Southern coaches, players ready for fall camp

BATON ROUGE, LA - After a 17 year run, a new day is literally dawning on the bluff. New head football coach, Lyvonia "Stump" Mitchell, is set to welcome his first class to campus for fall preparation. The Jags open the 2010 season on Sunday, September 5, 2010 at 12:00pm in the Citrus Bowl versus Delaware State in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge.

Stump Mitchell and staff are set to welcome 90 players to the north Baton Rouge campus. "For us, as coaches, it's the most important time of the year -- other than when you're trying to recruit the players here," Mitchell said. "Spring (practice) was important, too, as far as us getting to know what we had. ... But this is where you really get to practice."

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Delaware State Hornets upbeat at Spring Camp‎

DOVER, DE -- The atmosphere at Delaware State University's Alumni Stadium for Saturday's Red-White football scrimmage was light years away from the doom-and-gloom that seemed to constantly envelop the Hornets last year. Quarterback Anthony Glaud was consistently finding his receivers in stride and the team's young defense showed promise at the linebacker positions. The feelings were of promise and great expectations for when the Hornets return to the field in August for summer football camp. "It was good in processing this entire spring," Glaud said, preparing for his senior season. "This is actually the best we've looked and it's a good thing to be the best that you are at the end of spring [camp], so now we have something to carry into the summer and then into the fall camp."

Coach Lavan sees signs of improvement in young DSU squad. Delaware State will open its 11-game 2010 season on Sunday, Sept. 5, against Southern University (La.) in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge at Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

Al Lavan, preparing for his seventh season as DSU's head coach, wasn't looking for greatness. He just wanted to see signs of improvement. "I think overall we accomplished in the last 15 days what we needed to accomplish which was to see an improvement of our football team," said Lavan, who is 38-28 overall with the Hornets. "It's such a young team in the offensive line and a lot of different areas, but I thought we made improvement, which was the main thing.

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South Carolina State 43, Howard 13

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

South Carolina State Remains Unbeaten In MEAC

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

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

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

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

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

SC State Continues Its MEAC March

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

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MEAC Sports Shorts: Get out of Town!

Atlanta Football Classic paid FAMU only $255,081 in 2007 is nothing to dance about for Rattlers. TSU earned $287,867.

• McQuay released from FAMU scholarship, eyeing Florida State: Suncoast sprinter Tony McQuay received word today that FAMU track coach Rey Robinson had been fired and was granted a release from his scholarship. McQuay won a gold medal in the 400-meter dash, a silver in the 200, and a bronze in the 100 at the Class 2A state meet earlier this month. He had signed a track scholarship with FAMU, where his parents attended and his sister is now, the week of the state meet. He turned down offers from Clemson, Georgia and Georgia Tech, among others to sign with FAMU. After his performance, McQuay attracted the attention of Florida and Florida State and he said that made him rethink his decision to sign with FAMU but it was too late. All that changed when Robinson was fired late Tuesday.
  
• McELVEEN SEEKS FAMU RELEASE: Blake senior Marissa McElveen, the 3A state champion in the triple jump, is seeking a release from her national letter of intent signed with Florida A&M University after the Rattlers fired women's head coach Maicel Malone, Yellow Jackets coach Shirley Parker said Friday.
  
• Bank of America may punt Atlanta Football Classic title sponsorship: Bank of America Corp. may pull its title sponsorship of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta Football Classic. The Charlotte-based bank three-year contract as title sponsor of the college game in Atlanta ends after this year event on Sept. 26. While the bank will maintain some level of sponsorship, it likely will not continue as title sponsor. BofA has been the title sponsor since 2004. The decision comes at a time when financial institutions that have received assistance from the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) are coming under increased scrutiny for sports marketing, especially from the U.S. Congress. BofA has received $45 billion in TARP funding.
  
• 100 Black Men of Atlanta Football Classic: According to 100 Black Men of Atlanta 2007 tax returns, it paid $287,867 to Tennessee State University, which plays in the game, and $255,081 to Florida A&M University, Tennessee State annual opponent for their participation in the 2007 Bank of America - Atlanta Football Classic.
  
