A&T Aggies expect full house for N.C. Central

By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record

N.C. CENTRAL AT N.C. A&T
When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Aggie Stadium, Greensboro
Radio: WNAA-90.1
Records: N.C. Central 3-1; N.C. A&T 0-3
Tickets: Call 334-7749 or
$20 online at http://www.ncataggies.com

GREENSBORO -- Think of homecoming without the parade or the other ancillary events. An oxymoron? Sure. But that's the sort of crowd and stadium atmosphere N.C. A&T officials anticipate Saturday when the Aggies (0-3) will play host to N.C. Central (3-1) for the first time in 16 years.

The Aggie-Eagle Classic, which became its own contradiction in terms when the third-party organizers failed to deliver on financial guarantees, has died and been replaced by a conventional home-field arrangement. Central's first trip to Greensboro since 1991 is expected to produce a sellout, even though tickets remained available Monday afternoon, and A&T administrators say they're preparing accordingly.

Security, ticket-sales agents and other game-day personnel will be at homecoming levels for a rivalry that drew an announced crowd of 35,000 at N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium in 2005. Aggie Stadium seats 21,500.

"I've heard about the Aggie-Eagle Classic because my grandfather used to talk about it," said A&T defensive end Keith Holiday. "It brings a lot of pride and school spirit out. This is going to be fun."

The series will be played for the 79th time in a history that began in 1924 and has shifted from campus to neutral sites before. A fight in the 1950s compelled a move to Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium, where, in one memorable game, a man drove his car right onto the field and parked at the 50-yard line. At least he had the good sense to wait until the previous play had been whistled dead.

"He left the motor running," said Spencer Gwynn, A&T's radio play-by-play man of four decades. "And he was quickly apprehended by the gendarmes."

In its most recent reincarnation, the game was run by a tax-exempt outfit known as the Capital Area Sports Foundation, which guaranteed each school $150,000 for the 2005 matchup. In its tax return for that year, the foundation reported more than $160,000 in payouts to A&T, but the university said it has received less than $100,000 and doesn't expect to see anything more.

"We can probably kiss that money goodbye," athletics director Dee Todd said Monday.

A year ago, Lawrence Wray, the group's chief administrator, said the foundation had run out of money, but it reported remaining assets of $12,285 as of Dec. 31.

The arrangement clearly is better for A&T now that it has cut the middle man out of the equation. That should hold true for a two-year period, even though Central gets next year's gate receipts. If A&T sells only 10,000 general-admission tickets this year, it will take in $200,000 and won't have to wait for anybody else to cut a check.

"You go to the Aggie-Eagle and you're dealing with a third party," Todd said. "Here, the gate is ours."

The Eagles surely understand. Last week, the West Alabama said that its game with Central, scheduled for Oct. 6 in Birmingham, Ala., had been canceled because of a "breach in the game contract by the Varsity Sports Marketing Group, the game's promoter."

Traditionalists might mourn the further migration of Central-A&T from its roots as the Turkey Day Classic, but future schedules should ensure A&T of at least two home sellouts a year -- one for homecoming and the other from Central or Winston-Salem State, which will alternate appearances at Aggie Stadium.

"The reality is that you've got to look at the financial amounts," Gwynn said.

Jackson State Hull should play more vs. Valley

Photo: WR Jaymar Johnson catches pass in rain against Texas Southern.

THE JSU GAME
What: Jackson State at Mississippi Valley
When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Radio: JSU Network (WOAD-1300 AM)

Running back Cody Hull made his Jackson State debut during Thursday's 28-7 win over Texas Southern after missing the first two games because of eligibility concerns.

The senior, who transferred from Southern Miss, rushed for 7 yards on four carries on the wet turf at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Hull, who earned his degree at USM and is taking graduate courses at JSU, sat out the first two games while the NCAA sorted out eligibility issues.

"We knew he was going to be eligible, it was just a matter of when the NCAA was going to clear him," Jackson State coach Rick Comegy said. "We're thrilled to have him and he gives us an added dimension in our running game."

JSU offensive coordinator James Woody said Hull would probably see an increased workload this weekend against Mississippi Valley State.

"We wanted to get him more carries against Texas Southern, but the field was in such bad shape we held him out," Woody said. "But he's going to help us a lot before this season's done."

JOHNSON HONORED

Jaymar Johnson was the SWAC's Specialist of the Week after gaining 117 yards on two returns. The highlight was a 75-yard punt return that gave the Tigers a 14-0 lead. DE Daniel Brooks and CB Domonique Johnson were honorable mention for Defensive Player of the Week.

INJURY REPORT

Backup linebacker Justin Baylor had his knee scoped on Monday and Comegy said he's likely out two to four weeks. ... If tight end Marcel Frost isn't able to play within the next few weeks, Comegy said he'll consider seeking a medical redshirt for the senior. Frost has missed the first three games while recovering from a broken leg suffered last spring.

- David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

MEAC week three football honors

Photo: FAMU #10, Tyrone McGriff smashes Howard University offense for two sacks, 11 tackles.

By MEAC Sports information

Senior runningback Chad Simpson of Morgan State University and Tyrone McGriff of Florida A&M University were selected as the MEAC Football Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Phillip Sylvester also of Florida A&M earned his second Rookie of the Week accolade, while teammates Dennis Conley and Kevin Teel of Hampton earned offensive lineman and special team’s player of the week honors respectively.

Simpson (RB, 5-9, 210, Sr., Miami, Fla.) ran for a career-best 221 yards on 41 carries including a 33 yard touchdown run as the Bears fell in the final seconds to Winston Salem State, 19-17. He also had 68 yards on three kickoff returns. Simpson is currently averaging 186.0 yards, third best among NCAA D-I (FCS) players, in three games and has rushed for five TDs.

McGriff (DE, 6-1, 217, Sr., Tallahassee, Fla.) led the Rattlers in tackles with 11, eight solo, in a 30-17 win over Howard. McGriff also recorded two sacks for a loss of 16 yards and four and a half tackles for a loss of 20 yards.

Sylvester (RB, 5-10, 185, Fr., Marianna, Fla.) was one-of-two players to post over 200 yards rushing in MEAC action this week. Sylvester rushed for 222 yards on 21 carries and tallied nine yards on two receptions. He also ran back two kickoffs for 41 yards. His longest run of 94 yards resulted in a touchdown, giving the Rattlers the 20-10 lead over Howard. The freshman, who also received Rookie of the Week honors in week one, accounted for 276 all-purpose yards in the win. Sylvester currently ranks 15th in rushing among NCAA D-I (FCS) players.

Photo: FAMU #30, Phillip Sylvester takes it 94 yards through Howard University defense for TD.

Conley (LG, 6-4, 257, r-So., Suffolk, Va.) graded out at 94-percent on assignments as he aided the Pirates to 438 total offensive yards in a win over N.C. A&T. Conley led the way for the Pirates’ 228 yards on the ground and 210 yards passing that resulted in three touchdowns for quarterback TJ Mitchell. He also collected two pancake blocks in the win.

Teel (WR, 5-9, 168, Jr., Bowie, MD) recorded a 70-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Pirates win. He amassed 95 total yards on returns and also notched 68 yards receiving with a touchdown.

Other Top Performers

Josh Brite (DSU) had eight punts for 321 yards (40.1 average) with one inside the 20 and one touchback for the Hornets.

Rafael Bush (SCSU) tallied nine tackles, with all but one unassisted, against the nationally ranked South Carolina Gamecocks.

Will Ford (SCSU) rushed for 112 yards on 17 carries against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Jerrell Guyton (MSU) collected a career-high 14 tackles (10 solo) and a sack in the Bears slim loss to the Winston-Salem State Rams.

Dakarai Grimsley (MSU) graded out a 98-percent on his assignments and collected five pancake blocks as he led the Bears to 366 total offensive yards against the Rams.

Justin Keable (BCU) punt for 191 yards on five attempts including a 48-yarder that pinned the Tigers deep in their own territory as Bethune-Cookman posted their second win of the season.

James Lee (SCSU) had two pancake blocks as he helped the Bulldogs to 196 yards rushing against intrastate rival South Carolina.

Van Morgan (HAM) rushed for 154 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns in the win over N.C. A&T State.

Russell Reeves (DSU) led all tackles with 14, eight solo, and one sack for a loss of three yards in the Hornets loss to Kent State. He also posted a forced fumble and one pass breakup for the Hornets defense.

Jimmie Russell (BCU) scored three rushing touchdowns with 65 yards on 12 carries in the Wildcats win over Savannah State. Russell also completed 10-of-15 passes for 112 yards in the victory.

