Miles College and Tuskegee to play for spot in SIAC championship game Saturday

FAIRFIELD, Alabama  --  It's here now.

It's the matchup prognosticators predicted before either team played a down this season.  Miles College and Tuskegee University will meet Saturday at 4 p.m. at Albert J. Sloan Alumni Stadium and the stakes couldn't be higher.

Both teams' only loss came in one-point games to start the season. Both are undefeated in the conference and spot in next week's Southern Intercollegiate Conference championship game in Atlanta will be on the line.

"We want to make sure we're understanding the importance of this game," Miles coach Reginald Ruffin said. "It's going to be a big game, an exciting game. Emotions are going to be high. It came down to (No.) 1 versus (No.) 2. We've just got to continue focusing and working hard.

The matchup will pit Miles coach Reginald Ruffin against one of his mentors in Tuskegee coach Willie Slater.

Ruffin, in his second season at the Golden Bears' helm after guiding them to a conference title in his first year as a head coach, worked under Slater for five years as the Golden Tigers' defensive coordinator/linebackers coach before coming to Miles.

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SIAC Battle Of The Bands: Morehouse v. Fort Valley State

The Blue Machine Marching Band of Fort Valley State University showing you why HBCU Marching Bands do it better as they face off against the The House Of Funk of Morehouse College.

2012 SIAC Road To The Championship: Morehouse Maroon Tigers v. Albany State Golden Rams

Tuskegee, Miles and WSSU reps in AFCA Div. II Coaches Poll

WACO, Texas  --  For the second time in three weeks, seven Top 25 teams lost causing a reshuffling of the rankings in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The top three spots remained the same, with Colorado State-Pueblo staying No. 1 with 24 first-place votes. Winston-Salem State (N.C.) still sits No. 2, with six first-place votes, followed by No. 3 New Haven (Conn.). Then-No. 4 Bloomsburg (Pa.) was upset by new No. 7 Shippensburg (Pa.), 49-42, causing both Northwest Missouri State and Ashland (Ohio) to move up one spot apiece, to No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

This week, there are five Top 25 matchups that will have a say in who wins conference titles. The first game is No. 4 Northwest Missouri State hosting No. 20 Emporia State (Kan.), with the winner having a leg up in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) title chase. The second matchup has No. 6 Minnesota State-Mankato hosting No. 17 Sioux Falls (S.D.) with first place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division on the line. First place in the Lone Star Conference is at stake when No. 12 West Texas A&M plays host to No. 10 Midwestern State (Texas), while No. 11 Missouri Western State and No. 25 Washburn (Kan.) play in another key MIAA matchup. The final Top 25 matchup has No. 15 Miles (Ala.) facing No. 23 Tuskegee (Ala.), with first place in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference West Division at stake.


