Tennessee State Releases 2011 Football Schedule

Tennessee State University Athletic Director Teresa Phillips has released the tentative 2011 football schedule without the Atlanta Classic against perennial opponent, Florida A&M University.

"The Atlanta Classic is sponsored by the 100 Black Men of Atlanta and they decided to bring in another opponent to face Florida A&M," said Phillips. “We are in active negotiations to schedule an FBS or prominent FCS team to replace that game this year.” She concluded saying, “We expect to complete our schedule by the end of the month.”

The Tigers and Rattlers have played each other for twenty-eight consecutive years with FAMU holding a 26-25-1 edge in the all-time series. TSU beat FAMU 29-18 last year in Atlanta in front of a crowd of 54,202.

Phillips added, "Considering our long-standing rivalry with Florida A&M, we are looking to negotiate future home-and-home games with the Rattlers to renew and sustain our series."

Tennessee State University Tentative 2011 Football Schedule
Date Opponent Site Event Time
Sep 3 Southern Nashville, TN John Merritt Classic TBA
Sep 10 Jackson State Memphis, TN Southern Heritage Classic TBA
Sep 17 TBA TBA    TBA
Sep 24 TBA TBA    TBA
Oct 1 Austin Peay State* Clarksville, TN    TBA
Oct 8 SE Missouri State* Nashville, TN    TBA
Oct 15 Tennessee Tech * Cookeville, TN    TBA
Oct 22 Eastern Kentucky * Richmond, KY    TBA
Oct 29 O P E N     
Nov 5 Eastern Illinois * Charleston, Il    TBA
Nov 12 Tennessee Martin * Nashville, TN Homecoming TBA
Nov 19 Jacksonville State * Nashville, TN Senior Day TBA

* = Ohio Valley Conference Game
Home games in Bold

Author: Tennessee State Sports Information

TSU out, Southern may be FAMU's opponent in the next Atlanta Classic

Florida A&M and Tennessee State University definitely won't meet in this year's Atlanta Football Classic, while Southern University is the apparent front-runner to replace the Tigers in the late-September game on the Rattlers' schedule.

While both FAMU and Southern athletic officials have been mum about negotiations for both teams to renew their long-time rivalry, several sources have said that the Rattlers and Tigers will meet this season for the first time since 2008.

TSU football coach gets a pass on first evaluation

Tennessee State's football players and coaches will move into a plush new locker room soon and have an indoor facility for practice, which is rare for most Football Championship Subdivision programs.

It might seem odd for a 3-8 team to be rewarded after its first season under Coach Rod Reed. But TSU Athletics Director Teresa Phillips points out the new amenities are not a reward, but a sign of support from an administration that expects improvement.

Phillips met recently with Reed to give her season-ending evaluation, as she does with all sports, and cut him some slack for the dismal record because he dealt with injuries to so many key players.

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Johnson-Danner leads TSU men past Jackson State

A balanced group of scorers has been the key to Texas Southern’s strong start in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

That group came up big again in Saturday’s ESPN2-televised showdown against Jackson State.

TSU got double-digit scoring from four players and clamped down on defense in the final two minutes to escape with a 66-62 victory before a crowd of 1,132 at the H&PE Arena. TSU (6-9, 4-0) won its fourth straight game and moved into sole possession of first place in the SWAC.

TSU Tigers Stay Perfect at 4-0

The Texas Southern Tigers stay perfect in conference play after beating their toughest SWAC opponent so far this season before a national TV audience on ESPN2. TSU defeated Jackson State 66-62 to become the only unbeaten team in the conference.

The Tigers took the lead from the tip off and played strong for the first six minutes of the game. TSU held a 13-2 advantage with 14:42 on the clock. Jackson State put together a 10-0 run to get within one point of Texas Southern’s lead (13-12). TSU got back into their rhythm and worked their way to a 12 point lead with 56 seconds left in the first half. The TSU Tigers ended the period up 31-21.

TSU gave up some ground in the second half but kept an 8 point advantage with 9 minutes on the clock. Jackson State made another run and TSU fought back to stay up 57-49. J-State came back again and tied the game 58-58 with just over 3 minutes left to play. TSU fell behind briefly but regain the lead on a layup and follow-up free-throw by Daniel King at the 1:28 minute mark (63-61). The TSU Tigers never trailed again and picked up a 4 point win.

Four TSU Tigers scored in double figures. Lawrence Johnson-Danner led the way with 15 points and four steals. Kevin Galloway had 14 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 blocks. Harrison Smith had 13 points while Travelle Jones had 12. King finished the night with 9 points and six rebounds.

Texas Southern will host Grambling State on Monday at 8:00 pm in the H&PE Arena.

