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Showing posts with label Southern University Jaguars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southern University Jaguars. Show all posts
On a beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoon, they gathered in A.W. Mumford Stadium to get their first look at the Southern football team under new coach Stump Mitchell. The gates were open for the final scrimmage of spring practice, and a few hundred fans passed through them to take a look. Birds chirped. Players hustled from station to station, moving to the sounds of whistles and cheers. Most fans took a seat in the stands on the west side. And here’s what they saw:
-- Jeremiah McGinty taking most of the snaps at quarterback. That wasn’t much of a surprise, given that McGinty is the only quarterback on scholarship this spring. Record-setting senior Bryant Lee completed his eligibility, and freshman LeAndre Thompson moved to the secondary, leaving McGinty and a handful of walk-ons, including Ramal Ellis of Destrehan and Hasoni Alfred of Ville Platte. “It’s a different feeling, but there’s nothing guaranteed about where I’m going to be in the fall,” McGinty said, “so every day I have to work hard.” McGinty attempted five passes as a freshman last season.
BOSSIER CITY, LA – Alabama A&M and Southern earned the top two seeds after Day One of the 2010 SWAC Bowling Championship at the Holiday Lanes. Grambling State, Prairie View A&M, Jackson State and Alabama State will be seeds 3-6 as Saturday’s competition moves to a double-elimination bracket playing the Baker format. Friday’s competition was a round-robin team format, with each team competing against the other five. Based on today’s pin count, the teams have been seeded 1-6 to set the bracket for the weekend.
Alabama A&M bowled a team-high 4,577 on Friday in winning all five matches. The Bulldogs bowled three 900-pin games, highlighted by a 945 score in game one. Jazmin Payne bowled a single-game high 222 to lead Alabama A&M. Southern, the two-time defending conference champions, earned the number two seed bowling a 4393 in posting a 4-1 record. The Jaguars bowled the best team score of the day in posting a 995 in game two. Vanessa Caldwell had the days’ best game in rolling a 247.
Southern University football coach Lyvonia “Stump” Mitchell will be paid the same salary as his predecessor, Pete Richardson. Mitchell got a three-year contract at $200,000 per season with a fourth year as a mutual option, Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur said Wednesday. Richardson, who spent 17 years as Southern’s coach, was paid $200,000 for his final seasons. He retired after last season and was replaced by Mitchell, a former Washington Redskins assistant coach, in January.
Mitchell will have $400,000 available to pay his assistant coaches, LaFleur said. Richardson had $335,000 to spread among six assistant coaches last season. An extra $15,000 one-time payment to Mitchell was added for moving expenses and incentives, such as $10,000 bonus for winning the Bayou Classic and an identical $10,000 bonus for winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. The contract also offers another $10,000 annual bonus for having a 75 percent graduation rate among football players. The Southern University Board of Supervisors on Friday officially approved the three-year contract for Mitchell, the former Washington Redskins assistant coach.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Southern University’s women’s basketball coach Sandy Pugh didn’t consider Saturday’s 65-62 loss to Alabama A&M a heartbreaker. Not under these circumstances. “I’m not sure we lost the game,” Pugh said. “I feel the game was stolen from us.” The Jaguars were whistled for 27 fouls to 15 for the Bulldogs. And A&M shot 31 free throws to Southern’s 16. And Southern had two players foul out while no one for A&M had as many as four fouls.
The loss played out in heartbreaking fashion. The Jaguars never trailed until Katrich Williams hit three free throws with 11 seconds left for a 63-62 edge. Then Williams iced the win with two more free throws with two seconds left. A&M outscored Southern 23-10 at the foul line. Asked about the disparity in fouls, Pugh said, “Like I said, I don’t feel like we lost the game. I feel like it was stolen from us.” A&M coach Altherias Warmly had her own theory on the foul disparity.
Stump Mitchell’s new office overlooks the playing field at A.W. Mumford Stadium, but his first game as Southern’s new football coach won’t happen there. It’ll be 798 miles away. Mitchell and the Jaguars will kick off their season at Orlando, Fla., in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge — the first of six games on the road in 2010, according to the schedule released by the university Thursday. Athletic Director Greg LaFleur confirmed that Southern had been tabbed as the SWAC’s representative for months. The MEAChasn’t officially settled on its participant, though LaFleur expects the announcement will come by the end of this month. Attempts to reach Patricia Porter, media relations director for the MEAC, were unsuccessful.
BATON ROUGE, La. - Nine Southwestern Athletic conference games, six games inside the state and the first meeting with Arkansas-Monticello highlight Southern's 2010 football schedule, which all adds up to what should be another exciting year of Southern Jaguar Football.
Southern will open the 2010 season in the sixth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, Florida on September 4th. The SWAC earned its first and only MEAC/SWAC Challenge trophy in 2007 when the Southern Jags defeated Florida A&M, 33-27. SU will return home the following week to face the Boll Weevils of Arkansas-Monticello for the first time on September 11th. After the Jags first open week, Southern will then hit the road for Huntsville, Alabama to take on Alabama A&M on September 25th. The Bulldogs are back on the SU Jags schedule after a two-year hiatus.
Southern University 2010 Football Schedule
Sept. 4 SWAC/MEAC Challenge Orlando, Fla. TBA Sept. 11 Arkansas-Monticello Baton Rouge 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at Alabama A&M Huntsville, Ala. TBA Oct. 2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Baton Rouge 6 p.m. Oct. 9 Mississippi Valley St. Baton Rouge 6 p.m. Oct. 16 at Jackson State Jackson, Miss. TBA Oct. 23 at Prairie View Houston TBA Oct. 30 at Alcorn St. Lorman, Miss. TBA Nov. 6 Texas Southern Baton Rouge 6 p.m. Nov. 13 Alabama St. Baton Rouge 5:30 p.m. Nov. 27 x-Grambling St. New Orleans 1 p.m. Dec. 11 SWAC Championship Birmingham, Ala. TBA
x-Bayou Classic Note: game times are subject to change
NOTE TO FANS:Here are some facts to limit Jaguar speculations on the MEAC opponent for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge...
Florida A&M opens its season on Thursday, Sept. 2 at the University of Miami (Sun Life Stadium) in a $600,000 money game. As much as Rattlers fans would love to steamroll the Jaguars, don't expect the Rattlers to walk away from the big money Miami is offering nor break its pact with Bethune-Cookman. Both agreed in principle to not complete against its own Florida Classic in Orlando's Citrus Bowl, the site of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Although attendance fell in 2009, the FAMU vs. Bethune-Cookman, Florida Classic was the highest attended HBCU game of the season with 59,418. Last year Challenge with Grambling State vs. South Carolina State drew only 21,367 to the same Citrus Bowl.
2-Time MEAC Champions South Carolina State Bulldogs are scheduled to play a money game with ACC Champions -Georgia Tech on Sept. 4 at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta. The payout for the Bulldogs is $400,000.
The Hampton Pirates will open their season at Central Michigan on Sept. 2 in another much needed money game in a down economy.
North Carolina A&T opens their season against arch-rival Winston-Salem State at Aggie Stadium on September 4. The question is will the Aggiesforego a home date with a hated rival with a guaranteed 21,000+ Rams/Aggie fans--for a little ESPNU television time? Not likely with the higher costs for travel and lodging.