• Athletes receive scholarship offers from Rattlers: Matt Thompson, 6-0, 175 senior QB from Seabreeze Senior High School (Daytona Beach, FL) has receive scholarship offers from FAMU, Bethune Cookman and Tennessee State. The talented quarterback prospect missed the majority of his junior season with a broken leg. Northern Illinois has expressed interest, but has not offered a scholarship to Thompson.
  
• RELOADING: North Marion High hasn’t missed the regional playoffs since 1999 and with a talented group of rising seniors is a good bet to make it again. According to Colts coach Craig Damon, Florida A&M has offered current NMHS standouts Courtland Thomas (DL), Brandon Carr (S) and Terraine McCullough (WR/DB). Damon said Iowa State has also offered McCullough, who he expects more offers to come in for over the next week.
  
• Player on Radar: Alex DeLeon (6-3, 190), a three-year starter at outside linebacker and tight end, is getting looks from FAMU, Florida Atlantic, The Citadel, Marshall and Duke. DeLeon plays for Belleview (FL) Rattlers Coach Mike Bowe, which returns six starters on offense and five on defense.
  
• Get Out of Town: The Orange & Green received a big shock this week as the University has decided not to renew the contracts of two Head Rattlers. Men's track coach Rey Robinson and women's track coach Maicel Malone were informed Tuesday that their services were no longer needed. Robinson, a former Olympian, has been the men's track coach since 2000. Malone, a former coach at FSU, took over the women’s program at FAMU in 2005. Athletic director Bill Hayes said the changes were necessary as part of his effort to turn around FAMU's athletic program. Both head coach Rey Robinson and Maicel Malone were preparing five athletes -- thee men and two women -- for the NCAA East Regional championships next weekend in Greensboro, N.C. when they were notified.
  
• Joe Taylor impact goes beyond gridiron: Over 30 FAMU Rattlers earned grade point averages in the classroom at 3.0 or better this past semester. The B average of these players represent an important academic accomplishment. Starting quarterback Curtis Pulley's father reported that his son earned a 3.2 gpa for the Spring Semester. The 2004 Kentucky Mr. Football, Curtis Pulley is spending the summer in North Carolina with his uncle Lonnie Pulley, a former player at Winston Salem State who's a high school coach in the area. Pulley will be working out at Wake Forest University with Demon Deacons quarterback Riley Skinner and NFL receiver Anquan Boldin, whose brother D.J. played at Wake Forest. Pulley completed 55.1 percent of his passes for 1,382 yards and 17 touchdowns for Florida A&M last season. He also ran for 887 yards and seven touchdowns.
  
• 2009 Commisioner's All-Academic Team: The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announces the 2009 Commissioner’s All-Academic Team, recognizing 593 student-athletes from the conference’s 12 member institutions who achieved academic success during the 2008-09 academic school year. The team honors student-athletes, including sophomores to seniors, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. “I congratulate and commend the student-athletes who have achieved academic success by maintaining a 3.0 or better grade point average during the 2008-09 school year,” said Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas. “I would further like to congratulate the coaches, institutions, and parents of these academic achievers for their contributions to the student athletes success.” 2009 Commissioner’s All-Academic Award Winners (by institutions):
  
• FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY (30)
  Women (14): Samara Ferraz (VB, Public Relations), Rhianna Green (SB, Health Science), Brittany Wade (W. Swim, Business), Danielle Riley (WT, Graphic Design), Stephanie Foster (WB, Journalism), Gina Davis (BO, Chemistry), Ashley Melson (BO, Criminal Justice), Trishay Bryant (WT, Journalism), Jesseka Forbes (WT, Pharmacy), Kiera Holiday (WT, Criminal Justice), Tifany Morrow (WT, Nursing), Suelyn Pillner (WT, Criminal Justice), Kelle Ransom (WT, Public Relations), Whitney Young (WT, Business)…. Men (16): Eddie Battle (FB, Accounting), Cameron Houston (FB, Criminal Justice), Kenneth Lanier (FB, Pharmacy), Gregory Lee (FB, Undeclared), Phillip Sylvester (FB, Engineering), Jack Dash (M. Swim, Engineering), Gregory Lowe (M. Swim, Spanish), Simbarashe Happy (MT, Business), Forest Jenkins (MT, Business), Paul Paige (MT, Business), Artiom Podgainii (MT, Physical Ed.), Bryant Carlin (GF, Business), Gallop Franklin (GF, Pharmacy), Elijah Jackson (GF, Pre-Med.), Byron Taylor (MB, Economics), Stanley Suber (MT, Graphic Design)

