PENSACOLA, Florida -- Most dreams of collegiate sports heroics begin at the end of regulation: A buzzer-beating three-pointer, a walk-off home run in extra innings, a game winning touchdown in overtime.
However, for three recent high school graduates from Pensacola — Cleveland Brown, Austin Conner Jr. and Tatiana Hughes — the biggest on-field moments of their college careers will happen at halftime today at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
The 18-year-old Washington High grads were all awarded music scholarships to join the nationally acclaimed Florida A&M University band, the Marching 100.
“This is surreal,” Hughes said. “I never thought I’d be here. I’ve been such a fangirl for the band ever since I first saw them.”
The Marching 100 has been performing since the 1890s and is famous for its elaborate, rollicking, stadium-rocking halftime shows. The 400-member band has performed at multiple Super Bowls, college bowl games and even at President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration.
But the fame turned to infamy in ...
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Sunday, September 1, 2013
Pough, SCSU Bulldogs suffer disappointing 27-20 loss to ranked Coastal
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- South Carolina State head coach Buddy Pough believed his team showed vast improvement in effort and overall play when compared to last season in Saturday’s season opener at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
To his disappointment, it was still not enough to defeat a nationally ranked opponent. In stunning fashion, the Bulldogs went from being poised to take a double-digit lead against the #21/25 Chanticleers to falling short 27-20 before 10,048 fans at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
“I can honestly say that we gave this football game away tonight,” a disappointed Pough said. “We didn’t execute at the times we needed to execute. We didn’t do a good job and that’s on me. We didn’t do a good job of putting us in the right places to be able to accomplish what we needed to accomplish to win the football game.”
Trailing 20-12 with seven minutes left in the third quarter, Coastal Carolina scored 15 unanswered points. It started when LaDarius Hawthorne blocked Nick Belcher’s field goal attempt and Big South Defensive Player of the Year Quinn Backus returned it 56 yards for a touchdown.
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To his disappointment, it was still not enough to defeat a nationally ranked opponent. In stunning fashion, the Bulldogs went from being poised to take a double-digit lead against the #21/25 Chanticleers to falling short 27-20 before 10,048 fans at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
“I can honestly say that we gave this football game away tonight,” a disappointed Pough said. “We didn’t execute at the times we needed to execute. We didn’t do a good job and that’s on me. We didn’t do a good job of putting us in the right places to be able to accomplish what we needed to accomplish to win the football game.”
Trailing 20-12 with seven minutes left in the third quarter, Coastal Carolina scored 15 unanswered points. It started when LaDarius Hawthorne blocked Nick Belcher’s field goal attempt and Big South Defensive Player of the Year Quinn Backus returned it 56 yards for a touchdown.
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Bingo: UMaine football opens with victory over Norfolk State
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Now we know why the University of Maine calls the play “Bingo.”
Norfolk State’s Spartans found out, too, just in time to see the back of Zedric Joseph’s jersey as the senior dashed 85 yards for the decisive touchdown in the Black Bears’ 23-6 victory Saturday night in the season opener for both schools at Dick Price Stadium.
As expected, the defense led the way for the Black Bears, who had their way with two first-time NSU quarterbacks and bottled up the Spartans attack most of the night. But with a sputtering Maine offense squandering several scoring opportunities, the Black Bears’ lead was just 13-6 midway through the third quarter when the offense lined up at its own 15-yard line for a second-down call.
That’s when Joseph faked receiving a handoff and circled out of the backfield.
The Spartans sold out on the run action, and when Joseph collected Marcus Wasilewski’s pass, there wasn’t an NSU defender within 10 yards of him. It stayed that way as Joseph streaked into the end zone for his first career touchdown.
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Norfolk State’s Spartans found out, too, just in time to see the back of Zedric Joseph’s jersey as the senior dashed 85 yards for the decisive touchdown in the Black Bears’ 23-6 victory Saturday night in the season opener for both schools at Dick Price Stadium.
As expected, the defense led the way for the Black Bears, who had their way with two first-time NSU quarterbacks and bottled up the Spartans attack most of the night. But with a sputtering Maine offense squandering several scoring opportunities, the Black Bears’ lead was just 13-6 midway through the third quarter when the offense lined up at its own 15-yard line for a second-down call.
That’s when Joseph faked receiving a handoff and circled out of the backfield.
The Spartans sold out on the run action, and when Joseph collected Marcus Wasilewski’s pass, there wasn’t an NSU defender within 10 yards of him. It stayed that way as Joseph streaked into the end zone for his first career touchdown.