Norfolk State is the best candidate for this game. The Spartans finished '09 in 3rd place at 7-4, behind S.C. State and FAMU. The others--Howard (2-9), Morgan State (6-5) and Delaware State (4-7) averaged less than 4,000 fans to home games last season. Delaware State is still in our doghouse for forfeiting a conference game with N.C. A&T last season, to play at Michigan on the same date. They are the very last team I would want representing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. However, expect the ESPNU brass to select Morgan State--playing off the fact that Southern's new coach Stump Mitchell previously coached at Morgan State (1995-98). In Florida, who cares? Count this as just another Southern "home game" for the JaguarNation with 16,000 -20,000 in attendance to watch the Human Jukebox do their thing.
Either way-- Norfolk State or Morgan State will steamroll the Jaguars! The Howard Bison are not ready for prime time, although we love the Howard "Showtime" band.
Coach Stump Mitchell signs 34 newcomers to the JaguarNation to replace 18 seniors that ended their eligibility with the Coach Pete Richardson era.
Growing up in Baton Rouge, Tara running back Dallas Fort often found himself in A.W. Mumford Stadium watching Southern games. He now plans to play in those games. Fort is set to sign with the hometown Jaguars at noon today, the opening day of college football’s early signing period. He chose Southern over Alabama State. “When I went there on my visit, it felt like home,” said Fort, who committed to Southern last week.
At least three more area prospects are expected to sign with new Southern coach Stump Mitchell, who took over for the fired Pete Richardson last month. Mitchell also has pledges from defensive back Stephan Henderson and linebacker Stanley Williams, who are Zachary teammates, and Central offensive lineman Aaron Hall. Fort, 5-foot-9, 200 pounds, expects Mitchell to waste little time returning Southern to the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. “There’s no rebuilding plan,” Fort said. “We want to start winning right away.”
2010 SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL SIGNEES - 2/4/2010
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School/JUCO 1. William Waddel WR 6‐4 205 Houston, TX/Booker T. Washington HS 2. Johnathan Preston OL 6‐3 280 Pearland, TX/Dawson HS 3. Jordan Rose S 5‐11 185 Pearland, TX/Dawson HS 4. Rashaad Hoyle CB 5‐10 180 Roswell, GA/Roswell HS 5. Julius McGee OL 6‐1½ 290 Monticello, MS/Copiah‐Lincoln CC 6. Detrane Lindsey LB 6‐0 210 Houston, TX/Booker T. Washington 7. Christopher Colwell S 5‐10 195 Pearland, TX/Manville HS 8. Travis Clark FB 6‐1 210 New Orleans, LA/Edna Karr HS 9. Charles Barkins OL 6‐2 285 New Orleans, LA/O. Perry Walker HS 10. Todd Mabry CB 5‐11 190 Amite, LA/Amite HS 11. Jamal Williams ATH 5‐9 180 Rosenburg, TX/Lamarque Consolidated HS 12. Jaleel Richardson WR 6‐0 180 New Orleans, LA/Warren Easton HS 13. Stanley Williams, Jr DE 6‐2 230 Zachary, LA/Zachary HS 14. Stepfan Henderson CB 5‐10 180 Zachary, LA/Zachary HS 15. James McKinley SS/RB 6‐0 16. Kesean Peterson LB/TE 6‐2 210 Folkston, GA/Charlton County HS 17. D’Vonn Brown TE 6‐2 245 Rosenburg, TX/Lamarque Consolidated HS 18. Dallas Fort RB 5‐10 200 Baton Rouge, LA/Tara HS 19. Virgil Williams ATH 5‐9 160 Shreveport, LA/Evangel Christian HS 20. Javon Allen LB 5‐11 205 New Orleans, LA/Edna Karr HS 21. Wynton Perro QB 6‐2 205 Houston, TX/Booker T. Washington HS 22. Dwayne Houston OL 6‐4½ 305 Lafayette, LA/Northside HS 23. Christopher Bernard RB 6‐0 225 Houston, TX/Westbury HS 24. Darius Deloach RB 5‐10 200 Ft. Myers, FL/Dunbar HS 25. Aaron Hall OL 6‐4 295 26. David Henderson OL 6‐7 345 Vicksburg, MS 27. John White LB 5‐10½ 225 Boutte, LA/John Curtis HS 28. Dray Joseph QB 6‐1 190 Edgar, LA/West St. John HS 29. Kedy Enabulele DL 6‐1½ 280 Crosby, TX/Kilgore JC 30. Franchot West LB 6‐1 215 Stone Mountain, GA/Stephenson HS 31. Jordan Bilbo WR 5‐10 175 Houston, TX/Lamar HS 32. Roosevelt Wright WR 6-1 195 Baton Rouge, LA/Capitol HS 33. Artis Sullivan OL 6-2 275 Memphis, TN/Coahoma JC 34. Chris Little OL 6-6 350 Twiggs County, GA/NW Mississippi CC
Southern University Coach Lyvonia ‘Stump’ Mitchell: "Football games aren’t won in that September, October and November. They’re won in that spring and summer workout programs," Mitchell said. “That’s something the guys are going to have to understand. But that’s all secondary to getting their butts to class.”
Wednesday marked a new day in Southern's football rich history. A day the school hadn't seen in 17 years. At 9:30 that morning, inside the J.S. Clark Administration Building, when new Jaguars coach Stump Mitchell stepped to the podium and adjusted the microphone to fit his 5-foot-9 frame, a new era begun. It was the first time a football coach other than Pete Richardson had addressed the schools administration and alumni in almost two decades. It was Mitchell's first time on campus. As a matter of fact, it was the first time Mitchell had ever seen the campus.
To be clear, leadership atop the SU football program changed hands not because Richardson was 6-5 the past two seasons with consecutive losses in the Bayou Classic. Not because he had gone ringless since 2003, by far his longest drought without a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship during his time. But because he wasn't producing at, well, a Pete Richardson-like pace. From 1993-2009, Richardson stockpiled a hefty 134-62 record, claiming five SWAC titles and four Black College National Championships. Three of those championships came in a three-peat from '97-99. Since then, things changed.
Complaints? Concerns? Criticism? Even before Stump Mitchell became Southern University’s new football coach, he heard about them all. Oh, did he hear about them. Over the phone. Over the Internet. From overhead, down below and every other angle. Mitchell said he heard all the stories about upset fans: about the crowd that said his hiring was an outright tragedy, about the groups of alumni who threatened to not renew their season tickets, about the people who said he’ll wind up begging for work in a few years.
To sum it up, Southern’s choice of Mitchell wasn’t roundly accepted. In time, he said, he will win over the critics. “That’s another thing I have to do, and I understand that,” he said. “I’m excited to be here. And trust me: You all are going to be excited to have me here. That’s just the bottom line. I came here to do a job, and I’m going to get the job done.” Mitchell started the campaign that first day, attempting to pound out the dents in his armor, doing his best to please the crowd. He said that as a high-school recruit, he simply wasn’t tall enough or strong enough to earn a scholarship offer from Southern. Heck, he barely earned a scholarship offer from anywhere.
