NORFOLK, Virginia -- The Norfolk State football team will have to replace the mood, and the mind, that led the Spartans to unprecedented success this season.
The Spartans' road to a repeat championship will have to include the biggest rebuilding job in the MEAC. Norfolk State listed 22 seniors on its roster this season, the most in the conference. Among the upperclassmen were the core of its defense, along with Josh Turner and Chris Walley, likely the two most important players on the roster.
"You know the thing in the middle of a wheel? What's that called, the axle?" coach Pete Adrian asked. "That's what Josh is. He's the one that makes it all work."
Turner is probably the biggest - 315 pounds big - loss of the seven graduating senior starters and four All-MEAC members on defense. That also includes leading tackler Corwin Hammond.
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Showing posts with label Norfolk State University Spartans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Norfolk State University Spartans. Show all posts
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
ODU's first playoff win sends penalty-laden Norfolk State home
NORFOLK, VA — Even as he watched the 98-yard touchdown happen, Ronnie Cameron was forgetting about it.
"We always have a mentality of, 'Play the next play,' " said Cameron, Old Dominion's senior defensive tackle and the Colonial Athletic Association defensive player of the year. "Things happen. Things have happened all year. We've just got to bounce back from it. That's what a resilient team does. That's what a mature team does.
"Don't let one play define the rest of the game."
ODU took those words to heart in a major way on Saturday as the Monarchs squared off against Norfolk State in the first meeting of the crosstown opponents, which also happened to be both teams' first appearance in the FCS playoffs.
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Roaring success for first-ever Crosstown Showdown
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Gene Thomas II and three fellow Norfolk State football fans intended to join a Spartans tailgate party on the west side of Old Dominion's Foreman Field early Saturday afternoon. They were detained as they walked on the east side, however, by the kindness of strangers - a gaggle of ODU fans offering pregame food, drinks and good-natured banter.
And so loyal Spartans stayed put among proud Monarchs as time ticked toward the so-called Crosstown Showdown, an NCAA playoff game at the Football Championship Subdivision level.
"Sportsmanship has arrived in Norfolk," said Thomas, a former NSU marching band member and a music teacher at Portsmouth's I.C. Norcom High.
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"We always have a mentality of, 'Play the next play,' " said Cameron, Old Dominion's senior defensive tackle and the Colonial Athletic Association defensive player of the year. "Things happen. Things have happened all year. We've just got to bounce back from it. That's what a resilient team does. That's what a mature team does.
"Don't let one play define the rest of the game."
ODU took those words to heart in a major way on Saturday as the Monarchs squared off against Norfolk State in the first meeting of the crosstown opponents, which also happened to be both teams' first appearance in the FCS playoffs.
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Roaring success for first-ever Crosstown Showdown
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Gene Thomas II and three fellow Norfolk State football fans intended to join a Spartans tailgate party on the west side of Old Dominion's Foreman Field early Saturday afternoon. They were detained as they walked on the east side, however, by the kindness of strangers - a gaggle of ODU fans offering pregame food, drinks and good-natured banter.
And so loyal Spartans stayed put among proud Monarchs as time ticked toward the so-called Crosstown Showdown, an NCAA playoff game at the Football Championship Subdivision level.
"Sportsmanship has arrived in Norfolk," said Thomas, a former NSU marching band member and a music teacher at Portsmouth's I.C. Norcom High.
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Saturday, November 5, 2011
Savannah State University Tigers looks for elusive second win
Savannah, Georgia -- Savannah State coach Steve Davenport remembered when times weren’t so good as a player. Davenport, a wide receiver with Georgia Tech, went into the sixth game of the 1988 season against undefeated and eighth-ranked South Carolina with a 1-4 record.Tech won only three games, but surprised Carolina 34-0 that day in the Yellow Jackets’ only Division I-A victory that season. He relayed that story to his Savannah State players during a recent team meeting.
“I have a picture in my office from the South Carolina game,” Davenport said. “I took that picture into our team meeting. We were struggling; we won only three games (two against I-AA teams). But we made a memory that day.”
Davenport wants his players to look the same way at highly regarded Norfolk State — a team that leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings and ranks seventh in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College football poll.
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Monday, October 31, 2011
Norfolk State Spartans win, stays in first place in MEAC
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Linebacker Corwin Hammond got everything he asked for. Brutal conditions for an offense. Ideal for a defense seeking redemption. Cold weather, wind and a crucial MEAC win.
The Spartans beat North Carolina A&T 14-10 on Saturday in front of 18,752 fans thanks to a dominant defensive effort that included seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
Clinging to a 14-10 lead in the second half, the Spartan defense, with help from a 22-mph wind, held the Aggies scoreless despite three trips inside the NSU 13-yard-line. "Everyone remembers these kinds of games," Hammond said. "The rain, even if the fans leave, it's what we had to do to redeem ourselves."
As the game approached and weather reports worsened, Hammond was practically giddy about the prospect, despite the chaos the conditions could, and did, play on NSU's pass-first offense.
"Man, let it rain, let it rain," Hammond said earlier this week, still steamed after giving up 245 yards on the ground to Bethune-Cookman. "Let it rain. We'll see who's tough. Let them run the ball."
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Aggies' last drive falls incomplete
Norfolk, Virginia -- N.C. A&T is 13 yards short of first place in the MEAC. Randy Maynes scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 7:12 left to lead Norfolk State to a come-from-behind 14-10 victory over the Aggies at Dick Price Stadium on Saturday.
A&T's last chance to win ended with three consecutive incomplete passes from the Norfolk State 13-yard line in the final 47 seconds.
A&T wide receiver Torrian Warren, a Dudley graduate, got his hands on the fourth-down attempt. But he couldn't hang on, his bid for a diving catch in the end zone failing when the ball jarred loose on impact with the ground.
