Sept. 5, 2010
By Dan Ryan
B-CUathletics.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The first play of the Brian Jenkins era was a 47-yard deep strike from Matt Johnson to JeVaughn Reams.
Statement? Naaaah.
Make of it what you will, but Jenkins will firmly deny that calling a long pass as his first play as Bethune-Cookman head coach was simply part of the overall plan and not an attempt to establish there's a new offense in town.
Wildcat faithful could have found a statement in the choice of uniform when the team came out in the gold jerseys and pants with maroon helmets used primarily in the 1980s and early 1990s. While the barely visible numbers presented a challenge to spotters for Michael Stambaugh's stat crew and PA announcer Rev. Isidore Williams, the ensemble brought back memories of the days of Bernard Hawk and the late J.D. Hall slinging for 400 or 500 yards a night.
A lot of 47-yard passes have been thrown and will be thrown. This was simply another one, according to Jenkins.
"Our offensive coordinator, Mark Orlando, is an aggressive guy," Jenkins said. "I told him, 'Mark, call your game.' I'm not one of those coaches who try to run everything. He called the play and it was a good play, and Reams made the catch and we were rolling."
The Wildcats did roll - finishing with 635 total yards in a 70-10 opening day rout of Edward Waters that accomplished everything an opening day rout is supposed to do. Like most other season openers across the country featuring new coaches, the final score is almost secondary to giving the entire roster a good look and rejuvenating a fan base that showed up to the tune of the largest non-homecoming crowd in three years.
(You can say Jenkins had the best debut in Florida. Jimbo Fisher and FSU beat Samford by 53 while Skip Holtz and USF beat Stony Brook by 45. Statement? Naaah.)
But remember, last year's Wildcats were, shall we say, downfield challenged? The team had all of one touchdown pass last season and Matt Johnson had that topped by the opening play of the third quarter. Freshman Troy Dannehower had more touchdowns passes in 20 minutes than the Wildcats did all season. When Johnson hit Isidore Jackson for a touchdown pass in the second quarter, it was the first time Wildcat fans attending a Municipal Stadium game had seen a touchdown pass since Obama took office. You get the idea.
Johnson's first-quarter rushing outburst contributed to his tebow-like numbers on total offense (271 yards on 122 and 159 passing) but the passing numbers had to feel good. Johnson pumped his fist in the air after the TD pass and celebrated like he just beaten FAMU.
There was a lot to celebrate, and Jenkins would probably like to say the statements started hours before kickoff. His Wildcat Walk started at 2 p.m. when the players and coaches - one carrying a picture of B-CU founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune - disembarked from the bus wearing sharp black suits with maroon and gold ties and getting greeted by tailgaters. Fans who entered Municipal Stadium saw an upgraded presentation with end zone banners and decorations that gave a Bethune-Cookman feel to add to the new field turf.
Some things just speak for themselves.
