Monte & Jed: They have played football together (almost) forever

By John Dell, JOURNAL REPORTER

Monte & Jed: They have played football together through Pop Warner, Parkland and now WSSU

Quarterback Monte Purvis and running back Jed Bines of Winston-Salem State have been together so long it’s hard to imagine one without the other.

They met as eager 9-year-olds trying to learn football and wound up on the same team. They have been teammates ever since, together for 13 seasons.

“I was actually the quarterback,” Bines proudly announced, regarding their first team, “and Monte was a running back.”

Before Bines could finish his sentence, Purvis chimed in: “Yeah, but that didn’t last long because I was quarterback in the next game.”

Purvis and Bines, now 22 and fifth-year seniors, will start their last season together Saturday, when WSSU opens against N.C. A&T at Bowman Gray Stadium.

During their younger days, they teamed on two Pop Warner national-championship teams - triumphs documented in a scrapbook by Purvis’ parents, Darlene and Randolph.

As high-school juniors, they teamed to help Parkland win the Class 3-A state title, in 2001.

They have been separated at times. Purvis was a four-year starter at Parkland, and Bines spent much of his freshman season on the junior varsity before moving up. They also were apart during redshirt seasons at WSSU.

“It’s great that they have come this far,” Darlene Purvis said. “It’s rare to see two friends like that stay together for so long. And they’ve grown up now and will graduate. That’s something I’m thrilled about.”


Running back Jed Bines (1) and quarterback Monte Purvis (4) met as 9-year-olds. They won two Pop Warner national football championships together and went on to star at Parkland. Now they are both 22 and fifth-year seniors at WSSU. (Journal photo by Bruce Chapman / Photos courtesy of family)


Purvis and Bines come from different backgrounds. Purvis always had a stable home life. Bines, as a 5-year-old, saw his mother killed and was raised by his grandmother, Irene Williams. Without Williams, Bines said, he doesn’t know where he would be.

“I know she’ll be at all the home games, and she’s been so supportive of me,” Bines said of Williams, whom he calls Mama. “She was always with me when I was young and went through some tough times.”

Williams is a strong-willed person who taught Bines not only to respect people but also to always appreciate things in life. She also passed her strong faith on to Bines. “I always pray for Jed, more than he knows,” she said.

Williams said she wasn’t at all surprised that Bines did what he had to in the classroom last year after being academically ineligible.

“He’s always been determined, and he wanted to play football again, so he wasn’t going to be denied,” Williams said.

Williams said that Bines was a natural with a football from the age of 2 or 3.

“He used to carry that football everywhere he went,” she said. “It’s hard to believe he’s in his last year of college, especially when I look at some of the pictures of him playing Pop Warner.”

Williams said that there have always been doubters who thought that Bines would never amount to much. He is majoring in math, and she said that someday he wants to teach and maybe coach high-school football.

“Now he’s going to graduate from college,” Williams said. “I’ve always told him that just because folks are grinning at you doesn’t mean they are your friends. But he’s showed a lot of determination, and I can’t say enough about how proud I am of him.”

Darlene Purvis knows about the struggles Bines has endured.

“Jed was always like one of my boys,” Darlene said. “He and Monte would be here all the time when they were both at Parkland.”

The two nearly split up after graduating from Parkland in 2003.

Photo: Monte Purvis
Bigger colleges were recruiting Bines, mainly because of his gaudy statistics and ability to break tackles. Purvis wasn’t getting the same attention, in part because of his size (he was listed at 5-10 in high school).
If not for a coaching change at East Carolina in December 2002, Bines probably would have ended up there. But after Steve Logan was fired, the staff that stayed stopped recruiting Bines.

“It was a couple of days after signing day, and I called up Monte and we talked,” Bines said. “And I said, ‘What do you want to do?’ and we decided to bring our scholarship papers with us to school the next day, and we both signed to play with Winston-Salem State.”

It was one of Coach Kermit Blount’s best recruiting efforts, bringing in two local players who have excelled. Bines is No. 6 in school history in career rushing yards (2,675) and career touchdowns (28). Purvis has passed for nearly 1,800 yards.

“When they were being recruited in high school, Coach (Dee) Bell told them that there’s a chance they might not be able to go to the same school,” Darlene Purvis said. “Some schools weren’t looking at them together because Jed was a little more highly recruited, but Coach Blount wanted them to come, and they both decided to go there.”

Purvis said that seeing his friend stay in school and regain his eligibility has been inspiring.

“That says to me about the dedication he showed,” Purvis said. “It shows that he didn’t give up on school or the football team. That shows what kind of person he is, because quitting isn’t something he’s ever done.”

Parkland’s Bell called Purvis and Bines two of the toughest players he has coached. Bines is Parkland’s all-time leading rusher with 5,878 yards and 71 touchdowns, and Purvis set the school record for most starts in a career, going 40-11 over four years.

“I think of not only how good they were on the field for us but what great friends they are,” Bell said. “For four years they were as close as anybody I know, and you can ask anybody when they were here at Parkland, you never saw one without the other.”

Bell found it tough to pick a highlight from their high-school careers before settling on a play against Wilson Hunt during the state-championship season, when Purvis and Bines ran an option play that went for about an 80-yard touchdown.

“I swear I think all 11 guys missed,” Bell said. “I think one of their guys actually missed twice. It was just something else to watch those two run the option.”

Bell played for N.C. A&T and is a big Aggies’ fan, but he said that come Saturday, he’ll be rooting for Bines and Purvis.

“I’m going to get to all four of their home games,” Bell said. “Since it’s their last go-round, I want to watch as much as I can.”

Darlene Purvis said it’s great seeing how far the two have come. “I’m proud of both of them,” she said.

Four transfers make a quick impact on TSU defense

By MIKE ORGAN, Staff Writer

Four transfers have made it to the first team defense and will start for Tennessee State when the Tigers open the season Saturday at LP Field. They will face Alabama A&M in the John Merritt Classic.

Sophomore cornerback Marquez Hall, who transferred from Vanderbilt, began working with the first-team unit during the first week of practice and has been a staple throughout camp.

More recently, Kellen Woodard, a linebacker who transferred from Western Michigan last season, has moved to defensive end, where he will start on the opposite side of veteran Shaun Richardson.

Harold Ayodele, a transfer from Coffeyville Community College, has moved into a starting spot at nose tackle, and Ramone Willis, a transfer from Illinois, has jumped ahead of last year's starting linebacker Kalvin Baker.

The emergence of Woodard and the arrival of Ayodele in preseason camp helped to relieve some concerns of the coaching staff about a defensive front that lost three starters.

Photo: Head Football Coach James Webster, TSU

"Woodard has gotten a lot stronger, he's gotten a lot more physical, he's gotten more aggressive, and he's shown really good intelligence," said Coach James Webster.

"Last year we had him between end and linebacker so he never really got to a chance to settle in. This fall camp we put him at one position and kept him at that one position, and it's been good for him."

Richardson is the only returning starter on the line.

Lamar Divens, who started the first three games before being ruled ineligible, will be the other starter at tackle.

Former Antioch star Mark Drew has moved from linebacker to defensive end, where he is backing up Woodard.

Willis caught the attention of the staff at the start of camp, which helped him move ahead of Baker, who was the team's leading tackler before being injured toward the end of last season.

"Willis has emerged as a leader for us," Webster said. "He was a starter for Illinois. He's got really good speed, excellent athletic ability, and he's a good hitter. He's added a positive dimension to our defense."

Moore out: Freshman receiver Jonathan Moore from Maplewood, who was working with the first team, is not expected to play Saturday because of a sprained ankle. Moore has not been able to practice at full-speed since the injury two weeks ago.

New practice time: After starting afternoon practice at 6 p.m. through training camp, the Tigers will begin today at 4 p.m. Classes began Monday and there was no practice.

