Kentucky State University Thorobred Football Overview and Quick Facts 2004

Saying that the 2003 Thorobred Football season was exciting would be an understatement. It started with three straight road victories over Clark-Atlanta (35-18), Allen (45-0) and the always-tough Albany State (19-13). A loss to Arkansas Pine-Bluff (9-36) in the Gateway Classic in St. Louis, Mo., was followed by two road wins over Morehouse ( 24-23) and Lane (37-7), both of which were SIAC conference games

Despite their 5-1 (4-0 in SIAC) record, the Breds lost their Homecoming game to Stillman (18-47). They quickly re-grouped and won two straight; a road game against Benedict (31-19) and at home against Miles (30-22). This set KSU up for its first-ever run for a SIAC Football Championship, and possibly NCAA playoff spot. With a victory over Fort Valley State or Tuskegee, the Breds could seal the SIAC Title.

With the conference title just out of their grasp, the Breds lost to Fort Valley State (10-13) at home and Tuskegee (14-16) on the road. They finished the season 7-4-0 overall and 6-2-0 in the conference. The 7-4 overall record was their best since 1995.

The 2004 season brings great optimism and high expectations. The Breds outscored their opponents 272-214 last year, and finished with their best offense shown in recent years. The same offense will be back under the direction of Acting Head Coach Cornell Burbage, who served as Offensive Coordinator under Donald Smith during his three-year tenure at Kentucky State University. Coach Smith complied a 13-20 record from 2001-2003.

The offense will return senior quarterback Joe McBride and a league of veteran wide-receivers in seniors Gordon Miles, Derek Talbert and Ryan Montgomery. McBride, 6'4"/235, Sr. from Richmond, Calif. finished the 2003 season with 2175 yards and 21 touchdowns. Miles, 5'8"/170, Sr. from Frankfort, Ky. caught 50 passes for 582 yards and six touchdowns. Talbert, 5'6"/160, Sr. from Lexington, Ky. added 43 catches for 561 yards and six scores, and Montgomery, 5'7"/160, Sr. from Canton, Ohio added 25 catches for 312 yards.

Roni Robinson and Cassius Chambers are the top running backs returning. Robinson, 6'3"/235, So., from Frankfort, Ky. led the team in rushing with 972 yards on 210 attempts at 4.3 yards per carry. Chambers, 5'9"/195, Sr., Chicago, Ill. gained 396 yards on 59 attempts for an impressive 6.5 yards per carry. Robinson performance earned him a sport on the ALL-SIAC Second Team Offense

The defense will be led by Robert Beal, Kelvin Harvey and Timothy Vaughn. Harvey, 6'2"/210, Jr. linebacker from Haines City, Fla. registered 41 tackles with 29 solos and four sacks for - 23 yds. Beal, 6'1"/235, Jr. defensive lineman from Chicago, Ill. recorded 37 tackles, 14 solos for losses of 57 yds., and four sacks for -25 yds. Vaughn, 6'2"/220, Jr. linebacker from Stockton, Calif. added 19 tackles with 22 solos.

Special teams will again be one of the most important and exciting aspects of the Breds= offensive and defensive game plan. Marcus Wright, 5'8"/165, Jr. from Eminence, Ky., led the Breds in punt returns at 12.1 yards per return and kick returns with 723 total yards, for an average of 28.9 per return. Wright, performance earned him a spot on the 2003 ALL-SIAC First Team Offense as a Return Specialist and also was ranked nationally in NCAA Division II Football.

The 2004 schedule features two new opponents and the Breds play three of their first six game at home. Newcomers are Lenoir-Rhyne College out of Hickory, NC and Shaw University in Raleigh, NC. Lenoir-Rhyne is a member of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) and Shaw is a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).