Post by harryt on Nov 16, 2017 12:34:51 GMT -5
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ACC football championship game is sold out
GREENSBORO — The ACC football championship game between No. …
A&T looking for bigger crowd vs. rival N.C. Central
By Jeff Mills jeff.mills@greensboro.com 19 hrs ago (0)
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A&T running back Marquell Cartwright rushed for 127 yards and 2 TDs on 27 carries against Savannah State, going over 1,000 yards for the season. The game drew an announced crowd of just 9,397 to 21,500-seat Aggie Stadium.
Joseph Rodriguez/News & Record
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GREENSBORO — What’s not to like about being 10-0?
Only this: A&T coach Rod Broadway was troubled when he looked around Aggie Stadium on Saturday and saw a whole lot of bare bleachers.
A&T stayed perfect with a 36-17 victory over Savannah State in front of an announced crowd of just 9,397. That looks sparse at a home game in a 21,500-seat stadium.
“Let’s understand where we are, and let’s understand who we are. Because what’s been happening this year is very special,” Broadway said. “The disappointing part is we’re 9-0, fighting for perfection, and we go out there and there’s nobody in the stands. … One of the best teams in the history of this school, and nobody shows up. It’s sort of embarrassing.”
Granted, the Aggies weren’t playing a marquee opponent.
Savannah State is still a relative newcomer in the league, joining the MEAC in 2010, and the financially strapped school has announced plans to drop back down to Division II, a move that could happen as soon as 2019.
Furthermore, the Tigers (2-8, 2-5 MEAC) looked like a pushover to the casual fan, although they had won back-to-back games heading into A&T.
But still, this A&T team is the first in the 93-year history of the football program to be better than 8-0.
There are only six remaining unbeatens among the 254 Division I teams in FBS and FCS: Alabama, Wisconsin, James Madison and A&T are 10-0; Miami and Central Florida are 9-0.
“This team has been a joy to be around. I think they’re underappreciated,” Broadway said. “You’re 9-0, man, playing for 10-0. You’ve got a great football team here. You’ve got great players. I don’t know if we appreciate what’s happening right now. We sort of take things for granted, on where we are, where this program’s come from and where we’re trying to go. There’s a comfort zone.”
This much is certain: The crowd at Aggie Stadium will be bigger Saturday.
A&T (10-0, 7-0) plays rival N.C. Central (7-3, 5-2) in the regular-season finale. An Aggies victory secures an unbeaten regular season and an outright MEAC title.
Tickets are still available.
“There’s quite a few left,” A&T’s ticket manager Kiana Taylor said today. “We’re sold out of reserved tickets, but we’re still selling general admission.”
Those tickets cost $39 for adults, $28 for non-A&T students ages 13-plus, and $17 for children ages 3-12.
NEXT UP
ACC football championship game is sold out
GREENSBORO — The ACC football championship game between No. …
A&T looking for bigger crowd vs. rival N.C. Central
By Jeff Mills jeff.mills@greensboro.com 19 hrs ago (0)
Aggie Football (copy) (copy)
Buy Now
A&T running back Marquell Cartwright rushed for 127 yards and 2 TDs on 27 carries against Savannah State, going over 1,000 yards for the season. The game drew an announced crowd of just 9,397 to 21,500-seat Aggie Stadium.
Joseph Rodriguez/News & Record
Save
GREENSBORO — What’s not to like about being 10-0?
Only this: A&T coach Rod Broadway was troubled when he looked around Aggie Stadium on Saturday and saw a whole lot of bare bleachers.
A&T stayed perfect with a 36-17 victory over Savannah State in front of an announced crowd of just 9,397. That looks sparse at a home game in a 21,500-seat stadium.
“Let’s understand where we are, and let’s understand who we are. Because what’s been happening this year is very special,” Broadway said. “The disappointing part is we’re 9-0, fighting for perfection, and we go out there and there’s nobody in the stands. … One of the best teams in the history of this school, and nobody shows up. It’s sort of embarrassing.”
Granted, the Aggies weren’t playing a marquee opponent.
Savannah State is still a relative newcomer in the league, joining the MEAC in 2010, and the financially strapped school has announced plans to drop back down to Division II, a move that could happen as soon as 2019.
Furthermore, the Tigers (2-8, 2-5 MEAC) looked like a pushover to the casual fan, although they had won back-to-back games heading into A&T.
But still, this A&T team is the first in the 93-year history of the football program to be better than 8-0.
There are only six remaining unbeatens among the 254 Division I teams in FBS and FCS: Alabama, Wisconsin, James Madison and A&T are 10-0; Miami and Central Florida are 9-0.
“This team has been a joy to be around. I think they’re underappreciated,” Broadway said. “You’re 9-0, man, playing for 10-0. You’ve got a great football team here. You’ve got great players. I don’t know if we appreciate what’s happening right now. We sort of take things for granted, on where we are, where this program’s come from and where we’re trying to go. There’s a comfort zone.”
This much is certain: The crowd at Aggie Stadium will be bigger Saturday.
A&T (10-0, 7-0) plays rival N.C. Central (7-3, 5-2) in the regular-season finale. An Aggies victory secures an unbeaten regular season and an outright MEAC title.
Tickets are still available.
“There’s quite a few left,” A&T’s ticket manager Kiana Taylor said today. “We’re sold out of reserved tickets, but we’re still selling general admission.”
Those tickets cost $39 for adults, $28 for non-A&T students ages 13-plus, and $17 for children ages 3-12.
