Nothing Surprising About Shaw's Start 

The Shaw football team is off to a 2-0 start, its best start in 32 years.  The success that the Bears have had thus far seems to be somewhat shocking to those not associated with Shaw football last year, but not to those who saw this team play last season.

Head coach Deondri Clark, along with his excellent coaching staff, consisting of Edwin Bailey (offensive line), Buddy Crutchfield (acting defensive coordinator), Jimmie Johnson (offensive coordinator), Tony High (linebackers), Wayne McLean (assistant head coach/running backs) and Calvin Oxendine (defensive line), have done an outstanding job, mixing the outstanding talent from last year's team in with the talented newcomers.  Taking Bears with names like Campbell, Nunnally, Lewis, Kimbrough, Bransom, Woodard and mixing them with names like Safford, Cary, Mercer and Rhodes has obviously paid off well for Shaw.

Even though the Bears played a club schedule last season, they are currently on pace to surpass a lot of statistics they had last year.  For instance, last year's team averaged 119.0 yards per game.  This year's team 268.0.  Last year's team averaged 127.0 yards passing per game.  This year's team 191.0.  The defense excelled last year and gave up 21.5 points per game.  This year's team 17.0.  The Bears lead the CIAA in scoring offense (39.0), rushing offense (268.0), passing offense (191.0), total offense (459.0), first downs (40) and opponents are only converting 17.4 percent of their first downs against Shaw's defense, which also leads the league.  Shaw players have been named CIAA Player of the Week at their respective position five times, including center Robert Rhodes, who has been named Offensive Lineman of the Week in successive weeks.  Clark was named Coach of the Week this week.

No surprise there.