DWIGHT FLOYD WEEKLY COMMENTARY: FAMU Season Just a Blur



Dwight Floyd
"theeditor"
SportsEdit.Org

ORLANDO, Florida  --  You knew at the start of the season that it would either be a great season or a bust.

With as many as 41 freshmen and redshirt freshman and playing at Tennessee State, Oklahoma, and Delaware State for three of the first four games, you knew it would take something special to come out on top. Defeating Hampton in the third game of the season was somewhat of a reprieve followed by a win against a decent Delaware State team in Delaware. At that point in the season we were looking to just “keep hope alive.” Depending on what happens in Orlando today, the Delaware State win and the most recent win against North Carolina Central, a team that is relatively new to Division 1 football, may be FAMU’s biggest wins of the 2012 season.

There were fewer fans in the stands for the FAMU homecoming than there were for the first three games where fans showed up in abundance. It was not that people protested homecoming and I’m not sure how much of it was for lack of a band or plain old disappointment over previous game results. The only difference I can see between homecoming and the first three home games is the price of admission. According to witnesses there were a whole lot of people at the shopping malls. I can say first hand that there were a lot of people participating outside the stadium too.

Bethune Cookman Wildcats vs. Florida A&M Rattlers
Saturday, 2:30 P.M. EST
ESPN Classic/Rattler Sports

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WEEK 12, HBCU Classic Saturday

OTHER
Central State @ Kentucky State, 3 pm
Edward Waters@ Virginia University of Lynchburg, (Homecoming) 1 pm

SWAC
Alabama A&M @ Auburn, 2 pm, ESPN3
Prairie View A&M @ Arkansas Pine Bluff, 3:30 pm
Mississippi Valley State @ Texas Southern, 2 pm
Jackson State @ Alcorn State, 3 pm

OVC
Tennessee State @ Tennessee-Martin, 3 pm

MEAC
Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M @ Orlando, Florida Classic, 2 pm, ESPN Classic
Hampton @ Morgan State 1:pm
Delaware State @ Howard, 1 pm
North Carolina A&T @ North Carolina Central, 2 pm
Savannah State @ South Carolina State, 1:30 pm

NCAA Division II Playoff
Fort Valley State @ Lenoir-Rhyne, 12:00 p.m.
Miles @ West Alabama, 1 pm

LSU Women's Basketball Opens Road Trip at Hampton

Hampton (2-0) is riding the momentum of a monumental win at Mississippi State on Monday

HAMPTON, Va. - The LSU women's basketball team begins a four-game road trip at 6 p.m. CT Friday as the Lady Tigers travel to take on Hampton, the 2012 champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, in Hampton University Convocation Center.

The contest will be carried live on the LSU Sports Radio Network on 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge and to members of the Geaux Zone on www.LSUsports.net/live. In-game updates are available via Twitter at www.Twitter.com/LSUwbkb.

LSU (1-0) practiced on Thursday in Baton Rouge before taking a charter flight to Hampton, Va. Following Friday's game, the Lady Tigers will depart for Washington D.C. and then tour The White House on Saturday morning. LSU will spend three days in the nation's capital and play No. 25 Georgetown at 6 p.m. CT Monday.

It's been nearly a week since the Lady Tigers overcame a six-point second-half deficit to rally past Wichita State, 72-70, in the season-opener last Sunday. LSU narrowly out-rebounded the Shockers, but head coach Nikki Caldwell said this week the Lady Tigers turned up the intensity on the boards.




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WSSU steamrolls over Barber-Scotia

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  For a game that was a bit late getting started, Winston-Salem State’s home basketball opener Thursday sure was over in a hurry.

The Rams scored the first 13 points and were off and running to a 107-49 victory over Barber-Scotia College in front of 1,644 at the Gaines Center.

WSSU (1-1) stretched its lead to 49-20 by halftime, by which time Coach Bobby Collins had sent all 16 players on his roster into the fray. All ended up playing at least seven minutes, and nobody played more than 18.

“We really wanted to play well (Thursday) and I wanted a lot of guys to get an opportunity to play,’’ Collins said. “This was about us. Regardless of who showed up, we wanted to play well, and I’m glad my team stayed focused to play the way we played.’’

Barber-Scotia, an NAIA school from Concord, arrived late because of travel problems and got fewer than 15 minutes to warm up. After another brief delay because of a scoreboard malfunction, the game started 12 minutes after its scheduled time.

