Florida A&M Coach Has Faith in His Rebuilding Program

Tallahassee, FL — When Joe Taylor took over as the football coach at Florida A&M, barely a month after the Rattlers lost six of their last seven games to finish 3-8 in 2007, he summoned every returning player for an individual conference. In each session, he asked the same question: why did things happen the way they did last season? And each player pointed the finger at someone else. Not one acknowledged any role. “There was a whole lot of what I call deflecting,” Taylor, 59, said in recent interview.

Coach Joe Taylor stands next to the statue of legendary Rattlers Coach Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither on the campus of Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL.

Taylor said that he realized that the job facing him was more than returning Florida A&M to its customary success. He had to oversee a character makeover, which for him meant a regimen of churchgoing, class work and off-season training. As he said, “My whole idea is that if you can improve the person, you can improve the player.” Less than two years later, the results vindicate the thesis. Taylor’s 2008 team went 9-3, and after last Saturday’s 31-28 overtime victory against Morgan State, the Rattlers were 6-2 in 2009, with one of those losses to Miami.

Florida A&M now ranks in the top 25 in the N.C.A.A. Football Championship Subdivision poll for the first time in eight years. Before Saturday’s home game against North Carolina A&T, the No. 24 Rattlers were in second place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and third in the Sheridan Broadcasting System ranking of historically black colleges. Impressive as the improvements have been, the Florida A&M tradition demands even more. Taylor toils here in the shadow of Jake Gaither, one of the greatest college football coaches ever, who retired in 1969 with a career record of 203-36-4.



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Hampton U. lures two prize Florida products

Glades Central starting quarterback Leron "L.J."Thomas is a Pirate early commitment.

Florida has long been recognized as a fertile recruiting ground, and Hampton University is now mining that prime territory as well. The Pirates have landed early commitments from two products of Glades Central High in Belle Grade, Fla., where first-year recruiting coordinator and running-backs coach Stephen Field once coached. Johnnie Dixon, a Rivals.com four-star defensive back/athlete, signed with Auburn out of Glades Central in 2007, but didn't qualify academically. He landed at traditional junior-college power Pearl River (Miss.) Community College, where he had 22 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions in 10 games in 2008.



Dixon said he kept in contact with Field, who sold him on an HU program that includes two other former Glades Central players in freshmen running back Antonio McCloude and fullback Vincent Harper. Dixon, 6-foot and 195 pounds, said he's a better player after two years at Pearl River, which finished 6-3 in 2009 and where he played cornerback and wide receiver.

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Blogger Notes: L.J. comes from a very talented Glades Central program...He is the fifth Raider to commit this season, joining DB Travis Bell (West Virginia), DB/WR Greg Dent (Miami), TE Clive Walford (Miami) and DB/RB Antwon Chisholm (Mississippi State). The 6-2, 175 star was the best quarterback in the region last season and has had several discussions with Florida International. Hampton is the only program so far, to offer him a scholarship during the early recruitment period.

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HONDA Battle of the Bands announces Winners

Three months ago, 45 marching bands from the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) began the journey down the “Road to the Honda,” all competing for a spot in the 2010 Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) Invitational Showcase. Out of 45 competing marching bands from the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), eight have been chosen to perform in January at the 2010 Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) Invitational Showcase.




Representing varied music and performance styles ranging from precision to high-stepping, the eight headlining bands are:

• Albany State University “Marching Rams” (Albany, Georgia)

• Clark Atlanta University “Mighty Marching Panthers” (Atlanta, Georgia)

• Florida A&M University “Marching 100” (Tallahassee, Florida)

• North Carolina Central University “Marching Sound Machine” (Durham, North Carolina)

• Prairie View A&M University “Marching Storm” (Prairie View, Texas)

• Southern University “Human Jukebox Marching Band” (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

• Tuskegee University “Marching Crimson Pipers” (Tuskegee, Alabama)

• Virginia State University “Trojan Explosion Marching Band” (Petersburg, Virginia)






On January 30, 2010, the bands will perform for a crowd of 60,000 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and prove why they are the best of the best. Marking its eighth year, the Honda Battle of the Bands is the only national scholarship program that showcases an important facet of HBCU heritage and culture – music education.

The eight winning band programs chosen to participate in this year’s Invitational Showcase will be awarded $20,000 by American Honda for their music programs in addition to the $1,000 grant they received for participation in the pre-qualifying fall campus event tour. Through this program Honda is awarding a total of $205,000 in scholarships to HBCU music programs for the 2009-10 academic year, and since the beginning of the program, has awarded grants in excess of $1 million.

South Carolina State 43, Howard 13

S.C. State QB Malcolm Long has lead the Bulldogs to 6-0 MEAC record, 8-1 overall mark.

South Carolina State Remains Unbeaten In MEAC

In a tale of two programs going into different directions, the Bulldogs of South Carolina State clinched their second consecutive MEAC title with a 43-13 win over Howard at Greene Stadium before a crowd of 5,108. “ We wanted to take away the run and put them in passing situations “ said Howard coach Carey Bailey. State started the scoring with a 44 yard field goal by sophmore Blake Erickson. That was followed up with a 28 yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Malcolm Long to wide receiver Terrance Smith with 3:20 remaining in the first quarter.

