SU tries to get ground attack on track

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

One week after Southern ran for 293 yards against Mississippi Valley State, the Jaguars came down to earth, with 67 yards on 31 carries in a 12-2 win over Prairie View.

The rushing total against Valley was the best total since September 2003 and reinforced the 238 rushing yards from the season opener.

Though the rushing total against PV was still better than five anemic totals last season, it was the worst since Mark Orlando became the team’s offensive coordinator for the final three games of last season.

“We have to get our running game started back,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “We cannot afford to just sporadically try to throw the football. Our throwing game has evolved around us running the football.”

Southern (3-0) hosts Tennessee State (2-1) of the Ohio Valley Conference at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The Jaguars are 5-1 since making the move to Orlando after a 26-10 loss at Alcorn State in which SU ran for 53 yards on 34 carries.

Saturday’s output, however, was the worst rushing game since SU made the staff move and, concurrent with that, emphasized the ground game.

In the first eight games of last season, Southern had running game clunkers of 1, 57, 63 (against Prairie View), 95, 61 and 53 yards. Since then, SU has run for, in order, 236, 152, 131, 238 and 293 before PV (2-1) corralled the Jaguars to the 67 yards Saturday.

There’s a realization Prairie View, in its third season under defensive coordinator Heishma Northern and with linebacker Zach East, is pretty stout defensively.

“Prairie View really came to play,” junior running back Kendrick Smith said.

However, there’s also a concern Northern might have laid down a plan for stopping the Jaguars.

“Prairie View did an outstanding job,” Richardson said. “People will take a look at that.”

Another concern for Saturday is, SU will have to play the first half without senior wide receiver Gerard Landry, who has scored a touchdown in all three games and is the unit’s emotional leader. Landry was ejected midway through the fourth quarter and, by NCAA rules, must sit out the first half.

“You have to be concerned. &hellip It’s going to be a struggle getting to the second half, because he’s made some outstanding plays for us,” Richardson said.

Lee’s completion percentage Saturday was a strong 61.1 percent, but PV kept SU from turning short passes into long gains. Receiver Del Roberts, who turned dink passes into big plays the week before, was held to 38 yards on nine catches.

“It was bad for everybody,” said sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee, 4-1 as a starter. “We just didn’t execute the way we wanted to.”

Lee threw for 144 yards and a touchdown and ran for a season-low 21 yards (also a career low in games in which he’s played at least a half).

“He’s a young quarterback and he’s learning, but we were inconsistent, dropping some passes that cost him some big plays,” Richardson said. “Overall, we hung in there with a good football team.”

SU’s offense, meanwhile, has started slowly all season. The Jaguars had minus-6 yards on 10 plays, with three, three-and-outs, in the first quarter.

The Jaguars had to come up with big plays to score Saturday.

Lee hit Landry on a hot read for a 15-yard touchdown on a third-and-9 in the final minute of the first half.

And holder Nick Benjamin found tight end Evan Alexander for a 12-yard TD on a fake field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter.

“The play was inconsistent, offensively, for us,” Richardson said. “Missed assignments caused some problems for us. Of course, a lot of that was caused by Prairie View putting the pressure on us.”

Southern players lauded Tennessee State as having a physical defense and said getting back offensive rhythm will be a challenge.

“We didn’t perform like we were supposed but the defense stepped up,” Smith said. “We have to execute better than we did. In the game we had some mental busts.”

HU Juniors filling two huge holes impressively

Photo: Van Morgan, #27 RB, 6-0/218 Sr., New Smyrna Beach H.S., Florida

By MARTY O'BRIEN, Daily Press

Thursday Night game
WHO: Morgan State (1-2, 0-0 MEAC) at Hampton (2-0, 2-0).
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPNU.

Wakeem Goode and Van Morgan are trying to replace two of HU's greatest players.

Wakeem Goode and Van Morgan might have the toughest jobs on Hampton University's football team. How much fun can it be following in the footsteps of players considered the best in school history at their respective positions?

Goode stepped into the starting middle-linebacker spot vacated by Justin Durant. Durant, the three-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Defensive Player of the Year, started last weekend for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.

Morgan will start at tailback for the second consecutive game when the Pirates (2-0, 2-0 MEAC) host Morgan State (1-2, 0-0) tonight at 7:30.

He succeeds Alonzo Coleman, the MEAC's all-time leading rusher, now employed on the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad.

By the looks of it, neither appears to be intimidated by the challenge, or even worried about it because they took advantage of the time spent as back-ups to learn from the men they would be replacing.

Photo: Wakeem Goode, #49 LB, 5-11/227 Jr., Benedictine H.S., Cleveland, Ohio

Goode, a 5-foot-11, 227-pound junior, made a team-high 19 tackles the first two games. Morgan, a 6-0, 218-pound junior, started for the first time last Saturday and had 154 yards and two touchdowns in the Pirates' 59-14 win at North Carolina A&T.

"They were in backup roles in the past, but they never had any problem (waiting)," Pirates coach Joe Taylor said. "You can see how good they are. Usually those kinds of kids want to play quickly and ask, 'Why am I not playing more?'

"They just waited their turns and kept on working and working. When they got their opportunities, they made the most of them."

While waiting, they filled in capably as part-time players. Morgan, for instance, became the ball-carrier in the second half of the 2006 opener against Grambling State because Coleman was sidelined by cramps.

He employed his power running style to gain 82 yards on 14 carries, helping the Pirates edge the Tigers 27-26. But he left the game late in the fourth quarter with a deep thigh bruise that limited his playing time the remainder of the season.

When he returned to action he dedicated himself to contributing on special teams and to learning everything he could from Coleman.

"What impressed me most about Alonzo was his attitude toward the game," Morgan said. "He played with an attitude I had never seen before. He approached everything with toughness and had confidence in everything he did.

"I picked up on the focus and fearlessness he carried into every game."

Goode adopted Durant as his role model and shadowed him to the film room regularly. When Durant missed the Norfolk State game last season with a sore back, Goode replaced him. He made six tackles, including three sacks, to earn defensive player of the game honors.

"I learned a lot from Justin," Goode said, "He reacted to things so quickly. Watching film with him he taught me about reacting to the ball before things happened."

Taylor sees a similarity between Goode and Durant because both possess non-stop motors.

"You look at Wakeem's body and you'd say he's too short or not the fastest," Taylor said. "But if you see him in the weight room, you'd understand why he moves so well. He's a tremendous worker.

"He always working some kind of move, a swim technique or a rip technique. That's what allows him to break free of blockers and stay on his feet."

Goode says that he feels no pressure to be another Durant, a sentiment Morgan echoes when asked about Coleman. Then again, both understand they'd better come close or someone on the roster will be ready to step in.

"Expectations are always going to be high because there are so many athletes in this program," Morgan said. "We've had Ardell (Daniels) and Alonzo (Coleman) and Kevin Beverly all do well.

"I feel like any running back in our program could do the same thing, because we know what the expectations are."

TSU corner Hall expected back for Southern game

By MIKE ORGAN, the Tennessean

Tennessee State starting cornerback Marquez Hall, who missed last week's game at Austin Peay, returned to the practice field Tuesday and expects to play when the Tigers play at Southern at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Hall, a freshman transfer from Vanderbilt, suffered a high ankle sprain late in the game against Jackson State on Sept. 8.

"He says he's ready to go,'' said TSU Coach James Webster. "Southern throws the ball well and it would be a huge boost for us if he's able to play."

Webster said he thought about allowing Hall to play against Austin Peay but worried about causing further damage.

In two games, Hall recorded six tackles and came up with TSU's only interception of the season when he picked off a pass against Alabama A&M.

"It's an ankle injury and he's a skill kid and I just didn't want to take the chance of playing him (against Austin Peay),'' Webster said. "We really needed him, but his health was our number one concern."

Junior Kevin Bledsoe, a former Stratford star who made his first start, replaced Hall. Bledsoe played admirably, making three tackles and breaking up a pass, Webster said.

