Savannah State faces uphill climb in clash with No.19 Oklahoma State

STILLWATER, Oklahoma – The Oklahoma State Cowboys enjoyed their best season in school history last year, and with a revamped roster they begin their journey to try and repeat as Big 12 Conference champions when they take on the Savannah State Tigers this Saturday to open the 2012 season.

The 2011 campaign was one of transition for FCS member Savannah State. It was the Tigers' first year as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as well as their first year under the tutelage of head coach Steve Davenport. It was a rough season to say the least, as the Tigers finished just 1-10 and 1-7 in the MEAC, with their lone win coming on Sept. 24 at North Carolina Central, 33-30.

Oklahoma State's season, on the other hand, was nothing short of spectacular, cruising to a 12-1 overall record and an 8-1 mark in the Big 12, with signature wins coming against nationally-ranked foes Texas A&M (30-29), Texas (38-26), Kansas State (52-45) and Oklahoma (44-10). The Cowboys ultimately missed out on the national championship game thanks to ...

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In the FCS Huddle: Week 1 Preview

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — It's that time of the year again. Summer has passed quicker than we remember, it's time to start paying more attention to your job and it's time to send the kids back to school. More importantly, the road to Frisco begins this week for FCS teams.

For the fans, some fleeting hours remain to re-live their favorite moments from last season, before the new season officially kicks off. It's an opportunity to remember all the glory, triumph, happiness, and, yes, even the brutal losses, disappointment and failed expectations your team didn't live up to.

Ads by GoogleIt's the last chance to trash-talk with sworn enemies before the teams do the talking for everyone. It's both exciting and nerve-racking to play out dozens of scenarios in the new season.

It's the smell of a cornucopia of meats being grilled in ...

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Alabama A&M, Tuskegee try to erase bad memories

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Alabama A&M and Tuskegee will both be looking to take a first step toward erasing some bad memories from the 2011 season when they meet at 7 p.m. Saturday at Legion Field in Birmingham.

Despite going 8-4 last year and making it to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game, A&M exited 2011 with the disappointment of blowing a 15-point halftime lead to Grambling in the SWAC title game and losing 16-15. It was the Bulldogs' second consecutive loss in the conference championship game.



"Last year was last year. There's nothing we can do about it now," said A&M coach Anthony Jones, who is entering his 11th season leading the Bulldogs. "The only thing our guys will be thinking about (Saturday) is the guy standing across from us trying to pound us."

Meanwhile, Tuskegee is coming off a rare losing season. The Golden Tigers won nine or more games every year from 2004-2010, highlighted by a 12-0 record in 2007. But Tuskegee got off to a 1-4 start in 2011 - including a 21-6 loss to Alabama A&M - on the way to a 4-6 final record.

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D.J. Williams leads GSU charge

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — The setting and cast of characters — and Grambling hopes the outcome — will bear many similarities, but the Tigers see a much different D.J. Williams leading the charge.

The quarterback was a freshman question mark, albeit a confident one, in last season's opener against Alcorn State in Shreveport.

But GSU's coaches and players have a better idea what to expect from a more battle-tested sophomore Williams this time around as they meet the Braves again this Saturday.

"My teammates know that I can do it and I have the capabilities to take this team to where we went last year," Williams said. "I see it in everybody's eyes that they're confident in me, and I'm confident in them, and that's a good feelin'."

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South Carolina State, Georgia State Look Forward to Thursday Night Opener

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30

Football vs South Carolina State, Georgia Dome

Time: 7:30 PM

Live Video  
Television: CSS

Radio: NewsTalk 1160, WCFO-AM;
1690 WMLB-AM
Affiliates
Game Day Central: Ga. State vs. S.C. State

ATLANTA, Georgia  - Season three of Georgia State football kicks off with a stern test as the Panthers host a South Carolina State program that has posted 11 straight winning seasons in Thursday's season opener at the Georgia Dome.

Thursday's game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and will be regionally televised on CSS. Radio coverage is available on the GSU Radio Network, including flagship stations Newstalk 1160 AM (WCFO) and 1690 AM (WMLB) as well as WGST (AM 640 and FM 92.3).

For tickets, call 866-GA-STATE or visit GeorgiaStateSports.com.

