UAPB Golden Lions Open Camp Looking to Fill Key Voids

Pine Bluff, AK - The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team officially opened camp on Monday with over 90 players reporting for fall drills all vying for playing time and a chance to compete for several open slots on the Golden Lions depth chart.

A new era in Golden Lions football will begin in at the start of the season as UAPB welcomes the addition of Eric Dooley as Offensive Coordinator, Earl Buckingham as linebackers coach, and Marty Biagi as defensive backs coach.

There will also be a new face behind center with the departure of Joshua Boudreux who last season broke the 3,000 yard barrier while setting new records in several statistical categories. In addition offensively the Golden Lions will look to replace Raymond Webber who led the NCAA FCS tallying 101 receptions while racking up 1,429 receiving yards.

UAPB Head Coach Monte Coleman is optimistic that those voids left from last seasons' departures all across the board can be filled by a talented group of newcomers that will look to make immediate impacts.

“The starting quarterback position is completely up for grabs,” said Coleman. “With that in mind we have two red shirt freshmen in C.J. Branch and Ben Anderson as well as a transfer in Dewayne Watts that will compete for the starting position. With none of them having any playing experience at this level we plan on going with the player that exhibits the best decision making ability within the confines of what we're going to try to do offensively. Whichever one of these young men separates himself in that regards is going to be our starter.”

“At the wide receiver position last season our top receiver caught over 100 receptions. If we're able to spread the ball around more this season and have three or four guys catch 30-40 receptions we would be pleased with that. We plan to do a lot of the same stuff offensively so we anticipate our players will be able to adjust easily to Dooley's system. The biggest part of this transition will be our players grasping the new terminology.”

Defensively the Golden Lions will be anchored by 2011 SWAC Preseason First Team selection Jer-ryan Harris and cornerback James Harrell who looks to have a breakout year after starting off strong last season.

Discipline, focus, and quick reaction was consistently relayed to the defense on the first day of camp with several players running to the ball at all times. On the defensive side of the ball Arkansas-Pine Bluff also welcomes back Michael Johnson (DT), Joe Brown (DB), and Jamel Maxwell (DB) who return from injuries.

“It was good to see several guys from last years' team who had to sit out much of last season,” said Coleman. “Johnson, Brown, and Maxwell all have contributed to this program in the past and they all seemed fired up to be back out on the football field. Collectively the defense flew around today and as a coach you're always pleased to see that early on. I feel we started camp today with the right team attitude and we'll look to get better tomorrow.”

Arkansas-Pine Bluff will continue camp on Tuesday at 2:15 pm at the Golden Lions practice field. UAPB will host two scrimmages on Friday, August 19th at the White Hall football stadium at 7:00 pm and another on August 24th at 6:00 pm at the UAPB practice field. Both scrimmages are set to be open to the general public.

By UAPB Media Relations 

Former West Valley pitcher to throw for Arkansas-Pine Bluff

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Andrew Wixon is going to take the mound next season at the NCAA Division I level next season. The former West Valley High School standout and right-handed sophomore pitcher for Herkimer County Community College in New York recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

At the time of his signing, the 6-foot-5, 190-pounder had a 3-2 record with a 0.96 earned-run average. Wixon’s junior college career ended last weekend, when Herkimer lost a best-of-three NJCAA Region III Sub-Regional series to Erie Community College (N.Y.) in Little Falls, N.Y. Wixon started the first game, an 8-4 win for Herkimer on Saturday, and threw 2 1/3 innings, allowing an earned run.

Hermiker finished the season 19-17 overall, including 18-12 in Region III and 13-8 in the Mountain Valley Conference.

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Videographer: Krank04; M4 Fight Song and Bottoms Up

Southern gets back-to-back wins over UAPB Golden Lions

Baton Rouge, La. - The Southern Jaguars baseball team improved to 13-8 overall and 6-2 in the SWAC after taking a doubleheader from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, beating the Golden Lions 6-5 and 11-1. The Jaguars came back from a 5-1 deficit to beat the Golden Lions 6-5 in game one. Wilmy Marrero drove in Taylor Roy for the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Frazier Hall knocked out his fifth home run of the season when he drilled a two-run shot off the scoreboard in the fifth inning. The Jaguars won game two with ease, beating the Golden Lions 11-1 behind three hits and three RBI by Marrero. Jaguars pitcher Jesse Holiday picked up the win going 4 2/3 innings, striking out five batters, while allowing only one run on one hit.



