The Bear Facts: 5 Reasons why college students should be thankful on Thanksgiving

Today and the rest of the week, most students, staff and faculty will be joining family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a special time of the year that we join our families and friends in counting our blessings. Of course, Shaw University family is especially excited by victory that our football team delivered being the new CIAA Champions!

We are grateful that the Bears' flag flies high and we are also thankful that we can count many other blessings just by being students at this time. Here are five reasons why college students should be thankful on Thanksgiving:

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

FAMU savors share of the MEAC title

There wasn't a single player sulking around the Galimore Fieldhouse after Florida A&M found out it wasn't invited to the postseason party. Instead, coach Joe Taylor said he and his players are savoring their successes of the season.

Namely, the Rattlers' six-game win streak that culminated with a 38-27 victory over Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic is worth celebrating. By virtue of handing the Wildcats their only loss in 11 games, FAMU got a share of the Mid-Eastern Conference Championship.


Videographer: toocqrtonvu

Sylvester's 3 TDs lead Rattlers

ORLANDO -- Philip Sylvester had never before scored three touchdowns in a football game. Not even in Pop Warner or high school. The Florida A&M senior with nearly 3,000 career rushing yards picked a perfect time to reach his career-best scoring effort. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound running back had three TDs Saturday to lead the Rattlers to a 38-27 comeback win over Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic.

Sylvester was presented FAMU's Most Valuable Player Award much to the delight of the Rattler faithful -- and the school's band -- following the game at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.


Videographer: sonyadenise1974 (FAMU Complete Half-Time Show in HD - Mid-Stadium)

Bayou Classic coaches Broadway, Mitchell ready for showdown

The 37th annual State Farm Bayou Classic football game featuring Grambling State University and Southern University will take place at the Louisiana Superdome with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday in New Orleans. The game will be televised nationally by NBC.

The Bayou Classic series is tied at 18-18 and the overall Southern-Grambling series is led by Southern, 29-28. Grambling has a 8-2 overall record and a 7-1 record in the SWAC Western Division under 4th year Head Coach Rod Broadway. Southern is 2-8 and has...

House, Southern reflect on lost 2010

A simple, narrow tunnel stretches between the playing field at A.W. Mumford Stadium and Southern’s locker room inside the field house. On one side is the equipment room, where players receive their practice gear every afternoon. On the other side is a set of three meeting rooms, separated by folding walls. At the north end, near the locker room, is a set of long, wooden benches.

Players who need medical treatment often sit there, waiting for treatment. This season, free safety Jason House has seen more of those benches than he ever cared to. A preseason All-American who led the nation with 10 interceptions last year, House has missed the last seven games with...

Championship wealth spread throughout SWAC

You want parity? For years — no, decades — the Southwestern Athletic Conference was the wrong place to look for it. Not all teams were created equal, and by Thanksgiving weekend, that was plainly obvious.

Now, however, when it comes to parity, the SWAC is your one-stop shop. Consider this: Over a 27-year stretch from 1977-2003, one of three teams — Jackson State, Southern or Grambling — won or shared the SWAC title 24 times.

No titles at stake in Bayou Classic

There was a time when the winner of the Bayou Classic would play in the SWAC Championship Game. Not this year. Grambling (8-2, 7-1) could have gone to the SWAC title game, but the Tigers lost their last game to Texas Southern and TSU defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday to wrap up the Western Division title.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Legendary Alcorn State Coach Davey L. Whitney Inducted into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame

2010 National Collegiate Basketball HoF Davey L. Whitney 

Alcorn State University legendary Coach Davey Whitney was among eight inductees to the 2010 National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Class on Sunday, November 21, 2010.

His teams won 711 games in 35 years of coaching but Davey Whitney did so much more than win
basketball games. The “Wiz”, who earned more letters than any other athlete at Kentucky State University, brought his Alcorn State University program to heights that never seemed possible.

The Braves dominated the Southwestern Athletic Conference with nine championships and little recognition until 1979, when Whitney guided his team to a berth in the NIT, one of the first for a historically black institution. Alcorn also upset in-state rival Mississippi State in the opening round.

The next year, Alcorn earned a berth in the NCAA tournament, one of four for Whitney coached teams, and topped South Alabama in the opening round. USA Basketball has recognized Whitney’s coaching talents on several national teams and he was the recipient of the NCAA’s first Journey Award in 1972.

Whitney’s coach teams won a total of 12 SWAC championships. Whitney’s Alcorn State Braves became the first historically black college team to win an NIT game, and one year later, Alcorn became the first historically black college to win an NCAA Tournament game.

Whitney started his coaching career at Burt High School in Nashville, Tenn., and coached at Texas Southern for five years before moving to Alcorn State University.

Press Release: NCBHOF
Legendary Coach Davey L. Whitney

READ MORE, SEE PHOTO GALLERY, CLICK TITLES.

Alcorn State graduate Leslie Frazier Named Interim Head Coach, Minnesota Vikings

Tony Dungy: Leslie Frazier's 'ability to communicate' will help him with Vikings

New Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier got an endorsement on Monday from his former boss, ex-Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy. Frazier, installed as Vikings coach following the dismissal of Brad Childress, was the secondary coach for the Colts when Dungy led them to a Super Bowl win after the 2006 season.

