Spring Hill's strong start eliminates Xavier in NAIA opening round

MOBILE, Alabama -- Third-team All-American Yiting Cao had 16 kills, 12 digs and two aces Saturday to lead 16th-ranked Spring Hill to a 25-13, 25-11, 25-21 women's volleyball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in the opening round of the NAIA National Championship.

The Badgers (39-1) snapped the school-record eight-match win streak of the Gold Nuggets (23-7) and advanced to pool play in the NAIA National Championship final site Nov. 29-Dec. 3 at Sioux City, Iowa.

Freshman Taylor Reuther had 14 kills and 12 digs in her Xavier-leading 12th kill-dig double-double. Iva Bobkova had six kills, and Patrice Hightower had 27 assists and nine digs for the Gold Nuggets.

Three Cassandra Marchand-Stewart kills keyed an 11-2 run which gave Spring Hill a 15-7 first-set lead. Two Cao kills and seven Xavier errors gave the Badgers a 10-1 lead in the second set.

There were 15 ties and nine lead changes in the third set before Spring Hill took advantage of four consecutive XU errors to emerge from a tie at 20. Jamie Hall's kill, her sixth, ended the match.

Spring Hill outhit Xavier .354 to .097 and had advantages of 38-31 in kills, 57-50 in digs, 5-2 in aces and 10-1 in blocks.

"We were nervous in the beginning, and the first two sets were a struggle for us," said Xavier first-year coach Christabell Hamilton. "We finally started to play Xavier ball in the third set, but it was too late. We waited too long to get settled in. Spring Hill is a very talented and solid team, and they took advantage of our slow start."

Xavier, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament champion, set program records in its fourth season for victories, home victories, conference victories and victories on opponents' courts. Xavier was 11-26 a year ago.

"I'm so very proud of my team and how they came together and made history this year," Hamilton said. "No one ever thought we'd get this far. We will miss our four seniors, but we're very excited about getting better in spring practice, and we look forward to more improvement next season."

• Live Stats | Box Score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Prairie View A&M eyes spot in SWAC title game

Prairie View, Texas - Blackshear Stadium stands out as an eyesore on the Prairie View A&M campus, but it has been the site of some of the football program's biggest moments in recent years.

The Panthers beat Jackson State there Nov. 10, 2007 to clinch the program's first winning season since 1976. Prairie View topped Alcorn State a year later to finish 9-1 and capture its best regular-season finish since 1964. The Panthers did one better at Blackshear Stadium in 2009, whipping Arkansas-Pine Bluff 49-17 in their home finale to secure an undefeated Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season en route to the program's first conference championship since 1964.

Not bad for a dilapidated 6,000-seat stadium that has stood since 1960.

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3 straight Classic losses too much for B-CU Wildcats

Game Time: 2:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN Classic
Internet: ESPN3

ORLANDO, FL -- Ryan Davis remembers how bad he felt for Bethune-Cookman's seniors after Florida A&M rallied to a victory in last year's Florida Classic. "It was tough to see those seniors go out that way," said the Wildcats defensive end. "I just wanted to win it for those guys last year. I felt bad that we couldn't do it." Davis doesn't want to become one of those seniors.

Florida A&M comes into today's game at the Florida Citrus Bowl with three straight victories over its arch-rival. B-CU's senior class does not want to go out 0-4 against the Rattlers.

"I'm 0-3 against them, so this game is going to mean a little more," Davis said "Never having beaten FAMU has eaten at me throughout my career. So it's very important that we execute in all fazes of the game." Both teams have been on a roll after starting off slowly this year. Florida A&M (7-3 overall, 5-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) has won four in a row, while B-CU (7-3, 5-2) has won five straight. The winner will likely be considered for one of 10 at-large bids to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, which begin next week.

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McKinnis leads talented senior class for upcoming season

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama | If Stillman senior forward Jamila McKinnis excels in basketball the way she did in volleyball, she should be in line for more Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors.

McKinnis was recently named the SIAC Player of the Year in volleyball. She was also a first-team selection on the preseason All-SIAC basketball squad. McKinnis averaged 14.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 blocked shots in C.C. Moorer’s first season as head coach. The Lady Tigers went 16-13 and reached the semifinals of the SIAC Tournament.

McKinnis averaged 14.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 blocked shots in C.C. Moorer’s first season as head coach. The Lady Tigers went 16-13 and reached the semifinals of the SIAC Tournament.

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JCSU builds lead early, stays on top

Charlotte, North Carolina -- J.C. Smith opened its basketball season in top gear.

The Golden Bulls ran with abandon Friday in a 93-67 win against Allen (S.C.) in the Tip-Off Classic at renovated Brayboy Gym. All five starters scored double-figures for J.C. Smith (1-0), led by junior point guard Trevin Parks' 17 points and seven assists, with sophomore Antwan Wilkerson and Phillip Wood, a transfer from Talladega College, adding 13 points each.

"We accomplished what we wanted to do," Golden Bulls coach Steve Joyner said. "We're a little concerned about sustainability. Several times we lost focus and did not execute on both ends of the court. I told the guys it's a work in progress; it's a journey. We've got to get better tomorrow night if we're going to beat Wingate."

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J.C. Smith beats Pfeiffer in Q.C. Classic

DURHAM, N.C. - The Johnson C. Smith women's basketball team remains unbeaten after a 79-54 win over Pfeiffer on Friday during the first day of the Queen City Classic at Brayboy Gymnasium. JCSU improves to 3-0 overall, while the Lady Falcons fall to 1-3 in the standings.

The game was controlled by JCSU from beginning to end. Going into halftime, Pfeiffer trailed 43-28 and only shot 35.7 percent from the field (10-28). By comparison, Johnson C. Smith made 47.2 percent of their field goal attempts (17-36) in the first period.

All-CIAA preseason senior guard Terran Quattlebaum scored 19 of her game-high 22 points in the first half. Quattlebaum hit 7-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-10 from the three point line before the break.

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Xavier's Pieri named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Matt Pieri is one of 159 men's cross country runners named a 2011 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete, the national organization announced Friday.

Pieri, a junior pharmacy major from New Orleans and a graduate of Brother Martin High School, is the only Gulf Coast Athletic Conference runner, male or female, to earn the honor this season.

Xavier's Matt Pieri is the lone Daktronics - NAIA Scholar- Athlete
 in cross country from the GCAC this season.

Pieri is a three-time All-GCAC runner with a fourth-place finish at the 2009 league meet, the individual championship in 2010 and third place this season. He has been GCAC Runner of the Week a conference-record 10 times in his career and has helped Xavier win GCAC team championships in each of his three seasons.

Student-athletes are nominated by their institution's head coach, must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved junior academic status to qualify for Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Both Xavier teams will compete Saturday in the season-ending NAIA National Championships at Vancouver, Wash. The men's 8,000-meter race will begin at 10:30 a.m. PST (12:30 p.m. New Orleans time), followed by the 5,000-meter women's race at 11:45 a.m. PST.


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: GCACSPORTS

NCAA Div.II Championship: ECSU ready for playoff opener

California (Pa.) Vulcans (9-2) vs. Elizabeth City State Vikings (8-3)
• When: Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011
• Where: California, Pa.
• Stadium: Adamson Stadium (6,500)
• Kickoff: 12 p.m.
• Live Radio: WCAL (91.9 FM) I WJPA (95.3 FM) I WRVS (89.9 FM)
• Live Video: Click here
• Live Stats: Click here
• Game Notes (.pdf)
• All-Time Series: First Meeting



Elizabeth City, North Carolina - Elizabeth City State’s path to a second appearance in NCAA Division II football playoffs in six years very much mirrors the first.

Both teams lost in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship game. Both were pleasantly surprised to learn the next day that their seasons would be extended, receiving No. 4 seeds. That, however, is where it ends.

Coming off a 38-18 loss to Winston-Salem State in the CIAA championship game last week, the Vikings head to California University of Pennsylvania today to face the No. 5 seeded Vulcans in the first round of the Division II playoffs. This is ECSU’s first playoff appearance since 2006 and third overall.

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Linebackers have stepped up for Cal

California, Pennsylvania - When Brett Diamond went down for the season with a knee injury, California University's football team suddenly had a major hole in its linebacking group. Diamond was the Vulcans' leading tackler last season with 64 and tied for second in quarterback sacks with 41/2. More important, Diamond called the defensive alignments.

That's why the play of sophomore Brian Justice and redshirt freshman Spencer Lynn has been so important. Justice and Spencer have combined for 163 tackles, three quarterback sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

"We were anticipating that Brett would be the center post to our defense," said Cal head coach John Luckhardt. "(Lynn and Spencer) have gotten better and better. They both work hard and look at film all the time."

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Liberty Lady Flames at North Carolina A&T

The Game: N.C. A&T WBB (1-2) vs. Liberty (1-1)
When: Friday, November 18 at 7 PM
Where: Corbett Sports Center
Tickets: Free Admission
Broadcasting Station:
The Light (90.9 FM WWMC)
Video Streaming: North Carolina A&T
Complete Game Notes

Coaching Matchup
Liberty Head Coach: Carey Green
Overall Record (Seasons): 287-95 (13th Season)
Record at Liberty (Seasons): Same
Record vs. North Carolina A&T: 4-0

North Carolina A&T Head Coach: Patricia Cage-Bibbs
Overall Record (Seasons): 487-280 (27th Season)
Record at North Carolina A&T (Seasons): 116-74 (Seventh Season)
Record vs. Liberty: 0-7 (0-4 with Hampton, 0-3 with North Carolina A&T)

Must See: The North Carolina A&T women's basketball team's stellar record at home will be challenged by Liberty University, which was ranked No. 18 in Women's Mid-Major by CollegeInsider.com. The Aggies scored 103 points in their home opener on Tuesday against Division II Virginia Union. It was the first time they had passed the century mark since defeating UMES 105-79 on Feb. 16, 2008. The Aggies had five players score in double figures. The Aggies are 54-12 at home under head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. Sophomores Tracy King and Mikala Scott, who each have scored 20-plus this season, lead the Aggies fastbreak attack. The Aggies had 26 fastbreak points on Tuesday.

What did she say?: "As I was coaching the game tonight, I looked, and I saw, and I thought, 'My goodness, look at our future'". I mean seriously, it is a great future."

-N.C. A&T head women's basketball coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs after their 103-61 win on Tuesday.



The "Starting Five" - Today's Top Storylines
1) Liberty will attempt to become a rare road team to emerge from North Carolina A&T's Corbett Sports Center with a victory. In 2007-08, the Lady Flames were the only visiting team to win on the Aggies' home floor. Since that game, North Carolina A&T is 38-4 on its home court.

2) The Lady Flames are playing in Greensboro, N.C. for the second Friday in a row. Last Friday, Liberty tipped off the 2011-12 season with a 61-46 win at UNC Greensboro.

3) Liberty's Carey Green and North Carolina A&T's Patricia Cage-Bibbs rank among the nation's elite women's basketball coaches. Green boasts a sterling .751 career winning percentage, while Cage-Bibbs has racked up 487 coaching wins during her time at Grambling, Hampton and North Carolina A&T.

4) Liberty redshirt senior center Avery Warley will look to continue her torrid rebounding pace to start the season. She has grabbed 33 rebounds in the first two games, including 19 Tuesday versus VCU. Warley has nabbed 11 boards in each of her two career meetings with North Carolina A&T.

5) The game will feature a battle between North Carolina A&T's high-powered offense (77.3 ppg) and Liberty's stingy defense (49.0 ppg allowed).

A&T Probable Starters: G Mikala Scott (5-11, SO., Dorman, S.C.); G Tracy King (5-10, SO., Alexandria, Va.); G/F JaQuayla Berry (5-11, JR., Douglas, Ga.); G Amber Calvin (5-8, R-SO., Fayetteville, N.C.); C Nikia Gorham (6-2, JR., Bowie, Md.).

Notes and Anecdotes
-- Liberty is playing in Greensboro, N.C. for the second consecutive Friday, after opening the season with a 61-46 win at UNC Greensboro on Nov. 11.

-- North Carolina A&T has played well at the Corbett Sports Center in recent years. In 2007-08, Liberty was the only visiting team to win at North Carolina A&T. Since that game, the Aggies are 38-4 at home.

-- Both Carey Green and Patricia Cage-Bibbs rank among the nation's elite coaches. Green is ranked 11th among active Division I women's basketball coaches for winning percentage, while Cage-Bibbs sits 27th among active Division I women's basketball coaches in victories.

-- Since North Carolina A&T's last win over Liberty, the Lady Flames have won 13 Big South titles and made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Courtesy: libertyflames and ncataggies

NCAA Div. II Championship: Battle of styles for ECSU vs. Cal U.

CALIFORNIA, Pennsylvania -- When it comes to style of play, particularly on offense, California University has little in common with NCAA Division II playoff foe Elizabeth City State (N.C.). That's because Elizabeth City State (8-3) thrives on the running game, while the Vulcans (9-2) love to move the ball quickly through the air.

The teams collide at noon Saturday at Adamson Stadium in a Super Region One first rounder. Cal is seeded fourth and Elizabeth City fifth in the region.

While Cal has a solid running attack, led by Lamont Smith with 995 yards on 115 carries and two touchdowns, those stats pale in comparison to Vikings running back Daronte McNeill, who has carried the ball 334 times for 1,580 yards and scored 22 TDs. He is ranked fifth in the nation in rushing, first in attempts and third in touchdowns.

Elizabeth City State's second-leading rusher, Kevin Swain, has 624 yards on 131 carries with five TDs.

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Florida Classic: Ex-Winter Springs RB Al-Terek McBurse comes home

Orlando, Florida -- Al-Terek McBurse is excited about Saturday's Florida Classic, as would be any member of the teams playing: Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman University.

But for McBurse, it's not just the pomp and precision of the festivities and competition on the field. There will be one very important person off the field there to witness him playing college football for the first time.

And as long as his parents, Allison McBurse and Clinton Dunston, get Mervin McBurse to the Citrus Bowl on Saturday, everything will be perfect for the FAMU running back, who will also be taking part in his first Florida Classic (2:30 p.m., Citrus Bowl, ESPN Classic).

"She'll be getting to see me for the first time ever in college," McBurse said of the woman who raised him, who will turn 81 next month. "As long as they get my grandma there everything will be good."



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Lane alum, Houston Texans player Jacoby Jones returns from NFL to campus

Jackson, Tennessee -- Five years after playing his final college football game and two years since his graduation, Lane College remains a destination for Jacoby Jones. A member of the National Football League's Houston Texans, Jones was at Lane's chapel service Wednesday and intends to spend most of the week in Jackson.

The Texans — who lead the Tennessee Titans by one game in the AFC's South Division — have the week off.

"I love this place," Jones said of Lane. "It made me a better man, and I appreciate what I have now. "It's not a D-I (Division I) school. We have the same field (Lane Field), training room and locker room. It makes you hungry."

A three-time all-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection, Jones was a third round selection of the Texans in the 2007 NFL Draft and the 73rd player selected overall.



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Oklahoma Basketball Entertains Coppin State Friday

Norman, Oklahoma - Oklahoma plays its second of two straight home games to open the season when it hosts Coppin State on Friday at 7 p.m. CT at Lloyd Noble Center. The Sooners are coming off a 78-74 win over Idaho State last Friday while the Eagles have split their first two games against Cheyney University (won 80-65 last Friday) and Loyola Maryland (lost 78-68 Monday). Friday's contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network (KOKC AM 1520 in Oklahoma City; KTBZ AM 1430 in Tulsa) with Toby Rowland and Mike Houck announcing. The game will be televised by the Sooner Sports Network (KAUT Ch. 43 in OKC; FS Oklahoma outside of OKC market; ESPN Full Court) with Bob Carpenter and Billy Tubbs calling the action.

Date & Tip Time	Friday, Nov. 18, at 7:07 p.m. CT
Location	Norman, Okla. |

TV	Sooner Sports Network KAUT Ch. 43 in Oklahoma City  FS Oklahoma (outside of Oklahoma City market)  ESPN Full Court
Radio	Sooner Radio Network  KOKC 1520 AM in Oklahoma City  KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa
Webcast	SoonerSports.com All-Access
Live Stats	SoonerSports.com GameTracker
Game Info	Game Notes (PDF)

Located in Baltimore, Md., Coppin State is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and finished 16-14 last year with an 11-5 league record (tied for second place). The Eagles return 10 letterwinners and four starters from that squad, and are picked third out of 13 teams in the preseason MEAC poll.

Leading the way for Coppin State through two games (an 80-65 home win over Cheyney University and a 78-68 road loss to Loyola Maryland) is senior guard Tony Gallo. One of four returning players who averaged double figures in scoring last year, Gallo is averaging 20.0 points and 2.5 assists this season. He has already made seven 3-pointers (.389) and is coming off a 23-point effort at Loyola Maryland. Senior guard Akeem Ellis is averaging 14.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game and turned in a 13-point, 6-rebound, 9-assist performance at Loyola Maryland. Michael Harper, another senior guard, is contributing 12.5 points per contest off the bench on .692 field goal shooting (9-for-13). Harper was a second-team all-conference selection last year when he averaged a team-high 15.2 points per game and led the league in 3-point (.438) and free throw (.881) percentage.

The Eagles are under the direction of head coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell, who is 396-358 (.525) over his 25 years, all at Coppin State.

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Courtesy OUAthletics

MSU Spartans Play Texas Southern In Home Opener

Michigan State (0-2) vs. Texas Southern (1-1)
Date	Friday, Nov. 18
Time	6:30 p.m. ET
Location	East Lansing, Mich. | Breslin Center
Internet Streaming	ESPN3.com (Dan Gutowsky, Bob Donewald)
Radio	Spartan Sports Network (Will Tieman, Gus Ganakas, Matt Steigenga)
Tickets	Available at MSUSpartans.com.
Game Notes	Michigan State
Statistics	Michigan State

The Opening Tip
After opening the season with a game vs. North Carolina on the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego and a game vs. Duke in Madison Square Garden in New York City, the Spartans will finally play their home opener as they host Texas Southern Friday night. Michigan State has not lost a home opener since dropping the 1976 opener. MSU's next four games are part of the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational, a six-team, 13-day, partial round-robin tournament.

MSU vs. Texas Southern Notes
Series History
This is the first ever meeting between Michigan State and Texas Southern.

Coach Harvey
Tony B. Harvey (Cameron University, '88) is 44-55 in his fourth season as a collegiate head coach, all at Texas Southern. Last season, he led Texas Southern to its first SWAC regular-season title since 1998.

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Miles College celebrates championship with parade

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama --It was a parade in downtown Birmingham that Miles College football fans have been waiting for some time. Today the school celebrated it's first ever SIAC football championship.

"I'm so proud and blessed. I'm so elated that Miles College one of my favorites, has made it," Evelyn Toney, a Miles fan, said. Many of these supporters have suffered through a number of losing seasons backing the Golden Bears.



"It means a lot. It's been years. One and nothing. One and eleven. Now we are seven and four and the championship, it means a lot," Reed Jesse, a Miles fan, said.

First year coach Reginal Ruffin turned the football team into a championship squad. The coach had confidence in his players.

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BCU Wildcats, FAMU Rattlers rolling with Wilson, Fleming at QB

Florida A&M (7-3, 5-2 MEAC) vs. Bethune-Cookman (7-3, 5-2)

WHAT: Florida Classic

WHERE: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando

WHEN: 2:30 p.m. Saturday

TICKETS: Available seats priced $31.75 to $59.25 can be purchased at Amway Center box office, call 407-839-3900 or go to tickemaster.com

TV: ESPN Classic

RADIO: WELE (1380 AM)

OTHER KEY EVENTS: Friday, Battle of the Bands, Amway Center, Orlando, 7 p.m.; Official Classic Step Show, Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, Orlando, 7:30 p.m. Saturday: Florida Classic FanFare, Citrus Bowl Parking Lot C, 9 a.m.

LAST YEAR: FAMU won 38-27. Attendance: 60,712

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Saturday's Florida Classic may not have the luster of last year's game, but the winner could be rewarded with an at-large playoff bid. And a month ago, that did not seem possible.

This season, Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman were expected to build on the success of sharing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title with South Carolina State last year. But the Rattlers began the season 3-3 and the Wildcats started 2-3, with both teams losing two of their first three MEAC contests.

Since then, FAMU (7-3, 5-2 MEAC) has won four straight, and the catalyst for its success was installing freshman Damien Fleming at quarterback in the fifth game.

Improved play behind center has also contributed to B-CU's surge. Since North Carolina A&T stifled the Wildcats' vaunted spread offense in a 22-3 upset on Oct. 8, B-CU (7-3, 5-2) has won five in a row, averaging 516.8 yards during the streak.


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Jitters over, SU Jaguars set to play Rice

Baton Rouge, Louisiana - The first-game jitters should be gone by now. Roman Banks and his Southern men’s basketball team took care of that Friday with a season-opening win at home against Dillard (67-48).

The road-game jitters should be gone by now.  Sure, the Jaguars might have lost at Texas A&M by 25 points, but they were outclassed, and they didn’t give up. The emotional roller coaster should be over now. Oh, Southern will undoubtedly go through the peak-and-valley routine many times between now and March, but it’s possible that nothing matches how Banks felt when he saw A&M coach Billy Kennedy on the sideline Sunday.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, when the Jaguars (1-1) face Rice at Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston, their minds should be centered on nothing more than basketball. Of course, it’s always supposed to be like that. But you had to forgive Banks for  ...

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AAMU Bulldogs will have to contend with Hamilton

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M had little success last week against Jackson State largely because of defensive ends Joseph Lebeau and Donovan Robinson. The Bulldogs will face another dynamic defensive Saturday when they visit Prairie View.

The Panthers feature arguably the best defensive end in the country in Adrian Hamilton. A transfer from Texas Tech, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Hamilton has 74 tackles and leads the Football Championship Subdivision in sacks with 15.5.

"He's a hell of a football player," A&M coach Anthony Jones said of Hamilton. "He's going to be very similar to what we saw last weekend with LeBeau and Robinson. He's quick. He's strong. He's relentless. He jumps off the screen."

Prairie View coach Heishma Northern said ...

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KEYS: Recruiting landscape tougher for Southern

Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Fresh off their most impressive win of the Stump Mitchell era, Southern football players returned to campus this week, reinvested and ready to prepare for the Bayou Classic. The big game, of course, is still nine days away; Southern and Grambling both have an open date Saturday.

Meanwhile, this week, between light practices and study halls, SU coaches spent part of their time evaluating recruits - the lifeblood of any program. “We’re trying to get a kicker, of course, and some defensive tackles to help our young guys that played as true freshmen on defense,” Mitchell said. Give the man high marks for recognizing the obvious.

In the offseason, Southern lost a very valuable player when place-kicker William Griswold, who made 15 of 20 field goals last season, withdrew from the university, citing, among other things, a fading interest in football.

It’s not a wild leap to think that if ...

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Arkansas State Red Wolves Add Alcorn State To 2012 Schedule

JONESBORO, Arkansas -- Arkansas State Director of Athletics Dr. Dean Lee announced Wednesday the addition of a home game against FCS member Alcorn State to ASU's 2012 football schedule, completing the Red Wolves' non-conference lineup of opponents for next season.

The Red Wolves will play their fourth game of the season when they host SWAC member Alcorn State on Sept. 22, catching the Braves for the first time in school history. The Red Wolves first four games will all be against non-conference opponents, including longtime rival Memphis in their home opener on Sept. 8.

A-State will open its 2012 campaign on the road at Oregon on Sept. 1 and play at Nebraska a week before its game against Alcorn State.  With the addition of Alcorn State to its schedule, the Red Wolves will have six home games on its schedule for the second consecutive year and the third time over the last five. Arkansas State is 5-0 at home this season and has put together seven consecutive seasons with a winning record at ASU Stadium.

The Sun Belt Conference office will set the dates early next year for ASU's eight league games.

"We are thrilled to complete our 2012 non-conference schedule with the addition of Alcorn State," said Lee.  "We feel like alternating home and road games to complete our non-conference schedule before starting conference play benefitted our team this year, so we are excited that the 2012 schedule will mirror that layout. We feel like this schedule is built for success."

While ASU has never played Alcorn State, the Red Wolves have played four current SWAC members a combined five times and hold a 5-0 record in those games. A-State most recently defeated Mississippi Valley State 61-0 in its 2009 season opener, but also defeated the Delta Devils in 1995 and holds additional victories over Jackson State, Grambling and Texas Southern. The Red Wolves will play an FCS opponent for the second consecutive season and for the third time over the last four seasons.

Courtesy: Arkansas State

Hartnell's Thomas signs D-I letter with Coppin State Eagles

Salinas, California -- Daryl Thomas, a sophomore guard on the Hartnell College men's basketball team, has signed a national letter-of-intent to play basketball at Division-I Coppin State University in Baltimore, MD. Thomas is the first Hartnell player from a local high school to sign a letter-of-intent to play D-I basketball since Eric Petty from North Salinas High signed to play at Mississippi Valley State University in 2008.

"I really don't care too much about my individual stats," Thomas said. "I'm more worried about helping this team win conference and getting to the state tournament. We have a really good defensive style of play this year, and I think we can go far."

The former Monterey Toreadore red-shirted his first year at Hartnell, and made second-team all- conference last season.

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ASU Hornets' fate in rival's hands

Montgomery, AL -- Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow called it one of the worst feelings he's ever had. Four days after losing to Southern University on a last-second touchdown, the Hornets once again are picking up the pieces and wondering what might have been.

Two weeks after dropping what would have been a division-clinching game to Alabama A&M, the Hornets had the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division title within their grasp once again Saturday.

Jackson State had pounded Alabama A&M, and for the second time in three weeks, the Hornets were on the verge of clinching a berth in the SWAC title game.

But J.P. Douglas drove the Jaguars 73 yards in just under three minutes. Brian McCain scored on a 1-yard plunge with nine seconds remaining to give Southern an improbable 26-23 victory.

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Alabama State highlights vs. Southern University on Saturday, Nov. 12.

For now, uncertain futures at Capital City Classic

Jackson, Miss. -- The Capital City Classic may be the final game for Jackson State coach Rick Comegy. The No. 21 Tigers (7-2, 6-2 SWAC) entertain Alcorn State (2-6, 1-6) on Saturday at 1 p.m at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Comegy’s contract expires after the Tigers’ season finale. School officials didn’t try to give him an extension during the season. Alcorn State coach Melvin Spears may also not return, as school officials plan to evaluate the program.

The former Tuskegee coach isn’t concerned about his contract status, only wanting Jackson State to beat its biggest rival. The Tigers defeated Mississippi Valley State earlier this season.

“It’s about playing football,” Comegy said in a SWAC Teleconference call. “We enjoy winning games at Jackson State. We want to win out and have the best season we possibly can.”

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Aggie-Eagle Classic 2011

Greensboro, North Carolina -- Dating all the way back to 1924, the N. C. A&T Aggies and the North Carolina Central Eagles will meet at the line of scrimmage to renew an 87-year-old rivalry.

The historical football game between A&T and the N. C. Central is perhaps one of the most anticipated, emotional, and oldest rivalry games in black college football.

"To me it's like a second homecoming of sorts," said Bonnie Newman Davis endowed A&T professor and alumna. The two teams played each other every year since 1924 except for six times. The last time they didn't meet was in 2006.

From 1994-2005 the two teams have met at a neutral site in Raleigh for the official "Aggie-Eagle Classic." However, now the game is technically no longer named the Aggie-Eagle Classic but is now just a regular season conference game, but the title since then has lived on.

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2011 SIAC Football Championship

The Albany State Golden Rams & The Miles College Golden Bears Battle For The Throne in The Inaugural SIAC Football Championship in Atlanta, GA.

Carter becomes breakout back at Morehouse

Marietta, Georgia -- Despite a successful career as a two-sport star at Sprayberry High School — excelling in football and baseball — David Carter thought it was all over once he graduated.

“I came in thinking that I would just go to school,” Carter said. “I thought my football career was over. My options were to go to Morehouse and maybe try to play baseball here. Or, I would go to (Kennesaw State) and walk on to their baseball team.”

Carter ultimately decided to enroll at Morehouse College, the historic black college in downtown Atlanta. He also decided to walk on to the football team and not the baseball team — a decision that has paid off.

Carter spent his freshman year in 2009 as a fourth-string running back, but injuries and eligibility issues near the end of the season allowed him to move up to No. 2 on the depth chart. He then earned his first chance to play for the Maroon Tigers in their final game of the ’09 season against Miles College. In that game, Carter finished with 133 yards on 31 carries and a touchdown on the way to a 13-3 win.



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