Aggies vs. NC Central Buzzards week

[aggieclt]

A&T hopes to get QB Lamar Raynard back for rivalry game at Central
By Jeff Mills [e-mail]

GREENSBORO — Lamar Raynard made 21 consecutive starts at quarterback for N.C. A&T, an impressive streak that ended over the weekend when Raynard sat out the game at Savannah State with a concussion.

Now comes archrival N.C. Central.

And now comes the question: Will Raynard play?

Definitely maybe.

“There’s absolutely a chance he’ll play this week,” A&T head coach Sam Washington said Monday. “… I’m assuming he’ll practice this week. We’ll see.

“Lamar’s getting better. He’s getting better. I don’t know exactly where he is in this (recovery) process, but he’s improving day by day. We’ll know more later (Monday) and tomorrow.”

No. 13/12 A&T (5-1 MEAC, 8-2) plays its regular-season finale at N.C. Central (2-3, 4-5) at 2 p.m. Saturday in Durham.

For the rest of the story: www.greensboro.com/sports/ncat/a-t-hopes-to-get-qb-lamar-raynard-back-for/article_c7d23216-ae25-50d6-8750-e3ab226cdae7.html

[oleschoolaggie]

big difference between coach washington and coach broadway. no way in hail coach broadway would "tip his hand" to the press nor opposing coaches even if he knew raynard would practice/play this week. broadway would rather his opponent to have to prepare for both qb's.

but coach washington is the absolute "opposite", which is cool as long as it works. before he even knows for sure, coach washington proclaims not maybe, but instead "absolutely" raynard will have a chance to play this week. now he didn't say raynard will play for sure, but he sure as heck wasn't far from saying that...

[bluehaze]

Well he just said today that Raynard hasn't practiced yet and they will see if he can practice tomorrow.

[Deleted]

Nov 13, 2018 14:18:53 GMT -5 oleschoolaggie said:

big difference between coach washington and coach broadway. no way in hail coach broadway would "tip his hand" to the press nor opposing coaches even if he knew raynard would practice/play this week. broadway would rather his opponent to have to prepare for both qb's.

but coach washington is the absolute "opposite", which is cool as long as it works. before he even knows for sure, coach washington proclaims not maybe, but instead "absolutely" raynard will have a chance to play this week. now he didn't say raynard will play for sure, but he sure as heck wasn't far from saying that...

Central knows to prepare for both QB’s anyway. Both will see the field Saturday.

It’s not some super-secret thing. Even UGA knew Tua could’ve played in the National Title Game last year.

[saabman]

Nov 13, 2018 14:18:53 GMT -5 oleschoolaggie said:

big difference between coach washington and coach broadway. no way in hail coach broadway would "tip his hand" to the press nor opposing coaches even if he knew raynard would practice/play this week. broadway would rather his opponent to have to prepare for both qb's.

but coach washington is the absolute "opposite", which is cool as long as it works. before he even knows for sure, coach washington proclaims not maybe, but instead "absolutely" raynard will have a chance to play this week. now he didn't say raynard will play for sure, but he sure as heck wasn't far from saying that...

If centrals coaches are worth there salt they will prepare for both QB's regardless of what coach Washington says . I applaud what coach Washington did it sends a message to Central that you better be well prepared because you have know idea one is coming at you and when . The head games are starting on both sides .

[oleschoolaggie]

Nov 13, 2018 15:05:48 GMT -5 westcoastaggie said:

Nov 13, 2018 14:18:53 GMT -5 oleschoolaggie said:

big difference between coach washington and coach broadway. no way in hail coach broadway would "tip his hand" to the press nor opposing coaches even if he knew raynard would practice/play this week. broadway would rather his opponent to have to prepare for both qb's.

but coach washington is the absolute "opposite", which is cool as long as it works. before he even knows for sure, coach washington proclaims not maybe, but instead "absolutely" raynard will have a chance to play this week. now he didn't say raynard will play for sure, but he sure as heck wasn't far from saying that...

Central knows to prepare for both QB’s anyway. Both will see the field Saturday.

