Arkansas-Monticello 27, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3

Arkansas-Pine Bluff had put together a couple of lengthy drives. Mickey Dean was finding small holes to dart through. And, most importantly, it was keeping ultra-dangerous Scott Buisson from finding creases to run or pass through. No, the first half of Saturday’s season-opener against Arkansas-Monticello didn’t go exactly as planned for the Golden Lions. But there were enough positives to go into halftime with upbeat spirits and a three-point lead. But that’s when time seemed to travel back to last year’s loss to the Boll Weevils, when UAPB lost its starting quarterback and a series of turnovers led to Buisson making big plays that eventually buried the Golden Lions.

Three touchdowns scored off UAPB mistakes — a roughing-the-punter penalty that continued a drive and two fumbles — led to 20 UAM points in the third quarter of an eventual 27-3 win for the Boll Weevils at Golden Lion Stadium. For UAPB coach Monte Coleman, it was proof that all the plays that turned games into disaster for his team last season are not yet out of their system. “What caused it to happen? I have no idea,” Coleman said. “That’s the most disappointing thing about it, because I know for a fact we’re a better football team than what we played tonight.”


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Louisiana-Lafayette 42, Southern Jaguars 19

Southern University Jaguars Coach Pete Richards begins 17th season on the Bluff with expectations of winning the 2009 SWAC Championship after blowing a 12-7 lead at ULL.

Missed opportunities

Jaguars lead early, but fall to Cajuns...Wherever and whenever this season ends, the Southern football team probably won’t remember the final score of Saturday’s season opener — a 42-19 runaway for Louisiana-Lafayette, a game that started with a bevy of big plays and ended as a snoozer. The Jaguars might remember the record crowd of 41,357 at Cajun Field and how lively it seemed for the first two quarters. They’ll remember other things, too.

As they walked off the field, outmatched against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent that controlled the line of scrimmage and cashed in on their mistakes, the Jaguars were left to lament the opportunities they missed, the mistakes they made and the potential for a strong season that might still lie ahead. “Our goal is to get to the (Southwestern Athletic Conference) championship game,” 17th-year coach Pete Richardson said. “Now, we’ve just got to get back home and try to get some of our guys back together. “Every time we play up, it’s such a physical type game — and it’s a numbers game.

SU shakes off bumps, bruises

Southern coach Pete Richardson said his No. 1 priority in Saturday’s season opener at Louisiana-Lafayette — aside from winning, of course — was escaping Cajun Field with relatively few injuries. At the end of the Jaguars’ 42-19 loss, they appeared to get lucky. With 8:54 left in the first quarter, freshman cornerback Pierre Warford and senior free safety Anthony Wells collided while trying to make an interception near the Southern 10-yard line. Warford suffered a rib injury and did not return. Jeremy Ivory came off the bench to play corner, while House replaced Wells at free safety. Wells returned to the field later, but junior Jason House played much of the rest of the game.


Stewart keeps SU close

Jaguars leave opportunities on the field... For all of the success that Louisiana-Lafayette had operating against Southern’s defense, the Cajuns were in a tight battle for most of the first half of Saturday’s season-opening game. With wideout Juamorris Stewart threatening all of his single-game best numbers, Southern came away from a 42-19 loss at Cajun Field feeling like it left too many opportunities on the field. “We know, as an offense, we left a lot of points out there,” Stewart said. “We’re just going to have to get in the film room and work it out.”

Game Statistics: SU-ULL

Photo Gallery
Photos: ULL 42, Southern 19

FAMU player shot by gunshot; suspect arrested

Sunday morning update - 6:15 a.m.

Florida A&M Police Department informed students by text alert that a suspect has been arrested in Saturday night’s shooting. The text alert was sent to students at 3:59 a.m. Sunday. It says, “All clear/arrest made. An arrest has been made in the shooting incident on FAMU campus.” No other details were given about the arrest. The shooting occurred Saturday around 10:10 p.m. after FAMU’s football opener. FAMU athletics officials confirmed late Saturday that running back Lonvontae Page was "grazed" in the arm by the ricochet bullet.



As many as two other people also were hurt in the campus shooting incident, said Lt. Norman Rollins of the FAMU Police Department. Two groups of people were arguing on the steps of Gibbs Hall near the stadium, Rollins said.

