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TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- In less than a week, Florida A&M will take the field at Bragg Memorial Stadium to kick off the college football season.
The Rattlers will take on SWAC opponent Texas Southern at noon on Saturday in a game broadcast on ESPNU. It’s the first college football game of the year, as well as the first season opener at home for FAMU since 2011.
For redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Stanley, it’s a chance for the Rattlers to show how far they’ve come.
“We’re really excited,” Stanley said. “After this three-week camp, finally getting to go against a different-color jersey, we’re fired up.”
Stanley hasn’t officially been named the team’s starter yet – head coach Alex Wood said an announcement on that is likely to come Monday – but he spent most of fall camp working with the first-team offense.
He did share time with senior quarterback Vincent Jefferies. Stanley took the majority of the snaps in Sunday’s scrimmage, which was played against a scout team meant to simulate Texas Southern.
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama State University women's basketball team released the schedule for the upcoming season, featuring 13 home games and a road trip to face the defending national champions.
"The non-conference schedule is extremely difficult as usual," Alabama State head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson said. "We kick it off with the defending national champions, and anytime you play a team coming off a national championship it is going to be tough."
Alabama State opens the season on the road against the defending national champion, South Carolina, November 10 – one of two games against an SEC foe this season for the Lady Hornets. After the opener, the Lady Hornets return home to face Savannah State (November 13) and another NCAA participant, Troy on November 16.
After the short home portion of the schedule, the Lady Hornets hit the road for their next three games beginning with Samford on November 19 and a pair of games at the Southern Miss Tournament (November 24-25). They close out the month of the November at home against South Alabama on November 28.
Alabama State opens the month of December with three consecutive road games, beginning with eight-time national champion and five-time national runner-up Tennessee (December 3). They then travel to the University of Miami (Fla.) for a match-up December 15, before playing at UAB (December 19). The Lady Hornets close out the non-conference schedule with a home game against Mobile (December 21).
"We also play at Tennessee," Jackson said. "We played them in the NCAA Tournament a few years ago, and they are a powerhouse. And then you add in a team like Miami and it makes it a major schedule. We also added some in-state schools to this year's schedule, which is a great opportunity to see where we match up with them.
"We have Troy and South Alabama on the schedule, and travel to UAB and Samford. If we can find a way to split, win a couple of those in-state school games, it would be good for our program. Of course you want to win all of them, and we are challenging our girls in the non-conference portion of the schedule. And then you open conference play on the road at Jackson State and Grambling State – a team that had a chance to win the conference last year. We have a chance to get off to a great start in conference play."
Following the Christmas break, Alabama State opens conference play against Jackson State (January 1) and Grambling State (January 3). They play three consecutive games at home against Mississippi Valley State (January 6), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (January 8) and Alabama A&M (January 13). The month of January ends with a pair of road games against Southern (January 20) and Alcorn State (January 22), and a pair of home games against Prairie View A&M (January 24) and Texas Southern (January 29).
The month of February is highlighted by three home games, in between a pair of road trips. The Lady Hornets travel to Mississippi Valley State (February 3) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (February 5), before playing three consecutive home games beginning with Alabama A&M (February 10). The month ends with a pair of home games against Southern (February 17) and Alcorn State (February 19); followed by road games at Prairie View A&M (February 24) and Texas Southern (February 26). The regular season ends with home games against Jackson State (March 1) and Grambling State (March 3).
Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State women's basketball, please follow the Lady Hornets on social media at @BamaStateWBB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook) and @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State Athletics at BamaStateSports.com.
ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- With just two weeks remaining before the season opener against Tuskegee, the Alabama State University football team closed out the week with a 100-plus play closed scrimmage Saturday night.
The Hornets, practicing under the lights of ASU Stadium will begin game preparation next week for Tuskegee. The Hornets had some bright spots on both sides of the ball Saturday, but according to head coach Brian Jenkins, there is still a lot of work to be done before they line up to play on September 2.
"There were some bright spots but there was too much negative to get ready to play a game right now," Jenkins said. "We have to go back to the drawing board and see what we are doing as a coaching staff, and make sure we are ready to play.
"I will say this, we showed some bright spots but that is expected. The things that we didn't do well, those are the things I am concerned about. As always, we are going to look at it, get it corrected and come back tomorrow."
