TSU Football Seeks First Win on Saturday at FAMU

NASHVILLE,Tennessee -- Just six days after dropping the John Merritt Classic to Bethune-Cookman, the Tennessee State football team looks to rebound on the road against another HBCU opponent in Florida A&M on Saturday.

Big Blue moved to 0-1 on the year with a, 12-9, loss at the hands of the Wildcats. The Tigers’ defense kept the team in the game, and provided the offense multiple opportunities to deliver the knockout blow.

Big Blue held B-CU to just 260 yards of total offense and senior safety David Van Dyke forced the game’s only turnover with an interception in the third quarter. TSU also only allowed 98 yards through the air, the lowest since last year’s game against Tennessee Tech on Oct. 27.

Preseason All-OVC linebacker Nick Thrasher came up big for the Tigers in week one, totaling 10 tackles including six solo stops. He was helped by defensive lineman Samquan Evans who was a force up front, racking up eight tackles including one for loss.

Offensively, freshman quarterback Ronald Butler will make his second career start at FAMU, a week removed from completing 13 of 21 passes for 132 yards. The Tallahassee, Fla. product was unblemished in terms of interceptions, but also did not lead a single touchdown drive.

Butler’s main target against Bethune was All-American tight end A.C. Leonard who caught five passes for 38 yards. The junior also had the team’s longest rush, a 31-yarder during the first quarter.

The rest of the TSU running attack combined for 85 yards on 37 carries for a 2.9 yard per attempt average.

 

Another bright spot for the team was its return game. Freshman receiver Michael Whittaker returned a punt for 25 yards and two kickoffs for 41 yards and Martine Stevenson also had a kick return of 43 yards. The 25.5 yards per punt and 28 per kickoff were much higher than the 7.8 and 19.1 the team averaged in 2012.

TSU’s opponent on Saturday will be the Rattlers of Florida A&M, who are coming off a 27-10 throttling of Mississippi Valley State in week 1.

In that game, FAMU had three different players score rushing touchdowns helping the team overcome its 15 penalties for 160 yards.

The Rattlers defense also had a good game, intercepting the ball three times and only allowing the Delta Devils 88 yards through the air. Mississippi Valley State was also just 2-of-12 on third down conversions during last week’s game.

TSU is 26-25-1 all-time versus Florida A&M with the previous win coming in last year’s John Merritt Classic, 17-14. Defense prevailed in that game which could be the case this year if week one is any indication.



COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

XU Gold Nuggets, No. 3 in NAIA last season, add 4 to roster

Nour Abbes

Brandi Nelson

NEW ORLEANS — Coach Alan Green on Thursday announced Xavier University of Louisiana's four-member women's tennis recruiting class. Newcomers signed to scholarships for the 2013-14 academic year were:

• Nour Abbes of Tunis, Tunisia, and Lycée Sportif d'El Menzah.
• Sha'Nel Bruins of Colfax, La., and Grant High School.
• Dasia Harris of Sugar Land, Texas, and Elkins High School.
• Brandi Nelson of Jonesboro, Ga., and Faith Academy.

All four are right-handers, and all come to Xavier as freshmen. They will join seven letterwomen returning from a team which ranked third in the NAIA postseason poll. The Gold Nuggets in 2013 became the first Xavier team in any sport to reach the NAIA's national semifinals or be ranked No. 1 in an NAIA coaches poll. The XU women were ranked first in three consecutive polls.

Abbes was 71st in the International Tennis Federation's 2010 year-end junior rankings and was 48th in July of that year. She has been a member of her home country's national team for 10 years. Abbes reached the junior girls doubles quarterfinals at the 2010 French Open and has won doubles titles on the WTA futures circuit and in Africa's under-18 championships. The ITF website lists her career records as 87-49 in singles and 98-44 in doubles.

Dasia Harris

Sha'Nel Bruins

Bruins was the LHSAA Class 4A state singles champion in 2013 and a semifinalist in 2012 and 2011. She was a two-sport standout who was honorable-mention All-Cenla and first-team All-District 3-4A in basketball her senior year after averaging 21 points a game and leading the Lady Cougars to the state playoffs for the first time since 2008. Bruins was the valedictorian of her class.

Harris has won two doubles championships in juniors and was the No. 1 singles player on her high-school team for two seasons. Harris was one of 15 seniors from the class of 2013 to receive a scholarship from the USTA Texas Tennis and Education Foundation.

Nelson is a Tennisrecruiting.net 3-star prospect who has won 10 singles championships and 12 doubles championships. The website also ranks her 11th in Georgia and 62nd in the Southeast. She is the younger sister of Carmen Nelson, a junior and two-year letterwinner on the Gold Nuggets.

Abbes and Nelson are undecided on their academic majors at Xavier. Bruins is a chemistry/pre-pharmacy major, and Harris is majoring in business management.

