Concordia gets an overhaul with only 5 starters returning

Selma, AL - Shepherd Skanes won't be wearing a hard hat this fall, but no one could blame the Concordia College head football if he did. Skanes has some major rebuilding to do after the Hornets lost 12 seniors from their 2010 team that finished 6-4.

"I had the biggest graduation class I've had in a while," Skanes said. "Eight of 12 got degrees. They had been with me since 2007. We have only five starters who showed back up for this season."

Senior inside linebacker Javonne Roman and senior outside linebacker Cruz Forbes are the only two returning starters on defense, while tailback Louis Manning, wide receiver Jeremy Morris and center Steven Welch are the only three back on offense for the Selma school.

"We had some young guys, freshmen and sophomores, who played last year...

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VISIT: CONCORDIA COLLEGE - SELMA
VISIT: CONCORDIAATHLETICS

Miles ultimate weapon: Jordan Lewis gives Golden Bears explosive running threat

FAIRFIELD, Alabama -- As far as anyone knows, scientists have not begun cloning humans. But if they started the practice today, Miles head football coach Reginald Ruffin knows he would love to clone senior running back Jordan Lewis.

"Jordan Lewis is a tough football player, mentally and physically," said Ruffin, entering his first season at Miles. "If I had more Jordan Lewises, we'd be a really good football team. Nothing gets to him. The guy's got heart. He's a grinder. That's what I love about him."

Lewis, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound junior from Fairfield High School, rushed for a modest 307 yards and four touchdowns for the Golden Bears in 2010. But this season he is expected to blossom into one of the team's explosive offensive weapons. He was named to the preseason All-SIAC second team offense.



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Alabama A&M: Bulldogs at a glance

Coach Anthony Jones

2010 record: 3-8 overall, 2-7 SWAC
Number of starters returning: 14 (6 on offense, 5 on defense, 3 specialists)
Top returning players: QB Deaunte Mason, RB Kaderius Lacey, WR G'Alonzo Milton, OL Jamaal Johnson-Webb, ILB Willie Fuller, WLB Vernon Marshall, FS Rico Porch, P/K Chance Wilson.
Team will be a contender if the offensive line protects Mason and the defensive line is relentless in getting after the quarterback.
Team will struggle if Mason doesn't play well and the defense is forced to play a lot of snaps.
Head coach's Hot Seat meter reading
Anthony Jones, (6) ... Despite leading A&M to the 2009 SWAC championship game, the Bulldogs have posted two losing seasons in the last three years. Jones, entering his 10th season with the Bulldogs, is in the final year of his contract.

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Hampton's McCorory breezes into semifinals of 400 meters at world track championships

DAEGU, Korea -— "I feel confident, really good," beamed Francena McCorory.

The ex-Bethel High and Hampton University flash had just breezed a lap around Daegu Stadium Saturday night in a slowish 52.18 seconds and was delighted with her effort, nowhere close to her all-time best of 50.29.

Why the happiness?

Because it advanced her into the Sunday night 400-meter semifinals at the 13th World Championships of Track and Field with a minimum of wasted energy. She placed second in her heat to Amantle Montsho of Botswana, who ran 50.95, and thus was one of four Americans cruising into the semis. This is the biggest meet of McCorory's track and field career and she's considered a definite medal prospect.



400m Women Heat 4 WC Athletics Daegu 2011
Amantle Montsho BOT 50.95 Q
Francena McCorory USA 52.18 Q
Lee McConnell GBR 52.75 Q
Maris Mägi EST 52.93 Q
Norma González COL 53.35
Aymeé Martínez CUB 53.67
Ambwene Simukonda MAW 54.81 (NR)

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World's Top 3 Hurdlers Will Finally Have a Showdown

DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA — They are the three fastest 110-meter hurdlers in history, and for a change, Dayron Robles, Liu Xiang and David Oliver (Howard University) are all in the same place.

