Pressure on Alabama A&M not new

Photo: AAMU expecting to get back to same form that brought defeat to TSU. This week, its Texas Southern University; not Tennessee State.

By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

Bulldogs say they'll bounce back - as they have in past

Alabama A&M fans upset about Saturday's 31-6 shellacking at the hands of Grambling, should take a deep breath and review the Bulldogs' history.

That wasn't the first time the Tigers whipped the Bulldogs, and it certainly won't be the last. But A&M has shown it is capable of bouncing back after losing to Grambling, and the Bulldogs vow they will do it again.

Grambling won 23-13 in 2002 to put the Bulldogs in an 0-2 hole, but A&M won eight of its next nine games to reach the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game.

The next year, Grambling won 45-14 to drop A&M to 1-2, but the Bulldogs won seven of their next nine games and finished 8-4. In 2005, Grambling won 44-0 but A&M rallied to win eight of its next nine games to reach the SWAC title game.

"We've been down this road before," said cornerback Stephan Tucker, a fifth-year senior. "We had some guys that probably didn't know how important that game was down there and we didn't match their intensity.

"We've got to go back to basics, practice our techniques and fundamentals and we'll bounce back. If we do what we've got to do, we can't be beat. We'll be all right this week. There's no doubt in my mind."

A&M, 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the SWAC, plays Texas Southern (0-4, 0-3) at 3 p.m. Saturday at Louis Crews Stadium.

Although the winless Tigers - who have been outscored 135-43 - appear to be an ideal opponent for the Bulldogs after the Grambling debacle, coach Anthony Jones has warned his team about taking Texas Southern for granted.

"This is not what the doctor ordered," Jones said Monday. "We've got to line up against a team that always plays us tough. They beat us two years ago on homecoming and last year it came down to the wire.

"This is going to be a very, very tough ballgame. I expect them to come here and play with great effort and great emotion."

Since A&M embarrassed Texas Southern 63-0 in 2003, each of the last three games has been more competitive.

The Bulldogs won 22-3 in 2004, lost 17-7 in 2005 and won 19-14 last season on strong safety Marcus Black's interception in the end zone.

"This is a team that if you're not alert in handling all your P's and Q's can be very scary," Jones said. "This is not a team to be joking with. They've made it tough on us. I expect it will be tough again this weekend."

It will be if the Bulldogs play like they did last week against Grambling. A&M played with very little emotion against the Tigers.

Tight end John Smith, a fifth-year senior, said that won't be the case against Texas Southern.

"Being a senior, it's up to us to get this team ready to play," Smith said. "We've got to be ready because Texas Southern always comes in here and plays us tough. We've got to let the younger players know this won't be a cakewalk because they're 0-4.

"We've got to come out and play with energy, enthusiasm and emotion, and I believe we'll do that."

Florida A&M University men and women basketball schedules released

Compiled by BeepBeep

Florida A&M University men's basketball coach Eugene Harris will have little time to get acclimated to his new team as the Rattlers are scheduled to tip off the season on November 12, 2007, in Tallahassee with Carver College. Coach Harris, formerly an assistant coach at Georgia State University was hired by the Rattlers on September 19, 2007, after a fast paced hiring process to replace Mike Gillespie, Sr.

Coach Harris comes to FAMU with an extensive resume as an assistant coach on the collegiate level, having worked stints at schools in the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and the Sun Belt Conference.

The Rattlers finished the 2006-07 season with a record of 21-13 under Gillespie and lost in the first round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament to Niagara University. "My goal and my job is to take it to the next level," Harris said. "To win games in the NCAA tournament and go on to the Sweet 16."

The Rattlers will get tested early at the American Youth Classic in Madison, Wisconsin with Colorado State, University of Wisconsin and Savannah State University. Expect an exciting season for the Rattlers as they fight to win the MEAC and return to the NCAA Tournament.


Photo: FAMU #4 Darius Glover shoots the lights out of the NCA&T Aggies on the road to the 2006/07 MEAC Tournament Championship. Expect more of the same from the FAMU team in 07/08, but with a tougher defense and quick adjustments from Coach Harris and staff.

2007-2008 MEN BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result
11/12/07 Carver College Tallahassee, FL. 7:30 p.m. ET
American Youth Classic
11/15/07 vs. Colorado State Madison, WI 4:30 p.m. ET
11/16/07 at Wisconsin Madison, WI 6:30 p.m. ET
11/17/07 vs. Savannah State Madison, WI 4:30 p.m. ET
11/24/07 at Kennesaw State Kennesaw, GA 6:30 p.m. ET
11/26/07 at Connecticut Hartford, CT 7:00 p.m. ET
12/01/07 at Bethune Cookman @ Daytona Beach, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
12/05/07 at Florida Gainesville, FL TBA
12/15/07 vs. North Florida Tallahassee, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
12/17/07 at Kansas State Kansas City, MO TBA
12/29/07 at Texas A&M College Station, TX 2:00 p.m. ET
12/31/07 at Baylor Waco, TX 6:00 p.m. ET
01/05/08 vs. Warner Southern Tallahassee, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
01/12/08 at Howard @ Washington, D.C. 4:00 p.m. ET
01/14/08 at Hampton University @ Hampton, VA 8:00 p.m. ET
01/19/08 at Morgan State @ Baltimore, Md 4:00 p.m. ET
01/21/08 at Coppin State @ Baltimore, Md. 7:30 p.m. ET
01/26/08 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore @ Tallahassee, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
01/28/08 vs. Delaware State @ Tallahassee, FL 7:30 p.m. ET
02/02/08 at Winston-Salem State @ Winston-Salem, N.C. 7:30 p.m.
02/04/08 at South Carolina State @ Orangeburg, S.C. 7:30 p.m. ET
02/09/08 vs. North Carolina A&T @ Tallahassee, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
02/11/08 vs. Norfolk State @ Tallahassee, FL 7:30 p.m. ET
02/16/08 vs. Morgan State @ Tallahassee, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
02/18/08 vs. Coppin State @ Tallahassee, FL 7:30 p.m. ET
02/23/08 at Maryland Eastern Shore @ Prince Anne, MD 4:00 p.m.
02/25/08 at Delaware State @ Prince Anne, MD 7:30 p.m. ET
03/01/08 vs. Winston-Salem State @ Tallahassee, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
03/03/08 vs. South Carolina State @ Tallahassee, FL 7:30 p.m. ET
03/06/08 vs. Bethune Cookman @ Tallahassee, FL. 7:30 p.m. ET
TBD MEAC Tournament
TBD NCAA Tournament


Photo: 2007/08 Seniors #20 Q'Vaunda Curry and #21 Joslyne Jackson battle DSU at 2007 MEAC Tournament. Curry is a 5-6 guard from East Gadsden H.S., Quincy, FL and Jackson is a 5-7 guard from McEachern H.S., Marietta, GA

Florida A&M University Head Women's Basketball Coach Debra Clark announced on August 14, 2007, that 2007 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference All-Rookie Performers Secrett Anderson and Marke Freeman will not return to the team for the 2007-08 season. In other words--the Rattlers lost their two best young players.

It will be interesting to see how the veteran MEAC coach fills the void left by Anderson and Freeman. But don't expect the Lady Rattlers to rollover for anyone as they have experienced players returning who play well within the structure of Coach Clark system and should finished in the upper echelons of the MEAC. Expect this to be FAMU's Lady Rattler's breakout season with a slate of out-of conference games that are within their capabilities of winning. The University of Florida and Delaware State University are the only giant killers on the FAMU 2007/08 schedule that can physically dominate with a strong inside the paint game.

Photo: FAMU Lady Rattler Head Coach Debra Clark, 6th Season (71-74 record). Hampton U '84; Penn State '86. B.S., M.S.