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Saturday, August 31, 2013
FAMU's New band director retires 'drum major' title
OCOEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M University Marching 100 just wrapped up practice at Ocoee High School and students are clamoring for their chance to perform in the Citrus Bowl on Sunday.
They'll have to be careful how they address each other on the field though -- band director Sylvester Young has officially retired several titles within the band.
Young said he retired names like "drum major" and "section leader" in order to shed titles that gave students power over their peers. Section leaders are now principals and drum majors are now field commanders.
"One of the intrinsic problems of hazing is students leading and instructing other students," Young said. He added now it is mandatory that faculty members be with students at all times.
He added he also wanted to pay respects to...
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They'll have to be careful how they address each other on the field though -- band director Sylvester Young has officially retired several titles within the band.
Young said he retired names like "drum major" and "section leader" in order to shed titles that gave students power over their peers. Section leaders are now principals and drum majors are now field commanders.
"One of the intrinsic problems of hazing is students leading and instructing other students," Young said. He added now it is mandatory that faculty members be with students at all times.
He added he also wanted to pay respects to...
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FAMU football: Cash makes immediate impression for Rattlers
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| KEONTE CASH |
He was just a middle school kid who spent his spare time participating in dramatic plays or tinkering with baseball, when the coaching staff at Miami Jesuit called him to try out for the junior varsity team. Before his freshman season was over, he was promoted to varsity on the offensive line.
He started every game. What he did at Jesuit was so impressive, that his former coach now use his highlight film as a teaching tool.
“He is the best lineman we’ve ever had and I’ve been the head coach for 30 years,” said Richard Stuart. “He is a very smart young man; intelligent.
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XU Gold Nuggets win in 4, will play for tourney championship
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| TAYLOR REUTHER |
The Gold Nuggets defeated Columbia (S.C.) 25-27, 25-20, 25-20, 25-15 on Saturday morning for their third victory in as many matches at the UST Labor Day Tournament. Xavier is 10-73 all-time when losing the first set but has two such victories in the past five matches.
Taylor Reuther's sixth-consecutive double-double — 15 kills and 14 digs — Moira Kirk's 11 kills and reserve Claudia Haywood's seven kills and three blocks in two sets helped propel Xavier (5-2) into a 4 p.m. championship match later in the day against Montana Tech, the tournament's other 3-0 team.
The Nuggets were a roller coaster in the opening set, turning a 4-1 deficit into a 15-10 lead, then falling behind 21-19 before rallying again for a 25-24 advantage after a CeCe Williams kill. But Columbia prevailed, closing the set with three consecutive kills.
Xavier finally found some momentum late in the second set, with Haywood and Kirk collecting three kills apiece to pull the Nuggets out of a 16-14 hole and even the match. An 8-2 run helped Xavier pull away in the third set, and 8-1 and 10-2 runs in the fourth clinched the Nuggets' 21st victory in their last 22 neutral-site matches, a streak which began in 2011.
Reuther hit .159, her lowest since the season opener, but also served four aces, the most in a match by an XU player this season. Kirk hit .370, and Haywood — who sat out both Friday matches due to injury — hit a season-best .462 in 13 attempts.
Xavier produced 74 digs for the second consecutive match. Jodi Chatters had 20 to reach 60 for the tournament, Franziska Pirkl had 12 and Chinedu Echebelem nine. Pirkl had 32 assists in her second consecutive double-double and fourth of the season.
The Nuggets hit .208 — .286 in the final two sets — and served a season-high 10 aces. Echebelem had three aces to equal her career high. Columbia (0-4) served four aces, but only one in the final three sets.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Nuggets beat Loyola for first time ever, go 2-0 in Houston
The Gold Nuggets (4-2) defeated Loyola 25-13, 25-16, 25-16 and St. Thomas 25-19, 25-18, 22-25, 25-21.
Box scores: Loyola St. Thomas
Taylor Reuther extended her double-double streak to five with 12 kills and 16 digs against Loyola and 23 kills, a career best, and 14 digs against St. Thomas. Chinedu Echebelem had 10 kills, eight digs and season bests of three aces and a .450 hitting percentage against Loyola and 13 kills, a season high, and seven digs against St. Thomas. Jodi Chatters had 40 digs in the two matches, 23 against St. Thomas. Kerris Crier, playing collegiately in her hometown for the first time, had a career-high-tying nine kills and hit .471 against St. Thomas.
