Oklahoma State Cowboys 52, Grambling State Tigers 6

Cowboys climb two spots in AP poll

Following Saturday's 56-6 win over Grambling State, the Oklahoma State Cowboys improved two spots in this week's Associated Press poll, released Sunday. OSU (3-1) is ranked No. 14 after spending the last two weeks at No. 16. The Cowboys reached a high of No. 5 in the AP after beating Georgia to start the season, but fell to 16th with the loss to Houston. The Cougars, who beat Texas Tech Saturday night, are No. 12 this week. Florida remained No. 1, with Texas second, Alabama third, LSU fourth and Boise State fifth.




Slideshow: Oklahoma State Football vs Grambling

Offensive line gets back to the basics in victory

Oklahoma State running back Keith Toston’s only job is to run through the gaps that his offensive line makes, so he knows those spaces well. Against Grambling State on Saturday, he noticed his job was somewhat easier than usual. “The holes were a little bit bigger than normal,” he said. OSU’s much-needed crushing of Grambling State helped to improve the performance and mood of the Cowboy offensive line, but there’s still a long way to go. OSU racked up 56 points on the Tigers’ defense and totaled 587 yards of total offense. The running game, where offensive lines shine in their blocking ability, was key for OSU’s victory. The Cowboys had 43 carries for 321 yards.

“Of course, those are the type of numbers you like, we prefer not to pass that ball at all,” senior offensive tackle Russell Okung said. “You’re just seeing things all come together and things starting to work. We are still a ways off, but we are seeing improvement each week.” But all of the line’s responsibilities don’t lie within the running game. Quarterback Zac Robinson needs time to make a read and find the right receiver in the passing game. The O-line fended off the GSU defense, allowing Robinson to go 13 of 16 for 189 of OSU’s 266 passing yards.



Rookies play well

If Oklahoma State had any questions about the future of its running attack, they were answered on Saturday night. True freshman Jeremy Smith saw the first action of his collegiate career and set a record for the most rushing yards ever by an Oklahoma State freshman in his first game. The Tulsa Union product carried the ball 15 times for 160 yards and one touchdown, becoming the third Oklahoma State running back to record more than 100 yards in a freshman debut. Smith is at the top of the list.

Terry Miller held the previous record of 128 yards against Wichita State in 1974. Vernand Morency ran for 108 yards against Louisiana Tech in 2002. But Oklahoma State expected this from the running back, whose redshirt was removed Saturday. “I think everybody on the team saw that one coming,” quarterback Zac Robinson said. “He can make you miss and has great speed.”

Oklahoma State rolls past Grambling 56-6

Saturday night went about as expected. Oklahoma State dominated the football game. Grambling State’s marching band dominated halftime. Next up for the 16th-ranked Cowboys after their 56-6 rout over the lower-division Tigers is some much-needed rest. Perhaps never before in the history of OSU football could a bye week have been more well-timed. With all due respect to the visitors from northern Louisiana, getting to play Grambling essentially equates to a bye-and-a-half for the Cowboys as they enter Big 12 play with a 3-1 record. OSU is nicked up, and among the injured are three players who many categorized as preseason All-Americans — wide receiver Dez Bryant (hamstring), cornerback/kick returner Perrish Cox (shoulder) and running back Kendall Hunter (ankle). None of the aforementioned played against the Tigers, nor did starting defensive end Jermiah Price.



OSU notebook: Cowboys defense shines, too

While the OSU offense featured old and new stars in rolling up big yards and points, the Cowboys defense did its job, too. Grambling State managed just 156 total yards, 66 of which came in the fourth quarter against mostly reserves. The Tigers scored with two field goals, one coming after an OSU turnover. "I think anytime you play a game, you’d like to get a shutout,” said Cowboys defensive coordinator Bill Young. "We didn’t get that done. But we hold them to two field goals, and we feel awful good about that. And we were able to play a lot of people.” For what it’s worth, the Tigers entered the game as the second-ranked scoring offense in the SWAC, averaging 32 points a game.

Loud and proud
The Grambling band, considered quite a bonus in the visit by the Louisiana program, did not disappoint, although there was some concern before the game even began. The band actually exited the stadium just before kickoff. While gone, OSU security and police emptied a scattering of fans from the section devoted to the visiting band. Eventually, the Grambling band returned and delivered on its halftime show to a rousing response, playing – and dancing – to Michael Jackson’s "Thriller.”

Just what the doctor ordered

Two of Oklahoma State’s preseason All-Americans attended the game in street clothes. Several other Cowboys also were no-shows Saturday against Grambling State. The highlight for many of the record crowd of 56,901 came when neither team was on the field (Grambling State’s Tiger Band was worth the price of a ticket, by the way). And with all the that the game against the Tigers couldn’t have gone any better if OSU coach Mike Gundy had scripted it. Well, maybe he did. I would imagine in his dreams he envisioned something like a 56-6 win where everybody wearing an OSU uniform got a chance to play and nobody got hurt any more than they already were.

Saturday’s victory over Grambling was the perfect cure to what had been ailing the Cowboys the past two weeks. It was a win that should put a little swagger back in a team that had plenty of it coming off its win against Georgia to open the season.

Pickens Drills Deep Into Pockets for Oklahoma State Victories

Stillwater, OK -- T. Boone Pickens has donated $284 million to Oklahoma State University’s sports program the past six years and the billionaire oilman and hedge-fund manager says he’s confident his investment is about to pay off. His money renovated the stadium that bears his name, beefed up recruiting and now is helping win more football games. The Cowboys, ranked No. 9 by the Associated Press before the season started, opened with a 24-10 victory over No. 13 University of Georgia.

Pickens, a 1951 graduate of the Stillwater, Oklahoma, school, said the money has been spent well. Now the 81-year-old, who Forbes magazine reported in March had a net worth of $2 billion, is looking for the Cowboys to earn a slot in one of the five Bowl Championship Series postseason games. “I expect to get there,” Pickens said in an interview Sept. 4. “We have a good football team this year. If we can stay healthy, we’re going to be tough.”

