The Maroon Tigers are coming into the 2019 season with a lot of factors in their favor. Head football coach Rich Freeman will once again be the Morehouse College head football coach for the 13th season, continuing along with his contemporary head basketball coach Grady Brewer the rare consistency in regard to Atlanta University Center (AUC) sports programs.
Freeman’s continued tenure makes for easier recruiting for the Maroon Tigers in and around talent rich metro Atlanta and surrounding states.
Morehouse football and their fan base will also be continuing to enjoy the quarterback play of junior Michael Sims. The Detroit native show flashes of an All-SIAC caliber signal-caller last season after passing for 243 yards and five touchdowns in a victory at Lane College on Sept. 8. Sims passed for more than 100 yards and a touchdown in all but two games last season. Against rival Clark Atlanta in the 2018 season finale he managed to pass for 135 yards, going 20-31 with a touchdown and an interception. Having Sims back leaves Freeman and his staff more time develop incoming freshman quarterbacks Frederick Alexander (Gunn High School, Palto, Ca.) and Samad Noble (Arabia Mountain). Junior William Roberson, who got snaps in five games last season, has experience and will be a quality backup as well.
There will also be a wealth of talent at the receiver position with multi-sport athlete and senior Amyr Smith (baseball) back alongside juniors Tremell Gooden (also basketball), Ricci Nuckles and Tamarick Vanover. Junior running back Santo Dunn is also back after rushing for a career and team high 790 yards last season.
The Maroon Tigers defense will also be as experienced as any other in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
That said the lack of home dates can hurt a team expected to challenge for a SIAC title this season. The Maroon Tigers are scheduled to play just four games at B.T. Harvey Stadium this campaign. With Savannah State University entering the league this year the stakes are even higher and home games that much more valuable.
Morehouse will not play its first home game until hosting Savannah State on Sept. 28. That is 27 days after an opening week game in Canton, Ohio against Alabama A&M.
The home dates are spread throughout the schedule with the only opportunity to have back to back games on October 5 when the Maroon Tigers follow their game against Savannah State with a home against Kentucky State University.
The other home games are on Oct. 26 against Benedict College and against Clark Atlanta on Nov. 9.
