N.C. A&T Visits Tallahassee For FAMU's Homecoming

*No. 11/No. 15 North Carolina A&T (6-0, 3-0 MEAC) vs. Florida A&M (2-4, 4, 0-2 MEAC) *FCS Coaches Poll/STATS Media
Poll Date: Oct. 14, 2017    
Time: 3 p.m. 
Facility: Bragg Memorial Stadium (25,000)   
Series: FAMU leads, 44-18-3   
Radio: ESPN Triad Radio (1320 AM, 93.7 FM, 104.9 FM, 1230 AM); 
Play-by-play – Donal Ware, Analysts – Al Swann 

Aggie Game Notes

http://player.listenlive.co/47771

FAMU Game Notes

OFFENSIVE STARTERS FROM LAST GAME: WR Elijah Bell (6-2, 221, So., had a big homecoming with 9 rec., 178 yds and a TD); LT Brandon Parker (6-7, 309, R-Sr., gained another offensive lineman of the week award); LG Joshua Mattocks (6-3, 331, R-Sr., has played in 32 straight games); C Darriel Mack (6-2, 293, R-Sr., Mack has graded out high numerous times this season); RG Daquan Blake (6-1, 290, Jr., he continues to get stronger each week); RT Marcus Pettiford (6-3, 274, R-So., the right side of the Aggies line as fared well too); WR Khris Gardin (5-7, 185, Sr., had a 78-yard kickoff return versus Del State); TE Leroy Hill (6-3, 249, R-Jr., Hill is a huge target for Raynard); FB William Simpson(6-0, 220, R-So., Elizabeth City, N.C., Simpson has made two straight starts); QB Lamar Raynard (6-4, 200, R-Jr., Raynard is proving to be one of the best QB’s in the country);  RB Marquell Cartwright (5-8, 201, R-Jr., Cartwright routinely pounds on teams for four quarters).

DEFENSIVE STARTERS FROM LAST GAME: DE Sam Blue (6-1, 247, R-Jr., has given the Aggies a good pass rush this season); NG Jermaine Williams (6-1, 301, R-So., Williams’ caused fumble led to an Aggies safety); DT Kadarius Kendrick (6-4, 277, Jr., has two tackles for loss on the season); DE Darryl Johnson (6-5, 226, R-So., his two sacks were a part of the Aggies’ 8 sacks last Saturday); LB Deion Jones (5-11, 202, R-Jr., ranked fourth on the team in tackles (22); LB Kiaundric Richardson (6-0, 214, R-Jr., posted five tackles vs. DSU); LB Marcus Albert (5-10, 205, R-Sr., has five tackles for loss on the season); FS Tard McCoy (5-9, 191, R-Sr., has excellent tackling skills); CB Mac McCain (5-11, 174, R-Fr., almost had another pick-6 last Saturday); ROV Jeremy Taylor (5-11, 190, R-Sr., led the Aggies with six tackles against Del State); CB Timadre Abram (5-10, 168, R-Jr., has broken up five passes this season).

  

The Game: N.C. A&T will be on the road again. The Aggies will be playing on the road for the fifth time in seven games, and to make it even tougher, the Aggies are the guest for Florida A&M’s homecoming. The Rattlers will be trying to return a favor to the Aggies after the Aggies defeated Florida A&M for homecoming last year in Greensboro. The Aggies are on a five-game winning streak against the Rattlers, the longest such streak the Aggies have had against the Rattlers in the series. N.C. A&T has never won three straight games in Tallahassee versus the Rattlers. A win would put this Aggies team in rare air as only the third team in school history to have a 7-0 record. The other team occurred in 1927 and 1943. The Aggies will try to slow down a FAMU attack that posted 485 yards of total offense against Norfolk State.

N.C. A&T is coming off a 44-3 win over Delaware State during the Greatest Homecoming On Earth.  N.C. A&T held the Hornets to minus 38 yards rushing, the lowest amount a team has had during the seven-year era of head coach Rod Broadway. It marked the fourth time in the last seven years the Aggies have held an opponent to negative yards rushing and the 23rd time an opponent has been held to under 50 yards rushing. The Aggies offense was not too bad either. The Aggies posted more than 400 yards of offense for the sixth straight game. N.C. A&T has never opened a season with seven straight 400-yard games of offense. The Aggies have scored 30 or more points in five of their six games this season. N.C. A&T has scored 30 or more points 29 times and 40 or more points 17 times in the 75 games Broadway has coached at N.C. A&T.

News & Notes

• N.C. A&T earned more MEAC weekly honors this week when quarterback Lamar Raynard was named offensive player of the week for the fourth time this season after throwing for a career-high 324 yards and three touchdowns on 20-for-26 passing. Meanwhile, left tackle Brandon Parker picked up his fifth offensive lineman of the week honor in six weeks.
• Last season, the Aggies broke the single-season school record for points in a season with 422, two more points than they scored in 1993. That record is under threat again. The Aggies have already scored 250 points this season, putting them 173 points shy of taking down last year’s mark.
• Raynard is 367 yards shy of becoming just the fifth Aggie to throw for 2,000 yards in a season. If he accomplishes the feat, he will be the first Aggie to do so since Lewis Kindle threw for more than 2,000 yards in 2011. The other Aggie QBs who have done it include Maseo Bolin, Alan Hooker and Ellsworth Turner.
• Rod Broadway won his 53rd game as the head coach of N.C. A&T. He is now three wins shy of becoming second on the Aggies all-time wins list. If he were to stop coaching today, he would leave N.C. A&T with the best winning percentage of all time (.707). Bill Hayes held the previous high mark with a .624 winning percentage.

