Does Grambling have the path of least resistance to SWAC title match?

Grambling State, taking a break this week after playing the first eight weeks of the season without a bye, arguably, has the path of least resistance to winning the SWAC's West Division. Grambling's next three games include Mississippi Valley State (2-4), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-7) and Texas Southern (3-5) -- all Southwestern Athletic Conference games.

If Prairie View A&M beats Southern on Saturday, a Tiger win in the Bayou Classic should lock in a second straight appearance in the SWAC Championship game - the third in four years and fifth since 2000. "We just need to get away from it for a couple days," said Grambling coach Rod Broadway, whose team is off this weekend. "We're going to give the kids a couple days off. We need to unwind a little bit, relax. It's been a hard stretch for us."

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S.C. State showdown with Hampton arrives

Bulldogs, Pirates square off to see who will remain perfect in MEAC

At the start of the season, South Carolina State football coach Buddy Pough knew there would be a moment when his team would find out if it had the ability to win its first outright Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title in 14 years. This is it.
The Bulldogs (5-2 overall, 3-0 MEAC) play host Saturday to Hampton (5-1, 4-0) in a game that will go a long way in determining which of the two remaining conference unbeaten will wear the crown at season’s end and earn a berth in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Hampton's Jeremy Gilchrist has been unstoppable and looks to shred the Bulldogs defense.

“It’s a do-or-die situation. If we win, we’ve got a chance to continue. If we lose, we’re done. I think Hampton will win out,” said Pough, whose team was the preseason pick to win the league. He believes his team is ready for the challenge after surviving games against a pair of Football Bowl Subdivision teams, Central Florida and Clemson — the team’s only two losses — as well as a stretch of four consecutive weeks, from mid-September to early October, away from Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

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Southern Jags Return to SWAC Play vs. Prairie View A&M Panthers

Coach Pete Richardson and Southern University face a defensively strong Prairie View A&M team in the "Battle of the Cats" at Houston's Reliant Stadium this Saturday.

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By: SU Sports Information Dept.

The "Big Cat" Showdown reaches into the state of Texas this weekend, as Southern takes on Prairie View A&M in Houston in a Western Division showdown.

While the Jaguars come in at 4-3 overall, they are 3-0 in conference play, with wins over Alcorn State, Jackson State, and Texas Southern. Southern has one of the most explosive offenses in the nation, scoring at least 32 points in five of seven games this season, including outputs of 35, 45, and 49 points this month alone.

QB Bryant Lee, the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, has combined for 13 touchdowns in October (7 passing, 6 rushing). The Jaguars are ninth in the nation in total offense (442.1 yards per game), 10th in passing offense (283.7 ypg), and 15th in passing efficiency (149.4 rating). Southern has thrown 16 touchdown passes to just four interceptions.

Prairie View A&M comes in to Saturday's tilt with a 6-1 record, 2-1 in SWAC play. Defense is the bread and butter of the Panthers, who have posted two shutouts this season, including a 15-0 road win last week at the Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In addition, the Panthers have allowed more than 17 points just once this season. LB Zach East, the reigning SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and 2008 winner of the Preseason Award, anchors the unit that leads the nation in scoring defense (13.1 points per game), total defense (192.1 yards per game), and is fourth in both passing defense (137.1 ypg), and pass efficiency defense (95.42 rating). The Panthers have allowed just six touchdown passes this season while picking off 11 passes.

Southern is looking to keep pace with Grambling State in the West race. The Tigers gave the Panthers' their lone loss this season and need a win to stay in the hunt. Last season, Southern's defense proved to be the difference in a 12-2 win. In the last meeting in Houston in 2006, however, Prairie View earned its first win over Southern since 1971. Reliant Stadium will be the site for this Wild West matchup.

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Must Win: Pough says if Bulldogs are to capture MEAC they must beat Hampton Saturday

There was no attempt Monday by South Carolina State head football coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough to play down Saturday’s home showdown with Hampton. During Pough’s weekly press conference, he did not mince words about the game’s importance to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings. He even alluded to last year’s rallying cry of “win or stay home” in describing the ramifications of this year’s outcome against the Pirates.

“We’re the last two teams without a loss in the league and that makes it imperative that we win,” he said. “In their particular case, if they should win, then I think it’s pretty much over. Even if they lose a game from this point on, I don’t see anybody that can beat them. “The team that loses will be at the mercy of the other team from that point on because of the fact that the team that wins will not have a loss and will possibly go through the league with an unscathed record.”

