WSSU's Donnie Owens Selected For NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State University senior defensive lineman, Donnie Owens, has been selected to play in the 3rd Annual National Football League Players Association Collegiate Bowl, Saturday, January 18th, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.

Owens finished his WSSU career playing in 41 games over three season, with 153 total tackles to go with 34 tackles for losses, 19.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised live on ESPN2. ESPNU will also air live broadcasts from practices on Wednesday, January 15 and Thursday, January 16.

The event is a week-long, all expenses paid trip to the Greater Los Angeles area where they will practice and play with some of the best players in the country culminating in the game at the Stub Hub Center.

For one week preceding the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl presented by Panini, participants will receive an in-depth introduction to the union – the primary resource for information on the business of football and how to succeed in the NFL and in post-football careers.

Pro-football players and coaching legends will work with the game's future stars, giving them first-hand insight on what it takes to win on and off of the field. Dennis Green and Dick Vermeil will serve as the head coaches for the American and National Teams. Visit the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl site for a full list of the teams' assistant coaches.

Tickets are on sale now: http://collegiate.nflpa.com 

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Chicago State Defeats WAC Favorite NMSU 86-81

WATCH IN 720p HD, WIDE SCREEN

CHICAGO, Illinois -- A steal and a pair of three throws in the final seconds by freshman Johnny Griffin (Ford Heights, Ill./Bloom Trail ) sealed the Cougars' 86-81 victory over New Mexico State on Thursday (Jan. 16). The win moves Chicago State to 3-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. It's the first time Chicago State has started conference play 3-0 in NCAA Division I program history. The win puts Chicago State in a tie for first place in the WAC with Utah Valley.

Both teams held leads as large as eight in the first half but when the halftime buzzer sounded the game was tied at 40.

Chicago State built their largest lead of the second half at seven points on a jumper by senior Quinton Pippen (Hamburg, Ark./Hamburg) with 13:18 remaining to make the score 55-48. New Mexico State responded with 10 straight points to grab a 58-55 lead following a pair of free throws by KC Ross-Miller.

The biggest basket of the game came with 1:25 remaining. Senior Nate Duhon (Lansing, Mich./Sexton) grabbed a rebound off a New Mexico State miss and pushed the ball up court. He drove to the lane but quickly pitched the ball to Pippen. Pippen proceeded to sink a 3-pointer in front of his own bench to put the Cougars up 76-72. From there the teams exchanged points several times with a pair of free throws by junior Clarke Rosenberg (Skokie, Ill./Evanston Township) putting the Cougars up 82-78 with 15 seconds. Kevin Aronis followed with a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to advance New Mexico State within a point. Duhon was fouled and made a pair of free throws to make it an 84-81 game. New Mexico State had a chance to tie the game but Griffin stole the inbound pass by DK Eldridge. The freshman Griffin was fouled and calmly sunk a pair of free throws to ice the game.

"I'm so proud of the guys," Chicago State head coach Tracy Dildy said. "Basketball is a game of runs. They made a run, we made a run and when it mattered down the stretch we were calm and finished it out. This is a huge win for the program. "

Thursday's contest featured 13 lead changes and eight ties.

Five Cougars finished in double-digits. Rosenberg scored 20 points with four steals and three assists. Pippen added 19 points and eight rebounds. Senior Matt Ross (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) recorded 17 points and seven rebounds. Duhon totaled 12 points, including a 6-of-6 performance from the free throw line. Senior Corey Gray (Houston, Texas/Hightower) totaled 10 points.

WAC Preseason Player of the Year pick Daniel Mullings totaled a game-high 26 points for New Mexico State but also committed eight turnovers. Chicago State forced 19 New Mexico State turnovers.

Chicago State made just 1-of-4 3-point attempts in the first half, the second fewest 3-pointers attempted in a half this season. The second half was a different story. The Cougars drained 7-of-8 3-pointers. Pippen made all three from beyond the arc he attempted in the second. However the difference in the game really came at the free throw line. The Cougars made 14-of-18 free throws over the game's final five minutes to keep the pressure on the Aggies.

