BC-U Home(coming) invasion

By BRENT WORONOFF, Daytona Beach News-Journal

DAYTONA BEACH -- Bethune-Cookman defensive back James Monds expected a tight, low-scoring ball game. And that's exactly what a Wildcats' homecoming crowd of 10,121 witnessed Saturday.

For the first half.

In the second half, B-CU ran into a buzz saw, and Morgan State cruised to a 33-9 victory at Municipal Stadium.

"Everything was happening so fast," said Monds, who scored the Wildcats' only touchdown, returning a blocked punt in the first quarter. "I was asking on the sideline, 'What happened? It was just 9-9. How is it 23-9?' "

Both teams had trouble generating any offense in the first half as they battled to a 9-9 halftime tie with B-CU scoring all of its points on special teams and Morgan State relying on a blocked punt and an interception for its two scores.

But while B-CU's offense continued to sputter and shoot itself in the foot in the second half, the Bears (2-3, 1-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) got on track, forcing the Wildcats (2-3, 0-3) into a desperation passing scheme before the end of the third quarter.

"We wanted to break them out of their offense," Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley said. "When a triple-option team has to go four and five wide, they're not going to be comfortable in that situation."

The Wildcats managed just 149 yards of offense and turned the ball over five times, including four interceptions.

"They have a good defense. That's why they're ranked No. 1 in our conference," B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt said. "They were just much better than us today."

The Bears scored on their first three possessions of the second half to take a 26-9 lead. James Devan's 65-yard run up the middle made it 33-9 with 4:17 left.

"It's just frustrating," said B-CU linebacker Ronnie McCullough, who had a game-high 20 tackles. "The defense played pretty good, but when the offense is struggling we just have to step it up."

The Bears moved ahead for good on their first possession of the second half, driving 55 yards on 12 plays with quarterback Byron Selby scoring on a 3-yard run. After holding B-CU on downs, Selby's 18-yard rollout pass to Robert Surratt made it 23-9.

A Matt Johnson interception then gave the Bears the ball at B-CU's 17, and James Meade kicked his second field goal to put the Bears up 26-9 with 9:55 left in the game.

"The difference was they got (the ball) in good field position," Wyatt said. "The score was tied, so they didn't have to be in a hurry to do anything. They took their time, and they just grinded the ball down the field on us."

The Wildcats held Chad Simpson, the MEAC's leading rusher with 798 yards, to 98 yards and no touchdowns.

Photo: MSU #2 Chad Simpson gains 98 yards on the Wildcats defense.
Now the Wildcats have to quickly regroup for a Thursday night game at MEAC leader Delaware State, a game that will be televised nationally by ESPNU.

"This was a difficult homecoming loss," McCullough said. "But we have to come right back. We're not going to fold up."

Questions & attitude

How was the officiating?

It may have cost Bethune-Cookman a victory last week at Norfolk State and caused the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to suspend three officials for one game, but it was not a factor in B-CU's 33-9 loss to Morgan State on Saturday.

The Bears were called for nine penalties for 88 yards, while the Wildcats were flagged six times for 63 yards, which is not a lot, but almost half as many yards as B-CU's offense produced in the game.

What's wrong with the offense?

You name it. The line struggled. The quarterbacks struggled. Running back Justin Brannon missed the game with a high ankle sprain, and without him, the Wildcats ran for just 47 yards. Quarterback Jimmie Russell, who came into the game with a team-high 358 yards rushing, was held to minus-4 yards on 16 carries Saturday. It didn't help that three B-CU quarterbacks combined for four interceptions.

If the Wildcats were so hapless on offense, how were they able to go into halftime with a 9-9 tie?
Morgan State's offense was just as bad in the first half. B-CU tallied 72 yards and converted 1 of 6 first downs, while Morgan State had just 68 yards and went 0 for 7 on first downs. And B-CU's defense played well, even in the second half, when it was on the field most of the time. The Wildcats had 10 tackles for losses in the game.

Jimmie Russell was replaced by Matt Souverain in both the first and second half. Is the quarterback job now up for grabs?

B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt said Russell is still the starting quarterback. Souverain is the quarterback the 'Cats use when they are far behind and forced to abandon the triple-option offense in favor of a four-wide receiver set.

Photo: BCU Marching Wildcat Band

TAKE FIVE

Representing South Florida

Morgan State has nearly as many players from South Florida as Bethune-Cookman does. The Bears boast 16 players from Broward and Dade counties, while the Wildcats have 21 from the South Florida area that produces so much gridiron talent.

Pick Four

Morgan State picked off four Bethune-Cookman passes in its 33-9 victory Saturday. Lamar West, Kofi Nkrumah, Kendall Jackson, and Dakota Bracey each grabbed an interception. Three different Wildcat quarterbacks contributed as Jimmie Russell threw two interceptions, and McKinson Souverain and Matt Johnson each misfired once. For Johnson, it was his first collegiate pass.

A Busy Day

B-CU linebacker Ronnie McCullough was one busy Wildcat. The senior who came to B-CU via South Florida registered 20 tackles, including six solo tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. It was the most tackles by a Wildcat since Jamal Muhammad had 20 in a loss to Morgan State in 2003.

Two Tough Points

B-CU's Ben Ballard scored two points the hard way. Ballard scooped up the football after Brendan Odom blocked a Morgan State point-after kick and went the distance for only the second PAT return in school history. Ballard's return gave B-CU a 9-6 lead with just under 6 minutes left in the first half.

Big Body

B-CU tried a different wrinkle early in the game by having 280-pound tackle De'Juan Guillory line up at fullback. Guillory made a couple of solid blocks, but wasn't a threat to carry the football.

Alabama A&M notebook

Huntsville Times

Bulldogs gobble up ground

Alabama A&M's running game, which was limited to 30 yards rushing in a 31-6 loss last week at Grambling, showed up Saturday afternoon against Texas Southern.

The Bulldogs finished with a season-high 308 yards on 46 carries as five different players had 30 or more yards.

Ulysses Banks led with 112 yards on 17 carries. Anthony Green had 60 yards on nine carries, Generion McWhorter had 40 yards on three carries, Kevin McCants had 39 yards on four carries and quarterback Kelcy Luke had 32 yards on eight carries.

Harris on the move

Thomas Harris, a sophomore wide receiver, was involved in the running game early on.

On Alabama A&M's second play from scrimmage, Harris went 22 yards on a reverse that helped set up Banks' 9-yard touchdown run.

Cummings a force early

Defensive end Dominique Cummings has played behind Chris Traylor for much of his career, but the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder made his presence felt early against Texas Southern.

Cummings had a pass breakup on the Tigers' second possession of the game to force a field goal and later in the first quarter came up with his first sack of the season when he dropped quarterback Tino Edgecombe for a 6-yard loss.

Unfortunately for A&M, the Tigers came back to score on the next play as Edgecombe found B.J. Haith with a 32-yard touchdown pass.

Donaldson swipes pass No. 2

Free safety Al Donaldson took over the team lead in interceptions early in the second quarter.

Donaldson, a junior from Crawfordsville, Fla., picked off an Edgecombe pass early in the second quarter that led to a 12-yard touchdown pass from Luke to Gerald Stockdale.

Donaldson, who had four tackles and three pass breakups, now has two interceptions on the season. He had one in the season opener against Tennessee State that also led to a touchdown.

Luke picked off again

Luke threw his fourth interception of the season on Alabama A&M's first possession of the second quarter.

The Bulldogs had moved from their own 31 to a first down at the Texas Southern 40. Two plays later, facing a third-and-four from the 34, Luke's poorly thrown ball, intended for Rashad Johnson, was picked off by Texas Southern's Chris Salvant.

Luke threw just eight interceptions all of last season.

McWhorter an opportunist

McWhorter, a fullback, hadn't gotten many opportunities through Alabama A&M's first four games, but he had made the most of them.

