Today's MEAC Football Reviews

Howard at Bethune-Cookman

1 p.m. at Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, Fla. Records: Bison 1-8, 0-6 MEAC; Wildcats 9-0, 6-0. RADIO: WELE 1380 AM (Daytona)

Emerging stars: Even though Howard's defense has allowed more than 50 points in three of its past four games, the Bison have received outstanding performances from its younger defensive players. Freshman safety Cameron Alston, the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rookie of the week, had nine tackles, recovered a fumble and returned a blocked field goal 37 yards for a touchdown in a 54-14 loss to South Carolina State. Sophomore linebacker Kurt Mangum II had 13 tackles, including three for a loss, and a sack.

Delaware State at Norfolk State

Delaware State (2-7, 1-5) at Norfolk State (4-5, 3-4), 1 p.m., Dick Price Stadium, 102.1 FM; 91.1 FM (Norfolk); WWTX-1290, WDOV-1410 (Dover)

Ever since getting Norfolk State's season back on track, Sherron Childress admits he's been thinking about today. The tight end, one of the Spartans' most emotional players, is one of 20 NSU seniors likely playing their final home game today.

"I've been thinking about it all week," Childress said. "Since the start of the week, I've been thinking one more home game. I've played a lot of games here... one more time at Dick Price Stadium."

Childress has already been through a spectrum of results at home this season. He wept on the field after a close loss to Florida A&M three weeks ago. Last week, during a 35-27 win over Morgan State, he celebrated his first catch since September, and his first touchdown of the season.



Hampton at Florida A&M

Florida A&M vs. Hampton, 3 p.m: Hampton (5-4, 4-2 MEAC); FAMU (6-3, 5-1 MEAC); Internet Live TV: FAMCAST, Radio: 96.1 FM.

There is no hope of winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship for Hampton. That chance was dashed by three consecutive losses, including a heartbreaking five-point loss to undefeated Bethune-Cookman last weekend.

But today, the Pirates could do severe damage to the plans that Florida A&M (6-3, 5-1 MEAC) has to run the table and force a possible three-way tie for the conference title. Hampton (5-4, 4-2) did it last season and coach Donovan Rose is looking for a repeat performance.

What Rose has been telling his players amounts to forgetting that they've not won a game since escaping with a 7-6 victory over Norfolk State. Only a two-touchdown loss to Old Dominion was at a wider margin than the setback to the Wildcats.

North Carolina Central at Savannah State

SSU (0-9) faces North Carolina Central (3-6) at 2 p.m. at Memorial Stadium; Radio: WHCJ 90.3 FM (Savannah)

Sheldon Barnes hoped to earn some playing time this season, but the freshman never expected to become Savannah State's workhorse.

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound running back from Hinesville's Bradwell Institute leads SSU with 440 yards and three touchdowns on 98 carries.

Senior running back Justin Babb has not played since suffering a leg injury Sept. 18 against Bethune-Cookman. Filling in for Babb has been Barnes.

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Videographer: SpeechlessQue

NCCU Eagles earn first win for Bullock

DURHAM -- N.C. Central broke a three-game losing streak and celebrated a 20-7 homecoming victory over Edward Waters on Saturday at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. "It was very important to win and I think it will provide great momentum going into next week," interim NCCU coach Darryl Bullock said. "We got off to a quick start, but [Edward Waters] kept fighting and it will be a real good lesson for us."

The Eagles grabbed the early lead on their second possession when they drove 46 yards in three plays for a touchdown on a 22-yard run by Tim Shankle. NCCU later added a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter to build a 20-0 lead thanks to a 47-yard pass from quarterback Michael Johnson to Geovonie Irvine and a 1-yard run by fullback Justin Manning.

Keys to the game: NCCU

Player of the Game
NCCU wide receiver Geovonnie Irvine caught six passes for a career-best 153 yards, including a career-long 59-yard reception on the game's first play from scrimmage. He also had a 47-yard touchdown catch.

Play of the Game
NCCU quarterback Michael Johnson set the tone of the game with his first throw to Irvine who sprinted down the right side to haul in a 59-yard pass. The Eagles weren't able to score on the drive but it gave them the confidence to come back the next time they had the ball to score.

