Getting sacked painful for A&T's Lee

Coach Alonzo Lee was fired on December 1, 2010, now one of four headed coaches sacked in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

 GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The wound is still open, the injury still fresh. There's no blood, no bruising, nothing visible at all. But you can hear the hurt in his voice. Alonzo Lee isn't the N.C. A&T football coach anymore. And the tough old linebacker -- a Division II All-American in his playing days -- didn't get to say goodbye to his players.

"It's like getting your heart cut out," Lee said.

The last team meeting was the sleepy Saturday after Thanksgiving, one week after the last loss in the Aggies' 1-10 season. "We sat down and really talked about being totally committed," Lee said. "I told them, 'Next season starts today, and it starts in study hall. ... We can't change what happened on the field this year. Let's win off the field in the classroom.' "



N.C. A&T fires football coach

GREENSBORO — N.C. A&T fired football coach Alonzo Lee on Monday after one year, 10 months and 13 days on the job. Lee ends his first job as a head coach with a 6-16 record. George Ragsdale, a former star running back at A&T and an Aggies assistant coach for 12 seasons, will oversee the program until the school hires a new coach.

“We’re going to identify the best candidate as quickly as we can,” said Earl Hilton, A&T’s interim athletics director. “What shape the search takes will be determined by how quickly we can find the right coach.”

Asked if there were already possible candidates, Hilton responded: “None that I can discuss.” Lee, who inherited a football program penalized by the NCAA for poor performance in its Academic Progress Rate, said the decision took him by surprise.

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Videographer: SpeechlessQue

AMAZING! These two NCA&T clips have eclipsed 1.4 million views (combined) in four months on YouTube. I have not found any other video of an HBCU Marching Band that has had more than a million views on any performance. The A&T's Bed Intruder Song arrangement was one of the best performances of the 2010 football season.  Exceptional performance, outstanding musicianship, and creative showmanship --North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine!  Like FAMU, you were not selected for the 2011 Honda Band Battle Invitational in Atlanta.  Shows you what Honda really knows about marching bands and music.  Stick to econo car production, Honda and leave the marching band selection to the real experts...

North Carolina A&T Dismisses Head Football Coach

Coach Alonzo Lee ends A&T career with 5 wins, 16 losses.

Greensboro, NC -- North Carolina A&T State University announced Monday their head football coach Alonzo Lee was dismissed. Lee was named head football coach January 2009 and finished the 2010 season with a 1-10 record.

According to a statement from the school, George Ragsdale, current A&T assistant head football coach, will serve as interim head football coach until a new head coach is named. "Ragsdale's collegiate and professional experience will prove to be beneficial to our football program during this time of transition," said A&T Chancellor Harold L. Martin, Sr.

Aggies Head Football Coach Out After 1-Win Season

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- North Carolina A&T State University has fired head football coach Alonzo Lee after Lee's teem turned in a 1-10 performance this season, the university announced on Monday. Lee was named head coach in January 2009. Before being named as head coach, Lee served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at A&T from 2003-2005.

A&T fires football coach Lee

Lee was fired Monday after the Aggies went 1-10 with losses to arch rivals N.C. Central and Division II Winston-Salem State. Assistant coach George Ragsdale was named interim head coach while the search for a replacement unfolds. Ragsdale was interim coach for four games when Lee Fobbs was fired during the 2008 campaign. Lee finished his A&T stint with a 5-16 record.

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Sylvester's TD helps FAMU prevail over N.C. A&T in OT

Greensboro, N.C. - Redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Trainor has never been shy about saying he could take the Florida A&M football team to a possible Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

He got off to a good start Saturday in his first collegiate start, carrying the Rattlers to a 22-19 victory in overtime over North Carolina A&T. Trainor, who just two years ago was playing for North Florida Christian, spent the afternoon at Aggies Stadium mixing his booming passes with the bulldozing running of Philip Sylvester. What the duo accomplished, along with two big interceptions by linebacker Brandon Hepburn, kept alive FAMU's chance at the MEAC title. It improved to 6-3, 5-1 in the MEAC with two games remaining.

