’s smarter, and this will be his second year under coach (Eric) Dooley. You’re always sharper your second year under your coordinator. He played well for us last year. He’s truly coming into his own, and he’ll be a good ballplayer for us this year.”
A junior on the field, Dalton had the standout season of a senior in 2011. He finished with 65 tackles, including seven sacks, and his tackles were second most on the team.
“I’m looking for Joe to step up and be the leader we recruited him as, to carry on what he started last year, to set some goals for himself and try to achieve them,” Coleman said. “He and Bill Ross (the team’s leading tackler in 2011) came in and made an instant impact for us.”
Neither player could be reached after Friday’s shortened practice.
Starting defensive end Brandon Thurmond will play as a fifth-year senior as well because he was an academic non-qualifier coming into UAPB and has completed at least 80 percent of his degree program, Coleman said. Seven of his 25 tackles were for losses, including 3.5 sacks.
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Don’t worry; it’s practice
The Golden Lions have three practices remaining before next Saturday’s Black and Gold Game at Golden Lion Stadium. Heavy rain in Pine Bluff shortened Friday’s practice, the team’s third of the week.
“The guys are working hard. I don’t fault them for mistakes. That’s what practice is all about and that’s what we as coaches get paid for, is to correct their mistakes,” Coleman said. “The thing I want to see is their enthusiasm on the field and retaining what we’re teaching them.”
Kickoff for the game is set for 1 p.m.
Although Ben Anderson is still solidly the team’s No. 1 quarterback, his backups have made strides during spring camp, Coleman said. T.Q. Mims, who was recruited for the position but has played safety, is “a surprise” at quarterback while William Dunn, a fourth-stringer last season, has made a push as well, the coach reported.
Coleman said the team’s first goal in the spring game is to stay healthy. He already knows what the outcome will be.
“I don’t care if the Gold team wins or the Black team wins,” Coleman said. “Either way, I win. I do want it to look good. I want the guys to come out and execute and just be aggressive.”
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Only human
Meanwhile, the Arkansas Razorbacks will have their spring game today in Fayetteville without a head coach. But Coleman, going into his fifth year at the UAPB helm, hasn’t had to make any changes in his staff during the off-season.
“That’s one of the things people don’t understand when they look at my win-loss record my first two years,” said the coach, who is 19-25 overall and went 6-5 last season. “After that, I hired an offensive coordinator and promoted Alonzo Hampton to defensive coordinator. We had (Jerry) Mack, and now Dooley. It’s kind of a hit-and-miss or a shuffle with coaches. To have us together for two years, we learned a lot about our each other and our coaching abilities have been sharpened by each other.
“I’m truly blessed to have the staff that I have because I truly believe we’re one of the best staffs around.”
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino was fired April 10 for failing to disclose an inappropriate relationship with athletic staffer Jessica Dorrell, who has since resigned. Coleman says he prays for the former head Hog.
“The Bible says we all have sinned,” Coleman said. “We all have. I don’t look at him as he’s done something. I pray for the brother.”