2007-2008 FAMU Women Schedule

Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result
11/01/07 at Valdosta State ! Valdosta, GA 5:00 p.m. ET
11/09/07 at Georgia State Atlanta, GA 6:00 p.m. ET
11/13/07 vs. Mercer Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
11/20/07 at Savannah State Savannah, GA TBA
12/01/07 at Bethune Cookman @ Daytona Beach, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
12/03/07 vs. Stetson Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
12/06/07 vs. Jacksonville @ Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
12/09/07 at USF Tampa, FL TBA
12/15/07 vs. North Carolina Central Tallahassee, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
12/17/07 vs. Florida Gulf Coast Tallahassee, FL TBA
01/02/08 at Florida Gainesville, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
01/04/08 vs. Savannah State Tallahassee, FL 7:00 p.m. ET
01/12/08 at Howard @ Washington, D.C. 2:00 p.m. ET
01/14/08 at Hampton University @ Hampton, VA 6:00 p.m. ET
01/19/08 at Morgan State @ Baltimore, MD 2:00 p.m. ET
01/21/08 at Coppin State @ Baltimore, MD 5:30 p.m. ET
01/26/08 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore @ Tallahassee, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
01/28/08 vs. Delaware State @ Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
02/02/08 at Winston-Salem State @ Winston-Salem, N.C. 2:00 p.m.
02/04/08 at South Carolina State @ Oraneburg, S.C. 5:30 p.m. ET
02/09/08 vs. North Carolina A&T @ Tallahassee, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
02/11/08 vs. Norfolk State @ Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
02/16/08 vs. Morgan State Tallahassee, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
02/18/08 vs. Coppin State @ Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
02/23/08 at Maryland Eastern Shore @ Princess Anne, MD 2:00 p.m.
02/25/08 at Delaware State @ Dover, MD 5:30 p.m. ET
03/01/08 vs. Winston-Salem State @ Tallahassee, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
03/03/08 vs. South Carolina State @ Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
03/06/08 vs. Bethune Cookman @ Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
TBD MEAC Tournament
TBD NCAA Tournament

Photo: #40 Denise Tate, 6-1 F Jr., Glenville H.S., Cleveland, OH takes the rock to the hole over Morgan State in 2006 MEAC Tournament.

Prairie View A&M releases women's basketball schedule

Prairie View A&M University Sports Information

Prairie View, Texas — The Prairie View A&M University women’s basketball team will play a 29-game schedule in 2007-08 as they look to defend their Southwestern Conference title and make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament under the direction of third-year head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke. The Lady Panthers play 11 home games while traveling to take on teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Big 12, Conference USA (C-USA), PAC-10, and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

“This will be the most challenging schedule that I have faced on the Division I level playing against two SEC schools (Florida & Georgia), two Big 12 team (Texas A&M and Baylor) and two Conference USA schools (Rice and UTEP) in addition to playing in the Bahamas Tournament,” said Cooper-Dyke. “It’s always difficult to repeat the next season as champions because there is no surprise factor; instead we have a bull’s eye on our back. The quality of the schools that we’ll play and the conferences they come from will prepare us for inter-league play so there will be no easy games for us this season.”

Photo: PVAMU'S Gaati Werema, #20 Guard, 6-0 Soph., Orlando Christian Prep H.S., Orlando, Fla.

Prairie View A&M will be facing five of their 11 non-conference opponents for the first time in team history. The Lady Panthers open up the season in the Basketball Travelers Tip Off Tourney against St. Mary’s College of California (Nov. 9) Howard (Nov. 10), and Baylor (Nov. 11).The Lady Panthers then travel to College Station to take on sister school, Texas A&M for a first-time meeting with the Aggies (Nov. 15). Five days later, they travel to Gainesville to play the Gators of the University of Florida.

They will then head out to Freeport, Bahamas to play in the Junkanoo Jam before the Thanksgiving holiday and play against SEC member Georgia (Nov. 23) and either USC or Virginia Tech the following day.

The Lady Panthers open the month of December on the road in Thibodaux, Louisiana as they will square off against the Colonels of Nicholls State for a 2pm tilt (Dec. 8). Prairie View A&M will host one of two home games vs. Houston Baptist University on Dec. 13. For the second year in a row, the Lady Panthers travel to El Paso to compete against UTEP (Dec. 18) and take a pre-Christmas trip to Nacogdoches, TX to play Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 20). Finally the Lady Panthers round off the out of conference play and welcome the Lady Owls of Rice to the William Nicks Arena on Dec. 28.

PVAMU opens Southwestern Athletic Conference play with two home games beginning Saturday, Jan. 5 against Southern University. Prairie View A&M will return to the court 48 hours later to host Alcorn State.

Savannah State releases 2007-08 men's basketball schedule

Savannah State University Sports Information

Photo: SSU Coach Horace Broadnax

SAVANNAH, Ga. --- Savannah State men's basketball coach Horace Broadnax has released the Tigers 2007-2008 schedule. SSU opens their season on November 9 with a home contest against Carver Bible College.

The Tigers slate features games that will take them to nine different states (Florida, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Kansas and Virginia).

SSU has twelve home games with six coming after the winter holidays. The Tigers will host Southern Mississippi on January 5.

After the season opener against Carver, SSU hits the road to play at Jacksonville on November 11, then back home to face the University of South Carolina Aiken before hitting the road to face Wisconsin, Colorado and Florida A&M.

The Tigers will play home and home games with Jacksonville, North Florida, Stetson and High Point.

Notable road games include Nebraska, Northwestern, Marquette and Kansas State.

Savannah State posted an 12-18 record last year and returns three starters from last year in guard Joseph Flegler who averaged 10.1 points a game, guard/forward Patrick Hardy who as a freshman averaged 22.1 minutes a game and forward Lazarius Coleman who shot 49 percent from the floor and was second on the team in rebounds and blocked shots.

MEN'S BASKETBALL
2007 - 2008 Schedule

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME RESULTS

Fri., Nov. 9 CARVER COLLEGE Savannah, Ga. 7:00 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 11 Jacksonville University Jacksonville, Fla. 3:00 p.m.

American Youth Classic
Tues., Nov. 13 SOUTH CAROLINA AIKEN Savannah, Ga. 7:00 p.m.

American Youth Classic (Madison, Wis.)
Thurs., Nov. 15 University of Wisconsin Madison, Wis. 8:00 p.m. (CT)
Fri., Nov. 16 Univ. of Colorado Madison, Wis. 4:30 p.m. (CT)
Sat., Nov. 17 Florida A&M Univ. Madison, Wis. 4:30 p.m. (CT)

Wed., Nov. 21 SOUTHEASTERN Savannah, Ga. 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 24 EMANUEL COLLEGE Savannah, Ga. 1:00 p.m.
Tues., Nov. 27 NORTH FLORIDA Savannah, Ga. 7:00 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 29 Creighton University Omaha, Neb. 7:05 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 1 Northwestern University Chicago, Ill. 8:00 p.m. (CT)
Sat., Dec. 8 South Carolina State University Orangeburg., S.C. 6:00 p.m.
Tues., Dec. 11 University of Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Sat., Dec. 15 University of New Orleans New Orleans, La. 4:30 p.m. (CT)
Tues., Dec. 18 High Point University High Point, N.C. 7:00 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 20 STETSON UNIVERSITY Savannah, Ga. 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 22 HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY Savannah, Ga. 2:00 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 29 Marquette University Milwaukee, Wis. 1:00 p.m. (CT)
Wed., Jan. 2 University of Maryland College Park, Md. 8:00 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 4 SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI Savannah, Ga. 4:00 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 7 Kansas State University Manhattan, Kan. 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Thurs., Jan. 10 Bethune-Cookman University Daytona Beach, Fla. 7:00 p.m.
Tues., Jan. 15 JACKSONVILLE UNIV. Savannah, Ga. 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 19 LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY Savannah, Ga. 2:00 p.m.
Tues., Jan. 29 Kennesaw University Kennesaw, Ga. 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 2 Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Fla. 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 9 Longwood University Farmville, Va. 2:00 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 12 North Florida Jacksonville, Fla. 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 16 UTAH VALLEY STATE Savannah, Ga. 4:00 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 19 Stetson University Deland, Fla. 7:00 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 29 TEXAS PAN-AMERICAN Savannah, Ga. 7:00 p.m.

