With the 2001 football season kicking off, Guilford College is starting to catch the eyes of many. After a dismal 1-9 performance last season, the Quakers seek to come out and fight hard for a position at the top of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC).

With the newly released Coaches Poll, the Quakers are predicted to finish last, while Bridgewater, which posted an 8-2 record last year is picked to finish at the top once again. However, because his team has 37 letter winners and 21 starters returning, head coach Mike Ketchum believes that this team can produce at any given time.
Coach Ketchum’s plan this year is to come closer together as a team: “there is no you and me; there is only we,” explained coach Ketchum.

After a heart-breaking season last year, the team has looked to setting their goals to a higher level, one which corresponds to the potential of this year’s team. Coach Ketchum tested his team’s ability in the opener this year against Division II nationally Carson-Newman.
“To be the best we have to beat the best,” exclaimed Coach Ketchum before Saturday’s game.

Though the team lost 48-0, coach Ketchum saw positive actions come out of this game.

“I really felt like the team played hard and that they never showed signs of giving up and that’s what we need every to be a successful program,” explained Coach Ketchum.

Since the Carson-Newman Eagles were not a conference game, the loss does not hurt the Quakers’ chances of bringing home a conference championship. That is one of the goals of the 2001 Quakers, but the main goal is for the team to improve as every week progresses.
“The key to this year’s team will lie in the leadership of our experienced players,” said junior wider receiver Chris McKinney. McKinney led the team in receiving against Carson-Newman with 4 catches for 60 yards.
The squad will depend upon the roles of junior quarterback Oren Robinson, sophomore running back Marcus Ballard, junior running back Brandon Lockhart, senior line backer Will Black, junior wide receiver Chris McKinney, junior safety J.J. Edwards, and sophomore cornerback O.J. Batts just to name a few.

Though the team is stacked with a great amount of highly talented athletes, it’s all up to the team as a whole to determine whether this year’s team is ready to stand up and fight for a championship or back down and settle for another losing campaign.

On Saturday, Sept. 8, come out and watch the home opener as the Quakers battle the Monarchs of Methodist.