Attendance: 13,562

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Defense lifts Morgan to win in home opener

Still hurting from its season-opening loss at Towson, Morgan State yesterday found the ideal elixir. A good, old-fashioned beat-down. The Bears opened their home schedule at Hughes Stadium by dominating an undermanned and overmatched North Carolina Central team, scoring 35 points off seven turnovers - including three interceptions returned for touchdowns - and recording their most lopsided victory in 22 years in a 49-7 nonconference win.

"The guys put it together and showed up as a team," said Morgan coach Donald Hill-Eley, who looked to exploit the tendency of Eagles quarterback Stradford Brown to throw on the run. "We practiced the scramble drill all week - just staying with our guys rather then leaving their man. It paid off." The victory was the fourth straight in a home opener for Morgan (1-1), which scored its most points since putting up 55 against Savannah State in 2005 and broke a school record with six interceptions.

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Attendance: 5,632 (56%) at Hughes Stadium, Baltimore, MD (Capacity: 10,000).

Linwood Ferguson among top contenders to become EKU head football coach

Photo: Coach Linwood Ferguson, former MEAC coach at HU, NCA&T, NCCU and WSSU is a top contender to become head football coach at Eastern Kentucky.

RICHMOND, KY — Speculation continues to build about who will be selected as Danny Hope’s successor at Eastern Kentucky University, but school officials aren’t saying much, if anything, about the situation.

Still, it would appear that five candidates have emerged as top contenders to become EKU’s new head football coach — current defensive coordinator Donn Landholm, current offensive coordinator Linwood Ferguson, Georgetown College head coach Bill Cronin, Bowling Green University wide receivers coach Steve Bird and Wake Forest defensive coordinator Dean Hood.

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Ferguson, who has more than 31 years of coaching experience, spent the 2006 season as Howard University offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The Bison finished 4-4 in MEAC action in 2006 while ranking third in the conference in rushing yards per game (184.8). Ferguson has also been the offensive coordinator at North Carolina Central University (2003), North Carolina A&T State University (2002) and defensive back coach at Winston Salem State University (2004-05).

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NCCU-N.C. A&T will meet as I-AA foes for the first time

Today's game live on Internet streaming broadcast at 6:30 p.m. at: http://www.jarvistv.com/NCCU .


By MIKE POTTER, The HERALD-SUN

First-year N.C. Central head football coach Mose Rison said earlier this week he didn't want to be a part of history.

But he and his 3-1 Eagles can't help it.

When they put their three-game winning streak on the line tonight at 6:30 p.m. against historic arch-rival N.C. A&T (0-3) at Greensboro's Aggie Stadium, it will be the Eagles' first game as a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) against another team from the FCS.

That will be some good history the Eagles, and perhaps for both schools.

What Rison doesn't want to do is be part of breaking the Aggies' 19-game losing streak, currently the longest among FCS teams.

Although it wasn't likely to happen at any rate, he doesn't want the Eagles to be taking the Aggies lightly.

"They will be the best football team we have played this season," said Rison, whose team has played four NCAA Division II teams so far. "We just have to make sure our guys don't get caught up in the hype."

Aggies coach Lee Fobbs said his team desperately wants to end the losing streak, no matter what team turns out to be N.C. A&T's unfortunate victim.

"It's tough on the coaches, but it's tougher on the kids," Fobbs said. "I'm really proud of our guys. But they dropped their heads after they played so hard last week [in a 59-14 loss to Hampton].

"The staff and our kids have learned that the only way we can get this thing turned around is to get our chins up and get ready to practice hard every day. The important thing is that the kids love to play football."

Fobbs, who is looking for his first win with the program in his second season, said he knows all about how big tonight's game is for both schools.

"It's real important because it's the next game on our schedule," Fobbs said. "I know the rivalry dates back quite a few years. It's great for our area, and it's a game the fans really want to see. It's college football at its best. It's a big-time ball game in a lot of ways."

Indeed it is an ancient rivalry, going all the way back to a 13-13 tie at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in 1924. N.C. A&T leads the series 45-28-5.

