NFL roommates reunite in game for SWAC crown

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - More former Washington Redskins might turn their attention on Birmingham, Ala., this weekend than they have in some time.

Anthony Jones and Doug Williams, teammates for the Super Bowl XXII champions, will lead Alabama A&M and Grambling, respectively, into Saturday's SWAC title game.

The meeting will be the coaches' first at Legion Field since Williams' Tigers' 31-19 defeat of Jones in his first season with the Bulldogs. GSU also defeated Alabama A&M, 45-6, for the 2005 crown during the break between Williams' coaching tenures.

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SWAC championship game: AAMU Bulldogs aim to seize the day against GSU Tigers

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Willie Fuller, one of eight seniors on Alabama A&M's football team, delivered the message Saturday afternoon. During a team meeting after practice, Fuller and the rest of A&M's seniors told their teammates don't let the opportunity ahead pass them by.

The opportunity is a chance to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. 

A&M (8-3) will take on Grambling (7-4) in the title game Saturday at Birmingham's Legion Field. Kickoff is noon, and the game will be televised on ESPNU and can be heard on 90.9 FM.

"We reminded everybody that this is a great opportunity and not to take it for granted," said Fuller, A&M's leading tackler with 75. "We're in the championship game and we need to take advantage of this opportunity."

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GSU, Alabama State still very similar

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- A college football team from Louisiana will meet a college football team from Alabama for the second time this season with a championship on the line.

The difference is this game will be played in Alabama and is for the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship instead of the national crown.

"I don't know that I can speak to that one (the BCS National Championship Game between LSU and Alabama)," said Grambling coach Doug Williams, whose team faces Alabama A&M on Saturday at noon.  "The rematch here is a championship game and it's the best place for it to be, like the other schools from Louisiana and Alabama. I'd rather take this one than a regular-season matchup."

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Alabama A&M football: A&M, Jones talking about contract extension

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M athletics director Betty Austin and football coach Anthony Jones spent some time together during the offseason.

Austin outlined for Jones a few things she would like for him to accomplish this season. Most of all, she wanted Jones to get the Bulldogs back among the Southwestern Conference elite. Mission accomplished.

A&M, despite being picked to finish fourth in the Eastern Division preseason poll, won the Eastern Division title for the fifth time in Jones' 10 seasons and will play Grambling in the SWAC championship game Saturday at Birmingham's Legion Field. Kickoff is noon and the game will be televised on ESPNU.

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Prairie View's path to SWAC title game clear

Prairie View, Texas -- Prairie View A&M could advance to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game under two scenarios. But the Panthers care mostly about the main one - beating Alabama A&M.

Prairie View (5-5, 5-3 SWAC) is in control of its destiny as it prepares to face Alabama A&M in the teams' regular-season finale Saturday at Blackshear Stadium in Prairie View. The Panthers are tied with Grambling State (6-4, 5-3) for first place in the Western Division but hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with their 31-23 win in the teams' Oct. 1 meeting.

Alabama A&M (7-3, 6-2) also needs a win to clinch the Eastern Division and advance to the title game. A loss would end the Bulldogs' championship hopes.

"The bottom line is that both teams are playing for their postseason lives right now," Prairie View coach Heishma Northern said. "As a football player and a coach, you want to play for all the marbles."



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Jackson State snaps Alabama A&M win streak 34-6

HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — Casey Therriault threw for 428 yards and four straight touchdowns as Jackson State defeated Alabama A&M 34-6 on Saturday, snapping the Bulldogs' seven-game winning streak.

The Tigers (8-2, 6-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) trailed 6-0 after Chance Wilson kicked field goals of 49 and 45 yards. Then Therriault threw a 7-yard TD pass to Renty Rollins with 2:33 left in the first quarter, followed by a 30-yarder to E.J. Drewery just 42 seconds into the second. He hit Rico Richardson with a 67-yarder to take a 21-6 lead into halftime.

Therriault, who was 23 of 41 with no interceptions, threw his final scoring pass, a 15-yarder to Rollins, with 8:59 left in the third quarter.

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Former A&M aide Wilson concocts offensive scheme to lead Jackson State over Bulldogs

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- On an office wall in the Alabama A&M football building is a fading photo, 17 years old now, with mug shots of the Bulldogs' coaching staff. At the far right are photos of two dark-headed, smiling young men.

As dusk crept over Louis Crews Stadium Saturday, after Alabama A&M's 34-6 loss to Jackson State, the same men, one now with hair of cotton, the other with hair long since departed, greeted each other in a hug on the 30-yard line.

In 1994-95, Brawnski Towns and Earnest Wilson were Alabama A&M assistant coaches. On Saturday -- indeed for an entire week's worth of plotting -- they were on opposite sides of a chessboard.