Carlo Turavani (HAM) scored 11 points completing 8-of-8 extra point attempts and a 28-yard field goal as the Pirates defeated N.C. A&T 59-14.

Bobbie Williams (BCU) accounted for 10 tackles, five solo, and three pass breakups in the Wildcats 38-13 victory over Savannah State.

Defense sparks Southern University’s 3-0 start

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Tennessee State at Southern
WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: A.W. Mumford Stadium
TV: Tape-delay, 3:30 p.m. Sun., CST
RADIO: KQXL-FM, 106.5

Southern has allowed one second-half touchdown all season — with 16 seconds left in the opener as the Jaguars played more for time than score.

That’s not how this was supposed to happen.

The thinking going in was, Southern’s offseason attrition left the Jaguars thin and young and that combination would have them wearing down as games wore on.

Not so.

Southern (3-0, 2-0), which hosts Tennessee State (2-1) of the Ohio Valley Conference at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium, has gotten better throughout the games.

A big reason for the undefeated start is the way SU has played in the second half, outscoring the opposition 36-9.

Between substitution patterns and coaching adjustments, Southern’s defense has been stingy and dominating after halftime.

Mississippi Valley State got 9 yards in the entire second half. Prairie View changed quarterbacks, with its playmaker Chris Gibson ineffective, and couldn’t convert on fourth-and-3 at the SU 28-yard line. Florida A&M couldn’t convert a key fourth-and-1 at the SU 25 in the third quarter and threw two interceptions, one setting up the go-ahead score and the other in the Southern end zone.

“The thing that helps is, we do a game plan and we actually have adjustments in the gameplan,” said SU defensive coordinator Terrence Graves, who is also the defensive backs coach. “We practice it throughout the week, so it’s nothing they haven’t seen for the most part. Little, subtle adjustments.

“Those guys understand the little wrinkles, adjust to them and do a good job of executing.”

After getting burned for two long touchdowns in the second quarter of the season opener with FAMU, Southern has clamped down, allowing just two touchdowns (and a safety, charged to the punting unit) in the last 10 quarters.

“Those guys are doing a good job of really just executing the defense,” Graves said. “That’s a credit to them, because it means something to them.”

Southern had three interceptions, three sacks and two fourth-down stops in a 12-2 win over Prairie View on Saturday.

Gibson came in averaging 99.5 rushing yards per game. He had minus-17 and suffered his first two sacks of the season.

“They took away some of the things we wanted to do,” Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III said. “Coach Graves and his staff were on it. &hellip We’re going to look at where they were robbing us &hellip see how they took it away and we’ll correct it.”

Remember, though, that there is not a senior among Southern’s front seven (its linebackers and line).

“(First-year linebackers coach Todd) Middleton and (defensive line coach David) Geralds are doing a good job up front of making those guys aware of what to look for and what to respond to, making sure they’re in the right places and paying attention to detail,” Graves said. “They’re playing well together.”

At the core of this success, the team’s playmakers have made plays, as Southern head coach Pete Richardson has pointed out.

The secondary, headlined by the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason defensive player of the year in free safety Jarmaul George and a three-year starter in cornerback Michael Williams (11 tackles), has lived up to expectations.

Strong safety Glenn Bell, the team’s top tackler last season, has 23 tackles, with that interception in the end zone and a fumble recovery in the end zone. &hellip George has 20 tackles and two interceptions.

Junior Johnathan Malveaux, the most veteran of linebackers, leads the team in tackles at 29.

The two veterans on the defensive line, end Vince Lands and tackle Joseph Selders, have produced.

Lands, this week’s SWAC Defensive Player of the Week, has 13 tackles, with 5.5 for losses, including 2.5 sacks, along with three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. And Selders has 14 tackles.

Meanwhile, junior defensive tackle Dwayne Charles (13 tackles) continues to make the progression coaches expected.

And sophomore drop linebacker Gary Chapman (14 tackles) is showing he can be what he looked like he could be in preseason camp.

And the tag-team of Allan Baugh (11 tackles, one interception) and Brian Lewis (eight tackles, one sack) has worked at eagle linebacker.

“We’ve got some guys who are coming in and making plays, just doing a good job of understanding what to do and how to do it,” Graves said. “We emphasize playing fast and playing hard.”

Southern has totaled five interceptions, 14 pass breakups, six sacks and two fumble recoveries.

“We made big plays at the right time,” George said.

Scouting Report: SCSU Marching 101 Band

Based on the Marching 101 performance at the South Carolina vs South Carolina State University historic football game played before 73,095 fans, it appears that the 101 is the second best marching band in the MEAC. Sorry, Bethune Cookman, Norfolk State and North Carolina A&T--the Marching 101 has superior musicianship, showmanship and precision in marching--like its role model, the FAMU Marching 100.

This video was filmed by a unknown rookie videographer that was too excited.



Here is the SCSU Marching 101 practice video so you can break down their techniques as a teaching tool.

FAMU selects men head basketball coach

Thursday at 1:00 p.m., Florida A&M University will hold an official press conference to introduce its new men head basketball coach to replace Mike Gillespie. Unfortunately, the selection will come as no surprise to many that frequent the Tallahassee Democrat's FAMU forum or read ESPN.com, who publicly released an announcement on the selection yesterday, based on information from multiple sources.

As expected, the new coach selected is Florida State University graduate and Georgia State University assistant coach, Eugene Harris. Our only hope and wish is that Coach Harris is given the support necessary to build FAMU into a national mid-major power that will be a beast in the MEAC and southeast with frequent NCAA tournament appearances. With a 10,000 seat FAMU Teaching Gym under construction, this is not an impossible task for a coach with a reputation as an excellent recruiter and developer of Division I players.

No doubt the MEAC will become much stronger Thursday with this hire, as the league is showing a serious commitment to basketball. If the upgrade in talent continues to flow to Delaware State, Hampton University, Morgan State, South Carolina State, FAMU, Winston Salem State and other league members, the MEAC will become very exciting to watch. How can you not like the basketball coaching talent of the MEAC? Welcome, Coach Harris....

Bio: Coach Eugene Harris (photo on right)

ATLANTA (April 23, 2007) – Georgia State head men’s basketball coach Rod Barnes has announced Eugene Harris as his second hire for his new coaching staff.

Harris, a veteran of 23 years in college athletics in the southeast, brings more recruiting contacts and experience with his basketball knowledge.

“Eugene Harris is known as one of the best recruiters in the southeast,” Barnes noted. “We are excited to be able to add him to our staff at Georgia State because he is well thought of and respected. No doubt, he will be an asset in helping us take this program to a higher level.”

Harris began his college coaching with Cliff Ellis at South Alabama in 1983 and moved on to 10 years at Clemson University, 11 years at Auburn and one year at Alabama. He has also been a high school coach at Rickard High in Tallahassee, Fla., Pelham High in Pelham, Ga. and Smiths Station High in Smiths, Ala.

As a college player, Harris was a three-year starter for the Seminoles of Florida State under Coach Hugh Durham. The guard was a co-captain of the Florida State team that won the Metro Conference in 1978 and was the team’s most valuable defensive player winner for three seasons.
“It is obvious that Coach Harris has improved the programs every where he has been a coach,” Barnes added. “He brings invaluable experience and maturity to our program. I know he has recruited not only good college players, but players who have gone on to play extensively in the NBA.”

Harris is a graduate of Scottsboro, [Ala.] High School and of Florida State University in 1979.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to coach with Rod Barnes,” Harris said. “Coach Barnes has an outstanding reputation on and off the court. I look forward to helping improve this program.”
Harris and his wife, Phyllis, have three daughters.

ASU Hornets stun Golden Lions on 4th-down TD catch

BY BECK CROSS, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

PINE BLUFF — Alabama State found yet another way to break Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s heart.

On fourth-and-goal from the 10 with 41 seconds remaining, Fred Ragsdale made a diving, shoestring catch in the left corner of the end zone to give the Hornets a 12-10 come-frombehind victory before 10, 012 stunned fans Saturday night at Golden Lion Stadium.

Alabama State has won five consecutive games against the Golden Lions and seven of the past eight.

But it didn’t seem to be the touchdown that irked UAPB Coach Mo Forte most. It was a late defensive holding penalty four plays earlier that gave Alabama State its first-and-goal opportunity.

“I think a lot of calls were questionable, I’ll tell you that,” Forte said. “It’s unfortunate because I don’t ever want to try to make excuses for anything. We were so inconsistent on offense again, and the defense played extremely well. But there were a lot of things that were suspect.”

UAPB, which mustered only 159 yards in total offense, stayed in the game with defense and special teams.

With UAPB trailing 6-0 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Kevin Thornton blocked an Alabama State punt, and Jermaine Clemmons recovered for UAPB at the Hornets’ 31.

