North Carolina A&T goes to L.A. seeking relief

N.C. A&T, riding a 17-game skid, meets Prairie View A&M, once home to an 80-game losing streak.

By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record

This may be an omen, you know. The N.C. A&T football team is trying to break a 17-game losing streak, and who stands in the Aggies' way? The winner of all losers, of course.

From 1989-98, Prairie View A&M set a record for ineptitude so grand it's nearly twice as long as its nearest, um, competitor: 80 in a row.

When the Aggies and the Panthers face off in the second Angel City Classic Saturday at the Los Angeles Coliseum (5:30 p.m. EDT), A&T will discover it's playing a very reasonable facsimile of a Division I-AA/NCAA FCS football team. It took them a while, but the Panthers, who beat SWAC rival Texas Southern in their opener, can compete.

In retrospect, the Panthers' streak was somewhat understandable. The school didn't have a full-time athletics director until 1998. Immediately before then, the post was held by a full-time professor who doubled as an assistant track coach.

Prairie View (Texas) surpassed Columbia's NCAA mark of 44 consecutive defeats in November 1994 with a 70-20 homecoming loss to Division II Tarleton State, and the Panthers kept on going. But to their credit, they didn't disband the program or even drop in classification.

Eventually, a joint effort of alumni and the supervisory Texas A&M University System helped ease the Panthers into the mainstream. The university voted in 2003 to initiate a student athletics fee of up to $300 per student per academic year. That's not as hefty as A&T's figure of $376, but it provided a start. Prairie View's football spending ranked eighth in the 10-team SWAC in 2005-06, the most recent year for which such records are available.

In 2004, the school hired Henry Frazier III, who had done a reclamation job at Division II Bowie (Md.) State, as its coach. While the Panthers haven't contended for the SWAC title, they did manage three wins a year ago, and Frazier said they were fewer than 10 plays from being 8-2.

That's a common lament of teams that suffer close losses, but it does suggest the Panthers have liberated themselves from the joke rotation of late night talk-show hosts.

A&T doesn't want to get any closer to that level than it already is. The Aggies' string is in a 13th-place tie on the NCAA's list of ignominy, but only three defeats short of fifth. The Aggies just passed Siena, which lost 16 in a row from 1994-96. On the horizon stands Canisius, which suffered 24 consecutive defeats before ending the fourth-longest skid Oct. 13, 2001. The Golden Griffins won at Siena that day. By January 2004, both programs were gone, conveniently sacrificed in the name of cost-cutting.

There's no threat of that at A&T, but the Aggies are undeniably tired of this line of discussion. To stop it, they'll need at least one big special-teams play, a turnover-free afternoon and more consistent blocking than they displayed in last week's season-opening loss at Winston-Salem State. That defeat was still more competitive than any game they played last year.

A crowd of 25,000 is expected for the contest, which is run jointly out of Los Angeles and Texas and which seeks to expose Southern California to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, few of which are west of the Mississippi.

Pitt's untested QBs bracing for Grambling's speed

Photo: Grambling's WR Clyde Edwards

By Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A new quarterback will be at the helm of Pitt's offense tomorrow against Grambling at Heinz Field. Growing pains are likely along with stretches where the Panthers struggle to move the football.

There is one other thing that could cause the offense to sputter and it has nothing to do with Kevan Smith or Pat Bostick and everything to do with the speed of Grambling's defense.

The Tigers are fast, aggressive and will try to force the Panthers to play at a pace they likely aren't comfortable playing.

That's not good news for any offense, but particularly one searching for an identity and some consistency.

"They predicate everything on speed and making plays and putting pressure on an offense," coach Dave Wannstedt said of Grambling's 4-3 defense. "It forces your quarterback to make fast decisions and that's what we'll be facing."

The Panthers have tried to simulate the speed of the Tigers in practice, but it's never the same. Still, Wannstedt is confident the offense and the two young quarterbacks, will hold up under the pressure, especially with the changes made in the offensive line.

"We've tried to make it as difficult on them as possible," Wannstedt said. "I think it's important to not fool them. If you were coming in and facing a freshman quarterback, you're going to try to pressure them and give them some looks hoping to force them into some bad plays. I'm cautiously optimistic that these guys will get in there and perform better than any of us think."

While it might seem overly optimistic to expect a quarterback making his first start to play beyond expectations, Wannstedt isn't so sure.

In fact, he needs only to point to last week -- the Panthers 27-3 win against Eastern Michigan in the opener -- to find a precedent.

"Billy Stull did that, quite frankly. He stepped in there and performed at a better level than what I thought he was going to," Wannstedt said. "And Scott Mc-Killop did that. Every time, we've had somebody step up. That's kind of been a trademark for the team.

"I believe it will happen at quarterback."

Stull led the Panthers to a big lead and played admirably against Eastern Michigan, but he was injured in the third quarter of the game and will be out for at least a month, which is why coaches are scrambling to find a replacement.

Wannstedt said he will make a game-time decision, but the sentiment around the team seems to be that Smith will be the starter tomorrow. Both are expected to play.

NOTES -- For those who can't wait until tomorrow, the Grambling band will provide a sneak preview tonight at the Petersen Events center. The band, along with Pitt's, will perform in a "battle of the bands". ... Wannstedt said every player is healthy and ready to play except tight end John Pelusi, who is still day to day with a shoulder injury. ...The game is not televised, but it can be seen online at ESPN360.com.

GRAMBLING QUICK SLANTS: Pittsburgh

By Nick Deriso, The Monroe News Star

Grambling, primarily on the strength of its No. 2 rushing attack, returned to the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference stats for total offense with 479 yards against Alcorn State last week.

Running plays accounted for 176 of those yards, as GSU rushers averaged nearly five yards per carry.

Just as importantly, GSU’s coaches felt quarterback Brandon Landers — even while throwing for 300 yards and four scores — did a better job of taking what the defensive gave him in a more considered offensive scheme.

“Brandon has gotten better and better at managing the game and doing the things we ask him to do as a quarterback,” said first-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway. “I see a lot of growth in that young man. He’s done some good things around here. But what we’re asking him to do is manage the game.”

JUST FOR KICKS
Cramps felled GSU’s regular punter, Tim Manuel, leaving two little-used backups to fill in. Grambling averaged just 38.6 yards per attempt, ahead of only Mississippi Valley and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

HOLD THE LINE
Grambling’s rush defense, a cellar-dweller in the SWAC last season, shot up to No. 4 after the opener. The group is also No. 2 in scoring, though remains in the middle of the pack against the pass, at No. 6 in the 10-team league.

NO MORE FLAG DAYS
Grambling, a team that lately has hovered near the top of the league in penalty yards, gave up 105 yards to finish No. 8 in the season’s first week.

“If you can make fewer mistakes than your opponent, then you have a good chance of winning,” Broadway said. “That means things like alignment and penalties. If you do that fewer times than your opponent, then you are going to win more games. It’s Football 101.”

ENEMY LINES: PITTSBURGH
Pitt has hit a run of bad luck. So, it's likely to run the ball.

Quarterback Bill Stull, a benchwarmer for two seasons behind Tyler Palko, tore up the thumb on his throwing hand in last week’s opener — requiring surgery on Monday.

Stull will miss at least six weeks, and perhaps the remainder of the year.

“He'll have a splint on for 10 days,” Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt said in a news conference with the media on Tuesday. “He'll take the splint off in 10 days, the stitches will come out and he'll start the rehab process. We're just going to have to take it a week at a time and there's not a definite timetable.”

Arriving on the heels of another season-ending injury to top wide receiver Derek Kinder, it’s taken much of the luster off of a 27-3 win over Eastern Michigan last Saturday — and left Wannstedt with two freshman passers to decide upon in this week’s game against Grambling.

Redshirt Kevan Smith appears to be the leading candidate. Wannstedt earlier in the year said he intended to hold back true freshman Pat Bostick — a Pennsylvania state player of the year.

Uncertainty at such a key position provides an opening for a lower-division foe, Grambling coach Rod Broadway admits — even if it’s only a small one.

“It’s always a challenge when you play up,” Broadway said. “It gives us a chance to measure ourselves against a Division I-A program. It will give us an idea about what kind of football team we have.”

Wannstedt said that he will not make a decision before today on who will get the nod, and could wait until game time. The Grambling game kicks off at 11 a.m. local time at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, home of the NFL’s Steelers.

