Former FAMU basketball coach gets probation

TALLAHASSEE— Former Florida A&M University basketball coach Mike Gillespie pleaded no contest today to charges of stalking a former girlfriend, and was sentenced to a year of probation.

The court also ordered Gillespie, who is married, to permanently stay away from the victim in the case.

Gillespie was fired last month. Police had said they warned Gillespie in 2005 and again the night before he was arrested in May to stay away from the woman. He was arrested after driving by her workplace the morning after the latest warning.

Gillespie completed his sixth season at Florida A&M earlier this year, taking the team to its first 20-win season since 1988-89 and its second NCAA tournament berth in his tenure.

A formal search is currently underway by FAMU to hire a replacement head basketball coach. Mike Gillespie Jr., who served his father as an assistant basketball coach for the FAMU men's program was hired last week by Wichita State University, as an assistant coach for the women basketball program.

JSU starting QB spot back on the block

David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

Two days after Jackson State's offensive debacle in a 27-15 loss to Delta State, Tigers coach Rick Comegy announced that the starting quarterback position was up for grabs between senior Jimmy Oliver and sophomore Tray Rutland.

"After looking at the film, Tray might have jumped ahead of Jimmy a little," Comegy said. "We'll go through the week and see how both of them look."

Oliver started against DSU, but was on the bench by the second quarter. Rutland, a Mississippi State transfer, didn't have any more success than Oliver, and the two ended up splitting time the rest of the evening.

Oliver finished 7-of-20 passing for 93 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Rutland was 4-of-14 passing for 58 yards and was picked off twice. JSU finished with just 122 yards of total offense.

JSU (0-1) plays Tennessee State (0-1) at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the Southern Heritage Classic at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.

RUNNING BACKS COULD RETURN

Comegy said he expects running backs Erik Haw and Cody Hull to play on Saturday against Tennessee State.

Haw, a junior, missed the Delta State game because of a sprained ankle while Hull, a senior transfer from USM, was academically ineligible.

Without those two, JSU rushed for minus-29 yards on Saturday. Lavarius Giles led the Tigers with 16 rushing yards on eight carries.

TAPE EXCHANGE SPAT

Jackson State coach Rick Comegy said he was upset that other SWAC schools apparently gave game tape to Delta State to help the Statesmen study the Tigers.

"You would think the SWAC schools would try to stick together," Comegy said. "We need to get with (interim commissioner) Duer Sharp and try to get some kind of agreement."

Hyped up in the Mississippi Valley

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Totten excited about ’07 team

How confident is Mississippi Valley State after a 16-9 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday?

“I truly feel this will be the best team I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Valley coach Willie Totten said.

That’s saying something because Valley, which plays Southern at 4 p.m. Saturday at Soldier Field in Chicago, was thought to be rebuilding this season after a talent-rich team underachieved last season.

More, Valley came out fourth of five teams in the Eastern Division in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason poll in late July.

“Our guys understand the magnitude of going to Chicago,” Totten said. “They know what they have to do. It’s strictly business.”

Valley (1-0, 1-0 SWAC) has had back-to-back 6-5 seasons in the last two years — the first time since 1983-84 the Delta Devils posted consecutive winning years — but last year was a disappointment.

The Delta Devils were picked to finish second in the SWAC poll a year ago (and did so, but only in a four-team tie). After a 3-4 start, they reeled off three wins and nearly made the SWAC Championship Game but fell 25-20 at Alabama State in the season finale.

In particular, quarterback Aries Nelson, the preseason offensive player of the year, fizzled, not even making the all-conference team.

“Last year, we had a lot of talent,” Totten said. “But when you have a lot of talent, guys have a tendency to say they’ll do whatever it takes for them to get to the league (NFL).”

Totten said at least seven players “didn’t work within the team.”

In the offseason, Totten re-worked his staff and recruited junior college players to fill holes in the defense.

“Our guys now are finding a way to win,” Totten said. “That’s going to be the difference in this team. This team is now playing more together, as a team.”

Togetherness became the rallying point.
“That’s pretty much what we tried to teach in the preseason,” Totten said. “We had a lot of talent (last season). Those guys set the tone for the program. They laid the foundation. &hellip Our focus now is more as a team. These guys work as a unit.”

Last season, Valley opened with a 10-0 win over UAPB. Then Valley didn’t live up to expectations, while UAPB, not expected to do much, recovered from a 1-3 start to make the SWAC title game.

The roles were reversed Saturday. And UAPB, picked to repeat as the Western Division champ this season, lost to Valley for the third straight year.

Valley jammed UAPB workhorses Martell Mallett (23 yards on five carries) and Mickey Dean (19 yards on nine carries). They knocked Mallett out of the game with a hip injury and sacked Chris Wallace, last season’s SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, four times. Dean left in the third quarter with cramps.

Valley’s sophomore quarterback, Paul Roberts (15-for-27 for 153 yards and one TD), was steady but not spectacular.


“We’re talking about trying to surpass 6-5,” Totten said.
Last season, when SU and Valley met, both teams were 1-0 like this season and both were considered potential contenders to make the SWAC title game. Southern, which won 31-14 but then lost four of its next five games, was picked to win the Western Division.

This season, there are lower expectations for both, with SU picked third in the Western Division. That makes this game an interesting juncture for two rebuilding teams. SU beat Florida A&M 33-27 Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.

“It’s always good to start out on the right track early,” Totten said. “That was a big win for us and a big win for Southern. No doubt, beating a team like Florida A&M has to give Southern a lot of confidence.

“They were down last year, and that’s always going to be the case. (Southern’s) Pete Richardson is a very good football coach. I know (going 5-6) disturbed him a lot and they’ve worked hard to change that. I know there will be a lot of fireworks in Chicago.

SU’s Lee warms up to task

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Southern University sophomore Bryant Lee, entering his first season as a starter, said he might need that first hit to get him going, to knock out the butterflies.

Lee knew what he was talking about.

Lee and the Southern offense found their stride after halftime as the Jaguars overcame an eight-point deficit with a 33-27 victory over Florida A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Saturday in Legion Field.

Lee, Southern’s MVP in the game, was a respectable 13-for-19 for 132 yards and one TD in the first half — even after going 3-for-5 for minus-5 yards in the first quarter.

However, Lee and the offense were even better in the second half. Lee was 9-for-10 for 83 yards. He also ran for 28 yards and a touchdown as the offense rang up 21 unanswered points.

“I thought we had to do something to get the confidence built up,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “We did a lot of possession-type passes.”

Though Southern broke two big plays for touchdowns in the first half — Darren Coates’ 90-yard run on the first offensive play and Gerard Landry’s 46-yard touchdown in which he blasted through two defenders — the Jaguars didn’t sustain drives. Contributing to the first-game struggles, Southern had bad field position much of the first half.

SU started at its own 10-yard line (Coates’ TD), its 20 (losing 13 yards on a three-and-out), its 11 (losing 5 yards on a three-and-out), its 11 again (driving to the FAMU 29 before fumbling), its 37 (Landry’s TD) and its 23 (getting to the FAMU 38 before the first half ended).

In the third quarter, SU started at its 32 (going 68 yards in five plays for a TD), its 23 (three-and-out), the FAMU 24 (getting a TD three plays later) and its 26 (going 14 plays and 74 yards for a TD and a 33-20 lead).

“Coming out after halftime, getting that drive going and scoring, that built the confidence,” Richardson said.

