By Justin Maskus MSSU Athletic Media Relations 2013 pre-season outlook Becoming a team. That’s what second-year head coach Daryl Daye says this year’s Missouri Southern football squad has to do to continue upon the success that his team had a year ago. A season ago, Daye, in his first year as a head coach at Missouri Southern, led the Lions to a 6-5 finish, the first winning season since 2007 and just the third winning mark in the previous sixteen seasons. The Lions will have as many as 40 new faces in uniform this fall and Daye said leadership will need to be established for this team to thrive. “The key is, in my opinion, it’s not whether it be 40 new guys or a huge class returning, they still have to become a team,” Daye said. “If I could bottle that essence up and sell that, I’d be very wealthy.” Daye said he will look to the senior class, as well as a few juniors to step up and lead this team. “I think right away you look at Demon Haire, Gatlin Ridgway, Travis Hurd and Ryon Phillips to step into that role,” he said. “They are experienced guys and they are productive players, they are tough guys and are well-respected and those are the guys that will have to step up and fill the shoes of a Kellen Cox and a Brandon Williams as far as our leadership. I think establishing that leadership is the key to our success, period.” Daye said the offensive line, as well as the quarterbacks on the team will be looked to for leadership on the field. “It’s part of my job, as well,” Daye said. “I have to develop those leadership skills within each of those guys. I have to train them to step up and take the role over. Production speaks. Non-productive players do not.” Not only will the Lions have new players on the field, but Daye will have five new assistant coaches to add to his staff. HT Kinney comes to Southern from Division III Wisconsin- Whitewater, but has Division I experience at Liberty, Nichols State, Wagner and Hofstra and will serve as the co-offensive Coordinator along with Bob Howell. Kinney will also be the assistant head coach. Wally Ake comes to Southern from Division I Campbell University and will serve as the defensive coordinator. He has 33 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level. Derek Moore comes to Southern from Division I Western Illinois and will coach the offensive line for the Lions. Chandler Tygard comes to the Lions from NAIA University of the Cumberlands. A graduate of Tennessee, Tygard served six seasons as an assistant coach for the Vols. Rodney Freeman will coach the wide receivers at Southern and he is a 2009 graduate of Abilene Christian. He comes to Southern from Division II Western State. “HT is a guy that I go back a long ways with,” Daye said. “He is a personal friend of mine and we’ve worked together at both Liberty and Nicholls. Wally is a guy who I think when you take a look at his resume, you really don’t have to say much about him, it speaks for itself. He’s a guy that’s been at some of the most prestigious schools in the country. He’s been at all three levels and understands how to coach athletes wherever he goes.” Daye has said since he showed up at Southern that he wanted to surround himself with veteran, experienced coordinators, while hiring young, go-getter position coaches that were experienced recruiters and he feels he has done that with this staff. Offense In 2012, the Missouri Southern offense set school records for rushing yardage (3,043), and rushing attempts (581), while tying the school record for rushing touchdowns (32) in a season. The offense also set marks for highest-average gain via the rush with 5.2 per carry, as well as in a single game where the Lions averaged 9.2 per carry versus South Dakota Mines. With that said, Daye said the team will still focus on a rushing attack in 2013. “We’re still going to establish our run game and we’re still going to be a physical-type, violent offense,” Daye said. “It starts with our quarterback. He is our guy. Jay (McDowell) got some good experience last season and we got to see him do a Senior Defensive Back Demon Haire 18 2013 MSSU FOOTBALL @mososports missourisouthernlions mssulions.com
2012 Mssu Football Media Guide
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