GAME TIME
Morgan State will face Holy Cross in the season opener on Saturday (Sept. 3) at Hughes Stadium. The Bears open the 2016 season under the leadership of interim head coach Fred T. Farrier. Holy Cross completed the 2015 season with a 6-5 overall mark and were 3-3 in Patriot League play. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Hughes Stadium and will be broadcast by WEAA, 88.9FM. The game will be "Youth, Family & Faculty Game" for the Bears.

RADIO: WEAA, 88.9 FM is the flagship station for the Morgan State Bears. Lamont Germany will call the play-by-play with former Bear coach Kelvin Bridgers in the booth. The game will be broadcast live on 88.9 FM and streamed on WEAA.org.

THE SERIES
• Saturday marks the 2nd meeting in the series that began with a 29-26 Holy Cross win on Sept. 6, 2014 at Fitton Field. The Crusaders hold an 1-0 advantage in the series vs. MSU.
• Herb Walker Jr., who was inserted into the starting lineup as a result of a season-ending injury to Lamont Brown III, absolutely ripped the Crusaders on the ground and set a new school record with 271 yards on 29 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns.

QUICK HITS
• Graduate student transfer QB Chris Andrews made 10 starts in three seasons at Wagner College and won the Bears' starting job during preseason camp.

• MSU senior RB Orlando Johnson led the Bears in rushing last season with 583 yards (4.1 avg) and six TDs in 10 games. The running game will also be bolstered by the return of Herb Walker Jr. and Lamont Brown III.

• NT Jai Franklin finished the 2015 season with 38 stops, 8.5 TFL and three sacks.

• LB Damare' Whitaker led the Bears in 2015 with 66 stops, 6 TFL and 2.5 sacks.

• Fred T. Farrier will be playing against his alma mater (Holy Cross) for his first game back as a head football coach.

A GLANCE AT THE CRUSADERS

• Holy Cross finished the 2015 season with an overall mark of 6-5 and a 3-3 conference record. They capped the season with a 45-7 home win against Georgetown.

• They returned 47 letterwinners and 16 starters from a team that won four of its last five games a season ago.

• The Crusaders return quarterback Peter Pujals who passed for 3,195 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 INTs a season ago. Also back are receivers Jake Wieczorek and Brendan Flaherty, who combined for 137 receptions totaling 1,497 yards and 16 TDs. Also back is TE Lucas Nikolaisen who caught eight passes for 85 yards and a pair of TDs. Tailback Gabe Guild returns from a season in which he finished with 415 yards on 31 carries and scored four TDs.

• Defensively, the Crusaders return three defensive linemen. Defensive ends Dewayne Cameron and Dean Doe combined for 68 tackles and eight sacks, while tackle Jack Kutschke had 26 tackles and a sack. Also back are linebackers Kyle Young (76 stops, 8 TFL, 2FF) and Nick McBeath (59 tackles, 4 TFL, 2FF).

• Tom Gilmore (Pennsylvania, '86) enters his 13th season at the helm of the Crusaders.

LAST TIME OUT vs. HOLY CROSS
WORCESTER, Mass. (Sept. 6, 2014) – Shane Smith scored on a 1-yard run on the final play of the game to lift Holy Cross to a 29-26 win over Morgan State in front of a crowd of 6,172 fans at Fitton Field. MSU running back Herb Walker Jr. was inserted into the starting lineup as a result of a season-ending injury to Lamont Brown III. Walker was not only up to the task, but he had a sensational performance. The 5-foot-8, sophomore absolutely ripped the Crusaders on the ground and set a new school record with 271 yards on 29 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns. Morgan State finished with 413 yards overall, 356 rushing. The Crusaders totaled 379 yards with Pete Pujalis completing 16 of 29 passes for 193 yards.

PRESEASON PICKED LAST
Morgan State, who finished T-4th place a season ago, was picked to finish seventh (7th) to co-defending MEAC champions and Preseason #1 North Carolina A&T, #2 Bethune-Cookman and #3 N.C. Central.

PRESEASON ALL-MEAC PLAYERS
Five (5) Morgan State football players were named to the 2016 MEAC preseason team, which was voted on by the conference head coaches and sports information directors. Redshirt senior cornerback Delonta Hall was named first-team All-MEAC, while senior running back Orlando Johnson was a second-team selection. Redshirt senior tight end Willie Gillus, junior offensive lineman Joshua Miles and junior defensive lineman Jai Franklin were third-team picks.

BEARS OPEN 118th SEASON OF FOOTBALL SINCE 1898
MSU enters its 118th season of football, and the first under interim head coach Fred T. Farrier.

RETURN MEN
The 2016 Morgan State Bears return 66 letterwinners, including 15 starters - 9 on offense, 8 on defense and 1 on special teams.

