TSU's Preston Brown refocuses on football

Running Back Preston Brown is a transfer from Arkansas State, who originally signed with Oklahoma State out of Antioch High School. The 5'10/200 play maker was a Rivals three-star recruit that ranked No. 11 among all players in the 2006 class in the state of Tennessee and 18th in the nation among all running backs.

Preston Brown got his act together at Tennessee State just in time to salvage his senior season. The former Antioch running back was on the brink of being kicked off the team, but used spring practice to prove he could follow rules as well as he follows lead blocks and break old habits as well as he breaks tackles. Spring practice ends today with the Blue and White game at 2 p.m. in Hale Stadium. Admission is free.

Brown, TSU's second-leading rusher last season (474 yards, four touchdowns), didn't realize it in December when Rod Reed replaced James Webster as head coach, but he was dangerously close to not getting to participate in spring practice, the spring game or his senior season. "If he continued the way he was going he wasn't going to be a part of this program,'' Reed said. "He's a super kid, but there are certain things you can't allow to destroy the team. He wasn't belligerent and there wasn't any one thing that would cause you to immediately say he was off the team. It was just a build-up of a lot little things."

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

TSU will practice indoors this year

Tennessee State University athletic director Teresa Phillips adds to the Tigers growing list of capital assets for improving the student-athletes quality of life in Division I, Ohio Valley Conference Sports -- a new Indoor Football Practice Facility with field turf. The Tigers home games are played at Nashville's LP Field, home to the NFL's Tennessee Titans and Tennessee State University football.

Tennessee State is ready to break ground for a new indoor football practice facility that Coach Rod Reed hopes will break new ground in recruiting. A groundbreaking ceremony is set to take place later this month for the $3.2 million facility that is to be completed this year, Athletics Director Teresa Phillips said. The date has not yet been set. The building will house an artificial surface practice field, meeting and film rooms, along with coaches offices.

It will be located at the west end of the Gentry Center parking lot and one of the first features Reed points out to prospects. "It's going to be a nice new structure and pleasing to the eye and definitely something you want recruits to see the minute they hit campus,'' Reed said. "Kids don't like practicing in cold or really hot weather. It absolutely is a recruiting tool because I don't know of any other OVC school that has an indoor practice facility." A construction notice-to-proceed was issued April 7 to Lee Adcock Construction Company, contractor for the facility.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Former football player's mother describes losing son to prescription drug abuse

Justina McIntyre holds a photo of her son, the late Ronald L. Powell III as Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman looks on Wednesday. Powell was a Fulbright Scholar at Tennessee State University.

Montgomery County, PA - As a standout football player at Souderton Area High School and Fulbright Scholar at Tennessee State University, Ronald Powell III had a lot going for him. But the 19-year-old kept addiction to painkillers a secret, and he died in 2008 of an overdose. The teenager’s parents, Justina and Daniel McIntyre, were devastated by Powell’s death. “Receiving that phone call was the worst day of my life,” Justina McIntyre said.

On Wednesday, the Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman held a press conference to announce a prescription drug collection program scheduled for Saturday. Powell’s road to addiction began not with buying illegal drugs on street, but from a nursing home co-worker who had given him painkillers to try. “As a parent, I truly believe my son did not realize that his choice of taking Vicodin would take him where it did,” McIntyre said.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE

Tennessee State's Calvin McNairl enjoys dual role as quarterback, wide receiver

Having already proved his ability to run and throw the football, Calvin McNairl is spending spring practice at Tennessee State proving he also can catch it. The Henry County product started at quarterback eight games in 2009 and led the Tigers in rushing (628 yards) and passing (78-of-147, 920 yards). The junior shared time with senior quarterback Dominic Grooms, which left McNairl on the sideline too often, Coach Rod Reed said.

TSU star Calvin McNairl get shot as dual threat receiver and quarterback in 2010.

When Reed, the former defensive coordinator, replaced James Webster in December as head coach, keeping McNairl on the field was high on his list of priorities. So he moved McNairl to wide receiver for spring drills and expects him to play there next season when he's not at quarterback. "You want your best athlete on the field and the more you can get the ball in his hands the better,'' Reed said. "We'll have a package for him at quarterback and work him in at wide receiver." McNairl (6-foot, 210) had hoped for a shot at receiver since he was a freshman even though he had never played it before.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Southern Jaguars salvage split with Texas Southern Tigers

Late in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Lee-Hines Field, Southern first baseman Frazier Hall disappeared into foul territory, jogging toward a small cranny between Texas Southern’s dugout and bullpen. Unaware teammates soon found him near the wall, doubled over, writhing in apparent pain. It seemed that the 83-degree temperature, grouped with humid air, a sunny sky and no wind, made for bad conditions in Hall’s stomach. He overheated and lost his breakfast. Undeterred, however, Hall declined to leave the game.

