TSU Tiger Camp Report: Day Three

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  The Tennessee State football team put the shoulder pads on for the first time of fall camp on Wednesday and the squad responded with its best practice thus far.

“I thought the guys really competed hard,” head coach Rod Reed said following the team’s third practice of the season. “The offense made some good plays which was good to see because the defense usually dominates the first day with all the pads on.”

Wednesday’s session started at 6 a.m., but the rain came at approximately 7:45, forcing the Tigers out of Hale Stadium and into the Indoor Football Facility. The move led to a slight delay in practice and a later finishing time.

 While the first two practices were dominated by either the offense or the defense, the third was more neutral, with neither side gaining much ground on the other. The line blocked well for most of the day, allowing for some big runs, but the secondary was able to break up a lot of passes.

The play of the day came towards the end of practice when the left side of the offensive line sealed the edge perfectly, allowing senior running back Tim Broughton to race towards the sideline for a huge gain. Broughton had just redshirt freshman corner Victor Fletcher between him and the end zone. Broughton faked a high-step juke and lowered his shoulder on the five-foot-nine 180 pound defender, but Fletcher held his ground, forcing the ball carrier to ground while he stayed upright.

“That hit stemmed from spring practice,” Reed said. “Broughton got the best of Fletcher back then, but not today. It got everybody fired up on both sides.”

Broughton will have all of fall camp to pay it forward starting tomorrow when Big Blue hits the field at 6 a.m.

This Week’s Practice Dates
THURSDAY, Aug. 8, 2013 - 6:00-8:00 PRACTICE #4 (SHELLS)
FRIDAY, Aug. 9, 2013 - 6:00-8:00 PRACTICE #5 (SHELLS)
SATURDAY, Aug. 10, 2013 - 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #6 (SHELLS)
MONDAY, Aug. 12, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #8 (FULL)
TUESDAY, Aug. 13, 2013 - 7:30-9:30  PRACTICE #9 (FULL)
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 14, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #10 (FULL)


COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

A&M Football Continues Work Towards First Scrimmage; Camp Report #4

NORMAL, Alabama -- The A&M football team spent two hours on the turf of Louis Crews Stadium Tuesday morning in the first of two practices scheduled for the day; Tuesday marked the first two-a-day practice session of camp.

The team continued to workout in small groups, but ended the practice with a 11-11 non-contact drill. The Bulldogs are just two days away from its first full scrimmage of the fall on Thursday evening.

The Maroon & White open the season on Saturday, August 31, when they travel to Grambling, La to face the Tigers of Grambling State. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m.



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2013 Schedule

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Winston-Salem State Rams are looking ahead, not back

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- If there is any damage left from Winston-Salem State’s loss in last season’s Division II championship game, Coach Connell Maynor doesn’t show it.

He’s ready for the start of his fourth season. Players are set to report Friday, with 105 expected, and the first practice will be Monday.

One reason Maynor doesn’t feel as if his team is living in the past is turnover. The Rams lost nearly 30 players to graduation, exhausted eligibility, injuries or academic deficiencies and will have a decidedly new look.

After finishing 14-1 in 2012, WSSU will start this season with a 20-game regular-season winning streak.

“The coaches are fired up, and the players that are returning are ...

CONTINUE READING

Stillman QB Josh Straughan much more mature after freshman season under fire

ATLANTA, Georgia -- This college football thing really isn't as difficult as everyone tries to make it seem.

 

You come in as a 17-year-old freshman and earn the starting position at quarterback after entering the game in Week 1 with your team down double-digits and leading them to a dramatic 1-point victory. 

 

That's what Stillman College's Josh Straughan did last year, completing 7 of 12 attempts for 143 yards and two touchdowns to propel the Tigers to a 28-27 win against Central State last season. 

Then, reality set in.

The Colton, Washington native threw for just 98 yards and an interception the next week in his first career start, a 31-0 loss at home against Ouachita Baptist (Arkansas),ranked No. 21 in the nation in the NCAA Division II polls. He completed 26 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown in a Week 3 loss at Shaw but did so on 53 attempts and was picked off twice. 

 

CONTINUE READING

Southern football team grinding it out

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  As they finished a two-hour workout Tuesday morning on the Southern practice field, the Jaguars removed their helmets and gathered to hear coach Dawson Odums speak.

The players wore full gear, sweat pouring from their foreheads.

A few hours later, they would return to the same place and do it all over again.

“It’s grind time,” Odums told the team after Tuesday’s practice. “Got to grind.”

The sixth day of preseason camp at Southern brought the first of five two-a-day sessions, welcoming the most grueling stretch of the preseason.

Odums advised the players to “stay off their feet” between practices and drink plenty of fluids.

CONTINUE READING

SIAC, Bounce TV Reach Agreement to Televise Football Games

ATLANTA, Georgia  --  The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and Bounce TV (www.bouncetv.com) today unveiled the schedule for their new rights agreement in which Bounce TV, the nation's fast-growing and only broadcast television network for African Americans, will broadcast five (5) SIAC football games for the 2013 season.

"We are very excited about the opportunity to have SIAC football games on Bounce TV this fall," said SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore. "As we expand our broadcast footprint from a regional to a national network, the partnership with Bounce TV will afford millions of viewers the opportunity  to follow  our outstanding SIAC football teams and student-athletes."

