CREDITS The 2009 North Carolina A&T Aggies Football Media Guide is a publication from North Carolina A&T Athletics and was supervised by Brian Holloway. Table CHIEF EDITOR/WRITER: Brian Holloway CONTRIBUTORS: Darlene Mitchell (writer), media relations assistant; Chad Roberts (editor), N.C. A&T class of ‘06; Terry Hill (editor), N.C. A&T class of ‘95 Chancellor Dr. Harold Martin ...... 2 Jerrell Herring ...... 63-64 GRAPHIC DESIGN: Joyce Parham Director of Athletics Jamison Hedgepeth ...... 64-65 Wheeler Brown ...... 3 Kreg Carter ...... 65 PHOTOGRAPHY: Charles Watkins (University Quick Facts ...... 4 Brenton Walker ...... 65 Relations), Mark Sutton (Mark Digital The A&T Football Experience ...... 5-8 Linnell Evans ...... 66 A&T Athletics ...... 9-12 Thomas Hearn ...... 66 Photography), Dr. Michael Simmons (freelance), NC A&T STATE UNIVERSITY ...... 13-32 Jackson Valmont ...... 66-67 Prince Edwards (freelance), San Francisco 49ers About the University ...... 13-17 Enoch Cohen ...... 67 and Green Bay Packers Famous Aggie Alumni ...... 18-19 Nate Anderson ...... 67 Greensboro ...... 20-21 Alex Harper ...... 67-68 PRINTING: Progressive Business Solutions Aggie Stadium ...... 22-23 Donta Prince ...... 68 Strength & Conditioning ...... 24 Terrence Whitaker ...... 68 SPECIAL THANKS: A special thank you goes to Sports Medicine ...... 25 Cedric Byrd ...... 68-69 the N.C. A&T football coaches for all of their A&T Track & Field ...... 26-27 Wallace Miles...... 69 assistance. Another special thanks goes to Academic Acheivement ...... 28 Adam Beal ...... 70 university photographer Charles Watkins for all Community Service ...... 29 Micah Stanfield ...... 71 of his hard work. The previous sports information Media ...... 30-32 Tyre Glasper ...... 71-72 Of Contents directors at N.C. A&T also deserve a special 2009 SEASON PREVIEW ...... 33-40 MEET THE COACHES ...... 73-84 thank you. MEET THE AGGIES ...... 41-72 Head Coach Alonzo Lee ...... 74-75 Rosters ...... 42-44 Assistant Coach Chennis Berry ...... 76 Preseason Football Depth Chart ...... 45 Assistant Coach Maurice Johnson ...... 77 ON THE COVER: Rebuilding The Legacy. New Position Breakdown ...... 46-47 Assistant Head George Ragsdale ...... 78 head coach Alonzo Lee will try to return the Roster Breakdown ...... 48 Assistant Coach Travis Oliver ...... 79 N.C. A&T football program to the prominance Player Profiles ...... 49-72 Assistant Coach Tayrone Odums ...... 80 that saw it produce such players as Elvin Bethea, Donald Dorsey ...... 49 Assistant Coach Mike Morand ...... 81 Cornell Gordon and Dwaine Board. Pictured Dashaun Graham ...... 49-50 Assistant Coach Marshall Glenn ...... 82 on the cover is a member of the Blue and Gold Derek Gould ...... 50 Grad Assistant Coach Brandon Reliford ...... 83 Marching Machine, Aggie football seniors and Vol. Assistant Coach Dexter Stroman ...... 83 Herbert Miller ...... 51-52 head coach Alonzo Lee. Assistant head coach Strength & Conditioning Coord. Cedric Walthaw ...... 84 Brandon Jackson ...... 52 George Ragsdale, a huge part of the N.C. A&T Terrence Webb ...... 52-53 Meet the Staff ...... 85 football legacy as a player, is the running back Jermarion Pegues ...... 53 NC A&T Head Coaches ...... 86 being rebuilt. Carlton Fears ...... 53 Composite Schedule ...... 87 Giorgio Lowrance ...... 54-55 Athletic Department Directory ...... 88 Quintin Cosby...... 55 OPPONENTS ...... 89-100 INSIDE FRONT COVER: Featured on the inside Shelton Morgan ...... 56 Game-By-Game Results ...... 101-103 front cover is head coach Alonzo Lee. Lee is Nick Clement ...... 56-57 2008 SEASON REVIEW ...... 105-117 accompanied by some of his accomplishments Quay Long ...... 57-58 Stats ...... 118-126 throughout his 26-year career. Brett Fisher ...... 58 HISTORY ...... 127-161 Josef Peek ...... 58 N.C. A&T Sports Hall of Fame ...... 128-129 INSIDE BACK COVER: The inside back cover Vernon White ...... 58-59 All-Time Coaches ...... 130-131 features all the components that make N.C. A&T Mike Mayhew ...... 59 All-Time Records vs. Opponents ...... 132 State University great. Justin Ferrell ...... 59-60 Eric Houston ...... 60 Overall Yearly Results ...... 133-134 Benjamin Binder ...... 61 Yearly Results ...... 135-139 BACK COVER: Cornerback Dashaun Graham is FOOTBALL Jeremy Graham ...... 61 MEAC ...... 140 featured on the back cover next to the 2009 Nigel Tomlin ...... 61 Aggie Awards ...... 141-143 schedule. Andre Thornton...... 62-63 Records ...... 144-154 James Weaks ...... 63 Aggie Lettermen ...... 155-161 Jamal Wardlaw ...... 63 AGGIES IN THE PROS ...... 162-163
