Rare mistakes motivate Tuskegee's crack cornerback Baker

Tuskegee, Alabama -- Cornerbacks aren't supposed to dwell on failures. With so many pass plays in the average game, and with such a small margin for error, coaches like their defensive backs to shake off bad plays and dumb mistakes quickly. Let it go. Don't think about it again. Move on and play better next time. That's the coach-speak.

Tuskegee cornerback Kenneth Baker takes a different approach. "I remember every time I've been beaten," Baker said. "I can remember them all, and I think about them."

For instance, when talking about Alabama State's standout receiver Nick Andrews, two plays come immediately to Baker's mind -- a missed tackle and a double move.

"He got me on that double move last year -- I'll be watching for that this year," Baker said. "There was a missed tackle once, too. That's what I remember about facing him."

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24-3 Tuskegee victory a bright spot on difficult year

Tuskegee, Alabama -- The 2011 campaign has been difficult in many ways for Willie Slater and his program. Tuskegee isn't comfortably resting atop the conference standings like in seasons past and Slater will finish with his worst record as head football coach since taking over in 2006. Saturday afternoon, however, brought some normalcy and smiles back to the Golden Tigers in the form of a 24-3 victory over Clark Atlanta.

"I think we've been getting better all year," said Slater, whose worst season at TU was last year's 9-2 mark. "We've gotten better every week, but we're still making a lot of mistakes. We needed this win, so we'll take whatever we can get and any way we can get it right about now."

It was the fifth consecutive win over the visiting Panthers (2-7, 1-5 SIAC), who trail 58-15-3 all-time in a series that dates back to 1902. Tuskegee's last loss in the series came during Slater's inaugural campaign. Tuskegee (3-5, 3-3) aims to string together its first pair of wins when Miles College visits Abbott Memorial Stadium next week.



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Kentucky State Thorobreds ends 14-year drought vs. Tuskegee

Frankfort, Kentucky -- Kentucky State’s senior class had never beaten Tuskegee University in football. Neither had the classes of 2011, 2010, 2009 … The Thorobreds ended 14 years of frustration Saturday, defeating the Golden Tigers 20-0 at Alumni Stadium.

“It was big,” KSU senior quarterback Jerrel Noland said of the win. “We’re still in the race for the division to get into the championship. “With Tuskegee being in the same division as us, we had to have this,” he added. “It was a key win from a team aspect.” The Thorobreds improve to 5-3 overall and are 2-3 in the SIAC.

“We played very well,” KSU coach Wayne Dickens said, “and we were operating with a hindrance. We couldn’t go outside Wednesday or Thursday because of the weather. All we could do was walk through situations in the gym.

“It’s a great win. Kentucky State hadn’t beaten Tuskegee in a long time, and to be able to come out here at home and do it is big.”

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Lane Dragons falls at homecoming to Tuskegee

Jackson, Tennessee -- Things went wrong all day for Lane College, and just about everything went right for Tuskegee. That added up to a 41-17 win for the Golden Tigers at Lane's homecoming.

"We just didn't have anything going right for us today," said Lane head coach Derrick Burroughs. "It's hard to find anything positive when you play like we did today. "They just kicked our butts on both sides of the ball."

Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater said his team is still a work in progress, but there was plenty to build on in the win. "We did a lot of good things, especially offensively," Slater said. "We're getting better in some areas, and our ground game is one of them."

The Tigers moved the ball at will at times in the first half against the Dragons, compiling 122 rushing yards on 25 carries while the defense held Lane to 38 yards before halftime. Most of Tuskegee's yards came in the second quarter.



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Game preview: Tuskegee at Lane College

When: 2 p.m. today
Where: Jackson, Tenn.
Records: Tuskegee (1-4); Lane (3-3)
On the air: None

FOUR-DOWN TERRITORY
1. Close. That's where Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater believes his program is, despite its 1-4 start. "I think we're getting better every week," Slater said. A big part of the Golden Tigers' struggles so far, Slater said, has been their youth. After a knee injury sidelined starting quarterback Jeremy Williams for four weeks, Slater was forced to insert freshman Justin Nared at QB. Three freshmen on the offensive line and an inexperienced backfield adds to the mistake-prone offense.

2. Slater said Williams' knee injury won't keep the junior quarterback out of the lineup much longer. "He was out here running steps today, so I think he's a little ahead on his rehab," Slater said. Williams was injured in the first half of Tuskegee's loss to Alabama A&M three weeks ago.



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Morehouse 17, Tuskegee 14: Golden Tigers let lead slip

Columbus, Georgia -- COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The Maroon Tigers served up a heavy dose of Vitamin D and clawed back from a 14-point deficit, to break a seven-game losing streak against Tuskegee, with a 17-14 win.

On a day when the Morehouse offense was slowed by the SIAC's best rushing defense, the Maroon Tiger defense took up the slack, holding Tuskegee to 181 total yards. Led by Brandon Houston, with a game-high 11 tackles, the 'House D, recorded 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Capitalizing on Morehouse mistakes and turnover, Tuskegee jumped out to a 14-0 lead, on the strength of two rushing touchdowns by quarterback Justin Nared, of 16 and 10 yards. Morehouse bounced back in the second quarter, when David Carter took it up the middle for a 20-yard touchdown run.

Halftime score: 14-7 Tuskegee.

In the second half, Morehouse dialed up a heavy dose of the running game and pressure defense, to hold the Golden Tigers scoreless.

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Alabama A&M: Martin, Pearl have strong ties to Tuskegee

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Twenty-one years ago, Jay Martin and Cedric Pearl played in arguably the greatest game in the Alabama A&M/Tuskegee rivalry.

On Saturday, Martin and Pearl, now A&M assistants, will try to beat their alma mater.

The Bulldogs (0-2) will host the Golden Tigers (0-1) in the second annual Louis Crews Classic. Kickoff is 6 p.m. from Louis Crews Stadium and the game can be heard on 90.9 FM.

"I have passion for Tuskegee, but A&M pays our bills ...

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Tuskegee struggles, falls to Langston 33-19

TUSKEGEE -- After one game, Tuskegee's quarterback situation is back to unsettled. Coach Willie Slater said the Golden Tigers will re-evaluate their quarterback decision after Tuskegee struggled in a 33-19 season-opening loss to Langston on Saturday.

"We have some work to do at quarterback," Slater said. "I'll say it like that. We'll look at film and see what really happened, then we'll decide."

Junior Jeremy Williams played the first half and was 9-for-16 for 144 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Sophomore Terry Bradden played the second half and finished 6-of-19 for 43 yards.

"It's a competition, and I have faith in both of them," receiver Wayne Williams said. "Both can throw the ball and run the ball. We'll try to see who can manage the game better. That's the key."

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Langston is 2-0 under first-year coach Mickey Joseph

Langston is 2-0 under first-year coach Mickey Joseph. The Lions stunned Tuskegee (Ala.) 33-19 in its home opener Saturday.

Tailback Carlos Ross ran for 115 yards on 20 carries for Langston, which beat an NCAA Division II program that has won four of the last five Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships. Langston quarterback Darrion Lewis threw two interceptions, but those were negated by 149 yards and two TDs. He completed 11 of 17 attempts.

Langston, which plays its first-five games on the road, will play Missouri Western in St. Joseph at 11 a.m. next Saturday.

Last week, the Lions defeated NCAA Division I, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions in the season opener in Little Rock, Arkansas. Terrance Walker returned a fumble five yards for a touchdown to lead an opportunistic Langston defense as they defeated UAPB 19-12. Walker's score gave Langston a 16-0 lead 14 seconds into the fourth quarter.


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Expectations no problem at high-achieving Tuskegee

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- A 9-2 season would be cause for celebration for many college football teams.
That's not the case at Tuskegee. Heavy favorites to win a fifth straight Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in 2010, the Golden Tigers finished in a three-way tie for second after losing games to conference rivals Albany State and Fort Valley State.

That setback hasn't lessened the expectations at Tuskegee, certainly not for a program that has won seven SIAC titles in the past 11 years and with a head coach in Willie Slater who has a stunning 51-7 record in his five seasons as head coach.

SIAC coaches have picked the Golden Tigers to win the SIAC West and play Albany State in the league's inaugural championship game. That game will be played Nov. 12 in Atlanta. Tuskegee coach Willie Slater said he doesn't worry about expectations for his football team.



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Slater stresses Tuskegee's signs of improvement

Tuskegee, AL - Following a scrimmage a little more than a week ago, Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater gathered his players together and delivered his thoughts on their performance.

