Gold Nuggets shine against Lady Tigers in GCAC opener

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Sophomores Moira Kirk and Taylor Reuther combined for 24 kills and a .657 hitting percentage Friday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 25-9, 25-8, 25-14 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's volleyball victory against Edward Waters.    

The Gold Nuggets (6-4 overall, 1-0 GCAC) are the defending conference regular-season and tournament champions. They earned their 15th consecutive victory against GCAC opponents.
    

Kirk hit .737, the highest in a match by an XU player since the program resumed in 2010. She had 15 kills, a season best, and one error in 19 attempts. Her 10 blocks Tuesday in a four-set home loss against Mobile were the most by a Gold Nugget since the start of the 2010 season.
    

Reuther hit .563 on nine kills and no errors in 16 attempts.
    

Xavier's .567 team hitting percentage was its best since the start of 2010 and a strong reversal from a season-low .050 against Mobile.
    

The Gold Nuggets had advantages of 43-19 in kills and 10-1 in aces. Six Nuggets served at least one ace, with Reuther and CeCe Williams producing three apiece. Williams had six kills and hit .556 in nine attacks.
    

Xavier scored 11 consecutive points, five on kills by Kirk, to build a 15-4 first-set lead. The Gold Nuggets led 17-4 in the second set and had a 9-1 run in the third after a tie at 7. Kerris Crier's kill ended the 58-minute match.
    

"I am very happy with our team's performance," XU coach Christabell Hamilton said. "We definitely needed that win. Not only because it was our first conference match, but also because we needed a motivational boost to get us back on track."
    

Xavier entered with a two-match losing streak, home losses to Spring Hill and Mobile. The Nuggets have not lost on the road since opening day when they dropped a pair to nationally ranked Lee (Tenn.) and Lindsey Wilson in the Lee Invitational on Aug. 24.
    

Edward Waters is 4-7, 0-1. The Lady Tigers, 0-5 the past three seasons against Xavier, will be the Nuggets' next home opponent Oct. 5.
    

Xavier will remain in the city to play Trinity Baptist in a non-conference match at 11 a.m. EDT Saturday. The next GCAC match will start at 7 p.m. Monday at SUNO.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Sportsedit Weekly Commentary: Tennessee State and BCU Could Meet Again

 

DWIGHT FLOYD
Weekly Commentary

Tennessee State Tigers versus Bethune Cookman Wildcats

   

            4:00 P.M. EST 





DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  -  Just how important is the game between the undefeated Tennessee State Tigers and the Bethune Cookman Wildcats?  Neither team is going to make $600,000 dollars off of this non-conference game nor will it have an immediate impact on who makes the playoffs, which after all is the big prize that awaits both teams provided they are able to win their conference championship or get an at-large bid.

The easiest road to the FCS 1-AA playoff is an automatic bid via a conference championship. For the Tigers and Wildcats that means protecting primary players from injuries that could otherwise ruin the season before it realistically gets started. 

As far as the conference goes this is a “preseason” or “prep” game to iron out wrinkles and finalize team strategy for conference play. Not that either team expects to lose this game. Because of the proud tradition of both bands this is a potential rivalry from the start.

Perhaps just as important to both schools is putting butts in the seats and increasing revenue at the gate. Not many fans came to see the Wildcats play at the home of the Miami Hurricanes last week and the Tigers lost an opportunity to play FAMU in the annual Atlanta classic because of a drop in fan support. Message to the Tiger-Wildcat fans: This is not a time stay at home.

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TSU Tigers travel to Florida to face Bethune-Cookman

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -  Tennessee State travels to Bethune-Cookman on Saturday in a battle between two of the top HBCU's in the nation.

TSU played its first on-campus home game since the 1998 season last Saturday, defeating Austin Peay 34-14 at Hale Stadium. Since 1999, the Tigers have played at LP Field (and will play two home games there this season), but returned to "The Hole" and won in front of 14,264 fans, the 21^st largest in stadium history.

The win helped the Tigers improve to 3-0 on the season for the first time since 2008.

TSU quarterback Michael German was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week after completing 27-of-36 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.

