Prairie View, Southern set for Classic week

Prairie View head football coach Henry Frazier sees his team's "home" game with Southern at Independence Stadium on Saturday as a good thing.

"That (playing at a neutral site) is pretty much how it is with us," Frazier said. "We only play three games at our stadium. We'll play at Reliant Stadium, at the Cotton Bowl, at the Independence Bowl, and all of those are our home games.

 "It's a good thing and a good problem to have. We have definitely outgrown our little high school stadium that we have. So that's a good thing. We're kind of used to it."

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Prairie View A&M Panthers and Southern University Jaguars Fight it Out in the 2010 Shreveport Classic

Shreveport, LA -- The Prairie View A&M Panthers and Southern University Jaguars return to the Port City for the first time since 2003 in the inaugural Shreveport Classic on Saturday, Oct. 23 at Independence Stadium.

Kickoff between these two Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Western Division powers is set for 4 p.m.

This year’s matchup promises to be an exciting one as the Prairie View A&M Panthers are fresh off a SWAC Football Championship while Southern features a new head coach in Stump Mitchell. This will mark the second-ever meeting in the city between both teams as they played in Shreveport during the 2003 campaign.

From 1989 to 2005, Southern dominated the series with 16 consecutive wins. However, the tide has turned in Prairie View’s favor as head coach Henry Frazier III has a two-game winning streak over the Jaguars and wins in three of the past four meetings.

The Classic will take place on the site of the annual State Fair of Louisiana and will provide tons of entertainment on and off the field. This also marks the first of two games in Shreveport for the Panthers as they’re slated to take on Jackson State in the 2011 edition of the Shreveport Classic.

Tickets can be purchased at the following venues:
Southern University-Shreveport
3050 MLK Jr. Drive
318-670-6305
Prairie View Ticket Office
936-261-9100
Online
www.shreveportclassic.com
Southern University • Baton Rouge Ticket Office
225-359-9328
Independence Bowl Office
401 Market Street, Suite 120
Shreveport, LA 71101
318-221-0712
Ticket Prices:
Club Level: $52
General Admission: $25
Game ticket entitles you to enjoy the game, State Fair of Louisiana, and a FREE concert after the game.

Game day info is available at www.ShreveportClassic.com. Hotel and tourist information is available from the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, www.shreveport-bossier.org or by calling 888-45-VISIT.

2010 State Fair Classic - PVAMU vs. GSU

Lil Jon opens the halftime show before the Marching Storm performs at the 6:30 mark on video.

Prairie View A&M unveils plans for new football stadium

A great day for Prairie View: School unveils $60 million plan that includes new football stadium

When Henry Frazier III interviewed for the Prairie View A&M coaching job in 2003, he was given an artist’s rendering of the school’s vision for a football stadium. Seven years later, the picture — and the future landscape of Prairie View A&M athletics — has changed. School officials unveiled an ambitious $60 million first phase Friday to build a football stadium and an athletic department center and upgrade its basketball facility.

“I’ve always said this was the last piece of the puzzle,” Frazier said. “This was one of the selling points when I took the job. It’s been talked about since I arrived on campus. I’m excited to see it start to take shape.”

The football stadium, which would be built south of Blackshear Stadium, is expected to cost about $34 million. The stadium would have a seating capacity of 15,000 and be expandable to 30,000, a FieldTurf playing surface, club seating, 12 luxury suites and enhanced tailgating and parking areas. The proposed athletic department center would be built on the stadium’s north side.

The 74,000-square foot facility would include a weight room, lockers and dressing rooms, an academic enhancement and tutoring area, team position meeting rooms, administrative offices and a memorabilia area featuring the Prairie View Sports Hall of Fame. (READ MORE, CLICK TITLE ABOVE)

Prairie View A&M Sports Complex/Football Stadium Presentation

Solomon: Stadium plans show Prairie View's progress | College ...

It wasn't that long ago that Prairie View A&M debated whether to continue providing socks and jockstraps for its football players. Now, the school has had budget discussions about championship rings and plans to build a football stadium and athletic facilities that should meet the need of its athletes for decades.

Friday, school officials shared a new athletic facilities vision with alumni at their annual convention in New Orleans. Though the highlight is a 15,000-seat (expandable to 30,000) football stadium, which would replace Blackshear Stadium, where the Panthers have played home games since 1960, that is only a small part of the three-phase plan.

That first phase comes with a $60 million price tag. In all, every athletic program at the university as well as the student body would benefit from the project, which includes the building of an athletic and academic center, a renovated basketball arena, new baseball and softball stadiums, a student recreation center with intramural fields, a tennis complex and additions to the school's Kinesiology and Health Sciences Department.



READ MORE, CLICK TITLES.

PVAMU 2010 Football Schedule Announced

With the kickoff less than seven months away, Prairie View A&M University has announced its 2010 football schedule. The schedule, which marks the team’s first 11-game slate since 2005, is highlighted by five games in the state of Texas, two state fair appearances and the first-ever match-up versus Football Bowl Subdivision and Conference USA member Southern Mississippi. “I’m definitely pleased we have 11 ballgames as this will be a competitive schedule with a wide variety of teams from the FBS, FCS and Division II ranks,” said head coach Henry Frazier III.

