Post by bluehaze on Jan 26, 2016 13:56:34 GMT -5
Aggies To Celebrate Celebration Bowl Win
In recognition of the North Carolina A&T football team winning the HBCU National Championship, the inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl and their second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, North Carolina A&T State University will hold a pep rally for the team, 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 at Corbett Sports Center.
A highlight video, giveaways, music and comments from players, students and administrators will be featured at the event. There is limited seating some come be a part of the celebration of achievement by the Aggies football team.
REASONS TO CELEBRATE
North Carolina A&T closed out the season 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the MEAC.
As a result of winning a share of the MEAC title and the conference’s tiebreaker scenario the Aggies were awarded a bid to the 2015 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl against the champion of the SWAC, the Alcorn State Braves on Dec. 19, 2015 in Atlanta.
The Aggies defeated the Braves on a live ABC broadcast, 41-34 at the Georgia Dome where an impressive 35,528 people gathered to see it.
Another 2.5 million people watched on television, a 1.7 rating. It was a better viewership than 15 FBS bowls played during the 2015-16 bowl season. The attendance was also the second-best among bowls that had been played between Dec. 19 and Dec. 24.
Tarik Cohen created a new fan base when he rushed for 295 yards and three touchdowns in the win to earn offensive MVP of the game, while Denzel Jones’ seven tackles and one INT earned defensive MVP.
Cohen’s performance led to him breaking the school’s single-season rushing record four weeks after he had already broken the Aggies career rushing record. Cohen has been named MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, third-team All-American by STATS, a Fabulous 50 All-American by College Sporting News and he recently was named the SBN/Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year for black college football.
As a team, the Aggies were voted No. 1 in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network season-ending poll, earning the university the HBCU National Championship. It was the school’s third overall and the first since 1999.
North Carolina A&T head coach Rod Broadway was named SBN/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year. He also earned career victory No. 100 during the 2015 season.
Punt returner/wide receiver Khris Gardin broke the NCAA FCS record for punt return yards in a season (740). He earned first-team All-American honors from STATS and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. Gardin led the nation in yards per punt return (23.1) and punt return TDs (3).
Cornerback Tony McRae and offensive tackle Brandon Parker were also named HBCU All-Americans and Parker was the offensive lineman of the year in the MEAC.
Nationally the Aggies finished ranked No. 21 in the NCAA FCS Coaches poll and the FCS STATS media poll.
As a team, the Aggies ranked second in the nation in total defense, run defense and yards per punt return.
