College Baseball: ASU's schedule revamped

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - One of the first things Mervyl Melendez did when he was hired as Alabama State's baseball coach was to take the Hornets' proposed 2012 baseball schedule and tear it up.

There are 24 required Southwestern Athletic Conference games on the 56-game schedule, a home-and-home series with the other five East Division rivals.
Even that was subject to change as Melendez tried to put his signature on the ASU schedule that was released today.

"Conference games were set," said Melendez, the first-year coach." Some of the opponents were set at different venues. But we rearranged the entire schedule, one way or the other. If we had the (right) opponents on the schedule, I didn't like the site.

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ASU welcomes their new Head Baseball Coach, Mervyl Melendez, to Montgomery and Alabama State University, June 22, 2011.

Alabama State Hornets Baseball Releases 2012 Schedule

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - The Alabama State University baseball team released its 2012 baseball schedule, a 54-game regular season slate which includes 22 home contests at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex as the program will play its first full season on campus since 1996.

Highlighting this year's schedule are home-and-home games with Alabama-Birmingham, Georgia State, Mercer, Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State, and a home game against Troy. Alabama State will also travel to Auburn for a two-game series and to Oklahoma for a three-game series against the Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma. The Hornets will open the season at home Saturday, Feb. 18 with a three-game series against Grambling State.

“Our schedule shows our commitment of playing the best Division I teams in the country,” first-year head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez said. “I am most proud of opening our season at home and bringing college baseball back to the ASU campus for a full season for the first time in many years.”

The three-game season opening series against Grambling State is part of a five-game homestand to open the season, as the Hornets will then host UAB and Kennesaw State. Alabama State will end the season's opening month by playing three games in the Nicholls State Tournament, followed by a pair of games at Auburn.

2012 ALABAMA STATE BASEBALL SCHEDULE (.pdf)

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME

Sat. Feb. 18 GRAMBLING STATE (DH) MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. Feb. 19 GRAMBLING STATE MONTGOMERY, ALA. NOON

Tue. Feb. 21 ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM MONTGOMERY, ALA. 4 P.M.

Wed. Feb. 22 KENNESAW STATE MONTGOMERY, ALA. 4 P.M.

Fri. Feb. 24 Stony Brook Thibodaux, La. 2:30 P.M.

Sat. Feb 25 Nicholls State Thibodaux, La. 1 P.M.

Sat. Feb 25 Stony Brook Thibodaux, La. 5 P.M.

Tue. Feb. 28 Auburn Auburn, Ala. 5 P.M.

Wed. Feb. 29 Auburn Auburn, Ala. 5 P.M.

Sat. March 3 ALABAMA A&M (DH)* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. March 4 ALABAMA A&M* MONTGOMERY, ALA. NOON

Wed. March 7 Alabama-Birmingham Birmingham, Ala. 6 P.M.

Fri. March 9 Jackson State* Jackson, Miss. 6 P.M.

Sat. March 10 Jackson State (DH)* Jackson, Miss. 2:35 P.M.

Tue. March 13 Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla. 4 P.M.

Wed. March 14 Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla. 4 P.M.

Fri. March 16 Gardner-Webb Boiling Springs, N.C. 5 P.M.

Sat. March 17 Gardner-Webb (DH) Boiling Springs, N.C. Noon

Sun. March 18 Gardner-Webb Boiling Springs, N.C. Noon

Tue. March 20 GEORGIA STATE MONTGOMERY, ALA. 4:30 P.M.

Sat. March 24 Mississippi Valley State (DH)* Itta Bena, Miss. 1 P.M.

Sun. March 25 Mississippi Valley State* Itta Bena, Miss. 1 P.M.

Wed. March 28 TROY MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M

Sat. March 31 ALCORN STATE (DH)* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 1 ALCORN STATE* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Wed. April 4 Georgia State Atlanta, Ga. 4 P.M.

Sat. April 7 Alabama A&M(DH)* Huntsville, Ala. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 8 Alabama A&M* Huntsville, Ala. 1 P.M.

Wed. April 11 Kennesaw State Kennesaw, Ga. 4 P.M.

Sat. April 14 JACKSON STATE(DH)* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 15 JACKSON STATE* MONTGOMERY, ALA. NOON

Fri. April 20 Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 6 P.M.

Sat. April 21 Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 22 Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 1 P.M.

Tue. April 24 MERCER MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M.

Wed. April 25 MERCER MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M.

Sat. April 28 MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (DH)* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 29 MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Tue. May 1 Jacksonville State Jacksonville, Ala. 6:30 P.M.

Wed. May 2 JACKSONVILLE STATE MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M.

Sat. May 5 Alcorn State (DH)* Alcorn State, Miss. 4:35 P.M

Sun. May 6 Alcorn State* Alcorn State, Miss. 1:35 P.M.

Tue. May 8 Mercer Macon, Ga. 5 P.M.

Wed. May 9 Mercer Macon, Ga. 5 P.M.

Wed. May 16 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Thur. May 17 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Fri. May 18 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Sat. May 19 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Sun. May 20 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Schedule subject to change; Home Games in CAPS; All Times Central

READ MORE AT BAMASTATESPORTS.COM

Marshall Hosts Alabama State in Season Opener

HUNTINGTON, West Virginia – Marshall will begin its 99th season of men’s basketball on Friday at 7:30 p.m. as the Thundering Herd hosts Alabama State at the Cam Henderson Center. The first-ever meeting with the Hornets is Marshall’s first of eight opponents on the schedule that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season.

The Herd is coming off a 65-55 win over Northern Kentucky in its only exhibition game of the season. Marshall shot 56 percent from the field in the second half to pull away after trailing 32-27 at halftime. Most of the Herd roster shared playing time and senior guard Shaquille Johnson led the team with 16 points. The game gave the eight Marshall newcomers valuable playing time. Junior transfer Dennis Tinnon recorded 11 points and 11 rebounds and freshman Justin Coleman scored 15 points in 25 minutes of play.

Marshall is 76-23 all-time in season openers and has won its last five. Last season, the Herd opened the season with a 92-69 win over West Virginia Tech in Tom Herrion’s first game as the head coach at Marshall.

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Game Notes | Gametracker | Media Guide

Marshall's ambitious slate opens with NCAA tournament team - Alabama State

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Marshall will play a dozen games this season against teams that competed in last year's NCAA Tournament. There are, of course, Big East basketball behemoths like Syracuse, West Virginia and Cincinnati that Herd Coach Tom Herrion confidently added to an ambitious schedule.

There are lesser-known 2010 Big Dancers like Belmont, which Marshall plays twice - and that won 30 games last season - and Akron, a 23-win team a year ago. Then there is tonight's Henderson Center visitor: Alabama State.

A perk of Marshall's continued involvement with the Global Sports Shootout is that the program gets to feast on three relative unknowns before traveling elsewhere to take on a big dog.

In this year's event, the Herd will start with Alabama State, Jacksonville State and Northwestern State before playing at No. 21 Cincinnati on Nov. 25. The first three opponents averaged 13.3 wins last season and none finished with an RPI higher than 237.

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ASU men's basketball: Hornets open at Marshall tonight

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- The quest for another Southwestern Athletic Conference championship for the Alabama State men's basketball team begins tonight at Marshall University. Tipoff has been schedule for 6:30.

The Hornets will be led by seventh-year head coach Lewis Jackson, who has welcomed eight newcomers to team with a solid core of six returnees from the conference championship squad. He said he is ready to see this team hit the floor.

"It is always good to get the season kicked off," Jackson said. "We are excited and we have a group of guys that always seem eager to get on the floor. We are just excited about this opportunity."

ASU was able to defeat Fort Valley State 65-57 in an exhibition game to open the season. Kenderek Washington led the way with 21 points and Jeff Middlebrooks added 13 and freshman Luther Page had 10.

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Alabama State 28, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 12: Hornets maintain SWAC East lead

PINE BLUFF, Ark. -- Tim Clark rushed for a career-high 106 yards and three touchdowns, and Alabama State spoiled Arkansas-Pine Bluff's homecoming game with a 28-12 win Saturday.

"Tim has that type of ability," ASU head coach Reggie Barlow said. "He's an elusive runner, protects well, and is a smart guy. He's one of our team leaders and I'm happy he played well today. He had a long run for us and those are the type plays we are going to need from these guys as we finish the season."



Devin Dominguez added 254 passing yards and a 51-yard touchdown pass to Nehemiah Henry for the Hornets (7-2, 7-1), who stayed in first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference's East division.

"This week we were really focused and wanted to come back out and put a good game together," ASU head coach Reggie Barlow said. "I thought in all three phases we did some positive things and we were able to come away with a victory."




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Game Notes: Alabama State Hornets vs. UAPB Golden Lions

Alabama State University vs. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Time: Today, 2:30 p.m.
Where: Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Listen Live on 90.7 WVAS FM
Alabama State Game Notes
2011 Hornet Football Media Guide

THE GAME: The Alabama State Hornets will play their final road game of the season when they face the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions in
a battle of two teams looking to get back on the winning track.

THE SERIES: This is the 13th meeting between the Hornets and Golden Lions, with Alabama State leading 7-5. Alabama State has won six straight meetings between the teams, including last season’s 38-31 win in Montgomery.

LAST TIME OUT: Both teams lost last week. Alabama State had a nine-game SWAC winning streak end, losing to Alabama A&M 20-19. UAPB lost at home to Grambling State 27-20.

STILL IN THE HUNT FOR THE EAST CROWN: The Hornets’ loss to the Bulldogs
last week puts Alabama State in the position to win and need help to repeat
as Eastern Division champions. The Hornets need to finish ahead of Alabama
A&M in the standings to win the title, as the Bulldogs hold the head-to-head
tie breaker over Alabama State.

LAST ROAD GAME:  This Saturday’s game in Arkansas is the final contest
outside the state of Alabama for the 2011 season. The Hornets will conclude
the regular season schedule with home games vs. Southern Nov. 12 and
Tuskegee in the Turkey Day Classic Nov. 24.

POLL POSITIONS: After ascending to the top of several Black College Football poll at the beginning of October, last week’s loss moved the Hornets from the top spot. Alabama State is now ranked second in the Urban News Poll, fourth in the HSRN.com poll, fifth in the Boxtorow.com media poll, and sixth in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network poll. After being ranked 16th last week, Alabama State fell out of the FCS Sports Network/Fathead.com Top 25.



NOTABLES
• QB Devin Dominguez’ 59-yard touchdown run was the longest of his career
and the longest rushing play of the season for Alabama State.
• WR Nick Andrews had the fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season and
his 134 receiving yards was his third-highest total of the season. Andrews’
nine receptions was one short of his career high.
• FS Kejuan Riley has made interceptions in back-to-back games for the
second time this season (Sept. 17 vs. Grambling; Sept. 24 at Jackson State).
• With one takeaway against Alabama A&M, the Hornets have forced at
least one turnover in 27 straight games (73 takeaways over that time: 30
fumbles/43 INTs).
• LB Brandon Slater made a career-high 13 tackles, while CB Donovan
Masline made a season-high eight tackles.
• LB Demarques Taylor has made at least 10+ tackles in three consecutive
games.
• K/P Wenzig averaged 51.0 yards on three punts, including a season-long
69-yarder.

By Duane Lewis, Sports Information Director/Football, Alabama State University

Alabama State Hornets backup Dominguez ready if needed

Montgomery, Alabama -- Is it Greg Jenkins or Devin Dominguez? If Alabama State football coach Reggie Barlow knows the answer, he isn't saying. His choice of quarterback for Saturday's game at Arkansas-Pine Bluff remains a question mark, adding some mystery to the matchup.

"The plan is for Dominguez to get all of (the game plan)," Barlow said. "Greg is going to have to be 80 percent or better, and I don't know if he can get there. He was probably 50 percent this past weekend, so I don't foresee him being able to go."

The Hornets suffered their first Southwestern Athletic Conference loss last week in the Magic City Classic after Jenkins' recurring hip injury forced him to the bench in the first quarter. Barlow might have left Jenkins in the game had the Hornets lacked a capable backup, but with last season's starter Dominguez on the sideline, the head coach had an easy decision.

What's not easy is determining the future starter.



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Alabama State wins Battle of the Bands at the Magic City Classic

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Alabama A&M may have beaten Alabama State 20-19 in the 70th annual Magic City Classic at Legion Field today, but Alabama State claimed the Battle of the Bands title.

AT&T sponsored a contest in which game attendees could vote to decide who won the Battle of the Bands, and the Marching Hornets came away the victors. The prize was $1,500 for the school.

The 70,000-seat Legion Field was nearly full at halftime as the crowd roared for the two bands. The crowd appeared to be bigger at halftime than for the game itself.



















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Andrews aims for history: Receiver set to break ASU career mark

Montgomery, Alabama -- He's humble by anyone's standards, so it wasn't easy for Nick Andrews to stand in front of teammates and announce his individual goals.

The Alabama State senior receiver was one of a handful head coach Reggie Barlow called on after an August practice, asking the player to step forward and tell teammates of his personal goals for 2011 as well as hopes for the Hornets this season.

Andrews spoke of returning to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game and completing the mission after losing to Texas Southern in 2010.



"At the end, I was like, 'My individual goal is to break his record,' " he said, referring to Barlow's career receiving yard standard at Alabama State. "He told (offensive coordinator Fred) Kaiss, 'If he breaks my record, this is your senior year, too.'

"We joke about that all the time."

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Magic City Classic a fierce rivalry

Birmingham, Alabama -- There are a number of rivalries in college football on every level. However, there are very few if any like the one between Alabama State and Alabama A&M.

Alabama State is in Montgomery. Alabama A&M is in Huntsville. The two school get together annually in Birmingham at Legion Field for the Magic City Classic. When Alabama State clashes with Alabama A&M on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU, 10:30 p.m. ET on tape delay), this will be 70 years for this legendary black college classic. Moreover, they're expecting 70,000 fans at the game.

This is actually, the 75th meeting between the rivals, the 70th in the Magic City Classic. Alabama A&M leads the overall series 36-35-3. The Bulldogs also lead the series in the Magic City Classic, 35-31-3. Last season, Alabama State ended a five-game losing streak to Alabama A&M with a 31-10 victory.



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ASU Football: Magic City Classic may go down to the wire

Birmingham, Alabama -- One team starts off fast, then cruises to victory in the final period. Their opponent starts off slow, then scores points in a fourth-quarter flurry. Don't walk away from the 70th Magic City Classic in the third quarter on Saturday. It may not be settled until the final play.

Alabama State has taken the Southwestern Athletic Conference by storm, running out to a 6-0 conference record with a fast-strike offense and a defense that ranks among the nation's best in forcing turnovers.

Quietly, Alabama A&M has been one step behind, overcoming an early loss to Southern with four consecutive conference wins, three coming in the final minutes of each game.

"They're making plays at the end," ASU football coach Reggie Barlow said. "They're playing the type of football that coach (Anthony) Jones wants them to play. They're running it well, they're playing good defense and special teams and they're not making a lot of mistakes."



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Turnovers help Alabama State stay atop conference

Montgomery, Alabama -- As a native of Montgomery, Ala., and an Alabama State alumnus, fifth-year coach Reggie Barlow knows full well that times have rarely been higher at his alma mater.

A new field house is up and running. Steel beams are rising on a state-of-the-art on-campus football stadium, which is scheduled to open late next year.

And right now, the Hornets haven’t lost a game in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. Yet as the next game approaches, Barlow is concerned. He usually is. Such is life in the SWAC.

“I don’t think there’s one team in this league to where you can say, ￔOh, they’re so much better than everybody else,’” Barlow said. “So everybody has to play.”




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Alabama State Hornets in football national polls

Montgomery, Alabama -- Alabama State's 43-29 win over Texas Southern propelled the Hornets into The Sports Network's Football Championship Subdivision rankings for the first time in the school's history.

The Hornets (5-1) are ranked 24th after running their record to 5-0 versus FCS schools, with their only loss coming in the second week to Football Bowl Subdivision member Eastern Michigan. Southwestern Athletic Conference members occasionally crack the Top 25 in The Sports Network poll, but it is the first time a SWAC team has been ranked this early in the season since Alabama A&M made the rankings on Sept. 10 and Sept. 17 in 2007.

Hornet placekicker Bobby Wenzig also earned The Sports Network national special teams player of the week honors after scoring 19 points and making all five field goals he attempted at Texas Southern.




