CIAA football contenders, changes and questions

Can CIAA football remain more competitive on a regional level?

 Has the balance of power shifted to the North Division?

Will Kermit Blount find the visitors’ lockerroom at Bowman Gray Stadium when Johnson C. Smith visits his former employer, Winston-Salem State?
A new season always brings new questions and the CIAA has plenty when preseason drills open next month. Here are a few:

• Will Virginia State repeat?

Coach Latrell Scott, who guided the Trojans to the championship and the school’s first playoff win, moved on to Norfolk State. The new coach is Byron Thweatt, who inherits a talented team of veteran players.

VSU will get a run from resurgent Virginia Union and Bowie State, though.

• Can Winston-Salem State get back to the top?

The Rams were in an unfamiliar spot after losing the league championship game to Virginia State. Not only did WSSU not claim a fourth straight CIAA title, it missed the NCAA playoffs.

The Rams have the ingredients to win it all in 2015 although a new starter at quarterback must be determined. No one in the South has WSSU’s talent, so the question is can they stay focused throughout the season.

• Will the North Division stay on top?

Yes. Virginia State looks strong despite adding a rookie head coach and Virginia Union made dramatic improvement last year in Mark James’ first season, going from 3-7 to 7-3. If Bowie State can avoid another late-season collapse, the Bulldogs can get into the mix, too.

• Can the league improve its national profile?

Winston-Salem State’s recent postseason success has forced everyone to step up, which Virginia State did in winning the CIAA title and a first-round playoff game.
In order to earn consideration for multiple postseason bids, several teams are taking on tougher competition.

WSSU has a daunting nonconference schedule of UNC Pembroke, Valdosta State and Tuskegee; Fayetteville State has Pembroke and West Georgia, which played for the national title last year. JCSU opens against Wingate and Livingstone plays crosstown rival Chowan. Those games will give an indication of the CIAA’s relative strength.

• How will Tory Woodbury fare as Johnson C. Smith’s offensive coordinator?

Woodbury, arguably the best quarterback Winston-Salem State ever produced, spent the last four seasons at Delaware State, where he worked with Golden Bulls head coach Kermit Blount, whom he played for at WSSU.

Woodbury coached running backs at Delaware State and has never been a coordinator. Chances are the Golden Bulls will shift to a balanced offense and  renewed interest in the ground attack.

• Is Livingstone capbable of going above .500?

The Blue Bears got off to a 4-0 start but stumbled to a 1-5 finish. Four points separated Livingstone from a winning conference campaign, so there’s excitement on the Salisbury campus.

Drew Powell is the CIAA’s best quarterback talent, but he’s got to cut down on turnovers to get the Blue Bears over .500. Linebacker Kenneth White is also capable of earning postseason recognition.

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