Athletic Report
April 6, 2001

ENMU FOOTBALL TEAM TO PLAY
ANNUAL GREEN VS. SILVER GAME ON SATURDAY
PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University football team will conclude the 2001 spring practice season with the annual Green vs. Silver Spring Game on Saturday, Apr. 7, at Greyhound Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. (MDT). ENMU’s spring game feature players who still have eligibility remaining. All players with eligibility have been split into two teams (Green and Silver), but several Greyhounds will miss the game due to injuries. Admission is FREE and the public is welcome to attend. Greyhound Stadium is located on Highway 70 between Portales and Clovis.

Team assignments were determined in a draft by players. The Green team was drafted by offensive guard Billy Biggar, quarterback Heath Ridenour, linebacker Jimmy Hamilton and defensive end Wayne Childs. The Silver team was drafted by offensive guard Rowdy Clark, quarterback James Williams, linebacker Larry Varnado and defensive end E.J. Ume.

Ridenour will lead the Green team on offense. He will be joined by all three starting running backs from the 2000 season: Dennis Beard, Taryll Boxton and Aaron Dunnam. The Green team also has wide receivers Chis Olivas and Desmond Hill. Olivas played last fall, while Hill redshirted after arriving from Odessa Permian High School.

On defense, the Green team has Hamilton and Childs to anchor the front seven. Other top defensive players for the Green are talented freshmen Brandon Wickware, Ben Rhodes and B.J. Biggar in the line, and Ben Dollar at linebacker.

Leading the secondary will be freshman Eric Mims and redshirt Adrian Quigley. The Silver team features Williams at quarterback, plus Antoine Lacy, Randy Montoya and Richard Stevens at running back. Lacy started for the Greyhounds in 1999, while Montoya and Stevens were quality back-up players this past season.

At wide receiver, the Silver squad has Cale Sanders, Eastern’s top wideout in 2000. Kane Sweet, a linebacker last fall, has moved to tight end, and will play for the Silver team. Silver defenders Varnado and Ume will be joined by key players Jeremiah Johnson at defensive end, Jared White at linebacker and Michael Connelly at defensive tackle.

The Silver team also has place-kicker Mike Trimble, who provides an edge on field goals and extra points. ENMU has perhaps its most experience in the offensive line. Top linemen on the Green offense are Biggar and Dustin Fish.

The Silver team’s offensive line will be led by Tyson Burkett at center, plus Clark and Jose Martinez at offensive guard. The Green vs. Silver Game will be played in four 12-minute quarters.

Kickoffs will be controlled and punts will not be returned. Extra points and field goals will be kicked under normal rules.

Last fall, the Greyhounds earned a 6-4 overall record and tied for the Lone Star Conference South Division title at 4-2. Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott was named LSC South Coach-of-the-Year for the third consecutive season.