Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Ailing foes awaits Javs on Saturday

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Wednesday, October 4, 2000

Ailing foes awaits Javs on Saturday
Brister's Lions dealing with wealth of injuries
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times
Sometimes, things don't go they way you plan.
   Those have been familiar words for Texas A&M-Commerce football coach Eddie Brister this season.
   "Going into the year, I felt our defense was going to be one of our main strengths," said Brister, in his second year with the Lions. "We've already lost five of our linebackers and are having to play some of our running backs. There's no question we're hurting."
   A&M-Commerce, 1-2 in the Lone Star Conference South Division and 2-3 overall, hosts A&M-Kingsville Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Commerce. The Javelinas are 2-1 in the LSC South Division standings and 2-3 overall.
   Linebackers Mike Baysinger, J.P. Mulligan, Jim Toney, Will Cook and Brandon Goynes have all missed time this season with injuries. Baysinger, who missed the last three games, Mulligan (the last two games) and Toney (who missed last week's game) all could be done for the season.
   Brister has used No. 1 running back Jason Coffey sparingly as a replacement. Last week, starting fullback Clint Cannon was moved to linebacker and had seven tackles against Southwestern Oklahoma State.
   But A&M-Commerce's misery continued, as Cannon left late in the third quarter with what could be a season-ending knee injury.
   Brister said this has been the strangest year he has experienced in almost 30 years of coaching.
   "We've lost just about one linebacker a game. We had two go down last week, and two the week before," Brister said. "I've been in coaching a long time and have never been associated with injuries all at the same spot. It's not unusual to lose four or five starters spread over the offense and defense, but not at one spot.
   "We're tossing coins to see what coach is going to be the first to have to play. We can't even get anybody into the linebacker meetings. It's become taboo."
   Brister's main concern as the Lions prepare for A&M-Kingsville is how his defense will respond to the Javelinas' rejuvenated rushing game. Behind quarterback Abel Gonzalez and tailback Darrell White, the Javelinas have pumped up their average to 146 yards per game, fifth best in the LSC. Gonzalez and White each rushed for 100 yards last Saturday against Tarleton State.
   The Lions held Midwestern State to 105 yards rushing two weeks ago, but gave up 199 in a 24-14 loss to Southwestern Oklahoma State last Saturday.
   "Against Midwestern, we controlled the football and kept our defense off the field. Last week, we didn't do that," Brister said. "We've played against some pretty good running backs so far, but we'll still have our work cut out for us. We have other guys still playing on defense, and they know they have to play harder."



Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or by e-mail at becerraj@caller.com

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