Prairie View, Alabama A&M meet for SWAC title

Prairie View, Alabama A&M meet for SWAC title

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Prairie View A&M's football program has come a long way. The team that once couldn't win now doesn't bother pondering the possibility of losing. The Panthers face Alabama A&M Saturday at Legion Field in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game, and coach Henry Frazier III was taken aback when asked if his team would still consider the season a success if it loses. “I haven't even thought about that,” Frazier said. “Not winning, that's not even something we've thought about. Ask me Saturday. I can't really answer that. That's not even in our minds.”

Yep, Prairie View (8-1) hardly resembles the program that lost 80 consecutive games in the 1990s. The Panthers are playing in their first SWAC title game and haven't won the league title since 1964. They won 11 league titles before there was a championship contest. Alabama A&M (7-4) made it to the championship game by winning its last two games following a 33-27 loss to Prairie View. The Bulldogs rallied from a 33-7 deficit midway through the third quarter before the comeback stalled.

Prairie View climbs from rock bottom to top of SWAC

Once a rock-bottom program, PV has made one of college football’s all-time-great climbs.

PRAIRIE VIEW — While his assistants prepare the Prairie View A&M Panthers for their next football game, head coach Henry Frazier III swaps stories during practice with John “Doc” Mayes, the school's longtime director of athletic training. Most of Mayes' tales have a similar theme — the time one of the team's buses caught fire en route to a game, the road trip on which each player's daily meal allowance was $12.50, the overnight stays when the Panthers had to sleep three to a hotel room, with the odd man out relegated to a rollaway bed. They all end the same way: At the final gun, Prairie View always lost.

Frazier makes the implausible a reality

Prairie View goes from basement mainstays to conference title game

PRAIRIE VIEW — Prairie View A&M coach Henry Frazier III does not have a large office, but what there is contains a lot of significant mementos. On his desk are pictures of family members. Nearby are trophies in recognition of his coaching achievements. And nestled against a wall is Frazier's signature “championship” belt. The belt, which reads “PV Football 2009” on one side and “SWAC Champions” on the other, has become the symbol of Frazier's primary goal since he took over the program Dec. 22, 2003. That goal can become a reality if the Panthers (8-1) defeat Alabama A&M in Saturday's Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game at Birmingham, Ala.

Thanks to Frazier, Prairie View no joke

Long before Anthony Jones became the head football coach at Alabama A&M, he knew about Henry Frazier III, an up-and-coming coach at Bowie State. Jones coached against Frazier during his days at Morehouse College. The two hit it off, Jones said, during a recruiting fair in Maryland a few years ago. "I brought my son with me and he was going around recruiting players for me to come to Morehouse," Jones said. "Frazier was impressed with that. We became friends from that point on. "I have a lot of respect for him." Jones and Frazier, now the head coach at Prairie View, will put their friendship aside Saturday when the Bulldogs (7-4) take on the Panthers (8-1) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game at Birmingham's Legion Field. Kickoff is 1 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN Classic.

Prairie View's Black wins top SWAC offensive honor

Prairie View A&M junior quarterback K.J. Black was named Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year when the conference's postseason honors were released Wednesday. Texas Southern junior quarterback Arvell Nelson received Newcomer of the Year honors. Grambling State defensive end Christian Anthony was named Defensive Player of the Year, and Grambling kicker Ari Johnson was named Freshman of the Year.

Black, a transfer from Western Kentucky, threw for 1,775 yards and 19 touchdowns against four interceptions to lead Prairie View (8-1) to its first SWAC Western Division title. The Panthers will face Alabama A&M in Saturday's SWAC championship game in Birmingham, Ala. Black, who was also named to the All-SWAC second team, began the season as a backup, but started the Panthers' last seven games, all wins. He completed 71.3 percent of his passes and was second in the FCS in passing efficiency (172.18).

Seniors have sad history vs. Prairie View

Ulysses Banks has never beaten Prairie View. Neither has Thomas Harris, Xavier Manuel, Jeremy Maddox or Maurice Thomas just to name a few. In fact, only one of Alabama A&M's 12 seniors - fifth-year receiver Anthony Mitchell - has ever beaten Prairie View. That came in 2005. Since then, Prairie View has beaten A&M four straight times. Banks and the rest of A&M's seniors will take their final shot at Prairie View Saturday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game at Birmingham's Legion Field. Kickoff is 1 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN Classic.

