UMES Lady Hawks sinks Morgan State from long range

Tiffany Reid leads all scorers with career-high 24 points.

BALTIMORE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Lady Hawks capitalized on an impressive shooting effort in route to a 95-80 win over Morgan State University (MSU) on Saturday afternoon in the Hill Field House. UMES (11-8, 4-2 MEAC) connected on 32-of-59 (54.2 percent) from the field and 13-of-21 (61.9 percent) from downtown in the game, while limiting the Bears to just three-of-18 (16.7 percent) from beyond the arc.

"I thought we shot the ball extremely well and it helped open up the entire floor for our team," said Head Coach Fred Batchelor. "Coming in we knew this was an important game and it was a total team effort in the win."

CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE AND GAME STATS BY CLICKING ON THE BLOG TITLE.

Road to Redemption Winds Slowly for MSU Bozeman

by beepbeep

We read this story a few days ago regarding Morgan State University head basketball coach Todd Bozeman. Most of you know his story, but its worth your time to read it again as there are several nuggets that a matured Bozeman passes on in this story.
Not only is Bozeman an amazing coach, but he is a person that has overcome a major mistake in his life that would have destroyed lesser men.

Most certainly would not consider leaving the United States to pursue the craft that they loved, which Bozeman did without hesitation. Bozeman is proving that good coaches can attract blue chip players at any institution when you place priority on developing the student-athlete into a first class person and player. We expect to see this trend grow as black coaches and players begin to see that the sky is the limit at HBCUs.

Coach Bozeman is an asset to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

CLICK ON THE BLOG TITLE TO READ THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE ON TODD BOZEMAN AND MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY BEARS.

Photo: The California Connection - Jerrell Green, left, Jamar Smith, center, and Marquise Kately migrated 3,000 miles to Morgan State to play for Coach Bozeman.

Back on the sidelines after decade in exile

Photo: Morgan State University Head Basketball Coach Todd Bozeman

Forty-one games into the second chapter of Bozeman's coaching career, it's difficult to gauge where he's headed and how swiftly he's moving. Will he lift Morgan State out of the basketball wilderness and land another high-profile job? Will he orchestrate another transcendent moment, as he did in guiding Cal past Duke in the 1993 NCAA Tournament? And will he avoid another headline-grabbing scandal?

The answers to those questions require time, but this much is certain: Bozeman returns to Northern California this week, to coach locally for the first time since his meteoric rise at Cal ended in shame and exile. His Morgan State Bears play Niagara on Friday night in the Cable Car Classic, after host Santa Clara meets Denver.

Continue reading by clicking article title above or address: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/23/SP4AU2P8C.DTL

Morgan State signs football coach to new contract

Photo: Morgan State University head football coach Donald Hill-Eley signed on to Bears until 2010 with options to 2012.

Morgan State University president Dr. Earl S. Richardson offered and Coach Donald Hill-Eley accepted a new contract covering a period of three years with two one year unilateral options for the university. Coach Hill-Eley has resurrected the Bears to respectability under his tenure of six seasons with a 30-37 record.

Prior to his hiring, Morgan State had 22 consecutive seasons of being the cupcake of the MEAC. They finished 2006 and 2007 with identical 5-6 records. However, the Bears proved to be a tough opponent for the upper echelon leaders of the conference and was one of the better teams that played consistent during the season.

At age 38, Coach Hill-Eley shows the potential to dominate the MEAC with his tough defense and dominating run offense. The Bears are clearly on the rise and with a few fair calls by MEAC officials, could have easily won two more games in '07.

Morgan State has also established a good recruiting pipeline to South Florida and Hill-Eley was able to obtain Football Bowl Championship star quality transfers in MEAC Offensive Player of the Year--running back Chad Simpson (Miami) from University of South Florida, corner back Darren McKahn from Connecticut and offensive tackle Robert Norris from Virginia Tech. Not only is Hill-Eley getting good FBC transfers, but he is getting high school kids on the recruiting radar of some major FBC programs.

