One is not a lonely number for XU in the NAIA polls

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Xavier University of Louisiana received one point Wednesday — the same number as this past week — in both of the NAIA Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 polls. But that pair of ones is significant.

For the Gold Nuggets, it's the first time since 2002 that they received a vote in consecutive polls, and it's the first time since that same season that they were mentioned in the poll entering the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships. For the XU men, it's the first time they received a vote this late in a season.

Both XU teams will compete Saturday in the GCAC meet at Choctaw Trails Course in Clinton, Miss. — women's race at 8 a.m., men's race at 8:30 — and both the Gold Nuggets and the Gold Rush are trying to win a sixth consecutive team championship. XU junior Matt Pieri is the defending men's individual champion.

NAIA Women's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 Poll(first-place votes in parentheses) Rank Team Points Last 1 Azusa Pacific (21) 652 1 2 Cal State San Marcos (2) 633 2 3 British Columbia 584 4 4 College of Idaho 576 8 5 Friends 572 6 6 Olivet Nazarene 570 5 7 Northwest Christian 529 3 8 Biola 516 7 9 Concordia (Ore.) 479 9 10 Carroll (Mont.) 459 11 11 Morningside 458 10 12 The Master's 423 12 13 Saint Xavier 371 13 14 Lewis-Clark State 359 15 15 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 355 14 16 Westmont 350 16 17 Taylor 309 17 18 Indiana Wesleyan 261 19 19 (tie) Concordia (Neb.) 260 NR 19 (tie) Southern Oregon 260 18 21 Roberts Wesleyan 246 20 22 Rocky Mountain 208 NR 23 Dordt 194 21 24 Aquinas 172 22 25 Milligan 155 23 Others receiving votes: Viterbo 114, Point Loma Nazarene 107, Shawnee State 80, Cornerstone 56, Eastern Oregon 35; Northwestern (Iowa) 23, SCAD Savannah 22, Judson (Ill.) 21, Spring Arbor 8, Northwest (Wash.) 7, Park 3, Grand View 3, Xavier 1,Southwestern (Kan.) 1, Huntington (Ind.) 1, Trinity Christian 1, Wayland Baptist 1, Cumberlands 1, Vanguard 1. NAIA Men's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 Poll(first-place votes in parentheses) Rank Team Points Last 1 Oklahoma Christian (22) 622 1 2 Shorter 589 2 3 The Master's 566 5 4 Southern Oregon 554 7 5 Friends 520 9 6 Lewis-Clark State 517 6 7 Shawnee State 491 8 8 Cal State San Marcos 485 4 9 College of Idaho 483 21 10 Wayland Baptist 451 10 11 Concordia (Ore.) 430 3 12 Aquinas 400 12 13 Bryan 387 13 14 Westmont 356 14 15 St. Francis (Ill.) 340 16 16 Concordia (Neb.) 305 15 17 Oklahoma Baptist 294 18 18 Olivet Nazarene 289 11 19 Southwestern (Kan.) 277 17 20 Eastern Oregon 258 19 21 Biola 243 20 22 British Columbia 179 22 23 Siena Heights 136 24 24 Morningside 124 RV 25 SCAD Savannah 111 RV Others receiving votes: Graceland 98, Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 96, Vanguard 90, Berea 85, Carroll (Mont.) 48, Cornerstone 27, Azusa Pacific 24, Baker 20, Huntington (Ind.) 19, Rocky Mountain 8, Point Loma Nazarene 4, Cumberlands 3, Xavier 1, Dordt 1, Doane 1, By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

2011 Shreveport Classic: JSU vs. PVAMU

Norfolk State - Bethune-Cookman to play in prime time

Norfolk, Virginia -- Norfolk State didn't have much time to celebrate last weekend's 34-24 win over Hampton in the annual Battle of the Bay or the program's first FCS ranking (No. 25) since 2007.

The Spartans (6-1, 4-0 MEAC) meet visiting Bethune-Cookman (3-3, 1-2) on Thursday night at 7:30 in a game that will be televised by ESPNU. With the condensed week, NSU coach Pete Adrian said he began preparations Saturday night, shortly after the win over HU.

"It does make it very interesting, and for some extremely long hours," he said. "But that's what you've got to do." The Spartans haven't been ranked since a two-week stay in the poll four years ago.

"It's nice to see one of our conference teams get some national recognition, but it really doesn't mean a whole lot," Adrian said of the ranking. "You've got to just keep on playing and trying to win. If you keep winning, it will take care of itself."

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Spartans, 'Cats still rivals

Daytona Beach, Florida -- If you want to know what's become of the recent Norfolk State-Bethune-Cookman rivalry, listen to Wildcats second-year coach Brian Jenkins' appraisal of the Spartans' program. "Norfolk State has always been a good football team," Jenkins said. "They were a good football team last year, and they're a good football team this year."

And that's just it. Jenkins' history with Norfolk State goes back just two years. His Wildcats (3-3, 1-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) will try to hand the Spartans (6-1, 4-0) their first conference loss of the season Thursday night in Norfolk, Va., in a game nationally televised by ESPNU.

Norfolk State has not always been a good football team. When head coach Pete Adrian arrived in 2005, the Spartans were coming off two successive one-win seasons. Just two years later, Adrian's team finished 8-3 and came within one game (an overtime loss to eventual champ Delaware State) of winning its first MEAC title.

Adrian again has the Spartans in position to win the conference. So there's plenty of incentive for Norfolk State to be fired up Thursday night when it meets the high-scoring Wildcats. But just a couple of years ago, just the mention of the other school would fire up the teams.

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GAME TIME: 7:30 PM ET
TV: ESPNU
INTERNET: ESPN3

XU celebrates Midnight Madness on Friday at The Barn

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Xavier University of Louisiana will celebrate the 2011-12 basketball season with Midnight Madness at The Barn.

The free event will run from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Friday (Oct. 21), followed by a block party with free food and soft drinks from 10:30 p.m. to midnight in the parking lot in front of The Barn. Midnight Madness and the block party will be open to all.

The 2011-12 Xavier Gold Nuggets basketball team
Last season: 27-7, GCAC Tournament champion, ranked 20th in NAIA
(click photo to enlarge)

The 2011-12 Xavier Gold Rush basketball team
Last season: 27-6, GCAC Tournament runner-up, ranked 17th in NAIA
(click photo to enlarge)

"We want Midnight Madness to generate strong spirit for XU on our campus and in the community," said Dannton Jackson, in his ninth season as coach of Xavier's men. "And we hope it will boost our attendance at The Barn this season and give the Gold Rush and the Gold Nuggets the best possible home-court advantage."

Fans can participate by entering a costume contest — the person whose costume best demonstrates Xavier spirit will win $100 — and more prizes will be awarded during a 3-point shooting contest.

The Rush and Nuggets, both 27-game winners and NAIA Division I National Championship participants this past season, will conduct 15-minute intrasquad scrimmages. Xavier's three spirit groups — the cheerleaders, the Gold Star Dancers and the Golden Girls pom squad — also will perform.

"You can expect a few surprises too," said Bo Browder, in his 13th season as coach of XU's women. "Our fans will have fun and be entertained at Midnight Madness."

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

2011 Road To The SIAC Championship -- Sights & Sounds from the 76th Annual Morehouse - Tuskegee Classic

Florida A&M Rattlers Preps For South Carolina State Bulldogs

Tallahassee, Florida - FAMU was able to avoid a letdown after its homecoming loss to Howard and responded by thrashing the Tigers of Savannah State 47-7. "We measure greatness by how you respond to adversity and in my mind we really passed a major test," says Joe Taylor.

One exam to be followed by another. FAMU travels to South Carolina State this weekend in a game which the losers championship dreams will practically be erased. Taylor adds, "The bottom line is it's still a conference ballgame. We're on the road but from the way we play I'm really not concerned with the opponent anymore because seemingly we have our act together."

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LOCATION: OLIVER C. DAWSON STADIUM, ORANGEBURG, S.C.
GAME TIME: 1:30 PM
WATCH GAME LIVE ON INTERNET FREE: ESPN3
DELAYED TV BROADCAST: ESPNU @ 10:30 PM ET

FAMU's offense getting job done

The chase for the MEAC title might look a little bleak right now for Florida A&M but the Rattlers are proving that they have the offensive power that might land them in the thick of the race when it's all said and done.

Seven games into the season with a 4-3 overall record and 2-2 in conference play, FAMU is leading the league in scoring offense among the teams that have played as many games. Its 28 touchdowns is the most in the conference, three more than Bethune-Cookman University, which has played six games, and one more than South Carolina State, which has also played seven games.

FAMU has scored 209 points and is averaging 312 yards per game. FAMU also leads the league in the red zone, scoring on 26 of 28 chances.

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FAMU zoned in on chasing the MEAC title

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Through its seven games, Florida A&M has had enough ups and downs and that should help to get the Rattlers zoned in on their next game. At least that's the feeling expressed by coach Joe Taylor, whose team has left him with a few head-scratching moments.

FAMU plays a season-defining game with South Carolina State, a team that has also been having its struggles this season. But even so, a victory over the Bulldogs on Saturday is pivotal to FAMU remaining in the chase for a shot at the MEAC championship.

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Taylor, FAMU hoping to end S.C. State’s streak

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A question brought a brief chuckle from Florida A&M head football coach Joe Taylor during Tuesday's weekly teleconference.

It regarded the Rattlers' eight-game losing streak to South Carolina State dating back to Buddy Pough's arrival in 2002. Taylor was prompted to laugh after pointing out he's been at the helm for only three of those losses, although he has a five-game losing streak to the Bulldogs counting his final two seasons at Hampton.

"South Carolina State has just built a tremendous talent base over the years there and that's what is going to make a difference if that's ever going to end," Taylor said. "It's going to be because you had a chance to recruit and get your talent base up to a level where you can compete legitimately."

Entering Saturday's matchup at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium ...

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Billups is solid at Jackson State University

Jackson, Mississippi -- Jonathan Billups has become a solid part to one of the toughest defenses in college football. Billups, a former all-state player at Picayune High, is in his second season as a starting defensive lineman for Jackson State. The Tigers are 6-1 after Saturday’s win over in-state rival Mississippi Valley, and the JSU defense is the tops in Division I-AA against the run.

“I think I’ve been playing pretty well, but I am always trying to get better every day,” Billups, who lines up at both nose and tackle, said. “I think I have gotten better each year I have been here, and I just plan on continuing to work hard and improve each time out.”

So far this season, Billups has started every game and has recorded 31 total tackles, including 13 solo stops. He has one sack, and five tackles for loss, and he has one fumble recovery, one pass break up and one quarterback hurry.

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Bishop's Jessica Johnson commits to Norfolk State

Land O' Lakes, Florida -- Bishop McLaughlin senior volleyball player Jessica Johnson has verbally committed to Norfolk State, Hurricanes coach Douglas Chinchar said Tuesday.

Johnson visited the MEAC school in Virginia over the weekend. She plans to sign in the early signing period next month, when she would become the first volleyball player in Bishop history to sign with a Division I program, Chinchar said. She also made an official visit to Maryland Eastern Shore.

Johnson, an outside hitter, is among the North Suncoast’s leaders in aces (1.4 per game) and kills (5.1 per game). She has 995 kills in her high school career and will likely record her 1,000th this week.



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SCSU Bulldogs, FAMU Rattlers alike, Pough says

Orangeburg, South Carolina -- Winning two straight games and climbing over the .500 mark for the first time all season is a positive in South Carolina State head football coach Buddy Pough's book.

It does not necessary mean in his eyes, however, the Bulldogs have "turned a corner" into becoming a complete Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship contender. On Monday, Pough said the team remains a work in progress although he believes a home win Saturday over Florida A&M would bring them a step closer towards becoming what he envisioned in the preseason.

"I think the jury is probably still out," he said. "We don't necessarily have the confidence to really say that we've got it pretty much on track. I can tell you though is that I think I see that happening. We need another win or two as this week will go big in that direction of trying to make that determination."




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Streaking Xavier Gold Nuggets picked to win another GCAC title

NEW ORLEANS — No surprise here. Xavier University of Louisiana, winner of its past 29 games against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponents, was picked first again in the preseason coaches poll.

The Gold Nuggets received seven first-place votes and 49 points. SUNO received the other first-place vote and tied with Tougaloo for second place with 37 points.

It's the ninth time in 10 seasons that the Nuggets finished in the top two of the coaches poll.

Xavier hasn't lost to a GCAC team since a 59-56 decision at LSU-Shreveport in the semifinals of the conference tournament on March 6, 2009. The Gold Nuggets went 18-0 in the GCAC regular season and 3-0 in the tournament in 2009-10, then 6-0 in the regular season and 2-0 in the tournament this past year.

LSUS no longer is in the GCAC, but the conference expanded from six to eight teams during the summer by adding Philander Smith and Talladega. All teams will play a double round-robin schedule of 14 games.

Keldra Hall, Jazmoné Kelly and Brandi Young, all seniors, are returning starters for Xavier, which will travel to SEC member LSU for a 7 p.m. exhibition on Nov. 2, then open the regular season at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 against Florida Memorial at The Barn. Hall and Kelly were All-GCAC this past season, and Young was All-GCAC Tournament. Hall was GCAC Newcomer of the Year.

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Women's Basketball 2011-12 Preseason Coaches Poll (first-place votes in parentheses) No. School Points 1. Xavier (7) 49 2. (tie) SUNO (1) 37 2. (tie) Tougaloo 37 4. Talladega 32 5. Dillard 29 6. Edward Waters 20 7. (tie) Fisk 10 7. (tie) Philander Smith 10 Xavier in previous GCAC polls 2010-11 — 1st 2009-10 — 2nd 2008-09 — 1st 2007-08 — 2nd 2006-07 — 3rd 2004-05 — 1st       2003-04 — 2nd 2002-03 — 2nd 2001-02 — 1st 1999-2000 — 1st 1993-94 — 1st

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Bulldogs’ basketball team full of excitement as practice begins

Orangeburg, South Carolina - The first official practice for men's basketball Saturday morning at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center marked an end and a beginning for South Carolina State.

As far as the players and head coach Tim Carter are concerned, the book on last year's 10-22 season was officially closed and they're determined to focus on producing a more successful account.

"Don't talk about it," Carter said. "I mean, that's a word we don't even say ‘last year' because it doesn't matter what happened last year other than you don't want it to happen again." "We've got that bad taste in our mouth from last year," point guard Khalif Toombs said. "We're ready to get that out and have a good season."

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Grambling breathing easier after win

Grambling, Louisiana - Monday provided Grambling its first chance since early September to start a new week of meetings and practice on a positive note.

"It's cured the cold so far," Doug Williams said Monday about beating Concordia, 44-0. "I think not only for the players, but for the coaches. In meetings (Monday) morning, you could feel in the room that it's a better atmosphere when you win, no matter who you play, and hopefully it's contagious not only from the coaches' standpoint but all the way down to the players and the fans."

But much of the coach's comments about his team and its status midway through the season remained similar to those that had followed four consecutive losses.

"You've got a chance to smile a little more because you've got a 'W' up under your belt," he said...

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XU's Gold Rush picked for second in GCAC preseason poll

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, which returns nine of 11 lettermen and four starters from its 27-6 men's basketball team of this past season, is picked to finish second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference in 2011-12.

The Gold Rush received one first-place vote and 43 points in a poll of the GCAC's head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team. Tougaloo topped the poll with 49 points and received the other seven first-place votes.

Four points separated the third- through seventh-place teams.

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Men's Basketball 2011-12 Preseason Coaches Poll (first-place votes in parentheses) No. School Points 1. Tougaloo (7) 49 2. Xavier (1) 43 3. (tie) Edward Waters 25 3. (tie) Talladega 25 5. Philander Smith 24 6. Dillard 22 7. SUNO 21 8. Fisk 15 Xavier in previous GCAC polls 2010-11 — 1st 2009-10 — 8th 2008-09 — 2nd 2007-08 — 1st 2006-07 — 6th 2004-05 — 3rd 2003-04 — 4th 2002-03 — 5th        2001-02 — 1st 2000-01 — 2nd 1999-2000 — 3rd 1992-93 — 2nd 1991-92 — 1st 1989-90 — 6th 1988-89 — 4th 1987-88 — 2nd

The GCAC expanded during the summer from six to eight teams with the addition of Philander Smith and Talladega. Unlike last season, all GCAC teams will play a double round-robin schedule, with the conference awarding regular-season and tournament championships. Tougaloo defeated Xavier 93-80 in overtime to win the GCAC Tournament in March.

Xavier's returning starters are guards Chris Iles and Kevin Miller and forwards Anthony Simmons and Denzell Erves. Simmons was All-GCAC this past season, and Iles led the conference in assists per game. They helped Xavier win its first 13 games for the first time since 1940-41 and record a school-record-tying 11th consecutive winning season.

The XU men will open their 74th season at 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 at The Barn against Carver College of Atlanta.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Mitchell 1-for-2 on late choices

Baton Rouge, Lousiana - In the final moments of Saturday’s 22-21 loss at Arkansas-Pine Bluff last week, Southern coach Stump Mitchell had to make two crucial decisions. One of them was right on the money. One wasn’t.

With 2 seconds left, the Jaguars were down by seven points and had the ball at the UAPB 11-yard line. Southern lined up for a play, and UAPB took a timeout - ostensibly to take a longer look at the Jaguars’ offensive formation.

Mitchell then called for a throwback screen to Sylvester Nzekwe, which gave the Jaguars the touchdown they needed. The call, and the players’ execution of it, fooled the defense enough for Nzekwe to beat a lone defender and sneak inside the left pylon.

That, in turn, left Mitchell with another tough decision: Should he go for an all-or-nothing two-point conversion? Or try for the extra point and overtime?

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Norfolk State cracks Top 25 for first time since 2007

Norfolk, Virginia -- No. 24 is not enough.

That's where the Norfolk State football team sits in The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 poll released Monday. It's the first national ranking for NSU since 2007.

FCS/FATHEAD.COM TOP 25

Team (No. 1 votes)	Record	Points	Pvs.
1. Ga. Southern (125)	6-0	3,871	1
2. Northern Iowa (18)	5-1	3,732	2
3. N. Dakota State (9)	6-0	3,509	4
4. Montana State (2)	6-1	3,502	3
5. Wofford (3)	5-1	3,354	5
6. Appalachian State	4-2	2,957	6
7. Sam Houston State	6-0	2,808	10
8. Lehigh	6-1	2,795	8
9. Maine	5-1	2,481	12
10. Jacksonville State	5-1	2,480	11
11. James Madison	5-2	2,275	13
12. Montana	5-2	2,083	14
13. New Hampshire	4-2	2,062	6
14. William and Mary	4-3	1,882	16
15. Towson	5-1	1,795	17
16. Delaware	4-3	1,371	9
17. Indiana State	5-2	1,235	21
18. Richmond	3-3	843	20
19. Alabama State	6-1	768	24
20. North Dakota	4-2	747	23
21. Old Dominion	5-2	671	18
22. Massachusetts	4-2	668	NR
23. Jackson State	6-1	529	25
24. Norfolk State	6-1	511	NR
25. South Dakota	4-3	477	15

That didn't satisfy linebacker Corwin Hammond.

"My dad and I were talking about it today," Hammond said. "We're No. 24. I'm not going to name names, but there are teams ahead of us with three losses. If we're unbeaten in the MEAC, we should at least be ahead of teams with three losses. But those things have never respected us. It's why we always play with a chip on our shoulder."

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Prairie View misses chances against Alabama State

Prairie View, Texas - Prairie View A&M came back to earth a bit with Saturday's 20-7 loss to conference rival Alabama State.

The Panthers (4-3, 4-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) saw their three-game winning streak end under a mountain of missed opportunities. They outgained Alabama State 456-296 in total yards but committed three turnovers and missed three field goals. Prairie View also came up empty on four fourth-down attempts, including three inside the red zone.

However, there were some bright spots. The Panthers moved the ball consistently on offense, and the defense had a solid performance. Freshman running back Fred Anderson rushed for 101 yards on 20 carries, becoming the first PV player to top the century mark this year.

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