"We found some fluidity and continuity in terms of court chemistry," said first-year XU head coach Hannah Lawing, whose team hit better than .300 in both matches. "Our hitters are connecting better with our setters, and our defensive system was better executed than it was last weekend. We kept pressure on our opponents with our serves. Everybody on the bench was ready to go in when we needed them.
"Our hitters mixed up their shots really well, finding holes on the other side of the court and making adjustments to each team."
Loyola entered the tournament with an 11-0 series advantage against Xavier, including two victories a year ago.
"It felt good to win against a traditionally good program," Lawing said. "It was a relief not only to win the match but also to be in control the entire time."
The Gold Nuggets never trailed in any of their sets against Loyola and closed the first two sets with 7-1 runs. Consecutive kills by Jodi Hill, Reuther and Moira Kirk ended the match.
St. Thomas scored the final four points of the third set to extend the match and led 16-14 in the fourth after overcoming a 9-4 Xavier advantage. But four St. Thomas errors, four Reuther kills and a Darian Harris ace helped the Nuggets escape with their fourth win in their last five matches and their first this season on an opponent's court.
Xavier will play Saturday, the second and final day of the tournament, at 10 a.m. against Columbia (S.C.) and 4 p.m. against Montana Tech. Xavier's home opener will start at 1 p.m. on Sept. 14 against Voorhees in the Convocation Center.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
Victories for XU Rush and Jackson, school record for Fakler
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| Catherine Fakler |
The Gold Rush scored 54 points to win the men's championship by 14 points over runner-up Mississippi College, and XU junior Kwame Jackson won the 5,000-meter race in 16 minutes, 34 seconds. It was Jackson's second collegiate victory and his first since winning the 2011 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference title on this same course.
Junior Catherine Fakler was third in the women's race, running a school-record 15:34 for 4,000 meters. Teammate Zahri Jackson, who did not compete because of injury, set the previous mark of 16:27.58 two years ago in this same meet. The Gold Nuggets were third in team scoring with 73 points, trailing Blue Mountain (34) and Millsaps (54).
Results: Men Women
Info for students interested in joining the 2013-14 Gold Star Dance Team. PDF files: workshop auditions
The team championship was the 19th in the modern era of the XU men's program, the 11th in the regular season and the first in a season opener since 2007. Jackson, who led a field of 49 runners, scored the first regular-season victory by a Gold Rush runner since Matt Pieri in 2010.
"I told our guys in the huddle just before we started that they needed to win this meet. There was no reason why they shouldn't," said ninth-year XU coach Joseph Moses. "Kwame came out relaxed and confident and was running smooth. When he came out those of woods on the back of the course for that final uphill stretch, he was running by himself."
Jackson won by 10 seconds over runner-up Ryan Campbell, a freshman from Mississippi College.
Both Gold Rush newcomers finished in the top 10. Sophomore Brent Kitto, running in his first cross country meet since transferring from Louisiana Tech after the 2011 season, placed third in 16:48. Freshman Christopher August was ninth in 17:24.
Also finishing for Xavier were David Holobowicz (12th place, 17:40), Charles Shaw (29th, 18:48) and Aaron Yarmush (31st, 18:57). Holobowicz posted his best collegiate time at this distance.
Former Belhaven and Carson-Newman runner Hannah Reese, running unattached, was the top female finisher. Blue Mountain's Kelsea Posadas was second.
Mississippi College was unable to supply official times for all the women. Xavier's Donyé Coleman was 12th in 17:29, followed by Hannah Finnegan (16th place, 17:54), Reeka Belton (18th, 18:00), Danielle Rogers (29th, 19:17) and Hali Yarmush (30th, 19:19). Coleman's finish was her second highest in a regular-season collegiate meet. Belton and Rogers are freshmen.
"Catherine stepped up and ran a good race," Moses said. "It was great to see Donyé, a senior, step up and post a high finish. But I thought our women could've won this meet, too, even though we weren't at full strength. We need to redeem ourselves next week."
Both XU teams will compete Sept. 7 — one week from Saturday — in the Loyola Wolf Pack Invitational at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, La., a New Orleans suburb. Both collegiate races will be 5,000 meters, with the women starting at 7:50 a.m. and the men at 8:25. It will be the second of five regular-season meets for Xavier and its only local appearance of 2013.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
WSSU solid in final scrimmage
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State put the finishing touches on preseason camp with a controlled scrimmage Thursday morning.With a week left before the Sept. 5 opener at UNC Pembroke, Coach Connell Maynor wanted to see his offense and defense against each other once more, and he liked what he saw.
