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One of the state of Florida's most historic football games, The Florida Classic between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman is this weekend at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
This year's game has added significance, as Bethune Cookman enters 10-0 for the first time in school history, having already clinched a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title at 7-0 in the league. The Wildcats have a chance to finish the regular-season unbeaten for the first time.
Bethune-Cookman would also earn an automatic berth in the FCS playoffs if they win. It would also earn that honor even if it loses if South Carolina State beats North Carolina A&T next week.
One of the teams that is still in the hunt to tie B-C for the league title is Florida A&M, which enters 7-3 overall but 6-1 in the league. The Rattlers have won five straight games, including a 17-12 win over Hampton University on Saturday in Tallahassee.
GREENVILLE, Miss. - Alabama A&M won't finish last in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division. The Bulldogs can thank Tony Green and Kaderius Lacey for that. The Bulldogs' talented tailback tandem combined for 234 yards rushing and scored a touchdown apiece as A&M beat Mississippi Valley State 21-7 Saturday afternoon at Greenville-Weston High School to snap its five-game losing and avoid finishing in the Eastern Division cellar.
"It was an ugly game, but we came out with the win and that was our goal," said Green, who finished with 118 yards on 22 carries. "You can't be too picky, especially with the way our season is going."
HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Before the season began, Alabama A&M backup quarterback Justin Jones figured he'd be lucky to play in a mop-up role.
Deaunte Mason, who started the final five games last season and led the Bulldogs to the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division title and to the league championship game, was back and seemed poised to have a breakout year as a sophomore. Jones was content with learning the system. He missed last season after failing to qualify academically after signing with the Bulldogs following a terrific senior year at West Morgan High School in Trinity.
On this beautiful autumn afternoon, three hours before kickoff, Henry Baptiste will ride the elevator to the third floor of the press box at A.W. Mumford Stadium, walk to the Southern University radio broadcasters booth, put down his briefcase and get to work. It’s been this way, every Saturday during the fall, for 36 years now.
He’ll meet with his colleagues: play-by-play man Clarence Buggs, sideline reporter Eric Randall and longtime engineer Arnold Crump. Together, they will sit down and map out the broadcast of today’s game between Southern and Alabama State, the Jaguars’ last home game in a season that’s been brutally disappointing to date.
Great story this morning that sort through most of the scenarios for the FCS playoff picture, coming from The Sports Network, In the FCS Huddle: Will the bubble burst on your team?For SWAC fans, this means nothing for your December 11 conference championship game.
Alabama State clinched the Eastern Division berth and improved to 7-3, 6-3 SWAC by holding on in the final seconds to defeat Stump Mitchell's Southern Jaguars (2-8, 1-7 SWAC) at A.W. Mumford Stadium, 21-19. Mitchell's Jags will make school history on November 27, in the Bayou Classic if they fall to Western Division contender, Grambling State (8-2, 7-1 SWAC). A loss will give the Jaguars their first nine loss season in the University's 130 year history.
Grambling is in a must win and hope situation after falling in overtime on Thursday to Texas Southern (7-3, 7-1 SWAC). The TSU Tigers were able to fight back from 17 points down in the 4th quarter to over take Grambling 41-34 in overtime. The only way GSU makes it to the SWAC Championship game is for UAPB (5-5, 4-4 SWAC) to upset TSU on next Saturday, and they take care of business with Southern in the Bayou Classic.
Based on past practice of the FCS Playoffs selection committee, a 9-2 Grambling State team will not receive an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs. Those slots appears to be reserved for 6-4 teams from the CAA, based on strength of schedule, etc. etc. Anyhow, Grambling State has a date with Southern in the highly successful/money mak'in State Farm Bayou Classic on November 27, 2010, and cannot participate in the FCS playoffs that starts on November 20 --even if they were interested.
Videographer: Bookman (Texas Southern @ Southern University 11/6/2010)
Congratulations to Savannah State Tigers (1-9) for clipping MEAC rival North Carolina Central Eagles 28-21 to record their first win of the season. Great that it happened in your first home game of the season at Memorial Stadium as on-campus Ted Wright Stadium continues its renovation process. Talk about resiliency, Savannah State has it and has shown improvement with each game. The nucleus is there for a competitive club next season.
The MEAC championship will be decided Saturday at the Florida Classic in Orlando between Florida A&M (7-3, 6-1 MEAC) and Bethune Cookman (10-0, 7-0). Based on the total body of work for this season, FAMU shouldn't be on the same field with the B-CU Wildcats. However, this Rattlers team is very special after coming back from two devastating losses to Tennessee State (18-29)and South Carolina State (0-19) in weeks 4/5. The Rattlers have won five straight games and more important, found a true starting quarterback in redshirt freshman Austin Trainor and an energized run stopping defense.
