This Week in the SWAC

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

THE RATING GAME

1. Grambling

Gets late FG to win squeaker over improved Prairie View

2. Southern

Stingy ‘D,’ strong second-half play power undefeated start

3. Alabama A&M

Offense gets back rolling, scores 48 in blowout over TSU

4. Alabama State

Couldn’t find fourth-quarter magic against Southern

5. Jackson State

Big stretch coming: Ala. St., SU, Grambling, UAPB, Ala. A&M

6. Prairie View

If offense was as good as defense, would contend for title

7. Miss. Valley State

Personnel changes follow three-game slide, open week

8. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

In 1-4 hole, preseason favorite has open week to work things out

9. Texas Southern

Tigers fall to 4-34 in four seasons under Steve Wilson

10. Alcorn State

Braves hope to be healthier, play better after open week

THE BIG GAME

Alabama A&M at Southern

5:30 p.m. Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium

Another week and another showdown for surprising No. 25 Southern. The Jaguars didn’t win any of their three games in October a year ago — despite leading both Alabama A&M and Jackson State in the fourth quarter. Alabama A&M, the defending SWAC champion, has plenty of big-play capability on both sides of the ball. Southern has an impressive defense and a balanced offense.

AROUND THE SWAC

Grambling

Grambling senior Clyde Edwards, a first-team All-SWAC wide receiver last season, has caught a touchdown in his last seven games (including all four this season) and 12 of the last 13 games. He had at least one TD catch in nine of last season’s 11 games and has 28 TD catches in his career.

Edwards, with 2,489 yards on 152 catches, is within reach of becoming Grambling’s all-time leader in receiving yards and touchdowns along with catches.

“In Clyde, I see everything that’s good about college football,” Grambling coach Rod Broadway said. “He’s a model student, (3.9 grade point average), and he can play with anybody in the country.”

Broadway has been an assistant at Florida, North Carolina and Duke and he said Edwards “could have played on any of those football teams. You can never say enough good about him. I’m glad Clyde is on our football team.”

Grambling’s 17-14 victory over Prairie View was its closest margin over PV since the Panthers won 24-19 in 1986. RB Cornelius Walker, with career bests of 19 carries and 109 yards, was the SWAC’s Newcomer of the Week. Walker (48 carries, 224 yards, TD) and fellow freshman Frank Warren (73 carries, 332 yards) power the running game. “We’re getting good yardage with them; we’re just not making any (big) plays,” Broadway said. Grambling has two rushing TDs (one on a fumblerooskie) and nine passing TDs (one on a fake field-goal try) so far.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff

UAPB was 1-3 last season before ripping off seven straight victories and winning the Western Division for the first time. The preseason favorite to repeat, UAPB is 1-4 (1-2 SWAC) and has benched senior quarterback Chris Wallace, the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year last season, in favor of junior Johnathan Moore.

“Anything’s possible,” UAPB coach Mo Forte said of the ability to make another turnaround this season. “Last year is last year. We have to break down as simple as we can: We have to win the next play.”

That motto carried UAPB last season as the Golden Lions won their first four SWAC games in that stretch by a combined 17 points. Ahead for UAPB, open last week, is Grambling (3-1, 3-0) on Saturday, a Thursday game at defending SWAC champ Alabama A&M (4-1, 2-1) on Oct. 18, at Jackson State (2-2, 2-0) on Oct. 27, Prairie View (2-2, 1-2) on Nov. 3 and No. 25 Southern (5-0, 3-0) on Nov. 10.

Mississippi Valley State

The Delta Devils have lost three straight games since winning their season opener and used the open week — which Valley coach Willie Totten said was the first in his six seasons at the school — to revamp the depth chart.

Valley will make changes at quarterback, receivers, defensive line, linebacker and in the secondary. Senior Jean-Pierre Marshall, a preseason All-SWAC first-teamer, will return to safety from cornerback. Semaj Williams (3-for-8 for 26 yards and one interception), a transfer from Coahoma Community College who had been slowed by an elbow injury, will replace sophomore quarterback Paul Roberts (48-for-89 for 440 yards and three TDs).

“We have to find some type of continuity,” Totten said. “It’s not all Paul’s fault. &hellip We wanted to change the atmosphere. We can always put Paul back in the game.”

Prairie View

Senior linebacker Zach East, a former Hampton University transfer from Houston, leads the nation with 52 tackles (13.0 per game). He had 60 tackles last season. East was the SWAC Defensive Player of the Week for his 18 stops against Grambling.

“We knew we had something special in Zach,” Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III said. “He is the real deal.”

Texas Southern

Texas Southern senior running back Brent Wilson continues to fade. After rushing for 1,032 yards and 10 TDs as an All-SWAC first-teamer in 2005, Wilson ran for 444 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and four TDs last season. He has 151 yards and one TD on 48 carries (3.1 per rush) this season.

TSU’s ground game, averaging 38.0 yards per game, is 115th of 116 Football Championship Subdivision teams.

Statement from 'former' FAMU starting QB Albert Chester II

After reading Chester's statement, I have one final comment on this matter. No time is a good time to leave, be it before the season or before the 5th game. So, let's treat his decision like a season ending injury with no eligibility left for a fifth year senior. No need to over analyze or second guess his rationale for leaving. Life goes forward, especially for Rattlers!

Thank you for all your services to the FAMU RattlerNation, Mr. Chester and God bless you... (beepbeep)


Albert Chester's statement announcing his decision to leave the Florida A&M football team:

Today I come to you as a man - as a man who has to make a decision on my current well-being and my future. Throughout my career as a Rattler football player, I've sustained numerous injuries to my right arm. In January 2005, I first injured my elbow and I promptly took a trip to the world-renown Dr. Andrews at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. This is when I was first diagnosed with an entrapped nerve. During the same year, I dislocated my right shoulder.

In 2006, I broke my left middle finger and severely sprained my right thumb and my wrist; all on my right hand. During 2006, I also had to leave and have two abscesses removed off my leg during the season.

This brings us to 2007. I sprained my right shoulder and the nerve in my elbow was re-aggravated for trying to come back too early. I'm not saying this to complain because you have to love this game to play it; and I do. But to make a long explanation short, my entrapped
nerve has caused me to lose the feeling in my right hand and extreme pain in my forearm and extreme pain in my biceps and triceps. Playing this year has been a painful experience.

I spoke with my physician and my family and we've come to a decision that will be in my best interest to no longer play football. The possible damage that lies ahead if I keep playing could possibly affect me for the rest of my life.

I would like to thank the many that recruited me, even though we've had our squabbles in the past, (and) coach Billy Joe and coach (Rubin) Carter for allowing me the opportunity to be a FAMU football player, quarterback and captain on the team. Both have touched me in
ways they'll never understand.

To my teammates; I wish them the best of luck for the rest of the season and in life. To Isaac West, Eddie Battle, Philip Sylvester and Tobias Lee; hope you all remember the things I've said and become the great players and great men I know you all can be.

As far as my life if concerned, the story doesn't end here so don't be sorry for me. I'm a fifth-year senior, a Pharm.D candidate, so you'll probably see me in the pharmacy filling your prescriptions or trying to counsel you on your medicine. I'll also be around town and with different organizations.

I will like to say I love everyone all over Rattler nation, even though some of you don't like or never did like me. It's been a roller coaster ride, but like Whitney Houston said, "the ride with you is worth the fall." I wouldn't trade it for the world. I give all the glory and honor to God and Jesus Christ who is the center of my life.

In closing, I want to leave with saying I love you and I appreciate all of you. It would be really nice if the people who supported me stand by me as I go through this troubling time and make this life-changing decision.

This for the most part is final, but it could change, maybe later. But I seriously doubt it.

Sincerely,

Albert Chester


We dedicate this song to you, Al Chester II...

Florida A&M University Marching 100

Norfolk State coach says SCSU will be his team's toughest FCS test

Photo: NSU must play its best football of the season to defeat the MEAC favorites, SCSU Bulldogs.