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Alabama A&M football: Bulldogs can still reach SWAC championship game despite blowout loss

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M's hopes of winning the Eastern Division title and advancing to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game appeared all but over late Saturday afternoon at Louis Crews Stadium.

While the Bulldogs were getting blown out 34-6 by Jackson State, Alabama State was rallying from a 12-point deficit against Southern. An A&M loss and an Alabama State win would give the Hornets the Eastern Division title.

A&M coach Anthony Jones was aware that Alabama State had the lead as he prepared to walk across the field to shake hands with Jackson State coach Rick Comegy. But, before Jones took off his headsets, he had a conversation with offensive coordinator Cedric Pearl.

"His words were we're not done," Jones said. "This is a special team and we still have special things ahead of us."



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Alabama A&M women's basketball preview: Tobar gets a little help

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - One of the best players in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Alabama A&M guard Whiquitta Tobar was a first-team All-SWAC selection last season after averaging a league-high 18.1 points per game.

 If the Bulldogs are going to be successful this season, coach Altherias Warmley said Tobar has to have a better supporting cast. The league's preseason Player of the Year got very little help from her teammates a year ago, but Warmley believes that will change after watching her team the last month.

"We have eight solid players and we signed one of the best recruiting classes since I've been here," said Warmley, who begins her 10th season Friday when A&M visits Vanderbilt. "Whiquitta was all of our offensive production last year, but we've got some other players that are ready to step up."

Senior Nefayia Watkins, juniors Shundray Davis and Danielle Oneal and sophomore Brittney Stickland will be counted on to take some pressure off of Tobar in the backcourt.

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Alabama A&M football: Bulldogs ascend to No. 1 ranking in polls

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M is the No. 1 ranked black college football team in the country for the first time in school history.

The Bulldogs are No. 1 in the Heritage Sports Radio Network and the Boxtorow polls and are second in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network poll following their 28-14 win over Alcorn State. The SBN poll determines the black college national champion. A&M moved up one spot in all three polls.

"When I got this job, my goal was to see Alabama A&M sitting on top of the polls," A&M coach Anthony Jones said. "When we won the (SWAC) championship, we were ranked No. 3. Now, for us to be No. 1 in some polls, that's another accomplishment for this football team and I'm honored to be a part of that."

A&M is also ranked No. 1 in The Heritage Group poll and is No. 3 in the Urban Sports News poll. "Anytime you can say you were No. 1, it helps," Jones said. "We go after quality kids. Those kids want to be associated with winners ... winners on the field and winners in the classroom. Whenever you can put that out there, it's a feather in your cap."




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Alabama A&M football: Bulldogs move up in all three major polls

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M moved up in all three of the major black college polls Monday following its 20-19 victory over Alabama State in the Magic City Classic.

The Bulldogs moved up one spot to second in both the Heritage Sports Radio Network and the Boxtorow polls and three spots to third in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network Poll. Alabama State, which had been No. 1 in all three polls, fell to fourth in the HSRN and Boxtorow polls and sixth in the SBN poll.



"That's great," A&M coach Anthony Jones said Monday night during his weekly radio show. "We didn't know if they would make us first or second after we beat Alabama State. We can't control that. We knew if we beat them they wouldn't be No. 1 and that would give us a shot to win the (Southwestern Athletic Conference) Eastern Division title. All we've done is keep our playoff hopes alive."

The Bulldogs can win the Eastern Division title and advance to the SWAC championship with three more wins. That number would decrease if Alabama State lost one or both of its last two games.
A&M (6-2, 5-1) visits Alcorn State (2-5, 1-5) Saturday in Lorman, Miss. Kickoff is 2 p.m.

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Alabama A&M trips up Alabama State in classic Classic

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Alabama State entered today's 70th annual Magic City Classic as the No. 1 team in black college football. When the new polls come out Monday, Alabama A&M may find itself there. The Bulldogs, behind the play of running back Kaderius Lacey, an inspired defense and a couple of huge special teams plays, knocked off the Hornets 20-19 before an announced crowd of 66,473 at Legion Field.

"I'm very proud of my football team," said A&M coach Anthony Jones, who ran his record to 8-2 against Alabama State. "We had to come up with a terrific effort to beat the No. 1 team in black college football and we did that. "We punished them running the football and jumped out on top. Our defense took over after that, but they made some plays, but we were able to hang on for the victory."

A&M, which has won six straight games after starting 0-2, improved to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division. Alabama State fell to 6-2 and 6-1. It was the Hornets' first loss since a 14-7 setback at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 10.

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Lacey leads the way for A&M in narrow Classic victory

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The question isn't if Kaderius Lacey is hurting today. The question is where isn't Kaderius Lacey hurting today. However, as the lights surrounding Legion Field dimmed and the party outside the venerable stadium shifted into high gear early this evening, the Alabama A&M junior running back didn't feel much of anything. Other than pure elation.