Oklahoma State’s bid for a trip to this season’s national championship game took a hit in the second game of the season after it blew a fourth-quarter lead and lost to the University of Houston, 45-35. The Cowboys are ranked 16th in the AP poll this week after beating Rice, 41-24, Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.

ATTENDANCE: (Stadium Record): 56,901 Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK.

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Atlanta Football Classic: Florida A&M Rattlers vs. Tennessee State Tigers

FAMU, Tennessee St. prepare for Dome showdown

It’s that time of year again for the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic at the Georgia Dome. Florida A&M and Tennessee State square off Saturday at 3 p.m. in a contest which highlights a weekend of parades, step shows, tailgating and good ‘ol reminiscing. The scene at the Dome tomorrow will likely rival that of an Atlanta Falcons home game. So with thousands coming north from Florida and south from Tennessee to the ATL for the game, there’s one burning question that remains – is this the year Tennessee State finally breaks the drought?

TSU hopes quarterback brings points to offense

Maybe having two quarterbacks with starting experience will provide the boost Tennessee State's offense needs. Dominic Grooms, who started the opener, returned to practice this week and will be available along with Calvin McNairl, who replaced him, for today's 2:30 p.m. game against Florida A&M (3-0) in the Atlanta Classic at the Georgia Dome. The Tigers (1-2) are 112th out of 118 Football Championship Subdivision teams in passing (106.7 yards) and 102nd in total offense (239.7).

McNairl, a sophomore who recovered from a preseason knee injury and started the last two games, took most of the snaps with the first team in practice this week and will start today. McNairl is the Tigers' leading rusher with 187 yards on 25 carries and has passed for 129 yards on 13 of 36 completions with three interceptions. The coaching staff also plans to get Grooms, a junior transfer from Missouri, back in the mix, see how his hamstring holds up, and try to get the passing game off the ground again.

Keys to the game: Florida A&M vs. Tennessee State

When FAMU has the ball...Curtis Pulley has been the MEAC's Offensive Player of the Week three times already this season. The senior leads the conference in total yards per game and second in rushing. In the Rattlers' 48-10 victory over Howard last week, there were numerous drops from the wide receivers. Kevin Elliott texted Joe Taylor after that victory and promised such an episode will not happen again.

Tennessee State's defense has kept the Tigers within striking distance in each game this season. Despite allowing 361 yards per game, the Tigers' defense has been able to limit big plays. Defensive ends Kellen Woodard and Rodney Fritz have harassed quarterbacks and each have three sacks on the young season. Overall, opponents have scored only eight times is 14 opportunities, though seven of those scores have been for touchdowns. Of the seven touchdowns allowed, six have been through the air so Elliott, Isaac West, Adrian Smith and others may have a chance to atone for the Howard performance.

Tennessee State won't avoid proficient punt returner

Special attention is being paid to the special teams at Tennessee State this week. That's because the Tigers face Florida A&M's LeRoy Vann, who has captured national attention with four punt returns for touchdowns in the past two games. TSU (1-2) meets Florida A&M (3-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Atlanta Football Classic at the Georgia Dome. The 5-foot-9 burner had runbacks for 95 and 80 yards for touchdowns in the Rattlers' Sept. 10 win over Winston-Salem State and two more from 40 and 66 yards in a Sept. 17 win against Howard.

Vann's returns were featured each week on ESPN's "Top Plays," he was a topic of discussion on the network's Around The Horn and was interviewed this week by former Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard for Saturday's College GameDay. He also was featured in Sports Illustrated and The New York Times. "Everybody in the country is talking about the guy,'' TSU Coach James Webster said. "He's one of the best, if not the best, punt returners in all of college football."

FAMU's RB Philip Sylvester is the forgotten man with blazing speed and a passion for destroying the TSU defense.

Recession doesn't look to slow FAMU, TSU fans at Atlanta Classic

The longstanding rivalry between Florida A&M and Tennessee State has not only been competitive, it's been quite lucrative. Despite the longest recession in the past 80 years, the Atlanta Football Classic will generate yet another $20 million for the metro Atlanta economy, according to the Atlanta Sports Council. This is quite a jump from the $3 million in economic impact the Tallahassee area sees for the typical FAMU home football game. Hoteliers, restaurants and retailers have not been the only beneficiaries, according to the 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc. The game has raised $2.1 million for the athletic departments of the competing schools, and another $2.9 million for the organization's Project Share program over the past five years.

Fans need right TV plan to see FSU, FAMU

Local fans can watch the Florida State and Florida A&M football games on television today — if they have the right cable or satellite package. VERSUS, the channel carrying today's game between Tennessee State and FAMU at 3:30 p.m. in Atlanta is part of the digital starter package and is on channel 55 or channel 448 in high definition. Comcast recently added ESPNU, the channel carrying today's game between South Florida and FSU at noon. ESPNU is channel 735 or channel 396 in high definition. The channel is also available on DirecTV and Dish Network.

FAMU's Creary bounces back from injury

When FAMU safety Michael Creary put the stop on Alabama State's receiver Cedric Harris midway through the second quarter of their game last season, Creary had no clue about the consequence of the hit. The pain he felt afterward was enough to get him out of the game. He thought he'd get to continue the great game he was having up to that point with five tackles. But the longer he waited for the pain to subside, the larger the swelling around his left knee got. He wouldn't play another down, as he watched the Rattlers finish 9-3.

Watching the unfolding of the turnaround season for the team was agonizing from the sidelines, he said. As the team won, he watched on crutches following surgery to his damaged ACL. It was agonizing for the redshirt junior, to say the least. "I was happy for my team but I was down about it because I was prepared," Creary said. "I had really prepared for the season and I really wanted to be part of it. It was tough."