Opening on Thursday night, Georgia State will be among the first college teams in the nation to tee it up, and head coach Bill Curry and his squad appreciate that."It's something that Cheryl Levick, our director of athletics, works very hard to put together," said Curry at his weekly press conference.

"We love the idea of us starting out on Thursday night. Our students love it. Our fans love it. We do get to go first. It's going to be televised. It's an exciting moment and we want to play well. We want to go out and execute.

"And Curry, entering his final season on the sideline, knows that the Panthers will have to play well to give themselves a chance against a very good football team."South Carolina State is one of the better FCS programs, and when I say program, I'm talking about perennial winners," he said.

"They've got 11 consecutive winning seasons to their credit and have won championships in their league. They have a tradition of over a century of excellent football."Included in that century is a victory over Georgia State last season, when South Carolina State scored the game's final 13 points to down the Panthers, 23-13, at Orangeburg, S.C.

"Last year was a lesson playing against them because we played very hard, but they played harder," said Curry. "The game was a good physical match and was won by the team that was more determined. We've got to be more determined when the chips are down."For Georgia State, redshirt freshman Ben McLane of Snellville, Ga., will make his debut at quarterback, with junior Kelton Hill also expected to see action.

"The way to prepare for a game like this, in my opinion, is not to make a big deal out of it," said McLane, whose last game in the Georgia Dome came when he led Brookwood High School to a victory over Colquitt County in the 2010 Class AAAAA state title game.

"We prepared so hard in the off-season and we've had a long training camp. You put so much pressure on yourself that when it comes to a big game like this, it's like another day at work. When you do walk out under the lights and have a bunch of people there, it's just like in practice. We've done that to ourselves, and we embrace whatever comes our way.

"South Carolina State, coached by Buddy Pough, counters with returning starter Richard Cue, an athletic quarterback who passed for 900 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 514 yards and eight scores in leading the Bulldogs to a 7-4 record in 2011.

In the game against GSU, he finished 16-for-30 for 213 yards passing while rushing for two touchdowns. Curry announced that the game captains for the South Carolina State contest are senior safety Demazio Skelton, junior wide receiver Jordan Giles - a native of Columbia, S.C. - and junior long snapper Scott McQueen.

COURTESY GEORGIA STATE SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS

Alabama State Hornets Bring Gameday to Practice

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Head Coach Reggie Barlow brought a gameday atmosphere to the Alabama State football  practice Tuesday night during practice at Hornet Stadium.

The 8^th edition of the MEAC-SWAC Challenge between the Hornets and Bethune-Cookman Wildcats kicks off Sunday just after 11 a.m. CT/Noon ET (WVAS 90.7 FM/HSRN.com./ESPN) in Orlando, Fla. at the Citrus Bowl.

The Mighty Marching Hornets band played during most of the night practice in the stands, giving both players and coaches a taste of what Sunday's gameday atmosphere could feel like.

“I thought the guys had good energy tonight,” Barlow said. “We tried to bring additional elements out here to be distracting and see how they would perform. It's a direct correlation to Sunday. There will be a lot of things going on on gameday and we want our guys to be focused on the task at hand. I thought the energy level was good and hopefully we will continue that this week.”

The Wildcats posted an 8-3 record last season, 6-2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. B-CU led the conference in scoring (33.9 ppg) and total offense (435.3 ypg), based on a potent rushing attack that averaged nearly 260 yards per game, also a conference-best.



“They have several outstanding running backs,” Barlow said of the Wildcat offense. “They like to change their formations in a variety of ways, and have had a lot of success with it. We have to make sure we're dialed in and read our keys defensively.”

Last season, the Hornet' D struggled at times against the run, allowing on average 158.1 ypg. With several returning veterans in the front seven, Barlow is confident the run defense will be effective this Sunday.

“Brandon Slater is a big, strong guy for us in the middle, along with Winton Steward,” Barlow said in discussing some key pieces of the linebacker corps. “It's all about our alignments, making sure we're where we are supposed to be and fighting off blocks. We believe we have quality guys in the lineup, but they haven't been tested yet this season. They'll be tested on Sunday, and hopefully we'll be able to hold up.”

The Hornets will practice Wednesday at 3 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hampton vs. Tennessee Tech

COOKEVILLE, Tennessee – The Hampton University football team will open the 2012 season on the road on Thursday, taking on Tennessee Tech at Tucker Stadium at 8 p.m. EST.