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Connell Maynor leads WSSU into the NCAA Division II playoffs

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Coach Connell Maynor is leading Winston-Salem State into the Division Two playoffs.

His Rams faced some big adversity in Saturday’s CIAA Championship game against Elizabeth City State, losing his quarterback and a couple of offensive linemen to injuries.

 Ram nation was getting nervous. But Winston-Salem State rallied to win the conference title. Then the next day, they gathered to watch the Division two selection show.

The rams got a first round bye and home field advantage all the way up until the national championship game. Last year they got so close to winning it all.

“I want it bad man,” said Senior Center Markus Lawrence. “More than anything.”

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TSU Tigers Advance to Semifinals at OVC Championships

Morehead, Kentucky - Tennessee State advanced to the second round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament with a win over fourth seeded Austin Peay. The Tigers earned a 3-1 (25-15, 18-25, 27-25, 25-17) victory over the Governors in Wetherby Gym on Thursday afternoon. The win is the first for the Tigers in the OVC Championships since winning the tournament in 2007.

 

Naomi Wells led the Tigers with a double-double as she recorded a game-high 16 kills (.324) and picked up 13 digs. Rachel Ambroch added offensive support with 13 kills (.250).

 

Setter Erika Moss added five kills to go along with her 41 assists. Libero Britani Hathorn registered four assists and a game-high 15 digs.

 

The two teams traded points to start the match and were tied at 7-7 when the Tigers used consecutive kills by Moss, Lindsay Hornsby and Wells to take a 10-7 lead. Austin Peay would respond with two quick points before TSU exploded with six straight points behind the serving of Wells.

 

Hornsby added two kills during the stretch before Wells picked up her only ace of the night. Emilie Aase closed out the run by taking advantage of an over pass by the Governors and delivering a booming kill for a 16-9 lead.

 

To close out the set, Ambroch made a great save on an APSU tip allowing Hathorn the opportunity to get the ball up enough for Ambroch to put the ball down for the 25-15. TSU hit .424 during the first set with 16 kills and 2 errors on 33 attempts. Austin Peay was held to a .152 percentage (11-6-33).

The rolls reversed in the second set as APSU hit .481 (15-2-27), while the Tigers hit .212 (13-6-33). The two teams would stay close early with Aase picking up a kill to bring the Tigers to within one at 8-7. But the Governors went on an 8-2 run to give them a comfortable 16-9 lead. TSU would never get any closer than a four point deficit as they dropped the second set 25-18.

 

Both teams came out of the break fired up, but neither team could get away from the other. Late in the set, the Governors used a Lauren Henderson kill to take a 21-19 lead. But the Tigers fought back with three straight points as Hornsby recorded a kill and teamed with Aase for a block.

 

APSU would come back to tie the set at 24-24 before Moss and Ambroch each recorded kills to give the Tigers a 27-25 win. TSU hit .222 (16-6-45) to Austin Peay's .191 (14-5-47).

 

The fourth set opened with the Tigers getting a little momentum as they used a Wells kill to take a 10-7 lead. APSU would come back to tie the game at 13-13 only to see the Tigers go on a 12-6 run to end the match. Ambroch and Butler led the charge as they teamed up for two blocks. Ambroch added two kills and an ace, while Butler recorded a kill along with Wells.

 

TSU will play their semifinal match at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday evening against host and top seeded Morehead State who defeated UT Martin 3-0.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Mr. 100: Ross puts stamp on title-game season by reaching plateau again

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --  Monte Coleman wasn’t even asked what life in Arkansas-Pine Bluff football will be like without Bill Ross when he uttered: “I’m going to miss him.”

There are two games left, of course, for the Golden Lions. Two games Ross has remaining in his college career.

“Two games aren’t enough,” said Coleman, the Lions’ head coach. “I’d like to have two more years with him. We’re definitely going to miss him. He’s definitely one of the leaders, to say the least, not just in tackles or interceptions or any of that type of stuff.”

But he is a statistical leader.

Ross has 105 tackles to lead the SWAC, reaching the 100 plateau for the second straight year. He’s two away from his total last season.

That’s a nice stat for just one of the key players in Coleman’s standout 4-3 defense, which also boasts the Football Championship Subdivision’s leading sack man in defensive end Brandon Thurmond and another 100-plus tackler in linebacker Jer-ryan Harris (129 in 2010).