CAMPAIGNING FOR SUCCESS
The Bears enter the 2016 season looking to post their first winning season since going 7-6 in 2014.

NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
The Bears will open the 2016 campaign against two of its first three non-conference matchups. MSU opens the season at home against Holy Cross (Sept. 3), followed by a road game at Marshall (Sept. 10). The Bears round out non-conference in a season-finale matchup at Army (Nov.19).

BEARS NAME TEAM CAPTAINS
The MSU Bears wrapped up the preseason by naming the team captains for the 2016 season. The leadership group is comprised of four seniors and a junior ... offense - Thomas Martin (Naples, Fla.), Dominique Woods (Skyline, Texas) - defense - Greg Gibson (Houston, Texas), Ayodeji Agbelese (Lanham, Md.) and special teams - Willie Gillus III (Suffolk, Va.).

BEARS OPEN 40th SEASON IN MEAC
The Bears will open its 40th season in the MEAC when they host the Howard Bison on Sept. 24.

• The Bears opened the 2015 MEAC schedule with a 21-13 victory against Howard at the 18th Annual Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field.

• The Bears kicked off its first season in the MEAC in 1971. Morgan State withdrew from the conference at the end of the 1979-80 fiscal year, before returning to the MEAC in 1984.

MSU IN THE CIAA
Morgan State was a power as a former member of the CIAA. The Bears posted 173 wins between 1929 and 1959 when Edward P. Hurt was the head coach and the Bears won 14 CIAA championships. Earl Banks added to the championship collection by winning four titles during the 1960s.

HOME AT THE CAVE
Morgan State opens its 2016 season with a home-opener against Holy Cross on Sept. 3 before traveling to take on Marshall on Sept. 10. The Bears 2016 schedule features five home games in Hughes Stadium, including a meeting with MEAC co-champion Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 5 in Baltimore.

UNDER THE LIGHTS
Morgan State will not only have its first home night game since 2010, but it will also mark the Bears' first home matchup against the Howard Bison in seven years. The Bears will open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play when they host their Beltway rival on Sept. 24 at Hughes Stadium. The actual kickoff time is set for 7 p.m.

THE STABLE IS FULL
The Bears are expected to have a potent backfield heading into the 2016 season. • The ground production will be led by three experienced veterans in Orlando Johnson (143 att., 583 yds, 6 TDs), Lamont Brown III (46 att., 230 yds) and Herb Walker Jr. (1,408 yds, 15 TDs - 2014) and will be bolstered behind what could be the best O-Line in the MEAC.

 Morgan State Notes  |     Holy Cross Notes |    MEAC Notes |   Purchase Tickets |
 MEAC Teleconference Transcript  |     GAMEDAYGuide   |  
 Facebook.com/MorganStateBears   |    @MorganStBears

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

UNCP football aims to win at Winston-Salem State for 1st time in program history

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Entering its 10th season on the gridiron, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke football team has its eyes set on a first for the program in its opening game.

Although it has defeated Winston-Salem State at home two games in a row, UNCP is 0-3 at Bowman Gray Stadium, site of the Braves’ season opener today at 6 p.m.

“I don’t know if it is a monkey off our back, but I think it would be a great accomplishment,” said UNCP coach Shane Richardson. “It’s a well-respected program, a team that’s played in the national championship game, a team that wins the CIAA year in and year out — or at least is competing for it — and it would huge to go up to that environment and be able to play very well and hopefully come home with a win.”

The closest chance at a win for the Braves on the road in the series came in 2012 when a last-second Hail Mary was knocked down by Winston-Salem State to preserve a 28-23 win. The other games the Rams have claimed have been by sizable margins.

CONTINUE READING

Charleston Southern Buccaneer Field slate begins Saturday with visit from Kentucky State

• Video
 
• Live stats

CHARLESTON, South Carolina  –  Charleston Southern kicks off its 2016 home schedule on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. against Kentucky State. Fans who are unable to attend the game can watch on the Big South Network via csusports.com, with Kevin O'Rourke and former CSU quarterback Danny Croghan III on the call.

Game #2 Notes: Kentucky State at No. 6/7 Charleston Southern

CSU (0-1) measured itself against the FCS' premier program last Saturday at North Dakota State, pushing the Bison to overtime in front of an ESPN audience before falling, 24-17. Now, the Bucs will see if they have fully turned their attention forward for a Kentucky State squad led by coaching veteran John L. Smith. The Thorobreds, a Division II program out of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, will be playing their first game under Smith with a largely new roster.

The Bucs handled the build-up to the FCS Kickoff with aplomb and coach Jamey Chadwell and his staff hopes they can do the same to be dialed in for game two of eleven.

