Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Jones says A&M can't be satisfied

Photo: AAMU quarterback Kelcy Luke, who set a personal best with 301 yards passing on 21 of 32 attempts, has been named Southwestern Athletic Conference offensive player of the week. The senior led the Bulldogs to a 41-10 victory over Clark-Atlanta.
By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

The preseason is over for Alabama A&M and fun was had by all.

The Bulldogs' offense put together back-to-back dominating efforts against Tennessee State and Clark Atlanta and Brawnski Towns' defense wasn't too shabby either.

Still, those games won't matter if A&M doesn't take care of business Saturday night when it opens Southwestern Athletic Conference play against Mississippi Valley State. Kickoff will be at 6:30 at Louis Crews Stadium.

A&M is 2-0. MVSU is 1-1 overall and in the league.

"We're not going to try to make our season against Tennessee State and Clark Atlanta," A&M coach Anthony Jones said. "We can't be satisfied being 2-0.

"I don't want our guys to think we're great because we're not. We've played two good football games and now we're ready to get into conference play. We have to continue to get better. If we don't, everything we've done will be for naught."

While the Bulldogs made it look easy against the Tigers and the Panthers - averaging 45 points and 529 yards in total offense - conference play, Jones says, will be vastly different.

"Everybody turns up the volume," he said. "There's a lot of parity in this league."

The Bulldogs had several newcomers on offense, and they have played major roles.

Tailbacks Ulysses Banks and Anthony Green have combined for 340 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Rashad Johnson is averaging a league-high 21.6 yards per catch and has two touchdowns. Three new starters along the offensive line - center Xavier Manuel and guards Charles Meade and Russell Jackson - have been solid in A&M's running game and in pass protection.

"We're not where we can be," Jones said. "We still have a lot of room for improvement."

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