NC A&T's Lee has maintained touch with Taylor

GREENSBORO, N.C. — One heck of a chess match unfolded Saturday afternoon at Aggie Stadium. Joe Taylor sent his Florida A&M Rattlers to checkmate Alonzo Lee's North Carolina A&T Aggies. At the end, the Rattlers captured Lee's king, 22-19, even though it took overtime.

No surprise there that the football game played out the way it did. Joe Taylor knows Alonzo Lee and vice versa. They went at each other with a sense of purpose — Lee looking for a win and Taylor looking for something spectacular from the redshirt freshman he decided to start at quarterback over Martin Ukpai.

Former Lincoln player starring at N.C. A&T

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Despite its losing record coming into Saturday's game, North Carolina A&T has been getting impressive individual performances each week. The list includes former Lincoln High School standout D'Vonte Graham.

Never mind that at times he has to cope with homesickness. Graham has been the most efficient player in the secondary for the Aggies. Coming into the game Graham was tied for the most interceptions in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with four. In addition to 11 tackles, he also has eight pass breakups. He picked off Florida A&M's Austin Trainor twice Saturday.

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ATTENDANCE: 7,242

TONIGHT: 7:30 p.m. B-CU and NCA&T ready for close-up with nation on ESPNU

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Followers of college football's second tier (formerly Division I-AA; formally the Football Championship Subdivision) have likely been wondering about what's behind Bethune-Cookman's turnaround this season.

They'll get their best chance yet to take a look for themselves tonight as B-CU, ranked 12th in the national FCS poll, plays North Carolina A&T at Daytona Beach's Municipal Stadium, and the game will be televised live on ESPN's college-dedicated channel, ESPNU.

"It's still football," B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said. "You still have to play on a 100-yard field between the white lines. It hasn't disrupted us at all. We're getting prepared for the game and will be ready to play."

Hines was the missing ingredient

The North Carolina A&T football team earned its first win of the season on Oct. 23 with a 52-32 victory over Howard. The win ends a 10-game losing streak for the Aggies and is their first since defeating Howard 30-19 on Oct. 24, 2009. "More excited for them to see the hard work and all those things pay off because they have been working hard," said head coach Alonzo Lee. "They have been getting out there doing great things."

The star of the game for the Aggies was George Hines, the standout outfielder for the Aggies baseball team. He started for the second consecutive game on Saturday after making his debut in last weeks lost to Delaware State. Hines went 12-16 passing for 235 yards and three touchdowns, crediting the coaching staff for his preparation and knowing where the Bison defense would be.

"Of Course George Hines with that addition...

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North Carolina A&T Aggies Blow Out Howard Bison, 52-32

The Howard Bison may not be winning, but they are progressing. Although they fell to 1-6 after suffering a 52-32 road loss to the North Carolina A&T Aggies on Oct. 23, Howard scored their highest point total this season behind freshman quarterback Randy Liggins, Jr. Howard entered the game averaging just 11 points per game, but lit up the scoreboard in the losing effort.

Howard turned the ball over five times, and North Carolina A&T took full advantage, jumping out to a 14-0 lead after Jeremy Graham returned a fumble 38 yards for a score on Howard's opening drive of the game. Howard battled back behind Liggins, who threw consecutive scoring strikes to Brandon Drayton and Daley Gunter for 56 and 31 yards, but the team failed both two-point conversions to make it 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Aggies get first victory

GREENSBORO -- N.C. A&T coach Alonzo Lee couldn't help but crack a furtive smile before addressing the media following his team's 52-32 runaway win against Howard. When your team came in on a 10-game losing streak -- a run that began at last year's homecoming -- you're allowed to smile.

Lee reverted to his usual stoic demeanor after a few seconds, but there was no question how much the victory meant to him and the program. "I first want to thank God for a long-time-coming victory," Lee said. "There's no doubt I was just as excited for the young men."

