AC Phoenix, September 1988
Page 17
Hayes, Aggies To Undergo Rebuilding Season
By Malcolm A. Pharr
After serving 12
years at Winston-Salem
State, where he suc
cessfully masterminded
a 89-40-2 record,
William "Bill" Hayes has
traveled some 26 miles
east on 1-40 to restore
an A&T Aggie program,
which last season lost
from a year ago, Con-
nell "Sweetness”
Maynor, took hrs magic
to Aggieland he must
watch from the side
lines this season due to
NCAA rules. But the
Aggies have a fine
quarterback in junior
Hilton Winstead (5-11,
198). Winstead was the
only player to pass
the 1987 campaign. Ju
nior Noisette Smith
could wind up in the
tailback slot. Coach
Hayes is know for
playing freshman and
sophomores, so don't
be surprised if a com
pletely unknown player
emerges as the Aggies
top runner.
Senior wide receiver
Rams
Hayes
it's ace (Alan Hooker),
its coach (Mo Forte)
and eight of eleven
football games. Hayes
brings impressive cre
dentials from WSSU,
where he won three
CIAA Championships
and five Southern Divi
sion titles
Coach Hayes may
need to look at this old
scrapbooks this year
(other than Hooker)
within the last four sea
sons. Winstead com
pleted 21 of 50 passes
for 281 yards and a
touchdown last season.
Other QB's include se
nior Dedrick Barber,
Terrell Moore and An
thony Parker.
The Aggies backfield
will also suffer due to
the loss of Stoney Polite
because he has taken a
program which is low
on experience, talent
and morale. The Aggies
return only one offen
sive starter and four
defensive starters from
last years squad.
Although W.S.S.U.
freshman sensation
and Juan Jackson.
Hayes will start the
hunt by looking at se
nior Keith Mathis (5-10,
210) who rushed for
211 yards and a T.D.
on 44 carries. He is the
only Aggies running-
back returning who has
seen any action during
Maurice Sowell is the
only full-time offensive
starter returning for the
Aggies. Sowell hauled in
41 receptions for 592
yards last season, with
two going for TD's. Se
nior Deneal McNair
could balance the Ag
gies air attack. Rod
Brunson, Ken Sandi-
ford, and Malcolm
Dixon will get closer
looks in the upcoming
sfc tson.
The tight end spot is
wide open this season.
Junior Jack Sharpe (6-4,
205), Willie Gallop and
Chauncy Simmons will
vie for this spot.
The Aggies will be
looking to seniors My
ron Mulcare (6-1, 270),
Barry London, juniors
Kevin Williams, Ralph
Dowe, John Allen and
Bryan Nance to fill the
vacancies and lead
runnigbacks in Hayes'
wing-t offense. David
Landis and Charlotte,
N.C. native, Eric Crump
(6-4, 277) are sopho
more candidates.
George Hunter and
Derrick Morgan will
battle for the punting
chores this season. In
50 attempts Morgan
averaged just 32 yards
a boot. Hunter, who
had only seven tries.
averaged 40 yards per
kick last season.
Sophomore Quintas
Catson made 24 of 28
extra points and
booted two of six field
goals last season.
Hayes may find some
one else to relieve Gat-
son of these duties, but
the “nifty one" will re
turn punts this season
where he averaged 27
Ausbrooks and Grey
Borders are probable
starters, along with
Chris McCarroll.
Coach Hayes and the
Aggies are blessed to
have the leagues most
consistent hitter at
linebacker in All-MEAC
will be, without a
doubt, the strong hold
of the Aggies team.
Demetrius Harrison (6-
4, 215). Harrison pun
ished opponents last
The detensive back-
field is also a strong
group for the Aggies.
Senior Brian Bowden
(6-0, 200) and corners
Rod Hatton and Joe
Summerset give the Ag
gies talent and experi
ence in the secondary.
Coach Hayes and the Aggies are blessed to have the
leagues most consistent hitter at linebacker in All-MEAC
Demetrius Harrison.
yards on six returns a
year ago.
Junior Graig Hol
loway (6-4, 265) is the
lone Aggies returning
start on the defensive
front. Seniors Mark
season and ended with
114 tackles to his
credit. Three seniors in
Rawle Burnett, Mike
Mobley and Demont
Vann make this a unit
to be watcned. They
Bowden averaged five
tackles per outing last
season. Quintas Gat-
son could move into
the vacant spo", with
Brett Badget and Mike
Reives on his heels.
Aggies - Rams Clash
More Than Just a Game
For years the folks in Greensboro
and Winston-Salem have gotten
fired up over the North Carolina
A&T - Winston-Salem State rivalry.
No matter what the sport, there's
been a lot of clamor over the ri
valry.
This year there's even more to
the fight between neighbors. After
all, the Aggies have Bill Hayes lead
ing them. And it wasn't five months
ago that Hayes was leading the
WSSU troops. The backdrop for
this game should be enough to
make it one of the more notable
games in the series between the
school.
The Rams didn't like the Aggies
from the start (and vice-versa).
Now many of the Ram faithful think
that the smug 'ol Aggies have stolen
away the best coach WSSU ever
had.
But what about the players?
Many of them looked up to Hayes
as a father figure. He recruited most
of them personally and helped them
mature from teenagers into young
men. Certainly they'll have mixed
emotions, as they gaze across Aggie
Stadium and see Hayes dressed in
blue and pid. That more them
anything will likely give the Rams
another incentive. They were drilled
by Hayes to always give 100 per
cent.
Let us not forget about Pete
Richardson,’ the Rams' first year
mentor. Richardson stood in the
background for nine years as an
assistant before finally getting his
shot as a head coach. Will he have
the confidence to take it to Hayes
and his Aggies?
After the opening kick, all the
hype will disappear. The game
should come down to the athletes
on the field. WSSU is well-stocked
with experienced veterans, while
A&T has some big holes to .fill on
offense and .defense. While the two
will share a lot terminology and look
a lot alike on both sides of the field,
there should be an obvious differ
ence. Hayes would probably be the
first to admit that his program is in
its first year and has to start from
scratch this season.
Undoubtedly, Hayes will miss
WSSU after seeing his former
squad. As the season progresses
he'll get used to the Aggies and
they'll also come to know him. But
for awhile Hayes will look down the
sideline and wonder what he
could've done with "his" personnel.
Winner, Take All