He rose from his chair, walked toward the lectern and adjusted the microphone to suit his 5-foot-9 frame. He rested his hands on either side of the wooden box. All the while, a smattering of Southern University fans, alumni and faculty members clapped, quietly and politely. Then Stump Mitchell started to speak. He praised his predecessor, Pete Richardson, noting all the success Richardson had in 17 seasons. “I don’t have to create history,” he said. “I just to have to try to repeat history.” Then Mitchell got to brass tacks.
A mere 14 seconds into his first public speech as the Jaguars’ new football coach, he outlined what seemed to be his first priority within the program. It had little to do with recruiting, video equipment, or so much as a new set of hip pads. “More than me trying to repeat history is the players on this football team,” he said. “(They) have to try to repeat history — not necessarily on the football field, but in the classroom. “I’ve got problems coming in here. I’ve got 12 guys who are trying to learn a new system who won’t be able to participate in spring ball. That’s a problem. We’ve got to fix that. It’s got to start with discipline.”
Ricky Diggs was thrilled. No, Southern University officials weren’t there to introduce him. Alumni weren’t there for him. None of the fans had come to inspect Diggs, size him up, to judge for themselves if he was a good fit for the program. On Wednesday morning, those people gathered on the second floor of the J.S. Clark Administration Building to see and hear Stump Mitchell, who, at long last, addressed a crowd as Southern’s new head football coach.
Still, Diggs sat quietly, a few feet to Mitchell’s right. A full head of snow-white hair sat atop his head. He wore a sharp suit, a fedora and a grin that doesn’t come with a price tag. This wasn’t his day. But it sure felt like it. More than 30 years ago, Diggs was a running backs coach at The Citadel, where a certain 5-feet-9 ball of energy — Mitchell — was on his way to becoming the school’s all-time rushing leader. “He’s a far better person than he’s ever been as a football player. That comes across immediately,” Diggs said. “Sometimes people can put on a façade. And eventually, their true colors are going to show. But Stump was always the same.”
1. What’s the state of men’s basketball in the SWAC?
Not good. Not good at all. Seventeen years have passed since 13th-seeded Southern upset Georgia Tech in the NCAA tournament. Nowadays, the SWAC is simply not competitive. Take last year’s champion, for instance. Alabama State cruised through the league with a 14-4 record ... won the SWAC tournament ... and lost in the NCAA play-in game. The SWAC has taken at least a few corrective steps. It moved the conference tournament from the archaic, crumbling Fair Park Arena in Birmingham, Ala., to the modern CentruyTel Center in Bossier City. And next year, the tournament will end a week earlier, giving the champion more time to prepare for the NCAAs.
2. Where does Southern stack up?
Who knows? The Jaguars were hardly world-beaters in nonconference play; they were blown out by the likes of Utah, Brigham Young and Southeastern Louisiana. They have just two wins in 12 games. Then again, that’s two more wins than they had entering SWAC play last year. They have shown glimmers of hope, as well, with better play at the point, bench players with potential and some inside muscle. As the conference schedule begins, they at least have a chance to finish in the top half of the league. Any doubts? Please refer to Question No. 1.
Thursday night, across the nation, millions of people chugged champagne and threw confetti, preparing for the new decade. Stump Mitchell sat in a room by himself on the East Coast, ostensibly working two jobs at once. At the moment, he is the assistant head coach and running backs coach of the Washington Redskins. Next week, he is in line to become the new head coach at Southern University. He can’t come out and say that exactly. But he’s certainly preparing that way.
On New Year’s Eve, Southern offered the position to Mitchell, who has spent the last 11 seasons as an NFL assistant coach but only three as a college head coach. Mitchell can’t say yes to the offer until next week; the Redskins finish their season Sunday at San Diego, and after that, he must meet with team management. “I can’t accept the job until I talk with our legal counsel,” he said. “I will get that opportunity next week. Then, everything should occur like we want it to.” In the meantime, he has started to put a plan in place.
Senior guard Ramondo Banks from Bernice, LA returned home to help the 2009 USCAA Division I National Champions Talladega Tornadoes achieved another college basketball milestone by defeating Southern 86-84. The second year program achieved two humongous milestones last season by defeating five NCAA Division I programs (Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Mississippi Valley State, Southern, and Grambling State) in a single season on its journey to winning the NAIA Division I National Championship in its first season of competition.
The game featured six lead changes in the first half alone, a box score that showed neither team with a significant edge in any area and — yes — a frantic final minute that decided the outcome. A couple of missed opportunities kept Southern from winning that final minute. As a result, the Talladega College men’s basketball team left F.G. Clark Activity Center with a victory for the second year in a row, this one an 86-84 triumph that went to the wire.
“I felt like Urban Meyer down the stretch,” Talladega coach William Brown said, referring to the Florida football coach. “My chest got tight.” Then again, Brown, whose NAIA team has lost twice in overtime and once in double overtime, has seen his share of close calls through an 8-8 start. The Tornadoes were on the right end of this one thanks in large part to Kerry Harvis and Micah Hagens, who combined for 48 points on 15-of-29 shooting.
BATON ROUGE – Southern University has fired Head Football Coach Pete Richardson. Athletic Director Greg LaFleur said Richardson was notified at 3 p.m. that after 17 years in the post his services were no longer needed. “We’re concerned about the direction of the football program,” LaFleur said. “It’s time to go in a different direction.”
Southern ended the 2009 season with a 6-5 record but lost perhaps the biggest game of the season – the Bayou Classic in New Orleans – to Grambling 31-13. The Jaguars also dropped its final game to Texas Southern 30-25, giving up a touchdown with 16 seconds remaining. “No one game did it,” LaFleur said. “You have to look at it as a whole.”
BATON ROUGE, La. - Pete Richardson, the football coach at Southern University for 17 years, has been fired. Southern's Athletic Director Greg LaFleur announced the move on Monday. Lafleur says offensive line coach Damon Nivens will serve as interim coach until a replacement is named. Known as the "Dean of the SWAC,'' Richardson had a 134-62 record in his 17 years at Southern. That included four, 11-win seasons and one 12-win season.
The run for Pete Richardson "On the Bluff" in Baton Rouge has come to an end. The man known as Coach Pete was fired as head football coach at Southern University. In his 17 seasons at the school, Richardson led the Jaguars to a 105-38 record, second only to legendary A.W. Mumford. He coached the Jags to 5 SWAC championships and one black college national championship.
In 2009, the Jaguars finished up at 6-5, losing their last two contests to Grambling in the Bayou Classic and Texas Southern on the road. Southern was 3-5 this season in the SWAC. The listless finish to the season as well as questionable management style regarding timeouts in the finale versus Texas Southern sealed the deal. Richardson had one year remaining on his contract.
How’s that for a crummy way to finish off a football season? Saturday afternoon at Delmar Stadium, in a not-so-grand finale before a tiny crowd (attendance was listed at 10,769, but the actual crowd could have practically fit inside a Dodge Neon), Southern played well enough for 58 minutes to defeat Texas Southern. But those pesky last two minutes were a doozy.
The result was a 30-25 loss that seemed to trump all others in shock value. Saturday’s game wasn’t so crushing because the Jaguars lost. It was how they lost. Those final two minutes were peppered with confusion on the sideline and poor execution on the field. TSU took advantage, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 16 seconds left.
