Undefeated Bethune-Cookman, behind QB Matt Johnson, ready to take on Florida A&M

The improvement that Bethune-Cookman quarterback Matt Johnson has made in just one season is remarkable. The Fort Lauderdale native completed 53.8 percent of his passes for 823 yards as a junior in 2009, throwing just one touchdown pass and seven interceptions.

This year, Johnson has completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 1,844 yards, 13 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He also has 670 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. He is without question the top quarterback in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, a player who can beat teams with his arm or his legs.

"When we came in, we felt like this young man had the qualities if we could hone the skills the right way," first-year Bethune coach Brian Jenkins said.

Ex-Colonial receiver Kevin Elliott out to spoil B-CU's run

Kevin Elliott and the rest of the Florida A&M Rattlers have been rooting for their arch rival recently. With every game the Rattlers have won in their current five-game winning streak, they have been hoping to see Bethune-Cookman University continue its own winning streak en route to this weekend's big showdown in the Florida Classic at the Citrus Bowl.

And so Elliott and the Rattlers have gotten their wish. The stage is set. Undefeated, 10-0 Bethune-Cookman will take on the equally hot Florida A&M Rattlers (7-3) in one of the most important games this series has seen. "We want to make history," said Elliott, a 2006 graduate of Orlando Colonial High.

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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG

Former Howard Bison Elected Mayor of Trenton, NJ

Honorable Tony Mack, Mayor-Trenton, New Jersey

Former Mercer County Freeholder Tony Mack, was elected the next mayor of Trenton, New Jersey following Tuesday’s convincing runoff victory over Manuel “Manny’’ Segura. Born and raised in the Wilbur section of the city, Mack captured 7,257 votes (62.24 percent), compared to 4,375 (37.52 percent) for Segura.

Mack, a former three-sports student-athlete at Howard University graduated from the Hilltop in 1989, and was a member of the football, wrestling and baseball teams from 1984-88. The HU Hall of Fame inductee played baseball under former head coach Chuck Hinton. He wrestled under former wrestling coach and current Howard alumni trustee, Dr. Paul Cotton. Mack played football under former head coach and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Willie Jeffries. Mack was also a teammate of current Bison director of athletics, Charles Gibbs. He was a member of the 1987 football team that won the MEAC title and finished 9-1.

Mack will succeed Douglas H. Palmer, whose 20-year run as mayor officially comes to an end when Mack is sworn in July 1.

“I do not have the words to express my appreciation for the love and support I have received throughout this incredible journey,” Mack told his supporters at the Trenton Marriott Downtown. “The Wilbur section wasn’t New York, but the sentiment was that if you could make it there, you could make it anywhere. This is a humbling experience for me. We are going to put you first in everything we do … and I mean that. Things did not deteriorate overnight, and we can not fix it overnight. But we can get started right away.”

Tennessee State 2010 Football Schedule Announced

TSU head football coach Rod Reed














The Tennessee State University football team will return to the Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN for the 2010 season. TSU will be matched against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe North Carolina A&T University. The Aggies will replace Southern University on the Tigers 2010 schedule. TSU’s last appearance in the Circle City Classic was in 2005 when they dropped a16-3 decision to North Carolina A&T in the RCA Dome.

The Tigers will again participate in four “Classic” games against traditional rivals from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Coupled with their seven game Ohio Valley Conference schedule, the Big Blue will play an eleven-game schedule including four games on their home turf, LP Field in Nashville, TN.

The “Classic” match-ups begin on Labor Day Weekend, September 4th with the John Merritt Classic in Nashville, TN against Alabama A&M (SWAC), then on to Memphis, TN, Sept. 11th against Jackson State (SWAC). On September 25th the Tigers travel to Atlanta, GA to face off against Florida A&M (MEAC) and on October 2nd to Indianapolis, IN to battle North Carolina A&T (MEAC).

In Ohio Valley Conference play, TSU will host Austin Peay State on September 18th in the annual Bikers’ game. Road trips to Southeast Missouri State and Jacksonville State follow on October 9th and 16th respectively. The Tigers end the month of October hosting Tennessee Tech on October 23rd, followed by an open date on October 30th. The Big Blue finishes their regular season schedule hosting Eastern Illinois for Homecoming on November 6th and finishing with road games at Tennessee Martin and Murray State on November 13th and 20th respectively.

