No More Meat: Working in Slim Jim factory convinced Newton to go back to WSSU football team

Photo: #92 Keith Newton, at 6-3 and 275 pounds, has helped Winston-Salem State fill a void at nose tackle with his return to the team.

By John Dell, JOURNAL REPORTER

The suffocating heat is what Keith Newton remembers the most.

He quit school at Winston-Salem State in the spring of 2005, went home to Raleigh and took a job in a factory that made beef jerky. He quickly found that working 10 to 12 hours a day in an area of the factory without air conditioning could do a lot to straighten out one’s priorities.

“I came to realize how important school was, and that I really missed football,” said Newton, now a 22-year-old junior at WSSU.

Newton (6-3, 275) has plugged a hole for the Rams at nose tackle this season, and he’s making up for lost time.

He came to WSSU in the fall of 2003 ready to take on the world and be a big factor on the field. But he let his grades slip later in his career, quit the team, quit school and said he was doing everything he wasn’t supposed to be doing.

“It was all me,” he said. “I was just doing immature stuff.”

He eventually wound up at the factory, an experience he said he won’t ever forget.

“After a while, I was just like, ‘I’m not doing this,’” Newton said. “I’ve got to get back to school and get that degree.”

Newton said he did a lot of grunt work at GoodMark Foods Inc., a leading producer of meat snacks, including Slim Jims.

“I had to scrape the excess meat out of the pans,” he said. “It was tough work, and it was hot, especially near the ovens where they cooked the meats.”

During his time at GoodMark, Newton met another employee who had a college degree and after just two weeks was able to move from the factory to a position as floor manager. That was enough to convince him that he needed to return to school.

“The part where I worked at, it wasn’t air conditioned, and it was right there where the ovens were,” Newton said. “I remember they had these big trolleys that weighed about 400 pounds with the meat on them and the trolleys would get stuck and we actually had to go inside the ovens to pull them out.

“And I’m talking about it being so hot it burned your eyes and nearly burned your skin. And there was smoke, so it was just tough.”


Photo: #92 Keith Newton

Shaking off would-be blockers is a lot easier for Newton. Convincing Coach Kermit Blount that he was serious about rejoining the team wasn’t as easy.

Newton played one game in 2003, as an offensive lineman, and then was redshirted. He played two games in 2004, was injured and missed the rest of the season. He was academically ineligible for the 2005 season and was back home in Raleigh by the spring of 2006.

“I talked to Coach Blount a few times about coming back once I did get back into school,” Newton said. “Once he saw that I was committed to the team, he let me back on. And I trained a lot with a personal trainer (Marcus Nesby) who really helped me get back.”

Newton was on the team last season but made little impact. He was credited with one tackle in one game. This season, he has filled the gap at nose guard quite nicely. He had his best game in a 19-17 win over Morgan State, making 11 tackles.

“A lot of guys would have packed it in by now,” Blount said. “But I remember talking to his mother when Keith was ineligible, and she knew what a mistake he was making. But he’s rectified that mistake and is on track to get his degree and is helping us.”

Newton has to petition the NCAA to play next season, which he said he will do. He’s having too much fun on the field and in school, where he’s majoring in business.

Newton isn’t sure what he’ll be doing after he graduates. But he knows what he won’t be doing.

“I know one thing, it’s not going to be working in a factory,” he said, “unless I’m management and I’m wearing a tie.”

Engram helps Alabama State in special teams

Photo: Alabama State quarterback Alex Engram won the SWAC weekly special teams award for his punting duties against Alcorn State last weekend.


By A. Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser

Alex Engram was in the middle of a postgame meal when Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow signaled for him to come over.

Engram hurriedly went to Barlow and found out he was going to use more than his arms on the football within the next week.

You can use your leg, too.

Just like that, ASU's backup quarterback learned he was about to try punting, though he had no experience and -- at that moment -- no desire to do so.

"When he told me, I really didn't know what to think," Engram said. "I always like to throw it. I've never liked to kick it."

A week later, Engram's enthusiasm now includes kicking. He averaged more than 42 yards per kick in ASU's win over Alcorn State last weekend, had two late 50-yard punts that helped hold off the Braves and has won the Southwestern Athletic Conference's weekly special teams award.

Engram showed he has some leg, too.

"Alex can do it all," running back Jay Peck said. "I'm telling you, he'll run it, throw it, he'll kick it now, catch it. It's good to have somebody like that.
You can put him anywhere and expect positive things out of him.

"Who knows what he'll do next week?"

ASU (4-0, 3-0 SWAC) faces Southern (4-0, 2-0) on Saturday afternoon at Mobile's Ladd-Peebles Stadium and Engram's duties give the Hornets options in apparently obvious punting situations.

"Now, teams know I can be a threat to kick it," Engram said. "They'll be more focused on the punt return. Now, we might try to sneak a little something in there."

Engram's first punt caught many of his teammates unprepared.

Linebacker Michael Figgers was in on the secret, but let those standing nearby enjoy their naiveté for a few extra seconds. Their excitement over a potential fake was soon eclipsed by a punt's surprise.

"He had an excellent punt," Figgers said. "The ball went way farther than I thought. It kind of shocked me, for real. I had to look back for a second because it was a great punt."

Figgers first watched Engram punt in practice and his initial thoughts were that the Hornets were working on a fake that involved Engram. Like a rubbernecker driving past a car accident, Figgers kept watching to see the trickery unveiled, but soon was disappointed.

"The first two times they snapped it to him, he didn't do anything with it, so I still thought they were working on a fake," Figgers said. "The next two times, he kicked it. We kept going and he kept kicking. I thought, 'Is he the punter?'"

Engram uses a rugby-style kick where he takes a few steps to his right -- which can easily look like a fake at first -- before kicking.

The junior's initial goals against Alcorn were simple. No blocks.

"We didn't have any expectations," Engram said. "We just wanted to get the ball out of there. It's great that the numbers were good, but we didn't have any expectations."

Engram caught ASU coaches' attention when the Hornets were considering a quick kick out of the usual shotgun formation. Engram said he unleashed an unexpected rocket and, a few weeks later, was getting called over by Barlow.

A 42-yard average later, Engram's a sudden star.

"Did we get more than we thought we would?" ASU special teams coordinator Brian Williams said. "Yes, but it's another added weapon to our team."

Alabama A&M notebook

Huntsville Times

Harper slated to start against Texas Southern

Defensive tackle Justin Harper, who was named Alabama A&M's co-defensive Player of the Week for his effort against Grambling last week, will start Saturday against Texas Southern, defensive line coach Ben Blacknall said Wednesday.

Harper, who lost his job to Whitney Garrett last spring and had surgery on his thumb during preseason practice and missed the season opener against Tennessee State, will start at left tackle in place of Renaldo Askew, Blacknall said. Garrett will make his fifth consecutive start at right tackle.

"He played better than any defensive tackle we had," Blacknall said of Harper's effort against the Tigers. "He deserves an opportunity to start."

The Bulldogs, who have annually been among the league's best against the run, are seventh in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in rushing defense, allowing 127 yards per game.

Harper, a 6-foot-2, 252-pound junior from Gulfport, Miss., was credited with nine tackles, including six solos, two tackles for loss and a sack while grading out 92 percent.

Early starter: Texas Southern coach Steve Wilson said if he had to do it over again he would have redshirted quarterback Tino Edgecombe.

A 6-2, 185-pound senior from Miami, Edgecombe was pressed into action as a freshman and Wilson said that has affected him throughout his career.

"Tino had to come through a situation where we had to play him as a freshman and we didn't have people to protect him and that hindered his growth," Wilson said. "He had some breakout games last season, but we haven't been able to get him in a rhythm this season.

"Part of it is our offensive line being unsettled. He made some plays last week (against UTEP) that proved he can be an outstanding quarterback."

Edgecombe is fourth in the league in passing yards per game, averaging 162.5 yards.