“It’s probably the best field ever assembled,” said Vin Lananna, head coach of the U.S. men’s team at the world track and field championships. “I think it’s going to be a dogfight.”

With all three men advancing comfortably Sunday in their heats, the final on Monday still has a fine chance to be the race of these championships. Though Robles’s world record of 12.87 seconds remains unlikely to fall, it is hardly unthinkable with this much talent sharing space and the same objective on the new blue track in Daegu Stadium.

“One mistake and you are dead,” Robles said.



110m Hurdles Men Heat 3 WC Athletics Daegu 2011
David Oliver USA 13.27 Q
Fan Jiang CHN 13.47 Q (PB)
Andrew Riley JAM 13.47 Q
Dimitri Bascou FRA 13.51
William Sharman GBR 13.52
Héctor Cotto PUR 13.60 Lehann Fourie RSA 13.86

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'If you build it they will come'

Washington, D.C. - This past week, we have endured an 5.8 earthquake and a category 1 hurricane, but this is nothing for the struggles and life work of many of our visionary educators and artists.

There are three outstanding articles coming from Savannah State University, North Carolina Central University and Elizabeth City State University, that you do not want to miss reading today.

The first, 'If you build it they will come' is an eye opener, especially for those who do not know the true value of our national treasure -- historically black colleges and universities.

Read the story for yourself, but there is one very important statistic that jumps off the page -- "This semester there are 103 undergraduate students and 25 graduate students. Nineteen percent of undergraduates go on to master’s programs. Thirty percent of the master’s degree graduates enter doctoral programs. Thirty-three percent of all the master’s degrees in __________ earned by African-Americans in the U.S. between 2004 and 2007 came from SSU."

The "blank" is insert here purposely, so that we don't spoil the story for the readers.

The second article, "The Middle Passage", is about a current exhibit at North Carolina Central University, created and presented by Stephen Hayes, a 2006 graduate of the university's Art Department. Mr. Hayes has earned his masters of fine arts degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, Georgia. His exhibit, "Cash Crop" has been described as simply overwhelming, and two photos are provided in the article for your viewing.

The final article, "Air traffic program at ECSU ready for takeoff" shows you how some HBCUs are on the cutting-edge of technology and are playing a major role in the nation's transportation networks. This is a tremendous program that can lead program graduates to a six figure Federal career with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The link highlights above will take you directly to each of the articles.

Lets talk sports now that the student portion of "student-athlete" has been somewhat addressed...

Yes, its football season but we do not want to forget about NAIA and NCAA women's volleyball, SWAC women's soccer, Fall golf in the SWAC and preparations for the upcoming basketball season. We will continue to post timely links and a segue to as many HBCU sports articles as possible -- when we are not on road trips to specific games.

We think the hot topic this season will be the surprise competitiveness of MEAC football, with the new coaches--Henry Frazier III (North Carolina Central), Rod Broadway (North Carolina A&T), Kermit Blount (Delaware State), Gary Harrell (Howard) and Steve Davenport (Savannah State). This is a four horse race with South Carolina State (Oliver "Buddy" Pough) in the driver's seat, with Bethune-Cookman (Brian Jenkins), Florida A&M (Joe Taylor), and Norfolk State (Pete Adrian) able to control their own destiny for the MEAC Championship.

It's too early to guess how this is going to play out for this season.

Give credit to Elizabeth City State University for taking Delta State (ranked second in Division II) to overtime, before falling 21-28 (O.T.) on the road.

In other CIAA football action, Virginia Union University Panthers outlasted both Hurricane Irene and Saint Augustine's College Falcon's 12-0 to kick-off the 2011 season. With heavy rain and wind gusts up to 25-45 miles per hour at game time, only 100 fans loved football enough to sit 2.5 hours in the fury of Hurricane Irene for CIAA football.

This is one for the record books at historic Hovey Field -- all while Norfolk and Hampton, Virginia were being clobbered with storm surge, flooding, tornadoes and 85-100 mile per hour winds. Did I mention the coast is only 94 miles away from Virginia Union campus?