There were no passes on the drive that got the Jaguars back in the game, taking over at their 32 to start the second half.

Lee and Coates broke for 22-yard carries on consecutive plays, then Lee ran for 4 yards and 6 yards to set up a first down at the FAMU 14, with Threat bursting through for a touchdown on the next play to get the Jaguars within 20-19 with 12:46 remaining in the quarter.

“We knew we could run the football coming out in the second half,” Richardson said. “Once we did that, it changed the complexion of the game.”

Work day
SU, normally off Monday because so many players have class conflicts with practice, worked Monday, with school off for Labor Day. That helps, because the Jaguars won’t practice Thursday. Instead, they’ll fly to Chicago that night.

Southern went a short seven periods with the 12-minute run Sunday before going 13 Monday capped by a 12-minute conditioning run.

“Just to loosen up and try to work some of the soreness out for some of the guys who played, basically,” Richardson said.

MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Saturday’s attendance of 30,106 was the best in the event’s three-year history. South Carolina State and Alabama State drew 18,452 in ’05, and Hampton and Grambling attracted 19,175 last season. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team has scored 27 points in all three events, with Hampton edging Grambling 27-26 in overtime in ’06 and S.C. State blasting Alabama State 27-14 in ’05.

Notes
Junior QB C.J. Byrd, out all preseason camp after a car accident late last month, is back at practice in full gear. Richardson has said Byrd likely won’t play this season. True freshman K Josh Duran suffered from cramps late in the game Saturday, allowing sophomore Willie Joseph to kick off for the first time. Three true freshmen DEs — Dexter James, Ted Jones (two tackles) and Steven Williams — played Saturday. Richardson said SU suffered no major injuries Saturday. Valley coach Willie Totten said the Delta Devils had no major injuries from Saturday as well.

Alabama A&M Notebook: Players of the week

Huntsville Times

Luke, Rice and Liceaplayers of the week

Quarterback Kelcy Luke, inside linebacker Carlton Rice and kicker Jeremy Licea were named players of the week against Tennessee State, Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones said Monday.

Luke completed 18-of-29 passes for 261 yards, three touchdowns and one interception and also rushed for 37 yards and another touchdown. He was named the game's offensive MVP.

Rice had a game-high eight tackles, one tackle for loss and an interception. He was named the game's Defensive MVP.

Licea was 7-for-7 on extra points.

Banks, Green find success: Running backs Ulysses Banks and Anthony Green won't strike fear in opposing teams with their size, but they certainly will with their speed.

Both gave a good account of themselves Saturday night against Tennessee State.

Green, a redshirt freshman from San Antonio, rushed for 41 yards on 10 carries and scored two touchdowns. Banks rushed for 28 yards on seven carries, caught a 33-yard touchdown pass and had four kickoff returns for 62 yards.


"We knew both of those guys would play meaningful minutes," Jones said. "We want to get Banks three or four possessions and then get Green three or four possessions. They both had success.

"Neither one of them is a big back, and we're not going to ask them to carry the ball 20 to 30 times apiece. We've got to make sure we use them in such a way they'll be effective for us and I think (running backs) Coach (Errol) Jones did a great job of that."

Green's 1-yard run late in the first half gave A&M the lead for good at 14-7. Banks turned a screen pass into a 33-yard touchdown play that made it 21-13 midway through the third quarter. Green's 25-yard scamper midway through the fourth quarter iced the game and gave the Bulldogs a commanding 42-16 advantage.

Plenty to work on: Although A&M scored 49 points, Jones said after watching the film there are plenty of ways his team can improve heading into Saturday's home opener against Clark Atlanta.

The Bulldogs didn't cover kicks very well and were whistled for eight penalties for 76 yards.

"We made a lot of mistakes," Jones said. "We're nowhere near where we want to be. We made a lot of mistakes that we need to correct, so there's plenty of room for improvement."

-Reggie Benson

Loss to Clark haunts AAMU Bulldogs 11 years later

By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

Letdowns have plagued A&M when it's favored

It was an historic day in the annals of Alabama A&M football. Back on Sept. 14, 1996, the Bulldogs opened Louis Crews Stadium.

It was the first time an A&M football team had played on campus since the early 1970s.

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival Clark Atlanta, which had never beaten A&M in 12 previous attempts, came to town. The Bulldogs were expected to make short work of the Panthers and send everybody home happy. Instead, the unthinkable happened.

Clark Atlanta won.

The Panthers came away with an improbable 20-17 victory in triple overtime to spoil the occasion.

A&M defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns remembers it as if it happened yesterday.

"We lost containment on the quarterback and he stepped outside and threw it up and we didn't attack the ball in the secondary," Towns recalled. "It was third-and-long and they could have gotten a first down, but they threw a touchdown pass and we lost the game.

"It was tough because we had the game at that point. We had made a couple of big plays and then they threw the ball up and scored. You could hear a pin drop in the stadium after that."

Saturday night, almost 11 years after that monumental victory, Clark Atlanta will return to Louis Crews Stadium for A&M's home opener. Kickoff is at 6:30.

A&M is 1-0 after a 49-23 win over Tennessee State. Clark Atlanta is 0-1 after falling 23-13 to West Georgia.

It didn't take long for A&M coach Anthony Jones to address the 1996 defeat. After a number of upsets Saturday, Jones reminded his team of Clark Atlanta's big win.

"I told them the first opponent to walk in here was Clark Atlanta and the first opponent to walk out with a win was Clark Atlanta," Jones said Monday afternoon. "We're very much aware of that. My teams aren't perfect. We try to be, but every now and then you have a letdown, and we're hoping this won't be one of them."

Jones' teams have had letdowns in recent years.

In 2004, Arkansas-Pine Bluff beat A&M 24-10. In 2005, Texas Southern downed A&M 17-7 on homecoming. Last season, the Bulldogs lost to Prairie View 13-7 after clinching the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division title.

If those games aren't enough, Jones can use some examples from last weekend.

"We've got a lot of history to go by with Appalachian State and Michigan," Jones said. "I don't know if you call that a letdown, but it was a hell of a win for Appalachian State. As a result of that, all underdogs will think they have a chance and all favorites will try to guard against having a letdown.

"Everybody will be using that game in their pre-game speech. Appalachian State will be heard about through the country."

Just like Clark Atlanta was 11 years ago.

Game 2 to be tougher for B-CU

By BRENT WORONOFF, Daytona Beach News-Journal

DAYTONA BEACH -- After Saturday's 31-17 victory over Jacksonville, Bethune-Cookman coach Alvin Wyatt was sort of like Jack Nicholson as the Joker in Batman.

He had a smile plastered on his face that he couldn't or didn't want to get rid of. But he also knew the celebration after the season-opening victory at Municipal Stadium couldn't last long. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent South Carolina State is due in town on Saturday, and it would soon be time to get back to work.

"We're going up against a stronger, faster, better, bigger opponent next week when we play South Carolina State," Wyatt said. "It won't be anything like this game."

For starters, more than pride will be on the line. With at least four MEAC teams capable of going 7-1 in the conference, the Wildcats can't afford a sluggish start.

"You never want to start off the MEAC at 0-1," said B-CU quarterback Jimmie Russell, who ran for three touchdowns and produced 217 yards of total offense in the win against the Dolphins.

S.C. State has lost just one or two conference games in each of the past four seasons, and the Bulldogs were the preseason choice to win the conference title this year in a vote of league coaches and sports information directors.