Nevels gone: Former Pearl-Cohn offensive lineman Robert Nevels, who earned a starting assignment as a freshman last season, has quit the team.

Gordon's tutoring plus for Jackson State's Johnson

Jackson State senior Jaymar Johnson spent part of this summer training with former JSU star and current San Diego Chargers return specialist Cletis Gordon.

Johnson will likely return both punts and kickoffs for the Tigers this season and said the pointers he picked up from Gordon in training should prove invaluable once the season starts.

"I can't show you everything because I've got to save it for the field," Johnson said laughing. "But Cletis knows what he's doing. He was just showing me some little things to maybe slow down the gunners coming for me on the outside."

Johnson, who was also Jackson State's leading receiver last season, said the team has spent quite a bit of time the past few days watching film of Delta State. The Tigers play DSU at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Statesmen, ranked No. 12 in the country in the AFCA NCAA Division II poll, have a celebrated defense led by All-America linebacker Michael Eubanks. But Johnson said he thinks there's potential to find some holes, especially in the secondary.

"Their front seven is really fast and they swarm to the ball really well," Johnson said. "But I think if we can give Jimmy (Oliver) some time in the pocket to throw, our receivers will be able to handle their secondary."

WHILE WAITING FOR FROST

With senior tight end Marcel Frost still on the shelf while recovering from a broken leg last spring, the Tigers have had a wide-open battle for tight end.

JSU offensive coordinator James Woody said redshirt freshman Cedric Dixon would get the starting nod while sophomore Antoine Ott-Terrell and true freshman Josh Tiller could also see time.

- David Brandt

JSU Vet Oliver locks down start at QB

By David Brandt, Clarion ledger

After a month of watching his top two quarterbacks leapfrog each other on the depth chart, Jackson State coach Rick Comegy pegged last Saturday's scrimmage as decision day.

And after throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for another score, senior Jimmy Oliver left little question who should be the starter when the Tigers face Delta State at 6 p.m. this Saturday at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Comegy made his decision official on Monday morning.

"Right now, Jimmy Oliver's going to take the snaps for us," Comegy said. "We think he had a good spring and fall practice. And at the scrimmage this past weekend he had a little more shine, so we'll go with Jimmy first."

Oliver beat out Mississippi State sophomore transfer Tray Rutland for the job. Both quarterbacks had drawn praise from the coaching staff throughout fall practice.

Rutland has the stronger arm of the two and picked up the Jackson State playbook faster than expected, but Oliver's consistency and year of experience ended up tipping the scales in his favor.

Almost always easygoing, Oliver (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) seemed only vaguely aware that there was a competition in the first place.

"It was never something I had on my chest," Oliver said. "I'm always willing to work for something good and I'm ready for my senior season."

But both Oliver's teammates and coaches said they noticed his improved practice performance this fall.

"Jimmy really came into camp this year with a whole different demeanor," JSU offensive coordinator James Woody said. "He was more polished and was a better leader. It was good to see Jimmy rise to the challenge."

Oliver threw for 1,906 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his junior season as Jackson State finished with a 6-5 record overall (5-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference).

Oliver ranked first in the SWAC in total offense (222.9 yards per game), third in passing average (173.3 ypg) and second in pass efficiency (144.9 rating).

But Rutland, who played in five games last season with Mississippi State, matched Oliver throw for throw until Saturday's scrimmage.

Receiver Jaymar Johnson said he's happy Oliver was named the starter, but would have been fine with Rutland on the field as well.

"Whoever's playing the best needs the job," Johnson said. "They were both playing well so I'm sure it was a tough choice. But both those guys know how to get the ball to the receivers."

Rutland will now assume the backup role with junior Joseph Hawkins and William Brack fighting for the No. 3 slot.

"Tray's a great player and I'm not taking anything away from him," Oliver said. "But right now, I'm a senior and I know the system. Once it is Tray's turn he'll know the system and have some great years."

Mike Gillespie, Jr. hired to coach at Wichita State

Wichita State Sports Information

Photo: New women's basketball asst. coach, Mike Gillespie, Jr.

Albright Announces Two Additions to Staff

WICHITA - Fifth-year head coach Jane Albright has announced the completion of her staff today with the addition of former Florida A&M men's basketball coach Mike Gillespie, Jr., as assistant coach and former Lafayette College player Brianne Welte as Director of Operations to the women's basketball staff at Wichita State.

Gillespie, Jr., 36, has spent the last five years as the top men's basketball assistant at Florida A&M and brings 10 years of Division I coaching experience with him to Wichita State. He will assume his duties immediately.

"We obviously moved very quickly to make this hire and I am estatic about Mike joining our staff," Albright said. "He brings a wealth of basketball knowledge with him and is a quality individual. Mike is a very well respected and successful coach and his references from both the men's and women's game were exceptional. His skills and passion for the game make him a perfect fit for what we need."

While at FAMU, he was responsible for recruiting, all aspects of scheduling for the Rattlers, player development, academic progress, advanced scouting of opponents, team travel and other administrative duties. Since 2003, 87 percent of the senior men's basketball players at FAMU under Gillespie have earned their degrees.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity to join the Shocker family," Gillespie said. "My wife and I were both blown away by the people, the facilities, the University and the Wichita community and we are thrilled to be a part of it. I was very impressed by the leadership shown in this program by Jane Albright and the devotion of Jim Schaus to making the entire athletic program at Wichita State successful. I am very fortunate to have this opportunity and the chance to add to this program."

Gillespie helped lead the Rattlers to two MEAC Conference Tournament titles which led to two appearances in the NCAA Tournament, one of which came just last season after a 21-14 campaign. Under his guidance, FAMU led the MEAC in assists and rebounding, while Leslie Robinson ranked among the top 30 nationally with nearly three three-point field goals per game. In 2004, the Rattlers won their opening-round NCAA Tournament game, the first such victory in school history, and advanced to face top-ranked Kentucky in the first round.

His guidance helped Terrence Woods become a two-time NCAA Division I three-point field goal shooting champion in both 2003 and 2004, as awarded by the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, and FAMU won over 60 percent of their conference games during his tenure there. While at Florida A&M, he served as the MEAC representative on the National Association of Men's Basketball Coaches Division I Assistant Coaches Committee.

Prior to his time in Florida, Gillespie spent five years as an assistant on the staff at Mercer, where he helped take over a program that went 4-24 in 1996-97 and turned it into a 20-win program with a 23-6 mark in his final season there.

Gillespie, a native of Joliet, Ill., also had one season coaching stops at both Thomas College and Tallahassee Community College, where he played before transferring to Morehead State.

At MSU, Gillespie was a Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award Winner as he helped guide his club to a 14-14 record after the Eagles went 6-21 the year before. He shot nearly 40 percent during his playing career from the three-point line and 81 percent at the charity stripe.

As a prep star Gillespie was tabbed first team all-area in 1990, by both the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times, and was an unanimous choice for conference Player-of-the-Year honors in 1990 along with two all-conference performances in high school.

Gillespie earned his B.A., in secondary education/social science from Morehead State in 1995.

He is married to the former Dana Earley of Morehead, Ky. The couple has two children, six-year old Baleigh Marie and two-year old Allie Michelle.

Welte most recently served as head varsity women's basketball coach at North Cross School in Roanoke, Virginia. While at NCS she increased participation in women's basketball by 25 percent in one year after introducing the first girl's basketball camp and recruiting young student-athletes to attend. Welte was also responsible for all coaching duties including scouting opponents, coordinating practice and maintenance of equipment in addition to gameday coaching duties. She also served as a fifth-grade teacher at the school.

"Brianne is a talented young lady and has many skills that will help her in her new position with our staff," Albright said. "The experiences she has had as a Division I player, and as a teacher and coach of the game will be very valuable. She is extremely organized, very bright and has a love for people and basketball. We are glad to have her join our staff."

In the Spring of 2005, Welte served as head coach of the Phillipsburg, N.J., AAU Club team, her first experience as a head coach.

