TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Savannah State Tigers are hoping for better results from a trip to Tallahassee, Fla., this time.
The Tigers will be on the road today at 6 p.m. against Florida A&M at Bragg Memorial Stadium in the Florida capital.
Five weeks ago, SSU challenged Florida State across town at Doak Campbell Stadium. That didn’t turn out too well. The Tigers entered as the largest underdogs in college football history (70 ½ points) and didn’t put up much of a fight before losing to the Seminoles 55-0 in a game stopped midway through the third quarter by inclement weather.
SSU followed its fortnight with FBS powerhouses with three more losses to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schools and will enter today’s contest with a 12-game losing streak, the longest in the FCS.
“There are better days ahead for Savannah State, but (the losing) certainly eats at my patience on a daily basis,” Tigers second-year coach Steve Davenport said.
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Saturday, October 13, 2012
Hampton-Norfolk State football rivalry turns 50
HAMPTON, Virginia -- As a 10-year-old ballboy on the sideline, Hampton native Devan Hill remembers
being awe-struck by the atmosphere surrounding a game in which he later played
and now coaches.
Orlando Goodhope followed the lead of older players from his Norfolk neighborhood and then got the thrill of playing against young men he practically idolized.
Donovan Rose embodies one of college football's fiercest and most familial rivalries, growing up a few miles from one campus and spending much of his professional life at the other.
Hampton and Norfolk State renew their annual rivalry 1 p.m. Saturday at Armstrong Stadium, the 50th meeting between programs that know each other intimately.
"In my mind, it's huge because of the tradition and the location of the two schools," former Hampton U. and NFL wide receiver Terrence Warren said. "For decades, this rivalry has played out in backyards all over Hampton Roads. For me, it was a rite of passage to be part of this game."
Warren, a Suffolk native, was well aware of the rivalry growing up. Suffolk, he said, was Norfolk State territory, and he remembers Saturday caravans to see the Spartans. He eventually chose Hampton because of its track program and later turned to football because of the challenge. No game, he said, was bigger than Hampton-Norfolk State.
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Orlando Goodhope followed the lead of older players from his Norfolk neighborhood and then got the thrill of playing against young men he practically idolized.
Donovan Rose embodies one of college football's fiercest and most familial rivalries, growing up a few miles from one campus and spending much of his professional life at the other.
Hampton and Norfolk State renew their annual rivalry 1 p.m. Saturday at Armstrong Stadium, the 50th meeting between programs that know each other intimately.
"In my mind, it's huge because of the tradition and the location of the two schools," former Hampton U. and NFL wide receiver Terrence Warren said. "For decades, this rivalry has played out in backyards all over Hampton Roads. For me, it was a rite of passage to be part of this game."
Warren, a Suffolk native, was well aware of the rivalry growing up. Suffolk, he said, was Norfolk State territory, and he remembers Saturday caravans to see the Spartans. He eventually chose Hampton because of its track program and later turned to football because of the challenge. No game, he said, was bigger than Hampton-Norfolk State.
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SWAC considers AutoZone Park for 2013 baseball tournament
MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference is considering moving its 2013 baseball tournament to Memphis.SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp said AutoZone Park is one of several possible venues. Sharp declined to name the others, but said he was blown away after touring AutoZone Park.
"It's a state-of-the-art facility," Sharp said. "I was impressed when I came up there and did the site visit, to see a 60-foot (video screen) out there. I think it's a great place for a SWAC student-athlete to experience a first-class venue.
"The people in Memphis and at AutoZone Park were very excited we were in town to meet them. We'll take some things back to the council presidents and chancellors and see which direction they would like to go in."
Sharp said the league has one more site visit to take. He hopes to have a decision within two weeks. The SWAC tournament is scheduled for May 15-19.
Memphis Redbirds Foundation treasurer John Pontius said he could see the tournament developing into a big annual event.
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Tennessee State Men's Basketball Opens Preseason Practice
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State men's basketball opened fall practice on Friday in
preparation of the team's first contest on Nov. 5 against
Fisk.
The
Tigers are coming off of one of the most successful seasons in recent history
and the team returns four starters. While Tennessee State returns most of its
impact players from a year ago, the team will feature a new head coach in Travis
Williams.
After coaching at the school as an assistant for
three seasons, Williams was awarded the head coach position in April. As the top
assistant last season, Williams helped restore a winning attitude to the Tigers'
program. The Big Blue recorded just nine wins in 2009-10, while improving to 14
victories in 2010-11. Last season, the Tigers completed a 20-13 mark.
This
season, Williams will have the luxury of coaching an experienced team led by
senior forward Robert
Covington and junior guard Patrick
Miller.
Last
season, Covington led the team in points per game and rebounds per game with
17.8 and 7.9, respectively. At six-foot-nine, Covington is always a threat to
score in the low-post, but he really shines from behind the three-point line. He
attempted the most three pointers on the team last season (145), but he also
made the highest percentage of his shots from behind the arc (.448).