“I don't think any coach on any level would want to put a freshman on the field, but we're going to do that,” Wannstedt said. “I could cite a half-dozen teams that played with true freshmen last year. I think the real key is what you do with them as a coach and who his supporting cast is.”

Whoever starts under center, look for Pitt to rush early and often. Starter LaRod Stephens-Howling had 16 carries for 67 in the Panthers’ opener, while talented freshman LeSean McCoy added 10 for 68 yards.

SWAC ATTACK
A&M, AGAIN
Kelcy Luke finished where he left off, a season after leading Alabama A&M to its first Southwestern Athletic Conference title.

He completed 18-of-29 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 37 yards and another touchdown in an opening win over regional rival Tennessee State.

Sometimes criticized, even in triumph, for a low-scoring offense, A&M won convincingly at LP Field in Nashville, 49-23.

DELTA DAWN
How badly was the once-thought resurgent Jackson State beaten — and at home, no less — by Division II power Delta State last week?

There’s the score, of course. JSU fell 27-15 in front of an announced crowd of 12,667 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. But how’s this for a stat: 122 total yards and were stuffed for minus-29 yards on the ground.

Neither of its quarterbacks were effective, leaving Jackson with some big questions going into this week’s game against Tennessee State – a contest decided in overtime last season.

Good news: running backs Erik Haw and Cody Hull are expected back.

Pitt won't overlook Grambling

By: Dale Grdnic, Beaver County Times Sports Correspondent

PITTSBURGH - Grambling State University won't be taken lightly by Pitt in their game Saturday.

You can thank Appalachian State for that. Ap State became the first team from the Division I Football Championship Subdivision - it's not called Division I-AA anymore - to beat a ranked team from the Football Bowl Subdivision (yep, I-A).

But Ap State doesn't get all the credit for Pitt's concerns.

The Panthers (1-0) can't afford to look past Grambling because they'll have a freshman as the starting quarterback. Either redshirt freshman Kevan Smith or true freshman Pat Bostick will replace injured junior Bill Stull (thumb surgery).

"They've both done a good job,'' Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "They really have. I think we've tried to make it as difficult on them as possible, but I think it's important not to try to fool them. But you want to try to pressure them and give them some different looks. If you're going to face a freshman, you want to try to force them into making some bad plays."

As for which one has the best chance to start, Wannstedt said that he will not name a starter until game time.

"But I'd like to see both of them play, to be quite honest with you,'' Wannstedt said. "Whether that will happen or not, who knows? But they've both prepared well, and we've pretty much split it down the middle from a rep standpoint in practice.

Wannstedt added that he was cautiously optimistic that either Smith or Bostick would perform up to their capability just because others on the Pitt team have done that this season.

Pitt's quarterback, Wannstedt said, will face a 4-4 defense that pressures an offense. Junior linebacker John Carter is Grambling's defensive leader, while senior tackles Jason Banks and Donald Williams also provide a push from up front.

When the Tigers run the ball they primarily use just one back, as Frank Warren ran for 143 yards on 30 carries and added four catches in last week's 31-10 win over Alcorn State. Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers completed 19 of 36 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns - Reginald Jackson had six catches for 198 yards and two scores - in that game.

"Grambling's receivers are very fast and quick, and very athletic,'' senior cornerback Kennard Cox said. "In their division, they have a lot of good athletes and a great quarterback. I think they're a little better team than Eastern Michigan with better athletes, even for a Division I-AA team. (But) I respect everybody I play, and we won't look past them.''

Delaware State Hornets recall late friend

By Chris Gasiewski, Delaware State News

Photo: DSU free safety Reggie McCoy was a former teammate of the late Jerome “J.J.” Bedle at Syracuse University.

DOVER — Those who competed with Jerome “J.J.” Bedle on the Delaware State football team last year can remember his dedicated work ethic. It became his legacy and it was enough for DSU to use his phrase, “Work Day” as the team’s motto.

That’s how much Bedle’s memory meant to the Hornets. The receiver died of a heart attack in February, and DSU honored Bedle prior to Saturday’s 23-18 season-opening win over Coastal Carolina.

But for running back Kareem Jones and free safety Reggie McCoy, Bedle meant much more than a teammate. He was a good friend.

The three first met each other at Syracuse University. Jones was his roommate for two years there and McCoy and Bedle built a friendship.

“He might be the coolest kid you ever met,” Jones said. “Everybody thought he was real quiet and reserved. But me and him, that was my best friend.”

Bedle transferred from Syracuse prior to the 2006 season. His broke his collarbone in DSU’s opening win over Florida A&M in the Ford Classic in Detroit.

Bedle, who would’ve been a junior this season, never played in a game again.

Despite missing the season, Bedle’s work at DSU went beyond the gridiron. He was instrumental in recruiting both Jones and McCoy, promoting DSU as a family atmosphere.

The duo followed Bedle’s path this summer and Jones quickly won the starting running back spot while McCoy turned heads, earning the same role at safety.

“We used to just chill and talk. Talk about practice. Talk about life,” Jones said. “He was real dedicated with his school work. He always talked about his future magazine.”

Jones said Bedle’s ambition was to create a magazine that focused on sports, entertainment and music. He never lost sight of the project and he also wrote lyrics for rap songs.

When Bedle passed away, it sent a shock wave through the DSU family as well as McCoy and Jones. No one, they thought, that young and athletic should lose their life.

“I don’t even think I could put it in words,” said McCoy as his eyes began to water. “It was devastating because someone your age, who you think is very healthy, who you just talked to passes away like that. There is no way to explain it.”

McCoy said he talked with Bedle the week before he died.

“When I heard it, I didn’t believe it,” McCoy said.

Jones didn’t believe it either. He said he had to call mutual friends to confirm the news.

“I was blown away,” Jones said. “I didn’t know how to really react. It seemed surreal.”

Saturday’s memorial was also surreal for Jones and McCoy. DSU remembered Bedle as well as the four students who were shot in Newark, N.J. last month.

At the memorial, Lavan held a plaque with Bedle’s No. 7 jersey while about 25 members of Bedle’s family stood on the field for a moment of silence. All were wearing red shirts with his name and number on it.

“We talk so much about the football game and winning and losing,” coach Al Lavan said. “But the bottom line is that you’re talking about people. They are the ones that capture the highs and lows of our lives.

“It was very important that we and the university to point the spotlight back to what this is all about. It’s about the students.”

Bedle’s memory will linger with the Hornets all year.

“Always will his memory be living over Delaware State football,” Jones said. “He always worked hard. He was just a good individual all around.”

Charlie Ward withdraws name from consideration for Texas Southern basketball job

By BRANDON C. WILLIAMS

Former Houston Rockets guard Charlie Ward confirmed Thursday night that he took his name from consideration for the vacant Texas Southern University men's basketball coaching job.

"It just wasn't the proper time for me to pursue a college coaching job," said Ward, who is beginning his first season as head coach of the Westbury Christian boys' basketball team. "I didn't want to break the commitments I had made to both my family and Westbury Christian."

Ward, the 1993 Heisman Trophy winner as a quarterback for Florida State, said that his name became surfacing for the job after he hosted a basketball camp at the school. He met with TSU athletic director Alois Blackwell earlier this about the position, which came open after Ronnie Courtney was fired after four years on the job.

Former TSU basketball star Kevin Granger, who is also one of the names considered for the job, said Thursday that he expects to hear from the school as early as today about receiving a second interview. Granger met with Blackwell last week. Former Rockets All-Star guard Calvin Murphy is also among the names considered for the position.

Coming back to triumph--BCU Jimmie Russell

Jimmie Russell says it's fun to play now that his injuries aren't slowing him down.

Ron White, Special to the Sentinel

Last year, a discussion of Bethune-Cookman University quarterback Jimmie Russell's injuries required a crash course in human anatomy.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound signal-caller injured his hand in a 30-29 season-opening win and battled a host of other bumps and scrapes that forced B-CU Coach Alvin Wyatt to shelve his triple-option offense. As a result, Russell's rushing numbers went from the 701 rushing yards he churned out in nine starts in 2005 to just 427 yards in three starts in 2006.

A week into the 2007 season, though, Jimmie Russell's feet, hands, ribs and attitude are well healed. Wyatt dusted off his patented triple-option offense last Saturday, and Russell buffed it to a shine with 114 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries. The 22-year-old Russell also threw for 103 yards to lead B-CU to a 31-17 season-opening victory against non-scholarship Jacksonville University.

