Daunting task for Hampton's Holmes

Quarterback T.J. Mitchell (Mark's Digital Photography).

Excerpt:

Who will be the Pirates' quarterback?

Not, apparently, T.J. Mitchell, who threw for 2,309 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 173-for-332 passing as a redshirt sophomore last season. Holmes said Mitchell is academically ineligible this fall, leaving HU's offense in the hands of redshirt sophomore Herbert Bynes, who played in three games last season, completing 7 of 15 passes for 114 yards.

"(Bynes) is a leader," Holmes said. "He's a good student. He has great character, works hard. He had some success (last year). He was a pretty good quarterback coming out of high school." The other quarterbacks on HU's roster are freshmen Darius Jackson out of John Marshall High in Richmond and Phillip Dunegan from Centreville High.

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Baltimore proving to be Bears’ den - Morgan State eyes Mid Eastern Athletic Conference

BALTIMORE - Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley doesn’t have to continually remind his players of their goal of winning a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title any more — they do it for him. “Before you had to sell them on the fact that they didn’t want to be part of a losing tradition and they just wanted to be competitive,” Hill-Eley said. “I hear them talking about championships, but I see them doing extra laps, I see them putting in extra time in the weight room.”

MSU Bears returns eight starters from a defense that ranked second overall in the Football Championship Subdivision (1-AA)(photo by Mark's Digital Photography).

The Bears, coming off of consecutive 5-6 seasons, have their sights set on a MEAC title and automatic berth in the 16-team Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Morgan State’s six losses last season, were by an average of 6.5 points, with none by more than eight.

Offensively, the Bears must replace Chad Simpson, the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year last season. The leading candidate to fill the void left by Simpson, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent, is redshirt sophomore Devan James, who rushed 418 yards and two touchdowns on 85 carries last season.

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Rattler pride rears its head

Watching the NFL draft the last couple of years during his professional career wasn’t easy for Earl Holmes. There was a problem somewhere, Holmes thought. That no FAMU Rattlers’ names were being called bothered him. Other schools around the MEAC have been producing NFL caliber players consistently. Bethune-Cookman and Hampton universities have sent quite a few since FAMU’s Quinn Gray went to the NFL in 2002.

And Gray had to take the free agent route to the NFL after graduating from FAMU. “We are not the big dog anymore,” Holmes said. “There were bigger fish in the pond and that got to me a little bit.” That has to be what they call Rattler pride. In the last 12 years, Holmes and Gray are the only former Rattlers to have played in the NFL.

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FAMU speedster Donovan Johnson ready to play

The Florida A&M football media guide says Donovan Johnson didn’t play in 2007.
It doesn’t say why the defensive back from Miami wasn’t on the field with his teammates. If there’s a medical term for the redshirt junior’s absence, it would be this: broken heart.

Johnson, perhaps the fastest player on the team, was prepared to be a starter last season. He had worked hard during the summer and, by all accounts, had a good preseason camp. But the day before the season opener against Southern, Johnson was informed he had “paperwork” problems.

He switched majors after his sophomore year, choosing to pursue a degree in criminal justice instead of accounting. Even though he’s on track to graduate in the spring after four years at FAMU, at the start of his junior year Johnson did not have enough credit hours toward his new major, according to NCAA rules.

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Transfers to HU want to rise after their falls

Hampton University head football coach Jerry Holmes (Mark's Digital Photography).

Excerpt:

The business of second chances is serious, especially when others are counting on your redemption. First-year head coach Jerry Holmes isn't concerned about the transfers' tainted history repeating. He believes the character of his team and coaching staff will help keep them on track.

"We've got to monitor these kids and make sure that we keep the proper people around them," Holmes said. The players "feel like they got a bad deal from their previous school, so they want to come here and say, 'Now I'm gonna show them.'"

There are adjustments, to be sure. Coker, who enrolled in Hampton in January, said he spent his first two months at the school sleeping, until his teammates introduced him to new people. Bryant Miller, a defensive end who transferred from Auburn, said he feels welcome at Hampton, but "in the beginning, it was rocky ...

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SSU conducts first football scrimmage

Hunter snags two interceptions

The sounds of sawing, hammering and drilling echoed throughout Savannah State's campus Saturday morning. It started at T.A. Wright Stadium, which is being renovated, and drifted to the practice field near Tiger Arena, where SSU's football team did some building of its own.

The offense worked on mastering the Tigers' new spread offense during the first scrimmage of fall practice. SSU's six quarterbacks took turns operating the no-huddle attack, which involves spreading the field vertically and horizontally to open up gaps for the running and passing games to exploit.

First-year head coach Robby Wells and offensive coordinator Alan Hall frequently had the Tigers use four wide receivers - three to one side of the field - and one running back. The quarterbacks often worked from the shotgun formation. "It's a multiple-set offense because we can go from two backs and two tight ends all the way to no backs and five wide receivers," Wells said.


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UAPB Coleman glad to be in heat and pads

Friday was Monte Coleman’s kind of day. The sun was shining and he was on the football field. After two days of rain and cooler temperatures brought a reprieve from the nearly triple-digit temperatures to his team, Coleman was glad to see the mercury rising Friday.

“We needed the heat,” Coleman said. “Even though we play mostly night games, to condition in the heat gives you that extra endurance. Yesterday was a good practice day. Guys flew around. It gave them a break because it wasn’t real hot, which allowed them to run to the football.” Though Friday was the Golden Lions first day in full pads, the team still has a few players struggling with injuries. Freshman receiver Gionni Harris was noticeably limping during Friday’s practice, the result of a hamstring injury.

“We want to be patient with his injury. We don’t want it reaccuring,” Coleman said.

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Blount pleased with Winston-Salem Rams' first practice

Rams head football coach Kermit Blount has to replace star quarterback Monte Purvis, who has graduated (photo by Mark's Digital Photography).

Coach Kermit Blount saw the whole spectrum at Winston-Salem State's first football practice yesterday. There was good and bad, but through it all, Blount was happy to get an initial look at his team. Eighty-seven players reported to the first practice, including 17 freshmen, and with all those young players, there was plenty of teaching.

"The one thing that we looked for was to see who was in pretty good shape and how far we have to go with that," Blount said. "For the most part, it was pretty good, but the young guys did make some mistakes. But that's why we practice, to fix those mistakes before our first game."

The question that will hover over preseason camp, possibly until the season opener Sept. 6 against N.C. A&T, is who will be the quarterback?

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WSSU's Darrell Wonge signs to play basketball in Japan

Darrell Wonge, a former forward at Winston-Salem State, has signed a professional contract to play for the Tsusho Toyota Eagles in Nagoya, Japan.

Click here to view team and Japan Basketball League: Tsusho Toyota Fighting Eagles

Wonge (6-6, 210) was noticed at a showcase for players from major and mid-major schools. The Fighting Eagles play in the JBL2 League and finished 14-2 last season. “I’m just happy that I got the opportunity to live out my dream of playing professional basketball,” Wonge said. “It was nerve-wracking at first especially after a number of other opportunities fell through, but I’m very grateful for the opportunity that I’ve received.”

At WSSU, Wonge had career totals of 845 points, 408 rebounds, 89 assists and 74 steals. He averaged a career-best 10.7 points and had a career-high 150 rebounds last season as a senior.

His best game was when he scored a career-high 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting as Winston Salem State University dropped a close one to Hampton University, 64-62, on January 21, 2008. Wonge played high school ball at Malverne High School, Lakeview, New York.

He is the second former Ram to sign a professional sports contract at the upper division level in as many months with former WSSU defensive end William Hayes signing with the NFL Tennessee Titans in July. Wonge will depart for Japan on September 1, 2008.

Follow Darrell Wonge's team and career at: Tsusho Toyota Fighting Eagles .

ASU offense has 'D' back on its heels

'Bama State head football coach Reggie Barlow

Alabama State's first scrimmage of the fall was summed up in just one word by head coach Reggie Barlow -- "pleasing." It was pleasing to the coaches, pleasing to the players and especially pleasing to the approximately 250 fans at Hornet Stadium. ASU's new spread offense moved the ball efficiently, the quarterback play was solid, the kicking game was sound and the defense got its shots in when it mattered.

"It's hard to judge being out here on the field just how good it was, but it felt good," Barlow said. "The offense did some good things. Some of that might have been because (defensive coordinator Tony) Pierce didn't have a couple of his horses in. But it was still a nice effort all around."

The focus was on the quarterback position, where transfers Reid Herchenbach and Anthony Speight are battling for the starting role. Both played well Saturday, as the coaches moved them through a variety of starting positions on the field.

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Newcomers make impression in Jackson State scrimmage

Jackson State held its first scrimmage of training camp inside Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday with a handful of newcomers making the most of the opportunity. Freshman quarterbacks Domonick Britt and Dedric McDonald had the best days of their short JSU careers.

Britt hooked up with walk-on Rashad Smith for a 38-yard touchdown pass. He also broke loose for a 39-yard run that was called back because of offsetting penalties. McDonald turned heads with a 33-yard touchdown run up the middle. "They're coming, they're coming," JSU coach Rick Comegy said. "They're enjoying themselves now. They're not thinking about anything else right now."

Running back Bloi-Dei Dorzan broke his second long touchdown run in as many days. He ran though a few arm tackles and bounced it to the outside for a 26-yard score. Dorzan, RB Demario Pippen and RB Teravious Mitchell all fumbled the ball during the scrimmage.

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FAMU players focus on 2008 season

FAMU head football coach Joe Taylor (Mark's Digital Photography).

Excerpts:

With two-a-days beginning Monday, FAMU's players will be able to focus on the 2008 season and leave the distractions of the previous year behind them. Wilder leads an experienced group of Rattlers that hope to salvage their careers under the tutelage of legendary coach Joe Taylor. Taylor was hired to replace Rubin Carter last January and brings what he calls his "blueprint of success" down to Tallahassee after spending the last 16 seasons as the head coach at Hampton University.

"There is no magic in winning," Taylor said. "The only thing a coach ever wants is a chance to be competitive." Taylor also brings his two national championship rings to Tallahassee, and wears them ever day as a reminder to the players of what they are aiming to accomplish.

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Former Alcornite and Titans' QB McNair pays visit to UTM

MARTIN, TN - The University of Tennessee-Martin football team has almost finished its first week of practice, and the Skyhawks already got their first big surprise of the season Wednesday. Former Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair showed up at practice and gave the team a pep talk before they hit the field.

"It is the work you put in now that determines if you are ready to make that final play in the fourth quarter when it counts," the former NFL co-MVP told the team. McNair was in town visiting his two nephews: Jason and Julius McNair, who are both freshmen for the Skyhawks' football team this year.

UTM head coach Jason Simpson said having McNair, who finished third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1994 despite only playing at the I-AA level at Alcorn State, was good for his team early in fall camp.

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Long’s time coming: Pough, SCSU offense changes to suit former Mr. Football

Malcolm Long stood straight and kept his chin high.

At South Carolina State’s media day early Friday, the sophomore was a popular topic of discussion and rightfully so. With Cleve McCoy graduated, it’s time for the former South Carolina “Mr. Football” to start living up to expectations.

“I’m nervous but excited and happy all at the same time,” Long said. “When it all comes out, I’m just going out and trying to have fun. I’m not going to try to impress anybody. I’m going to try to help my team win a MEAC Championship.”

He might not be trying, but Long has definitely impressed S.C. State head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough. If he succeeds in the new offensive schemes dreamed up by Pough and Howard Feggins, SCSU fans will join the ranks of the impressed soon enough.

SEE BULLDOGS VIDEO: S.C. State Scrimmage Highlights on Aug. 9, 2008

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Deeper Jaguars hitting stride

One week into Camp Richardson XVI, and Southern University coaches still like what they’ve been seeing. “It’s starting to come around on both sides, especially offensively,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “I thought the defense would be further ahead (in pace), but the offense is coming around.”

While the entire team has benefited from improved numbers and an infusion of youth, both the offensive and defensive lines have been helped most — far from the spare, patchwork jobs of a year ago. That has given Southern a strengthened core.

As a program, SU evolved to an 8-3 mark last season, and the push is clearly on to hone a more veteran group, whereas recent camps might have gone slower as coaches concentrated more on teaching.

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FAMU senior learning LB position from Rattlers great

FAMU's football preseason is five days old and Vernon Wilder still hasn't clobbered one of his teammates. The Rattlers' leading tackler the past two seasons, Wilder relishes bone-jarring contact. But the players haven't put on pads yet. That will come next week, when two-a-days get under way.

New head coach Joe Taylor has focused on taking care of paperwork, walk-through practices and developing a sense of unity among the players. That's just fine, as far as Wilder is concerned. "I'm excited whenever the pads come on, but I'm not going to rush it," Wilder said. "Coach Taylor knows what he's doing. "Right now we're getting the system in our minds and preserving our bodies."

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Grambling sets high volleyball goals for 2008

By GSU Sports Information

After falling short in the finals of the 2007 SWAC Volleyball Tournament, the Grambling State Lady Tiger volleyball team returned to campus this week hungrier than ever as they began preparing for the 2008 campaign.

Led by head coach Kim Young, the Lady Tigers came within a match of earning a NCAA Tournament bid as they had an emotional SWAC Tournament run that saw them play 25 consecutive games. With an experienced roster returning, expectations are high for the Lady Tigers this season but Young said her team has to get in shape before they move on to anything else.

“The first few days were pretty difficult,” she said. “I sent my players workout manuals that were designed to keep them in shape while on summer break. Half of the players came back in good shape while a few of the younger players thought it would be easy to whip back into shape at the beginning of camp. It took some time for them to get back to where I wanted but mostly everyone is in good condition.”

The Lady Tigers will hold two practices per day until the start of school on August 18. Young said the morning practices will emphasize conditioning while the afternoon session is spent on tactical issues. With a veteran team returning, Young said her goal is to capture the SWAC Championship.

“I’ve worked with this group for several years so we’re on the same page in terms of goals this year,” Young said. While Young has the luxury of experience on her side, she’s also going to spend a lot of time working her freshman group into the mix so they can gain the experience needed down the line.

“After the year is over, I’m going to lose some key seniors so the freshmen will see a lot of action,” said Young. “I have high expectations for them so that this time next year, they’ll be ready to step into the shoes of the seniors and pick up where they left off.”

Grambling opens the year on the road in Tampa Bay, Fla. at the University of South Florida Invitational on the weekend of Aug. 29-30.

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Prairie View A&M men's basketball opens at UCLA

Derek Johnson, 6-1/190 junior guard, Euless, Texas (Blackhawk JC).

Prairie View's men's basketball team will face one of its most daunting schedules, which includes a season-opening trip to fabled Pauley Pavilion to take on national power UCLA.

The Panthers will make the visit to Los Angeles on Nov. 12, taking on a Bruins team that has reached the Final Four in each of the last three seasons under coach Ben Howland. UCLA finished 35-3 last year and despite the loss of NBA first-round picks Kevin Love (Minnesota) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City), the Bruins are expected to be contenders for the national title.

Prairie View will also make trips to Missouri (Nov. 15) and Hawaii (Dec. 1), along with visits to Baylor (Dec. 13), New Mexico State (Dec. 17) and Colorado (Dec. 19) before opening Southwestern Athletic Conference play at Alcorn State on Jan. 3.

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SEE ENTIRE SCHEDULE, CLICK HERE: PVAMU Panthers Men's Basketball 2008/09 Schedule in pdf format

VIEW: PVAMU Panthers Team Information

Southern finishes first week with team action

The first full week of Camp Richardson XVI concluded with an extended segment of team-on-team action Saturday at Southern’s football practice fields. SU staged around 40 plays from various spots — at the 5-yard line heading out and at the 5-yard line heading in as well as a series of plays in the middle of the field.

The Jaguars worked with alternate units, like the No. 1 offense vs. the No. 2 defense and had a heavy emphasis on the running game, as only 12 passes were thrown. Down and distance weren’t kept. Several main cogs — running back Kendrick Smith (finger), defensive end Vince Lands (tooth), fullback Alvin Fosselman (hamstring) and end Gary Chatman — were held out.

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DSU transfer Walters has been welcome surprise at tailback for JSU

Sometimes things work out in an odd way - just ask Terrell Walters. The Jackson State running back didn't make a lasting impression during two years at Delta State, then came a coaching change in which the two sides didn't exactly see eye to eye. "Basically, I went from a program that they said I really couldn't be anything to a program where I feel I can contribute and make plays," Walters said."

Walters said adios to the Statesmen and transferred to JSU, where he had to sit out the 2007 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship season. The 2008 spring practices came around and suddenly Walters was one of two tailbacks on the roster as Lavarius Giles and Cody Hull had exhausted their eligibility and Erik Haw, who started eight games last season, entered the NFL draft.

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SU’s Selders ready to go out strong

To his friends and teammates, Southern defensive tackle Joseph Selders is known simply as Midnight. To his coach, defensive coordinator Terrence Graves, Selders has another handle. “He’s basically the engine of the train,” Graves said between mops of his brow on a baking Saturday afternoon in Mumford Stadium. “We tell him all the time, how he goes, we go.”

The engine has some helping horsepower. Fellow starters Frank Harry at defensive tackle, Vincent Lands and Don Holloway at ends. Plus the glorious bonus of depth, something that has been desperately lacking on Southern’s front in the past. “You don’t know what a blessing it is to have 15 defensive linemen,” Graves said during SU Media Day.

“There were times we had to do some things, like make a linebacker a defensive end, because of injuries.”

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Former Benedictine star now in QB race at Savannah State

DeFilippis second on the depth chart

A.J. DeFilippis has been on Savannah State's campus for only one week, but he's already made an impact on the football team. DeFilippis, a freshman and former Benedictine standout, is No. 2 on the quarterback depth chart going into the Tigers' first scrimmage today at 9 a.m.

"Right now, I'd probably call it about a three-man race, with (junior JaCorey) Kilcrease probably at the front, A.J. and (freshman) Kurvin Curry," SSU first-year head coach Robby Wells said. "Those three guys are a little bit ahead right now. I'm not saying it's going to stay that way. The other three guys (Javares Taylor, Daniel Wilson and Malik Allah) are working hard."

Coach Robby Wells first Savannah player signee was the 6-foot-4, 181-pound DeFilippis, and the 24th overall.




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Turnovers, injuries are why FAMU shapes up

Coaches realize fatigue hurt Rattlers late

Joe Taylor took one look at the statistics from last season and spotted where FAMU troubles were. Turnovers and not enough participating players throughout the season. But even with last season's a 3-8 record, Taylor is already getting word from around the MEAC that his Rattlers won't be taken lightly. He understands that in part is due to his move from Hampton earlier this year and FAMU's reputation of winning in years long past.

Plus, there is more parity than ever in the league — obvious by Delaware State's turnaround to win the conference title last season. But Taylor said the Rattlers can again become contenders for a championship if they take to heart his mantra about protection of the football. FAMU ended last season with the highest turnover margin with minus 12.

Saturday's media day gave Taylor another platform to stress his concerns about ball control.

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S.C. State and a recipe for success

Reflecting on the just-completed four-part series on the state of S.C. State athletics, the one word that comes to mind is potential. It’s a word that carries both good and bad connotations. Often times, it’s placed on an athlete, team or, in S.C. State’s case, program that has exhibited signs of greatness for the future.

For those who turn potential into success, it’s the fulfillment of expectations. On the other hand, for those who fail to reach those predisposed goals, potential can become a burden too heavy to carry.

Having examined S.C. State athletics over the past summer, I find it evident the school has the means to become a dominating force in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. To their credit, school administrators have done more than a yeoman’s share of work toward providing the resources for all of the programs to succeed.

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Jackson State Tigers' dozing offense awakens

Through four practices, it just wasn't fair.

The Jackson State defense, returning eight starters off the 2007 Southwestern Athletic Conference champions, had been a bully for four straight days. The defensive line was dominant as Sam Washington and Marcus Benard were nearly unblockable off the ends. Dennis Coit, Neal Pogue and Temple transfer Terrence Banks were bruisers inside. The linebacking corps showed no weakness and the defensive backs stuck so close to wanna-be receivers they nearly qualified for common-law marriage.

The atmosphere on the opposite sides of the field couldn't have been more different. Linebackers Marcellus Speaks and Marcus Jamison bounced around shouting at anyone who would listen. Smiles were prevalent after each running back was pounded into the ground, even during no-tackle drills.

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