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

NORFOLK, Va. - Leading Norfolk State to its first-ever 2-0 start in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play is not reason enough for head football coach Pete Adrian to rest on his laurels.

If anything, Adrian is approaching Saturday's home contest against South Carolina State (2-2, 1-0) with great humility and caution. This is especially true following last year's 47-10 trouncing at the hands of the Bulldogs which is still fresh in his mind.

Like this season, the Spartans came into the matchup riding the confidence of a 3-1 start. From the one-two punch of running backs DeShawn Baker and Will Ford combining for four touchdowns and 186 rushing yards to the defense sacking quarterback Casey Hansen five times and intercepting him twice, however, Norfolk State got overwhelmed and went on to lose five of their last six games.

"We just got a good old-fashioned butt-whipping last year," said Adrian at Tuesday's weekly MEAC teleconference.

Even with a more athletic albeit younger squad with seven freshmen who see significant minutes, the second-highest scoring offense in the MEAC and a balanced offensive attack with Hansen and bruising running back Daryl Jones, Adrian insists his team will have to play "their best game" to beat an SCSU team he called the best team the Spartans will face this year next to Football Bowl Subdivision 21st-ranked Rutgers, which handed Norfolk State it's lone loss this season, 59-0.

Adrian even thinks SCSU may present an even more physical challenge than Rutgers did. He called the Bulldogs' starting defensive line "the best in the league", praised the athletic play of the offensive line and thinks the current backfield of Ford, Travil Jamison and Jonathan Woods may be even more potent without Baker.

"Every time he touches the ball, he can go the distance," Adrian said about Ford. " He's an excellent running back and Woods is as good if not even better."

The task of slowing down the Bulldogs' offense will go to a Spartan defense which leads the MEAC in passing defense, first downs allowed and opponents third-down conversions and is third in total defense. Senior twin linebackers Marquez and Maguell Davis lead the team with 31 and 25 tackles, respectively.

Norfolk State also hopes the offensive line will duplicate its effort last Thursday against North Carolina A&T. Led by starting right guard and MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week Jason Kressen, the Spartan offense racked up 532 yards, with Hansen throwing for a career-best 351 yards and four TDs.

Hansen's favorite target was redshirt freshman Jeremy Wicker who caught five passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the 50-20 victory. Both Hansen and Wicker were recognized as the MEAC Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively.

When the Spartans keep the ball on the ground, the 5-10, 250-pound Jones has proven capable with 389 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. For of those came in the 38-31 come-from-behind win over Bethune-Cookman Sept. 22.

Norfolk State's kicking game has also provided another scoring option as Justin Castellat has connected on 8 of 9 field goals on the season.

If there's a big concern other than SCSU for Adrian it's his team's penchant for penalties. No team in the MEAC has been penalized for more yards (423) than the Spartans, with SCSU tied for next to last.

SCSU holds an 11-1 edge in the series. Norfolk State's lone victory came at home in 2000.

Norfolk State University Spartan Legion Marching Band

BCU makes tough trip to Dover

Photo: Expect more pounding of BCU defense from DSU run offense in Thursday's game.

by Kristian Pope, The News Journal

Wildcats face DSU in Thursday night game on ESPNU

DOVER -- Alvin Wyatt had one reaction when he saw that his Bethune-Cookman team was to meet Delaware State in a Thursday night football game to be televised on ESPNU.

"That was one game that I did not want to play on Thursday night," said Wyatt, the Wildcats' 11-year coach.

The Daytona Beach-to-Dover trip is tough on the Wildcats, who traditionally bus from the airport in Philadelphia or Baltimore. Throw in a short week and the challenge intensifies.

But when the league made its selections for games to be part of ESPN's national television package, the Wildcats were heading to Dover.

Bethune visits No. 20 Delaware State at Alumni Stadium. The 7:30 kickoff marks the first time an ESPN channel has broadcast a football game from the school.

Usually the league listens to Wyatt. His complaints in a loss last week to Norfolk State resulted in three officials being suspended last week for "inaccurate calls."

In this case of the DSU game, though, Wyatt said he refrained from asking the league to keep the game on a Saturday.

"We decided to play it since it was on ESPN," he said.

This game is an important test for both teams. Bethune-Cookman is 2-3 overall but winless in the MEAC.

The Hornets, meanwhile, are trying to maintain their momentum after beating previously unbeaten Hampton, 24-17, for the first time on the road since 1969.

DSU (3-1, 2-0) has won two straight over the Wildcats since DSU head coach Al Lavan lost his first meeting against Wyatt, 45-16, in 2004.

Lavan said Tuesday that last season's 33-31 victory over BCU in Daytona Beach is one he still uses to gauge his team's progress. The Hornets scored 12 points in the final 4:38, winning on an 18-yard TD pass from Vashon Winton to Derrick McNeil with 1:01 to play.

The win was the first of six straight for DSU. The Hornets have since gone 8-1 against the MEAC.

"That was a very important moment for us," Lavan said. "In that was achieved and met that obstacle. Periodically, I've pointed to it."

Bethune, which employs a triple-option offense, is coming off a 33-9 loss to Morgan State in the Wildcats' homecoming game. That loss followed a 38-31 defeat at Norfolk State.

DSU has in large part been able to control the running portion of the Wildcats' option, but they have failed against the pass. BCU was held to 81 yards on the ground last year but managed 304 yards in the air.

Wyatt said that for the first time he actually wants to play a game at Delaware State because of the team's synthetic field.

"We had some great games against each other," Wyatt said. "The last one [in 2006] was a shootout. And two years ago, we played on a [rain-soaked field]. I used to go up there and look around at the facilities and think, 'I'm at the bottom.' Now they have turf ... That gives us a different opportunity to play with them."

But, Wyatt said, he just wishes it wasn't on a Thursday night.

With the short time to prepare and off a homecoming loss, he said. "it makes it that much tougher."

Bethune Cookman University Marching Wildcats Band

(FAMU's) Chester leaves team

My View

I am still sorting through my feelings regarding the stunning announcement last night given by Albert Chester II to the Tallahassee Democrat. First, I respect Chester as a student-athlete and as a strong representative of FAMU. However, I do not like the way he blind-sided his coaching staff and specifically Coach Rubin Carter, by making a public announcement on his decision without notification to the athletic department leadership, i.e., the athletic director or Coach Carter. His prepared written statement read to the Democrat would have been sufficient notification, even if provided by a student messenger.

However, no one player or coach is bigger than the Rattler athletic program. We learned that lesson so well in the wrongful firing of NCAA and FAMU Hall of Famer, William "Billy Joe" by temp-president Castell Bryant. The Rattlers overcame this setback and will also overcome the sudden departure of Chester II, as we prepare for game five of the schedule.

Our prayers goes out to this young Rattler as he begin a new phase of his life without college football. We wish him much success in his pursuit of his degree(s). I for one (as a fan) appreciate his contributions to the Rattler program and enjoyed watching him play.

More importantly, I do like the statement provided by senior Leon Camel as he is ready to lead the Rattlers into the Circle City Classic battle with Winston Salem State University. Let's beat the snot out of these Rams! We are still in the battle for the MEAC championship. (beepbeep)

-----------
Photo: Albert Chester being sacked by Delaware State defender.

By St. Clair Murraine, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Florida A&M quarterback Albert Chester II has decided to leave the football team.

Chester said Tuesday that he's abruptly ending his collegiate career because his often-injured body can no longer endure the pounding it has taken for the past two seasons. Coach Rubin Carter said he wasn't aware that he'd lost his starting quarterback before he was asked to comment on the sudden departure.

Chester announced his decision in an interview with the Democrat about 30 minutes after Tuesday's practice. Chester, who didn't attend practice, disclosed his decision while reading from a hand-written, prepared statement.