"It's a lot more fun when you're healthy," said Russell, who played his high-school ball at Riverdale in Jonesboro, Ga.

"When you're hurt, you're forced to play through the pain. That makes the practices miserable and the games miserable."

The senior's injuries last year sometimes kept him completely off the practice field, making it difficult for the team to prepare for games.

"That was the worst part," Russell said. "When you're not out there sweating with the guys, you don't feel that you're contributing. It's like you're not a part of the team."

Despite Wyatt's guarantee that Florida Atlantic junior transfer McKinson Souverain will play regularly this season, Russell played every down in the opener, which saw him reel off two runs -- including a 33-yarder -- that ended with dives inside an endzone pylon.

"We had him in the backfield a couple of times, but he can make some special plays," said Jacksonville Coach Kerwin Bell.

Wyatt said he was pleased with Russell's success in an offense that returned three of six starters on the offensive line.

"He's getting there, and the more he can run it without the injuries, the better he's going to get," Wyatt said.

The coach, who has a 67-33 record since taking over the team in 1997, said Russell has progressed since he first arrived on campus.

"He's gotten more speed, and he's picked up a little weight," said Wyatt, whose fullback, Justin Brannon, also ran for 103 yards on 14 carries.

"It's been kind of a long time since we had two 100-yard rushers in the same game," said Wyatt.

The Wildcats haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Allen Suber reached the mark in 2002. Suber holds the school record for career rush attempts with 578 -- a mark Russell, who has 410 after the Jacksonville game, could reach if he remains healthy this season.

Last year, Russell's injuries forced him to throw the ball, and he impressed, amassing 1,139 passing yards and nine touchdowns with just three interceptions despite only starting in three games. Russell's two main targets, though, are gone, with last year's leading receiver, Eric Weems, moving to the NFL, where he was cut by the Atlanta Falcons last week.

The quarterback's biggest test comes Saturday against South Carolina State, a team picked to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in a preseason poll of MEAC coaches.

Hampton University's Mitchell takes the reins

By MARTY O'BRIEN , Daily Press

Pirates' new starting QB gets first assignment at tough Howard in "the Real HU Classic."

HAMPTON-After almost four seasons with one starting quarterback, Hampton University fans quite naturally wonder if new guy Terry "T.J." Mitchell will pass the leadership test in Saturday's season-opener at Howard. The following anecdote might provide a clue.

Pirates coach Joe Taylor spent much of spring practice searching for his third offensive coordinator in two months. He even brought legendary former Florida A&M coach Billy Joe to town for an interview.

But Mitchell and his offensive teammates took a liking to receivers coach Corey Sullivan, who filled in as coordinator during the spring. Upon hearing that Billy Joe or someone else might replace Sullivan, Mitchell sprung into action.

"I grabbed a couple of guys from the other offensive segments and walked into Coach Taylor's office," said Mitchell, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound sophomore. "I told him I felt like Coach Sullivan was the best guy for the job. I said he was a hard worker and a competitive guy who would push us, but treat us like men.

"I said we didn't need to change our offense. Coach Taylor is like a father-figure, the kind of guy who will listen to what you're saying and take it into consideration."

Taylor stopped the job search immediately and handed the offense to Sullivan.

"The team belongs to the players," Taylor said. "Coaches are service stations: We're there to refuel and give guidance. We felt Coach Sullivan had been doing a fine job, but T.J. took control and made sure I knew the players felt he was their guy.

"He's got the mentality of a leader."

Hampton fans who made the trip to Birmingham, Ala. for the game against Grambling State last September knew that already. When fourth-year starter Princeton Shepherd cramped in the second half, Mitchell replaced him at quarterback and led the Pirates to a 27-26 overtime victory.

He struggled early, but led a comeback with touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and overtime. Mitchell had never before taken a snap in college.

"When they told me I had to go into the game, I was so nervous I could hardly find my helmet," said Mitchell, who transferred to Hampton 13 months ago from West Virginia. "I hadn't even had any practice repetitions with the first team.

"After the first hit, the jitters went away. That game really helped my confidence level."

Mitchell started the homecoming game against Winston-Salem while Shepherd sat out with a minor injury. He completed 17-of-27 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in the Pirates' 13-3 victory.

He assumed the starting role when Shepherd exhausted his eligibility after a 2006 season in which the Pirates went 10-2 and won a third consecutive MEAC title. By spring, a stronger Mitchell was displaying more zip on his passes and a running ability that HU quarterbacks had lacked in recent years.

But the team's offensive coaching carousel made him uncomfortable. Chris Beatty, who had coached Mitchell at Landstown High of Virginia Beach, became an assistant in February at Northern Illinois. Then next coordinator, Charles Bankins, took an assistant's position in April at Richmond.

Sullivan appreciates Mitchell's vote of support.

"I was surprised when I heard he did that," Sullivan said of Mitchell's summit with Taylor. "I felt confident I could do the job. But I believe that whatever you're trying to get done, if the kids have confidence in you it will get done.

"And a confident starting quarterback is huge."

Self-assurance will be particularly important at Howard's Green Stadium, the site this year for the showdown known as "the Real HU Classic." A standing room only crowd of about 10,000 is expected at the tiny facility, where the Pirates often struggle.

The Bison fans can be unkind to opposing quarterbacks, but Mitchell is unfazed.

"I know the crowd will be on our back, and it will be so condensed we'll be able to see people eating popcorn and hot dogs," he said. "But you block all that out on the snap of the ball.

"I've always played quarterback, so I've always had guys counting on me. I've always wanted to put guys on my back and win."

'Growing pains' plague Alcorn Braves in loss

By Matt Burrowes, The Natchez Democrat

LORMAN — Offensive woes and key defensive break-downs were the culprit in the Alcorn State University Braves 21-3 lost to University of Arkansas Pine Bluff.

“We played inconsistently tonight,” ASU head coach Johnny Thomas said. “The inconsistency was the result of our quarterback position.”

Thomas said Tony Hobson Jr. was the planned starter, after Chris Walker suffered a severe thigh bruise in the Grambling game last week. But Hobson injured his throwing hand in practice earlier this week.

Thomas went to plan C and started an inexperienced Tim Buckley, but soon replaced him with the injured Walker.

“We weren’t expecting Chris to play at all this week,” Thomas said. “After a visit to the hospital Wednesday and Chris not feeling much pain, we knew he would be able to take some reps, we didn’t know how much.”

Alcorn’s first scoring opportunity came on their second drive of the game. On a second down play from the 4-yard line, Walker hit Nate Hughes for a 52-yard gain. The Braves worked the ball down inside the red zone only to get stopped. Alexander Oelfke’s 41-yard field goal attempt sailed left.

The Braves wouldn’t get another scoring attempt in the first half.

UAPB capitalized on the excellent field position from their own 40 that resulted from a short ASU punt late in the second quarter.

It only took UAPB four plays to put the ball in the end zone from a 21-yard pass to Jason Heflin from quarterback Chris Wallace.

“The defense played well tonight,” Thomas said. “We just gave up some big plays at the wrong times.”

The second half didn’t fair much better for the Braves. Their best drive of the night came in the third quarter.

They sustained a 41-yard drive that stalled on the 2-yard line and the Braves were only able to get three points, from Oelfke.

“Every time we got in scoring position, we got bogged down,” Thomas said. “We are still having growing pains on the offensive line and it’s going to take time to get there.”

A UAPB touchdown pass from Johnathan Moore to Demetrice Beverly with 4:14 left in the third quarter took the wind out of the Braves for good.

“Our defense gave us the chances to score,” UAPB head coach Maurice Forte said. “We are still a long way from where we need to be but the win tonight was good for us.”

The Golden Lions wore the Braves down in the fourth quarter tacking on a final touchdown off a 5-yard run from Martell Mallett.

“Not being able to control the ball hurt us tonight,” Thomas said. “Our defense was on the field way too long. They wore us down.”

Thomas said he was disappointed in the way things were going so far this season.

“We need to be 50 percent and we aren’t there,” Thomas said. “I’m frustrated and disappointed. It’s my job to keep the players and coaches up. We have to come out next week and work on the things that are killing us.”