Contrary to a theory that floated through the stands, Hall wasn’t nauseated by the Jaguars’ play — even though they were fairly sloppy in a split with the Tigers, losing the first game 6-4 and winning the second game 9-3. In two games, they committed nine errors, stranded 13 runners and hit .258 as a team, showing lack of discipline in many at-bats.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

TSU's new offense will stress run before pass

TSU head coach Rod Reed.















Mike Jones etched his name in Tennessee State's record books catching the ball, but he plans to re-energize the Tigers' offense emphasizing the run. Jones, a Division I-AA All-American in 1981 and 1982 who holds many of the school's receiving records, returned to TSU as offensive coordinator when former defensive coordinator Rod Reed replaced James Webster as head coach in December. The Tigers begin spring practice today with a chief objective to improve the offense, which ranked 97th (274.6 yards) in the Football Championship Series and failed to score more than one touchdown in four games.

Jones, who had 200 catches at TSU and 165 in six NFL seasons, said he learned to appreciate a quality running game during his coaching career, which included nine years in NFL Europe, a year at Liberty University, a stop in the XFL and last year in the CFL (Toronto). "Go back over my history in coaching and you'll see I probably ran it more than I threw it,'' Jones said. "I had some coaches with me in NFLEurope who felt the run game was very important and when I played (in the NFL) at Minnesota and New Orleans they ran it quite a bit. I developed an appetite for it as well."

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Mississippi Valley Delta Devils Deliver Statement to TSU

Texas Southern University head basketball coach Tony Harvey.

Mississippi Valley State basketball coach Sean Woods wanted this game in the worst way. His message to his players was well received by the Delta Devils as they blew out Texas Southern 62-44 Saturday night at the R.W. Harrison Complex in Itta Bena. Woods, whose team lost 74-73 at TSU four weeks ago, called this a "statement win." When asked why he put so much into this game, Woods didn't hold back: "They (TSU) are so arrogant. They've got a lot of talent, but, hey, so do we. I told our guys that we have just as much talent as they do. We've just got to put it all together and believe in ourselves."

With the win, MVSU moves to 8-19 overall, 7-7 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. TSU falls to 12-13, 8-5 in the SWAC. Valley led 30-23 at the break and controlled things for most of the second half. TSU made a little noise when it quickly trimmed an 11-point deficit to four. Travele Jones had a 3-point play to make it 40-36 with 11:38 left. But less than two minutes later, the Delta Devils pushed their lead to 15 before the Tigers knew what had hit them. Shannon Behling capped the home team's 11-0 run with a slam dunk and a layup in less than a 20-second span.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Jackson State outlasts Texas Southern in OT

Garrison Johnson and Tyrone Hanson combined for 14 points in overtime to help Jackson State ease past Texas Southern in a televised SWAC contest at Health & PE Center in Houston Monday. Johnson hit two three-pointers and two free throws for eight of his game-high 27 points for Jackson State (14-11, 12-1). Hanson made four free throws and a layup for six points in the overtime contest that was aired live on ESPNU. He finished the game with 18 points.

Texas Southern's DeAndre Hall kept TSU close with six of his 14 points in the extra period. TSU sent the game into overtime when Marc Ellis hit the second of two free throws to knot the game at 53-53 with :08 left. Seconds earlier, Johnson had nailed another trey to give Jackson State a brief 53-52 edge. Phillip Williams added 12 points for Jackson State, which shot just 38.2 percent from the floor, but made 10 of its 28 three-point tries.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

READ RELATED ARTICLES:
Valley topples Jaguars
Panthers Rebound With Big Win Over Grambling State
Grambling ladies edge injury-depleted Prairie View
Lady Panthers Upset by Grambling State
Prairie View A&M defeats Grambling State 74-58

Texas Southern Extends McClelland's Contract

Texas Southern University athletic director, Charles McClelland (L) and President, John Rudley, Ph.D.

The Board of Regents at Texas Southern University approved a contract extension on Friday for Tigers athletics director Charles McClelland. McClelland told FOX 26 Sports TSU has given him a two-year extension that ties him to the school until Dec. 31, 2014. "I am ecstatic about the confidence that (TSU) President (John) Rudley has in my abilities to continue to lead this Texas Southern University athletics program to achieving our goals," McClelland said.

"President Rudley and the Board of Regents have shown this commitment to me personally and I want to show my commitment to Texas Southern and its alumni that I am here for the long haul." TSU hired McClleland in 2008 when he signed his original five-year contract. He has three years to go on that deal before his extension kicks in. On McClelland's watch TSU has flourished on the field of play and in the all-important arena of raising money. "Over the past two years we have generated over $825,000 in corporate sponsorships and in-kind gifts," McClelland said. "We proposed a new student fee that was approved by the students that generates approximately $2.2 million a year which goes into the TSU athletics budget."