1 Harold Martin,
Dr. Martin was elected the twelfth and the implementation of resulting policies Chancellor of North Carolina Agricultural affecting the system; worked closely with and Technical State University and assumed campus chancellors and chief academic Dhis position on June 8, 2009. As chief officers on university-wide academic executive and administrative officer of the initiatives; worked to maintain the focus institution, he provides visionary leadership of the missions of the campuses, and that establishes long-range strategic plans in implemented the academic portion of the consultation with its various constituencies;Chancellor Long-Range Plan. asserts strategic leadership to develop innovative approaches for expansion of He led the University’s research and Salem Foundation; and serves on the SACS resources and ensure the fiscal and academic educational missions and oversaw Academic Commission on Colleges. vitality of all colleges and schools. Planning; Faculty Support and International Programs; Academic and Student Affairs; Dr. Martin has written and co-authored Dr. Martin facilitates collaborative Sponsored Programs and Research; Strategy numerous articles and has made many relationships between A&T, the community, Development and Analysis; and the North presentations at national and international media, businesses, corporations, government, Carolina State Education Assistance conferences. He has served as a consultant alumni, donors, the University of North Authority, units which comprise the Division to major corporations and companies and Carolina System, and the University of North of Academic Affairs. is a member of Tau Beta Pi, the National Carolina at Greensboro and other educational Engineering Honor Society, Eta Kappa Nu, institutions. He demonstrates a high level Prior to joining UNC General Administration, the International Honor Society for Electrical of campus visibility, political savvy, civic Dr. Martin was the eleventh chief Engineers, and Beta Gamma Sigma, the and community involvement, and cultivates administrator and the seventh chancellor of International Honor Society for Business. diverse internal and external publics. Winston-Salem State University from January 2000 to July 2006. While at WSSU, he Earlier positions include vice chancellor of Dr. Martin provides leadership to take A&T guided the reclassification of WSSU from a academic affairs at NCA&T State University to the next level of excellence in delivering baccalaureate I to a master’s II institution, (1994-99), and dean of the college of the highest quality of education and life created a School of Graduate Studies and engineering (1989-94.) He was chair preparation possible, ensuring that students Research, established seven master’s degree (1985-87) and acting chair (1984-85) of are prepared to become competitive global programs and enhanced the quality of overall electrical engineering at NC A&T State. Dr. citizens. He provides fiscal management academic programs. While at WSSU the Martin holds a bachelors and masters of for a multi-million dollar budget and university’s enrollment doubled since 2000, science degrees in electrical engineering from demonstrates a high level of commitment to giving WSSU the fastest-growing enrollment North Carolina Agricultural and Technical all aspects of A&T’s culture. in the University of North Carolina system. State University (NC A&T State) and a
Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Virginia Dr. Martin became the Senior Vice President Dr. Martin served as a strong community Polytechnic Institute and State University. for Academic Affairs at the University of leader while at WSSU and participated in North Carolina in July of 2006. As the several local citizen initiatives, including He is married to the former Davida Wagner, Senior Vice President, Dr. Martin led the Biotechnology in the Piedmont Triad, the and they have two sons, Harold Jr. and development and implementation of the ECHO Council, Leadership Winston-Salem, Walter. Davida is the county attorney for academic mission of the University, including the Piedmont Triad Partnership, the Triad Forsyth County; Harold Jr. is a graduate teaching, research, international programs Entrepreneurial Initiative, The Winston-Salem of Morehouse College, Harvard Business and student affairs. Millennium Fund, Winston-Salem Alliance, School, and Yale Law School; and Walter, a and the Winston-Salem Rotary Club. Dr. graduate of Hampton University, attends the He advised the President and provided Martin serves on the boards of the Research University of Maryland Dental School. ■ leadership for the President’s council. Dr. Triangle Institute, UNC Press, Blue Cross Martin advised the Board of Governors on and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the academic affairs issues of university-wide Southern Education Foundation, TUCASI, importance; led strategic academic planning UNC-TV Foundation, and the Winston-
2 Wheeler Brown,
and Georgia director of athletics Damon Brown is the only one of his three Evans, who took over the position when he brothers to graduate high school. He was 34 years old. Brown can now add his credits his sister Edna Parker for inspiring name to the list of success stories. him to attend college. She was the first in the family to earn a college education In addition to completing the NCAA Fellows when she earned an undergraduate and program, Brown is also a member of the graduate degree from Coppin State Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority DirectorUniversity. of Athletics Males. As a member of the NCAA Athletic Certification Committee, Brown helps to Brown played for the Aggies football oversee the certification for every Division I team from 1974-78, and graduated from On August 11, 2008, Wheeler Brown athletics program. N.C. A&T in 1979 with a degree in health became the director of athletics for his alma and physical education. Brown, a native mater North Carolina A&T State University. Brown began his professional career as a of Baltimore, Md., was a part of N.C. OBrown started laying the groundwork to teacher and coach at C.L. Harper High A&T’s first MEAC football championship become a director of athletics in 1996 School in Atlanta. After a five-year stay, he in 1975. Brown was an all-conference when he accepted a position at Wheeling became the head men’s basketball coach at performer at offensive tackle for the and Jesuit University as assistant athletics Howard Community College in Columbia, Aggies and was inducted into the N.C. director and assistant men’s basketball Md. In 10 seasons, Brown’s overall A&T Hall of Fame in 2003. ■ coach. collegiate coaching record was 191-110.
Two years later, he was promoted to head men’s basketball coach. In 2001, he was named an associate athletics director at Bowie State University before returning to N.C. A&T in 2002.
After returning home to N.C. A&T, Brown continued to prepare himself for the director of athletics position. Brown was one of only 12 people chosen from 300 applicants to be a part of the NCAA Fellows Program. The program is sponsored by the NCAA. It pairs minorities and women who aspire to be director of athletics at Division I programs with an executive mentor who is a Division I director of athletics. Brown was the only person in the program from a historically black college or university.