Opposing Point of View

“We have our hands full here at homecoming, so we've got to get our guys to understand what they need to do to go and compete and take advantage of this opportunity to play a really good football team at home in front of a homecoming crowd which generally here at Florida A&M is a packed house and a very exciting atmosphere. We're looking forward to that opportunity. Their quarterback (Lamar) Raynard is really doing a good job for them. Their running backs Marquell Cartwright and Jamari Smith are doing a really good job. They have the left tackle Brandon Parker who is obviously an all-conference player. Then on defense they have Jermaine Williams, Darryl Johnson and they have two really good corners in (Mac) McCain and (Timadre) Abram. They have a lot of good players obviously, I could mention more, but those are the guys who stick out on film. We're looking forward to the game, and we've got to get back on track.”

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

November 15: Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

ATLANTA, Georgia -- A haven for Black intellectuals, artists and revolutionaries — and path of promise toward the American dream—Black colleges and universities have educated the architects of freedom movements and cultivated leaders in every field. They have been unapologetically Black for more than 150 years. For the first time ever, their story is told.

Join Jazz 91.9 WCLK and Clark Atlanta University for the exclusive Atlanta Screening of Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities. Directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson, The film examines the impact HBCUs have had on American history, culture, and national identity. Beginning with the earliest attempts at education to today’s campuses.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring CAU President Ronald A. Johnson, Filmmaker Stanely Nelson and a host of prominent students and alumni from HBCUs.



The tour is a major part of HBCU Rising, the year-long multiplatform engagement project designed to drive dialog among a variety of audiences. Jazz 91. 9 is 0ne of 10 HBCU’s across the nation to receive a grant for the campus event.

“We felt it was very important to showcase the film to students on HBCU campuses because this is a vital part of our African-American and American history,” said director Stanley Nelson. “Many students and even alumni are not aware of the deep history of how and why HBCUs were created and the foundation for success they provided for African Americans. We appreciate the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s support and the partnership on the ground with local public television and radio stations to make this tour possible.”

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Former Texas College Football Coach Ace Mumford nominated for Hall of Fame

TYLER, Texas -- Coach Arnett “Ace” Mumford was named a Class of 2018 Finalist for the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

The Black College Football Hall of Fame recognizes players and coaches specifically from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Coach Mumford served as the head football coach at Texas College from 1931 to 1935. Under his leadership the Steers won two Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships and one National Championship.

Mumford also coached at Jarvis Christian College, Bishop College, and Southern University throughout his career. Over his coaching career, Mumford’s record was 225-86-23. While respected as a winner, he was dually noted for his emphasis on his players' education.

Mumford was also an inductee into the National College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

The Class of 2018 Inductees will be announced on Oct 25.

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Bowie State (6-0) at Virginia State (5-0) Preview

ETTRICK, Virginia -- The Clash of the Titans is finally here. We have two undefeated teams, a Homecoming, NFL prospects, national television, and two teams vying for control in the conference! What more could you ask for?

Bowie State, the 14th ranked team in the AFCA Poll, is coming off a 41-10 win in their Northern Division opener last week against the Chowan Hawks. Virginia State had a dominating win themselves in their Northern Division opener against Elizabeth City State, claiming a 56-0 victory.



This game has storylines and NFL Prospects across the board. This game features the top two players in the conference, as well as in the nation, in quarterback Amir Hall (Bowie State) and running back Trent Cannon (Virginia State). Cannon is the top NFL prospect the conference has to offer this year. This will be the best defense Cannon will face this year as the Bulldogs defense is ranked fourth in the nation.

The Bulldogs defense is led by senior defensive end Derrick Tate and fellow senior defensive back Rahman Kamara. Cannon isn't the only Trojan to watch as quarterback Cordelral Cook is coming off a six-touchdown performance against Elizabeth City State.



The Bowie State offense which is the top offense in the nation, will face its toughest defensive team in the nation as well. The Trojans have the number seven ranked defense in the nation. On defense, the Virginia State will be led by senior linebacker Brandon Lynch who was a pre-season All-CIAA selection and junior linebacker Malik Sexton.

The Bulldogs and Trojans have played two classic games over the past two seasons with Bowie State claiming close wins in both. Kickoff is set for 2:05 this Saturday (10/14) and will be televised nationally on the Aspire Network.

BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

West Virginia State Freshman Nika Tadic Named Mountain East Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Week

NIKA TADIC
WOMEN'S TENNIS
WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE, West Virginia -- WVSU freshman Nika Tadic from Split, Croatia, has been named the Mountain East Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Week.

Tadic went 3-0 in singles including wins over second and third place Charleston and West Liberty.

She began the week playing #6 singles but was forced to move up a spot for the final two matches due to a teammate's injury.

Against the Hilltoppers at #5 singles Tadic lost the first set but rallied to win the next two in what was the final match on the court and the one that decided the winning team as the Yellow Jackets stayed undefeated.

In Wednesday' match at Charleston Tadic teamed with junior Kayla McKnight to win a key doubles match in a 9-7 tiebreaker after escaping three match points in the Golden Eagles favor.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Tennessee State Tigers Host Austin Peay for Homecoming

Tennessee State Game Notes | Austin Peay Game Notes
2017 Tennessee State Media Guide | Live Stats

Social Media: #BigBlueRising
Twitter: @TSU_Tigers | Instagram: @TSUTigers
Facebook: Tennessee State University Tigers

Game 7: Tennessee State (4-2, 1-2) vs. Austin Peay (3-3, 2-1)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Stadium: Nissan Stadium (69,143)
Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
TV: OVCDN
Audio: 102.1 FM
Live Stats: Statbroadcast

Series Information: This is the 20th meeting with the Tigers leading the series, 13-6. The teams first met in 1988, a 16-12 victory for the squad from Clarksville. TSU earned its first win in the series a year later, 38-10. The last 11 meetings have run in streaks for the teams. TSU won a trio of games from 1996-2008, only to see the Governors reel off three of their own from 2009-11. The Tigers are currently on a five game run, including a last second 41-40 win in Clarksville in 2016.