"The biggest thing is we didn’t get anybody hurt,” said Maynor, who sat several starters. “We wanted everybody to get up after every play, and that’s what happened. We looked pretty good, and we moved the ball a little better today.”
With classes in session, the Rams have gone back to 6 a.m. practices — a staple since Maynor arrived in 2010. “We used to practice at 5 a.m.,” one veteran said, “so 6 a.m. is a little better.”
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MEAC SWAC Challenge: Competing Teams Legends
Mississippi Valley State University vs. Florida A&M UniversitySeptember 1, 2013
11:45 A.M. EST
Orlando, Florida Citrus Bowl/TV: ESPN
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- When two historically black colleges and universities meet, whether it is a political science conference, or a sporting event, there is a story behind the story. In the case of the MEAC SWAC Challenge the events leading up to the game and the game itself are of small significance in comparison to what these schools represent.
On the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington I could easily highlight the roles of the Mississippi Valley State University and Florida A&M University in the resistance movement against segregation and oppression. Though this article is about sports history, it nonetheless has ties to the resistance movement. It was author and University of Michigan’s Professor Emeritus Harold Cruse who in “The Crisis of the Intellectual Negro” wrote many years ago about black America’s struggle with self-identity. Thus, it is not just entertaining to learn about black sports history, it is most important to black America in general that we connect with our past legends and heroes born of our own making.
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Whitney Houston - "I Love The Lord" according to The Mad Violinist...
Southern University Human Jukebox and Dancing Dolls at Houston 9/30 (Updated)
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Santiago Sparks Army To 28-12 Season-Opening Win Over Morgan State Bears
WEST POINT, New York -- Making just his second career start, junior Angel Santiago combined for 221 total yards of offense to lead the Army football team to a 28-12 victory over visiting Morgan State Friday night under the lights at Michie Stadium. Santiago threw for 101 yards and one touchdown while tacking on a game-high 120 yards on the ground and three scores to lead the Black Knights to their first season-opening win since 2010.Santiago was one of two Army (1-0) players to eclipse the 100-yard mark on the ground as junior Larry Dixon tallied 107 yards, reaching the century mark for the fifth time in his career. Freshman Xavier Moss led the receiving corps with a pair of catches en route to a 75-yard showing. Junior Chevaughn Lawrence also caught a pair of passes, including an 18-yard touchdown toss from Santiago in the early goings of the second quarter.
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery
| Photo Gallery 
Watch Recap Army 28, MSU 12
On the defensive side of the ball, junior Geoffrey Bacon and sophomore Alex Meier tallied career highs in tackles, recording 16 and 11, respectively. Senior Kyle Maxwell, who entered the game without a career sack, finished the night with a pair of quarterback take-downs.
Santiago and the Army offense came out firing, marching 95 yards downfield in its first possession to score midway through the first quarter. The possession was bookended by Santiago connecting with Moss for a 24-yard gain before the quarterback found paydirt on a 33-yard scramble to the end zone. Santiago punched in his second score of the game with 36 seconds remaining in the first stanza, en- route to a 168-yard offensive quarter for the Black Knights while Morgan State (0-1) sputtered to gain just 61 yards.
Following Lawrence's TD reception to push Army's lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter, the Bears cracked the scoring column with time winding down in the half. Junior quarterback Robert Council scored on a one-yard run for MSU, but the first of two failed extra-point attempts kept Army's lead at 21-6 heading into intermission.Santiago would add one more score during the Black Knights' first possession of the second half to extend the lead to 28-6, before MSU closed out the game scoring with Council finding senior Chris Flowers for a 22-yard score with eight minutes remaining in the third.
Council ended the night with 89 yards of passing and 47 yards rushing, while Lamont Brown led the Bears' ground game with 75 net yards. Flowers had two receptions for 37 yards. MSU totaled 301 yards of offense to Army's 396.
The Black Knights played a blemish-free game, recording zero turnovers and zero penalties, a feat last accomplished in Army's 2010 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl win over SMU on Dec. 30, 2010. Conversely, MSU was hamstringed by nine penalties resulting in a loss of 65 yards.
Army will hit the road for Game 2 of the 2013 season when the Black Knights travel to Muncie, Ind., to face Ball State on Sept. 7. Kickoff against the Cardinals is slated for noon at Scheumann Stadium. BSU defeated Illinois State, 51-28, in its season opener on Thursday night and earned a 30-22 win at Michie Stadium in the 2012 meeting with Army.
