By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
(Contributions by Philip Walker & Brandon McCrary, Intern)
With the 2010 college football season is less than a month away, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) 2010 Football Kick-Off Luncheon was held on Wednesday, July 28th in the Henderson Student Center on the campus of Clark Atlanta University. The annual luncheon featured coaches and players from all ten schools in the SIAC with football teams.
SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore opened the luncheon with remarks about the SIAC. Included in his comments was the fact that the SIAC has led the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in football game attendance for the last six years and 18 of the last 20 years. According to Moore, “We have an exciting brand of football that attracts a very loyal fan base. Our conference trademark is “We Play Hard” and our kids really stick to it.”
During the luncheon, each head coach was given an opportunity to discuss the upcoming season. For the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU), second year head coach Donald Pittman expressed optimism about this year's campaign. “We had a strong finish last year. The wins over Kentucky State and Albany State gave us a lot of momentum going into this season. Like everybody else, we have some challenges coming into the fall and we still have a lot of work to do to fill some key positions.”
Two positions the Wildcats do not have to worry about filling this season are wide receiver and defensive back. Senior An'thon Harris will look to pad him numbers from a year ago as a wide receiver and punt return specialist. He finished with 37 receptions and averaged 13.2 yards per punt return.
Senior defensive back Ricky Johnson will also be a staple for the Wildcats in 2010. He finished with 71 tackles last season while averaging 1.5 sacks per game. For their efforts last year, both Harris and Johnson were named to the 2010 All-SIAC Team at the luncheon. They join Dajuan Williams (defensive back); Marquette King (punter); Narada Williams (defensive lineman); Darnell Burks (defensive back); and Justin Rosenbaum (kicker) who are also All-SIAC selections.
The Kick-Off Luncheon concluded with the announcement of this year's predicted order of finish. The FVSU Wildcats are projected to finish third this season behind Albany State University and the number one ranked Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University. Benedict College, Morehouse College, Kentucky State University, Clark Atlanta University, Miles College, Stillman College, and Lane College make up the rest of the conference order.
The Wildcats finished last season with a 7-4 record. Of the three FVSU conference losses last year, all came in the final minute. “This year we know that we have to finish every game we play,” stated Johnson. “We're taking it one game at a time. It's just like with anything else in life; you get out what you put into it. If you put in 120 percent, you get back 120 percent.”
The Wildcats open the 2010 football season on the road when they travel to Fairfield, Alabama to meet the Golden Bears of Miles College. For most of the Wildcats the start cannot come soon enough. “I wish we started tomorrow”, said Harris. He and the rest of the Wildcats will get their wish on August 28th.
-Wildcats Athletics-