2012 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll – October 29, 2012

Rank	School (1st votes)	Rec.	Pts.	Prev.	Week Eight	Next Game
1.	Colorado St.-Pueblo (24)	9-0	744	1	D. Colorado Mesa, 48-10	Nov. 3 vs. New Mexico Highlands
2.	Winston-Salem St. (N.C.) (6)	9-0	720	2	D. Shaw (N.C.), 62-31	Nov. 3 at Fayetteville St. (N.C.)
3.	New Haven (Conn.)	8-0	689	3	D. Southern Connecticut St., 48-9	Nov. 3 at American International (Mass.)
4.	Northwest Missouri St.	8-1	632	5	D. No. 16t Washburn (Kan.), 56-6	Nov. 3 vs. No. 20 Emporia St. (Kan.)
5.	Ashland (Ohio)	9-0	628	6	D. Findlay (Ohio), 42-21	Nov. 3 at Tiffin (Ohio)
6.	Minnesota St.-Mankato	9-0	591	7	D. Wayne St. (Neb.), 42-35	Nov. 3 vs. No. 17 Sioux Falls (S.D.)
7.	Shippensburg (Pa.)	9-0	542	10	D. No. 4 Bloomsburg (Pa.), 49-42	Nov. 3 vs. Cheyney (Pa.)
8.	Henderson St. (Ark.)	9-0	532	9	D. Southern Arkansas, 44-36	Nov. 10 vs. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
9.	Minnesota-Duluth	8-1	519	8	D. Minnesota-Crookston, 38-14	Nov. 3 vs. Mary (N.D.)
10.	Midwestern St. (Texas)	7-1	462	11	D. Eastern New Mexico, 51-28	Nov. 3 at No. 12 West Texas A&M
11.	Missouri Western St.	8-1	454	12	D. No. 15 Emporia St. (Kan.), 57-28	Nov. 3 vs. No. 25 Washburn (Kan.)
12.	West Texas A&M	8-1	418	14	D. West Georgia, 52-28	Nov. 3 vs. No. 10 Midwestern St. (Texas)
13.	Bloomsburg (Pa.)	8-1	403	4	Lost to No. 10 Shippensburg (Pa.), 49-42	Nov. 3 vs. West Chester (Pa.)
14.	Indiana (Pa.)	8-1	377	16t	D. Clarion (Pa.), 45-0	Nov. 3 at Gannon (Pa.)
15.	Miles (Ala.)	8-1	330	18	D. Stillman (Ala.), 49-13	Nov. 3 vs. No. 23 Tuskegee (Ala.)
16.	Harding (Ark.)	7-1	302	19	D. Arkansas Tech, 76-23	Nov. 3 at Southeastern Oklahoma St.
17.	Sioux Falls (S.D.)	8-1	254	21	D. Upper Iowa, 54-41	Nov. 3 at No. 6 Minnesota St.-Mankato
18.	Pittsburg St. (Kan.)	6-2	176	22	D. Truman St. (Mo.), 20-6	Nov. 3 vs. Lindenwood (Mo.)
19.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.)	7-2	163	23	D. No. 24 Hillsdale (Mich.), 42-23	Nov. 3 vs. Wayne St. (Mich.)
20.	Emporia St. (Kan.)	8-1	161	15	Lost to No. 12 Missouri Western St., 57-28	Nov. 3 at No. 4 Northwest Missouri St.
21.	West Alabama	7-2	133	NR	D. Delta St. (Miss.), 37-7	Nov. 3 at Abilene Christian (Texas)
22.	California (Pa.)	7-2	115	13	Lost to Slippery Rock (Pa.), 28-26	Nov. 3 at Mercyhurst (Pa.)
23.	Tuskegee (Ala.)	7-1	74	NR	D. Clark Atlanta (Ga.), 14-0	Nov. 3 at No. 15 Miles (Ala.)
24.	Valdosta St. (Ga.)	7-2	71	NR	D. Shorter (Ga.), 37-6	Nov. 1 vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville
25.	Washburn (Kan.)	7-2	60	16t	Lost to No. 5 Northwest Missouri St., 56-6	Nov. 3 at No. 11 Missouri Western St.

Dropped Out: Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) (20), Hillsdale (Mich.) (24), Charleston (W.Va.) (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Indianapolis (Ind.), 37; Missouri S&T, 36; Chadron St. (Neb.), 31; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 27; American International (Mass.), 22; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 17; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 7; Charleston (W.Va.), 5; Humboldt St. (Calif.), 5; New Mexico Highlands, 4; Shepherd (W.Va.), 4; Mars Hill (N.C.), 2; Fort Valley St. (Ga.), 1; Hillsdale (Mich.), 1; Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 1.

FSU's Phillips shrugs off criticism

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  --  There's been plenty of grumbling among fans at Fayetteville State.

The Broncos are coming off their lone CIAA victory last week when they beat Livingstone 47-29. Coach Kenny Phillips, who is 75-62 in 13 seasons, has won three CIAA titles but the Broncos are 1-7 overall and in last place in the Southern Division at 1-5.

Phillips wouldn't call the season frustrating but says he's trying to get his young team to learn how to win.

"The perception of winning is it doesn't happen overnight," Phillips said. "The guys are starting to understand and we know we have a tough contest this week."

The Broncos will play host to second-ranked Winston-Salem State.

Coach Connell Maynor of the Rams, who spent 10 seasons as an assistant at Fayetteville State, said Phillips will turn things around.

