FAMU Rattlers looking for more NCAA success

Florida A&M volleyball coach Tony Trifonov doesn't want his team to be plagued by little mistakes any more than the one that prevented it from advancing in the NCAA Tournament last season. Thus the top-heavy schedule his team will begin playing tonight.

The Rattlers were up 2-1 against Jacksonville State in their opening-round playoff match when two unforced errors and a bad break ended their season with a five-set loss.

"It is so difficult making it to the tournament and we've made it nine times in a row," Trifonov said Thursday, as he prepared for his 14th season. "That's an achievement in itself. But then again you get tired of getting knocked out in the first round. You want to continue. You want to go to a different site. You want to go to the Sweet 16, so that's our goal."

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Thomas is happy to be at A&M

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Demetrius Thomas could have gone to a number of different schools after he elected to leave Marshall. Southern Mississippi, South Alabama, Alabama State and Texas Southern pursued him. In the end, Thomas chose A&M and he couldn't be happier.

"A&M went to the SWAC championship game last year and I wanted to be a part of a winning program," said Thomas, a fleet-footed wide receiver from Theodore. It didn't hurt that the Bulldogs were in desperate need of some impact players after losing Thomas Harris, the school's all-time leading receiver.

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New faces abound in Southern Jaguars secondary

On the football field, Demetric Rogers was accustomed to looking good. A versatile-but-undersized athlete, Rogers played offense and defense at Northeast High School. Then he walked on at Southern University last summer, and the coaching staff issued the 5-foot-10, 190-pound strong safety his gameday uniform. He got No. 45. Forty-five? Isn’t that for fullbacks? Linebackers? Kickers?

“I was upset, all the way to the (first) game,” Rogers said. “After a while, I figured I might as well make the best of this number. The number doesn’t make the person. It’s the other way around. So after that, I got my first start and made some plays, and before long, everybody knew there was a No. 45 out there.”

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the Southern football team last season, Rogers played strong safety for the first time in his life and slowly worked his way up the depth chart during preseason camp, from fourth-string to second-string.

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Orphans: Damaged floor leaves MVSU basketball without home court

As the countdown to practice draws near, Mississippi Valley State University’s Sean Woods is a Division I basketball coach with no court to practice on.

The floor in MVSU’s basketball gym, the Harrison HPER Complex, was seriously damaged because of a leak in the roof, so the playing surface must be replaced, Woods said. The school will have to fix the roof before a new surface goes down, and that apparently won’t happen before the Delta Devils begin practice Oct. 15.

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Benedict Tigers Riley focuses on results

Columbia, S.C. --Pat Riley knows the deal. The talented Benedict College senior quarterback is aware of his importance to the Tigers’ hopes for challenging for the SIAC championship and a NCAA Division II playoff berth. Riley is the face of the team, the man in the spotlight and the guy on the hot seat. But what matters to the Attapulgus, Ga., native is the bottom line.

The Tigers broke through for an 8-3 record last season, Riley’s first in Columbia. The quest for greater glory begins with Saturday’s SIAC date against Morehouse in the 9th annual Palmetto Capital City Classic at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

“I’m a competitor and I know I get pulled out a lot because of my position, but in no way am I an ‘I’ player,” Riley said. “My success depends on the team’s success. It’s not about the offense or the defense or special teams this season. It’s about the Benedict Tigers as a group. There are no individual agendas on this team.”

Palmetto Capital City Classic
WHO: Benedict vs. Morehouse
WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Charlie W. Johnson Stadium
TICKETS: $10, $15, $20 depending on seating

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Tennessee State turns to tradition‎

NASHVILLE, TN -- New head coach Rod Reed hopes to revive a proud tradition that he and his father helped establish in a golden age of Tennessee State football. Robert Reed Jr., Rod's father, was an All-America offensive lineman on iconic coach John Merritt's first two teams, in 1963 and 1964. Rod won four varsity letters at TSU from 1984-88 as a linebacker, and still holds the Tigers' season record for tackles (197 in 1987).

"It means the world to me to be the head coach here," Reed said as practices began in August. "I'm so excited just to be out here on the grass again."

