Hampton Pirates 31, North Carolina Central 24

Hampton U. rallies late on Coker's 29-yard run

Hampton, VA--LaMarcus Coker's touchdown run technically measured 29 yards. Throw in the long celebration run on Hampton University's newly surfaced track and it was closer to 100 — at a clip few other than Usain Bolt could manage. Coker's sprint to the end zone on a draw with 1 minute, 28 seconds to play in the game gave the Pirates a come-from-behind 31-24 win over North Carolina Central. His run afterward was a combination of celebration for new head coach Donovan Rose, and an expression of relief for a Hampton team that seemed beaten only 90 seconds earlier.

"At that point I was having a horrible game, but I told my teammates, 'I'll get it this time,' " said Coker, who ran for only 59 yards. "After I scored, I just got emotional and didn't know what to do, so I just ran." Pirates, quarterback David Legree, who started because school record-setting quarterback Herbert Bynes was hobbled by a sprained ankle, added, "That's Coker for you, man. Coker will give you that five yards a pop, five yards a pop, and then spring the big play on you." The Pirates (1-0) needed the big play to secure the non-conference win. The Eagles disintegration moments earlier put them in position to get it.

Happy return for HU QB

Hampton University quarterback David Legree had not played in a football game since 2006, as a senior at South Shore High School in New York. He said it felt more like 20 years."And I'm only 19," he joked.Legree, a transfer from Syracuse University, handled himself admirably in a fill-in role. He completed 10-of-18 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown in the Pirates' 31-24 win over N.C. Central. Most important, he displayed poise after a rough start. On the first series of the game, he threw an interception, which the Eagles converted into a touchdown.

Often under heavy pressure, Legree was sacked on the Pirates' next two possessions, which ended in punts. But, after Julio Sanchez forced a fumble by Eagles quarterback Michael Johnson, Legree put his new scrambling experience to work. Hounded yet again by an Eagles defender, Legree scrambled to the right. His run prompted receiver Damon McDaniel's defender to break away from him in case Legree ran with the ball. Legree braked and threw to a wide-open McDaniel. The 32-yard touchdown pass tied the score at 7 and settled Legree.

QB coach Pep Hamilton knows how to deal with talent

As the point guard on the same AAU team as college stars Jeff Capel and Jeff McInnis, Pep Hamilton learned to funnel his basketball knowledge to highly skilled players. Now, 15-plus years later, Hamilton finds himself in a similar situation as the Chicago Bears' quarterbacks coach, working with Pro Bowler Jay Cutler. Inheriting such a talented player should make Hamilton's job a lot easier, considering the unsteady quarterback situation from a year ago.

3rd. year Chicago Bears QB Coach Pep Hamilton is a former Hampton University Top Student and star quarterback.

"I take pride in the fact it's my job to try and help guys realize their full potential," Hamilton said. "We didn't achieve our ultimate goal as a team [last season], so there's no way I can say that any us did our job to the level we expected."

Hamilton, who turns 35 on Sept. 19, is in his third season with the Bears and sixth in the NFL. The Charlotte native never played in the league, opting to jump into coaching after his last season as quarterback at Hampton University. Yet his lack of pro playing experience has not impeded his progress up the coaching ranks. Cutler is the third first-round quarterback under Hamilton's tutelage, joining former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith of 49ers and ex-Bear Rex Grossman. No doubt Cutler is the most talented of the three.

Hampton bowler returns to No. 1

Becca Glazier of Sparetimes headed the girls all-star team with a 185 average. Glazier, the Hampton Women's Bowling Association Female Bowler of the Year for 2009, is a repeat selection. As a freshman at Hampton University, she hopes to pursue a career in forensic science and will compete for the school's bowling team this season.

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