Since 1945, the game has been contested every year except 1993 and last season. Both times, N.C. A&T administrators were trying to get away from playing a game against a Division II team.

The teams have split their last four meetings, all at N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium. And three of them were worth double the price of admission. In 2002, the Eagles recovered from a 27-0 deficit after the first quarter to win 33-30 in overtime, the second largest comeback in Division II history. After the Aggies rolled 25-0 in 2003, they won 16-15 the next year on Carlos Davalos' 50-yard field goal. It was almost déjà vu in 2005, but the Aggies missed their last-second field-goal attempt and NCCU survived 23-22.

The Aggies' leading rusher is junior tailback and Northern High alumnus Michael Ferguson. Ferguson is averaging 114.3 yards per game, but is still looking for his first touchdown of the season.

N.C. A&T's junior right tackle Juan Williams is a Durham native who played at Garner High. Also on the Aggies' roster are Corey Hairston, a junior wide receiver out of Hillside; and sophomore defensive end Woodrow Scrivens and freshman linebacker Jamal Wardlaw from Riverside. The Eagles have no players from Greensboro.

NOTES -- The Aggies won 48-0 the last time the teams met in Greensboro back in 1991. NCCU's most recent win in Greensboro was a 38-19 romp in 1987, in the final game for legendary Eagles quarterback Earl "Air" Harvey. …NCCU has no new injuries after kicker Brandon Gilbert and running back Jeff Toliver were declared out for the season. …A&T's injury list includes running backs Demerick Chancellor (shoulder, out) and Reginald James (shoulder, out), strong safety Brandon Jackson (knee, out), defensive back Brandon Long (knee, questionable), quarterback Herb Miller (knee, questionable), cornerback Simeon Platt (ankle, questionable), linebacker Robert Russell (back, probable) and defensive lineman Tyre Glasper (elbow, probable).

KEYS TO THE GAME

Can the Eagles move the ball consistently?

That question may be answered early in the game. The Eagles have been sleepily effective ever since the final period of their season-opening loss to Albany State. Tim Shankle's triple-digit rushing total last week was a very good sign, and quarterback Stadford Brown has been able to handle going for the little play instead of the big one. Middle linebacker Andre Thornton and defensive back Marques Ruffin are A&T's big weapons.

Will NCCU's defense continue to dominate?

There aren't many teams in the country that would turn down Eagles cornerback Craig Amos, and Derrick Ray has been a big-play guy at linebacker. But the Aggies' players were recruited to play Division I-AA football while the Eagles' veteran standouts were recruited at the Division II level. N.C. A&T running back and Northern High alumnus Michael Ferguson is hungry for the end zone.

What about the intangibles of the rivalry?

"Throw out the records" and all the other clichés fit. This is one of the most bitter rivalries in college sports. For over a generation, a win over N.C. A&T could make the Eagles' season. But now the shoe is on the other foot with the Eagles up and the Aggies down. If the Eagles don't play well early, their rivals' 19-game losing streak could be in jeopardy.

The Pick

N.C. Central 26, N.C. A&T 14

NCCU Eagles Marching Band

NCCU's hoops schedule has the Eagles bouncing all over the country -- and vs. Duke on Nov. 9

By MIKE POTTER, The Herald-Sun

Nov. 9 is going to be a big night for the N.C. Central athletics program.

The Eagles are in their first season in NCAA Division I, and so far they have had pretty good results against a primarily Division II football schedule and a handful of high-profile opponents in other fall sports.

But on Nov. 9, the Eagles really join the club of Division I programs as a couple of local rivalries will begin in earnest. The Eagles men's basketball team will play its first official game with Duke at 7 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium, while women's team goes against North Carolina at 8:30 p.m. at Carmichael Auditorium.

Those games were among the highlights of Wednesday's official release of the Eagles' first basketball schedules as Division I members. The men's schedule will be among the toughest in the country, while the women's schedule certainly is the strongest the Eagles have ever played.

Both season-opening games had been announced previously. But the totality of the schedules -- particularly on the men's side where they will be raking in big money on road trips, which include 15 of their first 16 games -- shows what life is going to be like for the Eagles as big-time expansion teams.