"We should have won this ballgame, just like we should have won last week's ball game (at Howard)," A&T coach Rod Broadway said. "We've got to teach our guys how to win. They don't know how to win or how to finish right now. That's (the coaches) responsibility. They're playing fairly hard. We're just not putting them in a good enough position to win."
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Saturday, October 22, 2011
Richmond Football Unveils Future Opponents Through 2016
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND -- The University of Richmond has announced its non-conference football opponents through the 2016 season, highlighted by 11 games versus Commonwealth teams.The Spiders series versus the University of Virginia continues through 2016, while the long-standing VMI series is extended through 2015. Richmond and North Carolina State meet in 2013 and the Spiders have not yet announced a BCS opponent in 2015.
Also highlighting the Spiders' future schedule are home-and-home series with in-state foes Liberty and Hampton University, along with a series versus Gardner-Webb and home games versus Charlotte, Morehead State and Norfolk State. The Spiders and Flames have never met on the gridiron, while Richmond has played Hampton just once previously - with the Spiders winning 38-10, in the 2005 NCAA FCS Playoffs First Round.
Game dates and times have yet to be announced and match-ups are subject to change.
FUTURE FOOTBALL NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
2012: HOME: Gardner-Webb. AWAY: at Virginia; at VMI
*2013: HOME: Liberty; VMI. AWAY: at N.C. State; at Gardner-Webb
*2014: HOME: Hampton; Morehead State; AWAY: at Virginia; at Liberty
2015: HOME: VMI; AWAY: at TBA (BCS opponent); at Hampton
2016: HOME: Charlotte; Norfolk State. AWAY: at Virginia
* 12-game regular-season schedule
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Up 12-10 at the half, NSU fails to stop WVU onslaught
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Norfolk State's football team turned in a memorable performance against No. 19 West Virginia on Saturday. Unfortunately for the Spartans, only the first 30 minutes will be worth remembering.
After building a remarkable 12-10 halftime lead before 51,911 fans at Milan Puskar Stadium, NSU disappeared in the second half, allowing the Mountaineers to score on all seven of their possessions and roll to a 55-12 win. Also forgettable were the Spartans' 19 penalties for 177 yards, each a record for a WVU opponent.
NSU coach Pete Adrian, a WVU alumnus, called the game "a tale of two cities," but the match-up between the Spartans (1-1) and the Big East's Mountaineers (2-0) was hardly a classic.
"We outplayed them in the first half, there's no question about that," Adrian said. "You can sugarcoat it anyway you want - we did. And we got murdered in the second half."
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WV Mountaineers wear down Spartans en route to 55-12 win
MORGANTOWN — It was a tale of two halves. In most instances, it’s a bit of a cliché, not to mention misused, but in the case of No. 19 West Virginia and its battle with Norfolk State Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium, it certainly fits.
The first half was a bumbling mess, where time and time again the Mountaineers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and trailed the FCS Spartans 12-10. It had all the makings of Appy State-Michigan a few years ago.
The second half, the Mountaineers scored on all seven of their possessions and ended up with what was expected all along, a 55-12 drubbing of Norfolk State.
“Obviously, I’m not pleased with first half, but I was pleased with the second half,” said West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen, who showed no signs that he was pleased about anything. “We are a young football team and inexperienced. I don’t know if we’re trying too hard or if it was a coaching error. Either way, I’m proud of the way we came out in the second half. We got a lot of good snaps, and hopefully, it will make us a better team.”
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After building a remarkable 12-10 halftime lead before 51,911 fans at Milan Puskar Stadium, NSU disappeared in the second half, allowing the Mountaineers to score on all seven of their possessions and roll to a 55-12 win. Also forgettable were the Spartans' 19 penalties for 177 yards, each a record for a WVU opponent.
NSU coach Pete Adrian, a WVU alumnus, called the game "a tale of two cities," but the match-up between the Spartans (1-1) and the Big East's Mountaineers (2-0) was hardly a classic.
"We outplayed them in the first half, there's no question about that," Adrian said. "You can sugarcoat it anyway you want - we did. And we got murdered in the second half."
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WV Mountaineers wear down Spartans en route to 55-12 win
MORGANTOWN — It was a tale of two halves. In most instances, it’s a bit of a cliché, not to mention misused, but in the case of No. 19 West Virginia and its battle with Norfolk State Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium, it certainly fits.
The first half was a bumbling mess, where time and time again the Mountaineers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and trailed the FCS Spartans 12-10. It had all the makings of Appy State-Michigan a few years ago.
The second half, the Mountaineers scored on all seven of their possessions and ended up with what was expected all along, a 55-12 drubbing of Norfolk State.
“Obviously, I’m not pleased with first half, but I was pleased with the second half,” said West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen, who showed no signs that he was pleased about anything. “We are a young football team and inexperienced. I don’t know if we’re trying too hard or if it was a coaching error. Either way, I’m proud of the way we came out in the second half. We got a lot of good snaps, and hopefully, it will make us a better team.”
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Friday, September 9, 2011
Ex-ODU standout joins NSU staff to help defense
Norfolk, VA - Norfolk State's post players won't shake hands with each other anymore. Norfolk native and Old Dominion great Wilson Washington, hired as a part-time men's basketball coach for the Spartans on Thursday, plans to ban the practice."My four and my five guys don't shake hands, they exchange forearms," Washington said. "It's about embracing contact. The step after that is initiating contact. If we do that, it won't take long for our defense to improve."
Washington, 56, played high school basketball at Booker T. Washington and was a three-time All-American at Old Dominion, twice at the Division II level and once at Division I, then went on to play two years in the NBA with Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Washington averaged 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds during his pro years and, while at ODU, collected nearly as many rebounds (1,011) as points (1,366), while also blocking 363 shots. He had four career triple-doubles. His jersey number, 52, has been retired at ODU and he led the Monarchs to a Division II national championship in 1975.