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'Soul Bowl' has lot on line for Jackson State and Alcorn State

JACKSON, Mississippi — It doesn't get much bigger than this for Jackson State — or rival Alcorn State, for that matter.

Since July, Saturday's meeting between the in-state SWAC rivals has been one of the most anticipated in series history, simply because of the location.

That was when Alcorn announced it was moving the game to its stadium in Lorman, ending an 18-year run at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (JSU's home turf) as the Capital City Classic. Braves fans rejoiced, while some Jackson State fans and city of Jackson employees fumed.

The Magnolia Heritage Classic: Return of the Soul Bowl — as it's billed by Alcorn — is set for a 2 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Spinks-Casem Stadium. Alcorn added 2,500 temporary seats to accommodate what school officials expect to be a record crowd at the 22,500-seat stadium.

Those added seats could come in handy. Not only does the game mark the return of the series to the Alcorn campus for the first time in nearly 20 years, but both teams have plenty to play for.

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TSU deeply saddened by the loss of legendary football coach Joe Gilliam, Sr.

Nashville, Tennessee --- The Tennessee State University family is saddened by the passing of legendary coach, hall of famer and mentor Joe Gilliam, Sr.

"The passing of Coach Joe Gilliam has cast a sadness across the Tiger nation this evening," said TSU Director of Athletics Teresa Phillips. "A great teacher, a genius coach, a developer of men, he will be missed but never forgotten in the hearts and souls of all who bleed blue."

JOE GILLIAM SR.
(Photo Courtesy TSU Athletics)

From 1963-1981, Gilliam was the assistant head football coach and defensive coordinator for Tennessee State University. During this period, TSU had nine Black National Championships, and four undefeated teams. As an assistant coach under John A. Merritt, Gilliam helped create one of the best defenses in the country, including NFL Hall of Famer Richard Dent and former Dallas Cowboy Ed 'Too Tall' Jones.

In 1989, he took the helm as head coach for four seasons and was selected as Coach of the Year in the Ohio Valley Conference in 1990. Over 80 TSU student-athletes reached the NFL during Gilliam's tutelage.

Not only was Coach Gilliam a success on the field, approximately 74 percent of his student-athletes graduated from Tennessee State. The men have professions in the business, education and in the medical field to just name a few.

His illustrious career record of 254-93-15 included coaching five undefeated teams and five other teams that lost only one game. In the process, he coached 10 teams to national championships, and helped guide 144 players into professional football careers with the National Football League.

During the 25 years that Gilliam was at Tennessee State, the Tigers had a 164-31-6 record.

He is father of former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Joe Gilliam, and the grandfather of R&B singer Joi.

Gilliam was inducted into the TSU Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Tennessee Sports Hall Of Fame in 2007.

In August 2011, coach Gilliam served as Richard Dent's presenter at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony.

This past May, former Tennessee State University football athletes honored coach Gilliam in a Roast Gala. The fundraiser supported the Joe Gilliam Sr. Scholarship fund. 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida Classic ticket sales down without FAMU band

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Florida A&M University verses Bethune-Cookman University is one of the biggest state rivals. It brings thousands of people into Orlando for the Florida Classic football game.

"I've never gone before so I want to know what all the hype is about," said BCU student Joyel Williams.

Some might argue that that the biggest competition is during the halftime show.

"You have state bragging rights for the next 12 months depending on how well you do at the game," said Donovan Wells, the director of Bands for the B-CU wildcats.

However, this year is definitely different since FAMU's Marching 100 won't be there. A hazing scandal at the school began at the classic a year ago. FAMU's band is still suspended for the death of drum major Robert Champion.

The loss of one half of the halftime show has affected ticket sales. Projections show that there will be around 30,000 people in attendance. That's a little less than half of the number of people that attended last year's game. Fewer ticket sales mean fewer dollars that each school can take home for scholarshipships .



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In the FCS Huddle: No right or wrong answers

Philadelphia, PA – Some potential FCS playoff teams could still be riding high come midnight Saturday.

It's during the wee hours of Sunday, when the NCAA football selection committee is expected to finalize their 20-team field for the FCS playoffs, that the carriage could turn into a pumpkin.

Unfortunately for too many teams with playoff-worthy resumes, the bubble is bigger than Donald Trump's ego.