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Jackson State signs 3-star QB Dominick Britt

The Jackson State University Tigers have bagged a Rivals.com 3-star ranked dual-threat quarterback in Dominick Britt, who selected JSU over Michigan, Ohio State and a host of others. Britt said he did not want to be some one's second choice and feels very strongly about the JSU program. Please click below link for photo gallery and highlight videos on Britt:

http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=55746

Coach Rick Comegy and staff have hit the mother load in recruiting this season and have signed the following players to the program. Jackson State plans to sign 24 players this year - the staff expects 18 to come from the high school ranks.

RB Bloi-Dei Dorzon, Lackawanna CC, 5-9, 205
DL Michael Dukes, NW Rankin, 6-3, 315
PK Jabril Smith, Calloway H.S., 6-0, 180
DL Terrance Onyiuke, Plainfield N.J., Lackawanna CC, 6-1, 290
DE Avon Waters, Atlanta, Southside HS,6-3, 260
DE Antonio Hardwick, Compton CC, 6-3, 270
QB Dedric McDonald, Morton HS, 6-5, 195, 6-5, 190
WR Carlos Everett, Webster, Fla., Hinds CC, 6-3, 190,
DL Jordan Gross, Long Beach Poly, 6-3, 310
ATH James Patterson, East MS CC, 6-3, 220
CB Jeffree Boone, Freedom HS, Orlando, 6-0, 180
QB Dominick Britt, Trotwood-Madison (OH), 6-5, 190

READ MORE ON JACKSON STATE FOOTBALL BY CLICKING ON THE BLOG TITLE.

It's been a long time since an HBCU signed a 3-star ranked quarterback as an incoming freshman. You gotta love the approach taken by the Jackson State football staff to not back-off highly ranked players that are FBC level talent. Great job JSU!

-beepbeep

Halfway home: AAMU Bulldogs

By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

Bulldogs sitting pretty with big weekend on tap

Mathematically, only three teams appear to be out of the race for a berth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game as the league reaches its halfway point.

In the Eastern Division, Mississippi Valley State and Alcorn State, 1-4 and 0-4 respectively in league play, are looking up at Jackson State, defending champion Alabama A&M and Alabama State.

In the Western Division, lowly Texas Southern, 0-4 in league play, has been eliminated. Grambling has a one-game lead over Southern, followed by Prairie View and defending champion Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

A couple of more teams could be eliminated this weekend.

The game of the week has Jackson State at Southern. The Jaguars, coming off a loss to Alabama A&M, are trying to keep pace with Grambling. The Tigers, who host Grambling next week and visit A&M Nov. 3, appear to have a tough road to the title game.

Alabama State hosts Prairie View - with the loser eliminated from contention.

Overall, A&M appears to have the inside track in the Eastern Division, while Grambling has latched on to the favorite's role in the Western Division.

The Bulldogs host UAPB Thursday night, take on Alabama State on Oct. 27 and host JSU on Nov. 3 before closing out the season at Alcorn State and Prairie View.

"We're in a good place," A&M coach Anthony Jones said. "We control our own destiny and that's all I'm concerned about. As long as I'm focused on what we can do and what we need to do, we'll be fine."

A&M and JSU have separated themselves from the rest of the pack in the Eastern Division, while Grambling and Southern have done the same thing in the Western Division.

Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow isn't surprised.

"They're good teams," said Barlow, whose team started 4-0 before dropping its last two games. "A&M was picked to win the East and Jackson State wasn't far behind. Coach Jones is doing an outstanding job. He always has. His guys have bought into what he wants to get done.

"Southern and Grambling have great talent. Those are four really good teams and they have their guys ready to compete and play at a high level."

JSU coach Rick Comegy, whose team started 5-1 last season before losing four of its last five games, was nonchalant about where his team stands.

"I really don't know," he said when asked to assess the East Division race. "I still look at it as being early in the season. The teams that have to play one another haven't shown what direction it's going to go.

"We just want to play football and we welcome all challenges. "We don't want to try to predict what will happen."

Even so, Broadway was reluctant to talk about his team's chances to win the Western Division title.

"I don't get caught up in that stuff," he said. "The only thing I see is UAPB. I don't get too far ahead of myself."

Under Broadway, the Tigers have already surpassed their win total from last year.

Southern coach Pete Richardson doesn't shy away from his team's goals.

The Jaguars haven't reached the championship game since 2004. Southern's last title came in 2003.

