PVAMU vs. Texas Southern-- Labor Day Classic Press Conference

PVAMU Sports Information

Photo: Prairie View A&M University Head Football Coach Henry Frazier III

STATE FARM LABOR DAY CLASSIC PRESS CONFERENCE

Coach Henry Frazier III Opening Remarks:

“Well we are here again... its football season. We are extremely excited about this upcoming season. We had a great training camp. We concluded camp relatively healthy. We’re excited about the opportunity to bring that trophy back to Prairie View. Last year was a very good football game and the year prior to that was a very good football game, and they both came down to the last drive.

This year I anticipate it will be more of the same. Looking at Texas Southern, I know they have a good football team. Looking at their depth chart, they start eighteen seniors. In this conference or any conference, you win championships with juniors and seniors.

As for the Prairie View A&M Panthers, we are ready to roll. On the offensive side of the ball Chris Gibson is our quarterback. He had a great spring practice and a great training camp. It’s no secret that we definitely needed to work on our passing game, and that’s something we worked on all summer. We plan on throwing the ball around a little bit more. I'm sure nobody believes us, but we are going to attempt to pass more frequently, and we are going to have some fun.

Last season our defense was number one in the conference, and twelfth in the nation. We return just about all of those starters and we’ve been having very physical practices, just to get in that mind-set. We should have a pretty good defense. We also tried to address our special team’s problems from last season by bringing in three kickers. When you lose five football games by seven points or less, you’re able to contribute a lot of that to your kicking game.”

Coach Frazier Interview

On the season: “We are very excited about this year. Our goal is to have a winning season.”

On having another down to the wire game: “I hope not, but I think it’s going to be a good football game, we are excited about it. There’s a lot of parody in this conference. I think from top to bottom on any given Saturday any team could beat any team, but being a cross-town rival makes it a little sweeter. Hopefully we can try to put them away, but they have a veteran team, and they will fight back.”

On his relationship with TSU head coach: “We know each other well. We worked together my last year at Bowie State. He was my defensive coordinator, and we had the number one defense in the country, so we know each other pretty well. He had a lot of coaches on his staff that worked for me as well, so we are also familiar with each other.”

On the Labor Day Classic: “It’s not just a regular game, it is a conference game and it’s your rival in an amazing venue like Reliant Stadium, so it is a great way to start the season.”

On the rivalry: “There are so many people that have graduated from both universities. They really pump the game up, and these kids now have grown up and some of their parents or grandparents have.

Academic issues concern Southern

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter


The Southern football team has had at least 10 players become academically ineligible since the spring, but football hasn’t been the school’s only program touched by grade, retention and clearance issues.

In the previous school year, men’s basketball lost veteran forward Ralph Hishaw. Women’s basketball lost up-and-coming shooting guard Deidra Jackson. And baseball lost several veterans and couldn’t get Joshua Kirk, who earned his master’s degree in December, eligible until after the conference season concluded.

In May, the NCAA issued its Academic Progress Report and sent official warning letters to schools, including Southern.

SU was the nation’s only school whose three main men’s programs — football, basketball and baseball — were noted for all having academic concerns.

“With that APR, eventually we’re going to get penalized if we don’t turn this thing around,” SU Athletic Director Greg LaFleur said.

Plus, campus-wide, the problem of academic progress is getting more focus.

Southern reported its retention rate of freshman as 73.2 percent, but its six-year graduation rate was 27.7 percent. The school has been hurt financially by declining enrollment.

“I’m challenging the entire university. We’re going to do something with our retention rates,” SU Interim Chancellor Margaret Ambrose told the school’s student-athletes Thursday at an orientation meeting in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

Ambrose spoke to the student-athletes about the APR warning letter from the NCAA.

“We have a challenge with at least three of our major sports,” Ambrose said. “I got an important letter that told me you guys are not where you’re supposed to be in terms of graduation rates. p We want not to fail you. Hold us to that. Study; go to class; if you need help, ask for it.”

LaFleur said the school will establish an academic center for student-athletes (in addition to other tools available on campus) in the Clark Center. He said the center, which will be open until 9 p.m., should be up and running in a month.

“We’re consciously doing some things to elevate the academic support we’re giving to the entire athletic department,” Ambrose said.

The problem could require research.
“We need to analyze and try to approach it from a data collection and analytic point of view,” Ambrose said. “We just have to bring to bear everything we can to figure this thing out.”

Photo: SU Football Coach Pete Richardson

The latest rash of ineligible football players, along with at least five more players who are no longer with the program, underscores the problem.

“I feel comfortable Ambrose and (SU System President Ralph) Slaughter understand we have an issue,” SU football coach Pete Richardson said.

“They’ve made a commitment to get us some help. Now, it’s not going to happen overnight, because the problem we have didn’t start overnight. It’s going to be a period of time of putting things in place.”

Like most Southwestern Athletic Conference schools, Southern recruits many nonqualifiers — players who are not eligible to practice or play as true freshmen — as well as players who are high risk even if they qualify initially.

