Date changed for SU-Texas Southern football game

Southern’s football schedule has changed again. Texas Southern, in accepting a proposal from ESPNU, has moved its home game against the Jaguars to Dec. 5 — one week after the Bayou Classic and one week before the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game. The TSU game was originally scheduled for Oct. 10. Southern will have a bye that week instead.

The decision to move the game was made solely by TSU, Athletic Director Charles McClelland said.

“We got inquiries to move the game, and we were able to put it on national television,” McClelland said. “And there was financial benefit to both universities.” McClelland said both schools will receive a payout of more than $100,000, but declined to give an exact figure.

According to SU records, this would be the first time the Jaguars played a conference game between the Bayou Classic and the SWAC Championship Game, which began in 1999. In fact, this will be the Jaguars’ first regular-season game after the Bayou Classic since 1979, when they finished with back-to-back wins against Grambling and Alabama State. “I’m not pleased with it,” SU coach Pete Richardson said of the change. “I was informed that it would probably happen a few days ago. It could have an impact on the conference championship.

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Southern U. moves JSU game to Jackson for $$$

Saying the school can make more money playing in Jackson than in Baton Rouge, Southern University officials have moved the Jaguars' Oct. 3 home game against Jackson State to 60,492-seat Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. The two SWAC East division rivals play yearly, alternating sites, but the chance to sell 40,000 or more tickets in Jackson outweighed the home-field advantage that comes with 28,000-seat A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge.
























"You can't measure (home-field advantage)," said Southern athletic director Greg LaFleur, whose school is facing stiff budget cuts and recently eliminated its women's golf and men's tennis teams. "I can't worry about the part I can't measure. "But we can count cheeks in the seats." The schools have a verbal agreement, but nothing has been signed. While cash is the primary factor in the decision, how the money will be shared has not been solidified.

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LSU No. 3 national seed; Tigers to face Southern Jaguars

LSU was named the No. 3 national seed in the 64-team NCAA baseball tournament field that was revealed today. The Tigers (46-16) will play Southern (30-15) at 1 p.m. Friday in the first game of the four-team regional that begins Friday at Alex Box Stadium. The second game at 6 p.m. Friday will pit Baylor (29-24) against Minnesota (38-17) on the first day of the four-team, double-elimination regional tournament.

Southern catcher Michael Thomas tags out LSU Matt Clark at home plate.

The national seed means the Tigers will host a super regional if they can survive the four-team regional that begins Friday at Alex Box Stadium. The winner of the Baton Rouge regional will play the winner of the Houston regional, hosted by Rice. Kansas State, Xavier (Ohio) and Sam Houston State are the other teams in the Houston regional. The LSU regional is the program’s 19th at home — all since 1986. Southern is in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005.

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At Gainesville, Fla.
No. 4 Bethune-Cookman (32-26) vs. (8) No. 1 Florida (39-20)
No. 3 Jacksonville (36-20) vs. No. 2 Miami (Fla.) (36-20)

At Baton Rouge
No. 4 Southern (30-15) vs. (3) No. 1 LSU (46-16)
No. 3 Baylor (29-24) vs. No. 2 Minnesota (38-17)

Southern U holds off Alcorn State, wins SWAC tournament

On the last day of what he later called the greatest weekend of his life, Southern shortstop Jesse Olivar woke up with puffy eyes and sore muscles. Actually, he didn’t wake up at all. He couldn’t sleep. Throughout his young life, Olivar had never won a championship — not in Little League, not in junior high, not on summer teams, not ever. Now he was close.

“I was so excited to play,” he said. “I was already tired from the night before. I took a bath and tried to stay loose. Then I got a massage, so I could come out in halfway good shape.” On Sunday afternoon at Lee-Hines Field, near the end of a wild, emotional Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament, Olivar found himself at the center of the storm.

It was ironic: At the climax of the Jaguars’ 12-10 slugfest of a win over Alcorn State — one that capped a wild ride to the SWAC title and clinched a berth in the NCAA tournament for SU, not to mention that elusive first ring for Olivar — his defense helped seal the deal.

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Jaguars defense steals the show during SU game

Final score: defense 38, offense 14.

A.W. Mumford Stadium started to empty out. Most players, splattered with water and mud, retreated to a set of shower heads. A few others lingered on the field. Southern University’s spring football finale had wrapped up Saturday, and the Jaguars defense had scored a convincing TKO of the offense. Still, the trash-talking continued. Defensive coordinator Terrence Graves shuffled to a spot near midfield, where he sized up wideout Juamorris Stewart — the only receiver who, against a revamped secondary, did pretty much whatever he wanted.

Graves offered up a shove. It was payback. The way he saw it, officials hadn’t flagged Stewart for pass interference all afternoon. “No one called a push-off,” Stewart admitted, flashing a grin. “Those were some nice refs out there today.” At any rate, on a gray, drizzly Saturday afternoon at SU, spring practice officially reached the finish line. From any angle, Graves’ unit got the best of the Jaguars offense.

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Southern upends San Diego State

COMPTON, Calif. — Southern University got an excellent outing from starting pitcher Jarrett Maloy and some clutch hitting late to defeat San Diego State 4-2 on Day 2 of the MLB Urban Invitational. Maloy, a preseason all-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection, tossed seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while scattering five hits and striking out five. Daniel Garcia pitched two scoreless innings to pick up his first save.

SDSU starter Jon Berger (0-1) went 62/3 innings and gave up four runs on six hits while striking out five. SU’s Romey Bracey got the Jaguars on the board early as he tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the first inning. SDSU (1-1) tied the game with an unearned run in the top of the third. The pitching duel continued over the next three innings until the Aztecs took the lead in the top of the sixth on a walk to T.J. Thomas and an RBI double by Cory Vaughn.
























SU head coach Roger Cador.

Southern (1-1) responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a run-scoring single by Bracey and a two-out RBI double by Frazier Hall. The Jaguars added an insurance run in the next inning on a double by Gregory Whitfield and an RBI single by Toddrick Stevenson. Things got interesting in the final inning when SDSU put two men on with two outs, only to see Easton Gust’s fly ball to left caught on a fine play by Juan Mujica. SU concludes play in the tournament against Bethune Cookman at 2 p.m. today.

San Diego State beat defending MEAC champs Bethune Cookman 6-3 for their first win of the season on Friday.

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Southern picked to defend West title

SU Coach Roger Cador.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Southern pitcher Jarrett Maloy was named Southwestern Conference preseason pitcher of the year, while the Jaguars were picked to defend their Western Division title, according to the league’s coaches and sports information departments. Prairie View A&M outfielder Myrio Richard was voted preseason player of the year, while Jackson State was predicted to repeat as Eastern champions, according to a conference news release late Wednesday night.

“Being picked to defend the title in the West is not really our goal,” Southern baseball coach Roger Cador said. “It’s an honor, but our goal is to win the whole conference.” The Jaguars begin their season on the road Friday against the University of San Diego. The Jaguars’ home opener is March 4 against Southeastern Louisiana. Maloy, a 6-1, 180-pound junior from Tallahassee, Fla., posted a 9-3 record with a 5.43 ERA (second in SWAC) last season. His win total tied for second highest in the conference.

Complete 2009 Southern University Baseball Schedule Release in PDF Format

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BAYOU CLASSIC: Grambling defense in championship form

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Grambling 29, Southern 14
Bayou Classic 2008 you cam I
Bayou Classic 2008 Halftime Show
Bayou Classic 2008 you cam II
Bayou Classic 2008 II
Bayou Classic 2008 I
Photos

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Southern staggered Grambling State’s feared defense with two touchdowns in the first quarter of Saturday’s Bayou Classic. But that early flurry was all Southern could muster. Grambling produced four takeaways, three scoreless quarters and knocked Southern quarterback Bryant Lee out of the contest in a 29-14 win at the Superdome. "Sometimes games start off like that," linebacker Keefe Hall said. "But that’s why we play four quarters."

The victory was the first in a Bayou Classic for second-year coach Rod Broadway and propels the Tigers into the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game in Birmingham against Jackson State on Dec. 13. "It meant more than just bragging rights this time," said Carroll product Desmond Lenard, who had a fumble recovery and an interception in the win. "It meant that if we win, we go to the SWAC championship. It feels real good to win this game." Grambling won its ninth game in a row with an MVP-performance from sophomore quarterback Greg Dillon, who rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries and completed 9-of-13 passes for 151 yards and another score.

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Attendance: 59,874 at New Orleans Superdome

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Thousands pour into New Orleans for Bayou Classic

Tens of thousands of people are pouring into New Orleans, and by the end of the weekend, they will have pumped millions of dollars into the New Orleans economy. The Bayou Classic is no ordinary game, and no ordinary event for New Orleans. A classic football rivalry between Grambling State and Southern University means one massive party in the city.

"GSU will win tomorrow. What's the score? It will be 30-12. Grambling State University, of course," said Rickey Burton. He and his wife Phyllis have been attending the rivalry game every year since he graduated from college in 1974. The festivities center around events at the Superdome. Friday night, the annual Battle of the Bands and Greek step show was the big draw, and adding a hint of New Orleans flavor was the Mardi Gras Indians as the event opener. The events draw thousands of fans.

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Southern’s depth in secondary bodes well for ’09

Their starting left corner back missed last week’s home finale, and their starting free safety is on the shelf for good. But the Southern Jaguars’ black-and-blue secondary may have uncovered something over the last two months: silver lining. So many reserves have played in the secondary this season that their transition to starting roles might not be as rough next fall.

“I think it just shows the depth we have on our football team,” SU coach Pete Richardson said. “I think our assistants do an outstanding job of preparation and keeping the young ones focused — to make sure they’re focused on what they have to do. Anything can happen. When they got an opportunity to play, I think they stepped up and did that.”

Indeed. A pulled groin muscle forced left corner Mike Williams to sit out Saturday’s 31-24 double-overtime victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

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Attendance: 10354 (35%) @ Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA (Capacity: 28,400).

Southern Jags Return to SWAC Play vs. Prairie View A&M Panthers

Coach Pete Richardson and Southern University face a defensively strong Prairie View A&M team in the "Battle of the Cats" at Houston's Reliant Stadium this Saturday.

Watch SU Jaguars video

By: SU Sports Information Dept.

The "Big Cat" Showdown reaches into the state of Texas this weekend, as Southern takes on Prairie View A&M in Houston in a Western Division showdown.

While the Jaguars come in at 4-3 overall, they are 3-0 in conference play, with wins over Alcorn State, Jackson State, and Texas Southern. Southern has one of the most explosive offenses in the nation, scoring at least 32 points in five of seven games this season, including outputs of 35, 45, and 49 points this month alone.

QB Bryant Lee, the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, has combined for 13 touchdowns in October (7 passing, 6 rushing). The Jaguars are ninth in the nation in total offense (442.1 yards per game), 10th in passing offense (283.7 ypg), and 15th in passing efficiency (149.4 rating). Southern has thrown 16 touchdown passes to just four interceptions.

Prairie View A&M comes in to Saturday's tilt with a 6-1 record, 2-1 in SWAC play. Defense is the bread and butter of the Panthers, who have posted two shutouts this season, including a 15-0 road win last week at the Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In addition, the Panthers have allowed more than 17 points just once this season. LB Zach East, the reigning SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and 2008 winner of the Preseason Award, anchors the unit that leads the nation in scoring defense (13.1 points per game), total defense (192.1 yards per game), and is fourth in both passing defense (137.1 ypg), and pass efficiency defense (95.42 rating). The Panthers have allowed just six touchdown passes this season while picking off 11 passes.

Southern is looking to keep pace with Grambling State in the West race. The Tigers gave the Panthers' their lone loss this season and need a win to stay in the hunt. Last season, Southern's defense proved to be the difference in a 12-2 win. In the last meeting in Houston in 2006, however, Prairie View earned its first win over Southern since 1971. Reliant Stadium will be the site for this Wild West matchup.

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Rattlers win shootout: Florida A&M 52, Southern 49

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Vann's late return helps FAMU to win over Southern

BATON ROUGE, La. — This time there was no late field goal — just trickery and LeRoy Vann's magic. Vann retuned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown to ignite two quick strikes by FAMU in the fourth quarter and the Rattlers held off every comeback by Southern for a 52-49 victory Saturday night. FAMU dodged the biggest bullet after the Jaguars marched 30 yards to FAMU's 1 following an interception of quarterback Curtis Pulley's pass that was intended for Philip Sylvester. But on his way to the end zone, Southern receiver (and former Godby High standout) Del Roberts lost the ball after a hit by FAMU's Fabian Wilson.

Wilson recovered the ball and the Rattlers ran out the clock — thanks in large part to a fourth-and-1 conversion from their own 11-yard line with 1:54 remaining. FAMU's victory at Mumford Stadium was the third consecutive for the Rattlers on Southern's home field. The previous two were decided on field goals in the closing minutes.

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Rivalry brings out emotions--SU vs. FAMU

Cornerback Joe Manning grew up cheering for Florida A&M, the school Southern University will host Saturday night, and rooting against SU, the school he plays for now. “I used to go to the FAMU games and root for FAMU, since that’s the home town,” said Manning, who went to Lincoln High in Tallahassee, Fla., and lives about a 10-minute drive from the FAMU campus. “I grew up hating them (Southern).” There is no more hate for Southern from Manning. Now there is an appreciation that comes from seeing both sides of one of black college football’s best rivalries.

“I love the fans at Southern,” Manning said. “I think the rivalry is great, because the schools have the same type of fans. It makes it like the old days.” Manning, a Florida State transfer, and SU receiver Del Roberts, a North Carolina transfer, are two seniors from Tallahassee, and both said this matchup took on a more emotional element than other games for them a year ago, when SU beat FAMU 33-28 in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band


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UH opens Sumlin era with 55-3 win over Southern

Game statistics

Quarterback Case Keenum torched the Jags for 359 passing yards and five touchdowns — both career-highs — while completing 33 of 43 passes in only three quarters of play.

With all the buildup heading into Kevin Sumlin’s first game as coach of the Houston Cougars, you almost expected a letdown when they finally took the field Saturday to play the Southern Jaguars. Too much was expected of the Cougars, who were installing new schemes on both sides of the ball and were trying to find new playmakers at key skill positions. But despite the pregame hype, the Cougars still managed to impress, rolling to a 55-3 victory before a rowdy crowd of 26,555 at Robertson Stadium.

Everything seemed to click for the Cougars, who enjoyed the highest-scoring coaching debut in school history, eclipsing the 54 points Bill Meek put up against Montana in 1955, despite emptying the bench late in the third quarter.

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Attendance: 26,555 at Robertson Stadium, Houston, TX (Capacity 32,000).

Southern ready for cat fight in Houston

Storm or no storm, the Southern Jaguars are ready to take the field against the Houston Cougars this weekend.

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Deeper Jaguars hitting stride

One week into Camp Richardson XVI, and Southern University coaches still like what they’ve been seeing. “It’s starting to come around on both sides, especially offensively,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “I thought the defense would be further ahead (in pace), but the offense is coming around.”

While the entire team has benefited from improved numbers and an infusion of youth, both the offensive and defensive lines have been helped most — far from the spare, patchwork jobs of a year ago. That has given Southern a strengthened core.

As a program, SU evolved to an 8-3 mark last season, and the push is clearly on to hone a more veteran group, whereas recent camps might have gone slower as coaches concentrated more on teaching.

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Improved depth helps SU in heat

Better depth trumped broiling heat during Southern’s first football practice of the season.Unlike last season, when offseason attrition sapped the offensive and defensive lines, those units worked with substantially more linemen than last season.

And though the tag team of heat and humidity was merciless, the infusion of new players, with several freshmen along with non-qualifiers from last season, catching SU coach Pete Richardson’s eye even on the first day, made a big difference.

“Numbers are keeping them fresh a little longer. But we still have a ways to go,” Richardson said. “In Louisiana, humidity is a little different animal. I don’t care how much preparation you went through. If you get another 15 pounds on you, it takes its toll.”

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SU set to hit practice fields

Southern University will start Camp Richardson XVI this afternoon. Ready? “Pete’s going to be ready,” junior quarterback Bryant Lee said of Southern’s football coach, Pete Richardson, now entering his 16th season with the Jaguars. And what about the players?

“We’ve been working hard in the offseason for this day,” said Lee, the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason offensive player of the year. “So we’re ready.” “We’ve been working hard in the offseason for this day,” said Lee, the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason offensive player of the year. “So we’re ready.”

SU went 8-3 last season and is picked to finish second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Western Division. That’s where the Jaguars finished last season. SU last won the SWAC in 2003 and last won the Western Division in ’04.

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SU Jaguars to report for camp today

SU Jaguars head football coach Pete Richardson signed a three year contract extension after leading the Jaguars to an 8-3 record in 2007.

Southern coach Pete Richardson is looking forward to the actual start of Camp Richardson XVI. These last few days, as his staff focused on lists of players and all sorts of paperwork related to his team checking in, aren’t his favorite. “It’s rough,” Richardson said. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today, Southern’s football players report to campus.

The last few days, SU’s staff has been working through all the details related to having a football program — checking grades, assigning housing, making sure meal plans were in place. Richardson said running back Brian Threat, offensive lineman Myles Williams and defensive back Justin Foster, are expected to report late. Camp Richardson XVI starts with the first preseason practice Saturday afternoon.

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Improving APR score big key for SU football

As Southern gets ready to welcome back its football players to the practice fields this week, the program’s future depends more on what they’ll do in the classroom rather than on the playing field. In May, the NCAA slapped Southern’s football program with the loss of scholarships and practice time because of unsatisfactory scores in the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate. Further troubles could result, by next year, in the loss of postseason play and, in two years, could mean the loss of the school’s Division I status.

Southern University Jaguars head football coach Pete Richardson

“It’s scary,” Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur said.

Effective immediately this season, Southern will lose 8.75 football scholarships — limited to 54.25 of a maximum of 63 — and four hours of practice time, reducing the Jaguars to 16 per week from 20. LaFleur said the four hours of practice time must be used in study hall. Also, Southern can sign no more than 20 players for next season’s class in February.

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