Expectations no problem at high-achieving Tuskegee

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- A 9-2 season would be cause for celebration for many college football teams.

That's not the case at Tuskegee.

Heavy favorites to win a fifth straight Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in 2010, the Golden Tigers finished in a three-way tie for second after losing games to conference rivals Albany State and Fort Valley State.

That setback hasn't lessened the expectations at Tuskegee, certainly not for a program that has won seven SIAC titles in the past 11 years and with a head coach in Willie Slater who has a stunning 51-7 record in his five seasons as head coach.

SIAC coaches have picked the Golden Tigers to win the SIAC West and play Albany State in the league's inaugural championship game. That game will be played Nov. 12 in Atlanta.

Tuskegee coach Willie Slater said he doesn't worry about expectations for his football team.

"We don't even talk about it," the coach said. "All we're trying to do is teach these kids how to play hard and to be good football players. The only time we were picked to win the league we didn't win it. So we don't worry about that."

The SIAC has moved to a divisional format this season. Tuskegee, Miles, Kentucky State, Stillman and Lane will compete in the SIAC West while Albany State, Fort Valley State, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta and Benedict will make up the SIAC East.

TUSKEGEE GOLDEN TIGERS 2010 record -- 9-2, 7-2 SIAC Coach -- Willie Slater, sixth year Returning players -- 6 on offense, 5 on defense, 1 specialist Top returning players -- WR Wayne Williams; OL Ryan Jackson; LB Isaiah Person; DB Kenneth Baker Tuskegee will win the SIAC championship if -- it can beat Albany State or Fort Valley State in the SIAC's inaugural championship game on Nov. 12. The problem is that the Golden Tigers lost to those teams by a combined 60-6 score last season. Tuskegee is a heavy favorite to win the SIAC West while Albany State and Fort Valley are favorites in the SIAC East. Tuskegee will not win the SIAC championship if -- new stars do not emerge. Tuskegee has fewer proven stars on this team than they have had in several years. The Golden Tigers only had one player named to the All-SIAC preseason first team. They had four named to the first team before the 2010 season. The Ultimate Leader -- Senior linebacker Isaiah Person is just 5-10 and 211 pounds but he led Tuskegee last season with 79 tackles. He has 159 tackles for his career and is a first-team preseason all-SIAC selection.



"I have no problem at all saying that he is our leader," Slater said.

Each school will play all four of its division opponents each season and three teams from the other division on a rotating basis.

The new alignment means Tuskegee will not play rival Albany State, the preseason pick to win the SIAC title. The two SIAC powers would not meet this season unless they both make the championship game.

Tuskegee returns plenty of talent but Slater cautions that his team will be young in some areas.

Junior Jeremy Williams will be the starting quarterback. "He actually started as a redshirt freshman and I like what he is doing in practice," Slater said.

Williams completed 8 of 20 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Tuskegee's biggest weapon on offense could be senior wide receiver Wayne Williams, who caught 24 passes for 398 yards last season and is a preseason second team All-SIAC selection. Slater also likes wide receiver Philander Browder and hopes he will be able to fill the gap left by the graduation of star receiver Antoine Mitchell.

The Golden Tigers offense will be anchored by a veteran line. "We've got four who played last year who are four-year guys," Slater said.

Senior Ryan Jackson (6-0, 301) is a second team All-SIAC selection. Other veterans on the offensive line are Phillip Spear (6-1, 304), Charlie Craige (6-5, 269) and Darrius Moore (6-3, 349).

Tuskegee will be strong on defense again, led by linebacker Isaiah Person. The defensive line is experienced with Jeremy Brown, Christopher Williams and Aaron Bennett. William Buford and Kenneth Baker are talented players returning in the secondary.

The Golden Tigers have two kickers who earned preseason second team All-SIAC honors. Punter Stewart Moody averaged 38.9 yards per kick in 2010. Field goal kicker Eduardo Murillo was 4 of 5 last season.

Tuskegee's nonconference schedule is highlighted by a trip to Alabama A&M on Sept. 17 and the annual Turkey Day Classic against Alabama State on Nov. 24.

"Every game we play will be tough because we get everybody's best," Slater said. "What you worry about is getting your 11 in a position to match up with their 11."

This article was writtenfor The Birmingham Newsby Louis Muro.