Washington Discusses N.C.A&T's Upcoming Game vs. ECU

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- “It’s said that from Game 1 to Game 2 will be the most improvement your team will have throughout the season, so I’m taking that into this ballgame. We must improve. There must be a significant difference from last week to this week.”

Coach Washington on what he learned about his team:

“I learned a little. They will not quit, they finish. They play hard, and they play until the whistle blows.”

Coach Washington talks about his four new starters on the offensive line:

“They played against a great defensive line (Jacksonville State). Not good, great. And I thought they held their own. They played well enough for us to win, but there’s room for improvement.”

Coach Washington on the Aggies offense:  

“As far as scoring? I think the offense did what we expected them to do.  And our philosophy is the same. Stop the run, protect the football and win the kicking game.  And I think we did that. We weren’t able to protect against the pass but we were able to stop the run. I thought the offense protected the football, and we had minimal turnovers. That young man (Malik Wilson) returned the kick at the perfect time. I think that was the most significant part. A lot of times it’s not the play that you make, it’s when you make that play. See that was after a touchdown so the momentum had shifted away, and he took that thing back 98 yards and brought it back home for us, so we’re grateful to him.”

Coach Washington on whether North Carolina A&T is still underrated:

“We can play. If they haven’t realized that by now, then that’s on them.  What they think doesn’t really bother me honestly.”

Coach Washington talks about the significance of N.C. A&T’s win over Jacksonville State:

“I think it speaks volumes honestly, but what I don’t want to happen is our heads get big and we have to worry about deflating. The fact remains that we didn’t play well and that what we’re going to harp on this week. We did not play well.”

Coach Washington on how healthy N.C. A&T is after its first game:  

“I’ll learn more today. We’ve got a few guys that are banged up obviously, but that’s after every contest. But today when we get out on the grass and watch them run and move around a little bit then you’ll know more. Some are going to think they’re hurt and some are going to think they’re not hurt but they actually are injured. It’s best to wait until you get out there and actually see them move around.”

Coach Washington on ECU:

“I don’t know what to say other than they’re a football team. They’re big, they’re fast and strong. But so are we. But like I said last week, put the ball down and let’s see.”

Coach Washington on Lamar Raynard:

“Listen, that young man is a winner. They can say what they like, he has won 27 straight ball games as a starter. That speaks for itself. Sometimes you don’t have to polish certain awards. They stand out on their own merit.  He stands out on his own merit.”

Coach Washington on playing an FBS program:

“That’s the only challenge. We’re going in as the underdog. The way I see it, they put 11 out there, we put 11 out there and let’s play.”

Coach Washington on recruiting:

“One, we play hard. Two, we graduate. Maybe I should reverse that because we graduate first. But those two things I can assure you of. We’re a winning program and above everything else, we are going to do things the right way. You’ll never have to worry about us doing anything wrong. We’ll keep everything on the table.”

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION