Today was supposed to be fan/media day at Chavis Park. After the weather forecasters predicted that it would be sunny and 82 degrees today, it preceded to rain all day. We had to move everything into Chavis Park Gymnasium (thank you to everyone over a Chavis that worked with us). The wet day really ruined all the really big plans. We had everything scheduled for outside including having fans be able to take pictures and have posters and footballs autographed by players and coaches. Two of the five television stations in town showed up for the event which was rather disappointing. The daily newspaper showed up as well. The daily newspaper interviewed CIAA All-Rookie performers, defensive backs, Torrance Nunnally and Khaleel Sutherland. People don't really know it right now because they are both only sophomores but this will be the best safety combination that you will find in college. Both are extremely hard hitters, sure tacklers and very smart ball players. Add to them Devin Chatman at one corner and All-American Shawn Woodard at the other corner and you have perhaps the best secondary in the nation. The daily also interviewed the "workhorse," running back Reginald Price.
One television station interviewed Woodard and fellow pre-season All-American center Robert Rhodes and the other station interviewed offensive tackle Courtney Safford, a CIAA All-Rookie performer last year, and last year's CIAA Rookie of the Year, quarterback Jermonty Kimbrough. (I will not reveal which stations were there as not to reveal which stations were not there even though I'm sure some would like me to, but I'll give you a hint as to which station interviewed Safford and Kimbrough: It's the station you always see Shaw on and on there station the news is always on. They actually do a great job of covering us.)
I guess the interviews went pretty well as I was running back and forth between the interviews and the gym where the guys headshots were being taken by our favorite photographer Lemmy. Coach Clark interviewed with all three mediums.
At the same time the interviews were going on pictures were being taken by class: freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors. Coach Crutchfield was facilitating that, making sure the guys were taking there pictures in order (Thanks, Crutch.) After that we did group shots by position and then the team picture, which took a while to set up but with the help of William Hill and Chris Moore we finally got the pictures taken. We have a good looking team!
During the course of the picture taking session I had a chance to talk to some of the guys, old and new. I talked to Woodard, Price, Rhodes, Travis Wells and Derrick Smith, extensively. I met some of the new guys like Marlon Jones, a running back transfer from the University of Connecticut (U-Conn), Damario Thompson and Darrell Jenkins. Let's see come to think of it they are all from Jacksonville, FL. A lot of the guys on the team are from Jacksonville and from Florida. The coaching staff does and excellent job of recruiting athletes from Florida, maybe the best high school football playing state in the world. I also talked to a couple of guys that were associated with the team last year but didn't play much, who will definitely have an impact on this year's team. Those guys were Chris Joseph, Anthony Frost and Robbie Henson. As a matter of fact Henson was surprised that I knew his name. "Did somebody tell you my name?" he asked. I told him that that is part of my job and I know all the players that were with the team last year. These three guys are going to bring so much speed to our team this year.
You know I am really excited about this Shaw Bear Sports Radio Network (SBSRN). There are currently 11 stations on the network and the network will reach all the way from Rock Hill, SC to beyond Baltimore, MD and points in between. What's that about 500 miles? Not to mention of course will be world wide on the Internet as well. Alumni, fans and supporters will be able to hear Shaw football in many places and fans in cities that have a CIAA school will be able to hear Shaw football as well. (As a matter of fact, cities that have MEAC schools, ACC schools, Atlantic 10 schools, SAC schools, etc. will be able to hear Shaw football.) Speaking about the radio network, Carlos McCormick, who will be the sideline reporter and also will host the Postgame Locker Room Show, came out today and talked extensively with players and particularly the coaching staff.
Anyway after the pictures, the guys ran very briefly in the gym. They ran in groups about 40 times back and forth the length of the gym. The guys ran in groups by position and in the defensive line category, defensive end Edwin Winstead would usually be ahead of the pack. Amongst the wide receivers the leader would be Anthony Frost. All the guys ran hard and it was a good workout.
Well that's all for today. Let's hope the weather gets better so the guys can go out and resume there regular practices on their road to the championship.
