Run defense could be key in Morgan State's conference opener this Saturday

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State’s defense was solid against the run last season, a middle-of-the-road unit that finished 78th nationally after allowing an average of 177.7 yards in 2012. This year’s unit, however, has strayed from that path.

The Bears are surrendering 303.0 rushing yards per game this fall, which ranks 115th among 122 teams in the Football Championship Subdivision. Sixteen of their opponents' 20 touchdowns have been running scores.

“We continue to look at it – from scheme to personnel,” coach Donald Hill-Eley said Tuesday during a conference call. “On defense, you’ve got to tackle. So we’ve got to make our tackles, we’ve got to be in the right place. Going out against those teams that were really good at running the ball, we definitely understand that defense wins championships. So there’s no way that we can pursue one of those if we’re giving up 300 yards on the ground. So we have to be able to stop the run.”

In Army’s 28-12 victory on Aug. 30, the Black Knights rushed for 295 yards, and quarterback Angel Santiago scored three rushing touchdowns. In Liberty’s 38-10 Sept. 14 rout, the Flames had 330 yards on the ground and scored on five runs.

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UWA Rolls Up 596 Yards in 71-14 Win Over Concordia

DEMOPOLIS, Alabama – Kyle Caldwell passed for three touchdowns and West Alabama rolled up 596 yards total offense on the way to a 71-14 college football victory over Concordia Thursday at Tiger Stadium in Demopolis.

West Alabama held the Hornets to just 15 yards rushing and improved to 3-1 with its top offensive yardage and point totals of the season. This is second time that a Tiger team coached by Will Hall has topped the 70 point mark. Concordia dropped to 0-3.

"We executed better in the second half, but we came out sloppy," Hall said. "I am really disappointed that we gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown and that we turned it over twice in the red zone like a bunch of clowns.

"We have a football team that is capable of winning a national title, so when we don't play as well as we believe we should, then everyone is unhappy," Hall said. "Still, it was game four and it was a win. It's good to be in that spot with our football program when we win by this margin and folks are unhappy."

For the fourth straight game the Tigers scored on the first possession. Mark Grant got West Alabama on the board with a 22-yard field goal with less than two minutes gone in the game. Concordia fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Stephanio McNair recovered in the Hornet endzone to put the Tigers ahead 10-0 just 10 seconds later.

Terrell Edwards-Maye then returned Grant's next kickoff 91 yards for a score, the extra point was no good and UWA led 10-6.

West Alabama would score two more times in the opening period on an 8-yard TD pass from Kyle Caldwell to Chad Toocheck and a 12-yard run by Kedrick Rhodes to go up 24-6 at the 6:48 mark of the first quarter. Rhodes finished with 122 yards rushing on 11 carries.

"They were hard to make checks against because they were lining up in random sets," Caldwell said. "We still have to take better care of the football. Chad and I had a miscommunication on the interception I threw in the end zone."

Cameron Mayfield found Mason Tillman from 10 yards out and the Hornets converted the two-point try to cut the West Alabama lead to 24-14 with 4:48 left on the first quarter clock.

The Tigers scored twice in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 38-14 at the half. Caldwell found Seth Roberts on a 44-yard touchdown pass with 11:02 left in the half and Rhodes found the endzone for the second time in the game on a 15-yard run with 1:08 until the break.

Roberts finished with three catches for 94 yards and has now scored a Gulf South Conference leading six touchdowns. Carnell Boyd also had three receptions for 52 yards.

Caldwell threw another touchdown pass to Toocheck in the third quarter, this one good for 19 yards. Gary Johnston found Javae Swindle out of the Tiger backfield for 14 yards and a third-quarter score as well.

Caldwell finished 12-for-24 for 216 yards, while Johnston was 3-for-4 for 58 yards and a score. He also caught two passes for 16 yards and ran four times for 43 yards. Dustyn Moseley also played at quarterback, but did not attempt a pass.

West Alabama tacked on three more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Johnston found the endzone from 13 yards out with 14:03 left in the game to put the Tigers up 58-14.

Reggie Hall outran the Concordia defense from 22 yards out to make it 64-14 with 7:20 left to play. The one-play drive was set up by an interception return of 70 yards by safety Brandon Lilly, who finished with a game-high nine tackles.

"Qyen (Griffin) gets the credit for that because he batted the football and the defensive line got good pressure," Lilly said. "I was looking to score, but I just ran out of gas. I never told anybody I was fast and about 70 yards is all I got."

Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Jherron Jones capped off the scoring with the Tigers first defensive touchdown of the season, recovering a Concordia fumble in the Hornet end zone with 3:03 to play.

Mario Gainer, Demetruce McNeal and Ryan Jones combined for 18 tackles. Jones had a sack and two tackles for a loss, while Gainer had a tackle for loss.

Mayfield completed 17-of-26 for 155 yards for the Hornets. Edwards-Maye had 19 yards rushing to lead Concordia.

The Tigers return to GSC play Thursday when Delta State comes to Tiger Stadium on the UWA campus in Livingston. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. for the GSC-TV LIVE game.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

LIVE FOOTBALL TONIGHT ON ESPNU: North Carolina A&T State University Aggies vs. Howard University Bison

WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

 Aggies Seek Their First ESPNU Win

Howard (1-2) at North Carolina A&T (2-0)  
Date: September 26, 2013
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Facility: Aggie Stadium, Greensboro, North Carolina
Series: A&T leads 24-19
Radio: WNAA 90.1 FM, Campus Radio Station: Spencer Gwynn (play-by-play); Billy Covington (color); Al Swann (analysis)
TV: ESPNU: Mark Neely (play-by-play); Jay Walker (analysis)

A&T OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Dominique Drake (5-9, 202, Sr., 177 yds rushing, 47 att., 4 rec., 36 yds); RT Nathan Isles (6-5, 324, Sr., will clear the way in the running game); QB Lewis Kindle (6-1, 205, R-Sr., 20-for-38, 1 TD); WR Desmond Lawrence (5-10, 181, Jr., 15 rec., 191 yds 1TD); RB Ricky Lewis (5-9, 187, Sr., 5.8 yds per carry); LT William Ray Robinson III (6-3, 305, R-Jr., MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week (9/16-9/22); sack).

