SCSU Pough excited for return to Williams-Brice

By Lou Bezjak , SCnow.com

Buddy Pough knows this isn’t a normal game week.
With the extra media at his weekly press conference and practice, the S.C. State coach can sense the buildup for the Bulldogs’ first game in school history against No. 17 South Carolina on Saturday.

“It has been an unbelievable atmosphere,” Pough said Tuesday during the MEAC teleconference. “It’s neat that the kids can compete in a venue that is as exciting as Williams-Brice.”

S.C. State’s fans are sharing in the excitement. The school went through its allotted 3,000 tickets, given to them by South Carolina, very quickly. When the school received 1,500 more in August, they were scooped up in less than a week.
“It’s almost going to be like a home game for us with our fans coming there to see us,” Pough said.

Pough is no stranger to Williams-Brice Stadium. He was an assistant with the Gamecocks under Lou Holtz from 1999-2001. He was in charge of the running backs and coached Troy Hambrick and Derek Watson during his time there.

“It was an enjoyable time for me and my family to coach there,” Pough said. “I look forward to going back there this weekend.”

While Pough was at USC, the Gamecocks made back-to-back trips to the Outback Bowl and were close to competing for SEC titles both years.

Current coach Steve Spurrier, who is in his third year at USC, has said he believes he has a team that could contend for the school’s first SEC championship.
“I think so,” Pough said. “Spurrier has the best credibility and has been honest since he got there, and I think right now he believes he can do it.

“We were close, winning those two Outback Bowls. We had a shot. And when you get that close and you have been successful, it’s not a big stretch to think you can compete.”

Pough said he hopes his team can match up with the Bulldogs this weekend. S.C. State’s spread shotgun offense might give USC trouble like the team had in its opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Ragin’ Cajuns racked up 315 yards of offense, including 252 on the ground. Quarterback Michael Desormeaux did most of the damage, rushing for 116 yards.
Bulldogs quarterback Cleveland McCoy is of the same mold, presenting a dual threat to the South Carolina defense. McCoy rushed for more than 400 yards and threw for more than 1,200 each of the past two seasons.

“We feel like we can go in and compete,” Pough said. “We might try and do some things that (Louisiana-Lafayette coach) Ricky Bustle did and were successful with.
“But we want to set up a scheme that will give us the best chance for success Saturday.”

Notes
Pough said safety Marshall McFadden is out for Saturday’s game. McFadden, a former Lamar standout, will miss two to three weeks after he hyperextended his knee Saturday against Bethune-Cookman. McFadden is tied for third on the team with 12 tackles. ... Pough said running back Will Ford is questionable for Saturday’s game. ... The Bulldogs will receive $230,000 from USC for playing the game. The teams will meet again in 2011.

SCSU 'X' Factor

Photo: SCSU defensive end Xavier Littleberry, a former Clemson Tiger, is looking forward to Saturday's game against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

By BRIAN LINDER, T&D Sports Editor

Remember 2004?

Xavier Littleberry does. In 2004, he was on Clemson’s sidelines when the Gamecocks and Tigers butted heads in a brawl that made national headlines. It was an ugly chapter in a rivalry that Littleberry was thrown into the middle of the second he signed on the dotted line to become a Tiger. It was a rivalry he counted on, and a rivalry that was taken away the day he was dismissed from Clemson’s team ... or so he thought.

Saturday, Littleberry, who had 1.5 sacks in last week’s 24-13 win over Bethune-Cookman, will take his first snaps against South Carolina when his South Carolina State Bulldogs take the short trip up I-26 to face the Gamecocks. If it was ever a secret that he’s not a Carolina fan, well, it isn’t anymore.

"I will tell coach (Buddy) Pough, he should know how I feel about this game," the Bulldogs’ defensive end said. "I told my position coach (David Blanchard) yesterday and my defensive coordinator (John Hendrick) ... I am ready.

"The brawl itself is a real good reason that I can’t wait for this weekend," he added. "When I first got here, I started figuring out there was a rivalry between them and South Carolina State too."

It doesn’t matter that this will be the first time the two schools have met on the football field, Littleberry said the close proximity makes it a rivalry nonetheless.

"I think (the distance) is why," he said. "And, then it’s a real big game for us. Nobody on our team likes South Carolina.

"Before I got here, they were telling me they were going to try to schedule South Carolina for this year, and I was happy about that," he continued. "I was transferring, and I had other (Division I) offers, but two of my coaches that coached me at Clemson wanted me to come here so I felt comfortable because they were here. They were telling me about South Carolina being on the schedule, and I felt real good about that because I was like, ‘Oh, I’m at Clemson now, and we don’t like them. If I go to South Carolina State, I’ll still have a chance to play them.’"

So, Saturday Littleberry will take his first snaps against South Carolina (he didn’t play in the brawl game, and sat out the 05 season), and he will take them with bad intentions.

"Saturday, I set a goal for at least four sacks," he said. "If I can go out there and get two or three sacks and maybe three tackles, that is a good game for me. I am 100 percent the whole game. I am a little messed up in my wrist, but I don’t care. As long as I beat up Blake Mitchell that is a perfect game for me. I want to shine and just put on a show.

"My true pass-rush skill is going to shine this game," he continued. "If (Mitchell) wants to have a big game, I don’t think he should hold the ball for more than three or four seconds because I am most definitely coming. I watched film on both of their tackles, I play right end, but their left tackle -- he looked athletic -- but he is still, my speed -- I am 260 pounds and I run a low 4.6 40. He is 300-something pounds, and I am going to try to make him work this game."

Bulletin board material, but Littleberry said he didn’t care about that. Everything that has happened over the past three years has built up into the perfect storm of emotion inside the former recruit from Camden Military. This was a game he was supposed to play in four times, not once. And, while he said he still has some Clemson blood running through his veins, he isn’t shy when it comes to talking about the sour taste his dismissal from the Tigers has left in his mouth.

"I am doing real good (at SC State)," he said. "I still think about what happened ... my last days at Clemson, and I don’t want to get into too much detail. But, the whole thing was a fluke. My thing was, if coach (Tommy) Bowden didn’t want me there all he had to do was tell me. I got into an incident in 04, and that kind of had some lean into him releasing me from the team, but the other incident was ‘BS’. People can think what they want and say what they want. But, unless they were actually there ... and, then all they have to do is read about what happened and pay attention."

Thankfully, that’s all behind him now and Saturday -- if things go the way he wants them to -- he could put a whole lot of "what might have beens" to rest.

"First of all, that feeling, I came from that environment," he said. "The feeling of going back to that environment ... it’s going to feel like I never left. We don’t have to worry about the options and the quarterback scrambling and all that stuff. I think my game is really going to come out.

"Everybody has been saying we could be the next App State," he added. "I really agree. I really feel like we can beat these cats."

Gamecocks not taking anything (SCSU) for granted

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

In terms of favorable rankings, the South Carolina State football team and head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough enjoy a higher rating with Steve Spurrier these days than ESPN’s "College Gameday".

The University of South Carolina head football coach made a guest appearance on Pough’s highlight show Sunday, just six days prior to the two squaring off at Williams-Brice Stadium. On Tuesday, Spurrier said he was very much looking forward to the first-ever meeting between the two schools separated by only 40 miles.

"They’ve got a bunch of good athletes," he said. "They’ve got a bunch of guys who can play for us. I know that. And I’m sure they’re be excited to play their very best and do everything to beat us. But we’re really looking forward to the game too."

So much so that Spurrier said he would have scheduled the Bulldogs if he was Gamecocks’ head coach 10-12 years ago. Although fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school Florida A&M never faced the University of Florida teams during Spurrier’s 11-year tenure, he did face and defeat Palmetto State Football Championship Subdivision teams Furman (27-3 in 1990) and The Citadel (49-10 in 1993).

"I think it’s a good game," he said. "Instead of bringing in a team like (Lafayette-Louisiana), bring South Carolina State, Wofford. Do we play Furman in the next year or two? If they beat us, they beat us. I see a lot of coaches always worry about somebody beating you. Everyone of the schedule can beat you just about. So, it’s in-state. What’s the difference? It doesn’t bother me the way I read it bother some other coaches.

"I think it’s a good game. Buddy Pough said it’s wonderful for their program and, shoot, whatever we can do to financially maybe help those guys out, other Division I-AA schools, heck, we should do that I think."

While the oddsmakers may see the undefeated, 17th-ranked Gamecocks (2-0, 1-0) as capable of producing such a one-sided outcome against the Bulldogs (1-1, 1-0) enroute to next week’s showdown with second-ranked LSU, Spurrier cautioned about assuming his team has reached the level where it can overlook opponents.