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Alabama State improves to 5-1 with 43-29 win over Texas Southern

HOUSTON, Texas -- A 21-point third-quarter keyed by special teams propelled Alabama State to a 43-29 win over Texas Southern in a wild Southwestern Athletic Conference shootout at Delmar Stadium in a rematch of last season's SWAC Championship Game. [Stats]

The Hornets (5-1 overall, 5-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) are off to their best start since the 2005 season and scored 30+ points for the fourth time this season, all victories.

"It's a huge win for us," head coach Reggie Barlow said. "There's so much parity in this league and we have other teams on the East that are winning and having success. It's going to come down to the wire. A team that has no losses or one loss is the team that has the best chance to go to the SWAC Championship."



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Alabama State beats Alcorn State 31-23

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Greg Jenkins passed for a career-high 297 yards and three touchdowns and Nick Andrews became the all-time school leader in receiving touchdowns as Alabama State held off Alcorn State 31-23 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game Saturday night at Cramton Bowl.

Alabama State (4-1 overall, 4-0 SWAC) is the lone undefeated team in the conference, improving to 4-0 for the first time since 2005. Alcorn State (1-4, 1-4) lost its fourth game by a margin of eight points or less this season.


Highlights, interviews as Alabama State beats Alcorn State 31-23. Courtesy Alabama State University Athletics

Tied 10-10 at halftime, the Hornets scored touchdowns on consecutive possessions to take the lead for good. Jenkins' nine-yard touchdown run gave Alabama State the lead for good at 17-10 with 11:40 remaining in the third quarter. Andrews' 16-yard touchdown catch gave the Hornets a 23-10 lead with 6:13 to play in the quarter.




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Game preview: Alabama State at Jackson State

When: 4 p.m. today
Where: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, Miss.
Records: ASU (2-1, 2-0 SWAC); Jackson State (3-0, 1-0 SWAC)
On the air: TV -- none; Radio -- WVAS-FM 90.7

FOUR-DOWN TERRITORY

1. Jackson State ranks second in the conference in total defense, in part because of a solid defensive front that makes the Tigers a formidable group against both the run and the pass.

"They're huge in the middle," Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow said. "That's going to be a big challenge being able to run the ball on these guys. We haven't rushed the ball particularly well anyway and now you've got a big stout defensive front with big linebackers. We're going to have to create some other running opportunities."

2. The Hornets had their hands full last year trying to defend Jackson State quarterback Casey Therriault, and they'll face the same daunting task again today.

"He's about as good as we've seen over the last few years in the conference," Barlow noted. "He's a pinpoint passer and has some receivers to throw to. They've got a real good scheme. It's patented for him. We're really going to have to be on top of things as far as coverage to have a chance of success against them."



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ASU Hornets Make Statement, Beat Grambling

Montgomery, AL - Nick Andrews caught nine passes for a career-high 148 yards and two touchdowns and Kejuan Riley made two pivotal interceptions as Alabama State defeated Grambling State 31-17 Saturday night in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game at Cramton Bowl.

Andrews' 15-yard touchdown catch from QB Greg Jenkins in the fourth quarter broke a 10-10 tie as the Hornets (2-1 overall, 2-0 SWAC) scored 21 points in a 2:30 span to pull away from Grambling State (1-2, 1-1).

“This was a great win for our team,” head coach Reggie Barlow said. “It was exciting. We knew it would be a pivotal game and we talked to them about it. These guys are buying into the vision and playing hard.”

Andrews' second touchdown of the night continued his ascent up the ASU receiving charts. Andrews now has 22 touchdown receptions, moving him to third all time, as he surpassed William Evans and Damon Hodge (each with 21).

Jenkins came off the bench in the second half, completing seven of 12 passes for 59 yards and one touchdown. Jenkins also rushed for a 16-yard touchdown two plays after the first of Riley's two interceptions.

“This was a great win for us as a program,” Andrews said. “The fans came out strong, they were great. We started off slow in the first half, but kept the ball moving all night. I just think the execution improved in the second half and we were able to come away with the victory.”

Alabama State rolled up 399 yards total offense, limiting Grambling to 177 yards. GSU quarterback D.J. Williams completed nine of 22 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns, both to Mario Louis, who caught four passes for 46 yards.