“The mission of a lot of historically black colleges is to give a lot of the lesser an opportunity to go to school,” Richardson said.

“We’re going to get a higher-risk individual, especially from the inner-city schools.

“But then the standards are important, but you also have to realize some of them are all behind. I can just see this start to escalate unless you get some things in place to try to help them out.”

LaFleur said in May that SU had to make an effort to “minimize the risks in terms of whom we offer a scholarship to.”

In the past two recruiting classes, Richardson and his staff have signed a lower percentage of nonqualifiers than in previous classes.

Richardson said the NCAA’s recent change in determining eligibility based on a student-athletes percentage, by year, of completed coursework in a major has made an impact.

“The main reason is we went to the 40-60-80 rule,” Richardson said.

“With that, you have to declare a major and every year you have to maintain a certain percentage of that major in order to be eligible.

“I could see it two or three years ago, when they were putting it in, because of the student-athlete, historically, we’ve been recruiting. Some of our student-athletes are struggling with math and biology. Once you get behind, it’s almost impossible to maintain. That’s what hurting some of them at this time.”

ASU Hornets hit the field with first game in sight

ASU Sports Information

Photo: ASU defensive coordinator Tony Pierce goes over play call

ASU game plan in place for Jacksonville State

With only four days remaining before their home opener, the Alabama State Hornets held their Monday practice at Cramton Bowl, the site of Saturday night's game versus Jacksonville State.

Both ASU defensive coordinator Tony Pierce and offensive coordinator Maurice Harris liked what happened on the field.

Maurice Harris checks out his offense

Photo: Coach Harris

"They were pretty good out there," Harris said. "We went through several specialty situations and the guys performed well."

After using the first several weeks of fall practice to get his team acclimated to the new offense he installed, Harris began putting in the game plan for Jacksonville State last Monday.

"We had to make sure we understood what we wanted to do first," Harris said. "After that, we could start gearing up for the game."

On the defensive side of the ball, Coach Pierce has been happy with the effort and energy of his defense.

"They can smell gameweek," Pierce said. "All of the guys who were sitting out with bumps and bruises are now out here playing with those same bumps and bruises."

Those injuries have really been Pierce's only point of trepidation.

"My concern is how long our guys will last with some of those nicks," he said. "I think we are ready to play, and if we can stay healthy we definitely have a fighting chance."

JSU big athletes work to lose extra weight

Photo: Lorenzo Breland, 6-2/310 Offensive Line, Picayune HS (MS)

By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

Jackson State senior Lorenzo Breland is a mountain of a man, anchoring the center of the Tigers' offensive line.

He stands about 6-foot-2 and weighs more than 310 pounds. That size serves him well when he's crashing into defenders from Grambling, Alcorn State or Mississippi Valley, clearing space for his teammates.

But in about three months that mammoth size won't be needed anymore. Breland's football career will be finished, and he'll graduate with his degree in history.

He hopes to teach high school and coach a little football. For that job, lugging around 310-plus pounds probably won't be a good idea.

"Yeah, I plan to lose a little weight when I get done with football," Breland said. "Right now, I'm big, but I'm in pretty good football shape. I can eat four or five meals each day because I burn it off. I'm sure it will be a little different when I'm done with football."

Jana Milam, a registered and licensed dietitian with the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said she constantly deals with former athletes trying to stay healthy after their athletic careers.

"For big football players, it's a lot about changing your routine from eating so much each day," Milam said. "Most of these guys need to cut their calorie intake in half and start watching what they eat a little more."

For former offensive linemen, lugging around all that extra weight for long periods of time can lead to problems such as hypertension, diabetes and heart problems.

Many football players struggle with their weight after college, but others manage nicely.

Former University of Southern Mississippi star Steve Carmody weighed about 245 pounds back in his playing days during the early 1980s.

But after a brief tryout with the NFL, he returned home and went to law school. He now has his own law firm in Jackson.

A steady diet of "jogging and Lean Cuisine" got him down to about 220 pounds after college, where he hovered for the next 20 or so years. Recently, he has seen his weight begin to climb.

"Once you hit about 45 years old, your metabolism just isn't getting it done," Carmody said.

For former jocks trying to get down to a reasonable weight after their playing career, Milam offered these tips:

Don't stop weight training; just change your routine. Instead of building power, do a little lighter weight and more repetitions to build tone and endurance. Also incorporate 30 minutes of cardio work five days each week.

Take your time: A healthy pace to lose weight is usually about one or two pounds per week. But over six months, that could add up to 30 or 40 pounds.

Get some help: A dietitian or a personal trainer can help you decide the best course for finding a weight that's best suited for your body type.

Alabama A&M Notebook: Jones waiting for eligibility answers

Reggie Benson, Times Staff Writer

Jones still waiting for eligibility answers

Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones said Monday he was unable to set his lineup for Saturday's season opener against Tennessee State because he was still awaiting word on some eligibility issues.

Jones said last week some of his players had been cleared academically, but he was still awaiting word on several others. The list includes running back Max Martin, wide receiver Anthony Mitchell and defensive back Jonathan McConico, among others.

"We have the same situation that we had Friday," Jones said. "I'm still waiting on some phone calls and hopefully I'll get them before the end of the day. If I don't get them, we're moving on. Whoever we go out there with (today) is who we're going with."

Tucker to start: Defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns said Monday that Stephan Tucker will start at left cornerback in place of Maurice Thomas in Alabama A&M's season opener Saturday against Tennessee State. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at LP Field.

Tucker had been hampered by an ankle injury and that allowed Thomas, who started the second half of last season after Tucker sustained a similar injury against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, to move ahead of him. However, after watching the film from Saturday's scrimmage, Towns made the move.

"Thomas wasn't sound in his technique," he said. "I hadn't had a chance to watch film last week, but he wasn't very solid in the scrimmage ."

Tucker played well, Towns said, and his ankle is about 90 percent.

Towns said Chris Faush moved ahead of Korey Morrison and will back up Frank Moore at right cornerback.

Williams concerns Towns: Annually, A&M has been ranked nationally in rushing defense. That national reputation will be challenged Saturday night when A&M visits Tennessee State.

The Tigers include one of the better running backs in the Ohio Valley Conference in Javarris Williams, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound junior.

Williams rushed for 1,233 yards and scored 11 touchdowns last season, including a 121-yard effort on 23 carries and a touchdown in a 27-20 loss to the Bulldogs.

"He did a good job running the ball last year," Towns said of Williams. "We helped him some with some poor tackling, but he's a powerful runner and we've got to find a way to slow him down."

AAMU 's Moland is out of the shadows

By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff

With Baldwin in NFL, A&M's Moland eyes spotlight at linebacker

For the last two years, Avery Moland played alongside Johnny Baldwin. For the last two years, they formed one of the better inside linebacker tandems in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, helping Alabama A&M make back-to-back appearances in the championship game and eventually winning it last season.

Still, while Moland did his part, he wasn't able to escape Baldwin's large shadow.

No matter how hard he tried, no matter how well he played, Moland was always the Bulldogs' other inside linebacker.

Now that Baldwin, a two-time first-team All-SWAC selection, has taken his show to the National Football League with the Detroit Lions, A&M's defense will be Moland's to run.

"I've been waiting for this year all summer," said Moland, who will lead A&M's defense into Saturday's season opener against Tennessee State at LP Field in Nashville. "I knew Johnny was the man and I was just going out there every game trying to prove I could play, too.

"I want a chance to show everybody that I'm good enough to play on the next level and this is my year to do it and I'm planning to take advantage of it."

Unlike Baldwin, who played inside linebacker his entire career, Moland has bounced around some.

He started at defensive end as a redshirt freshman in 2004, was converted to inside linebacker a year later and then started at inside linebacker for most of last season, but started a couple of games at defensive end when Chris Traylor was suspended.

"Moland came here at a time when we had players with established roles," A&M coach Anthony Jones said. "That may have taken from his level of consistency playing one position all the time. He has played where we asked him to play and he's done it well. We felt like we had to have him on the field."

The Bulldogs are 25-10 with Moland in the starting lineup so Jones' observation was right. While he hasn't had a break out year, Moland has developed into a good football player.

"Avery has done what we needed him to do," Jones said. "He has been a big hitter for us. He's been a solid pass rusher. He's been a consistent player at linebacker and now he knows the lights are looking for someone to shine upon and it's his turn to step up because he can be that kind of player."

Moland has felt that way all along. He feels that way even more now.

"I feel like I'm an important part of our team," said the 5-foot-11, 236-pound senior from Birmingham. "I'm in a position where I can lead and my actions on and off the field have an effect on how my teammates look at our team. I've got to be one of the guys on defense to stand up and take full account of what's going on out there."

Moland's work ethic, inside linebackers coach Jay Martin says, has prevented him from becoming the kind of player Baldwin became.

"The thing I've been working with Avery on the most is his intensity," Martin said. "He'll turn it on and he'll turn it off. We need him to play with great intensity all the time.

"If his motor is running, he's hard to handle. He's a great pass rusher and a heck of a hitter. He brings fear to a lot of running backs, but he has to step up to the next level if he wants to be compared to Johnny."

Moland recognized that this summer and says he put in the work necessary to reach his goals.

"I did more to get in shape for this year so I could be in mid-season form at the beginning of the season," said Moland, whose father Thaddeus and uncle Vernon played for the Bulldogs in the early 1980s. "I realize the more plays I'm on the field the more plays I'll have a chance to make."

Moland has been one of A&M's top playmakers during his career. He was third on the team in tackles two years ago and second last season. However, Jones says he'll make more plays if he's in proper condition.

"Avery is a guy that loves to hit people," he said. "When you bring a lot of punishment, you also receive some and when you do that, you have to be in great shape. He has worn down some during the season and he needs to be in great shape so he can get through the year."

Moland doesn't seem all that concerned. He says he doesn't plan on letting anything stop him from having a great senior year.

"I'm excited," he said. "I'm glad it's here. Hopefully, I will have a great season."

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.