He has completed 64-of-112 passes (57.1 percent) for 650 yards, three touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Smith likes ball distribution: A&M tight end John Smith admits he would like to see a few more balls thrown his way, but he says he can't complain with the way quarterback Kelcy Luke is distributing the football.

Ten players have caught passes and six different players have caught touchdown passes.

Wide receiver Thomas Harris and tight end Charles Moody have 17 catches apiece. Smith has eight followed by wide receivers Rashad Johnson and Gerald Stockdale, who have six apiece.

"The distribution is pretty good," said Smith, who has eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. "We've got a lot of talent out there. No one person is above the team."

Reggie Benson

Texas Southern's drought deepens

By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff

Texas Southern falters further with Wilson at helm

Steve Wilson was supposed to resurrect Texas Southern's moribund football program when he was hired four years ago. Instead, the Tigers have sunk even lower.

Texas Southern hasn't had a winning season since 2000 and the Tigers' last Southwestern Athletic Conference championship came way back in 1968. Wilson was supposed to change all that.

He did it at Howard University, where he led the Bison to a pair of black college national championships in the mid-1990s. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to duplicate that success in Houston and Texas Southern alumni and fans have begun to voice their displeasure. Some have even called for him to be fired.

Under Wilson, the Tigers went 0-11 in 2004, 1-10 in 2005, 3-8 in 2006 and are 0-4 so far this season. Combined, Wilson has compiled an underwhelming 4-33 record at Texas Southern.

"Our season is not over yet," Wilson said earlier this week during the league's weekly teleconference. "We can't control what has happened in the past. We can either sit and mope around or do something about it. We have six conference games left, including the meat of our division schedule in front of us.

"We feel good about our opportunities. We're not going to sit and worry about what has happened in the past. When you do that you stop playing to win. We're capable of playing good football. It's just a matter of getting it done."

This time two years ago, Texas Southern came here and played good football.

The Tigers, riding a 16-game losing streak, shocked Alabama A&M 17-7 on homecoming. The two teams will meet again on homecoming Saturday at Louis Crews Stadium. Kickoff is 3 p.m.


Texas Southern has played A&M extremely tough during Wilson's tenure.

The Bulldogs won 22-3 in 2004, lost in 2005 and escaped last season with a 19-14 victory on a late interception by Marcus Black.

"We match up well with them," Wilson said when asked why his team has been so competitive against A&M. "They're a physical football team and that's the way we like to play."

Texas Southern caught A&M coming off a 42-0 win over NAIA foe Allen University two years ago. The Bulldogs were feeling pretty good about themselves and perhaps overlooked the Tigers.

Wilson knows that won't be the case this time around, especially after Grambling whipped A&M 31-6 last weekend.

"We're going to catch them at their best," he said. "We know they're going to be hungry. They're a championship football team and they'll be ornery this weekend.

"It's their homecoming and the coaches will get their attention and have them ready to play."

But A&M coach Anthony Jones says Wilson will have his team ready to play as well.

"They're coming down here to do everything they can to upset us on homecoming," Jones said. "This is a team that if you're not alert in handling all your P's and Q's can be very scary.

"They're big and physical and they can run. They were in the game against Prairie View and Alabama State and played Jackson State tough before the weather became a factor. This is not a team to be joking with."

GSU cited for five secondary offenses but avoided steep penalties

GRAMBLING, La. -- The NCAA has cleared Grambling State University of any significant wrongdoing in a wide-ranging investigation that stretched over three football seasons.

GSU was cited for five secondary offenses, but avoided the steep penalties involving scholarships or postseason play that are typically associated with major infractions.

"We will redouble our efforts, in terms of educating our coaches about these rules," said Athletics Director Troy Mathieu. "We have pledged to do everything that's reasonable and prudent to avoid this situation in the future."

The NCAA determined that the violations occurred within the football program between 2004-06, all during the tenure of former coach Melvin Spears.

They are:

• Denying a student athlete a hearing after canceling his scholarship.

• Non-certified assistants conducting strength and conditioning sessions.

• A graduate assistant improperly observing seven-on-seven passing drills.

• Two separate instances of providing small, but improper benefits to student athletes, one by a booster and another by two now-departed coaches.

Grambling faces only a series of self-imposed penalties, including a reduction in the number of voluntary summer conditioning workouts and football recruiting visits.

The investigation was under way when Mathieu took over at Grambling in 2006, with investigators arriving on campus during his third day. It continued through the university's subsequent separation from Spears and through the hiring process to replace him.

Over that span, Grambling has also had two other ADs, including an interim director.

Spears has since filed a wrongful termination lawsuit, which is still pending.

"They needed to be thorough in their process," Mathieu said of the NCAA. "We tried to be as cooperative as we could be along the way, and were careful never to speculate on how it might end."

First-year football coach Rod Broadway has been regularly briefed as the process unfolded, Mathieu said. "He was involved from the beginning in the discussions and he had a role in bringing this thing to closure in a positive manner," he said.

Grambling's penalties are already being enforced. Voluntary summer conditioning workouts were cut by one week over the summer. Those sessions will be limited to seven weeks again in the summer of 2008. Official football recruiting visits are being reduced from 52 to 45 for the 2007-08 academic year and recruiting trips will be slashed by 10, from 42 to 32.

The NCAA accepted Grambling's suggested punishment, saying in correspondence that since the school's "actions in this case were substantial and meaningful, no further action should be taken in the matter."

Mathieu said Grambling will also conduct regular training and education meetings for coaches and other athletics personnel so that they are familiar with NCAA regulations.

"We're pleased to put this behind us," Mathieu said. "Now, we can focus on the future of this department."

Things won’t get any easier for UAPB

By Mike Marzelli, of the Commercial Staff

How does a team bounce back from a 55-point loss when it knows its next opponent is expected to be its toughest of the season?

That’s the question Arkansas-Pine Bluff is trying to answer this week as it prepares for New Mexico State. Fresh off an embarrassing 58-3 loss to No. 7 Southern Illinois that was the program’s worst defeat since 1983, the Golden Lions are now staring down the task of taking on a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) opponent for the first time in school history. Not just any FBS team, either. The Aggies (2-2) have been an offensive juggernaut under former Kentucky coach Hal Mumme, averaging 487 yards of total offense and just under 30 points a game on the season.

The situation may appear to spell doom already, but UAPB head coach Mo Forte isn’t ready to count out the competitive spirit of his team.

“We know it’s going to be a huge challenge for us out there but if we just gave in to what things looked like on paper we would never need to play a game,” Forte said after practice Tuesday. “I don’t think anyone in Las Vegas is going to pick us but hopefully we will go out there and give 100 percent and that will be good enough to win the game. I think our team’s mindset is that they know how they were embarrassed last weekend and they need to go out and fight harder and focus more on playing better to make sure that never happens again.”

After watching film Forte heaped plenty of praise on the Aggies, but he was also quick to point out that his team may not be taking a giant step up in competition this week.

“Obviously [New Mexico State is] a good football program and they’re the biggest challenge we’ve faced since I’ve been here, but who’s to say that [Southern Illinois] isn’t as good as a mid-level Division I team like they are?” he asked. “We already found out that the [former] No. 1 team in I-AA is better than Michigan, the No. 5 team in Division I, so who knows how good they’re really going to be compared to what we’ve faced?”

Regardless of how good New Mexico State may be, UAPB needs to play a drastically different game than it did Saturday in Carbondale, Ill. The Golden Lions were stagnant offensively for the fourth straight week, eventually leading them to wear down on defense, but the most alarming aspect of the game was players’ lack of effort and intensity in the second half.

“Pride is always on the line any time you’re involved in any type of competition and when you’re a competitor you’re going to do whatever you can to be successful in any situation because of that pride,” Forte said. “We didn’t play with pride for four quarters last week and that surprised me because I know our team is made up of competitors.

“I’m looking for a renewed sense of pride and focus for this game and for our guys to come out fighting and working hard and focusing on one play at a time and giving 100 percent on that one play until its over.”

