TSU roars back in second half, wins Classic

TSU PHOTO GALLERY:TSU vs. Southern

SU PHOTO GALLERY: Tennessee St. 34, SU 32

It was a classic comeback. In the 10th annual John Merritt Classic, Tennessee State spotted Southern an 11-point lead before Antonio Heffner led the furious rally for the Tigers, who claimed a 34-32 win over Southern. An LP Field crowd of 28,830, the second-largest ever to attend the John Merritt Classic, saw TSU's offense keep the Tigers in the game long enough for the defense to finally stall the Jaguars.

After Southern took an 18-7 lead midway into the third quarter, Antonio Heffner led TSU's comeback by tossing three touchdowns in the quarters. Heffner then gave running back Javarris Williams the ball and Williams ran for two fourth-quarter scores to give the Tigers 34 points in the second half.

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Game Statistics: SU-TSU
How They Scored: SU-TSU
Photo Gallery: Tennessee St. 34, SU 32

Attendance: 28,830 (42%) @ LP Field, Nashville, TN (Capacity: 68,798).

Arkansas State smashes Texas Southern, 83-10

Courtesy: Arkansas State

Arkansas State vs. Texas Southern final stats (.pdf)

JONESBORO, AR – Arkansas State scored early and often in its home debut Saturday night, pounding Texas Southern 83-10 in front of a crowd of 21,741 at ASU Stadium.

Freshman tailback Derek Lawson rushed for 209 yards and a touchdown in the game, the 8th most rushing yards in ASU history. Junior tailback Reggie Arnold added 123 yards and two touchdowns and junior quarterback Corey Leonard accounted for 229 yards of total offense and threw for four touchdowns as Arkansas State finished with 670 yards of total offense in the game, the second most in school history.

“I’m proud of a lot of individuals. They all played a great game,” said ASU Head Coach Steve Roberts. “All four of the running backs that carried the ball did a tremendous job. Reggie obviously got out of the game very early, and then Derek Lawson came in and rushed for more than 200 yards. You guys got to see a little bit of Derek Lawson that we get to see every day in scout team. I am also really proud of David Johnson. He had a big night, especially early in the game.”

“Defensively, we went out and did what we needed to do and shut them down,” added Roberts. “We gave up a couple of big plays, but overall did a good job. Our football team has got to get over this win in a hurry because we have a big game next week.”

ASU got on the board with less than two minutes gone in the game with a 53-yard pass from Leonard to Johnson. Two minutes later, Leonard connected with junior tight end Trevor Gillott from 39 yards out for the 14-0 ASU lead.

A 25-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown from sophomore linebacker Javon McKinnon, a 33-yard field goal from junior Josh Arauco, and a two-yard pass from Leonard to freshman fullback Jeff Blake wrapped up a 31-0 first quarter for ASU.

Leonard and Johnson hooked up for their second touchdown pass of the night just 29 seconds into the second quarter, and Arnold scored on touchdown runs of two yards and 56 yards before Texas Southern got on the board with a 34-yard field goal from Robert Hersh to make it 52-3 at the half.

A five-yard touchdown run from Lawson, a 30-yard field goal from Arauco and an eight-yard touchdown run from senior quarterback Travis Hewitt made it 69-3 before the Tigers scored their only touchdown of the night on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Bobby Reid to wide receiver William Osbourne.

Blake added a 15-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, and freshman linebacker Demario Davis returned a fumble 53-yards for a touchdown to set the final at 83-10 after Arauco’s 11th extra point. Arauco was 11-for-11 on extra points to tie the ASU record, and 2-for-2 on field goal tries on the night.

The Red Wolves’ 83 points were the second most in school history and the most in the history of ASU Stadium. The 73-point margin of victory was the most under head coach Steve Roberts.

Arkansas State continues a three-game home stand next week when they host Southern Miss in a 6 p.m. game at ASU Stadium.

Texas Southern next game is Sept. 13 at the Capital City Classic (Sacramento, California) Hughes Stadium, against CIAA Division II foe, Shaw University (N.C.). Game time is at 2:05 pm PT. The Tigers are currently on a 15 game losing streak.

Attendance: 21,741 (70.2%) at ASU Stadium, Little Rock, AR (Capacity: 30,964).