The Golden Lions reached the 8 on a pass interference call, but settled for a 26-yard field goal by Brodie Heflin that cut the deficit to 6-3 with 11: 18 left.

Special teams also set up UAPB’s go-ahead touchdown. After Alabama State punter Jeremy Fetterhoff failed to field a snap from center, Aldridge Marion recovered for the Golden Lions at the Hornets’ 8.

Quarterback Johnathan Moore scored two plays later on a 7-yard keeper, and Heflin added the extra point to give the Golden Lions a 10-6 advantage with 9: 10 remaining.

Alabama State was turned away on the ensuing possession but cashed in when the game was on the line with a 10-play, 49-yard drive that ended with Ragsdale’s touchdown reception.

“I couldn’t see it from my vantage point, but I understand it was a great catch,” Forte said. “We were able to get mileage from our special teams, and they gave us a couple of opportunities to score.

“ I just look at us as trying to get better. The offensive line is getting better but not as fast as I’d like to see. We’re a struggling offensive football team right now.”

UAPB gave up 187 yards of total offense in the first half but only spotted the Hornets a 6-0 halftime lead.

Alabama State scored with 18. 8 seconds left in the first half when Chris Mitchell threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Darius Mathis to cap an 11-play, 77-yard drive.

Jay Peck had seven carries for 48 yards on the drive, which was kept alive when the Golden Lions were flagged for pass interference on a third-and-4 play from the UAPB 23.

Fetterhoff’s extra-point attempt was blocked by Ledarius Anthony to set the 6-0 halftime margin.

Alabama State’s only other legitimate scoring threat came on the game’s opening possession. Mitchell completed a 48-yard flea-flicker pass to Darius Mathis at the UAPB 22, but the Golden Lions took over on downs four plays later after three running plays netted zero yardage.

Moore, who was making only his third career start, engineered an impressive opening drive for the Golden Lions. Moore completed 3 of 5 passes for 41 yards as UAPB drove inside the Hornets’ 35, but the Golden Lions got no farther.

UAPB threatened midway through the second quarter after Thornton intercepted Mitchell at the Alabama State 46, but the Golden Lions came away empty when Heflin was wide left on a 40-yard field-goal attempt with 3: 32 remaining.

Jackson State at Mississippi Valley State

Last week: Beat Texas Southern 28-14
Saturday: At MVSU (Rice-Totten Stadium, Itta Bena), 4 p.m.
TV: None
Radio: JSU Network (WOAD 1300-AM, Jackson)

ON OFFENSE

MVSU's offense has sputtered, scoring just 12 points per game. The Delta Devils are averaging less than 200 yards of total offense per game and just 3.3 yards per play. Sophomore QB Paul Roberts has been decent, throwing for 367 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. RB Ronald Brewer had a good game against Alabama A&M, rushing for 146 yards on 21 carries. RB Johey Hargrett hasn't put up the same kind of numbers he did last season, when he rushed for 698 yards, but he's still a decent option in the backfield.

ON DEFENSE

The Delta Devils' defense had shown considerable promise until the Alabama A&M game, when they gave up 45 points and 499 yards of total offense. But in MVSU's defense, the 3-0 Bulldogs have done that kind of damage in all of their games. Defensive linemen Ronald Green and John Price, along with DB Sam Irons all have at least 20 tackles and have had to stay on the field a long time since Valley's offense has rarely moved the ball. The Delta Devils are last in the SWAC in total defense, giving up 407.3 yards per game.

INTANGIBLES

The hard part for Mississippi Valley remains the mental aspect of this rivalry. The Delta Devils have lost 12 in a row to JSU despite occasionally possessing superior talent. JSU enters this game with some momentum after a solid 28-7 victory over Texas Southern.

- David Brandt

AAMU Bulldogs' road gets rougher

By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

Grambling bigger challenge than first 3 A&M opponents

Tennessee State didn't test Alabama A&M. Neither did Clark Atlanta nor Mississippi Valley State.

The Bulldogs disposed of the Tigers and the Delta Devils with big second-half efforts. A&M built a 21-7 lead at intermission against Clark Atlanta and coasted the rest of the way.

Although the Bulldogs' first three opponents didn't provide much competition, coach Anthony Jones said that will change Saturday night when A&M visits Grambling in an important Southwestern Athletic Conference game. Kickoff is at 6 at Robinson Stadium and the game will be televised on ESPNU.

"This is a big game for us," Jones said Sunday afternoon before meeting with his team. "Grambling is playing probably as well as anybody in the West Division. They'll be, without a doubt, our biggest test to date."

The Bulldogs are 3-0 and 1-0 in league play. The Tigers, who were idle last week, are 1-1 and 1-0.

During a six-year span from 2000 through 2005, Grambling won four SWAC championships. However, the Tigers struggled last season, finishing 3-8, and coach Melvin Spears was fired. Rod Broadway was hired earlier this year, and Jones says he has already paid dividends.

"They're much better this year," he said. "They've got talent down there. Broadway is an excellent coach.

"Watching them on film, they do a lot of good things. You can tell that they're well-coached. They've got their swagger back."

This A&M team is playing with a swagger, particularly on offense, unlike any of Jones' previous five teams.

The Bulldogs are averaging 45 points and 519 yards per game through their first three games.

"We've got some weapons we've never had in the past," Jones said.

After struggling throughout the first half and leading just 10-7 at intermission against MVSU, A&M erupted for 35 points in the second half.

Quarterback Kelcy Luke, after going 8-of-18 in the first half for 56 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, completed 8-of-11 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. Wide receiver Thomas Harris had three catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. Running back Ulysses Banks scored two touchdowns, one on a 70-yard screen pass and another one on a 15-yard run. Banks finished with 103 rushing yards on 11 carries.

A&M had a pair of two-play, 70- and 78-yard drives for touchdowns, but also had a six-play, 75-yard drive and a 13-play, 90-yard drive for touchdowns.

"This team has been able to score on big plays and long drives," Jones said. "We haven't been able to do that in the past."

Monday after

Who's hot: Wide receiver Thomas Harris had four catches for 137 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's game.

Who's not: The Bulldogs' run defense. Mississippi Valley State freshman Ronald Brewer rushed for 146 yards on 21 carries, averaging a whopping 7.0 yards per carry. It is the second time in three games A&M has allowed a 100-yard rusher.

Who's hurt: Wide receiver Nate Baxter sustained an ankle injury in the first quarter against MVSU and never returned. His status is day-to-day.

Who's next: The Bulldogs visit Grambling in a Southwestern Athletic Conference showdown Saturday night. Kickoff is at 6 (ESPNU) at Robinson Stadium.

SCSU Historic day comes with a price

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

COLUMBIA - For the 73,095 fans in attendance Saturday night, the first-ever matchup between the University of South Carolina and South Carolina State was a festive experience.

Although the 38-3 outcome clearly went in favor of the host team and 12th-ranked Gamecocks, even Bulldog fans had to take pride in how the team and the Marching 101 looked in front of the largest audience either has ever performed before in school history.

The closer to the gridiron, however, the more it became obvious the inaugural meeting was a painful experience for the Bulldogs. As SCSU huddled with USC players at midfield for a post-game prayer, both defensive backs Markee Hamlin and Travance Jackson were staying upright on crutches.

The same was true for linebacker David Erby, who along with wide receiver Tron Jackson, suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice. Add BANDIT Marshall McFadden’s right elbow injury and the fact running back William Ford, who had his first 100-yard game this season, tight end Octavius Darby and wide receiver Tre’ Young were dealing with ankle and leg injuries and it would have been easy for SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough to second-guess his decision to play two Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the first three weeks of the season.

Instead, Pough would not change a thing save for the outcome and the rash of injuries. If anything, he believes even stronger that the Bulldogs will reap benefits from arguably the toughest opening three-game stretch any SCSU team has faced in its 100 years of existence.

"I’m encouraged," he said. "I think we’ll be okay. We’ve got some big, big football games left and we go back home next week, finally. This has been a long stretch. That three games on the road. One week, we’re in the Rocky Mountains and the next week, we’re on the Atlantic Ocean (in Daytona Beach, Fla. at Bethune-Cookman) and now, heck, we’re in the earthquake, doggone Williams-Brice (Stadium). It’s been a tough three weeks, but I’m glad to be getting back home and hopefully, we can go back home and play good the next week (against Winston-Salem State) and have a week up and heal up from our injuries."

The key for SCSU is getting most of the injured players healed up in time for the resumption of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play. With Saturday’s home game against Winston-Salem State not counting in the standings, the Bulldogs could conceivably use the game the same way USC had hoped to do - give the starters enough time to stay sharp then pull them for the rest of the game.