Prairie View A&M opens the 2010 campaign in Houston on Saturday, Sept. 4 versus SWAC rival Texas Southern in the 26th edition of the Labor Day Classic at a site to be determined. The Panthers have defeated their in-state foes in five of the past six meetings. Following the Labor Day Classic, Prairie View travels to the state of Mississippi in the first of three trips next season for a match-up at Southern Mississippi of Conference USA on Sept. 11 in Hattiesburg, Miss. This will mark the second consecutive season the Panthers will face a FBS member after battling New Mexico State of the Western Athletic Conference last year.

Prairie View’s home opener at Blackshear Field is set for Sept. 18 when the Panthers host Alabama State.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Prairie View A&M University 2010 Football Schedule

9/4 Texas Southern 12:00 Noon Houston, Texas Labor Day Classic
9/11 Southern Mississippi 6:00 PM Hattiesburg, Miss.
9/18 Alabama State 12:00 Noon Prairie View
9/25 Grambling State 6:00 PM Dallas, Texas State Fair Classic

10/2Mississippi Valley 12:00 Noon Itta Bena, Miss,
10/9 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 12:00 Noon Pine Bluff, Ark.
10/16 Lincoln 12:00 Noon Prairie View Homecoming
10/23 Southern 12:00 Noon Shreveport, La.
10/30 Jackson State 12:00 Noon Jackson, Miss.

11/13 Alcorn State 12:00 Noon Prairie View
11/20 Alabama A&M 12:00 Noon Huntsville, Ala.

PVAMU band a legacy to Edwards

Late Professor George W. Edwards, architect of the highly acclaimed PVAMU Marching Storm and the Black Foxes.

For more than a decade, the 80-game losing streak of Prairie View A&M's football team ranked the Panthers among the worst college football teams of all time. It wasn't until 2009 that Prairie View A&M football started showing some success and the historically black college clinched its first SWAC Western Division championship in 45 years. The conference title was a fitting tribute to Prairie View A&M's legendary band director, George Edwards, who died May 28, 2009, after a car accident in Houston, Texas.

For much of Edwards' 31 years at the school, the Marching Storm was the only reason to come out and see the football team. "During the halftime of an HBCU game, people don't go get hot dogs and cokes," said William McQueen, who took over after his friend's death. "You do that some other time. You want to be in the stands at halftime to see the show. Football people think fans come to football games to see football. With HBCU bands, we can have all bands and still fill up a stadium."



READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

NOTE TO MEAC/SWAC FANS:

The world-renowned Prairie View A&M University Marching Storm Band is under the very capable leadership of Dr. William F. McQueen, III. McQueen is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Florida A&M University with honors and a Master of Music Degree in Trumpet Performance from Florida State University. Dr. McQueen completed course work and recital requirements for the Ph.D. in Trumpet Performance at Michigan State University and earned the Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree from the University of Houston.

Dr. McQueen's teaching career includes teaching and serving as Assistant Band Director at Florida A&M University, under the baton of the legendary Dr. William P. Foster (founder and conductor of the world-famous FAMU Marching 100); graduate teaching assistance at Florida State University and Michigan State University and adjunct instructor of trumpet at Lansing Community College. He studied trumpet with Dr. Lenard C. Bowie at Florida A&M University, Don Hazzard at Florida State University and Byron Autrey at Michigan State University.

Dr. McQueen became a member of the faculty at Prairie View A&M University in 1978 as an Associate Professor of Music, Director of the University Marching Band and the ROTC Band (1978-1984). During his tenure at Prairie View he has had the honor of serving as interim Head of the Department of Music and Drama. Additionally he has taught in the College of Business (1989-1998) and the Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Science (1987- 2004).

He now serves as the Director of Bands and Director of the Trumpet Ensemble. His teaching course load includes Applied Trumpet, Instrumental Conducting, Afro American Music and Music Appreciation. The assistant directors of the Marching Storm are Larry Jones and Mark Gordon. Dr. McQueen is focusing on building a motivating force to exemplify a higher level of talent, class and intellect among band students. The Marching Storm will forever thrive and never weaken.

A&M Chancellor Supports Prairie View A&M Stadium Efforts

HOUSTON, Texas - The chancellor of the Texas A&M System told FOX 26 Sports Wednesday he is 100 percent behind efforts by school officials at Prairie View A&M to build a new football stadium and athletics facility. It will be the first new stadium and facility on the Prairie View Campus in nearly 50 years. This season the Panthers won their first SWAC football championship in nearly 50 years. Head Coach Henry Frazier helped put Prairie View back on the map and Chancellor McKinney has taken note.

Chancellor McKinney used his November '09 visit to the 6,000-seat Blackshear Stadium, which opened in 1960, to talk about ideas for funding improvements. "Prairie View needs a new stadium," McKinney said. "The stadium they have is rundown and needs to be replaced. I am trying to help them raise money for the project. "It's vital and absolutely necessary to build a stadium for Prairie View that reflects the growth and the success of the school." McKinney said he and George Wright, the president of Prairie View, have been discussing ways to enhance sports programs at the second oldest public institution of higher learning in the state of Texas.

"Building a new athletics facility and stadium at Prairie View is tremendously important," said McKinney. "My opinion is athletics is the front door to our universities. "It's important we get people on our campus. Education is our mission. Athletics is the front door." Prairie View officials have completed 90 percent of their athletics economics study according to Athletics Director Fred Washington. Washington said the first phase, which involves the football stadium and athletics facility, will cost roughly $30 million with groundbreaking expected in around two years. "This is probably one of the largest undertakings that our university and our athletics department has taken on in its existence," said Washington. "We haven't built a new facility since the 60's. "So this is going to be huge for us."

READ MORE, CLICK BLOG TITLE.