TSU (1-2) VS. FLORIDA A&M (3-0)
Where. Georgia Dome, Atlanta.
When. 3:30 p.m. EST. today
TV/radio. Versus/1470-AM
Last meeting. FAMU 28, TSU 21 (2008)
Story lines. Florida A&M has beaten TSU seven consecutive years. After giving up six sacks in the first two games TSU’s offensive line did not allow a sack in last week’s 21-17 loss at Southern. The Rattlers feature the nation’s top Football Championship Series punt returner in LeRoy Vann, who has four for TDs in the last two games.

FAMU's Vann does it again, wins weekly award

Florida A&M returnman Leroy Vann, Liberty quarterback Mike Brown and Richmond defensive tackle Nicholas Battle have been named The Sports Network's FCS national players of the week.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK Leroy Vann, Florida A&M, 5-9, 185, Senior, KR/PR-DB, Tampa, FL. Vann led Florida A&M to its second-straight nationally-televised victory with two punt returns as the Rattlers beat Howard 48-10 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest. It is the second week in a row that Vann has been named national special teams player of the week after returning two kicks for touchdowns. Vann tied an NCAA Division I career record with seven punt returns for touchdowns and tied the single-season FAMU mark of four punt returns for TDs, which had previously been established by Howard Huckaby (1985-88). The NCAA mark was originally set by Kenny Shedd of Northern Iowa (1989-92).

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N.C. Central Eagles at Duke Blue Devils

Preview: Duke (1-2) v. NC Central (0-3)

For the first time NC Central and Duke will meet on the gridiron in what is being called the "Bull City Classic". In addition, this weekend's game will serve as Homecoming 2009 for the Blue Devils. Last Time: The two schools have never met on the gridiron. However the Eagles have played in Wallace Wade Stadium on three occasions, posting a 2-1 overall record on Duke's home field. The last time the Eagles were on the field they defeated North Carolina A&T by a score of 29-18 during the 1974 season. Duke has an all-time record of 42-35-3 when playing a team for the first time. .

What To Watch For On Offense: The Eagles' offensive unit has been largely ineffective through the first three contests of the season - averaging just 14.7 points per game. Some if it due to inexperience with several younger players being forced into action. Two positions were opened for in preseason drills when junior wide receiver Corey Harris dislocated his left clavicle. Soon after, senior offensive lineman Eric Stanley suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee. Both required season-ending surgery.

Duke and NCCU to meet for first time

A 'Classic' every year...Although schedule restrictions limit Duke and NCCU's ability to compete annually, University officials are hopeful that there will be a Bull City Classic every year. The contract between NCCU and Duke requires the two schools to meet every three years until the 2015 football season. The University hopes to fill the remaining gaps in the schedule with other Historically Black Colleges and Universities, such as Howard University and Morgan State University, hosting one school per year in the Classic.

"We're looking to build an affinity for Duke football," said Deputy Director of Athletics Stan Wilcox. "Within the Durham community, there are a number of individuals who probably have attended some of these historically black colleges that are in the region and it would give those individuals the opportunity to see their alma mater in Durham."

Bull City rivalry takes wing

You could hear the thumping drumbeat of the marching Sound Machine blocks away. It may not have felt like a football night -- "too hot and sticky," N.C. Central University fan Tony Chavis said -- but several thousand people crowded into Historic Durham Athletic Park on Thursday night for an old-fashioned pigskin party. The Bull City Football Fest celebrated in anticipation of Saturday night's first-ever football encounter between NCCU and Duke, "two great universities that unbelievably are just five miles apart," Blue Devil coach David Cutcliffe told the crowd.

The fest offered food and drink, activities for kids that included a climbing wall and a moon walk, and music from the Sound Machine, the Eagles' pep band, and the Blue Devil marching band. There were cheerleaders and mascots, hot dogs and barbecue.
Most of all, the event gave supporters of both schools a chance to mingle, talk a little trash and support their school.

view slideshow (5 images)

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Howard Bison at Georgetown (D.C.) Hoyas

Bison, Hoyas Bring Dormant Offenses Into D.C. Cup Game

Nearly 176 minutes have elapsed off the game clock since Georgetown's offense last crossed the goal line. The Hoyas' only offensive touchdown of the season came on their first drive of their first game against Holy Cross on Sept. 5. Howard's offense hasn't fared much better. The Bison's lone offensive touchdown was in the second quarter of their season opener at Rutgers on Sept. 12, almost 100 minutes ago on the game clock. It's not surprising that both teams are winless given their struggles to put points on the scoreboard. Georgetown (0-3) has a total of 20 points in three games, while Howard (0-2) has 17 points in two games. When they meet in the second annual D.C. Cup game at Georgetown's Multi-Sport Field on Saturday afternoon, both the Hoyas and Bison will be looking to invigorate their lackluster offenses.

Jourdan Brooks, Rutgers runs past HU Bison CB Dante Martin. What a Bison to do?

Georgetown vs. Howard

Records: Hoyas 0-3; Bison 0-2.

ALL ABOUT THE W: Both teams desperately need a victory after slow starts to the season. Georgetown, which is celebrating homecoming this weekend, beat Howard, 12-7, in last year's inaugural D.C. Cup.

OFFENSIVE WOES: In a 31-10 loss to Yale last Saturday, freshman Isaiah Kempf became the first Georgetown quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards since 2007. Still, the Hoyas scored only 10 points and are averaging less than a touchdown per game (6.7 points). The Bison haven't had a 100-yard rusher since November 2006. Freshman running back Andra Williams has potential and has rushed for 54 yards on 11 carries, but he has fumbled three times in two games.

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Grambling State Tigers at Oklahoma State

Gundy says preparation for Grambling the same as for other games

When a major-college football team’s schedule includes a meeting with a Division I-AA opponent, it is a competition not usually viewed by fans or media as compelling.
Texas Tech coach Mike Leach puts into perspective the relevance of such a contest: “It is reckless and haphazard not to take those games seriously. If you don’t think it is a big game, try losing one of them and see how big of a game it is.”