"I have so much adrenaline right now," said Lacey, "it's all good."

Speaking of which, so are the Bulldogs, who defeated rival Alabama State 20-19 at the 70th Magic City Classic in front of a crowd announced at 66,473, although it required the usual educated guesswork given the tens of thousands roaming Graymont Avenue and beyond.

The 6-foot, 230-pounder was the primary mover and shaker in sending everyone in A&M maroon home happy in this de facto for-first-place-in-the-SWAC-East game, dishing out continual blunt force trauma on the Hornets defense.

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Alabama State notebook: Andrews breaks record

BIRMINGHAM -- Nick Andrews did all he could to win the 70th Magic City Classic, but it wasn't enough. Andrews, the senior from Maplesville, who hasn't dazzled fans in his past three games with Alabama A&M, put on a spectacular show for the 66,473 fans at Legion Field, hauling in nine passes for 134 yards.

The nine catches were one shy of his single-game high and marked the fifth time this season he has recorded nine of more receptions in a game. His 134-yard performance was his third-best showing this season, but it was enough to help him pass head coach Reggie Barlow on the school's career receiving yardage mark.

Andrews now has 187 receptions for 2,563 yards and 26 touchdowns. All three are school records.

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Hornets try to handle loss

BIRMINGHAM -- Alabama State senior defensive tackle Kynjee Cotton walked around in circles for several minutes outside the locker room, trying to get his emotions in check after a gut-wrenching 20-19 loss to Alabama A&M here Saturday afternoon. He talked softly, paused a few seconds and tried to find just the right words.

"It's tough," he said. "For the last four years to work this hard and to come this close, no words can describe it."

The Hornets, ranked No. 1 in all three of the Black College Football national rankings, had their six-game winning streak snapped and fell to 6-2 overall, 6-1 in the SWAC. More importantly, they lost to A&M for the sixth time in the past seven years in the Magic City Classic.

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Magic City Classic Bests and Worsts

Best way to revive Legion Field's glorious past -- Fill the stands with Magic City Classic fans. Fill the air with delicious smells of food. For two days a year -- don't for­get the BBVA Compass Bowl -- the Old Lady on Graymont looks to be in her prime again.

Best homecoming -- Kade­rius Lacey grew up in Calera and came back to Birming­ham, leaving Legion Field with the Offensive MVP tro­phy after bulling his way for nearly 200 yards rushing.
Best way to end the Magic City Classic -- How do you top a day of tailgating, bar­becuing, good football and greater marching bands? With a postgame concert that drives away the funk on a chilly night.

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Alabama A&M University Marching Maroon and White

Alabama A&M University performance on ESPNU vs. Texas Southern, Oct. 13, 2011

Legion Field to get luxury suites in time for Magic City Classic

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama --- About 1,600 aluminum bleachers along Legion Field's north end zone are ripped out and will be replaced with luxury suites in time for the stadium's largest sporting event later this month.

Work is under way to install new covered seating just weeks before the Magic City Classic. The annual matchup between Alabama A&M and Alabama State universities draws 60,000 to 70,000 inside the stadium and thousands more outside. This year's game will be Oct. 29 at 2:30 p.m.

Mayor William Bell said the seating upgrade is part of an effort to make the 84-year old stadium palatable to tenants, including the Classic, the BBVA Compass Bowl and the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.

"Shortly after I came into office in 2010 we had meetings with representatives of ESPN, BBVA Compass, SWAC, UAB, Alabama A&M and Alabama State to discuss the condition of Legion Field and its appearance for the various events we had out there," Bell said. "We made a commitment at that time we would make the facility more friendly for hospitality."

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Late miscues make Grambling rally moot

Grambling, LA - Doug Williams practically begged his Grambling State players to step up and show him something Saturday night. What the Tigers showed were flashes of brilliance that, ultimately, were undone by eight turnovers and an inability to finish the job.

When Luther Snipe made a sliding interception of a Frank Rivers pass at the Alabama A&M 10 with 25 seconds left, Grambling’s losing streak officially hit three games and allowed the Bulldogs to hang on for a 20-14 victory at Robinson Stadium.

“Not protecting the football is a big factor in any football game,” Williams said. “We had opportunities. We were in the red zone two or three times and we gave the ball back. Those are things we can’t do. We fumbled at a crucial time where we moving the football and Alabama A&M made the plays when they had to.”

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AAMU defense leads the way in 21-6 win over Tuskegee

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - With the season on the verge of unraveling after back-to-back disappointing losses, Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones challenged his team leading up to Saturday's game against Tuskegee.

