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Fairmont State coach likes grabbing state talent Lopez says winning with mostly West Virginia players his philosophy
by RICH STEVENS, DAILY MAIL ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR , Charleston Daily Mail
Only time will tell.
The Falcons pay a visit to non-conference Lake Erie (Ohio) on Saturday before back-to-back league games.
Lopez, who is in his third year as Fairmont State head coach and eighth as the defensive coordinator, saw his team lose last week's season opener at home to Clarion (Pa.), 33-21. The loss gave the former (Clarksburg) Notre Dame standout an 11-12 career record.
"It's a work in progress," said Lopez, whose active roster includes three former Capital High stars in linebacker David Pack, defensive back Drew Rossignol and kicker Alex Ashley. "We want to spend our time and money in our own state.
"I hate the fact that I would have to spend thousands of dollars in another state for players that aren't better than mine."
The Falcons have 58 players on their roster who have competed at
The Pioneers include 33 former state high school players, but last year their best player, by far, was running back Jerry Seymour - a native of Miramar, Fla., who played at the Mid-American Conference's Central Michigan before legal troubles forced his ouster.
Seymour was named to the Division II coaches' All-America first team.
While the situation worked out nicely for Seymour and Glenville State, that's not typical.
Junior college players can be a risky venture, Lopez said, "unless it's a very rare case.
"I don't have a problem with transfers, but our basis will be in the 60-65 percent range of
Last year, West Liberty added former
Last season, the Hilltoppers finished 7-4, but that was one game worse than in 2007 and the same as in 2006 when the former All-Atlantic Coast Conference player was still running past Hokies' opponents.
Ore's problems seemed to be behind him, but he didn't make West Liberty any better in the win column.
"This past summer I asked a kid for his mother's number and he had somebody tell me, 'I'm speaking on behalf' of this kid," said Lopez, pointing out that it wasn't an agent. "That's the last time I talked to that kid."
Last year, the Falcons had four all-conference first-team members, including two - nose guard David Hill (Moorefield) and linebacker Nate Black (Parkersburg Catholic) - who played at state Class A schools.
One of Fairmont State's 11 starters from in-state schools is former Fayetteville High star and Marshall University lineman Josh Evans.
"If Marshall's asking a guy to walk on, I'm offering him money," Lopez said. "If WVU is asking a guy to walk on, I'm offering him money. The list goes on and on."
He likes to know who he's getting, and said it's easier to accomplish when dealing with coaches in a state that's 24,231 square miles.
It's unrealistic to expect the Falcons to get all of its players from
"On Friday nights, we'll have a car going to the Northern Panhandle, the Eastern Panhandle, the Kanawha Valley ... ," Lopez said. "We're able to call ADs (athletic directors) and principals that you know in the state. You're getting to know these kids."
The last time the Falcons finished on top of the WVC was 2000, when they shared the title with West Liberty.
Lopez makes note of the Falcons' team grade point average (2.98) and the need for patience.
"The chances of us building better people is to recruit better people," Lopez said. "It's not doing whatever you can to win. We haven't won any league titles in recent years, but it's something we're competing for.
"I'm certain it'll pay dividends."
Contact assistant sports editor Rich Stevens at richstevens@ dailymail.com or 304-348-4837.
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