Post by Bornthrilla on Jun 24, 2005 13:53:20 GMT -5
Any suggestions?
www.bluedeathvalley.com/dynamicduo.htm
www.bluedeathvalley.com/dynamicduo.htm
Wednesday, April 23, 2005
Dynamic Duo:
Sweeney and Speight are ready to have opponents seeing double in 2005
By K. Semaj Marsh
bluedeathvalley.com
GREENSBORO-- SMU had the Pony Express. Virginia Tech had the Untouchables.
And A&T?
Well, so far, a catchy nickname hasn’t been given to the new Aggie running back duo of Quante Speight and Brandon Sweeney. But if the two players live up to lofty expectations next season, a clever pseudonym will definitely be in order.
Already this spring, fans were imagining the possibilities of having both rushers in the same backfield- a combination that could help rejuvenate an A&T ground attack that struggled in 2004.
Sweeney, a 6-1, 180 lb junior who has been clocked at 4.35 in the 40, is the speed demon of the two. He possesses quick feet and the acceleration to turn the corner. Give him just one glimmer of daylight and he can break off a long gain.
Speight, a 5-10, 190 lb sophomore who runs about a 4.5, is the shiftier, more punishing back. He’s blessed with great vision, uncanny instincts and true grit. He can be both a bulldozer in the trenches or a ballerina in the open field.
Both running backs possess a wide array of juke moves and the ability to make defenders look silly. Both play bigger than what their size would suggest and fight for additional yardage after contact. Together, the two hope to provide A&T with its most potent one-two punch since the Reggie Shuford and Michael Basnight days.
“He’s got the same strengths I’ve got,” said Speight about Sweeney. “He has the speed, the quickness- he’s got a lot of agility. And he’s going to surprise you with his power. They have yet to see the power that we’ve got. We’ve been working so hard in the weight room. Everybody thinks we’re just scat-backs or something and that we’re easy to get down, but we’re two unique backs.”
Their prowess on the gridiron is only bolstered by the fact that the two share a dorm room-- and a close friendship off the field.
“It’s going to be better than ever with me and my roommate here,” said Speight about A&T’s running game in 2005. “He pushes me and I push him”
“Yeah, that’s my homeboy right there,” Sweeney agreed. “He came in last year when I was sitting out. No one really knew him like that but he came in as a freshman and made things happen.”
Although no one is yet placing them on the same level as Southern Methodist’s legendary backfield of Eric Dickerson and Craig James or the brilliant Virginia Tech tandem of Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones, it’s clear that Speight and Sweeney have the talent to do big things for the blue and gold next season.
This spring, fans got their first introduction to Sweeney, who sat out all of 2004 after transferring in from Clarion University. He was an immediate standout in practice, using his blazing speed to get into secondary and outrun defenders.
Speight, who suffered a major foot injury in the middle of last season, was held out of contact drills until the final part of camp. His absent gave Sweeny an extended chance to showcase his ability, and soon the newcomer began to distance himself from the other backs in camp.
“I describe myself as an elusive back,” said Sweeney who ran for 941 yards and 5 touchdowns in two years at Clarion . “I’m more of a speedy type of back- you know, I like to get to the corner and try to turn it up-field. I can lower my shoulder when I have to, but most of the time I just try to make moves and get to the endzone.”
In the spring game, Sweeney earned the starting nod with the first team offense and managed to break off several runs of more than 10 yards. Speight, who by then was back to nearly 100 percent, was the first running back off the bench. He too had several nice runs and displayed some of the talent that captivated fans last season. As the game went on, both backs would combine to get the lion’s share of the carries and provide the majority of the rushing highlights.
Their presence on the field represented a major upgrade over the running game A&T fielded in 2004, which was ravished by injuries and was often a non-factor. For the season, the Aggies only averaged only 3.3 yards per carry and scored only 8 rushing touchdowns.
Those stats would look even more anemic if it wasn’t for Speight, who rose through the depth charts and became an instant fan favorite last season.
When he arrived at A&T, Speight brought with him a great deal of fanfare after breaking most the rushing records at Southeast Halifax- the same high school former Aggie rushing great Maurice Smith once starred at. However, despite being a standout in the preseason camp, Speight found himself buried on the depth chart behind seniors Micheux Hollingsworth and Chris Jones when the season began. It was only after a spree of injuries suddenly sidelined the two upperclassmen that Speight finally got his chance to shine. It was a chance he would make the most of it.
In the second half of a blowout lost to Wake Forest, Speight entered the contest and was one of the team’s few bright spots. He finished with a team-high 67 yards rushing on 10 carries, winning the respect of both the Aggie and Deacon fans alike with his toughness and elusiveness.
Two weeks later he would have his coming-out party in the homecoming loss to Morgan State. In that game he rushed for a team-high 98 yards on 10 carries, including two spectacular touchdown runs. Unfortunately his rise to stardom would he be curtailed the very next week when he suffered a broken foot against Del State. It would cause him to miss the rest of the season.
Never one to stay knocked down, Speight channeled his disappointment into motivation. Since then, he had dedicated himself to rehab and is now determined to regain his form of old.
“I plan to pick up where I left off,” said Speight who finished with 281 yards and two touchdowns last season. “ But I’m going to be a whole lot better.”
During his time away from the field, Speight says he’s gotten stronger, both physically and mentally. In addition to hitting the weight room and putting on some extra bulk, he also has spent time watching film, become more of a student of the game.
“I improved a lot in knowing about the defense and where they are going to (line up),” he said.
Now that he’s almost back at full strength and Sweeney has joined the fold, the outlook for 2005 appears much brighter. The only question is will the competitive fire that burns inside both players eventually drive a wedge between their friendship.
Both Sweeny and Speight are confident that’s something they won't let happen.
“He motivates me and I motivate him,” Sweeney said. “We just try to stay positive. It’s not really a battle, it’s like we’re just trying to help the team win. So whichever one of us is producing that who’s going to get the ball.
Dynamic Duo:
Sweeney and Speight are ready to have opponents seeing double in 2005
By K. Semaj Marsh
bluedeathvalley.com
GREENSBORO-- SMU had the Pony Express. Virginia Tech had the Untouchables.
And A&T?
Well, so far, a catchy nickname hasn’t been given to the new Aggie running back duo of Quante Speight and Brandon Sweeney. But if the two players live up to lofty expectations next season, a clever pseudonym will definitely be in order.
Already this spring, fans were imagining the possibilities of having both rushers in the same backfield- a combination that could help rejuvenate an A&T ground attack that struggled in 2004.
Sweeney, a 6-1, 180 lb junior who has been clocked at 4.35 in the 40, is the speed demon of the two. He possesses quick feet and the acceleration to turn the corner. Give him just one glimmer of daylight and he can break off a long gain.
Speight, a 5-10, 190 lb sophomore who runs about a 4.5, is the shiftier, more punishing back. He’s blessed with great vision, uncanny instincts and true grit. He can be both a bulldozer in the trenches or a ballerina in the open field.
Both running backs possess a wide array of juke moves and the ability to make defenders look silly. Both play bigger than what their size would suggest and fight for additional yardage after contact. Together, the two hope to provide A&T with its most potent one-two punch since the Reggie Shuford and Michael Basnight days.
“He’s got the same strengths I’ve got,” said Speight about Sweeney. “He has the speed, the quickness- he’s got a lot of agility. And he’s going to surprise you with his power. They have yet to see the power that we’ve got. We’ve been working so hard in the weight room. Everybody thinks we’re just scat-backs or something and that we’re easy to get down, but we’re two unique backs.”
Their prowess on the gridiron is only bolstered by the fact that the two share a dorm room-- and a close friendship off the field.