While Covington excelled at making outside shots last season, he also had the benefit of playing with a point guard who could feed him the ball in Miller. The Chicago Ill. native led the team with 118 assists last season and also averaged double-digits points per game (10.8). Miller also played his part on the defensive end of the floor, tallying a team-high 51 steals and 120 rebounds.
Covington and Miller will play an integral part
for the Tigers this season, but the team also has good leadership across the
board with four seniors. Two of those seniors are Jordan
Cyphers and Kellen
Thornton.
Cyphers, a guard who transferred from Utah,
averaged eight points per contest in his first season at Tennessee State and was
another deep shooting threat- out of his 198 shots, 121 were from beyond the
three-point line. Cyphers made 44 of those shots for a percentage of
.364.
Thornton is another transfer that TSU picked up
from Illinois State, and he made a splash with the team in his first season.
Thornton was third on the team in points per game (9.1) and second in both field
goal percentage (.525) and rebounds per contest (4.5).
Rounding out the starting five is sophomore M.J.
Rhett. Rhett, a native of Hopkins S.C., started 26 games last season as a
freshman and played mostly the power forward position. Rhett had the second most
rebounds on the team last year (147) and recorded 14 blocks.
The
non-conference schedule looks daunting with games at Missouri and BYU, but the
Tigers hope that a tough opening slate will allow them to improve upon last
year's second place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference.
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
DWIGHT FLOYD Weekly Commentary: Black College Football in Perspective
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| DWIGHT FLOYD "The Editor" SportsEdit.Org |
For the record, the top college football teams on any level at one time included teams like Alcorn State, Grambling, Southern, Florida A&M, and Tennessee State. These teams were not just good they were among the very best. They didn’t get to play Ohio State, Notre Dame or USC, but know that coaches like Woody Hayes not only respected these teams, but visited their football camps and on occasion came to watch them play. These and other black college teams like them would today be considered dynasties. Back then a black college championship meant more because winning it really did mean you were one of the best teams in the country bar none.
Too little is said about FAMU’s former Coach Alonzo S. “Jake” Gather. I grew up down the street from a recreation center named in his honor and among the families of some of the outstanding assistant coaches and players like Bobby Lang, Robert Mungen, Willie Galimore, and Hewett Dixon. I remember as a small boy watching Bob Hayes, Ken Riley, Claude Humphrey and Ed “Too Tall” Jones of Tennessee State. Yes, on a rare occasion in the latter stages of black college football greatness I got to see Eddie Robinson and Doug Williams, Alcorn’s Marino “The Godfather” Casem and Steve McNair, Mississippi Valley State’s David “Deacon” Jones and Jerry Rice, Tennessee State’s Joe Meritt and Joe Gilliam, just to name a few.
Donald Lawrence - Encourage Yourself on Violin - Mad Violinist Ashanti Floyd
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WEEK 7 HBCU Football Saturday
OVC
Tennessee State @ Southeast Missouri State, 7 pm
SWAC
Jackson State @ Alabama State, 2 pm
Alcorn State @ Alabama A&M, 2 pm
Grambling State @ Mississippi Valley State, 3 pm
Texas Southern @ Southern U. (Homecoming), 6:30 pm
SIAC
Tuskegee 16, Stillman 0 Final (Thursday)
Corcordia-Selma@ Fort Valley State, (Homecoming), 2 pm
Lane @ Point U., 1 pm
Miles @ Kentucky State 1:30 pm
Benedict @ Clark-Atlanta U., 2pm
Albany State (Ga.) @ Morehouse, 7 pm
CIAA
Elizabeth City State U. @ Lincoln U. (Pa.), 1 pm
Shaw @ Livingstone, 1 pm
Johnson C. Smith U. @ Fayetteville State, 2 pm
Virginia State @ Bowie State (Homecoming), 1 pm
Saint Augustine's U. @ Winston-Salem State, 1:30 pm
Virginia Union @ Chowan U., 6 pm
OTHER
Webber International @ Edward Waters (Homecoming), 3pm
Central State (Ohio) @ Indianapolis, 6 pm
Cheyney @ Millersville, 3:30 pm
Nebraska-Kearney @ Lincoln (Mo.) 3 pm
Virginia University of Lynchburg @ Wesley College, 1 pm
West Virginia State @ Glenville State, 1 pm
MEAC
North Carolina Central @ Morgan State, (Homecoming), 1 pm
Norfolk State @ Hampton (Battle of the Bay), 1 pm
Howard U. @ North Carolina A&T, 1:30 pm
South Carolina State @ Delaware State, 1:30 pm
Savannah State @ Florida A&M, 6 pm
FVSU has no patsy for homecoming
FORT VALLEY, Georgia -- All Donald Pittman could do was lean back in his chair, laugh and wonder why former athletics director Percy Caldwell picked Concordia College as this year’s homecoming opponent.
“I look at it, and I have to laugh,” Fort Valley State’s fourth-year head coach said. “Wow. Golly.” Concordia is a small Christian college in Selma, Ala., with a Lutheran influence that has been a four-year college for less than two decades. It is part of a 10-campus Concordia University System with locations ranging from New York to California.
The Hornets, members of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, head to FVSU on Saturday afternoon for the Wildcats’ final home game of the season with a 4-1 record.
“They’re a good team,” Pittman said. “They have talent. I saw them come from behind in two games to win.” Concordia opened the season with a 20-19 win at FCS Mississippi Valley State and then had a week off after the game with Point University was cancelled.
The Hornets lost 23-18 at Johnson C. Smith, a Division II team, and then ninth-year head coach Shepherd Skanes was let go, and defensive coordinator Don Lee took over. It was part of a college-wide elimination of positions because of budget problems.
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“I look at it, and I have to laugh,” Fort Valley State’s fourth-year head coach said. “Wow. Golly.” Concordia is a small Christian college in Selma, Ala., with a Lutheran influence that has been a four-year college for less than two decades. It is part of a 10-campus Concordia University System with locations ranging from New York to California.
The Hornets, members of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, head to FVSU on Saturday afternoon for the Wildcats’ final home game of the season with a 4-1 record.
“They’re a good team,” Pittman said. “They have talent. I saw them come from behind in two games to win.” Concordia opened the season with a 20-19 win at FCS Mississippi Valley State and then had a week off after the game with Point University was cancelled.
The Hornets lost 23-18 at Johnson C. Smith, a Division II team, and then ninth-year head coach Shepherd Skanes was let go, and defensive coordinator Don Lee took over. It was part of a college-wide elimination of positions because of budget problems.
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WSSU has score to settle with St. Aug's
The Rams are 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the CIAA. The Falcons are 4-2 and 2-1. Kickoff is set for 1:30 at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Coach Connell Maynor of WSSU calls St. Aug's the most talented CIAA team he has seen.
"I think we are up for the challenge," Maynor said. "(The defense) is excited to face a good St. Aug's offense, because they want to show that they are an upper-class Division II defense."
WSSU's defense has allowed just two touchdowns in the last three games and to be successful today, it will have to slow three good receivers. Senior Tyron Laughinghouse (30 catches, 7 TDs) leads the group and is among the top players in the CIAA. Brian Richards (40 catches, 3 TDs) and Jermaine Jones (10 catches, 1 TD) can also do damage.
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ECSU Vikings try to get back on track
ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina -- Waverly Tillar is hoping his football team learned a
lesson in last week’s 28-17 loss at Virginia State.
“You have to be 100 percent ready to play or things
are going to happen and they are not going to go your way,” he said.
The Vikings weren’t ready, things happened, and
practically none of them went their way as previously impotent Virginia State
threw three touchdown passes to score only their second victory in six
games. Tillar could see before the game that ECSU was in
trouble.
“The guys didn’t come to play, they were flat at the
onset and I could sense in the warmups we weren’t clicking,” he said. “This was
the first time this year I had seen that. I didn’t know what to expect, but we
were playing at Virginia State and any time we had come up there not ready to
play, the results were the same.”
Friday, October 12, 2012
More GCAC weekly awards for Xavier's Fakler and Pieri
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| Matt Pieri |
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| Catherine Fakler |
Fakler, a sophomore from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, broke the XU women's record for 6,000 meters for the second time this season and the third time in her career. She ran that distance in 24 minutes, 7.38 seconds and finished third among non-NCAA Division I athletes in the Mississippi College/Watson Ford Invitational cross country meet at Clinton, Miss. Fakler led the Gold Nuggets to their second team championship of the season.
Pieri, a senior from New Orleans and a graduate of Brother Martin High School, extended his GCAC men's career record with 12 weekly awards. He has earned the honor at least twice in each of his four seasons. Pieri finished second among non-Division I runners in the MC/Watson Ford men's 8K race in 27:12.43. It was the 16th top-10 finish and 11th top-5 finish of Pieri's career.
Both XU teams will return to Clinton to compete Oct. 20 in the GCAC Championships. The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets both seek a seventh consecutive team championship.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
Tennessee State's Rod Reed sits in ideal spot for contract talks
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State’s climb into the Football Championship Subdivision polls and first place in the OVC has put coach Rod Reed in a favorable position as he negotiates his contract.
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Talks between Reed and athletics director Teresa Phillips have intensified as the Tigers have started 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the OVC heading into Saturday’s game at Southeast Missouri. An extension for Reed and possible pay raise could be agreed upon soon, according to Phillips.
“This is how it is in coaching,” Phillips said. “Coaches win and they get patted; they lose and they get fired. When we started talking heading into the season it wasn’t just about money or adding years. It was to do some revision work to his contract to make it similar to some of our other coaches. Now we’re talking more about an extension and money.”
TSU has hired new men’s and women’s basketball coaches since Reed signed his five-year deal with an annual salary of $160,000 before the 2010 season.
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Miles seeking to limit penalties against Kentucky State
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Perfection might not be attainable but that isn't stopping Miles College from striving for it.
Since losing 31-30 to North Alabama at Legion Field in the Labor Day Golden Classic to start the season, the Golden Bears have reeled off five straight victories. They've dumped Shaw University (N.C.) West Georgia, Albany St. (Ga.), Benedict (S.C.) and Clark-Atlanta.
The defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champs look poised to repeat, heading into their meeting with conference foe Kentucky State Saturday at 1:30 p.m..