Gallery:N.C. A&T 52, Howard 32

ATTENDANCE: 6,351

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Thinking Out Loud: Aggie-vation

One of Tuesday's editorials will react to the firing of N.C. A&T Athletics Director Wheeler Brown in the wake of a student's death during an "unofficial" track tryout in August.

A&T didn't require a mandatory physical and sickle cell screening that could have averted the tragedy that claimed the life of sophomore Jospin "Andre" Milandu. Wins and losses are definitely not life-and-death matters.

But there is a lot of grumbling in Aggieland about problems on the field as well. Brown may have been in hot water anyway.

Editorial: Taking account at A&T

This did not have to happen. The N.C. A&T student who died during an “unofficial” tryout for the track team had a potentially life-threatening condition that should have been detected in advance.

Twenty-year-old Jospin “Andre” Milandu collapsed on Aug. 19 during the workout and later died at Moses Cone Hospital. An autopsy revealed that the Knightdale sophomore had suffered from physical exertion and complications from sickle cell trait, a genetic condition that has claimed the lives of other college athletes.

Of all people, A&T athletics officials should have known better. In 2008, an Aggie football player, Chad Wiley, collapsed following a practice and died of complications from heat stroke. He also had carried the sickle cell trait.

Batter up: New Aggies QB has baseball skills

GREENSBORO, N.C. — After a two-month search, N.C. A&T football coach Alonzo Lee has found his quarterback. On the baseball team. George Hines, a redshirt senior and three-year starter in center field for the Aggies, will be A&T's quarterback for the final four games, Lee said Monday.

"He's more than just an athlete who wants it," Lee said. "He's a guy who wants to be a student of the game. The other guys see that, and that leadership made the difference. He's our guy going down the stretch. ... We'll do a little rotation with the wildcat (offense), but he's going to be our main guy."

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Morgan State spoils homecoming for North Carolina A&T

It's safe to say Delonte "Smoke" Williams has settled into his new role with the Bears. Morgan's new quarterback ran three touchdowns and scored on a two-point conversion, leading his team to a conference win over the Aggies in front of a homecoming crowd of 21,500 at Aggies Stadium.

The three-touchdown mark by Williams was the most for Morgan State (3-3, 2-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) since former standout Chad Simpson ran for three touchdowns against Savannah State in 2007. "I think I did pretty good today," Williams said. "I feel that the coaching staff did a good job preparing me, and as a result it felt kind of easy out there for me."



Aggies lose 10th straight game, 7th straight homecoming‎ 

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- For the seventh year in a row, the homecoming crowd at N.C. A&T went home unhappy.

Morgan State spoiled the 2010 edition with a 27-14 victory over the Aggies. A&T (0-6, 0-3 MEAC) didn't score in the second half despite being in the red zone four times. The Aggies turned it over on downs twice, lost a fumble and missed a 30-yard field-goal attempt to lose their 10th in a row -- a slide that began at last year's homecoming.

"We've got to be able to finish," coach Alonzo Lee said. "You look at the opportunities, and then we had turnovers and penalties. We had some open receivers that we just didn't hit. Shelton (Morgan) hasn't stepped up. We have to continue to get better at quarterback." The Aggies fumbled three times, losing two. Morgan was intercepted once. Eight penalties cost A&T 72 yards.

Attendance: 21,500

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North Carolina Central Eagles host North Carolina A&T Aggies

Complete Game Notes            Ticket Information

THE GAME 
North Carolina A&T State Univ. “Aggies” vs. North Carolina Central Univ. “Eagles”

THE KICKOFF 
Saturday, September 25, 2010 – Kickoff at 6:00 p.m.

THE SITE 
O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10,000 capacity / Mondoturf) - Durham, N.C.

