When B-CU released their 2023 football schedule, everyone drew a circle around week four against Jackson State. This week would tell a lot about what we otherwise couldn’t know because of our previous three opponents. The University of Memphis is a division one program, and while they’re in a bit of a lull, they’re still deeper and faster than us. Savannah State, while closer in, they’re still far enough to dominate them as we have for quite some time. Then there’s the 18th-ranked Miami program currently on a mission for a National Championship—another game where it’s hard to gauge progress.
So, it took time for the first three weeks of the season to see how good (or bad) this team was. Either the opponents were too good or needed to be better. This made yesterday’s game-ending even more challenging to watch. After four quarters, we finally got a good look at a team with no identity for the last two years. I saw what everyone else saw: a gritty, brutal, defense-first ball club. The Wildcats took it straight to Jackson State for 60 minutes. Every time it felt like the Tigers would pull away, the Cookman defense ensured they didn’t, or the offense did just enough to keep the game close. That aside, we saw a lot we liked and didn’t. Let’s get to it:
Overreactions
The offense (again). We saw signs of trouble in week one, with Walter Simmons running the offense. Walter Simmons III has been up and down all year. He’s played well in moments but hasn’t been able to put drives together consistently. There are a lot of red flags with the offense, mainly when Simmons is at the helm, and it’s more evident when Luke Sprague is running the offense. Unfortunately, Sprague wasn’t available to go this week due to an injury suffered in the Miami game. Sprague would’ve likely been the difference on Saturday. And we’re still waiting to see Cam Ransom. The listed starter at QB for B-CU has not played a snap this season as he awaits clearance from the NCAA. I have serious worries about this offense until he joins the team or until Sprague can go.
Surprises
The Defense (IS good!). The score was 9-8 at the half. This should tell you all you need to know about this defense. They are locked in and more than ready to compete in the SWAC. All night, they terrorized Jason Brown, the Virginia Tech transfer. Early on, they played a bend-but-don’t-break defense, which looks ugly sometimes but can be effective against teams that cannot punch it in in the red zone. This held for the Tigers all night.
Bethune Cookman’s defense is quick, intelligent, and disciplined. Rarely were they out of place and lost. Almost every time we needed a big stop, they got it. The one time the defense gave up a big score was late in the 4th when JSU’s offense caught us napping before the play. They quick-snapped it, resulting in a 66-yard TD run by Irv Mulligan. That single play would nearly put the game out of reach.
Highs
Coaching. I know we like to talk about the players, but I think we need to give Coach Raymond Woodie and his staff much credit for what he’s done with this program up to this point. Last night was the most significant sign that this team is getting back on track. We looked formidable against a good opponent. We didn’t beat ourselves with penalties, and we didn’t give up very many big plays. A lot of that is due to our guys being coached up. Our work is cut out for us in SWAC play, but I believe we can still compete with how the team has been playing.
Lows
The referees nearly cost us this game. While I admit the Wildcats had their chances, some plays are more significant than others. It cannot be understated how the incompletion called on Decari Allen Johnson late in the 4th quarter changed the course of what could’ve been a game-winning drive. I am unsure if he bobbled the ball after the catch, but there was no more consequential call than that. Unfortunately, the refs also decided not to look at it, which they could’ve. This was a low point of the game.
Outlook
While the Wildcats didn’t open SWAC play with a win, they did enough to convince most of us that the team has improved. Last year’s team played quite a few close games, but a lack of discipline likely cost us a few games last season. When you look at the first four games of the season from 2022, the penalty totals are as follows:
2022 through Week 4: 49 Penalties for 362 Yards
2023 through Week 4: 25 Penalties for 215 Yards
Some stats are great signs of a well-coached team, and I’ll be the first to tell you that I often go back and look at the penalties, especially in close games. Compared to last season, Bethune-Cookman cut their penalties in half through four games. And while penalties or lack thereof aren’t the only way to judge a game, they tell a lot about a team’s mental makeup. This team is focused and does not beat themselves with silly penalties. This was a recurring theme last year. And while an argument can be made that the offense was much better last season, they often squandered big plays with untimely penalties. This year’s team hasn’t had that issue thus far. And while those small things may not necessarily translate to wins now, they absolutely will soon because of the culture being established. A good culture always wins, even when you lose.
The Wildcats have a BYE week coming up, and it will be critical for us as we lick our wounds after a tough first four weeks and prepare for the SWAC gauntlet. We’ll see you in Montgomery on October 7! In the meantime, one of the things we’ll be keeping an eye on will be the QB situation. Will Simmons continue to be the guy? Will Sprague be back? What about Cam Ransom? We hope many questions regarding our signal caller will be answered before then.
All Hail to Thee.