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There should be zero tolerance of guns and other weapons on any college campus. The penalty, in addition to locking their butts up and melting the key, should be automatic expulsion and a lifetime band from attending any State University in the U.S. Let'em attend some private thug college with high tuition and no federal dollars assistance. This type of foolishness may have an adverse impact on FAMU home game attendance as folks will be more concerned for their safety than being entertained by a great Marching 100 band and a superb Rattler football team. Time to bring out the metal detectors and guards--just like at the airports and get these armed fools off the FAMU campus.

-beepbeep

DSU putting final polish on preseason

DOVER, DE -- Having wrapped up a busy preseason camp with a pair of practice sessions Friday, Delaware State University's football team is now focusing on dotting the i's and crossing the t's. The Hornets will conduct a "game simulation" scrimmage at 6 tonight at Alumni Stadium before turning their eyes toward their season opener on Sept. 5 at Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Florida A&M. DSU coach Al Lavan will be looking closely at all the details in tonight's scrimmage.

"We plan to focus on simulating game situations these next couple of days," said Lavan, who is 34-22 in five seasons with the Hornets. "During [today's] final session, we'll try to go over all situations that may be encountered in a game, from A to Z. "We'll focus on everything from our various packages to sideline and press box personnel. It will amount to a mental exercise to determine how prepared we are for next week's opener." There is a sense of anticipation among the Hornets as the regular season looms.

Anthony Glaud, who earned the job as DSU's starting quarterback, has been studying and working to be as prepared as he can be. "Right now, we are working on execution and polishing up the playbook," Glaud said. "We are trying to get in as many plays and formations as possible before the end of camp. About 95 percent of the offense is in place."

Coach Al Lavan (center).

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2009 Hornets Football Schedule (Record: 0-1; Forfeit to NCAT)

Date Opponent Location Time (ET)

Sat, Sep 05 Florida A&M * at Tallahassee, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Sat, Sep 19 Delaware at Newark, Del. 12:00 p.m.
Sat, Sep 26 Hampton * at Hampton, Va. 6:00 p.m.
Sat, Oct 10 Bethune-Cookman * Dover, Del. 7:00 p.m.
Sat, Oct 17 Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mich. TBA
Sat, Oct 24 Morgan State * Dover, Del. 1:00 p.m.
Sat, Oct 31 South Carolina State * at Orangeburg, S.C. 1:30 p.m.
Sat, Nov 07 Winston-Salem State at Winston-Salem, N.C. 1:00 p.m.
Sat, Nov 14 Norfolk State * Dover, Del. 1:00 p.m.
Sat, Nov 21 Howard * Dover, Del. 1:00 p.m.

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WSSU may be eyeing Hayes for vacant AD job

FAMU athletic director William "Bill" Hayes.

Winston-Salem State might reach back to its glory days in football to find its next athletics director. Bill Hayes, who led the WSSU football program to its greatest heights in the late 1970s and early 1980s, is being targeted by Chancellor Donald Reaves for the AD's position, several sources said. Reaves was hoping to introduce the new athletics director today at "Meet the Rams," a fall-sports pep rally at Bowman Gray Stadium scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. However, those plans fell through when Tim Grant took himself out of contention earlier this week.

Hayes, currently the AD at Florida A&M, said Thursday night that he hasn't been contacted by WSSU officials. "I haven't heard anything from them officially throughout this whole process," said Hayes, who is 64 and still owns a home in Winston-Salem. "I don't know what they have planned, but I haven't talked to them at all in an official capacity." Hayes said he has been working hard at Florida A&M, getting ready for another football season.

2009 WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT TIME LOCATION

SEPTEMBER 5, NORTH CAROLINA A&T, WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM, 6:00 PM

SEPTEMBER 10, FLORIDA A&M, WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM, 7:30 PM, (ESPNU-HD)

SEPTEMBER 19, MORGAN STATE, (N.Y. URBAN LEAGUE CLASSIC)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., GIANTS STADIUM, TBA

SEPTEMBER 26, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE, ORANGEBURG, S.C.
BULLDOG STADIUM, 6:00 PM

OCTOBER 3, HOWARD UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, D.C.
GREENE STADIUM, 1:00 PM