Going into Saturday's game, McWhorter had only 40 yards on five carries, but was averaging a whopping 8.0 yards per carry. He topped that average in the first half against Texas Southern.

A 5-foot-10, 208-pound redshirt freshman out of Jasper, McWhorter had 40 yards on three carries, including a 27-yard jaunt to help set up Luke's 12-yard touchdown pass to Stockdale midway through the second quarter.

Stockdale scores his first TD

Saturday was a big day for Stockdale.

A 6-2, 223-pound junior from Talladega, hadn't scored a touchdown during his career. However, that all changed when quarterback Luke found Stockdale with a 12-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter.

"I saw the coverage a couple of plays before the touchdown," said Stockdale, who had three catches for 37 yards.

"I knew Kelcy was going to get it to me quick and I had to get in the end zone."

Harper picks off Edgecombe

Not only did defensive tackle Justin Harper make his first start of the season Saturday against Texas Southern, he also got his first career interception.

Harper, who lost his job to Whitney Garrett last spring and underwent surgery during the preseason on his left thumb, had a sack early in the third quarter and then recorded his first interception early in the fourth quarter.

Edgecombe's pass was tipped by defensive end Traylor and Harper was there to pick it off.

"I almost dropped it," Harper said. "It rolled around in my hands, but I finally got a hold of it."

Opponents are ex-teammates

Alabama A&M defensive back Stephan Tucker and Texas Southern's Edgecombe were former teammates during their Pop Warner football days in Miami.

"We were real cool," Tucker remembered.

Tucker was 2-1 against Edgecome entering Saturday's game.

"I just want to win," he said. "I'm not worried about any personal battles. I just want to get this win and go on to the next game."

Tucker forced Edgecombe to fumble early in the third quarter and recovered it. He finished with four tackles. Edgecombe completed 29-of-59 passes for 352 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.

However, Tucker came away with a 48-24 victory.

Praise for Bulldogs

Texas Southern quarterback Steve Wilson said Alabama A&M was the best team the Tigers have faced in the Southwestern Athletic Conference because of Luke.

"There's a lot of things you can do with a senior quarterback," Wilson said. "He's the difference. He's a good runner, a good passer and he checks off well at the line of scrimmage.

"As long as they keep him healthy, they'll have a chance."

Furthermore

The 28 points A&M scored in the first half were the most the Bulldogs have scored in the first half this season. ... Luke has thrown at least three touchdown passes in four of A&M's five games this season. ... A&M place-kicker Jeremy Licea has made eight straight field goals dating back to last year's Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game.

Reggie Benson

Tennessee State University must get handle on turnover problem

Photo: TSU quarterback Antonio Heffner has been the biggest turnover offender this season. He has thrown seven interceptions and fumbled twice.

By MIKE ORGAN, Tennessean

TSU (2-2) VS. FLORIDA A&M
Atlanta Football ClassicWhere: Georgia Dome, Atlanta.Time: 2 p.m.TV: SportSouth (not available on Comcast in Nashville).Radio: WNSR 560-AMLast meeting: FAMU 25, TSU 22 OT (2006)Key matchup: TSU WR Chris Johnson vs. FAMU DB Ernest Williams. Johnson is ranked ninth nationally, averaging 98 receiving yards per game. Williams has an interception and 12 tackles.

Otherwise solid offense averages four giveaways

TSU quarterback Antonio Heffner has been the biggest turnover offender this season. He has thrown seven interceptions and fumbled twice.

Tennessee State's football players are holding onto hopes of accomplishing their goals.

Or are they?

The Tigers didn't hold onto much of anything in the second half of last week's game at Southern.

Five second-half turnovers led to a 41-34 loss and evened TSU's record to 2-2, with another difficult challenge sure to come today from Florida A&M (1-2) in the Atlanta Football Classic.

The Rattlers, the last nonconference opponent on the schedule, handed the Tigers a heartbreaking 25-22 overtime loss last year.

Even with the bungles and botched plays, the most important goals — posting a winning record and winning the Ohio Valley Conference — are within reach for the Big Blue. That's provided the offense can get a grip.

"When it comes to cutting down on turnovers, I don't think you put it in your players' minds,'' TSU Coach James Webster said. "You work on turnovers. But I don't want them thinking, 'Don't turn it over, don't turn it over.' I want them feeling positive and good that, 'I'm not going to turn it over as a result of working on drills.'"

The staff put the offense through more drills this week aimed at protecting the football than during any of the previous weeks.

Overshadowing accomplishments

Take away the turnovers and TSU's offense has performed well. The Tigers are first in the OVC and 19th nationally in total offense, averaging 421.8 yards a game.

Those accomplishments, however, have been overshadowed by an average of nearly four turnovers per game.

With eight fumbles and seven interceptions TSU is ranked 113th out of 116 teams nationally in turnover margin (minus-2.25).

No player has been bugged by the bungles more than Antonio Heffner. The junior quarterback has been responsible for nine turnovers — seven interceptions and two fumbles.

"You're just out there playing and some things happen that are not under your control,'' said Heffner, who fumbled twice and threw two interceptions last week. "Sometimes you wonder, 'How did that happen?' The ball security drills we did this week should help.''

Despite the setbacks, Heffner said the Tigers are glad they still can accomplish what they hoped for this season. And a win today would send them back into OVC play (Oct. 11 at Tennessee Tech) with some needed momentum.

"This is a big game because it's a rivalry came,'' Heffner said. "Then we get a week off next week before we go back into the OVC. Our main goal is to win the OVC."

Alabama A&M notebook

Huntsville Times



Harper slated to start against Texas Southern

Defensive tackle Justin Harper, who was named Alabama A&M's co-defensive Player of the Week for his effort against Grambling last week, will start Saturday against Texas Southern, defensive line coach Ben Blacknall said Wednesday.

Harper, who lost his job to Whitney Garrett last spring and had surgery on his thumb during preseason practice and missed the season opener against Tennessee State, will start at left tackle in place of Renaldo Askew, Blacknall said. Garrett will make his fifth consecutive start at right tackle.

"He played better than any defensive tackle we had," Blacknall said of Harper's effort against the Tigers. "He deserves an opportunity to start."

The Bulldogs, who have annually been among the league's best against the run, are seventh in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in rushing defense, allowing 127 yards per game.

Harper, a 6-foot-2, 252-pound junior from Gulfport, Miss., was credited with nine tackles, including six solos, two tackles for loss and a sack while grading out 92 percent.

Early starter: Texas Southern coach Steve Wilson said if he had to do it over again he would have redshirted quarterback Tino Edgecombe.

A 6-2, 185-pound senior from Miami, Edgecombe was pressed into action as a freshman and Wilson said that has affected him throughout his career.

"Tino had to come through a situation where we had to play him as a freshman and we didn't have people to protect him and that hindered his growth," Wilson said. "He had some breakout games last season, but we haven't been able to get him in a rhythm this season.

"Part of it is our offensive line being unsettled. He made some plays last week (against UTEP) that proved he can be an outstanding quarterback."

Edgecombe is fourth in the league in passing yards per game, averaging 162.5 yards.

He has completed 64-of-112 passes (57.1 percent) for 650 yards, three touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Smith likes ball distribution: A&M tight end John Smith admits he would like to see a few more balls thrown his way, but he says he can't complain with the way quarterback Kelcy Luke is distributing the football.

Ten players have caught passes and six different players have caught touchdown passes.

Wide receiver Thomas Harris and tight end Charles Moody have 17 catches apiece. Smith has eight followed by wide receivers Rashad Johnson and Gerald Stockdale, who have six apiece.

"The distribution is pretty good," said Smith, who has eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. "We've got a lot of talent out there. No one person is above the team."

Reggie Benson

Tennessee State gladly puts weight on Benson's foot

Photo: #80 SU Gerard Landry and #45 TSU Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are both All-Americans and faced each other last week in SU vs. TSU game.

By St. Clair Murraine, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Tennessee State University receiver Chris Johnson is making a name for himself in the Ohio Valley Conference. Defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie also is getting noticed for his penchant for blocking kicks.