ALL HOME GAMES IN CAPS

Q&A with legendary W.C. Gorden--former JSU head football coach

Photo: For 15 years, W.C. Gorden headed the Jackson State football team. Gorden, here talking to defensive back Carl Tart during the 1990 JSU-Grambling game, compiled a remarkable 123 wins.

By David Brandt, Special to The Clarion-Ledger

W.C. Gorden was the most successful football coach in Jackson State history, winning 123 games over a 15-year span from 1976 to 1991. Gorden, now 77 years old, still lives in Jackson and is active in the community.

Q: What are you doing these days?

A: Well, I serve on about five different board of directors including the Make-A-Wish foundation and Pearl River Valley Water Supply District. It's something I really enjoy doing. For 40 years, I saw things as an educator and now I'm getting another perspective from a business and political side. It's all very interesting and for the most part I think everybody works together very well. Honestly, it's a lot like athletics. You win some and lose some, but you play by the rules and try not to alienate yourself because you never know when someone you're fighting against might become an ally.

Q: It's year two of JSU football coach Rick Comegy. What do you think of his program?

A: I'm fortunate enough to get to talk to coach Comegy quite a bit. I'm very impressed with the way he's jumped right into the business aspect of the community and really is working to do things for Jackson State. In these days, a head coach has to be much more than a football man - and that's exactly what coach Comegy is. This summer, he brought poor kids onto campus and had a football camp. Things like that are really strengthening the program. And I think in time his teams will be very good. It just takes a while to build a program to where there's a family aspect involved.

Q:You've been outspoken about wanting to keep Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium instead of building a new stadium on campus. Why?

A: Because Veterans Memorial Stadium is one of the largest Division I-AA stadiums in the country and is in a great part of our town. Jackson State is an urban university and I think our borders go beyond the four or five blocks on campus. There's not a bad seat in the place and there's plenty of parking. I wish the city would set aside the stadium as a green space. Maybe they could get rid of a parking lot and make a park. Then they could really celebrate the history of Mississippi football with some kind of exhibit around the stadium. I just think it's a great facility with a lot of history and I'd hate to see it go.

Q: The SWAC doesn't get an automatic bid to the I-AA playoffs because of the SWAC championship game, Bayou Classic and Turkey Day Classic. Do you see things changing?

A: Well, much has changed in the past 20 or so years, but you've got to understand that a lot of us were pretty disenchanted by the I-AA playoffs by the time we got out. We'd play Alcorn State the week before Thanksgiving and play in front of about 45,000 people. Then we'd make the playoffs, have to practice over Thanksgiving, and then travel somewhere like Sam Houston State and play in front of about 8,000 people. That was hard for our players to get psyched up for. But I can see the appeal of wanting to play for a national championship. Hopefully, Division I-AA can do a better job of promoting the playoffs if the SWAC does get back into it.

Q: What's the thing you miss most about coaching?

A: I'll tell you what I don't miss: That feeling on Sunday after you lost a game. After 40 years of coaching I really got my fill of football. But there is one thing I miss - it's that look on a player's face when he realizes that all that weight lifting and hard work in the off-season paid off and he made a game-saving tackle or a catch that helped us win a football game. Those were some very special moments.

Featured Gallery: Mississippi Valley State University vs. Jackson State University

Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band

Brawl leads N.C. A&T to call off 2008 match

The entire affair was televised by JarvisTV via the Internet. Facts are--it lasted 30-45 seconds, the coaches from both teams were on the field separating their players; security was instantly on the field to stop the aggression by NCCU; and one NCCU Cop was shooting the pepper spray as you can see from the photos at NCAT players to keep them back. Let's not make this more than what it is--a classless act by NCCU inexperienced football players that are not accustomed to winning over an established program. The pepper spray did more damage than the few players pushing each other.

William Friday's comments are totally inappropriate. How in the hell do you tie NFL Quarterback Michael Vick involvement in dog fighting and Floyd Landis doping allegations on Tour de France, to the actions of NCCU and NCAT college students? Clearly, William Friday did not see the game and is stereotyping all black young men to Michael Vick and the clown Landis. Vick is a product of Virginia Tech. Sorry, all black men are not the same as Vick!

Let's get some honest and fair journalism, North Carolina newspapers! (beepbeep)

MICHAEL BIESECKER, Charolotte Observer

Future games between bitter rivals N.C. Central University and N.C. A&T State University are in doubt after football players and coaches clashed in a benches-clearing brawl Saturday night.

The latest melee to mar the NCCU-N.C. A&T rivalry started after the final seconds ticked off the clock with NCCU winning 27-22 on a game-saving interception. Players from the Durham university then ran out from their sideline and stomped on the Aggies' bulldog logo painted at the center of the field, taunting the defeated team.

Fists and helmets were soon flying. The fight, which lasted about five minutes, cleared the benches of both teams and involved more than 100 people. It prompted at least one campus police officer to use pepper spray, leaving some players vomiting and gasping.

No criminal charges were filed, and no one was injured. An A&T official blamed NCCU coaches and students for the fight. NCCU said in a written statement that the behavior of both teams was disappointing but would not respond directly to questions.

A&T athletics director DeLores "Dee" Todd said in an interview Sunday that she will cancel the planned 2008 matchup between the historically black universities, which have a heated rivalry dating to 1924.

Todd said A&T officials will review videotape of the fight and will possibly suspend some Aggies players for the next game on Thursday night against Fayetteville State.

Todd, who watched the melee from the stands, blamed members of the Eagles coaching staff for instigating the brawl.

"A couple of their coaches led them out there and were in the middle," Todd said. "One of the coaches picked up a patch of dirt off the dog and threw it. You know, that's just disrespectful and terribly unsportsmanlike. ... Coaches are your leaders, and if a coach does that, then, you can't really expect the kids to do anything different."

Todd said the NCCU players continued the jeering.

"As our coaches went out to shake hands, the Central kids were giving them the finger and saying, 'You're losers, get used to it,' as they were, you know, flipping them off," Todd said.

In a written release, NCCU's athletics department said it will suspend one player, whom it did not identify, for this Saturday's game against Presbyterian College.

"What happened following the game was a great disappointment as the poor judgment and thoughtless actions of a few student-athletes led to an unfortunate and embarrassing altercation between both teams at midfield," Bill Hayes, NCCU's athletics director, said in a written statement. "This type of behavior will not be tolerated and is in no way indicative of this athletics department or this university. We will respond to this matter swiftly and decisively."

No NCCU official would comment on the incident beyond the written statement, said Kyle Serba, the university's assistant athletics director for media relations.

William Friday, former UNC system president and former co-chair of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, commended A&T athletics director Todd for canceling next year's matchup.

"I thought the immediate action was appropriate," Friday said. "[Fighting] kills the spirit of the occasion. ... There is no place for that kind of fist-fighting in any kind of event."

Friday lumped the fight in with Michael Vick's recent guilty plea to dog-fighting charges and the doping allegations that led to Floyd Landis being stripped of his Tour de France victory.

"We've just got to find a way in sport to right this ship of constant problems we've seen in the last 12 to 18 months. The public is getting tired of it," Friday said.

Fallout from the fight could also have long-range implications for NCCU, which has applied to join the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. A&T has been a MEAC school since 1970; Todd would not say whether A&T would oppose NCCU's application.

MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas said Sunday that he was withholding comment until he receives written reports on the incident.

"Not only do we expect the schools in our conference to behave as great sportsmen during the game, but also before and after," Thomas said.

Asked specifically whether NCCU's role in the fight might affect its admission to the conference, Thomas replied: "They're not a member, so I have no comment on that."

Saturday marked the first game between the Aggies and the Eagles since 2005, when the series lapsed. There has been a long history of scuffles at football and basketball games between the two schools, Todd said.

That bad blood re-emerged in Greensboro on Saturday when the NCCU marching band went several minutes over their allotted share of the halftime show, not allowing the Aggies band to take the field and receiving loud boos from the hometown crowd. The Aggies band was forced to cut its performance short to avoid a delay-of-game penalty.

The NCCU band continued playing from the stands for much of the rest of the game, even during the plays.