The MSU Bears will continue its road swing when they return to action next Saturday against Robert Morris. The game is set for a noon kickoff on September 7 at Joe Walton Stadium. It will mark the second meeting between Morgan State and Robert Morris since 2011. The Bears won the matchup 13-12 at Hughes Stadium.
Note: NFL Hall of Famer and Morgan State great Willie Lanier was in attendance. This game was also the first night game at Michie Stadium since 2009.
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Southern defense tries but falters against Houston
HOUSTON, Texas — With six minutes left in the first half Friday, Southern’s defense stood with its back 15 yards from the end zone.
Houston was threatening again. A play earlier, the Cougars’ No. 2 quarterback, John O’Korn, misfired and sailed a throw over the head of receiver Deonte Greenberry.
At that point, the Jaguars only trailed 13-6. Had they held their Football Bowl Subdivision opponent to a field goal, they might have stemmed momentum and allowed the Southern offense to cobble together a rally.
It failed. Running back Ryan Jackson cut once, hit a backside hole on a power play and scampered into the end zone: Houston 20, Southern 6.
One possession later, the Cougars recoverd a muffed punt at the Jaguars 12 and converted it into a score on a 10-yard touchdown pass. It took 55 seconds. And Houston’s next two scoring drives each needed less than 60 seconds to turn a reasonable deficit into a rout by the end of the third quarter at Reliant Stadium.
Yet, the Jaguars’ 3-4 scheme tried to stiffen early.
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Video: Dawson Odums said Jaguars must find positives in Houston loss
Turnovers, mistakes, penalties doom Southern
HOUSTON — Near the end of the first quarter against the University of Houston, the Southern sideline erupted after a leaping 45-yard catch by Samuel Altman. The Jaguars were in the red zone and threatening to draw within three points. Two plays later, freshman running back Kylum Favorite fumbled that momentum away.
Midway through the second quarter, a big stop on defense forced the Cougars to punt the ball back to a seemingly re-energized Jaguars team. Southern fumbled away that opportunity as well. The ball hit Marquon Webster in the back, and the Cougars recovered at the SU 12.
Add in a third fumble, an interception and 10 penalties for 91 yards and the Jaguars made things a lot more difficult on themselves in a 62-13 loss to the Cougars on Friday night at Reliant Stadium.
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Houston was threatening again. A play earlier, the Cougars’ No. 2 quarterback, John O’Korn, misfired and sailed a throw over the head of receiver Deonte Greenberry.
At that point, the Jaguars only trailed 13-6. Had they held their Football Bowl Subdivision opponent to a field goal, they might have stemmed momentum and allowed the Southern offense to cobble together a rally.
It failed. Running back Ryan Jackson cut once, hit a backside hole on a power play and scampered into the end zone: Houston 20, Southern 6.
One possession later, the Cougars recoverd a muffed punt at the Jaguars 12 and converted it into a score on a 10-yard touchdown pass. It took 55 seconds. And Houston’s next two scoring drives each needed less than 60 seconds to turn a reasonable deficit into a rout by the end of the third quarter at Reliant Stadium.
Yet, the Jaguars’ 3-4 scheme tried to stiffen early.
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Video: Dawson Odums said Jaguars must find positives in Houston loss
Turnovers, mistakes, penalties doom Southern
HOUSTON — Near the end of the first quarter against the University of Houston, the Southern sideline erupted after a leaping 45-yard catch by Samuel Altman. The Jaguars were in the red zone and threatening to draw within three points. Two plays later, freshman running back Kylum Favorite fumbled that momentum away.
Midway through the second quarter, a big stop on defense forced the Cougars to punt the ball back to a seemingly re-energized Jaguars team. Southern fumbled away that opportunity as well. The ball hit Marquon Webster in the back, and the Cougars recovered at the SU 12.
Add in a third fumble, an interception and 10 penalties for 91 yards and the Jaguars made things a lot more difficult on themselves in a 62-13 loss to the Cougars on Friday night at Reliant Stadium.
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Southern tripped up from the start in its season opener
HOUSTON, Texas -- Dawson Odums took over as Southern’s head coach after a near-disastrous 0-2 start last season.He provided discipline and stability that yielded a more respectable team during a 4-5 finish, leading to a two-year contract for him and increased optimism entering his first full season. The Jaguars were picked to finish second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division, their highest projection in five seasons.
