Transfer receiver sparkles in TSU win over AAMU

Spillman scores twice against Alabama A&M

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — JaJuan Spillman isn't asked to do too much for Tennessee State. Since he's still new to the program, all that's expected of the Louisville transfer is that he score touchdowns. He does that well. The lightning-fast receiver touched the football three times through the first three quarters of Saturday night's game at Alabama A&M and scored twice. Spillman's big plays set the stage for a 34-13 win before a crowd of 10,072. The victory helped TSU snap a three-game losing streak to the Southwestern Athletic Conference power.

The last time TSU won its opener was in 2004, when the Tigers beat A&M 42-7. Finally beating the Bulldogs would have been more difficult without Spillman's heroics. After returning the opening kickoff for a short gain, Spillman got wide open early in the second quarter deep down field and caught a 65-yard pass from Antonio Heffner for a touchdown. The next time he touched the ball, 6½ minutes later, Spillman broke loose for a 94-yard kickoff return and another score.

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Attendance: 10,072, Lewis Crew Stadium, Huntsville, AL (Capacity: 21,000)

MEAC/SWAC Battle of the Bands 8/30-31/2008

FAMU Marching 100 Drill

FAMU Marching 100 Dance Routine

Hampton University Marching Force Band
Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band
Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul Marching Band
Alabama A&M University Maroon and White Marching Band

Weevils surprise UAPB Golden Lions

PINE BLUFF, AK — Is it too early to assume there’s more to the Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils than previously thought? UAM’s 21-7 season opening victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday at Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff suggests as much. The NCAA Division II Boll Weevils entered Saturday having won six games in the past three seasons, and were picked to finish last in the 11-team Gulf South Conference in a preseason poll. But that didn’t keep UAM from manhandling the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA ) Golden Lions offensively and defensively.

Sophomore quarterback Scott Buisson ran for 95 yards and a touchdown and added 193 passing yards and two touchdown passes for the Boll Weevils. “This ain’t a last-place team,” UAM Coach Gwaine Mathews said. “Defensively, I thought we had something to prove. I thought tonight, we did.” A defensive unit that surrendered more than 40 points per game in 2007 limited UAPB to 183 yards passing and intercepted Golden Lions quarterback Jonathan Moore three times.

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Attendance: 8,126 @ Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff, AK (Capacity: 12,500)

SE Louisiana Lions stave off Alcorn Braves to spoil Jones' debut

LORMAN, MS - Ernest Jones saw his share of amazing comebacks in his playing days at Alcorn State during the Steve McNair era. In his head coaching debut at his alma mater, Jones came oh-so-close to seeing another one. Tim Buckley's fourth-down pass with six seconds left was just out of the grasp of Channin Pugh and Alcorn dropped a 34-28 heart breaker to Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday night in the season opener at Jack Spinks Stadium.

"I marched up and down the field during that drive and told my guys that we have a chance," said Jones, who replaced Johnny Thomas. "I played with a miracle-maker. Steve McNair made miracles happen and games like that we were in all the time. The expectations were that we were going to drive down the field and win the football game." And the Braves almost did that.

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Attendance: 3,000, Jack Spinks Stadium, Lorman, MS (Capacity: 22,500)

NSU Spartans turn it on, rout Virginia State

NORFOLK, VA - Slow start, fast finish. How fast? Usain Bolt kind of fast. The Spartans didn't just win, they overpowered their rivals from Division II Virginia State in the Labor Day Classic on Saturday 47-7 before a festive crowd announced at 17,132 at Price Stadium that appeared far larger. Speaking of big, the 40-point margin of victory was the greatest in the annual series that dates to 1963.

The Spartans (1-0) rang up the first 47, with 28 of those points earned in the second half. Virginia State's lone score came with 1:34 left in the game when NSU had a collection of backups on defense. After missing all of the 2007 season due to eligibility issues, running back DeAngelo Branche showed as much rust as a shiny new vehicle. A white towel hanging from his gold pants exclaimed "I'm back!" in colored marker, and the Trojans couldn't argue. Scoring three touchdowns, which matched his previous high from the entire 2006 season, the sophomore showed off elusive moves that should make him the MEAC's best.

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Attendance 17,132 @ Dick Price Stadium, Norfolk, VA (Capacity: 30,000)

Nevada Wolf Pack off to fast start with 49-13 win over Grambling State

The Grambling State marching band opened its halftime show with Earth, Wind and Fire's "Let's Groove Tonight." The Nevada football team took it literally. The Wolf Pack made the expected first-game miscues -- and a few unexpected bumbles -- but otherwise had a fairly crisp and ground-dominating start to the 2008 season with a 49-13 victory over Grambling State before 20,078 fans at Mackay Stadium on Saturday night. It marked the first time since 2003 that the Wolf Pack opened the season with a victory.

"It's great to get that first win under our belt," said sophomore quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who rushed for three touchdowns. "We haven't had that in the past few years. "(We) still had a lot of mistakes, though, and we need to improve those for next week." Nevada dominated the running game on both sides of the ball, totaling 426 yards and seven rushing touchdowns, averaging a whopping eight yards per carry. Four hundred yards rushing is amazing," Kaepernick said. "That tells you right there the kind of work our offensive line has put in the offseason and the kind of work they put in tonight.

Grambling State University Tigers Marching Band


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Attendance: 20,078 @ MacKay Stadium, Reno, NV (Capacity: 31,545)

Jacksonville Third quarter does in Savannah State

SSU Coach Robby Wells starts Tiger career at 0-1, as he learned Saturday morning that 11 players were ineligible to play against Jacksonville because of NCAA Clearinghouse issues. The Dolphins are a non-scholarship program in the Pioneer League.

Jacksonville (Fla.) University cornerback Robson Noel guaranteed a victory against Savannah State University and his teammates delivered Saturday night. After a scoreless first half, Jacksonville scored 17 points in the third quarter and held on for a 20-7 victory. A Memorial Stadium crowd of 4,441 watched as the Dolphins spoiled the head coaching debut of SSU's Robby Wells, and gave JU second-year head coach Kerwin Bell his first road win.

"I just knew our team was ready to play," said Noel, who made four tackles. "I'm very relieved. I owe it all to my teammates." Jacksonville, which does not offer athletic scholarships, is a member of both the Football Championship Subdivision and the Pioneer Conference. The Dolphins won their season opener for the first time since 2002, when they beat Lenoir-Rhyne, 37-27. SSU has not won its season opener since 2004, a 41-34 double-overtime victory at Norfolk (Va.) State.

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Attendance: 4,441@ Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 15,000).

North Carolina A&T Aggies rediscover that winning feeling

Photo Gallery of N.C. A&T record breaking win

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- After searching for almost three years, N.C. A&T finally found somebody it could beat. After losing 27 straight games, the fourth-longest streak in NCAA Division I-AA history, the Aggies and coach Lee Fobbs defeated Johnson C. Smith 44-12 Saturday in the first game of Fobbs' third season at A&T.

And there was great rejoicing. Maybe too much. A&T's band was admonished by officials in the first quarter, presumably because the Marching Machine was bothering its own team. The fans had no idea how much time was left on the malfunctioning scoreboard clock, so they just enjoyed the long evening as if it would last forever. By the end, it was the Smith band being chided by officials for making too much noise, and the Aggies taunting the opponents the way winning programs can taunt opponents.

It had been a long time.

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Attendance: 11,552 @ Aggie Stadium (Capacity: 22,500)

Joe Taylor Era at FAMU starts with a dominating victory

Make no mistake about it: Rattler Nation is buzzing.

The curtain rose on the Joe Taylor Era on Saturday, and the opening night revues are calling it a smash-mouth hit. Playing before an enthusiastic crowd of 18,088, Florida A&M turned back Alabama State 30-20 in its season-opener. "Everybody is excited for this football team," FAMU linebacker and team captain Vernon Wilder said. "We have a chance to be great.

"It was real electric here tonight." The Rattlers played opportunistic football. Alabama State won the statistical battle, putting up 378 yards of total offense to FAMU's 201. But the only numbers that count after the final horn are the ones on the scoreboard, and that's where the Rattlers were the undisputed champions.

FAMU vs. ASU Hornets Photo Gallery

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Attendance: 18,088 Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL (Capacity: 25,500)

Prairie View pummels TSU 34-14 in Labor Day Classic

Prairie View A&M jumped out to a 28-point lead before allowing its defense to carry the Panthers home to a 34-14 victory over Texas Southern at the State Farm Labor Day Classic at Reliant Stadium on Saturday night in front of 20,444. Panthers, who have won four of the last five against the rival Tigers, spoiled the coaching debut of TSU coach Johnnie Cole by smothering his ballyhooed HOBO (high octane, big play offense) attack, as Prairie View A&M allowed just 113 yards and nine first downs while also recording six sacks of TSU quarterback Bobbie Reid.

“We were prepared for whatever they did,” said Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III. “We have a sound defensive foundation, and once we got settled in, we were able to stop just about anything they threw at us.”

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Attendance: 20,444 @ Houston, TX Reliant Stadium (Capacity: 69,500)

Commentary: Knights don't wow in opener against South Carolina State

You don't want to show too much in the first game. If that was UCF's goal, you can call Saturday night a Category 5 success. The Knights didn't show a lot. In fact, they did such a good job of hiding their offense that you have to wonder if they have one. Either that or the MEAC is the sleeper power conference this year.

All hail South Carolina State.

"We had an opportunity to possibly take a football game here," Coach Buddy Pough said. Not Really. UCF was never in danger of losing, mainly because South Carolina State was never in danger of scoring. But the Knights led only 7-0 entering the fourth quarter, which was about 21 points short of where they should have been.

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Central Florida blanks South Carolina State, 17-0

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The phrase “moral victory” is not in South Carolina State head football coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough’s vocabulary. Not surprisingly, he refused to view Saturday’s 17-0 season-opening loss to Central Florida in such a manner. “We’re not in the moral victory business,” Pough said. “We’re a good enough team now where we’ve got to make some type of statement and we haven’t made it yet. The one thing we do know is that we can go in and play defense I think with pretty much anybody. We’ve just got to find a way to make our overall team come together.”

The Bulldogs stopped the Knights on three of five trips to the red zone as Markee Hamlin (#11) had eight tackles and one fumble recovery to lead the S.C. State defense.

Even though the Bulldogs’ third contest against a Football Championship Subdivision foe was less lopsided than last year’s two contests against Air Force Academy and the University of South Carolina, to a man, the outcome was seen as a missed opportunity. “Tough season opener,” Pough said. “When you come into stadiums like this you feel like you might have a chance to at least hang around. “When you do for a while, you feel really bad about not getting it done.”

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Attendance: Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando, FL: 42,126 (Capacity: 45,301)

UH opens Sumlin era with 55-3 win over Southern

Game statistics

Quarterback Case Keenum torched the Jags for 359 passing yards and five touchdowns — both career-highs — while completing 33 of 43 passes in only three quarters of play.

With all the buildup heading into Kevin Sumlin’s first game as coach of the Houston Cougars, you almost expected a letdown when they finally took the field Saturday to play the Southern Jaguars. Too much was expected of the Cougars, who were installing new schemes on both sides of the ball and were trying to find new playmakers at key skill positions. But despite the pregame hype, the Cougars still managed to impress, rolling to a 55-3 victory before a rowdy crowd of 26,555 at Robertson Stadium.

Everything seemed to click for the Cougars, who enjoyed the highest-scoring coaching debut in school history, eclipsing the 54 points Bill Meek put up against Montana in 1955, despite emptying the bench late in the third quarter.

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Attendance: 26,555 at Robertson Stadium, Houston, TX (Capacity 32,000).

Colts cut QBs Lorenzen, (FAMU) Gray

Former FAMU Rattlers Quinn Gray is out of an NFL quarterback job tonight, with his cut from the Colts Roster.

The Indianapolis Colts reached the NFL’s regular-season limit of 53 today by waiving 20 players, including quarterbacks Jared Lorenzen and Quinn Gray (Florida A&M University), and placing two projected starters on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.

The waiving of Lorenzen and Gray indicates the team is confident its top two quarterbacks – Peyton Manning and Jim Sorgi – will be healthy for the Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears. Manning did not play in the preseason after undergoing surgery on his left knee July 14. Sorgi was held out of the last two preseason games after injuring his right knee.

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MEAC/SWAC Internet Live Game Links for 8/30/08

1. FAMU vs Alabama State webcast: http://www.famu.edu/famcast/famusports

2. NCA&T vs. Johnson C. Smith University webcast: http://www.ncataggies.com/A&T%20Athletics/1aGGIE%20WEBCAST.htm

3. NSU vs. Virginia State live audio: http://www.nsuspartans.com/sports/2007/10/25/GEN_1025070834.aspx?tab=liveaudio

4. SCSU vs. UCF: http://all-access.cstv.com/cstv/player/player.html?code=ucf&sport=m-footbl&category=live&media=72700

5. Arkansas-Monticello @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff: http://www.uamsports.com/ATHLETICS/LISTEN_LIVE.htm

Prairie View A&M, TSU motivated for opener

Someone will move, and someone will get hit, so the plan goes.

Hence the theme for tonight’s State Farm Labor Day Classic, as Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M open the regular season (7 p.m.) in a contest that will feature an explosive quarterback (TSU’s Bobbie Reid) attempting to avoid being frequently hit by an equally volatile Prairie View defense that looks to pick up where it left off last season, when the Panthers allowed the fewest points in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

“Anything moving on the field (tonight) will get hit,” said Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III. “We plan on playing aggressive, confident football for 60 minutes.” Confidence is one trait the Panthers don’t lack. With 18 returning starters and the momentum from last season’s 7-3 campaign flowing throughout campus, Prairie View embarks on a season in which expectations are higher than they have been in decades. A winning season isn’t enough for the program, which has its eyes locked in on a SWAC championship.

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Florida State Volleyball Sweeps Florida A&M On Opening Day

The Seminoles are now 20-0 all-time against the Rattlers.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Seminoles opened the 2008 season with a win over the Florida A&M Rattlers on day one of the Florida State Invitational Friday, August 29. FSU swept its cross-town rival in three sets (25-13, 25-15, 25-16) to lengthen the all-time winning streak to 20-0.

"It is always good to get an early match like that out of the way like that," FSU head coach Chris Poole said. "I felt like the girls for the most part played really well. The biggest thing I want them to focus on is not making as many mistakes on our side of the net and I think we did a pretty good job eliminating that for the most part." Leading the way for the Seminoles was junior Jordana Price (Mountain Home, Idaho) who had an impressive nine kills for a .818 attack percentage. Price also led the team with four assisted blocks and 12 points.

Final Stats

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The Tulane University volleyball home opener against Florida A&M on Monday, Sept. 1., has been cancelled due to evacuation of its student-athletes, coaches and staff out of New Orleans with the impending weather threat from Tropical Storm Gustav. The Tulane volleyball team flew out of New Orleans on Thursday for their season opener at the BYU Molten Classic in Provo, Utah, and will remain on a West Coast road trip and travel directly to their next tournament, the Paso Robles Marriott Invitational, Sept. 5-6, at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Moon goes off on Alabama State and SWAC

No Shame:

I wrote last week about Alabama State offensive lineman Lionell Mapp breaking through the floor at ASU's mobile football facility. That's right, Mapp fell through the floor and one leg nearly hit the ground below. Anyway, I've been thinking about this for a while and I think now is the time to say it: ASU has no business on the Division I level.

If you're operating a program that can't manage to obtain the necessities, you need to take a serious look at where you are and what your options might be. ASU is in that position now. And I'm not saying that simply because of the incident with Mapp and the dilapidated state of the "football offices." It's also the practice field, which is so riddled with holes that the team is avoiding it, and the compliance office, which still employs just two people.

This program, like the rest of the SWAC's programs, should be in Division II. And I'm failing to see the shame in admitting it. If ASU were to drop to Division II, it wouldn't look so bad when Tuskegee handed out its annual Turkey Day whipping.

Josh Moon can be reached at jmoon@gannett.com.

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UAPB Coach knows Turner’s path to excellence

UAPB Coach Monte Cole-man: "Senior linebacker Tim Turner is the unquestioned leader of the Golden Lions defense with 122 tackles a year ago."

PINE BLUFF, AK — Arkansas-Pine Bluff Coach Monte Coleman probably thought he had a pretty interesting sports history. It’s not every day a young man grows up with his eye on other sports, hardly plays high school football, never receives a recruiting letter and yet goes on to become a standout linebacker in college and, later, the NFL. Yet for all the odd little bumps and curves that led Coleman to stardom, he’s not the only member of the UAPB football program who has followed that path... at least up through college.

A preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection who led UAPB with 122 tackles a year ago, senior linebacker Tim Turner is the unquestioned leader of the Golden Lions defense. His speed — Coleman said he can run a 4. 5-second 40-yard dash — and 6-1, 220-pound size fit the ideal college linebacker mold, enough so that the New York Giants had a scout in Pine Bluff last Friday to do some firsthand observation.

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NSU hopes game with Virginia State starts something big

NORFOLK. VA - James Riddick lists the priorities for any Norfolk State football fan. No. 1 is beat Virginia State in the opener. No. 2: beat Hampton. No. 3 is beat everyone else in the MEAC. It's a sentiment shared by many Spartan diehards, most of who will fill Dick Price Stadium tonight for the annual Labor Day Classic against the Trojans.

The Norfolk State schedule, toughened with a match-up at SEC foe Kentucky next week and CAA stalwart William and Mary later this month, doesn't have a more attractive date to its fans than today's game. Even talk of a future contest with down-the-road rival Old Dominion doesn't hold the same mystique for Spartans fans, who have made this annual showdown with the Division II Trojans a circle on their calendar since 1963.

Six of Price's top 10 crowds have come with Virginia State in the stadium, including the top attendance of 33,872 exactly 11 years ago in the stadium's inaugural game there. As for today? "I'm projecting a sellout," said NSU athletic director Marty Miller, whose only reservation about making such a bold statement is the chance of rain dampening the evening.

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FLORIDA A&M vs. ALABAMA STATE

Time: 6 p.m., Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL

FAMU offense vs. ASU defense

For the first time in his career, FAMU quarterback Eddie Battle is the undisputed starter heading into the season opener with the Hornets. Battle was named the starter after impressing new head coach Joe Taylor in the spring. He's shown over the summer why Taylor tapped him to be the starter: He is a leader capable of guiding an offense down the field. It's highly unlikely new Kentucky transfer Curtis Pulley will see any time today. There's little doubt who the star of the offense will be, however, and that will be sophomore running back Philip Sylvester.

The 2007 MEAC Rookie of the Year, Sylvester joins Demitric Henry and fullbacks Mykel Benson and Kalum Harris as veterans of the backfield to give FAMU a potentially scary running attack. With Willie Hayward gone, Jarvis Funderburk, Adrian Smith, Javares Knight and tight end Taj Jenkines need to provide FAMU with a formidable receiving corps for the Rattlers to succeed through the air this season.

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Jacksonville cornerback guarantees a victory over SSU

Teams meet at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium

It's Savannah State's football season opener. It's Robby Wells' first game as the Tigers' head coach. And if that's not enough intrigue then try this: Jacksonville (Fla.) University cornerback Robson Noel has guaranteed a JU victory against SSU at 7 p.m. today at Memorial Stadium.

Noel, a senior from Pompano Beach, Fla., last week told the Florida Times-Union, "We want to get off to a fast start this year. We've got a couple of big games ahead of us. We're focused in on Savannah State right now, and we're looking forward to Appalachian State (Sept. 6), but we're keeping that in the background. "We're thinking about this first game, and we're going to come out with a win ... and I guarantee it." Thanks to the Internet, word of Noel's guarantee spread quickly at SSU.

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Coleman era begins with UAM’s stout offense

Arkansas-Monticello at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
WHEN 6 p.m. Central today WHERE Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff 2007 RECORDS Arkansas-Pine Bluff 4-7, 4-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference; Arkansas-Monticello 4-7, 3-5 Gulf South Conference COACHES Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Monte Coleman (first season ); Arkansas-Monticello: Gwaine Mathews (fourth season, 6-27 ) SERIES Arkansas-Monticello leads 12-4 RADIO KUAP-FM, 89. 7, in Pine Bluff; KHBMFM, 93. 7, in Monticello INTERNET http://www.uamsports.com/

Let the Monte Coleman era begin. After struggling to a 4-7 finish last season the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions fired coach Mo Forte, and hired defensive coordinator Monte Coleman to right the ship of what has been one of the more prestigious programs in Arkansas state history. Coleman’s tenure officially starts tonight when the Golden Lions open the 2008 season against the University of Arkansas at Monticello at 6 p.m.

“Feels like Christmas,” Coleman said of his head coaching debut. “Can’t wait for the next morning.” Coleman hopes to give a present to all Golden Lion fans by beating the Boll Weevils. And while UAM is a Division-II opponent, Coleman acknowledged that a victory won’t come easy for his squad.

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SU Holloway, others have chance to star

Southern University junior defensive end Don Holloway is so much like the rest of his teammates. He looks the part. He’s spent his time as the understudy. And his number is being called. This season, how so many guys like Holloway, defensive tackle Frank Harry, wide receiver Corderious Gregory and safety Anthony Wells fare, will determine if Southern is to make a run for its first Southwestern Athletic Conference title since 2003.

There are enough established players, like quarterback Bryant Lee and defensive end Vince Lands, who helped SU emerge from two consecutive losing seasons to an 8-3 mark last season. But as SU opens its season at the University of Houston at 6 p.m. today at Robertson Stadium, there is the next line of players who will need to elevate their games to make their mark.

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Grambling, Nevada have similarities

RENO, Nev. — Something will have to give when Nevada has the ball Saturday night in its season opener against Grambling State. Grambling, defending champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division, has many unanswered questions on offense but returns seven key players to a defense that ranked 12th in the nation in the Football Championship Subdivision last season.

Nevada returns eight players to one of the Western Athletic Conference’s best offenses a year ago, but is suffering from inexperience in the defensive secondary.
“They sound a lot like us,” Wolf Pack defensive coordinator Nigel Burton said in comparing the Tigers offense to Nevada’s defense. “Inexperienced. Talented, but inexperienced. ... I don’t know who has the advantage,” he said.

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New Rattler' coach Taylor's goal: Return to glory

New Rattlers coach brings Gaither-esque run attack

As he made his rounds throughout Florida and other parts of the country during the offseason to promote his mission as Florida A&M's new football coach, Joe Taylor heard countless stories about Jake Gaither. Some went back more than half a century, but they all had the same theme — Gaither had a positive impact on his players' lives. There was plenty said about the numerous national championships won under Gaither during his 25 years of coaching at FAMU, too.
















Taylor was touched and encouraged. But months earlier, Taylor had reason to be worried whether Gaither's legacy would be remembered generations from now. He discovered that only a handful of his players knew anything about Gaither or had ever heard of the legendary coach's accomplishments.

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A&T: Will Fobbs' third year be the charm?

GREENSBORO, N.C. — When you're in charge of an operation that has lost 27 consecutive football games, there are few easy questions. And so it wasn't stunning to N.C. A&T coach Lee Fobbs when a fan, given a microphone in what was termed a news conference, recently asked why the Aggie populace should believe the upbeat rhetoric of August 2008.




















The matter-of-fact tone of Fobbs' response spoke more to diplomacy, practicality and recent history than it did to the current state of affairs. There really are some reasons to anticipate the end of the fourth longest losing streak in Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) history. And maybe a little more.

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History lesson could help UCF avoid an upset by SCSU

Two words have given inspiration to every overmatched, undersized team in college football. Two words have come to symbolize hope and confidence and a belief that even the littlest team can beat up the biggest bully. And two words will make UCF players and coaches wary when they open the season Saturday with an unknown opponent.
Two words: Appalachian State.

"They have given all of us the thought that we can do it, too" says South Carolina State Coach Buddy Pough, whose Division I-AA Bulldogs will kick off the college football season Saturday at UCF. What Pough is referring to, of course, is I-AA Appalachian State's 34-32 upset of then-No. 5 Michigan in last year's season-opener. Not only was it the biggest upset in college football history, it may have been the biggest upset in sports history.

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Just shut up and play, S.C. State! Victory is yours for the taking...

South Carolina State University Marching 101 Band

U.Houston not expecting romp vs. Southern U.

The University of Houston never punted while romping in its first two games against Southwestern Athletic Conference schools. The next SWAC team up is Southern, which plays UH in the third Cougar Football Classic at 6 p.m. Saturday in Robertson Stadium. Will this game between two teams from different levels of Division I football be another mismatch?

It’s nothing to lose. It’s everything to gain,” senior defensive end Vince Lands said. “We want to show what Southern football is all about.”

“Those are proud guys and they are going to come in here and give us all they want,” first-year Houston coach Kevin Sumlin said. UH beat Grambling 42-22 in 2006 and winless Texas Southern 59-6 last season. Although Grambling was the defending SWAC champ that season, the Tigers went 3-8 and, combined, those teams were 3-19 in the seasons they played Houston. In comparison, UH went 18-9, won the 2006 Conference USA title and went to two bowl games.

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Towns reaches A&M milestone

Assistant begins 30th season on Bulldogs' staff

Brawnski Towns never envisioned himself as a college football coach. He had other plans for his life. Towns signed to play football at Alabama A&M in 1965 under legendary coach Louis Crews and majored in mechanical drafting and technology design. "I was going to work at Boeing or some other company and make a lot of money," Towns said, laughing. Towns never made it to Boeing. He never made a lot of money, either. He did, however, become a football coach.

"I never wanted to coach," said Towns, A&M's defensive coordinator. "Coach Crews asked me to help him and the rest is history." Towns will make history in his own right Saturday night when A&M hosts Tennessee State in the season opener for both teams. The game will mark Towns' 30th year as an assistant coach with the Bulldogs. Kickoff is 6 at Louis Crews Stadium.

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ASU freshman moves to corner

When redshirt freshman John Andrews first stepped foot on the Alabama State campus, he was ready to flourish as a quarterback. However, certain limitations kept him from staying as a Hornet signal-caller, and now one year later, he is on his third position -- cornerback. Head coach Reggie Barlow made the decision earlier this week to move Andrews.

"John is blessed with athletic ability," said Barlow. "Maybe we can get something out of him at another position. He just wasn't ready to contribute as a receiver." The presence of Keon Humphries and Robert Childers helped contribute to the decision. However, Andrews could be called upon on offense in a pinch this week as neither Humphries or Childers could be ready for action.

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FAMU volleyball makes switch at setter

FAMU Coach Tony Trifonov will be working against formidable odds to win the MEAC crown and a NCAA berth with a team composed of only five returning players and three walk-ons.

Defensive star Egoavil tries to give Trifonov 100th MEAC win in a row

All the great expectations that volleyball coach Tony Trifonov had for the coming season took a spike when two of his overseas recruits couldn't gain admission to FAMU. Instead of sulking, Trifonov has done a little shuffling with his undermanned team. With any luck, he might still have a team good enough to get him to the 100-win plateau in the MEAC.

"Whatever happens, happens," said Trifonov, who needs one more MEAC victory to extend his consecutive win streak in the league and reach the milestone. "I'm not worried too much about the streak."

One of the more pressing matters Trifonov has to address is molding 5-foot-5 Susan Egoavil into a setter. She was moved from libero on the back row to the front-court position after Zaira Monzo decided not to struggle with homesickness and left FAMU. Egoavil has proven defensive skills that earned her a spot on the 2007 All-MEAC preseason first team. But she now has to find ways to be effective despite her lack of height.

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FAMU Rattlers ready for new season

FAMU Football team looks to silence critics

The Rattler football team is entering into the season with a sense of optimism. After a summer of long workouts the team is confident it can compete in the MEAC. Head coach Joseph Taylor said about 75 athletes stayed in Tallahassee for the summer. "They took classes," Taylor said. "They were up on the track at 5:45 a.m. working on speed and later in the evening, they were lifting." Taylor said this season the team must play smarter.

Rattlers DB/KR Qier Hall #1 will be returning from an injury shorten 2007 season.

"It's all about hard work. We expect to be successful," Taylor said. "On offense, we have to make sure we protect the football. On defense, we have to be accountable and pay attention." Even though Tropical Storm Fay caused delays and closed some schools, Taylor said the weather had minimum effects on the team. The team watched a film and took a written test during the bad weather. "It was a good chance to get our legs back," Taylor said.

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JSU self-reports secondary NCAA rules violation

Jackson State’s football program has committed what school officials consider a secondary violation of NCAA rules, the university announced today in a press release. The release said the school has self-reported the violation to the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

According to JSU, freshman quarterback Domonick Britt practiced beyond the allowed number of days while awaiting word on whether he had been ruled academically eligible by the NCAA. The NCAA allows players to practice for 14 days after reporting for athletic competition without being cleared academically. After 14 days the institution cannot provide athletically related financial aid and the player cannot practice until being cleared. Britt, the star of the 2008 recruiting class, reported when camp opened Aug. 2 and was still practicing Monday without being cleared.

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JSU is set to open the season Sunday in Orlando, playing Hampton University in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Kickoff is 1 p.m. CDT and the game will be televised by ESPN2

Nevada, Grambling bands to perform together after game

They've brought their version of "Ball of Confusion" to three Super Bowls and two presidential inaugurations, and this week members of Grambling State University's world-famous Tiger Marching Band will be shaking things up in Reno. Nevadans have two chances to catch the Tigers: Friday at a free performance at the Peppermill Casino Resort and Saturday when Grambling State's football team plays the Wolf Pack in Mackay Stadium.

It's an athletic and musical matchup that has been two years in the making, said Rory Hickok, Nevada associate athletic director. "We started the negotiations in 2007, so this has been in the works for quite a while now," he said. "This is truly a historic occasion to get a band of this renown in Northern Nevada. They have played at presidential inaugurations and Super Bowl halftimes, so this is an opportunity to see one of the world's most famous bands."

Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band

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MVSU Totten retools attack

After 3-8 season, coach changes offense to better suit quarterbacks' abilities

Following an off-season of change in Willie Totten's Mississippi Valley State program, the Delta Devils seem set on a quarterback who can lead their offense. For now. That honor belongs to junior Ryan Burciaga. But if last year - when the team started three different QBs because of injuries and ineptitude - is any precursor, who knows how that'll wind up.

For the former quarterback Totten, whose Delta Devils open with Texas College on Aug. 30, the uncertainty at that position is troubling. Especially when the talented Paul Roberts, anointed as the starter as a freshman last season, is now the third-stringer. "It's a challenge for him," Totten said. "Either way you want to stay third string or you push up to challenge as the starter." MVSU ranked dead-last in the SWAC in total offense last year.

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'Bama State Hornets struggle with the heat

Hornets head football coach Reggie Barlow.

After two days of rain and clouds, the sun finally beamed down on the Hornets on Wednesday. The effects of the heat had some positive and negative aspects on the Hornets. "Florida is the 'Sunshine State' and it's warm down there," said ASU head coach Reggie Barlow. "I don't want our guys to feel sorry for themselves. We have to push through the fatigue."

Barlow saw some things that he felt were less than impeccable. "Practice was ok," Barlow said. "Some guys were out there feeling sorry for themselves." Junior quarterback Reid Herchenbach took 60 percent of the snaps with the first-team offense.

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Scott gets chance as FAMU placekicker

Trevor Scott practiced every day with a soccer ball at his old high school field in Jacksonville, hoping for an opportunity. Every roll of the ball carried his hope that he'd one day be kicking for a college soccer or football team. FAMU associate head football coach George Small just happened to be making a recruiting trip on one of those days that Scott was toiling in late spring. Finding a kicker was high on his list.

Kicker Trevor Scotts

His eyes caught Scott on the practice field. Bingo. Scott turned out to be just the player that head coach Joe Taylor worried about finding to shore up his special-teams unit. Scott came to FAMU at the start of preseason practice and immediately began to separate himself as a field-goal kicker and PAT specialist. Taylor rewarded him with the job earlier this week, when he also named Will Platt for the kickoff and punting duties.

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QB Souverain key to 'Cats fortunes

During the past two years, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference seems to have figured out Bethune-Cookman's "Wyattbone" offense. And for the first time since Alvin Wyatt took over as coach, B-CU recorded back-to-back losing seasons, finishing 5-6 each year. However, things are looking up for the Wildcats. Eighteen players return who started at least 17 games. Wyatt has said that some new wrinkles in his offense, emphasizing the skills of new quarterback McKinson Souverain, could be the key for the Wildcats.

"You better get you a trigger man, a quarterback, and we've got that in McKinson Souverain this year," Wyatt told The Associated Press. "With this kid, if he stays healthy, our team will have a lot of success. This kid is everything for our football team." But offense isn't the only key to a potential resurgence. Defensively, end Dexter Jackson was a first-team preseason all-MEAC selection and defensive back Antwane Cox was chosen to the second team.

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GSU has Jack of all trades

Jeffery Jack, #4 provides blocking for Zaire Wilborn, #26 on interception return last season.

GRAMBLING, LA — Grambling State head football coach Rod Broadway is clear about the strength of his 2008 Tigers football team. "Defense should be the strong suit of our football team, especially early," Broadway said. One reason for the expected strong defense is the return of defensive back Jeffrey Jack. Last season, Jack was the team's second-leading tackler with 77 tackles. He also had an interception and a fumble recovery. And he should be even better this season.

"Last year, I was pretty banged up for most of the season," Jack said. "Over the summer, I got healthy, lost a lot of weight, almost 30 pounds. I'm faster and I'm stronger. Basically, I feel like I'm a freshman in college. I'm ready to use all my knowledge and all my skills and play to the best of my ability." His fall camp performance has already been noticed by Broadway.

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A&M aims to prove '07 was no fluke

Alabama A&M women's soccer coach Frank Davies always tries to find a way to top the previous year. After winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship last season and becoming the first team in league history to score in an NCAA tournament game, Davies says he has found a way. "We've got to repeat," Davies said. "In order to prove that last year wasn't a fluke, we've got to win it again."

In the five-year history of the SWAC championships, there has been no repeat winner. Davies says the Bulldogs can do it if he can find a way to retool their midfield. "How we revamp that unit will be a big key," Davies said. Belinda Kanda, one of the nation's top scorers, returns along with six other starters. Brittan Thomas and newcomer Celeste Roberts will also be counted on to help shoulder some of the scoring load.

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Southern ready for cat fight in Houston

Storm or no storm, the Southern Jaguars are ready to take the field against the Houston Cougars this weekend.

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SU monitoring effects of scheduling FBS teams

After years of not playing Football Bowl Subdivision teams, Southern University will open this season and next season on the road at schools with more scholarships and bigger coffers. This could be the start of a trend or, if SU coach Pete Richardson’s vision is true, be the spark to start an A.W. Mumford Classic in the future. That’s just something we have to look at as an institution, to see which direction we’re going to go,” Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur said.

This season, the Southwestern Athletic Conference, which plays in the Championship Subdivision, arranged its conference schedule to open in September and shortened the commitment of SWAC games from seven to nine, so its 10 teams could seek more non-conference games. Five SWAC teams are playing FBS teams this season: Southern at Houston and Grambling at Nevada on Saturday, Alabama A&M at Louisiana-Monroe and Alcorn State at Troy on Sept. 13 and Alabama State at Alabama-Birmingham on Sept. 20.

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Fast finish has Prairie View hopeful for this fall

Prairie View aims to build on 7-3 mark with senior quarterback Mark Spivey, who is getting a sixth season of eligibility for a medical hardship. Spivey went 5-1 as a starter in the Panthers’ last six games in 2007.

In past seasons, three or four wins would have counted as a sign of progress for Prairie View A&M, a program that had been starving for positive attention. This year, the bar is raised much higher for a Panthers team that comes off a 7-3 season, returns 18 starters and has become the trendy pick to overtake Southwestern Athletic Conference stalwarts Grambling State and Southern for the West division title. Optimism is overflowing for coach Henry Frazier’s squad, which last year delivered the school’s first winning campaign in 31 seasons.

“It’s (the expectations) bigger than last year. It’s very exciting,” said running back Donald Babers. “Everybody’s anticipating the season.” Prairie View finished 5-1 to close out 2007, due in part to an offense that jelled behind quarterback Mark Spivey. Spivey fired seven of his nine touchdown passes in the last two games, giving the offense — which had become run-oriented — some much needed balance.

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Bozeman talks Morgan State's 2008 recruiting class

Todd Bozeman has a lot returning from Morgan State’s 2007-08 team.

But he’s also adding several talented newcomers to the Bears -- the reigning regular-season MEAC champions. Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College center Buford Foote, Hagerstown Community College forward John Long, Northeastern (Colo.) Junior College guard Troy Smith and Gwynn Park guard Sean Thomas are the new additions to MSU’s roster. Philadelphia forward Ameer Ali, former Walbrook center Kevin Thompson and ex-St. Frances point guard Desmond Thomas all redshirted for Morgan last season and will be eligible this fall.

Bozeman spoke with Recruiting Report recently about the Bears’ 2008 recruiting class. Give us an overview of your class of newcomers...

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"Meet The WSSU Rams" draws record crowd

Coach Kermit Blount and the Winston-Salem State University Rams football team were home in the friendly confines of Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday afternoon as they participated in their annual “Meet the Rams” Fan Fest and Media Day in front of a record crowd that took advantage of their first chance to see the 2008 WSSU football team.

The Rams, entering into their third year of a transition to NCAA Division I status following 61 years of membership at the NCAA Division II level, head into the 2008 season on the heels of a 2007 season which saw WSSU surprise college football pundits by posting a 6-5 record overall.

16th-year head coach Kermit Blount, a man that needs only three more wins to overtake Bill Hayes (current A.D. at Florida A&M University) as the winningest coach in WSSU history, fielded questions from both media members and loyal Ram fans at the annual fan fest and media day.

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Cooper Is Firmly at the Controls for Howard Bison

Video Games Help LB Develop Plan of Attack

Before he would entrust his defense to Endor Cooper, Howard coordinator Andre Creamer wanted to make certain the senior middle linebacker fully understood all of its nuances. The two men spent countless hours going over the playbook, watching film together and discussing defensive strategies. But it wasn't until they sat down in front of a television and played football video games that Creamer became convinced that Cooper grasped every aspect.

By manipulating the outcome of the game, Creamer was able to throw every scenario he could think of at Cooper. Trailing 21-17 with four minutes to go: What's the plan? The opponent just went to a hurry-up offense: How do you react? Each time, Creamer allowed Cooper to work through the situation, to make mistakes and to learn from them.

Howard University Bison 2008 Team Photo.

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Howard University 'Show-Time' Marching Band

TSU linebacker's goal: Be top tackler

Willis wants to lead nation in category

Linebacker Remond Willis was one of the few bright spots on Tennessee State's defense last year and hopes to stand out even more this season. The transfer from Illinois led the Tigers last year with 84 tackles. He's set a higher goal this year, hoping to lead the nation in tackles. "I've got a lot to prove this year,'' Willis said. "I'm going to try to lead the nation in tackles and I believe it's a realistic goal. Fifteen tackles a game is nothing."

Nothing? It's nearly twice as many tackles as Willis had last year when he averaged 7.6 tackles a game. He didn't finish among the nation's top 100 tacklers, but was 11th in the Ohio Valley Conference. TSU's defense needs that type of improvement all over the field. The unit cost the team in a big way last year, allowing an average of 33.4 points a game.

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Cowboys' Bob Hayes (FAMU) and Falcons/Eagles Claude Humphrey (TSU) gets Hall nod as finalist

CANTON, Ohio — Claude Humphrey (Tennessee State University) and Robert Lee ("Bullet Bob") Hayes" (Florida A&M University) were nominated by the seniors committee Wednesday as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Hayes, an Olympic gold medalist as a sprinter, played for Dallas from 1965-74 and for San Francisco in 1975. He averaged 20 yards a catch for his career and led the NFL with a 20.8-yard average per punt return in 1968. He was a seniors finalist in 2004 but did not get the necessary 80 percent of the vote to make the hall. He died in 2002 at the age of 59.

Hayes was the first player in the history of the Dallas franchise to surpass 1000 yards receiving in a single season and he did that in his rookie year by finishing with 1,003 yards. Hayes was the first person to break 6 seconds in the 60 yard dash with his indoor world record of 5.9 seconds. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times and All Pro four times and is the only person so far to win both an Olympic gold medal (1964 Tokyo Olympics) and a Super Bowl ring (1971). Bob Hayes finished his 11-year career with 371 receptions for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns, giving him an impressive 20 yards per catch average. (Both career TDs and yds per catch average remain franchise records.)

Humphrey was a regular finalist two years ago, his final year of eligibility. He played 11 seasons with Atlanta before finishing his career with Philadelphia from 1979-81. He was considered one of the best pass rushers in the game during an era in which sacks were not an official statistic. Humphrey was selected out of Tennessee State University in the first round of the 1968 NFL Draft with the 3rd overall choice by the Falcons.

They will join 15 modern-era finalists yet to be determined in the final selection the day before the Super Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 31. The two seniors finalists are voted on separately. A total of seven can be elected — the two seniors and up to five modern candidates.

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JSU looking into possible NCAA rules violation

Jackson State is investigating whether its football program violated NCAA rules by allowing quarterback Domonick Britt to participate in practice, compliance director Alethea Ringo confirmed this morning.

Britt, the star of the 2008 recruiting class, has not yet been cleared academically by the NCAA but has been practicing with the team. NCAA bylaw 14.3.5.1.1 says a recruited athlete may practice during a 14-day period after reporting for athletic competition without being cleared academically. After 14 days the institution cannot provide athletically related financial aid and the player cannot practice until being cleared.

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Norfolk State's QB Dennis Brown is ready to go

NORFOLK, VA -- He has yet to throw a pass, but Dennis Brown is already the talk of Norfolk State football. Frankly, the guy everybody calls Dino says he'd rather be just another Spartan. But there's no chance of that with all the hype around the transfer from the University of Connecticut, despite his efforts to make himself just one of the guys since he set foot on campus in January. Coach Pete Adrian raves about his new quarterback's arm, talks up his ability to scramble and even suggests that the magnetic Brown is almost too mentally sharp.

"Sometimes I have to calm him down. I don't want him to think he has to go out against Virginia State and win the game by himself," Adrian said. "He doesn't have to throw the ball 200 mph. He's really hyped up. He's not a milquetoast guy who hangs in the corner. He's someone who can walk in a room and immediately start talking to everyone there."

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Virginia State University 'Trojan Explosion' Marching Band

Virginia State University Cheerleaders "Woo Woos"

Transfer-heavy TSU aiming for turnaround

James Webster accepted the daunting task three years ago of trying to rebuild Tennessee State's football program. It has been a slow go - the Tigers are just 13-20 during his tenure - but he says this year's team is ready to turn the corner. "This should be our best team since I've been here," said Webster, whose team went 5-6 last season, losing four games by 16 points. "It's not the most experienced team, but as far as talent is concerned, it is the best team."

The Tigers did that with nine Division-I transfers. Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones, whose Bulldogs host the Tigers in Saturday's season opener, has taken notice. "We're expecting a very, very talented team to come in here," Jones said. "They've got good size and speed in all the right places. They're going to be a tough opponent. "Based on what I'm seeing, they're going to beat a lot of teams this year. Hopefully, we won't be one of them."

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SWAC: In with the new

University of Arkansas Pine Bluff head football coach Monte Coleman

Fresh faces, schedule changes could impact SWAC

So many new quarterbacks. Another crop of new coaches. And a return to the seven-game format, along with a new tweak to the master schedule. This is Southwestern Athletic Conference football 2008.

New quarterbacks

Southern, with SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Bryant Lee, and Prairie View, with Mark Spivey getting a sixth season of eligibility for a medical hardship after going 5-1 as a starter in the Panthers’ last six games, are the two known, successful constants. The rest of the conference spent the spring and preseason camp and this week evaluating quarterbacks.

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Grambling names Greg Dillon starting QB

Grambling, LA --Sophomore Greg Dillon has emerged from a three-man quarterback derby to be named the starting quarterback, Grambling coach Rod Broadway announced Tuesday. Dillon, on the scout team last season, edged out redshirt sophomore J.P. Tillman, a Missouri transfer. Broadway said both should play Saturday at Nevada. (Freshman Brendan Crawford was also in the race.) Dillon threw the only touchdown pass in two scrimmages. The derby became necessary after senior Brandon Landers was ruled academically ineligible in the summer.

Grambling coach Rod Broadway opens second season as head of the Tigers at the University of Nevada on Saturday.

“We’re not going to ask our quarterback to do a lot for us,” Broadway said. “We just want him to learn how to manage the game.” Though Frank Warren, last season’s SWAC Freshman of the Year, returns at running back, the offense is in for a major overhaul. Two freshmen — Quint Roberts (6-3, 325) at right tackle and Greg McGrue (6-foot-8, 360 pounds) at right guard — are expected to start. Another, Sanford Banks (6-5, 303), could play at right tackle.

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‘Four-Headed Monster’: SCSU could have its hands full with UCF backfield

ORLANDO, Fla. - The good news for South Carolina State’s defense is All-American running back Kevin Smith no longer carries the football for Central Florida. Instead, the Bulldogs will have to deal with what the Knights hope will be a “four-headed monster” out of the backfield. With four freshman tailbacks on the depth chart, head coach George O’Leary plans to use a “running back by committee” for Saturday’s season-opener against S.C. State and beyond.

“I’m going to possibly play all four of them and each and every game,” O’Leary said. “They all bring something different to the table. The freshmen have great speed and vision and that’s what I look at. The one thing I think that I was concerned about was obviously pass protection and they all bow up and put a hat on people which is what you’re looking for in the protection.”

In Ronnie Weaver (6-0, 202 lbs.), Brynn Harvey (6-1, 215), Latavius Murphy (6-3, 215) and Brandon Davis (5-9, 190), the defending Conference USA champions will try to reproduce the NCAA-leading 2,567 yards and 29 touchdowns posted last season by Smith (currently with the Detroit Lions).

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Southern battling unknowns vs. Houston

Not only will Southern be playing up a level on Saturday, but the Jaguars will also be faced with a huge dose of the unknown. Houston’s Kevin Sumlin is in his first year as a head coach anywhere. “That’s the puzzle in this,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “We go into the game having to prepare for almost anything because we really haven’t seen them play. “We don’t know what type of philosophy they have. The only thing we can do is look at the coordinators, see where they came from, and hopefully they’ll utilize some of their philosophy.”

By land or air, RS - Junior QB Bryant Lee is ready to lead the Jaguars to victory. The 6-2/200 quarterback is from Boutte, LA/Hahnville H.S.

Southern, a Championship Subdivision team that went 8-3 last season, visits Houston, a Bowl Subdivision team that went 8-5 a year ago, at 6 p.m. Saturday at Robertson Stadium in Houston. Houston had an explosive offense last season, averaging 34.5 points per game, but former Texas Tech offensive co-coordinator Dana Holgorsen could give that spread offense even more oomph. Texas Tech ranked first in passing offense (470.3 yards per game), second in total offense (529.6 ypg) and seventh in scoring offense (40.9 points per game) in the Big 12.

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Skid vs. Alabama State won't bother FAMU's Wilder

Linebacker Vernon Wilder wasn't even born the last time FAMU won a game against Alabama State. A year before he became a Rattler, FAMU lost to the Hornets. But Wilder, not known for much trash-talking, couldn't help letting it know Tuesday that FAMU's skid against the Hornets should end Saturday.

"We are going to blitz them — it ain't no secret," Wilder said at the team's first weekly meeting with the media. "We're going to make them force quick passes and make mistakes. Everybody has to do their job. Everybody has to do what's expected." FAMU hasn't had a win over ASU since 1977, and the Hornets lead the series 20-15-2. The fact that Saturday's game is a matchup of FAMU from the MEAC and ASU of the SWAC is another incentive, Wilder said.
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Beast of the East: UMES, Great Expectations

After last season's 24-4 record, Hawks feeling confident

PRINCESS ANNE, MD -- With a new coach and numerous new players in the mix in 2007, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team came out and surprised a number of people with a 24-4 season, which included 22 consecutive match victories and a trip to the MEAC tournament title match against Florida A&M. This season, the Hawks were selected as the preseason pick to repeat as the conference's Northern Division champion, and they return nearly every starter from last year, leading to optimism heading into the '08 campaign.

"The first year I got hired, I knew I had a couple good recruits, but I didn't have any expectations," UMES second-year coach Don Metil said. "But going 10-and-oh in the conference last year, and having my five, six returners and being first in the preseason poll, there's a lot of expectations, not only intrasquad, but outside the UMES community. And I think that's why I've been really, really hard on the girls, because now we do have expectations and I think they're playing well, but I think there are still a lot of errors that need to be cleaned up."

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UMES 2008-2009 VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

VT Hokie Invite
08/29/08 at Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Va. 7:00 p.m. ET
08/30/08 vs. Coastal Carolina Blacksburg, Va. 10:00 a.m. ET
vs. Winston-Salem State Blacksburg, Va. 4:00 p.m. ET

UMBC Tournament
09/05/08 at UMBC Baltimore, Md. 10:00 a.m. ET
09/06/08 vs. Duquesne Baltimore, Md. 10:00 a.m. ET
vs. Niagara Baltimore, Md. 2:00 p.m. ET

Ramada Invitational
09/12/08 vs. Butler Buffalo, N.Y. 12:00 p.m. ET
at Buffalo Buffalo, N.Y. 7:00 p.m. ET
09/13/08 vs. Maine Buffalo, N.Y. 1:00 p.m. ET

09/16/08 at Norfolk State Norfolk, Va. 7:00 p.m. ET

Colonial Challenge
09/19/08 at William & Mary Williamsburg, Va. 7:00 p.m. ET
09/20/08 vs. Elon Williamsburg, Va. 10:30 a.m. ET
vs. Radford Williamsburg, Va. 4:30 p.m. ET

NCA&T Tournament
09/26/08 at North Carolina A&T Greensboro, N.C. TBA
09/27/08 vs. Alabama State Greensboro, N.C. TBA
vs. Kentucky State Greensboro, N.C. TBA

09/28/08 at North Carolina Central Durham, N.C. 11:00 a.m. ET
10/03/08 vs. Morgan State * Princess Anne, Md. 7:00 p.m. ET
10/05/08 vs. Delaware State * Princess Anne, Md. 3:00 p.m. ET
10/08/08 at Delaware Newark, Del. 7:00 p.m. ET
10/10/08 at Hampton University * Hampton, Va. 7:00 p.m. ET
10/12/08 vs. Coppin State * Princess Anne, Md. 3:00 p.m. ET
10/15/08 at American Washington, D.C. 7:00 p.m. ET
10/17/08 vs. Howard * Princess Anne, Md. 6:00 p.m. ET
10/19/08 at Morgan State * Baltimore, Md. 3:00 p.m. ET
10/24/08 at Delaware State * Dover, Del. 6:00 p.m. ET
10/26/08 vs. Hampton University * Princess Anne, Md. 3:00 p.m. ET
10/31/08 at Coppin State * Baltimore, Md. 7:00 p.m. ET
11/02/08 at Howard * Washington, D.C. 2:00 p.m. ET

MEAC Championships
11/14/08 MEAC Championships Hampton, Va. TBA
11/15/08 MEAC Championships Hampton, Va. TBA
11/16/08 MEAC Championships Hampton, Va. TBA

*Conference Event

DSU finds all-purpose playmaker in Wilder

Senior defensive end has eyes on another title

DOVER, DE -- Alimayo Wilder might cause some confusion for opposing quarterbacks when they see the No. 12 for Delaware State University's football team crashing through their offensive line in hot pursuit. That's because that number is usually reserved for quarterbacks. Instead, Wilder is one player who hopes to eat quarterbacks when it comes to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Football Conference this fall.

