Wasted chances costly for Morgan Bears

Morgan State leading rusher Devan James

Morgan State's dream of capturing a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship ended with last week's loss to South Carolina State, but the Bears still had much at stake in yesterday's season finale against visiting Hampton. The Bears, nonetheless, squandered another huge defensive effort and fell to Hampton, 17-13, despite giving up only 167 total yards. Morgan State blew opportunities to finish with a winning conference record for the first time since 2003 and to have its third winning season in almost 30 years.

"We contribute to our losses. We contribute to our demise," Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley said. "Everything they got, we gave them. We have got to get to the point where players make plays. As a team, after you work all week, you have to look out for each other." Bears running back Devan James, who leads the MEAC with 111.4 rushing yards per game, finished with 112 on 25 carries. Morgan State (6-6, 4-4 MEAC) had 279 total yards and led the time of possession 35:11 to 24:29.

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Attendance: 2,145 at Hughes Stadium, Baltimore, MD

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Backup QB helps Hornets win finale

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Glaud rallies DSU in second half

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- If it's November and you play on a losing football team, many players want to see their team's season come to a merciful end. Do not, however, count Anthony Glaud among them. Delaware State's sophomore backup quarterback wanted to prove Saturday that he represents the Hornets' future. A Bowling Green transfer who played behind four-year starter Vashon Winton all year, Glaud was DSU's offensive catalyst in a 10-6 victory over Howard before 2,161 fans on a bitterly cold afternoon at Greene Stadium.

"This wasn't the last game for me," Glaud said.

With Winton, who was starting his final game, the Hornets had just 69 yards of total offense. Glaud came in and completed 9 of 18 passes for 86 yards and DSU's only touchdown, a 15-yard pass to Erick Jones in the third quarter. Winton, who last week directed the Hornets to a come-from-behind win over Norfolk State, completed 7 of 12 passes for 49 yards. But with Winton not himself in his 44th career start, DSU coach Al Lavan made a change.

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Attendance: 2,161 at Greene Stadium, Washington, D.C.

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Branche's late score rallies Spartans in season finale

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - It's basketball season, and Norfolk State football won Saturday thanks to an assist from DeAngelo Branche. The running back out of Maury High School rumbled his way to a career-high 181 yards, lifting the Spartans to a 17-14 victory over Winston-Salem State at Bowman-Gray Stadium in the season finale for both teams. Branche, who eclipsed his previous career-high by one yard, finished the season with 1,055 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound back barreled for 154 of those in a second half that saw NSU rally twice to get past a team that beat Hampton and Delaware State in the last three weeks.

"My offensive line gave me the blocks I needed," Branche said. "We're going into the offseason with a win. That's better than a loss." The Spartans (5-7) ended the season by winning three of their final four. Saturday's nonconference match-up with the Rams (3-8) wasn't without some anxious moments for NSU, particularly when a turnover on their fifth play from scrimmage resulted in a Winston-Salem touchdown.

Nigel McGowen's 10-yard catch was good for an NSU first down, but the sophomore fumbled after a blistering hit by Alton Keaton. Alex Chandler scooped up the loose ball for a 52-yard return to the end zone. The Spartans, 1 of 6 on third-down conversions in the first half, got their lone points of the period from Justin Castellat's 36-yard field goal.

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Attendance: 1,428 at Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, N.C.

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Valley ends miserable season with another lopsided loss

Should this be it for Totten?

A season filled with lopsided losses for Mississippi Valley State ended with one of its worst thrashings of the year. Valley's disappointing season ended with a a miserable 58-23 loss to Alabama A&M Saturday at Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena. Bulldog quarterback Kevin Atkins had a career outing as he carved up the Delta Devil defense for 357 yards and five touchdowns on 24-of-35 passing.

Valley ends the season at 3-8 overall and 1-6 in the Eastern Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference - leaving the Delta Devils in last place in the division for the second straight year. If this was it for beleaguered MVSU head coach Willie Totten, it's not the way he would've hoped to go out as the Delta Devils allowed the most points to a SWAC team in Totten's seven-year tenure.

Totten, who is 28-44 at the helm of his alma mater, has one year left on his contract that pays him $92,928 a year. But there has been wide speculation that he will be fired after his fifth losing season in seven years. After Saturday's game, a frustrated Totten refused to discuss whether this was his last game at Valley."We've just got to put this behind us and go out and recruit some better players," he said.

With an announced crowd of just 789 - which looked much slimmer than that - not many Delta Devil fans showed up. The ones who did saw a familiar sight: a pitiful showing by the defense. It was the fifth loss of the season by 34 or more points. This marked the third straight game missed by second-year defensive coordinator Dennis Winston. Totten refused to comment on Winston's status.

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Attendance: 789 at Rice -Totten Stadium, Itta Bena, MS (Capacity: 10,000).

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Heffner's heroic effort not enough at Murray State

MURRAY, Ky. — Antonio Heffner came to Murray State on Saturday with no intention of playing. By the fourth quarter, Heffner was on the field with no intention of letting Tennessee State lose. After playing sparingly in the first half, the senior quarterback, who was nursing a shoulder and foot injury, volunteered to go back into into the game for starter Dominic Grooms, who broke the thumb on his throwing hand.

Three times in the fourth quarter, Heffner, who threw a touchdown in the second quarter, got TSU in scoring range with a chance to either tie the score or send it to overtime. But, unlike so many times before, he was unable to get the Tigers into the end zone and Murray State held on for a 24-17 victory.

"I didn't think there was any way, coming into the game, that I could play. But basically, when they needed me, I had to try to go in and do my best,'' Heffner said. "After I went in, every time I threw, my shoulder hurt and my foot gave me problems too." The loss took No. 25-ranked TSU (8-4, 5-3 Ohio Valley Conference) from being a long shot for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs to having no shot at all. The Tigers, who spent most of the season in first place in the OVC, wound up in fourth.

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Attendance: 2,292 at Stewart Stadium, Murray, KY

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NCCU Beats Savannah State On Senior Day

DURHAM, N. C. - North Carolina Central University scored 10 first half points and the Eagles' defense held Savannah State University to just 122 total yards as NCCU defeated the visiting Tigers 10-7 on Senior Day at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, N.C. on Saturday. Nine NCCU seniors closed out their college careers in style, winning three of their last four games to finish the school's second Division I (FCS) season with a 4-7 record.

NCCU amassed 330 yards of total offense, including a career-high 216 passing yards by red-shirt freshman quarterback Keon Williams, who completed 15-of-20 attempts through the air. Sophomore running backs Tim Shankle and Tony McCord combined for 155 rushing yards, with Shankle recording a team-best 88 ground yards, including a 5-yard touchdown run at the beginning of the second quarter which proved to be the game-winner.

Junior Will Scott topped the Eagles receiving corps with five catches for 83 yards, while senior Wayne Blackwell collected four receptions for 49 yards in his final college game. Blackwell finishes his career as the eighth leading receiver in NCCU history with 117 catches for 1,462 yards.

A stifling NCCU defense held Savannah State to only 23 yards rushing on the afternoon, including negative-4 yards on the ground in the first half. The Eagles recorded six tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including four sacks, while forcing two turnovers. In the critical fourth quarter, the NCCU defense held the Tigers to just one first down, 33 yards passing and zero yards rushing. NCCU sophomore lineman Teryl White had a fumble recovery to go along with six tackles, including a sack. Red-shirt freshman David Ingram collected his team-best fourth interception of the season.

Among the school's all-time career leaders, senior quarterback Stadford Brown (#2) ranks third in pass completions (399), third in passing touchdowns (46), fourth in passing yards (5,202) and fourth in total offense (5,207). Brown's college career was cut short when his collarbone was broken during the second quarter of the Eagles' win over rival North Carolina A&T on Oct. 4, 2008.

NCCU senior linebacker Troy McConico amassed a team-high 10 tackles, including a sack and two forced fumbles, while senior lineman Eric Smalls accounted for six tackles, including 2.5 hits for a loss with a sack. Senior defensive back Derek Harvey finished his Eagle tenure with a career-high six tackles.

NCCU senior kicker Brandon Gilbert hit a 42-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead at 3:44 of the first quarter, then made his 104th consecutive extra-point kick at 13:42 of the second quarter. Gilbert ends his college career as the school's all-time leading scorer with 279 points, and also tops the Eagles career lists for field goals (44) and extra-point kicks (147).

Savannah State (5-7) was topped by senior defensive back Javorris Jackson with 16 tackles, while senior linebacker Calvin Leonard added 11 stops, including two hits for a loss. The Tigers were led offensively by freshman quarterback Kurvin Curry, who completed 8-of-18 passes for 99 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown to Isaiah Osborne with 3:49 left in the third quarter.

The other NCCU seniors that ended their careers Saturday were offensive lineman Jovan Olafioye, offensive lineman Greg Greene, quarterback Stadford Brown and running back Jeff Toliver.

Attendance: 4,027 at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, Durham, N.C.

Bulldogs shut out Aggies, 55-0, get ready for playoff announcement

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- “Where and who?” It was the question most on S.C. State head football coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough’s mind after Saturday’s 55-0 rout over North Carolina A&T at Aggie Stadium. Having wrapped up a perfect run to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, the 15th-ranked Bulldogs (10-2, 8-0) could now turn their full attention toward the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and their first-round opponent.

“We wanted to kind of get in here and just get through this game and win the football game,” Pough said. “Our big thought has been since last Saturday has been doing something in the playoffs. So, it was great getting in here and getting this win and we’re excited about the win. But, we really have to get something done in the playoffs.”

S.C. State will learn today whether its eight-game winning streak and fifth double-digit victory season in school history will be enough to convince the NCAA Selection Committee to award it an opening-round home game. The Bulldogs more than made their case for a higher seeding by posting a third consecutive shutout for the first time since 1971.

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Attendance: 7,343 at Aggie Stadium, Greensboro, N.C. (Capacity: 22,000)

Tough times sack Grambling band: School notified TSU weeks ago about no-show

Houston, TX - To all those disappointed college football fans who were expecting a battle of the bands at Thursday's game between Texas Southern University and Grambling State, Grambling sends its apology for being a no-show. Challenging financial times forced the Grambling Tiger Band to stay home, school officials said Friday. "We have to be fiscally responsible to make our dollars go as far as they can," said Grambling spokesman Byron McCauley. "It does not mean that we don't love Houston. I really want people to know that we're hopeful there will be more opportunities for the band to be in Houston to perform."

Grambling has a big Thanksgiving weekend game, the Bayou Classic, in New Orleans on Nov. 29. It's the premiere game of black college football. TSU spokeswoman Eva Pickens said Grambling notified TSU several weeks in advance that its band would not attend the game. Mississippi Valley State University's band did not attend TSU's Nov. 8 homecoming game for the same reason, Pickens said. "We're thinking it's a sign of the times" Pickens said.






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FAMU hunts for playoff spot

TALLAHASSEE, FL — This is Florida A&M coach Joe Taylor's first experience with the Florida Classic, the rivalry game between the Rattlers and Bethune-Cookman University. He's heard about the atmosphere and the revelry. "The Classic is the fanfare," he said. "It's for people to come and party. But that's not why we're there."

The Rattlers (8-3, 4-3 MEAC) are there to earn at least a share of second place in the conference and line themselves up for a possible Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth, which they can do with a win over the Wildcats (8-2, 5-2 MEAC). Few thought FAMU would get to this point so quickly. The Rattlers lost six of their last seven in 2007 to finish 3-8. That led to the dismissal of coach Rubin Carter and the hiring of Taylor, who spent 16 years coaching Hampton University.

The Rattlers lead the MEAC in scoring offense and are third in passing offense and total offense. They've won five of their last six games, and linebacker Vernon Wilder said it's a different feeling around the program. "It's exciting," Wilder said. "The Classic is already exciting, but all this stuff on the table makes it even more exciting. "Winning cures a lot of stuff. A lot of things go smoother," Wilder said. "We're having fun."

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Keys: SU gets win, but still searching for answers

Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Southern pounded out a frosty 15-0 win over Alabama State at the Gulf Coast Classic, the campus back home at SU was almost empty. Only two or three students stood on the bluff near the Mississippi River, taking in the scenery on a cool-but-beautiful day. Classrooms were silent. The nearby sandwich shop was closed.

Just outside Jesse Owens Hall, the parking lot was vacant — except for one car.
It belonged to Pete Richardson. Inside, his thumbs were in overdrive, working two remote controls. Pause, rewind, play. Pause, rewind, play. Over and over, on a modern-style projector, he watched videotape — first of his own team, then of other Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents. Then of his own team again. Richardson had given his players a rare Sunday off, and while some members of his coaching staff shuttled in and out, only the head coach stayed inside all day.

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Attendance: 25,387 Gulf Coast Classic, Ladd Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL


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Florida A&M returns, beats UMES

HAMPTON, Va. ---- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team was three points away from their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship Sunday afternoon at Hampton University. The Hawks were up 2-1 in sets on Florida A&M, and held a 22-19 lead in the fourth set. Three points and UMES was on to its first NCAA Tournament appearance. The Rattlers battled back to win a long fourth set, 31-29 setting up the deciding fifth set. The fifth was tied 10-10, but a Florida A&M kill and pair of UMES attack errors gave the Rattlers a 13-10 lead on their way to a 15-10 win in the set as they won their eighth straight MEAC title (17-25, 25-15, 23-25, 31-29, 15-10).

"Coming into the match, we knew that we would be up against the number one team in the south and it's a match that everyone would expect to go five sets, which it did," UMES coach Don Metil said. "I thought that the third set that we regrouped very well after we lost the second set by a large margin and we put ourselves in a position in set four to have numerous match points and unfortunately we ran out of subs."

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S.C. State captures MEAC, playoff berth with 32-0 victory over Morgan State

BALTIMORE, MD — Atter a 26-year absence, S.C. State will be returning to the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) playoffs after clinching the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship with a 32-0 win over Morgan State Saturday at Hughes Stadium. The Bulldogs, who last appeared in the playoffs in 1982, earned the league’s automatic berth with the win, which lifted Coach Buddy Pough’s team to a 9-2 mark on the season and a perfect 7-0 in the league, with one game remaining.

“It’s just a great feeling,” said Pough. “Can you imagine being so close for all the six years I’ve been here and we finally got it done.” Backup quarterback DeWain Clark, in his second start in relief of Malcolm Long, directed the victory, which gave Pough his first outright title MEAC title in his seven-year tenure. S.C. State tied Hampton for the title in 2004 but Hampton went to the playoffs by virtue of a win over the Bulldogs that season.

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Attendance: 512 at Hughes Stadium, Baltimore, MD

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Jacksonville St. blocks 2 kicks, route to title

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Tennessee State's chances of winning the Ohio Valley Conference suffered a fatal blow Saturday when the Tigers were beaten 26-21 at Jacksonville State. TSU (8-3, 5-2) now must win its final game at Murray State for a shot at finishing second in the conference and securing an at-large playoff berth. JSU's special teams were huge in the game, blocking two field-goal attempts. The first one, snuffed by Alexandria's T.J. Heath, was returned by Andrew Ridgeway 72 yards for the Gamecocks' first touchdown.

"Special teams and too many mistakes," Tigers Coach James Webster said of the reasons for the loss. "We just couldn't put it in the end zone." The Tigers played without their OVC-leading rusher. Javarris Williams didn't play — depending on who you talked to — either for disciplinary reasons or a hamstring injury. JaJuan Spillman proved an effective alternative. He caught six passes for 104 yards, including a 63-yarder for the game's first touchdown, and ran five times for 53 yards. Quarterback Antonio Heffner threw for 170 yards and a touchdown pass. He also rushed for 55 yards.

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Attendance: 7,956

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Sylvester plays big role in win; FAMU 45, Hampton 24

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Running back Philip Sylvester sat quietly during the post-game press conference, answering just a handful of questions. His three other teammates who faced the media got a lot more on Saturday afternoon. Quite a contrast to his day on the field. Sylvester played a pivotal role in a trick play, threw some timely blocks and scored two touchdowns. His last touchdown would be FAMU's final score in a 45-24 victory over Hampton.

It's been a while since he's had such a day, especially getting into the end zone twice. He scored his first touchdown on a 38-yard run that gave FAMU a commanding 28-10 lead in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, he capped a six-play, 30-yard drive for the final score and for the first time since September, he'd go home with two touchdowns. If he could have gotten more chances, he would have taken them. "We just want to score," he said. "We want to score 31 more points than the other offense. Every time I broke it was because of (the offensive line)."



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Attendance: 9,711 at Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL

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JSU Tigers in party mood after clinching SWAC East

JSU earns chance to defend its SWAC title with fifth straight victory

First it was head coach Rick Comegy. Next was defensive coordinator Darrin Hayes. They even snuck up on running backs coach Greg Ruffin. Three tubs of celebratory ice water on a brisk Mississippi evening didn't seem the least bit excessive. Jackson State clinched its second consecutive trip to the SWAC Championship Game with a 37-21 victory over Alabama A&M (4-7, 3-3) on Saturday.

"I was wondering why they wanted my headset so quick," Comegy said. "I had a slight inkling something was about to happen. But they fool you out of it. "It was 'exuberating,' but I hope I don't catch a cold from it." The scene that played out on the turf of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium was equal parts relief and I-told-you-so. A small group huddled on the sideline shouting, "We're goin' to the 'ship, we're goin' to the 'ship!"

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Attendance: 9,046 at Missisissippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, MS.

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B-CU escapes 'trap' vs. Howard

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Bethune-Cookman coach Alvin Wyatt knew Saturday's contest against conference cellar-dweller Howard had all the makings of a trap game. After the Wildcats produced just 37 yards of offense in the first half, he knew his worst fears had materialized. But thanks to quarterback McKinson Souverain's 53-yard touchdown run with 7:19 left and Howard's failed 2-point conversion attempt with one minute left to play, B-CU escaped with a 14-12 victory in front of 3,152 fans at Municipal Stadium.

The Wildcats (8-2, 5-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) play their final game of the season next week against arch-rival Florida A&M at the Florida Classic in Orlando. "When the Classic is right in front of you, you can't help but look at that," Wyatt said. "I have to stop myself from doing it sometimes. Plus you don't want to show this play or that play (for Florida A&M to prepare for), and it catches up to you." The difference in the game was Travis Roland's blocked extra point early in the fourth quarter.

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Attendance: 3152 at Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, FL

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Mallett rushes for 160 Yards as UAPB Golden Lions Earn First SWAC Victory

Entering the season, Arkansas-Pine Bluff coach and defensive coordinator Monte Coleman said he wanted his defense to be one of the best in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. On Saturday, they played like they were, as the Golden Lions forced six turnovers and sacked Mississippi Valley State quarterback Paul Roberts four times in a 34-0 victory at Golden Lion Stadium on Senior Day. Martell Mallett gained 160 yards and scored two touchdowns on 24 carries in the victory.

“Valley threw the ball against Jackson State over 90 percent of the time, (in a 58-44 victory last week), so my thing was to try to make them run the football,” Coleman said. “They still came out and threw the football. My thing was to take away their best suit.” While the Golden Lions weren’t able to force Valley to run the football, they were able to limit the effectiveness of the Delta Devils aerial attack. Roberts completed only 13-of-35 pass attempts for 123 yards. And though UAPB used a varied rush of only three or four defenders, the Golden Lions were able to pressure Roberts for four sacks and three interceptions. Coleman said he only called one blitz on the game.

UAPB M4

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Attendance: 4,562 at Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff, AR

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NCCU Eagles beat WSSU Rams 23-16

DURHAM, NC - Winston-Salem State played give away yesterday and N.C. Central was more than happy to accept the gifts. The Eagles feasted on four turnovers from quarterback Jarrett Dunston and a poor snap on a punt in a 23-16 on Saturday afternoon at muddy O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. The field, which took on quite a bit of rain in the morning, was more suited for mud wrestling than a football game.

Because of the sloppy conditions the teams combined for six turnovers, but it was Dunston who struggled the most. "Any time you are playing no matter what the field looks like you have to take care of the football," said Dunston, who had two interceptions and two fumbles and was sacked six times. "And I didn't do that today. "The plays were there and they were bringing the pressure, but whenever you have four turnovers it's hard to win a game."

North Carolina Central University Marching Band - "Car Wash"


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Attendance: 6,294

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Savannah State piles up 457 yards of offense against Webber

LAKE WALES, FL - Webber International University closed the 2008 season with a 24-7 loss against Football Championship Subdivision's Savannah State University on Saturday at Legion Field. The Tigers gained 238 yards on the ground and had 457 total yards in the game. The Warriors, playing without top runner Taylor Atwood, ran for 96 yards. Rupert Webley carried the bulk of the load on the ground with 13 carries for 36 yards. Webley also caught two passes for 25 yards to lead the team in receiving yards.

Savannah State (5-6) got on the board first with a trick play. The Tigers ran a double-reverse that ended with receiver Deleon Hollinger throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Osborne. Savannah State struck again in the second quarter. After back-to-back holding penalties, the Tigers were forced into a third and 30 situation, but quarterback Kurvin Curry completed a 43-yard pass to Javares Taylor to put Savannah State ahead 14-0. Webber's best drive of the first half started at the 3-yard line. The Tigers punted and the officials ruled the ball went into the end zone for a touchback, but after a conference, they ruled the ball out at the 3.

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Attendance: 065 at Legion Field, Babson Park, FL (Not a mistake--65 fans!).

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NEXT GAME: SSU at North Carolina Central University Eagles

ESPN show 'raises awareness' to HBCUs

GameDay's Desmond Howard hopes the show brought attention to HBCU football.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Hours before Hampton's game at Florida A&M kicked off Saturday afternoon, the FAMU campus was abuzz with the presence of ESPN's weekly pregame show, College GameDay. More than a thousand people, including a number of fans wearing HU's blue and silver, attended the show's first visit to a historically black university, and Pirates players and coaches were plenty excited to be focused in the national spotlight.

"It's great because you get the nationwide exposure," said Hampton coach Jerry Holmes. "(To) have an opportunity to be Hampton University and represent HBCU schools, it's a great feeling for the kids, great exposure for them." GameDay host and 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard said that having ESPN's presence helped raise the profile of HBCU football. "I think it brings a lot of attention to it, first and foremost," Howard said. "It raises awareness. There's football played in other areas, other universities, not just the BCS schools."

The show, which took place in front of FAMU's Lee Hall, featured Hampton and FAMU helmets displayed prominently on the set. Segments featuring the schools were aired, and the Rattlers' Marching 100 band gave a live performance.





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Howard Tops Obama's Brother-in-Law, Oregon State

LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY

The fans who flocked to tiny Burr Gymnasium last night didn't see any future world leaders, but they launched a resplendent celebration nonetheless. Howard University's 47-45 victory over Oregon State spoiled the debut for first-year Beavers coach Craig Robinson, the brother-in-law of President-elect Barack Obama, and prompted many of the more than 2,000 fans in attendance to dance in the aisles. A few dozen, including a man wearing a Howard cape, stormed the court.

"I am glad the crowd didn't leave when Obama didn't come," an ecstatic Howard coach Gil Jackson said. "They stormed the court? I have never seen that. They stormed the court at Howard."

A little more than two miles from the White House, Howard showed just how hard Robinson's job will be at Oregon State. It took Obama 20 months to make a quick ascension from senator to president-elect. Robinson, who spent the past two seasons as Brown's head coach, knows it will take longer to turn the Beavers into a contender.

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FAMU Marching 100 headlines 2009 Honda Battle of the Bands

The stage is now set for the seventh annual Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) Invitational Showcase (http://www.hondabattleofthebands.com/) scheduled to take place Saturday, January 24, 2009 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Ten Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching bands have been chosen to participate in the 2009 Invitational Showcase through a combination of online voting by fans and a selection process involving HBCU band directors and university presidents.

Fine-tuning their instruments, practicing their drum major acrobatics and choreographing the dance team's routines all in preparation to "stomp at the Dome," the 2009 lineup includes:

--Virginia State University and Fayetteville State University, representing the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA);
-- Florida A&M University and North Carolina A&T State University, representing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC);
-- Tuskegee University and Kentucky State University, representing the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC); and
-- Jackson State University and Texas Southern University, representing the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC);
-- North Carolina Central University and Edward Waters College, both independents.

The ten bands selected to participate in this year's Invitational Showcase will be awarded $20,000 by American Honda for their music scholarship programs--a $10,000 increase over last year. They also will receive an additional $1,000 grant for their participation in the Celebration Tour, HBOB's pre-qualifying event series. In total, $244,000 in scholarship monies will be granted to HBCU music programs through this program for 2008-09.

This year Honda Battle of the Bands welcomes four new bands and looks forward with anticipation to the return of HBOB's longest running participant, Virginia State University, and the goliath of all marching bands -- 440 member-strong Florida A&M University. This year's show, filled with HBCU pageantry and tradition, is sure to be one for the history books as world-class musicianship, show-stopping drum majors, scintillating dance teams and syncopated drum lines come together with one basic goal in mind: To win the crowd.

Florida A&M Universiy Marching 100

"The Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase not only celebrates the pageantry and showmanship of America's HBCUs, but also works to expose people, young and old, to the power and importance of music and higher education," said Marc Burt, Senior Manager, Office of Inclusion and Diversity for American Honda. "Music education has been shown to have a strong correlation with high academic achievement, and American Honda has been humbled to bring an event that combines both. Our overarching objective is that this program continues to grow in stature and significance."

HBCU Recruitment Fair

The Honda Battle of Bands HBCU Recruitment Fair will return this year for the fourth year in a row. This event, held prior to the main event in the Georgia World Congress Center, presents young people with the opportunity to meet with marching band and admissions recruiters from all around the country to discuss their unique music programs and distribute information about admissions requirements, academic programs and scholarship opportunities. Last year thirty-four schools exhibited and nearly 2,000 young people attended.

Interested high school students and their parents are welcome to visit the Honda Battle of Bands HBCU Recruitment Fair from 10:00 a.m. -- 2:00 p.m. the day of the event to learn more about the nation's black colleges, their music programs, scholarships and admissions requirements.

Tickets to this highly anticipated family event are on sale now and can be purchased for $10-$12 on www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com, through Ticketmaster or via the Georgia Dome box-office. For downloadable broadcast video and high resolution photos of the 2008 Invitational Showcase, or more information on the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase bands, visit www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com.

No state of complacency: Morgan State Bears

Teams are pressing forward after successful 2007-08 seasons

"Yes, we had success, but last year is last year," said the Bears' Todd Bozeman, 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. "And while I appreciate [the award], it's not going to carry any weight this season." Morgan lost three key players but will bank on returning forward Marquise Kately (13.1 points per game) and guards Reggie Holmes (12.9) and Jermaine "Itchy" Bolden.

Kately, 6-5, is "the consummate team player," Bozeman said. "He rebounds, scores and covers for others on defense. Last year, he was even pressed to play point guard for two games." Morgan also corralled a handful of transfers who should help to put more distance between the Bears and their abysmal 2005-06 record of 4-26.

Though Morgan won the MEAC regular-season crown, it lost the tournament title game to Coppin State on a late basket by the Eagles' Tywain McKee. The Coppin star returns with an iffy supporting cast, but how can the Eagles top last year's wacky season in which they went 16-21 and still reached the play-in game of the NCAA tournament?

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DSU bowlers off to hot start in MEAC

WASHINGTON -- The Delaware State University bowling team went 9-1 in the opening Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern Division competition of the season, tops among all teams. Delaware State was 5-0 in regular team play on Saturday, posting victories over Howard, Hampton, Morgan State, Coppin State and reigning NCAA and MEAC champ Maryland-Eastern Shore.

Sophomore Angela Reynolds recorded four 200-plus games, including a 243 against Coppin State. Junior Samantha Noviscky rolled 245 against Morgan State, and freshman Jazmyne Hefflefinger had a 226 against Howard. The Hornets were 4-1 in Baker competition on Sunday, with wins over Hampton, Howard, Coppin State and UMES before falling to Morgan State.

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ASU's Barlow fires 2 assistants

A day after his team's worst offensive performance of the season, Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow has fired offensive coordinator Ben Noonan and offensive line coach Eric Schnupp, leaving the second-year coach searching for his third offensive coordinator. Barlow confirmed the firings late Sunday evening.

Noonan and Schnupp were hired last January, a few weeks after Barlow fired offensive coordinator Maurice Harris and offensive line coach Jack Peavey -- both of whom also worked under Barlow for just one season. The Hornets currently rank ninth in the 10-team SWAC in both scoring offense and total offense

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