"That's been our challenge is to get our guys over last week," Chadwell said. "It's over so now let's go forward and improve. Coming off the game we had between the physicality of it and the time we got back, there's some things working against you. The sign of a good team is to put your focus where it needs to be and come out and play the way you're capable so that's been our message."

Kentucky State went 3-7 last season but did have a competitive 35-20 loss to Hampton University to start the year. KSU returns starting quarterback Ora Johnson and tailback Reginal Harris on offense, as well as its three leading receivers. Senior safety Travon Spencer, who has totaled close to 200 tackles in his career, leads a largely new-look defense.

Smith sports a long track record as a head coach, with stops at Idaho, Utah State, Louisville, Michigan State, Arkansas and Fort Lewis College. He posted an 11-win season at Louisville in 2001 and has piloted teams to six bowl games.

"He's been a lot of places and been successful so he's going to have his guys ready to win and they're going to be expecting to do that so we can't go in thinking we can go through the motions," Chadwell said. "I've been at D-II so I know what he's telling his guys as far as us being ripe for an upset off some of the accolades we're getting off the last game. We've got to make sure we come out and do our job."

Home success

CSU is 15-2 at Buccaneer Field during Chadwell's tenure and has won seven straight home games dating back to November of 2014. The Bucs were a perfect 6-0 at home last year, including a playoff win over The Citadel before a record crowd of 8,451 fans. CSU has won each of its three home openers under Chadwell, defeating Shorter, Point and North Greenville by an average margin of 29 points.

Nationally ranked Bucs

The first in-season editions of the FCS Coaches Poll and STATS FCS Poll come out on Monday so CSU sits No. 6/7 respectively in the two polls. CSU has been ranked for 22 weeks under Chadwell after being ranked for just one week in the program's first 22 years of existence.

Have yourself a day, Mike Holloway

Mike Holloway's 126-yard effort against North Dakota State marked the fourth 100-yard rushing day of his career. The senior gave CSU a third quarter lead with a brilliant 47-yard touchdown run and added a six-yard score to tie the game late in regulation. Holloway is just 333 yards shy of breaking the program's all-time rushing mark held by Christian Reyes (2,200 yards – 2013-14).

Blue Swarm at it again

CSU's defense turned in an excellent first half against the five-time defending FCS national champions. The Bucs pitched a shutout until the final play of the stanza while forcing a turnover, notching three sacks and holding the Bison's powerful attack to just 138 yards. In the second half, defensive coordinator Chad Staggs' unit came up with several critical stops to give the offense a chance to force overtime. Troy McGowens' interception gave CSU an opportunity to win in regulation.

Senior safeties and captains DJ Curl and Corbin Jackson paced the Bucs with nine tackles apiece. Curl also forced the fumble that led to CSU's first half field goal. Shadarius Hopkins and Solomon Brown each had eight stops. Anthony Ellis, the Big South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, recorded four tackles and a sack.

Smoak and Burns help special teams

Jacob Smoak drilled a 46-yard field goal on his first attempt at CSU and nearly won the game with a 51-yarder that sailed wide left on the final play of regulation. Punter Truett Burns, meanwhile, was one of the unsung heroes of the night. Burns' 54-yard punt pinned NDSU at its own four-yard line with 7:14 left in the fourth quarter. CSU's defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, resulting in a short field for the Bucs' game-tying drive. Burns, a senior, placed another punt inside the 20 and averaged nearly 43 yards on six attempts. 

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

UL-Monroe Game Week 2016 – Southern Jaguars

MONROE, Louisiana -- From directions to ticket information, here is your guide to having a successful trip to Monroe on Saturday as the Warhawks kick off the Matt Viator era and open the 2016 season when they host Southern, a member of the SWAC. The game is slated for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff and tickets are still available.

For those unable to make the trek to Monroe, the game will be streaming live on ESPN3 on your computer or mobile device. Fans are encouraged to turn down the sound on the ESPN3 broadcast and turn up the volume on the Warhawk Radio Network and listen to play-by-play man Frank Hoffmann, who begins his 41st season calling ULM games, color commentator Scott McDonald and sideline reporter Nick White.

GENERAL GAME INFORMATION

When - Saturday, September 3, 2 6:00.m.

Where - Monroe, La.

