Elizabeth City State Vikings' Powell was ready, able

It was not that long ago that Elizabeth City State’s football team struggled for wins. The turnaround occurred in 2006 when Curtis Rich emerged from a crowded quarterback corps to lead the Vikings to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship game and head coach Waverly Tillar made a commitment to solidifying the position.

The next season, with Rich entrenched, Tillar recruited Pasquotank’s Creven Powell, convincing him to come to ECSU over offers from Norfolk State and North Carolina A&T, and the rest, as they say, was history. “I told the coaches after the 2006 football season, I don’t ever want to have another quarterback situation where we played musical chairs with quarterback and not having the type of quarterback to move this offense,” Tillar said.

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Jackson State Tigers disdain substituting on D

Jackson State's starting defensive linemen and linebackers rarely came out of Saturday's win over Delta State. Starting defensive end Sam Washington said just two non-starters made brief appearances in the game. Those were end Javarius Conner and tackle Tim Johnson. "Come first game, the coaches are very strict about the first team," Washington said. "You get some rotation, but when it comes down to crunch time there was very little rotation."



Starting inside linebacker Milton Patterson said John McNabb was the only non-starting ILB to enter the game. Patterson and Todd Wilcher are the starters. Assistant coaches were not allowed to talk to the media Tuesday, but defensive coordinator Darrin Hayes said during fall camp that his starters wouldn't rotate much.

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Slide Show by "SGT" Kevin Maurice Robinson. The former 1990 JSU Sonic Boom Member is here to deliver. His website is http://kevinr316.smugmug.com

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Albany State's Quiet leader

ALBANY, GA — Stanley Jennings has always been the strong, silent type. Growing up in the projects of a Miami suburb in Pompano Beach, Fla., one of 10 kids, he never even uttered a word to grown-ups. He kept to himself, motivated himself and — starting at age 7 — learned the game of football himself.

“I didn’t really have (any) help (growing up),” said Jennings, who started at quarterback for Albany State in its season opener — and was subsequently named Player of the Week by both the SIAC and the national HSRN. “Just playing street football as a kid in the projects got me better.”

He started out playing on the offensive line, but his true calling came when he made the move under center at 13 because of a growth spurt. That’s when the long road to Dougherty County began. Jennings played his first couple of years of high school football at Parkway Academy in Miramar, Fla., before moving to Marietta with his guardian for his junior year in 2006.

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Lost in translation

'Get it done'

FAMU focused only on Delaware State

The lopsided loss to the University of Miami should be in the rearview mirror. The much-talked-about Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference matchup with South Carolina State University is still three weeks away.

And, Delaware State? Well, that game is this Saturday. The message from coach Joe Taylor to his Florida A&M football team was that straightforward as he tried to refocus his team to prepare for its conference schedule. "I told them last night in our team meeting that I don't want to hear nothing else about anybody," Taylor said Monday. "Don't discuss down the road. The only thing we want to do is discuss Del. State."

The Hornets are worth plenty of discussion, especially after their performance Sunday against Southern University. DSU lost 37-27 in a game played in Orlando.



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Q&A with UMES coach Frankie Allen

Frankie Allen has high hopes for his third season in Princess Anne. The UMES men's basketball coach has added six scholarship players to the Hawks' roster. Allen believes his third recruiting class at UMES -- combined with his returning players -- could vault the Hawks into the MEAC's championship conversation.

Louis Bell, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound shooting guard from Friendship Collegiate in Washington, Mike Spence, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound center from Newark, N.J., who did a post-grad year at Apex Prep, Jo Jo Swift, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound point guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., who did a post-grad year at NIA Prep and Kevin Williams, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound point guard from Houston are the Hawks' incoming freshmen.

Allen has also added two junior college players to the Hawks' roster:

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Big win behind, SU readies for home opener

Their collective heart rate has slowed a little, and with a few days to zoom out, to look at everything that happened in that wild season opener on Sunday, the Southern Jaguars have two main things on their mind.

No. 1: Fix mistakes. Upon further review, mistakes were aplenty.

