New Howard University coaches have local ties

A new coaching staff with a strong Prince George's County connection will try to reverse the fortunes of the downtrodden Howard University men's basketball program. The Washington, D.C., school, part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, last month hired Kevin Nickelberry as its head coach. Last week, Nickelberry named former Laurel High School coach Keith Coutreyer and former DeMatha High star Travis Lyons to his coaching staff.

Coutreyer will be Howard's associate head coach after spending the past two seasons as an assistant at Hampton University. Prior to that, he spent 13 years at Laurel — five as an assistant and eight as the Spartans' head coach. He guided Laurel to the Class 4A state semifinals in 2008 before taking the job at Hampton that summer. "It's real exciting to have an opportunity to be back in the area you now, where you have your roots in terms of basketball," Coutreyer said. "You have ties in the basketball community that you've developed over time, and hopefully those ties can help get guys to come to Howard."

Coutreyer and Nickelberry have known one another for 20 years, going back to the early 1990s when Nickelberry was the head women's coach and assistant men's coach at Columbia Union College (now Washington Adventist University) in Takoma Park, while Coutreyer was playing there. Lyons, who grew up in Hyattsville, was one of the area's top players during his high school career. As a senior in 1993-94, the 6-foot-4 forward averaged 16 points, 8.7 rebounds and four assists per game. He went on to play at Manhattan College, where he had an experience his freshman year that has influenced his coaching career. He's spent the past 10 years as an assistant coach at Manhattan and Fordham University.

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Defense Shines in Howard U. Spring Game‎

Howard University Bison head football coach Carey Bailey

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Although the defense was able to make more outstanding plays, the offense had some bright spots in the Annual Howard University spring football game at Greene Stadium. Led by its linebacking corp headed up by Keith Pough, the Bison defense was able to force turnovers and make some sterling plays during the controlled scrimmage. A 6-3, 225-pound red-shirt sophomore from Orangeburg, SC, Pough picked up where he left off last season before missing the last three games with a knee injury. He had two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery while creating havoc for the Howard offense.

“He’s beginning to see things better from a defensive standpoint,” said Howard Coach Carey Bailey. “Now he is able to anticipate and read plays before they develop. He is performing at a high level.” Bailey was also quick to praise the play of the linebacking unit of sophomore Chase Mitchell, red-shirt freshman Clinton Gidron, red-shirt senior Jermell Eliis and transfer Kurt Mangum. “They played well today and have had an outstanding spring,” said Bailey.

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FAMU Lady Netters Bow Out of MEAC TOURNEY to HOWARD

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Howard To Hold Spring Game

Howard Women's Tennis Sweeps Honors as It Prepares for Tournament

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Fort Lauderdale student learning business of NASCAR

Holy Cross Names Milan Brown (HU Alum) Head Men's Basketball Coach

What can BROWN do for you?

WORCESTER, Mass. – The College of the Holy Cross has named Milan Brown as its new head men's basketball coach, athletic director Richard M. Regan, Jr., announced. Brown becomes the 16th head coach in the history of the program, joining the Crusaders after spending the last seven seasons as head coach at Mount St. Mary's. Holy Cross has signed Brown to a five-year contract, with an option for a sixth season. He will be formally introduced at a press conference next week.

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to come to Holy Cross and to try to lead the program back to the top of the Patriot League," said Brown. "My family and I are really pleased about the move, and I cannot wait to get started. I would also like to thank Mr. Regan, Fr. McFarland and the search committee, for entrusting me with leading these young men both on and off the court."

During the last three years at Mount St. Mary's, Brown led the Mountaineers to three straight winning seasons and a pair of postseason appearances. His teams posted a 54-44 record (.551) during those three years, including a 35-19 mark (.648) in Northeast Conference play. Defense was a staple of Brown's squads, as the Mountaineers allowed just 64.7 points per game and 41.7 percent field goal shooting over the last three seasons, while holding their opposition to under 70 points in 72 out of 98 games. During the 2007-2008 campaign, Brown led Mount St. Mary's to the first NCAA Division I Tournament victory in school history, with a 69-60 win over Coppin State in the opening round.