Alcorn travels to University of Alabama-Birmingham on Sept. 15. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Jackson State Tigers AD open to DSU rematch

- David Brandt

Jackson State athletic director Bob Braddy said he would "absolutely consider" playing Delta State again next season, despite a 27-15 loss to the Division II team on Saturday at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

On top of the loss, Jackson State also paid Delta State $25,000 to make the short trip to Jackson for the game.

"We think it's a really good game, but we'll have to sit down with Delta State's athletic director (Jeremy McClain) and see what we want to do," Braddy said. "We were disappointed, but not embarrassed to lose to Delta State because we know they've got a quality football program."


Braddy said the only drawback on Saturday had nothing to do with the product on the field. Instead, it was a small Delta State crowd following that appeared to be less than 1,000 people.

The announced attendance for the game was 12,667.

McClain said he thought the Statesmen fans would travel better in the future.

"I think some of our fans kind of had a 'wait and see' approach," McClain said. "But I think once this builds into a bigger rivalry, it'll be a great game for both teams."

SPEAKS A BRIGHT SPOT

In his first game in a Jackson State uniform, middle linebacker Marcellus Speaks finished with a team-high 10 tackles.

But the junior transfer from Delta State wasn't pleased with the loss or his performance.

"It hurt to lose to my old team, plus I missed way too many tackles," Speaks said. "I may have had 10, but I should have had 20 if I had wrapped up a little better."

SEASON TICKETS ARE UP

Braddy said about 6,000 football season tickets were sold for the season, a marked increase from the approximately 2,500 sold last season.

MEAC turning to coaches with experience at I-A, NFL levels

By KRISTIAN POPE, The News Journal

Recent hiring trends add to depth, variety of conference's staffs

DOVER -- Joe Taylor flipped through a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football guide, and with each page his eyes grew more weary.

"We have coaches from the SEC and Big Ten," said Taylor, football coach at Hampton University, as he recently discussed his league counterparts. "We've grown tremendously. You really have to be ready to play nowadays."

Now, Taylor is the ultimate homer for the MEAC. But his point was not exaggerated. The MEAC, long a conference known for hiring coaches with prior league experience, has been busy the past five years catching up to the rest of college football.

And, in turn, coaches from nonhistorically black colleges have eyed the MEAC as a legitimate conference in which to build a program.

Five of the past six head coaches hired in the MEAC gained a major part of their experience in the NFL or NCAA Division I-A ranks. The two most recent -- Howard's Carey Bailey and North Carolina A&T's Lee Fobbs -- have resumes nearly devoid of HBCU or Division I-AA experience.

"In the very short period that I've been here, the level of teaching has improved," DSU coach Al Lavan said. "Teams are much better prepared than when I first got here."

Lavan spent more than 30 years in the NFL and Division I-A. His experience outside the MEAC was pinpointed by the school's search committee as a reason for hiring Lavan.

Photo: Coach Al Lavan, DSU

The head coach of Lavan's next opponent has a similar background. Florida A&M coach Rubin Carter, now in his third season, played 12 years with the NFL's Denver Broncos (1975-1986) and appeared in two Super Bowls (1978, 1987). He arrived in 2004 from Temple University, where he was the defensive line coach after working as an assistant with the NFL's Jets, Broncos and Redskins.

Carter took the job, once considered the plum of MEAC coaching assignments, despite the loss of 14 scholarships following an NCAA investigation in 2005 into the program under former coach Billy Joe.

DSU (1-0) heads to Tallahassee, Fla., for its MEAC opener against FAMU (0-1) on Saturday. Kickoff at Bragg Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.

"It's been tough; we were in a transitional period prior to my arrival," Carter said. "You deal with the loss of scholarships but you still have to find a way to win."

The recent coaching trend began in 2002 at South Carolina State. Buddy Pough spent three seasons coaching running backs for Lou Holtz at the University of South Carolina. He took over in 2002 for longtime coach Willie Jeffries. In five seasons, Pough has gone 29-10 in the MEAC.

The league's most recent hires extended the trend. Fobbs at A&T spent eight seasons at I-A schools, most recently at Texas A&M, before being hired by A&T in 2006.

And last winter, former Minnesota defensive assistant Bailey was hired by Howard University. Before that, Bailey was at Oklahoma State.

Bailey said his experience has put added pressure to win on the program. That's why he also hired assistants with working knowledge of the MEAC, including former DSU defensive coordinator Andre Creamer.

"I've followed the league and compare it to the Pac-10 in that you don't know who you're playing week to week," Bailey said. "You always want to put more pressure on yourself; that's how you get a successful program."

Lavan said he believes the newcomers are helping change the conference's reputation.

"It's the variety of experience that's important," Lavan said. "We all bring something different. It's a shared experience."

Defense tough for MVSU

Photo: SU Head Football Coach Pete Richardson

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Getting game tape on Mississippi Valley State was an absolute must for Southern’s coaching staff this week.

Why?

Because Valley has a new defensive coordinator in Dennis “Dirt” Winston and a host of junior-college transfers infused into that unit.

And that defense just shut down Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which is loaded with offensive talent (although rebuilding its offensive line), Saturday in Valley’s 16-9 victory.

“(The film) helped out a great deal, as far as personnel,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said.

UAPB coach Mo Forte said Tuesday he wished he’d have had the benefit of some film for his team’s preparation.

Martel Mallett (23 yards on five carries) went out with a strained quad. Mickey Dean (19 carries on nine yards) was ineffective. Quarterback Chris Wallace, the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, was 14-for-27 for 154 yards, getting sacked four times. And Valley recovered two fumbles.

“More than anything else, defensively, they really closed down Arkansas-Pine Bluff,” Richardson said. “They’re putting a lot of pressure on the quarterback. They’re bringing pressure from all over.

“I thought Valley did an outstanding job of scheming them. They played a lot of man-to-man coverage on the outside, put eight-man fronts on them and really dared them to throw the football.”

Valley’s defense held UAPB to a field goal in the second quarter and a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Delta Devils stopped Dean for no gain on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line late in the third quarter and Jeremy Fisher for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-goal at the 4 early in the fourth quarter.

“Our defense rose to the occasion,” Valley head coach Willie Totten said. “That’s what we have to have, until our young offense matures.”

In December, in the wake of a disappointing 6-5 season, Totten let go defensive coordinator Sam Washington and linebackers coach Arthur Moore (along with offensive coordinator Roger Totten, who had volunteered in that role). That move came despite the Delta Devils finishing second in the SWAC in total defense (270.5 yards per game), third against both the run and the pass.

Totten now calls most of the offensive plays, with Winston running the defense.

Winston, a former great at linebacker for the University of Arkansas, won two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the New Orleans Saints (and later rejoining the Steelers).

Winston came to Valley after working as the assistant coach/linebackers coach with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL in 2005-06.

Before that, he spent four seasons at Toledo and was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Kentucky State in 2000. He also had stops at Arkansas (1997-98), Grambling (1992-94, ’95-97), Norfolk State (1994-95), Arkansas State (1989-92), Slippery Rock (1988-89) and Grove City College (1987-88).

“We’re more aggressive on defense now,” Totten said. “We’ve got guys who get after it.”

That’s how Richardson saw Valley on tape.

“They can run on defense,” Richardson said. “Their down linemen aren’t real big, but they stay after it, a lot of pressure, a lot of blitzing.”

Valley had been known for superb linebackers in the last few seasons, like 2005 Defensive Player of the Year and 2006 All-SWAC first-teamer Tyler Knight.

Knight finished last season, and the Delta Devils had to replace him among six to seven starters on defense.

“This is the first year we went the junior-college route,” Totten said. “We knew we had a lot of holes to fill.”

Valley, in particular, strengthened the line with end Fred Poole, tackle Robert Austin and end Issac Jones.

Junior nose tackle Ronald Green, a first-team All-SWAC selection last season and on The Sports Network’s preseason All-American third team this season, and senior cornerback Pierre Marshall, a preseason All-SWAC selection, are back.

“We really got in the Pine Bluff backfield a lot,” Totten said.

It's Final! Former MEAC QB highest paid player in CFL

Photo: Quarter-back Casey Printers as former member of Kansas City Chiefs

Congratulations are in order for former Florida A&M University and MEAC quarterback Casey Printers. The former NFL quarterback returned to the CFL and inked a three year deal today, worth roughly $500,000 a season, with a fourth option year with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

"I'm well-compensated," Printers said at a news conference. "I don't know if I'm the highest-paid, but I am happy and that's the most important thing."

