Moore impresses as UAPB wraps up spring camp

Although the 2008 season does not begin until Aug. 30, Monte Coleman said that Saturday’s Black and Gold Game felt like a real game.

“This whole day has been feeling like it’s a game day instead of a scrimmage,” Coleman said. “It came to reality when my wife called and she was asking me all these questions about parking passes and tickets for the game. And I was saying it was only a practice. That’s when the reality was setting in that it was only a practice.”

The Black and Gold Game, “won” by the Black Team 24-8, won’t count in the standings, but it will help the first-year head coach evaluate the Golden Lions, who are coming off of a 4-7 campaign last season.

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UAPB and Alcorn State were originally scheduled to play each other on Saturday, Sept. 20, but the game has been moved to Thursday, Sept. 18 for television. The Sept. 18 matchup between UAPB and Alcorn will be televised on ESPNU at 4 p.m. Central.

UAPB Coleman makes transition easy

Monte Coleman’s ascension to head football coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff was about as smooth as college coaching changes get.

When the former Central Arkansas and NFL standout was bumped up from his defensive coordinator position after the dismissal of former Coach Mo Forte, Coleman passed on making sweeping changes. The coaching staff remained intact, as did the packages, plays and terminology.

Today’s Black and Gold scrimmage at 1 p.m. at Golden Lion Stadium will conclude UAPB’s 15-day spring practice session, and it should be an early indicator of whether more of the same is what the Golden Lions need.

Archive Photo: UAPB Golden Lions vs. New Mexico State University (2007).

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Today's Pine Bluff Commercial newspaper is reporting former UAPB players Jason Jones and Chris Wallace could be members of the National Football League by the end of this weekend.

Jones, who starred at wide receiver for the Golden Lions the last three seasons, has garnered interest from several teams, including the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and St. Louis Rams. Coach Monte Coleman said the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have shown interest in Jones as well.

The 6-foot-1 Jones has been projected as a possible fourth to fifth round pick in this weekend’s NFL Draft. Wallace, who helped quarterback the Golden Lions to the SWAC Championship Game in 2006, may be a late-round pick or a free agent.

UAPB hoping to scrimmage today despite wet conditions

Preparation is one of the key ingredients of a successful football program. For Arkansas-Pine Bluff head coach Monte Coleman, he’s got the preparation part down pat.

With the weather conditions that have plagued the state of Arkansas this spring, the Golden Lions have been affected by the wet weather as well. UAPB was forced to call off Wednesday’s practice at Old Pumphrey Stadium because of poor field conditions that were caused by the storms late Tuesday night.

Instead of going outside and practicing Wednesday, Coleman and the Golden Lions watched film of Tuesday’s practice. Tuesday was the first day of the spring that UAPB had practiced in full pads.

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Weather changes plans for UAPB Golden Lions

File Photo: UAPB Golden Girls 2007 at JSU Homecoming.

Just as the Arkansas-Pine Bluff football team was getting back into football mode this week, Mother Nature’s method of madness has a way of scuttling plans.

UAPB head coach Monte Coleman called off Wednesday’s practice due to unfavorable field conditions at Old Pumphrey Stadium due to the weather. Although the Golden Lions returned to the field Thursday to practice for the second time this spring, Friday was UAPB’s scheduled day off, therefore they did not practice to make up for Wednesday. UAPB players lifted weights on Wednesday and Friday.

“It’s put a damper on us, as far as on paper,” Coleman said. “But the attitudes of the players and coaches are a blessing in disguise.”

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UAPB M4 Marching Band and Golden Girls 2007

UAPB using spring practice for evaluation

As spring practice begins today for the Arkansas-Pine Bluff football team, the Golden Lions are under evaluation by first-year head coach Monte Coleman.

Coleman, who has served as the Golden Lions’ defensive coordinator the last two seasons and will continue that role this season, said Monday that the next three weeks will be an evaluation period for his football team.

“I addressed the team and told them that the spring is an evaluation period,” Coleman said. “Every position is open.”

