Macon Knights Season Preview
Keith Murphy
Friday April 4, 2003
So, what does 2003 hold? A quick look into my crystal skull didn’t help much, but here are some projections.
Familiar Faces
The Macon franchise best off-season move may have been the re-signing of Head coach Kevin Porter as well as Offensive Coordinator Tres Sullivan and Line Coach Webbie Burnett. The system that these three men have put together has a proven track record.
Sixteen players return from last year’s squad. Key contributors such as FB/LB Byron Douzart, Offensive specialist Jacques Rumph, WR/DB Denario Smalls, DB/QB Renotto Solomon, and OL/DL Andre’ Slappey have returned to bring a maturity to the lineup which is somewhat unusual at AF2. These players know the system and know how to use it to win.
Solomon says that, “We’ve got more experience. So we know the game quite well.”
New Heroes
With the loss of WR/LB Gabe Amey to the Carolina Cobras of AF1 and QB John Rayborn to the Detroit Fury (where, in this writer’s opinion, his talent is being wasted riding the bench) the Knights lost important components of their offensive machine. Yet, as is always the case in sport, new players have stepped in and will try to make us forget the lost heroes.
One such player is DS Kenton Rickerson who came to Macon from Cape Fear. Rickerson says that he really loves the system that Knights’ coaches have in place, “I really love KP [Kevin Porter] and his ability to get through to the players and his coaching. He teaches fundamentals every day and, coming from Cape Fear, where it really wasn’t like that. You had to coach yourself. You had to be really conscious of the things you were doing yourself. But here, with KP, you get coached every day and I really like that.”
Rickerson, who was an impact player for Cape Fear, says that he “wants to step in and help these guys get to the championship. That’s the only thing we are trying to do. Whatever KP asks me to do; I want to be able to do it. It doesn’t matter. I want to win.”
The big question is at quarterback. The Knights have three big arms on their roster: Renotto Solomon who was a star quarterback for Fort Valley State; Jason McKinley who was player of the year in Conference USA for the University of Houston; and Sean Peterson who set numerous passing records for Georgetown. Going into camp, Solomon was clearly the favorite for the starter’s role. After camp and the Charleston exhibition game, Peterson has emerged as the starter. Renotto Solomon says that his role is still to be a team leader, “right now I’m trying to be a leader. Pick the guys up. Contributing where I can. I think I need to be the leader of this team to be successful.”
As for the “rookie” quarterbacks, Solomon says, “They are good guys with strong arms. They’re learning the game quite well and picking up on Tres [Sullivan’s] system well. All of us bring different qualities to the game. Jason [McKinley] knows how to control the game mentally. Sean [Peterson] has a strong arm and he’s picking up Tres’ system really well. And you know me; just trying to do my best, be athletic and make plays. However I can get on the field I will just be trying to do my best.”
The probable starter at quarterback Saturday will be Sean Peterson. Peterson played the last half of the 2002 season with Roanoke. “This is my first full training camp with the team so I’m very confident coming in. I think the coaches have a very good system and some experienced players. I’m looking forward to it. The coaches are doing a really good job here. They’ve proven over the last couple of years that the system does work and they’ve produced some very good players, very impressive numbers, and a lot of wins. I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Peterson says that he’s ready to do what it will take to fill the helm. “Really I just have to believe in the system and do as Coach Sullivan has been talking about all camp: Make smart decisions and read your keys. The system has proven successful over the past few years, so I really don’t see the pressure on me. It’s just proof that these guys, the coaches, know what they’re doing and I need to listen to them, follow it, and be a part of it.”
Schedule
The scheduling gods have been remarkably kind to the Knights; at least for the first few weeks. Macon opens with three home games, including their opener with the expansion Green Bay Blizzard. The long home stand will, hopefully, allow the new quarterback to settle in and become comfortable with the system.
That kindness ends week four when the Knights hit the road to take on the Cape Fear Wildcats. At least one Knight, Kenton Rickerson is looking forward to that game. “It’s highlighted on my schedule right now. Those guys in Cape Fear are all good friends. We had a good year last year (15-4) and a lot of those guys are good friends of mine; but, it’s nothing personal. It’s just business. But the only thing that matters right now is Green Bay.”
Unfortunately, the divisional realignment means that 2003 means the Knights play home and away games with Tennessee Valley, Florida, and Birmingham all strong foes with designs on the few available playoff spots. This season’s outcomes could come down to the last plays of the last regular season because of the playoff format. Since the wildcard spots are based on overall record, teams in tough divisions, like the American South, may see a good team outside the playoff field simply because of the strength of the division.
Picture Not Clear
Even as the franchise opens its third year there are two questions that frustrate the administration, coaches, and players:
1. Will the fans of Macon finally turn out to support their team?
2. Will the local media give the Knights more column inches and air minutes?
The answers to these questions will be as important as the team’s success on the field.
Dr. Murphy has nearly 20 years of media experience ranging from radio to the Internet. He has served as webmaster for two AF2 teams and the football team at Fort Valley State University. He is a professor at FVSU and directs www.bunniwerks.org, a non-profit rabbit rescue organization. He has been commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel. Murphy is also serving as a first party editor of af2 stories for ArenaFfan. For more information about Dr. Murphy see: www.keithmurphy.info
