GSU, ASU win SWAC track

The Grambling men and Alabama State’s women took home team titles at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field championships on an afternoon when extracurricular activities caused a delay during the meet’s final day. The men’s competition was marred by a scuffle that broke out in the stands between the Southern and Jackson State squads following the 60-meter hurdles.

The cramped field-house seats, populated mainly with coaches and athletes, had meet officials scrambling to restore order. At the time, JSU and Southern were in second and third place, respectively, but both men’s squads were ultimately disqualified from the championship. All finishes by both men’s teams were deleted, with lower finishes moved up and point totals recalculated.

“I am extremely disappointed by today’s incident,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said in a statement released Sunday evening. “Championship events are to celebrate and reward the achievements of our student athletes. Today, the actions of those involved in the altercation have not exemplified that competitive spirit of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and its member institutions. This behavior is unacceptable, and we will investigate completely before taking further disciplinary action.”

SWAC Indoor Track and Field Results

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Gulf Coast Classic participants Alabama State, Southern still waiting for payout from game organizers

The foundation owes Southern $103,900 and Alabama State $88,319, Hodge said. He said both schools expect to be paid in full, but have agreed to be patient.

Three months after the Gulf Coast Classic was played, the organization that runs the game still owes the two schools involved nearly $200,000. Game organizers said they have some concerns that their revenue shortfall could cause the two teams to back out of next season's contest, but so far neither one has indicated they would do so. Because of the shortfall, organizers said they also were unable to give out any scholarship money.

Despite all that, officials with the Gulf Coast Classic Scholar & Sports Foundation remain upbeat about the game's prospects. Board members Ray LaPierre and Taylor Hodge said they plan to make several changes before this year's game, such as requiring the teams to sell more tickets, holding the parade on Friday night instead of Saturday morning and, most importantly, adding a title sponsor.

LaPierre said the foundation has an agreement in principal with a national company for a three-year title sponsorship starting with this year's game. LaPierre said board members are hoping to get a signed letter of intent and announce the company next week. "With the upcoming improvements to (Ladd-Peebles Stadium) and the hospitality of the city, all the elements are there to make this a good event," Hodge said. "We just need to overcome the negative thought processes or clouds that may be over us at this point in time."

Before 2008, the Classic had been played in Mobile for 34 years as an Alabama State home game, with the school footing most of the expenses and playing a randomly scheduled Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent. Last year, game officials decided to try to make Mobile's game more like successful classics in New Orleans and Birmingham by locking in two teams that would play every year. The foundation offered Southern University $250,000 a year and Alabama State $225,000 a year to enter into a two-year contract with two option years for the game.

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If $275,000 is coming from the City of Mobile and $50,000 from the Mobile County Commissioners (total: $325,000), why does Southern and Alabama State need the Gulf Coast Classic Scholar & Sports Foundation? Last years attendance was 25,378. At $15.00 per ticket average, you got $380,670 at the gate -- before concession sales, tailgating fees, parking, reserve seating and sponsorship. With 24 corporate sponsorships and other paying events such as Rayco Industrial Mayors’ Luncheon at the Riverview Plaza Hotel and the McDonald’s Stomp the Bay Step Show, presented by AT&T, held at the Saenger Theater, there was some serious cash made at the '08 Gulf Coast Classic events.

I am not saying there was not overhead and other expenses to promote this event, but some M'fers got paid and it wasn't Southern University and Alabama State University. Clear case of breach of contract, and who would execute a contract calling for "unspecified" scholarship money to be provide and without a required audit of all income for this event? You got screwed once--why go down that same path in '09 SU and ASU? Your students deserve better and your lazy athletic departments need to get off their butts and earn their pay by being their own promoter for this game. Otherwise, keep it home and home between the respective schools. Stop pimping your brand and assets to the local hustlers!

-beepbeep

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ASU SIGNEES

Tough non-conference benefits Prairie View women

Prairie View A&M women's basketball coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke's philosophy has been to take life a game at a time.With a 6-1 record in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, life has been pretty good for the Lady Panthers, who host Alabama State Saturday afternoon (5:30 p.m.). The two-time defending conference champs have ripped off five straight wins since a 63-58 loss to Southern Jan. 5 and are reaping the benefits of a daunting non-conference schedule.

"Our biggest concern is that we don't want to peak too soon," said Cooper-Dyke. "We know everyone has been the aggressor against us, and that's something we need to change. We've worked on that in practice, so now we have to be able to turn the tables against our opponents." The Lady Panthers had their mettle tested in an 83-77 overtime win at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Monday, where Prairie View had to overcome a 17-point deficit with 12 minutes left. In Cooper-Dyke's eyes, the rally could serve as a turning point for the team.

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Glades Central (FL) expects 12 football players to sign

Excerpt:

Last year Glades Central only needed one table on the stage for national signing day. The Raiders might need three or four for the football team when they sign letters of intent next Wednesday.No fewer than 12 seniors from the 2008 football team are expected to sign., and nine of them already are committed.

Alabama State has verbal commitments from defensive back James Melton (5-11, 200) and linebacker Emmanuel Rackard (6-3, 230). The Hornets got a verbal from Pahokee offensive lineman Jaquan Bentley during the season and have a shot at landing undeclared Raiders offensive lineman Vincent Harper (6-3, 285). Harper also has an offer from Hampton.

Hampton is one of several schools making a run at diminutive running back Antonio McCloude. McCloude is listed at 5-8, 165. Both of those numbers seem generous, but his speed and his elusiveness helped him pick up offers from Ball State, Alabama State, FIU and Hampton. McCloude is set to visit Hampton this week and there is a growing belief in Belle Glade that he will sign with the Pirates. Hampton has been one of the MEAC’s top teams this decade and sent five players to the NFL combine in 2007.

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Keys: SU gets win, but still searching for answers

Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Southern pounded out a frosty 15-0 win over Alabama State at the Gulf Coast Classic, the campus back home at SU was almost empty. Only two or three students stood on the bluff near the Mississippi River, taking in the scenery on a cool-but-beautiful day. Classrooms were silent. The nearby sandwich shop was closed.

Just outside Jesse Owens Hall, the parking lot was vacant — except for one car.
It belonged to Pete Richardson. Inside, his thumbs were in overdrive, working two remote controls. Pause, rewind, play. Pause, rewind, play. Over and over, on a modern-style projector, he watched videotape — first of his own team, then of other Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents. Then of his own team again. Richardson had given his players a rare Sunday off, and while some members of his coaching staff shuttled in and out, only the head coach stayed inside all day.

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Attendance: 25,387 Gulf Coast Classic, Ladd Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL


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Alabama State University Marching Hornets

Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band

ASU's Barlow fires 2 assistants

A day after his team's worst offensive performance of the season, Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow has fired offensive coordinator Ben Noonan and offensive line coach Eric Schnupp, leaving the second-year coach searching for his third offensive coordinator. Barlow confirmed the firings late Sunday evening.

Noonan and Schnupp were hired last January, a few weeks after Barlow fired offensive coordinator Maurice Harris and offensive line coach Jack Peavey -- both of whom also worked under Barlow for just one season. The Hornets currently rank ninth in the 10-team SWAC in both scoring offense and total offense

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Everything falls apart for ASU; Jackson State smothers Hornets

Photo Gallery: ASU loses to Jackson State

Three weeks ago, the Alabama State football team changed its offensive approach, going from a pass-heavy game plan to one that relied more on the running game. After two games in which the offense was clearly improving, the Hornets thought they had found the answer. They thought their severe struggles were behind them. They thought wrong.

Against an aggressive Jackson State defense determined to stop the run, the ASU offense was absolutely atrocious. The Hornets managed a meager 93 total yards, had only seven first downs and threatened to score just once. Jackson handed ASU its first shutout of the year, 20-0. "We just took a huge step back," ASU head coach Reggie Barlow said. "It was just a combination of everything. We couldn't run it. We couldn't throw it. We couldn't do anything."

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Substance trumps style in Grambling's victory

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Alabama State vs Grambling
Grambling halftime show, 10/18
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GRAMBLING, LA — For pure entertainment and instant gratification at a Grambling State football game this season, the halftime show is still your best bet. Watching the football team perform requires more patience for a Grambling fan. Stick around for the end result though and you're bound to go home satisfied with the final result. "A win is a win," Grambling's Jeffrey Jack said. "As long as we keep winning and have a chance at a championship — I'm happy."

Grambling won its fifth game in a row Saturday afternoon, beating Alabama State 27-7 at sun-splashed Robinson Stadium. The large, bustling homecoming crowd might be hard pressed to recall many signature moments in the contest, but they left knowing their team knocked off yet another Southwestern Athletic Conference foe. "That's a good win," Grambling coach Rod Broadway said. "I'll say it once and I'll say it again — all wins are good wins and I'll take it." Broadway isn't concerned with style points right now. If this team were tailgating fare, it would be red beans and rice — hearty and filling.

GSU head football coach Rod Broadway

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Attendance: 16,974 (86.6%) at Robinson Stadium, Grambling, LA (Capacity: 19,600).

Season Record: GSU 6-2, 3-0 SWAC; ASU 1-5, 0-3 SWAC.

SWAC to roll out first Webcast for Alabama State-GSU game

The Southwestern Athletic Conference will Webcast its first football game this week - Alabama State at Grambling State. Fans can log on to www.swac.org to watch the broadcast. "I think we want to do a lot more," SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp said. "This will be a test run for us. Just to see how it looks.

"We feel confident about it. We'd like to do a lot more, not only with football and men's and women's basketball, but with our Olympic sports. Kind of have it take on the feel of SWAC television." Sharp said the Webcast events will air live, but also be archived for viewers to watch replays at their convenience. Televised games and events will not be Webcast because of those contracts.

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B-CU 'D' sets tone in win over Alabama State Hornets

Bethune Cookman stretched ASU Coach Reggie Barlow's losing streak to 8 consecutive losses. Barlow is 5-8 since becoming the Hornets head coach.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Florida Classic 2, Alabama State 0.

One week after Florida A&M beat the Hornets, Classic rival Bethune-Cookman did the same Saturday, riding a staunch defensive effort and opportunistic secondary to a 28-7 victory at Municipal Stadium. "That's Coach Wyatt football right there. That's Alvin Wyatt football. When we get together and we meet, the first thing we talk about is defense," said B-CU defensive coordinator Marc Lippens, who spoke for Wyatt because the head coach was being treated in the locker room after the game for cramps.

"The first kids that we look at on the recruiting trail are defensive kids. He wants our defense to dominate and let the offense do what they do on their own side." The offense did their part as well, racking up 370 yards behind quarterbacks McKinson Souverain and Matthew Johnson.

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Attendance: 8,172 (82%) @ Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, FL (Capacity: 10,000).

B-CU ready for fast Alabama State

Alabama State at B-CU
WHERE: Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, FL (Capacity:10,000)
WHEN: 4 p.m. today
RECORDS: Alabama State 0-1, B-CU 0-0
RADIO: WELE (1380 AM)
Weather: Mostly Clear Temp: 81°F Hum: 74%

DAYTONA BEACH -- If preparation is the key to success, then the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats should do well in their season-opener today at Municipal Stadium. The Wildcats have had today's opponent, Alabama State, on their minds throughout camp. "They're going to spread us out, but we've seen it a lot," junior strong safety Brent Davis said this week. "We've been working on it all during camp. We always practice for the team immediately in front of us, so other than going over the basics, we've been working on Alabama State."

The non-conference game is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. Alabama State is coming off a 30-20 loss to B-CU's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Florida A&M. B-CU apparently learned a good bit from that game. "They're very fast and quick," senior left tackle Reubin Mordecai said. "The defensive line has very quick guys. The whole team moves like defensive backs. They run to the ball a lot. They always have all the men to the ball. They run a lot of blitzes."

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Moon goes off on Alabama State and SWAC

No Shame:

I wrote last week about Alabama State offensive lineman Lionell Mapp breaking through the floor at ASU's mobile football facility. That's right, Mapp fell through the floor and one leg nearly hit the ground below. Anyway, I've been thinking about this for a while and I think now is the time to say it: ASU has no business on the Division I level.

If you're operating a program that can't manage to obtain the necessities, you need to take a serious look at where you are and what your options might be. ASU is in that position now. And I'm not saying that simply because of the incident with Mapp and the dilapidated state of the "football offices." It's also the practice field, which is so riddled with holes that the team is avoiding it, and the compliance office, which still employs just two people.

This program, like the rest of the SWAC's programs, should be in Division II. And I'm failing to see the shame in admitting it. If ASU were to drop to Division II, it wouldn't look so bad when Tuskegee handed out its annual Turkey Day whipping.

Josh Moon can be reached at jmoon@gannett.com.

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'Bama State Hornets struggle with the heat

Hornets head football coach Reggie Barlow.

After two days of rain and clouds, the sun finally beamed down on the Hornets on Wednesday. The effects of the heat had some positive and negative aspects on the Hornets. "Florida is the 'Sunshine State' and it's warm down there," said ASU head coach Reggie Barlow. "I don't want our guys to feel sorry for themselves. We have to push through the fatigue."

Barlow saw some things that he felt were less than impeccable. "Practice was ok," Barlow said. "Some guys were out there feeling sorry for themselves." Junior quarterback Reid Herchenbach took 60 percent of the snaps with the first-team offense.

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Skid vs. Alabama State won't bother FAMU's Wilder

Linebacker Vernon Wilder wasn't even born the last time FAMU won a game against Alabama State. A year before he became a Rattler, FAMU lost to the Hornets. But Wilder, not known for much trash-talking, couldn't help letting it know Tuesday that FAMU's skid against the Hornets should end Saturday.

"We are going to blitz them — it ain't no secret," Wilder said at the team's first weekly meeting with the media. "We're going to make them force quick passes and make mistakes. Everybody has to do their job. Everybody has to do what's expected." FAMU hasn't had a win over ASU since 1977, and the Hornets lead the series 20-15-2. The fact that Saturday's game is a matchup of FAMU from the MEAC and ASU of the SWAC is another incentive, Wilder said.
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ASU plays guessing game with Rattlers

Game week brought change to Alabama State's football practice on Monday, as the Hornets began focusing specifically on their first opponent, Florida A&M. Work for the third- and fourth-string players was cut drastically. The ASU offense and defense began using only the plays and formations the coaches feel will be most effective against FAMU. And the intensity turned up a notch.

Hornets wide receiver Cedric Harris (#82) 6-1/195 Junior, Hillsboro, AL beats Linebacker Adrian Hardy (#53) 6-2/202 Sophomore, Selma, AL during Hornets Spring game.

"We're ready to go," senior cornerback Brandon Averett said. "We've had a good camp and we're just ready to go play for real and see how we stack up." This will be the first big test for Averett and his defensive teammates. One of the knocks on the spread offense, which the Hornets began using in the spring, is that it has a softening effect on a team's defense. The theory is that because the defense is going against a finesse-style offense every day in practice, the defensive players become less physical and have problems stopping power teams.

FAMU is a power team.

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ASU Hornets beat the rain to conduct short scrimmage

Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow said he didn't want much out of the Hornets' third and final scrimmage, just 30 to 35 plays or so. He got far less than that, and happily took it. ASU managed to beat the rain Saturday morning, getting in about an hour of work before bad weather put a halt to things.

"We were just happy to get it in," Barlow said. "The defense ran this one. They were a little more ready to play. We came out on offense and had a good first drive. Moved right down and scored. Then, we didn't do much offensively the rest of the way."

Sophomore quarterback Anthony Speight led the Hornets on the first scoring drive, and Barlow praised Speight's play. "It was a good day for him, particularly early," he said. "He made some nice throws and had good control of the offense, it looked like." Speight is locked in a battle with junior Reid Herchenbach for the starting spot. Barlow said last week that ASU will alternate QBs during the season opener at Florida A&M on Saturday to give each player a final shot to win the position.

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Barlow to employ ASU QB platoon for starters

A couple of weeks ago, Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow made it perfectly clear he wanted one starting quarterback running his offense. Thursday, he made it perfectly clear that he can't decide between the top two candidates for that position. So, he's going to do what he promised he wouldn't do. ASU will use the quarterback platoon when it opens the 2008 season at Florida A&M next Saturday.

Junior Reid Herchenbach will start the game and play the first and third quarters. Sophomore Anthony Speight will take over in the second and fourth quarters. "It's not ideal and it's not what I want," Barlow said. "But I think it's the only fair things for these two guys (Herchenbach and Speight). We told them both when they came here that they would each have an equal shot at winning the job, and to this point, neither one has outplayed the other."

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Vikings' Jackson suffers sprained MCL

ESPN.com reported that Minnesota Vikings and former Alabama State quarterback Tarvaris Jackson suffered a sprained medial collateral knee ligament during the Vikings' 23-15 preseason victory over the Ravens on Saturday. The MCL injury could keep Jackson out of the Vikings' preseason game next Saturday against the Steelers but the injury isn't considered serious enough to sideline him for the start of the regular season.



It's possible Vikings coach Brad Childress could keep him out of the Vikings' final two preseason games to ensure Jackson is healthy for the regular-season opener against the Packers.

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ASU QB race is still tight

Junior linebacker John Hogan, an all-SWAC player as a freshman, has been kicked off the team

A little over a week ago, Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow said he wanted to name a starting quarterback at least two weeks before the Hornets' first game at Florida A&M. Saturday was Barlow's self-imposed deadline. He's going to blow it. Following a solid week of practices from both Anthony Speight and Reid Herchenbach, Barlow said the race was still too close to call, and he gave himself a few extra days to come to a decision.

"Hopefully, this week we can get the guy," he said. "What I was really hoping for is for one of those guys to step up and just blow it away, make himself the clear choice. That hasn't happened. They've both played well -- really well. It's been a tight, competitive race." If a little flash is what Barlow was looking for, Herchenbach obliged on Saturday.

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Transfers give ASU offense a boost

When offensive lineman Lionell Mapp arrived at Alabama State a few weeks ago, he noticed a rather disconcerting attitude around the locker room. There seemed to be little confidence among the offensive players. The defensive players roamed the locker room with their chests out and a sense of dominance among them. But Mapp's offensive teammates had a completely different outlook.

"The feeling just wasn't good," Mapp said. "When we were being recruited here, the defensive guys were talking and talking about how they dominated the offense. They were really cocky."

None of that sat very well with Mapp. At 6-foot-7, 360 pounds, he's never been easily intimidated. Or intimidated at all, for that matter. And he wasn't about to change.

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