Simply 24 hours after SWAC Soccer Media Day, it was the CIAA’s flip to take heart stage, setting the plate for what’s to come back within the 2024 season.
Listed here are 5 of the highest storylines to come back from CIAA Soccer Media Day.
1. Bluefield State has nothing to lose
Within the first set of group interviews at CIAA Media Day, Bluefield State head coach Davon Morgan lifted the CIAA championship trophy, sitting in entrance of the stage.
When Media Day host Stan Lewter identified that choosing up the trophy doesn’t deliver good luck, Coach Morgan gave a fiery response through which he supplied a glance into his mindset coming into the 2024 season.
“I don’t consider in luck now,” mentioned Morgan. “Preparation means the chance is meant to occur. I’m speculated to be right here, I used to be supposed to the touch [the trophy], that’s how we really feel. We ranked final [in the CIAA’s predicted order of finish], so what have we obtained to lose? Keep in mind, whenever you come to play Bluefield, we come to play you. The hire is due.”
The Huge Blue are coming off their first season as an official member of the CIAA, through which they completed with a 1-9 general document and went winless in eight convention contests.
The group fired head coach Tony Coaxum, who had been with the group since its soccer program was revived in 2021 and employed Morgan to interchange him.
Morgan returns to the CIAA after stints as an assistant coach with Virginia State in 2015 and Elizabeth Metropolis State in 2021.
Morgan served on the Florida A&M teaching employees for the previous two seasons, serving to lead the group to its first SWAC title and a win within the Celebration Bowl.
2. WSSU is everybody’s Tremendous Bowl
Winston-Salem State’s motto is “It’s arduous to be a Ram,” and that’s exemplified by the mentality they’ve seen from groups when lined up towards them.
All-CIAA quarterback Daylin Lee gave pointed remarks about his observations from his freshman season with the Rams, noting that WSSU is everybody’s Tremendous Bowl.
“I’m used to if we get beat it’s [our opponent’s] Tremendous Bowl so I simply took that and I obtained used to it,” mentioned Lee. Our phrase ‘It’s arduous to be a Ram’ I discovered that fairly fast. We’re getting all people’s greatest each week.”
After dropping their first two video games of the season final yr, the Rams break up their remaining eight video games, accounting for probably the most convention wins they’ve had in a season since 2018.
Nonetheless, their 4-6 general document marked the fourth season in a row with a mark under .500, the longest streak of shedding years since returning to the CIAA in 2011.
3. Bowie State seems to be to get again to its successful tradition
Bowie State head coach Kyle Jackson made it clear that he’s set on main the Bulldogs again to its successful tradition in his third yr as head coach of the group.
Piggybacking on Bulldogs’ defensive again Hasan Mosley, who mentioned, “The small issues will enable you win the soccer video games, and the small issues [are] the rationale why you misplaced the soccer recreation,” Coach Jackson talked about how this may assist the Bulldogs get again to their successful tradition.
“This offseason, we spent a whole lot of time difficult guys to get again our successful tradition,” mentioned Jackson. “Like Hasan mentioned it’s the small issues, doing the small issues proper, and ensuring that we’re spending time on these small issues in order that means we could be efficient and get again to these successful methods.”
Within the group’s first two seasons since former head coach Damon Wilson’s departure, the group has completed with equivalent 6-4 general data annually, which Jackson notes “just isn’t the usual.”
Bowie State is trying to return to its glory days through which they appeared in 5 CIAA championship video games in six seasons from 2015-2021 coming away with wins in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
It was through the 2021 season, Wilson’s final earlier than departing for Morgan State, that the Bulldogs went on its deepest playoff run at school historical past, making it to the regional remaining.
The Bulldogs have gone 13 seasons with out posting an general document under .500 the longest energetic streak within the CIAA.
4. Fayetteville State feels disrespected
Fayetteville State was picked to have the third-best document within the CIAA’s predicted order of end and they don’t take too kindly to that.
Piggybacking off of his fellow CIAA head coaches, Broncos head coach Richard Hayes talked about how FSU is one other group’s Tremendous Bowl and that they really feel disrespected.
He additionally made it identified that the Broncos are usually not going anyplace and that “he wants [his competition] to know that.”
Regardless of ending because the Tenth-ranked scoring offense within the CIAA and third in scoring protection, the Broncos nonetheless discovered a method to win their sixth straight CIAA South division title.
That is the longest streak of any CIAA group since Winston-Salem State gained 10 straight division titles from 1983 to 1992.
Fayetteville State is in search of its second convention title in three seasons and its fifth convention championship at school historical past.
5. Virginia Union has nationwide championship aspirations
The reigning CIAA champion Virginia Union Panthers gear up for a protection of their convention titles, however their objectives transcend this main accomplishment.
In accordance with head coach Dr. Alvin Parker, the gamers in his locker room have talked about going for the final word prize of successful a Division II nationwide championship.
“You go searching, and for the primary time, [the team] has talked about CIAA championships and issues like that,” mentioned Coach Parker. “However this yr, these guys are speaking concerning the nationwide championship. In order that’s the message that’s going round our constructing proper now and I like to listen to it. It’s straightforward to educate guys when everybody is concentrated on the nationwide championship.”
Solely two HBCU groups have superior to the Division II championship recreation neither of whom have been profitable (Central State, 1983; Winston-Salem State, 2012).
Final yr, Virginia Union completed the common season with a 9-1 document, clinching a division title within the CIAA North and a spot within the convention championship recreation towards Fayetteville State.
The Panthers went on to defeat the Broncos 21-10, claiming their first CIAA crown since 2001.
Virginia Union enters the 2024 season, being picked to complete behind Virginia State within the convention’s predicted order of end.