Casey Printers Joins Ti-Cats, Becomes CFL's Highest-Paid Player.

After assuming their perennial position at the bottom of the CFL's East Division for yet another year, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will try just about anything, and on Thursday that anything was throwing a whole bunch of money at Casey Printers.

The hard-luck club inked the former NFLer Thursday, with the two agreeing to terms on a three-year deal worth roughly $500,000 a season.

In U.S. football terms that might not be a lot of dough, but the deal makes Printers the highest-paid player in the CFL, surpassing Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray, who earns about $460,000.

Printers became a viable option for CFL clubs after the 26-year-old was released by the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the start of the NFL season. But in Canada Casey is still mighty, and there was no shortage of interest north of the border for the league's outstanding player in 2004.

Printers put up monster numbers that season, throwing for 5,088 yards and 35 touchdowns with the B.C. Lions.

Five CFL teams reportedly were interested in securing Printers, with Hamilton, Montreal and the Toronto Argonauts believed to be the frontrunners. Printers was reportedly ready to fly to Montreal and join the Als, but that was before the Ticats made him an offer he couldn't refuse, especially after spending last season on the Chiefs practice roster.

Coincidentally, Printers is the second ex-Chief to rejoin the CFL in the last week, after lanky slotback Marc Boerigter joined the Argos.

Printers said he thinks Hamilton was the best fit for him.

"The people here are hard-working, and that's the way I am," Printers said.

At first glance, the B.C. Lions seemed to be the most logical landing spot for Printers. However, he did ruffle the organization's feathers in '05 when there was a constant quarterback controversy regarding whether Printers or veteran Dave Dickenson would play. Also, Printers turned down a three-year, $1-million contract extension from the B.C. club before the start of the 2005 season, opting instead of leaving Vancouver in the off-season to sign a three-year deal with the Chiefs.

However, Printers never made an impact with the Chiefs, spending most of last year on the club's practice roster.

--Canadian Press, CityNews, ca and beepbeep

Norfolk State University 2007-08 Men's basketball schedule released

Photo: 6-4/220 G Tony Murphy, Jr., Paterson Eastside H.S., Paterson, NJ

NSU Sports Information

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University interim men’s basketball coach Anthony Evans released his team’s 2007-08 schedule on Thursday. The non-conference slate includes schools from nine different conferences and two in-state opponents.

“We’ve put together a good schedule with some very tough teams on it,” Evans said. “But I feel that as long as we play hard every game, we have a chance to be competitive with everyone we play.”

The Spartans tip off their 29-game regular season at the University of Richmond on Saturday, Nov. 10. The schools last met in the Spider Invitational championship game in 2002-03, with Richmond prevailing.

Next, NSU travels to Farmville, Va., to face Longwood on Nov. 13. The Lancers won the teams’ meeting last season, 65-54 in Echols Hall.

The Spartans close November with three more road games: at Central Florida on Nov. 16, at Nebraska on Nov. 20 and at Prairie View A&M on Nov. 26. The Spartans are 0-1 all-time vs. UCF, having lost to the Golden Knights in 2005-06. NSU has never faced Nebraska, but played two Big 12 opponents last season in Iowa State and Oklahoma. The matchup with Prairie View A&M will be the first-ever between the schools and NSU’s first game against a SWAC opponent since facing Alabama A&M in the 1995 Division II Elite Eight.

The Spartans open December with their first home game and the first MEAC contest of the year, against North Carolina A&T on Dec. 1. It will be NSU’s last home game until Jan. 7. The remainder of the December slate consists of road contests at Fairleigh Dickinson (Dec. 10), Air Force (Dec. 13), Campbell (Dec. 18), Evansville (Dec. 22) and Jacksonville State (Dec. 29).

The Spartans tip off the New Year with three straight home games, beginning with a matchup with North Carolina Central – in its first year of reclassifying to Division I – on Jan. 7. The final 17 games of the year are against MEAC opponents, beginning with home games vs. Coppin State (Jan. 12) and Morgan State (Jan. 14) and ending with a three-game road stretch at Howard (March 1), Hampton (March 3) and N.C. A&T (March 6).

Only 16 games against MEAC teams count in the conference standings. The two games against Winston-Salem State do not count in the conference standings because the Rams are not eligible for the MEAC Tournament. In the league’s unbalanced schedule, NSU will face Coppin State, Morgan State, Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman once each. The Spartans will play every other MEAC school twice.

The 2008 MEAC Tournament is March 11-15 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C.

November
Sat. 10 at Richmond, 7:30 p.m.
Tues. 13 at Longwood, 7 p.m.
Fri. 16 at Central Florida, 7 p.m.
Tues. 20 at Nebraska, 8 p.m.
Mon. 26 at Prairie View A&M, 8 p.m.

December
Sat. 1 vs. North Carolina A&T *, 6 p.m.
Mon. 10 at Fairleigh Dickinson, 7 p.m.
Thurs. 13 at Air Force, 10 p.m.
Tues. 18 at Campbell, 7 p.m.
Sat. 22 at Evansville, TBA
Sat. 29 at Jacksonville State, 5 p.m.

January
Mon. 7 vs. North Carolina Central^, 7 p.m.
Sat. 12 vs. Coppin State*, 6 p.m.
Mon. 14 vs. Morgan State*, 8 p.m.
Sat. 19 at Delaware State*, 4 p.m.
Mon. 21 at Maryland Eastern Shore*, 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 26 vs. South Carolina State*, 6 p.m.
Mon. 28 vs. Winston-Salem State, 8 p.m.

February
Sat. 2 vs. Hampton*, 6 p.m.
Mon. 4 vs. Howard*, 8 p.m.
Sat. 9 at Bethune-Cookman*, 4 p.m.
Mon. 11 at Florida A&M*, 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 16 Delaware State*, 6 p.m.
Mon. 18 Maryland Eastern Shore*, 8 p.m.
Sat. 23 at South Carolina State*, 4 p.m.
Mon. 25 at Winston-Salem State, 7:30 p.m.

March
Sat. 1 at Hampton*, 6 p.m.
Mon. 3 at Howard*, 8 p.m.
Thurs. 6 at North Carolina A&T*, 7:30 p.m.
Tues.-Sat. 11-15 MEAC Tournament (Raleigh, N.C.)

All times are Eastern and are subject to change
Home games in BOLD played at Joseph Echols Hall
^ Home game played separate from the women’s team
* Denotes MEAC game

Former FAMU QB Casey Printers now highest paid player in CFL

The report coming out of Canada this afternoon indicates that former Florida A&M University and MEAC quarterback Casey Printers has returned to the Canadian Football League to continue his pro football career. Printers had signed in February 2006 with the NFL Kansas City Chiefs and had remained on the practice squad. He was cut this past Saturday and was offered an opportunity to resign with the Chiefs as a practice squad player for the current season at about $200,000 annually. He was only activated for one game at the number three QB spot for the Chiefs during last season.

Printers gave the Chiefs a kindly good bye and was being courted by five of the seven CFL teams. It is reported that Printers has signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at about $500,000 per season, making him the highest paid player in the CFL. Hamilton out-bid both Montreal and Toronto for the services of the 26-year veteran quarterback.

Printers player previously for the British Columbia Lions from 2003 to 2005 and was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2004. He is considered a franchise player in both skills and the ability to put butts in seats in the CFL.

For more information on this developing story, please check back later.

-beepbeep

Grambling vs. University of Pittsburgh

Grambling State Sports Information

After an impressive season-opening win against Alcorn State last week in Mississippi, the Grambling State Tigers return to the drawing board for a huge test against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and BIG EAST member Pittsburgh.

Saturday’s game will mark the first time in nearly 40 years that Grambling State will return to the steel city. The Tigers will square off against the Panthers in Heinz Field, which is also the home of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers.

LAST WEEK’S RESULT: GSU 31, ALCORN STATE 10, SEPT. 1, 2007

In a debut that couldn’t have been scripted any better, the Grambling State Tigers dominated all three facets of the game as the Tigers rolled past Alcorn State 31-10 in the debut of GSU head coach Rod Broadway on Saturday night in Jack Spinks Stadium on the campus of Alcorn State University.

After two possessions, GSU wasted no time on its third series of the first quarter as junior quarterback Brandon Landers hit a streaking Reginald Jackson for 44 yards to score the first touchdown in the Broadway era. In the second quarter, Landers connected with Clyde Edwards on a 4-yard score. The PAT by Tim Manuel was good and GSU upped its lead to 14-0. After a fumble recovery late in the half, GSU moved ahead 17-0 after a 22-yard field goal by Manuel with 24 seconds left in the half.

