It's road-trip time for area teams, but NCCU won't go far

 

DURHAM, North Carolina - It’s Week 2 of the college football season, and unfortunately for Triangle-area fans all the local Division I teams are on the road today.

Fortunately for road-trippers, a couple of them are not too far away. At 7 p.m. N.C. Central (1-0), which drubbed former CIAA foe Fayetteville State 54-31 in its opener, will be at Elon in the only non-conference FCS game for both teams. NCCU trails Elon 8-3 in the all-time series, including a 23-22 heartbreaker at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium last year.

Matt Goggans was solid in his NCCU debut at quarterback, completing 15 of 26 for 223 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Geo Irvine caught Goggans’ 20-yard TD pass and scored on a 31-yard punt return.

Elon quarterback Thomas Wilson completed 13 of 27 for 99 yards and was intercepted twice against the Tar Heels.

“I thought we played extremely hard (against FSU),” NCCU coach Henry Frazier said...

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President Barack Obama's Remarks at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

Transcript of Full Remarks by the President at the Democratic National Convention



Vice President Joe Biden's Remarks at the 2012 Democratic National Convention - Full Speech

IT'S IRVINE VS. MELLETTE: NCCU vs. Elon

DURHAM, North Carolina - Saturday’s N.C. Central-Elon matchup this weekend has the principals necessary for a tale of two receivers. NCCU’s cast features redshirt senior Geovonie Irvine (5-7, 161), a dynamic, albeit diminutive, playmaker out of Hillside High School.

Ranked fourth all-time among NCCU receivers with 144 career catches and sixth with 1,999 receiving yards, Irvine had six grabs for 79 yards Saturday in a 54-31 season-opening win against Fayetteville State.



That included a 20-yard reception from NCCU quarterback Matt Goggans and a punt return for a touchdown. Irvine is small but played big enough to show up on Elon’s radar. “He made some plays this past Saturday,” Elon coach Jason Swepson said of Irvine.

Elon quarterback Thomas Wilson has a bigger target in senior receiver Aaron Mellette (6-4, 220), a Sanford native who topped the Football Championship Subdivision in receiving yards last year with 1,639 — 149 a game.

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Alabama State football: Hornets hope cramping issues behind them

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - A week later, Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow still has no answers.

All the preparation, all the preseason conditioning, did little to help the Hornets as they wilted in the Florida heat in the second half of last week’s 38-28 loss to Bethune-Cookman in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

“At one point, I think we had eight starters on defense that were cramped up and coming out for a play or two plays or a series,” he said. “I usually handle the conditioning and running during practice and I felt like our approach — making sure we were in the element (with afternoon practices) — was to make sure we simulated (the game atmosphere) as much as possible.”



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Showtime for Rattlers, FAMU seniors eye OU game

Norman, Oklahoma - Oklahoma can strike quickly and often out of its no-huddle offense and the FAMU defensive unit has focused on the Sooners all week in preparation for Saturday’s game.

From what they have seen the Rattlers must know the challenge presented by Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones and his receivers. Some of them, especially the seniors on defense, know they’ll also be under the radar based on the reported interest that NFL scouts have been showing.

They heard a lot about how they are not expected to win against the fifth-ranked FBS team in the county. But even if the odds play out, the potential NFL prospects said they plan to make the stage at Owen Field their showcase.

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Florida A&M suspends four players for Oklahoma game

NORMAN - Florida A&M won’t have a full roster when the Rattlers face Oklahoma on Saturday night.

FAMU coach Joe Taylor announced the suspensions of four players on Tuesday. Included is the team’s top defensive back and wide receiver in 2011.

Cornerback Devontae Johnson, who had a team-high five interceptions last year, and wide receiver Lenworth Lennon (team-best 45 catches last fall) won’t be available after being suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

Wide receiver Dewayne Harvey and backup offensive lineman Daniel Lennon also will miss the game, which kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday.

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OU players lament absence of Florida A&M's famed marching band

NORMAN, Oklahoma  -  Someone mentioned Florida A&M's famous Marching 100 band, and for a moment Roy Finch forgot.

"Oh, man. Their band? It's one of the best bands in the whole country. You're gonna be on the edge of your seats. They'll be jiggin'," said Finch, the Oklahoma slot/running back from Niceville, Fla. "You're gonna have a good time. It's gonna get ya up."

No, sadly, it's not.

The Marching 100 won't be joining the Rattlers football team at Owen Field on Saturday night. They won't be playing Norman or anywhere else for a while.



The band that has performed at Super Bowls, presidential inaugurations and Grammy Awards has been suspended by Florida A&M University in the aftermath of the death of Robert Champion last November.

Champion was a 26-year-old drum major in the Marching 100 who, according to investigators, died after being beaten during a hazing ritual inside one of the band's buses.

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SC State looks to start run to MEAC crown

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina - South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough liked what he saw from his team in beating Georgia State. He didn't have so good a time watching football the rest of the weekend, particularly seeing Bethune-Cookman rally past Alabama State.

