Huskies looking for ‘major improvement’
Building a college football program from the ground up isn’t easy. Coach Vic Shealy, who is entering his sixth full season at Houston Baptist, knows that all too well.
There’s the expected growing pains competing in the Southland Conference. And it can be difficult getting solid footing before being able to make the leap into contender.
In Shealy’s first three seasons, the Huskies won four total conference games, including going 3-5 in the SLC in 2016 with a veteran unit that consisted of many players that played on the 3-4 shortened developmental season of 2013.
But the past two seasons have netted back-to-back winless conference campaigns.
“The last two years we’ve not gotten the win totals,” said Shealy, the dean of SLC coaches. “Sometimes that defines your program. But there are great things happening in our program yet to be determined, and I can’t wait.”
An improved defense that struggled on third down and had difficulty in stopping the run in short-yardage situations in 2018 must be rectified for the Huskies to improve on last year’s 1-10 record.
The offense was quite effective under quarterback Bailey Zappe, who is a year more experienced in the spread formation, which was implemented by the Huskies for the 2018 season.
HBU could be an improved team this season, but the league head coaches predict the Huskies to finish last among the 11 teams in the preseason order of finish, which was announced on Thursday at the conference football media day at the Hilton Post Oak.
“We feel like our record last year is not representative of our skill or ability,” said senior defensive end Andre Walker, HBU’s alltime sacks leader with 11½ “This year, we feel confident in our ability to be on the top of the conference.”
A year ago, the Huskies averaged 394.3 yards per game and 27.4 points per game. The Huskies tacked on 52 points at Southeastern Louisiana, 35 at Central Arkansas and 34 against McNeese. HBU lost all three games.
The Huskies allowed an average of 482.7 yards and 43.7 points per game.
Defensive growth is the objective. Junior linebacker Caleb Johnson collected 102 tackles last year. Junior defensive back Coi Miller had one interception and seven breakups.
HBU returns 17 starters, including nine on offense
“We’re going to see a major improvement this year,” said Zappe, who tied for the conference lead with 23 passing touchdowns a year ago. “We got a lot of new guys, JUCO transfers and freshmen coming in. We’ve improved offensive wise.”
Among the six newcomers on the offensive line, three are junior college transfers.
One of Zappe’s favorite targets is expected to be Jerreth Sterns, who as a freshman last season secured 64 receptions. As a junior last season, Zappe passed for 2,812 yards, completing 252 of 436 passes.
“Bailey Zappe is the equal of any quarterback in our league,” Shealy said. “He’s a significant player and I can’t wait to see him play this year.
“I’m a fan of his. A phenomenal player. We have some really good players in our program.”
But the challenge is to have enough good players to compete in the Southland, a league which exposes opponents’ areas of weakness.
“Going back to January where I saw our guys, and then from spring ball to (summer) work, is significant,” Shealy said. “It almost feels like a different program. And with that, there’s excitement.”