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Football fever in Georgia
Rams aiming for sixth SIAC title in a row

• Albany State and coach Mike White again enter the season with high expectations.

Scott Chancey

MACON — Albany State football coach Mike White has quite the superstition — one that has proved true in recent years.

When his first tee shot was long and straight at the program’s annual golf benefit each year at Flint River Municipal Golf Course, the Rams have won at least a share of the SIAC championship. In his eight years as coach, since taking over for the retired Hamp Smith, White has led the Rams to four consecutive conference crowns. They won the first three outright, and then shared the 2006 title with Tuskegee.

After being asked at Wednesday’s Peach State Pigskin Preview at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon how his first tee shot went at this year’s fund raiser, White just smiled.

“I hit it good,” he said. “And the best thing of all, I hadn’t practiced for it. I just wanted to make contact and not mess up. I was surprised.”

The most consecutive crowns the Rams have won is five in a row during the mid-1990s under Smith.

“I think that’s the challenge,” White said. “I thought to myself years ago it would be special to win five in a row again, but to win more than five also is a goal.”

Quarterback Kisan Flakes also has that same mindset.

“We want the program to win six, seven or eight titles in a row if it can,” Flakes said.

As for linebacker Roderick Cummings, he gave his most recent SIAC championship ring to his grandfather, and his mother, Cheryl, has the other two.

“If I don’t have any, I’ve just got to go out and get another one,” Cummings said.

The Rams’ past two conference crowns seemed improbable at times, with the 2005 crown being won with mostly new starters, and the 2006 title being earned despite a loss to Tuskegee and a continuing quarterback controversy.

While Flakes and Terrance Ransom rotated, the Rams finished 7-4 and reached the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs (they lost, 34-28, to Newberry in the first round).

White said Wednesday that Ransom is academically ineligible for the fall, so Flakes — an Illinois transfer — is the undisputed starter. Flakes played in every game last season, starting three, and completed 53 percent of his passes for 753 yards and four touchdowns. His rushing total was fourth on the team with 199 yards and three scores.

“It makes me a bit more comfortable,” Flakes said about being the sole starter. “You know you’re going to make mistakes every now and then, but at least you’re not worrying after every single mistake that you will get pulled out.”

The Rams, who didn’t have much experience on last year’s offense, return five starters, including running back Gary Neavins, and receivers Nick Kyles and Joshua Johnson. They only return one person on the offensive line, however, in Tim Johnson.

“The offensive line caused so much turmoil concerning the quarterback, wide receiver and running backs,” White said. “When we ran the ball, it seemed like a draw every time because the line would get pushed so far back.”

On defense — normally a source of pride for White, who also is the team’s defensive coordinator — the Rams return only four starters. Cummings and Antonio Fraley return at linebackers, but second-team All-SIAC player Eric Crosby was a senior last season, and two-time SIAC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team AP Little All-American Alton Pettway is now a free agent with the St. Louis Rams.

Although Ryan Davis, who played in five games last season and made seven total tackles, appears suited to replace Cosby, a player has yet to be found to fill in for Pettway.

“There hasn’t been anybody yet,” White said. “I don’t know who can step into his shoes.”

Cummings, who tied for the team lead in total tackles with 77 last year, including 10.5 for loss, is confident the Rams’ defense can succeed regardless of who White sends onto the field.

“Coach White won’t put a player on the field on defense unless he can really make an impact,” Cummings said.

The Rams also lost their entire secondary, including second-team all-conference honoree Roderick Whipple. But on special teams, the Rams should feel the most confident they have in recent years. Punter Randy Allen was a second-team All-Conference pick last season with a 40.5-yard average and 25 kicks inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, and Chad Spencer thrived at place-kicker from last season’s midway point, making 4-of-8 attempts with a long of 40 yards.

Now that the football “preseason” is under way, the next countdown is until fall practice, which begins in early August.

Then, and only then will White begin to learn if his fated tee shot will prove prophetic once again.

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