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C'ville's Slater has Tuskegee rolling
The Golden Tigers are 11-0 after they beat Alabama State 64-58 in the 84th annual Turkey Day Classic last Saturday in Birmingham. "We are having a really good season," Slater said in a phone interview Monday. "I didn't know to begin with if we could go undefeated, but the players thought it was possible." Tuskegee plays Virginia Union in the Pioneer Bowl this Saturday. The game will be played in Columbia, SC and will be broadcast on ESPNU at p.m. In 2000 the Golden Tigers won the National Championship but everyone who had played on that team is gone, making this group just as special. "The biggest obstacle has been trying to stay healthy," Slater said. "Especially with our quarterback. We just don't have a lot of depth and that makes it all the more important. "Another important thing is to keep the players focused on each game," he added. "It is easy to overlook someone if you are not careful." Slater has worked on staffs at every collegiate level and has seen success and hard times. "For me, I have been fortunate to be around great players and great coaches," he said. "You get to pick up a lot from being around good people." Tuskegee has several players from this area on the team, including John Pascley and Brandon Anderson from Butler. "We have some good players from that area and we hope to continue adding players from there." Two of his assistants are from Choctaw County in Reginald Ruffin and Levorn Harbin. "All of my assistants are doing a great job," he added. "That is what it takes." Slater, who graduated from Coffeeville High School, still holds onto the things and lessons he picked up in this area. "I know where I am from and I am proud of that fact," he said. "There are a lot of people there that I owe something to for getting me to where I am today." He even sees his former alma mater making a resurgence in the coming seasons. "They have been down before but they have come back. It all comes and goes in cycles." Slater and his wife Patricia have two daughters, Dedre and Kim; one son, Micah; and one grandson, Peyton.
Slater's parents are Willie Mae Slater and the late Arthur Slater.
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