Camel Foe – Week 1, Shorter University
Posted: August 30, 2012 Filed under: Camel Foe, MB 2013 | Tags: Camel Foe, Fighting Camels Leave a comment »Our critically acclaimed (meaning, enjoyed by at least 2 of the original 8 MB members) series Camel Foe returns for its second season in MB 2013. Each week we shine the MB flashlight on the upcoming opponent of our beloved Campbell University Fighting Camels. We mix together some actual football information with our usual mix of random facts to concoct a delicious appetizer for the week’s college football smorgasbord. Without further ado, let’s learn a little about the Camels’ season-opening opponent, Shorter University.
Shorter University
Location: Rome, Georgia (population: 36,303 as of 2010 census)
Established: 1873 as the Cherokee Baptist Female College
Motto: Light, Truth
Enrollment: 3,500
Nickname: Hawks
Affiliation: Currently transitioning from the NAIA and the Southern States Athletic Conference to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference. This school year is Gulf Coast’s first as a full member of Division II although it will remain ineligible for NCAA championships for the next 2 seasons.
Random Fact #1: During the 1920s, the college constructed the first indoor swimming pool in the United States.
Random Fact #2: The college became co-educational in the 1950s and also began sports programs in the NAIA during that decade.
Random Fact #3: As of October 2011, the university requires all employees to sign and adhere to a “Personal Lifestyle Statement” that includes the following principles:
- They will be loyal to the mission of Shorter University as a Christ-centered institution affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention
- They will not engage in the use, sale, possession, or production of illegal drugs
- They will reject as acceptable all sexual activity not in agreement with the Bible, including, but not limited to, premarital sex, adultery, and homosexuality
- They will not use alcoholic beverages in the presence of students, and will abstain from serving, from using, and from advocating the use of alcoholic beverages in public (e.g. in locations that are open to use by the general public, including as some examples restaurants, concert venues, stadiums, and sports facilities) and in settings in which students are present or are likely to be present. Neither would they promote or encourage the use of alcohol
- They will actively engage in a local church
Random Fact #4: Due to clause #4, it is unlikely any of the executive members of MB will ever apply for a job at Shorter University
Notable Persons:
- NCAA basketball coach Bill Foster, one of 16 coaches to win at least 500 games
- Benton Gill, lead singer of the band Crisis
Well, that was impressive. Let’s throw in notables from the city of Rome as well.
- Professional wrestler Arn Anderson (that’s more like it)
- NFL running back Ronnie Brown
- Former NFL running back Larry Kinnebrew
- Florida head football coach Will Muschamp
- Former NFL player and coach Dan Reeves
- Ellen Wilson, First Lady of the United States (first wife of Woodrow Wilson)
- George Stephen Morrison, Rear Admiral in the United States Navy and father of singer Jim Morrison; Admiral Morrison was part of the crew of the minelayer Pruitt stationed in Hawaii and witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor from that vessel
Oh yeah, the Football Team:
- In 2011, Shorter finished 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the Southern States Athletic Conference, its 7th final season in that conference and in NAIA after starting football in 2005
- Shorter played just 4 home games in 2011, splitting those contest while finishing 4-2 on the road
- Shorter runs an offense similar to Air Force, putting an emphasis on the QB and FB positions – they ran the ball 486 times in 10 games last season, while throwing it just 89
- The Hawks lost their top 2 QBs and top 3 FBs from 2011
- The leading returning rusher is slotback Roderick Jones who ran for 400 yards on just 34 carries, a ridiculous 11.8 per carry
- The team’s leading receiver last year had 7 catches for 161 yards and 3 TDs. For the season. He also graduated meaning someone will have to step up and replace those 0.7 catches per game in the offense
- Shorter returns 5 players on defense who garnered all-conference accolades in 2011, including NAIA All-American ILB Demery Hawkins
- Best Name Nominees:
- Jovann Shabazz, SaDarrius Rooks, K-Sun Manzano, Terrian Beavers, Quay Boddie, Marktavious Dasher, Santavious Bryant, Maurice Bloodser
- The winner – K-Sun Manzano (I’m not telling him he didn’t win)
Prediction:
This is an interesting match-up as a team new to Division II (and in just its 8th season) takes on a non-scholarship FCS program in just its 5th year. We may learn a little as to whether you get better players in NAIA or D-II with partial scholarships rather than at an FCS school with no scholarships. On the field, we will see a match-up of strengths as the experienced and talented Shorter defense takes on second-year starting QB Braden Smith and the Camels offense. On the flip side, the Camel defense and Hawk offense each return only a few starters and match up schemes that are not widely in vogue – the option offense of Shorter vs. the 3-3-5 defense of Campbell. The key to this game will likely be how well the inexperienced Shorter offense runs the option and how well the inexperienced Camel defense can defend it. Expect a fast game as both teams prefer to run the ball, with Shorter especially using the pass as an afterthought. The x-factor in this game is that Shorter will have to deal with the excitement surrounding the first night game ever played at Barker-Lane Stadium. I don’t think you can prepare yourself in practice for the atmosphere in Buies Creek on a Thursday night. The rabid Camel fans help propel the team to a 1-0 start on the season – Campbell 27, Shorter 21.
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