Albany State Headed to SIAC Title Game

COLUMBUS, Georgia -- One more win and the Albany State Golden Rams were in next week's SIAC title game. All the Rams had to do was beat their pesky rival Fort Valley State in the 22nd Annual Fountain City Classic. Pesky is an apt word for the Wildcats on Saturday at Columbus’ McClung Memorial Stadium.

Fort Valley State (2-5, 2-8) had nothing to lose in trying to ruin Albany State's season. The Wildcats played up to the part in the first half by taking a 14-10 lead at the break. However, Albany State returned to field in the second half calm and collected. The ASU offense came alive in the second half for a 38-29 win over Fort Valley State.

Freshman running back Adrian Alexander started the second half scoring onslaught with a 69 yard touchdown run in the first five minutes of the third quarter. Alexander led the Rams rushing attack with 110 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Wide receiver Darius Nelson moved the ASU lead to 23-14 with a short touchdown reception two minutes later in the quarter.

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Albany State pulls away from Fort Valley State

COLUMBUS, GA -- It took a while for No. 21 Albany State to get going in Saturday’s 22nd annual Fountain City Classic at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, but for the Golden Rams, it was case of better late than never.

Overcoming an early 14-point deficit, Albany State scored 28 second-half points to take control and earn a 38-29 win over Fort Valley State that punched the Rams’ ticket to this week’s inaugural SIAC championship game in Atlanta.

“(Making it to the championship game) means a lot to me,” said Albany State senior quarterback Stanley Jennings, who was 12-for-25 for 286 yards and two touchdowns in the win. “We knew coming in (Fort Valley State) was going to give us a run for our money, and they did. But it was important for us to get to the championship game. Now we just have to have another good week of practice and go get it.”

Albany State -- which won the Eastern Division of the SIAC -- will take on Western Division champion Miles (6-4) for the SIAC title at Panther Stadium on the campus of Clark Atlanta. Kickoff for that game is set for 1 p.m.



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FVSU set for rivalry showdown

Columbus, Georgia -- The senior season of Bernard Goodrum has been more forgettable than not. Beating Stillman by 49 points wasn’t expected to be the highlight for a team expected to contend for the SIAC East Division title.

And that was all but erased by a 49-12 loss a week later to Morehouse during which running back David Carter rolled the Wildcats for 351 yards. So here Fort Valley State sits, however, at 2-7, guaranteed to finish with its worst season in years. But the possibility of a measure of salvation awaits -- Albany State and the Fountain City Classic.

“We’ve got to win the Classic,” said Goodrum, a senior from Spalding. “The Classic is our championship game.”

FVSU and Albany State meet in the 22nd Fountain City Classic at McClung Stadium in Columbus. Head coach Donald Pittman said that the Wildcats have rebounded from their Morehouse loss to focus on their rival.

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Fountain City Classic: Fort Valley State seeks upset of Albany State

At first glance, it appears Albany State’s football team with a 7-2 record shouldn’t have much trouble against Fort Valley State, 2-7, in today’s 22nd annual Fountain City Classic. Ask folks at Stillman College about that.

On Oct. 22, Fort Valley State was 1-6 and played host to Stillman College, then 6-1. At the finish, Fort Valley State had a homecoming victory by an astonishing 52-3 score. “Everything clicked for us that day,” coach Donald Pittman said. He hopes it does again at 2 p.m., when his Wildcats clash with the Golden Rams at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium.

A sellout crowd of 15,000 is expected. Pittman’s team has no chance at playoff action so, he said, “We’ve got one last time to get it right.”

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Morehouse, Carter take care of FVSU

Fort Valley, Georgia -- Morehouse’s David Carter wears No. 32 on game days. The running back, however, might as well have had a question mark embroidered on his jersey Saturday at Wildcat Stadium. Fort Valley State simply had no answer for the SIAC’s leading rusher.

Carter needed merely a half to break the Morehouse single-game program record for rushing yards, finishing with 351 on 32 carries. The junior also scored on touchdown runs of 60, 45, 22 and 2 yards as Morehouse throttled FVSU 49-12.

Morehouse rang up 536 of its 662 yards on the ground.

“We couldn’t tackle the big running back,” FVSU head coach Donald Pittman said. “Defending the run has been our Achilles’ heel. “We gave them a short field a lot of times to work with, and we had some key people that did not make plays. That kept the defense out on the field.”

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FVSU romps to big homecoming win over Stillman

Fort Valley, Georgia -- Fort Valley State entered Saturday’s game against Stillman College seeking a fresh start, a turnaround in its final stretch of games of the season. Playing in front of a homecoming crowd, the Wildcats got exactly that and then some, steamrolling the visiting Tigers 52-3.

“We’re not giving up as a team; we’re still playing hard,” FVSU defensive end Cody Nash said.



The loss is the first of the season in SIAC play for Stillman, which falls to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play. FVSU improves to 2-6 overall and 2-3 in conference play. The Wildcats host Morehouse on Saturday before finishing out the season in the Fountain City Classic against Albany State in Columbus.