If Florida A&M has any hope of an at-large berth in the FCS playoffs, it must defeat B-CU and throw the MEAC championship into a three way tie with South Carolina State (8-2, 6-1 MEAC). The S.C. State Bulldogs must beat North Carolina A&T (1-9, 1-6) in the Battle of the Border for an at-large berth. All three MEAC teams deserve an FCS playoffs berth, but Bethune-Cookman is the only one guaranteed a seat at the table.
Regardless, the Florida Classic will be Rattlers and Wildcats Super Bowl, as more than 75,000 fans are expected along with an ESPN Classic/ESPN3 national television and Internet audience. The game and battle of the bands is bigger than any FCS playoff game--including the national championship played in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Move over Magic City and Bayou Classics. The Rattlers and Wildcats are getting ready to set an FCS attendance record in the Florida Classic!
How 'bout Rick Comegy's Jackson State Tigers ( 7-3, 5-3 SWAC) blowing out a strong Monte Coleman's Arkansas Pine Bluff (5-5, 4-4 SWAC) defense 52-30 on the road (with the head coach out on suspension). No doubt, Tigers quarterback Casey Therriault is the SWAC offensive player of the year. Therriault passed for 331 yards and five touchdowns and ran for two touchdown more in the win.
Jackson State offense is #1 in the FCS in total offense with 3385 total yards in 10 games. Therriault has completed 239 of 415 (57.59%) passes for 3272 yards with only 8 interceptions, and 29 touchdowns. The offense averaged 442 yards per game and scored 46 touchdowns.
The FCS leaders in individual rushing are:
FCS Rank
3. Frank Warren, Grambling State, 1,431 yards; 6.78 per rush, 143.10 ypg.
16. DeAngelo Branche, Norfolk St. 1,097 yards; 4.75 per rush, 109.70 ypg.
20. Mike Mayhew, N.C. A&T 1,073 yards; 5.09 per rush, 107.30 ypg.
25. Marcus Wright, Texas Southern 943 yards; 4.79 per rush, 94.30 ypg.
32. Tony Green, Alabama A&M 666 yards; 5.60 per rush 83.25 ypg.
33. Philip Sylvester, Florida A&M 822 yards; 5.71 per rush 82.20 ypg.
38. Chris Massey, South Carolina St. 639 5.15 per rush 79.88 ypg.
Shaw University (9-2) defeated Virginia State (8-3) 14-7 to win the 2010 CIAA Football Championship. The Bears are now scheduled to face WVIAC champion Shepherd (9-1), who was selected as the fourth seed in Super Region I, NCAA Division II football playoffs. The game is scheduled for noon on November 20 at -- you guessed it -- Shepherdstown, WV. Shaw is a fifth seed in Super Region 1.
#5 Morehouse (8-2) was selected for the playoffs and is on the road to Wingate, N.C. to faces #4Wingate Bulldogs (8-2) of the South Atlantic Conference. It is the Bulldogs first bid to the NCAA Division II football playoffs.
The winner will travel to Albany, Georgia to face the #1 seed in Super Region 2, Albany State (Ga.) Golden Rams. ASU has a first round bye this weekend.
Now, the rest of the story...
(beepbeep, 11/14/10)
Videographer: denomj07 (Alabama State at Southern U. 11/13/2010)
MEAC Bethune Cookman 35, Howard 20 Florida A&M 17, Hampton 12 Savannah State 28, North Carolina Central 21 Norfolk State 31, Delaware State 21 South Carolina State 32, Morgan State 10 (Thursday)
SWAC Alabama A&M 21, Mississippi Valley State 7 Prairie View A&M 35, Alcorn State 27 Jackson State 52, Arkansas Pine Bluff 30 *Alabama State 21, Southern 19 Texas Southern 41, Grambling State 34/O.T.(Thursday) (*SWAC Eastern Division Champion)
CIAA **Shaw 14, Virginia State 7 **2010 CIAA Champions
OVC Tennessee-Martin 37, Tennessee State 0
SIAC Stillman 44, Central State (Oh.) 13
OTHERS Concordia 36, Kentucky Wesleyan 35 Lincoln (Mo.) 21, Missouri S&T 20 California (Pa) 57, Cheyney 6 Fairmont State 63, West Virginia State 38
Videographer: Bookman (Southern U. vs. Texas Southern 11/13/2010)
(Los Angeles Times) ITTA BENA, Miss. — Karl Morgan walked down the cracked sidewalk, stepping over players getting dressed for practice, putting on socks and cleats. Then, the Mississippi Valley State coach gestured out toward dilapidated Rice-Totten Stadium, which has been deemed unsafe because of structural damage.
"You can't sugarcoat our facilities, just like you can't sugarcoat our record," Morgan said. "We're trying to improve both of them." The stadium named for the program's Hall of Fame alum Jerry Rice has fallen on hard times. Earlier this year, an engineer deemed MVSU's stadium unsafe because of extensive problems with the stadium's concrete foundation, so the Southwestern Athletic Conference program has played all of its home games 45 miles off campus on a high school field in Greenville. READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.Videographer: AndyL168 (MVSU Volleyball Team @ AAMU 11/10/2010)
As Savannah State students stormed the field at Memorial Stadium to celebrate a 28-21 victory over North Carolina Central on Saturday, SSU interim head coach Julius Dixon found Tigers defensive back John Wilson amid the chaos. Dixon, a humble family man who is usually reserved, ran toward the freshman, tightly hugged him and whispered into his helmet.
"He said, 'Good game, son. Good game, son.' " said Wilson, who secured the victory by breaking up NCCU quarterback Michael Johnson's pass on fourth-and-3 from SSU's 24-yard line with 45 seconds to play.
SSU (1-9) snapped an 11-game losing streak dating to last season. It was the second-longest losing streak in the nation behind Valparaiso's 19 consecutive losses going into Saturday.
Savannah State University will ask the NCAA to grant running back Justin Babb a medical hardship, also called a medical redshirt, which would give the senior an extra year of athletic eligibility, interim head coach Julius Dixon said.
Babb, a team captain and the Tigers' leading rusher last season and in 2008, suffered a season-ending leg injury in the third game of the season Sept. 18 against Bethune-Cookman. A medical hardship may be obtained from the NCAA to replace a season lost to injury if an athlete plays in 30 percent or less of his or her team's games.
After playing nine games on the road, Savannah State University's football team will play at home today. Well, sort of. SSU (0-9) is not playing on campus this season because of construction to T.A. Wright, but interim head coach Julius Dixon said he is thrilled to have his team playing at Memorial Stadium, where the Tigers will face North Carolina Central (3-6) at 2 p.m.
"I'm extremely excited. So much so that it's actually caught me off guard," Dixon said of playing in Savannah. "I've been running around here the last few days fretting about our home plan. Because, for the last nine weeks, we've been dealing with...
READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.
ATTENDANCE: 3518
Videographer: GCubeVision
The Savannah State University Campus Activities Board present: ACCESS HOLLYWOOD: SSU Edition (HOMECOMING 2K10). NOV. 14TH-22ND
This will definitely be a STAR STUDDED event with surprises appearances throughout the week!
HERE IS THE LAYOUT FOR THIS YEAR'S LIST OF ACTIVITIES:
Sunday November 14, 2010
"Premiere Party"
Homecoming Kick-Off Party
8:00 PM- 12:00 AM
Monday November 15, 2010
"Inside the Actors Studio"
Source Presents Stomp the Yard 2 (Q&A from Lamar Stewart)
8:00 PM Tiger Arena
Tuesday November 16, 2010
"Lights, Camera, Action"
Roar the Runway Fashion Show ft. Alexis Jordan
8:00 PM Tiger Arena
Wednesday November 17, 2010
"A Star Studded Night"
Comic View: SSU Special Edition
Guest: B Phlat, Sean Larkins, Double D, ft. LIL DUVAL
8:00 PM Tiger Arena
Thursday November 18, 2010
"A Star is Crowned/Born"
Coronation of Miss Savannah State University
6:00 PM Tiger Arena
Friday November 19, 2010
"World of Wonder"
Homecoming Carnival
12:00 PM- 4:00 PM Felix-Alexis Circle
Saturday November 20, 2010
"Clash of the Titans"
Greek Step Show: Host Steve Brown
8:00 PM Tiger Arena
Sunday November 21, 2010
"The Finale"
Gospel Concert: ft. Marcus D. Wiley, Earnest Pugh, & YOLANDA ADAMS
5:00 PM Tiger Arena
Monday November 22, 2010
SSU Founder's Day Walk and Assembly
6:00 PM Tiger Arena
TUSCALOOSA | Desmond Holloway, who practiced all week as a wide receiver, contributed as a quarterback on Saturday to help the Stillman College football team celebrate a homecoming victory. Holloway threw three touchdown passes in the second half, and the Tigers routed Central State of Ohio, 44-13.
Holloway replaced starting quarterback Chris Mayabb, who was injured in the first half. “I think his neck was messed up or something,” Holloway said. “But he’s going to be all right. He’s coming back. “We were just trying to get a win for Stillman, trying to finish up strong so we can start off good for next year. We just knew we had to fight together and come strong in the second half as a family.”
PINE BLUFF, ARK. — Rushing off the field following a convincing victory, a group of Jackson State assistant coaches pointed at a reporter and screamed: "We won this one," they said, "for Big Coach!"
