Oct. 20, 2004
WSSU "Rams" 2-6 (2-3 CIAA) Vs. JCSU "Golden Bulls" (0-8, 0-5 CIAA)
Rams vs. Golden Bulls...The matchup between the Rams and Golden Bulls marks the ninth game for both teams in 2004. JCSU enters the contest with an 0-5 CIAA record and an 0-8 mark overall. They are coming into the game riding a 12-game losing streak that dates back to October 18th of last season. Last weekend the Golden Bulls were were defeated by the two-time defending CIAA Champion Broncos of Fayetteville State University by the score of 40-14. The Rams are entering the contest sporting their worst record in recent history (since 1996's 2-7 start) as they are 2-6 overall and 2-3 in the CIAA. WSSU lost a heartbreaking 35-33 decision last weekend to North Carolina Central at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on an extra play after time had expired (defensive penalty). However, this weekend WSSU looks to extend their win streak over the Golden Bulls to eight games and will put a 7-year win streak on the line with the last JCSU win coming in 1996.
The Series...The Rams will return to action this Saturday, October 23rd, 2004 as they will begin the second of three consecutive road games to close out the 2004 football season. The Rams are 7-0 in the last seven years versus JCSU and have not lost to NCCU since the 1996 season. WSSU has posted an all-time mark versus Johnson C. Smith University of 35-20-3 (since 1946).
Fun Facts and Numbers... The largest WSSU win over JCSU was by 74 points, an 80-6 victory that came during the 1989 season. The largest JCSU win was by 47 points, by the score of 53-6 during the 1975 season. WSSU's longest win streak versus the Golden Bulls is 13 games from 1983 to 1995 while the Golden Bulls' streak of wins tops out at nine straight games most recently from the 1962 season until the 1970 season. Current WSSU head coach Kermit Blount has posted a 10-1 record versus Johnson C. Smith since taking over as head coach in 1993.
The Last Meeting In Brief...The last meeting between the two teams came during the 2003 season with the Rams earning the win by the score of 38-0 in Winston-Salem, NC on November 1st, 2003. In that contest, the Rams dismantled the Golden Bulls with 522 yards of total offense en route to the easy victory that saw running backs Martin Hicks and Jed Bines each have at least 140 yards.
TV Coverage...There is no television coverage for this contest versus the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith. Barring an improbable berth in the CIAA Championship game on November 6th, the Rams will not appear on TV again this season.
Radio Coverage...This weekend's contest will be available to listeners in the greater Winston-Salem area on WSNC, FM 90.5 with George Croom, Al Roseboro, Ted Fichiolas and Sam Harley calling all the action as well as nationally on the internet at www.wssu.edu by clicking on the link: "Listen to WSNC."
Quotes From Head Football Coach Kermit Blount:
You are here in your 12th year now, and I hear that this is the most disappointed you have ever been after a game. It is the first time I can remember that you didn't talk to anyone in the media after the game.
Yeah. It kind of caught me off guard, and I was very disappointed for my kids, our guys, because they played hard, they really did, and you always want to see the kids determine the outcome of a game and in that case, it didn't happen.
Overall, was it the best game you guys have played all year? Combined-wise?
Combined effort, it was close. Defensively, I have seen our defense give a better effort, in being able to shut people down, but offensively, I mean our guys really stepped up when they had to.
Coming back, this week, Josh [Mcgee] and Brandon [Hussey] have said that they guys are still up. Do you think that is the case?
The guys know that I am going to captain the ship, and even after the loss, if the ship is going down, I'm going down with it. These guys, this group of guys, knows that we are one big team. The concept is that we are going to fight until the end and everyone in that locker room knows that we are much better than a 2-6 record would indicate. These kids are very smart, they know where we really are.
Johnson C. Smith, 0-8, you can't look past them, even Brandon [Hussey] said that you guys are two wins from being 0-8 and that you can't look past them.
Oh yeah. It's going to be another dog fight. Smith looks across the field and feels good, knowing we are coming in off of a very disappointing loss last week and so it doesn't matter about record right now. It matters which team comes in with more intensity, and which team comes in better prepared and protects the football is going to be the team that wins.