Morehouse defeated Benedict 37-31 on Saturday. “We’re looking at it as a new season and want to win the last three games,“ FVSU head coach Donald Pittman said. “Now, we’ve got one.”

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Fort Valley State ready for homecoming atmosphere

Fort Valley, Georgia -- Regardless of what happens between the sidelines and end zones, good weather on homecoming means at least the fans have a quality day. Fort Valley State hopes to add to that with an upset win Saturday when the Wildcats host SIAC leader Stillman on homecoming at Wildcat Stadium.

Almost as many fans will remain outside the stadium during the game for the socializing that will be inside watching to see if the Wildcats can break a three-game losing streak and finally turn a close game into a win.

FVSU has lost games by one, three and five points, and the other losses have been to a pair of FCS teams and a Division II power. “The schedule, the schedule’s been tough, man,” FVSU senior linebacker Bernard Goodrum said. “It was tough.”

Key injuries early on in one of the most ambitious SIAC schedules in years have left the Wildcats reeling, frustrated at being close but unable to come up with the late-game big play.



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Taylor warns FAMU Rattlers to keep focus against Fort Valley

Tallahassee, FL - Twenty points is all Fort Valley State managed to score in nine previous games against Florida A&M. And the scouting report the Rattlers received earlier this week doesn't indicate FVSU is a major threat turn the tables.

But the things that aren't normally in scouting reports that are major concerns for FAMU as it goes through its final days of preparation to open the season against the Wildcats. Coach Joe Taylor has been reminding his players that sloppy play would only benefit FVSU, a Division II team that will come into Bragg Stadium with Division I transfer Antonio Henton at quarterback.

Nothing would please Taylor more than to see his team score a shutout, and do it with as few mistakes as possible.

"We always tell these guys that before you can learn how to win you've got to learn how not to lose," Taylor said during the team's first weekly news conference Tuesday."

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FVSU Lockette could use speed to land NFL roster spot

Fort Valley, GA - Sometimes ignorance really is bliss. Take the case, for instance, of undrafted free-agent wide receiver Ricardo Lockette of Fort Valley State.

Generally regarded as one of the most attractive players who went unselected in the NFL lottery nearly three months ago, and likely to be a so-called priority free agent when teams begin to sign players next week, Lockette acknowledged this week that he has "really no idea at all" what confronts him once summer training camp begins. Nonetheless, the speedy wide receiver is ecstatic about the prospect of being able to play football again after several months in free agent limbo.



"Since I haven't been through it before," said Lockette of training camp, "it's hard for me to say what it will be like. I do know, though, that it will be hard. And I know that, without any of the other [offseason] stuff, I'm going to have to learn everything a lot faster than I normally might."

To Lockette's advantage, faster -- and sometimes fastest -- is the manner in which he is most accustomed to operating.

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Fort Valley State University: 2011 Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Coach David Bowden

2011 Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame Inductee David Bowden or 'Coach' as he is affectionately known, is one of Florida's All-time great High School coaches. Coach Bowden grew up in segregated St. Petersburg, Florida, and later played football at Fort Valley State University where he was All-SIAC Conference.

Coach Bowden also played football professionally with the Washington Redskins organization.

After moving from St. Louis to Florida, Coach Bowden taught and coached briefly at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, before transferring to Boyd Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes.

Coach Bowden guided the "Cobras" of Boyd Anderson High School to six Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state championships in both cross-country and track and field.

Coach Bowden was selected Boyd Anderson's Teacher of the Year, elected to the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and was honored as the Coach of the Year by the Florida National High School Coaches Association.

The Miami Herald named Coach Bowden "Coach of the Year" for Track and Field SEVEN times, and the Sun Sentinel named Coach Bowden as "Coach of the Year" six times. The New York Based "Children's Press" wrote a book called "Track and Field Fundamentals" about Coach Bowden and his athletes.


Videographer: DistancePreps

Coach Bowden is known as a dedicated runner and Marathoner winning his age group in numerous running events including the New York, Boston, Disney World, Royal Victoria and Montreal marathons with a personal best time of 2:45.20.

Coach Bowden's personal best time in the mile is 4:33 and he is a three-time participant in the Master Division of "The Prestigious Mercedes Mile" held on 5th Avenue in New York.

In 1996 and 2002 Coach Bowden was a member of the Olympic Torch Relay Team.

There is an annual event in remembrance of Coach Bowden's dedication and service every January 13th to honor Coach Bowden as a Coach and Educator affectionately called the "David Bowden Day".

The Annual David Bowden Relays (track & field meet) at Boyd Anderson High School in Florida are named in his honor.

What is 'Coach' doing now?
David Bowden, Coach, www.teammannatech.com, as everyone refers to him, has 38 + years as a Coach/Educator. A member of the Lions Club in Kailua, Kona Hawaii, David, steps to the plate and is an incredible community player. Coach of Team in Training for the Honolulu Marathon, David is passionate about inspiring and working with others to manifest their personal dreams… his 2 favorite words….it is doable and obtainable!

