Saturday, October 1, 2011

NSU report: South Carolina State offense may be problematic

Norfolk, VA - Norfolk State has seen this offense before, just not quite like this. South Carolina runs a spread offense predicated on a single play and single player, much like the offenses run by Charleston Southern and Howard - teams the Spartans have shut down this season.

The zone read quarterback run, recently brought to prominence by Tim Tebow and then Cam Newton, will be a big part of the Bulldog offense. South Carolina State quarterback Derrick Wiley might not be as effective as the aforementioned, he is better than both quarterbacks the Spartans previously faced.



"They're almost identical as far as scheme is concerned...," head coach Pete Adrian said. "They have a lot better players, which presents a problem."

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Savannah State University looking for second MEAC win

Savannah, GA - Savannah State’s football team doesn’t want to slow down the wave of enthusiasm rushing over the school these days.

The Tigers are looking to make it two wins in a row, in the process showing students and alumni a good time in newly renovated T.A. Wright Stadium, when visiting Howard University comes to town tonight at 7.

“Coach has been telling us, ‘We’re the new Savannah State,’” said SSU sophomore receiver Simon Heyward.



The new Savannah State has a new stadium, a new Hall of Fame class and a new athletic director while playing football in a new conference.

Here’s another new aspect of the Tigers — undefeated in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play after knocking off North Carolina Central, 33-30, in Durham, N.C., a week ago in their first game in the MEAC.



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A&T football: 'Bargain' coach battles history in rebuilding effort

Baltimore, MD - N.C. A&T begins another MEAC football season tomorrow afternoon on the road against Morgan State. Last year’s coach, Alonzo Lee, will work the opposite sideline in Baltimore as the Bears defensive coordinator. Lee was fired last November after a 1-10 season. He was 6-16 in two years with the Aggies.

Rod Broadway was hired a few days after national signing day in February. It was the latest in a line of changes at A&T.



In the late 1990s Edward Fort (18 years on the job) was the chancellor, Bill Hayes (15 years) the football coach and Willie Burden (eight years) the athletics director. Recent history makes the length of their tenures seem like an eternity

In the last 12 years, A&T has gone through five chancellors, five football head coaches and nine athletics directors. And beginning with Hayes’ final season in 2002, the Aggies’ football team has finished with a losing record eight times in the last nine years, going 29-74 (.282 winning percentage). They haven’t won a homecoming game since 2003.

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TSU prepares to face Austin Peay with depleted roster

Clarksville, Tennessee - A 63-24 loss at Air Force last week and a 58-27 loss the week before at Murray State left the Tigers (1-3, 0-1) with a long list of injured players as they prepare for Saturday’s OVC game at Austin Peay (1-2, 1-0). Seven starters are listed as questionable or out for this week’s game:

Nose tackle Donte’e Nicholls left last week’s game with an upper body injury. He will be replaced by freshman Samquan Evans. Defensive end Tyler Lusk did not play last week (leg) and is not expected back this week. Freshman Detorrius Shipley will replace him. Defensive tackle Lamar Wallace did not start (leg). Redshirt freshman D.J. McCellion replaced Wallace.

Middle linebacker Rico Council, TSU’s leading tackler with 34, left last week’s game (leg) and did not return. He practiced Tuesday, but is questionable. Freshman Mike West came in for Council. Fullback Johntae Gleaves did not play (leg). He returned to practice wearing a brace on his knee but won’t start this week. Redshirt freshman Stephen Brooks, a converted linebacker, has replaced Gleaves.

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Xavier advances 4 to singles semifinals in NAIA regional

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Xavier University of Louisiana's tennis teams won 14 of 23 main-draw matches Friday at the USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional.

Reaching the quarterfinals were Loic Didavi, Amir Rahbar and Steffen Giles-Osborn in men's singles and Kourtney Howell in women's singles. Advancing to semifinals were the men's doubles teams of Didavi and Zach Taylor and Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson. Howell and Nicole DeLoach reached the women's doubles semifinals.

Didavi, seeded second, improved to 5-0 in singles for the fall semester with a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Shorter's Arturo Lifshitz.

Howell beat Shorter's Katie Wilmer 6-0, 6-0, then upset SCAD Atlanta's seventh-seeded Daniela Vukadinovic 2-6, 6-1, 2-0, retired.

Rahbar defeated Shorter's Colt Kelley 6-1, 6-0 and William Carey's fourth-seeded Thomas Rizk 5-7, 7-6, 7-5. Giles-Osborn beat Auburn Montgomery's Josh Reason 6-4, 7-5 and will play Rahbar in the quarterfinals Saturday.

Howell and DeLoach upset Brenau's fourth-seeded Hannah Thompson and Theresa Neumeyr 8-3.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Alabama State hopes to avenge 2010 loss as they host Alcorn

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Alabama State opens October at home when the Hornets host Alcorn State Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Cramton Bowl.

"I think these guys have put in the work this week," head coach Reggie Barlow said of his team's preparation. "Friday is really a jog-through day for us. Spirits are good and they have good energy. Guys seem to be pretty relaxed. We'll meet later tonight and get them ready for tomorrow."



The Hornets have started strong this season with a 3-1 record to begin the 2011 season. The September schedule had Alabama State on the road three times and ASU will play just its second home game Saturday night.

"We've been gone for a while, to only have one home game to start after traveling to Mississippi (twice) and Michigan," Barlow said. "It's going to be good for us to be back at home. We know our fans will come out, support us and give us good energy and hopefully our guys will feed off of that."

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2011 Road To The SIAC Championship Episode 3