UAPB's Richard Webber grabs 3 TD passes to star in Gateway Classic

The last time Raymond Webber played in a football game at the Edward Jones Dome was four years ago when he caught two passes and scored a touchdown while participating in a jamboree for his high school, Miller Career Academy.

On Saturday, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior receiver made a triumphant return, catching 11 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns and earning the offensive most valuable player award as he helped Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a 35-19 win over Clark Atlanta University in the 17th Gateway Classic.

"Really, with our offense, it's just whoever is open," said Webber, who was playing in front a big throng of family and friends. "Whoever is making plays, we're just feeding him the ball. Everybody contributed to this win." The win was the first this season for the Golden Lions (1-2).

Ark.-Pine Bluff 35, Clark Atlanta 19

ST. LOUIS -- Josh Boudreaux ran for a touchdown and threw three scoring passes to Raymond Webber as Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeated Clark Atlanta 35-19 on Saturday in the Gateway Classic. Inside the Edward Jones Dome, Webber caught 11 passes for 162 yards for the Golden Lions (1-2).

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Attendance: 22781

Clark Atlanta and Arkansas - Pine Bluff performing at the Gateway Classic Pep Rally

New director aims to revitalize Gateway Classic

Although his father founded and ran the Gateway Classic Sports Foundation for 16 years, Rich Gray never yearned to succeed Earl Wilson Jr., whose goal was to fill the Edward Jones Dome once a year. In fact, Gray had every intention of retiring from corporate America before health issues forced Wilson to step down.

"He had talked to me about it previously, but our styles were a little different," Gray said. "So, it wasn't something I embraced."

When the time came to talk seriously, Gray budged and accepted. In a short time, he has served notice that all effort will be made to revitalize the Gateway Classic, an annual football game featuring teams from historically black colleges and universities.

Gateway Classic 

Clark Atlanta vs. University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff

When: 3 p.m. Saturday

Doors open at 1:30 p.m.

Featuring the Halftime Battle Of The Bands w/Special guest performance by Bradd Young

Tickets: Edward Jones Dome box office

More info & events: gatewayclassic.org

A 'Classic' homecoming, Jamaal Phillips comes home for Gateway Classic

St. Louis native Jamaal Phillips is coming home to play in the 2010 St. Louis Gateway Classic football game this Saturday, September 25 at the Edward Jones Dome at 3 p.m.

Phillips, a Hazelwood East High School graduate, plays offensive line for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions. They face the Clark Atlanta Panthers in this year’s showdown between historically black universities. “I get to play in front of hometown fans. I have a lot of family and friends coming out to support me,” said Phillips. One important source of support will come from the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club.

In 2008, Phillips was Youth of the Year for Herbert Hoover, as well as youth clubs in the State of Missouri and the Midwest region. He got a chance to travel and compete nationally for Youth of the Year honors and network with individuals from boys and girls clubs around the nation.

Comanches in the Classic

For Thomas Winters Jr. and Terron Armstead, it will be a dream comes true this weekend. The former Cahokia High standouts are coming home to perform in front of family members, friends, former teammates and coaches in this Saturday’s 17th Annual Gateway Classic Football Game.

Winters and Armstead play for the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which takes on Clark Atlantic University in this year’s Classic at the Edward Jones Dome. Kick- off is set for 4 p.m.

Both young men were stellar student–athletes for Cahokia on some of the school’s best football teams ever. Together, they helped lead Cahokia to a few South Seven Conference titles as well as four consecutive playoff appearances. In addition, Armstead was one of the best field event athletes in track and field on some great Comanche teams that won state championships.

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ALABAMA STATE 38, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 31: Rickerson revs up Hornets for key win

Alabama State was slowly wearing down and the Hornets were in need of a big play. And early in the second half Jacques Rickerson delivered. The Hornets' defensive back had asked for the assignment of covering Arkansas-Pine Bluff receiver Raymond Webber and when quarterback Josh Boudreaux threw his first pass of the second half toward Webber, Rickerson was waiting.

"They started running crossing routes against the zone, so we came out in the second half and decided to 'man' up," Rickerson said. "I told Coach I wanted 86 (Webber) and he put me on him the rest of the game."

