Coming into the 2024 HBCU Football Season, very few coaches face more pressure than Alabama A&M's Connell Maynor. When Maynor arrived on The Hill he immediately had the Bulldogs in Championship contention with Aqeel Glass as the A&M signal caller. During his first 4 seasons Maynor boasted an 25-13 overall record and a 15-8 record in the conference to go along with a Spring SWAC Title. Since the departure of Aqeel Glass it's been tough sledding up in Madison County. The Bulldogs are 9-13 overall, 8-9 in SWAC play and have back to back 4th place finishes in the SWAC Eastern Division.
It's safe to say that coming into the 2024 season that the Bulldogs are wounded Dogs! But remember the phrase, "a wounded dog is a dangerous dog." The Bulldogs are predicted to finish again near the bottom of the SWAC East this season behind expected contenders FAMU, Jackson State, and rival Alabama State. A 3rd consecutive 4th place finish in the SWAC East could very well spell the end of the Connell Maynor era in Huntsville. But before we back up the U-Haul trucks to Connell Maynor's crib, let's take a look at the upcoming season for the Bulldogs and how the Dogs potentially put the bite on SWAC opponents this fall.
After a non-conference slate that includes Auburn, DII Kentucky State, NAIA Georgetown Ky, and FCS peer Austin Peay. The Bulldogs SHOULD head into conference play with a 2-2 record and in a perfect world a 3-1 record. I would also caution Bulldog fans that the Georgetown game will be a tougher than you think. The Tigers of Georgetown are one of the better programs at the NAIA level with a 17-5 record over the last 2 seasons and a trip to the NAIA semifinals. In 2023 Georgetown finished 10-2 overall and return a good deal of their starters including 3 off of an offensive line that boasted one of the most potent rushing attacks in NAIA. Nonetheless Alabama A&M should win this ball game and if they don't that's NOT a good sign. Immediately after that the Bulldogs visit FAMU on September 28th and have a date with Jackson State in Mobile on October 5th. The Bulldogs at worse have to split these two games! In a perfect world they win both. But Losing back to back weeks during this stretch would mean an 0-2 start in SWAC play which almost eliminates you from Championship contention before we make it to mid-October.
After the tangle with Jackson State and FAMU, Alabama A&M returns home.flr homecoming to face off against Bethune-Cookman and then takes a week off before headed to Birmingham for a date with Alabama State in the Magic City Classic. Many have believe that a 3rd straight loss to Alabama State coupled with losses to FAMU and Jackson State would spell the end of the Maynor Era. If you're a Bulldog you're hoping to come into the Magic City Classic with 1 conference loss or fewer if not a loss in Birmingham pretty much ends the season and shuts off the lights on the Maynor party in Huntsville.
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