Facility - JPS Field at Malone Stadium  - Directions

Parking - See Map Below

Tickets – Tickets are available and can be purchased through the ULM Ticket Office in person or by calling 342-HAWK. The Ticket Office will have extended hours the rest of the week. Ticket purchases may also be made Saturday at Malone Stadium.  -Purchase Tickets Online

Weather – Current Conditions/Radar

THE TEAMS

ULM (0-0)             Football Home Page  Roster  Game Notes

Southern (0-0)      Football Home Page  Roster  Game Notes

The Series – First All-Time Meeting

Last Time Out for ULM – Win (December 5, 2015) ULM 42, New Mexico State 35

Last Time Out for Southern – Loss (November 28, 2015) Grambling State 34, Southern 23

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Live Video Stream – ESPN3

Live Audio (ULM) – Warhawk Radio Network (Flagship Station K 104.1 Monroe)

Live Statistics – ulmstats.com 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook – facebook.com/Warhawks

Twitter – @ULM_FB

Instagram – Instagram.com/ulm.warhawks

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS 

Game Day RAM-blings- Albany State Football at Valdosta State

ALBANY, Georgia  -- Albany State will kick off its 2016 season when it faces an old state rival. The Golden Rams will visit the Valdosta State Blazers at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Ga. at 7 p.m.  This will be the 17 meeting between the two programs. The Blazers hold a 16-1 series edge.  The Golden Rams lost to VSU 21-13 in the season opener of the 2015 season, which was held in Albany, Ga.
     
Albany State returns an abundance of veteran players on both offense and defense. The Gold Rush Offense will be led by junior running back Jarvis Small, who generated another solid season in 2015. Small rushed for 1,073 yards and 11 touchdowns, and garnered the SIAC Offensive Player of the Year Award for the second consecutive year. All-conference offensive lineman Javoris Wilburn also returns, along with fellow starting lineman Tedrick Coffield.  Senior Caleb Edmonds will direct the ASU offense from quarterback position once again. Last season, he complete 148 passes out for 300 attempts for 1,761 yards and seven touchdowns. Top wide Quadrey Simmons is also back, along with kicker Stefan Whitehead.
   
On defense, All-SIAC defensive lineman Grover Stewart will lead the perennially sound ASU defense. He led the team in total sacks in 2015 and has been named to the D2Football.com All-American Team. Returning starters Zavondric Shingleton and Zane Fields will anchor the Golden Rams' linebacker core. Defensive backs Nick Scott, Marquiz Hodo and Ryan Selby return to the ASU secondary.
     
Valdosta State  will enter the game under the leadership of new head coach Kerwin Bell. Wide receivers Dallas Baldner and Donavan Bolden are the top returnees on offense, along with quarterback Roland Rivers.

How Can I Stay Connected?
Radio:              KISS FM 98.1
VIDEO Streaming:      http://esenetworks.com/page.aspx?id=5847&page-id=5875
Internet:          http://kissalbany.iheart.com/main.html
Live Stats:       http://www.sidearmstats.com/valdosta/football/
Facebook:       ASU Ram Nation
Twitter: @ASUGoldenRams

Albany State at Valdosta State Game Notes- September 3, 2016

ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Game Central Football: Savannah State vs. Georgia Southern

GAME CENTRAL

Savannah State Tigers I Game Notes: Click Here
(0-0, 0-0 MEAC)
vs.
Georgia Southern Eagles I Game Notes: Click Here
(0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)

Allen E. Paulson Stadium
(Statesboro, Georgia, 6 p.m.)

Savannah, Ga. -- The Savannah State football will begin the season and the Erik Raeburn against Georgia Southern on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2016 at 6 p.m. in Paulson Stadium.

   

Listen Live Radio: 90.3 FM Savannah Click Here
Live Stats Link: Click Here
ESPN3 Web Stream: Click Here
Tigers on Twitter (Follow for live updates): Click Here
Tigers on Instagram (Follow for game photos): Click Here
Purchase Tickets Online: Click Here

Coach Raeburn on defending the Ga. Southern triple option….
"Yes, it is a challenge. It forces you to defend the whole field and really be disciplined defensively; particularly with the guys they have running. Both their quarterbacks are both dynamic playmakers. Guys that are lightning fast anytime they touch it, they're a threat to go the distance. Then their running back had over 1,000 yards, I think 1200 yards last year so he's a real force too. The triple option is dangerous when anyone runs it and difficult to defend defensively. And when you put the ball  in the hands of some really electric guys with the skill positions, it's even more worrisome."

Coach Raeburn on adjusting from D-III to D-I…
"Obviously there are some differences between Division III and Division I, but I think the biggest adjustment is just being new and trying to learn the strength and weakness of your own players. When I was back at Wabash for example, I would only have to do that with the new guys; I would already have a pretty good idea of each of the guys on that roster and what they need to work on. What their good at already and what their strengths are. Here you kind of start from scratch and you gotta try to assess that in a short period of time. So I feel like I spent most of our camp trying to evaluate our players and I think that's  the biggest challenge to taking the new position."

