Shaw begins Al Pellegrino era with aim to bounce back

The Shaw Raiders have struggled to come close to the success they consistently had in the early and mid-2000s. This season, Al Pellegrino steps in with the goal of returning the program to its heyday.

Pellegrino, who served as defensive coordinator last season, comes in with a great deal of head coaching experience, including stops at Savannah, East Hall and Heritage-Conyers. Pellegrino said his past year with the Raiders provided him with knowledge of the roster as well as relationships with the players.

It also has provided him with a barometer for what he’s seen this summer.

“We’re leaps and bounds from where we were last year as far as the work ethic,” Pellegrino said. “The kids are being held a little bit more accountable among themselves. Some of these kids are starting to take those leadership roles. When they see the discipline and structure in place and they buy into it, it’s a lot easier for them to police their own squads.”

Shaw senior center and nose guard Bryant Knight explained the transition from Chuck Stamey to Pellegrino has not been a very drastic one, considering what Pellegrino brings to the table.

“As the defensive coordinator, he was already a big part of the team and a leader,” Knight said. “It was pretty easy to fall in line with Coach P. He’s a good coach, and it’s easy to fall in line with good leaders.”

The Raiders were 1-9 in Stamey’s final season, during which the team averaged a bit more than 14 points per game. Pellegrino is looking to run a multiple-formation offense in 2017, with the key player likely being Elisha Ammi.

Ammi had played wide receiver for the Raiders but now steps under center for his senior season. Ammi explained the transition has been a tough one but said he has stayed patient throughout the summer months and put the work in to help his offense get rolling.

Ammi’s dedication has not gone unnoticed by his new head coach.

“That’s got to be something he’s really adjusted to,” Pellegrino said. “For him to be a team leader and say, ‘OK, I’m going to take on that quarterback role because it’s best for our team’ says a lot about him and the direction he is going to go.”

The Raiders have lost 16 of their 22 starters from the 2016 season, but those returning plus the others remain optimistic about the coming fall. Pellegrino lauded their work in the weight room, saying their efforts have built a confidence that could carry over to the field.

Knight said the team talks about last season’s disappointments every day in an effort to motivate. The team is hopeful to make its new era a fruitful one and create some legitimate buzz within Muscogee County.

“I’m excited,” Knight said. “I’m ready to show everybody what we’ve been doing. We haven’t been out here messing around; we’ve been out here grinding and getting better.”

2017 Schedule

This story was originally published August 19, 2017 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Shaw begins Al Pellegrino era with aim to bounce back."