Author: Rodney Bush, Texas Southern University Sports Information Director

Atlanta Classic drops Tennessee State University from 2011 schedule; FAMU to face Southern Jaguars

A.D. Teresa L. Philips

Low attendance by Tigers fans cited as reason

Tennessee State Athletics Director Teresa Phillips said the Tigers will not play in the Atlanta Football Classic next season for the first time since 1994, and she hopes to replace the September game with a Football Bowl Subdivision or a "prominent" Football Championship Subdivision opponent.

TSU, an FCS team, has played Florida A&M in the past nine Atlanta Football Classics at the Georgia Dome and was involved in 17 of the 19 games since 1989.

Phillips said she became aware several weeks ago that officials from the Atlanta Football Classic were negotiating with Southern University as an opponent for Florida A&M to replace TSU. She received official word last week that the Tigers would not be invited back.

TSU Tigers Will Not Play In Atlanta Classic in 2011

Tennessee State University Athletic Director Teresa Phillips has released the tentative 2011 football schedule without the Atlanta Classic against perennial opponent, Florida A&M University.

"The Atlanta Classic is sponsored by the 100 Black Men of Atlanta and they decided to bring in another opponent to face Florida A&M," said Phillips. “We are in active negotiations to schedule an FBS or prominent FCS team to replace that game this year.” She concluded saying, “We expect to complete our schedule by the end of the month.”

The Tigers and Rattlers have played each other for twenty-eight consecutive years with FAMU holding a 26-25-1 edge in the all-time series. TSU beat FAMU 29-18 last year in Atlanta in front of a crowd of 54,202.

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Texas Southern Freshman develops into threat

Texas Southern Coach Tony Harvey

Contributing role suits TSU's Johnson-Danner

Texas Southern redshirt freshman guard Lawrence Johnson-Danner was thrust into a prominent role early in the season when three key players were sidelined because of compliance issues.

Forward Travele Jones and guards Harrison Smith and Justin Ray have since returned after missing a quarter of the schedule, but Johnson-Danner remains one of the Tigers' most important contributors.

Johnson-Danner played a big role in Saturday's 58-51 victory over Prairie View A&M, scoring 13 points and hitting four free throws during the final 1:19 that allowed the Tigers to win their third straight game and improve to 5-9 and 3-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

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Texas Southern 60, #23 Baylor 68

Baylor Bears Survives Scare from Texas Southern

WACO, Texas - LaceDarius Dunn scored all but two of his 17 points in the second half, and A.J. Walton and Quincy Acy made key defensive plays down the stretch as Baylor held off Texas Southern 68-60 Sunday.

Acy had 16 points and eight rebounds, as well as two big blocks in the closing moments that helped Baylor (9-3) survive its first game since two losses in Hawaii's Diamond Head Classic the week of Christmas that dropped the Bears out of the AP Top 25 for the first time this season.

Walton added 13 points and a career-high seven rebounds, and forced a key turnover by Travele Jones with 48 seconds left that snuffed out the Tigers' final bid.

Video Highlights

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Tennessee State 86, #21 Memphis 91

Antonio Barton scored 20 of his 24 points in the second half, including two key free throws with 17 seconds left, as No. 21 Memphis escaped 50 percent 3-point shooting by Tennessee State in a 91-86 victory Sunday at FedExForum.

Tarik Black was 9 of 11 from the field and had 22 points for Memphis (11-2), while Will Barton finished with 19 points and eight rebounds.

Tennessee State (6-8), which was trying to record its first victory over a ranked team in school history, put a scare into Memphis. Tennessee State, which led most of the way, was 12 of 24 from outside the arc.

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Coach John Cooper Post Game Comments

TSU Tigers fight hard in loss to No. 21 Memphis

Memphis, Tenn. - In a tale of two Tigers that featured 10 lead changes, Tennessee State University dropped a tough, 91-86, loss at No. 21 (AP) Memphis on Sunday afternoon at the FedEx Forum. In front of a crowd of more than 15,831, TSU (6-8) tied a season-high shooting from the floor, 50 percent, with five players scoring in double figures.

Kenny Moore tied a career-high, 22 points, hitting 7-of-11 from the floor, while helping the Tigers shoot 50 percent (12-of-24) from behind the arc, nailing 5-of-6 of his own. Wil Peters notched 17 points and a team-high seven assists. Robert Covington followed, hitting 7-of-12 overall, to finish with 16 points. Patrick Miller added 12 points and Jacquan Nobles hit 4-of-8 to chip in 11 points off the bench.

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NEXT GAME: January 6, 7:30 p.m. at MURRAY STATE

Texas Southern signs Chicago star basketball player Kenny Stevenson

Seton Academy's Kenny Stevenson Jr., a sharp shooting 6-2/175 combo guard, attended prep school in New Jersey and will enroll at Texas Southern University for the upcoming semester. Kenny  was coached by his well-respected father, who served as the school's athletic director and head coach, leading the program to the 2009 IHSA Class 2A State Championship.