HOUSTON — At the shocking, bitter 30-25 loss, Southern left tackle Chris Browne slammed his helmet so hard on the plastic turf that the inner pads came loose and flew in three directions. Minutes later, receivers coach Eric Dooley took a knee, led his group in prayer and rose with tears in his eyes. So did star wideout Juamorris Stewart. All four of Southern’s starting defensive backs stood in place, looking around at nothing in particular, stunned over what they’d seen Saturday. On a cold, clear afternoon inside the rickety Delmar Stadium, the Jaguars had nearly sewn up a victory over Texas Southern in the season finale, only to watch it fall apart.
In the fourth quarter, SU took the lead; botched a two-point conversion; missed a field goal; then rebounded to block a TSU field-goal attempt with 1:23 remaining — seemingly clinching a win. Finally, the Jaguars gave the ball back to TSU one more time. The Tigers were all too happy to take it. Arvell Nelson threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Joe Anderson with 16 seconds left, securing a nearly impossible 30-25 win over Southern that left players, coaches and fans in a haze. Photos: Texas Southern 30, Southern 25
HOUSTON — Saturday afternoon, in the cold air at Delmar Stadium, Southern football coach Pete Richardson had only a brief postgame huddle with his team. He told his players to concentrate on their academics, to get ready for the offseason strength-and-conditioning program, and to start preparing for next year. For Richardson, and for the Jaguars, this disappointing season was over. SU’s last-minute 30-25 loss to Texas Southern clinched a second straight year in which the Jaguars finished 6-5. Until late October, they had hoped for a berth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game. Instead, thanks to Saturday’s loss, they finished fourth in the Western Division.
HOUSTON — One of the nicest surprises of Southern’s season had one of his finest games in the season finale. Free safety Jason House, who moved from wide receiver during training camp, finished his first season with 10 interceptions, the most in the Football Championship Subdivision. House and Coastal Carolina’s Josh Norman started the weekend in a first-place tie for the national lead, though Norman’s season had already ended. House picked off two passes against Texas Southern. The first one came during the second quarter, when House stepped in front of an Arvell Nelson pass at the TSU 40-yard line, then weaved down the sideline and broke a tackle near the goal line for his first touchdown of the season.
HOUSTON — As the final minute ticked away from the Delmar Stadium scoreboard Saturday night, Texas Southern sophomore receiver Joe Anderson thought he had missed out on his last opportunity. With his team trailing 25-23, Anderson couldn’t hold onto a pass in the end zone on a crucial third down, and on the next play, Southern blocked a TSU field-goal attempt and seemed to be on its way to victory with just 1:23 left. Little did Anderson know, his fortune would change quickly. After some questionable clock management by the Jaguars, TSU got the ball back with 55 seconds left and Anderson and quarterback Arvell Nelson didn’t waste any time getting to work.
SOUTHERN — Isaiah Nelson 25-yard pass from Bryant Lee (kick blocked) at 13:30. DRIVE: 5 plays, 58 yards, 1:23. KEY PLAYS: On the first play from scrimmage, Lee runs right on a designed play for a 19-yard gain. On the touchdown, Nelson gets behind the defense and dives into the end zone, stretching the ball across the goal line. TSU’s Michael Shelton blocks the PAT. Southern 7, Texas Southern 0.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas — After seven losses, the Southern University men’s basketball team got a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel Saturday when it took on Central Arkansas in the in the Etech Lumberjack Classic. Anchored by a four-point play, Jaguars guard Jazz Williams reeled off seven straight points and Norm Nixon Jr. stole an inbounds pass and drove for a layup that pulled Southern within three of the Bears with 8:25 to play. But that was as close as the Jaguars (0-8) got before dropping a 79-63 decision. UCA’s Tadre Sheppard scored inside to trigger a 14-2 run that turned things back in the Bears’ favor and they never looked back. Chris Poellnitz led Central Arkansas (3-5) with 21 points and Sheppard added a career-high 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Prairie View A&M’s run to a berth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game isn’t the conference’s only feel-good story coming out of Texas this season. Texas Southern is also having a breakthrough season, which has largely gone unnoticed. The Tigers can end the year with their first winning record since 2000 with a victory over Southern in Houston on Saturday. A 6-5 record wouldn’t warrant a second thought for a number of programs. But if you’re a team that has gone 20-68 the previous eight seasons — with a pair of winless campaigns in the mix — 6-5 is something to get excited about. “The first wining season (since 2000) would be big,’’ Johnnie Cole, Texas Southern’s second-year coach and a former quarterback for the Tigers, said. “Winning is contagious, just like losing."
NEW ORLEANS — Grambling ran its way to a second Bayou Classic victory in as many years — and fifth since 2000. Frank Warren led all GSU rushers with 166 yards and two touchdowns in an eventual 31-13 win over Southern, its in-state Southwestern Athletic Conference rival. "That was the plan, to give it to Frank and (fellow junior running back) Cornelius (Walker), and let them take it over," said junior GSU quarterback Greg Dillon. Grambling's 53 rush attempts were most all year; its 308 yards were also a season high. Every GSU touchdown came on the ground. "Our offensive line really did an outstanding job," said Grambling coach Rod Broadway, now 2-1 against Southern. "Any time you rush for that many yards, you're doing something right." A game featuring teams tied at 18-18 all time in the Dome — and 4-4 in the 2000s — played as scripted, with Grambling and Southern trading pairs of touchdowns in the first half.
NEW ORLEANS — Grambling played a game of keep-away in its 31-13 victory against Southern in the Bayou Classic on Saturday afternoon in the Superdome. The Tigers ran for 308 yards and all four of their touchdowns as they exceeded even their league-leading rushing standards. Grambling, which came in averaging 178.4 rushing yards per game, had more running plays (58) than the Jaguars had total plays (56), enabling it to possess the ball for 37:01 while running 85 total plays. “We wanted to keep their offense on the sideline because they’re explosive and are capable of making big plays,” Grambling coach Rob Broadway said of Southern. “Any time you rush for 308 yards, your offensive line is doing a great job.” The offensive line sprung Frank Warren, the SWAC’s third-leading rusher, for 166 yards and touchdown runs of 13 and 1 yards on 24 carries. Cornelius Walker, the SWAC’s fifth-leading rusher, ran for 57 yards on 11 carries.
NEW ORLEANS — With 1:06 remaining in the biggest game of the season, just after the final timeout of the Bayou Classic, Grambling’s offense emerged from the west sideline of the Superdome, full of life and sure of its fate. A crowd of 53,618 fans had looked on as the Tigers spent much of their Saturday pounding Southern University at the line of scrimmage. They sensed victory. In a 31-13 win, all that remained was the final blow. Behind the west sideline, Grambling fans waved their arms in celebration, and the World Famed Band screamed right along. Offensive lineman Keir Boyd skipped and danced his way to the Jaguars’ 1-yard line, ready for more. A few feet behind the line of scrimmage, tailback Frank Warren prepared for his last handoff.