“I spoke with my physician and my family and we've come to a decision that will be in my best interest to no longer play football,” said Chester, who has battled various injuries since becoming the starting quarterback in 2005. “The possible damage that lies ahead if I keep playing could possibly affect me for the rest of my life.”

Chester's decision comes just five days before the Rattlers face Winston-Salem State in the Circle City Classic on Saturday in Indianapolis. Chester played almost three quarters last Saturday before giving way to backup Leon Camel in an 18-17 victory over Tennessee State University.

Carter said he was “shocked” at the news that his starting quarterback has decided to leave the team without informing him. He also said that Camel was prepared to take the starting position.

“I know that I can lead the team,” said Camel, who refused to comment on Chester's decision. “It won't be too hard. I've done it before. As long as I have my teammates to back me, it won't be hard for me to lead them down the field.”

Compared to last season when he threw for 1,986 yards and completed 164 of 264 attempts, Chester hasn't been having the best of seasons. He's completed 57 of 95 passes and was intercepted three times in four games.

Chester said he played every game in pain; Carter said he was willing to stick with the quarterback.

“I never have given up on Albert,” said Carter, who said he wouldn't comment further on Chester's decision until he met with the quarterback. “I just want to see that he is OK.”

Meanwhile, Carter said he'll make whatever adjustments might be necessary on offense.

“I feel that the football team and the program itself will survive,” Carter said. “The program is bigger than me or any of the players. It doesn't revolve around me or just one player.”

Chester said he and Carter haven't spoken since he was taken out of Saturday's game. But Chester said he had discussions with defensive end Tyrone McGriff about his future with the team.

“I haven't really felt like I would be as I was last year,” Chester said. “There is a lot of pain that I've been going through. It's bothering me when you feel like when you go to war your gun isn't as fast as it used to be. It's been real frustrating.”

But his teammates didn't expect him to walk away.

“I told him he is the bus driver on this bus, but I guess he wanted to go in a different direction,” said kicker Wesley Taylor, who said Chester was hinting at his decision a week ago. “We're going to miss him. He was a key factor to our program, but the Rattlers will prevail. We're going to get through this as a family.

"Our football team has been going through a lot and we'll find a way to get through this. We never stop fighting.”

FAMU CAREER PASSING YARDS

1. Quinn Gray, 1998-2001 ... 7,378

2. Oteman Sampson, 1996-97 ... 6,836

3. Tony Ezell, 1988-91 ... 6,620

4. Ben Dougherty, 2002-04 ... 5,211

5. Patrick Bonner, 1998 ... 4,148

6. Nathaniel Koonce, 1980-82 ... 3,707

7. Albert Chester, 2004-07 ... 3,369

8. Steve Scruggs, 1967-70 ... 2,981

FAMU starting QB quits team

The Tallahassee Democrat has released a story indicating that FAMU senior starting quarterback and preseason all-MEAC nominee, Albert Chester II announced Tuesday evening that he is leaving the FAMU football team.

Head Coach Rubin Carter and his Rattler team members were blind-sided by this development and shocked to hear the news. It was delivered by Chester during an interview with the Democrat, 30 minutes after the team practice on Tuesday. It is my understanding that Chester did not participate in the practice and his announcement comes as somewhat, shocking news to Rattler Nation.

Chester was pulled late in the third quarter of last Saturday's Atlanta Football Classic game against FAMU's longtime rival, Tennessee State University. Chester performance was below par with only 84 passing yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. He was replaced by senior quarterback Leon Camel, who sparked the Rattlers on a scoring drive and the game winning touchdown.

We're not going to speculate on what motivated Chester II to make the move at this time but we wish him the best in his pursuit of a degree from the FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Albert Chester II has attempted to wear big shoes left by his father's legacy at FAMU. Albert Chester Sr., was FAMU's starting QB and helped FAMU win the first ever NCAA 1-AA National Championship in 1978 and led the Rattler's upset win over the University of Miami Hurricanes.

The only way that Chester II could please Rattler Nation message board critics was to go 11-0, win the MEAC and FCS national championship titles in his final season.

The FAMU Rattlers are scheduled to do battle Oct 6, with the Winston Salem State University Rams in the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis, Indiana. (beepbeep)

Albert Chester II, may have played the final game of his college career at the 2007 Atlanta Football Classic.

Who We Are: Hampton University Cheerleaders

WSSU Rams get good news about Morris

WSSU has recruited size for this upcoming season.

Center has been cleared to play by NCAA with basketball practice about to begin

By John Dell, JOURNAL REPORTER

Coach Bobby Collins of Winston-Salem State let out a big sigh of relief last week when the NCAA Clearinghouse gave the OK for center Corey Morris.

Morris, a 6-10, 255-pound center from Elizabeth City, had been waiting for the Clearinghouse to make its decision. It came down to one class from his senior year at Northeastern High School.

"I'm excited that this got cleared up," Morris said last week. "Now that I know I'll be out there, I can't wait for practice to begin."

The new-look Rams will begin practice Oct. 12. Of the six players that Collins brought in, three are 6-8 or taller.

Morris is the tallest, followed by post players Paul Davis (6-9) and McIntoche Alcius (6-8).

In Collins' first season, the Rams had one post player, but at 6-5, Jamal Durham was undersized. With the added height, Durham can move over to his more natural position at forward.

"Last year, I was posting up guys who were 6-4 or 6-5, and this year I'll have guys who are posting up 6-9 or 6-10," Collins said. "And that's going to give us a totally different look. This will allow us to do things that I've had in the past because I've always had a big man in the middle."

With returning player Julian Murphy-Long, a 6-9 walk-on, the Rams will have four players who are 6-8 or taller, which might be a first at WSSU.

Last season, the Rams suffered through the school's worst record (5-24). What made it worse was that the Rams played just five home games, although they made about $500,000 for playing some big-name programs on the road.

"We've got 14 home games this year, and that's going to bring a new flavor to us," Collins said. "Last year, in having 25 road games, we were fighting an uphill battle from the beginning. We weren't playing the school for the blind, either - we were playing teams like Georgetown and Georgia Tech."

Playing a balanced schedule and a full MEAC schedule should make things a lot easier for the Rams. They won't be eligible for the MEAC title until the 2010-11 season, but at least they are on more of a level playing field compared to last season. Another difference is that the Rams are scheduled to play all 14 home games at either Joel Coliseum or the Annex. However, because of the new pro hockey team playing at the Annex, two or three games could be moved to the Gaines Center.

Both the men's and women's team will open practice with a "Ram Madness" at 7 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the Gaines Center.

"We're excited about the first day of practice coming up," Collins said. "We are very young but very talented. We'll have a much different look than we had last year.… It's going to be a different kind of year."

WSSU prepares for trip to Indianapolis

School slated to receive around $250,000 for its game with Florida A&M

By John Dell, JOURNAL REPORTER

It was an offer that Chico Caldwell couldn’t refuse.

When Circle City Classic representatives approached Caldwell about moving Winston-Salem State’s game with Florida A&M from Bowman Gray Stadium to the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Caldwell didn’t hesitate.

“It really was a no-brainer because this is one of the best black-college classics in the country,” said Caldwell, who is WSSU’s athletics director. “This was too good to pass up.”

The Rams will take a chartered flight to the Midwest on Thursday and could play in front of 50,000 fans Saturday.

Of course, the $250,000 payoff to WSSU for playing in the game helped Caldwell make his decision. Caldwell said that around $25,000 of that will be used for expenses, including flying the team, cheerleaders and band to Indianapolis.

“I’ve always said that this is a partnership between the university academically and athletically. When you think about it this is great exposure for the university, and you really can’t buy that much exposure,” Caldwell said.

WSSU’s name will be introduced to folks who may have never heard of the university during the events that accompany the game. There are expected to be some 150,000 people who will arrive on the weekend for the festivities.

Kelly Rowland, a popular rhythm and blues singer, will be the grand marshal of a pre-game parade and will also perform at halftime. There will also be a college fair, a cheerleading clinic, a golf tournament and several parties in the Indianapolis area.