"We’re not good enough to be overconfident," he said. "We’re not a big powerhouse here that think we can pick our opponents.

"Every win is precious to the South Carolina football team. We don’t take anything for granted, because none of them are for granted. We have to scratch and claw and make a few goal line stands and force field goals and all that kind of stuff so far. So we’ll be ready to play Saturday night. We’re looking forward to it. We’re not very happy with the way we played and the coaches aren’t very pleased with the way their players have performed either."

So displeased with his special teams’ play against Georgia that Spurrier said he plans to use starting running backs Mike Davis and Corey Boyd and even linebackers Jasper and Casper Brinkley as part of the kick return and coverage teams. Spurrier also voiced displeasure with his team’s mistake-prone play on both sides of the football.

He was particularly vocal about his offensive line’s struggles in pass protection and whether they can be effective against SCSU and the wide receivers’ inability to get open against man-to-man coverage.

"Georgia found out they could play man-to-man on us the whole game," he said. "The whole second half, they were just bump-and-run, man-to-man saying ‘you guys can’t get away from our guys’ and they were pretty much right. So, South Carolina State, their DBs may say ‘Hey, we can cover those dudes they got. Coach, let us have a go at that. So, that maybe the plan."

Spurrier did want to clarify critical comments regarding his defense attributed to him by ESPN College GameDay’s Chris Fowler. During Saturday’s telecast, Fowler quoted Spurrier as calling his defense ‘a bunch of average stiffs’.

"I don’t appreciate the guy misquoting what I say," Spurrier said. "If he can’t get it correct, then maybe he shouldn’t talk about South Carolina. Let him talk about all them other teams. But I never called a group of our players (that). I’d call our entire team a bunch of average stiffs."

A victory would move the Gamecocks (517-517-44) to the .500 mark in its 114-year history of football, but Spurrier knows the Bulldogs are motivated to pull off what would be the biggest win in the program’s 100-year history.

"We know they want to beat us," he said. "They want to beat us badly. This is a chance to create a memory of a lifetime if they come in here and beat us and they could beat us. They could beat us. Sometimes, the way we play we could lose to these guys. We know that."

FORMER HAWK MOVED

University of South Carolina strong safety Brandon Isaac of Blackville-Hilda will back up Saturday’s defensive hero, safety Darian Stewart against SCSU.

The sophomore safety Stewart had a team-high nine tackles and two pass breakups against Georgia. Isaac, who had a stellar game in the season-opener against Louisiana-Lafayette and is making a return from a shoulder injury which sidelined him last season, injured it again against Georgia but did return.

LS-WHO?

With exception to a hand-written 2007 schedule on the board behind him, Spurrier did his best not to give an impression his team was looking ahead to Sept. 22 against Louisiana State.

"Most of my guys don’t know who we’re playing next week," he said. "Go ask a few of them."

Both Boyd and linebacker Rodney Paulk, a former Richland Northeast teammate of SCSU center Raymond ‘Duck’ Harrison, just happened to be in attendance and stood by the same company line.

"We’re definitely trying to focus on this week," Boyd said. "We’re not focusing on LSU. That’s another week ahead. But we’re going to take the South Carolina State game and we’re going sit back and see exactly what they have to offer, what they’re going to bring to the table and we’re not going to overlook them. We’re going to play to the best of our ability. We’re not going to pay attention to the rankings right now because you can be in there one time and the next week, we can be out. So we’re going to let the pollsters do what they have to do and we’re going to control what we can do on the field."

"Don’t take any team lightly," Paulk said. "We’re still trying to work, get better each day. So we’re looking forward to playing them."

NSU hits paydirt - and it hopes more - with Rutgers game

By Vicki L. Friedman, Virginian-Pilot

Rutgers will pay Norfolk State $275,000 for coming on the road for Saturday's game.

NORFOLK - The idea that Norfolk State might be overmatched against nationally-ranked Rutgers on Saturday doesn’t concern wide receiver Dario Walker.

“They bleed just like we bleed,” he said dismissively.

To Walker, this weekend’s game is about opportunity.

NSU graduate Curtis Hodge plans to be among the half-dozen busloads of fans who will make the seven-hour trek from Norfolk to Piscataway, N.J. He will be showing his colors – “I’ll be wearing green and gold from head to toe,” he said – and hopes the university will benefit, whether it be recruiting athletes or just students.

But the bottom line is the bottom line: More than anything, Saturday’s game at Rutgers Stadium, before a sellout homecoming crowd, is about money.

Rutgers rakes it in from being able to fill its stadium . Norfolk State collects $275,000 from Rutgers for being willing to play a I-A team on the road.

And while $275,000 isn’t exactly big bucks to the folks at major-college programs – Rutgers’ football budget exceeds NSU’s by $11 million – that kind of money is a windfall for I-AA teams like the Spartans.

NSU has struggled to meet the financial demands of Division I since it made the move up 10 years ago from DivisionII. Just as Murray State’s season-opening 73-10 loss to Louisville translated into a weight room , NSU athletic director Marty Miller has his own wish list. Some of them can be checked off through the added revenue this week.

And more is on the way . NSU has scheduled a game at Kentucky for next September, with the financial details similar to the ones with Rutgers.

The money from these games will go into the general athletic fund, but Spartans coach Pete Adrian had two requests for football and was granted both.

For one, the Spartans will not have to bus to Tallahassee, Fla., for next month’s game at Florida A&M or to next fall’s game in Daytona Beach, Fla., to play Bethune-Cookman. That’s good news considering Adrian’s bad memories from the 13-hour road trip the Spartans made two years ago to Tallahassee.

“It was 17-10 in the fourth quarter and we died,” Adrian said. “And I know why.

“It wasn’t that we couldn’t fly, but if we did, then I’d have to take $40,000 from somewhere else and say, 'We can’t do this.’”

Adrian also wanted to make sure enough money is available to cover tuition if his players choose to take summer school.

“We’ve been able to do that for the two years I’ve been here, but it puts a strain on other things,” he said. “This is more like a guarantee.”

Fifth-year seniors will also benefit from the money, Miller said.

“This game will help us with those students who come back, whether it be to finish up one semester or 23 hours or even three hours,” Miller said. “Those student-athletes are very valuable to us, and I wanted to be able to provide a way they could finish their education.”

No renovations are planned “this go-round,” said Miller, though the wish list includes upgrading NSU’s track facilities and improving all the locker rooms. Revenue from the Kentucky game may be able to provide that next fall.

So while it’s a no-brainer to figure out why I-AA schools would seek this type of payday, it is curious why NSU would be so ambitious with its first foray into I-A football. The Scarlet Knights are ranked 13th in the country, after all.

“We weren’t supposed to play this Rutgers,” Adrian said with a laugh, explaining that talk of an NSU-Rutgers game came when the Scarlet Knights weren’t so successful.

The Rutgers team the Spartans face is fresh off its first bowl appearance in 27 years and is led by running back Ray Rice, whose Heisman candidacy is touted at the university’s SeeRayRun.com Web site. More than 6,000 names are on a waiting list for tickets to home games.

The Rutgers that Adrian initially had in mind to play was a far different team. After going 7-3 in 1984, Rutgers’ next 20 years produced three winning seasons. Greg Schiano took over as coach in 2001, and the Scarlet Knights were 3-20 in his first two years. In 2004, they closed with five straight losses.

It wasn’t unusual for marketing folks at Rutgers to give tickets away to Pop Warner groups and senior citizens so the stadium didn’t appear quite so empty.

Adrian wanted a I-A game, so he started making phone calls. Flipping through a notebook recently, he reviewed some of the contacts he made:

“I was calling everybody. UCF, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, Northeastern, Ohio U., UNLV, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, SMU, New Mexico, North Carolina. Those are all people I had conversation with.”

Along with Rutgers, fresh off a 7-5 season in 2005.

Any coach will tell you the trouble with scheduling is matching up dates that work for both programs.

“You latch on to somebody and bingo!” Adrian said.

Howard played the Scarlet Knights last season with Rutgers initially asking for a two-year agreement, Adrian said. When Howard didn’t want that, Adrian asked if NSU could have it and eventually ended up with Saturday’s date.

And given the attention the game is bringing to the program, he isn’t complaining.

“From a media standpoint, from a national standpoint, we heard all summer long from our boosters up there,” Adrian said. “There’s a lot of hype.”

All 1,000 of NSU’s tickets sold almost instantly, and the game is on ESPN’s Game Plan package.

As far as the X’s and O’s, despite the mismatch in budgets, size of linemen and depth, Adrian likes to remind his Spartans that they play 11 guys at a time, just like the Scarlet Knights, and that Rutgers Stadium is still 100 yards from goal line to goal line.

