Albany State football ready for challenge

ALBANY — The practice seemed to go a little faster.

Offensive coordinator Steve Smith seemed to yell a little louder.

And defensive coordinator Charles Huff seemed a little more intense than normal.

It must be game week at Albany State and the Rams are anxious to see somebody different than themselves. That opportunity will come when Albany State plays at Valdosta State Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta.

When a reporter asked offensive lineman Javoris Wilburn if he was tired of seeing teammate and defensive lineman Grover Stewart, Wilburn didn’t hold back.

“I look forward to seeing him every time we play football … but we want to hit somebody else,” Wilburn said of Stewart. “We go against each other every day. We know each others strengths and weaknesses. We’re just ready to let our aggression out on somebody else.”

Saturday’s opener will mark the first of three straight games on the road to open the season. Albany State will play in a neutral site game in Phenix City, Ala. in the White Water Classic on Sept. 10 against Tuskegee, then they will travel to Lakeland, Fla. on Sept. 17 to play Southeastern University.

The Rams’ first game at the Albany State University Coliseum won’t come until they welcome NCAA Division II power West Georgia on Sept. 24.

But Albany State is just glad that Saturday is only a few days away.

“We’ve been working hard, training hard, now it’s time to put everything on the line,” said the All-American Stewart, who will start against the Blazers for the third straight season.

With a little more than three weeks of preseason practice complete, Albany State coaches also admit they’re anxious for the opener.

Head coach Dan Land’s face lit up with excitement when he was asked about the first game.

“They really want to see where they are as a team,” he said. “They want to see what they can do against a quality team that has been in the playoffs the way Valdosta State has. This is going to be a measuring stick for them. They feel like if they go out and play well and do the things that we need to do, they’ll be able to set the standards for the season.

“That first game always sets you where you need to go and where you need to be. Playing each other, beating up on each other, you really can’t gauge yourself like you want to.”

Valdosta State opens against Albany State for the third straight season and looks to continue its dominance. The Blazers are 16-1 all-time against the Rams and have won the last seven meetings.

Albany State would like nothing more than to change the trend. But Land is grateful for the opportunity.

“I’m very excited,” he said. “As coaches, we’re all excited. Just as much as the kids want to gauge themselves and where they are, we want to see as coaching staff what we need to do.”