The SIAC football slate on Bounce TV will start on October 5th when Morehouse College will host rival Clark Atlanta University at B.T. Harvey Stadium for the annual Battle of the AUC. The following Saturday, October 12th, the Maroon Tigers will face another rival, Tuskegee University, at the historic A.J. McClung Stadium in Columbus, GA for the 78th Annual Tuskegee/Morehouse Classic. Miles College will host SIAC West Division opponent Kentucky State for its homecoming at Albert J. Sloan Alumni Stadium in Fairfield, AL on October 19th.

Bounce TV will also broadcast games during the final two weeks of the season. On November 9, the network will televise the 23rd Annual Fountain City Classic game between Albany State University and Fort Valley State University played also at AJ McClung Stadium in Columbus, GA. The final game of the schedule will be the 2013 SIAC Football Championship Game between the East and West Division Champions at Lakewood Stadium in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, November 16.

Bounce TV, the nation's fast-growing and only broadcast television network for African Americans, targets African American adults with a programming mix of original series, theatrical motion pictures, live sports, documentaries, specials, game shows and inspirational faith-based programs. Since its launch, Bounce TV has seen overwhelming success, with accelerated growth and expansion among station groups, advertisers and viewers alike.

COURTESY THESIAC.COM

Howard University Bison Athletics Launches New Website

WASHINGTON, D.C.  --  Welcome to the new HUBison.com! Today, the Howard University Athletics Department, in conjunction with SIDEARM Sports, announces a new athletics web site that will deliver a platform for simpler navigation and more social media features.

"We love the passion that players, alumni and student fans bring to Howard games," Howard University Director of Athletics Louis "Skip" Perkins said "We are excited to apply this passion by giving our web site a fresh look. HUBison.com will provide alumni, fans, recruiting prospects and media outlets a variety of information on what's happening in Howard Athletics."

The new site will feature an exciting look for each of the 19 sports team at Howard. The site displays team news, rosters, and statistics in a format that allows users to access the information they want quickly and easily. New sidebars and tabs allow fans to stay connected through links to upcoming team promotional events and playing schedules.

The new HUBison.com will serve as a stronger platform for social media integration. Fans can now more easily access any of the social media platforms that Howard Athletics utilizes. Access to latest Tweets and Facebook posts will now appear at the bottom of pages. HUBison.com also boasts mobile technology enhancements, live stats technology, fan polls, photo galleries and more online video.

"We hope supporters, alumni, fans, student-athletes and the staff at Howard University enjoy their new athletics website," said Jeff Rubin, president and chief executive of SIDEARM Sports.

"HUBison.com has much to offer and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Howard." 


HOWARD BISON 2013 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date	Opponent	Location	Time/Result

8/31/2013 Eastern Michigan,  Rynearson Stadium 6:00 p.m.    
9/7/2013 Morehouse. R.F.K. Stadium 3:30 p.m.     
9/14/2013 Old Dominion, Foreman Field at SB Ballard 6:00 p.m.     
9/26/2013 N.C. A&T Aggie Stadium 7:00 p.m.    
10/5/2013 N.C. Central, William H. Greene Stadium 1:00 p.m.    
10/12/2013 Bethune-Cookman, William H. Greene Stadium 1:00 p.m.     
10/19/2013 Florida A&M Bragg Memorial Stadium 2:00 p.m.     
10/26/2013 Morgan State,  William H. Greene Stadium 1:00 p.m.     
11/2/2013 Delaware State, Alumni Stadium 2:00 p.m.     
11/9/2013 Savannah St. William H. Greene Stadium 1:00 p.m.    
11/16/2013 Texas Southern BBVA Compass Stadium 3:00 p.m.    
11/23/2013 Hampton Armstrong Stadium 1:00 p.m.     

About SIDEARM Sports
Founded in 1996 and based in Syracuse, NY, SIDEARM Sports is the leading web-based content management solution for collegiate athletics. SIDEARM sites include all the functionality that a collegiate athletic web site needs: press release and roster management, social media integration, dynamic scoreboards, sponsorship recognition, interactive polls, SIDEARM STATS (live in-game statistics), streaming audio and video, newsletters, recruiting components, and so much more. SIDEARM Sports has nearly 500 athletic clients from around the country including Cornell University, Drexel University, Eastern Illinois University, the University of Hawai'i, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Syracuse University and many other NCAA DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, NJCAA and collegiate conferences. Learn more at http://www.sidearmsports.com.

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama State working to add depth to defensive line

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  —  Alabama State had one of the top-ranked defenses in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) last year, but that did not keep the coaching staff from recruiting several players to play along the defensive front. They have made it a priority to build some depth along the defensive front during preseason camp.

"The offensive and defensive lines are where you have to be strong and do what you need to do there during the game and we are especially looking at our depth along the defensive front," Head Coach Reggie Barlow said. "Derrick Billups is a mainstay at the defensive tackle position. We believe with him being in there and with him being a consistent player, he can dominate inside."