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Monday, September 5, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Hut hut! NSU Spartans begin preseason camp
Norfolk, VA - The first two days of practice for Norfolk State are in the books with a few noteworthy occurrences. The biggest move was sophomore Nico Washington going from defensive line to offensive line in an effort to help solve NSU's biggest issue heading into the season.
A defensive tackle who played in all 11 games and made eight tackles in 2010 as a true freshman, Washington is the leading candidate to begin the season at right tackle. There's good and bad to that.
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A defensive tackle who played in all 11 games and made eight tackles in 2010 as a true freshman, Washington is the leading candidate to begin the season at right tackle. There's good and bad to that.
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Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tides find success with NSU in exhibition match
NORFOLK, VA - Sammy Serafine is a second baseman and recruiter. Raymond Morton is a pitcher and salesman. Baseball scouts seek out five-tool players, but Norfolk State coach Claudell Clark sometimes sees six or seven.
"It's no secret," Clark said, "We want local players to help us gain local exposure to help us get more local players and more fans."
The Spartans lost 1-0 to the Norfolk Tides in a seven-inning exhibition game Tuesday - a Tides pitcher threw three innings for NSU to limit the strain to the pitching staff - but for the second straight year, Norfolk State delivered a sizeable crowd to the Tides as the Triple-A team opened its home for the season.
The Tides had often played exhibition games against Old Dominion, but their first against Norfolk State drew 8,509 last season. In the game's second year, on a chilly Tuesday, the crowd totaled 8,804.
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"It's no secret," Clark said, "We want local players to help us gain local exposure to help us get more local players and more fans."
The Spartans lost 1-0 to the Norfolk Tides in a seven-inning exhibition game Tuesday - a Tides pitcher threw three innings for NSU to limit the strain to the pitching staff - but for the second straight year, Norfolk State delivered a sizeable crowd to the Tides as the Triple-A team opened its home for the season.
The Tides had often played exhibition games against Old Dominion, but their first against Norfolk State drew 8,509 last season. In the game's second year, on a chilly Tuesday, the crowd totaled 8,804.
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Coach who twice helped turn Norfolk State University into a winner dies
Charles Christian, who won more men's basketball games than any other coach in the history of Norfolk State University, died Monday. He was 83.Christian, who served as Norfolk State's coach on two occasions, compiled a career mark of 319-95 in 14 seasons, winning seven CIAA titles.
Known for his trademark toothpick hanging from his mouth, Christian's final NSU team went 27-4 in 1989-90. That team won the CIAA tournament and finished the year ranked No. 7 in Division II. He was named CIAA Coach of the Year four times, and 11 of his teams won 20 or more games. Three of his teams won regional titles and made it to the Division II national quarterfinals.
Christian remembered as father, coach
The man whom generations of Suffolk basketball players called “Coach” died Monday.
Charles Christian, who coached at schools including Booker T. Washington and John F. Kennedy high schools before going on to Norfolk State University, had battled cancer in the hospital for nearly two months. He was 83 years old.
Under Christian, Booker T. Washington’s basketball team racked up a record of 101-1 from the 1962-63 season into the 1967-68 season. “Everyone knew Booker T. of Suffolk because of his abilities,” said Ronald Hart, who played for Christian until he graduated in 1960. “Our school got recognition because of Coach Christian.”
Christian was known for focusing on defense and stressing intense practices, as well as enforcing strict curfews at Norfolk State.
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Friday, March 11, 2011
NSU tops Coppin State to face Hampton in MEAC semis
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Norfolk State coach Anthony Evans admitted drawing up a play for a game-winning shot "hardly ever works."
"It didn't work this time either," Evans said. The plan was for freshman sharpshooter Pendarvis Williams to inbound the ball from the baseline, then race to the corner, where he would launch a 3-pointer. If it missed, Plan B was that the league's leading rebounder, Kyle O'Quinn, would have a chance at scoring off an offensive rebound.
But Coppin State overplayed Williams, denying him the ball, and it was up to senior guard Rob Hampton to make something happen. That was Plan C. And it worked.
Seeing a flash of daylight in the lane from just beyond the top of the key, the 6-foot-4 Hampton sliced his body through three defenders and banked home a layup with two seconds remaining as sixth-seeded Norfolk State upset third-seeded Coppin State 55-53 in a Thursday night quarterfinal game in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament.
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"It didn't work this time either," Evans said. The plan was for freshman sharpshooter Pendarvis Williams to inbound the ball from the baseline, then race to the corner, where he would launch a 3-pointer. If it missed, Plan B was that the league's leading rebounder, Kyle O'Quinn, would have a chance at scoring off an offensive rebound.
But Coppin State overplayed Williams, denying him the ball, and it was up to senior guard Rob Hampton to make something happen. That was Plan C. And it worked.
Seeing a flash of daylight in the lane from just beyond the top of the key, the 6-foot-4 Hampton sliced his body through three defenders and banked home a layup with two seconds remaining as sixth-seeded Norfolk State upset third-seeded Coppin State 55-53 in a Thursday night quarterfinal game in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament.
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Tuesday, March 1, 2011
NSU Spartans zone out, can't solve Coppin State's defense
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| CSU Eagles Coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell |
Now they are a bit put off by the fact that the prediction was correct. Playing lethargically throughout and pinned in by their opponent's well-played zone defense, the Spartans fell 76-69 to Coppin State on Monday night at Echols Hall.
Coupled with fifth-place North Carolina A&T's win at Morgan State, Monday's loss means the Spartans (9-19, 7-8) can finish no higher than sixth, and could finish seventh.
