Game preview: Langston at Tuskegee

When: 1 p.m. today

Where: Cleve Abbott Stadium, Tuskegee

Records: Tuskegee (0-0); Langston (1-0)

On the air: None

FOUR-DOWN TERRITORY

1. After three decades in coaching and playing football, Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater isn't easily surprised, but the number of heat-related illnesses suffered by his players this fall camp has him scratching his head.

Slater said the Golden Tigers have conducted maybe "two or three" practices with all of their starters participating due to heat issues.

"It's not been just the young guys. We've had a problem with everybody struggling," said Slater, who previously told the Montgomery Advertiser that three Tuskegee players have been taken to the hospital after experiencing problems with severe dehydration.

"They say that fat makes you use up more fluids, so maybe we've been recruiting some fat players," Slater joked. "Whatever it is, it's been a real problem for us, and something we've had to look into maybe changing up the way we do things."

2. When the Golden Tigers take the field today, a familiar face should be under center. Junior Jeremy Williams has managed to hold the starting job despite a strong push from transfer Terry Bradden.

"Jeremy has performed well," Slater said. "You know, he got the job done for us a couple of years ago, when we didn't lose a game out of the conference. We have a lot of confidence in him." Slater said he still plans to use Bradden when he can, but it's just to make sure the transfer is in good game shape should something happen to Williams

3. When asked what his biggest concern was heading into today's game, Slater didn't hesitate in naming the offensive line.



That's a surprising answer given that the TU line is returning four starters and a couple of experienced backups from last season.

"I don't know what it is, I'm just not comfortable with what I've seen out of them. I think it's that we've been banged up some, had some heat problems there. They haven't played like I want them to."

4. Scheduling an NAIA opponent for the opener seems like a good way to ease into the season -- pick up an easy win, get the players some work, provide the fans with a nice, relaxing afternoon. The problem is Langston doesn't seem to know its place as the patsy. The Lions from San Antonio went on the road last week and won 19-12 over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a Division I-A FCS team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

"This is a very good football team," Slater said. "They're a big group. They're coming off a big win over a team that's a division above us. So you know they're good. We just have to stay consistent and cut out the mistakes. We have the chance to be good. We can have a good team -- the talent's there. It's just a matter of everyone gelling together and playing like a team. If we do that, this can be a good football team."

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jeremy Williams (Jr., QB, 6-0/215)

Slater was high on Williams from the day the quarterback arrived from Tuscaloosa. He essentially split time at QB in his freshman season and performed well until an injury sidelined him for the team's final four games. Slater is expecting to see the QB from two years ago back this season, and if he gets his wish, Tuskegee could be back to its championship ways.