“It was a huge night for us,” Riley said. “We had a good plan, did what our coaches instructed and played hard. We knew we had to get off the field, make plays for offense and put them in position to make plays and win the ball game.”

Tied at 10-10 early in the third quarter, Barlow inserted Jenkins in at quarterback, who did not start after suffering a hip injury at Eastern Michigan last week.

“Jenkins is our guy,” Barlow said. “We love Dominguez; he's a good player for us and it's good to have an option like Dominguez. We're excited that we could have Jenkins go in. We just wanted to make sure he was ok and he could protect himself. Obviously he was able to do that, we decided to go with him and he performed well.”

The win by Alabama State was the first over Grambling since 2006 and the first in Montgomery since 1997.

“Grambling was the team that was picked to win the league. We wanted to see how we measured up. It was the same attitude we had against Eastern Michigan, and the same attitude we had against these guys. We knew it was going to be a fight. We were (7-25) against them, so we haven't had a lot of success against them. Obviously, this does something for these guys' psyche to dominate the way that we did.”

By Alabama State University Sports Information

Alabama State aims to change fortunes vs. GSU

Montgomery, AL -Listening to Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow could lead you to believe Grambling was the team taking the field Saturday in Montgomery, Ala., that had been in last December's SWAC title game.

In actuality, Texas Southern ended the Tigers' season in November and clinched the Western Division, then dismissed the Hornets for the championship. Barlow still sees Grambling and coach Doug Williams, returning to the program after a seven-season hiatus, as one of the kings of the SWAC castle he and his team are trying to storm.

"If you wanna be the best and you wanna be tops in the conference, you always have to go by who's the big-time program and who's had the success," Barlow said. "Grambling's name speaks for itself.

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Eastern Michigan beats Alabama State Hornets 14-7

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Dominique Sherrer ran for a touchdown and Eastern Michigan piled up 336 rushing yards on the way to a 14-7 victory over Alabama State on Saturday.

Sherrer finished with 111 yards on 16 carries, while Javonti Greene ran 22 times for 146 yards for the Eagles (2-0), who held Alabama State of the FCS to minus-13 yards rushing. Eagles quarterback Alex Gillett ran for 74 yards -- including a 58-yard run that set up Sherrer's 6-yard score in the third quarter -- and threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Nick Olds for the game's only first-half points.

The Hornets offense moved the ball often into Eagles' territory but could score just once time in five drives. The Hornets (1-1) got on the board on Devin Dominguez's 22-yard pass to T.C. McWilliams. Defensively, ASU allowed just two scoring drives and made two takeaways.

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Eastern Rushing Offense Rolls in 14-7 Win

YPSILANTI, Mich. ­— The Eastern Michigan University football team combined a strong rushing game with a stingy defensive effort to record a 14-7 win over a visiting Alabama State University team here Saturday afternoon, Sept.10, in Rynearson Stadium.

The victory gave Head Coach Ron English's Eagles a perfect 2-0 record to start the season, the first time since the 1989 campaign that an EMU football squad won its first two games to start a season.

The EMU rushing game was high energy for the second week in a row with both senior tailback Dominique Sherrer (Cincinnati, Ohio-Colerain) and sophomore tailback Javonti Greene (West Palm Beach, Fla.-Royal Palm Beach) each going over the century mark with Greene gaining 146 yards on 22 rushes and Sherrer adding 111 yards on 16 rushes.

In addition to the two tailbacks, junior quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) added 74 yards rushing on eight carries. Gillett completed 7-of-19 passes for 61 yards and one score.

Both Sherrer and Greene also had 100-plus yards yards last weekend, Sept. 4, in EMU's season-opening win over Howard University.

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Box score.
Photo Gallery.
Re-Watch the Game.

Eastern Michigan Eagles hosts Alabama State Hornets

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- With a season-opening 41-9 victory over Howard University under its belt, the Eastern Michigan University football team turns its attention to Alabama State University. Saturday's, Sept. 10, kickoff is scheduled for 1:06 p.m. at Rynearson Stadium.

The Eagles and the Hornets are meeting for the first time on the gridiron. In fact, Eastern Michigan has never played a team from the state of Alabama in its 120-year history. Meanwhile, Alabama State, the reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division champions, will be playing its first Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) opponent.

