GAMEDAY
Who: Texas Southern Tigers (0-2 overall, 0-0 SWAC) at Alabama A&M Bulldogs (0-3, 0-0)
When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m.
Where: Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville, Ala.
Radio/TV/Internet: WJAB-FM 90.9/No/wjab.org
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BULLDOG BITES
Welcome back
Today is the Louis Crews Classic and the Alabama A&M Department of Athletics honored former players of late Head Coach Louis Crews. About 50 former Bulldogs were feted at a luncheon and will be recognized in a pregame ceremony. Crews is the winningest coach in the program's history with a 94-52-3 record in 15 seasons.
Grizzled vets
The Bulldogs are fielding the most veteran lineup in Head Coach James Spady's four years on The Hill. Alabama A&M returns seven starters on offense, eight on defense and all of the team's specialists.
Trailblazer Totten
Bulldogs quarterbacks coach Willie "Satellite" Totten has been honored as a Trailblazer by the Mississippi Valley State University Department of Athletics. Totten was recognized with his former coach Archie "Gunslinger" Cooley and teammate Jerry Rice. Totten is a member of seven halls of fame, including the College Football Hall of Fame and the HBCU Football Hall of Fame
Davis for the defense
Preseason All-SWAC linebacker Kenny Davis leads the SWAC in total tackles with 27 (16 solo, 11 assists) and his 16 solo stops lead the conference, too. He is averaging 9 tackles per game – second-highest average in the SWAC.
Big Twin is back
Linebacker Bryan Brower returned to the Bulldog lineup after missing most of 2016 with a leg injury. The 2015 second team All-SWAC performer led A&M in tackles two years ago and is third on the team this year with 21 tackles, 7th most in the SWAC. He is the twin brother of running back Byran Brower – both have already graduated.
All-SWAC
There are five preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selections wearing Maroon and White – the most in Spady's term. Running back Jordan Bentley; linebacker Kenneth Davis; defensive back Tere Calloway and kicker Nick Carden were named to the All-SWAC preseason first team and offensive lineman Austin Simmons was a second team selection.
Making the switch
Harvey Harris, who was one of the Bulldogs' most reliable running backs the past three seasons, converted to the secondary for his senior year. Harris, a speedster who rushed for more than 1,100 yards in his career, is second on the Bulldogs – and 6th in the SWAC - with 22 tackles (13 solo, 9 assists) and 1 pass breakup. Â
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From the left
Among the 97 punters in FCS, Nick Carden has made the most punts (29) and has the most yards punting – 1,111. Nick's 12 punts against UAB is the most in a single game this season in the FCS.
Something special
The special teams have limited UAB, Vanderbilt and South Alabama to just 199 yards in kickoff and punt returns. Punter Nick Carden has had seven punts downed inside the 20 and three were downed inside the 3. The punt coverage team has held its opponents to just 89 yards on 14 punt returns for a 6.36-yard average.
No flag zone
The Bulldogs are among the least penalized teams in the nation. A&M is tied for 14th at 36 yards in penalties per game; 22nd with an average of five penalties per game; 24th in least total penalty yards at 108; and tied for 39th with 15 total penalties.
Return of the returner
Return specialist Octayvious Miles is back after missing the 2016 season. In 2015, he was second in the nation in kickoff return yards while setting school records for a season (849 yards); game (192 yards vs. Alabama State); and longest return (99 yards vs. Jackson State). Against UAB, he returned two kickoffs for 33 yards, his longest was 19 yards.