"We spent a lot of time on this search," said Regan. "We were very focused on hiring someone with head coaching experience, and we were very impressed with Milan both as a coach and a person. We were particularly pleased with the outstanding recommendations we received from a most important source - several coaches who coached against him over the past few years. One thing that was clear, both from his records and what those coaches told us, is that his players defend very well and they play very hard for him. We think that is particularly appropriate for the players in this program right now."

During the 2009-2010 season, Brown's Mount St. Mary's team posted an overall record of 16-15, and finished third in the Northeast Conference with a 12-6 mark in league games. The Mountaineers led the Northeast Conference and ranked 48th in the nation by allowing only 63.2 points per game. Mount St. Mary's also posted an 11-game winning streak from Jan. 28-March 4, the second-longest streak in the school's Division I history, and advanced to the semifinals of the Northeast Conference Tournament. In addition, the Mountaineers non-conference strength of schedule ranked as the 25th hardest in the nation.

In 2008-2009, Brown's squad went 19-14 overall and 12-6 in the Northeast Conference, placing second in the league. The Mountaineers advanced to the Northeast Conference championship game, before suffering a tough 48-46 loss on the road to Robert Morris. Mount St. Mary's was then selected to play in the College Insider Tournament, where it fell at James Madison 69-58 in the first round.

During the 2007-2008 campaign, Brown led the Mountaineers to their first winning record in 11 seasons, posting an overall mark of 19-15. Mount St. Mary's finished the regular season in fourth place in the Northeast Conference with an 11-7 mark in league games, before running off three straight victories to claim the NEC Tournament title. Included during that tournament run were an 83-65 victory at Robert Morris in the semifinals, and a 68-55 win at Sacred Heart in the championship game. The Mountaineers then took down Coppin State (69-60) in the NCAA opening round, before falling to North Carolina (113-74) in their next game.

Brown took over as the head coach at Mount St. Mary's in 2003-2004, and led his team to its first Northeast Conference Tournament appearance since 1998-1999 during his first season. By his third year in 2005-2006, the Mountaineers finished fourth in the Northeast Conference with an 11-7 record, good for their highest finish in the league since 1996-1997. Following the 2005-2006 campaign, Brown was selected as the Northeast Conference's Coach of the Year by College Insider. He then directed Mount St. Mary's to another fourth place finish in the NEC in 2006-2007, with a 9-9 mark in conference games.

Before serving as the head coach at Mount St. Mary's, Brown had two stints as an assistant coach for the Mountaineers under Jim Phelan. He was the associate head coach at Mount St. Mary's during the 2002-2003 campaign, after serving as an assistant coach from 1997-2000. During the 1998-1999 campaign, Brown helped lead the Mountaineers to the Northeast Conference Tournament crown and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

From 2000-2002, Brown was an assistant coach at William & Mary under Rick Boyages. He previously served as an assistant under Jeff Capel at Old Dominion from 1995-1997, helping lead the Monarchs to a combined record of 40-24 over two seasons. In 1996-1997, the Monarchs won both the Colonial Athletic Association regular season and tournament titles, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Brown began his coaching career in 1994-1995 as an assistant at Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, Va., where he helped lead the team to a 23-7 record and the state championship.

A 1993 graduate of Howard University with a bachelor's degree in marketing, Brown earned All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference honors his senior year after averaging 13.1 points and 4.4 assists per game. He currently ranks second on the Bison's all-time career list for assists with 445, and scored 1,102 career points. Brown led Howard to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles during the 1991-1992 season, earning All-MEAC Tournament honors. He was then named the CBS Player of the Game for the Bison's contest with Kansas in the 1992 NCAA Tournament. Brown had his number at Howard retired in December of 2005.

The son of Charles and Pamela Brown, he is the oldest of three children. His brother, Morocco, played football at North Carolina State, and is the director of pro personnel for the Washington Redskins. His other brother, Marseille, played basketball at both Richmond and Hampton, advancing to the NCAA Tournament at each school.

Brown, who turned 39 in January, and his wife Tina have two daughters (Nyla and Sanaa).

Howard Bison signs Tap-dancing DL/OL Khalid Jordan

Tap-dancing, Howard-bound lineman Khalid Jordan first from Arts High (N.J.) to earn full athletic scholarship

Khalid Jordan doesn’t look nimble. He’s 6-5 and weighs 330 pounds — and plays offensive and defensive line. His arms and body swallow nearly everyone he hugs. But Jordan isn’t just a hulking football player who uses his giant-size fingers to wipe away his mother’s tears of happiness. His alter-ego is the step master for a dancing fraternity, The Kudo’s. When he was younger, he used to tap dance. “I never thought the dancing would help,” Jordan said. “But now I use that to my advantage.”

His active, light-footed agility was born on the dance floor but has earned him a spot on the college football field for the next four years. Wednesday, the Arts High senior signed a national letter of intent to play football for Howard University this fall, becoming the first player in Arts history to sign on for a full athletic scholarship.

Jordan played offensive and defensive line for Shabazz High’s program because Arts doesn’t field a team. He is the only football player from Newark to sign with a Division 1 program this season. “I told him, ‘With your size and your personality, you will not have to pay for college,’” said Ian Scott, who played at Newark East Side and Norfolk State and mentored Jordan throughout his football career. “He’s not a lazy, big guy. He’s a big, active guy.”

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Bison Coach Carey Bailey will eventually sign 22 new recruits and at least three transfers in an effort to improve on last season's 2-9 record. Bailey has a career record of 7-26 as a head coach (all at Howard).

Howard University Bison 2010 Football Signees

NAME POS HT WT High School/CC/Hometown
1. Daniel Mendoza FB 6-1 232 Colonial HS/Hudson Valley/ Orlando, FL
2. Ibrahima Kalil Kebe DL 6-2 275 Wilson HS/ Washington, DC
3. Lucious Ray DL 6-1 310 Columbia HS/Decatur, GA
4. Cameron Alston DB 6-0 180 North Augusta HS/N. Augusta, SC
5. Jabril Ezell DB 6-0 185 Friendship Collegiate/Washington, DC
6. Julian David DB 5-11 190 American Heritage HS/Plantation, FL
7. Thomas Jordan OL/DL 6-3 300 Richland North East HS/Columbia, SC
8. Nathaniel Coleman OL/DL 6-3 292 Livonia Franklin HS/Livonia, MI
9. Malcolm Rutledge OL/DL 6-3 300 Southfield HS/Southfield, MI
10. Khalid Jordan OL/DL 6-5 330 Malcolm X Shabazz HS/Newark, NJ
11. Montario Hunter WR 6-2 175 Ahoskie HS/Ahoskie, NC
12. Stephen Sims, Jr. RB 5-9 210 Norview HS/Norfolk, VA
13. Bryan F. Jackson, Jr. P 6-0 200 Southern Univ. Lab School/Baton Rouge, La
14. Joshua Matthews OL/DL 6-3 285 Bethune Bowman HS/Bowman, SC
15. Markee White LB 6-3 220 Ahoskie HS/Ahoskie, NC
16. Brandon Summers 5-11 170 Inglewood HS/Inglewood, CA
17. Shahid Jones 6-2 225 Ribault HS/Jacksonville, FL

Howard Bison 72, Navy Midshipmen 65

Howard Uses Late Run to Push Past Navy, 72-65

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Howard men's basketball team outscored Navy, 9-0, in the final minute of play to hand the Midshipmen a 72-65 setback on Monday night. The loss snapped Navy's modest two-game winning streak and drops Navy's record to 6-9 overall. Howard improved to 2-13 with the victory. Navy has lost six straight games away from Annapolis and has a 1-7 record away from Alumni Hall, entering Saturday night's Patriot League opener at Bucknell.

"We didn't do enough tonight for 40 minutes to be successful. When we don't play together, we aren't going to beat anyone," said Navy head coach Billy Lange. "We were careless defensively and didn't show enough patience on offense. It just seemed we got antsy in the second half and weren't patient enough. When we were, we got any shot we wanted." Howard was aided by seven three-point plays. Three of the seven came on fouled three-point shot attempts, while the Bison also connected on four and-one opportunities. "It's just a lack of focus, and we didn't close out on shooters properly," said Lange. "Our heads were somewhere else."

Final Stats

White, Collins Lead Balanced Attack In Win Over Navy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Curtis White scored 12 of his game-high 21 points in the second half and Dadrian Collins added 10 of his 15 after intermission to lead Howard to a 72-65 win over Navy in a non-conference men's basketball game at Burr Gymnasium. The Bison (2-13), who snapped a five game losing streak, rallied from a 36-30 halftime deficit on the scoring of White and Collins who combined for 12 of the team's points during a key 15-9 run that tied the score at 45-all.

Buoyed by the run, Howard embarked on an 11-4 run to open up a 56-49 lead at the 10:48 mark of the second half. This time it was Mike Phillips and Calvin Thompson who keyed the run as they combined for 8 of the points. But the scrappy Mids (6-9) put together a rally of their own, a 16-6 spurt that helped them regain the lead at 65-63 with 3:08 remaining.

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South Carolina State 43, Howard 13

S.C. State QB Malcolm Long has lead the Bulldogs to 6-0 MEAC record, 8-1 overall mark.

South Carolina State Remains Unbeaten In MEAC

In a tale of two programs going into different directions, the Bulldogs of South Carolina State clinched their second consecutive MEAC title with a 43-13 win over Howard at Greene Stadium before a crowd of 5,108. “ We wanted to take away the run and put them in passing situations “ said Howard coach Carey Bailey. State started the scoring with a 44 yard field goal by sophmore Blake Erickson. That was followed up with a 28 yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Malcolm Long to wide receiver Terrance Smith with 3:20 remaining in the first quarter.

“ They gave us some different looks from what we had seen on film State quarterback Malcolm Long said. “ We then decided to get the ball to Chris Massey,” said Long who then scored on a 14 -yard pass with 10:42 remaining in the second quarter. The Bison put six points on the board with field goals of 37 and 35 yards from senior Dennis Wiehberg. The second feld goal came with no time remaining in the first half. That field goal allowed Howard to cut State’s lead to 22-6 at the half.

Bulldogs take another step toward MEAC title, pick up 8th win of year

WASHINGTON – Even when things went wrong, they turned out just fine for South Carolina State on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Howard University. On the game’s first play from scrimmage the Bulldogs fumbled the ball but S.C. State recovered and then went on an 11-play drive that ended with a 44-yard field goal by Blake Erickson for a 3-0 lead. When Howard got the ball Bison quarterback Floyd Haigler, from Orangeburg, appeared to have a receiver open inside the S.C. State 20 on second and 10 from the Bulldog 32. But Haigler, who said he was trying to throw the ball away, was picked off by strong safety Markee Hamlin in the end zone.

The Bulldogs then went 80 yards for a score, as Terrance Smith caught a 28-yard TD pass from Malcolm Long and the PAT made it 10-0. The high-powered S.C. State offense added a 14-yard TD pass from Long to Chris Massey early in the second quarter and breezed to a 43-13 MEAC win before 5,081 fans on a clear, cool afternoon. The Bulldogs (8-1, 6-0) won their 17th straight league contest and inched closer to the regular-season MEAC title. The Bulldogs entered the game ranked No. 10 in the Sports Network FCS poll and No. 1 in the SBN Black College Football poll.

SC State Continues Its MEAC March

Will Ford rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown to lead South Carolina State to a 43-13 win at Howard. The Bulldogs' Tre Young had seven receptions, giving him 116 for his career, one shy of the school record. With the win, the Bulldogs are 8-1 overall, 6-0 in the league, S.C. State will host Morgan State Saturday with a win giving the program its second straight MEAC championship.

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Howard Bison 14, Georgetown Hoyas 11

Howard Ends Its Skid vs. Hoyas

As the seconds ticked off the clock on Howard's 14-11 victory over Georgetown at Multi-Sport Field on Saturday afternoon, Bison players Keith Pough and Darrin Christy grabbed a cooler of Gatorade, sneaked up behind Coach Carey Bailey and, when the buzzer sounded, doused their coach. A Gatorade shower may seem a bit over the top for winning the D.C. Cup, but not for Howard, which finally won a game, snapping its nine-game losing streak that dated from last season.

"Oh, man, we needed this win," Howard defensive end Will Croner said. "Just for the team morale, we needed it. After last year's loss [to Georgetown], we had a chip on our shoulder." Between Brandon Sherman catching a 35-yard touchdown pass from Floyd Haigler and Kenneth Austin-Bruce scoring on a five-yard run, Howard (1-2) did just enough to win. "Georgetown did a [heck] of a job, but I thought we had opportunities to score at least three more times that we didn't take advantage of," Bailey said.

Howard University Showtime Marching Band

Georgetown Hoyas Football: HoyaSaxa.com

Howard 14, Georgetown 11
When the story of the 2009 season is written, a lasting memory will come down Saturday's 14-11 loss to Howard. Not to falling victim to onside kicks, not to three interceptions, and not even to three intentional grounding calls. No, just two yards. Two yards may have separated Georgetown from its first win in 2009, and could be the closest they come to a win for a long time to come.

A restless Homecoming crowd and a steady rain proved to be less than ideal conditions before a full house on the Georgetown side of the spartan Multi-Sport Field and a surprising lack of turnout from the visitors across town. But to its credit, Georgetown started off strong, as freshman QB Isaiah Kempf completed four straight passes in a 12 play, 59 yard drive that ended with a Jose-Pablo Buerba field goal and an 3-0 lead. The weather conditions foretold a close game, but each team had their chances early.

Howard moved into Georgetown territory in its second possession, driving to the GU 27 and missing on a 44 yard field goal. The Hoyas offense reverted to its old habits, gaining five yards in its next two series and setting up the winless Bison at its 44. Aided by 27 yards rushing from Howard RB Charles Brice and 30 yards in Georgetown defensive penalties, the Bison moved 50 yards in five plays for its first touchdown, 7-3. With the Hoyas rattled, Howard picked up an onside kick moments later and drove 60 yards in seven plays, with a 35 yards pass to open the score to 14-3. Whether as a show of dissatisfaction, a retreat to drier climates, or both, a noticeable number of Georgetown students summarily packed up and left the Multi-Sport Field thereafter, leaving a crowd of 800 or so by the second quarter.

One student was asked if he was staying around. "What for?" he responded.

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Attendance: 2,630 at Harbin Field-Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

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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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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Pough approaching Morgan State with ‘the fierce urgency of now’

Video Highlights: Howard Bison at SCSU Bulldogs



From the moment head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough arrived at South Carolina State seven years ago, reaching the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs was his primary goal. With two games left for the Bulldogs (8-2, 6-0) to earn a win to clinch the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and first automatic playoff berth since 1982, Pough is approaching Saturday’s game at Morgan State (6-4, 4-2) with “rce urgency of now.”

“We’d like to get it over with,” Pough said at Monday’s press conference. “The very last thing we need to be is going to Greensboro (North Carolina) the last week of the season (Nov. 22 against North Carolina A&T) trying to eek out a win to try to win the conference. We need to clean this thing up right now and we’re all about this week. I’m not thinking about down the road. We want to win this weekend. We want to keep our (six-game winning) streak going. So I think we’ve got to do all we can to get this thing to come together now.”

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Attendance: Howard at SCSU - 11,239 (51%) at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, Orangeburg, S.C. (Capacity: 22,000).

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Howard wins first Miami Classic 49-21 over Savannah St.

The first annual Miami Classic football game between Howard University and Savannah State at Traz Powell Stadium in North Miami was a memorable one for several former South Florida prep players. The Miami Classic -- which essentially replaces the defunct Orange Blossom Classic and moves to FIU Stadium next year -- featured 15 former local high school standouts. The Bison's roster had 12 former Miami-Dade and Broward prep players. The Tigers had three local players.

And four Bison players with local ties were instrumental in Howard's 49-21 rout of Savannah State. Howard freshman receiver Brandon Drayton, a Northwestern standout in the Bulls' run to the Class 6A state title last year, helped set up the Bison's second score of the game. With his team ahead 6-0, Drayton returned a punt 36 yards to the Tigers 30. After Drayton was tackled, the Tigers (2-3) incurred a late hit penalty that placed the ball at the Savannah State 15.

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Attendance: 3,926 (52.3%) at Traz Powell Stadium, Miami, FL (Capacity: 7,500).

GU Hoyas Storm Back to Beat HU Bison in Season Opener

Boxscore (PDF)

GU Takes Inaugural D.C. Cup

On a summery Sunday afternoon on the campus of Howard University, Georgetown’s third season under Head Coach Kevin Kelly began with a refreshing air of optimism as clean and clear as the all-white road uniforms the Hoyas were sporting. A turnover on the opening kickoff gave the Bison excellent field position to start, but on a fourth and two with 13:15 remaining in the first quarter, the defensive line collapsed around the quarterback, and junior defensive back Dennis Jackson broke up a short slant pass.

In a play, the 2008 Hoyas showed why a new season provides fresh hope. Behind a dangerous two-quarterback attack and a revitalized defensive line, Georgetown seized the inaugural D.C. Cup 12-7 with a resilient comeback performance at Greene Stadium. The game was postponed on Saturday due to Tropical Storm Hanna. “They kept scratching and clawing,” Kelly said of his team. “This game could have gone either way. Howard played an excellent football game as well; we just made a couple of plays down the line to win the game.”

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Attendance: 6,085 (61%) @ William H. Greene Stadium, Washington, D.C. (Capacity: 10,000)

Howard - Georgetown: Start of Something Big?

Howard senior LB Endor Cooper










CLICK HERE to view the 2008 Howard football media guide

Howard vs. Georgetown - Live Webcast
SUNDAY- September 7, 2008 at 1:00pm ET
View the webcast on this page LINK at 12:50pm ET.
CLICK HERE - WEBCAST LINK: http://hbcuproperties.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=147

Excerpt:

Howard Athletic Director Dwight Datcher is thinking big. While some area football fans might be satisfied that Georgetown and Howard are finally playing each other, Datcher wants the a four-game series between the schools that begins Saturday to be merely the beginning. Whether or not this game develops into a fiercely contested rivalry played at bigger venues remains to be seen. For now, Saturday's matchup at Greene Stadium brings together the only two division I-AA teams in the District and marks the first intra-city game between two division I teams since Georgetown played George Washington on Nov. 25, 1950 at Griffith Stadium.

Though just a little more than three miles separate the schools and each have fielded a football squad for more than a century, this will be the first time they will meet on the field. According to Datcher, who was associate director of athletics at Georgetown before coming to Howard in January 2006, conversations about these two schools playing each other in football have been going on at least 10 years. Now after more than a decade of discussion, the date is finally set.

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Howard U: Brothers in Arms

His Dream Deferred but Not His Duty, McElrathbey Carries On

Ray Ray McElrathbey allows a moment to consider the consequences of growth. He can smile about how three years ago teenage exuberance filled his mind with football fancy. Now he sits gazing at the suburban sprawl from a friend's eighth-floor apartment in Hyattsville as a college graduate, a father, a former Clemson reserve running back, a Howard graduate student and a survivor. He's a changed man.

It's crazy, because I'm in D.C.," McElrathbey said, staring into the late-afternoon haze. "The first time I got in a plane to go to D.C., it wasn't that bad. The second time when I came back, and I knew this was the place I was going to stay for at least the next two years, it was real strange. I wouldn't put myself in D.C. No way would I put myself in D.C. That's just what life is. It's unpredictable."

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Cooper Is Firmly at the Controls for Howard Bison

Video Games Help LB Develop Plan of Attack

Before he would entrust his defense to Endor Cooper, Howard coordinator Andre Creamer wanted to make certain the senior middle linebacker fully understood all of its nuances. The two men spent countless hours going over the playbook, watching film together and discussing defensive strategies. But it wasn't until they sat down in front of a television and played football video games that Creamer became convinced that Cooper grasped every aspect.

By manipulating the outcome of the game, Creamer was able to throw every scenario he could think of at Cooper. Trailing 21-17 with four minutes to go: What's the plan? The opponent just went to a hurry-up offense: How do you react? Each time, Creamer allowed Cooper to work through the situation, to make mistakes and to learn from them.

Howard University Bison 2008 Team Photo.

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Howard University 'Show-Time' Marching Band

Bison Football Expectations Sky High

The Bison football team is ready to exceed their high standards

A new turf, new players and a new attitude are expected to propel the Bison to new heights this season. The Howard Bison football team held its annual media day on Saturday in Greene Stadium. The players and coaches both have lofty expectations for their upcoming season. "I expect us to win the MEAC and to go to the playoffs," said junior defensive lineman James Robinson. The team's high goals are a result of new players, spring training and summer workout sessions.

"This is the first full summer we've had with our strength and conditioning coach," said junior offensive lineman Sean Woolforld. "This year a lot of the guys stayed at Howard to workout during the summer." On the offensive side the Bison want to run the ball effectively to utilize the plethora of running backs that they have. Also effective running will open up the passing game for quarterback Floyd Haigler.

According to offensive coordinator Alvin Harper there are five running backs that can be inserted to the game at any time without a drop off in talent and ability. Harper also said that the offense has about seven players that are a threat to score every time they touch they ball, but the success of the offense ultimately depends on the offensive line.

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Howard Bison Oliver blazes to 110 hurdles crown

David Oliver ran the fastest time in every round on the way to his first U.S. outdoor championship

When he found her on his victory lap, the former Denver East athlete and newly crowned Olympic trials champion gripped his mother in a long, tight hug. "I'm just glad to be able to share this moment with her," said Oliver, who blazed to the finish line Sunday in 12.95 seconds to win the 110-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. "She's my inspiration. Without her guidance, especially when I was younger, I wouldn't be able to do the things I'm doing now."

David Oliver's 12.95 wind-aided Olympic Trials Final race in the 110 meter hurdles.


Oliver's mother, Brenda Chambers, was an All-American at Colorado in 1981 in the 400 hurdles. She competed in the 1980 Olympic trials at the same stadium as Oliver but never had a chance to compete in those Olympics because of an American boycott. Her son only recently emerged as a track star. He played football and ran track at Howard University but wasn't a standout until after college. He was the lowest seed in the 110 hurdles in the 2004 Olympic trials but now has the second-fastest time in the world.

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For Howard's Oliver, Great Leaps Forward

David Oliver has posted three of the world's top five times in the 110-meter hurdles this season, including 12.95 seconds in May.

EUGENE, Ore. -- David Oliver couldn't believe the turn his life had taken. He had graduated from Howard University with a bachelor's degree in marketing for this? He found himself bunking in an Orlando house with three other track athletes, one of whom was sleeping in the living room. They were so broke, they never turned on the air conditioning or used the dishwasher.

Oliver recalls buying five-pound bags of rice at Wal-Mart and pancake mix that required only water, and eating cereal all day long. He drove a rickety 1992 Chevy that sometimes got him to practice without stalling, but usually didn't. And then, once he arrived for his daily training under legendary, old-school coach Brooks Johnson, things got really tough. During Oliver's first practice under Johnson in 2004, the coach demanded nine 300-yard sprints, broken up into three sets.

After each set, Oliver stepped to the side of the track and vomited.



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Ex-Clemson RB McElrathbey to play for Howard

Southern Pigskin writer B.J. Bennett reports that former Tiger running back Ray Ray McElrathbey will play for Howard University. McElrathbey became famous in 2006 after it was discovered he took custody of his younger brother, Fahmarr, while is mother struggled with a drug addiction and his father with a gambling problem. The younger McElrathbey will accompany Ray Ray to Washington, D.C.

It wasn't a hard decision to pick Howard because I graduate from Clemson with a degree in Sociology on August 9th and Howard has a tremendous Master's Degree program in communications," McElrathbey told Bennett in the Southern Pigskin.com exclusive interview. "Howard is also in a huge market in Washington D.C. It was a no brainer."

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Ray Ray was a reserve running back for the Clemson Tiger, but will become the featured back in Coach Carey Bailey's spread offense. The 5-11/207 back runs a 4.36 40 yard dash with 38 inch vertical. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Coming out of Atlanta's Mays High School, the three sport star was a Rivals.com 3 star rated running back.

Ray Ray will join Howard incoming Division IA transfers Xavier Rucker (Nebraska) and Oscar Gonzales (Auburn) on Bailey's second Bison team. The Bison season opener against Georgetown just became worth the price of admissions and Metro subway fare to Georgia Avenue.

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Howard U. grad coaches Mount St. Mary's into the NCAA tournament

Photo: Mount St. Mary's head basketball Coach Milan Brown.

Jim Phelan must be smiling. Mount St. Mary's is back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since the coaching great handed the program over to his assistant, Milan Brown, five years ago.

Jean Cajou and Kelly Beidler each scored 15 points and the Mountaineers (18-14) beat Sacred Heart, 68-55, last night in the Northeast Conference championship game in Fairfield, Conn.

"In the back of my mind, I knew that bringing a championship home would definitely be great for me," said Brown, a former Howard University point guard who was an assistant to Phelan the last time the Mount went to the NCAA tournament in 1999. "But it's going to put a smirk on his face too, even though I know he was so nervous that he didn't watch the game."