Last Meeting: Steven Newbold caught a touchdown pass with 1.7 seconds left in the game to give TSU a 41-40 road victory. Ronald Butler engineered a six-play, 81-yard drive with less than a minute remaining. Butler threw four touchdown passes and added two rushing score as he compiled 342 yards of total offense. Antonio Justice, Jr. led the Tigers’ defense with nine tackles, 1.5 for loss and one sack. APSU opened the scoring, only to see the Tigers respond with Butler teaming up with Newbold for the first of their two touchdown hookups. Tennessee State followed with a scoring pass from Butler to Mahlon Medley and the first of Butler's rushing scores to take a 20-9 lead. Austin Peay scored 10 points in the final two minutes of the half to close to within one point, 20-19. The second half began with Butler hitting Patrick Smith for a 39 yard strike to add to the lead. Butler followed with an 84 yard dash for his second rushing touchdown, extending the lead to 34-19. The Governors scored 21 straight points to take a 40-34 lead with 1:05 remaining. Newbold finished the game with four receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns.

Head Coach Rod Reed: Reed is in his eighth season at the helm of the Tigers. During his time at TSU, he has compiled a 47-39 record, including a 38-24 mark since 2012, and is 23-32 in OVC play. Reed is the third winningest coach in Tennessee State Football History. John Merritt claimed 174 victories in his 20 years (1963-83) at TSU for a .806 winning percentage (174-35-7). Harry Kean spent 10 years in charge of TSU from 1944-54 and compiled a 93-15-3 record (.838). Coach Reed has compiled a 12-10 record in Sgt. York Trophy Games.

Tennessee State: TSU claimed its first conference win of the season and improved to 4-2, 1-2 in OVC play, with a 45-21 win at Eastern Kentucky. The Tigers picked off EKU quarterbacks four times in the game, including the final three being returned for touchdowns. Vincent Sellers earned adidas OVC Defensive Player and Newcomer of the Week with two pick-sixes, to go along with eight tackles, seven solo, and a pass breakup. Terrell Bonds closed out the scoring with an interception returned for a touchdown.

One play before Sellers’ first pick, Michael Hughes scored on a quarterback sneak to give the Tigers a 24-21 lead with just over six minutes to play. Hughes, in his first start, added two touchdown passes. The sophomore signal caller recorded his first scoring pass of his career to Patrick Smith before finding Steven Newbold minutes later. The Tigers were successful running the ball as they rushed for 193 yards, led by Seth Rowland’s 69. Andrew Knox totaled 63 yards on the ground, while Sabree Curtis ran for 39. Blair Edwards matched Sellers with eight tackles and seven solos. Edwards tacked on 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup. Lane Clark put the Tigers on the board in the first quarter with a 49-yard field goal. The distance tied for the 10th longest in TSU history and was the second 49-yarder for the kicker this season. Patrick Smith pulled in four receptions, giving him 141 in his career. Smith moved past Patrick Robinson (1989-92, 140) into sixth all-time at TSU.

The Tigers are ranked 13th in Total Defense in FCS play allowing 280.8 yards per game. The Big Blue now ranks fifth nationally with four defensive scores and is 16th in interceptions with eight.

Austin Peay: The Governors enter at 3-3, 2-1 in the OVC, after dropping a 34-14 contest to Jacksonville State. APSU continues to lead the OVC, and is ranked 12th nationally, after being held to 106 yards rushing a week ago. Kentel Williams tops the Govs ground attack with 409 yards on 68 attempts, averaging 68.2 yards per game and 6.01 per carry. At quarterback, JaVaughn Craig is a duel threat completing 38-of-71 passes for 366 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Craig also has 364 yards rushing on 53 carries and has crossed the goal line six times. The defense is led by Gunnar Scholato and Jeremiah Mitchell. Scholato tops the squad with 53 tackles, 3.5 for loss and an interception. Mitchell brings support with 50 stops, 2.0 for loss and a forced fumble. Jaison Williams has been a force up front with seven tackles for loss, including 5.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries.

Last 10 Results:

2016 - Tennessee State 41, Austin Peay 40

2015 - Tennessee State 20, Austin Peay 6

2014 - Tennessee State 31, Austin Peay 27

2013 - Tennessee State 31, Austin Peay 6

2012 - Tennessee State 34, Austin Peay 13

2011 - Austin Peay 37, Tennessee State 34

2010 - Austin Peay 26, Tennessee State 23

2009 - Austin Peay 24, Tennessee State 21

2008 - Tennessee State 37, Austin Peay 34

2007 - Tennessee State 33, Austin Peay 32 ot

Radio: 102.1 FM will carry the game live with Greg Pogue (play-by-play), Albert Dawson (analyst), Craig Ladd (Scoreboard) and Gary Dawson (sideline). Pregame will begin at 5:30 p.m. CT

OVCDN: Howard Gentry Jr. will serve as play-by-play along with Derek Fleming who will provide analysis.

Quotes:

Head Coach Rod Reed- On his team

“I was really proud of the way our kids responded. After going down 0-2 in the conference, going on the road to a place we hadn’t played well at all, being about to go there and come away with a victory, it was a hard-fought contest. I think we started fast in that game and it helped us. We knew going in at halftime that that team was going to continue to fight. Coach Elder does a good job with those guys. That game was much closer than the score indicated. The last six minutes really decided that game. Our kids prepared well. Our coaches prepared well, and we were able to clean up a lot of things with penalties and whatnot. We were able to move the ball more efficiently on offense and defensively, we played well in the first half. Other than the third quarter, I thought we played really good defense.”