There will not be wholesale changes for the Lions, as Forte plans to stick with junior Johnathan Moore at quarterback after Moore and former starter Chris Wallace both saw action at SIU.

“I saw progress with the offense last week, especially with our offensive line, I really did,” Forte said. “We had much better pass protection than we had before, we were just killed by drops that cost us a number of chances to move the chains.”

NOTE: Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. Saturday and not 6 p.m. as listed on a number of area schedules. Las Cruces, NM is in Mountain Time and the game is slated for 6 p.m. MDT, which is an hour behind Central Time. There will be no television broadcast, so the only chance to follow the game will be on KUAP 89.7 FM.

BCU Wildcats' twins follow kin as corners

By BRENT WORONOFF, News-Journal

DAYTONA BEACH -- Antwane and Antonio Cox are like mirror images. The same smile. The same haircut. The same easy demeanor.

About the only way to tell Bethune-Cookman's identical twins apart is on the football field. Antwane is No. 4. Antonio is No. 9.

Four games into their Wildcat careers, the sophomore cornerbacks have become double trouble for B-CU opponents. Combined, they have three fumble recoveries, two interceptions, a touchdown and a blocked kick.

Not bad for a couple of guys who couldn't even get on the field when they were at the University of South Florida. B-CU hopes they can add to those stats in Saturday's homecoming game when the Wildcats host Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Morgan State.

Photo: Identical twins Antonio, left, and Antwane Cox are the starting cornerbacks for Bethune-Cookman University.

The redshirt sophomores transferred to B-CU this past offseason.

"We just wanted an opportunity to showcase our talent," Antwane said. "(USF has) two cornerbacks (Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams) who are up for the NFL Draft, and we probably would have had to wait at least another year to get on the field."

"We always knew," Antonio said, "that if it didn't work at the Division I level we would come to Bethune."

The brothers' goal is to join two of their cousins -- Torrie Cox of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Marcus Hudson of the San Francisco 49ers -- in the NFL. That would give the family four NFL cornerbacks. But then again, everybody in the family plays cornerback.

Cousin Kennard Cox is a senior cornerback at the University of Pittsburgh. And Hudson has three brothers who also played college football -- Nathaniel and Eric at Bethune-Cookman and Kevin at Iowa State.

"I guess cornerback is in our blood," Antonio said. "We see our cousins playing that position, so we want to play the same position."

Eric Hudson actually played safety when he was at B-CU in 1992-95, and the twins' 11-year-old brother might actually become a receiver, Antonio suspects. But as for the twins, they're used to manning opposite sides of the field on defense.

Antwane has started four straight games for the Wildcats and leads B-CU's cornerbacks in tackles with 18. Antonio has been the first corner off the bench, and he's quickly becoming known as a big-play specialist. He returned a fumble 52 yards against South Carolina State and he ran back an interception 42 yards for a touchdown against Norfolk State last week.

Antwane came close to matching his brother's heroics in the Norfolk State game. His interception in the end zone would have clinched a B-CU victory, but he was called for pass interference, and the Spartans went on to score the winning touchdown with 36 seconds left. B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt says the interception was clean, and the only contact on the play came after he stepped in front of the receiver and the receiver pulled the front of his jersey trying to knock the ball away.

"Antwane caught on when he first hit the field here," Wyatt said. "Antonio was a little bit behind. But now he's putting a lot of pressure on (starter) Brent Davis."

Off the field the twins have been just as impressive, Wyatt said.

"They're a couple of quiet guys," Wyatt said. "They just say, 'Yes sir and no sir,' They're two kids who are responsible and reliable. They're just a pleasure to be around."

Wyatt said B-CU's coaching staff knew of the twins when they were in high school, and knew that they were "D-I players all the way." But they've become the fourth and fifth players in the past three years to transfer from USF to B-CU because of a lack of playing time at the Big East school.

In the case of Cox twins, B-CU was their backup plan since they were youngsters going to Wildcat games to watch their older cousins play.

"We always wanted to play for Bethune-Cookman," Antwane said. "The skill players are pretty much the same here as they are in the Big East. The only difference are the linemen."

As for the twins, there seems to be no difference in appearance, behavior or football ability.

"We're around each other 24-7, and we're always pushing each other," Antonio said. "Our strengths are pretty much the same. I was adjusting early, but it's coming along now, and both of us are making plays."

Antonio Cox

CLASS: Sophomore

HOMETOWN: Miami

HIGH SCHOOL: Killian

LAST COLLEGE: South Florida

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6 feet, 180 pounds

POSITION: Defensive back

2007 STATS: Eight tackles, one interception (42 return yards), one fumble recovery (returned for 52 yards) -- through four games

Antwane Cox

CLASS: Sophomore

HOMETOWN: Miami

HIGH SCHOOL: Killian

LAST COLLEGE: South Florida

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-foot-1, 180 pounds

POSITION: Defensive back

2007 STATS: 18 tackles (two for a loss), two fumble recoveries (10 returnyards), one forced fumble and one blocked kick -- through four games.

19th ANNUAL ATLANTA FOOTBALL CLASSIC: FAMU vs. TSU

By Eric Stirgus, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The streets of downtown Atlanta will be covered with Florida A&M green and orange and Tennessee State blue this weekend as approximately 150,000 people are expected to attend the 19th annual Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic.

Classic events began Wednesday with a town hall meeting on childhood obesity, and will continue with a step show, a health and job fair, parade and Saturday's football game at the Georgia Dome (3 p.m. kickoff). Many of the Thursday and Friday events will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Next to the State Farm Bayou Classic, held each November in New Orleans, the Classic is considered the largest historically black colleges and universities football game and weekend. Slightly more than half of those who will take in some portion of a Classic event come from outside Georgia. The Classic is organized and hosted by 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc.

"It has grown because we have tried to make it more inclusive," said John T. Grant, 100 Black Men's chief executive officer. "Our goal is to make it a Super Bowl event."

Classic organizers estimate it pumps $30 million into the city's economy. Some proceeds from the weekend's events will go to 100 Black Men of Atlanta's flagship charity, Project Success, a mentorship program for Atlanta Public Schools students.

Florida A&M and Tennessee State played each other in the first two Classic contests in 1989 and 1990 at Georgia Tech's Grant Field. Saturday's game will be the ninth consecutive year they meet in Atlanta. The two schools earlier this year signed a three-year extension to play each other at the Georgia Dome through 2010.

COUNTDOWN

5: Florida A&M's winning streak over Tennessee State

54%: Attendees from outside Georgia

78: Companies at the job fair

3,800: Parade participants

$70,000: Average household income of attendees

Source: 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc., Atlanta Sports Council

THE SCHOOLS

Tennessee State University


>Mascot: Tigers

>Colors: Reflex Blue and white.

>Founded: Nashville on June 19, 1912, as the Agricultural & Industrial State Normal School, serving 247 students.

>Today: The present-day school, 65 buildings over 500 acres, exists as a result of a 1979 merger with the former University of Tennessee at Nashville. More than 75 percent of the school's 9,000 students are black; 46 states and 45 countries are represented. Since 1994, TSU has been listed in the U.S. News & World Report's "Guide to America's Best Colleges."

>Claim to fame: The Tigerbelles. Coached by Ed Temple and anchored by the great Wilma Rudolph, TSU's women's track team was perhaps the most dominant in history.

>Football: Simply put, TSU was a national power for decades, winning 10 black college national championships, stringing together a 27-game win streak in the early 1950s and producing nearly 100 All-Americans.

Six Great Tigers:

>Oprah Winfrey, media mogul.

> Harold Ford, Sr., politician.

>Ed "Too Tall" Jones, former NFL great.

>Carl Rowan, award-winning journalist.

>Wilma Rudolph, Olympic gold medalist.

>Moses Gunn, co-founder of the Negro Ensemble Company.

Source: Kina Cleveland, a media representative at the university and a 2001 graduate.

Florida A&M University

>Mascot: Rattlers

>Colors: Orange and Green, representing the citrus industry.