It’s not some super-secret thing. Even UGA knew Tua could’ve played in the National Title Game last year.

true, they'd have to prepare for both qb's regardless. however, its a totally different "strategy" if carter plays the entire game. even coach washington mentioned that in the newspaper article.

hey, as long as our strategy works, i don't care whether we use washington's strategy over broadway's or vice versa. heck, but if it were me, i'd rather keep them "guessing" all week. shoot, raynard starting and carter only getting spot duty is a totally different "game plan" than carter playing the entire game.

if i'm the buzzards, i can think of some things i would do if carter played the entire game that i can't do if he only plays sparingly, but i'll let the buzzards figure that out for themselves. they'll get no free game planning from me...

[oleschoolaggie]

Nov 13, 2018 16:12:48 GMT -5 saabman said:

Nov 13, 2018 14:18:53 GMT -5 oleschoolaggie said:

big difference between coach washington and coach broadway. no way in hail coach broadway would "tip his hand" to the press nor opposing coaches even if he knew raynard would practice/play this week. broadway would rather his opponent to have to prepare for both qb's.

but coach washington is the absolute "opposite", which is cool as long as it works. before he even knows for sure, coach washington proclaims not maybe, but instead "absolutely" raynard will have a chance to play this week. now he didn't say raynard will play for sure, but he sure as heck wasn't far from saying that...

If centrals coaches are worth there salt they will prepare for both QB's regardless of what coach Washington says . I applaud what coach Washington did it sends a message to Central that you better be well prepared because you have know idea one is coming at you and when . The head games are starting on both sides .

i like to keep my opponents "guessing" whenever possible. but hey, whatever works to get the win is all i care about...

[aggieclt]

GAME NOTES: NCCU vs. NC A&T

THE GAME
North Carolina A&T State University "Aggies" vs. North Carolina Central University "Eagles"

THE KICKOFF
Saturday, November 17, 2018 – Kickoff at 2:00 p.m.

THE SITE
O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10,000 capacity/Mondoturf) - Durham, N.C.

THE RECORDS
N.C. Central (4-5 overall, 2-3 MEAC); #12/#13 N.C. A&T (8-2, 5-1 MEAC)

MEDIA COVERAGE
Audio: NCCU Sports Network "GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com (internet stream). Broadcast starts at 1:40 p.m.
Television: ESPN3 (live)/ESPNU (delay). Broadcast starts at 2:00 p.m. (Eric Clemons, play-by-play; Forrest Conoly, analyst).

QUICK HITS
• Saturday's contest will air live on ESPN3 and delayed on ESPNU.
• North Carolina A&T is ranked No. 12 in the STATS FCS Top 25 poll and No. 13 in the FCS Coaches Poll.
• North Carolina A&T leads the series 50-34-5, while NCCU has defeated the Aggies in three of the last four meetings.
• NCCU has an 11-4 record in the month of November since 2014.
• NCCU has a 3-1 record inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium this season.
• Against Bethune-Cookman on Thursday, Nov. 8, NCCU amassed 257 rushing yards, the Eagles' fifth straight contest with at least 200 ground yards.
• NCCU leads the conference and ranks 12th in the NCAA Division I-FCS in tackles for loss with an average of 8.0 per game.
• NCCU boasts the top red-zone offense in the MEAC and ranks ninth in FCS, scoring 90.9 percent of the time. The Eagles are 30-of-33 inside the 20-yard line, with 19 touchdowns and 11 field goals.
• NCCU senior defensive lineman Darius Royster owns 11.0 takedowns behind the line of scrimmage (4th in MEAC, 49th in FCS) and four forced fumbles (1st in MEAC, 5th in FCS).
• NCCU senior safety Davanta Reynolds, the Preseason MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the STATS FCS Preseason All-America Team (Second Team), ranks second in the MEAC with 74 tackles (8.2 per game).
• Since the start of the 2012 season, NCCU has scored 38 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including three defensive scores last year and two this season.
• NCCU is under the direction of first-year head coach Granville Eastman, who accepted the interim role after Jerry Mack left to be the offensive coordinator at Rice.
• NC A&T boasts the MEAC leaders in rushing (Marquell Cartwright, 892 yards), and tackles for loss and sacks (Darryl Johnson, 16.5 TFL/9.5 sacks).

