Bowl 'surrender' or status quo for MEAC football?

We're into the dog days of the sports calendar, which means that feuding cyclists and the words of football coaches who haven't held a practice yet pass for news. Along those lines, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference honchos are discussing football's future postseason direction. Specifically, the league is considering opting out of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in favor of a bowl game between historically black schools.

Dennis Thomas, the MEAC's genial commissioner and the former athletic director at Hampton University, said that no conclusion has been reached, that the principals are in the midst of due diligence. He said that a decision would come this fall, and if everybody chose the bowl route, the game would take place beginning in 2011. Thomas wouldn't bite on arguments for and against a bowl versus playoff participation, politely repeating that the topic remains in the discussion phase.

Apparently, those discussions are to remain private, since North Carolina A&T athletic director Wheeler Brown said through his executive assistant that Thomas issued a gag order to league ADs about the subject. Brown is about to begin a stint on the FCS playoff selection committee.

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When it comes to rogue agents, Grambling's coach makes Saban look soft on crime

As Nick Saban demonstrated and advocated at SEC Media Days, name-calling and license-revoking are two ways to deal with agents and their minions who don't play by the rules. Grambling State University coach Rod Broadway, a former Florida assistant, favors a tougher approach.

Blindfolds and cigarettes. Then lock and load.

"No. 1, they should put 'em all in front of a firing squad, then shoot their ass, if you catch guys doing that stuff," Broadway said Tuesday at SWAC Media Day in Birmingham. "Because that's wrong.



Coach Broadway comments are at the 2:45 mark.

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FAMU's Hawk swoops into MLB history

Former Expo Andre Dawson will be inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame tomorrow.



Andre Dawson stared almost in awe as he watched a brief video biography of his playing career, brushing away tears as familiar faces spoke in admiration of the intense man most still call "Hawk." "When I think back, there are so many things that flash through my mind," Dawson said. "How did I ever pull it off ? I can only say, 'Wow!' Indeed.

Despite 12 knee surgeries, Dawson was an All-Star eight times and managed to become just one of three major league players to hit 400 homers and steal more than 300 bases (Willie Mays and Barry Bonds are the others). For that and so much more, Dawson will be inducted tomorrow into the Baseball Hall of Fame, part of a class that includes former manager Whitey Herzog, umpire Doug Harvey, broadcaster Jon Miller and sports writer Bill Madden. The ceremony also will honour a musician for the first time. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty will sing his classic song "Centerfield", which he wrote 25 years ago and has been played at the start of induction Sunday for more than a decade.

Now 56, Dawson is the 203rd player elected to the Hall of Fame, making it on the ninth try. Many wondered why it took so long. An 11th-round draft pick by the Montreal Expos in 1975 (Florida A&M University), Dawson quickly made it to the big club in September 1976.

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SIAC moves headquarters to Atlanta

SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore continues to take steps to strengthen the conference’s visibility by moving its offices to downtown Atlanta.

ATLANTA, GA – Better web site? Check. Facebook? Check. Move to a more appropriate location? Check again. The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference officially moved its headquarters from Tucker to Atlanta on Friday, the latest move in an effort to increase public awareness for the conference. “The move to downtown Atlanta is beneficial to the SIAC and its member institutions,” said Edythe Bradley, Albany State’s University Sports Information Director. “The move means more visibility and more exposure in a corporate environment.”

The relocation to the South Tower of the Peachtree Center — which is in the heart of downtown Atlanta — makes sense, since it is closer to sponsors and the location of the SIAC basketball conference championship, but it isn’t exactly new territory. “The irony of the whole thing is that we moved back into the same building we were in 10 years ago,” SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore told The Herald in an exclusive interview by telephone Friday. “But it’ll make the basketball tournament bigger and better, and increase the visiblity of the conference, where we’ve made great strides in the past.

“The goal is to make our conference more accessible as well.” Moore — who made the decision for the move after consulting with advisors — has also made a series of changes since he was hired a year and a half ago, among them adding a Facebook page for the conference and signing a deal with web design company SIDEARM Sports to increase visibility on the Internet.

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SIAC NEW ADDRESS:

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Peachtree Center- South Tower
225 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 1975
Atlanta, GA 30303
NEW PHONE NUMBER: 404-221-1041
NEW FAX NUMBER: 404-221-1042

Alcorn State football players conditioning for 2010 season

LORMAN, MS — Because of NCAA rules, Alcorn State head football coach Earnest Collins is only allowed to have limited contact with his players until Aug. 4. Because of this, Collins defers to the Braves’ strength and conditioning coach, Lavell Williams, in keeping his team busy during July. And Williams is taking his experience as a former coach with Kansas, Texas Tech and the Dallas Cowboys, and using it to get the Braves in peak physical condition for the upcoming season.

“At this point in the summer, conditioning is the main thing. We’re doing strength and conditioning together, but focusing on conditioning,” Williams said. “The reason for that is that these guys have to be out in the heat. We want to make sure they can go at 100 percent without their muscles being bogged down.” That way, by the time the fall rolls around, muscle endurance won’t be an issue, Williams added. “That’s the main reason why we’re concentrating on conditioning, after we concentrated more on strength (closer to) the beginning of the summer,” he said.

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Incoming ... Bonner comes to ECSU

Elizabeth City State’s basketball team is starting to look like an Atlantic Conference all-star team. Perquimans’ Michael Bonner is the latest former star of the 1A conference, now known as the Four Rivers, to join the Vikings, transferring from Winston-Salem State. Earlier this year, former Camden star Ricky Krainiak transferred to ECSU from Campbell, joining last year’s Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Rookie of the Year Angelo Sharpless of Plymouth.

Being close to home and the presence of Sharpless and Krainiak influenced Bonner’s choice of schools. “ECSU is a very good place,” said Bonner, the 2007-08 Daily Advance Player of the Year. “Coach (Shawn) Walker is a really cool guy and from what I hear, he is an excellent coach. Angelo Sharpless, I played with him in high school. Ricky Krainiak, I played with him in high school. We all have that bond already. It’s a beautiful school and my family is around here and my church is around here.”

After Bonner experienced a rough freshman season, Winston-Salem coaches decided to redshirt the 6-foot-5, 190-pound guard last season, a choice that confused the Hertford native.

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All-SWAC team not much changed

With Prairie View quarterback K.J. Black and Grambling defensive end Christian Anthony, 2009 SWAC offensive and defensive players of the year returning, it's no surprise the preseason 2010 All-SWAC preseason team looked similar — especially since PV and Alabama A&M were selected to repeat as respective division champions.

Anthony was a dominant defensive force who finished 10th in the league with 76 tackles and third overall in both sacks (8.0) and tackles-for-loss (15.0) in 2009. From the defensive lineman position he recorded five interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns. He led the league in fumbles forced with five, and he recovered three loose balls.

Black was last years' premier offensive threat in the SWAC, leading the Panthers to their first conference title in nearly half a century. Black threw for 225.9 yards per game and led the league in pass efficiency by nearly 30 points at 172.8. He tossed 22 TDs with just four interceptions.

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Coaches poll puts Lincoln University last in CIAA

The Lions, having transitioned to NCAA Division II, will begin their football season Sept. 5.

Lincoln University is projected to become the new cellar dweller of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In their first season back as full CIAA members, the Lions were picked to finish seventh in the seven-team Northern Division in the conference coaches' preseason poll. They also were picked to finish last overall in the 13-team league.

Fayetteville State was picked to win the conference championship and Southern Division title during Thursday's CIAA Media Day at Virginia State. Bowie State was selected to win the Northern title. In addition to being picked last, Lincoln didn't have a player named to the all-CIAA preseason team that was selected by the conference's coaches and sports information directors.

But . . . "We should definitely be able to compete with the majority of the teams in the conference," said Lincoln coach O.J. Abanishe, whose squad returns 19 starters - 10 defensive and nine offensive - from last season's 3-7 squad. This season has special meaning for the Lions.

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FAMU Rattlers sign five-star tennis prospect

Clark, a Sophomore Business Administration Major was named to the Peach Belt Conference All-Academic team.

Levan Clark had all of the accolades that come with being a five-star tennis player when he was recruited by Florida A&M two years ago. He was ranked No. 10 among all Florida players and No. 65 in the nation among high school recruits. Qualifying to enroll at FAMU was another issue, and as a result Clark spent three semesters at Lander University, a Division II school in Greenwood, S.C.

But a day after signing to transfer to FAMU, Clark said Tuesday it all turned out for the better. "I'm more experienced now," said Clark, a left-hander out of Orlando Olympia High School. "I feel I can contribute a lot to make the team better. "I feel like the more experience we have the better off we're going to be. I feel with my experience in a tight situation I will stay calm and come through to win the match."

He did a lot of that for Lander this past season. In singles matches he went 14-5 and had an identical record in doubles. He was 6-3 in Peach Belt Conference matches.

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Grisby replaces Bailey as football coach at Saint Paul's College

ETTRICK, VA - The CIAA said hello to a new college football season by saying goodbye -- well, in a manner of speaking -- to iconic coach Willard Bailey.

Saint Paul's College, Bailey's employer since 2005, yesterday introduced Kevin Grisby as its interim head coach. Rumors that Bailey and Saint Paul's have parted company have been percolating for three weeks. They were confirmed at the CIAA's preseason kickoff luncheon at Virginia State when Grisby, Bailey's defensive coordinator, was introduced as the Tigers' boss for 2010. Saint Paul's does not have a sports information director, and its athletic department website still lists Bailey, 71, as the Tigers' coach.

Bailey, 228-142-7 in 36 seasons at four schools, is the winningest football coach in CIAA history.

"The past few weeks have been a whirlwind for all of us -- players, coaches, all of us," Grisby said. "All I know is, I'm excited to have the chance to lead the Tigers into 2010. I think the players are feeling the same kind of enthusiasm. I can tell you this: We'll be ready [when Saint Paul's opens against West Virginia Wesleyan] on Aug. 28."

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SAINT PAUL'S COLLEGE 2010 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Location Time
August 28, 2010 West Virginia Wesleyan College Buckhannon, WVA 1:00 pm
September 4, 2010 Bye
September 11, 2010 UNC Pembroke Lawrenceville, VA 1:00 pm
September 18, 2010 Saint Augustine's College Raleigh, NC 1:00 pm
September 25, 2010 Livingstone College Lawrenceville, VA 1:00 pm
October 2, 2010 Elizabeth City State University Elizabeth City, NC 1:00 pm
October 9, 2010 Bowie State University Roanoke, VA 1:00 pm
October 16, 2010 Chowan University HOMECOMING Lawrenceville, VA 1:00 pm
October 23, 2010 Virginia Union University Richmond, VA 1:00 pm
October 30, 2010 Lincoln University Lincoln University, PA 1:00 pm
November 6, 2010 Virginia State University Lawrenceville, VA 1:00 pm

Games in Bold are Home Games - Times And Locations Subject To Change

Southern's Mitchell eyes options at quarterback

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — As Southern University’s first-year football coach, Stump Mitchell gets plenty of questions. Usually, they’re of the let’s-get-to-know-this-guy variety. What will his program be like? How does he plan to attack a defense? And, naturally, can his team beat Grambling in four months? But as training camp draws near — the Jaguars are 13 days away from their first practice, but who’s counting? — Mitchell often is hit with one of the old preseason favorites.

Who will be the starting quarterback? Speaking at the Southwestern Athletic Conference media day Tuesday, Mitchell said he thinks he has the answer. But he’s not about to call the race when the gates haven’t opened yet. “I think it will be (Jeremiah) McGinty, but I don’t know,” Mitchell said. “Whoever plays quarterback, we’re going to win. That’s the bottom line.” The Jaguars head to training camp without a proven quarterback for the first time since 2007, when then-sophomore Bryant Lee edged Warren Matthews for the starting job.

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Baker finds satisfaction as college (TSU) hoops coach

HARTFORD, CT — Vin Baker has earned millions and lost millions. An NBA lottery pick and four-time all-star, he’s been at the pinnacle of his sport; an admitted alcoholic who squandered away potential, he’s also been at the bottom. With such a wealth of experience, both good and bad, to convey to younger players, it was somewhat of a natural progression for Baker to make his first foray into coaching this past winter.

The former University of Hartford star was a student assistant for the Texas Southern University men’s basketball team, which plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Working alongside fellow former NBA all-star Nick Van Exel, Baker thoroughly enjoyed moving over to the coaching side of things. “I loved it,” he said Wednesday night, prior to playing for the Simoniz All-Stars in a Greater Hartford Pro-Am league game.

“It’s a transition, but I loved it, just working with the kids (on) understanding the game. I was there with Van Exel. To be on the floor with him, (teach) things that I know about the game, trying to get their IQ up on the game is fun. And, obviously, being around the kids is great, too.”

With help from Baker, Texas Southern – an historically African-American school located in Houston – had a successful season. The Tigers went 17-15 overall and 11-7 in the SWAC, falling to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the conference championship game and just missing out on an automatic NCAA tournament bid.

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Phillips, Broncos 'up to the challenge'

As Fayetteville State coach Kenny Phillips heads to today's CIAA football media day in Petersburg, Va., he has no idea where his Broncos will be picked to finish. But as the defending conference champions, Phillips isn't shy about announcing his preference. "I hope we're picked to win it again," he said. "You always want to be picked to win it. You want everybody shooting for you."

Despite losing a horde of key playmakers who made last season's conference title run possible, thus making a bid to repeat a major challenge, Phillips insists his philosophy is pretty simple. "I'm the kind of guy where I want to be the one on top that everyone is trying to come get," he said. "I don't want to be the guy on the bottom struggling to get to the top. I've been there and done that. Trust me, it's not as much fun." A year ago at media day, Phillips had a brash message for his fellow CIAA coaches.

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Citrus Bowl begins artificial turf installation

ORLANDO, FL -- The organization that runs the Citrus Bowl and its bowl games has ensured that the field conditions that marred last year's games will not happen again.

Florida Citrus Sports says installation of an artificial turf surface is underway, and the new field will be ready for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge between Southern and Delaware State on Sept. 5.

“We have been staging major events in the stadium for over 60 years where the athlete experience is of premium importance,” said Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan in a news release. “Hosting a large number of events in short time windows have challenged the ability to provide optimum field conditions and paint schemes needed for national television. With this improvement, we are very excited about our ability to provide one of the safest, most technologically-advanced playing surfaces in the industry to our customer.”

Heavy rain and cold temperatures following last December's eight high school football championships at the stadium did not allow a new grass field to set properly before the Champs Sports Bowl and Capital One Bowl, making for a messy and dangerous situation. Miami Hurricanes running back Graig Cooper suffered a knee injury that he and his coaching staff blamed on the poor field conditions. Cooper's status for the 2010 season is still up in the air as he rehabs the injury.



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Grambling's Anthony isn't buying the early hype

In what is almost certain to be the least surprising announcement of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's 2010 football season, Grambling's Christian Anthony was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday.

In addition to Anthony's honor, a poll of conference coaches, media, and selected sports information directors predicted Grambling to finish the 2010 season in the same spot as the Tigers finished in 2009 — second in the Western Division and left out of the SWAC Championship. Prairie View A&M, the defending SWAC Champion, was picked to finish ahead of Grambling in the West. "Prairie View is No. 1, and right now Prairie View is the team to beat," Anthony said.

"They came out last year and defeated us, and right now we're chasing glory, and that's a situation you love to be in."

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Alcorn State enters season overflowing with optimism

Earnest Collins' Alcorn State Braves won only three games in 2009, his first as head coach, but two of the three were especially huge.


Alcorn defeated both in-state SWAC rivals Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State en route to a 3-6 finish that was the Braves' best since 2006. It's almost as if the Braves are starting 2010 at 1-0, because Collins openly called last year's Capital City Classic, the season-ender against Jackson State, "our first game of the 2010 season."

Alcorn beat the JSU Tigers 14-7, a victory that made winter workouts and spring training much more fun and productive, Braves players say. "We got a taste in our mouth that we enjoyed," Isaac Williams of Clinton, a three-year starter at center, said. "It made everything go better in the off-season. It was big for us, especially beating Jackson State. Everybody knows how big that is."

Big? Yes. The supreme goal? "No," answered Collins. "I want to win them all. You play the game to win championships. I expect us to be much, much better this year."

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Battle for backup QB is on at FAMU

Jonathan Pillow, RS 6'-0"/200 lbs., freshman transfer from University of Maryland; signed as defensive back by Terps from Jacksonville, FL Mandarin High School. Pillow completed 130 of 236 passes in 2008/09 for 1538 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interception as the starter for the 7-3 Mustangs.

They both have the same goal as the preseason approaches for the Florida A&M football team — Austin Trainor and Jonathan Pillow want to win the backup role at quarterback. Their attitude is a little different, though. Trainer, who is in his second season with the program, is a little more assertive and full of confidence. Pillow, who was on the University of Maryland's football team last season but didn't play a down, is taking a wait-and-see approach. That was enough for coach Joe Taylor to offer this assessment:

"It's going to be interesting now when camp starts as to who gets the backup. It's all about getting reps." With Martin Ukpai having locked down the starting quarterback spot, both of the freshmen are poised to go after the second spot that is still up for grabs. Senior Eddie Battle came out of spring camp as the favorite backup, but has missed most of the offseason 7-on-7 drills.

Trainor would definitely have the edge because of his experience in FAMU's offense. But he realizes Pillow and potentially one or more of the incoming freshmen could make the competition tough. "Nobody is going to give me (anything) unless I take it for myself," said Trainor, who spent the past few months putting on muscle and working on his speed. "I feel a little more confident these months we have had off."

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SWAC coaches pick A&M, Prairie View

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — How often does history repeat itself? It depends on the piece of history in question. In the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason poll, released Tuesday at the league’s annual media day, voters predicted that Prairie View and Alabama A&M — last year’s division champions — will meet again at Legion Field in the championship game.

As for Southern ... well, voters apparently aren’t sold on a quick turnaround from first-year coach Stump Mitchell. The Jaguars will finish fourth, according to the poll. “That’s fine,” Mitchell said. “We know that others’ expectations for us aren’t the same as our expectations for us. We’re just going to focus on playing each game and trying to win them all.” Of course, SWAC preseason polls are not often clairvoyant.

In 2006, voters selected Alabama A&M and Southern as favorites to win their respective divisions. They were half-correct: Alabama A&M won the Eastern Division and reached the championship game, but Arkansas-Pine Bluff won the West. The following summer, Alabama A&M and Arkansas-Pine Bluff were preseason favorites. Voters went 0-for-2, as Jackson State and Grambling reached the SWAC title game.

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Devil of a job: Deck stacked against MVSU coach Morgan

Karl Morgan won't say it, but I will. Morgan, the first-year head football coach at Mississippi Valley State, has the most difficult job in football. Believe this: If anybody has a tougher job, you don't want anywhere near it. Neither does Knute Rockne or Bear Bryant. Why is Morgan's job so hard? Let us count the ways:

•He replaces the legendary Willie Totten, whose name is on the Valley stadium, but who won only 31 games in eight seasons at the Valley.

•Oh, that stadium? Morgan's first team can't play in it. It's condemned and will have to be repaired. Valley will play its "home" games 45 miles away at Greenville High School.

•Totten's last team finished 3-8 overall and won just one SWAC game. Obviously, better talent is needed, but Morgan got the job two weeks before signing day. In other words, pickings were slim.

•Division I-AA teams are allowed 63 football scholarships, and most of Valley's opponents award that many. Valley is limited to just above 50.

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Granted a rare 6th year, JSU DE hopes to be healthy difference-maker 1 last chance

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Sam Washington would prefer not to relive the moment anymore - the one where he collapsed last August on the Jackson State practice field, experiencing what he calls the "worst pain ever." "I just dropped," he said. "I didn't flip over or do any of that Cartoon Network stuff. I just fell." He lay on the field, writhing in pain as teammates and trainers swarmed over him. In his mind he was thinking one thing: Oh no, not again.

For the second time in four years - this time less than a month before the 2009 season opener - Washington's spinal vertebra jabbed into a nerve, sending pain and numbness through the left side of his body. For the defensive end from Holmes County, it meant another back surgery and another football season missed - and perhaps the end of his career. That was nearly one year ago.



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Coach Joe Taylor's Pre-Season Update

MEAC’s schools have a rich tradition with DeMatha Catholic High School

DeMatha Catholic High School (Hyattsville, Maryland) will have two of its top runners complete in the MEAC this winter.

William Kellogg, ranked number 3 in the United States at 500 meters during the 2010 high school indoor season will carry his talents to Hampton University.

Robert Corbitt III, a New Balance National 4x4 Outdoor All-American will be running for North Carolina Central University. Corbitt shown below in the video running the third exchange for DeMatha -- will follow in his father’s footsteps -- Robert Corbitt, Jr., a 1985 graduate of NCCU.

Corbitt III also will be feeling the heat from older sister Jamilah Corbitt, Assistant Sports Information Director/Media Relations at Alabama A&M University. Jamilah was an outstanding scholar and played scholarship basketball at Vermont, and Central Connecticut State University and knows a few things about collegiate track and field. She covers both the men's and women's track and field programs for the Bulldogs, among other responsibilities.

The Corbitts' are native Washingtonians and strong supporters of NCCU Eagles.

DeMatha participated in the New Balance Nationals 2010 at North Carolina A&T State University (June 17-19, 2010) in Greensboro, N.C., and was in a 18th-way tie for 38th place in the Boy's competition, out of more than a 150+ competing teams.

The Stags are coached by Norfolk State University Spartans 1982 graduate, Anthony Bryant. Coach Bryant will be entering his 18th season as DeMatha's Head Track & Field coach. DeMatha will be loaded again next season with the return of Christopher Walker (48.17/ 400m), Thomas Gaither (1:53.54/800m) and Michael Williams (38.55/300m hurdles).

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack: 4x400 Relay (3:15.54 / Gaither, Williams, Corbitt, Walker).

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack: Section 2 – Thomas Gaither (1:53.54)

Printers mirrors inconsistent Lions: Buono

Former FAMU quarterback Casey Printers is showing inconsistency as Lions starter.

VANCOUVER, B.C. — The one great quality of being a genius coach is having a great quarterback. And three games into the 2010 CFL season, B.C. Lions quarterback Casey Printers is not making his boss look very smart. In coach Wally Buono's view, his field general is exhibiting the same erraticism that is bedeviling the rest of the team.

"You'd like for him to be more consistent," Buono said Saturday, after reviewing tapes of the Lions' 16-12 defeat to the Montreal Alouettes Friday night at Empire Field. "Half the time, there is a very good quarterback." That statement was borne out by the statistics, which saw Printers complete 20 of 40 passes for 253 yards against the Alouettes. And he did throw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jamal Robertson for the game's only major.

However, he was intercepted twice, the first time when he tried to throw a home-run ball into the end zone with Paris Jackson double-covered and the entire Montreal defence aware that Printers was going to go deep. It was not a smart call, Buono admitted, because the Lions were in Montreal territory and needed to come away with points in what was a low-scoring defensive struggle.

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Video: Highlights: MTL 16, BC 12

VOD: Week 3 - Alouettes vs. Lions

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South Carolina State's Wiley down, what now?

The bad news for South Carolina State fans broke Wednesday evening when Bulldogs backup quarterback Derrick Wiley showed up at the player's only practice with a cast on his leg.

Turns out Wiley, the MVP of last season's season-opening win over Grambling, broke a bone in his foot earlier in the summer and just recently underwent surgery to correct the problem. The injury puts Wiley's early season availability in doubt, and for that matter, should his recovery take longer than expected there is a chance that Wiley could miss the entire season.

It's not that Wiley, a player that S.C. State head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough has compared to former Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards several times over, had big-time stats a season ago. In fact, after the Grambling game, Wiley didn't do much, finishing with 224 rushing yards and just 101 passing yards on 11 of 20 passing with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

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