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Quarterback struggles at Tennessee State appeal to signee

Michael German followed new Tennessee State Coach Rod Reed's advice and did his "homework" when it came to studying the Tigers' offense. German, a quarterback at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Fla., saw TSU was unable to find a quarterback who could consistently lead the offense in 2009 and it swayed his decision when it came time to sign. Reed called German (6-2, 210) the "shining star" of his first signing class, which included 20 prospects. German passed for 2,653 yards, 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as a senior while leading his team to the third round of the Class 5A playoffs.

"The biggest role in my decision was the trouble they had at quarterback,'' German said. "That gives me more opportunity to come in and play as a freshman or as a sophomore." TSU finished eighth in the OVC in total offense (273.4 yards) and last in passing offense (123.6). When asked if he believes German can compete for playing time as a freshman with junior Calvin McNairl and senior Dominic Grooms, Reed said: "That's what we're hoping for."

Tigers Ink 20 Players in Early Hours of Signing Day

The Tennessee State University Tigers have inked twenty football signees in the first hours (as of 12 noon) of National Signing day.Coach Rod Reed’s first recruiting class include eleven defensive players and nine offensive players. Eight players hail from the state of Tennessee, six players from Florida, three players from Georgia, two from Alabama and one player from Delaware.Offensively, TSU signed four linemen, two quarterbacks, two wide receivers and one tight end.

TSU Tigers 2010 Football Signees

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. School
Ayobami Ayoola DB 5-10 170 N. Broward Prep (Fla.)
Stephen Brooks LB 6-0 230 Liberty Tech
Romario Cathey DL 6-3 300 Texas Tech
Chris Deloney WR 6-2 185 Howard
Francis Drummond QB 6-2 215 Red Lion (Del.)
Michael German QB 6-2 210 Blanche Ely (Fla.)
Stephen Godbolt DB 6-0 175 Dixie Co. (Fla.)
Jimmie Kitchen LB 6-2 265 Lithonia (Ga.)
Ishmael Lewis OL 6-2 260 Brentwood Acad.
DeMarco McNeal DB 6-2 180 Banneker (Ga.)
Anthony Morris DL 6-7 275 Cordova
Robert Myers OL 6-6 303 La Vergne
Lawrence Peterson DE 6-2 230 Melrose
Kenneth Pettiford DB 6-3 200 Whites Creek
Wilson Robinson LB 6-4 210 Spain Park (Ala.)
Brandon Rogers OL 6-4 300 Trinity (Fla.)
Wesley Samuels WR 6-4 205 Minor (Ala.)
Je-Marc Sears TE 6-3 235 New Smyrna (Fla.)
Derek Sibley OL 6-6 303 Stone Mountain (Ga.)
Bryce Wilson DB 6-0 190 Canterbury (Fla.)

READ MORE, CLICK BLOG TITLES.

Texas Southern Signs 29 Players for the 2010 Season

Texas Southern Signs 29 Players for the 2010 Season

The Texas Southern Tigers football team finished the 2009 with the second best record for the school this decade. The Tigers finished the season 6-5 overall and 5-2 in conference…both records were only matched by the TSU’s 2000 season. Nearly all of the 2009 team will return in 2010, which means competition will be tough and this season’s signees will have an opportunity to learn and grow.

“Our 2010 class will have the best of both worlds. They won’t be pressured to make an impact right away, but they also have an opportunity to fight for a spot in the rotation,” said head coach Johnnie Cole. Coach Cole focused on two areas main areas in this class…quarterback and defensive line. “We have our senior quarterback Arvell Nelson returning and he will be the leader for the guys coming in. We brought in three capable young quarterbacks as we look toward the future of this program,” Cole said.

READ MORE, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

Texas Southern University Tigers Football 2010 Recruits

NAME HT WT POS HOMETOWN SCHOOL
Le'Tevin Wilcox 6'0" 200 FB/LB Bay City, TX Bay City HS
JohnHolt III 6'4" 315 OL Tallahassee, FL Leon HS
Leonard Moon 6'0" 170 DB Houston, TX Lamar HS
Andre Kelly 6'1" 175 QB Houston, TX Chavez HS
Darveon Trahan 6'4" 200 QB Houston, TX Jack Yates HS
Rudy Johnson 6'1" 185 QB Chula Vista, CA Horizon HS
Tim Turner 6'3" 190 WR Houston, TX Madison HS
Andre Coleman 5'11" 180 WR Houston, TX Madison HS
Jacolby Joseph 6'0" 180 WR Houston, TX Westfield HS
Trevion Porter 6'0" 170 DB Houston, TX Reagan HS
Cory Williams 6'3" 215 LB Converse,TX Converse Judson HS
Donovan Roberts 6'5" 220 WR Missouri City, TX Willowridge HS
Micah Tillotson 6'0" 170 WR Pearland, TX Pearland Dawson HS
Jerome Thomas 6'2" 200 DB Miami, FL. Northwestern HS
Byron Blake 6'2" 200 DB Belle Glade, FL Belle Glade Central HS
Johnathan Craig 6'1" 210 ATH San Antonio, TX SA MacArthur HS
Tim Benford 6'5" 240 DL Houston, TX Jersey Village HS
Broderick Simpson 6'1" 295 DL Duluth, GA Duluth HS
Robert Lee 6'1" 195 DB Reedly, CA Central East HS
Lagrone Shields 6'3" 270 DL Memphis, TN Ridgeway HS
David Rue 6'6" 250 TE New Orleans, LA Richwood HS
Mario Goins 6'1" 185 DB Copperas Cove, TX Copperas Cove HS
Cedric Everson 6'2" 185 DB Detroit, MI Martin Luther King HS
Porter Hill 6'5" 300 DL Long Beach, CA Compton HS
Michael Edwards 5'11" 190 DB Cleveland, OH Glenville HS
Deandre Savage 6'3" 295 DL Flint, MI. Southwestern HS
Dechon Daniels 6'0" 225 RB Miami, FL Southridge HS
Markee Drummer 6’4” 230 DL West Palm Beach, FL Cardinal Newmann HS
Cohren Alexander 6’3” 315 OL Houston, TX Westfield HS

2010 Signees: 29
Offense 13 (QB 3, FB 1, RB 1, TE 1, WR 5, OL 2)
Defense 16 (DB 8, LB 1, ATH 1, DL 6)
By State: Texas 15, Florida 5, Ohio 1, California 3, Georgia 1,
Tennessee 1, Louisiana 1, Michigan 2
Author: Rodney Bush, Sports Information Director

READ RELATED ARTICLES:
Area College Notebook: Cole fills TSU staff vacancies
TSU, PV reap benefits of 2009 success on signing day
Alabama State tops Texas Southern 62-61

Tennessee State 2010 Football Schedule Announced

TSU head football coach Rod Reed














The Tennessee State University football team will return to the Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN for the 2010 season. TSU will be matched against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe North Carolina A&T University. The Aggies will replace Southern University on the Tigers 2010 schedule. TSU’s last appearance in the Circle City Classic was in 2005 when they dropped a16-3 decision to North Carolina A&T in the RCA Dome.

The Tigers will again participate in four “Classic” games against traditional rivals from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Coupled with their seven game Ohio Valley Conference schedule, the Big Blue will play an eleven-game schedule including four games on their home turf, LP Field in Nashville, TN.

The “Classic” match-ups begin on Labor Day Weekend, September 4th with the John Merritt Classic in Nashville, TN against Alabama A&M (SWAC), then on to Memphis, TN, Sept. 11th against Jackson State (SWAC). On September 25th the Tigers travel to Atlanta, GA to face off against Florida A&M (MEAC) and on October 2nd to Indianapolis, IN to battle North Carolina A&T (MEAC).

In Ohio Valley Conference play, TSU will host Austin Peay State on September 18th in the annual Bikers’ game. Road trips to Southeast Missouri State and Jacksonville State follow on October 9th and 16th respectively. The Tigers end the month of October hosting Tennessee Tech on October 23rd, followed by an open date on October 30th. The Big Blue finishes their regular season schedule hosting Eastern Illinois for Homecoming on November 6th and finishing with road games at Tennessee Martin and Murray State on November 13th and 20th respectively.

Tennessee State University -Tentative 2010 Football Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time
9/4 Ala. A&M Nashville, TN 6 pm John Merritt Classic, LP Field
9/11 Jackson State Memphis, TN 6 pm So. Heritage Classic, Liberty Bowl
9/18 Austin Peay Nashville, TN 6 pm Bikers’ Classic, LP Field
9/25 Florida A&M Atlanta, GA TBA Atlanta Classic, Georgia Dome
10/2 N.Carolina A&T Indianapolis, IN TBA Circle City Classic, Lucas Oil Stadium
10/9 SEMO* Cape Girardeau, MO TBA
10/16 Jax State* Jacksonville, AL TBA
10/23 Tenn. Tech * Nashville, TN 6pm LP Field
10/30 O P E N
11/6 Eastern Illinois * Nashville, TN 5 pm, Homecoming, LP Field
11/13 Tenn.-Martin* Martin, TN TBA
11/20 Murray State * Murray, KY TBA

Tennessee State Selects New Football Coach

Coach Rod Reed's $160,000 salary is among the highest for FCS coaches in the state. Tennessee Tech Coach Watson Brown's salary for the 2008-09 fiscal year was $149,350, UT Martin Coach Jason Simpson's was $105,000 and Austin Peay Coach Rick Christophel's was $95,917, according to figures released by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Rod Reed officially named head football coach at Tennessee State ...

Nashville, Tenn. - Tennessee State University president, Dr. Melvin N. Johnson, and athletics director Teresa Phillips, officially named Rod Reed head football coach. The announcement was made during a press conference (12/18) in the lobby of Kean Hall in front of family, friends, faculty, staff, alumni and former players. Reed, who served as associate head football coach in 2009, replaces James Webster who resigned on November 19, 2009. He will be the twenty-first head coach of the Tennessee State Tigers program, dating back to 1912.

Reed, 43, was a four-year letter winner at TSU (1984-88) and helped lead the Tigers to the second round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 1986. Reed, who played linebacker, capped off his career as a Sheridan All-American football player his senior season. Rod is the son of the late Robert Reed, who was the first All-American for the TSU legendary football head coach "Big John" Merritt.

This will be Reed's first assignment as head coach in which he brings 17 years of experience in the coaching ranks. In addition to his time at Tennessee State, he has held positions at East Texas Baptist College, Prairie View A&M, Bethune-Cookman University (formerly Bethune-Cookman College) and Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, Fla.

As a recruiter, Reed is responsible for bringing several notable players into the TSU program. Reed is noted for recruiting Javarris Williams (2009 seventh round draft pick, Kansas City Chiefs), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (2008 first round pick, Arizona Cardinals), Shaun Richardson, Lamar Divens (Baltimore Ravens) and Cornelius Lewis.

Rod Reed replaces James Webster as football coach at Tennessee St.

Tennessee State University has named Rod Reed as its new football coach. Reed began as TSU's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2003, and served as top assistant to coach James Webster during the 2009 season. Webster resigned in November. Reed, 43, recruited Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a first round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2008, to play for the Tigers.

TSU hopes new coach can revive tradition

The hiring of Rod Reed as Tennessee State's football coach Friday is one of several steps the administration hopes to take that will elevate the program to the prominence it once enjoyed. Reed, 43, a former TSU linebacker, has been on the staff since 2003 and served as defensive coordinator and associate head coach the past two seasons. He has been interim head coach since James Webster resigned after five seasons in November. "We've always had an interest in athletics," TSU president Melvin Johnson said. "You can't live on John A. Merritt Boulevard and work on John A. Merritt Boulevard without having an emphasis on athletics. But the hiring of Rod Reed, along with the other commitments we're making, is our attempt to rejuvenate the program."

TSU was a powerhouse under Merritt from 1963-83, but the Tigers haven't won a playoff game since 1986. Reed's salary will be $160,000, the same as Webster's, TSU Athletics Director Teresa Phillips said. He has not signed a contract, but Phillips said he would be given a five-year deal. Reed, who is TSU's all-time leading tackler (1985-1988), and Morehouse Coach Rich Freeman, another former TSU linebacker (1992-1995), were the only candidates who interviewed.

Watch Press Conference: Rod Reed introduced as TSU's head football coach
(Flash - Video)

READ MORE, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

Tennessee State 21, Eastern Illinois 10

Coach James Webster Jr., ends TSU career with 25-31 record and a First Round draft pick (16th pick overall in 2008 NFL draft), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Cornerback, Arizona Cardinals.

Tennessee State stalls Panthers' title plans

CHARLESTON, IL -- With ribs hurting and spirits perhaps even worse, Seymour Loftman clung to hope. “Yeah, I’m a No. 1 Gamecocks fan now,” Eastern Illinois’ senior safety said referring to Jacksonville State. Loftman was not doing cheerleader-like cartwheels, however, after his Panthers’ NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff hopes were put on hold with Thursday night’s 21-10 Ohio Valley Conference loss to Tennessee State in a regular season finale at O’Brien Field. “So now we have to get help,” EIU coach Bob Spoo said.

Now 8-3 overall, the nation’s 13th-ranked Football Championship Subdivision team stands 6-2 in the OVC and has to hope Eastern Kentucky, 5-2, loses Saturday’s game at 17th-ranked Jacksonville State. If Eastern Kentucky can knock off Jacksonville State, it would win the first-place tie-breaker for the automatic FCS playoff berth because of a 36-31 head-to-head win over EIU on Oct. 3. Even if Eastern Kentucky beats Jacksonville State, the Panthers would have a chance for an at-large berth when the 16-team playoff field is announced Sunday afternoon but the OVC’s postseason failures this decade makes that questionable.

Tennessee State coach James Webster Jr. resigns

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — James Webster Jr. has resigned as Tennessee State's football coach after five seasons. Webster announced his resignation Thursday after a season-ending 21-10 win over Eastern Illinois. The Tigers finished 4-7 this year and Webster compiled a 25-31 record at the school. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak. In a statement, the school said a search for a new coach would begin immediately.

TSU wants coach with sense of past

Less than 24 hours after accepting football Coach James Webster's resignation, Tennessee State Athletics Director Teresa Phillips started receiving inquiries from those interested in the position. Phillips said the position would not be officially posted until Monday. "Based on the pace that I see now there are going to be a lot of résumés,'' Phillips said. Webster, in his fifth season, resigned after TSU ended the season Thursday night with a 21-10 upset win over Eastern Illinois. After posting the position, Phillips said she and an advisory committee, which will include TSU president Melvin Johnson, would discuss the type of candidates they wish to bring in for interviews. "This search is wide open,'' Phillips said. "We really think we've got to get the right combination guy in here. You want to get the most experienced person you can get, the most proven person you can get."

TSU football coach quits, spoiling upset win

CHARLESTON, Ill. —James Webster resigned as Tennessee State's football coach after Thursday night's 21-10 upset win over Eastern Illinois. Webster gathered his players on the field after they beat the first-place team in the Ohio Valley Conference and informed them of his decision, which brought many to tears.

"I just told them I was very, very proud of them. I'm proud of the way that they fought back tonight. I'm proud of the character they have shown all year long,'' Webster said. "I'm proud of the fact that they haven't been in the newspaper for getting in trouble. You haven't read about Tennessee State's football players committing crimes and getting in trouble. That's because of the character I instilled in them during the five years I was here." The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the Tigers, who finished with a 4-7 overall record and 3-4 in the OVC.

Attendance: 3,509@ O'Brien Stadium, Charleston, IL

READ MORE, CLICK EACH BLOG TITLE.

READ RELATED ARTICLES:
Webster steps down as head coach at Tennessee State
TSU presents head coach a final victory
TSU's Webster resigns after pulling off upset win
Next TSU coach must win both games and fans
EIU ranked 19th by Sports Network heading into playoffs

Texas Southern hiring Nick Van Exel as assistant

Former NBA guard Nick Van Exel is being hired as an assistant coach for Texas Southern University, a Houston television station reported. Van Exel retired in 2006 after 14 years in the NBA. He spent his first five years with the Los Angeles Lakers and also played for Denver, Dallas, Golden State, Portland and San Antonio.

"I said I was going to retire in '06, take two years off and try to get into coaching," Van Exel told KRIV-TV. "It didn't work out as planned. "So here I am my fourth year retired, couldn't sit around in the winter this time. Coach (Tony) Harvey brought me on the staff. It's going to be something exciting."

Nickey (Nick) Maxwell Van Exel --Beyond the Glory...

Tennessee State 20, Eastern Kentucky 17

Late Touchdown Leads Tennessee State to 20-17 Win Over EKU

RICHMOND, KY. – Preston Brown’s two-yard touchdown run with 1:34 left in the game gave Tennessee State a 20-17 win over No. 16 Eastern Kentucky Saturday night at Roy Kidd Stadium. The Tigers (3-3, 2-0 OVC) rushed for 159 yards on a Colonel (3-2, 3-1 OVC) defense that had not given up more than 100 yards on the ground all season. Tennessee State’s game-winning drive began with 5:48 left in the game. On 3rd-and-14, quarterback Calvin McNairl found Joseph Hills for 15 yards to the EKU 48-yard line. McNairl connected with Marquez Wilkens on the very next play for 29 yards to move the ball to the Eastern 19-yard line. The Tigers then put the ball in Preston Brown’s hands on six straight plays. Brown picked up 12 yards on the first two carries to get to the seven-yard line. On 3rd-and-4, Brown picked up only two to set up a huge fourth down. After a time out by both teams, Brown scored the game-winner from two yards out.

Tigers score late to top Colonels

RICHMOND, KY — With the outcome of a first-place Ohio Valley Conference showdown hanging in the balance, Preston Brown powered Tennessee State to an impressive victory. Brown scored a pair of second-half touchdowns, including the game-winning score with 1:34 left in the game, as the Tigers stunned the two-time defending conference champion Colonels (3-2, 3-1 OVC), 20-17, Saturday at Roy Kidd Stadium. Tennessee State (3-3, 2-0 OVC) put together a 10-play, 59-yard scoring drive in the closing minutes, then stopped EKU on its final possession to wrap up the win.

