Pro Football HOF Mel Blount, Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams among Honorees for Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends Reception

Pro Football Hall of Famer Mel Blount (Southern University) and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams (Grambling State University) lead a group of six honorees who will be recognized at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends Reception at the Ballroom of the Americas at Disney’s Contemporary Hotel, near Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. ET. Also to be saluted as Legends: Author Omar Tyree (Howard University), U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Zeita Merchant (Tougaloo College), Kellogg’s Senior Vice President of Global Nutrition/Corporate Affairs Celeste Clark (Southern University), and former NFL linebacker and seven-time Pro Bowl player Robert Brazile (Jackson State University).

The reception will honor individuals who graduated from a Historically Black College or University. Each honoree will receive an HBCU Trailblazer Award in recognition of the impact made in his or her respective career and community. ESPN sportscaster Jay Harris will co-host the festivities alongside motivational speaker Trey Godfrey.

The Legends Reception will precede the sixth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, which will feature a college football matchup between the SWAC’s Southern University and the MEAC’s Delaware State University. The game will kick off Sunday, Sept. 5, at noon at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando and will be televised nationally on ESPN and ESPN HD, as well as ESPN3.com.

“It’s fitting that the MEAC/SWAC Challenge acknowledges the legacy of those who paved the way for the future leaders who will graduate from historically black colleges and universities,” said Nikki Godfrey, executive director of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. “We are thrilled to host this ceremony, which will continue to grow and make our event even more special.”

Individual tickets for the game are available through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or via www.ticketmaster.com. Fans can also purchase travel packages through Anthony Travel’s website or by calling 1-888-632-6951. For more information about the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and for access to its Facebook page, please visit the official website: www.meacswacchallenge.com . Fans can also stay up to date on the event via Twitter: www.twitter.com/MEAC_SWAC .

About the MEAC/SWAC Challenge

Each year, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge is played at a neutral site within the footprint of one of the conferences. The week of the game includes ancillary events, highlighted by an annual high school career panel, the Halftime Battle of the Bands and the Legends Reception. The MEAC leads the series 4-1. Teams for future games are determined on an annual basis.

A&M offense, defense in high gear in mock scrimmage

HUNTSVILLE, AL - While it has yet to play a game this season, Alabama A&M's offense looks like it will be pretty potent despite losing all-time leading rusher Ulysses Banks and all-time leading receiver Thomas Harris.

In a mock scrimmage against Tennessee State's defense, quarterback Deaunte Mason threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns and led the first-team unit to four scores in six possessions and the first defense came up with three sacks and forced four turnovers Saturday night at Louis Crews Stadium.

"Offensively, we made some mistakes, but...

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Southern D-line stresses effort‎

Jordan Miller doesn’t need people to remind him about last year’s Bayou Classic.

For 3 hours and 26 minutes on the ground floor of the Superdome, he lived it. Remember that game? Or, perhaps, trying to forget it? On play after play, archrival Grambling pounded Miller and his fellow defensive linemen, wearing down the Southern Jaguars with a slow, steady, brutal attack.

The final numbers — 308 rushing yards and 37 minutes of ball-control offense for the Tigers in a 31-13 wipeout — were indeed lopsided and convincing. But numbers told only part of the story. At this time last summer, Miller thought he and the Southern defensive line had worked hard enough to win in crunch time. He thought they were prepared for almost anything. They learned, in humiliating fashion, that they were wrong.

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WSSU Rams will turn to Hawkins, a transfer‎

And the winner is…. Octavius Hawkins.

Coach Connell Maynor, who has been oscillating for the last two weeks about who would be his starting quarterback for Winston-Salem State's opening game on Saturday, made the decision after practice yesterday.

"We're going to go with Octavius," said Maynor, whose Rams will play at Simeon Stadium in High Point on Saturday against Virginia Union.

Hawkins, a transfer from UMass, signed as a quarterback but never played that position at UMass in a game. Maynor originally was recruiting another player at UMass who was thinking about transferring and that player told Hawkins about WSSU.

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FCS Season Preview: MEAC

Norfolk, VA - To gain favor with the coaching staff, some South Carolina State football players stage a little competition. They talk the talk, pointing out what they do well and what the others at their position don't. It's all in fun, and some of the players, like the linebackers, are always chirping.

"They all run 4.6's and some change, so they can all fly," head coach Buddy Pough said. "And to hear them talk how slow he is ..."

In truth, some of the players have to look hard to find chinks in others' armor. South Carolina State is quite talented. In fact, there might not be an FCS team favored more heavily than the Bulldogs are to win their conference title this season.

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The ASU Lady Rams Volleyball team look to make history‎

In college volleyball the Lady Rams from ASU will try to make history this season going for their 10th straight conference title. The Rams are highlighted by their two preseason all-conference players Latrice Lewis and Precilla Sena.

Sabrina Garcia will also chip in to set up would could be a momentous year for the Lady Rams. Head coach Brian Skinner says for all their dreams to come true the younger players must step up and contribute. Skinner also says that this year's schedule has some teams that could spell trouble for the Rams

Skinner said ""You gotta play those team from the South region, you got Valdosta State on schedule this year once again. We have some very good division one schools in Alabama A&M and Alabama State on the schedule so we look forward to playing those schools and being competitive in the SIAC"

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FAMU lineman Curry set for starting role

When offensive lineman Brandon Curry came to Florida A&M last fall from Marshall University and had to wait behind All-American Robert Okeafor, he didn't fret. Instead, he took the opportunity to be ready if his number was called.

"Wherever I get a chance to learn, I learn," Curry said following Monday's practice. "I don't close my door and say just because I was at a D-I level and now I step down, there is no more for me to learn. There is always an opportunity for me to learn sometime."

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FAMU freshmen building a buzz

Six players from the 2010 recruiting class won't join the Florida A&M football team this year, but coach Joe Taylor isn't short on future prospects — at least not when it comes to a trio of true freshmen who are turning heads.

Former Godby standout Michael Ethridge is already on the second team at tight end, while offensive lineman Shawn Brown and safety Devon Roberts are in the conversation about reserves that could travel with the team. The trio of players is much further ahead than they could have fathomed coming into the season.

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Palmetto Capital City Classic: Benedict aims to keep moving up‎

Benedict aims to keep moving up

At this rate, Benedict College might get a Chick-Fil-A Bowl invitation before long. The Tigers in their breakthrough season of 2009 went 8-3, the best record since the school took up football again in 1995.

Led by versatile quarterback Pat Riley, head coach Stanley Conner's team won eight of its last nine games and finished 6-3 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. It was an exciting leap for a program that went 7-15 the previous two years. Riley returns for his senior season as the SIAC's 2009 leader in total offense. The 6-0, 180-pound native of Attapulgus, Ga., rushed for 1,088 yards and threw for 887 in Benedict's option style offense.

Jeffries gets key to city

Fresh from induction ceremonies at the College Football Hall of Fame last month, Willie Jeffries found himself in the spotlight again on Monday at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

The legendary coach, who spent the majority of his 29-year career as South Carolina State, was the guest of honor at a reception hosted by the Palmetto Capital City Classic committee and the City of Columbia that kicked off a week of activities leading to Saturday’s game between Benedict College and Morehouse at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

Mayor Steve Benjamin presented Jeffries with a key to the city.

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Jaguars not settled on starter at QB

Fall semester is under way at Southern University, and on most nights, the Human Jukebox is hard at work, preparing and refining for the start of football season. It’s less than two weeks away now. As for the team, it doesn’t yet have a starting quarterback. Not officially, anyway.

First-year coach Stump Mitchell hasn’t named his starting No. 1 — but after Saturday’s preseason scrimmage, sophomore Jeremiah McGinty may have re-established himself as the leading candidate.

McGinty sat out the Jaguars’ first scrimmage of the preseason Aug. 14, having been hospitalized...

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JSU: Drops have no place in Air Raid

Jackson State's new Air Raid offense is all about passing the football. That includes catching it. At least four passes were dropped during Saturday's scrimmage. There were 27 pass attempts. That's a drop every six to seven passes.

"They're better than that," coach Rick Comegy said. "I see them in practice. We've got a great receiver corps." Saturday, though, wasn't their best day. True freshman E.J. Drewery had two drops; one would have been a Casey Therriault-to-Drewery touchdown. WR Anthony Mayes also had a drop, and so did TE Josh Tiller.

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DeFilippis shines in SSU's scrimmage

A.J. DeFilippis, Savannah State's starting quarterback, threw two touchdown passes and ran for a touchdown to lead the Blue Team (offense) to a 34-0 victory over the Orange Team (defense) in the annual "Blue & Orange" fall scrimmage Saturday morning at SSU.

DeFilippis, a junior and Benedictine graduate, finished the one-hour, 25-minute controlled scrimmage 13-of-24 passing for 140 yards. He threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Brian Lackey and a 30-yard touchdown pass to senior running back Justin Babb. DeFilippis also ran for a 5-yard touchdown.

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Lane College confident in new coach‎

One word permeated Lane College's media day Saturday morning at Lane Field (formerly Rothrock Stadium) — change. Lane has a new head coach in Derrick Burroughs, a new staff except for wide receivers coach Taniskha Hoskins and many new faces on the field.

But coaches and players said the most important aspect of the new season is a change in attitude. Lane went 0-10 last season and has lost 11 straight games dating to 2008. Defensive back Patrick Morrison said nobody wants to experience that again.

"We've got new players, new starters and a new attitude going into this season," Morrison said. "As a defensive captain, a lot of things fall on my shoulders, but everybody is taking responsibility for their actions."

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Livingstone College: Mount Holly's Farrar no stranger to being a pioneer

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. – Breaking barriers is nothing new for John Farrar, even as little had ever been made of Farrar’s pioneer status until Saturday night’s fourth annual Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame banquet at that city’s citizens center.

Farrar was among the first African-American players to play for Mount Holly High in the 1960s. He later became the city’s first NFL player, though many in his own city new nothing of his accomplishment.

Finally, on Saturday, Farrar became the first African-American member of the four-year-old Hall of Fame, much to the delight of Farrar, his friends, fans and family members who attended the ceremony.

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Four-way QB battle at WSSU: Season opens on Saturday but still no starter

Coach Connell Maynor of Winston-Salem State was hoping to have named a starting quarterback by now. But after going through the team's final scrimmage yesterday, none of the four players vying for the job has done enough to please Maynor.

"I'd like to name a starter on Monday," said Maynor, whose Rams will open the season on Saturday against Virginia Union at Simeon Stadium in High Point.

The four players who saw action in the scrimmage were all first-year players in the program. Three of them are transfers and one is a freshman, Vernon Brandon, who actually started the scrimmage that lasted about 90 plays. Transfers Jamie DeGeare (Appalachian State), Cameron Smith (Navy) and Octavious Hawkins (UMass) have all been battling it out with Brandon for the starting job.

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NC A&T: No Trainer On Track Field During Student's Deadly Collapse

Greensboro, NC -- North Carolina A&T State University's athletic director said no trainer was present during track tryouts where a student collapsed and later died. Wheeler Brown said 20-year-old Jospin Milandu was a sophomore walk-on trying out for track. He could not confirm why no trainer was present, but said school policy requires a trainer attend tryouts and other events.

Brown also said he did not know whether Milandu had taken a required physical test before trying out. He said university investigators are examining whether school policies were violated.

NC A&T student dies during track team tryout

GREENSBORO—Officials at A&T University are investigating death of a student at track tryouts on Thursday. Jospin “Andre” Milandu, 20, of Knightdale, N.C. collapsed after running and later died. His death has left classmates in shock. Athletic Director Wheeler Brown said Milandu was a sophomore walk-on, who had unsuccessfully tried out for the team last year.

"Apparently he had stopped by the coach's office, earlier in the week, and, to tell the coach that he had been working out all summer and that this was the year that he was going to make the team," said Brown.

Knightdale man dies after college track tryout

GREENSBORO, N.C. — A North Carolina A&T State University student from Knightdale died Thursday from complications of an elevated heart rate during a track team tryout, the school said. Officials said at a news conference Friday afternoon that Jospin "Andre" Milandu, 20, a sophomore, collapsed during a workout during which no athletic trainer was present – a violation of university policy.

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Jackson State's has a few Offensive surprises

Swift Lee leaves defense in dust

As B.J. Lee raced down the sideline juking a few veteran Jackson State defensive backs, some of the 100 or so JSU fans watching Saturday's scrimmage let out more than a few ooohs and aaahs. But the best was yet to come.

A few plays after that 40-yard dash, Lee, a transfer from SMU, took a screen pass 60 yards for a score - outpacing most of the team's first string defenders....

Wilder thriving at wide receiver

Receiver Marcellos Wilder is right at home in Jackson State's new, Air Raid offense. Wilder spent the last two years at JSU playing more of a slot position. In new offensive coordinator Earnest Wilson's scheme, Wilder is back where he was during his years at Central High in Tuscaloosa.

"When I was in high school," Wilder said, "I played on the outside." For Wilder, it's sweet to be an outside wide receiver again. For JSU fans, it might be even sweeter.

Prized recruit leaves Tigers

Linebacker Taurice King, the prized signee from Jackson State's 2010 class, has abruptly left the team. And it seems that no one knows why, including his father, Daniel Haralson. "I don't know what the deal is. I don't know what's happened," Haralson said when reached on his cell phone Thursday evening. Questioned more, Haralson said: "He just doesn't like it. There are some things he won't talk to me about."

Summer work benefits CB Cox

Qua Cox spent his summer back home in Tuskegee, Ala., training for this football season. He had a special person to do it with, too.

"My brother," said Cox, Jackson State's redshirt freshman cornerback. Cox's brother is James Patrick, who played for three years on NFL practice squads and now is a starting safety for the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders. The two ran more hills and did more backpedaling than Cox can count.

Darkside Defense on full display

The bloody, one-inch gash in Neal Pogue's nose is a reminder that Jackson State's Darkside Defense is shaping into form. "I smashed a running back," the lineman said when asked about the fall practice battle wound. Sure, the offense might be getting the publicity lately - the new pass-happy Air Raid offensive scheme and fiery battle at quarterback are tough to ignore.

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Rattler Nation expects MEAC championship season

Florida A&M University head football coach Joe Taylor's Rattlers have enough maturity and talent in key positions to challenge conference power South Carolina State Bulldogs for MEAC supremacy.

FAMU defense gets best of offense in scrimmage

Defense ruled during the first preseason scrimmage for the Florida A&M football team, but the unit was overshadowed by two interceptions thrown by quarterback Martin Ukpai and high snaps that left coach Joe Taylor scolding his offense.

"The fact of it is we've got to get more protection," Taylor said following Saturday's scrimmage that was witnessed by a larger than usual crowd from the parking lot adjacent to FAMU's practice field. "Everything starts with the snap (and) when you get a bad snap nothing behind is going to go good. You just can't have miscues and expect to win. No matter how good you are you just can't give extra opportunities to the opponent."

Photo Gallery: Rattler football scrimmage

FAMU's Ojo overcomes tough injury

The excruciating pain began to feel more familiar the longer Oye Ojo waited on the sidelines for it to subside. He was in his first college football game and wanted to be a part of the Florida A&M special teams unit until the end. He wouldn't return after finding out midway through the fourth quarter that the ankle he'd fractured once before in high school was broken.

Stewart has potential as fan favorite

If there is one player who will be on the radar of every fan of Florida A&M football, it has to be Jerral Stewart. He is the heir apparent to LeRoy Vann, who set multiple NCAA and school records in his senior year as a punt and kickoff returner. Fair or not, Stewart knew it was coming because of the excitement that Vann created whenever he touched the ball. He was so effective that last season ESPN sent a crew to dissect his every move.

New faces add plenty of spice to FAMU

With the loss of 24 players who played their final game last season, Florida A&M football coach Joe Taylor turned to transfers to reload both on offense and defense. In the mix are a few who never played a down of college football and some who played sparingly. But while all of the newcomers bring different strengths to the Rattlers program, they all have one thing in common — they want to contribute.

Rattlers beef up along the offensive line

During his end-of-the-season rewind, FAMU coach Joe Taylor made an observation from game film that he suspected was the reason that Florida A&M struggled in some games and suffered a season-defining loss to South Carolina State. He noticed that the Rattlers gave up too much on the offensive line.

"We knew the assignment," Taylor said. "We were into our responsibilities; we made contact but at some point I didn't think we had great mobility."

Ukpai back under center to lead Rattlers this year

Martin Ukpai got his first shot at playing quarterback because the starter on his high school team was suspended.

Up until the Florida Classic last season, it seemed he would have to wait at least two full seasons before he got a chance to compete for the starting job at Florida A&M. But when Curtis Pulley couldn't make the start in the season finale, coach Joe Taylor summoned Ukpai to another stand-in role. His performance was so dominating that it earned him the game's MVP trophy.

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S.C. State holds 2nd scrimmage, Fan Fest

SCSU quarterback Malcoln Long (#7) is the key to the Bulldogs offensive success.

Orangeburg -- South Carolina State began the day with a morning scrimmage and followed that with the annual Meet the Players Day and Fan Fest.

The priority for Bulldogs head coach Buddy Pough and his staff in the approximately 80-snap scrimmage was how much his team had improved from the Aug. 14 scrimmage, but the highlight for the players, perhaps, was receiving their 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Sheridan Broadcasting Network championship rings.

Pough said that he and his staff were looking for a more productive performance from his team, however, he noted the anticipation of meeting the fans and receiving the rings may have been somewhat of a distraction for the Bulldogs.

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ASU Defense Dominates Early; Offense Scores Late in Scrimmage

MONTGOMERY, AL —Alabama State University held its final scrimmage of the preseason, and like last week, the defense dominated early with the offense scoring late. During the 65-play scrimmage, the defense only allowed 282 total yards with 153 of those yards coming on the final four possessions of the scrimmage.

There were 13 drives in all, and the defense forced six three downs-and-out possessions, while also turning the ball over on downs and stopping one early drive with an interception. Three of the drives were stopped with minus yardage in the drive.

The offense finally put together a seven-play 59 yard drive on the fifth possession...

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TSU displays strong rushing attack in scrimmage

If Saturday night's scrimmage was any indication, a shift in power could be under way at Tennessee State. Defense has been the Tigers' strength the past few seasons, but in the first full scrimmage it was the offense that shined.

"The offense did its job. It moved the ball up and down the field all night,'' said first-year Coach Rod Reed, the former defensive coordinator. "I like our running game. I expected it to have a good night, and it did. Preston Brown had a good game. Trabis Ward had a good game. Ryan Berry did his thing while he was in there." TSU's backs gained 151 rushing yards on 26 attempts in the one-hour scrimmage at Hale Stadium.

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Steve Robinson is ready to be the man for Hampton University in the backfield

The proof of the larger role Hampton University expects Steve Robinson to play this season is right there in the glossy photograph. Robinson, a senior who rushed for 510 yards and four touchdowns after transferring to HU from Georgia Military College last season, clutches his helmet and stares confidently at the camera as one of four players on the cover of the Pirates' 2010 media guide.

"I've been waiting ever since last year to show my skills," Robinson said. "I knew my role last year, (but) this year, I'm looking to make big plays for the team." Last year, Robinson's role was backing up LaMarcus Coker, who led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with 1,027 yards on the ground and rushed for six TDs. Robinson, 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds...

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Saint Augustine's defense shines in Falcons scrimmage

All-CIAA linebacker Mark Hall recorded nine tackles, including one sack, and an interception to highlight St. Augustine's intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at Emery Field.

The defense, led by Hall, collected five sacks, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions during the two-hour morning scrimmage. The defense held the offense scoreless in the first half, but the offense responded with six touchdowns during red-zone situations in the second half.

"We showed good signs of stopping the run and throwing the football well in the red zone," Falcons coach Michael Costa said. "It was a good first scrimmage. We are starting to see everything come together that we have worked on in practice."

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NCCU: Saturday's scrimmage shows progress

An eager crowd of devoted fans braved 90-degree heat to "Meet the Eagles" on Saturday as the NCCU football team made its public debut. The 85-member team signed autographs and chatted with fans before entertaining the crowd with a 61-play scrimmage at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham.

Coach Mose Rison said he is pleased with the progress of the team. "I think it's been a good fall camp, and I know come the second of September it'll be a good turnout," Rison said of the Eagles' season-opener against Johnson C. Smith.

In limited action under center, junior quarterback Michael Johnson completed 2 of 7 passes for 70 yards. Winston-Salem State transfer Jordan Reid took a majority of the snaps, collecting 176 yards on 8-of-16 passing. Junior Keon Johnson was 3-for-8 with 56 yards passing and 22 yards rushing.

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Albany State's Newest Ram

ALBANY, GA — Everyone wants to make a great first impression. After all, it’s one of the few things in life that doesn’t come with a second chance. That’s the feeling Albany State defensive line coach Bokowski Daniels has these days, anyway, as he and the Rams are preparing for their 2010 season opener Saturday at Kentucky State.

“We want to make a good first impression,” said Daniels, who is the first DL coach ever under coach Mike White, who has always coached that area himself. “We want to come out (ready to go) and take care of business.”

Daniels may be the team’s newest coach, but he is no stranger to football or Albany.

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Heat, fatigue no excuse for Southern University

(Photo by ryanpknight.com)

Ninety-five degrees. One hundred seven with the heat index. Two hours of brutality. No excuses. Upon further review, after Southern’s up-and-down second preseason scrimmage Saturday afternoon, that’s what first-year coach Stump Mitchell said he wanted more than anything. Yes, it’s hot outside. But that, Mitchell said, was no reason to give up on the finer points of the game. As if to prove a point, Mitchell wore a longsleeve jacket the entire afternoon.

The season opener, against Delaware State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, is less than two weeks away now. It is Sept. 5 in Orlando, Fla., and kickoff time is noon Eastern. In other words, conditions are sure to be warm and steamy. All preseason, Mitchell held afternoon practices at 3:30, partly because he wants the Jaguars to be in shape for Orlando.

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