A&M preps for spring game

There will be plenty of work to do when Alabama A&M reports for fall camp in August, but the Bulldogs will try to have some fun today as they wrap up spring practice with the annual Maroon and White Game at Louis Crews Stadium.

Kickoff is 2 p.m. and admission is free.

"Hopefully, we can go out and light it up," said quarterback Kevin Atkins. "We don't have all of our guys, but we've got some weapons and we're going to go out and try to have some fun." The Bulldogs are without three potential starters along the line and receiver Rashad Johnson is out after breaking his arm. Despite that, receivers Thomas Harris and Nate Baxter and running backs Ulysses Banks and Tony Green have been impressive. "Banks has had a good spring," running backs coach Errol Jones said. "He looks like he did two years ago when he was first-team All-SWAC."

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Alabama State dominates Alabama A&M

MONTGOMERY, AL - The Alabama State University Hornets did not get every rebound here Saturday at the ASU Acadome against in-state rival Alabama A&M. It just seemed like it. The first-place Hornets imposed their will upon the Bulldogs and rolled to an 87-43 Southwestern Athletic Conference win in front of 5,264 fans.

ASU, 14-8 overall and 11-1 in the league, outrebounded A&M 45-27 and 15-8 on the offensive glass. Coach Lewis Jackson's squad handed Vann Pettaway's Bulldogs their worst loss of the year - Auburn beat A&M by 42 in December - by shooting 60 percent from the floor in the opening half and 48.7 percent after intermission.

The Bulldogs' offensive output was the lowest of the season in a game between two SWAC teams and the fourth-lowest for any conference team all year. The Hornets made 40.9 percent from behind the 3-point arc while Alabama A&M made just 1-of-13 from long range and 31.3 percent from the floor overall. A&M (8-12, 5-7) appeared to be a step slow for most of the game, perhaps hampered by aftereffects of the flu, but Pettaway said he would not use that as excuse.

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Alabama A&M Bulldogs 2009 Football Schedule Released

Alabama A&M director of athletics Betty Austin and head football coach Anthony Jones announced Friday the release of the 2009 Alabama A&M football schedule. Along with a seven-game Southwestern Athletic Conference schedule, the lineup features three black college "Classics" and a the continuation of the in-state and regional rivalries with Tennessee State, Jacksonville State, and Tuskegee.

The Bulldogs will open the season by returning to the John Merritt Classic on Sept. 5 in Nashville at Tennessee State before coming home for the remainder of the month of September. A&M plays three straight home dates on Sept. 12, 19, and 26 against Hampton, Jacksonville State, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, respectively. The Sept. 26 date against Arkansas-Pine Bluff is both Homecoming and the SWAC opener.

The month of October will be spent on the road as the Bulldogs make a return trip to the Circle City Classic on Oct. 3 to again face Tuskegee in Indianapolis for the final non-conference game of the season. Back-to-back SWAC road games await the Dogs on Oct. 10 at Grambling and Oct. 17 at Alcorn State before a bye week on Oct. 24.

The month closes on Oct. 31 with the annual showdown with Alabama State at the Magic City Classic in Birmingham. The Bulldogs open play in November on the 7th at Prairie View A&M, and then return home for the final two games of the season on Nov. 14 vs. Jackson State and Nov. 21 vs. Mississippi Valley State. The SWAC Championship Game is set for Saturday, Dec. 12 in Birmingham.

Date Opponent Location Time/Result Details

9/5/2009 at Tennessee State Nashville, Tenn. - LP Field, John Merritt Classic
9/12/2009 HAMPTON Huntsville, Ala. - Louis Crews Stadium 6:00 PM
9/19/2009 JACKSONVILLE STATE Huntsville, Ala. - Louis Crews Stadium 6:00 PM Homecoming
9/26/2009 * ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF Huntsville, Ala. - Louis Crews Stadium 3:00 PM
10/3/2009 vs. Tuskegee Indianapolis, Ind. - Lucas Oil Stadium, Circle City Classic
10/10/2009 * at Grambling Grambling, La. - Eddie Robinson Stadium
10/17/2009 * at Alcorn State Alcorn State, Miss. - Jack Spinks Stadium
10/31/2009 * vs. Alabama State Birmingham, Ala. - Legion Field 2:30 PM, Magic City Classic
11/7/2009 * at Prairie View A&M Prairie View, Tex. - Blackshear Stadium
11/14/2009 * JACKSON STATE Huntsville, Ala. - Louis Crews Stadium 1:00 PM
11/21/2009 * MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE Huntsville, Ala. - Louis Crews Stadium 1:00 PM

