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Wednesday, March 28, 2001

Correction/Clarification: (Published March 29, 2001) When Rich Ingold left Duquesne University's football staff, it was to become the defensive coordinator for the New Jersey Gladiators, an Arena Football team. In a roundup of news from district colleges in yesterday's editions, we accused him of going to the XFL.

Duquesne starts spring football drills today, and Coach Greg Gattuso's priority is to pick a starting quarterback.

Gattuso must find someone to replace Tony Zimmerman, who holds almost all of the school's passing records and led the Dukes to a 10-1 record and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship.

"Quarterback is the key," Gattuso said. "Our quarterbacks are going to be very tired at the end of April. Anytime there's a quarterback battle they need as many reps and as many looks at a good defense as possible."

The three leading candidates for the job are junior Jason Troop, who saw limited action a year ago; Neil Loebig, who sat out last season as a redshirt; and Chris Seagle, a transfer from the University of Cincinnati and a graduate of Shaler High School.

"They're all capable of running our offense as it is," Gattuso said. "The offense will basically be the same unless Troop wins the job. Troop could change the way we play because he's more athletic and can sprint out more."

The Dukes will practice for 15 days, culminating with the school's first full-pad spring scrimmage April 22 at Rooney Field.

The quarterback position is the only question mark for the Dukes, who return 18 starters, including both kickers. The defense will have 10 returnees and the offense six.

Zimmerman, big-play wideout Reggie Harris and three offensive linemen must be replaced.

"I'm not overly worried about the offensive line, and the receiving corps will still be strong," Gattuso said. "But it's not going to happen for us this year without a quarterback stepping up."

The quarterbacks will be coached by Mauro Monz, a former Duquesne player who replaces Rich Ingold. Ingold left to become the defensive coordinator of the New Jersey Gladiators, an Arena Football team.

Duquesne's running game will be solid with elusive Dante Small and punishing Josh Rue.

"Rue's going to stay on the field all the time," Gattuso. said "He's going to play fullback and defensive end again, and this year he'll be returning kicks."

The defense will be bolstered by the return of fifth-year senior Nick Opalsky, a cornerback who was redshirted last year with a knee injury. He was the preseason pick as the 2000 Defensive Player of the Year in the MAAC.

Gattuso said a number of recruits could make an impact in the fall -- fullback Michael Moorefield (McKeesport), tight end/offensive lineman Craig Westrick (Laurel), offensive lineman Nate Atkinson (Freeport) and defensive backs Armar Watson and Michael Ford, both from Maryland.

In addition to seven league games, the Dukes will play VMI and Dayton at home and Georgetown and Butler on the road.

"We have a lot of talent on this team, but we have to find a quarterback," Gattuso said. "The spring will be very interesting."

CCBC collapse

Second-seeded Community College of Beaver County blew two big leads and lost two of three games to finish in sixth place in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II men's basketball tournament at Danville, Ill.

CCBC (31-3) was outscored, 52-21, in the final 16 minutes of a 90-73 loss to Mott Community College in the quarterfinals of the 12-team event to drop into the consolation bracket. After holding on for a 112-107 overtime victory against Moraine Valley CC, CCBC squandered a 17-point halftime lead in an 85-82 loss against Kirkwood CC.

J.R. Biggs, a 6-foot-4 sophomore guard who graduated from Oliver High School, was CCBC's leading scorer with games of 9, 37 and 22 points.

Still No. 1

Gannon improved its record to 3-1 with a 13-6 victory against ninth-ranked Shippensburg to remain No. 1 in the latest Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Division II poll.

The Lady Knights' only loss was against Division I Duquesne, 7-6. Jessica Lee leads Gannon in scoring with 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists), followed by Melissa Flynn's 11 goals and Sara Brown's 10.

The honor roll

Javar Cheatham, a senior guard who is Gannon's all-time leader with 525 assists and 172 steals, was named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II men's basketball All-America team.

Cheatham led all NCAA divisions this season with 9.4 assists per game and was the player of the year in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.