Albany State has won two straight conference championships. Mike White doesn't sound like a coach who's expecting a third.<br>
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``There's a lot of question marks right now,'' White said. ``No one's really showing me anything yet.''<br>
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Maybe this is just another case of coach-speak. The Golden Rams went 11-1 last season, winning another Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title before losing to eventual national champion Valdosta State in the NCAA Division II playoffs.<br>
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The strength of the offense figures to be the running game, assuming White can coax some quality blocking from a young line. Left tackle Ronald Simmons is the only returning starter up front.<br>
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``We'll try to put the ball on the ground,'' White said. ``Everything is going to be in their hands the new guys that come in. We're looking for some high school and junior college help to come in and solidify the line.''<br>
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White believes tailbacks Antwan Andrews and Antonio Atkins are the best in the SIAC a duo whose differing styles add versatility to the running game.<br>
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Andrews is a smash-mouth back who would rather run over a defender rather than around him. Atkins prefers to stay behind his blockers and is better at cutting and slashing.<br>
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``It gives us a nice combination,'' White said.<br>
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Returning senior Hosea Harris is expected to start at quarterback. Until this season, Harris was the backup for Uyl Joyner, who threw for 2,007 yards and 14 touchdowns last year. Joyner also had 437 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.<br>
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Also keep an eye on top recruit Terrance Ransom, a quarterback who played his high school ball in Albany.<br>
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``Definitely, Hosea has the upper hand,'' White said. ``Terrence is young, and when you have a young quarterback coming in, you've got to slow him down and get him to learn the offense first. We're going to let him go and see what he can do.''<br>
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Albany State must replace all-SIAC linebackers James Harris and Demetrius Isom, but the Golden Rams still have Terrence Hawk and James Lewis at linebacker and Demetrie McCray in the secondary.<br>
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``It's going to be key to find that marriage between young and old,'' White said. ``Any really good defensive teams Albany State has had, we have done it by guys buying into the system. We don't have a guy who really stands out.''<br>
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The Golden Rams' opener is August 27 at Miles, a team they defeated 24-22 last season.<br>
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``That's the challenge, to see how good we will be,'' White said. ``Last year, we knew where we were. I want to put 2004 to rest. We put it in the record books.''<br>
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(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
