UAPB Poised For Success Under Coleman

The Monte Coleman era has begun at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Defensively, the Lions return 8 starters that could be the reason they go back to Birmingham, AL for the SWAC championship. Offensively, senior Jonathon Moore will lead the Lions this season. They're offensive line averages over 350 pounds and that's good news for running backs Martell Mallet and Mickey Dean.

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Rodgers-Cromartie (TSU) hurt at practice

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals rookie cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a four-year starter at Tennessee State University, was taken off the practice field on a cart after injuring his right ankle on Tuesday. Rodgers-Cromartie, the Cardinals' top draft pick, rolled his right ankle during drills halfway through practice and did not return to the field.

Arizona Coach Ken Whisenhunt spoke briefly after practice but provided little detail on Rodgers-Cromartie's condition. "We'll know more tomorrow," Whisenhunt said. "He tried to go but it's a little sore so we'll see tomorrow." The Cardinals drafted the speedy 6-foot-2, 182-pounder with the 16th overall pick.

Rodgers-Cromartie is expected to push for playing time in the defensive backfield this season and worked with the starting unit several times...

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Weather wet, OK for FAMU workout

Defense shines early for Rattlers

Joe Taylor stepped back, applauding at midfield as a buzzer sounded to signal the end of the first day of practice in pads. "In all honesty, it couldn't have worked out much better," he told the team, leaving no question about how he felt after seeing the Rattlers work out for two hours during a steady drizzle.

Rattlers Running back Demitric Henry.

"It was a double- whammy on them —- first day in pads and they had to deal with the elements," Taylor said. "It was a bonus for us. We got better as a result of that."

If there was a unit that could have been singled out for consistency, it would have been the defense. "I liked the energy level," Taylor said. "They created some turnovers, and they made some tackles. Overall, for the first day in pads I think we're making progress." The unit seemed to have a one-track mind — find the ball — all afternoon.

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S.C. State Bulldogs Motto: ‘Shut Up and Play’

This year’s preseason camp at South Carolina State has moved along on the quiet side.
Missing is the open talk about winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship. Through Wednesday’s practice, there were no public proclamations about this being “The Year of the Bulldog.” Even getting selected as the preseason favorite to win the conference title does not encourage braggadocio from the players.

Taking a cue from head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough, the Bulldogs have adopted a more humble yet pointed approach towards the upcoming season - one based on less “bark” and more “bite.” In other words, it’s just “Shut Up and Play” for S.C. State.

“Coach Pough was just getting tired about everybody saying that we were picked to win,” senior co-captain and center Raymond “Duck” Harrison said. “Okay, we’re picked to win. So, blah, blah, blah...

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Smith leads SU's deep RB corps

Southern University has to replace running back Darren Coates this season. Or not. Well, at least, or not really. Coates had a phenomenal breakout season as a senior, earning All-Southwestern Athletic Conference second-team honors while rushing for 732 yards and seven touchdowns and catching a team-high 49 passes for 566 yards and five TDs.

Jaguars top tailback Kendrick Smith, #33 is roaring to start the season

Because that blend has never been seen to that level before in the Pete Richardson era, while Southern needs to find a replacement, trying to find an exact fit is not necessarily the goal. As it was, Coates’ pass-catching developed through the season. “He had the uncanny ability to get out of the backfield, stretch the defense and catch the ball,” offensive coordinator Mark Orlando said of Coates. “He was more of a prototype pro...

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COLTS/NFL: Getting to know Chad Simpson (Morgan State)

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Colts Running back Chad Simpson Photo Gallery

Position: Running back.
Jersey No.: 35.
Height, weight: 5-9, 216.
Age: 22.
Hometown: Born and resides in Miami.
College: Morgan State University.
Pro tenure: Rookie, undrafted.

How did you feel about your first preseason game? "I was excited. To finally be out there playing against an actual NFL team, it was just crazy the way time has gone."

You're another football player from Florida, huh? "You're always being compared to the Willis McGahees and the Frank Gores. You've got to live up to that hype down there, which is not hard. All you've got to do is just get a chance and show what you can do. I've been doing this since I was 7."

Hobbies? "I like to play the Nintendo Wii, the Olympics, and run a 9.7 in the 100 in track. You run with the arm motion. I'm about a 10.3 in real life."

