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BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Benita Meadow is still mourning.
In the 364 days since the death of her son, Morgan State defensive lineman
Marquese Meadow, she and her 13-year-old daughter, Calista, have continued to grapple with the loss of a son and brother. Benita Meadow also has had to take care of her parents, who have fallen ill.
"My emotions are still very much new," said Meadow, 41, who lives in Southeast Washington. "They're here. The loss of my son has definitely affected my entire family. My parents have become critically ill, and with me, there's an everyday process for me to move forward."
It has been almost a year since Marquese Meadow died Aug. 24 of complications related to heatstroke. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound freshman's death at the age of 18, which was ruled accidental by the state's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, continues to linger around the Bears program.
Meadow's locker in the Hill Field House locker room used by freshmen and sophomores remains unchanged. Rising sophomore nose tackle Dalonte Jenifer is wearing No. 90, as Meadow did last year, and the back of every player's helmet still bears a sticker with the number. Several players said they will play this season in Meadow's honor.
Dr. ELMIRA MANGUM, Ph.D. PRESIDENT FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
Dr. Mangum is attacking the institutional rot at FAMU and that has some scared. So be it!
WASHINGTON, D. C. -- Rufus Montgomery, belligerent chairman of Florida A&M University’s Board of Trustees, remains unbowed:
“I will honor the decision and level of confidence that Board members showed in my leadership earlier this month when they unanimously re-elected me to a full two-year term as chairman. While certain elected officials have always stood behind FAMU, their vantage point doesn’t afford them the same level of interaction or responsibility required of the chairman of the Board and other trustees. For the good of the institution and to prevent charges of undue political interference, I hope that our elected officials will allow our Board to do the job we were appointed to do.”
The domineering and vexing Montgomery was asked to step down by powerful FAMU alumni on Wednesday: Democrats state Sen. Dwight Bullard of Miami, state Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa, state Rep. Mia Jones of Jacksonville, state Rep. Alan Williams of Tallahassee), and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum.
They say the infighting and “personality conflicts” between the university’s president, Elmira Mangum, and Montgomery has to stop for the good of that institution. Since Mangum was hired last year, Montgomery has been the proverbial thorn in her side.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is one of the largest single-campus historically Black colleges or universities in the nation. The University blends a strong research focus with a commitment to economic empowerment and community service.
The University was founded in 1887 as the State Normal School for Colored Students. Today, FAMU continues its mission to be a best-in-class, land-grant institution with a global reach that focuses on science, technology, research, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics.
FAMU contributes to a strong workforce by providing a high-quality, affordable education to students from diverse backgrounds.
What distinguishes Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University from other universities is its legacy of providing access to a high-quality, affordable education to many students who otherwise may never have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of getting a college degree. The CollegeNet and PayScale Social Mobility Index (SMI) have recognized FAMU for its commitment to providing pathways for social and economic mobility.
SMI ranks FAMU third among all colleges and universities in the nation for fostering social and economic opportunity. FAMU is also one of the top institutions for providing a high-quality education at an affordable price in Florida, according to The College Database (2013).
Forbes magazine named Florida A & M University one of America’s Top Colleges for 2015, as well as one of the Best Colleges in the South.
A National Science Foundation (NSF) report lists Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) as the No.1 historically Black college or university (HBCU) in the nation for total research and development (R&D) expenditures.
The NSF recently released data from its Federal Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions study, which reveals that the top 20 HBCUs combined, had total R&D expenditures of $455.1 million, while FAMU alone accounted for a staggering $51.1 million of that amount.
U.S. News & World Report lists FAMU as the nation’s top public historically Black college or university (HBCU) for 2015. The University was also recognized among the 2014 U.S. News & World Report “Best National Universities.” It is listed among The Princeton Review’s “Best in the Southeast” colleges.
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Couldn't help but notice these two at Alabama State's open scrimmage Saturday afternoon at ASU Stadium .
Ellis Richardson is a dual-threat quarterback who stands 6 feet, 3 inches and weighs 235 pounds. Alex Anderson is 6-foot, 200 pounds, runs with power and possesses that initial burst of speed when seeing an opening.
Now both of them are freshmen with Richardson being listed as a redshirt out of Villa Rica, Georgia. Anderson is a true freshman from Miami. Alabama State has established talent at quarterback in senior Daniel Duhart and at running back with junior Khalid Thomas, but Anderson and Richardson could see quality playing time this season.