Tigers defensive lineman Malcolm Crawford, a former Kingsbury standout, says of the new attitude, "everything around this team picked up." Last year, the Tigers went 4-7 under James Webster and 3-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference. TSU lost four of its last five games. The Tigers led the league in total defense with Reed as coordinator, but their offense was last in the OVC in points scored.



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NCCU Eagles ready to take flight

DURHAM, N.C. -- N.C. Central coach Mose Rison spoke succinctly about his football team's record the last two seasons, accepting any criticism thrown his way."We're not going to make any excuses: 4-7 has not been good enough," he said.

Heading into his fourth season at N.C. Central, Rison knows there's a hunger for more wins. He has been credited with guiding a proud football program through its transition from NCAA Division II to Division I, but ultimately he knows judgment comes on the field. With seven home games this season, starting with Thursday's opener against Johnson C. Smith, Rison's program has a great opportunity to prove it's headed in the right direction.

When N.C. Central left the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 2007 to begin playing as an independent in the NCAA's Football...



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Murray will help build FAMU's program through recruiting

Coach LeDawn Gibson didn't have to look at Freddie Murray's complete resume to find out how much he could help the women's basketball program at Florida A&M. She only needed to look at his role at North Carolina A&T.

"It was a big factor but it was all of those things — the loyalty, maturity and all that played a part," Gibson said Wednesday. "I just knew how experienced he is and that can help me take this program up. We're looking to do better each year and I think his experience will help us out a lot."

Murray joined Gibson's staff as an assistant to replace Stephen Joyner, who left at the end of last season to take the head coaching job at Winston Salem State. One of the primary roles for Murray will be to help build FAMU's program through recruiting.



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Ex-Rams hero Jones now coaching SU linebackers

For seven long seasons, Southern football coach Stump Mitchell ran on the rock-hard turf at Busch Stadium, earning his reputation as a fan favorite in St. Louis. But as former NFL players go, he’s not the most beloved in St. Louis history. In fact, Mitchell’s not even No. 1 on his own coaching staff. That honor belongs to his linebackers coach, Mike Jones.

Yes, that Mike Jones.

If you’ll recall, he’s the guy who made perhaps the most famous tackle in Super Bowl history — wrapping his arms around Kevin Dyson, dropping him 1 yard short of the goal line as time ran out in Super Bowl XXXIV, preserving a 23-16 win for the St. Louis Rams. “He told us about the stop. He said he missed the tackle, but he really made it,” strongside linebacker Gary Chatman said. “He’s a good linebacker coach and a cool, good guy.”



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Lake Taylor's Sawyer is more than a head coach

NORFOLK, VA -- Gloria Johnson always knew her son had all the qualities to be a great coach. He’s humble, dedicated, loyal, caring, passionate and a leader. That’s why Johnson was a little troubled when her son, Hank Sawyer, asked her if coaching was the right job for him.

“He was talking to other people, and they were telling him that he wasn’t going to make any big money coaching, so he asked me what I think,” she said. “And I told him, 'There are a lot of people who go to work every day and work a job that they hate. If you have an opportunity to work a job that you love then you take it. Money is not everything. So he went on and coached football.”

Decades later, Sawyer has become one of the elder statesmen on South Hampton Roads’ sidelines. Sawyer, who turns 53 today , has compiled an 89-33 record over 11 seasons at Lake Taylor. He’s helped lead the Titans to seven Eastern District titles, including the last five. He’s helped produce 45 All-Tidewater players and sent more than 75 kids to college to play football at all different levels.



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S.C. State looks to continue its trend of success

Most college coaches would consider this a rebuilding year. South Carolina State starts this season minus its all-time leading rusher and four other star players who have moved on to professional football. But head coach Buddy Pough isn't most coaches, and South Carolina State isn't most college football programs.

While there are still plenty of questions left to be answered by the two-time defending Mid-Eastern American Conference champions, Pough thinks like this might be the most talented bunch he's had since returning to his alma mater eight years ago.

Gone from last year's 10-2 team is running back Will Ford, who finished his career as the leading rusher at S.C. State and in the MEAC.