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Three transfers join AAMU Bulldogs

Ex-Mississippi St. star received All-SEC honorable mention

Alabama A&M, in desperate need of a left tackle after preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference pick Darius Turner was ruled academically ineligible almost two weeks ago, landed a big one Monday when former Mississippi State standout Michael Brown practiced with the Bulldogs for the first time.

Brown, 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, graduated with a degree in Business Communications and will work on his master's in Family & Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Human Development/Family Studies at A&M. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

"I talked to a lot of people before I made the decision to come here," said Brown, who picked A&M over Georgia Southern, Grambling and Jacksonville State. "(MSU coach) Coach (Sylvester) Croom and (A&M coach) Coach (Anthony) Jones are close. Coach Jones has a lot of experience, runs a good program and the offense they run is similar to what we ran at Mississippi State.

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SCSU Dogs' 'D' dominates Monday evening session

South Carolina State, following a day off Sunday, returned to the practice field Monday as the Bulldogs conducted two workouts. The Bulldogs conducted a 6:15 a.m. drill in full pads, then came back for a 6:50 p.m. workout in just shorts, helmets and shoulder pads.

S.C. State head coach Buddy Pough termed the morning session a lively and productive one, attributing his team’s performance to the cool temperatures. The evening practice, which was mostly devoted to the passing game – both offensively and defensively – was dominated by the defense, according to Pough.

“Going early gave us a chance to get in a real productive practice,” Pough said “Not having to worry about the weather, allowed us to maintain our focus and be more productive.

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North Carolina A&T Brown promoted to AD

GREENSBORO -- There are some subtleties to Wheeler Brown, a friendly sort with the frame of a bear. But Monday, the former Aggie football player spoke like an offensive lineman, not a diplomat.

"My No. 1 goal would be for us to get our swagger back," said Brown, who was named athletics director at his alma mater on a full-time basis Monday. "There was a time when we were kings. If you wanted a championship, you had to come through Greensboro to get it, and you had to fight like hell to get it. We're going back to those days. That's it."

Brown, who had been AD on an interim basis since Dee Todd was reassigned in November 2007, is familiar with the full spectrum. As a player in 1975, he helped the Aggies...




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At Bethune, Alvin Wyatt has a true 'home' edge

Alvin Wyatt clearly enjoys being flashy. Bethune-Cookman's football coach has maybe the most distinctive sideline wardrobe in the game. Shirts opened to mid-chest, gaudy jewelry dangling from his neck, sunglasses, pointed shoes with a glossy shine. And when he's away from the football field, he sometimes can be found driving around Daytona Beach in his luxury sedan. It's simply part of his lore, the way he's always been, the way he'll always be.

Yet Wyatt also has a simple side, the one that is the backbone of his football program.

BCU Wildcats head football coach Alvin Wyatt(Mark's Digital Photography).

For nearly three decades, the Bronson Residential Complex - the Bethune dorm that houses most football players, wedged between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and the team's practice field - has been his year-round home. He eats alongside the students, shares a bathroom with them, rides the same elevators, walks the same hallways. His reason? Officially, it's to save money, since he isn't exactly one of football's higher-paid coaches.

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Cotton Bowl to host Texas Southern vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

The Cotton Bowl has added a major sporting event Thanksgiving weekend as it hosts the Dallas Lone Star Classic football game between Texas Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The game is scheduled for Nov. 29 at 2:30 p.m. The Lone Star Classic represents a coup for Fair Park and the Cotton Bowl because it will be held on a day when the stadium is otherwise quiet, said Daniel Huerta, executive general manager of Fair Park.

"This is going to add another mix to that long weekend and provide a new option for people to come out," Huerta said. "For families that may be in town for the Thanksgiving holidays, you now have a football game that you can go to at the Cotton Bowl."

Fair Park and BE Entertainment, the game's promoter, have a one-year contract for the game at the Cotton Bowl.

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SU WRs find right numbers

Southern wide receivers Curry Allen and Corderious Gregory are so alike. Both are 6-foot-3 and sleekly athletic. Both have put in their time working their games and bodies preparing for their turns. And both will get their turns this season. Saturday, they shared something else in common. Both donned their new game numbers for the first time.

Allen is now No. 13 — from No. 85. Gregory is now No. 4 — from No. 82. The mindset is this: A new season calls for a new attitude and new mojo, signaling a break from the days when they were buried in the depth chart. Allen, a junior known best as a threat to use his speed and length off the edge to block kicks last season, said, “Nobody’s heard of Curry Allen as a wide receiver. I’m trying to make my mark.”

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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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