The Bulldogs know how hard it is to rebound from an early conference loss. B-CU rallied back from a 14-0 deficit to thump S.C. State 45-21 in Charleston, S.C., last season. The loss wound up keeping the Bulldogs out of first place in the conference, as Hampton claimed the MEAC's playoff spot for a third consecutive season.

"We're at a point where we need to make the playoffs," Bulldogs coach Buddy Pough said before the season.

Pough would like nothing more than to beat the Wildcats this year after suffering losses to Wyatt's team in three of the past five seasons. But the Bulldogs took a totally different approach than the 'Cats in preparing for the conference opener.

While B-CU played a non-scholarship Division I-AA team (now known as the Football Championship Subdivision) on Saturday, S.C. State traveled to Colorado Springs, Colo., to play a Division I-A team for the first time in its 100-year history.

Air Force sent the visitors home with a 34-3 drubbing. The Bulldogs were held to 160 yards of offense and were sacked six times. Their only highlights came in the kicking game. Stephen Grantham booted a 51-yard field goal, while punter Aaron Haire had a 40.9-yard average including a 61-yard punt. But even those positive numbers might have been skewed.

"Kicking at altitude is a lot better than kicking in South Carolina," Grantham said after the game.

Pough didn't see any positives at all. When the Bulldogs scheduled the game they had expected to see Fisher DeBerry's flex-bone offense, which is very similar to B-CU's Wyattbone. But Air Force has a new coach this year in Troy Calhoun, and a new offense. The Falcons did show some triple option but also lined up in a variety of other formations and passed more than previous Air Force teams. The Falcons rolled up 455 yards of offense.

"We played hard, but we played poorly on both sides of the ball," Pough said. "It was just ugly. We have a lot of work to do before we play Bethune-Cookman."

Pough says SCSU has to improve

By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer

We probably played as poorly ... as anytime I’ve been here’; Heading into Bethune-Cookman game, Pough says SCSU has to improve

Monday’s federal holiday was just another work day for the South Carolina State football team.

Instead of taking it easy on Labor Day, SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough planned to have his staff working late into the night following last Saturday’s 34-3 loss at Air Force Academy. Just watching the game film detailing what Pough called the "real, real, real poor" play in the second-worst season-opening loss in school history was enough to justify shunning a day off.

"We probably played as poorly as a football team as anytime I’ve been here," said Pough at Monday’s weekly press conference. "(The players) tried to shake it off, but then that film part is the one that really brings it back to earth. After they got a chance to see the video and see how poorly we looked ... we look at teams all the time and see them playing, doing things that we don’t think are really good. You know, fundamentals are bad and that kind of stuff. And, for us to see some of those same kind of things on our own film, for that kind of film to be out there with our name on it is a little bit embarrassing. So, we are going to really work hard this week to work to clean up some on our deficiencies so that we don’t let that happen again."

Now the Bulldogs face a "make or break" Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener this Saturday at Bethune-Cookman. A loss puts SCSU back in the same hole it faced last season following the 45-21 trouncing in Charleston at the hands of the Wildcats and, with the University of South Carolina the following week, the real prospect of a first-ever 0-3 start under Pough.

"We’ve got to get it done this week and this is probably as important a week as we’ve had in a long time here," he said.

Many of the problem areas the Bulldogs hope to correct from last Saturday plagued them in last year’s loss to Bethune-Cookman. SCSU was unable to stop Air Force Academy on third down (the Falcons were 9-16 on third-down conversions) and the secondary was particularly vulnerable against the running and passing threat presented by quarterback Shaun Carney.

"I thought it was more because of some of the uncertainty and some of things that had our defense playing a little bit soft," Pough said. "We had some people that didn’t understand some of the intricacies of staying with your guy. A lot of times, what happens is if your guy starts to block and you’ve got a man-to-man, you think it’s run and the next thing you know, you go ahead and see if you can try to help your team with the run. Before you know it, that guy a minute ago that you thought was blocking for a running play is now out in a pass pattern and now you’ve lost it. You can’t find him. We had that happen to us a couple of times.

"Those kind of things you need to actually replicate for your kids because if not, then some of that stuff may catch you and some of that kind of stuff did. That’s why some of our secondary stuff looked as poor as it did, especially on a couple of touchdown runs, a couple of long pass plays. Besides that, it was mostly kind of playing soft because of the uncertainty of it all."

Pough also took the blame for the offensive line’s lack of effectiveness. He admitted underestimating the unit’s ability to maintain continuity after shuffling around a couple of starters after tackle Nygel Pearson broke his hand and in its ability to protect quarterback Cleveland McCoy, who was sacked five times.

"That caught us off-guard a little bit, too," he said. "It was one of those situations where I thought we had a little bit of a false sense of security in that those guys were kind of experienced. The one thing I didn’t maybe take into account was the way we moved some of those guys around and we had some breakdowns there that can strictly be attributed to the fact that we ended up moving some guys back around in the last week of practice.

"We talked about moving them again, that kind of stuff. I think what I’d like to see happen is for us to maybe let those guys settle in a little bit more and see if we can get ourselves grounded in what we’re doing by letting them kind of jell together some. I’m hoping that will start to happen this week. We’re going to give more reps this week than we ordinarily would."

The one bright spot for SCSU was its overall special teams’ play. Taking advantage of the altitude, place-kicker Stephen Grantham booted a career-long 51-yard field goal and punter Aaron Haire of Orangeburg-Wilkinson averaged 40.9 yards a punt and booted a career-best 61-yard attempt. Meanwhile, the kick coverage team which led all Football Championship Subdivision programs last season picked up right where they left off, allowing 17.8 yards per kick.

Pough is hoping the offense and defense can bring the same level of consistency this week or else face another uphill battle for the conference title.

"I’m thinking that the old saying that you make your biggest improvement between your first and second game because it’s the first time you get the kind of real sense of urgency factor that you just can’t seem to produce or replicate in practice," Pough said. "You really work hard to get better next week, so I’m hoping that’s the case this week."

Bulldog notes

SCSU leads the all-time series with Bethune-Cookman 26-6-1, but has not won at Municipal Stadium/Larry Kelly field since 1997 - a 17-10 victory. The Bulldogs did defeat the Wildcats in their last visit to Florida back in 2005 by a 27-24 score in Jacksonville ,.. Bethune-Cookman’s Alvin Wyatt and Hampton University’s Joe Taylor are the only MEAC head coaches with winning records against Pough, each sporting a 3-2 mark ... Both defensive tackle Steve Jacobs and running back Jonathan Woods are expected to miss Saturday’s game with ankle sprains, according to Pough ...

Saturday’s 34-32 victory by defending FCS champion Appalachian State over fifth-ranked Football Bowl Subdivision Michigan provided little solace for Pough. "The fact that you know it can be done (a FCS defeating an FBS) is a little bit disappointing," he said. "You had some of the top (FCS) teams in the country ... who had some of the same kinds of difficulties that we did against (FBS) opponents. So, it’s not so unusual for what happened to us to happen. I think the more unusual thing is what happened with Appalachian (State). Although we’d all like to be there today. We are who we are." SCSU will get another shot at an FBS team on Sept. 15 when it visits the University of South Carolina.

Former FAMU QB cut by K.C. Chiefs; may be going back to CFL

Photo: Former B.C. Lions quarterback Casey Printers was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday but his agent says teams in the NFL and CFL have shown an interest in the 26-year-old.

