ASU Football Announces 2018 Signing Class

ALBANY, Georgia --  Head Coach Gabe Giardina and the Albany State football coaching staff are pleased to announce the newest additions to Golden Ram football family.

"I am extremely excited about our first signing class", says Coach Giardina who guided the Rams to a 6-4 record in his first season.  "We really feel like this group is going to put the foundation in for us to have a strong future.  We addressed some needs at mid-year by signing four young men that can give us depth in some of our upper classes. We're excited to sign so many quality linemen and we greatly increased our athleticism and depth. 

Of the 19 signees, ASU adds 16 recruits from the state of Georgia, including two from right here in Albany. 

ASU FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES 2018 SIGNING CLASS

"We feel very strongly about recruiting from the inside out geographically as well, so being able to have three quarters of the class come from Georgia is a big win for us in state.  We are excited about the legacy factor that both Dan Land III and Antonio Leroy Jr bring to our team.  Not only are they highly skilled and talented football players, both understand what means to wear the blue and gold and represent Ram Nation."

The 2018 class can also be characterized by speed at the skill positions. 

 "Our staff really hit a home run was with getting fast skill that can take the ball the distance as well as run and cover anyone they play against.  We look forward to these young men getting on campus and watching them develop."

By position, the signee class includes a running back, five offensive linemen, two linebackers, a wide receiver, five in the secondary, four defensive linemen and an ATH (to be determined.)

"We continue to build on a very special tradition here at Albany State and are excited to see what these young men do when they get on campus in the fall."

"Spring ball begins on March 20th, so now our attention turns to our guys on campus, starting the fourth quarter program and getting our team ready."

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Bowie State Bulldogs Football Announces Strong Class on National Signing Day

BOWIE, Maryland --The Bowie State University Bulldogs football program announced its 2018 class of signees on National Signing Day, Wednesday (2/7). The next generation of Bulldogs will be a talented group as the team addressed many areas of need with its 2018 signees.

"I am really excited to announce the 2018 recruiting class joining our Bowie State family.  There is something very special happening here at BSU and this class will bring even more talent to our Bulldog roster", said BSU head football coach Damon Wilson. 

"This class is full of student-athletes that have come from winning programs.  A number of the athletes in this year's class will participate in our University's Honors Program.  My coaching staff has done an outstanding job in recruiting quality student-athletes right here in the DMV.  There is a lot of talent in our backyard and we make it a point to seek out homegrown talent when recruiting at Bowie State University.  These new Bulldogs will join our program and represent not only their families, high school and Bowie State, but they will represent the DMV as we compete and excel on the field."

Bowie State Football Signing Day 2018

Keith Allen	OL	6-2	285	Friendship Collegiate HS
Malik Bellamy	OL	6-2	280	Wise HS
Darious Bowman	WR	5-9	165	Friendly HS
Terrlonta Buchanan	QB	6-2	200	Ballou HS
Semaj Burrows	OL	6-4	310	Oxon Hill HS
Jordan Carter	DB	5-11	195	Lackey HS
Jordan Christian	RB	5-9	186	Thomas Stone HS
Sharif Coombs	DL	6-0	255	Riverdale Baptist HS
Alphonso Cornish	OL	6-7	395	Dundalk HS
DA'Andre Hebron	OL	6-2	285	City College HS
Elijah Lane	DL	6-1	270	Lackey HS
Demetrius Majors	DL	6-1	320	Howard HS
Shane McAndrews	OL	6-1	260	Roosevelt HS
David Medley	RB	6-0	185	Wise HS
Demetri Morsell	DB	6-0	170	Wise HS
Jajuan Payton-Glover	ATH	6-0	200	Douglass HS
Dajuan Rollins	QB	6-1	217	Oxon Hill HS
Jonathan Ross	LB	6-2	193	St. Charles HS
Steven Scott	OL	6-5	320	McNamara HS
Noah Taylor	LB	6-3	208	Friendly HS
Hassan Terry	LB	6-0	210	Friendship Collegiate HS
Shaun Tolbert	LB	6-0	220	Dunbar HS

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Tuskegee signs former Alabama linebacker Tyler Hayes

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- Tuskegee listed former Alabama linebacker Tyler Hayes as part of its 2018 recruiting class announced Wednesday on its athletic website.

Alabama dismissed Hayes and three other Crimson Tide players after they were charged with robbery of two Alabama students in February 2013.

Hayes and Eddie Williams confessed to robbing a student who was punched and kicked. Hayes made 14 tackles as a freshman in 2012 when the Crimson Tide won the second of back-to-back national titles.



Finishing third in the Mr. Football voting after leading Thomasville to the 2010 Class 4A state title, Hayes went to Butler Community College in Kansas before signing with Division II West Georgia in 2014.

West Georgia officials confirmed Thursday he didn't practice or play for the Wolves.

Hayes was later arrested in May 2015 for violating his probation, AL.com reported. He’s one of eight players from the state of Alabama going to Tuskegee.

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XULA Pace picks up another academic honor

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Brianna Pace earned her second academic award of 2017-18 when she was named Friday to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NAIA All-Academic team.
     
Pace is a junior from Junction City, Kan., a graduate of Junction City High School and a computer science major at XULA. USTFCCCA honorees qualified for the award with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and by competing at the 2017 NAIA Championships.
     
Pace was among 103 women honored.
     
In November Pace was named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete. Last week she was nominated as an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar; she made the Ashe second team a year ago.
     
Pace is preparing for the 2018 outdoor track and field season, which will begin March 2 in NOLA at the Tulane Early Bird Twilight meet at Tad Gormley Stadium.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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Pao, Borodii win in doubles, singles at Southern Miss

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi — Xavier University of Louisiana's Yi Chen Pao and Mariia Borodii won in doubles and singles Thursday, but the Gold Nuggets fell 5-2 to Southern Miss in women's tennis.
     
Pao and Borodii defeated Tanit Lopez Lopez and Lara Isis De Oliveir 7-6 (7-4) at No. 2 doubles. Then both produced shutout sets in their singles victories — Borodii defeated Arina Amaning 7-5, 6-0 at No. 1, and Pao beat Lopez 6-0, 7-5 at No. 4.
     
The Gold Nuggets' Manon Bonada and Charlene Goreau had a match point in their 11th game against Amaning and Tjasa Jerse, but Southern Miss rallied for a 7-6 (7-5) victory that clinched the doubles point.
     
XULA, ranked 10th in the NAIA, is 0-5, and Southern Miss is 4-1 with a four-dual win streak. All but one of the Gold Nuggets' losses are to NCAA Division I opponents. XULA will play at noon Saturday at NAIA No. 9 LSU-Alexandria, where there's a 60-percent chance of rain.

Results

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Arizona Cardinals Safety Antoine Bethea (Howard Bison) Named Inaugural Black College Football Pro Player of the Year

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Arizona Cardinals Safety Antoine Bethea has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Black College Football Pro Player of
the Year Award, presented by the NFLPA. It will be awarded annually to the most outstanding professional football player from a Historically Black College and University.

The 5-foot-11, 206-pound Bethea attended Howard University, from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 2006. In 12 NFL seasons, he has been selected for the Pro Bowl three times and won Super Bowl XLI as a member of the Colts.

Bethea spent his first eight years in Indianapolis, then three in San Francisco, before signing a three-year contract with Arizona in 2017. In his first year with the Cardinals, Bethea had a career-high five interceptions to go along with 57 tackles.

The formal presentation of the Black College Football Pro Player of the Year Award will be made at the Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on February 10, 2018.

"This award was established to help showcase the immense talent of our current Black College Football players at the highest level," said James "Shack" Harris, BCFHOF Co-Founder and 2012 inductee.

The Black College Football Pro Player of the Year Award was voted on by a Selection Committee, composed of media members Mike Mayock (NFL Network), Michael Smith(ESPN), Jay Walker (ESPN), John Williams (The Undefeated) and Steve Wyche (NFL Network); NFL front office members Doug Williams (Washington Redskins Senior Vice President of Player Personnel) and Tony Wyllie (Washington Redskins Senior Vice President); Tony Sofli of the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, and former NFL scout Charles Bailey.

"Today, there are about 30 players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities on active NFL rosters," said DeMaurice Smith, NFLPA Executive Director. "Some of the best players in NFL history are from HBCUs, and it's exciting to honor today's stars."

The 2018 Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by the Atlanta Falcons, takes place at the College Football Hall of Fame on February 10. The 2017 Black College Football Player of the Year will also be announced during the Ceremony. Tickets and sponsorships are still available at www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org.

"On behalf of the Black College Football Hall of Fame Trustees and Selection Committee, we congratulate Antoine on this historic accomplishment," said Doug Williams, BCFHOF Co-Founder and 2011 Inductee. "Antoine is a great role model and inspiration for our youth across the country."

ABOUT THE NFLPA
"We, The National Football League Players Association … Pay homage to our predecessors for their courage, sacrifice, and vision; … Pledge to preserve and enhance the democratic involvement of our members; … Confirm our willingness to do whatever is necessary for the betterment of our membership — To preserve our gains and achieve those goals not yet attained."

ABOUT THE BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
The Black College Football Hall of Fame was established in October of 2009 by African-American pioneers and quarterbacks, Pro Bowl MVP James "Shack" Harris and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams to preserve the history and honor the greatest football players, coaches and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). There have been 70 Inductees since inception, including Mel Blount, James Harris, Willie Lanier, Art Shell and Doug Williams, who serve as Trustees.

Ebonye Jones Named Coppin State Men’s & Women’s Tennis Head Coach

Ebonye Jones

BALTIMORE, Maryland – Coppin State University's Director of Athletics Derek Carter announced Ebonye Jones as the Eagles new head men's & women's tennis head coach. Jones replaces Will Riley who spent three seasons at the helm of the Coppin tennis program.

Jones comes to Coppin after spending five-plus seasons as an assistant coach at Trinity (D.C.), a NCAA Division III program in Northeast D.C. She concurrently served as the Net Generation and Member Engagement Coordinator with the United States Tennis Association Mid-Atlantic Section where she spearheaded programs such as Girls Rule the Court and the Emerging Leaders Academy. Jones also served as an instructor at Poncho Gonzales Tennis Academy and the District of Columbia Department of Parks & Recreation.

Following her playing career at Albany State University where she was a three-time First Team All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection, Jones joined the Professional Tennis Registry in 2005. In an effort to give back to the community, Jones began coaching at MACH Academy where she played a vital role in developing numerous nationally-ranked junior athletes.

As a traveling pro, Jones served as a Staff Pro at Nike Adult Tennis Camp at Amherst College which was voted one of the Top 25 Tennis Camp destinations in the World by Tennis Resorts Online. Jones also served as a Staff Pro at Pure Tennis in Atlanta and as an Assistant Head Pro at Crestview Tennis & Swim Club in New Providence, N.J.

Jones received her B.S. in Criminal Justice from Albany State in 2005.

The Eagles opens their 2018 season at 11 am on Saturday, February 17 at Saint Peter's University.

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Prairie View faces tough road in Dooley debut

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Prairie View A&M is excited to have coach Eric Dooley as its new coach, but he won’t coach a game on campus until mid-October.

The Panthers will face a challenging 11-game schedule as they seek to win the SWAC title. It includes four home games, but the first isn’t until the seventh game of the season.

Prior to open conference play, Prairie View will face a pair of FBS programs, Rice (Aug. 25) and UNLV (Sept. 15), North Carolina Central in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge at Georgia State Stadium in Atlanta (Sept. 2) and Sam Houston State (Sept. 8).



The Panthers open conference play at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Sept. 22) and then face defending champion Grambling State at the State Fair Classic in Dallas (Sept. 29). Prior to being hired by Prairie View in December, Dooley served as Grambling’s offensive coordinator for four seasons.

Dooley’s first two games at Panther Stadium will be against Southern (Oct. 13) and Alcorn State (Oct. 27). After a trip to Jackson State (Nov. 3), his squad will end the regular season by hosting Alabama State (Nov. 17) and Texas Southern (Nov. 24).

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A look at Grambling State's 2018 football schedule

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  –  When you have new artificial turf and a videoboard at your stadium, you utilize and flaunt it as much as possible.

For the second straight season, Grambling State will play four games at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium next year, as it released its 2018 football schedule Wednesday. It'll be the first time since 2012 the Tigers will host four homes games in back-to-back seasons.

Adding the fourth home contest was a top priority for GSU Athletic Director Paul Bryant in the scheduling process.

“It was important that we got that fourth game at home. Typically, Grambling has three home games, but now we have a field that we want people to see,” Bryant said Wednesday. “Bringing Bacone (College) in, we sent out some feelers, we had some other people interested. Bacone came to the table and said they were interested in coming in and playing our opening day at home. They’re a formidable opponent, so we’re excited to get them here on campus.”

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2018 Conference Previews: Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball

SWAC

Team to Beat: Alabama State.

The Hornets have developed into one of the SWAC’s powers in recent seasons, first under Mervyl Melendez and now under Jose Vasquez, who was promoted to head coach last year after Melendez left to become head coach at Florida International. Alabama State made its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016 in Melendez’s final season and nearly returned in Vasquez’s first year, but were edged by Texas Southern in extra innings in the SWAC Tournament championship game. The Hornets will be eager this season to bounce back from that loss and have the returning talent to do so. Outfielder Gage Cox (.350/.409/.547, 7 HR) is back after leading the Hornets in hitting as a freshman. First baseman Gustavo Rios (.332/.405/.574, 10 HR) and outfielder Joseph Estrada (.276/.421/.553, 11 HR) return for their senior years and bring power to the lineup. Alabama State has more holes to fill on the mound, as closer Austin Bizzle (7-1, 1.95) and ace Tyler Howe (8-4, 3.41), who both earned all-conference honors last season must now be replaced. Alabama State will look for righthander Darrius Wright, a junior college transfer, and senior righthander Darren Kelly to step up on the staff. Wright was one of the prizes of an exciting 2017 recruiting class and throws in the low 90s with a good slider. Senior righthander Chase Laney (2-2, 3.40) provides an experienced hand in the bullpen. Alabama State’s veteran offense should help its pitching staff settle into place over the course of the spring and give it a good chance to capture its second SWAC title in three years.

Player of the Year: Marshawn Taylor, SS, Grambling State.

Taylor last season was named both the conference’s player and newcomer of the year after hitting .402/.477/.471 with 16 stolen bases after transferring from Eastern Illinois. A 35th-round pick out of high school in 2013, Taylor gives the Tigers a speedy hitter at the top of the order and anchors the infield at shortstop.

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Florida A&M Rattlers #3 in Nation in FCS Football Attendence

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- RattlerNation fans are proving they are committed to supporting the home team -- even during bad times.  FAMU retained the #3 position in FCS home attendance for 2017 with an attendance mark of 19,048, as reported by the NCAA.  The Rattlers attendance dropped 662 fans (3 percent) from the 2016 season as FAMU ended the year at 3-8 overall.

In 2016, the #3 ranked attendance leader had an average of 19,710 in 25,000 seat Bragg Memorial Stadium on FAMU campus.  The Rattlers finished with a 4-7 record.

2017 National FCS Football Champions North Dakota State Bison finished at #7 with home attendance at 18,333.  

The undefeated 2017 HBCU and MEAC Champions North Carolina A&T State Aggies finished the season in the #10 spot at 15,697.  2017 FCS National Championship Runner-up James Madison Dukes clocked in at #2.

The average attendance at FCS games dropped by less than 2 percent this past season, although the number of overall fans rose slightly to over 5.5 million because there were more games than in 2016.

The NCAA's release of its annual attendance report on Thursday reflected the average FCS crowd size was 8,223, down 134 per game from 8,357 in the 2016 season. The 670 games, based on home and neutral-site attendance plus the FCS championship game, drew 5,509,277 fans (neutral-site games between FBS and FCS teams are included for FBS attendance figures, not the FCS). A year earlier, 5,473,956 fans attended 655 FCS games.

The 23-game playoffs, included in the statistics, drew 222,424 fans, an increase of over 10 percent from 2016. 

The Florida A&M University/Bethune-Cookman University owned Florida Classic drew 47,819 at Orlando's Camping World Stadium on Nov. 18, 2017. The Rattlers and Wildcats record for this neutral site annual rivalry is 73,358.  Since the game inception in 1973, over 1.8 million fans have attended this annual FCS battle for Florida supremacy. 

Montana remains the heavyweight in FCS attendance even as it's missed the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time since 1991-92. The Grizzlies led the subdivision for the third straight season and the sixth time in the last decade while averaging 23,535 over six home games at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. However, that was a 7.3 percent drop from the school's 2016 average of 25,377.

James Madison was the FCS leader in regular-season attendance average (24,841) at Bridgeforth Stadium, but three playoff games dropped the Dukes to No. 2 overall at 21,724.

Rounding out the top 10 in average attendance were Florida A&M (19,048, four games), Yale (18,940, five), Montana State (18,617, six), Jacksonville State (18,388, sixth), national champion North Dakota State (18,333, nine), Prairie View A&M (17,803, five), Delaware (16,648, six) and North Carolina A&T (15,697, five).

Half of the schools in the attendance top 20 were HBCUs -- historically black colleges and universities. That helped the Southwestern Athletic Conference to average an FCS-high 13,694 fans per game, with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference ranking fifth out of 13 conferences at 9,450.

HOME ATTENDANCE LEADERS
No. School Games Attendance Average

1. Montana 6 141,212 23,535
2. James Madison 9 195,514 21,724
3. Florida A&M 4 76,190 19,048
4. Yale 5 94,699 18,940
5. Montana St. 6 111,702 18,617
6. Jacksonville St. 6 110,328 18,388
7. North Dakota St. 9 164,996 18,333
8. Prairie View A&M 5 89,016 17,803
9. Delaware 6 99,890 16,648t
10. North Carolina A&T 5 78,486 15,697
11. Grambling State 4 59,699 14,925
12. Alabama State 6 87,689 14,615
13. Southern U. 4 57,261 14,315
14. Youngstown St. 6 85,220 14,203
15. Alcorn State 6 83,078 13,846
16. Jackson State 5 68,780 13,756
17. Tennessee State 4 48,320 12,080
18. South Dakota St. 8 95,951 11,994
19. South Carolina State 5 59,414 11,883
20. Illinois St. 5 57,200 11,440
21. SFA 5 56,881 11,376
22. New Hampshire 6 66,141 11,024
23. Western Caro. 5 52,735 10,547
24. Mercer 5 52,725 10,545
25. Abilene Christian 5 52,204 10,441
26. North Dakota 5 52,139 10,428
27. Harvard 5 52,055 10,411
28. Eastern Wash. 5 50,617 10,123
29. McNeese 5 49,695 9,939
30. UNI 6 58,175 9,696

Prairie View A&M University football led the Southwestern Athletic Conference and ranked eighth in attendance nationally in the Football College Subdivision (FCS).

In 2017, the Panthers averaged 17,803 for five home dates, including the State Fair Classic in which Prairie View A&M was the home team last season. The NCAA counts neutral site attendance in matchups of FCS vs. FCS teams.  

Jackson State Releases 2018 Football Schedule

JACKSON, Mississippi --The Jackson State University Athletics Department has announced its 2018 football schedule. JSU’s 11-game schedule features five teams with winning records and one that played in a bowl game.

The Tigers open the 2018 season on the road in three noted games in which JSU and the opponent are no strangers. The season opener is a historic meeting against Southern Miss on September 1 in Hattiesburg, MS. The two teams have met only twice (1987 and 2002).

One of the highlights of the schedule is the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis, Tennessee on September 8. JSU and Tennessee State will meet for the 26th time in the annual clash at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The classic has become a southern tradition and one of the best football classics in the country. The 47,407 attendance figure from 2017 has the classic ranked No. 5 in the nation.

On September 15, the Tigers travel to Tallahassee, Florida to face the Florida A&M Rattlers. The two teams last squared off four years ago when JSU beat FAMU 22-17 on a game-winning Hail Mary in Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers will open conference play on September 29 at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in the home opener. The Tigers will host Alabama A&M in the 11th Annual W.C. Gordon Classic.

In the month of October, the Tigers will welcome back all alums including former gridiron standout Vincent Dancy, the first-year head coach of in-state rival Mississippi Valley State. The Tigers will host the Delta Devils for the 2018 homecoming game on October 13. The Tigers will then host North Alabama, in the first-ever gridiron meeting between the two programs on October 20.

The Tigers’ season home finale is set for November 3 when JSU hosts Prairie View A&M for senior day.  The regular season finale will end in Lorman, Mississippi on November 17, as the Tigers and the Alcorn State Braves square off for in-state bragging rights.

The 2018 season will culminate with the 4th Annual Celebration Bowl in Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, December 15.

The 2018 schedule can be found on the JSU’s official athletics website gojsutigers.com.

Information on opportunities to purchase JSU football season tickets can be obtained by calling 601.979.2420.

2018 Jackson State Football Schedule

DATE	OPPONENT	LOCATION
Sept. 1	Southern Miss	Hattiesburg, MS
Sept. 8	vs. Tennessee State (Southern Heritage Classic)	Memphis, TN
Sept. 15	Florida A&M	Tallahassee, FL
Sept. 22	Open
Sept. 29	*Alabama A&M (W.C. Gorden Classic)	Jackson, MS
Oct. 6	* Arkansas-Pine Bluff	Pine Bluff, AR
Oct. 13	* Mississippi Valley State (Homecoming)	Jackson, MS
Oct. 20	North Alabama	Jackson, MS
Oct. 27	*Southern	Baton Rouge, LA
Nov. 3	*Prairie View A&M (Senior Day)	Jackson, MS
Nov. 10	* Alabama State	Montgomery, AL
Nov. 17	* Alcorn State	Lorman, MS

Home games in bold type / Dates, times and location subject to change / * Denotes conference game.

Exciting Local, National Matchups Highlight 2018 PVAMU Panther Football Schedule

2018 PVAMU Football Schedule

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- The inaugural schedule of the Eric Dooley era of Prairie View A&M University football is highlighted by exciting local and national matchups during the 2018 season.

The Panthers will open the season in late August with the first of six consecutive games away from home before closing with four of the final five contests at home in Panther Stadium.

"We are very excited about the opening of the Eric Dooley era with one of the most challenging football schedules in program history," said PVAMU Vice President/Athletic Director Ashley Robinson. "It provides not only great exposure for the football program, but also Prairie View A&M University. We look forward to seeing Panther Nation and supporting our student-athletes from all corners of the country."

PVAMU football will face schools from Conference USA, MEAC, Southland, and Mountain West conferences, in addition to playing the seven-game Southwestern Athletic Conference schedule.

Dooley will also face four new head coaches along the way as well as the three schools he previously coached in the SWAC.

The 11-game schedule begins in Houston on August 25 as Dooley makes his head coaching debut at C-USA member Rice and first-year head coach Mike Bloomgren. The Panthers last played at Rice in 2016, losing in a high-scoring affair, 65-44.

2018 PVAMU Football Schedule



The Panthers will then travel to Atlanta to participate in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge for the first time since 2011. PVAMU will face MEAC foe North Carolina Central and another first-year head coach in Granville Eastman.

Prairie View A&M will then face Southland power and perennial national championship contender Sam Houston State in Huntsville. In last year's home opener, the Panthers battled the Bearkats before falling 44-31.

The Panthers will then face Mountain West foe UNLV in the first ever meeting between the schools to close out the non-conference portion of the schedule.

PVAMU opens conference play Sept. 22 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and first-year head coach Cedric Thomas. Dooley served as offensive coordinator at UAPB from 2011-13, winning the SWAC and HBCU National Championship in 2012.

Prairie View A&M will end the month of September in the State Fair Classic in Dallas facing Grambling, where he was offensive coordinator from 2013-16 and helped the Tigers to a pair of SWAC Championships and an HBCU National Title.

Dooley and the 2018 Panthers will make their Panther Stadium debut in the Oct. 13 home opener against Southern, where Dooley coached 14 years in various roles, winning four SWAC titles and two HBCU National Titles.

Homecoming 2018 will be celebrated on Oct. 27 when the Panthers host Alcorn State in the second of only two games played in October.

PVAMU football will open November at Jackson State in the final road contest of the season.

After a Nov. 10 open date, the Panthers will conclude the regular season with consecutive home games. PVAMU will host Alabama State on November 17 in Panther Stadium.

In the regular season finale on Thanksgiving weekend, Prairie View A&M will face Texas Southern on Nov. 24.

The 2018 Celebration Bowl is scheduled for Dec. 15

2018 PVAMU Football Schedule



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Nobody Does It Better: Southern University Jukebox Wipes Out Competition

HOUSTON, Texas -- The National Show Band Association announced the winners of its first annual Dulce Awards. The competition included a variety of marching bands and directors, dance teams, and media teams, but the Southern University Human Jukebox came through with awards in 12 out of 20 categories.

Voting began on January 1, 2018 and ended February 1.

The Jukebox claimed awards based on songs and showmanship, but the association also awarded Nathan Haymer as Band Director of the Year, Brian Simmons as Assistant Band Director of the Year, D’Tara Frank as Dance Instructor of the Year, the Fabulous Dancing Dolls as Best Dance Team of the Year, and Human Jukebox Media as Best Media Team.

2017 proved to be another long and successful year for the Human Jukebox. With popular songs like “The Weekend” and “Controlla,” the band gained the support and attention of bandlovers across the nation.



The band has over 44,000 followers on its official YouTube channel, and an even larger fanbase at football games and highly anticipated events such as Bayou Classic, Crankfest, and Homecoming.

Fans definitely showed out with 864,000 votes, allowing the Jukebox to take home over half the competition.

The Jukebox won SWAC Band of the Year with nearly half the votes, 49.4 percent, Highly Visible Band with over half the votes at 57.3 percent, and Dance Team of the Year with 59.9 percent of the votes.

Other competitors were popular SWAC bands including Jackson State, Grambling State, Prairie View A&M, and Alcorn State University.



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