The 27 completions and 318 yards were new career-highs while the three touchdowns tied his career-best. German finished the day with a 51-yard touchdown pass to A.C. Leonard to cap the scoring. Leonard had five catches for 82 yards.

Travis James was German's favorite target on the day, grabbing a career-high nine passes for 109 yards and a score. Freshman Telvin Hooks led the Tigers with 66 rushing yards while Trabis Ward added 49 yards and a touchdown. 

Sophomore defensive back Steven Godbolt III had four tackles, two pass breakups and a fourth quarter interception; it marked his third interception of the season and he now ranks second nationally in that category. Godbolt also ranks fifth nationally in passes defended (2.0/game).

Overall, the TSU defense did not allow a 100-yard rusher for the fifth-straight game dating back to last season. The 20-point margin of victory by TSU snapped a streak of five-straight games decided by three points or less vs. Austin Peay.

The Wildcats are under the direction of third-year head coach Brian Jenkins who led the team to a share of the MEAC Championship and a playoff berth in 2010 and an 8-3 record a season ago.  Bethune-Cookman started the season with a 38-28 win over Alabama State and a 27-14 win at South Carolina State.

Last week the Wildcats faced off with Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) foe Miami (Fla.), falling 38-10 to the Hurricanes. B-CU scored the first points of the game as Isidore Jackson scored from a yard out late in the first quarter. Miami would score the next 24 points, including three touchdowns by Duke Johnson (on a kickoff, rush and catch).

Rodney Scott led the Wildcats with 72 yards on the ground while Jackson added 66 yards and the touchdown. Overall, Bethune-Cookman had 233 rushing yards on the day.

It's the seventh all-time meeting between the teams on Saturday, but the first since the 1987 season. The Tigers hold a 5-1 all-time advantage in the series but the Wildcats won the last meeting 16-13.

The game is the first home game of the season for Bethune-Cookman and will be the team's annual Hall of Fame Game.

TSU assistant head coach and passing game coordinator Jeff Parker will be honored on Friday night with his induction into the Hall of Fame. It marks the first true road game of the season for TSU, who have played two home contests and a neutral site affair.

B-CU is ranked first in the Heritage Sports Radio Network Black College Football FCS Poll and the Sheridan Broadcasting Poll. Meanwhile, TSU is second in the Heritage Poll and third in the Sheridan.

Kickoff is schedule for 3 p.m. CST.

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

Tennessee State Game Notes vs. Bethune Cookman    OVC Weekly Notes TSU Head Coach Rod Reed Weekly Teleconference Sept. 18 COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FVSU looks for sharper game against Benedict



HEAD COACH DONALD PITTMAN



FORT VALLEY, Georgia  -  The offense and defense are showing progress, and the kicking game has been pretty solid from the start.  Now, about those penalties ...

Cutting down on flying flags is the priority of Fort Valley State head coach Donald Pittman when his team welcomes Benedict to Wildcat Stadium in SIAC action Saturday night.

“Too many penalties,” he said. “I’m happy with the win, but the one regret I have is we have so many penalties.

”FVSU is 2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play while Benedict is 0-3 as it enters its conference opener.  Pittman might have jinxed the Wildcats when he talked of how happy he was with their discipline in the season opener at Delta State, when they were penalized seven times for 68 yards.

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ECSU hopes to sustain momentum

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina - Can a football team’s drive stretch for 200-plus miles?  Elizabeth City State will find out tonight when it plays at Fayetteville State in its CIAA opener.

Vikings coach Waverly Tillar says ECSU is going to try to extend the 95-yard drive it used to beat Albany State 13-12 last week.

“We’re basing this week on our last drive, we’re going to use that as momentum going into Fayetteville,” he said. “That was Viking football. The run-pass sequence was really working for us. I think we’re on the way now.”

The drive Tillar was so excited about was a 12-play beauty in the fourth quarter that rallied the team from a 12-6 deficit.

Quarterback Namon Jones completed five ...

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WSSU Rams begin defense on CIAA title tonight

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -  Fifth-ranked Winston-Salem State built momentum during the nonconference part of its schedule. Now it will find out if it carries over into CIAA play.

WSSU (3-0) will start defense of its CIAA championship at 6 p.m. today at Bowman Gray Stadium against Virginia Union (2-1), which also will be playing its conference opener.

"We are going to go out and do what we do, and the points will be there for us," said wide receiver Jameze Massey, who helped the offense get on track with last week's 55-21 win against Morehouse.

Coach Connell Maynor watched his Rams win close games against UNC Pembroke and Concord then put everything together last week in their first blowout of the season.

Maynor said he has been impressed with how the Rams have improved each week.

"That shows that our guys are coachable, and they aren't going to make the ...

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Alcorn State and a new race debate

LORMAN, Miss -- In 1948, Medgar Evers arrived at Alcorn College with a GI Bill, a football scholarship and eyes that had seen two very different sides of the same world. Mississippi represented one side. Evers grew up in Decatur, a farming town buried inside a state in which extreme racial divisiveness was status quo for the times. But at 23 years old, Evers, the great-grandson of a slave, also had seen a world that was as different from Mississippi as moonlight and sunlight. Evers served in the Army and fought in the Battle of Normandy during World War II. Stationed in France, he had a French girlfriend and marveled at how he was more accepted in another country than his own home. It gave him hope that one day he could fully enjoy the rights he'd been systematically denied in America. Alcorn was a perfect landing ... READ MORE

NCCU VS. SAVANNAH STATE PREVIEW

DURHAM, North Carolina - Spoken 4 Communications gives fans an inside look at the opening conference showdown pitting the Eagles of North Carolina Central University against Savannah State University. NCCU has lost two straight to the Tigers and is looking to head into the bye week 1-0 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play. Kickoff from T.A. Wright Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m., but the Champps Pregame Show begins at 6:30 on WNCU 90.7 FM and online at www.NCCUEaglePride.com. COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Arkansas-Pine Bluff 24, Alabama State 21 - Buzzkill: Hornets' rally falls short

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -  The whole nation saw what Alabama State fans have been agonizing over for weeks.  Justin Billings rushed for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Dennis Jenkins added 82 yards on 19 carries as part of a 246-yard rushing effort by Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a 24-21 victory over Alabama State at Cramton Bowl on Thursday night.

The evening was part of “Faith, Family and Military Night” that drew 18,110 fans. Along with an ESPNU national cable audience, it was a chance for the Hornets to show their improvement from a poor effort against Bethune-Cookman in the season opening MEAC-SWAC Challenge on ESPN.

I

instead, it was more of the same as the Hornets sputtered sporadically on offense, provided no spark with special teams and had problems getting off the field on defense.

“Overall, it wasn’t our best, but we played against a really good team, and that’s what happens when you’re not on your best and you’re playing against a good team,” ASU coach Reggie Barlow said. “It’s pretty disappointing and discouraging. If you think too much on it, it’ll let it affect you. We’re going to encourage them, we’ve got to correct them and let them know you can’t get off to a slow start against a good team, and you can’t have a lot of penalties against a good team.”

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Kicking is focus for NSU after two costly blocks

NORFOLK - The kicking game was supposed to be Norfolk State's big weapon. Instead, it's become the Spartans' biggest worry.

Norfolk State spent the week with the focus - both wanted and unwanted - on kicker Everett Goldberg and a field goal unit that is surprisingly one of worst in the MEAC. The Spartans rank next-to-last in the MEAC in extra-point percentage (7 of 10) and ninth in field-goal percentage (2 of 6).


Coach Pete Adrian keyed in on kicking this week, opening Wednesday's and Thursday's practices with field goals. The fans had focused on it, consumed enough that Adrian admits he's heard suggestions to bench Goldberg.

"It's a unit," Goldberg said. "You have to rely on other people and, right now, the unit is failing. It's frustrating when you go to class and 20 people are staring at you like you cost them the conference and teachers say stuff, but there's nothing you can do."

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Rams Notebook: WSSU's Massey getting his legs under him

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -  Wide receiver Jameze Massey of WSSU had to fight through lingering leg injuries in preseason camp and the first part of the season. He appears to be at full strength now and leads the Rams with an average of 24.7 yards per catch.

Massey said the Rams took what they were given in last week's 55-21 victory against Morehouse and that's how they rolled up 677 yards.

"Our offensive line was doing a great job, and their defense was putting an extra man in the box, so we just exploited that," Massey said. "(Quarterback) Kam Smith has been making some great reads for us, and that's been a big key."

Massey, who missed the opener against UNC Pembroke, has 10 catches in two games.



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Xavier's Pieri, Fakler are GCAC Runners of the Week



Matt Pieri



Catherine Fakler



NEW ORLEANS — It's a familiar situation for Matt Pieri and a new one for Catherine Fakler. Both Xavier University of Louisiana cross country standouts are the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Runners of the Week for Sept. 10-16.

Pieri, a senior from New Orleans and a graduate of Brother Martin High School, extended his GCAC career record with 11 weekly men's awards. He's won the award at least once in each of his four seasons. Fakler, a sophomore from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, won the women's award for the first time. Both were honored after their performances Saturday in the Azalea City Classic at Mobile, Ala.

Pieri produced the fastest time — 26 minutes, 39.71 seconds — by an XU male for 8,000 meters since 1998. Pieri beat his personal record by nearly 12 seconds and placed 18th out of 105 runners.

Fakler broke her XU women's record for 6,000 meters. Her 24:09.65 beat her old mark of 24:10.3. She placed 28th out of 115 runners.

Both XU teams will compete Saturday in the ASICS Embry-Riddle Classic at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., The 8,000-meter men's race will start at 7:20 a.m. EDT, followed by the women's 5K at 8. It will be Xavier's third meet of the season. Embry-Riddle's men are ranked 15th in the NAIA, and the women are ranked 20th. Embry-Riddle's best male is senior Evans Kirwa, the reigning NAIA National Men's Runner of the Week.

Twelve additional schools will compete Saturday: Ave Maria, Bethune-Cookman, Flagler, Florida College, Johnson & Wales (Fla.), Lynn, Rollins, Seton Hall, Southeastern (Fla.), Stetson, Tennessee State and Warner. Embry-Riddle also will field an alumni team.

 

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

XU Rush, Nuggets open season at UNO's Big Easy Classic

Coach Alan Green (black jacket) begins his 10th season as XU's tennis coach.

2012-13 schedules:  Men    Women


NEW ORLEANS — Xavier Univerity of Louisiana will begin the fall portion of its 2012-13 men's and women's tennis schedules Friday in the Big Easy Classic at the University of New Orleans.

 The three-day event will be played at UNO's University Tennis Center. In addition to Xavier and the host school, participating teams will be the men of South Alabama and Tulane, the women of McNeese State, Troy and Southern Illinois and the men and women of Alcorn State, Loyola and Nicholls State.

There will be three flights of singles, one flight of doubles and a consolation bracket for first-round losers. The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets also will compete Sept. 28-30 in the USTA / ITA NAIA South Regional in Gainesville, Ga. Brenau University will be the host.

Alan Green, in his 10th season as coach of XU's men and women, said he plans to add one more fall event to the schedule. Xavier will announce its schedule of spring-semester dual matches near the end of 2012 or in early 2013. The Gold Rush were ranked seventh and the Gold Nuggets 19th in the 2012 NAIA postseason coaches poll.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Shake-up at Southern keeps Jackson State guessing

JACKSON, Mississippi - Jackson State football coach Rick Comegy can't remember entering a situation quite like the one that awaits the Tigers on Saturday.

JSU (1-2, 1-0 SWAC) will play its home opener at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday against Southern University. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. That much he knows.

Outside of that, Comegy isn't sure what to expect when the Jaguars (0-2, 0-1 SWAC) arrive with a reshuffled coaching staff. Stump Mitchell, who was 6-18 in his third season as the Jags' coach, was re-assigned last Friday following SU's 6-0 loss to Mississippi Valley State on Thursday.

Defensive coordinator Dawson Odums was named the interim coach. On Monday, Odums announced that quarterbacks coach Chad Germany and running backs coach Elvis Joseph would be co-offensive coordinators and Germany would be responsible for play calling. Got that?  


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Parker will be a Wildcat Hall of Famer one day, a Tiger the next

DAYTONA BEACH — On Friday, Bethune-Cookman will honor Jeff Parker. On Saturday, he will be the enemy.

The former B-CU receiver is one of 12 former Wildcats who will be inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame at 7 p.m. Friday at the Center for Civic Engagement on campus.

 Parker, who is now the quarterbacks coach, passing game coordinator and assistant head coach at Tennessee State, will trade his maroon and gold for blue and white on Saturday as the Tigers visit Municipal Stadium to play B-CU in its home opener.

“It's just coincidence that I was going to be there this weekend,'' Parker said. “I got a call maybe three weeks ago that I made the Hall of Fame. I don't think it was planned. But, yes, it's going to be a big weekend. I'm excited about it. I'm excited about the football game. We're excited about having the opportunity to play one of the best teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Parker grew up in Daytona Beach and was a multi-sport star at Seabreeze. He chose to play football at Tennessee State in 1987 but transferred to B-CU after his redshirt freshman season when the Tigers changed coaches.

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Alabama State football: Hornets look for redemption on national stage

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - The Hornets were eager to prove themselves on national television in the season opener, facing Bethune-Cookman in the eighth annual MEAC-SWAC Challenge in a made-for-TV Sunday afternoon matchup.

After giving up 38 unanswered points in a 38-28 loss to the Wildcats on Sept. 2, they’ll get another chance to prove themselves on a national stage in tonight’s Southwestern Athletic Conference showdown with Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Cramton Bowl on ESPNU.

“Every game is a blessing to play,” Alabama State quarterback Greg Jenkins said, “but national TV gives you extra drive to prove yourself, not only to your teammates and the Hornet Nation but to the whole.world.” Embarrassed by the season opening loss, Alabama State rebounded with wins over Mississippi Valley State and Grambling State, getting a little more in synch with each game. READ MORE

Texas A&M wants no part in helping S.C. State Bulldogs ‘rebound’

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -  Having rebounded in dominating fashion from a loss in the program’s first-ever Southeastern Conference game, Texas A&M sees a South Carolina State team looking to do the same.

The Bulldogs have dropped two straight and are coming off their worst loss in the Buddy Pough era in a 56-0 shutout at 22nd-ranked Arizona. Nevertheless, the Aggies’ players are preparing for S.C. State’s best effort this Saturday at Kyle Stadium in College Station, Texas.

“They got beat pretty badly last week,” linebacker Jonathan Stewart said during a Wednesday teleconference. “They’re a team on the rebound. Just because they are from a smaller conference, not a marquee conference, we can’t take them lightly. We only have 12 guaranteed opportunities and we’ve already played two of them. We have to prepare for every single opponent as if they are a big-time opponent.

 “We can’t take them lightly at all and end up being one of the teams that everybody looks at around the nation as, ‘How did you lose to that team?’ We’re going to prepare as if this is any other opponent.”

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Maynor likes the way his WSSU Rams are improving

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Fifth-ranked Winston-Salem State didn't do much wrong Saturday in its 55-21 victory against Morehouse at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Even coach Connell Maynor, who likes to keep his team hungry, couldn't find much fault.

"Offensively, we were more consistent, and it showed because we scored 55 points," said Maynor, whose Rams also had 677 yards of offense and eight touchdowns on 13 possessions.

"Our defense is still playing great, and with two of their touchdowns, they got inside of our 5 because of a punt return and a fumble."

Now, WSSU (3-0) has turned its attention to Virginia Union for its CIAA opener at 6 p.m. Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium. Maynor said that the Rams have done a good job correcting mistakes. There were plenty of missteps on offense in victories against UNC Pembroke (28-23) and

 

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Alabama A&M football: Goldsby's year has taken off

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Bobby Goldsby knows all about Alabama A&M football coach Anthony Jones and his penchant for utilizing the tight end. After all, Jones played the position in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins.

