Link to Detroit News Article by Eric Lacy

2010 college football preview

Wayne State seeks new team identity

Eric Lacy / The Detroit News


Detroit -- As hip-hop tunes blared from the stadium speakers, three boys on bikes gazed through the fence to witness the commotion.

"OK, let's go!" a man yelled, before a horn wailed, prompting players to assemble at midfield.

On this late August afternoon, Wayne State went to work. These Warriors have no time to waste.

Coach Paul Winters and his players need a new identity -- not to mention a new running game -- now that all-time leading rusher Joique Bell and his video game-like numbers are gone.

"I wouldn't say we were lazy by any means," Winters said of his offensive game plan with Bell. "But at times it was easy to draw plays because we could just say, 'Well, he'll make that guy miss just like everybody else.' Now we'll concentrate on getting more guys blocked."

Bell was the 2009 recipient of the Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the top Division II player, and ended a multiple record-setting career with 6,728 yards rushing, 96 touchdowns (88 rushing) and a fourth-place spot among the NCAA's all-time leading scorers (576).

The Warriors' top returning rusher is 5-foot-8, 187-pound Josh Renel, who has 165 career yards on 24 carries. Renel, from Rochester Hills, is expected to be pushed by redshirt freshman Toney Davis (Muskegon Heights) and possibly a few more candidates out of the seven running backs on the roster.

Whoever gets carries needs blockers. That might not be a problem based on the lettermen still left. Junior left tackle Joe Long started every game the past two seasons and is the brother of former Michigan tackle and the No. 1 draft pick in 2008, Jake Long. Center Mark Cuddeback, a fifth-year senior, has 22 career starts and redshirt junior Will Khoury had 11 starts last season at right guard.

The presence of those veterans and additional year of seasoning for the offense gives Renel hope the Warriors have enough to keep defenses honest.

"Teams aren't going to expect much from us," he said. "And that's the best moment to strike."

Winters hopes his push for a more balanced offense will reap plenty of rewards. He appears ready to let the passing game loose.

During Bell's four-year career, he played with at least six different starting quarterbacks. There finally appears to be a mainstay in redshirt sophomore Mickey Mohner, the team's 2009 offensive rookie of the year. Mohner started the last seven games of the season and enters 2010 as the projected starter.

Winters, who enters his seventh season and has a career record of 27-37, is excited about his team's talent.

"We don't talk about Joique as much as everyone outside of here does," he said. "All we talk about is how he's doing. We're anxious to see how well he's playing but we don't say, 'We used to do this with Joique or Joique did that.' "

Don't let Winters fool you, though. The coach has no problem taking full advantage of Bell's stature as the football program's most recognizable and accomplished ambassador. Bell's outgoing personality and dominance on the field has been a boost for the Warriors' recruiting.

Davis saw Bell tear up Northwood a couple years ago for 300-plus yards and became convinced he could become his protégé. At 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, Davis considers himself a "power back." He didn't know Wayne State even had a football team until a conversation with a coach during his senior year of high school.

Now the Warriors have a chance to earn their fourth winning season in five years after least season's 6-5.

"We're getting better every year," Davis said. "Eventually we're going to have that national championship."