Page 8 Hr- News Argus
Sports
'l’ues(la\', Sepleniher 21, 2010
www.liienewsargus.coni
Perfect debut for Ram football
For the first time since 1991, the WSSU Rams are off to a
3-0 start on the gridiron.
Jaye Cole
Assistant Editor
jcolel 09@wssu.edu
The 2010 Rams football squad,
which has been re-appointed
to Division II Cl A A Athletics,
has already turned the tide of
last year's losing season.
The Rams only managed to
put up a single win during
their 2009-10 run.
During the offseason, the
Rams underwent a number of
administrative, personnel and
coaching transitions. Winston-
Salem State brought in veteran
coach and Fayetteville native
Connell May nor as head coach,
offensive coordinator and the
quarterbacks coach.
Maynor engineered the 2009
CIAA Champion Fayetteville
State University Broncos
offense.
The Rams won their first
game of the season 47-13
against conference rival
Virginia Union on Aug. 28 at
the A.J. Simeon Stadium in
High Point.
"People didn't expect us to
win...but we did," Maynor
said.
WSSU outscored the Virginia
Union Panthers every quarter,
and dominated nearly every
aspect of the game.
Maynor used a balanced
attack on offense, with his team
accumulating 207 yards in the
air and 186 yards rushing. A
couple of touchdowns on the
ground from running back
Nic Cooper, a junior business
administration major from
Clinton, N.C. helped to solid
ify their victory at the inau
gural Furniture City Gridiron
Classic.
Sept. 4, their next contest, in
Greensboro, pitted the Rams
against the Aggies of N.C.
A&T.
The fierce rivalry, also known
as the '1-40 Showdown,' would
give WSSU an opportunity
to show the world of college
sports how they would fare
against a Division I-AA team.
The WSSU football team did
not disappoint.
In front of a near capacity
crowd, the Rams displayed
what Coach Maynor described
as "intestinal fortitude."
"With A&T, we had to come
from behind and won in the
fourth quarter, and that shows
that these guys aren't quitters,"
Maynor said.
Defensive back Alton
Keaton, a junior accounting
major from Fayetteville, and
fullback Tyrone Goldston, a
freshman accounting major
from Goldsboro, turned in
solid performances to aid in
the Rams victory.
However, it was the efforts
of quarterback Kameron Smith,
sophomore economics major
and a transfer from the U.S.
Naval Academy that secured a
win for the Rams.
Smith mustered up a 78-yard
game winning drive that
included a 13-yard pass, and
finally a 7-yard scramble into
the end zone. His scoring drive
and the point after touchdown
put the score at 21-14, leav
ing the Aggies 41 seconds to
answer.
"We didn't have to win the
A&T game. That's not a con
ference game for us," Maynor
said.
"But that was big for them,
for bragging rights for the stu
dent body, for the community
and for Ram pride. That's what
that 'W' did."
Sept. 11 the Rams marched
into the NCCU O'Kelly-
Riddick Stadium where they
extended their streak to 3-0.
They ousted the Eagles 34-27.
A host of Rams displayed
their physical prowess as
WSSU mounted a come from
behind victory that stunned yet
another Division 1-AA football
team.
"Our goal is to get better
every day, and every drill that
we do, individually so that we
can get better as a team so we
can win games," Maynor said.
Maynor said he implements
that philosophy when it comes
to winning football games.
"We can't look ahead trying
to go 10-0 and we're in week
five.
"We gotta stay focused and
take it one day at a time, one
game at a time, and respect all
and fear none."
After 38 years, baseball returns to WSSU
Jordan Holloway
Sports Reporter
jhoUoimyl 06@wssu.edu
Let's Play Ball!
Baseball fans wait every spring to hear those
words. Now Rams fans only have to wait until
the spring to hear those words.
For the first time since 1973 Winston-Salem
State will have a baseball team.
WSSU is now one of eight schools that have a
baseball program. The CIAA requires colleges
and universities to have a baseball program to
join the conference.
The Rams will be led by Kevin Ritsche, interim
head men's baseball coach.
He is no stranger to WSSU. Ritsche has served
as assistant professor of exercise science in the
Department of Human Performance and Sport
Sciences since 2006.
Ritsche was also a standout player on the
diamond where he played catcher and was also
a two-time Academic All- American while play
ing at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth,
Minn, in 2003 and 2004.
He is working on his doctorate in Exercise
Physiology.
According to a recent WSSU press release.
Chancellor Donald Reaves is excited about a
WSSU baseball team.
Having played baseball as a little leaguer
Reaves said baseball is a great game.
Reaves said he hopes a WSSU baseball team
GAME BALL
Awarded to Alton Keaton
Pamela Manneh
Argus Contributor
Fayetteville native Alton Keaton was selected as the
Coach's Game Ball recipient because of his outstanding per
formance Sept. 4 during the "1-40 Showdown" against NC
A&T. Keaton forced one fumble and assisted in five tackles.
"The returning player is no stranger to big games," said
Rams defensive coordinator Kienus Boulware. "He really
drove the defensive line into momentum," Boulware said.
"His ability to lead vocally and physically really contrib
uted to the big win. 1 am completely honored and if it were
not for his dedicated teammates the big win wouldn't of
occurred. No team is perfect. We still have glitches to iron
out, but it feels good to know that the campus is recogniz
ing individual and team success."
An essential key defensive player, Keaton a junior
accounting major, was the Most Valuable Player at Douglas
Byrd High School.
Keaton is a cancer survivor.
will generate more interest in the sport.
"We took 10 guys from the 40 that came
out [for tryouts]," Ritsche said. "Out of the 40
people only a dozen had high school baseball
experience."
When WSSU returned to the CIAA, the con
ference had to revise the schedule it had origi
nally planned to use.
"Even though the schedule isn't done yet we
are preparing our players as if they are going on
the field tomorrow," Ritsche said.
The season opens with a conference game
against Shaw University Feb. 9, 2011.
One of the biggest challenges that the Rams
baseball team will face during the season is
keeping the interest of the student body.
"Everybody loves to win, so 1 feel that if we
win then we will keep the attention of the school
and be able to compete with the basketball and
football teams when it comes to being a popular
sport on campus," Ritsche said.
The new baseball team will face another chal
lenge.
"We have been using the old practice football
field below the C.E. Gaines Center.
"Even though we cannot use the field for hit
ting or outfielders practice it's better than not
having a place at all," Ritsche said.
The team also needs a fieldfor home games.
"Athletic Director Bill Hayes is working very
hard to find us a quality place to practice and
play our home games," Ritsche said.
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