SSU football 2022: 5 questions as the Tigers enter first season under coach Aaron Kelton
Time ticks by quickly as the 2022 football season approaches for coach Aaron Kelton and his Savannah State Tigers.
SSU kicks off against Southeastern University, an NAIA school located in Lakeland, Florida., at 6 p.m. Saturday at T.A. Wright Stadium. Kelton knows about the first-day excitement from his three decades in the sport — as a quarterback at Springfield College, as a head coach at Shorter University and Williams College and as an assistant coach at multiple stops along the journey.
Recently, Kelton shared some of his thoughts about stepping on the field for the first time with Savannah State.
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What’s the biggest challenge for a coach preparing a football team for its first game of the season?
The biggest challenge is just keeping the players focused. Southeastern’s already had a game (a 54-13 win over North American University) so we’re a game behind. They’re at the (game-day) speed so we have to get to that speed. For us, it’s getting some of the nervousness out of the young guys who will be counted on this year.
Who were the coaches who made the greatest impact on you during your coaching career?
I’ve had a number of guys who have been great mentors. Probably the most influential was a guy named Rico Capehart (a community youth coach in the Boston area) who put me in competition and helped develop my mentality about sports. I’ve been around some great guys — Tony Dungy (NFL head coach), Andrew Faison (head coach at Virginia State), Joe Philbin (head coach of Miami Dolphins), Woody McCorvey (Clemson, Alabama assistant) and then there are some guys who are my peers on the FBS level who are doing great things. That inspires me because I want to show that ‘Hey, I got it, too.’
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Is there a motto you live by?
No, I really don’t have a motto. I just try to accept the day that God has given me and try to make the most of the day. Some people don’t get that day. You never know when your time is called.
Any superstitions? Will you be wearing your lucky socks on Saturday? Eat the same meal? Go through a certain routine?
(Kelton laughs.) No, you know what, I got through that a long time ago. Now, when I was a player, I did the crazy stuff, not step on lines. In the locker room, I usually stayed to myself during pregame. As a coach, I know if I’ve prepared them well, I don’t have to worry about the superstition stuff.
What can SSU football fans expect to see from an Aaron Kelton-coached team?
We’re going to be disciplined. We’re going to play fast. We’ll be physical. You’ll see us running around getting to the ball. Offensively and defensively, we’re going to be aggressive and we’ll be great on special teams. And we’re going to have fun. Those are the things they’ll see on a consistent basis.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah State University football coach Aaron Kelton on 2022 season