"I thought he played well,'' Webster said. "He had a penalty (pass interference) and it was a big penalty. It was a tough call. But other than that, I was real pleased with the way Bledsoe played."

Feeling better: Two key defensive players suffered from strep throat last week but were feeling better Monday. Starting free safety Anthony Levine didn't make the trip to Austin Peay, while starting tackle Lamar Divens played but was not in the starting lineup.

Both players practiced Monday and are expected to be with the first team Saturday against Southern.

"We need Divens. He's been sick and he's lost a lot of weight,'' Webster said. "That may be good if we can get him back in shape because he'll be lighter. He's coming back to see if he's going to be OK."

Howard University vs. Eastern Michigan

Click Here to Listen to the Game via WEMU.

Click Here for Live Statistics.

The Eastern Michigan University football team returns home Saturday afternoon, Sept. 22, to host Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference foe Howard University. The highlight of the afternoon will be the appearance and performance of the renowned Howard "Showtime" Marching Band. "Showtime" is recognized nationally as one of the finest marching bands in the land and has a long and distinguished history of excellence and showmanship.

FIRST MEAC TEAM IN RYNEARSON: When EMU plays host to Howard University Saturday, it will mark the first appearance in Rynearson Stadium for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) team. The MEAC is comprised of: Howard, Bethune-Cookman, Coppin State, Delaware State, Florida A&M, Hampton, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan State, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State.

ANOTHER TELEVISION APPEARANCE: Saturday’s EMU-Howard game is one of eight television appearances this season for EMU. The Sept. 8 Ball State game and the Howard contest are both Comcast Local TV productions as are the EMU-Western Michigan (Oct. 27) and Central Michigan (Nov. 16) games. The EMU-Northern Illinois game (Sept. 15) and the EMU at Ohio (Oct. 13) games are both slated for ESPN Regional action and the EMU-Northwestern (Oct. 19) and EMU-BGSU (Nov. 9) games are scheduled for ESPNU.

THE HEAD COACHES: EMU head coach Jeff Genyk (Bowling Green, ‘82) is in his fourth year as head coach after serving the previous 12 years working for Northwestern University. Howard head coach Carey Bailey (Tennessee, ’92) is in his first season.

GREEN EGGS AND COFFEE: EMU head football coach Jeff Genyk will be the featured guest on the Monday evening radio show, "Green Eggs and Coffee", from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. each Monday of the football season. The shows, with WTKA radio’s Jeff Radford and WEMU radio reporter Brian Nemerovski serving as co-hosts.

PROJECT PERFECT: EMU would like to recognize Saturday’s guests that are part of the Project Perfect program. The incentive program is designed to honor and recognize top students at local elementary and middle schools. Project Perfect rewards perfect grades, perfect attendance, and/or exemplary citizenship.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? The labels Division I-A and I-AA have been deleted from NCAA use and replaced by the terms "Football Bowl Subdivision" and "NCAA Football Championship Subdivision." The FBS is used to describe football programs like Eastern Michigan that compete to participate in the postseason bowl system that includes the 32 NCAA-licensed bowls that make up the Bowl Championship Series. The FCS is used for schools such as Howard that participate in the NCAA championship postseason structure.

COACH HAS A VOTE: EMU head football coach Jeff Genyk will be involved in weekly coaches’ polls for 2007. Genyk, the fourth-year head coach of the Eagles’ football squad, will be one of 60 head coaches that will vote in the weekly USA Today Coaches’ Poll that will pick the top 25 teams in the NCAA Bowl Championship Series each week of the season.

COLLEGIATE CLASH SET FOR OCT. 19: For the fourth year in a row the EMU football team will be taking one of its home games on the road, hosting a Big Ten team for the first time ever in the fourth annual Collegiate Clash at Ford Field in Detroit. EMU will be the host team for the non-conference battle against Northwestern University with game time set for 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19. The Eagles hosted Central Michigan in the inaugural Collegiate Clash, Nov. 6, 2004, and Eastern won a thriller, 61-58, in four overtimes. In 2005 EMU hosted Western Michigan, Nov. 5, 2005, and lost a 44-36 shoot-out. Last year Navy recorded a 49-21 win, Nov. 5, 2006, in the game at Ford Field.

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: EMU will have five captains for the 2007 season. The captains, as voted by the players, are: Ken Bohnet, Jason Jones, Darran Matthews, Andy Schmitt and Pierre Walker.

STATELY BREAKDOWN: The 2007 EMU football roster has 60 players from the state of Michigan, 16 from Ohio, eight from Florida, two each from Indiana and Virginia, and one apiece from Washington D.C., Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Illinois, New York and Georgia.

Jackson State TE Frost in doubt for season

By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

Jackson State tight end Marcel Frost said on Tuesday that if his left leg hasn't healed enough to play by the Tigers' Oct. 6 game against Alabama State, he'll likely seek a medical redshirt and come back next season.

Frost, a senior, broke his leg in the JSU spring game last March. He was cleared to practice three weeks ago, but his leg and ankle have been slow to recover.

As a junior, he caught 10 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown.

"Really, my leg is feeling pretty good," Frost said. "Now it's my ankle. After being in a cast for a month and a half, I lost a lot of strength down there. It's really frustrating to keep having problems."

In Frost's place, Jackson State has mainly used redshirt freshman Cedric Dixon. Dixon caught a touchdown pass in JSU's opening game against Delta State.

JSU coach Rick Comegy said even if Frost can't contribute on the field this year, he'll still be useful.

"Frost is a smart guy who's been around football for a lot of years," Comegy said. "Even if he can't play, we'll have him working with the coaches in some way."

INJURY REPORT

JSU receiver Kethonne McLaurin (shoulder) will likely miss two to three weeks after an injury in Thursday's game against Texas Southern. Before he was hurt, McLaurin had a touchdown catch against the Maroon Tigers...Offensive guard Michael Harness (knee) sat out practice, but said he expects to be ready for Saturday's game.

Alabama A&M notebook

Huntsville Times

Game holds no added incentive for Jones

Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones interviewed for the Grambling job on two occasions last January.

Grambling officials eventually hired former North Carolina Central coach Rod Broadway to lead the school's football program.

But Jones doesn't plan to add anything extra to Saturday's game when the Bulldogs and Tigers meet at Robinson Stadium in a big Southwestern Athletic Conference game.

"This game is important to me because it's the next game," he said. "It's important to me because it's a conference game. I don't care if USC was in our conference. If that was the next game on our schedule, that would would be the next important game.

"I don't try to build ballgames up more than what they are. The game is big because it's our next game, it's a conference game and it's against a good football team."

Tough crowd: Alabama A&M has beaten every team in the SWAC on the road except Grambling.

The Tigers hold a 12-4 advantage in the all-time series against the Bulldogs, but the teams have split the last four meetings.

However, A&M's last three trips to play the Tigers in Louisiana haven't been fun.

Grambling won 30-7 in 2001, 45-14 in 2003 in Shreveport and 44-0 in 2005.

"It would be nice to get a win down there," senior defensive end Chris Traylor said. "My favorite wins are road wins. Hopefully, we can pull it off this time."

After watching Grambling's game against Pittsburgh, Jones said it won't be easy.

"They played Pittsburgh tough," he said. "They didn't lay down. They had opportunities to win the game. If they had had a little more success in the red zone, that game is a different ballgame.

"They had a punt blocked and three turnovers in the red zone. It wasn't like they went up there and got sandblasted. They went up there to win the ballgame and I admire that."

Grambling had the ball in the red zone four times, including three times inside Pittsburgh's 10-yard line, but came away with just three points.

The Tigers also were whistled for 14 penalties for 108 yards, were 6-of-17 on third down and allowed two touchdowns on special teams in the 34-10 loss.

Baxter likely out: Wide receiver Nate Baxter, who sprained his right ankle in the first quarter Saturday night against Mississippi Valley State and never returned, will likely miss the Grambling game, Jones said.

