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SU quarterback Bryant Lee, the SWAC’s preseason offensive player of the year.
The ho-hum part of Southern’s substantial scrimmage Saturday morning was the first-stringers did well. The sizzle is in how freshmen Jerry Joseph and LaQuinton Evans keep coming on. Joseph, a running back from Ville Platte High, scored twice, including a 19-yard grab in which he put a hand on the turf to steady himself and then turned on the speed to slash through the defense.
And Evans, a wide receiver from Mansfield High, had three grabs for 75 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown. Together, they scored three of SU’s five touchdowns at A.W. Mumford Stadium. Their performances continued an important preseason camp trend, as SU trotted out a crop of newcomers who have added a depth lacking in recent years and brought in significant talent and drive.
Southern Jaguars head football coach Pete Richardson
Kendrick Smith set the tone for Southern’s scrimmage Saturday by taking a screen pass to the right, slipping between the blocks nicely set up ahead of him and speeding away for an 80-yard gain. What’s the tone? The first stringers who have grown together over the years and helped SU to a bounce-back 8-3 record a year ago are ahead of the second stringers.
As the Jaguars went more than 120 plays Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium, the first teams worked exclusively against their second-team counterparts. The first-team offense, even with center Ramon Chinyoung (groin), fullback Alvin Fosselman (hamstring) and running back Brian Threat (hamstring) out and Smith (hand) limited to two touches, looked smooth working against the second-team defense.
Junior linebacker John Hogan, an all-SWAC player as a freshman, has been kicked off the team
A little over a week ago, Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow said he wanted to name a starting quarterback at least two weeks before the Hornets' first game at Florida A&M. Saturday was Barlow's self-imposed deadline. He's going to blow it. Following a solid week of practices from both Anthony Speight and Reid Herchenbach, Barlow said the race was still too close to call, and he gave himself a few extra days to come to a decision.
"Hopefully, this week we can get the guy," he said. "What I was really hoping for is for one of those guys to step up and just blow it away, make himself the clear choice. That hasn't happened. They've both played well -- really well. It's been a tight, competitive race." If a little flash is what Barlow was looking for, Herchenbach obliged on Saturday.
FAMU's offense hampers battle for starting QB; freshman Derrick Shaw emerges at quarterback
Quarterback Eddie Battles' struggles were glaringly obvious against a defense that was very disruptive. The defensive pressures were enough to overshadow what seemed like a battle brewing for the back-up quarterback role. But while the offense couldn't do much during FAMU's first scrimmage Saturday, coach Joe Taylor said he didn't see much that was unexpected. More than anything else, he was upbeat about the progress he saw on defense.
"This first scrimmage is mainly to try to find the personnel: who's willing to fly around and who is willing to make some contact," Taylor said, praising the defense that forced turnovers and interceptions.
"That gives you a sigh of relief because you wouldn't want it the other way around. Usually this is what happens. I told them usually this is how it works out." Taylor said changes in personnel and schemes are likely after he reviews each player's performance on film.
Aside from quarterback Kelcy Luke, Alabama A&M's biggest losses on offense were tight ends three-time All-SWAC selection Charles Moody and John Smith. A&M's new tight ends offer few credentials and no numbers to speak of. Todd Leichtfuss and Jeremy Cunningham have caught one pass between them, but despite their lack of playing time and production, they're confident they can be just as effective.
I feel that we can handle this," said Leichtfuss, a 6-foot-2, 217-pound junior who will serve as the Bulldogs' long- snapper for the third straight year in addition to his tight end duties. "As long as we do our job and not worry about anybody else, everything will take care of itself." Cunningham was a little more adamant.
DOVER, DE -- Inside the Mishoe Science Building at Delaware State, young men are paying homage to some of history's greatest motivational generals while being led by a corporal. Away from the chatter of campus life, it's a place to soak in a daily education in football. And the youngest member of DSU's coaching staff, special teams coach Derek Hall, is teaching at this oasis of football knowledge.
"We try to do things that are fun and exciting," Hall said. "I take a special approach. It's not just a special teams meeting." Under Hall, one of just two assistant coaches who remain from head coach Al Lavan's first season in 2004, the Hornets special teams unit has become the envy of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Southern University will hold its first major scrimmage of the preseason at 9 a.m. today in A.W. Mumford Stadium. The Jaguars will go about 120 plays. This time, unlike a week ago when they finished with 40 plays from selected spots on the field, the offense will advance the ball, with downs being kept. The scrimmage will be open to the public.