OCTOBER 17, UC DAVIS, DAVIS, CALIF.,
AGGIE STADIUM, 6:00 PM

OCTOBER 24, BETHUNE-COOKMAN, DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.
MUNICIPAL STADIUM, 4:00 PM

OCTOBER 31, HAMPTON UNIVERSITY, (HOMECOMING)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM, 2:00 PM

NOVEMBER 7, DELAWARE STATE, WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM, 1:00 PM

NOVEMBER 14, NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL, WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM, 1:00 PM

NOVEMBER 21, NORFOLK STATE, NORFOLK, VA.
DICK PRICE STADIUM, 1:00

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Former Hillside star Michael Johnson earns starting QB job at N.C. Central

DURHAM, N.C. -- Michael Johnson is fulfilling a dream. Growing up, he was a ballboy for N.C. Central and now he is the starting quarterback for the Eagles. The former Hillside standout saw action in four games, including three starts, a year ago after transferring from Tulsa, and said his experience at Tulsa established a foundation that has allowed him to thrive with the Eagles. "I learned so much while I was there [at Tulsa]," Johnson said. "It made me a better quarterback. It made me a better student."

Johnson's decision to transfer back to his hometown university was based primarily on being closer to family so they could see him play. "It was a good experience but it was just difficult for my family to get out there to see me play," Johnson said. "My family likes to see me play so it was best for all of us for me to come back." Johnson said he feels like he has improved a lot since last season when he was thrust into action in the sixth game of the year against Presbyterian.


2009 NCCU Eagles Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time Affifiliation Series (Last Meeting)
Sept. 5 at Hampton “Pirates” Hampton, VA 6:00 pm
FCS HU leads 13-5 (11/14/1992 - L, 19-31)

Sept. 12 at Liberty “Flames” Lynchburg, VA TBA
FCS First Meeting

SEPT. 19 MOREHEAD STATE “Eagles” DURHAM, NC 1:30 PM
FCS First Meeting O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium

Sept. 26 at Duke “Blue Devils” Durham, NC TBA
FBS First Meeting

Oct. 3 at North Carolina A&T “Aggies” Greensboro, NC TBA
FCS A&T leads 45-30-5 (10/3/2008 - W, 28-27)

Oct. 10 at Appalachian State “Mountaineers” Boone, NC TBA
FCS First Meeting

OCT. 17 CENTRAL METHODIST “Eagles” DURHAM, NC 1:30 PM
NAIA First Meeting O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium

OCT. 31 CENTRAL STATE “Marauders” DURHAM, NC 1:30 PM
II Series tied 1-1 “Homecoming” O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10/19/1996 - W, 24-6)

Nov. 7 at Old Dominion “Monarchs” Norfolk, VA 2:00 pm
FCS First Meeting

Nov. 14 at Winston-Salem State “Rams” Winston-Salem, NC 1:00 pm
FCS Series tied 21-21 (11/15/2008 - W, 23-16)

NOV. 21 SAVANNAH STATE “Tigers” DURHAM, NC 1:30 PM
FCS NCCU leads 3-0-1 O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium (11/22/2008 - W, 10-7)

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UAPB Beginning Transition to Game Week Preparations

UAPB Golden Lions head coach Monte Coleman believes the Lions to roar this season.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff took a break from its usual practice schedule on Saturday to show off its new jerseys and pose for a few pictures. The Golden Lions did do a short walkthrough at Golden Lion Stadium, but most of Saturday’s media day session was meant as a short pause before fall camp gives way to season-opening preparations. Exactly a week before UAPB’s season opener against Arkansas-Monticello, UAPB coach Monte Coleman stood near the 50-yard line and addressed reporters on the Golden Lions’ being more prepared heading into his second season than they were his first. He also discussed using the end of last season as momentum heading into this year, as well as his evolving role as an overseer of the program.

Countdown to KICKOFF 2009


“It’s been one of the best training camps I’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Coleman, who joined the staff as an assistant in 2003. “We fought each other, we ate lunch together. It was just a good training camp. A good start for a new season.” Heading into their final week of preparations the Golden Lions still have a few unanswered questions. The top priority on that list is deciding between a pair of quarterbacks who have risen to the top of a pool that included four candidates when camp opened Aug. 8.

Rontrell Bailey and Josh Boudreaux are still taking snaps with the No. 1 offense in practice, and Coleman said he would be comfortable if either one of them started against the Boll Weevils (0-1), who beat UAPB 21-7 last season in Coleman’s first game as coach. Coleman, who has relinquished defensive play calling duties this season in order to take more of a role within the offense, said healthy quarterbacks, a more experienced offensive line and group of wide receivers should make a unit that ranked ninth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in total offense improve in 2009.