The Pirates, in their fourth season under head coach Donovan Rose, won seven games last season and went 5-3 in the MEAC. Tennessee Tech won the Ohio Valley Conference championship in 2011, also going 7-4 overall with a 6-2 mark in conference play.

This will be the first-ever meeting between Hampton and Tennessee Tech.



Game Notes

The Pirates averaged almost 29 points per game last season – 28.4, to be exact – ranking third in the MEAC in total offense. Hampton eclipsed the 30-point mark in five contests in 2011 – including a season-high 42 in back-to-back games against Delaware State and Morgan State to close out the season. The Pirates also scored 41 points at Old Dominion on Sept. 17, 31 points in a road loss to Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 22, and 30 points in an overtime Homecoming win over North Carolina Central on Oct. 22.

Junior running back Antwon Chisholm (Belle Glade, Fla.), the 2010 MEAC Rookie of the Year, comes into his junior season as a Preseason Second Team All-MEAC selection. He was the team’s leading rusher last season, ranking fifth in the MEAC with 72.4 rushing yards per game.

He carried the ball 192 times for 796 yards and eight touchdowns. He rushed for over 100 yards twice last season – including a season-high 141 yards against Alabama A&M – and for his career, Chisholm has four 100-yard rushing games in his career.

Defense has long been a strength for the Pirates – particularly given Rose’s background – and 2012 appears to be no different as Keith Goganious enters his third season as defensive coordinator. The Pirates will return their top five tacklers from last season, led by linebackers Delbert Tyler (Monroeville, Pa.) and Lyndell Gibson (Virginia Beach, Va.), both of whom eclipsed 100 tackles last season.

Tyler led the Pirates with 110 total stops, including 41 solo efforts, while Gibson – a transfer from Virginia Tech – had 108 total tackles, including a team-high 52 solo stops. Gibson also led the team in tackles for loss (14.0) and tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles.

The Pirates were fourth in the MEAC in scoring defense last season, giving up just 21.8 points per contest. The Pirates also led the MEAC in pass efficiency defense, holding opponents to an efficiency rating of just 98.4 – the only rate under 100 in the conference. Hampton was also fourth in the conference in passing defense, holding opponents to just 183.9 yards per game through the air.

Hampton also had 14 interceptions as a defense in 2011, sitting fifth in the MEAC. The defense was also a major part of Hampton leading the MEAC in turnover margin at +13, between those 14 picks and 15 recovered fumbles.



The Pirates are 0-2 all-time against teams currently in the Ohio Valley Conference, having gone 0-2 all-time against Tennessee State. Tennessee State is the only school from the OVC that Hampton has faced to this point; the Pirates have never played Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Murray State, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee Tech, or Tennessee-Martin.

The Pirates went 1-3 on the road last season, with their lone win coming at Savannah State on Oct. 29. Hampton also lost road contests last season at Old Dominion, at Bethune-Cookman, and at Norfolk State. During Rose’s tenure as head coach, Hampton is 7-9 on the road.

The Pirates have six road contests this season.

For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

MEAC champion Spartans show off their ring bling

NORFOLK, Virginia - Pete Adrian didn't want Norfolk State's MEAC championship ring to be too gaudy. So he only ordered extra-extra-extra large.

"I wanted it to be smooth," said Adrian, who helped pick the model. "I didn't want it to be real flashy-flashy where it gets your attention."

The NSU football team received the rings Friday, the first ever for the school. Items that rare, it seems, don't follow the same sizing conventions as things like pants.

"Most of the big sports, they typically use something in this range," said Maureen Cooper, the sales representative for Jostens.

Norfolk State would not reveal how much each ring cost, and the NCAA regulates the amount of money that can be spent on each ring.



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U. Charleston vs. Shaw Bears

CHARLESTON, West Virginia - Charleston, picked fourth in the WVIAC preseason poll, opens up against CIAA foe Shaw in the first of two Thursday night games for the Golden Eagles. The two programs have not met in recent history.

UC boasts All-American Jordan Roberts on the offensive side of the ball. He averaged 130 yards a game on the ground and scored 17 touchdowns a season ago. All-conference offensive lineman George Davilla could challenge for All-America honors as well in 2012.