SU sweeps Pine Bluff

As it turned out, a day like this was just what Wilmy Marrero needed. Marrero, who spent much of this season starting at third base and batting cleanup for the Southern baseball team, woke up Saturday morning, had a little breakfast, then took a seat in the dugout as the Jaguars began their doubleheader sweep of Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Lee-Hines Field.

Marrero, a junior from Houston, had been 2-for-12 in his last four games. But by the end of Saturday’s first game — in which SU rallied for two ninth-inning runs and a 6-5 win — Marrero found himself back on the field, shortly after SU coach Roger Cador made a double switch.

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Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeats Jackson State 62-56

UAPB Coach George Ivory

Savalace Townsend scored 21 points and Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeated Jackson State 62-56 on Monday night.

Townsend's layup with 3:55 left gave the Golden Lions (7-22, 7-10 SWAC) the lead for good at 51-50. He scored 16 of his 21 points after halftime, when Pine Bluff trailed 29-24. Allen Smith had 13 points and Terrell Kennedy 12 for Pine Bluff.

Jenirro Bush led Jackson State (15-13, 11-5) with 16 points and Grant Maxey scored 12. The Tigers shot 32 percent from the field while the Golden Lions made 40 percent of their shots.

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Arkansas - Pine Bluff DC Hampton resigns, headed to Western Kentucky

Coach Alonzo Hampton

Arkansas-Pine Bluff has officially announced in a press release that Alonzo Hampton has resigned from the school to take a position with WKU. The release did not say that Hampton has officially joined the Toppers yet, and no official word has come from WKU.

WKU may have filled one of its two football coaching vacancies.

David Harten, the Arkansas-Pine Bluff football beat writer for the Pine Bluff Commercial, reported Tuesday that UAPB defensive coordinator Alonzo Hampton has resigned from the school to join WKU as defensive backs coach.

WKU interviews Hampton for DC job

The Daily News confirmed with a source Monday that Arkansas-Pine Bluff defensive coordinator Alonzo Hampton has interviewed for the open defensive backs coaching position at Western Kentucky.

Hampton - a Louisiana-Monroe product - spent the past four seasons at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, with 2010 being his first as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Before becoming the team’s defensive coordinator, Hampton served as cornerbacks and defensive backs coach for UAPB. Prior to that, Hampton served as head coach at Dumas High School in Arkansas for two seasons.

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Texas Southern beats Arkansas-Pine Bluff, stays on top of SWAC

HOUSTON—Lawrence Johnson-Danner scored 15 points and Texas Southern hung on to defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 71-68 on Saturday.

Travele Jones and Justin Ray scored 14 points each for the Tigers (14-10, 12-1), who are in first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Texas Southern has won six in a row.

Kevin Galloway had 10 assists for the Tigers.


Videographer: George Jensen / 11 Sports Photgrapher, khou.com

Texas Southern beats Arkansas-Pine Bluff 71-68

The target on Texas Southern’s back grows larger as the Southwestern Athletic Conference schedule nears its end. Arkansas-Pine Bluff gave TSU its best shot Saturday, but the SWAC frontrunner was able to fend off the threat.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Savalace Townsend missed a game-tying 3-pointer as time expired, and the Tigers held on for a 71-68 victory before a crowd of 1,103 at the H&PE Arena.

TSU (14-10, 12-1) won its sixth consecutive game and swept its regular-season series with the Golden Lions (6-20, 6-8). Lawrence Johnson-Danner led the Tigers with 15 points, and Travele Jones and Justin Ray each scored 14.

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Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions Football Releases 2011 Schedule

PINE BLUFF, Ark.- The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Athletics Department has released its 2011 Football Schedule highlighted by a total of five home games and two classics.

The Golden Lions will open their 2011 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 3rd at the Delta Classic 4 Literacy in Little Rock against Langston University. Arkansas-Pine Bluff will then get set to open Southwestern Athletic Conference play at home against Alcorn State on September 10th.

After facing the Braves, the Golden Lions will compete in their first road outing of the year as they travel to face Prairie View A&M (Sept. 17th) before traveling to St. Louis to participate in the Gateway Classic on September 24th against Clark Atlanta.

UAPB will take on SWAC East foes Alabama A&M and Jackson State on October 1st and October 8th in Huntsville, Ala. and Jackson, Miss. respectively. The Golden Lions will then host the Southern Jaguars on October 15th.