"Our goal is to get to that championship game," said Richardson, who also is fighting for a new contract. "We lost one last week and that's going to make it tough.

"We've got a big tradition of getting to the championship game and it's hard to get away from that. Hopefully, we can reach our goals."

Alcorn Braves still win-less on season; PVAMU next week

By The Natchez Democrat

MONTGOMERY — Alcorn State University inched close to a victory Saturday night, but this isn’t horseshoes.

It’s college football, and the Braves are still win-less on the season after their 28-25 loss to Alabama State University.

Alabama State (4-0) has made a name for themselves in the close games so far this season.

“Every team has its character, so I guess this is ours,” coach Reggie Barlow said. “We must like it close, but we are finding a way to win so its alright with me.”

Barlow praised Alcorn for a good showing and a comeback attempt.

“I was happy that we got off to a good start, but it shows Alcorn’s character that they were able to come back,” he said.

Alcorn fell to 0-4 with the loss. Braves coach Johnny Thomas called this week a pivotal one for his team. Alcorn State has lost to Alabama State the last three seasons.

The Braves lost to UAB last week 22-0, in a defensive struggle. Alcorn was to have played Morehouse in Las Vegas this Saturday, but that game fell through. Their next game is Oct 6th at home with Prairie View A&M Panthers.

Alcorn State University Sounds of Dyn-O-mite Marching Band and Golden Girls Dancers.

SWAC previews - Today's Games 9/15/2007

Huntsville Times

Prairie View (2-0, 1-0 SWAC) at Southern (2-0, 1-0); Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, La., 6 p.m.

The Panthers are seeking to start 3-0 for the first time since 1964 when they won the SWAC and were crowned national black college champions. Prairie View started 2-0 last season before losing seven straight. The Panthers downed the Jaguars 26-23 last season for the first time since 1971. Despite giving up more than 380 yards per game, Prairie View has allowed only 21 points in two games.

Coach Pete Richardson's team has found a running game - the Jaguars are averaging a league-high 265.5 yards rushing - to go along with its solid passing game, engineered by new starting quarterback Bryant Lee, who is averaging 210 yards per game.

Prediction: Southern 28, Prairie View 14

Alabama State (2-0, 1-0) at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-1, 1-0); Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff, Ark., 6 p.m.

The Hornets could be a team to be reckoned with if they can knock off the Golden Lions. Alabama State came from behind to beat Jacksonville State in its season opener and scored two late touchdowns last week to beat Texas Southern on the road. RBs Jay Peck and Rahmod Traylor have combined to average almost 200 yards per game and QB Chris Mitchell has given the Hornets a solid passing game, averaging 155 yards through the air.

UAPB, the defending West Division champ, has struggled. The Golden Lions are averaging just 15 points per game. QB Jonathan Moore will replace Chris Wallace in the starting lineup this week. Wallace, the preseason SWAC Player of the Year, has thrown for just 221 yards in two games. RB Martell Mallett, who led the league in rushing a year ago, has just 93 yards in two games. UAPB's offensive line, which includes four new starters, has allowed 14 sacks.

Prediction: Alabama State 17, UAPB 10

Alcorn State (0-2) at UAB (0-2); Legion Field, Birmingham, 6 p.m.

Alcorn State's three QBs - Chris Walker, Tony Hobson and Tim Buckley - have all struggled. The Braves are averaging 6.5 points per game and have allowed 27.5.

UAB will give Neil Callaway his first win as a head coach.

Alcorn State is slated to make $150,000 to $200,000.

Prediction: UAB 42, Alcorn State 7


Mississippi Valley State (1-1, 1-1) at Alabama A&M (2-0, 0-0); Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville, 6:30 p.m.

Alabama A&M is off to a 2-0 start because of its high-flying offense. The Bulldogs are averaging 45 points and 529 yards in total offense. The defense has bent, but not broken.

MVSU has struggled offensively, averaging just 11 points and 172.5 yards per game. The Delta Devils' defense will likely keep them in the game, but the Bulldogs' offense has too many weapons.

Prediction: Alabama A&M 28, Mississippi Valley State 10

Last week's predictions: 6-0

Season: 7-6

Reggie Benson

Around the SWAC

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Grambling

In normal seasons, Grambling coach Rod Broadway would rather an off week later in the schedule. But given that this is his first year and his team is coming off a 34-10 loss at Pittsburgh, three weeks in is fine.

Broadway had previously lamented he didn’t know his team well enough after 15 days of spring practice and then preseason camp.