Nonetheless, following their 28-7 win against Clark on homecoming last weekend, coach Reginald Ruffin decided to switch up his team's practice schedule to get his team's attention.
The Golden Bears (5-1, 3-0), one of the least-penalized teams in the conference last season, were whistled for 13 infractions for 108 yards, including an ejection against the Panthers.
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Since losing 31-30 to North Alabama at Legion Field in the Labor Day Golden Classic to start the season, the Golden Bears have reeled off five straight victories. They've dumped Shaw University (N.C.) West Georgia, Albany St. (Ga.), Benedict (S.C.) and Clark-Atlanta.
The defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champs look poised to repeat, heading into their meeting with conference foe Kentucky State Saturday at 1:30 p.m..
Nonetheless, following their 28-7 win against Clark on homecoming last weekend, coach Reginald Ruffin decided to switch up his team's practice schedule to get his team's attention.
The Golden Bears (5-1, 3-0), one of the least-penalized teams in the conference last season, were whistled for 13 infractions for 108 yards, including an ejection against the Panthers.
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Fayetteville State basketball teams to greet fans with tip-off celebration today
FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Preparations for the 2012-2013 basketball season will begin with a party and scrimmages at Fayetteville State today.
The Broncos will tip off their preseason with the "Be Part of the Frenzy'' event for students and fans, featuring giveaways, a slam dunk competition and formal introductions of the men and women's teams.Hosted by disc jockey Big Bruce from 104.5 FM, the festivities are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Capel Arena. The first 100 students to arrive will be awarded T-shirts.
The FSU women's team finished 11-15 last year overall and 5-11 in conference play. They were picked to finish fifth in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Southern Division this season. The women will participate in a brief scrimmage today starting at 8:30 p.m.
The men's team, 10-17 overall and 6-10 in CIAA play a year ago, was projected for a fourth-place finish in the Southern Division this season. They'll take the floor for a scrimmage at about 8:50 p.m.
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The Broncos will tip off their preseason with the "Be Part of the Frenzy'' event for students and fans, featuring giveaways, a slam dunk competition and formal introductions of the men and women's teams.Hosted by disc jockey Big Bruce from 104.5 FM, the festivities are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Capel Arena. The first 100 students to arrive will be awarded T-shirts.
The FSU women's team finished 11-15 last year overall and 5-11 in conference play. They were picked to finish fifth in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Southern Division this season. The women will participate in a brief scrimmage today starting at 8:30 p.m.
The men's team, 10-17 overall and 6-10 in CIAA play a year ago, was projected for a fourth-place finish in the Southern Division this season. They'll take the floor for a scrimmage at about 8:50 p.m.
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Tuskegee defense dominates in 16-0 win at Stillman
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama --- Tuskegee defeated Stillman College 16-0 Thursday night with a lot of defense and just enough of Missouri transfer running back Derrick Washington. The Golden Tigers got to Stillman quarterback Josh Straughan early and often, intercepting him twice, returning one for a touchdown and ending a drive in the red zone in the first half on another.
If the Golden Tigers weren't picking the true freshman off, they were plastering him onto the grass. They finished with five sacks on their way to their first shutout of the season against a Stillman team that had scored at least 24 points in five of six previous games.
"I was pleased with the way the defense played period," said Tuskegee coach Willie Slater, who mentioned the importance of getting pressure on Straughan earlier in the week. "They didn't score a point. That says it all right there. I thought our defense played great tonight."
Tuskegee, now 5-1 and undefeated at 4-0 in the conference, held Stillman to ...
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Tuskegee 16, Stillman 0: Golden Tigers pull off road shutout
TUSCALOOSA — Tuskegee scored early on an interception return and benefited from some Stillman mistakes for a 16-0 victory on Thursday.
Tuskegee scored on a 5-yard interception return by William Buford, a 12-yard run by Derrick Washington and a 25-yard field goal by Eduardo Murillo on the lone first-half red zone possession for either team. Tuskegee’s Washington was especially troublesome for Stillman in the first half, gaining 63 total yards, including 41 on the ground. He finished with 79 rushing yards on 13 attempts and also caught a pass for an additional 22 yards.
The Tuskegee defense stymied Stillman’s offense for most of the first half, with Jamar Hornsby intercepting another Joshua Straughan pass in the Tuskegee end zone when Stillman was able to drive to the Tuskegee 19-yard line, Stillman’s most successful drive of the first half.
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Thursday, October 11, 2012
XU Nuggets will open with 8 consecutive games in new arena
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| Xavier University Convocation Academic Center |
The Gold Nuggets will open the 2012-13 regular season with eight consecutive games in the Convocation Academic Center, which is nearing completion for a Nov. 3 basketball doubleheader debut. XU athletics director Dennis Cousin announced the Nuggets' schedule Thursday.
It's the first time that the XU women have opened with that many consecutive home games. It's also the first time that the Gold Nuggets played eight in a row at home at any time in a season since 2001-02.Xavier — 26-9 last season, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament champion and No. 16 in the final NAIA Division I coaches poll — will visit LSU in a Nov. 1 exhibition, then help christen the CAC with a 3 p.m. game against Johnson & Wales (Fla.) two days later. The Johnson & Wales game will follow a 1 p.m. men's game between Xavier and Morehouse. Tailgating and a ribbon-cutting will precede the doubleheader.
The Gold Nuggets, 243-22 the past 19 seasons at The Barn, a 1,300-seat gymnasium which opened in 1937, hope to continue their home dominance in the new arena, which features 3,817 permanent seats for athletics events. Seventeen of 28 regular-season games will be at home.
"The Barn has been great to us," said Bo Browder, in his 14th year as head coach. "But I've always believed our success has been more about the young ladies we've been blessed to be able to put on the court. We're looking forward to moving to a great new arena and putting our stamp on it."
Xavier closed its tenure at The Barn with 10 consecutive victories. The Nuggets' current home win streak in conference is 22.
Four of Xavier's first eight home opponents — Westminster (Utah) on Nov. 17, LSU-Shreveport on Nov. 19, Langston on Nov. 22 and city rival Loyola on Dec. 5 — qualified, like the Nuggets, for the 2012 NAIA Division I National Championship. Xavier has been a fixture at the national tournament, qualifying for it 16 times in the past 18 seasons.
For the seventh consecutive season and the 11th time overall, the Gold Nuggets will play host to the Xavier Classic, with games on Thanksgiving and the day after. Xavier will play Langston and Texas College in that event.
Also visiting Xavier on Jan. 2 will be Bethel (Tenn.), an NAIA tournament qualifier three consecutive seasons from 2009-11.
First-time XU opponents will be Johnson & Wales, Westminster, Bethel and Faulkner. Xavier will play Faulkner — a third-year program but a 20-game winner each of the past two seasons — Dec. 29 on the second and final day of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Huntingdon College's Roland Arena in Montgomery, Ala. On the previous day the Nuggets will play Belhaven, another 2012 NAIA tournament qualifier.
Xavier will open defense of its GCAC championship Jan. 5 at Edward Waters. The GCAC changed its times this season for Saturday conference doubleheaders. After a longtime policy of 5 and 7 p.m. tip-offs, Saturday start times will be 3 p.m. for women's games and 5 p.m. for men's. The GCAC allows changes to starting times by mutual agreement of the competing schools, and four times this season the Gold Nuggets will play the second game in conference doubleheaders — Jan. 19 at home against Philander Smith, Jan. 21 at home against Fisk, Feb. 2 at home against Talladega and Feb. 9 at Philander Smith.
SUNO will visit XU on Jan. 14, and Dillard will visit on Feb. 23 in the regular-season finale. The Gold Nuggets' road games against their GCAC city rivals will be Jan. 26 at Dillard and Feb. 16 at SUNO.
After two years in Jacksonville, Fla., the GCAC Tournament will be played Feb. 28-March 2 in Little Rock, Ark. The tournament winner will earn an automatic bid to the NAIA tournament in Frankfort, Ky. Xavier seeks its fourth consecutive GCAC Tournament championship.This will be the Gold Nuggets' 35th season of the Title IX era.
2012-13 Xavier University
Women's Basketball Schedule Click here for an additional link to the basketball schedule All times are subject to change Nov. 1 (Thu.): at LSU, 7 p.m. (exhibition) Nov. 3 (Sat.): JOHNSON & WALES (Fla.) (DH), 3 p.m. Nov. 13 (Tue.): SPRING HILL, 6 p.m. Nov. 17 (Sat.): WESTMINSTER (Utah) (DH), noon (Homecoming) Nov. 19 (Mon.): LSU-SHREVEPORT (DH), 5:30 p.m. Nov. 22 (Thu.): LANGSTON, 7 p.m. (Xavier Classic) Nov. 23 (Fri.): TEXAS COLLEGE, 2:30 p.m. (Xavier Classic) Nov. 27 (Tue.): MOBILE (DH), 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5 (Wed.): LOYOLA (DH), 5:30 p.m. Dec. 14 (Fri.): at William Carey, 6 p.m. Dec. 28 (Fri.): Belhaven, 5 p.m. (Coaches vs. Cancer Classic) (1) Dec. 29 (Sat.) Faulkner, 9 p.m. (Coaches vs. Cancer Classic) (1) Jan. 2 (Wed.): BETHEL (Tenn.), 2 p.m. Jan. 5 (Sat.): • at Edward Waters (DH), 3 p.m. EST Jan. 7 (Mon.): • at Talladega (DH), 5 p.m. Jan. 12 (Sat.): • TOUGALOO (DH), 3 p.m. Jan. 14 (Mon.): • SUNO (DH), 5:30 p.m. Jan. 19 (Sat.): • PHILANDER SMITH (DH), 2 p.m. Jan. 21 (Mon.): • FISK (DH), 3 p.m. Jan. 26 (Sat.): • at Dillard (DH), 5 p.m. Jan. 28 (Mon.): at Mobile (DH), 5:30 p.m. Jan. 31 (Thu.): WILLIAM CAREY, 6 p.m. Feb. 2 (Sat.): • TALLADEGA (DH), 2 p.m. Feb. 4 (Mon.): • EDWARD WATERS (DH), 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 (Sat.): • at Philander Smith (DH), 2 p.m. Feb. 11 (Mon.): • at Fisk (DH), 5:30 p.m. Feb. 16 (Sat.): • at SUNO (DH), 2 p.m. Feb. 18 (Mon.): • at Tougaloo (DH), 5:30 p.m. Feb. 23 (Sat.): • DILLARD (DH), 3 p.m. (Crosstown Classic, Senior Day and Rush/Nuggets Alumni Weekend) Feb. 28-March 2 (Thu.-Sat): GCAC Tournament, Little Rock, Ark. March 13-19 (Wed.-Tue.): NAIA Division I National Championship, Frankfort, Ky. Home games in (in bold and CAPITAL LETTERS) are played at the Convocation Academic Center (capacity 3,817), Xavier University campus, New Orleans • Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game DH — doubleheader with Xavier's men TBA — To be announced (1) at Montgomery, Ala. All times are Central except where noted  Call (504) 520-7329 for ticket information |
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
Loyola sweeps XU to end Nuggets' 7-match win streak
The Wolf Pack (14-5) extended its win streak to three and snapped the seven-match win streak of the Gold Nuggets (12-5). Loyola is 10-0 all-time against its city rival.
Taylor Reuther had nine kills, and Moira Kirk had six kills and four blocks for Xavier.
Loyola trailed 5-1 in the opening set before scoring 10 consecutive points, half on Xavier attack errors. Loyola went ahead to stay at 8-7 in each of the final two sets.
Xavier's next match will start at 2 p.m. Oct. 19 against Union (Tenn.) in Loyola's Hampton Inn Wolf Pack Classic. The Gold Nuggets also will play Loyola at 6 that evening.
Box score
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
Tuskegee at Stillman Preview
THE GAMEWHEN: 6:30 p.m. today
WHERE: Stillman Stadium, Tuscaloosa
RECORDS: Tuskegee (4-1, 3-0 SIAC); Stillman (4-2, 3-0)
ON THE AIR: TV — Charter Sports Southeast
• FOUR DOWN TERRITORY
Better get ready: Coming off a 21-14 win over rival Morehouse Oct. 6, the Golden Tigers only had three practices to prepare for Stillman. With both teams 3-0 in the SIAC and tied for first in the West, coach Willie Slater said he knows his team will give their all but is concerned fatigue may be a factor.
“We don’t have as much time to prepare,” Slater said. “ Just trying to make sure we cover everything. They’re a very good team fundamentally so we’ve got to make sure we play our assignments. Just concerned about having our legs up under us.”
Two is better than one: Justin Nared and Rashard Burkette have split time under center this season. Slater said Nared, a sophomore, has made strides in his second seaso,n and Burkette has given the Golden Tigers a spark during freshman campaign.
SIAC Battle Of The Bands Round 2: Morehouse College vs. Tuskegee University
The Marching Crimson Piper Band of Tuskegee University, and The House Of Funk of Morehouse College, showing you why HBCU Marching Bands do it better in Columbus,Georgia at the 77th Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic
SCSU coach hopes Lady Bulldogs now have mix to move to top tier in basketball
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Head coach Doug Robertson has never tried to put a timetable on building a women’s basketball championship team at South Carolina State.
Entering his fifth year with a 45-75 record in four seasons, Robertson believes he finally has the right mix of talent to bring the Lady Bulldogs back into prominence in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
“I never consider anything ‘make or break,’” said Robertson during Wednesday’s MEAC preseason teleconference. “It’s all about obtaining the talent for us year in and year out and I think since my tenure here, this is probably our most talented group that I’ve had here top to bottom.”
The Lady Bulldogs return four players from last year’s squad that went 13-16 overall, 7-9 in the MEAC. Senior Tiara Knotts is the team’s top returning scorer at 13.2 points to go with 2.8 assists and will be pared in the backcourt with last year’s promising newcomer point guard Cabriel Duren.
Gold Nuggets earn 11 points, tie for 34th in national poll
Xavier made another legitimate claim for votes Friday when it earned its second victory of the season. The Gold Nuggets won the non-NCAA Division I scoring of the Mississippi College/Watson Ford Invitational at Clinton, Miss. It's the first time since 2008 that the Nuggets won two regular-season meets.
Both Xavier teams are idle this week, but the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush will return to Clinton on Oct. 20 for the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships. Both teams seek a seventh consecutive league title. And XU sophomore siblings Kwame and Zahri Jackson are the defending individual champions.
Three-time defending national champion Cal State San Marcos is No. 1 in the poll for the second consecutive week and the fourth time this season.
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| Xavier University of Louisiana's 2012 women's cross country team HEAD COACH: Joseph Moses |
NEW ORLEANS — The off-again, on-again support continues for Xavier University of Louisiana in the NAIA Women's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 poll.
The Gold Nuggets did not collect a vote this past week, but they received 11 points in the newest poll announced Wednesday. They're tied for 34th place with the same ranking and votes as two weeks ago. It's Xavier's best national ranking since the 2008 preseason.
For the season, the XU women have received votes in the second, fourth and sixth polls — but none in the first, third and fifth.Xavier made another legitimate claim for votes Friday when it earned its second victory of the season. The Gold Nuggets won the non-NCAA Division I scoring of the Mississippi College/Watson Ford Invitational at Clinton, Miss. It's the first time since 2008 that the Nuggets won two regular-season meets.
Both Xavier teams are idle this week, but the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush will return to Clinton on Oct. 20 for the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships. Both teams seek a seventh consecutive league title. And XU sophomore siblings Kwame and Zahri Jackson are the defending individual champions.
Three-time defending national champion Cal State San Marcos is No. 1 in the poll for the second consecutive week and the fourth time this season.
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By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
Reeling JCSU Golden Bulls put resolve to the test
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Johnson C. Smith’s resolve is being tested.
The Golden Bulls, who’ve given up a combined 118 points in losses to Lincoln (Pa.) and Winston-Salem State, are out of sorts going into the Oct. 13 game at Fayetteville State. Over the last two weeks, anything that could go wrong has, which is perplexing to JCSU coach Steve Aycock.
“We’ve got to reevaluate some attitudes,” he said. “These guys know what we expect as a coaching staff out of them. We’ve got to go back to the basics and check our character and make sure these guys don’t desert us and desert each other.”
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Linebacker Bryce Williams has become leader at Fayetteville State
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| BRYCE WILLIAMS (COURTESY FSU BRONCOS ATHLETICS) |
FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Fayetteville State linebacker Bryce Williams isn't sure how effective he was during his year as a junior varsity assistant coach at his old high school.
Only a few years removed from high school himself and in the midst of a year off between colleges, Williams prowled the sideline as a de facto defensive coordinator.
He said he ran a basic defense. He tried to get his team to understand that preparation and sound football can trump strategy most of the time. He tried to convince his players of the importance of studying film.
He tried, but sometimes it can be tough to coach kids that aren't too much younger than you are."I wasn't a full-grown man, I was only 21," Williams said.
But of all the players reached by Bryce Williams, the coach, the one that might have learned the most was Bryce Williams, the player.
These days, that Williams is the Broncos' defensive linchpin. His coaches say he's got a keen sense for the game and use his work ethic as an example for his teammates.
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Alcorn State faces tough test at Alabama A&M
NORMAL, Alabama -- Coming off its come-from-behind 20-17 win over Southern University last week, Alcorn State will look to pull off perhaps the upset of the SWAC season this week when it travels to unbeaten and Eastern Division-leading Alabama A&M.The Bulldogs (6-0, 5-0 SWAC) lead the Eastern Division thanks to a defense that is allowing a league-low 12.7 points per game and an offense that has scored just under 30 (29.7) points per contest, good for second-most in the SWAC.
Suffice to say, Braves coach Jay Hopson knows his team faces an uphill battle Saturday in Huntsville, Ala.
“They’re a well-coached football team,” Hopson said during Monday’s SWAC teleconference. “We got to do what we do. We won’t do anything different than what we do. That’s kind of a cliche, but that’s reality.
“We have to worry about what we’re doing and how we’re executing our calls and playing good fundamental defense.”
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TSU Tigers take undefeated record on the road to SEMO
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- After
playing four of its first six games of the season at home, first place Tennessee
State will take to the road to play four of its final five games away from home.
That stretch begins at Southeast Missouri on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
Tennessee State climbed to 18th in the Sports Network poll and No. 20 in the FCS Coaches poll this week. Southeast Missouri has lost its last three games against nationally-ranked opponents. The team’s last win over a Top 25 team was on Sept. 18, 2010, a 24-21 victory at then No. 5 Southern Illinois. Its last win at home against a ranked team was a 27-20 overtime win over No. 19 Tennessee State on Oct. 25, 2008. In last year’s meeting TSU outgained SEMO 536 yards to 158 yards on its way to a 55-3 victory at LP Field. Trabis Ward had 135 yards and two touchdowns to lead TSU.
Off to its best start since 2001, Tennessee State scored two touchdowns in the final 8:49 on Saturday to upend No. 16 Eastern Kentucky 23-20. The win vaulted the Tigers from un-ranked to 18th in the Sports Network poll and up four spots in the FCS Coaches Top 25. Trabis Ward, who had 113 yards on the ground, scored on a 3-yard run with 8:49 to play.
Later in the fourth quarter sophomore linebacker Nick Thrasher, who was named OVC Defensive Player of the Week, had a key sack on third down, and a play later EKU failed to convert on fourth down deep in TSU territory. The Tigers then took the ball and went 68 yards in 13 plays with quarterback Michael German scoring from 1-yard out with eight seconds to go. German passed for 227 yards and a touchdown to go along with his game-winning rush.
Although the 20 points were the most allowed by TSU this season, the Tigers are one of just two teams at the FCS level (Bucknell is the other) to not allow more than 20 points in a game this year. TSU ranks eighth nationally in scoring defense (14.5 points/game) and 28th nationally in total defense (323.5 yards/game); TSU is the only OVC team to rank in the Top 60 nationally in total defense.
Southeast Missouri was idle last week, a week after losing at Jacksonville State to slip to 1-1 in OVC play. The team is 1-4 in games following a bye week under head coach Tony Samuel. In the JSU contest, the Redhawks pulled to within a point early in the fourth quarter, but failed to convert the PAT and then saw the Gamecocks score two touchdowns over the final 10:57 to win the contest.
Southeast failed to force a turnover in the game, the first time this season that has happened; the Redhawks currently rank sixth nationally in turnovers gained (16) and 10th in turnover margin (+1.40/game) on the season.
In the game senior Levi Terrell rushed for 146 yards, the third time this year he has reached the 100-yard rushing mark; Terrell enters this week ranked 13th nationally in rushing (118.0 yards/game). As a team the Redhawks rank first in the OVC and 15th nationally in rushing offense (218.4 yards/game).
Senior linebacker Blake Peiffer currently has 298 career tackles, which ranks seventh all-time in Southeast Missouri history; Peiffer is averaging 11.2 tackles/game, which ranks second in the OVC and ninth nationally in 2012. Defensive back Tylor Brock, who had 10 tackles in the loss at JSU, ranks fifth nationally interceptions (0.60/game).The Tigers and Redhawks are deadlocked 10-10 in the all-time series and a different team has won the game each of the last eight years. Not since Southeast Missouri won in each 2003 and 2004 have one of these teams won back-to-back in the series. Overall the home team has won the game in each of the last 11 meetings dating back to 2000 (the 2000 and 2001 games were both at TSU while the 2002 and 2003 were each at SEMO due to a quirk in scheduling).
Tennessee State climbed to 18th in the Sports Network poll and No. 20 in the FCS Coaches poll this week. Southeast Missouri has lost its last three games against nationally-ranked opponents. The team’s last win over a Top 25 team was on Sept. 18, 2010, a 24-21 victory at then No. 5 Southern Illinois. Its last win at home against a ranked team was a 27-20 overtime win over No. 19 Tennessee State on Oct. 25, 2008. In last year’s meeting TSU outgained SEMO 536 yards to 158 yards on its way to a 55-3 victory at LP Field. Trabis Ward had 135 yards and two touchdowns to lead TSU.
Off to its best start since 2001, Tennessee State scored two touchdowns in the final 8:49 on Saturday to upend No. 16 Eastern Kentucky 23-20. The win vaulted the Tigers from un-ranked to 18th in the Sports Network poll and up four spots in the FCS Coaches Top 25. Trabis Ward, who had 113 yards on the ground, scored on a 3-yard run with 8:49 to play.
Later in the fourth quarter sophomore linebacker Nick Thrasher, who was named OVC Defensive Player of the Week, had a key sack on third down, and a play later EKU failed to convert on fourth down deep in TSU territory. The Tigers then took the ball and went 68 yards in 13 plays with quarterback Michael German scoring from 1-yard out with eight seconds to go. German passed for 227 yards and a touchdown to go along with his game-winning rush.
Although the 20 points were the most allowed by TSU this season, the Tigers are one of just two teams at the FCS level (Bucknell is the other) to not allow more than 20 points in a game this year. TSU ranks eighth nationally in scoring defense (14.5 points/game) and 28th nationally in total defense (323.5 yards/game); TSU is the only OVC team to rank in the Top 60 nationally in total defense.
Southeast Missouri was idle last week, a week after losing at Jacksonville State to slip to 1-1 in OVC play. The team is 1-4 in games following a bye week under head coach Tony Samuel. In the JSU contest, the Redhawks pulled to within a point early in the fourth quarter, but failed to convert the PAT and then saw the Gamecocks score two touchdowns over the final 10:57 to win the contest.
Southeast failed to force a turnover in the game, the first time this season that has happened; the Redhawks currently rank sixth nationally in turnovers gained (16) and 10th in turnover margin (+1.40/game) on the season.
In the game senior Levi Terrell rushed for 146 yards, the third time this year he has reached the 100-yard rushing mark; Terrell enters this week ranked 13th nationally in rushing (118.0 yards/game). As a team the Redhawks rank first in the OVC and 15th nationally in rushing offense (218.4 yards/game).
Senior linebacker Blake Peiffer currently has 298 career tackles, which ranks seventh all-time in Southeast Missouri history; Peiffer is averaging 11.2 tackles/game, which ranks second in the OVC and ninth nationally in 2012. Defensive back Tylor Brock, who had 10 tackles in the loss at JSU, ranks fifth nationally interceptions (0.60/game).The Tigers and Redhawks are deadlocked 10-10 in the all-time series and a different team has won the game each of the last eight years. Not since Southeast Missouri won in each 2003 and 2004 have one of these teams won back-to-back in the series. Overall the home team has won the game in each of the last 11 meetings dating back to 2000 (the 2000 and 2001 games were both at TSU while the 2002 and 2003 were each at SEMO due to a quirk in scheduling).
 Tennessee State Game Notes OVC Weekly Football Release Southeast Missouri State Game NotesCoach Rod Reed Weekly Report COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION |
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