The win was the first for Chicago State over New Mexico State in five tries. New Mexico State was the preseason pick to win the conference.

New Mexico State falls to 14-6 (3-1 WAC). The Cougars improve to 8-9 (3-0 WAC). Chicago State hosts UTPA on Saturday (Jan. 18) in WAC play. Tip at the Jones Convocation Center will be 2:05 p.m.

Box Score

COURTESY CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Alabama State's Bobby Brown coming into his own as a sophomore

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Call it the Freshman 17.

That's how many minutes Alabama State's Bobby Brown played per game for the Hornets last season in his first year out of Lithia Springs High School near Atlanta as the team struggled to a 10-22 mark.
It wasn't what the 6-foot-6 high-flyer wanted.

But instead of bolting like six of his former teammates did for one reason or another past offseason, the Chicago native hunkered down and honed his skills once he recovered from surgery to repair a torn meniscus he suffered in March.

This season, he's playing close to 25 minutes a game and the Hornets are already 9-6 (3-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference), heading into their showdown with arch-rival Alabama A&M (6-8, 3-1) Saturday.



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Alabama State Hornets Add Four to List of Baseball Signees

MONTGOMERY, Alabama --  The Alabama State University baseball team signed four more recruits to bring the total to nine, addressing some much needed areas of concern.

"One of the things we wanted to address was the voids that we will have next year," head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez said. "I want to believe that when these players get here they're going to be surrounded by upperclassmen that will lead the way and get them to play at different level."

The group of signees includes two outfielders: Sebastian Rivera (Orlando, Fla.), Palance "PJ" Harris II (Frisco, Tex.); one infielder, a first baseman Gustavo Rios (Kissimmee, Fla.) and one pitcher Darren Kelley (Ocala, Fla.).

The signees are listed as follows:

Sebastian Rivera: 5-11 · 170 · OF · Orlando, Fla. · Timber Creek HS
Coach Melendez on Sebastian:

"Sebastian will make an immediate impact at the Division I level. His frame and ability to hit make him one of the top high school players in the entire country. Sebastian comes from one of the best travel ball organizations in the country, Florida Travel Ball directed by George Gonzalez."

Palance "PJ" Harris II: 6-0 · 200 · OF · Frisco, Tex. · Frisco HS

 Coach Melendez on PJ:

"PJ is one of the purest left handed hitters in the state of Texas. He possesses great power and is a phenomenal athlete. PJ will pay immediate dividends for our program. He will be a consistent hitter on the college level and will have the opportunity to play professional baseball after three years at ASU. Getting a quality corner guy like PJ is a prime example of where our program is heading. "
Darren Kelly: 6-4 · 185 · RHP · Ocala, Fla. · Vanguard HS
Coach Melendez on Darren:

"Darren will be an impact pitcher for us right away. He has an imposing frame when on the mound and competes really hard. He is another product from the travel ball organization FTB. He will only get stronger and will be a mainstay in the pitching rotation for the next three or four years."

Gustavo Rios: 6-3 · 240 · 1B · Kissimmee, Fla. · Osceola HS
Coach Melendez on Gustavo:

"Gustavo is a physical right handed hitter with tremendous power to all fields. We expect him to hit in the middle of our lineup and drive in a ton of runs. Gustavo is an athletic first baseman and will definitely strengthen us on the right side of the diamond."

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Transfer Pressley provides size and versatility for Hampton

JERVON PRESSLEY
6'-8" 250/Forward
Sophomore
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
(Courtesy: Hampton U. Athletics) 

HAMPTON, Virginia  -- Jervon Pressley took the long path to Hampton University, and he and the Pirates are better for it.

The Pirates get a seasoned, if slightly rusty, 6-foot-8, 255-pound space-eater around the basket. Pressley gets a comfortably challenging athletic and academic environment, a group of coaches and players he trusts, and a system that he believes best utilizes his abilities.

"My role coming in was to provide a big presence and energy, and to be a rebounder and shot-blocker," Pressley said. "Now, I feel like the more I get in shape, my role is going to become a low-post scorer, a low-post defender and a great teammate."

Hampton is Pressley's third and presumably final college, after stops at Towson and Robert Morris. He became eligible after the fall semester and has played in five games for the Pirates, averaging 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds while playing 15 minutes per game as he works into competitive shape.

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Alabama A&M hires Albany State assistant, SWAC legend Willie Totten as QB coach

Coach Willie Totten

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama  -- News of Alabama A&M head football coach James Spady's latest hiring has broken.

The former Nevada assistant acquired the services of one of the greatest signal-callers in the history of the SWAC.  The Albany Herald reports Division II Albany St. assistant Willie Totten is leaving to become the Bulldogs' quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. 
 

Nicknamed "Satellite", Totten played his college ball at Mississippi Valley State, where he set more than 50 Division I-AA records, now FCS, as a quarterback, playing alongside NFL great wide receiver Jerry Rice in the early 1980s.

 

 "That's an offense I have always wanted to know more about," Totten told the Herald. "(Spady) wants me seriously involved with the passing game and the quarterback and to really understand the Pistol. I am excited about running that and also bringing my own style in."

 

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Morgan State men's basketball off to 2-0 start in MEAC for first time in three years

BALTIMORE, Maryland  -- The Morgan State men's basketball team is off to a 2-0 start in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the first time since the 2010-11 season, courtesy of Saturday’s 73-56 rout of South Carolina State.

“[The wins] all are important, particularly in the conference,” Bears coach Todd Bozeman said Thursday morning. “It’s important to get off to a good start. We hadn’t won our first two conference games in probably a couple years. So this was good. It was good for us to get back on the winning track, and it’s important for us to stay focused and keep getting better. That’s pretty much our goal.”

Back-to-back wins to open the league have usually been a good omen for the Bears (4-10 overall). Since Bozeman took over the program prior to the 2006-07 campaign, Morgan State has parlayed a 2-0 start in the MEAC to an appearance in the conference tournament final four times, winning the championship in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

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Oxon Hill grad becomes ‘the guy’ at Bowie State

BOWIE, Maryland  -- Ray Gatling knew he wasn’t going to miss.

Just moments after he dribbled left, drove towards the basket and was fouled, the Bowie State University senior guard stepped to the free throw line with a chance to win the game. The Bulldogs trailed by one point with 1.7 seconds and Gatling took a deep breath before proceeding to convert the ensuing two free throws to send his team to a thrilling comeback victory.

“At the end of game it’s going to be in his hands to create,” Bowie State coach Darrell Brooks said. “He’s our guy. I almost messed up everything by calling a timeout when he was going to the rim, but he was able to execute.”

A possession earlier, Gatling missed a critical free throw that would have tied Saturday’s game against Shaw University.

“I knew I was going to make them after letting my teammates down,” Gatling said. “So I looked to drive to the basket again and draw contact. We work on free throws at least 30 minutes a day in practice to be prepared for situations like that.”



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VSU suspends for semester football player charged in fight

RICHMOND, Virginia  -- Virginia State University has suspended for one semester the football player who was charged in the fight that led to the cancellation of the CIAA championship football game in November.

VSU running back Lamont Britt was charged with assault after the fight that left the opposing quarterback for Winston-Salem State University with cuts around his eye.

Michael M. Shackleford, VSU’s vice president for student affairs, said Britt’s case, which was scheduled to be heard this week in Forsyth County, N.C., was continued.

Shackleford announced the suspension at a meeting today of the board of visitors.

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Ex-Roosevelt High/UAPB star James “Red” Mack Allen, who died Friday at 73, was “brilliant” basketball player

LOXAHATCHEE, Florida — James “Red” Mack Allen was remembered Wednesday as a hot-shooting, yet humble, basketball superstar who pushed himself to the limit on every play.