“We’ve learned a little bit,” Broadway said. “We have a base to build on now. This is definitely a good time to have it. We have to get better.”

Broadway said former starting QB Larry Kerlegan, who has yet to play this season, will play against defending SWAC champ Alabama A&M, on Sept. 22. Kerlegan could be at QB, WR or RB. Grambling held Pitt to 119 rushing yards on 35 carries.

Alabama A&M

A&M, which averaged 23.8 ppg last season and has been known for its defense, is averaging 45.0 ppg — seventh best nationally — despite replacing three offensive linemen, two tailbacks, two fullbacks and three of four receivers.

Senior QB Kelcy Luke, the SWAC Offensive Player of the Week, threw for a career bests of 301 yards and four TDs in a 41-10 rout of Division II Clark Atlanta on Saturday. Plus, sophomore Ulysses Banks, the nation’s top kickoff returner last year, ran for a school-best 211 yards and two TDs.

“Kelcy is the anchor,” A&M coach Anthony Jones said. “We have some speed and we have some big-play capability.”

A&M wide receivers coach Roger Totten spent the last four seasons as an assistant with his brother Willie, the head coach at Mississippi Valley State. Willie Totten said, “I blame a lot of people for that,” but would not go further.

“To lose him was very, very crucial for us,” Willie Totten said. “But we have to move on.”

Willie Totten said he hasn’t spoken to his brother since Roger’s departure in June, but the silence wasn’t unusual. The two were competitors with Roger Totten at UAPB and Alcorn State.

“That’s normally how we operate. We never talk during football season,” Willie Totten said.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Senior quarterback Chris Wallace, last season’s SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, got pulled in the third quarter of a 21-3 win Thursday at Alcorn State.

Junior Johnathan Moore, who was 5-for-10 for 64 yards and a touchdown, relieved Wallace and went 8-for-18 for 67 yards and a TD.

UAPB coach Mo Forte said Monday he’d use practice to determine this week’s starter.

The offensive line, with three to four new starters, remains a concern. The unit gave up 10 sacks (six on Moore, four on Wallace) Thursday after allowing four the week before.

“Any time your offensive line is struggling, your entire offense is struggling, and certainly our quarterback was struggling,” Forte said. “We’re not able to establish our running game like we have in the past.”

So far, Martell Mallett has 93 yards and one TD on 25 carries and Mickey Dean 39 yards on 17 carries.

Alcorn State

Alcorn (0-2) has just 13 points so far. Last season, the Braves had 20 points in an 0-2 start but finished 6-5. Tony Hobson, the planned starter, didn’t play against UAPB after injuring two fingers in practice Tuesday. Sophomore Tim Buckley (2-for-2, 18 yards) started, but was pulled for veteran Chris Walker (12-for-24, 164 yards and two INTs), who had a thigh bruise.

Jackson State

Sophomore Eric Perri, whose overtime kick beat Southern last season, made a school-record 50-yard field goal (after hitting a 44-yarder earlier) in a 16-13 loss to Tennessee State.

SWAC officials

Harold Mitchell Sr. has been named the interim coordinator of football officials. Mitchell replaces Gil Marchman. Mitchell will coordinate the scheduling, training and supervision of all the conference’s football officials.

THE RATING GAME

1. Alabama A&M

Defending champ continues to impress with big-play offense

2. Southern

Surprising running game has grounded SU’s early success

3. Grambling

Tigers put in solid effort at Pittsburgh, now get week off

4. Alabama State

Two straight long trips: at TSU on Saturday, now at UAPB Thursday

5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Ugly win at Alcorn; offensive line has to get better quickly

6. Prairie View

Making it happen in all phases: offense, defense, special teams

7. Jackson State

Comegy feels good entering SWAC play, but JSU 1-6 in last 7

8. Miss. Valley State

Defense may be good; but offense will hold back Valley

9. Texas Southern

Tigers have been in games, but still looking for first win

10. Alcorn State

Went 6-3 after 0-2 start last season, but injuries troubling

THE BIG GAME

Prairie View at Southern

6 p.m. Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium

Prairie View, which has been resuscitating its program, could make a statement with back-to-back wins over Southern for first time since three in a row from 1962-64. SU, which blew a two-TD, fourth-quarter lead in losing to PV for the first time since 1971, can’t afford to let the Panthers steal early-season momentum for the second straight season. Home opener for SU should be big draw after impressive 2-0 start.