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CAU's Smith-Jones Doesn't Mind Being Rare Commodity

TAMICA SMITH-JONES, DBA
Director of Athletics
Clark-Atlanta University

ATLANTA, Georgia  --  Clark Atlanta University's Dr. Tamica Smith-Jones doesn't mind being singled out. In fact, she prefers being "one in a few" or "the only one," when it comes to promoting student-athletes during their journey through college.

Smith-Jones is currently "one of only two" female athletics directors in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), which is composed of 13 institutions in five states including Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee. Both she and Dr. Denisha Hendricks of Kentucky State University are African-American.

Just recently, Smith-Jones served as the "only" featured panelist to represent the NCAA's Division II institutions during the 2012 National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) Regional Fall Conference, held at Georgia State University, Oct. 14 – 16.

The three-day N4A Conference included representatives from both Division I and Division II schools in the region, focusing on "Today's Vision, Tomorrow's Reality."

"Having an opportunity as the only panelist from a Division II school to share my experiences in athletic administration and to offer my expertise in the field along with my colleagues was an honor," said Smith-Jones.

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XU Gold Nuggets win in 4 for season sweep of Belhaven

NEW ORLEANS -- Taylor Reuther had 19 kills Monday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana in a 25-21, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20 women's volleyball victory against Belhaven at The Barn.

The Gold Nuggets (16-6) won their third in a row and snapped the six-match win streak of the Blazers (25-7). Xavier earned its first season sweep of Belhaven; the Nuggets won in four sets Sept. 8 in the championship match of the Belhaven Tournament.

Moira Kirk had 11 kills, Chinedu Echebelem 10 and Claudia Haywood eight for Xavier. Kirk had five blocks, three in the final set.

Taylor Williams had 13 kills, and Morgan Hofacker and Natalie Davis had eight apiece for Belhaven. Hofacker had 14 digs.

More on this story will be posted online at http://www.xula.edu/athletics/news/2012/1029.html


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

SWAC Launches Football Championship Website

COMING DECEMBER 8, 2012, 1:00 PM at
 LEGION FIELD
 BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
 

JUDGMENT DAY

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  — The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announces the launch of their new website www.swacfootball.org dedicated to the SWAC annual Football Championship.
 
The new website incorporates options to purchase advance tickets, make travel and hotel arrangements all while providing information about each member institution via link to the school’s site.

The site will serve as a primary source where fans, alumni and students can get the latest news about the SWAC Toyota Football Championship, including a schedule of events for the week.

“The new website will help alumni, fans and students better streamline the process of planning for the SWAC Football Championship. It provides one stop to purchase tickets, make traveling arrangements and allows everyone to keep up-to-date with SWAC football.” commented SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp.

Celebrating its 14^th year, the SWAC Football Championship continues to grow in exposure and attendance. The 2012 Toyota SWAC Football Championship will kick off on Thursday, December 6^th through Saturday, December 8^th, with Game Day held at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

For more information please visit www.swacfootball.org.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.swacfootball.org or at www.southtix.com.

About SWAC

Founded in 1920, the Southwestern Athletic Conference – made up of historically black colleges and universities - and its members are committed to the philosophy of maintaining intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the overall educational program. The conference believes in and subscribes to the fundamental principles of amateurism, institutional control, sound academic standards, financial aid, recruiting, and ethical conduct that govern intercollegiate athletics, and the enforcement of rules and regulations as adopted by the NCAA. Sponsoring 18 sports, the SWAC ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of alumni playing with professional sports teams- particularly in football. For more information about SWAC, visit www.swac.org.

New attitude at S.C. State entering bye week

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  It’s a different mood around the South Carolina State football facilities compared to three weeks ago.

Back-to-back wins and a chance to extend a streak of consecutive winning seasons has dramatically improved the Bulldogs’ morale. Now with a “bye” this Saturday, S.C. State head football coach Buddy Pough hopes the extra time will do wonders for his team’s overall health.

“Physically, we’re in kind of a shambles, especially on defense,” said Pough during Monday’s weekly teleconference. “We don’t have any of our linebackers. (Blackville-Hilda graduate) Joe Thomas is out ... Terrell Fitts is out. We’ve got some of our defensive line – (Andrew) Carter and some of that crowd is out. (Defensive back Darius) Drummond’s down (ankle). We’ve got a lot of guys down on defense.

