Morgan sets winning pace at Fort Valley State

FORT VALLEY - John Morgan admits he had low expectations when he decided to apply for the head coach position at Fort Valley State.<br> <br> ``Really, I was just hoping to become familiar with the process and get my name out there,&#39;&#39; Morgan told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer this week.<br> <br> Morgan did more than get his name known in coaching circles. He impressed Fort Valley State president Kofi Lomotey and athletic director Gwen Reeves so much they decided last February he was the right man to lead the program.<br> <br> Morgan has proved to be a quick learner. He should be one of the top candidates for Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors as his Wildcats (7-3 overall, 5-2 SIAC) head into Saturday&#39;s 14th annual Fountain City Classic against Albany State (8-2, 6-1) with a chance to finish in a tie for first place in the conference.<br> <br> In other games involving Georgia state colleges this week, Clark Atlanta visits Stillman in San Diego, Georgia Southern plays at Elon, Morehouse plays host to Miles, Savannah State plays at Grambling State and Valdosta State visits West Georgia.<br> <br> One of the first things Morgan did after taking over the program was to meet with the team&#39;s seniors. Senior defensive end Michael Stewart said it didn&#39;t take them long to start believing in their new coach.<br> <br> ``We saw that he would do whatever it took on and off the field to make sure his players were taken care of,&#39;&#39; Stewart said. ``That&#39;s what a lot of us love about him.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Morgan was a standout linebacker at Bowie State in the early 1990s. He fulfilled a dream when he became the head coach at Fort Valley State. Now that he&#39;s a head coach, he&#39;s hoping to accomplish another dream.<br> <br> ``I want to take us to the Division II national championship game,&#39;&#39; he said. ``That would be something big, not only for black college football, but big for the SIAC and Fort Valley State.&#39;&#39;

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