FAMU Rattlers ready for new season

FAMU Football team looks to silence critics

The Rattler football team is entering into the season with a sense of optimism. After a summer of long workouts the team is confident it can compete in the MEAC. Head coach Joseph Taylor said about 75 athletes stayed in Tallahassee for the summer. "They took classes," Taylor said. "They were up on the track at 5:45 a.m. working on speed and later in the evening, they were lifting." Taylor said this season the team must play smarter.

Rattlers DB/KR Qier Hall #1 will be returning from an injury shorten 2007 season.

"It's all about hard work. We expect to be successful," Taylor said. "On offense, we have to make sure we protect the football. On defense, we have to be accountable and pay attention." Even though Tropical Storm Fay caused delays and closed some schools, Taylor said the weather had minimum effects on the team. The team watched a film and took a written test during the bad weather. "It was a good chance to get our legs back," Taylor said.

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JSU self-reports secondary NCAA rules violation

Jackson State’s football program has committed what school officials consider a secondary violation of NCAA rules, the university announced today in a press release. The release said the school has self-reported the violation to the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

According to JSU, freshman quarterback Domonick Britt practiced beyond the allowed number of days while awaiting word on whether he had been ruled academically eligible by the NCAA. The NCAA allows players to practice for 14 days after reporting for athletic competition without being cleared academically. After 14 days the institution cannot provide athletically related financial aid and the player cannot practice until being cleared. Britt, the star of the 2008 recruiting class, reported when camp opened Aug. 2 and was still practicing Monday without being cleared.

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JSU is set to open the season Sunday in Orlando, playing Hampton University in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Kickoff is 1 p.m. CDT and the game will be televised by ESPN2

Nevada, Grambling bands to perform together after game

They've brought their version of "Ball of Confusion" to three Super Bowls and two presidential inaugurations, and this week members of Grambling State University's world-famous Tiger Marching Band will be shaking things up in Reno. Nevadans have two chances to catch the Tigers: Friday at a free performance at the Peppermill Casino Resort and Saturday when Grambling State's football team plays the Wolf Pack in Mackay Stadium.

It's an athletic and musical matchup that has been two years in the making, said Rory Hickok, Nevada associate athletic director. "We started the negotiations in 2007, so this has been in the works for quite a while now," he said. "This is truly a historic occasion to get a band of this renown in Northern Nevada. They have played at presidential inaugurations and Super Bowl halftimes, so this is an opportunity to see one of the world's most famous bands."

Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band

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MVSU Totten retools attack

After 3-8 season, coach changes offense to better suit quarterbacks' abilities

Following an off-season of change in Willie Totten's Mississippi Valley State program, the Delta Devils seem set on a quarterback who can lead their offense. For now. That honor belongs to junior Ryan Burciaga. But if last year - when the team started three different QBs because of injuries and ineptitude - is any precursor, who knows how that'll wind up.

For the former quarterback Totten, whose Delta Devils open with Texas College on Aug. 30, the uncertainty at that position is troubling. Especially when the talented Paul Roberts, anointed as the starter as a freshman last season, is now the third-stringer. "It's a challenge for him," Totten said. "Either way you want to stay third string or you push up to challenge as the starter." MVSU ranked dead-last in the SWAC in total offense last year.

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'Bama State Hornets struggle with the heat

Hornets head football coach Reggie Barlow.

After two days of rain and clouds, the sun finally beamed down on the Hornets on Wednesday. The effects of the heat had some positive and negative aspects on the Hornets. "Florida is the 'Sunshine State' and it's warm down there," said ASU head coach Reggie Barlow. "I don't want our guys to feel sorry for themselves. We have to push through the fatigue."

Barlow saw some things that he felt were less than impeccable. "Practice was ok," Barlow said. "Some guys were out there feeling sorry for themselves." Junior quarterback Reid Herchenbach took 60 percent of the snaps with the first-team offense.

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Scott gets chance as FAMU placekicker

Trevor Scott practiced every day with a soccer ball at his old high school field in Jacksonville, hoping for an opportunity. Every roll of the ball carried his hope that he'd one day be kicking for a college soccer or football team. FAMU associate head football coach George Small just happened to be making a recruiting trip on one of those days that Scott was toiling in late spring. Finding a kicker was high on his list.

Kicker Trevor Scotts

His eyes caught Scott on the practice field. Bingo. Scott turned out to be just the player that head coach Joe Taylor worried about finding to shore up his special-teams unit. Scott came to FAMU at the start of preseason practice and immediately began to separate himself as a field-goal kicker and PAT specialist. Taylor rewarded him with the job earlier this week, when he also named Will Platt for the kickoff and punting duties.

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QB Souverain key to 'Cats fortunes

During the past two years, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference seems to have figured out Bethune-Cookman's "Wyattbone" offense. And for the first time since Alvin Wyatt took over as coach, B-CU recorded back-to-back losing seasons, finishing 5-6 each year. However, things are looking up for the Wildcats. Eighteen players return who started at least 17 games. Wyatt has said that some new wrinkles in his offense, emphasizing the skills of new quarterback McKinson Souverain, could be the key for the Wildcats.

"You better get you a trigger man, a quarterback, and we've got that in McKinson Souverain this year," Wyatt told The Associated Press. "With this kid, if he stays healthy, our team will have a lot of success. This kid is everything for our football team." But offense isn't the only key to a potential resurgence. Defensively, end Dexter Jackson was a first-team preseason all-MEAC selection and defensive back Antwane Cox was chosen to the second team.

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GSU has Jack of all trades

Jeffery Jack, #4 provides blocking for Zaire Wilborn, #26 on interception return last season.

GRAMBLING, LA — Grambling State head football coach Rod Broadway is clear about the strength of his 2008 Tigers football team. "Defense should be the strong suit of our football team, especially early," Broadway said. One reason for the expected strong defense is the return of defensive back Jeffrey Jack. Last season, Jack was the team's second-leading tackler with 77 tackles. He also had an interception and a fumble recovery. And he should be even better this season.

"Last year, I was pretty banged up for most of the season," Jack said. "Over the summer, I got healthy, lost a lot of weight, almost 30 pounds. I'm faster and I'm stronger. Basically, I feel like I'm a freshman in college. I'm ready to use all my knowledge and all my skills and play to the best of my ability." His fall camp performance has already been noticed by Broadway.

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A&M aims to prove '07 was no fluke

Alabama A&M women's soccer coach Frank Davies always tries to find a way to top the previous year. After winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship last season and becoming the first team in league history to score in an NCAA tournament game, Davies says he has found a way. "We've got to repeat," Davies said. "In order to prove that last year wasn't a fluke, we've got to win it again."

In the five-year history of the SWAC championships, there has been no repeat winner. Davies says the Bulldogs can do it if he can find a way to retool their midfield. "How we revamp that unit will be a big key," Davies said. Belinda Kanda, one of the nation's top scorers, returns along with six other starters. Brittan Thomas and newcomer Celeste Roberts will also be counted on to help shoulder some of the scoring load.

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Southern ready for cat fight in Houston

Storm or no storm, the Southern Jaguars are ready to take the field against the Houston Cougars this weekend.

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SU monitoring effects of scheduling FBS teams

After years of not playing Football Bowl Subdivision teams, Southern University will open this season and next season on the road at schools with more scholarships and bigger coffers. This could be the start of a trend or, if SU coach Pete Richardson’s vision is true, be the spark to start an A.W. Mumford Classic in the future. That’s just something we have to look at as an institution, to see which direction we’re going to go,” Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur said.

This season, the Southwestern Athletic Conference, which plays in the Championship Subdivision, arranged its conference schedule to open in September and shortened the commitment of SWAC games from seven to nine, so its 10 teams could seek more non-conference games. Five SWAC teams are playing FBS teams this season: Southern at Houston and Grambling at Nevada on Saturday, Alabama A&M at Louisiana-Monroe and Alcorn State at Troy on Sept. 13 and Alabama State at Alabama-Birmingham on Sept. 20.

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Fast finish has Prairie View hopeful for this fall

Prairie View aims to build on 7-3 mark with senior quarterback Mark Spivey, who is getting a sixth season of eligibility for a medical hardship. Spivey went 5-1 as a starter in the Panthers’ last six games in 2007.

In past seasons, three or four wins would have counted as a sign of progress for Prairie View A&M, a program that had been starving for positive attention. This year, the bar is raised much higher for a Panthers team that comes off a 7-3 season, returns 18 starters and has become the trendy pick to overtake Southwestern Athletic Conference stalwarts Grambling State and Southern for the West division title. Optimism is overflowing for coach Henry Frazier’s squad, which last year delivered the school’s first winning campaign in 31 seasons.

“It’s (the expectations) bigger than last year. It’s very exciting,” said running back Donald Babers. “Everybody’s anticipating the season.” Prairie View finished 5-1 to close out 2007, due in part to an offense that jelled behind quarterback Mark Spivey. Spivey fired seven of his nine touchdown passes in the last two games, giving the offense — which had become run-oriented — some much needed balance.

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Bozeman talks Morgan State's 2008 recruiting class

Todd Bozeman has a lot returning from Morgan State’s 2007-08 team.

But he’s also adding several talented newcomers to the Bears -- the reigning regular-season MEAC champions. Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College center Buford Foote, Hagerstown Community College forward John Long, Northeastern (Colo.) Junior College guard Troy Smith and Gwynn Park guard Sean Thomas are the new additions to MSU’s roster. Philadelphia forward Ameer Ali, former Walbrook center Kevin Thompson and ex-St. Frances point guard Desmond Thomas all redshirted for Morgan last season and will be eligible this fall.

Bozeman spoke with Recruiting Report recently about the Bears’ 2008 recruiting class. Give us an overview of your class of newcomers...

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"Meet The WSSU Rams" draws record crowd

Coach Kermit Blount and the Winston-Salem State University Rams football team were home in the friendly confines of Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday afternoon as they participated in their annual “Meet the Rams” Fan Fest and Media Day in front of a record crowd that took advantage of their first chance to see the 2008 WSSU football team.

The Rams, entering into their third year of a transition to NCAA Division I status following 61 years of membership at the NCAA Division II level, head into the 2008 season on the heels of a 2007 season which saw WSSU surprise college football pundits by posting a 6-5 record overall.

16th-year head coach Kermit Blount, a man that needs only three more wins to overtake Bill Hayes (current A.D. at Florida A&M University) as the winningest coach in WSSU history, fielded questions from both media members and loyal Ram fans at the annual fan fest and media day.

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Cooper Is Firmly at the Controls for Howard Bison

Video Games Help LB Develop Plan of Attack

Before he would entrust his defense to Endor Cooper, Howard coordinator Andre Creamer wanted to make certain the senior middle linebacker fully understood all of its nuances. The two men spent countless hours going over the playbook, watching film together and discussing defensive strategies. But it wasn't until they sat down in front of a television and played football video games that Creamer became convinced that Cooper grasped every aspect.

By manipulating the outcome of the game, Creamer was able to throw every scenario he could think of at Cooper. Trailing 21-17 with four minutes to go: What's the plan? The opponent just went to a hurry-up offense: How do you react? Each time, Creamer allowed Cooper to work through the situation, to make mistakes and to learn from them.

Howard University Bison 2008 Team Photo.

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Howard University 'Show-Time' Marching Band

TSU linebacker's goal: Be top tackler

Willis wants to lead nation in category

Linebacker Remond Willis was one of the few bright spots on Tennessee State's defense last year and hopes to stand out even more this season. The transfer from Illinois led the Tigers last year with 84 tackles. He's set a higher goal this year, hoping to lead the nation in tackles. "I've got a lot to prove this year,'' Willis said. "I'm going to try to lead the nation in tackles and I believe it's a realistic goal. Fifteen tackles a game is nothing."

Nothing? It's nearly twice as many tackles as Willis had last year when he averaged 7.6 tackles a game. He didn't finish among the nation's top 100 tacklers, but was 11th in the Ohio Valley Conference. TSU's defense needs that type of improvement all over the field. The unit cost the team in a big way last year, allowing an average of 33.4 points a game.

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Cowboys' Bob Hayes (FAMU) and Falcons/Eagles Claude Humphrey (TSU) gets Hall nod as finalist

CANTON, Ohio — Claude Humphrey (Tennessee State University) and Robert Lee ("Bullet Bob") Hayes" (Florida A&M University) were nominated by the seniors committee Wednesday as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Hayes, an Olympic gold medalist as a sprinter, played for Dallas from 1965-74 and for San Francisco in 1975. He averaged 20 yards a catch for his career and led the NFL with a 20.8-yard average per punt return in 1968. He was a seniors finalist in 2004 but did not get the necessary 80 percent of the vote to make the hall. He died in 2002 at the age of 59.

Hayes was the first player in the history of the Dallas franchise to surpass 1000 yards receiving in a single season and he did that in his rookie year by finishing with 1,003 yards. Hayes was the first person to break 6 seconds in the 60 yard dash with his indoor world record of 5.9 seconds. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times and All Pro four times and is the only person so far to win both an Olympic gold medal (1964 Tokyo Olympics) and a Super Bowl ring (1971). Bob Hayes finished his 11-year career with 371 receptions for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns, giving him an impressive 20 yards per catch average. (Both career TDs and yds per catch average remain franchise records.)

Humphrey was a regular finalist two years ago, his final year of eligibility. He played 11 seasons with Atlanta before finishing his career with Philadelphia from 1979-81. He was considered one of the best pass rushers in the game during an era in which sacks were not an official statistic. Humphrey was selected out of Tennessee State University in the first round of the 1968 NFL Draft with the 3rd overall choice by the Falcons.

They will join 15 modern-era finalists yet to be determined in the final selection the day before the Super Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 31. The two seniors finalists are voted on separately. A total of seven can be elected — the two seniors and up to five modern candidates.

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JSU looking into possible NCAA rules violation

Jackson State is investigating whether its football program violated NCAA rules by allowing quarterback Domonick Britt to participate in practice, compliance director Alethea Ringo confirmed this morning.

Britt, the star of the 2008 recruiting class, has not yet been cleared academically by the NCAA but has been practicing with the team. NCAA bylaw 14.3.5.1.1 says a recruited athlete may practice during a 14-day period after reporting for athletic competition without being cleared academically. After 14 days the institution cannot provide athletically related financial aid and the player cannot practice until being cleared.

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Norfolk State's QB Dennis Brown is ready to go

NORFOLK, VA -- He has yet to throw a pass, but Dennis Brown is already the talk of Norfolk State football. Frankly, the guy everybody calls Dino says he'd rather be just another Spartan. But there's no chance of that with all the hype around the transfer from the University of Connecticut, despite his efforts to make himself just one of the guys since he set foot on campus in January. Coach Pete Adrian raves about his new quarterback's arm, talks up his ability to scramble and even suggests that the magnetic Brown is almost too mentally sharp.

"Sometimes I have to calm him down. I don't want him to think he has to go out against Virginia State and win the game by himself," Adrian said. "He doesn't have to throw the ball 200 mph. He's really hyped up. He's not a milquetoast guy who hangs in the corner. He's someone who can walk in a room and immediately start talking to everyone there."

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Virginia State University 'Trojan Explosion' Marching Band

Virginia State University Cheerleaders "Woo Woos"

Transfer-heavy TSU aiming for turnaround

James Webster accepted the daunting task three years ago of trying to rebuild Tennessee State's football program. It has been a slow go - the Tigers are just 13-20 during his tenure - but he says this year's team is ready to turn the corner. "This should be our best team since I've been here," said Webster, whose team went 5-6 last season, losing four games by 16 points. "It's not the most experienced team, but as far as talent is concerned, it is the best team."

The Tigers did that with nine Division-I transfers. Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones, whose Bulldogs host the Tigers in Saturday's season opener, has taken notice. "We're expecting a very, very talented team to come in here," Jones said. "They've got good size and speed in all the right places. They're going to be a tough opponent. "Based on what I'm seeing, they're going to beat a lot of teams this year. Hopefully, we won't be one of them."

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SWAC: In with the new

University of Arkansas Pine Bluff head football coach Monte Coleman

Fresh faces, schedule changes could impact SWAC

So many new quarterbacks. Another crop of new coaches. And a return to the seven-game format, along with a new tweak to the master schedule. This is Southwestern Athletic Conference football 2008.

New quarterbacks

Southern, with SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Bryant Lee, and Prairie View, with Mark Spivey getting a sixth season of eligibility for a medical hardship after going 5-1 as a starter in the Panthers’ last six games, are the two known, successful constants. The rest of the conference spent the spring and preseason camp and this week evaluating quarterbacks.

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Grambling names Greg Dillon starting QB

Grambling, LA --Sophomore Greg Dillon has emerged from a three-man quarterback derby to be named the starting quarterback, Grambling coach Rod Broadway announced Tuesday. Dillon, on the scout team last season, edged out redshirt sophomore J.P. Tillman, a Missouri transfer. Broadway said both should play Saturday at Nevada. (Freshman Brendan Crawford was also in the race.) Dillon threw the only touchdown pass in two scrimmages. The derby became necessary after senior Brandon Landers was ruled academically ineligible in the summer.

Grambling coach Rod Broadway opens second season as head of the Tigers at the University of Nevada on Saturday.

“We’re not going to ask our quarterback to do a lot for us,” Broadway said. “We just want him to learn how to manage the game.” Though Frank Warren, last season’s SWAC Freshman of the Year, returns at running back, the offense is in for a major overhaul. Two freshmen — Quint Roberts (6-3, 325) at right tackle and Greg McGrue (6-foot-8, 360 pounds) at right guard — are expected to start. Another, Sanford Banks (6-5, 303), could play at right tackle.

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‘Four-Headed Monster’: SCSU could have its hands full with UCF backfield

ORLANDO, Fla. - The good news for South Carolina State’s defense is All-American running back Kevin Smith no longer carries the football for Central Florida. Instead, the Bulldogs will have to deal with what the Knights hope will be a “four-headed monster” out of the backfield. With four freshman tailbacks on the depth chart, head coach George O’Leary plans to use a “running back by committee” for Saturday’s season-opener against S.C. State and beyond.

“I’m going to possibly play all four of them and each and every game,” O’Leary said. “They all bring something different to the table. The freshmen have great speed and vision and that’s what I look at. The one thing I think that I was concerned about was obviously pass protection and they all bow up and put a hat on people which is what you’re looking for in the protection.”

In Ronnie Weaver (6-0, 202 lbs.), Brynn Harvey (6-1, 215), Latavius Murphy (6-3, 215) and Brandon Davis (5-9, 190), the defending Conference USA champions will try to reproduce the NCAA-leading 2,567 yards and 29 touchdowns posted last season by Smith (currently with the Detroit Lions).

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Southern battling unknowns vs. Houston

Not only will Southern be playing up a level on Saturday, but the Jaguars will also be faced with a huge dose of the unknown. Houston’s Kevin Sumlin is in his first year as a head coach anywhere. “That’s the puzzle in this,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “We go into the game having to prepare for almost anything because we really haven’t seen them play. “We don’t know what type of philosophy they have. The only thing we can do is look at the coordinators, see where they came from, and hopefully they’ll utilize some of their philosophy.”

By land or air, RS - Junior QB Bryant Lee is ready to lead the Jaguars to victory. The 6-2/200 quarterback is from Boutte, LA/Hahnville H.S.

Southern, a Championship Subdivision team that went 8-3 last season, visits Houston, a Bowl Subdivision team that went 8-5 a year ago, at 6 p.m. Saturday at Robertson Stadium in Houston. Houston had an explosive offense last season, averaging 34.5 points per game, but former Texas Tech offensive co-coordinator Dana Holgorsen could give that spread offense even more oomph. Texas Tech ranked first in passing offense (470.3 yards per game), second in total offense (529.6 ypg) and seventh in scoring offense (40.9 points per game) in the Big 12.

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Skid vs. Alabama State won't bother FAMU's Wilder

Linebacker Vernon Wilder wasn't even born the last time FAMU won a game against Alabama State. A year before he became a Rattler, FAMU lost to the Hornets. But Wilder, not known for much trash-talking, couldn't help letting it know Tuesday that FAMU's skid against the Hornets should end Saturday.

"We are going to blitz them — it ain't no secret," Wilder said at the team's first weekly meeting with the media. "We're going to make them force quick passes and make mistakes. Everybody has to do their job. Everybody has to do what's expected." FAMU hasn't had a win over ASU since 1977, and the Hornets lead the series 20-15-2. The fact that Saturday's game is a matchup of FAMU from the MEAC and ASU of the SWAC is another incentive, Wilder said.
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