The victory was the second-straight for the Tigers over the Colonels. It was also just the second-ever win for TSU in Richmond. “That’s what the last drive was about — guts and pride,” TSU coach James Webster said. “That’s all that it was about. Guts and pride.” The loss snaps the Colonels’ 10-game OVC winning streak. In the past three seasons, EKU is 22-2 against league opponents, with both losses coming against Tennessee State. The Colonels ranked third in the nation (FCS) in rush defense heading into the game, but allowed a season-high 159 yards rushing to the Tigers. With Jacksonville State ineligible for the title because of NCAA-imposed sanctions, Tennessee State is the only remaining undefeated team left in the OVC.

Attendance: 7,100 @Roy Kidd Stadium, Richmond, Kentucky

Injuries take toll on TSU offensive line

Tennessee State Coach James Webster hoped to get more of his offensive line starters back before today's road game with Eastern Kentucky, but that didn't happen. The Colonels (3-1, 3-0) recorded seven sacks in last week's 36-31 win over Eastern Illinois and are ranked third in the Football Championship Subdivision against the run (52.3 yards). TSU (2-3, 1-0 OVC) will be without starting guard Justin Ridgeway (sprained ankle) and tackle Darius Myers, who underwent knee surgery Tuesday. Starting tackle Alex Davis (knee) missed his third game last week but practiced some this week and could play. Starting center Dumaka Atkins broke his ankle last season and is limited to one practice per week because of the pain he experiences after each game. "It's a big concern not having so many of our starters against Eastern Kentucky,'' Webster said. "Their front seven are very active. They're not what you might consider a big group physically. They're very quick. They don't stay blocked."

READ MORE, CLICK BLOG TITLES.

Tennessee State 23, S.E. Missouri State 17

TSU head coach James Webster is 2-3, 1-0 OVC on the season.

TSU beats SEMO in OVC opener

One quarterback turned out to be all Tennessee State needed to beat Southeast Missouri State Saturday night. Calvin McNairl, who shared time at quarterback last week with Dominic Grooms, ran the offense the entire game and led the Tigers to a 23-17 win. An LP Field crowd of 6,314 watched McNairl, a sophomore from Henry County, run for two touchdowns and throw for another as TSU (2-3, 1-0) won its Ohio Valley Conference opener. SEMO (1-4, 0-2) gave TSU its first OVC loss last year in Cape Girardeau but is now 0-5 against the Tigers at LP Field. Grooms started the first game of the season but injured his hamstring in the second quarter. He returned last week against Florida A&M, but had to leave in the fourth quarter when his hamstring started tightening up. Grooms returned to practice this week and hoped to play but did not dress.

TSU's McNairl more comfortable passing

Earlier in the week Coach James Webster said Tennessee State’s coaches were putting in a passing package Calvin McNairl would find more comfortable, and the sophomore certainly looked at ease Saturday night against Southeast Missouri State. McNairl threw the ball more efficiently in the 23-17 victory than he has in any of his four starts this season or in the four starts he had as a freshman in 2007 when he replaced Antonio Heffner because of injury. “I’ve told people Calvin can throw the football and he showed that tonight,’’ Webster said. “I think the offensive coaches did a great job of putting together a package for him and that really helped us.”

Attendance: 6,314 @ L.P. Field, Nashville, TN

READ MORE, CLICK EACH BLOG TITLE.

UL-Monroe 58, Texas Southern 0

ULM Rolls to 58-0 Victory over Texas Southern in a Rainy Home Opener

MONROE, La.-ULM scored on its first three possessions of the game and rolled to a 58-0 victory over Texas Southern in the Warhawks' home opener Saturday night at Malone Stadium. ULM quarterback Trey Revell completed his first 12 pass attempts of the game and finished the night 17-of-19 for 238 yards and two touchdowns - his 89.5 completion percentage broke Doug Pederson's school record of 88.3 percent (16-of-18) set in 1990. Revell's 12 straight completions to open tonight's game, combined with his final three passes at No. 2 Texas last week, set a ULM school record for consecutive completions. His 15 consecutive completions broke Wendel Lowery's record of 11 straight set in 1991.

His backfield companion running back Frank Goodin rushed for 105 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, despite a heavy rain that battered the Monroe area most of the night. Goodin's three touchdowns tied him for the most in head coach Charlie Weatherbie's seven seasons and were just one shy of the school record - he accomplished all of this despite taking only two snaps in the second half. True freshman running back Isaiah Newsome carried the ball 22 times for 158 yards to give the Warhawks two players with over 100 yards rushing. It marked the first time two Warhawks went over the century mark in the same game since Nov. 3, 2007, when Calvin Dawson and Kinsmon Lancaster ran wild against Middle Tennessee.

Goodin's 3 touchdowns, Revell's 2 scores lead Louisiana-Monroe ...