SWAC Championship Game
12/12/2009 SWAC Championship Game Birmingham, Ala. - Legion Field

A&M Sports Info

A&M's Totten leaves for SWAC rival

Roger Totten, who in two years turned Alabama A&M's receiving corps into one of the best units in the SWAC, has accepted a position on coach Reggie Barlow's staff at Alabama State. Totten, who coached Barlow during his playing days at ASU, will serve as the Hornets' assistant head coach and receivers coach. "It was a tough decision," said Totten, who will start at ASU on Monday. "The ultimate decision came down to the fact that this was an opportunity to advance in my profession by being assistant head coach."

Totten had reservations after ASU was placed on NCAA probation for five years last month. "I talked to the administration and they assured me what happened was out of Coach Barlow's control and they're going to support him 100 percent," Totten said. "They're going to do everything they can to help him work through this situation and get Alabama State back on track." Totten, who has 25 years of coaching experience, is expected to play a key role in the Hornets' offense. "I've been an offensive coordinator so I'll be very instrumental in helping Coach Barlow on that side of the ball," Totten said.

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Nomadic life costly for Jackson State

Starting season with 14 road games results in 2-12 mark

In so many ways, it all adds up. Close to $500,000 for the athletic department. The experience of trips to places like Tempe, Ariz., Providence, R.I., and Champaign, Ill. Playing in front of 16,000-plus at Kansas' historic Phog Allen Fieldhouse. In other ways, it doesn't add up to much at all. Spending two straight months on the road. Winning twice in 14 tries.

Jackson State basketball coach Tevester Anderson rolled all of the figures around in his head while standing courtside at Alabama A&M's Elmore Gym on Monday morning and said something he's probably thought dozens of times. "It's something I wouldn't want to do again," Anderson said of his team's ambitious pre-SWAC schedule, which included more guarantees than a first-time politician.

"We've played some tough teams and it's helped us evaluate ourselves. It has been fun at times. At other times, it's taken a toll on us." For one day, at least, the hard knocks helped. The preseason SWAC favorites beat A&M 62-53 Monday night to even their conference record at 1-1 and move their overall record to 2-12. When he looked at the schedule, A&M coach Vann Pettaway wondered if Anderson, in his sixth year with the Tigers, had gotten sideways with the Jackson State administration.

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WKU to Host Alabama A&M on Sunday Afternoon

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Following a successful three-game, 19-day road swing, Western Kentucky University returns to the friendly confines of E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday afternoon for a non-conference match-up with Alabama A&M University at 4:00 PM. It is the first-ever meeting between the programs.

Television coverage will be provided by HSSN and carried locally on WKYU-PBS and regionally/nationally on Fox College Sports and DirecTV Channel 617.

GAME #10:
WKU vs. Alabama A&M
Sunday, December 21, 2008 • 4:00 PM CST
E.A. Diddle Arena (7,326) • Bowling Green, Ky.

►SERIES HISTORY: WKU (6-3) and Alabama A&M (2-4) have never met previously.

►COVERAGE: Television coverage will be provided by Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network in conjunction with Fox College Sports and DirecTV Channel 617. Radio coverage will be provided by the Big Red Radio Network. The broadcast team for both will be Randy Lee and Hal Schmitt providing the call. Live stats and live audio and video via the internet is available at www.WKUsports.com .

►SIZING UP THE BULLDOGS: Alabama A&M returns 10 of 12 letterwinners including all five starters from last year's squad that went 10-20 overall and finished 10th in the Southwest Athletic Conference with a 4-14 mark. Trant Simpson leads the team in scoring (17.0 ppg) and assists (4.5), one of three players averaging in double figures.

►TAKING ON THE SWAC: WKU is 8-0 (1.000) all-time against the 10 current members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Toppers last met a SWAC school 11 years ago when WKU downed Mississippi Valley State 75-66 at Diddle Arena on Dec. 18, 1997.

WKU vs. Alabama A&M Game Notes -- 12/21/08

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Valley ends miserable season with another lopsided loss

Should this be it for Totten?