Coleman's Career-High 20 Points Leads Coppin State Over Norfolk State
NORFOLK, Va. – Freshman Kyra Coleman scored a career-high 20 points and also grabbed 11 rebounds as Coppin State snapped a two-game losing streak with a 64-50 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory over Norfolk State on Monday in Echols Hall.
Coleman sparked a second-half rally by the Eagles as she scored 16 of her 20 points after halftime helping Coppin State to overcome a four-point deficit at the intermission. She finished the game 8-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the free throw line.
Coppin State (11-16, 8-7 MEAC) shot 53.3 percent from the floor in the second half, while limiting Norfolk State to just 29.7 percent shooting. The Eagles shot just 22.2 percent in the first half and trailed 24-20 at halftime.
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Sunday, February 20, 2011
NSU Men Win 6th MEAC Indoor Track Title in a Row
Final Results
LANDOVER, Md. – The Norfolk State men’s track team won its sixth straight MEAC indoor track & field title on Saturday at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex, breaking its own meet record with 200 points.
Combined with their streak of five straight MEAC outdoor championships, the Spartan men have now won the last 11 MEAC track championships that have been contested. They easily topped the 2010 team’s previous meet record of 188 points.
LANDOVER, Md. – The Norfolk State men’s track team won its sixth straight MEAC indoor track & field title on Saturday at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex, breaking its own meet record with 200 points.
Combined with their streak of five straight MEAC outdoor championships, the Spartan men have now won the last 11 MEAC track championships that have been contested. They easily topped the 2010 team’s previous meet record of 188 points.
Junior Josef Tessema was named the MEAC Men’s Most Outstanding Runner. He earned victories Saturday in the mile and 3,000 meters to add to his wins Friday in the 5,000 and as part of the distance medley relay team. He had a hand in 32.5 points during the weekend, more than three entire men’s teams.
Spartan head coach Kenneth Giles was named the MEAC Men’s Most Outstanding Coach for the 11th time in his tenure as NSU track coach.
Videographer: running1maryland
Videographer: running1maryland
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Sunday, February 13, 2011
Hampton's Morgan shoots Pirates past Norfolk State 86-72
NORFOLK, VA — Kwame Morgan looks like any normal red-blooded human being, but he clearly has ice chips, not platelets, coursing through his circulatory system.
Morgan made three huge 3-pointers, each which swung the momentum firmly to Hampton's side, as the Pirates held off Norfolk State 86-72 on Saturday night to win their fourth straight game and remain atop the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
"He's one of those kids that relishes the big moment," HU coach Ed Joyner said. "He understands it. He'll deal with the criticism for not making the play, and he'll handle the credit when he knocks down the big shot."
Photo Gallery: Hampton vs. Norfolk State
HU sweeps Battle Of The Bay
NORFOLK, VA – The Hampton University men’s basketball team picked up its fourth straight win in front of a sold-out Echols Hall on Saturday night, beating Norfolk State 86-72.
The Pirates (19-5, 9-2 MEAC) were led by 26 points from junior guard Darrion Pellum on 8-for-16 shooting and 6-for-11 from the free throw line. Junior guard Kwame Morgan added 19 points, while senior guard Brandon Tunnell scored 15 points. Senior forward Charles Funches added nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.
NSU victory puts Pirates in driver's seat in MEAC
NORFOLK, VA - If the standings in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference were a bit murky a little over a week ago, they are becoming crystal clear now: The Hampton Pirates are the team to beat.
The Pirates rolled into hostile - and heavily populated - territory Saturday night and strutted out of sold-out Echols Hall with an 86-72 victory over Norfolk State.
Mixing a packed-in zone defense with man-to-man, which was designed to offer help down low, the Pirates kept Spartans center Kyle O'Quinn from ever finding a rhythm. The 6-foot-10 junior, who had earned back-to-back MEAC Player of the Week honors, was limited to 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Jenkins' mastery at point guard helps Lady Pirates to 74-53 win vs. Norfolk State
NORFOLK, VA — Choicetta McMillian tied a career-high with 20 points and Jericka Jenkins had 16 of her 22 points and five of her nine assists in the first half as Hampton's women's basketball team rolled to a 74-53 victory against Norfolk State.
The Lady Pirates held an opponent to fewer than 60 points for the 11th straight time while topping 70 points for the third consecutive game in their 10th win in a row against the Lady Spartans.
Jenkins, a junior guard who came into the game tied for second in the nation with seven assists per game, steadied Hampton (18-6, 10-1 MEAC), leading the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, during the game's first 13 minutes, when the Lady Spartans (8-13 1-10) seemed determined to make a game of it. Jenkins sparked a stagnant Lady Pirates offense with her penetration, scoring seven early points from the free-throw line — where she was 9-of-10 - after drawing fouls in the lane.
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Morgan made three huge 3-pointers, each which swung the momentum firmly to Hampton's side, as the Pirates held off Norfolk State 86-72 on Saturday night to win their fourth straight game and remain atop the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
"He's one of those kids that relishes the big moment," HU coach Ed Joyner said. "He understands it. He'll deal with the criticism for not making the play, and he'll handle the credit when he knocks down the big shot."
Photo Gallery: Hampton vs. Norfolk State
HU sweeps Battle Of The Bay
NORFOLK, VA – The Hampton University men’s basketball team picked up its fourth straight win in front of a sold-out Echols Hall on Saturday night, beating Norfolk State 86-72.
The Pirates (19-5, 9-2 MEAC) were led by 26 points from junior guard Darrion Pellum on 8-for-16 shooting and 6-for-11 from the free throw line. Junior guard Kwame Morgan added 19 points, while senior guard Brandon Tunnell scored 15 points. Senior forward Charles Funches added nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.
