Broadway, Grambling decide to get physical

Following last season, Rod Broadway knew he had to change something. Losing five games isn't quite the Grambling way. And, if it continued, Broadway, the school's fourth-year coach, might be looking for another job.

So, he instituted a more physical approach to practice. No more light practices with little or no tackling. Broadway made his players hit. "We are trying to change the way we play," he said. "I thought we were soft in some spots in the past." Through the first quarter of the 2010 season, Broadway has certainly proven one thing: his team isn't soft.

A&M hosts SWAC power for homecoming

Alabama A&M is not having the traditional cupcake for homecoming. Far from it. Instead of putting a lightweight opponent on the plate to ensure that the alums go home happy, A&M is facing the traditional power of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Grambling State.

When the Bulldogs take on Grambling at 3 p.m. Saturday in Huntsville, they will be playing a program that has won five of the past 10 SWAC championships and has a 13-3 all-time record against A&M.

Grounding Grambling

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Under defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns, Alabama A&M has prided itself on stopping the run. Annually, the Bulldogs have been among the better teams against the run, not only in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, but in the nation and this season is no different.
Through four games, A&M is allowing just 76.5 yards rushing per game.

"We've played the run pretty well the whole season," Towns said. While the Bulldogs have been stingy against the run this season, they have yet to run across a team with...

Grambling game was 'start' for A&M's Mason

Alabama A&M quarterback Deaunte Mason got the most extensive playing time of his young career last season against Grambling and that performance propelled him into the starting lineup two weeks later.

Mason accounted for 229 yards in total offense and two touchdowns in A&M's 41-20 loss. He rushed for 122 yards on 11 carries, including a 66-yard touchdown jaunt in the first quarter that gave the Bulldogs an early 10-7 lead. Mason was 10-of-20 passing for 107 yards and a touchdown.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

A&M's Kearse is a big hit with NFL scouts after early struggles

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - When Sonja Braxton brought her son, Alabama A&M defensive tackle Frank Kearse, to school four years ago, she took his house keys when she left.

Kearse told his mother he loved football and planned to go pro. He had escaped the traps back home in Savannah, Ga., [- his mom and dad both worked two jobs to make sure he had everything he needed-]  and Braxton didn't want anything to distract him from reaching his goal.

Bulldogs look to fix O-line problems

f Deaunte Mason has one goal Saturday night against Southern, it’s that he spends more time standing on his feet as opposed to laying on the grass at Louis Crews Stadium.

Last week, Mason, a quarterback at Alabama A&M, was sacked seven times — knocked down and hit even more times — during a 32-9 rout by Texas Southern. With his linemen unable to protect him and Mason jittery, the offense managed just 197 yards of total offense, including 69 in the second half. Breakdowns up front occurred on both blitzes and base defense packages, drawing the ire of ninth-year coach Anthony Jones, who vowed improved play.

SU’s Cushingberry iffy

Southern wide receiver Corey Cushingberry, who suffered a left shoulder injury two weeks ago in the Jaguars’ loss to Arkansas-Monticello, is “doubtful” for Saturday’s game at Alabama A&M, coach Stump Mitchell said.

Cushingberry, a fifth-year senior from Istrouma High and a sprinter on the SU track team, hurt his shoulder on the first play of the UAM game, a 30-yard kickoff return that ended with him landing underneath two tacklers.

Hollimon to start at QB for Southern

In a surprise turnaround, Southern football coach Stump Mitchell said at his weekly news conference Tuesday he plans to start Gary Hollimon at quarterback when the Jaguars open Southwestern Athletic Conference play in Normal, Ala., against Alabama A&M at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Hollimon, a senior from Gulfport, Miss., has been the team's starting tail-back this season. He moved into the position following preseason camp last year after beginning his career at the school as a quarterback. Sylvester Nzekwe, a sophomore, will start at tailback for the Jaguars.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

A&M's Jones, Texas Southern's Cole exchange words

HOUSTON, TX - Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones and Texas Southern coach Johnnie Cole exchanged words after the game was over and had to be separated. Jones said Cole said something to him and everything became chaotic.

"He said I was disrespecting him and his program," Jones said. "When I asked him for an explanation, one of his guys starting pushing me. I didn't throw a punch. I didn't try to throw a punch. I asked Johnnie what he was talking about and I told him he was being disrespectful.