A season filled with lopsided losses for Mississippi Valley State ended with one of its worst thrashings of the year. Valley's disappointing season ended with a a miserable 58-23 loss to Alabama A&M Saturday at Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena. Bulldog quarterback Kevin Atkins had a career outing as he carved up the Delta Devil defense for 357 yards and five touchdowns on 24-of-35 passing.

Valley ends the season at 3-8 overall and 1-6 in the Eastern Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference - leaving the Delta Devils in last place in the division for the second straight year. If this was it for beleaguered MVSU head coach Willie Totten, it's not the way he would've hoped to go out as the Delta Devils allowed the most points to a SWAC team in Totten's seven-year tenure.

Totten, who is 28-44 at the helm of his alma mater, has one year left on his contract that pays him $92,928 a year. But there has been wide speculation that he will be fired after his fifth losing season in seven years. After Saturday's game, a frustrated Totten refused to discuss whether this was his last game at Valley."We've just got to put this behind us and go out and recruit some better players," he said.

With an announced crowd of just 789 - which looked much slimmer than that - not many Delta Devil fans showed up. The ones who did saw a familiar sight: a pitiful showing by the defense. It was the fifth loss of the season by 34 or more points. This marked the third straight game missed by second-year defensive coordinator Dennis Winston. Totten refused to comment on Winston's status.

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Attendance: 789 at Rice -Totten Stadium, Itta Bena, MS (Capacity: 10,000).

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JSU Tigers in party mood after clinching SWAC East

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First it was head coach Rick Comegy. Next was defensive coordinator Darrin Hayes. They even snuck up on running backs coach Greg Ruffin. Three tubs of celebratory ice water on a brisk Mississippi evening didn't seem the least bit excessive. Jackson State clinched its second consecutive trip to the SWAC Championship Game with a 37-21 victory over Alabama A&M (4-7, 3-3) on Saturday.

"I was wondering why they wanted my headset so quick," Comegy said. "I had a slight inkling something was about to happen. But they fool you out of it. "It was 'exuberating,' but I hope I don't catch a cold from it." The scene that played out on the turf of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium was equal parts relief and I-told-you-so. A small group huddled on the sideline shouting, "We're goin' to the 'ship, we're goin' to the 'ship!"

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Attendance: 9,046 at Missisissippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, MS.

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Tuskegee makes a statement (over AAMU Bulldogs)

Photo Gallery: Circle City Classic Game

Golden Tigers win their 21st straight

His team had won 20 straight games before Saturday, but Tuskegee football coach Willie Slater insisted he doesn't think about the streak. He prefers that traditional one-game-at-a-time model. Of course, even Slater knew that playing against Alabama A&M in the 25th Circle City Classic -- the first at Lucas Oil Stadium -- would be a little different. "I guess I was concerned about this game," said Slater, talking not only about the atmosphere, but about playing against an in-state foe.

"The guys, they showed a lot of maturity today." And that showed in the score, as Tuskegee's streak moved to 21 -- and its record this year improved to 5-0 -- with the Golden Tigers' 34-24 win over the Bulldogs (2-4). To senior quarterback Jacary Atkinson, the win was impressive, and not just because it came on a big stage. The fact that NCAA Division II Tuskegee was able to knock off I-AA A&M showed how strong his team is.

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A&M, Tuskegee together again - in Indianapolis

Alabama A&M and Tuskegee are finally getting back together in football - only the field is three states away. A&M and Tuskegee play today in the 25th annual Circle City Classic in Indianapolis at the new Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Colts. It's the first time the teams have met since an A&M 54-0 victory in 1999. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. and the NFL Network will televise it. The Division II Tigers are riding a 20-game win streak, including a 4-0 mark this season, and are ranked 11th in the nation. The I-AA Bulldogs are 2-3 and enjoying a modest two-game winning streak.

"It's an exciting venue," A&M head coach Anthony Jones said. "We haven't played there since 2002, but every time I've been associated with it it's always been a great college football game.
"With two teams from the state of Alabama who have a rich history, it almost can't get any bigger than this." A&M leads the series that started in 1932, but ended soon after the Bulldogs left Division II, 23-18-4, according to the school. TU scores the series 22-19-3, still A&M's way.