For Oklahoma State, a loss to Division I-AA Grambling State would dissolve any shot at once again becoming nationally significant this season. The Cowboys’ confidence would be rocked before they delve into Big 12 play. The 16th-ranked Cowboys (2-1) and defending black college national champion Tigers (2-1) clash at 6 p.m. Saturday in Stillwater. Because of various promotions, a school-record crowd is expected at Boone Pickens Stadium. The record of 53,012 was set for the Sept. 5 Georgia game.

Grambling St.-Oklahoma St. Preview

Since a season-opening win over a ranked team catapulted Oklahoma State to its highest ranking in 24 years, the Cowboys have failed to live up to the high billing.
To rebound from two uninspired performances and get the season back on track, Oklahoma State will have to overcome more than just its disappointment. The No. 16 Cowboys have to deal with injuries to several key players as they host Grambling State in their non-conference finale Saturday night. Oklahoma State (2-1) climbed to No. 5 in the AP poll after a 24-10 win over then-No. 13 Georgia in its season opener. The Cowboys, though, suffered an immediate letdown, falling 45-35 to Houston the following week.

OSU hopes to sell stadium out for Grambling

The last time an OSU home football game was sold out, it was played in Lewis Field.
Officials in the Athletic Department want to make this Saturday’s game against Grambling State the first to sell out at the completed Boone Pickens Stadium. To spearhead the effort, the Athletic Department created a viral marketing campaign directed through the Web site http://www.selloutgrambling.com/ . The Athletic Department spent $4,000 on the campaign to create the site and make small yard signs and door hangers to advertise it. Those who visited the site were rewarded with half-price tickets to this weekend’s game. The half-price tickets are now sold out.

Associate Athletic Director Amy Weeks said the Athletic Department chose the Grambling State game because it appealed to more than just football fans. “We felt it would be a fan-friendly game,” she said. “The halftime show that our band and their band would put on would appeal to people who aren’t our regular customers.”

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Grambling coach to resign after player's death

Duckett’s one season: GSU went 6-23 overall and 4-14 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Grambling coach to resign after player's death

Grambling State men's basketball coach Rick Duckett will resign after one of his players died after reportedly suffering a heat-related illness during an off-season conditioning run on Aug. 14. The school announced the 52-year-old Duckett was placed on administrative leave through Oct. 31 — when his contract ends. Henry White, a 21-year-old junior college transfer from Milwaukee, died on Aug. 26 after spending 10 days in the hospital. Duckett had surgery the day White collapsed and, according to a source close to the situation, was not in attendance for a 30-minute run that was administered by an assistant coach to those players who showed up late.

Grambling men's basketball coach Rick Duckett to step down

Men's basketball coach Rick Duckett, on the job just over a year, will step down in the wake of the death of a transfer Grambling State University player. Henry White, a 21-year-old former Hill Junior College standout, became ill Aug. 14 at a preseason practice. He died at a Shreveport hospital a week later. Duckett has now been placed on administrative leave through Oct. 31 -- when his employment officially ends, university officials confirm.

GSU men's basketball coach released

The short-lived Ricky Duckett era for Grambling State’s men’s basketball program has ended.A release from the university sent out this morning said Duckett has been placed on administrative leave, effectively immediately, until Oct. 31 when his employment officially ends. GSU’s release added that no other information is available at this time. The move comes a month after the death of men’s basketball player Henry White, who died Aug. 26 in a Shreveport hospital, 11 days after reportedly suffering a heat-related illness during off-season conditioning drills under an assistant coach’s supervision.GSU said in a prepared statement at that time that a full investigation into the circumstances that may have contributed to White’s death is ongoing.

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Hampton Pirates 24, North Carolina A&T Aggies 14

Hampton deals A&T its first loss of season

GREENSBORO — Hampton hasn't needed extra motivation against N.C. A&T in recent years. The Pirates' averages of 46.6 points and 32-point margins of victory during five straight wins hardly necessitated it. But after reading some comments made by members of Aggies this week, Don Rose clipped out the statements anyway and passed them around the Pirates locker room. "I know with coach (Alonzo) Lee, I know he does a lot to motivate his team or whatever," Rose said. "But a lot of times by doing that, we just took advantage of it. We don't need that to necessarily get us going, but it was a little fire."

Watch Replay : ESPN 360 -- HU vs. NCA&T Game

HU awakens in second quarter, wins 24-14

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Hampton University needed some extra effort this time, but the final result looked familiar.After devouring North Carolina A&T by an average of 32 points in their previous five meetings, the Pirates scrapped through early offensive struggles Saturday before bouncing back with several momentum-swinging plays to pick up their sixth straight win over the Aggies, 24-14 at Aggie Stadium.Hampton quarterback Herb Bynes completed 11 of 20 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns in his first start of the season. HU (2-1, 1-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) rolled up 333 yards of offense against a defense that had given up a total of 391 in its first two games.

Bynes throws 2 touchdown passes to lead Hampton to 24-14 victory ...

Herbert Bynes threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns to lead Hampton to a 24-14 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday night.Bynes hit Damon McDaniel on touchdown passes of 62 and 23 yards and LaMarcus Coker rushed for 112 yards on 24 carries for the Pirates (2-1, 1-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). McDaniel finished with five catches for 104 yards.Brand Roundtree scored on a 5-yard interception return for Hampton's other touchdown with 12:27 left in the game.

IMPROVEMENT STILL EVIDENT DESPITE LOSS

Hampton head coach Don Rose predicted the change in the days leading up to Saturday’s Hampton-North Carolina A&T football clash. “It is no longer as it once was; when you travel to play North Carolina A&T, you have to be ready to play,” Rose said in a Hampton press release early in the week. Saturday’s 24-14 win, though Hampton’s sixth straight in the series, could mark a shift in recent Pirates vs. Aggies history. Unlike some of the previous contests, the 2009 clash was competitive throughout. From 2006-08, Hampton outscored the Aggies 151-35. The Pirates’ average margin of victory in those three games was 38 points.