"Justin Mitchell is a guy that has the potential, but has been a little bit inconsistent. Then there are the younger guys like Jafar Mann, Shane Woodget and some more guys that don't have the experience but we're expecting them to step up and be able to contribute for us."

The Hornets have five freshmen listed at a defensive line position, and the coaching staff sees a lot of opportunity available for the freshmen to compete immediately for playing time and to help shore up some depth across the defensive front.

"We signed some big guys up front and we have been real impressed with Malik Reid at defensive end," Barlow said. "With his size he is big enough to play inside. He is a big kid and strong off the line and we know we will use him this year."

ASU has both of their starting defensive ends returning from a year ago, and that position may actually be one of the deepest on the team.

"Our defensive ends give us the depth and experience we need," Barlow said. "(Edward) Mosley, (Chris) Terry, (Raymond) Heningburg are guys that have played and they have the experience. So we do have some depth there with guys like (Antonio) Humphreys and Sejean Hart are guys we are hoping will step up and help us out along with Carlton Jones who is mister consistent. He has been a starter for us for three years and is having a good camp for us and is doing things he needs to do."

The Hornets will take Wednesday off, but will begin their two-a-day schedule Thursday, Aug. 8 with their first practice beginning at 9 a.m. followed by their first night practice of the season at 7 p.m.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama A&M looking to establish depth chart

NORMAL, Alabama --  Through the first two days of full-contact practice, Alabama A&M head football coach Anthony Jones said he's beginning to see the wheat separate itself from the tares.

 

Some guys are beginning to think too much and play slower, Jones said. Some receivers aren't as eager as they were without pads. The same can be said for running backs and linemen on both sides of the ball. 

Players will have their first chances to prove themselves in game-like situations later in the week. The Bulldogs have scrimmages set for Thursday and Saturday. 

 

"Then, we'll be able to get some grades going and kind of set a tentative depth chart," Jones said. 

 

The Bulldogs open their season on the road against Southwestern Athletic Conference foe Grambling State (La.) Aug. 31. 

 

CONTINUE READING

Grambling begins two-a-days on Wednesday

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  --  The Grambling football team caught its breath Tuesday with an off day, but the plunge into two-a-day practices as the heat soars begins Wednesday.

The Tigers strapped on pads for the first time Monday, and the most competitive position battles continue to be waged.

Running back, while not necessarily being the most important battle this fall, is the most visible.

Rising sophomores Cedric Skinner (365 rushing yards) and Jeremy Runner (318 yards) led the ground game in 2012, but junior and veteran Juwan Martin (183 yards) appears he will play a larger role this season after posting the highest yards-per-carry average of 4.2 in 2012.

“Juwan Martin did a tremendous job this spring, but you still have Skinner, Runner and (Justin Fortson),” said Grambling coach Doug Williams. “The little guy (Fortson) had a great spring, too.”

CONTINUE READING

The Black Quarterback: Episode Preview - 60 MINUTES SPORTS: TONIGHT!

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Two decades after Jackie Robinson broke pro baseball's color line the NFL still had no black quarterbacks, even as African Americans excelled at every other position on the field. It was pro-football's open secret: the quarterback position was for whites only.

A handful of pioneers began to change this in 1968 and four of them tell their humiliating and often emotional stories to Armen Keteyian about an unpopular chapter in the history of America's most popular sport. Keteyian also talks to the black QBs of the 1980s and '90s, whose paths were paved by those pioneers in this rarely told story.

Watch a preview of the compelling segment of 60 MINUTES SPORTS before it airs on Wednesday, August 7 at 9 PM ET/PT Only on SHOWTIME.

Ex-JMU QB Thorpe will start for Virginia State Trojans

Justin Thorpe

RICHMOND, Virginia -- Former James Madison starting quarterback Justin Thorpe will play at Virginia State this season, according to new Trojans coach Latrell Scott.

Scott, a former University of Richmond coach, said his relationship with Thorpe began when Thorpe was a Varina High School student and Scott evaluated him on behalf of Richmond.

Scott was JMU’s tight ends coach last year.

“Having spent last season around (Thorpe), when he called us and asked about the opportunity to come (to VSU), we jumped at the chance to have him,” Scott said.

Thorpe has one season of eligibility remaining, and is projected as the Trojans’ starter in their Sept. 7 opener at Fayetteville State, according to Scott.

CONTINUE READING

Stillman football team picked 3rd in SIAC West

COURTESY STILLMAN COLLEGE ATHLETICS

ATLANTA | The Stillman College football team, which has had winning seasons in Teddy Keaton’s first two years as head coach, has been picked to finish third in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Western Division.
The league coaches voted on the order of finish Tuesday during the SIAC football media day.

Stillman, which went 7-4 in 2011, posted a 6-5 overall record and a 4-3 conference record last season.

“I almost expected that pick, especially with how we finished third in the West in 2012,” Keaton said. “The one thing that I have consistently said to the players is that it is not about how you start, but how you finish.”

The Western Division features six teams, including Kentucky State, Tuskegee, Lane, Miles and Central State of Ohio, a new member this season.

CONTINUE READING

SIAC Football: Coaches select Albany State, Tuskegee as top teams in 2013

ATLANTA, Georgia  --  The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its Preseason All-Conference Team and Predicted Order of Finish this afternoon at the 2013 SIAC Kickoff luncheon held at the Holiday Inn Perimeter.