Then, there is kicker Eric Benson, who might turn out to be the man who makes the biggest difference against Florida A&M on Saturday. He is the reason that the Tigers are coming into Saturday's Atlanta Classic with a 2-2 record.

Field goals by Benson gave TSU back-to-back wins over Jackson State and Austin Peay.

"Right now I feel very confident that if it comes down to a kick at the end that we're going to win," said TSU coach James Webster. "He's won two ballgames for us (and) I think he's got confidence in what he's doing. I've got a lot of confidence in him."

Considering the outcome of the last two games, which FAMU won, accuracy in the kicking game could be pivotal. FAMU took last year's game on Wesley Taylor's leg.

Taylor secured an overtime win for FAMU with a 34-yard field goal last year. A year earlier Taylor's punt to TSU's 1-yard line in the closing minutes put FAMU in position to hold off the Tigers 12-7.

Taylor, who has been in a funk lately, said the magnitude of the game is enough for him to begin a turnaround.

"I like the pressure," said Taylor, who hit his first field goal in three attempts two weeks ago against Howard. "I've been blessed to be able to go out there and win the game for my teammates. A lot of people say they can't take the pressure.

"As a field-goal kicker, that pressure kick is the one you live for. Everybody in the world is depending on you."

Taylor said he used FAMU's bye week to refocus and brush up his technique.

"The past few games, I've been putting too much pressure on myself," he said. "Coach (Rubin) Carter told me I'm a senior and I should go out there and have fun. He was right. I'm going to stop thinking about it and have a good time."

While Webster expressed confidence in Benson, Carter was just as optimistic that Taylor will get the job done if the game is going to be decided by a field goal.

"What we have to do is to make sure we surround (Taylor) with a supporting cast," Carter said. "Wesley has shown competitiveness in his ability to win big games for us."

FAMU receiver Knight back to practice, plans to play Saturday

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Florida A&M receiver Javares Knight said Thursday that he expects to be able to play Saturday against Tennessee State.

Knight, a redshirt sophomore from FAMU High, seemed doubtful Wednesday that he would be able to go Saturday because of a protruding bone in his mouth that was causing him a lot of pain.

Knight did not practice Wednesday, but was able to practice Thursday. Knight said he is taking medication for the pain, which may require dental work.

Knight, who has six catches on the season for 102 yards and a touchdown, had his wisdom teeth pulled just two weeks ago.


Photo: #15, FAMU WR Jarvares Knight

Couch potato alert
Comcast Cable announced that Saturday's game would be aired live on Channel 16.

Fox Sports South, based in Atlanta, is also televising the game on its regional network which includes Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina and portions of North Carolina.

FSN Florida (Comcast Channel 29), affiliated with Fox Sports, will pick up the game in progress at 4 p.m., or at the conclusion of the Florida Marlins-New York Mets baseball game.

FAMU takes over the ATL
If you are looking for more than just a FAMU football fix this week, Atlanta is still the place to be as five other Rattler teams will be playing in a variety of events.

The golf team is participating in the Coca-Cola Hall of Fame Classic in Atlanta through Saturday.
The men's and women's cross country teams will be participating in a meet hosted by Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College on Saturday morning.

The men's and women's tennis are competing in the HBCU National Tennis Championships, which is featuring more than 20 collegiate programs. The Championships started Thursday and will run through Sunday.

Defensive line is bottom line for FAMU's defense

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

So far this season, Florida A&M's defense has shown marked improved from last year, particularly against the run.

Depth on the defensive line may be one of the key contributing factors to the defense's overall improved play.

"Our rotation is great," said FAMU football coach Rubin Carter. "We have about six to eight defensive linemen that actually play during a game. The gap is much more narrow than when I first arrived here. The idea in training camp is to develop two units."

Redshirt-sophomore defensive tackle Lymon Reed has been one of the reasons FAMU has more depth on the defensive line this season.

Reed saw spot duty last season and started the season behind redshirt-sophomore Demetris Lane. When Lane broke his finger in camp and then re-broke just before the start of season, Reed was pushed into a starting role.

Reed has responded with 15 total tackles this season 1.5 sacks and five tackles for loss, which ties him for the team lead with linebacker Dannel Shepard.

"Lymon has really come on strong," Carter said. "He was a good player in high school and went to the Naval Academy first. He decided to come back closer to his family in the state of Florida.

"We've had the opportunity to work with him the past two years and he's shown that he's able to make a contribution to the defense."

Reed has made it hard for Carter to take him out the starting lineup, especially with his pass-rushing skills and ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

"He has excellent quickness off the ball," Carter said. "He is an excellent pass rusher and uses his hands extremely well. He is getting better against the run.

"I love that (tackles for loss). You want to play on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage."

Reed said his play this season is just a product of hard offseason work.

"I worked hard over the summer," Reed said. "I kind of expected I would have success, I just knew I would have to take advantage of the opportunity when I got the chance."

Rams Notebook: Rams having problems on offensive side of ball

COMPILED BY JOHN DELL, Winston Salem Journal

■ Even though Winston-Salem State gave up nearly 500 yards to S.C. State in last week’s 20-7 loss, the defense still found a way to force four turnovers.

The offense, on the other hand, continues to struggle.

“We understand that the offense is still pretty young, so we as a defense have stepped up and created turnovers and that’s what Coach (Mike) Ketchum wants us to do,” nose guard Keith Newton said. “We’re playing OK, but we still have to improve in a lot of areas.”

Newton said that it’s no time to start pointing fingers, despite the struggles of the offense.

“It’s a little frustrating, but we know they are going to come around and get it done,” Newton said.

■ Coach Kermit Blount of WSSU expressed an interest in the coaching job at Howard when it was open in 2001, and went to Washington, for an interview with school administrators.

Morgan State also had a vacancy at the time and also showed interest in Blount, who had just led WSSU to two CIAA titles in three seasons and thought that a Division I job was his next logical move.

As it turns out, he didn’t have to change schools to accomplish his goal - the Rams are now on their way to Division I. Blount didn’t want to comment about his earlier interest in Howard this week.

Blount is in his 15th season at WSSU and needs six victories to become the school’s all-time wins leader.

■ Carey Bailey, Howard’s first-year coach, said he hasn’t talked to his players about last year’s game against WSSU, a 12-0 Rams victory at Bowman Gray Stadium.

“Last year was a different team with different personnel,” said Bailey, whose team is 0-3. “This is a new team with new personnel, so they’re approaching it the way that I would expect them to approach it.”

■ The Circle City Classic, a game matching Winston-Salem State against Florida A&M in Indianapolis on Oct. 6, will be televised on the NFL Network, which is available on DirecTV (Ch. 212 in the Winston-Salem area) and the Dish Network (Ch. 154). Kickoff will be at 4 p.m. from the RCA Dome.

■ WSSU isn’t eligible for the MEAC championship this season but is 2-1 in games against MEAC teams. “I’m not surprised we are able to hang with these teams in the MEAC,” lineman Keith Newton said. “I know we have the kind of athletes that the other teams have, so it’s not surprising at all.” …. If center Michael Helton (sprained knee) can’t play Saturday at Howard, Javon Hubbard probably will start in his place. Hubbard, a fifth-year senior, has played several positions during his career (tight end and on both lines).

“He’s our utility player,” quarterback Jarrett Dunston said…. Three WSSU players are from Washington - running back Brandon McRae (out for the season with a broken wrist), Marcus Coates and Jeremy Reaves…. Howard has three players from Forsyth and Guilford counties - offensive linemen DiMarques Floyd (a starter) and Randall White (a backup) from Greensboro Page, and receiver Brandon Sherman from Parkland, who has played in two games and has one catch for 7 yards and one kickoff return for 20 yards.

J-State's off week leads into 3-game murderers' row

Photo: JSU Head Coach Rick Comegy

By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

Carlos Simpson is certain Jackson State's football team has retrieved its confidence, thanks to a two-game winning streak that included Saturday's emphatic 50-16 victory over rival Mississippi Valley State.