Dungy told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that Frazier will have a significant challenge in taking over the 3-7 Vikings in the middle of a disappointing season, but added that his former assistant has the right mentality for it.



Leslie Frazier Bio + Coaching Resume

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - (Monday Nov. 22, 2010): Brad Childress Fired by Vikings, Leslie Frazier Takes Over.  Leslie Frazier has served as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings under Brad Childress since 2007. Frazier took over for Mike Tomlin who left Minnesota for the Pittsburgh Steelers head coaching job.

Frazier’s Vikings defense led the NFL in 2009 with 48.0 sacks and the team ranks 3rd in NFL with 131.0 sacks since 2007. The Vikings defense ranked No. 6 in the NFL in 2009, the second-straight season ranked No. 6 in ...

Long overdue, Frazier gets golden opportunity

When I ran into defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier at the Vikings' summer training camp, I asked him about his head-coaching aspirations, when he thought he might get a shot and what in the world happened to his once red-hot candidacy. Frazier laughed and said he wasn't sure, but he insisted he was still interested in moving up -- provided, of course, it was the right job.

Frazier is First SWAC Alumnus as NFL Head Coach

Alcorn State graduate Leslie Frazier was named as the interim head coach of the Minnesota Vikings Monday, becoming the first Alcorn State and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) graduate to become a head coach in the National Football League.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE AND HYPERLINK

2010 Capital City Classic: Alcorn State vs. Jackson State -- Battle of the Bands

Videographers: (1)SWAC10 (2)-(5) msit601

Texas Southern men knocks off Oregon State 66-60

TSU Tigers Basketball Coach Tony Harvey

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Lawrence Johnson-Danner scored 17 of his career-high 25 points in the second half to lead Texas Southern to a 66-60 victory over Oregon State Sunday night. Daniel King added 10 points for the Tigers, who got their first win of the season in four tries.

Texas Southern outscored the Beavers 11-5 down the stretch to win it. Calvin Haynes and Omari Johnson had 13 points apiece for Oregon State (1-2).

BEAVERS FALL JUST SHORT TO TEXAS SOUTHERN, 66-60

Final Stats | Quotes Photo Gallery

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Lawrence Johnson-Danner scored 17 of his career-high 25 points in the second half to lead Texas Southern to a 66-60 victory over Oregon State Sunday night.

ATTENDANCE: 5436
READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Note: The OSU Beavers are coached by President Obama's brother-in-law, Craig Robinson .

Texas Southern Advances To SWAC Title Game

The TSU Football team makes the college football world take notice after its impressive performance against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

HOUSTON — It was an emotional night for Texas Southern University head football coach Johnnie Cole and his players following their 20-13 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Delmar Stadium. TSU clinched the program's first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Western Division title and now advances to the SWAC championship game in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 11.

The Texas Southern Tigers, who recorded their seventh straight victory, will now compete for their first SWAC title in over 40 years.

In what will go down as one of the most memorable football games in black college history, TSU wrote a new chapter in those books following its huge win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. When Arkansas-Pine Bluff's quarterback...

Wright Carries TSU To West Division Title

Texas Southern running back Marcus Wright probably wasn’t surprised at the defense Arkansas-Pine Bluff threw at him in Saturday’s regular-season finale.

The Golden Lions routinely stacked eight or nine defenders in the box, knowing full well that TSU would primarily run the ball. It was a somewhat risky move, but Arkansas-Pine Bluff was left with few options to keep Wright and his backfield mates from running wild at Delmar Stadium. It didn’t work.

Wright weaved masterfully through the Golden Lions’ defense, rushing for a game-high 134 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries...

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

ATTENDANCE: 11,285



Videographer: djburntsu (TSU Tigers vs. UAPB Golden Lions 11/20/2010

Hampton posts 21-16 win at Morgan State to end season

BALTIMORE, MD — After struggling in the red zone all day, Hampton finally figured out a surefire way to the end zone late in Saturday's game against host Morgan State.

Switch to hyper-speed. Trailing by a point late in the fourth quarter, the Pirates drove 78 yards in 56 seconds, taking the lead for good on a 23-yard pass from David Legree to Javaris Brown with 46.4 seconds left in a 21-16 win.

"We practice 2-minutes [drills] all the time," Pirates coach Donovan Rose said. "I said, 'Make sure you stay poised.' But we got the ball to the sidelines, and I was just glad to see them do that because all of our losses have basically been down to the end like this. Our offense had to win it, and they did it."

PIRATES END SEASON ON WINNING NOTE AT MORGAN STATE

BALTIMORE, Md. – The Pirates of Hampton University closed out the 2010 season on the road against the Bears of Morgan State University at Hughes Stadium with a come-from-behind 21-16 victory.

Hampton closed out the season with a 6-5 overall record and a 5-3 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), while the Bears finished 4-7 and 3-5 in the MEAC. The Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak in handing Morgan State its fourth straight defeat.