- On facing Austin Peay

“We’ve got Austin Peay coming in. They’re a well-coached football team, and they give you fits with their different sets and motion – things of that nature. They’ll be extremely prepared defensively. Offensively, they just play sound football. They’re going to keep the ball in front of them. They play the gaps really well. It’s always been a struggle with us and The Peay. It’s kind of a rivalry game, and it came down to the last play of the game last year. I heard Will (Healy) talk about it being our Homecoming, and that was just because of how it fell on the schedule. We didn’t pick a Homecoming opponent. I can tell you that. That’s a good football team over there, and they’ve shown that.”

- On the play of Michael Hughes

“We’ve still got two really good quarterbacks. Both of those guys will play. Mike (Hughes) came in and did a really good job. He helped us move the ball down the field. I think our offensive line played better this past game. We were able to run the football. I’ve moved Andrew Knox into that tailback position, and with our big offensive line, it looked better. Being able to run the ball really helped us in the throw game, and I think that really helped Mike out.”

APSU Head Coach Will Healy

- On Facing TSU

“Big game this week. We’re trying to make sure we turn the page quickly and move on to a really good Tennessee State team that we feel like is extremely talented. You turn on the film and they’ve got tremendous size. They look like SEC bodies and have really good speed. They’ve got good weapons especially on offense. Our work will be cut out for us in all three phases. I think they are a complete team.”

- On TSU’s personnel

“You look at their kicker, he’s a weapon for them. In close games, he’s a weapon for them. He’s been extremely consistent, and he’s got a strong leg. Defensively, I think what they’re doing schematically is really good. Obviously, they’ve got tremendous talent on that side of the ball as well. There aren’t many holes that you can find. They play hard, and they’re physical. Everyone knows what their wide outs can do on the offensive side of the ball. When you’ve got two quarterbacks who can do what they’re doing – Hughes and Harris – it’s difficult to defend and prepare for because you have to prepare for both of them. I worked with Russ Ehrenfeld for four years at Chattanooga, and I know how good of a job he does with the offensive lineman – how well prepared they’ll be and how hard they play. They look like sporting good mannequins.”

- On Facing TSU on Homecoming

“Good news for us is this is our first Homecoming game this year. It felt like last year, every away game was a Homecoming game. We’re getting into that challenge again, and we look forward to the challenge. We’re looking forward to playing in Nissan Stadium. It will be a lot of fun for our kids, and it’s an opportunity for us to face what we feel is a top 25 football team.”

Sophomore Running Back Andrew Knox

- On carrying the ball a career high 12 times

“Going into last week, we knew that EKU was going to be real physical. I was getting a lot of reps earlier in the week at tailback and I knew my number was going to get called. I just had to make the best out of my opportunities.”

- On the play of the offensive line

“The offensive line did an outstanding job. We, as a running back crew, have been working extra with the linemen getting on the same page, being sure where our holes are and just making sure we are being physical. The o-line really stepped it up for all four quarters.”

- On breaking a two-game skid

“This shows the type of character we have on this team. We lost the previous two games, but that did not let that bring us down. We knew what type of team we were and the type of team we want to be, so we will just keep on pushing. We feel we can win games as long as we do our jobs.”

Senior Defensive Tackle Jason Morrow

- On the play of Vincent Sellers

“The interceptions by Vincent were big. We had a lot of chances to catch a couple, but when we finally got them, it was big. Two interceptions by a freshman, that’s big. When a rookie steps up like that, it’s amazing.”

- On first career interception

“I have to thank Chris Collins and the whole defense for calling it out. Then it was all reaction. I just happen to be in the right place to make a play.”

- On ending the skid

“The loss to EIU will motivate us for the rest of the season. When you lose like that, it takes a part of you. When you put up that much effort and it goes down to the wire like that, it just left a sore spot inside of everybody on this team.”

Senior Cornerback Terrell Bonds

- On defensive performance

“It started with preparation during the week. We went out and executed the game plan. It the third quarter, we went through a lot of adversity giving up 21 points, but we came together as a defense. At the end, we made a lot of plays.”

- On giving up 21 straight points against Eastern Kentucky

“It was a momentum swing. We just went back to the sideline and made some adjustments. We just capitalized on some plays and ended the game strong.”

- On the four interceptions

“They were great plays. Morrow made a great play. Sellers played his technique. When he got the ball, he just did what he is supposed to do.”

Senior Defensive End Ebo Ogundeko

- On returning to action

“It felt great. The main goal was to be back out there with my brothers. I feel like the last two or three seasons I have been letting my team down. I just recognize continuous patterns. I feel when I am out there I bring added leadership. The main thing is to be out there every single game to be out there with my brothers.”

- On his performance

“I still need to continue rehabbing and my strength programs so I can get faster. I just need to get used to the knee brace and getting the reps. I just keep on growing.”

- On preparation and coaching staff

“We have to stay locked in and stay aggressive. We did the last game for Coach Fisher (who coached at EKU). Some of the guys on this team don’t have fathers and people to look up to. In my mind, since I did not have a father, besides GOD, I just look at these coaches and you want to make them happy. They are figures in our life that try to help us out. There is no better feeling. If we make them happy, then we make ourselves happy.”

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

CIAA could explore options for basketball tournaments

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — The CIAA basketball tournament is on firm footing in Charlotte, but the conference will be making crucial decisions with the popular tournament over the next several months.

The women’s and men’s tournaments, which will be held again at Bojangles Coliseum and the Spectrum Center in late February, are entering the fourth year of a six-year contract.

Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams of the CIAA said this spring the board of directors of the CIAA, which consists of the 12 presidents and chancellors, will begin talks about the direction of the tournament. The first decision is whether to open the bidding process to other cities or to extend its current contract with the city of Charlotte.

“Before we get to the 2019 tournament, we need to know what we are doing after this contract expires,” McWilliams said last week during the conference’s basketball media day.

The CIAA and Charlotte have an agreement in place until 2020. There are three tournaments left on the current contract, but McWilliams said it’s time to start looking and planning for the future.

“We’ve had various opinions whether we should stay in North Carolina or look to Virginia again,” McWilliams said. “I think the board has to think about the future of this conference as it relates to the tournament.”

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NCCU Football Enters STATS FCS Top 25 Poll

DURHAM, North Carolina – North Carolina Central University has entered the STATS FCS Top 25 poll at No. 25 following the Eagles' 13-7 road win over Howard University to improve their record to 4-1.

After a season-opening setback to FBS opponent Duke University of the Atlantic Coast Conference, NCCU has rolled off four consecutive victories. The three-time defending MEAC champions have won 18 straight conference games and 10 consecutive home contests entering this weekend's non-conference match-up with Gardner-Webb University of the Big South Conference.



The 2016 Eagles collected the most wins in the program's Division I era with a 9-3 overall record and an unbeaten 8-0 mark in league play. NCCU defeated nationally-ranked North Carolina A&T 42-21 on Nov. 19 to capture the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship and earn the league's bid to the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

The Eagles received their first national ranking as a Division I-FCS program on Nov. 7, 2016, when the FCS Coaches Poll announced NCCU at No. 25. By the end of the regular season, the Eagles jumped to No. 18 and finished at No. 19 in the final FCS Coaches poll. NCCU ranked No. 22 in the final 2016 STATS FCS Top 25 poll.

The complete STATS FCS Top 25 poll is available at www.fcs.football.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

SIAC Signs Multi-Year Agreement to Telecast Football Games on ESPN3

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) announced today a multi-year agreement to live stream regular season football games as well as the SIAC football championship game on ESPN3. The first SIAC game will feature Albany State University hosting Morehouse College on Saturday, October 14 at 2:00 PM ET.

“We are excited about our relationship with ESPN,” said Gregory Moore, Commissioner, SIAC. “Over the past several years, the SIAC Council of Presidents have made significant investments towards building and cultivating our member schools digital and social media assets. That fact, coupled with the SIAC leadership in average football attendance for 14 consecutive years, makes ESPN3 the perfect platform to provide SIAC member schools and student-athletes with national exposure opportunities.”

ESPN President John Skipper added, “ESPN’s multiple platforms provide national exposure for a broad array of live sports, and we are happy to add these SIAC games and their exciting brand of football to our offering. Through our collaboration with SIAC, we are thrilled to serve fans by showcasing the events they want to watch.”



The broadcast team will feature veteran play-by-play announcer James Verrett and 14 year NFL veteran, two-time Super Bowl Champion and Fort Valley State University legend Tyrone Poole.

The 2017 SIAC Football Schedule will feature the following conference games on ESPN3:

Saturday, October 14 – Morehouse College vs. Albany State University – 2 p.m. ET
Saturday, October 21 – Albany State University vs. Clark Atlanta University – 2 p.m. ET
Thursday, October 26 – Clark Atlanta University vs. Miles College – 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, November 4 – Miles College vs. Tuskegee University – 1p.m. CT
Saturday, November 11 – 2017 SIAC Football Championship – TBD

About ESPN3:
ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events annually. It is accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets and streaming devices through the ESPN app. The network is currently available nationwide at no additional cost to those who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. It is also available at no cost to U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers, smartphones and tablets connected to on-campus educational and on-base military broadband and Wi-Fi networks.

About the SIAC:
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 14 member institutions (Albany State University, Benedict College, Central State University, Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Paine College, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University) which are located within a contiguous six-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors seven men's and six women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II.



SIAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Virginia State Football Preview: HOMECOMING

It’s a clash of the unbeatens as the VSU Trojans get set to battle Bowie State for #1 in CIAA Northern Division

ETTRICK, Virginia - This could be the game.  The game that determines who represents the North in the CIAA title game.  Two unbeatens will collide on the gridiron of Rogers Stadium at Virginia State University. The VSU Trojans are 5-0. The Bowie State Bulldogs are 6-0.

The Trojans want to grow their winning streak at their home field to seven straight games.  Oh, and by the way, it’s Virginia State’s Homecoming Game.

“Games like this is why you sign up to play football and coach football,” said VSU head coach Reggie Barlow.

The Trojans are enjoying their first 5-0 start to a season since 1993.

“We’ve been blessed with some amazing student-athletes. We do have a good group of guys. They’ve bought into the vision of what we wanted this 2017 season to be about,” Barlow said. “Our coaches [including Mark Carney, Dwone Sanders, Vernon Dean, Brandon Kirksey, Aaron Mehl and Alex Stadler] have done a good job of communicating the plan and what we want to get done.”



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MEAC Football Teleconference Week 7

Click on time for direct access to specified coach
00:00 - 15:43	Fred Farrier	Morgan State
15:44 - 24:08	Alex Wood	Florida A&M
24:09 - 34:17	Terry Sims	Bethune-Cookman
34:18 - 43:55	Kenny Carter	Delaware State
43:56 - 57:44	Mike London	Howard
57:45 - 1:05:21	Latrell Scott	Norfolk State
1:05:22 - 1:13:54	Connell Maynor	Hampton
1:13:55 - 1:25:10	Erik Raeburn	Savannah State
1:25:11 - 1:30:07	Buddy Pough	South Carolina State
1:30:08 - 1:36:34	Rod Broadway	North Carolina A&T State
1:36:35 - 1:47:04	Jerry Mack	North Carolina Central

MEAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

LA Rams quarterback Jared Goff wears FAMU shirt to press conference

FAMU's homecoming game against Undefeated North Carolina A&T is at 
3 p.m. on Saturday.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Twitter was buzzing Wednesday evening when Associated Press writer Greg Beacham tweeted out a photo of Jared Goff, starting quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, wearing a Florida A&M T-shirt at a press conference.

Goff, who played college football at Cal, doesn't appear to have any immediate ties to Florida A&M, but a search through the Rams' media guide shows the team's physical therapist, Byron Cunningham, is a Rattler.

QB JARED GOFF Oct. 11, 2017 PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO

Cunningham, also the Rams' assistant athletic trainer, graduated from Florida A&M with a bachelor's in physical therapy in 1998, according to the team's media guide. In 2010, he received the School of Allied Health Sciences Distinguished Alumni award.

He's been with the Rams for eight years.

Goff was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. The Rams are 3-2, and Goff has ...

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Texas Southern Lady Tigers claim first place selection in SWAC Preseason Poll

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- On the heels of its first Southwestern Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Championship in program history, Texas Southern has been selected as the Preseason favorite to win the conference crown in the 2017-18 season in a poll of the league's Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors.

The announcement was made during the SWAC's annual tip-off media teleconference Wednesday morning.

The Lady Tigers, who earned a share of the regular-season crown -- for the second-straight season -- alongside Grambling State thanks to identical 14-4 records in league play, posted a 23-10 overall record on their way to the tournament championship.

Alabama State (120 points) was tabbed to finish third, with Southern (108 points) and Alcorn State (89 points) rounding out the top five. Slotted to finish sixth through 10th in the preseason prognostications were Prairie View A&M (73 points), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (66 points), Jackson State (63 points), Alabama A&M (34 points) Mississippi Valley State (32 points).

Texas Southern guard and 2017 SWAC Women's Basketball Tournament MVP Joyce Kennerson, who led the league in scoring at 18.3 points per game, was selected to the Preseason First Team along with fellow teammate Artavia Ford who was selected at the forward spot.

Texas Southern's Breasia McElrath was tabbed as a Second Team All-SWAC selection at forward after a solid campaign last season.

WOMEN'S 2017-18 PRESEASON AWARD WINNERS

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shakyla Hill, Grambling State

PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alexus Freeman, Alcorn State

PRESEASON ALL-SWAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - FIRST TEAM
Guard - Shakyla Hill, Grambling State
Guard - Joyce Kennerson, Texas Southern
Forward - Brianna Green, Southern
Forward - Artavia Ford, Texas Southern
Center - Tatyana Calhoun, Alabama State

PRESEASON ALL-SWAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - SECOND TEAM
Guard - Jazmin Boyd, Grambling State
Guard - Monisha Neal, Grambling State
Forward - Breasia McElrath, Texas Southern
Forward - La'Sha Haynes, Prairie View A&M
Center - Shawntayla Harris, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH (points earned in parentheses):
1. Texas Southern (149)
2. Grambling State (146)
3. Alabama State (120)
4. Southern (108)
5. Alcorn State (89)
6. Prairie View A&M (73)
7. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (66)
8. Jackson State (63)
9. Alabama A&M (34)
10. Mississippi Valley State (32)

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Auburn, UNO, Cajuns on Gold Nuggets' 2017-18 schedule

NEW ORLEANS — A first-time meeting with Auburn — one of three NCAA Division I opponents in 2017-18 — is the highlight of the Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball schedule.
    
 Bo Browder, back for his 19th year as coach of the Gold Nuggets, announced the schedule Wednesday. This is the Nuggets' 40th season of the Title IX era.
     
XULA and Auburn will meet at 6 p.m. Dec. 28 at Auburn, Ala. It will be the Gold Nuggets' first matchup against the SEC since exhibition games at LSU in 2011 and 2012. Auburn was 17-15 last season and averaged nearly 2,300 fans per home game.
    
The Gold Nuggets, a longtime NAIA member, will visit Louisiana-Lafayette Nov. 4 and the University of New Orleans Dec. 14. XULA will play the Ragin' Cajuns for the fifth consecutive year and meet UNO for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
     
There will be seven games against 2017 NAIA national tourney qualifiers, two in the first four days of the regular season. XULA will open Oct. 26 at city rival Loyola, then play its home opener at 1 p.m. Oct. 29 in the Convocation Center against Southeastern (Fla.), which was 28-1 last season and reached the NAIA Division II quarterfinals.
     
The other NAIA tourney qualifiers on the schedule are Our Lady of the Lake Dec. 2 at home, Lindsey Wilson Dec. 18 on the second day of the Xavier Classic, at LSU-Shreveport Dec. 30 and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference meetings with Talladega Jan. 15 on the road and Feb. 28 at home.
     
Lindsey Wilson was a national quarterfinalist each of the last two seasons and finished 32-3 in 2016-17. The new LSUS coach is Matt Cross, who led Talladega's men to three consecutive No. 1 rankings and a national semifinal berth in the 2014-15 season.
     
Another intriguing matchup could be Feb. 3 at Stillman, which was 19-4 last season and whose only loss after Nov. 17 was to the Gold Nuggets.
    
XULA will play a pair of games apiece against city and GCAC rivals SUNO and Dillard, with the Lady Knights visiting Jan. 29 and the Lady Bleu Devils visiting Feb. 17.
    
