South Carolina State 28, North Carolina A&T 10

Ford Breaks MEAC Rushing Record In 28-10 Win Over NC A&T

ORANGEBURG,SC — Senior running back Will Ford had a record-breaking game on "Senior Day" as he rushed for 156 yards 23 carries to lead the South Carolina State Bulldogs to their 19th straight MEAC win and a 28-10 victory over rival N.C. A&T Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson. SC State (10-1, 8-0 MEAC), which secured its second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and back-to-back berths in the FCS playoffs last Saturday in a 37-13 win over Morgan State. Coach Buddy Pough's team finished its second season with a perfect league record. The defense came up big limiting N.C.A&T to just 176 total offensive yards, SC State finished with 458 on the day.



Aggies look to future after 5-6 finish

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- For 30 minutes, N.C. A&T went toe-to-toe with MEAC football champion South Carolina State on Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. It was no contest in the second half. The Aggies played the Bulldogs to a 7-7 draw in the first half, but the FCS playoff-bound hosts pulled away after intermission to close the regular season with a 28-10 win and a 10-1 record. A&T finished with a 5-6 overall record and a 3-5 MEAC mark in Alonzo Lee's first season in charge. Not bad, considering the Aggies won only nine of 56 games from 2004 through 2008.

"I'm proud to be part of the senior class that had a part in turning things around this season," said defensive end Tyre Glasper. "It was a bittersweet way to end the season. "We wanted to challenge for a championship and finish with a winning record. That didn't work out, but we did win five games this year after winning three games last year and none the year before. Now it's up to the guys coming back to keep this going." Lee said the overwhelming youth in the program was something of a curse and a blessing.

Bulldogs want house in order

ORANGEBURG - With a second consecutive MEAC championship in hand, South Carolina State was strictly concerned with style points in Saturday's final regular season game against North Carolina A&T at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. The idea was to make a final, favorable impression on the FCS seeding committee in the quest to land a first-round home game in the national playoffs for the first time since 1981.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 7 in all three major FCS polls, downed the improved Aggies 28-10 to close the regular season with a 10-1 record - matching the school record for wins in a season. It was also S.C. State's 19th consecutive conference win - a MEAC record - and ties a school mark for consecutive conference games without a loss. S.C. State now will sweat it out until the pairings are announced at 3 p.m. today. "Getting a home game is what it's all about now," Bulldogs coach Buddy Pough said.

The Bulldog Bite: No. 7 SCSU closes 2009 campaign undefeated in FCS, awaits ...

Inside the locker room of a 7-7 game at halftime with North Carolina A&T, the foreboding words of his mother were on South Carolina State head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough’s mind. Earlier in the week, M.T. Pough cautioned her son about letting history repeat itself. It was six years ago when the Bulldogs routed North Carolina A&T 49-9 to hand the Aggies a devastating loss prior to opening play in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Even with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship trophy already at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium awaiting presentation from conference president Dennis Thomas, the thought of deja vu in reverse occurring inspired a sense of urgency in Pough as he addressed his team. There was no talk about running back Will Ford closing in on the conference career rushing record or playing host to a first-round home playoff game.

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Alabama A&M 17, Mississippi Valley State 12

A&M beats MVSU to advance to SWAC title game

HUNTSVILLE --- Ulysses Banks rushed for 160 yards and scored a touchdown to lead Alabama A&M to a 17-12 victory over Mississippi Valley State Saturday. With the win, A&M (7-4, 4-3) captured the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Eastern Division title and will play Prairie View in the championship game on Dec. 12 at Birmingham's Legion Field. MVSU ended the season 3-8 and 1-6.

MVSU finishes season with loss at Alabama A&M

NORMAL, Ala. — The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils fought hard in their season-ending contest with the Alabama A&M Bulldogs, but fell 17-12 on the road at Louis Crews Stadium. Backup QB Eddie Ivory ended the day with 200 yards passing on 11-of-28 passing with a touchdown and an interception. Starting QB Anthony Bowie was knocked of the game early in the first half. The Devils got on the board late in the second quarter when Stephen Robert scored from two yards out capping a seven-play, 78-yard, 2:45 drive. At the intermission, AAMU led 17-6. MVSU put one final score on the board as Ivory found WR Chris Williams for a six-yard score with two seconds remaining in regulation. The point-after attempt failed.

