On many fronts, the 2009 season was a success for the Bowie State University football team. First-year coach Damon Wilson took over the program in April 2009 and guided the team to a 6-5 record, including a 5-2 mark in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

The Bulldogs won five in a row at one point and made it to the CIAA championship game. But they ended the season on a three-game losing streak, including a 21-10 decision against Fayetteville State University in the CIAA final.

"We certainly don't want to pick up where we left off, losing three in a row," Wilson said.

As a result, Wilson said the team's motto for this season is to "finish what we started."

The Bulldogs have a good chance of finishing with a CIAA crown this year, given their wealth of returning talent. Eight starters from 2009 return on offense, and the defense returns nine starters from a unit that led all 148 NCAA Division II teams in total defense, allowing an average of 217 yards per game.

Among the returning players on offense is junior Andre Johnson (Surrattsville High School), who is in the running for the starting quarterback job, and junior wide receiver James Proctor Jr. (Suitland), who was named to the All-CIAA First Team last year as a kick returner.

The returnees on defense include senior nose guard and Bowie native Calvin Johnson (DeMatha), senior linebacker Aaron Henderson (Oxon Hill) and junior defensive back Kenneth Turner (Oxon Hill). All-CIAA honorees Rodney Webb (junior/running back) and Terrence Peete Jr. (senior/strong safety) return as well. Peete had three interceptions and four fumble recoveries last year, and Turner led the team with five interceptions.

"I think not being able to handle the success we had early hampered us later in the season," Wilson said of the team's late-season troubles in 2009. "When you try to change the mindset of a program, you talk about being successful, but you don't teach the players how to handle the success. We broke a couple of records offensively and shut down some teams defensively. But when you think about it, they're still 18- and 19-year olds and they want to do what they want to do."

The Bulldogs have a new defensive coordinator this season, as New Carrollton native Antone' Sewell rejoins the staff at his alma mater. Sewell spent the past five seasons as the defensive backs coach at Prairie View A&M University, which won the Southwestern Athletic Conference title last season under head coach Henry Frazier III, who coached Bowie State from 1999-2003.

Sewell spent the 2003 season coaching defensive backs at Fort Valley State and was the Bulldogs' defensive backs coach in 2004.

"Obviously, it's a great opportunity for me," said Sewell, who graduated from Bowie State in 2003 and has a master's degree in counseling from Prairie View A&M. "I was a part of a great defense when I played here, so the thing I try to continually instill is the pride we have as a defense and as a football team at Bowie State."

The Bulldogs will begin the 2010 season with four consecutive road games starting at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa., on Aug. 28. But the team's home opener against Virginia Union on Sept. 25 will be special. Bowie State University is in the process of installing a synthetic turf field that will replace the natural grass surface at Bulldogs Stadium.

"I think it's great," Wilson said. "I think it's well overdue here at Bowie State University to have an up-to-date football field. Our administration did a great job in helping me push for this field. It's going to open up some doors as it helps with recruiting. From an alumni standpoint, you're proud of this field."

Bowie State is the second school in the CIAA to install synthetic turf. Fayetteville State converted its field in 2007. The Bulldogs will also play home games against Virginia State (Oct. 2), Lincoln (Pa.) University (Oct. 16) and Elizabeth City State (Oct. 23).

thampton@gazette.net