Poor Texas College Steers got pounded again-- this time 3-47 by Belhaven University Blazers (Jackson, Mississippi). The Steers were held to a total of 69 yards of total offense. For the love of building character... go Steers!

-beepbeep

Virginia Union weathers storm, Saint Augustine's in opener

Richmond, Virginia - The wind gusted violently from north to south, shaking the bleachers and whistling across the field. The sideways rain felt like pushpins against the skin. The American flag flapped mercilessly from side to side and looked as if it would rip from its pole. And yet, a football game was played at Virginia Union.

What was billed as "The only game in town" became maybe the only game on the East Coast, which was hit Saturday by Hurricane Irene. Despite some of the worst conditions imaginable, the game went on, and Virginia Union defeated Saint Augustine's 12-0 at Hovey Field.

"We knew there'd be rain," VUU coach Michael Bailey said. "But you don't stop football for rain. You stop it for lightning and tornadoes. That wasn't in the picture, so we felt like we could get it in. This wasn't the first time we've played in rain."

Bailey, who also serves as Union's athletic director, said he made a joint decision with VUU President Claude Perkins to proceed with the game. Saint Augustine's coach Michael Costa didn't object.

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Div. II schools scoff in Irene’s general direction, open 2011 season

Richmond, VA - What, you thought a lil’ ol’ hurricane that’s already claimed the lives of at least eight people as of this posting was going to stop a pair of schools in its path from getting their season-opening football on?

Rain-soaked, wind-swept child please.

Just as the leading edge of Hurricane Irene was making its way into the state of Virginia early Saturday afternoon, Div. II schools Virginia Union and Saint Augustine’s were scheduled to kick off their 2011 season. And, of course, they decided to go ahead and play the opener as scheduled.

And, of course, the game was slightly affected by the weather conditions.

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Fan Day celebrates Southern Jaguars

Baton Rouge, LA - For Lucy Minor, hearing the familiar and welcome sounds of the Southern University Marching Band’s drum line as she drove toward Mumford Stadium on Saturday meant only one thing: “It’s football season,” she said. “And we are in the football spirit.”

Minor was among the hundreds of fans who braved the heat Saturday to attend the university’s 2011 Fan Day. Fan Day is a free event aimed at getting Jaguar loyalists geared up for the approaching season with opportunities to meet the players and coaching staff, enjoy tailgating and see performances by the university’s “Human Jukebox.”



This year’s Fan Day was held in conjunction with the Jaguars’ final scrimmage, offering spectators a glimpse of what to expect from this year’s team. Christopher Jones, assistant athletics director for media relations, said the officials aligned the festivities with the scrimmage because there are so few home games this season.

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Big-school transfers prop up Bethune-Cookman WRs

Daytona Beach, FL - Like most coaches, Bethune-Cookman's Brian Jenkins is well aware of the pattern. You start creating depth at a position and recruits begin to look elsewhere. All football players want to get on the field right away and few want to share playing time.

That's why wide receiver has become sort of an enigma at B-CU. The position seems to be a magnet for Football Bowl Subdivision transfers. For the second year in a row, the Wildcats will have four former major-college players sharing the receiver spots with B-CU veterans and freshmen



There is so much receiver talent on the team, you'd think there wouldn't be enough footballs to keep everyone happy. But these players welcome the influx of talent. The more the merrier.

And they may even have a major-college transfer throwing them the ball in former Maryland quarterback Jamarr Robinson, who is battling Jackie Wilson, David Blackwell and freshman Quentin Williams to be the starting signal caller in the Wildcats' no-huddle, spread offense.

The Wildcats will play their first game next Sunday against Prairie View A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando.

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Fort Valley State Wildcats like what they have on offensive line

Fort Valley, GA - Only two starters are back on Fort Valley State’s offensive line. Antonio Wright moved to fullback, and Jared Nelson isn’t on the team. Willie Brezial transferred and Sam Chester has some academics to work on. But Keith DeGrate, who coaches that unit, is a man of calm and confidence.

“We’re going to be a little bit better than last year,” he said. “We didn’t have guys consistently playing at one spot. We were hit and miss a lot last year.”

DeGrate had about a six-man rotation up front last season and figured to have experience and depth this season. Nevertheless, he already sees a unit that has passed last year’s.



Bobby Young and Trevor Shaw are the returning starters, and Christopher Brooks and Quavious Wright have some experience. David Garbo, Rashad Avery, Ryan Riggins and Jonathan Martin are working out at tackle, and Shaw is joined by Brooks and freshman Chartavious Danzy of Washington County at guard. Richard Williams, a Houston County product, returns at tight end after a year away.

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TSU Tigers feature new coach, same goal heading into 2011

Houston, TX - The Texas Southern Tigers had a magical season in 2010 when they won the SWAC Football Championship for the first time in over 40 years.

However, an offseason of turmoil which led to a coaching change and NCAA sanctions has the Tigers trying to regroup as they head into this season.

Slater stresses Tuskegee's signs of improvement

Tuskegee, AL - Following a scrimmage a little more than a week ago, Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater gathered his players together and delivered his thoughts on their performance.

"I told 'em we wouldn't beat (Booker T. Washington High School) playing like we did in that scrimmage," Slater said. Slater, entering his sixth season as the Golden Tigers head coach, has been increasingly displeased with his team through the fall. And he's not surprised by that fact.



Tuskegee lost six starters on both sides of the ball, meaning 12 players with little to no playing experience are filling the holes this season. That has made practices for the normally fluid Golden Tigers a bit clunky.

"We had mistakes everywhere in that scrimmage," Slater said. "I'm serious -- we wouldn't beat anybody playing like...

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Despite losses, Hornets feel they have talent to succeed

Montgomery, AL - Alabama State players and coaches were understandably dejected when they left Legion Field last December after losing a hard-fought defensive struggle to Texas Southern in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game. But there was a silver lining as well.

Ten starters were set to return, and an incoming recruiting class would give the Hornets a level of talent and depth they haven't had in several years. That was before academic casualties and disciplinary action left the Hornets starting over, looking for starters at several positions, most notably at linebacker.

"We were young last year," defensive coordinator Cedric Thornton noted. "It was a young group of guys and a brand new system, so they had to adapt and catch it on the fly. We're basically in the same situation, the only difference is I have a good core group that has been in the system two years and they understand what's going on."

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Football Tour: Jackson State motivated despite setback

Jackson, MS - Jackson State has won a whopping 16 Southwestern Athletic Conference championships.

With Walter Payton Award candidate quarterback Casey Therriault and what figures to be a stingy Tigers' defense, JSU was primed to make a run at another league title in its upcoming 100th season of football. But last month, the school learned that both JSU and Southern University are banned from competing for the SWAC title because of low Academic Progress Rate scores.

The football team's score of 897 was less than the required 900, marking the third straight year the program has failed to reach 900. That led to the Tigers being banned from postseason play.



Nevertheless, that hasn't dampened the Tigers' enthusiasm for the 2011 season which begins Sept. 3 against Concordia College-Selma. "Sometimes, you've got to take the hand that's dealt," coach Rick Comegy said. "That hand's been dealt and the kids understand that and we're not sitting around.

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FAMU's Newkirk expects more in second year

Tallahassee, FL - Josh Newkirk could have been sulking all along if he wanted.

First, he transferred to Florida A&M from Winston-Salem State where he was a featured defensive end. Then, he was moved from defensive end to linebacker and back to defensive end. On top of the moving around, he suffered an injury that slowed his progress and adjustment to the Rattlers' defensive scheme.

"It was different because when I was at Winston-Salem I was a key player that started every game," he said. "Coming here and being a role-player on defense, it messed with my mind a little bit. But I'm a competitor."



Newkirk certainly looks like it during preseason camp. The way he is making the most of every chance to make a play has caught the attention of defensive coordinator Earl Holmes and associate head coach George Small, who coaches the defensive line.

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CIAA Preview

J.C. SMITH
2010 record: 2-8.

Players to watch

Offense: WR Avius Capers (Independence High) caught 21 passes for 313 yards and 2 touchdowns as a freshman.

Defense: DE Derrick Johnson (Hopewell High) led the Golden Bulls with 4.5 sacks as a sophomore in addition to 29 tackles.

Biggest question of the season: Will the defense show marked improvement from last season's 39 points allowed average?

Number to live by: Three freshmen (one redshirt) are competing for the starting quarterback position.

2011 schedule: Sept. 3 West Virginia State; S10 at Brevard; S17 Virginia State; S24 at Davidson; Oct. 1 at Winston-Salem State; O8 at Shaw; O15 Virginia Union; O22 at St. Augustine's; O29 Fayetteville State; N5 vs. Livingstone



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Dress rehearsals over, SU season approaches

Baton Rouge, LA - With one week to go before college football’s grand opening, a small parade of RVs, trucks and smiling fans littered the parking lots around A.W. Mumford Stadium, anxious for a sneak peek at Stump Mitchell’s team.

They grilled. They ate. They laughed. They collected autographs from Mitchell and his players. And they watched Southern run through its final preseason scrimmage, hoping the Jaguars are prepared to turn a corner at last. But of all the sights and sounds from Saturday’s affair, the most appealing moment may have came after the scrimmage ended.

That’s when four players — quarterback Dray Joseph, tackle Chris Browne, center Lee Almanza and receiver LaQuinton Evans — strolled out of the locker room like supersized models on a grassy catwalk, each of them dressed in Southern’s new Columbia blue uniforms. It is, of course, a return to the school’s original color scheme.



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Benedict Tigers hungry for leaders

 GALLERY: MEDIA DAY: Benedict College

Columbia, S.C. - Benedict College is one week from opening its football season against Virginia Union in the Palmetto Capital City Classic at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, but things are far from settled in Tigers camp.

Along with a youth movement, the team was rocked by news that starting quarterback Michael Adams will miss the season after tearing an ACL in practice last week.

"I guess you could say we’ve had our share of setbacks, but I look at setbacks as setups — opportunities for other players who are prepared to take advantage,” coach Stan Conner said.

The Tigers could start as many as nine sophomores and one freshman in the opener, but most of the attention will fall on the quarterback position in Conner’s double-wing, option-based attack.

Sophomore Johnny Carson and redshirt freshman Harlon Samuels are prime candidates to fill the void, but former Irmo star LeAnder Barney, a transfer from Georgia Southern, is in the mix.

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First team looks the part during FAMU scrimmage

Tallahassee, FL - Every time freshman quarterback Damien Fleming returned to the sidelines — whether he was leading the Orange or Green team — he was met with a lot of helmet-slapping and high-fiving.

He hardly looked like the newest addition to the Florida A&M quarterback corps, instead appearing as if he was soaking up every minute of his appearance during Saturday night's scrimmage at Bragg Stadium. It was almost as if Fleming wanted to prove to coach Joe Taylor he is indeed a solid backup to starter Austin Trainor.

Taylor promoted the freshman from Jacksonville from fourth-string to No. 2 on the depth chart because of an injury that has sidelined Memphis transfer Tyler Bass most of the first three weeks of preseason camp. Fleming and Trainor alternated under center for the Green team, which put up 74 points on the scoreless Orange squad that was made up of second- and third-teamers.

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Ultimate football state: No one can touch Alabama for football success

Excerpt:

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Seven different universities in this state have combined to claim 31 national titles, and it's not just the University of Alabama with 13 championships and Auburn University with a pair of its own.

It's Tuskegee with eight Historically Black College and University titles, stretching from 1924 to 2007.

Alabama A&M in 2009 and Alabama State in 2010 won their divisions to advance to the SWAC Championship Game.

Tuskegee won the 2009 Pioneer Bowl, the only NCAA-sanctioned bowl game for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, its fourth victory in that game in five years.

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Virginia Union University football opens season today

Richmond, VA - Kevin Grisby knows he's lucky to have a job. On May 9, his position as head football coach at Saint Paul's was terminated when the school cut the athletics program to keep the school alive.

Players and coaches were left scrambling to find new teams. Virginia Union hired Grisby as defensive coordinator. Others weren't as fortunate. Some coaches haven't found jobs, yet. Some players are still without a team.

"Bad timing," Grisby said. "It was pretty tough on the kids and the coaches."



His job description includes installing a new defense at Virginia Union, transitioning to a new school and a new team and helping abandoned Saint Paul's players find new homes. His first chance to showcase his defense comes today, when Union hosts Saint Augustine's in the season opener at 2 p.m. The game was scheduled late because both teams were supposed to play Saint Paul's this year.

Grisby served as Union's defensive coordinator from 1997-2003. He was part of the 2001 squad that claimed the CIAA championship.

Live Stats  Live Audio  

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Belhaven escapes in the fifth to spoil Hamilton's XU debut

JACKSON, Miss. -- For just the second time in Xavier University of Louisiana's women's volleyball history, the Gold Nuggets forced a fifth set after losing the first two.

But Belhaven escaped with a 25-19, 25-17, 18-25, 24-26, 15-12 victory Friday in the 2011 opener for both teams and the XU debut of head coach Christabell Hamilton.

"We started off slow and very timid. It was the collegiate debut of our seven freshmen, and they were very much overwhelmed," Hamilton said. "But once we got our rhythm, things started clicking for us."

Xavier outhit Belhaven .260 to .085 in the final three sets after the Blazers outhit the Nuggets .273 to minus-.057 in the first two.

2011 XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA GOLD NUGGETS VOLLEYBALL TEAM
(Click photo to enlarge--credit: XULA Sports Information)

No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. Exp. Hometown High School (Previous College/JC)
7 Iva Bobkova RS/OH 5-10 Sr. 1L Brno, Czech Republic Ludvika Danka (New Mexico Military JC)
13 Jeanay Butler OH 5-8 Fr. HS Fort Mill, S.C. Charlotte Country Day
4 Kerris Crier MB 5-9 So. 1L Houston, Texas Westfield
12 Chinedu Echebelem OH/DS 5-6 Fr. HS Dallas, Texas Duncanville
8 Patrice Hightower S/DS 5-5 Sr. 1L New Orleans, La. McGehee
3 Joyy Joseph DS 5-2 Sr. 1L Donaldsonville, La. Ascension Catholic
15 Moira Kirk MB 5-9 Fr. HS Dallas, Texas Bishop Lynch
1 Celeste Poe L/DS 5-4 Sr. 1L Cerritos, Calif. Gahr
14 Alexandra Rencher S 5-6 Fr. HS Mobile, Ala. Davidson
2 Taylor Reuther OH 5-7 Fr. HS Metairie, La. Dominican
6 Kia Smith S 5-6 Fr. HS Humble, Texas Nimitz
9 Morgan Stallings MB/RS 5-7 Fr. HS Spring, Texas Klein Oak

HEAD COACH: Christabell Hamilton (Eastern New Mexico 2005), first season
ASSISTANT COACH: Darrilyn Broussard (Xavier 1986), third season
GRADUATE ASSISTANT COACH: Brittney Johnson (LSU 2011), first season
VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH: Lashira Williams (Virginia Union 2011), first season

Freshmen accounted for 36 of Xavier's 45 kills, with Taylor Reuther collecting 16 and Chinedu Echebelem 10 in their debuts. Reuther also had 17 digs and two aces, and senior Celeste Poe had a career-high-tying 16 digs.

Taylor Williams had 16 kills and 20 digs for Belhaven. Christina Atwood had 13 kills, Samantha O'Malley 11 and Natalie Davis 10 for the Blazers. Katherine Owen had 17 digs, and Serita Owen had six blocks.

Belhaven outhit Xavier .154 to .121 for the match, and both teams had 63 digs. The Blazers had eight more kills than Xavier, plus advantages of 7-3 in aces and 11-5 in blocks.

Belhaven did not drop a set in beating Xavier twice last season. The Blazers won at Xavier in the Nuggets' 2010 opener, which was XU's first intercollegiate match since 2004.

"To stick it out and fight to the fifth set showed heart and character," Hamilton said. "The upperclassmen did a good job in being good leaders and keeping things calm out there.

"It's tough to fight that hard and not get that win, especially on the road, but we now know what we are capable of. We are coming back Sunday to keep working on getting better."

Xavier will play its home opener at 7 p.m. Monday against Mobile at The Barn.


Box score

NOTES: Reuther, a standout last season at St. Mary's Dominican High School in New Orleans, did something no Gold Nugget did last season -- reach 15 kills and 15 digs in the same match.  Erin Vincent had three kill-dig double-doubles in 2010 and didn't record her first until XU's 16th match . . .Belhaven's Ashley Stathas, an assistant at USC Upstate the past four seasons, also made her collegiate head-coaching debut . . .The only other time Xavier reached a fifth set after dropping the first two was in a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference home victory against Dillard last season . . .Hamilton said the Nuggets' GCAC opener against SUNO at The Barn on Sept. 17 was pushed back to 4 p.m.

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

Capers to be Smith's top returning threat

Charlotte, N.C. - Avius Capers can't go unnoticed much longer.

As a freshman receiver at Johnson C. Smith, he was virtually unknown from Independence High, one of North Carolina's top football programs. As a sophomore, Capers is the top returning threat on an offense that led the CIAA in passing in 2010. No one - except Capers perhaps - expected it.

"I don't like to talk about it," he said. "I like to show by example so they can see for themselves."

Capers worked his way up the depth chart last year, going from fourth receiver to starter with the Golden Bulls during a 2-8 campaign. He caught 21 passes for 313 yards and two scores, trailing only Jeremy Franklin, the school's all-time receiving leader. His best effort was a four-catch, 119-yard game against Livingstone in the season finale that included a season-long 75-yard touchdown.

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NCCU Eagles ready to fly under Frazier

Durham, N.C. - The Henry Frazier III train is about to start. But what a first stop on the track back to respectability. N.C. Central opens its season Sept. 3 at Rutgers in a game that will be broadcast on ESPN3.

After three straight losing seasons, including last year's 3-8 embarrassment, Frazier was hired to do what he does best - turn losers into winners. But NCCU is not a hard fix. Despite their record, the Eagles have plenty of talent returning, including redshirt senior quarterback Michael Johnson (1,179 yards, 8 TDs) and top junior wide receiver Geovonie Irvine (758 yards, 5 TDs).



The offense averaged 307 total yards, 1,559 rushing yards and 1,818 passing yards per game. Still, it had trouble finding the end zone in the second part of the season. Turnovers caused the most problems, however with eight offensive starters returning, Frazier thinks he has a fix on that.

"I expect the offense to score some points," the former Prairie View A&M and Bowie State coach said. "We have weapons to be a true multiple offense and have true balance. I expect us to take care of the ball and take what the defense gives us."

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Power-packed Sims gives JSU Tigers options in backfield

Jackson, MS - As Rakeem Sims ripped through Jackson State's defense during a scrimmage at practice last week, observing players gave their genuine opinions. "I told you he was the best running back," one said. Added another: "You can't tackle him at the legs."

Sims, a 5-foot-11, 225-pound bulldozing running back from Richton, has impressed just about everyone who's seen him barrel over defenders, hurdle would-be tacklers and race past others during the first three weeks of practice.



A 2010 signee who did not qualify academically to play last season but was enrolled in school, Sims is the new face in Jackson State's stable of running backs, the guy who might give the Tigers their first 1,000-yard rusher since 1999.

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