Bethune-Cookman is off to a slow start in conference play, and if you listen closely, you can already hear the troubling winds of murmuring and doubt beginning to blow among the Wildcat faithful. The goal for Coach Raymond Woodie and his staff is to find a way to secure a win at this week’s homecoming clash against Texas Southern and help prevent that doubt from creeping into his football team.

There were high hopes for this program at the onset of the season. Coach Woodie brought with him an enthusiasm this program has been missing for years. Along with him came over 50 new players, a brand new coaching staff, and the promise of a return to BCU’s winning ways. Yet the Wildcats find themselves in a challenging spot, having begun conference play 0-2. 

The first blow came from Jackson State on the road, where despite a strong defensive performance and a chance to get the ball back and take the lead in the waning moments of the contest, the Wildcats failed to make the plays necessary to win and succumbed 22-16 to the reigning conference champs.

Their subsequent game against Alabama State in Montgomery was a rinse and repeat of the JSU game. BCU had the ball first and goal from the 10 yard line and trailed by just 5 points with under 2:00 left in the game. Yet again, the Wildcats could not find the right ingredients to close out the game and fell 14-19 to the Hornets.

So here we are; scratching our heads and wondering “is this last year, again”? Are the Wildcats destined for another historically bad season? Is the rebuilding process still on track and did someone put a “Color Purple”, Ms. Ceile curse on the Wildcats due to all the negativity surrounding the university?

Whatever is going on right now, the product on the gridiron needs some immediate attention. A win this weekend for the Wildcats, in front of a homecoming crowd, keeps the rebuild on schedule and cools the feelings of discontentment.  A loss this weekend and…well let’s just say BCU will have BIG PROBLEMS. 

BCU’s Defensive Dominance

One thing that cannot be denied is BCU’s formidable defense. The Wildcats rank first in pass defense, giving up just 146 yards per game against conference opponents. They are also  limiting SWAC opponents to just 20.5 points a game. The stout defensive performances have kept BCU competitive in every conference game they’ve played. Linebacker Dearis Thomas leads the team in tackles (43) and tackles for loss (7).

Offensive Struggles

On the flip side, the offense has been a sore point. In last week’s contest against ASU, Bethune managed to pass for a measly 75 yards and were held to a pedestrian 198 yards of total offense. In the game prior, BCU passed the ball a little better gaining 176 yards through the air but only managed 58 rushing yards against JSU’s defense. 

The Wildcat offense simply has not been good enough to win games at this level. Period. There is no way to sugarcoat it.

Injuries haven’t helped the cause on offense. Starting running back, Jouvensly Bazil, went down midway through the first half against JSU and the Wildcats are depleted along the offensive line. But the biggest blow has come at the quarterback position, the pivotal role for any football team’s offensive success.

QB1, Luke Sprauge, and QB2, Talik Bethea, both suffered shoulder injuries in the Miami game and neither has taken a snap against SWAC opponents this season. The injuries have forced the Wildcats to go with third string quarterback Walter Simmons. Most teams in the country struggle playing with their 3rd string QB and the Wildcats are no different. Bethune’s offense has struggled through the injuries and rank last in passing offense, last in offensive efficiency, last in first downs gained, last in 3rd down conversions and next to last in total offense. 

Yikes!

Perhaps the question we hear most murmured from Wildcat fans is “when is Luke returning?” There is a strong feeling among the Wildcat faithful that Bethune would be 2-0 in SWAC play if they had the full service of starting quarterback Luke Sprauge. We think so too but we don’t know that for sure. We also do not know when Luke will return. Therefore the onus is on offensive coordinator, Joe Gerbino, to come up with a scheme that fits the  personnel he has at his disposal.

For as much as BCU’s offense has struggled with Simmons at QB, I do not place all of the blame at Simmons’ feet. Coach Gerbino has to do a better job of tailoring the offense to match his quarterback’s skillset. Simmons’ running ability is his strength. Asking him to read the entire field and go through 4 or 5 progressions just isn’t his game. Trying to force Simmons to run that type of offense is more of a failure of the offensive coaching staff than it is the player. 

I know coaches tend to get very defensive when fans, journalists, and bloggers report on what’s not working; but you don’t need a bunch of talking heads to state the obvious. Just check the results and stats for all the proof you need. BCU ranks at the bottom of the league in virtually every offensive category. Gerbino has to either tailor his offense to the guy that is available to him under center; or put someone else out there who can operate this offense more efficiently.  

The Road Ahead

A win is crucial to keep Coach Woodie’s rebuild project on the right trajectory. And look at what the Lord ordered up for the Wildcats; a Texas Southern team who are also struggling this season. TSU is without their All-Conference quarterback Andrew Body. The Tigers have been as bad on defense as the Wildcats have been on offense. Like BCU, TSU has failed to win close games against conference opponents and secured their lone win of the season against a Division 2 foe. 

If there were ever a perfect opponent for a get right game, this is it. The problem is, both teams are thanking Jesus for this gift and think they have found the perfect opponent to get things back on track.

Cookman has the fortune of playing this game in front of a homecoming crowd. A win on homecoming can rally the fans and players and restore belief in the direction of the team. A loss would stir the already troubled waters and cast shadows over the future of the program.

The time for excuses is over, Wildcats. It’s time to get it done. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00pm. The game can also be viewed on HBCUGo.

Hail Wildcats!