Northern Colorado running back Andre Wilson would like to be twice the player he was last season. So far, he is more than 50 percent improved.
The junior led the Great West Conference in rushing, averaging 99 yards a game last season. After two games this fall, he’s averaging 151.5 yards. He had 144 yards in a 28-23 loss at Western Illinois last week.
So, all UNC coach Kay Dalton would like is for the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Wilson to maintain that pace against Southeastern Louisiana (1-0) in the Bears’ Hall of Fame game at 2 p.m. Saturday at Nottingham Field.
“Heck, yes, I want to run the ball against them,” Dalton said. “I’m like every other football coach out there. I’d like to run it down everybody’s throat. But they’ve got a good team. They kicked Alcorn (State 48-21) pretty good last week. Their linebackers are big and very fast.
“But Andre’s a heck of a good running back. If he had just a little more speed, he could play in the pros. Great vision, understands the blocking schemes, and he runs hard.”
A year ago in a tropical storm in Hammond, La., the Bears blocked the Lions’ linebackers well enough to spring Wilson for 131 yards on 29 carries in a 26-13 loss.
“They called it a tropical storm,” Dalton said. “To me it was a hurricane, but I guess we’ve all seen what a real hurricane is like now.”
Wilson wasn’t happy with his performance.
“It was awful, one of my worst games,” he said. “The conditions were really tough, I missed a ton of assignments and the balls weighed, like, 10 pounds. Then on the ride to the airport, we had to load our wet uniforms on the bus and the smell was just awful. I’m glad they’re coming up here to altitude where it’s nice and dry.
“We’re a much improved team. I’ve packed on some pounds, and I’m doing a lot better than last year. If they’re expecting the same team as last year, they’re in for a surprise.”
The Lions, whose school is located about 50 miles north of New Orleans, were a week late opening the season because of Hurricane Katrina, but survived the storm with minimal material damage on the campus and played at home last week against Alcorn State.
“They’re pretty much the same team,” Dalton said. “Very same secondary, same linebackers, one new defensive lineman, and offensively, they’re not starting any new kids. They’re all either juniors or seniors. They’re running the same offense, lots of receivers, lots of motion, lots of screens.”
Joseph Sanchez can be reached at 303 820-5458 or jsanchez@denverpost.com.