We believe this is a great move for Morgan State and the MEAC. Coach Hill-Eley contract was due to expire on December 31, 2007. The monetary value of the contract has not been released, but the document was reported to have been signed on this past Wednesday. You can bet the mortgage money it is considerable less than the one year deal signed by Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden for $2.5 million.

White kicker shining at historically black Morgan State University

Photo: #35 James Meade, Kicker/Punter, 5-9/180, Junior, Douglass H.S., Upper Marlboro, MD

Devan James ran for 19 of his team-high 73 yards in overtime to help setup a 23-yard game-winning field goal by James Meade as the Bears held off Howard University 36-33 Saturday at Hughes Stadium before a record homecoming crowd of 14,987.

David Duberstein, The Examiner

BALTIMORE - Being in the minority has never bothered James Meade.

He’s a white student at Morgan State University — a historically black college — a kicker on the football team, and a football player who does yoga. He may seem out of place, but Meade said he fits in just fine with the Bears.

“He’s just a cool kid,” senior defensive back Dakota Bracey said of Meade, who is one of just two white players on the 81-man roster. “We don’t do the whole black-white thing. He’s one of the fellas — he blends in just fine. He’s always joking with us, telling us how strong he is, even though he’s a kicker.”

But being a minority is nothing new to Meade, who was a standout at Douglass High in Upper Marlboro — a school which students are predominantly black. But Meade has always stood out more on the football field. The junior worked his way into Morgan State’s starting lineup after kicking a 43-yard field goal against Winston-Salem State to put the Bears ahead 17-16 with 1:13 remaining. It would have been a game-winner, but Morgan State surrendered a last-second score.

“I’m from a predominantly black area, so it isn’t a big change for me,” Meade said. “I didn’t have a tough time adjusting [attending Morgan State] because I was around all the guys from the team.”

Photo: James Meade makes lasting impression on Morgan State fans and alumnae/i, with the winning field goal in overtime to pull out a victory over Howard University Bison.

Last year, Meade was a backup place-kicker and punter, and knew he needed to change his routine if he wanted to become the starter. He began doing yoga with former Bears coach Sid McNairy, who now operates the I Do Yoga studio in Towson. Meade attends about two or three sessions a week and works with McNairy on his strength, flexibility and focus.

“I took a lot of pride in James because I was a special teams coordinator (at MSU),” McNairy said. “He wasn’t getting the opportunity to kick because they had another kicker who was doing well. As time passed, he would come in and it was almost like sports psychology on the mat — giving him the power to stay focused on just kicking well and letting go of how much time he is getting.”

Aside from the physical benefits, the focus and work ethic Meade learned from yoga was evident in his performance. He says yoga helped him develop the attitude he needed to make big kicks. Meade has converted 8-of-12 field goals through six games.

“When he wasn’t starting, he was still working,” Bracey said. “He was coming to practice early - like an hour early - and he was the last one to leave. He was just kicking balls every chance he got. He’s still working hard and now he’s making plays in the game, kicking the ball through the uprights, and that’s what we need.”

Morgan State's Hill-Eley offered extension

By Ken Murray, Baltimore Sun

Morgan coach 'really can't say' whether one-year deal is enough

Baltimore - Despite delivering Morgan State's football program from an era of unmitigated losing, when the Bears endured 22 consecutive sub-.500 seasons, coach Donald Hill-Eley is not assured of keeping his job for another year.

Hill-Eley, whose contract is up in December, said the university offered him a one-year extension last week.

He declined to say yesterday whether he would accept a one-year deal.

"At this point, I don't know. I really can't say," he said.

In his sixth season, Hill-Eley is already the third-winningest coach in school history. But his 27 victories leave him far behind legendary coaches Eddie Hurt (174 wins) and Earl Banks (94).