“Offensively, we’re better off that way. (Quarterback Derrick) Wiley is still out (concussion). (Running back) Asheton (Jordan) was away last week with a family deal. We’ve got a couple of guys banged up on the offensive line, but most of our offense is in decent shape.”

Out the injured group, Pough is hopeful of getting back Fitts and Justin Hughes at linebacker and possibly Drummond for the Nov. 10 contest at North Carolina A&T. The Bulldogs had a light practice Sunday, were off Monday and return to work this afternoon.




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NCCU Eagles attempt to put stinging loss in past

DURHAM, North Carolina — Before Saturday’s game between N.C. Central and Bethune-Cookman, Eagles coach Henry Frazier III said a little luck could help his team win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

The Eagles very well may need that rabbit’s foot.

NCCU and Bethune-Cookman entered the contest tied for first place in the MEAC, but the Wildcats’ 42-17 win over the Eagles gave them the league’s top spot.

The matchup pitted NCCU, with the MEAC’s No. 1 rushing defense, against a Bethune-Cookman team that boasted the league’s top rushing offense.

Bethune-Cookman won the ground battle, making the difference in the war.



The Wildcats rushed for 274 yards, 158 from Isidore Jackson, who carried the ball 14 times and scored twice, including a 93-yard touchdown.

Bethune-Cookman had been averaging 229.6 yards and 29 points, but the Wildcats outdid themselves against NCCU, which was the MEAC’s highest-scoring squad heading into the game.

The teams played to a 14-14 halftime stalemate, but Bethune-Cookman cranked up its offense in the second half and outscored NCCU 28-3.

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Running game, D spark Arkansas-Pine Bluff

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --  Not much has been written about Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but the Golden Lions (6-2 overall, 5-1 in SWAC) have quietly put together a great season.

UAPB is on top of the league’s Western Division, and its only losses are to Alabama A&M and Tennessee State, two of the nation’s top black college football teams.

UAPB head coach Monte Coleman has succeeded with great defense and a solid running game. Coleman has some of the best defensive players not only in the SWAC, but in the FCS. The linebacker corps has been tremendous, led by Bill Ross (85 total tackles, 44 solos), Jer-ryan Harris (68 total tackles, 33 solo) and Xavier Lofton (65 total tackles, 38 solo). They all do a great job of swarming to the football, and it’s hard to move the ball against them. The Golden Lions don’t give up many big plays and are just fundamentally sound.



Of course, it all starts up front. Defensive end Brandon Thurmond leads the SWAC with 10.5 sacks. Thurmond, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound senior, is one of the best pass-rushers in the country. In fact, Thurmond and Ross are solid NFL prospects. Ross, a 6-2, 240-pound senior, leads the conference in tackles.

Offensively, the Golden Lions have a reliable running back in Justin Billings. Billings, who has good quickness and can turn the corner, has 76 carries for 406 yards and three touchdowns. He had 18 carries for 82 yards and one touchdown in UAPB’s 10-0 victory over Mississippi Valley State.

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Blue Devils to Welcome Shaw in Exhibition Tuesday

DURHAM, Norrth Carolina  --  The preseason third-ranked Duke women's basketball team will host its first of two exhibition contests on Tuesday, Oct. 30 as the Blue Devils will welcome the reigning NCAA Division II champions Shaw University to Cameron Indoor Stadium at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free to all fans.

Shaw University is located in Raleigh, N.C., and in the CIAA conference. The Lady Bears registered a 29-6 overall record a year ago, including a 15-1 mark in the CIAA. They claimed their first NCAA title last season with an 88-82 victory over Ashland.

The Lady Bears return three starters from their championship squad - Sequoyah Griffin (9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds), Crystal Harris (9.4 points, 6.6 rebounds) and Isayra Diaz (3.2 points, 0.8 rebounds). Jacques Curtis is in his 13th season as head coach and has notched a 273-132 career record.