And that's great, but the Tigers' receiver is also quick to point out that it's going to take a lot more than confidence to win the next three games on the schedule.

"This is where we make or break our season," Simpson said. "We've got to stay hungry. The monkey's off the back of the offense after we scored 50 points. But we've got a lot more ahead of us."

Jackson State (2-2 overall, 2-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) is in the midst of its off week, practicing Tuesday, Wednesday and today before giving the players the weekend to rest.

What awaits when the team returns is a brutal three-week stretch that includes games against Alabama State, Southern and Grambling. The three opponents have a combined 10-1 record this season, including a perfect 7-0 mark in the SWAC.

The Tigers still have an unblemished mark in conference, too, after beating two struggling programs in Texas Southern and Mississippi Valley. But let's be honest: JSU was supposed to win those games.

"I'm pleased because I think our guys realize we haven't accomplished anything yet," JSU coach Rick Comegy said. "Are we happy that we're playing better and winning? Sure. But these teams that are coming up will present a very stiff challenge."

And the first hurdle will be Alabama State (4-0, 3-0), a battle-tested team that's still undefeated after squeaking past Alcorn State 28-25 last week.

Under first-year coach Reggie Barlow, the Hornets have won three of their four games by less than a touchdown and faced fourth-quarter deficits every game.

The Hornets have one of the best rushing offenses in the SWAC, led by running back Jay Peck. The senior is averaging 123 rushing yards per game, a mark that's nearly 30 yards better than the nearest challenger.

"He's one of the SWAC's best," JSU defensive coordinator Darrin Hayes said. "We've got to hit him hard and hit him often - make sure he's earning every yard he gets and try to wear him down."

Jackson State was very good at punishing running backs last season, finishing tops in the conference in rush defense.

But so far this season, the Tigers have been a bit more forgiving up front.

MVSU freshman running back Ronald Brewer carved up the JSU defense for 148 yards on Saturday and seemed to get 6- or 7-yard gains whenever he wished. Hayes said part of that was because "Brewer's a darn good young running back."

But players admitted that the tackling up front hasn't been optimal. Right now, JSU ranks fifth in the SWAC in rushing defense.

"In the film room, we saw some of our mistakes in the way we were lining up and it won't happen again," JSU linebacker Marcus Jamison said. "We've got to be prepared because I'm sure Alabama State saw that film of MVSU running on us. So they'll probably try the same thing."

Other than the run defense, Comegy said he saw no glaring weaknesses to correct from the MVSU game. But after thinking about it for a minute, JSU's coach admitted that's part of what makes him worried.

After all, Comegy says it was complacency that led to Jackson State finishing with a 6-5 record last season after starting 5-1.

"Just because we played a pretty good game on Saturday (against MVSU) doesn't mean we can't get a whole lot better in every phase of the game," Comegy said. "We've got to make our players understand that they can't get comfortable. There can be no sliding backward or all our work has been lost. That's why we're working so hard this week."

JSU Palmer's frame belies his wallop

Photo: Paul Roberts gets trapped by JSU defenders #26 Malcolm Palmer (left) and Willie Williams.

By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

THE JSU GAME
What: Alabama State at Jackson State
When: Oct. 6, 3 p.m.
Radio: JSU Network (WOAD-1300 AM)

After four stellar games to begin his sophomore season, Jackson State safety Malcolm Palmer is being compared to the Tigers' unsung defensive player from last season - linebacker Ken Woodard, who finished third on the team in tackles.

"Both of them don't physically look that big when you see them without pads," JSU defensive coordinator Darrin Hayes said. "But when they get on the football field you can't live without them. Palmer's been better than I ever dreamed he would be - at least this quickly."

Palmer (6 feet, 185 pounds) was the SWAC's defensive player of the week with 12 tackles, a forced fumble and a blocked kick in Saturday's 50-16 win over Mississippi Valley State. As a freshman, Palmer rarely played before earning a starting spot last spring.

Hayes said Palmer is proof that you can't judge a football player by physical appearance.

"We have a saying that some guys look like Tarzan, but play like Jane," Hayes said grinning. "But Malcolm's the other way around."

STILL HANDY

Defensive end Idrees Abdur-Rashied has seen his role reduced over the first four weeks because of a broken bone in his left hand.

The senior has just six tackles this season and has trouble wrapping up opposing players because of the club he has to wear on his hand for protection. In Abdur-Rashied's place, Sam Washington and Marcus Benard have had increased playing time.

"There's no question it makes things tougher," Abdur-Rashied said. "But there's no use complaining. I'm just trying to contribute as much as I can."

Abdur-Rashied said he hoped to be rid of the club in about two weeks.

A FAMILIAR FOE

Jackson State offensive line coach Bruce Johnson is quite familiar with Alabama State, the Tigers' next opponent on Oct. 6

Johnson was an assistant for Alabama State from 2002-05, a run that included a SWAC championship in 2004.

Johnson said he counts ASU offensive coordinator Maurice Harris as his best friend in the coaching business.

"He's a very talented coach," Johnson said. "It'll be tough to beat him and it's always fun because we know each other so well."

Twins Derrick and Eric Ray are leaving their mark on NCCU football

By MIKE POTTER, The Herald-Sun

Date: SEPT. 29, NCCU vs. PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE, "Youth Day - Open House" DURHAM, NC, O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium 2:00 P.M.,
Watch--Internet TV: http://www.jarvistv.com/nccu/
Podcast: http://web.nccu.edu/campus/athletics/audio.html

Folks around the N.C. Central football program are starting to call linebackers Derrick and Eric Ray "The Bruise Brothers."

And that's not just blowing smoke.

The senior fraternal twins from Raleigh's Millbrook High, each of whom started his college football elsewhere before joining the Eagles, are a couple of the stalwarts of a defense that has been among the best in Black College football ever since they joined the program.

And they're coming off one of the biggest games of their careers. Derrick's 23-yard interception return gave the Eagles the lead for good, while Eric's pickoff at the goal line with 14 seconds left sealed the outcome in their 27-22 victory at North Carolina A&T on Saturday night.

The Eagles will be looking for more big plays Saturday at 2 p.m., when they host Presbyterian (1-3) at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. It's a battle between the only two football teams in their first season in the Football Championship Subdivision.

"We've been looking forward to this for a while," Derrick said. "Playing against [FCS] schools is good competition for us, and it shows us how good a team we are."

NCCU is 33-6 since Derrick joined the team in 2004 and 25-4 with Eric, who joined the Eagles a season later.

The A&T game marked the second time the brothers each have had an interception in a game for the Eagles. The other game was in the 2005 overtime win at Lenoir-Rhyne, including one that Derrick returned for a touchdown.

During their senior year in high school, each had a return for a TD in a game against Enloe.

"Any time we each get one in the same game, it's really special -- especially if we win the game," Eric said. "Words can't really explain how it feels."

Derrick (6-0, 215), who began his college career at South Carolina, plays the "Sam" linebacker spot. Eric (6-0, 235), who first played college football at Winston-Salem State, is at the "Mike" position. And both have been piling up the statistics for the Eagles (4-1).

Eric, who was born first by a few minutes, has been in on 25 tackles including six for losses, with the interceptions, a deflection and a forced fumble. Derrick has been in on 26 tackles including eight for losses, with two sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two breakups.

"Those two guys have lots of energy and enthusiasm and are among our leaders," first-year NCCU coach Mose Rison said. "They both help make us a good football team. And every time we play a game, we know at least one of them is going to make a huge play for us."

Derrick has been in on 155 career tackles, while Eric has 111 in an often injury-plagued career.

"Derrick is real emotional when he's on the field," Eric said. "He does a good job getting our team ready to play."

Derrick, whose pregame bus ritual includes hip-hop dance antics that reportedly put teammates in stitches, said of his brother: "He's fearless. I'm just glad he's on our side."