It is clear that former Florida A&M University quarterback Casey Printers studied more than football under Coach Billy Joe. Herm Edward, head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs offered Printers the opportunity to re-sign on the Chiefs practice roster, but he declined and cleared waivers on Sunday. Returning to Kansas City would have earned Printers a yearly pay check of $200,000 on the practice roster.

Printers is a former CFL star with the British Columbia Lions. His best season came in 2004, when he was named the CFL's most outstanding player after throwing for 5,088 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading B.C. to the Grey Cup game. He has expressed no interest in wasting another year on the NFL sidelines and is expected to return to Canada as the highest paid player in the CFL, if not signed this week by an NFL team.

This decision by Printers is a no brain-er as the bigger bucks for his talents (for this season) are in the CFL, not the NFL. Mr. Printers and his agent have five of the eight CFL teams bidding for his services.

I can understand Printers disappointment with the NFL, especially in light of the fact he is a better quarterback than FAMU's Quinn Gray, that is now the back-up quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars. This is not to say that Quinn does not deserve the opportunity he has earned in the NFL, but they both are very talented QBs and deserve to be on the active roster of an NFL team.

However, it is very difficult to change perception and the existing system of recycling no talent poster boys. For example, what is the Washington Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs thinking by keeping a 14 year over-the-hill veteran like QB Mark Brunell with a weak arm? Perfect opportunity to sign a Casey Printers.

Now the story developing from Canada....















Quarterback Casey Printers 6-2/222
Experience: 1 year NFL/3 years CFL
CFL Stats: 45 games/20 as starter for B.C. Lions
457 of 712 passes for 6,763 yards with 45 TDs, 16 Int.
122 rushes for 849 yards (7.0 avg.) with 11 touchdowns.

Five teams interested in Printers

By Perry Lefko, Sportsnet.ca

Five Canadian Football League teams -- the Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Calgary Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and B.C. Lions -- are interested in free-agent quarterback Casey Printers, Sportsnet.ca has learned.

And his agent will be trying to make Printers the highest-paid player in the CFL.

Printers was cut earlier in the week by the Kansas City Chiefs, who signed him to a three-year, US$1.05-million deal in January 2006. He spent the entire season on the practice squad, receiving $5,200 per game for all 16 games. He rejected an offer to join the Chiefs practice roster.

Since clearing NFL waivers, five of the eight CFL teams have contacted Printers and/or his Houston-based agent, Jason Medlock.

Medlock would not confirm which CFL teams have made inquiries, only that he's talked to five. But sources confirmed Toronto, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Calgary and B.C.

Of the five teams, only Hamilton, which is last in the CFL with a 1-8 record, has an immediate pressing need at quarterback. Both veteran Jason Maas and rookie Timmy Chang have struggled this season as starters.

Toronto has Michael Bishop as its starter and he guided the team to a 32-14 Labour Day win over Hamilton, ending a five-game losing streak. All of the losses came with Bishop on the sidelines with a broken wrist. The Argos are playing host to the Grey Cup and their offensive co-ordinator, Steve Buratto, had a great working relationship with Printers when he played for B.C. Printers played for the Lions from 2003-2005 and was voted the CFL's Most Outstanding Player with B.C. in 2004.

B.C. has some issues at quarterback now with injuries to its top two quarterbacks, Dave Dickenson, who is sidelined indefinitely with concussion-like symptons, and Buck Pierce, who has a separated shoulder and is expected to be out another two weeks. The Lions are also battling with Saskatchewan for first in the West. The Roughriders lead by one point.

Both Winnipeg, with Kevin Glenn, and Calgary, with Henry Burris, have established starters, but sources tell Sportsnet.ca the two teams have made inquiries. The degree to which they will bid remains to be seen. There is the possibility they could sign Printers, then trade the other quarterback.















"You bring in a Casey Printers you bring in (people to the stands), you're bringing in hype, you bring in the best quarterback in the league," Medlock said. "You bring in the marquee player. That's what he was when he left and I believe he can be that for a few more years. So hopefully a CFL team can make a big enough push to commit him (to sign)."

Medlock expected to receive CFL offers by the end of the week, if not sooner, but also said the NFL is still on the radar and did not rule out Printers working out with some teams.

"Make no mistake about it, he'll probably sign with a (NFL club), but he has to weigh his options and still consider the CFL in order to ensure himself he's going to be playing football," Medlock said. "In the NFL there are a lot of politics and circumstances that he can't control. So if there are CFL offers, he's going to look at it really, really hard."

Medlock said he is expecting to make Printers the highest-paid player in the CFL. It's believed Edmonton's Ricky Ray is the top-paid player at about $460,000 a season.

"I'm hoping to make him the highest-paid player. Period," Medlock said. "Whatever that number is, I'm looking at him being the marquee player (in the CFL). He's young, exciting, he smiles, he has charisma and he's a heck of a football player. Canadian fans across the league enjoy players like that."

Medlock said the CFL's salary-cap of $4.05 million per team will impact on Printers receiving the kind of money that will make him the highest-paid player.

"We have to look (at the cap)," he said. "There are a lot of ways that you can do deals, but you've got to be creative. If it gets down to a number he likes from a club but it affects their cap, I'm savvy enough to make it work. If Casey decides that is what he wants to do, a deal can happen. I'm not worried about the cap. We can work around that. That's not an issue."

Alabama A&M notebook: TSU coach praises Luke

Reggie Benson, Huntsville Times

Tennessee State coach praises Luke

Tennessee State coach James Webster praised A&M quarterback Kelcy Luke after the Bulldogs whipped the Tigers 49-23 Saturday night.

Luke, who picked A&M over TSU after deciding to transfer from Auburn four years ago, is 3-1 against the Tigers in four career starts. Saturday night, Luke was brilliant, completing 18-of-29 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown.

"Luke is a winner," Webster said. "I love the guy. When they needed to have plays made, he made the plays."

Trick play pays off: With his team struggling to get untracked in the first quarter against Tennessee State, Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones went into his bag of tricks and came out with a play that practically turned the game around.

With the Bulldogs backed up deep in their own territory, Jones called for a reverse pass and wide receivers Gerald Stockdale and Thomas Harris made it work.

Stockdale, a former quarterback at Talladega Central High School, found Harris for 42 yards down to the TSU 44 and Kelcy Luke found Harris on the next play for the touchdown. A&M went 86 yards in 18 seconds to tie the game.

"That woke our kids up and I think they were a little unsure of themselves," Jones said. "It forced them to make some adjustments and then after halftime, we came back out with some things they hadn't seen and really played well."

A&M scored 35 points and had 250 yards in total offense in the second half.

Defense rebounds: A&M's defense gave up 171 yards in the first quarter against Tennessee State, but settled down and did a much better job over the last three quarters, defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns said.

The Bulldogs allowed just 211 yards the rest of the game and forced four turnovers, three of which led to A&M touchdowns.

"We had a lot of young kids playing for the first time and we didn't do a good job of coming off the ball and staying in our gaps in the first quarter," Towns said. "We talked about that and the kids responded well.

They made some mistakes, but they hustled all night and that was the key for us winning the game."

According to the tackle chart, 10 newcomers recorded stops for the Bulldogs.

Alabama A&M University Marching Maroon and White Band

Once a question, Alabama A&M offense provides answer

By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

Despite inexperience, 'Dogs attack rolls in debut

There were question marks about Alabama A&M's offense going into Saturday night's season opener against Tennessee State. The Bulldogs lost their two leading rushers and three of their top four receivers a year ago. They also had to replace three fifth-year seniors along the offensive line.

