The significance — and even the news itself — might have escaped many fans and supporters this week. Chowan University in Murfreesboro, N.C., has joined the Hampton-based CIAA as a football member starting in 2008.
It is the first time that a predominantly white institution has joined a historically black college athletic conference, but it might not be the last.
Many fans on the popular black college sports site onnidan.com are skeptical of the union. Others are taking a wait-and-see attitude.
The feelings are similar at Chowan, according to athletic director Dennis Helsel.
"The reaction has ranged from 'Wow, that's creative!' to 'Will it work?' We haven't had any outright negative," Helsel added. "We've had some quizzical."
Eric Moore, founder and Webmaster for onnidan.com, said the relationship is a win for both sides.
"Now you have pretty much broken the mold," Moore said. "Because you are saying that schools who fit geographically and well as athletically will be welcome."
Moore said he doesn't think the union takes anything away from the purity of a historically black college conference, because the colleges for years have had white athletes, and "black colleges will always be historically black."
Jerry Holmes, defensive coordinator at Hampton University, and a graduate of Chowan when it was a junior college, agreed. "It's a good fit for both," Holmes added. "Chowan has always had a solid program."
Indeed, the school's Website lists 20 athletes, including Holmes, under "Chowan in the NFL."
Folks having a problem with this arrangement need to get over it quickly. This was a marriage of convenience that is already being looked at by at least one of the other three black conferences.
But first a little recent history.
The CIAA has been hemorrhaging members and looking for new partners. Hampton and Norfolk State left at least 10 years ago, and Winston-Salem and N.C. Central took off recently, hoping for greener pastures in Division I-AA.
Meanwhile, Chowan's courtship (provisional membership) with the Division III USA South Conference ended when the school was denied full membership in 2004. But in came a new president and new direction — and a decision to move up to Division II.
Chowan had played many of the CIAA schools in nearly all of its sports, and conference membership looked enticing — to both the CIAA and Chowan.
But race, so often an incendiary element, threatened an open love affair.
Credit CIAA commissioner Leon Kerry, a Hampton native. And credit both Helsel and Chowan president M. Christoper White for not letting race be a dividing factor.
All it took was a look ahead and even a look back.
"We want to be out of the box in our thinking," Kerry said. "We're looking for people with excellent venues, who play similar sports that we do. It's not about color."
Helsel, a former associate commissioner for Conference USA, searched for a new league for Chowan. He found that the average driving distance to the closest compatible conferences was 350 miles.
However, the average driving distance to the CIAA schools was 196 miles.
"That's a substantial cost difference in terms of savings," Helsel said. "If you take race out of it, the CIAA popped up as the best fit."
Helsel said some university officials also looked back to Chowan's beginnings in 1851 "as a four-year college for women — one of the first of its kind — not just a finishing school.
"We were ground breakers, so there is a parallel with us going to a historically black conference," Helsel said. "We're hoping people will look at us and say, 'Wow, this was a very creative and very good idea.' "
Helsel wasn't at first sure the CIAA would be receptive to a non-historically black institution. But once he learned the CIAA was having discussions with the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, a predominantly Native American institution, Chowan became less shy and made contact.
Discussions took place this summer and the arrangement was announced this week. Both Helsel and Kerry say that Chowan might become a member in other sports down the road.
Kerry said historically black Lincoln University, near Philadelphia, and UNC-Pembroke will join the CIAA in football in 2009.
Williams Lide, president of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, a black-college league based in Atlanta, said the CIAA-Chowan arrangement is the future.
"We are too looking to diversify our conference," Lide said. "It's the right thing to do, and it's also a good business decision.
"It expands your fan base, instills new rivalries and enhances your revenues."
So in the end, it is about color.
It's about green.
David Squires, Daily Press
Showing posts with label NCAA Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NCAA Football. Show all posts
Friday, September 28, 2007
North Carolina A&T's losing deal turns over a 21
Photo: Norfolk State defensive back Josh Anderson tries to grab N.C. A&T wide receiver Mike Caldwell.
FINAL: Norfolk State 50, N.C. A&T 20
By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record
GREENSBORO -- N.C. A&T hit 21 on Thursday night, but this was no jackpot.
The Aggies' losing streak reached that occasionally magic number when Norfolk State struck suddenly, patiently and often in racking up a 50-20 victory before an ESPNU audience.
Casey Hansen went 19-for-27 passing for 351 yards and four touchdowns, and the Spartans (3-1) improved to 2-0 in the MEAC for the first time in their 11 seasons in the league. A&T (0-5, 0-2) now has allowed 70, 59 and 50 points in its past three national television appearances and owns the fifth-longest skid in the 30-year history of the NCAA's second-highest division, formerly called I-AA.
The Aggies forced one punt in the first three quarters. They fumbled it away, setting up a Spartans touchdown in the process. Norfolk State didn't need any help on a night when it combined for 532 yards in total offense.
"We didn't take care of the ball in any phase tonight, and they capitalized," said A&T coach Lee Fobbs. "Poor execution on our part."
Hansen hooked up with Jeremy Wicker on three nearly identical deep balls against single coverage in the first half, but the Aggies were still competitive to a point. They actually led three times in the early going, the last at 20-16 when quarterback Herb Miller scrambled deftly in from the Spartans' 4 with 8:39 left in the half.
At that stage, the Aggies had amassed their highest-scoring half in any game since the season finale in 2005.
"We wanted to start fast," said tailback Michael Ferguson, whose 18-carry, 131-yard night included a 51-yard run that set up an A&T score 75 seconds into the game. "We felt we could move the ball on them. We went down and scored."
The lead began to evaporate at the end of the first half. After Norfolk State kicked a field goal, A&T trailed 26-20 with 2:45 left and had decent field position following a short kickoff.
Norfolk State had one timeout left, which meant even a three-and-out possession with a punt by A&T would leave the visitors with a long field, a short clock and little compulsion to seek another score.
Under its current set of circumstances, A&T couldn't have griped about a six-point deficit at the half on its home field.
The problem was not the attempt to find the end zone again; it came when Miller failed to protect the ball as protection broke down around him. The resulting sack and fumble led to a Spartans field goal with 7 seconds to go in the half.
After Norfolk State took the second-half kickoff, it didn't go for the quick hit. The Spartans exercised patience with an experienced line and the forceful running of Daryl Jones. In 16 plays, they effectively put the victory away by going 76 yards and churning up more than 81/2 minutes.
For the Aggies, life only got worse. Five nights after they came within six yards of breaking the streak, they suffered through an inconsequential fourth quarter in which the only highlight was the end.
If they need a role model for a revival, the Aggies could do worse than the Spartans, who won in Greensboro for the first time in 20 years. Last week, they ended a long losing streak to Bethune-Cookman.
"We've been down for so long, and it's hard to get respect," said coach Pete Adrian, who became the team's fourth coach in two years when he was hired three seasons ago.
"It's an interesting thing. We hadn't beaten Bethune-Cookman in nine years. We've got South Carolina State coming up. I think we've beaten them once in the past nine years. That's the depths of where we're coming from. But I'm pleased with the direction we're headed in."
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Norfolk St., D.Jones 25-105, Ferrell 12-53, Cook 4-20, Moore 5-18, Hansen 2-(minus 15). N.C. A&T, Ferguson 18-131, Robinson 3-22, Caldwell 1-18, Walls 1-3, Tomlin 3-3, McNair 2-2, Miller 10-(minus 17).
PASSING--Norfolk St., Hansen 19-27-0-351, B.Jackson 0-1-0-0, K.Jones 0-1-0-0. N.C. A&T, Miller 3-7-1-51.
RECEIVING--Norfolk St., Walker 6-93, Wicker 5-172, Dickerson 2-37, Ja.Johnson 2-23, Bailey 2-21, D.Jones 2-5. N.C. A&T, C.Dawson 2-41, Caldwell 1-10.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Gateway Classic hoping for more
By Bill Smith, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
St. Louis — Disappointed by stagnant ticket sales, the founder of the annual Gateway Classic college football game says he is looking for new ways to boost the amount of college scholarship money his organization gives to local black high school graduates.
Earl Wilson Jr., who has headed the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation since 1994, said scholarship payments have slipped in recent years, largely because of an inability to increase ticket sales for the football game.
The foundation paid out slightly more than $55,000 for scholarships in 2006, down from nearly $100,000 in 2005 and $182,000 in 2004, according to records. The scholarship totals have dipped each year since 2002, when the foundation paid out more than $246,000 to college students.
"It's a challenge," Wilson said recently from the foundation's headquarters at 20th Street and Martin Luther King Drive. "It's always been a challenge." Advertisement
Wilson, 74, said he is constantly looking for new ways to raise money. Possibilities include a National Basketball Association game at Scottrade Center and moving the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. High School Basketball Shootout into a larger facility, such as the soon-to-be-completed arena at St. Louis University.
Wilson also said he is toying with the idea of working with other area nonprofit groups to organize a downtown picnic similar to the annual Strassenfest.
The 3 p.m. kickoff of Saturday's Gateway Classic between Langston University of Langston, Okla., and Stillman College of Tuscaloosa, Ala., marks the 14th anniversary for the fall event between two historically black universities. It also marks the 10th year since the foundation established its scholarship program, which Wilson says remains the organization's top priority.
"You're going to have ups and downs," he said. "The main thing is you're constantly doing something."
The Gateway Classic is one of about three dozen similar black college football classics around the U.S. scheduled for this fall.
Last year, the foundation brought in about $2.4 million, including nearly $1.1 million in noncash, in-kind contributions such as donated advertising and airfare. But the expenses needed to operate the foundation and pay for events took most of the money.
Since its inception, the foundation has distributed nearly $2 million for full student scholarships. Nearly 60 students receiving financial support from Gateway have graduated from historically black universities such as Hampton, Howard, Tuskegee and Lincoln University. The foundation also has donated more than $500,000 to charities, including Mathews-Dickey Boys' and Girls' Club, Annie Malone Children & Family Service Center and the NAACP.