Derrick, who is majoring in accounting, said he had always been good at math and refused to listen when others warned him the major would be too hard. Eric is majoring in criminal justice.

"I always wanted to know how the criminal mind works," Eric said.

The sons of Otis and Sandra Ray said they expect their parents to be among about 15 family members at Saturday's game.

The contingent unfailingly includes older brother Brian, who played college football and has followed his brothers to road games including at Southern and Albany State.

"He's everywhere," Derrick and Eric said of Brian. "It's great to have that kind of support."

NOTES -- Saturday's game will be the Eagles' first against the Blue Hose. They will visit Presbyterian next season. … In Black College polls, the Eagles are No. 8 in TSPNSports.com and No. 10 in BoxtoRow

Perfect starts give Southern, Alabama State high hopes

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

SU vs. Alabama State
WHEN: 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
TV: ESPNU.
RADIO: KQXL-FM, 106.5

Both Southern and Alabama State — teams that dueled in the 2003 and ’04 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship games — went 5-6 last season and entered this season with little in the way of outside expectations.

Both, however, are off to 4-0 starts this season, and hopes are starting to inflate.

The Gulf Coast Classic at 2:30 p.m. Saturday will give one team a chance to equal last season’s win total and keep precious momentum going. The game will be played on Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., and was picked up earlier in the season by ESPNU.

“It’ll be a good football game,” 15th-year Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “Hopefully, we can have a packed house to see two fine football teams play. This game is a conference game, and it’s huge for both teams. We want to be in a position to control our own destiny, so we don’t have to depend on anybody else.”

Despite being sapped by losing 18 players since the spring, Southern (4-0, 2-0 SWAC) nevertheless has gotten stronger as games progress, outscoring foes 58-16 after halftime. SU overwhelmed both Tennessee State and Florida A&M with second-half comebacks.

“We’ve won the close ones,” Richardson said. “That helps you out a great deal. It keeps your spirits alive. A large part of that becomes confidence in yourself.”

Alabama State (4-0, 3-0) switched quarterbacks, going to junior college transfer Chris Mitchell, and has won all four of its games in the fourth quarter. The Hornets have outscored the opposition 46-23 in the fourth quarter.

“I never had any predictions coming into the season, but you always want to win them all,” first-year Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said. “This may not be the best way to win games, but I’ll take it.”

In the conference’s preseason poll, Southern was picked to finish third in the SWAC Western Division. That’s the Jaguars’ lowest projection since the SWAC went to divisional play in 1999.

“I’m kind of surprised,” Richardson said of his team’s 4-0 start. “I’m proud of this football team, the way they hung in regardless of the situation. They’re going to play hard for 60 minutes and they’re learning how to win.”

Richardson credited his assistants and his players for the Jaguars’ best start since 2003.

“To be in this position, we have to attribute that to the players themselves,” Richardson said.

Meanwhile, Alabama State was picked to finish last of five teams in the Eastern Division.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” Barlow said of Saturday’s game. “We’re going to come and give it our best shot. If we can pull it out, that will be huge for our kids, our community and our school.”

Powerful Peck
The player working the room at the SWAC Media Day in late July was Alabama State running back Jay Peck.

Peck had a reason to be confident and self-assured. After all, the former walk-on from Columbus, Ohio, — introduced to the school by an Alabama State alum who is a cousin —Peck had already graduated in marketing and had emerged from the shadows of Robert Randolph and Keldrick Williams to run for 1,139 yards and eight touchdowns, becoming a first-team All-SWAC selection in the process last season.

“He gets it,” Barlow said. “He understands what he’s here for. You know what you’re going to get out of him every day. He comes to work.”

Peck had six carries in 2005, but had 249 last season. He’s already rushed for a SWAC-best 492 yards and two TDs on 98 carries this season.

“We have to stop the run,” Richardson said. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to stop Peck. We’ll have to try to limit him.”

2007 Alabama State University Marching Hornets Band and Stingettes Dancers



Peck has the complete package after transforming from third-down back to workhorse back. ASU split him out Saturday, and Peck hauled in a key pass in a victory over Alcorn State. He has 10 catches for 116 yards this season.

“He’s always been talented,” Barlow said. “We knew he could run routes and catch the ball well. I’m not sure anybody knew he would be as good a runner as he’s turned out to be. He’s patient. He sets up his block well.

“We’re going to lean on him again to rush the ball and get us to where we need to be.”

Barlow credited offensive coordinator Maurice Harris with finding ways to get Peck involved all over the field — and the entire offense for allowing Peck to work, even though teams are keying on him.

“That’s a tribute to our O-line,” Barlow said. “Even though teams are preparing for him, those guys are still creating positive running lanes for him, and our receivers are doing a good job in perimeter blocking.”

The buzz on the Hornets’ defense
Alabama State is 14th nationally in scoring defense (16.0 points per game), 15th in total defense (286.0 yards per game) and is tied for 14th in tackles for loss (8.8 per game). The Hornets are second in the SWAC in scoring defense and rushing defense (101.0 ypg) and third in total defense.

Barlow called his defense “the backbone” of his team and its success.

“We’ll have to continue to rely on them,” Barlow said.

While Barlow, Alabama State’s quarterbacks coach, may be new to the role of head coach, much of the staff has remained intact. That includes Tony Pierce, in his fifth season as the Hornets defensive coordinator. Pierce was named the American Football Coaches Association’s I-AA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2004.

“Defensively, they’re real aggressive,” Richardson said. “They like to do a lot of blitzing, which puts a lot of pressure on you to get rid of the football.”

Said Southern sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee, “They’re physical. They’re going to attack us.”

North Carolina A&T's losing deal turns over a 21

Photo: Norfolk State defensive back Josh Anderson tries to grab N.C. A&T wide receiver Mike Caldwell.

FINAL: Norfolk State 50, N.C. A&T 20

By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record

GREENSBORO -- N.C. A&T hit 21 on Thursday night, but this was no jackpot.

The Aggies' losing streak reached that occasionally magic number when Norfolk State struck suddenly, patiently and often in racking up a 50-20 victory before an ESPNU audience.

Casey Hansen went 19-for-27 passing for 351 yards and four touchdowns, and the Spartans (3-1) improved to 2-0 in the MEAC for the first time in their 11 seasons in the league. A&T (0-5, 0-2) now has allowed 70, 59 and 50 points in its past three national television appearances and owns the fifth-longest skid in the 30-year history of the NCAA's second-highest division, formerly called I-AA.

The Aggies forced one punt in the first three quarters. They fumbled it away, setting up a Spartans touchdown in the process. Norfolk State didn't need any help on a night when it combined for 532 yards in total offense.

"We didn't take care of the ball in any phase tonight, and they capitalized," said A&T coach Lee Fobbs. "Poor execution on our part."

Hansen hooked up with Jeremy Wicker on three nearly identical deep balls against single coverage in the first half, but the Aggies were still competitive to a point. They actually led three times in the early going, the last at 20-16 when quarterback Herb Miller scrambled deftly in from the Spartans' 4 with 8:39 left in the half.

At that stage, the Aggies had amassed their highest-scoring half in any game since the season finale in 2005.

"We wanted to start fast," said tailback Michael Ferguson, whose 18-carry, 131-yard night included a 51-yard run that set up an A&T score 75 seconds into the game. "We felt we could move the ball on them. We went down and scored."

The lead began to evaporate at the end of the first half. After Norfolk State kicked a field goal, A&T trailed 26-20 with 2:45 left and had decent field position following a short kickoff.

Norfolk State had one timeout left, which meant even a three-and-out possession with a punt by A&T would leave the visitors with a long field, a short clock and little compulsion to seek another score.

Under its current set of circumstances, A&T couldn't have griped about a six-point deficit at the half on its home field.

The problem was not the attempt to find the end zone again; it came when Miller failed to protect the ball as protection broke down around him. The resulting sack and fumble led to a Spartans field goal with 7 seconds to go in the half.