“ They gave us some different looks from what we had seen on film State quarterback Malcolm Long said. “ We then decided to get the ball to Chris Massey,” said Long who then scored on a 14 -yard pass with 10:42 remaining in the second quarter. The Bison put six points on the board with field goals of 37 and 35 yards from senior Dennis Wiehberg. The second feld goal came with no time remaining in the first half. That field goal allowed Howard to cut State’s lead to 22-6 at the half.

Bulldogs take another step toward MEAC title, pick up 8th win of year

WASHINGTON – Even when things went wrong, they turned out just fine for South Carolina State on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Howard University. On the game’s first play from scrimmage the Bulldogs fumbled the ball but S.C. State recovered and then went on an 11-play drive that ended with a 44-yard field goal by Blake Erickson for a 3-0 lead. When Howard got the ball Bison quarterback Floyd Haigler, from Orangeburg, appeared to have a receiver open inside the S.C. State 20 on second and 10 from the Bulldog 32. But Haigler, who said he was trying to throw the ball away, was picked off by strong safety Markee Hamlin in the end zone.

The Bulldogs then went 80 yards for a score, as Terrance Smith caught a 28-yard TD pass from Malcolm Long and the PAT made it 10-0. The high-powered S.C. State offense added a 14-yard TD pass from Long to Chris Massey early in the second quarter and breezed to a 43-13 MEAC win before 5,081 fans on a clear, cool afternoon. The Bulldogs (8-1, 6-0) won their 17th straight league contest and inched closer to the regular-season MEAC title. The Bulldogs entered the game ranked No. 10 in the Sports Network FCS poll and No. 1 in the SBN Black College Football poll.

SC State Continues Its MEAC March

Will Ford rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown to lead South Carolina State to a 43-13 win at Howard. The Bulldogs' Tre Young had seven receptions, giving him 116 for his career, one shy of the school record. With the win, the Bulldogs are 8-1 overall, 6-0 in the league, S.C. State will host Morgan State Saturday with a win giving the program its second straight MEAC championship.

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Howard University Lady Bison: Preview '09

Coaches
Head Coach: Niki Reid Geckeler, 2nd season (Georgetown '93)
Assistant Coach: Jimmy Howard, 2nd season (Greensboro '91)
Assistant Coach: Julie Flanders, 2nd season (George Mason '05)
Assistant Coach: Brian Johnson, 2nd season (Drexel '98)

Players to watch
Zykia Brown, Jr., G, 5-8: Brown, a graduate of Parkdale High School, was the third-leading scorer in the MEAC last season, averaging 17.3 points per game, and was an all-conference second-team selection.

New Recruits
Kara Smith (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young), Cabria Johnson (Washington, D.C./Elizabeth Seton), Jerelle Gorham (Durham, N.C./Hillside), Tomaria Holmes (Durham, N.C./Hillside), Julee O’Neal (Durham, N.C./Hillside), Portia Deterville (Toronto, Canada/Weston) Cheyenne Curley-Payne (Chula Vista, Calif./Eastlake) and Nicole Deterville (Toronto, Canada/Weston).

Kara Smith, a 6-0 forward, averaged 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds as a senior at Whitney M. Young High School in Chicago, IL. The Dolphins posted a 31-2 record in 2008-09, finished No. 10 in the USA TODAY Super 25 poll and finished in second place in the state 4A championship game, falling to national champion Bolingbrook. Smith was named best team defender for two consecutive year.

Cabria Johnson, 5-11 forward starred at Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, MD and has been rated a top-25 prospect in the Real Basketball Report (MD/DC/VA/WV Region). Johnson suffering a season-ending injury prior to the start of her senior season.

Jerelle Gorham, 5-8 guard is an All-American in the class room as well as an outstanding athlete. Gorham was ranked sixth in a class of 182 with a grade-point average of 4.4 and lettered in basketball, track and volleyball. Her team finished with a 26-6 mark in 2009.

Tomaria Holmes, 5-6 guard was a 2009 McDonald’s All-American nominee for the Hornets.

Julee O'Neal, 6-2 center/forward was named to the 4A East Regional All-Tournament team. O'Neal, Gorham and Holmes Hillside squad won the 4A state championship in 2008 and a sectional championship in 2009.

Portia Deterville, 6-1 center/forward had career averages of 18 points and 12 rebounds per game at Weston Collegiate Institute. Her team went to the provincial championship semifinals in 2009.

Cheyenne Curley-Payne, 5-5 point guard led the nation with 328 steals as senior at Eastlake High School, breaking the record set by Candice Wiggins. WNBA star. Curley had 1,065 career steals and set new California record during her high school career.

Nicole Deterville, 6-1 center/forward is the second half of the twin-towers with sister Portia. Nicole was co-captain in her final campaign at Weston and helped her team to the City of Toronto ‘Final 4' qualifier. She was invited to the All-Canada Classic for her efforts. A talented athlete, Nicole was a silver medalist in the track program at Weston.

Shooter Zykia Brown will anchor the '09/'10 Howard Lady Bison team.