NSU victory puts Pirates in driver's seat in MEAC
NORFOLK, VA - If the standings in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference were a bit murky a little over a week ago, they are becoming crystal clear now: The Hampton Pirates are the team to beat.
The Pirates rolled into hostile - and heavily populated - territory Saturday night and strutted out of sold-out Echols Hall with an 86-72 victory over Norfolk State.
Mixing a packed-in zone defense with man-to-man, which was designed to offer help down low, the Pirates kept Spartans center Kyle O'Quinn from ever finding a rhythm. The 6-foot-10 junior, who had earned back-to-back MEAC Player of the Week honors, was limited to 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Jenkins' mastery at point guard helps Lady Pirates to 74-53 win vs. Norfolk State
NORFOLK, VA — Choicetta McMillian tied a career-high with 20 points and Jericka Jenkins had 16 of her 22 points and five of her nine assists in the first half as Hampton's women's basketball team rolled to a 74-53 victory against Norfolk State.
The Lady Pirates held an opponent to fewer than 60 points for the 11th straight time while topping 70 points for the third consecutive game in their 10th win in a row against the Lady Spartans.
Jenkins, a junior guard who came into the game tied for second in the nation with seven assists per game, steadied Hampton (18-6, 10-1 MEAC), leading the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, during the game's first 13 minutes, when the Lady Spartans (8-13 1-10) seemed determined to make a game of it. Jenkins sparked a stagnant Lady Pirates offense with her penetration, scoring seven early points from the free-throw line — where she was 9-of-10 - after drawing fouls in the lane.
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Saturday, October 30, 2010
On homecoming, Howard Bison falls to Norfolk State, 10-9
One word sums up Howard's season - injuries. The Bison are banged up at just about every position, but their wounds are most noticeable on offense. The ever-rotating cast of quarterbacks, running backs and offensive linemen may be the biggest reason why Howard has been offensively challenged this season.
The Bison went into Saturday's 10-9 homecoming loss to Norfolk State without all-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference wide receiver Willie Carter, who injured his ankle in last week's loss at North Carolina A&T. Running back Justin Duncan came back after missing four weeks because of a lower back and hip injury, but running back Charles Brice, who had led Howard in rushing the past four weeks, went out in the second quarter with a shoulder injury.
Howard Drops Hard-Fought Battle to Norfolk State
Washington, DC—October 30---The Howard University football team battled Norfolk State for four quarters, but it came down to a case of too many key injuries on offense for the Bison as the Spartans, prevailed 10-9 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game before an overflow homecoming crowd of 7,086 at Greene Stadium.
Howard (1-7 overall, 0-5 in the MEAC) came into the game with injuries to six starters, including all-MEAC performer, junior wide receiver Wille Carter. Carter, who injured an ankle in the loss to North Carolina A&T last week, is the team's top playmaker and his absence definitely had an impact on the game.
Attendance: 7,086
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Howard University Showtime Marching Band, Pre-game Performance 10/30/10
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
With its offense struggling, NSU fires coordinator
NORFOLK, VA - The Norfolk State football team, struggling under the weight of a stagnant offense, replaced offensive coordinator Kirk Mastromatteo with tight ends coach Joe Blackwell on an interim basis Monday.Mastromatteo will not coach in the Spartans' final four games and his contract will not be renewed. The Norfolk State offense has scored just two touchdowns during the team's four-game losing streak and the Spartans have just 39 points in those games, including two touchdowns scored by the defense.
"My job is to win games," Mastromatteo said. "My job is to score points. Of course it's frustrating. It's not a lack of effort, it's not a lack of experience or knowledge. In this profession, sometimes someone has to be the guy (to go). Right now, I'm the guy.... This is a great profession, but it's a nasty, nasty business."
NSU notes: It's 3,000 yards and counting for Branche
NORFOLK, VA - Norfolk State running back DeAngelo Branche, who needed 42 yards to reach the 3,000-yard mark for his career, finished with 89 yards on 26 carries. The Maury graduate is just the second Spartan to hit the milestone and the first to do it at the FCS level.
"It was one of my goals," Branche said. "You can enjoy it a little. Even after a loss, an achievement is still an achievement. My name's in the record books. When I leave here, it'll still be here." Doing it on homecoming made it extra special.
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Sunday, October 24, 2010
FAMU Rattlers Defeat Norfolk State 17-13
NORFOLK, Va. – The Florida A&M University Football played the role of spoiler as they defeated Norfolk State, 17-13 on their homecoming, here Saturday afternoon at Dick Price Stadium.
Trevor Scott would give FAMU a 3-0 lead as he connected on a 28-yard field goal with 13:09 remaining in the first quarter as the Rattlers recovered a NSU’s Dwight Fluker-Berry fumble on the kickoff. Dante Barnes gave the NSU a 7-3 lead as scored on a 68-yard interception return with 5:54 to go in the first quarter, after the Ryan Estep PAT.
Mistakes doom NSU in 17-13 loss to Florida A&M
NORFOLK, VA - The Norfolk State football team found a new way to reach the same, tired, result. Betrayed by their defense and penalties, rather than offense and special teams, the Spartans surrendered the winning touchdown with 5:21 left and lost 17-13 to Florida A&M (4-3, 3-1 MEAC) on Saturday.
This one, the fourth straight defeat for NSU (2-5, 1-4), came before 21,118 fans on homecoming, a second straight kick in the gut after a one-point rivalry game loss to Hampton. "This one hurts a lot," senior running back DeAngelo Branche said. "You'll never understand. It's your last homecoming. To lose a game like that..."
Even with the excitement and festivities surrounding homecoming, the Norfolk State Spartans were unable to keep the Florida A&M Rattlers at bay, losing in yet another close game, 17-13.