The good thing was quarterback Kelcy Luke was back. So were tight ends Charles Moody and John Smith, wide receivers Thomas Harris and Gerald Stockdale and tackles James Sanders and Darius Turner.

But the rest of the cast of characters on offense were practically newcomers. Running backs Uylsses Banks and Anthony Green had never carried the ball from scrimmage although Banks led the nation in kickoff returns last season. Offensive linemen Xavier Manuel, Russell Jackson and Charles Meade were making their first career starts. Wide receivers Nate Baxter and Rashad Johnson were redshirt freshmen.

"We didn't know how those guys would respond," A&M coach Anthony Jones said.

After getting through the first half, they responded just fine.

Leading 14-7 at intermission, the Bulldogs erupted for 35 points in the second half and went on to blast the Tigers 49-23 at Nashville's LP Field. The 49 points were the most A&M had scored since whipping Jackson State 52-6 during the 2005 season. In fact, the 49 points were only five shy of the total A&M had scored in the last two years combined against TSU.

"Our kids stepped up," Jones said Sunday after watching the Bulldogs compile 450 yards in total offense against the Tigers. "As many key weapons as we lost last year, for us to come back and keep this thing rolling is really scary."

A&M's offense is scary because it has speed.

Unlike in years past when the Bulldogs were a power running football team, this year's squad is a lot quicker and faster and it showed.

A&M had six plays that covered 22 yards or more. Free safety Al Donaldson also had a 45-yard interception return to help set up another touchdown.

"Our team speed is much improved," Jones said. "We've got two or three running backs that would be a pretty good relay team. We've got three receivers that run in the 4.5's and our tight end work hard blocking and can beat you in the passing game.

Luke, Jones said, made it all happen.

After going 8-of-16 for 111 yards and a touchdown in the first half, Luke was almost perfect in the third quarter and early in the fourth before leaving the game.

During that time, he was 10-of-13 for 150 yards and two scores. He also ran for a TD.

"I pulled Kelcy to the side and told him he had to make the rest of our guys better," Jones said. "I told him he had to put the ball in position where they wouldn't drop the ball and make them make plays. He took that and ran with it. "

Tennessee State steamrolled by AAMU Bulldogs

Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands--"Cause I Love You"

TSU coach has confidence in quarterback despite loss

By MIKE ORGAN, Staff Writer , Tennessean
Tennessee State Coach James Webster acknowledged quarterback Antonio Heffner did not play well in Saturday's 49-23 loss to Alabama A&M and that his backup, freshman Calvin McNairl, was plenty impressive.

But Webster said he is not considering changing quarterbacks as the Tigers prepare for Saturday's game against Jackson State in the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis.

"It's obvious to everybody that Saturday was not one of Antonio's better games,'' Webster said. "There were some situations where he could have made some better throws. But he did make some plays. The guy gave his best, he tried, and that's all I can ever ask any of them to do.

"Heff's going to be OK, and we're going to be OK."

Heffner was unable to keep the offense in gear. His ability to run and throw kept A&M's defense off-balance at times, allowing TSU to sporadically make big plays.

But Heffner was responsible for four turnovers — three interceptions and a fumble — and A&M scored three touchdowns as a result. He completed 15-of-30 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. But he also was sacked once and had three passes broken up.

After Heffner's third interception, he was replaced by McNairl midway into the fourth quarter.

McNairl gets a chance

The freshman from Henry County, considered one of the state's top quarterback prospects, showed no jitters. He broke several tackles on a 19-yard TD run and gained 15 yards on a keeper later. He finished with 43 yards on just three carries.

But many of A&M's starters were out of the game, and he completed only 1-of-3 passes.

"I thought it was good game experience for (McNairl) to be able to come in,'' Webster said. "He moved the football team and put us in the end zone. He operated things well, particularly considering that he's a true freshman."

NCCU notches first win as Division I team

Jaymes Powell Jr., Staff Writer, The News Observer

Brown, defense lead NCCU to convincing victory over Fayetteville State

DURHAM - With style and dominance, N.C. Central presented the Triangle with its newest Division I football team Sunday. And the reviews were all good. "This just feels great. We're making progress," NCCU athletics director Williams Hayes said after the game as he prepared to congratulate the team following the Labor Day Classic. "This is a big day for this institution."

In beating Division II Fayetteville State 17-0, the Eagles got their first victory as a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) team. NCCU, formerly a member of the Division II CIAA and the league's champion the past two seasons, has submitted an application to join the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Currently an independent, NCCU joined Appalachian State and North Carolina as the only Division I football teams from the state to win over the weekend.

N.C. Central got an early start in joining the D-I party, jumping to a 14-point lead with two second-quarter touchdown passes by quarterback Stadford Brown, who frustrated the Broncos with his poise, coverage reading and evasiveness.

Brown said it was a great feeling to be the starting quarterback in N.C. Central's first win as a Division I team, knowing he'll be remembered historically.

"No matter what level you're on, you still have to prepare," said Brown, who passed for 142 yards.

Tim Shankle led the Eagles in rushing, gaining 72 yards on 18 carries.

But it was NCCU's swift and larcenous defense that doomed FSU, nabbing three interceptions and forcing three fumbles, keeping the Broncos off balance and looking somewhat stunned.

"I loved the way we were running around and flying around on defense," NCCU's first-year coach Mose Rison said after watching the unit limit FSU to 92 rushing yards. "This gives us something to build on."

Perhaps the player who had the best game was Eagles cornerback Craig Amos, who had four tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

The Eagles' special teams were also spectacular, blocking two FSU field goals (both by Amos) and a punt.

NCCU senior kicker Brandon Gilbert kicked the game's final points in the late minutes to become N.C. Central's career scoring leader, which put a huge smile on Rison's face after the game.

There wasn't much smiling after last week's 16-10 loss at Albany State, NCCU's official D-I kickoff, but the home fans didn't have to stomach that one. Instead, Durham's first view of the upgraded Eagles was a great one.

As the game drew to a close, NCCU alum McDonald Vick, 52, of Durham, wondered if perhaps one day the Eagles could be on par with Appalachian State, the FCS team that shocked the football universe Saturday by beating Michigan.

"It would take a long time to build to that, but it's possible," Vick said. "But this just shows that the university is moving in the right direction."

North Carolina Central University Marching Eagles Band

FAMU QB Chester to start if healthy

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Florida A&M head football coach Rubin Carter said Sunday evening that quarterback Albert Chester II (pictured) will start Saturday against Delaware State if he is healthy enough to play.

Chester, a redshirt senior out of Jacksonville Episcopal High, started Saturday against Southern but was replaced by walk-on senior Leon Camel after FAMU went scoreless on its first three possessions. Chester had been bothered by pain in his right (throwing) arm before Saturday's game, but during the post-game press conference Carter didn't say that was a factor in the decision to change quarterbacks.

Carter said Sunday that Chester's health was a factor in his removal.

"He was a little bit sore," Carter said. "I wanted to make sure he didn't hurt it any more than it already was."

Camel came in and led the offense on three scoring drives in the first half to give FAMU a 20-12 lead.

Camel left the game because of cramps after throwing an interception with 8:58 remaining in the third quarter. Chester returned to the game for FAMU's next three possessions but was again replaced by Camel, who played one more series before another switch was made. Chester took over on the Rattlers' final possession, leading the team to a touchdown.