Getting back four players (wide receivers Terrance Smith and Phillip Morris, defensive lineman Patrick Brooks and place-kicker Stephen Grantham) suspended for Saturday’s game for team rule violations should help in the depth department.

Even with Smith’s return, the Bulldogs will need to find a way to help an anemic passing game. Through three games, the Bulldogs rank last in the MEAC in passing offense, passing efficiency and next to last in Red Zone Offense.

Although backup Malcolm Long appeared in two series for the Bulldogs, Pough is not ready to rush the former ‘Mr. Football’ into the limelight.

"Cleve (McCoy) is our guy," he said. "He’s going to be our guy and Malcolm will be our guy down the road. All we’re trying to do with him right now is give him a little taste from time to time."

Bruised Gamecocks

Even in victory, USC took its lumps as two key starters in defensive back Brandon Isaac and defensive tackle Nathan Pepper left the game with injuries.

For Isaac, it was his oft-troubled right shoulder which once again betrayed the former T&D Region Player of the Year out of Blackville-Hilda. It was listed as a sprain, although USC head football coach Steve Spurrier gave no indication as to when Isaac will return.

In Pepper’s case, the pain came as made one of the biggest defensive plays of his career. With SCSU up 3-0 early, Pepper stepped in front of a Cleveland McCoy pass and returned it 19 yards for the school’s first interception return for a touchdown in two years.

As Peppers galloped untouched into the endzone, he quickly went down with was later diagnosed as a sprained left knee. He’s scheduled for an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.

"An injury is something you can’t predict," USC defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix said. "If you’re going to get hurt, get hurt scoring."

Instant replay works for SCSU

Playing at Williams-Brice Stadium afforded SCSU the rare opportunity of challenge questionable plays through instant replay. In two instances during the first half, the protested calls went in the Bulldogs’ favor.

SCSU challenged the spotting of a fourth-and-one quarterback sneak by USC backup quarterback Tommy Beecher. After a five-minute review, the review overturned the original call and gave possession back to the Bulldogs.

Minutes later, USC challenged a fumble recovered by SCSU defensive lineman Keyon Brooks which was caused by a hard hit by a blitzing Ryan Botts. The ruling on the field stood and SCSU won its second challenge.

Record game crowd for SCSU

The 73,095 fans at Williams-Brice Stadium was the largest crowd an SCSU football team had play before, breaking the mark of 68,000 set in 2004 when the Bulldogs played Tennessee State at the Circle City Classic held in Indianapolis, Ind.

Lesson learned

SCSU’s inability to deal with the crowd noise at Williams-Brice Stadium resulted in four false start penalties in the first half. In the long run, however, Pough believes those difficulties will help the Bulldogs in future FBS matchups, including a 2011 rematch with USC.

"It’s a learning experience," he said. "Now that we’ve done it one time under these circumstances, the next time we’ll do better."

Playing from behind

SCSU dropped to 4-14 overall in games in which it trailed at halftime under Pough. The 3-0 deficit was also the first time USC had trailed in a game all season. The lead lasted exactly 80 seconds for SCSU.

Rutgers rubs it in--Runs it up on Norfolk State

Greg Schiano padded Ray Rice's stats late in a win over Navy on Sept. 7. But after being criticized for a bush-league move, the Rutgers head coach only seemed even more determined to rub it in the face of an opponent.

Saturday against tiny Norfolk State, Schiano called a bevy of timeouts in short succession while his team held a 45-0 lead at the end of the second quarter. NSU coach Pete Adrian had a right to be upset, and the fact that the controversy was the lead item in the Associated Press' (usually) bland game report shows you how much this story matters. It overshadowed anything and everything that Rutgers might have achieved in this game.

Okay, coach Schiano, it's time to throw down some tough talk: before this season, you did the right things in the right way for all the right reasons at Rutgers. After several years of hard work — and justified patience from your athletic director — you've gained the right results as well. You were a model for all other coaches in every possible way.

But now, after two straight weeks of stat-padding, with one of them coming in a classic paycheck game, all the goodwill and political capital of Rutgers University's football program are being thrown out the window. This on-field controversy involving Schiano's methods (and motives) accompanies the off-field developments concerning the unruly and unbecoming behavior of the Rutgers student body at home games in Piscataway, N.J.

Coach, your reasoning after the Norfolk State game was pretty lame. You said that as long as your starters are in the game, you play the way you coach: all-out, with a complete focus on performance and excellence. That statement leaves a lot to be desired for a number of reasons.

First, you can justify leaving your starters in the game far longer than they should. If Ray Rice is on the field, you think you can do whatever you want. So you leave Rice in the game, and you do whatever you want. Twisted logic, to say the very least.

Secondly, one would think that with backups in the game, you would actually work harder as a coach. When first-string players are competing against a grossly inferior opponent, you don't need to trick up your playbook or complicate your game plan. With dominant players, you can do the simplest things and still score points. If that happens, then you can't be accused of stat-padding.

But with backup players who need exposure to live-action game management situations, it's justifiable to provide trick plays and special strategies.

Second- or third-string players deserve the right to work with the gadgets, exotics and wrinkles normally reserved for the first-teamers. If your bench-warmers get a full playbook and a complex offensive package, no opposing coach could argue: second-stringers don't get much work, so they need exposure to everything. The logic is clear and convincing.

Long story short, you can't have it both ways, Mr. Schiano: either you keep your first string in the game and don't call the timeouts, or you put in your backups and call the timeouts. If you were a really nice guy, you'd put in second-stringers and not call the timeouts, but we'll be reasonable and ask for only one action, not both. But you did neither; you kept in the first-team offense AND called the three timeouts in a 45-point game against a paycheck school whom you should treat with a little more respect. It's not just Pete Adrian who should be angry at you; it's an entire college football community that suddenly doesn't feel that Rutgers is a feel-good story anymore.

Not with the embarrassing way in which you're conducting yourself on gamedays, Mr. Schiano.

— Matthew Zemek, Foxsports.com

HU's kickoff return provides a kick-start

BY KEITH CANNON, Special to the Daily Press

GREENSBORO, N.C. - A confusing set of circumstances led to one of the biggest plays in Hampton's 59-14 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday night at Aggie Stadium.

A premature call by the A&T captains after the opening coin toss led to the Pirates receiving both the first- and second-half kickoffs. Kevin Teel returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown, sparking Hampton's big third quarter.

Quarterback T.J. Mitchell, one of Hampton's game captains, explained that the Pirates lost the coin toss, but when asked what they wanted to do, the Aggie captains identified which goal they wanted to defend instead of the expected decision to defer to the second half. So, naturally, the Pirates elected to receive for the second half.

Hampton coach Joe Taylor said he was surprised by the whole incident. "First time in my life I've ever seen that," he said.

SHORT SCHEDULE
The Pirates home opener at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against Morgan State (TV: ESPNU) will result in changes in the team's routine this week, Taylor said.

"We won't grade this game's film yet, but we'll look at Morgan first," he said. "We usually take Monday off and introduce the next team on Tuesday," he said. "But this time our next day off will be Friday."

TURNOVER STREAK STAYS ALIVE
Kendall Langford's 23-yard interception return for a score late in the third quarter marked the 28th consecutive game in which the Pirates defense has forced at least one turnover. The last time the Pirates didn't get a giveaway from the opposition was on Nov. 8, 2003 at Bethune-Cookman.

THE LAST TIME
Teel's kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half was the second of his career. He repeated the feat he accomplished last season when the opened the second half with a 92-yard return for a score in a 29-14 victory over Delaware State on Sept. 30, 2006, in Dover, Del...It also hasn't been that long since the Pirates scored 59 points in a game. They did it last season in a 59-7 victory over Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Fla. on Nov. 11, 2006.

N.C. CONNECTION
Four players on the Hampton roster hail from North Carolina, including senior safety Henti Baird, a Greensboro Page graduate playing in front of a hometown crowd for the final time. There's also a Hampton connection on the A&T side as Aggie linebacker coach Travis Oliver is a 2003 Hampton graduate. He was a two-time All-MEAC safety for the Pirates.


ALL-TIME SERIES
With the victory, the Pirates' all-time record against North Carolina A&T is now 22-15-2. Hampton has won the last four, and have scored more than 40 points in three of the four. Hampton has a 9-4 advantage in MEAC games between the teams and Pirates coach Joe Taylor is 9-3 against the Aggies in his career at Hampton.

Fans stay away in droves for Flashes' home opener with Delaware State

By David Carducci, Record-Courier

The jam-packed gold bleachers behind Kent State's bench shook as if they were hit by a seismic wave as students celebrated a 31-point win over Delaware State Saturday in the Golden Flashes' first home game of 2006.