The SIAC Football Coaches Association unanimously voted Tuskegee University as the top team in the West Division, as well as favorite to win the 2013 SIAC Football Championship.  The Golden Tigers received 5 out of 6 first place votes in front of 2011 SIAC Champion Miles College, selected to finish second, followed by third place Stillman College. Lane College was selected as the fourth place team, followed by Kentucky State University and SIAC newcomer Central State University.

Led by senior running back and 2012 SIAC Player of the Year Derrick Washington, Tuskegee went 10-2, with the only blemish resulting from a 28-13 loss to Elizabeth City State University in the Pioneer Bowl. The Golden Tigers return 16 starters, including 13 All-SIAC Preseason selections, from a team that finished 7-0 against conference opponents in route to claiming the program's 29th SIAC Championship.

In the East Division, Albany State was selected to finished as the top team, followed by last year's East Division Champion Fort Valley State University. After the coaches picked Morehouse College to finish third, Benedict and Clark Atlanta, were voted to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.

Headlining the All-Conference team is Miles redshirt-senior quarterback David Thomas, who threw for over 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, to lead the program to its first Division II playoff appearance in school history. His teammate running back Floyd Graves, the SIAC's top returning rusher, and Kentucky State's Justin Williams were picked as the top running backs. Another Golden Bears player Antonio Pitts and Albany State's Jessie Atkins were selected at receiver, while Zach Thomas, a sophomore from Central State University, who put up big numbers as a freshman was named to the team at tight end. Tuskegee's Devonte Jones and Christopher Tolbert, paired with Morehouse's Drew Wilkins and Richard Washington are the first team offensive linemen.

On defense, SIAC Defensive Player of the Year and All-American LeRon Furr from Fort Valley State highlights the group of first team linebackers. Joining Furr, is Tuskegee's top tackler Quavon Taylor and Clark Atlanta's Bernard Williams. Stillman's Peter Dele, Morehouse's Clarence Christian, Benedict's Devin Gainer, and Bernard Little, also from Fort Valley State were named as first team players. The Fort Valley State trio of Duron Furr, Thomas "Trey" Wolfe, and Tracey White, in addition to Albany State All-American, Dexter Moody headline the heralded group of defensive backs.

On special teams Benedict's Eduardo Hernandez and Morehouse punter Temitayo Agoro were the first team selections, while the always dangerous Thomas Williams of Morehouse and Stillman's Dondre Purnell were voted as first team return specialist. Overall, Tuskegee led the conference with 13 preseason selections, followed by Miles with nine players.

The 2013 SIAC Preseason All-Conference Team and Predicted Order of Finish can be seen below.

2013 SIAC Predicted Order of Finish

                East Division                                                       West Division
1. Albany State University (3)                                     1. Tuskegee University (4)
2. Fort Valley State University (2)                               2. Miles College (2)
3. Morehouse College                                                  3. Stillman College
4. Benedict College                                                      4. Kentucky State
5. Clark Atlanta University                                          5. Lane College
                                                                                      6. Central State University

East Division Champion: Albany State       West Division Champion: Tuskegee

Overall SIAC Champion: Tuskegee (7)
Note: Number of first place votes in parenthesis



First Team Offense
Position Name No. School Class HT. WT. Hometown
QB David Thomas 16 Miles Senior 6-2 206 Opelika, AL
RB Floyd Graves 7 Miles Senior 5-8 180 Newton, MS
RB Justin Williams 6 Kentucky State Junior 5-11 185 Pompano Beach, FL
OL Devonte Jones 73 Tuskegee Senior 6-1 330 Ft. Lauderdale, FL
OL Christopher Tolbert 74 Tuskegee Senior 6-7 320 Birmingham, AL
OL Drew Wilkins 78 Morehouse Junior 6-4 315 Elkins Park, PA
OL Richard Washington 74 Morehouse Junior 6-9 345 Washington, DC
OL Terrance Owens 73 Miles Soph 6-1 292 Greenville, AL
WR Antonio Pitts 12 Miles Junior 5-10 174 Montgomery, AL
WR Jessie Atkins 4 Albany State Junior 5-10 180 Camilla, GA
TE Zach Thomas 85 Central State Soph 6-4 215 Columbus, OH
K Eduardo Hernandez 11 Benedict Soph 5-10 180 Miami, FL
KR Thomas Williams 21 Morehouse R-Senior 5-11 175 Knightindale, NC

First Team Defense
Position Name No. School Class HT. WT. Hometown
DL Bernard Little 90 Fort Valley State Junior 6-4 290 Eatonton, GA
DL Clarence Christian 97 Morehouse Senior 6-3 255 Atlanta, GA
DL Devin Gainer 92 Benedict Senior 6-0 285 St. Petersburg, FL
DL Peter Dele 45 Stillman Junior 5-9 213 Fresno, TX
LB Bernard Williams 49 Clark Atlanta Junior 5-11 225 Omega, GA
LB LeRon Furr 33 Fort Valley State Senior 6-3 235 Columbus, GA
LB Quavon Taylor 1 Tuskegee Junior 6-1 210 Miami, FL
DB Carlos Wilson 20 Stillman Senior 5-10 175 Mobile, AL
DB Joe Beckham 20 Miles R-Soph 5-11 180 Daleville, AL
DB Dexter Moody 3 Albany State Senior 6-3 200 Twin City, GA
DB Jack Howard 21 Lane Senior 5-11 175 Miami, FL
P Temitayo Agoro 44 Morehouse Soph. 5-11 190 Fort Worth, TX
PR Dondre Purnell 7 Stillman Junior 5-10 175 Smyrna, GA

