Tuesday, August 27, 2013

‘Championship or bust’: After success of ’12, WSSU has its sights set on the big prize

  1. WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- When Coach Connell Maynor hears that Winston-Salem State has nothing to prove this season, his eyes bulge and his voice rises.

"We have to keep that chip on our shoulder,” said Maynor, whose Rams have a 20-game winning streak in the regular season and the No. 5 ranking in the AFCA Division II preseason poll. “I had that chip there when I took over and we were coming off a 1-10 season. That chip hasn’t gone anywhere.”

The Rams lost plenty of offensive firepower from last season, when they finished a school-best 14-1 and as Division II runners-up. The defense, on the other hand, could be one of the best in school history and will have to carry the load early.

One benefit of last season’s success is that Maynor, who is entering his fourth season, and his staff have fielded calls from players at Division I programs looking for a place to play — WSSU opened camp with close to 120 players, including nearly 30 D-I transfers.

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