After 0-11 season, Aggies say they have new attitu

[VA's Finest]

N&R article from 8/19

www.newsandrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070819/NRSTAFF/308190013/-1/SPORTS10

It's a decent read.

After 0-11 season, Aggies say they have new attitude By Rob Daniels
Staff Writer
Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007 3:00 am
n.c. a&T SEASON OPENER
Who: N.C. A&T at Winston-Salem State
When: 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 1
Where: Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem GREENSBORO -- Winless seasons will make four-letter words fly off the tongues of frustrated coaches. And as he prepares for his second season, N.C. A&T coach Lee Fobbs has a favorite.

"The most important thing," he said, "is that we're a team."

While August is football's universally recognized month of unrestrained optimism, that attitude needs to mean more to the Aggies than to almost any team around.

So far, the positive vibes certainly seem legitimate. There are three new assistant coaches, a new strength and conditioning coach, a half-dozen transfers of note and a compulsion to erase 2006.

"I feel we're so far ahead of where we were last year," Fobbs said. "We were not a team last year. I don't think at any point that we exemplified a team. I had to look at everything to get that four-letter word working."

Football isn't necessarily a pleasant pursuit, even when you're winning. The equipment's heavy, the weather's oppressively hot for the first few weeks and pain never takes a week off.

But when you're losing by 30 points a game? That's the toughest test, and Fobbs said some Aggies failed it. They were late to practice. Sometimes they didn't show up at all.

Coaches grew weary of substandard effort.

"Last year, people came to practice when they wanted to," quarterback Herb Miller said. "They thought we were already an established team, and we weren't.

"Now we've figured out that we are the underdogs and we have to work harder than anybody else in the country. So we're out there picking people up. We come to practice together, and we leave practice together. We're more of a cohesive unit instead of a bunch of individuals."

Miller epitomized the dedication. He suffered two torn knee ligaments against Howard on Oct. 21 and was presumed out for eight months. He made it back in four and completed spring practice successfully, pleasantly surprising the training staff and clearly impressing his teammates. How were they going to take it easy now?

The Aggies, 0-11 last year, now say that was a trend-setter. The arrival of new coaches Damon Frenchers (defensive line), Mack Vincent (wide receivers) and Lee Wilbanks (outside linebackers) kept the momentum going, and the zeal hasn't been zapped yet.

"It was unfortunate what happened -- for everybody," wide receiver Curtis Walls said. "I'm sure no one on our team ever experienced what we experienced last year, but we came back willing to work and ready to work."

Sure, it's early. It's earlier than early. The season opener at Winston-Salem State is nearly two weeks away. But school starts Monday, and that means no more than one practice per day.

The youngest team in the MEAC is a bit more experienced, and the influx of transfer talent at running back, defensive back and defensive line has created a sense of immediacy that didn't always exist in Fobbs' first season.

"From the scout team to your starters, you have to have that competitive drive and the desire to win," Walls said. "And it's apparent now."

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or [e-mail]

[Bornthrilla]

"Last year, people came to practice when they wanted to," quarterback Herb Miller said. "They thought we were already an established team, and we weren't.

"Now we've figured out that we are the underdogs and we have to work harder than anybody else in the country. So we're out there picking people up. We come to practice together, and we leave practice together. We're more of a cohesive unit instead of a bunch of individuals."

Sounds like he was talking about Japan and the other crew of maelcontents. LOL!

I guess Fobbs followed my advice and made some additions by subtraction.

[Bornthrilla]

BTW: This is why I say Small destroyed our program. The culture he created while at A&T was conducive to making excuses, pointing the finger at others, and accepting defeat.

Fobbs has his work cut out for him to change all that.

[Bornthrilla]

And here's a picture of News & Record beat writer Rob Daniels, if you ever wondered:



He's the guy not wearing corn rolls.

[aggiejazz]

admin said:

BTW: This is why I say Small destroyed our program. The culture he created while at A&T was conductive to making excuses, pointing the finger at others, and accepting defeat.

Fobbs has his work cut out for him to change all that.

When will the excuse "this is Small's fault" going to expire?

Remember, even though Small's was a very bad coach in your opinion, his team were in at least 9 of the 11 games in the fourth quarter. Last year just about all of A&T's games were pretty much decided as a loss by halftime and all of A&T's game were decided as a loss before the third quarter ended.

People will give Fobbs a pass for his first year. Hiss second year, I along with others are looking forward to seeing the team fighting for a win in a few close game late in the fourth quarter and "It's Small's fault" be laid to rest.

[Gator]

Close games or not, they still LOST! I think I understand where Alexander is coming from.

[aggiejazz]

gator2 said:

Close games or not, they still LOST! I think I understand where Alexander is coming from.

I will see if you are consistent with this sentiment at years' end.

[4XLAGGIE]

Let that Small's sh*t go.