Breaking down the season | Hampton University football preview

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HAMPTON, Virginia --As a college quarterback, Connell Maynor learned the importance of continuity. Of everyone, pardon the cliché, being on the same page. His first team at Hampton University didn't have that last season, at least not enough. That was to be expected, given the new staff bringing in a new system and no one quite understanding the other.

"It was a learning curve where I had to learn them and they had to learn me," Maynor said. The result: a 3-9 season, the program's worst finish since 1991. The offense was mistake prone, and the defense couldn't stop water. And yet, you could argue at least six of their losses could have gone the other way with better execution and fewer turnovers. That's all behind the Pirates now, and 2015 is here. Maynor feels the learning curve is over now, that he knows his kids and they know what he wants from them.

"It's a night-and-day difference from last year," he said. "I think we can really make some major improvements." A few minute later, he chuckles. "Every coach in America probably feels good about his team right now. On Sept. 5, that's when we'll really find out what we've got."

THE COACH, CONNELL MAYNOR, Sixth year (48-15, 3-9 in one season at HU).


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