GAME CENTER vs. HAMPTON

2-0 Starts
North Carolina A&T is off to its 32nd 2-0 start in school history. The Aggies have started the last two seasons 2-0. The Aggies have finished under .500 just three times in school history after a 2-0 start, including last season’s 3-9 finish. On 13 separate occasions, the Aggies have lost their third game of the season after starting 2-0. In fact, seven out of their last eight 2-0 starts were accompanied by a loss in the third game of the season.

Number of 2-0 starts ........................32
Longest streak of 2-0 starts ..............11 (1991-01)
Longest drought between 2-0 starts .......9 (1977-85)
Longest win streak to start a season ......6 (1951, 1986, 1993)
Championships won after 2-0 start .....8 (1927, 1950, 1968, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2003)

The Hampton Scouting Report
Over the past decade, the Hampton Pirates have built one of the best programs not only in black college football, but throughout the nation. The Pirates have used that success to cause problems for the Aggies, having won the last five matchups while scoring an average of 46.6 points in the process. They have compiled 523 yards of offense this season, but they are surrendering 364.5 yards per game in their first two outings. Offensively, the Pirates are led by running LaMarcus Coker, who is averaging 7.0 yards per carry. He has 181 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the season. Quarterback Herbert Bynes threw for 2,723 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, but he lost his job to David LeGree this season. LeGree has completed 47.6 percent of his passes over the first two games and has thrown for 330 yards and two touchdowns.

SUPER ROOKIE
Sophomore Mike Mayhew has scored a touchdown in each of his first two games as an Aggie. He is the first Aggies rookie to score a touchdown in each of his first two games since Charlie Sutton did it in 1978. Another touchdown against Hampton and Mayhew could become the first Aggie rookie running back to score at least one touchdown in his first three career games. Mayhew is a unique rookie in that he is a sophomore because of being a Prop player last season. Therefore, he is not eligible for any Aggie freshman records. Barry Turner owns the rookie rushing record for N.C. A&T with 556 yards in 1990. Al Holland owns the rookie record for touchdowns with 12.

2-0 DEBUTS
There is a lot of upside for head coach Alonzo Lee starting 2-0 in his first season as the Aggies head coach. He is only the fourth head coach in school history to start 2-0, joining Hornsby Howell (1968) and his former boss George Small (2003). Lee could also join the duo in terms of a successful first season. Howell’s Aggies won the Black College National Championship, and Small’s Aggies won the MEAC Championship.