Among the program’s success stories are FOOTBALL Buffalo director of athletics Warde Manuel
3 Quick Facts
GENERAL INFORMATION MEDIA RELATIONS School...... North Carolina A&T State University Sports Information Director...... Brian Holloway City/Zip ...... Greensboro, NC 27411 Offi ce Phone ...... …………………………………(336) 334-7141 Founded ...... 1891 Cell Phone ...... ……………………………………(336) 328-6719 Enrollment ...... 10,660 Fax...... …………………………………………….(336) 334-7181 Conference ...... Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference E-mail ...... …………………………………[email protected] Nickname ...... Aggies Website ...... ………………………………www.ncataggies.com Affi liation ...... NCAA Division I Mailing Address ...... ……………………….Moore Gymnasium Colors ...... PMS Blue 288 and Gold 123 1601 E. Market St., Greensboro, N.C. 27411 Stadium (Surface)...... Aggie Stadium (Natural Grass) Capacity...... 21,500 TEAM/PLAYER INFORMATION Chancellor ...... Dr. Harold L. Martin, Sr. 2007 Overall Record...... 3-9 Athletics Director ...... Wheeler Brown 2007 MEAC Record (Finish)...... 1-7 (8th) Postseason Appearances ...... 1986, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2003 AGGIES FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF Last Postseason Appearance ...... 2003 Head Coach...... Alonzo Lee Result ...... Eliminated by Wofford in Alma Mater (Year)………………………… ...... Eastern Illinois ‘78 1st round of NCAA Division I-FCS playoffs, 31-10 Overall Record (Year)……………………………...... 0-0 (1st) Offensive System ...... Pro Set Record at A&T ...... Same Defensive System ...... Multiple Record vs. MEAC ...... 0-0 Lettermen Returning ...... 40 Football Offi ce Phone……………………...... (336) 334-7566 Lettermen Lost ...... 26 Football Fax ...... …………………………………(336) 334-7372 Offensive Starters Returning: ...... 7 Assistant Coaches ...... (OL Enoch Cohen, QB Carlton Fears, OL Alex Harper, Chennis Berry (Savannah State ‘96) ...... Offensive OL Thomas Hearn, WR Giorgio Lowrance, Coordinator/Offensive Line OL Jason Valmont, C Brenton Walker) Maurice Johnson (Florida A&M ‘99) ...... Defensive Defensive Starters Returning: ...... 7 Coordinator/Linebackers (DL Adam Beal, DB Nick Clement, DE Tyre Glasper, George Ragsdale (N.C. A&T ‘75) ...... Asst. Head Coach/ LB Jamison Hedgepeth, DE Jarrell Herring, Running Backs DB Quay Long, LB Andre Thornton) Travis Oliver (Hampton ‘03) ..... Secondary/Recruiting Coordinator Offensive Starters Lost: ...... 3 Michael Morand (Florida A&M ‘01) ...... Co-Offensive (RB Michael Ferguson, FB Eugene Parnell, WR Chaz Dawson) Coordinator/Quarterbacks Defensive Starters Lost: ...... 4 Tayrone Odums (N.C. Central ‘97) ...... Defensive Linemen (LB Brandon Long, LB Brandon Colbert, Marshall Glenn (N.C. A&T ‘07) ...... Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers SS Marquis Ruffi n, DB Michael Pace ) Dexter Stroman (N.C. A&T ‘07) ...... Graduate Assistant Specialists Returning: ...... 3 Brandon Reliford (N.C. A&T ‘07) ...... Graduate Assistant (K Eric Houston, KR Justin Ferrell, PR Quintin Cosby) Football Offi ce Phone……………………...... (336) 334-7566 Specialists Lost: ...... 1
Football Fax ...... …………………………………(336) 334-7372 (P Lee Woodson)
4 PrideAggie Personified Football
FOOTBALL
5 Aggie
THE GREAT SEASONS 1927 1986 Head coach Lonnie Byarm led the Aggies The combination of wide receiver Herbert to an 8-0. The Aggies shutout their fi rst Harbison and quarterback Alan Hooker fi ve opponents en route to a Black College gave defensive backs fi ts in leading National Championship and the program’s Ben Blacknell the Aggies to their fi rst outright MEAC fi rst and only undefeated season. Championship. Harbison’s 63 catches and 883 yards receiving are still single-season 1950 records. Quarterback William “Stonewall” 1991 Jackson, running back James Fisher and North Carolina A&T Hall of Famer Helburn Aggie fans were introduced to the “Bud” Meadows led the Aggies to their legendary Blue Death Defense in 1991. All- second CIAA Championship. The Aggies American defensive linemen Kevin Little clinched the championship by beating and Knox Thompson led a group of stingy nationally-ranked N.C. College (known as defenders that also included all-conference N.C. Central today). defensive end Kevin Little, all-conference defensive back Alonza Barnett and future 1958-59 Football NFL player Reggie White. Quarterback Paul Swann threw for 1,573 yards and 12 touchdowns over two 1992 seasons to lead the Aggies to back-to-back The running combination of James White CIAA Championships. A hard-fought 3-0 and Barry Turner led the Aggies to back- victory over N.C. College secured the 1959 to-back MEAC titles. White and Turner title for N.C. A&T. rank second and third on the Aggies all- time rushing lsit. 1964 1999 The Aggies went 6-0-1 in the CIAA to win the In one of the most dominant seasons in school’s fi fth and fi nal Aggie history, the Aggies went undefeated CIAA Championship. It in the MEAC for the fi rst and only time in was head coach Bert school history. They also won a school- Piggot’s third CIAA title. record 11 games, and defeated the No. 1 The Aggies would move team in the nation in Tennessee State to to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference six earn the school’s fi rst NCAA playoff win. years later. The ’64 team included future NFL Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea. Yonnick Matthews 2003 1975 Although the Aggies placed just one player Bert Piggot on the MEAC’s fi rst team, the Aggies used Quarterback Ellsworth Turner completed a few fortunate bounces a solid offensive 55 percent of his passes and threw for line and the All-American foot of Yonnick 1,349 yards to lead the Aggies to a share Alan Hooker Matthews to win the school’s sixth MEAC of the MEAC Championship. It was the Championship.
Aggies fi rst MEAC title.
6
Herbert Harbison THE OUTSTANDING COACHES Running back George Ragsdale spent Bert Piggott led the Aggies to three CIAA six seasons in the NFL. Championships. Piggott led the Aggies to eight straight winning seasons, a feat Offensive lineman Junius Coston was that has never been matched by any other a four-year starter at N.C. A&T and was coach in school history. selected in the fi fth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Hornsby Howell left an indelible mark on the N.C. A&T program. Some of his former Hornsby Howell Curtis Deloatch set an NCAA record players are either working or heavily when he returned fi ve punts for involved in Aggie athletics. Howell won touchdowns in 2001. 62 percent of his games, and he led the school to its fi rst MEAC title. The most decorated athlete in school history, defensive end Chris McNeil Bill Hayes is the Aggies all-time leader in earned 11 national awards, including coaching victories with 106. He also won NCAA Division I-AA Defensive Player of three MEAC Championships, coached 22 the Year. All-Americans and his 1999 team won a school-record 11 games. Offensive lineman Jamain Stephens is the only Aggie ever drafted in the NFL fi rst round. THE LEGENDARY PLAYERS Elvin Bethea is the only Aggie to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bethea was inducted in 2003.
Alan Hooker is the most prolifi c passer Curtis Deloatch in school history. He still holds 11 N.C. A&T passing records. J.D. Smith was a two-time All-CIAA Ellsworth Turner is a member of the performer at the N.C. A&T and MEAC Halls of Fame. fullback position. Before Hooker, he held most of the Aggie passing records. Linebacker Ben Blackwell and Quarterback Connell Maynor was a wide receiver two-time MEAC Offensive Player of the
Willie Wright Year and was just as much a threat with made history in his legs as he was with his arm. 1971. They dominated the MEAC Player of Herbert Harbison is the Aggies all-time the Year awards with leading receiver. He is the only Aggie to Blackwell winning it have more than 2,000 yards receiving defensively and Wright for a career. winning it offensively. Defensive lineman Ernest Riddick was a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of Defensive end was a Dwaine Board the Year. tenacious defender for the Aggies before the sack stat was popular. He went on Linebacker Rodney Edwards earned to win two Super Bowl titles with the San All-American honors in 1992 and was
Francisco 49ers. Board is the defensive named the MEAC Defensive Player of line coach for the Oakland Raiders. J.D. Smith the Year. Craig Thompson’s numbers undoubtedly Cornell Gordon helped the New
make him the best pass-catching tight end FOOTBALL York Jets win the historic Super Bowl in school history. In two years, he caught III over the Baltimore Colts. He also 80 passes for 1,249 yards and a school- led the Aggies to the 1964 CIAA record 19 touchdown receptions. Championship. Maurice Hicks is the Aggies all-time Kicker Yonnick Matthews set a single- leading rusher. He rushed for 2,812 yards game school record on Sept. 27, 2003, in just two years. when he made fi ve fi eld goals in a win over Elon. He made a single-season Linebacker is the Demetrius Harrison record 15 fi eld goals in 2003. Aggies all-time leading tackler. He is also one of only two Aggies to earn three fi rst- George Ragsdale team All-MEAC honors. 7 OFF-THE-FIELD SUCCESS Joe Crosby went from Aggie football to become a successful entrepreneur with his restaurants and Coach’s Low Country Boil Aggie seasoning.
