S.C. State looks to continue its trend of success

Most college coaches would consider this a rebuilding year. South Carolina State starts this season minus its all-time leading rusher and four other star players who have moved on to professional football. But head coach Buddy Pough isn't most coaches, and South Carolina State isn't most college football programs.

While there are still plenty of questions left to be answered by the two-time defending Mid-Eastern American Conference champions, Pough thinks like this might be the most talented bunch he's had since returning to his alma mater eight years ago.

Gone from last year's 10-2 team is running back Will Ford, who finished his career as the leading rusher at S.C. State and in the MEAC.

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UMES Cohesion will set them apart‎

PRINCESS ANNE, MD -- For the past three years, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team has been dominant in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Over that time, the Hawks have won 20 or more games each season and the MEAC North title thrice, sporting a 30-0 mark against divisional competition. During the streak, UMES has lost only one set.

Because of that success, the Hawks again have been named the preseason favorite in the division, but in order to reach the top, they will have overcome a large turnover on their roster.

"People have set expectations for us," UMES coach Don Metil said. "Our expectations are really just to get all these new girls to gel on the courts and to go into our first MEAC tournament as a very cohesive unit."

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Cole driving Texas Southern on road to relevancy‎

His is a typical football coach's office. Awards and plaques all over the place. Photos of former players, like Texans wideout Jacoby Jones, on the wall. And of course, all the standard equipment for watching game highlights.

In the corner, to the right of Johnnie Cole's large desk at Texas Southern University, there is a bookshelf stocked with helmets from the stops along his college coaching career.

The headgear comes in an assortment of colors, a mixed bag of logo designs and school names spanning the alphabet from A to T (Alabama State to Tennessee State). Whether it was with the Jaguars, Tigers or Dragons, Cole has been successful at each stop along his coaching journey.

As he enters his third season at TSU with an overall losing record (10-13), Cole is working on a new success. Turning around a program takes time, and although TSU hasn't turned, it is turning with Cole, a former TSU quarterback, at the wheel.

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Former Hampton Pirates' Langford gives back to PHS

Former Hampton University and third year Miami Dolphins defensive end Kendall Langford provides a helping hand to his home team, Petersburg High School, with the donation of "state of art" weight equipment for its student-athletes.

PETERSBURG, VA - Strength training and safety got a boost at Petersburg High School this summer, thanks to a generous alum.

Kendall Langford, a 2004 Petersburg graduate who now plays defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins, visited his alma mater recently and toured the school's weight room.

Seeing a need, Langford purchased and shipped in three Sorinex bench and squat combination weight lifting machines and several lifting platforms, complete with standard as well as hexagonal grip bars designed for safer weight lifting. The Sorinex machines include additional exercise options and cross belts to prevent the dangerous scenario of a lifter being trapped beneath his weight bar.

"The new equipment will help PHS student-athletes enhance their mental, physical and psychological power," said Crimson Wave football coach Mike Scott. "Weights are important for building an athletic program that will compete against other perennial power-high school athletic organizations. "This is a good start for us. We greatly appreciate what Kendall Langford has done. This is one of a series of great events for the Petersburg City Public Schools. "

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Medlin ready to help Fayetteville State defend CIAA title‎

The bull's eye is everywhere around the Fayetteville State football program these days, so much so that if you didn't look close enough you might wonder whether the Broncos had struck up a lucrative sponsorship deal with Target. They haven't.

Instead, the flyers have been posted in the locker room, on weight benches and anywhere else players might be looking as a not-so-subtle reminder: Fayetteville State is the reigning CIAA champion and has been picked in the preseason to defend that crown.

Coach Kenny Phillips is using the targets as a motivational prop. Running back Richard Medlin has been more than willing to take the bait.

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Dog days winding down at SU camp

By Louisiana standards, Wednesday was downright comfortable, one of those rare August days where you could stand outside and not have your internal faucet turned on by the heat and humidity. It was a day where the undershirt could stay pretty dry.
The comfort didn’t escape the notice of Southern football coach Stump Mitchell.

“I think God has taken better care of them than I am,” Mitchell said, nodding towards his Southern University football players who were making their way back to the locker room after Wednesday afternoon’s practice. “We’ve had some pretty nice weather. We’ve had a breeze and if I had to, I would not have ordered the breeze. He’s taking care of them and giving them exactly what they need.”