Last year, the foundation committed $237,000, spread over four years, for scholarships to five high school students. Two of those scholarships went to students at McCluer North High School, including Janay Marsh, who attends Lincoln University.
McCluer North Principal Shane Hopper said Marsh is "a good kid" and a "middle-range student" who benefited tremendously from Gateway's help.
"It has given her a big jump-start with her education and her career," Hopper said.
As the Gateway foundation pursues its mission to provide scholarships, it has been managing financial pressures, said Wilson, a retired IBM executive. Two years ago, he reduced his staff from 10 to five.
Wayman Smith, chairman of the Gateway Classic board, said the foundation may have been "overly aggressive" in scholarship commitments. Increasing tuition costs and four-year scholarship guarantees began to stretch the organization's resources.
Wilson said part of the problem was a decision to give scholarships to schools like Tuskegee and Hampton, where tuition can exceed $20,000 a year. In recent years, the foundation has offered more financial support to students attending less costly schools like Lincoln and Harris-Stowe State University.
While the foundation is involved in a variety of fundraising, most of its income comes from the annual football game.
Since the first contest in 1994, ticket sales have averaged about 35,000 per game, with a record attendance of 47,000 in 1996. Last year's attendance was 33,000, the lowest in four years.
As a result, Wilson and the foundation have pushed hard on a campaign to "fill the Dome" with 60,000 fans for this year's contest at the Edward Jones Dome.
Increased involvement of several community leaders, including St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley and Archbishop Raymond Burke, has helped push ticket sales to 40,000 as of Thursday, Wilson said.
In an attempt to increase ticket sales further, the foundation is giving away a new car, a round-trip ticket to Paris and several TV sets to winning ticket holders inside the Dome on game day.
"Five years ago, this was the new game in town," Smith said. "Now it's not quite as new; it's not quite as shiny. So you've got to figure out something that makes up the difference."
Wilson said organizers hope they can sell more tickets to the thousands who turn out for pregame tailgating festivities but who never go inside the Dome. He said he is confident he can build wider support for the game and the cause, noting that more than 500,000 blacks live in the St. Louis area.
"I would think the community would be knocking down doors to support us," he said. "But I can't get discouraged."
The foundation has cultivated partnerships with several corporations, but Wilson said the money from those deals has declined. Still, some sponsors continue to support the foundation, such as American Family Insurance of Madison, Wis.
Francisca Brown, multicultural market sales development director for the company and a member of Gateway's board of trustees, said American Family recently signed a three-year commitment with the foundation at "more than $100,000 a year."
The company has been impressed by Wilson's work and likes the idea that scholarship efforts focus on "C" students, Brown said.
Wilson said he hopes the foundation can distribute $80,000 in scholarship money this year.
"It's a struggle" he said. "But it's a good struggle."
St. Louis — Disappointed by stagnant ticket sales, the founder of the annual Gateway Classic college football game says he is looking for new ways to boost the amount of college scholarship money his organization gives to local black high school graduates.
Earl Wilson Jr., who has headed the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation since 1994, said scholarship payments have slipped in recent years, largely because of an inability to increase ticket sales for the football game.
The foundation paid out slightly more than $55,000 for scholarships in 2006, down from nearly $100,000 in 2005 and $182,000 in 2004, according to records. The scholarship totals have dipped each year since 2002, when the foundation paid out more than $246,000 to college students.
"It's a challenge," Wilson said recently from the foundation's headquarters at 20th Street and Martin Luther King Drive. "It's always been a challenge." Advertisement
Wilson, 74, said he is constantly looking for new ways to raise money. Possibilities include a National Basketball Association game at Scottrade Center and moving the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. High School Basketball Shootout into a larger facility, such as the soon-to-be-completed arena at St. Louis University.
Wilson also said he is toying with the idea of working with other area nonprofit groups to organize a downtown picnic similar to the annual Strassenfest.
The 3 p.m. kickoff of Saturday's Gateway Classic between Langston University of Langston, Okla., and Stillman College of Tuscaloosa, Ala., marks the 14th anniversary for the fall event between two historically black universities. It also marks the 10th year since the foundation established its scholarship program, which Wilson says remains the organization's top priority.
"You're going to have ups and downs," he said. "The main thing is you're constantly doing something."
The Gateway Classic is one of about three dozen similar black college football classics around the U.S. scheduled for this fall.
Last year, the foundation brought in about $2.4 million, including nearly $1.1 million in noncash, in-kind contributions such as donated advertising and airfare. But the expenses needed to operate the foundation and pay for events took most of the money.
Since its inception, the foundation has distributed nearly $2 million for full student scholarships. Nearly 60 students receiving financial support from Gateway have graduated from historically black universities such as Hampton, Howard, Tuskegee and Lincoln University. The foundation also has donated more than $500,000 to charities, including Mathews-Dickey Boys' and Girls' Club, Annie Malone Children & Family Service Center and the NAACP.
Last year, the foundation committed $237,000, spread over four years, for scholarships to five high school students. Two of those scholarships went to students at McCluer North High School, including Janay Marsh, who attends Lincoln University.
McCluer North Principal Shane Hopper said Marsh is "a good kid" and a "middle-range student" who benefited tremendously from Gateway's help.
"It has given her a big jump-start with her education and her career," Hopper said.
As the Gateway foundation pursues its mission to provide scholarships, it has been managing financial pressures, said Wilson, a retired IBM executive. Two years ago, he reduced his staff from 10 to five.
Wayman Smith, chairman of the Gateway Classic board, said the foundation may have been "overly aggressive" in scholarship commitments. Increasing tuition costs and four-year scholarship guarantees began to stretch the organization's resources.
Wilson said part of the problem was a decision to give scholarships to schools like Tuskegee and Hampton, where tuition can exceed $20,000 a year. In recent years, the foundation has offered more financial support to students attending less costly schools like Lincoln and Harris-Stowe State University.
While the foundation is involved in a variety of fundraising, most of its income comes from the annual football game.
Since the first contest in 1994, ticket sales have averaged about 35,000 per game, with a record attendance of 47,000 in 1996. Last year's attendance was 33,000, the lowest in four years.
As a result, Wilson and the foundation have pushed hard on a campaign to "fill the Dome" with 60,000 fans for this year's contest at the Edward Jones Dome.
Increased involvement of several community leaders, including St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley and Archbishop Raymond Burke, has helped push ticket sales to 40,000 as of Thursday, Wilson said.
In an attempt to increase ticket sales further, the foundation is giving away a new car, a round-trip ticket to Paris and several TV sets to winning ticket holders inside the Dome on game day.
"Five years ago, this was the new game in town," Smith said. "Now it's not quite as new; it's not quite as shiny. So you've got to figure out something that makes up the difference."
Wilson said organizers hope they can sell more tickets to the thousands who turn out for pregame tailgating festivities but who never go inside the Dome. He said he is confident he can build wider support for the game and the cause, noting that more than 500,000 blacks live in the St. Louis area.
"I would think the community would be knocking down doors to support us," he said. "But I can't get discouraged."
The foundation has cultivated partnerships with several corporations, but Wilson said the money from those deals has declined. Still, some sponsors continue to support the foundation, such as American Family Insurance of Madison, Wis.
Francisca Brown, multicultural market sales development director for the company and a member of Gateway's board of trustees, said American Family recently signed a three-year commitment with the foundation at "more than $100,000 a year."
The company has been impressed by Wilson's work and likes the idea that scholarship efforts focus on "C" students, Brown said.
Wilson said he hopes the foundation can distribute $80,000 in scholarship money this year.
"It's a struggle" he said. "But it's a good struggle."
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Chowan University makes historic move to join CIAA in 2008
By Michael N. Graff, Fayetteville Observer
Chowan will join the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association as a football-only member, becoming the first non-historically black college or university to affiliate with the conference.
The Hawks, who are in the process of moving from Division III to Division II, will join CIAA play next fall.
The move verifies the CIAA’s interest in becoming more diverse, and confirms the door is open for other non-HBCUs — including UNC-Pembroke.
“Our vision for the CIAA is to grow all aspects of the conference including educational synergies, athletic competition and to create a dynamic mixture of culture, history and geographic relevance,” CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry said in a release. “We feel that Chowan University joining our football program is a great step on that path.”
Chowan has struggled in football recently, earning its first win since 2005 by beating Methodist two weeks ago.
About six years ago, Chowan attempted to join the Division III USA South Athletic Conference, which includes Methodist. But after a provisional period, the USA South voted not to extend an invitation to be a full-fledged member.
Fayetteville State Athletic Director Ed McLean said Monday he was excited about the new addition. But, he said, Chowan must prove itself worthy.
“I have my doubts,” McLean said. “It’ll be interesting to see.”
Lincoln University in Pennsylvania is scheduled to join the CIAA in 2009. It is starting a football program the same year. That would give the conference 12 football members.
But McLean said he is still waiting to complete Fayetteville State’s schedule for next year, because he anticipates another entry.
Chowan actually plays UNC-Pembroke this weekend. The CIAA has issued an invitation to UNC-Pembroke, which started its football program this year.
UNC-Pembroke Athletic Director Dan Kenney was out of the office and unavailable for comment Monday.
Chowan Athletic Website: http://www.gocuhawks.com/
----------------
Daily Press
Chowan to make historic move
The predominantly white N.C. school to join the historically black CIAA in football.
Chowan University will join the Division II CIAA as a member in football for the 2008 season, the league announced on Tuesday.
The arrangement is believed to be ground-breaking.
Leon Kerry, commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, said he knows of no other instance of a predominantly white institution joining an historically black athletic conference.
Chowan, in Murfreesboro, N.C., not far from the Virginia border, is close to CIAA member Elizabeth City State and a short distance from the Hampton Roads, long a hotbed for CIAA fans and alumni. Other CIAA schools in Virginia include Virginia State in Petersburg and Virginia Union in Richmond. Former CIAA members include Hampton University and Norfolk State.
"We have a plan where we can help each other, and we're working on a great sports relationship," Kerry said. "We want to be out of the box in our thinking. That's how we maintain our success."
