Albany State players, coaches using extra time off wisely

ALBANY, GA — It’s rare that a football team gets almost three weeks off between games, but that’s what happens when your team is a No. 1 seed in the Division II football playoffs and has a bye in the first round.

Albany State earned a much-needed break after defeating Fort Valley, 12-7, in the Fountain City Classic and winning the SIAC championship on Nov. 6, and the Rams are using it wisely.

“It’s just good to have a good break and concentrate on yourself and try to get healthy,” head coach Mike White said. “(We’re going to) concentrate on some of those things that we did not do well coming off that Fort Valley game.” After a couple days off following that game, the team went no pads for the rest of their practices that week.


RAMS NOTEBOOK: ASU punter relives last moments of Classic

ALBANY,GA — Talk about an emotional roller coaster.  Albany State’s 12-7 win against Fort Valley State in the Fountain City Classic on Nov. 6 ended well, but the last part of the game was up-and-down for Rams punter Herndon Burns.

With 46 seconds left in the game and the Rams up 12-7, they had to punt the ball from their own 15-yard line on fourth and 10. Burns sent it 31 yards, but was clobbered after he kicked it.  He was slow to get up and limped off the field trying to milk a penalty from the referees, but started running, jumping and shouting with joy along the sidelines after he saw the flag for running into the kicker. Only ... it wasn’t enough for a first down.

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Albany State, Morehouse, Shaw Enter D-II Playoff Picture

For the first time in SIAC history, two schools will play in the NCAA Division II playoffs in the same year. Albany State and Morehouse were selected to Region II for the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Shaw, which defeated Virginia State Saturday for its third CIAA championship in four years, is the lone conference representative. Both St. Augustine's and Winston-Salem State, which had hoped for at-large bids, were left out.



D-II PLAYOFFS: ASU retains No. 1 seed, will face Morehouse-Wingate winner Nov. 27 in Albany

ATLANTA — The NCAA Division II football playoff pairings were announced Sunday and two SIAC teams, Albany State and Morehouse — for the first time in conference history — both earned berths to the postseason.

For the first time since 2004, Albany State finished a perfect 10-0 in the regular season and No. 1 in the region. The Rams, who won their first SIAC title since 2006, will have a bye in the first-round of the playoffs and host the winner of Wingate/Morehouse on Nov. 27 at noon.

Morehouse, which finished 8-2 in the regular season...

Fort Valley State Wildcats left out of playoffs

Donald Pittman wanted two things the past few days. He got one of them. Two teams ahead of Pittman and Fort Valley State in the NCAA Division II Super Region 2 lost in their regular-season finales.

Region No. 2 Valdosta State lost 24-21 on Thursday to West Alabama, but the Blazers were highly unlikely to drop out of the top six in the region. Then on Saturday, region No. 4 North Alabama fell 29-28 to Harding in Gulf South Conference play. "They lost, and we said, ‘We have a chance,’ ” Pittman said. “But it didn’t happen.”

Upon further review, Morehouse in playoffs for first time

The Morehouse football team showed some brashness in holding another party on a playoff selection Sunday after last year’s collective kick in the groin. However, this year's festive gathering didn’t end with a thud when the last playoff team was picked: Morehouse (8-2) will play at Wingate (8-2) on Saturday. Albany State, No. 1 seed in Super Region 2, awaits the winner.

The Maroon Tigers, left out of the postseason last year, had to wait until mid-afternoon to find out if this season would continue.

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Albany State Rams still No. 1 in region poll, await playoff foe

The NCAA will announce the 24-team Division II playoff pairings on Sunday

ALBANY, GA — Guess who’s still on top of the latest Division II Super Regional football rankings? That would be none other than the Albany State Rams (10-0), who retain their No. 1 spot in the NCAA rankings released Wednesday after defeating Fort Valley State, 12-7, in the Fountain City Classic last Saturday.