Attendance: 53,618@Louisiana Super Dome, New Orleans, LA
JACKSON, Miss. -- Southern suffered a 22-14 loss to Jackson State tonight. The Jaguars (3-2) led 7-3 at halftime, but they fell victim to 12 points by the Tigers in the final quarter. Quarterback Trae Rutland threw for 236 yards and rushed for another 127 as JSU (1-3) picked up its first victory of the season. Southern led 14-10 in the fourth quarter, but Jackson State's Eric Perri hit field goals of 38 and 43 yards to give the Tigers a 16-14 edge with 3:44 remaining. JSU pushed its edge to 22-14 on Bloi-Dei Dorzon's 9-yard TD run with 1:14 to go. Southern blocked the extra-point attempt to leave open a chance for overtime.
JACKSON, Miss. — Fans filled every section. The bands blared. The stadium came alive. It was Jackson State and Southern, going full-tilt for four quarters. This was what the SU athletic department had in mind when it moved Saturday’s home game to Veterans Memorial Stadium. From a dollars-and-cents standpoint, the operation was a success. And while Southern’s hopes of a Southwestern Athletic Conference title didn’t die Saturday night, the Jaguars walked off the field with their heads searching every inch of the grass after a stunning 22-14 loss before 33,977 fans. Players knew their championship hopes had been severely crippled.
JACKSON, Miss. — All along, Southern had planned to wear its new blue jerseys for Saturday’s game against Jackson State. The Jaguars wore blue jerseys, all right. Just not the blue jerseys they planned on wearing. Between the team’s walk through Friday and their warmups Saturday, four of SU’s new blue game jerseys went missing from Veterans Memorial Stadium, SU spokesman Kevin Manns said. Equipment manager Derek Price drove home to Baton Rouge and boxed up last year’s home jerseys, which he’d kept in storage. Price spent much of Saturday morning and afternoon removing name plates from the jerseys and preparing them for the game, Manns said. The last time SU wore those jerseys was in a 15-0 win Nov. 15 against Alabama State in Mobile, Ala.
JACKSON, Miss. — Southern had the ball on its 25-yard line, down 16-14, with 3:35 left to play. Bryant Lee, Brian Threat and Juamorris Stewart had been bottled up all game. It was time for someone to step forward and make a play. Lee jogged out and readied himself for the drive that would have put his team ahead. At that point a field goal was all the Jaguars needed. What happened next, Lee would like to forget. Hit as he threw, Lee dropped back and floated the ball 10 yards. Breaking on the ball, Jackson State’s Ryan Rich moved in for the interception. Just like that, the SU defense was thrust back onto the field and asked to make a stop. Setting up shop at the SU 35 with 3:30 remaining, JSU quarterback Trae Rutland preceded to hand the ball off to Bloi-Dei Dorzan and let him go to work.
It wasn't a perfect day for Tray Rutland, but it was surely good enough. In four games the senior quarterback has gone from starter, to being benched for an entire game, to playing the second half, to starting again on Saturday. His topsy-turvy season went hand-in-hand with Jackson State's 0-3 start. Thanks to Rutland's best performance of the year, Jackson State pulled out a much-needed 22-14 victory over Southern in front of an announced 33,977. Rutland finished with 236 passing yards and 47 rushing yards. He didn't throw a touchdown and had an interception. Not exactly most valuable player numbers, but Rutland did enough. And for the first time this season, the quarterback position wasn't a negative for Jackson State.
Attendance: 33,977 @ Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, MS
Southern University senior wide receiver Juamorris Stewart might have said it best following the Jaguars 48-42 win over Alcorn State on Saturday night. “Anything can happen in the SWAC,” Stewart said. “We’ve got to come out every week and play our best.” Southern had just built a seemingly comfortable 20-point fourth-quarter lead only to have Alcorn State rally for three late scores. As things turned out, Southern couldn’t breathe easy until Evan Alexander recovered an onside kick with 19 seconds left.
The play put a cap on a wild finish that seemed improbable early on as both the Southern and Alcorn State offenses took their time heating up. “We had to find our rhythm and chemistry on the field,” Southern center Ramon Chinyoung said. “Of course, in the second half we made a lot of adjustments. We knew what we could and couldn’t do, and that’s how we were victorious in the second half.”
Southern University Coach Pete Richardson had to work to the last 10 seconds to pull-out the victory over Alcorn State.
So when Byron Williams darted up the right sideline, broke a tackle near midfield and broke loose for a 91-yard kickoff return that gave Southern a 20-point lead over Alcorn State in the fourth quarter Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium, what, exactly, was he thinking? “I was like, ‘Yes, it really hurt ’em.’ But I didn’t really pay attention to the clock,” Williams said. “They had a lot of time to get the ball back and score.” And the Braves scored. A lot. As the final minutes came to a close in this Southwestern Athletic Conference opener, the Jaguars had to hold on for dear life as Alcorn erupted for four touchdowns in a rally that just fell short in a 48-42 thriller.
Alcorn State senior quarterback Timothy Buckley didn’t want to leave Southern’s campus with a loss. Neither did his offensive mates, or first-year coach Earnest Collins Jr. Don’t get this misunderstood. Though Alcorn was outscored 100-0 in its first two games, its opponents were Football Bowl Subdivision foes. On the road. Against fellow Football Championship Subdivision foe Southern (3-1, 1-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference), Alcorn (0-3, 0-1) put together a performance that would have made former quarterback Steve McNair proud. And if the Braves could have gotten another defensive stop or sustained another offensive drive, his five-touchdown performance may have been enough to win. Instead, his Braves fell 48-42 Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
First quarter
SOUTHERN — Juamorris Stewart 11 pass from Bryant Lee (Josh Duran kick) at :11. DRIVE: 6 plays, 40 yards, 1:55. KEY PLAYS: SU goes for it on fourth-and-6 at the Alcorn 25, converting when Lee hits Stewart on a stop route. One play later, Stewart gets a key block from wideout Corey Cushingberry and hops into the end zone. Southern 7, Alcorn 0.
After missing two games and sitting on the bench for the first half of Southern’s 48-42 victory over Alcorn State, strong safety Gary Chatman finally got back on the field. But he didn’t do it at strong safety. Chatman, a starter at drop linebacker the past two years, returned to his old position during the third quarter of Saturday’s wild game, and he did so out of necessity. SU’s linebacker corps was already thin heading into this game, thanks to a handful of minor injuries and a virus that spread through the unit.
Drop linebacker David Daye didn’t dress out because of flu-like symptoms. Then, during the game, linebackers Marcus Clark missed time because he was getting re-taped, and André Coleman stepped out with an apparent injury to his left arm. In stepped Chatman, who’s still recovering from a sprained ankle, which he suffered in the season opener at Louisiana-Lafayette.
Attendance: 16,940 at Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA
While Southern University’s offense found stiff competition Saturday night against Tennessee State, the Jaguars defense roughed up the visiting Tigers even more. After playing opponents from different levels of college football the first two weeks of the season, Southern found itself on even footing against Tennessee State, and the Jaguars defense made sure their offense had all the chances needed to pull out a 21-17 win. “Tonight, we played a team on our level, and we knew it would be a dogfight,” Southern defensive coordinator Terrence Graves said. “These guys stepped up and made big plays. This is a testament to them and things to come this season.”