He said Chowan might eventually join the CIAA in other sports.
Chowan currently is a Division I member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), and a Division II member of the NCAA where the CIAA and its school also are members.
"Chowan University is thrilled at the opportunity to become a part of the CIAA football culture," Chowan president M. Christopher White said. "We look forward to developing a relationship with the conference and its athletic programs."
Kerry said CIAA league officials began talking with Chowan officials over the summer, put together a plan and presented it to the CIAA board of directors.
"The CIAA member institutions are excited to have Chowan University and the Hawks join the conference's football member teams, said Dr. Dianne B. Suber, Chair, CIAA Board of Directors. "Chowan University's membership affirms the CIAA's commitment to building a diverse and competitive Conference and represents a new chapter in the CIAA's history of blazing new trails and raising the bar in NCAA Division II sports."
The CIAA has a rich history stemming from the days of segregation and continues to have one of the nation's most successful college basketball postseason tournaments, which continues to draw alumni even from the former CIAA schools.
Chowan will join the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association as a football-only member, becoming the first non-historically black college or university to affiliate with the conference.
The Hawks, who are in the process of moving from Division III to Division II, will join CIAA play next fall.
The move verifies the CIAA’s interest in becoming more diverse, and confirms the door is open for other non-HBCUs — including UNC-Pembroke.
“Our vision for the CIAA is to grow all aspects of the conference including educational synergies, athletic competition and to create a dynamic mixture of culture, history and geographic relevance,” CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry said in a release. “We feel that Chowan University joining our football program is a great step on that path.”
Chowan has struggled in football recently, earning its first win since 2005 by beating Methodist two weeks ago.
About six years ago, Chowan attempted to join the Division III USA South Athletic Conference, which includes Methodist. But after a provisional period, the USA South voted not to extend an invitation to be a full-fledged member.
Fayetteville State Athletic Director Ed McLean said Monday he was excited about the new addition. But, he said, Chowan must prove itself worthy.
“I have my doubts,” McLean said. “It’ll be interesting to see.”
Lincoln University in Pennsylvania is scheduled to join the CIAA in 2009. It is starting a football program the same year. That would give the conference 12 football members.
But McLean said he is still waiting to complete Fayetteville State’s schedule for next year, because he anticipates another entry.
Chowan actually plays UNC-Pembroke this weekend. The CIAA has issued an invitation to UNC-Pembroke, which started its football program this year.
UNC-Pembroke Athletic Director Dan Kenney was out of the office and unavailable for comment Monday.
Chowan Athletic Website: http://www.gocuhawks.com/
----------------
Daily Press
Chowan to make historic move
The predominantly white N.C. school to join the historically black CIAA in football.
Chowan University will join the Division II CIAA as a member in football for the 2008 season, the league announced on Tuesday.
The arrangement is believed to be ground-breaking.
Leon Kerry, commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, said he knows of no other instance of a predominantly white institution joining an historically black athletic conference.
Chowan, in Murfreesboro, N.C., not far from the Virginia border, is close to CIAA member Elizabeth City State and a short distance from the Hampton Roads, long a hotbed for CIAA fans and alumni. Other CIAA schools in Virginia include Virginia State in Petersburg and Virginia Union in Richmond. Former CIAA members include Hampton University and Norfolk State.
"We have a plan where we can help each other, and we're working on a great sports relationship," Kerry said. "We want to be out of the box in our thinking. That's how we maintain our success."
He said Chowan might eventually join the CIAA in other sports.
Chowan currently is a Division I member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), and a Division II member of the NCAA where the CIAA and its school also are members.
"Chowan University is thrilled at the opportunity to become a part of the CIAA football culture," Chowan president M. Christopher White said. "We look forward to developing a relationship with the conference and its athletic programs."
Kerry said CIAA league officials began talking with Chowan officials over the summer, put together a plan and presented it to the CIAA board of directors.
"The CIAA member institutions are excited to have Chowan University and the Hawks join the conference's football member teams, said Dr. Dianne B. Suber, Chair, CIAA Board of Directors. "Chowan University's membership affirms the CIAA's commitment to building a diverse and competitive Conference and represents a new chapter in the CIAA's history of blazing new trails and raising the bar in NCAA Division II sports."
The CIAA has a rich history stemming from the days of segregation and continues to have one of the nation's most successful college basketball postseason tournaments, which continues to draw alumni even from the former CIAA schools.
Coaching pals inducted into Alcorn Hall of Fame
PAUL BEAUDRY, For The Birmingham News
For the better part of the past 40 years, Willie Ray and Joseph Martin have been friends.
They went to the same high school in Birmingham, they went to the same college in Mississippi and they coached together on many levels back in Birmingham.
That's why it's more than appropriate that they were inducted into the Alcorn State University Hall of Fame together.
Ray and Martin were inducted into Alcorn's Athletic Hall of Fame last month as much for their achievements in college - Ray for football and Martin for basketball - as for their life after it.
"We've been friends forever," said Martin, now the principal at Parker High School and a four-year letter winner in basketball at the Mississippi SWAC school in the early 1970s. "We coach at the U.S. Youth Games together in track. In fact, he and his brother James recruited me to play basketball at Alcorn State."
Ray, a standout at Western-Olin in the mid-1960s, played football at Alcorn State for four seasons, taking a medical redshirt season for knee surgery.
"I was recruited as a fullback and to run track," said Ray, a former Jackson-Olin coach who was an assistant principal at Ensley. He retired the same year the school closed. "I was converted to running back and just got too big to run track. But I was also one of the premier punters in the city."
Ray wound up signing a free-agent contract with the Detroit Lions, but bad knees forced him into education. He was the head track coach and assistant football coach at Parker from 1971-72 and moved over to Jackson-Olin, where he coached until becoming an assistant principal at Ensley in 1990.
One of his biggest accomplishments came through one of his athletes. He coached Vonetta Flowers in track at J-O. She went on to win an Olympic gold medal in bobsled in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Martin, a 6-foot-7 tweener at big guard or small forward, came out of Western-Olin to average about 19 points a game at Alcorn. He averaged 28 as a sophomore - starting all four years for the Braves. Upon returning to Birmingham, he coached girls basketball at Jackson-Olin - starting the program with the help of head football coach Robert Dickerson - for two seasons.
"When I was in high school, I played it all - I was a wide receiver in football and a first baseman in baseball and got drafted by the Baltimore Orioles," Martin said.
He moved to Glenn High School from 1975-81 as boys basketball coach (with a player named Bobby Humphrey) and followed that as an assistant basketball and football coach at Parker. He left coaching when he got into administration, and has served as principal of Huffman High School and Banks Middle School.
"Alcorn was a nice, friendly place," Martin said. "That's why I chose to go there. And a big part of that was Willie Ray. He was ahead of me in school and kept telling me how wonderful it was."
For the better part of the past 40 years, Willie Ray and Joseph Martin have been friends.
They went to the same high school in Birmingham, they went to the same college in Mississippi and they coached together on many levels back in Birmingham.
That's why it's more than appropriate that they were inducted into the Alcorn State University Hall of Fame together.
Ray and Martin were inducted into Alcorn's Athletic Hall of Fame last month as much for their achievements in college - Ray for football and Martin for basketball - as for their life after it.
"We've been friends forever," said Martin, now the principal at Parker High School and a four-year letter winner in basketball at the Mississippi SWAC school in the early 1970s. "We coach at the U.S. Youth Games together in track. In fact, he and his brother James recruited me to play basketball at Alcorn State."
Ray, a standout at Western-Olin in the mid-1960s, played football at Alcorn State for four seasons, taking a medical redshirt season for knee surgery.
"I was recruited as a fullback and to run track," said Ray, a former Jackson-Olin coach who was an assistant principal at Ensley. He retired the same year the school closed. "I was converted to running back and just got too big to run track. But I was also one of the premier punters in the city."
Ray wound up signing a free-agent contract with the Detroit Lions, but bad knees forced him into education. He was the head track coach and assistant football coach at Parker from 1971-72 and moved over to Jackson-Olin, where he coached until becoming an assistant principal at Ensley in 1990.
One of his biggest accomplishments came through one of his athletes. He coached Vonetta Flowers in track at J-O. She went on to win an Olympic gold medal in bobsled in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Martin, a 6-foot-7 tweener at big guard or small forward, came out of Western-Olin to average about 19 points a game at Alcorn. He averaged 28 as a sophomore - starting all four years for the Braves. Upon returning to Birmingham, he coached girls basketball at Jackson-Olin - starting the program with the help of head football coach Robert Dickerson - for two seasons.
"When I was in high school, I played it all - I was a wide receiver in football and a first baseman in baseball and got drafted by the Baltimore Orioles," Martin said.
He moved to Glenn High School from 1975-81 as boys basketball coach (with a player named Bobby Humphrey) and followed that as an assistant basketball and football coach at Parker. He left coaching when he got into administration, and has served as principal of Huffman High School and Banks Middle School.
"Alcorn was a nice, friendly place," Martin said. "That's why I chose to go there. And a big part of that was Willie Ray. He was ahead of me in school and kept telling me how wonderful it was."
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Off week a drag for Jackson State Tigers offense
By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger
THE JSU GAME
What: Alabama State at Jackson State
When: Oct. 6, 3 p.m.
Radio: JSU Network (WOAD-1300 AM)
Jackson State's offense put up 50 points in Saturday's victory for the first time under second-year coach Rick Comegy. In fact, the blowout over Mississippi Valley State was the first time JSU has scored that many points in nearly six years.
But just when the Tigers are achieving offensive continuity, the team will have to wait two weeks to play because they have an open date this weekend.
"You sort of wish you could keep things going," Comegy said. "But we've got a really tough road ahead of us. Getting to have a week off and rest those nicks and bruises should be good for us."
Comegy said the team would have a normal week of practice before giving players some time off over the weekend. The Tigers will play host to Alabama State (4-0 overall, 3-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) on Oct. 6.