Will this be Totten's last game at Valley?

Coach Willie Totten record - Eight Seasons: 31-56; Totten blamed the school's small budget and scholarship restrictions (39 compared to 63 for the other nine SWAC schools) in remarks he made to the The Greenwood Commonwealth newspaper.

Beleaguered Valley football coach Willie Totten will lead the Delta Devils into their season finale Saturday at Alabama A&M in what might be his last game at his alma mater. The Delta Devils enter the game at 3-6 overall, 1-5 in the Eastern Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Huntsville, Ala. The big question is will this be it for Totten. Speculation continues to swarm the Itta Bena campus about the future of Totten, who has just two winning seasons and a combined record of 31-56 in his eight years at Valley. Win or lose Saturday, his coaching fate has probably already been decided. Totten's current contract, which pays him $92,928 annually, expires Dec. 31.

PHOTO GALLERY: A&M vs. Mississippi Valley State Football

Attendance: 2,776@ Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville, AL

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Prairie View 49, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff 17

Prairie View finishes undefeated in SWAC play







PRAIRIE VIEW, TX — With a spot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game already secured, Prairie View A&M didn’t have much to play for in Saturday’s regular-season finale against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. But that didn’t mean the Panthers would take it easy on the Golden Lions. Quarterback K.J. Black tossed a career-high five touchdown passes, running back Donald Babers rushed for two scores, and the defense forced four turnovers to carry the Panthers to a dominant 49-17 win before a crowd of 3,889 at Blackshear Stadium.

The Panthers (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) closed the regular season on a seven-game winning streak and recorded their first undefeated conference campaign since 1964. Prairie View, the Western Division champion, will try to capture the program’s first SWAC crown since 1964 when it faces Eastern champion Alabama A&M in the league’s title game Dec. 12 in Birmingham, Ala.

Prairie View 49, Ark.-Pine Bluff 17

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- K.J. Black threw for five touchdowns and 312 yards to lead Prairie View A&M to a 49-17 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. The win closed out a dominant season by Prairie View (8-1, 7-0), which already clinched the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division title the week before.

Prairie View A&M Caps Off Undefeated Conference Slate With 49-17 Win Over ...

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - K.J. Black threw five touchdown passes and Donald Babers rushed for 121 yards and two scores as Prairie View capped off an undefeated conference slate for the first time since 1964 in a 49-17 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday afternoon at Blackshear Field. A 45-yard field goal by Carlos Reyes gave UAPB (5-4, 5-3 SWAC) an early 3-0 advantage in the first quarter but Prairie View (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) answered on its opening drive as Black found wideout Shaun Stephens for a 41-yard touchdown reception. After a UAPB punt, Prairie View moved ahead 14-3 as Black hit wide receiver Gabe Osaze-Ediae on a 21-yard touchdown reception.

GOLDEN LIONS CAN’T KEEP UP WITH PRAIRIE VIEW

Arkansas-Pine Bluff entered its game against Prairie View A&M on Saturday without the possibility of advancing to next month’s Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, but with the hope of knocking off the only team yet to lose a SWAC game. After giving up two touchdowns in the first quarter on Saturday at Blackshear Stadium in Prairie View, Texas, the Golden Lions pulled within four points late in the second quarter. The Panthers, however, added a touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter that started a string of four unanswered touchdowns to put the game away.

The Panthers’ three second-half scores were all on plays longer than 30 yards as they blew out UAPB 49-17 on Saturday. The Golden Lions (5-4, 3-3) will finish their season next Saturday against Texas Southern in Dallas, while Prairie View (8-1, 7-0) will play Alabama A&M in the SWAC Championship Game on Dec. 12 in Birmingham, Ala. The Golden Lions couldn’t have advanced to the conference title game with a win Saturday, but they could have ended a progress-making season on a three-game winning streak. That possibility went away when its usually stingy defense had its second sub-par outing in as many games.