Duke has been tabbed No. 3 nationally in the Associated Press preseason poll. The No. 3 listing is the highest preseason ranking for the Blue Devils since the 2005-06 campaign.

A reward to fans that attend the exhibition games against Shaw, on Oct. 30, and Queens, on Nov. 4, is the opportunity to purchase individual game tickets before the general public. Tickets officially go on sale on Monday, Nov. 5.

Ticket packages for the 2012-13 season include season ticket packages and the ACC 4-Pack mini-plan amongst other great offers. For more information about these packages and others contact the Duke Ticket Office at (919) 681-2583 or 1-877-375-3853. You can also purchase tickets online at www.GoDuke.com.

COURTESY DUKE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Shaw Releases 2012-2013 Women’s Basketball Schedule

RALEIGH, N.C. – Shaw University today released its 2012-2013 women's basketball schedule. The defending NCAA Division II national champions will face Division I champion Baylor in an exhibition.

"This schedule gives the program additional national exposure, and challenges us each step of the way," said Shaw head coach Jacques Curtis.

The Lady Bears open their schedule with two exhibitions against Division I opponents. On October 30, they travel to Durham to take on nationally ranked #3 Duke, then travel to Waco, Tex., to take on #1 Baylor and the 2011-2012 Player of the Year Brittney Griner on November 5. This is the first time that the Division I national champion will face the Division II national champion.

"This game gives us a national stage and the chance to see – very early in the year – just where we stand," said Curtis.

The meat of the Lady Bears schedule begins in December, when the Lady Bears host a tournament featuring games against Washington Adventist and Nova Southeastern on December 14 and 15. The squad will then take to the road to take on Lynn and Palm Beach Atlantic.

After the Christmas Break, Shaw travels north to participate in the University of District Columbia tournament.

The beginning of 2013 brings the start of CIAA play with a three-game road trip to open the conference season. The Lady Bears then have a five-game homestand before hitting the heart of their CIAA Southern Division schedule beginning with a January 10 matchup against Virginia Union.

They host cross-town rival Saint Augustine's on January 26, and travel to the Lady Falcons on February 16. Their trip to Charlotte to face Johnson C. Smith falls on February 2. They will close out the season on February 23 against JCSU.

The CIAA Tournament begins on February 25, with the championship match to be held on March 2.

The Lady Bears return only three players, one of whom started on the championship team. This year is truly a year of rebuilding.

Shaw opens home play on November 14, taking on Virginia University of Lynchburg. All weekday Shaw home games begin at 6:00 p.m. Tipoff for Saturday games is 2:00 p.m. Home games, except for the Johnson C. Smith matchup, are played at C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium on Shaw's campus.

NCAA DIVISION II SHAW UNIVERSITY LADY BEARS 2012-13 SCHEDULE

Date	Opponent		Time/Status
Oct. 30	at Duke		TBA
	Exhibition
Nov. 5	at Baylor		8:00 PM
Nov. 14	Virginia-Lynchburg		6:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Dec. 11	Tusculum		6:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Dec. 14	Washington Adventist		2:00 PM
	Takoma Park, MD
Dec. 15	Nova Southeastern		5:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Dec. 17	at Palm Beach Atlantic		1:00 PM
	Boca Raton, FL
Dec. 19	at Lynn		2:00 PM
	West Palm Beach, FL
Dec. 28	at Goldey-Beacom		2:00 PM
	Wilmington, DE
Dec. 29	vs. Assumption @ Washington, D.C. - UDC		1:00 PM
Dec. 30	vs. Felician @ Washington, D.C.		1:00 PM
	D.C. Winter Classic
Jan. 3	at Elizabeth City State *		5:30 PM
	Elizabeth City, NC
Jan. 5	at Chowan *		5:30 PM
	Murfreesboro, NC
Jan. 7	at Virginia State *		5:30 PM
	Petersburg, VA
Jan. 10	Virginia Union *		6:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 12	Bowie State *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 14	Lincoln (Pa.) *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 19	Livingstone *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 21	Virginia Union *		6:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 23	at Winston-Salem State *		5:30 PM
Jan. 26	Saint Augustine's *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 30	Fayetteville State *		5:30 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Feb. 2	at Johnson C. Smith *		7:30 PM
	Charlotte, Nc
Feb. 9	at Livingstone *		5:30 PM
	Salisbury, NC
Feb. 13	Winston-Salem State *		6:00 PM
Feb. 16	at Saint Augustine's *		5:30 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Feb. 20	at Fayetteville State *		5:30 PM
	Fayetteville, NC
Feb. 23	Johnson C. Smith *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

College Basketball Preview - Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Philadelphia, PA — OUTLOOK: One of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history came last season from Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference automatic qualifier Norfolk State, and a handful of teams are attempting to stake their claim at dethroning the Spartans here in 2012-13.

Norfolk State shocked the basketball world by defeating No. 2 seed Missouri last year, but it will be hard-pressed to repeat a 26-win season with the loss of perhaps the conference's best big man in Kyle O'Quinn.

Savannah State actually won the MEAC regular season championship, finishing a game ahead of Norfolk State with 13 conference wins. This appears to be the Tigers' year as they return every single player from that squad. Don't sleep on Delaware State however, which looked impressive in league play last year (12-4), and returns the reigning conference Rookie of the Year in Tahj Tate. Bethune-Cookman recovered from a slow start to put together a solid campaign in 2011-12, and if it can piece things together for the whole season it will certainly be in the mix.


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Alabama State to face another high-powered offense Saturday at Prairie View

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State turned in its most impressive defensive performance of the season in its 31-13 defeat of rival Alabama in the 71^st State Farm Magic City Classic Saturday at Birmingham's Legion Field.

The Hornets basically shutout Southwestern Athletic Conference for three quarters after falling behind 13-10 with 14:40 to play in the second and overcame their struggles against the run, limiting the Bulldogs top-rated rushing attack to 29 yards.

The performance earned them their third victory in The Classic since 2004 and second in the past three years. But more importantly it kept their dreams of returning to the Old Gray Lady and playing for a SWAC championship alive.

With the win Alabama State improved to 5-3 (5-2 in the conference). They're tied for first-place in the eastern division with A&M (6-2, 5-2) and a have a half-game lead on Jackson State (4-4-, 4-2), which owns the head-to-head against them.




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College Basketball Preview - Southwestern Athletic Conference

Philadelphia, PA — OUTLOOK: In the Southwestern Athletic Conference a lot changed in the off- season. Conference champion Mississippi Valley State lost its head coach and a bulk of its roster. Texas Southern brought on former Indiana and UAB head coach Mike Davis on an interim basis. Grambling State hired a new coach in Joseph Price, who was an assistant at Lamar and played at Notre Dame. All the turbulence has meant the conference is very much up for grabs among a number of teams trying to make an impact.

 

Jackson State may be in the best position to unseat MVSU with the return of four starters including SWAC Freshman of the Year Kelsey Howard. It would be a quick turnaround for the Tigers, who finished ninth in the SWAC last season. However, if Howard continues to grow and the other returning players do as well, the Tigers will be dangerous. Prairie View A&M also figures to be right in the thick of things with all five starters returning from a team that was second in scoring last season. Southern also can't be ignored after the Jaguars were one of only two teams to have an overall record above .500 last season (17-14), while finishing second in the conference (13-5). Alcorn State has size in the backcourt and will return productive scorer Marquiz Baker, who missed much of last season with a foot injury.

 

The rest of the conference looks poised to have a tough season with just a few teams having enough to have an outside shot at competing for the conference title. Arkansas-Pine Bluff could be a ...

 

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Miles College coach Reginald Ruffin talks matchup against Tuskegee

FAIRFIELD, Alabama  --  There's about to the a collision in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's western division when Miles College (8-1) hosts Tuskegee University (7-1) Saturday.

 

Both are undefeated at 6-0 in the conference. The winner will advance to the conference championship game in Atlanta on November 10th.
 

I asked Miles coach Reginald Ruffin to give me his initial thoughts on the meeting against his former employer, following the Golden Bears' 49-13 defeat of Stillman this past Thursday.
 

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WSSU's Maynor heading home a winner

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  When Connell Maynor went back home to Fayetteville in 2010, he was a rookie head coach for a Winston-Salem State team coming off a one-win season.

