Howard University Announces 2010 Football Schedule

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University announced its 2010 football schedule on March 17. The Bison open the season on September 4 against Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Holy Cross is a perennial contender in the Football Championships Subdivision (FCS, formerly 1-AA). Howard will then host rival Hampton University on September 11 at 1 p.m. in Greene Stadium. In addition to it being The Battle of the Real HUs, it will also be part of the Military Appreciation Day.

The Bison will follow with another home date, this time against the Rattlers of Florida A&M University on September 18 at 1 pm. That game will be part of Mighty Blue & White and will be designated to honor alumni, student, faculty and Staff Appreciation Day. Howard will then follow with a game against Morgan State University at a site to be named later and a home game against Lincoln University, a one-time rival. That game will be October 2 at 1 p.m. and is labeled “A Rivalry Revived.” It is Kids/Community and Organization Day.

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HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON 2010 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Site Time
9/4 at Holy Cross Worcester, MA TBA
9/11 vs. HAMPTON Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
9/18 vs. FLORIDA A&M Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
9/25 vs. Morgan State TBA TBA

10/2 vs. LINCOLN Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
10/9 at Furman Greenville, S.C. TBA
1016 OPEN
10/23 at North Carolina A&T Greensboro, N.C. TBA
10/30 vs. NORFOLK STATE* Wash. D.C. TBA

11/6 at South Carolina State Orangeburg, S.C. TBA
11/13 at Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA
11/20 vs. DELAWARE STATE Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
*homecoming

HU's Tracy White Making Most of First NFL Real Chance

PHILADELPHIA, PA - For six years, he ran around covering punts and tackling kick returners and pouncing on loose footballs in the Lambeau Field end zone after Greg Lewis fumbles. For six years, he was Tracy White, special teamer. Now, he's Tracy White, football player. After bouncing from Seattle to Jacksonville to Green Bay to Philadelphia exclusively as a special teamer, the 28-year-old White has emerged for the first time as a real-life NFL linebacker.

White, in his second season with the Eagles, has been playing in many two-linebacker nickel formations with Will Witherspoon, a combination that doesn't have much size but offers plenty of speed. On Sunday, in his 97th career game, he recorded his first interception, picking off Alex Smith late in the second quarter to set up a field goal in the Eagles' 27-13 win over the 49ers.

And on a unit that has gone through eight starters this year, White has been a valuable - and improbable - contributor. "To tell you the truth, I really didn't think I'd ever get a chance (to play defense)," White said. "But they gave me my shot, and I made the most of it. It took seven years to do it, but I got my chance." White played at Division 1-AA Howard University, a historically black college in Washington, D.C., and began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Seahawks in 2003.

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The Tracy White File...
Tracy White started all 44 games played at Howard University and led the Bison each season in tackles, becoming the school's all-time leader with 500, to go along with 22 sacks and six interceptions. As a junior, he was named the Black College Defensive Player of the Year. White also earned All-MEAC three times (2000-2002); twice MEAC Defensive Player of the Year (2001-2002); and twice Buchanan Award finalist (2001-2002). White is 6’0, 230 from St. Stephen, South Carolina (Timberland High School) and was a star linebacker for the Bison.

After being undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft, White signed with the Seattle Seahawks on 05/01/03. After spending two seasons with the Seahawks, in which he saw mostly special teams work, he was waived on 09/03/05. White was immediately claimed off waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played in 15 games, mostly on special teams. On 12/28/05 before the season finale, he was placed on the injured reserve list with an ankle injury. The Jaguars did not offer him a contract for the next season, making him a free agent.

White signed with the Green Bay Packers on 03/17/06. On 03/16/08, White re-signed with the Packers to a two-year contract after visits with the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. The contract was worth $1.8 million and the deal included a $250,000 signing bonus. He was released by the Packers on 10/07/08 and was signed by the Philadelephia Eagles on 10/14/08 to a two year contract as a special teams player.

MERRY CHRISTMAS MEAC/SWAC AND OVC FANS...

