|
|
Aug. 30, 2010
By Alex Podlogar FAYETTEVILLE - While Richard Medlin returns as a familiar face to the Fayetteville State Broncos' offense this season, there will no doubt be several new names in key positions as the Broncos begin their CIAA title defense on Saturday at N.C. Pembroke. That's something that happens on the eve of every new season. Thankfully, and to help aid a smooth transition to 2010, another familiar face returns to FSU - Offensive Coordinator Richard "Dick" Portee. The former National Football League, North Carolina Central University and North Carolina State University assistant coach enters his first season as offensive coordinator at Fayetteville State in 2010. Portee, a 45-year coaching veteran, rejoins the FSU staff after spending last season as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at NCCU. This is Portee's second stint at FSU -- from 2007-08 Portee was assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach with the Broncos. Now, he brings that legendary pedigree back to Fayetteville. "I made the decision to leave and go to (N.C. Central), but basically, I was not going to stay at Central, so when a coaching change was made here, I had the opportunity to come back," Portee says. "So I came back. "I like these guys, the coaches here. I felt comfortable and knew it would be a good place to come back." Portee was running backs coach at N.C. State during the 2000-2006 seasons and held the same post with the Wolfpack from 1990-98. In between his two NCSU coaching campaigns, Portee spent the 1999 season in the NFL as running backs coach with the Cleveland Browns. It's that kind of expansive experience that Portee can not only add to the coaching staff, but in mentoring the student-athletes with the Broncos. "I'm a very passionate person and coach, and I really enjoy what I'm doing," he says. "I really think my enthusiasm ... and my years of coaching, I'm hoping, will be able to add some things that will help us be successful as an offensive football team and as a football team overall."
Portee likes what he sees thus far on the offensive line of scrimmage. And it all starts with leading returning rusher Richard Medlin (Sr. Raleigh, NC), who ran for 667 yards and a team-high ten touchdowns in 2009. "We're fortunate to have (Medlin) returning," Portee says. "He's one of the better football players on this football team. That's no secret. He's a hard runner and he brings good things to the running game." But the offense is more than Medlin, Portee says. Center Dillon Kestner (Sr., Durham, NC) and guard Larry McDonald (Jr., Mebane, NC) returns as stalwarts on a line that helped Fayetteville State average 311 total yards of offense per game a year ago. "In the offensive line, with Larry McDonald and Dillon Kestner, they will help the young kids and the new kids that are coming in," Portee says. "Those guys will be a good anchor for us and provide leadership and experience for the young kids on the offensive line." They will also protect quarterback Robert Benjamin (Jr., Phoenix, AZ), who performed well in the annual Blue and White Game on Saturday evening at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium. Benjamin will be aided by returning receivers B.J. Washington (Sr., Baltimore, MD), and Jamere Pugh (So., Henderson, NC) as well as speedster Warren Johnson (Jr., Phoenix, AZ). Portee says he doesn't expect any major schematic changes to what the Broncos did out of their Pro I-formation set last season. But that doesn't mean there isn't work to be done. "We're doing a lot of what we did here at Fayetteville State over the last number of years," the coaching veteran says. "We're just going to try to continue to do it better. Every year, you evaluate what you did, and you look at what you did, and hopefully, what you did was good. "But you want to also look at what you did and how you can make it better. We're working on doing what we did in the past better." No doubt, the Broncos have a man at the helm who has witnessed just about everything one can see on the football field. Still, Portee remains humble. "I'm not an `I' guy, so you won't hear me say much about `I,'" he says. "I have a great appreciation for coaching football at this level. I've been a Division-1 coach, and I've been blessed to coach some good football teams and some outstanding football games in my years. I really appreciate the opportunity to be here and work. And I have a great appreciation for how these young men go through their trials and tribulations as student-athletes at this level, and how our coaching staff has to deal with our total situation to be successful as coaches." Portee is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, where he played running back and defensive back before receiving his bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education in 1965. He went on to earn his master's degree in Health and Physical Education from Illinois State University in 1971. Portee's coaching career began in 1965 at his alma mater, Eisenhower High School in Decatur, Ill., where he coached football, basketball and tennis. His collegiate coaching career started as a defensive and offensive backs coach at Illinois State University from 1969-1976. From 1977-1981, he served as recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach at Cornell University. He spent time at the University of Maryland as an assistant coach, coaching outside linebackers and wide receivers from 1982-1989; wide receivers from 1982-1989. "We've got a good nucleus of guys who are returning, and being able to blend these young men, and hopefully the type of things we do offensively will utilize the skills of the guys we have returning and the guys we have coming in." "And we're fortunate to have Robert Benjamin, who has a good football background, and will provide leadership and experience to the quarterback position." |
