The Huntsville Times Original Story
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - It's been six years since Texas Southern came to town riding a 16-game losing streak and upset Alabama A&M on homecoming.
The Tigers came away with a stunning 17-7 victory over the Bulldogs that October day in 2005, but Johnny Baldwin, a member of that team and now a defensive assistant at A&M, remembers it like it happened yesterday.
"That loss still bothers me to this day," Baldwin said Monday. "It was inexcusable. We just didn't come to play that day."
Baldwin reminded the team of that embarrassing loss during a meeting on Sunday.
A&M finds itself in a similar situaton this week with Mississippi Valley State, riding a 16-game losing streak, coming to town for homecoming. Kickoff is 1 p.m. from Louis Crews Stadium and the game can be heard on 90.9 FM.
The Bulldogs (3-2, 2-1) are determined not to let history repeat itself against the Delta Devils (0-5, 0-4).
"I don't want to be a part of that," inside linebacker Willie Fuller said. "We really have to focus on the task at hand so we won't let this game slip out of our hands and potentially knock us out of the (SWAC) Eastern Division race. We've got to take every day serious."
Like Baldwin, A&M coach Anthony Jones also reminded his team about that loss to Texas Southern.
"You've got to do everything you can to make sure they understand what we're about the face," said Jones, who is 8-1 all-time against MVSU. "Valley is not goinng to come in here and lie down. They want to win just like we want to win. They're coming here this weekend motivated and excited about this opportunity and we better we ready to play."
The Bulldogs downed the Delta Devils 21-7 last season, but it wasn't easy.
While MVSU is 0-5 this season, it has played better in recent weeks.
MVSU led Prairie View at halftime two weeks ago before falling 43-34. The Delta Devils were tied 21-all with Southern going into the fourth quarter last Saturday before falling 28-21.
MVSU coach Karl Morgan, formerly the defensive coordinator at the University of North Alabama, says his team is on the verge of breaking through.
"We still have to find a way to win in the end, but we're closer than we've been and that's all the reason to keep the spirit and momentum going in the right direction," Morgan said. "Hopefully, that elusive win will come in the next few weeks.
"That's the thing that's keeping hope alive. If we hadn't been close weren't closer, that would be a harder sell. They see themselves getting better. They see the finish line and they're trying to lean to the tape."
Jones is well aware of how much MVSU has improved. He hopes he can convince his team of that.
"They're getting closer and closer each week," Jones said. "They're starting to learn how to put an entire football game together and they're being very, very competitive. That team is hungry and they're looking for an opportunity to win.
"Sooner or later, they're going to get over the hump and hand coach Morgan his first victory. I hope it won't be against us."