Attendance: 13,502@Aggie Stadium, Greensboro, N.C.

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William &Mary 27, Norfolk State 15

Late rally not enough for upset-minded NSU

They kept playing. They did some nice things in the downfield passing game for the first time in this young season. They allowed just six points after halftime. Anyone looking for positives from Norfolk State's 27-15 loss to William and Mary on Saturday night could take some comfort from those developments. As a building block, the game could have some value, as the Spartans head into the MEAC portion of their schedule. As a straight-up match-up, however, the game showed that NSU still has much ground to make up to compete with one of the top teams in the Football Championship Subdivision.

On a night when they were going to need to play error-free ball - or close to it - to have a chance at the upset, the Spartans (1-2) again made too many mistakes, especially early, falling behind 14-0 before some of the crowd of 10,005 had settled into their seats. It was 21-0 at the half, and 27-0 at the start of the fourth quarter. NSU ran just four plays in the entire third quarter, as No. 5 William and Mary (3-0) strung together a pair of long drives.



In W&M game, NSU shows needs to play consistently

Not that anybody thought suspense was in the forecast Saturday evening when William and Mary met Norfolk State at Dick Price Stadium. This one was your basic mismatches. The final score - 27-15 - doesn't do justice to the visitor's domination. One of Jimmye Laycock's best teams in his long career, William and Mary isn't overly dependent on the pass, as previous Tribe editions have been, and features a defense that is stronger than any from Williamsburg in years. Just ask U.Va. It was too much for Norfolk State, which, after its loss to North Carolina A&T last week, came into the game a work in progress. One thing Norfolk State couldn't afford to do was fall behind W&M early. But that's exactly what happened.

Archer leads William and Mary past Norfolk State

NORFOLK - If this is how R.J. Archer plays injured, watch out. Archer, William and Mary's senior quarterback who played with a brace on his injured left knee, directed two early touchdown drives that put the Tribe ahead to stay in a 27-15 victory at Norfolk State on Saturday night on his way to 153 passing yards and three touchdowns. Archer, who took a seat after the Tribe's initial possession of the fourth quarter, finished 15-of-20 after completing his first five passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns as William and Mary, ranked No. 5 in the country, opened the season 3-0 for the first time since 1998.

Tribe defense brings Spartans to near halt

The Tribe outgained Norfolk State 137 yards to 7 in the first quarter, running 21 plays to the Spartans' eight and not allowing Norfolk State to complete a pass while taking a 14-0 lead on a pair of touchdown passes from R.J. Archer. The Tribe also intercepted a first-quarter pass, amassed eight first downs to the Spartans' one and had the ball for nearly six minutes longer.

Rolling the dice
Jimmye Laycock probably hasn't been called a riverboat gambler often in his 30 years at William and Mary, but he went for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 23. Punter David Miller took the snap and rolled to his right for a rugby-style kick, but finding no defender within 15 yards of him, kept going, picking up 10 yards and keeping alive a touchdown drive. Laycock said Miller usually has the option to do that, but as he watched the play unfold, the coach had just one thought: "He better make it. And that was probably what went through his head, too."

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FAMU defense crucial to its success

Florida A&M football coach Joe Taylor got a little commercial during his post-game news conference when he was acknowledging his defense for shutting out Howard University for three quarters. "They know they're like American Express," Taylor said after his team improved to 3-0 with Thursday's victory. "We're not going anywhere without them." That's for sure. FAMU will need every bit of the stubbornness its defense showed Thursday night in defeating the Bison 48-10. The Rattlers face Tennessee State next Saturday in the Atlanta Classic, followed by games at the University of Miami and at South Carolina State against the defending MEAC champion Bulldogs.

Depth at running back helping Rattlers

Joe Taylor has consistently spoken about the depth he has at running back. Thursday's game against Howard was yet another example of the bevy of backs Florida A&M can send into the game at any time as five different people had carries on the evening.This time it was Philip Sylvester, who saw his first action of the 2009 season in the Rattlers, who was the first to strike. On his second carry of the season, Sylvester found an opening along the left edge and finished the run with a 10-yard touchdown. Sylvester's touchdown added the first six points in what turned out to be a 48-10 victory for FAMU.

'Sky' sees bit of himself in Pulley

Jay Walker must have felt a little dejavu Thursday night behind the ESPNU microphone. On the day that Walker made his debut as a transfer quarterback at Howard University, a monsoon drenched the place. Howard lost, though not as badly as things turned out here Thursday night. Walker was in Tallahassee for his alma mater's matchup against FAMU as an analyst for ESPNU. The field was drenched from midday rain, though the rain let up for most of the game. Walker had a good view of FAMU quarterback Curtis Pulley, who directed the offense to 333 yards in a 48-10 victory over the Bison. Walker couldn't help but see a mirror of himself on the field Thursday night. Here's some perspective:

Hardee keeping FAMU on track

Even as a child Teresa Hardee wanted to be a numbers cruncher. She got her wish — and then some. Hardee, Florida A&M University’s chief financial officer, makes decisions daily on a budget of $421 million. She oversees between 300 and 400 people. A native of Loris, S.C., Hardee came to FAMU more than two years ago to fix a financially troubled university. The 44-year-old was asked to lead the university’s financial side by FAMU President James Ammons, who initially hired her as an internal auditor when he was chancellor at North Carolina Central University in Durham. The state’s auditor general recommended Hardee to Ammons — who needed an internal auditor to clean up a university plagued with poor financial audits.

In Tally, LeRoy Vann is the MAN

Wow, what more can you say about FAMU’s sensational return specialist LeRoy Vann, who just happens to be a Blake grad? On Thursday, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior DB ran back two punts for touchdowns in a 48-10 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win over archrival Howard. Vann first raced 40 yards for a score on the slick field in the first quarter. In the third, he bobbled a Howard punt, then recovered, darted left and raced 66 yards for another TD. As if that wasn’t enough … Vann also returned two kicks for TDs a week earlier. That’s just sick. Vann’s two TD returns against Howard allowed him to tie an NCAA Division I-AA career mark for punt returns for touchdowns (seven) with Northern Iowa’s Kenny Shedd (1989-92).

Video: FAMU Football Player Talks About Shooting

Nearly two weeks after FAMU running back LaVante Page was shot after leaving a home game, he was back with his teammates at Bragg Memorial Stadium. But this time, he was standing on the sidelines.

2009 FAMU Marching 100 vs. Delaware State

UAPB DEFENSE TOPS IN THE SWAC — WANTS TO STAY THERE

Last game: UAPB Golden Lions 45, Langston 30

Every season, Arkansas-Pine Bluff sets a goal of having the top defense in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Every season the Golden Lions have made strides in accomplishing this goal. After their defense finished last in the 10-team league in total defense in 2006, the Golden Lions moved up to eighth in 2007 and a respectable fourth place last season. Now, through the first two games of the 2009 season, the UAPB defense is the No. 1 ranked defense in the SWAC, surrendering only 203.5 yards per game in its first two outings. “Our goal is at the end of the year to have the No. 1 defense in the SWAC and one of the No. 1 defenses in the country,” said first-year defensive coordinator Alonzo Hampton. “All we want to do is to keep continuing on it.”

Hampton has laid out a plan to help the Golden Lions do just that. It involves using UAPB’s depth on defense to rotate players, thus keeping everyone fresh to pursue the football and stop the run. In two games, the Golden Lions (1-1) have done a good job of the latter. Facing two of the better running threats they’ll see all season, UAPB’s defense limited Arkansas-Monticello quarterback Scott Buisson —the reigning Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year — to only 19 yards on 11 carries. Then, last week, Langston’s Carlos Ross was limited to only 65 yards on 12 carries. Senior defensive end Jared Dorn, who is third on the team with 11 tackles, said stopping a team’s rushing attack makes the opponent one-dimensional and thus easier to contain.

UAPB Set to Host Community Day

On Thursday, October 1st the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Football team will host Alcorn State at 6:00 pm at Golden Lions Stadium in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPNU. The UAPB Department of Athletics in conjunction with Wal-Mart has tabbed the game "Community Day". Various free health screenings will be available on the stadium grounds at Community Day. In addition all fans that bring a canned good to the game will be admitted into the stadium for $5. Children and youth ages 0-18 will be admitted into the game free of charge with a paying adult (limit 5 children per adult). The UAPB Athletics Department has also received confirmation that Nerjyzed Game Studios will be at the contest on Thursday night allowing football game enthusiast a free chance to play its newest version of Black College Football 2010 on its BCFX Tour Bus which is equipped with 12 flat screens televisions.

Golden Lion Stadium and Fieldhouse

UAPB may drop UAM from schedule

Arkansas-Pine Bluff might drop Arkansas-Monticello from its schedule after losing to the Division II school for the second consecutive season. The Division I Golden Lions, who play in the Football Championship Subdivision, fell 27-3 to the Boll Weevils on Saturday. UAPB lost 21-7 in last year's matchup. Although the teams are supposed to play again next season, UAPB athletic director Skip Perkins indicated his school might buy out of the game. Perkins said it was a "lose-lose situation" for UAPB and that he can understand why the Arkansas Razorbacks don't want to play in-state schools.

UAPB OVERCOMES MISTAKES, BIG PLAYS TO PICK UP FIRST WIN

There were stalled drives, a rash of penalties and an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that made it so the Golden Lions headed into halftime trailing an NAIA team on their home field.But, unlike in a loss to Division-II Arkansas-Monticello last week , UAPB stood up and fought back. It used turnovers and big plays of its own to put a pesky team away.The Golden Lions scored their first touchdown of the season on their first drive of the second half Saturday, and Kevin Thornton returned two interceptions for touchdowns to complete the 45-30 come-from-behind win over Langston (Okla.) University. That point total tied the most for the Golden Lions since a 2006 win over Southern, and it brought a much-needed, early-season win to UAPB.“I was very proud of them,” UAPB coach Monte Coleman said. “We go down, they get the football, it could have been a good opportunity to do what we did last week. We can’t afford that.”

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UL-Monroe 58, Texas Southern 0

ULM Rolls to 58-0 Victory over Texas Southern in a Rainy Home Opener

MONROE, La.-ULM scored on its first three possessions of the game and rolled to a 58-0 victory over Texas Southern in the Warhawks' home opener Saturday night at Malone Stadium. ULM quarterback Trey Revell completed his first 12 pass attempts of the game and finished the night 17-of-19 for 238 yards and two touchdowns - his 89.5 completion percentage broke Doug Pederson's school record of 88.3 percent (16-of-18) set in 1990. Revell's 12 straight completions to open tonight's game, combined with his final three passes at No. 2 Texas last week, set a ULM school record for consecutive completions. His 15 consecutive completions broke Wendel Lowery's record of 11 straight set in 1991.

His backfield companion running back Frank Goodin rushed for 105 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, despite a heavy rain that battered the Monroe area most of the night. Goodin's three touchdowns tied him for the most in head coach Charlie Weatherbie's seven seasons and were just one shy of the school record - he accomplished all of this despite taking only two snaps in the second half. True freshman running back Isaiah Newsome carried the ball 22 times for 158 yards to give the Warhawks two players with over 100 yards rushing. It marked the first time two Warhawks went over the century mark in the same game since Nov. 3, 2007, when Calvin Dawson and Kinsmon Lancaster ran wild against Middle Tennessee.

Goodin's 3 touchdowns, Revell's 2 scores lead Louisiana-Monroe ...