It was a real Division I-A college-football atmosphere, but unfortunately it was limited to just the one small corner of Dix Stadium.

While the student section was filled to capacity with kids eager to embrace a team picked to contend for its first league championship in 35 years, the other three grandstands surrounding the playing field looked almost desolate.

An embarrassing opening-day crowd of just 8,455 filled Dix Stadium to just under 29-percent capacity.

The dreadful community showing left KSU head coach Doug Martin wondering what his team needs to do to finally pique the interest of fans living in and around Kent.

KSU has more than just a football program that is finally capable of winning a MAC title. It boasts an exciting team filled with playmakers who should have built up some equity in a season-opening win over a Big 12 school at Iowa State. The Golden Flashes hadn't enjoyed that kind of marquee win against a BCS program since 1987.

At least the students noticed.

"I want to thank our student section. They were unbelievable again," Martin said following the 38-7 win over Delaware State. "If the people of Kent, the community of Kent, would take a clue and follow this student body, we are going to have something really special here. If you are driving from Kent to go watch somebody else play, you are nuts. You've got a pretty good product here."

Lesser products in the Mid-American Conference have welcomed much larger crowds to their home stadiums already this season. Average home attendance for MAC schools in the season's first three weeks has been 21,270, and that does not include "home" games played at neutral sites like Cleveland Browns Stadium or Chicago's Soldier Field. Those are home games at campus sites.

Only lowly Eastern Michigan drew fewer fans for a home game this season when 5,794 showed up to see a Sept. 8 game in Ypsilanti. Other than KSU and Eastern's home openers, the smallest crowd in a MAC stadium was the 15,488 that showed in Muncie, Ind. to see Ball State beat Miami.

"I'm disappointed, but I'm still optimistic we will turn this around," said Kent State athletic director Laing Kennedy. "I think it's going to happen very soon with this team."

Kent State pointed to temperatures in the high-50s as one reason fans may have decided to stay home.

"Five degrees warmer and we probably have a bigger box office," said Kennedy. "This has always been a walk-up community, not a pre-sale community."

Playing a little known I-AA (Football Championship Subdivision) school like Delaware State also couldn't have helped. Of course, Ohio University enjoyed an opening-day crowd of 19,823 when it hosted Gardner-Webb on Sept. 1. Any fans out there know where Gardner Webb is? At least most middle-school students can find Delaware on a map.

Kennedy also acknowledged that the 4 p.m. start could have been a mistake because it forced fans to decide between going out to Dix Stadium or staying home to watch Ohio State at Washington on ESPN. Saturday would have been the first opportunity for most Northeast Ohio college football fans to see the Buckeyes on television. The first two OSU games were broadcast on the new Big Ten Network -- a channel not found on most local cable systems.

None of those factors excuse a crowd of 8,455.

This team deserves better.

"I'm disappointed for our players and for our administration," said Martin. "We've done such a great job with the improvements that have been made to this stadium. This is one of the nicest stadiums in the Mid-American Conference."

Saturday was the debut of the first stage of a multi-million dollar facelift to Dix Stadium that will completely change the look of the 38-year-old stadium by the start of the 2008 season.

"We have a great product here, and we are doing things the right way," said Martin. "Our players graduate. Our players are taking care of themselves. They are doing the right things. They are good kids.

"We could have something really special here as a community, something the community could have great pride in, just like the (men's) basketball team we have here. That is a source of great pride in the community, and this football program is going to be the same thing. We just need the people of Kent and the surrounding communities to get on board with us. We would welcome them."

*

2007 MAC HOME GAMES AND ATTENDANCE -- Sept. 8, Indiana at Western Michigan, 32,129; Aug. 31, Navy at Temple, 30,368; Sept. 1, Purdue at Toledo, 26,100; Sept. 8, Southern Illinois at Northern Illinois, 24,182; Sept. 15, Cincinnati at Miami, 22,421; Sept. 8, Toledo at Central Michigan, 22,031; Sept. 15, Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois, 20,012; Sept. 1, Gardner-Webb at Ohio, 19,823; Aug. 31, Miami at Ball State, 15,488; Sept. 8, Buffalo at Temple, 15,629; Sept. 15, Delaware State at Kent State, 8,455; Sept. 8, Ball State at Eastern Michigan, 5,794.

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Howard University vs. Hampton University attendance was over 10,000 at Greene Stadium, Washington, DC for Howard's home opener. Let's see what the turnout will be for Howard at Eastern Michigan this weekend. Other than rivalry games and Classics, attendance is declining in the FCS as folks opt to watch from their computers, TVs or not at all. (beepbeep)

Southern defense gets 'moral shutout' against PVAMU

Photo: Southern’s Jarmal George (2) leaps over Prairie View’s Chris Gibson (10) during Southern’s 12-2 victory.











By JOE SCHIEFELBEIN, The Advocate

Do they have things called “moral shutouts?”

That’s what Southern’s defense scored in a 12-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference victory over Prairie View on Saturday.

Prairie View’s only score came when Southern was called for holding in the end zone while attempting a punt in the fourth quarter.

“We had a shutout defensively,” said senior free safety Jarmaul George, the SWAC’s preseason defensive player of the year.

George’s interception at the Southern 15-yard line with 4:41 to play ended the Panthers’ last good chance to score. SU’s last shutout came in September 2005, 38-0 over Prairie View.

“We expect bigger things out of the defense. That’s just the beginning of what we want to do right there,” George said.

After giving up what SU head coach Pete Richardson called two “cheap” touchdowns in the second quarter of the season opener against Florida A&M (a 45-yard touchdown run and a 40-yard TD pass), Southern’s defense has been crazy good.

In the last 10 quarters, Southern (3-0, 2-0 SWAC) has allowed just two touchdowns. One of those came with 16 seconds left against FAMU, when the Jaguars were more concerned with time, and the other came with 6 seconds to go in the first half of a 23-6 win over Mississippi Valley State.

Saturday, unlike the previous two games when the offense got on a roll after slow starts, Saturday’s defensive effort was so crucial because this was a defensive battle.

For the second straight season, Prairie View defensive coordinator Heisma Northern has kept Southern from finding any offensive continuity. Last season, PV headed off SU’s passing game and kept the Panthers in the game to make an amazing comeback in the final five minutes. This time, the Panthers (2-1, 1-1) took away the running game — just 67 yards on the ground after SU had totaled 293 the week before.

SU’s defense answered the challenge.

“We wanted to bring the pressure to (PV quarterback Chris Gibson),” George said. “We knew the defense would step up to the challenge if we went man-to-man on the defense.”

A year ago, PV had 251 rushing yards. This time, the Panthers had 52 (suffering 61 yards in losses after gaining 113).

Prairie View hadn’t given up a sack this season, but SU got to the Panthers for three, including 2.5 from defensive end Vince Lands.

Southern came up with three interceptions and twice made fourth-down stops deep in Jaguars territory.

“I can’t say enough about our defense,” senior wide receiver Gerard Landry said.

Do more of this
SU defensive coordinator Terrence Graves has been making all the right moves. Down 20-12 at halftime to FAMU, Southern’s defense rallied in the second half, paving the way for a 33-27 victory. Burned by the late TD to Valley, the Jaguars stoned the Delta Devils in the second half (9 yards of offense after halftime). And after Prairie View totaled 88 yards in the first quarter, Graves’ adjustments kept the Panthers to 109 yards in the rest of the game.

Work more on this
Again, Southern needs to find a rhythm on offense more quickly. Saturday was the Jaguars’ worst start of the season: three three-and-outs and minus-6 yards (on 10 plays) in the first quarter. SU didn’t have its initial first down until 12:38 before halftime. By that time, SU’s defense had already held twice in its territory (at the SU 17-yard line and 38) and made an interception.

Quick hits
SU has not trailed in its last two games or its last nine quarters. SU’s four-game winning streak, dating to the Bayou Classic last season, is its longest since a six-win run in 2004, when the Jaguars were 8-4 and won the Western Division. Prairie View has scored two points total in its last two trips to Mumford Stadium — losing 12-2 Saturday and 38-0 in 2005. SU won 62-7 in ’03, but that game was held in Shreveport.

Up next
Southern hosts Tennessee State (2-1) of the Ohio Valley Conference at 6 p.m. Saturday in Mumford Stadium. TSU has won two straight games on thrillers, with the same key players coming up big each time. Saturday, in a 33-32 OVC win over Austin Peay, Eric Benson scored the game-winner on his PAT in overtime after he kicked a 43-yard field goal with 9 seconds left to tie the game in regulation. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie blocked a PAT after Austin Peay scored a touchdown on its possession. A week earlier, Benson made a 35-yarder with no time left to beat Jackson State 16-13 (after TSU trailed 13-6 heading into the final quarter). Rodgers-Cromartie blocked a 22-yard Eric Perri field-goal attempt just moments earlier.