2009 Golden Lions Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time
9/5/2009 Arkansas-Monticello (Sponsored by Tyson) Pine Bluff 4:00 pm
9/12/2009 Langston (Sponsored by State Farm) Pine Bluff 4:00 pm
9/19/2009 Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, Miss. 4:00 pm
9/26/2009 Alabama A&M Huntsville, Ala. 3:00 pm
10/1/2009 Alcorn State (Wal-Mart Community Day) Pine Bluff 6:30 pm
10/10/2009 Jackson State Jackson, Miss. 4:00 pm
10/24/2009 Edward Waters (Homecoming) Pine Bluff 2:30 pm
10/31/2009 Southern (Senior Day) Pine Bluff 2:30 pm
11/7/2009 Grambling State (Delta Classic 4 Literacy) Little Rock, Ark. 2:30 pm
11/21/2009 Prairie View A&M Prairie View, Tex. 1:00 pm
11/28/2009 Texas Southern (Dallas Lonestar Classic) Dallas, TX

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South Carolina State team preview

QB Malcolm Long, 6-3 Jr., Gaffney, SC/Gaffney HS will lead the defending MEAC Champion Bulldogs in a strong season opener against 2008 SWAC Champions, Grambling State Tigers at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, FL on Sept 6.

Bulldog Offense: South Carolina State running back Will Ford is a guy that many FBS coaches would gladly add to their offense. The 5-foot-11-inch senior from Travelers Rest, S.C. was picked as the MEAC's preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. In the last two years combined, Ford has rushed for 2,888 yards and 17 touchdowns, including a 112-yard effort against the Gamecocks in 2007. Ford is joined in the backfield by quarterback Malcolm Long, a 6-foot-3 senior that set two school passing records last season. Long and Ford headline an experienced offense that returns six starters from their 2008 MEAC Championship squad.

Bulldog Defense: The Bulldog defense allowed only 17 points per game last season, including a stretch of three straight shutouts against MEAC rivals Howard, Morgan State and North Carolina A&T. That defensive squad returns seven starters, headlined by linebacker Marshall McFadden and safety Marquais Hamlin, who were both preseason All-MEAC selections. The one glaring blemish on SCSU's record last year was a 54-0 defeat at the hands of Clemson. The Tigers racked up 416 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns on the Bulldogs.

2009 Bulldogs Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time/Result Details
9/6/2009 Grambling State@ Orlando, Fla. 2 PM
9/12/2009 * Bethune-Cookman University Daytona Beach, FL 4 PM
9/26/2009 Winston-Salem State# Orangeburg, SC 6 PM
10/3/2009 University of South Carolina Columbia, SC TBA
10/10/2009 * Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA 1 PM
10/17/2009 * Florida A&M University$ Orangeburg, SC 2 PM
10/24/2009 * Hampton University Hampton, VA 2 PM
10/31/2009 * Delaware State^ Orangeburg, SC 1:30 PM
11/7/2009 * Howard University Washington, DC 1 PM
11/14/2009 * Morgan State University& Orangeburg, SC 1:30 PM
11/21/2009 * NC A&T State University Orangeburg, SC 1:30 PM

Home Games are in bold
* denotes a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest
@ MEAC-SWAC Challenge
# Faculty & Staff/Senior Citizen Appreciation Day
$ Greek Day/Youth Day
^ Homecoming
& Senior Day

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Fullbacks an Alabama A&M key

When Alabama A&M's offense has been good, the Bulldogs' fullbacks have been key. Not only have they been effective run blockers, they have been solid receivers out of the backfield. Early during Anthony Jones' tenure, Jonathan Rowland handled most of the fullback duties. Jacques Pyant and Trevis O'Neal were a terrific tandem on A&M's 2006 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship team, and O'Neal and Generion McWhorter were solid the next season as the Bulldogs finished 8-3 and just missed getting back to the title game.

Last season, A&M lacked a quality fullback. McWhorter left the team with personal problems and Roger Smith and Chris Terry, a pair of converted defensive linemen, couldn't master the position. As a result, the Bulldogs struggled. Fast forward to this season, and Smith said he believes A&M's fullback job is in far more capable hands. Now in his second full season playing the position, Smith said he and Dash Buntjer, a junior college transfer, can be as effective as Pyant and O'Neal.

2009 Alabama A&M Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time
9/5/2009 at Tennessee State Nashville, TN, LP Field
9/12/2009 HAMPTON Huntsville, AL, Louis Crews Stadium 6:00 PM
9/19/2009 JACKSONVILLE STATE Huntsville, AL, Louis Crews Stadium 6:00 PM
9/26/2009 HC * ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF Huntsville, AL, Crews Stadium 3:00 PM
10/3/2009 vs. Tuskegee Indianapolis, IN, Lucas Oil Stadium
10/10/2009 * at Grambling Grambling, LA, Eddie Robinson Stadium
10/17/2009 * at Alcorn State Alcorn State, MS, Jack Spinks Stadium
10/31/2009 * vs. Alabama State Birmingham, AL, Magic City Classic, Legion Field 2:30 PM
11/7/2009 * at Prairie View A&M Prairie View, TX, Backshear Stadium
11/14/2009 * JACKSON STATE Huntsville, AL, Crews Stadium 1:00 PM
11/21/2009 * MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE Huntsville, AL, Crews Stadium 1:00 PM
12/12/2009 SWAC Championship Game Birmingham, AL, Legion Field

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College Football Preview '09: Grambling State Tigers

GRAMBLING, LA - Rod Broadway gets a great deal of credit for the recent revival of Grambling State football, and well he should. The Tigers put together an 8-4 record in Broadway's first year as head coach in 2007 and reached the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game, even though losses to Southern in the Bayou Classic and to Jackson State in the title game marred that debut season. GSU avenged those two setbacks in a big way last fall, as the Tigers handled Southern 29-14 in the Bayou Classic and pounded JSU 41-9 for the conference title. That capped an 11-2 season and convinced the voters in the Sheridan Poll to declare Grambling the black college national champions.

GSU Tigers head coach Rod Broadway, third year, 19-6.

Broadway's name and stamp is on those teams, but Cliff Yoshida should get his share of acclaim - especially last year, when the Tigers fielded a defensive unit worthy of mention with Grambling's all-time best. Yoshida, in his second year as defensive coordinator under Broadway, engineered a platoon that recorded 29 interceptions and 44 quarterback sacks (double the previous year's total). GSU held opponents well under 30 percent on third-down conversions, and led the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision with a plus-1.85 turnover margin. More importantly, 43 percent of the time that Grambling opponents penetrated the Tiger 20-yard-line, they didn't score.

2009 GSU Tigers Schedule

Sept. 6 South Carolina St. (1 p.m., Orlando), MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Sept. 12 Northwestern State (6 p.m.)
Sept. 19 at Jackson State (3:30 p.m.)
Sept. 26 at Oklahoma State (6 p.m.)
Oct. 3 *vs. Prairie View A&M (6 p.m., Dallas), State Fair Classic
Oct. 10 Alabama A&M (3 p.m.)
Oct. 17 *at Alabama State (TBA)
Oct. 31 *Mississippi Valley State (2 p.m.)
Nov. 7 *vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4 p.m., Little Rock), Literacy Classic
Nov. 12 *Texas Southern (7 p.m.)
Nov. 28 *vs. Southern (1 p.m., New Orleans), Bayou Classic
Home games in bold. *denotes Southwestern Athletic Conference games

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History maker: JSU-MSU is 1st SEC-SWAC football matchup

Little did Greg Byrne know it when he did it, but the first football game contract he signed as athletic director at Mississippi State made college football history. That would be the one that pays Jackson State $315,000 to come play at Starkville on Saturday. It will mark the first football meeting in history between a school from the Southeastern Conference and a school from the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

"To be honest, we weren't thinking of it in terms of a historical perspective," Byrne said. "We want to play one game a year against a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, formerly Division I-AA) team. "We felt it made more sense to play, if possible, a regional team or someone in our own state. It also made sense to find a team that has a history of its fans traveling well. That was what we had in mind when I approached Bob Braddy (JSU's athletic director).

"Now, we're excited about bringing their band, their team, their fans to our campus. The historical part? We're honored to be a part of that." A week out, the game is nearing a sellout. From Braddy's point of view, it's a no-brainer: the largest payday in Jackson State history and a short trip besides. There is some historical irony at work here: The sons and grandsons of players who once made the SWAC perhaps one of the most talent-laden conferences in college football, now do the same for the SEC.