Both teams came into the game in a must-win situation. NSU was trying to break their three game losing streak; Florida A&M needed a win to stay in the race for the MEAC Championship. The opening kickoff was fumbled by Spartans defensive back Dwight Fluker-Berry, the Rattlers recovered the ball and turned it into a 28-yard field goal by Trevor Scott. Two possessions later, cornerback Dante Barnes returned an interception 68 yards to put the Spartans up 7-3.
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NSU notes: It's 3000 yards and counting for Branche
Norfolk State running back DeAngelo Branche, who needed 42 yards to reach the 3,000-yard mark for his career, finished with 89 yards on 26 carries. The Maury graduate is just the second Spartan to hit the milestone and the first to do it at the FCS level.
"It was one of my goals," Branche said. "You can enjoy it a little. Even after a loss, an achievement is still an achievement. My name's in the record books. When I leave here, it'll still be here." Doing it on homecoming made it extra special.
NORFOLK, Va. — He didn't get a response from Florida A&M, or any other school that he sent film to in hopes of making their football team. Chris Walley, who piled up all sorts of impressive accolades just a few years ago at North Florida Christian, had all but resolved to just spending the spring semester at home. Pete Adrian, head coach at Norfolk State University, saw something he liked on Walley's video, though.
"He's able to do what he has to do," Adrian said. "He gets his checks on and off and that's a good thing." The call came and Walley had just enough time to get into classes a few days before the spring session began. He won the quarterback job.
Rattlers rally to victory
NORFOLK, Va. — With just over 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the Florida A&M football team trailing by three points, the situation became one of mind over matter for running back Philip Sylvester and quarterback Martin Ukpai.
What transpired for the next 5:13 Saturday afternoon was a remarkable performance with Sylvester rushing for 42 yards during a 98-yard drive that propelled the Rattlers past Norfolk State 17-13 in a must-win game at Dick Price Stadium. The Spartans had scored the go-ahead points on a field goal near the end of the third quarter, creating a desperate situation for FAMU.
Taylor on recruiting trail for local talent
NORFOLK, Va. — For the second consecutive weekend, Florida A&M faced a team that has a Big Bend quarterback under center. Of course, FAMU coach Joe Taylor has been paying attention to the talent of Antonio Bostick and Chris Walley. Bostick is quarterback at Savannah State, while Walley plays the same position at Norfolk State.
Taylor talked as if he doesn't want to make those kinds of misses in the future. His recruiters are already on the trail of some of the top players in the area, Taylor said, with some of them making early commitments. "We are just trying to make sure we get ours," said Taylor, who is prohibited by NCAA rules from naming names any players who have committed to join the program next season.
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ATTENDANCE: 21,118
Trevor Scott would give FAMU a 3-0 lead as he connected on a 28-yard field goal with 13:09 remaining in the first quarter as the Rattlers recovered a NSU’s Dwight Fluker-Berry fumble on the kickoff. Dante Barnes gave the NSU a 7-3 lead as scored on a 68-yard interception return with 5:54 to go in the first quarter, after the Ryan Estep PAT.
Mistakes doom NSU in 17-13 loss to Florida A&M
NORFOLK, VA - The Norfolk State football team found a new way to reach the same, tired, result. Betrayed by their defense and penalties, rather than offense and special teams, the Spartans surrendered the winning touchdown with 5:21 left and lost 17-13 to Florida A&M (4-3, 3-1 MEAC) on Saturday.
This one, the fourth straight defeat for NSU (2-5, 1-4), came before 21,118 fans on homecoming, a second straight kick in the gut after a one-point rivalry game loss to Hampton. "This one hurts a lot," senior running back DeAngelo Branche said. "You'll never understand. It's your last homecoming. To lose a game like that..."
Snake Bitten
Even with the excitement and festivities surrounding homecoming, the Norfolk State Spartans were unable to keep the Florida A&M Rattlers at bay, losing in yet another close game, 17-13.
Both teams came into the game in a must-win situation. NSU was trying to break their three game losing streak; Florida A&M needed a win to stay in the race for the MEAC Championship. The opening kickoff was fumbled by Spartans defensive back Dwight Fluker-Berry, the Rattlers recovered the ball and turned it into a 28-yard field goal by Trevor Scott. Two possessions later, cornerback Dante Barnes returned an interception 68 yards to put the Spartans up 7-3.
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Norfolk State running back DeAngelo Branche, who needed 42 yards to reach the 3,000-yard mark for his career, finished with 89 yards on 26 carries. The Maury graduate is just the second Spartan to hit the milestone and the first to do it at the FCS level.
"It was one of my goals," Branche said. "You can enjoy it a little. Even after a loss, an achievement is still an achievement. My name's in the record books. When I leave here, it'll still be here." Doing it on homecoming made it extra special.
Former NFC QB Walley doing well in Norfolk
NORFOLK, Va. — He didn't get a response from Florida A&M, or any other school that he sent film to in hopes of making their football team. Chris Walley, who piled up all sorts of impressive accolades just a few years ago at North Florida Christian, had all but resolved to just spending the spring semester at home. Pete Adrian, head coach at Norfolk State University, saw something he liked on Walley's video, though.
"He's able to do what he has to do," Adrian said. "He gets his checks on and off and that's a good thing." The call came and Walley had just enough time to get into classes a few days before the spring session began. He won the quarterback job.
Rattlers rally to victory
NORFOLK, Va. — With just over 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the Florida A&M football team trailing by three points, the situation became one of mind over matter for running back Philip Sylvester and quarterback Martin Ukpai.