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Ex-Bethune Cookman Wildcats star has shot to stay in NFL‎

Former Bethune-Cookman standout Stevie Baggs is doing everything he can to land a job in the NFL. He doesn't know if he'll get one of the four available roster spots at outside linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals, but he's certainly made an impression with his coaches and teammates.

"He came in here and made a quick splash with the players and coaches just because of his personality," Arizona linebackers coach Matt Raich said. "You can see they've taken to him. I'm anxious to see him in a few more games and to get him some reps."

Starting strong safety Adrian Wilson kids him while he does a phone interview, and veteran All-Pros Joey Porter and Darnell Dockett have taken a liking to the Canadian Football League sacks leader from 2009. Baggs is hard not to like.

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SC State looks poised for a 3rd consecutive MEAC title‎

South Carolina State football coach Buddy Pough might have to get in touch with former Los Angeles Lakers coach Pat Riley. In 1989, Riley had the term "three-peat" trademarked and as a result gets a percentage of the royalties from any merchandise sold with the slogan on it. The Bulldogs, who notched their second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football title last season, can nab their own version of the "three-peat" this fall.

"Hey, I might have to have a conversation with Coach Riley," Pough chuckled. "But we're getting way ahead of ourselves. It's not going to be easy getting back to the mountaintop for the third straight time."

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JSU Tigers putting on game faces‎

Fall camp is over. Let the game preparations begin. Jackson State began prepping for Delta State on Tuesday, the first day of practice following 17 days of fall camp, which included two scrimmages and several two-a-days in the early August heat.

"The atmosphere is changed with (students) back," coach Rick Comegy said. Several students dotted the practice field Tuesday to watch the Tigers, and about eight new walk-ons joined the team. Comegy expects another five to 10 walk-ons to join over the next few days and said the team will likely reach the maximum of 110 players soon.

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Alabama A&M's Goldsby finds home at tight end‎

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Bobby Goldsby looked near and far three years ago for a place to play college football. An undersized tight end, he was a decent high school player in Leominster, Mass., but didn't draw a lot of attention.

Goldsby knew about Grambling and Alabama A&M and sent his highlight tape to each school. Fortunately, A&M coach Anthony Jones called and offered him an opportunity to walk on.

"I watched him on film and I thought he had some ability, but he wasn't ready to play college football...

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UMES Hawks Basketball Releases 2010-11 Schedule

PRINCESS ANNE, MD - Head coach Frankie Allen and his men's basketball staff at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore announced their 2010-11 schedule Tuesday afternoon as they look forward to a tough but successful campaign.

"We have presented ourselves with a great challenge in this year's schedule," said Allen. "Our non-conference contests more than prepare us for the rough and rigorous Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference season."

The Hawks open their season at home for the second consecutive year, this time hosting Conference USA's Tulane Green Wave on Friday, Nov. 12. They then travel to New York to take on Columbia on Nov. 15 before continuing on to American in Washington, D.C. on the 17th. The team returns home on Nov. 20 as they face Kean University. Northern Illinois travels to Princess Anne to matchup with the Hawks on the 24th.

UMES won't see much of the William P. Hytche Arena from the end of November until the beginning of January as they play road games in the next nine of 10 matchups. However, the Hawks do stay within the area for the next three contests as they travel to Navy in Annapolis, Md. on Nov. 27 and then open MEAC play Dec. 4 against Delaware State for the fourth straight year. UMES meets up with Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va. for the first time in two years on Dec. 9.

Complete Schedule in PDF Format

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This could be the year for ECSU

Elizabeth City State’s football team has come so tantalizingly close. In 2006, a last-second, 51-yard field goal sank the Vikings in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship game. In 2008, ECSU was thumped by a very talented Shaw team in the league title game. Last year, a coin flip cost the Vikings a third trip in four years to the CIAA finale.

After all of that, ECSU coach Waverly Tillar thinks this might finally be the year.

“I think we went out this year from a recruiting standpoint and got the pieces we need,” Tillar said. “When I say ‘the pieces,’ I mean the quality depth. Last year, our Achilles heel was midseason, we got banged up and we didn’t have quality guys to come in a keep it going. We have it going on this year. I feel the games we’ll win will be in the trenches.”

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Coach Willie Jeffries Scheduled for Nov. 6 On-Campus Salute at South Carolina State

DALLAS, Texas – South Carolina State and The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that they will jointly honor Coach Willie Jeffries with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute Nov. 6 as the Bulldogs host Howard University in Orangeburg. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.

“Coach Jeffries is truly admired by so many,” said South Carolina State director of athletics Charlene Johnson, “Not just for his achievements as head football coach at S.C. State but also for his humanitarian contributions to this community, this state and society. He has mentored many young men and used football and his great personal skills to bring about better community relations in Orangeburg, the Palmetto State and beyond. We are proud of the latest honor bestowed upon him.”

On July 17, the NFF inducted Coach Jeffries into the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2010 divisional enshrinement class in South Bend, Ind. The first African-American to be hired as a head coach at a Division-I school (Wichita State), Willie Jeffries also coached at South Carolina State and Howard. He finished his career as the winningest coach in South Carolina State and MEAC history. He compiled an overall 179-132-6 record during his career, which started in 1973 and ended 2001.

"This is an honor for me, my former players, South Carolina State and all the schools I've coached." Jeffries told The State newspaper at the time of the announcement of his induction. "This is about the top one a coach can receive.”

Throughout the season, each College Football Hall of Fame inductee returns to his school for the special on-field event, where a commemorative plaque is presented to the university for permanent display. Beginning with the NFF’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1951, the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute has served as the first of numerous highlights in the hall of fame experience, giving each inductee one more chance to take the field.

“Coach Jeffries is a pioneer in every sense of the word. He opened doors for future generations, and he mentored countless young players who have gone on to be great leaders later in life,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “It is fitting that his contributions are forever preserved in the College Football Hall of Fame, and we look forward to celebrating with the Bulldog faithful in Orangeburg on Nov. 6.”

A three-time Black National Championship winner, Jeffries is credited with inventing the “Freeze Option” offense and is the only person in history to coach against College Football Hall of Famers Paul “Bear” Bryant and Eddie Robinson. Jeffries won the MEAC conference title seven times, six with SCSU and one with Howard. He has also coached College Football Hall of Famers Harry Carson and Donnie Shell.

Named coach of the year on eight different occasions, he was given the lifetime achievement award by the Black Coaches Association in 2002. An inductee of the MEAC Hall of Fame, SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame and the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, Jeffries was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in 1998, South Carolina’s top civilian honor, and received the Order of the Silver Crescent in 2001, the state’s highest accolade for outstanding community service. Jeffries, earlier this year, was named head coach emeritus at South Carolina State and serves as a liaison between the university, its alumni and other constituents. He currently resides in Elloree, S.C.

Jeffries becomes the third individual inducted into the Hall of Fame from South Carolina State, along with his players Carson who was inducted in 2002 and Shell, a 1998 inductee. He joins Coach Doug Porter (2008) as the only inductees from Howard, and Coach Marcelino Huerta (2002) and Jim Bausch (1954) as the only inductees from Wichita State. For a complete list of players and coaches in the hall, please visit www.collegefootball.org/

Courtesy of The National Football Foundation

Taylor extends challenge to Rattlers offense, defense

As challenges go at the start of each season from football coaches, the one that Joe Taylor laid down for Florida A&M might seem a bit ambitious. But the Rattlers aren't backing down from what their coach is calling his 40-30 club.

What Taylor wants are improvements in some key statistical areas that he believes will put FAMU in position to finish this season with a winning record.

His expectation from the defense is 40 turnovers and 30 sacks for the season. He would like his offense to keep the ball for 40 minutes and get 30 first downs per game. The challenge of a 40-yard punt average and a 30-yard return average on kickoffs per game is also included.

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Grambling updates on QB race and Anthony

GSU quarterback competition comes into focus

GRAMBLING, LA — After starting training camp with six candidates for its starting quarterback job, Grambling has narrowed the field to two. It may remain at two for the next few weeks, even as the Tigers start playing games. GSU opens its season on Sept. 4 against Louisiana Tech at Independence Stadium in Shreveport.

"We're not in a big rush to do that (name a starter)," Grambling head coach Rod Broadway said. "We'll let it play out, and it looks like it's Danny Reyes and Anthony Carruthers."

GSU"s Christian Anthony Isn't Expect Back

Grambling head coach Rod Broadway does not expect defensive end Christian Anthony will play at all in 2010. Anthony recently spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit at Northern Louisiana Medical Center after experiencing chest pains. Teammates said Anthony had a heart attack.

"I don't think so, personally," Broadway said. "I need to visit with him again, but I don't think so."

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FVSU Wildcats dealing with issues of early start

When Fort Valley State head football coach Donald Pittman got the chance earlier this month to get ahead of things as far as classes and registration for his players, he was ecstatic. “It’s huge,” he said. “You can focus on the season.”

But he also knew that there odds were long that the Wildcats would have absolutely everybody in uniform for the season opener Saturday at Miles, mostly because of assorted paperwork and transcript issues regarding transfers and players regaining eligibility. And he was right.

The Wildcats did get some key players back on the practice field recently, like wideout...

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Spencer, Bullard Take Over Basketball Reins at Saint Augustine's

Saint Augustine's has hired two former recruiters to take the helm of its men's and women's basketball programs after the sudden departures of the former head coaches less than two months ago. University president Dianne Boardley Suber announced that Ken Spencer will take over as men's coach and Rachel Sloan Bullard will be the new women's coach.

Both coaches are following tough acts and both have limited time to prepare for the new season.

Spencer replaces CIAA Coach of the Year Lonnie Blow Jr., who led the Falcons to the CIAA championship this past season. Blow resigned July 8 to become an assistant men's basketball coach at Old Dominion, an NCAA Division I school in Norfolk, Virginia.

Bullard will take the reins from ...

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ASU cross country set to open 2010 season early next month‎

The Albany State University Rams announced their 2010 cross country schedule this week.

Coached by Kenneth Taylor, the Rams and Lady Rams will kick off the 2010 season on the road against Troy University on Sept. 4. ASU will then return home on Sept. 11 to host the Albany State University Invitational. They go back on the road to compete in the Wildcat invitational at Fort Valley State University on Sept. 15, then return to Albany to compete in the Cavalier Classic, hosted by Darton College on Sept. 18. From there, the Golden Rams will run in the Clark-Atlanta/Morehouse Cross Country Invite on Sept. 25.

The Rams’ road trip from there continues as they run in the Paine College Invitational on Sept. 29, and compete in the Florida A&M University Invite on Oct. 2. The teams will compete against Jacksonville State University on Oct. 9, and run in the Troy University Invite on Oct. 16. The Pre-SIAC Meet in Jonesboro is next on Oct. 27.

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North Carolina A&T Remembers Jospin Milandu

Greensboro, NC -- Students and faculty at North Carolina A&T remembered a student who died on campus last week. Jospin Milandu collapsed and died Thursday during a track team tryout from complications of an elevated heart rate. Milandu was a 20-year-old sophomore from Knightdale, which is east of Raleigh.

Today, his family and friends gathered to celebrate his life...



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Pro Football HOF Mel Blount, Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams among Honorees for Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends Reception

Pro Football Hall of Famer Mel Blount (Southern University) and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams (Grambling State University) lead a group of six honorees who will be recognized at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends Reception at the Ballroom of the Americas at Disney’s Contemporary Hotel, near Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. ET. Also to be saluted as Legends: Author Omar Tyree (Howard University), U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Zeita Merchant (Tougaloo College), Kellogg’s Senior Vice President of Global Nutrition/Corporate Affairs Celeste Clark (Southern University), and former NFL linebacker and seven-time Pro Bowl player Robert Brazile (Jackson State University).

The reception will honor individuals who graduated from a Historically Black College or University. Each honoree will receive an HBCU Trailblazer Award in recognition of the impact made in his or her respective career and community. ESPN sportscaster Jay Harris will co-host the festivities alongside motivational speaker Trey Godfrey.

The Legends Reception will precede the sixth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, which will feature a college football matchup between the SWAC’s Southern University and the MEAC’s Delaware State University. The game will kick off Sunday, Sept. 5, at noon at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando and will be televised nationally on ESPN and ESPN HD, as well as ESPN3.com.

“It’s fitting that the MEAC/SWAC Challenge acknowledges the legacy of those who paved the way for the future leaders who will graduate from historically black colleges and universities,” said Nikki Godfrey, executive director of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. “We are thrilled to host this ceremony, which will continue to grow and make our event even more special.”

Individual tickets for the game are available through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or via www.ticketmaster.com. Fans can also purchase travel packages through Anthony Travel’s website or by calling 1-888-632-6951. For more information about the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and for access to its Facebook page, please visit the official website: www.meacswacchallenge.com . Fans can also stay up to date on the event via Twitter: www.twitter.com/MEAC_SWAC .

About the MEAC/SWAC Challenge

Each year, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge is played at a neutral site within the footprint of one of the conferences. The week of the game includes ancillary events, highlighted by an annual high school career panel, the Halftime Battle of the Bands and the Legends Reception. The MEAC leads the series 4-1. Teams for future games are determined on an annual basis.

A&M offense, defense in high gear in mock scrimmage

HUNTSVILLE, AL - While it has yet to play a game this season, Alabama A&M's offense looks like it will be pretty potent despite losing all-time leading rusher Ulysses Banks and all-time leading receiver Thomas Harris.

In a mock scrimmage against Tennessee State's defense, quarterback Deaunte Mason threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns and led the first-team unit to four scores in six possessions and the first defense came up with three sacks and forced four turnovers Saturday night at Louis Crews Stadium.

"Offensively, we made some mistakes, but...

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Southern D-line stresses effort‎

Jordan Miller doesn’t need people to remind him about last year’s Bayou Classic.

For 3 hours and 26 minutes on the ground floor of the Superdome, he lived it. Remember that game? Or, perhaps, trying to forget it? On play after play, archrival Grambling pounded Miller and his fellow defensive linemen, wearing down the Southern Jaguars with a slow, steady, brutal attack.

The final numbers — 308 rushing yards and 37 minutes of ball-control offense for the Tigers in a 31-13 wipeout — were indeed lopsided and convincing. But numbers told only part of the story. At this time last summer, Miller thought he and the Southern defensive line had worked hard enough to win in crunch time. He thought they were prepared for almost anything. They learned, in humiliating fashion, that they were wrong.

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WSSU Rams will turn to Hawkins, a transfer‎

And the winner is…. Octavius Hawkins.

Coach Connell Maynor, who has been oscillating for the last two weeks about who would be his starting quarterback for Winston-Salem State's opening game on Saturday, made the decision after practice yesterday.

"We're going to go with Octavius," said Maynor, whose Rams will play at Simeon Stadium in High Point on Saturday against Virginia Union.

Hawkins, a transfer from UMass, signed as a quarterback but never played that position at UMass in a game. Maynor originally was recruiting another player at UMass who was thinking about transferring and that player told Hawkins about WSSU.

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FCS Season Preview: MEAC

Norfolk, VA - To gain favor with the coaching staff, some South Carolina State football players stage a little competition. They talk the talk, pointing out what they do well and what the others at their position don't. It's all in fun, and some of the players, like the linebackers, are always chirping.

"They all run 4.6's and some change, so they can all fly," head coach Buddy Pough said. "And to hear them talk how slow he is ..."

In truth, some of the players have to look hard to find chinks in others' armor. South Carolina State is quite talented. In fact, there might not be an FCS team favored more heavily than the Bulldogs are to win their conference title this season.

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The ASU Lady Rams Volleyball team look to make history‎

In college volleyball the Lady Rams from ASU will try to make history this season going for their 10th straight conference title. The Rams are highlighted by their two preseason all-conference players Latrice Lewis and Precilla Sena.

Sabrina Garcia will also chip in to set up would could be a momentous year for the Lady Rams. Head coach Brian Skinner says for all their dreams to come true the younger players must step up and contribute. Skinner also says that this year's schedule has some teams that could spell trouble for the Rams

Skinner said ""You gotta play those team from the South region, you got Valdosta State on schedule this year once again. We have some very good division one schools in Alabama A&M and Alabama State on the schedule so we look forward to playing those schools and being competitive in the SIAC"

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