Virginia State Trojan Football Releases 2012 Football Schedule

PETERSBURG, Virginia  -  Virginia State University has released its 2012 football schedule that features Norfolk State University coming from the MEAC conference, Benedict College coming from the SIAC conference, and West Liberty State University coming from WVIAC conference. The Trojans will host five home games this season compared to only having three home games the entire last season. The Trojans practically lived on the road last season taking on two NCAA I-AA schools in Norfolk State University and Gardner-Webb University.

Virginia State will kick-off their season on Sept. 1 in Norfolk, VA at the Annual Labor Day Classic against Norfolk State University. The Trojans suffered a disappointing lost to the Spartans, falling 37-3 in last season’s match. On Sept. 8 the Trojans open at home against the visiting West Liberty State University at Rogers Stadium in Ettrick, VA.

Virginia State will hit the road for the next two weekends traveling to Columbia, SC and Charlotte, NC. The Trojans take on Benedict College on Sept. 15 and then begin their CIAA conference schedule headed to Charlotte, NC, to play the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University. Last season the Trojans suffered a heart breaking lost to the Golden Bulls 14-7. The Trojans lost on a last second offensive turnover that lead to a Golden Bulls score with under a minute left in regulation. VSU looks to avenge the tough lost last season.

On Sept. 29, VSU will play their home conference opener against Shaw University at Rogers Stadium in Ettrick, VA. The Trojans and Bears last squared off in the 2010 CIAA Championship game with the Bears edging the Trojans 14-7 at Durham County Stadium.



Their next opponent will be northern divisional rival Elizabeth City State University on Oct. 6. Last season the Vikings finished the regular season with a record of 8-4 and 6-1 in conference play. They also played in the CIAA Championship game and fell to the Rams of Winston-Salem State University.

On Oct. 13, the Trojans travel to Bowie, MD to take on the Bulldogs of Bowie State in another northern divisional game. Last season, the Trojans defeated the Bulldogs 28-21 in a thrilling overtime game at home. Freshmen running back, Tyler Wilson carried the Trojans to a win with 149 all-purpose yards.

On Saturday, October 20th Virginia State University’s football team will host Homecoming 2012 against Lincoln (Pa.) at 1:30 p.m. in Rogers Stadium. VSU holds a 6-0 lead in the series, winning last season meeting 21-16 on the road in West Grove, PA.

Following Homecoming the Trojans will host the visiting Hawks of Chowan closing out the 2012 home schedule on Saturday, Oct. 27. In their last meeting the Trojans defeated the Hawks at home in a superior fashion, 38-20. Prior to the kickoff versus the Hawks, Virginia State will honor its 2012 senior class.

Virginia State closes the season with a road game against I-95 rival, Virginia Union University on Nov. 3 in Richmond, VA. The Trojans tamed the Panthers last season with a 39-14 win on Homecoming 2011.

2012 VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DATE   OPPONENT  LOCATION TIME
9/01/12 at Norfolk State, Norfolk, VA  6:00 p.m.
9/08/12 West Liberty State, Ettrick, VA  4:00 p.m.
9/15/12 at Benedict College, Columbia, SC 4:00 p.m.
9/22/12 at Johnson C. Smith, Charlotte, NC TBA
9/29/12 Shaw University, Ettrick, VA  6:00 p.m.
10/6/12 Elizabeth City State, Ettrick, VA 6:00 p.m.
10/13/12 at Bowie State, Bowie, MD TBA
10/20/12 Lincoln (Pa.) (Homecoming), Ettrick, VA 1:30 p.m.
10/27/12 Chowan, Ettrick, VA  1:30 p.m.
11/03/12 at Virginia Union, Richmond, VA TBA

COURTESY: VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hoosier to play basketball at Virginia State

PETERSBURG, Virginia - For Petersburg basketball senior Marcus Hoosier, he likes putting different songs together in hopes to find that perfect mix.  But if one were to take the Crimson Wave's guard skills of anticipation, timing, defense and leadership, Hoosier forms the perfect mix.

The senior co-captain will take that perfect mix to play Division II college basketball at Virginia State University next season. Hoosier plans on studying audio engineering at Virginia State bringing together his two loves - music and basketball.

"I felt like that the coaches really cared. I like the whole rebuilding of their program there at Virginia State," Hoosier said. "They cared about the education part too which I liked. It's like a family there which is what I have here."

Hoosier also likes the fact that he will get to play in front of his family and carry on the tradition of going to Virginia State like his mother did. The Petersburg senior is hoping to bring that Crimson Wave pride to the Virginia State Trojans.

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Winston Salem State Tops Virginia State In CIAA Opener 56-43

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - The Winston-Salem State Rams beat the Virginia State Trojans on Thursday night at the C.E. Gaines Center in Winston-Salem, NC.

The Rams move to 8-2 overall and 1-0 in CIAA play.



WSSU wins CIAA opener

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - Winston-Salem State's opening CIAA game was no thing of beauty, but it was a victory and that's all that mattered.

The Rams finally solved Virginia State's packed-in zone in the second half to come away with a 56-43 victory at the Gaines Center on Thursday night.

It wasn't until midway through the second half that the Rams hit some key 3-pointers to put away the pesky Trojans (1-11, 0-1). The Trojans hardly resembled a team on a five-game losing streak and with the worst record among CIAA teams.

"They kind of clogged the middle and forced us to take a lot of 3-pointers," said Kimani Hunt, who hit a big 3-pointer with 7:03 left that gave the Rams an eight-point lead and some breathing room. "Marcus (Wells) knocked down some 3s as well, but we knew we had to make some of them."

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Honda Battle of the Bands 2011 Set to Rock Atlanta

More than 60,000 fans will flock through the gates of Atlanta’s Georgia Dome on January 29th, 2011 to witness the 9th annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase, an unparalleled performance and celebration of the nation’s elite marching bands. Renowned Hip-Hop performer and actor “Bow Wow” will join more than 1,800 student musicians and one of Atlanta’s best amateur vocalists to celebrate the music and creativity found at America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).



The Invitational Showcase Line-Up

For the highly anticipated 2011 showdown, the curtain will go up promptly at 3:00 p.m. EST. The bill includes a special guest performance by “Bow Wow,” along with crowd-pleasing routines by the nation’s top eight elite black college marching bands. Georgia’s own Albany State University will open the show and lead this year’s “great eight” performances in the following order:

1. Albany State University “Marching Rams Show Band”
2. Tennessee State University “Aristocrat of Bands”
3. Virginia State University “Trojan Explosion Marching Band”
4. Clark Atlanta University “Mighty Marching Panthers”
5. Jackson State University “The Sonic Boom of the South”
6. Winston-Salem State University “Red Sea of Sound”
7. South Carolina State University “Marching 101”
8. Bethune Cookman University “Marching Wildcats”



Grants, Internships, and More

The Honda Battle of the Bands program not only provides a platform to shine a rare spotlight on the pageantry, pride and showmanship of HBCU music and culture, but it also is the only national music scholarship program of its kind. For the 2011 program, 45 HBCU marching bands participated in the pre-qualifying “Celebration Tour,” and received $1,000 grants for their music programs. An additional $20,000 will be awarded to the eight institutions selected to participate in this month’s Invitational Showcase.

In addition to the distribution of grant monies, the program also includes internship opportunities through the Fox Music Experience, and an HBCU Recruitment Fair will expose future college students to all HBCUs have to offer. The Fox Music Experience, now in its fourth year, provides one HBOB Invitational Showcase student-musician the opportunity to spend a few weeks during the summer months as an intern at Twentieth Century Fox studios in Los Angeles, learning film and television music production first-hand. The Honda Battle of the Bands HBCU Recruitment Fair, now in its sixth year, gives young people the opportunity to meet with marching band and admissions recruiters to discuss admissions requirements and scholarship opportunities.

Group and individual tickets for the show are still available, but moving quickly. They can be purchased at the Georgia Dome Box Office, via www.Ticketmaster.com or www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com for just $10 and $12.



For more information on the Invitational Showcase, Fox Music Experience summer internship program and HBCU Recruitment Fair, photos, press materials and video footage visit www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com, the official online destination and clearinghouse for all HBOB information.

Hip-Hop Icon “Bow Wow” to Perform

Hip-Hop artist and actor “Bow Wow” will be on hand as the special guest performer this year. The Columbus, Ohio native is best known for his musical lineage, taking his stage name from his mentor, fellow rapper-actor “Snoop Dog,” Bow Wow’s film credits include The Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Lottery Ticket. He is also noted for his cameo appearances in the critically-acclaimed television series, “Smallville,” “Ugly Betty,” “Entourage” and others.



Amateur Vocalists Welcomed To Audition for National Anthem

The Honda Battle of the Bands national anthem will be performed by a talented local vocalist selected once through a promotional radio “sing-off.” WVEE-FM, or “V-103,” Atlanta’s top-ranked urban radio station, is partnering with the Honda Battle of the Bands once again to invite listeners 16 years of age or older to demonstrate their vocal skills for a once–in-a-lifetime opportunity to open the 2011 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase. This year, three finalists will be selected by a panel of judges at the open audition on Saturday, January 8th, 2011 at the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia, Georgia. Music fans can then log on to the station's web site and vote for their favorite rendition of the national anthem. The winner will be announced on-air on January 21st, 2011, and he or she will command the spotlight to open the showcase on January 29th.

HONDA Battle of the Bands announces Winners

Three months ago, 45 marching bands from the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) began the journey down the “Road to the Honda,” all competing for a spot in the 2010 Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) Invitational Showcase. Out of 45 competing marching bands from the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), eight have been chosen to perform in January at the 2010 Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) Invitational Showcase.




Representing varied music and performance styles ranging from precision to high-stepping, the eight headlining bands are:

• Albany State University “Marching Rams” (Albany, Georgia)

• Clark Atlanta University “Mighty Marching Panthers” (Atlanta, Georgia)

• Florida A&M University “Marching 100” (Tallahassee, Florida)

• North Carolina Central University “Marching Sound Machine” (Durham, North Carolina)

• Prairie View A&M University “Marching Storm” (Prairie View, Texas)

• Southern University “Human Jukebox Marching Band” (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

• Tuskegee University “Marching Crimson Pipers” (Tuskegee, Alabama)

• Virginia State University “Trojan Explosion Marching Band” (Petersburg, Virginia)






On January 30, 2010, the bands will perform for a crowd of 60,000 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and prove why they are the best of the best. Marking its eighth year, the Honda Battle of the Bands is the only national scholarship program that showcases an important facet of HBCU heritage and culture – music education.

The eight winning band programs chosen to participate in this year’s Invitational Showcase will be awarded $20,000 by American Honda for their music programs in addition to the $1,000 grant they received for participation in the pre-qualifying fall campus event tour. Through this program Honda is awarding a total of $205,000 in scholarships to HBCU music programs for the 2009-10 academic year, and since the beginning of the program, has awarded grants in excess of $1 million.