2010 RECORDS 
North Carolina A&T (0-3); North Carolina Central (1-2 overall) 

MEDIA COVERAGE 
Audio: NCCU Sports Network - flagship station WRJD 1410 AM (Durham), WHNC 890 AM (Henderson), WELS 1010 AM (Kinston), WYRN 1480 AM (Louisburg), WCBQ 1340 AM (Oxford), WEED 1390 AM (Rocky Mount), WXKL 1290 AM (Sanford); NCCUEaglePride.com. Starts at 5:30 p.m.

Video: NCCUEaglePride.com features GameCentral by Stretch Internet ($8.95). Starts at 5:45 p.m. 

NC A&T Aggies kickoff season with four ineligible players & a loss to WSSU

A&T head coach Alonzo Lee prides himself on being an eternal optimist, but even he has to be shaking his head these days when contemplating some of the setbacks that have recently besieged his football team.

Just one game into the 2010 campaign, the Aggies are already searching for answers following a disappointing 21-14 loss to rival Winston-Salem State University last weekend. Contributing to that surprise defeat was the fact A&T saw its top quarterback go down with a possible season-ending knee injury in a preseason scrimmage two weeks ago and, just hours before the Winston game on Saturday, learned that at least four players were declared academically ineligible by the university.

Not exactly the way Lee envisioned the start of his second year in Aggieland. However, don’t expect A&T’s fiery leader to throw in the towel anytime soon.

» GAME PHOTOS: Saturday-Night College Football
WSSU vs. NC A&T - Click to view...

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Bad break means A&T needs new QB

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- On the practice field, the red jersey is a red light. The red jersey means hands off. The red jersey means no contact. The red jersey is no guarantee. Lewis Kindle, the sophomore projected as N.C. A&T's starting quarterback, wore a red jersey when he tore up a knee in the waning days of a hot August training camp.And so the Aggies start the second season of coach Alonzo Lee's rebuilding project Saturday with a quarterback who has never handled a snap in a college game.

Terrence Webb, a redshirt sophomore, played sparingly and made two tackles in four games as a defensive back last year. Now he's the quarterback. "We're going with the best athlete on our team," Lee said. "In the weight room, in practice, in everything we do, Terrence Webb is pound-for-pound the best athlete on our team."

The Aggies were counting on Kindle, who played in four games as a freshman last year and started the last two. He came to camp bigger, stronger and more confident.

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NC A&T Holds Picture Day For The Aggies

Greensboro, NC - The school year is gearing up to start, which means it's time to dust off the cleats, wash the jerseys and of course, put on your best smile. Today was picture day for NC A&T State University's football team. The entire Aggie squad, in their yellow and blue, was on the 50 yard line of Aggie Stadium in Greensboro.





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A&T anxious to work on rebuilding

Year 2 of N.C. A&T’s rebuilding campaign is underway.

The Aggies reported to preseason camp on Sunday; the first practice was Tuesday. “My coaching staff is excited about getting out there,’’ said second-year coach Alonzo Lee. “We believe the players have really put in the hard work necessary to be successful, so we are eager to see how that translates to the field.”

Two Aggies – safety Justin Ferrell and cornerback Quay Long (West Charlotte High) – earned first-team All-MEAC preseason honors. The Aggies ranked ninth in the nation in pass defense last season. Ferrell, who led the conference with six interceptions, started the season at cornerback before moving to safety. “Justin makes us a team that can really get after you blitz-wise because he can cover like a corner,’’ said Lee. “It gives us a chance to play a little more man coverage. His presence really makes us a better defense.”

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Back to work for the North Carolina A&T Aggies‎

GREENSBORO, N.C. — He is N.C. A&T’s most decorated returning football player, the kind of guy any coach would eagerly build his defense around. And yet, Justin Ferrell stood on the lush, manicured grass of Aggie Stadium on Tuesday morning and pointed out his own flaws. Drenched in sweat from A&T’s first football practice under the August sun, Ferrell vowed to be better.

