Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls need shoring up

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Johnson C. Smith’s offense was as good as advertised. The defense, however, needs some work.

The Golden Bulls couldn’t figure how to stop West Virginia State in a 34-31 loss last week in the season opener. JCSU outgained the Yellow Jackets 369 yards to 329, but allowed 229 yards and two touchdowns passing and an average of 17.6 yards per catch.

The Golden Bulls moved the ball in new offensive coordinator Steve Shipp’s attack, with tailback Dedrick Anderson accounting for 149 yards, including 72 rushing on 17 carries with a score. Quarterback Keahn Wallace connected on 22-of-37 passes for 267 yards and a score and five Bulls caught at least three passes, with Terrell Hutchison leading the way with six receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.

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Preview: Alcorn State Braves at #5/6 James Madison Dukes

Alcorn State at #5/6 James Madison
Bridgeforth Stadium (24,877) - Harrisonburg, Virginia
Saturday, September 8, 2012 - 6 p.m.
Video Broadcast: MadiZONE Video (Free)Audio: JMU/nTelos Radio Network - WSVA 550AM (Harrisonburg) , WREJ 1540AM (Richmond), Fox Radio 910AM (Roanoke), WGH 1310AM or ESPN 94.1FM (Hampton Roads); MadiZONE Audio
Live Stats / Twitter Hashtag: #jmualcorn






HARRISONBURG, Virginia - After breezing past St. Francis University (Pa.) 55-7 in the season opener and jumping to No. 6 in the FCS coaches’ poll, the Dukes are more concerned with putting men back on the field.

Despite having a solid performance, the defense still faces the same issues they did during the preseason -— keeping players healthy.

Head coach Mickey Matthews is particularly concerned about starting senior safety Jakarie Jackson as well as redshirt sophomore cornerback Jeremiah Wilson. Jackson injured his ankle during Saturday’s game, and Wilson has been struggling with a hamstring injury. Keeping the secondary healthy has been one of the primary concerns since camp started in August.

“It’s not good when you lose two of your top five safeties,” Matthews said. He also said he has no plans for any rearrangement in the secondary despite a potential lack of depth.

One potential solution to the problem is redshirt junior safety Peter Rose, a high-profile recruit while in high school, but a player that has had a tough time staying out of trouble. Rose, who originally signed with Virginia Tech, was charged and convicted in April 2009 with two counts of distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school zone according to wsls.com.

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Lamar Cardinals welcomes Prairie View A&M for home opener

BEAUMONT, Texas - Lamar University will look to even its record Saturday evening at Provost Umphrey Stadium when the Cardinals play their football home opener against Prairie View A&M. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in a battle between Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams.

Lamar is coming off a 40-0 loss at Louisiana-Lafayette last Saturday to open the season in the Cardinals' first game against a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team since reinstating the program in 2010. PV opened its season with a 44-41 Southwestern Athletic Conference loss to Texas Southern from Reliant Stadium.

Saturday's contest can be heard live in the Golden Triangle on KLVI 560 AM with Harold Mann providing the play-by-play and former LU linebacker Bo Brown serving as analyst. It can also be watched live through the Lamar Athletics Web site at www.LamarCardinals.com/allaccess.

In addition to the action on the field, the halftime show will feature outstanding band performances by Lamar's "Showcase of Southeast Texas" and Prairie View's "Marching Storm." Approximately 3,000 tickets remain for the game with ticket prices range from $15 to $30. Season ticket packages in all price ranges are available. For ticket information, call (409) 880-1715, or visit LamarCardinals.com.



"We need everybody to up and get out and pack this thing and make a lot of noise and maybe do to Prairie View what Lafayette did to us," said LU head coach Ray Woodard about having a home field advantage. "Let's get behind our team and be loud and come early and stay late and let's have a party."

This will be just the second ever meeting on the gridiron between the two schools. Lamar took down the Panthers 30-7 on Sept. 14, 1985, between 222 rushing yards and two touchdowns by running back Burton Murchison.

Lamar fans got to see junior transfer quarterback Ryan Mossakowski playing his first game for the Cardinals last week at Lafayette. The former high school All-America finished his first game with 81 passing yards on 12-of-19 attempts.

Redshirt sophomore Caleb Berry also saw time at quarterback against the Ragin' Cajuns and finished 6-of-10 for 75 yards with an interception.

"We're holding the ball too long on the throws," said Woodard about his quarterbacks' play Saturday. "We've got to understand that throwing the ball away is not a bad play sometimes. For the most part, the protection was better than most people thought it was because we held on too long."

Senior wide receiver Barry Ford proved to be a favorite target as he matched his career-high with five catches for 48 yards. Lamar wide receivers accounted for 13 of the 18 completions on the night.

Despite allowing 40 points, Lamar's defense played fairly well against Louisiana-Lafayette. The Cajuns took possession deep in Cardinal territory following four LU turnovers and had to settle for field goals on three of the four turnovers.

Lamar limited UL to 346 yards of total offense and held All-Sun Belt Conference quarterback Blaine Gautier to 7-of-18 passing for 142 yards.

Junior defensive back Chad Allen led all players with nine tackles, adding a fumble recovery. Fellow junior Jesse Dickson added seven tackles with two going for loss.

Lamar's defense will have to play well again this week against a Prairie View offense which put up 500 yards of total offense in its season opener. The Panthers had good balance on offense with 275 passing yards and 235 yards on the ground.

Sophomore running back Fred Anderson carried 17 times for 107 yards, while fellow sophomore Courtney Browne scored three times with 86 rushing yards. Sophomore quarterback De'Auntre Smiley was 13-of-20 for 196 yards before being knocked from the game.

Second year head coach Heishma Northern returns seven starters on defense. PV allowed 544 yards to Texas Southern in the season opener, but the Panthers did cause three turnovers. Junior linebacker Raheem Cardwell and sophomore defensive back Terrance Mitchell each had eight tackles against the Tigers.

"They're a very athletic team," said Woodard about the Panthers. "Offensively, they're going to spread the field and they're going to throw it when they think you've got a lot of guys on the line and they're going to run it when you've backed off.

"Defensively, it's almost the same thing. They're very athletic. They run around and fly around. They're coming off a very disappointing loss and I'm sure they're thinking that they kind of let one get away and they see this as a great opportunity to come over here and get their first win. They're well coached and disciplined and we're going to have our hands full."

COURTESY LAMAR UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Texas Southern on Road for North Texas Mean Green Opener

DENTON, Texas - The second season at Apogee Stadium begins Saturday night as North Texas opens the home schedule against Texas Southern at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on TXA 21 in Dallas/Fort Worth and heard on the Mean Green Radio Network.

The Mean Green fell on the road to LSU 41-14 to open the season while the Tigers won on a last second field goal over Prairie View A&M 44-41 in their season opener.

North Texas is 55-24-2 all-time in home opening games. However the Mean Green has lost seven of the last eight home openers with the only win during that time coming in a victory over SMU in 2006.

The Mean Green is looking to avoid an 0-2 start to the season for the third straight year. Since returning to FBS in 1995, North Texas has started the year out with a 1-1 record only six times, with the most recent being 2009.

GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Apogee StadiumCapacity: 30,850Playing Surface: Sportexe PowerBlade HPSeries Record: First meetingLast Meeting: First meetingIn Denton: First meeting
Radio: KHYI 95.3 FMKNTU 88.1 FMTV: TXA 21 (DFW)
Live Stats: www.MeanGreenSports.com
Webcast: www.MeanGreenSports.com




Redshirt freshman Zac Whitfield had his first career interception against LSU. It was the first interception by a Mean Green freshman since Jeremy Phillips in 2009.

Digging deeper finds that Whitfield's interception was the first by a freshman for North Texas cornerback since Antoine Bush in 2006. Additionally there were 98 players in the nation with interceptions after the first week and Whitfield was one of only seven freshman nationally to have a pick.

With 184 all-purpose yards against LSU, Brelan Chancellor sits just 240 all-purpose yards away from being in the top-10 all-time at North Texas. He would become the fifth player since 2001 with more than 3,000 all-purpose yards in their career with the Mean Green.

The North Texas offensive line did not allow a sack against LSU. The Mean Green is one of 28 teams in the nation that did not allow a sack after the first week.

Since returning to FBS (Div. I-A) football in 1995, North Texas is 5-0 against teams from the FCS (Div. I-AA). The Mean Green has only played one FCS team in the last 11 seasons, a 23-0 win over Nicholls State in 2002. North Texas also defeated Samford 41-6 in 2000, Indiana State 41-6 in 1997, Illinois State 20-14 in 1996 and Idaho State 41-38 in 1995.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS




COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Delaware readies for rematch against Delaware State Hornets

NEWARK, Delaware - The Route 1 Rivalry will be rekindled at the University of Delaware in Newark this weekend as the Blue Hens once again welcome the Delaware State Hornets to Delaware Stadium.