The teams have not played since 1996, when SU won 19-18. TSU has played two SWAC teams so far this season, losing 49-23 to defending SWAC champ Alabama A&M in the season opener and beating Jackson State.

FAMU retires #78 Jersey of Henry "Killer" Lawrence

From Press Release

Florida A&M University Retires #78 Jersey of Henry "Killer Lawrence," FAMU's Greatest Football Player (1971-73), Former Oakland Raider, 3-time SuperBowl Veteran and Future NFL Hall of Famer

On September 15, 2007 at 7:00pm Eastern in Tallahassee, Nelson Townsend FAMU Director of Athletics said the number #78 worn by Henry "Killer" Lawrence (1972-1973) will not be worn by another FAMU football player again, as they retire Henry "Killer" Lawrence jersey. Henry Lawrence retires his jersey as the greatest football player to play the game for the FAMU Rattlers. Henry joins the family of the deceased Tyrone McGriff (1976-1979) and Ulysses Curtis (1945-48) as the FAMU 2007 Jersey Retirement Honorees.
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Atlanta, Gerogia (PRWEB) September 16, 2007 -- The Greatest FAMU Football Player and NFL Future Hall of Famer, Henry "Killer" Lawrence retires his #78 Football Jersey among thousands FAMU Sports fans during half-time of the Howard Bison and FAMU home game on September 15, 2007.

Henry "Killer" Lawrence, former offensive tackle for the FAMU rattlers, became a superstar at a young age, when his athletic excellence captured the pro-scouts at the 1974 Senior Bowl. Virtually unknown to Division One Schools, Henry excelled and beat out his major contenders "Too Tall Jones and John Makusak" to become the 1974 Oakland Raider No.#1 draft pick. Henry played with the Oakland Raiders for over 13 years, and is a three-time Superbowl Veteran. In 2005 and 2006, Henry was nominated for the NFL Hall of Fame. Henry was also named a 2006 Sportsmavericks' Legend along with Chris Leak of the World Champion Florida Gators.

For many of Henry's fans, Henry's enshrinement into the NFL Football Hall of Fame is not far away, but Henry believes that he will earned his spot in the NFL Hall of Fame, when God says so and not a minute sooner. And he adds to this question, "I am thankful for all the great gifts that God has given me from my life experience as a migrant worker, to a top college graduate from Florida A&M University, No.1 Draft pick of the Oakland Raiders, thirteen year NFL career, three super bowl rings, inducted in the FAMU College Hall of Fame and now the honor of having my college jersey retired. The NFL Hall of Fame is in God's hands."

Today, Henry has a diverse career as a Sports Executive and Entertainer. Many football fans call him "killer," and others call him the "reincarnation of Sam Cooke." Henry is known as a great football player, but to music fans worldwide, he is the sweet crooner. Henry and his bands perform at national and international concerts, NFL events and corporate parties every year, while he does double duty as Sports Executive. Henry talent was recently showcased at the 2007 Jokaba Film Festival in Blakely, Georgia.

On the Sports side, Henry continues to be an mentor for migrant workers, aspiring athletes and serves a prison ministry as a volunteer. Henry also serves on the Board of Sportsmavericks, Inc. a multi-media sports and production company, and holds the position of Vice-President of Sports Initiatives. Henry is presently spearheading up the Sportsmavericks' Strategic Partnership with Peace Sport, a Worldwide Initiative out of Monaco to wage peace with sports in war torn areas with Eric Davis, a standout at University of Wisconsin in Basketball.

Many fans and admirers of Henry Lawrence can get a second chance to experience Henry's enthusiasm, passion and love for football on Sportsmavericks' new Audiobooks. Henry is featured on Sportsmavericks' new Five Star Education Collection entitled: "Pro-Ready Coach! Survival Guide for Student Athletes and Sports Parents." In 2008, Henry will returned to the national spotlight as the Music director for the upcoming Television Show entitled Sportsmavericks Talk Show " Smarttalk For Parents and Athletes hosted by Ida R. Muorie.

Rutgers' 42-point second quarter buries Spartans

By VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, The Virginian-Pilot

PISCATAWAY, N.J.

Rutgers promotes Heisman Trophy candidate Ray Rice on a Web site called SeeRayRun.com.

Saturday's game with Norfolk State was all about SeeRutgersScoreQuickly.

The 13th-ranked Scarlet Knights mauled the Spartans 59-0 before a homecoming crowd of 43,712, the third-largest to watch a game in Rutgers Stadium.

That the Spartans received a drubbing at the hands of a nationally ranked foe - the first Division I-A team NSU has faced in its history - was hardly surprising. The speed, efficiency and at times outright ruthlessness with which the Scarlet Knights operated was a bit startling.

Calling it a two-minute offense would be selling Rutgers short. The Scarlet Knights accomplished their 42 second-quarter points - a Big East record - in 11 plays and 91

seconds. Five of the six Scarlet Knights "drives" were two plays or fewer; the other took three.

"That second quarter was probably the longest one of my 39-year coaching career," NSU's Pete Adrian said.

"One long commercial," Spartans linebacker Maguell Davis added.

Ahead 45-0 with 2:12 left in the half, Rutgers used all of its timeouts, looking to strike again, anticipating that the NSU offense would be unable to come up with a first down.

The plan backfired when Ron Girault roughed up NSU punter Brian Jackson. But the play also cost the Spartans, as Jackson's kicking leg got caught in Girault's helmet, sending the freshman from Tallwood High School limping off the field. On crutches the remainder of the game due to a strained right Achilles, Jackson was replaced by kicker Justin Castellat.

Jackson excused Girault's hit as unintentional.

As for the timeouts, he wasn't as forgiving.

"They did have a good enough lead already," he said. "I believe it was unnecessary. What did they have to prove?"

Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano explained his philosophy this way: "It was the first half of the game. You coach and teach your kids to play. If your starters are in there, you play the game the way you coach it."

After a competitive first quarter in which the Spartans held Rutgers to three points, things unraveled quickly with NSU's second mistake of the game. The first - an errant toss by NSU long snapper Stephen Coffin - led to Jeremy Ito's 30-yard field goal. Then, Casey Hansen, hurried by an oversized Rutgers defe nsive line all afternoon, floated one over the middle that turned into Eric Foster's first career interception.

Two plays and 16 seconds later, Kenny Britt caught Mike Teel's pretty pass and the 43-yard score made it 10-0.

NSU then went four plays and out. Rutgers? One play and a score. Teel to Tiquan Underwood for 28 yards.

"They were fast, big, had good hands, ran good routes," cornerback Don Carey said. "They were extremely tough. I can't take anything from them."

And so it went. Rutgers finished with 537 offensive yards to NSU's 122, outgaining the Spartans on the ground 240-10. It could have been worse; Teel was replaced with backup Jabu Lovelace to start the second half. Rice also had a short afternoon, sitting out the second half after carrying 12 times for 72 yards and three touchdowns.

Despite the lopsided outcome, the NSU players refused to be discouraged, many stopping afterward to salute the school's band, which was a bigger hit than Rutgers' with the home crowd during halftime.

"It's just a privilege getting to play against them and seeing how we match up," Davis said. "We had fun out there. We're not worried about the score."

NCCU Eagles capture another 'Classic'

By MATT AGNOLI, The Herald-Sun

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Tim Shankle hardly could suppress a smile when asked about his performance. After all, the freshman running back had no idea his talents would shine so soon and in a game dubbed the "Battle for North Carolina."

Inside a cauldron of wind at Giants Stadium, N.C. Central sacked its West Coast offense late in the game and summoned Shankle, who said he was inspired by a late-night call from injured senior back Jeff Toliver.

Shankle answered by rushing for a career-high 124 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, lifting the Eagles (3-1) to an 18-10 victory in front of 43,006 fans at the New York Urban League's Whitney Young Classic.

NCCU improved to 19-8 all-time against the Vikings (0-3), and have won nine of the last 11 meetings against their rivals.

"I never thought Tim Shankle would be in this position," said NCCU coach Mose Rison, who improved to 3-1 overall in his first season.

"After we lost Jeff [Toliver], I talked to 'Shank' and said 'You are due to have a breakout game.' Being a freshman and forced in this position earlier than we thought it would be, he did an outstanding job."

NCCU looked to the running game late. On their final scoring drive early in the fourth, Rison called for the run on seven straight plays. Shankle rewarded his coach, lunging over the defensive line for a 2-yard run, his first collegiate touchdown.