John Dedman, the director of communications for Indiana Sports Corporation, said that one reason that the Circle City Classic has been so successful is its wide range of activities.

“I’m not sure how the other classics operate, but we treat this as a community celebration that’s more than just football,” Dedman said.

The Classic promotes itself as “a weekend that celebrates African American cultural excellence and educational achievement while showcasing the tradition and quality of America’s historically black colleges and universities.”

This will be the last year that the game will be played at the RCA Dome. Next year it will be played in a new stadium being built for the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL.

This will be the 24th Circle City Classic. Last year, Hampton beat Central State of Ohio 42-12. Dedman said that over the past seven years the game has averaged around 48,000 fans. Dedman didn’t have exact ticket-sales numbers for this year’s game, but other officials said they are expecting 40,000 to 50,000.

WSSU has a good reputation for fans who like to travel. It was given 2,500 tickets to the game to sell and more than 2,000 have been sold, according to Caldwell.

“Winston-Salem State and their officials have been enthusiastic about this from the start, and they have done a great job of getting the word out there,” Dedman said. “They already have filled up one hotel with the block of rooms we set aside, and we are working on getting them some more rooms in another hotel.”

Coach Kermit Blount of the Rams, whose team is forced to play six road games in a row because of the Circle City Classic, looks at Saturday’s game as a recruiting tool. He also said that it’s a reward to his team.

“When you weigh the options of having to play at home, which isn’t a bad thing, and taking the team on the road to play in the same building where the Super Bowl champions play, it’s a great thing for us,” Blount said. “It’s the experience for us playing in a big arena, in a big atmosphere and the next time we have to play in something that big we’ll be ready for it.”

Another bonus for WSSU will be the broadcast of the game live on the NFL Network. The Circle City Classic has a two-year contract with the NFL Network to broadcast the game.

When the Rams’ schedule came out there was grumbling by some WSSU alumni about taking away a home game.

“I think those fans realize that to have this kind of exposure and get to play in the RCA Dome, you can’t buy that kind of opportunity,” Caldwell said.

NCAT's Bethea has Aggies jersey retired

Photo: Pro Football Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea

GREENSBORO – At a banquet honoring four Aggie coaching legends, the North Carolina A&T department of athletics announced the retiring of NFL Hall of Fame defensive lineman Elvin Bethea’s No. 75 Aggies jersey. The jersey will officially be retired after the season because starting Aggies center Tim Bess currently wears the jersey number.

Bethea becomes the first Aggie player to have his number retired based on performance. Number 6 is retired based on special tribute. Bethea played four seasons (1964-67) at N.C. A&T, where he was a two-time NAIA first-team offensive lineman selection. . As an Aggie football player, Bethea was versatile on the football field having the ability to play multiple positions – guard and tackle, defensive end and linebacker. Bethea was also an All-American in track and field in the shot put and discuss. In 1968, the Houston Oilers selected him in the third round.

An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Bethea played in 210 games during his 16-year career in Houston. He was named first- or second-team All-AFL/AFC six times and second-team All-Pro four times. Considered a leader both on and off the field, Bethea was durable and dependable. He started at defensive end in the 1968 season opener and didn’t miss a game until breaking his arm in a game against the Oakland Raiders on November 13, 1977.

When he retired – which was put off by a year per the Oilers’ request – he held three team records relating to career service: most seasons (16), most career regular season games played (210), and most consecutive regular season games played (135). He also saw action in eight Oilers playoff games. Bethea was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. His former head coach Hornsby Howell did the introduction speech.

At 6-foot-3, 265 pounds, Bethea was slated to be a guard in the pro game. However, a rash of injuries on the defensive line caused Oilers Head Coach Wally Lemm to try Bethea at defensive end. By mid-season, Bethea was starting.

“I remember they brought me in as an offensive lineman, and I knew the guy playing in front of me couldn’t have survived one Hornsby Howell practice,’’ said Bethea at the banquet. “But he was from a big school, so he was going to play even though I knew I was better. When they asked me about three games into the season if I wanted to play defensive line, I jumped at the chance. As an Aggie, they taught me how to take every opportunity and make the best of it. And that’s what I did.”

Although sacks were not an official National Football League statistic until 1982, Elvin’s unofficial 105-career quarterback sack total still ranks as the best in Oilers/Tennessee Titans history as are the 16 sacks he recorded in 1973. Six times he led his team in that department. His best single game performance as a pass rusher came in a game against the San Diego Chargers in 1976 in which he recorded 4 sacks and one fumble recovery.

More than just a pass rusher, Bethea was also effective against the run. Even though 1974 was the first year such statistics were compiled by the Oilers, his 691-career tackles, are still among the best in franchise history, even excluding the first six years of his career.

Bethea retired from Anheuser-Busch’s Houston, Texas office where he served as director of government affairs and is now a traveling ambassador for the NFL Hall of Fame.

The banquet, also designed to raise money for athletic scholarships, served to honor former football coaches Bill Hayes and Howell and former men’s basketball coaches Cal Irvin and Don Corbett. Bethea was the keynote speaker.

Comegy expects a 'hungry' ASU

By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

THE JSU GAME
What: Jackson State vs. Alabama State
When: Saturday, 3 p.m.
Radio: JSU Network (WOAD-1300 AM)

While Jackson State enjoyed its off weekend, its next opponent - Alabama State - wasn't having much fun, getting whipped 21-2 by Southern U.

It was the Hornets' first loss of the season and the first setback of Reggie Barlow's head coaching career.

Alabama State (4-1 overall, 3-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) might not be undefeated anymore, but JSU coach Rick Comegy said he expects the Hornets to be an even tougher opponent because of the loss.

"Almost every team needs some adversity to make them stronger," Comegy said. "Now Alabama State's going to come back hungry. Both teams will understand how crucial this game will be."

Jackson State (2-2, 2-0) took Friday and Saturday off before returning for film study on Sunday.

"It was good to get some rest and let the guys take care of some personal business," Comegy said. "I like our attitude. We know we're entering a crucial stretch."

TIGHT END AS IS

With each passing day, it becomes less likely that tight end Marcel Frost will return from a leg injury suffered last spring.

"I just hate to bring him back for a handful of games when we don't know if he'll be able to help us," Comegy said. "It's not fair to (Frost). I'd love to have him back, but it looks like we'll have to wait until next season."

In Frost's place, freshman Cedric Dixon and sophomore Antoine Ott-Terrell have split time.

Ott-Terrell made his first two catches of the season on Saturday against MVSU.

NO RECENT DOMINANCE

JSU has a 26-8-1 all-time record against Alabama State, but the Hornets won six in a row from 2000-2005 until the Tigers broke through with a 19-14 win last year in Mobile.

SU cracks rankings after 5-0 start

Photo: Southern University Head Coach Pete Richardson

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Undefeated Southern on Monday returned to The Sports Network’s top 25 poll of Football Championship Subdivision teams for the first time since December 2004.

The Jaguars (5-0, 3-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) are ranked 25th. The last time they played a game as a ranked team was when they were 20th in December 2004 before falling to Alabama State in the SWAC Championship Game.

SU hosts defending SWAC champ Alabama A&M (4-1, 2-1), which had been ranked 23rd before losing 31-6 at Grambling on Sept. 22.

“It speaks well for our program in respect that people are starting to notice what type of team we have,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said.

Since appearing in its second straight SWAC title game, Southern has had back-to-back losing seasons, going a combined 9-11. They are the only losing seasons in Richardson’s 15 seasons at Southern and 20 seasons as a head coach.

“He’s the dean of this conference for a reason,” Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones said. “He’s got his team back where they should be, at the top.”

SU has matched its win total from last season (5-6).

Jones said Southern’s improvement is there to see on film.

“This is an example of why coach Richardson is who he is and what he’s done,” Jones said. “There’s no doubt. You can look at them and see this is not something that just happened this week. He’s a great football coach.”