For the rest of the story: nccueaglepride.com/news/2018/11/13/game-notes-nccufootball-vs-nc-a-t.aspx

[aggieclt]

A&T notebook: QB Lamar Raynard expected back at practice Wednesday

By Jeff Mills [e-mail]



GREENSBORO — N.C. A&T senior quarterback Lamar Raynard is expected to return to practice Wednesday.

But whether Raynard, last year’s MEAC player of the year, will be able to play in the 90th Aggie-Eagle rivalry game Saturday in Durham remains uncertain.

No. 13/12 A&T (5-1 MEAC, 8-2) wraps up its regular season at N.C. Central (2-3, 4-5) at 2 p.m. Saturday at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. With a win, the Aggies would clinch at least a share of the conference title.

A&T might have to go without Raynard, who suffered a concussion on a fourth-quarter sack in the homecoming game. He hasn’t practiced since then, and he did not play in the Aggies’ 28-12 victory at Savannah State.

“Lamar’s still out as of today,” A&T head coach Sam Washington said today. “We expect him back at practice (Wednesday). That’s going to be his first day out there, and it’ll be day by day as to whether he’ll play or not.”

For the rest of the story: www.greensboro.com/sports/ncat/a-t-notebook-qb-lamar-raynard-expected-back-at-practice/article_0a2e8cee-6658-51f2-810b-f926df75bbef.html

[AggieMac]

I didn't take it as tipping his hand. He does speak out more about internal affairs then Broadway, I'll give you that. I took it as if Raynard is healthy, hell yea he will play Saturday because he is our #1 QB. However we will see how he looks in practice. All that is saying is we don't know yet.

[trues]

Nov 13, 2018 16:46:23 GMT -5 oleschoolaggie said:

Nov 13, 2018 16:12:48 GMT -5 saabman said:

If centrals coaches are worth there salt they will prepare for both QB's regardless of what coach Washington says . I applaud what coach Washington did it sends a message to Central that you better be well prepared because you have know idea one is coming at you and when . The head games are starting on both sides .

i like to keep my opponents "guessing" whenever possible. but hey, whatever works to get the win is all i care about...

I hear you but in my opinion play your starting qb with no interruption once we get a big point spread then put carter in. You got to play your starting qb to show him we are riding on your back plus he has never played on NCCU turf.

[oleschoolaggie]

Nov 14, 2018 16:44:59 GMT -5 trues said:

Nov 13, 2018 16:46:23 GMT -5 oleschoolaggie said:

i like to keep my opponents "guessing" whenever possible. but hey, whatever works to get the win is all i care about...

I hear you but in my opinion play your starting qb with no interruption once we get a big point spread then put carter in. You got to play your starting qb to show him we are riding on your back plus he has never played on NCCU turf.

trues, that's not what i mean. i'm referring to coach washington disclosing the chances of raynard playing this weekend. if it were me, i wouldn't give the buzzards or the press any clue as to whether raynard will play or not. i'd leave them "guessing" whether raynard would play or not.

why leave them guessing? because that'll give them "extra" work to do. they'd have to prepare for raynard not playing at all, they'd have to prepare for raynard playing a limited amount, and they'd have to prepare for raynard playing the entire game. each one of those scenario's likely requires a different "game plan".

but when we give them the impression that he's gonna play outright, then the buzzards would essentially know which one of those scenario's to spend the most time preparing for. that's why i'd rather leave them "guessing"...

[aggierattler]

MEAC scenarios: A&T doesn't control its destiny but would win most tiebreakers

By Jeff Mills, Greensboro News-Record Sports
[e-mail]
Nov 14, 2018 @ 6:29 PM

GREENSBORO — Here’s the deal: N.C. A&T can clinch at least a share of the MEAC championship if the Aggies can win at N.C. Central on Saturday.

Victory is easy to understand.

“How about that?” A&T coach Sam Washington said. “I would say that’s a great way to start a coaching career. … I don’t know many coaches who can say they won a championship their first year coaching. … We’re not going to settle for anything less than a win. That’s the approach you have to take to the field.”

The No. 13/12 Aggies (5-1 MEAC, 8-2) play their regular-season finale at Central (2-3, 4-5) at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham at 2 p.m. Saturday.

But another rivalry game in faraway Orlando, The Florida Classic between Florida A&M (5-1, 6-4) and Bethune-Cookman (4-2, 6-5), is just as important to the Aggies as their own.

That’s where it gets complicated...

Read the rest of this article: www.greensboro.com/sports/ncat/meac-scenarios-a-t-doesn-t-control-its-destiny-but/article_ca202415-914a-5766-9d5e-d5aa5b412a38.html

[aggieclt]

Eagles try to play spoiler against rival

Published Thursday, November 15, 2018
by Bonitta Best

N.C. Central (4-5 overall, 2-3 MEAC) vs. N.C. A&T (8-2, 5-1)

Only one team still has a chance at the MEAC title, but so what? Records mean nothing when these two rivals collide.

The Aggies are seeking their second straight conference championship and trip to next month’s Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. A win by A&T, coupled with a loss by Florida A&M, would send the Aggies back to Atlanta. A FAMU victory over Bethune-Cookman and the Rattlers take the title.

If both teams win, they would be declared co-champions, but the Rattlers own the tiebreaker after defeating the Aggies earlier this season.

If A&T and FAMU loses, and South Carolina State wins its final two games, then the Aggies, Rattlers, Bethune and SCSU will be declared co-champions, and A&T wins the tiebreaker.

If the Aggies and FAMU lose, but the Bulldogs lose one of their final two games, A&T, FAMU and Bethune would be declared co-champions, and A&T, again, wins the tiebreaker. Got all that?

Even if the Aggies lose out on the conference title, they still have a shot at an at-large playoff berth.

The Eagles can play spoiler, and about the only thing that can soothe a disappointing season is to see your hated rival home sitting on the couch, too.

NCCU is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Bethune-Cookman for the second straight season and third in the past four years.

Aggies starting QB Lamar Raynard didn’t play against Savannah State last weekend due to injury, but coach Sam Washington said he was expected at practice this week. Even without Raynard, A&T has an effective backup in Kylil Carter, who has completed 53 percent of his passes.

The Aggies defense, which is No. 1 in the MEAC, and No. 5 in Division I-FCS, will be tested against dual QBs Naiil Ramadan and Chauncey Caldwell, and running back Isaiah Totten, who ran for 190 yards and two TDs against the Wildcats. The Eagles are ninth in Division I-FCS in red zone offense, scoring 91 percent of the time.

A&T’s defense is No. 3 nationally against the run, allowing just 82 yards per game, and No. 7 in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 14.8 points per game.

For the rest of the story: www.triangletribune.com/index.php?src=news&srctype=detail&category=Sports&refno=14861

[aggieclt]

This year's most-meaningful FCS rivalry games

Here are the most meaningful:

1. MEAC: Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M in Orlando (Florida Classic) and North Carolina A&T at North Carolina Central (Aggie-Eagle Classic)

What's happening in the MEAC is made even bigger by combining the two rivalry games. Florida A&M is seeking to end a seven-game losing streak to Bethune, and if the Rattlers do, they will gain the conference's bid to the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. N.C. A&T, which shares first place with FAMU, is alive for the bowl bid, but if it wins and FAMU does as well, the Aggies should still be postseason-bound on at-large bid to the FCS playoffs. Bethune would earn a share of the title if both FAMU and N.C. A&T lose this week - and South Carolina State would with that scenario and two more wins itself - but only FAMU and N.C. A&T are alive for the bowl bid.

For the rest of the story: www.fcs.football/cfb/story.asp?i=20181115102403893082304