After Norfolk State took the second-half kickoff, it didn't go for the quick hit. The Spartans exercised patience with an experienced line and the forceful running of Daryl Jones. In 16 plays, they effectively put the victory away by going 76 yards and churning up more than 81/2 minutes.

For the Aggies, life only got worse. Five nights after they came within six yards of breaking the streak, they suffered through an inconsequential fourth quarter in which the only highlight was the end.

If they need a role model for a revival, the Aggies could do worse than the Spartans, who won in Greensboro for the first time in 20 years. Last week, they ended a long losing streak to Bethune-Cookman.

"We've been down for so long, and it's hard to get respect," said coach Pete Adrian, who became the team's fourth coach in two years when he was hired three seasons ago.

"It's an interesting thing. We hadn't beaten Bethune-Cookman in nine years. We've got South Carolina State coming up. I think we've beaten them once in the past nine years. That's the depths of where we're coming from. But I'm pleased with the direction we're headed in."

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Norfolk St., D.Jones 25-105, Ferrell 12-53, Cook 4-20, Moore 5-18, Hansen 2-(minus 15). N.C. A&T, Ferguson 18-131, Robinson 3-22, Caldwell 1-18, Walls 1-3, Tomlin 3-3, McNair 2-2, Miller 10-(minus 17).

PASSING--Norfolk St., Hansen 19-27-0-351, B.Jackson 0-1-0-0, K.Jones 0-1-0-0. N.C. A&T, Miller 3-7-1-51.

RECEIVING--Norfolk St., Walker 6-93, Wicker 5-172, Dickerson 2-37, Ja.Johnson 2-23, Bailey 2-21, D.Jones 2-5. N.C. A&T, C.Dawson 2-41, Caldwell 1-10.

Tennessee State's top sacker practices, could play

Photo: TSU head Coach James Webster has a word with his team late in the third quarter during the Tennessee State University vs. Alabama A&M John Merritt Classic football game.

By MIKE ORGAN, the Tennessean

Tennessee State starting defensive end Shaun Richardson practiced Thursday for the first time this week, leaving the door open for him possibly to play Saturday when the Tigers meet Florida A&M in the Atlanta Football Classic at the Georgia Dome.

Richardson, who leads TSU in sacks (4), tackles for loss (6) and quarterback hurries (3), suffered a bruised shoulder and sprained knee in last week's game at Southern. Earlier this week, Coach James Webster said Richardson was "doubtful" for the game against Florida A&M, but since Richardson was able to practice Thursday, he still could play.

"He knows my rule is if you don't practice on Thursday, you don't travel,'' Webster said. "He had to practice just to travel."

Webster said a decision on Richardson's playing status would be made closer to kickoff of the 2 p.m. game.

Branden Gouch, a freshman from Atlanta, replaced Richardson in practice and backed him up in last week's game. Gouch, who moved from linebacker earlier in the season, recorded four solo tackles at Southern.

"Gouch has done a really good job and is improving,'' Webster said. "He took a lot of snaps last week. That's one of those positions where you don't want a true freshman playing because there's too much to learn, too many adjustments, too many blocks to read. But he's done an excellent job considering he is a freshman."

Sophomore Kellen Woodard rotated with Gouch in the practices while Richardson was sidelined.

Cornerback returns: Defensive backs coach Randy Fuller said cornerback Marquez Hall would return to the first team after missing the past two games with a high ankle sprain.

Fuller said the unit had missed Hall, a freshman who transferred from Vanderbilt, in a big way.

"It's huge getting Marquez back,'' Fuller said. "He hadn't played in a college football game until our opener against Alabama A&M. Then he played half the game against Jackson State when he got hurt. He was getting experience and he was playing pretty good for us. So it's very important to get him back just to get him some more experience so we can have a solid corner on the other side (opposite of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie)."

Top 20: TSU has climbed to 19th nationally in total offense, averaging 421.8 yards per game (239.3 passing, 182.5 rushing), but is 69th in total defense, allowing 363.8 yards.

Photo: TSU quarterback Antonio Heffner (16) looks for a receiver during the Tennessee State University VS. Alabama A&M John Merritt Classic football game.

No More Meat: Working in Slim Jim factory convinced Newton to go back to WSSU football team

Photo: #92 Keith Newton, at 6-3 and 275 pounds, has helped Winston-Salem State fill a void at nose tackle with his return to the team.

By John Dell, JOURNAL REPORTER

The suffocating heat is what Keith Newton remembers the most.

He quit school at Winston-Salem State in the spring of 2005, went home to Raleigh and took a job in a factory that made beef jerky. He quickly found that working 10 to 12 hours a day in an area of the factory without air conditioning could do a lot to straighten out one’s priorities.

“I came to realize how important school was, and that I really missed football,” said Newton, now a 22-year-old junior at WSSU.

Newton (6-3, 275) has plugged a hole for the Rams at nose tackle this season, and he’s making up for lost time.

He came to WSSU in the fall of 2003 ready to take on the world and be a big factor on the field. But he let his grades slip later in his career, quit the team, quit school and said he was doing everything he wasn’t supposed to be doing.

“It was all me,” he said. “I was just doing immature stuff.”

He eventually wound up at the factory, an experience he said he won’t ever forget.

“After a while, I was just like, ‘I’m not doing this,’” Newton said. “I’ve got to get back to school and get that degree.”

Newton said he did a lot of grunt work at GoodMark Foods Inc., a leading producer of meat snacks, including Slim Jims.

“I had to scrape the excess meat out of the pans,” he said. “It was tough work, and it was hot, especially near the ovens where they cooked the meats.”

During his time at GoodMark, Newton met another employee who had a college degree and after just two weeks was able to move from the factory to a position as floor manager. That was enough to convince him that he needed to return to school.

“The part where I worked at, it wasn’t air conditioned, and it was right there where the ovens were,” Newton said. “I remember they had these big trolleys that weighed about 400 pounds with the meat on them and the trolleys would get stuck and we actually had to go inside the ovens to pull them out.

“And I’m talking about it being so hot it burned your eyes and nearly burned your skin. And there was smoke, so it was just tough.”


Photo: #92 Keith Newton

Shaking off would-be blockers is a lot easier for Newton. Convincing Coach Kermit Blount that he was serious about rejoining the team wasn’t as easy.

Newton played one game in 2003, as an offensive lineman, and then was redshirted. He played two games in 2004, was injured and missed the rest of the season. He was academically ineligible for the 2005 season and was back home in Raleigh by the spring of 2006.

“I talked to Coach Blount a few times about coming back once I did get back into school,” Newton said. “Once he saw that I was committed to the team, he let me back on. And I trained a lot with a personal trainer (Marcus Nesby) who really helped me get back.”

Newton was on the team last season but made little impact. He was credited with one tackle in one game. This season, he has filled the gap at nose guard quite nicely. He had his best game in a 19-17 win over Morgan State, making 11 tackles.

“A lot of guys would have packed it in by now,” Blount said. “But I remember talking to his mother when Keith was ineligible, and she knew what a mistake he was making. But he’s rectified that mistake and is on track to get his degree and is helping us.”

Newton has to petition the NCAA to play next season, which he said he will do. He’s having too much fun on the field and in school, where he’s majoring in business.

Newton isn’t sure what he’ll be doing after he graduates. But he knows what he won’t be doing.

“I know one thing, it’s not going to be working in a factory,” he said, “unless I’m management and I’m wearing a tie.”

Alabama A&M notebook

Huntsville Times

Harper slated to start against Texas Southern

Defensive tackle Justin Harper, who was named Alabama A&M's co-defensive Player of the Week for his effort against Grambling last week, will start Saturday against Texas Southern, defensive line coach Ben Blacknall said Wednesday.

Harper, who lost his job to Whitney Garrett last spring and had surgery on his thumb during preseason practice and missed the season opener against Tennessee State, will start at left tackle in place of Renaldo Askew, Blacknall said. Garrett will make his fifth consecutive start at right tackle.