Second Team Offense
Position Name No. School Class HT. WT. Hometown
QB Justin Nared 17 Tuskegee Junior 6-1 200 Evergreen, AL
RB Devonta Parker-Johnson 27 Miles Soph 5-9 174 Milry, AL
RB Michael J. Thornton 38 Tuskegee Junior 6-2 230 Thomasville, AL
OL Michael D. Thornton 72 Tuskegee Junior 6-0 305 Miami, FL
OL Marquis Franklin 52 Fort Valley State Senior 6-8 330 Tyler, TX
OL Aderus Hood 60 Miles Junior 6-3 292 Mt. Hebron, AL
OL Derrick Miles 63 Stillman Senior 6-3 270 Tuscaloosa, AL
OL Matt Reese 63 Tuskegee Junior 6-3 310 Birmingham, AL
WR Marquel Franklin 25 Tuskegee Junior 6-3 210 Prichard, AL
WR DJ Fife 15 Miles Junior 5-11 185 Cherokee Co., AL
TE Stephen Clements 87 Tuskegee Senior 6-0 225 Birmingham, AL
K Cade Berryman 1 Kentucky State Soph. 5-9 151 Irvine, KY
KR Dondre Purnell 7 Stillman Junior 5-10 175 Smyrna, GA

Second Team Defense
Position Name No. School Class HT. WT. Hometown
DL Jordan Paige 7 Central State Junior 6-5 225 Osceola, FL
DL Kevdrick Blue 92 Tuskegee R-Soph 6-0 225 Millbrook, AL
DL Reginald Woods 55 Tuskegee Senior 6-3 240 Compton, CA
DL Kenneth Townsend 94 Kentucky State Senior 6-3 263 Louisville, KY
LB El-Malik Chinn 33 Tuskegee Junior 5-11 215 Northport, AL
LB Marcavius Dudley Albany State Senior 5-10 230 Brunswick, GA
LB Reginald Virges 58 Miles Senior 5-10 220 Alpine, AL
DB Thomas "Trey" Wolfe 9 Fort Valley State Senior 6-1 185 Marietta, GA
DB Duron Furr 17 Fort Valley State Senior 6-3 205 Columbus, GA
DB Tracey White 29 Fort Valley State Junior 5-11 190 Dunwoody, GA
DB Joseph Blount 15 Central State Junior 5-10 185 St. Louis, MO
P Brian Currey 35 Benedict Soph 6-1 170 Prattville, AL
PR Desmond Reese 83 Tuskegee Soph 5-10 170 Valley, AL

COURTESY THESIAC.COM

Morgan State Football Team Receives Visit From Past MSU Greats During Media Day

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  Despite the rain this past Saturday, the 2013 Morgan State football team had a full slate, as the team took part in its annual picture and media day. As an added bonus this year, the squad had a bonding session with several former Morgan State greats.

Those former Bears who were in attendance included former Dallas Cowboy, Mark Washington; retired General "Kip" Ward; New York Times sportswriter and novelist, Joe Draper, who authored a book about the 2012 Army football team; Craig Spencer, who attended the first Morgan vs. Grambling football game in 1968 when he was a kid and New York Times sports journalist, Bill Rhoden, who hosted the event.

They each addressed the team with inspiring messages about their experiences while at Morgan State and also touched on the historical significance and importance of playing against Army in the season opener on August 30th in West Point, N.Y. The game will mark the first time that a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) football team will square off against the United States Military Academy (Army).

The program was very informative and included a trip down memory lane with a discussion and showing of the DVD documentary featuring the 1968 Morgan vs. Grambling Football Classic game played in Yankee Stadium, which was put on by the New York Urban League. The current Morgan State players were also introduced by the former athletes to the Morgan "Grizzly" tradition ('Claim to Fame'), which is a football team function.

Courtesy Morgan State University Athletics

Several members of the Return to Greatness Steering Committee were also in attendance.

Morgan State kicks off the 2013 campaign on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. when it takes on Army live on the CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour cable home of CBS Sports. The Bears will remain on the road for three more contests, including a Sept. 21 date at Western Kentucky, before finally playing in the friendly confines of Hughes Stadium when they host Norfolk State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) match-up on Sept. 28 at 1 p.m.

The following week Morgan State will welcome the Rattlers of Florida A&M to Baltimore for Homecoming on Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. Later in the season the Bears will be featured on ESPNU as part of the MEAC's television package, when they travel to Orangeburg, S.C. to take on South Carolina State on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

For more information on Morgan State football and Morgan State athletics, log on to www.morganstatebears.com.



COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

PVAMU Panther Alumni Hard At Work In NFL Training Camps

Spears, Hamilton and Reed Are Vying For NFL Roster Positions

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas --  With two days of training camp nearly in the books for the Prairie View A&M Panthers, three former Panthers who excelled at defensive end in Adrian Hamilton, Quinton Spears and Jarvis Reed are currently vying for roster spots on NFL teams.

Adrian Hamilton is beginning his second season with the Baltimore Ravens and looks to make a bigger impact on the defensive side of the ball after seeing time on special teams last fall.  The former sack specialist, who plays outside linebacker for the Ravens, recently drew praise from Baltimoreravens.com for his pass coverage skills during 11-on-11 drills.  Hamilton, who was a Pstandout with the Dallas Cowboys last summer, will make his preseason debut this Thursday evening versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 6:30 p.m.

Quinton Spears begins his first season with the Indianapolis Colts after spending the 2011 season with the Cleveland Browns.  Spears received valuable experience playing special teams in 2011 and like Hamilton, made the move to linebacker in the NFL.  Currently, Spears is paired with another former SWAC great, Robert Mathis of Alabama A&M, and will have every opportunity to prove himself as the Colts begin preseason play on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. versus the Buffalo Bills.

Jarvis Reed, formerly Jarvis Wilson, starts his pro career as an outside linebacker after a solid career playing defensive end for Prairie View A&M.  Like Hamilton and Spears, Reed will be asked to play big roles on both special teams and defensive situations in order to solidify himself a spot on the Packers' roster.  Reed makes his NFL debut Friday night in a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at 7 p.m.

 

To see more future NFL prospects wearing purple and gold, purchase your season tickets today by calling (936) 261-9111 in addition to special hotel rates for selected games through the month of August.

Keep up with all the action through PVAMU's official Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram social media websites.  Also stay connected through daily updates delivered right to your e-mail by subscribing to PVPanthers.com's newsletter.

2013 SCHEDULE

 

2013 PV FOOTBALL CAMP SCHEDULE (subject to change if weather is a factor)All practices are open to the public

 

Tuesday, Aug. 6	6:45 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 7	6:45 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 8	6:45 p.m. (Helmets & Shoulder Pads)
Friday, Aug. 9	6:45 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 10	7:00 p.m. (Full Gear)
Sunday, Aug. 11	7:00 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 12	8:30 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 13	9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 14	8:30 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 15	9:30 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 16	8:30 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 17	7:00 p.m. (Scrimmage)
Sunday, Aug. 18	7:00 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 19	8:30 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 20	9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 21	8:30 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 22	9:30 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 23	Walk-Thru
Saturday, Aug. 24	Team Activity
Sunday, Aug. 25	Walk-Thru
Saturday, Aug. 31	Labor Day Classic at Texas Southern (7 p.m.)

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Football Preview: Alcorn State

LORMAN, Mississippi  --  Alcorn State shocked teams in the SWAC last season while posting a 4-7 record under Coach Jay Hopson, who was hired in late May.

The Braves won’t sneak up on opponents this season after showing signs of improvement a year ago. Alcorn pulled off upsets against Grambling State to open 2012 and clipped Alabama A&M's undefeated season hopes during the Bulldogs' homecoming.

Pass defense was Alcorn’s calling card in 2012. The Braves led the SWAC and were fourth in the FCS, allowing just 156 yards a game through the air. Junior Devon Francois leads the secondary finishing last year's campaign with 41 tackles.

Head Coach: Jay Hopson
SWAC Digital Network Interview | Football Media Day (Video)

KEY LOSSES:
Terrance Lewis - WR/KR
Cornelius Brown - OL
Jacques Caldwell - DB
Brandon Thompson - DB
Robert Gainwell - LB
Jermaine Turner - DL
Stephen Howard - DL

STARTERS RETURNING:
Offense: 6
Defense: 5
Special Teams: 4
Other returnees in the secondary include: Jamison Knox, Anthony Williams and Hendricks Taylor.

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Omission of FAMU's and Bengals’ Ken Riley From Hall of Fame Is a Striking Oversight

Former FAMU Rattler Ken Riley displays a game ball
and three AFC Interception Leader awards he won
during his 15 NFL seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.
 

BARTOW, Florida  --  When the City Commission of Bartow, Fla., held its regular meeting March 18, it filled a vacancy on the beautification advisory board, issued a proclamation endorsing Great American Cleanup Day and heard a resident’s complaint about his utility bill. Then, in its final order of business, the five commissioners voted unanimously to issue a municipal resolution supporting Ken Riley, one of Bartow’s own, for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The city attorney, Sean Parker, had spent months drafting the document and assembling the statistical case for Riley’s place in the Hall. Parker read the resolution in its entirety at the meeting, something unusual for the local government, and showed highlights from Riley’s 15-year career as a defensive back with the Cincinnati Bengals. Once adopted, the resolution was sent to all nine members of the Hall of Fame’s selection committee for senior players, those retired at least 25 years.

This advocacy is touching and maddening — touching for its loyalty to a hometown hero and maddening that it is left to such a grass-roots, amateur-level effort to campaign for Riley. As the Hall of Fame enshrines seven new members this weekend, including Dave Robinson and Curley Culp as seniors, the omission of Riley stands as one of its most striking oversights.

 

Thirty years after retiring from the Bengals, Riley still ranks fifth in career interceptions with 65. Yet 19 defensive backs with fewer interceptions have been inducted. During Riley’s years, 1969 to 1983, the Bengals posted a cumulative winning record with five trips to the playoffs and a Super Bowl appearance in 1982, when they lost to the San Francisco 49ers.

 

After an illustrious college career playing quarterback for Florida A&M, Riley had to learn a new position with the Bengals, an expansion team. He soon developed into a disciplined, canny, intelligent defender as well as a consummate teammate. His assiduous study of opposing teams and players kept Riley competitive even as his speed and quickness diminished.

 

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Ken Riley Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com

 

LIFE OF RILEY

• High School: Union Academy, Bartow, FL; College: Star QB, Florida A&M University; NFL 6th Round Draft Choice 1969, Cincinnati Bengals-- Played 15 seasons as cornerback.
• Riley also excelled academically and earned his team's scholastic award and a Rhodes Scholar Candidacy.
• NFL career: Bengals cornerback, 1969-83. Fifth on NFL all-time interception list with 65.
• Post NFL-career: 1984-85: Green Bay Packers assistant coach; 1986-93: Head coach, Florida A&M University, compiling a 48-39-2 record with two Mid-Eastern Athletic conference titles and 2 MEAC coach of the year awards; 1994-2003: Athletic director, Florida A&M.
• Personal: Age 65, hometown is Bartow, Fla. Married, three grown children, one grandchild. Resides in Bartow, Florida
• Riley is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans.
• In 2007 Riley was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team which selected the Top 33 players in the 100 year history of high school football in the state of Florida's history.
• Riley is in other halls of fame, including the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, Polk County Sports Hall of Fame and the Florida A&M Hall of Fame.
•  Education: Florida A&M University, master's degree from the University of North Florida
• Honors: Florida Sports Hall of Fame, Polk County Sports Hall of Fame, Bartow Hall of Fame, Tallahassee Hall of Fame, Public Schools Hall of Fame, Suite named for him at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati; Tampa Bay All-Century Team (high school). 
• ESPN's Sal Paolantonio has written a chapter of a book, The Paolantonio Report about Riley, naming him as the second-most underrated defensive back in NFL history.  "He definitely deserves to go into the Hall of Fame," Paolantonio said. "I don't know what else he could have done.

Tennessee State Tiger Camp Report: Day Two

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --   Overcast skies and an occasional drizzle provided an ideal backdrop for the Tennessee State football team’s second day of fall camp.

 

Temperatures hovered in the low 70’s throughout the practice and the off-and-on rain mercifully did not add to the humidity.

The team performed its usual routine of practicing in small groups before coming together for a pseudo scrimmage. The session ended with field goals from an improved Jamin Godfrey and southhoof freshman Cameron Carter.

One difference from yesterday was the performance of the offense. At times on Monday, the offensive line false started and the Tigers’ stable of quarterbacks had some trouble with the exchange from center.

This was not the case on Tuesday as the offensive line blocked well for the running backs and allowed time for the offense’s short passing patterns. There was particularly good blocking on an early halfback dive that sprung ex-Naval Academy back Adam Davenport into the secondary. On another, true freshman Khari Lewis scampered outside of right tackle and had the coaches not blown the whistle, a foot race would have been the only thing stopping him from scoring.

Bright spots for the defense included a perfectly-timed pass break up by cornerback Stephen Godbolt III on a curl route to freshman wide out Lavatiae Kelly. Defensive end Detorrius Shipley shed a block on the final play of period and wrapped up the ball carrier for a drive-killing tackle-for-loss.

Big Blue will break out the shoulder pads for the first time on Wednesday for the third day of the team’s early morning training sessions.

This Week’s Practice Dates
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 7, 2013 - 6:00-8:00 PRACTICE #3 (SHELLS)
THURSDAY, Aug. 8, 2013 - 6:00-8:00 PRACTICE #4 (SHELLS)
FRIDAY, Aug. 9, 2013 - 6:00-8:00 PRACTICE #5 (SHELLS)
SATURDAY, Aug. 10, 2013 - 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #6 (SHELLS)
MONDAY, Aug. 12, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #8 (FULL)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 - 7:30-9:30  PRACTICE #9 (FULL)

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Shaw To Hold First Football Practice August 7

RALEIGH, North Carolina —The Shaw University football team reported for camp Sunday, and will hold their first practice of the 2013 season on Wednesday, August 7 at 3:00 p.m. at Chavis Park.

 

The opening of camp is the start of a packed month of activity for the Bears.  In addition to ongoing practices after Wednesday, Shaw will hold their fall scrimmage on Saturday August 24 at noon at Chavis Park.   A Pigskin Preview will be held on August 28 which will give media and fans a chance to meet the Bears and hear about the upcoming season.

 

Shaw opens the 2013 football season with a home contest against Charleston (WV) on Saturday, September 7 at 1:00 p.m. at the Durham County Memorial Stadium.  Both single game and season tickets are on sale now.

COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

XU Nuggets to conduct tryouts during first 2 days of semester

XU seeks a fourth consecutive GCAC regular-season championship.

NEW ORLEANS — On the first two days of the fall semester — Aug. 26 and 27 — Xavier University of Louisiana will conduct walk-on tryouts for its women's basketball program.
    
The tryouts will be from 7-9 p.m. both days at the Convocation Center for students enrolled at Xavier during the fall. For more information, contact associate head coach Darrilyn Broussard at (504) 520-7513 or dbrouss1@xula.edu.
    
Xavier's Gold Nuggets were 24-6 in 2012-13, winning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship for the third consecutive season and qualifying for the NAIA Division I National Championship for the fourth consecutive year and the 17th time in 19 seasons.

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

Chowan's TJ Batchelor Named to USA College Football Division II Preseason All-American Team

T.J. Batchelor
(Courtesy Chowan Athletics)

 

MURFREESBORO, North Carolina  --  Chowan University senior TJ Batchelor has been named to the 25^th Annual USA College Football Division II Preseason All-American. This is Batchelor's second preseason honor after being named to the CIAA Preseason Team at the CIAA annual press conference on July 25^th.

As a junior, Batchelor led the Hawks on the defensive side of the ball with 77 tackles (45 solo, 32 assisted) and ranked third in the CIAA with 12.5 sacks en-route to being named All-CIAA.  Additionally, he was named Beyond Sports Network Division II 2^nd Team All-American and the NCCAA Defensive Player.  Batchelor was also named to the 3^rd Team Don Hanson Division II All-America Team, and 2^nd Team Don Hansen All Super Region 1.

Batchelor was one of ten student-athletes from the CIAA to be selected to the USA College Football Division II Preseason All-American teams.  He was joined on the First Team by safety Michael Johnson (Fayetteville State), offensive lineman Nathaniel Hartung (Winston-Salem State), and linebacker Carlos Fields (Winston-Salem State). The Second Team consisted of offensive lineman Vincent Maene (Elizabeth City State), running back Colon Bailey (Fayetteville State), defensive lineman Javarous Faulk (Saint Augustine's) and defensive back Darnell Evans (Shaw). Bowie State tight end Khari Lee (Third Team) and defensive back Curtis Pumphrey (Honorable Mention) also received recognition.

Batchelor and the Hawks return to the gridiron on September 7^th when they travel to Charlotte, NC to take on UNC-Charlotte at 12:00pm. The complete list of USA College Football Division II Preseason All-Americans can be found here:  http://www.usafbn.com/d2fb.htm.

COURTESY CHOWAN UNIVERSITY HAWKS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Class of 2013 | Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame

NORFOLK, Virginia --  The Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to announce its class of 2013, which will be inducted in October at a banquet at Norfolk Scope.

The sixth induction class for the Hall of Fame consists of Old Dominion University basketball star Leo Anthony, longtime Maury High School basketball coach Jack Baker, baseball announcer Marty Brennaman, former ODU baseball coach Bud Metheny, former ODU basketball coach Paul Webb, and James and LaVerne Sweat, the husband and wife who have had long coaching careers at Hampton and Norfolk State universities.

James and LaVerne Sweat had great coaching careers at Hampton and Norfolk State. James Sweat coached women’s basketball and had a career record of 529-262 in seven seasons at Hampton University and 19 seasons at Norfolk State. LaVerne Sweat coached track and cross country at both schools and won more than a dozen CIAA league titles. She was an assistant coach of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, and the first female president of the CIAA.

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FAMU football: Rattlers hit field in full stride

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  The satisfaction that Earl Holmes felt as the first day of practice was winding down was obvious Tuesday afternoon. He paced the sidelines with a proud grin, surveying each unit of the FAMU football team as position coaches ran them through technique drills.

“This is where you build a house; you’ve got to lay down the foundation,” said Holmes, who is in his first season as head coach at his alma mater.

There was no hitting, just players methodically executing every move their coaches commanded. The workout would become more intense over the next 25 days that the Rattlers have before opening the season on Sept. 1 against Mississippi Valley State.



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St. Aug Starts Football Practice On Wednesday, Aug. 7

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  Saint Augustine's University will hold its first football practice of the 2013 season on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at SAU Stadium at 6:30 p.m.

"It's another year and another opportunity to work on what we strive to do each year, which is to play for the CIAA Championship," said Head Coach Michael Costa, who has guided the Falcons to two winning records the past three seasons. "Our goal is to be in Winston-Salem."

The Falcons return 58 players including 14 offensive and defensive starters. They also bring back their placekicker and punter. The returnees and a 36-player recruiting class will report to campus on Monday, Aug. 5.

The Falcons are picked to finish second in the Southern Division and have the third-best team in the CIAA. Two players – defensive end Javarous Faulk (Sr./Macon, Ga.) and linebacker Chaz Robinson (Sr./Hampton, Va.) – were named to the Pre-season All-CIAA Team.

The Falcons, 6-4 overall in 2012, open the regular season at Division I North Carolina Central University on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Durham, N.C. at 2 p.m. The contest is the first of a 10-game schedule for the Falcons, who host Stillman College in their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 21. The slate includes home games against two-time CIAA champion Winston-Salem State University and two-time CIAA runner-up Elizabeth City State University.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION