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LORMAN — Since Ernest Jones was hired as Alcorn State’s football coach last December, the mantra for the program has been, “It’s a new day.” That new day arrives Aug. 30 when the Braves host Southeastern Louisiana at Jack Spinks Stadium.
“I’m chomping at the bit,” Jones said. “I want it to get here, but I’m not in that big of a hurry. We need these days to prepare. We just want to get out there.”
Since Jones was hired, excitement around the Alcorn program has been at a fever pitch. Now, the coach knows his team must produce results on the field to keep the excitement level up. “The fanfare has been very positive,” Jones said. “The alumni and administration are excited and we expect to sell the stadium out on Aug. 30. It’s time for the fans to see something exciting and positive and we plan to give them that.”
For every bit of success that Joe Taylor has had as a football coach, there has been one constant — his offense has been about running the ball. He did it all 17 seasons at Hampton, where he won five MEAC titles before coming to Florida A&M earlier this year. It will definitely be more of the same. So much for the reputation that the Rattlers had for more than a decade of being a pass-happy team.
Joe knows Dewayne...DeWayne Lanier, 6-7/315 offensive lineman that can open gapping holes for the Rattlers stable of running backs.
No need trying to reinvent the wheel is the way Taylor figures it. Running the ball has brought success for coaches long before him, going back to legends such as Jake Gaither and Bear Bryant and even coaches of the current era. "They are the ones that are consistently in the top five and winning national championships; the teams that run the ball," Taylor said.
Jackson State installed the rest of its offensive and defensive packages during the first two-a-day of training camp Wednesday, coach Rick Comegy said. The Tigers used the 9 a.m. session to put the last of the plays in and the 4 p.m. session to rehash them. "The kids caught on real fast," Comegy said. "Now what we can do is review the review. There's nothing else that needs to go in. We have the package in.
"The only thing we have left is game-planning wrinkles we want to make against the opponent." The Tigers plan to begin specific preparation for the Aug. 31 season opener against Hampton on Monday. JSU will scrimmage Saturday and then be able to solidify a first- and second-string.
Hornets added several play-making transfers on Wednesday.
The group is led by 6-foot-1, 235-pound inside linebacker Stephen Johnson from Miami. Johnson is from Los Angeles Pierce College where he was highly sought after by several big-name schools. Brian Whitmore, a 6-4, 250-pound junior defensive end from Chesapeake, Va., transferred two weeks ago from the University of Maryland. Nick Lochner, a punter from Alfred State, will compete for punting duties.
Coaches also expect to get time from long snapper Richard Bernard (Lackawanna College) and safety Ahmad Harris (West Hills, Calif., College). Garrett Watson, a redshirt freshman kicker/punter who initially signed with Virginia Tech, is in the process of transferring and could be available as early as Friday.
ORLANDO — Bethune-Cookman University freshman pitcher Joseph Munoz recently was named the Most Valuable Pitcher for the Orlando Suns during the Florida Collegiate Summer League (FCSL). Munoz finished the summer with a perfect 6-0 record and an ERA of just 1.33 through 40.2 innings of action. He also posted 34 strikeouts and had three saves out of the bullpen, though seeing most his action as a starter for the Suns.
The Suns finished in fifth place for the year. Munoz was a three-time FCSL Pitcher of the Week for the Suns, as well as being the only Suns player to hold a perfect record as a starter. He finished his freshman season at B-CU with 20 strikeouts collected in 25 innings on the bump for the Maroon and Gold.
This is where it all started. That single thought played in Kimberly N. Holland's mind as she sat in the Southwest DeKalb High School (Atlanta)gymnasium, watching Angelo Taylor and Terrence Trammell. The athletes, bound for the Summer Olympics, had returned to their alma mater for a pep rally staged on their behalf.
As the band played, the cheerleaders cheered and Taylor and Trammell gave speeches, Holland couldn't help but remember her own start as a sports agent, a field still dominated by men. It's not the profession she envisioned for herself. She wanted to be an attorney, to fight for social change and justice, to give voice to those who had none. After high school, she hit the track running, so to speak. She graduated from Norfolk State University, worked for Sen. Edward Kennedy, then moved to Atlanta.
She spent two years here at LaFace Records before returning to Virginia, where she enrolled at a Christian school, the Regent University School of Law.
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Representing Track and Field Olympians Walter Dix, Angelo Taylor, Terrence Trammell,Shawn Crawford, LaShawn Merrit, Bernard Williams, Tyree Washington and Bolota Asmerom, the young sister Holland is headed for sports management super stardom. It's absolutely great that she has broken into the sports management field with superior capability to represent our top athletes in their contract negotiations, branding and product endorsement deals.
Ms. Holland, a native Washingtonian, appears to have exceptional skills --entrepreneurial, solid communicator and negotiator, experienced deal maker, christian foundation, connected and committed to our best interests. Way to go Spartans! Another glass ceiling broken. Behold the Green and Gold...
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Norfolk State University Spartan "Legion" Marching Band
Both South Carolina State Wednesday practices were abbreviated due to rain, however, the Bulldogs did manage to get in some productive work, according to head coach Buddy Pough. In a morning session conducted in a steady rain, SC State used the opportunity to work on some wet-ball situations for most of the one hour, 45-minute drill. The Bulldogs’ evening session got underway in a light rain as the team, once more, devoted some time to wet-ball and rainy condition situations.
“Both our workouts were rain-shortened,” said Pough. “But, it was a blessing that we were able to get in as much work as we did. Having a turf field was the difference. Had we not had the turf, we wouldn’t have gotten very much done. “We are still learning,” he continued. “I’d like to see us a little further along. At this point, we should have all the learning done and should be sharpening up. I think we will get there.”
The Bulldogs will return to their regular schedule Thursday, with just one practice, beginning at 9:50 a.m. On Friday, the team will conduct two drills – the first at 6:15 a.m., followed by a 6:50 p.m. workout.
On Friday, SC State will hold its “Meet the Players Day,” beginning at 12 noon, and following a 9 a.m. scrimmage. At 2 p.m., Coach Pough will conduct a “Ladies’ Football Clinic,” which will be interactive.
Wouldn’t it be refreshing if the Rockets had enough guts to take a stand with Rafer Alston? Don’t hold your breath. Hell will freeze over before a professional sports team holds an athlete accountable for bad behavior. Yes, the Chicago Bears waived Cedric Benson after his second arrest this year, but the fact Benson had been a bust on the field surely made it easier for them to take action regarding his behavior off it.
Maybe teams don’t care what kind of people they have in uniform because they know you don’t care. The Rockets were widely praised for obtaining a guy with baggage ranging from domestic violence to animal cruelty to an assortment of suspensions, fines and other bad behavior. Who’ll remember that stuff if Ron Artest smothers Kobe Bryant in the playoffs? That’s when Artest will become misunderstood.
An NFL guy recently joked, “If Jeffrey Dahmer could play, we’d say he had an eating disorder.” That’s especially true of the Rockets. A team that just acquired Ron Artest isn’t likely to get tough about a measly little misdemeanor drunk driving charge.
JaJuan Spillman’s ability to perform on the field has never been in question. Off the field, well, that’s another story. The wide receiver and kickoff specialist transferred from Louisville to Tennessee State last month, after being kicked off the Cardinals’ squad for a slew of trouble. Now he’s trying to make another go of his college football career as a Tiger. His first impression didn’t disappoint. As soon as the TSU intra-squad game kicked off Saturday, Spillman stole the show.
He returned the opening kickoff nearly 90 yards for a touchdown and scored three more times on long plays before the scrimmage was over. It was a dazzling performance that left fans who watched wanting to know more about the ultra-fast wide receiver and how he ended up at TSU. It’s a story Spillman can’t tell for himself.
New guys don’t speak
CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE. Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands
Spillman and the recent influx of transfers to HBCUs that have had brushes with the law reminds me of a commentary on the Houston Rocket's guard that has "trouble" as a middle name. Sure, everyone deserves a second or third chance, but at what price for the entire university student body?
You will want to read the above commentary: Bad athletes are tolerated if they win!
When offensive lineman Lionell Mapp arrived at Alabama State a few weeks ago, he noticed a rather disconcerting attitude around the locker room. There seemed to be little confidence among the offensive players. The defensive players roamed the locker room with their chests out and a sense of dominance among them. But Mapp's offensive teammates had a completely different outlook.
"The feeling just wasn't good," Mapp said. "When we were being recruited here, the defensive guys were talking and talking about how they dominated the offense. They were really cocky."
None of that sat very well with Mapp. At 6-foot-7, 360 pounds, he's never been easily intimidated. Or intimidated at all, for that matter. And he wasn't about to change.
Javares Knight and the rest of FAMU's receiving corps seemed to be enjoying every bit of the defensive challenge Wednesday afternoon. No matter where the ball was thrown, a defender was right there. Not a single receiver backed down. "Right now we never can be comfortable," Knight said. "It's still a lot of time before the first game, so every day we have to come out and work harder."
Coming out of spring practice, the talk was all about Philip Sylvester, as the sophomore running back established himself as the anchor of coach Joe Taylor's offensive scheme. But as good as Sylvester is, his effectiveness will depend on receivers making catches, especially when defenses crowd the box. Knight and his cohorts spent the summer readying themselves to be the distraction that Sylvester will need. For that reason, they're not considering their roles as minimal.
A host of players — from a strong group of newcomers to veterans picking up their games — have made Camp Richardson XVI a strong one. “Overall, I’m real pleased with the first-year guys, with the attitude they have,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “They’re aggressive. They’re forcing people to step up.”
Among those newcomers drawing praise are running backs Byron Williams and Jerry Joseph, wide receiver LaQuinton Evans, offensive linemen Lee Almanza and Chris Browne and defensive linemen Ken Frankson and Kennon Gilliard, both from Yates High in Houston. Along with those true freshmen, that group also includes sophomore running back Silas Gibbs.
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Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band and the Dancing Dolls
Jaguars 2008 Football Schedule Date Opponent Time Aug. 30 at Houston 6 p.m.