Hill-Eley resuscitated a program that won 31 straight games and one mythical NCAA Division II title (1966) under Banks but had fallen into disrepair. Since he was appointed head coach in 2002 - after one year as offensive coordinator - the Bears have had two winning seasons and a pair of five-win seasons. They also had a 2-9 season in 2005.

Before 2002, Morgan had not won five games in any of the previous 22 seasons, a period that spanned nine head coaches.

University spokesman Jarrett Carter would say only that the school is "in negotiations and considering an extension" for Hill-Eley.

Floyd Kerr, the director of athletics since 2005, acknowledged the progress the football team has achieved under Hill-Eley.

Photo: Coach Donald Hill-Eley

"I know great strides have been made in the program, and we want to get this thing resolved as soon as possible," Kerr said.

After the Bears went 7-5 in 2002, Morgan president Earl S. Richardson rewarded Hill-Eley with a three-year extension of his original three-year contract.

But Hill-Eley went into last spring's recruiting season without any guarantee he would be back.

"It was an obstacle," he said. "It makes [recruits] kind of leery. I tell them they're not coming to play for Don Hill, but that they're coming to Morgan State and should look at the opportunity to get an education."

Under Hill-Eley, Morgan opened a pipeline to Florida recruits. There are 18 players from that state on the roster. Hill-Eley also upgraded his coaching staff by adding defensive coordinator Alonzo Lee and strength and conditioning coach Josh Bush in the past two years.

This season, the Bears are ranked fourth in the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) in total defense, and sixth in rush defense. They have the leading rusher in the FCS in tailback Chad Simpson with 798 yards.

Hill-Eley also has seen the team's graduation rate jump from 52 percent in 2005 to 63 percent a year ago and 61 percent this year. In a conference call Wednesday, NCAA president Myles Brand said he wants every program in every sport to be above 60 percent.

"I think I've earned the right to stay longer, to continue to build the program," Hill-Eley said. "I'm invested in the school here. It'd be a shame not to be able to finish it off and let [another head coach] benefit."

The Bears are 27-34 overall under Hill-Eley. They take a 1-1 record in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (2-3 overall) into tomorrow's home game against North Carolina A&T.

"I'm here to coach the football team," Hill-Eley said. "No coach has control over his own fate. You work like hell and hope the people notice it and that they want to keep your around. ... I feel confident the administration is going to do the right thing."

Hampton U stays undefeated despite wasting 17-0 lead

Photo: Hampton University WR Justin Brown, 6-2 Jr., Surfside Beach, S.C./Dover HS / Lakawanna JC

By PAUL WHITE, The Virginian-Pilot

HAMPTON - Hip-hop ruled at Hampton University on Thursday night, but for those who bothered to check it out, the Pirates and Morgan State put on one heck of a football show, too.

T.J. Mitchell hit Justin Brown with a 30-yard touchdown pass on third-and-15 in overtime as the 13th-ranked Pirates survived the Bears 24-17 before 5,360 in a nationally-televised MEAC showdown at Armstrong Stadium.

The three-time defending conference champion s improved to 3-0, all MEAC victories, and won their fifth straight over the Bears (1-3, 0-1).

The game played out as rap star Young Jeezy was jamming across the street at the Hampton Convocation Center. A large portion of the Hampton faithful apparently chose Jeezy; the Pirates and Bears played before huge swatches of empty seats at Armstrong.

The Pirates could have used the support. After bolting to a 17-0 second-quarter lead, the Pirates succumbed first to their own mistakes, then to the potent rushing tandem of quarterback Byron Selby and tailback Chad Simpson .

Selby came on in the second quarter and confounded Hampton’s defense by scampering out of the pocket. He finished with 95 rushing yards.

Simpson, the nation’s No. 3 rusher going in, ripped off 141 yards on 32 carries. His 6-yard scoring run late in the second quarter pulled the Bears to within 17-10. Then, with 5:16 left in the third quarter, Simpson ran in from 5 yards out to tie things at 17.

Photo: Mr. Consistency - MSU Chad Simpson, 33 carries, 142 yards, 2-TDs against Hampton University.

From there, only big plays by Pirates defenders kept the Bears from surging ahead. Hampton defensive back James Pope blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt with 12:12 left in the fourth quarter. And with 3:09 left, cornerback Jackie Bates outdueled Roderick Wolfe to come down with an interception at the Hampton 1-yard line.

In overtime, two Pirates running plays lost 5 yards. yards. But on third down, Mitchell hit Brown at about the 15-yard line, and the junior receiver zipped past Bears defensive back Darren McKahn and into the end zone.

The Bears tried to answer on their overtime possession, but Byron Selby’s fourth-down pass sailed over the head of Robert Surratt.

The game-winning TD pass was one of three scoring tosses on the night for Mitchell, who now has nine on the season.

His first went to an unlikely target –- 6-foot-4, 295-pound defensive tackle Marcus Dixon. Dixon, inserted on offense at tight end, leaped over 5-11 cornerback Chris Williams to corral the ball, then secured it while lying on his back in the end zone.

The Pirates went ahead 14-0 when Mitchell connected with former Landstown High teammate Jeremy Gilchrist on a 73-yard scoring play.

A 32-yard field goal by Carlo Turavani made it 17-0. From there, however, the Pirates closed the half with a Mitchell interception, a near-interception and a Dennis Mathis fumble. Meanwhile, after inserting Selby in place of ineffective starter Mario Melton, the Bears began clawing back.

Mitchell finished 14 of 34 passing for 253 yards. Gilchrist caught three passes for 107 yards.

ATTENDANCE: 5,360

HU Juniors filling two huge holes impressively

Photo: Van Morgan, #27 RB, 6-0/218 Sr., New Smyrna Beach H.S., Florida

By MARTY O'BRIEN, Daily Press

Thursday Night game
WHO: Morgan State (1-2, 0-0 MEAC) at Hampton (2-0, 2-0).
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPNU.

Wakeem Goode and Van Morgan are trying to replace two of HU's greatest players.

Wakeem Goode and Van Morgan might have the toughest jobs on Hampton University's football team. How much fun can it be following in the footsteps of players considered the best in school history at their respective positions?

Goode stepped into the starting middle-linebacker spot vacated by Justin Durant. Durant, the three-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Defensive Player of the Year, started last weekend for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.

Morgan will start at tailback for the second consecutive game when the Pirates (2-0, 2-0 MEAC) host Morgan State (1-2, 0-0) tonight at 7:30.

He succeeds Alonzo Coleman, the MEAC's all-time leading rusher, now employed on the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad.

By the looks of it, neither appears to be intimidated by the challenge, or even worried about it because they took advantage of the time spent as back-ups to learn from the men they would be replacing.

Photo: Wakeem Goode, #49 LB, 5-11/227 Jr., Benedictine H.S., Cleveland, Ohio

Goode, a 5-foot-11, 227-pound junior, made a team-high 19 tackles the first two games. Morgan, a 6-0, 218-pound junior, started for the first time last Saturday and had 154 yards and two touchdowns in the Pirates' 59-14 win at North Carolina A&T.

"They were in backup roles in the past, but they never had any problem (waiting)," Pirates coach Joe Taylor said. "You can see how good they are. Usually those kinds of kids want to play quickly and ask, 'Why am I not playing more?'

"They just waited their turns and kept on working and working. When they got their opportunities, they made the most of them."

While waiting, they filled in capably as part-time players. Morgan, for instance, became the ball-carrier in the second half of the 2006 opener against Grambling State because Coleman was sidelined by cramps.

He employed his power running style to gain 82 yards on 14 carries, helping the Pirates edge the Tigers 27-26. But he left the game late in the fourth quarter with a deep thigh bruise that limited his playing time the remainder of the season.