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Memo to A.D. Bob Brady--You gotta push the money envelop back for more cash in negotiations, especially with the Sonic Boom Marching Band and possibly 8,000+ JSU fans travelling to MSU. With only 148 miles separating MSU and JSU, the Bulldogs need only 7,326 additional fans to cover the JSU payout of $315,000. JSU averaged 21,263 fans for four home games in 2008, ranking #4 in the FCS in attendance. MSU averaged 43,453, ranking #54 in FBS average home attendance, with only one saleout (#7 ranked Auburn) at 55,082 Davis Wade Stadium. Expect the stadium record for attendance at 56,188 to be broken for this anticipated game. Game tickets are $43.00 each for JSU fans.

$315,000!! We're talking about a SEC school buying a FCS victory to become bowl eligible with a 6 win season. Surely a guaranteed victory is worth more...even for a bottom dwelling SEC Bulldog program.

Alabama State Hornets '09 Preview

THE CRYSTAL BALL SAYS...Quarterback Chris Mitchell, who was a rather solid passer two years ago, has returned from grade issues. That gives ASU's offense a boost. Offensive coordinator Richard Moncrief, a former Division I quarterback, understands the game and has the respect of the players. That means something. The defense, as it has been the last three years, should be very solid again. Just looking at the first 22, this is a solid team that could challenge for the SWAC. Depth, however, is a big issue -- one that will likely cost the Hornets a couple of games. ASU goes a respectable 7-4 and is in the SWAC East discussion until late in the year.

Hornets Coach Reggie Barlow (8-14 in two seasons at ASU), 2008 record 3-8 overall, 2-5 SWAC .






QUOTEBOARD...According to Barlow: "It's time to get this done and show some progress on the field. I've been here two years, and I feel like we've done some good things, but we have to start turning some of this into wins, because fans won't stand for it if that doesn't happen. I understand that. I knew the expectations and the situation going in here. I have to produce ... or find something else to do."

According to defensive coordinator Jo Nixon: "I'm just ready to get this season kicked off. When I was at (NAIA) Langston, we had some tight games with some of the teams from the SWAC. (The coaches) would always be like, 'We weren't really looking at y'all' and stuff like that. Things to just discredit us. Well, now I'm over here and everything's equal. I wonder what excuse they're going to use now?"

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2009 Hornet Schedule

9/5 Concordia College 7pm
9/12 at Savannah State 4pm
9/19 Edward Waters (Fla) 7pm
9/26 at Mississippi Valley State 4pm
10/10 Prairie View A&M 1pm
10/17 Grambling State 1pm
10/24 Alcorn State 1pm
10/31 at Alabama A&M 2:30pm (Magic City Classic)
11/7 at Jackson State 4pm
11/14 at Southern University (Mobile, AL) 2:30pm
11/26 Tuskegee 3pm (Homecoming/Turkey Bowl)

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MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street...
After consecutive seasons of 5-6 and 3-8, who blames Coach Barlow for padding the schedule with lower division cupcakes like Concordia, Edward Waters and Savannah State. Add Valley, Alcorn, A&M and D-II, Tuskegee, the Hornets have an opportunity to finish with a 7-4 season. It's more important for Coach Barlow to just WIN, even if the Hornets opponent is Wetumpka High School. FAMU's A.D. Bill Hayes decided to delay a return date with the Hornets to play two money games at the University of Miami in '09 and '10. Sort of unfair to the Hornets schedule and for Rattler and Hornet fans that had waited more than a decade for this series to return.

College Football Preview '09: Southern University Jaguars

SU Jaguars head coach Pete Richardson (16th year, 128-57)

To listen to the media types covering Southern University's football team, the Jaguars sound ready for prime time. Optimism abounds in the Southern camp, with a lot of the key cogs among 17 returning starters that were a couple of close losses away from playing in the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game. Even venerable coach Pete Richardson, entering his 17th season with the Jaguars, broke out of his stoic façade to voice high hopes for his team.

"I'm excited to see what kind of team we can have," Richardson said. "We've got a lot of guys back who have been through some battles for us, and we're coming into the season pretty healthy. A lot of these guys worked hard, stayed here during the summer, and I think a lot of them have really matured in a year."