"He played better than any defensive tackle we had," Blacknall said of Harper's effort against the Tigers. "He deserves an opportunity to start."

The Bulldogs, who have annually been among the league's best against the run, are seventh in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in rushing defense, allowing 127 yards per game.

Harper, a 6-foot-2, 252-pound junior from Gulfport, Miss., was credited with nine tackles, including six solos, two tackles for loss and a sack while grading out 92 percent.

Early starter: Texas Southern coach Steve Wilson said if he had to do it over again he would have redshirted quarterback Tino Edgecombe.

A 6-2, 185-pound senior from Miami, Edgecombe was pressed into action as a freshman and Wilson said that has affected him throughout his career.

"Tino had to come through a situation where we had to play him as a freshman and we didn't have people to protect him and that hindered his growth," Wilson said. "He had some breakout games last season, but we haven't been able to get him in a rhythm this season.

"Part of it is our offensive line being unsettled. He made some plays last week (against UTEP) that proved he can be an outstanding quarterback."

Edgecombe is fourth in the league in passing yards per game, averaging 162.5 yards.

He has completed 64-of-112 passes (57.1 percent) for 650 yards, three touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Smith likes ball distribution: A&M tight end John Smith admits he would like to see a few more balls thrown his way, but he says he can't complain with the way quarterback Kelcy Luke is distributing the football.

Ten players have caught passes and six different players have caught touchdown passes.

Wide receiver Thomas Harris and tight end Charles Moody have 17 catches apiece. Smith has eight followed by wide receivers Rashad Johnson and Gerald Stockdale, who have six apiece.

"The distribution is pretty good," said Smith, who has eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. "We've got a lot of talent out there. No one person is above the team."

Reggie Benson

Texas Southern's drought deepens

By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff

Texas Southern falters further with Wilson at helm

Steve Wilson was supposed to resurrect Texas Southern's moribund football program when he was hired four years ago. Instead, the Tigers have sunk even lower.

Texas Southern hasn't had a winning season since 2000 and the Tigers' last Southwestern Athletic Conference championship came way back in 1968. Wilson was supposed to change all that.

He did it at Howard University, where he led the Bison to a pair of black college national championships in the mid-1990s. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to duplicate that success in Houston and Texas Southern alumni and fans have begun to voice their displeasure. Some have even called for him to be fired.

Under Wilson, the Tigers went 0-11 in 2004, 1-10 in 2005, 3-8 in 2006 and are 0-4 so far this season. Combined, Wilson has compiled an underwhelming 4-33 record at Texas Southern.

"Our season is not over yet," Wilson said earlier this week during the league's weekly teleconference. "We can't control what has happened in the past. We can either sit and mope around or do something about it. We have six conference games left, including the meat of our division schedule in front of us.

"We feel good about our opportunities. We're not going to sit and worry about what has happened in the past. When you do that you stop playing to win. We're capable of playing good football. It's just a matter of getting it done."

This time two years ago, Texas Southern came here and played good football.

The Tigers, riding a 16-game losing streak, shocked Alabama A&M 17-7 on homecoming. The two teams will meet again on homecoming Saturday at Louis Crews Stadium. Kickoff is 3 p.m.


Texas Southern has played A&M extremely tough during Wilson's tenure.

The Bulldogs won 22-3 in 2004, lost in 2005 and escaped last season with a 19-14 victory on a late interception by Marcus Black.

"We match up well with them," Wilson said when asked why his team has been so competitive against A&M. "They're a physical football team and that's the way we like to play."

Texas Southern caught A&M coming off a 42-0 win over NAIA foe Allen University two years ago. The Bulldogs were feeling pretty good about themselves and perhaps overlooked the Tigers.

Wilson knows that won't be the case this time around, especially after Grambling whipped A&M 31-6 last weekend.

"We're going to catch them at their best," he said. "We know they're going to be hungry. They're a championship football team and they'll be ornery this weekend.

"It's their homecoming and the coaches will get their attention and have them ready to play."

But A&M coach Anthony Jones says Wilson will have his team ready to play as well.

"They're coming down here to do everything they can to upset us on homecoming," Jones said. "This is a team that if you're not alert in handling all your P's and Q's can be very scary.

"They're big and physical and they can run. They were in the game against Prairie View and Alabama State and played Jackson State tough before the weather became a factor. This is not a team to be joking with."

BCU Wildcats' twins follow kin as corners

By BRENT WORONOFF, News-Journal

DAYTONA BEACH -- Antwane and Antonio Cox are like mirror images. The same smile. The same haircut. The same easy demeanor.

About the only way to tell Bethune-Cookman's identical twins apart is on the football field. Antwane is No. 4. Antonio is No. 9.

Four games into their Wildcat careers, the sophomore cornerbacks have become double trouble for B-CU opponents. Combined, they have three fumble recoveries, two interceptions, a touchdown and a blocked kick.

Not bad for a couple of guys who couldn't even get on the field when they were at the University of South Florida. B-CU hopes they can add to those stats in Saturday's homecoming game when the Wildcats host Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Morgan State.

Photo: Identical twins Antonio, left, and Antwane Cox are the starting cornerbacks for Bethune-Cookman University.

The redshirt sophomores transferred to B-CU this past offseason.

"We just wanted an opportunity to showcase our talent," Antwane said. "(USF has) two cornerbacks (Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams) who are up for the NFL Draft, and we probably would have had to wait at least another year to get on the field."

"We always knew," Antonio said, "that if it didn't work at the Division I level we would come to Bethune."

The brothers' goal is to join two of their cousins -- Torrie Cox of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Marcus Hudson of the San Francisco 49ers -- in the NFL. That would give the family four NFL cornerbacks. But then again, everybody in the family plays cornerback.

Cousin Kennard Cox is a senior cornerback at the University of Pittsburgh. And Hudson has three brothers who also played college football -- Nathaniel and Eric at Bethune-Cookman and Kevin at Iowa State.

"I guess cornerback is in our blood," Antonio said. "We see our cousins playing that position, so we want to play the same position."

Eric Hudson actually played safety when he was at B-CU in 1992-95, and the twins' 11-year-old brother might actually become a receiver, Antonio suspects. But as for the twins, they're used to manning opposite sides of the field on defense.

Antwane has started four straight games for the Wildcats and leads B-CU's cornerbacks in tackles with 18. Antonio has been the first corner off the bench, and he's quickly becoming known as a big-play specialist. He returned a fumble 52 yards against South Carolina State and he ran back an interception 42 yards for a touchdown against Norfolk State last week.

Antwane came close to matching his brother's heroics in the Norfolk State game. His interception in the end zone would have clinched a B-CU victory, but he was called for pass interference, and the Spartans went on to score the winning touchdown with 36 seconds left. B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt says the interception was clean, and the only contact on the play came after he stepped in front of the receiver and the receiver pulled the front of his jersey trying to knock the ball away.

"Antwane caught on when he first hit the field here," Wyatt said. "Antonio was a little bit behind. But now he's putting a lot of pressure on (starter) Brent Davis."

Off the field the twins have been just as impressive, Wyatt said.

"They're a couple of quiet guys," Wyatt said. "They just say, 'Yes sir and no sir,' They're two kids who are responsible and reliable. They're just a pleasure to be around."

Wyatt said B-CU's coaching staff knew of the twins when they were in high school, and knew that they were "D-I players all the way." But they've become the fourth and fifth players in the past three years to transfer from USF to B-CU because of a lack of playing time at the Big East school.

In the case of Cox twins, B-CU was their backup plan since they were youngsters going to Wildcat games to watch their older cousins play.

"We always wanted to play for Bethune-Cookman," Antwane said. "The skill players are pretty much the same here as they are in the Big East. The only difference are the linemen."

As for the twins, there seems to be no difference in appearance, behavior or football ability.

"We're around each other 24-7, and we're always pushing each other," Antonio said. "Our strengths are pretty much the same. I was adjusting early, but it's coming along now, and both of us are making plays."