Howard Announces 2009 Football Schedule

by HU Sports Information

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University kicks off the 2009 season with Rutgers from the Big East and will follow with games at Florida A&M and cross town against Georgetown before its home season opener against Winston-Salem State on October 3.

The Bison, who play five of their first six games at away from home, will then return to the road for conference games at Hampton and at Morgan State before hosting North Carolina A&T for homecoming on October 24. A road game at Norfolk State follows and then there are back-to-back home contests against South Carolina State and Bethune-Cookman. Howard will close out the regular season with a road game at Delaware State on November 21.

The Bison are playing Rutgers and Georgetown for the second time. Howard played Rutgers in 2006 and they played the Hoyas last season at Greene Stadium.

Date Opponent Location Time

Sept. 12 Rutgers Piscataway, N.J. TBA
Sept. 19 Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla. TBA
Sept. 26 Georgetown (Multi-Sport Field)% Washington, D.C. TBA
Oct. 3 WINSTON-SALEM STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. 1 p.m.
Oct. 10 Hampton Hampton, Va. 1 p.m.
Oct. 17 Morgan State Baltimore, Md. TBA
Oct. 24 NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE* WASHINGTON, D.C. 1 p.m.
Oct. 31 Norfolk State Norfolk, Va. TBA
Nov. 7 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. 1 p.m.
Nov. 14 BETHUNE-COOKMAN! WASHINGTON, D.C. 1 p.m.
Nov. 21 Delaware State Dover, Del. TBA

Home games in CAPS
MEAC games in bold
All Times are EST and subject to change

% - D.C. Cup
* - Homecoming
! - Senior Day

Howard University signs 21 to NLI

Photo: Carey Bailey, head football coach Howard University Bison

Coach Carey Bailey, who completed his first season as head coach, announced 21 recruits for the upcoming season. Howard signed seven offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, three running backs, three linebackers, one quarterback, two defensive backs and two wide receivers. The players are broken down geographically as South Carolina (6), Texas (3), Florida (2), Georgia (2), New York (2) and one each from New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, DC, Tennessee, Illinois and Ohio.

"Overall, I am pleased with the class we were able to bring in," said Bailey. "We were able to get a bunch of East Coast kids as well as some local kids. We have a combination of some older players from the JC's and other transfers who will help the maturation of some of the younger players."

Bison 2008 Signees

1. Aramide Adefemiwa DL 6-6 310 Commack, NY/Nassau CC
2. Jahmaine Rodriguez RB 5-10 190 Commack, NY/Nassau CC
3. Bruce Cabell S 6-0 190 Joliet, IL/Joliet JC
4. Davin Morris OL 6-4 315 Houston, TX/Yates HS
5.Quintin Powell WR 6-3 180 Houston, TX/Yates HS
6. Willie Carter WR 6-2 180 Denmark, SC/Denmark-Olar HS
7. Jeramen Bennette DL 6-4 280 St. Matthews, SC/Calhoun County HS
8. Kashin McElveen OL 6-4 320 Salters, SC/Denmark-Olar HS
9. DeAngelo Moody LB 6-3 225 Denmark, SC/Denmark-Olar HS
10. Terrell Hawkins OL 6-4 320 Temple Hills, MD/Friendly HS
11. D'Angelo Lucas OL 6-6 360 Washington, DC/H.D. Woodson HS
12. Brandon Drayton RB 5-9 170 Miami, FL/Northwestern HS
13. Terell Killings OL 6-4 290 Miami, FL/Northwestern HS
14. Jarad Dorsey QB 6-2 180 Ellenwood, GA/MLK Jr. HS
15. Glynn Jones LB 5-10 215 Kennesaw, GA/North Cobb HS
16. Keith Pough LB 6-2 220 Orangeburg, SC/Scotts Branch HS
17. DeCarlos Knight S 6-0 190 Nashville, TN/Pearl-Cohn HS
18. Ashton Wilder DL 6-4 290 Newark, NJ/Malcolm X Shabazz HS
19. Jarrett Ford OL 6-3 280 Cincinnati, OH/Harmony Community HS
20. Charles Brice RB 6-0 180 Columbia, SC/Keenan HS
21. Quindarole King OL 6-4 310 Texas City, TX/Lamarque HS

NFL Pro Bowl Bound - Antoine Bethea, Colts safety/former Howard Bison

Photo: Former Howard University safety Antoine Bethea(41) intercepting a pass intended for Ravens Heap at the Colts’ 1-yard line.

