Alcorn State University’s football players at the Saturday spring practice were treated to words of wisdom from former Grambling great, quarterback Mike Williams, the brother of Doug Williams, and ASU’s Melvin Spear’s first cousin, who was one of the crew chiefs training SWAC officials for the upcoming football season.
Williams told the young men that they were special, ambassadors for the SWAC as well as Alcorn State. He encouraged them to pass, graduate and go out into the world to make a difference. He told them that this was a special time in their lives, one that they will never forget.
Williams led Grambling to a 10-1 regular season record his senior season at GSU and into the NCAA then 1-AA playoffs, under legendary Eddie Robinson.
Spears said that, while laughing, that the “peace dove goes out the window September the third!” Alcorn State meets Grambling in the Port City Classic on this date in Shreveport, Louisiana.
ASU’s Spears states that the different units, collectively, are doing great . “We like to do things at an up tempo and this means that all must learn the system and execute it. We are emphasizing certain situations in the Red Zone in game type situations and knowing the system is a MUST! I have to conclude that the guys and coaches are doing excellent jobs.”
Dennard Johnson of New Orleans is the holder for kicking specialist Arturo Tamayo for field goals and PAT’s and NOT Brandon Bridge the quarterback who did it last season: “I felt that it was better that we not have Brandon doing it anymore. There is only one Brando Bridge:” states Spears.
Spears listed only two players not being able to practice due to minor Injuries, one being receiver Andrew Harris, the 6’2 205 pound transfer from Ole Miss, and 6’0 265 pound defensive lineman Brandon Morris of Ft. Worth, Texas. Spears adds that the injuries are not serious but felt it best to keep
the two guys out of practice.
Quarterback Darius Smith is getting his share of snaps in practice and Spears likes his progression rate: “He is making the right decisions, checking off when he should and throwing the ball on target. The quarterback is the on-the-field-general and he is doing a superb job.”
ASU lost three of four starting defensive backs from the 2010 squad but Spears isn’t worried about that position: “The guys in practice are progressing at a fast pace plus we recruited 11 new guys which should make for a competetive camp this fall.”
ASU sports information director Gus Howard discovered that he and 6’1 245 pound newcomer Stephen Howard, from College Park, Georgia, are related.”Whenever I meet someone named Howard I inquire about their ancestry. I talked to his dad Jessie on the cell, he knows my brother Paul in Atlanta, and will send them a letter to the reunion this summer. We expect for my nephew Dwight of the Magic to be there and I am glad to have a cousin here on the team:” states Howard.