QB Malcolm Long and the SCSU Bulldogs have a mountain to climb in defeating the talent laden Hampton Pirates this Saturday.

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Ax falls on another Aggie coach

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- In the end, it was about confidence. No matter how hard N.C. A&T coach Lee Fobbs tried to restore the confidence of those around him -- his football players, his assistant coaches, the athletics department and fans -- the damage done by under performing players and all those losses was simply too much to repair.

















Finally, N.C. A&T athletic director Wheeler Brown makes the right decision to send Lee Fobbs packing with his 2-28 career record and with $200,000 remaining on his contract to be paid.

That, more than anything else, was the reason A&T athletics director Wheeler Brown offered for firing Fobbs on Monday after just 21/2 seasons as the Aggies' head coach. Fobbs' dismissal took effect immediately. Minutes after informing Fobbs he was being let go, Brown met with assistant coach George Ragsdale and named the former Aggies running back interim head coach for the remaining four games.

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Lee Fobbs is out as N.C. A&T’s football coach.

A&T Athletics Director Wheeler Brown made the announcement today, bringing to an end Fobbs’ run with the Aggies after a 2-28 stint. Brown named George Ragsdale interim coach for the remainder of the season. "We feel like this is the best decision for the program at this time,'' Brown said Brown. "I certainly want to thank Lee for all his efforts over the last 2 1/2 years, and I want to wish him well in all his future endeavors. The program just needs a new direction."

The Aggies, who had lost five straight games when Fobbs took over in 2006, lost another 22 before ending the skid Aug. 30 against Johnson C. Smith. A&T beat rival Winston-Salem State the next week, then lost the next six. Fobbs, who took over the Aggies program, was previously running backs coach at Texas A&M. He played collegiately at Grambling State under legendary coach Eddie Robinson.

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Howard Hands Morgan State A Close Victory

Howard University "Showtime" Marching Band

As usually happens in games between Howard and Morgan State, the outcome came down to the final play. Howard punter Patrick Wolff, filling in for injured place kicker John Mendoza, missed the extra point kick in the second overtime and the Bison lost, 31-30, before a stunned, sellout homecoming crowd at Greene Stadium yesterday. Wolff, who kicked a 21-yard field goal -- the first field goal of his career -- to send the game into overtime, was consoled by several teammates after his extra-point attempt hit the right upright and bounced away.

"Everybody was telling him to shake it off," defensive tackle James Carter said. "You know it wasn't his fault. The game wasn't decided on the one kick." Though Wolff's miss ended the game, the final score was more a product of Morgan State capitalizing on Howard's miscues, missed opportunities and misfortune. The result was strangely reminiscent of the homecoming game two years ago when Morgan State returned a fumble for a touchdown in the second overtime to win, 18-12.

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Attendance: 6853 (68.5%) at Wm. H. Greene Stadium, Washington, D.C. (Capacity: 10,000).
Season Record: Howard Bison, 1-5, 0-3 MEAC; Morgan State, 4-3, 1-1 MEAC.

Rattlers win shootout: Florida A&M 52, Southern 49

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Vann's late return helps FAMU to win over Southern

BATON ROUGE, La. — This time there was no late field goal — just trickery and LeRoy Vann's magic. Vann retuned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown to ignite two quick strikes by FAMU in the fourth quarter and the Rattlers held off every comeback by Southern for a 52-49 victory Saturday night. FAMU dodged the biggest bullet after the Jaguars marched 30 yards to FAMU's 1 following an interception of quarterback Curtis Pulley's pass that was intended for Philip Sylvester. But on his way to the end zone, Southern receiver (and former Godby High standout) Del Roberts lost the ball after a hit by FAMU's Fabian Wilson.

Wilson recovered the ball and the Rattlers ran out the clock — thanks in large part to a fourth-and-1 conversion from their own 11-yard line with 1:54 remaining. FAMU's victory at Mumford Stadium was the third consecutive for the Rattlers on Southern's home field. The previous two were decided on field goals in the closing minutes.

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Southern Jaguars: A matter of inches

Photo Gallery: FAMU 52, SU 49

Rattlers win another wild one over Jaguars

A game in which the two teams combined for 995 yards of offense came down to a matter of inches in the final four minutes. First, Southern University receiver Del Roberts was denied a touchdown on a pass play that would have given the Jaguars the lead. Then, Florida A&M quarterback Curtis Pulley plowed forward and fourth-and-1, clinching a wild 52-49 victory over Southern on Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium. It was the third straight time FAMU (5-2) has scored 50 or more points in a win over the Jaguars (4-3) in Baton Rouge. The other wins came in 2000 and 1998.

Roberts, a Tallahassee native, caught a pass from Bryant Lee and appeared to cross the goal line before fumbling the ball. Fabian Wilson recovered the ball at the FAMU 3 with 3:28 remaining, setting the stage for Pulley to perform one last dramatic act. “I didn’t come in here looking for a shootout, but we got one,” FAMU coach Joe Taylor said. “We made a lot of mistakes tonight, but this is a quality win and we’ll take it.”

Jaguars QB Bryant Lee torched the Rattlers defense for 64 yards rushing - 3 TDs, 407 yards passing and 3 TDs, completing 25-42 with one INT.

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Attendance: 15,107 (53%) at Ace W. Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA (Capacity: 28,400).

Season Record: Florida A&M Rattlers, 5-2, 1-2 MEAC; Southern Jaguars 4-3, 3-0 SWAC.

Gen. Colin Powell Endorses Sen. Barack Obama for President

Washington, D.C. - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell crossed party lines this morning to endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president, the most prominent GOP defection yet of the 2008 campaign. Obama has courted Republicans all along, but in Powell he gets party crossover plus military credibility. Powell is a retired U.S. Army general and served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under the first President Bush.

As Secretary of State under the current President Bush, Powell helped to build the case for the Iraq war, a role that hurt him with many Democrats and moderates, who had viewed him as somewhat apolitical. Powell made his endorsement today on the NBC program "Meet the Press." Powell said he had watched both Obama and Sen. John McCain in the last "six or seven weeks," since the national political conventions, and paid special attention to how they reacted to the nation's worsening economic situation.



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TSU survives scare with late field goal Tigers eke out win over Govs

Nashville, TN -- It wouldn't be easy for Tennessee State's Eric Benson to top his heroics from last year's game against Austin Peay. But the Tigers' placekicker did just that Saturday night in a rematch at LP Field. On Saturday night, he kicked a 29-yarder with just two seconds left to give TSU a 37-34 win. Last year, he booted a 43-yard field goal with nine seconds left to send the game into overtime. TSU won on a blocked extra-point attempt.

"I thought about last year's game when I stepped out there for that last kick,'' Benson said. "I knew I'd done it before and I could do it again. I just had to concentrate." Benson's kick helped TSU (6-1, 3-0 Ohio Valley Conference) avoid disaster before a crowd of 9,358. TSU came into the game in first place in the conference and Austin Peay (0-7, 0-4) was in last. Benson kicked two other field goals. His second, a 31-yarder on the final play of the first half, gave TSU a 27-12 cushion. It appeared the Tigers would coast through the second half.

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Attendance: 9,358 (13.6%) at LP Field, Nashville, TN (Capacity: 68.800).
Season Record: Tennessee State Tigers 6-1, 3-0 OVC.

A transfer of power: HU speeds past NSU

HAMPTON, VA - It was just one of three big scoring plays Hampton University used to defeat Norfolk State 35-17 on Saturday, but for Damon McDaniel, it was the sweetest. Early in the second quarter, with the Pirates up just 7-0 and facing third-and-27 from their 30-yard line, HU quarterback Herb Bynes launched a deep ball in McDaniel's direction. Norfolk State defensive back Don Carey was in front of McDaniel and in prime position to knock the ball down, but instead he went for the interception.

But a gust of wind blew the ball through Carey's hands and into the waiting arms of McDaniel, who turned to see a completely clear path to the end zone and a two-touchdown lead that gave the Pirates the momentum for good. The TD also provided some redemption for McDaniel, who transferred to Hampton from Florida State but had to sit out the Pirates' first four games because of NCAA penalties related to last year's academic scandal at FSU.

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Attendance: 12,034 (70.8%) at Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, VA (Capacity: 17,000).
Season Record: Hampton Pirates, 5-1, 4-0 MEAC); Norfolk State Spartans, 2-5, 1-3.