Honorable mention all-conference performer Jeff Green tallied 11 sacks a year ago. He, alongside Ike Gibson will help out what could be a strong defensive unit this season. First-team all-conference punter Puma Nuredini will hold down the kicking game for the Golden Eagles.

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West Virginia State University toughens up schedule

INSTITUTE, West Virginia - In Institute, The West Virginia State Yellow Jackets are gearing up for their season opener Saturday against CIAA power Johnson C. Smith University.

The Jackets have a tough schedule, not only J.C. Smith, but they also have two 1-AA opponents on the schedule. According to Jacket head coach Earl Monroe, the tougher schedule alone has helped in recruiting.

"We have a tough schedule. I think our guys will be up for the challenge. We've got some junior college transfers that we were able to sign simply because we have 1AA teams on our schedule."

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WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY YELLOWJACKETS
2012 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

9/1/2012	1:00 PM	vs Johnson C. Smith University			Live Stats			1:00 PM	Details
9/8/2012	6:00 PM	at North Carolina A&T State University	Greensboro, NC					6:00 PM	Details
9/15/2012	3:00 PM	at Elon University	Elon, NC					3:00 PM	Details
HOME GAME
9/22/2012	1:00 PM	vs Concord University			Live Stats			1:00 PM	Details
9/29/2012	Noon	at Seton Hill University (Pa.)	Greensburg, PA					Noon	Details
HOME GAME
10/6/2012	1:30 PM	vs West Liberty University			Live Stats			1:30 PM	Details
10/13/2012	1:00 PM	at Glenville State College	Glenville, WV					1:00 PM	Details
HOME GAME
10/20/2012	1:00 PM	vs Shepherd University			Live Stats			1:00 PM	Details
10/27/2012	1:00 PM	vs West Virginia Wesleyan College			Live Stats			1:00 PM	Details
11/3/2012	1:00 PM	at Fairmont State University	Fairmont, WV					1:00 PM	Details
11/10/2012	1:00 PM	at University of Charleston	Charleston, WV		Live Stats			1:00 PM	Details

COURTESY WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Tigers open season vs. Florida A&M Rattlers

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - On Saturday, the Tennessee State football team hosts the Rattlers from Florida A&M at LP Field. The Tigers take on their rivals in the fourteenth annual John A. Merritt Classic in honor of legendary TSU coach John A. Merritt.

This year's game will be the 51st meeting between the two schools and the first since 2010's Atlanta Football Classic. The Tigers won the last contest, 29-18 to tied the all-time series at 25-25 dating back to 1944.

For Tennessee State, the Tigers are looking to build upon last year's 5-6 record with a season opening victory. TSU returns a total of 14 starters, including nine on the offensive side of the ball. They also return six specialists from a year ago - everyone except punter Matt Moseley.

On offense, the Tigers will feature an offensive line that boasts three all-conference selections in tackle Rogers Gaines, center Sherman Carter and guard Kadeem Edwards. Tennessee State will count on those three plus the rest of its line to help protect quarterback Michael German and open up running lanes for running back Trabis Ward.

Last season, German passed for 1,899 yards and 12 touchdowns en route to being named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. German accomplished the feat after only starting eight games last season.

Tennessee State loses its leading receiver in terms of yards from a year ago, but junior wideout Devin Wilson looks to build upon his sophomore campaign where he caught a team-high 48 passes, two of which went for touchdowns.

Ward was 23 yards shy of 1,000 last season after carrying the ball 193 times. He also scored 11 touchdowns on the ground.

	Rod Reed Weekly OVC Teleconference - Talks about upcoming John Merritt Classic and FAMU.
	TSU Game Notes
	FAMU Game Notes

Defensively, the Tigers lose their leading tackler from a year ago in Rico Council, but do return all-conference selection Antonio Harper. Harper will start for TSU at one of the defensive ends after leading the squad in sacks last season with 6.5. The Memphis, Tenn. native also recorded nine tackles-for-loss and 44 total tackles.

Another key returnee from last season is defensive back Steven Godbolt. Godbolt is coming off of freshman campaign that saw him grab All-OVC Newcomer honors and a team-high two interceptions.

On special teams, the Tigers welcome back return man Weldon Garlington who accumulated 544 return yards including a 100-yard scamper that went for a touchdown. This preseason, Garlington was named an All-American by Boxtorow.

Last year, FAMU sported a 7-4 record, but the Rattlers will have to find a way to replace 13 starters from a year ago.

The key returnees for the offense are quarterback Damien Fleming and left guard Steven Robinson. As a freshman last year, Fleming threw for 1,622 yards and 11 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. Robinson was vital in padding Fleming's numbers, as the 300 pound senior earned First Team All-MEAC honors last season.

Defensively, the Rattlers must find replacements at both defensive ends and at three linebacker positions. FAMU does return one linebacker in Brandon Hepburn and First Team All-MEAC safety John Ojo. Last season, the duo combined for 105 tackles, and Ojo recorded a team-high four interceptions.

This year's John A. Merritt Classic honors all the players that were coached by "Big John". The game starts at 6 p.m. at LP Field.

Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers and Twitter @TSU_Tigers.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

3 former SCSU Bulldogs cut from NFL rosters; 4 remain for Week One

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina - A trio of former South Carolina State players was among the casualties of NFL cuts.

On Monday, the Washington Redskins released free agent signee offensive lineman James Lee. The move came after the weekend saw Jacksonville Jaguars’ linebacker Donovan Richard and Kansas City safety Dominique Ellis get the notice from “The Turk.”

In the case of Richard, this marked the second time in three months he was released by the Jaguars.

There are currently four Bulldogs on NFL rosters heading into Week One: cornerback Phillip Adams (Seattle Seahawks), safeties Rafael Bush (Denver Broncos) and Christian Thompson (Baltimore Ravens) and linebacker Marshall McFadden (Pittsburgh Steelers).

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Finally, Harvey gets his big shot at FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - The last three football seasons have been difficult for receiver Travis Harvey on the FAMU campus. He always had some explaining to do.

“Everybody knew I played football but when the game came I wasn’t playing,” he said. “To say I was ineligible was hard because I’m not a dumb person. I wasn’t as focused as I needed to be.”

After taking a redshirt in his first season as a walk-on from Inglewood, Calif., Harvey came up ineligible for the next two seasons. Last season, he started a turnaround and ended up in four games.

He showed enough to restore FAMU coach Joe Taylor’s faith in him. A strong spring solidified him as the replacement for Brian Tyms.

At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, he’s shown ...

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Junior QB Darius Smith ready to lead Alcorn into 2012 opener

LORMAN, Mississippi — Last season, Alcorn State quarterback Darius Smith was thrown into the fire when he took over for departed starting quarterback Brandon Bridge midway through the Braves' season.

This year, Smith knows that he is the man under center from Day 1, but he said he is not letting the lessons he learned last season be forgotten.

"Last season I was kind of thrown into it, but it definitely helped me get ready for the upcoming season," Smith said. "I wasn't expecting to play, and I didn't study like I should have. But now I know I'm the guy and am taking the time out (to prepare)."

Saturday, Smith and the Braves will take the field for the first time under a new coaching staff led by head coach Jay Hopson when they face Grambling State University in the Port City Classic. Smith said he is ready for the challenge and ready to show how his game has improved.

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Q&A with UMES men's basketball coach Frankie Allen

COACH FRANKIE ALLEN

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland  -  After four seasons in Princess Anne, UMES coach Frankie Allen  admits that he thought his program would be further along by now.

The Hawks went 7-23 during the 2011-12 season, giving Allen a record of 34-89 at UMES. But Allen, the former Virginia Tech, Tennessee State and Howard coach, is optimistic that things will be better for the Hawks starting this year.

UMES returns two starters in junior guard Louis Bell and junior forward Ron Spencer, and three reserves in senior center T.J. Kosile, senior forward Pina Guillaume and sophomore guard Ishaq Pitt.

Joining those five veterans will be an “infusion of new blood.” Allen has added six players to his roster: Jarrod Davis, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound freshman forward from Lakewood, N.J.; Kevin Mays, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound freshman forward from Brooklyn, N.Y.; Troy Snyder, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound junior forward from Chicago who transferred last year from Wisconsin-Green Bay; Donald Williams, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior guard from Hyattsville who played at Prince George’s County Community College; Kyree Jones, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound sophomore guard from Indianapolis who comes from Kankakee (Ill.) Community College via Northern Illinois; and Francis Obumneme, a 6-foot-10 junior center from Nigeria who played at Monroe (N.Y.) Community College.

