Milestone for BCU Wildcats coach

Alvin Wyatt became the winningest coach in Bethune-Cookman University history Saturday, when his Wildcats beat Hampton University 17-6 at Armstrong Stadium. Wyatt, 84-47 at B-CU, is in his 12th season as head coach, but he's been a coach of some kind at the school for 32 years.

He served as an assistant football coach for 20 years under five head coaches before becoming the head man after the 1996 season. Wyatt guided the Wildcats to the 2002 MEAC football title, and to a second consecutive Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) playoff appearance a year later.

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Rattlers a mystery without game film

Hornets' Lavan suspects ploy by new coach

DOVER -- There is a new football coach at Florida A&M, which almost certainly means a new look when the Rattlers visit Alumni Stadium Thursday night to take on Delaware State. But the Hornets don't know exactly what that new look is. Hornets coach Al Lavan revealed Tuesday that he had not received the Rattlers' game film from their season-opening 30-20 win Saturday over Alabama State.

College football has a long history of tapes getting lost in the mail or being unavailable because of broken equipment. But the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference requires teams to exchange film and has created a Web-based system to eliminate such gamesmanship, which Lavan reluctantly suspects in the case of FAMU. "There is a procedure to get the tape," Lavan said. "They know they haven't sent it."

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Sessoms' legacy clear at DSU

Recently resigned president pushed for bold changes in athletic department

DOVER, DE -- In his first months as president at Delaware State University, Allen L. Sessoms challenged the state's other major college to a regular-season football game, professed his desire to change his athletic department to Division I-A and envisioned new on-campus sports buildings.

Sessoms, who resigned earlier this month to take the same job at University of District of Columbia, made an early name by urging for grandiose changes in athletics. While his tenure will end Aug. 31 without having accomplished those missions, Sessoms' five years was a time of dynamic change in athletics.

DSU 2007 MEAC Football Champions visits with Delaware Governor, Ruth Ann Minner at Legislative Hall in late March 2008. (Seated (L-R): DSU Dir. of Athletics Rick Costello, Governor Ruth Ann Minner and DSU head coach Al Lavan surrounded by Hornets football team during visit to Governor's office).

"From the first day, he said to me, 'This is what we're going to do,' " said football coach Al Lavan, who was Sessoms' first major athletic hire in 2004. "That's his legacy." When Sessoms arrived at DSU from Queens College, he had no experience in athletics. He wasted little time, setting an agenda to build a first-class athletics program.

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Delaware State upgrades talent with late incoming transfers

Hornets added several play-making transfers on Wednesday.

The group is led by 6-foot-1, 235-pound inside linebacker Stephen Johnson from Miami. Johnson is from Los Angeles Pierce College where he was highly sought after by several big-name schools. Brian Whitmore, a 6-4, 250-pound junior defensive end from Chesapeake, Va., transferred two weeks ago from the University of Maryland. Nick Lochner, a punter from Alfred State, will compete for punting duties.

Coaches also expect to get time from long snapper Richard Bernard (Lackawanna College) and safety Ahmad Harris (West Hills, Calif., College). Garrett Watson, a redshirt freshman kicker/punter who initially signed with Virginia Tech, is in the process of transferring and could be available as early as Friday.

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DSU Hornets look for repeat title

DOVER -- The Delaware State University football team has shown steady improvement in each of coach Al Lavan's four seasons. And that is all Lavan asks of the Hornets. Coming off a year in which DSU won its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football title since 1991 and earned its first bid to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, Lavan is not expecting anything less as his team prepares for the 2008 season.

Delaware State University has a two-head football monster in defensive coordinator Ray Petty (former head coach at Howard University) and head coach Al Lavan. Coach Lavan has a 29-16 record in four years of resurrection of the DSU Hornets.

Delaware State's players will arrive on campus for preseason practice on Friday morning. Their MEAC title defense begins when the Hornets face Florida A&M at Alumni Stadium on Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Lavan knows it is in the heat of preseason camp that the foundation will be laid for his team's ultimate level of success. "Each year that we have been here, we've been able to improve our talent," Lavan said. "I think the players that are in our program have taken a step forward each year."