SU deals with short work week

The regular traveling need for the Southern University football team is three buses and an equipment truck. Thursday, though, the team had a fourth bus in its entourage.
That extra bus was for family members of coaches and administrators to get them to Nashville, Tenn., where Southern (0-1) will play Tennessee State (1-0) on Saturday night. This is a small part of making do after a hurricane.

Southern coach Pete Richardson did not want to leave behind his coaches’ families, many of whom are still without power in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. Concern for the families of the coaches and the players, along with the totality of a hectic week begun by Gustav’s Monday landfall, caused Richardson and new SU Chancellor Kofi Lomotey to meet Wednesday night after practice. Officials from both schools chatted that night, but in the end Richardson was able to agree to play the game, despite his misgivings.

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TSU, Southern won't delay Merritt Classic

Saturday's John Merritt Classic between Tennessee State and Southern is still on. For much of the day and night Wednesday the game at LP Field was in limbo because of the trouble Southern has experience din the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. The storm left the Jaguars' practice field soaked, but they practiced two hours Wednesday. It was Southern's first practice since losing last Saturday at Houston 55-3.

After practice, Southern Coach Pete Richardson worried about his team. "I expressed my concerns … to the administration,'' Richardson said. "My concern is getting my team properly ready to play and also for the families of the players and coaches."
The decision to play finally was made at 9:45 p.m.

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Transfer receiver sparkles in TSU win over AAMU

Spillman scores twice against Alabama A&M

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — JaJuan Spillman isn't asked to do too much for Tennessee State. Since he's still new to the program, all that's expected of the Louisville transfer is that he score touchdowns. He does that well. The lightning-fast receiver touched the football three times through the first three quarters of Saturday night's game at Alabama A&M and scored twice. Spillman's big plays set the stage for a 34-13 win before a crowd of 10,072. The victory helped TSU snap a three-game losing streak to the Southwestern Athletic Conference power.

The last time TSU won its opener was in 2004, when the Tigers beat A&M 42-7. Finally beating the Bulldogs would have been more difficult without Spillman's heroics. After returning the opening kickoff for a short gain, Spillman got wide open early in the second quarter deep down field and caught a 65-yard pass from Antonio Heffner for a touchdown. The next time he touched the ball, 6½ minutes later, Spillman broke loose for a 94-yard kickoff return and another score.

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Attendance: 10,072, Lewis Crew Stadium, Huntsville, AL (Capacity: 21,000)

Prairie View pummels TSU 34-14 in Labor Day Classic

Prairie View A&M jumped out to a 28-point lead before allowing its defense to carry the Panthers home to a 34-14 victory over Texas Southern at the State Farm Labor Day Classic at Reliant Stadium on Saturday night in front of 20,444. Panthers, who have won four of the last five against the rival Tigers, spoiled the coaching debut of TSU coach Johnnie Cole by smothering his ballyhooed HOBO (high octane, big play offense) attack, as Prairie View A&M allowed just 113 yards and nine first downs while also recording six sacks of TSU quarterback Bobbie Reid.

“We were prepared for whatever they did,” said Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III. “We have a sound defensive foundation, and once we got settled in, we were able to stop just about anything they threw at us.”

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Attendance: 20,444 @ Houston, TX Reliant Stadium (Capacity: 69,500)

Prairie View A&M, TSU motivated for opener

Someone will move, and someone will get hit, so the plan goes.

Hence the theme for tonight’s State Farm Labor Day Classic, as Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M open the regular season (7 p.m.) in a contest that will feature an explosive quarterback (TSU’s Bobbie Reid) attempting to avoid being frequently hit by an equally volatile Prairie View defense that looks to pick up where it left off last season, when the Panthers allowed the fewest points in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

“Anything moving on the field (tonight) will get hit,” said Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III. “We plan on playing aggressive, confident football for 60 minutes.” Confidence is one trait the Panthers don’t lack. With 18 returning starters and the momentum from last season’s 7-3 campaign flowing throughout campus, Prairie View embarks on a season in which expectations are higher than they have been in decades. A winning season isn’t enough for the program, which has its eyes locked in on a SWAC championship.

