After Ben Jobe passed the coach reins to 29 year old L. Vann Pettaway in 1986, the Bulldogs notched eight 20-win seasons and reached four D2 Elite Eight and one NCAA tournament. Pettaway's challenge is to make AMMU (Alabama A&M) a consistent winner in Division 1 the way it was in its D2 years.
best team 1987-'88
Led by Wille Hayes Wagner and Frank Silmon Alabama A&M streaked D2 national tournament after losing early-season contest to Jacksonville State and Alabama State each by one point. After knocking of Ashland and Kentucky Wesleyan to reach the quarters, the No. 3 Ranked Bulldogs shot a paltry 3 from 21 long range in a 76-68 loss to the eventual champs, Massachusetts-Lowell.
best player:G Obie Trotter (2002-06)
Though he was recruited by higher mid majors, Trotter landed at AAMU because his mother wanted him to be coached by a "godly man." Advantage Pettaway. In leading the Bulldogs to their first NCAA D1 Tournament in 2005, Trotter led the nation with 125 steals and was SWAC player of the year. He ranks seventh with the NCAA's career (346)
Best coach vann pettaway (1986- )
A disciple of transition basketball as a Jobe assistant Pettaway was a defensive mastermind as coach employing variety of attacking schemes with full- and half- court traps. He is the winningest
coach for AAMU history.
coach for AAMU history.
game for the ages
Playing on daunting home court of Kentucky Wesleyan in the second of the 1988 D2 tourney, Ondray Wagner hit a 22- footer from the corner with seconds left to give AAMU the win 92-88.
Fiercest rival
Football Magic City Classic between Alabama State and AAMU is one the most passionate series the gridiron so it's no surprise that the rivalry extends to the hardwood. Bulldogs still growl over the "phantom foul" in a 1988 matchup that stopped a AAMU breakaway dunk and left them with a one-point loss. The Hornets lead the series 19-17 in D1 play.