New coach Reginald Ruffin sets out to change attitude, expectations at Miles

FAIRFIELD, Alabama -- Casey Weston was sitting at home in Georgiana on a hot summer night in July when he received an unexpected phone call.

On the other end of the line was new Miles College football coach Reginald Ruffin.

Weston, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound quarterback with a rocket arm, had been mulling over where he wanted to continue his college career. After leading Prattville to the 2007 Class 6A state championship, Weston played two years at Northwest Mississippi Community College and set school records for career passing yards (4,943), completions (394) and attempts (695) while throwing 42 touchdown passes.

He then went to Northern Illinois University and redshirted in 2010, but when NIU changed coaches at the end of the season Weston decided to transfer.

"I had been talking to some other schools, mainly I-AA (Football Championship Subdivision), when Coach Ruffin called me in the middle of night, around 10:30, and asked me to come take a look at Miles," Weston said. "It was a month before (fall) camp was scheduled to start.

MILES GOLDEN BEARS 2010 record -- 3-8, 3-6 SIAC Coach -- Reginald Ruffin, first year Returning starters -- 4 on offense, 8 on defense, 1 specialist Top returning players -- Jordan Lewis, RB; Corey Robinson, LB; Darryl Perry, DB; Jerromy Mardis, WR-KR; Patton Chambers, PK Miles will win the SIAC championship if -- its two imports from Division I, Casey Weston (Northern Illinois) and Demetreious Shorter (Georgia State), plus junior college transfer Bobby Barksdale, have a major impact. Miles will not win the SIAC if -- new offensive coordinator Travis Carswell can't figure out how to get into the end zone more. The Golden Bears averaged 13.8 points per game last season, while turning the ball over 34 times.

"My daddy and I drove up the next day and fell in love with Coach Ruffin. I liked Coach Ruffin's plan of what he wanted to accomplish and I wanted to be a part of it."

Ruffin was hired officially in February, but had been on the job since last December, arriving from Tuskegee where he had been the Golden Tigers' defensive coordinator. He was a part of three consecutive national titles as an All-American at the University of North Alabama.

He has brought a commitment to excellence to Miles, which struggled through a 3-8 season in 2010 that included head coach Billy Joe's retirement at midseason.

Miles was picked to finish second in the SIAC West behind Tuskegee.

"I would like to be undefeated this season, but more than anything I want our kids to know what they have to do to be successful," Ruffin said.

Although Weston comes in with some glossy numbers, Ruffin isn't just handing him the starting quarterback job. He wants him to earn it.

"The quarterback position is still up in the air," Ruffin said. "When you have the opportunity to get a guy of Casey Weston's magnitude, you take it, but he's competing with Tavarris Wiggins from Pine Forest in Pensacola. It's a battle."

Wiggins is a sophomore who did not play football for the Golden Bears last fall, but pitched for the baseball team in the spring.

Weston isn't the only transfer brought in to try to reverse the Golden Bears' fortunes. Demetreious Shorter, a 6-4, 260-pound defensive lineman, transferred from Georgia State University, Bobby Barksdale, a 6-2, 295-pound defensive tackle, came in from Northwest Junior College and Lester Jackson, 6-1, 295-pound offensive lineman, arrived from East Central Community College.

Ruffin also expects several true freshmen to come in and contribute quickly, including wide receiver Antonio Pitts from Carver-Montgomery and linebackers Antonio Dill from Atlanta and Jonathan Seldon from Fayetteville, Ga.

"Antonio has really emerged as our top receiver," Ruffin said. "We're counting our blessings that he came to Miles. He could be at a lot of Division I schools."

Dill and Seldon are likely to start alongside senior linebacker Corey Robinson, who recorded 65 tackles last year.

Among the key returnees are junior running back Jordan Lewis, a preseason All-SIAC second team offense selection, senior defensive back Darryl Perry and junior wide receiver-kick returner Jerromy Mardis.