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

Alabama State football: Hornets pick up pieces on offense

Veteran unit struggles in sophomore QB's first start

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Alabama State put together a balanced attack in Saturday’s season opener with Jacksonville State, but only three of its drives covered 50 yards or more, and none of them found the end zone.

The two touchdowns came after turnovers deep in Gamecock territory, preventing a 24-22 loss from turning out worse.

“We know we’ve got good players, but we’re trying to play a quarterback where it’s his first career start and making sure he was comfortable with some of the stuff we were calling,” head coach Reggie Barlow said. “Some of it was Jacksonville State, not knowing what they would give us in certain situations until we’d run it a couple of times. There was no chemistry and rhythm in that game.”

Eight of the 11 starters on offense were returning players, yet the Hornets’ attack struggled to gel.

ALABAMA STATE AT JACKSON STATE
WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, Miss.
RECORDS: Alabama State (0-1); Jackson State (0-1)
ON THE AIR: WVAS-FM 90.7

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DSU Hornets Gear Up For Season Opener at Delaware

TELEVISION: NBC SPORTS NETWORK

DOVER, Delaware -- THE GAME
Delaware State opens the 2013 season with a visit to Delaware in the annual “Route 1 Rivalry.” The Hornets return just 10 starters and 34 letter winners from their 2012 squad, which won five of the last seven games to finish the season with a 6-5 overall record, the team’s first winning mark since 2007. DSU was tied for third in the 2012 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference race with a 5-3 mark in the league. It was also the Hornets’ best conference finish since the ‘07 season.

Delaware opened its season with a 51-35 victory over Jacksonville on Aug. 29 in the debut for new head coach Dave Brock. The Blue Hen offense racked up 611 yards of total offense (373 rushing/238 passing), while the Hen defense held JU to - 37 yards rushing and recorded three interceptions.

THE SERIESThis will be the fifth meeting between the state’s two Division I teams. Each game has been played at Delaware Stadium. The Hens have won the previous meetings by a combined score of 154-38. FCS #15 Delaware won the last meeting 38-14 on Sep. 8, 2012.  Delaware State outgained UD by 71 yards and won the time of possession battle by nearly 11 minutes, but was undone by key mistakes in the contest. The Hornets were plagued by two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, a blocked field goal attempt and several costly penalties. Delaware State racked up 353 total yards in the contest, its best showing in four meetings against the Hens. The Hornets had 298 yards passing, but were held to 55 yards on the ground. Delaware recorded 282 total yards. The Hens posted 155 yards passing and 127 rushing. The Hornets trailed 21-0 before scoring a touchdown with 3:02 left in the second quarter.  Delaware added a touchdown with 17 seconds to go before halftime to regain a 21-point lead.  Delaware State could get no closer than 17 points (31-14) the rest of the way.

    DSU v. UD notes_pdf

COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

SCSU Coach Pough TV Show To Appear On Fox SportsSouth

COACH BUDDY POUGH
(Courtesy SCSU Athletics)

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  The South Carolina State weekly coaches TV show, "The Buddy Pough Show" will now air on Fox SportSouth each week on Wednesday's at 6 p.m. ET and re-air on Friday's at 3:00 p.m. ET.

The show will feature a 30 minute segment and game highlights along with SC State head football coach Buddy Pough and longtime host Ernest Robinson.

This week's show will debut at a special time on Fox SportsSouth on Wednesday, September 4 at 4:00 p.m. following the Atlanta Braves Game and re-air on Friday, September 6 at 3 :00 p.m. The show will return to its regular scheduled time the following week.

It will be available on both cable and satellite services so check your local listings for the channel in your area.

Fox SportsSouth is one of the largest regional sports networks in the U.S.—The show will air in the state of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina and parts of North Carolina with over 10 million plus subscribers.

The Buddy Pough Radio Talk Show Returns On Thursday

The Buddy Pough Talk Show on 102.9 FM Old School Radio returns to the air this coming Thursday live from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Toyota of Orangeburg on 601 across from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

Each week, Coach Pough and host Steve Wannamaker will talk all Bulldog Football. Listeners and guest will have the opportunity to hear coach's plans for each upcoming game and learn his opinions on the previous game.

Questions will be welcomed from fans in attendance, or you may email your questions to talktobuddy@gmail.com.

The Coaches show will be held each week during the 2013 season from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Toyota of Orangeburg on HWY 601 across from Orangeburg-Calhoun Tech. If you can't make it out to catch the show in person, listen to it live on 102.9 FM Radio, the official radio station of Bulldog Football.

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern U. breaks ground on $1.4 million baseball fieldhouse

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- After 29 seasons of Southern baseball and 850 victories, head coach Roger Cador will finally have a new facility to call home.

Speaking Wednesday morning at a groundbreaking ceremony on the Baton Rouge campus, Cador said, that the construction is an example to the players “to never give up.”