NCCU men's coach Henry Dickerson's club (13-15 last season), which has only seven home games, visits three members of the ACC with trips to Wake Forest on Nov. 19 and N.C. State on Jan. 9. A game at two-time defending NCAA champion Florida on Nov. 14 is on the schedule as part of the Blue Ribbon Challenge that gave the Eagles trips to Rutgers (Nov. 12) and North Dakota State (Nov. 17) as well as the Eagles' home opener against Tennessee Tech on Nov. 21.

Another huge opponent looms on Dec. 22 when the Eagles visit Nebraska, two days after visiting Creighton in their journey to the Cornhusker State. The Eagles will also travel to the Iowa Realty Tournament at Drake Nov. 30-Dec. 1, taking on the host Bulldogs in the first round with Duquesne and Cal State-Northridge in the field.

"This is going to be a big challenge, especially for a young team," Dickerson said. "We're going to be playing some of the best teams in the country, and our guys will know they have to play hard every night. It's going to be about learning to trust each other, and to keep getting better whether we win or lose."

Nine in-state opponents dot the men's schedule. Along with the ACC members the Eagles will travel to Davidson on Nov. 24, Western Carolina on Dec. 5, UNC Wilmington on Dec. 16, East Carolina on Jan. 5, then host Chowan on Feb. 16 and Lenoir-Rhyne on Feb. 20.

ECU, which defeated the Eagles 68-47 in Greenville, is the only holdover from last year's regular-season schedule. NCCU lost its exhibition games at Duke (92-63) and Wake Forest (68-60) last season.

NCCU will host the RTP Hilton Classic on Dec. 29-30 at McLendon-McDougald Gym, taking on Houston Baptist and Concord with former CIAA rival Elizabeth City State the other team in the doubleheaders. The Classic opponents along with Chowan and Lenoir-Rhyne are the only non-Division I foes on the schedule.

As an independent, Dickerson's club will have home-and-home series with just two teams, Coppin State (home on Jan. 16 and away on Jan. 30) and Utah Valley State (away on Jan. 22 and at home on Feb. 19). Except for those two games and the trip to Colgate on Feb. 23 (the Red Raiders will return the visit during the 2008-09 season), the Eagles will collect checks from the other road games. The total will be between $400,000 and $450,000, Dickerson said.

Without the pressure --or ability -- to raise tens of thousands of dollars from road games, the NCCU women's schedule does not have the same recurring David and Goliath theme as the men's. The biggest ongoing challenge for women's coach Joli Robinson and her squad (26-6 last season) is the fact it will have just six home games.

The Eagles will play at cross-town rival Duke for the first time under Robinson on Jan. 3. But after the Tar Heels and Blue Devils the next biggest name on the schedule is Duquesne, where NCCU will visit on Jan. 7.

"This is going to be a good experience for us," said Robinson, who is 177-135 as the Eagles' head coach. "When you're at the Division I level, you're going to play some very tough teams. Playing at Duke and Carolina gives our student-athletes some great opportunities, and this is about them.

"We're also going to be traveling and seeing some places they've never seen before. Sometimes we're not going to know what to expect."

The regular-season women's slate features 11 in-state opponents, including the Lady Eagle Classic against Elizabeth City State on Dec. 7 and Fayetteville State on Dec. 8. NCCU will travel to Elon on Nov. 12, Appalachian State on Nov. 16, take on Lenoir-Rhyne on Nov. 23 and host Catawba Nov. 24 in the Comfort Suites Classic in Salisbury, visit High Point on Jan. 5, return the visit to Fayetteville State on Feb. 4 and host Livingstone on Feb. 16.

The Eagles will play 13 regular-season games against Historically Black colleges. Foremost among those games is the Eagles' Nov. 20 visit to Coppin State, as the two teams shared the Black College national title last year. Norfolk State will visit on Jan. 9, the Eagles' only home game against a Division I team.

Robinson's team will also play a pair of exhibition games, hosting former CIAA rival Virginia State on Nov. 3 and traveling to Wake Forest on Nov. 7.