A Longtime Coming, But Worth The Wait

by Craig R. Turner
bluedeathvalley.com
Sept. 1, 2008


It was going to be an emotional evening. Even as we arrived for tailgating a little after noon this past Saturday, there was a quiet feeling of confidence among A&T alumni and fans that this team, that this night, and this year could be different.

The buzz began as soon as my wife and I began to unload our SUV packed to the roof with food, tables, grills, and those favorite beverages. It was in the air and there was no denying it.

There were conversations going on back and forth between the Aggie faithful about the changes in the coaching staff in the off season, a recruiting class that seemed to be ready to contribute right away and a big contingent of seasoned upper-classmen with a different attitude and determination to begin this season with a fast start. This was a team that was looking to cast off that loser label.

As we began the tailgate feeding frenzy, some of the student trainers came through for their pre-game meal just a couple of hours before kickoff and they too were as excited about getting things going against Johnson C. Smith of the CIAA.

Now J.C. Smith isn’t even one of the powerhouses of that league but basically a middle of the road Division II squad that was coming off a 4-7 year in 2007. Most folks would say that wasn’t much to crow about.

But then, the Aggies had been denied any sort of success for nearly two and half years and the mental aspect of winning and losing is as key, sometimes even more so perhaps, than strength of personnel or coaching.

So on paper A&T was the odds-on favorite going into the game being they were considerably larger, stronger, faster, and deeper. But even then, with what was the nation’s longest losing streak, there was just a tad of apprehension. It had been so long and sometimes so close, but never the prize obtained.

Just a single win. Just one.

After the first quarter there was little doubt in the minds of the 12,000 in attendance that the Aggies frustration was going to end this evening.

And by halftime, with A&T leading the Golden bulls 37-6, I turned to my wife and paraphrased the late President Gerald Ford upon the resignation of Richard Nixon: “Our long national nightmare is finally over. I think we’re going to be okay this year.”

I’m not going to try to over-analyze A&T’s performance nor give out grade cards or such because it’s way too early to do that sort of thing. Also, it really serves no purpose as things change each week as does the opponent.

But for at least one night, A&T had returned to what we were used to a few short years ago - a dominant running game, an efficient passing game that has the ability to score points in bunches and a defense that kept smacking folks upside the head until matters were sufficiently settled, 44-12.

A year ago this type of game would have been difficult for A&T to pull off, but as I said in last week’s column this is not the 0-27 team that we have been so familiar with.

We certainly aren’t in the class of a Appalachian State or even a Norfolk State or South Carolina State. At least not yet. But we now will be able to compete within the MEAC without being having the stigma of being winless or incapable. That is over and done with. Now we can concentrate on the next game, getting the next win and just building from that point on.

I will make this one observation for the record: If you take A&T lightly this season you will lose.

As I watched the second half I was pleased to see us make some halftime defensive adjustments that really snuffed out any chance of Smith being able to generate any type of improbable comeback ... or even earn a respectable margin of defeat, for that matter.

The offense did what I thought they would do and go conservative, not trying to show much on the film for Winston Salem State to key in on. There really wasn't any need to try run the score up.

As happy as I was for each of the kids on this team, for the memory of Chad Wiley and his family, I was equally happy for Lee Fobbs and his staff in how they prepared this squad prior to and during this opener.

It's not often that an offense would be as efficient as A&T was in the first half of an opening game, mixing the run and pass equally, using all kinds of motion, showing everything from a no-back set to a full-fledged wishbone. This was all done under new offensive coordinator John McKenzie.

Ty Odums' new attacking-style of defense pretty much stayed in a 3-4 alignment for most of the night against Smith’s star quarterback Carlton Richardson and took away a lot of his option. He was forced him to throw the ball away, take a sack, or literately run for his life. He has to be feeling it just a little bit this morning.

It was no accident that A&T went out headhunting Saturday although some of the late sideline aggression hits will need to be reigned in just a bit. However, it was good for the soul to see that “Blue Death” mentality being brought back in a impressive manner in their first showing.

Smith had some early success on their only scoring drive of the first half by floating the tight end into the middle against man to man coverage against the linebackers. But the adjustment of bringing in an extra free safety in the middle of the zone quickly negated that advantage and it was then game, set, and match the rest of the way.

I’ll admit that A&T was head and shoulders better than the Bulls so a lopsided win was to be expected. But that's the thing about expectations. Coach Lee Fobbs and his squad did exactly what they were supposed to do and imposed their will over a team that they should have dominated from beginning to end and beat by 3 or 4 touchdowns - and they did just that. That was the point and the goal and the Aggies passed this test easily.

Winston Salem State will present a much different and a much more difficult task. There's lot of work to do sharpening various assignments and there are questions within the kicking game that will have to be addressed.

WSSU is a genuine 1-AA opponent that is A&T’s equal and will be a far truer early season test. However, having that one game already under one's belt before playing against a opponent that will be rebuilding its entire offensive backfield and most of its defense will be a major advantage.

We’ll talk about that game later in the week but for now, let just enjoy this moment until Monday when A&T gears up for the Rams.

Oh yeah, I’m flying my car flags all this week for the first time in two years. And for those of you like me that have endured the mouths and taunts of NCCU fans, take heart that Fayetteville State beat them convincingly on Sunday. So talking a little smack to all those Eagles is in order when I get back to work on Tuesday.

Life is so good.