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TSU linebacker's goal: Be top tackler

Willis wants to lead nation in category

Linebacker Remond Willis was one of the few bright spots on Tennessee State's defense last year and hopes to stand out even more this season. The transfer from Illinois led the Tigers last year with 84 tackles. He's set a higher goal this year, hoping to lead the nation in tackles. "I've got a lot to prove this year,'' Willis said. "I'm going to try to lead the nation in tackles and I believe it's a realistic goal. Fifteen tackles a game is nothing."

Nothing? It's nearly twice as many tackles as Willis had last year when he averaged 7.6 tackles a game. He didn't finish among the nation's top 100 tacklers, but was 11th in the Ohio Valley Conference. TSU's defense needs that type of improvement all over the field. The unit cost the team in a big way last year, allowing an average of 33.4 points a game.

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Cowboys' Bob Hayes (FAMU) and Falcons/Eagles Claude Humphrey (TSU) gets Hall nod as finalist

CANTON, Ohio — Claude Humphrey (Tennessee State University) and Robert Lee ("Bullet Bob") Hayes" (Florida A&M University) were nominated by the seniors committee Wednesday as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Hayes, an Olympic gold medalist as a sprinter, played for Dallas from 1965-74 and for San Francisco in 1975. He averaged 20 yards a catch for his career and led the NFL with a 20.8-yard average per punt return in 1968. He was a seniors finalist in 2004 but did not get the necessary 80 percent of the vote to make the hall. He died in 2002 at the age of 59.

Hayes was the first player in the history of the Dallas franchise to surpass 1000 yards receiving in a single season and he did that in his rookie year by finishing with 1,003 yards. Hayes was the first person to break 6 seconds in the 60 yard dash with his indoor world record of 5.9 seconds. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times and All Pro four times and is the only person so far to win both an Olympic gold medal (1964 Tokyo Olympics) and a Super Bowl ring (1971). Bob Hayes finished his 11-year career with 371 receptions for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns, giving him an impressive 20 yards per catch average. (Both career TDs and yds per catch average remain franchise records.)

Humphrey was a regular finalist two years ago, his final year of eligibility. He played 11 seasons with Atlanta before finishing his career with Philadelphia from 1979-81. He was considered one of the best pass rushers in the game during an era in which sacks were not an official statistic. Humphrey was selected out of Tennessee State University in the first round of the 1968 NFL Draft with the 3rd overall choice by the Falcons.

They will join 15 modern-era finalists yet to be determined in the final selection the day before the Super Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 31. The two seniors finalists are voted on separately. A total of seven can be elected — the two seniors and up to five modern candidates.

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Transfer-heavy TSU aiming for turnaround

James Webster accepted the daunting task three years ago of trying to rebuild Tennessee State's football program. It has been a slow go - the Tigers are just 13-20 during his tenure - but he says this year's team is ready to turn the corner. "This should be our best team since I've been here," said Webster, whose team went 5-6 last season, losing four games by 16 points. "It's not the most experienced team, but as far as talent is concerned, it is the best team."

The Tigers did that with nine Division-I transfers. Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones, whose Bulldogs host the Tigers in Saturday's season opener, has taken notice. "We're expecting a very, very talented team to come in here," Jones said. "They've got good size and speed in all the right places. They're going to be a tough opponent. "Based on what I'm seeing, they're going to beat a lot of teams this year. Hopefully, we won't be one of them."

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Heffner stars for TSU both on, off the field

Tigers quarterback is one of OVC's best in classroom, too

On the football field, Antonio Heffner keeps opponents guessing with his ability to run or pass. Away from it, he's as predictable as death and taxes. If he's not pestering offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss with an idea to improve the scheme, the Tigers quarterback is most likely in his room watching television or studying. "Heff don't ever go anywhere," said tight end Antonio Graham. "He's always in the house watching TV, watching sports."

It's that mundane lifestyle that makes Heffner, who is carrying a 3.7 grade point average with a major in criminal justice, a bit of a rarity among college football players. It's also a routine that has helped him become a role model for his teammates and overcome frustrating injuries and other setbacks to become the premier quarterback in the Ohio Valley Conference. He has a steady girlfriend who lives in Memphis...

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TSU shores up holes on defense with new faces

TSU defensive coordinator Rod Reed.

Tennessee State's new defensive linemen are facing old problems. Not only did the unit struggle against the run last year, but the top linemen also are gone. So Rod Reed, who coached linebackers last year and took over as defensive coordinator this year, is trying to make improvements with young and inexperienced players.

"They get to go against a pretty good offensive line every day in practice so they get their noses bloodied a little bit,'' Reed said. "It's good to watch them sit in there and fight." Even with likes of All-OVC defensive end Shaun Richardson and nose tackle Lamar Divens, who signed with San Diego, TSU finished 88th nationally in run defense (193.5 yards per game) and 74th in total defense (386.4). Harold Ayodele, who rotated at tackle with Maurice Davis, did not to return for his final year of eligibility.

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TSU tries to plug hole at cornerback

Tigers foursome works to replace NFL draft pick

Cornerbacks are supposed to apply pressure on receivers, but at Tennessee State, it's the cornerbacks who are under heavy pressure.The players vying for the starting cornerback assignments face extra scrutiny because the position was a glaring strength of the defense during the four years Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was on the roster.

The consensus All-American is no longer around. He was taken in the first round of the NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, leaving several players with the challenge of carrying on TSU's tradition for strong cornerback play. "It's a little bit different back there now,'' defensive backs coach John Parker said. "It's hard to replace Dominique because he's such a great athlete. But we've got good people athleticism-wise. We've got some young ones and we're doing the best we can to get them ready to go."

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Transfer seeks new start at Tennessee State

Head football coach James Webster, TSU Tigers

JaJuan Spillman’s ability to perform on the field has never been in question. Off the field, well, that’s another story. The wide receiver and kickoff specialist transferred from Louisville to Tennessee State last month, after being kicked off the Cardinals’ squad for a slew of trouble. Now he’s trying to make another go of his college football career as a Tiger. His first impression didn’t disappoint. As soon as the TSU intra-squad game kicked off Saturday, Spillman stole the show.

He returned the opening kickoff nearly 90 yards for a touchdown and scored three more times on long plays before the scrimmage was over. It was a dazzling performance that left fans who watched wanting to know more about the ultra-fast wide receiver and how he ended up at TSU. It’s a story Spillman can’t tell for himself.

New guys don’t speak

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Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands


Spillman and the recent influx of transfers to HBCUs that have had brushes with the law reminds me of a commentary on the Houston Rocket's guard that has "trouble" as a middle name. Sure, everyone deserves a second or third chance, but at what price for the entire university student body?

You will want to read the above commentary: Bad athletes are tolerated if they win!

-beepbeep

TSU in a rush to turn it around

Texas Southern’s ground game didn’t run to daylight in 2007. Instead, it sprinted into darkness. Of the 118 schools in the Football Championship Subdivision, the Tigers resided at the bottom of the list in rushing, totaling a paltry 543 yards on 281 carries and scoring only three touchdowns en route to an 0-11 season that led to the dismissal of coach Steve Wilson and ushered in the Johnnie Cole era, which began on the practice field early Monday morning.

“We know that in order to win, we’ll have to run the ball successfully,” Cole said. “One of our biggest goals is to find players who can fill that role for us.”

Two of the 65 new players Cole brought to TSU will have the first opportunity to help rejuvenate a ground game that averaged 1.9 yards per carry last season. Freshman Marcus Wright (5-11, 215) will compete with Lucas Caparerlli (5-11, 180), a transfer from Wake Forest who will give the Tigers something they sorely lacked last fall — speed.

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Receivers may soar for Tennessee State Tigers

Tennessee State's offense is up and running again. Or it might be better to say it's up and passing again. The passing attack had to be grounded late last season after quarterback Antonio Heffner suffered a broken leg in the seventh game at Eastern Kentucky. He was replaced by freshman Calvin McNairl, a skilled runner who lacked the experience to keep the passing game in flight.

"We lost Heffner, Calvin was a true freshman, and we had to shut the offense down," offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss said. "Hopefully that won't happen this year."

With Heffner healthy again, the hope is that the Tigers' talented and experienced receiving corps will live up to expectations and the passing game will finally emerge from the shadows of the running attack, which has long been the strength of TSU's offense.

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TSU back, Conditioning test is no sweat

Javarris Williams (#28) hits defenders like a Mack truck but his only concern Sunday night was hitting the sack early. The annual conditioning test for Tennessee State's senior football players is at 6:30 a.m. today and Williams wanted to be rested and ready. While he has finished each of the past two seasons with more than 1,000 rushing yards, he has not started well. He has had trouble meeting the conditioning test standards.