UAPB Lions gain 88 yards in loss to PVAMU Panthers

Pine Bluff, AR -- Entering the season, UAPB coach Monte Coleman expected his offense to be led by a powerful rushing attack. With veterans Martell Mallett and Mickey Dean returning to the Golden Lions’ offensive backfield, Coleman had visions of his team gaining victories by grinding the football on the ground. But, through seven games this season, these expectations have gone largely unfulfilled. Behind a young and suspect offensive line, UAPB’s offense ranks last in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in three of several offensive categories.

These offensive woes only got worse Saturday, as the Golden Lions (0-7, 0-3 SWAC) gained only 88 yards of total offense in a 15-0 loss to Prairie View A&M (6-1, 3-1). In the loss, UAPB allowed six sacks and have now allowed 30 sacks in seven games this season. “Unfortunately, our line is young,” Coleman said. “We want to take the ball out of any quarterbacks hands and give it to those two guys (Mallett and Dean), unfortunately we haven’t been able to do that all year.

“When we lose, we lose as a team,” Coleman continued. “I’m not going to blame it on the line. Do we have some shortcomings on the line? Absolutely. Do we have shortcomings at linebacker? Absolutely. We have some break downs as a team. One week it’s this one. One week it’s that one, and that’s the reason we’re 0-7 right now.”

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Attendance: 5892 (36.8%) at Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff, AR (Capacity: 16,000).
Season Record: UAPB Golden Lions, 0-7, 0-3 SWAC; PVAMU Panthers 6-1, 3-1 SWAC.

DSU's defense makes it look easy over NCAT

Photo Gallery: DSU 42, NCA&T 7

DOVER, DE -- None of them are easy. According to Delaware State linebacker Josh Pope, they just look easy. He was talking about turnovers, but he could have been talking about Delaware State's victory on Saturday, too. Pope contributed in forcing four turnovers to give the Hornets a 42-7 homecoming victory over North Carolina A&T before 6,089 bundled-up spectators on a chilly afternoon at Alumni Stadium.

Delaware State's defense generated one fumble and three interceptions. Pope's second-quarter forced fumble set up a touchdown as Delaware State earned its most lopsided victory of the season and second straight win in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
"I don't think I'd say they were easy," Pope said. "These turnovers came on pure discipline. It was about being where you're supposed to be. There was so much energy over the game. It's about looking at reads and assignments. I think that's only gotten better for us."

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Attendance: 6,089 (89%) at Alumni Stadium, Dover, DE (Capacity: 6828).
Season Record: DSU Hornets 3-3, 3-1 MEAC; NCAT Aggies 2-6, 0-4 MEAC.

Substance trumps style in Grambling's victory

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GRAMBLING, LA — For pure entertainment and instant gratification at a Grambling State football game this season, the halftime show is still your best bet. Watching the football team perform requires more patience for a Grambling fan. Stick around for the end result though and you're bound to go home satisfied with the final result. "A win is a win," Grambling's Jeffrey Jack said. "As long as we keep winning and have a chance at a championship — I'm happy."

Grambling won its fifth game in a row Saturday afternoon, beating Alabama State 27-7 at sun-splashed Robinson Stadium. The large, bustling homecoming crowd might be hard pressed to recall many signature moments in the contest, but they left knowing their team knocked off yet another Southwestern Athletic Conference foe. "That's a good win," Grambling coach Rod Broadway said. "I'll say it once and I'll say it again — all wins are good wins and I'll take it." Broadway isn't concerned with style points right now. If this team were tailgating fare, it would be red beans and rice — hearty and filling.

GSU head football coach Rod Broadway

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Attendance: 16,974 (86.6%) at Robinson Stadium, Grambling, LA (Capacity: 19,600).

Season Record: GSU 6-2, 3-0 SWAC; ASU 1-5, 0-3 SWAC.

Southern-Florida A&M Matchups

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Southern WR Del Roberts
26 catches, 222 yards, 2 TDs

Roberts has always been an “X” factor receiver. If the Jaguars can get him in space, he can create plays with his nimbleness. With the success of Juamorris Stewart, look for room for other receivers, and Roberts is dangerous with room. He’s also the team’s lead return man and is always a threat to go the distance. From Tallahassee, Fla., this is a pride game for Roberts. “It’s a definitely intense rivalry,” Roberts said. “FAMU is a high-quality team, high class. It’s going to be a good game. … It’s just about getting into a comfort zone, finding your place on the team. Guys are making plays, myself included.”

