Southern U O-line eager after tough '07

Photo: SU head coach Pete Richardson will need to replace a defensive coach after losing line coach David Geralds to Shaw University. Richardson is also unsure if running backs coach Elvis Joseph will return.

As Southern huddled as a team at the close of football practice Thursday, center Ramon Chinyoung let out a challenge to the defense that the pads were coming on in the next few days.

Though some of that bellow is eagerness after being academically ineligible and missing last season, the enthusiasm — combined with just having Chinyoung and two others in similar circumstances, tackle Adrian Banks and guard Joshua Keelen, back at work — is welcome.

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Practice intensity picks up on FAMU Rattler football field

Photo: RS senior LB Vernon Wilder, 6-0/248, Miami Carol City H.S., Miami, FL

An unusually large crowd of onlookers gathered closer to the fence that separated them from the Florida A&M practice field, as the Rattlers lined up in pads for the first time Thursday during spring practice.

The onlookers were close enough to see some of the things that left coach Joe Taylor believing his team is finding its identity.

Running back Philip Sylvester dashed for 40 yards into the end zone. Kicker Troy Walker hit a 30-yard field goal before he had two blocked by special teams defense.

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UAPB to name Mississippi Valley assistant George Ivory head coach

Mississippi Valley State assistant coach George Ivory will be named the new head men’s basketball coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, according to UAPB Athletic Director Louis “Skip” Perkins.

A press conference has been scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Golden Lion Stadium. The press conference is open to the public.

Ivory served under James Green at MVSU for one season as the Delta Devils won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament championship and played UCLA in the NCAA Tournament last Thursday. Mississippi Valley State ended the Golden Lions’ season on March 14 in the semifinals of the SWAC Tournament in Birmingham, Ala.

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Coach Ivory is expected to sign a four year deal worth $ 85,000 annually, not including incentives.

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SCSU holds second day of Spring Practice

By: By SCSU Sports Information

South Carolina State conducted its second day of spring drills Wednesday going through the basic fundamentals on offense and defense.

"Once again it was another pretty exciting practice going through the motions," said SCSU coach Buddy Pough. "The kids are working hard learning their assignments so when we do get into full gear everything goes smoothly."

Pough noted that all the players are enthusiastic and seemed to be taking to the new coaches well.

The Bulldogs will continue with a light workout the next few days before suiting up in shoulder pads on Friday.

"This will give us a chance to start more of our team style drills," stated Pough. "A lot of the guys are running around out there so now we get a chance to see what they can do in different positions."

SC State will resume practice on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and will conduct a light scrimmage beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The Bulldogs will wrap up spring drills Apr. 19 with their annual Garnet and Blue game.

Governor, Legislature salute DSU Football Champs

Photo: Seated (L-R): DSU Dir. of Athletics Rick Costello, Governor Ruth Ann Minner and DSU head coach Al Lavan surrounded by Hornet football team during visit to Governor's office.

By: DSU Athletic Media Relations

Dover, DE --- Delaware State’s 2007 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football champions were guests of honor during a recent visit to Legislative Hall. Led by Director of Athletics Rick Costello, along with head coach Al Lavan and his staff, more than 40 members of the Hornets were honored for their historic 2007 season by Governor Ruth Ann Minner and the General Assembly.

Last season, the Hornets posted a school record 10 wins (10-2), captured the school’s first MEAC championship since 1991 and made the first NCAA playoff appearance in team history. The ’07 Hornets became the third team in the 36-year history of the MEAC to post an 8-0 league record during the regular season.

Alcorn State football to play Southern Miss in 2009

Photo: Alcorn State University's new head football coach Earnest Jones is bringing excitement to the Braves program by playing Mississippi's Division I football programs.

LORMAN, MS — The Alcorn State Braves are on the verge of making some football history.

The Braves released their 2009 football schedule on Wednesday, which includes a trip to M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg to play Southern Miss. It will be the first time in the 88-year history of the football program that the Braves will play one of the three Division 1A schools in Mississippi.

Alcorn State football coach Ernest Jones said the game is a way to give the Alcorn State program some good recognition and step the program up a notch.

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The Golden Eagles will host Alcorn State on Sept. 12, 2009, in the first meeting between the two schools located about 150 miles apart.

USM will pay Alcorn between $150,000-$160,000. The Braves also will get the proceeds from the first 5,000 tickets they sell and the proceeds from a second allotment of tickets to ASU, if needed, would be split.

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Receivers shine for FAMU Rattlers

Florida A&M assistant football coach Jerry Stevens is still getting the names of all of the players under his watch down pat, but he can point them out one by one and give an account of their abilities.

Stevens, FAMU's receivers coach, already knows what lanky Isaac West can do with his height. Small but speedy Jarvis Funderburk is another one that Stevens is already familiar with. Even those whose names he's still learning bring something that Stevens is already getting a little ecstatic about.

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