Grading The (First Year) Coaches

(Clarion-Ledger photo)

Harold Jackson, Jackson State

Hard to have a better coaching debut than Jackson did against FAMU on Saturday. JSU outperformed FAMU in every major statistic from first downs to total yards. It looked like Jackson had been coaching these players for years. Despite all that, it took a miracle to win the game. Still, all is well that ends well.

Grade: A

Lee Hull, Morgan State

Morgan State, once a black college football power, has been dormant for a long time. The Lee Hull era got off to a great start against Eastern Michigan, as MSU gave EMU all it could handle before falling 31-28. Morgan outgained Eastern Michigan 479 yards to 391 and rushed for over 200 yards. Penalties (9 for 90 yards) and turnovers (two fumbles) hurt MSU, but the game wasn’t decided until a fourth quarter field goal.

Grade: A-

Connell Maynor, Hampton

In four years at Winston-Salem State, Connell Maynor only lost a total of six games. He started out his Hampton career with a loss against Old Dominion, but that was expected. His Pirates only rushed for nine yards while turning the ball over four times and committing seven penalties. The bright side was the play of quarterback Jaylien Williamson, who looked like a different player than the one who played last season. Hampton might not be world-beaters just yet, but they will hurt some feelings in the MEAC.

Grade: B

Jerry Mack, North Carolina Central

Mack faced a tough task in his first game, having to hit the road against an FBS foe. NCCU took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter off of a fumble recovery and managed to win the time of possession battle. No one expected NCCU to win, but surely Mack expected his team to be more disciplined as it committed ten penalties.

Grade: C 

Rick Comegy, Mississippi Valley State 

Comegy had the easiest opponent of any one on this list, but you wouln’t know it by the way the Delta Devils played.

Grade: C-

Broderick Fobbs, Grambling

The high point of Fobb’s debut was his team’s 10-7 lead in the second quarter. Grambling allowed an FBS team to gain nearly 500 yards and it chalked up more yards in penalties (121 on 15 penalties) as it did in rushing.

Grade: D

James Spady, Alabama A&M

Alabama A&M allowed A&T to rush for over 300 yards and return a kickoff by a touchdown. This game was over by the middle of the second quarter.

Grade: D