Head Coach Shawn Gibbs didn’t mince words when speaking at the North Carolina A&T Press Conference, discussing the loss to North Carolina Central Eagles, saying this was the “most disappointing day of his career in football as a player and coach”. Coach Gibbs congratulated the Eagles’ Head Coach and football team on their win, but emphasized there are some things the Aggies’ football team must change moving forward, and one thing in particular was being prepared and ready to compete on the field.
The Aggies’ Head Coach wasted no time acknowledging his competitiveness for the mistake, making the call to go for it on 4th down down 24-0 on their side of the 50-yard line, when his team wasn’t prepared for that moment. The team has to buy into the team-first culture that requires preparation, hard work, dedication, intensity, and being a great teammate. That doesn’t come instantly; it must be built day by day, brick by brick, for all of the players to understand that everyone on the team is just as important as the other, even when your number isn’t called.
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The Aggies’ Head Coach gave praise to the leadership in his quarterback room, stating that the way they uplift one another when they’re not the starter and take mental reps during practice to stay sharp for when their number is called is how he wants the rest of the team to bond together and compete against other teams. Players have to understand there will be times when they are expected to make a play late in the game, when their number is called for the first time. The Aggies had two standout players. Coach Gibbs talked about quarterback Kevin White, who completed 10 of 16 for 232 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception, and defensive back Johathan Kimbrough-Campbell had 15 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and a forced fumble in the game. The Aggies rushed for 42 yards on 35 attempts in the game, which is a growing concern for Coach Gibbs, because it shows they were competing. Playing on the offensive line is a tough job that must be fulfilled in order for the team to be successful.
The Aggies’ Head Coach is building to change the culture of the football team. The disrespect shown by a player to an opposing coach, as he stated, is the reason they didn’t shake hands because a player squirted Coach Oliver with a water bottle before the game. The young man who squirted Coach Oliver is no longer on the team. He went on to say that too many guys want to hate on this team. When your teammate has an opportunity to shine, teammates should support. Coach Gibbs firmly stated that it won’t be tolerated within the program, and those players will be removed, because he doesn’t want them on the team.
The Aggies suffered a grueling loss to the Eagles this past weekend in the Aggies-Eagles Classic, and one thing Coach Gibbs took away from that game is that the Aggies must be properly prepared and recruit the athletes who will continue to help create the culture that is team-first day by day and week by week. The Aggies play the University of Maine this upcoming Saturday.