Rickerson's 17-yard interception return on the second play of the third quarter set up the Hornets' go-ahead touchdown and Alabama State went on to win 38-31 before 14,199 fans at Cramton Bowl on Saturday night.

Photo Gallery: ASU battles Arkansas Pine Bluff

Calvin propels UAPB Golden Lions to finals

University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions guard Terrance Calvin hits another winner.

Terrance Calvin has hit a lot of memorable last-second shots during his time at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The senior hit his most memorable one Friday. The shot sent his Golden Lions to the Southwestern Athletic Conference finals for the first time since 2006. Calvin made a 10-foot jumper with a defender in his face with 1.04 seconds left to clinch a 46-44 win over No. 3 seed Alabama State at the CenturyTel Center. The Golden Lions meet the winner of Grambling State-Texas Southern in the finals at 7:30 p.m. tonight.

"This is my No. 1 shot all-time," Calvin said. "We finally get to the finals. I've never been before. This feels great. Make it or miss it, I was going to take it. I made it." How Calvin got the last-second shot was even more thrilling. Allen Smith intercepted Alabama State's Tramaine Butler inbounds pass under ASU's basket with 26.59 seconds left. Savalance Townsend shot a pass to Calvin, setting up the game-winning shot from the left side.

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SWAC TOURNAMENT Calvin carries Lions into final

UAPB Lady Lions Upset Short-Handed Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers

University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Women Basketball Head Coach Cary Shelton.

It was right at tip-off that Cary Shelton realized the best team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference was at less than full strength. Shelton’s Arkansas-Pine Bluff women’s basketball team entered Saturday’s game in need of a win to keep its hopes for a berth in next month’s SWAC Tournament alive, and facing it was the team at the top of the standings — Prairie View A&M. But missing from Prairie View — which suited just eight players — was leading scorer Latara Darrett, second-leading scorer Candice Thomas and leading rebounder Gaati Werema, thanks to an assortment of injuries.

Shelton, though, said it didn’t matter that his Lady Lions were playing a skeletal form of the Lady Panthers. UAPB needed a win. And thanks to a decrease in turnovers from a loss on Monday and a continued emphasis on forcing them, the Lady Lions got a win, 72-59, over the defending conference champions at H.O. Clemmons Arena.

“It doesn’t matter who is out on the floor, you’ve got to go out and compete at a high level,” Shelton said. The first-year coach was disappointed with a level of competition displayed in a loss Monday night at Alcorn State, a game in which the Lady Lions committed 29 turnovers. On Saturday, he had no complaints.

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WEATHERS' LATE SHOT GIVES UAPB OVERTIME WIN

Ark.-Pine Bluff 57, Prairie View 55

UAPB Golden Lions Moving on Without Townsend

A second opinion from a Pine Bluff doctor provided the best of both worlds for Arkansas-Pine Bluff guard Savalace Townsend. The sophomore broke his right hand in a Feb. 8 game against Alabama State and an initial prognosis recommended season-ending surgery. He spent the next week pondering his next move — play with a broken bone in his shooting hand or check out of a season that still could end in a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship for UAPB.

UAPB 6-1/160 guard Savalace Townsend (#23) had successful hand surgery yesterday and is expected to return to play before the SWAC Tournament. The former Long Beach, Mississippi (Long Beach High School) star is averaging 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said Thursday. A day later, his decision was made a bit easier. Townsend had surgery on his hand in Pine Bluff Friday, but coach George Ivory said the recovery time is not expected to take up the rest of the season. The coach said he won’t be available for either game this weekend — UAPB (10-14, 10-3) hosts Prairie View A&M (13-10, 8-4) at 7:30 tonight — but the Golden Lions’ second-leading scorer is expected to return for the regular-season finale against Mississippi Valley State March 4. Hearing that news Friday, Ivory said, made the decision to have surgery easier for Townsend.