A redshirt freshman from Enterprise, Baxter has five catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.

"It's too tender," Jones said of the ankle. "He's still not walking on it."

-Reggie Benson

WSSU prepared for a tough SCSU team

By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The "new kid on the block" has wasted little time making an impression of the veteran teams on the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Still in the early stages of a five-year transitional period from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Rams are off to a 2-1 start following last Saturday’s 19-17 road win over Morgan State. True freshman Matt Mitchell’s 24-yard field goal with one second left was the difference as Winston-Salem State overcame the loss of running backs Brandon McRae (broken right wrist) and leading rusher Jed Bines (sprained ankle) and a 221-yard rushing effort from the Bears’ Chad Simpson to pull off the victory.

"That was a victory that we needed," Rams’ head coach Kermit Blount said Tuesday. "We played a very good football team in Morgan State. I have a lot of respect for Donald Hill and his program and what he’s doing. A very class act guy. The program is class act now, unlike the last time I was there in 1990 or 1991 when I was at South Carolina State (as an offensive coordinator for Willie Jeffries). It’s a totally different atmosphere up there and his teams played tremendously well and hard.

"We just happen to get the edge in the end with the pass up under the coverage and were able to get the ball in around the 6-yard line and kick the field goal."

Bines should be fine, according to Blount, and active for Saturday’s return to Oliver C. Dawson Stadium to face his former employer. It’s a matchup Blount sees as one which could provide a measuring stick as to where WSSU stands in the MEAC and how it should pursue its long-term plans.

"The one thing I think we understand and our administration understands is that we’re going to build a program by taking steps," Blount said. "Right now, it’s not about all wins and losses. It’s about building a program to compete at that level and anytime you start building a program, you can do it one or two ways. You can do a quick fix where you can win now or pay later or you can do the young fix way - you do it with high school kids and building a program where it’s going to pay off later.

"We don’t want to pay later. We want it to pay off later, so we’re building it in steps and we’re doing it with young kids, trying to keep them in the program and keep that graduation rate up and just trying to do it the right way. We just want to be competitive."

A pair of fumbles lost and four sacks allowed were not the only problems WSSU ran into in losing 35-6 to SCSU last season at home. The Bulldogs racked up 467 total yards of offense, 197 coming from running back Will Ford who rushed for two scores.

This season, the Rams are operating a revamped offense led by senior quarterback Monte Purvis (5-11, 190), whose overall numbers through three games (22 of 44 passing, 248 yards, two touchdowns, one interception; 223 rushing yards, four touchdowns) are eerily similar to SCSU counterpart Cleveland McCoy. While hoping to open things up in the air, Blount said the Rams will not try to force things.

"The passing game actually comes off the rushing game," he said. "We all as coaches like talking about we want to be balanced, we want to run 50 percent and throw 50 percent. But we all know that the flow of the ballgame will dictate what we do. But we do what we normally do with our passing game. We work it every day and all we can do is continue to work to make it better.

"This is a new offense for our kids. They only had the spring to go through it. They’re starting to really now focus in and catch on to all the integral parts of the process. So it’s a building process in that aspect of it also. But we’re going to try to throw the football as we normally do and we’re going to try to take what South Carolina State gives us because that’s what Buddy Pough is going to do. He’s going to take what we give them."

The Rams also shook up their offensive line prior to last week’s game against Morgan State. Facing a physical team like SCSU (1-2, 1-0), which leads the MEAC in sacks, Blount said depth up front is a concern on the road.

This will mark the third time Blount is facing SCSU as a visiting coach. He led the Rams to a 39-28 victory in 2000 over his mentor Jeffries, their only win in five outings against SCSU, only to get routed 52-12 five years later in Orangeburg.

"The team we’re going to play on Saturday is probably be one of the best that we play all year," Blount said. "So we’re going to have to be ready to play football and we can’t make mistakes this weekend."

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Entering his 11th season at WSSU, Blount sees Saturday’s game as another part of a methodical building process towards developing a program which can compete in the MEAC as it did successfully in the CIAA.

A player Blount had hoped to snag as part of his building process was SCSU quarterback Malcolm Long. Right up until a week before signing day, WSSU battled SCSU as the two finalists for the services of South Carolina’s "Mr. Football".

"I had a chance to home visit him and sit with his family and I think they have his best interest at heart," Blount said. "They want to see the kid get a good education, play football second and have a good career. But I tell you what, he’s a difference-maker and I would have loved to have had him. That’s why we made the visit to Gaffney to see if we could steal him."

Long eventually signed with the Bulldogs and could potentially see action against the Rams this Saturday.

Jesse Jackson stops by SCSU Bulldogs' practice

By BRIAN LINDER, T&D Sports Editor

The South Carolina State University football team got a bit of a surprise when Jesse Jackson stopped in on practice following his speech at Martin Luther King Auditorium Tuesday afternoon. According to Bulldogs head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough, whose team was preparing for Saturday’s 6 p.m. home game against Winston-Salem State, the meeting was set up by former SCSU player Dexter Clinkscales who now works with Jackson.

"We could not get up there (to hear Jackson speak) because it was during our practice time, so we asked him to come down here," Pough said. "It was great. He talked about staying in school, getting an education and presenting your diploma to your mom ... real good things that we try to preach all the time. He also talked about voting and voter registration, and that’s stuff I think is important too. So, anytime you can get a good solid message to these guys -- we are in the business of educating -- and anytime you do things that can help them later in life I think that is good."

While Pough was expecting Jackson, defensive lineman James Simmons was not.

"I was kind of surprised," he said. "It was a good experience. I’m from Greenville and Jesse Jackson is from Greenville. My granddaddy told me they grew up in the same neighborhood."

Freshman tight end Sean Lampkin was also impressed by Jackson.

"It was a great experience," he said. "It helped us out a lot. He said a nice little prayer and gave us some good motivational words. It think that is going to go a long way with our team."

Before boarding a bus and heading out of Orangeburg, Jackson spoke just outside of the team’s practice field about the message he tried to convey.

"First, it is a privilege to play football, and they must use this moment to be first-class athletes and first-class students," he said. "This matters if it turns into a diploma. I went to college on a football scholarship. Anybody that can master this game can also master reading, writing, counting and thinking. So, apply leadership skills here and become leaders on campus and beyond that, graduate, go on to grad school and make a big difference.

"If they do that, they can be champions everywhere they go."

AAMU Bulldogs not running away from a problem

By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

A&M is 3-0 and ranked but stopping the run is a concern

Alabama A&M always has prided itself on stopping opposing teams from running the football. In 2000, the Bulldogs led the nation in rushing defense, allowing a paltry 30 yards per game, and they have led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in that category over the last several years in addition to being ranked nationally.

This season, however, defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns figured A&M would have some problems stopping the run. After all, the Bulldogs lost All-SWAC defensive tackle Kevin Lockhart, a four-year starter. Justin Harper, a starter last season, had surgery during preseason practice on his left thumb and hasn't returned to form yet.

Even so, Towns didn't expect the Bulldogs (3-0 overall, 1-0 SWAC, ranked 23rd by Sports Network FCS poll, 25th in the coaches poll) to have as many problems as they have had through the first three games.

Tennessee State, led by Javarris Williams' 123 yards on 20 carries, rushed for 206 yards against A&M, while Mississippi Valley State, led by Ronald Brewer's 146 yards on 21 carries, finished with 161 yards on the ground.

Through three games, A&M is allowing 121.7 yards rushing per game and has allowed two backs to top the 100-yard mark. Last season, the Bulldogs allowed 113.8 yards per game and allowed only four 100-yard rushers.

What's the problem? Here is Towns' assessment:

"We've got some young linemen in there that really don't understand our gap control principles," said Towns, whose unit includes previously seldom-used juniors Whitney Garrett and David Winston, sophomore Renaldo Askew and freshman Frank Kearse.