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B-CU Wildcats Sign 32 To National Letters Of Intent

Bethune-Cookman University Head Football Coach Alvin Wyatt, Sr. and his coaching staff announced Wednesday the signing of 32 high school student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to attend B-CU in the fall of 2009 and to play football for the Wildcats. B-CU also announced two transfers who will be joining the football program in 2009.

"I am very excited with the recruiting class," said Coach Alvin Wyatt on Wednesday. "It is the largest class in numbers we've ever had here and it is a great recruiting class. For the first time - we were able to recruit 12 offensive lineman and we added size and strength on both the offensive and defensive lines."

Coach Wyatt added that he was very pleased with the four QB recruits. "We signed four quality quarterbacks and we will have 7 quarterbacks competing at the position in the fall," said Wyatt. "We need them all and there will be a lot of talent at the position. We also helped ourselves signing two of the best high school kickers in the State of Florida."

Listed below are the 32 high school players (in alphabetical order) who signed National Letters of Intent with Bethune-Cookman University on Wednesday and the two Division I college transfers.

1. Michael Adams Quarterback Fr - HS - 6-1/180 Riverdale, Georgia (Riverdale High School)
2. J. J. Adams Defensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-2 - 240 Orange Park, Fla. (Ridgeview High School)
3. Phillip Bailey Linebacker Fr. HS - 6-1 - 210 Daytona Beach, Fla. (Spruce Creek High School)
4. Kenneth Bishop Offensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-2 - 275
Sunrise. Fla. (Piper High School)
5. Cory Clarke Defensive Back Fr. HS - 5-10 - 170 Miami, Fla. (Miami Central High School)
6. Benjamin De La Cruz Quarterback Fr. HS - 6-1 - 195 Deltona, Fla. (Pine Ridge High School)
7. Darrell Wilson Offensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-3 - 245 Jacksonville, Fla. (First Coast High School)
8. Gabriel Encarnacion Offensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-3 - 305 Hollywood, Fla. (MacArthur High School)
9. Corey Ferguson Quarterback Fr. HS - 5-10 - 180 Orlando, Fla. (Evans High School)
10. Jarkevis Fields Linebacker Fr. HS - 5-11 - 215 Sanford , Fla. (Seminole High School)
11. Markeil Floyd Offensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-4 - 235 Tampa, Fla. (Tampa Bay Tech High School)
12. Kevin Grier Offensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-4 - 295 Spring Hill, Fla. (Brooksville Central High School)
13. Sven Hurd Kicker Fr. HS - 6-0 - 190 Pensacola, Fla. (Pine Forest High School)
14. Pedro Neiva Offensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-4 - 310 Miami, Fla. (Coral Reef High School)
15. Isidore Jackson Running Back Fr. HS - 5-11 - 180 Crestview, Fla. (Walton High School)
16. Shelby Jackson Offensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-2 - 270 Rockledge, Fla. (Rockledge High School)
17. Javaris Johnson Wide Receiver Fr. HS - 5-10 - 170 Gretna, Fla. (Florida High HS)
18. Kory Kowalski Kicker Fr. HS - 6-3 - 180 Rockledge, Fla. (Rockledge High School)
19. Nixon LaRoche Offensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-4 - 315 Miami, Fla. (Archbishop Curly High School)
20. Nesly Marcellon Linebacker Fr. HS - 6-1 - 210 Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Stranahan High School)
21. Deonte McDowell Defensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-3 -265 Avondale Estates, Georgia (Avondale High School)
22. Alexander Monroe Offensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-4 - 305 Jacksonville, Fla. (First Coast High School)
23. Shyler Morgan Running Back Fr. HS - 5-10 - 180 Mayo, Fla. (Lafayette City High School)
24. Jacoby Nelson Offensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-3 - 280 Lauderhill, Fla. (Piper High School)
25. Jacob Palmer Offensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-5 - 310 Deltona, Fla. (Pine Ridge High School)
26. Greg Ross, Jr. Quarterback Fr. HS - 5-10, 170 Daytona Beach, Fla. (Mainland High School)
27. Marquell Rozier Defensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-7 - 345 St. Pauls, N.C. (Ft. Union Military School)
28. Greg Smith Linebacker Fr. HS - 6-0 - 215 Hollywood, Fla. (Hallandale High School)
29. Barry Stafford Defensive End Fr. HS - 6-0 - 240 Atlanta, Georgia (Chamblee High School)
30. Javaris Sutton Defensive End Fr. HS - 6-1 - 240 Lake Wales, Fla. (Lake Wales High School)
31. Dennell Wesley Offensive Lineman Fr. HS - 6-2 - 280 Hastings, Fla. (Menendez High School)
32. Erik Williams Defensive End Fr. HS - 6-4 -230 Plantation, Fla. (Stranahan High School)