Chester completed 14 of 23 passes for a 150 yards, no touchdowns and an interception and also carried the ball five times for 27 yards.

Camel completed seven of 21 passes for 94 yards, one touchdown and one interception and carried the ball five times for 12 yards and a touchdown.

"If he (Chester) is healthy enough, he will start," Carter said. "This week we will look to see if he can throw the football to all the receivers' routes."

Saturday: Delaware State at FAMU, 6 p.m.

A Legend Reborn: FAMU Rattlers

Air Force takes down SCSU

By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - It was no “Rocky Mountain High” Saturday for South Carolina State at Air Force Academy.

Instead, the Bulldogs descended Falcon Stadium in low spirits after opening their 100th season of football getting swarmed by the Falcons 34-3.

The much-anticipated first-ever game against a Football Bowl Subdivision foe was the second-worst season-opening loss in school history for SCSU. The 31-point margin of defeat was also the most lopsided loss suffered under head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough.

SCSU was overwhelmed by the Falcons’ defense which held it to just 160 total yards, limiting the ground game to 70 yards. The blitzing scheme employed by new head coach Troy Calhoun kept constant pressure on quarterback Cleveland McCoy, sacking him five times and holding him to 10 of 22 passing for 84 yards.

The Bulldogs’ defense was equally inefficient in failing to prevent the Air Force offense from scoring on five of six opportunities in the "Red Zone". Numerous missed tackles, blown coverage assignments and personal foul penalties made for a productive day for the Falcons’ offense which finished with 450 total yards, half coming from quarterback Shaun Carney.

“It worries me a little bit that we weren’t effective more offensively,” Pough said. “I thought that we played pretty medium, pretty poorly on both sides of the ball and the fact that we pretty much knew what they were going to do even though we didn’t have anything, the stuff that we practiced was the stuff that they did. So, we’ve got no excuses except for the fact that those guys just kind of came out and outplayed us and made plays in circumstances when our kids didn’t make plays. We’re not quite there yet, but we’ve got a lot of work to do and we’ll see what happens once he get more experience.”

SCSU drove the football just past midfield on its first possession, but was forced to punt after a the first of four first-quarter sacks taken by McCoy and an incompletion.

While McCoy went 0 of 3 passing on his first series, Carney was the complete opposite in leading the Falcons downfield for the game’s first score. His three completions accounted for 50 of the 79 yards on the scoring drive which ended with a 1-yard run by Kip McCarthy, who rushed for 129 yards and a score.

Air Force threatened again to score on its next series, reaching the SCSU 21. On third down and with 49 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Carney was picked off by strong safety Markee Hamlin who returned the football to the 35-yard line.

As the second quarter ended, the Falcons’ blitzing defense sacked McCoy twice for -20 yards. SCSU was forced to punt again, but this time Aaron Haire hit a career-high 61 yarder which backed up the Falcons at the 30-yard line.

Air Force proceeded to drive the football 70 yards on 11 plays, with Carney connecting with tight end Travis Dekker for a 10-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 14-0 with 10:03 remaining in the second quarter.

Carney finished 11 of 18 passing for 176 yards and rushed for 50 yards.

The offense’s woes continued as McCoy’s third-down pass on SCSU’s next series was tipped by linebacker Drew Fowler and landed in the hands of cornerback Carson Bird who was tackled at the SCSU 33. Air Force capitalized 74 seconds later when Ryan Harrison booted a 48-yard field goal through the uprights.

Bird collected another turnover at SCSU’s expense 20 seconds later. After a 45-yard kickoff return by Travance Jackson, McCoy completed a short pass to Terrance Smith. As Smith tried to advance the football, it was knocked loose by linebacker Austin Randle and recovered by Bird at the 24-yard line.

Once again, the Falcons embarked on another long scoring drive. This time, it took 12 plays, 76 yards and four minutes and 50 seconds to reach the end zone on a 4-yard touchdown run by Chad Hall.

As time expired in the first half, SCSU finally got on the scoreboard on Stephen Grantham’s 51-yard field goal. It was a career-best for Grantham and a yard shy of the school record held by Cedric Oglesby.

For the half, Air Force outgained SCSU 255-114 with the Bulldogs accounting for just 39 yards on the ground. While Ford and Woods combined for 65 rushing yards, McCoy lost 26 yards on five carries.

“We thought we got beaten up some inside and that surprised me a little bit,” he said. “We didn’t feel like that we got quite as good an effort upfront on the offensive line as we thought we should have. Nygel Pearson broke his hand a week or so ago and we moved James Lee from guard to tackle and we moved a couple of guys around. But that shouldn’t have had that big of an influence on how poorly we played.”

Air Force kept up the pressure in the second half. A 50-yard carry by McCarthy set up a one-yard touchdown run by Savier Stephens that pushed the lead up to 31-3.

After a 22-yard field goal by Harrison made it 34-3 with 14:02 remaining, SCSU freshman Malcolm Long was inserted into the game. Like McCoy, the former South Carolina "Mr. Football” had a hard time against the Falcons’ blitzes as he was sacked once and completed just 1 of 5 for six yards in his lone appearance.

“Defensively, I was pleased with our effort,” Calhoun said. “Overall, credit has to go to our players and assistant coaches, the whole group.”

SCSU will now look to shake off Saturday’s performance as they head to Daytona Beach, Fla. for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener against Bethune-Cookman.

“The most important thing for us now is to get ready for Bethune-Cookman next week,” he said. “We’ve got to get ready for those guys in a way where we’ve got to totally put this behind us. We’ve got to get back tonight and get them tomorrow morning and we’ve got to make sure that we clean up some of these things.

The best thing to happen to us was that we got beaten up pretty badly. But let’s face it. You can see that there’s something there that you can possibly get to come together for you. So I think we’ll be all right. Wofford came out here three years ago, got beat 49-0, and had the best year they’ve had in years. We’ve got beaten. We need to just go back and keep our heads up and do everything to make sure we don’t make the same mistakes next week.”

GAME NOTES: The worst season-opening loss suffered by SCSU took place in 1988 in a 38-0 setback to eventual national champion Furman. Ironically, Air Force Academy offensive line coach Clay Hendrix was beginning his first season as a position coach for the Paladins…As part of the Air Force tradition, the cadets storm the endzone after each score to do pushups for every point. The cadets who end up completing 93 pushups on the day…SCSU dropped to 3-3 in openers under head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough and 44-31-2 in school history…The loss snapped the Bulldogs’ three-game winning streak and the Falcons’ four-game losing streak…Air Force improved to 12-0 against Football Championship Subdivision opponents.

Battle of Bands: FAMU Marching vs. SU Human Jukebox (MEAC/SWAC Challenge 2007)

Florida A&M University Marching 100--MEAC/SWAC Challenge half-time show


Southern University Human Jukebox Band--MEAC/SWAC Challenge half-time show

Slide Show: Jackson State smashed by Div. II, Delta State

Jackson State vs. Tennessee State preview

Last week: Delta State beat Jackson State 27-15.

Saturday: vs. Tennessee State (Liberty Bowl, Memphis), 6 p.m.