"Their job is to stay in their gaps with their outside arm free and make some plays. That didn't happen much against Tennessee State or Mississippi Valley and if we're going to be the kind of defensive football team we want to be, we've got to get that corrected."

As a result, when the Bulldogs begin preparations this afternoon for Saturday's SWAC showdown with Grambling, those fundamentals will be a major part of practice.

Grambling running back Frank Warren had more than 130 yards rushing in the season opener against Alcorn State. If A&M is to come away with a win, Towns and company will have to slow Warren down.

"We're going to work on that a lot this week to make sure we stay in our gaps," Towns said. "I was surprised Mississippi Valley State was able to run the ball on us like that. Our strong safeties and will linebackers missed some tackles that enabled them to get some more yards.

"We did a bad job of tackling and a few times we were lined up wrong. In fact, we were lined up wrong right before halftime and that allowed them to score."

While Towns appeared to be concerned with A&M's inability to stop the run in two of its first three games, coach Anthony Jones wasn't as stressed.

"People are opting to run the ball against us because when we get them in passing situations because we can get after the quarterback," Jones said.

"They're trying to run the ball to slow down our pass rush. Nobody has been able to beat us just running the football, so I'm really not concerned with where we are in terms of rushing defense because it's misleading."

SCSU Pough concerned with injured Bulldogs

By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer

RAMS vs. BULLDOGS
WHO: Winston-Salem State (2-1) at South Carolina State (1-2, 1-0)
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Oliver C. Dawson Stadium
RADIO: WQKI 93.5 FM in Orangeburg, ESPN 93.1 FM in Columbia

The foul sheet detailing the 10 penalties South Carolina State received during Saturday’s historic game at Williams-Brice Stadium was not the only two-page document getting head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough’s attention.

SCSU’s injury list was just as long following the 38-3 loss to the University of South Carolina. Along with season-ending knee injuries suffered prior to the game to wide receiver Tron Jackson and linebacker David Erby, wide receiver Tre’ Young is expected to miss Saturday’s game against Winston-Salem State with a thigh contusion and quarterback Cleveland McCoy and running back Will Ford were among several of the Bulldogs’ "walking wounded" being treated Sunday for various bumps and bruises.

"Both Cleve and Will Ford both look like they went through an 18-round bout with (Muhammad) Ali and Ali was mad," said Pough at Monday’s press conference. "Both of those guys yesterday couldn’t hardly walk just from soreness."

Yet despite the toll taken from playing three straight road games, Pough said he would still open the season against two Football Bowl Subdivision games if given the opportunity again. If anything, he believes the experience will give the Bulldogs confidence going against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams.

"We’re beat up and bloodied, but I think we’re better off for the experience," he said. "I feel like we will continue to improve to match up to these football games. The only way we can get better is to compete with better. If we can get to the point where we get a little bit better understanding and get a little better feel, then I think that will be us getting better as a team also.

"We now know that we can compete with these kind of guys. We understand now that we can tackle, we can block them and at certain points, we can scheme with them. It gives us some confidence in the fact that if we are to really clean our mistakes up and refine some of the things that we do to the point where we execute better, we have a chance to be okay."

Compounding SCSU’s effort to get healthy is facing a Rams’ team which is coming off a 19-17 road victory over Morgan State. Although this contest does not count in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings (WSSU is in the second year of a transitional period to obtain full membership), the last thing Pough wants to dwell on during the ‘bye’ week is a loss.

"It would be awful," he said. "We would be back to where we were last year as far as record is concerned. The fact that we’ve beaten our only conference opponent (Bethune-Cookman) so far means a world of difference. We will at some point maybe try to get some of our guys healthy. We haven’t exactly figured out how we do that. I don’t know if we sacrifice say the Winston-Salem State game for the overall season with our injury situation as it is and I’m awfully, awfully concerned about that situation and whether we can get back to full speed by the Norfolk (State) game. We’ve got some thoughts to put together there to figure out how we handle this week."

Pough does plan to play more freshmen like offensive linemen Johnny Culbreath and Josh Harrison, mostly due to merit. The two showed they belonged this past Saturday against USC, according to Pough, and he’s looking forward to seeing their progress.

The Bulldogs will also get back place-kicker Stephen Grantham, wide receivers Terrance Smith and Phillip Morris and defensive lineman Patrick Brooks following their one-game suspension for team rules violations.

SCSU has won four of the five meetings with Winston-Salem State, including last year’s 35-6 win at Winston-Salem. This time around, Pough expects a more spirited effort from the Rams, coached by former SCSU assistant coach Kermit Blount.

"Winston’s got a good team and a large portion of what they’re about is that they hired (former SCSU running backs coach) Nick Calcutta...as their offensive coordinator and if you remember seeing Howard last year and what Howard put us through last year at ‘Homecoming’ which was a tough football game, that’s what you’ll see with Winston-Salem."

If there’s one lesson Pough said his team learned from the games against Air Force and USC is to be more consistent on offense. The Bulldogs are ranked near the both of the MEAC in points scored, although Pough said that has more to do with the competition level.

"Go check Norfolk’s stats and see where they’re at because they’ve played the same people we played," he said. "Go check some of the other (MEAC) teams and see who they played. I can throw the football against Savannah State. I’ve got a problem throwing the football against Air Force and South Carolina. We’ve had a problem protecting against those guys sometimes because of the fact they gave us some things that stressed us out some that we didn’t get in other instances. I think it’s more the people we’ve played. Our stats will come up as we get into our schedule."

No ‘Spy-gate’ around here

The recent controversy surrounding the New England Patriots violating NFL rules when it was caught videotaping the New York Jets’ sidelines has spurred talk about coaching ethics and cheating.

According to Pough, he does not see such practices as a major issue among MEAC teams as he relies mostly on scouting, knowing team tendences and watching game film.

"Most of the people that I play can’t afford enough cameras to film the sidelines and end zone shot, much less cameras to put on our coaches," he said. "There’s a little gamesmanship there. You kind of look at a guy, kind of see if you can tell, but that’s as far as we go. We don’t have the resources to do that like the NFL."

A&T Aggies expect full house for N.C. Central

By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record

N.C. CENTRAL AT N.C. A&T
When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Aggie Stadium, Greensboro
Radio: WNAA-90.1
Records: N.C. Central 3-1; N.C. A&T 0-3
Tickets: Call 334-7749 or
$20 online at http://www.ncataggies.com

GREENSBORO -- Think of homecoming without the parade or the other ancillary events. An oxymoron? Sure. But that's the sort of crowd and stadium atmosphere N.C. A&T officials anticipate Saturday when the Aggies (0-3) will play host to N.C. Central (3-1) for the first time in 16 years.

The Aggie-Eagle Classic, which became its own contradiction in terms when the third-party organizers failed to deliver on financial guarantees, has died and been replaced by a conventional home-field arrangement. Central's first trip to Greensboro since 1991 is expected to produce a sellout, even though tickets remained available Monday afternoon, and A&T administrators say they're preparing accordingly.

Security, ticket-sales agents and other game-day personnel will be at homecoming levels for a rivalry that drew an announced crowd of 35,000 at N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium in 2005. Aggie Stadium seats 21,500.

"I've heard about the Aggie-Eagle Classic because my grandfather used to talk about it," said A&T defensive end Keith Holiday. "It brings a lot of pride and school spirit out. This is going to be fun."

The series will be played for the 79th time in a history that began in 1924 and has shifted from campus to neutral sites before. A fight in the 1950s compelled a move to Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium, where, in one memorable game, a man drove his car right onto the field and parked at the 50-yard line. At least he had the good sense to wait until the previous play had been whistled dead.

"He left the motor running," said Spencer Gwynn, A&T's radio play-by-play man of four decades. "And he was quickly apprehended by the gendarmes."

In its most recent reincarnation, the game was run by a tax-exempt outfit known as the Capital Area Sports Foundation, which guaranteed each school $150,000 for the 2005 matchup. In its tax return for that year, the foundation reported more than $160,000 in payouts to A&T, but the university said it has received less than $100,000 and doesn't expect to see anything more.