Antonio Cox

CLASS: Sophomore

HOMETOWN: Miami

HIGH SCHOOL: Killian

LAST COLLEGE: South Florida

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6 feet, 180 pounds

POSITION: Defensive back

2007 STATS: Eight tackles, one interception (42 return yards), one fumble recovery (returned for 52 yards) -- through four games

Antwane Cox

CLASS: Sophomore

HOMETOWN: Miami

HIGH SCHOOL: Killian

LAST COLLEGE: South Florida

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-foot-1, 180 pounds

POSITION: Defensive back

2007 STATS: 18 tackles (two for a loss), two fumble recoveries (10 returnyards), one forced fumble and one blocked kick -- through four games.

Hampton Sam Pope attention-getter

By MARTY O'BRIEN, Daily Press

He's an attention-getter. Junior transfer Sam Pope debuted at Hampton University with a hard tackle ... and the hits just keep on coming.

HAMPTON — Sam Pope introduced himself to Hampton University football with an exclamation point. During the Pirates' first scrimmage, Pope sniffed out a screen pass and flattened tailback Kevin Beverly behind the line of scrimmage.

"I don't know if I'd hit a teammate like that again," said Pope, a 6-foot, 190-pound senior who will start Saturday when the Pirates host Delaware State. "I was flying around trying to show the coaches I could be physical and that I wanted to play."

The hits have kept coming ever since. Pope plays cornerback and on special teams, and he's made at least one huge play in the each of the Pirates' three victories this season.

In the season-opening win at Howard, he made eight tackles, blocked a field goal and probably should have been credited with an interception in the back of the end zone. A week later, in the win at North Carolina A&T, he intercepted his first pass.

Last week, in the Pirates' 24-17 overtime victory against Morgan State, Pope blocked another field goal. Among the Pirates' most-heralded group of newcomers in four years, Pope has made the biggest impact.

"If a play is anywhere around him, he thinks it's his to make," Hampton coach Joe Taylor said. "That was a tremendous hit he made on that screen play in practice, but he makes those kinds of plays all the time.

"If opponents try to run a sweep or a pitch to his side, he'll make a solid tackle, not just hold the ball carrier up and wait for help. That's the biggest difference between our cornerbacks this year and in the past."

Taylor credited defensive backs coach Donovan Rose with identifying his needs and targeting the right players to fill them.

"It was easy to see from looking at film that there aren't too many players with Sam's size, strength and ability to cover receivers," Rose said. "He's a sleeper, because people don't think he's moving fast, but when the ball is in the air he's at full throttle."

Pope displayed similar speed and decisiveness when transferring in August to Hampton from the University of South Carolina. Pope says he was the Gamecocks' second-team cornerback at the start of preseason practice, before being asked to move to free safety when a veteran cornerback returned to the team.


A week into practice he bolted for Hampton because he preferred playing cornerback. Pirates right tackle Ryan Cave, a teammate at Beaufort High in South Carolina, sold him on HU.

"He told me about the five players who went to the NFL Combine and the three consecutive (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) championships," Pope said. "He also mentioned that the ratio of women to men at Hampton is 12 to 1. That didn't hurt.

"But the biggest thing is that I like the 1-on-1 competition of covering receivers. South Carolina's coaches wanted me to play free safety because I can hit, but a cornerback can make big hits, too."

Pope is making lots of big plays and plenty of hits. But he's still waiting for an encore to the smack-down he laid on Beverly.

He lives for those kinds of hits but prefers to unleash the rest of them on opposing players.

"I think I'd hit a player on another team a lot harder in the same situation," Pope said. "A big hit is my favorite thing. There's nothing like the cheers a big hit generates, or the excitement it makes your teammates feel.

"Nothing else compares."

HAMPTON NOTES
Taylor said Wednesday that he does not expect Beverly to play against Delaware State. Beverly has been out since sustaining a high ankle sprain in the first half of the season-opener at Howard. The ankle is healing, but Taylor said a sore toe is delaying Beverly's return to action. ... Taylor said strong safety Henti Baird will play on Saturday. Baird missed the Morgan State game with a bruised knee.

The Pope file

NAME: Sam Pope.
SCHOOL: Hampton University.
POSITION: Cornerback.

NOTEWORTHY: Pope, a 6-foot, 190-pound junior, transferred to Hampton after beginning summer practice with the University of South Carolina. … Played the previous two seasons at Southwest Mississippi CC, where he intercepted four passes, returning two for touchdowns. … Played for Beaufort (S.C.) High, intercepting 10 passes as a senior to lead the team to the state playoff semifinals.

Southern LB Steele ready for the call

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

SU vs. Alabama State
WHEN: 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
TV: ESPNU.
RADIO: KQXL-FM, 106.5.

If the Southern defense’s loss of junior linebacker Johnathan Malveaux to a high ankle sprain for this week and a few others can be considered an emergency, the Jaguars are turning to the right man.

Junior Donald Steele has responded to his share of real-life emergencies as a volunteer fireman in his hometown of Selma, Ala., since he was a sophomore at Selma High.

“Whenever I go back home, I just pick up my radio and I’m on call,” Steele said.

Over spring break, he checks in when he goes home. Between the end of spring semester and summer school, he checks in when he goes home.

“It’s just something I do back at home, just trying to help out the community,” said Steele, who, since he turned 18, also learned how to dive to further enhance his capabilities.

Photo: Donald Steele, #46 LB
Taking up for Malveaux is important to Southern, but, of course, isn’t quite as vital as Steele helping put out fires or searching for drowning victims.

Southern (4-0, 2-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) faces Alabama State (4-0, 3-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

“Donald has had a couple of years of experience,” defensive coordinator Terrence Graves said. “That always helps. He knows what to do.”

Okie lineacker, with Malveaux (the team’s top tackler with 33 stops and four pass breakups) and Steele, is one of the few spots on defense, in the front seven, where a veteran backs a veteran.

Both players shared time working with the first unit in preseason camp.

“It’s not that big of a switch for me,” said Steele, who has four tackles this season and 18 in his career. “I want to come out and do the same things Malveaux did: be productive, make tackles, move to the ball.

“Hopefully, Saturday, it’ll be just like Malveaux is there playing.”

Steele has come up big for Southern when the call has come in the past.

After Malveaux went down Saturday, Steele and strong safety Toyin Akinwale teamed to sack Tennessee State quarterback Antonio Heffner on a third-and-6 at the Southern 33-yard line in the fourth quarter. That forced a punt, with Southern scoring the go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing possession in Southern’s 41-34 win over Tennessee State.

Even as a freshman, on the first play after replacing D.J. Brooks, who came down with a leg cramp at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Steele recovered a fumble on a botched center exchange. That came at the SU 29 with 14:14 left, preserving a three-point lead in a 27-21 win.

As a volunteer fireman, Steele said he’s been called to housefires, drowning scenes and fires in the woods.

“It’s just something I do whenever I get a chance to go back home,” Steele said.

Steele isn’t necessarily looking for a future as a firefighter. He’s a criminal justice major who said he’d like to go to law school.

“It’s just something to learn, something to teach someone else some day,” Steele said of the firefighting.

In the end, the commendable work may only complement a man who has been defined by diverse talents.

Steele kicked a 22-yard field goal to win the homecoming game as a senior in high school. He was also a standout catcher on the baseball team and played forward on the basketball team.

Returning home to Alabama — though without checking in on the radio — is something Steele always relishes.

One of Steele’s best friends, Roderick West, is a junior for Alabama State who starts at rover on defense. West has seven tackles in three games.

Also from Selma High is Alabama State sophomore linebacker Adrian Hardy (seven tackles, one blocked kick). Junior wide receiver Robert Childers (one catch for 9 yards) also went to Selma High.

“I haven’t talked to (West) all this week,” Steele said Wednesday afternoon. “I probably won’t talk until game time. It’ll be fun.”