Fortunately, the Bulldogs' defense answered it.

Inside linebacker Willie Fuller had a career-high 12 tackles and got plenty of help from A&M's much-maligned defensive line, which came up with a huge fourth-down stop early in the fourth quarter, to give the Bulldogs a much-needed 21-6 victory over Tuskegee in the second annual Louis Crews Classic before an announced crowd of 18,629 at Louis Crews Stadium.

Photo Gallery:  AAMU vs. Tuskegee Football Sept. 17, 2011

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2011 Battle of Bands -- Chicago Classic: AAMU vs. Hampton

Chicago Football Classic: Second-half rally lifts Hampton Pirates

Chicago, IL - Hampton University beat Alabama A&M 21-20 in the 14th annual Chicago Football Classic before an announced crowd of 35,653 on Saturday at Soldier Field.

After both teams turned the ball over on their first possession, Alabama A&M reeled off 17 consecutive points. But the Bulldogs couldn’t make the lead stand as the Pirates scored the next two touchdowns.

David Legree threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Brown, and Legree scrambled eight yards for a score with 2:36 left in the third quarter. The touchdown was set up by a bobbled punt attempt that gave Hampton the ball on the Bulldogs’ 23-yard line.

Chance Wilson put Alabama A&M back in the driver’s seat with a 34-yard field goal with 5:33 left in the third quarter. The Pirates responded, going 60 yards in six plays and scoring on a ...

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Alabama A&M football: Mason near flawless in first scrimmage

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Deaunte Mason strengthened his grip on Alabama A&M's starting quarterback job with a near flawless performance Wednesday night during the Bulldogs' first preseason scrimmage.

Mason completed his first seven passes as the first-team offense dominated the first-team defense, scoring on back-to-back possessions, to open the scrimmage. Mason finished 7-of-8 for 74 yards and two touchdowns. He threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Montarius Smith to cap a seven-play, 60-yard touchdown drive. Mason was 5-for-5 for 51 yards on the drive.

On the second possession of the scrimmage, Mason was 2-for-2 for 23 yards and capped the seven-play, 70-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown ...

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Alabama A&M: Bulldogs bigger, stronger, faster

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - One of the biggest reasons for Alabama A&M's success over the years has been the work of James Hester, the Bulldogs' strength and conditioning coach.

Hester, who has served in that role since Anthony Jones became head coach in 2002, helped A&M rattle off six straight winning seasons, win three Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division titles and the 2006 SWAC championship.

The Bulldogs haven't been nearly as successful the last three years, having had two losing seasons during that span, but A&M did reach the SWAC championship game in 2009.

Even so, following last year's 3-8 season, A&M's worst during Jones' tenure, Hester made some changes and he says after the first week of practice...

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Willie Hayes Named AAMU Men's Basketball Coach

NORMAL, AL -- Director of Athletics at Alabama A&M University has announced that 16 year assistant coach Willie Hayes has been hired as the next head coach in the Bulldog men’s basketball program.

The Bulldogs have won over 250 games since Hayes joined the Bulldog staff. One of the best point guards to ever play for A&M, Hayes thrilled Bulldog fans with his pinpoint passing and deadly shooting. He held the school record for career assists with 669 until Craig Lottie surpassed the mark in 1997, by just four.

Still, Hayes will always be known for his fantastic performances on the court. In 116 games as a player in the Bulldog program, Hayes averaged 14.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He shot 47.4 percent from the floor, 35.3 percent from three-point range and ...

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Alabama A&M continues search for men's basketball coach

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Alabama A&M could have a new men's basketball coach by the end of next week, a source close to the search committee told The Times Tuesday.

School officials, who were slowed by the recent tornado outbreak, are expected to conduct phone interviews with potential candidates today and Thursday. Based upon the phone interviews, the finalists will be brought on campus next week for additional interviews.

Two potential candidates,  former Butler High coach Jack Doss and Eugene Harris, who most recently served as the head coach at Florida A&M and has also coached at Auburn, Alabama and South Alabama, told The Times Tuesday afternoon they had not been contacted for phone interviews. John Douglas, who led Calhoun Community College to the junior college national championship game in ...

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HBCUs seeing ‘renaissance' in NFL draft

SCSU Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough and SC Coach Steve Spurrier
after Gamecock vs. Bulldog Football Game 10/4/09

There was a time when a South Carolina State football player signing with an NFL team was a certain post-graduate job.

Whether through the draft or free agency, a Bulldog player from the late 1960s through the mid-'90s seemed destined to earn a pro roster spot. This was also a prime period for historically black colleges, when as many as 734 players, according to ESPN.com, were selected in the draft and it was viewed as a prized recruiting market for future All-Pros and even Hall of Famers like S.C. State's Deacon Jones and Harry Carson.

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