What transpired for the next 5:13 Saturday afternoon was a remarkable performance with Sylvester rushing for 42 yards during a 98-yard drive that propelled the Rattlers past Norfolk State 17-13 in a must-win game at Dick Price Stadium. The Spartans had scored the go-ahead points on a field goal near the end of the third quarter, creating a desperate situation for FAMU.
Taylor on recruiting trail for local talent
NORFOLK, Va. — For the second consecutive weekend, Florida A&M faced a team that has a Big Bend quarterback under center. Of course, FAMU coach Joe Taylor has been paying attention to the talent of Antonio Bostick and Chris Walley. Bostick is quarterback at Savannah State, while Walley plays the same position at Norfolk State.
Taylor talked as if he doesn't want to make those kinds of misses in the future. His recruiters are already on the trail of some of the top players in the area, Taylor said, with some of them making early commitments. "We are just trying to make sure we get ours," said Taylor, who is prohibited by NCAA rules from naming names any players who have committed to join the program next season.
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ATTENDANCE: 21,118
Saturday, October 16, 2010
NSU is rivalry win away from rebound
Hampton University coach Donovan Rose said records don't matter in rivalry games. Norfolk State hopes he's right. Entering the 48th Battle of the Bay between NSU and Hampton at 1 p.m. today, the 4-1 Pirates sit atop the MEAC with a 3-0 league record.
The Spartans (1-2, 2-3), meanwhile, have had all reasonable hopes for a conference title dashed and will be manufacturing motivation for the last half of the season. "We still got pride to win," senior lineman Calton Ford said. " The whole goal is to win. A couple games don't dictate the season or who you are. They don't tell who you are or what you're known for after you've done things. We still have pride in the season."
Hampton hosts Battle of the Bay
Hampton, VA (Sports Network) - Saturday's Bethune-Cookman at South Carolina State matchup in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is one of the more anticipated games of the season. It's offense versus defense. Bethune-Cookman's upstart team leads the FCS in both points and yards per game. Meanwhile, South Carolina State's MEAC power leads the nation in total defense.
What shouldn't be overlooked with this big matchup is that Hampton could hold first place all by itself come late Saturday afternoon.
Sherron Childress and Jacobi Fenner are friends — for 51 weeks of the year. The other week, they're football players trying to beat the living daylights out of each other in the annual showdown known as the Battle of the Bay.
"Phone calls are cut out," said Childress, Norfolk State's senior tight end who went to Hampton High with Fenner, Hampton University's senior linebacker. "We speak when we see each other, but as far as holding a real conversation — it's game week. We have to prepare. But after the game, we'll be friends. We'll go out and hang out with each other and talk about the game."
Hampton- Norfolk State Battle of the Bay preview and our prediction
HAMPTON (4-1, 3-0 MEAC) vs. NORFOLK STATE (2-3, 1-2 MEAC)
WHEN: 1 p.m.
WHERE: Armstrong Stadium.
TV/RADIO: 88.1 FM
THE BUZZ: The Pirates are hungry for revenge after being embarrassed 46-6 last year at Norfolk State, and they seem to have the balanced offense (198 rushing yards per game, 136 passing) to achieve it. The Spartans have lost two straight games to ranked MEAC teams, including...
The Spartans (1-2, 2-3), meanwhile, have had all reasonable hopes for a conference title dashed and will be manufacturing motivation for the last half of the season. "We still got pride to win," senior lineman Calton Ford said. " The whole goal is to win. A couple games don't dictate the season or who you are. They don't tell who you are or what you're known for after you've done things. We still have pride in the season."
Hampton hosts Battle of the Bay
Hampton, VA (Sports Network) - Saturday's Bethune-Cookman at South Carolina State matchup in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is one of the more anticipated games of the season. It's offense versus defense. Bethune-Cookman's upstart team leads the FCS in both points and yards per game. Meanwhile, South Carolina State's MEAC power leads the nation in total defense.
What shouldn't be overlooked with this big matchup is that Hampton could hold first place all by itself come late Saturday afternoon.
Friendship takes backseat to Battle of the Bay when Hampton faces Norfolk State
Sherron Childress and Jacobi Fenner are friends — for 51 weeks of the year. The other week, they're football players trying to beat the living daylights out of each other in the annual showdown known as the Battle of the Bay.
"Phone calls are cut out," said Childress, Norfolk State's senior tight end who went to Hampton High with Fenner, Hampton University's senior linebacker. "We speak when we see each other, but as far as holding a real conversation — it's game week. We have to prepare. But after the game, we'll be friends. We'll go out and hang out with each other and talk about the game."
Hampton- Norfolk State Battle of the Bay preview and our prediction
HAMPTON (4-1, 3-0 MEAC) vs. NORFOLK STATE (2-3, 1-2 MEAC)
WHEN: 1 p.m.
WHERE: Armstrong Stadium.
TV/RADIO: 88.1 FM
THE BUZZ: The Pirates are hungry for revenge after being embarrassed 46-6 last year at Norfolk State, and they seem to have the balanced offense (198 rushing yards per game, 136 passing) to achieve it. The Spartans have lost two straight games to ranked MEAC teams, including...
On Campus: NSU coach Pete Adrian knows a thing or two about rivalries
Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian has been in involved in a rivalry or two in his playing and coaching careers. For his money, his team's annual showdown against nearby MEAC rival Hampton, known as the Battle of the Bay, is among the best in the business.
"These are great games. That’s one thing that college football is all about, is rivalries," Adrian said. "I can remember when I played at West Virginia, we had a team called Pitt. And that’s the Backyard Brawl, and that was really the beginning of it for me, to see the intensity.
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Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian has been in involved in a rivalry or two in his playing and coaching careers. For his money, his team's annual showdown against nearby MEAC rival Hampton, known as the Battle of the Bay, is among the best in the business.