HIGH MARKS
JSU sophomore safety Malcolm Palmer continues his breakout season, earning SWAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after the Tigers' Saturday victory.
Palmer had 12 tackles, (including seven solo) one sack, a forced fumble and a blocked kick against MVSU. For the season, Palmer is second on the team with 31 tackles and also has two interceptions.
Eric Perri was the co-Specialist of the Week, converting 3 of 3 field goal attempts and 5 of 6 extra point attempts.
HAW STILL STARTING
Comegy said that while senior Cody Hull gave the team a fresh look against MVSU with 64 rushing yards, junior Erik Haw (24 rushing yards on Saturday) was still the starter.
But that doesn't mean Haw will see the majority of the carries.
"We like the competition that's been created," Comegy said. "They all really are hungry to carry the ball, and we think they can all bring different things to our offense."
THE JSU GAME
What: Alabama State at Jackson State
When: Oct. 6, 3 p.m.
Radio: JSU Network (WOAD-1300 AM)
Jackson State's offense put up 50 points in Saturday's victory for the first time under second-year coach Rick Comegy. In fact, the blowout over Mississippi Valley State was the first time JSU has scored that many points in nearly six years.
But just when the Tigers are achieving offensive continuity, the team will have to wait two weeks to play because they have an open date this weekend.
"You sort of wish you could keep things going," Comegy said. "But we've got a really tough road ahead of us. Getting to have a week off and rest those nicks and bruises should be good for us."
Comegy said the team would have a normal week of practice before giving players some time off over the weekend. The Tigers will play host to Alabama State (4-0 overall, 3-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) on Oct. 6.
HIGH MARKS
JSU sophomore safety Malcolm Palmer continues his breakout season, earning SWAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after the Tigers' Saturday victory.
Palmer had 12 tackles, (including seven solo) one sack, a forced fumble and a blocked kick against MVSU. For the season, Palmer is second on the team with 31 tackles and also has two interceptions.
Eric Perri was the co-Specialist of the Week, converting 3 of 3 field goal attempts and 5 of 6 extra point attempts.
HAW STILL STARTING
Comegy said that while senior Cody Hull gave the team a fresh look against MVSU with 64 rushing yards, junior Erik Haw (24 rushing yards on Saturday) was still the starter.
But that doesn't mean Haw will see the majority of the carries.
"We like the competition that's been created," Comegy said. "They all really are hungry to carry the ball, and we think they can all bring different things to our offense."
Southern QB Lee racking up stats, wins
Photo: SU QB Bryant LeeBy JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
Honors from all around.
The accolades are getting stacked right alongside the victories for Southern sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee. Monday, the Southwestern Athletic Conference named Lee as its Offensive Player of the Week.
That continues a trend for Lee, who is 5-1 as a starter at Southern.
In every victory in which Lee has had a meaningful role, save for a 12-2 win over Prairie View on Sept. 15, he has received some form of honor.
In chronological order:
*SWAC Newcomer of the Week in coming off the bench, tag-teaming with C.J. Byrd and running and throwing for his first collegiate touchdowns in a 38-20 win over Alabama State a year ago.
*SWAC Newcomer of the Week in coming off the bench in the second quarter and rallying SU to a second-half, 34-17 win over Texas Southern.
*Southern’s Bayou Classic MVP in his second game as a starter, leading the Jaguars to a 21-17, fourth-quarter win over Grambling.
*Southern’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge MVP and Louisiana Sports Writers Association *Offensive Player of the Week after leading SU’s rally in the second half for a 33-27 win over Florida A&M.
*The Chicago Football Classic Offensive MVP in a 23-6 win over Mississippi Valley State.
The latest SWAC honor came after Lee was 23-for-33 for career highs of 305 yards and four touchdowns as the Jaguars overcame a 21-point, second-quarter deficit to beat Tennessee State 41-34 Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
“It was great. Execution, that’s all it takes,” Lee said.
Saturday, the Jaguars played the first half without their top playmaker, senior wide receiver Gerard Landry, who had been suspended after being ejected for throwing a swing in the fourth quarter of the previous game.
“The offensive line blocked great for me,” Lee said. “They gave me the time to get the ball to the playmakers.”
Lee, who redshirted in 2005, has won his last five starts after a three-interception debacle in a blowout loss to eventual Western Division champ Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
In the five-game run, he’s 108-for-157 (68.8 percent) for 1,124 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions. Twice, he’s rallied SU in the fourth quarter (against Grambling and Tennessee State) and once, against Florida A&M, he led a second-half comeback.
Plus, he came off the bench in the second quarter against Texas Southern, notching a second-half comeback victory.
“You have to stay pretty calm, on and off the field,” Lee said. “Just going over reads and key is the main thing.”
Including his run at Hahnville High, Lee is now 32-2 as a starting quarterback.
“He’s making progress,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “He still missed some key reads (Saturday), but overall he has the confidence of the team. They know he’s going to deliver when he gets an opportunity.
“The more he plays, the better experience he gets, the more the game will slow down for him.”
Monday, September 24, 2007
Will NC A&T say so long NC Central?
Rob Daniels is clueless to what constitutes a "brawl." Stomping on a field logo and players pushing each other at 50 yard line in pads and helmets is not a brawl. Let's talk about how exciting and competitive the game was, Rob....(beepbeep).
By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record
A brawl followed the end of N.C. A&T's loss to N.C. Central on Saturday in Greensboro.
After a post-game brawl Saturday, the Aggies might cancel their football series with N.C. Central.
GREENSBORO -- Almost immediately after its return from a one-year hiatus, the football series between N.C. A&T and N.C. Central is again imperiled. Disturbed by Saturday's postgame fight, an incident apparently instigated by Eagles players, officials at A&T have discussed canceling the schools' scheduled 2008 meeting and will take up the topic again today when Chancellor Stanley F. Battle convenes his regular cabinet meeting this morning, an athletics administrator said Sunday.
Associate athletics director Wheeler Brown said the issue is on the agenda in light of events late Saturday night. Moments after Central's 27-22 win, some Eagles ran to midfield and jumped -- intentionally and derisively, A&T said -- on the Aggie logo, an intense-looking bulldog. That irritated the Aggies, who had just lost their 20th straight game. Players clashed, threw punches and were ultimately dispersed when A&T police officers interceded with pepper spray, players and coaches said. Players from both teams vomited after coming in contact with the irritant, commonly used by police in crowd control.
Saturday's contest, the 79th in the history of a series that began in 1924, was the first on either campus since 1992. The institutions signed a contract to play in Aggie Stadium in 2007 and at a site of Central's choosing in 2008, but the fight has clouded that.
"We feel our kids were provoked," Brown said. "We're not condoning what happened by any means."
Central athletics director Bill Hayes said Sunday he has suspended one unnamed player for one game and may mete out further punishment if necessary. On Friday night, Hayes was among four legendary former coaches whom A&T honored for their service to the school. Owner of the most wins in Aggie football history, he was fired following the 2002 season, and he became AD at Central, his alma mater, shortly thereafter.
Both schools issued carefully and passively worded statements about Saturday's fight.
"The N.C. A&T logo was stomped following a very spirited football game where athletes competed vigorously," A&T's missive said. "We regret the conflict that (ensued), for this is not indicative of what we represent. The teams were immediately separated. A&T Police & Public Safety officials were on the scene. No one was hurt.
"This is an isolated incident. No charges have been filed at this point pending further investigation led by Police and Public Safety Chief Richard Holden. Additional information will be disseminated per Chief Holden's investigation.
"N.C. A&T and NCCU have had a long relationship as athletic rivals for many years. In the end, our common ground and number one mission is educating young people."
Dee Todd, A&T's athletics director, did not respond to telephone calls seeking comment.
Eagles coach Mose Rison did not address whether his players initiated the melee. He praised them for what he termed their quick acceptance of directives to stop whatever had been started.
"After our game Saturday, emotions were running very high; however, we still expected to walk across the field and conduct the traditional handshake," Rison said. "Instead, some physical aggression erupted, and thanks to the quick action of the police, was made brief. On behalf of my staff, I will state that I believe we acted immediately and properly, and that our student-athletes responded accordingly to our instructions.
"In every level of football I have ever coached, there is always an arch rivalry. These games are exciting to watch and exciting to play and coach. They mean a great deal to the teams, the fans, the institutions, and to the alumni. The challenge to all of us is to channel our excitement and emotions and keep them on a level that honors the sport and the work that goes into it. When the game is over, we need to share our elation in a positive manner. We need to feel our disappointment without taking it out on anybody else."
The incident is the latest chapter in an on-again, off-again series between the schools.
The institutions began the rivalry in 1924 and met every year from 1945-92. After skipping 1993 over unspecified contractual disagreements, they resumed in 1994 but took the game to N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium, where it remained through 2005. In 2002, they turned over administration of the event to the Capital Area Sports Foundation, a tax-exempt arm of Raleigh municipal government that still hasn't paid them in full for the 2005 game. A&T cited the foundation's breach of contract in declining to play the Eagles in 2006, but Central's decision to seek full NCAA Division I status and to apply for MEAC membership compelled a renewal of the rivalry.
The Eagles had hoped to have a deal with the MEAC by now, but nothing has been finalized. Brown said the conference effectively placed all expansion plans on hold some time ago.
By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record
A brawl followed the end of N.C. A&T's loss to N.C. Central on Saturday in Greensboro.
After a post-game brawl Saturday, the Aggies might cancel their football series with N.C. Central.
GREENSBORO -- Almost immediately after its return from a one-year hiatus, the football series between N.C. A&T and N.C. Central is again imperiled. Disturbed by Saturday's postgame fight, an incident apparently instigated by Eagles players, officials at A&T have discussed canceling the schools' scheduled 2008 meeting and will take up the topic again today when Chancellor Stanley F. Battle convenes his regular cabinet meeting this morning, an athletics administrator said Sunday.