Saturday night in A.W. Mumford Stadium, the Southern football team played hard, if not always sound. Yet as the offense huddled with 6:30 remaining, then Jaguars needed to score against a tough Tennessee State defense. Otherwise, the Jaguars’ three-hour struggle was destined to become a loss. So, as they geared up for what would become their fourth-quarter game-winning drive in front of 12,247 fans, quarterback Bryant Lee gave his teammates a simple message: Play with one heartbeat. “It was really intense in there,” tailback Brian Threat said. “A lot of yelling like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get it. We’ve got to get amped up.’ We all came together, got amped up and executed well.”
Free safety Jason House and strong safety Demetric Rogers started for the second straight game Saturday in Southern’s 21-17 victory over Tennessee State, stepping in for regular starters Anthony Wells and Gary Chatman. Wells is recovering from two knee surgeries and a pulled hamstring, which he suffered during the first half of SU’s season-opening loss at Louisiana-Lafayette. On Saturday, he walked the sideline in his game jersey and jeans. Chatman, who sprained his right ankle in the ULL game, dressed out Saturday but did not play.
Tennessee State quarterback Calvin McNairl didn’t want to come off the field without a score. Tennessee State’s defense had just denied Bryant Lee enough yardage for a first down on fourth-and-1 inside the red zone and it was time for his Tigers to go to work. At the time, TSU was ahead by three and a touchdown would have made it a two-score game. With 8:20 left to play, the Tigers took over at their 16-yard line. McNairl hoped this drive would be different from five others that ended with three-and-outs. The worst case scenario? The Tennessee State quarterback hoped for a field goal. What he got was two decent gains from Preston Brown. But on third-and-3, the Tigers went backward as Brown was stopped for a 2-yard loss.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Tennessee State allowed Southern to go on a late fourth-quarter drive that led to a 21-17 Tigers loss on Saturday night. "We just gave up some big plays. Our offense had the chance to get some first downs and run the clock out," Tennessee State Coach James Webster said. "We just didn't get it done." TSU, which scored just two offensive touchdowns in its first two games, managed 255 yards of offense and squandered two scoring chances inside the Southern 20. But the Tigers (1-2) took a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter.
Now that he's the starting quarterback, Calvin McNairl is sending a message in more ways than one to Tennessee State's football team. Not only is the former Henry County star now talking about his ability to lead the Tigers, but he is also proving it on the field. He was the most valuable player in last week's 14-7 Southern Heritage Classic win over Jackson State and has carried himself with more resolve this week as TSU (1-1) prepared to visit Southern (1-1) at 6 tonight. "When Calvin first got here he wouldn't say, 'Boo,''' TSU Coach James Webster said. "But now he's talking. He's telling his offensive teammates where they need to be, what they need to do. The guys have responded and it's made a difference."
Tennessee State Coach James Webster hates to say I told you so, but…Webster did warn of the offensive struggles his team has experienced and told his defensive players to be prepared handle a heavier load. "I said that our defense was going to carry this football team until our offense could jell,'' Webster said. "I fully expected that." While the offense showed improvement in Saturday's 14-7 win over Jackson State, the defense is being counted on heavily as the Tigers (1-1) prepare for Saturday's game at Southern (1-1).
Southern University Jaguars Coach Pete Richards begins 17th season on the Bluff with expectations of winning the 2009 SWAC Championship after blowing a 12-7 lead at ULL.
Missed opportunities Jaguars lead early, but fall to Cajuns...Wherever and whenever this season ends, the Southern football team probably won’t remember the final score of Saturday’s season opener — a 42-19 runaway for Louisiana-Lafayette, a game that started with a bevy of big plays and ended as a snoozer. The Jaguars might remember the record crowd of 41,357 at Cajun Field and how lively it seemed for the first two quarters. They’ll remember other things, too.
As they walked off the field, outmatched against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent that controlled the line of scrimmage and cashed in on their mistakes, the Jaguars were left to lament the opportunities they missed, the mistakes they made and the potential for a strong season that might still lie ahead. “Our goal is to get to the (Southwestern Athletic Conference) championship game,” 17th-year coach Pete Richardson said. “Now, we’ve just got to get back home and try to get some of our guys back together. “Every time we play up, it’s such a physical type game — and it’s a numbers game.
Southern coach Pete Richardson said his No. 1 priority in Saturday’s season opener at Louisiana-Lafayette — aside from winning, of course — was escaping Cajun Field with relatively few injuries. At the end of the Jaguars’ 42-19 loss, they appeared to get lucky. With 8:54 left in the first quarter, freshman cornerback Pierre Warford and senior free safety Anthony Wells collided while trying to make an interception near the Southern 10-yard line. Warford suffered a rib injury and did not return. Jeremy Ivory came off the bench to play corner, while House replaced Wells at free safety. Wells returned to the field later, but junior Jason House played much of the rest of the game.
Jaguars leave opportunities on the field... For all of the success that Louisiana-Lafayette had operating against Southern’s defense, the Cajuns were in a tight battle for most of the first half of Saturday’s season-opening game. With wideout Juamorris Stewart threatening all of his single-game best numbers, Southern came away from a 42-19 loss at Cajun Field feeling like it left too many opportunities on the field. “We know, as an offense, we left a lot of points out there,” Stewart said. “We’re just going to have to get in the film room and work it out.”
SU Jaguars head coach Pete Richardson (16th year, 128-57)
To listen to the media types covering Southern University's football team, the Jaguars sound ready for prime time. Optimism abounds in the Southern camp, with a lot of the key cogs among 17 returning starters that were a couple of close losses away from playing in the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game. Even venerable coach Pete Richardson, entering his 17th season with the Jaguars, broke out of his stoic façade to voice high hopes for his team.
"I'm excited to see what kind of team we can have," Richardson said. "We've got a lot of guys back who have been through some battles for us, and we're coming into the season pretty healthy. A lot of these guys worked hard, stayed here during the summer, and I think a lot of them have really matured in a year."
Still, all the talk of going from the "Bluff to Birmingham" for the SWAC Championship Game might be a little premature. After all, the Jags haven't claimed a SWAC title since 2003 and haven't even won their own division since 2004. Last season, SU had to win two of their last three - one in overtime -- just to finish with a winning 6-5 record in 2008, and the squad showed a disturbing knack for self-destructing at crucial times last year. Fourth-quarter losses to Florida A&M and Prairie View A&M punched a hole in what could have been a banner year.
Jaguar senior All-SWAC QB Bryant Lee #16
2009 JAGUAR SCHEDULE
Sept. 5 at UL Lafayette (6 p.m.) Sept. 12 Central State (OH) (6 p.m.) Sept. 19 Tennessee State (6 p.m.) Sept. 26 *Alcorn State (6 p.m.) Oct. 3 *at Jackson State (6 p.m.) Oct. 17 Fort Valley State (5:30 p.m.) Oct. 22 *Prairie View A&M (6:30 p.m.) Oct. 31 *at Ark.-Pine Bluff (2:30 p.m.) Nov. 14 *vs. Alabama State (2:30 p.m., Mobile, Ala.) Nov. 28 *vs. Grambling (1 p.m., New Orleans) Dec. 5 *at Texas Southern (1 p.m.)
Home games in bold. *denotes Southwestern Athletic Conference games
Southwestern Athletic Conference SWAC to return to 9-game league schedule in '10 The Southwestern Athletic Conference will revert to using a nine-game league schedule starting in the 2010 football season, one of several changes announced Friday. The SWAC council of presidents voted to add the extra conference games through at least the 2013 season. “Overall, some teams were finding it difficult to fill out the rest of the schedule,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said. “It was hard for some of our teams. Either people didn’t want to play them, or the payout wasn’t what they thought it would be.”
Since the SWAC expanded to 10 teams in 1999, the conference has flip-flopped between playing seven league games and nine league games. That first year, in ’99, then-commissioner Rudy Washington decided in August that only a team’s four divisional games would count. From 2000-04, seven games counted, but some SWAC teams opted to play each other in extra games that did not count in the conference standings. Then, from 2005-07, all nine games counted. Last season, the SWAC switched back to seven. “That’s the other advantage (of going to nine games),” Sharp said. “You can get a true champion.”
South Carolina State University SCSU men's hoops loses assistant coach Kyle PerryBrandon (Kyle) Perry was more than just South Carolina State men’s basketball coach Tim Carter’s top assistant. The Gallatin, Tennessee native’s recruiting skills in luring the likes of former Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year guard Carrio Bennett, Defensive Player of the Year Jason Johnson and College of Charleston transfer Josh Jackson helped turn around the program’s fortunes in two years. As Carter looks to improve on S.C. State’s first winning season in three years, he now finds himself having to replace the lone remaining assistant from his arrival.
On Monday, University of South Carolina-Upstate head coach Eddie Payne announced Perry’s hiring to a similar position. Perry, 31, will serve as Upstate’s recruiting coordinator and will serve in all aspects of the program, including scouting and floor coaching. “Kyle Perry is an outstanding person,” Payne said. “He has a lot of the things you look for in an assistant coach. He has great character and work ethic as well as the results. He’s an exceptionally good recruiter and he has proven that on a number of different jobs, including his last one at S.C. State. Carter would only cite “personal reasons” for the reason of Perry’s departure. During his two seasons with the Bulldogs, Perry’s responsibilities included recruiting, scheduling, scouting and on-the-floor coaching. After the Bulldogs went 13-20 during Perry’s first year, they posted a 17-13 overall record last year and finished second in the league with a 10-6 record. S.C. State would advance to the MEAC Tournament semifinals for the first time in four years before losing to Norfolk State.
Howard University Homecoming Change: Georgetown University officials have rescheduled the 70th Homecoming Game, which will now take place Sept. 26 versus Howard Bison. Due to a series of academic conflicts, Homecoming was originally scheduled late in the season (Nov. 14) against Richmond, which would not only have pitted the Hoyas against the pre-season #1 ranked team in I-AA but would likely involve much colder temperatures and the possibility of a conflict with an early season basketball game. The earlier date, which coincides with Alumni Association events that weekend, should serve to bring more fans to Washington in September, as well as the possibility of a significant turnout from Howard fans across town.
The game should also be considerably more competitive than Richmond. The Bison were 1-10 last season and will play games with Rutgers and Florida A&M on the road before the Sept. 26 game at the Multi-Sport Field. In the first meeting between the schools, Georgetown upset Howard in the 2008 season opener, 12-7. http://www.hoyasaxa.com/sports/football.htm
Savannah State University SSU Ready For MEAC Visit: Walter Moore--As Savannah State University gears up for a visit from officials from the Mid- Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), this writer sat down with Dr. Earl Yarbrough (SSU president), Dr. Claud Flythe (SSU vice president of administration) and Bart Bellairs (SSU athletics director) last week to ask questions about SSU's preparation for the upcoming visit.
1- What will conference affiliation do for SSU? YARBROUGH- “Rivalries will be developed and teams will have a chance to compete for conference championships. It also gives SSU a chance to support the program. It’s hard to get motivated with no title to play for.” FLYTHE- “It helps level the student playing field. It gives students the opportunity to compete with peer institutions. Being independent does not offer the same opportunity. It also helps the alumni base connect with their peers. Many SSU alumni work with and socialize with alumni from FAMU, Bethune and SC State. It will also help with the traveling costs and will allow our students to stay close to home.” BELLAIRS- “It puts you in line with great academic institutions.”...
Delaware State University When Football Goes Green We've all seen it, we've definitely all heard it. The latest trend these days is to "go green." It's a campaign that is simply inescapable. We're all supposed to live green, breathe green, drive green, eat green ... you get the picture. However, to "go green" in college football is to go for the dollar signs. One idea, playing neutral site games to get a large payout, aren't entirely a bad idea. For example, Alabama/Virginia Tech in Atlanta is a great way to kick off the football year. But what happens when a school chooses to lose a game, a conference game, for money?
Delaware State has done just that, agreeing to actually forfeit their MEAC matchup with North Carolina A&T for a trip to the Big House to play Michigan on Oct. 17th. This is when "going green" goes horribly wrong. We've entered a dangerous stage in collegiate athletics. The goal (or what used to be the goal, anyways) for collegiate athletes was to compete for championships. It wasn't about the money, it was about the trophies at the end of the season. Money was left out of the picture. With Delaware State's move, the new goal has been set. It's all about getting as much money as possible. Forget title banners and trophies; just send the Hornets up to Ann Arbor as a rent-a-win (let's face it, App. State isn't the norm), get the check, and if the team doesn't make the FCS playoffs, oh well! How sad is this?
I understand why Delaware State wants to go to Ann Arbor. Located in Dover, DSU is a small school with an enrollment of just over 3,000. The Hornets drew 6,000 fans just twice last season, and in a 27-26 lost to Winston-Salem State, drew just 891 fans. Playing in front of over 100,000 in maize and blue would be quite the experience for DSU. But forfeit a conference game? That's where things just get messy.
Florida A&M University Lincoln's Aaron Smith signs to play baseball at FAMUFor recent Lincoln High alum Aaron Smith, signing a baseball scholarship with Florida A&M University meant more than just pitching on the Division I level. In attending FAMU, the 6-foot-1 right-hander is following in the footsteps of his parents, grandparents and aunts.
"The university is very important to my family," Smith said. "Everyone in my family went there, and I wanted to be a part of that." Smith moved to Tallahassee from Pensacola in 2007. As a junior, he maintained a 2.28 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 29 innings. This past spring, Smith was used mostly in late-inning relief, posting a 2.89 ERA in 261/3 innings. Smith's arsenal includes a fastball, curveball, changeup and slider.
RETROSPECT: FAMU Marching 100 Continues to Raise the Bar on Musicianship.What's amazing about the FAMU Marching 100 is they are several graduate school thesis within themselves. The more you study them, the more you realize they are in a class by themselves when it comes to musicianship. Regardless of the type of music played, the Marching 100 plays it to perfection with power, in both musical style and interpretation. Take for example the old standard marches--who does it better? View in HQ and enjoy the enthusiam of this great band--414 musicians strong playing the Thunder and Blazes March and Bennetts Triumphant March at the Florida Classic. Then, view the Hundred at work on the Patch under the baton of conductor, Dr. Julian E. White.
Winston Salem State University
Football Schedule Change:Winston-Salem State's football game against Florida A&M at Bowman Gray Stadium has been added to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference television package and rescheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10. Kickoff will be at 7:30, with coverage on ESPNU. The game originally was scheduled Sept. 12. It will be the first live broadcast of a WSSU game from Bowman Gray since Oct. 25, 2003, when the Rams defeated N.C. Central 47-0.
