The last time that Tuskegee lost a season opener was in 1996 during Rick
Comegy's rookie year as head coach. He dropped a 20-12 decision to Savannah
State enroute
to a 5-6 finish, his worst season in 7 years.
But history does have a way
of repeating itself and it got the advantage of the Golden Tigers August 31st
at Legion Field. Before 23,000 fans and thousands more via MBC's cable TV
network, the Tigers got behind and stayed that way thanks to what seemed like
a near lethal case of the " boo-boo flu". When the dust settled, Miles walked
away with a 43-11 win.
The last SIAC team to hand Tuskegee that lopsided a
loss was Albany State which whipped the Tigers 40-20 in 2002. In that game,
the records reflect that Courtland Florence, cousin to San Diego Charger defensive
back Drayton Florence, was held to only 17 yards rushing. The bread and butter
back for 'Skegee was similarly boxed up by the Miles defense, gathering only
29 yards in 10 carries.
The kick in the teeth for the Tigers were the turnovers which Wade Streeters' Bears exploited to the max. Perhaps Tuskegee was counting on a big second half which allowed them to whip Miles in 2002 at Tuskegee's field. The win Sunday was an obvious big one for Miles College but it is not uncommon for the Bears to win their first two or three games of the opening season. The big test will come toward the middle of the season where the Bears have historically drifted into a losing slump.
Looks like coaching changes were just what the doctor ordered for Lane and Benedict. The latter, under new coach John Hendrick, has already half-improved from the school's 2-8 record last year by winning the season opener 18-6 on the road against the stubborn defense of Elizabeth City State University. And up yonder in Jackson Tennessee, the head coaching debut of Lane College's Darrin Hayes resulted in a surprising 12-6 win over the Virginia Union Panthers. Hayes later was quoted in a Jackson paper as saying that they probably should have scored more points. Perhaps, but considering the past Lane records and their routine pre season prediction to finish at or near the bottom of the SIAC standings (this year, they're predicted to finish last), Hayes needs to count his blessings, especially since he will enjoy a week off this weekend which he will need when the Dragons visit Fort Valley.
John Morgan
The good news. Night football at Morehouse College is a rousing success. A crowd of over 15,000 crammed every available seat at Morehouse's Bertram T. Harvey Stadium to witness the school's first night home game. Unfortunately, the incandescants illuminate but don't suit up. An offensive line that collapsed more than it blocked and the hard charging of Fort Valley's running back twosome Duron Croson and Derrick Wimbush handed the Maroon Tigers a 23-10 loss Saturday night. It was a good start for Fort Valley head coach John Morgan , the former defensive coordinator for Henry Frazier's Bowie Bulldogs. "But this win was really for guys," he told INSIDE after the win. "They've gone through a whole lot the last seven months."
We mentioned Drayton Florence's name at the top of this column. The former Tuskegee DB is scheduled to start this weekend for the San Diego Chargers when they open Sunday in Kansas City.
Congrats to Sheridan Broadcasting Network sports director Ty Miller who got his first crack at TV play-by-play when he anchored the Tuskegee-Miles game last Sunday evening. He accounted well for himself. It was sort of a homecoming for Miller who is a native of Bessemer Alabama.
