Monday, January 13, 2014

Monday Morning Football Punts...

  • Jackson, Mississippi WLBT Sportscaster and Radio Announcer Rob Jay has reported from sources that Mississippi Valley State University is set to name former JSU head coach Rick Comegy as Delta Devils head football coach. Comegy was fired after posting an 8-1 record in the SWAC, 8-4 overall, and losing in the SWAC Championship game in overtime for the second straight season.  He finished with a career record of 55-35 in eight seasons at JSU, winning the SWAC championship in 2007. Comegy will replace Karl Morgan.
  • John Dell, Winston-Salem Journal beat writer is reporting that sources have indicated that Kienus Boulware, the defensive coordinator at Winston-Salem State University the past four seasons, will be named the school’s next head football coach Tuesday.
  • Rob Jay has also announced from sources, that Jackson State University will introduce 68-year old Harold Jackson as the Tigers new head football coach during an 11am press conference Monday, January 13.  Jackson is a first-time head coach in the FCS and his name surfaced after Bethune-Cookman's Head Coach Brian Jenkins declined to interview with JSU.  Jackson previous coaching stops in college football has been at NCCU (1990), VUU (1994), Benedict (1995-96), Kentucky (2001-2002) and Baylor (2003-2006).  No doubt, most of the JSU players' parents were not born when Jackson was drafted into the NFL in 1968, but he brings over 19 years combine of college, NFL and minor league coaching experience.  Local recruits, 4-5 star game changers, forget it; it did not happen with Doug Williams at Grambling State and he had more NFL glitter than anyone in HBCU sports. 
  • East Carolina Pirates will open the 2014 football season by hosting FCS North Carolina Central University on August 30.  ECU finished the 2013 season with a 10-3 record and won the Beef 'O'Brady's Bowl St. Petersburg, defeating Ohio 37-20.  NCCU's new head coach Jerry Mack will make his Eagle debut against the Pirates.  This will be ECU first season in the American Athletic Conference after 17 seasons in Conference USA. 
  • Monmouth University, West Long Branch, New Jersey will host Delaware State in its 2014 season opener on August 30.  The Hawks are a first year member of the Big South Conference.  This will be a first-time match up between the two programs. 
  • Morgan State will get tested on the road on Aug. 30 with their season opener at Eastern Michigan.  Lee Hull is the new head football coach for the Morgan Bears. Hull is coming from the Maryland Terrapins, where he served six seasons as the wide-receivers coach.  He replaces Donald Hill-Eley who lead the Bears for 12 seasons, ending with a 59-76 record. 
  • Northern Iowa Panthers will host Morgan State Bear on Sept. 6 for their home opener at the UNI Dome, Cedar Falls, Iowa.  The Missouri Valley Football Conference power ended last season with a 7-5 record. The Bears finished last season with a record of 5-7.
  • CIAA powerhouse Winston-Salem State will travel to Valdosta State on Sept. 13. The Blazers defeated the Rams in the 2012 NCAA Division II National Championship game. This will be the first regular season game between the CIAA and Gulf South powers.
  • Delaware State is scheduled to face Temple in football in 2014 with the date TBD.
  • Florida A&M will travel to Miami Gardens on Sept. 6 to battle the Miami Hurricanes.
  • Savannah State has been done in again by their schedule maker.  The Tigers have non-conference road games scheduled with three FBS teams: Aug. 30, Middle Tennessee State, Sept. 6, Georgia Southern, and Nov. 21, Brigham Young.  Head Coach Earnest Wilson III is in his second season and the Tigers finished last season with a 1-11 record.  The Tigers are 4-41 over the past four seasons with their only wins being recorded against lower division Edward Waters, Fort Valley State and two wins against Division I transitioning North Carolina Central.  Good luck Tigers!
  • Bethune-Cookman will host Grambling State on Sept. 13, 2014. The return game at Grambling, Louisiana will be held on Sept. 12, 2015.
  • Howard Bison will open the 2014 football season on Aug. 30 at the University of Akron. The Zips and Bison will play at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field in Akron, OH. 
  • The Howard Bison are the scheduled home opener for new Big Ten member Rutgers University, on Sept. 6, 2014. The Scarlett Knights are upgrading from the American Athletic Conference.
  • Norfolk State will travel to the University of Buffalo Bulls on Sept. 20, 2014.  It's a money game for the Spartans.
  • South Carolina State Bulldogs have a Sept. 6 date with Clemson.  The Tigers also have the Bulldogs on their schedule for 2016. 
  • The Coach Connell Maynor era at Hampton University kickoffs on Aug. 30 at C-USA member Old Dominion.  Coach Maynor moves up in class from Division II powerhouse, Winston-Salem State to FCS Hampton University.
  • Alcorn State will play at Southern Mississippi on Sept. 6. 
  • Alabama A&M will face University of Alabama-Birmingham on Sept. 13 at Legion Field. This is the same venue for the Magic City Classic.  Last season, Alabama State and Alabama A&M attracted 63,113 fans to the Magic City Classic football game, making it the most attended HBCU game in the nation.  The UAB Blazers posted a 2-10, 1-7 record in Conference USA. The Bulldogs have a new head football coach in former Nevada tight-ends coach, James Spady. The first-time head coach is replacing Anthony Jones, whose contract was not renewed after going 83-57 in 12 years, the third-best winning percentage in Alabama A&M history. Football Scoop is reporting that Jacksonville State head coach Bill Clark name has surfaced for the head coaching job at UAB.  The school reports the search is still on-going with others to be interviewed.
  • Division II Johnson C. Smith University Golden Bulls will play at UNC- Charlotte 49'ers on Sept. 6, 2014. 
  • North Carolina Central University will host UNC - Charlotte on Sept. 13.  The Eagles will be in their first season with Jerry Mack as head football coach.  Charlotte will transition to Conference USA in 2015.
  • Arkansas Pine Bluff travels to new Sun Belt Conference member Texas State Bobcats on Aug. 30 to open their season. 
  • Defending SWAC Champions Southern University open the 2014 campaign on Aug. 30 at Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns.
-beepbeep

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