STRIVING FOR A 2-0 START: Eastern Michigan will look for its first 2-0 start to a campaign since the 1989 season, when the then-Hurons downed Kent State University, Sept. 2, and Youngstown State University, Sept. 9. That season the Eagles posted a 5-0-1 record through its first six games en route to a 7-3-1 finish.

COACH ENGLISH: EMU Head Coach Ron English got to sing the fight song and celebrate a victory at home following the 32-point decision over Howard, Sept. 4. It also marked the first time under the Eagles' third-year mentor that the Green and White held a team under 250 yards of total offense, limiting the Bison to just 201 yards (96 rush; 105 pass). Conversely, Eastern Michigan rolled up 441 total yards of offense, including 326 yards rushing, and advanced into Howard territory on 10 of its 14 drives.

WINNING STREAK: The Eagles have posted a 7-3 record against Football Championship Subdivision opponents since the 2001 campaign. However, EMU is currently riding a three-game winning streak that includes a 38-15 decision over Howard, Sept. 22, 2007, a 52-0 victory over Indiana State, Aug. 28, 2008, and a 41-9 win against Howard, Sept. 4, 2011.

During the 10-game span, the Green and White have averaged 31.2 points and 416.1 total yards of offense per game, while giving up an average of 22.0 points and 356.8 yards per contest.

WINNING STREAK: The Eagles have posted a 7-3 record against Football Championship Subdivision opponents since the 2001 campaign. However, EMU is currently riding a three-game winning streak that includes a 38-15 decision over Howard, Sept. 22, 2007, a 52-0 victory over Indiana State, Aug. 28, 2008, and a 41-9 win against Howard, Sept. 4, 2011.

During the 10-game span, the Green and White have averaged 31.2 points and 416.1 total yards
of offense per game, while giving up an average of 22.0 points and 356.8 yards per contest.

Click Here for the Complete Release.
Click Here to Watch the Game.
Click Here to Listen to the Game.
Click Here for Live Stats.

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ASU Hornets hyped in taking on MAC team

Montgomery, AL - It's not the type of big-name opponent you would circle on the schedule. But Alabama State's trip this weekend to face Eastern Michigan represents the first time the Hornets have ever ventured out of the state to face a Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) opponent.

It gives the reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division champions a chance to gauge their brand of football with a team from other regions of the country.

"It's a good opportunity, not only for the program, but as individuals you want to compare yourself to those type of guys that are playing at a bigger level," said Hornets receiver Nick Andrews. "You want to see how well you match up with those guys. It means a lot more. In the SWAC, we're basically at a lower level, so they're looking down on us since we're a historically black college. We just have to go out there and play football," Andrews said.

The two teams have never met in any sport, but ...

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ASU coach Reggie Barlow preps hornets for Mississippi Valley

GREENWOOD, Mississippi -- The Alabama State University football team held a one-hour walkthrough practice at Pillow Academy Friday afternoon as Saturday's 2011 season opener at Mississippi Valley State approaches tomorrow at 5 pm.

The game can be heard live on 90.7 WVAS-FM in Montgomery and can be seen live over the internet free of charge on www.swac.org. Hornets Football Gameday Central on www.bamastatesports.com will have links for live stats, live radio and live video.

The Hornets departed Montgomery shortly after 8:30 a.m. Friday to a rousing sendoff by the ASU campus students, faculty, staff, band and cheerleaders. After arriving around 2:30 p.m., the Hornets departed to the nearby school for practice.

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Alabama State at
Mississippi Valley State

Saturday, Sept. 3
5 p.m.

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Checking in on Alabama State University stadium construction

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- As the first footprints of Alabama State University’s future football stadium begin to surface, it’s hard not to be taken back by the canyon-like crater hiding behind mounds of sand on the far side of campus.

Even in the stadium’s current barebones state, the 50-foot deep, 20-acre wide hole that sits on the site serves as an indicator of just how big the stadium will be.

The 8-story stadium, set to be completed by fall 2012, will seat 30,000 people and will be easily visible from I-85. Once completed, it will be the biggest stadium in the River Region.

“This stadium will be unlike any other stadium in the country and will have significant impact on the Hornet community,” said Kippy Tate, ASU’s vice president of buildings and grounds. “Its all about enhancing the game day experience for the fans.”

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