During the postgame fisticuffs, campus safety officers from both schools waded into the fray. Photos of the fight taken by a photographer with the Greensboro News & Record appear to show a uniformed N.C. Central police officer aiming blasts of pepper spray into the faces of Aggies players.

It was not immediately known whether A&T officers also used pepper spray.

"The spray seemed to be aimed more at our players," Todd said Sunday.

Chief Willie R. Williams Sr. of the NCCU police said that he was not at the game and had not seen the photos but that his department typically conducts reviews of all uses of force to ensure its officers act appropriately.

Saturday's loss to the Eagles extended A&T's losing streak to 20 games, currently the nation's longest. Todd said the brawl besmirched the good reputations of both universities.

"I'm disappointed and embarrassed," she said. "But you just don't come to people's schools and disrespect them. It's a football game. Everybody played a great game. That's what it should be about. This other stuff is nonsense."

(News & Observer staff writers Sam LaGrone and Jaymes Powell Jr. contributed to this report.)

Will NC A&T say so long NC Central?

Rob Daniels is clueless to what constitutes a "brawl." Stomping on a field logo and players pushing each other at 50 yard line in pads and helmets is not a brawl. Let's talk about how exciting and competitive the game was, Rob....(beepbeep).


















By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record

A brawl followed the end of N.C. A&T's loss to N.C. Central on Saturday in Greensboro.

After a post-game brawl Saturday, the Aggies might cancel their football series with N.C. Central.

GREENSBORO -- Almost immediately after its return from a one-year hiatus, the football series between N.C. A&T and N.C. Central is again imperiled. Disturbed by Saturday's postgame fight, an incident apparently instigated by Eagles players, officials at A&T have discussed canceling the schools' scheduled 2008 meeting and will take up the topic again today when Chancellor Stanley F. Battle convenes his regular cabinet meeting this morning, an athletics administrator said Sunday.

Associate athletics director Wheeler Brown said the issue is on the agenda in light of events late Saturday night. Moments after Central's 27-22 win, some Eagles ran to midfield and jumped -- intentionally and derisively, A&T said -- on the Aggie logo, an intense-looking bulldog. That irritated the Aggies, who had just lost their 20th straight game. Players clashed, threw punches and were ultimately dispersed when A&T police officers interceded with pepper spray, players and coaches said. Players from both teams vomited after coming in contact with the irritant, commonly used by police in crowd control.

Saturday's contest, the 79th in the history of a series that began in 1924, was the first on either campus since 1992. The institutions signed a contract to play in Aggie Stadium in 2007 and at a site of Central's choosing in 2008, but the fight has clouded that.

"We feel our kids were provoked," Brown said. "We're not condoning what happened by any means."

Central athletics director Bill Hayes said Sunday he has suspended one unnamed player for one game and may mete out further punishment if necessary. On Friday night, Hayes was among four legendary former coaches whom A&T honored for their service to the school. Owner of the most wins in Aggie football history, he was fired following the 2002 season, and he became AD at Central, his alma mater, shortly thereafter.

Both schools issued carefully and passively worded statements about Saturday's fight.

"The N.C. A&T logo was stomped following a very spirited football game where athletes competed vigorously," A&T's missive said. "We regret the conflict that (ensued), for this is not indicative of what we represent. The teams were immediately separated. A&T Police & Public Safety officials were on the scene. No one was hurt.

"This is an isolated incident. No charges have been filed at this point pending further investigation led by Police and Public Safety Chief Richard Holden. Additional information will be disseminated per Chief Holden's investigation.

"N.C. A&T and NCCU have had a long relationship as athletic rivals for many years. In the end, our common ground and number one mission is educating young people."

Dee Todd, A&T's athletics director, did not respond to telephone calls seeking comment.

Eagles coach Mose Rison did not address whether his players initiated the melee. He praised them for what he termed their quick acceptance of directives to stop whatever had been started.

"After our game Saturday, emotions were running very high; however, we still expected to walk across the field and conduct the traditional handshake," Rison said. "Instead, some physical aggression erupted, and thanks to the quick action of the police, was made brief. On behalf of my staff, I will state that I believe we acted immediately and properly, and that our student-athletes responded accordingly to our instructions.

"In every level of football I have ever coached, there is always an arch rivalry. These games are exciting to watch and exciting to play and coach. They mean a great deal to the teams, the fans, the institutions, and to the alumni. The challenge to all of us is to channel our excitement and emotions and keep them on a level that honors the sport and the work that goes into it. When the game is over, we need to share our elation in a positive manner. We need to feel our disappointment without taking it out on anybody else."

The incident is the latest chapter in an on-again, off-again series between the schools.

The institutions began the rivalry in 1924 and met every year from 1945-92. After skipping 1993 over unspecified contractual disagreements, they resumed in 1994 but took the game to N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium, where it remained through 2005. In 2002, they turned over administration of the event to the Capital Area Sports Foundation, a tax-exempt arm of Raleigh municipal government that still hasn't paid them in full for the 2005 game. A&T cited the foundation's breach of contract in declining to play the Eagles in 2006, but Central's decision to seek full NCAA Division I status and to apply for MEAC membership compelled a renewal of the rivalry.

The Eagles had hoped to have a deal with the MEAC by now, but nothing has been finalized. Brown said the conference effectively placed all expansion plans on hold some time ago.

Alabama A&M notebook

Photo: AAMU Cheerleaders

Huntsville Times

Big plays hard to come by for Bulldogs.

Alabama A&M's offense thrived off of big plays during its first three games, but those big plays didn't happen Saturday night against Grambling.

As a result, the Bulldogs struggled.

A&M managed only one big play - a 24-yard pass from quarterback Kelcy Luke to tight end John Smith right before halftime - that helped set up Jeremy Licea's 36-yard field goal that made it 17-6 at intermission.

But the Bulldogs failed to score again.

"We've been a big-play offense, but now we've got to go back and develop that mentality that teams aren't going to line up and let us beat them deep," A&M coach Anthony Jones said. "We've got to make plays and be consistent in making those plays. If we can't, we'll experience what we experienced (Saturday).

Of A&M's 12 possessions, nine of them ended with punts, including five three-and-outs.

The Bulldogs kicked two field goals and fumbled once.

Grambling best team A&M has played: Jones thought Grambling was better than any of A&M's first three opponents. After watching the Tigers up close and personal, he was right.

"That's the best football team we've played all year," he said. "They have a lot of talent. They're the fastest team and the most physical team we've played all year."

A&M will work this week: Jones suggested that the Bulldogs didn't work as hard as they should have in preparing for Grambling. As a result, he said they won't have time to relax this week with Texas Southern coming to town.

"We're coming to work this week," he said. "Those who want to work will work. Those who don't won't be out there. We're going to work this week.

"We're going to make sure we're ready for this football game. Our effort wasn't where it needed to be in some instances (Saturday night)."

Furthermore: A&M has scored on 13 of 14 possessions in the red zone. ... Licea's 37-yard field goal midway through the first half was his career long. ... A&M is 2-10 in its last 12 games against Grambling, including three losses in the SWAC championship game.

Reggie Benson

Jones has no answer for AAMU letdown

By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

Coach takes blame for blowout loss at hands of Grambling

Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones didn't offer any excuses. He didn't need to, because this one was pretty easy to figure out.

"We got outplayed and that's my fault," Jones said Sunday afternoon. "My team wasn't prepared."

Jones' comments were in reference to A&M's 31-6 drubbing at the hands of Grambling on Saturday night.

Grambling led 17-6 at intermission and A&M never threatened.

"When you play a good football team on the road, if you don't play your best, you're going to be embarrassed," Jones said. "We didn't play our best. They had something to do with it, but so did we."

How bad did A&M play? Check out these numbers:

Offensively, the Bulldogs failed to score a touchdown for the first time since a 44-0 loss to Grambling in 2005.

The Bulldogs finished with 147 yards of total offense - 30 rushing and 117 passing. A&M entered the game averaging 519 yards - 225 on the ground and 294 through the air.

A&M was 4-of-15 on third-down conversions and was whistled for seven penalties for 55 yards.

Defensively, the Bulldogs allowed 378 yards and 9-of-16 third-down conversions. A&M had allowed only 47 points through its first three games and 278 yards per game.

