Howard Hustlin' Tigers
Coach: Michael Calloway (2-17 in two years here and overall)
Last year: 2-8 only two seasons after a playoff-clinching 8-2 record
'13 dreams: While the two wins last year - District 6-AA upsets of Central and Brainerd - were a far cry from a winning season, they represented a two-win improvement over the previous season, and only two of the eight losses were by 20 or more points. Quarterback Terrance Brooks and running back Kentarius Hampton are reasons for optimism, but the Tigers are likely to be outmanned in every game with just slightly more than two dozen hopefuls showing up each day for practice. Too, there is a shortage of experienced linemen and a definite shortage of line candidates (just nine in the early days of practice, and five of those were freshmen).
13-for-13 contenders: Brooks wants to play college football, and while he's undersized he runs and passes and returns punts and kicks and realizes that he might be best suited to be a receiver or defensive back at the next level. Hampton teamed well with Brooks a year ago, when they and Lorenzo McCauley provided the bulk of the Tigers' offense.
Number of interest: Herman Coulter, now the Tigers' defensive coordinator, plans to retire after this season after more than 25 years in the Hamilton County school system. He was the Tigers' head coach for 13 seasons, which ties him with John Atkins for the program's longest tenure in that role.
13 years ago: The Tigers struggled, losing 11 games and eight of those by at least two touchdowns. They rebounded the following year with a 6-5 season.
1-through-3: Senior quarterback Terrance Brooks
Q. With just more than two dozen players, what are you looking for this year?
A. A team won the state one year with 15 players, I heard, so it can happen. We have more linemen this year, even though five of them are freshmen. But they're working hard, so I feel I can trust them.
Q. Did you ever get down last year?
A. I was always happy. We're out here to have fun - play our hearts out, yeah, but there's a whole lot to live for.
Q. What does it mean to play at Howard?
A. They say it's hard to be a Tiger, and it is. We do a lot of running. We were running more than six miles every day before two-a-days - down Market Street to Broad Street to Central Avenue and back. We have always been a good running team, but I think we'll throw it better this year.
- Ward Gossett
2013 Schedule
Aug. 23 at Baylor
Aug. 30 Stratford
Sep. 13 Loudon
Sep. 20 Hixson *
Sep. 27 at Greater Atlanta Christian
Oct. 4 at Brainerd *
Oct. 11 at Tyner *
Oct. 18 Central *
Oct. 25 at Red Bank *
Nov. 1 East Ridge *
*District 6-AA game
2012 Stats
Passing C-A-I Pct. Yards TDs
Terrance Brooks 96-183-6 1,530 5
Rushing Att. Yards TDs
Terrance Brooks 78 451 7
LaWayne Ruffin 79 339 4
Rashad Brummitt 24 178 1
Kentarius Hampton 33 150 2
Receiving No. Yards TDs
Christopher Walton 27 623 3
Rashad Brummitt 25 264 0
LaWayne Ruffin 14 247 2
Jeremy Davis 11 190 0
Roster
No. Name Class
1 Terrance Brooks Senior
2 Darris Harris Senior
3 Lorenzo McCauley Senior
4 Chris Green Senior
5 Ryheem Brummitt Junior
6 Johnny Pendergrass Sophomore
7 Akiem Brummitt Freshman
8 Demetrick Wynn Junior
9 Quatarrius Porter Sophomore
10 Nigel Billingsley Freshman
11 Jahmani Thomas Sophomore
12 Deaunte Calloway Junior
13 Davon Sherrer Freshman
14 Patrick Black Junior
17 Destein Henderson Sophomore
21 Kedarrius Phinazee Freshman
30 Kentarius Hampton Senior
33 Daidrick Dunham Freshman
50 Alex Stallion Sophomore
51 Jameel Sutton Sophomore
52 Winston Clay Senior
53 Devantae Binford Junior
54 Deaunte Binford Junior
55 Chevelle Gladden Senior
62 Tadarius Covington Freshman
63 Desmond Powell Junior
64 Udarius Strawter Freshman
65 Dayland Binford Freshman
70 Andrew Calloway Sophomore
74 Jeremiah Parker Freshman
80 Jawan Hill Freshman