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UMES Cohesion will set them apart‎

PRINCESS ANNE, MD -- For the past three years, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team has been dominant in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Over that time, the Hawks have won 20 or more games each season and the MEAC North title thrice, sporting a 30-0 mark against divisional competition. During the streak, UMES has lost only one set.

Because of that success, the Hawks again have been named the preseason favorite in the division, but in order to reach the top, they will have overcome a large turnover on their roster.

"People have set expectations for us," UMES coach Don Metil said. "Our expectations are really just to get all these new girls to gel on the courts and to go into our first MEAC tournament as a very cohesive unit."

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Cole driving Texas Southern on road to relevancy‎

His is a typical football coach's office. Awards and plaques all over the place. Photos of former players, like Texans wideout Jacoby Jones, on the wall. And of course, all the standard equipment for watching game highlights.

In the corner, to the right of Johnnie Cole's large desk at Texas Southern University, there is a bookshelf stocked with helmets from the stops along his college coaching career.

The headgear comes in an assortment of colors, a mixed bag of logo designs and school names spanning the alphabet from A to T (Alabama State to Tennessee State). Whether it was with the Jaguars, Tigers or Dragons, Cole has been successful at each stop along his coaching journey.

As he enters his third season at TSU with an overall losing record (10-13), Cole is working on a new success. Turning around a program takes time, and although TSU hasn't turned, it is turning with Cole, a former TSU quarterback, at the wheel.

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Former Hampton Pirates' Langford gives back to PHS

Former Hampton University and third year Miami Dolphins defensive end Kendall Langford provides a helping hand to his home team, Petersburg High School, with the donation of "state of art" weight equipment for its student-athletes.

PETERSBURG, VA - Strength training and safety got a boost at Petersburg High School this summer, thanks to a generous alum.

Kendall Langford, a 2004 Petersburg graduate who now plays defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins, visited his alma mater recently and toured the school's weight room.

Seeing a need, Langford purchased and shipped in three Sorinex bench and squat combination weight lifting machines and several lifting platforms, complete with standard as well as hexagonal grip bars designed for safer weight lifting. The Sorinex machines include additional exercise options and cross belts to prevent the dangerous scenario of a lifter being trapped beneath his weight bar.

"The new equipment will help PHS student-athletes enhance their mental, physical and psychological power," said Crimson Wave football coach Mike Scott. "Weights are important for building an athletic program that will compete against other perennial power-high school athletic organizations. "This is a good start for us. We greatly appreciate what Kendall Langford has done. This is one of a series of great events for the Petersburg City Public Schools. "

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Medlin ready to help Fayetteville State defend CIAA title‎

The bull's eye is everywhere around the Fayetteville State football program these days, so much so that if you didn't look close enough you might wonder whether the Broncos had struck up a lucrative sponsorship deal with Target. They haven't.

Instead, the flyers have been posted in the locker room, on weight benches and anywhere else players might be looking as a not-so-subtle reminder: Fayetteville State is the reigning CIAA champion and has been picked in the preseason to defend that crown.

Coach Kenny Phillips is using the targets as a motivational prop. Running back Richard Medlin has been more than willing to take the bait.

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Dog days winding down at SU camp

By Louisiana standards, Wednesday was downright comfortable, one of those rare August days where you could stand outside and not have your internal faucet turned on by the heat and humidity. It was a day where the undershirt could stay pretty dry.
The comfort didn’t escape the notice of Southern football coach Stump Mitchell.

“I think God has taken better care of them than I am,” Mitchell said, nodding towards his Southern University football players who were making their way back to the locker room after Wednesday afternoon’s practice. “We’ve had some pretty nice weather. We’ve had a breeze and if I had to, I would not have ordered the breeze. He’s taking care of them and giving them exactly what they need.”

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Ex-Bethune Cookman Wildcats star has shot to stay in NFL‎

Former Bethune-Cookman standout Stevie Baggs is doing everything he can to land a job in the NFL. He doesn't know if he'll get one of the four available roster spots at outside linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals, but he's certainly made an impression with his coaches and teammates.

"He came in here and made a quick splash with the players and coaches just because of his personality," Arizona linebackers coach Matt Raich said. "You can see they've taken to him. I'm anxious to see him in a few more games and to get him some reps."

Starting strong safety Adrian Wilson kids him while he does a phone interview, and veteran All-Pros Joey Porter and Darnell Dockett have taken a liking to the Canadian Football League sacks leader from 2009. Baggs is hard not to like.

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SC State looks poised for a 3rd consecutive MEAC title‎

South Carolina State football coach Buddy Pough might have to get in touch with former Los Angeles Lakers coach Pat Riley. In 1989, Riley had the term "three-peat" trademarked and as a result gets a percentage of the royalties from any merchandise sold with the slogan on it. The Bulldogs, who notched their second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football title last season, can nab their own version of the "three-peat" this fall.

"Hey, I might have to have a conversation with Coach Riley," Pough chuckled. "But we're getting way ahead of ourselves. It's not going to be easy getting back to the mountaintop for the third straight time."

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JSU Tigers putting on game faces‎

Fall camp is over. Let the game preparations begin. Jackson State began prepping for Delta State on Tuesday, the first day of practice following 17 days of fall camp, which included two scrimmages and several two-a-days in the early August heat.

"The atmosphere is changed with (students) back," coach Rick Comegy said. Several students dotted the practice field Tuesday to watch the Tigers, and about eight new walk-ons joined the team. Comegy expects another five to 10 walk-ons to join over the next few days and said the team will likely reach the maximum of 110 players soon.

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Alabama A&M's Goldsby finds home at tight end‎

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Bobby Goldsby looked near and far three years ago for a place to play college football. An undersized tight end, he was a decent high school player in Leominster, Mass., but didn't draw a lot of attention.

Goldsby knew about Grambling and Alabama A&M and sent his highlight tape to each school. Fortunately, A&M coach Anthony Jones called and offered him an opportunity to walk on.

"I watched him on film and I thought he had some ability, but he wasn't ready to play college football...

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UMES Hawks Basketball Releases 2010-11 Schedule

PRINCESS ANNE, MD - Head coach Frankie Allen and his men's basketball staff at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore announced their 2010-11 schedule Tuesday afternoon as they look forward to a tough but successful campaign.

"We have presented ourselves with a great challenge in this year's schedule," said Allen. "Our non-conference contests more than prepare us for the rough and rigorous Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference season."

The Hawks open their season at home for the second consecutive year, this time hosting Conference USA's Tulane Green Wave on Friday, Nov. 12. They then travel to New York to take on Columbia on Nov. 15 before continuing on to American in Washington, D.C. on the 17th. The team returns home on Nov. 20 as they face Kean University. Northern Illinois travels to Princess Anne to matchup with the Hawks on the 24th.

UMES won't see much of the William P. Hytche Arena from the end of November until the beginning of January as they play road games in the next nine of 10 matchups. However, the Hawks do stay within the area for the next three contests as they travel to Navy in Annapolis, Md. on Nov. 27 and then open MEAC play Dec. 4 against Delaware State for the fourth straight year. UMES meets up with Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va. for the first time in two years on Dec. 9.

Complete Schedule in PDF Format

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This could be the year for ECSU

Elizabeth City State’s football team has come so tantalizingly close. In 2006, a last-second, 51-yard field goal sank the Vikings in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship game. In 2008, ECSU was thumped by a very talented Shaw team in the league title game. Last year, a coin flip cost the Vikings a third trip in four years to the CIAA finale.

After all of that, ECSU coach Waverly Tillar thinks this might finally be the year.

“I think we went out this year from a recruiting standpoint and got the pieces we need,” Tillar said. “When I say ‘the pieces,’ I mean the quality depth. Last year, our Achilles heel was midseason, we got banged up and we didn’t have quality guys to come in a keep it going. We have it going on this year. I feel the games we’ll win will be in the trenches.”

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Coach Willie Jeffries Scheduled for Nov. 6 On-Campus Salute at South Carolina State

DALLAS, Texas – South Carolina State and The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that they will jointly honor Coach Willie Jeffries with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute Nov. 6 as the Bulldogs host Howard University in Orangeburg. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.

“Coach Jeffries is truly admired by so many,” said South Carolina State director of athletics Charlene Johnson, “Not just for his achievements as head football coach at S.C. State but also for his humanitarian contributions to this community, this state and society. He has mentored many young men and used football and his great personal skills to bring about better community relations in Orangeburg, the Palmetto State and beyond. We are proud of the latest honor bestowed upon him.”

On July 17, the NFF inducted Coach Jeffries into the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2010 divisional enshrinement class in South Bend, Ind. The first African-American to be hired as a head coach at a Division-I school (Wichita State), Willie Jeffries also coached at South Carolina State and Howard. He finished his career as the winningest coach in South Carolina State and MEAC history. He compiled an overall 179-132-6 record during his career, which started in 1973 and ended 2001.

"This is an honor for me, my former players, South Carolina State and all the schools I've coached." Jeffries told The State newspaper at the time of the announcement of his induction. "This is about the top one a coach can receive.”

Throughout the season, each College Football Hall of Fame inductee returns to his school for the special on-field event, where a commemorative plaque is presented to the university for permanent display. Beginning with the NFF’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1951, the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute has served as the first of numerous highlights in the hall of fame experience, giving each inductee one more chance to take the field.

“Coach Jeffries is a pioneer in every sense of the word. He opened doors for future generations, and he mentored countless young players who have gone on to be great leaders later in life,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “It is fitting that his contributions are forever preserved in the College Football Hall of Fame, and we look forward to celebrating with the Bulldog faithful in Orangeburg on Nov. 6.”

A three-time Black National Championship winner, Jeffries is credited with inventing the “Freeze Option” offense and is the only person in history to coach against College Football Hall of Famers Paul “Bear” Bryant and Eddie Robinson. Jeffries won the MEAC conference title seven times, six with SCSU and one with Howard. He has also coached College Football Hall of Famers Harry Carson and Donnie Shell.

Named coach of the year on eight different occasions, he was given the lifetime achievement award by the Black Coaches Association in 2002. An inductee of the MEAC Hall of Fame, SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame and the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, Jeffries was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in 1998, South Carolina’s top civilian honor, and received the Order of the Silver Crescent in 2001, the state’s highest accolade for outstanding community service. Jeffries, earlier this year, was named head coach emeritus at South Carolina State and serves as a liaison between the university, its alumni and other constituents. He currently resides in Elloree, S.C.

Jeffries becomes the third individual inducted into the Hall of Fame from South Carolina State, along with his players Carson who was inducted in 2002 and Shell, a 1998 inductee. He joins Coach Doug Porter (2008) as the only inductees from Howard, and Coach Marcelino Huerta (2002) and Jim Bausch (1954) as the only inductees from Wichita State. For a complete list of players and coaches in the hall, please visit www.collegefootball.org/

Courtesy of The National Football Foundation

Taylor extends challenge to Rattlers offense, defense

As challenges go at the start of each season from football coaches, the one that Joe Taylor laid down for Florida A&M might seem a bit ambitious. But the Rattlers aren't backing down from what their coach is calling his 40-30 club.

What Taylor wants are improvements in some key statistical areas that he believes will put FAMU in position to finish this season with a winning record.

His expectation from the defense is 40 turnovers and 30 sacks for the season. He would like his offense to keep the ball for 40 minutes and get 30 first downs per game. The challenge of a 40-yard punt average and a 30-yard return average on kickoffs per game is also included.

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Grambling updates on QB race and Anthony

GSU quarterback competition comes into focus

GRAMBLING, LA — After starting training camp with six candidates for its starting quarterback job, Grambling has narrowed the field to two. It may remain at two for the next few weeks, even as the Tigers start playing games. GSU opens its season on Sept. 4 against Louisiana Tech at Independence Stadium in Shreveport.

"We're not in a big rush to do that (name a starter)," Grambling head coach Rod Broadway said. "We'll let it play out, and it looks like it's Danny Reyes and Anthony Carruthers."

GSU"s Christian Anthony Isn't Expect Back

Grambling head coach Rod Broadway does not expect defensive end Christian Anthony will play at all in 2010. Anthony recently spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit at Northern Louisiana Medical Center after experiencing chest pains. Teammates said Anthony had a heart attack.

"I don't think so, personally," Broadway said. "I need to visit with him again, but I don't think so."

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