Southern might yet be a SWAC contender, but its season-opening performance did little to justify the optimism. The Jaguars committed four turnovers and several debilitating penalties and mostly couldn’t get out of their own way in a 62-13 loss to Houston on Friday in Reliant Stadium.
“You can’t give the ball away, especially against a good Division I team,” Odums said. “They’re going to capitalize with a short field. They had four (scoring) drives of (fewer than) 50 yards.”
Daniel Spencer had 102 yards and two touchdowns receiving and ran for ...
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Southern’s Dray Joseph stars but gets little help
HOUSTON — Southern quarterback Dray Joseph surveyed the landscape of scrambling bodies and managed to freeze Houston linebacker Austin Wilson. That split second created a seam that let Joseph fire a dart to receiver Samuel Altman for a 19-yard touchdown that drew the Jaguars within seven points in the second quarter Friday night at Reliant Stadium — a fleeting highlight in a 62-13 season-opening loss.
Faith in Joseph’s left arm shouldn’t waver, though. The senior, a preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference pick, reeled off 15 consecutive completions after misfiring on his first throw and finished with 268 yards and two touchdowns on 27-of-36 passing.
“I did a great job controlling my energy,” said Joseph, who started the night 15 of 16 for 163 yards. “I didn’t want to be too excited and overthrow balls, and I just came out and played an efficient game.”
Acting as the leader for the Southern offense isn’t new for the senior, who led the conference in passing last season.
ESPN3 Video Highlights
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Morgan State drops its football season opener at Army, 28-12
WEST POINT, New York -- In just his second start as Army's quarterback, junior Angel Santiago rushed for 116 yards, passed for 101 yards and accounted for all four touchdowns in the Black Knights' 28-12 win over Morgan State Friday night before 24,245 at Michie Stadium.Santiago, a prep star from San Bernadino, Calif., rushed for three touchdowns and passed for another.
The 5-11, 188-pound signal-caller was the third-string quarterback in 2011 and 2012, carrying the ball just 53 times in two seasons. A.J. Schurr was in line to replace four-year starter Trent Steelman as the next quarterback for the Black Knights, but a good spring campaign vaulted Santiago ahead of him.
While Steelman was the focus of Army's intricate triple offense that paced the county in rushing yardage in 2011 and 2012, Santiago provides coach Rich Ellerson with a pocket passer capable of throwing the long ball.
Only twice did Army pass for over 100 yards in a game in 2012.
Against Morgan State, Santiago was ...
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Friday, August 30, 2013
Jackson State Sonic Boom of the South at Tulane 8/29/13
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Bulldog buzz: Alabama A&M at Grambling
Alabama A&M vs. GramblingWHAT: Alabama A&M at Grambling State
WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Eddie Robinson Stadium, Grambling, La.
LINE: N/A
THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE: Which team will get a head-start in the Southwest Athletic Conference race, though A&M and Grambling are in opposite divisions of the SWAC. Grambling is trying to bounce back from a winless conference record in 2012, after having won the league title over A&M in 2011.The early-season meeting will be a stern test for both teams, which have numerous questions marks, but the loser will have time to recover and still contend for the title.
THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR
1. Defensive unpredictability. Grambling State has a new coordinator in former NFL linebacker Dennis "Dirt" Winston, who was at Pine Bluff last season. Head coach Doug Williams has been coy about what scheme - or schemes - Winston will employ and it's a mystery to A&M as well.
2. Alabama A&M offensive mistakes. The Bulldogs have a new quarterback in Brandon Wells, a new tailback and four new starters on the offensive line. It is bound to make mistakes, especially as it can't game-plan as effectively against Grambling's defense. How efficiently and smoothly Wells and the offense shrug off plays that have negative yardage or have major mistakes - like a golfer forgetting how he three-putted before going onto the next tee - will determine much of A&M's early success this year.
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Doug Williams' return as Grambling coach prompted by loyalty -- and by family (Mark McCarter column)
GRAMBLING, Louisiana - There are a couple of simple reasons why Doug Williams will be on the Grambling State sideline Saturday night, beginning his ninth season as its head coach - or the third season in Doug Williams Coaching Career 2.0, as it were."Love. Loyalty," Williams says.
Then he adds, "I am Grambling."
That's not a pretentious statement. That's just how deep in his soul this historic university and football program runs.
