Towson Tigers at Morgan State Bears

All-MEAC RB Devan James,#34 is ready to bust loose on cross-town rival Tigers.

Their players eat at the same restaurants, shop at the same malls and date women from each other's campuses. But pit Towson against Morgan State in football and get set for a row. The schools square off Saturday for the 22nd time in their intracity rivalry at Morgan's Hughes Stadium at 4 p.m. Both teams are 1-1. Lineups of Tigers and Bears, oh my. Let the battle for North Baltimore begin.

"It's easy to get juiced for Morgan," said Dan Bridges, Towson's 290-pound offensive tackle. "

It's one of those games that we don't want to lose the most."Ditto, says Morgan."I saw a couple of [Towson] players at Wal-mart last week, but I just kept movin'," said Devan James, Morgan's star running back. "Can't be too friendly because it's time to go to war."Five miles separate the colleges, which first met in football in 1979. Towson leads the series 16-5, with four straight wins. Last year, the Tigers rallied after halftime and held on, 21-16, as Morgan failed to score on three consecutive plays from Towson's 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. Two years ago, a late interception sparked the Tigers, 28-21.

College football: Towson, Morgan not very neighborly

Rivalry is intense between teams separated by five miles
Their players eat at the same restaurants, shop at the same malls and date women from each other's campuses. But pit Towson against Morgan State in football and get set for a row. The schools square off Saturday for the 22nd time in their intracity rivalry at Morgan's Hughes Stadium at 4 p.m. Both teams are 1-1. Lineups of Tigers and Bears, oh my. Let the battle for North Baltimore begin.

"It's easy to get juiced for Morgan," said Dan Bridges, Towson's 290-pound offensive tackle. "It's one of those games that we don't want to lose the most."Ditto, says Morgan."I saw a couple of [Towson] players at Wal-mart last week, but I just kept movin'," said Devan James, Morgan's star running back. "Can't be too friendly because it's time to go to war." Five miles separate the colleges, which first met in football in 1979. Towson leads the series 16-5, with four straight wins. Last year, the Tigers rallied after halftime and held on, 21-16, as Morgan failed to score on three consecutive plays from Towson's 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. Two years ago, a late interception sparked the Tigers, 28-21.

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Texas Southern Tigers at Texas State Bobcats

Texas State wary of Texas Southern

On paper, Texas State, ranked 23rd in FCS, seems to have a clear advantage over Texas Southern, winless in eight games against the Bobcats. The Tigers lost their first two games this season against Southwestern Athletic Conference rivals by a combined 75-7 tally before beating Texas College, an NAIA school, 75-6. The injury bug – which has bitten the Bobcats' offensive playmakers hard – could even things out a bit for the Tigers. The Bobcats will miss running back Karrington Bush (knee), who has been out after missing all but the first quarter of the opener. Also out is speedy slot receiver Cedric Alexander (pulled quadricep), while starting receiver Mishak Rivas has been nursing a foot injury. However, Wright said he expects Rivas and linebacker Joe Bell, who also hasn't played a down this season, to return tonight Wright said Texas Southern is a team to be reckoned with.

"They're scary," Wright said. "They're extremely athletic. Coach (Johnnie) Cole has done a great job in all three phases of the game. More than anything, they're a throwing team." Wright said the offense, run by the quarterback tandem of Arvell Nelson and Gino Simoni, runs out of a spread formation, similar to the Bobcats', and will throw the ball 40-50 times, at least. Defensively, the linemen and linebackers are the strength, Wright said, using a variety of line twists and blitzes to stay unpredictable.

TSU second year Coach Johnnie Cole.

College Football: Bobcat Record Breaker

San Marcos — Bradley George was ready to sign with Louisiana Tech. He already planned to sleep on a graduate assistant’s couch while trying to find a place of his own. George had signed up for classes and prepared to begin classes in early January. Then he got a phone call from former Texas State head coach David Bailiff. “I was packed up and ready to go,” George said. “Bailiff called me and said ‘Hey, I hear you’re coming back to football. Why don’t you give me a call?’ I didn’t want to, because I had a Division I mindset and wanted to try that.” Something beyond George’s control pulled him to the Bobcats.

Maybe it was because his parents are alums. Or, it could have been that his hometown is 15 minutes down I-35 in New Braunfels. His brother Reagan (a former quarterback with the Bobcats) might have talked to him or heck, maybe he’d miss his grandmother’s homemade cookies Whatever the reason, George signed with Texas State and was ready to begin his collegiate career – at 22-years old. George spent five years after high school in the Cincinnati Reds’ minor league system. He felt his best chance at stardom was on the diamond, but his arm wouldn’t allow it.

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N.C. Central Eagles at Duke Blue Devils

Preview: Duke (1-2) v. NC Central (0-3)

For the first time NC Central and Duke will meet on the gridiron in what is being called the "Bull City Classic". In addition, this weekend's game will serve as Homecoming 2009 for the Blue Devils. Last Time: The two schools have never met on the gridiron. However the Eagles have played in Wallace Wade Stadium on three occasions, posting a 2-1 overall record on Duke's home field. The last time the Eagles were on the field they defeated North Carolina A&T by a score of 29-18 during the 1974 season. Duke has an all-time record of 42-35-3 when playing a team for the first time. .

What To Watch For On Offense: The Eagles' offensive unit has been largely ineffective through the first three contests of the season - averaging just 14.7 points per game. Some if it due to inexperience with several younger players being forced into action. Two positions were opened for in preseason drills when junior wide receiver Corey Harris dislocated his left clavicle. Soon after, senior offensive lineman Eric Stanley suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee. Both required season-ending surgery.

Duke and NCCU to meet for first time

A 'Classic' every year...Although schedule restrictions limit Duke and NCCU's ability to compete annually, University officials are hopeful that there will be a Bull City Classic every year. The contract between NCCU and Duke requires the two schools to meet every three years until the 2015 football season. The University hopes to fill the remaining gaps in the schedule with other Historically Black Colleges and Universities, such as Howard University and Morgan State University, hosting one school per year in the Classic.

"We're looking to build an affinity for Duke football," said Deputy Director of Athletics Stan Wilcox. "Within the Durham community, there are a number of individuals who probably have attended some of these historically black colleges that are in the region and it would give those individuals the opportunity to see their alma mater in Durham."

Bull City rivalry takes wing

You could hear the thumping drumbeat of the marching Sound Machine blocks away. It may not have felt like a football night -- "too hot and sticky," N.C. Central University fan Tony Chavis said -- but several thousand people crowded into Historic Durham Athletic Park on Thursday night for an old-fashioned pigskin party. The Bull City Football Fest celebrated in anticipation of Saturday night's first-ever football encounter between NCCU and Duke, "two great universities that unbelievably are just five miles apart," Blue Devil coach David Cutcliffe told the crowd.

The fest offered food and drink, activities for kids that included a climbing wall and a moon walk, and music from the Sound Machine, the Eagles' pep band, and the Blue Devil marching band. There were cheerleaders and mascots, hot dogs and barbecue.
Most of all, the event gave supporters of both schools a chance to mingle, talk a little trash and support their school.

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Howard Bison at Georgetown (D.C.) Hoyas

Bison, Hoyas Bring Dormant Offenses Into D.C. Cup Game

Nearly 176 minutes have elapsed off the game clock since Georgetown's offense last crossed the goal line. The Hoyas' only offensive touchdown of the season came on their first drive of their first game against Holy Cross on Sept. 5. Howard's offense hasn't fared much better. The Bison's lone offensive touchdown was in the second quarter of their season opener at Rutgers on Sept. 12, almost 100 minutes ago on the game clock. It's not surprising that both teams are winless given their struggles to put points on the scoreboard. Georgetown (0-3) has a total of 20 points in three games, while Howard (0-2) has 17 points in two games. When they meet in the second annual D.C. Cup game at Georgetown's Multi-Sport Field on Saturday afternoon, both the Hoyas and Bison will be looking to invigorate their lackluster offenses.

Jourdan Brooks, Rutgers runs past HU Bison CB Dante Martin. What a Bison to do?

Georgetown vs. Howard

Records: Hoyas 0-3; Bison 0-2.

ALL ABOUT THE W: Both teams desperately need a victory after slow starts to the season. Georgetown, which is celebrating homecoming this weekend, beat Howard, 12-7, in last year's inaugural D.C. Cup.

OFFENSIVE WOES: In a 31-10 loss to Yale last Saturday, freshman Isaiah Kempf became the first Georgetown quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards since 2007. Still, the Hoyas scored only 10 points and are averaging less than a touchdown per game (6.7 points). The Bison haven't had a 100-yard rusher since November 2006. Freshman running back Andra Williams has potential and has rushed for 54 yards on 11 carries, but he has fumbled three times in two games.

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Grambling State Tigers at Oklahoma State

Gundy says preparation for Grambling the same as for other games

When a major-college football team’s schedule includes a meeting with a Division I-AA opponent, it is a competition not usually viewed by fans or media as compelling.
Texas Tech coach Mike Leach puts into perspective the relevance of such a contest: “It is reckless and haphazard not to take those games seriously. If you don’t think it is a big game, try losing one of them and see how big of a game it is.”

For Oklahoma State, a loss to Division I-AA Grambling State would dissolve any shot at once again becoming nationally significant this season. The Cowboys’ confidence would be rocked before they delve into Big 12 play. The 16th-ranked Cowboys (2-1) and defending black college national champion Tigers (2-1) clash at 6 p.m. Saturday in Stillwater. Because of various promotions, a school-record crowd is expected at Boone Pickens Stadium. The record of 53,012 was set for the Sept. 5 Georgia game.

Grambling St.-Oklahoma St. Preview

Since a season-opening win over a ranked team catapulted Oklahoma State to its highest ranking in 24 years, the Cowboys have failed to live up to the high billing.
To rebound from two uninspired performances and get the season back on track, Oklahoma State will have to overcome more than just its disappointment. The No. 16 Cowboys have to deal with injuries to several key players as they host Grambling State in their non-conference finale Saturday night. Oklahoma State (2-1) climbed to No. 5 in the AP poll after a 24-10 win over then-No. 13 Georgia in its season opener. The Cowboys, though, suffered an immediate letdown, falling 45-35 to Houston the following week.

OSU hopes to sell stadium out for Grambling

The last time an OSU home football game was sold out, it was played in Lewis Field.
Officials in the Athletic Department want to make this Saturday’s game against Grambling State the first to sell out at the completed Boone Pickens Stadium. To spearhead the effort, the Athletic Department created a viral marketing campaign directed through the Web site http://www.selloutgrambling.com/ . The Athletic Department spent $4,000 on the campaign to create the site and make small yard signs and door hangers to advertise it. Those who visited the site were rewarded with half-price tickets to this weekend’s game. The half-price tickets are now sold out.

Associate Athletic Director Amy Weeks said the Athletic Department chose the Grambling State game because it appealed to more than just football fans. “We felt it would be a fan-friendly game,” she said. “The halftime show that our band and their band would put on would appeal to people who aren’t our regular customers.”

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Grambling coach to resign after player's death

Duckett’s one season: GSU went 6-23 overall and 4-14 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Grambling coach to resign after player's death

Grambling State men's basketball coach Rick Duckett will resign after one of his players died after reportedly suffering a heat-related illness during an off-season conditioning run on Aug. 14. The school announced the 52-year-old Duckett was placed on administrative leave through Oct. 31 — when his contract ends. Henry White, a 21-year-old junior college transfer from Milwaukee, died on Aug. 26 after spending 10 days in the hospital. Duckett had surgery the day White collapsed and, according to a source close to the situation, was not in attendance for a 30-minute run that was administered by an assistant coach to those players who showed up late.

Grambling men's basketball coach Rick Duckett to step down

Men's basketball coach Rick Duckett, on the job just over a year, will step down in the wake of the death of a transfer Grambling State University player. Henry White, a 21-year-old former Hill Junior College standout, became ill Aug. 14 at a preseason practice. He died at a Shreveport hospital a week later. Duckett has now been placed on administrative leave through Oct. 31 -- when his employment officially ends, university officials confirm.

GSU men's basketball coach released

The short-lived Ricky Duckett era for Grambling State’s men’s basketball program has ended.A release from the university sent out this morning said Duckett has been placed on administrative leave, effectively immediately, until Oct. 31 when his employment officially ends. GSU’s release added that no other information is available at this time. The move comes a month after the death of men’s basketball player Henry White, who died Aug. 26 in a Shreveport hospital, 11 days after reportedly suffering a heat-related illness during off-season conditioning drills under an assistant coach’s supervision.GSU said in a prepared statement at that time that a full investigation into the circumstances that may have contributed to White’s death is ongoing.

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MEAC/SWAC/OVC Week in Review

Last week held no surprises from my observation other than a continued drop in attendence at the HBCU stadiums. Not sure if it's a reflection of the product on the field, the match up or game time weather. You know how HBCU fans don't like to get their "outfits" wet. I have a simple solution--just wear the school colors in casual dress down Friday, and leave the Sunday best, gator and lizard shoes in the closet. Liz Taylor, Tommy, Kenneth and their fashion buddies can take the weekend off.

On the football front, McNeese State slammed Savannah State 56 to zip! But 13,912 showed up at Cowboy Stadium and no one left right after half-time. At the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama only 3,951 true Hornets made an appearance to see Alabama State steamroll Division II Edward Water, 38-6. Hey, a win is a win for Coach Barlow. In the OVC vs. SWAC Challenge (just kidding) at A.W. Mumford Stadium, the Southern Jaguars outlasted Tennessee State 21-17, with only 9,300 watching. I suppose the TSU fans were holding back to travel to Atlanta for their annual rivalry beat down with FAMU in the Atlanta Football Classic. FAMU (3-0) is the class of the MEAC with big games ahead with Miami and MEAC Champs South Carolina State. TSU--you are just a tune-up and Rattler bait!

All the Mississippi programs got a licking at the gate and on the field . University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions came to Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena and plummeted Mississippi Valley State 27-7, with only 2,200 in the stands. Coach Totten needs to reserve the U-Haul as there is another story behind the attendance numbers at Valley this season. In the annual Tiger rivalry game, Grambling State knocked out Jackson State 27-17 but only 10,905 bothered to show up at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. We're talking about a JSU program that averaged over 20,000 last season in home games.

Alcorn State was pounded in a "money game" at Central Michigan 48-0 in a no-contest before 18,323 screaming Chippewas. It was the Chips home opener after a big win last week over Michigan State, and their first shutout in 13 years with the Braves doing the honors.

FAMU's All-American, sensational return specialist LeRoy Vann, is the talk of the nation. Vann has run back four returns for touchdowns in the last two games with outstanding play from all of FAMU's special team players.

At O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium the Eagles of North Carolina Central University dropped a double O.T. game to Morehead State 13-10. Only 7,017 Eagle fans left disappointed but encouraged with the way NCCU kept coming back. Texas Southern purchased a win over lowly Texas College Steers (0-4) and beat the Red River Athletic Conference NAIA program 75-6. Only one question--Did the Tigers save anything for the remainder of the SWAC schedule?

Norfolk State got a solid dose of reality in facing #5 ranked William and Mary at Dick Price Stadium. The Spartans were outclassed 27-15 and only 10,005 fans even bothered to watch. It's anybody's guess on how many Spartans and Tribe fans watched "on the radio." Morgan State prevailed over tough Winston Salem State Rams 16-10 at Giant Stadium with 25,604 watching the Whitney Young Classic. There nothing Division II about WSSU scholarship players who are now creating good film for transfer to higher profile programs (next season), as the Rams drop back to the D-II and the CIAA.

All we can say is the Aggies are back--competitive, that is. Hampton kicked the North Carolina A&T Aggiess 24-14, but the AggieNation came out at 13,502 at Aggie Stadium. Give Coach Alonzo Lee time... but this is a dangerous team for the rest of the MEAC to play. Aggie Pride! Watch Out! Delaware and Delaware State got it on in Newark and the Hornets made a game of it. Delaware prevailed 27-17, and their 20,585 fans now know physical football is played in Dover.

And finally, Alabama A&M embarrassed themselves in Louis Crews Stadium in falling to Jacksonville State 45-13. It's bad to get stomped in your home stadium, but it's worst when only 2,906 showed up counting the band, cheerleaders and players. This definitely was a not made for TV game.

Talking about television, LeRoy Vann is becoming a household word. Vann scored on two punt returns for touchdowns leading the FAMU Rattlers in a rout over the Howard Bison 48-10 on a Thursday night ESPNU broadcast. But, where were the Rattler fans? 7,668 True Rattlers showed up along with 17,832 empty seats. Folks, let's get serious. The season is 1/3 over! Let's leave that TV alone and let's go watch some HBCU football at the stadium! HBCU programs need the $$$$$.

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