Post by bluehaze on Sept 28, 2004 10:51:34 GMT -5
www.news-record.com/sports/college/aggiefb_092804.htm
Conference play means more intensity
9-28-04
By Bill Hass Staff Writer
News & Record
GREENSBORO -- It's common for coaches and players to say that a football team's intensity picks up when conference play starts.
That's the case for N.C. A&T, which begins defense of last season's MEAC championship Saturday at Norfolk State.
So what does more intensity mean to the Aggies?
"Running backs run harder, quarterbacks read better, defenses blitz more," said defensive back James McCoy. "Everybody's level of play is going to step up. We've just got to get in the playbooks harder and study more."
The Aggies went 2-2 during their nonconference schedule, but the next seven games will determine whether or not they return to the Division I-AA playoffs.
"There's more at stake," said A&T coach George Small, "and everyone on both sides of the ball realizes that."
INJURy report: Small said running back Micheaux Hollingsworth (ankle) and quarterback Marshall Glenn (shoulder) are questionable.
In fact, Small would prefer to "somehow, some way" get by Norfolk State without playing either one.
"They're banged up pretty good right now," Small said. "We're just starting conference play, and you really don't have a lot of room to play with the injuries."
"BLUE DEATH?" A&T's defense hasn't yet played up to its "Blue Death" nickname, according to McCoy.
How will he know when it reaches that level?
"No points on the scoreboard, no 100-yard rushers, no one- or two-point victories and no big plays," McCoy said.
BRIEFLY: Small said quarterback Adrian Moye "handled himself well" in Saturday's 19-17 win over Elon. Moye hit two big plays, an 84-yard screen pass to Hollingsworth for a score and a 49-yard completion to Brandon Trusty to set up another touchdown. ... Norfolk State has lost 13 consecutive games. The Spartans are 5-24 against A&T, including 0-6 in MEAC games.
Conference play means more intensity
9-28-04
By Bill Hass Staff Writer
News & Record
GREENSBORO -- It's common for coaches and players to say that a football team's intensity picks up when conference play starts.
That's the case for N.C. A&T, which begins defense of last season's MEAC championship Saturday at Norfolk State.
So what does more intensity mean to the Aggies?
"Running backs run harder, quarterbacks read better, defenses blitz more," said defensive back James McCoy. "Everybody's level of play is going to step up. We've just got to get in the playbooks harder and study more."
The Aggies went 2-2 during their nonconference schedule, but the next seven games will determine whether or not they return to the Division I-AA playoffs.
"There's more at stake," said A&T coach George Small, "and everyone on both sides of the ball realizes that."
INJURy report: Small said running back Micheaux Hollingsworth (ankle) and quarterback Marshall Glenn (shoulder) are questionable.
In fact, Small would prefer to "somehow, some way" get by Norfolk State without playing either one.
"They're banged up pretty good right now," Small said. "We're just starting conference play, and you really don't have a lot of room to play with the injuries."
"BLUE DEATH?" A&T's defense hasn't yet played up to its "Blue Death" nickname, according to McCoy.
How will he know when it reaches that level?
"No points on the scoreboard, no 100-yard rushers, no one- or two-point victories and no big plays," McCoy said.
BRIEFLY: Small said quarterback Adrian Moye "handled himself well" in Saturday's 19-17 win over Elon. Moye hit two big plays, an 84-yard screen pass to Hollingsworth for a score and a 49-yard completion to Brandon Trusty to set up another touchdown. ... Norfolk State has lost 13 consecutive games. The Spartans are 5-24 against A&T, including 0-6 in MEAC games.