NEW ORLEANS -- — Hannah Lawing, head coach of women's volleyball at Xavier University of Louisiana, discussed the 2015 season in an Aug. 13 video interview.
The Gold Nuggets will begin their season Aug. 28 in the Big Easy Blastoff at XU's Convocation Center. Xavier will play NCAA Division I's Mississippi Valley State at 9 a.m. and Mobile at 5 p.m. On Aug. 28 the Gold Nuggets will play NAIA No. 19 Wayland Baptist at 9 a.m. and Faulkner at 3 p.m.
Xavier's returnees include Darian Harris, Claudia Haywood, Franziska Pirkl, Taylor Reuther and CeCe Williams, all of whom have been All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference selections during their careers. Xavier is the four-time defending champion of the GCAC regular season and tournament.
The Gold Nuggets were 20-6 overall in 2014 and 14-0 in the GCAC.
JACKSON, Mississippi -- There were plenty of forced turnovers, sacks and three-and-outs as the Jackson State defense had its way with the offense in the first scrimmage of training camp last week, holding the offense to one touchdown.
But first-year Tigers defensive coordinator Alonzo Lee still wants to see more sound football from his players.
“Assignment-wise, the first unit overall graded about 79, 80 percent,” Lee said after Friday’s morning practice. “The hustle grade was higher than that. But we have to be up in the 90s with our assignment grades … second unit didn’t grade out as high.”
The defense will look to boost those grades at 9 a.m. today when JSU holds its second and final scrimmage of training camp.
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State has completed two weeks of preseason practice, and the implementation phase has been fast and furious.
The Hornets didn’t practice Wednesday due to their focus on the first day of classes at ASU, a much needed break from the wealth of information given out.
Hornets head coach Brian Jenkins held his weekly news conference on Wednesday and stated he continues to be impressed with his team’s attitude.
“Overall, we’ve been very pleased,” Jenkins said. “Things are slowing down a bit, because a lot has been demanded of everybody. The guys are doing what we’ve asked. For the most part, the energy and the effort has been exceptional.”
The first game week of practice may turn into a major cram session. Jenkins said his main concern remains getting everyone adjusted to the new schemes, and that he hasn’t even looked at any film on Tennessee State, which the Hornets will play in the season opener.
JACKSON, Mississippi -- When Jackson State’s defense piled up three sacks in the first five plays of Saturday’s scrimmage, it appeared a repeat of last week’s affair was in the cards.
JSU’s offense managed to land some counterpunches this time around, though.
Offensive coordinator Timmy Chang opened up the playbook a bit and the Tigers’ offense rebounded from last week’s lethargic performance with a solid effort on Saturday.
After last week’s scrimmage, Chang said he still hadn’t installed everything into the offense. This time, he came through with some new wrinkles, which mostly took advantage of the aggressive nature of the JSU defense.
“For us, we know they (the defense) are going to give us the hardest looks,” Chang said. “I just wanted to give the kids an opportunity to see what we could do countering a lot of those things they do. The kids did a good job of executing, but there’s still a lot of things we could get better at.”
TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- After an abbreviated Friday practice, the Tuskegee University football team went for just about 90 minutes on Saturday inside Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium. The practice wrapped up the second week for the Golden Tigers.
After warming up and going through individual drills with their position coaches, the Golden Tigers came together and went live for 90 minutes inside the stadium. There were big plays on both sides of the ball as the team wrapped up camp officially this afternoon.
Tuskegee will now turn their attention to their opening game opponent, Clark Atlanta and a first-year head coach, on September 5 at Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium.
After a day off on Sunday, the Golden Tigers will get on a regular schedule as they begin preparations for the season opener on Monday afternoon.
For single game tickets or season ticket information, please contact the Tuskegee University Athletics Ticket Office at (334) 727-8594 or (334) 724-4385. Single game advance tickets are also available for the White Water Classic on September 12 and the Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic on October 10.
Follow Tuskegee University athletics on social media @MyTUAthletics, and like us on Facebook.
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling’s second week of fall camp unofficially belongs to the offense.
Less than a day after Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs said the defense has enjoyed the upper hand this summer, the Tigers’ first-team offense appeared in midseason form during Saturday’s scrimmage, slicing through the defense like it was a game of flag football.
The unit, led by senior quarterback Johnathan Williams, ran just 13 plays during two drives, but scored both times in what resulted in a “pretty sharp” day for the offense.
Williams finished 6-of-8 for 64 yards and a touchdown an added two rushes for 26 yards and a touchdown, and TCU transfer Cameron White caught a 20-yard touchdown to leave Fobbs pleased with the effort during the 105-plays.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern coach Dawson Odums had several areas in which he wanted the Jaguars to show improvement from last week’s scrimmage to the one Saturday morning.
He wanted to see more energy from the whole team, the defense getting faster to the football and creating turnovers, and improvement from the run game.
The players seemed to fulfill each request during a 100-play scrimmage at the Louisiana Leadership Institute.
“I thought the energy was where it needed to be in order to have a successful scrimmage,” Odums said. “I thought we competed. I thought both sides did some good things.”
The biggest improvement came from the defense, which allowed eight touchdowns and didn’t get a turnover a week earlier. On Saturday, it allowed four touchdowns, created four turnovers, produced two touchdowns and a safety, and made a goal-line stand.
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- He has a way of getting the attention of his players.
When first-year Alabama State coach Brian Jenkins wanted to have a 1-on-1 conversation with an individual during Saturday's scrimmage at ASU Stadium, he signaled him over with a one or two-finger motion.
Other times, he yelled at them to basically get their you know what together. Regardless of the delivery, the players are getting Jenkins' message loud and clear — and embracing it.
"Him and the coaches are very demanding, but they get the best out of us," ASU senior quarterback Daniel Duhart said. "We're all on board, and we're ready to go. It's a family atmosphere everyday."
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The Grambling football team put in its second and final scrimmage of fall camp Saturday In front of a couple hundred eager fans who are more than ready for the 2015 season to begin.
There were plenty of highlights — the first-team offense looked like it was in midseason form — and there were some lowlights when the defense blew several coverages resulting in wide open receivers for long gains or touchdowns.
Just from his initial impressions, Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs came away pleased from the scrimmage. Below are three takeaways from the 105-play session.
1. Grambling's offense will be even better than 2014 — After an 0-3 start to the 2014 season, Grambling finished 7-2 thanks to one of the league's most potent offenses. In those nine games, the Tigers averaged 37 points per game. For the season, Grambling averaged ,,,
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M Football team essentially “broke camp” Saturday morning, with a nearly two-hour scrimmage in blazing temperatures in Bragg Stadium.
FAMU head coach Alex Wood and his staff rotated quarterbacks, and deployed different personnel groupings on offense and defense to get a better look at the backups.
Kenny Coleman (Hazelhurst, Miss.), heralded recruit Ryan Stanley (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Davonte Austin (Jacksonville, Fla.) all rotated behind center Saturday, getting more field time than starter Carson Royal (Yulee, Fla.), who got in on about three series.
Wood and his staff pushed the Rattler hopefuls through a fast-paced session, emphasizing the up tempo, no-huddle approach on offense, with an interesting mix of quick passes and running plays, featuring several series with the number one offense against the number one defense.
RATTLERS MEET THE MEDIA, FANS: Later Saturday afternoon, the Rattler players and coaches headed over to the air conditioned comfort of the nearby Al Lawson Center for Media and Fan Day.
The players shot publicity stills in the media room on the ground floor of the Center, then rode the elevator to the third floor main concourses where they autographed team posters and met adoring friends, family and fans.
WHAT’S NEXT: The 2015 Fall Semester begins Monday, and the Rattler practice schedule is slated to move to primarily afternoon (3:00) regime.
FAMU opens the 2015 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 in Tampa against the University of South Florida (7:00 p.m. – ESPN3).
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Hale Stadium played host to the second and final scrimmage of camp 2015 for Tennessee State football. Approximately 300 spectators enjoyed the eight series, 65 play contest on Saturday evening.
The Tigers tried to set the tone by rushing the ball and finished the night with 139 yards on 24 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Ronald Butler led the way with 68 yards on five runs, including two for over 20 yards. Senior Telvin Hooks added to the success on the ground as he joined Butler with a rush over 20-yards.
Hooks busted loose around the left side on the second play of the contest for 21 yards giving the first unit a first down at their own 41. The first drive would stall as sophomore defensive end Latrelle Lee busted through for a sack and a seven yard loss, forcing the first punt of the night.
After the change of possession, the first unit returned to the field for a second opportunity. The squad picked up back-to-back first downs as O’Shay Ackerman-Carter connected on a 14-yard pass to Mahlon Medley and a six-yarder to Archie Dennard.
The first team defense seemed to come up with its second stop, but a defensive holding allowed the offense to continue its drive. Ackerman-Carter too advantage of the new life as he hit Tom Smith at the 32 on a third and nine. Smith would break free and got help on a blindsided block down the field by Medley. Smith looked to be stopped at the 12, but the senior back continued to drive and carry his would-be tacklers down to the five.
Two plays later, after a false start moved the offense back to the ten, the Tigers found the end zone. Ackerman-Carter received plenty of protection from his lineman giving him time to find Chris Sanders-McCollum for the lone touchdown of the scrimmage.
Ronald Butler brought the second team on the field for their first series and struck immediately. The junior broke around the right end for 35 yards, crossing midfield to the 30. Butler broke loose on the next play for 10 yards, but the play was brought back to a hold behind the play. The setback was short-lived as Butler went over the top of the defense to Quindell Cousin who came down with the ball at the five.
The penalty bug struck for the second squad as back-to-back flags brought them back to the 15 for a first and goal. The defense pinned their ears back and attacked as Kevin DeWalt charged through the offense on consecutive plays for a pair of sacks, each for nine yard losses. The two plays from the defensive end transfer from Kent State created a third and goal from the 33.
The drive ended with no points as Lane Clark missed just to the right on a 50-yard field goal attempt.
The stop inspired the defense as they forced two straight three-and-out possessions against the offense, one led by each quarterback. On the following series, the offense picked up a first down on a seven yard run by Arkeem Granger before the defense once again stuffed their opponents. Defensive back A.J. Flowers would bring the crowd to its feet as he upended Morris who went up for a Butler pass.
The scrimmage ended with each squad having a chance at a two-minute drive. Ackerman-Carter went back to the recipe from the second drive picking up two first downs with the help of Medley and Dennard. The defense would flex its muscle again as freshman defensive back Gabe Scott came down with an Ackerman-Carter pass for his first interception of camp.
Butler started the second units drive as he scrambled and found running room for 22 yards to the 42. Butler would continue to drive his squad down the field hooking up with Isaiah Jeffries-Freeman for a first down, followed by a pass to Dantwaun O’Neal for another new set of downs.
The offense would settle for a 45-yard field goal from freshman Mitchell Boudreaux to make the final 7-3.
The Tigers will be in full force on Sunday as they host Fan Day at the TSU Indoor Facility. The event will last from 2:00-5:00 p.m. and will have inflatables for kids, as well as an opportunity to meet the team and receive the 2015 poster. Players will be on hand to sign autographs.
Rushing
Ronald Butler 5-68
Tom Smith 4-27
Telvin Hooks 2-24
Marcus Deanes 7-22
O’Shay Ackerman-Carter 3-16
Arkeem Granger 3-4
Passing
Ackerman-Carter 6-12 80 1-1
Ronald Butler 4-6 50 0-0
Receiving
Archie Denard 2-23
Mahlon Medley 2-20
Quindell Cousins 1-33
Tom Smith 1-27
Chris Sanders-McCollum 1-10
Isaiah Jeffries-Freeman 1-7
Dantwaun O’Neal 1-7
Rodney Morris 1-3
Schedule:
Sunday, Aug. 23 - 2:00-5:00 p.m. - Fan Day
Monday, Aug. 24 – Off Day
Tuesday, Aug. 25 – 4:00-6:30 p.m. (Full)
Wednesday, Aug. 26 - 4:00-6:30 p.m. (Full)
Thursday, Aug. 27 - 4:00-6:30 p.m. (Full)
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- With the 2015 football season quickly approaching for South Carolina State, the Bulldogs held their second preseason team scrimmage on Saturday afternoon at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
The scrimmage was an opportunity for the coaches to get to see how their quarterbacks perform in a game situation as they battle for the starting job and key backup spots. Battling for a chance to lead the offense are redshirt junior Adrian “L.A.” Kollock Jr. and newcomer and true freshman Caleb York.
“We’ve got at least two guys that seem to be coming along,” S.C. State head coach Buddy Pough said. “L.A. is our established guy, he’ll be our starter. But he’s getting a little pressure from Caleb York.
“It’ll be interesting to see exactly how that situation sorts out as the season goes on; it’s an ongoing process. Just because it starts off one way doesn’t mean it necessarily has to finish that way.”
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Head Coach Willie Simmons recaps PVAMU's practice at Waller ISD Stadium on Friday, Aug. 21 and talks about the upcoming scrimmage and other philosophies.
COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
TALLAHASSEE, Florida – FAMU fans are ready for some football! That point was emphasized with the mass of supporters who filled the concourse of the Al Lawson Center on Saturday. There was at least 100 people waiting in the heat by 1:30 p.m., with doors set to open at 2 p.m. When the floodgates opened, there was a steady flow of Rattler spirit, optimism and enthusiasm. All accounted for, an estimated 1,000 folks walked through the doors throughout the event.
One of the first people to arrive at Fan Day was FAMU president, Dr. Elmira Mangum. Mangum was the first in a rotation of FAMU and FAMU Athletics representatives to pose for photos with fans in the Rattler photo booth. Fans flocked to the booth, with the athletic staff having to extend her time to allow those who were in line to get a photo with her the opportunity to do so.
Music was blaring to the sounds of young DJs, DJ Laila Jade and Z-Dub Beats. With an old school flow, it was a family friendly environment for the masses.
The Rattler volleyball team joined the festivities for the first time. The Lady Rattlers are actually the first team to compete, as they will play in the University of Miami tournament in Coral Gables, Fla., next weekend. Their posters were also available, so fans had the opportunity to meet coach Tony Trifonov’s roster of athletes.
The voice of the Marching “100”, Joe Bullard, was the emcee for the event. His usual witty humor kept the entertainment flowing from segment to segment.
The first person to address the crowd was FAMU athletic director Milton Overton, Jr. Attending his first fan day, Overton was electrified by the turnout. “We are strong, and together we are going to build champions in this house. We’re going to do it together and we’re going to do it one step at a time,” Overton told the crowd. Overton was a crowd favorite. He stayed until the end of the event, posing for photos, encouraging folks to get season tickets and making sure the operation was run smoothly.
The Rattler football team began to emerge from the floor of the arena as they concluded individual head shots in the media room. Several players were also available for media outlets from around the country. After the entire team was mustered, they rose to the concourse level to take seats around the arena to sign autographs and take photos with fans. Some fans brought their own items for the players to sign, while most grabbed a poster from the promotions table to get signed.
Right around that time, the world-famous Marching “100” struck up the tunes. The band played all of the stadium favorites, really bringing a game atmosphere to the arena. There is just about nothing that gets FAMU fans riled up like the sound of its prized marching band.
Angela Suggs, Assoc. Athletic Director for External Affairs and D’Wayne Robinson, Assoc. Athletic Director for Compliance, were two of the department’s leaders who oversaw the activities. The entire athletics staff put time and effort into making the day a success.
With the emergence of Alex Wood into the mix of fans, the day seemed to elevate to yet another level. There is much anticipation about Wood and his staff’s ability to turn the FAMU football program around, and seeing him in person for the first time was a treat for FAMU faithful.
Wood was proud to be a part of the festivities. “This is great! There’s great excitement and I know our players love it. We love it! Football is football, but this is part of the entertainment and there is nothing like having fans to come out and support and get excited. Please buy your season tickets and come out to Bragg and watch some good football,” Wood said.
Fans were afforded the opportunity to sign up for the Venom Kids Club. Venom was a part of the day’s festivities, taking an extended turn in the photo booth and taking photos with fans throughout the day. The event concluded around 4 p.m. with a buzz…the buzz of excitement that the wait is over…football season is here.
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
NORFOLK, Virginia -- There's no avoiding the fact that bridging the gap between Norfolk State's dominant defense and its underachieving offense will take time.
In this summer's second full-contact scrimmage, the Spartans made minor advances on offense Saturday. But there was no question which unit carried the day.
"Definitely, if you had to say who won the scrimmage today, our defense was definitely ahead," first-year coach Latrell Scott said. "But there were some positives on offense. We moved the ball in spots. We just didn't move the ball as consistently as we would need to to win a football game."
Junior quarterback Greg Hankerson, a transfer from Florida Atlantic who inherited the starting job when Terrance Ervin left the program this month for "personal reasons," had stretches of inaccuracy, often throwing behind or too deep for open receivers.
HOUSTON, Texas -- The excitement in anticipation of the 2015 football season is building around the campus of Texas Southern University as the Tigers hosted their annual Media Day on Wednesday, August 19th at BBVA Compass Stadium.
The event was carried live online on the TSU Athletics YouTube page as well via the airwaves on KTSU 90.0 FM radio.
Texas Southern footballs' coaching staff as well as select student-athletes highlighted the event that helped kickoff and preview the Tigers upcoming football season.
The Tigers open the season against Prairie View A&M in the Labor Day Classic. This years' game will be held Saturday, Sept. 5 at 8:00 pm at BBVA Compass Stadium home of the TSU Tigers.
Please click the play button above to watch the event.
COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
ANN ARBOR, Michigan -- Dennis Norfleet has found a new home, and his time at Michigan is now officially over.
The wide receiver/kick returner is now officially a member of Tuskegee University's football team, and is eligible to play immediately as a senior. Tuskegee is a Division II program, meaning Norfleet does not have to sit out a year.
The 5-foot-7, 168-pounder is officially enrolled in the school, is on campus in Alabama and took part in initial team meetings Tuesday, per a Tuskegee spokesman.
According to his high school coach, Norfleet was dismissed from Michigan's program by coach Jim Harbaugh shortly after spring practice came to a close. Norfleet was then allowed an opportunity to work his way back onto the program, and ultimately finish his academic career at Michigan.
That never materialized, though, as Norfleet's Michigan career is now officially finished.
GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- The North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team released a schedule on Monday which includes a whopping 14 games at home in Corbett Sports Center. The last time the Aggies played 14 games at home was during the 1986-87 season when they finished the season undefeated at home.
There are a few other things on the Aggies 2015-16 schedule that have not occurred in recent years. UNC Greensboro comes to Corbett on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. It will mark the first the Spartans have played at Corbett since Jan. 30, 1992, a 72-57 A&T win.
Grambling State will also make a return to Corbett after a long hiatus. The Aggies will host the non-conference HBCU rival on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. It will be the Aggies first time hosting a SWAC opponent at Corbett since the 1988-89 season when they defeated Alabama State 73-62. GSU comes to Corbett for the first time since ‘81 when they lost to A&T 65-61. The Charlotte 49ers comeback to Corbett for the first time since ‘90 when they face the Aggies on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.
“It’s rare to see mid to low mid-major programs have this many home games,” said head coach Cy Alexander, who is entering his fourth season at A&T. “Most of the time you’re only going to get 12 because you’re on the road throughout November and December. We must take advantage of this rare opportunity.”
The Aggies other non-conference home games include a visit by Barber-Scotia (Nov. 18), Northern Kentucky (Nov. 30) and Kent State (Dec. 30). Northern Kentucky and Kent State are coming to Greensboro after A&T played at both of their respective home arenas last season. Both will be making their first-ever visit to Corbett.
A&T will open the season in the 2015 Tip-Off Tournament conducted by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The two programs from power conferences the Aggies are Purdue on Nov. 13 in the season opener and a road game against the University of Florida on Nov. 16. The Aggies then play in the Springfield Bracket which includes Buffalo University, Niagara and Vermont. The Aggies face another power conference team on Nov. 24 when it travels to Blacksburg, Va., to face the Hokies of Virginia Tech before flying to Fargo, N.D., to face North Dakota State on Nov. 28. Other non-conference road games are at East Carolina (Dec. 13), Toledo (Dec. 21) and USC Upstate (Jan. 5).
The conference season begins Saturday, Dec. 5 at home against Howard University at 4 p.m., before A&T plays Maryland Eastern Shore at Corbett on Monday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
“As I look at our schedule that is one stretch of home games I’m looking to take advantage of,” said Alexander referring to four straight games at home from Nov. 30-Dec. 7. “We bring in two tough non-conference opponents in Northern Kentucky and UNCG before having our first two conference games of the year at home. That stretch for us is going to be crucial.”
The Aggies play on the road against their chief rival N.C. Central on Saturday, Feb. 6 before the Eagles return the game on Thursday, March 3 (7:30 p.m.) in the regular-season finale.
“You at least want to finish .500 on the road in your conference games. That would be ideal,” said Alexander. “But I think to be where we want to be, we really have to win a vast majority of the 14 games we have at home.”
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
ALBANY, Georgia -- The Albany State football team is going into the 2015 season with an interim head coach and a large chip on their shoulders.
The Golden rams hosted a media day early Saturday morning. Last season ended in heartbreak when they fell to Tuskegee in the SIAC championship.
The biggest question surrounding the rams this off season regards the quarterback position. The depth charts that were released have junior Caleb Edmonds as the starter.
Underclassmen Ta'Keevian Harris and Rodricous Gates are still in the running.
BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Benita Meadow is still mourning.