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Alabama A&M University Marching Maroon and White Band

Tuskegee University Crimson Pipers Marching Band & Dancin' Divas

AAMU Maroon and White Marching Band & Dancin' Divas


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Alabama A&M falls to ULM 37-15

A&M falls to 0-3 but is proud of its showing at major-college La.-Monroe

MONROE, La. - Anthony Jones walked out of Malone Stadium Friday night with his head held high. So did his Alabama A&M football team. The Bulldogs gave Sun Belt Conference member Louisiana-Monroe all it could handle for almost three quarters before the Warhawks pulled away down the stretch. When it was over, ULM ran off to celebrate its 37-15 victory, but A&M walked away with a renewed sense of confidence.

"My team went through a lot to play this game," Jones said after his team fell to 0-3 for the first time since 1992. "We traveled through the night to get here and had to make an adjustment due to the weather. I'm exhausted and I can only imagine how my kids feel. "I am proud of the way my kids represented Alabama A&M University. They came and fought hard. At halftime, they (ULM) had reason to be concerned. To their credit, they came out in the second half and took advantage of some of the mistakes we made and put the game away."

PHOTO GALLERY: Alabama A&M v. ULM

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Attendance: 9,717 (32%) at Malone Stadium, Monroe, LA (Capacity: 30,427)

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Jacksonville State Gamecocks Roll To 45-18 Win Over AAMU Bulldogs in Home Opener

FINAL STATISTICS
PHOTO GALLERY

JACKSONVILLE, AL-- Jacksonville State scored 24 second quarter points to erase a 12-10 deficit en route to a 45-18 win over Alabama A&M in front 16,654 at Paul Snow Stadium on Saturday. The Gamecocks improved to 1-1 in front of the third largest crowd in Paul Snow Stadium history while Alabama A&M fell to 0-2 on the year.

“I think we came out here with a great purpose and tried to say that we’re a good football team that has some good ambitions,” JSU Head Coach Jack Crowe said. “I am proud of it. I still think we have a lot of work left to do, but I think we are good enough to have high expectations.”

Daniel Jackson got the scoring started on JSU’s opening drive when he took an option pitch and rambled 37-yardS to give JSU a 7-0 lead. The Bulldogs responded with the next three scores to cut the deficit into a Bulldog lead. Jeremy Licea made field goals of 26 and 38 yards and A&M took a 12-10 lead when Anthony Green scored on a one-yard run with 11:17 to go in the second quarter, just before JSU’s big second quarter.

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Attendance: 16,654 (111%) @ Paul Snow Stadium, Jacksonville, AL (Capacity: 15,000).

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OVC SportsTV (Cost:$5.95) Live Video
Radio: JSU Radio Network Listen Live Stats

JACKSONVILLE, AL - Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones learned two days before the Bulldogs' season opener against Tennessee State that his three Division I transfers - offensive tackle Michael Brown, inside linebacker Alfred Williams and defensive end Cornelius Robinson - wouldn't be able to play pending a ruling by the NCAA on their eligibility.

As a result, Jones had to resort to his backup plan, and it failed miserably as the Tigers claimed a 34-13 victory. Jones had hoped those players would be cleared in time for today's game at Jacksonville State. As of Friday, there had been no word. The Bulldogs and Gamecocks will battle at Paul Snow Stadium with both teams in search of their first victory of the season. Kickoff is 6 and the game can be heard on WJAB-FM 90.9.

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Towns reaches A&M milestone

Assistant begins 30th season on Bulldogs' staff

Brawnski Towns never envisioned himself as a college football coach. He had other plans for his life. Towns signed to play football at Alabama A&M in 1965 under legendary coach Louis Crews and majored in mechanical drafting and technology design. "I was going to work at Boeing or some other company and make a lot of money," Towns said, laughing. Towns never made it to Boeing. He never made a lot of money, either. He did, however, become a football coach.

"I never wanted to coach," said Towns, A&M's defensive coordinator. "Coach Crews asked me to help him and the rest is history." Towns will make history in his own right Saturday night when A&M hosts Tennessee State in the season opener for both teams. The game will mark Towns' 30th year as an assistant coach with the Bulldogs. Kickoff is 6 at Louis Crews Stadium.

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Transfer-heavy TSU aiming for turnaround

James Webster accepted the daunting task three years ago of trying to rebuild Tennessee State's football program. It has been a slow go - the Tigers are just 13-20 during his tenure - but he says this year's team is ready to turn the corner. "This should be our best team since I've been here," said Webster, whose team went 5-6 last season, losing four games by 16 points. "It's not the most experienced team, but as far as talent is concerned, it is the best team."