“I think when he realized he could play and come back and help the team, that was good for him,” Ivory said. “He had surgery and came back (during practice) and he’s doing well.” A day earlier, Townsend said he was struggling with the decision. At that time, though, he had only seen one doctor, and had been told surgery was required and that the procedure would make it so he missed the final five games, the SWAC Tournament and whatever games UAPB played after that. “I wasn’t having any of that,” Townsend said.

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As clock winds down, teams jockey for SWAC seeding position

Time is working against virtually every team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference except for Jackson State, and this weekend will have huge implications on the season-ending standings. Each team has seven games remaining except for Prairie View A&M (12-9, 7-3) and Texas Southern (11-11, 7-3), which have eight left. The weekend is huge for the two Houston programs as they get their home shots at JSU. If the Tigers go 0-for-2 on the trip, PVAM and TSU could pull into a three-way tie atop the conference, if they can also dispose of Grambling State (6-13, 4-7), which is making its Houston trip and attempting to hold off Southern (4-18, 2-9) for the last spot in the SWAC Tournament.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (8-14, 8-3) quietly sits in the best position this weekend with road games at Southern and winless Alcorn State, who are a combined 2-20 in SWAC play. It beat reigning league champion Alabama State (9-13, 6-5) for the first time in five tries on Monday, and put the Hornets in a must-win situation against in-state rival Alabama A&M on Saturday.

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University of Arkansas Pine Bluff signs 17 student-athletes

The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff football program has announced the addition of 17 student-athletes (PDF) who have signed National Letters of Intent to play for UAPB. The list of signees consists of 11 high school prepsters and six junior college transfers. "We're pleased with the young men we were able to bring into our football program," said Arkansas-Pine Bluff Head Football Coach Monte Coleman."

"We feel like we did a great job of addressing our needs both offensively and defensively. Boosting our core of linebackers and defensive backs was one of our top priorities on defense. Offensively we wanted to add depth at wide receiver and our other skill positions." Coleman believes this year's recruiting class will bolster the Golden Lions attack on both sides of the ball next season and during the years to follow. Last season Arkansas-Pine Bluff concluded their 2009 campaign with a 5-5 overall record while going 3-4 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.

2010 UAPB Football Signees

1. Benjamin Anderson QB 6-3 183 Little Rock, AR (Parkview HS)
2, Dezmond Beverly WR 6-2 190 Alexandria, LA (Alexandria HS)
3. C.J. Branch QB 6-2 225 Pine Bluff, AR (Watson Chapel HS)
4. Joe Dalton SS 6-1 195 Athens, TX (Trinity Valley CC)
5. Contrell Dix FS 6-1 195 Newman, GA (Newman HS)
6. De’Arius Fountain DL 6-0 340 N. Little Rock, AR (North Little Rock HS)
7. Antonio Harding LB 6-1 215 Warren, AR (Warren HS)
8. Roy Harvison LB 6-2 230 Fort Scott, KS (Fort Scott CC)
9. Greg Massey OL 6-2 280 Star City, AR (Star City HS)
10. Davonta Rich WR 6-0 180 N. Little Rock, AR (North Little Rock HS)
11. Sean Robison DL 6-2 275 Fort Smith, AR (Southside HS)
12. Elijah Tanksley FS 6-4 210 Decatur, MS (East Central CC)
13. Jamarean Buchanan RB 5-10 185 Dumas, AR (Dumas HS)
14. Emile Senghor WR 6-2 185 Quincy, CA (Feather River CC)
15. Chris Ewald K 5-10 180 Reno, NV (Butte CC)
16. Daniel King LB 6-2 235 Gulfport, MS (Mississippi Gulf CC)
17. Jeff Lambert RB 5-11 175 Little Rock, AR (Robinson HS)

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University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Releases 2010 Football Schedule

The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Athletics Department has released its 2010 football schedule which features a total of eleven contests highlighted by two classics and four home games. The Golden Lions will open their 2010 campaign traveling to El Paso, Texas to square off against the University of Texas-El Paso Miners. Arkansas-Pine Bluff will then get set to open Southwestern Athletic Conference play on road against Alabama State on Sept. 11.