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SU's Stump Mitchell says Dray Joseph earned starting QB job

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - After Southern coach Stump Mitchell settled on a starting quarterback, he brought candidates Dray Joseph and J.P. Douglas in for a meeting. There, Mitchell pulled out a piece of paper that listed the facts.

Joseph had won the quarterback battle. The numbers said so.



“I gave them a sheet that showed exactly what both of those guys did,” Mitchell said. “There’s no sense in me having closed-door meetings. We’re all family. We should be able to talk. We should be able to discuss. I didn’t want one guy to think I was telling him something and another guy something different.”

Mitchell told them both that this season will be a very different scene from the last one. Joseph will be the man in charge, Douglas will be his backup, and the only way they’ll switch roles is if Joseph gets injured.

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New position, more plays for WSSU Rams DeGeare

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Athletes often have trouble giving up a position they've played most of their lives, but Jamie DeGeare knew he wanted to see more action in his final football season at Winston-Salem State.

So when coaches asked him about switching from quarterback to fullback, DeGeare needed to think about it. But after remembering how little fun he had as backup quarterback in 2011, he figured he'd enjoy the season much more if he played more.



"In the spring, I was able to get prepared for all the contact that's involved," DeGeare said Saturday, after catching a short touchdown pass from Kameron Smith in a scrimmage. "It's actually coming along pretty well right now, and I'm excited about the season starting."

DeGeare starred at Glenn High School and ...

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Strike Up the Band, Talladega College has started a Marching Band Program

TALLADEGA, Alabama — Talladega College, it’s the home of the famous Amistad Murals, championship men’s and women’s basketball teams, an illustrious list of graduates that became university presidents, the first meeting place of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Andrew Young, alumni in business, science, education, healthcare and industry world-wide; and now adding to its current list is a new marching band. Talladega College started a marching band program this summer.

Over 100 prospective and current students expressed an interest in participating in the College band. Activities were set with a Band Camp which was held on the campus July 29 through the first week of August. The new band will perform at sports events, parades, celebrations, concerts and make special guest appearances. Following the summer camp, the band students will continue with instruction and begin performance in the fall.

“We are looking forward to this new program at the College. With music, you have the ability to inspire, unite and uplift an audience and community. Our program is attracting students from across the southeast. They are excited to come and be a part of the ‘first-ever’ Marching Band at Talladega College,” remarks President, Dr. Billy C. Hawkins.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Evelyn White also adds, “I think the Band is a tremendous asset. It will boost the level of excitement and enjoyment at our sports events and other occasions on the campus.”

The College is eager to launch and increase the ‘Dega sound’ as we touch others with music and more.

Talladega College Band members marched and danced their way through New Orleans streets on August 22, 2012, in their first on-the-road performance, after holding the school’s first-ever band camp only three weeks ago. The 100 plus member band was on the roster as a part of the Prince Hall Shriners’ parade in New Orleans.

According to a release from the college, most of the band students are from New Orleans and surrounding areas. They had a chance to perform for their home crowd and national visitors in a parade that in the past has taken four hours to complete.






ABOUT TALLADEGA COLLEGE

Talladega College, with the assistance of the American Missionary Association, was founded in 1867, by the descendants of the slaves who helped to build its first building, Swayne Hall-now a national historic site. Talladega College was the first institution in the state of Alabama to admit qualified persons of any race or ethnic origin.

The private, four year, co-educational, liberal arts college offers 17 majors grounded in the liberal arts. Its athletic programs are members of the States Collegiate Athletics Association, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) and the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.). Talladega College offers seven intercollegiate sports teams: for women, basketball, softball and volleyball; for men, baseball, basketball, golf, and soccer.

The college is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

COURTESY TALLADEGA COLLEGE MEDIA RELATIONS

ASU Hornets prepares for MEAC/SWAC Challenge

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - It's gameweek on the gridiron, as Alabama State head football coach Reggie Barlow met with the media on the SWAC Coaches Teleconference Monday morning.