Injury-wise, you guys are pretty healthy right?
Yeah. We are pretty healthy for the most part. Some sore guys, and some bruises, but thankfully, we are injury-free for the most part. The pride was hurt a little bit, but we have gotten past that. One thing about a season such as the one that we are having, you get a chance to really see the character of your players, and this football team, their character has projected a don't-quit image, and these kids have shown me, and my staff that all year.
You guys have the chance to do some individual things this weekend with Martin [Hicks] and Jed [Bines] having the opportunity to become the first WSSU rushing duo to break 1,000 yards in the same season, and Josh [McGee] is 300 yards from breaking the all-time passing yard record. Is that something that you guys can kind of work towards?
Well, we want to get the win first, and I think that if you talk to Jed or Martin or Josh, they will tell you that the individual records aren't even being thought about. Their main concern is that they want to win, and if the records come with it then certainly we will be happy. I'd like to see all three of them do it, but at the same time, the most important thing for us as a team is to go out and play well and to finish strong, showing the character that they have shown all season long.
You guys have a big following, and the Rams are always a topic of conversation. Have their been any poignant things said to you following last week's game?
I think that the main thing is that people have said that they are proud of seeing the team show a lot of character. Because, at one point, it would have been easy for us to say, "Let's just quit", and they didn't, they stepped up, and I think that our fans in Durham saw a very high-character team show up. Even before the game started there were some things that were going on, and our guys didn't let themselves been a part of that, and displayed a character that I, and our fans, are proud of.
You have two years left on your five-year contract, are feeling any heat this season?
No, I am too old to feel any heat. I am, and I have never, ever, felt any heat. I mean, this University is a part of me, and I am a part of this University, and so, I am not ever concerned about something like that.
When you get to this point at 2-6, how do you motivate your team?
It boils down to self-motivation, and we are only a play or two away from being where we want to be. Along with us, as coaches, trying to motivate them, these guys really take it upon themselves to do it as a team.
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"If you ask Josh, he will tell you that he isn't concerned about it. But for us, for him to come in as a walk-on, and four years later to have the possibility to break the record, well it is special. But I'm sure that Josh would trade the records for wins, trust me. I know it. That is just the type of kid that Josh is."
WSSU Head Football Coach, Kermit Blount
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If you ask Josh, he will tell you that he isn't concerned about it. But for us, for him to come in as a walk-on, and four years later to have the possibility to break the record, well it is special. But I'm sure that Josh would trade the records for wins, trust me. I know it. That is just the type of kid that Josh is.
Jed only being a sophomore and turning in such a tremendous year, is that special?
We don't even look at the year of these kids. He is a great talent, and he and Martin have really bonded together, and both transcended their age. They feed off of one another. They are both having great years and have helped us tremendously.
How has the team been after a loss like last week's, a last-second thing like that?
I think the real deal is that these young guys are a lot smarter than we give them credit for, and they know what is going on, it's not hard motivating them right now. They are really self-motivated and they know where we are as a team.
Coach, do you think that these two young running backs will have the opportunity to play together, in the same backfield at the same time?
They were in the ball game together Saturday for about three plays. We aren't primarily designed for two backs, but we will do it if the situation dictates it, and you might see more of it in the future.
Getting the ball into the hands of the Brandon Hussey's and Brandon Free's, your big play receivers helps out a ton, do you plan on putting the ball in the air more against JCSU or SAC?
We could talk about going in and doing something or planning on doing something, but really, the flow of the game is going to dictate what we are going to do. If the running game is there, we will do that, but if the passing game is there, we will do that too. Again, the flow of the game will dictate what we will do.
The last handful of plays last Saturday, about 12 or 16 plays, went to the left. Did you find something there?
I think that it was the matchups that dictated it. Manny [Emmanuel Akah] and Lonnie [Lonnie Teasley] were blocking well and it just worked out that that side was the open one. It was just the luck of the draw.
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