NSU coach Adrian fires offensive coordinator

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State offensive coordinator Joe Blackwell won't be back with the Spartans next season. Norfolk State head coach Pete Adrian said Wednesday that he chose not to retain Blackwell and told the team during a meeting earlier in the week. Norfolk State's assistant coaches are on year-to-year contracts.

"I'm not going to go into it," Adrian said. "It's something I felt like I had to do. Stuff goes on behind the scenes. Let's put it like this, there's more that goes into coaching college than Xs and Os."

Blackwell has changed his phone number since providing it to The Pilot last season and could not be reached for comment. Adrian said he expects to retain the rest of his staff.

Blackwell's offense averaged ...

READ MORE

Invoking Memories of Rattler Past

Tallahassee, Florida -- I invoke the memories of Rattler past and for me there are many. For as long as I can remember I have officially been a FAMU Rattler. No, I didn’t grow up attending FAMU DRS, I never had an immediate family member work on The Hill, nor did I play sports at FAMU, though I once considered it.

Almost from the time I was born I attended Ratter football games and later in life practically every other FAMU sporting event including tennis and womens volleyball. I will not say my memory is perfectly correct, so you need not correct me if I get something wrong. The most important thing is to relate these past memories to the present.

Yes, I followed Coach Jake Gaither from the latter days of Bob Hayes to Coach Gaither’s latter days as a retired coach and athletic director. I can still visualize John Eason, Major Hazleton, Kent Schoolfield, Jumping Joe Williams (one of my favorites), Hubert Ginn, Glenn Edwards, Henry Lawrence, Earl Goodrum, James Owens, and this list goes on. I remember seeing then quarterback ...

READ MORE

Bethune-Cookman's playoff selection snub 'unbelievable'

Coach Brian Jenkins

Daytona Beach, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman football coach Brian Jenkins watched the FCS playoff selection show Sunday morning, and his worst fear was realized.

The Wildcats were passed over for the 20-team field. "I just think it's unbelievable, really," Jenkins said. "You've got to wonder what the selection committee is evaluating things on and what they're looking at." The Wildcats (8-3 overall, 6-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) defeated Florida A&M 26-16 in Orlando on Saturday to finish the season with six straight victories.

The unfairness of it is really unbelievable, and it's starting to stand out more and more every year," Jenkins said.

ESPNU's Jay Walker, an analyst on the selection show, agreed. The former quarterback at Howard, a MEAC team, said during the broadcast that B-CU deserved one of the 10 at-large spots over James Madison or Eastern Kentucky, two 7-4 teams that will meet each other in the first round of the playoffs next Saturday.

READ MORE

Bethune-Cookman snubbed in NCAA Division I-AA playoffs

The Bethune-Cookman football team was left out of the Football Championship Series (NCAA Division I-AA) playoffs Sunday when pairings were announced.

BCU head coach Brian Jenkins was quite confident Saturday that his team would be selected to the playoffs as an at-large participant, but he also knew there was the possibilty BCU might be left out. After the Wildcats defeated Florida A&M 26-16 in the Florida Classic in Orlando, Jenkins provided his own foresight on the selection process.

“I’m hopeful that people take notice and do the right thing and put us in the playoffs,” Jenkins. “Not only should we get one (an invite), we belong. You know, I’m gonna say this, If we get overlooked and they take another team with a lesser record … that would be catastrophic, to me, in this division of college football. Something is wrong.”

Jenkins, obviously in no mood to have much conversation about the snub, said Sunday, through the BCU sports information department, "It's really unbelievable."

READ MORE

BCU Wildcats, FAMU Rattlers rolling with Wilson, Fleming at QB

Florida A&M (7-3, 5-2 MEAC) vs. Bethune-Cookman (7-3, 5-2)

WHAT: Florida Classic

WHERE: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando

WHEN: 2:30 p.m. Saturday

TICKETS: Available seats priced $31.75 to $59.25 can be purchased at Amway Center box office, call 407-839-3900 or go to tickemaster.com

TV: ESPN Classic

RADIO: WELE (1380 AM)

OTHER KEY EVENTS: Friday, Battle of the Bands, Amway Center, Orlando, 7 p.m.; Official Classic Step Show, Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, Orlando, 7:30 p.m. Saturday: Florida Classic FanFare, Citrus Bowl Parking Lot C, 9 a.m.