"I wanted to run the ball well," said Shankle, who's a bruiser at 5-10 and 220 pounds. "I wanted to have a big game."

In his telephone conversation with Toliver, the injured back told Shankle to keep his head upfield and to always look for open spaces. And most importantly, hold onto the ball.

"He said that the running game will open up sooner or later, and my offensive line came ready to play today," Shankle said.

NCCU lost a ton of talent off its offensive line from a year ago, but they opened up enough holes to dominate the battle in the trenches.

Defensively, the Eagles were opportunistic. Craig Amos was named the defensive player of the game. He recovered a bad snap on a punt attempt in the end zone for a first-quarter scored. Mendez missed left on the extra point.

Offensively, NCCU's freshman sensation from a year ago, quarterback Stadford Brown (10-for-23, 103 yards and a touchdown), didn't miss a beat.

Or, more importantly, Brown protected the ball. Vikings quarterbacks were intercepted three times, and a lot more were left on the table because of drops by NCCU defensive backs.

But Brown again showed poise in directing the Eagles to the win. A good mix of run and pass kept their opponents off balance, resulting in the Eagles finishing 7-of-18 on third-down conversions.

"Stadford got it going," Rison said. "He was seeing the field extremely well. ... He was directing traffic like he always does. He is a tremendous football player and is the reason we always have a chance to win on Saturday."

Brown was at his best in the spread offense. With his team trailing 7-6, Brown calmly engineered a quarter-eating 12-play, 65-yard drive before the half.

Using his fleet feet and sturdy arm, he set up the offense inside the red zone with consecutive scrambles, finishing the surge when he hit Wayne Blackwell (three receptions, 30 yards) crossing over the middle for a 9-yard touchdown. Eagles place kicker Taylor gray had his extra point blocked, his third miss of the game. NCCU's all-time scoring leader Brandon Gilbert is out for the season with a leg injury.

Good thing it didn't matter.

The Vikings, looking for a late spark, substituted in their third quarterback in Dominic Strand (4-for-10, 50 yards). With 3:50 left in the fourth, he led a drive that resulted in a 26-yard field goal from Daniel Mendez to shave their deficit to 18-10.

Rison knew that without his injured kicker, getting a comfortable lead was a decisive edge.

"We didn't want to make this a game where this was decided by a field goal," he said.

With help from the freshman, the Eagles survived without having some of their starters.

"It's a young football team, and these guys have been forced into some roles that would not have been there if not for some situations happened," said Rison. "But they're growing up fast, and that's all you can ask."

Scarlet Knights rout outmanned Norfolk State

BY KEITH SARGEANT, Asbury Park Press

PISCATAWAY — Bring on Appalachian State!

The reigning two-time Division I-AA champions certainly would be no match for this Rutgers University football team, not after the Scarlet Knights trounced fellow former I-AA member Norfolk State, 59-0, before 43,712 on Saturday at Rutgers Stadium.

Rutgers scored six touchdowns in a record-setting second quarter to make it a laugher, going into intermission with a 45-0 lead.

The 42 points were the most ever scored by a Big East team in a quarter, and the 45 points were the most Rutgers has scored in a half in its 138-year history.

"I've been on the other end of these (blowouts) and I know how it feels," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "I'm glad that they kept chopping away and that they got cooking in the second quarter."

In the NFL, they call games like these the preseason. In college football, it's called halfway to bowl eligibility.

The Scarlet Knights are 3-0 following their third straight convincing victory, but now the hard work begins. After a bye next weekend, ACC-foe Maryland will arrive at Rutgers Stadium on Sept. 29 to offer the Scarlet Knights their stiffest test to date.

And after Maryland leaves, the Big East sched-ule kicks in, with unbeaten Cincinnati the first on the conference slate.

"You're never where you want to be," quarterback Mike Teel said, when asked if he believes Rutgers is ready for the meat of its schedule. "There's always room to get better. One thing we can't do is we can't be sluggish like we were today. It's a matter of not executing and it's something I'm sure we're going to work on this week."

Rutgers started slow, punting on its first two possessions and only managing a Jeremy Ito 30-yard field goal in a opening quarter.

But it only took one play in the second quarter for the Scarlet Knights to finally get some separation. Teel's 43-yard touchdown strike to Kenny Britt put to rest any thoughts of an upset the likes of Appalachian State's shocker of Michigan three weeks ago.

The floodgates opened from there, with Teel drilling Tiquan Underwood for a 28-yard touchdown one minute later . . . Rice scampering in from 22 yards five minutes after that . . . Rice scoring two more runs three minutes apart . . . and Teel completing the scoring blur with a 34-yard strike to Britt.

"The plus 25-yard plays are great when you get them," Schiano said. "Mike was on the money, and they weren't just 10- or 12-yard passes. These were down the field passes."

Rutgers exploded for 277 yards of total offense in scoring its six second-quarter touchdowns. The scoring drives each spanned less than 30 seconds, with the Scarlet Knights needing only 11 plays and 91 seconds of elapsed time to erupt for a 45-0 lead with 2:17 left in the half.

But even with the 45-point lead, Schiano wanted more. Though less than two minutes remained on Norfolk State's final series of the half, Schiano called timeouts on three consecutive plays before sending a punt block after the Spartans' drive stalled.

While a roughing-the-punter penalty ended up giving Norfolk a first down, Spartans coach Pete Adrian was visably upset when his punter, Brian Jackson, came up lame.

"Forty-five zip and you're calling three timeouts at the end," Adrian said. "If that turns you on, that's fine. Everyone has a reason for what they are doing."

Schiano said he wanted to coach through the first half, and only regretted that Jackson got hurt.

"I asked Coach and he said he's going to be all right, so that's good," Schiano said. "You coach and teach your kids to play. First half of a football game you better play the game the way you preach to them. And you better coach that way, too."

Teel contributed to the onslaught, shaking off a 1-for-7 opening quarter by completing seven of his eight passes for 244 yards in the second stanza. The junior quarterback finished 8-for-15 for 269 yards and three touchdowns overall before sitting out the entire second half.

Britt and Underwood each went over the 100-yard receiving plateau, with Britt hauling in four passes for 121 yards and two scores.

Underwood, meanwhile, continued his torrid stretch with four receptions for 148 yards. The junior receiver now has 500 yards through three games, putting him on pace for a 2,000-yard regular season.

Rice's 72-yard tally snapped a string of five-straight 100-yard rushing performances, but the Heisman candidate still managed to score three touchdowns while averaging 6.0 yards on his 12 carries.

Rice said afterward the only numbers he cared about were 3-0.

"It's another stepping stone for us," he said. "We're exactly where we need to be."

Winston-Salem's late pass, field goal beat Morgan State

By Ken Murray, Baltimore Sun

Winston-Salem State 19, Morgan State 17

Morgan State went from bad to worse, from losing to a crosstown rival a week ago to losing to the newest entry in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference yesterday.

A 42-yard pass play and a 24-yard field goal by Winston-Salem State in the final minute sent the Bears reeling to a 19-17 loss before an announced 8,953 at Hughes Stadium.

"Just a gloomy day all around," Morgan coach Donald Hill-Eley said.

Morgan (1-2) learned earlier that it would have to play without star wide receiver Roderick Wolfe, who was taken to Central Booking on a warrant for failing to appear in court last summer for traffic violations, and cornerback Darren McKahn, who was benched for missing team meetings last week.

The Bears proceeded to play like a team that had lost its spark. They piled up 15 penalties for 145 yards, lost three turnovers and gave Winston-Salem (2-1) a gift touchdown in the fourth quarter when tailback Chad Simpson fumbled at the Morgan 3-yard line.

Photo: Morgan State running back Chad Simpson ran for a career-high 221 yards but also fumbled, leading to aWinston-Salem State touchdown.

It spoiled an otherwise spectacular game for Simpson, who rushed for a career-high 221 yards on 41 carries.

Hill-Eley even changed kickers during the game after Johnathan Skeete missed a 33-yard field-goal attempt in the third quarter. Two of Skeete's kicks were blocked by Towson last week.

When his replacement, James Meade, connected on a 43-yard field goal with 1:13 left in the game, the Bears took a 17-16 lead and appeared to get a reprieve for all their miscues.

It was not to be.

Winston-Salem's Monte Purvis completed a 42-yard pass to Bryant Bayne against Morgan's prevent defense to put the Rams in field-goal position at the Bears' 9-yard line. The Rams ran one play, let the clock run to 4.6 seconds, and sent freshman Matt Mitchell onto the field for a game-winning 24-yard kick.

Purvis, who has had more success running than throwing this season, passed for 141 yards in the game and was sacked four times. With four receivers running deep, he hit Bayne on a slant across the middle.

"We had enough time, so we wanted to hit the underneath guy," Rams coach Kermit Blount said.
Hill-Eley said Bayne came open on a botched coverage.

"We were in quarters, a prevent defense," Hill-Eley said of the game's big pass play. "When [Bayne] ran across the field, the back-side safety ran with the front-side vertical [receiver]. It left a big hole in there. We have to play better in the secondary."

USC wears down S.C. State in second half

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

COLUMBIA -- Playing a Football Bowl Subdivision team was not a new experience for South Carolina State Saturday night.

Having to face the University of South Carolina before 73,095 screaming fans inside Williams-Brice Stadium, however, was another story and it showed in the 38-3 loss to the 17th-ranked Gamecocks.

In losing the first-ever meeting with its biggest in-state foe, SCSU (1-2, 1-0) once again only managed a field goal against an FCS team. Despite 112 rushing yards from William Ford and forcing six USC turnovers, the Bulldogs’ struggling offense was unable to put together scoring drives against the Gamecocks’ defense which intercepted quarterback Cleveland McCoy three times.

Meanwhile, USC (3-0, 1-0) capitalized on its opportunities as Blake Mitchell overcame three interceptions and the constant pressure up front by SCSU’s defensive line to throw three touchdowns on 14-21 passing for 147 yards.

In the second half, USC used its one-two punch of running backs Mike Davis and Cory Boyd to dominate the game on the ground. The duo combined for 234 rushing yards and two of the Gamecocks’ three touchdowns in the second half.

"They wore us down," said McCoy, who finished 9-18 passing for 62 yards and rushed for 58 yards. "Their depth wore us down. We came out fighting, but they came away with the win."

An even bigger factor working against SCSU was the crowd noise. In the first half alone, the Bulldogs were whistled for four false start penalties as the high decibel level made communication among the players and with the sidelines difficult.

"I’ve got to credit Carolina’s fans," SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough said. "They did a nice job at being very loud at just the right time for them, and we struggled. If you take the 5-yard penalties ... my foul sheet that the officials give after the game was two pages long and most of them were 5-yard stuff, procedure stuff, false starts, that kind of stuff, and that was all attributed to the crowd noise and that’s something we’ll have to get better at.

"We’ve got an experience dealing with it ... We haven’t had it quite to this extent before, but it was nothing like what we had done in our preparations. I guarantee you."

While Xavier Littleberry did not fulfill his promise of sacking Mitchell four times, finishing with just one tackle, the USC senior quarterback was harassed early by the Bulldog defense. On the first series, Mitchell was sacked by James Simmons and Keyon Brooks, then threw an interception to Markee Hamlin who returned it 41 yards to the Gamecocks’ 12-yard line.

A penalty-plagued opening drive forced SCSU to settle for a 37-yard field goal with 12:21 remaining in the first half by Aaron Haire of Orangeburg-Wilkinson. It came off the left goal post before landing through the nets.

The lead stood for 82 seconds as USC’s defense turned opportunistic. After SCSU’s third false-start penalty of the game pushed it back to the 21, McCoy’s pass was intercepted at the line of scrimmage by defensive tackle Nathan Pepper.

The 6-1, 291-pound junior rumbled 19 yards into the end zone for the touchdown. Pepper’s score came at a price as he suffered a sprained left knee on the score and did not return.

USC also lost senior safety Brandon Isaac of Blackville-Hilda, who reportedly reinjured his right shoulder in the first half. The former T&D Region Player of the Year sat out last season following surgery to repair the same shoulder.

As SCSU’s offense continued to struggle with the crowd noise, USC added a 40-yard field goal by Ryan Succup to make it 10-3 with 4:46 remaining in the first quarter.

After a 15-yard punt by Haire gave USC possession at the SCSU 41, Mitchell connected with Kenneth McKinley for two, 12-yard passes in leading the Gamecocks to their only offensive touchdown of the first half. The first reception by McKinley converted a fourth down and his second catch in the end zone put USC up 17-3 with 47 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

SCSU’s defense continued to keep the game within striking distance. Keyon Brooks forced and recovered two fumbles, Phillip Adams and Terrance Allen each collected an interception, and SCSU stopped USC on fourth down on a call overturned on an instant replay review.

The Bulldogs proceeded to put together their most consistent drive of the game. Runs of 14 yards by McCoy and 13 by Ford helped bring the Bulldogs to the USC 16. With 38 seconds remaining, USC’s Captain Munnerlyn stripped the football from running back Jonathan Woods and safety Darien Stewart recovered it at the 12-yard line to end the threat.

"That probably was the biggest play of the game for us because up to that point, we really had a chance to really get it down to a one score game," Pough said.

"Maybe if we had scored right before the half, this thing might have been different."

In the second half, USC began to overwhelm the wearied and injury-riddled SCSU defense on the ground. After forcing SCSU to punt, the Gamecocks went 91 yards relying strictly on Davis and Boyd picking up long yards on the ground. On the 10th play of the scoring drive, Davis’ number was called for a screen pass from Mitchell which he turned into a 9-yard touchdown.

The two teams traded interceptions on their next series, with Jasper Brinkley and Bailey Brinson collecting the picks for their respective teams. SCSU could not capitalize and after a fake punt attempt by Haire was stopped short on fourth down, USC took over on downs at the SCSU 38.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Boyd extended the Gamecocks’ lead to 31-3 with a 29-yard touchdown run. Almost five minutes later, Mark Barnes closed out the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell.

"As the game went along, because we played pretty good on defense for a while ... they softened our defense some because of the fact that we didn’t do enough on offense," Pough said.

With the two FCS games out of the way, the Bulldogs can finally turn their attention to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Up next is the home opener against conference newcomer Winston-Salem State, a game that does not figure in the MEAC standings as the school is still in the transitional period.

"We’ve just got to carry it over," McCoy said. "We’re going to win the conference hands down. We’re just going to have to play ball. We’re going to get it. We’ve taken a setback, but they’re Division I. They’re supposed to beat us."

BULLDOG NOTES: The victory improved USC’s all-time record to 518-517-44...Rafael Bush led the team in tackles with nine...Both defensive backs Markee Hamlin and Travance Jackson left the game on crutches...Quarterback Malcolm Long saw action on two series, completing just one pass for six yards. It was his first appearance in the stadium where he led Gaffney to back-to-back Class 4-A Division I teams...SCSU was penalized 14 times for 98 yards, compared to five penalties for 58 yards for USC...USC head football coach Steve Spurrier improved to 17-4 against Palmetto State teams in his coaching career.

SCSU 101 does the job, puts on great show

By TRAVIS BOLAND, T&D Sports Writer

The one complaint Gamecock fans have had for the past few years is the lack of an "SEC-caliber" marching band.

Fans on message boards all over the state knew that the score of the game would never be in doubt against S.C. State, but a lot of them didn’t know what to expect from the Marching 101.

The South Carolina State Bulldog marching band is well known not only in the state, but all over the country. Many USC fans were excited to see this new style of band play at halftime, and the Marching 101 was happy to oblige.

"Our band came to put on a good show, and they’re very excited to do so," Assistant Director of Bands Donald Lee said Saturday night. "The kids have worked very hard, and it’s going to be an exciting show."

Now, I’ve never seen the 101 perform, I’ve heard the drum line play at a couple of functions in Orangeburg, but I’ve never seen the whole group do a show. I didn’t know what to expect.

I watched the band march into the stadium, and they looked as good as any band in the SEC, then when they started playing -- an hour before kickoff -- it was clear they came to party.

The 101 did exactly what it had to do, pump up the crowd. But they also riled up the crowd in a bad way.

Through no fault of their own, the band ended up taking up almost an entire section at Williams-Brice Stadium. The only problem, people had bought those tickets. Scores of Bulldog fans who purchased tickets were left standing and scrambling for any piece of real estate in the visitors’ section.

Needless to say, this didn’t make a lot of people happy.

But the band played on, with the fight song and other music. Every time they picked up their instruments it was going to be a show. I had a front-row seat, watching from the bottom of the stands and rocking right along with the students and fans who made the trip. But as the 101 started to make their way to the field for the halftime show, I wanted to get a better seat.

I raced up the ramp and stood in the corner to watch this famous formation.

The 101 put on a great show that included the popular rap song "Soldier Boy" and a tribute to the fire fighters who lost their lives in Charleston. The band’s sound was just as loud as any other band that has played Williams-Brice, including Carolina, Clemson, Tennessee and Georgia.
The 101 should be very proud. They did exactly what they set out to do, put on a good show. It not only had the Bulldog fans up in their chairs, but I think I even saw some Gamecock fans bobbing their heads near the end.