The Pirates led in all stats at the half, except the one that counted the most: the score. Hampton trailed 9-3 at half after an 81-yard punt return touchdown by Winfred Diggs and a 36-yard field goal by Kemar Scarlett.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

ATTENDANCE: 2986

A&M holds off Tuskegee

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Alabama A&M beat Tuskegee 73-70 Saturday night at Elmore Gym, but the Bulldogs paid a heavy price for the victory. Starting point guard Jabari Deshields, backup point guard Jeremy Crutcher, backup power forward Jonathan Inman and reserve forward/center Chris Burks were ejected with 3.9 seconds left. All four players must sit out Saturday's game at Alabama.

LONG ROAD ENDS

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Anthony Jones was almost in tears late Saturday afternoon. Nobody would have blamed Alabama A&M's head coach if he had broke down and cried after the kind of the year the Bulldogs had. A&M finished its worst season in Jones' nine years with a 35-14 loss to Prairie View before an announced crowd of 3,967 at Louis Crews Stadium.

"It's been a long, rough year," said Jones' whose team finished 3-8 and lost six of its last seven games after starting 2-2. "It's over and we've got to start all over. I'm going to take a look at a lot of things because I don't like this feeling and I don't want to repeat it."

Alabama A&M notebook

While his career didn't end like he wanted it to, Alabama A&M inside linebacker Afu Okosun was still proud. The Bulldogs' 35-14 loss to Prairie View was the final game for the 13 seniors, who began their careers with Southwestern Athletic Conference championships rings, but it ended it with the worst record since 1992.  "It was one of those years," Okosun said. "When it rains it pours and it definitely poured this year. We kept fighting and trying to make the best of it and I'm proud of that."

Grading the Bulldogs

OFFENSE: F. The Bulldogs managed just 271 total yards and committed four turnovers [- three interceptions and a fumble. Quarterback Justin Jones threw two interceptions in the end zone and also fumbled at the Prairie View 1 when the Bulldogs had a chance to tie the game midway through the second quarter.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

ATTENDANCE: 3969

2010 Florida Classic: FAMU Marching 100 Puts on a Clinic for B-CU Wildcats

Videographer: delsalvio (BCU -Field Level View)

Videographer: andremc69 (FAMU - Field Level View)

Videographer: tooslytoo (FAMU's Entire Half-Time Show - From Upper Deck)

South Carolina State Bulldogs playoff bound

SCSU Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough 

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Malcolm Long had four touchdowns to become South Carolina State's all-time TD leader with 48, and the Bulldogs defeated North Carolina A&T 48-3 on Saturday. With the win, the Bulldogs (9-2, 7-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) earned their third consecutive trip to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Long threw an 8-yard pass to Tyler McDonald late in the first quarter to start the scoring. He then added his first of three rushing touchdowns, a 1-yard run early in the second quarter.

Gaffney's Long sets SC State TD mark, leads Bulldogs to playoffs

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Gaffney’s Malcolm Long had four touchdowns to become South Carolina State’s all-time TD leader, and the Bulldogs defeated North Carolina A&T 48-3 on Saturday. With the win, the Bulldogs (9-2, 7-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) earned their third straight trip to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Long, who was tied for the Bulldogs’ career mark with 44 heading in, threw an 8-yard pass to Tyler McDonald late in the first quarter to start the scoring. He then added his first of three rushing touchdowns, a 1-yard run early in the second quarter.

S.C. State earns FCS playoff berth

As Oliver "Buddy" Pough taped his weekly television show early Sunday morning, he remained unsure if his South Carolina State football team had played their final game for 2010 hours earlier.

At 10:10 a.m., the Bulldogs' head football coach got the answer he was hoping for - an at-large berth into the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The now three-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions will travel to Statesboro, Ga. this Saturday to face Georgia Southern at Paulson Stadium in one of four noon opening round games.

Aggies finish 1-10 season with loss to Bulldogs

As Oliver "Buddy" Pough taped his weekly television show early Sunday morning, he remained unsure if his South Carolina State football team had played their final game for 2010 hours earlier.

At 10:10 a.m., the Bulldogs' head football coach got the answer he was hoping for - an at-large berth into the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The now three-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions will travel to Statesboro, Ga. this Saturday to face Georgia Southern at Paulson Stadium in one of four noon opening round games.

ATTENDANCE: 10,348
READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

2010 Division I Football Championship Field Released

A hot Florida A&M University Rattlers team (8-3, 7-1) that just defeated the #7 FCS ranked Bethune Cookman Wildcats 38-27, (10-1, 7-1 MEAC) was not invited. BCU and S.C. State (9-2, 7-1 MEAC) will represent the conference in the playoffs.

INDIANAPOLIS - The field of 20 teams competing for the 2010 NCAA Division I Football Championship was announced today by the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee.

Appalachian State University (9-2) tops the bracket as the top seed after capturing the automatic qualifying berth from the Southern Conference. The Mountaineers, who won three consecutive championships from 2005-07, are making their 18th appearance and sixth straight overall.

Second-seeded College of William and Mary (8-3) is making its ninth appearance. The Tribe captured the Colonial Athletic Association automatic berth.

University of Delaware (9-2), which is making its 15th overall tournament appearance, is the number-three seed. The 2003 national champion, the Blue Hens tied William and Mary for the CAA championship.

Montana State University (9-2) is the number-four seed after capturing the Big Sky Conference automatic berth. The Bobcats, the 1984 national champion, are making its fifth appearance and first since 2006.

Rounding out this year’s seeded teams is Eastern Washington University (9-2) with the number-five seed. The Eagles are making its eighth overall appearance.

First-round hosts include Big South automatic qualifier Coastal Carolina (6-5), North Dakota State University (7-4), Missouri Valley Football Conference automatic qualifier University of Northern Iowa (7-4), and Georgia Southern University (7-4).

The top four national seeds will host winners from the first round match-ups. Others hosting second rounds game will be Eastern Washington, Bethune-Cookman University (10-1), who was the automatic qualifier from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, the Gamecocks of Jacksonville State University (9-2) and Stephen F. Austin State University (9-2), who earned the Southland Conference’s automatic bid.

Other automatic qualifiers in the tournament include Robert Morris University (8-2), the Northeast Conference champion, clinched its first trip into the championship. Also making its first trip into the championship is Southeast Missouri State University, winner of the automatic bid from the Ohio Valley Conference. Winning the Patriot League was the Mountain Hawks of Lehigh University (9-2).

Other teams in the field are New Hampshire University (7-4), South Carolina State University (9-2), the defending national champion Villanova University (7-4), Western Illinois University (7-4) and Wofford College (9-2). Along with Southeast Missouri State, North Dakota State and Robert Morris are making their first ever appearance in the championship.

Ten conferences received automatic-qualifying berths: the Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Colonial Athletic Association, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Missouri Valley Football Conference, Northeast Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference and Southland Conference.

The combination of www.NCAA.com and ESPN’s family of networks will once again provide coverage of all rounds of the 2010 NCAA Division I Football Championship.

Television schedules and games times for all rounds of the 2010 championship will be updated daily at the NCAA Sports web site (www.NCAA.com/football).

The 2011 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game is slated for 7 p.m. Eastern time Friday, January 18, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. ESPN2HD/ESPN3.com will televise the championship game.

FIRST ROUND GAMES

November 27 at Conway, S.C.
Western Illinois (7-4) at Coastal Carolina (6-5)

November 27 at Fargo, N.D.
Robert Morris (8-2) at North Dakota State (7-4)

November 27 at Cedar Falls, Iowa
Lehigh (9-2) at Northern Iowa (7-4)

November 27 at Statesboro, Georgia
South Carolina State (9-2) at Georgia Southern (7-4)

SECOND ROUND GAMES

December 4 at Boone, North Carolina, Noon (ET)
Western Illinois/Coastal Carolina winner at #1 Appalachian State (9-2)

December 4 at Nacogdoches, Texas, 3:30 p.m. (ET)
Villanova (7-4) at Stephen F. Austin (9-2)

December 4 at Cheney, Washington
Southeast Missouri State (9-2) at #5 Eastern Washington (9-2)

December 4 at Bozeman, Montana, 2 p.m. (ET)
Robert Morris/North Dakota State winner at #4 Montana State (9-2)

December 4 at Newark, Delaware
Lehigh/Northern Iowa winner at #3 Delaware (9-2)

December 4 at Daytona Beach, Florida
New Hampshire (7-4) at Bethune-Cookman (10-1)

December 4 at Jacksonville, Alabama, Noon (ET)
Wofford (9-2) at Jacksonville State (9-2)

December 4 at Williamsburg, Virginia
South Carolina St./Georgia Southern winner at #2 William and Mary (8-3)

The 2010 championship field consists of eight automatic qualifiers and eight at-large qualifiers.

Big Sky Conference – #4 Montana St. (9-2)
Big South Conference - Coastal Caro. (6-5)
Colonial Athletic Association - #2 William & Mary (8-3)
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference - Bethune-Cookman (10-1)
Missouri Valley Football Conference - UNI (7-4)
Northeast Conference - Robert Morris (8-2)
Ohio Valley Conference - Southeast Mo. St. (9-2)
Patriot League - Lehigh (9-2)
Southern Conference - #1 Appalachian St. (9-2)
Southland Conference- Stephen F. Austin (9-2)

At-Large:

Big Sky Conference - #5 Eastern Washington (9-2)
Colonial Athletic Association - #3 Delaware (9-2)
Colonial Athletic Association - New Hampshire (7-4)
Colonial Athletic Association - Villanova (7-4)
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference - South Carolina St. (9-2)
Missouri Valley Football Conference - North Dakota St. (7-4)
Missouri Valley Football Conference - Western Illinois (7-4)
Ohio Valley Conference - Jacksonville St. (9-2)
Southern Conference - Ga. Southern (7-4)
Southern Conference - Wofford (9-2)

NCAA Press Release 11/21/10

Phillip Sylvester, FAMU ruin B-CU's perfect season

Florida A&M running back Philip Sylvester almost spent more time going backward than forward Saturday during the first half of the Florida Classic. But when a force begins to take motion, something has to give, and in this case it was the Bethune-Cookman defense.

