Post by Aggie One on Sept 2, 2011 17:42:57 GMT -5
Starting All Over Again is Going to be Rough
by Craig R. Turner
bluedeathvalley.com
Since the inception of Bluedeathvalley.com back in early 2003 as a chance to give N.C.A&T fans and supporters a world aide open fan forum for N.C. A&T football and A&T athletics in general, we have traditionally put out to special editions from our staff, one specifically geared toward those fans that don’t have access to the local media or the university’s press releases to preview personnel moves and changes in the program in the offseason.
The other main column was to relay to the fan base any changes in strategies, coaching adjustments that head coaches and their coordinators within their staff have been working on that they felt should be understood by alumni and fan base that would make a difference when they walked into Aggie Stadium to watch the Aggies take in an opponent.
This year is going to be the exception to the rule since what alumni and fans are witnessing is total rebirth of not A&T football but how athletics is going to be treated and run by an administration that intends to use the idea implementing proven successful data-driven performance based business models within college athletics.
It showed signs of change began late last fall with the termination of Alonzo Lee’s staff, then the termination of Wheeler Brown as Athletic Director, and systematic removal of individuals within the compliance field, the training field and the list keeps growing each passing month in retooling the face and shape of the department.
The part most understandable from the average fan’s prospective was the formation of the new Aggie Athletic Foundation (AAF) which replaces both the Aggie and the Victory Clubs as separate funding raising entities into a single body that can, if probably guided, should produce massive marketing clout with considerably less overhead and internal bickering while still assembling the very best of leadership skills and in financial fund raising strategies of both groups.
The fact of the matter is that both of these basic premises are in a state of flux and it would be the height of arrogance and stupidity on my part to try lay out the pieces to a never ending story that changes every day.
Now back to football. With a roster that has not been finalized to the public or media, even trying to decipher basic lineups, depth charts and such is impractical at this point and hugely foolish exercise in wasted time.
Just based upon the workouts that have been opened by Coach Broadway, I can make some general statements of my own based on my observations.
1) A&T will have strong offensive unit that will able play either smash mouth or horse race offense. The Aggies are huge along the front line, far more speed than they would admit to at WR and TE, very deep at running back and have a superb red shirted sophomore QB who looks to be as good if not better than his press clippings. Once their timing is established in game conditions as a unit, they will be as potent and entertaining of an offense you will want to watch.
2) Defensively, A&T is not big by any stretch but not tiny either. They are thin in middle. I would describe them as troublesome nuisance if I were to line up against them and try to a “cat and mouse” game with them because of what they can do with their speed and how many different ways they can mix their “Tweener” personnel.
This is the key – you will have to run the ball directly at them consistently. I would not as a head coach want play catch-up against them especially after halftime because the offense will continue to score points throughout the game. One thing is for sure; you don’t want get behind and be forced to have throw against this record setting secondary every other down.
3) The Kicking Game. Practice versus Game. If we are talking about place kicking and punting carrying from the practice field to game day. I would say no problem; we should hit 50 YD field goals regularly and keep our opponents pinned down deep in their own territory most of the night. But when you have to depend on freshmen nothing is certain.
****************************************************
Coach Broadway, has you may have noticed, isn’t a very talkative coach and shuns the spotlight and that is a noticeable point that is just fine by me.
His methods worked in turning things around NCCU from an annual doormat to a national champion and what was then struggling Grambling program that couldn’t out of its own division to suddenly snatch a couple of SWAC titles. I like the fact he let's his teams speak on the field with wins not a lot of flowing pros.
A&T is opening with the University of Virginia at Lynchburg (VUL) under veteran Coach Willard Bailey whose last stop was at St. Paul’s which disbanded football just weeks after signing to play A&T this past spring.
Well depending upon which paper you read, we are playing something between a former D-2 St. Paul type college team or semi-pro arena football team with some of their players that will out there Saturday night will pushing their mid to late twenties and not eligible by standard of real organized college athletic governing body.
I will take Rod Broadway, his organizational style, and his outstanding coaching staff over the local YMCA sandlot football team just up the river every time.
