Savannah State suspends Hardy

Photo: SSU head baseball coach Carlton Hardy.

Savannah State baseball head coach Carlton Hardy has been suspended and is the focus of an internal investigation, SSU communications director Loretta Heyward said Thursday night. Hardy, who is in his third season at the school, has not coached the Tigers since an April 16 game at Mercer, SSU sports information director Opio Mashariki said. The Tigers (19-18) lost that game 27-1.

SSU has played four games without Hardy. The team is being supervised by assistant coach Emanuel Wheeler. Heyward said Hardy "has been suspended, effective April 18, pending the outcome of an internal investigation." Because the case is a personnel matter, Heyward said she could not provide further information "in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, and Mr. Hardy's rights."

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Prairie View A&M University signs 20 on national signing day

Photo: Prairie View A&M University head football coach Henry Frazier III.

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – After the first day of signing football players to National Letters of Intent, the Prairie View A&M University list of commitments currently sits at 20. The Panthers have inked 16 student-athletes from high school, three junior college transfers and one division one transfer.

“As a staff we’re extremely pleased with our 2008 recruiting class, said Prairie View A&M head coach Henry Frazier III. “As a team we were able to address many of our needs. We were able to bring in a solid group of student-athletes that will be the foundation of Panther football in years to come.”

Highlighting the list of transfers and recruits is Russell Ball a 5-9, 170 pound transfer from Florida State University. Ball's presence in the Panthers backfield should provide an immediate impact.

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2008 PVAMU FOOTBALL SIGNEES

Deon Jones DT 6-1 285 Garland, TX North Garland

Damon Grant LB 6-1 225 San Antonio, TX Robert Cole

Anthony Wilson OL 6-2 260 Flower Mound, TX Flower Mound

Langston Patterson OL 6-2 300 Houston, TX Langham Creek

Elton Holmes LB 6-0 225 Bryan, TX Bryan

Randle Cole OL 6-2 260 Katy, TX James E. Taylor

Ryan Love DT 6-1 310 Houston, TX Langham Creek

Christopher Stanley OL 6-3 280 Jacksonville, Fla. Sandalwood

Antonio Morales OL 6-2 312 Galena Park, TX Galena Park

Spencer Nelson ATH 5-9 170 Jonesboro, Ga. Lovejoy

Marquis Hollie ATH 5-9 175 San Antonio, TX Earl Warren

Joshua Mack LB 6-3 230 Visalia, Ca. College of Seqouias

Anthony Banks OL 6-1 280 Baton Rouge, La. Glen Oaks

Dwayne Chappell DL 6-1 260 Washington, D.C. Dunbar

Charles Alston Jr. DE 6-4 280 Visalia, Ca. College of Seqouias

Russell Ball RB 5-9 170 La Marque, TX Florida State

Jermaine Bluford OL 6-3 320 Compton, Ca. Compton CC

Leighland Koonce WR 6-2 200 San Diego, Ca. St. Augustine

Duriel Harris WR 6-5 205 Channelview, TX Channelview

Thaddeus Wesley OL 6-4 310 Houston, TX Nimitz

PVAMU Lady Panthers remain undefeated in SWAC

Photo: PVAMU #20 Sophomore 6-0 guard/forward Gaati Werema, from Orlando Christian Prep, Orlando, Florida in eariler game at North Carolina. Werema was leading Lady Panther scorer at Alabama A&M with 15 points.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.- After running into a tie ball game at 43 all with 10:59 remaining in the second half the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers (13-7, 8-0 SWAC) managed to pull out a 58-55 victory over the Alabama A&M Lady Bulldogs (6-11, 4-4 SWAC) clinching their tenth consecutive win.

The Lady Panthers put a total of four players in double figures with sophomore forward Gaati Werema leading the way with 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting from the floor. Shavonne Smith, Candice Thomas, and Chari Smith round out the list of PVAMU double digit contributors tallying 14, 13, and 10 points respectively. Prairie View A&M shot 42 percent from the field while holding AAMU to just 28 percent from the floor for the game. Junior Aminata Dieye came up big for PVAMU on the defensive end racking up six blocks and four rebounds.

Rebekkah Barnes scored 15 points while Christian Malone added 10 points and six assists for Alabama A&M.

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QB play keeping Alcorn down

By Kareem Copeland, Clarion Ledger

Photo: Alcorn has gotten some big plays from the likes of Oliver Bozeman, intercepting a pass against UAB, but its D has been left on the field too much.

The quarterback position continues to cause sleepless nights for Alcorn State coach Johnny Thomas.

The Braves (0-5, 0-4 SWAC) rank last in the league in scoring offense (9.0 ppg) and first downs (13.2 per game) and No. 9 in third-down percentage (23.9).

"We're still having personnel letdowns," Thomas said. "Every time we get something going offensively, we fumble the ball, throw an interception, drop the ball, overthrow the receiver.

"We cannot keep our defense on the field and expect (it to play well)."

Senior Chris Walker has been battling a high ankle sprain, opening the door for junior Tony Hobson.

However, Hobson has been less than spectacular, completing 2 of 8 passes for 23 yards with two interceptions in a 17-7 loss to Prairie View A&M last week.

Walker did play, connecting on 9 of 19 attempts for 117 yards.

"We started Tony and he has not come out and performed like we thought," Thomas said. "Chris is a tenacious young man. I've never seen a guy who's been able to bounce back (from injuries like he has).

"We're hoping he'll be ready to go against Texas Southern."

The Tigers (0-5, 0-4) host the Braves at Alex Durley Stadium at 3 p.m. Saturday.

MORE QB ISSUES

Mississippi Valley State may rotate quarterbacks during Saturday's home game against North Dakota State.

Sophomore Paul Roberts is likely out with a mild concussion, leaving junior Semaj Williams and sophomore Ryan Barciaga to split duties.

Williams has completed 13 of 29 passes for 101 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns in three games this season.

Barciaga is 0-for-2 with an interception in two appearances.

BAD CALLS?

Prairie View A&M has put together a tape detailing questionable calls against the Panthers for the SWAC office.

Coach Henry Frazier insists that the officiating has been consistently lopsided against his team throughout the season.

"It's one of two things: They're either cheating or incompetent," Frazier said. "I know I'm going to get in trouble. It's frustrating because it's on film.

"That loses you ballgames. That's the kind of thing that loses people their jobs."

Prairie View is tied with Jackson State for the most penalties in league with 53. Its 499 penalty yards are second behind JSU's 578.

"We've gotten flagged 64 times," Frazier said. "Referees have to get coached up, too."

TAKE-A-KID

Children between the ages of 5-12 will be admitted free with a ticket-bearing adult to Valley's game Saturday against North Dakota State. Kickoff in Itta Bena is 2 p.m.

Take-A-Kid-To-The-Game Day pregame tickets are available for $15 at the MVSU cashiers window and remote locations. Game day tickets will be available for $18.

Contact the MVSU department of athletics for more information at (662) 254-3011.

LAST WEEK'S STANDOUTS


Corey Clark (JSU) - six tackles, three sacks


Ben Boyd (Prairie View) - six carries, 124 yards, one touchdown


Zach East (Prairie View) - 11 tackles


Sam Irons (MVSU) - 11 tackles, pass breakup


Zach Gilarski (MVSU) - eight punts, 37.8 average


Ronald Brewer (MVSU) - 14 carries, 50 yards; four receptions, 28 yards


Tim Manuel (Grambling) - two field goals; four PATs; five punts, 40.4 average

Matthews to start at QB for SU

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Southern likely will be without sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee and senior wide receiver Gerard Landry when the Jaguars host Alcorn State at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Lee and Landry both went down with ankle injuries in the third quarter of a 32-26 loss to Jackson State on Saturday.

SU coach Pete Richardson said both are “questionable.”

Lee re-aggravated a right ankle sprain that has bothered him since the second game of the season.

Lee had a brace around the injury last week and sophomore Warren Matthews got most of the first-team reps throughout the week, then started and played the first series against Jackson State in place of Lee.

Matthews, who did not return to the game until Lee went out, will make his second start and this time he’ll stay in the game.

Lee, who started late last season, edged Matthews, who never played last season, in a preseason duel.

Photo: QB Warren Matthews will make his second start for Southern.

“The only thing he’s lacking is experience,” Richardson said of Matthews. “And the only way to get that is to play.”

SU coaches want Lee (144-for-223 for 1,585 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions) to rest Saturday and then have the benefit of an open week. They’d prefer Lee not to risk further injury.

Junior C.J. Byrd, who started in the middle of last season, will be Matthews’ backup, Richardson said.

With fifth-year senior J.C. Lewis leaving the team last month, the team’s three healthy quarterbacks are Matthews, Byrd and redshirt freshman Gary Hollimon.

Matthews, who was 6-for-12 for 83 yards and one touchdown Saturday, likely won’t have the benefit of throwing to the team’s top playmaker.

Landry has a high left ankle sprain and, like Lee, needs rest.

Landry has a touchdown catch in all seven games and eight TDs overall, along with team highs of 34 catches and 409 yards.

“It’s just how much pain tolerance he’s going to be able to take,” Richardson said.

The injuries to Lee and Landry are just two concerning Southern.

True freshman linebacker Corey Ray (left shoulder) will need arthroscopic surgery that likely will end his season, Richardson said.

Ray had reconstructive surgery on the left shoulder in February after having surgery on the right one in late December.

“It depends on him. It’ll take awhile (to recover),” Richardson said.

Sophomore linebacker Allan Baugh (left knee) had an MRI on Monday. Baugh was on crutches Sunday when the Jaguars had a light practice. (SU did not practice Monday.)

Richardson said he expects junior linebacker Johnathan Malveaux to return Saturday after missing the previous three games with a high ankle sprain. Malveaux is the team’s most experienced linebacker and he was SU’s top tackler before the injury.

Malveaux dressed for the Jackson State game, and coaches considered playing him.

Richardson said he also expects junior wide receiver Del Roberts (back) and senior center Demarcus Stewart (calf) to return Saturday. Both missed the Jackson State game.

Roberts, with 30 catches for 279 yards and one touchdown and five rushes for 55 yards, plays a key role in the offense. With Roberts playing little in the loss to Alabama A&M and not at all in the JSU game, the SU offense lost a key component.

Also, Richardson said sophomore wide receiver Juamorris Stewart (concussion) to be fully recovered. Juamorris Stewart did not start, played sparingly and did not catch a pass for the first time this season.

Richardson said junior running back Kendrick Smith (foot), who has missed the last three games, is “questionable” to play Saturday. Smith is off crutches and out of his walking boot, but was still not walking smoothly.

Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band and the Dancing Dolls (10/13/2007) vs. JSU Tigers

A welcome opportunity for JSU

By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff

Once hoping to land at Tennessee, Johnson is thankful to be at A&M

Two years ago, Rashad Johnson was headed to the University of Tennessee. At least, that was the plan. However, those plans were derailed and he landed at Alabama A&M instead.

The Vols' loss has clearly been the Bulldogs' gain as Johnson has emerged into a key contributor at wide receiver in his first season.

A 5-foot-10, 185-pound freshman from Mobile, Johnson had an outstanding senior year at Murphy High School, catching 37 balls for more than 700 yards and 12 touchdowns. A number of schools recruited Johnson, but he wanted to play at Tennessee.

That dream ended when Johnson failed to make the required score on the ACT. Then Jones got in trouble with the law when one of his friends picked him up from work in a stolen car.

"We got pulled over," Johnson said. "I had no idea it was a stolen car."

With few options, Johnson's mother spoke with then-A&M offensive coordinator Stan Conner.

"Coach Conner told me if I came up here and got eligible, I could get a scholarship and play," Johnson said.

Johnson isn't on scholarship yet, but if he keeps playing the way he has through the Bulldogs' first six games, he'll certainly earn one.

Johnson has just only nine catches, but four have gone for touchdowns, which is second on the team. He is averaging 16.2 yards per catch, third-best on the squad.

That's not bad for a guy who wasn't invited to training camp until after it began.

"I guess they figured I really didn't want to play," said Johnson, who was named A&M's offensive player of the week after catching three passes for 40 yards, including a pair of touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 33-28 win over Southern more than a week ago. "I was determined to play. I sat out last year and I realized how much I loved football.

"I went out there with the mind-set I wanted to play and showed them what I could do."

Receivers coach Willie Totten noticed Johnson on his first day of practice.

"It was a Wednesday night," Totten said. "He was wearing No. 46 and we were doing 1-on-1s. He had great acceleration. He was aggressive. He's got a little different attitude than some of our other receivers. That caught my attention.

"I knew he could help us. He kept getting better and better and I told Coach (Anthony) Jones we needed to consider him. He was hungry. He was very attentive to what we were doing."

It didn't take Johnson long to make an impact.

He had just two catches for 14 yards in the season opener against Tennessee State, but had three catches for 94 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the home opener against Clark Atlanta, including a 65-yarder.

Johnson managed just one catch over the next three games, but he came up big against Southern as A&M hung on for a big conference road win.

"Coach Totten told me to be patient and just keep running my routes," Johnson said. "I had to wait until my number was called and that's when I stepped up."

Johnson hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Kelcy Luke to stake the Bulldogs to an early 7-0 lead. Later, Johnson threw a key blocked that allowed wide receiver Gerald Stockdale to find Thomas Harris with a 55-yard touchdown pass. Then, early in the second quarter, Luke found Johnson with a 18-yard touchdown pass.

While Johnson was happy with the touchdown catches, he was more thrilled about throwing the block that led to Harris' touchdown.

"When Stockdale came in motion, I knew his man was going to come with him," Johnson explained. "As soon as he got the ball, he faked like he was going to run the ball and his man came crashing down. I pushed him as far as I could to the sideline and Stockdale was able to throw it to Harris."

Johnson hopes to continue his strong play Thursday night when A&M hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game. Kickoff is at 6:30 and the game will be televised live on ESPNU.

While Johnson is happy to be at A&M, Jones is equally excited to have him on the team. "He's been a great addition to our program," Jones said. "He just needed polishing. Coach Totten has done a great job of grooming him. "While he's been a great addition to our program, we've been a great addition to him and his development on and off the field."

Totten agreed.

"After the Clark Atlanta game, he came to me and said thank you," Totten said. "I didn't understand what he meant at the time. He said 'I appreciate you giving me a chance.' That still sticks with me today.

"He wants to prove to people that he's not the person people think he is. Those are the things that encourage me about Johnson. He's got a great attitude and he's trying to find his place in society. ... This football program is probably saving Johnson's life."