Ahead 17-0 entering the second half, the Tigers picked up where they left off of Jackson’s 69-yard touchdown pass for a 24-0 lead. ASU added a field goal with 5:41 left in the third quarter to find the scoreboard but the Tigers once again responded with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Landers to Edwards. ASU added a late touchdown in the final quarter but it was too little too late.

Offensively, GSU netted 479 yards (303 P, 176 R) of total offense while ASU finished with 255 (155 P, 100 R). Freshman Frank Warren rushed for 143 yards on 30 carries while Landers was 19-of-36 for 303 yards and four TDs. Jackson had a career-high 198 yards on six receptions and two touchdowns.

ABOUT THE TIGERS

Grambling State opened a lot of eyes last weekend after dismantling the Alcorn State Braves 31-10 before more than 16,000 spectators in Alcorn State, Miss. In addition, the Tigers also debuted new offensive and defensive schemes and had plenty of success on both sides of the ball en route to capturing their first season opener since 2005.

After one week of play, the offensive stars for Grambling State were senior wideout Reginald Jackson, freshman running back Frank Warren and quarterback Brandon Landers. Defensively, linebacker John Carter led the way with six tackles while defensive end John Scroggins and defensive back Brandon Logan posted four each.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Rod Broadway, the Tigers feature an abundance of youth on the roster in addition to 33 letterwinners and 13 starters.
Despite finishing 3-8 in 2006, the Tigers were picked to finish second in the SWAC West during the annual preseason poll in addition to four preseason All-SWAC selections.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS

Pittsburgh opened the 2007 season with a 27-3 victory over Eastern Michigan in non-conference action last Saturday at Heinz Field. Although the Panthers walked away with the win, they suffered a huge loss on the field as starting quarterback Bill Stull suffered a thumb injury that required surgery.

As a result, the Panthers will rely on a green quarterback but whomever assumes the position will have an experienced offensive lineup to work with as the Panthers return eight starters from the 2006 campaign. Defensively, six Panther starters are back from last season.
Under the guidance of former NFL head coach Dave Wannstedt, Pittsburgh was picked to finish sixth in the BIG EAST this season after finishing sixth with a 6-6 record in 2006.

BIG EAST Ties

Saturday’s contest marks GSU’s first-ever match-up against an opponent who’s a current member of the BIG EAST conference. However, it won’t mark the first time GSU has played a team with BIG EAST ties as they’ve battled current member Louisville and former member Temple in the past.

While a member of Conference USA in 2000, GSU traveled to the state of Kentucky to meet Louisville in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The Cardinals won 52-0 against former head coach Doug Williams.

Grambling State holds a 1-1 record against former BIG EAST member Temple. GSU lost the inaugural match-up 31-30 in 1976 in Philadelphia before winning the rematch 35-32 in 1977 during the Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, Japan.

PLAYING UP

This marks the fourth time in five years that Grambling State will face an opponent from the Football Bowl Subdivision ranks. Last year, GSU played eventual Conference USA champion the University of Houston and fell 42-22. In 2005, GSU ventured to Seattle, Wash. and took on Washington State at Qwest Field en route to a 48-7 defeat. During the 2003 campaign, GSU opened the season on national television (ESPN2) against San Jose State in the Literacy Classic. The Tigers lost 29-0 on the road.

Pitt won’t be the only FBS program GSU will face in 2007 as they’ll battle in-state foe and Sun Belt Conference member Louisiana at Monroe on Nov. 10.

GSU vs. FBS OPPONENTS

While the world buzzed about fellow FCS member Appalachian State’s win over FBS power Michigan last weekend, GSU has also had success playing larger opponents in the past. GSU defeated Temple in 1977 and holds a 2-0 record versus Oregon State of the Pac-10 Conference.
However, Pittsburgh has done its part when it comes to FCS opponents. The Panthers sport a 6-0 all-time record against FCS teams and average 45.2 points in those six games along with two shutouts. Only Villanova in 1998 (48-41) and Furman (41-38 OT) in 2004 have come close to beating the Panthers.

RETURN TO THE STEEL CITY

Thirty-six years have elapsed since Grambling State played in the city of Pittsburgh. On Sept. 12, 1970, the Tigers battled Morgan State University in Three Rivers Stadium in the Renaissance Football Classic. GSU was successful as they won 38-12.

ALMOST LIKE HOME

While some teams get caught up in the hoopla of playing in an NFL Facility, it’s almost second nature to Grambling State as the Tigers are guaranteed of playing in at least one NFL venue per year.

Annually, GSU plays in the Louisiana Superdome in the State Farm Bayou Classic against rival Southern University on Thanksgiving weekend. In 2005, GSU played at Qwest Field in Seattle, Wash. against Washington State in addition to Reliant Stadium in Houston versus Southern.

HISTORY NOT WORTH REPEATING

Grambling State’s 3-8 finish in 2006 marked its worst record since the 1997 season when the Tigers finished the season 3-8.

Losing seasons are rare as Grambling State hasn’t loss more than six games in a season since identical 3-8 seasons in 1996 and 1997. GSU has only posted nine seasons since 1950 with a losing record.

BROADWAY IN SEPTEMBER

The month of September has been generous to head coach Rod Broadway as he’s 15-2 in the month.

Broadway posted back-to-back 3-1 September records in 2003 and 2004 before netting consecutive 4-0 campaigns in 2005 and 2006.

GATOR REUNION

Tiger head coach Rod Broadway and current Pitt receivers coach Aubrey Hill were on the same staff at the University of Florida from 1996-98.

Broadway served as the Gators’ defensive line coach while Hill was a graduate assistant. Together, they were apart of a staff headed by Steve Spurrier that helped Florida win the 1996 national championship.

In addition, both coaches also made stops in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Duke. Broadway was at Duke from 1981 to 1994 while Hill coached at Duke from 1999 to 2003.

CLYDE’S TIME TO GLIDE

Senior wide receiver Clyde Edwards is quietly closing in on several marks as he closes out his career at Grambling State.

The senior from Houston, Texas is tied for 11th among SWAC All-Time receiving leaders with an 11-touchdown performance last season and currently ranks 13th among the SWAC’s career receiving leaders with 2,412 yards. In addition, he has caught at least one pass in 27 consecutive games dating back to his freshman season and enters the 2007 season ranked as the 7th best receiver in the Football Championship Subdivision by The Sports Network.

An honor student in the classroom (3.9 GPA), here are the records Edwards is within reach of:

Needs 739 yards to surpass Scotty Anderson (3,182) as Grambling State’s all-time leader in receiving yards.

Needs 9 touchdowns to surpass Anderson (35) as the Tigers’ all-time leader for career receiving touchdowns.

Needs 51 receptions to become GSU’s all-time leader in receptions. Tramon Douglas leads with 193.

Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band

WSSU Rams face Coastal Carolina next

WSSU Sports Information

WINSTON-SALEM, NC -

Game Details...The Winston-Salem State University Rams (1-0) versus the Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers (0-1) at James C. Benton Field at Brooks Stadium (7,322) in Conway, South Carolina on September 8, 2007 at 7:00 pm.

The Event....The second game of the season for both teams. The Rams enter into the contest sporting a 1-0 record overall as they defeated the North Carolina A&T State University "Aggies" on September 1, 2007 by the score of 28-7 at Bowman Gray Stadium. The Chanticleers, a team who entered into the 2007 ranked in all four national polls, dropped a close 23-18 decision to the Hornets of Delaware State University on Saturday afternoon in Dover, Delaware. The Rams look to try to win back-to-back games to open the season for the first time since 2000 while the Chanticleers look to prevent posting a pair of losses to open the season for the first time in the program's history.

The Series...The series between the two teams is a new one as WSSU and Coastal Carolina have met only one other time prior to this Saturday's contest. The Chanticleers and Rams met last season in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at Bowman Gray Stadium where Coastal Carolina earned a 31-12 win over WSSU. The Chants own the 1-0 series advantage all-time and Saturday's contest will mark WSSU's first trip to Brooks Stadium in Conway, SC.

Series Reloaded...Last season's meeting between the two teams marked the first time in history that the two teams had ever met. The Rams enter into Saturday's contest with a 65-year record of 335-245-21 overall while Coastal Carolina, a program in its relative infancy, enters the contest with a four-year record of 34-11 overall. Despite the program's relative youth, the Chanticleers captured back-to-back-to-back Big South Conference football titles in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Television Coverage...There is no national television coverage for this contest.


Radio Coverage...This weekend's contest will be available to listeners in the greater Winston-Salem, NC area live on WSNC, 90.5 FM with Maurice "Big Mo" Stanfield calling all the play-by-play action and Ted Fichialos providing the color commentary, as well as live nationally on the internet at www.WSSU.edu by clicking on the link: "Listen to WSNC." The Chanticleers will air the game on 93.9 FM "The Fan." Fans can also listen to the game on both Coastal Carolina (www.GOCCUSPORTS.com) and WSSU's (www.WSSURAMS.com) Athletic Websites. For the Chanticleers Layne Harris will provide the color commentary with Matt Hogue calling all the play-by-play as Joe Cashion covers the sidelines and mans the pre-game action.

Live Statistical Broadcast Online...A live statistical broadcast of the game, utilizing CSTV's "Gametracker" statistical software will be available on the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com. Fans may access the live stats by visiting the WSSU Football schedule page and clicking on the "Gametracker" link. As well, Coastal Carolina will broadcast live statistics via the CCU Athletic Website at www.GOCCUSPORTS.com.

Weather Forecast...Saturday's contest is set to be played in good weather as the forecast calls for high temperatures of 83 degrees with a low of 73 degrees and only a 10% chance of precipitation under partly cloudy skies. Humidity is slated to be 77% with winds out of the Northeast at 12 miles per hour with a UV index of seven (high). Sunrise will take place at 6:54 am Eastern and will set at 7:33 pm Eastern.

Setting The Scene...The match up between the Rams and Chanticleers is very important for both teams. The Rams are looking to avenge last season's loss to Coastal Carolina and WSSU is searching for a win over a seasoned NCAA-playoff participant. Coastal Carolina is looking to earn its first win of the season as they try to prevent from starting a season at 0-2 for the first time in the program's history. The Rams and Chants are both storied football programs that have captured multiple conference titles yet have met only one other time prior to Saturday's contest.

The Coaches...The Rams are coached by 15th-year man Kermit Blount. Blount has posted an impressive 82-64-3 record at WSSU and has led the Rams to two CIAA titles (1999 and 2000). He has posted an 0-1 record versus Coastal Carolina since taking over as head of the WSSU football program in 1993 but has never beaten David Bennett, the Chanticleer's head coach. The Chanticleers are led by David Bennett, a 1984 graduate of Presbyterian who has been at the helm of the Coastal Carolina football program since its inception four years ago. Bennett has led Coastal Carolina to a 34-12 overall record and three consecutive Big South Conference Championships. He is 1-0 versus WSSU and 1-0 versus current WSSU head coach Kermit Blount.

Next Up...The Rams bid a fond farewell to the friendly confines of Bowman Gray Stadium as they will embark on a six-game, seven-week road swing that will see them return to Winston-Salem, NC for a home contest on October 27, 2007 as they play host to the nationally-ranked Pirates of Hampton University. First up for the Rams will be another nationally-ranked team as WSSU heads out of conference to face the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC. The two teams have met only one other time (2006) and CCU leads the all-time series 1-0. Following the game versus the Chanticleers, the Rams will head to Baltimore, Maryland to face a team that they have never lined up against in the Bears of Morgan State University.

2006 Results...The Rams are coming off of a 2006 season in which they made their first foray into competition at the Division I-Football Championship Subdivision level. WSSU posted an impressive 4-7 overall record and recorded wins over MEAC opponents NC A&T and Howard while narrowly losing to fellow MEAC members Hampton, Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M.

Rankings...Neither team is ranked in any of the four major Division I-FCS national football polls although Coastal Carolina is receiving votes. The Chanticleers started the season ranked in the Top-25 in three major polls but have since dropped out after falling in defeat to the Hornets of Delaware State University last weekend (31-28 in Dover, DE).

The Last Meeting...The last meeting between the two teams came during the 2006 season as the Rams fell in defeat to the nationally-ranked Chanticleers by the score of 31-12 in Winston-Salem, NC. CCU's Tyler Thigpen recorded four touchdown passes to three different receivers as the Chanticleers cruised to the win. The Rams struck first in the contest as Brandon McRae capped a six-play 80-yard touchdown drive with a 46-yard touchdown run yet the Rams could not hang on as Thigpen and All-American wide receiver Jerome Simpson gave Coastal Carolina a 1-0 lead in the all-time series.

A Win This Week Would...

...give the Rams their second win of the 2007 season and move Winston-Salem State to 2-0 overall.

...give WSSU head coach Kermit Blount his 83rd win at WSSU putting him two wins ahead of Thomas "Tank" Conrad in sole possession of second place on the WSSU all-time win list (behind only Bill Hayes with an all-time best 89 wins).

...earn the Rams their sixth win over a Division I opponent since making the move to Division I-FCS in 2006.

...earn the Rams their seventh win as an NCAA Division I-FCS program.

...drop the Chanticleers to 0-2 this season and move them to 0-2 for the first time in school history.

...pull current WSSU head coach Kermit Blount's overall record versus Coastal Carolina to 1-1 overall.

...give the Rams their first victory in the State of South Carolina since a 2000 victory over South Carolina State (39-28)

On The Plus Side Again...Dating back to the Rams' first game in recorded history (which came in 1941), WSSU had posted an overall record of 31-31-4 in season openers until last weekend's season-opening victory moved WSSU to 32-31-4 in "first games" of the season. The win was important to the Rams because as of late history had not been kind to the Rams as they had dropped five consecutive season-openers dating back to the 2001 season before last Saturday's win over the Aggies.

Sibling Rivalry...WSSU freshman quarterback Tienne Jefferson (Washington, D.C./Fork Union Military Academy) is no stranger to the competition that he will face this season in the MEAC as his brother Theo is a safety for the Delaware State University Hornets.

Ram Family...WSSU freshman linebacker Colby Morris (Elizabeth City, NC/Northeastern) won't be homesick during his freshman season with the Rams as he brought a little piece of home with him. In fact Colby brought a big piece of home with him as he brought his brother Corey to WSSU. The 6'10", 255-pound Corey Morris will play basketball for the Rams this season and is one of WSSU's most highly recruited players.

The Ties That Bind...WSSU and Coastal Carolina are no strangers to one another, despite playing for only the second time in history on Saturday as Keith James, the Chanticleer's running backs coach and academic advisor is both a graduate of, and former coach at, Winston-Salem State University. James is a 1989 graduate of WSSU and helped to lead the Rams to the 1988 CIAA Championship game where he was named the game's MVP. Not only was he a player at WSSU but James was also a coach as he spent six years on the Rams' football staff under Kermit Blount before moving on to Coastal Carolina.

In, But Not Completely...Though the Rams are considered a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference they are unable to compete for a championship until the 2009 season (per NCAA mandates). The Rams will play a full slate of MEAC games but will be ineligible for a conference title, ineligible for postseason awards and will not be listed in the MEAC statistics at seasons' end.

Getting There...The Rams will officially open the brand new, state-of-the-art WSSU Athletic Fieldhouse on Friday, November 2, 2007, one day prior to WSSU's Homecoming game versus Delaware State. The new 12,000 square foot building, which is projected to cost 5.1 million dollars will house many of the WSSU Athletic Department's Administrative Offices, the Football staff and the Sports Medicine and Strength and Conditioning Offices.

Back For The Last Time...WSSU fifth-year senior running back Jed Bines (Winston-Salem, NC/Parkland) has rejoined the team for his final year of eligibility in 2007 after sitting out 2006 to focus on academics. Bines is a welcome addition to the Rams' backfield as he recorded 964 yards on 166 carries in 2005 and led the team with nine touchdowns. Bines sits fourth in all-time rushing yards at WSSU with 2,800 yards on 332 carries. He also ranks sixth in rushing touchdowns with 28.

Climbing The Record Books...Fifth-year senior running back Jed Bines moved up two places on the Rams' all-time rushing yardage chart last weekend as he moved from sixth place (2,675 yards on 316 carries) to fourth place (2,800 yards on 332 carries) with a 125-yard performance against North Carolina A&T. Bines vaulted past Marvin Morrison and Broderick Graves following his 100-p;us yard output versus the Aggies.

100-Yard Games In Bunches...Running back Jed Bines recorded the 16th 100-yard rushing game of his career last Saturday when he tallied 125 yards rushing against the Aggies. Bines had five 100-yard games in 2005, six 100-yard games in 2004 and four 100-yard games in 2003. Jed sat out last season to focus on academics.

Homecooking...The Rams like to recruit local talent. Winston-Salem State University has 59 players on the roster from the State of North Carolina as more than half of the team is playing in the state in which they reside. WSSU has 10 players from South Carolina, four from the District of Columbia, four from Virginia, two from Georgia, and one each from the states of Florida and Pennsylvania.

Injury Update...Players who are listed as OUT for Saturday's game are: Montez Ham, a 5'11", 180-pound wide receiver who is out with a right ankle injury; Edward Jordan, a 6'0", 330-pound offensive lineman who is out with a right knee injury; Jared Mitchell, a 6'3", 185-pound free safety who is out with a left knee injury; and Murrell Streeter, Jr., a 5'10", 220-pound linebacker who is still recovering from having his appendix out. Players who are listed as QUESTIONABLE are: Corei Plummer, a 5'11", 262-pound offensive lineman who is questionable with a right knee injury. Players who are PROBABLE for Saturday's game are: Julian Gray, a 6'4", 275-pound offensive lineman who is probable with a left knee injury.

Understanding The Injury Chart...The Rams use the National Football League's injury chart model which separates injuries into four categories: (1) "Out" which indicates that a player will not play in the upcoming game and will not be dressed for the contest. (2) "Doubtful" which indicates that a player will have only a 25% chance of playing. (3) "Questionable" which indicates that a player will have a 50% chance of playing, and (4) "Probable" which indicates that the player has a 75% chance of playing.

2007 Circle City Classic...The Rams have accepted an invitation to participate in the 2007 Circle City Classic in Indianapolis, Indiana the weekend of October 5-6, 2007. The Rams will face the Rattlers of Florida A&M University in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis as WSSU looks to avenge last season's loss to FAMU, a contest in which the Rattlers rallied from a late fourth-quarter deficit to sneak out a 35-21 win.

Coastal's Offense Comes In Bunches...Whether this year's Coastal Carolina team is similar to last year's offensive juggernaut remains to be seen, however, the Chanticleers racked up 411 points last season while giving up less than 300 (297). The Chants averaged 34.2 points per game last season en route to another NCAA Division I-FCS playoff appearance.

Able To Break For The Long One...Headed into the Coastal Carolina game the Rams have broken out for five big plays (which the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations defines as plays 20 yards or longer in length). WSSU has four rushing plays of 20 yards or longer and one interception return for 20 yards or longer.

Touchdowns Come Fast...The Rams have four offensive touchdowns this season and have amassed a total scoring drive time of 10:59 (659 seconds) over those four scoring drives. WSSU is averaging only 3:14 per scoring drive with the longest touchdown drive of the season taking 4:30 (a 92-yard, eight-play drive against North Carolina A&T) and the shortest TD drive taking only 1:38 (an 80-yard, five-lay scoring drive versus North Carolina A&T).

Haven't Broken For The Home Run Ball...The Rams have yet to record a big play (20 yards or more) via air this season. However, the Rams have recorded scoring catches of 19 and 16 yards and had a 70 yard pass reception by Michael Scarbrough nullified by a holding penalty.

Hanging On To It More...The Rams are averaging 4.76 play per drive this season and have scored three of their four touchdowns on drives of six plays or more. Despite the low number of plays that it has taken for WSSU to find the endzone, the Rams are still averaging almost half a play more than their opponents (4.53 plays per drive).

Hasn't Happened Yet, But Almost...Since the Rams' transition to NCAA Division I-FCS, WSSU has not had a game in which they have recorded two 100-yard rushers in the same contest. That streak of 12 games was almost snapped last weekend versus the Aggies of North Carolina A&T State University when Jed Bines recorded 125 net yards rushing and Brandon McRae tallied 85 net yards rushing.

Not Bad For A Defensive Back...The Rams' punter, junior defensive back Jamaine Mack, is turning in quite a punting average as he fills in as the Rams punter. Mack has recorded seven punts for 250 yards for an average of 35.7 yards per punt.

Doubling-Up Opponents...Thus far this season the Rams have doubled-up their opponents in terms of rushing yardage. WSSU has tallied 286 yards rushing while yielding only 143 yards of ground yardage to their opponents.

Next Opponent On Top...The Rams' next opponent, the Morgan State University Bears, currently sit atop of the MEAC standings with a 1-0 record and 47 points scored with seven points allowed.

WSSU Head Coach Kermit Blount

What are your general thoughts on the team coming off last week's win and heading into Saturday's game at Coastal Carolina?

Well I think coming off of last week's game, the spirits are good, the work habits haven't changed. We're not going to let them change as coaches. One of the things that we told the football team after the game was that we have to play two times better going to Coastal Carolina than we did last week at Bowman Gray. I think that our kids have bought into our commitment to be the best that we can possibly be when we play and we're looking forward to the challenge this weekend.

What do you know about the Chanticleers other than that they beat you at home last season?

That's a pretty good football team in Conway right now. [Coastal Carolina ] Coach [David] Bennett and I had a conversation the other day and of course he's saying that he's struggling a little bit with his loss to Delaware State. But I know what that's all about. This is going to be a good football team. They're going to be well coached. They're not going to turn the ball over and we're going to have to compete for four quarters to get a win.

SU Coates bursts onto national TV

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Teammates kept gently chiming the ESPN SportsCenter theme music as they walked by.

It’s nice to be Southern’s Darren Coates these days. It’s real nice to be Southern’s Darren Coates after going 90 yards for a touchdown on the first offensive play in his first start.

The burst, up the middle of the line and down the right sideline, made ESPN’s nightly top 10 as well as a college football recap top 10 later.

The telephone calls started coming as the Jaguars rode home Saturday night after their 33-27 victory over Florida A&M in Birmingham, Ala.

“The coaches came to the back of the bus where I was and told me about it,” Coates said. “It was a very exciting moment for me.”

The play — as well as the SportsCenter recognition — was reminiscent of the way Southern started its magical 2003 season, with Ezra Landry taking the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown in a 29-0 romp over Mississippi Valley State.

Sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee, in his third start, told Coates to score before the offense took the field.

“I guess he knew what the play was going to be,” Coates said. “He told me from jump, ‘I’m going to hand you the ball, and it’s up to you to take it to the house.’ We got good blocks by our offensive linemen. The hole was open, so I just had to make a move and take it to the house.”

SU coach Pete Richardson said the TD run for a young team coming off two losing seasons “kind of psyched them up.”

Coates, a senior, had totaled 119 yards and one touchdown last season. Those were his only career stats, and 52 of those yards and his only touchdown came in the season-ending Bayou Classic.

Saturday, Coates had 142 yards and two touchdowns, adding a 3-yard plunge for the go-ahead score midway through the third quarter, on just 10 rushes — 14.2 yards per carry. That one-game performance already bettered the best from last season, Kendall Addison’s 133 yards against Texas Southern.

Coates’ day confirmed the difference made by the combination of his offseason work, the jolt of confidence from the end of last season and the addition of first-year running backs coach Elvis Joseph.

Coates looked like a different back — in body type and in running style — in preseason camp, and the improvements showed Saturday.

“Only good things can happen for him if our offensive line can hold up without any major injuries,” Richardson said.

Powered by Coates, Southern totaled 238 rushing yards. That total is better than the season-best 236 in the win over Texas Southern last season.

What’s more, in the season opener a year ago, SU had 1 yard on 20 carries in a 30-29 victory over Bethune-Cookman College (and the Jaguars totaled 226 yards on 113 carries, never breaking 100 yards, in their first four games).

Ahead comes a big challenge.

Valley clamped down on two of the conference’s best running backs, Martel Mallett (23 yards on five carries) and Mickey Dean (19 yards on nine carries) in a 16-9 win Saturday.

The Delta Devils also made four sacks and recovered two fumbles.

Southern (1-0) faces Valley (1-0, 1-0 SWAC) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Soldier Field in Chicago.

“They look to put everybody in the box (the area near the line of scrimmage), really like FAMU, with fast linebackers, bring it, push everybody to the ball,” Coates said. “So we have to bring the same intensity.”