Sylvester had just 2 rushing yards at halftime and it looked like his string of five-straight 100-yard games was in jeopardy. Some halftime adjustments, however, along with a little patience, finally got Sylvester moving forward and after 144 second-half yards, the senior had sparked a FAMU upset of previously unbeaten B-CU 38-27.

"God is so good," Sylvester said from the Citrus Bowl podium after accepting the MVP trophy after the game. "Thank you Rattler nation for not giving up on us

Notebook: FAMU coach making mark

ORLANDO - Prior to Saturday's matchup against Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M coach Joe Taylor was tied with Rattlers coaching greats Jake Gaither and Billy Joe with the most wins in their first three seasons (24). After the win, Taylor sits atop that category. Even with much at stake — a possible at-large playoff bid, a share of the MEAC title and the chance to knock off an undefeated team, he said this win wasn't any bigger than his 221 previous wins.

"All of them are blessings," Taylor said. "No one is bigger than the other on, you just enjoy (each one). This is over 200 (wins) now, so all of them are big and I enjoy them all."


Videographer: tijuanae (ESPN Classic Television Version)

Rattlers spoil Wildcats' dream

ORLANDO -- The last time Florida A&M dashed Bethune-Cookman's hopes of an undefeated season, the annual meeting between the Rattlers and the Wildcats was not yet known as the Florida Classic. With a classic reversal of fortunes in the second half Saturday, FAMU frustrated B-CU once again.

Philip Sylvester ran for all but 2 of his 146 yards during final two quarters and scored three touchdowns as the Rattlers, to the delight of the green-and-orange portion of the 61,712 at the Florida Citrus Bowl, rallied for a 38-27 victory and a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

Because of the conference's points system used to break multiteam ties, Bethune-Cookman (10-1) will represent the MEAC in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The Wildcats and the Rattlers finished 7-1 in league play, as did South Carolina State, which beat North Carolina A&T earlier in the day.

Highlights from FAMU's win over Bethune-Cookman

Three quick things to take away from Florida A&M 38, BCU 27:

•1. Never underestimate the intensity of a Classic. The Wildcats' previous spotless record meant little to the Rattlers who strengthened their series lead 20-10.

•2. Joe Taylor could be in the process of building a Jake Gaither-type legacy. Taylor is the first FAMU coach since Gaither to collect 24 wins in three season. Gaither, who coached from 1945-1969, won six black college national championships.

•3. BCU can brush off this loss quickly as they a still earned a share of the MEAC conference title and already clinched the FCS bid.

Rattlers earn slice of MEAC title

ORLANDO — More than a minute was left in the game as the Florida A&M football team moved closer to the end zone. As the clock kept running, the Rattlers lined up for a second-down play on Bethune-Cookman's 3-yard-line and the FAMU fans were deafening.

Rattlers' quarterback Austin Trainer handed the ball off to running back Philip Sylvester. Sensing that he would get his third touchdown, the crowd went bonkers as Sylvester blazed right up the middle with 28 seconds left. That touchdown capped a remarkable day that saw Sylvester gain 146 second-half yards and rally the Rattlers to a 38-27 victory.



Photo Galleries

FAMU BCU Pregame FAMU 38 BCU 27

ATTENDANCE: 61,712

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

JSU Tigers cap off season with win over Alcorn State despite injury to star QB

Most of the records never fell. That convincing margin of victory never happened. But in the end, with its star quarterback watching from the sideline, his throwing arm in a sling, Jackson State won the Capital City Classic. And that, as they say, is all that matters. "I'll be straight with you," JSU coach Rick Comegy said, "it was about winning."

Comegy's Tigers beat Alcorn State 27-14 on Saturday afternoon, thanks to four early touchdowns, a stiff defensive effort and an inept opponent.

The Tigers (8-3, 6-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference) hit the eight-win mark for the third time in Comegy's five years, and they did it in front of more than 43,000 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, the largest Classic crowd in four years.

Notebook: Therriault falls short of most school records

This wasn't how the season was supposed to end for Jackson State quarterback Casey Therriault. He was supposed to be the new holder of a bevy of school records. Not sulking in the locker room with a broken collarbone. The latter, though, was the truth Saturday afternoon in Jackson State's 27-14 win over Alcorn State. Therriault failed to break most of the half-dozen school passing marks he was on the cusp of breaking entering the game.

Therriault did break Robert Kent's record for completions in a season. He needed just seven of those and had 16 in his 25 minutes played Saturday. He also broke the school record for completion percentage in a season. With his 16-of-22 performance against Alcorn, Therriault has a 58.3 completion rate, surpassing Jimmy Oliver's 58.0 mark.

Jackson St. - Alcorn State



Injuries force Tigers to play QB shuffle

Of all the weeks, of all the games, of all the unfortunate breaks. Jackson State backup quarterback Dedric McDonald suffered a foot injury at practice earlier this week.

That wasn't too big of a deal - until starting quarterback Casey Therriault suffered a broken collarbone in the second quarter of JSU's 27-14 win over Alcorn State. With McDonald in crutches on the sideline, Mark Thigpen, a true freshman and graduate of Callaway High School, was thrown into the mix.

But the Tigers weren't about to burn Thigpen's redshirt without trying someone else. Tight end Renty Rollins was moved to quarterback - a disastrous move that likely cost JSU points.

Braves' attack fizzles in 2010 finale

Alcorn State's offensive production in the Braves' 27-14 loss to Jackson State could be exemplified by one play. With Alcorn trailing 21-7 early in the second quarter, the Braves lined up at the Tigers' 1-yard line. Alcorn freshman quarterback Brandon Bridge ran up the middle, but fumbled the ball into the end zone.

Jackson State recovered and returned the ball 94 yards. The Tigers scored two plays later on a run from junior quarterback Casey Therriault to take a 20-point lead. Alcorn coach Earnest Collins said the 14-point swing was incredibly detrimental.

ATTENDANCE: 42,800

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.


Videographer: jaybmuszic

Morehouse loses to Wingate in playoffs

WINGATE, N.C. -- Morehouse got plenty of breaks in Saturday afternoon’s 63-41 loss to Wingate in the first round of the NCAA Division II football playoffs.

The Maroon Tigers (8-3) recovered three fumbles, returning one for a touchdown, and set up another score with an interception. And they rolled up 471 yards of offense. Running back David Carter rushed for 167 yards and two more touchdowns on 29 carries, and quarterback Byron Ingram passed for 168 yards and ran for a touchdown.

But it wasn’t enough to stop a high-powered Wingate offense, which shook off a 17-7 deficit at the end of the first quarter and ended Morehouse’s first football postseason in front of nearly 4,000 fans at Irwin Belk Stadium.

Haffly's 7 touchdown passes get Bulldogs' offense back on track

WINGATE, N.C. - Sooner or later, the Wingate Bulldogs' football team scores some points. The South Atlantic Conference champions rode its high-powered offense to its first conference title. And in their first-ever NCAA Division II playoff game on Saturday, the Bulldogs (9-2) shook off early mistakes and a 10-point first-quarter deficit to blitz Morehouse 63-41 in front of about 4,000 fans at Irwin Belk Stadium.

"We want to score every time we get the ball, and we believe that we can," said Wingate quarterback Cody Haffly, who passed for 477 yards and a school record seven touchdowns as the Bulldogs rolled up 614 yards. "We're a resilient, veteran team and we didn't panic when we got behind."

Wingate trailed the Maroon Tigers (8-3), also making their first playoff appearance, 17-7 at...

ATTENDANCE: 4000

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

TSU season ends with second-half collapse

MURRAY, Ky. — Rod Reed's first season as Tennessee State's football coach ended with something that has happened just twice in school history. The Tigers' 28-23 loss to Murray State on Saturday was their sixth straight, joining the 1962 and 1995 teams as the only ones to lose that many consecutive games in one season.


TSU (3-8, 0-7 OVC) led 14-7 at halftime and got 289 yards passing and three touchdowns from Jeremy Perry, who had missed the previous two games with an ankle sprain. But Murray State (6-5, 5-3) scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, and the Tigers couldn't catch up. Murray State earned its first winning season in five years.


TSU coach has low self-grade

Tennessee State Athletics Director Teresa Phillips said she will wait until the football season ends to evaluate first-year Coach Rod Reed.

If TSU (3-7, 0-6 OVC) loses to Murray State (5-5, 4-3) then it would match the most consecutive losses in one season by any Tiger team, joining the six losses in a row by the 1962 and 1995 squads. It would also be the first time since joining the OVC in 1988 that the Tigers failed to win a conference game. Even if they win, the Tigers will finish last in the OVC for the second time, joining the 1995 team.

TSU offense gets a boost as quarterback returns

After being shut out over the past six quarters, Tennessee State's offense could get a lift today with the expected return of starting quarterback Jeremy Perry. The junior was sidelined the past two games with a high ankle sprain. He was able to practice this week, took most of the snaps with the first unit, and said he would play through the lingering pain when the Tigers try to snap a five-game losing streak in their season finale at Murray State.

With Perry out, the offense collapsed in the second half against Eastern Illinois after senior Dominic Grooms helped the Tigers jump to a 28-7 halftime lead.

ATTENDANCE: 2904

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.


Videographer: Cassfl (TSU vs. APSU, 9/18/2010)

NCCU Eagles falls to ODU

DURHAM, N.C. -- In its final game playing as an independent, the Monarchs downed North Carolina Central at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, 33-21, to close out the 2010 season.

The win was ODU's fifth straight since its loss against #14/16 Cal Poly that dropped the Monarchs to 3-3 on the season. The Monarchs conclude the season at 8-3 and bring its two-year total to 17-5 overall and head into the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) next year.

Redshirt junior Thomas DeMarco passed for 286 yards and a touchdown before being sidelined in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. Redshirt sophomore Reid Evans led the receiving corps with 111 yards on eight catches, while Mario Crawford, who last week become the second Monarch to surpass the 1,000 yard career rushing mark, ran the ball 15 times for 55 yards.



ODU closes second season with 33-21 win at NC Central

DURHAM, N.C. —  Old Dominion got only a bit more than a half from quarterback Thomas DeMarco but that's all the Monarchs needed to beat North Carolina Central 33-21 on Saturday at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in the season finale for both teams.

DeMarco led Old Dominion to a 30-14 halftime lead as he passed for 281 yards in the first half. He added five more on his lone completion of the second half before leaving the game with an injured shoulder after the first series of the third quarter following a long interception. He finished 22 of 32 for 286 yards and a touchdown.

ATTENDANCE: 4107

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Delaware State Ends Howard Bison Misery 53-43

Howard University Bison ends season 1-10, 0-8 in MEAC

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- All-MEAC receiver Justin Wilson has frustrated opposing secondaries throughout the season. After piling up 217 yards on nine receptions and four touchdowns -- three in the second quarter -- in a record-setting performance Saturday afternoon, you can add the Howard defenders to the list of the tormented.

Wilson set the Delaware State single-season record for receptions and quarterback Anthony Glaud passed for a season-high 351 yards and four touchdowns in his final collegiate game as the Hornets rolled to a 53-43 win over the Bison in the season finale on Saturday.

Larrone Moore's 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown started the scoreboard humming for the Hornets after they fell behind 9-0 in the first quarter. They led 29-16 at halftime and 53-29 in the fourth quarter after Wilson's fourth touchdown. All six of the Hornets touchdowns came on drives lasting less than two minutes. The 53 points marked their highest scoring output of the season.

HOWARD FALLS TO DELAWARE STATE IN SHOOTOUT

Washington, DC—November 20---Delaware State spotted Howard a 9-0 lead and then reeled off 23 straight points in the second quarter to go on to a 53-43 win in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Greene Stadium. It was the regular season finale for both teams.

The Bison (1-10 overall, 0-8 in the MEAC) came out strong, taking advantage of a Hornets turnover when Theodore Graham, IV picked off an Anthony Glaud pass and returned it 26 yards for a TD. The ensuing PAT was missed but Howard led, 6-0 at the 10:20 mark.

ATTENDANCE: 3054

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Shepherd Rams rout Shaw in playoff opener

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — Tommy Addison ran for 145 yards and a touchdown and Nate Hoyte added 106 yards and a score to lead Shepherd University to a 40-6 win over Shaw University in the first round of the NCAA Division II Super Regional 1 at Ram Stadium on Saturday.

Kevin Clancy threw a pair of touchdown passes to Dominique Jones for the Rams (10-1), who will travel to top seed Kutztown next weekend.

Shepherd took a 3-0 lead two minutes into the second quarter on a 29-yard field goal by Eric Dobratz. Clancy connected with Jones on a 7-yard touchdown strike with 5:23 left in the second quarter to give the Rams a 10-0 lead at halftime.

Rams pummel Bears

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV - Consider it a lesson learned for Shepherd.

Although the Rams went into Saturday's NCAA Division II playoff game against visiting and streaking Shaw in a less-than-ideal situation coming off their only loss of the season, Shepherd found its focus again Saturday at Ram Stadium.

The 18th-ranked Rams delivered a balanced attack offensively, pressured Shaw on defense and overcame injuries to key special teams performers to run away from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Bears in a 40-6 win in front of partisan crowd of 4,212.

The West Virginia Conference champion Rams, Super Region 1's fourth seed, advances to the second round of the playoffs next Saturday at top-seeded Kutztown. "The game against Glenville ... we were waiting on the playoffs, rather than coming out intense," said Shepherd tight end Dominique Jones, who caught two touchdown passes against Shaw.

KU to face Shepherd

It's looks as if it Kutztown will be involved in a high-scoring affair next Saturday at noon at University Field. The Golden Bears (10-1), who received a first-round bye as the top seed in Super Region One of the NCAA Division II playoffs, will take on fourth-seeded Shepherd in the second round. The Rams defeated fifth-seeded Shaw 40-6 Saturday.

The Rams (10-1) went into that game fifth in Division II in scoring at 40.2 points per game. The Golden Bears are averaging 39.3 points per game. The Rams outgained Shaw (9-3) 447-233.

Shaw overwhelmed by Shepherd in Div. II playoffs

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WVa. -- The Shaw Bears eight game winning streak ended with a 40-6 loss to the Shepherd Rams in the opening round of the Division II playoffs. The Shaw offense was bottled up all afternoon by the Rams, limiting senior running back Raymond Williams to 78 yards on the ground, while the Bears managed only 233 yards of total offense.

“Sometimes its just your day, and today wasn’t our day,” Shaw coach Darrell Asberry said. Shaw's only points on the game came in the fourth quarter when Odom found senior wide receiver Gregory Julius in the endzone on a 23 yard scoring strike.

ATTENDANCE: 4212

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Branche runs for school rushing record as NSU rolls 42-6 over SSU

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The game ended, but there was one carry left to make. Norfolk State football players sprinted from their sideline to the middle of the field. As they jumped up and down at midfield, the Spartans' offensive linemen hoisted running back DeAngelo Branche on their shoulders.

The Spartans were celebrating their 42-6 victory over Savannah State and were rejoicing in Branche becoming Norfolk State's all-time leading rusher.

Branche, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound redshirt senior from Maury High School, ran 41 times for 233 yards and three touchdowns to set the record. The Norfolk native finished his career with 3,678 yards rushing on 741 carries, eclipsing the previous mark set by LaRue Harrington, who ran for 3,659 yards on 825 carries from 1976-79.


View all 4 photos


FINAL: Norfolk State 42, Savannah State 6

Norfolk State University beat Savannah State University, 42-6, to spoil the Tigers' Homecoming on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Norfolk State (6-5) was led by senior running back DeAngelo Branche, who became the Spartans' all-time leading rusher. Branche ran for 233 yards and three touchdowns on 41 carries.

ATTENDANCE: 4967

READ MORE, CLICK TITLES.

Lincoln coach has tall task ahead of him

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — When John Hill was hired as the new head men's basketball coach at Lincoln University on Sept. 20th, he was well aware of most of the immediate challenges, which are significant.

With the season opener less than eight weeks away, Hill had a mountain of work to do and very little time to get it all done. He also knew that the program is completing the transition from Division III to Division II, and is beginning its first season as a member of a conference in nearly a half century. And to complicate matters, Hill is at the epicenter of the fallout resulting from NCAA violations within the program that occurred under his predecessor, Garfield Yuille.

Lincoln Men: Challenges await untested group

In a perfect world, the Lincoln men's basketball program would head into its first season as an active NCAA Division II and CIAA member with great stability among its players and coaching staff.

Instead, the Lions plunge into a new, more competitive era with a new coach -- hired less than two months ago — and with just five holdovers from last year's 4-22 squad. Much of the instability is the direct result of NCAA violations committed under previous head coach Garfield Yuille.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Ramsey revives defense at Texas Southern

Texas Southern defensive coordinator Kevin Ramsey has a résumé that surpasses his Southwestern Athletic Conference counterparts.

Ramsey collected college coaching stints at Tennessee, Georgia, West Virginia, Northwestern, Kansas State and Arizona State. He had a stop in the NFL as the Arizona Cardinals’ secondary coach from 2001-03. He helped coach West Virginia to a Big East championship in 1993 and helped Tennessee win Southeastern Conference titles in 1997 and 1998 and a national championship after the 1998 season.

But Ramsey said he has always admired SWAC and envisioned himself coaching in it someday. He got his opportunity when TSU...


Videographer: Bookman (Texas Southern vs. Southern 2010)

Dunbar grad starring at Texas Southern

Texas Southern University running back Marcus Wright (Dunbar) is one win from playing for the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. It’s quite a bounce-back story considering Wright appeared in just four games last season as a sophomore mainly due to a suspension for violating a team rule. “It taught me a lot about responsibility,” Wright said by phone this week from the campus in Houston. “You’ve just got to handle your business.”

Arguably only one other SWAC running back has handled his business better this season. Having worked his way from the bottom of the depth chart after being reinstated this summer, Wright ranks second in the conference with 955 rushing yards. He is the reigning SWAC offensive player of ...

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

50K Expected To Attend Capital City Classic - JSU vs. Alcorn State

JACKSON, Miss. -- More than 50,000 fans are expected to attend Saturday's Capital City Classic, which means that parking will be at a premium. Kickoff for the game, which pits Alcorn State University against Jackson State University, will be at 1 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium. But Jackson police are asking fans to show up at least two hours early. The stadium parking lot was already about half full Friday afternoon.

Alcorn looks to end season with win over rivals

LORMAN, MS — Alcorn State might not be playing for a SWAC East division championship today, but the Braves are playing for something almost as important — pride. The Braves will travel to Jackson to take on arch-rival Jackson State in the annual Capital City Classic at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m.

Even though both teams were eliminated from the division championship race last week, both teams will be looking for bragging rights in the annual SWAC showdown. Alcorn State head coach Earnest Collins said a victory over its rival is also important due to the recruiting ramifications.

Jackson State vs. Alcorn State

When: Today, 1 p.m.
Where: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
Television: None
Radio: JSU Network (WHLA-95.5 FM, Jackson)

Records
Jackson State: 7-3, 5-3 SWAC
Alcorn State: 5-5, 4-4 SWAC

History
Last meeting: Alcorn State 14-7, 2009
All-time series: Jackson State leads 39-24-1

More Moreland likely in store for Jackson State fans

They've all been waiting for this — coaches, players, fans of Jackson State. They've been waiting for running back Alfred Moreland to go wild. They've been waiting for Moreland to show the stuff that made him a three-star recruit out of Georgia's Banneker High School. They've been waiting to see those juke and jive moves and that fearless running style that led to an early scholarship offer from Ole Miss.

"Moreland had a great high school career, and we just hadn't seen him touch upon that yet," JSU coach Rick Comegy said. "He just never broke out here." He's out now. The wait is over.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.