Southern Jaguars puts it on the line with sprints

Step outside, feel the heat, close your eyes and imagine this:

You are a football player at Southern University. Preseason camp is in full swing. It is 94 degrees with a heat index of 105. The team is 22 periods deep into a 24-period practice — the second of the day — and your body has started to seize and cramp. And then, with the end almost in sight, you hear the most crushing four-word phrase of all: “Everybody on the line!”

Welcome to the latest round of post-practice conditioning. Others call them sprints. Some teams call them “gassers.” Others call them “suicides.” Most players don’t really care what you call them, as long as you call them off. Are we having fun yet?

“It’s rough, man. I’m not going to lie,” senior wideout Curry Allen says. “I mean, we were already practicing in 110-degree weather. We’re in two-a-days, and it’s hot. And every period, the coaches want you to go full-speed. You get a water break here and there, but they want you to go full-speed. And then you’re almost at the end. And then you hear it: ‘On the line!’ ”

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Nothing holds back FAMU's Willis

FAMU Rattlers head coach Joe Taylor.

Junior defensive tackle possesses an All-American mindset

Tallahassee, FL - Jerry Willis wasn't even sure he would find enough money to pay his tuition for four years at Florida A&M when he walked into the football office and pleaded for a chance to play for the team. All he had was a passion for the game, a little experience and the goodwill of his girlfriend's father. Defensive ends coach Tim Edwards saw a little bit more that he thought might benefit the team — Willis' 6-foot-4, 280-pound physique. He figured that with a little work Willis could become a contributor.

"He didn't come out there stepping over his feet," Edwards said. "It wasn't like he came out there looking all goofy. The biggest thing that caught my eye is that he isn't a big talker. He's a laid back type of guy that has that look like he is serious about what he is trying to get done."

Willis has proven to be very serious. A native of Chicago who grew up on the tough South Side of the city, Willis is in contention to earn a starting job with the Rattlers. He's already earned a full scholarship, a lot more than he expected the day he walked into coach Joe Taylor's office looking for a chance to play. Willis figured nothing that he would face on the football field would be as tough as some of the adversity that he'd faced just to stay in school.

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Ex-TSU star Narcisse works way into CFL Hall of Fame

The origin of Don Narcisse's career is not one of a typical Hall of Famer. Before racking up 919 catches and 12,366 yards in the Canadian Football League, Narcisse's destiny on a football field was relegated to halftime.



"My mom didn't want me to play any sports,," said Narcisse, who grew up in Port Arthur. "She wanted me to be in the marching band. In junior high school I went out and tried out for football, while she thought I was trying out for the band. She was worried about me since I was a small kid and I also had a heart murmur, but it all worked out."

Narcisse, who played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1987 to 1999, will be inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame today. But as the family prepared to leave for this week's events, Dorothy Narcisse, Don's mother, died of complications from congestive heart failure at the age of 73. "My mother was a great person," Narcisse said. "She never met a stranger. She was so proud of her kids. I wouldn't have accomplished any of my goals without her."

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Narcisse ready to enter Canadian Football Hall of Fame

Riders fans cheer Narcisse into CFL Hall of Fame - The Globe and Mail

JSU trip helped to convince QB

Quarterback Casey Therriault had planned to visit other schools this spring. Then he visited Jackson State. "I loved the campus atmosphere. It's not too big, not too small," Therriault said. "I really liked everybody I met." Therriault, who transferred to JSU from Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan, scratched four scheduled trips to other schools after his visit to Jackson. He would not disclose what schools offered him scholarships but said none were "as relevant as Jackson State."

Therriault, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound junior, is locked in a battle for the starting spot with redshirt sophomore Dedric McDonald. Coaches have lauded Therriault's accurate arm, leadership skills and speed - attributes that led him to pass for more than 2,100 yards and 24 touchdowns last year at Grand Rapids.

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Bowie State Upgrading Football Field With Synthetic Turf

Bowie State Sports Information

BOWIE, MD - Bowie State University Interim Athletic Director Arlene Creek and head football coach Damon Wilson officially announce that the Bulldogs football stadium natural grass field will be resurfaced with a $1 million synthetic turf.

Bowie State will be the second school in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association to shift from natural grass. Fayetteville State converted to a synthetic surface in 2007.

"I am very pleased and happy to be getting FieldTurf. This will give Bowie State University a great opportunity for more exposure, and I do believe that it will capture the attention of various teams wanting to play their games in Bulldogs Stadium”, said Creek.

The new surface will be made of the new grass-looking synthetic surface that is currently used by 20 NFL teams as well as over 50 NCAA Division I institutions. The patented FieldTurf infill is comprised of 70 percent silica sand and 30 percent cryogenic rubber. In addition to intercollegiate football, Creek said the new field can be used for soccer, lacrosse, intramural games, band performances and graduations -- without damage to the surface. Also, she hopes community organizations will want to use the field for a fee.

“This is a great step for Bowie State”, said Wilson. Wilson went on to say, “I thank Dr. Burnim and his administration for spearheading this project. This new field surface also gives us the opportunity to generate additional revenue by hosting camps and clinics in our facility.”

Construction has already begun and will completed in time for the BSU Bulldogs home opener versus the Panthers of Virginia Union University – Saturday, September 25th at 1 pm.

2010 HBCU Schedule of Televised Football Games

Listed below is the composite schedule for the 2010 football season of all games (HBCU) that are scheduled to be televised or available by access live and on-demand streaming video and audio. We will update this list within the next few weeks with Colleges/University websites that offer streaming video of all "home games" and their web link addresses. Some services may require user fees charged by the respective conference/university service. You know the deal! No free TV...

Thursday, September 2
FAMU at Miami (FL)

ESPN3.com - 7:30 p.m.

Norfolk State at Rutgers

ESPN3.com - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 4
South Carolina State at Georgia Tech
ESPN3.com - 1 p.m.

Alabama A&M at Tennessee State
John Merritt Classic

OVCSports.TV., 6 p.m.

Louisiana Tech vs. Grambling State
"Port City Classic"
ESPNU - (Tape delay)- 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 5
Delaware State v. Southern University
"2010 MEAC/SWAC Challenge"
ESPN – 12:00 p.m. – Live

Saturday, September 11
Morgan State at Maryland
ESPN3.com - 6 p.m.

Tennessee State vs. Jackson State

"Southern Heritage Classic"
Fox Sports South - 6 p.m. - Live

Thursday, September 16

Lane College at Tennessee Tech, 7:00 p.m.

OVCSports.TV. , 7 p.m.

Saturday, September 18

Austin Peay at Tennessee State

Wazoo Sports/OVC Game of the Week - 6 p.m.

Saturday, September 25
Tennessee State vs. FAMU
Atlanta Football Classic
Versus - 3:30 p.m. - Live

Saturday, September 25
Prairie View A&M vs. Grambling State
State Fair Classic
ESPNU - (Tape delay)- 10:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 30
Hampton at Delaware State s
ESPNU - 7:30 p.m. – Live

Saturday, October 2
Chowan vs. Virginia Union
CIAA Network - 1:00 p.m. - Live

Kentucky State at Eastern Kentucky.
OVCSports.TV. , 6 p.m.

South Carolina State at FAMU
ESPNU – 10:30 p.m. – Taped Delayed

Thursday, October 7
Prairie View A&M at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
ESPNU - 7:30 p.m. - Live

Saturday, October 9

Tennessee State at Southeast Missouri

OVCSports.TV., 6 p.m.

Thursday, October 14
Elizabeth City State at Virginia State
CBS College Sports Network - 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 16

Tennessee State at Jacksonville State
OVCSports.TV., 3 p.m.

Thursday, October 21
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alcorn State

ESPNU - 7:30 p.m. - Live

Saturday, October 23

Tennessee Tech at Tennessee State

Wazoo Sports/OVC Game of the Week

OVCSports.TV. , 6 p.m.

Thursday, October 28
North Carolina A&T at Bethune-Cookman
ESPNU – 7:30 p.m. – Live

Saturday, October 30

Shaw vs. WSSU
CIAA Network - 1:00 p.m. - Live

Saturday, November 6

Eastern Illinois at Tennessee State

OVCSports.TV., 5 p.m.

Thursday, November 11
South Carolina State at Morgan State
ESPNU – 7:30 p.m. – Live

Grambling State at Texas Southern
ESPN Classic - 7:30 p.m. - Live

Saturday, November 13
CIAA Championship
CIAA Network - 1:00p.m.- Live

Tennessee State at UT Martin

Wazoo Sports/OVC Game of the Week

OVCSports.TV., 6 p.m.

Saturday, November 20
Tennessee State at Murray State

OVCSports.TV., 1 p.m.

Bethune-Cookman v. FAMU Rattlers
"The Florida Classic"
ESPN Classic – 2:30 p.m. - Live

Thursday, November 25
Tuskegee at Alabama State
"Turkey Day Classic"
ESPNU - 4 p.m.

Saturday, November 27
Grambling vs. Southern
"Bayou Classic"
NBC - 1:00 p.m. - Live

FCS Playoffs First Round (campus sites)

Saturday, December 4

FCS Playoffs Second Round (campus sites)

Friday, Dec.10/Saturday, Dec. 11

FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals (campus sites)

Saturday, December 11
2010 SWAC Championship Game
ESPN Classic - 2 p.m. - Live

Friday, Dec. 17/Saturday, Dec. 18

FCS Playoffs Semifinals (campus sites)

Friday, January 7, 2011

FCS National Championship (Frisco, Texas)

Alabama State golfers compete in MCC Invitational for first time

ASU Hornets golf coach, Dr. Gary Grandison.

The well-wishers were all around Alabama State golf coach Gary Grandison at Montgomery Country Club on Friday afternoon. "Glad to have you here," said one elderly gentleman, a longtime member. For the first time in the 92-year history of the MCC Invitational, Alabama State golfers competed in the tournament after a formal invitation from the club. "It shows progress," said an obviously pleased Grandison. Except in this case, Dr. Grandison was not talking about race relations in Montgomery. He was referring to the advancements made by his golf program.

"This is a quality tournament, and the exposure and experience we're getting is important to the growth and progress of our program," said Grandison, who is getting ready to start his fourth year as the head coach of the men's and women's golf teams at ASU.

College players from Alabama, Auburn, Troy, Huntingdon, Central Alabama, UAB -- and this year ASU -- compete in the MCC, but it is not a typical college tournament. Two-man teams from each school compete for the Dr. Hamp Greene III Collegiate Cup championship, but there are no overall team scores.

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New SU QB McGinty ready for pressure

You want pressure?

The new starting quarterback at Southern University will feel it. First, he’ll fill the role left behind by Bryant Lee, who led the Jaguars’ offense for so long he seemed like a faculty member. As a senior last season, Lee finished as the school’s all-time leading passer. Second, he’ll take control of the new, complex, pro-style offense installed by first-year coach Stump Mitchell — and Mitchell, who said he expects to win right away, won’t give the new guy an easy way out.

So who in the world is prepared to fill this role? Maybe no one. But among the candidates, maybe Jeremiah McGinty comes closest. McGinty has felt pressure. He’s been in a spot like this before. Mitchell has said he believes McGinty will start, but he hasn’t yet made a final decision. “The coaching staff — they’re more chilled about it,” McGinty said. “Whoever’s getting the job done, that’s who’s going to play. It’s a competition, and of course I’m trying to win. I don’t know. We’ll see how it goes, you know?”

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Taylor brings ref to discuss rules with Rattlers

The cerebral adventure continued Friday evening for the Florida A&M football team. After three days of walk through intended to enhance the Rattlers' mental approach, coach Joe Taylor invited one of the men who wear black and white stripes on game day to issue a reminder to his players about a few important things that they won't find in their playbooks — the rules of the game. Taylor has good reason to sit his team down. Last season FAMU committed 66 penalties for 608 yards, an improvement over the previous season by almost 200 yards. Still, the Rattlers were the third-most penalized team in the nine-team league.

MEAC referee Ryan Sbrissa used a PowerPoint presentation to emphasize how closely each play will be watched this season. He stressed that in addition to a handful of new rules, referees will be throwing a flag on any player caught making a helmet-first tackle or block. The league is being more strict about the rule as a result of the number of concussions in the game, Sbrissa warned. Violations will result in a 15-yard penalty or even ejection, Taylor said.

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SCSU Bulldogs run through first of ‘two-a-days'

The mere mention of "two-a-days" draws one thing to mind for South Carolina State linebacker David Erby. "Work, more work, more work," he said. "Everybody out here's legs are tired, but everybody's fighting through it to get the extra work." Back in head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough's playing days as a Bulldog, "two-a-day" practices were a staple of preseason camp. A physical morning practice was followed in the afternoon by an equally grueling regimen and this usually took place on consecutive days.

Now, NCAA restrictions and a change of philosophy on Pough's part has seen a diminished number of "two-a-days" in the preseason. Tuesday was the first of only four such practices on alternating days scheduled by S.C. State with the morning session in full pads followed in the early evening by a lighter workout in just shells and shorts.

"We don't try to become so overbearing in our ‘two-a-day' routine, that it just becomes a total grind for our players," Pough said. "We want to try to get as much work as we can get. We need to get some work in. But at the same time, we've got to be conscious of the fact that it's really hot and we've got to understand that we've got to be able to save our legs to a certain degree so that we can continue to go at it at a fairly decent pace."

PHOTO GALLERY: Trench warfare

PHOTO GALLERY: SCSU's first practice

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SSU's Bostick to back up DeFilippis at QB

SSU Tigers starting quarterback A.J. DeFilippis

Antonio Bostick has secured Savannah State University's No. 2 quarterback job behind starter A.J. DeFilippis, interim head coach Julius Dixon said Wednesday after the Tigers' first practice in full pads. "Right now it's A.J. and then Antonio Bostick," said Dixon, who added that freshmen Anthony Prophet, Avery Cheeks and Jake Durham are competing for the third-string job.

DeFilippis, a 6-foot-3, 191-pound junior from Pooler, Georgia was the only quarterback academically eligible to participate in spring practices. Kurvin Curry, a sophomore who split time with DeFilippis last season, is academically ineligible this season.

Bostick, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound redshirt freshman from Greensboro, Fla., spent last season on the sideline signaling in plays to the quarterbacks. "Redshirting helped me a lot," Bostick said. "To see two experienced guys (DeFilippis and Curry) play the game of college football was a blessing for me. I didn't have a problem signaling plays in from the sideline. I feel very comfortable. Last year, it was a learning curve situation for me."

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Tuskegee Golden Tigers' game vs. Texas Southern moved to Mobile

Tuskegee University Goldern Tigers coach Willie Slater.

TUSKEGEE, AL -- The game between Tuskegee University of the SIAC and Texas Southern of the SWAC, originally scheduled for the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in California, will be played in Mobile, Alabama.

The City of Mobile and Tuskegee University recently reached an agreement for the two schools to meet on Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. at 40,000-seat Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will mark the third appearance for Tuskegee playing in the City of Mobile. The Golden Tigers defeated Alabama A&M University 19-6 in 1995 and lost to Shaw University 30-28 in Pioneer Bowl VII in 2004.

In the only other meeting between Tuskegee and Texas Southern, TSU edged the Golden Tigers 10-7 in 1994 at Abbott Stadium in Tuskegee. The game will serve as a home game for the Golden Tigers, giving Tuskegee six home dates. The Tuskegee University Marching Crimson Pipers and the Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul marching bands will perform at halftime.

Tuskegee students attending the game will be admitted with current TU identification cards. There is a $15 ticket charge for Texas Southern students with ID card. General admission is $20.

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Video: Hampton University preps for 2010 season

A&M still favored after losing offensive stars‎

Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones is flattered that his team is considered the front-runner in the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division. It's a pretty nice sign of respect since the Bulldogs must replace players like tailback Ulysses Banks, wide receiver Thomas Harris and defensive end Jeremy Maddox. "We lost a lot of weapons from last year, a lot of weapons," Jones said. "For people to think we'll be back in the hunt, that's pretty amazing.

You lose the No. 1 running back in school history, the No. 1 receiver in school history, the No. 1 placekicker (Jeremy Licea) in school history — all those weapons are gone. That's most of our points and yards gone. "People still think we have a chance. That's pretty special."

Of course, there are plenty of experienced players returning, including 14 starters. The Bulldogs won the East in 2009 but the season ended with a 30-24 loss to Prairie View A&M in the SWAC championship game. The same two teams were picked to win their divisions again. Alabama A&M has quarterback Deaunte Mason back with some seasoning, but the defense has the most experience and leadership coming back. That group is led by preseason All-SWAC picks linebacker Afu Okosun (79 tackles) and defensive lineman Frank Kearse (12 tackles for loss). Cornerback Korey Morrison returns after intercepting five passes. The Bulldogs do lose Maddox, who had 12 sacks.

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Delaware State Hornets vs. Hampton Pirates kickoff changed for ESPNU

DOVER, DE -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has announced that the 2010 Delaware State University vs. Hampton University football contest has been moved to Thursday, September 30 at 7:30 p.m. at DSU's Alumni Stadium. The contest, originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 2, will be televised live on ESPNU as part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference television agreement with ESPN.

This will mark the second national television appearance for the Hornets during the 2010 season. Delaware State will kick off the upcoming season against Southern University in the Sixth Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Sunday, Sep. 5 at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando. The MEAC/SWAC Challenge will be televised live on ESPN, ESPN HD and ESPN3.com at 12:00 p.m.

This year's DSU/Hampton contest will also mark the second Thursday night game at Alumni Stadium. The Hornets defeated Florida A&M 35-28 in overtime in the first Thursday night Alumni Stadium contest in 2008.

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Taylor sees quality from FAMU at football practice

University of Florida transfer wide receiver T.J. Lawrence reported to the Rattlers football camp Thursday, and was introduced to the team by Coach Joe Taylor. The redshirt sophomore Lawrence is expected to play both WR and centerfielder on the Rattlers baseball team.

Dropped balls and other mistakes were so few by the first and second offensive units that Florida A&M coach Joe Taylor seemed almost amazed by what he saw on a muggy, soggy Thursday afternoon.

"This is just quality work," Taylor said, following the Rattlers' second day of workout. "People get a chance to just learn. Even on the sidelines, we tell them these are mental reps (and) if you're not in, you still look at the play (and) look at your position; look at what's going on so when you get there you know."

Backup quarterbacks Eddie Battle and Austin Trainor took all of the snaps during the walkthrough drills, while starter Martin Ukpai was given the first week of practice off to recover from a medical condition. He's been attending team meetings and will return to practice Monday when the Rattlers suit up in pads.

At the pace that the offense ran through plays without many flaws, next Saturday's first scrimmage could be a better gauge. Taylor said he was especially impressed Thursday with the interaction between players on the offensive line to make sure that plays were executed.

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Grambling's Christian Anthony hospitalized after apparent heart attack

Grambling defender Christian Anthony, the Southwestern Athletic Conference's preseason defensive player of the year, was hospitalized after suffering an apparent heart attack Thursday afternoon. He is listed in stable condition at Northern Louisiana Medical Center, university officals said.

Anthony suffered chest pains around 4:30 p.m. after practicing with the team from 8:30-11 a.m. GSU Director of Public Relations Vanessa Littleton said there was no indication that the incident was heat-related, and that Anthony showed no signs of distress when the team went to a meeting room to cool down and hydrate around 11:30 a.m.

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Elizabeth City State Vikings' Manley back for final season

ECSU Manley,#5 averages an insane 23.9 yards per catch over his career.

NFL scouts are already familiar with Elizabeth City State wide receiver Dexter Manley. In fact, most thought he was a senior and would be coming out for 2010 draft, but it turned out Manley had one more year of college eligibility left. Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association foes wish he had left. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Manley, now really a senior, leads an explosive Vikings offense that averaged 32.5 points per game in 2009.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to coach guys that were athletic and I’ve been fortunate enough to coach guys that were smart football players. He is the rare combination of both,” ECSU offensive coordinator Alvin Parker said. “He knows what’s going on totally with our scheme and he’s athletic enough to make any play out there on the field.”

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New UNCW coach humbled to be joining basketball hall of fame

On Friday, former Prairie View A&M University coach and alumna Cynthia Cooper-Dyke will become the first former WNBA player to be inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

"I don't think it has completely sunk in yet. I still think I'm wavering on the edge and I don't really feel like a hall of famer, but I think when I get to Springfield (Mass.) and I start to do the different events I will start to feel like an inductee of the class of 2010," the first-year UNC-Wilmington women's basketball coach said earlier this week.

"It's an amazing feeling to know that you are being honored and rewarded for all of the sacrifices that you have made throughout the years."

Cooper-Dyke grew up as one of eight children being raised by a single mother. It's here where Cooper learned her best trait, hard work. "My mom was just a special woman," Cooper-Dyke said. "She raised eight kids by herself in the (Los Angeles) inner city of Watts. She worked her way from welfare to having a job and taking care of the eight kids by herself and she did a terrific job."

With that life, basketball wasn't something Cooper-Dyke grew up with. She didn't start playing competitively until she was a teenager, yet led her Locke High School team to its first state title as a senior. That was Cooper-Dyke's first taste of a championship, but it certainly wouldn't be her last.



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FCS Season Preview: SWAC

Birmingham, AL - Quinton Spears could serve as the poster child for Prairie View A&M football. The redshirt senior has gone from being a walk-on at wide receiver in 2006 to an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference first-team selection at defensive end in 2009. "It's really like the Prairie View story," Spears says. "You know, we started out at the bottom, and then we started gradually rising and rising."

Prairie View was at the bottom of the entire FCS when it lost an almost unfathomable 80 straight games from 1989-98. The Panthers have risen under seventh-year head coach Henry Frazier III and are coming off their second straight 9-1 season and their first SWAC championship since 1964. With the return of a veteran team, they are a clear favorite to repeat as conference champions.

"We talked about that as a team, we talked about how this is new territory for all of us," senior quarterback K.J. Black said. "There's not a lot of people on the team that (previously) have been champions.

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Wanted: South Carolina State runners

All-MEAC senior quarterback Malcolm Long returns seeking a third conference championship with a new stable of running backs.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- For South Carolina State to win its third straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title the Bulldogs' untested running backs are going to have to perform. Gone are Will Ford, the Bulldogs all-time leading rusher, and his backfield mate, Travil Jamison, who accounted for 21 touchdowns the past two seasons. The pair took nearly two-thirds of the carries last year, leaving few opportunities for the Bulldogs other runners.

Left tackle Johnny Culbreath remembers how much fun it was block for Ford the past three years. All he had to do was get in his stance, fire out and, more times than not, Ford was already past the line and headed for a big gain. "All you got to do is put your hands on your guy and in about two seconds, Will's going to come blowing by," Culbreath said. "That's all you've got to know about him."

Culbreath and the rest of the Bulldogs know they must adjust this season since Ford's successful run ended last fall as the MEAC's all-time leading career rusher with 4,660 yards. How quickly South Carolina State's backups fill Ford's shoes could determine if the Bulldogs have what it takes for a third straight conference title.

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Southern defenders ready to deliver big hits

Over the years, the nickname has changed.

Players used to call them “bone crushers.” Then they were “slobber-knockers.” Nowadays, it’s called a “de-cleater.” That’s the trendy term for a big hit. By any name, Southern linebacker Corey Ray said, the big hit is a surefire sign that preseason camp has shifted into a higher gear. It’s just a shame, Ray said, that de-cleaters have been in short supply so far.

“On defense, that’s what we live for. That’s what we want,” Ray said. “Any situation calls for a de-cleater. You know what I mean?” Most players seem to. The Jaguars have practiced eight times since players reported for camp Aug. 3 — and while SU’s coaching staff often tells players to stay on their feet, that doesn’t always happen. Every so often, during team drills, they sneak in a noteworthy lick.

“For the most part, I’m pleased with how physical we’ve been,” first-year coach Stump Mitchell said. “On both sides of the ball, we will be a more physical football team than what people have seen at Southern over the past few years. I like that. That’s what I want.”

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AAMU's Mason looks sharp in scrimmage

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Alabama A&M quarterback Deaunte Mason would love to have running back Ulysses Banks and wide receiver Thomas Harris back, but he says the Bulldogs' offense will be just fine this season. It sure looked that way early on during Wednesday's 80-plus play scrimmage as Mason led the first offense to a pair of touchdowns against the first defense.

After the early success with Mason, the Bulldogs' defense settled down and didn't allow any points over the last nine possessions. "It was a good day, but we've still got room to improve," said Mason, one of the big reasons A&M was picked to defend its Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division title. "I think we showed at times we can still have a good offense this season."

Mason engineered a 12-play, 70-yard drive and capped it with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Quintin Carlock, who beat All-SWAC preseason cornerback Korey Morrison on the play. Mason was 5-of-6 on the drive for 35 yards and also had a nine-yard run for a first down on a third-and-4 play.

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SIAC signs five-year contract with Crons

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) has signed a five-year agreement with The Crons Brand™, making it the official uniform and apparel provider for the conference and its member schools.

Crons will be the exclusive provider of SIAC Championship apparel and gear for all student-athletes and conference championships. The company will outfit teams in conference-sponsored sports with game uniforms, practice and workout gear, and travel apparel.

The SIAC becomes the first NCAA Division II conference to join The Crons Brand™, one of the fastest growing team sports apparel brands in the country. Crons, which created its name as an acronym from the phrase “Come ready or never start,” is based in Pittsburgh and describes what it sells as “motivational apparel.” Crons’s founder and owner is Pat Cavanaugh, 42, who played in the NCAA basketball tournament three times as a walk-on starter at Pittsburgh in the late 1980s.

“When I began the search for a new apparel partner, I wanted a company that understood the rich ethos of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities in general and the SIAC in particular. As a relatively new brand, Crons “Come Ready Or Never Start” approach not only mirrors the commitment and work ethic of our student-athletes, but Crons is also well positioned to tap into the enormous brand building, taste making, and trendsetting prowess of our nearly 35,000 SIAC students and SIAC 400,000 alumni,” stated SIAC Commissioner Greg Moore.

The Crons Brand is also the official apparel and uniform provider for the Big South Conference, Robert Morris University, University of Texas-Pan America, and others. “It’s kind of the haves and have-nots these days, and Crons is taking advantage of that, making quality apparel that’s affordable” for our fans and sports teams.

Come ready or never start!

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FAMU's Vann Cut by 49ers, May Catch On with Titans

After having trouble holding on to punts, former Florida A&M Rattler LeRoy Vann found himself without a job this week. Vann, who had signed with the San Francisco 49ers for training camp, was supposed to be on special teams, returning punts and kick-offs. However, because he seemed to have trouble handling punts and kick-offs in practice, he was cut, according to league sources.

All may not be lost for the former Rattler cornerback who signed into the NFL as an undrafted free agent. Vann's agent Karim Lawrence said that the Tennessee Titans have expressed an interest in Vann. Lawrence said that he called the Titans Monday and had held three conversations with the team. "The Titans are definitely an option, something we are looking at," Lawrence said. "There's definitely some interest there."

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