Alabama State and Tuskegee will kickoff at 7 pm inside ASU Stadium in two weeks, and tickets are still available by calling (334) 229-4551 or (334) 229-8479. They are also available online through BamaStateSports.com.
Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State football, please follow the Hornets on social media at @BamaStateFB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook) and @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State Athletics at BamaStateSports.com.
ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State football team closed out camp with its final scrimmage on Saturday afternoon. The offense started fast, moving across midfield on all three drives of the live portion of the scrimmage. The defense stood tall and forced a punt on the first series, while the offense converted on the second drive as Treon Harris hit Mahlon Medley on a 15 yard touchdown pass. A Latrelle Lee sack and a tackle for loss by Justin Culpepper put a stop to the final drive.
The Tigers focused the rest of the scrimmage on situational plays. Harris was up first in the third down session with eight chances from various distances and was followed by Michael Hughes with seven plays. PHOTO GALLERY SCRIMMAGE #3
Total Plays: 80
Sessions: 6
Scrimmage: 33 (Plays)
3rd Down: 15 (Harris - 8, Hughes - 7)
Coming Out (From the 3): 6 (Harris - 3, Hughes - 3)
4-Minute Drill: 7 (Harris - 7)
2-Minute Drill: 13 (Hughes - 14)
Overtime: 6 (Wells - 3, Harris - 3)
Location: Hale Stadium
Weather: Sunny, 85
The Big Blue continued with the two quarterbacks getting a chance to move the unit from the shadows of the goal posts, starting from the three yard line. Harris then ran two drives of a four minute drill with the lead before Hughes ran a two-minute drill while trailing.
The scrimmage closed with two overtime possessions. Kullen Wells ran the first series which ended in a 34 yard field goal by Coby Weiss. Harris engineered the second drive, which missed scoring as Mitchell Boudreaux’s field goal attempt went off the right upright. TOTALS
Rushing: 26 carries for 68 yards
Passing: 25-of-41 for 219 yards
Touchdown: One (Receiving)
Latrelle Lee and Marvin Maddox each recorded a sack of Michael Hughes, while Chris Collins sacked Treon Harris
SCRIMMAGE
Treon Harris hit Mahlon Medley and Patrick Smith on 17 yard completions during the first drive
Tyler Black opened the second drive with two carries for 18 yards
Harris teamed with Steven Newbold on back-to-back plays for 25 yards
Andrew Knox carried twice for 17 yards moving the Tigers to the five yard line
Harris hit Medley for the 15 yard touchdown a play after a holding moved the offense back 10 yards
Michael Hughes kept the third drive alive running for 20 yards on a third and nine TWO MINUTE DRILL
Hughes rushed for 20 yards and went 6-of-8 for 37 yards connecting with four different receivers (Lawrence Segree II 2-13, Mazio Rhodes 2-12, Chris Rowland 1-7, Ronnie Killings 1-6)
Drive ran for 12 plays
Coby Weiss missed a 51 yard field goal attempt wide left
OFFENSE
Redshirt junior Treon Harris was 12-of-23 for 122 yards and one touchdown
Redshirt sophomore Michael Hughes was 12-of-17 for 92 yards
Redshirt freshman Kullen Wells finished 1-of-1 for five yards
Redshirt sophomore Tyler Black rushed for 20 yards on three carries
Sophomore Steven Newbold caught seven passes for 89 yards
Patrick Smith had three receptions for 30 yards
Mahlon Medley caught two balls for 32 yards and a touchdown
Mazio Rhodes three catches for 27 yards
SPECIAL TEAMS
The place kickers converted 1-of-3 Field Goals
Coby Weiss 1-for-2 (Made 34, Missed 51); Mitchell Boufreaux 0-for-1 (Missed 40)
Coby Weiss was 1-for-1 on Extra Points
Austin Rowley punted four times UPCOMING EVENTS
Game Prep scrimmage will take place on Thur., August 24
The Senior Kickoff Luncheon is set for Fri., August 25
Fan Day will be held on Sat., August 26
Tennessee State at Georgia State on Thur., August 31
QUOTES Defensive Coordinator Garry Fisher
- On the positives for the defense on the day
“I thought we flowed around really well. The guys are starting to gel together and learn how to play together as 11. We did a good job getting to the ball, getting after it and just playing team defense.”