"We just didn't play well as a team," Jones said. "I would have liked to have seen us play this team giving our best effort, but I don't think that happened Saturday. If we were the same team I saw those first three weeks and we got beat ... I could accept that, but that wasn't the case.

"When you're the head coach and people play well, you get praised. When they don't play well, you take the blame. I'm taking the blame for this one."

Despite the loss, A&M's season is far from over.

The Bulldogs' hopes of winning the Eastern Division title and reaching the SWAC championship game are still intact.

"Am I pushing the panic button?" Jones asked. "No. We lost one game. It's the way we lost that's so disappointing. Can we bounce back? I think we can. I'm going to work my hardest to make sure we do."

A&M (3-1, 1-1) will try to do so Saturday when Texas Southern (0-4, 0-3) come to town for homecoming.

Kickoff is at 3 p.m. at Louis Crews Stadium.

The Tigers shocked the Bulldogs 17-7 on homecoming two years ago and A&M needed a late interception last year to come away with a hard-fought 19-14 victory.

"Texas Southern doesn't fear us," Jones said. "We've got to make sure we're ready for this team."

"We're going to be prepared - I guarantee you we're going to be prepared."

Ford helps SCSU Bulldogs roll to home win

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

For someone who earlier in the week was as beaten up as a Muhammad Ali sparring partner, Will Ford was more than ready for battle Saturday.

The South Carolina State running back looked in mid-season form against Winston-Salem State. For most of the contest, last year’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year was flying through holes for big yards and making Rams’ defenders grasp at his sore ankles.

Yet Ford’s 193 total yards, 164 coming on the ground, almost went to waste. As late as 3:11 remained in a contest which was far from decided and one in which the Bulldogs still faced the dire prospect of entering the "bye" week with a 1-3 record for the second straight year.

"We couldn’t walk out of Bulldog Stadium with a loss," Ford said. "So we were willing to work and do whatever we had to do to get into the endzone and get some of this pressure off the defense."

After having seen previous trips to the "Red Zone" result in a fumble in the endzone, an interception return of 87 yards which set up the Rams’ lone score and a blocked field goal, SCSU finally hit paydirt with a scoring drive. What started with a long run from Ford ended with a one-yard touchdown run by Travil Jamison with 1:07 remaining to give the Bulldogs a 20-7 victory.

The win and the "bye" could not come at a better time for Ford and several Bulldog players. In completing arguably the toughest four-game stretch to open a season in school history, two of the games against two Football Bowl Subdivision teams, the Bulldogs paid a price from a physical standpoint in the form of a long list of players either out of action or playing through various injuries or sicknesses.

Already having lost linebacker David Erby and wide receiver Tron Jackson (both ACLs) for the season and BANDIT Marshall McFadden (elbow) and offensive lineman Nygel Pearson (hand) not scheduled to return for another two weeks, SCSU had at least three players (quarterback Malcolm Long, wide receiver Terrance Smith, offensive lineman Devon Dawson) entering Saturday’s game suffering with the flu and running backs Ford, Jonathan Woods and defensive lineman Sterling Blunt dealing with some form of leg injury.

Quarterback Cleveland McCoy was also not at 100 percent, although like Ford, he finished with a season-high 204 passing yards and a TD. Nevertheless, Pough would have been tempted to give both players a week off ‘bye’ or no ‘bye’.

"I don’t know if we played next week if those guys continue to go like they’re going," he said. "I’ve got to give them some time off and give them a chance to heal up a little bit because man, they are beat up. And we put Jonathan Woods in situations that were unfair because he’s not well."

If there’s a silver lining for the Bulldogs is seeing how much of a productive impact some of the replacements have done. Jamison rushed for a career-best 82 yards and has seemingly pushed himself in position to possibly fill the "Thunder" role once occupied by DeShawn Baker.

"I think Travil Jamison is about ready to play now and he looks like he’s going to be a really good player for us," Pough said. "We get that big back kind of guy now that we had with Baker that we can use that can kind of use to kind of give us a change of pace. I’m hoping that’s something that we can develop in a way that can try to get ourselves together."

Redshirt freshmen offensive linemen Josh Harrison and Johnny Culbreath also saw extended playing time and the defense has received a boost from redshirt freshmen Sam Chester and Jayson Ayers.

"I look at our defensive depth chart and I know people don’t want to hear this, but we’re going to be pretty good next year," Pough said.

For now, the focus is this year and for the next seven days, it will be all about rest and recuperating for the Bulldogs. Pough admitted he didn’t count upon having to deal with the litany of health issues from the difficult schedule, but now that the "bye" week is here, he’s taking whatever measures necessary to get his team close to full strength for the resumption of play Oct. 6 at Norfolk State.

"I might tell (Ford) don’t even show up for the next week," Pough said. "Just go the (heck) away and don’t even come down there. Just come down to get treatment and stay out of the way."

Rough homecoming

Saturday’s loss dropped Winston-Salem State head coach Kermit Blount to 1-3 against the school where he served as an offensive coordinator under Willie Jeffries from 1989-93. His lone win came in 2000 over his former mentor.

"It’s always good to come back to where you’ve already been," Blount said. "But, we’d like to play a little better when we come back. I can guarantee you, the next time they come to us or when come to them, it will be a better ballgame."

Saturday also marked the return of WSSU offensive coordinator Nick Calcutta, who also served under Jeffries like his brother, David, a former running backs coach.

Grambling had no trouble with SWAC champ's offensive firepower

Photo: Grambling Coach Rod Broadway

By Nick Deriso, The NewsStar

GRAMBLING — That fumblerooskie trick play provided the sizzle in Grambling's big win over Alabama A&M. But its rapidly improving defense served the steak, manhandling the previously unbeaten Bulldogs.
A&M arrived at Robinson Stadium ranked in the Top 25 and putting up scary numbers — including more than 500 yards of total offense and an average of 45 points over its first three games.

Not this time, as GSU topped the reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference champion 31-6.

Grambling, in fact, held A&M to 147 yards of total offense, seven first downs and just two first-half field goals.

First-year Grambling defensive coordinator Cliff Yoshida said the focus of the defense was corralling Kelcy Luke.

"We wanted to contain the quarterback so he couldn't get on the edge," said Yoshida, who has already taken a cellar-dwelling unit to No. 3 in total defense. "We kept him boxed up, and stayed with him. This was a great win for us."

Luke, who had been averaging 314 yards of total offense per game, was held to 109 — including minus-8 rushing. A&M rusher Ulysses Banks, a brilliant converted returner, was held to just 37 yards after putting up more than 100 yards on each of his previous opponents.

"That's the first thing we want to do, stop the run," said Grambling coach Rod Broadway. "Then, we had to keep (Luke) in the pocket. The guys did it this week. They played the way they practiced."

In the end, Bulldogs were left with a paltry average of 2.3 yards per play.

Brandon's big day: Grambling quarterback Brandon Landers, taking open underneath passes against a furious blitz, posted a career-best 69 percent completion rate against Alabama A&M.

He patiently executed the bubble screen with consistency, in keeping with the coaches' message all week.

"Take the little things," Broadway kept saying. "Take what they give you, and stop trying to make every play. Brandon doesn't have to try to win every game for us."

Landers' previous career best for completions was 64 percent against Prairie View a year ago, but he split time with backup Larry Kerlegan that night and only attempted 19 passes. He had also posted 60 percent completion rates against Southern in 2004 and '06.

Those numbers pale with what Landers accomplished this week.

"The coaches have stressed that I shouldn't press, to let the game come to me," said Landers, a product of Carroll High in Monroe. "I promised them I would do that. They had us well prepared for what the offense gave us."

Landers' overall completion numbers for the year now sit at 56 percent, with an efficiency rating of 125. Landers completed 53 percent of his passes in this year's opener against Alcorn, and then 48 percent at non-conference foe Pittsburgh.

Landers hadn't yet beaten A&M but both stumbles came at Huntsville, where he lost in 2004 and '06. Grambling has now outscored A&M 75-6 in its last two meetings at "The Rob," dating back to 2005.