Alabama A&M University New A&M assistant no stranger to SWAC John McKenzie had great success as a player in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He starred at quarterback at Jackson State in the 1980s, leading the Tigers to three conference titles while throwing for more than 5,000 yards and 43 touchdowns en route to earning All-SWAC honors on two occasions. He later had success as a coach in the league, first at Alabama State - helping the Hornets not only win the SWAC, but also a black college national championship - and also was successful at his alma mater and Alcorn State. So when he was let go at North Carolina A&T last season, McKenzie looked for an opportunity to return to the conference.
He found it at Alabama A&M, where he was recently named the Bulldogs' receivers coach. McKenzie replaces Roger Totten, who left to become an assistant at Alabama State in January.
"I'm familiar with the SWAC," McKenzie said Tuesday. "I played in the league and coached in the league. I know the players and the different areas. It's a little easier for me to adapt. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference was a great experience, but there's a different philosophy there as far as what they're trying to get done football-wise.
Southern University Services today for Southern's ThomasFuneral services for Southern track and field coach Johnny Thomas are today. Viewing is at 9 a.m. today at the Living Faith Christian Center, 6375 Winbourne Ave. Services will follow at 11 a.m. Thomas, 68, died June 13. Thomas, who coached the men’s and women’s track and cross country teams, won 45 Southwestern Athletic Conference championships at SU.
Read Related Articles:Keys: Thomas' way made impact at Southern The Mets signed pitcher Emary Frederick out of Southern University prior to the 2007 season. Frederick is a native of Deltona, Florida.
Paying debts with Mets Daytona Beach, FL--Emary Frederick plays professional baseball for a living. While Class A doesn't provide much of a living, the DeLand High graduate realizes things could be worse. "I'm very content with my situation right now. Things could be better or they could be a lot worse. Not very many guys that I played with have this opportunity," said Frederick, a relief pitcher for the St. Lucie Mets, who is in town playing the Daytona Cubs this week. "It's a choice. I could talk about settling, but the reason I'm here is it's a choice. If I put in my time now, hopefully I can relax later."
Frederick, a side-arming right-hander, pitched in a 5-4 loss to the Cubs on Monday night and will be on the mound again Thursday night when the two teams close out a four-game series.
Despite a 2-4 record, the reliever is having his best professional season to date with a 3.45 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 20 games (28 2/3 innings). "To me he's made some good progress," said Phil Regan, pitching coach for the St. Lucie Mets. "He's got tremendous sink on the ball and I think, in my opinion, he's got a good major-league sinker. It sinks that well."
At 25, it's hard for Frederick to not get a little anxious. Younger players are drafted with huge signing bonuses that move up the ladder quicker. "I feel like it's going kind of slow thus far. It's only my third year as a professional, but I'm 25. I definitely thought I'd be farther along by now," Frederick said. "It's tough. It's definitely a jump up from college and the SWAC conference.
"The fact that Frederick is playing pro ball is a blessing in and of itself. After a good, but not great, college career at Southern University, Frederick signed a free-agent contract in his home dugout after being seen at Scout Day on the Baton Rouge, La., campus. Two years ago he was sent to the Class A Savannah Sand Gnats, where he posted a 2-0 record and struck out 50 in 32 games despite sitting out 45 days with a impingement in his throwing shoulder. Last year he moved up to high Class A St. Lucie, where he went 2-5 and struck out 52 batters, while improving his ERA to 4.47.
Norfolk State University Miller signs with NSU through June 2014Marty Miller has signed on for another five years as Norfolk State's athletic director, agreeing to a contract extension through June 2014, the school announced Thursday. Miller has been AD since December 2004. A 1969 graduate, he's been a coach or administrator at his alma mater since 1972. He coached the Spartans' baseball team to 718 wins in 32 years. NSU has won the past five MEAC men's all-sports awards. "We have made significant accomplishments in enabling our athletic programs to become more competitive," Miller said. "But we are seeking to become major players on a national level."
North Carolina A&T State University Hill adds regional, national honors North Carolina A&T softball standout Ryanne Hill added a pair of honors to her resume. The sophomore from Charlotte (Independence High) was named third-team all-America by Easton Sports Inc. and the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association voted her to the all-state team. Hill was named MEAC player of the year last month and all-Southeast Region by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association. “She has a very good work ethic and her academics are excellent,’’ said A&T head softball coach Mamie Jones. “She is a true student-athlete. She is constantly in the books, and she works tirelessly in making herself an excellent softball player.”
Hill led the MEAC in runs batted in and doubles (15). She also ranked second in the MEAC in hits (60) and total bases (96). In two years at A&T, Hill has a .340 batting average with 83 RBIs and 11 home runs in 94 games.
Jackson State University ULL's Rogers fill out staffUniversity Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Errol Rogers has added former Jackson State University recruiting coordinator and assistant Tomekia Reed. She will replace Paula Lee, who resigned to pursue other opportunities after a 3-27 season. Reed had coached at Jackson State for the past three seasons. She worked with the team's post players, including the 2006-07 Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year in forward Shelita Burns, and was its academic liaison. In 2006-07, JSU won the SWAC regular season championship and earned a WNIT berth. The following season the Tigers clinched the SWAC Tournament crown for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Reed received an associate degree from Hinds (Miss.) Community College before going to Southern Miss and Georgia Southwestern State University. She earned her bachelor's degree from GSSU. "She carries herself the right way, has a great knowledge of the game and is an intelligent young lady," Rogers said. "She's recruited in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Jackson State recruited across the country, so she has plenty of experience in recruiting.
"I think she's going to be a very good recruiter, someone who can relate with the kids and someone who knows her X's and O's."
"I never took my grades seriously like I should have." "My coaches kept telling me that education's first, that you'll never be a student-athlete unless you're a good student." At the end of his senior high school season, Toler was ineligible to attend high school all-star games.
Toler (6-0, 193) earned All-CIAA and Little All-American first-team honors as well as being named Virginia small school Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2008 after collecting a career-high 51 tackles (37 solos), seven interceptions, and three blocked kicks. The first player from Saint Paul’s ever to be drafted, Toler set school records with 16 interceptions and 38 passes defensed during his four seasons.
The Washington, DC native finished his collegiate career with 161 tackles (101 solos), 16 interceptions, 38 passes defensed, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in 40 starts at Saint Paul’s. Despite being only a Division II standout and also not being invited to the NFL combine, Toler gained buzz around the NFL before the draft after making a bunch of visits to various teams and conducting strong personal workouts. Toler should have a good chance to make the team as a fourth cornerback or better based on the lack of current depth at the position.
The Cardinals have released WR Justin Brown. Brown signed with the team as a rookie free agent out of Hampton University on April 27.
-- Jeremiah McGinty taking most of the snaps at quarterback. That wasn’t much of a surprise, given that McGinty is the only quarterback on scholarship this spring. Record-setting senior Bryant Lee completed his eligibility, and freshman LeAndre Thompson moved to the secondary, leaving McGinty and a handful of walk-ons, including Ramal Ellis of Destrehan and Hasoni Alfred of Ville Platte. “It’s a different feeling, but there’s nothing guaranteed about where I’m going to be in the fall,” McGinty said, “so every day I have to work hard.” McGinty attempted five passes as a freshman last season.
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