"He ran off and the guy pushed me and (A&M sports information director) Brandon (Willis). Johnnie came back and I told him we could talk and people started grabbing me."

Alabama A&M, Butler High collaborate on The Hill Project - Class ...

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Madison County District Judge Lynn Sherrod knows what happens too often to high-school dropouts. They show up in her courtroom.

"There's a direct correlation between school performance and delinquent behavior," said Sherrod, who tries juvenile court cases. In the prison population, "an overwhelming percentage did not graduate from high school," she said.

With that in mind, Sherrod spearheaded a recent trip to Alabama A&M University for freshmen at Butler High School. About half the class of 180 spent the day attending workshops on decision making and preparing for college as well as touring the campus.

Offensive outburst fuels TSU past Alabama A&M

Texas Southern stumbled like a punch-drunk boxer for three quarters against Alabama A&M on Saturday, landing only occasional jabs. The Tigers, however, had plenty left in the tank to deliver the knockout blow in the final period.

With an aggressive defense leading the way, TSU forced two turnovers and broke open a close game with 20 points in the fourth quarter to sprint past the Bulldogs 32-9 before 6,347 at Delmar Stadium.

Tuskegee, Alabama A&M to play in Mobile in 2011 and 2013

Tuskegee University has secured a contract with Alabama A&M to play at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in 2012 and 2014, and athletic director Alvin Jackson said he also wants to play in Mobile in 2011 and 2013. The Golden Tigers are eager to establish a presence in the Mobile area beginning with their game against Texas Southern a week from today at 1 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

"We're excited about bringing our program to the Mobile area," said Jackson. "We have the signed contracts with Alabama A&M and are currently in the process of finding an opponent for the 2011 and 2013 seasons. We fully intend to play here those seasons."

Florida A&M, Southern, Grambling and Jackson State are some of the programs named as possible opponents.

Next week's game was initially scheduled to be played in Los Angeles but was moved due to promotional problems. And Jackson made it clear that this game will in no way be similar to the now-defunct Gulf Coast Classic.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Note to Fans:

Just the 'beepbeep' thoughts on this matter...
The majority of RattlerNation has no interest in watching the Rattlers play Division II football teams. This is not an upgrade for FAMU's program. Clearly athletic director Alvin Jackson is trying to pump up interest in his ball game by name dropping the superior brand of Florida A&M University.

Don't hold your breath expecting FAMU to pass up a $600,000 money game with an FBC school, to play Tuskegee in Mobile. No disrespect to Tuskegee University or the City of Mobile, but FAMU is seeking an FCS National Championship, not an easy "W" that does not help the Rattlers FCS playoff opportunity.

Is this a sign that Tuskegee is considering moving up to Division I? I haven't heard anything on this subject officially... The Rattlers won the first NCAA D1-AA National Championship in 1978 after defeating the University of Massachusetts.

Jackson should consider "renting the Marching 100 for a command appearance" at an attractive price, plus expenses and he will get the butts in the seats that he desire in Mobile.

A&M prepares for SWAC opener

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - The preseason is over for Alabama A&M. A run for a berth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game starts at Texas Southern Saturday. Kickoff is noon.
It is the first of nine straight grueling conference games for the Bulldogs after league officials elected to go back to the nine-game schedule after playing only seven each of the last two years.

"We're going to take it one step at a time," A&M coach Anthony Jones said Sunday afternoon, a day after the Bulldogs whipped Central State 45-0 in the inaugural Louis Crews Classic to even their record at 1-1. "We're going to get ourselves ready for this long bus ride and get down there and deal with the heat and the adversity of playing on the road."

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

READ RELATED ARTICLES:

Jones has big shoes to fill if A&M is to contend in the SWAC

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Alabama A&M football coach Anthony Jones has had to replace key players before. This season, however, it appears Jones has to replace more than he ever has entering his ninth season with the Bulldogs.

Gone are all-time leading rusher Ulysses Banks, all-time leading receiver Thomas Harris, center Xavier Manuel, a three-year starter and All-Southwestern Athletic Conference performer, defensive end Jeremy Maddox, who finished second behind Robert Mathis in sacks and tackles for loss, and placekicker Jeremy Licea, who finished his career as the school's all-time leading scorer.

That's just a handful of the people Jones and company will have to replace if the Bulldogs are going to win the East Division title and return to the SWAC championship game for the fifth time in his tenure.



READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Insight from the SWAC’s new 'Dean'

He looked around this small meeting room in Birmingham, Ala., last week, and he saw new faces. Lots of new faces. Times have changed in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Everywhere Anthony Jones turned, he saw proof of that. He’s now in his ninth year as the football coach at Alabama A&M. When he made his first appearance at a SWAC football media day, way back in 2002, Doug Williams was still at Grambling. He’s long gone. Back then, Robert Hughes was still at Jackson State. He’s gone, too.

And every single year, Jones could count on seeing Pete Richardson from Southern. Now, Richardson is gone, too. For so long, Richardson was the Dean of the SWAC, with five titles and 17 years. Now, the dean’s title falls to Jones. Through eight seasons at A&M, he’s made four trips to the SWAC Championship Game, winning it all in 2006. He has averaged eight wins per year. And even in down seasons, opponents knew that when they played the Bulldogs, they were in for a long afternoon.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Not such a black-and-white decision for AAMU's/Fairview's Dex Sullivan

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Dex Sullivan is the quintessential Southern country boy. His grandparents had a farm in Fayette County. He loves to hunt and fish. On Friday night at the ASHAA All-Star football game, he played what he called "my first game at my new home field." Sullivan is a big, affable 6-foot-4, 314-pound white offensive lineman from Fairview High in Cullman (Alabama). He has signed to play for Alabama A&M University, a predominantly black school.

So what?

Dex Sullivan with 2010 high school prom date says on his Facebook site that, "I am blessed and gain strength in achieving my goals with my faith in god and the support round me."

"It'll be a culture shock, but you see here (on the North All-Star team) it's a mix. It's what you see around the world," Sullivan said. "It's not white one way, black one way. It's people." And people with a sense of humor. After meeting Sullivan and another white All-Star headed to Alabama A&M, two black signees joked, "They're going to kick us out of the SWAC now."

Sullivan "can't be more excited" about coming to Alabama A&M. He has already grown fond of coach Anthony Jones. So has the Sullivan family. In April, when the devastating tornados swept through the state and came near their home, the first call they got the next morning was from Jones, asking if they came through the storms without damage.

Sullivan played tackle for Fairview and did so in the North's 14-7 win over the South at Louis Crews Stadium. Sullivan will play guard at A&M, which suits him fine. "I'll have to get out of my comfort zone and roll with it," he said.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Ed McCann Resigning From Centenary; Heading To Alabama A&M Bulldogs

Ed McCann Head Coach

Ed McCann, the Centenary College of Louisiana Gents baseball coach since 1999, is resigning and will be the next head coach at Alabama A&M in Huntsville.
`
In an afternoon phone interview with KTBS, McCann said he looks forward to going to a university that, "Cares about baseball and cares about athletics." Centenary College is one year away from dropping down to NCAA Division III from their current status as a Division I school. McCann, a tireless worker, who sold Centenary baseball to everyone and anyone he met, has already secured his first recruit for A&M, a young man out of Detroit, Michigan. During McCann's tenure, the Peyton Sheehee Stadium was constructed as well as improvements made to the baseball and soccer offices nearby, courtesy of the Mike McCarthy family.

Michael Tompkins

Assistant Coach

Michael Tompkins, who completed his eligibility this past season as a Gent, will follow McCann to A&M as an assistant coach. McCann is expected to hand in his letter of resignation on Monday or Tuesday and then it's off to the SWAC for Easy Ed McCann.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE AND COACHES NAMES UNDER PHOTOS.

Alabama A&M football standout killed in Bessemer bike club shooting

Alabama A&M University head football Coach Anthony Jones said he is shocked at the early-morning shooting death of football standout Maurice Thomas. "I think the kind of player he was, was exemplified in the way he played and the longevity of his career," Jones said today. "I think a lot of people didn't know the kind of person he was because people can't see under the helmet. He was a young man who worked hard and believed in his teammates, his friends and his family. He was a kid you can count on."

Thomas, 23, of Bessemer and two other men were shot about 3 a.m. inside the Getties Boyz Club, a biker bar, on 22nd Street and First Avenue North.



READ MORE, CLICK TITLE AND HIGHLIGHTS.

READ RELATED ARTICLES:

Alabama A&M Football Player Shot, Killed In Bessemer

Former Alabama A&M football player killed

Alabama A&M football family shocked by player's death in Bessemer shooting

Pettaway says A&M will be a winner again‎

With returnees, new recruits, coach says Bulldogs will be better

A day after school officials informed him that he would return for the 2010-2011 season, Alabama A&M men's basketball coach Vann Pettaway vowed Tuesday that he would do everything in his power to turn the Bulldogs into a winner again. "I want to thank the administration, from the president's office on down, for having the confidence in us to give us an opportunity to turn it around," Pettaway said. "This is my school and I'm going to do everything I can to move our program forward."

Pettaway's contract was set to expire on May 31 before school officials decided to retain him. His future came into question after the Bulldogs finished the regular season 11-15 overall and 8-10 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Alabama A&M was eliminated in the first round of the tournament for the fourth time in five years after falling to Alabama State earlier this month. It was A&M's fourth straight losing season and sixth in the last eight years.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Still wanted: Playmakers for AAMU Bulldogs

Alabama A&M football coach Anthony Jones went into spring practice looking for playmakers on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Bulldogs sought key replacements at running back, receiver and along the line, while defensively, the big need included pass rushers. With just four practices left, including Saturday's Maroon and White scrimmage, Jones is still looking for playmakers. "We need guys that can make a difference whether it's a tackle on offense or an end on defense," said Jones, whose team will return to practice today after taking off last week for spring break.

"We need guys who are going to make plays and the results will do the talking. I feel like we'll find those guys, but we've got to coach them. "I knew this day was coming. We're just going to have to fight our way through this. We've got some guys that will get a chance to play extensively for the first time and some of our young guys will have to show their mettle. Everybody is going to have to step their game up - players and coaches - for us to have a chance to be successful."

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

SWAC Bowling Pairings Set

BOSSIER CITY, LA – Alabama A&M and Southern earned the top two seeds after Day One of the 2010 SWAC Bowling Championship at the Holiday Lanes. Grambling State, Prairie View A&M, Jackson State and Alabama State will be seeds 3-6 as Saturday’s competition moves to a double-elimination bracket playing the Baker format. Friday’s competition was a round-robin team format, with each team competing against the other five. Based on today’s pin count, the teams have been seeded 1-6 to set the bracket for the weekend.

Alabama A&M bowled a team-high 4,577 on Friday in winning all five matches. The Bulldogs bowled three 900-pin games, highlighted by a 945 score in game one. Jazmin Payne bowled a single-game high 222 to lead Alabama A&M. Southern, the two-time defending conference champions, earned the number two seed bowling a 4393 in posting a 4-1 record. The Jaguars bowled the best team score of the day in posting a 995 in game two. Vanessa Caldwell had the days’ best game in rolling a 247.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Plenty of slots to fill at A&M

Today's practice starts process of finding new stars. When Alabama A&M takes the field today, it will begin arguably the most important spring football practice of Anthony Jones' tenure. The Bulldogs, who have thrived during Jones' eight seasons, averaging almost eight wins a year, have some huge holes to fill if they hope to defend their Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division title next season.

Running back Ulysses Banks, receiver Thomas Harris and place-kicker Jeremy Licea - who combined for more than 9,000 all-purpose yards and almost 600 points during their record-setting careers - are all gone along with defensive end Jeremy Maddox, who finished second to Indianapolis Colts star Robert Mathis in career sacks and tackles for loss at A&M. "Our goal is to try to establish some guys that can help us replace some of the guys we lost," Jones said. "We lost a lot on the offensive side of the ball. We lost a lot of points and yards, but we've got to find somebody that's going to believe in themselves and somebody that the team is going to believe in.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK TITLE.

Elmore County HS's DeJarnett headed to Alabama A&M

After being left to dangle in the air by the University of Memphis, Rashaad DeJarnett signed a national letter of intent with Alabama A&M in front of his peers at Elmore County High School on Thursday morning. As the unquestioned leader for the Panthers this past season, DeJarnett hauled in 59 passes for 927 yards and 10 touchdowns during his senior campaign. The 6-foot-1 standout also discovered the end zone on the ground with five rushing scores. The coaching staff of A&M had never seen the senior receiver play in person, but that did not stop the SWAC school from offering him an athletic scholarship.

"With my confidence and with (the players) they lost, I should be able to step in and play right away," DeJarnett said about contributing as a true freshman. "I've been traveling behind him since Little League, and now he finally gets an opportunity to excel -- not only in athletics, but in education and in life," said Mable Lawrence, DeJarnett's mother. The senior become a victim of the recruiting process when Memphis fired Tommy West on Nov. 9 after nine years of running the program and hired LSU assistant Larry Porter later that month.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK TITLE.

AAMU Bulldogs signee RaShaad DeJarnett, Elmore County High School, AL

Note to Fans: We are very happy to see Rashaad DeJarnett sign with a SWAC program. He doesn't realize it today, but he increased his probability of earning a Bachelors Degree by 50-75 percent in signing with AAMU. Yes, the young man is talented on the football field but as a student-athlete he will need to excel in both venues--especially education. Get in the weight room young man, hit those text books hard in preparation for college and forget all that bull---- the Memphis, Western Kentucky, UAB and USM recruiters told you to get your commitment. Recruiting is ov-er!

I certainly would love to observe his first Bulldog practice in pads in the fall, as a few junior and senior linebackers give him his first lessons in humility for his freshman-like statements: "When (Memphis) dropped out and had that coaching change, they didn't want the same guys," DeJarnett explained. "So I had to downgrade to Division I-AA -- that's another reason I know I can go in and play at that level, because of the competition" or “I knew I was a Division I player, but with the coaching change there it was frustrating,” said DeJarnett. “With my ability, I think I can see a lot of playing time as a true freshman.”

Mr. DeJarnett will soon get a memorable lesson that playing in the SWAC is not a downgrade in competition from Memphis. The difference is 63 scholarship student-athletes vs. 85 scholarship student-athletes and 20 preferred walk-on athletes at the Football Bowl Subdivision (1-A) programs. He will learn very quickly that everyone on the AAMU team was a star in high school and was recruited by some big brand FBS or FCS program at some point in their career. The MEAC and SWAC schools receive FBS and FCS transfers every year, and some never make any significant contributions on the football field, if they make the cut. Nothing is guaranteed in college football--other than competition.

We look forward to seeing Bulldog Coach Anthony Jones and staff develop this young man into a productive SWAC and FCS player. 2010 is going to be a fun season in SWAC/MEAC football.

--beepbeep



Description: Truman Franklin hook and ladder pass to Tanner Falk who pitches to Rashaad Dejarnett for a 75 yd TD vs. Alabama Christian Academy

Walk-ons don't get the glory, but they're still important

Alabama A&M University Bulldog coach Anthony Jones: "Walk-ons are a huge part of our program with the scout teams," he wrote. "They also add depth to our team and help on special teams until they develop into quality players, once they learn the game at the college level."

Wednesday was National Signing Day, when recruited athletes commit to football programs and receive scholarships. Throughout my coaching career, I felt winning recruiting battles was as important as winning games, and I'm sure coaches today feel the same. However, there is another aspect of building a successful team that most college fans overlook: the importance of acquiring walk-ons. The NCAA clearly defines the role of a walk-on. Walk-ons cannot receive institutional financial aid.

Alabama's legendary coach, Bear Bryant, was responsible for that rule being instituted in the 1960s. To override the NCAA's scholarship limit at that time, Bear provided football players with baseball, track, tennis and even golf scholarships to create a deep roster that is essential in building a competitive team. Walk-ons may not be important to fans, but to coaches they are often vital to a program -- especially since the NCAA capped Division I football scholarships at 85 (Division I-AA limit is 63 scholarships).

Eighty-five scholarship players sounds like a lot, but those numbers are often reduced by 5 to 10 percent due to injuries, eligibility problems, disciplinary suspensions and players quitting or transferring. Also, factor in one or two place-kickers, one or two punters and a long snapper who rarely are involved in rough, tough drills and scrimmages. That reduction in numbers can have a negative impact on a critical part of building a successful team: practice.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Alabama A&M Bulldogs Signs Top Playmakers

Alabama A&M head football coach Anthony Jones and his staff signed 24 future Bulldogs on National Signing Day. The 2010 recruting class represents six states ranging from California to Florida, and includes 13 players from the state of Alabama. The class is expected to grow over the coming days as more recruits finalize their college choices.

Alabama A&M University head football coach Anthony Jones

Alabama A&M Bulldog 2010 Recruiting Class

Frederick Barnes - DT, 6-1, 300, Memphis, TN, Westwood HS
Christopher Boykin - OL, 6-4, 270, Birmingham, AL, Parker HS
A.J. Clark - QB, 6-2, 185, Pensacola, FL, Pine Forest HS
Alan Cruz - OL, 6-2, 270, Huntsville, AL, Buckhorn HS
Giba Goba - OL, 6-5, 265, Philadelphia, PA, Overbrook HS
Justin Goodrich - OL, 6-1, 325, Huntsville, AL, Buckhorn HS
Derrick Harris - DB, 5-10, 170, Stone Mountain, GA, Stone Mountain
Kierri Issac - DB, 6-0, 180, Stone Mountain, GA, Stone Mountain HS
Vandrick Jackson - DB, 5-11, 185, Birmingham, AL, Jackson-Olin HS
Brendan Johnson - RB, 5-7, 180, Atlanta, GA, Carver HS
Brandon Knight - RB, 5-8, 205, Dothan, AL, Dothan HS
Chris Leachman - QB, 6-3, 180, Long Beach, CA, Long Beach HS
Ricky Morton - DE, 6-2, 215, Memphis, TN, Oak Haven HS
Joseph Porter - FB, 5-8, 220, Phenix City, AL, Central HS
Terrance Pride - WR, 5-10, 170, Harvest, AL, Sparkman HS
Jordan Roman - LS, 5-11, 200, Lithonia, GA, Lithonia HS
Brandon Savage - DE, 6-1, 225, Bay Minette, AL, Baldwin County HS
Montarius Smith - WR, 6-0, 170, Birmingham, AL, Jackson-Olin HS
Terrance Spinks - TE, 6-1, 215, Opelika, AL, Opelika HS
Derrick Square - WR, 6-2, 170, Birmingham, AL, Parker HS
Jonathan Sullivan - OL, 6-2, 310, Holly Pond, AL, Fairview HS
Jawanza Vickers - DT, 6-0, 280, Enterprise, AL, Enterprise HS
Nathan Woodard - OL, 6-1, 260, Mobile, AL, Theodore HS
Dominique Wright - DE, 6-2, 220, Hallandale, FL, Hallandale HS

Prairie View wins first SWAC title in 45 years

PVAMU Coach Henry Fraizer III does the impossible--makes Panthers into SWAC Champions!

Prairie View wins first SWAC title in 45 years

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Nasty weather, a tough Alabama A&M squad and a few costly mistakes couldn’t keep Prairie View A&M from reaching its season-long goal of winning the school’s first conference championship since 1964. With quarterback K.J. Black leading the way, the Panthers claimed a 30-24 victory over Alabama A&M on Saturday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game before a crowd of 20,218 at Legion Field.

Black, voted the game’s Offensive Most Valuable Player, completed 18 of 28 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter when Prairie View (9-1) seized control. “When I got here, all anybody was talking about this year was a championship,” said Black, a first-year transfer from Western Kentucky who went 8-0 as a starter this season. “When you can see that in somebody’s eyes and you know everybody is striving for the same goal, it makes you want to work that much harder. That collective effort got us to where we are right now.”

WATCH REPLAY SWAC Championship - Prairie View A&M vs. Alabama A&M

Happy days here again for Prairie View

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — As a glorious celebration carried on behind him, Henry Frazier III — the coach of the championship Prairie View A&M football team — struggled to fit the title belt around his waist. He joked that his expanded waistline made things a bit more difficult than he imagined it would be last January when he purchased the belt to inspire his squad. If only building a champion at Prairie View were as easy as fitting a prong through an eyelet.

What nerve and courage Frazier showed to have even imagined Prairie View as a football champion. But that is what the Panthers are after they fended off Alabama A&M 30-24 on Saturday to claim their first Southwestern Athletic Conference title since 1964. It came in a chilly 40 degrees with a steady drizzle at Legion Field, but the Panther faithful were warm with pride after witnessing the final step in their program's climb from the depths of the college football world to the height of the SWAC.

Prairie View's Title Is Its First in 45 Years (New York Times)

Prairie View, which lost 80 straight games in the 1990s, won the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship Saturday, beating Alabama A&M, 30-24 in Birmingham, Ala. It was the program’s first conference title in 45 years. “Nobody on this staff, nobody on this team was born in 1964,” Coach Henry Frazier III said. “This is a special time.” K. J. Black threw for 258 yards and 3 touchdowns. Two of his scoring passes came in the fourth quarter as Prairie View (9-1) rallied past Alabama A&M (7-5).

Harry Williams finds a coaching home at Prairie View A&M

Former Jackson-Olin High, Tuskegee University and Houston Texans star Harry Williams #86 is at home on the football field as an assistant for Prairie View.

The place that Harry Williams feels most at home — the foot­ball field — felt for­eign to him in the days of early August. His steps were tentative. His thoughts were guarded. His decisions didn’t come easily. His new boss — Prairie View A&M head football coach Henry Frazier III — noticed. “When he first went on the field, it was different for him,” Frazier said. “I watched him, because, you know, you got a new guy and don’t really know how he’s going to be around my kids. I kind of watched him the first few days and he would just wander around. I went to him and said, ‘Hey Harry, get involved with whatever you want. I trust your judgment, so get involved." So how did things work out after that conversation? “He’s been a blessing,” Frazier said.

Updated, with photos: Prairie View tops Alabama A&M to win SWAC title

Former Western Kentucky starter K.J. Black threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns, leading Prairie View A&M to a 30-24 victory against Alabama A&M in the SWAC Championship Game today at cold and wet Legion Field. Alabama A&M had one last shot on the game's final play, but freshman Deaunte Mason's Hail Mary heave into the end zone was knocked down as the horn sounded. Prairie View finishes the season 9-1, its only loss to Division I-A New Mexico State. Black was named the Offensive MVP and Panthers defensive end Quinton Spears was voted Defensive MVP.

SWAC Championship Game: It's cold and wet, but offenses are hot

Despite drizzling rain and chilly temperatures, the SWAC Championship Game is off and running (for the live telecast, tune into ESPN Classic). Both offenses started hot, scoring on their first possession. Prairie View got on the board first, thanks to a 39-yard Brady Faggard field goal. Alabama A&M answered with a 2-yard touchdown run from Ulysses Banks, the Birmingham native, and takes a 7-3 lead into the second quarter.

Prairie View rallies past 'Bama A&M for SWAC title

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Prairie View A&M, a program once synonymous with football futility, is a conference champion for the first time in 45 years.K.J. Black threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns, two coming in the fourth quarter, and the Panthers ralllied for a 30-24 win over Alabama A&M in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game on Saturday."It's been a long time coming," said Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III. "Nobody on this staff, nobody on this team was born in 1964. This is a special time."Frazier is the one most responsible for turning around a program that gained notoriety during the 1990s by losing 80 consecutive games. "It's a special occasion," Frazier added. "I'm very proud of this football team."

READ MORE, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

Job market for black coaches improving

Alabama A&M University Coach Anthony Jones has played in the NFL, coached successfully at the NCAA Division III, II and I-AA levels, but has not received any head coaching offers to move to the Division I-A level. Why?

Anthony Jones and Henry Frazier III can match resumes with any football coach in America. Both have taken over programs that were among the worst in the country: Frazier's Prairie View A&M team once went 0-80 in the 1990s and Alabama A&M's Jones got his first head coaching job at Morehouse College, which he says had won "eight games in 70 years" before he got there. Today in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game at Legion Field, Frazier has Prairie View playing for its first SWAC championship since 1964, which could lead to the school's first Black College National Championship since that year. Hoping to stop him is Jones, who left Morehouse for Alabama A&M and has the Bulldogs playing for their second SWAC title in his eight years.

"Anybody else with that resume, taking over programs like that and turning it around, would be considered a hot (coaching) prospect," Jones said. Yes, this another column about the shocking lack of opportunity for minority head coaches at the college level. Only this time, the situation seems to be getting better. Four minority head coaches have been hired at the Division I-A level this offseason: Charlie Strong at Louisville; Mike London at Virginia; Larry Porter at Memphis; and Willie Taggart at Western Kentucky. The hiring of Strong and London at BCS schools is a particularly good sign, considering that Miami's Randy Shannon was the only black coach among 66 BCS programs this past football season.

READ MORE, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

Prairie View, Alabama A&M meet for SWAC title

Prairie View, Alabama A&M meet for SWAC title

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Prairie View A&M's football program has come a long way. The team that once couldn't win now doesn't bother pondering the possibility of losing. The Panthers face Alabama A&M Saturday at Legion Field in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game, and coach Henry Frazier III was taken aback when asked if his team would still consider the season a success if it loses. “I haven't even thought about that,” Frazier said. “Not winning, that's not even something we've thought about. Ask me Saturday. I can't really answer that. That's not even in our minds.”

Yep, Prairie View (8-1) hardly resembles the program that lost 80 consecutive games in the 1990s. The Panthers are playing in their first SWAC title game and haven't won the league title since 1964. They won 11 league titles before there was a championship contest. Alabama A&M (7-4) made it to the championship game by winning its last two games following a 33-27 loss to Prairie View. The Bulldogs rallied from a 33-7 deficit midway through the third quarter before the comeback stalled.

Prairie View climbs from rock bottom to top of SWAC

Once a rock-bottom program, PV has made one of college football’s all-time-great climbs.

PRAIRIE VIEW — While his assistants prepare the Prairie View A&M Panthers for their next football game, head coach Henry Frazier III swaps stories during practice with John “Doc” Mayes, the school's longtime director of athletic training. Most of Mayes' tales have a similar theme — the time one of the team's buses caught fire en route to a game, the road trip on which each player's daily meal allowance was $12.50, the overnight stays when the Panthers had to sleep three to a hotel room, with the odd man out relegated to a rollaway bed. They all end the same way: At the final gun, Prairie View always lost.

Frazier makes the implausible a reality

Prairie View goes from basement mainstays to conference title game

PRAIRIE VIEW — Prairie View A&M coach Henry Frazier III does not have a large office, but what there is contains a lot of significant mementos. On his desk are pictures of family members. Nearby are trophies in recognition of his coaching achievements. And nestled against a wall is Frazier's signature “championship” belt. The belt, which reads “PV Football 2009” on one side and “SWAC Champions” on the other, has become the symbol of Frazier's primary goal since he took over the program Dec. 22, 2003. That goal can become a reality if the Panthers (8-1) defeat Alabama A&M in Saturday's Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game at Birmingham, Ala.

Thanks to Frazier, Prairie View no joke

Long before Anthony Jones became the head football coach at Alabama A&M, he knew about Henry Frazier III, an up-and-coming coach at Bowie State. Jones coached against Frazier during his days at Morehouse College. The two hit it off, Jones said, during a recruiting fair in Maryland a few years ago. "I brought my son with me and he was going around recruiting players for me to come to Morehouse," Jones said. "Frazier was impressed with that. We became friends from that point on. "I have a lot of respect for him." Jones and Frazier, now the head coach at Prairie View, will put their friendship aside Saturday when the Bulldogs (7-4) take on the Panthers (8-1) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game at Birmingham's Legion Field. Kickoff is 1 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN Classic.

Prairie View's Black wins top SWAC offensive honor

Prairie View A&M junior quarterback K.J. Black was named Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year when the conference's postseason honors were released Wednesday. Texas Southern junior quarterback Arvell Nelson received Newcomer of the Year honors. Grambling State defensive end Christian Anthony was named Defensive Player of the Year, and Grambling kicker Ari Johnson was named Freshman of the Year.

Black, a transfer from Western Kentucky, threw for 1,775 yards and 19 touchdowns against four interceptions to lead Prairie View (8-1) to its first SWAC Western Division title. The Panthers will face Alabama A&M in Saturday's SWAC championship game in Birmingham, Ala. Black, who was also named to the All-SWAC second team, began the season as a backup, but started the Panthers' last seven games, all wins. He completed 71.3 percent of his passes and was second in the FCS in passing efficiency (172.18).

Seniors have sad history vs. Prairie View

Ulysses Banks has never beaten Prairie View. Neither has Thomas Harris, Xavier Manuel, Jeremy Maddox or Maurice Thomas just to name a few. In fact, only one of Alabama A&M's 12 seniors - fifth-year receiver Anthony Mitchell - has ever beaten Prairie View. That came in 2005. Since then, Prairie View has beaten A&M four straight times. Banks and the rest of A&M's seniors will take their final shot at Prairie View Saturday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game at Birmingham's Legion Field. Kickoff is 1 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN Classic.

READ MORE, CLICK BLOG TITLE.