No foul, no harm: A Grambling team that has consistently finished atop the conference in penalties lately drew only a single flag on Saturday against A&M.

Only one SWAC school had more penalty yards than Grambling in 2006, which posted a 78-yard average. None had more flags thrown a year ago.

That was actually an improvement over 2005, however, when Grambling drew a league-worst number of flags, giving up more than 1,200 penalty yards — or about 105 per game.

GSU was again ninth in the 10-team league in 2004, averaging 71 yards in flags.

Tennessee State turnovers may force change

By MIKE ORGAN, the Tennessean

Heffner remains starter for now

Even after Antonio Heffner turned the ball over four times against Southern on Saturday night, Tennessee State Coach James Webster said he's not changing quarterbacks.

But he's not ruling out the possibility either.

If Heffner, a second-year starter, continues to be so generous with the football, he could end up on the bench.

All of Heffner's turnovers came in the second half and were big factors in Southern's 41-34 come-from-behind win over the TSU.

"When you have turnovers on your team there are two things you can do as a coach," Webster said. "You keep working on what's causing the turnovers, and then if you continue to turn the ball over you have to limit the opportunities of the individual who is turning the ball over."

Running back Javarris Williams also fumbled the ball away in the third quarter, as TSU had five turnovers in the second half after committing none in the first.

TDs and turnovers

The dilemma for Webster is that it was Heffner who helped TSU build a 27-6 first-half lead. He ran for a touchdown and passed for two others.

In the second half, however, Heffner threw two interceptions and fumbled twice. His first fumble led to a Southern TD and his second came on TSU's final possession of the game with 1:45 remaining.

On the season, Heffner has thrown seven interceptions and six touchdowns. With the two fumbles Saturday, he's been responsible for a total of nine turnovers in four games.

Webster said he was not ready to give freshman backup Calvin McNairl more time with the first team in practice.

"Heff is our starter and I still have all the confidence in the world in Heffner," Webster said. "He's just got to make better decisions with the football."

Webster has said since the preseason that Heffner pushes himself too far at times when trying to make something happen on the field. And too often, that ends up in a bungled play.

"I felt like (Saturday) he reverted back to thinking, 'I've got to make a play," Webster said. "He was pushing a little bit. He doesn't have to make a play — all he needs to do is manage the game."

Hall still out: Starting cornerback Marquez Hall, a transfer from Vanderbilt who suffered a high ankle sprain Sept. 8 against Jackson State, was still not able to play Saturday.

Starting safety Anthony Levine, who missed last week's game against Austin Peay with strep throat, returned and made five tackles.

Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands

Landry continues touchdown streak

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Slide Show of SU vs. TSU: http://www.2theadvocate.com/multimedia/9946676.html

Southern wide receiver Gerard Landry didn’t miss a step after having to sit out the first half.

And neither did his teammates.

Suspended by NCAA rules after being ejected for throwing a swing in the fourth quarter a week earlier, Landry came on to make a 6-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give him a touchdown catch in all four games this season as SU beat Tennessee State 41-34 Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Plus, RaShon Jacobs, a Louisiana-Monroe transfer who sat out last season and started in place of Landry, caught his first touchdown as a Jaguar and Del Roberts, a former North Carolina transfer, had a career-high 110 yards and his first score this season, a go-ahead 48-yard TD five minutes into the fourth quarter.

“I was very anxious to get in after I sat out the first half,” said Landry, who motioned to the crowd as he took the field in the second half. “It was good to see guys like Jacobs stepping up and making plays for us. That was a big for us.”

Jacobs’ 13-yard touchdown, on a third-and-11, came on a slant route against Tennessee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, whom his position coach called a first-round draft pick earlier in the week. It was Jacobs’ first collegiate score since Oct. 4, 2003.

Later, on Landry’s first catch, he went for 21 yards and a first down — converting a third-and-7 — as Rodgers-Cromartie leaped with two hands unto Landry’s back, only to have Landry shrug him off and keep chugging.

“We wanted to execute every play, take advantage of him,” Landry said. “We weren’t going to stop throwing to his side just because he’s supposed to be a first-round draft pick. It didn’t make any difference. We were going to attack him, no matter what.”

Landry’s TD catch got the Jaguars within 27-25 with 5:42 left in the third quarter.
“When I got in there, I just made something happen,” said Landry, who has caught one TD pass in six of SU’s last seven games.

Jacobs had three catches for 40 yards, all in the first half. Landry finished with the two catches for 27 yards.

Roberts had four catches for 41 yards in the first half and six catches total.

On Roberts’ touchdown, he was pushed out of bounds by cornerback Ozzie Harrell, on what was ruled pass interference, along the right sideline but adjusted to get back to the ball and then weave through the defense to give SU a 38-34 lead with 10:16 to play.

“I knew it was going to be pass interference, so I just kept going,” Roberts said.

Quick hits
SU came up with seven sacks Saturday after totaling six in the previous three games. &hellip SU turned three of Tennessee State’s five second-half turnovers into 16 points. &hellip SU has won five consecutive games, dating to the Bayou Classic. &hellip Southern’s 41 points was its best total since a 44-20 win over Texas Southern in 2005. The Jaguars had gone 16 games without breaking 40 points.

Lagniappe
When Southern plays Tennessee State next season, the teams will play in the John Merritt Classic in Nashville, Tenn., at LP Field (home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans) on Sept. 6, 2008. That will be the second game of the season. SU opens at the University of Houston on Aug. 30. SU had its first sustained first-quarter scoring drive of the season, going 65 yards in nine plays for a TD. Previously, SU’s only first-quarter score came when RB Darren Coates broke a 90-yard TD run on the offense’s first play of the season. TSU stayed in New Orleans on Friday night. TSU CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie’s PAT block with 10:16 left gave him his third straight game with a blocked kick (one field goal and two PATs).

Southern University Jaguars Human Jukebox Marching Band

SU coaching staff making right adjustments

Photo: Coach Pete Richardson signal in play against FAMU.

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Southern has dominated opponents in the second half. So credit the coaching staff, offense to defense, with making all the right adjustments.

Also credit the coaches with keeping this team together — from the preseason when the attrition of more than a dozen players sapped this team of a lot of promise and in two games this season when the Jaguars came back after falling behind.

Saturday night, SU overcame a 21-point deficit deep in the second quarter to beat Tennessee State 41-34 at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The Jaguars (4-0) outscored the Tigers 35-7 in the final 36 minutes after falling behind 27-6 with 6:36 until halftime.

“The coaches (kept us together),” said Southern quarterback Bryant Lee, who threw for career highs of 305 yards and four touchdowns. “They told us to go out there and just execute, basically.”

“First of all, the coaches got involved,” SU free safety Jarmaul George, who had his third interception of the season.

In the season opener, SU trailed Florida A&M 20-12 at halftime after, like Saturday, giving up big plays on defense.

“I told them at halftime we were going to win this football game, so we might as well get ready to go out here and make it happen. And that’s what we did,” Southern defensive coordinator Terrence Graves said.

Though Tennessee State and FAMU are the only teams to score second-half touchdowns against Southern, getting one each, the Jaguars have shown they can put some serious clamps on teams.

“We knew we made some mistakes, but we had to go get on our horses, go and make plays,” SU drop linebacker Gary Chapman, who had a career- and game-high 11 tackles, including one sack. “We have a lot of talent on this team; we just had to go and get it. We all knew what we had to do.”

Saturday was the more impressive comeback.
TSU quarterback Antonio Heffner (who was all-conference like FAMU’s Albert Chester II) has a strong arm and swift feet. He impressed with big plays throughout the first half and finished with 316 yards on just 13 completions (24.3 yards per catch).

However, the Jaguars forced five second-half turnovers — four by Heffner (two interceptions, two fumbles). SU also totaled a season-best seven sacks. And tailback Javarris Williams, who had 107 yards through three quarter, got nothing in the fourth quarter.

“It’s a 60-minute game,” Southern head coach Pete Richardson said. “We started to work our way back and made plays.

“They weren’t stopping us offensively. We just had to make some stops on defense.”

One Southern attribute that was obvious in preseason camp has surfaced many times this season as the Jaguars corral mobile quarterbacks — Southern has speed across the board on defense. And, yes, the coaches have done well in using that speed as an asset and not allowing the lack of size or depth to be a detriment.

“He got a little tired, too,” Richardson said of Heffner. “We got more footspeed on the field, especially at the linebacker spot.”

Do more of this
Taking over in the second half has been the trademark of this Southern team — the offense finding a groove and the defense going to shut-down mode. Southern has outscored its four foes 58-16 after halftime.

Only once has an opponent scored in the second half, Tennessee State’s 38-yard pass play from Antonio Heffner to Ronald Evans for a 34-32 lead with 1:48 left in the third quarter, to pull ahead of the Jaguars. That lead lasted 5 1/2 minutes. SU won the fourth quarter 9-0 and forced three turnovers.

More than just being undefeated, the Jaguars are developing a confidence that they own the second half.

Work more on this
Southern did not convert after four touchdowns — one PAT missed, one PAT blocked and two incomplete two-point conversions — and had a 38-yard field goal try blocked. That’s seven to nine potential points blown. Plus, the blocked field goal would have iced the game. Instead, Tennessee State got the ball back at its own 21-yard line, down seven points, with 1:49 to play.

Freshman kicker Josh Duran is 7-for-12 on PATs and 2-for-4 on field goals this season. The Jaguars are also 0-for-4 on two-point conversion passes.

Up next
Southern (4-0, 2-0 SWAC) plays Alabama State (4-0, 3-0) in a showdown of the conference’s only unbeaten teams, in the Gulf Coast Classic at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Both teams lead their respective divisions. Alabama State was picked to finish last in the Eastern Division and is under first-year coach Reggie Barlow. The Hornets benched returning quarterback Alex Engram in their season opener and turned to junior-college transfer Chris Mitchell, who has led them to fourth-quarter wins in all four games. The teams met in the 2003 and ’04 SWAC Championship Games. Southern won 20-9 in ’03, while Alabama State won 40-35 in ‘04. Both teams went 5-6 last season, meaning one team will tie its win total from last year with the victory. Both teams have been strong in the second half. ASU has outscored foes 46-23 in the fourth quarter.

Southern University Jaguars Human Jukebox Marching Band

Pearlman adds nothing new to debate of UD vs. DSU

By JASON LEVINE, The News Journal

One day before Delaware State University made national headlines in the wake of an on-campus shooting early Friday, the historically black college made national news of a different sort.

I guess "news" is a relative term.

Jeff Pearlman, a University of Delaware graduate and former Sports Illustrated writer, penned a piece on ESPN.com about the fact that his alma mater has never played DSU in football.

Pearlman called UD officials racist. He has some experience covering the subject. Remember John Rocker? It was Pearlman's article that made Rocker what he is today.

Anyway, Pearlman didn't tell us anything we didn't already know, though his charge of racism is nothing more than a very logical hypothesis.

We in The News Journal sports department have made our views abundantly clear over the past several years. This game should be played.

For those of you new to the debate, here are the basics: DSU officials, for their part, have stated publicly that they would welcome a game against UD. UD officials, as they do in today's story by Kevin Tresolini, say the game will happen, they just don't know when.

Over the past few years, UD has had ample opportunity to schedule the game. The Blue Hens have filled holes in their schedule with teams like Albany. A few years back, they even plugged a hole with a nonconference game against fellow conference power New Hampshire. And, yes, they continue to maintain the "tradition" of playing Division II West Chester every single season.

Four years ago, our research revealed that Delaware was (and remains) the only state with two or more Division I football teams and those teams have not played each other in at least one game.

Pearlman was not the first person to call UD racist. Won't be the last, either. We in the sports department have speculated for years about who doesn't want the bigger, richer, whiter upstate school playing the smaller, poorer, blacker downstate school.

The question is whether putting this story on a national stage will make a difference or, more to the point, make a game.

What kind of game would it be? You know the Hornets would circle it on their schedule ahead of almost any Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference matchup. And UD? The Hens would be favored, at least for the first few years.

But then DSU would get stronger from playing a perennial I-AA power every year. And then, sometime down the road, they'd beat UD and celebrate all weekend in Dover.

Meanwhile, in Newark, the Hens staff and players would go back to work, just as after any other game, win or lose. And in the back of their minds, they'd think about the next time they face that school. Not that smaller, poorer, blacker school. The school that plays Division I college football in Delaware, just like them.

University of Delaware's refusal to play Delaware State University goes national

By KEVIN TRESOLINI, The News Journal

NEWARK -- The University of Delaware and Delaware State University have never played a football game against each other, despite being located less than an hour's drive apart and sharing the same NCAA Division I-AA classification.

Delaware, the more established and successful of the two programs, has been the unwilling partner, steadfastly refusing to even discuss setting a date for a game many fans from both schools have long craved.

That has led to frequent charges that UD's constant snubbing is a vestige of the schools' racial histories. Delaware had a segregated school system until the 1950s. Delaware State was created in the late 19th Century as a college for black students, who still make up almost 80 percent of its enrollment.

But the often-heated debate, which had largely been confined to the state of Delaware and fans and alumni of the two schools, spilled into the national media last week.

Jeff Pearlman, a University of Delaware graduate, wrote a scathing column on ESPN.com, the country's most widely viewed sports Web site. It was headlined "Is race the reason Delaware won't play Delaware State?"

Pearlman, as many others have, concluded it must be a factor, since UD has given no sound reason for its ongoing snub of DSU. He wrote the column as an open letter to a prospective UD football recruit, urging him to "Say no to the Blue Hens."

Pearlman wrote: "The University of Delaware's persistent refusal to face Delaware State University in football is cowardly, pig-headed, self-righteous and, worst of all, oozing with racism."

The story quickly became the talk of the town after being posted Thursday. On Friday, a printout of it sat on the check-in table at the Blue Hen Touchdown Club's weekly luncheon at the Newark Country Club, where all of the more than 50 who attended were white and most were more than 50 years old.

Still, some believed Pearlman had made some valid points, though they wished he hadn't worded it so strongly. Gene Trivits also has wondered why the state's two I-AA schools haven't met yet and hates the black eye it gives UD's reputation.

"How long are we going to keep taking this hit?" said Trivits, 75, who received bachelor's and master's degrees from UD. "I've said that to Edgar [Johnson, UD's athletic director], and we're friends. The easiest way is to just schedule the game. I don't understand why we don't -- it would be so convenient -- and then we go out and play Albany and Monmouth. And I don't like West Chester being here, either."

Albany, which Delaware played in 2006 and will play again in 2008, and next Saturday's opponent Monmouth are limited-scholarship I-AA programs from the Northeast Conference, which does not warrant automatic inclusion in the NCAA playoffs. Delaware State is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, which does qualify its champion for the NCAA tourney, as does Delaware's Colonial Athletic Association.

West Chester is a Division II school located 45 minutes away that Delaware has scheduled annually since 1968, always at Delaware Stadium, and beaten 36 of 39 times.

Some UD fans, however, believe Delaware State, which has never made the I-AA playoffs, hasn't earned the right to play Delaware, a perennial playoff contender and frequent qualifier that has won six national championships.

"Four or five years ago, I would have said, 'No way,' " said UD graduate Tom Runnels. "I just don't think Delaware State has played the competitive level of football Delaware has. They have gotten a lot better, so a couple years down the road, maybe ..."

Runnels added, however, that the schools' geographic proximity "cannot be denied" in reasoning why they should play and agreed that "the division clearly has racial roots."

A guest speaker at Friday's touchdown club luncheon was Nate Beasley, who has a unique perspective on the issue, having played football for both schools.

The Dover Air Force Base High graduate played a year at Delaware State, then transferred to Delaware and played three more. He became one of the Blue Hens' all-time leading rushers from 1973 to '75.

"A football game between Delaware and Delaware State would be such a wonderful thing for the state," said Beasley, who is black. "It just doesn't seem to make any sense that it hasn't happened. It makes you wonder."