Colts Safety Antoine Bethea to Make First Pro Bowl Appearance
INDIANAPOLIS - The Colts' defense emerged as one of the NFL’s best units this past season, and a big reason was the development of a young secondary. On Friday, yet another member of that secondary earned one of the league’s most-prestigious honors.
Antoine Bethea, a second-year safety who started 13 games for the Colts this past season, has been named as an injury replacement to the 2008 AFC Pro Bowl roster, the league and the Colts announced Friday morning.

It will be Bethea’s first Pro Bowl appearance.

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Amazing story! An undersized walk-on at Howard University will be in the NFL Pro Bowl just 6 short years later. Let us not forget that Bethea won a Super Bowl with the Colts last season.
Bethea is also the 11th NFL draft pick in Bison football program history. He was selected in the 2006 NFL Draft in the 6 round, 207 overall choice by the Indianapolis Colts.

Howard at Eastern Michigan

BY JEFF ARNOLD, Ann Arbor News

It's EMU's turn for a I-AA foe
Eagles say they aren't taking Howard lightly

Carey Bailey understands the inspiration that many of his I-AA coaching brethren may draw from a certain season-opening victory by Appalachian State.

But the first-year Howard University head coach isn't buying it.

While Bailey can appreciate the aftershocks the Mountaineers' 34-32 win over then No. 5-ranked Michigan left among lower-division programs like his, he won't allow his team to think it has anything to do with its preparations for today's road test at Eastern Michigan.

"To us, this is just the next game on our schedule,'' Bailey said earlier this week. "I try and not get into the whole I-AA versus I-A thing. This is just another game for us to try and go out and execute. It doesn't matter who we're playing. We have to do that if we hope to win.''

Eastern Michigan (1-2) represents the lone I-A opponent for the Bisons (0-2), who are coming off a 30-17 loss at Florida A&M.

Howard, which posted a 6-6 record last season while competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, traveled to Rutgers in 2006, filling out a schedule comprised with the likes of Coppin State, Delaware State and North Carolina A&T.

And despite the differences in Eastern Michigan's weekly level of competition, coach Jeff Genyk refuses to consider Howard anything less than another challenge the Eagles have to contend with.

After all, Eastern's last I-AA test resulted in a 31-28 home loss to Eastern Illinois in 2005.

And with I-AA programs more than holding their own this season between Appalachian State's win at Michigan Stadium, Southern Illinois' victory over Northern Illinois and The Citadel remaining close with Wisconsin for three quarters, Genyk knows Howard will bring a competitive mentality into today's game.

Not to mention a spread

offense that possesses the ability to put points on the board and that will test Eastern's young secondary.

"You have to prepare very well for these games,'' Genyk said. "These teams are generally feeling (how other I-AA teams have fared) and realize that, 'Hey, we've got 63 scholarships, Eastern Michigan's got 85 - so what? Let's go steal one.' ''

When: 3:30 p.m.

Where: Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, Mich.

Records: Bison 0-2; Eagles 1-2.

Still Stinging: After staying close with Hampton in the season opener, the Bison gave a dispirited performance last week at Florida A&M. Howard surrendered more than 300 rushing yards in the 30-17 loss, 222 of them by freshman tailback Philip Sylvester. Brian Johnson completed 12 of 16 passes for 126 yards for the Bison, five of them to Jarahn Williams, including both touchdowns. Endor Cooper led Howard with 13 tackles, including 3 1/2 for losses.

Breaking Ground: This the first time the schools have met, and the Bison will be the first MEAC team to play in Rynearson Stadium.

