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Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

FVSU rivalry even more interesting

FORT VALLEY — As if the Fountain City Classic’s intensity meter needs a boost, especially with some former Albany State coaches now leading the way at Fort Valley State, along come some words to fuel the fire.

For one thing, Fort Valley State hasn’t won since 2001. For another, the Wildcats’ average margin of loss since then has been by 14.3 points, with four by at least 18 points.

For another, 25,000 or so will show up to 15,000-seat A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus just to be near the game, which ends — sort of — a week of smack talk in Middle and Southwest Georgia.

So FVSU fans talk of ending the Rams’ run in the rivalry, and Albany State fans talk of keeping the Wildcats in their place. Throw in the bands, and it’s loud.

Collin Cordell added a little volume on Tuesday.

The senior offensive lineman was one of the players on hand at the Classic’s news conference in Columbus, and he was comfortable and confident. He said the Wildcats respected the Rams, and he joked that a typo on a Web site that listed Albany State as 8-2 instead of 8-1 was because of the loss the Rams would have on Saturday.

A prediction?

“It’s pretty much more of a guarantee.”

FVSU head coach Donald Pittman didn’t exactly high-five Cordell for his display of confidence, adding pressure to what’s already a hyped game.

“That’s the most we’re going to say,” Pittman said. “All that’s over with and been said. We don’t want any talking. You win this game on the field. It’s up to us to play some good football.”

Pittman said he and offensive line coach Keith DeGrate are treating the game against their former employer like any other. Well, trying to.

“We’re not saying, ‘Oh, we’ve got to show Albany State something,’” Pittman said. “Our record is 6-4 and we want it to be 7-4. We want to finish the season strong.”

Neither lost to FVSU while on the staff at Albany State, and the Rams’ offensive success in the game — they have scored at least 30 points in four wins during the seven-game winning streak — was one reason his first hire at FVSU was DeGrate.

Experience in this rivalry means they’re trying to keep minds on the game.

“You’ve got to stay focused on the game,” FVSU defensive end Robert Jackson said. “Too many distractions, you can get off-course.”

Albany State is 8-1 overall and 7-1 in the SIAC with top-20 rankings in two Division II polls. FVSU is 6-4 and 5-3 and ranked in the Super Regional II poll.

The Rams have nailed down a postseason berth and the Wildcats are still alive for one, adding to the noise today.

Albany State is third in the region, with FVSU 10th. Morehouse is seventh and Benedict eighth. Wingate, of the South Atlantic Conference, is ninth.

Morehouse (6-3, 5-3) plays Miles (4-6, 3-5) today and Benedict (7-3, 5-3) visits Clark Atlanta (2-6, 2-5). Wingate (6-3) travels to No. 4 Mars Hill (6-3), while No. 5 Arkansas Tech (7-2) of the Gulf South is at Harding (5-5).

Stats indicate a shootout, with the SIAC’s top two scoring offenses, total offenses, passing offenses and two of the top three rush defenses. It also has two of the top three quarterbacks, six of the top 10 receivers in catches and five of the top 10 in yards, the Nos. six and seven running backs and the top two players in total offense.

Quarterbacks Nate Samas of FVSU and A.J. McKenna of Albany State will have targets on their jerseys. ASU is sixth in passing yards allowed and FVSU is seventh, while the Rams are first in pass defense efficiency and the Wildcats are fourth.

“I think they have the edge on us offensively because of (McKenna) and (running back) Demetrius Johnson,” Pittman said. “Defensively, just pick a day. I think they’re about even.”

FVSU leads the series 31-28-3, but Albany State has won 15 of the 19 Classics, including 31-7 last year.

“We’ve got a lot to make up for,” Cordell said. “We’re trying to make sure we play hard, not only for this year, but for last year.”

The Wildcats haven’t won since a 45-7 romp in 2001, and only twice since then have they been within a score, 20-19 in 2004 and 32-27 in 2007.

“I’ve been here when it’s been close and when it’s been a blowout,” said Jackson, in his sixth year at FVSU, courtesy of a medical redshirt. “I was even here (in 2004) for the last-second (PAT) when (FVSU’s) Terry Abrams snapped it over the kicker’s head.”

Jackson didn’t sleep well before homecoming a week ago, and that’s carried over to this week.

“I owe Albany,” he said. “Yeah, I owe Albany.”