Additional first-time opponents will be LSU-Alexandria Nov. 8 on the road and Nov. 29 at home, then the University of the Virgin Islands Dec. 17 on the first day of the Xavier Classic.
     
The GCAC Tournament will be March 2-4, followed by the NAIA Division I National Championship March 14-20 at Billings, Mont. XULA seeks to qualify for nationals for the 20th time in 24 seasons. The Gold Nuggets missed nationals last season after going 19-13 overall, 6-6 in the GCAC and finishing second to Talladega in the GCAC Tournament.

Xavier University of Louisiana
2017-18 Women's Basketball Schedule
Oct. 26 (Thu.):  at Loyola (N.O.), 6 p.m.
Oct. 29 (Sun.):  SOUTHEASTERN (FLA.), 1 p.m.
Nov. 4 (Sat.):  at Louisiana-Lafayette, 2 p.m.
Nov. 8 (Wed.):  at LSU-Alexandria (DH), 5 p.m.
Nov. 14 (Tue.):  at William Carey (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 22 (Wed.):  at Florida Memorial, 7 p.m. EST
Nov. 29 (Wed.):  LSU-ALEXANDRIA (DH), 5 p.m.
Dec. 1 (Fri.):  GEORGETOWN (KY.), 6 p.m.
Dec. 2 (Sat.):  OUR LADY OF THE LAKE, 5 p.m.
Dec. 14 (Thu.):  at New Orleans, 6 p.m.
Dec. 17 (Sun.):  VIRGIN ISLANDS (DH), 7 p.m. (Xavier Classic)
Dec. 18 (Mon.):  LINDSEY WILSON (DH), 5 p.m. (Xavier Classic)
Dec. 28 (Thu.):  at Auburn, 6 p.m.
Dec. 30 (Sat.):  at LSU-Shreveport, noon
Jan. 2 (Tue.):  at Paul Quinn, 2 p.m.
Jan. 8 (Mon.):  •  at Edward Waters (DH), 5:30 p.m. EST
Jan. 13 (Sat.):  •  at Tougaloo (DH), 3 p.m.
Jan. 15 (Mon.):  •  at Talladega (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 17 (Wed.):  WILLIAM CAREY (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 (Sat.):  •  at Dillard (DH), 3 p.m.
Jan. 22 (Mon.):  •  at Philander Smith (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 29 (Mon.):  •  SUNO (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 (Sat.):  at Stillman, 1 p.m.
Feb. 5 (Mon.):  •  EDWARD WATERS (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 12 (Mon.):  •  at SUNO (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 17 (Sat.):  •  DILLARD (DH), 3 p.m. (Crosstown Classic)
Feb. 19 (Mon.):  •  PHILANDER SMITH (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 24 (Sat.):  •  TOUGALOO (DH), 3 p.m.
Feb. 28 (Wed.):  •  TALLADEGA (DH), 5:30 p.m.
March 2-4 (Fri.-Sun.):  Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, TBA
March 14-20 (Wed.-Tue.):  NAIA Division I National Championship, Billings, Mont.

Home games in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS
•  Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game
(DH) Doubleheader with Xavier's men
All times are Central except where noted
Schedule is subject to change

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

North Carolina A&T coach says team is 'chasing excellence'

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- It's no secret: Teams from North Carolina have dominated the MEAC for some time.

North Carolina Central has won at least a share of the conference title in each of the last three years. North Carolina A&T won the inaugural Celebration Bowl two years ago and last season received an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs, becoming the first MEAC team to do so since 2013.

Florida A&M has also struggled to bring down North Carolina's MEAC titans. The Rattlers have recently played close games against N.C. Central, but has been demolished by the Aggies in each of the last three seasons.

FAMU head coach Alex Wood is hoping to change that trend Saturday, when N.C. A&T visits Bragg Memorial Stadium for the Rattlers' homecoming game.

The FCS No. 15 Aggies are off to a 6-0 start — which includes a 35-31 win over FBS opponent UNC-Charlotte — and are 3-0 in conference play. A&T head coach Rod Broadway, who has coached the Aggies to three straight 9-win seasons, said the Aggies are committed to a standard of excellence.

"It’s every play," Broadway said during the MEAC's weekly teleconference. "We want to be excellent every play. I’m not talking bout wins and losses, I’m just talking about how we play this game and how you go about trying to achieve greatness."



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HU looks to break three-game skid in Battle of the Bay

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Haampton University defensive end Steven Smith has only played in one Battle of the Bay. That was enough to teach him what’s on the line.

And that would be who gets to talk during the offseason.

“Hear about it?” said Smith, who grew up in Virginia Beach before playing two seasons for San Jose (Calif.) City College. “I don’t hear the end of it. They’re going to continue talking until something is done about it.”

Norfolk State has been able to talk a while now. The Spartans have won three consecutive games in this series for the first time since 1978-80. Current NSU coach Latrell Scott wasn’t even in the first grade yet.

The true stakes for Saturday’s game are that the winner remains tied for first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference while the loser does not. This is the first time in series history that both Hampton (3-2, 2-0) and Norfolk State (2-3, 2-0) come in with undefeated MEAC records.

But HU coach Connell Maynor, who is 0-3 against the Spartans, knows the importance of breaking that streak.



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Breaking down Prairie View A&M vs. Alcorn State

Records: Prairie View A&M 2-3, 2-1 SWAC; Alcorn State 4-2, 2-0.

Series history: Alcorn State leads 46-22

Key players: Prairie View - QB Lavell McCullers, WR Khadarel Hodge, DE Akheem Barton; Alcorn State - QB Lenorris Footman, RB De'Lance Turner, LB Terry Whittington

Who has the edge

Offense - Alcorn State. The Braves are 18th in total offense (455.8) behind a balanced attack, averaging 226 rushing (6.6 yards per carry) and 229.8 passing yards. They're 10th in third-down conversion percentage (47.6). But the Panthers are good on third downs, too, converting at a 46-percent clip. They're averaging 201.6 passing yards, but only 176.8 on the ground.