ASU, which is set for its seventh consecutive appearance in the NCAA playoffs, won the SIAC Championship by beating FVSU, and earned a bye for the first week of the playoffs, which open Nov. 20. The Rams lead the pack of six teams in the rankings, the Top 6 of which earn a playoff spot.

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Videographer: asutv19

Albany State Golden Rams win SIAC title in a thriller!

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - It wasn't easy or pretty but Albany State got the job done. The Rams held off Fort Valley State 12-7 in the Fountain City Classic to claim their first SIAC title since 2006. Stanley Jennings connected on 2 touchdown passes to Ronnie Childs in the second half after both teams failed to get on the score board in the first half.

The Rams' defense stepped up big in the 4th quarter with less than a minute left. ASU held Fort Valley out of the end zone after a blocked punt gave the Wildcats possession at the Ram 10 yard line. The win closes out a 10-0 regular season for the Rams.

Rams Edge FVSU for SIAC Title

This year's Fountain City Classic was more than a rivalry game. The SIAC Championship was at stake in Columbus between the 6th ranked undefeated Albany State Rams, and No. 25 Fort Valley State, winners of seven straight.

After battling to a scoreless tie in the first, the Wildcats' Emanuel Williams scooped up a fumble by LiRonnie Davis and took it to the end zone to give FVSU a 7-0 edge. The Rams responded with back-to-back touchdown passes from Stanley Jennings to Ronnie Childs to put Albany State ahead 12-7.



Wrong shade of blue: Fort Valley State falls short against Albany State

COLUMBUS — Tony Reid could only kneel down and watch, listen and stare blankly ahead as fans in blue and gold celebrated. The problem for the junior running back was simple — the wrong fans in the wrong blue and gold were happy.

“We came in and won last year and Albany State looked at it as a fluke, it just so happened we got lucky,” the Fort Valley State running back said. “We knew that it wasn’t luck last year. We had to do it again and make them respect us. We didn’t do that.”

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ASU Golden Passionettes 11/6/10

ASU: We pay no mind to VSU trash talk

ALBANY, GA — The verbal rivalry between Albany State and Valdosta State is no secret. Rams and Blazers? They just don’t mix. But despite the fact the two teams haven’t played each other this year — and haven’t faced off since 2007 — the smack talk has been as prevalent as ever this season.

“I have not seen them play this year, but everyone is going to cheer for their team,” said ASU head coach Mike White when told about the anti-Rams talk perpetuated by Valdosta fans over the Internet message boards, and specifically stories written by The Herald about Albany State this season. “We cheer for ours and I’m quite sure they cheer for theirs, so I’m not surprised.”

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ASU Rams get SIAC honors, move to No. 6 in poll

ALBANY, GA — It looks like Albany State’s 13-12 win against Morehouse on Saturday was pretty significant.

Not only did the Rams (8-0 overall, 7-0 in the SIAC) move up to No. 6 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, they kicked the Tigers out completely and earned some SIAC awards in the process.
Junior quarterback Stanley Jennings was named Newcomer of the Week, while junior offensive lineman Ricory Green received Offensive Lineman of the Week honors.

Jennings orchestrated ASU’s come-from-behind victory as he completed 19 of 31 passes for 202 yards, including the game-winning five-yard pass with 18 seconds on the clock. The Marietta-native also scored on a 12-yard touchdown rush and led the Rams in rushing with 73 yards on 15 carries.




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Rumor mill: Despite whispers of sellout, tickets are still available for Albany State-Morehouse

Fear not, ASU fans: Tickets are still for sale for this weekend's SIAC clash between Morehouse and Albany State in Atlanta.

ALBANY, GA — Let’s clear something up. The rumors are not true no tickets for the SIAC showdown between the undefeated No. 8 nationally ranked Albany State University Rams and the No. 19 Morehouse College Maroon Tigers, set for Saturday are still available, according to Morehouse College athletic administrators Wednesday.

“The game is not sold out,” Morehouse Athletic Director Andre Pattillo told the ASU sports information office. “We will have enough tickets available for sale at the gate for Albany State fans.”

