FUN FEST PHOTO GALLERY

GREENSBORO, August 23, 2008 – A week ago, enough North Carolina A&T football fans gathered around the Aggies practice field to watch a 40-play intra-squad scrimmage that it might have been a lucrative idea to charge for parking.

On Saturday during an Aggies scrimmage, the scene was very different. The scrimmage was on the Aggie Stadium game field and the doors to Aggie Stadium were locked. With the Aggies a week away from opening the 2008 season against Johnson C. Smith at 6 p.m., from Aggie Stadium, third-year head coach Lee Fobbs wanted to execute on the functions of his offense and defense seen by the public.

“Next week, it is for real,’’ said Fobbs. “There are no do overs. We have to be ready to play. We didn’t want the guys to have any outside distractions. We wanted them focused on the mission at hand and that’s winning football games. When we do open the doors next week, we want our fans to see us at our best.”

The scrimmage started out with the Aggies No. 1 defense dominating. Jarrell Herring, Jamison Hedgepeth and Brandon Long all had impressive hits behind the line of scrimmage. The hit of the day, however, came from Fuquay Varina, N.C., freshman Ben Binder. As Binder made a stop in the flats, he put his helmet squarely on the football and caused a fumble.

The Aggies offense wasn’t without its good plays. Running back Quintin Cosby had a couple of long runs. Receiver Giorgio Lowrance also had some impressive plays. Lowrance caught a crossing pattern from junior college transfer quarterback Carlton Fears. He then made a move to the outside causing two defenders to run into each other as he took the ball inside the defense’s 5-yard line for an approximate 60-yard gain.

Lowrance also made the play of the scrimmage. On the last play of the scrimmage, Lowrance caught a fly pattern from Herb Miller to score on a 90-yard touchdown pass.

“There were certainly some things we saw today that we liked,’’ said Fobbs. “And there are some things we have to eliminate. We must take care of the football and we can’t hurt ourselves with penalties.”

While the Aggie fans did not see the morning scrimmage, they did get to see the Aggies afterward. N.C. A&T introduced the 2008 season to Aggie fans with Saturday’s Aggie Football Fun Fest held at Aggie Stadium’s parking lot. The day included games for children, an autograph session and free food.

The Blue and Gold Marching Machine performed along with the Aggies cheer squad. Fans were also introduced to the 2008 volleyball team.

Saturday’s festivities ended with the Aggies holding their annual Media Day on a show wagon in front of the numerous fans gathered on the infield in the Aggies tailgate area to listen to players and coaches discuss the 2008 season.

“We want these guys to know about the great past of this program,’’ said Fobbs who has posted newspaper articles from the Aggies glory days in the locker room. “These guys need to know they are representing a great program and they should want to keep the great tradition going. We are going to step out there on that field this year with living up to the tradition of some of those great teams.”