“We’ll go down the field, and if they don’t make it, we’ll come back. Situational stuff,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. The scrimmage will be crucial in evaluating players after two full weeks of camp. SU will take off Sunday and then start a school-week practices Monday. Because of NCAA sanctions in the wake of another unsatisfactory Academic Progress Rate showing, SU is limited to 16 hours instead of 20.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference will kick off a new and somewhat controversial conference schedule on Aug. 30. The new format calls for seven games to decide the SWAC divisional races instead of nine. The thought process is that fewer conference games opens up dates for schools to schedule a "money game" against a Division I-A opponent, a game that could pay schools upwards of $500,000.
The idea was approved by the council of presidents, SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp said. The format has its pluses and minuses. Teams that are able to land games against better schools get a boost in revenue and a little national exposure for the league. "With us, the first thing you look at is how is this going to affect us from a financial standpoint," Sharp said.
FAMU Coach Joe Taylor quarterbacks are lacking in game experience, but are talented.
There's inexperienced. And then there's inexperienced. Florida A&M's starting quarterback, Eddie Battle, is a redshirt sophomore who saw action in only six games last year. But compared to Tobias Lee, the Rattlers' No.2 quarterback, Battle is a grizzled veteran. Lee is a redshirt freshman from Brundidge, Ala., who has yet to take a snap in a college game. It's not as if he came to FAMU with a lot of experience, either. Lee played quarterback for only one season at Pike County High School.
He was primarily a receiver in high school, and the FAMU staff was considering playing him at tight end until backup quarterback Robert Love left the team. Quarterbacks coach Steven Jerry likes what Lee brings to the field, however. Jerry sees an athletic, 6-foot-4 youngster who throws left-handed and may have the strongest arm on the team. We're working on his presence in the huddle," Jerry said.
Head coach Joe Taylor was only joking when he suggested to special-teams coach Juan Vasquez that he might have to make arrangements for three kickers to travel with the FAMU football team this season. The race to find a do-all kicker is really that close, though. The contenders are Troy Walker, Trevor Scott and Will Platt. None of them seem to be able to get a leg up on the other since practice began earlier this week.
"Right now we can't make a decision by looking at them," Vasquez said Friday. "To separate them, we actually have to record everything they do on film; watch the hang time on punts. It's the small things that are separating them right now." FAMU has not had such a battle in at least 15 years to find its starting kicker.
GRAMBLING — While the Grambling offense continues to be a work in progress, the Grambling defense is shaping into a formidable force. "On defense we're playing really well and getting better, and we're showing some signs," coach Rod Broadway said. Offense is taking a bit longer than we anticipated, but the only solution to that is to just continue to work."
The root of the offense's miscues is the battle to determine a starting quarterback. The defense has no such issues. The Tigers have a strong stable of returnees in both the secondary and on the defensive line, and have talented linebackers to boot. Last season Grambling's ranked third in the SWAC in scoring defense (18 points per game) and second in total defense (305 yards per game).
Glenn Bell and Michael Williams have one more year to make an impact on the field at Southern, but their legacy could last longer. The two defensive backs help make the secondary as the most veteran unit on the team. However, there’s an interesting dynamic working within the group. After four seniors and a junior among the top five defensive backs, there is a host of up-and-coming players.
With that in mind, Bell and Williams, both in their fifth years with the program, have been providing the kind of leadership that can have an impact on the growth of that group. “After my starters, it is a lot of young guys,” first-year defensive backs coach Jackie Mitchell said. “There are guys who have been around, but not actually in the fire. With that, it’s been great with Glenn Bell and Mike Williams stepping up, being leaders, having them out here early, going over the checks, going over the calls.
Cornerbacks are supposed to apply pressure on receivers, but at Tennessee State, it's the cornerbacks who are under heavy pressure.The players vying for the starting cornerback assignments face extra scrutiny because the position was a glaring strength of the defense during the four years Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was on the roster.
The consensus All-American is no longer around. He was taken in the first round of the NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, leaving several players with the challenge of carrying on TSU's tradition for strong cornerback play. "It's a little bit different back there now,'' defensive backs coach John Parker said. "It's hard to replace Dominique because he's such a great athlete. But we've got good people athleticism-wise. We've got some young ones and we're doing the best we can to get them ready to go."
South Carolina State worked out in full pads Thursday morning during an approximate two-hour drill which emphasized team-style execution and fundamentals, according to head coach Buddy Pough. The Bulldogs also completed their installations during the session, which Pough called lively.
