Post by captaggie on Jan 20, 2005 20:59:22 GMT -5
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Rams' football schedule has big MEAC flavor
By John Dell
JOURNAL REPORTER
Winston-Salem State hasn't joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference yet, but it's moving in that direction with its football schedule.
The Rams will open the 2005 season against Division II power Catawba on Aug. 27, then will play back-to-back road games against MEAC teams, traveling to Howard on Sept. 3 and to S.C. State on Sept. 10.
The Rams will start their final CIAA season Sept. 17, with a home game against Elizabeth City State.
"As we began our transition into a Division I-AA schedule in football, we wanted to head in that direction," Athletics Director Percy Caldwell said.
"From a football standpoint, we wanted to be playing one or two Division I-AA teams during this exploratory year, and we were able to get two schools from the MEAC on our schedule."
Caldwell said that WSSU probably would have rival N.C. A&T on the schedule for 2006 and that he hopes to have WSSU playing a MEAC schedule by 2006 or '07, even though the Rams won't be eligible for MEAC championships before the 2009-10 academic year.
Caldwell said he hopes to generate more revenue for the athletics program and that scheduling teams such as N.C. A&T, Hampton and Norfolk State will help. Part of the reason, he said, is that all three are ex-CIAA schools and more recognizable to WSSU's alumni.
"I did some research going back to when we used to play A&T before I got here, and from a business standpoint, it just makes sense because we can make more money having them on the schedule," he said. "Before, it would take four or five home games to generate as much revenue as one game with A&T would."
"A lot of our alums and fans grew up with those schools. And I think getting back to playing those kinds of schools will help us as far as getting more fans to our home games."
Coach Kermit Blount, who was an assistant at Howard and S.C. State before becoming the head coach at WSSU, says that getting his team accustomed to MEAC competition will be beneficial.
"Our schedule is tougher than it was last year," Blount said. "So we are looking forward to what's ahead, and I think this definitely gets our feet wet when it comes to what we are going to expect in that conference."
The Rams, who were 4-6 last season, started winter conditioning this week and, with the schedule released, Blount said he can sense the players' excitement. "They really want to get back to where we were a few years ago," he said.
Blount is also close to hiring three assistants to replace defensive coordinator Greg Richardson, offensive-line coach Lamont Turner and linebackers coach James Braswell, who were fired after last season. It's the most turnover Blount has had on his staff in his 12 seasons.
"It's a pivotal time right now," Blount said. "But we hope to have it done in the next week or so. We want those assistant coaches in place for spring ball."
WSSU SCHEDULE
Aug. 27 Catawba 6 p.m.
Sept. 3 at Howard 6 p.m.
Sept. 10 at S.C. State 6 p.m.
Sept. 17 Elizabeth City 6 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Virginia Union 1 p.m.
Oct. 1 Fayetteville State 6 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Livingstone 6 p.m.
Oct. 15 N.C. Central 6 p.m.
Oct. 22 Johnson C. Smith 6 p.m.
Oct. 29 St. Augustine's 2 p.m.
Nov. 5 CIAA championship TBA - (At Durham)
Rams' football schedule has big MEAC flavor
By John Dell
JOURNAL REPORTER
Winston-Salem State hasn't joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference yet, but it's moving in that direction with its football schedule.
The Rams will open the 2005 season against Division II power Catawba on Aug. 27, then will play back-to-back road games against MEAC teams, traveling to Howard on Sept. 3 and to S.C. State on Sept. 10.
The Rams will start their final CIAA season Sept. 17, with a home game against Elizabeth City State.
"As we began our transition into a Division I-AA schedule in football, we wanted to head in that direction," Athletics Director Percy Caldwell said.
"From a football standpoint, we wanted to be playing one or two Division I-AA teams during this exploratory year, and we were able to get two schools from the MEAC on our schedule."
Caldwell said that WSSU probably would have rival N.C. A&T on the schedule for 2006 and that he hopes to have WSSU playing a MEAC schedule by 2006 or '07, even though the Rams won't be eligible for MEAC championships before the 2009-10 academic year.
Caldwell said he hopes to generate more revenue for the athletics program and that scheduling teams such as N.C. A&T, Hampton and Norfolk State will help. Part of the reason, he said, is that all three are ex-CIAA schools and more recognizable to WSSU's alumni.
"I did some research going back to when we used to play A&T before I got here, and from a business standpoint, it just makes sense because we can make more money having them on the schedule," he said. "Before, it would take four or five home games to generate as much revenue as one game with A&T would."
"A lot of our alums and fans grew up with those schools. And I think getting back to playing those kinds of schools will help us as far as getting more fans to our home games."
Coach Kermit Blount, who was an assistant at Howard and S.C. State before becoming the head coach at WSSU, says that getting his team accustomed to MEAC competition will be beneficial.
"Our schedule is tougher than it was last year," Blount said. "So we are looking forward to what's ahead, and I think this definitely gets our feet wet when it comes to what we are going to expect in that conference."
The Rams, who were 4-6 last season, started winter conditioning this week and, with the schedule released, Blount said he can sense the players' excitement. "They really want to get back to where we were a few years ago," he said.
Blount is also close to hiring three assistants to replace defensive coordinator Greg Richardson, offensive-line coach Lamont Turner and linebackers coach James Braswell, who were fired after last season. It's the most turnover Blount has had on his staff in his 12 seasons.
"It's a pivotal time right now," Blount said. "But we hope to have it done in the next week or so. We want those assistant coaches in place for spring ball."
WSSU SCHEDULE
Aug. 27 Catawba 6 p.m.
Sept. 3 at Howard 6 p.m.
Sept. 10 at S.C. State 6 p.m.
Sept. 17 Elizabeth City 6 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Virginia Union 1 p.m.
Oct. 1 Fayetteville State 6 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Livingstone 6 p.m.
Oct. 15 N.C. Central 6 p.m.
Oct. 22 Johnson C. Smith 6 p.m.
Oct. 29 St. Augustine's 2 p.m.
Nov. 5 CIAA championship TBA - (At Durham)