Chicago, IL - Former Seton Academy basketball star Kenny Stevenson doesn't mind sitting out a semester. Stevenson, a 2010 Seton grad, will enroll at Texas Southern University after spending a semester at Central Jersey Each One Teach One in Somerset, N.J.

"I think it will make me better, because I will have that much more time to learn the plays and the system," Stevenson said. "I know they are graduating a few guards, so if I work hard, I think I will have a chance to play right away."

Right away is the 2011-2012 season. Stevenson originally committed and signed with Illinois-Chicago, but when coach Jimmy Collins retired, he decided to look elsewhere.


Videographer: danpon1 (Kenny Stevenson (Seton) Highlights and Interview with Daniel Poneman)

Seton basketball coach Ken Stevenson leaving school

Ken Stevenson is the reigning Chicago Catholic League and Illinois Times Coach of the Year (2009).  Sevenson was 106-75 in seven years in building Seton's program from scratch.

He came, he saw, he conquered.

Now, he's moving on. After starting a boys basketball program from scratch when Seton Academy went coed in the fall of 2003 and leading the Sting to a Class 2A state championship last spring, Ken Stevenson told The Times on Wednesday that he has resigned as head coach. He'll also step down from the athletic director's position at the end of the school year.

"I'm going to leave the whole shebang," Stevenson said. "I've had seven wonderful years at Seton Academy. I had the opportunity to build a program to my liking, but I just felt it was time for me to do something a little different.

Ken Stevenson named coach at Urban Prep's South Shore campus

Ken Stevenson will be starting from the ground floor again.

He started the boys basketball program at Seton Academy and won the Class 2A state title in 2009. The Hales Franciscan grad built the Sting into a Class 2A power before stepping down after last season. He was 106-75 in seven years.

Stevenson was named to a similar position at the new Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men's South Shore campus. He said he is excited about the challenge of starting a program.

"I believe in giving back, and this is one way to give back is to help develop young men and help guide them in their lives," Stevenson said. "Whether it is city kids, suburban, Seton, Catholic school or public school, I am looking forward to getting the program going and working with these young men."

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Return of key seniors a gift for TSU

The Texas Southern men's basketball team received some early Christmas presents when three of its key players returned to action earlier this month.

Senior forward Travele Jones and senior guards Harrison Smith and Justin Ray are back in the lineup after having to miss nearly a quarter of the season because of compliance issues. Jones returned to the starting lineup against Iowa State on Dec. 12, and Smith and Ray were activated one and two games later, respectively.

Jones, the preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year, has provided an immediate boost for the Tigers (2-8). He averaged ...

TSU softball signs 3 early

The TSU softball team landed three recruits during the early signing period. The Tigers signed...

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Tennessee State Tigers safety is an AP All-American

Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel told Tennessee State Coach Rod Reed to expect great things from Eugene Clifford, a safety Tressel had dismissed in 2008. Clifford transferred to TSU, where he was a three-year starter, and on Wednesday was selected to the Associated Press Football Championship Series All-America first team.

"After we got Eugene I ran into (Jim) Tressel at the coaches convention," said Reed, who was TSU's defensive coordinator at the time. "I introduced myself and he said, 'Coach, I tell you what, you've got a great one on your hands.' As soon as Clifford got on the field, you could see it. He has that ability to explode plays. He's a good tackler in the open field, and he played well in our system."

2010 Walter Camp Football Championship Subdivision All-America Team

NEW HAVEN, CT – Three-time selection Mark LeGree (Appalachian State) headlines the Walter Camp Football Foundation 2010 Football Championship Subdivision All-America team. The team was selected by the head coaches and sports information directors of the Football Championship Subdivision schools and certified by the accounting and auditing firm, Marcum LLP.

A defensive back, Legree is just the third player to be a three-time Walter Camp All-America selection, joining former New Hampshire standouts, wide receiver David Ball (2004-2006) and quarterback David Santos (2005-2007).

Legree and repeat All-America linebacker J.C. Sherritt (East Washington) lead the defensive unit. Legree had five interceptions on the season, while Sherritt has totaled 125 tackles and three interceptions to lead the Eagles to a berth in this weekend’s FCS semifinals against Villanova.

The 2010 Walter Camp All-America defensive squad includes 10 players who are candidates for the Buck Buchanan Award, presently annually to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

On offense, lineman Ben Ijalana (Villanova) is a repeat All-American selection. Ijalena has been a key part of a Wildcats’ rushing attack ranks in the top five in the nation. Placekicker Matt Bevins (Liberty) is also a repeat selection to the team. Bevins connected on 20-of-26 field goals and all 45 of his point-after kicks in 2010.

The quarterback is Jeremy Moses (Stephen F. Austin). A Walter Payton Award finalist, Moses led the Lumberjacks to the FCS quarterfinals. He passed for 3,998 yards and 34 touchdowns on the season.

Joining Moses in the backfield are Henry Harris (Southeast Missouri State) and Nate Eachus (Colgate). Harris has rushed for 1,735 yards and 18 touchdowns, while Eachus has totaled 1,871 yards and 21 touchdowns.

In all, players from twelve different conferences and 24 institutions were represented on the 2010 Walter Camp FCS All-America team. The Big Sky and Southern Conferences had the most selections with 4 selections each. The Colonial Athletic Association and Missouri Valley Conference each had 3. Two schools - Appalachian State and Stephen F. Austin (2) - had multiple players selected.

Download the PDF

2010 Walter Camp Football Championship Subdivision All-America Team

OFFENSE

Pos. Name, School Class Hgt Wgt Hometown

QB Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin Sr. 6-0 195 Baytown, TX

RB Henry Harris, Southeast Missouri State Sr. 5-8 185 Memphis, TN

RB Nate Eachus, Colgate Jr. 5-10 216 Drums, PA

WR Tysson Poots, Southern Utah Sr. 6-3 220 Las Vegas, NV

WR Raymond Webber, Arkansas-Pine Bluff Sr. 6-3 220 St. Louis, MO

TE Andrew Kennedy, Columbia Sr. 6-3 242 Westport, CT

OL Ben Ijalana, Villanova * Sr. 6-4 320 Hainsport, NJ

OL David Arkin, Missouri State Sr. 6-5 302 Wichita, KS

OL Mike Person, Montana State Sr. 6-5 295 Glendive, MT

OL Johnny Culbreath, South Carolina State Sr. 6-6 310 Monroe, GA

C Ryan McKnight, South Dakota State Sr. 6-1 295 Sioux Falls, SD

PK Matt Bevins, Liberty * Jr. 6-2 185 Newport News, VA

DEFENSE

Pos. Name, School Class Hgt Wgt Hometown

DL Ameet Pall, Wofford Jr. 6-0 245 Montreal, Quebec

DL Kendrick Ellis, Hampton Sr. 6-3 280 West Palm Beach, FL

DL Jabari Fletcher, Appalachian State Sr. 6-3 265 Atlanta, GA

DL Martin Parker, Richmond Sr. 6-3 290 New Haven, CT

DL Brent Russell, Georgia Southern Soph. 6-2 287 Comer, GA

LB J.C. Sherritt, Eastern Washington * Sr. 5-10 220 Pullman, WA

LB Kyle Glazier, Western Illinois Sr. 6-1 220 Geneseo, IL

LB Matt Evans, New Hampshire Soph. 6-0 219 Hanover, MA

DB Mark LeGree, Appalachian State # Sr. 6-0 220 Columbus, GA

DB Eugene Clifford, Tennessee State Sr. 6-2 205 Cincinnati, OH

DB Moses Ellis, Prairie View A&M Jr. 5-8 175 Fort Worth, TX

DB Trumaine Johnson, Montana Jr. 6-3 197 Stockton, CA

P David Harrington, Idaho State Jr. 6-3 185 Huntington Beach, CA

KR Gralyn Crawford, Stephen F. Austin Soph. 5-10 175 Palestine, TX

* 2009 Walter Camp All-America selection

# - 2008 and 2009 Walter Camp All-America selection

Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp — a former Yale University athlete and football coach — is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation — a New Haven based all volunteer group — was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All America team.

SWAC champion TSU returns home to hero's welcome

The Texas Southern Tigers received a hero’s welcome one day after winning their first Southwestern Athletic Conference championship since 1968.

The Tigers arrived at TSU’s HP&E Arena on Sunday night and were greeted by a small group of cheering fans and members of the media who had seen them beat Alabama State 11-6 on Saturday afternoon in Birmingham, Ala. For the Tigers (9-3), it was a fitting end to an amazing weekend.

Cole makes case for TSU: Black college national title to be awarded this week

Texas Southern accomplished its primary goal by capturing the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship with Saturday’s 11-6 victory over Alabama State in the league title game. Coach Johnnie Cole, however, believes his squad should also be considered for the black college national championship.

The Tigers (9-3) were ranked fourth in the previous Sheridan Broadcasting Network black college football poll with 192 points, behind Albany State (276), Bethune-Cookman (253) and Grambling State (228), which they beat Nov. 11. TSU will likely have passed Grambling when the final ranking is released early this week, but it would hard-pressed to leap the other two teams.

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SWAC Championship Game: Big defense, backup QB deliver Texas Southern victory against Alabama State

After Texas Southern secured the school's first outright SWAC title Saturday afternoon, coach Johnnie Cole didn't need to institute a 24-hour rule. Twenty years will be ample time to let an 11-6 victory against Alabama State sink in.

"I told the guys, 'You won't understand what you've done until you're my age, 20 years from now,' " Cole said. " 'You're the best team in Texas Southern history. You've taken the SWAC championship.' "

Playing at Legion Field, before a crowd of 22,350 fans, Texas Southern (9-3) turned to something old - Division I-AA's second-ranked defense - and something new - backup quarterback Riko Smalls -- to take home the trophy.

Photos from Birmingham



Cole has look of a winner

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Johnnie Cole wanted to be under this hot light, in this spotlight, for a long time. He used to sit in his dorm room at Texas Southern in the early 1980s, when he was a quarterback on teams that never once posted a winning record, thinking he could one day coach the Tigers to a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.

Several times the school told Cole he could not do that and instead hired men who would fail to do what Cole was certain he could. It was painful for him to watch from afar, as he trekked around the college coaching landscape for more than 20 years, all the while dreaming of one day becoming a championship coach for the Maroon and Gray. Saturday was that day.



SWAC Championship football game at Legion Field

Texas Southern tops Alabama State, wins 1st SWAC title since 1968

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Prairie View A&M did it last year. This season, it was Texas Southern’s turn to rise from longtime cellar dweller to Southwestern Athletic Conference champion. The Tigers earned their first SWAC title since 1968 on Saturday behind coach Johnnie Cole’s swarming defense and backup quarterback Riko Smalls, holding off Alabama State 11-6 at Legion Field.

"I’ve been waiting on this job for over 20 years," said Cole, who played quarterback at Texas Southern in the mid-1980s. "I’ve been in the business for 24 (years) and I always wanted to come back to Texas Southern and get us to this championship."



Tigers Roar: TSU Wins SWAC Title

Birmingham, Ala. - Texas Southern did Saturday what it has done all year. The Tigers rode on the strength of their defense and wound up with a SWAC championship to show for it. TSU defeated Alabama State 11-6 at Legion Field in the 2010 Farmers Insurance SWAC Football Championship Game.

The toughest defense in the SWAC, and #2 ranked in the nation, and led by SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and SWAC Championship Game Defensive MVP, Dejuan Fulghum, the Tigers held the Hornets to 72 total yards and an average of just 1.7 yards per play. The "212" defense, named for the boiling point when water turns to steam, even scored two points of its own.

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ATTENDANCE: 22,350

SWAC Championship: Title game is rematch for Alabama State University and Texas Southern

Television: 1 PM CT, ESPN Classic

Internet: ESPN3.com

Much has changed since an early October meeting between Al­abama State and Texas Southern. The quarterback situations are more stable. The coaches are bet­ter settled. The one constant: Texas South­ern's fierce defensive line contin­ues to terrorize.

"Their D-line is tops in our con­ference, and shucks, I'd put them up there with anybody else in any other conference," Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said this week. "They get to the quarterback and they get a lot of sacks."

For Alabama State to win its first Southwestern Athletic Conference title since 2004 when the two teams meet today at 1 at Legion Field, its offensive line must con­tain Texas Southern, the nation's leader in sacks and tackles for loss per game.

TSU: QB Arvell Nelson Will Not Be Allowed to Play in SWAC Title Game

Birmingham, Ala. - FOX 26 Sports has learned the Texas Southern Tigers will play Alabama State in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game Saturday without starting quarterback Arvell Nelson. TSU athletics officials have chosen not to allow Nelson to play.

In a statement from the school's athletics department, released to FOX 26 Sports, TSU explained its position, but did not go into detail.

"Texas Southern University has discovered issues regarding TSU quarterback Arvell Nelson and his ability to participate in the SWAC Championship game. Because of concerns, the university has decided not to allow Nelson to play in the game. "This will be the only comment released by Texas Southern and its representatives on this issue at this time.



Cole eager to turn the page, hopes to lead Tigers to SWAC title

BIRMINGHAM, Al. - Texas Southern coach Johnnie Cole closed the chapter between him and Alabama State back in October when the Tigers downed the Hornets in Montgomery. Cole and his brother, L.C., had been fired by ASU officials following the 2002 season and he had never gotten over it.

After TSU downed ASU 21-7 back on Oct. 2, Cole said he no longer had an ax to grind. That was the before the Tigers and Hornets won their respective divisions in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and qualified for today's championship game at Legion Field. Kickoff is 1:05 and the game will be carried live on ESPN Classic.



TSU's shot at SWAC title a long time coming

Championship would be first in SWAC since 1968

At one point during Tuesday's send-off for Texas Southern, the seniors were allowed to address the energetic crowd of fans assembled at Durley Field on the TSU campus. When linebacker Dejuan Fulghum's turn came, he spoke for an entire class of seniors that previously could only dream of competing for a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.

"We've come a very long way," said Fulghum, this year's SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. "I've been here since the bad days, the 0-11 days. "There isn't any more of that at TSU."

The Tigers (8-3) ensured their former losing ways were a thing of the past by winning their final seven regular-season games to earn the program's first SWAC Western Division title and the right to challenge Alabama State (7-4) for the league championship today at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. One of those final seven wins was a 21-7 decision over Alabama State on Oct. 2.

TSU's Fulghum receives SWAC's top defensive honor



Cole named coach of the year

Texas Southern’s Dejuan Fulghum and Johnnie Cole hauled in two of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s biggest honors when they were named Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively, on Friday.

Fulghum, a senior linebacker, led the SWAC in sacks (nine) and was third in tackles (91) and tied with three others for sixth in tackles for loss (15). He also recorded an interception and two forced fumbles while helping TSU finish the regular season with the Football Championship Subdivision’s No. 2 defense.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” Fulghum said. “It was one of my individual goals as a player coming into this year, but I also have to attribute this award to our team’s success.”

With look of a champ, TSU vies for SWAC crown today

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tyler native Willie Hopkins came to Texas Southern University in 1953 to get an education, to play football and baseball - student athletes had to play two sports in those days to earn a scholarship — and to be part of a budding but already strong winning tradition.

Killeen-born Dejuan Fulghum came to TSU in 2007 to get an education, to play football — he didn't have any other college scholarship offers — and to be part of a program in which winning was an unfamiliar concept.

Hopkins joined a team that was the defending Negro national college champion. Fulghum, who was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year on Friday, started every game as a freshman on a team that played 11 games and lost 11 games.

Johnnie Cole Named Coach of the Year



BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Texas Southern coach Johnnie Cole was named the SWAC Football Coach of the Year as announced by the league office on Friday.

Cole has led his alma mater to its first-ever SWAC Championship Game berth and the first 8-win season at Texas Southern since 2000. The Tigers can tie the school record with a 9th win Saturday. Cole is finishing his 3rd season at TSU with a record of 18-16 with the Tigers. He is 33-32 in his 6th season as head coach for his career.

Solomon: TSU QB takes wrong turn, then finds his way

Arvell Nelson knows trouble when he sees it. He could look at an older brother, now in prison, or his best childhood friend, now on the same Ohio cell block as his brother, and see where street life would inevitably take you. No one thought Nelson would go that route.

But for some reason, after he had realized one of his dreams — becoming a scholarship athlete at a Big Ten school — Nelson started slipping.

The Cleveland native posed in silly but infamous photos posted on Facebook of teammates and him holding up cash and bottles of liquor. A few months later, in the spring of 2008, the then-19-year-old redshirt freshman was arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession and dismissed from the University of Iowa, where he would have contended for the starting job at quarterback that next season.

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SWAC invites Tennessee State to join

TSU AD Teresa Phillips

Tennessee State, currently a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, plays two or three SWAC schools annually, and league officials believe the Tigers would be a good fit. TSU athletics director Teresa Phillips, reached earlier this week, elected not to comment on the issue, but said school officials have discussed conference affiliation in recent years.

"We had a study looking at several things, including conference affiliation, but we never had a conclusion to that," Phillips said. "That conversation is always somewhere. It's always on the tip of our tongue."

SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp chose not to comment when contacted by The Times.

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Commentary: TSU AD has stamp of a winner

TSU AD McClelland boosts wins, graduations

Texas Southern's success on the football field reflects a larger feel-good story, and that story includes someone who hasn't made a tackle or called a play this season. Charles McClelland is the school's 38-year-old athletic director, hired by TSU president Dr. John Rudley 21/2 years ago to clean up a program smothered in scandal and red ink.

As TSU tries to win its first Southwestern Athletic Conference football championship in 42 years on Saturday, there are plenty of other reasons for optimism.

"Dr. Rudley laid out a vision and a philosophy," McClelland said. "He wants to use our athletic program to help build the reputation of our entire university."

Soccer stadium/TSU football stadium, a done deal for Dynamo and Tigers

Texas Southern University, which will play its football games at the new stadium, is expected to contribute $1.5 million toward construction.

The Dynamo have agreed to pay $76 million to build a professional soccer stadium in downtown Houston and then lease it from the city and county for $65,000 a year.

The board of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, a joint city-county agency that acts as a pro sports stadium landlord, unanimously approved the deal Thursday morning. While the Dynamo will pay most of the cost of construction, the city and county will own the stadium.

Thursday's (Dec. 2, 2010) approval sets the stage for construction to begin as early as next month just across U.S. 59 from the George R. Brown Convention Center.

"It's an absolute win situation for not only Harris County but for the residents of Houston that for no expense to them — basically, no cost - we're getting a stadium," board member Tom Sprague said before the vote.

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Note: TSU currently pays $40,000 per game for use of the University of Houston's Robertson Stadium for home games.  The Tigers also rent Reliant Stadium at a cost $115,000 (2010 rate)  for the Labor Day Classic with Prairie View A&M University. TSU on-campus Delmar stadium seats only 4,500, too small for most SWAC football contests.

The Tigers are expected to sign a 20-year lease as consideration for the $1.5M (prepaid rent) towards stadium construction, and receive in return:  --  a private TSU locker room, 100% income from all TSU merchandise sales, 50% income from concession sales on all  its games and no per game rent for the entire lease period. 

From our view, this is a great deal for a $91 million-state-of-art stadium with luxury boxes in the 10th largest television market in the United States. Texas Southern football should become in short order, one of the premier brands and a hot destination point for the Labor Day Classic within five years. Mr. McClelland and TSU president Dr. John Rudley are clearly on an upward path with an economic engine (Dynamo Stadium) that will generate dollars comparable to other highly successful mid-major Division I FBC programs.

The question is, who's laughing now? Congratulation's TSU....Go Tigers!!
(beepbeep)

TSU President Says SWAC Run a Renaissance

HOUSTON - Texas Southern University has made history. The football team won the Western Division title for the first time ever, but this run is not over. The Tigers will meet Alabama State battling for the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. TSU President Dr. John Rudley calls it a renaissance.

"We haven't had this kind of excitement for 42 years, since 1968. That's what it means to this school. All these years without having a sense of pride in your campus, always being put in a negative light. It's about time for Texas Southern to get in a positive light."

That sentiment is echoed by virtually everyone on campus, including head football coach and alumni Johnnie Cole. Cole tried to get the coaching job twice before. When he was hired last year, he made changes from the ground up.



'Second Chance U' appropriate nickname for TSU

Joseph Warren remembers receiving recruitment letters from Texas Southern during his days as a standout running back at Madison. He also remembers the trash cans those letters ended up in. "Back in the day, nobody wanted to come to TSU, even me," Warren said. "When I was in high school, I would get a letter from TSU and throw it away. I wasn't even trying to hear (about) TSU."

Given the atmosphere surrounding the TSU program at the time, Warren's indifference was understandable. When Warren graduated from Madison in 2005, TSU had just come off a disastrous 0-11 finish. Warren took three years off from football after leaving Madison, working a number of jobs to help support his mother. When the 5-10, 175-pounder returned to football in the spring of 2009, he found a home as a walk-on at TSU.

ASU, Texas Southern set to play for SWAC crown

The Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game is set for Saturday at Bir­mingham's Legion Field, but Texas Southern coach Johnnie Cole has already seen enough from the competition to anoint his team as the best HBCU team in college football.

"I think we're the best black college football team in the country," Cole said. "We've rolled off seven straight wins, we've dominated our confer­ence. When you look at confer­ence stats, we dominate on of­fense and defense. The only thing (that's less than domi­nant) is the passing. We play football the old way here, run and tackle on defense and on of­fense run the football."

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Alabama State (7-4) vs. Texas Southern (8-3)

DATE & TIME: Saturday, December 11, 2:05 p.m. ET.

FACTS & STATS: Event: SWAC Championship. Annual: 12th. Site: Legion Field (72,000) -- Birmingham, Alabama. Surface: Artificial Turf. Television: ESPN Classic. Announcers: Anish Shroff, Jay Walker, Charlie Neal. Home Record: Alabama State 4-2; Texas Southern 4-0. Away Record: Alabama State 2-2; Texas Southern 3-1. Neutral Record: Alabama State 1-0; Texas Southern 1-2. Current Win/Loss Streak: Alabama State 1L; Texas Southern 7W. Series Record: Tied, 11-11-2. Last Meeting: October 2, 2010 (Texas Southern, 21-7 at Alabama State). Series Streak: Alabama State has won six of the last eight meetings. Nicknames: Alabama State Hornets; Texas Southern Tigers. Sheridan Broadcasting Network Poll Rankings: Alabama State (10); Texas Southern (5). Heritage Sports Radio Network Poll Rankings: Alabama State (7); Texas Southern (3). Sports Network/Fathead.com Rankings: Alabama State (51); Texas Southern (31). All- Time Records: Alabama State (438-418-41); Texas Southern (242-308-15). Coaches: Alabama State - Reggie Barlow (19-25 at Alabama State and Overall); Texas Southern - Johnnie Cole (18-16 at Texas Southern, 33-32 Overall). SWAC Championship Record: Alabama State (1-2); Texas Southern (0-0).

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Alabama State facing former assistant coach Johnnie Cole in SWAC championship game

Nearly a decade ago, Johnnie Cole helped his older brother, L.C., resurrect the Alabama State football program. The younger Cole served as the team's offensive coordinator, and his High Octane, Big Offense (HOBO) immediately turned things around.

The Hornets claimed back-to-back SWAC Eastern Division championships in 2000 and 2001, but the school was charged with 668 NCAA rules violations, which led to the firing of the Cole brothers.

Now the head coach at Texas Southern (8-3), Johnnie Cole will face his old team when the Tigers take on Alabama State (7-4) in the SWAC championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Birmingham's Legion Field. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.

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TSU coach may call his own defense

Nashville, TN - Tennessee State Coach Rod Reed, who helped turned the Tigers defense into the best in the OVC in 2008, is prepared to take over the unit again. Kenny Ingram resigned this week as defensive coordinator after one season. Reed named himself the interim coordinator and said he may decide to handle the job on a permanent basis.

"I'm going to do it on the interim and that could change," said Reed, who replaced James Webster as the head coach this season. "Right now I am more inclined to do it." The Tigers (3-8) finished the season with a six-game losing streak and allowed an average of 26.7 points in that stretch.

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Legendary Coaches Walker and McGowan leads 2010 SWAC Hall of Fame Class

Coach Shirley Gibbs Walker won 493 games at Alcorn State

Birmingham, Ala. - The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announced its 2010 inductees for the league’s Hall of Fame. The class includes six honorees affiliated with five of the league’s 10 member institutions.

The 2010 inductees are: Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd (Jackson State, baseball), Clyde Duncan (Texas Southern, track and field), Charlie Granger (Southern, football / track and field), Aaron James (Grambling, basketball), Willie “Rat” McGowan (Alcorn State, baseball/ football), and Shirley Walker (Alcorn State, basketball).

Coach Rat McGowan won 701 games and four titles at ASU

The class will be honored on Thursday, December 9 at an invitational reception at the Civil Rights Museum in Birmingham as a part of the festivities surrounding the 2010 Farmers Insurance SWAC Football Championship Game. The inductees will also be made available to media members at the championship’s press conference at the Birmingham Sheraton on Friday, December 10 at 10:00 a.m.

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Texas Southern Advances To SWAC Title Game

The TSU Football team makes the college football world take notice after its impressive performance against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

HOUSTON — It was an emotional night for Texas Southern University head football coach Johnnie Cole and his players following their 20-13 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Delmar Stadium. TSU clinched the program's first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Western Division title and now advances to the SWAC championship game in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 11.

The Texas Southern Tigers, who recorded their seventh straight victory, will now compete for their first SWAC title in over 40 years.

In what will go down as one of the most memorable football games in black college history, TSU wrote a new chapter in those books following its huge win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. When Arkansas-Pine Bluff's quarterback...

Wright Carries TSU To West Division Title

Texas Southern running back Marcus Wright probably wasn’t surprised at the defense Arkansas-Pine Bluff threw at him in Saturday’s regular-season finale.

The Golden Lions routinely stacked eight or nine defenders in the box, knowing full well that TSU would primarily run the ball. It was a somewhat risky move, but Arkansas-Pine Bluff was left with few options to keep Wright and his backfield mates from running wild at Delmar Stadium. It didn’t work.

Wright weaved masterfully through the Golden Lions’ defense, rushing for a game-high 134 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries...

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ATTENDANCE: 11,285



Videographer: djburntsu (TSU Tigers vs. UAPB Golden Lions 11/20/2010

TSU season ends with second-half collapse

MURRAY, Ky. — Rod Reed's first season as Tennessee State's football coach ended with something that has happened just twice in school history. The Tigers' 28-23 loss to Murray State on Saturday was their sixth straight, joining the 1962 and 1995 teams as the only ones to lose that many consecutive games in one season.


TSU (3-8, 0-7 OVC) led 14-7 at halftime and got 289 yards passing and three touchdowns from Jeremy Perry, who had missed the previous two games with an ankle sprain. But Murray State (6-5, 5-3) scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, and the Tigers couldn't catch up. Murray State earned its first winning season in five years.


TSU coach has low self-grade

Tennessee State Athletics Director Teresa Phillips said she will wait until the football season ends to evaluate first-year Coach Rod Reed.

If TSU (3-7, 0-6 OVC) loses to Murray State (5-5, 4-3) then it would match the most consecutive losses in one season by any Tiger team, joining the six losses in a row by the 1962 and 1995 squads. It would also be the first time since joining the OVC in 1988 that the Tigers failed to win a conference game. Even if they win, the Tigers will finish last in the OVC for the second time, joining the 1995 team.

TSU offense gets a boost as quarterback returns

After being shut out over the past six quarters, Tennessee State's offense could get a lift today with the expected return of starting quarterback Jeremy Perry. The junior was sidelined the past two games with a high ankle sprain. He was able to practice this week, took most of the snaps with the first unit, and said he would play through the lingering pain when the Tigers try to snap a five-game losing streak in their season finale at Murray State.

With Perry out, the offense collapsed in the second half against Eastern Illinois after senior Dominic Grooms helped the Tigers jump to a 28-7 halftime lead.

ATTENDANCE: 2904

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Videographer: Cassfl (TSU vs. APSU, 9/18/2010)