“We had great weather again,” Pough said “and this led to a lot of enthusiasm. The players were very lively and appear to be excited about the upcoming season. “We have mostly identified those players that will make up our depth chart in just about every area with the exception of special teams where we still have some development to do, but we expect that area to be set in a week or so.”
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Alabama State won't be able to Peck away at opposing defenses this season. The Hornets have relied heavily on tailback Jay Peck the past two years, but now have made the switch to a more pass-oriented spread offense. Just having a good running game isn't enough for coach Reggie Barlow any more.
"Last year we finished pretty high in total offense but when you look at it we rushed the ball better than everybody else," Barlow, a former NFL receiver, said. "Our passing game was really bad. With this system we'll throw the ball around more. Passing-wise, we should be up in the top-tier. That hopefully will open up running lanes.
LORMAN — Since Ernest Jones was hired as Alcorn State’s football coach last December, the mantra for the program has been, “It’s a new day.” That new day arrives Aug. 30 when the Braves host Southeastern Louisiana at Jack Spinks Stadium.
“I’m chomping at the bit,” Jones said. “I want it to get here, but I’m not in that big of a hurry. We need these days to prepare. We just want to get out there.”
Since Jones was hired, excitement around the Alcorn program has been at a fever pitch. Now, the coach knows his team must produce results on the field to keep the excitement level up. “The fanfare has been very positive,” Jones said. “The alumni and administration are excited and we expect to sell the stadium out on Aug. 30. It’s time for the fans to see something exciting and positive and we plan to give them that.”
For every bit of success that Joe Taylor has had as a football coach, there has been one constant — his offense has been about running the ball. He did it all 17 seasons at Hampton, where he won five MEAC titles before coming to Florida A&M earlier this year. It will definitely be more of the same. So much for the reputation that the Rattlers had for more than a decade of being a pass-happy team.
Joe knows Dewayne...DeWayne Lanier, 6-7/315 offensive lineman that can open gapping holes for the Rattlers stable of running backs.
No need trying to reinvent the wheel is the way Taylor figures it. Running the ball has brought success for coaches long before him, going back to legends such as Jake Gaither and Bear Bryant and even coaches of the current era. "They are the ones that are consistently in the top five and winning national championships; the teams that run the ball," Taylor said.
Jackson State installed the rest of its offensive and defensive packages during the first two-a-day of training camp Wednesday, coach Rick Comegy said. The Tigers used the 9 a.m. session to put the last of the plays in and the 4 p.m. session to rehash them. "The kids caught on real fast," Comegy said. "Now what we can do is review the review. There's nothing else that needs to go in. We have the package in.
"The only thing we have left is game-planning wrinkles we want to make against the opponent." The Tigers plan to begin specific preparation for the Aug. 31 season opener against Hampton on Monday. JSU will scrimmage Saturday and then be able to solidify a first- and second-string.
Hornets added several play-making transfers on Wednesday.
The group is led by 6-foot-1, 235-pound inside linebacker Stephen Johnson from Miami. Johnson is from Los Angeles Pierce College where he was highly sought after by several big-name schools. Brian Whitmore, a 6-4, 250-pound junior defensive end from Chesapeake, Va., transferred two weeks ago from the University of Maryland. Nick Lochner, a punter from Alfred State, will compete for punting duties.
Coaches also expect to get time from long snapper Richard Bernard (Lackawanna College) and safety Ahmad Harris (West Hills, Calif., College). Garrett Watson, a redshirt freshman kicker/punter who initially signed with Virginia Tech, is in the process of transferring and could be available as early as Friday.
ORLANDO — Bethune-Cookman University freshman pitcher Joseph Munoz recently was named the Most Valuable Pitcher for the Orlando Suns during the Florida Collegiate Summer League (FCSL). Munoz finished the summer with a perfect 6-0 record and an ERA of just 1.33 through 40.2 innings of action. He also posted 34 strikeouts and had three saves out of the bullpen, though seeing most his action as a starter for the Suns.
The Suns finished in fifth place for the year. Munoz was a three-time FCSL Pitcher of the Week for the Suns, as well as being the only Suns player to hold a perfect record as a starter. He finished his freshman season at B-CU with 20 strikeouts collected in 25 innings on the bump for the Maroon and Gold.
This is where it all started. That single thought played in Kimberly N. Holland's mind as she sat in the Southwest DeKalb High School (Atlanta)gymnasium, watching Angelo Taylor and Terrence Trammell. The athletes, bound for the Summer Olympics, had returned to their alma mater for a pep rally staged on their behalf.
