This Saturday, Alabama A&M faces a significant challenge as they travel to Auburn to take on an SEC powerhouse in what promises to be a tough but educational game for his HBCU program. For Alabama A&M head coach Connell Maynor, the focus is on preparation, competition, and staying healthy as they look to test their mettle against an iconic program.
“You know, a lot of hard work and still got a lot more work to do this week to get ready to go down to Auburn and play an SEC program,” Maynor stated. “We know it’s going to be tough–you’re playing up in a money game. We’re excited about it, we want to be competitive as long as we can. At the end of the day, we want to get out of there healthy, not losing any of our players, so that we can compete during the season.”
Maynor’s candid approach underscores the reality of facing a higher-level opponent like Auburn. The game, while difficult, will be a valuable measuring stick for Alabama A&M as they gauge their progress early in the season. The key for the Bulldogs is to remain competitive for as long as possible and to learn about themselves in the process.
“We want to be competitive as long as we can. As long as the game is competitive, we’re going to keep playing our guys, and that means we have a chance to win the football game,” Maynor explained. “If it starts to get out of hand, then we’ll start to make some subs, get those guys out of there, and give everybody else a chance to play.”
One of the major storylines for Alabama A&M is their new-look defense, led by new defensive coordinator Thomas Howard who comes over from South Carolina State. The Bulldogs have spent time adjusting to the new scheme and incorporating a mix of returning players, freshmen, and transfers. Maynor is eager to see how this revamped unit holds up against Auburn’s potent offense.
“We got a new defensive coordinator and we got a new defense. I was really keen on watching those guys and seeing how they developed,” Maynor said. “They seemed to pick up the defense very well in the spring, but we added some players, some freshmen and transfers that came in during camp. So those guys had to get adjusted to the new defense.”
Offensively, Alabama A&M will lean on their offensive line, a unit that returns the most experience on the team. Their running game, led by standout Donovan Eaglin, also figures to be a key component in the Bulldogs’ approach. However, the quarterback position remains an area of uncertainty as Maynor evaluates multiple options.
“Offensive line is what we have to lean on this year. We have the most returning starters there,” Maynor noted. “Receivers will be fine, and running backs–of course, we got Donovan Eaglin. We’ve got a good running back room, and tight ends are solid. The quarterback position, of course, is always a question mark. We’ve got a couple of guys that we think are going to play this week–Cornelious Brown, Aveon Smith, and Xavier Lankford will still be in the mix also.”
For Alabama A&M, this game offers a chance to see how they stack up physically against a much larger Auburn team. Lessons that can be invaluable during the HBCU portion of its schedule. Maynor is eager in particular to assess how his offensive line’s size and conditioning match up against the SEC-level competition.
“We have the size now, we just have to see if we’ve got the stamina and depth. It’ll be interesting because we are pretty big up front, and I want to see how we hold up against those guys.”
While the odds may be stacked against Alabama A&M, an in state HBCU program trying to dethrone a SEC program on the road. The experience gained from facing Auburn will be invaluable as they head into the rest of their season. For Maynor and his team, this game is not just about competing but also about learning and growing as a unit.