Aycock predicts success, but can JCSU back it up?

The guarantee: 3-1

Charlotte, N.C. - Johnson C. Smith football coach Steve Aycock went out on a limb at last week’s CIAA roundup.

He guaranteed – twice – that the Golden Bulls would start the season 3-1, a bold prediction given JCSU’s combined 5-15 over Aycock’s first two seasons. The league’s coaches weren’t impressed, however, picking the Bulls to finish fifth in the six-team South Division.

But Aycock stands by his pronouncement.

“It’s not from an arrogance standpoint, it’s not being cocky,” he said Tuesday. “It’s just that I feel good about the young men who are coming back and the way they’ve dedicated themselves over the last six months. We’ll see a difference come Sept. 3.”

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West Virginia State added to JCSU football schedule

Johnson C. Smith will open its 2011 football season against West Virginia State.

The Golden Bulls will open their season Sept. 3 against the Yellow Jackets at McGirt Field, according to a revamped schedule on JCSU's website. The change became necessary when original opponent St. Paul's eliminated its entire athletics program earlier this month. As a result, the Tigers have been removed from CIAA membership, leaving the league with 12 schools.

JCSU officials opened the search for a new opponent shortly after St. Paul's announced its intention. Golden Bulls coach Steve Aycock and athletics director Steve Joyner confirmed JCSU was in contact with multiple Division II schools and one Division I program about filling the open date in order to keep its preseason schedule intact.

2011 JCSU Golden Bulls Football Schedule

DATE        OPPONENT            LOCATION                                    TIME
09/03/2011 West Virginia State  Charlotte, NC, Irwin Belk Complex     4:00 PM
09/10/2011 Brevard College       Brevard, NC                                       2:00 PM
09/17/2011 Virginia State           Charlotte, NC, Irwin Belk Complex     4:00 PM
09/24/2011 Davidson                  Davidson, NC                                     7:00 PM
10/01/2011 Winston Salem State Winston Salem, NC                            1:00 PM
10/08/2011 *Shaw                      Raleigh, NC                                        1:00 PM
10/15/2011 Virginia Union           Charlotte, NC, Irwin Belk Complex     1:00 PM
10/22/2011 Saint Augustine's        Raleigh, NC                                        1:30 PM
10/29/2011 Fayetteville State       Charlotte, NC, Irwin Belk Complex     1:00 PM
11/05/2011 **Livingstone            TBA                                                    1:00 PM

* Homecoming
**Commemorative Classic

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JCSU Bulls focus on future, not past of 2-8 season

No one talks about last year at Johnson C. Smith (University).

The Golden Bulls, who went 2-8 in 2010, wrapped up spring football drills Monday with an intrasquad scrimmage that resulted in an 18-18 tie. The focus is on building an attitude that produces success in 2011.

"The one thing we don't put into our family circle of trust is the poison of last year," coach Steve Aycock said. "We talk about things going forward, keeping our shoulders high and our eyes straight forward."

Smith returns a veteran core but must replace its top offensive players, three-time All-CIAA receiver Jeremy Franklin and quarterback Ryan Carter. Defensively, the Golden Bulls have to shore up a unit that allowed 39 points per game.

"What we've been preaching is playing with ...

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JCSU under lights for spring football finale

Johnson C. Smith’s spring football game will be held under the lights. The Golden Bulls will scrimmage April 11 at 7 p.m. at McGirt Field. The game is free and open to the public.

Smith went 2-8 in 2010 and must replace quarterback Ryan Carter (Harding High) and all-CIAA receiver Jeremy Franklin. The defense, which allowed an average of 39 points a game last season, also needs retooling.

“Football is a game of measurements and spring ball gives our coaching staff the chance to measure where we are as a team to this point,” head coach Steve Aycock said. “We have some kids that may step into new roles this season and this is a part of the preparation process.”

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Pass it on: JCSU Bulls will take to air

Johnson C. Smith’s offense is under close inspection. After scoring an average of 18.7 points per game last season, the Golden Bulls have a new offensive coordinator in Maurice Flowers and nine returning starters. The most scrutinized of the lot will be quarterback Ryan Carter, who completed 97-of-182 passes for 1,024 yards and eight touchdowns in 2009.

He will have to be more productive in order to push the Bulls forward. “He needs to go from being a guy who was handed the job into a leader,” head coach Steve Aycock said. Carter, who was an erratic decision-maker in his first season as a starter, will get his opportunities to improve. He’ll have a running attack that averaged 138.3 yards per game going for him, as well as three-time all-CIAA receiver Jeremy Franklin, whose productivity slipped to 48 catches for 610 yards and five scores last season.

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JCSU Golden Bulls going to use pass-first spread offense

Steve Aycock is taking an aggressive approach to his second season as Johnson C. Smith football coach. When the Golden Bulls opened practice Saturday, the roster was overhauled with an infusion of first-year players to challenge for starting jobs. There's a new offensive coordinator - former Olympic, West Charlotte and Chester (S.C.) coach Maurice Flowers - who'll push a more dynamic attitude.

The changes are necessary for a program that's produced three consecutive 3-7 seasons. To break the streak, Smith will have to rebuild a tattered defense that allowed more than 30 points per game last season and an offense that scored fewer than 19 an outing. The Bulls have some work to do before the Aug. 28 opener at Elizabeth City State, starting with finding answers to these questions:

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Flowers named JCSU offensive coordinator

Successful high school coach returns to alma mater

Maurice Flowers greatest coaching challenge will come from his college alma mater. Flowers, Johnson C. Smith’s new offensive coordinator, will be responsible over a unit that averaged 18.7 points and 279.5 yards per game in 2009. Both ranked near the bottom of the CIAA in a 3-7 campaign. “I’m excited about it,” said Flowers, 40, a 1991 JCSU graduate who resigned from Chester (S.C.) High in May. “I want to get my feet wet. I’m looking forward to it. It’s short notice, but that’s no excuse.”

Flowers developed a reputation as one of the top offensive coaches in the Charlotte region, earning playoff berths at Olympic, West Charlotte and Chester. In two seasons at Chester, the Cyclones went 21-6 and advanced to the 2008 S.C. 3A championship game. Flowers' 2007 West Charlotte team went 13-2 and advanced to the N.C. 4A semifinals and his 2006 Olympic squad tied a school record with 10 wins.

“He was a potential candidate (for the position) last year, but it didn’t work out,” second-year Golden Bulls head coach Steve Aycock said. “He’s here now, and I’m looking forward to his contribution. It’s a situation where he’s confident in what he does and I can’t wait to see what he does in the college ranks.”

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