"There seemed to be at least a consensus (among selection committee members) that this may be the most difficult year to pick the at-large teams," said Appalachian State athletic director Charlie Cobb, the chair of the committee.

In recent years, the committee has wrapped up discussions around midnight on the eve of Selection Sunday.

The members are ready for some overtime this year. The field will be announced at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday on ESPNU.

It's the final year before the FCS playoffs are increased to 24 teams, so there will be 10 automatic bids for conference champions and 10 at-large bids.


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Golden Bear Buzz: Miles College at West Alabama

WHAT: Miles College (8-2) at West Alabama (8-3)

WHEN: Saturday, noon

WHERE: Tiger Stadium

TV: None but fans can listen online at http://www.miles.edu

LINE: None

THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE: It's a Division II first-round playoff matchup. So, it's kill or be killed for both the Tigers and the Golden Bears. However, there's also pride on the line for both teams. West Alabama likely feels disrespected after being seeded fourth despite going undefeated in Gulf South Conference play and downing top-seeded Valdosta St. (Ga.) in the regular season. Meanwhile, Miles, in its first playoff game ever, likely wants to prove it belongs among the nation's best.

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. How often will Miles go to the air against West Alabama's defense? West Alabama is tops in the nation in Division II in pass defense, allowing just 127.7 yards per game. The Tigers are also the nation's best in passing efficiency on defense. Miles quarterback David Thomas led the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, in passing efficiency (157.6) and was second in total offense and passing yards per game. However, Miles, which led the SIAC in scoring at 37.5 points per game, also showed in can run the ball toward the latter part of the season with a running game that features the likes of Floyd Graves, Devonta Parker-Johnson and K.C. Logan. 

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Hampton looks to salvage win at Morgan State

HAMPTON, Virginia — As Donovan Rose winds down as trying a season as he has encountered, he looks to both present and future.

Rose wants his Hampton University football team to conclude 2012 on a good note, with a win Saturday in the season finale at Morgan State. But the final couple of weeks and games are also a time for evaluation — of personnel, coaching and everything within the program.

"It's a little like a preseason game for next year," Rose said Wednesday. "We want to evaluate the people we have and see who's still playing hard and who we feel like we can count on in the future. We want to look at our coaches and make sure we're doing everything we can to put our kids in the best position.

"This will start to let us know what to do with recruiting — our biggest needs, who we have to recruit over, the kinds of players who can help us right away."

Not to say that the Pirates (2-7, 2-5 MEAC) don't have immediate goals. Running back Jeremiah Schwartz is 70 yards short of 1,000, a feat made more significant since the Pirates play only 10 games, and he missed the Howard game with an injury. He wasn't the featured back for the first several games.




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Joseph scores career-high 26 to help XU Gold Rush move to 5-0

The 2012-13 Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball team

ROSTER

NEW ORLEANS -- Wanto Joseph, the reigning Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week, scored a career-high 26 points Tuesday to lead NAIA No. 19 Xavier University to a 73-67 men's basketball victory against Loyola at The Den.

The Gold Rush are 5-0 for the sixth time in Dannton Jackson's 10 seasons as head coach. Loyola (2-2) dropped its second in a row, both at home against city rivals. The Wolf Pack lost 78-70 Saturday to SUNO.

Joseph -- a 5-foot-9 senior guard whose previous best was 18 points as a sophomore -- was 10-of-16 from the floor, 2-of-3 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the line in 36 minutes. He had four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Denzell Erves had a season-high 16 points and a career-high four assists for Xavier, and Nick Haywood scored 12. Anthony Simmons had nine points and a season-high 12 rebounds.

McCall Tomeny scored 19 points for Loyola, and Kyle Simmons, Mason Ibert and Robert Lovaglio scored 13 apiece.

Six players scored during a 15-0 run which gave Xavier a 27-17 lead at 7:09 of the first half. The Gold Rush led 36-33 at halftime.

Joseph scored 20 points in the second half, and his 3-pointer with 13:38 remaining put Xavier ahead to stay, 50-48. The Gold Rush had a pair of 10-point leads in the second half, the last after Joseph's basket made it 66-56 with 5:44 remaining.

The Gold Rush preserved the victory by making 7-of-8 free throws in the final 36 seconds.

