Fresh meat behind center for MSU, Tulane
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Sept. 3, 2004
STARKVILLE Two quarterbacks will be taking their first collegiate snaps on Saturday when Mississippi State University and Tulane kick off the 2004 college football season at Davis Wade Stadium.
Omarr Conner, who saw action at wide receiver last year, will lead the Bulldogs' new west-coast offense, and Lester Ricard will be taking his first snaps for the Green Wave.
Conner has progressed well in MSU's new offensive system leading up to the 5 p.m. opener against Tulane, which will be televised on ESPN2.
Tulane will stack an experienced defensive line and a dangerous secondary in front of the Bulldogs' first-year quarterback.
Green Wave defensive backs Sean Lucas, Tra Boger, Joey Dawson and Bruce Youmans combined to force nine fumbles, recovering seven, and intercepted eight passes in 2003.
Tulane's defensive front is loaded with experienced players, as juniors Michael Roberts, Bamm Mateen and Michael Purcell return to duty along with sophomores Craig Morris, Billy Harrison, Taurean Broan, Alvin Johnson and Tremell Jack who all saw playing time as freshmen.
The Green Wave's defense recovered 19 of 24 fumbles it forced in 2003, while posting 15 sacks. In last year's meeting, Tulane forced five MSU fumbles, recovering three.
MSU will likely follow the "throw everything at the new quarterback" philosophy on defense as well.
Ricard takes over the quarterback duties for a program that has produced first-round draft picks Patrick Ramsey (Washington Redskins) and J.P. Losman (Buffalo Bills). Tulane also produced former Tampa Bay quarterback and current Arizona Cardinal Shaun King.
MSU nose tackle Ronald Fields will headline an experienced Bulldogs defense that will be trying to throw the rookie Green Wave quarterback off his game. Fields notched a sack and 4.5 tackles for a loss last season.
Ricard will be helped by an offensive line, which returns all five starters, and a strong receiving corps, headlined by senior Rydell Williams. He caught 66 passes for 1,006 yards and nine touchdowns in 2003.