MONROE, La. — Frank Goodin scored three touchdowns in Louisiana-Monroe’s 58-0 rout of Texas Southern on Saturday night. Louisiana-Monroe outrushed the Tigers 345-6 with two Warhawks gaining more than 100 yards.Isaiah Newsome picked up 158 yards on 22 carries and Goodin added 105 yards on 16 carries. Trey Revell scored two touchdowns for the Warhawks through the air, and had 238 yards on 17 of 19 passing.

Louisiana-Monroe (1-1) gained a total of 592 yards of total offense, while Texas Southern lost four fumbles in the shutout. The Warhawks’ defense held the Tigers (0-3) to 103 total yards and notched a safety midway through the third quarter. Texas Southern’s Quarterback Arvell Nelson was 18 of 32 for 97 yards.

Attendance: 9,330, Malone Stadium, Monroe, La.

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Akron Zips 41, Morgan State Bears 0

Zips rule on home turf

The University of Akron and Morgan State were the first two teams ever to share the Summa Field turf at InfoCision Stadium. They sure did not share it equally. The Zips had a decided territorial advantage Saturday afternoon in a dominating performance and resultant 41-0 victory over the overmatched Bears. An announced crowd of 27,881 was treated to its initial look at InfoCision Stadium, the new $61.6 million on-campus facility, and were equally treated to the Zips imposing their will on the visitors from start to finish.

The Zips (1-1), bouncing back from a one-sided loss at Penn State last weekend, had a 436-127 advantage in total yards, a 23-3 edge in first downs and a possession of 35 minutes versus 25 minutes. ''It didn't come easy, but I thought our guys executed decently and made the improvements you thought you should make from game one to game two,'' Zips coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''It's great to get a victory.'' The Zips led just 7-0 after the first quarter, failing to capitalize on several early opportunities. But the Zips rolled to a 17-point second quarter to make it 24-0 at the half and ended any possible chance for a Morgan State comeback by scoring midway through the third quarter to make it 31-0.

Morgan State - Akron Zips Game Photos>>

Zips open InfoCision with flourish

It was just the kind of new stadium debut the Akron Zips hoped for. Morgan State proved to be the welcome mat for an official full house of 27,881 fans for the first game in InfoCision Stadium as the Zips rolled to a 41-0 victory. It was Akron's first shutout since 1992. A sun-splashed crowd accounted for every seat and witnessed the Zips methodically work over the small-college Bears. The only down side is, after a 31-7 road loss at powerhouse Penn State, and this whitewash over the Bears, it is still unclear just how good, how average, or how bad Akron will be this season. A more revealing test will come next Saturday when Akron (1-1) hosts undefeated Indiana (2-0) in a game that will put the stadium and the crowd to a true environmental test.



University of Akron (Ohio) InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field: The $61.6 million stadium seats 30,000. It has seven levels, 21 restrooms, a good-sized video scoreboard, 38 loge boxes and 522 club seats. It has 17 suites, with the Presidential Suite — complete with fireplace — the jewel. InfoCision has elevators — nice, roomy ones. Some of them will take fans to the FirstMerit Foundation Club Level (the fifth level), which has a spacious area that can be rented out by the public for business meetings and receptions. Some classes will be moved to classrooms in the new stadium. The stadium also will have a full slate of high school games.

Akron rolls over Morgan, 41-0

Chris Jacquemain passed for 162 yards and three touchdowns, and Deryn Bowser had eight receptions for 86 yards and three touchdowns as Akron opened InfoCision Stadium with a 41-0 rout of Morgan State on Saturday. Akron rolled up 436 total yards and finished the game with 186 passing yards, the most yards Morgan State has given up through the air since surrendering 243 against Towson on Sept. 6, 2008. It was the most points Morgan has allowed since a 41-16 loss to South Carolina State in 2006.

The Bears (0-1), who had a 22-3 disadvantage in first downs, finished with just 41 rushing yards. Morgan All- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference running back Devan James, who only had one carry in the preseason, was limited to 24 yards on 10 carries. The Zips (1-1) led 24-0 at halftime, as they out-gained the Bears 262-78, forced two fumbles and grabbed an interception. Bowser scored his third touchdown of the day on a fade route midway through the third quarter. Carlton Jackson was 10-for-19 for 87 yards for Morgan State, but he threw two interceptions. The first helped set up the Zips' first scoring drive of the game.

Morgan State defensive back Richard Wilson attempts to intercept a Zip pass.

Grudge game

Awakened by the phone, the Morgan State football coach fumbled to answer it and peered at the clock. It was 1 a.m. This can't be good news, Donald Hill-Eley thought. The caller, his quarterback, was crying. "Coach?" Carlton Jackson asked, voice aquiver. "What's going on, son?" "Thank you for not giving up on me." Hill-Eley yawned, smiled and yawned again. "I always had faith in you," the Morgan coach said. "Now let me go back to sleep."

Since that conversation in June, Jackson - once moody and mercurial - has been a different quarterback. Just how much he has changed, Morgan learns today in its opener at Akron. In practice, at least, the Bears sense a newfound stability in Jackson, a transfer from Akron, of all places. Morgan hopes he has matured in time to tame the Zips, the team against which Jackson has plenty to prove. "It's indescribable, a once-in-a-lifetime deal to play against your old school," said Jackson, 22, a senior in his second year at Morgan. "It'll be a hostile environment - I expect the boos - but it's a chance for me to go in and show that I can play."

Scouting report: Morgan State-Akron

SERIES: First meeting

WHAT'S AT STAKE: It's a sellout as Akron plays its first game in InfoCision Stadium, a $61 million ballpark with 27,000 seats, a cutting-edge synthetic field and a state-of-the-art scoreboard. Can Morgan ruin the Zips' debut? Akron got pummeled, 31-7, by Penn State last week but promises to bounce back today. The Zips (Mid-American Conference) were 5-7 last season and have won just nine games in the past two years. Morgan split its 12 games in 2008, the Bears' best finish since 2003 under Coach Donald Hill-Eley, who's in his eighth year. Always strong defensively, Morgan has ditched the grind-it-out game and gone to a more vertical offense, which takes pressure off fleet RB Devan James (1,337 yards) and heaps it on the shoulders of QB Carlton Jackson (742 passing yards) and his talented understudy, freshman Donovan Dickerson.

KEY MATCHUP: Jackson, a transfer from Akron, against the Zips' suspect defense. But they know his tendencies, especially S Andre Jones, from Forestville, one of Jackson's best friends. They've been calling and texting each other all week, talking trash.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Akron: QB Chris Jacquemain, a senior who, in 2007, got the nod over Jackson and prompted the latter's transfer. Morgan: James, who was recruited heavily by Akron but who this season has a chance to become the Bears' all-time leading rusher.

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Rutgers 45, Howard Bison 7

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- It was somewhere in the second quarter Saturday, a bit into what would become Rutgers' relatively redemptive romp over Howard, that Jourdan Brooks really heard Tom Savage. "Let's go," Savage said. Then, "Come on, we're going to punch it in." And then, pulling Brooks aside, "Run hard on this one.""You know, he reminded me of Mike a little bit," Brooks said, breaking into a grin after Rutgers' 45-7 win. "He definitely doesn't seem like a regular freshman."

Savage certainly proved himself no ordinary freshman -- and that he may indeed be the heir apparent to the two-time captain and record-setter Mike Teel. On a gray, rainy afternoon, he coolly managed Rutgers' offense, he dynamically made some highlight reel throws and he earned Greg Schiano's praise for making what the coach called "good decisions." It was his first-ever start, he would've led Rutgers to a score on every one of his possessions if not for a missed field goal and Savage still very endearingly admitted to a nervous morning of "just looking at the weather."

Highlights of Rutgers 45-7 victory over Howard at Rutgers Stadium

Taking a closer look at Rutgers' victory over Howard

ABOUT THAT DEFENSE
Well, when you beat up an opponent like Rutgers did to Howard, the defense must be doing something right. But after being embarrassed on national television in the home opener on Monday, most would have expected Rutgers to have a killer instinct at a high level, and it really wasn't there. Yes, they forced some turnovers (3), but there were still tackles being missed and runs being broken off. The most glaring mistake was when Howard took a fourth down-and-3 situation in the second quarter and turned it into a 40-yard touchdown play. That's not what you want to see.

Video: The Star-Ledger breaks down Rutgers football 45-7 win over Howard

If this was really a first test for Tom Savage, it was more like one in which he had the answers in advance. Not that anyone in the crowd of 43,722 who braved the dreary conditions at Rutgers Stadium Saturday - and endured the lack of competitiveness by Howard -- seemed to mind or care. The future is now, and he looks poised, calm and fully in control.

Yes, what Savage accomplished was against an overmatched MEAC team that was 1-10 last year. But it's hard to deny that he looks and acts the part of a big-time quarterback - rare for a 19-year-old true freshman making his first career start. Savage, with all of one half of college experience behind him, offered the hope of bigger and better things to come by leading Rutgers to a wound-salving 45-7 victory over Howard, allowing the Knights to square their record at 1-1.

The Star-Ledger breaks down Rutgers football 45-7 win over Howard

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Mounting Deficits Moves WSSU Rams Back to Division II

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) announced on September 11, 2009, that it would inform the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC) that the university intends to remain a Division II institution for intercollegiate athletics. The process to remain in Division II will begin immediately, but the school will continue to compete in the MEAC at the Division I level through the 2009-2010 season.

At a special called meeting, the university's Board of Trustees voted unanimously to support the recommendation of Chancellor Donald J. Reaves to bring to a close the reclassification to Division I process that was begun in 2004. Reaves praised the vision of former WSSU chancellors who had supported the move to Division I, but stated that "in the final analysis the resources to complete the reclassification simply were not available, currently nor prospectively, in sufficient amounts".

News of dropping Division I goal stuns, perplexes WSSU athletes

The news that Winston-Salem State will be cutting scholarships in athletics was like rubbing salt into an already wounded football team. The Rams lost to Florida A&M on Thursday night 34-10, and in less than 24 hours, they took another punch to the gut. Julian Gray, an offensive lineman, sat slumped on a bench outside the Thompson Center, finding the news hard to believe. "I came to this program thinking I was playing for a Division I program," Gray said. "And you have other people on our team, like the younger guys, who turned down offers to play Division I to come here."

What really upset many of the players was that not even the coaches knew this was coming. "You can't blame the coaches because they just heard the rumors like everybody else," said Omar Kizzie, a junior wide receiver. "Now we have a bunch of guys that don't know what's going on, or even if they will have a scholarship next year. It's just a bad decision all the way around." Chancellor Donald Reaves, who spoke to the athletes in a meeting on campus yesterday afternoon, acknowledged that a lot of them were upset.

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North Carolina Central University wins admission to MEAC

North Carolina Central University has won admission to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, returning the Durham institution to a league it helped found but then left 30 years ago. The conference said Thursday that its Council of Chief Executive Officers voted to admit NCCU as the MEAC’s 13th member effective July 1, 2010.

The decision gives NCCU a conference home as it continues to make the transition from a NCAA Division II athletics program to one competing in the top-level, and more expensive, Division I. NCCU is entering its third season of competition in Division I. "This is a significant milestone in North Carolina Central University's transition to Division I," said NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms. "Membership in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a win-win proposition for our student-athletes, alumni and fans – indeed, all our university constituents."

With its return to the MEAC, NCCU will now play in the same conference as its most fierce rival, North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, and another in-state school that recently made the jump to Division I, Winston-Salem State University. WSSU, which became the MEAC’s 12th member in 2007, was a rival of NCCU’s in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, a Division II conference. The highlight of NCCU’s time in the CIAA was winning the Division II national men’s basketball championship in 1989.

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