By Allen Gregory
Sports Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: December 7, 2008
EMORY, Va. ? The football season ended weeks ago for the Emory & Henry Wasps, but Caleb Jennings is still working.
On a dreary recent Thursday afternoon, the 5-foot-7 running back was busy preparing for his junior year by lifting weights. Jennings was joined by many of his teammates.
"Our team has made so many strides,"? Jennings said. "Now, we want to maintain that momentum and take the next step."?
After an issue with an ineligible player wiped away all four E&H wins from 2007, the Wasps posted a 6-4 record this season and finished in a four-way tie for first in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
E&H fans will long remember the season finale on Nov. 15. Jennings contributed 316 all-purpose yards as the Wasps stopped pass-happy Guilford to post a 44-7 win.
Moments later, word spread that Bridgewater had upset Catholic and Randolph-Macon had won at Hampden-Sydney. Suddenly, the Wasps were back atop the ODAC standings.
Another celebration ensued as the E&H players emerged from the King Center.
"I'd say that afternoon was one of the top five moments in my career,"? fourth-year E&H head coach Don Montgomery said. "Four years ago, Guilford beat us 44-7. We beat Guilford by the same score this year, and it was a dang-near perfect game for us.
"I'm very proud to see how much progress we've made in this program."?
Montgomery and his staff will spend the next two weeks recruiting. The Wasps must replace 18 seniors, but nine starters return on offense and six return on defense.
"It's tough to leave the seniors that helped get this program going again,"? Montgomery said. "Even though it looks like we're losing a lot, we've got experienced kids coming back.
"We should be able to hit 2009 with all cylinders firing."?
The fearless Jennings contributed the biggest spark to the 2008 Wasps, amassing a new ODAC record with 2,161 all-purpose yards. Jennings also ranked second in ODAC rushing (1,157 yards), third in points (86) and first in average yards on punt returns (18.4).
"A 6-4 record doesn't look that good, but you have to look at all the victories we earned and consider how many young players we had,"? said Jennings, one of seven Wasps to earn first-team All-ODAC status.
Andrew Giordani is among the rising senior stars. The 6-1, 245-pound defensive end, who starred in the victory over Guilford, was an honorable mention All-ODAC pick.
"That final game gave us a really good boost heading into the off-season,"? Giordani said.
Giordani remembers the Saturday sequence vividly.
"Everybody was excited to beat Guilford, then the news of that four-way tie for first spread like wildfire about 20 minutes later,"? Giordani said. "We came out of the locker room and starting jumping around.
"We also have the excitement of our new stadium, so there is a lot of momentum in this program."?
Montgomery has been encouraged by the confidence and commitment of his players.
"These kids are expecting to be really good, and that's reflected in their [off-season] workouts,"? Montgomery said. "They are like a bunch of sharks who have smelled blood."?
And Montgomery feels the pieces are in place for an even better season.
"We were near the top of Division III in several categories this season, including rushing defense, kickoff returns and punt returns. And our offense was starting to click as well,"? Montgomery said. "The recruiting process is going to be busy, but it's also a lot of fun."?
E&H officials hope the new fieldhouse, adjacent to the enhanced Fred Selfe Stadium, will be complete within a year.
Creating the top football complex in all of NCAA Division III football is the stated goal for E&H athletic director Bob Johnson.
"I've been here so long that I feel like a sailor on the ocean who can sense the nuance of the tide,"? Johnson said.
"I just sense that there is something good happening here. You can see it around campus and feel it during our home basketball games."?
Once details such as cost, control and operations are worked out, E&H officials would eventually like to play host to Virginia High School League football playoff games.
Playoff games are already held at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. Both stadiums feature turf playing surfaces.
"When you have a field like we have, the best thing you can do is showcase it,"? Montgomery said.
For now, the Wasps continue to grind away in the weight room.
"Some of our players were actually back lifting on the Monday after our last game,"? said the 168-pound Jennings, who can bench-press nearly 300 pounds. "That's incredible, but it shows what kind of drive we have."?
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