As the band played, the cheerleaders cheered and Taylor and Trammell gave speeches, Holland couldn't help but remember her own start as a sports agent, a field still dominated by men. It's not the profession she envisioned for herself. She wanted to be an attorney, to fight for social change and justice, to give voice to those who had none. After high school, she hit the track running, so to speak. She graduated from Norfolk State University, worked for Sen. Edward Kennedy, then moved to Atlanta.
She spent two years here at LaFace Records before returning to Virginia, where she enrolled at a Christian school, the Regent University School of Law.
CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.
Representing Track and Field Olympians Walter Dix, Angelo Taylor, Terrence Trammell,Shawn Crawford, LaShawn Merrit, Bernard Williams, Tyree Washington and Bolota Asmerom, the young sister Holland is headed for sports management super stardom. It's absolutely great that she has broken into the sports management field with superior capability to represent our top athletes in their contract negotiations, branding and product endorsement deals.
Ms. Holland, a native Washingtonian, appears to have exceptional skills --entrepreneurial, solid communicator and negotiator, experienced deal maker, christian foundation, connected and committed to our best interests. Way to go Spartans! Another glass ceiling broken. Behold the Green and Gold...
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Norfolk State University Spartan "Legion" Marching Band
Both South Carolina State Wednesday practices were abbreviated due to rain, however, the Bulldogs did manage to get in some productive work, according to head coach Buddy Pough. In a morning session conducted in a steady rain, SC State used the opportunity to work on some wet-ball situations for most of the one hour, 45-minute drill. The Bulldogs’ evening session got underway in a light rain as the team, once more, devoted some time to wet-ball and rainy condition situations.
“Both our workouts were rain-shortened,” said Pough. “But, it was a blessing that we were able to get in as much work as we did. Having a turf field was the difference. Had we not had the turf, we wouldn’t have gotten very much done. “We are still learning,” he continued. “I’d like to see us a little further along. At this point, we should have all the learning done and should be sharpening up. I think we will get there.”
The Bulldogs will return to their regular schedule Thursday, with just one practice, beginning at 9:50 a.m. On Friday, the team will conduct two drills – the first at 6:15 a.m., followed by a 6:50 p.m. workout.
On Friday, SC State will hold its “Meet the Players Day,” beginning at 12 noon, and following a 9 a.m. scrimmage. At 2 p.m., Coach Pough will conduct a “Ladies’ Football Clinic,” which will be interactive.
Wouldn’t it be refreshing if the Rockets had enough guts to take a stand with Rafer Alston? Don’t hold your breath. Hell will freeze over before a professional sports team holds an athlete accountable for bad behavior. Yes, the Chicago Bears waived Cedric Benson after his second arrest this year, but the fact Benson had been a bust on the field surely made it easier for them to take action regarding his behavior off it.
Maybe teams don’t care what kind of people they have in uniform because they know you don’t care. The Rockets were widely praised for obtaining a guy with baggage ranging from domestic violence to animal cruelty to an assortment of suspensions, fines and other bad behavior. Who’ll remember that stuff if Ron Artest smothers Kobe Bryant in the playoffs? That’s when Artest will become misunderstood.
An NFL guy recently joked, “If Jeffrey Dahmer could play, we’d say he had an eating disorder.” That’s especially true of the Rockets. A team that just acquired Ron Artest isn’t likely to get tough about a measly little misdemeanor drunk driving charge.
JaJuan Spillman’s ability to perform on the field has never been in question. Off the field, well, that’s another story. The wide receiver and kickoff specialist transferred from Louisville to Tennessee State last month, after being kicked off the Cardinals’ squad for a slew of trouble. Now he’s trying to make another go of his college football career as a Tiger. His first impression didn’t disappoint. As soon as the TSU intra-squad game kicked off Saturday, Spillman stole the show.
He returned the opening kickoff nearly 90 yards for a touchdown and scored three more times on long plays before the scrimmage was over. It was a dazzling performance that left fans who watched wanting to know more about the ultra-fast wide receiver and how he ended up at TSU. It’s a story Spillman can’t tell for himself.
New guys don’t speak
CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE. Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands
Spillman and the recent influx of transfers to HBCUs that have had brushes with the law reminds me of a commentary on the Houston Rocket's guard that has "trouble" as a middle name. Sure, everyone deserves a second or third chance, but at what price for the entire university student body?
You will want to read the above commentary: Bad athletes are tolerated if they win!
SU quarterback Bryant Lee, the SWAC’s preseason offensive player of the year.