RETURNING BISON PLAYERS
24 Baulkman, Charae' 6-1 Sr. forward, Newark, N.J. / University H.S.
2 Bradford, India 5-4 So. guard, Washington, D.C. / Archbishop Carroll H.S.
12 Brown, Zykia 5-8 Jr. guard, Riverdale, Md. / Parkdale H.S.
13 Doyle, Saadia 5-11 R-Fr. forward, Atlanta, Ga. / Columbia H.S.
30 Edwards, Amanda 6-0 Jr. forward, Ontario, Canada / Notre Dame Catholic
22 Pullins, Jalisa 5-5 Jr. guard, Decatur, Ga. / Southwest DeKalb H.S.
3 Scharschmidt, DonnaLee 5-6 Jr. guard, Palm Beach, Fla. / Summit Christian

Schedule
NOVEMBER
13, American, 7; 16, at Fairleigh Dickinson, 7; 21, LIU, 2; 25, Jacksonville, 7; 27, at Maryland, 7; 29, at Radford, 3.
DECEMBER
5, Hampton, 2; 12, at George Mason, 2; 19, at Central Michigan, 2; 29, Monmouth, 2*; 30, La Salle/Holy Cross, 2/4*.
JANUARY
5, at Colgate, 7; 9, Morgan State, 2; 11, Coppin State, 6; 16, at North Carolina A&T, 2; 18, at Norfolk State, 6; 23, Florida A&M, 2; 25, Bethune-Cookman, 6; 30, at UMES, 2.
FEBRUARY
1, Delaware State, 5:30; 6, at Winston-Salem State, 2; 8, at South Carolina State, 5:30; 13, North Carolina A&T, 2; 15, Norfolk State, 6; 20, at Florida A&M, 2; 22, at Bethune-Cookman, 5:30; 27, UMES, 2.
MARCH
4, at Hampton, 6; 8-13, MEAC tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C.

* — Hawk Holiday Classic in West Long Branch, N.J.

Arkansas - Pine Bluff 49, Grambling State 42

Pine Bluff prevails over Grambling in shootout

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lion football (5-3, 3-2 SWAC) team prevailed over the Grambling State Tigers (5-4, 3-2 SWAC) 49-42 on Saturday. Offensively UAPB erupted for its largest point total output of the season as they clicked on all cylinders rushing and throwing the ball with a high success rate. Josh Boudreaux went 11-of-18 for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mickey Dean led all Golden Lions rushers with 20 carries for 81 yards and 2 touchdowns. Dean also threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Raymond Webber to put Arkansas-Pine Bluff ahead 14-10 in the second quarter.

SWAC Big-play bonanza lifts Lions

It took a little more than two minutes for Arkansas Pine-Bluff to flip the momentum in Saturday’s Delta Classic 4 Literacy. UAPB scored 28 points in a span of 2:14 and held on for a 49-42 victory over Grambling State before 26,211 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The Golden Lions scored three times in the final 1:56 of the first half, using a roughing-the-kicker penalty, a mistake by the Grambling State punter and an interception to turn a 10-7 deficit into a 28-10 halftime lead. UAPB then ran back the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown and a 35-10 lead early in the third quarter.

UAPB SCORES SEASON HIGH IN GRAMBLING WIN

LITTLE ROCK — For the last couple of weeks, Arkansas-Pine Bluff has felt as if it were on the verge of breaking loose. During a period of just over two minutes at the end of the second and beginning of the third quarters on Saturday, the Golden Lions took risks, hit on big plays and took advantage of Grambling State mistakes to help them score more points than they have in a single afternoon in more than four years. The 28-point barrage that ended with a 95-yard kickoff return by Mareo Howard to start the second-half turned a four-point UAPB deficit into a 25-point lead that the best defense in the league almost let slip through its fingers.

But, it didn’t. UAPB made enough plays after Grambling State twice cut the lead to a single touchdown and eventually held on for a 49-42 win over the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference Champions at War Memorial Stadium.

TRICK PLAY HELPS GOLDEN LIONS JUMPSTART RALLY

LITTLE ROCK — Five years ago Mickey Dean stood on the turf at War Memorial Stadium and, from his running back position, threw a touchdown pass that helped Little Rock Central beat West Memphis for a state championship. Dean was a high school senior then. On Saturday, as a senior for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Dean lofted a similar pass in the same stadium that helped kickstart a rally that has kept UAPB in another title hunt. Dean’s pass, gloved-hands and all, found Raymond Webber in the back of the south end zone and gave the Golden Lions a 14-10 lead and jumpstarted a string of big plays that pushed that lead to 35-10 just 15 seconds into the third quarter.

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Florida A&M 31, North Carolina A&T 27

Rattlers win isn't pretty, but it counts

The one quarter Alonzo Lee’s team has dominated all season turned out to be the difference in an unpredictable game between North Carolina A&T and Florida A&M. A four-point halftime lead disappeared in the third quarter as the Rattlers (7-2, 5-1) overcame fumbles, and the loss of quarterback Curtis Pulley to take a lead they would not relinquish in a 31-27 victory over North Carolina A&T. Heading into the game the Aggies (5-5, 3-4) had allowed only six points in the third quarter all season; however touchdowns by Philip Sylvester and LeRoy Vann led the Rattler revival and overshadowed fumbles from both men. “We’re a long ways from playing our best ball game,” FAMU coach Joe Taylor said. “At some point that is going to have to happen, but we will have to make plays.”

Record-setting performance lifts Rattlers over Aggies

The Florida A&M University Rattlers defeated the North Carolina A&T Aggies in their regular season home finale at Bragg Stadium 31-27 in front of 8,034 fans. The game, which was the last home game for 28 Rattler seniors, was one of ups and downs. Senior LeRoy Vann returned a punt 51 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to help seal the game for Rattlers, who improved to 7-2 overall, 5-1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Vann has now returned five punts for a touchdown this season tying an NCAA FCS single-season record set ironically by North Carolina A&T’s Curtis Deloach in 2001. Vann also broke single-season school records for punts returned for a touchdown (five) and for punt return yards (540), both previously set by Howard Huckaby in 1988.

Vann ties a pair of NCAA records, sparks Florida A&M in 31-27 win over N.C. A&T

LeRoy Vann's punt return for a score tied two NCAA records to lead Florida A&M to a 31-27 win over North Carolina A&T on Saturday. Vann's 51-yard touchdown on a punt return in the third quarter was the senior's fifth of the season and his eighth career punt return for a score. He tied both the NCAA single-season and career records, along with setting the Football Championship Subdivision record for career returns. Vann now shares the Football Bowl Subdivision and FCS records for single-season punt return touchdowns with Hawaii's Chad Owens (2004) and North Carolina A&T's Curtis DeLoatch (2001).

Aggies come up short in upset bid

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Turnovers gave N.C. A&T a chance to defeat Florida A&M. The Aggies returned the favor. Two fumbles, an interception and a missed extra point hurt N.C. A&T as the Rattlers held on for a 31-27 victory on Saturday in MEAC football at Bragg Memorial Stadium. N.C. A&T (5-5, 3-4 MEAC) still had a final shot to pull off the upset, using a fake punt to extend the drive and push farther into FAMU territory. But the Aggies' Dontavious Payne, who graduated from Tallahassee's FAMU High School and played his home games at Bragg Stadium, was stopped on fourth-and-2 at the Rattlers' 22. Aggies coach Alonzo Lee said he thought Payne was close to a first down. "We didn't get a measurement," Lee said. "It was a situation where I was crying and hollering for a measurement -- but they couldn't because they had already moved the sticks."


Houston's mom allowed to cherish this special day at FAMU

She couldn't hold back the tears. Carron Brown's son had made her that proud. So there she was near the FAMU sideline on the football field at Bragg Stadium in front of thousands Saturday afternoon. Photographers snapped pictures of her and her boy, Cameron Houston. She only knew a few in the crowd who came with her, but this was her moment and not even being in front of a crowd of 8,034 fans for the first time in her life intimidated her. Saturday was one of two days she's been waiting for since her son enrolled at FAMU. "I'm happy," she said, wiping way tears. "I'm sure any mother would be happy to see this day." The next big occasion will be graduation. This day was special. The day that her son got his recognition for working his way to one last semester of college. Nobody kept count of the hits Cameron Houston took at nose guard. They only counted the ones he gave. He had six tackles, giving him 26 for the season.

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FAMU Pre game photos
FAMU vs. NC A&T Fan Cam
FAMU 31 Aggies 27

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Prairie View A&M 33, Alabama A&M 27

Prairie View survives Alabama A&M's second-half rally

PRAIRIE VIEW — The Prairie View A&M Panthers are guaranteed at least a share of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division title with Saturday’s 33-27 win over Alabama A&M, but they took little happiness with the result. Neither did coach Henry Frazier III. The Panthers (6-1, 5-0 SWAC) relinquished a 26-point, second-half lead before holding on for a heart-stopping win before a crowd of 4,876 at Blackshear Stadium. The Bulldogs scored 20 unanswered points within the final 17 minutes to reduce the deficit to six with 56 seconds remaining, but Prairie View recovered an onside kick to preserve the win.

Prairie View A&M's "The Marching Storm & Black Foxes" perform at 2009 Labor Day Classic Reliant Stadium.


Panthers Hold On To Defeat Alabama A&M 33-27

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - Prairie View A&M jumped out to an early lead but had to hold on for dear life as they held off a late rally by Alabama A&M in a 33-27 victory at Blackshear Field before 4,876 fans on Saturday afternoon. Prairie View scored on its opening possession as Gabe Osaze-Ediae caught a short pass from quarterback K.J. Black and raced 21 yards to the endzone for a 6-0 lead. Brady Faggard's PAT was good as the Panthers led 7-0 with 13:30 left in the first quarter.

Alabama A&M answered Prairie View's score several drives later as tailback Ulysses Banks took a handoff 42 yards for a touchdown. Jeremy Licea's PAT was good as the Bulldogs tied the game at 7-all. The tie didn't last long though as Osaze-Ediae once again came up big and scored his second touchdown of the game as the senior from Austin, Texas caught a 72-yard pass from Black en route to a 13-7 advantage.

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Jackson State Tigers 19, Alabama State Hornets 7

JSU wins 19-7, leads SWAC East

Jackson State used the first-half running of Bloi-Dei Dorzon and a strong game-long showing by its defense to beat Alabama State 19-7 tonight in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. JSU (3-5 overall) took sole possession of first place in the SWAC East with a 3-2 record. With victories in its final two games against Alabama A&M and Alcorn State, JSU will advance to the SWAC title game for the third straight season. ASU fell to 4-5 overall and 1-5 in the SWAC. A homecoming crowd announced at 18,510 watched the game. Dorzon ran for 108 yards, including 102 in the first half, when he helped JSU jump to a 19-7 lead.

Final: Jackson State 19, Alabama State 7

JACKSON, Miss. --- All the points were scored in the first half as both teams had offensive troubles against two of the SWAC’s top defensive units. ASU (4-5, 1-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) finished with 159 total yards for the game while JSU (3-5, 3-3 SWAC) amassed 212. Hornets quarterback Chris Mitchell connected with Nick Andrews for a 6-yard TD pass for ASU's only score.

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Texas Southern hiring Nick Van Exel as assistant

Former NBA guard Nick Van Exel is being hired as an assistant coach for Texas Southern University, a Houston television station reported. Van Exel retired in 2006 after 14 years in the NBA. He spent his first five years with the Los Angeles Lakers and also played for Denver, Dallas, Golden State, Portland and San Antonio.

"I said I was going to retire in '06, take two years off and try to get into coaching," Van Exel told KRIV-TV. "It didn't work out as planned. "So here I am my fourth year retired, couldn't sit around in the winter this time. Coach (Tony) Harvey brought me on the staff. It's going to be something exciting."

Nickey (Nick) Maxwell Van Exel --Beyond the Glory...

Grambling State 50, Mississippi Valley State 7

Grambling plays complete game in homecoming victory over Valley

GRAMBLING, LA -- Quarterback Greg Dillon was a threat through the air and on the ground, and the Grambling defense turned in a dominating performance as the Tigers beat Mississippi Valley State 50-7 on Saturday. Dillon was the driving force behind a GSU offense that piled up 446 yards of total offense. The Grambling defense matched Dillon's effort, holding the Delta Devils to 145 yards of total offense and just six first downs. Ari Johnson gave Grambling an early 6-0 lead with field goals from 22 and 33 yards out. Then Dillon went to work, finding Van Phillips for a nine-yard score and Larry Donnell for a 3-yard score that gave the Tigers a 19-0 lead with a minute to go before halftime.

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Grambling you cam
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Healed up, Grambling quarterback Greg Dillon is looking like old self again

GRAMBLING, LA -- Now that's the Greg Dillon we've come to expect. Grambling's star quarterback -- plagued with turnover problems and injuries in the first half of the season -- returned to form on Saturday, accounting for four touchdowns in the Tigers 50-7 demolition of Mississippi Valley State. Dillon injured his ankle in a Week 4 loss to Oklahoma State, but after a bye week that allowed him to get back to full strength, he looked like the Greg Dillon of old -- the one who earned MVP honors in the 2008 Bayou Classic and the 2008 SWAC Championship game, and led the conference in passing efficiency.

GSU struggling in the red zone

Grambling is still learning how to finish drives. Even in its most recent win, at Alabama State, the Tigers had notable troubles scoring despite making it to the opponent's side of the field. "We've got to start putting points on the board," said Grambling coach Rod Broadway. "We're getting down there and kicking field goals. You can't win a lot of times kicking field goals from inside the 20-yard line. We've got to get that corrected." GSU has scored touchdowns on 13 of 24 trips inside the 20-yard line this season, settling for field goals 9 times, and turning the ball over twice. Back 10- or 15-yards further out, and the numbers nosedive.

Attendance: 10,425@Robinson Stadium, Grambling, LA

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Tennessee Tech 20, Tennessee State 13

Tech Wins Homecoming Match-up

Sophomore Tim Benford caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Lee Sweeney with three minutes to play and the Tennessee Tech defense, led by redshirt freshman Caleb Mitchell, forced four turnovers as the Golden Eagles defeated Tennessee State, 20-13, in an Ohio Valley Conference game Saturday afternoon in Tucker Stadium. With the win, Tech (5-3/4-2 OVC) captured the league’s Sgt. York Trophy, finishing the series with a 3-0 mark against the three in-state schools.

"We just hung in there and hung in there, and at the end we made plays and that is what this team has been doing," said Golden Eagle head coach Watson Brown. "Every one we've won, we had to make plays in the fourth quarter to win the game, and this one was no different. "I couldn't be more proud of these kids. They've worked their fannies off and they've come a long way," Brown added. "One of the goals is done (York Trophy). We get to bring that trophy back to Cookeville."

TSU head football coach James Webster

TSU coach rips officials after loss

COOKEVILLE, TN — Tennessee State Coach James Webster began criticizing the officials moments after the Tigers' 20-13 loss to Tennessee Tech on Saturday. Webster was livid about the final play, claiming TSU receiver Joseph Hills was interfered with by more than one Tennessee Tech defender while trying to make a catch in the end zone. "He got mauled. How could you not see that?'' Webster said. "He was open, the quarterback got some pressure and he tried to put it up there, and if I've ever seen pass interference that was pass interference."

Webster said the play continued what he has perceived as a pattern of poor officiating against his team that stretches back several years. He said he has repeatedly lodged formal complaints to the Ohio Valley Conference office and seen no improvement. When asked if he believed complaining again would help, Webster said: "I've been following the rules and regulations of the OVC and we get this. "It's not fair to this football program. It's not fair to these football players. It's not fair to the fans, it's not fair to the administration and I have to accept responsibility for it.

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Florida A&M 31, Morgan State 28

Morgan passes up field goal for tie in 31-28 OT loss

Morgan never led in a topsy-turvy contest after one of the league's top offenses struck its defense for two quick touchdowns to start the game. But the Bears kept battling back and eventually had a chance to pull it out after Florida A&M settled for a 35-yard field goal by Trevor Scott on its overtime possession. When the Bears took the ball, Jackson was sacked for a 9-yard loss by LeRoy Vann, the Rattlers' nationally rated kick retrurner. But a 15-yard completion to Terrell White and Jackson's 3-yard gain carried the ball to the Rattler 16 and set up the strange ending.

Donald HIll-Eley said he never considered the field-goal attempt to force a second overtime because "we were down by three and at home and we only needed inches." He applauded his team for consistently fighting back against the offensive assault of Florida A&M quarterback Curtis Pulley, who rushed for 231 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 174 more yard and another TD. We're always going to battle," said Hill-Eley. "We did what we had to do. Jackson played well (16 for 22, 207 yards, two touchdowns) and moved us down the field.."

Scott's 35-yard field goal in overtime lifts Florida A&M to 31-28 victory over ...

BALTIMORE — Trevor Scott kicked a 35-yard field goal on the first series of overtime, and the Florida A&M defense made a fourth-down stop for a 31-28 victory over Morgan State on Saturday. Scott's field goal gave Florida A&M (6-2, 4-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) a three-point lead. On the next series, the Bears tried to convert a fourth-and-1 instead of trying a game-tying field goal, but Florida A&M's Cameron Houston stopped Carlton Jackson to end the game.

"It was a heavyweight fight," FAMU coach Joe Taylor said. "I'm just proud of the way we hung in there, persevered and made the plays."


Around FCS: Florida A&M continues resurgence

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Since their last FCS playoff appearance in 2001, the Florida A&M Rattlers have looked to re-establish themselves atop the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings. Now, halfway through the 2009 season, the Rattlers are well on their way to accomplishing that goal. The rebuilding stage really took hold in 2008. After the 2007 season in which the Rattlers finished 3-8, Joe Taylor was named the team's third coach in five years, as Rattler fans scratched their collective heads in uncertainty.

The highly respected Taylor wasted no time instilling confidence in FAMU supporters as his team, under then-new Kentucky transfer quarterback Curtis Pulley, went 9-3 in 2008, finishing second in the league behind South Carolina State. Pulley took over the starting duties mid-season in 2008 and proved to be the dynamic leader the Rattlers desperately needed.

Rattlesnake has a fun bite to it

BALTIMORE, MD -- This Rattlesnake thing might just become a common occurrence for FAMU — just as much as coach Joe Taylor loves running the ball. Both times the Rattlers put something a little tricky into the offensive scheme, it produced points Saturday at Hughes Stadium. First it was LeRoy Vann lining up in the backfield. He ran for 12 yards and three plays later the Rattlers were in the end zone. On the next series, running back Philip Sylvester took a direct snap and ran 5 yards. On the next play, Sylvester scooted into the end zone from 19 yards out.

Just like that FAMU was on top. The new formation has to be a keeper. And, apparently, it has to have a unique name — or at least something other than Wildcat, the name of the Rattlers' fiercest rival. So, Rattlesnake it is. Of course, all the points the single-wing formation produced came before Morgan State University fought back and forced overtime. The idea of changing up the offense had been discussed during the first spring after Taylor took over the program two years ago. He and offensive coordinator Lawrence Kershaw hedged.

Vann is searching for the longest yards

BALTIMORE, MD — As elusive as getting one more punt return for a touchdown has become, FAMU return specialist LeRoy Vann isn't giving up on his chase for the NCAA record. Vann took two punts back for touchdowns in two consecutive games earlier this season, but hasn't had a good shot since. He came close Saturday against Morgan State and will have to try again in the Rattlers' three remaining games. Vann's stretch of frustration reached five games going into the game at Hughes Stadium. He needed one punt TD return, which would give him the NCAA record for total TD returns. That one also would tie the FCS single-season mark of five that was set by Curtis Deloach of North Carolina A&T eight years ago.

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South Carolina State 52, Delaware State 10

S.C. State 2nd string QB Derrick Wiley serves as Malcolm Long backup but would be the starter at most MEAC programs.

Delaware State Falls to S. Carolina State

ORANGEBURG, S.C. --- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference leader South Carolina State racked up more than 500 total yards in a 52-10 win over Delaware State before 21,257 delighted homecoming fans at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs won their fourth straight game to improve to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the MEAC. SC State has won 16 straight league games since the 2007 season. The defending MEAC champions were ranked 10th in the latest SportsNetwork and AFCA Coaches polls of Top 25 Football Championship Subdivision teams entering the contest.

The Hornets fell to 2-6 overall and 2-4 in the MEAC. The 42-point margin was the Bulldogs' largest over the Hornets since a 52-6 victory in 1979. "South Carolina State is an outstanding team, and my greatest fear this week was realized," said Delaware State head coach Al Lavan, who fell to 2-4 vs. South Carolina State and 38-28 in MEAC games. "We gave the Bulldogs a short field for most of the first half, and they took advantage of every opportunity. South Carolina State showed everyone why they are the best team in our league."

Bulldogs win with full house

ORANGEBURG Tre Young was happy - but puzzled - when he heard his name announced Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in the late moments of South Carolina State's 52-10 demolition of Delaware State. Young, a senior receiver, had just broken the school record for career reception yards previously held by Charlie Brown (1977-80). With four catches for 135 yards, including a game-changing, 80-yard touchdown toss from Malcolm Long, Young has 1,734 yards.

Just one problem: Young professed not to know anything about Brown, the former Washington Redskins great who - oh, callow youth! - was in attendance for S.C. State's homecoming. "I heard that over the (public-address system), and I was shocked. I never broke any records in high school even," he said. So what about his famed predecessor? "I'm gonna have to Google him," Young said, shaking his head. Never mind that a recount later revealed Young had broken Brown's record the week before, one day before his 24th birthday. These days, S.C. State, ranked 10th in the FCS, is so prolific in all areas that it's easy to lose count.

Photo Gallery: S.C. State vs. Delaware

Little goes right for DSU in blowout

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- The game was long out of hand when Delaware State quarterback Nick Elko looked to his right and let go of a pass to Phillip Adams late in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon inside Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. It was a nice pass from Elko, a spiral into the flat, and Adams caught it clean. If Adams had been a Hornets' receiver it would have likely been a 10-yard pickup or so. Unfortunately for Delaware State, Adams was a South Carolina State defensive back, by himself in the right place at the right time, and instead of a nice pickup for the Hornets, the senior turned the play into a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown with just 12 seconds to play, giving the 10th-ranked Bulldogs the final points in a 52-10 win.

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Bethune Cookman 31, North Carolina A&T 13

NC A&T Loses Homecoming to Bethune-Cookman 31-13

Greensboro - Bethune Cookman amassed 357 yards of total offense and controlled the time of possession, as the Wildcats spoiled North Carolina A&T's homecoming and Senior Day with a 31-13 victory Saturday. Bethune's sophomore quarterback Maurice Francois ran for 73 yards and a touchdown and threw for another 85 yards, helping his team keep the ball for over 37 minutes in the game. After the Wildcats' Keith Courtney scored from 5-yards out, the Aggies' lone bright spot came on Quay Long's 96-yard punt return for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 going into halftime. Long's return was a school record. In the second half, however, Bethune scored 24 unanswered points, the last touchdown coming on a Ryan Lewis 28-yard interception of North Carolina A&T quarterback Carlton Fears to seal the game.

Bethune crashes the party at A&T

GREENSBORO — Carlton Fears lingered long after all his N.C. A&T teammates had showered and left. Homecoming was over, but the Aggies’ senior quarterback seemed to not want it to end. Not like this. Not with a 31-13 loss to Bethune-Cookman, a wounded, shorthanded team with a gadget option offense and a 3-5 record. Not in the last home game of his college career. So he walked back out into empty Aggie Stadium, clad in his street clothes and letterman’s jacket, for a slow stroll next to the quiet field. Outside in the tent city of tailgating, the party went on and on. But inside, all was quiet and still.

It was as if it had never happened. But it did. The Aggies lost their sixth consecutive homecoming game, sending even the fifth-year seniors away winless on the biggest weekend of the A&T school year. “It feels real bad,” Fears said. “I mean, it’s homecoming and it’s our last game at home. It hurts. It hurts real bad, because we really wanted to go out with a bang this time.” Instead, the Aggies (5-4, 3-3 MEAC) went quietly. They dropped passes. They took bad penalties. They missed tackles and blocks.

Photo Gallery: Bethune-Cookman beats Aggies
Photo Gallery: N.C. A&T homecoming

B-CU's offense explodes

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- They made the long trip shorthanded, bringing along an option offense built on running the ball and milking the clock. But in the second half at sold-out Aggie Stadium, Maurice Francois and the rest of the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats scored 24 straight points and blew out N.C. A&T before a homecoming crowd of 21,500 Saturday afternoon.Francois, B-CU's sophomore quarterback, ran for 73 yards and a touchdown and completed 5-of-7 passes for 85 more yards to lead the suddenly explosive Wildcats (3-5, 2-3 MEAC) to their third win in the last four games.

"The victory here is so sweet, especially after losing our homecoming," B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt said. "We came in here and played against a team that has mostly the same players but with a different attitude and different leadership. They're very impressive on tape and a team that was fierce coming off the football. We knew we had to be at the top of our game." Thing is, they weren't. The Wildcats played without both their starting offensive guards. They moved a linebacker to defensive tackle out of necessity. Running backs Androse Bell (injury) and Joe Morris (illness) didn't make the trip, and neither did the team's leading receiver, JeVaughn Reams.

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Week Eight: No Suprises in MEAC/SWAC

Prarie View A&M head football coach Henry Frazier III and the Panthers are doing the laughing now as the team to beat in the SWAC.

Lookin' Ahead

As expected, South Carolina State is steamrolling everyone in the MEAC and Prairie View A&M is the class of the SWAC. We don't see South Carolina State stumbling with a remaining schedule consisting of Howard, Morgan State and North Carolina A&T. If the Bulldogs stay healthy, they should make some real noise in the FCS Playoffs.

The only unanswered MEAC question is--will the FCS Playoff Selection Committee invite Florida A&M with only two losses? FAMU loss two road games, to #11 ranked Miami and highly regarded MEAC power S.C. State. Just expect the Rattlers to continue to find a way to win with QB Curtis Pulley and electrifying kick returner, LeRoy Vann leading the way. The Rattlers remaining games starts with North Carolina A&T at home next Saturday. Coach Joe Taylor has a homecoming date with Hampton on Nov. 14. But the snakes must face an in-state rival with no place to go and nothing up for grabs other than state bragging rights. Look for the regular season final with Bethune Cookman to be a game where legends are born--for Curtis Pulley, LeRoy Vann and a host of Rattlers defenders. You don't want to miss this barn burner on Nov. 21 at the Orlando Citrus Bowl.

Close call, but expect to see Joe Taylor's FAMU Rattlers in the FCS Playoffs! Now, let's catch up on last week games.

Florida A&M 34, Norfolk St. 20
South Carolina St. 21, Hampton 9
North Carolina A&T 30, Howard 19
Delaware St. 35, Morgan St. 22
Winston Salem St. 16, Bethune Cookman 10
Alabama St. 24, Alcorn St. 17
Jackson St. 25, MVSU 16
Arkansas Pine Bluff 38, Edward Waters 12
Prairie View 16, Southern 14
Old Dominion 38, Savannah St. 17

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Six-cess: ODU clinches winning record with 3rd-straight win

Michigan Wolverines 63, Delaware State Hornets 6

Attendance: 106,304 @ Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI

DSU never had a chance in game that was lopsided from the get-go

Nothing about Saturday worked out for Delaware State. Only half the team was on the field for the national anthem. The Hornets had only one first down -- on a Michigan penalty. The defense allowed 28 points. They had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown. Then they got to breathe, because the first quarter was over. While Delaware State, a Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA) team, found more of a rhythm as the game progressed, the Hornets appeared severely overmatched, losing to Michigan, 63-6, at Michigan Stadium.

"We came to play an outstanding football team and an outstanding football team showed up," Delaware State coach Al Lavan said. "Essentially, except for moments in the third quarter, they dominated us -- with our help. Make no mistake about it, Michigan played just like they played on the DVDs. ... I was not shocked, but I was surprised at how much the domination was." The Wolverines (5-2, 1-2 Big Ten) set a modern school record for total offense with 727 yards, tied a record with the 28 first-quarter points and set another with 442 yards in the first half.

Wild day: Delaware St. loses twice, gets $550K

Two losses in one day won't seem so bad once Delaware State checks its bank balance. The Hornets lost to Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday, a game they agreed to play despite having a previously scheduled conference game the same day. By rule, the Hornets were forced to forfeit their contest against fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe North Carolina A&T, giving them two losses in one day. The reason for the double-booking? Michigan paid Delaware State $550,000 to give up the loss and make the trip to the Big House.

The far superior Wolverines squad had little trouble against the second-tier program, posting a 63-6 drubbing. The Wolverines (5-2) set team marks with 442 yards in the first half and 727 total in the game. They matched a school record with a 28-point first quarter and led 49-3 with their second-highest score by halftime.

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Battle of Bands: SCSU 101 vs. FAMU Marching 100

South Carolina State 35, Florida A&M 20

FAMU vs. SCSU REPLAY: Watch Replay »

Victory a big rush for SC State

ORANGEBURG - Will Ford picked the perfect stage to make history on Saturday before 24,449 fans at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. The senior running back from Travelers Rest ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns to help the 12th-ranked Bulldogs score a 35-20 win over No. 22 Florida A&M in a key MEAC game. It was the Bulldogs' 14th consecutive conference win - a school record - and their seventh victory in a row against Florida A&M. In the process, Ford became S.C. State's all-time leading rusher. His 7-yard run on the first play of the second half allowed him to surpass previous leader Michael Hicks.

Ford, who has 4,164 rushing yards, also moved into second place on the MEAC rushing chart. He needs 480 yards to surpass Hampton's Alonzo Hampton. "Getting a win is always the first priority, but luckily I was able to get the record too," Ford said. "It was a great day all the way around. We knew this was a game we had to win, and playing in front of a crowd like that made it even more special."

Famu's MEAC hopes bitten by Bulldogs

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — FAMU is going to need a lot of help from somebody else in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to remain in contention for the league title. South Carolina State simply refused to give the Rattlers an assist. Saturday, the Rattlers sputtered in every way possible, falling prey to costly mistakes and an SCSU defense that allowed only 35 yards rushing. FAMU got 320 yards in the air but that meant little in a 35-20 loss that jeopardizes its chances of winning its first conference title in more than a decade.

"They just played a little harder than we did for whatever reason," said Coach Joe Taylor after FAMU's first conference loss this season at Dawson Stadium. "Their defensive line kept on our offensive line and rushed (quarterback Curtis) Pulley the whole day." Both teams came into the game with undefeated MEAC records, their only losses being to BCS schools. Conference championship implications and even a post-season berth added to the hype that drew the second largest crowd (24,496) to attend a home game for the Bulldogs.

Photo Gallery: FAMU v SC State

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