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Post by epmdaggie on Mar 5, 2009 11:26:35 GMT -5
he was a late qualifier. he just got a test score that qualified him, thats why he didnt sign on signing day. so expect to see him on opening day in that BLUE & GOLD running away from ram defenders!!!
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Post by Bornthrilla on Mar 5, 2009 11:28:29 GMT -5
Good for us.
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Post by aggieman007 on Mar 5, 2009 11:43:20 GMT -5
GOOD NEWS!!!!
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Post by Aggie One on Mar 5, 2009 12:22:10 GMT -5
Well at least one question about the General is no longer in doubt. The man can recruit against anyone. This is by far the best class we have signed since 1990.
Raper is a huge big time talent on everyone's radar. The official title of "Tailback U" has suddenly returned to A&T in just matter of weeks.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Mar 5, 2009 12:30:30 GMT -5
Wow. That's a statement.
What about the Doug Brown class in 2002? Or that 2001 class that included the infamous Alan Jones?
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Post by Aggie One on Mar 5, 2009 12:34:15 GMT -5
I stand by that assessment. The 1990 class by Bill Hayes was the best ever (back-to-back MEAC titles out of that class).
This one may be slightly better because of more depth and talent at QB, RB, DL, and the kicking game. Its definitely on par with that one.
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pitbull
Full Member
2008,2009, 2010 MEAC Football Champions: A sleeping giant has just been awakened!!!!
Posts: 187
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Post by pitbull on Mar 5, 2009 12:49:42 GMT -5
Well at least one question about the General is no longer in doubt. The man can recruit against anyone. This is by far the best class we have signed since 1990. Raper is a huge big time talent on everyone's radar. The official title of "Tailback U" has suddenly returned to A&T in just matter of weeks. Dem damn Aggies ....We almost had this kid .....You guys got a good one.....Congrats...
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oleschoolaggie
Official BDF member
2009 Poster of the Year, 2009 Most Knowledgeable Poster
Posts: 24,161
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Mar 5, 2009 12:51:55 GMT -5
wow! a lot of us were concerned about the offensive side of the ball, but lee is bringing in some serious studs at the skill positions. and he's bringing in "plenty" of speed! wow!
i'm thoroughly impressed with the qb, lewis kindle out of atlanta and the running back, dontavious payne from tallahassee is a friggin' human highlight film! and now we add this kid raper!
whew! i can't wait 'til the season begins!! hail, if they're having a full blown spring game this year, i'll be there...
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Post by pj on Mar 5, 2009 13:58:25 GMT -5
WOW, I love this! Will we have "6 yards & a cloud of dust"! Along with a solid D"? LOL
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Post by aggieborn5 on Mar 5, 2009 14:03:02 GMT -5
You beat me to the punch Thilla...This is shaping up to be a good class but it doesn't compare to the 2002 class. I wonder what Bill Hayes would say.......hmmmm?
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Post by aggieborn5 on Mar 5, 2009 14:04:08 GMT -5
Bluedeathvalley.com: Well, let’s move on to a somewhat darker subject and talk a little about your final season in 2002. In 1999 you fielded arguably the most successful team of your career, which went undefeated in the conference and won the MEAC championship. You led that team to the second round of the 1-AA playoffs that year, becoming the first ever A&T squad to win a playoff game after beating a number one ranked and previously unbeaten Tennessee State team in the first round. In 2000 you were 8-3 and finished second in the MEAC. In 2001 you were 8-3 once again. In 2002, the bottom kind of fell out, and you finished 4-8. Shockingly, at that end of that year you were terminated. What happened? Bill Hayes: “Well see, those kids on that ‘99 team graduated by 2002, so we had to do the whole thing all over again. We had to go back out there and recruit and, oh man, we had a great recruiting year. We brought in at least 65 freshmen on the team my last year, and I had 68 more in the weight room that I didn’t let come out. I just had the track coach working with them. So there were about 130 kids that I had in the oven, ready to rebuild that thing. We were just young and we made a lot of mistakes, but you know what- we lost eight games by a total of 16 points that year. We lost eight games by a grand total of 16 points… and if you remember, Bethune beat us on the last play of the game. And…I think that was it. Remember that I told you that you make seven enemies every year? Well there were some folks that just didn’t understand what I was doing and how I was doing it, and like I told you before: if you do your job well, you’re going to make some people mad. If you’re coaching and you do what you’re supposed to do and you attack this thing the way you’re supposed to attack it and you don’t make any excuses and you try to build your program, you’re going to make some people mad.”
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Post by Aggie One on Mar 5, 2009 14:28:04 GMT -5
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Post by Aggie One on Mar 5, 2009 14:39:58 GMT -5
The news release: www.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=919779 March 4, 2009
Jon Leggette CarolinaBlue.comOne of the top uncommitted prospects in the southeast for 2009 was Shelby (NC) athlete Larry Raper. That was until last Saturday when the former Clemson commit decided to officially end the recruiting process by choosing to sign with the Aggies of North Carolina A&T. Larry Raper will be taking his gridiron talents to North Carolina A&T. "They were one of the schools that were still waiting around and wanted to take me," the versatile athlete explained. "I went down there and I liked it pretty much so I just went ahead and decided to sign with them." Several others schools were still pursuing Raper before he signed with A&T. "I went down to Toledo to visit but that was just too far away," the senior explained. "I was really waiting on ECU but they were waiting on someone else and I found out that he would have a better shot than I would. And South Carolina State but I didn't like the visit down there."A Big 10 school had gotten in touch with Raper a few weeks ago but an offer never materialized. "Michigan had been in contact at one time but then I don't know what happened with that," the 5-10, 165-pounder explained. The Rivals 3-star prospect was told he'll be playing in the slot and as a running back for the Aggies.
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Post by faithfulaggie on Mar 5, 2009 16:08:12 GMT -5
WOW this is great news. I wish the season could start earlier than what it is. The Spring Game is on the same day as my brother's birthday and i usually spend his birthday weekend with him but I might have to miss it this year to attend the Spring Game.
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Post by Aggie One on Mar 5, 2009 19:57:05 GMT -5
As I said the other day in a another post, there are some grade A prospects still out there if you are willing to go out and find them, talk to them, and stay on top of things and don't take no for an answer or back down because some bigger school enters into the picture.
Lee set the tone early on when he was hired and his patchwork staff hit the ground running as promised. A year ago this would not have been possible.
They get a A plus in my book thus far for this class. The General has started to change the tone of things in Greensboro.
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