MONROE, La. — Frank Goodin scored three touchdowns in Louisiana-Monroe’s 58-0 rout of Texas Southern on Saturday night. Louisiana-Monroe outrushed the Tigers 345-6 with two Warhawks gaining more than 100 yards.Isaiah Newsome picked up 158 yards on 22 carries and Goodin added 105 yards on 16 carries. Trey Revell scored two touchdowns for the Warhawks through the air, and had 238 yards on 17 of 19 passing.

Louisiana-Monroe (1-1) gained a total of 592 yards of total offense, while Texas Southern lost four fumbles in the shutout. The Warhawks’ defense held the Tigers (0-3) to 103 total yards and notched a safety midway through the third quarter. Texas Southern’s Quarterback Arvell Nelson was 18 of 32 for 97 yards.

Attendance: 9,330, Malone Stadium, Monroe, La.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK EACH BLOG TITLE.

Alabama A&M 24, Tennessee State 7

A&M confidence high after romp

Bulldogs answer many preseason questions in 24-7 opening victory. Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones had questions about his football team he was hoping to answer in Saturday night's season opener against Tennessee State. How much had quarterback Kevin Atkins matured since last season? Could the Bulldogs get their running game - which was nonexistent last season - going again? Could A&M's defense regain the form it had in recent years before last season? Had the Bulldogs improved their special teams - particularly their kickoff coverage team - from a year ago?

A&M answered those questions with a resounding "yes" en route to a 24-7 win over Tennessee State. A&M answered those questions with a resounding "yes" en route to a 24-7 win over Tennessee State. "I was impressed with the way our kids responded to the challenge," Jones said Sunday. "The big challenge was playing in an NFL stadium. That could have been intimidating, but our guys rose to the challenge. We played well for the first time out."

TSU loses more than opening game

The news went from bad to worse for Tennessee State in its season opener Saturday night against Alabama A&M. First, it became obvious early that the Tigers have a long way to go to rebuild their depleted offense. Then, just as the offense started to show signs of life, quarterback Dominic Grooms was knocked out of the game. Alabama A&M coasted to a 24-7 win in the John Merritt Classic at LP Field before a crowd of 23,871.

The lopsided loss left the Tigers, who were coming off an 8-4 record in 2008, with more questions than before the game started. "I knew going in that our offense was going to take some time to jell," TSU Coach James Webster said. "We had nine new starters. I did expect us to perform better than what we did. And now losing our quarterback, that sets us back even further." Grooms suffered a severe hamstring pull and is out indefinitely.

Photo Gallery: TSU vs. Alabama A&M

TSU QB Jeremy Perry poor decision making earns the criticism of his coach, James Webster.

TSU coach criticizes backup quarterback's play

Tennessee State Coach James Webster did not sugarcoat his comments when asked to evaluate the performance by quarterback Jeremy Perry, who replaced injured starter Dominic Grooms in the Tigers' 24-7 loss to Alabama A&M. Two of Perry's first four passes were intercepted and he finished 10-of-30 for 136 yards and was sacked twice. He failed to get the offense in scoring position until late in the game and then, with the ball on Alabama A&M's 23, tossed four consecutive incomplete passes.

"The one thing we always say is to protect the football,'' Webster said. "If he protects the football we've got a chance to win. He threw two interceptions so he didn't protect the football. I thought he did some good things, but we've got to protect the football. We can't have turnovers."

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

READ RELATED ARTICLES:
Kevin Atkins throws 3 touchdowns to lead Alabama A&M past ...
Tide picks up first win against Alabama A&M
Racers Collected Their First Victory of the Season, 9-1
Auburn Crushes Alabama A&M In Season-Opener, 3-0
TSU's James Webster challenges team with schedule

Prairie View A&M 17, Texas Southern 7

PVAMU extends reign over TSU at Labor Day Classic

It wasn’t exactly a classic way to open the season. Not for either school. Nonetheless, Prairie View A&M will savor a 17-7 season-opening victory over Texas Southern on Saturday night in the State Farm Labor Day Classic at Reliant Stadium. The Panthers have won the last three Labor Day Classic games. Prairie View escaped with a win in this Southwestern Athletic Conference game, despite producing just 176 yards of offense and committing 13 penalties. TSU had 204 yards of offense and was penalized 20 times.

On their first possession of the fourth quarter, the Tigers were forced to punt from their goal line, giving the Panthers excellent field position. Anthony Weeden returned the punt to the TSU 15 to set up quarterback Jay Bluford’s touchdown pass to Brandon Bell to push the Panthers ahead by 10 points with 12:02 to go. “We went into the game blind,” Bluford said. “We had absolutely nothing to go off. We had to make adjustments on the fly. We had no film. (Offensive coordinator Michael) Bryant did a wonderful job today, especially not knowing what they were going to throw at us.

Photo Gallery:
• Photos: Football and music at Labor Day Classic

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.