Morgan State Announces 2009 Football Signees

MSU Sports Information

BALTIMORE, Md. – Morgan State University head football coach Donald Hill-Eley announced the signing of nine (9) high school and D-I transfers on National Signing Day. Overall, the nine (9) signees included three (3) linebackers, two (2) defensive backs, one (1) offensive lineman, one (1) wide receivers, one (1) running back and one (1) defensive lineman. The Bears signed seven (7) from high school and two (2) JUCO transfers.

2009 National Letter of Intent Signees

Antonio Brown 6’2 – 290, OL
Dunbar HS - Baltimore, Md.
…50 pancakes…78 tackles…7 sacks…anchored a line that won three State Championships…cleared the way for the state's premiere rusher and scorer in West Virginia-bound Tavon Austin…First Team All-State…First Team All-Metro…First Team All-Digital Sport…Black National Football Scholar of the Year.

Anthony Elliott 5’11 – 180, WR
Friendship Edison HS – Washington, D.C.
…44 receptions…785 yards…11 TDs…5 INTs…Two defensive TDs…4 TD Returns…First team All-Washington Post Independent League…Washington DC All-City Bowl.

Collin Bing 5’11 – 170, RB
Glenn Hills HS – Hephzibah, Ga.
…80 carries…700 yards…20 receptions…325 rec. yards…10 TDs…50 tackles…5 interceptions…3 forced fumbles…Second team All-Area…Three time Offensive MVP.

Zachary Harper 6’3 – 210, LB
Gwynn Park HS – Brandywine, Md.
…90 tackles…11 tackles for loss…16 sacks…4 interceptions…TD…First Team All-Prince George’s County…2009 Crab Bowl…All-Metro…All-State.

Brian Saunders 6’1 – 225, LB
Northern Iowa Community College – West Palm Beach, Fla.
…98 tackles…6 sacks…20 tackles for loss…two fumble recoveries…three forced fumbles…First Team All-Region…First Team All-Conference

Lance Simmons 6’1 – 225, LB
Carman Ainsworth HS – Flint, Mich.
…105 tackles…7 sacks…Second Team All-State…Team Defensive MVP…Ainsworth Big Stick Award.

Montique Allen 6’2 – 285, DL
John Marshall HS – Chicago, Ill.
…36 sacks…104 tackles (39 assisted)…10 tackles for loss…Three time All-City…Two time All-Conference…2008 All-State.

Derrick Kinchen 5’11 – 165, DB
Coral Gables HS – Miami, Fla.
…45 tackles…10 pass breakups…3 forced fumbles…First Team All-Miami Dade…Dade County All-Star Team.

Kirkland Davidson 5’9 – 185, DB
Northern Iowa Community College – Highland Park, N.J.
…30 tackles…5 pass breakups…800 return.

Hampton coach says changes are coming after 6-5 season

Jerry Holmes eyes changes, possibly in the assistant ranks, after his first season at the helm.

Jerry Holmes isn't satisfied. Not with Hampton's 6-5 record in his first season as head coach. Not with a team that was 5-1 before losing four straight games and its focus. And not with some of his assistant coaches, many of them holdovers from former Pirates coach Joe Taylor's staff. "If I had to do it again, I still would give those guys an opportunity to try to prove themselves, but now, Year 2 is gonna be what I want," Holmes said. "I'm not a 6-5 kind of guy."

Holmes wouldn't specify any planned coaching changes, but clearly was unhappy with the Pirates' offensive imbalance. Hampton averaged 247 passing yards per game but just 106 on the ground. That changed in Saturday's season finale, when the Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak with a 17-13 win at Morgan State. The Pirates attempted just seven passes but ran for 124 yards against a defense that had been giving up only 92 per game.

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Update of Week Seven - MEAC/SWAC Football

Sorry for being missing in action this past week, but had to travel to South Carolina/North Carolina for consulting tasks for key Agency client. Unfortunately, it was a secure environment on a Federal facility (no outside Internet access) and my hotel had whacked Internet service and no ESPNU. I nearly went nuts, unable to access MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street nor receive FAMCast of the Rattlers game with the WSSU Rams.

The best I received was 45 second packets of streaming audio of FAMU's game standing outside the hotel front doors and having to re-boot every 60 seconds. Folks thought I was crazy for holding the laptop upside down, at ground level, trying to receive the hotel's Internet signal.

More importantly, I got the opportunity to watch my son's soccer team (Cary, N.C.) play two great teams in Fayetteville and Wilmington, N.C. over the weekend. The kid has skills scoring 2 goals in a 2-1 victory (Sunday) and being a defensive force in the 0-0 tie on Saturday. I could retire in the Carolinas (Apex or Carolina Beach, N.C.), but must have excellent Internet service and Dish Network. Otherwise, you are in HBCU sports purgatory. Happy to be back!

If you live in the Savannah River basin, here's what happen last week in the MEAC/SWAC, as you wouldn't know this from the local press. Talk about being blacked-out, the South Carolina locals are oblivious on the happenings in HBCU sports...

• FAMU (4-2, 1-2) kicked Winston Salem (1-5, 0-2) as expected 23-0, with 15,448 (60.5%) attending on a Thursday night affair for ESPNU--that 95% of America will never see this game on television. The highlight of the night was the cute little Winston Salem State Marching Band that came to Bragg Memorial to challenge the FAMU Marching 100.


• Morgan State (3-3, 1-1) went to Greensboro and steamrolled North Carolina A&T 41-3 before 21,500 Aggie Fans. Are the Bears really that good or has A&T (2-5, 0-3) slipped back a notch?


• South Carolina State (5-2, 3-0) has just about wrapped up the MEAC conference title, crushing the hopes of Norfolk State Spartans 24-23 at Dawson Bulldog Stadium. S.C. State packed in 16,003 for the big payback to the Spartans (2-4, 1-2) for last season's upset.


• Delaware State pulled an upset of the Bethune Cookman Wildcats 26-20 at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach. A crowd of 9,136 saw the BCU Wyatt-bone get contained by the Hornets (2-3, 2-1). BCU fell to 4-2, 2-2 on the season.


• Tennessee State was Idle.


• Prairie View A&M (5-1, 2-1) crushed the Alabama State 27-6 before 9,257 home fans at Blackshear Stadium. The Hornets are 1-5, 1-1 and still has shot to win the SWAC.


• Grambling State (5-2, 2-0) gave AAMU a lesson in football on its home field, 27-7. The Bulldogs fans (15, 170) were not happy with the outcome or the season record of 2-5, 1-1.