Rams ready for top 25 showdown at Morehouse

ALBANY, GA - One of the biggest games in Division II football takes place Saturday when 8th ranked Albany State heads to Atlanta to face 19th ranked Morehouse. This game will also play a big role in determining the SIAC champion.

The unbeaten Golden Rams lead Morehouse and Fort Valley State by a game in the conference standings. Morehouse is having one of its best seasons in eighty years. The Maroon Tigers are led by the conference's top rusher in David Carter. Albany State has the best defense in the SIAC at stopping the run.

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No road woes for Rams as ASU breezes by Benedict

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Junior Stanley Jennings knows such a comment will end up on a bulletin board somewhere in Atlanta or Fort Valley. But the confident quarterback said it anyway after leading Albany State to a 27-10 victory at Benedict College on Saturday.

“We’re not losing,” Jennings said of the first-place Rams’ upcoming games against Morehouse and Fort Valley, the two teams chasing them in the SIAC standings. “You can quote that: We aren’t losing.”

Jennings had cause for such optimism. Against Benedict, he watched the Albany State defense play most of the first quarter in its territory but give up no points. The offense produced another big play: a 90-yard scoring strike from Jennings to Ronnie Childs early in the second quarter for the game’s first score.

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Lane Dragons looking for first win in Burroughs era

The Lane football team received much-needed rest this past week with a bye, but the Dragons will likely need every day of their two-week preparation for No. 18 Albany State. The Dragons (0-4, 0-3) are winless in the first four games of the Derrick Burroughs era, and Burroughs hoped the bye week allowed the team to regain its early-season form.

"A bye week is great to heal some injuries, and we've had our fair share of those," Burroughs said. "The team was ahead of my expectations in the first two games ... but we've regressed in our last two games. "The bye week was about rediscovering our running game, verifying our blocking scheme and staying in our gaps on defense."

ASU FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: ASU WR coach Conner 'pleased' with Rams

ALBANY, GA — Receivers and special teams coach Kenyan Conner is also an assistant baseball coach at Albany State, but he’s been more concerned with pigskin flying through the air than baseballs these days, despite the fact the baseball team is already prepping for the upcoming season.

But he hasn’t had to worry about the receivers too much this year; they’ve already racked up a combined 760 receiving yards and eight touchdowns through four games.

“I’m pleased with some of the things we worked on this summer, like catching the ball at its highest point,” Conner said. “We’ve dropped a (couple) touchdowns (in the end zone the other day), but the same guy caught one later. So we’re trying to work on a level of consistency and get better from where we are now.”

RADIO: 98.1 FM. (Albany)

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Winless SSU falls to D-II Albany State, 28-14

WAYCROSS, GA - Savannah State could not stop the multi-headed offense of Albany State, but the Tigers were able to slow it down on the neutral field of Memorial Stadium.

The NCAA Division II Golden Rams cruised to a 28-14 victory in the "Rumble in the Swamp" behind the running of LiRonnie Davis, Robert Welton and Kareem Hess, and the passing of Stan Jennings.

Albany State had not been held under 30 points in its first three games, nor had anyone scored more than 10 points against the Rams. SSU accomplished both.

ASU doubles up on Savannah State, 28-14, moves to 4-0

WAYCROSS, GA — During football practice last week, Albany State quarterback Stanley Jennings said momentum can change anything in a game. If the “Rumble in the Swamp” was any indication, he’s right.

The Rams defeated Savannah State, 28-14, in Waycross on Saturday in the 60th meeting between the two teams, but they had to hold off freshman quarterback Antonio Bostic from rallying the Tigers in the fourth quarter.

“I was glad with the way we played (overall),” said head coach Mike White, whose team is now 4-0 on the season and 42-16-2 against Savannah State all-time. “(But) I thought we played a better first half. The second half, I was really disappointed.”