>Founded: Oct. 3, 1887, in Tallahassee with one building, two instructors and 15 students as the State Normal College for Colored Students.

>Today: African-Americans represent 92 percent of the school's 11,700 students. In 2006, Black Enterprise named it the best school in the country for African-Americans.

>Claim to Fame: Under William P. Foster, the Marching 100 has been the school's major public relations machine for decades. It marched in the Bastille Day Parade to celebrate the Bicentennial of the French Revolution and performed at the 1993 inaugural parade of Bill Clinton. Earlier this year, they played with Prince at the Super Bowl.

>Football: Beginning in 1945, under legendary coach Alonzo "Jake" Gaither, the school won 203 games in 25 seasons, captured six national titles and produced 36 All-Americans.

Six Great Rattlers:

> Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and Nat Adderly, jazz greats.

> Althea Gibson, tennis great.

>Kwame Kilpatrick, mayor of Detroit.

> Pam Oliver, sports reporter.

>LaSalle D. Leffall, former president of the American Cancer Society.

Source: Murell Dawson, archivist and curator of the Carrie Meek-James N. Eaton Sr. Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum and 1983 FAMU graduate.

Hampton Sam Pope attention-getter

By MARTY O'BRIEN, Daily Press

He's an attention-getter. Junior transfer Sam Pope debuted at Hampton University with a hard tackle ... and the hits just keep on coming.

HAMPTON — Sam Pope introduced himself to Hampton University football with an exclamation point. During the Pirates' first scrimmage, Pope sniffed out a screen pass and flattened tailback Kevin Beverly behind the line of scrimmage.

"I don't know if I'd hit a teammate like that again," said Pope, a 6-foot, 190-pound senior who will start Saturday when the Pirates host Delaware State. "I was flying around trying to show the coaches I could be physical and that I wanted to play."

The hits have kept coming ever since. Pope plays cornerback and on special teams, and he's made at least one huge play in the each of the Pirates' three victories this season.

In the season-opening win at Howard, he made eight tackles, blocked a field goal and probably should have been credited with an interception in the back of the end zone. A week later, in the win at North Carolina A&T, he intercepted his first pass.

Last week, in the Pirates' 24-17 overtime victory against Morgan State, Pope blocked another field goal. Among the Pirates' most-heralded group of newcomers in four years, Pope has made the biggest impact.

"If a play is anywhere around him, he thinks it's his to make," Hampton coach Joe Taylor said. "That was a tremendous hit he made on that screen play in practice, but he makes those kinds of plays all the time.

"If opponents try to run a sweep or a pitch to his side, he'll make a solid tackle, not just hold the ball carrier up and wait for help. That's the biggest difference between our cornerbacks this year and in the past."

Taylor credited defensive backs coach Donovan Rose with identifying his needs and targeting the right players to fill them.

"It was easy to see from looking at film that there aren't too many players with Sam's size, strength and ability to cover receivers," Rose said. "He's a sleeper, because people don't think he's moving fast, but when the ball is in the air he's at full throttle."

Pope displayed similar speed and decisiveness when transferring in August to Hampton from the University of South Carolina. Pope says he was the Gamecocks' second-team cornerback at the start of preseason practice, before being asked to move to free safety when a veteran cornerback returned to the team.


A week into practice he bolted for Hampton because he preferred playing cornerback. Pirates right tackle Ryan Cave, a teammate at Beaufort High in South Carolina, sold him on HU.

"He told me about the five players who went to the NFL Combine and the three consecutive (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) championships," Pope said. "He also mentioned that the ratio of women to men at Hampton is 12 to 1. That didn't hurt.

"But the biggest thing is that I like the 1-on-1 competition of covering receivers. South Carolina's coaches wanted me to play free safety because I can hit, but a cornerback can make big hits, too."

Pope is making lots of big plays and plenty of hits. But he's still waiting for an encore to the smack-down he laid on Beverly.

He lives for those kinds of hits but prefers to unleash the rest of them on opposing players.

"I think I'd hit a player on another team a lot harder in the same situation," Pope said. "A big hit is my favorite thing. There's nothing like the cheers a big hit generates, or the excitement it makes your teammates feel.

"Nothing else compares."

HAMPTON NOTES
Taylor said Wednesday that he does not expect Beverly to play against Delaware State. Beverly has been out since sustaining a high ankle sprain in the first half of the season-opener at Howard. The ankle is healing, but Taylor said a sore toe is delaying Beverly's return to action. ... Taylor said strong safety Henti Baird will play on Saturday. Baird missed the Morgan State game with a bruised knee.

The Pope file

NAME: Sam Pope.
SCHOOL: Hampton University.
POSITION: Cornerback.

NOTEWORTHY: Pope, a 6-foot, 190-pound junior, transferred to Hampton after beginning summer practice with the University of South Carolina. … Played the previous two seasons at Southwest Mississippi CC, where he intercepted four passes, returning two for touchdowns. … Played for Beaufort (S.C.) High, intercepting 10 passes as a senior to lead the team to the state playoff semifinals.

Gateway Classic hoping for more

By Bill Smith, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

St. Louis — Disappointed by stagnant ticket sales, the founder of the annual Gateway Classic college football game says he is looking for new ways to boost the amount of college scholarship money his organization gives to local black high school graduates.

Earl Wilson Jr., who has headed the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation since 1994, said scholarship payments have slipped in recent years, largely because of an inability to increase ticket sales for the football game.

The foundation paid out slightly more than $55,000 for scholarships in 2006, down from nearly $100,000 in 2005 and $182,000 in 2004, according to records. The scholarship totals have dipped each year since 2002, when the foundation paid out more than $246,000 to college students.

"It's a challenge," Wilson said recently from the foundation's headquarters at 20th Street and Martin Luther King Drive. "It's always been a challenge." Advertisement

Wilson, 74, said he is constantly looking for new ways to raise money. Possibilities include a National Basketball Association game at Scottrade Center and moving the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. High School Basketball Shootout into a larger facility, such as the soon-to-be-completed arena at St. Louis University.

Wilson also said he is toying with the idea of working with other area nonprofit groups to organize a downtown picnic similar to the annual Strassenfest.

The 3 p.m. kickoff of Saturday's Gateway Classic between Langston University of Langston, Okla., and Stillman College of Tuscaloosa, Ala., marks the 14th anniversary for the fall event between two historically black universities. It also marks the 10th year since the foundation established its scholarship program, which Wilson says remains the organization's top priority.

"You're going to have ups and downs," he said. "The main thing is you're constantly doing something."

The Gateway Classic is one of about three dozen similar black college football classics around the U.S. scheduled for this fall.

Last year, the foundation brought in about $2.4 million, including nearly $1.1 million in noncash, in-kind contributions such as donated advertising and airfare. But the expenses needed to operate the foundation and pay for events took most of the money.

Since its inception, the foundation has distributed nearly $2 million for full student scholarships. Nearly 60 students receiving financial support from Gateway have graduated from historically black universities such as Hampton, Howard, Tuskegee and Lincoln University. The foundation also has donated more than $500,000 to charities, including Mathews-Dickey Boys' and Girls' Club, Annie Malone Children & Family Service Center and the NAACP.

Last year, the foundation committed $237,000, spread over four years, for scholarships to five high school students. Two of those scholarships went to students at McCluer North High School, including Janay Marsh, who attends Lincoln University.

McCluer North Principal Shane Hopper said Marsh is "a good kid" and a "middle-range student" who benefited tremendously from Gateway's help.

"It has given her a big jump-start with her education and her career," Hopper said.

As the Gateway foundation pursues its mission to provide scholarships, it has been managing financial pressures, said Wilson, a retired IBM executive. Two years ago, he reduced his staff from 10 to five.

Wayman Smith, chairman of the Gateway Classic board, said the foundation may have been "overly aggressive" in scholarship commitments. Increasing tuition costs and four-year scholarship guarantees began to stretch the organization's resources.

