JCSU Hits the Road for Season-Opener against North Carolina A&T;
Complete Game Notes: http://goldenbullsports.cstv.com/photos/schools/jcsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/weekly-release.pdf
All-Time…This week’s game is the 41st meeting between Johnson C. Smith University and North Carolina A&T State University. JCSU has just 9 wins over the Aggies dating back to the first contest in 1926. The series record is 29-9-2 in favor of the Aggies.
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: NC A&T leads series, 29-9-2
Current Streak: NC A&T has won the last 14 match-ups
First Meeting: 1926, NCA&T won 26-0
Last Meeting: November 13, 1993, NCA&T won 52-7
Biggest JCSU Win: 20, 1940 (20-0)
Biggest NC A&T Win: 45, 1993 (52-7)
Games Decided by 7 points or less: 15
The Last Meeting…The Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University faced the Aggies on November 13, 1993 by a score of 52-7. That year, the Aggies went 10-3 beating tough opponents like Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Liberty and Florida A&M University.
Fifteen Years in the Making…JCSU and North Carolina A&T have not met since 1993, a year in which the Aggies went 10-3 beating tough opponents like Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Liberty and Florida A&M University.
Long Breaks Not Uncommon…Even though it has been 15 years since both schools played, there was also a 14-year hiatus from 1950-1963 when neither school played each other.
Been There-Done That…The Aggies are looking for their first win since October 8, 2005. NC A&T is riding a 27-game losing streak. That record is a place the Golden Bulls have been before. Prior to the 2006 season, JCSU rode a 24-game losing streak themselves.
They Had Him, Now JCSU Does…The last time the Aggies had a winning season was in 2003, when current JCSU head coach Daryl C. McNeill, Sr. was the offensive coordinator. In fact, the Aggies went on to a 10-3 record and captured the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship.
KEY INJURIES…Defensive back Steven Williams (knee) out for the season.
GAME CENTER
Johnson C. Smith
Record: 0-0, 0-0 CIAA
Ranking: n/a
Last game: Defeated Livingstone, 47-7
Head coach: Daryl C. McNeill, Sr.
Overall record: 30-43-0 (5 years)
at JCSU: 20-31-0 (6th season,2nd tenure)
vs. NC A&T: 0-0 (1st meeting)
N.C. A&T
Record: 0-0, 0-0 MEAC
Ranking: n/a
Last game: Lost to S.C. State, 51-7
Head coach: Lee Fobbs
Overall record: 0-22 (2 years)
at NC A&T: 0-22 (3rd season)
vs. JCSU 0-0 (1st meeting)
Coaching Changes…The fall season will mark the debut of Rodrick Robinson as the JCSU defensive coordinator. Meanwhile, special teams coach Jonathan Kelly, Sr. will move from defense to offense as the quarterbacks coach. Kelly is very familiar with the position having played college ball in the McNeill system at Savannah State University in the early 90’s. Frederick Hoskins has traded in his pads and cleats for a whistle and video software. The three-year cornerback starter graduated with honors in May and now is the assistant defensive backs coach and video assistant.
Eight-for-Eight…Sophomore placekicker Julius Wright was a perfect 8-for-8 in point after touchdown attempts. He attempted just two field goals and connected on one-of-two. He will definitely have more chances to display his strong leg in 2008.
GOLDEN BULL P.O.Y’S…Wide receiver Jeremy Franklin and cornerback De’Audra Dix were selected the 2007 CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year. This is the first “of-the-year” award JCSU has received since Jimmy Bell was selected the CIAA’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2001.
First Timers…The Golden Bulls expect to have just three players make their first career start in a JCSU uniform vs. North Carolina A&T. Juniors Kenny Strickland (WR), and Sebry Nuru (K/P), and redshirt freshman fullback Maurcus Woolford.
Golden Bull Pre-Season Honors…Senior Rashaun Curry (OL) was the lone Golden Bull to garner Pre-Season All-CIAA honors!
Franklin Keeps on Catching…Jeremy Franklin enters having caught passes in 10 consecutive games. Originally expected to play the defensive secondary, Franklin surprised all CIAA opponents who thought the position would be bleak with the graduation of Marquis Belton, the all-time leading receiver in JCSU history.
Offensive Improvements…The 2007 edition of the gold and blue improved the team’s offensive production up 100 yards from the 2006 season. The Bulls averaged 216.5 yards per game in 2006 while churning out 317.6 yards per game in 2007. That number was good for third in the CIAA.
Offensive Numbers Have Gone Up…JCSU has made notable progress on offense the last two seasons, improving points and yards per game each year. The advancements have coincided with the maturing of a young group of players along with head coach Daryl McNeill’s offensive mind.
Year Points Per Game Total Offense Per Game
2005 10.6 212.1
2006 17.0 216.5
2007 22.3 317.6
Has It Been 10 Years…The last time JCSU defeated a Division I opponent was in 1998 when the Golden Bulls defeated Gardner-Webb 40-28 in the season opener.
A SID’s Conversation with Coach McNeill Regarding the Upcoming
North Carolina A&T Football Game
In order to beat A&T we must: “Control the line of scrimmage and no turnovers. We must tackle.”
Have you been back to A&T since you left in 2004? “Yes, I have. I visited with their coaching staff a couple years ago and also attended a couple track meets there.”
So, not to a football game? “No, I have not seen them play since 2004.”
You were the Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator when A&T won the MEAC championship which happened to also be their last winning season. How does it feel going back? “It’s nothing different because I have coached at and against Tennessee State, Savannah State, and South Carolina State. There is no different feeling. I will always be indebted to the opportunity A&T gave me to coach and we just know that for 60 minutes it’s a game and as always the best team will win.”
Coach, I have to ask you this. At one point and time you were 0-24 and we all know A&T is 0-27. Do you feel like they scheduled you to get their first win? “No, I don’t. Basically it was a conflict in schedules with the A&T and N.C. Central game. They moved that game to October 4th in Charlotte and based on that with Division II starting out playing on the same week as Division I programs, A&T was actually looking for a game. Our schedule was supposed to open against Edward Waters but that turned out to be a schedule conflict as well. We also knew the rivalry of the A&T and JCSU game and the Athletic Director’s knew it was a time to rekindle a past rivalry, since the opportunity was just there.”
Fill in the blanks, a win against A&T would: “It will tell us how far we came since the 0-24 record. It would be a great kick-off to our season and it would be a great win for our fan base in the state of NC.
Last question, you are playing an all HBCU schedule. The last time Smith played an all HBCU schedule was in 1996 with you as the head coach. Did you intend for that to be the case? “No, it just happened that way with the addition of the A&T game. We were looking to go back to Charleston Southern, Glenville State and possibly playing Wingate or Catawba. To be given the opportunity to play A&T will be a great test for us regardless of their record.”
The original story was published here: http://goldenbullsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082608aaa.html
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