- On the progression of the defense during camp
“It’s been a long camp, but it’s given us a lot of time to have a lot of walk throughs and help the guys understand the details of the defense. We’ve really come a long way from the spring. Every day, the guys have been learning something and moving forward as far as learning the progression of the defense, so it’s been a good camp.” Offensive Coordinator Jeff Parker
- On what he liked from the offense today
“I thought the guys competed at a high level. I was very pleased with the way they went out and competed. It’s little warm. We had a three-man rotation at the tackle and a few guys who are still out with injury, but I thought they sucked it up and competed hard on the offensive line. It was our focus to try to run the ball a little bit and count on those guys, and I think they did a heck of a job.”
- On how far the offense has come
“I think they’ve done a great job. We had a transition at the quarterback position and we have a couple of new offensive linemen, so we started from the ground up. We wanted to make sure everyone knew the calls and what we’re trying to get accomplished on offense. I think everyone is caught up, so we’re about to put a few more things in – a little more than expected.”
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State Director of Athletics Teresa Phillips announced on Thursday the hiring of Andrea Browning as the Head Coach of TSU’s softball team.
Browning, who served as an assistant coach for the Tigers during the 2017 season, will be the sixth head coach in program history.
Browning, who earned the job following a national search, will be embarking on her first Division I head coaching experience.
A native of nearby Franklin, Tenn., Browning joined the Tennessee State coaching staff as an assistant coach in the fall of 2016, working closely with TSU’s pitchers.
Prior to her arrival in Nashville, Browning served as a volunteer assistant at the University of North Florida during the 2016 season. Browning aided the Ospreys’ pitching staff, as well as coordinating community service projects and assisted with the organization and implementation of camps. Prior to her work at UNF, Browning founded and served as the head coach of the Sudden Impact organization, while working as a private homeschool educator.
Following her collegiate playing career at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn., Browning began her coaching Ohio Valley Conference school Austin Peay, where she spent three seasons. Browning continued her coaching career as an assistant at Belmont University in 2007.
Browning then moved to Florida where she continued to gain coaching experience at Fort Walton Beach High School, spending four seasons from 2007-11.
Browning graduated from Lambuth University in 2000 with a degree in Physical Education and Health. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in Health and Human Performance – Wellness in Sports Leadership from Austin Peay in 2016.
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State volleyball team finished their last day of camp on Saturday afternoon with a scrimmage against alumni Tiger volleyball players.
The 2017 team swept the alumni with a 3-0 run (25-21, 25-18, 25-23), and continued the streak of beating the alumni during the preseason match.
The alumni team consisted of Naomi Wells, Tennessee State’s all-time leader in kills (1,275) and attacks (3,883), Christian Lowe, ranked top 10 in kills, attacks, block assists, total blocks and hitting percentage, Catherine Armwood, all-time leader in digs (1,691), Assistant Coach Vicmari Prospero, the all-time leader in hitting percentage (.266) and letter winners Danielle Howell and Christina Raiford.
“We started off playing our alumni match, which we do every year. We had a great start, but we had an injury in the middle which slowed us down, but we picked it up and were able to finish it in three.”
Junior Middle Blocker, Rachel Henderson
-On the benefits of scrimmaging alumni
“They are very smart. They know what to do because they’ve been playing for a long time, and they actually played together. So, we have to be smarter and we had to communicate more.”
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Look no further than the final game of the 2016 season to identify what Southern defensive coordinator Trei Oliver is seeking to improve most in Year 2.
Grambling rolled up a whopping 571 yards against the Jaguars in the Bayou Classic, but that total wasn’t necessarily what bothered Oliver. It was how the Tigers achieved it.
Of those 571 yards, 365 came on 12 "explosive" plays — rushes of 10 or more yards or passes of 20 or more yards. Five of Grambling’s six touchdowns from scrimmage came on these types of plays.
Grambling exposed a weakness in the Southern defense that the Jaguars had been able to cover up all season by forcing a Football Championship Subdivision-best 32 turnovers. But make no mistake, that weakness was there all season, especially in the run game.
Southern allowed 2,143 rushing yards last season, and nearly 75 percent of those yards (1,606) came on 79 "explosive" runs. More than 20 percent of the running plays by Southern opponents went for 10 or more yards.
The Jaguars were a bit better at containing big plays in the passing game, allowing just 28 plays of 20 or more yards, a little more than 2.5 per game.