Welte played the post at Lafayette College from 2001-05. She finished her career third on the all-time blocks list and was a two-time selection to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. She served as team captain from 2003-05, and earned the Coaches' Spirit and Hustle Award in 2003.

The 23-year old native of Owasso, Mich., graduated with a B.A., in anthropology and sociology with a minor in mathematics from Lafayette in 2005. Her civic involvement includes serving as an assistant coach of Virginia's Area 8 Special Olympics basketball team, volunteering with the 2006 National Postal Service Food Drive, participating in the Light the Night Walk for Cancer and serving as a hospital volunteer in Bethlehem, Pa.

Welte will assume her duties immediately.

Two more O-linemen ineligible at Southern University

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Sophomore offensive tackle Allen Buckner and redshirt freshman guard Joshua Keelen are academically ineligible for this season, Southern coach Pete Richardson said on Monday.

Their absence will further sap the Jaguars’ already-taxed front line.

Buckner and Keelen missed much of preseason camp, but the team had previously lost senior guard Jacoby Collins and junior guard Adrian Banks to grades.

Meanwhile, sophomore center Ramon Chinyoung, essentially the quarterback of the line, also still needs to be cleared for the season opener, against Florida A&M at 2 p.m. Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.

“It’s going to be tough, because we’re going to be thin,” Richardson said. “We’ve done a good job of cross-training some kids, but it’s going to be an experience for some of them.

“That’s just the hand we’ve got to play. Hopefully, we won’t come down with any major injuries and can get through it.”

SU has mixed and matched already in preseason camp.

Senior tight end Trent Thomas moved inside to left tackle. That pushed junior Rafael to left guard. And junior Frank Harry moved over from defensive tackle last week.

The staff had wanted to redshirt true freshman tackle Leslie Davis this season, but Davis may have to play.

“He’s coming along,” Richardson said. “I was kind of surprised. He picked up some weight and he’s learning the position. I think he’s going to be alright. We planned on redshirting him but because of the attrition he may have to give us some plays up there.”

SU is currently working with 11 offensive linemen, including five who would be playing for the first time. Plus, Thomas is at a new position.

True freshman guard Brian Bridges, who practiced for much of preseason camp, could still join the team if he gets cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Southern has lost at least 10 players to grades heading into this season and at least 15 since the conclusion of spring practice.

The work
Southern pushed its afternoon practice from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. not because of the rain, but because many players have Monday afternoon classes that conflict with practice. The Jaguars were to have practiced under the lights in A.W. Mumford Stadium, but instead had a walkthrough in the F.G. Clark Activity Center, and that was because of the rain.

The last few seasons, SU has practiced Sunday and taken Monday off in order to avoid the class conflicts and give coaches more time to dissect game film on opponents.

Because the Jaguars already had FAMU’s game films as of last week, the staff wanted to take Sunday off to help the team recover from preseason camp, which ended Saturday, the sixth straight work day.

“The kids needed some time off,” Richardson said.

Quick look at FAMU
Richardson’s thoughts on FAMU: “They’ve got a huge offensive line, which they’ve always had. Defensively, they attack, play man-to-man, run to the football. It’s going to be a big challenge for us.”

Thursday plans
SU will leave by bus to Birmingham about 2 p.m. Thursday and may not practice that day. SU is allotted one hour, at 2 p.m. Friday, at Legion Field, and Richardson said the team might also practice at a local high school. However, the team will also visit the Civil Rights Museum.

“There’s a luncheon and other activities,” Richardson said. “In those type of games, you have to do all the work while you’re here.”

Notes
Junior RB Kendrick Smith must have some paperwork cleared in order to be eligible to play Saturday, Richardson said. Junior DT Joseph Selders (ankle) and senior C/G Demarcus Stewart (knee) returned to practice Monday. Five trees, so far, have been felled in the north end zone area to prep for the eventual construction of an enclosure to Mumford Stadium.

Rule Change will Impact MEAC

By Marty O'Brien, Daily Press

Coaches say moving kickoffs from the 35-yardline to the 30 will change football significantly.

The NCAA Football Rules Committee voted earlier this year to move kickoffs from a team's 35-yardline back to their 30. The change is designed to encourage more returns and add excitement to the game.

If you think a difference of five measly yards is meaningless, you're not a football coach. Area and state coaches vary on whether they like the new rule, but all agree it changes the game significantly.

Hampton coach Joe Taylor is happy that the number of returns will increase. HU senior Kevin Teel was second in Division I-AA last season with a 31.2 return average, and a host of speedy recruits are vying to become his partner.

Taylor says that adding more speed to the coverage team has become important.

"We're forced to use more wide receivers and defensive backs as contain guys to keep returners from getting up the field," he said. "We'll probably use a few less linebackers than in the past.

"The wide receivers and defensive backs might not tackle as great as linebackers, but at least they can get downfield and get in somebody's way."

Strategy will change as well.

Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian says that fewer teams will try onside kicks inside the final five minutes. Coaches are more likely to depend on defenses to make a late-game stop, time permitting, than gamble on an onside kick.

"If you don't recover the kick, you put the offense in four-down territory and you pin your defense in a bad position," he said.

WSSU Lady Rams To Open 2007 Season At Campbell

By WSSU Sports Information

Photo: Head Volleyball Coach Douglas Hunter

WSSU's Hunter to make coaching debut

BUIES CREEK, NC - The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams will open the 2007 with a bang, Tuesday evening when they hit the road to face the Campbell Camels in a season-opening match. Besides opening the 2007 season, Tuesday's game will also be the first for WSSU head coach Douglas Hunter and his coaching staff, which includes former Lady Ram Kyra Pridgen.

"This game is going to be a debut for our entire coaching staff and many new players" WSSU head coach Douglas Hunter said, Monday. "We're going to be fighting and putting everything we have out on the court."

The Lady Rams will open the season with a talented roster of players as four starters return from last season's squad, including the team's leader in kills, Annika Barnwell, and last season's leader in assists, Valentina Pushkina. The team also added a wealth of talent, brining in five newcomers that will give the team an immediate lift.

Photo: Kyra Pridgen, Asst. Volleyball Coach

The team will have their hands full facing a Campbell squad that has gotten the season off to a hot start posting a 3-1 record at the North Carolina Central Invitational tournament. For the season, the Camels have totaled 186 kills this season, 44 more than they have allowed. The freshman tandem of hitters Taylor Deering and Emily Werner will lead the way for the Camels as the duo has combined for 94 kills in just four matches this season. Deering is the Camels' leader with 49 kills this season, four more than Werner.

"Campbell is a very solid team that likes to move the ball around a lot," Hunter said. "If we can do our jobs, then we can take away what they want to do."

The Lady Rams and Camels will tip off at 7:00 p.m. at Carter Gymnasium in Buies Creek, NC.

Maze will perform at Circle City Classic

By IndyStar staff

Veteran soul band Maze featuring Frankie Beverly will perform Oct. 5 at the Indiana Convention Center as part of festivities surrounding the annual Circle City Classic college football game.

The Average White Band will serve as the supporting act for Maze, a group known for hits such as “Joy and Pain” and “Back in Stride.”

Individual tickets for the 8 p.m. show are priced at $40, while cabaret tables that seat 10 are available for $400. Tickets are available at the RCA Dome ticket office, at Ticketmaster outlets, by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (317) 239-5151.

The Circle City Classic, which features two teams from historically black colleges, will pit Florida A&M University against Winston-Salem State University Oct. 6 at the RCA Dome.

Southern game week begins with few surprises

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

As Camp Pete Richardson XV closed Saturday, with game week for the season opener beginning today, the surprises were few.

Sophomore Bryant Lee emerged as the winner of the quarterback duel with fellow sophomore Warren Matthews, somewhat as expected. Meanwhile, the team closed camp with more questions on its offensive and defensive lines than before the Jaguars began practicing on Aug. 2.

The Jaguars, 5-6 last season, play Florida A&M, 7-4 last season, in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge on ESPN Classic at 2 p.m. Saturday at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

Offense
Eligibility concerns continue to surround three offensive linemen, two of whom have not been with the team. Also, true freshman guard Brian Bridges was pulled from the team because he has yet to be OK’d by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

As it was, the team entered with two guards, junior Adrian Banks and senior Jacoby Collins, academically ineligible, plus junior tackle Ruben Oliver missed the first few weeks of camp as he completed a summer internship.

The surprises here were moving senior tight end Trent Thomas to the crucial spot of left tackle and junior Rafael Louis inside to left guard from left tackle. That leaves Southern small on the left side.

Junior defensive tackle Frank Harry, meanwhile, came over to play guard last week.

“Offensively, we made some adjustments as far as the lack of depth,” SU coach Pete Richardson said. “The offensive line coach (Damon Nivens) did a great job of keeping those guys alive.”

Lee, who started the last two games of last season, has solidified his role as the No. 1 quarterback with two sharp scrimmages.

Meanwhile, the staff still contends Matthews, who came on strong in the spring, continued to improve his skills and conditioning in the summer and competed well in preseason camp, will be counted on much this season.

“The quarterbacks made progress the last three weeks, as far as directing our offense, taking control and making the right decisions,” Richardson said.

Though senior Darren Coates, sophomore Brian Threat, junior Kendrick Smith and senior Chad Harris, a scatback, along with fullback Alvin Fosselman have little to no experience, that group appears to have made strong improvement under first-year running backs coach Elvis Joseph.

The one worry for the wideouts has been a variety of injuries. Senior Gerard Landry (oral surgery) has missed almost two weeks, pretty much all since Lee was named as the No. 1 quarterback.

Landry, therefore, has to work on his conditioning and timing. Senior A.J. Turner missed time with a knee injury and a pulled muscle, but he’s back. And senior RaShon Jacobs, out of football last season after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe, was out much of camp with an ankle injury.

A zone-blocking scheme and athletic quarterbacks who can run are looked at as ways to offset the thinness and inexperience of the offensive line.

“Our wide receivers corps, we’ve got some depth; they can make some plays,” Richardson said. “If we can keep our running backs healthy, we can get our running game started and be patient with our quarterbacks.”

Defense
There are no seniors among either the defensive line or the linebackers.

Moving Harry last week further sapped the defensive line, which lost five players since the spring. True freshman defensive tackle Calvin Cunningham (shoulder) has also been out for some time.

Along with Cunningham inside, freshman ends Steven Williams, Ted Jones and Dexter James all impressed coaches. With the line down to nine roster players, unless Harry swings back, the freshmen should see playing time.

Junior tackle Joseph Selders and junior end Vince Lands highlight the front.

Sophomore Allan Baugh edged sophomore Bryan Lewis for the eagle linebacker spot, which quarterbacks the defense. Neither has much experience. ... Junior Johnathan Malveaux, hampered by injuries in his first two seasons, has had a strong camp. Malveaux and junior Donald Steele play okie linebacker and, by far, have the most experience in that group. ... Sophomore Gary Chapman developed at drop, and he and redshirt freshman Andre Coleman give the Jaguars a future with prototypical players for that difficult position, though neither has experience.

The unit with the most experience and depth is the secondary, where Southern senior free safety Jarmaul George, a co-captain with Landry, is the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason defensive player of the year. Fourth-year junior Michael Williams, who has started the two previous seasons, also lurks.

Southern may go to more three-man fronts, away from its traditional four-man setup, in order to help the line from wearing out as well as using its depth at linebacker and secondary.

The team got comfortable with nickel packages as last season progressed. Attacking with the linebackers, instead of counting on young players to sit back and make reads, could also be an option. The staff will rely on the speed of the entire defense to overcome being light up front.

“We were real physical on defense (in camp),” Richardson said. “We’re running to the football. We’ve stressed that aspect. &hellip We’ve got some speed on defense. They can get to the football. We have to create some turnovers.”

Mr. Excitement sparks Alcorn Braves

By Kyle Veazey, Clarion Ledger

Star receiver Hughes eyes championship run

A glance at Alcorn State's statistics from last season doesn't leave much to interpretation.

A wide receiver, Nate Hughes lies at the top, or near the top, of most of the offensive categories. Heck, he even attempted a pass, and ran 12 times for 62 yards - a higher yards per carry than either of the Braves' top three backs, to boot.

Now a senior, Hughes knows that much of Alcorn's 2007 success could hinge on whether he can come up with the right big play at the right time. And he's OK with that.

"It doesn't really put pressure on me," Hughes said. "In my eyes, I was always brought up that football is a sport of fun. I know that winning and making plays is having fun. I just look at having fun."

Hughes, who was part of a state title team at Starkville High in 2001, is part of an Alcorn State team that's getting tired of being average. Sure, the Braves have had winning records in each season since 2001. But the best record out of that six-year span was 7-4 in 2004, and the Braves have yet to visit the SWAC Championship Game.

This year's Alcorn State team returns 16 starters from last year's 6-5 team. The Braves, though, will play just a 10-game schedule this year, the 11th falling victim to a snafu that caused the cancellation of a classic in Las Vegas. Division I-A UAB is also on the schedule, on Sept. 15 in Birmingham.

No worries, Hughes said. He said this year's team motto was all about finishing what has been started.

"A lot of guys know the system for three or four years and a lot of them have played," he said. "Once you're playing as a freshman and a sophomore and get the homefield experience, you become a junior and senior and ought to know how to win."

Photo: Alcorn's Nate Hughes hopes to make many more plays like this touchdown against Jackson State in last season's Capitol City Classic.

And Hughes is the kind of electrifying player that can back up the strong talk.

Take last year's Capital City Classic as an example.

He had the game-winning catch in the 32-31 win over Jackson State to go along with a touchdown catch earlier in the game and a 71-yard punt return for a score. He was named the offensive most valuable player.

His 90-yard punt return against Prairie View A&M earlier in the season helped the Braves win there, too.

Hughes led the team with 103.7 all-purpose yards per game, a number boosted by that pair of punt returns. He averaged 20.9 yards per punt return last season.

And oh, yeah, he caught 40 passes, the most on the team, for 371 yards and four touchdowns.

"He's a big-play athlete for us," Alcorn coach Johnny Thomas said. "He's an outstanding receiver, he can catch the football very well, has outstanding speed, can return kickoffs and punts very well, and is one of the leaders of our team."

And that Hughes can lead his team is due in no small part to Thomas. Hughes' father was a teammate of Thomas' when Thomas was a star on the Braves' defense in the mid-1970s. Hughes said he thought of some other schools, but never seriously considering going anywhere else than Alcorn State.

"We used to go to all the Alcorn football games," Hughes said. "I don't think we missed an Alcorn football game in the (Steve) McNair era."

Photo: Alcorn State University Football Coach Johnny Thomas

The Band: Alcorn State

COACH: Johnny Thomas (Alcorn State, '78), 46-53 in 10th year at Alcorn State

RETURNING STARTERS: Offense 8, defense 8, specialists 2

RETURNING LETTERMEN:Not available

2006 RECORD: 6-5, 5-4 SWAC Eastern Division (tied, 2nd)

2006 HIGHLIGHTS: Three straight losses opened the season on a down note, but a four-game winning streak put the Braves in position to contend for the Eastern Division title. ... Tony Hughes' spark as a receiver and special teamer, including two punt returns, gave Alcorn an advantage. ... Braves' defense notched 35 sacks, which was second-best in the SWAC.

2007 SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

S1 Grambling State 6 p.m.
S8 Arkansas-PB 6 p.m.
S15 at UAB 6 p.m.
S22 at Alabama State 7 p.m.
O6 Prairie View 2 p.m.
O13 at Texas Southern 7 p.m.
O20 at Southern U. 3 p.m.
N3 Miss. Valley 2 p.m.
N10 Alabama A&M 2 p.m.
N17 at Jackson State 1 p.m.

