Coach seeks funding for MVSU Delta Devils

Head Football Coach Karl Morgan

GREENVILLE, MS – Second-year Mississippi Valley State University Head Football Coach Karl A. Morgan is a fighter and one who persevered through difficult times his whole life. In that regard, he has a common bond with MVSU.

“The school really needs help from our support groups, alumni, and the community,” said Morgan, a former NFL player and UCLA standout who has more than 20 years of coaching experience. Through a lot of hard-work and fundraising, we were able to raise enough money to get repairs done to the stadium.

“My message to others is to give and donate whatever it is you can,” he said. “I can say Willie Totten and others have been out trying to bring resources back into the university, but it needs to be better. We need for people to give more, the more they give the better things can be.”

Morgan said having additional resources is key to move Valley out of the lower tier. “It is simple as that,” said Morgan. “We need more resources, and that is our biggest problem. Resources are needed and that is number one here at Valley.” Morgan said he is confident that just like in the past, the community will respond and step up to the plate.

Morgan shared his story and his aspirations for MVSU at the Greenville Kiwanis Club meeting Tuesday at the Greenville Golf & Country Club.



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Mississippi Valley Devils add Murray State to 2011 Football Schedule

The Mississippi Valley State University Department of Athletics announced recently that the Delta Devils have added another game to its 2011 slate. The addition of Murray State will give the Delta Devils 11 contests for the upcoming season and six home games for the program.

“We worked hard to find another contest for 2011 and we contacted a number of programs. In the end, an agreement with Murray State worked out well for both schools,” said interim athletics director Donald Sims.

The Racers went 6-5 last season, opening the season losing their first three games before closing out the season winning their last three contests. A member of the Ohio Valley Conference, this will be the first meeting between the Racers and the Delta Devils.

September

3 Alabama State Itta Bena, Miss. Rice-Totten Stadium 5p

10 Murray State Itta Bena, Miss. Rice-Totten Stadium 4p

17 @ Alcorn State Alcorn State, Miss. Jack Spinks Stadium TBA

24 @ Prairie View A&M Prairie View, Texas Blackshear Stadium TBA

October

1 Southern Itta Bena, Miss. Rice-Totten Stadium 2p

8 @ Alabama A&M Huntsville, Ala. Louis Crews Stadium 1p

15 Jackson State Itta Bena, Miss. Rice-Totten Stadium 2p

22 @ Grambling State Grambling, La. Robinson Stadium 2p

29 Texas Southern Itta Bena, Miss. Rice-Totten Stadium 2p

(Homecoming 2011)

November

3 (Thu.) @ South Alabama Mobile, Ala. Ladd-Peebles Stadium TBA

12 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Itta Bena, Miss. Rice-Totten Stadium 1p

19 OPEN

December

10 SWAC Championship 2011 Birmingham, Ala. Legion Field 1p

VISIT: MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

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MVSU loses QB, recruit for 2011 season

MVSU Coach Karl Morgan

ITTA BENA, Miss. — Mississippi Valley State starting quarterback Oliver Hughes and transfer defensive lineman Ronald Byrd will miss the 2011 season with torn ACLs.

Delta Devils coach Karl Morgan tells the Delta Democrat Times that Hughes was injured during a scrimmage last week. Morgan says Byrd, a transfer from South Carolina, had surgery last week after being injured in the team's first spring practice. Morgan says both players will seek a medical redshirt and plan to return next year.

The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Byrd sat out the 2009 season at South Carolina after tearing an ACL during a team scrimmage. Morgan says he doesn't know if it was the same knee.

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ONE TEAM, ONE VALLEY: Update on MVSU Weight Room Project

Delta Devils Head Football Coach Karl Morgan

PDF of Coach Morgan's Letter • PDF of Weight Room Expenses • Diagram of Proposed Weight Room

March 16, 2011

Dear Valley Alumni and Fans,

I trust everyone and their families are doing well. It's been about three and a half months since the initial letter requesting your support was written. A lot has happened and I want to take this time to get everybody up to speed on where we are. First of all, I've included the actual proposal and design layout from Power Lift.