The Series: Georgia Southern leads the series, 11-0.  (2013 win vacated)

Tiger Bites

- SSU will begin the Erik Raeburn era in football when the Tigers take on Georgia Southern on Saturday in Statesboro. Raeburn became the Tigers 25th head coach in March of 2016.

- Coach Raeburn is 15-1 in season debuts during his 16-year coaching career. He has won 14 consecutive season openers dating back to 2001.

- SSU is 0-3 when facing Georgia Southern in season openers. The Tigers fell to GSE in 2010 (48-3), 2013 (vacated: 77-9) and 2014 (83-9).

-  SSU  second year receivers coach Russell Demasi is a former Eagle. He lettered in football from 2008-12 at quarterback and scout team for GS.

MAKING A CHANGE
Several players have changed positions from last season. Arshon Spaulding (QB to WR), Marquis Smith (LB to DE), Tino Smith (QB to WR) andAfolabi Ayangbayi moved from (LT to C).

SHORT TRIP
This week's trip to Statesboro is only 55 miles, the shortest road trip for SSU this season.

RAEBURN ERA
Erik Raeburn is the new head football coach at SSU. Raeburn comes to SSU from Wabash College where he, in his eight years, accumulated a record of 78-13, earned five trips to the Division III playoffs and had 16 student-athletes earn All-America status. His 2015 squad posted a 12-1 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Division III playoffs. Raeburn's overall record as a head coach is 135-39.

PRESEASON HONORS
Two Tigers received MEAC preseason honors this summer. Linebacker Marquis Smith and kicker John Barron were named to the preseason All-MEAC Third Team.

WELCOME BACK
Three members of the previous staff are back for another season for the Tigers. They are Russell Demasi, Jonas Johnson and Cordell Taylor.

WELCOME ABOARD
SSU has five new assistant coaches on the staff this year. Bill Rychel (offensive coordinator/offensive line), Chad Williams (defensive coordinator/linebackers), Nathan Scola (running backs), Paris Jackson (defensive backs) and Anthony Neymeiyer (tight ends).

THE SIZE OF IT
Wide receiver Tyler Hagan is the tallest player on the team, standing 6'7" while running back Monroe Thornton is the shortest at 5'6". Wide receiver James Kicklighter is the lightest at 150 pounds, wShile offensive lineman Anquavius Fuller tips the scale at 320-pounds for the heaviest player on the squad.

FOLLOWING DAD'S FOOTSTEPS
Two players on the roster are sons of former SSU players. Raydell Martin is the son of former running back Isaac Caesar and K'Lon Lovett is the son of former defensive back Neeley Lovett.

SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
 

Oak crashes into historic FAMU Coach Jake Gaither home from Hurricane Hermine

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Hermine's winds toppled trees overnight.  One fell onto the historic home of FAMU Coach Jake Gaither.  It was added to the National Historic Register just last month.

We got a look inside to see if the Rattler memorabilia survived. This oak was probably standing when legendary FAMU Coach Jake Gaither lived at this house on Young Street in the 50's and 60's.

Not anymore.

"When you got here this morning and went inside tell me what you saw?"  "Well I saw a whole bunch of debris," builder Cornelius Jones said.  "I could see the sky light from the inside."

Hurricane Hermine sent the tree plunging into a home that was recently restored and filled with memorabilia from the rattler's winningest coach. Its addition to the National Historic Register was announced by the Secretary of State just weeks ago.



CONTINUE READING

ALERT: Hampton U. at ODU, Elizabeth City at Norfolk State postponed to Sunday Due to Weather

HAMPTON ROADS, Virginia -- The start of college football in the 757 has been pushed back a day.

The ABNB Labor Day Classic football game between Norfolk State and Elizabeth City State has been postponed and will now be played this Sunday at 6 p.m. at Dick Price Stadium.

The NSU Ticket Center will open at 12 p.m. Sunday. Tailgating and the Spartan Fan Fest will both begin at 2 p.m. Dick Price Stadium gates will open at 4 p.m. and the free campus shuttle service to and from Harbor Park Lot D will also begin at 4 p.m.



The Old Dominion vs. Hampton football game at Foreman Field at SB Ballard Stadium has been moved to Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Heavy rain (as much as 5.5 inches) and tropical storm like winds (up to 50 mph) are expected to peak Saturday evening.

"The safety of our fans is our number one priority. We're not only concerned with the rain and wind, but also how potential flooding could affect getting to and from campus as well as parking and tailgating. With this being a holiday weekend, a move to Sunday should have less of an impact. We appreciate the patience and flexibility of our fans as we try to make decisions in the best interests of everyone's safety and welfare," stated Dr. Wood Selig, ODU Director of Athletics. "We want to thank Hampton for working together with us to ensure that fans from both institutions enjoy the best game day experience possible given the uncertain weather conditions."

Tailgate lots will open at 1:30 p.m., two hours before kickoff. Kaufman Mall will be closed. The stadium gates will open at the normal 90 minutes prior to kickoff. The End Zone Complex will open two hours prior to kickoff.

Game Notes  |  Watch Live  |  Listen Live  |  Live Stats  |  Twitter Updates



If your tailgate spot is located in an area that is subject to flooding you will have the opportunity to relocate to the Brown Tailgate Lot on the corner of 43rd and Powhatan, the Yellow Parking Garage located on 43rd and Elkhorn, or one of the parking garages adjacent to the Ted. Please note that if you relocate to the Brown Tailgate Lot or Yellow Garage, you will still need to present a valid ODAF parking pass.

Broadcast coverage of the game will begin at 2:30 p.m. on the ODU Sports Radio Networks and can be heard on ESPN Radio 94.1 in Hampton Roads, Sports FM 100.5 in Richmond and WLVA 94.1 and FOX Sports 580 in Lynchburg.

The game will be televised on CUSA.TV.

CONTINUE READING 

Lincoln Blue Tigers Kick Off 2016 With Battle of the LUs

Complete Game Notes

Game 1: Langston (7-3 in 2015) at Lincoln (1-10 in 2015)
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 3 - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Jefferson City, Mo.
Stadium (Capacity): Dwight T. Reed Stadium (5,500)
Tickets: All Kids – Free | Adults - $10 | Non-LU Students/LU Faculty & Staff - $5 | LU Students (With ID) - Free
Streaming - http://portal.stretchinternet.com/lincoln2
Radio - KJLU 88.9 FM - Jefferson City, Mo.
Audiocast - http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KJLU
Live Stats - http://portal.stretchinternet.com/lincoln2
Special Events - Take a Kid to the Game & True Blue Game
Series - Langston leads, 39-21-2

THE KICKOFF  
For the first time since 2012, the Lincoln football team will open a season at home on Saturday (Sept. 3) as the Blue Tigers host Langston at 2:00 p.m. CDT. The contest is Take a Kid to the Game Day, with all kids receiving free admission, and the True Blue Game, with Lincoln fans invited to deck out in all blue as they cheer the Blue Tigers.



This is the third-straight year in which Lincoln and Langston have opened the season against one another, and the teams have split the previous two match-ups. Langston won in 2014, 49-48, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Lincoln then returned the favor last year, beating the Lions, 35-32, in Langston, Okla.

Prior to Saturday's game, the Blue Tiger Athletics Club will host a free tailgate party in the parking lot next to Dwight T. Reed Stadium. The tailgate will be hosted by Central Bank and is free to all Blue Tiger fans.

QUICK HITS  
- Lincoln renews its longest rivalry in program history on Saturday when the Blue Tigers host Langston. It will be the 63rd time since 1924 that the Blue Tigers and the Lions have played, with Langston holding a 39-21-2 advantage in the all-time series. Lincoln won the last meeting, 35-32, on the road last season.

- This is the first time that Lincoln will open a season at home since 2012, when the Blue Tigers began the year with a league contest against Lindenwood at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. It will be Lincoln's first home-opener vs. a non-conference team since 2011, when LU began the Mike Jones era with a win over Avila.

- A win for Lincoln would mark the first time that the Blue Tigers have won their season opener in back-to-back years since 1979 and 1980. It would also give Lincoln its first consecutive wins in consecutive seasons against an opponent since defeating Haskell in 2007 and 2008.

- 2016 marks the fourth-straight season that Lincoln will play at least one other HBCU. The Blue Tigers have played Langston in each of the past two seasons and beat Grambling State in the Missouri Classic in 2013. Lincoln has at least one win over a rival HBCU in each of the past three seasons.

- Langston is one of three HBCU opponents on Lincoln's 2016 schedule, joining Lincoln (PA) and Lane College.

- The Blue Tigers enter Saturday with an all-time record of 250-434-24.

- Head coach Mike Jones is in his sixth season at Lincoln. He is 8-47 both overall and at LU. Jones is the 21st head coach in the history of Blue Tiger football.

- Lincoln is in its third season as a member of the GLVC. LU was in the MIAA for 23 years, including three-straight from 2011-13, for football before making the switch in 2014. The GLVC is the fifth different conference in which the Blue Tigers have been a member, joining the Midwest Athletic Association, the Great Lakes Football Conference, the Central States Football League and the MIAA.

- This is the 86th season of Lincoln football. The Blue Tigers first fielded a team in 1920 and played every year until 1943, when Lincoln took a year off due to World War II. LU then played each season from 1944-1989. The football program was disbanded at that point, but was brought back in 2000.

BLUE TIGERS TO WATCH
OFFENSE - Lincoln returns a pair of All-GLVC receivers, including Bryson Winfrey, who was an all-league second team honoree as an offensive utility player and an honorable mention at wide receiver. Winfrey led LU with 60 receptions and also threw three touchdown passes. Darius Hicks is also back after gaining 559 yards and catching three touchdown passes. Also back for the LU receiving corps is Delvon Rouser, who finished seventh in the GLVC with 4.8 receptions per game. Leading the passing attack isDennis Vinson, who completed 62.5-percent of his passes a season ago. The Lincoln offense boasts one more all-conference performer in Miles Drummond, who led the Blue Tigers with four rushing touchdowns in 2015. Also carrying the load this season is Will Randolph, who started his collegiate career at Texas A&M and is expected to be LU's starter on Saturday.

DEFENSE - Leading the Blue Tiger defense this year is Marvin Holley, an All-GLVC honorable mention at safety who finished fifth on the team with 63 tackles in 2015. Holley also had a pair of interceptions and broke up a pass. LU has one other returning starter, Julius Jackson, a defensive end who made 40 tackles last year, including 3.5 for loss and a sack. Six of Lincoln's other projected defensive starters are returners, including Jervonta Jones, who made 4.5 tackles for loss in 2015. Lawrence Hogue, who played in nine contests and broke up two passes while recovering a fumble in 2014, is back after missing the 2015 campaign. Addison Tucker, a two-year key member of the linebacker rotation, is also back for his junior season.

SPECIAL TEAMS - Darius Hicks, who averaged 16.5 yards on kickoff returns last season, returns to handle both kick and punt returns in 2016. Dennis Jackson, who gained 147 yards on seven returns last year, will also handle kick return duties. Alex Templeton is expected to handle both punting and kicking duties while C.J. Closser is the holder and starting center Alec Wallingsford will serve as the long snapper.

LANGSTON AT A GLANCE  
Langston's passing attack is directed by Mark Wright, who last season threw for 1,517 yards and 12 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. The Lions' top-returning wideout is their running back, Kievon Jackson, who grabbed 10 passes for 172 yards and a score. As a rusher, Jackson led Langston with seven touchdowns while gaining 365 yards last season. Wright also added four rushing scores while his back-up, Norbert Ralph, threw nine touchdown passes and rushed for four scores in nine contests.

The defense will be bolstered by the return of three of Langston's top-five tacklers from a year ago, led by Evan Scott, who made 65 total takedowns. That includes 3.5 for loss and three sacks as well as a pair of intereceptions and a fumble recovery. Ray Douglas returns after making 59 tackles in 2015 as well as two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Douglas also made four tackles for loss. The other key returner is De'Amonte Miles, who had 53 total tackles last season.

Langston's biggest loss was Sheldon Augustine, who was a playmaker as a receiver and a kick returner and is now pursuing a professional career. That will leave openings in the special teams for returners. Both the punting and the kicking duties will be handled by newcomer Michael Ryan-Calderon. The long snapper is Malik Argue, who also plays on the Lions' defensive line. 

THE COACHES 
Mike Jones is in his sixth season with the Blue Tigers. Jones has led LU through transitions into the MIAA in 2011 and the GLVC in 2014. A 1991 graduate of Missouri, Jones spent 12 seasons as a professional football player and is well known in Missouri for making "The Tackle" that stopped the Tennessee Titan's Kevin Dyson on the one-yard line to preserve the St. Louis Rams' victory in Super Bowl XXXIV. Before coming to Lincoln, Jones was was also the head coach at Hazelwood East High in St. Louis, leading the team to a state title in 2008.

Quinton Morgan was named the head coach of the Lions on Dec. 2 following nine seasons of serving on Langston's staff. Morgan played running back, wide receiver and defensive back for the Lions from 2004-2005 and most recently was the defensive backs coach at Langston. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Morgan played four years of professional football in two arena leagues.  

ALL-LEAGUE:  The Blue Tigers bring back four players who earned All-GLVC recognition last year, including Bryson Winfrey, who was a second team honoree as a utility player and an honorable mention at wide receiver. Darius Hicks also was an all-league honorable mention at receiver while Miles Drummond and Marvin Holley earned All-GLVC honorable mention distinction at running back and safety, respectively.

BROKEN RECORDS:  Lincoln's passing attack in 2015 was the best in program history, with the Blue Tigers breaking single-season records for both completions (242) and passing yards (2,832). LU's passing game has the potential to be even better in 2016, as Lincoln returns four of its top five receivers from a year ago, including two who earned All-GLVC recognition. Lincoln also brings back Dennis Vinson, who appeared in six games and completed 62.5-percent of his passes last year. 