• Jackson State (2-4, 1-1) gave UAPB (0-6, 0-2) another beatdown to keep the Golden Lions winless under former Redskins great Monte Coleman. Is it Coleman or UAPB is really that bad? Oh, the final score was 21-10 with 10,600 attending at Pumphrey Stadium, Pine Bluff, AR.


• Alcorn State beat Mississippi Valley 35-21 on the road with 7,852 attending. The Braves are 2-5, 1-1 and the Delta Devils fall to 1-4, 0-2 in hopefully--Willie Totten's last season as head coach. Valley fans should be tired of losing.


• Southern University (4-2, 3-0) rained on Texas Southern (3-4, 0-2) 45-14 in their homecoming party at Mumford Stadium. 25,512 watched as the Jaguars prepares to face the FAMU Rattlers this weekend in an important rivalry game.


• Charleston Southern had a rough time beating Savannah State 29-20 on the Tigers home field. Coach Robbie Wells has surprised most with a record of 3-4, starting a freshman QB and players he recruited in his first season as a head coach. A total of 3, 457 fans came out to support the Tigers.


• Presbyterian (3-4) beat North Carolina Central 28-24 before 2,987 home fans. The Eagles (1-5) are finding the competition difficult in their second season at the D-IAA level.

We are now all up to date and are ready for Week Eight in the MEAC/SWAC.

NSU Spartans vs. W&M Tribe

Two weeks into the College of William and Mary’s 2008 season, the Tribe sits at 1-1 after playing two radically different teams. Week one opponent North Carolina State University was an athletic, deep Bowl Championship Series program with which the College did well to compete. Last week, the Tribe pounded an over matched Virginia Military Institute squad. Tomorrow, the College will get its first chance to match up against comparable talent when the Norfolk State University Spartans come to town.

Norfolk State University and QB Dennis Brown can lay the cornerstone for a possible At-Large 1-AA Playoff Berth for the Spartans with a victory at CAA foe William and Mary, Saturday.

“We want to come out and make a big statement to our future opponents,” senior linebacker Michael Pigram said. Such a statement will not come easily. The Spartans went 8-3 a year ago and head into tomorrow’s matchup at 2-1 on the season. The squad received 23 votes in The Sporting News’ most recent Football Championship Series poll to the Tribe’s single tally. “We haven’t played them in quite some time, but we know their reputation,” Head Coach Jimmye Laycock said. “We’ve looked at a little bit of tape and they’re a very good football team.”

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Winless Bulldogs, Gamecocks both have questions

OVC SportsTV (Cost:$5.95) Live Video
Radio: JSU Radio Network Listen Live Stats

JACKSONVILLE, AL - Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones learned two days before the Bulldogs' season opener against Tennessee State that his three Division I transfers - offensive tackle Michael Brown, inside linebacker Alfred Williams and defensive end Cornelius Robinson - wouldn't be able to play pending a ruling by the NCAA on their eligibility.

As a result, Jones had to resort to his backup plan, and it failed miserably as the Tigers claimed a 34-13 victory. Jones had hoped those players would be cleared in time for today's game at Jacksonville State. As of Friday, there had been no word. The Bulldogs and Gamecocks will battle at Paul Snow Stadium with both teams in search of their first victory of the season. Kickoff is 6 and the game can be heard on WJAB-FM 90.9.

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WINSTON-SALEM STATE AT N.C. A&T
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Records: Winston-Salem State 0-0; N.C. A&T 1-0
Location: Greensboro, N.C. (Aggie Stadium - 21,500)
Webcast: http://www.ncataggies.com/
Radio: WNAA - 90.1 FM in Greensboro, N.C.
The Series: Aggies lead, 35-11

NCA&T AGGIE GAME NOTES vs. WSSU

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The N.C. A&T Aggies' offensive playbook is a thick, bound volume filled with cryptic terms and X's and O's and lines and arrows of outrageous fortune. Its core isn't quite that obtuse. "This is the beginning of a new day," fullback Eugene Parnell says, beginning another narration of The Creed. "God has given us this day to use as we will. We can either waste it or use it for good. What we do today is important, for we have exchanged a day of our lives for it. We want it to be for good, not bad; for gain, not loss; for success, not failure; in order that we never regret the price that we pay for it."

The Aggies' offensive players, who scored 44 points in last week's season-opening win over Division II Johnson C. Smith, repeat the motto before every practice and every game under direction from John McKenzie, their first-year coordinator.

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New-look Valley defense pitched shutout in opener

Mississippi Valley State is halfway home — if 2007 is the measuring stick. And it probably shouldn't be. The Delta Devils are one game away from equaling their win total from last year after a 38-0 victory over Texas College last week. The squad which ranked No. 9 in the SWAC in both scoring defense (29.6 points a game) and total defense (354.6 yards a game) pitched the shutout, allowed just 192 yards and picked off three passes. Valley only had eight interceptions in all of 2007.

"Defensively, we had a lot of changes," MVSU coach Willie Totten said. "We went and got some junior college guys and some very quality high school guys ... where we released a lot of guys. "I like the way they were running to the football. Guys are going where they're supposed to go and doing their assignments."

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SU deals with short work week

The regular traveling need for the Southern University football team is three buses and an equipment truck. Thursday, though, the team had a fourth bus in its entourage.
That extra bus was for family members of coaches and administrators to get them to Nashville, Tenn., where Southern (0-1) will play Tennessee State (1-0) on Saturday night. This is a small part of making do after a hurricane.

Southern coach Pete Richardson did not want to leave behind his coaches’ families, many of whom are still without power in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. Concern for the families of the coaches and the players, along with the totality of a hectic week begun by Gustav’s Monday landfall, caused Richardson and new SU Chancellor Kofi Lomotey to meet Wednesday night after practice. Officials from both schools chatted that night, but in the end Richardson was able to agree to play the game, despite his misgivings.

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Teeing up on the road with the DSU Hornets

Wherever DSU football team goes, fine links are never far away

As long as Delaware State University remains in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Hornets football fans are guaranteed a golf trip to Florida every season. The Hornets played at Florida A&M in Tallahassee last year. This season, they play at Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach. It alternates that way every two years. And while DSU isn't playing any road games in the Carolinas this year, there will still be plenty of fine golf destinations for the traveling Hornets fan.

Sept. 13, at Kent It's 420 miles from Dover to Kent, Ohio. A good stop for golfers along the way would be Mill Creek Golf Course, which sits just off Interstate 76 in Canfield, Ohio, 35 miles east of Kent. Both the North and South courses at Mill Creek were designed by the legendary Donald Ross. The South is the longest at only 6,302 yards, but both have plenty of trees, bunkers and streams in play.

Oct. 11, at Bethune-Cookman It's Florida, so there is no shortage of four-star golf. But a good place to start is LPGA International.

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N.C. A.&T. Aggies put celebration behind them

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Lee Fobbs allowed himself to enjoy the first win of his tenure at N.C. A&T late Saturday night. Once the clock struck midnight, he turned into a football coach again. "We're not going to discard winning the game," Fobbs said Monday of the 44-12 verdict over Division II Johnson C. Smith, "but it's all over now. We've got to get ready for our next opponent."

That's Winston-Salem State, which was idle over the weekend and owns a two-game winning streak in the series entering Saturday's 6 p.m. game in Aggie Stadium. Along those lines, the best thing the coaches heard all night -- save the declaration of the final score -- was the mind-set of the players, who quelled the celebration with admonitions of dire consequences to anybody who showed up late to Sunday's weight-training session. There were no reports of tardiness.



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Colts cut QBs Lorenzen, (FAMU) Gray

Former FAMU Rattlers Quinn Gray is out of an NFL quarterback job tonight, with his cut from the Colts Roster.

The Indianapolis Colts reached the NFL’s regular-season limit of 53 today by waiving 20 players, including quarterbacks Jared Lorenzen and Quinn Gray (Florida A&M University), and placing two projected starters on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.

The waiving of Lorenzen and Gray indicates the team is confident its top two quarterbacks – Peyton Manning and Jim Sorgi – will be healthy for the Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears. Manning did not play in the preseason after undergoing surgery on his left knee July 14. Sorgi was held out of the last two preseason games after injuring his right knee.

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Coleman era begins with UAM’s stout offense

Arkansas-Monticello at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
WHEN 6 p.m. Central today WHERE Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff 2007 RECORDS Arkansas-Pine Bluff 4-7, 4-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference; Arkansas-Monticello 4-7, 3-5 Gulf South Conference COACHES Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Monte Coleman (first season ); Arkansas-Monticello: Gwaine Mathews (fourth season, 6-27 ) SERIES Arkansas-Monticello leads 12-4 RADIO KUAP-FM, 89. 7, in Pine Bluff; KHBMFM, 93. 7, in Monticello INTERNET http://www.uamsports.com/

Let the Monte Coleman era begin. After struggling to a 4-7 finish last season the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions fired coach Mo Forte, and hired defensive coordinator Monte Coleman to right the ship of what has been one of the more prestigious programs in Arkansas state history. Coleman’s tenure officially starts tonight when the Golden Lions open the 2008 season against the University of Arkansas at Monticello at 6 p.m.

“Feels like Christmas,” Coleman said of his head coaching debut. “Can’t wait for the next morning.” Coleman hopes to give a present to all Golden Lion fans by beating the Boll Weevils. And while UAM is a Division-II opponent, Coleman acknowledged that a victory won’t come easy for his squad.

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Grambling, Nevada have similarities

RENO, Nev. — Something will have to give when Nevada has the ball Saturday night in its season opener against Grambling State. Grambling, defending champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division, has many unanswered questions on offense but returns seven key players to a defense that ranked 12th in the nation in the Football Championship Subdivision last season.

Nevada returns eight players to one of the Western Athletic Conference’s best offenses a year ago, but is suffering from inexperience in the defensive secondary.
“They sound a lot like us,” Wolf Pack defensive coordinator Nigel Burton said in comparing the Tigers offense to Nevada’s defense. “Inexperienced. Talented, but inexperienced. ... I don’t know who has the advantage,” he said.

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Towns reaches A&M milestone

Assistant begins 30th season on Bulldogs' staff

Brawnski Towns never envisioned himself as a college football coach. He had other plans for his life. Towns signed to play football at Alabama A&M in 1965 under legendary coach Louis Crews and majored in mechanical drafting and technology design. "I was going to work at Boeing or some other company and make a lot of money," Towns said, laughing. Towns never made it to Boeing. He never made a lot of money, either. He did, however, become a football coach.

"I never wanted to coach," said Towns, A&M's defensive coordinator. "Coach Crews asked me to help him and the rest is history." Towns will make history in his own right Saturday night when A&M hosts Tennessee State in the season opener for both teams. The game will mark Towns' 30th year as an assistant coach with the Bulldogs. Kickoff is 6 at Louis Crews Stadium.

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FAMU Rattlers ready for new season

FAMU Football team looks to silence critics

The Rattler football team is entering into the season with a sense of optimism. After a summer of long workouts the team is confident it can compete in the MEAC. Head coach Joseph Taylor said about 75 athletes stayed in Tallahassee for the summer. "They took classes," Taylor said. "They were up on the track at 5:45 a.m. working on speed and later in the evening, they were lifting." Taylor said this season the team must play smarter.

Rattlers DB/KR Qier Hall #1 will be returning from an injury shorten 2007 season.

"It's all about hard work. We expect to be successful," Taylor said. "On offense, we have to make sure we protect the football. On defense, we have to be accountable and pay attention." Even though Tropical Storm Fay caused delays and closed some schools, Taylor said the weather had minimum effects on the team. The team watched a film and took a written test during the bad weather. "It was a good chance to get our legs back," Taylor said.

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