Power Lift, the company we are going to use is considered the best in the field. As you can see, their estimated cost for this project is $49,170.05. That doesn't include flooring to cover the roughly 2,000 square foot metal building we are seeking to equip. The building is located right next to our practice field. It's an ideal place for a weight room and it has air/heat, restrooms and a shower area.

Over $25,000 had been raised before Valley alum, Mrs. Ennis Rucker, came by the office and asked to personally help. In our first meeting, she said, "Coach I'm tired of losing. How can I be of assistance?" Since Mrs. Rucker's affiliation, The Friends of MVSU Football initiative has raised an additional $16,000. We have received donations from $5.00 to a high of $5,000. (Some recent donations to the football program have been earmarked for specific areas such as recruiting and will not be used to meet our goal.)

This past Monday, a purchase order in the amount of $3,571.08 was generated and sent to a rubber flooring company in Atlanta. I was amazed at the number of flooring options that are available. We searched far and wide trying to find the best fit for our need and bank account. Eventually, we decided on 4 foot by 6 foot by 3/4 inch rubber mats. Eighty-nine (89) 100-pound mats were ordered and should be here within a week.

That's the very latest, we are close and the finish line is in sight. I want to greatly thank everyone who has contributed to the cause. However, our goal has not been completed and we are still in search of donations to reach the desired outcome. I really appreciate your help and the fact that you care about Mississippi Valley State University. I will periodically keep everyone informed about our progress. In the meantime, take care.

Let's Work to Win,

Karl Morgan

Courtesy MVSU Media Relations
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Mississippi Valley State University

Mississippi Valley State Announces 2011 Football Schedule

ITTA BENA, MS - The Mississippi Valley State Department of Athletics has announced its 2011 football schedule. The 2011 slate of contests includes facing non-conference institution South Alabama along with the other nine members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

The season opener for the Delta Devils will be on September 3 when MVSU hosts the Hornets of Alabama State. After on open week, MVSU will take on in-state rival Alcorn State (Sept. 17) followed by 2009 conference champion Prairie View A&M (Sept. 24).

The month of October will see MVSU host Southern (Oct. 1), travel to Alabama A&M (Oct. 8), host Jackson State (Oct. 15), travel to Grambling State (Oct. 22) and host 2010 SWAC champion Texas Southern (Oct. 29). The game against the TSU Tigers will be the highlight of Homecoming 2011.

The month of November will see MVSU travel to Mobile, Alabama to face the Jaguars of South Alabama on a Thursday night contest on November 3. The game will be the first time the Jaguars will take on a member of the SWAC in football. The regular season concludes as the Delta Devils host conference rival Arkansas-Pine Bluff on November 12.

Delta Devils 2011 Football Schedule
Date  Game   Location    Time

September
3 Alabama State Itta Bena, Miss. Rice-Totten Stadium 5pm
10 OPEN
17 @ Alcorn State Alcorn State, Miss. Jack Spinks Stadium TBA
24 @ Prairie View A&M Prairie View, Texas Blackshear Stadium TBA

October
1 Southern Itta Bena, Miss. Rice-Totten Stadium 2pm
8 @ Alabama A&M Huntsville, Ala. Louis Crews Stadium 1pm
15 Jackson State Itta Bena, Miss. Rice-Totten Stadium 2pm
22 @ Grambling State Grambling, La. Robinson Stadium 2pm
29 Texas Southern (Homecoming 2011) Itta Bena, Miss. Rice-Totten Stadium 2pm

November
3 (Thu.) @ South Alabama Mobile, Ala. Ladd-Peebles Stadium TBA
12 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Itta Bena, Miss. Rice-Totten Stadium 1pm

December
10 SWAC Football Championship 2011 Birmingham, Ala. Legion Field 1pm

Courtesy Mississippi Valley State University Media Relations

South Alabama drops two games from football schedule, adds Mississippi Valley State

The 2011 South Alabama football schedule has undergone some changes, including the addition of a game against Mississippi Valley State and the dropping of two previously scheduled opponents. The schedule, to be released by the school today, will feature 10 games, six of those played at home at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

The revisions find the Jaguars, 10-0 last season and 17-0 in the school's two-year history, facing the Delta Devils, the program's first SWAC opponent, on Thurs., Nov. 3, at home. Two previously scheduled games -- an Oct. 1 game against UC-Davis and an Oct. 29 game against Edward Waters -- have been dropped from the schedule that originally featured 11 games.

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A&M avoids East Division cellar

GREENVILLE, Miss. - Alabama A&M won't finish last in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division. The Bulldogs can thank Tony Green and Kaderius Lacey for that. The Bulldogs' talented tailback tandem combined for 234 yards rushing and scored a touchdown apiece as A&M beat Mississippi Valley State 21-7 Saturday afternoon at Greenville-Weston High School to snap its five-game losing and avoid finishing in the Eastern Division cellar.

"It was an ugly game, but we came out with the win and that was our goal," said Green, who finished with 118 yards on 22 carries. "You can't be too picky, especially with the way our season is going."

Jones finds himself starting QB for rest of the season

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Before the season began, Alabama A&M backup quarterback Justin Jones figured he'd be lucky to play in a mop-up role.

Deaunte Mason, who started the final five games last season and led the Bulldogs to the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division title and to the league championship game, was back and seemed poised to have a breakout year as a sophomore. Jones was content with learning the system. He missed last season after failing to qualify academically after signing with the Bulldogs following a terrific senior year at West Morgan High School in Trinity.

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ATTENDANCE: 2398

Videographer: AAMUBAND

Mississippi Valley plays home games on high school field after stadium deemed unsafe

(Los Angeles Times) ITTA BENA, Miss. — Karl Morgan walked down the cracked sidewalk, stepping over players getting dressed for practice, putting on socks and cleats.

Then, the Mississippi Valley State coach gestured out toward dilapidated Rice-Totten Stadium, which has been deemed unsafe because of structural damage. "You can't sugarcoat our facilities, just like you can't sugarcoat our record," Morgan said. "We're trying to improve both of them."

The stadium named for the program's Hall of Fame alum Jerry Rice has fallen on hard times. Earlier this year, an engineer deemed MVSU's stadium unsafe because of extensive problems with the stadium's concrete foundation, so the Southwestern Athletic Conference program has played all of its home games 45 miles off campus on a high school field in Greenville. 

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE. Videographer: AndyL168 (MVSU Volleyball Team @ AAMU 11/10/2010)

Grambling Tigers grind out win over MVSU Delta Devils

GREENVILLE, Miss. — Grambling State's performance against Mississippi Valley State on Saturday was far from perfect, but it was more than enough to get the job done.

The Tigers were plagued by penalties, turnovers and a general lack of focus, but still notched a comfortable 35-14 victory over the winless Delta Devils and remained perfect in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. "We didn't play like we're capable of playing, and we didn't make the progress I thought we would make, but a win's a win," Grambling head coach Rod Broadway said. "We still beat 'em by 21."

Grambling burns winless Valley 35-14

GREENVILLE, MS — Frank Warren rushed for 209 yards and two touchdowns, and Grambling State rumbled past Mississippi Valley State 35-14 on Saturday. Warren carried 29 times and sealed the win for the Tigers (6-1, 6-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) with 85- and 39-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter. Danny Reyes passed for two TDs and ran for another as Grambling piled up 516 yards of total offense.

Oliver Hughes completed eight of 22 passes for 194 yards and two TDs for the Delta Devils (0-7, 0-5).

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ATTENDANCE: 3,197

Southern Jaguars hold on to win

Was this really about to happen? In the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s game between Southern and Mississippi Valley State, before they pulled away for a 38-20 victory in front of a nervous but happy homecoming crowd of 19,762 inside A.W. Mumford Stadium, the Jaguars had bungled a chance at collecting their first blowout win of the Stump Mitchell era.

Worse yet, the winless Delta Devils had scored back-to-back touchdowns; their sideline was full of life, and they were primed to get the ball back with plenty of time to take their first lead of the season. Was this really about to happen? This was Mississippi Valley. This was winless Mississippi Valley.

SU defense holds up

The fourth quarter of Saturday’s game between Southern University and Mississippi Valley State proved to be gut-check time for a Jaguars defensive unit that has struggled at times this season. This time, the defense was up to the task shutting out the Delta Devils in the final quarter while Southern tacked on two insurance scores to salt away a 38-20 win at Mumford Stadium.

Southern’s William Griswold kicked a 37-yard field goal to extend the Jaguars’ lead to 24-7 midway through the third quarter, but Valley scored twice to cut the margin to 24-20 entering the fourth. From there, the Southern defense made sure its offense would have plenty of breathing room.

Special teams play remains inconsistent

Five games into this first season under Stump Mitchell, Southern is still waiting for a clean, sound performance on special teams. The new coach has certainly noticed.

Saturday night, during the Jaguars’ 38-20 victory over Mississippi Valley State, the Delta Devils’ first touchdown came on another special-teams gaffe, when SU kicker William Griswold tried a 43-yard field goal and drove it low, into the line of scrimmage. Markkus Davis returned it for a 62-yard touchdown. Instead of leading 10-0, the Jaguars found themselves in a 7-7 tie.

Attendance: 19,762

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Valley, Alcorn taking rivalry to Windy City

Soldier Field in Chicago is the unlikely site of this year’s matchup between Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State. The rivals clash on at 5 p.m. in the Windy City because the Delta Devils’ home, Rice-Totten Stadium, is under renovation and will be unavailable this season. Valley (0-2) has struggled through two games.

“Things have jolted me, but I’m not knocked off track,” Delta Devils coach Karl Morgan said. “I knew the limitations when I took the job.” Alcorn coach Ernest Collins doesn’t have a problem with playing in Chicago because the Braves (1-0) can attract recruits. “It will be great experience for the players to go out in an NFL stadium and play,” Collins said. “We’ve got a big alumni base in Chicago; it will be great for Chicago alums to see us play on their home turf.”

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SWAC coach says S.C. State should stay in FCS playoffs

Coach Karl Morgan and his Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils received a first hand view Saturday evening of a potential FCS National Championship football program at S.C. State.

Sitting outside the visitors locker room Saturday night at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, a drained Mississippi Valley State head coach Karl Morgan watched his players limp quietly into the dressing quarters.

His Delta Devils were physically pounded on both sides of the football by 15th-ranked South Carolina State, 44-0. Compared to what it showed against the Bulldogs, Mississippi Valley State looked more competitive a week earlier in scoring two field goals in a 34-6 loss at Alabama State.

On Saturday, the Delta Devils managed just 44 total yards and were held to just six first downs, two aided by penalties. Despite their constant blitzes which at times disrupted S.C. State's passing game, Mississippi Valley State allowed 489 total yards and this does not include the 117 in kick return yards.

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S.C. State 44, Mississippi Valley State 0 Final

S.C. State team is a lot better than one of ‘04, coach says

ITTA BENA, Miss. - Karl Morgan knows the feeling of leaving Oliver C. Dawson Stadium a victor.

In 2004, the Mississippi Valley State head coach was in his second season as defensive coordinator for Hampton University when Hampton defeated South Carolina State 52-36. At the time, the Pirates were about to start a three-year run of winning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships.

Things have drastically changed six years later as it's now S.C. State looking to claim a third straight conference title and extend its MEAC record winning streak of 19 games previously held by Hampton. What's also different for Morgan is the fact he's returning to Orangeburg to face a Bulldogs' team that bears little resemblance to the one he faced in 2004.

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ALABAMA STATE 34, MVSU 6: QB Dominguez, ASU's offense shine

Alabama State put its confidence in Devin Dominguez by naming the junior as the starting quarterback earlier this week. Dominguez validated that decision Saturday night, passing for 261 yards and three touchdowns to lead ASU to a 34-6 win over Mississippi Valley State.

"I'm not going to lie, I felt a little jittery when I was thinking about it before the game," Dominguez said. "But once you get on the field, it's football. The game takes over and you just have fun."

ASU coach Reggie Barlow gave his new quarterback high marks on his first start. As with any first start, there is room for improvement, but the Hornets liked what they saw. "Devin has a lot of talent," Barlow said. "He's calm and he made some good decisions and some good throws. He's got a couple of things to clear up with tempo and the clock, but all in all, he did well."

PHOTO GALLERIES ASU plays Miss Valley

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First-time head coach Stump Mitchell, Karl Morgan taking over at SWAC schools

Mississippi Valley State University coach Karl Morgan has one of the more difficult task in the SWAC in rebuilding the Delta Devils football program.

BIRMINGHAM, AL -- It's always been someone else's canvas, someone else's paint and brushes. It's belonged to Mike Holmgren and Jim Zorn and Terry Bowden. It's been Terry Donahue and Gene Stallings and Bobby Ross with the canvas. It's different now, going from assistant coach to head coach, after going from player to assistant coach. You're the artist. It's your canvas.

"The biggest thing," Stump Mitchell said, "you have to take a look at the picture and see what color you need to use, what you want to draw." "You've got control," Karl Morgan said. "I'm not a control freak, but whatever happens, good, bad or indifferent, you'll have a bigger part of it."

Mitchell and Morgan are the two new head coaches in the Southwest Athletic Conference, which held its annual media day Tuesday morning. Mitchell, an assistant coach in the National Football League for the past 11 years, is the new coach at Southern University. Morgan, a former captain of the UCLA defense, takes over at Mississippi Valley State. They bring to the SWAC an amazing stat that's likely not surpassed in any league. Half of the 10 SWAC head coaches are former NFL players.

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Devil of a job: Deck stacked against MVSU coach Morgan

Karl Morgan won't say it, but I will. Morgan, the first-year head football coach at Mississippi Valley State, has the most difficult job in football. Believe this: If anybody has a tougher job, you don't want anywhere near it. Neither does Knute Rockne or Bear Bryant. Why is Morgan's job so hard? Let us count the ways:

•He replaces the legendary Willie Totten, whose name is on the Valley stadium, but who won only 31 games in eight seasons at the Valley.

•Oh, that stadium? Morgan's first team can't play in it. It's condemned and will have to be repaired. Valley will play its "home" games 45 miles away at Greenville High School.

•Totten's last team finished 3-8 overall and won just one SWAC game. Obviously, better talent is needed, but Morgan got the job two weeks before signing day. In other words, pickings were slim.

•Division I-AA teams are allowed 63 football scholarships, and most of Valley's opponents award that many. Valley is limited to just above 50.

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Hard times dog Mississippi Valley Delta Devils athletics

Home football games moved to Greenville High; financial woes keep Delta Devils living on edge.

As bad days go for football coaches, Karl Morgan's story ranks up there. It was last winter - Morgan doesn't remember the date, and it's hard to blame him - when he was summoned to a campus-wide meeting to discuss Gov. Haley Barbour's proposal to merge his new employer, Mississippi Valley State, with the state's other two historically black public universities. Morgan, on the job just a few days, also found out that Rice-Totten Stadium was declared unsafe to use this season. Oh, and he wouldn't be able to hire all of his staff until a few months later.

"It was tough," he said with a laugh on a recent morning in his office.

Much of the scares from those days have blown over. The Legislature has since squashed the idea of consolidation, though the state's bleak fiscal picture at least suggests that further talks aren't out of the question. By the time August practice starts in advance of Valley's Sept. 4 opening game at Alabama State, Morgan expects to have his staff hired.

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Alcorn State to play Valley in Chicago ‎

Spring over, but work just starting for Mississippi Valley‎

It was a hectic spring football season for new Mississippi Valley State coach Karl Morgan and his staff. Morgan was hired just three weeks prior to National Signing Day and had just finished assembling his coaching staff when spring training started a few weeks ago. The Delta Devils put a wrap on spring drills Saturday with a scrimmage at Rice-Totten Stadium. It was Morgan's final chance to evaluate his players before a 3 1/2-month layoff until fall practice. "I am pleased to see that we've made some strides, but we still have miles to go," Morgan said after watching his offense get a late score to tie the scrimmage at 17.

But just because Valley is putting up its pads for a while doesn't mean Morgan will get a break. He will likely work even harder as he tackles three main goals for the offseason: develop a quality strength and conditioning program, recruit more players and raise money to help offset his program's meager budget. All three are vital to turning around a losing program, and none of the three will be easy. But you've got to like Morgan's spirit as he tries. "I knew exactly what I was getting into before I came here, and I wouldn't have come if I didn't think I could get the job done," he said.

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The Delta Devils Fans and Alumni need to step it up in assisting Coach Karl Morgan and his staff in building this football program. A weight room with new equipment would be a great improvement for the team and funding for more that 39 scholarships will help immediately in the win column. The NCAA allows 63 for Division I, Football Championship Programs--so can't you Delta Devils alumni and fans fund 24 scholarships annually?

Yes, I think we can...The Delta Devils student-athletes deserve the best opportunity for success on the field and in the classroom. Write a check today--$5, $10, $20, $30, $50, $100 or more...send what you can afford to your MVSU Delta Devil Athletic Fund. Every donation helps your program.

-beepbeep

Commentary: Mississippi Valley coach must be scratching his head‎

MVSU head coach Karl Morgan: "I am very positive and optimistic about where we can take this program." Last Wednesday, four of Valley players, including the potential starting quarterback and a offensive lineman, were charged with the sale of marijuana on a school campus, arrested and expelled with 11 others.

Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. That old saying could easily apply to new Mississippi Valley State head football coach Karl Morgan although he says that's not the case at all. It's been a rough couple of first months since he was hired in January to replace Willie Totten. First, he didn't receive an overwhelming reception from the majority of Valley fans who wanted the school to hire MVSU alumnus Sam Washington, one of the five finalists for the job.

Second, Morgan was called out by some fans after not signing any players on National Signing Day after getting an extremely late start in the recruiting process. He was hired just three weeks before signing day. When Totten stepped down just a couple of weeks after the 2009 season, recruiting probably wasn't a priority for the assistant coaches who, knowing they weren't going to be retained by the new coach, were more worried about feeding their families than recruiting for another coach. So when Morgan came on board in mid-January, he probably had little to work with in recruiting.

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Valley football coach sees progress in first scrimmage

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MVSU football coach sees progress in first scrimmage

Karl Morgan wasn't blown away by his team's performance, but he did see progress. "I saw some things to be excited about, but we still have a long way to go," said the new Mississippi Valley State head football coach after his team's first scrimmage of spring training Wednesday at Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena. "I thought our effort was decent. We're still a work in progress."

The Delta Devil offense ran 60 plays against the defense and struggled early with timing and pre-snap penalties. The offensive unit did, however, gather momentum late in the scrimmage and find the end zone a couple of times. "The offense came back at the end with a couple of drives and big plays," said Morgan, who was hired in January to replace Willie Totten, who stepped down following the 2009 season. "Our running backs ran harder as the scrimmage went on, but they did put the ball on the ground too many times. And I think our offensive line showed some progress."

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