Xavier, playing for the first time on the road this season, outshot Loyola 53.2 to 47.7 percent from the floor. Xavier had a 33-20 rebound advantage -- the fourth time this season the margin was in double figures -- and shot a season-best 85.7 percent from the line.

Joseph, Erves and Haywood have scored in double figures in every game this season.

Xavier leads the series 30-6 and won for the first time since a two-game Loyola sweep last season.

The Gold Rush will play Wiley for homecoming at 2 p.m. Saturday at XU's new Convocation Center.


By Ed Cassiere, SID
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

TSU Tigers try to ground UTM Skyhawks in final regular season game

Nashville, Tennessee - Tennessee State and UT Martin are playing for a potential at-large berth to the Division I Football Championship on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Martin, Tenn.

A win by TSU would give it nine Division I victories, while a win by UT Martin would give it eight Division I wins, including a victory over FBS Memphis. TSU is hoping for its first playoff berth since 1999 while UT Martin is looking for its first playoff appearance since making its lone appearance in 2006. The game is also part of the Sgt. York Trophy series in which TSU has already clinched at least a share of the title; UTM can gain a share, although TSU will keep the actual trophy, with a win.
 

Tennessee State, ranked No. 23 in this week’s Sports Network poll, is fresh coming off its bye week and will go on the road for its final regular season game. In its last game two weeks ago Tennessee State held a 28-27 lead at the end of the third quarter but saw Murray State score 22 unanswered points on its way to the 49-28 victory. Running back Trabis Ward rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown in the loss. In the process Ward moved past Javarris Williams (2006) for the third most rushing yards in TSU single-season history (1,316). Ward currently ranks eighth nationally in rushing (131.6 yards/game) and has scored 15 touchdowns.
 

Sophomore tight end A.C. Leonard had another big game, hauling in seven passes for 115 yards. Leonard currently has 44 catches for 643 yards on the season. Quarterback Michael German passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 22 yards and an additional score in the game. Playing without sophomore defensive back Steven Godbolt III, who ranks second in the FCS in interceptions/game), TSU turned to sophomore Daniel Fitzpatrick who had a game-high 10 solo tackles, broke-up a pass and had a sack.

UT Martin saw its four-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday in overtime at Tennessee Tech when a botched extra point gave the Golden Eagles a one-point victory. The Skyhawks handled 31-17 entering the fourth quarter only to fall behind 38-31 with 1:10 to play after Tech scored on a 79-yard touchdown pass. But UTM quarterback Derek Carr threw a 46-yard Hail Mary pass that bounced off two TTU players before landing in the arms to Chris Thompson to tie the game. After the Golden Eagles scored to open the extra period UT Martin faced a 4th and 16 before Carr found OVC Newcomer of the Week Jeremy Butler for a touchdown. That play was right before the Skyhawks fumbled the extra point snap, ending the game.

Butler finished the game with 13 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns; over the past four games Butler has caught 35 passes for 438 yards and seven touchdowns. Carr finished the game 35-of-52 for 422 yards and four touchdowns; he has 11 touchdown passes and no interceptions over his last two games. Carr ranks seventh nationally in passing yards/game (300.0) and in points responsible for (17.4/game). His 66 career touchdowns passes currently ranks third in OVC history while his 8,152 passing yards is fifth in OVC history. Ben Johnson had 13 tackles in the loss and continues to lead the OVC and rank fourth nationally in tackles/game (12.3).

Tennessee State holds a 14-7 advantage in the all-time series, although UTM has won four of the last six overall, including a five-point victory a season ago. In that game UT Martin held a 17-14 halftime advantage before TSU scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter. Michael German threw for three touchdowns and Trabis Ward ran for 180 yards and two scores for the Tigers. The Skyhawks were led by Derek Carr who threw for 329 yards and four touchdowns.

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

Tennessee State Game Notes OVC Weekly Football Release

Coach Rod Reed Weekly Teleconference

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Begins Postseason Play Against Austin Peay

Photo courtesy of Sam Jordan / TSU Athletics

Nashville, Tennessee –After finishing the regular season with a 10-6 conference record, the Tennessee State volleyball team enters the OVC Tournament as the fifth overall seed.

The Tigers will play Austin Peay on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 3:30 p.m. Should the Tigers win, they will face the winner of the Morehead State (the host school) versus UT Martin game.

Last week, TSU split a pair of matches versus Belmont and SIUE.