No. 2: Get ready for the next challenge. That would be Arkansas-Monticello, a Division II opponent that comes into A.W. Mumford Stadium for the Jaguars’ home opener at 6 p.m. Saturday.

No, the Boll Weevils — yes, that really is their nickname — don’t have the kind of appeal that the MEAC/SWAC Challenge brought. This second game isn’t on live national television, like Sunday’s thriller on ESPN against Delaware State.

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Week 2: Around the MEAC

Week 2: Hampton at Howard; North Carolina A&T at Norfolk State; Morgan State at Maryland; Florida A&M at Delaware State; Mississippi Valley State at South Carolina State; Bethune-Cookman is on a bye week.

The MEAC didn’t fare too well in the first full week of the season, getting beaten up pretty good in games against FBS opponents and falling in the MEAC-SWAC challenge, none of which will be good for the conference’s power ratings.

Norfolk State fans will want to take note that linebacker Corwin Hammond’s big game against Rutgers earned him the league’s defensive player of the week award. Hammond had two tackles for loss and a sack among his 12 tackles.

Bethune-Cookman quarterback Matthew Johnson won offense Player of the Week honors.

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Top Five Marching Band Performances of 2010 Football Season

If you have been following HBCU football the past two weeks, you should appreciate the efforts and high energy put forth by our Marching Bands at the season openers and the Sprite Queen City Battle of the Bands, Charlotte, N.C.

Without a doubt, Florida A&M University Marching 100, North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine, Alabama State University Mighty Marching Hornets, Howard University Showtime Marching Band and Miles College Purple Marching Machine have presented the most extraordinary and compelling band performances. Check out each of the high definition/digital surround sound video clips posted below for your own assessment.

The late Dr. William P. Foster probably would be tremendously proud of their creativity, musicianship, showmanship and the precision marching of these fine five top marching bands.

No question, the arrangement of the "Bed Intruder Song" and played by the Aggies Blue and Gold Marching Machine at a band rehearsal is at the top of the "YouTube" chart with over 495,160 views within two weeks of posting. Dancers Golden Delight and the Marching Machine lower brasswinds sections are in a zone-- you guys are thumping that bass line and counter melody to the max.

You also have to give it to North Carolina A&T--their musical sound is crystal clear with all parts blending beautifully and balanced--like the sound of experience, the FAMU Marching 100.

If you love that brassy SWAC sound, then Alabama State definitely has the best musicians that tend to play under control and with great intonation and balance. The ASU Stingettes and NCA&T Golden Delight were by far the best dancing troupes for the first game. ASU needs more creativity and complexity in their band field shows to move to the top of the list.

You may not agree, but that's alright too.

Now do not get an attitude against the Blog...we enjoyed Norfolk State Spartans Legion, Southern University Marching Human Jukebox, Jackson State Sonic Boom, and Shaw University Platinum Sound shows--but, they did not make the Top Five cut this week.

But, if you think my assessments are wrong, send us a HD video clip of who you think should be in the Top Five Bands and I will post your clips on the Blog and let the informed fans decide.

Our Top Five for the first two weeks of the season: #1 FAMU; #2 North Carolina A&T; #3 Alabama State; #4 Howard; and #5 Miles College.

Check back often and see who cracks the Top Five---who goes and who will stay at the top of the marching band mountain this 2010 football season.

-beepbeep

SU's Nzekwe answers the call

ORLANDO, Fla. — During a long, hot offseason, first-year Southern coach Stump Mitchell famously said he thought Gary Hollimon might lead the nation in rushing. As it turns out, Mitchell may have picked the wrong guy.

In Mitchell’s wild debut, a walk-on — sophomore running back Sylvester Nzekwe — came off the bench to lead all players with 98 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Jaguars’ 37-27 comeback victory against Delaware State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

It was the first time in his college career Nzekwe played with the offense in a meaningful moment; all last season, the Seattle native played almost entirely on special teams. Sunday, with a national ESPN audience watching, voters selected Nzekwe as the Jagaurs’ team MVP.

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FAMU transfer looks for stability

The knock on the hotel door at 2 a.m. startled Clay Lee, who was having trouble sleeping as he and relatives wondered how much damage Hurricane Katrina did to their home. "Somebody was telling us everybody must evacuate; the levee has breached," Lee said, recalling how the hurricane uprooted he and his mother. "Soon as we heard that we got all of our things together and we left."

Lee, a linebacker who recently transferred from the University of Memphis to Florida A&M, has been trying to find stability since Katrina struck New Orleans almost five years ago. Since the storm, he lived briefly in Houston before settling in Orlando.

The move to FAMU, he said, could be the first step to living a more stabled life. He left the Tigers' program in hopes of more playing time, but more importantly he wants to get a degree in criminal justice, he said.



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Bruised, battered, but winners: CFL B.C. Lions 38, Montreal 17

Former FAMU quarterback Casey Printers returned to action from a knee injury as the Lion starter and completed 14 of 28 passes for 235 yard and two touchdowns over the East Division leader, Alouettes.

It still made a lot of sense to look the other way when watching the Lions as has so often been the case during the torturous first half of their CFL season. But for a change it had nothing to do with what they did while slapping around everyone on the Montreal Alouettes with the exception of injured quarterback Anthony Calvillo, whose value to the Grey Cup champions was never more apparent in the Lions' 38-17 win Friday.

The area around the B.C. bench was not for those troubled by misplaced body parts, nor did you want to be around coach/GM Wally Buono trying to figure out how many healthy bodies he will have to replace when his boys face the Toronto Argonauts Saturday at Empire Field.

Korey Banks was first. He had four fingers on his right hand going one way and his ring digit in a different location after an injury in the third quarter. Trainer Bill Reichelt had Banks look somewhere other than the field when he realigned the finger so he could continue.

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ATLANTA, GA - Buddy Pough plopped down in a chair in the middle of the visitors locker room at Bobby Dodd Stadium Saturday afternoon and opened himself up for questions. "Shoot," the coach said. "Anything you want."

Around him, Pough's players, some hobbled from battling one of the top teams in the country, Georgia Tech, slowly finished their postgame treatments and packed up for the road trip back to Orangeburg. Some held their heads. There was obvious disappointment, but there was also a sense of accomplishment.

Did Pough, who has said countless times that he wasn't one for moral victories, feel better about the way his team took on Georgia Tech?

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Miles beats Stillman its first play of overtime

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Needing one scoring play to win, the Miles College Golden Bears didn’t hesitate. Senior quarterback Carlton Hill threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Breante Allen on the Bears’ first play in overtime, giving Miles a 35-29 victory over Stillman College in the Labor Day Golden Classic.

“The coaches said we were going to end it,” Allen said. “It ain’t no time to be babies. They told me to suck up my (ankle) injury, and I delivered for them. I was happy that they had that much faith in me.”

Allen ran a hitch-and-go pattern along the right sideline. Hill faked a throw, and Allen was able to run free to make the catch in the end zone. “I lost the ball in the lights,” Allen said. “I just said, “God, please just let me catch it,’ and I caught it.” Hill completed 19 of 29 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns.






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Former Petersburg lineman a hit in NFL

Petersburg, VA - Kendall Langford's presence is still being felt in Petersburg (Virginia). Langford, who currently plays defensive end for the Miami Dolphins, was honored at the annual Lachunda McGee Petersburg High School alumni football game Aug. 14 at Cameron Field.

"I'd like to thank Petersburg - the whole city and the school system," Langford said during a phone interview with The Progress-Index in July. "This is my city. Petersburg will always be my city."

And Langford, who graduated from Petersburg High School in 2004, is showing his gratitude. The former Crimson Wave and Hampton University standout has donated three Sorinex weightlifting machines and several lifting platforms, complete with standard and hexagonal grip bars, to the school. The Sorinex machines can be used for both bench and squat lifting. Langford also paid all shipping costs.

The 6-foot-6, 290-pound Langford started 14 games in 2009 for Miami, recording a career-high 43 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He has two solo tackles to his credit through two preseason games this season. But Langford's heart - and not his stats - are why he remains so beloved in Petersburg.

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Citrus Bowl to keep MEAC-SWAC Challenge through 2013

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge will remain in Orlando through 2013.

ESPN and Walt Disney World officials made the announcement of the extension Sunday morning prior to the Delaware State-Southern game at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

"The ongoing support of Walt Disney World will contribute to the continued growth and success of this event and ESPN's commitment to HBCU football," said Nikki Godfrey, the game's executive director.

Southern University scored 21 points in the fourth quarter en route to a 37-27 win over Delaware State before 16,367 sun baked fans at the Florida Citrus Bowl in the 2010 MEAC/SWAC Challenge.



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Prairie View holds off TSU 16-14 at Reliant Stadium

HOUSTON, TX — In a news conference leading up to Sunday's Labor Day Classic, Prairie View A&M coach Henry Frazier III said that a lot of questions would be answered in the season opener against Texas Southern.

When the smoke cleared Sunday, the answers were crystal clear.
• Panthers quarterback K.J. Black wasn’t ready to play because of a knee injury,
• The Tigers should be a force in the Southwestern Athletic Conference,
• And, yes, the Prairie View defense is as stingy as ever.

With Black on the sidelines with a knee injury, the Panthers' heralded defense recorded four interceptions-including one that was returned for a touchdown — and a safety to help the defending SWAC champions hold off a feisty TSU squad for a 16-14 victory before a crowd of 22,062 at Reliant Stadium.

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Offense fails to fire as Cheyney falls to Lincoln

PHILADELPHIA, PA — For the second straight year, the heated rivalry between Lincoln and Cheyney universities took center stage on the football field.

The only difference from last year’s clash — the first following a 53-year hiatus — was that this time the Lions were making their historic Division II debut. Everything else about Lincoln’s defensive-minded 12-0 triumph Sunday at Northeast High School in Philadelphia was all too familiar.

The Lions made more than their share of mistakes, only managed to find the end zone once and were generally displeased with the margin of victory. But the Lincoln defense never allowed the hard-luck Wolves to build any kind of momentum. The Lions actually scored as many points (six) on defense as on offense thanks to three safeties.



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FAMU Marching 100's William P. Foster changed bands and lives

When the stern conductor in the movie Drumline told band members ``halftime is game time,'' that was only partly fiction. The film was a loose tribute to Dr. William P. Foster, the man who changed the world of college marching bands when he introduced dance and pop music to the Florida A&M University ``Marching 100.''

Foster died Aug. 28 at age 91.

Now, generations of South Floridians -- those who have marched and played and in some cases followed in Foster's footsteps as college high school band directors -- are sharing precious memories of Foster and the many ways he helped shaped their lives and their careers.

When FAMU, one of the nation's most prestigious historically black universities, descended on South Florida Thursday night for its annual football matchup with the University of Miami, UM officials knew they could expect a packed house at Sun Life Stadium.

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"The Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity Inc. at the Homegoing Celebration of The Sir Dr. William Patrick Foster."

Explosive 4th Quarter gives Southern 37-27 win over Delaware State

Orlando, FL - With a national television audience looking along, Southern University kicked off its regular season Sunday with an explosive fourth quarter win under new coach Stump Mitchell against Delaware State. A fourth quarter rally with back-to-back-to-back touchdowns gave Southern the lead and win. The score of Mitchell's first game was Southern, 37; Delaware State, 27.

The Jaguars faced Delaware State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla., that aired on ESPN. Freshman quarterback Dray Joseph picked up his first collegiate touchdown with 8 minutes to play in the game to bring the score to 23 to 27 with Delaware State still leading at that point.









WATCH REPLAY: Southern vs. Delaware State

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Saint Augustine's 20, Catawba 17

Salisbury, N.C. - For the second time in three years, St. Augustine's surprised Catawba College in the Indians' home opener at Shuford Stadium. The Falcons won behind two touchdown passes by Joaquin Green and a defense which held firm late. It all added up to a victory for the Falcons in their season-opener.

Walter Sanders clinched the win with a 23-yard scoring run on fourth down and inches with 2:04 left. Green, the 2009 CIAA offensive rookie of the year, was efficient at quarterback. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 202 yards. He tossed touchdown passes to Jone' Harris and Jamain Smith, whose 25-yard catch with 9:05 remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Falcons a 14-10 lead which they would keep for good.

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