“I really looked forward to this practice because my last two years, as a freshman and sophomore, I really didn’t show the passion I should have,” Ferrell said. “I didn’t show the intensity in practice I should have to get better, to take heed to what the coaches are putting forth to make us better in life and on the field.” This from a first-team All-MEAC defensive back. This from a player who volunteered to move from cornerback to safety last season to help his team. This from the guy who led the league with six interceptions last season.

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RELATED LINKS:

• Gallery:Photos from the first day of practice
• Html:N.C. A&T football: Official site

N.C. A&T scrimmage a real hit parade

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Alonzo Lee made his reputation as a defensive coordinator long before N.C. A&T hired him as its head coach last year. So it should come as no surprise the Aggies' first-team offense couldn't score a touchdown against the second-team defense at the Blue vs. Gold spring game Saturday afternoon at Aggie Stadium. And the first-team defense? It shut out the second-team offense, thanks to Marquis Sutton's interception in the end zone with 35 seconds left.

Patrick Courtney kicked 32- and 37-yard field goals to lead the first-team Blue to a 6-0 victory over the Gold in an intrasquad scrimmage that featured more tackles for losses (15) than completed passes (11). Scrimmage or not, a lot of those tackles were of the pad-popping variety. "We're going to fight defensively. That's my bread and butter," Lee said. "I don't believe in tacklers; I believe in hitters. If you're banging that (running) back, by the fourth quarter he's starting to tip. If you're just tackling him, he's still going to be running his butt off in the fourth quarter."

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North Carolina A&T Aggies goes defensive, Inks 18 players

GREENSBORO, N.C. – For two seasons, the North Carolina A&T defensive line was anchored by Detroit natives Tyre Glasper, Adam Beal and Jarrell Herring. In 2009, the trio combined to make 28 ½ tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including eight sacks as Herring earned All-MEAC honors. But their eligibility ended in 2009, leaving the North Carolina A&T football program with huge holes to fill along the defensive front four. Second-year head coach Alonzo Lee and his staff filled those gaps by signing three defensive linemen, including two defensive ends as part of their 2010 Signing Day class.

In total, Lee announced the signing of 18 players to national letters of intent on Wednesday. Three of those players are from area high schools. “Our goal is to make each class better than the previous,’’ said Lee. “We definitely feel like our class last season was excellent, but this class is really going to challenge that class in terms of talent. I think we took care of our own backyard again, which is crucially important to me in recruiting.”

One of those Triad players is defensive end Daniel McNeil (6-2, 210) out of Greensboro. McNeil led Ragsdale to back-to-back conference championships by recording 117 tackles, 28 sacks and three fumble recoveries over the final two seasons of his career. The other defensive linemen signees include defensive end Dontrail McDaniel (6-2, 225) out of Richland Northeast in Columbia, S.C.; and Derrius Hamlet (6-4, 265) out of Fairfield Central in Columbia.

“We definitely replenished ourselves on the defensive line,’’ said Lee. “I feel like we really enhanced our pass rush with this class. We’ve got some guys with speed that can really come off the football and make things happen.” Lee, who coached five different defenses to top 15 national rankings during his tenure as a defensive coordinator, knows an outstanding defensive line is made by putting solid linebackers behind it. Just as pressing as its need for defensive linemen, the Aggies coaching staff felt it needed a similar push to sign an outstanding class at linebacker.

Greensboro Dudley linebacker Major Bryant is one of five linebackers Lee signed. Bryant runs a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash, and he is a two-time All-State performer. He posted 135 tackles, had 14 sacks, forced four fumbles and recovered five during his senior season. He will join the five other Dudley graduates Lee signed in 2009. The other 2010 Aggie linebacker signees include Marcus Arline (5-11, 225) out of Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Fla.; Christian Insley (6-0, 215) out of Ashbrook in Gastonia, N.C.; Dareon Mays (5-11, 225) out of Union Grove in McDonough, Ga; and Recco Wilson (6-2, 210) from Carman-Ainsworth in Flint, Mich.

“We really needed to step up and sign some big-time talent at the linebacker position, so we can do some things with our (defensive line) front,’’ said Lee. “We signed some heavy hitters. We’ve got some guys that are really going to make you feel it when they hit you.” The Aggies staff went after immediate help along the offensive line as well. Lee believes the Aggies made significant upgrades at the offensive line positions because the four he signed were all being pursued by major Division I schools.

William Robinson III, who attended Riverdale Baptist High and is from Clinton, Md., stands at 6-4 and weighs 290 pounds. He was selected for two all-star games, including the Prince George’s County vs. SMAC All-Star Game. Robinson did not allow a sack his senior season. Center Ronald “RJ” Canty (6-2, 270) out of Chester High in Chester, S.C., really has the coaching staff excited, while Westlake’s Nathan Isles’ (6-5, 285, Atlanta, Ga.) late commitment meant the staff signed the top four linemen on its list. Kortlan Jackson (6-3, 280, St. John’s College HS) out of Upper Marlboro, Md., also signed with the Aggies.

“They are going to have a great opportunity to compete for starting jobs this season,’’ said Lee. “We’re talking about two-and-three star athletes here. Our offense just became a whole lot better with these four guys.” Two defensive backs signed with N.C. A&T, including Jamie Smith (5-10, 170) out of High Point Andrews. Defensive back Travis Crosby (5-11, 180, Charlotte), who attended Victory Christian and West Charlotte High Schools as a prep standout, made the North Carolina Independent Scholastic Athletic Association All-State team as a senior.

The Aggies added to their great group of running backs that includes MEAC Rookie of the Year Michael Mayhew by signing Christopher “CJ” Frederick (5-10, 195, Garner, West Johnston). At the start of the season, rivals.com had him ranked as the No. 1 running back in the state, the 28th ranked athlete in the nation and the 54th ranked running back nationally. Frederick ran for nearly 3,000 yards and scored 43 touchdowns over a two-year span. Fullback Devin Moore (6-2, 245) could be the heir apparent to current fullback Justin Kearney. Moore is out of Charlotte, and he attended East Mecklenburg High.

Harold “DJ” Clower (6-2, 180) is the only quarterback who signed with the Aggies thus far. The Dade City, Fla., native led Pasco High to a 9-2 record and the school’s third straight district championship during his senior season. He threw for 1,617 yards and 15 touchdowns in the process. Braddie Ellison (6-3, 230) is the only tight end in the class. He is out of Brooksville, Fla., and attended Nature Coast Tech. Four of his 10 receptions last season went for touchdowns.

















Coach Alonzo Lee: “We really feel good about this class. Yes, we addressed some needs, but we also brought some guys in here who are ready to compete for playing time right away. That’s what we want. We want guys who are willing to put in the hard work it takes to get on that field and play on Saturdays.”

2010 Aggies Student/Athletes Signed

1. Marcus Arline LB 5-11 225 Daytona Beach, Fla./Mainland
2. Major Bryant LB 5-10 210 Greensboro, N.C./Dudley
3. Ronald “RJ” Canty OL 6-2 270 Chester, S.C./Chester
4. Harold “DJ” Clower QB 6-2 180 Dade City, Fla./Pasco
5. Travis Crosby DB 5-11 180 Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte
6. Braddie Ellison TE 6-3 230 Brooksville, Fla./Nature Coast Tech
7. Christopher “CJ” Frederick RB 5-10 195 Garner, N.C./West Johnston
8. Derrius Hamlet DT 6-4 265 Columbia, S.C./Fairfield Central
9, Christian Insley LB 6-0 215 Gastonia, N.C./Ashbrook
10. Nathan Isles OL 6-5 285 Atlanta, Ga./Westlake
11. Kortlan Jackson OL 6-3 280 Upper Marlboro, Md./St. John’s College HS
12. Dareon Mays LB 5-11 225 McDonough, Ga./Union Grove
13. Dontrail McDaniel DE 6-2 225 Columbia, S.C./Richland NE
14. Daniel McNeil DE 6-2 210 Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale
15. Devin Moore FB 6-2 245 Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg
16. William Robinson III OL 6-4 290 Clinton, Md./Riverdale Baptist
17. Jamie Smith DB 5-10 170 High Point, N.C./Andrews
18. Recco Wilson LB 6-2 210 Flint, Mich./Carman-Ainsworth