Bell honored

SU senior strong safety Glenn Bell was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Defensive Player of the Week.

Bell had a season-best 10 tackles, including seven solo and a key stop on third-and-goal, along with a deflection and a quarterback hurry Saturday. He was also named the Gulf Coast Classic’s defensive MVP.

The other LSWA honorees were McNeese State wide receiver Carlese Franklin and Grambling kicker Tim Manuel.

Malveaux likely out again

Southern junior okie linebacker Johnathan Malveaux (33 tackles, four pass breakups) is expected to miss his second straight game with a high ankle sprain.

“He’s still got some pain in it,” Richardson said. “The high ankle sprain sometimes takes awhile. It’s very unfortunate, because every time he gets to a level, something freakish sets him back.”

Quick look at A&M

Richardson said, “They’re a typical A&M team, they like to run to the football (on defense). They have probably the most experienced quarterback in the conference in Kelcy Luke. Defensively, they’re going have an eight-man front. That causes a lot of problems if you have an inexperienced line.”

Quick look at Southern

Jones said, “(Southern quartback Bryant Lee) is scary. He can do both (run and pass). He’s throwing the ball well. He’s making real good decision and he’s athletic enough, if he doesn’t like what he sees, that he can get out. When you quarterback is executing, you have a chance to win ballgames. They believe in what they do. They’re playing with a lot of energy, a lot of emotion.”

Wade to return
SU sophomore cornerback Ronald Wade, also a return man, can play Saturday after missing the past three games with a suspension for violating team rules.

Back to Louisiana

Jones said he was disappointed in his team in its last showdown appearance in Louisiana, with the Bulldogs getting shut down in the loss at Grambling.

“I think our focus (Saturday) will be different,” Jones said. “We started to believe what everybody was saying about us instead of keep working. Our kids got a little lax. We have their attention now and I plan on keeping it.”

Notes

SU has scored 12 points in the first quarter all season. The Jaguars had a 10-yard touchdown run wiped out by a holding penalty, with Lee subsequently throwing an interception, late in the first quarter Saturday. SU WR Gerard Landry needs 9 yards Saturday to move into fourth place, ahead of Connell Swain (1,726 yards from 1983-85) on the school’s all-time receiving chart. Landry has 1,718 career receiving yards.

Pough looks toward Saturday's showdown with Norfolk State

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

Call it a productive, non-productive week for the South Carolina State football team.

The Bulldogs used the just-completed bye to get several key players healthy as well as fine-tune an offense which has struggled to put up points during the first four games. Now it's time, according to SCSU head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough, to focus on the stretch run of the season starting this Saturday at Norfolk State.

"We've gotten one season done and now we're going into the next ... with all of the (Mid-Eastern-Athletic Conference) games one game after the next," said Pough at Monday's press conference. "It's going to be pretty important that we play good from this point on. It's going to be tough. The league in general has shown itself to be a good bit stronger and anybody has beaten anybody up to this point."

The idle week allowed Pough to watch the Spartans on television last Thursday when they defeated North Carolina A&T 50-20. Although Pough is 5-0 against Norfolk State during his tenure, he's more than impressed with what the Spartans have done this season under third-year head coach Pete Adrian.

"They're a lot better," he said. "They're 3-1, but their only loss was to Rutgers. All of those other games they pretty much dominated. They really got after (Bethune-Cookman) in the second half (of a 38-31 comeback victory). They really played good against (North Carolina) A&T. They were really impressive on both sides of the football against (North Carolina) A&T. Of course, they opened with a win over Virginia State. So I'm sure they're are about as excited as they've ever been in the time that I've been in the league and they've got the best team they've had. So it will be tough."

Pough is concerned about the duel offensive threat Norfolk State presents in this week's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week quarterback Casey Hansen and burly running back Daryl Jones. If the Bulldogs are unable to contain either of those players, Pough believes it will be a long day for his team. Defense has been a team strength for SCSU as it has allowed just one touchdown in two Football Championship Subdivision games and is ranked second in the MEAC in both turnover margin and first downs allowed.

On the injury front, it appears both offensive tackle Nygel Pearson (hand) and BANDIT Marshall McFadden (right elbow) will sit out as least another week. Center Raymond Harrison (hand), running backs Will Ford and Jonathan Woods (ankles) and tight end Octavius Darby (knee) are expected to play, which should help SCSU with its quest to obtain its offensive continuity - a big reason for the team's lack of production according to Pough.

"We've been moving around, doing so many things, playing so many people, sometimes it gets hard to get them all on the same page," he said. "I'm hoping that we'll be better there. We've played a lot of different offensive linemen which is a little unusual for us. Most times, we kind of settle from within and allow them to kind of fit together. Hopefully, after the open week and the fact that we've had a chance to really try to work and get those guys on the same page, we'll settle in and start playing better."

Pough is hoping for a breakout game from quarterback Cleveland McCoy. Through four games, the fifth-year senior is ranked 10th in the MEAC in total offense (111.3 total yards per game), but is next-to-last in passing efficiency (81.5).

"Cleve's been kind of on and off," he said. "We've got to really hone it in on the things that he does well. Hopefully, we'll find those things this week and we'll approach it from using those things as a foundation as opposed to those things he's hasn't done quite as well."

A victory would allow SCSU to continue to control its own destiny in its hunt for the MEAC title and maintain pace with Delaware State, which plays a Thursday night game against Bethune-Cookman. It would also put the Bulldogs in a favorable position given four of its remaining six games after Saturday will take place in Orangeburg, where they've won seven straight since 2005, and in Charleston.

"If we do well in those situations where we're on the road here early, we can set ourselves up to be in the best shape of all because we have more home games towards the back end of the schedule," Pough said.

POUGH ON REF SUSPENSIONS, MOVE TO SOCON

It was far from a quiet Thursday around the MEAC. The day started with the conference announcing the suspension of three officials for one game following inaccurate calls made during the Sept. 22 game between Bethune-Cookman and Norfolk State.

In the game, the Wildcats were penalized on three offensive plays for blocking below the waist, as well as two pass interference calls, one on offense and one on defense. An evaluation of the plays was made by the conference office and determined that the calls were incorrectly made against the Wildcats.

While voicing no opposition to the action taken, Pough expressed disappointment by the fact it was played out publicly by the conference and Bethune-Cookman officials, specifically head coach Alvin Wyatt.

"I didn't really realize until after the fact ... I still don't know who those guys are, but I think that's something that ought to be handled internally," he said. "I'm a little bit worried by the fact that we seem to be grandstanding some in the conference by simply announcing the fact that we're disciplining officials."

Pough was more reserved in offering his opinion on SCSU Chairman Maurice Washington's request at the board of trustees meeting to look into the possibility of leaving the MEAC for the Southern Conference. While stating it's a decision for those in top leadership like athletics director Charlene Johnson, Pough had no problem with anyone examining the issue.

"I would think that that might be something down the road that might have some merit," Pough said. "I'm sure that it would be something interesting to take a look at. So we'll see."

BULLDOGS vs. SPARTANS

WHO: South Carolina State (2-2, 1-0) at Norfolk State (3-1, 2-0)

WHERE: Dick Price Stadium in Norfolk, Va.

WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday

RADIO: WQKI (102.9 FM)

Alabama A&M notebook

Huntsville Times

Banks receives league honors

Alabama A&M running back Ulysses Banks was named Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, league officials announced Monday.

A 5-foot-10, 172-pound sophomore from Birmingham, Banks rushed for 112 yards on 17 carries and scored a touchdown in leading A&M to a 48-24 victory over Texas Southern. He staked the Bulldogs to a 28-17 halftime lead with 94 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown in the first half.

Banks has 491 yards on 66 carries and four touchdowns this season. He is second in the conference in rushing, averaging 98.2 yards per game, including a league-best 7.4 yards per carry. Banks is also second in the league in all-purpose yards, averaging 172 per game.

Luke, McClain, Licea on awards list: Quarterback Kelcy Luke, strong safety Bobby McClain and place-kicker Jeremy Licea were honored for their play in Alabama A&M's 48-24 homecoming win over Texas Southern.

Luke was named offensive player of the week after completing 19-of-34 passes for 206 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. It was the third time in five games Luke has thrown at least three touchdowns in the game.

McClain was named defensive player of the week after coming up with eight tackles, including four solo stops. McClain played a key role in holding the Tigers to 24 yards rushing.

Licea was named special teams player of the week after scoring 12 points against Texas Southern. He was 6-for-6 on extra points and made both of his field goals, including a career-long 42-yarder. Licea is the league's leading scoring with 39 points, an average of 7.8 per game. He has made 24-of-25 extra points and all five of his field goal attempts.

Wilson expected to play: Defensive end Byron Wilson, who was taken to Huntsville Hospital with respiratory problems during halftime of Saturday's game against Texas Southern, had an EKG Monday, trainer John Gaines said.

Wilson underwent a battery of tests and all of them came back negative, Gaines said.

"He had some unexplained shortness of breath and we wanted to make sure there was no underlying medical condition," Gaines said.

Wilson, according to Gaines, could be released in time for practice today and could play Saturday against Southern.

Wide receiver Nate Baxter, who has missed the last two games with a sprained ankle, remains questionable for the Southern game.

Malveaux likely to miss game: Linebacker Jonathan Malveaux, one of Southern's top tacklers, will likely miss the A&M game with a sprained ankle, Southern coach Pete Richardson said during the SWAC's weekly teleconference. Malveaux sustained the injury in the Jaguars' come-from-behind 41-34 victory over Florida A&M on Sept. 22 and missed Saturday's 21-2 win over Alabama State.

Reggie Benson

Alabama A&M lining up for success

By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff

Despite losses, A&M's offensive line is thriving

The phone calls have come on a regular basis. So have the pats on the back.

Chris Franklin has called. So has Jeffery Johnson. Kristian Smith has also checked in.

"We've even seen them after the game, too" Alabama A&M center Xavier Manuel said. "It's been fun."

Franklin, Johnson and Smith - three fifth-year seniors - anchored the Bulldogs' offensive line last season and played key roles in helping A&M win the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. Franklin was a four-year starter, while Smith and Johnson were first-team All-SWAC selections a year ago.

While there were a number of question marks surrounding A&M's offense when the Bulldogs opened preseason practice two months ago, none seemed bigger than the offensive line.

Tackles James Sanders and Darius Turner returned along with sophomore Charles Meade, who played a lot last year as a true freshman, but two first-time starters would have to emerge.

Offensive line coach Cedric Pearl plugged Manuel, a redshirt sophomore, in at center and redshirt freshman Russell Jackson won the starting job at left guard and A&M hasn't missed a beat.

"We could see in practice they were going to be good players, but it's surprising to see them playing this well," Pearl confessed. "You expect young players to make mistakes, but I've been really pleased."

What offensive line coach wouldn't be?

With a revamped unit, A&M is enjoying the type of success on offense it hasn't seen in a number of years.

"I'm actually not surprised because we had a good group of guys that taught us a lot and helped prepare us for what we're going through now," said Manuel, who had never played in a game before this season. "I didn't know we'd get off to this kind of start, but I knew we would eventually get there and knew we could play well."

The Bulldogs haven't just played well. They've been terrific.

Aside from the 31-6 loss at Grambling, A&M has topped the 40-point mark in four of their five games. The Bulldogs are averaging 37.8 points and 443.6 yards per game.

And, while quarterback Kelcy Luke has played well along with A&M's running backs and receivers, this wouldn't be possible without the work of the Bulldogs' offensive line.

"It's a nice surprise, but it's kind of what we do," A&M coach Anthony Jones said. "Every year, we groom some more kids into our system. It's not like those kids just showed up. They've been on our campus ... learning and waiting for an opportunity.

"Meade played some last year. Xavier and Russell watched and learned last year and we spent a lot of time with them in the spring making them understand they were going to have to step up in the fall. They bought into it and Sanders and Turner are taking care of them and they're fitting in and growing each game."

That growth will be tested Saturday when A&M visits Southern in an important conference game.

Kickoff is 5:30.

Sanders and Turner were both preseason All-SWAC selections. Meade is also an All-SWAC caliber player. However, little was known about Manuel and Jackson.

Manuel was stuck behind Franklin and as a result didn't get a chance to play. Russell, one of the better athletes along the offensive line at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, was learning the offense this time last year.

Despite their lack of experience, they have helped solidify A&M's unit.

"The coaches know what they're doing," Sanders said. "If somebody is out there on the field, they're the best person for the job and those guys have proven they can play winning football."

DSU Hornets honor victims

By MARTY O'BRIEN, Daily Press

HAMPTON - Delaware State's players followed their 24-17 victory at Hampton University on Saturday by honoring the two students injured Sept. 20 in an on-campus shooting. The Hornets named the two students as their players of the game and will present each with a game ball.

Hornets' coach Al Lavan invited the school's band director and cheerleaders to join the players in the end zone on Saturday after the game. That's rare.

"We always end up in the end zone (during) the alma mater, but we don't invite anyone else other than the team," he said. "The end zone is pretty sacred ground for us.

"But we wanted them to know that the young lady and young man are Hornets, and we wanted to pay special recognition."

Lavan said the shooting did not negatively affect the team's attitude. The incident did leave a lasting impression among the Hornets.

"It brought our team together," tailback Kareem Jones said. "We're team. We're family. That's all we have, so we go out and play hard together."

Tight end Jeff Postell added, "I think it made us more focused on our goal at hand, and our goal always has been to win a (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) championship.

"It helped us realize how short life can be, and how quickly you can be here today, gone tomorrow. So it helped us focus our intensity toward our goal."

THEY'RE NO. 1
Hampton University entered Saturday's game ranked first in the latest SBN Black College football poll, with Delaware State at No. 2.

The Hornets likely will move into the top spot this week.

"It's basically up to you (media) guys where you want us to be in the polls," Hornets linebacker Russell Reeves said. "We're just going to keep on playing and give you something to rank us for."

THIS AND THAT
The Hornets' victory was their first at Armstrong Stadium since a 20-0 win in 1969. ... The Pirates lost for the first time in September since falling 41-6 at Villanova to open the 2003 season. HU had won 19 consecutive September games. ...

HU's Jahmal Blanchard entered the game leading the Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA) with a 48.06 per punt average. He likely will stay at or near the top of the rankings after averaging 43.9 yards on seven punts against Delaware State. ...

Pirates tailback Kevin Beverly attempted to play for the first time since spraining an ankle on Sept. 8 in the season opener at Howard. But Beverly, who is also slowed by a sore toe, ran the ball only once for no gain before trotting back to the sidelines.

"We appreciate his courage, but we're going to wait until he is healthy to play him more," Pirates' coach Joe Taylor said. ...

The Pirates play a non-conference game next Saturday at Princeton.

------------
The Hornets (3-1) vaulted back into the Sports Network I-AA rankings at No. 20 on Monday.

DSU had fallen out of the Top 25 after losing to Divsion I-A Kent State the week before. But the Hornets jumped up five spots after downing Hampton, 24-17, on Saturday.

The Pirates, who were No. 13, fell to No. 21 with the loss. That makes DSU the highest-ranked Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team in the poll.

GSU's Broadway: That's not the same old Prairie View

By Nick Deriso, Monroe News Star

Grambling's offense is still occasionally misfiring.
But that's not the only reason GSU ended up in a nail-biter last week with traditional league doormat Prairie View, coach Rod Broadway said.

"I tried to convince my team, and everybody who would listen to me, that Prairie View is a much better football team," Broadway said. "We didn't play as well as we had hoped, and a lot of that is due to Prairie View."

The Panthers scored two final-period touchdowns to tie the game, leaving Grambling to sweat out a lengthy field-goal attempt with seven seconds left on Saturday. It wasn't until GSU defender Nigel Copeland blocked Pedro Ventura's kick that the 17-14 victory was secured.

By way of contrast, Henry Frazier-led Prairie View teams had lost 156-46 over the last three State Fair Classics.

"Our primary goal is to keep Grambling under 50," Frazier joked last week.

Instead, Prairie View fell by the tightest margin since the last time GSU dropped a game in this series, 1986's 24-19 loss.

The Panthers — a group that last had a winning season since 1976 — are just that much better than they used to be, Broadway said.

The game confirmed what he already thought about Prairie View's dominant defense, which is allowing league lows for touchdowns and yards.

"I told our kids that it would be a defensive struggle, and it really was," Broadway said. "Prairie View is a pretty good football team. People better not go into the game thinking that's the same old Prairie View."

Grambling's offense did its part, of course, coughing up a fumble and two interceptions — including one pick that was returned for a critical touchdown in the Panthers' furious, but ultimately failed, fourth-quarter comeback attempt.

"That gave the momentum back to Prairie View, and they responded like you are supposed to do," Broadway said. "But our team hung in there."

Grambling strung together some lengthy drives, holding the ball for 34 minutes. Its offense collected 400 yards along the way.

But four trips to the red zone only resulted in two scores, and GSU almost fell to the Panthers for just the second time since 1965.

"We need to get that corrected from our end, and protect the ball a little better," Broadway said. "It was a close game; we're proud of our football team being able to win it. My hats off to Coach Frazier."

The other game

By Michael Kinney, The Norman Transcript

DALLAS — It has long been known as the baby brother to the Red River rivalry. Taking place the week before Oklahoma and Texas butt heads, the Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic doesn’t get near the attention of its Division I brethren.

However, when the SWAC’s Grambling State and Prairie View A&M meet at the Texas State Fair, the atmosphere is beyond that of a single football game.

“If you are trying to reach more than one market, which we are, we want to be as diverse in our entertainment as we can be,” said Cotton Bowl Stadium manager Roland Rainey. “The Southwest Airlines Classic averages around 60,000. The difference being that there is such a huge rivalry with Texas-Oklahoma … Most of the coaches and teachers in this area came from Grambling and Prairie View. This is more of a homecoming.”

The event

Even though it doesn’t come with the national fanfare of the Red River rivalry or the consequence of the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, the State Fair Classic is still an integral part of the stadium’s annual schedule.

“The State Fair Classic is ranked within the top three in attendance in all Classic games in the nation,” Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert said. “Additionally, it is the largest African-American sports gathering in Texas, attracting an average of 60,000 attendees.”

The capacity crowd that attended last Saturday was the first group to make use of the “new” Cotton Bowl after millions of dollars went into renovations this year. Finishing touches took place all the way up until game time.

Grambling and Prairie View have played each other 59 times, with the Tigers leading the series 45-14. That includes this season’s 17-14 triumph, Grambling’s 20th straight victory in the series.

The thing about the event, though, is the outcome is really secondary.

“The State Fair Classic has become a highly anticipated gathering that includes much more than a football game,” Prairie View President George Wright said. “This Cotton Bowl game represents a tremendous opportunity to continue camaraderie and connection.”

One of the elements that makes the Classic stand out when compared to other traditional rivalries is the half-time battle of the bands. For many of the fans, the band battle is the real main event.

The coach

Without one man, the State Fair Classic would never have taken its place as a highly anticipated sporting event. Former Grambling coach, the late Eddie Robinson, winner of 408 games, almost single-handedly. brought prominence and prestige to the Classic.

Robinson died earlier this year at 88. He coached Grambling for 57 years and started bringing his Tigers to the Cotton Bowl 35 years ago. He coached his final game in the stadium Oct. 4, 1997. But his legacy lives on.

“I know everyone in the stadium was a big fan of coach Robinson,” Leppert said. “He took the four hour trip to Dallas for this game with Mrs. (Doris) Robinson by his side. He had an enormous impact.”

Leppert presented Doris Robinson with an award during Saturday’s pregame show honoring her husband. She was escorted by former Super Bowl MVP and Grambling player, then coach Doug Williams.

“This is where it all started for me,” Williams said. “Right here in this stadium.”

Florida A&M University Marching 100: Half-Time Show, Atlanta Football Classic 2007

Part I


Part II


Part III


Part IV

Tennessee State University Marching Band: Half-Time Show, Atlanta Football Classic 2007

Part I, Tennessee State University "Aristocrat of Bands" Marching Band


Part II


Part III

Last-second kick spoils it for UAPB

BY BECK CROSS, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

LAS CRUCES, N. M. — Arkansas-Pine Bluff was supposed to be satisfied with the $300,000 guaranteed check and play patsy against heavily favored New Mexico Sate.

Instead, the Golden Lions almost made school history.

In its first game in school history against an opponent from the Football Bowl Subdivision, Arkansas-Pine Bluff went toe to-toe against the 16th-ranked offense in the nation but was denied when Paul Young kicked a 37-yard field goal with 0.7 seconds remaining to lift the Aggies to a 20-17 victory Saturday at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

UAPB (1-4) will have a week off before resuming Southwestern Athletic Conference play against Grambling State on Oct. 13 at War Memorial Stadium.

“Our kids accepted the challenge,” UAPB Coach Mo Forte said. “The defense played well and the offense finally was able to move the ball.

“I think we’re confident that we can play with some people. Each week we’ve gotten better.”

UAPB quarterback Johnathan Moore had a season-high 234 yards passing while defensive end Ledarius Anthony had 11 tackles and one tackle for a loss.

“We had the game in our hands and it just slipped away,” Anthony said. “We just have to come back hard and go on another run in the SWAC like we did last year.”

The Golden Lions were within 17-10 at halftime and proved the first half was no fluke on their opening drive of the second half. In covering 70 yards in 11 plays, Moore converted a third-and-22 play with a 25-yard screen pass to Martell Mallett and later a thirdand-10 with a 28-yarder to Jason Jones.

Mallett capped the drive with a 1-yard run while Brodie Heflin added the extra point to tie the game at 17 with 9:48 left in the third quarter.

New Mexico State failed to get past midfield on its first three possessions of the second half before moving deep into Golden Lions territory midway through the fourth quarter. The drive stalled at the UAPB 16 and Young was short on a 34-yard field-goal attempt with 6: 43 remaining.

The Golden Lions were in prime scoring position after Bruce Peters returned a punt 28 yards to the New Mexico State 33. On third-and-5 from the Aggies’ 28, Moore’s tipped pass was intercepted in the end zone by Derrick Richardson with 2:37 left.

New Mexico State used the break to launch the game winning drive. Quarterback Chase Holbrook, who sat out the previous series with bruised ribs, checked back in and completed four passes for 34 yards as the Aggies drove inside the UAPB 20 with 5.6 seconds left.

After New Mexico State callied its final timeout, Young was summoned and kicked the game winner.

New Mexico State (3-2) struggled with UAPB in the first half before taking a 17-10 halftime lead.

Young kicked a 37-yard field goal after a seven-play, 19-yard drive midway through the opening quarter. The Aggies then used a 30-yard punt return by Chris Williams to set up the game’s first touchdown, a 6-yard pass from Holbrook to Williams. Young’s extra point made it 10-0 with 6:15 left in the first quarter.

The Golden Lions answered with an eight-play, 89-yard drive. Mallett had three carries for 38 yards to set up Moore’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Raymond Webber. Brodie Heflin’s extra point cut the deficit to 10-7 with 3:15 remaining in the quarter.

After stopping UAPB on downs at the Aggies 15, New Mexico State drove 85 yards for a touchdown. Holbrook completed all four of his passes for 48 yards on the drive, and Tony Glynn capped it with a 21-yard touchdown run that made it 17-7 with 2: 43 left in the first half.

UAPB answered with a scoring drive of its own. Moore converted a fourth-and-1 play on a quarterback keeper from the Aggies’ 22 to set up Heflin’s 43-yard field goal on the final play of the half to make it 17-10.

Coming Soon: Movie "Ballou" based on S.E.Washington DC high school band

Injuries mount against the FAMU Rattlers

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

ATLANTA - The Florida A&M Rattlers left the Georgia Dome with another win Saturday, but it may have come at the cost of the some key players.

Senior defensive end Tyrone McGriff left the game in the third quarter with a torn biceps on his left arm, which could make him doubtful for next week's Circle City Classic in Indianapolis.

Redshirt-sophomore guard Anthony Collins went down 2:58 in the second quarter with looked like an injury to his knee. Collins, who hurt his knee two weeks ago against Howard did not play the rest of the game.

Freshman fullback Demarius Folsom went down 11:52 in the first quarter with what looked like a foot injury and did not play the rest of the game either.

Folsom, from Madison County High, was replaced by sophomore Mykel Benson, who saw his first action of the season.

Benson just returned to practice three weeks ago after recovering from a neck injury that kept him out of fall camp and the first three games of the season. Benson caught a pass for 15 yards in the first quarter.

A taste of twin towers
Freshman bookend defensive ends Kendrick Washington and Marquiste Ramos are expected to the future of FAMU's pass rush.

The future got a jump start Saturday when the two got the opportunity to play together for the first time this season.

It happened in the third quarter when senior starters Carlos Rolle and McGriff went down with injuries on the same play.

Washington and Ramos were inserted at bookends for the first time in their careers.

“It was exciting,” said Washington, who had one tackle, assisted on a tackle for loss and had a pass breakup in the game. “It was something we have been looking forward to.”

Trick plays
Offensive coordinator Bob Cole brought out a few trick plays in the first half. First he lined up quarterback Albert Chester II at wide receiver and direct-snapped the ball to running back Philip Sylvester who took it for a nine-yard gain.

Later in the second quarter, Chester lined up outside again, but this time backup quarterback Leon Camel was put in the game and took the snap in the shotgun formation.

That play didn't gain any yards, however.

Encouraging words
FAMU senior kicker Wesley Taylor was happy to win Saturday, but admitted he felt some sympathy for Tennessee State Eric Benson, who missed the potential game-winning field goal with eight seconds left in the fourth quarter.

“It's a tough situation for a kicker to be in,” Taylor. “I've never had that happen to me in a game, but I know what he is going through. I talked to him after the game and told him to keep his head up.”

Taylor had his struggles Saturday, missing a field-goal attempt and an extra-point kick but will end his career having never lost in the Georgia Dome.

Last year Taylor kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime, earning MVP honors.

Safety valve
An errant snap in the second quarter that resulted in a safety turned out the be the points difference in the game.

Tennessee State's center sent the ball sailing into the end zone when he thought he saw quarterback Antonio Heffner move his foot.

Tennessee State head football coach James Webster said the offense had to use a silent snap count because of crowd noise.

Heffner was stepping up to the line to call an audible, which confused the center.

10,000 fans show for 1st Rocket City Battle of Bands at AAMU

Photo: Miles College Purple Marching Machine Band

Johnson High wins Battle of the Bands

In 1st Rocket City event, school beats Butler and Lee; AAMU, Alabama State, BCU, Miles College and Texas Southern University compete.

By PATRICIA C. McCARTER, Huntsville Times

Johnson High School - already known as one of the best marching bands in North Alabama - got some extra bragging rights Sunday evening when it won the first Rocket City Battle of the Bands, edging out its local rivals Butler and Lee.

The high school bands got to perform before an audience of nearly 10,000 people at Louis Crews Stadium at Alabama A&M, as well as before five university bands. The event was part of A&M's annual homecoming festivities.

"It's been an amazing day," said Johnson High senior Kiara Horton, captain of the dance team. "That's a big crowd. But when I dance, I don't see anyone. It's like a blur. I'm in my own zone."

Event organizer Derick Moore, who runs AFG Enterprises in Atlanta, said he and partner Yasin Shahid wanted to put on the show at A&M because of their history with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Moore said he attended A&M and graduated from Alabama State University, and he played percussion in both marching bands; Shahid is an A&M alum who played saxophone in the band.

Photo: Bethune Cookman University Marching Wildcat Band

Other colleges represented at Sunday's Battle of the Bands besides their alma maters were Bethune Cookman College, Texas Southern University and Miles College. "It was an excellent, excellent event," Moore said when the battle was over. "We utilize the premier college bands, the feature bands for the HBCU schools. There were no losers."

Officially, there were no winners of the colleges, either. Moore explained that it was an exhibition - not a contest - for the four-year schools.

A&M will end the weekend with money in its pocket. Moore said, the event will yield up to $15,000 for the local college's band instrument fund.

"We plan to do it again next year, but even bigger," Moore said. "We spoke to athletic director Betty Austin, and she said she'd like to have us back."

Johnson High's dance captain hopes to be back, too.

"I'll definitely come back to see my alma mater compete," Horton said. "And maybe I'll be on the field dancing for one of the colleges."

Marching to the beat

Photo: Giving back--SCSU 101 and FVSU Marching Bands perform at Festival to help raise money for high school marching band program.

Festival raises money for marching band

By Timothy Cox, The Augusta Chronicle

Spencer Gartrell said he wasn't alarmed Sunday afternoon as he watched more than a thousand people pour into Butler High School Stadium to see bands perform - void of football teams.

"What many people don't realize is that when it comes to black college football games, people generally come to watch the bands compete, not the football teams," said Mr. Gartrell, a co-organizer of the first CSRA Battle of the Bands festival.

"Historically, it's been that way," added Angelo Hatcher, Mr. Gartrell's business partner.

"It even happens at a Josey-Laney high school game. It's all about the bands," he said.

Sunday's festival's proceeds help fund the CSRA All-Star Marching Band, founded three years ago by Mr. Hatcher.

Ticket proceeds help cover costs of uniforms, transportation, instruments and other costs associated with successfully funding a marching band made up of area middle and high school musicians, Mr. Hatcher said.

In addition to the all-star band, Sunday's festival lineup featured bands from South Carolina State University, Fort Valley State University, Beach High School of Savannah and local units from Glenn Hills High School, South Augusta Marching Unit and the Garden City Panthers.
Eddie Ellis, South Carolina State's band director, and Spike Nealy, his assistant, appeared in the movie Drumline, which filmed in Atlanta at Morris Brown College.

"The movie finally gave credibility to the black college marching style," Mr. Ellis said, adding that he has since witnessed major colleges adopting a similar format, focused on drums and choreography.

Photo: An enthusiastic crowd gathered to watch the action. Bands from around the area participated in the festival.

Mr. Nealy, a former James Brown percussionist, said the movie has generated a renewed interest in drums for young musicians.

Sherry Puryear, Glenn Hills' band director, applauded Mr. Hatcher's efforts.

"His work assists all the band directors county-wide, because he keeps our kids active throughout the summer," she said.

Many area school bands and students don't perform during the summer, she said.

As founder of Step-A-Rama, a local college step show, Mr. Gartrell said he also supports Mr. Hatcher financially.

"It's because of his dedication to young people, this is why he deserves the financial help," said Mr. Gartrell.

He added that he hopes the festival will generate $30,000 to aid Mr. Hatcher's group.
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Reader Comments

dang, how i wish i could have come home that weekend!--i bet it was something else!
Posted by istp on Mon Oct 1, 2007 8:01 AM

I was there my wife, sons and daughter....it was their first time seeing and hearing a black college, university band that had over one hundred members. Our black children need to see the positive side of being black, and our HBCUs are our back bones in this country. Mr. Hatcher keep pushing..........Jellyroll, Laney and Josey get on board please...
Posted by belapris55 on Mon Oct 1, 2007 10:26 AM