Showing posts with label Alabama State University Hornets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alabama State University Hornets. Show all posts

Friday, March 11, 2011

Alabama State, Texas Southern primed for SWAC semifinal showdown

GARLAND, TX – Alabama State primed itself for a showdown with No. 1 seed Texas Southern by handling Alabama A&M, 81-61, in Thursday’s quarterfinals of the Farmers Insurance SWAC Tournament.

Alabama State opened up a 20-point lead midway through the second half and had four players score in double figures, led by Tramaine Butler with 21. Alabama State shot 60.9 percent in the second half and finished with a 40-24 rebounding edge.

Fourth-seeded Alabama State (15-17) will meet Texas Southern in the semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday at the Special Events Center. Alabama State handed Texas Southern (19-11) one of its two losses in SWAC play, 60-48, on Feb. 28 in Montgomery.

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Friday, March 4, 2011

Alabama State Upsets JSU; Wins Eighth Straight

JACKSON, Miss. – The Alabama State Men's basketball won its eighth game in succession with a 63-53 victory over Jackson State. It was a significant game in regards to seeding for the Southwestern Athletic Tournament. ASU (14-16, 11-6) now moves into third place in the standings. JSU falls to 15-14 overall and 11-6 in the conference.

ASU forced the Tigers into its lowest scoring output in conference play “We wanted to make them take tough shots”. Head coach Lewis Jackson said. We fought hard on the boards, made our free throws when they counted, and that was the difference”.

Two months ago in the conference opener, JSU prevailed in overtime 58-52. ASU missed 21 free throws in that game.

Tyrone Hansen entered the contest for JSU as the third leading scorer in SWAC. Despite 14 first half points from Hanson, ASU only trailed by two points at halftime 30-28. Hansen would go on to score a game high 21 points.



JSU (53), Alabama State (63)

JACKSON, Miss. - The Jackson State men's basketball team fell 63-53 to the Alabama State Hornets Monday night in Southwestern Athletic Conference action at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center.

With the loss JSU falls to a 15-14 overall record and an 11-6 conference mark. Alabama State improves to a 14-16, 11-6 record.

Tyrone Hanson came off the bench to score a game-high 21 points to lead JSU. Jenirro Bush followed with 11 points. Tremayne Moorer led ASU with 16 points and Chris Duncan added 10.

Final Stats

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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

ASU men's basketball defeats hot Texas Southern in SWAC play

ASU Hornets Coach Lewis Jackson
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama State University men's basketball team defeated the red-hot Texas Southern 60-48 Monday night in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, extending the Hornets' winning streak to seven.

The Hornets shot 49 percent from the field and held Texas Southern to just 32 percent shooting. Senior Tramayne Moorer led ASU with 14 points, followed by Kenderek Washington's 12 points and Ivory White's 10. ASU also outrebounded TSU 34-27.

Alabama State Lady Hornets Drop Texas Southern

Montgomery, Ala. – The Alabama State (7-20, 4-12) Women's basketball team ended a four game losing streak by defeating Texas Southern (5-22, 3-13). The final from the Dunn-Oliver Acadome was 61-41. The win gives the Lady Hornets a much needed boost in order to solidify the 8th and final seed for the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament next week.

ASU led 22-17 at halftime holding TSU to under 30 percent shooting from the field. Meanwhile, the Lady Hornets shot 45 percent for the game.

Defense was the difference in the contest. In fact, ASU led 53-37 with three minutes to play. They also forced 29 TSU turnovers. “I feel like if we can continue to play like we did tonight and finish the season strong, we can make some strides leading into post season play”. Head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson said.

Tanika Jackson, who played her final game as a Lady Hornets on the home floor led all scorers with 20 points 14 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 assist.

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Monday, February 28, 2011

SWAC track and field: Grambling, Alabama State win titles

Baton Rouge, La. - The second day of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Indoor Championship Track and Field Championships featured few surprises in the team competitions, but an overflow of meet records kept things interesting.

Alabama State’s women and Grambing State’s men began the day leading their respective team competitions, and both ran away with comfortable wins Sunday afternoon at LSU’s Carl Maddox Field House.

The Grambling men totaled 173 1/3 points, enough to easily surpass Jackson State’s second- place tally of 91. Alabama State was third with 81 1/3 points.

On the women’s side, Alabama State scored a winning total of 151 points. Prairie View was next with 103 points, and Jackson State was third at 79.

Lady Hornets Win Indoor Track and Field Championship; Men Finish Third

BATON ROUGE, La.—The Alabama State University women's track and field team had a commanding 33 point lead heading into today's final round, and did nothing but expand that lead as they won the SWAC Indoor Track and Field Championship with a combined 151 points. Prairie View was the second closest team in the points with 103.

Kesia Derilus took home Most Outstanding Performer honors as she led the Lady Hornets in scoring with 29 individual points. She had a championship in the 3,000 meter run, finished second in the mile run, third in the5,000 meter run and fourth in the 800 meter run.

Head coach Ritchie Beene took home the Coach of the Year Honors.

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Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Reggie Barlow turns down NFL opportunity to remain at Alabama State

Coach Barlow is secure with new 4-year deal with Hornets
For the second time in four years, Alabama State football coach Reggie Barlow has turned down an offer to join the staff of an NFL team.

Barlow, a member of the 2002 Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, turned down an offer from the Denver Broncos and coach Mike Shanahan in 2007.

He repeated his action over the weekend, turning down an offer made by new San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh. Barlow, 38, declined a chance to be an assistant to receivers coach John Morton. Morton was Barlow's position coach during his stint with the Oakland Raiders.

A former standout receiver at Alabama State, Barlow took over as head coach in 2007 and has compiled...

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Monday, January 31, 2011

Hornets' nest: New Alabama State football complex creates buzz during recruiting period

Every recruiting class is important, but as Alabama State rebuilds its program from NCAA sanctions and losing records, head football coach Reggie Barlow has felt the need to put the program's best foot forward when it entertains recruits.

"In the past, I thought our presentation to our recruits was outstanding," Barlow said. "They'd stay in a nice hotel, we'd feed them a nice meal, our campus is always nice, but you could feel the energy being sucked out of them when we had to pull up to the trailer."

"The trailer," as he calls it, has been home to the football program for the past several years. But those days are nearing an end as the university puts the finishing touches on its sparkling new $7 million football complex. The building was originally slated for completion in January, but delays pushed the opening back a month. In the meantime, recruits tour...

PHOTO GALLERIES

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Monday, January 24, 2011

SU women beat ASU for fourth straight victory

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Defense, rebounding and strong guard play helped the Southern women’s basketball team in a 50-41 victory at Alabama State on Saturday night, extending the Jaguars’ winning streak to four games. Now, it’s on to Alabama A&M and a showdown for control of the Southwestern Athletic Conference race.

Saturday night in the Dunn-Lover Acadome, for the seventh time in seven conference games, Southern shot below 40 percent from the floor — but the Jaguars, as usual, made sure their 50 points were enough.

Southern (9-8, 6-1) forced 20 turnovers and owned a 33-25 advantage in rebounds against Alabama State (4-13, 1-5). The Lady Hornets got 14 points from Tanika Jackson and 10 points from Erica Henderson, but six of their 11 players went scoreless.

ASU falls short, Moorer or less

Former Central-Hayneville standout Tramayne Moorer returned to the Alabama State lineup for just the second time this season Saturday.

He responded with only the third double-double by a Hornet this season, scoring a team-high 11 points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds. But it wasn't enough, as the Hornets lost to Southern 64-52 at Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

For Moorer, it's a double dose of frustration. Sidelined for all but one game of his second and third years at ASU with a broken kneecap and a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, he was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA to play this season.

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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Alabama State football: Deal for Barlow is near

The winter recruiting period can be the most challenging time for a head football coach, especially for one working without a contract.

"That's how you lose them," Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said. "I've been asked about that in almost every home visit I've been on. I'm thinking, I know you 18-year-olds aren't reading the newspaper, who's been telling you this?"

Both sides have completed their negotiations to extend Barlow's tenure as the Hornets' head coach, a move which would end any advantage opposing coaches might have in the recruiting field and turn it into an advantage for the Hornets. The paperwork currently is in the hands of Alabama State's attorneys, who are finalizing details on a new contract for the Montgomery native.

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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Alabama State University student-athletes get it done with high GPAs in the classroom

While Alabama State University athletic programs see plenty of individual success on courts and fields, much of it is equaled in classrooms on campus. Following the fall semester, 95 student-athletes had attained grade point averages of 3.0 or higher, according to the university.

Five student-athletes had a perfect 4.0 GPA while 29 others attained a 3.5 or higher.

The SWAC Eastern Division Champion football team led the way with 15 members reaching that mark while the softball team had 12 and the baseball team had 11. The soccer team had 10 student-athletes with a 3.0 or higher.

95 Student-Athletes Receive 3.0 GPA or Higher in Fall Semester

MONTGOMERY, AL — There have been several strong performances for the Alabama State University athletic programs so far this season, and that performance can also be seen in the classroom. Following the fall semester 95 student-athletes had attained grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.

Five of those student-athletes attained a perfect 4.0 gpa and another 29 student-athletes attained a gpa of 3.5 or higher.

The SWAC Eastern Division Champion football team led the way with 15 members of the team reaching that mark. The softball team had 12 team members and the baseball team had 11 members attain the mark while soccer had 10 student-athletes with a 3.0 or higher gpa.

Several teams with smaller squad sizes had a high percentage of the student-athletes attain the mark such as seven members of the men's golf team and five members of the women's golf team.

Men's tennis, women's basketball and volleyball all had five team members with high gpa's while men's track had six members and women's track had seven members with solid gpa's.

Bowling (three), women's tennis (two) and men's basketball (two) also had student-athletes reach a 3.0 or better gpa.

Below are the student-athletes that have attained the 3.0 and higher gpa.

Baseball                                                 Women's TrackJahmal Brooks                                       Jamie Brooks
Ronald Frost                                          Quayana Browne
Kyle Granger                                          Courtney Gooch
Jourdan Mott                                           Tokeyah Jones
Trent Popp                                              Breana Kelly
Josue Quinnoes                                      Melissa Romelus
Drew Quinney                                        Shanice Mells
Anthony Ricciardi                                  SoccerMitchell Smith                                        Alex Ayers
Rashad Snell                                          Samantha Bruno
Marc Threet                                            Jordan Creel
Women's Basketball                           Melissa Douglas
Yahindra Edwards                                Stephanie Howard
Jasmine Evans                                      Dominique Humphrey
Erica Henderson                                    Lenna Lamas
Tanika Jackson                                      Franka Schauss
Talaih Robertson                                    Jasmine Wilson

Volleyball                                                Helma Von Zadow
Deidra Byner
                                           Football
Roselande Corneille                              John Andrews
Genise Fletcher                                      Nick Andrews
Jessica Lindsey                                     Daquandra Campbell
Ana Pego                                                 Tim Clark
Bowling                                                    Drequay Everette
Jessica Ledbetter                                   David Hate
Paige Roquemore                                  Carlton Jones
Briana Wells                                            Saeed Lee
Women's Golf                                         Lorenzo Leonard

Amelie Buhl
                                             Andrew Lyons
Taaj Hubbard                                          Zachery Meadows
Danielle Robinson                                Tuipulotu Ofahulu
D'Anrrielle Robinson                             Montavious Paulk
Jessica Williams                                    Corey Schofield
Men's Golf                                               Gregory Smith
Scott Benson                                          Softball
Anthony Dadamo                                   Courtney Crossley
Joseph Killebrew                                   Meagan Dixon
John Montgomery                                  Ayesha Famble
Joseph Morrison                                    Quayanna Forte'
Corey Price                                             Mercedes Frazier
Sam Strachan                                         Ariel Gainey
Men's Tennis                                          Amanda Gracia
Joshua Donaldson                                 Boshia Richardson
Clifford Frazier                                      Brehanna Rodrigues
Jonathan Freeman                                Megan Surovik
Alexis Pierre                                            Brittany Webb
Kevin Tan                                                Tiffany Wooden
Women's Tennis
Shenice Rawlins
Shameka Williams
Men's Basketball
Harvey Dwayne
Ivan Johnson
Men's Track
Jeffery Adams
Vincent Butler
Joaquin Dugan
Christopher Duncan
Jonathan Franklin
Kekei Jephtah

Courtesy: Alabama State University Sports Information Director
 Darrell Orand

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Saturday, December 11, 2010

SWAC Championship: Title game is rematch for Alabama State University and Texas Southern

Television: 1 PM CT, ESPN Classic
Internet: ESPN3.com

Much has changed since an early October meeting between Al­abama State and Texas Southern. The quarterback situations are more stable. The coaches are bet­ter settled. The one constant: Texas South­ern's fierce defensive line contin­ues to terrorize.

"Their D-line is tops in our con­ference, and shucks, I'd put them up there with anybody else in any other conference," Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said this week. "They get to the quarterback and they get a lot of sacks."

For Alabama State to win its first Southwestern Athletic Conference title since 2004 when the two teams meet today at 1 at Legion Field, its offensive line must con­tain Texas Southern, the nation's leader in sacks and tackles for loss per game.

TSU: QB Arvell Nelson Will Not Be Allowed to Play in SWAC Title Game

Birmingham, Ala. - FOX 26 Sports has learned the Texas Southern Tigers will play Alabama State in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game Saturday without starting quarterback Arvell Nelson. TSU athletics officials have chosen not to allow Nelson to play.

In a statement from the school's athletics department, released to FOX 26 Sports, TSU explained its position, but did not go into detail.

"Texas Southern University has discovered issues regarding TSU quarterback Arvell Nelson and his ability to participate in the SWAC Championship game. Because of concerns, the university has decided not to allow Nelson to play in the game. "This will be the only comment released by Texas Southern and its representatives on this issue at this time.



Cole eager to turn the page, hopes to lead Tigers to SWAC title

BIRMINGHAM, Al. - Texas Southern coach Johnnie Cole closed the chapter between him and Alabama State back in October when the Tigers downed the Hornets in Montgomery. Cole and his brother, L.C., had been fired by ASU officials following the 2002 season and he had never gotten over it.

After TSU downed ASU 21-7 back on Oct. 2, Cole said he no longer had an ax to grind. That was the before the Tigers and Hornets won their respective divisions in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and qualified for today's championship game at Legion Field. Kickoff is 1:05 and the game will be carried live on ESPN Classic.



TSU's shot at SWAC title a long time coming

Championship would be first in SWAC since 1968

At one point during Tuesday's send-off for Texas Southern, the seniors were allowed to address the energetic crowd of fans assembled at Durley Field on the TSU campus. When linebacker Dejuan Fulghum's turn came, he spoke for an entire class of seniors that previously could only dream of competing for a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.

"We've come a very long way," said Fulghum, this year's SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. "I've been here since the bad days, the 0-11 days. "There isn't any more of that at TSU."

The Tigers (8-3) ensured their former losing ways were a thing of the past by winning their final seven regular-season games to earn the program's first SWAC Western Division title and the right to challenge Alabama State (7-4) for the league championship today at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. One of those final seven wins was a 21-7 decision over Alabama State on Oct. 2.

TSU's Fulghum receives SWAC's top defensive honor



Cole named coach of the year

Texas Southern’s Dejuan Fulghum and Johnnie Cole hauled in two of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s biggest honors when they were named Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively, on Friday.

Fulghum, a senior linebacker, led the SWAC in sacks (nine) and was third in tackles (91) and tied with three others for sixth in tackles for loss (15). He also recorded an interception and two forced fumbles while helping TSU finish the regular season with the Football Championship Subdivision’s No. 2 defense.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” Fulghum said. “It was one of my individual goals as a player coming into this year, but I also have to attribute this award to our team’s success.”

With look of a champ, TSU vies for SWAC crown today

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tyler native Willie Hopkins came to Texas Southern University in 1953 to get an education, to play football and baseball - student athletes had to play two sports in those days to earn a scholarship — and to be part of a budding but already strong winning tradition.

Killeen-born Dejuan Fulghum came to TSU in 2007 to get an education, to play football — he didn't have any other college scholarship offers — and to be part of a program in which winning was an unfamiliar concept.

Hopkins joined a team that was the defending Negro national college champion. Fulghum, who was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year on Friday, started every game as a freshman on a team that played 11 games and lost 11 games.

Johnnie Cole Named Coach of the Year



BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Texas Southern coach Johnnie Cole was named the SWAC Football Coach of the Year as announced by the league office on Friday.

Cole has led his alma mater to its first-ever SWAC Championship Game berth and the first 8-win season at Texas Southern since 2000. The Tigers can tie the school record with a 9th win Saturday. Cole is finishing his 3rd season at TSU with a record of 18-16 with the Tigers. He is 33-32 in his 6th season as head coach for his career.

Solomon: TSU QB takes wrong turn, then finds his way

Arvell Nelson knows trouble when he sees it. He could look at an older brother, now in prison, or his best childhood friend, now on the same Ohio cell block as his brother, and see where street life would inevitably take you. No one thought Nelson would go that route.

But for some reason, after he had realized one of his dreams — becoming a scholarship athlete at a Big Ten school — Nelson started slipping.

The Cleveland native posed in silly but infamous photos posted on Facebook of teammates and him holding up cash and bottles of liquor. A few months later, in the spring of 2008, the then-19-year-old redshirt freshman was arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession and dismissed from the University of Iowa, where he would have contended for the starting job at quarterback that next season.

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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

TSU President Says SWAC Run a Renaissance

HOUSTON - Texas Southern University has made history. The football team won the Western Division title for the first time ever, but this run is not over. The Tigers will meet Alabama State battling for the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. TSU President Dr. John Rudley calls it a renaissance.

"We haven't had this kind of excitement for 42 years, since 1968. That's what it means to this school. All these years without having a sense of pride in your campus, always being put in a negative light. It's about time for Texas Southern to get in a positive light."

That sentiment is echoed by virtually everyone on campus, including head football coach and alumni Johnnie Cole. Cole tried to get the coaching job twice before. When he was hired last year, he made changes from the ground up.



'Second Chance U' appropriate nickname for TSU

Joseph Warren remembers receiving recruitment letters from Texas Southern during his days as a standout running back at Madison. He also remembers the trash cans those letters ended up in. "Back in the day, nobody wanted to come to TSU, even me," Warren said. "When I was in high school, I would get a letter from TSU and throw it away. I wasn't even trying to hear (about) TSU."

Given the atmosphere surrounding the TSU program at the time, Warren's indifference was understandable. When Warren graduated from Madison in 2005, TSU had just come off a disastrous 0-11 finish. Warren took three years off from football after leaving Madison, working a number of jobs to help support his mother. When the 5-10, 175-pounder returned to football in the spring of 2009, he found a home as a walk-on at TSU.

ASU, Texas Southern set to play for SWAC crown

The Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game is set for Saturday at Bir­mingham's Legion Field, but Texas Southern coach Johnnie Cole has already seen enough from the competition to anoint his team as the best HBCU team in college football.

"I think we're the best black college football team in the country," Cole said. "We've rolled off seven straight wins, we've dominated our confer­ence. When you look at confer­ence stats, we dominate on of­fense and defense. The only thing (that's less than domi­nant) is the passing. We play football the old way here, run and tackle on defense and on of­fense run the football."

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Alabama State (7-4) vs. Texas Southern (8-3)

DATE & TIME: Saturday, December 11, 2:05 p.m. ET.

FACTS & STATS: Event: SWAC Championship. Annual: 12th. Site: Legion Field (72,000) -- Birmingham, Alabama. Surface: Artificial Turf. Television: ESPN Classic. Announcers: Anish Shroff, Jay Walker, Charlie Neal. Home Record: Alabama State 4-2; Texas Southern 4-0. Away Record: Alabama State 2-2; Texas Southern 3-1. Neutral Record: Alabama State 1-0; Texas Southern 1-2. Current Win/Loss Streak: Alabama State 1L; Texas Southern 7W. Series Record: Tied, 11-11-2. Last Meeting: October 2, 2010 (Texas Southern, 21-7 at Alabama State). Series Streak: Alabama State has won six of the last eight meetings. Nicknames: Alabama State Hornets; Texas Southern Tigers. Sheridan Broadcasting Network Poll Rankings: Alabama State (10); Texas Southern (5). Heritage Sports Radio Network Poll Rankings: Alabama State (7); Texas Southern (3). Sports Network/Fathead.com Rankings: Alabama State (51); Texas Southern (31). All- Time Records: Alabama State (438-418-41); Texas Southern (242-308-15). Coaches: Alabama State - Reggie Barlow (19-25 at Alabama State and Overall); Texas Southern - Johnnie Cole (18-16 at Texas Southern, 33-32 Overall). SWAC Championship Record: Alabama State (1-2); Texas Southern (0-0).

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Alabama State facing former assistant coach Johnnie Cole in SWAC championship game

Nearly a decade ago, Johnnie Cole helped his older brother, L.C., resurrect the Alabama State football program. The younger Cole served as the team's offensive coordinator, and his High Octane, Big Offense (HOBO) immediately turned things around.

The Hornets claimed back-to-back SWAC Eastern Division championships in 2000 and 2001, but the school was charged with 668 NCAA rules violations, which led to the firing of the Cole brothers.

Now the head coach at Texas Southern (8-3), Johnnie Cole will face his old team when the Tigers take on Alabama State (7-4) in the SWAC championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Birmingham's Legion Field. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.

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Friday, November 26, 2010

Tuskegee holds off Alabama State to win Turkey Day Classic, 17-10

Tuskegee ends its season 9-2 and raises Coach Willie Slater record to 51-7 in five seasons with the Golden Tigers.  Tuskegee defeated both West and East SWAC champions --Texas Southern (8-3) and Alabama State (7-4) this season.

MONTGOMERY, AL -- Tuskegee quarterback Joshua Harris' 60-yard pass to wide receiver Antoine Mitchell keyed a fourth-quarter touchdown drive that ultimately gave the Golden Tigers a 17-10 win Thursday over Alabama State in the Turkey Day Classic at Cramton Bowl.

Three plays after his completion to Mitchell, Harris hit tight end Stephen Clements on a 2-yard touchdown pass to give the Golden Tigers a 17-3 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Tuskegee tops Alabama State in Turkey Day Classic

Montgomery, AL - Tuskegee won the oldest football classic among the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, beating Alabama State for the second straight year, 17-10, in the Turkey Day Classic at the Cramton Bowl.

Joshua Harris threw for a touchdown and Nykeem Barton rushed for one to power Division II Tuskegee (9-2), which completed a sweep of the Football Championship Subdivision teams that will play in the SWAC Championship Game on Dec. 12, Alabama State (7-4) and Texas Southern (8-3). The Golden Tigers extended their series lead over Alabama State to 60-33-4, including 48-31-3 in the Turkey Day Classic.

TURKEY DAY CLASSIC: TUSKEGEE 17, ALABAMA STATE 10: Efficient Harris leads Golden Tigers over Hornets

All week, Alabama State coaches and defenders said the key to beating Tuskegee in the 87th annual Turkey Day Classic was forcing Tuskegee quarterback Joshua Harris to beat the Hornets with his arm.

Harris was up to the challenge. The senior completed 11 of 22 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown to lead the Golden Tigers to a 17-10 win over the Hornets at Cramton Bowl on Thanksgiving Day. "He's been inconsistent at times, but I'm talking about a kid with thick skin," said Tuskegee coach Willie Slater. "He receives it and tries to get better. He made some big plays for us today, really big plays."

Photo Gallery:
Turkey Day Classic Parade
Tuskegee defeats ASU

TURKEY DAY NOTEBOOK: Is ASU-Tuskegee rivalry in jeopardy?

Tuskegee won the Turkey Day Classic for the 59th time in the 97-game series with Alabama State and for the 10th time in the last 12 meetings, but there is some talk that the series between the two rivals may be coming to an end.

It's not the first time the two sides haven't seen eye to eye, but Alabama State's plan to move the game to its campus in two years may factor into the Tigers' thoughts of quitting the rivalry. "That's beyond me," Tuskegee coach Willie Slater said. "I wouldn't want to speculate."

Tuskegee, a Division II school, forgoes an opportunity to participate in the NCAA Division II playoffs by playing the Turkey Day Classic. Skipping the Thanksgiving Day game could put the Tigers in a position to participate in the playoffs and compete for a national championship.

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ATTENDANCE: 17,882

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Alabama State looks for better Turkey Day Classic results vs. Tuskegee

Alabama State vs. Tuskegee, 3 p.m. CT, Television: ESPNU

Since 2005, Turkey Day Classic oppo­nents Alabama State and Tuskegee have entered the showdown with familiar fore casts beyond Thanksgiving. Tuskegee has traditionally been set to play in December's Pioneer Bowl -- the exception being 2008, when the Pioneer Bowl was canceled -- while Alabama State knew the annual game was its last of the season. At today's 3 p.m. kickoff in Montgomery, the roles are reserved.

Tuskegee (8-2) has lost its four-year hold on the Southern Intercollegiate Ath letic Conference title, while Alabama State (7-3) has secured a spot in the Dec. 11 Southwestern Athletic Conference cham pionship game in Birmingham. Despite the looming SWAC title showdown with Texas Southern, Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said he won't be holding back today.


Videographer: vbrot11 (Alabama State University Marching Hornets vs. SU , 2010)

Turkey Day Classic on ESPNU

Alabama State has beaten Tuskegee University only once in the past six Turkey Day Classics at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl — and that one win in 2008 was a controversial one when TU’s apparent winnng touchdown was ruled out of bounds, which photos showed was the wrong call.

Tuskegee has been the dominant team in recent years, having won 11 of the past 14 games after Alabama State reeled off 15 wins in 17 games from 1975 through 1995. The two teams didn’t play in 1991-92.

For the first time in years, Alabama State comes into the game on a roll with four straight victories to nail down a berth in the SWAC Championship Game December 11 as the conference’s East Division representative.

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Alabama State University to Build New Football Stadium

The Hornets new on campus stadium will boast 30,000 premium seats, corporate skyboxes and a $50 million price tag.

Alabama State University will begin constructing its new stadium in about six weeks.

ASU President William Harris announced during a Tuesday business and community breakfast held at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center that a bond issue to finance the project had recently been approved.

"We should have shovels in the ground in the next six weeks," he told an audience of enthusiastic ASU supporters who gathered at the breakfast as part of ASU's homecoming festivities this week.  The proposed ASU stadium project is a 30,000-seat, mixed use stadium ...

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87th Annual Turkey Day Classic & ASU Homecoming: Tuskegee Golden Tigers vs. Alabama State Hornets

TUSKEGEE (8-2) VS. ALABAMA STATE (7-3)

Kickoff: 3 p.m. Thursday

Facts and Figures - Site: Cramton Bowl (24,600) in Montgomery, Ala.; Records: Tuskegee, 8-2; Alabama State, 7-3. Television: ESPNU; Series record: Tuskegee leads, 59-33-4; Turkey Day Classic record: Tuskegee leads, 47-31-3; Conferences: Tuskegee, Division II SIAC; Alabama State, SWAC; Coaches: Tuskegee - Willie J. Slater (50-7 in five seasons); Alabama State - Reggie Barlow (19-22). Sheridan Poll Ranking: Tuskegee, 7; Alabama State, 10.

Golden Tigers to face Alabama State Hornets in 87th Annual Turkey Day Classic

Tuskegee, Ala. – The Tuskegee University Golden Tigers (8-2) will take on the Alabama State University Hornets (7-3) in the 87th Annual Turkey Day Classic on Thursday, Nov. 25 at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. This year's game will kick off at 3 p.m. CST.

The Golden Tigers and the Hornets have battled each other in what is considered the oldest football classic among Historically Black Colleges and Universities since 1924. Tuskegee leads the Turkey Day Classic series 47-31-3. The two teams have played each other 96 times since 1901, with Tuskegee leading the overall series 59-33-4. The 2009 game ended with the Golden Tigers winning 21-0.

ASU football coach Reggie Barlow a finalist for FCS coach of the year award

PHILADELPHIA -- Alabama State University head football coach Reggie Barlow has been named one of 20 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the Football Championship Series (FCS) national coach of the year.

Barlow has led the Hornets to a 7-3 overall record heading into the final regular season game of the season. He led ASU to a Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division Championship and a berth in the 2010 Farmers Insurance SWAC Football Championship Game on Dec. 11 in Birmingham.

HORNET HOMECOMING EVENTS

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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Alabama State defense stymies Southern

Southern quarterback Jeremiah McGinty learned a tough lesson during Saturday night’s 21-19 loss to Alabama State: What you see isn’t always what you get.

McGinty, who entered the Southwestern Athletic Conference game in the second quarter in hopes of sparking Southern’s offense, threw two interceptions — mistakes that free safety Kejuan Riley said his defense baited McGinty into attempting.

“I think he underestimated us,” said Riley, whose defense held McGinty and Dray Joseph to a combined 13 of 41 passing for 128 yards.

Penalty costs Southern in loss to Alabama State

At long last, toward the end of a long, ugly, disappointing season, they seemed ready to deliver in crunch time. Instead, like so many times before, the Southern Jaguars were done in by a piece of yellow fabric.

Saturday night, in the closing moments of their 21-19 loss against Alabama State, some 8,482 fans watched the Jaguars struggling offense put together a strong fourth-quarter scoring drive when they absolutely needed one. They scored with 16 seconds left. They came within a two-point conversion of tying the game.

McGinty nearly brings SU back in fourth quarter

There were improvements on the field this week despite the fact that Southern University seemed to do just enough to stay out of the win column for the fifth consecutive week. Penalties and special teams play haunted the Jaguars, who still got a standout defensive effort before falling to Alabama State 21-19 Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The offense, which struggled a week ago in a loss to Texas Southern, sputtered for a half, but produced two long fourth-quarter scoring drives. Starting quarterback Dray Joseph was lifted in the third quarter as Southern coach Stump Mitchell decided to shake up his lineup.

Southern takes eighth loss for first time since 1981

It’s been a long time since Southern had a record like this. And the Jaguars haven’t had a record like this very often. Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium, Alabama State handed SU its eighth loss this season with a 21-19 victory.

It is the first time Southern has lost eight games in one season since 1981, when the Jaguars went 3-8 in Otis Washington’s first year as coach. Washington went 8-3 the next season and finished 35-30-1 in six years as Southern’s coach.

Southern-Alabama State: How they scored

First quarter
SOUTHERN: LaQuinton Evans 9 pass from Dray Joseph (Josh Duran kick) at 10:09. DRIVE: 3 plays, 36 yards, 1:15. KEY PLAYS: A long punt return by Richard Wilson allows Southern to start at the ASU 36-yard line. Joseph hits wideout Corderious Gregory on a 27-yard gain down the seam. Evans scores on a simple slant pattern. Southern 7, Alabama State 0.

Late penalty costs Southern in 21-19 loss to Alabama State

BATON ROUGE -- Considering that Southern entered Saturday night's game against Alabama State last in the SWAC in penalties, it shouldn't be a surprise that penalties cost the Jaguars a win against the Hornets.

Southern (2-8, 1-7 SWAC) scored a touchdown with 16 seconds left, putting itself a two-point conversion from tying the score at 21. But fullback Brian McCain was called for a personal foul, pushing the Jaguars back 15 yards for their conversion try.

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ATTENDANCE: 8482



Videographer: Wayla2010

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Creighton Men's Basketball Stings ASU Hornets, 71-57, In Season-Opener

OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton used an 11-0 run early in the second half to break open a close game and pick up a 71-57 victory over Alabama State in the season-opener for both teams. The game was the first on the Creighton sideline for head coach Greg McDermott, hired in April to replace Dana Altman.

Antoine Young led Creighton with 21 points and a career-high seven rebounds, while freshman Doug McDermott had 16 points and seven rebounds in his Bluejay debut. Also in double-figures for the hosts were Jahenns Manigat with 12 pionts and Kenny Lawson Jr. with 11 points.

Alabama State was led by nine points from Kenderek Washington. The Hornets were 24-of-58 from the field, including 9-of-25 from three-point range.

McDermott Era Begins With 71-57 Win


Creighton used an 11-0 run early in the second half to break open a close game and pick up a 71-57 win over Alabama State in the season-opener for both teams. The game was the first on the Creighton sideline for Greg McDermott, hired in April to replace Dana Altman.

Antoine Young led Creighton with 21 points and a career-high seven rebounds while freshman Doug McDermott, Greg's son, had 16 points and seven rebounds in his Bluejay debut. Alabama State was led by nine points from Kenderek Washington. The Hornets were 24-of-58 from the field, including 9-of-25 from three-point range.

After building a 31-21 lead with four minutes to play in the first half, Alabama State scored nine straight points to get to within one point heading into the final minute. Two free throws by Young gave Creighton a 33-30 lead at intermission.

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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

First Murphy; Now Comegy; Who's Next?

Why does comedy shows on the HBCU campus during homecoming week always include comedians that have vocabularies that does not require a college education to understand? What are we really teaching the students/young adults if we put so-called professional comedians before them and pay them for dialogues laced with profanity?

I do recognize it really take skills to be funny, without the profanity and choice gutter adjectives.

Charlie Murphy's stand-up comedy performance at Grambling State on Wednesday evening clearly missed the mark as being first--funny, and second--entertaining. The dude maybe comedian Eddie Murphy's brother, but he is not funny nor does he present a positive image that I would want my children exposed to on any college campus.

What's more insulting is these types are commanding $22,000 or more in performance fees for their useless 1-2 hour presentations. Here is what appears to have happened based on the video clip posted on YouTube:

"After being booed by several students, Murphy, the brother of world-famous comedian and actor Eddie Murphy, shouted an expletive at the audience and dropped the $22,000 check given to him by the GSU Student Union Board for his performance and left the stage."


Videographer: IMTHEBESTINTHEHOOD

Next Snafu

On last Saturday evening, Jackson State University football coach Rick Comegy dropped 4 "F" words in a rapid fire 14 seconds on a local news reporter from Channel 12 in Montgomery, Alabama after the Alabama State Hornets squeaked past the JSU Tigers 32-30. Coach Comegy, as you can see was very angry with the SWAC game officials and their impact on the game's outcome.


Videographer: macbfac7312

I can understand and accept Comegy's outburst -- as he was caught up in the passion of the game and competition for a SWAC Championship. What's Charlie Murphy's excuse? A $22,000 pay day and he couldn't take a little booing from a spattering of fans that thought his material was weak....

Now, just my opinion--Coach Comegy was funnier than Charlie Murphy by ten country miles and he didn't get paid anywhere near $22,000 for this game or for his 14 seconds of Internet fame. I still don't want my children exposed to either tirade, but stuff like this happens in real life.

Before anyone gets the wrong ideal, it has been reported by reliable sources that Coach Comegy has provided an apology to the radio and television stations, the FCC and anyone else that care to listen. I can accept his apology and move on because Coach Comegy is very passionate about his work and the well-fair of his student-athletes.

Plus his delivery and quote is a Sports Center highlight of the decade. Charlie Murphy is not funny, except for those eyes! Coach Comegy is funny and entertaining.

As the commercial says, "want to get away?"

Caps off to you both---keep the laughs coming!

(beepbeep)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Lewis Jackson says ASU men will play up-tempo, better

Alabama State's basketball team was a disappointment in 2009-10, at least by coach Lewis Jackson's standards. The Hornets played too much half-court offense, couldn't finish plays around the basket or at the free-throw line and didn't rebound to his satisfaction.

"When I took the job, I wanted to be a team that was going to get up and down the floor," said Jackson, who is beginning his sixth year at his alma mater. "But last year I kind of got caught with some guys we thought would be able to play and they were unable to do it at that time."

Washington, Johnson Lead ASU Past Georgia Southwestern

MONTGOMERY—Kenderek Washington scored 19 points and Ivan Johnson added 16 to lead Alabama State University to a 67-57 win over Georgia Southwestern State University in exhibition play to open the 2010-11 season.

ASU jumped out to a 16-7 lead in the first nine minutes of the game, but as the defensive intensity on both teams increased, the Hornets shooting fell off as they only scored six more points in the final 11 minutes of the first half.

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Monday, November 8, 2010

JSU can't overcome slew of turnovers, penalties against ASU Hornets

MONTGOMERY — For so much of this season, Jackson State depended on its sure-armed quarterback. On Saturday night, the Tigers couldn't overcome his mistakes and a multitude of foolish penalties.

Passing into a swarming secondary, Casey Therriault tossed a season-high three interceptions, and Jackson State committed 17 penalties in a 32-30 loss at Alabama State, suffering a major setback in its quest to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division and sending its coach into a rage.

Tillman, Lee turn in breakout performances

MONTGOMERY — If there was a bright side to Jackson State's 32-30 loss to Alabama State on Saturday night, it was the emergence of two guys Tigers fans have been waiting to explode: receiver Keenan Tillman and running back B.J. Lee. Tillman, a junior who was second on the team in receiving yards last year, has been hampered by a hamstring injury for most of the season. It looks like he's all better now.

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ATTENDANCE: 8,179

Videographer: MrDrummajor2010