Holden, Morris Brown hope to exceed expectations

ATLANTA - Morris Brown coach Sol Brannan has seen the predictions. His team is supposed to go 0-12 this season. <br> <br> ``Nobody&#39;s going to pick us to go out there and win,&#39;&#39; he said. ``That&#39;s good. When you&#39;re the underdog, all you can do is surprise a lot of people.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Of course, the schedule is loaded with tough games. The Wolverines travel to Florida A&M, Alabama State, Florida Atlantic and Norfolk State, and there&#39;s also a home date with Grambling. <br> <br> ``People are saying, &#39;Coach, why you want to get fired? With that schedule you got, you can&#39;t help but get fired,&#39;&#39;&#39; Brannan said with a laugh. ``But we&#39;ll hold our own.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> LaQuonne Holden should be one of the players helping in that regard. A 6-foot-3 wide receiver, Holden led the team with 44 catches last year, including five touchdowns. He was at his best when Morris Brown needed him most. In all five of the Wolverines&#39; victories, Holden either caught the winning score or helped set it up with a reception. <br> <br> ``I just seem to have a knack for doing it,&#39;&#39; Holden said. ``I might not have seen the ball all day because of double- and triple- teaming, but when I&#39;ve got my teammates looking in my eyes, I know I&#39;m supposed to come through.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> This shouldn&#39;t be Holden&#39;s final year of organized football; Brannan said at least three NFL teams have sent scouts to watch him. <br> <br> ``Coming from the scouts, I just have to remain as consistent as I have been throughout my college career,&#39;&#39; Holden said. ``It&#39;s been a lifelong dream of mine to play in the NFL. I&#39;m a moment away from achieving that, and I don&#39;t want to let it go.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Speedster Rother Heard (29 catches, six TDs) teamed with Holden to form the top pass-catching duo in NCAA Division I-AA a year ago, and Holden plans to keep that honor after their senior year. <br> <br> ``We expect to be on top this season, too,&#39;&#39; Holden said. ``Since he&#39;s more of the speed demon, he breaks it long, and I do all the dirty work underneath. We complement each other perfectly.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Brannan has 39 returning seniors expected to play in 2002, including a couple of other pro prospects, and a total of 25 of his players made the dean&#39;s list last semester. <br> <br> ``That&#39;s unheard of,&#39;&#39; he said. ``All of them have great leadership skills, too. They&#39;re fine young men.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Fine enough to avoid that 0-12 season? <br> <br> ``We&#39;re not absolutely naked in talent,&#39;&#39; Brannan said, flashing a smile again. ``We&#39;ll be all right.&#34;