An Ivy League-educated physicist who has run a historically black state university for the past five years will be the next president of the University of the District of Columbia, a choice that school officials said signals dramatic change at the public institution.
UDC's trustees announced yesterday that Allen Sessoms will become president Sept. 1. Sessoms, president of Delaware State University, will arrive as the long-troubled school is struggling to redefine itself.
UDC is moving forward with plans to create a community college within its program, but some city leaders have said that it isn't strong enough to take on such a major initiative. James Dyke, trustees chairman, said Sessoms will show that UDC can be both a strong community college and university.
Texas Southern’s ground game didn’t run to daylight in 2007. Instead, it sprinted into darkness. Of the 118 schools in the Football Championship Subdivision, the Tigers resided at the bottom of the list in rushing, totaling a paltry 543 yards on 281 carries and scoring only three touchdowns en route to an 0-11 season that led to the dismissal of coach Steve Wilson and ushered in the Johnnie Cole era, which began on the practice field early Monday morning.
“We know that in order to win, we’ll have to run the ball successfully,” Cole said. “One of our biggest goals is to find players who can fill that role for us.”
Two of the 65 new players Cole brought to TSU will have the first opportunity to help rejuvenate a ground game that averaged 1.9 yards per carry last season. Freshman Marcus Wright (5-11, 215) will compete with Lucas Caparerlli (5-11, 180), a transfer from Wake Forest who will give the Tigers something they sorely lacked last fall — speed.
The big moment came during a 7-on-7 passing drill. It was my turn to do a slant pattern across the middle. The ball came, seemingly in slow motion, hit me in the chest, and … I've always had a fascination with stories about writers participating in something incredible and then writing about it. I've now had my George Plimpton moment, but I think I liked it better when somebody else was doing what came to be called "participatory journalism."
Plimpton wrote Paper Lion after going through training camp as a quarterback with the Detroit Lions in the 1960s. His book was later turned into a movie starring Alan Alda. My Plimpton moment was going to be a lot shorter -- just one practice with the Winston-Salem State University football team to see what the players go through.
I'm 44. The last time I put on a football helmet was in the sixth grade...
Pouring rains may have stopped Jackson State from practicing Monday, but coach Rick Comegy wasn't having it again. Despite heavy morning showers, the Tigers took the field Tuesday and went through a full practice. The only phase left out was a kicking period. "I was a little afraid of guys getting sick," Comegy said, "but I think we were a little sluggish coming in, feeling sorry for themselves, that camp-itis. We needed a change.
"I don't want them ever to feel we can't do something."
Comegy was concerned over a couple players coming into Tuesday morning meetings a little late. Freshman defensive back J.R. Boone was punished by repeatedly having to flip an oversized truck tire with strength and conditioning coach Derek Scott during practice. Coaches, players and trainers were soaked from head to toe...
Tennessee State's offense is up and running again. Or it might be better to say it's up and passing again. The passing attack had to be grounded late last season after quarterback Antonio Heffner suffered a broken leg in the seventh game at Eastern Kentucky. He was replaced by freshman Calvin McNairl, a skilled runner who lacked the experience to keep the passing game in flight.
"We lost Heffner, Calvin was a true freshman, and we had to shut the offense down," offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss said. "Hopefully that won't happen this year."
With Heffner healthy again, the hope is that the Tigers' talented and experienced receiving corps will live up to expectations and the passing game will finally emerge from the shadows of the running attack, which has long been the strength of TSU's offense.
Everything is coming together for Southern University wide receiver Del Roberts. He enters his senior season as the veteran leader among the wideouts. He’s on course to graduate in psychology in December and then pursue his master’s, likely at SU, as he seeks his goal of becoming an occupational therapist. And he’s got a team that can — if he and others play up to their potential — make a run for the Southwestern Athletic Conference title.
A December with a diploma and a SWAC championship run looks like the perfect way to finish to Roberts.
#1 Jaguars wide receiver Del Roberts.
“It’s something special,” Roberts said of his view of his senior year. “I’ve been playing football all my life. To say I graduated and be able to try to win a championship in my last year going out is a big deal. I’m just trying to do anything I can to help this team and this unit be the best it can be.”
BALTIMORE - Morgan State returns 50 of 64 lettermen from a team that went 5-6 last year. But if the Bears want to post their first winning season since 2003 and challenge for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and automatic berth in the 16-team NCAA Tournament, the performances it receives from some of its newest players will be more important.
Bears are MEAC dark horse, but are loaded with experienced talent (Mark's Digital Photography).
Morgan State is expecting to receive an immediate boost from several transfers from Football Bowl Subdivision teams, including redshirt junior quarterback Carlton Jackson (Akron), sophomore receiver Edward Morton-Green (Miami of Ohio) and senior safety Joseph Ellis (Illinois).
“It’s one thing when you don’t know what you have, you try to push [the start of practice] as far back as you can,” Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley said. “But when you know you have some players coming in, and you have a chance, you can’t wait.”
LORMAN — Since Ernest Jones was hired as Alcorn State’s football coach last December, the mantra for the program has been, “It’s a new day.” That new day arrives Aug. 30 when the Braves host Southeastern Louisiana at Jack Spinks Stadium.
