A View from the Upper Deck
Mark WIllard
Teamkong

Where have the Gorillas been?  For that matter, where are they now?  And does anyone know where this team is going?  At this point in the season, maybe we need to take a look at the past, present, and future of this years PSU football team.

OK, so what have we learned so far?  Well, this year’s version of the Gorillas are considerably faster as a unit.  Both sides of the ball have made significant upgrades in speed; but I think it is most noticeable on the defensive side.  The d-line, with McConnell and Stephen inside, and Lawson/Meredith and Mitchell/Jones outside have accounted for 49 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks.  The linebacking corps, led by the speedy Terek Wilson and Jimmie Taylor, have made it virtually impossible for teams to run outside on us consistently.  Lattimer, Watson, Smith and Miller have contributed greatly to an improved pass defense as well as being solid run stoppers.  Depth at defensive back may become a concern, with recent injuries, but so far, newcomer Vernard Veasley, along with returnees Courtney Taylor and Noah Hoppe, backed up by Adam Meier and others, have held their own.

Offensively, the speed starts with Germaine and Jermaine.  These two new Gorillas have created excitement like we haven’t seen in years.  Throw in Elliot Austin, with good speed at TE, the power running of QB Neal Philpot and the solid blocking of Joe Taylor and the offensive line, and all the makings of an explosive scoring machine are there.  Plus, you can’t discount PSU’s “other” receivers, Bell, Tim Austin, Ward, and Butler, nor the change of pace brought about by the insertion of speedy QB Andy Majors.  Used in several different combinations, these players have all contributed to the Gorillas success so far this season.

So where do we stand at this point?  Well, the loss to Emporia certainly put a dent in our armor.  Whether or not it caused any serious structural damage remains to be seen. The team rebounded nicely against MSSC, but there are those that will say “yeah, but that’s against Southern.”  Yes, it’s true that the Lions aren’t very good (I heard they were a 7 point underdog in their bye week earlier this year) but that game wasn’t about the Lions, it was about the Gorillas and their execution and focus.  The team kept focused on the job at hand, and regained some of the confidence lost the previous week against ESU. 

Confidence will be a key factor, as we look to the future.  It’s important for this team to remain trusting in their abilities, without becoming too cocky.  There’s absolutely nothing wrong with believing you are better than the team you are about to face; the key is going out and making them believe it by your performance.  Against ESU, we let them believe they could beat us, and they did.  Getting off to a strong start will be crucial in each of the next 3 games.  We can’t afford to let teams “hang around”, plus we need to build our own confidence level during the games as well as before them.

Now…. Where is this team headed?  Well, the obvious choice is “Florence, AL”.  But let’s not get too far ahead.  Where this team is headed is straight through the toughest stretch of games this year.  Each of these next 3 games is easily winnable by the Gorillas, but each and every one of them can be lost as well.  If this team can stay focused on the task at hand, take care of business and avoid further injury problems, we can get it done.  It won’t be easy; we’ll struggle at times.  However, those are the times that we the fans, need to be at our best in supporting the team.  Let’s get it done, together, as one team.  The Gorillas of Pittsburg State University.

Alright then.  On to this weeks install of the Unsung Hero Award.  How about Joplin native D.J. Driskill?  Playing in his hometown, the junior linebacker had 5 tackles in a reserve role, including several huge hits that really got the crowd going.  His energy and enthusiasm were great to see as well.  Too often at later points in a game, it seems as though players are simply going through the motions.  Driskill, on the other hand, was truly excited to be in the game, and it showed.  For providing that little spark in a game that was getting duller by the minute, D.J. Driskill is this weeks Unsung Hero.