"These are great games. That’s one thing that college football is all about, is rivalries," Adrian said. "I can remember when I played at West Virginia, we had a team called Pitt. And that’s the Backyard Brawl, and that was really the beginning of it for me, to see the intensity.
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Sunday, October 10, 2010
SCSU Bulldogs extend win streak with 34-13 win over Norfolk State
A special teams' snafu ended South Carolina State's season last November in Boone, N.C.
Almost a year later, a similar surreal miscue enabled the Bulldogs to rally from an early deficit and extend their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference-record winning streak Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
Reserve defensive back Josh McFadden recovered an errant punt by Norfolk State's Troy Muenzer and returned it 47 yards to tie the game at 7-7. S.C. State added 17 more points in the first half and pulled away for a 34-13 victory. "I've never been involved in a play like that," McFadden said. "First time I've ever seen something like that."
After 30-plus years, ’76 and ’80 Bulldogs receive National Black Championship rings
SANTEE, S.C. - Slowly but surely, they entered the dimly lit ballroom at the Whitten Inn Friday night. They shook hands, exchanged greetings and shared a laugh or two from memories past. They were Black College National Champions, former South Carolina State Bulldogs brought back together in Santee to receive an honor long overdue - their national title rings.
It was one last chance for the Bulldogs 1976 and 1980 teams to share memories from their playing days.
"It's like the Reverend said earlier," former Bulldogs outside linebacker R.V. Brown said. "For us to receive this 34 years later, we would have not realized the impact that we had being the first school in the state of South Carolina to win a National Championship. We didn't know the value of it at the time, but right now, we know that and we've got that."
Special teams miscue ruins Norfolk State's day
ORANGEBURG, S.C - The opening minutes played out to perfection for Norfolk State on Saturday in its game at No. 9 South Carolina State.
Just 59 seconds into the game, Spartan defensive back Ricardo Volcin stepped in front of a sideline pass by Bulldog quarterback Malcolm Long and raced 39 yards into the end zone. After S.C. State was forced to punt on its next possession, Norfolk State appeared on its way to winning for the first time in seven tries at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
With 10:24 remaining in the first quarter, one bizarre special teams miscue turned the momentum and contest quickly back in South Carolina State's favor. A low snap was mishandled by punter Troy Muenzer who, in the process of trying to retrieve the football, illegally kicked it off the ground.
NSU report: New TE coach can't shake his passion
Mackinley Jane Blackwell loves to watch the Ducks. The 5-year-old isn't so much into lakes or ponds, or the Donald and Daisy kind. She takes after dad. So last Saturday, on Norfolk State's bye week, Spartans tight end coach Joe Blackwell went home to Myrtle Beach, S.C., scooped up Mackinley Jane and settled in for what qualifies as quality time in the Blackwell household.
" We sat up and we watched Clemson together," Blackwell said. "Then we watched Oregon" - the Ducks. "For some reason, she really likes Oregon." A first-year tight ends coach at Norfolk State, Blackwell travels back to his home state again today, this time for the Spartans' game at South Carolina State.
READ MORE, CLICK TITLES.
Attendance: 21,971
Almost a year later, a similar surreal miscue enabled the Bulldogs to rally from an early deficit and extend their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference-record winning streak Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
Reserve defensive back Josh McFadden recovered an errant punt by Norfolk State's Troy Muenzer and returned it 47 yards to tie the game at 7-7. S.C. State added 17 more points in the first half and pulled away for a 34-13 victory. "I've never been involved in a play like that," McFadden said. "First time I've ever seen something like that."
After 30-plus years, ’76 and ’80 Bulldogs receive National Black Championship rings
SANTEE, S.C. - Slowly but surely, they entered the dimly lit ballroom at the Whitten Inn Friday night. They shook hands, exchanged greetings and shared a laugh or two from memories past. They were Black College National Champions, former South Carolina State Bulldogs brought back together in Santee to receive an honor long overdue - their national title rings.
It was one last chance for the Bulldogs 1976 and 1980 teams to share memories from their playing days.
"It's like the Reverend said earlier," former Bulldogs outside linebacker R.V. Brown said. "For us to receive this 34 years later, we would have not realized the impact that we had being the first school in the state of South Carolina to win a National Championship. We didn't know the value of it at the time, but right now, we know that and we've got that."
Special teams miscue ruins Norfolk State's day
ORANGEBURG, S.C - The opening minutes played out to perfection for Norfolk State on Saturday in its game at No. 9 South Carolina State.
Just 59 seconds into the game, Spartan defensive back Ricardo Volcin stepped in front of a sideline pass by Bulldog quarterback Malcolm Long and raced 39 yards into the end zone. After S.C. State was forced to punt on its next possession, Norfolk State appeared on its way to winning for the first time in seven tries at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
With 10:24 remaining in the first quarter, one bizarre special teams miscue turned the momentum and contest quickly back in South Carolina State's favor. A low snap was mishandled by punter Troy Muenzer who, in the process of trying to retrieve the football, illegally kicked it off the ground.
NSU report: New TE coach can't shake his passion
Mackinley Jane Blackwell loves to watch the Ducks. The 5-year-old isn't so much into lakes or ponds, or the Donald and Daisy kind. She takes after dad. So last Saturday, on Norfolk State's bye week, Spartans tight end coach Joe Blackwell went home to Myrtle Beach, S.C., scooped up Mackinley Jane and settled in for what qualifies as quality time in the Blackwell household.
" We sat up and we watched Clemson together," Blackwell said. "Then we watched Oregon" - the Ducks. "For some reason, she really likes Oregon." A first-year tight ends coach at Norfolk State, Blackwell travels back to his home state again today, this time for the Spartans' game at South Carolina State.
READ MORE, CLICK TITLES.
Attendance: 21,971
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