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Seal Wins: Blount says Rams must finish
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Published: November 4, 2009
Winston-Salem State, still reeling from letting another game slip away, is trying to regroup in time for Saturday's home game against Delaware State.
Coach Kermit Blount needed a few extra minutes to compose himself after Saturday's 16-13 overtime loss to Hampton. The Rams led 10-0 with less than six minutes to play, but crumbled late.
Blount finally came out of his office to answer reporters' questions after the game, and he wasn't happy about the meltdown.
Yesterday, Blount said that one of the hardest things to teach a young team is how to close out games. The Rams are 1-7, with two of the losses in overtime and three others by nine points or fewer.
"We understand it's a process," Blount said. "The only thing you can do is continue to teach and fight, and once we get to that point where they kind of understand, then things will eventually turn. But we have to close out games when you have a chance."
The Rams had a solid effort Saturday from running back Ced Hickman, but he aggravated a groin injury and was limited in the second half and overtime. Blount said that Hickman will miss some practice time this week but that he hopes Hickman can play on Saturday.
Quarterback Jarrett Dunston had some good moments Saturday, playing the whole game. Redshirt freshman Branden Williams did not play, and Blount said that in hindsight, maybe he should have played Williams at some point.
"You don't want to keep changing quarterbacks, and I thought Jarrett was doing pretty well," Blount said. "He's our starter."
The Rams are on pace for their worst finish in Blount's 17 seasons, but Blount was upbeat about the return of Bill Hayes, who was hired as the athletics director last week and will start work Jan. 1. Hayes was Blount's coach at WSSU in the late 1970s.
"That's a plus for us," Blount said. "Coach and I have known each other for a long time, and he's a workaholic, and he's going to come in, and he's going to be full-go every day. It's hard for anybody to outwork him."
Blount said that Hayes, who coached during the glory days of WSSU football, knows what's needed to succeed.
"I've never had an opportunity to work with him," Blount said. "He's a friend, and he's been a father figure to me since he recruited me coming out of Richmond."
Blount said that the entire athletics department will benefit with Hayes in the fold.
"I think it's important to have people in place who know the direction we are going, and it's going to be a positive thing around here," Blount said.
jdell@wsjournal.com
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