RICHMOND, Ky. - Coach Roy Kidd's Eastern Kentucky University Colonel football team is going through two-a-days in preparation for its 2000 season opener Aug. 31 in Roy Kidd Stadium against Glenville (WV) State College.

Fifteen starters and 33 lettermen were welcomed back last week by the Colonel coaching staff as EKU hopes to improve off last year's 7-4 record and third -place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference.

"Our guys are working hard and have a good attitude about getting ready for the season," said Kidd as he prepares for his 37^th season at the helm of the Colonel football program. "We had about 60 players come in all summer long and workout which has really helped us. These players' energy has all the coaches enthused about what this team could accomplish."

Eastern was picked to win the 2000 Ohio Valley Conference race by the league's head football coaches and sports information directors. Quarterback Waylon Chapman, tailback Corey Crume, offensive tackle Lewis Diaz and defensive end Shorty Combs received pre-season All-OVC notice. Split-end Alex Bannister was an honorable mention All-OVC selection.

"We're going to be better on defense," Kidd said. "We've got some depth and a lot of talent over there, especially in the secondary and at linebacker.

"On offense, we've got a lot of our skill kids back, but we're still hoping someone will step up and help us out on the line. We do have three starters back there (Diaz, center Jacob Johnson and guard Brett O'Buck), but we're still looking for someone to take charge and win those other two spots."

Chapman has looked good at quarterback, where the Colonels are five-deep. The depth chart shows senior Chad Collins, redshirt freshman Shedrick Wright, transfer freshman Toki McCray and true freshman Robbie Knight behind Chapman.

"We expect Waylon to have a good year for us at quarterback. He has the experience and throws a good pass. I believe he will get some looks from these pro scouts this year," Kidd said.

Chapman's main targets this season will be senior wideouts Tyrone Browning and Bannister. Browning led EKU last year in receptions with 45 catches for 486 yards and five TD's, while Bannister caught 44 aerials for 661 yards and eight scores.

Crume and fullback Chad Culver should handle the bulk of the rushing load this season for EKU. Crume led the Colonels and finished second in the OVC with 942 yards and nine TD's last year, while Culver rushed for 123 yards and a TD in 1999.

Kidd, his staff and his Colonel football team begin "The Drive for 300" (the 2000 EKU football team hopes to provide coach Kidd with the seven victories he needs to become just the seventh coach in NCAA history to win 300 games) with the 7:00 p.m. Thursday night Aug. 31 opener against Glenville State at Roy Kidd Stadium.

Tickets to Eastern's six-game home schedule are on sale weekdays by visiting the EKU Athletics Ticket Office in Room 126 of Alumni Coliseum or by phoning the ticket office at 859-622-2122 or 1-800-262-7493, inside Kentucky.