“You prepare the best you can,” he said. “We’re going to give it the best shot we’ve got.”

SSU needs good running game to beat Bethune-Cookman

By Noell Barnidge, Savannah Morning News

During halftime of Savannah State's game against Johnson C. Smith last Saturday, SSU coach Theo Lemon reminded his Tigers that the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats were coming to Memorial Stadium at 1 p.m. this Saturday.

"Coach (Lemon) stressed that we make sure we get a win so we can have more confidence going into the Bethune game," SSU quarterback JaCorey Kilcrease said.
The Tigers listened and produced a 24-10 victory over the NCAA Division II Golden Bulls.

SSU rushed for 328 yards and three touchdowns on 53 carries, the most yards rushing since the Tigers ran for 330 yards at Division II Fort Valley State in 1999.
SSU (1-1) hopes it can be as productive running the ball against Bethune-Cookman (1-1), but playing the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) Wildcats should be more challenging than playing a Division II team.
Bethune-Cookman beat SSU 55-6 last season. The Wildcats are 29-8 in the series, and have not lost to SSU since 1992, when the late Bill Davis coached the Tigers to a 31-21 victory.

But Bethune-Cookman (1-1) is beatable.
Last Saturday, the Wildcats lost 23-14 to South Carolina State in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Last season, the Wildcats finished 5-6 overall and 3-5 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

If SSU has any shot at beating Bethune-Cookman, the Tigers must produce a running game like they did against JCSU. SSU can not afford to run the ball like it did in the season opener at Morgan State, when the Tigers gained 29 yards on 32 carries in a 47-7 loss.

As SSU's running game blossoms so, too, will the passing game.
"Our running game opens the passing game," Lemon said. "I think our offensive staff did a good job preparing our players (for JCSU). JaCorey was on target. He did really well."

Kilcrease was 7-for-11 passing for 47 yards against the Golden Bulls. He did not throw a touchdown, but he did not make any turnovers and he was not sacked.
"We were pretty effective when we did pass," Kilcrease said. "We were just nickel-and-diming, not trying to go for the home run all the time. Just take what they give you."

Defensive standouts
Overshadowed by SSU's dominant running game against JCSU was the stellar play of the Tigers' defense.

SSU sacked JCSU quarterback Carlton Richardson three times and intercepted him twice. SSU strong safety Antwan Allen registered a sack and picked off a pass. Allen fumbled after the interception, but only after returning the ball 65 yards to the Golden Bulls' 15-yard line.

SSU free safety Javorris Jackson made seven tackles. He also intercepted a pass for the second consecutive game. Weak-side linebacker Chris Herans made a game-high 10 tackles and recovered a fumble.

Middle linebacker Calvin Leonard forced a fumble and made six tackles, including a sack. Defensive end Dominique Clark registered a sack, and cornerback Marcus Darrisaw made seven tackles.

This and that
SSU must reduce its penalties. The Tigers were penalized 10 times for 115 yards against Morgan State, and they were flagged 10 times for 96 yards against JCSU. ...SSU did not have any red-zone scoring chances against MSU, but the Tigers were 3-for-3 against JCSU. ...SSU is 6-50 since leaving Division II in 2002, and 1-40 against its Football Championship Subdivision peers. In 2004, the Tigers defeated Norfolk State, 41-34, in double overtime in Norfolk, Va.

Bethune-Cookman (1-1) at Savannah St. (1-1)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Memorial Stadium

Delaware State Hornet women to host Michigan State

Delaware State News

DOVER — A visit to the University of Delaware in the opening round of the Preseason National Invitation Tournament and a home contest against national power Michigan State highlights the 2007-08 Delaware State University women’s basketball schedule released Tuesday.

DSU, the defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champ, opens its title defense in the opening round against Delaware on Nov. 9. It will be the first intra-state game between the two since 2001 and the ninth meeting overall.

The Delaware State/Delaware winner will take on Maryland or Princeton in the NIT’s second round.

DSU’s regular-season schedule features 12 home games, including an appearance by Big 10 powerhouse Michigan State on Nov. 26. The Spartans, led by 6-9 sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan, were 24-9 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season. Michigan State has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, and reached the Final Four in 2005.


The Hornets’ home opener is Nov. 20 against St. Peter’s. The Hornets, who went 20-13 in 2006 and will return all five starters, will also welcome first-time opponent Army to Memorial Hall on Dec. 1.

Later in December, DSU will head to the University of Alabama-Birmingham tournament and the University of Virginia tournament.

The Hornets also travel to Colonial Athletic Association power Old Dominion for the second straight year on Dec. 20. Old Dominion has won the last 16 CAA Tournament titles.

The MEAC opener is Jan. 12 at South Carolina State, and the Hornets’ first MEAC home game is Jan. 19 against Norfolk State.

DSU Lavan gets reacquainted with MAC

Photo: Delaware State Head Football Coach Al Lavan

DSU at KENT STATE, Saturday, 4 p.m., WXXY/1660 AM

By KRISTIAN POPE, The News Journal

Hornets coach recalls being snubbed at Eastern Michigan for full-time post.

DOVER -- Al Lavan had just led Eastern Michigan to a 2-1 record as interim football coach when he made one last attempt to secure the full-time job.

After the 2003 season finale, Lavan walked from his office to the school's secretary for athletics and turned in a job application.

He knew it was a fruitless gesture. If he was wanted, Lavan thought, EMU surely would have asked him to apply. "You kind of know the handwriting is on the wall at that point," Lavan said Tuesday.

On Saturday, Lavan, now Delaware State's coach, is heading back to the Mid-American Conference, which includes Eastern Michigan.

The Hornets will visit Kent State, their first NCAA Division I-A opponent since 1987. DSU, 2-0 and ranked No. 24 in Division I-AA by The Sports Network, plays the Golden Flashes (1-1) at 4 p.m. at Dix Stadium.

Lavan vividly remembers his MAC experience. After starting the 2003 season 1-8, Eastern Michigan fired Jeff Woodruff and turned to Lavan, the running backs coach.

As interim coach, Lavan's team beat Central Florida and Ball State before losing to Northern Illinois.

Even so, Lavan was not considered for the full-time job, he said. Had he been hired, it would have been his first full-time head coaching job at any level. He had been a I-A and NFL assistant since 1970.

"I was given the opportunity to be a head coach, and I did what I thought should be done," Lavan said. "They chose to go in another direction. It turned out to be more experience that I can put in my pocket."

Instead, Eastern Michigan hired Northwestern assistant Jeff Genyk, who has gone 9-27 over four years. Lavan, in his fourth year at DSU, is 21-14.

"This conference is tough; everyone is on the same playing level," said Kent State coach Doug Martin, who was hired in 2004, the same year Lavan took over at DSU. "There isn't anyone who has a talent disadvantage. It makes you be sharp as a player, especially watching a team like Delaware State. They have a lot of guys who could play in the MAC."

During the offseason, Lavan said, DSU had "multiple offers" to play Division I-A opponents more successful than Kent State.

But it was Lavan's previous MAC experience that proved to be the clincher in deciding to accept the Golden Flashes' offer. DSU will receive about $100,000 to play at Kent State.

"It was an opportunity we couldn't pass up," Lavan said. "You don't get them very often. This was an opportunity to play a team that's going to challenge for the MAC title."

The Hornets' only other game against a I-A foe was a 1987 win over current MAC member Akron.

Kent State was picked to win the league's East Division in several preseason guides. So far, it has a 23-14 victory at Iowa State and a 56-20 loss last weekend at Kentucky.

Lavan said he will reinforce to his players what lies ahead in facing a Division I-A opponent.

"The quality of preparation is always king," Lavan said. "Emotionally, we're trying to teach them to appreciate the caliber of opponent. It's always different when you play someone new."

Hornets buzz

DSU running back Kareem Jones (knee) and receiver Shaheer McBride (shoulder) are listed as day-to-day, but should be ready to play against Kent State, Lavan said. Jones was held out of the starting lineup in last Saturday's 20-7 win at Florida A&M to protect his knee, which was injured in the season opener. McBride hurt his shoulder late in the FAMU game and was held out of practice for precautionary reasons. ... The Golden Flashes defense is allowing 35 points a game, but the offense features two players averaging more than 100 yards rushing a game. Running back Eugene Jarvis averages 122 yards, while spread-offense quarterback Julian Edelman adds 105 yards per game. Edelman has 290 yards passing with two touchdowns.

Kent State welcomes Delaware State for home opener

Kent State Athletic Communications

THE OPENING KICKOFF

After splitting a pair of season-opening road games at a pair of BCS schools, Kent State makes its 2007 debut at Dix Stadium at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 against Delaware State.
The game will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools, and the Golden Flashes’ first contest against a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent. KSU will be attempting to improve to 6-1 in its last seven home openers as the Football Championship Subdivision Hornets play their final game of the season outside of the MEAC.

The contest marks the Flashes’ only appearance at home over the course of the first five weeks of the season.

FLASH FACTS

• A win over the Hornets would move Kent State to 2-1 for the first time since 2003.
• Delaware State is the only opponent on this year’s schedule that the Flashes have never faced before. The Flashes are 25-22-1 all-time against FCS schools (formerly I-AA).
• Running back Eugene Jarvis is 22nd in the nation at 122.0 rushing yards per game, while quarterback Julian Edelman had a career-high 135 rushing yards at Kentucky. The pair have helped KSU to 263.0 ypg (15th in the nation).
• Defensive backs Jack Williams and Fritz Jaques lead the Flashes with 16 tackles each, while linebacker Jameson Konz has a pair of sacks.

THE SERIES

Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Kent State and Delaware State, with the Hornets being the only new opponent on the Flashes’ 2007 schedule. KSU has never faced a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school before and is 25-22-1 all-time against Football Championship Subdivision schools (formerly I-AA).

KSU VS. FCS SCHOOLS UNDER MARTIN
YEAR OPPONENT RESULT SCORE

2003 Youngstown St. W 16-13

2004 Liberty W 38-10

2005 SE Missouri St. W 33-12

The Flashes have won six straight against FCS opponents dating back to a 26-20 loss to Youngstown State on Sept. 16, 2000.

TELEVISION

None, although live video of the game can be seen via the K-Zone on http://www.kentstatesports.com/

RADIO

Together for the sixth straight year, Bill Needle (play-by-play), Tom Linder (color analyst) and Ty Linder (sidelines) call the excitement of Golden Flashes football on the Kent State Sports Network. KSU football may be heard on flagship station WNIR 100.1 FM in Northeast Ohio.

WEBSITE

Live audio for all Kent State football game broadcasts, live video of select games and live stats are available via the K-Zone on the official athletic department web site (http://www.kentstatesports.com/).

THE COACHES

• Doug Martin (Kentucky ‘85) is in his fourth season as a head coach, owning a 13-23 record at the helm of the Golden Flashes. He was promoted to head coach March 1, 2004, after serving as Kent State’s offensive coordinator in 2003.
• Al Lavan has a 20-14 record in his fourth season at Delaware State. Overall, he is 22-15 in five seasons as a head coach, including a 2-1 mark at Eastern Michigan in 2003 after taking over for Jeff Woodruff, who was fired after the Eagles started 1-8.

UP NEXT

Kent State makes the short trip west to visit arch rival Akron on Sept. 22 at noon. The Mid-American Conference opener for both schools will be broadcast on ESPN Regional. Meanwhile, after a week off, Delaware State returns to MEAC action at Hampton on Sept. 29.

Prairie View's 'special' play

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

For this season’s first two weeks, Prairie View has had the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Specialist of the Week.

In week two, it was junior free safety Val Ford, who returned two blocked punts for touchdowns and made a tackle for a safety, accounting for 15 points in a 22-7 win over North Carolina A&T on Saturday.

In week one, it was freshman kicker Brady Faggard, who kicked two field goals and was 4-for-4 on PATs in a 34-14 win over Texas Southern. PV made three field goals all last season.

The importance of this can’t be underestimated.
Prairie View (2-0, 1-0 SWAC), which visits Southern (2-0, 1-0) at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium, struggled mightily on special teams last season.

Punter Eric Hernandez, a three-time all-conference talent, had to also place-kick after preseason All-SWAC selection Mario Sanchez was academically ineligible. Then Hernandez struggled with a quad injury.

“That really hurt us last year,” Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III said. “Especially because we had so many close games.”

To that end, PV signed three kickers in the offseason. And the team had to replace the steady Hernandez.

Well, freshman Pedro Ventura is ninth nationally (and leads the SWAC) in punting, at 44.4 yards per punt. The Panthers are eighth in net punting (40.8 yards).

And Faggard is already 6-for-7 on PATs and 2-for-3 on field-goal tries. Last season, PV was 11-for-18 on PATs and 3-for-9 on field-goal tries.

More, College Sporting News, which covers the Football Championship Subdivision, named Ford and junior cornerback Riante Jones as its national special teams players of the week.

Jones blocked three kicks: the punts returned for TDs by Ford and a field-goal try.

Plus, against TSU, strong safety Anthony Beck blocked a field-goal try (and had a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown).

“Special teams has been huge for us,” Frazier said. “We were able to make some depth. We’re making plays.”

SU’s Smith honored

SU junior running back Kendrick Smith, who transferred from Southern Illinois and sat out last season after starring at Coffeyville Community College, was the SWAC Newcomer of the Week.

Smith turned two catches into two TDs and 32 yards and he came on late to run for 58 yards on seven carries.

Because of Smith’s offseason and because of hamstring issues in spring and early in preseason camp, the staff has worked him in slowly. But he’s shown spurts of some special talent.

“His thing is learning the system,” SU offensive coordinator Mark Orlando said. “He hits that hole. He’s got big-play ability.”

Yellow flags
Prairie View has been penalized 26 times for a SWAC-worst 278 yards in two games — 15 for 141 in the season opener, a 34-14 win over Texas Southern and 11 for 137 in a 22-7 win over North Carolina A&T.

“We have to do a better job in terms of discipline,” Frazier said. “That’s one thing we’re going to harp on this week.”

SU has been flagged nine times for 79 yards. Both totals are SWAC lows.

Quick view of Prairie View

Said SU coach Pete Richardson, “Coach Frazier is doing an outstanding job with that team. His kids are playing hard. They’re making plays. He has 22 seniors, led by his quarterback. He understands the systems and makes the plays.

“Defensively, they fly around to the football. Offensively, they do a lot of things to cause some problems.”

Quick view of Southern

Said Frazier, “They’re much better (than last season, when SU went 5-6, including a 26-23 overtime loss to PV in Houston), a little more physical. Coach Richardson does a great job. I have tremendous respect for him. This year is a new year. I know they’ll be ready.”

The work
SU took Monday off, in what is becoming its first normal work week of the season.

The norm the last few seasons has been a short workout Sunday — “to get the soreness out,” Richardson said — and off Monday because players usually have many class conflicts with a 3:30 p.m. practice.

Last week, SU practiced at 6 p.m. Monday and did not practice Thursday. The previous week, coming off preseason camp, SU did not work Sunday.

Notes
In FCS stats, SU is 11th in total offense (476.0 ypg), 13th in rushing offense (265.5 ypg) and 18th in pass efficiency defense. PV is seventh in scoring defense (10.5), 10th in tackles for loss (10.0 per game) and first in sacks allowed (none). &hellip SU sophomore Tremaine Williams, a reserve defensive back, had an MRI on a right knee injury Monday. Williams suffered the injury on kickoff coverage late in the third quarter Saturday. SU leads the SWAC in third-down conversions (15-for-31, 48.4 percent) and opponents’ third-down conversions (5-for-28, 17.9 percent).

Bears set to host new MEAC member Winston-Salem State

Photo: Senior RB Chad Simpson

MSU Sports Information

Morgan State's #1 ranked MEAC run defense will be tested when the Rams of Winston-Salem State come to Hughes Stadium on Saturday.

WINSTON-SALEM STATE “RAMS” (1-1)
MORGAN STATE “BEARS” (1-1, 0-0 MEAC)
GAME #3
Saturday, September 15, 2007 • 4:00 p.m.
Hughes Stadium (Capacity 10,000) • Baltimore, Md.
RADIO: Morgan State Radio Network WEAA - 88.9 FM:
Rob Long (play-by-play) & Kelvin Bridgers (color).
INTERNET: www.MorganStateBears.com ; http://wssurams.cstv.com/
INTERNET COVERAGE: Live Audio and Live Stats

Setting the Scene
• Morgan State let Towson off the hook last Saturday at Hughes Stadium as the Tigers were able to escape with a 28-21 victory at Hughes Stadium in front of 8,732 fans. The Bears were led by All-MEAC RB Chad Simpson who posted a career-best 195 yards and scored on a 56 yard touchdown dash. MSU’s offensive unit racked up 375 total yards, 245 on the ground. MSU will look to get back in the win column when they host a tough Winston-Salem State team.

• Winston-Salem State is coming off a 28-21 narrow loss against Coastal Carolina. Senior quarterback Monte Purvis led the Rams by rushing for 165 yards and three touchdowns, including TD runs of 65 yards and 80 yards. Jed Bines added 123 yards to a Rams offense that gained 311 total yards against the Chanticleers. Saturday night’s contest will mark the 1st meeting between Morgan State and Winston-Salem State.

• QB Monte Purvis will be one to watch as the Rams prepare for Morgan State this Saturday at Hughes Stadium. Purvis has completed 11-of-25 passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, but has really been a problem for opposing defense on the ground where he has run for 228 yards and four touchdowns. Purvis rushed fo 165 yards and three touchdowns in a tough 28-21 loss against Coastal Carolina last Saturday.

• The Rams will not be able to compete for a conference title this year but will play a full-slate of MEAC games in 2007.

• SEE CHAD RUN …INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS - Chad Simpson entered the Towson game just needing 63 yards to reach 1,000 yards in his Morgan State career…he ended up rushing for a career-best 195 yards! The All-MEAC running back rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns in the season-opener vs. Savannah State and has increased his career total to 1,132 yards, 248 yards behind Tony Phillips (1992-93) who ranked #10 in the Bears rushing annals.

Delaware State returns to Top 25 in I-AA poll

Delaware State University, off to a 2-0 start with wins over Coastal Carolina and Florida A&M, is ranked No. 24 in three Division I-AA top 25 football polls.

The Hornets have not been nationally ranked since last November, when they reached the 23rd spot before losing their season finale at Howard.

DSU takes on I-A opponent Kent State in Ohio at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Golden Flashes are 1-1 after opening the season with a win at Iowa State. Kent lost last Saturday 56-20 at Kentucky.

MEAC power Hampton University is ranked #13 and Norfolk State received 9 votes for their season opening spanking of Division II, Virginia State University.

Sports Network's FCS College Football Poll

Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. Appalachian State Mountaineers (77) 2-0 1,925 1
2. Montana Grizzlies 2-0 1,849 3
3. Massachusetts Minutemen 2-0 1,726 2
4. Northern Iowa Panthers 2-0 1,630 8
5. North Dakota State Bison 1-0 1,625 4
6. Youngstown State Penguins 1-1 1,411 6
7. Southern Illinois Salukis 2-0 1,386 11
8. McNeese State Cowboys 1-0 1,374 7
9. James Madison Dukes 1-1 1,366 10
10. Delaware Blue Hens 2-0 1,051 13
11. Wofford Terriers 2-0 1,044 14
12. New Hampshire Wildcats 0-1 1,030 5
13. Hampton Pirates 1-0 826 15
14. Eastern Illinois Panthers 1-1 749 12
15. Furman Paladins 1-1 725 9
16. Sam Houston State Bearkats 2-0 709 16
17. Illinois State Redbirds 1-1 556 17
18. Nicholls State Colonels 2-0 475 25
19. Hofstra Pride 1-0 394 NR
20. Montana State Bobcats 0-1 356 21
21. Yale Bulldogs 0-0 280 23
22. Western Illinois Leathernecks 1-1 273 24
23. Towson Tigers 2-0 260 NR
24. Delaware State Hornets 2-0 214 NR
25. Lafayette Leopards 2-0 134 NR

Others receiving votes: Cal Poly 131, Northwestern State 96, Princeton 82, Richmond 81, Texas State 74, Alabama A&M 70, Drake 69, The Citadel 65, Missouri State 65, Tennessee-Martin 60, Portland State 58, Georgia Southern 50, South Carolina State 46, Eastern Washington 35, Eastern Kentucky 34, Southern 34, Northern Arizona 31, South Dakota State 29, Villanova 24, Alabama State 23, Liberty 23, San Diego 20, Austin Peay 14, Holy Corss 12, Maine 12, Stony Brook 10, Norfolk State 9, Grambling 7, Central Arkansas 6, Harvard 6, Colgate 4, Prairie View 4, Rhode Island 2, Tennessee State 2.

As of September 10, 2007, at 07:03 PM ET

Alabama A&M notebook

Huntsville Times

Luke gets SWAC'sweekly offensive honor

Alabama A&M quarterback Kelcy Luke was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, league officials announced Monday.

Luke, a 6-foot, 205-pound senior from Phenix City, completed 21-of-32 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns to lead Alabama A&M to a 41-10 shellacking of Clark Atlanta.Through two games, Luke is 38-of-61 for 562 yards and seven touchdowns with just one interception.

A&M's honors: Luke, tailback Ulysses Banks, inside linebacker Quinton Holmes and punter Rashan Cylar were honored by the A&M coaching staff for their play Saturday.

Luke and Banks were named team co-offensive players of the week. Banks rushed for a school-record 211 yards on just 19 carries and scored two touchdowns. A&M finished the game with 608 yards in total offense.

Holmes was named the week's best defensive player after coming up with five tackles, including one tackle for loss and a sack, as the Bulldogs limited the Panthers to 198 yards in total offense.

Cylar was earned the A&M special teams honor. He averaged 34.8 yards on four kicks, including a long of 44 yards.

Bulldogs weren't perfect: Although coach Anthony Jones was pleased with A&M's effort in Saturday's win, the Bulldogs didn't play a perfect game.

A&M gave up a long kickoff return for the second week in a row that helped set up a Clark Atlanta field goal. The Bulldogs were penalized 10 times for 80 yards, gave up three sacks and missed numerous tackles.

"We blew a couple of protections that gave up some sacks," Jones said. "We had some missed assignments. If we clean up our details, we would have scored at least three more touchdowns."

Jones said his team must make corrections in those areas to beat Mississippi Valley State in its SWAC opener Saturday night. Kickoff is at 6:30 at Louis Crews Stadium.

"We've got to get ourselves ready," he said. "We've got to clean up the mistakes we made and try to come up with a good game plan."

Furthermore: With Saturday's victory, Jones tied former A&M coach George Hobson for third place on the school's wins list. Jones is 43-18 in his sixth season with the Bulldogs and needs 11 wins to pass Ray Greene, who was 53-27-5 in eight seasons. Hobson was 43-83-10 in 16 seasons. ... Luke's 301 passing yards left him one yard short of the school's Division I-AA record for a passing yards in a game. Chris Gunn had 302 yards passing against Southern on Oct. 7, 2000.

Reggie Benson

Jones says A&M can't be satisfied

Photo: AAMU quarterback Kelcy Luke, who set a personal best with 301 yards passing on 21 of 32 attempts, has been named Southwestern Athletic Conference offensive player of the week. The senior led the Bulldogs to a 41-10 victory over Clark-Atlanta.

By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

The preseason is over for Alabama A&M and fun was had by all.

The Bulldogs' offense put together back-to-back dominating efforts against Tennessee State and Clark Atlanta and Brawnski Towns' defense wasn't too shabby either.

Still, those games won't matter if A&M doesn't take care of business Saturday night when it opens Southwestern Athletic Conference play against Mississippi Valley State. Kickoff will be at 6:30 at Louis Crews Stadium.

A&M is 2-0. MVSU is 1-1 overall and in the league.

"We're not going to try to make our season against Tennessee State and Clark Atlanta," A&M coach Anthony Jones said. "We can't be satisfied being 2-0.

"I don't want our guys to think we're great because we're not. We've played two good football games and now we're ready to get into conference play. We have to continue to get better. If we don't, everything we've done will be for naught."

While the Bulldogs made it look easy against the Tigers and the Panthers - averaging 45 points and 529 yards in total offense - conference play, Jones says, will be vastly different.

"Everybody turns up the volume," he said. "There's a lot of parity in this league."

The Bulldogs had several newcomers on offense, and they have played major roles.

Tailbacks Ulysses Banks and Anthony Green have combined for 340 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Rashad Johnson is averaging a league-high 21.6 yards per catch and has two touchdowns. Three new starters along the offensive line - center Xavier Manuel and guards Charles Meade and Russell Jackson - have been solid in A&M's running game and in pass protection.

"We're not where we can be," Jones said. "We still have a lot of room for improvement."

UAB Blazers Excited for Home Opener Versus Alcorn State

Press Conference

Blazers Excited for Home Opener Versus Alcorn State In Monday's Media Luncheon.
UAB goes for fourth consecutive home-opening victory on Saturday.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB football team is gearing up for its 2007 home opener against the Alcorn State Braves on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at Legion Field. The Blazers spent Monday's weekly Media Luncheon discussing the upcoming contest with the Braves, along with this past week's close call at Florida State, where the Blazers fell to the Seminoles 34-24.

"Even though we were very disappointed in the outcome, I do think we made a lot of progress, particularly on the defensive side of the ball," said UAB head coach Neil Callaway. "We want to get better every week and as long as we are getting better, we think we are making progress and we are going to be fine. So that was encouraging to see."

The Blazers gave Florida State all they could handle last weekend, and are looking to do the same this week at home versus Alcorn State.

"Looking at them on film, they have multiple offensive and defensive schemes," said Callaway of the outlook for this week's game against the Braves. "They have a very experienced football team coming back with eight starters on both sides of the ball. Even though they haven't won a ballgame, I have been very impressed with the way they play on both sides of the ball and how well they are coached."

Saturday will mark the first home contest of the '07 campaign for UAB. Callaway and company are excited to make their debut at Legion Field and emphasize the importance of protecting their home field.

"It's our first home ballgame," said Callaway. "We talk about it all the time. When we play in our house, we want to come out ready to play. We are looking forward to our game against Alcorn State and hopefully we will be productive.

"I really would hope the fans would come out to see us. I think the fact that our guys are playing hard and want to compete and do what's right, I hope that would be appealing to the people of Birmingham. Hopefully people will want to come out and support us and watch us play."

Developing story from MyFox Birmingham...

UAB Must 'Pay to Play' at Legion Field

The Birmingham Park and Recreation Board voted not to give UAB any more free rent to play football on Monday. The average fee UAB will be charged to play football at Legion Field is $10,000 per game.

On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council will vote on UAB's request for the city to continue to purchase $225,000 in Blazer football tickets over the next three years. UAB has contracted to continue playing at Legion Field.

---------------

Yep, you read it correctly! UAB will go from FREE to $10,000 per game, but City must buy $675,000 in football tickets over the next three years in TAX PAYERS MONEY. Just one question--did MEAC/SWAC Challenge get the same rump shaking deal? (beepbeep).

B-CU looks to get it done

By KEN WILLIS, Sports Columnist

DAYTONA BEACH -- One final question was posed to South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough, who was ready to pack his things for the bus ride back to Orangeburg, S.C.

Considering how disjointed Bethune-Cookman's offense looked in a 24-13 loss to Pough's Bulldogs, does it look like Alvin Wyatt and the Wildcats are in for another year of struggles?

Maybe he just didn't want to throw salt in the wounds, but most likely, Pough has seen B-CU do so much with so little for so long, he simply found the question a little silly.

"They'll be OK," Pough said. "You know, Wyatt has always found a way to get it done."

One way would be to shore up gaping holes in the special-teams play. S.C. State averaged 43 yards on four kickoff returns Saturday. B-CU kicker Lucas Esquivel, a first-year starter, hit two field goals but also saw two sail wide right. The worst special-teams episode came early in the fourth quarter when the B-CU return team watched a Bulldog kick land softly and flop around, near the Wildcat 30, where it was eventually recovered by S.C. State.

"Special teams . . . we really have to work on that," Wyatt said. "We were in situations where they could've scored 50 points on us."

On the upside, the 'Cats cleanly blocked two field goals and deflected a third. And Corey Council, a junior return specialist, provided the day's biggest highlight with a 98-yard touchdown return in the third quarter.

"It feels good to break a run," Council said of his first collegiate touchdown.

Council also gained 19 yards on a second-quarter toss-sweep, and appeared to be just one block away from breaking a couple of other runs during the game, which makes you wonder if they should make a conscious effort to put the ball in his hands more.

"No," Wyatt said, "the defense dictates who gets the ball in our offense. If they make a mistake, it could be the B-back or the quarterback or the A-back. It all depends on what the defense is giving."

B-CU goes on the road to Savannah State this week, and should find an opposing defense that's in a more giving mood. After that, though, it's back to league play with three straight games within the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. None of the preseason MEAC polls tabbed B-CU as a favorite, and as of now, those polls look to be correct.

But the Wildcats consider two games into a season far too early to be writing off any goals or expectations. Especially when the Game 2 measuring stick was an S.C. State team considered one of the preseason MEAC favorites.

"They're a good football team, we're a good football team," Wyatt said. "We just couldn't answer the things they were putting out there on us. But we'll get better as we go along.

"I'm optimistic about our team, you know. We need to iron some things out offensively as well as on special teams. We may have our difficulties, but I think we can get it together and it'll be a great year for us."

Asked to define "great," Wyatt ignored numbers and focused on effort.

"As long as they compete," he said, "then I'm satisfied."

Delayed flight caps bad trip for NCA&T

By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record

HAMPTON AT N.C. A&T
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Aggie Stadium, Greensboro
Records: Hampton 1-0 overall, 1-0 MEAC; N.C. A&T 0-2, 0-1
Tickets: $20. Call 334-7749 or go to http://www.ncataggies.com.
TV: ESPNU (taped telecast at 10 p.m.)
INSIDE: Aggies QB likely done for season.

First, N.C. A&T's football team loses to Prairie View. Then it gets stranded for an extra day in L.A.

GREENSBORO -- The event was called the Angel City Classic, but for N.C. A&T's football team and band, the trip back from Los Angeles resembled the Biblical afterlife destination devoid of angels and ethereal joy.

"It is a horror. No doubt," coach Lee Fobbs said shortly after getting off a chartered flight at 1:35 p.m. Monday -- nearly 24 hours later than originally scheduled.

The flight itself was smooth and without incident. It just took awhile to get started, having been compromised by mechanical problems and FAA regulations.

The Aggies' losing streak grew to 18 games when they fell to Prairie View A&M 22-7 on Saturday afternoon, and they were scheduled to leave Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday morning, according to an itinerary handled by the game's Texas-based promoter, John Fleming III.





















Fleming's company, Black Educational Events, had contracted with Premier Charter Network of Castle Rock, Colo., to provide two DC-10s owned and operated by American Trans Air. One aircraft would take the Prairie View traveling party to Houston; the other would transport the Aggies.

"The plane that was supposed to take Prairie View to Texas had a mechanical problem that couldn't be rectified until (Monday)," said Wheeler Brown, A&T's associate athletics director. "So what they wanted to do was use our plane to take Prairie View home (Sunday) and then come back and pick us up."

So the Panthers got out of town first. Pilots and flight attendants made the trip from Los Angeles to Houston and back, but under FAA safety policy they were required to rest before getting back in the air. When officially cleared to resume work, they were stuck with an itinerary that would put them in Greensboro after midnight -- at which time there would be no baggage handlers at Piedmont Triad International Airport.

Taking care of the luggage of 100 football players and coaches and 200 members of the university's band isn't exactly a do-it-yourself deal. The Aggies were stuck.

"It's just the nature of aviation," said Kim Butorac, president and chief executive officer of the charter service. "ATA did this event last year and the thing went flawlessly. The promoter has done a great job and the event was fine. It was just one of those things that can happen when you're trying to move people with machines."

Attempts to reach Fleming for comment were unsuccessful.

For the Aggies, the timing was unfortunate on a few levels. The players and band members missed a third day of classes for the trip. A&T's coaches found themselves a day behind in preparations for 2006 MEAC champion Hampton, which visits Aggie Stadium at 6 p.m. Saturday.

"We're going right now to the office and get to work," Fobbs said while walking through the PTI terminal.

Rutgers taking Norfolk State very seriously

Photo: NSU celebrating win over VSU.

Scarlet Knights remember loss to I-AA New Hampshire

By KEITH SARGEANT, Courier News

PISCATAWAY -- If Greg Schiano is looking to warn his players not to letdown against Norfolk State this week, he won't use Appalachian State as proof that teams from the former Division I-AA ranks can upset major-league competition.

There's no need. The Rutgers University football coach has his own experience to draw back on, and it's right there in the memory banks of his veteran players as well.

"What was New Hampshire, three years ago?'' defensive tackle Eric Foster asked, not knowing exactly when the 35-24 setback to New Hampshire happened but remembering the details nonetheless.

"It's happened here before,'' the fifth-year senior added. "I was here for that. It was a tough loss. It didn't feel good at all, so I can imagine how those guys at Michigan feel.''

It's a feeling that Foster certainly doesn't want to experience again. That's why Rutgers' captain isn't shying away from reminding teammates of the New Hampshire defeat, even though it happened in the days when Rutgers wasn't far from Division I-AA caliber.

It's different now, of course, and Mike Teel believes one reason why is because the team's mind-set has changed.

"The biggest thing that's changed in this program is how we're competing against ourselves,'' Rutgers' quarterback said. "It doesn't matter if it's Norfolk State, if it's Louisville or if it's Maryland. We're playing our football team and we're trying to be the best that we can be.''

In Foster's mind, the Scarlet Knights are facing a Top 25 opponent this Saturday, one that hasn't lived up to its No.‚13 ranking despite decisively winning the past two weeks.

"It's Rutgers vs. Rutgers,'' he said. "We didn't play Buffalo, we didn't play Navy. We competed against ourselves. The ball is in our hands. We control our own fate. And we're not going to let overconfidence get in the way of Norfolk State because they're a I-AA team. We're competing against ourselves and we evaluate ourselves based on how we compete.''

Mistakes were evident in the form of a Big East-high 20 penalties through two games, several missed defensive assignments and a couple dropped passes for touchdowns, Schiano said.

"We haven't played to the level that we expect of ourselves,'' he offered. "So that's the challenge, but I don't think it's because we're playing a Division I-AA opponent. I think if we play our best, we can have the chance to beat any team in the country.

"The problem,'' he added, "is we haven't played our best, yet. Our task at hand is to play the best that we can be and see where that puts us.''

While he acknowleged a game plan exists for Norfolk State, one that includes tendencies of what the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe does well and what Rutgers will try to exploit, linebacker Brandon Renkart said it's how the Scarlet Knights compete that will determine their Homecoming success.

"It really doesn't matter what league a team is from because any team on any given day can win,'' Renkart said. "I mean, on paper everyone says, 'Yeah, they should blow them out,' but if you have an off day, anything can happen. We're really in competition with ourselves.''

Bethune's Carolina ties

Photo: Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial in Washington, D.C.
By T&D Staff

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- On the gridiron, South Carolina State and Bethune-Cookman have forged a strong football rivalry.

Yet the Daytona Beach college owes its existence to an extraordinary Palmetto State export determined to provide an education for African-Americans.

Her name was Mary McLeod Bethune.

Born to former slaves on July 10, 1875 near Maysville, S.C., Bethune was the 15th of 17 children, most of whom were born into slavery. Toward the end of Reconstruction, her parents acquired 5 acres of land and built a family home known as the "Homestead."

While Bethune spent much of her youth working in her father’s cotton fields, she also had a burning desire to read and write. Attending a one-room schoolhouse in Maysville, Bethune showed enough promise to be recommended for a scholarship to attend Scotia Seminary near Concord, N.C. After graduating in 1894, Bethune was awarded a scholarship to Dwight Moody’s Institute for Home and Foreign Missions in Chicago.

After being told there were "no openings for Negro Missionaries in Africa," Bethune returned to Maysville after one year to serve as an assistant at the Presbyterian Mission School. From there, Bethune requested and received an appointment at the Haines Normal and Industrial Institute in Augusta, Ga. where she gained experience in a predominately female setting with primary, grammar, elementary normal and industrial courses.

Sometime between 1897 and 1898, Bethune was transferred by the Presbyterian Board to Kendell Institute at Sumter. There she continued to teach and render social services. But most importantly, she met Albertus Bethune, a former schoolteacher turned haberdasher. They were married in early May 1898; on February 3, 1899, she gave birth to Albertus McLeod Bethune Jr., in Savannah, Ga.

While living in Savannah, Mrs. Bethune met the Rev. C.J. Uggans, a Presbyterian pastor from Palatka, Fla. He offered her the opportunity to start a school in that city. At Palatka, she started a community school and worked in the jails two and three times a week, and in the sawmills and among the young people in clubs. Bethune stayed in Palatka five years, until she was encouraged to go to Daytona by Reverend S.P. Pratt who informed her that the area was fertile ground for her missionary spirit.

Having received an education at Maysville Presbyterian Mission School, Scotia Institute, and Moody’s Bible Institute, having gained teaching experience at her primary school with her mentor Emma Wilson, and having arrived in Daytona Beach in 1904 and established the Daytona Literary and Industrial School for Training Negro Girls, Bethune labored the next 20 years, dividing her time and energy between making the school a success and building for herself a national reputation.

Mary McLeod Bethune became a public leader in the second decade of the 20th century. She led a drive to register black voters in Daytona Beach, which earned her a visit from the local Ku Klux Klan. Moreover during this period, Bethune was elected president of the State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. During four years in office, she organized scattered clubs of black women throughout the Southeast to combat school segregation and the lack of health facilities among black children. In 1924, Bethune became the eighth president of the prestigious National Association of Colored Women’s clubs (NACW). Among her accomplishments, during her first four years as president, was the acquisition of a national headquarters in the nation’s capital.

In 1923, the Daytona Literary and Industrial School for Training Negro Girls became a co-ed high school as a result of a merger with Cookman Institute of Jacksonville, Fla. A year later, the school became affiliated with the United Methodist Church, evolved into a junior college by 1931 and became known as Bethune-Cookman University.

In 1941, the Florida State Department of Education approved a 4-year baccalaureate program offering liberal arts and teacher education. Mrs. Bethune retired in 1942 at which time James A. Colston became president until 1946 when Mrs. Bethune resumed the presidency for a year.

Today, Bethune’s legacy lives on as more than 3,000 students attend Bethune-Cookman College and it is the 6th largest of the 39-member UNCF colleges. A sculpture was erected in Bethune’s honor in Lincoln Park, Washington, D.C. and her portrait proudly hangs inside the S.C. General Assembly.

Photo: Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial, Washington, DC (rear view)

100-years in the making: SCSU getting ready for USC

By THOMAS GRANT, T&D Senior Sports Writer

To South Carolina State supporters, Saturday’s game at 17th-ranked University of South Carolina is a matchup 100 years in the making.

Yet for all of the growing hullabaloo surrounding the historic in-state clash, one of the head coaches in the center of the action is trying to maintain perspective on what is essentially another non-conference game.

"I could, but I won’t," said SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough at Monday’s press conference when asked about discussing the significance of the first-ever meeting between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks. "We’re going to play a football game. The one thing that I can tell you is that I’m not going to make it like it’s World War III. It’s just like we’re going to play (North Carolina) A&T except we’re going to Columbia. We’re excited about going to play. But more than anything else, we want to go out and we want to show up well."

Although the Bulldogs should have sizable fan support at Williams-Brice Stadium, having sold its allotment of 4,300 tickets, Pough knows it will be a more hostile environment compared to what he experienced during his five seasons as Gamecocks’ running backs coach and SCSU’s three previous appearances in the Palmetto Capital City Classic.

"When we played Benedict, I thought we were the fan favorite," he said. "It was more for us than it was for them. Well, I think that’s turned now. I think the very best thing to happen to us is that it gets real loud in there and the only reason that would happen would be because the game is somewhat competitive."

Of more importance for Pough is instilling in his players a belief in victory against a Gamecocks’ squad brimming with confidence following the 16-12 victory over previously 11th-ranked Georgia.

"I’m going to try to convince my guys that we can compete," he said. "That’s what our main objective is in these kind of settings. You want to go out and actually compete favorably and hang in there. If that were to happen, then you go about the task of saying ‘Maybe we might be able to win’. I don’t think you can fool your players on the disparity of all the things that you think about when talking about whether you can lose or not.

"You’re talking about a Top 20 national power here and one of the best college football coaches (USC head coach Steve Spurrier) I’ve known in my lifetime. You’ve got a lot of things there that would make you think that this would be a huge mismatch. The trick for us is to get in there and find some things that we can do to them to stretch them out a little bit and give us a chance to hang in there. If we can do that, it would be a success for us."

Pough said the "ripple effect" from defending Football Championship Subdivision champion Appalachian State’s win over Michigan will have USC even more prepared for Saturday’s game. At the same time, Pough said it will be a challenge for SCSU matching up with USC, particularly against a Gamecocks’ defense which presents even more challenges than season-opening FCS opponent Air Force Academy.

"They’ve got a couple of guys on their defense especially that I don’t know if we can block," Pough said. "That’s the one factor that we didn’t necessarily have in the Air Force situation. I didn’t think there was much of a talent mismatch with us and Air Force. But now they are a couple of guys at South Carolina that we don’t match up with."

Defensive tackle Marque Hall and the Brinkley twins at linebacker, Casper and Jasper, especially stood out on tape to Pough as "special players" and he believes this is the best USC defensive team he’s seen in years. Offensively, quarterback Blake Mitchell could present problems to an SCSU secondary which had its difficulties against option teams like Air Force and Bethune-Cookman and will be without defensive leader BANDIT Marshall McFadden. The Lamar native is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with a hyperextended elbow ligament on his right arm suffered in the first half of Saturday’s 24-13 win over Bethune-Cookman.

Even without McFadden, the Bulldogs managed to hold the Wildcats without an offensive touchdown and are currently ahead of the offense in terms of team progress after two games.

"I think we’re coming along defensively," he said. "I was really proud of our defense and how they played Saturday. We’re still struggling to find ourselves offensively. We’ve got to play a little bit better at quarterback. We’ve got to play a little bit better upfront."

Quarterback Cleveland McCoy may have to carry much of the burden on offense should Pough opt to rest injured running back Will Ford and Jonathan Woods to insure they are healthy for the resumption of MEAC play in October. Backup Malcolm Long is also expected to see action at the place where he led Gaffney to back-to-back Class 4-A Division I finals.

Pough expects the Gamecocks to assert themselves quickly with the goal of resting its starters for the Sept. 22 showdown at second-ranked LSU.

"Putting the game away and getting their first-line people out of there," said Pough about USC’s approach this Saturday. "That’s generally what they try to do - hurry up and get them put away. And then at that point, we go ahead and play the back-ups and the guys who don’t get to play as much."

SCSU will hold team practices in Orangeburg today and Wednesday starting at 2:50 p.m. and will have a walk through in Columbia on Friday.

Photo: (L to R) Buddy Pough, Cleve McCoy, Will Ford and Willie Jeffries.

NOT JUST A PAYDAY

"We are about the task of getting to be like the Furmans and Appalachians of this world who can go out and compete favorably with those guys week in and week out. Now, they can’t, believe it or not, actually week in and week out do that, but they can occasionally once or twice a year. If we would get to the point where we improve because of that, it would have a big effect on our overall situation where we would become a lot better Football Championship Subdivision team."

CENTRAL FLORIDA NEXT?

SCSU hopes to schedule an FBS team for 2009, thus assuring the school will have such an opponent on the schedule every year through 2011. The Bulldogs are set to play Georgia Tech in 2010 and have a rematch with USC in 2011.

"We think that’s the best case scenario for us," Pough said. "Once upon a time, HBCUs played in the Classics and they made fairly decent money during the Classics. But, this is the method that we like to use for bringing a little extra income into the program. And for us, we get an added advantage in the fact that we get a competition factor that gives us a chance to really see how we match up with these styles of teams. Eventually, we want to get to the point where we can compete favorably with them because if we do, that means we will be much, much better in our division."

For the first time, Pough acknowledged the Bulldogs will most likely open next season against another Football Bowl Subdivision opponent in Central Florida. This is the first of two meetings over the next four years between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks. The Bulldogs will earn $230,000 this Saturday and $250,000 in 2011, although Pough insists the guaranteed money is not the only reason why these type of games are beneficial for SCSU.

"The one thing that I think that we get out of the games of this sort ... people think we’re going to get a guarantee," Pough said. "People think it’s more about money for us. But it’s not about money for us. It’s more about the preparation and the actual competition with people who are bigger than us and what we hope will happen is that we emulate them in a way where we become better ourselves.

JSU Comegy: Show me the money

The JSU Game
What: Jackson State vs. Texas Southern
When: Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
TV: ESPNU

When making future football schedules, Jackson State coach Rick Comegy has made one thing crystal clear: Money matters.

Comegy said on Monday that he hopes to schedule a game against a Division I-A opponent as soon as possible to help bring in some extra cash. Often times, I-AA schools can earn several hundred thousand dollars for traveling to play a major conference school.

Last winter, the Tigers briefly talked with Southern Miss about setting up a season opener, but instead decided to host Delta State. USM hosted Tennessee-Martin in its opener.

"We've got our coaches looking every day to try to set up something (with a Division I-A team)," Comegy said. "... It takes money to build a football program."

Several Southwestern Athletic Conference schools are venturing to Division I-A schools this season. Grambling lost to Pittsburgh 31-10 last weekend while Alcorn State will travel to UAB on Saturday.

LOVING IMPROVEMENT

When cornerback Keith Camp came to Jackson State more than a year ago, he didn't envision that it would take nearly 13 full games before he got his first interception.

But on Saturday night, Camp finally broke through when he picked off a pass in the end zone during Jackson State's 16-13 loss to Tennessee State.

And now that he's finally broken through, Camp said he expects a bevy of interceptions to follow.

"The first one is always the most difficult," he said. "Now they should start coming my way."

INJURY REPORT

JSU offensive tackle Wilson Manigat (knee) could return earlier than expected after being injured in the season opener against Delta State. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior could play against Texas Southern even though he was originally thought to be out until late September... Marcel Frost's (leg) is questionable for Thursday's game.

- David Brandt

JSU Football: What's wrong with the Tigers' offense?

Photo: After missing JSU's first game, Erik Haw rushed for 82 yards in Saturday's loss to Tennessee State.

By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

It's high noon for Jackson State coach Rick Comegy, and the sharks are circling in the main dining room at Schimmel's - a downtown restaurant in Jackson.

The Monday afternoon ritual during football season consists of about 75 Jackson State fans. They buy an $11 ticket, eat some pasta covered in andouille sausage and shoot the breeze with friends.

But most importantly, they get the chance to step up to the microphone and ask Comegy a few questions about their beloved Tigers.

The lunch crowd is always a raucous, honest bunch, even when JSU has won a big game the previous weekend. So imagine their mood after a 16-13 loss to Tennessee State left the Tigers with an 0-2 record this season.

Nothing like an angry mob to go with your pasta.

"It's usually loud," said JSU fan Derrick Cannon said with a grin. "But I don't think it's ever been this crazy."

One by one, they step to the microphone. Some want to know why Tray Rutland - and not Jimmy Oliver - started at quarterback. Others wonder what offensive coordinator James Woody was thinking when he called a pass on 3rd-and-goal at the 5-yard line. Then there's the group that thinks running back Lavarius Giles isn't being used enough.

But when it comes down to it, all are asking a variation of the same two questions.

What in the world is wrong with this team?

And.....

What are you going to do to fix it ?

The first question is pretty easy to answer: the offense. More specifically, the passing game.

Jackson State is averaging just 14 points per game in its two losses and has scored only two offensive touchdowns this season.

Of utmost concern are the quarterbacks. Tray Rutland and Jimmy Oliver have combined to complete just 19 of 58 passes (32.7 percent) for 299 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions.

Neither has established himself as the starting quarterback and the competition continues for its third straight regular-season week.

Comegy says it will be the last.

"What I do know is we need to get this thing settled," Comegy said. "We want one guy who's the starter and then somebody that can back him up if something happens."

At Monday's luncheon, Comegy admitted that Oliver's tendency to miss film sessions was hurting his chance to start, despite the fact that he threw for 1,906 yards last season and was first in the SWAC in total offense.

As for Rutland, his inconsistent play has done little to inspire confidence. But the sophomore has the studious demeanor Comegy craves.

"It's my decision who the quarterback will be," Comegy said. "Then we'll stick to that decision."

While the quarterbacks have been shaky, the receivers haven't been a whole lot better.

Rodney Gray, one of the Tigers' premier transfers from Southern Miss, dropped three passes against Tennessee State. And JSU offensive coordinator James Woody said Gray is far from the only culprit.

"It's surprising because we thought the quarterbacks and receivers were going to be the deepest, most experienced part of this team," Woody said. "I don't know if complacency set in or what. But it won't happen again."

Then there's the second question: What can Jackson State do to fix this before the season gets our of hand?

Senior receiver Chris Johnson says there's no miracle cure, only better execution and concentration.

"I think we've all figured out that great talent and experience doesn't mean anything if you can't execute," Johnson said. "We're just trying to narrow our focus. We know we're better than this."

Comegy said the biggest focus of this week's practice would be red zone work. The Tigers were just 1-for-3 in scoring opportunities once they got inside Tennessee State's 20-yard line.

Last season, Jackson State was one of the SWAC's best in the red zone, scoring on 30 out of 38 opportunities (78.9 percent).

"Every play, we see ourselves getting better," Rutland said. "Now we've got to make the big play when we're down by the end zone. We're building more and more confidence and those big plays will come."

Cornerback Keith Camp doesn't have first-hand knowledge of the offensive woes. But the senior says a return to winning ways might just be a matter of attitude.

"At this point, we need to start treating every player on every opposing team like they're an All-American," Camp said. "We're 0-2 right now, so I'm not sure why we'd take anything for granted."

By the time the 45-minute question and answer session is over at Schimmel's, the JSU crowd has calmed down - at least a little.

A weary Comegy has answered all the questions, though the exchange was testy at times.

It's obvious the program needs a win in a hurry. The Tigers have lost six of seven games dating back to last season.

And thanks to a short week, the next chance is just two days away. JSU hosts Texas Southern at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in a game nationally televised on ESPNU.

Before he leaves Schimmel's to resume work on his game plan, Comegy takes a long look at the crowd and then offers this:

"For the first time on Saturday, I saw these guys really fight for Jackson State and a cause bigger than themselves," Comegy said. "We're at the crucial point of gelling. Don't give up on these kids right now."