There is an annual event in remembrance of David every January 13 to honor David as a Coach/Educator called the David Bowden Day, and the Annual David Bowden Relays (track & field meet) at Boyd Anderson High School in Florida. David has coached at Kealakehe High on the Big Island (Hawaii)  and was a Director of Boot Camp at Kahakai Elementary (Hawaii).

FVSU rises in national poll, makes regional list

Fort Valley State has finally made it into both national Division II football polls, in time for the Fountain City Classic against higher-ranked Albany State. The Wildcats improved to No. 22 in the American Football Coaches Association poll and made their season debut at No. 25 in the D2football.com poll.

And the Wildcats are No. 7 in the first NCAA Region 2 poll, behind No. 1 Albany State and No. 6 Morehouse. Albany State is fifth in the AFCA poll and sixth with D2football.com, as well as first in the region poll. The top six teams in each region earn invitations to the Division II playoffs.

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ASU: We pay no mind to VSU trash talk

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

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

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KSU Thorobreds' rally falls just short in home finale‎

Frankfort, KY - One yard and a missed extra point. Combined, those two things cost the Kentucky State football team a victory on Saturday against Fort Valley State. The Thorobreds lost 14-12 despite a rally in the final minute that gave them a chance to tie with no time left on the clock.

Trailing 14-6 with 1:05 left in the game, KSU recovered a fumble on the FVSU 45-yard line. After stalling on the first three downs, KSU got new life with a pass interference call on a fourth down Hail Mary pass. Taking over at the 11-yard line, quarterback Martez James (who took over for Jerrell Noland) flipped a pass out to Jamaree Gordon in the right flat. Gordon spun around and shed two tackles before making a final dive at the pylon.

FVSU holds off Kentucky State

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Fort Valley State head coach Donald Pittman said Kentucky State was scary. Defensive coordinator Haskel Buff expected the Thorobreds to give the Wildcats a test. FVSU almost failed it.

The Wildcats gave up a touchdown on the game’s final play, but the defense came through with the stop on the two-point conversion as FVSU avoided the upset and nipped Kentucky State 14-12 on Saturday afternoon. FVSU improved to 7-1 overall and 6-1 in the SIAC, while Kentucky State fell to 3-6 and 2-5.

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FVSU Beats Tuskegee 26-0 for 5th Straight 'W'

Two SIAC heavyweights did battle in the Valley Saturday. Fort Valley State and Tuskegee rolled in at 5-1, tied for 2nd in the conference behind undefeated Albany State.

The Wildcats scored on their opening drive, thanks to a six-yard TD run from Tony Reid to make it 6-0. In the second quarter Aaron Courtney punched it in, followed by a failed two-point conversion to make it a 12-0 game. FVSU QB Eugene Smith connected with Demario Barber before halftime to make it 19-0.

Wildcats dominate Golden Tigers in SIAC showdown

FORT VALLEY, GA – Back in August, there was talk about the old Fort Valley State “blue death” defense. That was talk. The live 2010 version showed up against Tuskegee. When FVSU’s offense actually let Tuskegee have the ball, FVSU’s defense made it pay.

Tuskegee was held to only 92 yards in total offense and blanked for the first time since 2003 as the Wildcats were dominant on both sides of the ball in pounding the 16th-ranked Golden Tigers 26-0 on Saturday night at Wildcat Stadium. FVSU improved to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in SIAC play on senior night while Tuskegee fell to 5-2 and 4-2.

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Tuskegee, 5-1, at Fort Valley State today

For No. 16 Tuskegee (5-1, 4-1 SIAC), its brutal stretch of confer ence games concludes with Fort Valley State (5-1, 4-1). After a home throttling at the hands of conference- leading Albany State, the Golden Tigers have rebounded well with wins over FCS opponent Texas Southern and SIAC foes Miles and previously undefeated Morehouse.

The primary reason has been the play of Tuskegee's defense, which ranks seventh in Division II in total defense and first in passing yards allowed. Fort Valley State's defense, however, has been nearly as sturdy.

FVSU readies for key contest with Tuskegee

FORT VALLEY, GA — Donald Pittman looked like a man who needed a few administrative assistants, immediately. Two different phones rang, and his office was filled with boxes of blue T-shirts with his team’s midseason motto: Making Up For Last Year.

Fort Valley State’s head coach needed to order more small T-shirts, and it appeared they wouldn’t be delivered in time for Thursday night’s pep rally. And that wasn’t making him happy.

Then the conversation returned to Saturday night’s opponent, and Pittman’s attention immediately returned to football. “Seven long years,” he said. “It’s about time for that to change.”

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This is the funniest guy in Georgia.

FVSU Wildcats gain some more revenge

Fort Valley State is in the middle of its revenge tour, trying to take care of teams that beat the Wildcats a year ago. They’re 2-for-2. FVSU never trailed and scored in the final minute of the second quarter to take control en route to a 40-16 win Saturday over Clark Atlanta in SIAC action.
The Wildcats won their fourth straight game to improve to 5-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play. The Panthers fell to 3-3 and 3-2.

Now FVSU can focus on one of its two games of the year. Defending SIAC champion Tuskegee visits Fort Valley in six days with the loser all but being eliminated from postseason contention.

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