Through Injuries and Adversity: Why Bulldog Nation Still Believes
- tonariusgooden
- Nov 23
- 2 min read
The 2025 football season at Alabama A&M has been one defined by adversity, transition, and resilience. From a season marked by injuries and growing pains under first-year head coach Sam Shade. AAMU fans witnessed a year of challenges, but also a year that reinforced the importance of patience, pride, and keeping the faith.
A Season of Setbacks Under a New Leader
Expectations were cautiously optimistic entering the first season of the Sam Shade era. With a respected coach known for discipline, structure, and NFL-level detail, many hoped 2025 would be the beginning of a fresh identity on The Hill. Instead, the Bulldogs found themselves navigating one of the most injury riddled seasons in recent memory.
Injuries at Every Turn
Key players went down early, often, and at nearly every position group. Starting Quarterback, tight end, starting placekicker, projected starting receivers and lineman out for the season with injuries before the season started. Week-to-week game plans were more than likely rewritten, depth was stretched thin, and younger athletes were asked to grow up fast.
No team can build momentum when the lineup changes as drastically as AAMU’s did this season. Yet, even as the losses mounted, the locker room held firm.
Growing Pains Under a New System
New coaching staffs always experience transition, but Shade’s first year was compounded by the instability created by injuries. Rhythm was difficult to find, consistency even harder. Still, people praised Shade’s leadership, his honesty, accountability, and focus on long-term foundation building.
The blueprint is there. Now it must be strengthened through health, experience, and most importantly, recruiting.
The Path Ahead: A Critical Recruiting Cycle
For Bulldog football to climb back into SWAC contention, this offseason must be aggressive and productive. The roster needs depth. The team needs size and speed. And Shade needs a recruiting class capable of contributing immediately.
The coaching staff’s reputation and connections should position AAMU strongly, but results matter. This recruiting class will determine how quickly the Bulldogs can recover from 2025 and return to the standard Bulldog Nation expects.
Keeping the Faith on The Hill
Alabama A&M football has always been defined by resilience, community, and the belief that better days are ahead. Seasons like this, difficult, uncertain, frustrating, often become the turning points that set the stage for future success. Football has a foundational leader in Sam Shade and a crucial recruiting cycle on the horizon.
Bulldog Nation remains steady. Support remains strong. And the belief in the future remains unshaken.
This year may have tested us, but it also reminded us who we are. Stay patient. Stay committed. And most importantly, keep the faith.
This chapter may have been difficult, but the story isn’t over, not by a long shot.
And as always, Go Bulldogs.
T. Gooden
The best is yet to come! Go Bulldogs!
excellent! Go Bulldogs!
This was definitely a season we did not anticipate. I know we have many Bulldogs that are questioning if brining in Coach Shade was the right move, but I personally think it was definitely the right move. I base this on him leading Miles College to a conference championship, an appearance in the DII playoffs, and conversations with current players. Let’s not forget the strong showing we had at the beginning of the season. I’m confident that Coach Shade and his staff can turn this around for us. Go Bulldogs!
Bulldog Strong!