"I told 'em we wouldn't beat (Booker T. Washington High School) playing like we did in that scrimmage," Slater said. Slater, entering his sixth season as the Golden Tigers head coach, has been increasingly displeased with his team through the fall. And he's not surprised by that fact.



Tuskegee lost six starters on both sides of the ball, meaning 12 players with little to no playing experience are filling the holes this season. That has made practices for the normally fluid Golden Tigers a bit clunky.

"We had mistakes everywhere in that scrimmage," Slater said. "I'm serious -- we wouldn't beat anybody playing like...

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Stillman baseball sweeps in-state rival Tuskegee

TUSKEGEE, AL - The Stillman College baseball team scored five runs in the fifth inning to overcome a one-run deficit en route to an 11-4 win over Tuskegee University at Washington Field on Sunday afternoon.

Stillman (12-13, 6-1 SIAC) trailed for the first time this season in SIAC play when Tuskegee pushed across a run in the bottom of the second inning for a 1- 0 lead.

Stillman bounced back with a five-run fifth inning and then blew the game open with a four-run eighth to win its sixth straight SIAC game.

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Alabama State looks for better Turkey Day Classic results vs. Tuskegee

Alabama State vs. Tuskegee, 3 p.m. CT, Television: ESPNU

Since 2005, Turkey Day Classic oppo­nents Alabama State and Tuskegee have entered the showdown with familiar fore casts beyond Thanksgiving. Tuskegee has traditionally been set to play in December's Pioneer Bowl -- the exception being 2008, when the Pioneer Bowl was canceled -- while Alabama State knew the annual game was its last of the season. At today's 3 p.m. kickoff in Montgomery, the roles are reserved.

Tuskegee (8-2) has lost its four-year hold on the Southern Intercollegiate Ath letic Conference title, while Alabama State (7-3) has secured a spot in the Dec. 11 Southwestern Athletic Conference cham pionship game in Birmingham. Despite the looming SWAC title showdown with Texas Southern, Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said he won't be holding back today.


Videographer: vbrot11 (Alabama State University Marching Hornets vs. SU , 2010)

Turkey Day Classic on ESPNU

Alabama State has beaten Tuskegee University only once in the past six Turkey Day Classics at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl — and that one win in 2008 was a controversial one when TU’s apparent winnng touchdown was ruled out of bounds, which photos showed was the wrong call.

Tuskegee has been the dominant team in recent years, having won 11 of the past 14 games after Alabama State reeled off 15 wins in 17 games from 1975 through 1995. The two teams didn’t play in 1991-92.

For the first time in years, Alabama State comes into the game on a roll with four straight victories to nail down a berth in the SWAC Championship Game December 11 as the conference’s East Division representative.

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87th Annual Turkey Day Classic & ASU Homecoming: Tuskegee Golden Tigers vs. Alabama State Hornets

TUSKEGEE (8-2) VS. ALABAMA STATE (7-3)

Kickoff: 3 p.m. Thursday

Facts and Figures - Site: Cramton Bowl (24,600) in Montgomery, Ala.; Records: Tuskegee, 8-2; Alabama State, 7-3. Television: ESPNU; Series record: Tuskegee leads, 59-33-4; Turkey Day Classic record: Tuskegee leads, 47-31-3; Conferences: Tuskegee, Division II SIAC; Alabama State, SWAC; Coaches: Tuskegee - Willie J. Slater (50-7 in five seasons); Alabama State - Reggie Barlow (19-22). Sheridan Poll Ranking: Tuskegee, 7; Alabama State, 10.

Golden Tigers to face Alabama State Hornets in 87th Annual Turkey Day Classic

Tuskegee, Ala. – The Tuskegee University Golden Tigers (8-2) will take on the Alabama State University Hornets (7-3) in the 87th Annual Turkey Day Classic on Thursday, Nov. 25 at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. This year's game will kick off at 3 p.m. CST.

The Golden Tigers and the Hornets have battled each other in what is considered the oldest football classic among Historically Black Colleges and Universities since 1924. Tuskegee leads the Turkey Day Classic series 47-31-3. The two teams have played each other 96 times since 1901, with Tuskegee leading the overall series 59-33-4. The 2009 game ended with the Golden Tigers winning 21-0.

ASU football coach Reggie Barlow a finalist for FCS coach of the year award

PHILADELPHIA -- Alabama State University head football coach Reggie Barlow has been named one of 20 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the Football Championship Series (FCS) national coach of the year.

Barlow has led the Hornets to a 7-3 overall record heading into the final regular season game of the season. He led ASU to a Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division Championship and a berth in the 2010 Farmers Insurance SWAC Football Championship Game on Dec. 11 in Birmingham.

HORNET HOMECOMING EVENTS

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Lane Dragons end 2010 without a win

TUSKEGEE, Ala. — Lane failed to get first-year head coach Derrick Burroughs a win this season as the Dragons lost at Tuskegee 28-6 on Saturday in their final game of the year. The second quarter was the difference as Tuskegee scored three touchdowns in the period after entering the quarter up 7-0.

Joshua Harris threw to D'Mari Franklin for a 27-yard score to put Tuskegee up 7-0. Nykeem Barton followed with two rushing touchdowns from inside the red zone. Jeremy Williams then threw to Philand Browder for a 37-yard score for the four-touchdown lead.

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FVSU Beats Tuskegee 26-0 for 5th Straight 'W'

Two SIAC heavyweights did battle in the Valley Saturday. Fort Valley State and Tuskegee rolled in at 5-1, tied for 2nd in the conference behind undefeated Albany State.

The Wildcats scored on their opening drive, thanks to a six-yard TD run from Tony Reid to make it 6-0. In the second quarter Aaron Courtney punched it in, followed by a failed two-point conversion to make it a 12-0 game. FVSU QB Eugene Smith connected with Demario Barber before halftime to make it 19-0.

Wildcats dominate Golden Tigers in SIAC showdown

FORT VALLEY, GA – Back in August, there was talk about the old Fort Valley State “blue death” defense. That was talk. The live 2010 version showed up against Tuskegee. When FVSU’s offense actually let Tuskegee have the ball, FVSU’s defense made it pay.

Tuskegee was held to only 92 yards in total offense and blanked for the first time since 2003 as the Wildcats were dominant on both sides of the ball in pounding the 16th-ranked Golden Tigers 26-0 on Saturday night at Wildcat Stadium. FVSU improved to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in SIAC play on senior night while Tuskegee fell to 5-2 and 4-2.

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Tuskegee, 5-1, at Fort Valley State today

For No. 16 Tuskegee (5-1, 4-1 SIAC), its brutal stretch of confer ence games concludes with Fort Valley State (5-1, 4-1). After a home throttling at the hands of conference- leading Albany State, the Golden Tigers have rebounded well with wins over FCS opponent Texas Southern and SIAC foes Miles and previously undefeated Morehouse.

The primary reason has been the play of Tuskegee's defense, which ranks seventh in Division II in total defense and first in passing yards allowed. Fort Valley State's defense, however, has been nearly as sturdy.

FVSU readies for key contest with Tuskegee

FORT VALLEY, GA — Donald Pittman looked like a man who needed a few administrative assistants, immediately. Two different phones rang, and his office was filled with boxes of blue T-shirts with his team’s midseason motto: Making Up For Last Year.

Fort Valley State’s head coach needed to order more small T-shirts, and it appeared they wouldn’t be delivered in time for Thursday night’s pep rally. And that wasn’t making him happy.

Then the conversation returned to Saturday night’s opponent, and Pittman’s attention immediately returned to football. “Seven long years,” he said. “It’s about time for that to change.”

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This is the funniest guy in Georgia.

Tuskegee defeats Morehouse

COLUMBUS, GA -- Nykeem Barton wanted to make his final Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic a lot like all the others in which he has played. The senior running back rushed for three touchdowns and No. 18 Tuskegee's defense squashed a second-half rally to hand No. 16 Morehouse its first loss of the season, 31-15 Saturday at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium.

It was the seventh straight win in the series for Tuskegee (5-1, 4-1 SIAC), which improved to 66-27-7 all-time against Morehouse (5-1, 4-1). Barton scored on a 2-yard run on the Golden Tigers’ first possession and his 7-yard run, and subsequent two-point conversion run, in the second quarter put Tuskegee ahead 21-2 at halftime.

Tuskegee Downs No. 16 Morehouse College 

The high-scoring offense failed to launch for the first time this season and Morehouse fell, 31-15, to the Tuskegee Golden Tigers, in the 75th Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic.

 Morehouse's 15 points and 213 total yards were season lows, for the team that averaged 40 points and 366 yards per game. The Maroon Tigers dropped to 5-1; Tuskegee improved to 5-1.

Tuskegee jumped out to a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game. An eight-yard touchdown pass, early in the second quarter, pushed the lead to 13-0. But the Morehouse defense blocked the point-after attempt and Darrius Williams returned the football for a two-point score.

A seven-yard touchdown run gave the Golden Tigers a 21-2 halftime lead. In the third quarter, the teams traded scores. Morehouse linebacker Charlie Wilson blocked a punt that Samuel Gilmore returned 36-yards for a touchdown. Tuskegee kicked a 22-yard field goal.

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Tuskegee, Alabama A&M to play in Mobile in 2011 and 2013

Tuskegee University has secured a contract with Alabama A&M to play at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in 2012 and 2014, and athletic director Alvin Jackson said he also wants to play in Mobile in 2011 and 2013. The Golden Tigers are eager to establish a presence in the Mobile area beginning with their game against Texas Southern a week from today at 1 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

"We're excited about bringing our program to the Mobile area," said Jackson. "We have the signed contracts with Alabama A&M and are currently in the process of finding an opponent for the 2011 and 2013 seasons. We fully intend to play here those seasons."

Florida A&M, Southern, Grambling and Jackson State are some of the programs named as possible opponents.

Next week's game was initially scheduled to be played in Los Angeles but was moved due to promotional problems. And Jackson made it clear that this game will in no way be similar to the now-defunct Gulf Coast Classic.

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Note to Fans:

Just the 'beepbeep' thoughts on this matter...
The majority of RattlerNation has no interest in watching the Rattlers play Division II football teams. This is not an upgrade for FAMU's program. Clearly athletic director Alvin Jackson is trying to pump up interest in his ball game by name dropping the superior brand of Florida A&M University.

Don't hold your breath expecting FAMU to pass up a $600,000 money game with an FBC school, to play Tuskegee in Mobile. No disrespect to Tuskegee University or the City of Mobile, but FAMU is seeking an FCS National Championship, not an easy "W" that does not help the Rattlers FCS playoff opportunity.

Is this a sign that Tuskegee is considering moving up to Division I? I haven't heard anything on this subject officially... The Rattlers won the first NCAA D1-AA National Championship in 1978 after defeating the University of Massachusetts.

Jackson should consider "renting the Marching 100 for a command appearance" at an attractive price, plus expenses and he will get the butts in the seats that he desire in Mobile.

Williams celebrates as Tuskegee gets win over Stillman

TUSCALOOSA, AL - Jeremy Williams turns 21 on Monday, but he celebrated in his hometown on Saturday night. Williams, a sophomore quarterback, engineered a couple of touchdown drives and the visiting Tuskegee Golden Tigers handed Stillman College a 41-15 loss.
Williams, a graduate of Tuscaloosa’s Central High School, said he had to secure 10 tickets for family and friends.

“It was more like a homecoming game for me,” said Williams, who led Central to a 15-0 record and the Class 4A championship in 2007. “When I got in, I wanted to capitalize on each of my drives, kind of make a statement. I was glad that we got a win, especially in Tuscaloosa in front of a lot of people I know.”

Tuskegee, the defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association champion, lost a fumble in the first half but was almost perfect in building a 28-0 lead. Stillman cut the margin to 28-15.

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Tuskegee Golden Tigers' game vs. Texas Southern moved to Mobile

Tuskegee University Goldern Tigers coach Willie Slater.

TUSKEGEE, AL -- The game between Tuskegee University of the SIAC and Texas Southern of the SWAC, originally scheduled for the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in California, will be played in Mobile, Alabama.

The City of Mobile and Tuskegee University recently reached an agreement for the two schools to meet on Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. at 40,000-seat Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will mark the third appearance for Tuskegee playing in the City of Mobile. The Golden Tigers defeated Alabama A&M University 19-6 in 1995 and lost to Shaw University 30-28 in Pioneer Bowl VII in 2004.

In the only other meeting between Tuskegee and Texas Southern, TSU edged the Golden Tigers 10-7 in 1994 at Abbott Stadium in Tuskegee. The game will serve as a home game for the Golden Tigers, giving Tuskegee six home dates. The Tuskegee University Marching Crimson Pipers and the Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul marching bands will perform at halftime.

Tuskegee students attending the game will be admitted with current TU identification cards. There is a $15 ticket charge for Texas Southern students with ID card. General admission is $20.

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