Deuce
Well-Known Member
Comegy
argues for
Golden Tiger
repeat
By Josh Moon
Montgomery Advertiser
TUSKEGEE ? It seems
to be one hurdle after
another for the Tuskegee
football team this season.
After overcoming a protest
by Morehouse College, the Golden Tigers were finally named as
Southern Intercollegiate Conference champions and awarded an
invitation to the Pioneer Bowl Saturday in Atlanta?s Georgia Dome.
Now, the Golden Tigers are trying to get the respect they feel they
deserve from the polls. They feel they deserve to be black college
national champions for the second straight year.
In order for Tuskegee to repeat as national champions, it must find a
way to jump Grambling State in the polls. That may require a big win
over Virginia Union, the CIAA champion, this weekend.
GSU, which defeated Alabama State in the SWAC championship game
on Dec. 8, already has finished its season at 10-1. But the Golden
Tigers feel they?ve already done enough to be ahead of Grambling.
?I think that we?ve proven that we are the best team,? Tuskegee head
coach Rick Comegy said. ?I would just like the committee that votes on
this to take a good look at what we?ve done this season.?
What the Golden Tigers have done is go 10-1 and win the SIAC
championship. They also beat Alabama State, which handed Grambling
its only loss during the regular season.
At the time they beat ASU, the Golden Tigers were ranked second in
the Sheridan Black College poll, and the Hornets were third. Both were
behind Grambling, which moved back into the No. 1 spot only two
weeks after the loss to ASU.
Grambling?s win in the SWAC title game seems to have secured its
spot at the top of the poll.
However, after that championship game, ASU players and coaches
were split on who should be No.1. Alabama State quarterback Darnell
Kennedy said he felt that Tuskegee was the better team because his
Hornets didn?t beat the Golden Tigers. However, ASU head coach L.C.
Cole said he thought Grambling was the better team because they had
the better athletes and played a tougher schedule.
Comegy said he appreciated the comments from the players, but didn?t
understand the comments from Cole.
?I don?t understand what coach Cole was saying,? Comegy said. ?I don?t
see where having better players has anything to do with it. Are they
more deserving because they?ve got 63 scholarships and we?ve only got
36? I always thought it was the 22 that?s on the field that made the
difference.?
Comegy said that Cole?s analogy slighted the role he played in the
Golden Tigers? season.
?What about coaching and getting the players motivated to win??
Comegy said. ?Doesn?t that have anything to do with it? Do we just
throw all of that out the door because they?ve got more scholarships
and, therefore, have more athletes??
Comegy said his team?s schedule was just as tough as a SWAC
schedule.
?Everyone?s saying that we don?t play anybody,? he said. ?Well, take a
look at the SWAC. What really tough teams are in there. Past the
upper echelon teams, it?s really not a very strong conference. Look at all
the coaching changes that have gone on in Division I-AA this year.
That?s because teams aren?t very good.?
Comegy also noted that in his team?s only loss of the year ? a 14-3
defeat vs. Morehouse ? the Golden Tigers were forced to play without
injured starting quarterback Aaron James for the first half.
?We didn?t have our starting quarterback in that game against
Morehouse,? he said. ?It?s not like we were beaten badly or anything.
We gave up one touchdown on a blocked kick and couldn?t get anything
going on offense without Aaron.?
Comegy said if his team wins Saturday?s Pioneer Bowl they should be
the clear No. 1.
?I think that after everything we should be,? he said. ?It?s not my
decision, but I think we deserve a good look.?
argues for
Golden Tiger
repeat
By Josh Moon
Montgomery Advertiser
TUSKEGEE ? It seems
to be one hurdle after
another for the Tuskegee
football team this season.
After overcoming a protest
by Morehouse College, the Golden Tigers were finally named as
Southern Intercollegiate Conference champions and awarded an
invitation to the Pioneer Bowl Saturday in Atlanta?s Georgia Dome.
Now, the Golden Tigers are trying to get the respect they feel they
deserve from the polls. They feel they deserve to be black college
national champions for the second straight year.
In order for Tuskegee to repeat as national champions, it must find a
way to jump Grambling State in the polls. That may require a big win
over Virginia Union, the CIAA champion, this weekend.
GSU, which defeated Alabama State in the SWAC championship game
on Dec. 8, already has finished its season at 10-1. But the Golden
Tigers feel they?ve already done enough to be ahead of Grambling.
?I think that we?ve proven that we are the best team,? Tuskegee head
coach Rick Comegy said. ?I would just like the committee that votes on
this to take a good look at what we?ve done this season.?
What the Golden Tigers have done is go 10-1 and win the SIAC
championship. They also beat Alabama State, which handed Grambling
its only loss during the regular season.
At the time they beat ASU, the Golden Tigers were ranked second in
the Sheridan Black College poll, and the Hornets were third. Both were
behind Grambling, which moved back into the No. 1 spot only two
weeks after the loss to ASU.
Grambling?s win in the SWAC title game seems to have secured its
spot at the top of the poll.
However, after that championship game, ASU players and coaches
were split on who should be No.1. Alabama State quarterback Darnell
Kennedy said he felt that Tuskegee was the better team because his
Hornets didn?t beat the Golden Tigers. However, ASU head coach L.C.
Cole said he thought Grambling was the better team because they had
the better athletes and played a tougher schedule.
Comegy said he appreciated the comments from the players, but didn?t
understand the comments from Cole.
?I don?t understand what coach Cole was saying,? Comegy said. ?I don?t
see where having better players has anything to do with it. Are they
more deserving because they?ve got 63 scholarships and we?ve only got
36? I always thought it was the 22 that?s on the field that made the
difference.?
Comegy said that Cole?s analogy slighted the role he played in the
Golden Tigers? season.
?What about coaching and getting the players motivated to win??
Comegy said. ?Doesn?t that have anything to do with it? Do we just
throw all of that out the door because they?ve got more scholarships
and, therefore, have more athletes??
Comegy said his team?s schedule was just as tough as a SWAC
schedule.
?Everyone?s saying that we don?t play anybody,? he said. ?Well, take a
look at the SWAC. What really tough teams are in there. Past the
upper echelon teams, it?s really not a very strong conference. Look at all
the coaching changes that have gone on in Division I-AA this year.
That?s because teams aren?t very good.?
Comegy also noted that in his team?s only loss of the year ? a 14-3
defeat vs. Morehouse ? the Golden Tigers were forced to play without
injured starting quarterback Aaron James for the first half.
?We didn?t have our starting quarterback in that game against
Morehouse,? he said. ?It?s not like we were beaten badly or anything.
We gave up one touchdown on a blocked kick and couldn?t get anything
going on offense without Aaron.?
Comegy said if his team wins Saturday?s Pioneer Bowl they should be
the clear No. 1.
?I think that after everything we should be,? he said. ?It?s not my
decision, but I think we deserve a good look.?