The Tigers did that with nine Division-I transfers. Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones, whose Bulldogs host the Tigers in Saturday's season opener, has taken notice. "We're expecting a very, very talented team to come in here," Jones said. "They've got good size and speed in all the right places. They're going to be a tough opponent. "Based on what I'm seeing, they're going to beat a lot of teams this year. Hopefully, we won't be one of them."

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AAMU hoping the acclaim will come

Thomas Harris took it all in stride. His teammates didn't. Despite leading the Southwestern Athletic Conference in receiving yards per game last season - and finishing fifth in receptions and eighth in all-purpose yards - Harris was left off the all-conference team.

Grambling's Clyde Edwards and Alcorn State's Nate Hughes were named to the first team, while Southern's Gerard Landry and Grambling's Reginald Jackson were second-teamers. Meanwhile, Harris caught 51 passes for 936 yards and seven touchdowns and led the Bulldogs within a game of their third straight Eastern Division title.

"It didn't really bother me," said Harris, who was named to the All-SWAC first-team preseason squad last month at the league's annual media day. "My teammates kept telling me I needed to be in there. I know I probably should have been in there ... at least second team.

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AAMU Jones has winning recipe

Coach builds A&M into one of nation's elite

Before Anthony Jones was named Alabama A&M's head football coach six years ago, Bulldog fans had gone through a number of coaches. Ron Cooper served for four seasons, leading A&M into the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs reached the SWAC championship game in 2000. Prior to that, Ken Pettiford led A&M to three straight winning seasons before being fired. Reggie Oliver, Ray Bonner, George Pugh, Ray Greene, Ed Wyche and others had also held the title. Greene had the job on two separate occasions.

"I've worked with a bunch of them," said A&M defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns, who has been an assistant since 1984 under Wyche. "Unfortunately, none of them have been able to stay around here too long." Except Jones. A former tight end on the Washington Redskins' 1987 Super Bowl team, Jones has not only built A&M's program into one of the best in the SWAC, but one of the best in black college football.

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A&M offense lights up night

Atkins tosses five touchdowns in Maroon victory

Held in check for much of training camp, Alabama A&M's offense finally exploded Saturday night during its third preseason scrimmage.Quarterback Kevin Atkins threw for 316 yards and five touchdowns as the Maroon clobbered the White 58-6 on Fan Day at Louis Crews Stadium. The Maroon team was made up of first- and second-teamers, while the White team consisted of primarily third-teamers.

"We turned it on tonight," said Atkins, who was 12-of-22 with a pair of interceptions. "We've got a lot of big-play ability. I'm feeling a lot more comfortable. Things are starting to slow down for me and I'm getting a complete grasp of the entire offense. "We made a couple of mistakes. I take the blame for both interceptions. I take the blame for both interceptions.

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AAMU New tight ends aim to catch on

Aside from quarterback Kelcy Luke, Alabama A&M's biggest losses on offense were tight ends three-time All-SWAC selection Charles Moody and John Smith. A&M's new tight ends offer few credentials and no numbers to speak of. Todd Leichtfuss and Jeremy Cunningham have caught one pass between them, but despite their lack of playing time and production, they're confident they can be just as effective.

I feel that we can handle this," said Leichtfuss, a 6-foot-2, 217-pound junior who will serve as the Bulldogs' long- snapper for the third straight year in addition to his tight end duties. "As long as we do our job and not worry about anybody else, everything will take care of itself." Cunningham was a little more adamant.

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Frustration lives at A&M

Team's scrimmage doesn't put smile on Jones' face

Alabama A&M's second preseason scrimmage Tuesday night looked a lot like the first one and that drew the ire of coach Anthony Jones. Last Saturday, A&M's defense got the best of the offense. Tuesday was much of the same. Offensively, the Bulldogs showed some big-play capability, but weren't nearly as consistent as Jones wants the unit to be. "There were a lot of encouraging things out here tonight, but there were some discouraging things, too," he said. "We've got to be more consistent."

Some things that encouraged Jones:

- The rushing and receiving of tailback Anthony Green.
- The play of wide receivers Rashad Johnson and Thomas Harris.
- Quarterback Kevin Atkins was terrific at times.
- The offensive line did a nice job run blocking and pass blocking.

Some things that discouraged Jones:

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