When he returns again Saturday, he'll be accompanied by the most dominant football program in the CIAA.

Much has changed since Maynor left Fayetteville State after a successful 10-year run as an assistant on Kenny Phillips' staff.

The second-ranked Rams (9-0, 6-0 CIAA) already have clinched a berth in the CIAA championship game. They'll close their regular season Saturday against the struggling Broncos.

"I have a lot of family and friends there," Maynor said of Fayetteville. "I think I've proven that I can coach football. I coached there for 10 years, and I've got a lot of history with those guys and Kenny Phillips, and he's like a brother to me."

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FSU Defeats Livingtstone 47-29 on Homecoming

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  --  Running back Colon Bailey, Jr. broke Fayetteville State’s single-game rushing record as the Broncos celebrated Homecoming with a 47-29 victory over Livingstone (2-7, 2-4 CIAA). Bailey finished with a career-high 288 yards on 36 carries and three touchdowns.

The victory was also historical for Head Coach Kenny Phillips. It was his 75^th career win. In 13 seasons at the helm, he now holds a 75-62 record.

“It’s always good to get a win,” said head coach Kenny Phillips. “The guys are playing hard. They haven’t given up this season. These last three weeks, they have grown as a football team. We came together today as a team and did something in a game that we have been looking to do the entire year. That is to run the football.”

Bailey (Jr., Manteo, NC) averaged eight yards per carry in the contest, and recorded a game-long rush of 40 yards. The 288 yards on the ground breaks the previous record of 265 set by Clifton Davis in 1993. He also eclipsed the 200-yard rushing plateau for the second consecutive game as he ran for 220 last week against Saint Augustine’s.

“Watching Colon run the football the last three weeks has been special; especially, when you’re talking about the last two games. He has rushed for over 200 yards in each of them,” said Phillips. “That doesn’t happen in college football too often with the way teams play defense. My hat is off to him and the offensive line.”

The Broncos (2-7 overall, 1-5 CIAA) rushed for a season-high 376 yards against the Blue Bears. Christopher Hairston (So., Jacksonville, NC) and Andre Montgomery (Fr., Goldsboro, NC) contributed 103 yards on 21 carries as a pair. Hairston finished with 66 yards on 11 touches and Montgomery contributed 37 yards on 10 carries.

Wide receiver Ricardo White (So., Monroe, NC) caught a team-best three catches for 73 yards. White pulled in a 53-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Andreas Hudson (Sr., Philadelphia, PA) that put Fayetteville State ahead 10-7 with 2:34 left in the first quarter.

Hudson had 146 yards passing and two touchdowns on 9-of-13 attempts in the first half. Nick Bynkoski (Fr., Duncan, BC) took over in the second half to see his first collegiate experience. He rushed for his first touchdown to open the second half.

The Broncos’ defense forced Livingstone into five turnovers (one interception, four fumbles) and held it to 337 yards of total offense. Four of the five turnovers led to 24 points for Fayetteville State.

Free safety Michael Johnson (So., Raleigh, NC) led the defense with ten total tackles (seven solo and three assisted), one fumble recovery and one-half tackle for loss. Strong safety Michael Fogg (So., Raleigh, NC) tallied an interception and fumble recovery while finishing with seven tackles (four solo and three assisted).

Fayetteville State will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1:30 p.m. when it hosts #2 Winston-Salem State for Senior Day.

COURTESY FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

THE SHOW: 2012 Magic City Classic Battle of the Bands

Chowan ends VSU's playoff hopes

ETTRICK, Virginia -- Even with the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's championship game right under its nose, it proved out of Virginia State's reach.

The Trojans' defense allowed 345 yards, and the offense was unable to overcome a first-half deficit as Chowan defeated Virginia State 33-21 at Rogers Stadium on Saturday. The loss eliminated VSU from contention to play for the CIAA title.

"We didn't play up to par in the first half," said Virginia State coach Andrew Faison. "They were a little bit quicker than we were.  "We didn't tackle well in space and we gave up some big plays."

The Trojans (4-5, 3-3) and Hawks (5-4, 4-2) entered the game tied for second in the Northern Division, one game behind division-leader Elizabeth City State, which defeated Virginia Union 27-21 on Saturday.

"Virginia State is a very fine team and we have the utmost respect for them," said Chowan coach Tim Place.  "This is a big win for us.

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Florida A&M Rattlers face long odds on the road

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  The task of finishing this season with a winning record is looking a little arduous for FAMU heaving into the final three games of the season. Just as tough are the Rattlers’ chances of staying in the MEAC title conversation.

But there is still a sense of optimism around the Galimore Fieldhouse, although the Rattlers are faced with having to win out on the road where they’ve struggled mightily.

Coach Joe Taylor is convinced that with a little “alignment, assignment and execution,” as coaches like to say, there is hope.

The players agree, but they also think that the intangible of battling against fans of the home teams that they’ll face also is a huge factor.

After having last weekend off, they resume play at North Carolina A&T on Saturday, then return to Bragg Stadium for homecoming against North Carolina Central before going to Orlando to face Bethune-Cookman University in the season finale.

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Greatest Homecoming On Earth: North Carolina A&T State University Blue & Gold Marching Machine

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Throwback....NCA&T Homecoming 1993...the start of it all...Golden Delight!!

Lessons Learned: N.C. A&T 30, Norfolk State 9

GREENSBORO,  North Carolina  --  You got to win homecoming: Head coach Rod Broadway said that's one of the first things the higher-ups told him when they hired him to head the A&T program at the beginning of 2011.

The Aggies had, after all, lost seven straight homecoming games.

You can just tell how important the game is to this fanbase. Not only does the stadium fill up with about 6,000 to 8,000 more people than the average home game -- 20.356 showed up yesterday -- but all the tailgate areas around the stadium are packed as well.

This is the weekend of the year in which the most A&T eyes are on their football program. And they need to see a win.

The Aggies' sluggish start didn't give the fans much to cheer about in the first half -- aside from D'Vonte Graham's field goal return for a touchdown -- but you can tell they were willing to get into it if the team gave them even the slightest impetus.

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Texas Southern Tigers get First Victory in Home Stadium

HOUSTON, Texas  --  It didn’t come easy, but the Texas Southern Tigers have captured their first victory in their new home. TSU beat Grambling State 23-20 in the BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday.

The TSU Tigers started strong and finished focused to get the win.

Texas Sothern took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback Rudy Johnson got the drive started with two rushes for 28 yards. Johnson then took his attack to the air by connecting with Fred Plummer twice for 14 yard and 25 yard gains. TSU capped the drive with a 1 yard touchdown pass to James Davis.

TSU got on the board again in the second quarter when Johnson finished a 13 yard drive with a 5 yard touchdown pass to Davis. The kick was good and Texas Southern held a 14-0 lead with 10:28 left in the half.

Grambling State scored on two big plays before the end of the first half. Frank Rivers hit Jeremy Hernandez for a 24 yard touchdown pass. Rivers completed his second touchdown pass of the game to Anthony McGhee to tie the game 14-14 going into the half.

Grambling picked up another big play in third quarter when Rivers connected with Musa Mahmud for a 60 yard touchdown pass. They missed the extra point and GSU led 20-14.

The Texas Southern’s defense got the Tigers back on the score board when Eric Brown took an interception 21 yards for the score. Two penalties pushed the Tigers back and they missed the extra point. The game was tied 20-20.

Texas Southern took the lead and the locked down the win with 4:14 left in the fourth quarters when Robert Hersh kicked a 32 yard field goal.

Johnson played his first complete game as the signal caller. He completed 11 of 17 passes for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also rushed for 59 yards. Plummer had 3 catches for 36 yards and Davis had two touchdown grabs. Edward Perkins-Loving carried the ball 19 times for 128 yards.

William Parker led the defense with 10 tackles 1 TFL and a forced fumble. Brown had three tackles and an interception for a TD.

The Tigers improve to 2-4 in conference. TSU will face Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, November 3^rd for homecoming at 2:00 pm in the BBVA Compass Stadium.

Box Score

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

THE SHOW: Sights & Sounds from South Carolina State University Homecoming 2012