Cador said the facility has been a dream that he has never given up on, even when the financing  looked bleak. He credited the late State Rep. Avon Honey for helping to put together a financial package for the facility.

"Having a new place to call home and the convenience of the facility is a great motivation factor that could give us a boost this year, " said athletics director Dr. William Broussard."

The $1.4 million,  4,200 square foot facility, will house locker rooms, coaches’ offices, a team meeting area and other rooms. The structure will be located just beyond the left centerfield wall of Lee-Hines Baseball Field.



The building, expected to be completed sometime in spring 2014, is being funding by the East Rouge Parish Mayor-President’s Office and state government.

"The completion date of January 2014 is a very realistic goal for completion," Cador said. "If the weather permits the contractors will have time to make it happen."

 

Southern University Chancellor James L. Llorens said the facility will be a showpiece for the Baton Rouge campus and set Southern apart from a number of programs in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He also praised Cador for his relentless effort to get the facility and to fight through “red tape.”

 

"The chancellor and I have had some discussions and we do think the new facility will open new doors in the area of recruiting," Cador said.

"We now can recruit kids that we couldn’t reach at first and hopefully I can be around one more time to see a SWAC championship."

 

Darren G. Mire, chairman of  SU’s Board of Supervisors Athletic Committee, said the new facility is being built on the legacy of the great players that the baseball program has produced.

 

"The thing that gets me is all of the years that my players have went without an adequate locker room and they have never complained once about it. That is most remarkable to me," said Cador.

 

"They only looked at the opportunity to play in Lee-Hines Field."

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU coordinator Gray likes view from press box

OFFENSE COORDINATOR QUINN GRAY

ORLANDO, Florida — Offensive coordinator Quinn Gray, who played quarterback for Billy Joe, brought back memories Sunday afternoon of the former FAMU coach.

Just like Joe did, Gray called plays from the press box. So was he just taking a page from his College Hall of Fame coach’s playbook?

“It’s just a settler for me because if I’m on the sidelines I have a chance that I might be talking to people when I need to be thinking,” Gray said. “It gives me an opportunity to be settled and get the play calls I need.”

Gray, who became offensive coordinator when Earl Holmes was hired earlier this year, said he was a bit concerned about execution of the pro-style offense he introduced this season.

“But we got ourselves going then in ...

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FAMU's Albert rewarded for extra effort 

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Running backs coach Elijah Williams realized he had a shortage of proven players not long after he joined Earl Holmes’ staff at FAMU earlier this year.

He knew he could count on senior James Owens and transfer Demont Buice for spring practice. Omari Albert was there as well, but he had been inconsistent with his blocking.

As much as Williams liked the way the 5-foot-7, 200-pounder from Orlando ran the ball, he wanted Albert to understand the importance of being a complete back.

Williams saw his opportunity to get that point across during the Rattlers’ first spring scrimmage. After watching Albert get excited about a carry, the assistant coach said he’d like to see the same passion for blocking.

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Rutgers Scarlet Knights Game Preview vs. Norfolk State Spartans

NORFOLK STATE (0-1) at RUTGERS (0-1)
Saturday, September 7 • 12:00 p.m. • TV: CBS Sports Network
High Point Solutions Stadium
Piscataway, N.J.

Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network
(710-WOR; 1450-WCTC; 610-WIP)
Live Stats: ScarletKnights.com

Series: Rutgers leads 2-0

GAME NOTES

The Game
• Rutgers hosts Norfolk State Saturday, September 7 in the 2013 home opener at High Point Solutions Stadium.
• Kickoff is set for 12:04 p.m. with live national television coverage on the CBS Sports Network. Jason Knapp (play-by-play) and former NFL tight end Christian Fauria (color) have the call.
• Coverage on the Rutgers IMG Sports Network begins at 11 a.m. with Chris Carlin (play-by-play), Ray Lucas (color analyst), Eric LeGrand (color analyst) and Anthony Fucilli (sideline) calling the action.
• Rutgers will wear all white uniforms for the home opener and is set to debut a new white helmet with a chrome block R logo.


Series Information
• Rutgers is 2-0 all-time versus Norfolk State. The Scarlet Knights defeated the Spartans 59-0 in 2007 and 31-0 in 2010. The combined scores of 90-0 came with both games played in Piscataway.
• The last time the two schools met, Rutgers opened the 2010 season with a 31-0 win over the Spartans.
• The Scarlet Knights are 9-0 all-time against MEAC competition (Howard, Morgan State, Norfolk State, North Carolina Central) and have outscored MEAC opponents 367-36 in the nine victories.

With a Victory
• Rutgers would win its fourth straight home opener. The Scarlet Knights defeated Howard 26-0 in 2012, North Carolina Central 48-0 in 2011 and Norfolk State 31-0 in 2010.
• Rutgers would win for the 99th time on a home opener. The Scarlet Knights are 98-36-10 in home openers, including a 9-4 mark since 2000. The Scarlet Knights have won three straight home openers by a combined score of 105-0.
• The Scarlet Knights would capture their 10th straight victory versus FCS competition. The last loss to a FCS opponent for RU was a 35-24 setback to New Hampshire (9/11/04).

Rutgers vs. the MEAC
Rutgers is 9-0 all-time vs. schools from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). In the last seven meetings vs. MEAC opponents since 2006, Rutgers has outscored the opposition 303-14.

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WSSU ready to go: Bright lights of TV will shine on opener at UNC Pembroke

Chase Powell
WR/ 5'-8"/175
Wise High School
Upper Marlboro, Maryland

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- The perception is that Winston-Salem State has a grizzled and veteran team of Division I transfers who are approaching their mid-20s.

Some players fit that mold, but Chase Powell is a fresh face, and he’ll be the only freshman starter in Thursday’s season-opener at UNC Pembroke (8 p.m., CBSSN Ch. 537).

Powell, a 5-9 and 185-pound wide receiver from Upper Marlboro, Md., is 18 and barely shaves. But his speed and ability to catch the ball make him an asset.

"I’ve just been pretty focused, and I’ve tried to work hard and do what the coaches ask me to do,” said Powell, a former running back who gained 1,529 yards and scored 29 touchdowns as a high-school senior in 2012. “The hardest thing has been learning the plays and things like that.”

Powell also accepts the fact that he’ll be slightly nervous come kickoff.

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WSSU notes: Maynor still hears the critics

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Coach Connell Maynor of Winston-Salem State realizes that fans can be fickle.

The Rams are 35-4 in his three seasons, are coming off a trip to the national-championship game and have one of the nation’s top Division II programs, but Maynor said he still has critics.

"As far as people criticizing or judging you, that is what people do,” he said. “Believe it or not, I probably have some Connell Maynor haters out there, and I’m 35-4. So they are probably waiting for me to go 7-4 so they can get rid of me, but that’s life.”

UNCP seeks a home

UNC Pembroke’s effort to move from football independent to member of a Division II conference continues.

University officials have applied to ...

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Former Alabama A&M OL Jamaal Johnson-Webb signs to Bears' practice squad

CHICAGO, Illinois  --  An abrupt ending quickly turned into a new beginning for former Alabama A&M offensive lineman
Jamaal Johnson-Webb.

 

The first Bulldog ever invited to the NFL's draft combine back in February, Johnson-Webb was cut by by the Arizona Cardinals, the team which signed him as an undrafted free agent, when they made their final roster cut, locking in their 53-man roster Saturday.

 

Today, The Chicago Tribune reports the two-time first-team All-SWAC choice has signed a deal to join the Chicago Bears as a member as a member of the team's practice squad. 

 

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Badgers power past XU Gold Nuggets 25-12, 25-20, 25-9

Chinedu Echebelem

Taylor Reuther

MOBILE, Alabama -- Four Spring Hill players produced season attack highs Tuesday in a 25-12, 25-20, 25-9 women's volleyball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.

The Badgers' Megan Haber, the reigning Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Week, had 10 kills and a season-high .714 hitting percentage. Madison Seuzeneau had a season-high 13 kills. Recording season highs in kills and hitting percentage were Molly Griffin (11 and .450) and setter Taryn Nash (five and .833).

Chinedu Echebelem had nine kills and eight digs for Xavier (5-4). Taylor Reuther had five kills and nine digs -- the first time in seven matches she did not produce a double-double and the first time this season she did not reach double figures in digs -- and Jodi Chatters had 15 digs to reach double figures for the fifth consecutive match.

Spring Hill (7-2) led 9-1 in the first set, 10-1 in the third set and overcame an 11-8 deficit in the middle set. The Badgers defeated the Nuggets for the second time this season and lead the all-time series 14-0.

Spring Hill outhit Xavier .337 to .051 and had advantages of 45-27 in kills, 5-1 in aces, 57-46 in digs and 5-0 in blocks. The Nuggets' kills, hitting percentage, aces and blocks were season lows. The Badgers committed 13 errors, 15 fewer than Xavier.

Reuther, the 2012 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year, hit minus-.083 in 24 attacks and finished with a negative  percentage for the third time in 69 XU matches.

Xavier, which is opening the season with 13 consecutive road matches, will play Friday at 3 p.m. EDT against Trinity Christian and 7 p.m. against Asbury in the Rumpke Invitational at Georgetown, Ky. The Nuggets' home opener will start at 1 p.m. on Sept. 14 against Voorhees at the Convocation Center.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 

Darrius Coleman standing up and stepping in for Southern

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Darrius Coleman is team-oriented. Selfless. Without a personal agenda. He wants the best for others, not just himself.

To that end, here was Coleman, a senior running back, with his final opportunity to play college football, on the sideline Friday night at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Again, just where he was during so many games last season.

Nevertheless, Coleman hoped his teammate Kylum Favorite would keep an early drive against FBS opponent Houston going. But after the freshman had a devastating fumble early in the first quarter, Coleman got the call to take over.

“Me and Ky were working on high and tight (ball protection drills) as our main thing this summer, so when it happened I was kind of disappointed — but then again just excited to get in the game and play football,” Coleman said.

In a 62-13 loss, Southern had ...

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Lightning forces Southern to move practice indoors

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- The Jaguars continued their preparation for Northwestern State Tuesday, but not on the practice fields.

Instead, because of lightning in the area, the Jaguars were forced to practice on the third floor of the football operations building.

“We’ll put the guys through a walk-through today,” Odums said.

“We’ll have meetings with the offense and defense and just make it a mental work-day for the guys.”

Odums and his staff have placed particular emphasis on the defensive lineman and outside linebackers in this week’s practice, with Odums working extensively on how to defend the Demons’ read-option offensive attack.

“We expect to see ...

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UAPB Golden Lions Turn Attention to McNeese State

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- With the season opener in the rearview mirror, the Arkansas-Pine Bluff football team is hoping to rebound in their next game on Saturday on the road against McNeese State (Sports Network poll at No. 18 and the FCS Coaches poll at No. 20) in Lake Charles, La. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Cowboy Stadium.

The Golden Lions played Saturday without a handful of starters, but Coach Monte Coleman said that wasn't the reason for the loss. "We didn't execute like we should have," he said. "The thing we have to do is go back and rebuild. The thing we have to do is go back and play hard and practice hard getting for McNeese State."

The good news is that some if not all of the missing players from Saturday are expected to be in the lineup against McNeese. In addition, several young players got a chance to get on the field against Arkansas State. They gave the coaching staff some pleasant surprises.

"We actually had some guys that actually played well. It didn't look like it, but we actually had some guys that played well," Coleman pointed out Saturday. "There were several guys that normally wouldn't have played a certain position played and played well."

Julian Morgan, a 6'2, 200 lb true freshmen, was one of those young players who was placed into lineup as a utility player and did a good job. "Julian Morgan stepped up & played big for us," said Coleman. "He was our long snapper for punt and special teams. Though undersized, Morgan also saw action at defense end and held his own. He forced a fumble and had four tackles.

Another positive from Saturday's game is the fact that the Lions came out healthy overall. "One thing to point out is that we had major injuries, so that's a plus," Coleman pointed out.

On Labor Day, the Golden Lions went back to work preparing for a very good McNeese State team, fresh off a season-opening 53-21 win over South Florida on Saturday.

"Practice was pretty good today," said Coleman. "My focus is the staff gathering the players together making sure the players are physically & mentally ready."

With some of the younger guys with one game under their belt, this opportunity gives them a chance to step up and play to see the speed of the game."

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

Mississippi Valley hosts Delta State in Home Opener

GAME WEEK VIDEOS: Monday Tuesday

GAME ONE NOTES: Delta State University (0-0, 0-0 GSC) at Mississippi Valley State (0-0, 0-0 SWAC)Complete weekly release with notes, rankings, stats and more in PDF

CLEVELAND, Miss. - Change is inevitable and the Delta State University football team is ready to leave behind the disappointments of 2012, as first-year head coach Todd Cooley begins his tenure with the Statesmen on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Mississippi Valley State. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Rice-Totten Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network beginning at noon with the DSU Alumni Association Statesmen Game Day. Matt Jones, Mark Williams and Lane Quinton will have the call.

STATESMEN GAME DAY INFORMATION
Date/Location: Sept. 7, 2013 | Rice-Totten Stadium
Kickoff Time: 1 p.m. CST
Radio: Statesmen Sports Network | Matt Jones (PxP), Mark Williams (Color), Lane Quinton (Sidelines)
Rankings: Delta State (NR - D2Football.com / NR - AFCA Top 25)
Mississippi Valley State (NR - Black College FB / NR - AFCA Top 25)
Series History: Delta State leads series 3-1; 1-1 at Rice-Totten Stadium
Live Audio: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/dsu.portal#
Live Stats: Not available
Television: None

A Series Renewed: The Statesmen and Delta Devils are rekindling a series that saw record crowds for both institutions from 2000-2003. DSU owns a 3-1 edge in the series standings, including a 45-0 victory in the last matchup between the two schools during the 2003. However, DSU's lone series loss came in 2002, as the Delta Devils claimed a 28-26 victory in Itta Bena in former head coach Rick Rhoades debut with the Statesmen. The Statesmen have out-scored the Delta Devils 131-54 in the previous four meetings for an average score of 33-14.

Cooley Begins Delta State Tenure: The Statesmen (0-0, 0-0 GSC) of Delta State University open the 2013 season Saturday, Sept. 7 at Mississippi Valley State University against the Delta Devils (0-0, 0-0 SWAC). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Rice-Totten Stadium. Saturday's "Delta Clash" will be the first in Todd Cooley's career as a head coach and the 81st season-opener in school history. DSU is 41-35-4 all-time to open a season.

Unfamiliar Territory: Delta State begins the 2013 campaign in unfamiliar territory, as the Gulf South Conference league coaches picked the Statesmen to finish fourth this season. Valdosta State, defending NCAA DII National Champions, and defending GSC champion West Alabama both received 23 points in the annual preseason poll. The Statesmen received 12 points, tying with West Georgia for fourth, and were picked to finish behind North Alabama (14). Florida Tech (6), which is in their first season competitively with the GSC and is picked to finish last.

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Williams putting in work in Chowan

NEW BERN, North Carolina -- J.R. Williams is still the same, quick running back that New Bern fans came to know when he was a senior in high school in 2009.

But off-the-field, mentally, he's matured, and physically, he's gotten tougher.

Williams had a breakthrough with Chowan University last season, hauling in 32 passes for 412 yards, while rushing for 251 yards.

Now, with last season's starter Elliott Smalls gone, Williams is ready to assume a larger role in the Hawks' offense.

“Mentally, I am anxious, but ready,” Williams said. “I'm taking it day-by-day. I've been putting in the work, so I feel fit and ready for the season.”

Williams, entering his junior year, scored four touchdowns last season, and was a dynamic kick returner (20 yards/return). He had his best receiving game against Virginia State on Oct. 27 when he caught for 111 yards and a touchdown.

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Former Alabama State OL Terren Jones comments on making Atlanta Falcons' final roster

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Turns out if you're a 6-foot-7, 320-pounder with quick feet, smarts and aggression, it doesn't matter what school you went to.

Former Alabama State left tackle Terren Jones made the Atlanta Falcons official 53-man roster after signing with the club as a free agent shortly after the conclusion of the 2013 NFL Draft this past April.

"I went in with a small chip on my shoulder," Jones said in a release from the university. "I'm not a chump; I'm as tough as anybody else out there. That's what playing in the SWAC and at Alabama State does for you."

Former Alabama State veteran quarterback Tarvaris Jackson made the Seahawks' roster and wide receiver Greg Jenkins will remain with the Raiders as a member of the team's practice squad.

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University of North Alabama hosts Miles College --THURSDAY!

GAME TIME: 7:30 PM ET; INTERNET: ESPN3 LIVE; TV: CSS TV 

FLORENCE, Alabama -- Just a year ago, Bobby Wallace carried a team loaded with freshmen newcomers to Birmingham for the first game of his second term as North Alabama's head football coach and escaped Legion Field with a 31-30 win over a talented Miles College team that would go on to make it's first-ever NCAA playoff appearance.

 

Fast-forward a year and Wallace and UNA will open the 2013 season Thursday at 6:30 at Braly Stadium against another talented Miles team that returns 15 starters and is primed for another run at the post-season. The difference for UNA is that the Lions are more talented and more experienced than they were in 2012 and have their own dreams of reaching the post-season.

 

North Alabama returns 16 starters from last season, including six All-Gulf South Conference performers and All-Americans in defensive back Caleb Massey and linebacker Tavarius Wilson.

 

While UNA was picked to finish third in the 2013 Gulf South Conference race in a pre-season poll of league coaches, the Lions had the most players selected for pre-season all-conference honors with 10.

 

On offense, UNA returns quarterback Luke Wingo, running backs Lamonte Thompson, Chris Coffey and Lamar Smith and receivers Jason Smith and Lee Mayhall. The offensive line is also big and talented.

 

On defense, UNA's linebacker corp should be as good as any Division II program in the country and the Lions are solid on the defensive front and in the secondary.

 

The kicking game is also strong with returning All-GSC punter Michael Schuster, who will also handle all place-kicking duties this fall.

 

The biggest challenge for the Lions will be an extremely demanding schedule that begins with Miles, has UNA playing at FCS member Jacksonville State in week two,  hosting DII power Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 19 and then closing the season with three long road trips over the final four weeks.  

 

This game officially opens UNA's 65th season of football and the Lions have won their last 10 straight season-openers and haven't lost a season-opener at home since 1999.

 

The season-opener for both UNA and Miles is also a Homecoming of sorts for three members of Miles' coaching staff as head coach Reginald Ruffin, offensive coordinator Travis Carswell and linebacker coach Ronald McKinnon all played at North Alabama in the 1990s. In just two seasons at Miles, Ruffin has taken the program to new heights as the Bears won their first Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in school history in 2012 and made their first-ever playoff appearance in 2013.

 

On the flip side, UNA is 7-0 all-time against Miles and the Lions have a remarkable 36-5-1 record all-time against teams from the SIAC.

 

UNA vs. Miles Game Notes

 

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA SPORTS INFORMATION

GameDay 2013: Winston-Salem State Rams at North Carolina Pembroke Braves

GAME DAY INFORMATION
WHEN: Thursday, September 5 - 8 p.m. ET
WHERE: Pembroke, N.C.
FACILITY: Grace P. Johnson Stadium
VISITORS INFO: Directions l Hotels l Visitors Guide
TICKETS: Single game general admission tickets are $10. Standing-Room Only tickets ($10) will be available on game day at the ticket tent. Lawn chairs are permitted inside Grace P. Johnson Stadium. Advance tickets for all 2013 UNCP home games can be purchased Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Givens Performing Arts Center (GPAC) or by calling (910) 521-6361. It is strongly recommended that fans purchase their tickets on Tuesday and Wednesday in advance of gameday.

PARKING: Parking Lot 14 located in front of the English E. Jones Center will open 3-1/2 hours prior to kickoff of UNCP Football home games. The cost per parking space is $10. The Caring Touch Parking Lot 24 (located in front of Grace P. Johnson Stadium) requires a pre-distributed parking pass. Disabled parking is available in Caring Touch Parking Lot 24 on a first-come, first-serve basis. Fans must display a valid North Carolina State Issued Disabled Parking tag or license plate at all times while parked in disabled space. Parking attendants in the Caring Touch Parking Lot 24 will provide a UNCP Football parking pass to guests with a valid disabled parking tag upon entry to the parking lot. Parking is available in all other campus parking lots at no charge, however, NO tailgating or alcohol consumption can take place in these parking lots.

TAILGATING POLICY: Tailgating rules and regulations can be found by following THIS LINK. ALL FANS OF LEGAL DRINKING AGE MUST VISIT THE 'AGE IDENTIFICATION TABLE' LOCATED IN PARKING LOT 14 TO OBTAIN A WRISTBAND IN ORDER TO CONSUME ALCOHOL.

THE TEAMS
UNCP (0-0): Roster l Schedule/Results l Statistics
WINSTON-SALEM STATE (0-0): Roster l Schedule/Results l Statistics
THE COACHES: Winston-Salem State head coach Connell Maynor is 35-4 (.897) heading into his fourth season at the helm of the Rams. UNCP head coach Pete Shinnick is 41-22 (.651) heading into his seventh season with the Braves.
THE SERIES: Winston-Salem State leads the all-time series, 3-0, including last season's thrilling 28-23 win over the Braves in Winston-Salem.
LAST TIME OUT: Thursday evening's contest will mark the season opener for both teams.

BROADCAST COVERAGE

LIVE TELEVISION: The game will be broadcast live by the CBS Sports Network. Check this link for availability in your area.
LIVE STATISTICS: Follow the game action FREE live via a live stats link provided by the UNCP athletic department. CLICK HERE
LIVE VIDEO STREAMING: Follow the game action via FREE live audio/video streaming through a link provided by the UNCPC athletic department. CLICK HERE

 

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PEMBROKE MEDIA RELATIONS

Charlotte 49ers wary of letdown against CIAA's Chowan Hawks

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  When Texas-San Antonio played its first football game in school history in 2011, the Roadrunners beat Northeastern (Okla.) State 31-3 in front of a crowd of 56,743 at the Alamodome.

The following week, UTSA played Division III McMurry (Tex.).

The result of that game, a 24-21 McMurry victory, hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Charlotte 49ers.

It’s been four days since Charlotte beat Campbell 52-7 in the 49ers’ first-ever game. The outcome was the product of nearly two years of focusing on one game by Charlotte’s coaches and players.

Now, however, the 49ers have another team for which to get ready, and they have inside of a week to do so: the CIAA’s Chowan Hawks, a Division II team coming to Richardson Stadium on Saturday.

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GAME NOTES: NCCU Football Hosts Saint Augustine's (Sept. 7)

Complete Game Notes (PDF)   

THE GAME
Saint Augustine's University "Falcons" vs. North Carolina Central University "Eagles"

THE KICKOFF
Saturday, September 7, 2013 – Kickoff at 2:00 p.m.

THE SITE
O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10,000 capacity/Mondoturf) - Durham, N.C.

THE RECORDS
Saint Augustine's (0-0 overall, 0-0 CIAA); N.C. Central (0-1 overall, 0-0 MEAC)

MEDIA COVERAGE
Audio: NCCU Sports Network mobile app (iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Kindle Fire HD); "GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com (audio internet stream). Broadcast starts at 1:30 p.m. (Chris Hooks, play-by-play; Joe Simmons, color analyst; Anthony Sharp, sideline reporter)
Video: "GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com - $8.95 pay-per-view video stream

QUICK HITS
• Saturday will be the 30th meeting between NCCU and Saint Augustine's.
• The Eagles and Falcons last met on the gridiron in 2007, a 6-0 NCCU win.
• Saint Augustine's is a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the conference NCCU left to move to NCAA Division I (FCS) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
• NCCU senior linebacker Tazmon Foster is tied for the MEAC lead with 13 tackles.
• NCCU posted a 3-1 record at home in 2012.

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Xavier's Jackson, Fakler are GCAC Runners of the Week

Catherine Fakler Kwame Jackson NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Kwame Jackson and Catherine Fakler are the first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Runners of the Week of the 2013 cross country season. Both were honored for Aug. 26-Sept. 1 after their standout performances Friday in the Mississippi College Opener at Clinton, Mississippi.      Jackson, a junior from Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School, was the men's individual champion after running 5,000 meters in 16 minutes, 34 seconds. Jackson won by 10 seconds and led the Gold to the team championship over other schools.      Fakler, a junior from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of  Xavier College Preparatory High School, ran 4,000 meters in 15:34 to break the women's school record by nearly 54 seconds. She finished third and led the Gold Nuggets to third place in the team standings.      This is the fifth time for Jackson and the third time for Fakler to win a GCAC weekly award.      Both XU teams will compete 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

Tennessee State Tigers Finish Second in Opening Tournament

Courtesy TSU Athletics

Prattville, Alabama – The Tigers cut five strokes off of their first day score and finished with a second place finish at the Alabama State Fall Classic. The Par-72, 7,477-yard Senator Course on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Prattville, Ala. was played under mostly sunny skies, a slight breeze and 88 degree conditions. TSU (305-300=605) shot a 12-over, 300, but were unable to track down Alabama State who shot a 2-under as a team on Monday.  

Andrew Warner paced the Tigers with an even par 72 and was followed by James Stepp who scored his second consecutive 2-over, 74. Codie Welborn and Dallas Hill each carded a 5-over, 77 over the final 18-holes. Shane Sampair was a stroke back, with a 6-over, non-scoring 78.

Warner (75-72=147) notched birdies on seven, 11, 15 and 18. On the par-3, 7th, Warner used an 8-iron off the box from 170-yards out to within 3-feet to set up a tap in birdie. The senior was able to hit 10 of 14 fairways, 11 greens and used just 25 putts today. 

Stepp (74-74=148) found nine fairways and 10 greens on Monday as he repeated his score from day one. Stepp reached the green in two on the par-5, 8th giving himself a long-putt opportunity for eagle. He was able to two-putt for his first birdie in round two. The junior nearly chipped in for eagle on 17, but just missed and settled for a tap in birdie. Stepp picked up a birdie on 12 as he used an 8-iron to within 6-feet of the hole to set up the makeable putt. 

Wellborn (79-77=156) marked his lone birdie on eight. The senior hit his second shot into the green side bunker and blasted out to four feet to set up the birdie putt. Welborn hit nine fairways and seven greens, while using just 28 putts. 

Hill (81-77=158) rebounded from yesterday’s play despite hitting just half of his fairways. Hill picked up a pair of birdies via the long putt. The junior sank a 20-footer on eight and a 35-footer on 11 to get himself pack into a comfortable position. On his second to last hole of the day, the par-4, 3rd, Hill stuck an 8-iron to about 5-feet away to set up his third birdie of the final round.

Sampair (77-78=155) dropped birdies on the 8th, 11th and 15th. The junior was 4-of-10 in up-and-down opportunities and used 31 putts as he found 10 fairways and eight greens. 

TSU will take a couple weeks off before playing in the National Black College Hall of Fame Tournament in Atlanta, Ga. on Sept. 28-29.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Oakland Raiders Signs Marshall McFadden (SCSU) and Greg Jenkins (ASU) to Practice Squad

OAKLAND, California  --  The Oakland Raiders signed the following players to their practice squad on Monday.

Player	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Exp.	College
Chance Casey	CB	5-11	190	R	Baylor
Greg Jenkins	WR	6-1	208	R	Alabama State
Shelton Johnson	S	6-0	197	R	Wisconsin
Brian Leonhardt	TE	6-5	255	R	Bemidji St
Lamar Mady	G	6-2	315	R	Youngstown St
Matt McCants	T	6-5	309	1	Alabama Birmingham
Marshall McFadden	LB	6-1	233	1	South Carolina State

Marshall McFadden: McFadden was originally signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason roster in Jan. 2012. Following being waived on Aug. 31, 2012, he was signed to the Steelers’ practice squad, where he spent most of the season. McFadden was signed to Pittsburgh’s active roster for the Nov. 18 game vs. Baltimore, seeing action on special teams and recording his first career special teams tackle. He was not on an NFL roster in 2011.

McFadden started 49 games over ...

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