Still, all the talk of going from the "Bluff to Birmingham" for the SWAC Championship Game might be a little premature. After all, the Jags haven't claimed a SWAC title since 2003 and haven't even won their own division since 2004. Last season, SU had to win two of their last three - one in overtime -- just to finish with a winning 6-5 record in 2008, and the squad showed a disturbing knack for self-destructing at crucial times last year. Fourth-quarter losses to Florida A&M and Prairie View A&M punched a hole in what could have been a banner year.

Jaguar senior All-SWAC QB Bryant Lee #16

2009 JAGUAR SCHEDULE

Sept. 5 at UL Lafayette (6 p.m.)
Sept. 12 Central State (OH) (6 p.m.)
Sept. 19 Tennessee State (6 p.m.)
Sept. 26 *Alcorn State (6 p.m.)
Oct. 3 *at Jackson State (6 p.m.)
Oct. 17 Fort Valley State (5:30 p.m.)
Oct. 22 *Prairie View A&M (6:30 p.m.)
Oct. 31 *at Ark.-Pine Bluff (2:30 p.m.)
Nov. 14 *vs. Alabama State (2:30 p.m., Mobile, Ala.)
Nov. 28 *vs. Grambling (1 p.m., New Orleans)
Dec. 5 *at Texas Southern (1 p.m.)

Home games in bold. *denotes Southwestern Athletic Conference games

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Date changed for SU-Texas Southern football game

Southern’s football schedule has changed again. Texas Southern, in accepting a proposal from ESPNU, has moved its home game against the Jaguars to Dec. 5 — one week after the Bayou Classic and one week before the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game. The TSU game was originally scheduled for Oct. 10. Southern will have a bye that week instead.

The decision to move the game was made solely by TSU, Athletic Director Charles McClelland said.

“We got inquiries to move the game, and we were able to put it on national television,” McClelland said. “And there was financial benefit to both universities.” McClelland said both schools will receive a payout of more than $100,000, but declined to give an exact figure.

According to SU records, this would be the first time the Jaguars played a conference game between the Bayou Classic and the SWAC Championship Game, which began in 1999. In fact, this will be the Jaguars’ first regular-season game after the Bayou Classic since 1979, when they finished with back-to-back wins against Grambling and Alabama State. “I’m not pleased with it,” SU coach Pete Richardson said of the change. “I was informed that it would probably happen a few days ago. It could have an impact on the conference championship.

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Saskatchewan Roughriders' training camp: Battle in trenches heated for MEAC stars

Defensive lineman Stevie Baggs (90) and offensive lineman Andrae Townsel have been doing battle at training camp. Baggs and Townsel both played in the MEAC. Baggs, 27, played with the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and was a three-time all-American. Townsel, 25, played with the Howard University Bison and was an all-MEAC honorable mention in his senior year.

The trenches have already produced some memorable battles during the early days of the Saskatchewan Roughriders' training camp. Some of the more impressive tussles have featured veteran defensive end Stevie Baggs and rookie offensive tackle Andrae Townsel. One can barely step into Mosaic Stadium without hearing that the two have engaged in another epic struggle during one-on-one drills.

"The battles on the field are as intense as they get,'' Townsel said Tuesday after the Riders completed the third day of training camp. "It's almost like game preparations but it's all love. There isn't anything personal. They get it all on film and afterwards we walk to the sideline and tell the guy, 'Good rep, good rep.' ''

From the safety of the sidelines, it doesn't look like a lot of affection is being shown when the offensive and defensive linemen collide in one-on-one drills. It's an intense 20-second battle of wills. "We're just trying to make each other better,'' said Townsel. "He's making me a better offensive tackle and I'm making him a better defensive end.'' Townsel has the size advantage. The native of Detroit is 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds. Baggs, who hails from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is 6-foot-1 and 241 pounds. It's about Townsel's might versus the speed of Baggs. The collisions and skirmishes after the contact are must-see viewing during training camp.

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NSU football schedule includes first visit by William & Mary

Seven home games, including visits from Hampton, William and Mary and defending MEAC champion South Carolina State, highlight the Norfolk State football schedule finalized Tuesday. The Spartans, who played just five home games last year, will play five of their first six at Dick Price Stadium this season, beginning with the annual Labor Day Classic against Virginia State on Sept. 5. They'll play just four road games.