Howard's Lead Is Short-Lived as Florida A&M Takes Over

by The Washington Post

Photo: FAMU RB Philip Sylvester takes it 94 yards to the house (Touchdown--FAMU)!

Albert Chester threw two touchdown passes and Philip Sylvester ran for 222 yards to lead Florida A&M to a 30-17 win over Howard last night in Tallahassee.

Brian Johnson threw two touchdown passes to Jarahn Williams for the Bison (0-2, 0-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference).

The Rattlers (1-2, 1-1) dominated after falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter.

Sylvester gained 196 yards on nine carries in the first half, including a 94-yard touchdown run.

The Rattlers finished with 481 offensive yards, while Howard had 221.

Chester's two-yard touchdown run tied the score at 7 with 10 seconds left in the first quarter. Florida A&M took the lead for good in the second quarter when Chester scrambled and threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Demarius Folsom.

Sylvester's 94-yard touchdown came with 32 seconds left in the second quarter. He took a handoff up the middle, broke to the sideline and outran the Howard defenders.

HU notes: Pope enjoys a block party

By David Driver, Correspondent Daily Press

WASHINGTON - Hampton cornerback Sam Pope blocked a field goal attempt by John Mendoza in the second quarter.

"There was a lot of pressure from the interior, and that broke me free. No one touched me," Pope said.

Pope also made a catch in the end zone for a near interception, but he was ruled out of bounds in the first half.

"It was a pick," said senior defensive end Kendall Langford.

CONNECTIONS

Howard played its first game under new coach Carey Bailey, a former defensive line coach at the University of Minnesota. He also made stops at Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana Lafayette and VMI.

Hampton coach Taylor, in his 16th season, was a Howard assistant in 1982 and the Bison head coach in 1983. Former Redskins defensive back Barry Wilburn is in his first season as a defensive secondary coach for Howard. He played for the Redskins from 1985-91, and was an All-Pro in 1987 when he led the league in interceptions.

HEAT IS ON

Hampton senior Qutrell Payton was taken to a local hospital for dehydration during the second quarter, according to coach Joe Taylor.

EXTRA POINTS

On a clear, dry day, players from both teams slipped several times on Howard's artificial grass field. ... Hampton has now won 11 openers in a row in the conference. ...Jahmal Blanchard of Hampton averaged 53 yards on five punts.

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Attendance for the game was 7,035.

HU continues dominance of Howard

T.J. Mitchell throws three late touchdowns to lead the Pirates to their 11th straight win in the MEAC series.

By David Driver, Correspondent Daily Press

WASHINGTON - For more than three quarters on a humid Saturday afternoon, Hampton quarterback T.J. Mitchell completed passes all over the field.

He had little to show for his effort.

The only touchdown at that point for the Pirates came on a run by Kevin Beverly in the first quarter.

But on third-and-15 late in the third quarter, a screen pass in the left flat from Mitchell to Van Morgan went 38 yards for a touchdown to give Hampton a seven-point lead.

That was the first of three touchdown passes in a matter of minutes for Mitchell, lifting the Pirates to a 31-24 win over Howard in the opener for both MEAC teams.

Hampton, ranked 11th in the Sports Network I-AA poll, beat Howard 46-7 last year en route to a record of 10-2 and a berth in the Division I-AA playoffs.

Hampton has won the last 11 games between the two teams, but this was one was not easy.

"It was just great execution," Hampton coach Joe Taylor said of the screen to Morgan.

"It was a very big play. When you get a strong rush, that is when you want to call that play."

"It was good play-calling," said Morgan, who broke several tackles on the score that put Hampton ahead to stay with 11 minutes and 36 seconds left.

The Hampton defense then forced Howard to punt, and the Pirates' offense took over with about nine minutes left.

On the second play Mitchell connected on a completion on the right sideline to Kevin Teel, who broke a tackle and went down the sidelines for a 78-yard touchdown as Hampton took a 24-10 lead with 8:14 remaining in the game.

Mitchell's third scoring pass later in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach, as Jeremy Gilchrist scored from 21 yards with 3:29 left to make it 31-17.

Mitchell completed 13 of 27 passes in the first three quarters, including six to Gilchrist.

Mitchell ended up 19 of 36 for 310 yards and no interceptions.

"I just have to stay positive. I wasn't frustrated," Mitchell said. "Players make plays."

Beverly, from nearby New Carrollton, Md., gave the Pirates the lead with a 6-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

The senior, who began his college career at Kent State, played his final game at Howard on Saturday.

Taylor said Beverly was not at 100 percent due to the heat.

"It was fun. You get to play in front of family," Beverly said. "But we came up here for a reason."

After the teams traded field goals, the Bison tied the score with nine seconds left in the third quarter on a pass from Brian Johnson to Jarahn Williams. The PAT by John Mendoza made the score 10-10.

Hampton got the ball back and went 62 yards on eight plays, with the screen play in the left flat giving the Pirates the lead for good on a day the temperature hovered around 90 degrees.

"It was certainly a very warm day. The team that was in the best condition would have an edge," said Taylor.

The coach credited the team's diet the week before the game as a key.

Despite the win, the Pirates feel they have plenty to work on before next Saturday's game at North Carolina A&T.

Howard had 161 rusing yards and 244 passing yards.

Howard was successful on six of its first 14 plays on third down.

"We as a defensive unit need to improve, and not let them have big plays on third down," said senior defensive end Kendall Langford, the preseason player of the year in the MEAC.

Against a Longtime Nemesis, Missed Opportunities Hurt Bison

Photo: Howard University Head Football Coach Carey Bailey

Hampton University 31, Howard University 24

By Matthew Stanmyre, Special to The Washington Post

Howard's football players, sweaty and battered, sat in clumps inside the school's musty auxiliary gymnasium yesterday as sun poured in through the windows above. It had been nearly 40 minutes since the Bison lost to Hampton, 31-24, at Greene Stadium, but first-year coach Carey Bailey wasn't ready to dismiss the game.

"I had a lot of things that were fresh in my mind," Bailey said.

Bailey and the Bison had plenty to mull. There was the missed tackle early in the fourth quarter that allowed the Pirates to take the lead for good. A few minutes later, another blown tackle enabled the Pirates to expand their lead with a 78-yard scoring pass. Even after Howard battled back to get within a touchdown, a missed assignment on the ensuing onside kick helped Hampton escape with its 11th straight victory against the Bison, a streak dating from 1996.

"We had four or five critical errors that took place that we have to eliminate," said Bailey, who made his head coaching debut in what was both teams' season opener. "It's not so much to have an error, but when it's a critical error, that's when it usually costs you points."

Howard learned the familiar lesson Saturday against Hampton, the three-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion. When Bailey took over in February and reviewed game film from the 2006 season, he concluded that the Bison -- though usually competitive -- were often undone by untimely errors, a trend he sought to alleviate in preseason camp.

That continued yesterday. The Bison gained 405 yards of total offense in pushing the defending conference champion to its limit, but couldn't close the deal.

"They're going to be a good football team," said Hampton Coach Joe Taylor, who has won 192 games in 25 years. "There's no question that it's a team that knows what it's trying to get done, and that's a sign of good coaching."

Howard tied the score at 10 with nine seconds left in the third quarter, when quarterback Brian Johnson found wideout Jarahn Williams for a one-yard touchdown pass. But the Bison unraveled on Hampton's next two possessions -- they blew an assignment on a screen pass that went for a score, and then missed a tackle that led to a touchdown that put Hampton ahead 24-10 with 8:14 left.

Howard stayed close, getting within 31-24 with 1:45 left on a touchdown pass from Johnson to Arlandus Hood, but the error on the ensuing onside kick foiled the Bison's upset bid.

Johnson was 21 of 37 for 244 yards and two touchdowns, and Hampton's T.J. Mitchell, a West Virginia transfer, was 19 of 36 for 310 yards and three scores.

"We played hard, but we didn't always play smart," said Bailey, who was the defensive line coach at Minnesota last season. "We'll go back and try and fix some things."