Post by JayBee on Sept 10, 2007 12:27:17 GMT -5
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MORGAN'S READY FOR NEW ROLE
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LOS ANGELES – If indeed the most popular player on a football team is the backup quarterback, then Shelton Morgan just lost some of his popularity. The redshirt freshman out of Elizabeth City, N.C., will likely take over the reigns of the Aggies offense as the starting quarterback.
Morgan entered the Saturday’s game against Prairie View A&M late in the first half was the signal caller the rest of the day at the L.A. Coliseum. Saturday’s starter Herb Miller left the game in the first half with a knee injury. The extent of his injury is not known, but there is a good chance he could be the starter when Hampton arrives in Greensboro next week for N.C. A&T’s home opener.
“I thought he came in and did a pretty decent job,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Lee Fobbs. “We didn’t put too much on him. We gave him a package he’s comfortable with, but we’re going to have to extend that package a little bit more.”
The ironic twist is that Morgan’s first pass of the game came when Miller was healthy. On the Aggies first drive of the game, the Aggies ran a reverse to Morgan. After taking the hand-off from David “Speedy” Robinson, Morgan stopped, planted and threw a perfect pass to Miller who had leaked out on a pass route.
The play went for 18 yards. But by the second half there was no trickery in Morgan being in the game. He was the Aggies quarterback. His first pass of the second half misfired to Michael Caldwell. On the second drive of the second half, he did his best Miller impersonation with a 24-yard gain.
After losing the ball on a fumble on the third drive of the second half, he settled in and threw an outstanding pass to Giorgio Lowrance for a 32-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. He had another chance at a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter but he overthrew an open Chaz Dawson.
“When I saw Herb go down with his injury I was kind of shocked,’’ said Morgan. “I knew it was time to step up and do what I had to do. I believe the coaches have a lot of confidence in me.”
Before the season, Fobbs said he wanted Morgan to see game action so he could gain experience in case of an injury to Miller.
Fobbs didn’t think injury would come this early or that Morgan would be leading the offense as a starter, but after a year redshirting and learning the system, Morgan understands what the coaches want from him. If Morgan gets the starter next Saturday, he will be the Aggies ninth starting quarterback in the last five seasons.
“I believe if I have more confidence in myself going out there, I can be more of a vocal leader and my teammates will have confidence in me,’’ said Morgan. “I want my teammates to believe I can run this offense.”
MORGAN'S READY FOR NEW ROLE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOS ANGELES – If indeed the most popular player on a football team is the backup quarterback, then Shelton Morgan just lost some of his popularity. The redshirt freshman out of Elizabeth City, N.C., will likely take over the reigns of the Aggies offense as the starting quarterback.
Morgan entered the Saturday’s game against Prairie View A&M late in the first half was the signal caller the rest of the day at the L.A. Coliseum. Saturday’s starter Herb Miller left the game in the first half with a knee injury. The extent of his injury is not known, but there is a good chance he could be the starter when Hampton arrives in Greensboro next week for N.C. A&T’s home opener.
“I thought he came in and did a pretty decent job,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Lee Fobbs. “We didn’t put too much on him. We gave him a package he’s comfortable with, but we’re going to have to extend that package a little bit more.”
The ironic twist is that Morgan’s first pass of the game came when Miller was healthy. On the Aggies first drive of the game, the Aggies ran a reverse to Morgan. After taking the hand-off from David “Speedy” Robinson, Morgan stopped, planted and threw a perfect pass to Miller who had leaked out on a pass route.
The play went for 18 yards. But by the second half there was no trickery in Morgan being in the game. He was the Aggies quarterback. His first pass of the second half misfired to Michael Caldwell. On the second drive of the second half, he did his best Miller impersonation with a 24-yard gain.
After losing the ball on a fumble on the third drive of the second half, he settled in and threw an outstanding pass to Giorgio Lowrance for a 32-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. He had another chance at a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter but he overthrew an open Chaz Dawson.
“When I saw Herb go down with his injury I was kind of shocked,’’ said Morgan. “I knew it was time to step up and do what I had to do. I believe the coaches have a lot of confidence in me.”
Before the season, Fobbs said he wanted Morgan to see game action so he could gain experience in case of an injury to Miller.
Fobbs didn’t think injury would come this early or that Morgan would be leading the offense as a starter, but after a year redshirting and learning the system, Morgan understands what the coaches want from him. If Morgan gets the starter next Saturday, he will be the Aggies ninth starting quarterback in the last five seasons.
“I believe if I have more confidence in myself going out there, I can be more of a vocal leader and my teammates will have confidence in me,’’ said Morgan. “I want my teammates to believe I can run this offense.”