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For UAPB Monte Coleman, it's a matter of perspective

Photo: UAPB Head Football Coach Monte Coleman

Coleman, one of the two great rags-to-riches stories from the University of Central Arkansas, was recently named head football coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff after serving several years as an assistant coach for the Golden Lions and a minister in the area.

It's interesting that probably the two greatest athletes in UCA history, both from a national and international perspective, began as walk-ons. Basketball star Scottie Pippen began as a manager. Coleman, who played one quarter of high school football, was recruited by UCA coach Ken Stephens on his projected athletic ability and upon he recommendation of Coleman's brother, Sam, whom Monte still says was the best athlete in the family.

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Coleman closes year for Sports Club
Monte Coleman wasn't pleased in 1978 when University of Central Arkansas coach Ken Stephens moved his all-conference senior safety to linebacker, but nearly 30 years later, he acknowledged that move as part of God's plan for his life.

Coleman, 50, a former University of Central Arkansas great who was recently named head coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, was the year-end speaker for the Arkansas Sports Club's 2007 season. He addressed the crowd at Ryan's on Monday....

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FAMU, UAPB and Alcorn State clean athletic house

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Florida A&M University president Dr. James Ammons did what was expected this afternoon to move the Rattlers athletic program to the championship level. Head football Coach Rubin Carter was fired! His boss, athletic director Nelson Townsend was fired! Both were hired under the administration of former interim president Castell Bryant.

Carter leaves Florida A&M with a 16-17 record, including 3-8, 2-7 MEAC in 2007. In his final game for the Rattlers, FAMU was blasted by Bethune Cookman University (5-6, 3-6 MEAC) 34-7 before a Florida Classic crowd of 65,367.

More details will follow as they are released by the University.

Alcorn State University head football coach Dr. Johnny Thomas was fired this afternoon, and the university announced in a press release that a search for a replacement will begin immediately. Thomas had a 48-61 record in 10 years as the Braves coach and ended 2007 with a 2-8 season. Dr. Thomas has been offered other non-coaching options at the university. He served as an assistant professor of health and physical education at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, prior to returning to his alma mater in 1998 to head the football program.

The University of Arkansas Pine Bluff fired head football coach Maurice "Mo" Forte today and named current defensive coordinator Monte Coleman as the permanent head coach. In four seasons, Forte held a 21-22 record with the Golden Lions and 69-89-1 overall in a 14 year career. The Golden Lions finished 4-7 this season, but were the SWAC-West Division Champions in 2006, with an 8-4 record.

The 50 year old Coleman is a Pine Bluff native who played professional football for the Washington Redskins for 16 seasons (1979-94). As an All-Pro linebacker, Coleman played in four Super Bowls, winning three; and 216 games which is second most in Washington Redskin history. Athletic director Skip Perkins indicated that UAPB and Coleman were working out the details of a five year contract.

Coleman has been on the Golden Lions staff for four seasons, serving the last two as defensive coordinator. He is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas.

UAPB will open next season at home on August 30, 2008, against the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

FAMU's Carter and Townsend, UAPB's Mo Forte, and Alcorn State's Dr. Johnny Thomas officially joins Texas Southern Steven Wilson, 4-38 as coaches/administrators released from the MEAC/SWAC in 2007.

Head Coach Lee Fobbs is 0-22 in his second season at North Carolina A&T State University and the school has a 27 game losing streak dating back to 2005. Mississippi Valley State University Willie Totten is 25-41 and just completed a 3-8, 2-7 SWAC season. We expect some action to be taken on their futures in the coming weeks.

Prairie View A&M University announced this afternoon that Henry Frazier III has received a four year contract extension for leading the Panthers to their best record in 41 years. PVAMU finished 7-3, 6-3 SWAC, with signature victories over Jackson State University and Alabama A&M University with both battling for an East Division position in the SWAC championship game. The Panthers finished their season in second place in the West Division of the SWAC behind Grambling State University.