Attendance: 3,889@ Blackshear Stadium, Prairie View, Texas

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30th Florida Classic Hits Gridiron at 2:30 p.m. Today

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30th Florida Classic Hits Gridiron Today


ORLANDO -- A huge college football rivalry returns to the Florida Citrus Bowl today for the 30th anniversary of the Florida Classic. The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and Florida A&M Rattlers meet again in what has become the nation’s largest football rivalry between two historically black colleges. Though Daytona Beach-based B-CU is closer to home at the Citrus Bowl, Florida A&M has the upper hand in the series at 19–10. Since moving to the Citrus Bowl from Tampa in 1997, the Rattlers are 8–4 against the Wildcats.

Video: Will It Stay Or Go?

B-CU has shot to save season

ORLANDO -- After consecutive 5-6 seasons in 2006-07, Bethune-Cookman's Dexter Jackson would have been satisfied with the Wildcats' 8-3 record last year -- if that third loss hadn't come against Florida A&M in the season-ending Florida Classic. "Last year we went 8-3, but all you could think about that whole off-season was the last game we played," the senior defensive tackle said this week. "I just want to come back and make it right this year." The Wildcats, winners of five of their last six games, will get that chance today when they meet FAMU at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m.

"When you lose to FAMU, it sticks with you," B-CU quarterback Matt Johnson said. "When you win, it makes the atmosphere around campus a lot better place to be." B-CU (5-5, 4-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) is 1-3 in its past four meetings with FAMU (7-3, 5-2) after beating the Rattlers three straight in 2002-04 for the first time in series history. "It's the biggest game on our schedule," B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt said. "It's nationally televised. It's a bigger crowd that you've had all season (an average of 68,000 in the 12 years the game has been in Orlando).

FAMU Too Strong for B-CU

Last year, I didn't quite know what to expect heading into the Florida Classic battle between Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M. I knew it had the potential of being a tight game, and it was for a while. I knew the crowd would be great and the bands would be even better, which they were. What surprised me, however, was the offensive explosion that took place. Both teams scored at such a rapid pace that my pen nearly ran out of ink while I took notes. FAMU won the shootout, 58-35, and once it was finally over, many in the Florida Citrus Bowl were exhausted, including myself.

As the 30th annual Florida Classic takes place in Orlando this afternoon, I know quite a bit more about these two teams and their capabilities. For one, expect to see a lot of points, but don't think it's going to be 93 this time. Despite a shocking shutout loss at Hampton last week, FAMU (7-3) has the firepower to hold up its end of the bargain, and it should rebound. Quarterback Curtis Pulley has the dual-threat ability to punish the Wildcats like he did last year when he rushed for 171 yards, passed for 125 and combined for four touchdowns. This year, he's more dangerous and has no shortage of targets, including former Kathleen receiver Adrian Smith.



FAMU Seniors Ready for Classic

For the Rattlers 27 seniors, the annual meeting with Bethune Cookman in the Florida Classic will mark their final regular season game wearing the Orange and Green.
FAMU Senior Offensive Tackle Robert Okeafor says, "I've been going to the Classic since '99. I had a cousin who played for Florida A&M back in the day so I think I've missed two since '99 so I know the excitement. All my family is going to be there, a lot of my friends will be there so it's going to be a real big deal come Saturday." FAMU Senior Outside Linebacker Gregory Boler adds, "Coming from Philly, there's really no type of anything to that magnitude." The Rattlers will look to go out with a bang in 2009, similar to the way they ended 2008, when they beat Bethune 58-35.

Taking different paths, both Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman can reach bigger ...

TALLAHASSEE — Four games into the 2009 football season, the annual Florida Classic game between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman was shaping up as an afterthought. FAMU looked unstoppable at 4-0. Bethune-Cookman looked lost at 0-4. As the two teams end their regular seasons, it's a different story. FAMU stumbled to a 3-3 record over their last six games, while Bethune-Cookman rallied to go 5-1 in the same span. Facing off today at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FAMU needs to win to keep alive any playoff hopes. A Bethune-Cookman win would cap an impressive turnaround and allow the Wildcats to finish with a winning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference record.

"I am a little bit shocked and surprised with where we are today," Wildcats coach Alvin Wyatt said. "I thought it was going to take a little bit more time for us to get to where we are." Bethune-Cookman's resurgence came as its turnovers faded. The Wildcats are tied for 111th in the Football Championship Subdivision with 30 turnovers lost, but 17 of those came in their first four games. Ball security was a major issue for the Wildcats in last year's game, as FAMU forced six fumbles and one interception in a 58-35 win.

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Who Really Cares About FCS Division I HBCU Football?

Alcorn State helped Southern Mississippi (C-USA) set attendance record of 36,232 at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Roberts Stadium on Sept. 5, 2009. The Braves were defeated 52-0 by the Golden Eagles. Alcorn State ranks #68 in the latest NCAA Accumulated Attendance Report averaging 5,425 in 3 home contests, 24.11 accumulated percent of capacity. Only 3,774 came to Jack Spinks Stadium to watch the home team Braves fall to SWAC leader Prairie View (7-1, 6-0) 34-14 on Saturday.

If attendance numbers are the real measure of how most feel about college football at HBCU campuses, then why do we have stadiums that keep a vacancy rate of empty seats in the range of 17.96 (2008/09 MEAC Champions South Carolina State) to 83.31 (Alabama State) percent on college game day? Secondly, how are we maintaining Division I status, with little income being earned from gate receipts, parking and concessions? Are we supporting the entire programs on student generated fees and a few alumni donations? Just a few questions you may want to ask your university administrators and athletic directors.

We are not saying ALL programs are doing poorly in accumulated attendance at the FCS level but some are in financial trouble. For example, Florida A&M University athletic department has been struggling to retire a -$4.2 million accumulated deficit from its proposed move up to Division I-A football and athletic department mis-management. The Rattlers budget is still reeling from this ill-advised move and the highly paid athletic directors that followed have had no real solutions to address the financial mess.

However, it's unclear how long the FAMU athletics department has been operating in the red. An independent audit covering from July 2007 to June 30, 2008, shows Rattler athletics made nearly $8.1 million during that time. But department expenses exceeded $9.7 million, creating nearly a $1.7 million deficit. That deficit only added to the $2.61 million deficit detailed in the audit report that covered July 2006 to June 2007.

The Florida Classic continues to be the savior for both FAMU and its cross-state rival, Bethune Cookman. This game is important for millions of reasons -- and millions of dollars. Without this game and the combined $3 million (combined) it puts into the coffers of both schools, the cash-strapped athletic departments of FAMU and Bethune would shrivel up and blow away. Each are expected to pocket $1.5 million next weekend, if attendance continue to hold in the 62,000 - 69,000 range.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that FAMU was in discussions with the University of Georgia for a game in Athens in the near future. We are not privy to the financial negotiations, but Louisiana-Lafayette will get $875,000 to open next season in Athens and New Mexico State will get $925,000 for a game in Nov. 2011. The Rattlers earned $600,000 from its money game with the University of Miami this season and possibly, $325,000 more from the Atlanta Football Classic with rival Tennessee State University.

The Ratters are scheduled to open the 2010 season at Miami, playing the same Hurricanes for another $600,000 check. So, why is a premier program built by legendary coach Jake Gaither in financial trouble today?

Simply, to complete at the FCS Division I level--it takes money, lots of money--millions of dollars that general admission tickets and a $200,000 annual contribution from the local booster club does not cover. HBCU fans need a reality check--ticket sales, parking and concession fees at a 10,000 -20,000 seat facility does not pay the bills. FAMU fans also need a reality check--12,490 average attendance (49,960 accumulated attendance) to four home games in 2009 doesn't cut it for a $10 million athletic department budget. Bragg Memorial Stadium holds 25,500 but hasn't seen a sell-out since the Coach Billy Joe era.

If you think attendance is based upon wins and losses, go check the attendance figures. For the past decade, FAMU and Southern have been ranked in the Top 10 in home attendance. But the Rattlers and Jaguars have been replaced by an upstart program like Old Dominion, ranked #4 in attendance averaging 19,782 in 7 home games in its first season of football and North Dakota State, ranked #8, averaging 17,069 in 4 home contests. North Carolina A&T was the doormats of the MEAC over the past several years, but the Aggies are now ranked #7 in home attendance--averaging 17,219 with an 80.09 accumulated percent of capacity in Aggie Stadium.

FCS 2008 National Champion, University of Richmond operates a CAA championship football program on more than the gate receipts generated from four home games which averages 8,737 in attendance. The Spiders are only filling the home stadium to 40.98 percent of accumulated capacity in 2009. Richmond played one 1-A money game--defeating Atlantic Coast Conference, Duke University 24-16 in Durham, N.C. in the season opener before 33,311 at Wallace Wade Stadium. This was Duke's largest crowd since 2001.

For small schools in conferences like the MEAC, SWAC and OVC, there are great paydays awaiting in road trips to major Division I programs. Delaware State earned $550,000 playing at 106,000 seat Michigan; Western Kentucky got $700,000 to play at Tennessee; Montana State received $650,000 playing at Michigan State; Charleston Southern was paid $450,000 for playing at defending national champion Florida and Liberty earned $365,000 at West Virginia.

Looking ahead to 2010, the going rate for top tier programs to "buy a guaranteed win" will range from $750,000 to $950,000 for lower tier Division I programs and $450,000 to $650,000 for money straped MEAC programs such as FAMU. With the upper tier BCS programs earning $3.8 million to $4.5 million per home contest, the future for MEAC and SWAC programs are to sign on for the lucrative pay days with the BCS conferences and limit themselves to 3 home contests during the season. At some point, the conference leadership will have to move to 8 conference game schedules and 3-4 out of league contests that can be sold to the highest bidders to pay the bills. Tradition will soon be a thing of the past as scheduling will be based on potential payouts.

South Carolina State dive into the Division I money pool started with games versus South Carolina, Central Florida, Air Force and Clemson. Although the Bulldogs have not realized the $450,000+ pay days like FAMU, Norfolk State and Howard, they have improved their recruiting, moved to #5 ranking in home stadium attendance--averaging 18,050 in four home contests-- and become the conference powerhouse. Not bad for a school located in the smallest market in the MEAC by population and business base.

Below are the game scores, attendance numbers and team records for Week 11 at the FCS Division I HBCU programs. You may draw your own conclusions on how your favorite university is maintaining its Division I football program with sub-par attendance and dwindling revenue in 2009. Classics, one D-I money game and a Thursday night television game check from ESPNU may pay some of the bills, but it does not build sustainable home stadium fan support and championship football programs.

You may want to blame the weather, the economy and the lack of an aggressive athletic marketing & PR program--but the outcome are programs on the verge of bankruptcy or with $2-$4 million in red ink as a carryover to the next fiscal year. No business is sustainable when the income cannot cover the expenses, especially in Division I college football. Who Really Cares About FCS Division I HBCU Football and who will help it survive and thrive? The answers are within you.

1. North Carolina Central 18, Winston Salem State 10 11,232 @ Bowman-Gray Stadium, Winston Salem, N.C. Records: NCCU 3-7; WSSU 1-9.

2. South Carolina State 37, Morgan State 13 10,542 @ Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, Orangeburg, S.C. Records: SCSU 9-1, 7-0 MEAC; MSU 5-5, 3-4 MEAC.

3. Southern University 34, Alabama State 24 8,459 @ Ladd Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL Records: SU 6-3, 3-2 SWAC; ASU 4-6, 1-6 SWAC.

4. Austin Peay State 24, Tennessee State 21 6,968 @ Governors Stadium, Clarksville, TN Records: APSU 4-6, 3-4 OVC; TSU 3-7, 2-4 OVC.

5. Alabama A&M 13, Jackson State 5 5,402 @ Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville, AL Records: AAMU 6-4, 3-3 SWAC; JSU 3-6, 3-3 SWAC.

6. Norfolk State 21, Delaware State 16 4,127 @ Alumni Stadium, Dover, DE Records: NSU 6-4, 5-3 MEAC; DSU 3-6, 2-4 MEAC.

7. Prairie View A&M 34, Alcorn State 3,774 @ Jack Spinks Stadium, Lorman, MS Records: PVAMU 7-1, 6-0 SWAC; Alcorn State 2-6, 2-4 SWAC.

8. Grambling State 47, Texas Southern 33 3,549 @ Robinson Stadium, Grambling, LA Records: GSU 6-5, 4-3 SWAC; Tex So 4-5, 3-2 SWAC.

8. Webber International 35, Savannah State 20 1,956 @ Ted Wright Stadium, Savannah, Georgia Records: Webber Intern'l. 4-6 NAIA Savannah State 2-7 NCAA Div. I Indep.

9. Hampton University 25, Florida A&M 0 1,931 @ Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, VA Records: HU 5-5, 3-4 MEAC; FAMU 7-3, 5-2 MEAC.

10. Bethune Cookman 21, Howard University 10 541@ Greene Stadium, Washington, D.C. Records: BCU 5-5, 4-3 MEAC; HU 2-8, 0-7 MEAC.

11. Mississippi Valley State 16, Lincoln (MO) 6 503 @ Rice-Totten Stadium, Itta Bena, MS Records: MVSU 3-7, 1-5 SWAC; Lincoln University of Missouri 0-11 NCAA Division II.

by: beepbeep 11/16/09

Hampton Pirates 25, Florida A&M Rattlers 0

Hampton University Pirates first year head coach Donovan Rose clobbers FAMU Rattlers FCS Playoffs hopes with 25-0 stomping.

Former HU coach handed first career shutout loss

HAMPTON - Rarely in 27 years as a head coach has Joe Taylor been on the wrong end of such domination. Playing with an outside chance of winning the MEAC and making the playoffs, Florida A&M was handed a 25-0 spanking by Hampton University. Afterward, Taylor showed his usual class. And even a sense of humor. "Well," he said in the interview room, "this is not a good welcoming home." No, it wasn't — at least, not on the field. The man who won 136 games for the Pirates from 1992 through 2007 went through a brutal afternoon.

As flat and uninspired as the Rattlers looked Saturday at Armstrong Stadium, that's how revved up and sharp the Pirates looked. The result left FAMU with its first shutout loss since 1988 — and Taylor with his first ever. "I'm not surprised," Taylor said about the Pirates' energy. "I told the team they'd be energized for some obvious reasons. Take your hat off to them, because they played well." Conspicuously absent from HU's inaugural Hall of Fame class, Taylor made his first trip to Armstrong's opposing sideline since 1989, when he was coaching at Virginia Union. He was 6-3 vs. the Pirates, including a 45-28 win last year in Tallahassee.

Photo Gallery: FAMU falls to Hampton, 25-0

Much better this time for HU offensive coordinator

Without checking to be certain, we can safely say that Terry Beauford feels a lot better today than on the final day of the 1988 season. Back then, he was an offensive lineman for Florida A&M. And the Rattlers were blanked that day 25-0 by Bethune-Cookman. Now, Beauford is the offensive coordinator at Hampton University. And on Saturday, his Pirates shut out his alma mater ... by the same 25-0 score. His offense had a season-high 464 yards.

If you play a game and nobody sees it ...
HU's most complete performance of the season was seen by only 1,931 fans, which left nearly 15,000 empty seats at Armstrong Stadium. For the season, the Pirates' average attendance is 5,172. If that figure holds — there is one home game remaining — it would be the worst since 1989. The largest attendance this season was 7,417 for the opener.

Hampton Nearly Perfect in Big Win

HAMPTON — All season long, Hampton University football coach Donovan Rose saw flashes here and there. One game, the offense looked decent. One game, the defense did. But never, not throughout the first nine weeks of the season, had the Pirates put it all together. Saturday afternoon, on a soggy track with emotions running high, they did. Behind a power running game that two quarterbacks spearheaded and a defense that allowed virtually nothing all day, Hampton spoiled Joe Taylor's homecoming with a 25-0 win over Florida A&M at Armstrong Stadium.

To say it was the Pirates' best day this year would be unnecessary. "I told the guys, we've had spurts," Rose said. "But we never had a game where everybody played well. We wanted to do this against a team like (FAMU). They have a great program, and this is something to build from. "To me, it wasn't about (FAMU). I know they probably feel disappointed because this probably took them out of the playoff hunt. But it was about us. Our guys have been up and down all year. I told them to relax and have fun with it."

Attendance: 1,931@Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, VA

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Georgia Tech starts season with rout of Florida A&M

South Carolina State 37, Morgan State 13

South Carolina State Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough is FCS Division I playoff bound. The powerhouse 2008 and 2009 MEAC Champions have won 18 consecutive conference games for a new MEAC record.

SC State Clinches MEAC Title With 37-13 Win Over Morgan State

ORANGEBURG, SC—Junior quarterback Malcolm Long connected for 21-32 for 319 yards and four touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Oliver Tre’ Young had a career day with six catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns as South Carolina State clinched their second-straight league title and a playoff berth with a 37-13 victory over Morgan State Saturday.

Young, who also posted 313 All-purpose yards with 108 coming from punt returns, broke the SC State Career Reception Record held by Tavarus Morgan. Also, junior Malcolm Long became the schools first 2,000-yard passer with his performance on the day. “I am very excited about winning the game and even more about winning another MEAC Title,” said SC State coach Buddy Pough. “I am very impressed with Tre’ Young’s play today.”

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 27-7 lead in the first-half. Ford scored the first touchdown of the game on a 19-yard toss from Long with 9:04 left in the first quarter. Long put the Bulldogs ahead 14-0 on a 45-yard bomb to Oliver Tre’ Young. Morgan State scored to pull within seven on a 7-yard punch from quarterback Carlton Jackson with to close out the first quarter.

Sophomore kicker Blake Erickson scored six of the Bulldogs 13 points in the second quarter with field goals of 24 and 29. SC State closed the half with a 27-7 lead. Pough stated, “We didn’t play as effectively as I would have liked us to be, but overall we were able to get the job done throwing some deep balls.”

Long’s 12-yard connection with Young in the third quarter open up the lead and the Bulldogs took a 34-7 advantage and sealed the victory for Coach Pough’s team. All-MEAC running back Will Ford finished the day with 20 rushes for 107 yards. Ford is just 155 yards why of becoming the MEAC All-Time leading rusher. “Our goal is to get into the playoffs and make some noise”, said Pough. “It would be really nice for our fans and community if we could host a playoff game."
South Carolina State will close out the regular season against rival North Carolina A&T in a 1:30 p.m. showdown on Saturday.

Courtesy: SC State



SC State repeats as MEAC champs

ORANGEBURG -- The outcome was a mere formality with 6 minutes left in the third quarter Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. With the news of Florida A&M's 25-0 loss at Hampton, ninth-ranked South Carolina State was assured a second straight Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth and a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. As long as the Bulldogs avoided another comeback from double-digits by the Bears, a second consecutive outright title and a MEAC-record 18th straight win would await them at the final whistle.

S.C. State (9-1, 7-0 MEAC) finished out the 37-13 victory over Morgan State (5-5, 3-4) on a record-setting day before 10,542 fans for quarterback Malcolm Long and wide receiver Tre' Young. Long completed 21 of 32 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns to become the first Bulldogs QB in the program's 102-year history to pass for over 2,000 yards in a season. Long's four scores also tied a single-game school record, with Young responsible for two of the touchdown catches. The former Burke High standout had six catches for 166 yards in breaking the school record for career receptions and also had 148 yards in kick returns.

Gallery: S.C. State vs. Morgan State

Top-ranked SC State clinch MEAC Title, drop Bears 37-13

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The top-ranked Bulldogs of South Carolina State took care of business on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Dawson Bulldog Stadium in front of 10,542 fans. Malcolm Long threw four touchdown passes and OliverTre Young accounted for 313 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Morgan State 37-13 Saturday for its 18th consecutive Mid –Eastern Athletic Conference win and clinched its second straight MEAC Title.

The Bears (5-5, 3-4) dropped its four straight game, while SCSU played another well-rounded game and improved to 9-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference. William Ford, the MEAC’s leading rusher last year, scored on a 19-yard screen play and Young caught a 45-yard touchdown bomb from Long to help the Bulldogs jump out to an early 14-0. Long connected on 21-of-32 passes for 319 of the Dawgs’ 448 total yards. Young led all receivers with six tackles for 166 yards.

Attendance: 10,542 @ Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, Orangeburg, S.C.

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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.

Photo Galleries
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...