“It’s going to be better than ever with me and my roommate here,” said Speight about A&T’s running game in 2005. “He pushes me and I push him”
“Yeah, that’s my homeboy right there,” Sweeney agreed. “He came in last year when I was sitting out. No one really knew him like that but he came in as a freshman and made things happen.”
Although no one is yet placing them on the same level as Southern Methodist’s legendary backfield of Eric Dickerson and Craig James or the brilliant Virginia Tech tandem of Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones, it’s clear that Speight and Sweeney have the talent to do big things for the blue and gold next season.
This spring, fans got their first introduction to Sweeney, who sat out all of 2004 after transferring in from Clarion University. He was an immediate standout in practice, using his blazing speed to get into secondary and outrun defenders.
Speight, who suffered a major foot injury in the middle of last season, was held out of contact drills until the final part of camp. His absent gave Sweeny an extended chance to showcase his ability, and soon the newcomer began to distance himself from the other backs in camp.
“I describe myself as an elusive back,” said Sweeney who ran for 941 yards and 5 touchdowns in two years at Clarion . “I’m more of a speedy type of back- you know, I like to get to the corner and try to turn it up-field. I can lower my shoulder when I have to, but most of the time I just try to make moves and get to the endzone.”
In the spring game, Sweeney earned the starting nod with the first team offense and managed to break off several runs of more than 10 yards. Speight, who by then was back to nearly 100 percent, was the first running back off the bench. He too had several nice runs and displayed some of the talent that captivated fans last season. As the game went on, both backs would combine to get the lion’s share of the carries and provide the majority of the rushing highlights.
Their presence on the field represented a major upgrade over the running game A&T fielded in 2004, which was ravished by injuries and was often a non-factor. For the season, the Aggies only averaged only 3.3 yards per carry and scored only 8 rushing touchdowns.
Those stats would look even more anemic if it wasn’t for Speight, who rose through the depth charts and became an instant fan favorite last season.
When he arrived at A&T, Speight brought with him a great deal of fanfare after breaking most the rushing records at Southeast Halifax- the same high school former Aggie rushing great Maurice Smith once starred at. However, despite being a standout in the preseason camp, Speight found himself buried on the depth chart behind seniors Micheux Hollingsworth and Chris Jones when the season began. It was only after a spree of injuries suddenly sidelined the two upperclassmen that Speight finally got his chance to shine. It was a chance he would make the most of it.
In the second half of a blowout lost to Wake Forest, Speight entered the contest and was one of the team’s few bright spots. He finished with a team-high 67 yards rushing on 10 carries, winning the respect of both the Aggie and Deacon fans alike with his toughness and elusiveness.
Two weeks later he would have his coming-out party in the homecoming loss to Morgan State. In that game he rushed for a team-high 98 yards on 10 carries, including two spectacular touchdown runs. Unfortunately his rise to stardom would he be curtailed the very next week when he suffered a broken foot against Del State. It would cause him to miss the rest of the season.
Never one to stay knocked down, Speight channeled his disappointment into motivation. Since then, he had dedicated himself to rehab and is now determined to regain his form of old.
“I plan to pick up where I left off,” said Speight who finished with 281 yards and two touchdowns last season. “ But I’m going to be a whole lot better.”
During his time away from the field, Speight says he’s gotten stronger, both physically and mentally. In addition to hitting the weight room and putting on some extra bulk, he also has spent time watching film, become more of a student of the game.
“I improved a lot in knowing about the defense and where they are going to (line up),” he said.
Now that he’s almost back at full strength and Sweeney has joined the fold, the outlook for 2005 appears much brighter. The only question is will the competitive fire that burns inside both players eventually drive a wedge between their friendship.
Both Sweeny and Speight are confident that’s something they won't let happen.
“He motivates me and I motivate him,” Sweeney said. “We just try to stay positive. It’s not really a battle, it’s like we’re just trying to help the team win. So whichever one of us is producing that who’s going to get the ball.
