Second-year coach vows to lift 'Cats after disappointing season

<p>Fort Valley State coach Deondri Clark knows his team fell well below its usual standards last year.</p><p>He believes a lack of confidence was the main culprit.</p><p>"We have speed, talent and size," said Clark, going into his second year as the Wildcats' coach. "But it works from the neck up mostly, and we need to expect to win."</p><p>In past years, Fort Valley State usually ranked among the top three teams in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. But the Wildcats slumped to 5-6 in 2006, finishing sixth in the league.</p><p>Clark remains optimistic, despite the rough start to his tenure. He turned Shaw into one of the best teams in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, compiling a 22-10 record in three years.</p><p>As a defensive-minded coach, Clark is trying to mold the Wildcats into a more aggressive, hard-nosed team.</p><p>"I want to play smash-mouth football," he said. "I want us to be aggressive and tough, smashing people around like we own the place. If the offense sets that tempo, then it helps the defense totally."</p><p>Junior quarterback Garrett Williams, a transfer from Savannah State, should help an offense that struggled to reach the end zone, putting up just over 15 points a game. He threw for 1,265 yards and eight touchdowns with his previous team, but also had 14 interceptions.</p><p>With a totally revamped offensive line, Clark isn't sure about what to expect from his running game. He does have high hopes for receiver Nathaniel Randell, a 6-foot-3, 205-pounder.</p><p>Linebacker Reggie Hughes is expected to lead the defense, which ranked a disappointing eighth in the SIAC. Junior strong safety Ivan Diggs also provided some highlights with 91 tackles and 2.5 sacks.</p><p>"Reggie can tear the place up when he wants to," Clark said. "Ivan, on the other hand, has a nose for the football. We run through them for success."</p><p>Although the Wildcats don't have many star-quality players, Clark is more concerned with their cumulative impact.</p><p>"At the end of the day, it's not about the individual," he said. "It's about the team."</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/8/93049