Wheeler Brown played four seasons on the Aggies offensive line in the 70’s. Today, he is the top man in the Aggies athletics department as the director of athletics.
Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., is one of the most prominent civil rights leaders in America. Before he reached that prominence, he played football at N.C. A&T from 1962-64. As part of its centennial celebration, the NCAA ranked Jackson 13th on its 100 most infl uential athletes list in 2006. Jackson’s son, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., also played
Demetrius Harrison FootballJunius Coston
(from left to right, George Small, Thomas Warren and Wheeler Brown...Back Middle: Head coach Jim McKinley) Jesse Jackson, Sr.
Elvin Bethea Wheeler Brown
Cornell Gordon
Connell Maynor
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Chris McNeil Ernest Riddick A&T
Andre Thornton Michael Ferguson In 2006, Thornton became the first freshman Jarrell Herring The Durham native rushed to lead the Aggies in tackles. The rising senior The junior college transfer was named a preseason for 1,169 yards in 2007. led the Aggies in tackles the first two years of All-American by Consensus Draft Services. It was the fourth-best his career. rushing performance in school history. Athletics
FOOTBALL
Jennifer Luper The South Carolina native owns the single- season record for wins. She was the 2008
MEAC Rookie of the Year and received the Ryanne Hill prestigious Aggie Club award in 2008. Hill was named the 2009 MEAC Softball Player of the Year. She also earned All- American, All-Region and All-State honors in 2009.
9 Winnie Quick The woman with the perfect sports name earned second-team A&T All-MEAC honors last season. It was the first time a women’s tennis player earned a post- season accolade in Team Celebration more than a decade. The 2005 North Carolina A&T baseball team won the MEAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Regionals.
Lillian Bullock The Alaskan became the school’s all-time leader in home runs in just one season. She is a two- time All-MEAC performer.
Jeremy Jones Athletics
Break It Avignon Williams (blocks), Arlene Mitchell (kills, service aces), Brenden Chatman and Lauren Walker (digs) have all set new school records in
the last three seasons.
FOOTBALL
Back-Draft Jeremy Jones, Charlie Gamble and CJ Beatty have all been selected in the MLB Draft since 2005. 10 A&T
Back-to-Back Brittanie Taylor-James (left) and Amber Bland (right) led the Aggies to back-to-back MEAC regular-season titles, the 2009 MEAC Tournament Championship and a berth in the WNCAA Tournament. Taylor-James earned conference player of the year honors in ’09, and is only the second three-time first-team all-conference performer in N.C. A&T history.
Top Lady In addition to being a matrix of sorts for the Aggie swimming program during her tenure, Gia Wright was also named A&T Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 2008.
Athletics
The Champs Trend setters The North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team Alexandria Spruiel became the won the MEAC Championship for the first time in first female in school history 15 years when it took home the title in 2009. to earn All-American honors in indoor track and field (400 meters), claiming the honor in 2009. She also earned All-
American honors during the outdoor season.
FOOTBALL
Tweet Tweet Ta’Wuana “Tweet” Cook became the first women’s basketball player to win MEAC Rookie of the Year when she took home the award in 2007.
11 A&T
Thomas Coleman broke the school’s single-season blocked shots record during the 2008-09 season and is on pace to break the all-time record during the 2009-10 season.
Calesio Newman is the fastest man in the MEAC, having won the honor two years in a row. Sarah Taylor is one of the best bowlers in the MEAC.
Athletics
When Loreal Smith (100 meter hurdles) also earned All-American honors during the outdoor season, it marked the first time two Lady Aggies earned All-
American accolades at the
same meet.
FOOTBALL
Steven Rush broke the single- season record for 3-pointers made during the 2006-07 season and became the first first-team All- MEAC performer in five seasons.
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