After decades of never facing each other on the football field, the state's two top programs meet again this Saturday. The University of Delaware is coming off a season opening win over West Chester last Thursday, 41-21. Delaware State also won their season opener last week, topping Virginia Military Institute 17-10.

This is the third time the in-state rivals have met. The Hens have dominated the past three contests, winning by an average margin of 30 points. Last year, UD shut out DSU 45-0. But, Blue Hen head coach K.C. Keeler isn't taking the Hornets lightly. "They look a lot further along this year than last year," said Keeler Tuesday.

"They’re a lot more comfortable in their system." He says the DSU offense is made up of a solid core of seniors and even though the Hornets defense lost a number of upperclassmen, the team still has a lot of players who saw action on defense last season. "They had a lot of backups that were in the game early last year are playing against us this year, so it’s a pretty experienced team."

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Adjei shifts focus to stopping Delaware Hens

DOVER, Delaware — Delaware State led Virginia Military Institute by three points with less than four minutes to play in Saturday’s football season opener.  The Keydets had a first-and-goal from the Hornets’ 4-yard line.

VMI handed the ball off to tailback David Turner, who went abolutely nowhere, thanks to DSU senior middle linebacker Ernest Adjei. His tackle forced VMI to kick a tying field goal and gave DSU the chance to score the winning touchdown on its next possession.

“It was great to see Ernest [Adjei] have that success and to be the leader that he is,” said Mike Ketchum, DSU’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. “That’s the way to step up when it counts.”

The funny thing is, Adjei, who was in on six tackles and had 2½ for loss against VMI, isn’t even thinking about that anymore. For Adjei and Delaware State, it’s all about traveling to Delaware Stadium on Saturday for the renewal of the First State rivalry at 3:30 p.m.

“Last week is over. We’ve got to get focused on Delaware,” said Adjei, who is 6-foot, 230 pounds. “That’s the opponent and it’s a very big game, so we’ve really got to focus on this week. We watched film when they played West Chester [last week] and we believe it’s doable. We’re focused.”



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Delaware State University Approaching Storm Marching Band performing at the
Rehoboth Beach Bandstand, Rehoboth, DE, 9/2/2012.

Preview: Savannah State Tigers at No. 6 Florida State Seminoles

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Savannah State (0-1, 0-0 MEAC) at No. 6 Florida State (1-0, 0-0 ACC)

Kickoff: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET (ESPN3)

Spread: No line

Watchability: Oklahoma State beat Savannah State 84-0 last week, and Florida State beat Murray State, a team that received votes in the preseason FCS top 25 polls, 69-3. It's tough to come up with a compelling reason to tune into this one.

Shining Stars: Florida State: Defensive end Bjoern Werner had four sacks against Murray State last week. He could have another field day Saturday. Werner will be playing without fellow end Brandon Jenkins who is out for the year with a foot injury. Savannah State: Tight end Kris Drummond was named to the preseason all-conference second team. Drummond had just one catch for five yards against Oklahoma State. Cornerback John Wilson intercepted a pass last week.

Who could steal the show: Florida State: At 6-2, 226 pounds, running back James Wilder, Jr. is a load to tackle. He had 12 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns against Murray State. Savannah State: Running back Alex Simmons came off the bench last week to rush for 40 yards on nine carries against Oklahoma State.

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Morgan State Bears Face Buffalo Bulls on Saturday at 6 p.m

Gamenotes


GAME TIME
The Bears (1-0, 0-0) will begin the first of four consecutive road tests when they travel north to face Buffalo Bulls on Saturday (Sept. 8). The Bulls, a member of the BCS, enter the 2012 season under the leadership of second-year head coach Jeff Quinn. Buffalo is coming off a 45-23 loss at Georgia and will be hosting the Bears for a home-opener at UB Stadium. Morgan State pulled out a 30-27 victory against Sacred Heart in a game that was decided after four overtimes last Saturday in Hughes Stadium. Game time at UB Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.

THE BEARS-BULLS MATCHUP
• The Bears and Bulls will meet for the third time in history. The series is tied 1-1.

QUICK HITS
• Morgan State will enter the 2012 season with plenty of veterans ... the Bears' roster includes 22 seniors.
• Seth Higgins returns as the Bears starting QB ... He completed 97-of-186 passes for 1,116 yards, including 9 TDs as a true freshman. He threw for 153 yards (14-of-31, INT) in the season-opener vs. Sacred Heart.
• Morgan State returns three of its top rushers from last season: Travis Davidson (792 yards), Tracy Martin (317 yards) and Brian Mann (101 yards).
• Travis Davidson had a 70-yard touchdown run and led the Bears with 107 yards and two touchdowns against Sacred Heart (9/1).
• MSU wideout Andrew Mitchell led the Bears with five catches for 61 yards against Sacred Heart in his first career start.
• Kenneth Ridley emerged as a shutdown cornerback in 2011 and ranked T-No. 2 in the MEAC with four interceptions...he collected his first pick of the season vs. Sacred Heart in Week 1.
• LB Elandon Roberts posted a game-high 11 tackles to go along with two tackles for loss in his first collegiate start as a true freshman last Saturday.
• DE Richard Ndubueze was selected
to the 2012 Preseason All-MEAC First Team.
• Against Sacred Heart, junior blur Chris Flowers had three kickoff returns for 93 yards, including a 42-yarder in the first quarter...he also had 4 rec. for 40 yards.
• Statistically, the Bears posted 323 yards of total offense (74 plays) against Sacred Heart, while the Pioneers finished with 441 yards on 98 plays.

BUFFALO THUMBNAILS
• Branden Oliver (Miami, Fla.) will lead the Buffalo ground attack this fall. The 5-8, 202-pound junior posted 111 yards on 30 carries and scored a touchdown versus Georgia. He was named to three preseason watch lists: The Walter Camp, Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award. He was the only MAC player to make all three lists.

• Alex Neutz returns as the Bulls top target on offense. He led the team with four touchdowns, 641 receiving yards, including three games with over 100 yards last season. Neutz led the Bulls with five catches for 52 yards and a touchdown against Georgia.

NEXT UP:
Morgan State will travel to take on the Akron Zips on Sept. 15th. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 pm. at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

42nd President Bill Clinton Delivers Home Run Endorsement of President Obama

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - The anticipation was building from the opening gavel on Wednesday night. Delegates buzzed about the featured speakers, from young new Democratic leaders to established veterans. But none of the night’s lineup drew as much buzz as the “big guy,” former President William J. Clinton.

Delegate Mae Flexer of Connecticut was effusive about the 42nd President’s planned speech. “He’s going to be amazing. I’m really excited to hear his message of why we need to reelect the President,” he said.

Washington State delegate Gus Mansour saw the importance of such a big address. “I think having Bill Clinton nominate president Obama shows a lot about the unity of our party. We support one another and it makes us stronger,” he said.

After an impassioned “warm-up” act from Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, President Clinton took the stage to thunderous applause.


Former President Bill Clinton addresses the 2012 Democratic National Convention. He is joined on stage following his speech by President Barack Obama.

The former President played to the crowd, reminding them of the challenges they face. “Maybe just because I grew up in a different time, but though I often disagree with Republicans, I actually never learned to hate them the way the far right that now controls their party seems to hate our president and a lot of other Democrats.”

He then reminded them of exactly why he’s a proud Democrat. “We Democrats,” he reasoned, “think the country works better with a strong middle class, with real opportunities for poor folks to work their way into it with a relentless focus on the future, with business and government actually working together to promote growth and broadly share prosperity.

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Stillman Tigers adjust schedule for televised game

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama | Stillman College's football game against cross-state rival Tuskegee has been moved to a Thursday night and will be regionally televised.

The game, originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 13, will now be played on Thursday, Oct. 11, at Stillman Stadium on the college's campus. Kickoff is now set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be televised on CSS.



“I think it's great for the conference, great for the school to get some exposure. They've got some great athletes and we're looking forward to it. It's a great in-state rivalry,” Stillman coach Teddy Keaton said.

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference approached Stillman about moving the game. It is the only SIAC regular-season league game that will be televised this season.

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Benedict Tigers up for air time again

TONIGHTS GAME
Who: Benedict vs. Bowie State
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Charlie W. Johnson Stadium
TV: CBS Sports Network (Time Warner Cable channel 537)

COLUMBIA, South Carolina - The last time Benedict was in the national television spotlight, the Tigers were humiliated at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium by SIAC rival Fort Valley State.

Four days after that 40-23 Thursday night debacle to an 0-3 team on Comcast SportsNet, James Woody was hired to replace Stan Conner.

Benedict gets a chance at redemption in the spotlight tonight in its home opener against Bowie State. It is one of six NCAA Division II games scheduled for broadcast this season on the CBS Sports Network.

“This is a great honor, and a great opportunity for our young football team,” said Woody, who is 1-6 since taking over for Conner. “I think this shows that Benedict is doing great things. It’s great exposure for our students, our alumni and our fans. Hopefully, we can pack the stadium and create some excitement that our team can feed off.”

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FAMU suspends dance team after new hazing allegation

From the Florida A&M University Press Office:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M University (FAMU) Interim President Larry Robinson moved swiftly today ordering the immediate suspension of the Torque Dance Team following an alleged off-campus hazing incident. FAMU received an anonymous report today that the alleged incident occurred during the Labor Day weekend.

According to the Office of Student Activities, the organization was inactive since December 2011 due to the absence of an advisor.

The University has officially launched an investigation based on the anonymous report made by a parent to the university at 1:45 pm today. Robinson said the group is suspended until further notice, pending an investigation. Robinson said the campus police chief, dean of students and director of student activities have all been notified of the alleged incident.

“The University takes very seriously any allegation of hazing and has moved quickly to shut the organization down pending the outcome of an investigation,” said Robinson. “We have zero tolerance for hazing. It‘s deplorable and will not be tolerated. It is unconscionable that a student organization would participate in any hazing activity considering what has transpired in the past year.”

Earlier this year, FAMU suspended new membership intake for all clubs and organizations and implemented more strict procedures as a result of the death of Robert Champion.

Among the revised and new procedures to the intake process are a mandatory “Rattlers First” Membership Orientation, conflict resolution, new member rights and responsibilities, and student organization recertification provided by the Office of Student Activities for current and new members throughout the year. These workshops will address topics such as anti-hazing, community service, time management and professional development. Each potential member of the club or organization must attend these workshops to be considered for membership.

END.



FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson says the anonymous tip from a parent reported alleged hazing within the all-female Torque Dance Team that purportedly included alcohol consumption and running up hills.

"It does appear that this is a group that is not getting the message," says Robinson. "I am re-stating the message to those who are coming to these sessions tonight. We want to help bring home the point that we are very serious that there is nothing about this that is necessary to be part of an organization at Florida A&M."

Rutgers insists its focus is strictly on Howard despite USF looming

PISCATAWAY, New Jersey - The perfect scenario for Rutgers during its home opener on Saturday when Howard University visits is this: Another quick, easy victory against a MEAC opponent -- a league the Knights have overwhelmed since 2006 -- that enables coach Kyle Flood to pull his starters early in anticipation of next Thursday's Big East opener against USF.

If it works out that way, Flood would gladly accept it. But he isn't going into the game with any preconceived notions, even though Rutgers is 6-0 against MEAC schools by a combined 278-14 since 2006.

"If the game presents itself like that then you'd have the opportunity to do it, and certainly it could help you in a short week," Flood said following practice today. "But we don't think in those terms as a coaching staff. We are going to go out there the first play and fire all the bullets in the gun, so to speak, and see how well we can play.

"If something like that ...

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Game Day Central: Norfolk State Spartans at Liberty U. Flames

WILLIAMS STADIUM
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

Game Day Central Page
Note: Includes all important Game Day links (Live Stats, Live Video, Williams Stadium info, Directions, Parking, Ticket information, etc.)

Game Notes:

Norfolk State Game Notes (.pdf)

Television Coverage:
Flagship Station:
Liberty Channel - Local Coverage

National Coverage: ESPN3.com

ESPN GamePlan

MASN2 - Local/Regional Coverage
DirecTV – Channel 641
Dish Network – Channel 433

 

Regional Coverage:
WSET 13.2 - Local/Regional Coverage

JCTV - National Coverage

Christian Television Network - Regional Coverage

Legacy Television Network – Regional Coverage

Radio Coverage:

Broadcast Times:
Pregame Tailgating Show: 5:30 p.m.

Flagship Station: Victory FM (88.3 FM WRVL)

Network Affiliates: Click here for Complete Network Affiliates listing

Liberty in Home Openers:
• All-Time Record: 25-13-1
• Last 10 Home Openers: 9-1
• Liberty has won nine home opening games in a row.
• Liberty's last loss in a home opener was against Western Carolina, 23-2, on Aug. 31, 2002

Norfolk State Preview:
• Series with the Spartans: Liberty leads, 3-1
• Last Meeting: Nov. 19, 2005 at Norfolk State – L/ 17-34
• Liberty is 2-0 when facing Norfolk State at Williams Stadiums, recording home wins over the Spartans in 1998 (45-12) and 2003 (69-21).
• Norfolk State comes into the game after opening the season with a 24-0 shutout victory over Virginia State at home on Saturday.
• Norfolk State is the defending MEAC champion and finished the 2011 season 9-3 (7-1 MEAC).
• Norfolk State is the first of three-straight opponents Liberty will face who advanced to the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 2011.

COURTESY LIBERTY UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Richmond to Return to FVSU Wildcats

FORT VALLEY, Georgia - This past Saturday when Fort Valley State pulled a season opening upset over Number 16 ranked Delta State, they were missing a key member of the offense that virtually went unnoticed.

But sophomore Travis Richmond is back in the lineup and hoping to make a splash after what Coach Don Pittman calls a personal matter forced the former SIAC freshman of the year to sit out game one. The former Peach County Trojan was a triple threat on the field in his 2011 debut. Richmond rushed for 574 yards, caught 14 passes and averaged 15 yards per kickoff return though only suiting up in 8 games.

"Travis will be able to play this week", says Pittman. "Right now he is just going through the acclimation period, and he should be ok. Travis is one of the best running backs in the country on any level so he is going to add excitement to our offense." Richmond and the Wildcats take on Valdosta State Saturday night on the road. Pittman expects to see Richmond not only in the backfield but fielding punts and kicks as well.

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Volleyball Team Set to Play in KSU Owls Classic

(Photo Courtesy: Tennessee State University Athletics)

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -  This weekend, the Tennessee State volleyball team will travel to Kennesaw, Ga. for the KSU Owls Classic.

The Tigers will play in four contests and the classic marks the third tournament in as many weeks that the Tigers have participated in.

On Sept. 7, TSU will play a pair of opponents in Chattanooga and the host school Kennesaw State. The Tigers will square off against North Carolina Central and the University of Troy on the following day.

For Tennessee State (3-4), the classic will be an opportunity to get back in the win column after going 0-3 in last weekend's Portland Nike® Invitational. It could also allow TSU to get over .500 before heading into conference play.

So far this season, sophomore outside hitter Naomi Wells has been the team's most dominant offensive player. She currently is first in the conference in points with 111.5, and she has averaged 3.88 kills per set. Fellow sophomores Rachel Ambroch and Sherryce Butler have also played well, racking up 62 and 61 kills, respectively.

Junior setter Erika Moss has supported TSU attackers well during the young season, tallying a team-high 231 assists. She is also second on the team in service aces with seven.

Defensively, senior libero Britani Hathorn is the Tigers' leader in digs with 94, and freshman middle blocker Lindsay Hornsby has a team-high 15 blocks.

The first opponent that the Tigers will face in the KSU Owls Classic will be Chattanooga. The Mocs are 4-3 this season, but are winless on the road. If Chattanooga is to get its first road win at some point during this weekend's tournament, the team will need Paula Passmore (seven digs per set) to continue her strong work defensively.

In Friday's nightcap, Kennesaw State hosts the Tigers at 7 p.m. KSU also has a 4-3 record, including a win over Mississippi State on the road. Turea Jones has led the Owls on offense this season and averages a team-best 3.2 kills per set.

TSU will wake up early on Saturday morning and play fellow HBCU North Carolina Central- the third opponent of the classic. NCCU has struggled to a 1-8 start, but are currently second in the MEAC in hitting percentage, assists, kills and service aces.

The final opponent for the Tigers will be Troy at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Troy Trojans are 3-4 on the year, but two of their losses have been at Georgia and against Auburn. Courtney Cohen is the key player for Troy, and she sits at second in the conference in digs per set with 5.33.

The Tigers will be seeking their fourth win of the season when they play their first match of the KSU Owls Classic against Chattanooga on Sept. 7 at 2:30 p.m.

Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers and Twitter @TSU_Tigers.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Grambling heads to Lone Star State to challenge No. 20 TCU

FORT WORTH, Texas – The 20th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs finally get their 2012 season off the ground this weekend as they challenge the Grambling State Tigers in the refurbished Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

TCU, which just invested $164 million to revamp the under-sized venue, is now part of the Big 12 Conference after spending several years in the Mountain West where it built a 24-game conference win streak which is the longest in the nation.

Head coach Gary Patterson, who needs one more victory to give him 110 which will make him the winningest coach in program history, has developed the Horned Frogs into a national power. Patterson, who has the fourth-best winning percentage among active coaches at .784, has won 26 of the last 27 games played at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

Last season, the team kicked off the campaign on the road yet again and had to do so against a Baylor squad that was ...

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Alabama State must stop run against Mississippi Valley

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Football can be complex.  There are myriad formations and as many audibles out of those formations into others. There are techniques, reads, down-and-distance situations to remember and two-minute drills to run to perfection.

But the game is also awfully simple at times. Often, the difference between winning and losing boils down to the most rudimentary aspects such as stopping the run.

It's an issue Alabama State will have to address, following its 38-28 loss to Bethune-Cookman in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando this past Sunday. Alabama State led 21-0 before crumbling in the second half. 

 The Hornets  gave up 367 yards on the ground in the loss to the Wildcats, who led their conference in rushing last year. Wildcats running backs Isidore Jackson and Rodney Scott both had 100-plus yard outings. Jackson led the way with 123 yards on 21 carries and Scott had 103 yards and a touchdown while toting the rock 13 times.

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Doing 'little things' led to Alcorn State's upset victory

LORMAN, Mississippi - First-year Alcorn State football coach Jay Hopson had a simple message for his team at halftime.

You've tried it your way, now try mine.

Trailing preseason SWAC favorite Grambling State 14-6 at the half of last Saturday's Port City Classic in Shreveport, Hopson reminded his players of one of his favorite coaching adages.

"You have to do things right if you're going to be successful," Hopson said. "It's all about letting them know they have to do the little things ... that's what football comes down to."

Alcorn went on to score 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to open the Hopson era with a dramatic - and unexpected - 22-21 victory over the defending SWAC champions.

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Benedict to host Bowie State on national stage in DII game of the week

BOWIE STATE at BENEDICT Watch: Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. ET Stats: Benedict | Bowie State | National

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Tigers will be in the national spotlight on Thursday night, and head football coach James Woody said a packed Charlie W. Johnson Stadium will help the Tigers against a big and fast Bowie State team.

“We're a very young football team, but we're very excited about the opportunity,” Woody said. “With us being home, I really think that's going to give us momentum. We just hope we get everyone out to the game and pack this stadium because our kids feed off that energy. I think we can pack the stands here with everyone very excited and we'll feed off the crowd and get some energy.”

Thursday night's game will be part of CBS Sports Network's Division II Game of the Week package. This is the seventh season CBS Sports Network has broadcast NCAA Division II regular-season games. Two years ago, the Tigers had a basketball game on CBS Sports Network.

CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers on Verizon FiOS channel 94 and AT&T U-Verse channel 643 (1643 in HD) and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 613 and Dish Network Channel 158. In Columbia, the channel is available on Time Warner Cable channel 537 (1537 in HD) or Sky Angel channel 323. It is also carried on Benedict College's on-campus cable channel 32.

A video stream will also be available at ncaa.com.

Thursday night's game will also be available on a national radio broadcast, as Heritage Sports Radio Network will broadcast the game. HSRN is available on SiriusXM channel 128 as well as streamed over the Internet at www.hsrn.com.
The Benedict athletic department has been blanketing the Columbia area with tickets, providing free tickets to school children and everyone 17 and under.

The Tigers will be looking to rebound from Saturday's season-opening 28-7 loss to Virginia Union. Despite the final score, Woody said after studying the film, he was encouraged with several aspects of the team.

“Overall, I thought we played well,” Woody said. “The defense played extremely well. Offensively, we didn't sustain some drives. We've got to get better on third-down conversions. That really, really hurt us.”

Benedict converted on five of 17 attempts on third down, while holding the VUU Panthers to 1-for-18. But the Panthers did convert on one fourth-down attempt, which resulted in a touchdown.

The Benedict offense struggled at times. Freshman quarterback Marcus Graham was 12-for-25 for 119 yards and one interception. Chris Thomas came in and sparked the team to its only touchdown, and was 4-for-9 for 67 yards. Woody said the quarterback job is still up for grabs.

“Right now, Marcus is still our starter. Hopefully he can put this thing together,” Woody said. “Chris is coming along real, real strong. I have confidence in both of those guys playing, and, hopefully, after that they will be able to separate themselves. Right now, they're not able to separate themselves, they're so inconsistent.

“But that job is still up for grabs, so we'll see what happens after these next couple of practices.”

Woody said another key for Thursday night will be to hang on to the football. The Tigers had three turnovers against Virginia Union, including fumbling the second-half opening kickoff when they trailed just 12-7.

The Bulldogs come into the game riding a lot of momentum. Bowie State rallied from a 14-point deficit, including scoring the winning touchdown with just five seconds left in the game for a 24-20 victory over Assumption. Assumption went ahead with 33 seconds left, but Bowie State moved the ball 65 yards in just 28 seconds for the winning score.

Bowie State quarterback Jared Johnston threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Douglas McNeil III had seven catches for 144 yards.

Running back Keith Brown was All-CIAA last year as a freshman, but was held to just 23 yards against Assumption. The Bulldogs sport a front line that averages 300 pounds.

“I know they're a good football team, a very talented team,” Woody said. “They have great speed, great size. It's going to be a challenge for us, but we look forward to it.”

COURTESY BENEDICT COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

First lady Michelle Obama’s full speech at the Democratic National Convention; President Obama speaks at NSU

Remarks by the First Lady at the Democratic National Convention, September 4, 2012 Transcript



Remarks by the President (Transcript) at a Campaign Event -- Norfolk, VA at Norfolk State University



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VISIT: BARACKOBAMA.COM

The Show: 2012 Port City Classic - Alcorn State Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite vs. Grambling State "World Famous" Tigers

Bethune-Cookman coach says Pough ‘preparing for war’ in key game

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Boxing is clearly on Brian Jenkins’ mind when he discusses South Carolina State football.

The Bethune-Cookman head football coach has likened the two previous meetings against S.C. State (1-0) to the famous trilogy of bouts between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.



Not surprisingly, Jenkins sees the latest installment of the Wildcats/Bulldogs rivalry at 6 p.m. Saturday as a potential “Thriller in Manila” – this time taking place on the gridiron of Willie Jeffries Field at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

“I’m expecting for it to be another heavyweight fight,” said Jenkins during Tuesday’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teleconference. “You’ve got two proud (teams) that want to go at it and they want the victory. South Carolina State is another championship-caliber team that’s on our schedule and we feel that we’re a top-level team and they’re going to go head-to-head. They’re well-coached. They got a lot of talent. They’re playing at a high level and it’s a cat-and-a-dog fight and everybody knows when a cat and a dog get into a fight, it’s very serious. So it’s going to be another good football game and people should tune in.”

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Alabama State defensive lineman Derrick Billups ruled ineligible for this season

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Derrick Billups, the projected starter for Alabama State at defensive tackle this season, has been ruled academically ineligible for the season, Hornet head coach Reggie Barlow announced.

The Hornets were counting on the 6-foot-2, 310-pound junior to take the place of graduated senior Kynjee Cotton and shore up a Hornet rushing defense that ranked eighth in the 10-team Southwestern Athletic Conference last season.

Those problems were evident on Sunday when Bethune-Cookman rushed for 367 yards in a 38-28 win over the Hornets in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge in Orlando.

“Losing Billups is a tough, tough thing on us,” Barlow said. “We just have to keep going.”

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Early-season showdown in the MEAC

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina - It’s only the second week of the season, but there’s a big conference game in the MEAC on Saturday between South Carolina State and Bethune-Cookman.

Both teams posted impressive season-opening victories. The Bulldogs thrashed Georgia State 33-6 in its season opener in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, while the Wildcats posted a huge come-from-behind 38-28 win over Alabama State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. SC State and B-CU, along with defending champ Norfolk State, are the top teams in the MEAC. This early-season conference matchup should be a good one.

It looks like Bulldogs coach Buddy Pough has a good field general in Richard Cue, the redshirt junior quarterback. Cue had a career-high 300 yards passing in the victory over Georgia State, completing 19 of 29 passes for three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Cue has a tremendous passing game with wide receivers Caleb Davis, Lennel Elmore and Tyler McDonald, who can really stretch the field. Davis led the team in receptions with 10 catches for 110 yards. Elmore had three receptions for 117 yards, including a 72-yard TD pass, while McDonald scored two touchdowns on three catches for 52 yards.

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Conditioning was key factor in Bethune-Cookman's opening win

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Bethune-Cookman's Harold Love saw the telltale sign early in the second quarter Sunday.

Alabama State was leading 21-0, but the Hornets were already dragging, wilting in the heat and humidity that is commonplace in the state of Florida midday in September.



“One thing our coach teaches us is not to have our hands on our hips,'' said Love, a 6-foot-3, 325-pound defensive tackle. “Once we see the other team with their hands on their hips, that means go attack. I saw a lot of hands on hips and that's a sign of weakness. Once we saw that we just mashed the gas.''

The Wildcats (1-0) rallied to a 38-28 victory over the Hornets in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, but now B-CU has a short-week to prepare for Saturday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener against South Carolina State (1-0).

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