Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Alabama A&M notebook


Huntsville Times

Despite record, Golden Lions concern Jones

Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones admits Arkansas-Pine Bluff scares him. The Golden Lions should.

UAPB (1-5 overall, 1-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference) has been in virtually every game aside from being blown out at nationally ranked Southern Illinois.

That includes a 20-17 loss at New Mexico State in a game where the Aggies kicked a field goal as time expired to escape with the victory.

"I know the potential that UAPB has," Jones said. "They have a good coaching staff. They were picked to win the West. They're putting their stuff together. They've been in all of their games except one. This is a team you can't overlook. They're going to be very, very tough."

The Golden Lions came within an eyelash of knocking off West Division-leading Grambling on Saturday in Little Rock before falling 30-24.

"Anytime you play Grambling down to the wire, it says something about your program and about your team," Jones said. They're playing everybody tough. I know this team is capable of beating us.

They proved that last year. They're a team that concerns me."

Contract still unsigned:Jones had hoped to sign his contract last week, but after reviewing it, he gave it back to athletic director Betty Austin with some revisions.

"I gave my thoughts to it and now I'm just waiting," said Jones, who gave the contract back to Austin on Thursday. "I'm hoping everything is going in a positive manner. I'm not really concerned with that now. I'm just waiting to hear back from there."

The school's board of trustees approved a package last summer that would pay Jones a total package of $155,000, which would make him the fourth-highest paid coach in the league.

Affordable tickets: Tickets for Thursday night's game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff are available at a reduced rate.

Any school in the Huntsville area is eligible to sell tickets to their students for $1.

School officials have to pick up the tickets and distribute them on consignment at their respective schools.

For more information, contact the A&M ticket office at 372-4059. The offer ends Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Local church groups of 25 adults or more can purchase tickets in group quantity for $10 apiece.

All student tickets (ages 6-18) are half price for the game at $3. These tickets are available at any time. General admission tickets that do not fall under one of these specials are $15 in advance and $18 the day of the game.

The A&M ticket office will be open this week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Reggie Benson

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