The Hornets will take on Bethune-Cookman in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge Sunday in Orlando, Fla. at 11 a.m. CT/Noon ET live on WVAS 90.7 FM/HSRN.com/ESPN.

Barlow previewed this week's matchup with the Wildcats, the first time the teams have met since 2008. And while this is the Hornets second time playing in the Challenge, it will be first experience in the game in Orlando.

“We're really excited about an opportunity to represent the SWAC in this game,” Barlow said. “It's a blessing to have that platform and take our guys to Orlando, which is a great city. It's almost like a bowl game from all I've heard about the things they'll have the kids do. Also, we're getting the opportunity to play a good team in Bethune-Cookman. Coach (Brian) Jenkins has done a great job over the last two years. So it'll be a challenge; they have a lot of great players coming back.”

Excerpts from the SWAC Conference Call:

On being picked to win the SWAC's Eastern Division: “Whenever you recognized and picked by your peers, that says our coaches have gone out, got talent, brought it in, and coached 'em up. However, I'm not sure any of us have been accurate on (predicting) who's going to finish first. I understand we have to do it and it's a prediction, but in our conference there's so much parity. On the East, you have good teams and all of them have really good players, so there's no telling what's going to happen. Being picked to finish first in anything is a good thing, but you still have to play the game in the rectangle.”

On what concerns him the most about Bethune-Cookman: “One, they have about 15 Division I transfers on their team. That doesn't always transfer to success, but obviously the guys they have that transferred there, he coached them at Rutgers and other schools. They have a big, big offensive line. I imagine if you put their line and size up against any team in NCAA football, they'll measure up well. They have two real solid running backs. They run the ball well (with a pair of players that combined to rush for nearly 1,800 yards)…They have Eddie Poole, who's a big-time receiver. He has nice size and runs great routes. The other factor is the unknown. We haven't played them since (Coach Jenkins) has been there, and they also have a new (offensive) coordinator. It's kind of hard to know what you'll get. There will be a lot of adjusting on the fly after the first quarter or so.”

On playing on national television representing the SWAC in the game: “There's a lot of notoriety that comes with this game and an opportunity for people to see us all over the country. For our guys, our team, and our school, we're blessed. We're not just playing for Alabama State. That's our approach for this game. This is about Walter Payton and Jerry Rice and all those wonderful Grambling players like Doug Williams and all these guys that have represented the SWAC. That's what we're going to do, be a representation of the SWAC. It's a blessing to be a part of it.”



COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Alabama A&M football: Bulldogs have 2 main goals this year

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M reported for preseason practice back on July 30. Now, after practicing for almost a month, game week has arrived and the Bulldogs couldn't be happier.

A&M takes on Tuskegee in the season opener for both teams Saturday night at 7 at Legion Field in Birmingham. It is the second game of a four-year deal between the two schools.



"It's a big game because it's our season opener and we want to set the tone for the way we're going to play," running back Kaderius Lacey said. "We've set some lofty goals and in order to reach them we need to come out and beat Tuskegee."

A&M's senior class has put together a number of goals this season, but the biggest ones include winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and the Black College National championship.



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Howard football preview: Bison try to keep building amid eligibility issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As its 2011 home opener against Norfolk State moved into the second half, Howard University tackle Cory Gwinner couldn’t help but steal glances at the Greene Stadium stands between offensive series. Usually, this would be the point in the contest when the crowd started to thin, fans heading toward the exits with another Bison loss assured.

But this time, Howard continued to hang tough into the second half against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference power, and the stands remained mostly filled with the promise of a rare conference victory. The upset bid crumbled into a 23-9 loss with a lackluster final quarter, but even in defeat, Gwinner left the field with a refreshing blast of hope.

“That showed me that [the fans] wanted to be here,” said Gwinner, now a fifth-year senior. “They’ve seen the improvement and the change in the athletes here. They gave us more pride in playing for them, and it hasn’t always been like that.”



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Five things we know about NSU

NORFOLK, Virginia - The Norfolk State football team won its first MEAC championship in Chris Carlson's second season on the beat. Coincidence? Absolutely. Either way, this is the place to keep up-to-date on the latest NSU football news.

1. Everett Goldberg gives Norfolk State a better kicking game than any MEAC team. By miles.

Goldberg made 6 of 10 field goals last year, a decent effort by MEAC standards. All of them came from 47 yards or more, nearly unheard of by MEAC standards. Hampton’s Taureen Durham was named All-MEAC Second Team in the preseason. His long last year was 37 yards, and he connected on 10 of 17, a worse percentage than Goldberg.

Don’t believe my words? Believe your eyes. Have you seen this video? He’ll win the Spartans a game this season.



2. Xavier Boyce is either going to draw double teams or light up the MEAC. And probably both.

Former offensive coordinator Joe Blackwell heaped a lot of the credit for last year’s offensive success on Boyce’s ability to draw double teams. Despite constant doubles, he still caught 68 passes for 750 yards. His receptions set a Division I record at NSU. His yardage was second in the MEAC.

All that came despite constant double teams, or at least safety help, that opened lanes for teammates. The MEAC isn't going to adjust its strategy. It's not going to matter.

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SSU hoping to take bigger steps toward competitiveness

SAVANNAH, Georgia - The record didn’t change from 2010 to 2011, but the process ultimately to make Savannah State competitive with the rest of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has begun, Tigers second-year coach Steve Davenport said.

“Some times it takes baby steps,” Davenport said. “Even last year when we were 1-10, there were steps taken in a positive direction. The kids’ mental approach to practice was different from what I had heard (about the past).”

Savannah State may have been encouraged by defeating North Carolina Central in the fourth week of the season for its first victory against a MEAC opponent in its first conference game.

The Tigers opened their renovated stadium the next week against Howard.

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Albany State Focused on Fundamentals

ALBANY, Georgia  -  One week away from the first Saturday of college football looking at the basics shouldn't be the top priority for Albany State.

But that's where ASU Head Coach Mike White and his Golden Rams are stuck. The secondary and offensive line are still working through the fundamentals of the Golden Rams system.

Only a week away from the North Greenville opener, that's a concern for Coach White especially with the offense the Crusaders are bringing to Albany.

“Playing a team who's going to come in here with a lot of speed, a lot of returning guys...you're going to have to have your A,B,C's and your 1,2,3's down and right now we seem to be kind of struggling with that,” Coach White said. “That's why we're going to keep it here and see how much we can improve.”

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Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Names Carpenter as Commissioner

HAMPTON, Virginia - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) today announced the appointment of Jacqie Carpenter as Commissioner of the conference, effective in early September.

“The CIAA Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Jacqie Carpenter as our new Commissioner. She is a very talented athletics leader who brings rich and varied experience and skills from years at the NCAA. We welcome her tremendous enthusiasm for the future of the CIAA. These are the principal reasons that the Board chose her to lead our conference to a higher level of excellence” said Dr. Mickey L. Burnim, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Carpenter is the first appointed African-American female Commissioner of the CIAA. The CIAA, celebrating the Centennial of its founding in 1912, is comprised of predominantly Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) spanning the east coast from Pennsylvania to North Carolina.


Jacqie Carpenter, Director of Division I Men's Basketball, speaks at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome about the coming NCAA Men's Final Four (1/24/12).

“I am excited to have the opportunity to work closely with the CIAA Board of Directors and staff to develop a forward-looking strategic plan. We will provide effective, stable management reflective of the CIAA’s remarkable history. Our focus will be to deliver a successful second century to the CIAA within a culture that assures the highest quality experience and opportunities for our student-athletes and membership” said Carpenter.

Carpenter comes to the CIAA from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), where she was promoted from assistant to associate director in her initial championship assignments. In more than nine years with the NCAA, she served as Director, Championships and Alliances, Director of the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship and finally, on the leadership team of the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship managing one of the largest events in the country, with annual viewership exceeding 150 million. Carpenter’s various responsibilities included oversight of tournament external operations and lodging, collaboration with corporate partners and champions, and the development of an industry leading community relations program for the championship.

Carpenter earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Hampton University in 1991 while participating in volleyball and basketball and was a member of the 1988 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship team. Continuing her education, she earned a Master of Arts in Sports Management and Administration from Temple University in 1993. Carpenter also was the head volleyball coach and assistant women’s basketball coach at Virginia Union University and is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women in Athletic Administration (NACWAA) and the Black Women in Sport Foundation (BWSF).


COURTESY CIAA MEDIA RELATIONS