THE FOURTH AWAKENS:  No defense in the GLVC was better on fourth down than Lincoln was in 2015. The Blue Tigers allowed opponents to convert on just six of 21 fourth-down attempts, the ninth-best defensive rate in NCAA Division II. LU also blocked a GLVC-high seven kicks, finishing 12th in DII in that statistic.

RECORD WATCH:  With 31 receptions this year, Bryson Winfrey will become Lincoln's all-time career record. Winfrey enters 2016 with 113 career catches, with the Lincoln record standing at 143 by Maurice Woodard from 2010-13. In 2015, Winfrey led the Blue Tigers with 60 receptions. 

SHOW ME SOME FOOTBALL:  For the second-straight season, Lincoln will have six games at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. The Blue Tigers will get to enjoy Missouri cooking for most of the season, though, as only two of LU's 11 contests in 2016 are outside of the Show Me State. The Blue Tigers play at Lincoln (PA) next week, and travel to Indiana to play Indianapolis in October. Lincoln's remaining three road games are against Missouri opponents.

UP NEXT  Lincoln's first road game of the season will also be its longest, as the Blue Tigers travel to Pennsylvania to play the other Lincoln University next Saturday (Sept. 10) at 12:00 p.m. CDT.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Howard Opens Season on the Road Against Maryland Terrapins

TV: Big Ten Network

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland -- The Howard University football team will kick off the 2016 season on Saturday when they take on the Terps of the University of Maryland at 12 noon at Capital One Field.  The game broadcast live on the Big Ten Network and Howard fans can follow all the action by logging onto the Bison Sports Network atwww.whbc963hd3.com  or on the HBCU Network on Channel 142 Sirius. Trevin Jones will do the play by play and Tiffany Hoyd and Michael Lindo will provide color commentary.

It is the first meeting between the two schools which are 30 minutes apart.  Both teams will try to rebound from subpar seasons and the Terps will try to do it under first year head coach DJ Durkin.
                  
Maryland (0-0) has an entirely new coaching staff but should be highly motivated to make an impressive debut for the home fans.  The Bison (0-0) will try to take advantage of the underdog role.

"DJ comes from Michigan and is a defensive-minded coach," said Howard head coachGary Harrell, in his fourth season.  "This game is especially important for our seniors.  The game will be on the Big Ten Network, so it is a great opportunity.  The scouts will be looking to see how we prepare and perform against this type of competition.  Our guys are ready and look forward to the competition."

Both teams have inexperience at the quarterback position.  The Terps will start Jordan Hills.
            
"Maryland QBs don't have a lot of game experience but they are effective," noted Harrell,"Maryland struggled last year like we did, but their record doesn't reflect how good they are.  It will be a huge challenge for us." 
                  
The Bison are in a similar situation at the quarterback position.  Kalen Johnson, a red-shirt sophomore, got most of the snaps last season and showed improvement down the stretch, passing for over 1,100 yards and 8 TDs.  But he was pressed in spring practice and the preseason by Jason Collins, a red-shirt freshman.
                 
"We have two excellent young QBs we feel good about," said Harrell. "Johnson and Collins (red-shirt freshman)  did a great job competing.  We haven't named a starter yet.  Johnson has developed and the game has slowed down for him . He's slightly ahead but Collins is right on his tail.  Whoever can best manage the game and not turn the ball over is who will be the starter."

NEXT UP:  The Bison travel to New Jersey next Saturday to take on another Big 10 opponents in Rutgers.  That game is also a 12 noon kickoff.  The Terps will travel to Miami, FL to play FIU on Friday at 7:30 pm.

Game Notes

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Duke Opens Football Season Saturday With NCCU

DURHAM, North Carolina -- Duke football opens the season at home against MEAC co-champion North Carolina Central. The Blue Devils have beaten the Eagles all four times they’ve played during Cutcliffe’s tenure, most recently 55-0 last year. We expect that trend to continue, but we’ll give some team history and some names likely to be called during the game.

Central has won a share of the MEAC title in ’14 and ’15, but have lost post-season chances on tiebreakers both years. Their goal for the year is to get to the post-season, a goal that luckily will not be hindered should the Blue Devils take care of business on Saturday.



Incidentally, winning even a share of the championship would give the Eagles a three-peat for the first time in school history. Speaking of school history, HC Jerry Mack was the first coach in NCCU history to win 15 games in two years. Eagles defensive end Ryan smith was drafted by Tampa Bay after last season. He recorded five tackles in their game against Duke last year.

The Eagles bring back fifteen of their starters, most importantly redshirt senior quarterback Malcom Bell, who recorded 1,581 passing yards last year, along with 509 rushing yards, and 13 total touchdowns. He is labeled as a dual-threat quarterback, which will at least be familiar to the Duke defense.

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