Defense - Even. The Panthers blanked Alabama State and held Jackson State to nine points in a big win before struggling to slow Grambling State, which produced 419 yards. Alcorn is holding opponents to 4.2 yards per rush and 39 percent on third downs (36-of-92). Panthers opponents are only 20-of-58 on third down (34 percent).



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Here's a switch — Rush to open season on road

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball will make a rare trip to start the season. The Gold Rush also will play 10 games against teams that qualified for last season's NAIA Division I National Championship.
     
Those are some of the highlights of the 2017-18 schedule that second-year head coach Alfred Williams announced Wednesday.
     
The Rush's 80th season will begin in about 2 1/2 weeks with a trip to Florida for games at St. Thomas Oct. 27 and Florida Memorial Oct. 28. It will be the first time since the 1992-93 season that the XULA men begin the regular season on the road. They had played their last 23 openers at home.
  
The 2017 NAIA tourney teams on the schedule will be:

     •  LSU-Alexandria — Nov. 8 road, Nov. 29 home.
     •  William Carey — Nov. 14 road, Jan. 17 home.
     •  Loyola — Dec. 16 road, Jan. 24 home.
     •  Talladega — Jan. 15 road, Feb. 28 home.
     •  Dillard — Jan. 20 road, Feb. 17 home.

2017-18 Schedule Page

Loyola and Dillard are longtime city rivals. Dillard and Talladega compete with XULA in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. LSUA was 34-1 last season, a national semifinalist and No. 3 in the coaches postseason poll.
     
There will be 30 regular-season games in all, 15 at home. NCAA Division II member Miles will open the home schedule at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Convocation Center. The homecoming opponent will be Huston-Tillotson at 1 p.m. Nov. 18.
     The only first-time opponent is the University of the Virgin Islands, a new NAIA member which will participate in the Xavier Classic Dec. 17-18. The Xavier Classic, a longtime women's-only Thanksgiving tournament, has added a men's bracket this season and moved to between the end of the first semester and Christmas.
     
The 12-game conference schedule is unbalanced. XULA will play its first five GCAC games on the road, then close with 6-of-7 at home, including the last four. The GCAC has seven teams for the third consecutive year: XULA, Dillard, Edward Waters (Jacksonville, Fla.), Philander Smith (Little Rock, Ark.), Talladega (Talladega, Ala.), Tougaloo (Tougaloo, Miss.) and another longtime city rival, SUNO.
     
The GCAC Tournament will be March 2-4, followed by the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship March 14-20 at Kansas City, Mo. XULA seeks to qualify for nationals for the seventh time in eight seasons. The Gold Rush missed nationals last season, finishing 10-20 overall and 6-6 — fourth place, one game out of second — in the GCAC.

Xavier University of Louisiana
2017-18 Men's Basketball Schedule

Oct. 27 (Fri.):  at St. Thomas (Fla.), 2 p.m. EDT
Oct. 28 (Sat.):  at Florida Memorial, TBA
Nov. 4 (Sat.):  at LeMoyne-Owen, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 6 (Mon.):  MILES, 7 p.m.
Nov. 8 (Wed.):  at LSU-Alexandria (DH), 7 p.m.
Nov. 14 (Tue.):  at William Carey (DH), 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 18 (Sat.):  HUSTON-TILLOTSON, 1 p.m. (Homecoming)
Nov. 20 (Mon.):  MOBILE, 7 p.m.
Nov. 22 (Wed.):  at St. Thomas (Texas), 7 p.m.
Nov. 29 (Wed.):  LSU-ALEXANDRIA (DH), 7 p.m.
Dec. 13 (Wed.):  CARVER, 7 p.m.
Dec. 16 (Sat.):  at Loyola (N.O.), 7 p.m.
Dec. 17 (Sun.):  VIRGIN ISLANDS (DH), 5 p.m. (Xavier Classic)
Dec. 18 (Mon.):  RUST (DH), 7 p.m. (Xavier Classic)
Dec. 22 (Fri.):  at Mobile, 7 p.m.
Jan. 8 (Mon.):  •  at Edward Waters (DH), 7:30 p.m. EST
Jan. 13 (Sat.):  •  at Tougaloo (DH), 5 p.m.
Jan. 15 (Mon.):  •  at Talladega (DH), 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 17 (Wed.):  WILLIAM CAREY (DH), 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 (Sat.):  •  at Dillard (DH), 5 p.m.
Jan. 22 (Mon.):  •  at Philander Smith (DH), 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24 (Wed.):  LOYOLA (N.O.), 7 p.m.
Jan. 26 (Fri.):  at Jarvis Christian, 7 p.m.
Jan. 29 (Mon.):  •  SUNO (DH), 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 5 (Mon.):  •  EDWARD WATERS (DH), 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12 (Mon.):  •  at SUNO (DH), 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 17 (Sat.):  •  DILLARD (DH), 5 p.m. (Crosstown Classic)
Feb. 19 (Mon.):  •  PHILANDER SMITH (DH), 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 24 (Sat.):  •  TOUGALOO (DH), 5 p.m.
Feb. 28 (Wed.):  •  TALLADEGA (DH), 7:30 p.m.
March 2-4 (Fri.-Sun.):  Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, TBA
March 14-20 (Wed.-Tue.):  Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship, Kansas City, Mo.

Home games in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS
•  Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game
(DH) Doubleheader with Xavier's women
All times are Central except where noted
Schedule is subject to change

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold