Alabama A&M Bulldogs 31, Hampton Pirates 24

A&M makes key stops down stretch

Alabama A&M's defense, under pressure for most of the second half Saturday night against Hampton University, thought it had come away with a game-saving stand with less than two minutes remaining. The Bulldogs had stopped the Pirates, giving the ball back to their offense. However, running back Ulysses Banks fumbled on the ensuing play and Hampton recovered it, forcing A&M's defense to come up with yet another stop. Jeremy Maddox, who had been held in check for much of the game, came to the Bulldogs' rescue.

A 6-foot, 263-pound All-Southwestern Athletic Conference defensive end, Maddox had managed just one sack and a tackle for loss against the Pirates. However, with the game on the line, he broke through and sacked Hampton quarterback David Legree, and the Bulldogs hung on for a 31-24 victory before an announced crowd of 6,377 at Louis Crews Stadium. "I missed three sacks," said Maddox, clearly upset with himself, "but I got the one that counted. I knew we had to make a stop for us to win. I think we got a little ahead of ourselves and didn't play as well in the third quarter, but we came together and stepped it up in the fourth quarter and got the win."

Finally, Segura has some good news for Mom

New Orleans native is an A&M starter after three years of injuries, disappointments. Raymond Segura calls his mother back home in New Orleans almost nightly. Unfortunately for Segura, the Alabama A&M weakside linebacker hasn't had much to offer his mom, Angela Waxter, concerning his football career. Truth be told, Segura's first three seasons have been filled with one injury after another. The list includes shoulder, back, foot and knee injuries. "I've dealt with just about every injury you can have," Segura said. Still, despite all of his ailments, Segura kept the faith and, because of an injury to one of his teammates, was inserted into the starting lineup last week against Tennessee State. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound redshirt junior didn't disappoint. He had plenty to tell his mother after the game.

Mitchell:Study in perseverance

Losing two years to ineligibility fails to faze A&M receiver. Anthony Mitchell was headed for stardom. A 6-foot-2, 197-pound receiver, Mitchell was supposed to team with Thomas Harris to give Alabama A&M one of the best tandems in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Unfortunately, eligibility issues got in the way. Mitchell was the team's third-leading receiver in 2006 as a sophomore when A&M downed Arkansas-Pine Bluff to win the SWAC championship. With quarterback Kelcy Luke back along with a number of returning offensive starters, the Bulldogs were expected to repeat the following year. However, Mitchell, who had 20 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns during A&M's championship year, wasn't there to participate, having been ruled academically ineligible for the 2007 season. Jackson State beat A&M late that season and went on to win the SWAC title.

A & M holds off Hampton

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Over and over, Alabama A&M quarterback Kevin Atkins dropped back to pass and scanned the field for wide receiver Thomas Harris. The Hampton University defense could do nothing to stop it. Harris caught 10 passes for 224 yards with two touchdowns, and the Bulldogs held on to beat the Pirates 31-24 Saturday night at Louis Crews Stadium. It was the first loss for Hampton coach Donovan Rose, whose Pirates fell to 0-5 on the road against Southwestern Athletic Conference schools.

"Defensively, we've got to find a way to stop the pass," Rose said. "They threw the ball something like 36 times in the first half, and I'm still waiting on our guys to recover. We've got to find a way to stop that and give our offense the ball. Thirty-one points and 24 points in two games, defensively, we've got to find a way to stop that."Twelve seconds into the game, it appeared as if the Pirates could name their score. Senior running back LaMarcus Coker took the A&M kickoff at the 13, cut up the middle, faked his way past a couple of Bulldog defenders and returned the kick 87 yards for a touchdown. Jordan Stovall's extra point gave Hampton a 7-0 lead before the echoes of the national anthem had died down.

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Grambling State 38, Northwestern State (La.) 17

GSU Coach Rod Broadway has never lost a game at Robinson Stadium since his arrival in 2007.

Football - Grambling State 38, Northwestern State 17‎

GRAMBLING - Against Northwestern State Saturday night, the best offense for Grambling State was the Tigers' defense. Grambling erased a two-touchdown deficit by notching three defensive touchdowns in a 6:33 span sandwiched around halftime, roaring to a 38-17 turnaround triumph over the visiting Demons at damp Robinson Stadium. The Tigers (1-1) were dominated in the first half but trailed only 14-7 thanks to three squandered red zone trips by the Demons (0-2) and a late 37-yard fumble return by Desmond Lenard to get Grambling on the board 1:57 before halftime.

Grambling soared ahead thanks to two straight interceptions, on opposite sides of the field, by senior defensive end Christian Anthony, both returned for touchdowns and a 21-14 lead less than five minutes into the second half. Both times, Anthony snatched underthrown screen passes from Demons quarterback John Hundley. On the first, he dodged NSU players and flipped a lateral to defensive back Nigel Copleand, who took it the last 10 yards to complete a 24-yard scoring return to tie the game at 14.

Grambling beats Northwestern State, 38-17

GRAMBLING -- The Grambling Tigers have beaten Northwestern State 38-17 for their first win over the fellow Louisiana-based Football Championship Subdivision school since 1974. Grambling goes to 1-1 on the year, while NSU under new head coach Bradley Dale Peveto starts the 2009 season 0-2. Grambling last beat a non-Southwestern Athletic Conference FBS school in 2004, Savannah State. It last beat a non-HBCU lower-division school in 2001, Portland State. Third-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway has not lost a game at Robinson Stadium since he arrived in 2007.

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Christian Anthony put Grambling on his back for this win

GRAMBLING -- What Christian Anthony did to Northwestern State on Saturday wasn’t even fair. He was playing “Madden” on easy mode. He was the kid on the Pop Warner team that has to bring his birth certificate to each game to prove he’s not lying about his age. He was Grambling’s best offensive weapon in a 38-17 win over the Demons. And he doesn’t even line up on that side of the ball. The 6-foot-4 275-pound monster of a defensive end accounted for two Grambling touchdowns and terrorized the NSU offense for 60 straight minutes.

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Special: Colonial Athletic Conference (CAA) Leaves Its Mark on I-A Teams

Last weekend's victories by William & Mary over Virginia, Richmond over Duke and Villanova over Temple reinforced the notion that the Colonial Athletic Association remains one of the strongest leagues in division I-AA football, if not the most powerful. Should James Madison knock off Maryland (Maryland won 38-35 in OT) and New Hampshire topple Ball State (NH won 23-16) on Saturday, it will further enhance the CAA's reputation and strengthen the argument that the talent gap between division I-A teams and the top programs in I-AA is shrinking.

"I've always told people that when Appalachian [State] beat Michigan [in 2007] . . . it was all the talking heads on television that were talking about what a huge upset it was," James Madison Coach Mickey Matthews said. "You didn't hear any coaches in the Big Ten and the CAA saying it was a huge upset. The top 10 or 15 teams in I-AA football can play with anyone in the country. I'm not saying we're going to beat them, but we certainly can compete against anyone."

This is the fourth year in a row that at least one CAA team has defeated a division I-A team. New Hampshire is going for its fifth consecutive win against a division I-A team this weekend. Since 1997, CAA teams boast 19 wins against division I-A opponents; no other I-AA conference comes close to matching that number. CAA teams have also fared well within their own classification. The league sent a record five teams to the division I-AA playoffs in each of the past two seasons. Last year in the 16-team field, four of the final eight teams and two of the final four teams were from the CAA.

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QUESTION FOR OUR READERS: Is South Carolina State, Florida A&M and Grambling competive with "any" of the ranked teams of the CAA? You may want to wait until after this Saturday's games to answer the question, although, other MEAC/SWAC teams are not as competitive as SCSU, FAMU or Grambling. Two CAA vs. MEAC games are on tap:

William and Mary (2-0) @ Norfolk State (1-1): 6 p.m.
Delaware State (0-1) @ Delaware (1-1) 12:00 noon

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North Carolina A&T 17, Norfolk State 13

Aggies coach Alonzo Lee impact is being being felt at both North Carolina A&T and Morgan State. The Aggies are 3-0 (including DSU Hornets forfeit) and Morgan State's defense is missing in action, after yesterday rout at Akron.

Penalties, goal-line stand by NC A&T drops NSU to 1-1

GREENSBORO, NC--Pete Adrian had been a thorn in North Carolina A&T's side since coming to Norfolk State five seasons ago. Alonzo Lee didn't take long to return the favor. The first-year coach promised a new Aggie attitude, and his quickly-improved team delivered Saturday night, sending NSU to a 17-13 defeat in its MEAC opener. Adrian's Spartans had won three straight in the series, and appeared to be on firmer footing heading into the game, with a veteran squad that has designs on contending for a MEAC title. North Carolina A&T, 3-9 last year, was picked eighth.

"It shows that we can't take any team for granted," NSU tailback DeAngelo Branche said. Norfolk State (1-1, 0-1 MEAC) also demonstrated it can't commit 10 penalties and fail to finish drives. The Spartans had first and goal at the A&T 6 early in the fourth quarter but failed to get the ball in on four straight running plays. Later, NSU moved to the A&T 31 before turning the ball over on downs. "You can't get shut out in the second half and think you're going to win the game," Adrian said.

Aggies regroup for win vs. Norfolk State

GREENSBORO -- Alonzo Lee had been waiting for the situation N.C. A&T faced Saturday night. The first-year head coach watched the Aggies slip behind by 10 points just seconds into the second quarter at Aggie Stadium. The offense was struggling to sustain drives, and Norfolk State had marched steadily for touchdowns on two of their first three possessions. The game seemed to be slipping out of hand, but Lee saw an educational opportunity.

"I wanted to be in that situation where this weekend we can show that we can fight, we can come back," Lee said. "They came and they ran the ball down our throat. And that's what I told the guys. Men, they ran the ball down your throat. The test of a true man is when your back is against the wall." The Aggies passed that test during the final three quarters, riding momentum-swinging defensive plays and key offensive performances to a 17-13 win over the Spartans.
















Aggies RB Tony Coles leaves NSU defense grasping for air.

FANS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN AGGIES VICTORY

GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T head football coach Alonzo Lee and the Aggies made their debut at home in front of 14,338 fans Saturday at Aggie Stadium under the klieg lights. Those same fans assisted the Aggies in punching Norfolk State’s lights out in a 17-13 win. Perhaps the new head coach’s influence extends beyond the 2-0 football team. Whenever he speaks, whether it is in front of alumni, his team or the media, there always seems to be an extra gear he goes into that makes people – old and young – wish they could suit up too. It is hard to match Lee’s enthusiasm. But the people wearing the sea of gold at Aggie Stadium Saturday night sure tried.

In fact, Aggie fans acted as if they had heard a coach Lee pregame speech. The fan participation didn’t go unnoticed. “We knew this wasn’t going to be an easy game for us,’’ said Norfolk State head coach Pete Adrian. “We knew they were going to be a fired up football team after last week. You add that to having to come in here and play in this atmosphere with this crowd noise, and we had a tough task ahead of us.” A smile came to sophomore running back Mike Mayhew’s face when asked about playing his first game in Aggie Stadium.

“It was unbelievable,’’ Mayhew said as he leaned forward with a big grin on his face. “To play in your first college game at an HBCU with the crowd, the band and the excitement, it’s what you live for.”

Attendance: 14,338 @ Aggies Stadium, Greensboro, N.C.

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UL-Monroe 58, Texas Southern 0

ULM Rolls to 58-0 Victory over Texas Southern in a Rainy Home Opener

MONROE, La.-ULM scored on its first three possessions of the game and rolled to a 58-0 victory over Texas Southern in the Warhawks' home opener Saturday night at Malone Stadium. ULM quarterback Trey Revell completed his first 12 pass attempts of the game and finished the night 17-of-19 for 238 yards and two touchdowns - his 89.5 completion percentage broke Doug Pederson's school record of 88.3 percent (16-of-18) set in 1990. Revell's 12 straight completions to open tonight's game, combined with his final three passes at No. 2 Texas last week, set a ULM school record for consecutive completions. His 15 consecutive completions broke Wendel Lowery's record of 11 straight set in 1991.

His backfield companion running back Frank Goodin rushed for 105 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, despite a heavy rain that battered the Monroe area most of the night. Goodin's three touchdowns tied him for the most in head coach Charlie Weatherbie's seven seasons and were just one shy of the school record - he accomplished all of this despite taking only two snaps in the second half. True freshman running back Isaiah Newsome carried the ball 22 times for 158 yards to give the Warhawks two players with over 100 yards rushing. It marked the first time two Warhawks went over the century mark in the same game since Nov. 3, 2007, when Calvin Dawson and Kinsmon Lancaster ran wild against Middle Tennessee.

Goodin's 3 touchdowns, Revell's 2 scores lead Louisiana-Monroe ...

MONROE, La. — Frank Goodin scored three touchdowns in Louisiana-Monroe’s 58-0 rout of Texas Southern on Saturday night. Louisiana-Monroe outrushed the Tigers 345-6 with two Warhawks gaining more than 100 yards.Isaiah Newsome picked up 158 yards on 22 carries and Goodin added 105 yards on 16 carries. Trey Revell scored two touchdowns for the Warhawks through the air, and had 238 yards on 17 of 19 passing.

Louisiana-Monroe (1-1) gained a total of 592 yards of total offense, while Texas Southern lost four fumbles in the shutout. The Warhawks’ defense held the Tigers (0-3) to 103 total yards and notched a safety midway through the third quarter. Texas Southern’s Quarterback Arvell Nelson was 18 of 32 for 97 yards.

Attendance: 9,330, Malone Stadium, Monroe, La.

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S.C. State 24, Bethune-Cookman 3

Wyatt-Bone dry: B-CU TD-less again

DAYTONA BEACH -- South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough hates to line up against Bethune-Cookman's triple-option offense. "That offense always give us problems," Pough said. But on Saturday, B-CU repeatedly struck out on all three options and the 15th-ranked Bulldogs rolled to a 24-3 victory over the Wildcats in front of 5,745 fans at Municipal Stadium. The 'Cats (0-2, 0-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) gained just 14 yards on the ground and finished with less than 100 yards of offense.

"We've got to get the offense right. It's no one particular area," B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt said. "When you don't score points, it can't be just one area. We have to take our time and re-evaluate our kids." Even without much offense, the Wildcats were able to stay close until two third-quarter mistakes took the wind out of their sails. "We got a break or two and we got it done," said Pough, whose squad improved to 2-0, 1-0 in the MEAC. "But it was nip-and-tuck for a long time. It was a little closer game than the score indicated."

Erby Leads Bulldog Defense To 24-3 Win Over BC-U

The South Carolina State Bulldogs once again proved why they are the defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Champions Saturday cruising to a 24-3 victory over Bethune-Cookman at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida. This is the first 2-0 start since 2005 for Coach Pough and the Bulldogs. SCSU the top-ranked team in Black College Football and ranked #15 nationally in three FCS major polls redeemed themselves from last week giving up 426 total yards against Grambling, while the Bulldog defense allowed just 97 yards on the day to BC-U offense.

Junior linebacker David Erby led all defensive leaders with 11 tackles and a sack, with the Bulldog defense picking off three passes on the day from sophomore quarterback Maurice Francois. SC State jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first-half on a 1-yard scoring run from Senior Travil Jamison and a 23 yard pass from Long to Will Ford at the 12:02 mark. Bethune-Cookman got on the board on a 31-yard field goal by freshman Kory Kowalski with a 1:50 left in the third quarter to make the score 14-3.

The Bulldogs sealed the deal on the next possession when senior Tre' Oliver scored on an 86-yard kickoff return to go ahead 21-3 closing out the third quarter. The final points of the day came on a career long 40-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Black Erickson. South Carolina State improved to 2-0, 1-0 in the MEAC with the victory, while Bethune-Cookman falls to 0-2, 0-1 in the MEAC on the season.

Other, Bulldogs making noise was junior quarterback Malcolm Long connecting 14-22 for 148 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Senior Tre' Oliver had five catches for 55 yards, while All-MEAC running back Will Ford finished with 40 yards on 12 carries. SC State will be idle next week and will return to action on September 26, when they host Winston-Salem State in a 6 p.m. contest. Courtesy: SC State Athletics

Lewis' hustle play sparks SC State

"Superman" came to the rescue on a Saturday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. With South Carolina State holding a 14-3 lead in the third quarter, Bethune-Cookman linebacker Ryan Lewis intercepted quarterback Malcolm Long at the 45-yard line. As Lewis raced down the sidelines followed by Wildcats teammates to the end zone, he appeared headed for a game-changing touchdown. Sprinting in pursuit was Bulldogs redshirt freshman receiver Lennel Elmore, known to teammates as "Superman." He lived up to his Man of Steel moniker by chasing down Lewis at the 1-yard line.

Instead of a touchdown- saving tackle, Elmore managed to force the football free from Lewis and out of the end zone. The play was ruled a touchback, denying the Wildcats their best chance at a touchdown. S.C. State added an 86-yard kickoff return from Charleston native Tre Young and a career-high 39-yard field goal from Blake Erickson to pull away for a 24-3 victory. "I just had to hustle," Elmore said. "He had the ball out, so I just knocked it out. He wanted to show off, so I just hit the ball out of his hands."

"That play Lennel Elmore made was an unbelievable daggone play," S.C. State coach Buddy Pough said. "He runs his butt down there and strips that ball out of there and saves us seven points." It was the 12th straight win in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play for the Bulldogs (2-0, 1-0).

Black College football trends beginning to develop

Week three of the Black College football season is in the books and there are some interesting trends that are starting to develop. It appears that South Carolina State and Florida A&M are the class of the MEAC. The Bulldogs followed their win over Grambling last week with a 24-3 thumping of Bethune-Cookman. The Rattlers improved to 2-0 with a 24-point win at Winston-Salem State.

In the SWAC, Grambling bounced back from its loss to S.C. State by defeating Northwestern State 38-17 while Alabama A&M, which won at Tennessee State in its opener, added another win by defeating Hampton 31-24.

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Akron Zips 41, Morgan State Bears 0

Zips rule on home turf

The University of Akron and Morgan State were the first two teams ever to share the Summa Field turf at InfoCision Stadium. They sure did not share it equally. The Zips had a decided territorial advantage Saturday afternoon in a dominating performance and resultant 41-0 victory over the overmatched Bears. An announced crowd of 27,881 was treated to its initial look at InfoCision Stadium, the new $61.6 million on-campus facility, and were equally treated to the Zips imposing their will on the visitors from start to finish.

The Zips (1-1), bouncing back from a one-sided loss at Penn State last weekend, had a 436-127 advantage in total yards, a 23-3 edge in first downs and a possession of 35 minutes versus 25 minutes. ''It didn't come easy, but I thought our guys executed decently and made the improvements you thought you should make from game one to game two,'' Zips coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''It's great to get a victory.'' The Zips led just 7-0 after the first quarter, failing to capitalize on several early opportunities. But the Zips rolled to a 17-point second quarter to make it 24-0 at the half and ended any possible chance for a Morgan State comeback by scoring midway through the third quarter to make it 31-0.

Morgan State - Akron Zips Game Photos>>

Zips open InfoCision with flourish

It was just the kind of new stadium debut the Akron Zips hoped for. Morgan State proved to be the welcome mat for an official full house of 27,881 fans for the first game in InfoCision Stadium as the Zips rolled to a 41-0 victory. It was Akron's first shutout since 1992. A sun-splashed crowd accounted for every seat and witnessed the Zips methodically work over the small-college Bears. The only down side is, after a 31-7 road loss at powerhouse Penn State, and this whitewash over the Bears, it is still unclear just how good, how average, or how bad Akron will be this season. A more revealing test will come next Saturday when Akron (1-1) hosts undefeated Indiana (2-0) in a game that will put the stadium and the crowd to a true environmental test.



University of Akron (Ohio) InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field: The $61.6 million stadium seats 30,000. It has seven levels, 21 restrooms, a good-sized video scoreboard, 38 loge boxes and 522 club seats. It has 17 suites, with the Presidential Suite — complete with fireplace — the jewel. InfoCision has elevators — nice, roomy ones. Some of them will take fans to the FirstMerit Foundation Club Level (the fifth level), which has a spacious area that can be rented out by the public for business meetings and receptions. Some classes will be moved to classrooms in the new stadium. The stadium also will have a full slate of high school games.

Akron rolls over Morgan, 41-0

Chris Jacquemain passed for 162 yards and three touchdowns, and Deryn Bowser had eight receptions for 86 yards and three touchdowns as Akron opened InfoCision Stadium with a 41-0 rout of Morgan State on Saturday. Akron rolled up 436 total yards and finished the game with 186 passing yards, the most yards Morgan State has given up through the air since surrendering 243 against Towson on Sept. 6, 2008. It was the most points Morgan has allowed since a 41-16 loss to South Carolina State in 2006.

The Bears (0-1), who had a 22-3 disadvantage in first downs, finished with just 41 rushing yards. Morgan All- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference running back Devan James, who only had one carry in the preseason, was limited to 24 yards on 10 carries. The Zips (1-1) led 24-0 at halftime, as they out-gained the Bears 262-78, forced two fumbles and grabbed an interception. Bowser scored his third touchdown of the day on a fade route midway through the third quarter. Carlton Jackson was 10-for-19 for 87 yards for Morgan State, but he threw two interceptions. The first helped set up the Zips' first scoring drive of the game.

Morgan State defensive back Richard Wilson attempts to intercept a Zip pass.

Grudge game

Awakened by the phone, the Morgan State football coach fumbled to answer it and peered at the clock. It was 1 a.m. This can't be good news, Donald Hill-Eley thought. The caller, his quarterback, was crying. "Coach?" Carlton Jackson asked, voice aquiver. "What's going on, son?" "Thank you for not giving up on me." Hill-Eley yawned, smiled and yawned again. "I always had faith in you," the Morgan coach said. "Now let me go back to sleep."

Since that conversation in June, Jackson - once moody and mercurial - has been a different quarterback. Just how much he has changed, Morgan learns today in its opener at Akron. In practice, at least, the Bears sense a newfound stability in Jackson, a transfer from Akron, of all places. Morgan hopes he has matured in time to tame the Zips, the team against which Jackson has plenty to prove. "It's indescribable, a once-in-a-lifetime deal to play against your old school," said Jackson, 22, a senior in his second year at Morgan. "It'll be a hostile environment - I expect the boos - but it's a chance for me to go in and show that I can play."

Scouting report: Morgan State-Akron

SERIES: First meeting

WHAT'S AT STAKE: It's a sellout as Akron plays its first game in InfoCision Stadium, a $61 million ballpark with 27,000 seats, a cutting-edge synthetic field and a state-of-the-art scoreboard. Can Morgan ruin the Zips' debut? Akron got pummeled, 31-7, by Penn State last week but promises to bounce back today. The Zips (Mid-American Conference) were 5-7 last season and have won just nine games in the past two years. Morgan split its 12 games in 2008, the Bears' best finish since 2003 under Coach Donald Hill-Eley, who's in his eighth year. Always strong defensively, Morgan has ditched the grind-it-out game and gone to a more vertical offense, which takes pressure off fleet RB Devan James (1,337 yards) and heaps it on the shoulders of QB Carlton Jackson (742 passing yards) and his talented understudy, freshman Donovan Dickerson.

KEY MATCHUP: Jackson, a transfer from Akron, against the Zips' suspect defense. But they know his tendencies, especially S Andre Jones, from Forestville, one of Jackson's best friends. They've been calling and texting each other all week, talking trash.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Akron: QB Chris Jacquemain, a senior who, in 2007, got the nod over Jackson and prompted the latter's transfer. Morgan: James, who was recruited heavily by Akron but who this season has a chance to become the Bears' all-time leading rusher.

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Rutgers 45, Howard Bison 7

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- It was somewhere in the second quarter Saturday, a bit into what would become Rutgers' relatively redemptive romp over Howard, that Jourdan Brooks really heard Tom Savage. "Let's go," Savage said. Then, "Come on, we're going to punch it in." And then, pulling Brooks aside, "Run hard on this one.""You know, he reminded me of Mike a little bit," Brooks said, breaking into a grin after Rutgers' 45-7 win. "He definitely doesn't seem like a regular freshman."

Savage certainly proved himself no ordinary freshman -- and that he may indeed be the heir apparent to the two-time captain and record-setter Mike Teel. On a gray, rainy afternoon, he coolly managed Rutgers' offense, he dynamically made some highlight reel throws and he earned Greg Schiano's praise for making what the coach called "good decisions." It was his first-ever start, he would've led Rutgers to a score on every one of his possessions if not for a missed field goal and Savage still very endearingly admitted to a nervous morning of "just looking at the weather."

Highlights of Rutgers 45-7 victory over Howard at Rutgers Stadium

Taking a closer look at Rutgers' victory over Howard

ABOUT THAT DEFENSE
Well, when you beat up an opponent like Rutgers did to Howard, the defense must be doing something right. But after being embarrassed on national television in the home opener on Monday, most would have expected Rutgers to have a killer instinct at a high level, and it really wasn't there. Yes, they forced some turnovers (3), but there were still tackles being missed and runs being broken off. The most glaring mistake was when Howard took a fourth down-and-3 situation in the second quarter and turned it into a 40-yard touchdown play. That's not what you want to see.

Video: The Star-Ledger breaks down Rutgers football 45-7 win over Howard

If this was really a first test for Tom Savage, it was more like one in which he had the answers in advance. Not that anyone in the crowd of 43,722 who braved the dreary conditions at Rutgers Stadium Saturday - and endured the lack of competitiveness by Howard -- seemed to mind or care. The future is now, and he looks poised, calm and fully in control.

Yes, what Savage accomplished was against an overmatched MEAC team that was 1-10 last year. But it's hard to deny that he looks and acts the part of a big-time quarterback - rare for a 19-year-old true freshman making his first career start. Savage, with all of one half of college experience behind him, offered the hope of bigger and better things to come by leading Rutgers to a wound-salving 45-7 victory over Howard, allowing the Knights to square their record at 1-1.

The Star-Ledger breaks down Rutgers football 45-7 win over Howard

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Star jumper making leap from Norfolk State to Florida State

Nothing against Norfolk State, Marlon Woods said, but the six-time MEAC high jump champion feels he's topped out there. So Woods, a Booker T. Washington graduate, is making another jump - transferring to Florida State. "I feel there wasn't a lot more for me to accomplish in the conference or at the school, other than to graduate," he said. Woods, who has a year of eligibility remaining, plans to graduate from Florida State, where he'll enroll in January and compete in the indoor and outdoor seasons. He's taking classes at NSU through this semester and should complete his degree in sociology next December, he said.

The move, he admits, is more about athletics. Woods was disappointed in his 2009 outdoor season. Though he was named Most Outstanding Performer at the MEAC championships, he failed to qualify for the NCAA championships in the high jump, clearing just 6-10-1/4 at the East Regional. He has jumped as high as 7-2-3/4, and qualified for the NCAAs as a sophomore. Woods also failed to qualify in the long jump, after earning All-American honors during the indoor season.

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Mounting Deficits Moves WSSU Rams Back to Division II

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) announced on September 11, 2009, that it would inform the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC) that the university intends to remain a Division II institution for intercollegiate athletics. The process to remain in Division II will begin immediately, but the school will continue to compete in the MEAC at the Division I level through the 2009-2010 season.

At a special called meeting, the university's Board of Trustees voted unanimously to support the recommendation of Chancellor Donald J. Reaves to bring to a close the reclassification to Division I process that was begun in 2004. Reaves praised the vision of former WSSU chancellors who had supported the move to Division I, but stated that "in the final analysis the resources to complete the reclassification simply were not available, currently nor prospectively, in sufficient amounts".

News of dropping Division I goal stuns, perplexes WSSU athletes

The news that Winston-Salem State will be cutting scholarships in athletics was like rubbing salt into an already wounded football team. The Rams lost to Florida A&M on Thursday night 34-10, and in less than 24 hours, they took another punch to the gut. Julian Gray, an offensive lineman, sat slumped on a bench outside the Thompson Center, finding the news hard to believe. "I came to this program thinking I was playing for a Division I program," Gray said. "And you have other people on our team, like the younger guys, who turned down offers to play Division I to come here."

What really upset many of the players was that not even the coaches knew this was coming. "You can't blame the coaches because they just heard the rumors like everybody else," said Omar Kizzie, a junior wide receiver. "Now we have a bunch of guys that don't know what's going on, or even if they will have a scholarship next year. It's just a bad decision all the way around." Chancellor Donald Reaves, who spoke to the athletes in a meeting on campus yesterday afternoon, acknowledged that a lot of them were upset.

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Florida A&M 34, Winston Salem State 10

Rattlers run wild: A&M's Vann scores twice on punt returns of 95 ...

Winston-Salem State had no answer for return specialist LeRoy Vann of Florida A&M last night at Bowman Gray Stadium. Vann, one of the fastest players in the MEAC, scored on two long punt returns as the Rattlers won 34-10 in front of 6,313. On the bright side for the Rams (0-2) was their offense, which came to life a little bit, much to the delight of Coach Kermit Blount.

"I think the tempo was a little better," Blount said of an offense that generated 218 yards. "But those two punt returns really got us. But overall we improved and got better, but the score didn't indicate that." Vann scored on a 95-yard punt return that stunned the Rams in the second quarter. It was bad enough that Vann, 5-9 and 185 pounds, went the 95 yards, but he did so without being touched. He added an 80-yard punt return in the third quarter, which made the score 21-3 and put the Rattlers (2-0) in control.

» PHOTOS: WSSU vs. FAMU - 09-10-09

Vann strikes twice to lead the Rattlers

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – As for wins and losses, beating Winston-Salem State didn't do anything for the Florida A&M football team in the MEAC standings. But Thursday's 34-10 victory at Gray Stadium gave a national television audience a pretty good peek at what the Rattlers could become this season — not to mention a breathtaking view of one of the nation's most accomplished return specialists.

While the FAMU offense looked out of sorts at times Thursday night, defensive back LeRoy Vann scored twice on punt returns — of 95 and 80 yards — to highlight the night. FAMU can now take the victory over the Rams, a provisional MEAC team, into a week of preparation for Howard University in another Thursday night game that will mean a whole lot more. Vann set a school record for most returns for touchdowns with his second in the third quarter at a time when FAMU needed it. The Rattlers were held to 147 yards in the first half.

Battle would have been ready ... if

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Winston-Salem State University coach Kermit Blount said a lot of things would have been different when his team faced FAMU on Thursday night. He promised that if freshman Brandon Williams had to play at quarterback he'd do better than he did in a season-opening loss to North Carolina A&T State. We saw it — at least through the first three quarters. Up to that point, he threw for 111 yards. That's 20 more yards than the Rams had in total offense in their first game.

Another promise was that the defense would be much tougher and productive against FAMU. Right again. The Rattlers had 194 yards through three quarters — two yards fewer than quarterback Curtis Pulley had rushing alone last weekend. Thanks to kick returner LeRoy Vann the Rattlers went into the fourth with a 16-point lead. Blount had talked about finding ways to stop Vann, too. He didn't find solutions Thursday night as Vann had a record night.

MEAC Football Standings
CONFERENCE OVERALL
Florida A&M 1-0 - 2-0
Hampton 0-0 - 1-0
Norfolk State 0-0 - 1-0
North Carolina A&T 0-0 - 1-0
South Carolina State 0-0 - 1-0
Howard 0-0 - 0-0
Morgan State 0-0 - 0-0
Bethune-Cookman 0-0 - 0-1
Delaware State 0-1 - 0-1

2009 Conference Leaders
PASSING ATT COMP YDS TD
C. Pulley, Florida A&M 40 29 349 3
A. Glaud, Delaware St 32 17 188 1
D. Legree, Hampton 18 10 140 1

RUSHING CAR YDS AVG TD
C. Pulley, Florida A&M 25 230 9.2 1
E. Rocker, Florida A&M 20 94 4.7 0
C. Fears, NC A&T 10 78 7.8 1

RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD
I. West, Florida A&M 10 163 16.3 1
K. Elliott, Florida A&M 9 95 10.6 1
D. Jackson, Delaware St 7 67 9.6 0

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North Carolina Central University wins admission to MEAC

North Carolina Central University has won admission to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, returning the Durham institution to a league it helped found but then left 30 years ago. The conference said Thursday that its Council of Chief Executive Officers voted to admit NCCU as the MEAC’s 13th member effective July 1, 2010.

The decision gives NCCU a conference home as it continues to make the transition from a NCAA Division II athletics program to one competing in the top-level, and more expensive, Division I. NCCU is entering its third season of competition in Division I. "This is a significant milestone in North Carolina Central University's transition to Division I," said NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms. "Membership in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a win-win proposition for our student-athletes, alumni and fans – indeed, all our university constituents."

With its return to the MEAC, NCCU will now play in the same conference as its most fierce rival, North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, and another in-state school that recently made the jump to Division I, Winston-Salem State University. WSSU, which became the MEAC’s 12th member in 2007, was a rival of NCCU’s in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, a Division II conference. The highlight of NCCU’s time in the CIAA was winning the Division II national men’s basketball championship in 1989.

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Tonight on ESPNU: FAMU Rattlers vs. Winston Salem State Rams

WSSU Rams Coach Kermit Blount: "I think we can neutralize their (FAMU) speed if it's a team effort," Blount said.

WSSU is likely to switch passers

Winston-Salem State most likely will have a new starting quarterback tonight when it plays Florida A&M at Bowman Gray Stadium. Senior Jarrett Dunston sprained his right ankle in last week's 19-10 loss to N.C. A&T, hasn't practiced all week and was limping noticeably yesterday at the WSSU field house. Coach Kermit Blount was coy about the starter, but every indication is that it will be redshirt freshman Branden Williams.

Kickoff will be at 7:30, with television coverage on ESPNU (Time Warner Ch. 143). The Rams had just 90 yards of offense last week, with two turnovers and several mishandled Shotgun snaps, and correcting those mistakes has been emphasized in practice. "I've had some people ask me about what's wrong with the offense," Blount said. "I had one guy ask me after the game, and I said, ‘Look, I don't come on your job asking you about things.' It's just a work in progress and considering we lost Jarrett during the game that was a huge loss for us."

FAMU's athletic director Hayes interested in WSSU job

Bill Hayes has applied for the athletics-director position at Winston-Salem State, sources have confirmed. Hayes, in his second year as the athletics director at Florida A&M, has sent in an application and is interested in the WSSU vacancy, according to one source in Winston-Salem and one in Tallahassee, Fla. Hayes was traveling to Winston-Salem yesterday for tonight's football game between A&M and WSSU and did not respond to a message left on his cell phone.
Hayes, 64, coached football at WSSU for 12 seasons in the late 1970s and 1980s, compiling a record of 89-41-2 and leading the Rams to seven CIAA championship games and three titles.

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Norfolk State 28, Virginia State 10

Spartans' 'D' awakens, stands tall

Kickoff at Norfolk State's Dick Price Stadium was a little after 6 Saturday night. The Spartans defense arrived about 6:15. Once it did, though, it dominated the proceedings, in a 28-10 victory over Virginia State in front of 24,325 fans at the annual Labor Day Classic. The Division II Trojans got a field goal on their first drive and a touchdown on their last - receiving some help from a pair of 15-yard penalties against NSU's second-team D on the latter score.

In between, nothing. Virginia State had tallied just 119 yards of offense prior to its final possession. The Trojans finished with just 169. "We were kind of rusty on our first series," linebacker Anthony Taylor said. "It was our first time being out there and we got roughed up a little bit." NSU coach Pete Adrian said it was a matter of adjusting to game tempo. Virginia State had played a game, beating Livingstone 37-7 Aug. 29. The Spartans were making their season debut.

Once the Spartans settled in, they had little trouble, forcing five Virginia State turnovers, including three interceptions. NSU's new spread offense did not exactly light up the night, but was efficient and mostly mistake-free. Quarterback Dennis Brown threw for 109 yards and ran for 72. Tailback DeAngelo Branche rushed for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Brown spread his 13 completions among six receivers, none going for more than 15 yards. NSU totaled 312 yards of offense, 203 on the ground.

NSU's quarterback, in pursuit of perfection

On a drizzly and unseasonably cool afternoon on the Norfolk State campus, quarterback Dennis Brown strolled out of a dining hall, a one man ray of South Florida sunshine. While most students huddled against the gloom in jeans and hoodies, Brown looked like his native Miami in a white linen shirt, plaid shorts and gleaming white Creative Recreation low-top sneakers. "I thought it was gonna be sunny out, you know?" he explained. "I've got to bring the Miami flavor up here a little bit."

Brown, a senior who will lead the Spartans in the season opener tonight against Virginia State, swears he used to be shy, but it's hard to believe. As he walked from the dining hall toward the student center, he shared an umbrella with a comely coed. Just a friend, he said. When he turned toward an academic building, his friend went the other way, but he ran into another, at the top of a stairwell. "How you doing, Tasha?" he said. She just smiled. "What, you don't talk to me any more?" Brown continued on his way, toward the marketing department. Marketing is his major, and it seems perfect for him. Since coming to Norfolk, which he said he loves, he's met seemingly everyone on campus.

Fast return from torn ACL has NSU's Craig feeling hopeful

Hasan Craig is going to give it a go. The outside linebacker, just eight months removed from surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, plans to test his leg before deciding whether to seek a medical redshirt. "I'm going to play the first three games and see how it feels," he said. A junior, Craig started six games last year and showed a knack for big plays. He forced two fumbles and had six quarterback hurries, leading the team in both categories. He was second on the team with 8.5 tackles for loss.

Craig injured his knee in a pickup basketball game in December. He has been practicing but was held out of contact until last week. Complete recovery from ACL surgery can take a year, but Craig said he's a fast healer. Meanwhile, the Spartans are well-stocked at Craig's old spot. Lamont Thorpe is the starter and backup Terrence Pugh was one of the standouts at NSU's last two scrimmages.

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Hampton Pirates 31, North Carolina Central 24

Hampton U. rallies late on Coker's 29-yard run

Hampton, VA--LaMarcus Coker's touchdown run technically measured 29 yards. Throw in the long celebration run on Hampton University's newly surfaced track and it was closer to 100 — at a clip few other than Usain Bolt could manage. Coker's sprint to the end zone on a draw with 1 minute, 28 seconds to play in the game gave the Pirates a come-from-behind 31-24 win over North Carolina Central. His run afterward was a combination of celebration for new head coach Donovan Rose, and an expression of relief for a Hampton team that seemed beaten only 90 seconds earlier.

"At that point I was having a horrible game, but I told my teammates, 'I'll get it this time,' " said Coker, who ran for only 59 yards. "After I scored, I just got emotional and didn't know what to do, so I just ran." Pirates, quarterback David Legree, who started because school record-setting quarterback Herbert Bynes was hobbled by a sprained ankle, added, "That's Coker for you, man. Coker will give you that five yards a pop, five yards a pop, and then spring the big play on you." The Pirates (1-0) needed the big play to secure the non-conference win. The Eagles disintegration moments earlier put them in position to get it.

Happy return for HU QB

Hampton University quarterback David Legree had not played in a football game since 2006, as a senior at South Shore High School in New York. He said it felt more like 20 years."And I'm only 19," he joked.Legree, a transfer from Syracuse University, handled himself admirably in a fill-in role. He completed 10-of-18 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown in the Pirates' 31-24 win over N.C. Central. Most important, he displayed poise after a rough start. On the first series of the game, he threw an interception, which the Eagles converted into a touchdown.

Often under heavy pressure, Legree was sacked on the Pirates' next two possessions, which ended in punts. But, after Julio Sanchez forced a fumble by Eagles quarterback Michael Johnson, Legree put his new scrambling experience to work. Hounded yet again by an Eagles defender, Legree scrambled to the right. His run prompted receiver Damon McDaniel's defender to break away from him in case Legree ran with the ball. Legree braked and threw to a wide-open McDaniel. The 32-yard touchdown pass tied the score at 7 and settled Legree.

QB coach Pep Hamilton knows how to deal with talent

As the point guard on the same AAU team as college stars Jeff Capel and Jeff McInnis, Pep Hamilton learned to funnel his basketball knowledge to highly skilled players. Now, 15-plus years later, Hamilton finds himself in a similar situation as the Chicago Bears' quarterbacks coach, working with Pro Bowler Jay Cutler. Inheriting such a talented player should make Hamilton's job a lot easier, considering the unsteady quarterback situation from a year ago.

3rd. year Chicago Bears QB Coach Pep Hamilton is a former Hampton University Top Student and star quarterback.

"I take pride in the fact it's my job to try and help guys realize their full potential," Hamilton said. "We didn't achieve our ultimate goal as a team [last season], so there's no way I can say that any us did our job to the level we expected."

Hamilton, who turns 35 on Sept. 19, is in his third season with the Bears and sixth in the NFL. The Charlotte native never played in the league, opting to jump into coaching after his last season as quarterback at Hampton University. Yet his lack of pro playing experience has not impeded his progress up the coaching ranks. Cutler is the third first-round quarterback under Hamilton's tutelage, joining former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith of 49ers and ex-Bear Rex Grossman. No doubt Cutler is the most talented of the three.

Hampton bowler returns to No. 1

Becca Glazier of Sparetimes headed the girls all-star team with a 185 average. Glazier, the Hampton Women's Bowling Association Female Bowler of the Year for 2009, is a repeat selection. As a freshman at Hampton University, she hopes to pursue a career in forensic science and will compete for the school's bowling team this season.

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South Carolina State 34, Grambling State 31

Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough had South Carolina State Bulldogs in mid-season form against a great Grambling State Tigers program.

Bulldogs take measure of Grambling, 34-31, in MEAC/SWAC Challenge

There was already some sense of foreboding going through South Carolina State head football coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough entering Sunday’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge against Grambling. “I got scared when I got out of my car in Orlando on Friday afternoon when we got here because it was smoking,” he said. “It had been cool at home the last week, so we really hadn’t had any real hot weather for a while. So I knew that we might be in a little bit of trouble with the elements and when we came over here today, it was really hot when we walked on the field.”

Pough’s concerns became more legitimate as Bulldog players like quarterback Malcolm Long missed most of the second half due to heat cramps. On the same day he surpassed DeShawn Baker for second place on the school’s career rushing list, Walter Payton Award finalist William Ford saw limited action after injuring his left shoulder on the first play of the second half. Despite those adversities, the 16th-ranked Bulldogs still managed to hold off 25th-ranked Grambling 34-31 in a matchup of the top two teams in black college football. Backup redshirt freshman quarterback Derrick Wiley accounted for 118 total yards and one touchdown, all in the second half in relief of Long, to earn ESPN and “Challenge” Player of the Game honors.

Semaj Moody nabs win for SC State at MEAC/SWAC Challenge

Two weeks ago, catching passes was Semaj Moody's job on the football field. "Why'd Semaj move to DB?" South Carolina State Coach Buddy Pough asked, chuckling. "Because he couldn't catch."
Turns out he could, and when it most counted, too. Moody, who said he played cornerback for the first time in his collegiate career on Sunday, made a game-winning interception with fewer than 90 seconds remaining in the MEAC/SWAC challenge. He picked off Grambling State quarterback Greg Dillon at South Carolina State's 10-yard line, allowing the Bulldogs to run out the clock and keep a three-point lead. "That was Coach, good call," Moody said after the game. "All defensive line, DBs, everybody was just where they were supposed to be. I ran at the QB. ... It was a play that needed to be made and I made it."The interception ended the Tigers' comeback bid. The Bulldogs won the opener 34-31 before 21,367 at the Citrus Bowl.

SC State prevails in Black College showdown

South Carolina State used a national stage to show that it is one of the best teams in Black College football - if not the best. The Bulldogs continued the MEAC’s dominance in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Sunday by holding off Grambling State 34-31 in a nationally-televised game from the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Malcolm Long passed for two touchdowns and Travil Jamison rushed for two more to lead South Carolina State (1-0) to the MEAC’s fourth win in the five-year history of the Challenge.

Legendary Coach Willie Jeffries, S.C. State University Bulldogs

Sunday Conversation with Willie Jeffries

When Willie Jeffries watches the MEAC/SWAC Challenge between South Carolina State and Grambling, he’ll have a rooting interest for both programs. Much like the late Eddie Robinson is synonymous with Grambling, Jeffries is seen as the face of the Bulldogs eight years after his retirement. He also served eight months in 2005 as the Tigers’ athletic director.

These days, Jeffries remains a man on the go from speaking engagements, to contributing to charitable causes. In an interview with T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr., Jeffries talks about his post-retirement, S.C. State football and Coach Rob:

Q. In the eight years since coaching your last game at South Carolina State, you’ve been one of the hardest-working men in retirement. What is a typical day like for you?

Path to sports glory isn't always on the field

After a solid run playing linebacker at Duke University, where he lettered in his final season, Robert Vowels anticipated joining the helmeted warriors who knocked heads for big bucks on Sundays. Being cut by a pro-football team took the starch out that plan. Nevertheless, he got up, dusted himself off and made the transition from star player to studious pupil. He earned his law degree and, over time, parlayed his education into a series of upwardly mobile executive positions within college sports.

As he told the 350 or so juniors and seniors who attended the ESPN 101 Career Panel this week, reality may have cut short his on-field dreams, but having a Plan B kept him in the game. "Once you get punched in the face the first time, you have to make some choices," said Vowels, vice president for educational affairs for the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

It was a pin-drop moment in a session replete with such moments at the Walt Disney World branch of Boys & Girls Club in Pine Hills. When Vowels spoke, the crowd — consisting largely of hoopsters, footballers, and Stuart Scott wannabes from Evans, Jones, and Oak Ridge high schools in Orlando — listened intently. The session, among the activities orbiting the Disney-sponsored MEAC/SWAC Challenge football game, which pits two historically black colleges, was meant to familiarize sports-minded students with other pursuits.

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MEAC/SWAC Challenge: S.C. State 101 Marching Band

Alabama A&M 24, Tennessee State 7

A&M confidence high after romp

Bulldogs answer many preseason questions in 24-7 opening victory. Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones had questions about his football team he was hoping to answer in Saturday night's season opener against Tennessee State. How much had quarterback Kevin Atkins matured since last season? Could the Bulldogs get their running game - which was nonexistent last season - going again? Could A&M's defense regain the form it had in recent years before last season? Had the Bulldogs improved their special teams - particularly their kickoff coverage team - from a year ago?

A&M answered those questions with a resounding "yes" en route to a 24-7 win over Tennessee State. A&M answered those questions with a resounding "yes" en route to a 24-7 win over Tennessee State. "I was impressed with the way our kids responded to the challenge," Jones said Sunday. "The big challenge was playing in an NFL stadium. That could have been intimidating, but our guys rose to the challenge. We played well for the first time out."

TSU loses more than opening game

The news went from bad to worse for Tennessee State in its season opener Saturday night against Alabama A&M. First, it became obvious early that the Tigers have a long way to go to rebuild their depleted offense. Then, just as the offense started to show signs of life, quarterback Dominic Grooms was knocked out of the game. Alabama A&M coasted to a 24-7 win in the John Merritt Classic at LP Field before a crowd of 23,871.

The lopsided loss left the Tigers, who were coming off an 8-4 record in 2008, with more questions than before the game started. "I knew going in that our offense was going to take some time to jell," TSU Coach James Webster said. "We had nine new starters. I did expect us to perform better than what we did. And now losing our quarterback, that sets us back even further." Grooms suffered a severe hamstring pull and is out indefinitely.

Photo Gallery: TSU vs. Alabama A&M

TSU QB Jeremy Perry poor decision making earns the criticism of his coach, James Webster.

TSU coach criticizes backup quarterback's play

Tennessee State Coach James Webster did not sugarcoat his comments when asked to evaluate the performance by quarterback Jeremy Perry, who replaced injured starter Dominic Grooms in the Tigers' 24-7 loss to Alabama A&M. Two of Perry's first four passes were intercepted and he finished 10-of-30 for 136 yards and was sacked twice. He failed to get the offense in scoring position until late in the game and then, with the ball on Alabama A&M's 23, tossed four consecutive incomplete passes.

"The one thing we always say is to protect the football,'' Webster said. "If he protects the football we've got a chance to win. He threw two interceptions so he didn't protect the football. I thought he did some good things, but we've got to protect the football. We can't have turnovers."

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