Where is he now: Savannah State University QB Antwain Turner

By Savannah Morning News

Photo: Antwain Turner, standing in front of Whitefield Chapel, is Bethesda Day School head football coach and campus minister.

Bethesda's guiding light

Holly Moore, a receptionist at Bethesda Home for Boys, beamed at the mention of Antwain Turner's name.

"He got his master's (degree) in ministry," said Moore, "and now he's our campus minister. We don't know what to call him." That's because Turner is also the football coach for the on-campus school, Bethesda Day School. Being the campus minister is just another duty picked up by the popular Turner.

"Hey, I'm just going to call him Preacher-Coach," a visitor said. Turner broke out into one of his hearty chuckles when he heard that. The 28-year-old Atlanta native is a guy who laughs easily and greets everyone with his trademark smile and bear hug. He's a man who wears his love of his fellow man and God on his sleeve.

And, it is his faith that inspired Turner to get his master's degree in ministry from Covington Theological Seminary in Rossville.

A 2002 graduate of Savannah State University where he played quarterback under three different coaches, Turner is the father of Bethesda's football program. The Blazers are in their second year of 11-man football after competing in an eight-man league for two years.

Actually, it's the seventh year of football for the Blazers. The first two years the school competed in flag football, said athletics director Mickey Minick. Then came eight-man football and now the full-fledged game. The Blazers went 1-9 last year as a member of the Georgia Independent School Association.

The evolution of the football program is similar to how Turner's tenure at Bethesda has grown and expanded.

A love of teaching

He started at Bethesda after graduating from SSU, where he was a business administration major with an emphasis on information systems.

"I had a passion, a calling to teach," Turner said. "I didn't know what I wanted to teach, but I really knew that the calling was to the youth. God had placed something in me. You may laugh, but I had a dream about Bethesda before I got to Bethesda.

"I didn't know at the time, obviously, I would be the campus minister here," Turner said. "I would get frustrated working here, but every time I got frustrated it was only because God was telling me it was time to move to the next position."

Turner's first job at the Ferguson Avenue school was as a cottage counselor working the 3-11 p.m. shift. The following year he got a job as a counselor working 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. "That was good," said Turner of moving to the day shift. "Then the next year I moved into the school system as a teacher, and this year moved into the campus ministry." Minick knows he has a gem of a person on staff.

Photo: Antwain Turner is Bethesda Day School head football coach and campus minister.

"To know Antwain is to love him," said Minick, who is also the school's basketball coach. "He does a great job for us coaching, and he's a great role model for the kids. His life is a testimonial for everything we stand for around here. He's just the kind of guy we want to keep and have around."

Football started at Bethesda, said Minick, when some of the youngsters in the cottages told him they wanted to have a team. Turner made their wish come true.

"He took it from flag football to eight-man to 11-man," said Minick. "Many of our kids have no background of organized football, so there's a great teaching aspect to that. He's a teacher, coach, role model and father figure."

The school has approximately 50 students in grades 9-12, and 24 of them are on the football team, which Minick said is a direct reflection of Turner.

Ex-coach's impact

Turner, who married his wife Petrina two years ago, has a motto for his team: "It's not how you start, but how you finish." It was something he picked up from Steven Wilks, his second coach at Savannah State, who is now the defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears after stints at Notre Dame and the University of Washington.

"Coach Wilks was a great guy," Turner said. "He was strictly about business. He told us he would cut jokes and laugh with us when we were off the field, but when we get to the field it's business. That was his demeanor, and my coaching style is very similar."

The motto, said Turner, is applicable because of the backgrounds of many of his players. "The dynamics of the kids we're getting here is changing," Turner said, "but we have a lot of kids coming into the program accustomed to quitting.

Photo: Daniel Wilson, Bethesda student/athlete

"They're used to having people quit on them, having their families quit on them. So we have to instill that 'Hey you may have had a rough start at the beginning of your life, but believe it or not God is going to do something great in your life, that the finish is going to be so much better.'

So, that's why we've adopted that as our motto. We just have to take that and run with it."

Multitasking

Turner stays busy in his newest role. He teaches a Bible class, has a coaches huddle on Friday followed by a team huddle. Then there's Bible study for resident students on Thursday night, chapel every Monday morning, and work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter.

"I counsel the kids coming here for the first time and take the opportunity to help them adjust," Turner said. "We all have to embrace the school and the residential life. I believe if the spiritual life is fine, everything else will fall into place."

Turner serves the entire Bethesda community of students, faculty and staff. "I assist people who are having tough times," Turner said.

"I visit hospitals, and today I'll be spending time with one of our students who lost his uncle. I tell the principal (Kelly Burke) I'm here to serve, to do whatever she needs." And, if any of the youngsters think they can pull a fast one on their coach and minister they better give it a second thought.

"I was fortunate to grow up with both of my parents with a strong Christian background," Turner said. "Unfortunately, we did grow up in a tough neighborhood, and because of that I learned a lot of the neighborhood genre. I was a neighborhood child, but because of where I was raised I can relate to a lot of these kids because I know exactly where they're coming from."

Morgan State Set for Thursday's Season-Opener

Photo: SSU Tigers

MSU Sports Information

Morgan State will kick-off the season against Savannah State on Thursday, August 30 at Hughes Stadium.

SAVANNAH STATE “TIGERS” (0-0) vs.
MORGAN STATE “BEARS” (0-0, 0-0 MEAC)

FULLWOOD CLASSIC/YOUTH DAY
Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007 • 7:00 p.m.
Hughes Stadium (Capacity 10,000) • Baltimore, Md.

RADIO: Morgan State Radio Network WEAA - 88.9 FM: Rob Long (play-by-play) & Kelvin Bridgers (color).

"The Game" Overview - Weekly Release in PDF Format:
http://www.morganstatebears.com/Pdfs/foot/2007/8/27/vsSavannah%20State1.pdf

INTERNET: http://www.morganstatebears.com/ and/or www.savstate.edu/athletics

Setting the Scene

• Morgan State begins its 2007 football campaign when they host theTigers of Savannah State on Thursday, August 30 at 7 o’clock. The Bears enter the 2007 season predicted to finish in 6th place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) as head coach Donald Hill-Eley enters his sixth year at Morgan State. MSU returns 21 starters (10 offense, 8 defense, 3 specialty) from last year’s team that posted a 5-6 overall mark and finished the year ranked 4th in the conference. Headlining the list of returner starters for the Bears include All-MEAC RB Chad Simpson, All-MEAC WR Roderick Wolfe, QB Mario Melton and OT Dakarai Grimsley. MSU closed out the 2006 season with a 41-16 loss against South Carolina State at Hughes Stadium to deny the Bears of a .500 overall record.

• Savannah State is coming off a 2-9 record from a year ago under head coach Theo Lemon. Thursday night’s contest will mark the 5th meeting between the school’s with the Bears holding a 4-0 advantage in the series.

Photo: Morgan State University Bears

• Donald Hill-Eley is 2-0 against Savannah State. In 2005 the Bears cruised to a 55-26 victory at the Proctor & Gamble Ohio Classic in Cleveland, Ohio. Not Ali Culpepper, and not even the great Leroy Kelly, who starred at Morgan State, then dazzled Browns fans in this city back in the 1960s, did what Jason Jackson did that Saturday. Jackson, a junior tailback from Oxon Hill, shredded the Savannah State defense for a school record 251 yards and four touchdowns Saturday to help Morgan to a 55-26 triumph, its first of the season. Doing most of his damage in the second half, Jackson exceeded Culpepper’s school mark of 229 yards set in 2001. Jackson scored on runs of 9, 90, 25 and 33 yards, exciting the crowd of 40,502 at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

• Theo Lemon enters his second season as head football coach for the Savannah State University Tigers. On April 10, 2006, athletic director Robert “Tony” O’Neal named Lemon the 20th head football coach at Savannah State University. Lemon completed his first season at the helm with a 2-9 record.

• WR Mark Williams will be one to watch as the Tigers get set to begin the 2007 campaign. Williams returns as the Tigers main target on offense and completed the 2006 season with 42 receptions for 522 yards and four touchdowns. Marc averaged just over 47 receiving yards per game.

MSU-SAVANNAH STATE SERIES
Overall, Morgan State leads the series, 4-0 since the series began in 2000. The closest game in the series came in the first meeting when the Bears won by a score of 12-6. Savannah State was shutout in the second game (26-0) and suffered a home loss (45-14) at Ted A. Wright Stadium. The Bears won the last contest at Cleveland Browns Stadium (55-26 in 2005) during the Proctor & Gamble Ohio Classic.

MSU - SSU TIES
Morgan State offensive line coach Chennis Berry graduated from Savannah State in 1996. Berry started as a tight end during his first two seasons with the Tigers before being moved to offensive tackle. He received All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First-Team selection during his senior season in 1994. Berry earned his first coaching job in 1995 when he was named the Tigers’ offensive line coach.

MSU D NUMERO 1 AGAINST THE RUN
Morgan State’s defense ranked No. 1 in the MEAC against the run. In his fi rst season as the defensive coordinator for the Bears, Alonzo Lee had his Bears defense ranked #1 against the run (117.0/g), #5 in scoring defense (22.0/g) and #6 in total defense (303.6/g). The Bears defense returns eight starters along with quality depth and should be one of the premier defenses in the league.

SCSU: Is Cleve the 'real' McCoy

By BRIAN LINDER, T&D Sports Editor

Cleve McCoy sat in the home stands and surveyed the field at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Wednesday evening.

Across the way, two figures – freshmen quarterbacks Malcolm Long and Dewaine Clark — slipped into the stadium and took a seat on a bench along the visitor’s sideline.

It was the first day of classes at South Carolina State University, but for the duo class has been in session all summer and McCoy’s been the teacher. Next year is their year to battle it out for the starting quarterback position.

But, this year belongs to Cleve and he’s set the bar high for himself and his South Carolina State Bulldogs. Cleve McCoy didn’t need the coaches to vote SCSU as the favorite to win the MEAC this season because, quite frankly, he doesn’t buy into all the preseason hype. And, if head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough never told a soul he thought his star quarterback could play in the NFL, well, that wouldn’t matter either.

In South Carolina State’s 100th year of football, he graces the cover of the school’s media guide which is fitting because Cleve’s sights are set on making history. For a quarterback who was told he’d be better off finding a spot on the defensive side of the ball coming out of Baptist Hill High School, he can’t think of a better way to cap off his SCSU career than with a MEAC title, a trip to the playoffs and a shot at playing in the NFL.

If 2005, when McCoy broke a 20-year-old school-record by completing 56.8 percent of his passes for 1,692 yards and 13 touchdowns, wasn’t his “I told you so” season, McCoy has intends to see that the 2007 season is.

“I feel like I’ve come a long way, especially coming from a 1-A high school,” McCoy said. “We were more of an option based offense, but we did have throwing plays and I felt like I could execute and throw any pass that is known to football. I’ve never had any problem with that. It was just learning the game of football.

“But, I always had that drive (to play quarterback) in my mind and I just wanted to show the coaches I could do it. My main thing, when I got here, was I was just nervous and frigid just because of coach (Buddy) Pough and his reputation.”

That’s where McCoy has progressed the most because, ironically, in a season where so much is on the line, he seems unfazed.

“I don’t want to pressure myself,” he said. “I just want to have fun, go out there and execute because I know I can do it. We do it everyday in practice. That’s the main thing, translating it from practice to the games. If we do that, the season will come into itself.

“In all my games this year, I’m going to be focused and prepared. But, I really want to have fun out there. You get to a point where, if you are having fun, then you play better. I don’t want to go out and stress myself out as far as thinking I have to complete every ball or that I can’t fumble. I’m just going to play, have fun, and hopefully we will come out on the other side with a ‘W’.”

The journey begins Sept. 1 in Colorado against Air Force, but it doesn’t end there. McCoy and the Bulldogs will run the gantlet to start the season, facing Bethune-Cookman and the University of South Carolina in the two contests following the opener.

“Our main goal is to finish the season,” he said. “We don’t have the comfort of playing a (Division II) school. I don’t want to say a simple game, but as far as a game you can use just to prepare … we don’t have that. We have some of the toughest teams in America. We just have to play. That’s our goal, to play and to win these games, especially Bethune-Cookman.”

Despite the tough opening schedule, expectations remain high. Yes, the MEAC coaches picked the Bulldogs as the favorite to win the league. And, around campus, McCoy says the atmosphere has never been like it is heading into this season.

South Carolina State is supposed to win, and if you want to know why, McCoy will also tell you the answer is simple. This is the most gifted Bulldogs team he has been on.

“The fans know, coaches know, the media knows … everybody has picked us to win,” McCoy said. “This is the highest expectations we have had, but we are ready for it. The team is ready.

“There is no reason we shouldn’t do it. We have everything in place, now we just have to go out on Saturdays and execute. We have experience on the line, experience at receiver and experience at quarterback. We have some young guys at running back, but Will Ford is talented … and Jonathon Woods. On the defensive line, we have some young guys, but they are pretty good, and we have some good defensive backs. We have Stephen Grantham kicking field goals, and Aaron Haire punting the ball all over the place. That’s what it takes to win games. It’s a great thing.”

He says the dream season is to win the MEAC, to go to the playoffs and a national championship. From there, he wants to fulfill the dream that was born back when he was in third grade and wanted nothing more than to play football for the Baptist Hill Bobcats. He wants to play in the NFL.

But, for all of the above to happen, he also knows he has to improve on last season when he struggled with a change in the Bulldogs’ offense and saw his numbers taper off to a 51.4 completion percentage with 1,224 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

To play quarterback in the MEAC and move on to the NFL, you most always have to have a great season. But, talk to McCoy, and you’ll know that anything less than great … that’s not even running through his mind. He talks about winning titles, being the league Player of the Year, an All-American. He talks about being remembered.

“I just want to leave with a legacy,” he said. “I want people to say, ‘Cleve was a pretty good quarterback.’ And, I still want to represent South Carolina State on the next level.

“I want (to play in the NFL) bad. That’s 22 years of my life that I’ve just wanted to play football and go to the NFL. And, the funny things is … it’s right there.

“All these years you talk about it, but now is my chance to actually push. And, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to push and do everything in my power to get to the next level.”

Alabama A&M going down to wire

By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff

Running back jobs, kicker not set as game nears

Six days before its season opener against Tennessee State, Alabama A&M had not settled on several starting jobs, coach Anthony Jones said Sunday.

The Bulldogs' running back positions remain unsettled, and the kicking job is still up for grabs.

At tailback, Ulysses Banks, Anthony Green and Max Martin all have been terrific in training camp. Kevin McCants and Generion McWhorter have waged a great battle for the starting fullback job.

"Our backfield is still in a situation where multiple guys can and will play," Jones said. "We've got three capable guys at running back. It's going to be kind of a flow thing to see how that works and who gets the most carries.

"Who actually gets the nod to start at fullback ... we haven't decided yet. Both are about the same. No one has taken that position yet."

Banks, Green, Martin and McWhorter never have taken a handoff in a game for the Bulldogs. McCants' only carry came last season in the season opener against Tennessee State.

The kicking job doesn't have a clear leader.

Sophomore Jeremy Licea, who struggled last season before kicking three field goals in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, is in a close race with Grant Maddix, who kicked last season for Lee High School.

"We're going to take a look at that during the week," Jones said. "Licea has been the most consistent from the shorter distances, but Grant has the stronger leg even though he's been a little inconsistent."

Jones said he hadn't decided if the same person would kick extra points and field goals.

Defensively, only two positions remain unsettled.

Left tackle David Winston, who suffered a back injury more than a week ago, is expected back at practice Tuesday, but his status is up in the air.

Should Winston not be ready, sophomore Renaldo Askew will make his first career start against the Tigers.

Also, Maurice Thomas, who started several games last season in place of Stephan Tucker, will likely be in the starting lineup at left cornerback. Tucker, who has been hampered by an ankle injury, has improved and participated some in Saturday's scrimmage at free safety.

Jones says AAMU Bulldogs may resemble '04 team

Reggie Benson, Huntsville Times

Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones says his team reminds him a lot of the one he had in 2004.

That year, Jones started a number of younger players for the first time in the season opener against Tennessee State and the Tigers whipped the Bulldogs 42-7. Two years later, that group helped A&M win the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.

"In 2004, we went up there and played a lot of freshmen ... a lot of new guys," Jones recalled. "I'm just hoping (the game) doesn't end up the same way."

TSU running back Charles Anthony shredded A&M's defense for more than 200 yards that night.

A&M will play approximately 20 newcomers Saturday night in Nashville against the Tigers.

"This is definitely a youth movement," Jones said. "We're going to play a lot of new guys for the first time. They're going to get their first taste of action against a very good football team in a high-profile setting.

"That's the similarity for me. We'll just have to look at it and see."

Scrimmage shorter: A&M was forced to shorten its final mock scrimmage Saturday night because of heavy rain, thunder and lightning. As a result, Jones said he wouldn't put much stock in it.

"It was too short to make a fair assessment," he said. "I'm not going to put much on it, but there are some things we're going to work on from that."

Even had the scrimmage gone well, Jones said, his team still wouldn't have been ready to play.

"We're not going to be ready to play until we step on that field," he said. "Everything has its place, and we're trying to put everything in place."

Furthermore: A&M will have today off before resuming game-week preparations Tuesday afternoon. ... The A&M ticket office has tickets for the Tennessee State game. ... Fullback Kevin McCants is from Nashville, and offensive lineman Phillip Thomas is from nearby Murfreesboro.

Jackson State vs. Delta State

By David Brandt

Saturday: 6 p.m., Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium

TV: None

Radio: JSU network (WOAD-1300 AM/105.9 FM, Jackson)

ON OFFENSE

Everything revolves around how well quarterback Dedrick Wilson replaces the departed Scott Eyster, who set nearly every passing record in Delta State history. The Statesmen will have plenty of playmakers returning around Wilson, including running back Ken Cox and receivers Jeremy Ricks and Eric Marshall. Ricks was also a dangerous kick returner specialist, averaging more than 23 yards per return. Last season, Delta State relied heavily on the pass, averaging more than 267 yards through the air.

ON DEFENSE

It all starts with outside linebacker Michael Eubanks, who had an amazing 24 tackles for a loss last season and 10.5 sacks. But nearly the entire Delta State defense returns from last year and is primed for a memorable season. Free safety Jamarcus Wiggins led the team in tackles last season, while middle linebacker Lardester Hicks was also a force. The Statesmen were a defensive machine for much of 2006 before giving up 49 points to Grand Valley State in the D-II semifinals.

INTANGIBLES

Delta State will be playing its first game under new coach Ron Roberts and its first game in four years without their star quarterback Eyster. There could be some growing pains on offense, but the veteran defense should be able to keep the Statesmen in position to win.

UAPB, UCA agree to resume rivalry

BY NICK WALKER, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Central Arkansas and Arkansas Pine-Bluff are ready to play football again.

Athletic directors Brad Teague of Central Arkansas and Louis “Skip” Perkins of UAPB confirmed Saturday that the schools have an oral agreement to play at War Memorial Stadium for two seasons beginning in 2008.

In 2003, Central Arkansas and Arkansas-Pine Bluff began what was supposed to be an annual football game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, originally called the Capital City Classic, only to see the series stop after one game.

Teague said he wasn’t concerned about the prospect of being jilted by UAPB for a second time. In 2004, UAPB scheduled another game for the same week the two teams were supposed to play. Central Arkansas scrambled and scheduled NAIA opponent Iowa Wesleyan for the open date.

“Their leadership is on the page with us,” Teague said. “They are really interested in it. In fact, they contacted us about it.”

“We’d like to play [the series ] a lot longer than that, but worstcase scenario, we’re going to be playing the game for the next two seasons,” Perkins said.

The game will not be the season opener for either team and it will be a home game for UAPB both years.

Whether it will be called the Capital City Classic has not been determined.

“It doesn’t look like the first game is available for either school,” Teague said. “It looks like the game will be played either the second or third week of the season.”

A crowd of 13, 274 showed up in the rain for the first Capital City Classic on Sept. 11, 2003, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Central Arkansas defeated UAPB 42-28 after jumping out to a 35-7 third-quarter lead.

The prospect of large crowds, plus an opportunity to reach out to alumni and fan bases in Little Rock, made the resumption of the series a natural for both new athletic directors. Teague started at Central Arkansas in January and Perkins was hired less than a month ago.

“It was important to me as I was coming on board to bring back some of the things that were important in the past,” Perkins said. “We also will play Arkansas-Monticello. Renewing some of these state rivalries is important to us. We thought it was important to play a Division I school like UCA.”

UAPB already has a game scheduled in Little Rock, with the Delta Classic 4 Literacy against Grambling on Oct. 14, but Perkins said he wanted to re-establish the school’s roots.

“The Grambling game is awesome, but it’s great to have an in-state opponent,” Perkins said. “Everybody that’s been talking about this game said it was one of the better games they saw two years ago.”

After Coaching Overhaul, HU Bison Look to Reverse Fortunes

By: Matthew Cooper, The Hilltop

There is a breath of fresh air and enthusiasm coming from summer practice. The Bison football team has high hopes and great faith to compete for the title in the MEAC this season.

The difference this year is the coaching staff. New Head Coach Carey Bailey is said to have brought discipline and a more hands-on coaching style to the team.
"Coaching is much better this season," senior wide receiver Leonard Moore said. "They break down every position. We have coaches with NFL and Super Bowl experience."

According to Bailey, his goal is to establish more consistency to the offense and to eliminate "dumb mistakes" such as penalties, which have hurt the Bison in many close games over the past years when former Head Coach Ray Petty held the position.

"He focuses a lot on discipline," said Vincent Moorehead, senior safety for the Bison. "He breaks down every position, and practices are real crisp."

The Bison open this season Sept. 8 in Greene Stadium against long-time rival, Hampton University. Hampton has defeated the Bison the past 10 straight seasons. A win against the Pirates is the first order of business for the Bison.


Defensively, the Bison return many integral components that made up one of the stingiest defenses last year. The defense outshined the offense in the first intrasquad scrimmage this summer.
Anchoring the defense is first team All-MEAC defensive end Rudy Hardie, who is coming off a monster season with 54 tackles and 10 sacks.

"Bison defense has always been tough," Moorehead said. "This year it will be more sophisticated."

A great deal of experience is returning to the defense this season. Also returning are pre-season All-MEAC cornerback, Tommy Claiborn and linebackers Endor Cooper and Robert Dowdy.

New offensive strategies have been put in place this season along with the new coaching staff. First order of business for Bailey was to dump the quarterbacks-by-committee approach of last season, where three quarterbacks rotated throughout the game.

Senior Brian Johnson, who came on strong late last season, will hold the starting position this season. He will use his mobile abilities to scramble out the pocket to throw to his receivers.

"He has great elusiveness,'' Bailey said. "He can get out of trouble."
With a summer of long, hard practices behind him, Johnson is greatly anticipating the upcoming season.

"I'm excited. I've been working hard all summer," Johnson said. "We can't have stupid, unnecessary penalties and turnovers this season. We have a strong returning senior class and a lot of team unity."
The Bison are returning four of their top receivers from last season, Moore, Jarahn Williams, Larry Duncan and Arlandus Hood. They hope to make the most feared wide receiver corps in the MEAC this season.
"I think we have the best receivers in the MEAC this year," Moore said. "We have a more spread out offense, with more audibles."

Starting at running back this season are two backs who transferred from Division I-A programs last season. The Bison hope both, Karlos Whittaker, a transfer from the Naval Academy, and Frank Berchie, a transfer from the University of Akron, will shoulder the load carried by running backs Antoine Rutherford and Keon Coleman the past two seasons.

Although the offensive line is returning pre-season All-MEAC center Travis Harmon and guard Randall White, Bailey wanted to see much improvement from the line before the Hampton game.

"Guys have to step up," Bailey said of the offensive line, which has been hurt by injuries during the preseason. "We can't do anything without the o-line. It is like trying to drink water with a fork."

DSU Jones looks forward to new beginning

By: Andrew Santillo , The Record

Kareem Jones feels like he's getting a fresh start. Jones, who set the Section II record for career rushing yards at 6,092, while at Lansingburgh High School, has landed on his feet at Delaware State of the MEAC after leaving Syracuse University.

Jones spent three years at Syracuse and although he didn't see much time on the field, he did pick up his under¬graduate degree. "Syracuse is a great institution," Jones said. "It was three of the most fun years of my life, but now I'm a Hornet."

Jones decided to choose Delaware State, which plays in Division I-AA, partly because he wouldn't have to sit out a year and after red-shirting his first season in 2004 with the Orange, he still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Jones' ability to persevere through the non-ideal situation of being stuck on the sidelines, he says comes from his parents, Willie and Jill.

"My mother and father always told me never to take a back seat to anyone," Jones said. "That's how I live my life and down here, I'm keeping the same mindset." Jones is on full scholarship at Delaware State pursuing his masters in business. "My main concern is getting my mas¬ters degree," Jones said. "I do want to play and contribute."

Photo: RB Kareem Jones

Delaware State head coach Al Lavan played a large role in swaying Jones' decision to choose DSU over Hampton University in Virginia.

"He told me where the program was headed and I saw it was in the right direction," Jones said. "Playing football and being on scholarship was a hard offer to turn down."

Jones didn't travel down to Dover all by himself, his roommate from Syracuse - defensive back Reggie McCoy, is also rooming with Jones at Delaware State. "It's good that I came down with a familiar face, someone I know and can converse with," Jones said.

The transition to Delaware State from Syracuse was much easier, Jones says, than transitioning to the college game the first time, coming out of Lansingburgh. "The offense took time to adjust to, but it's the same concept, I know all of my blitz responsibilities," Jones said. "It was much smoother than when I came from high school to college."

After rushing for 2,596 yards and being selected the New York State Class B Player of the Year in 2003, Jones finished two full seasons at Syracuse with only 40 rushes for 99 yards.

The Hornets finished last season 8-3 overall, second behind Hampton (10-2) for the conference title. The Orange only won five games in Jones' two seasons on the roster, so the 5-foot-11 tailback would like to get back to the winning ways.

"I want to play and have fun, but I'd also like to win games, too," Jones said. The Hornets could put Jones right in to the starting role when the season begins at home, Sept. 1 against Coastal Carolina.

The school hosted a pep rally on Friday, which got Jones even more excited for the upcoming year. "The crowd was going crazy, the band was playing and they announced the starters - that was cool," Jones said. "It's a different atmosphere."

SU players, coach linked to FAMU

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

The dad of current Florida A&M starting quarterback Albert Chester II left a legacy at the school, and Southern offensive coordinator Mark Orlando knows all about that, because he was there, back when he was just starting out, as an assistant at FAMU, and disco ruled the world.

Albert Chester is a Rattler Legend in the school’s sports Hall of Fame, three times the team’s MVP. He quarterbacked Florida A&M to the inaugural Division I-AA title in 1978 — beating Division I-A brethren Miami, Florida State and Florida to the claim of the state’s first national collegiate championship.

“For me, personally, Florida A&M is part of my heart,” said Orlando, who played quarterback at Florida State, not far from FAMU. “I got my master’s from there and my first college coaching job.

“(The series) means a lot to me, because it’s a great university. It’s like going back to my roots.”
Saturday’s season opener, with Southern playing Florida A&M at 2 p.m. in Legion Field, is about renewing friendships and rekindling one of black college football’s best rivalries. The schools, who first played each other in 1941, meet for the first time since 2001, which was the last game in a string that began in 1946. The game, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, will be televised on ESPN Classic.

The schools then begin a four-year contract next year, playing at SU on Sept. 20, 2008.

“I think it’s the best thing for Southern and Florida A&M,” Orlando said. “Those were always big games with big attendance. Those games were always huge football games and meant a lot to both schools.”

Two of Southern’s players who hail from Tallahassee, Fla., get it.

“It’s an old rivalry,” junior defensive back Joe Manning said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s a nationally televised game. It’s going to be good for the players, the coaches and the fans.”

Photo: SU offensive coordinator Mark Orlando says the Southern-Florida A&M series is like going back to his roots.

Manning, who transferred to Southern from Florida State in the spring of 2006 but did not play with the Jaguars last season, said he lives about a 10-minute drive from Florida A&M’s campus. He went to Lincoln High.

SU junior wide receiver Del Roberts, who came to SU from North Carolina that same spring, is even closer, about three miles from campus. He was the Tallahassee Democrat’s Big Bend Offensive Player of the Year at Godby High.

“I used to drive there all the time. I’m right down the way from FAMU,” Roberts said.

Each has family who attended FAMU and each has friends who play for the Rattlers.

“I’m constantly getting phone calls every day from my family and from them, just talking a lot of noise,” Manning said of the back-and-forth exchanges.

When both decided to transfer, they considered FAMU but eventually came to Southern.

“I thought about it,” Roberts said. “I know a lot of people at FAMU. I know a lot of the coaches, but I wanted to see something new, get away from home. Nothing at all against FAMU. It’s a great school. I wanted to be by myself and mold myself in my own surroundings.”

“I grew up on FAMU, grew up on the tradition. They have a lot of tradition,” said Manning, who figured he knows 10 to 15 Rattlers. “My whole family wanted me to go (to Florida A&M), to stay in town, but it was best for me to leave, to see another atmosphere. That’s why I came out here to Southern. I love the fans. I love how they treat all the football players.”

For Orlando, the FAMU-Southern connection runs deep.

In what Orlando called a key game of the ’78 national title season, FAMU beat Southern 16-12 in LSU’s Tiger Stadium on ABC regional television. The Rattlers went 12-1 that season.

“Totally different offense. We ran the dive, the T, the dive option,” said Orlando who was the FAMU offensive backfield coach before becoming the offensive coordinator. “(Albert Chester) had a strong arm, though. He always wanted to throw the ball, but playing for (head coach) Rudy Hubbard (who played for Woody Hayes at Ohio State), throwing the football was a second thought. It was 3 yards and a cloud of dust, but we were good at it.

“The dad was a great leader and field general and led that team to the national championship.”

The Rattlers ran for more than 400 yards in beating UMass 35-28 in the 1978 title game.

FAMU offensive coordinator and line coach Allen Bogan, a mainstay in various capacities at the school for three decades until resigning in February 2005, helped Orlando get the job as offensive coordinator at Winston-Salem State by calling WSSU head coach Pete Richardson in 1991. When Richardson came to Southern in 1993, Orlando came along, leaving for Texas Southern after the 2001 season but returning as an assistant coach in 2004.

Bogan, Richardson and Hubbard all have Ohio ties.

“Yeah, that was a good phone call,” said Orlando, who was looking for work at the time.