Of course, to many, Doug Williams IS Grambling, almost as much as coach Eddie Robinson, the legend whose name adorns the football stadium and whose memory remains cherished and deified. Williams played quarterback at Grambling, then went to the National Football League. He was the history making Washington Redskins' QB in 1987, the first black starting quarterback to start a Super Bowl.
The night before the game, his roommate was Anthony Jones.
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Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow discusses season opener against Jacksonville State
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State faces Jacksonville State in its season and home opener Saturday at 5 p.m.
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It'll be the first career start for Hornets quarterback third-year junior Daniel Duhart and another shot for ASU (7-4) to capture its first win in the its first victory its brand new, $62-million stadium after Division II Tuskegee defeated the Hornets in the 89th Annual Turkey Day Classic last season.
Here what coach Reggie Barlow had to say about ...
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MEAC SWAC Challenge: Who is In Shape to Win?
ORLANDO, Florida -- Once upon a time there was a football team that literally caught more cramps during the game than they did passes. In fact, the quarterback cramped so badly fans thought he was experiencing a convulsion. At the beginning of fall camp coaches are hoping for hot weather. The premise is that teams in the south generally have an advantage over other teams because they consistently practice in the heat and play in the heat. Building stamina under those conditions should payoff in the final quarter. With all of the rain in Tallahassee this summer the heat may be more of an advantage for Mississippi Valley State except that the forecasters predict a 30% chance of rain in Orlando on Sunday.
“Where’s the heat man?”
Should it rain the game could turn into a defensive battle much like the one between Southern and Mississippi Valley State last year. In that game MVSU depended on the run and a stubborn defense to shock Southern and take a win. It wasn’t the running back alone though that made the difference, it was the offensive line. Keep in mind that Southern beat FAMU last year.
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Ex-Westover star Greene in the mix in ASU Rams backfield
ALBANY, Georgia — In his first stint as offensive coordinator at Albany State from 2009-10, Steve Smith led two different quarterbacks to career years and conference Player of the Year honors.
2013, however, might be the year of the running backs.
Smith was reluctant to name a starter before practice Tuesday, but he did say that a group of rushers will get significant carries this season, including freshman Dalviness Greene, a Westover grad and former Herald Dynamite Dozen selection who started during Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage.
Greene, who is fighting for playing time with senior Kareem Hess, junior Adrian Alexander and Valdosta State transfer Phillip Moore, caught the eyes of head coach Mike White with his performance in the scrimmage.
“He had a couple of runs where he looked pretty good,” White said. “I saw a rushing attack (Saturday) that was really physical.”
Lincoln U of Missouri & CFL Legend Leo Lewis Passes Away
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| Leo Lewis (1953) (Lincoln University Athletic Archives) |
Lewis, who owns four of Lincoln's top six single-season rushing marks, carried the ball 623 times for 4,457 yards and 64 touchdowns during his four-year LU career, with all three of those marks still standing as program records. Nicknamed "The Lincoln Locomotive," Lewis played for Lincoln from 1951-1954, rushing for over 1,100 yards three times and finishing with 384 career points. Lewis scored four touchdowns in a game on four occasions, making him the only Blue Tiger to ever accomplish that feat multiple times, and set a program record with 22 touchdowns in the 1953 campaign.
From 1951-1954, Lincoln posted four consecutive winning seasons, including posting identical 8-0-1 records during the 1952 and 1953 campaigns. In 1952, Lincoln outscored opponents, 267-74, and finished the year ranked No. 2 in the country by the Pittsburgh Courier. The Blue Tigers had similar success in 1953, outscoring opponents by a total of 266-67 en route to a second-straight unbeaten season. This success was due in large part to the unstoppable running ability of Lewis, who broke free for 1,239 yards in 1952 and 1,230 yards in 1953. Those marks remain the top-two ever by an LU back, and both came in nine-game seasons.
Lewis began his LU career in 1951, rushing for 1,164 yards and helping to create one of the greatest turn-arounds in program history. After a 1-7 in 1950 in which Lincoln scored just 52 points, the Blue Tigers, on the strength of Lewis' running, exploded for 290 points in 1951 while going 7-2. Lewis later closed his prolific career in 1954, rushing for 824 yards in an eight-game season that the Blue Tigers finished with a 4-3-1 record.
The holder of nearly every major Lincoln rushing record, Lewis holds the single season mark for yards per carry (5.9, 1952) and the record for yards in a single game (245). Lewis joins Lemar Parrish as the only two Lincoln football players to have their jerseys retired, as Lewis' No. 30 uniform was retired by the athletic department in 2000.
Lewis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1955 and immediately went on to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League until 1965. He later returned to Lincoln to serve as the team's head football coach from 1973-1975, leading the Blue Tigers to 12 victories.
Lewis also served as the head golf coach and the head women's basketball coach at LU and, at one point, served as the school's interim athletic director. Lewis became the most successful women's basketball coach in Blue Tiger history, leading Lincoln to six double-digit win seasons in the early 1980s including a program-best 15 wins in 1984-85. Lewis finished his coaching career in 1993 with 102 career victories.
Lewis was inducted into the Lincoln Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. This October, he will be joined by many of his teammates, as the 1952 and 1953 Lincoln football teams will also be enshrined in the hall of fame.
By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Leo Lewis, Athlete/Football Inducted 2005 (Reprint)
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| "The Great" Leo Lewis The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame & Museum Inductee (2005) |
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, he moved with his family to St. Paul as an infant. He played his college football at the University of Lincoln, in Jefferson City, Missouri before coming to Canada in 1955 and making himself into a legend. Yet for all his accomplishments he retained his modesty.
“Sixth all time?” he said with genuine surprise. “I thought I’d be about twenty something by now.”
Even in his days as a player Lewis was less concerned with his own numbers than in the big picture.
“I wasn’t too interested in individual glory. I was more interested in team glory. If what I did helped us win then it was important. If I had a great game and we lost it (the individual glory) wasn’t important to me.”
Leo Lewis joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1955. After missing the ’56 season with an ankle injury, he embarked on a nine-year journey through CFL defences. By the time he was through, he ranked third all time in rushing yardage and when he retired was the League’s all time leader in kickoff return yardage. He stood fourth on that list with a stunning 29.1 yard average per return. He also knew how to find the end zone, scoring seventy-five career touchdowns.
A six-time Western All Star, he was named to the All Canadian All Star team in 1962. Not surprisingly, he receives the highest praise from those who knew him best.
“He was a quarterback’s best friend” says former Blue Bomber great Ken Ploen. “It didn’t matter what you asked him to do he’d do it to the best of his ability. He was there all the time. He never complained. He was a true professional.”
Lewis was perhaps the most exciting player of his time; dashing and darting, running outside and cutting back in.
“He was the best football player we ever had” according to veteran sports writer Jack Matheson. “I liked everything Leo did.”
After a knee injury finished his career in 1966, Lewis returned to the University of Lincoln where he spent more than thirty years, coaching and teaching.
“I really enjoyed Winnipeg. I enjoyed the people. They made me feel like I was home.”
Leo Lewis helped to create one of the CFL’s great dynasties as the Bombers captured four Grey Cups in a five-year span. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the U. S. Collegiate Hall of Fame, and was selected as one of the top 20 All-Time Blue Bombers in 2005.
COURTESY THE MANITOBA SPORTS HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
The Talk of the FCS: Towson football team basks in upset win over UConn
TOWSON, Maryland -- When he drove onto campus Friday, the day after his team's upset of Connecticut, Towson football coach Rob Ambrose found the place crawling with reporters and television cameras."I thought, 'No way these news trucks are here because we won last night,'" Ambrose said.
No, the media sought word of Towson's cheerleader squad, which has been suspended for the year for alleged hazing. But that news took none of the shine off the Tigers' 33-18 victory over UConn, the school's first defeat of a Division I school in eight tries.
"A lot of guys came here sold on the concept of making history," said Ambrose, Towson's fifth-year coach. "There's a lot here that hasn't been done. Well, this is the ultimate paycheck for them. Writing history is fun."
CONTINUE READING
LOOKING AHEAD ON TOWSON's SCHEDULE...
The MEAC has two opportunities to "Shock the World" with the FBS giant killer Tigers. Can the Hornets and Eagles pull off the upset? It's possible!
Sat., Sept. 7, Holy Cross AWAY, Worchester, Mass., 1:00 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 14, Delaware State, HOME, Minnegan Field at Johnny Unitas Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 21, North Carolina Central, AWAY, Durham, N.C., 2:00 pm
(beepbeep)
The MEAC has two opportunities to "Shock the World" with the FBS giant killer Tigers. Can the Hornets and Eagles pull off the upset? It's possible!
Sat., Sept. 7, Holy Cross AWAY, Worchester, Mass., 1:00 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 14, Delaware State, HOME, Minnegan Field at Johnny Unitas Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 21, North Carolina Central, AWAY, Durham, N.C., 2:00 pm
(beepbeep)
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