Pioneer Bowl XIII: Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls prevails in tight game against Miles College Golden Bears

COLUMBUS, Georgia -- Johnson C. Smith closed its season with a 35-33 win over Miles College in Pioneer Bowl XIII Saturday at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, but the win sure didn't come easy for the Golden Bulls.

Miles (7-5) had a chance to tie the game at 35 following a 21-yard touchdown pass from David Thomas to Antonio Pitts with two seconds remaining in regulation, but the Golden Bears' two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, allowing Johnson C. Smith (6-5) to escape with the victory.

"To finish our season with a win is really big," said Johnson C. Smith coach Steven Aycock, whose team finished with its best record since 2006 - when the Golden Bulls went 7-4 and received a bid to the Pioneer Bowl. "This is something we've been driving for since we started offseason workouts in January. The kids really believe in what we're trying to do here and the coaching staff has put these kids in situations where we can win."



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Miles can make school history in today's Pioneer Bowl

FAIRFIELD, Alabama -- On the night of Nov. 11, the Miles College football team gathered in a conference room in an Atlanta hotel. The Golden Bears were just hours away from kickoff of the inaugural Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship game.

There were no coaches in that room, just players. Miles first-year head coach Reginald Ruffin had agreed to the peculiar request, thinking that the impromptu meeting wouldn't last long.

Ruffin ended up waiting in the hotel lobby for more than three hours. His players finally exited the room around 10:30 p.m., their eyes red and watery.

"One of the kids told me, 'Coach, I learned a lot about my teammates tonight,'" said Ruffin, who adds he still doesn't know exactly what was said in that room.

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Miles College to play Johnson C. Smith in Pioneer Bowl

COLUMBUS, Georgia -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced Tuesday that Johnson C. Smith University and Miles College have been selected to play in the Dec. 3 Pioneer Bowl.  The game will be held at A.J. McClung Stadium in Columbus, with kickoff at noon.

Miles, under first-year head coach Reginald Ruffin, finished first in the SIAC West Division with a 5-2 record. Last week the Golden Bears won the inaugural SIAC Championship Game by upsetting Albany State to finish with a 7-4 record.

The Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls, led by head coach Steve Aycock, finished third in the CIAA Southern Division with a 5-5 overall record. They were 4-3 in conference play.

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Tuskegee uses late fumble to beat Miles 27-25

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- A Ryan Crespo 2-yard run in the fourth quarter gave Tuskegee the winning margin in a 27-25 victory over Miles College on Saturday. That play was set up when Miles quarterback David Thomas was sacked by Aaron Bennett and fumbled. Tuskegee returned the ball to the Miles 6-yard line.

Miles falls to 6-4 and 5-2 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference while Tuskegee improves to 4-5 and 4-3 with its homecoming victory. The game was the first meeting between new Miles coach Reggie Ruffin and his former boss, Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater.

Miles scored on a 16-yard run by Thomas later in the fourth quarter to make it 27-25, but Thomas' rush for a 2-point conversion failed.

Miles got the ball back with less than two minutes remaining and reached the Tuskegee 30-yard line, but the Golden Tigers kept the Golden Bears out of the end zone.



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Banged-up FVSU Wildcats look to bounce back

Fort Valley, Georgia -- The way the season is going would normally be enough to make a coach feel a bit less chipper than usual. Throw in allergies kicking up, and it’s not the best week for Fort Valley State head coach Donald Pittman. The Wildcats are 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the SIAC, and they aren’t in the best of health themselves.

“Nobody’s back as of yet,” Pittman said. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

Freshmen Cameron Pearson and Jahyrie Harris are battling it out at quarterback this week. Antonio Henton has been out since suffering a knee injury against Delta State in the second game. Then W.J. McAllister sat out last week after getting a head injury Sept. 22 at Benedict.  McAllister struggled in FVSU’s 16-11 loss at Clark Atlanta but made progress against Benedict just in time to get hurt.

Pearson had played a few snaps at quarterback, and Harris had been moved to the secondary before the season because of the logjam at quarterback. He returned to the offensive side about two weeks ago.



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ASU barely wins SIAC opener at Miles

FAIRFIELD, Ala. -- Just when it looked as if Albany State had lost its identity Saturday night against Miles, the Rams dug deep into the artificial turf at Albert J. Sloan-Alumni Stadium and found it.

It came in the form of a Justin Blash fumble recovery in the third quarter. It arose again when the Rams forced the Miles offense into three-and-outs on two of its final three possessions. And it re-appeared for a final time when Rashad McRae picked off a David Thomas pass in the Golden Bears' end zone with 1:30 left in the game.

The defense showed up -- finally. It was that defense -- that ability to land a series of knockout punches when the Rams were against the ropes -- that gave Albany State (3-1, 1-0) a 34-27 victory in the SIAC opener for both teams. And it was McRae's interception that iced the game and ended a potential game-tying drive.



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New coach Reginald Ruffin sets out to change attitude, expectations at Miles

FAIRFIELD, Alabama -- Casey Weston was sitting at home in Georgia on a hot summer night in July when he received an unexpected phone call. On the other end of the line was new Miles College football coach Reginald Ruffin.

Weston, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound quarterback with a rocket arm, had been mulling over where he wanted to continue his college career. After leading Prattville to the 2007 Class 6A state championship, Weston played two years at Northwest Mississippi Community College and set school records for career passing yards (4,943), completions (394) and attempts (695) while throwing 42 touchdown passes.



He then went to Northern Illinois University and redshirted in 2010, but when NIU changed coaches at the end of the season Weston decided to transfer.

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SIAC: Miles College Football Practice

Miles College vs. Morehouse College

5th Annual Labor Day Golden Classic

September 4th @ 6:00 PM

Legion Field

Birmingham, Alabama

Fairfield, AL - First-year Miles College football coach Reginald Ruffin takes his Golden Bears through the physical training portion of a daily practice.

After warming up at the stadium, players sprint over to their grass field. Once there, they break into groups and go through training stations. Ruffin barks encouragement through a bullhorn and sounds a horn when they are to move quickly to the next station.

Miles is working toward its Sept. 4 season-opener against Morehouse in the fifth annual Labor Day Golden Classic at Legion Field.



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Former TCC standout having sucess at Miles

Fairfield, AL - Former Talladega County Central standout, Reginald Virges is excited about what the upcoming season holds for the Golden Bears of Miles College. After two solid seasons, Virges believes the changes they have made in the off-season will help them to reach their goal of making it to the postseason.

“My first two years up there were good,” Virges said. “I came in as a freshman and I didn’t know that I was going to get the starting spot like that. When I came in I got the starting spot and started playing. I feel like this year is going to be a better because we have better coaches that can help us go somewhere this year.”



Last season, Virges recorded 81 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss of 87 yards and six sacks for a loss of 46 yards.  “I was the leader of the defense last season,” Virges said. “I am trying to make this team into a better team, we are trying to get to the playoff this year. We haven’t made the playoffs the last couple years and our goal is to make it to the playoffs and to turn this program around.”

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Albany State University survives long, long day

ALBANY, GA — Albany State interim baseball coach Kenyan Conner was momentarily speechless following Friday night’s SIAC Tournament game against Miles. Then he aptly described his team’s 18-12 win. “Long,” he said about the four-hour game where his team nearly blew a 15-0 lead.

The sixth-seeded Rams hung on and are still alive in the SIAC Tournament, but now they have no room for error entering the final two days of the event.

After committing five errors in a 5-3 quarterfinal loss to the No. 2 seed Stillman College Tigers, the Rams avoided bowing out of the double elimination tournament Friday at Paul Eames Sports Complex by knocking off Miles.

'Bama athletes think about home

ALBANY, GA - Some people who survived those storms in Alabama are in Albany this week at the SIAC Baseball Tournament. While they're playing ball or rooting for their teams, all of them said their hearts are back home.

The Stillman College baseball Tigers from Tuscaloosa had a former teammate killed in the tornadoes that flattened their town. Three members of the Miles College baseball Bears from Birmingham lost their rental homes at school, while two players' families lost their homes.

Many of the fans at today's games lived through the killer storms. Katie Watkins' fiance is one of the coaches for Stillman College's baseball team. She was in her apartment in Northport during the tornadoes. "He had gone to be with a girl, to protect her...

Defending champion Rams open 2011 SIAC tourney today at home

ALBANY, GA — When Albany State junior shortstop William Smalls talks, interim baseball coach Kenyon Conner said his team listens. That was clear during Wednesday afternoon’s practice when Smalls spoke about preparing for this week’s SIAC baseball tournament, which starts today at Paul Eames Park.

“We are ready to play, man,” the SIAC Player of the Year candidate said. “Just like in the military, get your soldiers up and get ready to go to war.” “War” starts today at 10 a.m. when the No. 6 Rams (25-23 overall, 10-5 SIAC) host No. 3 Tuskegee (16-15, 11-4) in the opener of the eight-team, double-elimination tournament.

The Rams, who have won 11 of their last 18 games, hosted and won last year’s SIAC Tournament. Conner said pressure to repeat lingers in the back of his players’ minds.

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Lewis TD Run Gives Miles Golden Bears 13-12 Win Over Kentucky State

FAIRFIELD, AL – The Golden Bears bounced back from a tough loss from a week ago, as the Miles College football team defeated the visiting Kentucky State University Thorobreds 13-12 in its second conference win of the season. Miles improves to 2-3; 2-2 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with the victory, while the Kentucky State drop to 2-3; 2-3 in the SIAC.

Miles got off to a sluggish start, falling behind 0-6 in the first half. The Golden Bears scored its first touchdown on Carlton Hill’s one yard run (PAT kick failed), bringing the score to 6-6, with 8:01 to play in the third quarter. The Thorobreds struck again on a 16 yard interception return to go up 6-12 (PAT kick failed) to end the third quarter. The Golden Bears tied the game up on Jordan Lewis 63 yard run (Patton Chambers kick good) at the 4:48 mark in the fourth quarter, making the score 13-12.

Bears rally past K-State

Kentucky State fell to Miles College 13-12 Saturday in Fairfield, Ala., dropping the Thorobreds’ record to 2-3 on the season. KSU led the game 6-0 at halftime, getting a 69-yard touchdown run from Shannon Frieson in the first quarter. Frieson gained 119 yards on 13 carries against the Golden Bears, leading all rushers in the contest.

Miles struck back to begin the third quarter, finishing a four-play, 42-yard drive with a 1-yard run from quarterback Carlton Hill, which tied the game 6-6. The Thorobreds responded with a defensive touchdown five minutes later. Grandson Brown picked off Hill at the Miles 16-yard line and returned it for a score. The two-point conversion failed, leaving KSU’s lead at 12-6.

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Kentucky State University added the auxiliary twirling group to the Marching Thorobreds in January 2009 thanks to the efforts of Sophia Marie Thompson. Sophia is from Piney Fork, Ohio.

KSU Marching Thorobreds performance at Morehouse College on 9/18/10.

Top Five Marching Band Performances of 2010 Football Season

If you have been following HBCU football the past two weeks, you should appreciate the efforts and high energy put forth by our Marching Bands at the season openers and the Sprite Queen City Battle of the Bands, Charlotte, N.C.

Without a doubt, Florida A&M University Marching 100, North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine, Alabama State University Mighty Marching Hornets, Howard University Showtime Marching Band and Miles College Purple Marching Machine have presented the most extraordinary and compelling band performances. Check out each of the high definition/digital surround sound video clips posted below for your own assessment.

The late Dr. William P. Foster probably would be tremendously proud of their creativity, musicianship, showmanship and the precision marching of these fine five top marching bands.

No question, the arrangement of the "Bed Intruder Song" and played by the Aggies Blue and Gold Marching Machine at a band rehearsal is at the top of the "YouTube" chart with over 495,160 views within two weeks of posting. Dancers Golden Delight and the Marching Machine lower brasswinds sections are in a zone-- you guys are thumping that bass line and counter melody to the max.

You also have to give it to North Carolina A&T--their musical sound is crystal clear with all parts blending beautifully and balanced--like the sound of experience, the FAMU Marching 100.

If you love that brassy SWAC sound, then Alabama State definitely has the best musicians that tend to play under control and with great intonation and balance. The ASU Stingettes and NCA&T Golden Delight were by far the best dancing troupes for the first game. ASU needs more creativity and complexity in their band field shows to move to the top of the list.

You may not agree, but that's alright too.

Now do not get an attitude against the Blog...we enjoyed Norfolk State Spartans Legion, Southern University Marching Human Jukebox, Jackson State Sonic Boom, and Shaw University Platinum Sound shows--but, they did not make the Top Five cut this week.

But, if you think my assessments are wrong, send us a HD video clip of who you think should be in the Top Five Bands and I will post your clips on the Blog and let the informed fans decide.

Our Top Five for the first two weeks of the season: #1 FAMU; #2 North Carolina A&T; #3 Alabama State; #4 Howard; and #5 Miles College.

Check back often and see who cracks the Top Five---who goes and who will stay at the top of the marching band mountain this 2010 football season.

-beepbeep

Legendary coach Billy Joe says Miles is like heaven

Achive Photo: Coach Billy Joe being honored by the FAMU community on Sept. 15, 2007 at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Billy Joe has been to the mountaintop in the game of football.

He has a Super Bowl championship ring to prove it. He has plaques in three halls of fame, including the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame where he was inducted alongside Joe Paterno in 2007.

He has more wins than any black-college football coach not named Eddie Robinson with 237.

So, why would he pick Division II Miles College as the place to end his three-season retirement?

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Miles College Purple Marching Machine

FAMU coach Billy Joe inducted in MEAC Hall of Fame

Photo: Hall of Famer and Miles College head football coach, William "Billy" Joe.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Former Florida A&M football coach Billy Joe had to laugh as he told the story. He's wearing a brace on his right wrist, he said, because he tried to teach one of his players at Miles College how to deliver a forearm shiver.

"I've got to remember I'm not 21 any more," Joe said with a huge grin. "I'm 67 -- but I don't feel it."

Joe has plenty of reasons to feel good about himself these days.

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William "Billy" Joe named head football coach at Miles College

by beepbeep

Former Florida A&M University head football coach William "Billy" Joe has been named the head football coach at Division II, Miles College, Fairfield, Alabama. The legendary Coach Joe is a young 67 years old and a member of both the FAMU Hall of Fame and National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame.

Joe has a career coaching record of 237-108-4 (.685) in 31 seasons as a head football coach. Few coaches can match the unparalleled gridiron success of Billy Joe's storied career.

Joe has won seven National Black College Football Championships and two NAIA national titles, as one of the most highly decorated black college football coaches in history. His 237 victories places him in second place behind the late Eddie Robinson (Grambling State) for victories at historical black college and universities and places him fourth in the Football Championship Subdivision's all-time winningest coach ranks.

Joe is legendary for his high powered Gulf Coast Offense (no huddle-spread offense) that he perfected in 11 seasons at Florida A&M, winning 86 games. Joe led the Rattlers to an unprecedented five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles, while garnering three of the conference's Coach of the Year accolades. His Rattlers went to the NCAA I-AA football championship playoffs for seven conecutive seasons and played in the national semifinals in 1999. Joe compiled 26 winning seasons and coached five Black College National Players of the Year.

In addition to his stop at FAMU (1994-2004), Joe was the head coach at Central State University (Ohio) (1981-93) and Cheyney University (Pa.) (1972-78).

Joe has been out of coaching since he was fired in 2005 by an interim president, in the wake of an NCAA investigation of the FAMU athletics program. Joe sued the school over a salary dispute and settled out of court after the NCAA found the coach was not to blame for any of the multiple eligibility issue violations uncovered. Highly respected among his peers, he served as vice president of the American Football Coaches Association in 1993 and was elected president of the organization in 1995.

"This brings a whole lot to our program," Miles Athletics Director, Augustus James said Tuesday. "A different caliber of student-athlete will be drawn to our program. People want to play for a legend."

Joe is replacing Wade Streeter, who was fired December 6, after his seventh Golden Bears' team finished winless in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Miles College was 2-9 in 2007 after going 5-5 in 2006, although the Golden Bears forfeited all their wins after it was discovered an ineligible player had participated during the season. Miles is still awaiting to hear from the NCAA regarding its investigation of the eligibility violations, which will also affect the men's basketball team.

Streeter was 35-41 in seven seasons at Miles, with his 2003 and 2004 teams both going 7-4 for the best back-to-back finishes in school history. His SIAC record was 27-28 and he served previously as offensive coordinator at Miles from 1994 to 1996. He was fired with time remaining on his contract, but neither he nor Miles administrators would say how much.

According to a news release, Miles stated Streeter was released because they want to win more games so they can earn more money in ticket sales.

Coach Joe, who played seven years in the NFL for three teams and won a Super Bowl as part of the 1968 New York Jets is noted for developing record setting passing quarterbacks, like Ben Dougherty, Casey Printers (CFL Hamilton Ticats) and Quinn Gray (NFL Jacksonville Jaguars).

A five year contract was signed by Coach Joe with the Golden Bears.

10,000 fans show for 1st Rocket City Battle of Bands at AAMU

Photo: Miles College Purple Marching Machine Band

Johnson High wins Battle of the Bands

In 1st Rocket City event, school beats Butler and Lee; AAMU, Alabama State, BCU, Miles College and Texas Southern University compete.

By PATRICIA C. McCARTER, Huntsville Times

Johnson High School - already known as one of the best marching bands in North Alabama - got some extra bragging rights Sunday evening when it won the first Rocket City Battle of the Bands, edging out its local rivals Butler and Lee.

The high school bands got to perform before an audience of nearly 10,000 people at Louis Crews Stadium at Alabama A&M, as well as before five university bands. The event was part of A&M's annual homecoming festivities.

"It's been an amazing day," said Johnson High senior Kiara Horton, captain of the dance team. "That's a big crowd. But when I dance, I don't see anyone. It's like a blur. I'm in my own zone."

Event organizer Derick Moore, who runs AFG Enterprises in Atlanta, said he and partner Yasin Shahid wanted to put on the show at A&M because of their history with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Moore said he attended A&M and graduated from Alabama State University, and he played percussion in both marching bands; Shahid is an A&M alum who played saxophone in the band.

Photo: Bethune Cookman University Marching Wildcat Band

Other colleges represented at Sunday's Battle of the Bands besides their alma maters were Bethune Cookman College, Texas Southern University and Miles College. "It was an excellent, excellent event," Moore said when the battle was over. "We utilize the premier college bands, the feature bands for the HBCU schools. There were no losers."

Officially, there were no winners of the colleges, either. Moore explained that it was an exhibition - not a contest - for the four-year schools.

A&M will end the weekend with money in its pocket. Moore said, the event will yield up to $15,000 for the local college's band instrument fund.

"We plan to do it again next year, but even bigger," Moore said. "We spoke to athletic director Betty Austin, and she said she'd like to have us back."

Johnson High's dance captain hopes to be back, too.

"I'll definitely come back to see my alma mater compete," Horton said. "And maybe I'll be on the field dancing for one of the colleges."

Who's got best band? Really? Prove it

JON BUSDEKER, Huntsville Times

This is for all those fans who think football gets in the way of the real excitement. This is for those who get pumped up by the sound of cymbals crashing and drums pounding.

On Sunday, Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University and a slew of other college and high school bands will perform in the Rocket City Battle of the Bands.

The event, held at Louis Crews Stadium, will begin at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at James Records and Tapes on North Memorial Parkway, through Ticketmaster or at the stadium box office.

The Battle of the Bands will coincide with A&M's homecoming.

Barney Smart, a former saxophonist for the A&M marching band and organizer for the Battle of the Bands, said this will be the first time the bands will share a football field. Performing will be bands from Butler, Johnson and Lee high schools, Bethune Cookman College, Miles College and Texas Southern University.

"Each band has a different style," Smart said.

Smart added that the marching bands from Bethune Cookman and Texas Southern have never played in Huntsville.

For years, marching bands from historically black colleges and universities didn't get any exposure to a mass audience, Smart said. That changed in 2002.

"We got a lot of help from the movie 'Drumline,'" Smart said.

"Drumline," starring Nick Cannon, follows a hotshot drum major who must learn to work with his fellow bandmates to achieve success. The movie showed the excitement behind marching bands.

Smart, whose father was once the band director at A&M, has seen the popularity of marching bands increase since the film's release.

In January, Smart plans to showcase the Battle of the Bands at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

"The entertainment part of it is nonstop," Smart said. "It's always fun to watch. It's so much going on at the same time, you don't know where to look."