When he returned to action he dedicated himself to contributing on special teams and to learning everything he could from Coleman.

"What impressed me most about Alonzo was his attitude toward the game," Morgan said. "He played with an attitude I had never seen before. He approached everything with toughness and had confidence in everything he did.

"I picked up on the focus and fearlessness he carried into every game."

Goode adopted Durant as his role model and shadowed him to the film room regularly. When Durant missed the Norfolk State game last season with a sore back, Goode replaced him. He made six tackles, including three sacks, to earn defensive player of the game honors.

"I learned a lot from Justin," Goode said, "He reacted to things so quickly. Watching film with him he taught me about reacting to the ball before things happened."

Taylor sees a similarity between Goode and Durant because both possess non-stop motors.

"You look at Wakeem's body and you'd say he's too short or not the fastest," Taylor said. "But if you see him in the weight room, you'd understand why he moves so well. He's a tremendous worker.

"He always working some kind of move, a swim technique or a rip technique. That's what allows him to break free of blockers and stay on his feet."

Goode says that he feels no pressure to be another Durant, a sentiment Morgan echoes when asked about Coleman. Then again, both understand they'd better come close or someone on the roster will be ready to step in.

"Expectations are always going to be high because there are so many athletes in this program," Morgan said. "We've had Ardell (Daniels) and Alonzo (Coleman) and Kevin Beverly all do well.

"I feel like any running back in our program could do the same thing, because we know what the expectations are."

Big-time transfers boost Hampton University football

The Pirates of Hampton University (2-0, 2-0 MEAC) are set to take on the Bears of Morgan State University (1-2, 0-0 MEAC) live on ESPNU on Thursday, September 20th at 7:30 pm. The match-up is set to take place at Armstrong Stadium on the campus of Hampton University.

By MARTY O'BRIEN, Daily Press

HAMPTON - Hampton University used to reload primarily with freshman recruits. Graduating high school seniors still are the staple of the Pirates' recruiting classes, but never before have Division I-A transfers been so visible in the football program.

The Pirates' I-A transfers have their fingerprints all over the season-opening victories at Howard and North Carolina A&T. Jackie Bates, formerly a starting cornerback at Oregon, will increase that I-A influence when he debuts in the Pirates' nationally televised (ESPNU) home game Thursday against Morgan State.

The Pirates' roster includes seven I-A transfers. All of them, save Bates, have made significant contributions this season. HU coach Joe Taylor is especially happy to have them because 14 senior starters graduated from the 2006 team.

"Sometimes you need to get more maturity in the lineup when you lose more seniors," Taylor said. "But you have to be certain that a transfer is the right fit for the program.

"I'm not so sure that we recruited them as much as they recruited us. Three consecutive (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) championships, five guys in the (NFL) combine and several guys in the pros has created more visibility."

Below is an update on the I-A transfers through two games. Former colleges are listed in parentheses.

T.J. Mitchell (West Virginia): Starting QB has thrown for 520 yards and six touchdowns.

Kevin Beverly (Kent State): Starting tailback ran for 39 yards and a TD in a half at Howard, but hasn't played since because of an ankle injury and likely will miss the Morgan State game.

Jeremy Gilchrist (Virginia Tech): Starter leads HU with 14 catches, 205 receiving yards and two TD receptions.

Sam Pope (South Carolina): Starting cornerback has nine tackles, two pass breakups and a pass block.

Vaughn Mansfield (Utah State): Reserve free safety returned a fumble 41 yards for a touchdown at A&T.

Kevin Burke (West Virginia): Reserve defensive tackle had a tackle for a loss among his four stops at A&T.

Jackie Bates (Oregon): Hamstring pull sidelined the starting cornerback the first two games, but Taylor says he'll play Thursday.

Bears set to host new MEAC member Winston-Salem State

Photo: Senior RB Chad Simpson

MSU Sports Information

Morgan State's #1 ranked MEAC run defense will be tested when the Rams of Winston-Salem State come to Hughes Stadium on Saturday.

WINSTON-SALEM STATE “RAMS” (1-1)
MORGAN STATE “BEARS” (1-1, 0-0 MEAC)
GAME #3
Saturday, September 15, 2007 • 4:00 p.m.
Hughes Stadium (Capacity 10,000) • Baltimore, Md.
RADIO: Morgan State Radio Network WEAA - 88.9 FM:
Rob Long (play-by-play) & Kelvin Bridgers (color).
INTERNET: www.MorganStateBears.com ; http://wssurams.cstv.com/
INTERNET COVERAGE: Live Audio and Live Stats

Setting the Scene
• Morgan State let Towson off the hook last Saturday at Hughes Stadium as the Tigers were able to escape with a 28-21 victory at Hughes Stadium in front of 8,732 fans. The Bears were led by All-MEAC RB Chad Simpson who posted a career-best 195 yards and scored on a 56 yard touchdown dash. MSU’s offensive unit racked up 375 total yards, 245 on the ground. MSU will look to get back in the win column when they host a tough Winston-Salem State team.

• Winston-Salem State is coming off a 28-21 narrow loss against Coastal Carolina. Senior quarterback Monte Purvis led the Rams by rushing for 165 yards and three touchdowns, including TD runs of 65 yards and 80 yards. Jed Bines added 123 yards to a Rams offense that gained 311 total yards against the Chanticleers. Saturday night’s contest will mark the 1st meeting between Morgan State and Winston-Salem State.

• QB Monte Purvis will be one to watch as the Rams prepare for Morgan State this Saturday at Hughes Stadium. Purvis has completed 11-of-25 passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, but has really been a problem for opposing defense on the ground where he has run for 228 yards and four touchdowns. Purvis rushed fo 165 yards and three touchdowns in a tough 28-21 loss against Coastal Carolina last Saturday.

• The Rams will not be able to compete for a conference title this year but will play a full-slate of MEAC games in 2007.

• SEE CHAD RUN …INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS - Chad Simpson entered the Towson game just needing 63 yards to reach 1,000 yards in his Morgan State career…he ended up rushing for a career-best 195 yards! The All-MEAC running back rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns in the season-opener vs. Savannah State and has increased his career total to 1,132 yards, 248 yards behind Tony Phillips (1992-93) who ranked #10 in the Bears rushing annals.

Final: Towson 28, Morgan State University 21

BALTIMORE-- Sean Schaefer threw for four touchdowns to lead Towson to a 28-21 victory over Morgan State on Saturday.

Towson was outgained 375-314 by Morgan State, but a fourth-quarter interception by safety Kenny Scott set up the winning touchdown.

Scott returned the interception 68 yards to the Bears' 2. Schaefer found tight end John Godlasky for the game-winning touchdown in the back of the end zone on the next play with 9:53 left in the fourth quarter.

Morgan State's Mario Melton hit Robert Surratt from 9 yards out with five seconds left in the half to make the score 14-10 at the half.

Chad Simpson raced 56-yards down the sideline to draw Morgan State within two.

The ensuing two-point conversion failed, but a bad snap to Schaefer on the next possession resulted in a safety that tied the game at 21-21.

1 2 3 4 T
TOW (2-0) 7 7 7 7 28
MORG (1-1) 0 10 3 8 21
Final

Morgan State Set for Thursday's Season-Opener

Photo: SSU Tigers

MSU Sports Information

Morgan State will kick-off the season against Savannah State on Thursday, August 30 at Hughes Stadium.

SAVANNAH STATE “TIGERS” (0-0) vs.
MORGAN STATE “BEARS” (0-0, 0-0 MEAC)

FULLWOOD CLASSIC/YOUTH DAY
Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007 • 7:00 p.m.
Hughes Stadium (Capacity 10,000) • Baltimore, Md.

RADIO: Morgan State Radio Network WEAA - 88.9 FM: Rob Long (play-by-play) & Kelvin Bridgers (color).

"The Game" Overview - Weekly Release in PDF Format:
http://www.morganstatebears.com/Pdfs/foot/2007/8/27/vsSavannah%20State1.pdf

INTERNET: http://www.morganstatebears.com/ and/or www.savstate.edu/athletics

Setting the Scene

• Morgan State begins its 2007 football campaign when they host theTigers of Savannah State on Thursday, August 30 at 7 o’clock. The Bears enter the 2007 season predicted to finish in 6th place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) as head coach Donald Hill-Eley enters his sixth year at Morgan State. MSU returns 21 starters (10 offense, 8 defense, 3 specialty) from last year’s team that posted a 5-6 overall mark and finished the year ranked 4th in the conference. Headlining the list of returner starters for the Bears include All-MEAC RB Chad Simpson, All-MEAC WR Roderick Wolfe, QB Mario Melton and OT Dakarai Grimsley. MSU closed out the 2006 season with a 41-16 loss against South Carolina State at Hughes Stadium to deny the Bears of a .500 overall record.

• Savannah State is coming off a 2-9 record from a year ago under head coach Theo Lemon. Thursday night’s contest will mark the 5th meeting between the school’s with the Bears holding a 4-0 advantage in the series.

Photo: Morgan State University Bears

• Donald Hill-Eley is 2-0 against Savannah State. In 2005 the Bears cruised to a 55-26 victory at the Proctor & Gamble Ohio Classic in Cleveland, Ohio. Not Ali Culpepper, and not even the great Leroy Kelly, who starred at Morgan State, then dazzled Browns fans in this city back in the 1960s, did what Jason Jackson did that Saturday. Jackson, a junior tailback from Oxon Hill, shredded the Savannah State defense for a school record 251 yards and four touchdowns Saturday to help Morgan to a 55-26 triumph, its first of the season. Doing most of his damage in the second half, Jackson exceeded Culpepper’s school mark of 229 yards set in 2001. Jackson scored on runs of 9, 90, 25 and 33 yards, exciting the crowd of 40,502 at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

• Theo Lemon enters his second season as head football coach for the Savannah State University Tigers. On April 10, 2006, athletic director Robert “Tony” O’Neal named Lemon the 20th head football coach at Savannah State University. Lemon completed his first season at the helm with a 2-9 record.

• WR Mark Williams will be one to watch as the Tigers get set to begin the 2007 campaign. Williams returns as the Tigers main target on offense and completed the 2006 season with 42 receptions for 522 yards and four touchdowns. Marc averaged just over 47 receiving yards per game.

MSU-SAVANNAH STATE SERIES
Overall, Morgan State leads the series, 4-0 since the series began in 2000. The closest game in the series came in the first meeting when the Bears won by a score of 12-6. Savannah State was shutout in the second game (26-0) and suffered a home loss (45-14) at Ted A. Wright Stadium. The Bears won the last contest at Cleveland Browns Stadium (55-26 in 2005) during the Proctor & Gamble Ohio Classic.

MSU - SSU TIES
Morgan State offensive line coach Chennis Berry graduated from Savannah State in 1996. Berry started as a tight end during his first two seasons with the Tigers before being moved to offensive tackle. He received All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First-Team selection during his senior season in 1994. Berry earned his first coaching job in 1995 when he was named the Tigers’ offensive line coach.

MSU D NUMERO 1 AGAINST THE RUN
Morgan State’s defense ranked No. 1 in the MEAC against the run. In his fi rst season as the defensive coordinator for the Bears, Alonzo Lee had his Bears defense ranked #1 against the run (117.0/g), #5 in scoring defense (22.0/g) and #6 in total defense (303.6/g). The Bears defense returns eight starters along with quality depth and should be one of the premier defenses in the league.