TV: FSN South

Radio: JSU network (WOAD-1300 AM, Jackson)

ON OFFENSE

Tennessee State returns quite a bit of talent from last season's 6-5 team, including running back Javarris Williams, who rushed for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2006. He was back at his old tricks in this year's season opener against Alabama A&M, rushing for 123 yards. Quarterback Antonio Heffner was up and down last season, throwing for 1,668 yards, nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He struggled on Saturday against Alabama A&M, getting intercepted three times in the 49-23 loss.

ON DEFENSE

The TSU defense struggled mightily in Saturday's loss, giving up 49 points and 450 total yards. The Tigers possess a lockdown cornerback in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who had six interceptions last season, but much of the defense is new with just five starters returning from 2006. The Tigers are especially looking for answers along the defensive line after losing all four starters. DE Shaun Richardson had six tackles and a sack in Saturday's opener and was an Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer team selection last year.

INTANGIBLES

Both Tennessee State and Jackson State got kicked around in their respective openers, so both will likely have a lot of emotion early. Last season's Southern Heritage Classic was won by TSU, which converted a two-point conversion in overtime to squeeze out the 31-30 win.

- David Brandt

DSU football: Explosive and elusive; Hornet ‘O’ shines in opening win

By Chris Gasiewski, Delaware State News

DOVER — Kareem Jones rested on a bucket against the building that houses the Delaware State football team’s locker room Saturday night.

It was only minutes after DSU had dismissed No. 23 Coastal Carolina 23-18 at Alumni Stadium and the senior running back was becoming reacquainted with his father, Willie, as star wide receiver Shaheer McBride walked by.

“You’ve got a one-two punch going there,” Willie Jones said. “You’ll be great this year if you guys can keep playing like that.”

The elder Jones wasn’t kidding. His son transferred from Syracuse University late this summer and fit perfectly into DSU’s offensive scheme. Joining McBride, the preseason Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and quarterback Vashon Winton, Jones looked like the final piece to the Hornets’ attack.

Saturday night, Jones powered through Coastal to rush for 171 yards and a score on 24 carries. He also returned a kick 74 yards.

“Soon enough you have players that fit,” coach Al Lavan said with a raspy voice. “Vashon managed the game well. McBride did what he does. Then Kareem comes in and I didn’t expect that kind of endurance.”

Lavan was emphatically pleased with Jones, who quickly won the starting job in training camp despite missing spring practice. But did he prove himself?

“Prove myself? Nah,” Jones said. “I made a lot of mistakes. There were a couple of protection mishaps. But I’m going to go out there and make progress each week.”

Photo: RB Kareem Jones on 74 yard return

So is McBride, if that’s possible. Saturday night, the Chester, Pa., native broke Albert Horsey’s school all-time receiving yards record after catching four passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns. McBride has 2,501 career receiving yards.

He also had two touchdown receptions in the second half that proved to be the difference.

“That kid is a phenomenal athlete, a phenomenal football player,” Lavan said. “He’s the ultimate competitor. You see him out at practice diving everywhere without pads on.”

A confident DSU heads to Florida A&M Saturday for its MEAC opener and the beginning of a three-game road stretch.

Saturday night’s win was the Hornets’ first against a ranked opponent in the four-year Lavan era, since DSU beat conference rival Hampton in the final game of the 2004 season. It has DSU believing it will find its name in the Top 25 when the Sports Network announces this week’s rankings today.

“We should be ranked,” Jones said. “We have a lot of talent down there. We showed our talent to the nation.”

Showing that talent on a consistent basis is what DSU needs to compete for the MEAC title and its first playoff appearance in program history.

“There’s still more to come,” McBride said. “Hopefully we can build off of this win.”

SU Jaguars cautiously optimistic after win

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southern got off to a great start to its 2007 football season Saturday.

Then again, the Jaguars did so last year as well.

One game is still just one game. There are 10 more to go.

“It’s not a statement game for us,” SU coach Pete Richardson said. “We’ve just got to grow. We have a young football team. They have to develop the confidence, and the main thing we have to guard against is injuries.”

A strong surge in the first 18 minutes of the second half — 21 unanswered points and three big defensive plays (an interception setting up the go-ahead touchdown, a fourth-down stop deep in Southern territory and an interception in the SU end zone) — powered the Jaguars to a 33-27 victory over Florida A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Legion Field.

Southern started last season 2-0, including a 30-29 season-opening victory over Bethune-Cookman College, another Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team. But the Jaguars collapsed from there, finishing 5-6.

The day that doomed SU most was its fourth-quarter collapse to Prairie View, what became a 26-23 overtime loss in the third game of the season.

Photo: Southern’s Frank Harry (66) dives after a loose ball over FAMU's Philip Sylvester on Saturday.

A year ago, Southern seemed to be a team with a strong future in preseason camp and then seemed to confirm that in those first two games. Then the season unraveled.

“We almost got decimated at quarterback. A lot of our defensive personnel were banged up going into the last part of the year,” Richardson said.

This season, Southern is thinner and younger on its offensive lines, but there is the knowledge of what happened last season. There’s a realization of how tenuous a season can be, of how Southern must avoid injuries.

“(The offensive line) held up well,” Richardson said. “We’re going to have to be able to stay injury-free. If we can do that, and learn from every game, that will be the keys.”

So, Saturday’s victory leaves Southern with cautious optimism.

Oh, and confidence. And confidence is big. Never underestimate confidence.

“We have a lot of good character on this team,” said SU senior free safety Jarmaul George, one of the team’s two captains and the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason defensive player of the year. “Like we say, we have to play with some type of swagger. That’s what a football team’s supposed to do, come together and play with some swagger. That leads to big things.”

Do more of this
In its final three games of last season, with Mark Orlando as the offensive coordinator, SU ran for 236, 152 and 131 yards.
That trend continued Saturday.

Southern ran for 238 yards on 43 carries, highlighted by Darren Coates going for career highs of 142 yards and two touchdowns in his first start, which was, in turn, highlighted, by his 90-yard TD burst on the offense’s first play.

“I think people thought we were just jiving around, but we’ve got to be able to run the football to take pressure off that young quarterback,” Richardson said. “We spread the field, but we have to be able to run the football.”

Do less of this
Southern’s punt returners were awfully sloppy in the first quarter, with Ronald Wade, in his first collegiate game, fumbling on a return and Chad Harris, a veteran, muffing a punt. FAMU fumbled the ball at the Southern 1 after Wade’s fumble, and scored on a 9-yard run one play after Harris’ bobble. Wade, to be fair, came back and recovered a fumble forced by Coates on a FAMU punt return.

Quick hits
SU quarterback Bryant Lee is 2-1 in three career starts (he would have earned a win in baseball parlance for his work off the bench against Texas Southern as well). He was 9-for-10 after halftime, directing a much-smoother offense, after going 13-for-19 in the first half (including 3-for-5 for minus-5 yards in the first quarter). FAMU’s MVP for the game was freshman running back Phillip Sylvester, with 101 yards and two TDs in his first college game. Southern held the ball for 9:35 of the third quarter.

Up next
Southern (1-0, 0-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) plays Mississippi Valley State (1-0, 1-0) in the Chicago Football Classic at 4 p.m. Saturday at Soldier Field. Valley beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the defending Western Division Champion and considered a contender to make a run for the SWAC title this season as well, 16-9 Saturday in Itta Bena, Miss. SU beat Valley 31-14 in A.W. Mumford Stadium a year ago in the second game last season.

Slide Show: DSU slams #23 Coastal Carolina

DSU gets respect it's been dreaming of with victory

Kevin Noonan, The News Journal

DOVER -- It was a win-win situation for the Delaware State Hornets -- they won a game and also won some respect.