ASU-SAVANNAH STATE NOTEBOOK: ASU’s Savannah natives happy to beat their hometown Tigers

WAYCROSS, GA – Arkeen Riley may not be the most well-known Ram, but the defensive lineman definitely had the biggest cheering section in Waycross for Albany State’s game against Savannah State Saturday.

Two dozen friends and family members of the ASU sophomore made the drive from Savannah to see his team grab a big victory against the Tigers, and most of them brought t-shirts sporting his No. 95 on the back. “I’m going to (try to) be at every game,” Riley’s mother said.. “It’s exciting (to see him play). It’s a dream come true.”

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Albany State football players have a special lunch

ALBANY, GA (WALB) – Albany State University football players are known for their toughness, but on Friday they showed a softer side. Nearly a dozen players and coaches visited Albany's Palmyra nursing home for a cookout with the residents.

They enjoyed hot dogs and hamburgers and some good fellowship. It was a chance for the players to give back to some loyal fans. Mike White, the Albany State Football coach said, "it definitely makes us feel good also to come over and do that."

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Perfect start for Albany State Golden Rams

ALBANY, GA — From the moment the two teams got together for the handshake — or lack thereof — it was apparent the game between Albany State and Clark Atlanta at Albany State University Coliseum was going to be ugly. And boy, was it ever.

The Rams defeated the Panthers, 28-13, on Saturday night, but the game was a lot closer than the final score, as both teams dealt with multiple fumbles, interceptions and plays for negative yards.

“Our biggest thing is that we did not complete drives and that we turned the ball over for two touchdowns,” ASU offensive coordinator Steve Smith said. “That puts you behind, and (doesn’t help).” The good news? ASU’s defense didn’t allow any of those 13 Clark points. The better news? ASU is now 2-0 overall and in the SIAC.

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Next Game: Saturday at Tuskegee, 2 p.m.

Lady Rams volleyball lose SIAC opener to Clark Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA — Latrice Lewis led Albany State University with 22 kills and Sabrina Garcia added 14 more, but it was not enough as the Lady Rams volleyball team lost, 3-2, to the Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers in their SIAC opener Wednesday night in Atlanta.

The Lady Rams dropped to 0-2 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. The Lady Rams won Game 1, 25-21, but dropped the next two games, 25-18, both times. The Lady Rams won Game 4, 25-20, but lost the final game, 15-10. Adrienne Morris led the Lady Rams’ defense with 25 digs, and Priscila Sena recorded 44 assists.

The Lady Rams will be in action on Friday against the Edward Waters Lady Tigers in Jacksonville, Fla.

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Albany State's Quiet leader

ALBANY, GA — Stanley Jennings has always been the strong, silent type. Growing up in the projects of a Miami suburb in Pompano Beach, Fla., one of 10 kids, he never even uttered a word to grown-ups. He kept to himself, motivated himself and — starting at age 7 — learned the game of football himself.

“I didn’t really have (any) help (growing up),” said Jennings, who started at quarterback for Albany State in its season opener — and was subsequently named Player of the Week by both the SIAC and the national HSRN. “Just playing street football as a kid in the projects got me better.”

He started out playing on the offensive line, but his true calling came when he made the move under center at 13 because of a growth spurt. That’s when the long road to Dougherty County began. Jennings played his first couple of years of high school football at Parkway Academy in Miramar, Fla., before moving to Marietta with his guardian for his junior year in 2006.

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'Get it done'

After win, ASU to use bye week to fine tune

ALBANY, GA — Ah ... the bye week. It’s the point in the football season where coaches can re-assess their strategy, focus on fixing mistakes and get extra time to prepare for the next game. But when it comes after only one game, is it a positive or a negative? Albany State has a bye this week, but it falls after a 42-12 road win against Kentucky State in the season opener this past Saturday.

The only question is, will the bye benefit the Rams because it’s an early chance to focus on what the team needs to work on, or will it stop their momentum? According to head coach Mike White, it’s a little bit of both.

“It doesn’t stop your momentum, but it is really early in the season, so it’s almost like camp (all over again),” White said. “We gotta get back to the basics and work on what we did in camp and what didn’t go so well in our first game. It gives us time to get those things straightened out.”

