Post by Bornthrilla on Sept 1, 2010 21:36:55 GMT -5
www2.journalnow.com/content/2010/sep/01/battle-of-words-aggies-expect-to-whip-rams-again/sports-college/
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
BATTLE OF WORDS: Aggies expect to whip Rams again
By John Dell
JOURNAL REPORTER
GREENSBORO - Part of the charm of the Winston-Salem State-N.C. A&T rivalry is the verbal sparring of game week.
Offensive lineman Enoch Cohen, a senior from Winston-Salem, knows this as well as anyone. An anchor on A&T's offensive line, he smiles when asked what this game means.
"We've beaten Winston the last two years, and I'm really excited about whipping up on them this Saturday," Cohen said.
Let the trash talking begin.
Cohen went so far as to say that WSSU's first game, a 47-13 win over Virginia Union, wasn't even a "real game."
"I guess since they had their little warm-up game last week to get ready for us this week, we have ours to get ready for MEAC competition," Cohen said.
Another shot at the Rams, who are back in the CIAA and playing a Division II schedule.
Cohen isn't about to back off from his statements, mainly because he has turned into a team leader who takes that title seriously. He humbly accepted a role as a team captain in the spring and is living up to that standard.
Cohen, a former star at North Forsyth, is actually more excited about Saturday's game at Aggie Stadium because he'll be going against two former high-school teammates -- fullback Ced Hickman and defensive back Marvin Bohannon of WSSU.
"I used to block for Ced my sophomore year, and Marvin was a cornerback then, and he and Ced graduated the same year," Cohen said. "I'm looking forward to seeing those guys one more time on the football field, and to beat them and have bragging rights."
Cohen has a rule about playing against friends -- he cuts off all communication during game week to properly prepare -- and he might actually get the chance to block on Bohannon.
"I'm waiting for that first screen pass," Cohen said, "and I'll be looking for him."
Cohen and A&T have come a long way from Cohen's freshman season, when the Aggies finished 0-11. He's thankful for the turnaround under Alonzo Lee, who's in his second season as coach.
"He's an outstanding leader," Lee said of Cohen. "He's really come on here in his senior year on and off the field. I was just noticing them the other day in study hall, and he was doing some things there to help the younger guys out."
Cohen wouldn't name names but said he remembers the early years of his career, when team captains were nonchalant about their responsibilities.
"I've seen the down days when we had no leadership, and the captain was just a title," he said.
Cohen and his experienced linemates will need to be at the top of their games this season, especially with an untested quarterback. Terrence Webb, a redshirt sophomore, has been thrust into the starting job because of a knee injury to projected starter Lewis Kindle.
"I'm grateful every day, and I see Coach Lee and his coaching staff and the leaps we've made since my freshmen year … and we are competing," he said. "We are now in the upper echelon of the MEAC, so just to not be the beat-up crew in the MEAC is just a blessing."
Cohen, who is majoring in history education, plans to teach and coach football and is on target to graduate in May. From the way he's acting toward his younger teammates, it sounds as if his coaching career might have already started.
"I just want us to be successful this season, and I'll do whatever it takes," Cohen said.
jdell@wsjournal.com
727-4081
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
BATTLE OF WORDS: Aggies expect to whip Rams again
By John Dell
JOURNAL REPORTER
GREENSBORO - Part of the charm of the Winston-Salem State-N.C. A&T rivalry is the verbal sparring of game week.
Offensive lineman Enoch Cohen, a senior from Winston-Salem, knows this as well as anyone. An anchor on A&T's offensive line, he smiles when asked what this game means.
"We've beaten Winston the last two years, and I'm really excited about whipping up on them this Saturday," Cohen said.
Let the trash talking begin.
Cohen went so far as to say that WSSU's first game, a 47-13 win over Virginia Union, wasn't even a "real game."
"I guess since they had their little warm-up game last week to get ready for us this week, we have ours to get ready for MEAC competition," Cohen said.
Another shot at the Rams, who are back in the CIAA and playing a Division II schedule.
Cohen isn't about to back off from his statements, mainly because he has turned into a team leader who takes that title seriously. He humbly accepted a role as a team captain in the spring and is living up to that standard.
Cohen, a former star at North Forsyth, is actually more excited about Saturday's game at Aggie Stadium because he'll be going against two former high-school teammates -- fullback Ced Hickman and defensive back Marvin Bohannon of WSSU.
"I used to block for Ced my sophomore year, and Marvin was a cornerback then, and he and Ced graduated the same year," Cohen said. "I'm looking forward to seeing those guys one more time on the football field, and to beat them and have bragging rights."
Cohen has a rule about playing against friends -- he cuts off all communication during game week to properly prepare -- and he might actually get the chance to block on Bohannon.
"I'm waiting for that first screen pass," Cohen said, "and I'll be looking for him."
Cohen and A&T have come a long way from Cohen's freshman season, when the Aggies finished 0-11. He's thankful for the turnaround under Alonzo Lee, who's in his second season as coach.
"He's an outstanding leader," Lee said of Cohen. "He's really come on here in his senior year on and off the field. I was just noticing them the other day in study hall, and he was doing some things there to help the younger guys out."
Cohen wouldn't name names but said he remembers the early years of his career, when team captains were nonchalant about their responsibilities.
"I've seen the down days when we had no leadership, and the captain was just a title," he said.
Cohen and his experienced linemates will need to be at the top of their games this season, especially with an untested quarterback. Terrence Webb, a redshirt sophomore, has been thrust into the starting job because of a knee injury to projected starter Lewis Kindle.
"I'm grateful every day, and I see Coach Lee and his coaching staff and the leaps we've made since my freshmen year … and we are competing," he said. "We are now in the upper echelon of the MEAC, so just to not be the beat-up crew in the MEAC is just a blessing."
Cohen, who is majoring in history education, plans to teach and coach football and is on target to graduate in May. From the way he's acting toward his younger teammates, it sounds as if his coaching career might have already started.
"I just want us to be successful this season, and I'll do whatever it takes," Cohen said.
jdell@wsjournal.com
727-4081
! They calling a&t the under dogs in our own house. So i care less about the comments. No need to bite back if we bite first.