LAST YEAR: FAMU won 38-27. Attendance: 60,712

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Saturday's Florida Classic may not have the luster of last year's game, but the winner could be rewarded with an at-large playoff bid. And a month ago, that did not seem possible.

This season, Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman were expected to build on the success of sharing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title with South Carolina State last year. But the Rattlers began the season 3-3 and the Wildcats started 2-3, with both teams losing two of their first three MEAC contests.

Since then, FAMU (7-3, 5-2 MEAC) has won four straight, and the catalyst for its success was installing freshman Damien Fleming at quarterback in the fifth game.

Improved play behind center has also contributed to B-CU's surge. Since North Carolina A&T stifled the Wildcats' vaunted spread offense in a 22-3 upset on Oct. 8, B-CU (7-3, 5-2) has won five in a row, averaging 516.8 yards during the streak.


READ MORE

Analysis: Norfolk State has waited ... and waited for this

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Twenty-seven years ago, an NCAA championship football bracket included Norfolk State for the first and only time. Those 1984 Spartans, coach Willard Bailey's first team, went 10-1 in their CIAA championship season. They departed the Division II tournament field in the first round, however, on a 10-point loss to Towson State.

But they would be back soon; of course they would. Isn't that how players and coaches and teams and programs are trained to think, to feel, to believe? As six head coaches came to know - seven if you include a guy who once took the job and almost immediately gave it back - "soon" didn't happen.



But maybe that makes Norfolk State's pending postseason return, secured by a 47-14 triumph Saturday at Morgan State that locked down the MEAC title, the purest of nectars to a long-famished fan base. Because it was for this renown that the Spartans (9-2, 7-1) made their then-controversial jump from Division II to the I-AA MEAC in 1997.

And it's for this turn in the national spotlight in two weeks - as 1 of 20 teams in what's now known as the Football Championship Subdivision tournament - that athletic director Marty Miller, among many, has waited.     And waited.

READ MORE

Florida A&M turns focus to Florida Classic

DURHAM, North Carolina — Now that the picture is clear as to whom is the MEAC champion, coach Joe Taylor wasted little time explaining the significance of Saturday's game that has turned into a little bit more than a rivalry between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman.

Norfolk State won the league title, leaving the Rattlers to fight for the No.2 spot, which might actually mean something as far as an at-large bid to the NCAA playoffs. If nothing else, they will be playing for state bragging rights in the nationally-televised game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

"Now this game down there has significant value to it," said Taylor following the Rattlers' 31-10 victory Saturday over North Carolina Central. "We will get back and we will prepare. It's going to be electric for the classic; it always is but (the stakes) are going to add some things to it."

READ MORE



FAMU Marching 100 leading Tallahassee, Florida Veterans Day Parade, 11/11/2011.

Norfolk State earns first MEAC championship after 47-14 win at Morgan State

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  It took Norfolk State 14 years to put itself in a position to win a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship. It took the Spartans five minutes to clinch it. Norfolk State defeated Morgan State 47-14 Saturday thanks to a 17-point scoring flurry in the first five minutes of the second half.

The win clinches the school's first MEAC championship and earns the Spartans an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. It is the school's first FCS playoff appearance. "I feel great for them," Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian said. "They'll go down in history for the first MEAC title, and that's a great thing."

Photo Gallery: View all 8 photos



Norfolk State led 20-14 at halftime. It looked as though Norfolk State would run away with the game early on, but the Spartans had two drives stall out in the red zone in the first half. Norfolk State (9-2, 7-1 MEAC) struck quickly after the break, though.

Running back Randy Maynes scored on the first play from scrimmage in the quarter, a 56-yard run off right tackle that Maynes cut back for a touchdown. A defensive stop, a 28-yard field goal from kicker Ryan Estep and a Morgan State (5-5, 4-3) fumble on the ensuing kickoff quickly followed.



READ MORE



NSU cinches MEAC championship with 47-14 victory

BALTIMORE, MD - Randy Maynes took a hand-off on the first play of the second half and handed back history. With Norfolk State leading by six and only one half of football standing between it and the playoffs, Maynes took the first play of the second half and rushed 56 yards up the middle of the Morgan State defense, erasing more than a quarter-century of football failures.

The touchdown, an inside run that Maynes bounced off-tackle, set off an avalanche of points for the Spartans in a 47-14 win over Morgan State (5-5, 4-3) and began a quick transition from close contest to championship celebration.  Maynes' run made the score 27-14 and the Spartans (9-2, 7-1) tacked on 10 more points over the next five minutes, making the fourth quarter a victory march.

READ MORE

Bethune-Cookman's Wildcats win 5th in row

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- David Blackwell didn't know he would be Bethune-Cookman's starting quarterback Saturday until the very last minute.

He said he was informed of the decision "coming out of the bathroom (after warmups) when I was putting the equipment on." Minutes later, he ran the first snap from scrimmage 80 yards for a touchdown and the rout was on. By the time, the final buzzer sounded, B-CU had amassed 625 yards of offense in thrashing Savannah State 59-3 before 4,964 fans at Municipal Stadium.

The Wildcats (7-3 overall, 5-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) won their fifth in a row in their final home game of the season. They will meet Florida A&M in the annual Florida Classic next Saturday in Orlando in their final regular-season game. Savannah State fell to 1-8, 1-6.

Blackwell ran for three touchdowns on runs of 80, 59 and 37 yards and added two touchdown passes of 46 yards to Isidore Jackson and 16 yards to Johnathan Moment. In less than three quarters of play, Blackwell gained 206 yards rushing on just six carries and completed 8-of-10 passes for 147 yards.

Photo Gallery: BCU vs. SSU

READ MORE

NCCU falls to Florida A&M in final home game, senior day

Durham, North Carolina -- North Carolina Central University’s second half efforts were not enough to combat the first half deficit against Florida A&M University who won 31-10 on Senior Day at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

FAMU amassed 261 total offensive yards in the first half, outscoring the Eagles 28-0 before intermission, including three touchdowns in the second quarter. Junior running back Lavante Page gave FAMU an early lead on the opening drive scoring on a two-yard touchdown run, giving the Rattlers a 7-0 lead at 7:55 of the first quarter.



The Eagles’ opening drive was a four-and-out on three plays for a gain of only two yards ending with a punt by redshirt sophomore punter Matthew Cornelius. That trend continued for the Eagles as they only had five first downs in the first half compared to 15 by FAMU.

When the Eagles were not giving the Rattlers the ball off of punts, NCCU turned the ball over twice, fumbling and then on an interception, both times resulting in touchdown drives for FAMU.

Photo Gallery   

READ MORE

Analyzing Florida A&M at North Carolina Central

Time: Today at 2 p.m.
Records: N.C. Central (2-7 overall, 1-5 MEAC); Florida A&M (6-3 overall, 4-2 MEAC)
Site: O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, Durham, N.C.
Series: FAMU leads 4-1-1.
Forecast: Mostly sunny, temperatures in the low-to-mid-60s.
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
Radio: WEED 1390 AM (Rocky Mount, N.C.); WARR 1520 AM (Warrenton, N.C.); “GameCentral” at NCCUEaglePride.com. Starts at 12:30 p.m. (Chris Hooks, play-by-play; Joe Simmons, color analyst; Danielle Johnson-Webb, sideline)
Video: NCCUEaglePride.com features “GameCentral” by Stretch Internet ($8.95 per game). Starts at 1:45 p.m. Link: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/nccu.portal#

WHEN FLORIDA A&M HAS THE BALL

The Rattlers come into today's game off another exciting come-from-behind win last week against North Carolina A&T. Quarterback Damien Fleming tossed two more touchdown passes and now has seven in the seven games he's played — with only two interceptions. Completing 60 percent of his passes and a 7-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio puts Fleming third in the MEAC in pass efficiency.

The running back trio of LaVante Page, Al-Terek McBurse and Eddie Rocker could see plenty of carries today against a defense that ranks ninth in the MEAC by allowing just over 180 yards per game on the ground.



N.C. Central linebacker Brandon Outlaw leads a defense that has struggled for most of the year, but is coming off its best performance in a 14-7 win over Delaware State. Outlaw has 86 tackles, despite only four in the Eagles' first MEAC win of the season last week.

Cornerback Malik Cromartie was the hero for NCCU last week, blocking a first-quarter field goal to keep the game tied and intercepting a pair of passes. His second pick came with Delaware State driving late in the game to seal the win. Fleming will also need to keep an eye on junior defensive back Marc Lewis, who leads NCCU with seven pass breakups.

READ MORE

One more win, NSU cinches best season in its history

Norfolk, Virginia -- The Norfolk State football team is not happy with history.

The Spartans clinched a share of their first MEAC championship last weekend, making history in the process, but you'd never have known it. No. 22 Norfolk State didn't rush the field or dump a bucket of Gatorade on head coach Pete Adrian. Norfolk State huddled near its sideline, walked off the field and hopped on a bus.

"I don't know what I expected, but it's the attitude that I hoped they'd have," Adrian said. "We felt like we were the better team and we went in and we did what we were supposed to do."

It's the same mindset the Spartans are taking into today's game at Morgan State. With a win, Norfolk State can polish off its best Division I season in school history, its first playoff bid and win the conference championship outright.

READ MORE

N.C. Central looks for second MEAC win

Durham, North Carolina -- Last weekend's first victory in the MEAC wasn't one that North Carolina Central coach Henry Frazier wanted his team to spend too much time celebrating. But it was a huge sense of relief. At the mention during his weekly conference call that it might have been like a monkey off his back, Frazier laughed.

"I wouldn't say it was a monkey," he said. "I say it was a big, old gorilla. We had been close a few times and just hadn't been able to pull it out."

In fact, the Eagles (2-7, 1-5) have held fourth-quarter leads in four of their previous six games before hanging on to beat Delaware State last weekend in Dover, Del.



One reason that Frazier didn't want to spend too much time savoring the win is because his team has the challenge of trying to beat Florida A&M in its last home game today at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham,N.C.

READ MORE

Norfolk State Spartans QB followed a long, wild path to success

Norfolk, Virginia -- As a high school junior in Florida, Chris Walley was good enough that coaches from some of the country's top college programs dropped in to watch him play. Two years later, the head coach at an Illinois junior college told him he'd never start a game. And now? Walley is one win from leading Norfolk State to its first FCS playoff game.

The senior's journey to becoming the second-most-accurate passer in the FCS has been a series of ups and downs on the way to becoming a level-headed leader. One, he says, wouldn't have been possible without the other. "He has not taken the easy road to anything," said his father, Wes Walley. "I talked to his coach for the first time (last weekend), and I told him he's more of a man at his age than I was. I was already his father."

Walley has had a spectacular season. His completion percentage of 70.3 is second in the country, and he leads the MEAC in passing yardage (212.2 yards per game), touchdowns (15) and interception rate (1.4 percent).



READ MORE

Norfolk State again one win away from first FCS playoff bid

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA -- Norfolk State is one victory shy of securing its first Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearance. Oh, so close. But not nearly as close as four years ago. The 2007 Spartans faced Delaware State in a winner-take-all game for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's automatic postseason bid. Entering the fourth quarter, they led 21-3.

They lost 28-21 in overtime. "All part of the growing pains you have to go through," seventh-year coach Pete Adrian said Tuesday. "I try to keep that in the back of my mind," linebacker Hasan Craig said. "That really hurt. It was like having your heart taken out."

Craig, a fifth-year senior, is the only member of this year's squad who played in that contest. Suffice to say, he'll share that experience with teammates as Norfolk State prepares for Saturday's game at Morgan State (5-4, 4-2).



READ MORE

FAMU Still In Contention for Playoff Birth

Tallahassee, Florida -- FAMU's win over North Carolina A&T eliminated the Aggies from playoff contention. The Rattlers are one of three teams left vying to be MEAC Champions.

"We're trying to get to these playoffs," says senior wide receiver Kevin Elliott. "If we win out there's a good possibility we will get to the playoffs."

However, if Norfolk State wins its season finale, the Spartans will be crowned champs. The question at hand for the Rattlers then becomes, should two teams from the MEAC be invited to the playoffs.

"Looking around the conferences this year, a lot of the stronger conferences have teams with more loses that normally have stronger records,' adds junior defensive tackle Padric Scott. "I think the competition level right now is going to be up for grabs.


READ MORE

NSU win pays dividends in Top 25 poll, player honors

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Two days after earning a share of the MEAC championship, the Norfolk State football team reaped the rewards. The Spartans jumped to No. 22 in The Sports Network/Fathead.com Top 25 poll on Monday, the highest ranking in the history of the program, while quarterback Chris Walley shared its national Offensive Player of the Week award.

Walley recorded a career-high five touchdowns - three in the air, two on the ground - in Norfolk State's 45-3 win over Savannah State, which clinched a share of the MEAC title, but not a playoff spot. He completed 20 of 25 passes for 271 yards and ran for 72 yards.

"I've always said that the quarterback gets too much credit when it goes well and too much blame when it doesn't," Walley said. Leading the MEAC with an average of 212.2 yards a game, he moved to fourth on NSU's all-time career passing yardage list. He has thrown 15 touchdowns against four interceptions.



READ MORE

CIAA, SIAC championship games set

Every year, there will be decisions and losses that will haunt head coaches throughout the winter. The game most likely to be on the mind for Jackson State head coach Rick Comegy is Saturday’s 26-23 loss at home to Grambling.

It will be a memorable game because the special teams for JSU (7-2, 5-2) were not special at all. Jackson State missed a field goal and its porous kick coverage set GSU (5-4, 4-3) up with short fields to work with all day. Then there was a fumbled punt by JSU freshman Antonio Sutton that helped put Grambling ahead for good.

“You are going to get those types of mistakes,” Comegy said. “It happens. We have to get better at executing plays late in the game.”

Indeed. A pass play gave Jackson State a first down on the Grambling 14 with just 14 seconds remaining and JSU trailing 26-23. With a timeout remaining Jackson State seemingly had enough time to run a play or two aiming for the end zone and the go-ahead touchdown, or at the very least set up an attempt at a field goal to send the game into overtime. JSU, however, mismanaged its opportunity and left the game and the timeout on the field.



READ MORE

NCCU Eagles Send Delaware State To Seventh Straight Loss

Dover, Delaware - North Carolina Central recorded seven sacks and two interceptions en route to a 14-7 win over Delaware State at Alumni Stadium this afternoon. The Eagles snapped a six-game losing streak to notch their first MEAC win of the season (1-5). NCCU improved to 2-7 overall.

The Hornets dropped their seventh in a row to fall to 2-7 and 0-6. The loss overshadowed a career day by Delaware State wide receiver Travis Tarpley, who tied a school record with 11 catches for a career-high 162 yards.

North Carolina Central's Andre Clark scored each of his team's touchdowns, including the game-winner in the third quarter.

Delaware State advanced to the NC Central 23 on the final possession of the game, but Hornet quarterback Nick Elko was sacked by Stephen Young on the last play of the game. Young had 2.5 sacks among his seven tackles in the contest.

READ MORE



DSU's offensive struggles continue

DOVER, DE — The losing isn’t what bothers Delaware State’s first-year head coach Kermit Blount. He has consistently said that he expected to take his lumps this year as his Hornets adjusted to completely new systems on offense and defense.

But when his team begins to lose games due to a lack of focus, that’s what really gets under Blount’s skin. That’s what happened when Delaware State failed to execute during a last-ditch effort for a touchdown as North Carolina Central pulled out a 14-7 victory over the Hornets in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Alumni Stadium on Saturday.

With DSU driving at the Eagles’ 23-yard line and time quickly running out, quarterback Nick Elko was sacked by Brandon Outlaw, but rather than get up and spike the football, he tried to get another play off.

It turned out to be to no avail as time expired while the Hornets were trying to get organized at the line of scrimmage, sending NCC into celebration before a gathering of 1,795 spectators, and leaving DSU’s players with an empty feeling of “What if?”

READ MORE

Howard defeats Hampton 10-7, its first win since 1995 in battle of the 'Real HU'

HAMPTON, Virginia — Gary Harrell insisted his Howard Bison don't get caught up in any "Real HU" rivalry with Hampton. The sight of his players bathing Harrell in three Gatorade showers as their coach gestured triumphantly toward Howard fans after his team's 10-7 victory Saturday at Armstrong Stadium suggested otherwise.

Of course, Hampton's supporters probably aren't familiar with a typical Howard celebration, since it's been so long since they've witnessed one. The Pirates came in having won 14 straight in the series, with Howard's last victory coming in 1995. But on this chilly, blustery afternoon, that streak died — along with Hampton's dreams of claiming a share of the MEAC title.

At least that was the opinion of Hampton coach Donovan Rose, who didn't need to wait for the results of games involving conference leaders Norfolk State and Morgan State to offer what amounted to a concession speech.

"That's over now," a solemn Rose said of the Pirates' title chances. "All we can do now, hopefully, is having a winning season."

Despite subpar offense all afternoon, the Pirates (5-4, 3-3 MEAC) positioned themselves to steal this one late in the third quarter when, trailing by three, they had first-and-goal at the Howard 2-yard line.

READ MORE



Pirates lose the battle of the "Real HU"

HAMPTON, Virginia - For the first time since 1995, Howard claimed the Battle of the Real HU in a series that had become a one-sided battle for the past 15 years. After the dust had cleared, Howard left Armstrong Stadium on Saturday with a 10-7 win over Hampton.

Hampton (5-4, 4-3 MEAC) seemed like it was out of sync the entire first half, as the Pirates were unable to get on the scoreboard. As for Howard (5-5, 4-3 MEAC), the Bison were able to get in the red zone, but couldn’t convert as the Pirates defense forced a turnover and prevented the Bison from scoring. Hampton’s defense held the Bison out of end zone on two different occasions and forced Howard to attempt a field goal on both. The Pirates defense also forced a fumble in the end zone late in the game, which became the only score of the day for Hampton.

READ MORE

B-CU takes down Morgan State for homecoming win

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Jackie Wilson ran for three touchdowns and passed for 186 yards as Bethune-Cookman treated a near-capacity crowd of 9,649 to a 49-23 homecoming victory over Morgan State today at Municipal Stadium.

Jonathan Moment added two touchdown runs, including a 28-yard scamper that gave the Wildcats a 14-10 halftime lead. The Wildcats turned the game into a rout with three third-quarter touchdowns, including Wilson's 45-yard run with 26 seconds left in the quarter that put B-CU up 35-10.

The Wildcats, 6-3, 4-2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, won their fourth consecutive game while knocking Morgan State (5-4, 4-2) out of first place in the MEAC standings. Isidore Jackson led the Wildcats in rushing with 93 yards and added a touchdown run. Moment added 78 yards rushing, while Wilson ran for 74 yards.

READ MORE

Wilson, Moment combine for 5 touchdowns for happy Bethune-Cookman homecoming

DAYTONA BEACH -- Quarterback Jackie Wilson was nearly beat out for the starting spot last week in practice. Fullback Johnathan Moment was told he'd have a greater role than usual Saturday.

The duo combined for five touchdowns as Bethune-Cookman rolled up 476 yards of offense, including 290 on the ground, to dispatch Morgan State 49-23 Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd of 9,649 at Municipal Stadium.

B-CU's fourth consecutive victory kept alive its slim hopes of claiming a piece of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title for the second year in a row.

Now the Wildcats (6-3, 4-2 MEAC) will become big Morgan State fans for a week. A victory by the Bears (5-4, 4-2) over Norfolk State next week would force a multiple-team tie for first place with two losses apiece.

Photo Gallery

READ MORE