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ASU lands two on SIAC preseason team as 2010 season opens Saturday

ALBANY, GA — Slow and steady wins the race. No, there aren’t any tortoises on the Albany State men’s and women’s cross country teams this year, but head coach Kenneth Taylor is stressing that saying all the same as his teams heads into its season-opening race against Troy University Saturday.

“Basically, we’re doing a lot of race-pace training,” said Taylor, who coaches both the men’s and women’s teams. “The first race is usually a shorter race, so we’re working on maintaining race pace, which may be slower than other runners’ (paces at other schools), but it’s better than (the possibility of our runners) overextending themselves.”

So despite the SIAC coaches predicting Tuesday that the Rams would finish in fifth (men) and sixth (women) in conference this year, Taylor said they’ll just focus on the track and what they have to do to improve.



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Albany State Rams open with rout of Kentucky State Thorobreds

FRANFORT, Ky. — Still looking for a quarterback at Albany State? Well, the Rams, who have been trying to decide for months who would be their starting QB, might have found the answer Saturday night — in of all places, Kentucky.

That’s where Stanley Jennings took over in the season and SIAC opener against Kentucky State. The Rams played both QBs but Jennings had the big night, completing 13-of-19 for 267 of Albany State’s 280 yards of passing offense, and he also threw three TD passes to help the Rams rip Kentucky State, 42-12.

“He made some good throws, and our offense had 418 yards of offense,’’ said Rams offensive coordinator Steve Smith, who was reached by phone after efforts to reach head coach Mike White were unsuccessful late Saturday night. “We (definitely looked) OK,’’ Smith said. “We started off slow and then we picked it up in the second half.’’

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ASU cross country set to open 2010 season early next month‎

The Albany State University Rams announced their 2010 cross country schedule this week.

Coached by Kenneth Taylor, the Rams and Lady Rams will kick off the 2010 season on the road against Troy University on Sept. 4. ASU will then return home on Sept. 11 to host the Albany State University Invitational. They go back on the road to compete in the Wildcat invitational at Fort Valley State University on Sept. 15, then return to Albany to compete in the Cavalier Classic, hosted by Darton College on Sept. 18. From there, the Golden Rams will run in the Clark-Atlanta/Morehouse Cross Country Invite on Sept. 25.

The Rams’ road trip from there continues as they run in the Paine College Invitational on Sept. 29, and compete in the Florida A&M University Invite on Oct. 2. The teams will compete against Jacksonville State University on Oct. 9, and run in the Troy University Invite on Oct. 16. The Pre-SIAC Meet in Jonesboro is next on Oct. 27.

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The ASU Lady Rams Volleyball team look to make history‎

In college volleyball the Lady Rams from ASU will try to make history this season going for their 10th straight conference title. The Rams are highlighted by their two preseason all-conference players Latrice Lewis and Precilla Sena.

Sabrina Garcia will also chip in to set up would could be a momentous year for the Lady Rams. Head coach Brian Skinner says for all their dreams to come true the younger players must step up and contribute. Skinner also says that this year's schedule has some teams that could spell trouble for the Rams

Skinner said ""You gotta play those team from the South region, you got Valdosta State on schedule this year once again. We have some very good division one schools in Alabama A&M and Alabama State on the schedule so we look forward to playing those schools and being competitive in the SIAC"

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Albany State's Newest Ram

ALBANY, GA — Everyone wants to make a great first impression. After all, it’s one of the few things in life that doesn’t come with a second chance. That’s the feeling Albany State defensive line coach Bokowski Daniels has these days, anyway, as he and the Rams are preparing for their 2010 season opener Saturday at Kentucky State.

“We want to make a good first impression,” said Daniels, who is the first DL coach ever under coach Mike White, who has always coached that area himself. “We want to come out (ready to go) and take care of business.”

Daniels may be the team’s newest coach, but he is no stranger to football or Albany.

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