During the week, Sophomore Rachel Ambroch recorded 24 kills over the two matches, including 16 versus the Cougars. She also had four service aces and five blocks against SIUE. Ambroch also added 23 digs last week. Ambroch currently sits at ninth in the conference with 2.84 kills per set.

Defensively, senior Britani Hathorn had a match-high 18 digs at Belmont and followed that with 25 versus SIUE. She also recorded a pair of service aces in the matches, adding to her conference-leading 0.36 aces per set.

TSU also ranks first in the OVC as a team, recording an average of 1.55 aces per set.

Junior setter Erika Moss had 36 assists in the match with Belmont before recording her fourth 50-plus assist match of the season with 52 versus SIUE. Moss has recorded 30 or more assists in every match since Sept. 22.

Meanwhile, Austin Peay (1715, 10-6 OVC) defeated Murray State and fell to Morehead State last week.

Junior Lauren Henderson led the Lady Govs with 12 kills and a .611 attack percentage against Morehead State. She also recorded a .600 hitting percentage against Murray State, finishing with 11 kills and four blocks.

Sophomore Cami Fields recorded 30-plus assists in both matches. She had 35 assists, 10 digs and three blocks against Murray State. She followed that up with 31 assists against Morehead State.

Nikki Doyle finished the regular-season with 422 kills while Jada Stotts had 407 kills becoming Austin Peay's first duo to finish with 400-plus kills in the same season since 1999.

Austin Peay currently leads the conference with a .226 hitting percentage.

TSU lost to Austin Peay earlier this season 1-3 (25-21, 15-25, 22-25, 25-27) on Oct. 27.

The Tigers will try to keep their season alive with a win against the Lady Govs. The match can be seen on the OVC Digital Network.


COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Xavier's Joseph selected GCAC Player of the Week

WANTO JOSEPH

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Wanto Joseph has been chosen Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week for Nov. 5-11.

It's the first time that Joseph -- a 5-foot-9 senior guard from New Orleans and a graduate of O. Perry Walker High School -- has won this award. Four Gold Rush players combined to win the GCAC's weekly award seven times in 2011-12.

Joseph averaged 15.5 points, four rebounds and 6.5 assists in two Gold Rush victories in the Big Easy Classic. Joseph had 16 points, four rebounds and five assists Friday in a 75-71 victory against Jarvis Christian, then he had 15 points, four rebounds and a season-high eight assists Saturday in a 78-70 victory against Tuskegee. Joseph made 12 free throws against Tuskegee -- the most in a game by a Gold Rush player since February 2009 -- and made all 10 of his attempts in the final four minutes.

Joseph leads the Gold Rush this season with 15.3 points and 6.3 assists per game and 23 made free throws.

Xavier (4-0), ranked 19th in NAIA Division I, will visit city rival Loyola tonight, then return home to play Wiley at 2 p.m. Saturday for homecoming at XU's new Convocation Center.


By Ed Cassiere, SID
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Franklin's career-high 18 helps XU Nuggets beat Spring Hill

SiMon Franklin

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's SiMon Franklin scored 13 of her career-high 18 points in the second half Tuesday in a 61-50 women's basketball victory against Spring Hill at XU's new Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets (2-0), ranked 11th in NAIA Division I, have a 12-game home winning streak, including both their games this season.

Franklin, a senior guard, had four assists, four steals and a blocked shot in 27 minutes. Xavier led 27-23 at halftime, but five consecutive Franklin points gave the Nuggets a 42-30 lead with 13:52 remaining. Angelica Alexander's basket with 2:45 remaining gave Xavier its biggest lead, 61-43.

Danielle Tucker scored 11 points, nine in the first half, and Whitney Gaston-Loyd eight for Xavier. Paige Gauthier led the Nuggets with career-highs of eight rebounds and six steals.

Jamesha Watkins scored 12 points for Spring Hill (1-4), which dropped its fourth in a row. Thirteen Badgers scored, but no one else had more than seven. April Bradford grabbed nine rebounds.

Gaston-Loyd's basket at 14:53 of the first half put Xavier ahead to stay at 8-6.

Both teams shot 38 percent from the floor. Xavier outshot Spring Hill 46.9 to 36 percent in the second half. Xavier outrebounded Spring Hill 37-34. The Nuggets committed 21 turnovers and gained 31.

Xavier's next game will start at noon Saturday against NAIA No. 5 Westminster (Utah) at the Convocation Center. It will be the first of three consecutive Xavier games against ranked opponents.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, SID
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Jags' Mathis: Bethune-Cookman can't let guard down in Florida Classic

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Rashean Mathis has some advice for his alma mater.

According to Mathis, a former Bethune-Cookman standout turned Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback, the Wildcats (8-2, 7-0) do not want to underestimate Florida A&M (4-6, 4-3) heading into Saturday's Florida Classic. The game is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

“In a game like that, records don't matter,” Mathis said in front his locker at Everbank Field in Jacksonville following his team's Thursday night, 27-10, loss to the Indianapolis Colts. “I'm sure the coaches will be preaching the same thing. The atmosphere of the game gets everyone ready to play so if you're undefeated or defeated it doesn't matter in that game because the emotions are going and the rivalry stands strong.”

Mathis was a second-round pick by the Jaguars in 2003. He said he still pays attention to Bethune-Cookman football and is excited about the way the team has played this season.

“They have done an awesome, awesome job,” Mathis said. “Ever since the new coaching staff came in, they have been doing a tremendous job.”

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Tuskegee RB Derrick Washington named SIAC Player of the Year, Willie Slater Coach of the Year

TUSKEGEE, Alabama  --  Tuskegee running back Derrick Washington was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's 2012 Player of the Year Tuesday.

If the 6-foot, 215-pound transfer hadn't already done enough to lock his name in the hearts and minds of voters a couple weeks ago, the Missouri transfer's performance in the Tigers last two games had to remove all doubt from even the staunchest dissenter.

First, he rushed for 208 yards in a 27-17 win against Miles College in a battle of conference unbeaten to punch his team's ticket to the SIAC title game in Atlanta. Then, he topped that performance going for 224 yards and a pair of scores while catching a couple of passing for 107 and another score to lead Tuskegee to a 55-24 win against Fort Valley State (Ga.) in the conference championship game this past Saturday.

 

It's a blessing man," Washington said, following the Tuskegee's win against the Wildcats. "To come from where I came from this year and to end it with a championship, it's really a blessing and I really can't explain it.

Washington has been a workhorse for Tuskegee all season. He led the SIAC in rushing with 1,399 yards and 13 touchdowns on 172 carries in 10 games.



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Elizabeth City University and Tuskegee University to play in Pioneer Bowl XIV

Columbus, GA – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) have announced that Elizabeth City State University and Tuskegee University have been selected to participate in the 14^th Pioneer Bowl. The game will take place on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at A.J. McClung Stadium in Columbus, GA at 1:00pm (EST).

Tickets can be purchased online beginning on Thursday, November 15, 12 pm at www.TheCIAA.com or www.TheSIAC.com. Adult general admission tickets are $18; children ages three and under are free.

The Elizabeth City State University Vikings, led by Head Coach Waverly Tillar, finished first in the CIAA Northern Division and vied for the CIAA Championship title for the second consecutive year. The Vikings are currently 7-4 overall record, 6-1 in conference play. “We are excited that Elizabeth City State University will represent the CIAA in the Pioneer Bowl. Their tremendous season and record will bring forth great competition against Tuskegee, for the fans and the Columbus community,” comments new CIAA Commissioner Jacqie Carpenter.

Tuskegee is coming off a 55-18 victory over Fort Valley State in the SIAC Championship Game, played last week at Lakewood Stadium in Atlanta. Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Willie Slater, No. 14 Tuskegee has won nine consecutive games en route to earning its 26th SIAC Football Championship. Led by Harlon Hill Trophy candidate Derrick Washington, Tuskegee is currently 9-1 overall and 8-0 in conference play.

“The City of Columbus and its Sports Council has been very supportive and welcoming to both the CIAA and SIAC, in hosting the Pioneer Bowl for the last two years,” said SIAC Commissioner Greg Moore. “Last year, Johnson C. Smith and Miles provided an electric and exciting atmosphere and we expect the same this year with Elizabeth City State and Tuskegee’s success this season.”

Tuskegee will be making its ninth appearance in the Pioneer Bowl while Elizabeth City State will make its second appearance in this historical game. The Golden Tigers have won eight Pioneer Bowl titles, with their last coming in a 21-7 victory over Elizabeth City State in 2009.

The Pioneer Bowl, established in 1997, is the only NCAA-sanctioned Division II bowl game involving HBCU athletic conferences. Last year, Johnson C. Smith defeated Miles 35-33 in the Pioneer Bowl XIII, played at AJ McClung Stadium.

COURTESY THESIAC.COM

XU Gold Nuggets will visit Georgetown (Ky.) in opening round

Xavier qualified for the NAIA nationals for the second consecutive year. NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana will travel to Georgetown (Ky.) for the 2012 NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round. Xavier (22-7) will play the Tigers (33-4) at 7:30 p.m. EST Saturday in Georgetown's Davis-Reid Alumni Gym.      The NAIA announced first-round pairings Monday. Xavier qualified for nationals for the second consecutive year and the second time overall by winning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday.  Georgetown, ranked 13th, earned at at-large bid after winning the Mid-South Conference regular season and losing in four sets to Lindsey Wilson in the Mid-South tourney championship match. It will be the Tigers' 15th appearance at nationals and first since 2009. "Georgetown has beaten three teams we played this season — Lee, Union (Ky.) and Lindsey Wilson — so that has our attention," said XU coach Christabell Hamilton, whose team lost to Lee and Lindsey Wilson and defeated Union in the season-opening Lee Invitational in August. "We're definitely the underdogs, and I like it that way."      Georgetown had a 25-match win streak from Aug. 25-Oct. 23.      The 12 winners of Saturday's opening-round matches will advance to the NAIA National Championship Final Site presented by CNOS. They'll meet up with the host school, Morningside, and the 11 top seeds for competition Nov. 27-Dec. 1 at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.      Xavier lost 25-13, 25-11, 25-21 at Spring Hill in the NAIA's 2011 opening round. By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAATHLETICS XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Alabama A&M players relish unique 'honor' to play at Auburn this Saturday

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- It was always a cool deal when college recruiters came to visit McAdory High. The school secretary would call over the intercom system for particular players to report to the office.

"I always enjoyed that part of my high school drill," admitted Preston Nelson, now a senior defensive lineman for Alabama A&M.

One day his name was called. An Auburn recruiter was there to meet him. He was recruiting one of Nelson's McAdory teammates "and they just heard about me through the grapevine."

Though Nelson had that quick meeting and running back Kaderius Lacey went for an official visit, the closest most of the Bulldogs came to Auburn University football was their mailbox, where the occasional form letter and standard recruiting inquiry would land.

Until this Saturday.

The Bulldogs, 7-3 on the season, with those three losses coming in the last four games, go limping but also eagerly and confidently into their unprecedented date with Auburn at 1 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Football Game Notes: Auburn vs. Alabama A&M

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Comegy: Jackson State 'should' win against Alcorn State

COACH RICK COMEGY

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  Jackson State football coach Rick Comegy didn’t want to talk too much about what would happen should the Tigers beat Alcorn State Saturday in Lorman.

Yes, a win would give the Tigers’ their first SWAC Eastern Division title since 2008, but Comegy isn’t one to get ahead of himself.

“Those guys are going to be playing well over their heads like no other when we play them,” Comegy said. “We have to go down and play a solid football game, an intense football game. If we really want this championship it will tell in how we play this game.

“If we give it up, that’s on us,” Comegy said. “We should beat them. In my mind, I think we have the personnel to do it but we have to go down and play a solid football game.”

Comegy said JSU (6-4, 6-2 SWAC) must cut down on its mistakes.

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FVSU Wildcats set for 1st Round of NCAA Football Playoffs

FORT VALLEY, Georgia  --  On Sunday (Nov.11th), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced the field of teams to compete in the NCAA Division II Football Play-offs. The sixth ranked Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) (8-3) will compete in the NCAA Division II Super Region 2 play-offs in a first round match up with the third ranked Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University (8-2).

The game will be played on Saturday, November 17th. Kick-off is scheduled for 12 noon in Moretz Stadium on the Lenoir-Rhyne campus in Hickory, NC. Tickets for the playoff game are $6 for adults (Reserved seating on home side of stadium), $5 for faculty and staff and general admission, and $3 for students with proper identification and children. Tickets will be sold at the stadium on the day of the game.

This will be the first meeting between FVSU and Lenior-Rhyne. The winner will advance to the second round and meet the number two seed, Carson-Newman University. For more information, please call the FVSU Office of Sports Information at 478-825-6437.


COURTESY FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION