Tennessee State Tigers Host Austin Peay for Homecoming

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

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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 

Miami (Ohio) to open 2020 season vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

OXFORD, Ohio -- The Miami University (Ohio) RedHawks will open the 2020 season against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, according to the official website of Miami University.

Miami (Ohio) and UAPB will square off at Yager Stadium in Oxford on Sept. 5, 2020. The game will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.

The Golden Lions are a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Last season, UAPB finished 1-10 overall and 1-8 in SWAC play.

The addition of UAPB completes the 2020 non-conference schedule for Miami (Ohio). The RedHawks are also scheduled to play at Minnesota on Sept. 12, host Cincinnati on Sept. 19, and host Army on Oct. 3.

• 2020 Miami (Ohio) Football Schedule

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Texas Southern Tigers Men's Basketball Selected to Finish First in SWAC Preseason Poll

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas Southern has been picked to repeat as the Southwestern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Champions in a Preseason Poll of the league's Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors.

The announcement was made by the SWAC during its annual media teleconference on Wednesday, October 11.

The Tigers finished 2016-17 with an overall record of 23-12, a record with five more victories than the previous season, to go along with a 16-2 conference mark, a record they matched from the previous year.

TSU wrapped up last season as the season's conference tournament champions for the third time in the last four seasons after defeating Alcorn State 53-50.

Texas Southern's Demontrae Jefferson and Kevin Scott were each selected to the All-SWAC Preseason First Team at guard and forward respectively.

Jefferson was sixth in the conference in scoring with 14.8 points per contest, fourth in assists (3.3 per game) and 13th in 3-pointers made (1.4 per game).

Scott averaged 10.0 points per game (23rd) to go along with 4.9 rebounds per game (11th) and was 10th in field goal percentage (.442) and 10th in steals (1.3 per game).

The second team includes TSU forward Lamont Walker who saw action for the Tigers last season in a reserve capacity.

MEN'S 2017-18 PRESEASON AWARD WINNERS
(Selected by SWAC Head Basketball Coaches and SIDs)

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Reginal Johnson, Alcorn State

PRESEASON CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Treshawn Bolden, Jackson State
Yalen Reed, Alcorn State

FIRST TEAM
Guard – Demontrae Jefferson, Texas Southern
Guard – Paris Collins, Jackson State
Forward – Reginal Johnson, Alcorn State
Forward – Kevin Scott, Texas Southern
Center – Jared Sam, Southern

SECOND TEAM
Guard – A.J. Mosby, Alcorn State
Guard – Chris Thomas, Southern
Forward – Rodney Simeon, Alabama State
Forward – Lamont Walker, Texas Southern
Center – Treshawn Bolden, Jackson State

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Texas Southern (171)
Southern(131)
Jackson State (124)
Alcorn State (117)
Prairie View A&M (99)
Alabama State (98)
Grambling State (75)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (64)
Mississippi Valley State (60)
Alabama A&M (51)



TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Michael Grant Brings Wealth Of Experience To Samford Coaching Staff

COACH MICHAEL GRANT
Courtesy: COPPIN STATE ATHLETICS

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Samford University athletic department officially announced Tuesday that former head coach at Coppin State University, Stillman College and Southern University, Michael Grant, has joined the Bulldogs' basketball program as the special assistant to the head coach.

Grant comes to Samford from Coppin State University where he spent the previous three seasons as head coach.

2017-18 Samford Basketball Schedule

In 2015-16, his Eagle squad advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2016 MEAC Basketball Tournament for the second straight season after upsetting North Carolina A&T in double overtime in the opening round. The Eagles finished second in the MEAC in 3-pointers made, including making a 3-point field goal in 190 consecutive games.

Throughout his career, Grant has helped schools win a number of conference championships and has qualified for the NCAA and NAIA national tournaments.

An 18-year veteran who has won 56 percent of his games, Grant was hired at Coppin State from Division II Stillman College, where he was the head coach for six years. Grant was also the head coach from 2003-05 at Southern University (La.) where he replaced the legendary Ben Jobe and from 1996-2003 at Central State University.

During his career, Grant's teams have posted winning records 12 times and won at least 20 games in a season four times. In addition to his duties as head basketball coach at Stillman, Grant also served the college as the assistant director of athletics. More importantly, he has graduated over 80 percent of his student-athletes during his career.

Grant began his coaching career at his alma mater, Malone College in Ohio, where he first studied under Hal Smith as a student assistant. Grant then served on Smith's staff in 1985 as a full-time assistant before heading to the University of Michigan as a graduate assistant where he helped coach and develop his younger brother Gary Grant, who eventually became the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1988. Gary Grant was the 14th overall player chosen in the 1988 NBA draft.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Grant also coached at Kentucky State University, Alleghany College, Cleveland State University, and the University of Toledo.

He is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) congress. Also during his career, Grant was the SIAC Basketball Chair, a member of the NCAA Division II Regional Advisory Committee and a NAIA National Championship Tournament Committee Member.

Grant and his wife, Charmane, have three children: Chris, Raynesha and Lauren.

The Samford University basketball team will begin play in its highly-anticipated 2017-18 campaign Nov. 10, as the Bulldogs travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for a marquee season-opening matchup against the Arkansas Razorback to be held at historic Bud Walton Arena.

For quick score updates, breaking news and links to all of your favorite articles featuring the Bulldogs, please follow @SamfordHoopsFOE and @Samford_Sports on Twitter.

SAMFORD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Winless DSU prepares to host MEAC foe Howard Bison on Saturday

DOVER, Delaware -- A bye week did not help snap the Delaware State football team’s losing streak.

But now the Hornets do get to play the last team they have beaten.

Delaware State’s losing streak moved to 16 games this past weekend after a 44-3 defeat to MEAC leader North Carolina A&T. Despite the fact the Hornets were idle a week before, they were not able to keep up with the Aggies.



The Hornets will welcome Howard to Alumni Stadium on Saturday at 2 p.m. Delaware State downed the Bison in the final game of the 2015 season, which is still its most recent win and is to date the only victory of coach Kenny Carter’s head coaching career.

Howard brings a 2-3 overall record into this year’s contest (1-1 in the MEAC).
Like they have been most of the season, the Hornets were hurt through the air against North Carolina A&T last weekend. Aggies quarterback Lamar Raynard completed 20-of-26 passes for 324 and three touchdowns, while wide receiver Elijah Bell had nine catches for 178 yards.

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Even with a healthy Austin Howard, Southern rotated John Lampley in as a dual-threat option

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Senior quarterback Austin Howard made it through his first entire game without an injury scare in the 2017 season, but he wasn’t on the field for the whole game.

Southern rotated true freshman quarterback John Lampley into the game for several series as a sort of change-of-pace option behind Howard.

Coach Dawson Odums gave two reasons for the decision to use Lampley with a healthy Howard at his disposal.

“It really gives us a chance to take some of the pounding off Austin and yet utilize John’s legs,” Odums said. “And John can throw the ball, you can’t just sit on his running.”

“I thought he played well. What we asked him to do, I thought he managed that part of the game.”

Southern used Lampley much in the same fashion that it did with Deonte Shorts last season — as a more mobile option that gives defenses another wrinkle to prepare for.

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Southern bringing back the art of the tight end with new offensive formations

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- There’s a renaissance taking place on the Bluff.

When Southern took the field Saturday it did so with three freshman wide receivers, all of whom coordinator Chennis Berry described as being short enough that he could “eat lunch off the top of their heads.”

The Jaguars are confident in their undersized rookies, but they know they won’t be able to carry the load by themselves.



It’s time to bring back the art of using the tight end.

“We’ve got very good tight ends, and I think that’s a lost art in football, especially at the college level,” said coach Dawson Odums. “It gives us a chance to create that surface, give us some angles, allow us to create more gaps and allow us to run the football and make (the defense) have to adjust.

“You have to spend so much time on that as a defensive coordinator. You’re sitting over there thinking, ‘What are we going to have to do to it?’ You have to waste at least a period a day at practice working on just that, and that takes away from something else. And we might not even do it, but you still have to practice it.”

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