Associate athletics director Wheeler Brown said the issue is on the agenda in light of events late Saturday night. Moments after Central's 27-22 win, some Eagles ran to midfield and jumped -- intentionally and derisively, A&T said -- on the Aggie logo, an intense-looking bulldog. That irritated the Aggies, who had just lost their 20th straight game. Players clashed, threw punches and were ultimately dispersed when A&T police officers interceded with pepper spray, players and coaches said. Players from both teams vomited after coming in contact with the irritant, commonly used by police in crowd control.
Saturday's contest, the 79th in the history of a series that began in 1924, was the first on either campus since 1992. The institutions signed a contract to play in Aggie Stadium in 2007 and at a site of Central's choosing in 2008, but the fight has clouded that.
"We feel our kids were provoked," Brown said. "We're not condoning what happened by any means."
Central athletics director Bill Hayes said Sunday he has suspended one unnamed player for one game and may mete out further punishment if necessary. On Friday night, Hayes was among four legendary former coaches whom A&T honored for their service to the school. Owner of the most wins in Aggie football history, he was fired following the 2002 season, and he became AD at Central, his alma mater, shortly thereafter.
Both schools issued carefully and passively worded statements about Saturday's fight.
"The N.C. A&T logo was stomped following a very spirited football game where athletes competed vigorously," A&T's missive said. "We regret the conflict that (ensued), for this is not indicative of what we represent. The teams were immediately separated. A&T Police & Public Safety officials were on the scene. No one was hurt.
"This is an isolated incident. No charges have been filed at this point pending further investigation led by Police and Public Safety Chief Richard Holden. Additional information will be disseminated per Chief Holden's investigation.
"N.C. A&T and NCCU have had a long relationship as athletic rivals for many years. In the end, our common ground and number one mission is educating young people."
Dee Todd, A&T's athletics director, did not respond to telephone calls seeking comment.
Eagles coach Mose Rison did not address whether his players initiated the melee. He praised them for what he termed their quick acceptance of directives to stop whatever had been started.
"After our game Saturday, emotions were running very high; however, we still expected to walk across the field and conduct the traditional handshake," Rison said. "Instead, some physical aggression erupted, and thanks to the quick action of the police, was made brief. On behalf of my staff, I will state that I believe we acted immediately and properly, and that our student-athletes responded accordingly to our instructions.
"In every level of football I have ever coached, there is always an arch rivalry. These games are exciting to watch and exciting to play and coach. They mean a great deal to the teams, the fans, the institutions, and to the alumni. The challenge to all of us is to channel our excitement and emotions and keep them on a level that honors the sport and the work that goes into it. When the game is over, we need to share our elation in a positive manner. We need to feel our disappointment without taking it out on anybody else."
The incident is the latest chapter in an on-again, off-again series between the schools.
The institutions began the rivalry in 1924 and met every year from 1945-92. After skipping 1993 over unspecified contractual disagreements, they resumed in 1994 but took the game to N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium, where it remained through 2005. In 2002, they turned over administration of the event to the Capital Area Sports Foundation, a tax-exempt arm of Raleigh municipal government that still hasn't paid them in full for the 2005 game. A&T cited the foundation's breach of contract in declining to play the Eagles in 2006, but Central's decision to seek full NCAA Division I status and to apply for MEAC membership compelled a renewal of the rivalry.
The Eagles had hoped to have a deal with the MEAC by now, but nothing has been finalized. Brown said the conference effectively placed all expansion plans on hold some time ago.
University of Delaware's refusal to play Delaware State University goes national
By KEVIN TRESOLINI, The News Journal
NEWARK -- The University of Delaware and Delaware State University have never played a football game against each other, despite being located less than an hour's drive apart and sharing the same NCAA Division I-AA classification.
Delaware, the more established and successful of the two programs, has been the unwilling partner, steadfastly refusing to even discuss setting a date for a game many fans from both schools have long craved.
That has led to frequent charges that UD's constant snubbing is a vestige of the schools' racial histories. Delaware had a segregated school system until the 1950s. Delaware State was created in the late 19th Century as a college for black students, who still make up almost 80 percent of its enrollment.
But the often-heated debate, which had largely been confined to the state of Delaware and fans and alumni of the two schools, spilled into the national media last week.
Jeff Pearlman, a University of Delaware graduate, wrote a scathing column on ESPN.com, the country's most widely viewed sports Web site. It was headlined "Is race the reason Delaware won't play Delaware State?"
Pearlman, as many others have, concluded it must be a factor, since UD has given no sound reason for its ongoing snub of DSU. He wrote the column as an open letter to a prospective UD football recruit, urging him to "Say no to the Blue Hens."
Pearlman wrote: "The University of Delaware's persistent refusal to face Delaware State University in football is cowardly, pig-headed, self-righteous and, worst of all, oozing with racism."
The story quickly became the talk of the town after being posted Thursday. On Friday, a printout of it sat on the check-in table at the Blue Hen Touchdown Club's weekly luncheon at the Newark Country Club, where all of the more than 50 who attended were white and most were more than 50 years old.
Still, some believed Pearlman had made some valid points, though they wished he hadn't worded it so strongly. Gene Trivits also has wondered why the state's two I-AA schools haven't met yet and hates the black eye it gives UD's reputation.
"How long are we going to keep taking this hit?" said Trivits, 75, who received bachelor's and master's degrees from UD. "I've said that to Edgar [Johnson, UD's athletic director], and we're friends. The easiest way is to just schedule the game. I don't understand why we don't -- it would be so convenient -- and then we go out and play Albany and Monmouth. And I don't like West Chester being here, either."
Albany, which Delaware played in 2006 and will play again in 2008, and next Saturday's opponent Monmouth are limited-scholarship I-AA programs from the Northeast Conference, which does not warrant automatic inclusion in the NCAA playoffs. Delaware State is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, which does qualify its champion for the NCAA tourney, as does Delaware's Colonial Athletic Association.
West Chester is a Division II school located 45 minutes away that Delaware has scheduled annually since 1968, always at Delaware Stadium, and beaten 36 of 39 times.
Some UD fans, however, believe Delaware State, which has never made the I-AA playoffs, hasn't earned the right to play Delaware, a perennial playoff contender and frequent qualifier that has won six national championships.
"Four or five years ago, I would have said, 'No way,' " said UD graduate Tom Runnels. "I just don't think Delaware State has played the competitive level of football Delaware has. They have gotten a lot better, so a couple years down the road, maybe ..."
Runnels added, however, that the schools' geographic proximity "cannot be denied" in reasoning why they should play and agreed that "the division clearly has racial roots."
A guest speaker at Friday's touchdown club luncheon was Nate Beasley, who has a unique perspective on the issue, having played football for both schools.
The Dover Air Force Base High graduate played a year at Delaware State, then transferred to Delaware and played three more. He became one of the Blue Hens' all-time leading rushers from 1973 to '75.
"A football game between Delaware and Delaware State would be such a wonderful thing for the state," said Beasley, who is black. "It just doesn't seem to make any sense that it hasn't happened. It makes you wonder."
Including, he added, for lack of any other valid explanations, where racial histories might fit in.
Pearlman's column had generated about 600 comments as of Saturday.
Johnson, as has been his policy, would not publicly discuss the issue or the ESPN.com piece, other than to deliver what has been his standard line for almost 20 years:
"The game will happen," Johnson said.
He wouldn't say when. Delaware recently scheduled three games with South Dakota State -- one there and two in Newark -- in the next decade, when West Chester also is on the schedule.
"My position, as an alum, is that the mere implication that race has anything to do with it is further proof that they just need to schedule the game," said Paul Zoppi, a 1990 UD graduate. "By avoiding Delaware State, Delaware has turned this into something much bigger than it should be, and I'm embarrassed."
New UD president Patrick Harker, in an e-mail response Saturday, said he is giving the topic close scrutiny.
Harker, who took office this summer, has spoken about the issue with athletic department personnel as he familiarizes himself with UD.
Delaware State needs no arm-twisting, new athletic director Rick Costello said.
"We want to play anywhere, any time," Costello said. "It'll be great for the kids, great for school sprit, great for the state. I see nothing but positives. ... It's mind-boggling that it has happened yet."
NEWARK -- The University of Delaware and Delaware State University have never played a football game against each other, despite being located less than an hour's drive apart and sharing the same NCAA Division I-AA classification.
Delaware, the more established and successful of the two programs, has been the unwilling partner, steadfastly refusing to even discuss setting a date for a game many fans from both schools have long craved.
That has led to frequent charges that UD's constant snubbing is a vestige of the schools' racial histories. Delaware had a segregated school system until the 1950s. Delaware State was created in the late 19th Century as a college for black students, who still make up almost 80 percent of its enrollment.
But the often-heated debate, which had largely been confined to the state of Delaware and fans and alumni of the two schools, spilled into the national media last week.
Jeff Pearlman, a University of Delaware graduate, wrote a scathing column on ESPN.com, the country's most widely viewed sports Web site. It was headlined "Is race the reason Delaware won't play Delaware State?"
Pearlman, as many others have, concluded it must be a factor, since UD has given no sound reason for its ongoing snub of DSU. He wrote the column as an open letter to a prospective UD football recruit, urging him to "Say no to the Blue Hens."
Pearlman wrote: "The University of Delaware's persistent refusal to face Delaware State University in football is cowardly, pig-headed, self-righteous and, worst of all, oozing with racism."
The story quickly became the talk of the town after being posted Thursday. On Friday, a printout of it sat on the check-in table at the Blue Hen Touchdown Club's weekly luncheon at the Newark Country Club, where all of the more than 50 who attended were white and most were more than 50 years old.
Still, some believed Pearlman had made some valid points, though they wished he hadn't worded it so strongly. Gene Trivits also has wondered why the state's two I-AA schools haven't met yet and hates the black eye it gives UD's reputation.
"How long are we going to keep taking this hit?" said Trivits, 75, who received bachelor's and master's degrees from UD. "I've said that to Edgar [Johnson, UD's athletic director], and we're friends. The easiest way is to just schedule the game. I don't understand why we don't -- it would be so convenient -- and then we go out and play Albany and Monmouth. And I don't like West Chester being here, either."
Albany, which Delaware played in 2006 and will play again in 2008, and next Saturday's opponent Monmouth are limited-scholarship I-AA programs from the Northeast Conference, which does not warrant automatic inclusion in the NCAA playoffs. Delaware State is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, which does qualify its champion for the NCAA tourney, as does Delaware's Colonial Athletic Association.
West Chester is a Division II school located 45 minutes away that Delaware has scheduled annually since 1968, always at Delaware Stadium, and beaten 36 of 39 times.
Some UD fans, however, believe Delaware State, which has never made the I-AA playoffs, hasn't earned the right to play Delaware, a perennial playoff contender and frequent qualifier that has won six national championships.
"Four or five years ago, I would have said, 'No way,' " said UD graduate Tom Runnels. "I just don't think Delaware State has played the competitive level of football Delaware has. They have gotten a lot better, so a couple years down the road, maybe ..."
Runnels added, however, that the schools' geographic proximity "cannot be denied" in reasoning why they should play and agreed that "the division clearly has racial roots."
A guest speaker at Friday's touchdown club luncheon was Nate Beasley, who has a unique perspective on the issue, having played football for both schools.
The Dover Air Force Base High graduate played a year at Delaware State, then transferred to Delaware and played three more. He became one of the Blue Hens' all-time leading rushers from 1973 to '75.
"A football game between Delaware and Delaware State would be such a wonderful thing for the state," said Beasley, who is black. "It just doesn't seem to make any sense that it hasn't happened. It makes you wonder."
Including, he added, for lack of any other valid explanations, where racial histories might fit in.
Pearlman's column had generated about 600 comments as of Saturday.
Johnson, as has been his policy, would not publicly discuss the issue or the ESPN.com piece, other than to deliver what has been his standard line for almost 20 years:
"The game will happen," Johnson said.
He wouldn't say when. Delaware recently scheduled three games with South Dakota State -- one there and two in Newark -- in the next decade, when West Chester also is on the schedule.
"My position, as an alum, is that the mere implication that race has anything to do with it is further proof that they just need to schedule the game," said Paul Zoppi, a 1990 UD graduate. "By avoiding Delaware State, Delaware has turned this into something much bigger than it should be, and I'm embarrassed."
New UD president Patrick Harker, in an e-mail response Saturday, said he is giving the topic close scrutiny.
Harker, who took office this summer, has spoken about the issue with athletic department personnel as he familiarizes himself with UD.
Delaware State needs no arm-twisting, new athletic director Rick Costello said.
"We want to play anywhere, any time," Costello said. "It'll be great for the kids, great for school sprit, great for the state. I see nothing but positives. ... It's mind-boggling that it has happened yet."
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Freshman RB Brewer bright spot for MVSU with 148-yard game
Photo:Valley quarterback Paul Roberts hands off to Ronald Brewer in the first half.By Rusty Hampton, Clarion Ledger
ITTA BENA — Mississippi Valley State lost the football game by a wide margin Saturday, but in the process the Delta Devils took another step in developing a potential star at running back.
Ronald Brewer, a freshman from Germantown, Tenn., led all rushers during Jackson State's 50-16 victory with 148 yards on 28 carries.
Brewer scored on a 4-yard run to give the Delta Devils a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter. By halftime, he had 71 yards on 11 carries. His longest run covered 23 yards and he ripped off several others of 10 or more yards.
Afterwards, coach Willie Totten questioned the play of his quarterbacks - "Right now, I don't know where our quarterbacks' heads are," he said - but he had no questions about the running game.
Brewer improved his season rushing average to 85 yards per game.
"We know that Ronald can run the football," Totten said. "He's a very unselfish kid. The thing is, he trains like that in practice, and if we can get a few more guys to train like that in practice we'll be better."
Brewer's 148 yards were more than half of MVSU's total net offense.
"But my production wasn't enough," he said. "We've got to start getting better every week."
JSU had four sacks and chased MVSU starting quarterback Paul Roberts all over the field. Totten tried two others in the second half. Overall, MVSU threw for just 99 yards.
"I can't make the system any simpler," said Totten, a college Hall of Fame quarterback in the 1980s for Valley. "But right now, we're making a lot of mistakes. A lot of bad reads, and then they're getting down on themselves too quick."
Photo: Ronald Brewer scores a Delta Devils touchdown past JSU's Marsellus Speaks.
UAPB Forte comes off loud and clear
By Mike Marzelli, Pine Bluff Commercial
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Mo Forte lit into his Arkansas-Pine Bluff football team in the locker room following its embarrassing 58-3 loss to Southern Illinois, his voice booming through the locker room doors in the bowels of McArthur Stadium.
The message was loud and clear to the Golden Lions: Their performance Saturday was unacceptable.
"I think they understand where I'm coming from and if they didn't, that's a problem," Forte said. "We played a terrible football game and we need to take responsibility for all the things we did wrong and correct them because that type of game is not indicative of our program."
Forte didn't speak long, delivering his fiery speech in under five minutes, as he made sure the Lions know that there is still a tough road ahead of them.
"We come right back and have an opportunity to go out and play a mid-level Division I football team in New Mexico State that has a good program going," he said. "We need to turn things around in a hurry to be ready for that and I wanted to make sure the guys kept sight of that because there is no way we can play like we did [yesterday] again next week."
Wallace returns
Senior quarterback Chris Wallace got back on the field for the Lions late in the third quarter, leading a pair of promising drives that both came up short.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year looked more like his old self than he did in either of his previous two starts this season, showing good mobility and his trademark soft touch in completing four passes for 69 yards and running for 11 yards.
Esaw impresses
While UAPB's two-headed backfield of Martell Mallett and Mickey Dean combined for just 14 total yards in the game, reserve tailback Kenneth Esaw made the most of his opportunity in the fourth quarter.
Esaw carried the load on UAPB's final three drives and finished with 63 yards on seven carries to outgain the rest of his team combined.
Just for kicks
The effectiveness of Southern Illinois' offense spoke for itself. The Salukis put up 44 points and over 500 yards of offense before they were forced to punt for the first time. SIU punter Scott Ravanesi's first kick came with 11:35 to play in the fourth quarter.
New Look
The Golden Lions have added a new decal to the sides of their gold helmets. Debuted in last week's Arkansas Classic, a script "Golden Lions' emblem written in white arches across the crest of the headgear on both sides.
UAPB had not worn a helmet decal since 2003, when the traditional Golden Lion logo was emblazoned on the sides of the old black helmet that was discontinued after last season.
Forte had elected to go with a blank helmet during his three-plus year tenure until last week.
M4 absent
Much to the dismay of the Southern Illinois fans and a number of local high school bands who had gathered for the university's 'Band Day,' the Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South did not make the six-hour trip from Pine Bluff.
M4 is also not expected to attend next week's game at New Mexico State.
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Mo Forte lit into his Arkansas-Pine Bluff football team in the locker room following its embarrassing 58-3 loss to Southern Illinois, his voice booming through the locker room doors in the bowels of McArthur Stadium.
The message was loud and clear to the Golden Lions: Their performance Saturday was unacceptable.
"I think they understand where I'm coming from and if they didn't, that's a problem," Forte said. "We played a terrible football game and we need to take responsibility for all the things we did wrong and correct them because that type of game is not indicative of our program."
Forte didn't speak long, delivering his fiery speech in under five minutes, as he made sure the Lions know that there is still a tough road ahead of them.
"We come right back and have an opportunity to go out and play a mid-level Division I football team in New Mexico State that has a good program going," he said. "We need to turn things around in a hurry to be ready for that and I wanted to make sure the guys kept sight of that because there is no way we can play like we did [yesterday] again next week."
Wallace returns
Senior quarterback Chris Wallace got back on the field for the Lions late in the third quarter, leading a pair of promising drives that both came up short.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year looked more like his old self than he did in either of his previous two starts this season, showing good mobility and his trademark soft touch in completing four passes for 69 yards and running for 11 yards.
Esaw impresses
While UAPB's two-headed backfield of Martell Mallett and Mickey Dean combined for just 14 total yards in the game, reserve tailback Kenneth Esaw made the most of his opportunity in the fourth quarter.
Esaw carried the load on UAPB's final three drives and finished with 63 yards on seven carries to outgain the rest of his team combined.
Just for kicks
The effectiveness of Southern Illinois' offense spoke for itself. The Salukis put up 44 points and over 500 yards of offense before they were forced to punt for the first time. SIU punter Scott Ravanesi's first kick came with 11:35 to play in the fourth quarter.
New Look
The Golden Lions have added a new decal to the sides of their gold helmets. Debuted in last week's Arkansas Classic, a script "Golden Lions' emblem written in white arches across the crest of the headgear on both sides.
UAPB had not worn a helmet decal since 2003, when the traditional Golden Lion logo was emblazoned on the sides of the old black helmet that was discontinued after last season.
Forte had elected to go with a blank helmet during his three-plus year tenure until last week.
M4 absent
Much to the dismay of the Southern Illinois fans and a number of local high school bands who had gathered for the university's 'Band Day,' the Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South did not make the six-hour trip from Pine Bluff.
M4 is also not expected to attend next week's game at New Mexico State.
Southern Jaguars stick with their game
By CHARLES SALZER, Special to The Advocate
Tennessee State might have slipped into a false sense of security after building a 21-point second quarter lead. Southern might have waited until midway through the first half to start playing on either side of the ball, but the final score was ultimately all that mattered.
Southern’s 41-34 come-from-way-behind win over the visiting Tigers proved that the Jaguars have too much pride to let an early deficit take them out of their game.
With Bryant Lee throwing for 305 yards and four touchdowns, and Darren Coates rushing for 115 yards and two scores, Southern outscored Tennessee State 35-7 in the final 2&permil quarters to erase an inept start on both sides of the ball.
“It takes a lot of heart and that’s what we have,” Lee said. “The defense came through for us in big time situations, and the offense made plays when they got us the ball.”
It didn’t start out that way. Quarterback Antonio Heffner and the rest of his TSU teammates shredded Southern’s defense en route to a 27-6 lead with 6:36 left in the first half. Southern pulled itself up off the turf, and surged for two scores before the break.
“We just started picking each other up,” Coates said. “We told everyone we could do it, and once we got rolling we just kept it moving.”
Coates took a short pass in the right flat 31 yards for a touchdown to start the comeback. The score was the first of 26 straight points for Southern, which allowed more points in the first quarter (20) than it had in its previous two games combined (8).
Southern wasn’t done for the half, and Coates 54-yard run with less than four minutes to go set up his own 1-yard scoring run. Southern trailed 27-19 at the half, but had seized all the momentum behind Coates’ strong finish..
“Coming into the game coach told us not to wait for anybody else to make a big play,” Coates said. “He told us to take it on yourself to make a big play and that’s what I did.
“This means a lot to us and the fans. It shows that we can last the whole game and we’re going to fight to the end. We have a lot of pride inside us. We’re not quitters.”
Senior receiver Gerard Landry helped provide a spark in the second half after sitting out the first half because of a suspension. He made his presence felt quickly with a 21-yard reception, and later a 6-yard touchdown catch that brought Southern within 27-25.
“I just wanted an opportunity to make something happen and that’s what I did,” Landry said. “(At halftime) coach Richardson told us to settle down and execute because everything we did was working. He told us to stay within ourselves and fill our roles.”
Southern fought back to take its first lead late in the third quarter. Coates picked up 32 yards on five straight carries, the last a 1-yard score putting Southern up 32-27.
Tennessee State briefly retook the lead at 34-32, but by that time the Southern defense was revved up for the fourth quarter. The Tigers had five fourth-quarter possessions and were forced to punt twice while their other drives ended with turnovers.
“The defense held them and we just executed on the offensive side of the ball,” Lee said. “We played hard for 60 minutes and that’s what it takes.”
Landry was equally complimentary of the poise Lee showed after the Jaguars got down.
“I can’t say enough about Bryant,” Landry said. “When he was in trouble he made things happen. When he came to the sidelines a little frustrated, I just told him to relax and he settled down.”
It was advice that served Lee and Southern well.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
S. Carolina St. 20, Winston-Salem 7
ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Cleveland McCoy threw for 204 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown strike, to lead South Carolina State to a 20-7 win against Winston Salem State on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs (2-2) racked up 493 total yards, including 162 yards rushing from William Ford on 27 carries and 83 yards from Travil Jamison, including a TD run.
The Rams (2-2) were led by Monte Purvis who went 12-for-19 for 87 yards including an 8-yarder to Bryant Bayne for Winston-Salem's only score.
After McCoy's scoring pass to Terrance Smith early in the first, South Carolina State added two Stephan Grantham field goals to go up 13-0 with 8:59 left in the third.
The Rams' score came with 2:43 left in the third and the Bulldogs wrapped up scoring on Travil Jamison's 1-yard TD run with 1:07 left in the game.
ATTENDANCE: 8,222
The Bulldogs (2-2) racked up 493 total yards, including 162 yards rushing from William Ford on 27 carries and 83 yards from Travil Jamison, including a TD run.
The Rams (2-2) were led by Monte Purvis who went 12-for-19 for 87 yards including an 8-yarder to Bryant Bayne for Winston-Salem's only score.
After McCoy's scoring pass to Terrance Smith early in the first, South Carolina State added two Stephan Grantham field goals to go up 13-0 with 8:59 left in the third.
The Rams' score came with 2:43 left in the third and the Bulldogs wrapped up scoring on Travil Jamison's 1-yard TD run with 1:07 left in the game.
ATTENDANCE: 8,222
Southern Illinois crushes Arkansas-Pine Bluff 58-3
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University had 586 yards of total offense and set a school-record 36 first downs in a 58-3 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday at McAndrew Stadium.
The Salukis (4-0) scored 30 unanswered points in the first half in route to their fourth straight win.
The only score of the game for the Golden Lions (1-3) came when John Heflin made a 38 yard field goal in the third quarter; he had two other field goal attempts blocked.
SIU quarterback Nick Hill was 18-for-24 for 244 yards passing and two touchdowns, while wide receiver Phil Goforth had 74 yards receiving and a touchdown. Running back John Randle had a touchdown and gained 113 yards on the ground.
SIU, which gained 314 yards rushing and 273 yards passing as a team on Saturday, have now outscored their opponents 117-17 in two games at home. The Salukis defeated Quincy 59-14 in their first home game on Aug. 30.
Both the Salukis and Golden Lions are in the Football Championship Subdivision _ the former Division I-AA.
Attendance: 11,316
The Salukis (4-0) scored 30 unanswered points in the first half in route to their fourth straight win.
The only score of the game for the Golden Lions (1-3) came when John Heflin made a 38 yard field goal in the third quarter; he had two other field goal attempts blocked.
SIU quarterback Nick Hill was 18-for-24 for 244 yards passing and two touchdowns, while wide receiver Phil Goforth had 74 yards receiving and a touchdown. Running back John Randle had a touchdown and gained 113 yards on the ground.
SIU, which gained 314 yards rushing and 273 yards passing as a team on Saturday, have now outscored their opponents 117-17 in two games at home. The Salukis defeated Quincy 59-14 in their first home game on Aug. 30.
Both the Salukis and Golden Lions are in the Football Championship Subdivision _ the former Division I-AA.
Attendance: 11,316
Jackson St. 50, MVSU 16
ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- Jimmy Oliver passed for one touchdown and ran for another as Jackson State routed Mississippi Valley State 50-16 on Saturday.
Jackson State (2-2, 2-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) beat its instate rival for the 13th straight time.
MVSU (1-3, 1-3) was winning 13-6 midway through the second quarter before Oliver connected with Rodney Gray on a 10-yard touchdown pass that tied the score 13-13.
Oliver, who also passed for 262 yards in the game, scored on a short run with 37 seconds left in the first half, putting Jackson State ahead for good.
MVSU, which lost its third straight game, could manage only 75 yards of offense in the second half after controlling most of the first half.
Ronald Brewer, who rushed for 115 yards, scored MVSU's only touchdown with a short dash late in the first quarter.
Jackson State finished with 473 yards of offense.
ATTENDANCE: 11,798
Jackson State (2-2, 2-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) beat its instate rival for the 13th straight time.
MVSU (1-3, 1-3) was winning 13-6 midway through the second quarter before Oliver connected with Rodney Gray on a 10-yard touchdown pass that tied the score 13-13.
Oliver, who also passed for 262 yards in the game, scored on a short run with 37 seconds left in the first half, putting Jackson State ahead for good.
MVSU, which lost its third straight game, could manage only 75 yards of offense in the second half after controlling most of the first half.
Ronald Brewer, who rushed for 115 yards, scored MVSU's only touchdown with a short dash late in the first quarter.
Jackson State finished with 473 yards of offense.
ATTENDANCE: 11,798
E. Michigan 38, Howard 15
YPSILANTI, Michigan -- Andy Schmitt threw for 214 yards and four touchdowns Saturday, leading Eastern Michigan to a 38-15 victory over Howard.
Schmitt connected with Ken Bohnet, Tyrone Burke and Dwayne Priest as Eastern Michigan (2-2) built a 31-0 lead. The sophomore threw for his final touchdown with 35 seconds remaining, hitting Travis Lewis on a 10-yard pass.
Howard (1-3) was hurt by four turnovers and failed to reach the end zone until Brian Johnson hit Jarahn Williams with an 11-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Howard added its second TD with 6:19 remaining when Johnson connected with Michael Harper for a 27-yard pass. Johnson led the Bison offense with 167 yards passing and 136 yards rushing. Howard tallied 434 yards in total offense to the Eagles' 329.
Eastern led 17-0 at halftime. Pierre Walker scored on a 7-yard run on the Eagles' first possession, Zach Johnson kicked a 22-yard field goal with 6:22 left in the second quarter and Schmitt threw a 24-yard scoring pass to Priest two minutes later.
Howard twice drove deep into Eastern Michigan territory during the first half, but failed to score. One of the drives ended when Johnson fumbled on the Eagles' 9-yard line. Johnson then threw an interception at the Eastern Michigan 7 early in the second quarter before again being picked off in the final minute of the second quarter.
Attendance: 10,141
Schmitt connected with Ken Bohnet, Tyrone Burke and Dwayne Priest as Eastern Michigan (2-2) built a 31-0 lead. The sophomore threw for his final touchdown with 35 seconds remaining, hitting Travis Lewis on a 10-yard pass.
Howard (1-3) was hurt by four turnovers and failed to reach the end zone until Brian Johnson hit Jarahn Williams with an 11-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Howard added its second TD with 6:19 remaining when Johnson connected with Michael Harper for a 27-yard pass. Johnson led the Bison offense with 167 yards passing and 136 yards rushing. Howard tallied 434 yards in total offense to the Eagles' 329.
Eastern led 17-0 at halftime. Pierre Walker scored on a 7-yard run on the Eagles' first possession, Zach Johnson kicked a 22-yard field goal with 6:22 left in the second quarter and Schmitt threw a 24-yard scoring pass to Priest two minutes later.
Howard twice drove deep into Eastern Michigan territory during the first half, but failed to score. One of the drives ended when Johnson fumbled on the Eagles' 9-yard line. Johnson then threw an interception at the Eastern Michigan 7 early in the second quarter before again being picked off in the final minute of the second quarter.
Attendance: 10,141
Too much leads to not enough for Hampton U
David Squires, Daily PressHAMPTON - When league foe Morgan State scored on its opening possession of the second half Thursday night to tie Hampton University, the Pirates' night of Hip-Hop and hash marks was brewing into a perfect storm.
Lackluster attendance at the home-opening football game for the three-time defending conference champion Pirates.
Lackluster attendance at the concert across the parking lot at the HU Convocation Center, featuring Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, USDA and Eve.
An uninspired performance on the football field by the Pirates, who jumped to a 17-0 lead, then found themselves in a 17-all tie and eventually overtime ď before winning 24-17.
A slight drizzle at kickoff and for part of the first quarter didn't help.
Was this promotions genius, bad planning or related to an interesting conspiracy theory regarding the separation of town U from towns' folk?
As it turns out, it might merely have been the unintended confluence of a couple of rescheduled events -- with HU officials hoping to make the best of the situation.
The game was scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, but when it became a televised game, it was moved to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, according to HU athletic director Lonza Hardy.
The concert, hosted by local promoter Fred Wills, originally was scheduled for July 20, but was rescheduled to Thursday night at 8:30, according to HU Convocation Center marketing director Jewel Baker.
Attendance at the game was announced at 5,360, and Hardy said he expected some students would attend both events.
Hardy anticipated that some of the concert's main acts would not perform until after the game.
In fact, Rick Ross and Young Jeezy were said to have attended the game in the first half.
Hardy also said that he expected attendance to build from Thursday's game, with the next home games featuring perhaps HU's toughest foes of the year: Delaware State on Sept. 29, and South Carolina State for homecoming on Oct. 20.
Meanwhile, Baker, at the concert venue Thursday, was expecting "3,500 to 4,500" at the Convocation Center.
Hardly anyone was in line for the opening of the doors at 7:30 p.m.
Foot traffic began to pick up around 8:45.
"We're expecting to have a good concert," Baker said. "We're expecting a good crowd. We're expecting to have a good time."
No, this was not an attempt by the private HU to become more welcoming of the larger community. Some believe it was just the opposite.
"I feel like they didn't want too many students and other people in the same place at the same time," said Cecil Chaniel, 25, who lives in Hampton. "So they had the game for students and football players at the same time as the concert."
Chaniel, who plays for the Virginia Crusaders, a Hampton Roads-based semipro football team, says he was torn between going to the game and the concert.
He picked the concert because he is a native of Cordele, Ga., and "Jeezy is from Atlanta, so I had to support him."
"If they had this (concert) on Friday, it would have sold out," Chaniel said. "So they're taking away money from the artists who've come to perform."
To add another damper to the evening, Eve came on the video screen at about 11:35 p.m. and announced that because of personal issues she could not perform. The crowd, not surprisingly, was not pleased.
But the main course, Jeezy, hadn't performed yet. And the night's other highlight came moments before Eve's announcement, when Pirates quarterback T.J. Mitchell hit Justin Brown for the game-winning score.
Alabama A&M striving for top
By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville TimesGrambling history, present give 'Dogs worthy goal
GRAMBLING, La. - When Anthony Jones was named the football coach at Alabama A&M six years ago, he wanted his program to emulate the program that Eddie Robinson had built at Grambling.
The Tigers, who have won more Southwestern Athletic Conference championships than any team in league history, have long been the measuring stick among black college programs.
Under Jones, the Bulldogs have been the league's best team the last five years. A&M has appeared in the SWAC Championship Game three times in that span and finally won it last season by beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Despite the success, Jones and A&M have struggled against Grambling. Jones is 2-5 against the Tigers, several of the losses being blowouts - with two of them coming in the SWAC Championship Game. Over the past four years, the teams have split four meetings.
"When I first came here, that was the program I wanted my program to aspire to be," Jones said. "We're close, but we're not there yet."
Jones will try to get his program a little closer tonight when No. 23 A&M visits Grambling at Robinson Stadium. The Bulldogs are 3-0 overall and 1-0 in league play. The Tigers are 1-1 and 1-0. Kickoff is at 6 and the game will be televised on a tape-delayed basis on ESPNU at 9.
Some are calling tonight's game a preview of the SWAC Championship Game. Jones disagrees.
"It's still early," he said. "Anything can happen. We're playing well, they're playing well. But the season is still young."
A&M has easily disposed of its first three opponents, having outscored Tennessee State, Clark Atlanta and Mississippi Valley State by a combined score of 135-47. Meanwhile, Grambling whipped Alcorn State 31-10 before falling at Pittsburgh 34-10.
After watching the film, Jones seems sold on the Tigers.
"This will be our toughest test to date," he said. "This is a good football team. They can beat you in all three phases of the game. We feel the same way.
"If everybody shows up to play, it's going to be a hell of a football game."
Jones said the outcome will be decided on three things: turnovers, big plays and special teams.
"Turnovers are always a premium," he said. "When you start turning the ball over, you shorten the field for the opposing offense and you give them opportunities to score. That changes the complexion of the game.
"We have been a big-play offense. They have been a big-play offense in the past and they still have some of those people on their team. Big plays are always going to be a big deal. Special teams will be a key factor. Who's going to have field position due to special teams and who's going to get points due to special teams?"
Tonight's game is Grambling's home opener. It is also the Tigers' first home game since Robinson died earlier this year. Those factors haven't been lost on Jones.
"It's going to be a tough situation for us to go into," he said. "I'm sure the crowd is going to be loud and supportive, but we'll be ready."
Grambling coach Rod Broadway expects nothing less.
"This will be a great challenge for us," he said. "We're looking forward to playing this game. It will give us an indication of what we can accomplish in this conference."
MVSU Delta Devils try new approach
By David Brandt, Clarion LedgerMississippi Valley State sophomore quarterback Paul Roberts sits on a bench after practice and takes off his helmet. Underneath is a haircut that is interesting to say the least - it's a mohawk with Roberts No. 1 shaved into the side of his head.
Look across the field and there's junior tight end Abner Brown, who also has the same strange homemade mohawk. His is complete with a spiderweb shaved into the side.
Roberts admits they both look ridiculous. He's still not quite sure what possessed them to do it.
"It seemed like a pretty good idea at the time - something to get us going for this week," Roberts said. "Coach (Willie Totten) has been treating this like a normal game. But we all sense a little something different this week."
Such is the feeling at MVSU, where the Delta Devils have tried a little bit of everything over the years to break a 12-game losing streak against rival Jackson State.
MVSU hosts Jackson State at 4 p.m. today at Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena.
There's a certain amount of goofiness attached to Roberts' and Abner's mohawks, but Totten also said he appreciates the two players because it represents the loose demeanor of the team.
Instead of last year's veteran roster, the Delta Devils have a large swath of freshmen and sophomores on this team. That just might work to MVSU's advantage.
"It's impossible to walk around campus and not understand how important this game is," Totten said. "But at the same time, this is a pretty calm group. Some of the guys are so young, I'm not sure if they understand the magnitude. But that might be good, because they won't be pressing."
Freshman Ronald Brewer, who rushed for 146 yards last week against Alabama A&M, admitted he was stunned at how psyched everyone was for today's game.
"It's actually a lot of fun, but it's been pretty crazy," Brewer said. "Everywhere you go, people are talking about it. I'm not sure what I expected, but I know it's been bigger than I thought it would be."
Last year, Jackson State beat MVSU 29-24 when the Delta Devils had arguably their most talented team since the mid-1980s. Loaded with veterans, Totten hyped the game because he figured his team had the talent to finally pull off a win.
And early on, it appeared he was correct. MVSU jumped out to a 10-0 lead and beat Jackson State in almost every offensive statistic. But by the end of the night, it was the same old frustration and result.
This year, he's keeping the big game more low-key with his players. And who knows? Maybe something like a couple of mohawks will be the missing ingredient.
"There's always been some sort of jinx surrounding this game," Totten said. "For some reason Jackson State has had our number lately. Who can say what will turn the tide in our favor? We've just got to be opportunistic when we get our chances."
Howard at Eastern Michigan
BY JEFF ARNOLD, Ann Arbor News
It's EMU's turn for a I-AA foe
Eagles say they aren't taking Howard lightly
Carey Bailey understands the inspiration that many of his I-AA coaching brethren may draw from a certain season-opening victory by Appalachian State.
But the first-year Howard University head coach isn't buying it.
While Bailey can appreciate the aftershocks the Mountaineers' 34-32 win over then No. 5-ranked Michigan left among lower-division programs like his, he won't allow his team to think it has anything to do with its preparations for today's road test at Eastern Michigan.
"To us, this is just the next game on our schedule,'' Bailey said earlier this week. "I try and not get into the whole I-AA versus I-A thing. This is just another game for us to try and go out and execute. It doesn't matter who we're playing. We have to do that if we hope to win.''
Eastern Michigan (1-2) represents the lone I-A opponent for the Bisons (0-2), who are coming off a 30-17 loss at Florida A&M.
Howard, which posted a 6-6 record last season while competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, traveled to Rutgers in 2006, filling out a schedule comprised with the likes of Coppin State, Delaware State and North Carolina A&T.
And despite the differences in Eastern Michigan's weekly level of competition, coach Jeff Genyk refuses to consider Howard anything less than another challenge the Eagles have to contend with.
After all, Eastern's last I-AA test resulted in a 31-28 home loss to Eastern Illinois in 2005.
And with I-AA programs more than holding their own this season between Appalachian State's win at Michigan Stadium, Southern Illinois' victory over Northern Illinois and The Citadel remaining close with Wisconsin for three quarters, Genyk knows Howard will bring a competitive mentality into today's game.
Not to mention a spread
offense that possesses the ability to put points on the board and that will test Eastern's young secondary.
"You have to prepare very well for these games,'' Genyk said. "These teams are generally feeling (how other I-AA teams have fared) and realize that, 'Hey, we've got 63 scholarships, Eastern Michigan's got 85 - so what? Let's go steal one.' ''
When: 3:30 p.m.
Where: Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, Mich.
Records: Bison 0-2; Eagles 1-2.
Still Stinging: After staying close with Hampton in the season opener, the Bison gave a dispirited performance last week at Florida A&M. Howard surrendered more than 300 rushing yards in the 30-17 loss, 222 of them by freshman tailback Philip Sylvester. Brian Johnson completed 12 of 16 passes for 126 yards for the Bison, five of them to Jarahn Williams, including both touchdowns. Endor Cooper led Howard with 13 tackles, including 3 1/2 for losses.
Breaking Ground: This the first time the schools have met, and the Bison will be the first MEAC team to play in Rynearson Stadium.
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