Florida A&M RB Phillip Sylvester
87 carries, 382 yards, 3 TDs

Sylvester, a sophomore, was the MEAC’s Rookie of the Year last season and has been compared to FAMU greats like Bob Hayes and Willie Galimore. A former Class 2A 100-meters runner-up at the state meet, Sylvester had 101 yards and two TDs on 14 carries against Southern in his first collegiate game last season. While plenty of focus is on FAMU’s two-quarterback shuffle, Sylvester keeps the defenses honest with his home-run capability (he had an 82-yarder earlier this season). He also can catch the ball out of the backfield (11 catches for 86 yards).

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Getting back on track

FAMU volleyball's 98-game MEAC winning streak ends

FAMU Coach Tony Trifonov provides instructions to Maria Gomez, as the Lady Rattlers historic 98 game MEAC winning streak is ended by the Lady Bulldogs.





ORANGEBURG, S.C — The South Carolina State volleyball team did what no other team in the conference could do in 98 regular season matches over a 10-year period: they defeated the seven-time defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Lady Rattlers of Florida A&M, 3-1, (25-23, 25-19, 18-25, 25-19), and thus ended what has been a dominant streak.

This was FAMU's first conference loss in seven seasons. The Lady Bulldogs (9-18, 2-2 MEAC) controlled the match from the first point and with each point thereafter, S.C. State's confidence increased. Despite dropping the third set, the Lady Bulldogs remained poised to close out FAMU (6-10, 3-1 MEAC). The Lady Bulldogs won in a team effort led by freshman middle blocker Shabree Roberson had a big game as she put down 14 kills with nine assists.

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FAMU's Taylor does it on own terms

FAMU Head Football Coach Joe Taylor (201-77-3 Career Record).

College football’s coaching landscape has changed over the years. Midseason firings and bitter contract disputes sully yesteryears images of coaches patrolling dorm hallways with cowbells ringing, ensuring that every student-athlete made it to class. After a successful 16-year stint at Hampton University, Joe Taylor left for Florida A&M on his own terms.

“It was tough leaving because when you’ve been in a place 16 years, you become a part of the fabric,” said Taylor, who ranks sixth in career winning percentage (.719) amongst coaches at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, ahead of both former Southern coach A.W. Mumford (.717) and current SU coach Pete Richardson (.711). “But I tell people I really didn’t move, I expanded the neighborhood. I’m doing the same thing and the thrill of having the opportunity to try to revive or revitalize the great tradition built by the legendary Jake Gaither was overwhelming.”

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FAMU MARCHING 100

Future looks bright for Prairie View football program

Look how far they’ve come: No longer a football laughingstock, these Panthers are stalking a SWAC championship

PRAIRIE VIEW — Mark Spivey wanted to savor the moment, his last chance to celebrate homecoming as a member of the Prairie View A&M football team. Almost 30 minutes had passed since the Panthers defeated Alabama State 27-6 at Blackshear Stadium in front of 9,257 people, most of whom sported purple and gold while watching Spivey throw for 270 yards and two touchdowns. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to have so many fans here,” he said. “This is much, much different from the first homecoming I played in.”

The sixth-year senior epitomizes the change in attitude and expectations for the Panthers, who enter Saturday’s game at winless Arkansas-Pine Bluff with a 5-1 mark and in the hunt for the school’s first trip to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game. Winning is no longer treated like the pleasant surprise it brought for most of the 31 seasons before last’s year’s team finished 7-3. Saturday’s victory assured the program of consecutive non-losing seasons, a feat that hasn’t been seen at Prairie View since the 1967 squad finished the last of 22 straight campaigns of at least .500 ball.

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SWAC to roll out first Webcast for Alabama State-GSU game

The Southwestern Athletic Conference will Webcast its first football game this week - Alabama State at Grambling State. Fans can log on to www.swac.org to watch the broadcast. "I think we want to do a lot more," SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp said. "This will be a test run for us. Just to see how it looks.

"We feel confident about it. We'd like to do a lot more, not only with football and men's and women's basketball, but with our Olympic sports. Kind of have it take on the feel of SWAC television." Sharp said the Webcast events will air live, but also be archived for viewers to watch replays at their convenience. Televised games and events will not be Webcast because of those contracts.

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