"We can probably kiss that money goodbye," athletics director Dee Todd said Monday.

A year ago, Lawrence Wray, the group's chief administrator, said the foundation had run out of money, but it reported remaining assets of $12,285 as of Dec. 31.

The arrangement clearly is better for A&T now that it has cut the middle man out of the equation. That should hold true for a two-year period, even though Central gets next year's gate receipts. If A&T sells only 10,000 general-admission tickets this year, it will take in $200,000 and won't have to wait for anybody else to cut a check.

"You go to the Aggie-Eagle and you're dealing with a third party," Todd said. "Here, the gate is ours."

The Eagles surely understand. Last week, the West Alabama said that its game with Central, scheduled for Oct. 6 in Birmingham, Ala., had been canceled because of a "breach in the game contract by the Varsity Sports Marketing Group, the game's promoter."

Traditionalists might mourn the further migration of Central-A&T from its roots as the Turkey Day Classic, but future schedules should ensure A&T of at least two home sellouts a year -- one for homecoming and the other from Central or Winston-Salem State, which will alternate appearances at Aggie Stadium.

"The reality is that you've got to look at the financial amounts," Gwynn said.

Jackson State Hull should play more vs. Valley

Photo: WR Jaymar Johnson catches pass in rain against Texas Southern.

THE JSU GAME
What: Jackson State at Mississippi Valley
When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Radio: JSU Network (WOAD-1300 AM)

Running back Cody Hull made his Jackson State debut during Thursday's 28-7 win over Texas Southern after missing the first two games because of eligibility concerns.

The senior, who transferred from Southern Miss, rushed for 7 yards on four carries on the wet turf at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Hull, who earned his degree at USM and is taking graduate courses at JSU, sat out the first two games while the NCAA sorted out eligibility issues.

"We knew he was going to be eligible, it was just a matter of when the NCAA was going to clear him," Jackson State coach Rick Comegy said. "We're thrilled to have him and he gives us an added dimension in our running game."

JSU offensive coordinator James Woody said Hull would probably see an increased workload this weekend against Mississippi Valley State.

"We wanted to get him more carries against Texas Southern, but the field was in such bad shape we held him out," Woody said. "But he's going to help us a lot before this season's done."

JOHNSON HONORED

Jaymar Johnson was the SWAC's Specialist of the Week after gaining 117 yards on two returns. The highlight was a 75-yard punt return that gave the Tigers a 14-0 lead. DE Daniel Brooks and CB Domonique Johnson were honorable mention for Defensive Player of the Week.

INJURY REPORT

Backup linebacker Justin Baylor had his knee scoped on Monday and Comegy said he's likely out two to four weeks. ... If tight end Marcel Frost isn't able to play within the next few weeks, Comegy said he'll consider seeking a medical redshirt for the senior. Frost has missed the first three games while recovering from a broken leg suffered last spring.

- David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

MEAC week three football honors

Photo: FAMU #10, Tyrone McGriff smashes Howard University offense for two sacks, 11 tackles.

By MEAC Sports information

Senior runningback Chad Simpson of Morgan State University and Tyrone McGriff of Florida A&M University were selected as the MEAC Football Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Phillip Sylvester also of Florida A&M earned his second Rookie of the Week accolade, while teammates Dennis Conley and Kevin Teel of Hampton earned offensive lineman and special team’s player of the week honors respectively.

Simpson (RB, 5-9, 210, Sr., Miami, Fla.) ran for a career-best 221 yards on 41 carries including a 33 yard touchdown run as the Bears fell in the final seconds to Winston Salem State, 19-17. He also had 68 yards on three kickoff returns. Simpson is currently averaging 186.0 yards, third best among NCAA D-I (FCS) players, in three games and has rushed for five TDs.

McGriff (DE, 6-1, 217, Sr., Tallahassee, Fla.) led the Rattlers in tackles with 11, eight solo, in a 30-17 win over Howard. McGriff also recorded two sacks for a loss of 16 yards and four and a half tackles for a loss of 20 yards.

Sylvester (RB, 5-10, 185, Fr., Marianna, Fla.) was one-of-two players to post over 200 yards rushing in MEAC action this week. Sylvester rushed for 222 yards on 21 carries and tallied nine yards on two receptions. He also ran back two kickoffs for 41 yards. His longest run of 94 yards resulted in a touchdown, giving the Rattlers the 20-10 lead over Howard. The freshman, who also received Rookie of the Week honors in week one, accounted for 276 all-purpose yards in the win. Sylvester currently ranks 15th in rushing among NCAA D-I (FCS) players.

Photo: FAMU #30, Phillip Sylvester takes it 94 yards through Howard University defense for TD.

Conley (LG, 6-4, 257, r-So., Suffolk, Va.) graded out at 94-percent on assignments as he aided the Pirates to 438 total offensive yards in a win over N.C. A&T. Conley led the way for the Pirates’ 228 yards on the ground and 210 yards passing that resulted in three touchdowns for quarterback TJ Mitchell. He also collected two pancake blocks in the win.

Teel (WR, 5-9, 168, Jr., Bowie, MD) recorded a 70-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Pirates win. He amassed 95 total yards on returns and also notched 68 yards receiving with a touchdown.

Other Top Performers

Josh Brite (DSU) had eight punts for 321 yards (40.1 average) with one inside the 20 and one touchback for the Hornets.

Rafael Bush (SCSU) tallied nine tackles, with all but one unassisted, against the nationally ranked South Carolina Gamecocks.

Will Ford (SCSU) rushed for 112 yards on 17 carries against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Jerrell Guyton (MSU) collected a career-high 14 tackles (10 solo) and a sack in the Bears slim loss to the Winston-Salem State Rams.

Dakarai Grimsley (MSU) graded out a 98-percent on his assignments and collected five pancake blocks as he led the Bears to 366 total offensive yards against the Rams.

Justin Keable (BCU) punt for 191 yards on five attempts including a 48-yarder that pinned the Tigers deep in their own territory as Bethune-Cookman posted their second win of the season.

James Lee (SCSU) had two pancake blocks as he helped the Bulldogs to 196 yards rushing against intrastate rival South Carolina.

Van Morgan (HAM) rushed for 154 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns in the win over N.C. A&T State.

Russell Reeves (DSU) led all tackles with 14, eight solo, and one sack for a loss of three yards in the Hornets loss to Kent State. He also posted a forced fumble and one pass breakup for the Hornets defense.

Jimmie Russell (BCU) scored three rushing touchdowns with 65 yards on 12 carries in the Wildcats win over Savannah State. Russell also completed 10-of-15 passes for 112 yards in the victory.

Carlo Turavani (HAM) scored 11 points completing 8-of-8 extra point attempts and a 28-yard field goal as the Pirates defeated N.C. A&T 59-14.

Bobbie Williams (BCU) accounted for 10 tackles, five solo, and three pass breakups in the Wildcats 38-13 victory over Savannah State.

Defense sparks Southern University’s 3-0 start

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Tennessee State at Southern
WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: A.W. Mumford Stadium
TV: Tape-delay, 3:30 p.m. Sun., CST
RADIO: KQXL-FM, 106.5

Southern has allowed one second-half touchdown all season — with 16 seconds left in the opener as the Jaguars played more for time than score.

That’s not how this was supposed to happen.

The thinking going in was, Southern’s offseason attrition left the Jaguars thin and young and that combination would have them wearing down as games wore on.

Not so.

Southern (3-0, 2-0), which hosts Tennessee State (2-1) of the Ohio Valley Conference at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium, has gotten better throughout the games.

A big reason for the undefeated start is the way SU has played in the second half, outscoring the opposition 36-9.

Between substitution patterns and coaching adjustments, Southern’s defense has been stingy and dominating after halftime.