After facing the Hornets, the Golden Lions will have a bye week before traveling to St. Louis to participate in the Gateway Classic on Sept. 25 against Clark Atlanta. UAPB will take on SWAC West rival Southern on October 2nd in Baton Rouge. The Golden Lions will then host their home opener on October 9th against Prairie View A&M (Sponsored by Tyson Foods). The following week Arkansas-Pine Bluff will host Alabama A&M on October 16th (Wal-Mart Community Day) before traveling to face Alcorn State on the road on Oct. 23.

The Delta Classic for Literacy featuring UAPB versus Grambling State will take place in Little Rock at War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 30. Homecoming 2010 has been slated for Nov. 6 as the Golden Lions will take the field against SWAC East rival Mississippi Valley State. UAPB's home finale will take place the next week on Nov. 13 against Jackson State (Senior Day). Arkansas-Pine Bluff will close out its regular season on the road in Houston, Texas against the Texas Southern Tigers on Nov. 20.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF
2010 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
(TENTATIVE)

9/4 University of Texas El Paso Away 8:05pm
9/11 Alabama State University * Away TBA
9/18 BYE
9/25 Clark Atlanta University St. Louis, MO 3:00pm
Gateway Classic
10/2 Southern University * Away TBA
10/9 Prairie View A&M University * Home 6:00pm
Tyson’s Food
10/16 Alabama A&M University * Home 6:00pm
Wal-Mart Community Day
10/23 Alcorn State University * Away TBA
10/30 Grambling State University * Little Rock, AR 2:30pm
Delta Classic 4 Literacy
11/6 Mississippi Valley State University * Home 2:30pm
Homecoming
11/13 Jackson State University * Home 2:30pm
Senior Day
11/20 Texas Southern University * Away TBA

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

U N I V E R S I T Y O F ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF
DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS
Dr. Lawrence A. Davis, Jr., Chancellor
• Louis B. “Skip” Perkins, Jr., Athletics Director
1200 North University Drive, Mail Slot 4891 • Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601
Phone: (870) 575-8675 · fax: (870) 575-7880
Ticket Office (870) 575-8601
www.UAPBLionsRoar.com

Arkansas - Pine Bluff 49, Grambling State 42

Pine Bluff prevails over Grambling in shootout

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lion football (5-3, 3-2 SWAC) team prevailed over the Grambling State Tigers (5-4, 3-2 SWAC) 49-42 on Saturday. Offensively UAPB erupted for its largest point total output of the season as they clicked on all cylinders rushing and throwing the ball with a high success rate. Josh Boudreaux went 11-of-18 for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mickey Dean led all Golden Lions rushers with 20 carries for 81 yards and 2 touchdowns. Dean also threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Raymond Webber to put Arkansas-Pine Bluff ahead 14-10 in the second quarter.

SWAC Big-play bonanza lifts Lions

It took a little more than two minutes for Arkansas Pine-Bluff to flip the momentum in Saturday’s Delta Classic 4 Literacy. UAPB scored 28 points in a span of 2:14 and held on for a 49-42 victory over Grambling State before 26,211 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The Golden Lions scored three times in the final 1:56 of the first half, using a roughing-the-kicker penalty, a mistake by the Grambling State punter and an interception to turn a 10-7 deficit into a 28-10 halftime lead. UAPB then ran back the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown and a 35-10 lead early in the third quarter.

UAPB SCORES SEASON HIGH IN GRAMBLING WIN

LITTLE ROCK — For the last couple of weeks, Arkansas-Pine Bluff has felt as if it were on the verge of breaking loose. During a period of just over two minutes at the end of the second and beginning of the third quarters on Saturday, the Golden Lions took risks, hit on big plays and took advantage of Grambling State mistakes to help them score more points than they have in a single afternoon in more than four years. The 28-point barrage that ended with a 95-yard kickoff return by Mareo Howard to start the second-half turned a four-point UAPB deficit into a 25-point lead that the best defense in the league almost let slip through its fingers.

But, it didn’t. UAPB made enough plays after Grambling State twice cut the lead to a single touchdown and eventually held on for a 49-42 win over the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference Champions at War Memorial Stadium.

TRICK PLAY HELPS GOLDEN LIONS JUMPSTART RALLY

LITTLE ROCK — Five years ago Mickey Dean stood on the turf at War Memorial Stadium and, from his running back position, threw a touchdown pass that helped Little Rock Central beat West Memphis for a state championship. Dean was a high school senior then. On Saturday, as a senior for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Dean lofted a similar pass in the same stadium that helped kickstart a rally that has kept UAPB in another title hunt. Dean’s pass, gloved-hands and all, found Raymond Webber in the back of the south end zone and gave the Golden Lions a 14-10 lead and jumpstarted a string of big plays that pushed that lead to 35-10 just 15 seconds into the third quarter.

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UAPB DEFENSE TOPS IN THE SWAC — WANTS TO STAY THERE

Last game: UAPB Golden Lions 45, Langston 30

Every season, Arkansas-Pine Bluff sets a goal of having the top defense in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Every season the Golden Lions have made strides in accomplishing this goal. After their defense finished last in the 10-team league in total defense in 2006, the Golden Lions moved up to eighth in 2007 and a respectable fourth place last season. Now, through the first two games of the 2009 season, the UAPB defense is the No. 1 ranked defense in the SWAC, surrendering only 203.5 yards per game in its first two outings. “Our goal is at the end of the year to have the No. 1 defense in the SWAC and one of the No. 1 defenses in the country,” said first-year defensive coordinator Alonzo Hampton. “All we want to do is to keep continuing on it.”

Hampton has laid out a plan to help the Golden Lions do just that. It involves using UAPB’s depth on defense to rotate players, thus keeping everyone fresh to pursue the football and stop the run. In two games, the Golden Lions (1-1) have done a good job of the latter. Facing two of the better running threats they’ll see all season, UAPB’s defense limited Arkansas-Monticello quarterback Scott Buisson —the reigning Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year — to only 19 yards on 11 carries. Then, last week, Langston’s Carlos Ross was limited to only 65 yards on 12 carries. Senior defensive end Jared Dorn, who is third on the team with 11 tackles, said stopping a team’s rushing attack makes the opponent one-dimensional and thus easier to contain.

UAPB Set to Host Community Day

On Thursday, October 1st the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Football team will host Alcorn State at 6:00 pm at Golden Lions Stadium in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPNU. The UAPB Department of Athletics in conjunction with Wal-Mart has tabbed the game "Community Day". Various free health screenings will be available on the stadium grounds at Community Day. In addition all fans that bring a canned good to the game will be admitted into the stadium for $5. Children and youth ages 0-18 will be admitted into the game free of charge with a paying adult (limit 5 children per adult). The UAPB Athletics Department has also received confirmation that Nerjyzed Game Studios will be at the contest on Thursday night allowing football game enthusiast a free chance to play its newest version of Black College Football 2010 on its BCFX Tour Bus which is equipped with 12 flat screens televisions.

Golden Lion Stadium and Fieldhouse

UAPB may drop UAM from schedule

Arkansas-Pine Bluff might drop Arkansas-Monticello from its schedule after losing to the Division II school for the second consecutive season. The Division I Golden Lions, who play in the Football Championship Subdivision, fell 27-3 to the Boll Weevils on Saturday. UAPB lost 21-7 in last year's matchup. Although the teams are supposed to play again next season, UAPB athletic director Skip Perkins indicated his school might buy out of the game. Perkins said it was a "lose-lose situation" for UAPB and that he can understand why the Arkansas Razorbacks don't want to play in-state schools.

UAPB OVERCOMES MISTAKES, BIG PLAYS TO PICK UP FIRST WIN

There were stalled drives, a rash of penalties and an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that made it so the Golden Lions headed into halftime trailing an NAIA team on their home field.But, unlike in a loss to Division-II Arkansas-Monticello last week , UAPB stood up and fought back. It used turnovers and big plays of its own to put a pesky team away.The Golden Lions scored their first touchdown of the season on their first drive of the second half Saturday, and Kevin Thornton returned two interceptions for touchdowns to complete the 45-30 come-from-behind win over Langston (Okla.) University. That point total tied the most for the Golden Lions since a 2006 win over Southern, and it brought a much-needed, early-season win to UAPB.“I was very proud of them,” UAPB coach Monte Coleman said. “We go down, they get the football, it could have been a good opportunity to do what we did last week. We can’t afford that.”

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UAPB Golden Lions jockey for SWAC position

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas - Those dreams of a No. 1 seed in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament pretty much ended a month ago for Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Not too recently, a No. 2 spot became an impossibility as well. But the Golden Lions are looking at a possible third-place conference finish after polishing off Grambling State 69-61 Saturday at Clemmons Arena.

With two games left in the regular season, including an ESPNU televised home game with Jackson State tomorrow, Arkansas-Pine Bluff still can overtake Prairie View A&M for third place in the SWAC. Thanks to Prairie View A&M losing Saturday, the two teams are tied for third.

UAPB Golden Lions head basketball coach George Ivory

Better yet, the Golden Lions' offensive play Saturday hinted at a team peaking just in time for the postseason. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (11-16, 10-6 SWAC) put the Tigers on their heels early, taking a 17-2 lead in the first seven minutes and shooting 59 percent from the floor in the first half. On the way, the Golden Lions revealed a new offensive wrinkle: three-point shooting.

One of the league's shakiest teams from behind the arc, Arkansas-Pine Bluff made five of nine three-point attempts in the first half, starting with an early one by Tyree Glass that put the Golden Lions up 8-0. "They've been working pretty hard at the threes," Arkansas-Pine Bluff Coach George Ivory said. "They're better focused on offense."

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COLEMAN TARGETS OFFENSE IN SECOND RECRUITING CLASS

Make the most of opportunity, no matter where it is

UAPB Coach Monte Coleman signs a potentially great possession receiver in LaDarius Eckwood.

High school football players in the state should take note of Arkansas' 2009 recruiting class. Razorbacks Coach Bobby Petrino and his staff used their connections to recruit players from all over the country, from California to Florida. Of the 30 players who signed, only six are from Arkansas. Petrino will still go after the very best in Arkansas, but he'll quickly look elsewhere if he can't fulfill his needs at home. That's good for the Arkansas program, but maybe not so good for a few more kids who dream of being a Razorback.

Springdale receiver LaDarius Eckwood had visions of playing for the Razorbacks since hearing stories about his great uncle, Jerry Eckwood, who was a top running back at Arkansas in the 1970s. LaDarius Eckwood had a standout senior season with 108 catches for 1,505 yards, including a school-record 19 catches for 305 yards against Fort Smith Northside. Still, Arkansas only showed little interest, and Eckwood signed with Arkansas-Pine Bluff after also considering Arkansas State and Central Arkansas.

View LaDarius Eckwood Video: Ladarius Eckwood

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UAPB Coleman targets offense in second recruiting class

The Arkansas-Pine Bluff offense ranked in the bottom half of the Southwestern Athletic Conference in several statistical categories last season. Considering that fact, finding players who can provide immediate offensive help was UAPB’s main focus this recruiting season. And when UAPB coach Monte Coleman announced his second recruiting class as coach on Wednesday, he feels most of those needs were addressed.

Eleven of the 17 players who signed national letters of intent on Wednesday are expected to play on the offensive side for the Golden Lions. That includes six wide receivers, two quarterbacks, two running backs and an offensive lineman. Another wide receiver signed a letter of intent at a ceremony at his school on Wednesday, but as of Wednesday evening, Coleman had not yet received it. “There is a focus on that part of the ball,” Coleman said. “We needed receivers, quarterbacks and offensive (linemen).”

UAPB’s emphasis wasn’t put toward the offensive line as much as when it signed 10 players to those positions last year but directed more toward players at the skill positions. The Golden Lions, who finished 3-9 in Coleman’s first season as coach, were eighth in the SWAC in scoring offense, ninth in total offense and 10th in passing offense.

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The 2009 Signers to UAPB Golden Lion Football

Name: Pos. Height Weight Hometown/High school

1. Parker Taylor WR 6'5" 198 Brownwood, TX/ Brownwood High School
2. Kaci Robinson LB/DE 6'3" 260 Little Rock, AR/ Independence Jr College
3. Quinn Franklin WR 6'2" 215 Monticello, AR/ Warren High School
4. Joshua Boudreaux QB 6'4" 210 Baton Rouge, LA/ Sacramento Jr College
5. Raphael Hendrix FS 6'2" 190 Marshall, TX/ Marshall High School
6. Justin Billings TB 5'9" 205 El Dorado, AR/ El Dorado High School
7. John Toney TB 5'10" 210 El Dorado, AR/ El Dorado High School
8. T.Q. Mims QB 6'1" 190 Minden, LA/ Minden High School
9. Chris Bolton WR 5'11" 185 Monroe, LA/ Quachita High School
10. Hardie Ezell DL 6'3" 265 Gautier, MS/ Gautier High School
11. Arthur Washington DT 6'2" 270 Dallas, TX/ Dallas Skyline High School
12. Jeffrey Amey DT 6'3" 275 Helena, AR/ West Helena Central High
13. Jarvis Webb SS 5'11" 190 Pine Bluff, AR/ Pine Bluff High School
14. Cordara Frazier WR 6'3" 195 Pine Bluff, AR/ Pine Bluff High School
15. Damien Lee DT 6'3" 250 Little Rock, AR/ Little Rock Central High
16. Ledarius Eckwood WR 6'2" 180 Springdale, AR/ Springdale High School
17. Nicholas Clary WR 5'11" 180 Fordyce, AR/ Fordyce High School

UAPB Golden Lions Release 2009 Football Schedule

by UAPB Sports Information

Classics, Five Home Games Highlight 2009 Golden Lion Football Schedule

PINE BLUFF, AR - A pair of exciting college football Classics and five home games highlight the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff's 2009 Golden Lions' football schedule, which was released by the UAPB athletic department on Tuesday.

The Golden Lions are slated to take on fellow Southwestern Athletic Conference member Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 19 in the annual Chicago Classic and second-year head coach Monte Coleman's troops will once again travel to Dallas during the Thanksgiving weekend to battle SWAC nemesis Texas Southern in the Dallas Lone Star Classic on Nov. 28.

In addition, five home games are also on the Golden Lions' schedule for the upcoming season. Last year UAPB had six home games at Golden Lion Stadium. UAPB opens the season on Sept. 5 against long-time foe Arkansas-Monticello at Golden Lion Stadium, followed by Central (OH) State in Pine Bluff on Sept. 12. After the Chicago trip on Sept. 19, UAPB travels to Huntsville, AL to take on Alabama A&M on Sept. 26.

"We're extremely pleased with this year's football schedule," UAPB Director of Athletics Louis "Skip" Perkins said. "Our fans have asked us for more "Classics" and we've tried to accommodate that request with the addition of the game in Chicago and our return to Dallas."

UAPB returns home to take on Alcorn State (Oct. 3), before traveling to Jackson State (Oct. 10). The Golden Lions close out the month with a pair of home games: Edward Waters College (Oct. 24) which will serve as the annual homecoming contest and Southern University (Oct. 31). The Golden Lions will spend the entire month of November on the road as Grambling State (Nov. 7 in the annual Delta Classic 4 Literacy in Little Rock), Prairie View A&M in Houston (Nov. 21) and Texas Southern in the Dallas Lone Star Classic (Nov. 28) wrap up the Golden Lions' 11-game season.

UAPB 2009 Schedule
Sept. 5 Arkansas-Monticello @ Golden Lion Stadium
Sept. 12 Central State (OH) @ Golden Lion Stadium
Sept. 19 Mississippi Valley @ Chicago Classic, Chicago, IL
Sept. 27 Alabama A&M @ Huntsville, AL
Oct. 3 Alcorn State @ Golden Lion Stadium
Oct. 10 Jackson State @ Jackson, MS
Oct. 24 Edward Waters College (Homecoming)@ Golden Lion Stadium
Oct. 31 Southern University @ Golden Lion Stadium
Nov. 7 Grambling State (Delta Classic 4 Literacy) @ Little Rock, AR
Nov. 21 Prairie View A&M @ Houston, TX
Nov. 28 Texas Southern @ Dallas Lone Star Classic, Dallas, TX

Tip-in a winner for UAPB over Texas Southern

UAPB Coach George Ivory

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - No coasting this time around. After blowing out their previous Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent, the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions needed a last-second tip-in by Tavaris Washington to post a 58-56 victory over Texas Southern on Saturday at Clemmons Arena. Terrance Calvin and Savalance Townsend led UAPB (5-12, 4-2 SWAC) with 13 points each, while Gavin Montgomery added 10. UAPB forced 30 turnovers.

The Golden Lions lumbered through the first half, making 8 of 25 field-goal attempts. Most of those attempts came from long range, including 11 three-point attempts, only two of which were made. The Golden Lions entered Saturday making just over 27 percent of their threepointers. UAPB Coach George Ivory said he'd like to see better shooting numbers, but he'd also rather see aggressiveness, even if it backfires. "I was a little disappointed with them," Ivory said. "But we need to be coming with the shots. We need to take shots."

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Auditors: UAPB Payment to coach broke law

State auditors said Monday that the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff had no statutory authority to pay $175,000 in severance to its former football coach by funneling the money through its alumni association. A finding by the Division of Legislative Audit stated that the attorney general has opined that using public funds for private purposes likely violates the "public purpose" doctrine that public funds should be used for public purposes and, thus the "illegal exaction" provision of Article 16, Section 13 in the Arkansas Constitution.

University officials said the Arkansas Supreme Court has already ruled that severance paid to former Little Rock Superintendent Roy Brooks didn't violate the state constitution. "How did you all pay off the superintendent of Little Rock?" asked UAPB Chancellor Lawrence Davis of reporters after the meeting. "Our attorneys said we had a precedent in that case."

Davis said paying the money to the alumni association was the only option to meet the terms of former coach Maurice Forte's contract that included language that any severance would be paid by a third party. Forte was fired in November 2007. "We don't have a strong support group right now. So we said we'll let you have it, take care of it for us, and we'll get it back eventually," Davis said. By negotiating a severance with Forte, "we saved some money," Davis said. "We had to make a change, I'm telling you, somehow."

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Lone Star Classic: UAPB uses Mallett to batter opponent TSU

IRVING, Texas — Senior running back Martell Mallett ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns, powering Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a 28-7 victory over Texas Southern on Saturday at Texas Stadium. Mallett led a running attack that ran up 204 yards, giving the Golden Lions 319 yards of total offense. The victory ends the season for UAPB (3-9, 2-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference), which won two of its last three games.

Mallett’s 2-yard touchdown run capped a first-quarter drive that took 6: 08 off the clock. The Golden Lions scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, the first coming when senior quarterback Jonathan Moore scrambled for a 13-yard score. Moore connected with De’Vonte Whitmore on a 32-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds left in the half, giving the Golden Lions just their fourth passing touchdown of the season.
Mallett scored from 4 yards out near the start of the fourth quarter, putting UAPB up 28-7. The Golden Lions entered Saturday with the top-ranked pass defense in the SWAC, and they built on those numbers against the Tigers (4-8, 1-6 ).

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Attendance: 14,522 at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas

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Lonestar Classic @ Cotton Bowl features TSU vs. Arkansas - Pine Bluff

Texas Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff square off in the inaugural Dallas Lonestar Classic 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Cotton Bowl.

The Tigers (4-7) are climbing back to respectability following a winless campaign in 2007. Tigers quarterback Bobby Reid, formerly of Oklahoma State, had season-ending knee surgery this month. His replacement, Cornelius Harmon, has thrown for 809 yards and six touchdowns in the last four games. Wide receiver William Osbourne is one of the SWAC's most electrifying playmakers with 75 catches for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Golden Lions (2-9) have won two of their last four games, including a 34-0 drilling of Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 15. Running back Martell Mallett had 24 carries for 160 yards and two touchdowns in the victory and has 128 carries for 778 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

And this black college football showdown wouldn't be complete without the battle of the bands. At halftime, Texas Southern's Ocean of Soul and Pine Bluff's Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South take center stage.