Delaware State opens its season on Sept. 4 when it hosts Florida A&M at Alumni Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

"This is the number [12] that I've had since high school," said Wilder, a native of Baltimore. "It's the number that I've always worn and I've embraced it. "In high school [at Baltimore Polytechnic] I played quarterback, wide receiver and a lot of different positions, so I just stuck with that number. It's an all-purpose number to me." Wilder has grown into an all-purpose player in DSU defensive coordinator Ray Petty's 4-3 defense.

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NCCU Eagles continue upgrading

Excerpt:

This season, as they face nine FCS opponents, NCCU athletic director Ingrid Wicker-McCree said the school has negotiated -- not counting gate proceeds -- guaranteed revenues of $300,000, which includes a game against Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif., that will pay $135,000. It's a revenue stream generated by the toughest schedule in school history. The Eagles host Fayetteville State in their season-opener on Sunday.

They play four games at home and seven on the road, where they travel to five states, including California for the first time since Nov. 27, 1988. Still, the Eagles could claim a school-record fifth consecutive winning season. But it will be a challenge, with the Eagles (who finished last season 6-4 overall with one victory over a Division I team) facing three FCS teams ranked in national preseason polls, including James Madison (Sept. 6) and Cal Poly (Nov. 8). JMU will pay the Eagles $75,000 for participating in that second-week contest.

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ASU plays guessing game with Rattlers

Game week brought change to Alabama State's football practice on Monday, as the Hornets began focusing specifically on their first opponent, Florida A&M. Work for the third- and fourth-string players was cut drastically. The ASU offense and defense began using only the plays and formations the coaches feel will be most effective against FAMU. And the intensity turned up a notch.

Hornets wide receiver Cedric Harris (#82) 6-1/195 Junior, Hillsboro, AL beats Linebacker Adrian Hardy (#53) 6-2/202 Sophomore, Selma, AL during Hornets Spring game.

"We're ready to go," senior cornerback Brandon Averett said. "We've had a good camp and we're just ready to go play for real and see how we stack up." This will be the first big test for Averett and his defensive teammates. One of the knocks on the spread offense, which the Hornets began using in the spring, is that it has a softening effect on a team's defense. The theory is that because the defense is going against a finesse-style offense every day in practice, the defensive players become less physical and have problems stopping power teams.

FAMU is a power team.

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Senior Blanks has been anchor of WSSU's offensive line, making 31 consecutive starts

During yesterday's Meet the Rams Day at Bowman Gray Stadium, fans got to admire the new field house and the new large scoreboard. Just how much Winston-Salem State uses that scoreboard will likely come down to how well the offensive line performs this season.

Leading that unit will be senior Joe Blanks, who has made 31 straight starts and hasn't missed a game at right tackle since he left high school. It's rare for a lineman not to be moved around during his career, and it's even rarer when a lineman starts his first season out of high school.

Blanks, who was recruited by several Division I programs coming out of high school in Erie, Pa., signed with WSSU and has been everything that Coach Kermit Blount had hoped for. Blount likes to redshirt freshmen when they arrive, but Blanks was too good for that. "He's a right tackle and that's his position and he's anchored it the last four years," Blount said. "We are happy to have him right there."

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Ray Ray McElrathbey Begins a New Chapter at HU

There is a 13-year-old running around in Cook Hall, hanging out with the football players and playing video games. Fahmarr McElrathbey seems like a typical kid but he's far from that. He followed his brother Ramon "Ray Ray" McElrathbey to Howard University from Clemson University where his brother is an alum and also played football.

While most students have classes, extracurricular activities and maybe a job to juggle, McElrathbey who is a graduate student studying Mass Communications, has more responsibilities than the average college student. In 2006, he adopted Fahmarr from his mother who is a recovering drug addict. And wherever big brother goes, little brother isn't too far behind. Finding a place to live and searching for the perfect school for Fahmarr are some of the decisions the 21-year-old has to make.

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SSU strives for first winning season since 1998

Savannah State is at least nine months away from joining an athletic conference. The football program will complete its three-year NCAA probation in May, 2009. It is perhaps longer away from beating a Football Championship Subdivision opponent. Since joining the FCS in 2002, SSU has beaten only two FCS teams: Morris Brown in 2002 and Norfolk State in 2004. Morris Brown eliminated athletics in 2003.

SSU is 6-58 in that span, including two winless seasons (0-12 in 2003 and 0-11 in 2005). The Tigers haven't finished .500 or better since 1998, when they went 7-4 in Division II. With an aggressive new coach and an easier 12-game schedule featuring six non-FCS opponents, this might be the year SSU takes the next step toward progress and finishes .500 or better. "From a fan standpoint, I guess that's probably the goal," SSU coach Robby Wells said. "But from any coach who is competitive like me, I want to win every game."

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SSU 2008 SCHEDULE

Aug. 30 JACKSONVILLE 7 p.m. Memorial Stadium
Sept. 6 *LIVINGSTONE TBA TBA
Sept. 13 Winston-Salem St. 6 p.m. Winston-Salem, N.C.
Sept. 20 Bethune-Cookman 4 p.m. Daytona Beach, Fla.
Sept. 27 %Howard 6 p.m. Miami
Oct. 4 Clark Atlanta 1:30 p.m. Atlanta
Oct. 11 ^Ch. SOUTHERN 2 p.m. Memorial Stadium
Oct. 18 Mississippi Valley St. 1 p.m. Itta Bena, Miss.
Nov. 1 #CONCORDIA 2 p.m. T.A. Wright Stadium
Nov. 8 Edward Waters 5 p.m. Kingsland
Nov. 15 Webber International 1 p.m. Babson Park, Fla.
Nov. 22 North Carolina Central 1 p.m. Durham, N.C.

HOME GAMES ALL CAPS
*Joe Turner Classic
%Miami Classic
^Military Appreciation Day
#Homecoming

Taylor upbeat after FAMU scrimmage

Coach Joe Taylor didn't see too many things that he didn't like during FAMU's final football scrimmage Monday afternoon. The defense dominated again, this time making five interceptions and taking one back for a touchdown. But in spite of that, the offense showed improvements from a week ago. "I saw some good things," Taylor said, following the scrimmage that was postponed three days by Tropical Strom Fay. "We scored (and) had some good hits on defense. We definitely needed this."

The Rattlers hadn't practice since Friday because of poor weather conditions caused by the storm. The inactivity was obvious in the first series of play with quarterback Eddie Battle running the offense, as was the case for back-up Curtis Pulley. But both of them settled down and managed to each throw a touchdown. After they got going, Taylor was able to get a better look at the offense against a simulation of the defense that they would see against Alabama State in Saturday's opener.

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AAMU hoping the acclaim will come

Thomas Harris took it all in stride. His teammates didn't. Despite leading the Southwestern Athletic Conference in receiving yards per game last season - and finishing fifth in receptions and eighth in all-purpose yards - Harris was left off the all-conference team.

Grambling's Clyde Edwards and Alcorn State's Nate Hughes were named to the first team, while Southern's Gerard Landry and Grambling's Reginald Jackson were second-teamers. Meanwhile, Harris caught 51 passes for 936 yards and seven touchdowns and led the Bulldogs within a game of their third straight Eastern Division title.

"It didn't really bother me," said Harris, who was named to the All-SWAC first-team preseason squad last month at the league's annual media day. "My teammates kept telling me I needed to be in there. I know I probably should have been in there ... at least second team.

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Grambling QB race 'wide open'

The Grambling State Tigers open their season Saturday at Football Bowl Subdivision Nevada, but the name of their starting quarterback hasn't been determined. Tigers coach Rod Broadway said in the Southwestern Athletic Conference weekly teleconference Monday the position is down to sophomores Greg Dillon (6-foot, 200 pounds) and J.P. Tillman (6-foot-3, 238 pounds) and freshman Brendan Crawford (6-foot-5, 205 pounds). He said a decision on his quarterback could be made as early as after Monday night's practice or this morning.

"It's wide open right now," Broadway said. "It's a toss up at this point. If we liked someone then we probably would have named the starter now. We're still in the process of going over some tapes and going over preseason tapes in trying to determine who will be our starter." Broadway said not having a starting quarterback named is adding to his nerves.

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JSU's Comegy torn between Mosley, Rutland at QB

The East and West representatives in the 2007 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game find themselves in a similar position, once again. Both Jackson State and Grambling State are looking to replace starting quarterbacks who played enormous roles in last year's title chase. And both JSU coach Rick Comegy and GSU coach Rick Broadway said their quarterbacks would have one last chance to sell themselves at practice Monday afternoon.

However, the two coaches went different directions when talking about their quarterback race on the SWAC teleconference Monday - with Comegy making a shocking statement that may have spoiled a planned announcement today.

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WSSU's Dunston, Jefferson are finalists at QB

With two weeks to go before Winston-Salem State's first game, the quarterback competition is down to two possible starters. Coach Kermit Blount said yesterday that either junior Jarrett Dunston or redshirt freshman Tienne Jefferson will be the starter when the Rams open at N.C. A&T on Sept. 6. "I knew you were going to ask that question," Blount said about the quarterback competition that began with four players vying for the job.

Redshirt sophomore Brian Wynn has been shifted to wide receiver and freshman Branden Williams will likely be redshirted. Whatever Blount and offensive coordinator Nick Calcutta decide, it's expected that Dunston and Jefferson will alternate during games. "I think Nick and I have agreed were going to wait another week to name the starter," Blount said. "We've got some time to figure it out and when we name the starter that guy will get more reps in practice. I feel confident with either one of them because we like some of things Jarrett can do and some of the things Tienne can do."

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Youngsters star at SU camp

For a Southern team that has such a strong core of veterans, the overriding theme of Camp Richardson XVI was, nonetheless, on how all the new guys did. Unlike in leaner past years, there were plenty of newcomers, from freshmen to former nonqualifiers. And while the veterans were such a known commodity, the youngsters showed they weren’t just camp bodies, that they can make an impact this season and in seasons to come.

From the first day of camp, the infusion of numbers and size transformed an offensive line that was a thin, patchwork unit a year ago. Then, the running backs emerged to turn what was a pre-camp concern into what could be the best stable of backs in the 16-season Pete Richardson era — even with minor injuries to the two most veteran rushers.

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Sessoms' legacy clear at DSU

Recently resigned president pushed for bold changes in athletic department

DOVER, DE -- In his first months as president at Delaware State University, Allen L. Sessoms challenged the state's other major college to a regular-season football game, professed his desire to change his athletic department to Division I-A and envisioned new on-campus sports buildings.

Sessoms, who resigned earlier this month to take the same job at University of District of Columbia, made an early name by urging for grandiose changes in athletics. While his tenure will end Aug. 31 without having accomplished those missions, Sessoms' five years was a time of dynamic change in athletics.

DSU 2007 MEAC Football Champions visits with Delaware Governor, Ruth Ann Minner at Legislative Hall in late March 2008. (Seated (L-R): DSU Dir. of Athletics Rick Costello, Governor Ruth Ann Minner and DSU head coach Al Lavan surrounded by Hornets football team during visit to Governor's office).

"From the first day, he said to me, 'This is what we're going to do,' " said football coach Al Lavan, who was Sessoms' first major athletic hire in 2004. "That's his legacy." When Sessoms arrived at DSU from Queens College, he had no experience in athletics. He wasted little time, setting an agenda to build a first-class athletics program.

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Pough, SCSU Bulldogs readying for Central Florida

The Bulldogs have a Ford, but will Will (Ford) be enough for Pough and the Bulldogs to score on the UCF Knights?

It was not an actual game Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, but South Carolina State did its best to create a close simulation. The 2-1/2 hour practice session had the feel of an important dress rehearsal prior to opening night. In the Bulldogs’ case, the big show is the 2008 football season, which opens in a week at the University of Central Florida.

Like a director going over every finite detail in his script, S.C. State head football coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough had the team go through every possible offensive and defensive scenario it could potentially face against the Knights. From making sure the right personnel is inserted into a game on a fake punt to executing the plays as scripted on the game plan, the coaching staff left no stone unturned.

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Bison Football Expectations Sky High

The Bison football team is ready to exceed their high standards

A new turf, new players and a new attitude are expected to propel the Bison to new heights this season. The Howard Bison football team held its annual media day on Saturday in Greene Stadium. The players and coaches both have lofty expectations for their upcoming season. "I expect us to win the MEAC and to go to the playoffs," said junior defensive lineman James Robinson. The team's high goals are a result of new players, spring training and summer workout sessions.

"This is the first full summer we've had with our strength and conditioning coach," said junior offensive lineman Sean Woolforld. "This year a lot of the guys stayed at Howard to workout during the summer." On the offensive side the Bison want to run the ball effectively to utilize the plethora of running backs that they have. Also effective running will open up the passing game for quarterback Floyd Haigler.

According to offensive coordinator Alvin Harper there are five running backs that can be inserted to the game at any time without a drop off in talent and ability. Harper also said that the offense has about seven players that are a threat to score every time they touch they ball, but the success of the offense ultimately depends on the offensive line.

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Staying home, UAPB Moore now a starter

PINE BLUFF, AR — A lot of teenage boys can’t wait to get away from home after graduating from high school. All it took for Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Jonathan Moore to stay was a chance to play football. Moore, who prepped at nearby Dollarway High School, didn’t move far to land at UAPB. Of course, he didn’t have much of a choice. For Moore, it was pretty much UAPB or bust when it came to football.

Moore spent his junior year of high school splitting time with an underclassman while quarterbacking a Wishbone offense. While his strong arm netted the usual letters of interest from SEC schools, when it came time for scholarship offers, it came down to UAPB, Alcorn State and little else. “I got a couple letters from LSU, but no offers,” Moore said. “That’s pretty much it.” Moore’s time at UAPB has mirrored his time at Dollarway: Even when he’s been at his best, there’s always been someone either just above him or right behind him.

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Alcorn Braves pointing up

Excerpts:

Ernest Jones has no problem speaking his mind. Remember, this is the first-year coach who proclaims Alcorn State will compete for a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship this season, despite astonishing odds against it. Jones has tried to combat the losing mentality with high energy and expectations. But he looked at the seat to his right when asked what was most important for on-field success at the SWAC Media Day in Birmingham. Sitting there was senior linebacker Lee Robinson.

"Defense is the strength of our football team," Jones said. "We'll go as far Lee Robinson will carry us, as he'll lead us. The defense is going to have to carry us until the offense catches up." Jones wants to exploit the entire field by playing quicker and getting the ball snapped within seven seconds of it being set in play. He plans to have a 50-50 run-pass ratio and wants to give the defense something to think about with a variety of formations.

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AAMU Jones has winning recipe

Coach builds A&M into one of nation's elite

Before Anthony Jones was named Alabama A&M's head football coach six years ago, Bulldog fans had gone through a number of coaches. Ron Cooper served for four seasons, leading A&M into the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs reached the SWAC championship game in 2000. Prior to that, Ken Pettiford led A&M to three straight winning seasons before being fired. Reggie Oliver, Ray Bonner, George Pugh, Ray Greene, Ed Wyche and others had also held the title. Greene had the job on two separate occasions.

"I've worked with a bunch of them," said A&M defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns, who has been an assistant since 1984 under Wyche. "Unfortunately, none of them have been able to stay around here too long." Except Jones. A former tight end on the Washington Redskins' 1987 Super Bowl team, Jones has not only built A&M's program into one of the best in the SWAC, but one of the best in black college football.

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Grambling Tigers unsettled under center

GSU Running Back Frank Warren will take the pressure off the GSU offense.

Grambling State was picked this offseason to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Western Division for the eighth time since 2000. That was before it lost a fifth-year senior quarterback to ineligibility. Brandon Landers, a former News-Star prep offensive player of the year, fell a credit short and did not report. He started in 2004, ’06 and then last season as Grambling won seven straight games on the way to a runner-up finish in the SWAC.

Gone, too, are top graduated receivers Reginald Jackson and Clyde Edwards, slot starter Tim Abney, center Tavarus Cockrell and right tackle Randall Bennett. Weakside linebacker John Carter, left tackle Everett Edwards and backup quarterback Larry Kerlegan were also lost to ineligibility.

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HU: The 'general' direction

Pirates coach Jerry Holmes says the team is paper thin at the QB position behind Bynes with freshman Darius Jackson, redshirt freshman Devon Jarrett and freshman Blake Tillis.

Herbert Bynes (6-4/236) threw 15 passes last season, but says he's prepared to lead the Pirates.

HAMPTON, VA - He threw touchdown passes, then chucked screens at his receiver's shoetops. He picked up blitzes, but was only saved from a sack in the end zone by his red no-contact jersey. Herbert Bynes' debut as Hampton University's starting quarterback in the Pirates' annual Blue-White scrimmage on Saturday had its ups and downs, but overall, the early returns were good.

"He's a general," said senior wide receiver Kevin Teel, who hauled in a 15-yard bullet from Bynes in the end zone on the quarterback's fifth offensive series. "(It's) definitely his team now. His reign." It's a position Bynes, a redshirt sophomore who threw for 114 yards in three games last season as T.J. Mitchell's understudy, wasn't expecting to fill. But when Mitchell, who threw for 2,309 yards and 17 TDs last year, was ruled academically ineligible this season, Bynes suddenly became the only QB option with HU experience.

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I won't feel sorry for the Pirates for one moment... They are loaded with size, talent and speed on both sides of the football and the Pirates will continue to run Joe Taylor's offense and defenses, successfully. How many of you can name the back up quarterbacks to Steve McNair or Doug Williams? Bynes will burn every defense he faces in 2008, and Hampton will have a very solid year with Holmes working in Joe's shadow...

(beepbeep)

SSU to stay Division I; eyes conference

Excerpt:

According to Claud Flythe, SSU vice president for administration...

Flythe, before speaking briefly at the scholarship extravaganza - but not about SSU's Division I status - told the Savannah Morning News that SSU will remain in Division I. He also said the Tigers intend to join the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, and hinted that membership could come as early as December.

"We have had no discussions about going back to Division II," Flythe said of SSU, which left the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and joined Division I in 2002 without conference affiliation. "Savannah State's mission, its goal, its objective right now, is to stay in Division I and to become a full-fledged member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference."

SSU's football program will complete a three-year NCAA probation on May 18, 2009. In 2005, SSU paid the MEAC a $10,000 non-refundable application fee. In 2006, the MEAC put SSU's application on hold until it completes its NCAA probation in 2009. "We are full speed ahead," Flythe said. "We're working very closely with the MEAC's board of directors, and the (MEAC) commissioner, and the NCAA."

Click here to view photos from the SSU scholaship extravaganza.

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ASU Hornets beat the rain to conduct short scrimmage

Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow said he didn't want much out of the Hornets' third and final scrimmage, just 30 to 35 plays or so. He got far less than that, and happily took it. ASU managed to beat the rain Saturday morning, getting in about an hour of work before bad weather put a halt to things.

"We were just happy to get it in," Barlow said. "The defense ran this one. They were a little more ready to play. We came out on offense and had a good first drive. Moved right down and scored. Then, we didn't do much offensively the rest of the way."

Sophomore quarterback Anthony Speight led the Hornets on the first scoring drive, and Barlow praised Speight's play. "It was a good day for him, particularly early," he said. "He made some nice throws and had good control of the offense, it looked like." Speight is locked in a battle with junior Reid Herchenbach for the starting spot. Barlow said last week that ASU will alternate QBs during the season opener at Florida A&M on Saturday to give each player a final shot to win the position.

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Son of FSU star trying to make own name at FAMU

Kenneth DeWayne Lanier politely tells anyone who asks: "Please call me DeWayne." This is but one way the Florida A&M redshirt sophomore is attempting to avoid the massive shadow cast by his father, former Florida State star and 14-year NFL veteran Ken Lanier. It doesn't help that Lanier plays the same position — offensive tackle — as his famous father.

(Orange Jersey)- #76 Kenneth DeWayne Lanier, RS Sophomore, Pharmacy major, 6'-7"/309 Offensive Tackle, Aurora, Colo - Grandview HS.

But if anyone is putting pressure on the pharmacy student to duplicate his father's career — Ken Lanier started in 46 straight games at FSU and went on to play in three Super Bowls — it is the 21-year-old Lanier. He insists his father has placed no such expectations on his son. Nor have the FAMU coaches.

"It's kind of ironic. I think I put the most pressure on myself," he said. "My dad's always encouraged me to be my own man. "Some people think I'm a junior, but I'm not and that's probably the reason. He wants me to be my own man."

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Taylor determined to restore FAMU tradition

Excerpt:

Taylor has sent dozens of players over the years to professional football careers, but he also takes pride in telling of successes such as former Hampton tight end Tim Benson. But none is as famous as Marcus Dixon. Everybody basically is good people and want to do what's right," Taylor said. "They just don't know how to do it. They are looking for leadership and somebody who cares. Every time you save a life, that's what this is all about."

Benson didn't have a high-profile career like Dixon's, but he credits Taylor for keeping him on the path to reach his goal. He's now a medical doctor on the faculty at Harvard University. Benson was part of a losing program before Taylor came along. "It was a world of difference," he said of Taylor's presence. "We thought we knew what discipline was. He brought in a structure. He was about going about business."

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SU's Richardson gets family along with DE Williams

When Southern University coach Pete Richardson signed Delwin Williams, he signed the whole family. That’s just the way it is down Bayou Lafourche. Mom. Grandma, with her own strong Southern heritage. Dad, even if he played a little football at Nicholls State back in the 1980s. Tiny little brother, who has already put on a helmet to watch practice from the sideline earlier in preseason camp. Everybody was there to see Delwin in his navy blue Southern game jersey and all his new teammates Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

All of this love was set in motion at a Fan Day years ago, back when SU went across the Mississippi River to Plaquemine and the Jaguars were amid a dominant run through the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Back then, Williams was just a little guy, smiling and taking a picture with Richardson. That little boy has grown into 6-foot-3and 250 pounds of freshman defensive end.

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Pulley now tests FAMU's Battle

Eddie Battle, named FAMU's starting quarterback during the spring, isn't panicking. He's just getting better. His teammates are seeing it as do the coaching staff — especially since Curtis Pulley's emergence as a Rattler. Given the background of the former University of Kentucky player, he could force a battle for the starting job or at least make the quarterback situation more interesting for coach Joe Taylor.

Pulley has been in camp just three days now, but already Taylor said he's seen an improvement in Battle's performance. Battle said it's just his competitive nature. "I know nothing is guaranteed," he said Friday. "It's kind of keeping me on my toes. It's not that coach (Taylor) didn't have faith in me. I know the guys behind me are pretty young. It would have been a kind of challenge if I were to go down. He wants to prepare for anything."

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Former UK QB Pulley debuts at FAMU practice

Curtis Pulley wants to make a transformation in his personal and football lives. FAMU football coach Joe Taylor is giving him a chance to at least try. Pulley was expected to be a contender for the starting quarterback position at the University of Kentucky, but he was dismissed from the team on Aug. 5 for run-ins with the law. He began his career as a Rattler on Wednesday and took his first snaps Thursday afternoon.

"This is a big second chance for me," Pulley said after alternating snaps with starter Eddie Battle. "It's a fresh start." Pulley didn't practice in pads and will not do so until early next week. FAMU opens the season on Aug. 30 against Alabama State. The wheels to bring Pulley to FAMU started spinning about two weeks ago, Taylor said. Pulley's uncle, Lonnie Pulley, already has a connection to FAMU through athletic director Bill Hayes, who coached Lonnie Pulley at Winston-Salem State.

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Ex-Howard Bison athlete captures bronze in hurdles

It wasn't that long ago that David Oliver was an afterthought on the U.S. track team, a hurdler who went unrecognized by television analysts when he finally won a major race. "A nobody," he said. But Thursday night, the 26-year-old Denver East High School (and Howard University) graduate stood on a podium in National Stadium, a 2008 Olympic bronze medal hanging around his neck, eight years after a college scholarship seemed beyond his grasp.

"They only pass out three of these every four years, so to be one of the people who've got one is definitely an accomplishment in itself," Oliver said. "To get one of them (means) you'll always be remembered." Once Chinese superhero Liu Xiang pulled out of a preliminary heat with a foot injury, the race lost its luster in China. But Cuba's Dayron Robles, the world record-holder, ran a remarkable 12.93 seconds to take the gold.

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SCSU starts gameplan for Central Florida

S.C. State Bulldogs ready for Central Florida.

Since the start of training camp, South Carolina State has taken an inward approach toward its preparation for Central Florida. Making sure the Bulldogs are well-conditioned and prepared for the Aug. 30 season opener in Orlando has taken a higher priority over plotting game strategy for the Knights.

As the days leading to their third matchup in two years against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent, the Bulldogs have turned their full attention toward UCF. Thursday’s practice at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium saw S.C. State enter the beginning stages of putting together the gameplan.

“Camp is essentially over,” Pough said following the session. “We have started our preparation for Central Florida. “Our scout teams are playing a big role in helping us prepare for our first game. We now have to continue to sharpen up, get better every day and be ready to compete.”

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Former Norfolk State fullback adjusting well as linebacker

Excerpt:

Beach District football fans knew Eric Hitch as a fullback last fall. Norfolk State followers will see the First Colonial High School graduate primarily as a linebacker.

There's no question Dennis Brown is the Spartans' starting quarterback, but the backup job is for grabs, with Dexter Merritt and Rakeem Kersey battling it out. Brian Jackson, last year's punter who was a backup QB, is ineligible, though he's in school and hopes to return next fall.

It's the third week of practice and nagging injuries are beginning to take their toll. "We don't have anybody that shouldn't be ready to play" in the season opener at home against Virginia State on Aug. 30, Adrian said.

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JSU athletic group aims to reduce TD passes

Don't get beat deep. Every single defensive back is taught that from the first day of pee-wee football. It is the single most important mantra concerning the secondary.
If nothing else, keep your man in front of you. That concept was easier said than done for Jackson State last year. The Tigers gave up touchdown passes of 20 yards or more 15 times, including at least one in seven of their last eight games.

This weak link was exposed by Alabama State in the fifth game of the year. JSU hadn't allowed a 20-yard touchdown pass until that game. The Tigers, despite winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship, allowed the second most passing touchdowns (20) in the league. Defensive coordinator Darrin Hayes explained that teams started attacking the middle of the field manned by free safety LaBrose Hedgemon, who understood the scheme but did not have the athleticism to always execute it.
























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Heffner stars for TSU both on, off the field

Tigers quarterback is one of OVC's best in classroom, too

On the football field, Antonio Heffner keeps opponents guessing with his ability to run or pass. Away from it, he's as predictable as death and taxes. If he's not pestering offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss with an idea to improve the scheme, the Tigers quarterback is most likely in his room watching television or studying. "Heff don't ever go anywhere," said tight end Antonio Graham. "He's always in the house watching TV, watching sports."

It's that mundane lifestyle that makes Heffner, who is carrying a 3.7 grade point average with a major in criminal justice, a bit of a rarity among college football players. It's also a routine that has helped him become a role model for his teammates and overcome frustrating injuries and other setbacks to become the premier quarterback in the Ohio Valley Conference. He has a steady girlfriend who lives in Memphis...

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Rattlers Hope New Coach Taylor Brings Bite

Florida A&M is relying on new Rattlers to bring some old magic back to its program. Highly successful head coach Joe Taylor will try to put his winning stamp on a Rattlers team that hasn’t tasted much success lately. Taylor, who will get a chance for his 200th career victory in his first year with FAMU, will try to steer the Rattlers back into the postseason for the first time since 2001. Expectations of winning at FAMU are always high, and Taylor and his staff are embracing the challenge.

“If you take the reins of a stallion, you have an opportunity to ride a stallion, you want to ride it well,” said associate head coach George Small. “You want to showcase it well.” It won’t be an easy task. The Rattlers are coming off a 2007 campaign in which they went 3-8 and finished eighth in the MEAC standings under former head coach Rubin Carter.

Offensively, the Rattlers will be an experienced group. Eight starters are returning, including 2007 MEAC rookie of the year Philip Sylvester.

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Sounds of progress a good thing at Southern

There was an echo bouncing around the field as coaches shouted instructions during a scrimmage Wednesday at A.W. Mumford Stadium. The sound felt eerie. That’s not happened before. After a moment to adjust to the strangeness, the sound felt good, deep down good. That’s the sound of progress. The new echo effect is created by the presence of the north end zone expansion.

When the expansion is finished by the summer and the place fills up next fall, there’s going to be a lot more noise. Really, there’s enough in place already to create a good echo even with just the team and coaches in Mumford the other night. Add in a couple thousand fans next season and there’s a nice chunk of sound raining down. As SU has gone to work on the practice fields next to the stadium throughout preseason camp this month, coach Pete Richardson and his staff peek over at the rapid progress on the project that began in March.

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VIEW: http://www.subr.edu/stadiumproject/index.htm

The Lemoine Company is beginning work on a new state-of-the-art 40,000-square-foot sports complex in the North End Zone of A.W. Mumford Stadium on the campus of Southern University in Baton Rouge. The expansion will add 2,500 seats to the 26,500-seat stadium. Along with the stadium enclosure, the project will include new training facilities, lockers rooms, offices, a weight room, sports memorabilia spaces, meetings rooms, about 500 club-level seats and 2,000 end zone seats. With 18 months to completion, construction will begin in February and is scheduled to be completed in July 2009. Total cost for the project is approximately $16.4 million.

VIEW: http://www.lemoinecompany.com/awmumford.htm

Inside UAPB Camp

The excitement is back at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. This is the first year for head coach Monte Coleman and you can see the difference in practice. Defensively, the Golden Lions should be solid with Stewart Franks, Kevin Thornton, Jared Dorn, Ledarius Anthony, and Tim Turner all returning from last season.

Offensively, returning starters include Jonathon Moore at quarterback, Mickey Dean, and Martell Mallet at the running back spot. The Offensive line should be solid and there are high expectations for the upcoming season.

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Wright resigns as DSU wrestling coach

DOVER, DE -- For the fifth time in six years, Delaware State must find a new coach for its wrestling team following the departure of Reggie Wright, who resigned over the weekend. Wright coached the 2007-2008 season at DSU after being picked by school president Allen Sessoms and then-athletic director Chuck Bell to stabilize the program. Athletic director Rick Costello said Wright left to pursue "other opportunities."

Costello said he will conduct a nationwide search for Wright's replacement and that he expects to make a hire prior to the start of the season. The team is scheduled to begin practices, with or without a coach, in three weeks. Contacted last week by text message, Wright seemed surprised about questions of his departure. On Wednesday, his phone service had been disconnected.

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Gorman’s Loyd commits to Grambling State

Las Vegas, NV - Recent Bishop Gorman graduate Kevin Loyd missed most of his senior year with the Gaels basketball team recovering from knee surgery. Now, he has a chance at becoming Grambling State’s starting point guard. The 5-foot-10 Loyd committed to the Grambling, La., school last week and started classes Aug. 18. “It’s a blessing in disguise the way things happened,” Loyd said. “I would have never thought I would be in this position right out of high school.”

He had a bone removed from his right knee last September and spent two months on crutches. He saw limited action in 10 games at the end of the year, but had done enough as a junior — 10 points and 7.5 assists per game — to impress Grambling’s staff when Gorman coach Grant Rice gave them game film. “He’s a real good basketball player who we feel will move the program forward,” first-year Grambling coach Rick Duckett said. “We needed leadership and a steady hand at the point and felt he’s someone to build the program around.”

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North Carolina A&T: Playing With Purpose

N.C. A&T will honor fallen teammate while trying to end long losing streak

N.C. A&T's 27-game losing streak meant nothing in late May. The Aggies had more to think about than football, after one of their most popular players -- offensive lineman Chad Wiley -- collapsed after a routine workout May 27 and died the next day of complications from heat-related illness. "We as his brothers are going to miss him," said Tim Shropshire, a close friend and teammate.

The Aggies want to play well this season in honor of Wiley, who had been a two-year starter. They also want to end their losing streak, currently the NCAA's longest. "They had tremendous respect for Chad," Coach Lee Fobbs said. "I think they are going to play like wild bandits for him." Optimism is high, because for the first time in his three seasons at A&T, Fobbs has veteran leaders he can count on.

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Still Time: WSSU's debut in MEAC is two seasons away

For the most part, Winston-Salem State's trek toward full membership in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has been smooth. The Rams, who will be playing their third season in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), are 6-8 the past two years against MEAC opponents. They won't be eligible for the conference title until 2010 so they have two more seasons to prepare for that challenge.

The Rams will be much younger this season, but Coach Kermit Blount's expectations haven't changed. "I just expect us to compete hard," Blount said, "and I expect my coaches to have the team prepared to play." There are holes to fill on offense, starting at quarterback. Monte Purvis, a three-year starter, graduated, and a fierce battle for the starting job has been waged in the preseason.

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Grambling's offensive line must mature quickly

GRAMBLING — The responsibility of protecting Grambling's young quarterback — whoever it may be when the Tigers open their season on Aug. 30 against Nevada — will fall on the shoulders of an equally young offensive line. Though the Grambling line will feature two senior starters, it will also feature three freshmen. Corey Williams and Revay Smith, both seniors, line up at left guard and center, respectively. Redshirt freshman Victor Phillips is at left tackle, while true freshmen Greg McGrue (guard) and Quint Roberts (tackle) anchor the right side.

GSU RB Frank Warren misses pass against Pitt last season.

"We' re trying to gel," offensive line coach James Spady said. "You've got a very short period of time to do it in, and we've got new guys coming in. We're trying to find our identity as a group, and it's going to take a little time. It may take halfway through the season, or we may gel next week, but we're making progress, and that's all I can ask."

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Bethune-Cookman's Wyatt Has True ‘Home’ Edge

Alvin Wyatt clearly enjoys being flashy. Bethune-Cookman’s football coach has maybe the most distinctive sideline wardrobe in the game. Shirts opened to mid-chest, gaudy jewelry dangling from his neck, sunglasses, pointed shoes with a glossy shine. And when he’s away from the football field, he sometimes can be found driving around Daytona Beach in his luxury sedan. It’s simply part of his lore, the way he’s always been, the way he’ll always be.

Yet Wyatt also has a simple side, the one that is the backbone of his football program. For nearly three decades, the Bronson Residential Complex — the Bethune dorm that houses most football players, wedged between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and the team’s practice field — has been his year-round home. He eats alongside the students, shares a bathroom with them, rides the same elevators, walks the same hallways.

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Barlow to employ ASU QB platoon for starters

A couple of weeks ago, Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow made it perfectly clear he wanted one starting quarterback running his offense. Thursday, he made it perfectly clear that he can't decide between the top two candidates for that position. So, he's going to do what he promised he wouldn't do. ASU will use the quarterback platoon when it opens the 2008 season at Florida A&M next Saturday.

Junior Reid Herchenbach will start the game and play the first and third quarters. Sophomore Anthony Speight will take over in the second and fourth quarters. "It's not ideal and it's not what I want," Barlow said. "But I think it's the only fair things for these two guys (Herchenbach and Speight). We told them both when they came here that they would each have an equal shot at winning the job, and to this point, neither one has outplayed the other."

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JSU Tigers seek consistent answer to line question

The Jackson State offensive line has, by far, been the most difficult position to evaluate during training camp. The group started slow and had shaky efforts in two scrimmages. Penalties and small mistakes have been prevalent. And the starting defensive line has been terrorizing the unit.

On the flip side, the offensive line is visibly better with 10 days left before the season opener against Hampton on Aug. 31 than it was when camp opened. That defensive line that's been winning the battle should be one of the best in the conference. And there's no doubt the O-line group, returning three starters, is physically bigger than the 2007 version.

That yin and yang has led to the offensive line depth chart changing almost on a daily basis.

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Ex-Cat Pulley enrolls at Florida A&M

Curtis Pulley, who was dismissed from the University of Kentucky football team earlier this month, has enrolled at Florida A&M University, Pulley’s new school confirmed Thursday. Pulley, who was projected as UK’s starting quarterback this season, was kicked off the Wildcats team for violating team rules. His off-the-field issues included two incidents this summer involving police. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Pulley was Kentucky’s 2004 Mr. Football at Hopkinsville High School.





















Pully (#15) will have two seasons remaining to play for the Rattlers and is expected to compete for the starting quarterback position with RS Sophomore Eddie Battle.

Pulley split time at backup quarterback and wide receiver during his first two seasons at UK before redshirting last year. He competed with Mike Hartline for the starting quarterback job last spring and was believed to be the front-runner before his troubles began.

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Pair should give boost to Jaguars baseball program

Two of Southern’s latest baseball signees checked in with school beginning this week.

Terrell Stringer, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound right-handed pitcher originally from Phenix City, Ala., was the 1,264th pick (42nd round) by the New York Mets in 2006, when he was a Class 6A All-State honorable mention at Smiths Station High.

Shortstop/second baseman D.J. Henderson (6-2, 175) of Southeastern High School in Detroit was picked in the 30th round, with the 916th overall pick, by the Philadelphia Phillies. Stringer further bolsters a pitching staff, while Henderson can help fill in at second base. “Terrell was the one we had to have,” Cador said. “We tried to recruit him out of high school, and we got him two years later. We needed that one big arm.”

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Southern gearing up for scrimmage

Southern will have a fine-tuning scrimmage tonight in A.W. Mumford Stadium after staging a major evaluation scrimmage Saturday. Tonight’s full-gear workout, around 6 p.m., will be closed, unlike Saturday’s, which was open.“It’s going to be a situational thing, concentrating on down and distance, substitutions, almost like a game situation, if we can get out there,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said.

Richardson said he had no preset idea of how many plays Southern would go. “We’re basically looking at situational stuff, some of the calls we’ve deciphered,” Richardson said.

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New vision for Coppin State athletics

As AD, former NFL player Derrick Ramsey wants the school to become synonymous with the city.

At first glance, it seems an odd choice - Coppin State naming Derrick Ramsey as athletic director. Ramsey, an All-America football star in college, played nine years in the NFL. But Coppin has no football team. Ramsey last worked as Kentucky's deputy secretary of commerce, where he oversaw the state's Fish and Wildlife Service. Around Coppin, the only fish are the fried lake trout in North Avenue carryouts, and wildlife consists of a few squirrels that scrounge for food on the campus quad.

But yesterday, as Ramsey, 6 feet 6 inches, surveyed his new domain, he saw nothing but opportunity - a chance for Coppin to become Baltimore's hometown favorite. "This city is up for grabs," said Ramsey, 51. "There is no one school with which everyone identifies. Baltimore screams out for an institution to take it over, and we're going to do that with integrity and character."

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UMES Tyson is academically ineligible

UMES men's starting basketball shooting guard Ed Tyson will not return to the team next season because he is academically ineligible, the school announced yesterday.

Tyson, an All- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference second-team player, averaged a conference-best 20.2 points while starting in all 32 games for the Hawks last season. He also led the team with 54 steals, 1,176 minutes, 219 field goals and 73 three-pointers.

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FAMU RB Page powerful

Rattlers freshman LaVonte Page packs a wollop in a 5-11/211 pound frame with wheels that can motor past most cornerbacks.

A voice from the sidelines gave LaVonte Page a little encouragement during Tuesday's football practice. Page had shaken off two defenders, leaving them sprawling on the turf. "To the house," reverberated across the field from the sideline. "To the house, baby." It was great encouragement, but the freshman running back from Douglasville (Ga.) High School has been showing that he is driven for more than a week now.

"That just desire to score," he said, sweat rolling down his forehead. "If you have the desire to score, nobody can stop you. That's all I have to do. "I was taught when you get the ball you cut and run hard," Page said. "I just keep my legs moving. You never know how many chances you get to go into the end zone, so I try to go every chance I can." Page had several explosive runs Tuesday, as he's been doing since arriving on campus.

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Whistler honors former Vigor, Jackson State, NFL star Robert Brazile with street name

ROBERT BRAZILE, former Jackson State All-American linebacker who was a first round draft pick of the Houston Oils and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection with the Oilers. His 1974 JSU class included the legendary RB Walter Payton, 1st round pick and Pro Football Hall of Famer (Chicago Bears) and 20 year NFL offensive tackle Jackie Slater, 3rd round pick, Pro Football Hall of Famer, (Los Angeles/St.Louis Rams). Brazile is the only linebacker from the 1970s All-Decade Team not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Long before he was nicknamed "Dr. Doom" for his brutal hitting in the NFL, Robert Brazile was known as "Catfish," and "Bubba" to his neighbors along Till Street and Felder Avenue in Whistler (Alabama). Brazile was honored Tuesday morning when Robert Brazile Jr. Avenue was unveiled. Brazile — a member of the Prichard Sports and Leadership Hall of Fame, the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame, the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame, Senior Bowl Hall of Fame and Alabama Sports Hall of Fame — said it was heartwarming to be recognized by his community.

"Growing up on this street, I had so many parents. I had to answer to everyone up and down this street and I couldn't let them down," he said. "The best part of this dedication is that my parents got the opportunity to see it. People are getting streets named after them every day and their parents aren't around to see it; some of the honorees aren't even around."

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TSU shores up holes on defense with new faces

TSU defensive coordinator Rod Reed.

Tennessee State's new defensive linemen are facing old problems. Not only did the unit struggle against the run last year, but the top linemen also are gone. So Rod Reed, who coached linebackers last year and took over as defensive coordinator this year, is trying to make improvements with young and inexperienced players.

"They get to go against a pretty good offensive line every day in practice so they get their noses bloodied a little bit,'' Reed said. "It's good to watch them sit in there and fight." Even with likes of All-OVC defensive end Shaun Richardson and nose tackle Lamar Divens, who signed with San Diego, TSU finished 88th nationally in run defense (193.5 yards per game) and 74th in total defense (386.4). Harold Ayodele, who rotated at tackle with Maurice Davis, did not to return for his final year of eligibility.

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Support for SCSU pours forth in force

Orangeburg icon and former SCSU Bulldogs legendary head football coach Willie Jeffries served as event Master of Ceremonies.

The city of Orangeburg was truly “Garnet and Blue Country” Tuesday evening. A sizable crowd packed the Russell Street Square Tuesday to show their support for the 2008 South Carolina State football team. From young and old, alumni to non-S.C. State graduates and public and SCISAA Orangeburg County high school students, nearly every demographic was well-represented at the hour-long pep rally.

For S.C. State punter and Orangeburg native Aaron Haire, the spirit of unity was both encouraging and long overdue. “It’s one thing I’ve been hoping,” Haire said. “One thing that really determines a team success is having a community behind us and providing strong support. I was used to that growing up in Orangeburg and playing football for the Orangeburg-Wilkinson Bruins. So I’m happy that they’re starting to come out for the Bulldogs of South Carolina State.”

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S.C. State camp-style drill the last for Bulldogs

By SCSU Sports Information

South Carolina State conducted its last camp-style football drill on Tuesday during a two-hour workout in full pads that began with a lot of enthusiasm but tailed off near the end amid high temperatures, according to Bulldog head coach Buddy Pough. The drill got underway at approximately 10 a.m.

“Today (Tuesday) was our last day of camp-style practices,” Pough said. “We made it through as it got pretty hot out there. The first half of practice was not bad as both the offense and defense looked sharp. But, as it warmed up, we were not able to sustain things. The defense did play well through most of the workout, but the offense struggled during the second half after looking pretty good at the outset.

“It’s time, I believe,” he continued “that we have to go full speed ahead. We have to increase our intensity and toughen up mentally.”

Several Bulldogs, who missed Monday’s practice due to a stomach virus, returned to the field Tuesday although they appeared to be slowed a bit. Later Tuesday, the Bulldogs joined the community for a “kickoff” pep rally in downtown Orangeburg. S.C. State will take Wednesday off as classes get under way, before returning to drills Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

Winston-Salem State to start basketball practice this week

Senior forward Jamal Durham, 6-6/215, Winston - Salem, N.C./North Davidson High School.

Rams preparing to play in Bahamas tournament at the end of the month

Winston-Salem State's young basketball team will get a head start this year by opening practice Wednesday. WSSU is taking advantage of an NCAA rule that permits a school to play in an early tournament once every four years. The Rams will have what amounts to 10 extra practices and then play two games at the end of this month in the Bahamas.

Coach Bobby Collins, who will be in his third season with the Rams, said: "I think this is great because we'll be able to bring them all together, and we'll see what we have real early." The official opening day for other college programs is Oct. 15. The Rams will open practice Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the Gaines Center, and then have nine more practices before leaving for the Bahamas on Aug. 29. They will play two exhibition games and then return to campus on Sept. 1. Collins said that his team won't miss any classes.

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WSSU Rams 2008/09 Men's Basketball Schedule

Aug 29-31- Tournament in Nassau, Bahamas

Nov 14 - at Georgia Tech
Nov 18 -at Eastern Kentucky
Nov 24 Wake Forest
Nov 27-30 at Illinois State Tournament (Normal, Ill.)

Dec 6 at S.C. State
Dec 13 at N.C. State
Dec 18 at N.C. Central
Dec 30 Averett
Dec 31 at Old Dominion

Jan 5 Columbia Union
Jan 10 at Maryland Eastern Shore
Jan 12 at Delaware State
Jan 17 at Howard
Jan 19 at Hampton
Jan 24 N.C. A&T
Jan 26 Norfolk State
Jan 31 at Florida A&M

Feb 2 at Bethune-Cookman
Feb 7 Morgan State
Feb 9 Coppin State
Feb 11 N.C. Central
Feb 14 Howard
Feb 16 Hampton
Feb 21 at N.C. A&T
Feb 28 Florida A&M

Mar 2 Bethune-Cookman
Mar 5 S.C. State
Mar 14 N.C. Central (MEAC Tournament game at Joel Coliseum)

OU will face Mississippi Valley State in NIT basketball opener

NORMAN -- Oklahoma hosts Mississippi Valley State to open the NIT Season Tip-Off Nov. 17, according to the tournament schedule released Tuesday. The Sooners, who are seeded No. 2 overall in the 16-team field, should be heavy favorites against MVSU, a squad that went 17-16 a year ago and 12-6 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The game tips off at 8 p.m. and will be televised by ESPNU.
























Things could get much more difficult in the second round Nov. 18, when, provided they win the night before, the Sooners face the winner of the Davidson-James Madison game at 8:30 p.m. Davidson returns All-America candidate Stephen Curry from a 29-7 team that nearly upset eventual national champion Kansas in the Elite Eight last March.

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Southern back into school mode

VIDEO: Countdown on for Southern football

Classes started Monday at Southern, and to that end the Jaguars started their school-week schedule Sunday. As they will weekly all season, SU had a brief practice Sunday and did not practice Monday. SU coach Pete Richardson and staff made the change to light Sunday workouts/no Monday practices early in the 2004 season because of heavy class/practice conflicts on Mondays.

The practice schedule allows SU coaches to have Mondays to break down game film and better plan the key weekday practices — Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This week, with Sunday’s hour-long workout in the books, SU will practice two hours Tuesday through Friday afternoons and again Saturday morning. During game weeks, SU will have two-hour workouts Tuesday through Thursday and an hour walkthrough on Friday and then go one-and-a-half hours Sunday to recover from a Saturday game.

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Southern's Line Leaders

SU offensive tackles having fun while doing job

Here’s Southern senior right tackle Myles Williams. He’s got his shoulder pads and helmet in one hand. He’s got a host of sleepy teammates, trying to shake the double whammy of the early hour and the grind of being deep into the long week of two-a-days, walking past him to get their gear in the frigid bellows of the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

And so Williams bellows out, Monday Night Football style, “Are You Ready for Some Football?” This is the guy quarterback Bryant Lee calls, “Big Cheesy.” Williams, for his part, has a few choice nicknames to fire right back at Lee. In no way will Williams, a four-year starter, kowtow to the pretty-boy status of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason offensive player of the year.

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PVAMU quarterback Spivey receives 6th year of eligibility

Prairie View A&M quarterback Mark Spivey went 5-1 as a starter last season.

Prairie View A&M quarterback Mark Spivey has been granted a medical hardship waiver by the NCAA, giving him a sixth year of eligibility. Spivey, a Westfield product, missed the 2004 season and most of the 2005 campaign with shoulder injuries, but posted the best performance of his collegiate career last season, going 5-1 as a starter and leading the Panthers to their first winning season since 1976.

“He’s the leader of our offense, and he’s looking very sharp in practice,” coach Henry Frazier III said. “I’m expecting him to pick up where he left off last year."

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FAMU RT Okeafor returns from injury

Robert Okeafor walked off FAMU's football practice field Monday feeling that for the first time since last season he's accomplished something. "I felt like I was very much a contributor," he said. "The offensive line was in synch and the chemistry was there. It was like getting back to work."

Okeafor indeed is back to work at right tackle for the Rattlers. He returned to contact workout Monday for the first time since sustaining a torn meniscus in his left knee last season.

"It's like a kid in a candy store," he said. "I get back out there and get a chance to hit again. "I've been itching for awhile since I've gotten a chance to hit somebody so it's good to finally get that itch scratched and get a little contact under my belt."

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FAMU DB Beach trying to reclaim eligibility

Defensive back Jason Beach might not be playing another season at FAMU after all. Coach Joe Taylor hedged on saying with certainty that Beach won't be back, but he said enough to indicate that Beach won't get another season with the Rattlers. "I'm not too optimistic to be honest with you," Taylor said following Monday's practice, which Beach didn't attend.

"He has gotten what he came here for," Taylor said. "He has gotten his degree." Beach, who graduated with honors last December, was hoping to regain time that he missed during the 2004 season. That year, he left school to be with family members who were affected by Hurricane Dennis.

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MEAC volleyball kicks off

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The 2008 MEAC volleyball season will kick off Labor Day weekend with a flurry of nonconference games. The defending champions Florida A&M, will begin its season at the Florida State Invitational against Bowling Green and Stetson.

UMES will start at the Virginia Tech Hokie Invite at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. They will face Virginia Tech, Coastal Carolina and Winston-Salem State. Conference play will begin Oct. 3 when the northern and southern teams will face each other.

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JSU tigers ready to roar

Touted TE Frost back from injury

JACKSON – Jackson State fans talk about Marcel Frost like he's some kind of mythical creature come to life. Like something they've heard about forever but have never actually seen. They know the Ohio State transfer has played in front of national audiences in places like Michigan Stadium and against Notre Dame in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. They've seen the imposing 6-foot-5, 255-pound frame. The soft hands, quick feet and fiery temperament of the tight end have been documented.

But, except for 10 catches in 2006, Tigers fans haven't witnessed the potential so many talk about. I feel like I have something to prove to everybody," Frost said. "I want to show everybody that it's not just hype and that I really can play.

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Time (finally) to mark calendars on long-delayed Robinson Museum project

GRAMBLING — Key dates for the long-delayed Eddie Robinson Museum are being talked about in terms of months, instead of years. For a project now nearly a decade in the making, that's a remarkable achievement in itself. "We're hoping to have a groundbreaking some time in the fall, and we'll get the ball rolling," said Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dar