From Aggies Press Release

North Carolina A&T Aggies adds 3 recruits

North Carolina A&T has signed three more football players to grants in aid. Two recruits are from Tallahassee, Fla., which brings the total count of Tallahassee players in the 2009 recruiting class to four. The total number of players in head coach Alonzo Lee’s first recruiting class as the Aggies head coach stands at 25.

North Carolina A&T head coach Alonzo Lee

The Tallahassee signees are D’Vonte Graham (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) and Brandon Hoover (6-foot, 205 pounds). Graham, a defensive back, recorded 12 pass breakups and picked off three passes last season. On offense, he caught 30 passes for 379 yards and five touchdowns. “We’re looking for him to be outstanding cover corner for us,’’ Lee said. “He can definitely run. He has been clocked at 4.3 (seconds) in the 40. Plus, he comes from a high-caliber program that is routinely in the state playoffs.”

Hoover, a linebacker, made the 2008 All-State team. He also made the 2008 All Big Bend team. Over his career, Hoover recorded 225 tackles with nine of those stops coming behind the line of scrimmage. “He is another young man who’s going to bring tremendous speed to our team,’’ said Lee. “Hoover was just a steal, so we felt good about the opportunity to be able to land him. They played him at outside linebacker in high school even though he can play the strong safety position. He runs a 4.4 (seconds) in the 40, and we’ll likely look at him to play linebacker here.”

Ivan Coulton (6-foot-6, 235), a linebacker from Ahoskie’s Hertford County High, racked up 17 ½ sacks, 22 tackles for loss and broke up seven passes.

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N.C. A&T's Lee: We're selling a brand-new era

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Alonzo Lee's first two weeks as N.C. A&T's new head coach have been anything but quiet. Lee was introduced Jan. 16 and immediately met with recruits and current players while trying to fill out the rest of his coaching staff. Between meeting with recruits and trying to find a house in Greensboro, Lee sat down with the News & Record to talk about myriad issues surrounding Aggie football, next week's national signing day, A&T's recruiting budget and how long he thinks it will take to turn around a program that has lost 36 of its last 39 games:

Let's talk about recruiting. How much of a handicap is it when it's just you and two other coaches out there talking to players?

It's very much a handicap, but it's the way you look at things. It's definitely an uphill battle. You would love to have your entire staff, but I can't count anything that's not there.

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Alonzo Lee era dawns at North Carolina A&T

Lee signed a four-year contract that will pay him $145,000 annually, said he was "ordained to be here, because I walk in faith."

GREENSBORO -- For all the weighty matters that lie ahead for Alonzo Lee -- implementing a new offense and defense, completing his staff, meeting with current players and recruits -- his immediate priority is decidedly mundane. Lee, introduced Friday as the head football coach of N.C. A&T, has a skeleton staff of coaches who have been in limbo throughout the university's prolonged search to replace Lee Fobbs. He plans to provide them with a schedule and offseason calendar as quickly as possible. That's because Lee, who is known among his peers for his organization and attention to detail, has much to accomplish this month, with 19 recruits paying a visit to A&T this weekend and the national signing day looming Feb. 4.

And there is no time to waste regarding the chore that might come to define his coaching tenure -- weeding out a small group of football players perceived by many last season as quitters and replacing them with athletes who fit his mold of tough, relentless Aggies. "There are a lot of things that haven't been done, but I can promise you we'll get them done and before the next season," Lee said. "And come next season we'll have some men who will fight for four quarters."

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