Mr. Allen, an undersized shooting guard who starred at West Palm’s old Roosevelt High School and went on to set records at Arkansas AM&N College — now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff — died Friday at the age of 73. He lived in Loxahatchee.

Willie Goldsmith, Mr. Allen’s childhood friend, high school teammate and college roommate, recalled a quiet young man who excelled on the basketball court.

“He was the greatest shooter who ever lived,” Goldsmith said of Mr. Allen, who at 5-feet-10 and 155 pounds was significantly smaller than most of the players who defended him. “He was a legend in high school. There’s no question. He led us to the state championship our senior year. He was our leading scorer.”

Mr. Allen’s hot hand continued in college, where he led his team and conference in scoring all four years. He averaged 28.6 points per game for the Golden Lions and finished his career with more than 2,800 points.

He was inducted into the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2006.

CONTINUE READING

Photo: James “Red” Mack Allen, in a freshman yearbook photo from Roosevelt High School, was a star basketball player at the school. He went on to lead his Arkansas AM&N College team in scoring and was invited to the 1964 U.S. Olympic trials. Mr. Allen died Friday at the age of 73. (Photo provided by Willie Goldsmith)

Funeral services for Mr. Allen will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 17 at Palm Beach Lakes Church of Christ, 4067 Leo Lane, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Southern’s Hyder out indefinitely

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern starting point guard Christopher Hyder could miss the rest of the season because of a blood clot in his left shoulder.

Hyder, a sophomore from Dallas, played through pain in the shoulder the past two games. When the pain didn’t subside in the wake of the Jaguars’ 60-36 victory against Jackson State on Monday, Hyder underwent more thorough testing, which revealed the blood clot.

Coach Roman Banks said Wednesday tha
t one of Hyder’s ribs “is pinching on an artery,” which led to the clot.

Hyder is taking blood-thinning medication to treat the clot and will undergo surgery in the next two or three weeks to relieve the pressure on the artery.

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Alabama State guards Jamel Waters, DeMarcus Robinson forming dynamic duo

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- A combination that could've possibly led to infighting and a logjam at the point guard position do to a duplication of duties has worked out almost perfectly for Alabama State this season.

Led by a pair of 5-foot-10 guards sophomore Jamel Waters and junior college transfer DeMarcus Robinson, the Hornets (9-6) are 3-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, heading into their matchup against arch-rival Alabama State at home Saturday. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.

"We're both not selfish," said Waters, a Birmingham native who played prep ball at Ramsay High School. "If he's on one night, I'll keep feeding him. If I'm on, he'll keep feeding me and we feed off each other."

They've both been eating.



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Five: Breaking down Jackson State's coaching hire

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- Jackson State nearly went four weeks without a football coach. But the official announcement arrived this week — Harold Jackson is the guy. A former JSU football great with a storied NFL playing career and slew of coaching experiences, Jackson was lauded by many — but not all.

Others were left questioning the decision to hire the 68-year-old who’s spent the last year coaching football camps in Los Angeles. Let’s dive into the hire:

Was Harold Jackson the best candidate?

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Former Apopka RB Tom Smith confirms transfer from UT to Tennessee State

TOM SMITH 
(Courtesy: UT Athletics)
 

ORLANDO, Florida  -- Former Apopka running back Tom Smith, who graduated high school with the class of 2011, has decided to transfer to Tennessee State after being granted his scholarship release from the University of Tennessee last month.

Smith confirmed the transfer Thursday morning but was busy and will talk more about the move later.

Smith, who played sparingly his freshman season and redshirted his second year at UT, was a back-up this past season as a redshirt-sophomore, seeing limited action. He had 95 yards on 24 carries.

He entered college at the same time as fellow UT running back and former Daytona Beach Mainland star Marlin Lane, who has rushed for 1,536 yards and eight touchdowns during his first three seasons.

Smith, 5-11, 205, was the No. 8-ranked player in the Sentinel's 2011 Central Florida Super60, while Lane, who was coming off knee surgery for an injury during his junior year, was ranked No. 9.

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Ryan Griffin forgoes NFL draft, returns for JSU's 2014 season

RYAN GRIFFIN'
5'-11"  185 lbs. OLB
(Courtesy: JSU ATHLETICS)

 

JACKSON, Mississippi  - Ryan Griffin sat down with his family on Monday, needing to give them a decision — NFL draft or school?

The next day, the Michigan native was back on the Jackson State campus.

Griffin announced in December that he was declaring for the NFL draft. He had gone through the process and filled out the paperwork. But the feedback he received made the answer clear — he should return for his senior year.

“Most of the people who were talking to me said I was going to be a late draft pick, sixth or seventh, or even if, a projected free agent,” said Griffin, who is majoring in business.

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Punter/kicker Scandrett, offensive tackle Taylor early commits to S.C. State

ORANGEBURG, North Carolina  -- Looking to fill 16 vacancies created by graduation, the South Carolina State football team is in the early stages of putting together its newest freshman class.

The 2013 co-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions are scheduled to invite as many as 12 high school senior prospects next weekend for a campus visit. This includes two early verbal commitments in placekicker/punter Tyler Scandrett and offensive tackle Christian Taylor.

A three-year starter and All-State honorable mention at Lamar County High School in Barnesville, Ga., Scandrett was 23-28 in field goals for his career with the Trojans. His most important kick came this past December during the semifinals of the Georgia High School Association Class 2-A playoffs when he booted a game-winning 25-yard field goal to send Lamar County to the championship game at the Georgia Dome where it fell 14-7 to Lovett.

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Schaeffer joins FAMU baseball staff

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- He wanted to know why Shouppe, a former pitching coach at Florida State for more than two decades, didn’t want to do the job himself. And he wanted to know how his son, Matthew, a pitcher that Shouppe recruited during the off season, felt about having him as his coach.

Shouppe explained that his mission to upgrade the FAMU program wouldn’t allow him time enough to give the Rattlers’ pitching staff what it really needed. And Schaeffer’s son felt it was a golden opportunity for his dad to coach on the college level.

That was enough for Schaeffer, who has a track record for producing college prospects from his years with a successful travel team, to join Shouppe’s staff as a volunteer.

Now he has the task of turning around one of the nation’s least successful pitching staffs. FAMU ranked No. 291 in team ERA (7.19) among the 296 Division-I programs last season.

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Ram Ramblings: WSSU absolutely made the right move in hiring Boulware

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- If Kienus “Perez” Boulware is as organized as his opening remarks at his news conference on Tuesday then Winston-Salem State fans won’t have to worry.

Boulware sat down in between Athletics Director Bill Hayes and Chancellor Donald Reaves at a table and was prepared. He cheated a little bit while glancing at his iPad as he tried to thank everybody who helped him along the way.

For Boulware, a Thomasville native, you could tell it really meant a lot for him to be named a head coach for the first time.

He calmly went through the litany of ...




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Boulware says he's ready to take on new challenge

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- At some point, Kienus Boulware had to take the plunge.

After a long and very successful career as an assistant football coach, he said he is ready for the challenge of being a head coach. He’ll get that chance at Winston-Salem State, where he was promoted Tuesday from defensive coordinator.

Boulware, 40, spent 14 seasons as an assistant at four CIAA schools, staying in the background while helping Livingstone, Shaw, N.C. Central and WSSU combine to win seven conference titles.

“As far as my time in coaching, I’ve worked for four head coaches, and the last three of them went onto other jobs for more money,” Boulware said. “I had a choice to either continue to be on that path as an assistant or try to test my theories as a head coach — and that’s what I decided to do.”

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UAB granted permission to speak to Bethune-Cookman head coach Brian Jenkins

UPDATE: AL.com reporter Drew Champlin notes that Jenkins will indeed interview for the UAB head coaching job today, January 16.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - UAB has asked for and been granted permission to speak to Bethune-Cookman head coach Brian Jenkins.

Bethune-Cookman spokesperson Bryan Harvey, assistant athletics director for communications, said that UAB contacted athletics director Lynn W. Thompson on Sunday seeking permission to speak with Jenkins. Thompson granted UAB permission, but Harvey said that's all the information he had at this time.

It's unclear if there will be an interview at this point.

News of UAB's interest in Jenkins was first reported by CoachingSearch.com.

Jenkins has been at Bethune-Cookman for ...

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Academic Reform Hits NCAA Division II

SAN DIEGO, California -- A little more than two years ago, at the direction of National Collegiate Athletic Association President Mark Emmert, the college presidents who lead Division I approved an "academic reform" legislative package. The rules have been phased in since then and take full effect this year.

Now, Division II is taking a similar approach.

A series of proposals that will likely be approved at the Division II Board of Directors meeting, taking place here at the annual NCAA convention this week, increases the various academic requirements athletes must meet to participate in their sport.

The rules strongly resemble those passed in Division I, but are not an imitation of them, Division II leaders say. While Division II has been "reviewing" the progress in the more competitive athletic conferences during the 18 months it took to reach this point, "the timing was right" for change, said Maritza Jones, director of Division II for the NCAA.

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Tickets on sale for next week's XU-Dillard Crosstown Classic

NEW ORLEANS — Tickets for the Crosstown Classic, a basketball doubleheader involving city rivals Xavier University of Louisiana and Dillard, are on sale.
      

The Crosstown Classic will be played Saturday, Jan. 25 at XU's Convocation Center. The women's game will start at 5 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7.

Advance tickets cost $5 and are available:

•  Jan. 21-23 in room 322 (third floor) of the Convocation Center Annex (3775 Fern St., New Orleans LA 70125) between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m..
      
•  Online at the XU Alumni Relations page. Start by visiting xulaalumni.com. From the drop-down menu at the top of the page, click "Upcoming Events," then select "Purchase Tickets," then, on the new page, select "2014 Crosstown Classic." Major credit cards are accepted.
        
Students with a valid XU identification card can visit the Office of Student Services (room 305B, third floor of the University Center) and receive one free ticket with an ID card swipe on Friday (Jan. 17) or Jan. 21-23 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
      
Tickets will be available at the Convocation Center box office beginning at 4 p.m. the day of the game. Tickets purchased on game day will cost $10.
      
The Xavier-Dillard men's series dates to January 1948 and is the oldest college basketball rivalry involving two New Orleans teams. The Xavier-Dillard women's series began during the 1977-78 season.

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

Tuskegee Golden Tigers Releases 2014 Football Schedule

Five early season home games highlight Tuskegee schedule for next season

TUSKEGEE, Alabama  -- The Tuskegee University Department of Athletics released its 2014 Football Schedule today. The Golden Tigers finished 8-3 in 2013 while making history by making the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time, and will look to capitalize on that momentum.

An immediate benefit of the new schedule is the increase in home games played on the TU campus.  Director of Athletics Curtis Campbell directly addressed the issue of a relative lack of games played at home over the last couple of years, and Willie Slater's team will have five games at Cleve L. Abbott Stadium.  Four of those home games will take place during the first five weeks of the season.

Tuskegee opens up with Alabama A&M coming to Tuskegee to play the Golden Tigers.  After traveling to Huntsville to pick up the victory against the Division I SWAC member last season in a 23-7 victory, Tuskegee will welcome the Bulldogs in their first game on the gridiron in the historic town since the early '90's. 

The schedule will pick up the following week, as TU will play the defending SIAC Champion Albany State Rams at home.  Tuskegee was the only one of ASU's four opponents at home that was able to defeat the Rams, as the Golden Tigers earned a 19-13 victory in Week 2.

The third week of the season will see Tuskegee make their only road contest of the first five weeks. 

The Golden Tigers will look to get payback against the Winston-Salem State Rams, the only other HBCU in Division II to qualify for the NCAA Playoffs in 2013.  Tuskegee fought hard in the first half of the 2013 Cleveland Classic, before WSSU managed to pull away late in a 35-13 loss. 

Lane College will then travel to Tuskegee to wrap up the month of September, as Tuskegee will look to earn another win against the Dragons.  The Golden Tigers defeated Lane 42-14 in their largest margin of victory during a road game last year.

Fort Valley State will make the trip to Tuskegee during the first week of October, as the Wildcats will be the fourth team in five weeks to play inside Cleve L. Abbott Stadium.  The Golden Tigers were able to overcome key injuries during the road trip in 2013 to pull out a 21-13 victory against FVSU. 

The first of two road games after the Fort Valley State contest will take place the following week in Columbus, GA, as TU will partake in the annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic for their only neutral site game of the year.  Tuskegee earned their largest margin of victory during this past season against the Maroon Tigers, as Slater's offense scored early and often in a 54-10 victory.

A trip to Tuscaloosa will mark Tuskegee's final road trip before Homecoming, as a date with the Stillman Tigers awaits.  This will mark the first trip to Stillman since a regionally televised 16-0 victory two seasons ago; Tuskegee defeated their in-state rivals 35-7 this past season.

The Homecoming game in late October will feature Kentucky State for the second time in the past three seasons.  Over the past two years, the Golden Tigers have defeated the Thorobreds by an average of 33 points per game.

Road games at the end of the season will include Tuskegee's first-ever trip to Wilberforce, OH to play Central State University, and the annual SIAC West Division showdown in Fairfield, AL against Miles College.  Over the past two seasons, this very game has determined the champion of the SIAC West Division, with each team winning the game in the other team's home stadium.

2014 TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date		Opponent	Location	Time
9/6/2014		Alabama A&M University	Cleve L. Abbott Stadium	1:00 p.m.
9/13/2014		Albany State University	Cleve L. Abbott Stadium	1:00 p.m.
9/20/2014		Winston-Salem State University	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	1:30 p.m.
9/27/2014	*	Lane College	Cleve L. Abbott Stadium	1:00 p.m.
10/4/2014	*	Fort Valley State University	Cleve L. Abbott Stadium	1:00 p.m.
79th Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic
10/11/2014	*	Morehouse College	Columbus, Georgia	2:00 p.m.
10/18/2014	*	Stillman College	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	1:00 p.m.
90th Annual Tuskegee University Homecoming
10/25/2014	*	Kentucky State University	Cleve L. Abbott Stadium	1:00 p.m.
11/1/2014	*	Central State University	Wilberforce, Ohio	1:30 p.m.
11/8/2014	*	Miles College	Fairfield, Alabama	4:00 p.m.

Neutral Site Games are in italics

* denotes a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest

BY: Michael Stewart, Sports Information Director,

COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

ADVOCATE Podcast: The Southern Jaguars athletics report

In this edition of "The Southern athletics report" Advocate Online Sports Editor Pierce W. Huff and Advocate sportswriter Les East review past games and preview upcoming games played by the Southern men's and women's basketball teams.

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Getting to know Tennessee State's Julie McCarthy

 

JULIE McCARTHY
Hometown: Honefoss, Norway
Major: Civil Engineering
(COURTESY: TSU ATHLETICS)

Julie McCarthy,  6-2 Freshman Center

What do you love most about TSU?

The energy

What are your expectations for this season?

To do as good as we can with all this potential

What will you do to help Tennessee State Women’s basketball be successful?

Bring energy to the court

What are you looking forward to most this season?

To feel how the level in basketball is in comparison to Norway

What can Lady Tiger fans expect to see from you on the court?

commitment

What do you do to get ready for a game?

Eat my favorite breakfast

What do you enjoy do outside of basketball?

Sleeping and reading

What is something unique about you that you want to tell Lady Tiger fans?

I don’t like fast food…apparently that is unique in America

What is your favorite food?

Soddsuppe (Norwegian tradition food that is really really good).

What is your favorite movie?

Seven

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