Wilson said part of the problem was a decision to give scholarships to schools like Tuskegee and Hampton, where tuition can exceed $20,000 a year. In recent years, the foundation has offered more financial support to students attending less costly schools like Lincoln and Harris-Stowe State University.

While the foundation is involved in a variety of fundraising, most of its income comes from the annual football game.

Since the first contest in 1994, ticket sales have averaged about 35,000 per game, with a record attendance of 47,000 in 1996. Last year's attendance was 33,000, the lowest in four years.

As a result, Wilson and the foundation have pushed hard on a campaign to "fill the Dome" with 60,000 fans for this year's contest at the Edward Jones Dome.

Increased involvement of several community leaders, including St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley and Archbishop Raymond Burke, has helped push ticket sales to 40,000 as of Thursday, Wilson said.

In an attempt to increase ticket sales further, the foundation is giving away a new car, a round-trip ticket to Paris and several TV sets to winning ticket holders inside the Dome on game day.

"Five years ago, this was the new game in town," Smith said. "Now it's not quite as new; it's not quite as shiny. So you've got to figure out something that makes up the difference."

Wilson said organizers hope they can sell more tickets to the thousands who turn out for pregame tailgating festivities but who never go inside the Dome. He said he is confident he can build wider support for the game and the cause, noting that more than 500,000 blacks live in the St. Louis area.

"I would think the community would be knocking down doors to support us," he said. "But I can't get discouraged."

The foundation has cultivated partnerships with several corporations, but Wilson said the money from those deals has declined. Still, some sponsors continue to support the foundation, such as American Family Insurance of Madison, Wis.

Francisca Brown, multicultural market sales development director for the company and a member of Gateway's board of trustees, said American Family recently signed a three-year commitment with the foundation at "more than $100,000 a year."

The company has been impressed by Wilson's work and likes the idea that scholarship efforts focus on "C" students, Brown said.

Wilson said he hopes the foundation can distribute $80,000 in scholarship money this year.

"It's a struggle" he said. "But it's a good struggle."

A&T Aggies seek win against Norfolk State live on ESPNU

By Daniel Henderson, A&T Register

The Aggie football team is still in search of their first victory in two years, and will host the Norfolk State Spartans this Thursday at Aggie Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU, with kickoff beginning at 7:30 pm.

A&T leads the series 26-7 all time, but fell short 42-20 last season in Norfolk, VA.

Offense
The Aggies are coming off of their best offensive performance of the season after last Saturday's loss.

Junior running back Michael Ferguson is having an exceptional year as he reached the 1,000 yard mark in rushing this season and is currently ranked 16th on A&T's all-time list.

Ferguson has 456 rushing yards for the year on 20 attempts and one touchdown.

The offense is currently ranked last in the Middle Eastern Atlantic Conference in total yards averaging 215.9 a game, and last in turnovers submitting 28 on the season.

A&T hopes to carry momentum into Thursday's game after displaying their best offensive performance of the year.

There is no indication of a starting quarterback heading into Thursday's action.
Head Coach Lee Fobbs stated in the weekly Monday press conference that they will continue to run a two quarterback attack.

Defense
A&T's defense hopes to gain consistency after an outstanding performance in Saturday's loss.

Although the blue and gold exemplified the definition of dominance Saturday, they will need the same fire power against a much better quarterback on the Spartans experienced senior Casey Hansen.

The Aggies are last in the MEAC in total defense and scoring allowing 435.7 yards a game, and 61 touchdowns.

If A&T can use the same effort performed Saturday in holding North Carolina Central to under 200 yards total offense against the Spartans, spectators should expect a very competitive game.
Norfolk State
The Spartans are coming off of a 38-31 victory over Bethune-Cookman College last Saturday. This game will mark Norfolk State's fourth challenge of the year while they currently hold a 2-1 record.

Norfolk State is sixth among MEAC teams in total offense, while ranking third in their passing attack.

Last season Hansen threw for 287 yards with one touchdown against the Aggies in the lopsided win. Hansen has not thrown any touchdowns so far this season.

The Aggies will have to find a way to keep senior running back Darryl Walker out of the end zone.

Walker rushed for four touchdowns Saturday against the Wildcats.

Norfolk State's defense is allowing 350.4 yards a game, and has given up 35 touchdowns on the year.

Norfolk State Spartans seek to take 'next step'

By VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK - Elated with his team's come-from-behind victory over Bethune-Cookman last Saturday, Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian proudly told anyone who would listen:

"We've never been 1-0 in the MEAC before."

But the Spartans have been 3-1 overall - last year, in fact. And how did NSU deal with the prosperity that great start delivered?

"We lost the next six ball games," Adrian said.


Photo: NSU #5, senior FB Daryl Jones

As Norfolk State (2-1 overall, 1-0 MEAC) prepares to face winless North Carolina A&T in Aggie Stadium at 7:30 tonight, the message is clear: Don't get giddy basking in success. Adrian hasn't had to repeat it again and again.

"The guys know," said running back Daryl Jones, feeling better from the cramps that overcame him en route to his four-touchdown afternoon against the Wildcats. "Even the young guys know."

"You have to have a short memory in football," Adrian said. "We're ready to go to the next step."

As tempting as it might be for Spartans fans to peek past the Aggies - owners of the longest losing streak in football at 20 games - the Spartans know the dangers of overlooking any opponent.

"We were picked to go 1-7 in the MEAC," Adrian reminded. "We respect everybody."

Don't forget, too, that NSU has lost six straight on the road, its last win away from Price Stadium coming Nov. 15, 2005, against Morgan State. Though the Spartans have won two straight over N.C. A&T, they haven't won in Aggie Stadium since they've been in Division I.

But against Bethune-Cookman, NSU showed a resilience lacking in years past, particularly last season, when close games repeatedly slipped away in the fourth quarter. Saturday's game could have easily been more of the same, as the Wildcats led 21-10 at the half and 28-16 in the third quarter.

Photo: NSU senior QB Casey Hansen

But the Spartans rallied thanks to big plays. Terrell Whitehead's 48-yard fumble recovery returned for a touchdown off a bobbled option play was one. The sophomore came up huge again with an interception near the end of the game that led to the winning score.

"We made the plays when we had to make them," Whitehead said. "We have to remember, just as much as we want to win, they want to end their losing streak."

The Spartans need to continue making big plays tonight as they attempt to keep making history in a game televised on ESPNU.

After all, they've never been 2-0 in the MEAC, either.

Notes: A&T will be playing just days removed from a rivalry game against North Carolina Central that included a bench-clearing brawl that lasted several minutes, with the Aggies claiming the Central players stomped on their logo. The president of the state system that oversees both schools is leaving disciplinary decisions up to each institution. The MEAC also is continuing its investigation. Neither the conference nor the schools has issued any disciplinary action yet..... Though N.C. A&T failed to end its losing streak, it ended another streak against N.C. Central. Before Eric Houston's 27-yard field goal in the third quarter, the Aggies had gone 16 games without making a field goal. N.C. A&T had missed eight straight over 68 quarters.

Southern LB Steele ready for the call

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

SU vs. Alabama State
WHEN: 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
TV: ESPNU.
RADIO: KQXL-FM, 106.5.

If the Southern defense’s loss of junior linebacker Johnathan Malveaux to a high ankle sprain for this week and a few others can be considered an emergency, the Jaguars are turning to the right man.

Junior Donald Steele has responded to his share of real-life emergencies as a volunteer fireman in his hometown of Selma, Ala., since he was a sophomore at Selma High.

“Whenever I go back home, I just pick up my radio and I’m on call,” Steele said.

Over spring break, he checks in when he goes home. Between the end of spring semester and summer school, he checks in when he goes home.

“It’s just something I do back at home, just trying to help out the community,” said Steele, who, since he turned 18, also learned how to dive to further enhance his capabilities.

Photo: Donald Steele, #46 LB
Taking up for Malveaux is important to Southern, but, of course, isn’t quite as vital as Steele helping put out fires or searching for drowning victims.

Southern (4-0, 2-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) faces Alabama State (4-0, 3-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

“Donald has had a couple of years of experience,” defensive coordinator Terrence Graves said. “That always helps. He knows what to do.”

Okie lineacker, with Malveaux (the team’s top tackler with 33 stops and four pass breakups) and Steele, is one of the few spots on defense, in the front seven, where a veteran backs a veteran.

Both players shared time working with the first unit in preseason camp.

“It’s not that big of a switch for me,” said Steele, who has four tackles this season and 18 in his career. “I want to come out and do the same things Malveaux did: be productive, make tackles, move to the ball.

“Hopefully, Saturday, it’ll be just like Malveaux is there playing.”

Steele has come up big for Southern when the call has come in the past.

After Malveaux went down Saturday, Steele and strong safety Toyin Akinwale teamed to sack Tennessee State quarterback Antonio Heffner on a third-and-6 at the Southern 33-yard line in the fourth quarter. That forced a punt, with Southern scoring the go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing possession in Southern’s 41-34 win over Tennessee State.

Even as a freshman, on the first play after replacing D.J. Brooks, who came down with a leg cramp at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Steele recovered a fumble on a botched center exchange. That came at the SU 29 with 14:14 left, preserving a three-point lead in a 27-21 win.

As a volunteer fireman, Steele said he’s been called to housefires, drowning scenes and fires in the woods.

“It’s just something I do whenever I get a chance to go back home,” Steele said.

Steele isn’t necessarily looking for a future as a firefighter. He’s a criminal justice major who said he’d like to go to law school.

“It’s just something to learn, something to teach someone else some day,” Steele said of the firefighting.

In the end, the commendable work may only complement a man who has been defined by diverse talents.

Steele kicked a 22-yard field goal to win the homecoming game as a senior in high school. He was also a standout catcher on the baseball team and played forward on the basketball team.

Returning home to Alabama — though without checking in on the radio — is something Steele always relishes.

One of Steele’s best friends, Roderick West, is a junior for Alabama State who starts at rover on defense. West has seven tackles in three games.

Also from Selma High is Alabama State sophomore linebacker Adrian Hardy (seven tackles, one blocked kick). Junior wide receiver Robert Childers (one catch for 9 yards) also went to Selma High.

“I haven’t talked to (West) all this week,” Steele said Wednesday afternoon. “I probably won’t talk until game time. It’ll be fun.”

For Southern University, 'T' is for team, Thomas

Photo: Converted TE Trent Thomas facing FAMU as SU starting RT.

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

One day during preseason camp, Southern University offensive coordinator Mark Orlando called his guys up around him and told them about Trent Thomas.

By this time, everybody thought they knew all they needed about Trent. That he was a senior. That he was a top student. That he was a team player. That he has always been a likeable guy.

The thing is, though, early in camp, everybody found out how much of a team player Trent was.

Southern lost (or was in the process of losing) six offensive linemen to grades. To help offset that, there was this crazy idea: Move Thomas from tight end to left tackle, which is the most important position on the line other than center.

Thomas is 6-foot-2 and a shade above 245 pounds, where standard tackles are 6-6 and three bills. And then there was the little fact Thomas had never played tackle.

Trent’s parents didn’t like the move at all. He wasn’t crazy about it, either.

“It hurt him,” Orlando said. “The first week or so, I couldn’t get two words out of him.”

Photo: SU line coach Mark Orlando

The other players not getting their academics set wasn’t Trent’s fault. Why should Trent have to pay for the mistakes of others? Why should his burden become more?

Everything hinged on Trent, though. One left tackle would move to left guard. The right guard would move to center. Another tackle would move to right guard.

Know this about Trent: Trent came through. His quickness and athleticism — assets that flashed early in scrimmages, confirming the move could work — have carried him.

“It’s getting easier,” Trent said the other day of the transition.

Southern leads the Southwestern Athletic Conference in rushing and is second in total offense and scoring offense. The Jaguars are 4-0.

“He’s been a big help to us, converting within a short time,” said SU offensive line coach Damon Nivens, who was a black college All-American at left tackle for Southern and helped coach another one in Myniya Smith in 2003. “He’s become a big part of the offensive line for us, and I appreciate it very much with him sacrificing and being a team player.

“He has my utmost respect with that.”

What was true as Orlando called the troops up during camp is still true now.

“I told them, he’s put it all on the line to help us win,” Orlando said. “I told them, this is what we need right here. For us to win, it’s going to take the unselfish attitude Trent has shown.”

There are two things the attrition of 17 to 19 players did across the board for SU.

First, there was a tremendous sense of urgency for the offensive line as soon as camp began.

Second, as an entire team, the players who are left on this team are the players who most wanted to be here.

“The unselfishness he’s shown has drained into some of the other guys,” Orlando said. “He’s giving us everything he’s got to help us win.

“That kind of sacrifice can only make us better.”

Alabama State, Southern QBs getting it done when it counts

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

If a Southwestern Athletic Conference starting quarterback is described as “nonchalant,” Southern fans might assume the description was being hung on their new guy, Bryant Lee.

Alabama State fans, meanwhile, think of their new guy, Chris Mitchell.

Either fan base is right.
Neither quarterback wowed their coaches in practices, and both are laid-back. Then again, both are winners who don’t rattle easily and have already led several come-from-behind wins.

Both lead 4-0 teams into Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. Gulf Coast Classic clash at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

Mitchell, a transfer from East Mississippi Community College after playing for LeFlore High in Mobile, Ala., has led four fourth-quarter comebacks for Alabama State (4-0, 3-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference), which plays SU (4-0, 2-0) at 2:30 p.m. in Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

“This is us,” Mitchell said. “We’ve got a bad habit of playing so close, but this is what I love about this team. We play all the way until the end.

“(The fourth quarter is) when we have to buckle down. We know what we have to do.”

Mitchell is 46-for-81 (56.8 percent) for 621 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions.

“He has that personality,” Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow said. “It’s kind of nonchalant. It doesn’t seem like a whole lot bothers him. He’s always the same: never too high, never too low. I guess that’s a good thing. It’s been working for him so far.”

While Mitchell came off the bench in the second quarter of the season opener, SU began the transition to sophomore Lee late last season.

Lee is 5-1 as a starter (6-1 if given the win for his comeback against Texas Southern). He has won his last five starts.

SU head coach Pete Richardson said pretty much the same thing about Lee. In fact, Richardson earlier this season delivered a description of Lee that sounded nearly word for word like Barrow’s summation of Mitchell: “He’s a nonchalant individual. He’s not going to say a lot. The thing about him, you watch him practice and you swear he can’t play.

“But you put him out there (Saturday) and all of a sudden the lights go on. That’s all you’re looking for.”

Lee is 83-for-126 (65.9 percent) for 870 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions.

Lee has led Southern to second-half comebacks over Texas Southern, Grambling, Florida A&M and Tennessee State.

“The kid is just calm, cool and collected,” SU offensive coordinator Mark Orlando said. “When you play in the championship game in high school in the Superdome (leading Hahnville High over Evangel Christian Academy in 2003), he’s just a kid who’s a gamer on a Saturday night. You can’t ask for anything else.

“He doesn’t get rattled out there, doesn’t let anything get to him — coaches, players, fans. He plays his game, stays focused on what he’s doing.”

Both quarterbacks are still learning.
Mitchell, being a transfer, has had less time to learn than Lee, in his third season at SU. And Barlow even said Mitchell didn’t practice well in preseason camp. The staff even talked to him about showing a little more pep.

But when returning starter Alex Engram struggled in the opener, Mitchell came in and did fine.

“Real confident kid,” Barlow said. “He doesn’t get rattled by a whole lot. We just want him to continue to learn our system. We need him to learn and grow up even more.”

Lee was third on the depth chart — behind J.C. Lewis and C.J. Byrd — last season and he held off surging Warren Matthews for the No. 1 job in preseason camp.

“He’s really improving, feeling a little more comfortable in the system,” Orlando said. “He did some things well (Saturday) night that he hadn’t done in the previous three games.

“He’s focused in on what he’s got to do, 100 percent.”

FAMU vs Tenn. State: Atlanta Classic sure to be close

Photo: FAMU Head Football Coach Rubin Carter

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Considering the way the last four Atlanta Classics have finished, you can expect just about anything to happen when Florida A&M and Tennessee State clash for the 47th time Saturday.

"It's always a tough game against Tennessee State," said FAMU coach Rubin Carter. "They don't quit and we also have that identity. The game is a real fan pleaser. It's tough on the coaches, though. It's come down to the wire the past two years."

Each of the last four games has been decided by less than seven points, with FAMU coming out on top in all four. Carter has been on the sideline for the last two FAMU-TSU nail-biters.

Photo: Albert Chester II gets congratulated by Coach Carter for win over Howard.

Defensive tackle Steve St. Felix intercepted a pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter to preserve a 12-7 FAMU victory in 2005.

Linebacker Dannel Shepard used his head in overtime to knock the ball out of running back Javarris Williams' grasp to set up Wesley Taylor's game-winning field goal.

"I can't take all the credit for that play," Sheppard said. "There were 10 other guys out there. Without those other 10 guys executing their assignments that play wouldn't have been made."

The FAMU players at Tuesday's weekly press luncheon seemed prepared for another down-to-the-wire battle in the Georgia Dome.

"This game always seems to be close," said senior defensive end Tyrone McGriff. "You know every year it is going to come down to a couple points.

"Even though it is a nonconference game, it is a big game for us. Our nonconference games count for a lot if we hope to get an at-large bid to the playoffs."


Last go-around
For seniors such as Shepard and running back Anthony Edwards, Saturday's game will be the last chance to make memories in the Georgia Dome.

"The atmosphere is great," Shepard said. "When you walk out on that field, the first thing you have to realize is that you have to be focused. It's the biggest adrenaline rush you can imagine."

For Edwards, an Atlanta native, playing in his hometown once again is even more special.

"It's always good to come home and play," Edwards said. "All my family and friends can come watch me play. I get real excited going inside of the Dome. I grew up watching the Falcons play in middle school and high school and working at the Dome.

"I saw all the high-school games in the Dome. It's always a good feeling going there, and I won't let anybody down."

Love that surface
Although FAMU plays its home game on grass, the players seem to have a fondness for the artificial turf in the Georgia Dome.

Former linebacker Shedrick Copeland, who blocked a Tennessee State field goal that led to a winning touchdown in 2003, said he liked the spring of the carpet.

Senior defensive end Tyrone McGriff said the Dome turf plays into the Rattlers' principal strength.

"Our defense is designed for speed," McGriff said. "We have the advantage in that area against most teams we play. We're smaller than most teams, but we're faster. When we get on turf, it is the closest thing to a track meet."

Enjoying the bye
Sheppard said the bye week was just what his team needed, especially after picking up a win heading into it.

"There is nothing like going into a bye week with a victory," Sheppard said. "You walk around smiling, feeling real good wearing your colors. You feel like it's only going to get better. Coming off the bye week, I think we are focused and ready to do what we need to do."

Alcorn Braves still win-less on season; PVAMU next week

By The Natchez Democrat

MONTGOMERY — Alcorn State University inched close to a victory Saturday night, but this isn’t horseshoes.

It’s college football, and the Braves are still win-less on the season after their 28-25 loss to Alabama State University.

Alabama State (4-0) has made a name for themselves in the close games so far this season.

“Every team has its character, so I guess this is ours,” coach Reggie Barlow said. “We must like it close, but we are finding a way to win so its alright with me.”

Barlow praised Alcorn for a good showing and a comeback attempt.

“I was happy that we got off to a good start, but it shows Alcorn’s character that they were able to come back,” he said.

Alcorn fell to 0-4 with the loss. Braves coach Johnny Thomas called this week a pivotal one for his team. Alcorn State has lost to Alabama State the last three seasons.

The Braves lost to UAB last week 22-0, in a defensive struggle. Alcorn was to have played Morehouse in Las Vegas this Saturday, but that game fell through. Their next game is Oct 6th at home with Prairie View A&M Panthers.

Alcorn State University Sounds of Dyn-O-mite Marching Band and Golden Girls Dancers.

PVAMU Volleyball undefeated in SWAC

PVAMU Sports Information

GRAMBLING, La.-The Prairie View A&M volleyball team improved their record to 8-9 after defeating Grambling State and Alcorn State on the road this past Friday in Grambling, La. PVAMU remains undefeated in conference play at 3-0, and currently sit atop the SWAC’s western division standings.

The first match of the doubleheader was against the GSU Lady Tigers. Grambling State remained competitive, pushing the match to four games. PVAMU took the first game 30-25, but the Lady Tigers rallied to win the second game 22-30. The Lady Panthers eventually prevailed, in the third and fourth games with a hard fought 30-27 victory in the third game, and a convincing 30-19 win in last game.

PVAMU had 21 total team blocks versus Grambling State’s 14.5. PVAMU’s Tacho Richard led all players with 13 kills, senior Tamika Newman was right behind her with 12. The Lady Panther’s Laura de la Fuente compiled a game high 31 assists.

In the second match, PVAMU faced Alcorn State. The Lady Panthers quickly defeated the Lady Braves, shutting them out in three games, 30-18, 30-15, and 30-9. PVAMU’s Newman had a game high 11 kills, and fellow teammate de la Fuente compiled 17 assists.

Prairie View A&M will now head back on the road to face the Arkansas Pine-Bluff Lady Golden Lions. The Lady Panthers will finish off the week with a home game versus Southern this Friday, Sept. 27. Game time has been set for 6:00 p.m. at the William Nicks Building.

Hawaii players having Devil of a time at MVSU

By Kalani Takase, The Honolulu Advertiser Staff Writer

The small town of Itta Bena, Miss. has a population of just over 2,000 and if not for a former All-Pro receiver, it may have never become more than a dot on a map.

Instead, Itta Bena is home to Mississippi Valley State University, whose most famous alumnus is future Hall of Famer Jerry Rice and the impact on the school's football team is reaching further than ever.

The Delta Devils went 21-9-1 during Rice's tenure (1981-84), including a school-best 9-2 in 1984.

A wave of players from Hawai'i are hoping to re-create that success at the 450-acre campus located 100 miles north of Jackson, Miss. and 120 south of Memphis.

Kicker Zack Gilarski (King Kekaulike '06 of Ha'iku), considered to be the best in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, kicked a 42-yard field goal in the season opener, a 16-9 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. However, MVSU has lost its next three games, including Saturday's game against Jackson State.

Backup kicker Jamie Whitworth (Radford '06) kicked a 25-yard field goal Saturday. Holding for Whitworth was sophomore reserve quarterback Ryan Burciaga (Radford '06 of Honolulu). Sophomore linebacker Kevin Aguigui (Campbell '06 of 'Ewa Beach) also sees special teams action.

Freshman Marc Moody (Saint Louis '07 of 'Ewa Beach) has ascended to the top of the depth chart at one of the defensive back positions.

Also on the MVSU roster is freshman offensive lineman Esrom Pascual (Saint Louis '06 of Wai'anae).

The Delta Devils (1-3) compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA). Other notable schools in the SWAC are Grambling State, Southern and Alcorn State.

Atlanta Classic now RB showcase

Photo: Freshman RB Phillip Sylvester was unstoppable against Howard U.

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

One of the major story lines heading into Saturday's Atlanta Classic is the matchup of running backs Philip Sylvester and Javarris Williams.

Sylvester, Florida A&M's freshman sensation from Marianna, is coming off a 222-yard performance Sept. 15 against Howard.

Williams, a junior from Texas, burned FAMU for 229 yards in last year's classic and almost led Tennessee State to its first win in five years against the Rattlers - until he fumbled the ball inside the 10 in overtime.

Both backs come into Saturday's game among the top rushers in the NCAA Division I championship subdivision and will be key factors.

"Watching him on film, (Williams) is a very smart back," said FAMU senior linebacker Dannel Shepard. "He reads his linemen, he knows how to cut his holes and he is a hard runner. I give him much respect for that. He doesn't play around when the ball is in his hands."

FAMU's defense struggled against the run last year, but has looked more stout through three games this season. Williams will provide another test.

"Against Howard, we really did a good job of controlling and attacking our gaps on defense," Sheppard said. "If we continue to do that we can minimize a lot of the yards (Williams) gets on the ground."

Atlanta native Anthony Edwards led FAMU with 101 yards rushing against Tennessee State last year. He says Sylvester's speed gives FAMU's offense another dimension.

"That boy is fast," said Edwards, a senior. "That 95-yarder he had against Howard - people ask me if I would have been able to make that run. Only thing I could come up with to tell them was that I guarantee I would have gotten the first down, but after everybody would have started running after me, I don't think I would have made it."

Sylvester, preparing for his Georgia Dome debut, said his focus will not be outdoing Williams.

"When I go into a game, I really don't try and compare myself to anybody else," Sylvester said. "What he does has nothing to do with what I'm going to to do or what I'm capable of doing. I'm worrying about our offensive scheme and their defense."

Saturday: 3 p.m. on FSN (joined in progress at 4 p.m.), WHBX (96.1 FM).

New Mexico State University to face UAPB

NMSU Press Release

New Mexico State Aggies (2-2, 0-0 WAC)
vs.
Arkansas Pine-Bluff (1-3, 1-2 SWAC)
September 29, 2007 • 6:00 p.m. MDT
First Ever Meeting • Aggie Memorial Stadium (Capacity 30,343)
Radio: Aggie Sports Network - KGRT 104 FM (Las Cruces); plus 12 other stations
Spanish Radio - KKVS 98.7 FM (Las Cruces) & KPZE 106.1;
Television: Aggie Vision

The Aggie football team wraps up their non-conference schedule this coming weekend as they welcome Arkansas-Pine Bluff to town. This is the second 1-AA school to visit Las Cruces this season but the first match up between the Aggies and Golden Lions.

The Golden Lions are coming off a tough loss to Southern Illinois. This week the Aggies will be wearing pink in support of the NMSU Aggies are Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign that has raised over $140,000 to date for cancer research.

You can listen to all the action with the ‘Voice of the Aggies’ Jack Nixon on KGRT 104 FM, as well as listen to the game in Spanish with Martin Cortez on Vista 98.7 FM. The game will also be televised on Aggie Vision on Comcast channel 4 in Las Cruces tape delayed and live on El Paso (Ch. 24), Albuquerque (Ch. 53) and Gallup (Ch. 66).

In a unique opportunity, the New Mexico State Athletics Department has agreed to designate the football game on September 29th against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, as a breast cancer awareness initiative and fundraiser. Coach Mumme has brought together Four Honorary Chair-Women for this event, all with strong ties to New Mexico State University and all cancer survivors; Magellia Boston (wife of Athletics Director Dr. McKinley Boston), Laura Conniff (Chair of the NMSU Regents), June Mumme (wife of head football coach Hal Mumme) and Pat Sisbarro (wife of car dealer Lou Sisbarro).

The proceeds generated by this event will be used to fund breast cancer and women's cancer research project, conducted by UNM Cancer Center and the New Mexico State University Department of Chemistry and Biology. This initiative is being conducted in partnership with ‘Cowboys For Cancer Research’.

“The response has been wildly overwhelming,” Coach Mumme said. “It has put a kind and giving, female face on football. Breast cancer has touched many lives, including players, trainers and coaches. Fans and supporters are anxious to get involved in anyway possible.”

In less than 3 months, over $140,000 has been raised through this sporting event in sponsorship donations for this health initiative. An additional $50,000 worth of food, supplies, etc., have been donated, bringing the total to close to $200,000. This unique, but powerful relationship between a state university, a charitable organization and medical research has gained national attention from the NCAA, ESPN, and the WAC.

New Mexico State University along with the Aggie Athletics Department is encouraging the Las Cruces community to attend the game as a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to ‘Cowboys for Cancer Research’. Fans will be giving the opportunity to donate to the great cause at the game. Be a part of the largest ‘Tough Enough to Wear Pink’ fund raising event in history, as well as the biggest fund raising event in Las Cruces. For tickets call the Pan Am Ticket Office at (505) 646-1420 or go to www.ticketmaster.com.

Scouting the Golden Lions

The Golden Lions are 1-3 on the season and 1-2 on the road in 2007. Their lone win came against the ALCN-Braves on Sept. 6th. Last weekend the Golden Lions fell to Southern Illinois 58-3.

As a team the Golden Lions are averaging 222.8 yards of total offense a game and allowing 306.2 yards to their opponents. Arkansas-Pine Bluff has fumbled the ball 10 times in four games, but have not thrown an interception in 108 pass attempts.

Individually, Johnathan Moore and Chris Wallace have split time at quarterback this season, each throwing a touchdown pass while Moore has thrown for 320 yards, averaging 106.7 yards a game. Martell Mallett leads the running attack with 128 yards on the ground and one touchdown, while Jason Jones has caught 19 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown to lead the receiving corps. Defensively, Tim Turner leads the way with 42 tackles, a fumble recovery, a pass break-up and two tackles-for-a-loss.

Tennessee State Hall returns to field; two others hurt

Photo: TSU RB Jarvarrius Williams rushed for over 200 yards against FAMU in 2006 Atlanta Football Classic.

By MIKE ORGAN, Tennessean Staff Writer

Tennessee State's defense may get one of its best players back, but could be without two others for Saturday's game against Florida A&M.

Starting cornerback Marquez Hall, a transfer from Vanderbilt who missed the last two games with a high ankle sprain, is expected to play when the Tigers meet Florida A&M in the Atlanta Football Classic at 2 p.m. in the Georgia Dome.

Starting defensive end Shaun Richardson and nose guard Harold Ayodele, however,
are "doubtful" for this week's game, according to Coach James Webster. Richardson is hampered by a bruised shoulder and sprained knee, while Ayodele has a sprained ankle.

Hall was back for Tuesday's practice. Richardson and Ayodele did not practice.

Hall sprained his ankle late in the Sept. 15 game at Austin Peay. The staff considered playing him last week at Southern, but rain and sloppy field conditions kept him sidelined.

"The field was in such bad shape — it was a grass field and it had lumps in it and holes and divots — that we just didn't want to take a chance because he's too valuable to us,'' Webster said.
Hall has a better chance of playing Saturday because the Georgia Dome has an artificial surface.

Travis Stubblefield, a freshman from Beech, replaced Ayodele in Tuesday's practice while several players were rotated at Richardson's position.

Richardson leads the team in sacks (4), tackles for loss (6), and quarterback hurries (3). He also has forced two fumbles and recovered one.

"Shaun has been huge — when he's healthy he's as good as there is,'' Webster said. "But right now he's beat up."

Work to do: After committing five turnovers in the second half of last week's 41-34 loss to Southern, the Tigers' offensive players spent extra time Tuesday working on ball-handling drills.

TSU has dropped to last in the Ohio Valley Conference and 113th out of 116
teams nationally in turnover margin at minus-2.25. The Tigers have committed
15 turnovers (8 fumbles, 7 interceptions) while gaining six (5 fumbles, 1 interception).

"We've been putting a lot of effort into protecting the football and we'll continue to do that,'' Webster said.

Top 10: TSU receiver Chris Johnson is ranked ninth nationally in receiving yards per game, averaging 98 yards a game. The junior from Glencliff High School had six catches for 119 yards and a TD against Southern.

Stopping Sylvester: TSU's defense will have its hands full trying to stop Florida A&M freshman running back Phillip Sylvester. He was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week after A&M's last game (Sept. 15) when he rushed for 222 yards on just 21 carries and returned a trap play 94 yards for a TD in a 30-17 win over Howard.