Including, he added, for lack of any other valid explanations, where racial histories might fit in.

Pearlman's column had generated about 600 comments as of Saturday.

Johnson, as has been his policy, would not publicly discuss the issue or the ESPN.com piece, other than to deliver what has been his standard line for almost 20 years:

"The game will happen," Johnson said.

He wouldn't say when. Delaware recently scheduled three games with South Dakota State -- one there and two in Newark -- in the next decade, when West Chester also is on the schedule.

"My position, as an alum, is that the mere implication that race has anything to do with it is further proof that they just need to schedule the game," said Paul Zoppi, a 1990 UD graduate. "By avoiding Delaware State, Delaware has turned this into something much bigger than it should be, and I'm embarrassed."

New UD president Patrick Harker, in an e-mail response Saturday, said he is giving the topic close scrutiny.

Harker, who took office this summer, has spoken about the issue with athletic department personnel as he familiarizes himself with UD.

Delaware State needs no arm-twisting, new athletic director Rick Costello said.

"We want to play anywhere, any time," Costello said. "It'll be great for the kids, great for school sprit, great for the state. I see nothing but positives. ... It's mind-boggling that it has happened yet."

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Battle of the Bands: Tennessee State, Southern University, North Carolina A&T & North Carolina Central 9/22/07

Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands

Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band


North Carolina A&T State University Blue & Gold Marching Machine


North Carolina Central University Marching Maroon and White Band

Miners cruise to victory over Texas Southern

Photo: UTEP running back Marcus Thomas (8) rumbled down the sideline Saturday after making Texas Southern defenders miss at the Sun Bowl.

By Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times

What, if anything, should be made of the UTEP football team's 52-12 demolition of overmatched Texas Southern Saturday is a valid question.

Then again, that's not a question the Miners really have to answer.

After two consecutive losses, what mattered to UTEP was that it put on a commanding performance against a team it was a whole bunch better than.


The defense dominated from the first snap, the offense finally produced a 100-yard rusher while moving the ball at will, and third-string quarterback Kyle Wright was sent in to mop up with four minutes still remaining in the second quarter.

The lead was 38-0 by then, giving a banged up Miner team a chance to rest its best players for the Conference USA opener against SMU next week.

They head into that game with a level 2-2 mark and in a good frame of mind following a night when they were as businesslike as the situation called for. The Miners made the layup.

If there were any doubts about how seriously UTEP would take a game against a winless 1-AA foe, they were put to rest quickly in a perfect first few minutes.

Jose Martinez sent the opening kickoff out of the end zone, the defense held Texas Southern without a yard on three plays, Quintin Demps nearly broke the punt return, and Marcus Thomas needed just three carries to take care of the 39 yards the Miners were left with.

Thomas' 11th and final carry of the night was a 27-yard touchdown run that pushed him to 105 yards for the night, snapping a 16-game streak without a 100-yard rusher.

UTEP was actually held to a field goal on its second possession, then Trevor Vittatoe hit Brandon Moturi for a 25-yard touchdown and a 17-0 lead at the 1:12 mark of the first quarter.

Nuuese Punimata returned an interception to the 7-yard line on the next Texas Southern series, and Lorne Sam carried the ball in a play later for a 24-0 lead on the final play of the first quarter.

At that point, Texas Southern had just two first downs, and one of those was on a late hit penalty.

The Tigers did start to do a few things as UTEP reserves trickled into the game in the second quarter, though the starters hung around long enough to tack two more touchdowns on the board.

In that span, Demps picked off the 14th pass of his career to move into a tie for first among active Division 1-A players, Moturi caught a second touchdown pass for his first multi-touchdown game of his career and Thomas reached his 100-yard milestone.

Texas Southern University Tigers--Ocean of Soul Marching Band

By halftime, about the only thing left for UTEP to play for was the shutout, but Texas Southern quickly dashed that with a 21-yard strike from Tino Edgecomb to William Osborne on its first possession of the third quarter.

In fact, the Tigers were able to play the second half on even terms against the Miner deep reserves, but on this night, that mattered little.

Photo: UTEP fans braved the rain to cheer on their Miners Saturday agaisnt Texas Southern at the Sun Bowl.

Notebook: Tigers' improving O-line clears way for 473 yards

By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

ITTA BENA - It's been less than a month ago that Jackson State's offensive line was trashed after getting manhandled by Division II Delta State in a 27-15 loss.

But quietly, the Tigers' big boys up front have turned in three good games in a row. On Saturday, they allowed no sacks on quarterback Jimmy Oliver and cleared some decent room for the running game.

JSU racked up 473 total yards as 12 offensive linemen played against the Delta Devils. Offensive coordinator James Woody said he made it a point to keep the line fresh in the muggy weather.

"The offensive line took a lot of criticism (early in the year), so we shuffled a lot today and they all did a good job," Woody said. "Sometimes, people don't see that in the stands."

"We got off to a rough start, but we made some adjustments," center Lorenzo Breland said. "I was proud of our guys because we voluntarily watched some film on our off day this week and I think that helped us get better."

SACK ATTACK

Jackson State's defense was once again stout, giving up 253 total yards.

Though MVSU scored 16 points, seven of those weren't the fault of the defense. MVSU's Marc Moody picked up a fumble and ran 25 yards for a touchdown against the JSU offense.

JSU put never-ending pressure on MVSU's Paul Roberts, who was sacked four times and flushed from the pocket on several other occasions.

The only black mark was MVSU running back Ronald Brewer, who rushed for 146 yards.

"We missed a lot of tackles," JSU defensive end Daniel Brooks said. "But we made some good plays, too. We've just got to keep improving."

GREAT RETURNS

Jackson State speedster Lavarius Giles had his second monster play in four games, starting the second half with a 66-yard kickoff return to give the Tigers excellent field position.

Five plays later, Cody Hull rushed for 3-yard touchdown and Jackson State had a 27-13 lead.

Jaymar Johnson also got in on the special teams fun, returning a punt 42 yards in the fourth quarter.

EXTRA POINTS

Jackson State kicker Eric Perri turned in a very good game, going 3-for-3 on field goals and 5-for-5 on extra points. ...

Jackson State's 50 points on Saturday night were the most the team has scored in a game since 2001. Amazingly, JSU lost that game 61-58 to Alabama State. The last time JSU scored more than 50 points in a win was in 2001 during a 66-36 victory over Mississippi Valley. ...

MVSU tight end Abner Brown caught five passes for 42 yards to lead the team.

Freshman RB Brewer bright spot for MVSU with 148-yard game

Photo:Valley quarterback Paul Roberts hands off to Ronald Brewer in the first half.

By Rusty Hampton, Clarion Ledger

ITTA BENA — Mississippi Valley State lost the football game by a wide margin Saturday, but in the process the Delta Devils took another step in developing a potential star at running back.

Ronald Brewer, a freshman from Germantown, Tenn., led all rushers during Jackson State's 50-16 victory with 148 yards on 28 carries.

Brewer scored on a 4-yard run to give the Delta Devils a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter. By halftime, he had 71 yards on 11 carries. His longest run covered 23 yards and he ripped off several others of 10 or more yards.

Afterwards, coach Willie Totten questioned the play of his quarterbacks - "Right now, I don't know where our quarterbacks' heads are," he said - but he had no questions about the running game.

Brewer improved his season rushing average to 85 yards per game.

"We know that Ronald can run the football," Totten said. "He's a very unselfish kid. The thing is, he trains like that in practice, and if we can get a few more guys to train like that in practice we'll be better."

Brewer's 148 yards were more than half of MVSU's total net offense.

"But my production wasn't enough," he said. "We've got to start getting better every week."

JSU had four sacks and chased MVSU starting quarterback Paul Roberts all over the field. Totten tried two others in the second half. Overall, MVSU threw for just 99 yards.

"I can't make the system any simpler," said Totten, a college Hall of Fame quarterback in the 1980s for Valley. "But right now, we're making a lot of mistakes. A lot of bad reads, and then they're getting down on themselves too quick."

Photo: Ronald Brewer scores a Delta Devils touchdown past JSU's Marsellus Speaks.