And though by any measure Williams is an NFL prospect, his poor conditioning cost him his starting job for last year's opener. This year will be different, Williams promised during Sunday's team photo session at Hale Stadium. "As soon as we get done eating dinner I'm going straight to the room,'' he said. "No TV, just music and bed, that's it."

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TSU has lots of options at quarterback

Senior quarterback Antonio Heffner is ready to return to the starter role after ending last season wih a broken leg.

James Webster is scrambling for answers after watching his quarterbacks get clobbered every year he's been the coach at Tennessee State. In each of his three seasons with the Tigers, Webster's starting quarterbacks have been put out for the season because of injury.

That's why this year he's entering the season extra prepared, stockpiling six quarterbacks, including three — senior Antonio Heffner, sophomore Calvin McNairl and Missouri transfer Dominic Grooms — who he believes are all capable of being starters.

"My backup quarterbacks have started more games than my starting quarterbacks,'' Webster said. "And we're talking about the most important position on the field."

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Ex-Gopher Dominic Jones: 'My name now is Inmate'

Former Gopher Dominic Jones, once an admired team leader, says he is accepting full blame for his crime.

Excerpt:

Former University of Minnesota football star Dominic Jones offered some high school football players $100 recently if they could come up with his previous jersey number and his current one. One raised his hand and said Jones was No. 2 as a Gopher. Correct. Nobody knew his current number. "Number 00425759. That's my number," Jones said. "My name now is Inmate. It's not Dominic Jones."

In the past year, the 21-year-old Jones has gone from an admired team leader with realistic NFL dreams and a college diploma within reach to a sex offender serving a one-year sentence in the Hennepin County workhouse. "I am not blaming a white man. I am not blaming a prosecutor. I'm not blaming a judge. I'm blaming me. That was hard for me to do at first," he said. "I'm human. I made a mistake."

Jones had a full-ride football scholarship to Texas Southern University. Instead, he reported to the workhouse on July 7, after the state Court of Appeals declined a stay pending his appeal. He can get out during the day for work or studies. (An appeal of the guilty verdict is still pending.)

VIEW VIDEO #1: http://www.kare11.com/video/player.aspx?aid=76091

VIEW VIDEO #2:


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The Skinny...

The state Appeals Court says former Minnesota Gophers football player Dominic Jones must still report to the workhouse pending his appeal. Jones had filed a motion to remain out of the Hennepin County workhouse while he appealed his fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct conviction. To win, Jones had a prove there was no "substantial risk" that he would not appear at the conclusion of the appeal.

However, Appeals Court Judge Edward Toussaint ruled that with Jones' family in Ohio and his acceptance to Texas Southern University meant there was such a risk. In May, Jones was sentenced to a year in the workhouse after being convicted of performing a sex act on a drunken 18 year old woman that was recorded on a cell-phone camera by a team mate.

The all-star defensive back "starter" was offered a full ride athletic scholarship by new Texas Southern University head coach Johnnie Cole, who's Tigers ended 2007 with an 0-11 record. Jones was a junior strong safety from Columbus, Ohio, prior to being expelled by Minnesota. He was one of the Gophers' best defensive players, a two-year starter who was a standout kick returner and high school All-American.

Jones had faced up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine on the initial charges. The three other football players who had sex with the woman have not been charged with a crime, but are still suspended from the Minnesota football team.

Former Oklahoma State player finds home in SWAC

Sitting at a small table, his 6-foot-3, 235-pound frame bent into an even smaller folding chair, Bobby Reid smiles politely and seems at ease. He repeats the same answers over and over again to at least a half-dozen reporters who all ask the same questions. Yes, he likes it at Texas Southern. Yes, he's very happy to be back home in Houston. Yes, he's put all that happened at Oklahoma State behind him.

Despite the polite demeanor and confident, if not believable, answers, Reid appeared woefully out of place at the SWAC media event Tuesday in Birmingham. Not since the days when Doug Williams, a Super Bowl MVP with the Washington Redskins, coached at Grambling State has a more recognizable face been associated with SWAC football. And rarely has a conference player even approached Reid's celebrity.

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