Mississippi Valley State got 9 yards in the entire second half. Prairie View changed quarterbacks, with its playmaker Chris Gibson ineffective, and couldn’t convert on fourth-and-3 at the SU 28-yard line. Florida A&M couldn’t convert a key fourth-and-1 at the SU 25 in the third quarter and threw two interceptions, one setting up the go-ahead score and the other in the Southern end zone.

“The thing that helps is, we do a game plan and we actually have adjustments in the gameplan,” said SU defensive coordinator Terrence Graves, who is also the defensive backs coach. “We practice it throughout the week, so it’s nothing they haven’t seen for the most part. Little, subtle adjustments.

“Those guys understand the little wrinkles, adjust to them and do a good job of executing.”

After getting burned for two long touchdowns in the second quarter of the season opener with FAMU, Southern has clamped down, allowing just two touchdowns (and a safety, charged to the punting unit) in the last 10 quarters.

“Those guys are doing a good job of really just executing the defense,” Graves said. “That’s a credit to them, because it means something to them.”

Southern had three interceptions, three sacks and two fourth-down stops in a 12-2 win over Prairie View on Saturday.

Gibson came in averaging 99.5 rushing yards per game. He had minus-17 and suffered his first two sacks of the season.

“They took away some of the things we wanted to do,” Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III said. “Coach Graves and his staff were on it. &hellip We’re going to look at where they were robbing us &hellip see how they took it away and we’ll correct it.”

Remember, though, that there is not a senior among Southern’s front seven (its linebackers and line).

“(First-year linebackers coach Todd) Middleton and (defensive line coach David) Geralds are doing a good job up front of making those guys aware of what to look for and what to respond to, making sure they’re in the right places and paying attention to detail,” Graves said. “They’re playing well together.”

At the core of this success, the team’s playmakers have made plays, as Southern head coach Pete Richardson has pointed out.

The secondary, headlined by the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason defensive player of the year in free safety Jarmaul George and a three-year starter in cornerback Michael Williams (11 tackles), has lived up to expectations.

Strong safety Glenn Bell, the team’s top tackler last season, has 23 tackles, with that interception in the end zone and a fumble recovery in the end zone. &hellip George has 20 tackles and two interceptions.

Junior Johnathan Malveaux, the most veteran of linebackers, leads the team in tackles at 29.

The two veterans on the defensive line, end Vince Lands and tackle Joseph Selders, have produced.

Lands, this week’s SWAC Defensive Player of the Week, has 13 tackles, with 5.5 for losses, including 2.5 sacks, along with three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. And Selders has 14 tackles.

Meanwhile, junior defensive tackle Dwayne Charles (13 tackles) continues to make the progression coaches expected.

And sophomore drop linebacker Gary Chapman (14 tackles) is showing he can be what he looked like he could be in preseason camp.

And the tag-team of Allan Baugh (11 tackles, one interception) and Brian Lewis (eight tackles, one sack) has worked at eagle linebacker.

“We’ve got some guys who are coming in and making plays, just doing a good job of understanding what to do and how to do it,” Graves said. “We emphasize playing fast and playing hard.”

Southern has totaled five interceptions, 14 pass breakups, six sacks and two fumble recoveries.

“We made big plays at the right time,” George said.

SCSU Historic day comes with a price

By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer

COLUMBIA - For the 73,095 fans in attendance Saturday night, the first-ever matchup between the University of South Carolina and South Carolina State was a festive experience.

Although the 38-3 outcome clearly went in favor of the host team and 12th-ranked Gamecocks, even Bulldog fans had to take pride in how the team and the Marching 101 looked in front of the largest audience either has ever performed before in school history.

The closer to the gridiron, however, the more it became obvious the inaugural meeting was a painful experience for the Bulldogs. As SCSU huddled with USC players at midfield for a post-game prayer, both defensive backs Markee Hamlin and Travance Jackson were staying upright on crutches.

The same was true for linebacker David Erby, who along with wide receiver Tron Jackson, suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice. Add BANDIT Marshall McFadden’s right elbow injury and the fact running back William Ford, who had his first 100-yard game this season, tight end Octavius Darby and wide receiver Tre’ Young were dealing with ankle and leg injuries and it would have been easy for SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough to second-guess his decision to play two Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the first three weeks of the season.

Instead, Pough would not change a thing save for the outcome and the rash of injuries. If anything, he believes even stronger that the Bulldogs will reap benefits from arguably the toughest opening three-game stretch any SCSU team has faced in its 100 years of existence.

"I’m encouraged," he said. "I think we’ll be okay. We’ve got some big, big football games left and we go back home next week, finally. This has been a long stretch. That three games on the road. One week, we’re in the Rocky Mountains and the next week, we’re on the Atlantic Ocean (in Daytona Beach, Fla. at Bethune-Cookman) and now, heck, we’re in the earthquake, doggone Williams-Brice (Stadium). It’s been a tough three weeks, but I’m glad to be getting back home and hopefully, we can go back home and play good the next week (against Winston-Salem State) and have a week up and heal up from our injuries."

The key for SCSU is getting most of the injured players healed up in time for the resumption of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play. With Saturday’s home game against Winston-Salem State not counting in the standings, the Bulldogs could conceivably use the game the same way USC had hoped to do - give the starters enough time to stay sharp then pull them for the rest of the game.

Getting back four players (wide receivers Terrance Smith and Phillip Morris, defensive lineman Patrick Brooks and place-kicker Stephen Grantham) suspended for Saturday’s game for team rule violations should help in the depth department.

Even with Smith’s return, the Bulldogs will need to find a way to help an anemic passing game. Through three games, the Bulldogs rank last in the MEAC in passing offense, passing efficiency and next to last in Red Zone Offense.

Although backup Malcolm Long appeared in two series for the Bulldogs, Pough is not ready to rush the former ‘Mr. Football’ into the limelight.

"Cleve (McCoy) is our guy," he said. "He’s going to be our guy and Malcolm will be our guy down the road. All we’re trying to do with him right now is give him a little taste from time to time."

Bruised Gamecocks

Even in victory, USC took its lumps as two key starters in defensive back Brandon Isaac and defensive tackle Nathan Pepper left the game with injuries.

For Isaac, it was his oft-troubled right shoulder which once again betrayed the former T&D Region Player of the Year out of Blackville-Hilda. It was listed as a sprain, although USC head football coach Steve Spurrier gave no indication as to when Isaac will return.

In Pepper’s case, the pain came as made one of the biggest defensive plays of his career. With SCSU up 3-0 early, Pepper stepped in front of a Cleveland McCoy pass and returned it 19 yards for the school’s first interception return for a touchdown in two years.

As Peppers galloped untouched into the endzone, he quickly went down with was later diagnosed as a sprained left knee. He’s scheduled for an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.

"An injury is something you can’t predict," USC defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix said. "If you’re going to get hurt, get hurt scoring."

Instant replay works for SCSU

Playing at Williams-Brice Stadium afforded SCSU the rare opportunity of challenge questionable plays through instant replay. In two instances during the first half, the protested calls went in the Bulldogs’ favor.

SCSU challenged the spotting of a fourth-and-one quarterback sneak by USC backup quarterback Tommy Beecher. After a five-minute review, the review overturned the original call and gave possession back to the Bulldogs.

Minutes later, USC challenged a fumble recovered by SCSU defensive lineman Keyon Brooks which was caused by a hard hit by a blitzing Ryan Botts. The ruling on the field stood and SCSU won its second challenge.

Record game crowd for SCSU

The 73,095 fans at Williams-Brice Stadium was the largest crowd an SCSU football team had play before, breaking the mark of 68,000 set in 2004 when the Bulldogs played Tennessee State at the Circle City Classic held in Indianapolis, Ind.

Lesson learned

SCSU’s inability to deal with the crowd noise at Williams-Brice Stadium resulted in four false start penalties in the first half. In the long run, however, Pough believes those difficulties will help the Bulldogs in future FBS matchups, including a 2011 rematch with USC.

"It’s a learning experience," he said. "Now that we’ve done it one time under these circumstances, the next time we’ll do better."

Playing from behind

SCSU dropped to 4-14 overall in games in which it trailed at halftime under Pough. The 3-0 deficit was also the first time USC had trailed in a game all season. The lead lasted exactly 80 seconds for SCSU.

Rutgers rubs it in--Runs it up on Norfolk State

Greg Schiano padded Ray Rice's stats late in a win over Navy on Sept. 7. But after being criticized for a bush-league move, the Rutgers head coach only seemed even more determined to rub it in the face of an opponent.

Saturday against tiny Norfolk State, Schiano called a bevy of timeouts in short succession while his team held a 45-0 lead at the end of the second quarter. NSU coach Pete Adrian had a right to be upset, and the fact that the controversy was the lead item in the Associated Press' (usually) bland game report shows you how much this story matters. It overshadowed anything and everything that Rutgers might have achieved in this game.

Okay, coach Schiano, it's time to throw down some tough talk: before this season, you did the right things in the right way for all the right reasons at Rutgers. After several years of hard work — and justified patience from your athletic director — you've gained the right results as well. You were a model for all other coaches in every possible way.

But now, after two straight weeks of stat-padding, with one of them coming in a classic paycheck game, all the goodwill and political capital of Rutgers University's football program are being thrown out the window. This on-field controversy involving Schiano's methods (and motives) accompanies the off-field developments concerning the unruly and unbecoming behavior of the Rutgers student body at home games in Piscataway, N.J.

Coach, your reasoning after the Norfolk State game was pretty lame. You said that as long as your starters are in the game, you play the way you coach: all-out, with a complete focus on performance and excellence. That statement leaves a lot to be desired for a number of reasons.

First, you can justify leaving your starters in the game far longer than they should. If Ray Rice is on the field, you think you can do whatever you want. So you leave Rice in the game, and you do whatever you want. Twisted logic, to say the very least.

Secondly, one would think that with backups in the game, you would actually work harder as a coach. When first-string players are competing against a grossly inferior opponent, you don't need to trick up your playbook or complicate your game plan. With dominant players, you can do the simplest things and still score points. If that happens, then you can't be accused of stat-padding.

But with backup players who need exposure to live-action game management situations, it's justifiable to provide trick plays and special strategies.

Second- or third-string players deserve the right to work with the gadgets, exotics and wrinkles normally reserved for the first-teamers. If your bench-warmers get a full playbook and a complex offensive package, no opposing coach could argue: second-stringers don't get much work, so they need exposure to everything. The logic is clear and convincing.

Long story short, you can't have it both ways, Mr. Schiano: either you keep your first string in the game and don't call the timeouts, or you put in your backups and call the timeouts. If you were a really nice guy, you'd put in second-stringers and not call the timeouts, but we'll be reasonable and ask for only one action, not both. But you did neither; you kept in the first-team offense AND called the three timeouts in a 45-point game against a paycheck school whom you should treat with a little more respect. It's not just Pete Adrian who should be angry at you; it's an entire college football community that suddenly doesn't feel that Rutgers is a feel-good story anymore.

Not with the embarrassing way in which you're conducting yourself on gamedays, Mr. Schiano.

— Matthew Zemek, Foxsports.com

HU's kickoff return provides a kick-start

BY KEITH CANNON, Special to the Daily Press

GREENSBORO, N.C. - A confusing set of circumstances led to one of the biggest plays in Hampton's 59-14 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday night at Aggie Stadium.

A premature call by the A&T captains after the opening coin toss led to the Pirates receiving both the first- and second-half kickoffs. Kevin Teel returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown, sparking Hampton's big third quarter.

Quarterback T.J. Mitchell, one of Hampton's game captains, explained that the Pirates lost the coin toss, but when asked what they wanted to do, the Aggie captains identified which goal they wanted to defend instead of the expected decision to defer to the second half. So, naturally, the Pirates elected to receive for the second half.

Hampton coach Joe Taylor said he was surprised by the whole incident. "First time in my life I've ever seen that," he said.

SHORT SCHEDULE
The Pirates home opener at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against Morgan State (TV: ESPNU) will result in changes in the team's routine this week, Taylor said.

"We won't grade this game's film yet, but we'll look at Morgan first," he said. "We usually take Monday off and introduce the next team on Tuesday," he said. "But this time our next day off will be Friday."

TURNOVER STREAK STAYS ALIVE
Kendall Langford's 23-yard interception return for a score late in the third quarter marked the 28th consecutive game in which the Pirates defense has forced at least one turnover. The last time the Pirates didn't get a giveaway from the opposition was on Nov. 8, 2003 at Bethune-Cookman.

THE LAST TIME
Teel's kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half was the second of his career. He repeated the feat he accomplished last season when the opened the second half with a 92-yard return for a score in a 29-14 victory over Delaware State on Sept. 30, 2006, in Dover, Del...It also hasn't been that long since the Pirates scored 59 points in a game. They did it last season in a 59-7 victory over Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Fla. on Nov. 11, 2006.

N.C. CONNECTION
Four players on the Hampton roster hail from North Carolina, including senior safety Henti Baird, a Greensboro Page graduate playing in front of a hometown crowd for the final time. There's also a Hampton connection on the A&T side as Aggie linebacker coach Travis Oliver is a 2003 Hampton graduate. He was a two-time All-MEAC safety for the Pirates.


ALL-TIME SERIES
With the victory, the Pirates' all-time record against North Carolina A&T is now 22-15-2. Hampton has won the last four, and have scored more than 40 points in three of the four. Hampton has a 9-4 advantage in MEAC games between the teams and Pirates coach Joe Taylor is 9-3 against the Aggies in his career at Hampton.

Southern defense gets 'moral shutout' against PVAMU

Photo: Southern’s Jarmal George (2) leaps over Prairie View’s Chris Gibson (10) during Southern’s 12-2 victory.











By JOE SCHIEFELBEIN, The Advocate

Do they have things called “moral shutouts?”

That’s what Southern’s defense scored in a 12-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference victory over Prairie View on Saturday.

Prairie View’s only score came when Southern was called for holding in the end zone while attempting a punt in the fourth quarter.

“We had a shutout defensively,” said senior free safety Jarmaul George, the SWAC’s preseason defensive player of the year.

George’s interception at the Southern 15-yard line with 4:41 to play ended the Panthers’ last good chance to score. SU’s last shutout came in September 2005, 38-0 over Prairie View.

“We expect bigger things out of the defense. That’s just the beginning of what we want to do right there,” George said.

After giving up what SU head coach Pete Richardson called two “cheap” touchdowns in the second quarter of the season opener against Florida A&M (a 45-yard touchdown run and a 40-yard TD pass), Southern’s defense has been crazy good.

In the last 10 quarters, Southern (3-0, 2-0 SWAC) has allowed just two touchdowns. One of those came with 16 seconds left against FAMU, when the Jaguars were more concerned with time, and the other came with 6 seconds to go in the first half of a 23-6 win over Mississippi Valley State.

Saturday, unlike the previous two games when the offense got on a roll after slow starts, Saturday’s defensive effort was so crucial because this was a defensive battle.

For the second straight season, Prairie View defensive coordinator Heisma Northern has kept Southern from finding any offensive continuity. Last season, PV headed off SU’s passing game and kept the Panthers in the game to make an amazing comeback in the final five minutes. This time, the Panthers (2-1, 1-1) took away the running game — just 67 yards on the ground after SU had totaled 293 the week before.

SU’s defense answered the challenge.

“We wanted to bring the pressure to (PV quarterback Chris Gibson),” George said. “We knew the defense would step up to the challenge if we went man-to-man on the defense.”

A year ago, PV had 251 rushing yards. This time, the Panthers had 52 (suffering 61 yards in losses after gaining 113).

Prairie View hadn’t given up a sack this season, but SU got to the Panthers for three, including 2.5 from defensive end Vince Lands.

Southern came up with three interceptions and twice made fourth-down stops deep in Jaguars territory.