However, Goldsby, who starts at tight end for the Bulldogs, hadn't been utilized that much in his first three seasons in an A&M uniform. Entering this season, the 6-foot-4, 229-pound redshirt senior from Leominster, Mass., had managed just eight catches for 90 yards. Even worse, Goldsby had failed to score a touchdown.

"It's been frustrating," Goldsby said.

Not anymore. Goldsby, who came to A&M as an invited walk-on and later earned a scholarship, is in the midst of a career year three games into his final season.

He has eight catches - equaling his total from his first three years - for 111 yards and two touchdowns and is coming off of the best game of his career after hauling in five catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns in A&M's 42-30 victory over Prairie View last Saturday night at Louis Crews Stadium.



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Alabama State Continues Prep For UAPB Golden Lions

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -  The Alabama State football Hornets were back at practice Tuesday night getting set for Thursday night's game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Cramton Bowl.

Kickoff between the Hornets (2-1 overall, 2-0 SWAC) and Golden Lions (2-1, 1-1) is at 6:30 p.m. It's Faith, Family and Military night as fans are encouraged to wear ASU gold to the game, which will be broadcast live on WVAS 90.7 FM and televised live on ESPNU.

“Practice was decent,” head coach Reggie Barlow said. “Guys were flying around getting more understanding of UAPB. As I coach, I look at small things of how we get from drill to drill and movements from play to play, and those are the areas I'd like for us to clean up a bit.”

Offensively, the Golden Lions have one of the league's best quarterbacks in dual-threat sophomore Benjamin Anderson.



“I like Anderson and their offense,” Barlow said. “Their offensive line is good with great size and well-coached. Anderson is young, but has really grown into the position. He's doing a great job and has weapons he can get the ball to. If you don't protect the edges, he can run the ball effectively as well.”

Arkansas-Pine Bluff is statistically one of the most balanced teams in the SWAC. In averaging 334.0 yards per game, just four yards separates UAPB's passing yards and rushing yards.

“Everyone talks about they want to be balanced, but this team is as closed to balanced as I've ever seen,” said Barlow of the Golden Lions, who have passed for 503 yards and rushed for 499 yards in three games this season. “Their offensive coordinator (Eric Dooley) has the type of players that he wants and the quarterback that he wants. They're making plays, and we have to be mindful they can pass and run equally well.”

The Hornets return to practice Wednesday at 3 p.m.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Davis sees opportunity at Texas Southern

HOUSTON, Texas - He has been at the pinnacle, taking a name-brand program to the Final Four.

Which begs the question: why? Why would Mike Davis, who in a not-so-distant life led Indiana to the national semifinals, take a job at SWAC-member Texas Southern?

And not just any job, but an interim job that has all the promise of exactly nothing for the future.

“I’m a basketball coach,’’ Davis said. “This is what I do. I would coach anywhere because I love it.’’

Texas Southern is both anywhere and somewhere, which is why Davis, five months after he was fired by UAB, said yes.



The SWAC is not an easy place to compete. Budgets are small and challenges are big. According to the U.S. Department of Education Equity in Athletics information, the Tigers spent $946,691 on men’s basketball in 2010.

At Austin, the University of Texas spent $8.1 million.

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Dothan High Catcher Denise Anderson Commits to FAMU

DOTHAN, Alabama - The Dothan High Softball Team will have one of the top batteries in the state this coming season. Along with Auburn commit Kasey Cooper, catcher Denise Anderson will also continue her career at the Division One level.

Anderson has committed to play for Florida A&M, and she can't wait to get to Tallahassee and her her new team compete for MEAC titles.



"They're close to home and I really like the environment," Anderson said. "The coaches are really nice, and I really liked it a lot.

"It's the perfect place for me."

Anderson has been one of Dothan's top players for the past few years, and she played a key role for a successful summer league team out of ...
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Week 3 MEAC Power Poll

Offensive Player of the Week – James Owens, RB, Florida A&M – On 11 carries he had three touchdowns and 157 yards, and all this came against a Hampton team that’s not normally a weakling and brought back much of last year’s defense. Runner-ups Nico Flores (QB, Norfolk State) and Terrence LeFall (RB, Howard).

Defensive Player of the Week – Olusegun Ayanbiola, DE, Delaware State – Forced two fumbles against an FBS team in Cincinnati, broke up a pass and recorded four tackles, one for loss. That’s a big game. When it keeps a game close against a nationally-prominent opponent it’s award winning. Runner-ups Brandon Hepburn (LB, FAMU) and Makari Pugh (DB, NCAT)

Special Teams – David Julien, DB, Howard – Blocked the extra point in overtime to give Howard a 37-36 overtime win over Norfolk State. Also forced Xavier Boyce’s fumble in the first quarter. Runner-ups Rodney Tyson (WR, Howard) and Zack Cimaglia (K, NCAT)

At the quarter poll – It’s never too early to look at MEAC postseason awards is it? Yes, it probably is, but that’s never stopped me.

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Quarterback ruled ineligible for game surprisingly comes off bench, leads Howard to win

NORFOLK, Virginia  -  "Ineligible" isn't the iron-clad term it used to be.

College football players don't usually shift from ineligible to eligible in the middle of a game, but that's what happened during a contest between Howard and Norfolk State last week, leaving Norfolk State upset about the situation.

According to a story by the Virginian-Pilot, Howard quarterback Greg McGhee began last Saturday's game ineligible because of NCAA violations. The Washington Post reported in August that 14 players were ineligible because of improper use of textbook allowance money. McGhee was in that group, and the Virginian-Pilot said Howard's web site declared McGhee would "be available for the team's game against Savannah State on Sept. 29."

Well, Howard coach Gary Harrell changed its mind about that when McGhee was needed to win the Norfolk State game.

McGhee, last year's MEAC rookie of the year, suddenly was trotting out on the field late in the first quarter when starter Randy Liggins Jr. had back spasms, to the surprise of the Norfolk State coaches and players. The Virginian-Pilot said the only other quarterback on Howard's roster was injured against Rutgers earlier this season. So in came McGhee.



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Saturday's NSU Demons vs.MVSU Delta Devils battle can't wait for Halloween

NATCHITOCHES, Louisiana – A matchup of Demons and Delta Devils seems ideal for Halloween, but Northwestern State coaches and players aren't willing to wait that long to tee it up in Turpin Stadium against Mississippi Valley State.

Kickoff is at 6 Saturday evening in the first-ever football meeting between the schools. For the Demons, it's the 23rd time to take the field against a Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent, with NSU having won seven of the last eight, all this century, although the most recent contest in 2009 was a 38-17 loss at Grambling that still sticks in the craw of NSU senior safety Jamaal White.

“I'm really excited about playing a SWAC team. We lost to Grambling in my freshman year and I want to use this game to get even,” said White. “I watched Mississippi Valley against Southern and they have a real nice running back. We have to fight. It's a good game for us to measure ourselves before conference play begins.”

Valley (1-2) won 6-0 at Southern last Thursday.

“Whenever you play a SWAC team, you know it's going to be well coached with a lot of really talented players, and this is no different. They went into Southern, and we all know how tough it is to win there, and they threw a shutout,” said Demons head coach Bradley Dale Peveto.

“Demons and Devils, there is a rare matchup, but mascots aside, this is a good team coming into Turpin Stadium. We've got to bring our A-game on Saturday night to get to 2-2 and get headed into Southland Conference season with momentum.”




NSU began workouts Tuesday afternoon in Turpin Stadium after meeting Monday night to review game tape of its 45-34 loss at Nevada and to be introduced to the scouting report on Valley.

The Demons had an explosive offensive day in Reno with 585 total yards. In the previous two games, NSU (1-2) relied on its defense and special teams as the offense struggled.

When we put all three phases together, we know we can be a very good team,” said Peveto. “I've watched us make progress in all three phases. Now let's see if we can pull it together in the same night.”

COURTESY Doug Ireland/Sports Information Director, NSU Athletics