2010 GOLDEN RAMS FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Eye on the prize

It’s one decade down, who-knows-how-many to go for head coach Mike White at Albany State.

White enters his 11th season leading the guys in gold and blue, having coached the Rams to four straight Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships (2003-06), even more trips to the playoffs and a winning record since 2001 during his time as the field general.

But for White, whose team travels to Kentucky State today for its 2010 — and SIAC — opener, it’s just another football season.

“I really don’t think about looking back and reflecting on my time here,” said White when asked about his accomplishments during his decade in Albany. “I just get ready for the next round. I feel blessed and fortunate that I have a job — and one that’s so good — at my school and a school that I love. I’m just excited about another season.”

To follow the gold brick road to the ultimate prize, the team will need to deal with the bricks, one at a time.

That first one is the Thorobreds, a team the Rams crushed, 45-0, last year. Albany State threw four passing touchdowns in that game, but will focus on its running game this time, thanks to four strong backs led by starter and Appalachian State transfer Robert Welton.

“We gotta run the ball and let our run be our attack,” offensive coordinator Steve Smith said. “That’s our goal, to be efficient in the run game. We’re trying to put the ‘rush’ back in our ‘Gold Rush.’ “

And while there’s plenty of optimism about the season, a wealth of change brings about an equal amount of questions.

While safety Mario Fuller and Co. are back to anchor the defense, the team has had to deal with changes at quarterback, running back, kicker and other positions.

“We gotta keep working (to adjust to the changes),” receivers/special teams coach Kenyan Conner said. “It doesn’t happen overnight, it’s going to happen through time. So if we do more (game) situations, the continuity should (develop).”

It’s something the Rams have dealt with a few times before, so if the focus is there for the players, who’s to say they can’t start White’s second decade off with another SIAC trophy?

“Overall, the goal this year is like it is every year for us: We want to have a good year, win the conference, make the playoffs and improve from the year before,” White said. “The coaches haven’t really changed much from year to year. We’ve been really consistent and it really shows a lot of our staff.”

The Rams will focus on games as they come, but have their eyes on a few in particular this season.

The first big one is against reigning SIAC champ Tuskegee on Sept. 18 — ASU’s third game of the season. The Tigers beat the Rams, 21-19, last season, and while it was a tough loss, what made it worse was that it became the catalyst that started ASU’s rough end to the season, when the team lost three out of its last four games after starting 7-0.

“A loss is a loss,” said White, whose team also lost to bitter rival Fort Valley State last year. “I think the first one always gets you more, but all of them are tough. Our three losses last year, all of them sting.”

Albany State doesn’t play the Wildcats until the season finale in Columbus on Nov. 6, but the Rams have another interesting game the week after facing Tuskegee — Savannah State. The rivalry, once known as the “Music City Rivalry,” was played from 1999-2004 in Macon, but will now be known as the “Rumble in the Swamp,” as it shifts to Waycross this year.

“I’m glad they’re (back) on the schedule,” White said.

And he’s not alone. So are the players, coaches and fans.

“I’m surprised of how much I’ve heard about that game,” White said. ‘Big Mike’ (Mavromichalis) and Freddy Green, those guys are from Savannah and they’re definitely excited about playing them.”

As for the biggest race coming out of fall practice — the starting quarterback slot — White said that since none of the contenders really separated themselves during fall, the team will probably use both Stanley Jennings — a junior-college transfer from Southwest Mississippi Community College — and Wayne Campbell, last year’s backup — until one shows the ability to lead the team consistently. Jennings was named the starter for today’s game, but Campbell will get his share of snaps — maybe even by the second series.

It will be a tough decision because each brings a different skill, style and outlook to the team.

Jennings has impressed with his strong arm and ability to run, while Campbell knows the offense and the team well after playing behind SIAC Player of the Year A.J. McKenna last season

“I’m just going to play my game,” Campbell said. “I’m my own person, and I just do what the coaches ask me to do and lead the team to the best of my ability. I’m not necessarily filling (A.J.’s) shoes, but (I’m going to try to) just keeping the tradition going.”

“My goals are to go into every practice, day by day, every game, game by game, and get a little bit better. (I just want to) play hard and have fun. Those are the most important things.”

Jennings is also confident about what he, and the team, can do this year.

“Individually, (I’m going to try) to do everything I can to make the team better,” Jennings said. “(But as a team), shoot, we’re going to win every game.”