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High expectations may suffer as Golden Tigers look for a new quarterback

Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater is a master at understating. You never hear him boasting or bragging about his football team, quickly underselling the fact that his team has been the most dominating force in Black College football during the first three years of his tenure with the Golden Tigers.

Some may think that Slater won’t have to shortchange his team so much in 2009 though. For the first time since he replaced current Jackson State coach Rick Comegy, Slater has a question mark at the biggest position on the field – quarterback. While it might have some wondering if Tuskegee has the goods to remain on top of the heap, he seems ready to lead the Golden Tigers on another championship journey.

“My expectations are always high,” Slater said last week at the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Media Day. “I think we have a chance to have a very good season.”

A good season helps other programs but just being good is rarely accepted at Tuskegee. The Golden Tigers have won four consecutive SIAC titles, have not lost a conference game since October 2006, and won the Black College national championship in 2007. They would have had another last year if not for a very debatable call (more on that later) and generally boast some of the best players in the league – especially at quarterback.

But after six years of all-conference and All-American performances from Kevin Huff and Jacary Atkinson, Slater and the Golden Tigers have no proven replacement ready to take the reins of what has been the most dominant offense in Black College football. Even the league coaches – the same group that has been unable to defeat Slater an company – have taken notice, picking Tuskegee to finish second in the SIAC in preseason balloting.

“We don’t have a Jacary, so there’s no need of us trying to make anybody be him,” Slater said. “We just have to figure out what these guys that we’ve got have and find out a way to build on that.”

Atkinson had a season for the ages in 2008, throwing for 2,662 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 724 yards and 12 touchdowns on 125 carries in leading Tuskegee to a 10-1 record and earning National Player of the Year honors.

It would be hard for any one player to duplicate what Atkinson accomplished last year. So Tuskegee has three who will showcase their abilities in preparation for the Golden Tigers’ season opener at Benedict on Aug. 22. The problem is that out of redshirt sophomore Josh Harris, true sophomore Wayne Williams, and redshirt freshman Jeremy Williams, none have visited the end zone – running, throwing or receiving – in their short careers.

“It’s going to be interesting trying to get them ready to play,” Slater said. “All we can do is wait-and-see.”

Harris was the primary backup to Atkinson last season but that didn’t mean much. He was 8-of-16 for 102 yards – 40 of those coming on one pass. But Jeremy Williams might be the one with the inside track for the job. He was highly recruited out of Central (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) High but with little chance to play last season, Slater decided to hold him back.

“We went into season wanting him to play some to get him ready (for this year) but we decided to redshirt him so we can have him for four years. I’m kind of excited about him.”

Wayne Williams might take the Atkinson route to the quarterback position. Like the former signal-caller, Williams played some wide receiver last year. Slater likes his athleticism but he’s the third-best returning receiver from last season (13 catches, 158 yards) so his skills may be needed more there.

One pressure neither quarterback will have to worry about is Tuskegee winning streak, which reached 26 consecutive games last season. A blown call on an apparent touchdown catch by Jonathan Lessa in the fourth quarter of the Turkey Day Classic against Alabama State ultimately cost the Golden Tigers consecutive undefeated seasons and national titles.

“I’ve never been a streak watcher. I tried my best to not even think about it. I tried to focus on the next team, the next game,” Slater said. “But obviously, the media and the people around the program won’t let you forget it, won’t let the players forget it.”

Slater said it was a task that became difficult as the wins kept piling up. Now, even though it isn’t an issue heading into the 2009 campaign, it is still on him and his coaching staff to have his team prepared to win every game.

“(The streak) might have affected our play. But we just have to get ready to play every week. That’s my job as the head coach is to get them ready to play.”