"Last year, we had to kind of pay the piper," coach Pete Adrian said. "This year, we hopefully can get the reward." The Spartans play four straight at home from Sept. 19 to Oct. 17, beginning with a first-ever visit from William and Mary. They'll face the toughest part of their conference schedule next, with home games against Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State and Hampton.

QB Dennis Brown and the Spartans prepare for '09 MEAC title run.

NSU Spartans 2009 Football Schedule
Date Opponent
9/5/09 Virginia State (Virginia Lottery Labor Day Classic), Norfolk, Va., 6 p.m.
9/12/09 *North Carolina A&T, Greensboro, N.C., TBA
9/19/09 William & Mary, Norfolk, Va., 6 p.m.
9/26/09 *Bethune-Cookman (Fish Bowl Classic), Norfolk, Va., 4 p.m.
10/10/09 *South Carolina State, Norfolk, Va., 1 p.m.
10/17/09 *Hampton (Battle of the Bay), Norfolk, Va. , 1 p.m.
10/24/09 *Florida A&M, Tallahassee, Fla., 3 p.m.
10/31/09 *Howard (Homecoming), Norfolk, Va., 1 p.m.
11/7/09 *Morgan State, Baltimore, Md., 4 p.m.
11/14/09 *Delaware State, Dover, Del., 1 p.m.
11/21/09 *Winston-Salem State, Norfolk, Va.

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Southern U. moves JSU game to Jackson for $$$

Saying the school can make more money playing in Jackson than in Baton Rouge, Southern University officials have moved the Jaguars' Oct. 3 home game against Jackson State to 60,492-seat Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. The two SWAC East division rivals play yearly, alternating sites, but the chance to sell 40,000 or more tickets in Jackson outweighed the home-field advantage that comes with 28,000-seat A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge.
























"You can't measure (home-field advantage)," said Southern athletic director Greg LaFleur, whose school is facing stiff budget cuts and recently eliminated its women's golf and men's tennis teams. "I can't worry about the part I can't measure. "But we can count cheeks in the seats." The schools have a verbal agreement, but nothing has been signed. While cash is the primary factor in the decision, how the money will be shared has not been solidified.

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JSU suspends offensive coordinator

Jackson State offensive coordinator James Woody was suspended for five days without pay by the university for an "unspecified personnel issue" on Friday. The suspension was announced in a two-paragraph press release following two days of speculation fostered by a Jackson television station report that Woody had been terminated on Wednesday.

Woody declined comment when reached at his home on Thursday and did not return calls on Friday. Coach Rick Comegy and athletic director Bob Braddy did not return several calls over the past two days.

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No good comes from this game

This October, in a game that shouldn't be played because of a contract that shouldn't have been signed, little Delaware State will face Michigan in the Big House.

If you made a list of the 10 dumbest things ever done by university administrators, Delaware State's decision to play Michigan would be Nos. 1-5. It was so dumb that nobody from the school can (or will) explain the anatomy of a football deal that forces it to forfeit a conference game. DSU has to forfeit its Oct. 17 game against North Carolina A&T because school negotiators somehow forgot to rearrange the team's existing schedule.

The truly unnerving part of this story is that other schools might be tempted to copy Delaware State. Just take the money, stick it to the conference schedule, plead stupidity and cash the check.

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Sports drives conversation at WSSU

Dr. Donald J. Reaves: "Staying in Division II and returning to the CIAA is a real possibility for RAMS."

Winston-Salem State fans and alumni hoping for a vote of confidence from Chancellor Donald Reaves about the athletics program's move to Division I didn't get one Wednesday night. Reaves, speaking at a public forum, spelled out what WSSU needs to complete its transition to Division I and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

"It's not an expense problem," he said. "We are not having a problem in athletics because it's spending too much. That's simply not the case. If you look at the expenditures of the other MEAC schools, you will see we are not spending nearly as much as they are. "The problem at Winston-Salem State is a revenue-side problem. We simply don't raise enough revenue."

WSSU, in its fourth year of transition to Division I, has lost $6.1 million since starting the move, and charts that Reaves used Wednesday show more losses ahead. Reaves was loud and clear about the key point of his presentation -- WSSU needs to raise nearly $3 million more a year to help offset losses. WSSU currently brings in about $2.9 million a year in student fees for athletics, by far the biggest source of revenue.

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