HOWARD OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR Brandon Flanagan (5-7, 165, R-Sr., 15 rec., 142 yds); C Joshua Matthews (6-4, 330, Sr., leader on the Bison’s offensive line); QB Greg McGhee (6-3, 208, Jr., 59-for-85 4INTs, 4TDs, 639 yds passing, 163 yds rushing, 34 att.); RB William Parker (41 att., 227 yds, 1 TD, 5.5 ypc); WR Rodney Tyson (5-9, 175, Jr., 7 rec., 93 yds, 1 TD, 13.3 ypr).

A&T DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH: DB Travis Crosby (5-9, 189, Sr., leads the team with 19 tackles) CB D’Vonte Graham (5-7, 157, Sr., preseason All-MEAC, preseason All-American); LB D’Vonte Grant (5-10, 208, Sr., 14 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT returned for TD, 1 BLK); DE Daniel Pinnix (6-1, 240, So., 11 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 2 QB Hurries).

HOWARD DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH: FS Cameron Alston (6-0, 190, R-Jr., 30 tackles, leads the team); DL Damon Gresham-Chisolm (6-3, 250, So., preseason All-MEAC, 13 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks); RCB Ademola Olatunji (2 INTs, 5 PBUs); SLB Tabrian Resby (6-0, 230, Sr., 29 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 2 QB Hurries).

Aggies Overview:  The Aggies are going to play on ESPNU for the seventh time in their history when they face Howard University Thursday night at 7:30 p.m., from Aggie Stadium. The Aggies have never won on the network, losing the previous six matchups by an average of 38 points. The Aggies are seeking more than just their first win on ESPNU, they’re looking for their first conference win of the season. The Aggies and Bison will be playing in the first conference matchup of the 2013 season. A&T is hoping to the combination of quarterback Lewis Kindle and wide receiver Desmond Lawrence will continue to be productive. Kindle targeted Lawrence 12 times in the Aggies’ 23-10 win over Elon on Sept. 14. Lawrence responded with 10 receptions for 148 yards. The Aggies defense, more specifically, their rush defense continues to be the cornerstone of the team. The Aggies have not given up 100 yards rushing since Oct. 13, 2012, a 38-10 win over the Howard Bison. It is a streak of seven straight games. The Aggies also have not given up a rushing touchdown in the last 26 quarters.

Howard Overview: Howard will be without one of the best defensive players in the MEAC in Julien David. The preseason All-MEAC will be out, but the Bison still has some stellar defensive players. Damon Gresham-Chisolm is one of the best defensive ends in the conference. The preseason All-MEAC performer has 13 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Cornerback Ademola Oltaunji already has two interceptions and five passes defended on the season. The Howard offense begins and ends with quarterback Gregg McGhee. McGhee is a dual threat with his arm and his legs. In two previous games versus A&T, McGhee is 39-for-71 for 476 yards and three touchdowns. This season, McGhee has completed 69 percent of his passes and thrown for 639 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. He also has 163 yards rushing on 34 carries. William Parker leads the rushing attack, averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

Potential Star: The quarterback matchup between Lewis Kindle and Greg McGhee is an intriguing one. Both men came into their respective programs with the expectation of being the key piece to turn around previous misfortunes. Both have run into road blocks along the way. Thursday’s winner could easily be determined by the man who wins the quarterback battle between Kindle and McGhee.

News & Notes: The Aggies will hit the road for Atlanta next week as they prepare to face the S.C. State Bulldogs in the Atlanta Football Classic in the Georgia Dome. The Aggies snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Bulldogs last season with their 17-7 win at Aggie Stadium. The Bulldogs have retooled under head coach Buddy Pough. Pough has had tremendous success against the Aggies, posting a 10-1 record against the border foes. This will mark the 12th time the two schools have played on neutral ground with the Bulldogs winning eight of those previous 11 match-ups.

 The Aggies’ 2-0 start marks the 39th time in school history the Aggies have started 2-0. The Aggies have finished with a winning record 28 out of the 39 times they have started 2-0. The Aggies only won one CIAA Championship in their history after starting 2-0. Five of their previous six MEAC titles came after 2-0 starts with the only exception being the 1975 championship they shared with S.C. State. The Aggies are a combined 217-97-10 in season’s where they start 2-0.

From the Coach: “I don’t get caught up in all that. My job is to get our football team ready to play a football game. If I can do that, everything else handles itself. One of the things I try to focus on and I try to get our kids to focus on is the things you can control. I know our people are excited about playing on TV, and I know there has been a lot of excitement around here the last two weeks, and I hope our people come out in droves to support their football team. But we can’t let our guys get caught up on TV being here.”

 

 COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Morgan State's starting quarterback still yet to be named

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- All three quarterbacks on Morgan State’s roster have gotten considerable time heading the offense in the first four games of the season. But the jury is still out on who will start in Saturday’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener against Norfolk State at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore.

Redshirt freshman Moses Skillon leads all quarterbacks in passing yards (244) and is tied for the lead in passing touchdowns (two) despite playing in just three contests. He is also averaging 4.5 yards per carry (116 yards on 26 attempts).

Redshirt junior Robert Council leads in completion percentage (61.5) and passing efficiency (143.26), but has thrown just 13 passes. He has rushed 24 times for 67 yards and one score.

Junior Seth Higgins has also tossed two touchdowns, but he has been intercepted twice. He has carried the ball 19 times for 62 yards.

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GAME NOTES: S.F. Austin vs. Prairie View A&M

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The Lumberjacks are 5-0-1 (.916) all-time against Prairie View A&M, outscoring the Panthers 194-50 overall. Saturday will mark the first meeting between the two teams since the 1988 season when SFA defeated Prairie View 38-3 in Nacogodches. All previous six games were played at Homer Bryce Stadium.

TV COVERAGE: Saturday's contest will streamed on sfajacks.com and be broadcasted on the radio on KTBQ-FM 107.7.

UPSET CITY: SFA's win over No. 2/3 Montana State was the 'Jacks first over an FCS Top-3 ranked team since the 1996 season when SFA defeated No. 3 Troy State, 13-10 in Nacogdoches. It also marked the first time an unranked SFA team defeated an FCS Top-3 squad since the 1993 season when the 'Jacks defeated No. 2 Youngstown State, 35-15.

50-50 CLUB: With 52 points scored on Saturday, the 'Jacks recorded back-to-back games of 50-plus points scored for the first time since the 1989 season. SFA scored 50 points versus McMurry and 52 points against Montana State. In 1989 SFA defeated No. 13 Grambling State 59-56 and followed that up with a 55-25 win over No. 9 Southwest Missouri.

ATTAWAY CLIMBING THE CHARTS: SFA senior quarterback Brady Attaway passed for 392 yards while completing 34-of-56 pass attempts and two touchdown passes in SFA's victory over Montana State. Attaway surpassed former Texas State quarterback Bradley George for third place all-time in Southland Conference history with 772 completions. The Whitehouse, Texas native also moved into sixth place in SLC history with 65 career passing touchdowns, which also moved him into second place in school history in that same category, passing Todd Hammel. Attaway also moved up a spot in the league career ranks to seventh all-time in career passing yards with 8,420.

WE'RE GOING THE OTHER WAY: SFA recorded four more interceptions last Saturday, giving them a league-best nine for the season. Senior linebacker Ortavious Hypolite returned one of the interceptions for a TD, marking the first time the 'Jacks had an INT return for a touchdown since the 2010 season when Ben Wells did so at Lamar. 

SLC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Following their upset over the nationally ranked Montana State Bobcats, Stephen F. Austin junior running back Gus Johnson and senior linebacker Ortavious Hypolite were both rewarded by being named the Southland Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, the league office announced on Monday. Johnson, a native of Gilmer, Texas (Gilmer HS), recorded his third 100-plus yard rushing performance of the season and eighth of his career with 157 yards on 26 carries along with three rushing touchdowns. Johnson scored the game-winning touchdown with five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Hypolite, a native of Orange, Texas (West Orange Stark HS), put the final touch on the upset with a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown on Montana State's final drive while also recording 11 tackles (1.5 tackles for a loss).

HOME SWEET HOME: SFA has made Homer Bryce Stadium one of the toughest places to play for teams over the course of the past four seasons. The Lumberjacks are 21-4 dating back to 2009 and are currently riding a nine-game win streak entering Saturday's contest. SFA is 13-1 (.929) in SLC games at home since 2010. The lone loss during that stretch was a three-point setback to Texas State in 2010.

 

WINNING RECORD: The 'Jacks are 32-19 (.627) over their last 51 games (previous four seasons/plus 4 games this season). Despite not recording a winning record in 2012, the first time in the past four seasons, SFA was able to keep its streak of conference winning seasons alive. The 'Jacks posted a 4-3 mark in Southland Conference play which marks the fourth consecutive season SFA has recorded above a .500 record in league games. It marks the longest stretch of conference winning seasons in program history. The 'Jacks recorded a stretch of non-losing seasons from 1993-97, but that included a 3-3 SLC record in 1996.

THE COACH: J.C. Harper became the 18th head coach of the SFA Lumberjack football team in December 2006. A two-time SLC Coach of the Year, Harper has guided SFA to two conference titles and NCAA playoff appearances. SFA is 36-37 (.493) in his six seasons in Nacogdoches.

 

Quick Hits

• Brady Attaway is 13-13 (.500) all-time as the Lumberjacks' starting quarterback.

• The Lumberjacks are now 18-22 (.436) in televised games dating back to the 1998 season. SFA was 2-4 (.333) in televised games in 2012.  

• Since 1995, the Lumberjacks are 22-33 (.400) against teams ranked in the NCAA Division I FCS top 25. After dropping 13 of 17 games against ranked teams, SFA has now won six of 11 games against the top 25.

• Since joining Division I FCS in 1986, SFA is 26-3 (.896) against non-Division I teams. The 'Jacks lost to Angelo State, 28-24, in 1990 and dropped a 17-14 decision in 2006. SFA opened the 2007 season with a 27-24 overtime loss to Tarleton State.

COURTESY STEPHEN F. AUSTIN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Ram Ramblings: WSSU is rounding into championship form

CLEVELAND, Ohio  –  OK, maybe Winston-Salem State is as good as it was last season when it won 14 straight games before losing to Valdosta State in the Division II national championship.

I’ve kind of held back from comparing last season’s team, which was the best in school history, with the current team. But from what I saw on Saturday afternoon at Cleveland Browns Stadium this current Rams team is rounding into shape.

The Rams steamrolled the highly-touted Tuskegee Tigers 35-13 in a dominating performance.
Coach Connell Maynor keeps telling anybody who will listen, and I do usually listen to him, that it would take some time for them to jell.

After the game several players told me about two ‘players’ only’ meetings held recently. One of them was the week after the loss to UNC Pembroke and the other one was Friday night at their hotel.

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Columbus connections cultivated Florida A&M

HEAD COACH RUDY HUBBARD IN 1986
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It’s ancient history to most, but the golden age of Florida A&M football traces its roots to the very city and stadium the Rattlers will visit for the first time on Saturday.

The name of A.S. “Jake” Gaither, who won six black college national championships during his career at the school, is as synonymous with Florida A&M football as Eddie Robinson’s is with Grambling. Gaither entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975.

But the man who gave Gaither his start in coaching, and who led the Rattlers to their first two national titles, was William “Big Bill” Bell, a standout tackle at Ohio State from 1929 to ’31.

Bell became coach at Florida A&M in 1936, and in seven seasons, had a record of 47-9-5 and won two national titles.

Bell and Gaither met after the ’36 season while completing master’s degrees at Ohio State. Gaither would have been the logical successor when Bell left in 1943 to serve in World War II, but the previous year had undergone brain surgery.

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Rocky Mount native remains steady for ECSU

KEITH STRICKLAND

ROCKY MOUNT, North Carolina  -- Even in what is shaping up to be his best statistical season, Elizabeth City State senior Keith Strickland can’t allow himself to pay attention to the numbers.

After three games this season, Strickland, a Rocky Mount High graduate, is on his way to being one of the top five receivers in the CIAA, but he only allows two things to enter his mind: Improving and helping the Vikings win their first game of the season Saturday in the 16th Annual Down East Viking Football Classic.

“I try not to think statistics-wise because we are 0-3,” Strickland said. “I feel like I can always do better, but that’s why I will continue to work hard – to do better than I did last time.”

Strickland will graduate in December with a degree in accounting.

Fayetteville State, which plays the Vikings on Saturday at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex, likely has done some numbers crunching on Strickland.

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Winless Hampton U. looks for fresh start in MEAC play

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton University's journey back to competitive relevance so far included a flat tire, a blown radiator and a fleecing by the locals.

Now that the Pirates return to their neighborhood, they have a chance at a fresh start, with the possibility of a big audience.

After a month, HU is in the same position as a year ago — winless. Unlike last year, all of the Pirates' losses were to non-conference teams. They have the full Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference slate ahead of them, beginning with Saturday's opener 2 p.m. at South Carolina State (2-2, 0-0 MEAC), a game that will be broadcast on tape-delay by ESPNU.

"Regardless of whatever the record may be, we're just starting," Pirates coach Donovan Rose said Wednesday. "It's the MEAC. We went through a preseason and we didn't come out with the script that we would have liked. But we're here, and now, we have an opportunity to go in front of the entire nation. It shouldn't be any additional motivation required. Now, we get a chance to redeem ourselves and let them know who you are — the real HU."

Hampton (0-4) comes off of a 50-17 loss at Coastal Carolina, only the fourth time that HU has given up 50 points since becoming a Division I program. The Chanticleers, ranked 15th at the time, rushed for 382 yards and led 40-0 at halftime before taking their foot off of the gas pedal.

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Donald Hill-Eley has closed chapter on Morgan State's 0-4 start

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- For the first time since Donald Hill-Eley became head coach in 2002, Morgan State has opened the season with four consecutive losses. But he said the mood in the locker room has not changed.

“Yesterday was a day that we give the players off, and you’ve got 40 guys out on the field, moving around,” Hill-Eley said Tuesday morning during a conference call. “So the spirits are high. Quite naturally, you would want to have gotten a win within these first four games. [But] you’re going against conference champions, you’re going against the Big South champion [Liberty]. ... So you get a chance to go against the best that they have.

"Unfortunately, you didn’t win, but it’s being able to understand that you competed and take away what you can back into your conference and make your push. Nothing has happened to this point to take us away from our quest of winning the MEAC championship. Right now, that starts this week. This is all for the marbles. Everything else, that chapter is closed, and we’re moving forward.”

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WSSU Notes: Hayes working on 2014 schedule

WILLIAM '"BILL" HAYES
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, WSSU

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Athletics director Bill Hayes of Winston-Salem State said that the experience of playing in the Cleveland Classic for the second straight year was a good one.

“I think the players really liked it and got a chance to see the Pro Football Hall of Fame along the way,” Hayes said.

When asked if WSSU might return for a third straight year, Hayes said he had not had any contact with Classic officials.

Meanwhile, Hayes is continuing work on next year’s schedule. WSSU will open with a home game against UNC Pembroke and then has two open dates to fill. One possibility is to start a two-year home-and-home series with Tuskegee.

"We just have to figure out how to make some money for those dates, so we’ll look at our options,” Hayes said. “Scheduling is an inexact science so I just have to see what’s out there for us.”

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DSU hopes MEAC opener is start of a new season

DOVER — The Delaware State and Savannah State football teams have had similar starts to the season.

A lot of road trips, a lot of points scored on them.

Savannah State does have something the Hornets do not — a win.

Delaware State will look for its first win of the season when it travels to meet the Tigers to open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play (Saturday 6 p.m.). The start of conference season signifies the end of a brutal nonconference schedule for the Hornets (0-3) which featured the two teams currently ranked No. 1 and 2 in the FCS (North Dakota State and Towson.)

“We gained a lot of valuable game experiences from what our young guys did,” said DSU coach Kermit Blount of the nonconference slate. “I’m hoping that the experiences that we gathered over the last three weeks is going to help us go into this game this weekend.”

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J. Lin Dawson Named Interim Athletic Director at ECSU

J. Lin Dawson

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina  -- Elizabeth City State University has announced the appointment of J. Lin Dawson as the Interim Director of Athletics.

A native of Kinston, N.C., Dawson has held significant roles in higher education and business settings where he has been a professional athlete, entrepreneur, graduate school instructor, minister, consultant, athletic administrator, and senior officer.

As an athletic administrator with over twenty years of experience, he served as the Director of Athletics at North Carolina Central University from 2000-2003. Among the highlights of his tenure was to initiate the Life Skills Program for student-athletes, increase athletic scholarships by forty percent, eliminate a budget deficit from a previous administration, refurbish McDougald Gymnasium, and maintain the conference's best corporate partnership program.

His success would continue at Grambling State University where he was awarded the Commissioner's Cup for having the best athletic program in the SWAC in 2010. His teams won several conference championships and the distinction of National Black Champions in Football (2009). He initiated a new fundraising program called the Roaring Tiger Club and increased alumni donations and fan participation, made several capital improvements to Robinson Football Stadium, Tiger Soccer Stadium, Tiger Softball Stadium, and the football practice field. He created the Port City Football Classic which produced net revenues of $700,000 in first year. In addition, he increased corporate sponsorships dollars by four hundred percent.

As a former student-athlete for the NC State Wolfpack, Lin was a four year starter and member of the ACC Championship Team of 1979. For ten years, he was the starting tight-end for the New England Patriots and was an integral part of the AFC Championship and Super Bowl team. During his tenure with the Patriots, he served as team chaplain for six years and team representative for four years.

As one of the first practitioners in the country to design and implement leadership diversity programs for collegiate athletic programs and professional sports, Dawson helped over 40 major universities and professional sports organizations such as the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Soccer to launch successful diversity initiatives.

His primary consultations with Fortune 500 corporations are in the areas of organizational design and development, executive coaching, teambuilding, and leadership diversity.

Dawson holds an MBA with a specialization in human resource management and knowledge/learning management. Currently, he is a PhD candidate in Applied Management and Decision Sciences- Organizational Change and Leadership.

He has received numerous awards and accommodations from The White House, the Anti-Defamation League, National Football League, NCAA Division IA Athletic Directors Association, The Peter F. Drucker Foundation, The Boston Herald American, and the National Consortium for Academics and Sports. He and his wife, Margo (28 years), have three (3) young adult children.

COURTESY ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

ASU Hits the Practice Field to Prepare for the Alcorn Braves

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Alabama State University hit the practice field for their weekly Tuesday night practice to begin preparations for a red-hot Alcorn State team that sits atop the East Division with Jackson State carrying a 3-1 overall record and a perfect 2-0 conference record.

"Coach Hopson has done a real good job with this team," Head Coach Reggie Barlow said. "I think he is finally getting his guys into that program and they are a team that is playing with a lot of confidence right now."

ASU may lead the Southwestern Athletic Conference in scoring (34.2 ppg), but Alcorn is not far behind standing in fourth averaging 31.5 points per game.

"Offensively they have three solid running backs that are getting the job done for them," Barlow said. "They have a really good quarterback that has thrown for a high percentage and completed a lot of passes."

Alcorn's lone loss of the season was 51-7 at Mississippi State. You take out that score and Alcorn's defense is only allowing 19 points per game in their three wins.

"Defensively they have a nice size defensive front," Barlow added. "Their secondary guys are skilled and play the game the right way. They played against Pine Bluff the defending SWAC Champions and went in and got a victory. So they are playing at a high level and playing with a lot of confidence."

"When they come in here they will be feeling the same way. They have a win against Mississippi Valley and of course they want to come in here and get one against us."

The Saturday evening game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and will be shown live on Hornet Vision. The game can also be heard on WVAS FM 90.7 beginning with the pregame show at 4:45 p.m.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Black College Football Hall of Fame Announces 2014 Finalists

The Black College Football Hall of Fame announced today 25 finalists will be on the ballot for induction into the Fifth Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame. The list includes 20 players, five coaches, and five contributors.

ATLANTA, Georgia  --  The Black College Football Hall of Fame announced today 25 finalists will be on the ballot for induction into the Fifth Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame. The list includes 20 players, five coaches, and five contributors.

The finalists were selected from a field of more than 125 nominees by an 11 member Selection Committee comprised of prominent journalists, historians and football executives. The committee will meet again in the coming weeks to select the seven members (six players and one coach/contributor) to be inducted as the Class of 2014.

“On behalf of the Black College Football Hall of Fame, we would like to congratulate all of the 2014 finalists. With so many deserving nominees, narrowing the list down to 25 finalists is not an easy task for the committee,” explained Roscoe Nance, Chairman of the Selection Committee.

The Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014 will be announced on October 23, 2013. New members will be honored at the Fifth Annual Enshrinement Ceremony, presented by the Atlanta Falcons on March 1, 2014. The event will take place at the Loews Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia in conjunction with Black College Football weekend.

“The Falcons are once again honored to support the Black College Football Hall of Fame,” said Atlanta Falcons Owner & Chairman Arthur Blank. “The history and heroes of Black College Football are stories that must be told.”

The Black College Football Hall of Fame was established to honor the greatest football players, coaches and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).   Each inductee’s college or university will receive a $5,000 grant to support continuing academic and athletic opportunities at their respective institutions.

PLAYERS FINALISTS

• Emerson Boozer (RB, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1962-1965)
• Robert Brazile (LB, Jackson State University, 1971-1975)
• Roger Brown (OL, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1956-1959)
• Harold Carmichael (WR, Southern University, 1967-1970)
• Richard Dent (DE, Tennessee State University, 1979-1982)
• L.C. Greenwood (DE, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 1965-1968)
• Harold Jackson (WR, Jackson State University, 1965-1968)
• Leroy Kelly (RB, Morgan State University, 1960-1963)
• Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd (DL, Grambling State University, 1957-1960)
• Jethro Pugh (DE, Elizabeth City State University, 1961-1964)
• Donnie Shell (DB, South Carolina State University, 1970-1973)
• John Stallworth (WR, Alabama A&M University, 1970-1973)
• Michael Strahan (DE, Texas Southern University, 1989-1992)
• Ken Riley (QB, Florida A&M University, 1965-1968)
• Willie “Satellite” Totten (QB, Mississippi Valley State University, 1982-1985)
• Otis Taylor (WR, Prairie View A&M University, 1961-1964)
• Emmitt Thomas (QB/DB, Bishop College, 1962-1965)
• Everson Walls (DB, Grambling State University, 1977-1980)
• Doug Wilkerson (OL, North Carolina Central University, 1966-1969)
• Aeneas Williams (CB, Southern University, 1987-1990)

 

COACH & CONTRIBTUOR FINALISTS

• Marino Casem (Head Coach, Alcorn State University, 1963-1992)
• Joe Gilliam, Sr. (Tennessee State University Defensive Coordinator)
• William "Billy" Joe (Head Coach, Central State University 1981-1993, Florida A&M 1994-2004)
• Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones (President, Grambling State University, 1936-1977)
• Arnett Mumford (Head Coach, Southern University, 1927-1961)

To learn more, please visit… www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org, www.Twitter.com/BCFHOF, www.Facebook.com/BlackCollegeFootballHallofFame 



COURTESY 2012 NFC SOUTH CHAMPS -- THE ATLANTA FALCONS

Former Xavier AD Felix "Zoo" James will be buried Friday

FELIX "ZOO" JAMES
March 11, 1920-Sept. 18, 2013

NEW ORLEANS — Felix "Zoo" James, Xavier University of Louisiana's director of athletics from 1990-97, died Wednesday (Sept. 18, 2013) following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 93.

Basketball flourished during his XU tenure, with the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets recording six 20-victory seasons apiece and combining for six appearances at the NAIA Division I National Championships. XU's women won first-round games at nationals four consecutive seasons, and the Nuggets extended that streak a year after James' retirement.

James also administered in 1994-95 the return of men's tennis and cross country to intercollegiate status and the introduction of women's tennis and cross country. He hired Dannton Jackson, XU's current head coach of men's basketball and interim athletics director, as a women's basketball assistant coach and later gave him the cross country duties. Alma Henderson, the department's longtime administrative assistant II, also worked for James.

James was a 1941 graduate of Xavier who worked his way through XU as a manager on the men's track and field team. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps after graduation and served as a medic in Italy during World War II with the Tuskegee 332nd Fighter Group.   

He was inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 after winning two state championships, three city championships and five district championships in 15 years as head football coach at L.B. Landry High School on the New Orleans West Bank. He also taught at Landry and coached track and basketball.


Felix "Zoo" James from Cyril Neville, Jr. on Vimeo.
video: http://vimeo.com/12778367

Prior to Landry, James worked six years at Gaudet School before it closed in 1951. After his Landry tenure, James worked for the Orleans Parish Public Schools personnel department as coordinator for certification and, ultimately, as its director. 

James was born in Gerard, Ga., on March 11, 1920, and moved to New Orleans with his family at age 5. He was nicknamed Zoo because of his childhood love of animal cookies. He was a 1937 graduate of McDonogh 35 High School, and he received a master's degree from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) after the war. James relocated to Memphis, Tenn., in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. 

Survivors include, his wife, Bonita, and son, Kenneth, both of Memphis; a granddaughter, Monique Moody of Jacksonville, Fla.; three great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Landry-Walker Auditorium at L.B. Landry High School, 1200 L.B. Landry Ave., followed by a tribute service from 8-9 p.m. The funeral will start at 10 a.m. Friday at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church, 1222 N. Dorgenois St. in New Orleans. Visitation there will be from 8-9:45 a.m. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Cemetery on River Road in Edgard, La. Majestic Mortuary Service is in charge of arrangements.

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

Mitch Hill, New Leader of A&M Baseball

HEAD COACH MITCH HILL
AAMU BULLDOG BASEBALL

NORMAL, Alabama -- The Alabama A&M athletics department hires Mitch Hill to take the reins of the Bulldog Baseball team.

Hill first joined the A&M baseball program as an assistant under former head coach Michael Tompkins. Hill immediately began making an impact on the program by hitting the recruiting trail and bringing young men onto the campus for visits, in turn having a great early signing class for the 2014 season.   After Tompkins resigned in July 2013, Hill filled in temporarily until the position was filled.

"We are excited to announce Coach Mitch Hill as our new head baseball coach. He brings an exciting and energetic brand of baseball. His ability to recruit top-notch baseball student-athletes who excel in the classroom as well as on the diamond is exactly what we need. His hiring gives us the continuity to build on an up and coming baseball program," says Alabama A&M Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks on this new addition.

Mitch began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of North Alabama, where he lettered and pitched from 2002 to 2007 while earning his bachelor's degree in Physical Education with a minor in Business Administration. As a graduate assistant under Head Coach Mike Keehn, Hill was primarily charged with the recruiting of future Student-Athletes. During the three years in which he excelled in the recruiting field, he also performed duties within all aspects of the game.

After leaving UNA, and before joining the Bulldogs, he continued his coaching career as an assistant coach at two different junior colleges in the Southeast, Motlow State Community College and Bevill State Community College. Mitch spent one year at Bevill State Community College prior to the athletic program being cut from the college.  During that year, he had the top three recruiting class in the state of Alabama.

After Bevill, he spent one year at Motlow State Community College in Lynchburg, Tennessee under Head Coach Dan McShea. Mitch helped guide the bucks to the best season they've had in seven years, with 34 wins and an appearance in the state tournament.

"First of all I'm excited, I've had a lot of family support and I want to thank my wife Erin Lynn Hill," smiled Coach Hill.

In his second year with the Bulldogs, and in the first head coaching position of his career, Coach Hill looks to continue making improvements and increase the impact he has had thus far on "The Hill".

"Being on "The Hill" for the past year, and bringing in a good recruiting class this year, we are taking baby steps. We made it to the conference tournament for the first time in five years last season, and with the recruiting class, I brought in this year we are looking to make huge steps" in the whole scheme of things," adds Hill.

"Everyone in this area and community has been good to me, I am truly excited, and I look to be here for a while. I would like to thank Bryan Hicks and the Department of Athletics for giving me this opportunity to be the head coach."

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Chowan University names new Athletic Director

MURFREESBORO, North Carolina  -- The Chowan University athletic department and Dr. M. Christopher White made a critical announcement regarding the future of Chowan athletics on Tuesday afternoon.  Upon the retirement of current Vice President/Director of Athletics, Dennis Helsel, Ozzie McFarland will take the reins of an athletic department with 15 varsity sports and cheerleading.

McFarland will transition into the role effective December 31, 2013.  Dr. White stated, "Dennis has done all the things an athletic director is supposed to do, and he's done them in remarkable fashion."

Helsel will retire from the position with over 30 years of intercollegiate athletic experience, with eight of those years having been at Chowan University.  Over the course of his career, Helsel has served within various associations including NCAA Division I institutions (Syracuse, Akron, Maryland) and Conference USA.

Dr. White stated, "Prior to Dennis coming to Chowan, the athletic programs were in shambles for many reasons.  We were looking for an individual who had experience at various levels of the NCAA and was familiar with their processes.  Under Dennis' direction, he shepherded Chowan through the transition process from DIII to DII and aided our acceptance into the division as quickly as is possible."

Under Helsel's guidance and oversight, the Hawks soared to new heights having made the transition from NCAA DIII to NCAA DII and accepted into full membership with the oldest historically black conference in the nation, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).   The Hawks have enjoyed five CIAA Championships during Helsel's tenure; two in the sport of softball,  two in volleyball, and an individual championship in golf (Cliff Forbes) along with four CIAA Northern Division Championships in softball and volleyball. 

Dr. White continued, "Dennis was instrumental in Chowan's transition to the CIAA.  His expertise to his colleagues in the league was valuable. His focus on sportsmanship and integrity in sport is admirable."

As a result of Helsel's tireless leadership efforts, Chowan student-athletes and the department as a whole have seen the benefit of significant increases in operational budgets, salaries, and scholarships.   Helsel has also been instrumental in the reestablishment of the women's cross country team (fall of 2011), and the addition of women's bowling (winter 2010), women's lacrosse (spring 2012), and men's cross country (fall 2012).

Helsel has overseen numerous capital improvements during his time at Chowan.  He also serves the institution as an instructor in the Sport Management program.  Additionally, he has served on various NCAA committees including chairing the NCAA DII Men's Soccer Committee and NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committees.   He has shown a steadfast commitment to mentoring others as is evident in his participation as a mentor in the NACDA/ADA DII mentoring program in its' inaugural year.

To honor Helsel's success and contribution to the Chowan athletics and the institution as a whole, the Board of Trustees has unanimously named Helsel Director of Athletics Emeritus as shared by Dr. White on Tuesday.  This honor has never been bestowed on an athletic director in the history of the institution.

Helsel has undoubtedly left a legacy that will set the precedent for his successor.   Chowan University President, Dr. White, is confident that Ozzie McFarland will build off of Helsel's foundation in the coming years.  He noted, "Ozzie has a proven track record in the athletic arena.  I'm excited for the school and for him individually…Ozzie will be a fantastic successor.  His dynamic personality and experience in athletics will serve this institution well."

McFarland looks forward to serving the athletic department in a leadership capacity.  "Dr. White has a uniqe vision for this school, and he's a strong supporter of athletics.  I'm a firm believer that a leader should lead a group better than he found it, and that's what I intend to do here.  My job moving forward will be to ensure that everyone in this department is successful and that they have the resources they need to do just that…The job of our coaching staff will be to mold and shape the characters of future citizens.  A good coach demands more of a student-athlete then that student-athlete expects of themselves.  Demanding coaches will be commonplace in our department."

McFarland currently serves Chowan as an instructor in the Sport Studies and Physical Education department.  He brings a great deal of experience to the table having competed as a baseball student-athlete at Gardner-Webb and athletic administrator at his alma mater.

McFarland contributed to Gardner-Webb in nearly every capacity imaginable.  The Bulldogs' star on the baseball diamond returned to his alma mater as a graduate assistant in the Physical Education Department while serving as the head baseball coach from 1983-1987.  McFarland also coached the Bulldog's volleyball and cross country teams during the mid-1980's.

In 1987, he left the world of coaching to become the school's first full-time Sports Information Director, a role he excelled in.  In 1988, McFarland became the executive director of the Bulldog Club, the fundraising arm of Gardner-Webb's department of athletics.  In his second year as executive director, the Bulldogs Club saw an 89% increase of fundraising dollars.  He maintained the dual-role until 1990 when he was named Director of Athletics.  During his seven years as athletic director, Gardner-Webb won South Atlantic Conference titles in football (1992), and men's basketball (1991-1992).   McFarland oversaw a multi-million dollar budget while instituting a Hall of Fame and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  Additionally, he oversaw aggressive promotions to encourage attendance while creating numerous additional opportunities for female student-athletes.  He was inducted into Gardner-Webb's Athletic Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service in 2007.

McFarland returned to the classroom in 1997 and served as professor until 2008.  After 30 years with Gardner-Webb, McFarland came to Chowan to teach in the SSPE department where he has served as an instructor in some capacity since 2007.

Dr. White will send his recommendation of McFarland forward to the Board of Trustees for their approval in their next meeting which will occur later this semester.

COURTESY CHOWAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS 

2013 Adrian Carroll Battle of the Bands in Durham, N.C.

WATCH ALL VIDEO IN 1080p HIGH DEFINITION, WIDE SCREEN

Elizabeth City State in need of Down East victory

ROCKY MOUNT, North Carolina  -- Elizabeth City State has made Rocky Mount into a second home, and the Vikings certainly like all the pomp and festivities that come with the Down East Viking Football Classic.

This year’s edition, the 16th annual version of the game, is about something much simpler for the 0-3 Vikings.

They need to leave Rocky Mount with win.

“This is a must-win,” Elizabeth City State coach Waverly Tillar said Monday. “It will pretty much identify what type of season that we’re going to have all year going forward.”

Elizabeth City State has won five straight Down East Viking Football Classics, but Saturday’s contest against Fayetteville State is more than a streak to the Vikings. It’s also their Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener and a chance to correct problems that arose in their three nonconference games.

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Kirk wins her 3rd career GCAC Player of Week award

Moira Kirk

NEW ORLEANS — For the third time in her volleyball career and the first time this season, Xavier University of Louisiana junior Moira Kirk is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

Kirk — a 5-foot-9 middle blocker from Dallas and a graduate of Bishop Lynch High School — won the award for Sept. 16-22 after hitting .453 with 34 kills, five aces and eight blocks during the Gold Nuggets' 3-0 week. She hit .625 with five kills, two aces and two blocks during a three-set GCAC sweep of Fisk, hit .391 with 11 kills, an ace and three blocks in four sets during the Nuggets' first-ever home victory against city rival Loyola, then hit .455 with 18 kills, two aces and three blocks in Xavier's five-set victory at Mobile.

Kirk ended the Mobile match with a kill and helped the Nuggets rally from a two-set deficit and record their first-ever five-set victory on an opponent's floor. For the season she has 155 kills in 17 matches and leads Xavier with 44 blocks and a .302 hitting percentage.

Xavier (10-7, 2-0 GCAC) will travel this weekend for conference matches at Edward Waters (11 a.m. EDT Saturday) and Talladega (2 p.m. Sunday). Start time of the Edward Waters match was moved up two hours. The Gold Nuggets' next home matches will be Oct. 5 against Dillard and St. Thomas (Texas).

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

Pacesetters Fakler, Jackson collect more GCAC awards

Catherine Fakler

Kwame Jackson

NEW ORLEANS — This is a familiar route for Catherine Fakler and Kwame Jackson. The Xavier University of Louisiana cross country standouts are the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Runners of the Week for the fourth time in as many weeks this season.
     
Fakler, from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, ran 5,000 meters in a school-record 18 minutes, 41.03 seconds Saturday at the Ram Ramble Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas, to score her first collegiate victory in cross country and the second in nine years by an XU female in a regular-season meet.

Jackson, a junior from Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School, ran 8,000 meters at the Ram Ramble in 27:40.42 and finished sixth. Jackson's time is the 15th-fastest by a Gold Rush runner since the start of the 2002 season.
    
The GCAC awards were determined on performances from Sept. 16-22. This is the eighth time for Jackson and the sixth time for Fakler to win a GCAC weekly award during their careers.
    
No one from Xavier will win awards for this week because the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush are not competing. They'll resume their schedule Oct. 4 in the Mississippi College/Watson Ford Invitational at Clinton, Miss.

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

Holmes shows frustration over FAMU Rattlers' mistakes

FAMU's frequent miscues bother first-year coach

COLUMBUS, OHIO — Earl Holmes spoke in a matter-of-fact tone — unlike he’s done at any point since FAMU began a three-game losing streak — as he addressed the Rattlers’ failures following a lopsided loss to Ohio State.

He said unequivocally that he will spend the upcoming bye week making whatever changes that are necessary to fix the mistakes, which have been repeated in the three losses.

“We have to look at this thing objectively (because) we had a lot of chances to make some plays,” Holmes said following a 76-0 shutout. “For some reason, we didn’t make them. We have to make the plays that we are supposed to make.”

FAMU has been beset with problem in all three phases, but especially special teams.


FAMU grad Pam Oliver, sideline reporter for Fox gets trampled by the Ohio State University Marching Band at the Cincinnati Bengals game the day after OSU beat FAMU 76-0.

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B-CU still confident, looking forward to MEAC play

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Eddie Poole did not hang his head too much in Saturday night's postgame press conference.

The way the Bethune-Cookman receiver saw it, there was little reason to be too upset following his team's 54-6 loss to Florida State.

“Opportunity lost,” Poole said. “That is the feeling of this team.”

Add downright resilient to that list of feelings as well.

Sure the Wildcats lost to the Seminoles, but that was supposed to happen. They were a 39.5-point underdog.

But with wins over Tennessee State and Florida International in their season-opening slate of games, the Wildcats seemed to have a positive feeling as they looked forward to MEAC play.

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Cleveland Classic Band Battle: Tuskegee vs. WSSU