Tennessee State University -Tentative 2010 Football Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time
9/4 Ala. A&M Nashville, TN 6 pm John Merritt Classic, LP Field
9/11 Jackson State Memphis, TN 6 pm So. Heritage Classic, Liberty Bowl
9/18 Austin Peay Nashville, TN 6 pm Bikers’ Classic, LP Field
9/25 Florida A&M Atlanta, GA TBA Atlanta Classic, Georgia Dome
10/2 N.Carolina A&T Indianapolis, IN TBA Circle City Classic, Lucas Oil Stadium
10/9 SEMO* Cape Girardeau, MO TBA
10/16 Jax State* Jacksonville, AL TBA
10/23 Tenn. Tech * Nashville, TN 6pm LP Field
10/30 O P E N
11/6 Eastern Illinois * Nashville, TN 5 pm, Homecoming, LP Field
11/13 Tenn.-Martin* Martin, TN TBA
11/20 Murray State * Murray, KY TBA

Southern University Jaguars ink 19 for 2008 on NSD

2008 SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL SIGNEES:

1. Chris Browne (6-3, 275, OL) Shaker Heights, OH/Shaker Heights HS
All-District selection
All-League pick
Scholar-Athlete Award

2. LaQuinton Evans (6-1, 180, WR/DB) Mansfield, LA/Mansfield HS
1st Team All-District WR
2nd Team All-District DB
All-Area Honorable Mention
Offensive MVP
All-Academic 2004-08
Member of National Honor Society
3.5 GPA
Senior season: Offense: 37 catches for 741 yards and 10 touchdowns; Defense: 42 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 12 pass deflections and 1 defensive touchdown.
Junior season: 32 catches for 536 yards and 1 touchdown; Defense: 35 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 15 pass deflections.
Sophomore season: Defense: 15 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 8 pass deflections

3. Demetrius Bentley (6-0, 222, RB/LB) Akron, OH/Akron East HS
Five sport high school athlete
1st team All-City
2nd team All-Northeast Inland team (Ohio)
Greater Akron Touchdown club All-Star
2-year Academic All-Star team

4. Jeremy Robinson (6-4, 330, OL) Evergreen, AL/Greenville HS
Four-Year Letterman
As a senior, had 48 pancake blocks
Also only allowed 2 sacks in senior season
Power cleans 270lb, 315lb bench press & 430lb squat

5. Darian Prentiss (5-9,165, CB/QB/Ath) Point Coupee , LA/Catholic High-Point Coupee
As a quarterback, led team to District 6-1A championship
Threw for 2,265 yards and 30 touchdowns, while also rushing for 478 yards and 5 touchdowns
As a cornerback, had 10 interceptions over his junior & senior seasons
As a senior: Offensive District MVP, honorable-mention All-State
As a junior: All-District as a defensive back & on special teams
Academic All-State

6. Darryl Scott (6-2½, 225, TE) New Orleans, LA/OP Walker HS
All-District 10-4A
18 receptions for 461 yards and 2 touchdowns
47 tackles, 6 sacks & five tackles for losses

7. Tim Berry (5-10, 185, DB) West Feliciana, LA/West Feliciana HS
1st team All-District 8-3A as a DB
2nd team All- District 8-3A as a WR
Four-Year starter
Had 17 receptions for 456 yards and four touchdowns as a senior
On defense had 69 tackles, including 3 for losses, and 7 interceptions

8. Lee Almanza (6-4, 310, OT) Houston, TX/Madison HS
A three-year starter and a post player on the basketball team
Selected as a All-District 20-5A first team player as a senior
Selected as a All-District 20-5A second team player as a junior

9. Tyrus Harris (6-2, 240, TE) Lutcher, LA/Lutcher HS
Senior season: 1st team All-District TE
1st team All-District DE
LSWA & LFCE All-State TE
River v. Bayou All-Star Game
1st team All-River Parishes Team
Times-Picayune All-Metro team
2007 stats: 24 catches, 461 yards, 2 TD's
Junior season: 1st team All-District TE
1st team All-River Parishes Team
1st team All-Metro Team
LFCA 2nd team All-State
2006 stats: 23 catches, 321 yards, 2 TD's

10. John Dees (6-1, 210 FB/LB) Evergreen, AL/Hillcrest HS
Scholar Athlete
Honorable-mention class 4A-5A All-Region as a junior
Honorable-mention class 4A-5A All-Region as a senior
Honorable-mention class 4A-5A All-State as a senior
Defensive Player Award
Linebacker Award
Four-Year Letterman
78 tackles, 9 tackles for Loss, including 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries in junior and senior seasons

11. Justin Fletcher (6-2, 208, LB/SS) Missouri City, TX/Thurgood Marshall HS
Defensive Player of the Year
Most single game tackles (20)
Most solo tackles
Team tackle leader with 119 total tackles

12. Ryan Broussard (6-2, 175, WR) Lafayette, LA/Northside HS
Named Class 4A All-State honorable mention as a senior and as a junior
Senior season: Finished the regular season with 50 catches for 818 yards and 6 touchdowns
Junior season: Had 42 catches for 726 yards and 2
Also a member of state semifinals basketball team last season

13. Byron Williams (5-10, 190, RB) Clinton, LA/Clinton HS
Senior season: Williams rushed for 1,169 yards with 23 TD's
Also had 626 yards receiving yards and 5 TD's
Member of The Advocate's All-Metro team (Class 3A-2A-1A)
Offensive MVP in District 8-2A
1st team All-District 8-2A at DB
Also finished 2nd in the 110 hurdles at the Class 2A, Region 2 track meet

14. Roderick Banks (6-2, 185, WR) Shreveport, LA/Evangel Christian Academy
A three-year starter at one of Louisiana's prep powerhouses
Senior season: Banks had 50 catches for 800 yards and 9 touchdowns
Chose Southern over Nebraska, Louisiana Tech and Arkansas Tech

15. Odell Pippins (6-4, 285, OL) Houston, TX/Madison HS
A 2nd team All-District 20-5A selection

16. Jerry Joseph, II (5-11, 203, RB) Ville Platte, LA/Ville Platte HS
As a freshman: rushed 180 times for 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns
Named to All-District, All-Parish & All-Acadiana teams
As a sophomore: rushed 65 times for 600 yards and 6 touchdowns
Named to All-District, All-Parish teams
As a junior: rushed 80 times for 700 yards and 7 touchdowns
Named to All-District & All-Parish teams
As a senior: rushed 200 times for 1,550 yards and 23 touchdowns
Named to All-District, All-Parish & All-Acadiana teams
Also named to All-Cenla and All-Daily World Team
LSWA honorable mention All-State
LSCA 2nd team All-State

17. Ron Ferdinand (6-1, 240, DE/LB) New Orleans, LA/JS Clark HS
The Defensive MVP of District 11-3A as a senior
A four-year starter
Has played on both sides of the ball -- offensive tackle and guard and defensive end and tackle
All-Orleans Parish
All-District 11-3A
Orleans Parish All-Star

18. Byron Jones (6-4, 305, OL) Shawnee Mission, KS/Shawnee Mission HS/Garden City CC (KS)
Started all 10 games
1st team KJCCC All-Conference
Prepped at Shawnee Mission HS in Kansas
Can play either guard or tackle

19. Kennon Bradford (6-3, 285, OL) New Orleans, LS/McDonogh 35
2 year starter and letterman
2006 All-District 9-4A
2007 All-District 10-4A
Played in Orleans vs. Northshore All-Star Game

New contract, new QB make JSU Comegy happy

Photo: Jackson State University head football coach Rick Comegy.

The Jackson State football community got a double-dose of good news on Wednesday's National Signing Day. Head coach Rick Comegy pulled in a recruiting class that he rated an 8.0 on a scale of 10 - a class that includes standout quarterback Dominick Britt.

He also received a contract extension through the 2011 season, pending IHL approval. His original four-year deal was set to expire after the 2009 season. Comegy led the JSU to its first SWAC title since 1996. Athletic director Bob Braddy would not release the details of the contract. "I was really pleased and honored," Comegy said. "It brings some security and stability."

CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE AND TO VIEW JSU UPDATED LISTING OF FOOTBALL SIGNEES.

WSSU Football Inks 10 To National Letters Of Intent

Photo: WSSU Rams head football coach Kermit Blount.

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Winston-Salem State University football program announced the signing of 10 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on 2008 signing day on Wednesday in what many have described as one of the most talent-laden classes in WSSU history. The Rams inked student-athletes from six states and the District of Columbia as WSSU signed three athletes from North Carolina, two from Virginia, one from Washington, D.C., and one athlete each from the states of Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Maryland.

WSSU 2008 Football Recruits

1. Cameron Demps,5'11/180, DB/PR,Suwanee, GA, Peachtree Ridge
2. Dallas McDaniel,6'3/325, OL/DL, Lynchburg, VA, Heritage
3. Darren Everette,6'4/205, LB, Murfreesboro, NC, Hertford County
4. Dominique Fitzgerald, 6'0/180, WR, Danville, VA, G. Wash. Danville
5. Branden Williams, 6'1/190, QB, Seale, AL, Glenwood
6. Akiem Smart, 6'4/260, DL, Fairfax, SC, Allendale-Fairfax
7. Eric Wiggins, 6'4/290, OL, Washington, D.C., Gonzaga College
8. David Luckett, 6'3/280,OL, Pomfret, MD, Maurice McDonough HS
9. Dave Harris, 6'3/245,DL,Charlotte, NC, West Mecklenburg
10. Lamar Whidbee, 6'3/260, DL, Hertford, NC, Perquimans County

CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE AND PLAYER PROFILE BY CLICKING ON BLOG TITLE.

Delaware State signs Maryland All-State quarterback recruit

Photo: Quarterback Nick Elko, the Capital-Gazette Newspapers' Player of the Year, committed to Delaware State University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Elko attended a camp at Delaware State this past summer and caught the attention of the coaching staff. Assistant coach Ray Petty, who recruits the Anne Arundel County, Maryland area, kept tabs on Elko and formally offered a scholarship in October.

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY BY CLICKING ON THE BLOG TITLE ABOVE.

Elko will join 19 other recruits and 9 transfers that are already enrolled at Delaware State for the 2008 class. DSU Coach Al Lavan also signed Football Bowl Championship transfer quarterback Anthony Glaud (Sicklerville, NJ), who played at Bowling Green State University of the Mid-American Conference.

Elko should not have to play right away with starting quarterback Vashon Winton returning for his senior year. However, he will need time to learn the complex DSU offense, how to read more FCS defenses and adjust to the speed of the game, especially against programs at Hampton University, Florida A&M, South Carolina State, Bethune Cookman and Norfolk State that have some of the fastest defensive players in the conference.

Hopefully, Coach Lavan can develop Elko to be a solid 1-AA level quarterback in a highly competitive league. You never know how these young kids will grow when they step up in competition. Elko has a great foundation but will have to work extremely hard to become the type of championship player expected at DSU. But more importantly, he will be surrounded by the best talent we have seen recruited at Delaware State during the Lavan era.

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Nike Elko #12--- Maryland 2007 4A Championship Game Highlights: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1185218742?bctid=1336721443

Maryland State Public School Records set by Elko and his team.

Team
Most Passing Yards, Season: 3,251 – Arundel, 2007
Most Passed Attempted, Season: 456 – Arundel, 2007
Most Passes Completed, Season: 277 – Arundel, 2007

Individual
Most Total Offensive Yards, Season: 3,933 – Nick Elko, 2007
Most Passing Yards, Season: 3,091 – Nick Elko, 2007
Most Passes Attempted, Season: 430 – Nick Elko, 2007
Most Passes Completed, Season: 260 – Nick Elko, 2007
Most TD passes, Season: 43 – Nick Elko, 2007
Most Receptions, Season: 103 – Brandon Johnson-Farrell, 2007
Receiving Yards, Season: 1,394 -- Brandon Johnson-Farrell, 2007
Most Receiving TD’s, Season: 23 -- Brandon Johnson-Farrell, 2007
Most Receptions, Career: 174 – Brandon Johnson-Farrell, 2005-2007

Grambling State stockpile offensive line prospects

Grambling's stockpile of offensive line prospects grew by two more, as Demetrius Porter (6-5, 280) out of Marksville and Georgia's Sanford Banks (6-5, 303) pledged. That makes five new commitments toward a remade GSU front four so far.

Banks, a one-star recruit out of Carver (Columbus, Ga.) High, was listed at 5:93 in the 40-yard dash by Scout.com. Rivals, which called Banks the No. 68 recruit in Georgia, also listed interest from Alabama-Birmingham, South Florida and Wake Forest.

CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE BY CLICKING ON BLOG TITLE.

A Howard Bison's fast track to the Super Bowl

Photo: Former Howard University Bison Geoff Pope will play in the Super Bowl for the NY Giants as a rookie cornerback, 6-0/186, from Detroit, MI.

How was it that, he, Geoff Pope, cornerback from Howard University, undrafted by every NFL team, cast away by the worst club in the league, told years ago by the football coach at Eastern Michigan that he wasn't even good enough to play there, wound up on the New York Giants? On the field? Going to the Super Bowl?

"It's certainly a rush," Pope said that evening as he sat in a Starbucks near downtown Bethesda, Maryland. He wore a gray pinstripe suit, purple tie and a Giants playoff cap. Across the table sat his business manager, Omar Sillah. And they had put together an ambitious agenda for this first Tuesday of his Super Bowl life with the stock exchange visit in the morning, then some television interviews in New York, a flight to Washington and more television appearances before resting here while a car service waited on the street outside.

CONTINUE READING THIS FASCINATING STORY ON HOWARD BISON GEOFF POPE BY CLICKING ON BLOG TITLE.

Pope has his head screwed on correctly--"Yesterday, he planned to stop by Howard University and meet with school officials to figure out how he could finish the 20 credits he needs to complete his degree in advertising."

Great motivational story and outstanding advertising for Howard University and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. We only wish that more of us would take the initiatives of Pope when someone tells us--"You will never be good enough to play or perform at this level."--just prove them 100% wrong!

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Savannah State has big plans for football

Photo: Savannah State University head football coach Robby Wells.

Wells, who was hired last Saturday, said one of his tasks is to get SSU up from 24 scholarships to 63, the maximum number allowed by the NCAA for teams in the Football Championship Subdivision. SSU intends to offer 63 scholarships "in a couple of years," he said.

If the goal is reached, Wells said the Tigers will need to "maintain it for at least three years so that we can go out and get a guarantee game against one of the big guys, such as the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech or somebody like that. That way, we're going to get a big paycheck when we go to play them.

CONTINUE READING THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE BY CLICKING ON THE BLOG TITLE ABOVE.

It's not my style to be overly critical of HBCUs when they are attempting to better their situation. However, the hiring of inexperienced SSU head football coach Robby Wells is totally laughable. Based on his sermon of playing Georgia and Georgia Tech in the next few years, did he fail to check that Savannah State is stuck at the very bottom position of the Football Championship Subdivision without a conference or substantial fan base?

It appears the interim athletic director, Paula Jackson, has already delegated her responsibilities for athletic fundraising over to the new football coach to raise the needed funds to support 63 football scholarships. So, when Wells fails to raise the needed revenue, it is all on his back and not hers. It takes more than being of a particular race to be highly successful in the competitive world of major college athletics as Wells will soon learn.

It has been proven countless times that operating a NCAA Division I-AA football program successfully requires experience, planning, appropriate staffing and financing. Savannah State has allocated none of the above to the endeavor and this has been the basis for the failure of the past nine head football coaches in the last 13 years.

Robby Wells may become number 10 shortly as he will quickly learn that 0-22 won't cut it at any 1-AA institution. He will soon learn to never make promises that his SSU administration will fail to write the check to support, i.e., 63 scholarships for football.

Coach Wells comments will keep you chuckling as you know the real deal with SSU administration. We have hear it all before. The university's last winning season was in 1998.

The question is should Savannah State stop waisting money and drop Division I football all together and shift these needed funds to academic endeavors? That's the question their alumni need to ponder.

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MSU Coach Donald Hill-Eley: A difference maker!

Photo: Morgan State Roderick Wolfe is set to graduate in May 2008.

As a football coach, Hill-Eley is a notch above most and as a human being--even touchdown Jesus would approve.

CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston gives us all a glimpse of Morgan State University's Coach Hill-Eley in an article entitled, "From Living On The Streets To Scoring On The Field."

Hill-Eley is truly a difference maker and an amazing person....


by: Randall Pinkston , CBS News correspondent - New York

From Living On The Streets To Scoring On The Field

Football Coach Don Hill-Eley of Morgan State University could have lived anywhere in the Baltimore area. He chose to live near Morgan State, in “the hood.” That decision led to another one – patronizing a grocery store near his home where he met Roderick Wolfe.

The meeting, five years ago, led to a story of faith, discipline, and success that is still unfolding. Roderick was a high school football player who did not seem destined for success.

Photo: Morgan State University Coach Donald Hill-Eley

“What did Roderick look like when you first saw him?” I asked the coach.

“He was tall, malnourished, and very dirty. He really looked homeless”, said Hill-Eley.

“He told you he played football?”

“Yup. Told me he played football, told me he had good grades.”
Roderick Wolfe looked homeless because he was homeless. He moved from house to house, sometimes with family, usually with friends. His father, a drug-dealer, died when Roderick was 10. By Roderick’s senior year in high school, his mother was on drugs, the family evicted from their home, Roderick and his siblings scattered to the winds.

Story Continues at: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/12/04/couricandco/entry3575211.shtml