"If anyone saw that, Bethune looked as good as anyone I've seen in some time," Pough said this week.

South Carolina State (1-0) takes on Bethune-Cookman (1-0) at Bulldog Stadium on Saturday to try and get an early leg up in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title chase. Pough's teams won titles from 2008 to 2010, but fell short last season. The players and coaches have used that as motivation during the offseason.



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Savannah State savors another chance to 'shock the world'

SAVANNAH, Georgia - As Savannah State's football players wrapped up preparations for their Saturday trip to Tallahassee and Doak Campbell Stadium, the Tigers became the butt of another joke Thursday afternoon.

Las Vegas oddsmakers announced the Tigers as 70-point underdogs against sixth-ranked Florida State, a number believed to be the largest point spread in the history of college football.

But while everyone on the outside seems to be concerned for the Tigers' feelings, not to mention their physical well-being, the players and coaches insist they have taken the daunting schedule as business as usual.

Even after an 84-0 loss to Oklahoma State on Sept. 1, they say they are as excited about playing Florida State as they were when they first learned of the matchup in the spring.

"We're really not worried about the past," said freshman offensive lineman Percy Griffin, who played at Godby High in Tallahassee. "Coach tells us that's the past, you can't change...

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Method to Savannah State’s Madness?

It’s not often that a team from the FCS’ Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is the subject of national headlines. In 2012, Savannah (GA) State has bucked this trend. But not for the better.

Last Saturday, in their first game of the season, the Tigers traveled to Oklahoma State as 67.5-point underdogs and failed to cover the record spread, losing 84–0. The road doesn’t get easier for Savannah State as they travel to Tallahassee this Saturday to face sixth-ranked Florida State. The spread could, once again, be in the 50- to 60-point range.

The Tigers are being compensated for these early-season blowouts to the tune of $860,000 combined from the Cowboys and Seminoles. The cash will be used to lend stability to a football program which has gone through six coaches and been placed on NCAA probation twice since 2001.

There’s also been two lawsuits that have sucked the athletic department of money. Former football coach Robby Wells – who is white – sued for racial discrimination after resigning in 2010. The case was settled for $240,000, according to The New York Times. Four players are still suing the school for allegedly reneging on scholarships due to racial discrimination.

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TSU Big Blue Seeks 2-0 Start Against Jackson State

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - On Saturday, the Tennessee State football team will travel to Memphis to take on Jackson State in the 23^rd annual Southern Heritage Classic at Liberty Bowl Stadium.

This marks the 19th year in a row (and 21st overall) that the teams have squared off in this Classic which began in 1990. Tennessee State had won seven straight in the series until Jackson State pulled out a 33-26 victory in 2010 and added a 35-29 win a season ago.

Tennessee State is 11-11 all-time in the event while Jackson State is 9-11. The all-time series between the two schools is at 24-20-2 in favor of Tennessee State.

Jackson State (0-1) comes into the game ranked No. 5 in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College Football poll while TSU is not far behind at No. 7.

Tennessee State (1-0) opened the 2012 season with its third-straight win in the John A. Merritt Classic, besting Florida A&M 17-14.

Sophomore quarterback Michael German completed 22-of-32 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown for TSU while senior running back Trabis Ward carried the ball a career-high 28 times for 124 yards and a score.

German's touchdown pass was to senior wide receiver Devin Wilson. Wilson led the team with 66 yards on two catches.

The leading pass-catcher for TSU is former University of Florida tight end A.C. Leonard. In his first game as a member of the Tiger squad, Leonard caught seven balls for 47 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Nick Thrasher, making his first start last Saturday, was named Defensive MVP of the Classic after registering 11 tackles (nine solo) including 2.0 tackles-for-loss. His strong performance in the game earned him Boxtorow's National Player of the Week honor.

Another TSU defender off to a hot start is sophomore cornerback Steven Godbolt. After leading the team in interceptions a year ago, Godbolt picked up right where he left off by intercepting a pass in the team's first contest.

Jackson State opened the 2012 season with a 56-9 loss at Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent Mississippi State.

The Tigers fell behind 35-0 late in the second quarter before getting on the board on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Dedric McDonald to E.J. Drewery. The team would later add a 25-yard field goal from Ryan Deising in the fourth quarter.

McDonald finished the day with 136 passing yards and the touchdown. Most of those yards were received by Rico Richardson who caught seven passes for 97 yards. Richardson was selected to the SWAC's Preseason All-Conference Team in July.

On defense, Milton Patterson leads JSU with 10 tackles, five of which were solo. However, Jackson State had three players on defense that were on the preseason all-conference team- one from each unit.

Kickoff for this year's Southern Heritage Classic is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8.

 

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





COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Bowie State football team improves to 2-0

COLUMBIA, South Carolina - The Bowie State University football team jumped out to a quick lead in the first half and cruised to a 28-14 victory against Benedict College on Thursday night in Columbia, S.C.

After scoring the winning touchdown with 5.7 seconds left on Saturday in a 24-20 win in its season opener against Assumption College, Bowie State led Benedict 28-0 at the end of the first half on Thursday night. Suitland High School graduate Keith Brown scored three first-half touchdowns on runs of 9, 76 and 8 yards, and Corwin Acker added a 15-yard touchdown run for the Bulldogs (2-0).

Benedict scored both of its touchdowns in the second half on fumble recoveries.The Tigers were listless on offense, as Bowie State outgained them 431-120 in total yards. Benedict managed just 48 yards rushing. Brown, a 5-foot-9, 205-pound redshirt sophomore carried nine times for 130 yards. Acker added 12 carries for 126 yards.

Bladensburg High grad Bekwele Amadi and Suitland grad Antoine Young led Bowie State's defense with ...

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Week 2, The HBCU Money Games/Rivalry Week

SWAC
Grambling State @ #17Texas Christian 7pm
Texas Southern @ North Texas 7pm (ESPN3)
Alcorn State @ James Madison 6pm
Mississippi Valley @ Alabama State 7pm
Alabama A&M @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7pm
Jackson State @ Tennessee State at Memphis, TN 7pm
Prairie View A&M @ Lamar 8pm
Southern (Open)

MEAC
Howard @ Rutgers 3:30pm (GAMEPLAN/ESPN3)
Delaware State @ Delaware 3:30pm (NBC Sports Network)
Morgan State @ Buffalo  6pm
Savannah State @ #6Florida State 6pm (ESPN3)
Florida A&M @ #5Oklahoma 7pm
West Virginia State @ North Carolina A&T 6pm
Bethune-Cookman @ South Carolina State 6pm (ESPN3)
North Carolina Central @ Elon 7pm
Norfolk State @ Liberty 7pm (GAMEPLAN/ESPN3)
Old Dominion @ Hampton  6pm




SIAC
Bowie State 28 @ Benedict  14 (CBS Sports Network) Thursday 
Johnson C. Smith @ Tuskegee at Atlanta, GA  7:30 pm
Fort Valley State @ Valdosta State  7 pm
Kentucky Wesleyan @ Kentucky State7 pm
Ouachita Baptist @ Stillman  6 pm
Morehouse @ Edward Waters  3 pm
Albany State @ Wingate  1:30 pm
Miles @ Shaw  1 pm
Clark-Atlanta @ Lane 3pm

CIAA
Livingstone @ Catawba  12:00 noon
New Haven @ Saint Augustine's  1:30 pm
Chowan @ Virginia Military 1:30 pm
Delta State @ Elizabeth City State  6 pm
Virginia Union @ Brevard  6 pm
Fayetteville State @ North Carolina-Pembroke 6 pm
West Liberty State @ Virgina State  4pm
Winston Salem State @ Concord  1pm
Lincoln (Pa.) @ Wofford  7pm

OTHERS
Central State (Ohio) @ Northern Iowa  7 pm
Lincoln (Mo.) @ Truman State 8 pm
Indiana (Pa.) @ Cheyney  1pm
Southern Arkansas @ Texas College



ALL TIMES SHOWN ARE 'Eastern Time'

Here comes the SWAC!!

Little out as AD at ECSU; Dr. Angelia D. Nelson appointed Interim

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina - Thurlis Little, an iconic figure in Elizabeth City State athletics, has been fired as athletic director.

While a press release from the university that was emailed shortly before the close of the business day Wednesday announcing the appointment of Dr. Angelia Nelson as the interim athletic director made no mention of Little, he confirmed in a telephone conversation Wednesday night that he was no longer the athletic director.

“It was a decision made by the administration there,” said Little, a former ECSU football standout who has been connected with the school for the past 38 years as a teacher, coach and administrator and has served as athletic director since 2007. “Of course, it was an ‘at-will’ position. That means that you serve at the will of someone else. So that was what was done at this particular time.

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Dr. Angelia D. Nelson
Interim Athletic Director
Elizabeth City State University

NELSON APPOINTED INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT ECSU

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina - Dr. Angelia Nelson has been named Interim Athletic Director at Elizabeth City State University effective September 4, 2012. A national search is underway to fill the position on a permanent basis.

A former student-athlete for the Lady Vikings and a former Miss ECSU, Dr. Nelson returned to ECSU in 2010 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education and Assistant Athletic Director. She was named Chair of the Department of Health and Physical Education in the fall of 2011.

Dr. Nelson earned her B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education from ECSU. She went on to obtain her Masters of Education in Sports Management from Florida A&M University and earned a Ph.D. from Florida State University in Sports Administration.

Her other professional/teaching experiences include: Past member of UNC Task Force on Athletics and Academics; Adjunct Professor, West Chester University, Executive Director, Dawn Staley Foundation, Head Women's Basketball Coach and Senior Women's Administrator, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL.

She is also an experienced motivational speaker/author whose professional affiliations include Leadership, Inc., Toastmasters International, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.

Her book, "The Ghetto is Not My Final Destination," was published in 2005 For more information on ECSU Athletics, visit www.ecsuvikings.com and follow on Twitter @ECSUVikings.

COURTESY ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

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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