Connell Maynor wants SWAC coaches to do more “hacking” before games

Alabama A&M head coach Connell Maynor is a football coach who knows that community is strongest when there is communication, even when competition is tight.

When asked about his conversation with Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze before Saturday's game against the Tigers, Maynor elaborated on what was said and why such pregame conversations should happen more often.

“I congratulated him on his job and his hard work for it,” Maynor said during the SWAC coaches' conference on Tuesday. “I also congratulated him on his recruiting class and his NIL deals; we talked about the portal and the landscape of the game. I wished him good luck, he wished me good luck, and that's what I needed that night.”

‼️ @AamufbRConnell Maynor and @AuburnFootballHugh Freeze chats during pre-game warm-ups. pic.twitter.com/KZqyZP7Ld6

— Alexa Harley (@AlexaHarleyTV) 31 August 2024

Maynor also added that SWAC coaches should contact each other more often before the game and talk to each other.

“Every game I check on the opposing head coach, and I think that should happen more often,” Maynor said. “Coaches should go over everything before a game. Nick Saban and Dabo [Swinney] “If I chat for five or ten minutes before a game and then start playing, I never get a chance to talk to the head coach.”

Maynor said he is willing to work toward greater communication and camaraderie among SWAC football coaches.

“I'm willing to do it, but we have some people who don't want to talk before the game. I don't know what's wrong with those people,” he said. “That's part of the game; just come up and shake my hand. Isn't that what we're supposed to do?”