The Hornets sent a message to the college football world when they upset No. 23 Coastal Carolina 23-18 on Saturday night at Alumni Stadium.

It was a big victory, maybe the biggest of Al Lavan's tenure as coach, because the Hornets dream big dreams. Delaware State wants a new and improved stadium and it wants to make the jump to NCAA Division I-A, the highest level of college football. Most people snicker when they hear that, because the unranked Hornets aren't even big fish in the I-AA pond, yet they want to go diving into the I-A ocean.

Lavan has made DSU one of the top teams in its conference, but it's a conference that doesn't get much respect because it hasn't earned it -- the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has lost eight straight I-AA playoff games by an average score of 38-19.

So, the only way for the Hornets to get the respect they crave is to beat a respected opponent outside the MEAC -- an opponent like Coastal Carolina, which has won the Big South Conference the past three years and has consistently been ranked in the Division I-AA Top 25.

And the Hornets finally did it -- they beat a pedigreed nonconference opponent for the first time under Lavan.




















"A game like this gives kids a vision of what they can do," Lavan said. "It's one thing to be confident you can beat a team, but you have to win the game to solidify that thought in your own mind."

The Hornets hadn't fared well when they stepped outside the MEAC in recent years -- they lost 51-0 to Massachusetts and 49-0 to Southern Illinois in 2004, Lavan's first season, and 24-6 to Coastal Carolina in 2005.

Overall, in its first three years under Lavan, Delaware State was 16-7 in the MEAC, but just 3-7 against nonconference foes. And even their three victories were less than impressive -- they beat two Division II schools (Millersville in 2005 and Concord in 2006) and a I-AA team with a losing record (St. Francis in 2006).

And when the Hornets did step up in class, they got knocked back down, losing to James Madison 65-7 in 2005 and Northwestern State 23-3 in 2006. In eight nonconference games against I-AA teams over the past three years, Delaware State was outscored by an average of 34-19 per game.

That's why this victory was so important to a team that dreams big dreams.

In fact, the Hornets should have won going away, but they made more mental mistakes in this game than some teams make in a season, including dropped touchdown passes and dropped interceptions, as well as some dumb penalties and costly fumbles.

But that makes the victory over Coastal Carolina even more impressive -- Delaware State didn't come close to playing its best game and still beat a nationally ranked team.

"We've come a long way since I've been here," senior guard Jeremy Breath said. "And we still have a long way to go. But now we know we can get there, and that's what a game like this can do for you.

"It makes you believe that anything is possible."

FAMU vs. SU Game Photos & FAMU Marching 100

Florida A&M University Marching 100---Song: Black and Blues

An encouraging loss for North Carolina A&T

By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record

The end is near.

N.C. A&T fans may have been muttering that for a while, having seen their team drop 17 straight games now. But on Saturday, that concept took on another -- slightly more hopeful -- meaning.

While falling to Winston-Salem State 28-7, the Aggies at least suggested the longest active losing streak at the second-highest level of college football might be drawing to a conclusion one of these weeks.

"I'm pleased but not happy," coach Lee Fobbs said. "We could have played better in the first half. We've just to come out of the chutes better."

A year after being thoroughly outclassed by the Rams 41-14, the Aggies were merely beaten this time. For the first time in 23 months, they made an opponent worry about the outcome into the fourth quarter, and they got on the bus thinking about one game-changing moment rather than an avalanche.

It came early in the fourth as A&T faced second and goal from the Ram 9 while trailing 21-7. Quarterback Herb Miller rolled out of trouble, neared the sideline, declined what would have been a short running gain and tossed one across his body for Curtis Walls in the end zone.

"I ran around and saw Walls sitting on the spot," Miller said. "I tried to get to him, which I shouldn't have done."

The pass was thrown behind the Aggies' best receiver, who managed to get a hand on it and juggle it for an agonizing second. The ball seemed to disappear in a confluence of red and white jerseys before winding up in the hands of the Rams' Thaddeus Griffin, who was flat on his back.

Two witnesses said the ball hit the ground first, which suggests the play would have been vigorously reviewed by video if this had been a Division I-A game.

The Aggies had no avenues of appeal, but Walls didn't seek them.

"Anything I touch, I'm supposed to pull it in," he said. "I'm supposed to be the dependable receiver for this team."

A chance to close the gap was gone, and when the Rams followed the play with an 80-yard touchdown drive, the outcome was effectively sealed.

Nobody's going to admit a three-touchdown defeat is satisfactory, but A&T displayed more defensive speed than at any time in 2006.

The Rams found the holes to the tune of 303 rushing yards, but A&T reorganized after a skittish start and pursued the ball reasonably well.

Football statistics are notoriously specious anyway, and Saturday was a study in deception.

"I liked the aggression," sophomore defensive end Andre Thornton said. "We had 11 hats to the ball. If they got a first down, we didn't lollygag down the field. We all ran down the field."


Fobbs does have options in the running game, as Michael Ferguson got 16 carries, junior-college transfer David "Speedy" Robinson had 10 and former Clemson Tiger Demerick Chancellor was called upon three times.

A&T lacks bulk among its wide receivers and may need to get creative in order to run effectively to the sideline.

Fifth-year seniors Jed Bines and Monte Purvis give the Rams a seasoned and swift backfield pair for a team that ran for 180 yards a game a year ago.

Winston-Salem State, still in a transition phase toward full second-tier membership, will play a full MEAC schedule but not be eligible for the league title. There's enough on the Ram sideline to suggest this would be an intriguing team under normal membership circumstances.

A&T gets another crack at stopping the streak when it plays Prairie View A&M, which lost an untouchable 80 straight games from 1989-98, in Los Angeles next week.

And the Aggies keep thinking they'll be OK.

"Every day. Every day," Walls said. "And if I don't think that, then I need to be off this team."

N. C. A&T 0 0 7 0 -- 7

Winston-Salem State 7 7 7 7 --28

WiSa--Purvis 1 run (M.Mitchell kick)

WiSa--Bayne 19 pass from Purvis (M.Mitchell kick)

WiSa--McRae 30 run (M.Mitchell kick)

NCAT--Walls 21 pass from Miller (Houston kick)

WiSa--Thomas 16 pass from Purvis (M.Mitchell kick)

A--22,000.

NCAT WiSa
First downs 11 20

Rushes-yards 38-143 47-286

Passing 73 96

Comp-Att-Int 10-21-3 9-15-0

Return Yards 33 51

Punts-Avg. 7-36.0 7-35.7

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-1

Penalties-Yards 6-56 6-66

Time of Possession 28:54 31:06

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--N.C A&T, Ferguson 16-64, Robinson 10-33, Miller 7-28, Chancellor 3-17, McNair 2-1. Winston-Salem, Bines 16-125, McRae 15-85, Purvis 15-63, Harris 1-13.

PASSING--N. Carolina A&T, Miller 10-21-3-73. Winston-Salem, Purvis 9-15-0-96.

RECEIVING--N. Carolina A&T, Walls 3-31, Robinson 2-(minus 5), C.Dawson 1-21, Caldwell 1-15, Lowrance 1-14, Ferguson 1-4, Chancellor 1-(minus 7). Winston-Salem, Bayne 3-23, Thomas 1-16, Reaves 1-15, Scarborough 1-15, Hubbard 1-12, Kinzer 1-10, Fluellen 1-5.