The following week Arkansas-Pine Bluff will have a bye followed by a meeting with the Grambling State Tigers at Golden Lions Stadium (Oct. 29th). Homecoming 2011 has been slated for November 5th as the Golden Lions will take the field against the Alabama State Hornets.

The Golden Lions last road game of the season will take place on Nov. 12th versus Mississippi Valley State in Itta Bena, Miss. UAPB’s home finale will take place the next week on November 19th against Texas Southern (Senior Day).



Videographer: bleuismOMG; UAPB M4 at in Shreveport, 1/2011.

UAPB Golden Lions 2011 Football Schedule

September 3 Langston University Little Rock 5:00pm Delta Classic 4 Literacy
September 10 Alcorn State University * Home 6:00pm
September 17 Prairie View A&M Univ. * Away TBA
September 24 Clark Atlanta University St. Louis, MO 3:00pm Gateway Classic
October 1 Alabama A&M University * Away TBA
October 8 Jackson State University * Away TBA
October 15 Southern University * Home 6:00pm
October 22 OPEN
October 29 Grambling State University * Home 2:00pm
November 5 Alabama State University * Home 2:00pm Homecoming
November 12 Mississippi Valley State* Away TBA
November 19 Texas Southern University * Home 2:00pm Senior Day

(*) Denotes Southwestern Athletic Conference Game
Head Football Coach Monte Coleman

Printable 2011 Football Schedule
by UAPB Media Relations



Videographer: bleuismOMG; UAPB in Shreveport Jan. 2011 "Power"

Fulton Named Arkansas-Pine Bluff Interim Athletic Director

Pine Bluff, AR – University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Chancellor Dr. Lawrence A. Davis, Jr., has named Willie Fulton, the interim athletic director. Fulton, the Golden Lions associate athletic director for business, replaces Louis "Skip" Perkins who is now the athletic director at Howard University, Washington, D.C.

“He is experienced, knows how to handle the administrative end and works well with the rest of the Athletics staff,” says Davis. “I’m very pleased with Chancellor Davis’ selection of me,” says Fulton. “I want to thank the athletics staff and all those that have supported me. This is a great opportunity.”

New interim AD at UAPB

Longtime athletic department employee Willie Fulton has been named interim athletic director at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Fulton was appointed to the position by Chancellor Lawrence A. Davis Jr. on Thursday and began Friday. He’ll serve as interim athletic director until Davis finds a permanent replacement for Skip Perkins, after which Fulton will be allowed to return to his previous post as associate athletic director for business.

Perkins took over earlier this month as athletic director at Howard, a position he accepted in October before staying at UAPB through the remainder ofthe fall semester.

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Comeback falls short as Alcorn State drops fourth straight

UAPB Golden Lions  Head Coach Monte Coleman

LORMAN, MS — It was do or die for Alcorn State quarterback Brandon Bridge Thursday night. With his team down 39-35 and time running out, Bridge had successfully driven the ball 70 yards all the way to the Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3-yard line. A false start knocked them back five yards, but the Braves had gotten back to the 5-yard line with 44 seconds remaining.

It was fourth and goal, and Bridge had one shot to put his team up with less than a minute to play. The ball was snapped, and Bridge scanned the field for a few seconds before attempting to hit tight end Ryan Singleton with the winning play.

SWAC: Golden Lions rally to win

Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored the final 12 points to take a 39-35 come from-behind victory over Alcorn State at Jack Spinks Stadium on Thursday. The Golden Lions (4-3, 3-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) jumped out to a 27-7 lead, only to see Alcorn State (3-4, 2-3) come back and take a 35-27 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Stephen Jones scored on a 10-yard touchdown run with 7:03 left to give UAPB a 36-35 lead. The Golden Lions added a 42-yard field goal by Chris Ewald and then held on for the victory.  Alcorn State’s final drive ended inside Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s 5-yard-line with less than a minute to play after Brandon Bridge’s pass fell incomplete on fourth down.

Attendance: 2000

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Babers, Black lead Prairie View past Ark.-Pine Bluff

Linebacker Brenan Gordon recorded his first career interception return for a touchdown when his 79-yard runback sealed a 21-6 victory for Prairie View A&M over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday in Pine Bluff, Ark.

UAPB took advantage of an early Prairie View fumble and claimed a 3-0 lead as kicker Chris Ewald nailed a 45-yard field goal for the only score of the half.

SWAC: UAPB offense struggles in loss

Arkansas-Pine Bluff was handed a pair of second-half gifts Thursday night, but the Golden Lions couldn’t do anything with them. Trailing by one point, Prairie View A&M fumbled first on the Golden Lions’ 2 and later at its own 43.

But both of UAPB’s breaks ended with punts and what had been a dynamic UAPB offense was largely silent in a 21-6 loss to the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champions at Golden Lion Stadium.

“They were basically giving us the football game,” UAPB quarterback Josh Boudreaux said. “Whenever teams turn the ball over like that, we’ve got to take advantage of it as an offense.”

Video Replay:

Prairie View A&M vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff

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UAPB WIN SNAPS ‘CURSE’ OF HORNETS

During a Sunday practice in preparation for Monday’s game against Alabama State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff men’s basketball coach George Ivory reminded his team they hadn’t beaten the Hornets since he became coach prior to last season. The reminder of four straight losses — including one by two points in overtime in Montgomery, Ala., last month — was meant to provide a bit of extra motivation for his team. Turns out, they didn’t really need it.

UAPB Golden Lions Coach George Ivory gets first win against Alabama State University Hornets.

The three seniors on the team who began as freshman in 2006 reminded the coach — and their teammates who have since arrived — that nobody really knows when UAPB last beat Alabama State. They just knew that nobody on the court at the time had ever done it. “It’s been a four-year curse since I’ve been here,” forward Tyree Glass said. Glass, Terrance Calvin and George Davis, the three who arrived on campus four years ago, all played roles in ending the string of losses on Monday. In the slowest-paced game the Golden Lions (8-14, 8-3) have played this season, they outlasted the two-time defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champions in a 47-42 win.

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UAPB Hires New Assistant Coaches for 2010

Arkansas-Pine Bluff Head Football Coach Monte Coleman has announced the additions of Jerry Mack, Vernon Dean and Dennis Winston to the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff coaching staff. Jerry Mack will serve as Offensive Coordinator and coach quarterbacks at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Arkansas native spent the previous two seasons as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator at Central Arkansas. In his first season at UCA, the Bears had one of the Southland Conference's most potent offenses and had two receivers named All-SLC Honorable Mention - including Eric Ware, who was later signed by the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL.

Dean arrives to Pine Bluff after spending last season at Fort Valley State where he coached outside linebackers. The Houston, Texas native spent seven seasons in the NFL tallying 22 interceptions and winning two Super Bowls with the Redskins. Winston spent a total of 10 seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints winning two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers. The Arkansas native spent the 2009 season at Mississippi Valley State where he served as defensive line coach under former MVSU head coach Willie Totten.

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Prairie View 49, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff 17

Prairie View finishes undefeated in SWAC play







PRAIRIE VIEW, TX — With a spot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game already secured, Prairie View A&M didn’t have much to play for in Saturday’s regular-season finale against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. But that didn’t mean the Panthers would take it easy on the Golden Lions. Quarterback K.J. Black tossed a career-high five touchdown passes, running back Donald Babers rushed for two scores, and the defense forced four turnovers to carry the Panthers to a dominant 49-17 win before a crowd of 3,889 at Blackshear Stadium.

The Panthers (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) closed the regular season on a seven-game winning streak and recorded their first undefeated conference campaign since 1964. Prairie View, the Western Division champion, will try to capture the program’s first SWAC crown since 1964 when it faces Eastern champion Alabama A&M in the league’s title game Dec. 12 in Birmingham, Ala.

Prairie View 49, Ark.-Pine Bluff 17

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- K.J. Black threw for five touchdowns and 312 yards to lead Prairie View A&M to a 49-17 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. The win closed out a dominant season by Prairie View (8-1, 7-0), which already clinched the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division title the week before.

Prairie View A&M Caps Off Undefeated Conference Slate With 49-17 Win Over ...

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - K.J. Black threw five touchdown passes and Donald Babers rushed for 121 yards and two scores as Prairie View capped off an undefeated conference slate for the first time since 1964 in a 49-17 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday afternoon at Blackshear Field. A 45-yard field goal by Carlos Reyes gave UAPB (5-4, 5-3 SWAC) an early 3-0 advantage in the first quarter but Prairie View (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) answered on its opening drive as Black found wideout Shaun Stephens for a 41-yard touchdown reception. After a UAPB punt, Prairie View moved ahead 14-3 as Black hit wide receiver Gabe Osaze-Ediae on a 21-yard touchdown reception.

GOLDEN LIONS CAN’T KEEP UP WITH PRAIRIE VIEW

Arkansas-Pine Bluff entered its game against Prairie View A&M on Saturday without the possibility of advancing to next month’s Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, but with the hope of knocking off the only team yet to lose a SWAC game. After giving up two touchdowns in the first quarter on Saturday at Blackshear Stadium in Prairie View, Texas, the Golden Lions pulled within four points late in the second quarter. The Panthers, however, added a touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter that started a string of four unanswered touchdowns to put the game away.

The Panthers’ three second-half scores were all on plays longer than 30 yards as they blew out UAPB 49-17 on Saturday. The Golden Lions (5-4, 3-3) will finish their season next Saturday against Texas Southern in Dallas, while Prairie View (8-1, 7-0) will play Alabama A&M in the SWAC Championship Game on Dec. 12 in Birmingham, Ala. The Golden Lions couldn’t have advanced to the conference title game with a win Saturday, but they could have ended a progress-making season on a three-game winning streak. That possibility went away when its usually stingy defense had its second sub-par outing in as many games.

Attendance: 3,889@ Blackshear Stadium, Prairie View, Texas

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Arkansas-Pine Bluff 20, Jackson State 13 (O.T.)

LATE RALLY LIFTS GOLDEN LIONS PAST JACKSON STATE TIGERS

JACKSON, MISS. — Monte Coleman knew the decision he had just made was risky. But that didn’t mean it was necessarily difficult. His Arkansas-Pine Bluff team had just taken a three point lead on a Carlos Reyes field goal from 38 yards out in an overtime series that was made possible by a spark lit by the insertion of backup quarterback Josh Boudreaux. But a personal foul penalty on Jackson State’s Malcolm Palmer gave Coleman the option of extending the lead and making it a little bit harder on the Tigers. His team had the potentially winning points on the scoreboard, and Coleman took them off.

“We had momentum,” he said. “That’s what I was counting on.” Coleman’s faith was paid back by Boudreaux, who hadn’t seen game-action since a season-opening loss to Arkansas-Monticello on Sept. 5. Two plays after the penalty, Boudreaux scrambled to his left, saw Raymond Webber in the back of the end zone and lofted a pass that landed safely in the senior wide receiver’s arms. A James Harrell tip of a Tray Rutland pass on fourth-and-2 ended Jackson State’s hopes of forcing another overtime period, and it set off a celebration alongside UAPB’s sideline as the Golden Lions finished the improbable 20-13 overtime win at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

THORNTON GETS PICKS LEAD

JACKSON, MISS.— One of the biggest disappointments that came from last week’s canceled game against Alcorn State was the nullification of the stellar defensive statistics Arkansas-Pine Bluff put up through two quarters on Oct. 1. That game was canceled after halftime because of a rain and lightning storm and, among those numbers lost to Mother Nature, was Kevin Thornton’s fifth interception of the season. That development upset UAPB coach Monte Coleman and Thornton, a senior free safety who has made it his mission this year to break the school’s career interception record — even if nobody can seem to figure out what that record is. In the Golden Lions first game since that night it didn’t take long for Thornton to get the interception back.

Kareem Copeland's Talking Points

Jackson State had several opportunities to put Arkansas-Pine Bluff away, or at least extend the lead, but couldn't. JSU forced UAPB into a three-and-out after scoring the first touchdown of the game, but quarterback Tray Rutland threw an interception on the very next play. Not only was the pass picked off, but Carlos Everett had two steps on the defender when the ball was underthrown. The Golden Lions had four drives that stalled after a maximum of four plays, but Rutland threw interceptions on three of the ensuing drives.

Taking a U-turn

It's almost impossible to imagine two more different scenes within the same locale. Seven days ago, Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium was the site of the world's largest Jackson State party after a win over Southern. On Saturday, silence reigned supreme despite the blaring of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff band. Seven days ago, JSU players ran around the field waving the pep squad's flags. On Saturday, Terrance Onyiuke and Marcell Young sat dejected on the metal bench, staring at the grass in front of them. It was the look of a team that was two minutes from victory but watched its opponent score 14 straight points for a 20-13 overtime victory in front of an announced crowd of 11,082.

For JSU football coach, death of wife a loss like no other

They had driven 10 1/2 hours, from Jackson to Cincinnati. Only 53 miles remained to their destination of Xenia, Ohio, when the oldies radio station played a song Jackson State University head football coach Rick Comegy had heard a thousand times - the 1971 Bill Withers hit, Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone. This time he listened to the lyrics. Every word felt like a knife to the heart. ... Ain't no sunshine when she's gone/only darkness every day/ain't no sunshine when she's gone/and this house just ain't no home anytime she goes away ... A family friend was driving Comegy and his 15-year-old son Rick Jr. to a hometown memorial service for Comegy's wife of 25 years, Connie, who died June 22 of cancer. She was 54. In the passenger seat, Comegy wanted to let it all out. Cry. Scream. Kick. Punch the dash. "But I couldn't let Rick Jr. see me like that," he says.

Tigers' defense falters at crunch time

Jackson State will find itself in the midst of a defensive battle quite often this season. That's what happens when a club excels on defense and employs a low-scoring, ball-control offense. So, there was no surprise when neither offense could get going when JSU hosted Arkansas-Pine Bluff. However, the Dark Side defense rarely gets outplayed, but it did Saturday in a 20-13 overtime loss. "I walked the sideline and I was looking in the eyes of guys that weren't even playing and the guys that were playing, I knew we were going to win that football game," UAPB coach Monte Coleman said. "It was something about tonight that was going to be no give up by anybody.

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Alabama A&M Bulldogs 28, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff 7

LIONS BATTERED BY THE BULLDOGS

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —Arkansas-Pine Bluff dominated Mississippi Valley State last week in its Southwestern Athletic Conference opener. The Golden Lions were so dominant that coach Monte Coleman said he thought his team was on the verge of turning the corner. After Saturday’s beat down by Alabama A&M, Coleman is probably re-thinking that statement. The Golden Lions, who entered the game leading the league in rushing and total defense, had no answers for the Bulldogs, who gave UAPB a dose of its own medicine Saturday inside Louis Crews Stadium on homecoming.

A&M dominated UAPB, finishing with 448 yards in total offense en route to a workmanlike 28-7 victory before an announced crowd of 4,414. Coleman was at a loss for words. “This was very surprising,” he said. “They manhandled us today. For a team to beat us up the way we were beat up today, that’s very alarming and disappointing.” The loss, which snapped UAPB’s two-game winning streak, dropped the Golden Lions to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in league play. A&M improved to 3-1 and 1-0.

TAKEDOWN

Bulldogs shred SWAC's top-rated defense in homecoming romp ... Arkansas-Pine Bluff came to town with the Southwestern Athletic Conference's top-rated defense. The Golden Lions led the league in rushing and total defense and had dominated Mississippi Valley State a week ago. Those numbers took a beating Saturday. Alabama A&M, looking to send a message to the rest of the league in its conference opener, gave UAPB a dose of its own medicine at Louis Crews Stadium.

The Bulldogs dominated the Golden Lions, finishing with 448 yards in total offense en route to a workmanlike 28-7 homecoming win before an announced crowd of 4,414. "It was pretty easy," said A&M running back Ulysses Banks after rushing for 177 yards on a career-high 34 carries and scoring two touchdowns. "My offensive line blocked for me. They always block for me. I like those guys." The Bulldogs improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in league play. The Golden Lions fell to 2-2 and 1-1.

Huge cleats to fill

Junior Afu Okosun eager to step into role as one of great A&M linebackers ...
Afu Okosun heard so much about former Alabama A&M linebacker Jamaal Ware that it almost made him sick. Ware was the first great inside linebacker during the Anthony Jones era at A&M, earning first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors in 2002. It was like Coach (Jay) Martin had a man crush," Okosun said, laughing.

Okosun was on a visit in 2005 when he got a chance to watch former A&M standout Johnny Baldwin. Okosun was a freshman on the Bulldogs' 2006 SWAC championship team and got a chance to see Baldwin up close and personal on a daily basis. Baldwin, a two-time first-team All-SWAC selection, was drafted in the fifth round by the Detroit Lions in 2007. "Johnny set the standard," Martin said. "Everybody that comes along will be compared to him."

Attendance: 4,414 at Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville, AL

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UAPB Beginning Transition to Game Week Preparations

UAPB Golden Lions head coach Monte Coleman believes the Lions to roar this season.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff took a break from its usual practice schedule on Saturday to show off its new jerseys and pose for a few pictures. The Golden Lions did do a short walkthrough at Golden Lion Stadium, but most of Saturday’s media day session was meant as a short pause before fall camp gives way to season-opening preparations. Exactly a week before UAPB’s season opener against Arkansas-Monticello, UAPB coach Monte Coleman stood near the 50-yard line and addressed reporters on the Golden Lions’ being more prepared heading into his second season than they were his first. He also discussed using the end of last season as momentum heading into this year, as well as his evolving role as an overseer of the program.

Countdown to KICKOFF 2009


“It’s been one of the best training camps I’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Coleman, who joined the staff as an assistant in 2003. “We fought each other, we ate lunch together. It was just a good training camp. A good start for a new season.” Heading into their final week of preparations the Golden Lions still have a few unanswered questions. The top priority on that list is deciding between a pair of quarterbacks who have risen to the top of a pool that included four candidates when camp opened Aug. 8.

Rontrell Bailey and Josh Boudreaux are still taking snaps with the No. 1 offense in practice, and Coleman said he would be comfortable if either one of them started against the Boll Weevils (0-1), who beat UAPB 21-7 last season in Coleman’s first game as coach. Coleman, who has relinquished defensive play calling duties this season in order to take more of a role within the offense, said healthy quarterbacks, a more experienced offensive line and group of wide receivers should make a unit that ranked ninth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in total offense improve in 2009.

2009 Golden Lions Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time
9/5/2009 Arkansas-Monticello (Sponsored by Tyson) Pine Bluff 4:00 pm
9/12/2009 Langston (Sponsored by State Farm) Pine Bluff 4:00 pm
9/19/2009 Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, Miss. 4:00 pm
9/26/2009 Alabama A&M Huntsville, Ala. 3:00 pm
10/1/2009 Alcorn State (Wal-Mart Community Day) Pine Bluff 6:30 pm
10/10/2009 Jackson State Jackson, Miss. 4:00 pm
10/24/2009 Edward Waters (Homecoming) Pine Bluff 2:30 pm
10/31/2009 Southern (Senior Day) Pine Bluff 2:30 pm
11/7/2009 Grambling State (Delta Classic 4 Literacy) Little Rock, Ark. 2:30 pm
11/21/2009 Prairie View A&M Prairie View, Tex. 1:00 pm
11/28/2009 Texas Southern (Dallas Lonestar Classic) Dallas, TX

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Coleman Believes Lions Will Roar This Year

Rejuvenated Maxey helps Jackson State roll away with big road victory

Tigers bounce back from stunning loss to stay in contention for share of SWAC regular season championship

PINE BLUFF, Ark. -
Jackson State junior forward Grant Maxey was doubtful for Monday night's game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff after being hit in the head last week and then going scoreless for the first time since his freshman year. But the second-leading scorer during SWAC play started and took all of one possession to eclipse that number - hitting a midrange jumper and looking like his normal self.

Maxey's presence plus a heavy dose of Darrion Griffin and Garrison Johnson kept Jackson State in the run for a possible share of the SWAC regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in the tournament with a 75-66 victory at H.O. Clemmons Arena. "We still wanted to let Alabama State know we're a team to be reckoned with," Griffin said. "This was a message to the rest of the conference." JSU hosts the Hornets on Thursday.

The Golden Lions (11-17, 10-7) played the first half like there was blue blood in the water. JSU was coming off its first loss since Jan. 19 with Mississippi Valley State rallying from a 16-point deficit on Saturday. UAPB still could have stolen the No. 2 seed in the SWAC Tournament.

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SDSU Aztecs pummel road-weary (UAPB) foes

UAPB first year head coach George Ivory accepts that economic reality dictates that the Golden Lions play all of their OOC games on the road for a paycheck to support the basketball program. Results: 1-10 record!

They are opponents that pose minimal risk of marring one's record but offer little reward in terms of RPI. They are mercenaries bouncing from gym to gym, picking up paychecks while paying dearly in the process. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which has yet to work up so much as a bead of sweat in its own building this year, playing its first 11 games on the road, exited another town in tatters last night in being leveled by San Diego State 93-61.

“These are hard games for coaches, because you want to make sure your players are prepared mentally,” Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said. “Often times, players look at (opponents') records and they come out and don't perform.” Before 4,441 at Cox Arena, SDSU improved to 10-3, matching its best record after 13 games since 1984-85. The road-weary Golden Lions, preseason favorites to win the Southwest Athletic Conference, fell to 1-11.

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