Prediction:
N.C. A&T - 61
VUL - 6
by Craig R. Turner
bluedeathvalley.com
Since the inception of Bluedeathvalley.com back in early 2003 as a chance to give N.C.A&T fans and supporters a world aide open fan forum for N.C. A&T football and A&T athletics in general, we have traditionally put out to special editions from our staff, one specifically geared toward those fans that don’t have access to the local media or the university’s press releases to preview personnel moves and changes in the program in the offseason.
The other main column was to relay to the fan base any changes in strategies, coaching adjustments that head coaches and their coordinators within their staff have been working on that they felt should be understood by alumni and fan base that would make a difference when they walked into Aggie Stadium to watch the Aggies take in an opponent.
This year is going to be the exception to the rule since what alumni and fans are witnessing is total rebirth of not A&T football but how athletics is going to be treated and run by an administration that intends to use the idea implementing proven successful data-driven performance based business models within college athletics.
It showed signs of change began late last fall with the termination of Alonzo Lee’s staff, then the termination of Wheeler Brown as Athletic Director, and systematic removal of individuals within the compliance field, the training field and the list keeps growing each passing month in retooling the face and shape of the department.
The part most understandable from the average fan’s prospective was the formation of the new Aggie Athletic Foundation (AAF) which replaces both the Aggie and the Victory Clubs as separate funding raising entities into a single body that can, if probably guided, should produce massive marketing clout with considerably less overhead and internal bickering while still assembling the very best of leadership skills and in financial fund raising strategies of both groups.
The fact of the matter is that both of these basic premises are in a state of flux and it would be the height of arrogance and stupidity on my part to try lay out the pieces to a never ending story that changes every day.
Now back to football. With a roster that has not been finalized to the public or media, even trying to decipher basic lineups, depth charts and such is impractical at this point and hugely foolish exercise in wasted time.
Just based upon the workouts that have been opened by Coach Broadway, I can make some general statements of my own based on my observations.
1) A&T will have strong offensive unit that will able play either smash mouth or horse race offense. The Aggies are huge along the front line, far more speed than they would admit to at WR and TE, very deep at running back and have a superb red shirted sophomore QB who looks to be as good if not better than his press clippings. Once their timing is established in game conditions as a unit, they will be as potent and entertaining of an offense you will want to watch.
2) Defensively, A&T is not big by any stretch but not tiny either. They are thin in middle. I would describe them as troublesome nuisance if I were to line up against them and try to a “cat and mouse” game with them because of what they can do with their speed and how many different ways they can mix their “Tweener” personnel.
This is the key – you will have to run the ball directly at them consistently. I would not as a head coach want play catch-up against them especially after halftime because the offense will continue to score points throughout the game. One thing is for sure; you don’t want get behind and be forced to have throw against this record setting secondary every other down.
3) The Kicking Game. Practice versus Game. If we are talking about place kicking and punting carrying from the practice field to game day. I would say no problem; we should hit 50 YD field goals regularly and keep our opponents pinned down deep in their own territory most of the night. But when you have to depend on freshmen nothing is certain.
****************************************************
Coach Broadway, has you may have noticed, isn’t a very talkative coach and shuns the spotlight and that is a noticeable point that is just fine by me.
His methods worked in turning things around NCCU from an annual doormat to a national champion and what was then struggling Grambling program that couldn’t out of its own division to suddenly snatch a couple of SWAC titles. I like the fact he let's his teams speak on the field with wins not a lot of flowing pros.
A&T is opening with the University of Virginia at Lynchburg (VUL) under veteran Coach Willard Bailey whose last stop was at St. Paul’s which disbanded football just weeks after signing to play A&T this past spring.
Well depending upon which paper you read, we are playing something between a former D-2 St. Paul type college team or semi-pro arena football team with some of their players that will out there Saturday night will pushing their mid to late twenties and not eligible by standard of real organized college athletic governing body.
I will take Rod Broadway, his organizational style, and his outstanding coaching staff over the local YMCA sandlot football team just up the river every time.
Prediction:
N.C. A&T - 61
VUL - 6