With coach Rick Comegy absent from the sideline, Jackson State scored five unanswered touchdowns in the second half to rout Arkansas-Pine Bluff 52-30 Saturday, winning its first true road match of the season. Said running back Alfred Moreland: "It was all for Coach Comegy."
As sweet as the victory was, the Tigers still fell short of their ultimate goal - the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game - when Alabama State beat Southern University later Saturday.
PINE BLUFF, ARK. — Donavan Robinson had some making up to do. And Saturday, he did it. The JSU defensive end had nine tackles, two sacks and four tackles for loss in Jackson State's 52-30 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, trying his best to wash away lingering thoughts of last week's flag that sealed the Tigers' loss at Alabama State. Said Robinson with a big smile: "I had to make up for last week." Consider it done.
Jalil Johnson and Jackson State's secondary tried their best to defend Arkansas-Pine Bluff's prolific receiver, Raymond Webber. Despite the 52-30 victory Saturday, they failed in slowing the 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior. Webber finished with 10 catches for 140 yards and drew two pass interference penalties. One thing missing from those stats? Touchdowns. He had none. And for Johnson and the rest of the JSU secondary, that was a plus.
"He's a good receiver," Johnson said, "but I felt like I am one of the best corners in the conference so I had to prove it."
NORFOLK, VA - After his second touchdown run, running back DeAngelo Branche placed his hands on his hips and straightened his back, stretching his lungs for air. His 15-yard score down the right sideline with 11:38 to play in the second quarter was his second consecutive run. Earlier in the drive, he'd carried three straight times, including a 10-yard run that featured a cutback from one side of the field to the other.
But before Branche, chest still heaving, took a break and a seat alongside the rest of the skill players, he paced in front of the offensive line's bench, bumping fists with the five men that led the way. "You know we don't get the glory," left tackle Kendall Noble said. "It shows he appreciates what we're doing for him."
The Spartans ended their last home game of the season in style as they beat the Delaware State Hornets 31-21 at Dick Price Stadium.
Emotions were running high with the game against the Hornets being Senior Day. The Spartans have 20 seniors on the roster with 10 of them starting in the game and many of them had an impact in the victory.
NSU's offense was dominated by running the ball with senior DeAngelo Branche having a career-high 212 rushing yards on 30 carries. He also eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the season. Three of his runs were touchdowns and he was relentless every time he got the ball. His last carry was the most crucial being a 40-yard touchdown run putting the game away for the Spartans. Branche wasn't the only running back playing well as senior Donovan Cotton had 13 carries for 72 yards and one catch for 21 yards.
NORFOLK, Va. -- The Delaware State football team hasn't matched up particularly well with any opponent this season, but its depth chart made Saturday's visit to Norfolk State seem like a destined defeat.
The Hornets, with just four healthy defensive linemen, faced a Spartans offense with a rugged runner and strong offensive line that had just installed a hurry-up offense. Delaware State was rushed all over by the Spartans, getting outgained 310-54 on the ground in a 31-21 road loss.
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — Alcorn State was within 4 seconds of continuing to control its destiny for the SWAC East division championship. But two Prairie View touchdowns in the final seconds handed Alcorn a 35-27 defeat and ended any hopes the Braves had of reaching it’s first ever SWAC championship game.
K.J. Black threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Shaun Stephens with 4 seconds remaining to give the Panthers a 29-27 lead. Alcorn (5-5, 4-4 SWAC) then fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Prairie View ran it back for a touchdown on the final play of the game for the final scoring margin.
PRAIRIE VIEW — A perfect nightmare unfolded for Prairie View A&M in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Alcorn State.
The Panthers had blown a 23-point, third-quarter lead after allowing the Braves to score 27 unanswered points and trailed by four with only 25 seconds remaining. They were left with possession at their 22-yard line and no timeouts, and all energy had seemingly been zapped from what remained of a bewildered crowd at Blackshear Stadium.
And then suddenly, a dream ending became reality for Prairie View.
The football season has come to this for Florida A&M. Sudden death against Bethune-Cookman for at least a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.
The Rattlers got this far after sputtering early in the season, but for the second game behind redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Trainor they live for one more chance to stay in the league championship race. Hampton kept threatening to deny FAMU, but in the end the Rattlers' defense was too stingy, securing a 17-13 victory in front 10,306 at Bragg Stadium.
Florida A&M's defense made plays when it mattered and took advantage of Hampton's eighth-ranked scoring offense en route to a 17-12 victory at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The Hampton University Pirates (5-5, 4-3 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) turned up the defense pressure in the second half but could not overcome the pressure from the Rattlers' defense. The Pirates only managed six points in the second half, and couldn't erase an 11-point halftime deficit.
The first two throws of the game could not have been tighter spirals. Yet both of them still ended up on the turf as Rattler wide receivers let the ball hit them in the hands before it fell incomplete. But trust is built on the practice field, not on Saturdays. So FAMU quarterback Austin Trainor kept firing away to his receivers.
Kevin Elliot, Isaac West and tight end Max Purcell combined for five drops on the afternoon, but each made a contribution to the team that bailed out their freshman quarterback. West and Elliot led FAMU with four receptions and accounted for 104 of the team's 156 passing yards.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — — Dyrii McCain sat in the back of the end zone with his hands on his head, panting, in part amazement and mostly frustration as yet another game slipped away from his Hampton football team. McCain and Donte Davis were the targets of a last-second heave from quarterback David Legree as the Pirates tried to ruin the Florida A&M football season for the second straight season.
But before either could come down with the football, the ball was intercepted and the Pirates dropped a fourth straight game, falling 17-12 in a tightly contested Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game that dropped them to .500.
DAYTONA BEACH -- Few Bethune-Cookman fans likely expected to be glued to their seats at the end of Saturday's home finale. The 10th-ranked Wildcats came into the game averaging 41.8 points and facing the worst scoring defense in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (26.1 points per game).
But not until Eddie Poole returned an onside kick 37 yards for a touchdown with 1:12 left was B-CU's 35-20 victory over Howard (1-9, 0-7 MEAC) secured Saturday at Municipal Stadium. "We've been practicing that all year," said Poole, a transfer from Rutgers. "I wanted to tease them, play with them like I wasn't going for the ball."
The Wildcats improved their record to 10-0 for the first time in school history. They clinched at least a share of the conference championship, and they can win it outright next week with a victory over Florida A&M at the Florida Classic in Orlando.
DAYTONA BEACH -- C.J. Reed and his Bethune-Cookman University teammates nearly lived up to coach Cliff Reed's expectations Saturday night at Moore Gymnasium. Reed canned a game-high 20 points to lead four Wildcats in double figures as they blasted Edward Waters College, 85-49, in the season-opener.
"I am elated with the win to get things started right," said Cliff Reed. "I think we played hard, but I also think we played sloppy. "We were supposed to win this game, but I believe we have had better overall efforts in some of the pre-season scrimmages we have had."
Southern quarterback Jeremiah McGinty learned a tough lesson during Saturday night’s 21-19 loss to Alabama State: What you see isn’t always what you get.
McGinty, who entered the Southwestern Athletic Conference game in the second quarter in hopes of sparking Southern’s offense, threw two interceptions — mistakes that free safety Kejuan Riley said his defense baited McGinty into attempting.
“I think he underestimated us,” said Riley, whose defense held McGinty and Dray Joseph to a combined 13 of 41 passing for 128 yards.
At long last, toward the end of a long, ugly, disappointing season, they seemed ready to deliver in crunch time. Instead, like so many times before, the Southern Jaguars were done in by a piece of yellow fabric.
Saturday night, in the closing moments of their 21-19 loss against Alabama State, some 8,482 fans watched the Jaguars struggling offense put together a strong fourth-quarter scoring drive when they absolutely needed one. They scored with 16 seconds left. They came within a two-point conversion of tying the game.
There were improvements on the field this week despite the fact that Southern University seemed to do just enough to stay out of the win column for the fifth consecutive week. Penalties and special teams play haunted the Jaguars, who still got a standout defensive effort before falling to Alabama State 21-19 Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
The offense, which struggled a week ago in a loss to Texas Southern, sputtered for a half, but produced two long fourth-quarter scoring drives. Starting quarterback Dray Joseph was lifted in the third quarter as Southern coach Stump Mitchell decided to shake up his lineup.
It’s been a long time since Southern had a record like this. And the Jaguars haven’t had a record like this very often. Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium, Alabama State handed SU its eighth loss this season with a 21-19 victory.
It is the first time Southern has lost eight games in one season since 1981, when the Jaguars went 3-8 in Otis Washington’s first year as coach. Washington went 8-3 the next season and finished 35-30-1 in six years as Southern’s coach.
First quarter
SOUTHERN: LaQuinton Evans 9 pass from Dray Joseph (Josh Duran kick) at 10:09. DRIVE: 3 plays, 36 yards, 1:15. KEY PLAYS: A long punt return by Richard Wilson allows Southern to start at the ASU 36-yard line. Joseph hits wideout Corderious Gregory on a 27-yard gain down the seam. Evans scores on a simple slant pattern. Southern 7, Alabama State 0.
BATON ROUGE -- Considering that Southern entered Saturday night's game against Alabama State last in the SWAC in penalties, it shouldn't be a surprise that penalties cost the Jaguars a win against the Hornets.
Southern (2-8, 1-7 SWAC) scored a touchdown with 16 seconds left, putting itself a two-point conversion from tying the score at 21. But fullback Brian McCain was called for a personal foul, pushing the Jaguars back 15 yards for their conversion try.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Tiffany Foster hit 5-of-5 from 3-point range to lead the Southern University women’s basketball team to a 73-51 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday night.
Foster finished with a game-high 18 points as the Jaguars evened their record at 1-1. The Islanders fell to 0-2 in the game played at American Bank Center. Southern led 40-30 at halftime as the Jaguars hit 6-of-11 3-pointers. Foster hit four from long range in the half.
CORPUS CHRISTI — It’s never too early in the season for a good old-fashioned, closed-door meeting. After two games, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women’s basketball team has reached that point.
The Islanders, minus two inside players, were beaten by Southern in most facets of Saturday night’s game — including the scoreboard — in falling to the Jaguars 73-51 in the consolation game of the Islander Tip-Off Tournament at the American Bank Center.
The second bad loss in a row for A&M-Corpus Christi (0-2) prompted a 20-minute postgame heart-to-heart between coach Robert Robinson and his team.
Despite shooting woes, Bison emerge over Bowling Green
In his Howard coaching debut, Kevin Nickelberry had a moment of inspiration. In his Howard playing debut, Alphonso Leary had a moment he will never forget. Both elements were critical in Howard’s 54-52 victory over Bowling Green, Friday night before 2105 at Burr Gymnasium.
In the first half, Nickelberry made a key adjustment that helped the Bison gain control of the game. In the second half, freshman Leary scored the first basket of his career, a three-point play with 31 seconds left, which was the boost Howard needed to secure Nickelberry’s successful first step.
Hampton University’s women’s basketball team opened its season with a statement, beating James Madison 69-64 in Harrisonburg in the first round of the women’s preseason NIT.
Senior Quanneisha Perry, the preseason MEAC player of the year, had 27 points and 17 rebounds as the Lady Pirates, the defending MEAC champions, defeated the defending CAA champions. Both teams made NCAA tournament trips last season.
JMU senior guard Dawn Evans, who averaged 24.6 points per game last season to earn honorable menion All-America honors, scored 25 points, but shot just 8-of-28 from the floor and was 6-of-18 from 3-point range.
Alabama State (6-3, 5-3 SWAC) at Southern (2-7, 1-6), Radio - WVAS-FM 90.7 (Montgomery)
Following last week's wild win over Jackson State -- a game in which Jackson State was flagged 17 times for 143 yards, resulting in an expletive-filled tirade from its coach that drew a one-game suspension -- Alabama State can secure its spot in the SWAC title game this week.
The Hornets (6-3, 5-3 SWAC) meet a Southern squad (5:30 p.m.) that has struggled under first-year coach Stump Mitchell, particularly on defense. In each of its six conference losses, Southern (2-7, 1-6) has allowed 27 points or more.
Jackson State (6-3, 4-3 SWAC), UAPB (5-4, 4-3 SWAC), 3:30 p.m. ET at Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Radio: JSU Network (WHLA-95.5 FM, Jackson), Yahoo Internet Radio: JSU vs. UAPB . Jackson State's chances of winning the SWAC East and traveling to Birmingham for the conference title game are hanging on by the thinnest of threads.
A loss at Pine Bluff seals the once high-flying Tigers' fate. They won't win the East. A win and JSU will anxiously await the final score of the Alabama State-Southern game. If the Jaguars pull the upset, the Tigers will have a chance to claim the East crown with a win over Alcorn State.
That said, the most intriguing storyline heading into the game is the absence of coach Rick Comegy, who was suspended by the SWAC for his profane criticism of officials last week. Comegy said the coordinators will handle head coaching duties, but who makes the tough calls: Kick a field goal or go for it on fourth? And what about calling timeouts?
Alcorn State (5-4, 4-3 SWAC) at Prairie View A&M (5-4, 4-3 SWAC) 2:00 p.m. ET, It’s a position that every school in the SWAC East division wants to be in, but right now, only Alcorn State can say the magic words. “We control our destiny.”
With Alcorn’s win over Alabama A&M and Jackson State’s loss to Alabama State last week, the Braves move to the head of the class in the East division. A win in their final two games means the Braves (5-4, 4-3 SWAC) will advance to the SWAC championship game for the first time ever.
HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Alabama A&M usually is a contender for the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division title. The Bulldogs have won four East Division titles under coach Anthony Jones and won the school's lone SWAC championship in 2006.
This season, Jones and company will be lucky to escape the East Division cellar. "We're seeing and feeling what it's like to be on the other side of the stick," Jones said. A&M (2-7, 1-6) will try to stay out of the East Division cellar when it takes on Mississippi Valley State (0-9, 0-8) Saturday at 1 p.m. in Greenville, Miss. The Bulldogs, mired in a five-game losing streak, will try to avoid losing to the Delta Devils, who have lost 10 straight games dating back to last season when they fell to A&M 17-12.
1 p.m. at Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, Fla. Records: Bison 1-8, 0-6 MEAC; Wildcats 9-0, 6-0. RADIO: WELE 1380 AM (Daytona)
Emerging stars: Even though Howard's defense has allowed more than 50 points in three of its past four games, the Bison have received outstanding performances from its younger defensive players. Freshman safety Cameron Alston, the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rookie of the week, had nine tackles, recovered a fumble and returned a blocked field goal 37 yards for a touchdown in a 54-14 loss to South Carolina State. Sophomore linebacker Kurt Mangum II had 13 tackles, including three for a loss, and a sack.
Delaware State (2-7, 1-5) at Norfolk State (4-5, 3-4), 1 p.m., Dick Price Stadium, 102.1 FM; 91.1 FM (Norfolk); WWTX-1290, WDOV-1410 (Dover)
Ever since getting Norfolk State's season back on track, Sherron Childress admits he's been thinking about today. The tight end, one of the Spartans' most emotional players, is one of 20 NSU seniors likely playing their final home game today.
"I've been thinking about it all week," Childress said. "Since the start of the week, I've been thinking one more home game. I've played a lot of games here... one more time at Dick Price Stadium."
Childress has already been through a spectrum of results at home this season. He wept on the field after a close loss to Florida A&M three weeks ago. Last week, during a 35-27 win over Morgan State, he celebrated his first catch since September, and his first touchdown of the season.
Florida A&M vs. Hampton, 3 p.m: Hampton (5-4, 4-2 MEAC); FAMU (6-3, 5-1 MEAC); Internet Live TV: FAMCAST,Radio: 96.1 FM.
There is no hope of winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship for Hampton. That chance was dashed by three consecutive losses, including a heartbreaking five-point loss to undefeated Bethune-Cookman last weekend.
But today, the Pirates could do severe damage to the plans that Florida A&M (6-3, 5-1 MEAC) has to run the table and force a possible three-way tie for the conference title. Hampton (5-4, 4-2) did it last season and coach Donovan Rose is looking for a repeat performance.
What Rose has been telling his players amounts to forgetting that they've not won a game since escaping with a 7-6 victory over Norfolk State. Only a two-touchdown loss to Old Dominion was at a wider margin than the setback to the Wildcats.
TUSCALOOSA, AL - In an exhibition game four nights earlier, Alabama was pushed into double overtime before pulling out a 73-68 victory over an NCAA Division II team. That was slow time. This was showtime. That was Alabama-Huntsville. This was Florida A&M, a Division I opponent. This was a slam dunk.
The Crimson Tide went for style points Friday night and came away with a 76-37 victory over the Rattlers in its season opener at Coleman Coliseum. Nine of Alabama's 32 field goals were slam dunks. Six were 3-pointers. "That's probably the most fun we've had," said junior forward JaMychael Green, who led the way with four dunks and 14 points. Men's Basketball Opens With Win
Alabama had an easy time of it in its season-opening game Friday night, defeating Florida A&M 76-37, in Coleman Coliseum. In a preliminary game, the Bama women defeated Tennessee State, 82-55, also the season-opener. Grant gave sophomore guard Ben Eblen his first start, joining freshman point guard Trevor Releford, senior guard Senario Hillman, sophomore forward Tony Mitchell and junior post man JaMychal Green.
“Chris Hines had a medical issue yesterday and missed practice. Nothing major,” Grant said. “I just put Ben in the lineup today. Ben has done a good job in practice in terms of what we asked.“ The first three men off the bench, all entering around the 15-minute mark of the first half, were senior guard Charvez Davis (recovered from minor hernia surgery), senior forward Chris Hines, and freshman guard Charles Hankerson.
OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton used an 11-0 run early in the second half to break open a close game and pick up a 71-57 victory over Alabama State in the season-opener for both teams. The game was the first on the Creighton sideline for head coach Greg McDermott, hired in April to replace Dana Altman.
Antoine Young led Creighton with 21 points and a career-high seven rebounds, while freshman Doug McDermott had 16 points and seven rebounds in his Bluejay debut. Also in double-figures for the hosts were Jahenns Manigat with 12 pionts and Kenny Lawson Jr. with 11 points.
Alabama State was led by nine points from Kenderek Washington. The Hornets were 24-of-58 from the field, including 9-of-25 from three-point range.
Creighton used an 11-0 run early in the second half to break open a close game and pick up a 71-57 win over Alabama State in the season-opener for both teams. The game was the first on the Creighton sideline for Greg McDermott, hired in April to replace Dana Altman.
Antoine Young led Creighton with 21 points and a career-high seven rebounds while freshman Doug McDermott, Greg's son, had 16 points and seven rebounds in his Bluejay debut. Alabama State was led by nine points from Kenderek Washington. The Hornets were 24-of-58 from the field, including 9-of-25 from three-point range.
After building a 31-21 lead with four minutes to play in the first half, Alabama State scored nine straight points to get to within one point heading into the final minute. Two free throws by Young gave Creighton a 33-30 lead at intermission.
ATHENS, GA -- Jeremy Price struggled to explain it. He’s just glad his late heroics were enough to save Georgia on Friday night. Price scored eight consecutive points in a 50-second span to help the Bulldogs open the season with a 72-70 victory over Mississippi Valley State at Stegeman Coliseum.
“It kind of just happened,” said Price, who finished with a game-high 20 points. “We needed somebody to step up and come through with some tough plays. It was just my time. I delivered when I needed to.” Price converted successive three-point plays and made a turnaround jumper in the lane to erase a seven-point deficit and give Georgia a 67-66 lead with 2:23 left in the game.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Jeremy Price scored 20 points, including eight straight late in the game, and Georgia recovered to beat Mississippi Valley State 72-70 on Friday night in the season opener for each team. Georgia trailed 66-59 before Price closed the gap with back-to-back three-point plays. Price added another basket with 2:24 remaining to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the second half, 67-66.
ETTRICK, VA - The Virginia State University football team provided several memorable moments on its way to a CIAA Northern Division championship.
Ian White's 70-yard interception return for a touchdown in the homecoming win over Lincoln and Brian Berry's electrifying 54-yard touchdown reception in the season finale at St. Paul's spring to mind. But no moment was more meaningful than the third play of the Trojans' final series in a road game at Bowie State.
Trailing 15-10 late in the fourth quarter, quarterback Jarred Battle hit wide receivers Timothy Paulk and Brian Berry on consecutive short out routes to start the drive. Battle, who had struggled all game, took a snap from midfield on the next play and found a wide-open Paulk on an out-and-up route for the game-winning touchdown with 1:07 remaining.
Now that Winston-Salem State is back in a conference, its challenge will be withstanding the day-to-day grind. That’s what the Rams will face in the ultra-competitive CIAA.
Coach Bobby Collins, who will enter his fifth season, said he doesn’t care that his Rams were picked to finish first in the Southern Division in the preseason poll. He has six seniors, two juniors and several talented newcomers on a team that should fit nicely in the CIAA after a four-year absence.
“Nowhere to go but up.” That’s the outlook for Coach Steve Joyner Jr. and his women’s team at Winston-Salem State. Joyner takes over for Dee Stokes, whose team hit rock bottom last season and finished 2-28 after losing its last 26 games. Going from a Division I schedule back to the Division II CIAA doesn’t guarantee an easier time this season, but there’s still optimism spilling over.
“I know it’s going to be competitive, and some say it might be easier because we are coming down from the MEAC, but it’s not going to be easy,” senior center Vontisha Woods said, “but I think we can compete.” Joyner, 30 and a head coach for the first time, will build around three seniors and some newcomers.
Dover, DE - Basketball fanatics who like to see 100 points or more go up on the scoreboard probably should avoid Delaware State's Memorial Hall this winter. That's because, in typical Greg Jackson style, Delaware State's men's basketball team will attempt to wear its opponents down with stifling defense, especially considering that nine of its 15 players are underclassmen.
DSU will tip off its 2010-11 season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Washington Adventist in a nonconference game. Jackson, entering his 11th season as Hornets coach, will try to mold his young team to play with his defensive philosophy.
Dover, Del. - Delaware State tips off the 2010-11 men's basketball season against NCAA Division II Washington Adventist (formerly Columbia Union) of Takoma Park, Md., tomorrow evening (Nov. 13). Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall.
The Hornets return eight letter winners from their 2009-10 squad, which posted an overall record of 17-12. DSU was second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) final regular season standings with an 11-5 mark in league play last season. Washington Adventist was 6-18 during the 2010-11 season. The Shock brought in Patrick Crarey as their new head coach during the off-season.
University of Arkansas junior C'eira Ricketts poured in 21 points and had eight rebounds leading the Razorbacks to a season-opening win over Florida A&M, 71-62, in Bud Walton Arena Friday. Ricketts was one shy of her career best and was one of three Razorbacks in double-digits. Arkansas opens the season 1-0, while Florida A&M is 0-1.
"I didn't feel like I had 21 points," Ricketts laughed after the game. "I felt off today but I just kept playing and trying to help the team."
The Razorbacks won the tip and took the opening drive down the court finishing with a jumper from sophomore Sarah Watkins to start the game. Watkins finished with 11 points and seven rebounds after giving Arkansas the first lead, a lead they would never surrender.
Bethune-Cookman would also earn an automatic berth in the FCS playoffs if they win. It would also earn that honor even if it loses if South Carolina State beats North Carolina A&T next week.
