Albany State players thrilled to have second chance at Tuskegee

ALBANY — Albany State coaches may not have said much about it, but when the Rams line up against Tuskegee tonight in the SIAC Championship Game, most of the players will be getting their wish.

The scenario couldn’t be more perfect. Both teams were expected to win their respective divisions in the SIAC, then Tuskegee was the preseason pick to finish as the conference champions.

Then, the Tigers were the last team to put a blemish on Albany State’s record, taking a 20-12 victory over the Rams on Sept. 13 when the two met in the White Water Classic in Phenix City, Ala.

Defensive lineman Damien Goosby didn’t hold back when he was asked last week who he’d like to see in the championship game before Tuskegee played Miles College for the West Division crown.

“I’d kind of like to have a rematch with Tuskegee,” Goosby said. “I felt like we should have beaten them earlier in the season.”

The Rams will have their chance tonight at 8 in the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., marking the first time the SIAC has held the title game in a city other than Atlanta.

Albany State, winners of seven straight, is anxious to show the Tigers they’re a much-improved football team since the two met in Week 2 of the season.

“Both teams have gotten a lot better since the first game, but we’ve just got to keep working hard in practice and hopefully everything will work out on our side,” ASU senior defensive end Robert Bryant said.

There is also much bigger stakes than just winning the conference title. The winner could land a spot in the NCAA Division II national playoffs.

Albany State coach Mike White said he has talked a little bit about the postseason, but the Rams’ goal is simple — just keep winning.

“We’re fighting for our lives right now,” White said. “We have to win to extend the season. If we don’t play well, that’s going to be it. We feel very fortunate to be in this championship game to have an opportunity to fight for a playoff spot. But we know we have to play well.”

Tuskegee is also playing well. They have won seven straight and their offense is tops in the conference. White said the Rams have their hands full trying to slow down the Tigers.

“We were hoping to get the opportunity to play one of them again,” he said. “They’re a good football team and they’re playing well. They are putting up major points, and they’re confident, you can tell by what they’re doing offensively. The ball is going everywhere, deep, short, they’re running inside, running outside, it’s hard for teams to slow them down right now.”

The Rams are searching for their 15th SIAC title in program history and seek their first consecutive titles since winning four straight from 2003-06.

An appearance in the national playoffs would be ASU’s first since 2011.

But White doesn’t want the Rams to get ahead of themselves.

“It’s been a good year, they’ve been a good group and they have worked hard and done everything we’ve asked them to do,” White said. “This is where we hoped this team would be at the end of the year. If you had said we were 7-2 and playing for a title, I would have taken it. This is right where we want to be.”

And the players feel that way too.