DSU Hornets name Livingston offensive line coach

Delaware State University today named Lawrence Livington offensive line coach for the football team. Livingston, 46, has coached at several Division I-A programs, including UTEP, Washington State, Texas A&M and Army. Livingston replaces Jeff Braxton, who left DSU to become head coach at Cheyney University.

“Coach Livingston stood out among the many fine candidates for the position because of his broad experience and track record of success.” head coach Al Lavan said in a press release. “He was highly recommended by some of the most respected names in college football. I am confident he is the right person to lead our offensive line to even greater success.”

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DSU Football Game Times Announced

Photo: DSU quarterback Vashon Winton, 6-2/195, Senior, Chicago, IL (Simeon HS).

Courtesy: DSU Athletic Media Relations

DOVER (June 12, 2008) – The Delaware State Athletic Department has announced the times for the 2008 football season. Comprised of 11 games, the 2008 schedule has the Hornets hosting six home games in defense of their 2007 MEAC Championship.

The Sept. 6 contest between the Hornets and the Florida A&M Rattlers will be start at 7:30 p.m. to kickoff the 2008 campaign. Two weeks later, DSU will host the Central Connecticut Blue Devils on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m.

A 1:00 p.m. kickoff is scheduled for the remainder of DSU’s slate – Hampton (Oct. 4), North Carolina A&T - Homecoming (Oct. 18), South Carolina State (Nov. 1) and Winston-Salem State (Nov. 8).

Tickets for the 2008 DSU football season can be purchased by calling (302) 857-7497 or toll free at (866) 378-2845. Season ticket packages are available for purchase with Early Hornet discounts for any packages purchased before July 25. Season tickets include parking, reserved seating for all six home games, a 2008 DSU Football media Guide and first priority for post-season ticket purchases. Single-game tickets go on sale on August 11. Tickets can also be purchased by logging on to the team’s official website http://www.dsuhornets.com/

2008 MEAC Track and Field Slide Show

The following slide show was created and produced by Mark's Digital Sports Photography and can be viewed in plasma screen clarity with digital surround-sound at: http://suttonm.wordpress.com, Mark's Digital Photography Blog.

Please bookmark Mark's Digital Photography Blog for the very best in MEAC sports action photography. Mark's Digital Photography covers all sporting events for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and he is a great friend of MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street Blog. Contact Mark Sutton for all your photography needs @ http://www.msuttonphoto.com/main.html



2007 MEAC Football


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Hall of fame on resume for four FAMU football coaches

Photo: FAMU Coach Tim Edwards (Photo courtesy - Mark's Digital Sports Photography).

Tim Edwards one day may regard his term as a coach at Florida A&M in much the same way his boss Joe Taylor remembers the years he spent in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

While Taylor credits the oldest historically black conference for opportunities that led to his future success, coaching at FAMU is Edwards’ chance to be part of an era that could further enhance their legacies as coaches.

“To come here and be a part of the foundation...

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Update: MEAC/SWAC - NFL Free Agent Signings

Photo: Morgan State University All-American RB, Chad Simpson signs a free agent contract with the Colts.

The 2008 NFL Draft is not an exact science; the reason for all the free agency signings after the big two day draft party. Like always, the majority of the MEAC and SWAC players that are provided an opportunity to make the league are picked up on the cheap at the day after signing party. This year is no different than prior years, with the exception that a few of these players will make the final rosters.

The 2008 free agent signings that will be reporting to mini-camps are:

Jacksonville Jaguars
Clyde Edwards, WR; Grambling State University
Brian Witherspoon, CB, Stillman College**

Arizona Cardinals
Thaddeus Coleman, T, Mississippi Valley State University
Jason Banks, DT, Grambling State University

Seattle Seahawks
DeMichael Dizer, CB, Grambling State University

Dallas Cowboys
Marcus Dixon, DE, Hampton University

Indianapolis Colts
Curtis Johnson, DE, Clark-Atlanta University**
Chad Simpson, RB/KR, Morgan State University

Cleveland Browns
James Lee, OT, South Carolina State University
DeShawn Baker, RB, South Carolina State University

Detroit Lions
Rudy Hardie, DE, Howard University
Bobbie Williams, DB, Bethune Cookman University
Jeremy Breath, OL, Delaware State University

Philadelphia Eagles
Shaheer McBride, WR, Delaware State University

Buffalo Bills
Jason Jones, WR, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff

St. Louis Rams
Vernon Bryant, DT, Hampton University

Washington Redskins
Bryan Wilson, LB, Morgan State University

Tennessee Titans
Eddie Williams, WR, Lane College**

San Diego Chargers
Lamar Divens, DT, Tennessee State University

New York Giants
Kelly Rouse, DE, Delaware State University

Cincinnati Bengals
Russell Reeves, LB, Delaware State University

New Orleans Saints
Cleve McCoy, WR, South Carolina State University
(Has contract offer from Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a QB, his college position. CFL Team approved tryout with Saints).

2008 NFL - HBCU Draft Picks

Arizona Cardinals
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State University
1st Round, #16

Miami Dolphins
Kendall Langford, DE, Hampton University
3rd Round, #66

Tennessee Titans
William Hayes, DE, Winston Salem State University
4th Round, #103

Minnesota Vikings
Jaymar Johnson, WR/KR, Jackson State University
6th Round, #193

Cleveland Browns
Alex Hall, DE/OLB, Saint Augustine's College*
7th Round, #231

* CIAA
**SIAC

DSU players to attend NFL minicamps

DOVER, Delaware -- Kelly Rouse, meet Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora. And welcome to the NFL. Rouse, a former Delaware State defensive end, has an imposing task ahead -- making an impression on the Super Bowl champion New York Giants at next week's minicamp.

"Anytime you're going to camp, it's tough," Rouse said, "but I'm going to a Super Bowl team where there's a Pro Bowler [Umenyiora] and future Hall of Famer [Strahan] ahead of you. I just have to stay humble and get it done."

Rouse was among three former DSU players to be invited Tuesday to NFL minicamps. Linebacker Russell Reeves is heading to the Cincinnati Bengals and offensive lineman Jeremy Breath will get a shot with the Detroit Lions. Wide receiver Shaheer McBride signed a free-agent contract Monday with the Eagles and will report to minicamp Friday.

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Eagles sign former DSU star McBride

DOVER -- Count former Delaware State wide receiver Shaheer McBride as one of the few college football players who didn't pay much attention to last weekend's NFL draft. "I kind of thought all along I wouldn't get drafted," he said. "You know, you get a sense you won't be drafted. But all I can ask for is a tryout. I'm grateful."

The 2004 rookie of the year in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, McBride set school records last season when he finished with 201 career catches and 3,007 receiving yards. He also tied John Taylor's record of 33 career touchdown catches. McBride was the MEAC's preseason offensive player of the year in 2007 and a two-time league first-team selection.

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SCSU football to scrimmage this morning

On the eve of his team's second scrimmage of the spring, South Carolina State head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough had a little to smile about Friday night. Of course, he had a little to frown about to. "It was a pretty good day by the defense," Pough said. But, a good day for the defense often means a bad day for the offense.

"The offense was a little bit ugly," he said with a sigh.

At least there was a reason for that. The Bulldogs were without lineman Nygel Pearson who was busy handing out report cards at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. The big, fifth-year senior, is practicing teaching at the school. While the Bulldogs practiced he met parents. So, South Carolina State was short a lineman before Johnny Culbreath took a knee to the thigh that ended his practice.

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South Carolina State University Marching 101 Band @ Nov. 2007 LowCountry Classic, Charleston, S.C.

Delaware State's Moore hitting stride

Photo: Laronne Moore is a former QB at Prince George's County (MD) Northwestern H.S., that has 4.29 speed in the 40 yard dash. As a Hornet WR, the 6-0/180 junior will be a dangerous weapon in the DSU offense.

Wide receiver learning fast after just one season at new position

DOVER -- Nothing Laronne Moore does suggests rookie. At 6-foot tall, Moore has that sinewy, streamlined leanness of a veteran wide receiver. He can reach out to pull in a pass even the best sometimes miss.

But the Delaware State junior is quick to remind people that last season was his first year playing wide receiver. Now, Moore is the Hornets' heir apparent.

"This is actually my first spring football," Moore said Saturday at Alumni Stadium. "I'm ready to take over. I hope I can do all they expect me to be."

DSU, which finished 10-2 last season and won its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title since 1991, will need Moore to reinvigorate its passing game. DSU ranked seventh out of the nine MEAC teams with just 134 receiving yards per game.

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