“I can’t say enough about our defense,” senior wide receiver Gerard Landry said.

Do more of this
SU defensive coordinator Terrence Graves has been making all the right moves. Down 20-12 at halftime to FAMU, Southern’s defense rallied in the second half, paving the way for a 33-27 victory. Burned by the late TD to Valley, the Jaguars stoned the Delta Devils in the second half (9 yards of offense after halftime). And after Prairie View totaled 88 yards in the first quarter, Graves’ adjustments kept the Panthers to 109 yards in the rest of the game.

Work more on this
Again, Southern needs to find a rhythm on offense more quickly. Saturday was the Jaguars’ worst start of the season: three three-and-outs and minus-6 yards (on 10 plays) in the first quarter. SU didn’t have its initial first down until 12:38 before halftime. By that time, SU’s defense had already held twice in its territory (at the SU 17-yard line and 38) and made an interception.

Quick hits
SU has not trailed in its last two games or its last nine quarters. SU’s four-game winning streak, dating to the Bayou Classic last season, is its longest since a six-win run in 2004, when the Jaguars were 8-4 and won the Western Division. Prairie View has scored two points total in its last two trips to Mumford Stadium — losing 12-2 Saturday and 38-0 in 2005. SU won 62-7 in ’03, but that game was held in Shreveport.

Up next
Southern hosts Tennessee State (2-1) of the Ohio Valley Conference at 6 p.m. Saturday in Mumford Stadium. TSU has won two straight games on thrillers, with the same key players coming up big each time. Saturday, in a 33-32 OVC win over Austin Peay, Eric Benson scored the game-winner on his PAT in overtime after he kicked a 43-yard field goal with 9 seconds left to tie the game in regulation. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie blocked a PAT after Austin Peay scored a touchdown on its possession. A week earlier, Benson made a 35-yarder with no time left to beat Jackson State 16-13 (after TSU trailed 13-6 heading into the final quarter). Rodgers-Cromartie blocked a 22-yard Eric Perri field-goal attempt just moments earlier.

The teams have not played since 1996, when SU won 19-18. TSU has played two SWAC teams so far this season, losing 49-23 to defending SWAC champ Alabama A&M in the season opener and beating Jackson State.

SCSU 101 does the job, puts on great show

By TRAVIS BOLAND, T&D Sports Writer

The one complaint Gamecock fans have had for the past few years is the lack of an "SEC-caliber" marching band.

Fans on message boards all over the state knew that the score of the game would never be in doubt against S.C. State, but a lot of them didn’t know what to expect from the Marching 101.

The South Carolina State Bulldog marching band is well known not only in the state, but all over the country. Many USC fans were excited to see this new style of band play at halftime, and the Marching 101 was happy to oblige.

"Our band came to put on a good show, and they’re very excited to do so," Assistant Director of Bands Donald Lee said Saturday night. "The kids have worked very hard, and it’s going to be an exciting show."

Now, I’ve never seen the 101 perform, I’ve heard the drum line play at a couple of functions in Orangeburg, but I’ve never seen the whole group do a show. I didn’t know what to expect.

I watched the band march into the stadium, and they looked as good as any band in the SEC, then when they started playing -- an hour before kickoff -- it was clear they came to party.

The 101 did exactly what it had to do, pump up the crowd. But they also riled up the crowd in a bad way.

Through no fault of their own, the band ended up taking up almost an entire section at Williams-Brice Stadium. The only problem, people had bought those tickets. Scores of Bulldog fans who purchased tickets were left standing and scrambling for any piece of real estate in the visitors’ section.

Needless to say, this didn’t make a lot of people happy.

But the band played on, with the fight song and other music. Every time they picked up their instruments it was going to be a show. I had a front-row seat, watching from the bottom of the stands and rocking right along with the students and fans who made the trip. But as the 101 started to make their way to the field for the halftime show, I wanted to get a better seat.

I raced up the ramp and stood in the corner to watch this famous formation.

The 101 put on a great show that included the popular rap song "Soldier Boy" and a tribute to the fire fighters who lost their lives in Charleston. The band’s sound was just as loud as any other band that has played Williams-Brice, including Carolina, Clemson, Tennessee and Georgia.
The 101 should be very proud. They did exactly what they set out to do, put on a good show. It not only had the Bulldog fans up in their chairs, but I think I even saw some Gamecock fans bobbing their heads near the end.

SCSU - USC Football proves its power

By BOB SPEAR, The State

Never again doubt the power of football.

Not after Saturday night.

Not after South Carolina and South Carolina State squared off at Williams-Brice Stadium.

A 60-minute game contested on a plot of grass that measures 100 yards by 53 yards scraped away years of unwanted history and helped the state take another positive step into the future.

Combine the expectations in the week leading to the game with the blocking and tackling on a late-summer Saturday night, and the sum of good feeling accomplished more than all the rhetoric through the years.

"Historic" and "symbolic" often found their way into media reports centering on the first football game between the "big" state university, South Carolina, and the historical black college-university, South Carolina State. The words fit.

Stories focused on the monetary gain of S.C. State, and certainly the Bulldogs' athletic treasury benefits from the transfusion of cash. Fans who believed the racial divide would never permit the game basked in the attention and reveled in anticipation.

All those factors matter, of course. Bundle them into one package and discover the real reason to celebrate a football game that figured to be one-sided on the scoreboard: the visibility and credibility showered on S.C. State.

Those two elements could not be bought at any price, and that is the power and passion of football.

Priceless exposure. For those who still do not believe, consider this: The schools have faced each other in their second-most popular sport, men's basketball, periodically through the years. The series dates to Frank McGuire's days with the Gamecocks.

Some of those basketball games turned into nail-biters. Indeed, some of the S.C. State faithful believe the Bulldogs fell victim to a classic "homer" job one year at Carolina Coliseum, and last season's game at the Colonial Center went to the wire.

The Gamecocks won 55-52 before an announced crowd of 6,307 in the most recent game. The season before, USC won in a walk before a gathering listed at 5,014.

No one noticed, or if they did, the attendance figures suggest no one cared.

Compare that to Saturday night's scramble for tickets and a reported sellout crowd.

That is football.

"Without question, Saturday will be a great night for South Carolina State University," Donnie Shell, a former Bulldogs star who had a glittering career in the National Football League, said in previewing the game. "You can't buy this type of exposure through any kind of advertising. The money for the budget is great, but the visibility will mean more."

Like most S.C. State fans, Shell — a season-ticket holder who works for the Carolina Panthers — believes this game should have happen long before now, but he did not dwell on that point.

"It's good that schools within the state play each other," he said. "It's good for everybody, both our school and South Carolina."

The pregame anticipation drives that fact home.

Shell grew up in Whitmire in the early days of public-school integration. He had one scholarship offer — to Belmont Abbey to play basketball. Instead, he went to S.C. State and played on a defense that included future pros Harry Carson, Mickey Sims and Barney Chavous.

"I wish we could have played (USC) then, but when I played, I never saw this happening," he said. "I couldn't have imagined it then. Now, I'm pleased the teams are playing, that (administrators) made it possible."

How his Bulldogs would have fared against the Gamecocks "is something we will never know," said Shell, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998 and an All-Pro safety on the Pittsburgh Steelers' Steel Curtain defense in the pros. "We had confidence we could play football. Football is blocking and tackling and running, and if you could do those things, you can play on any level."

The "big" schools with far larger resources generally dominate in games like this one, but the Gamecocks had to work harder than expected Saturday night.

The crowd had to be wondering at halftime if the Gamecocks are "average stiffs" — coach Steve Spurrier's characterization after their 28-14 win over Louisiana-Lafayette — or the team that knocked off nationally ranked Georgia a week ago. Five first-half turnovers created plenty of reason for indigestion with a date with LSU on the horizon.

But more than the numbers on the scoreboard mattered Saturday night. At long last, these neighboring teams squared off in a game that illustrates the power of football.