USD Football 1991

Runningback Tim Lester plays to a full house at Eastern Kentucky.

THE LITTLE TIME "There's a great campus atmosphere. It's Saturday afternoon America." -Walter Juliff

they do not predominate. "I can really tell the difference between I- A and II at the skill positions," Reszka said. "Everybody on the Division II level is a great athlete, but the big-time players are a step or two ahead, and the linemen are bigger. The skill levels are the same, it's just a matter of size and speed.'" Though big-time fans and players may not bel ieve it, NCAA Division I-AA, 11 and Ill and NAIA Divisions I and II do not roil in a vacuum. Pro aspirations are real- ized by small-college players, though no one would ever claim NDSU's North Central Conference to be a farm system for the pros. Still, 246 ( 19.5 percent) players on the 1990 professional rosters played at small colleges, as did the 75 more selected in last April's draft. And we're not just talking courtesy calls, here. Just ask All-Pros like Jerry Rice of the 49ers (Mississippi Valley State), Andre Reed of the Bills (Kutztown University) and the Bears' Richard Dent (Tennessee State). Or al l-time greats like Wa lter Payton (Jackson St.), Bob Hayes (Florida A&M) and Joe Greene (North Texas St.). Smal l-college footbal l is not played in slow motion by big-time rejects. "About one-third of the guys drafted played I-AA or below," said Tom Gamble, assistant director of player personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles. "Whe n you're talking about I-AA, you're talking about some schools, like Jac kson State or Arkansas State, that are equal to some I-A teams. That's some pretty good small-col- lege football." Anybody who played Dayton last season

knows just how good. Anchoring the Flyers' offensive line was hulking guard Dave Postmus, a 6-foot, 3-inch senior transfer from the University of lllinois. Postmus started as a junior for the Illini but had a "little controversy" with coach John Mackovic and bolted the team. Since he had redshirted his freshman year, Postmus could not go to another I-A school. because the mandatory year he would have sat out would have completed his eligibility. After a brief searc h, he wound up at Dayton, determined to continue progress toward a professional career. Though he disliked the football team·s second-class status on campus- ··1t's really a basketball school," he said-Postmus worked hard and earned an invitation to the NFL's scout- ing combine in Indianapol is in Marc h. Once there, he shined. Postmus bench- pressed 225 pounds 36 times, tops among all prospects, and registered a 33-inch verti- cal leap, the best of all the linemen. "'I knew what I had to do, and I kept it in perspecti ve." Postmus said. ""The pro scouts know if you're out there. If you·re good, they' ll find you." (Unfortunately none of the 28 NFL teams found Postmus in the 199 1 draft, but you best believe someone will take advantage of his free agent status.) Gamble concurs. "There really aren't any secrets," he said. "The combines, scouts and coaches do a good job. It's tough not to know about a guy who can play." After spending four years as part of a major-college program, Postmus' journey to Division lil had to include a few shocks. He noticed a little more attention from ref-

Broadway, he'll enjoy the chance to com- pete, trading national attention for a little more of the collegiate experience. 'Tm not unhappy with my decision," he said. "I' m glad I played Division I, and now I'm glad to be in Division II. I got a taste of both." Small-college football is fi lled with sto- ries like Reszka's. Some players have been recruited by I-A schools and elected to go where they knew they'd play three or four years. Others transfer down from large pro- grams, seeking a starting job or just a dif- ferent attitude toward the game. The bulk haven' t turned down big-time offers or harbor professional dreams. They just want LO play footbal I. "I get to see a few Division II or III games each year, and that's where the foot- ball is played for fun," said Walter Juliff, a scout for the Dallas Cowboys. "There's a great campus atmosphere. It's Saturday afternoon America." Of course, there is a drastic talent drop- off away from Division I-A. The smaller the school, the smaller and slower the play- ers. There are exceptions, of course, but

TOUCHDOWN ILLUSTRATED