Comegy and QB build expectations

Jackson, MS - Jackson State coach Rick Comegy believes he’s going to have a good football team this season. And he’s not afraid to say so.

“We’ve got guys who are mature and we’ve got guys who can play ball,” said Comegy, who enters his fifth season with the Tigers. “This should be the kind of year where we show how football at Jackson State is played.”

Confidence abounds at Jackson State, which is coming off an 8-3 season.

Much of that bravado is due to the return of quarterback Casey Therriault, who is coming off one of the best passing seasons in school history. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior threw for 3,436 yards last season and tied a school record with 31 touchdowns passes. He also rushed for 10 touchdowns in his first season...

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Alabama A&M football: Mason near flawless in first scrimmage

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Deaunte Mason strengthened his grip on Alabama A&M's starting quarterback job with a near flawless performance Wednesday night during the Bulldogs' first preseason scrimmage.

Mason completed his first seven passes as the first-team offense dominated the first-team defense, scoring on back-to-back possessions, to open the scrimmage. Mason finished 7-of-8 for 74 yards and two touchdowns. He threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Montarius Smith to cap a seven-play, 60-yard touchdown drive. Mason was 5-for-5 for 51 yards on the drive.

On the second possession of the scrimmage, Mason was 2-for-2 for 23 yards and capped the seven-play, 70-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown ...

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In the FCS Huddle: 2011 SWAC Preview

Philadelphia, PA - Doug Williams laughs that a lot of his football players at Grambling State didn't know much about him when he returned to his alma mater for a second stint as head coach.

Dezmond Spivey knew him well. He just laughs at Williams' style.

"He's a character, he's a comedian," Spivey said. "When he imitates Coach Rob, he goes 'only in America' and certain things. And I can say this, when there's a scenario to be given, he has one for every single thing."

Spivey's father played with Williams for one season at Grambling State under Coach Rob - the legendary Eddie Robinson - so Dezmond has a history with the Tigers' new coach that includes attending...

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Hampton University, ODU among eight teams in hoops series

RICHMOND, VA - Standing on the Richmond Coliseum court, Governor Bob McDonnell along with coaches, athletic directors and other officials from eight Virginia universities announced today the “Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic”, a basketball doubleheader to benefit Virginia’s Food Banks. The “Classic” will take place in December 2012 and 2013 and feature in-state teams representing the ACC, CAA, MEAC and Atlantic 10.

ODU, HU among 8 teams in hoops series: wavy.com

The “Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic” Matchups:

December 2012

George Mason vs. University of Richmond (early game)

The University of Virginia vs. Old Dominion University (late game)

December 2013

Hampton University vs. James Madison University (early game)

Virginia Tech vs. Virginia Commonwealth University (late game)

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Southern’s Rice finally getting his chance

Baton Rouge, LA - Even these days, after the Southern football team finishes off a long practice in gruesome conditions, Brandon Rice often bounces through the hallways of the A.W. Mumford Field House with an ear-to-ear grin.

No relief from the heat? No relief from preseason camp? No end in sight to team meetings and film sessions? No problem. At least, that’s the kind of attitude teammates often see from Rice.

At any moment, the junior tailback has a few things on display: his long dreadlocks, his length-of-the-arm tattoos, and an intimate knowledge of the Jaguars’ playbook. Not to mention that ear-to-ear grin.  Plenty are the times when Rice has a joke or a compliment for someone in the room.

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UAPB Golden Lions Open Camp Looking to Fill Key Voids

Pine Bluff, AK - The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team officially opened camp on Monday with over 90 players reporting for fall drills all vying for playing time and a chance to compete for several open slots on the Golden Lions depth chart.

A new era in Golden Lions football will begin in at the start of the season as UAPB welcomes the addition of Eric Dooley as Offensive Coordinator, Earl Buckingham as linebackers coach, and Marty Biagi as defensive backs coach.

There will also be a new face behind center with the departure of Joshua Boudreux who last season broke the 3,000 yard barrier while setting new records in several statistical categories. In addition offensively the Golden Lions will look to replace Raymond Webber who led the NCAA FCS tallying 101 receptions while racking up 1,429 receiving yards.

UAPB Head Coach Monte Coleman is optimistic that those voids left from last seasons' departures all across the board can be filled by a talented group of newcomers that will look to make immediate impacts.

“The starting quarterback position is completely up for grabs,” said Coleman. “With that in mind we have two red shirt freshmen in C.J. Branch and Ben Anderson as well as a transfer in Dewayne Watts that will compete for the starting position. With none of them having any playing experience at this level we plan on going with the player that exhibits the best decision making ability within the confines of what we're going to try to do offensively. Whichever one of these young men separates himself in that regards is going to be our starter.”

“At the wide receiver position last season our top receiver caught over 100 receptions. If we're able to spread the ball around more this season and have three or four guys catch 30-40 receptions we would be pleased with that. We plan to do a lot of the same stuff offensively so we anticipate our players will be able to adjust easily to Dooley's system. The biggest part of this transition will be our players grasping the new terminology.”

Defensively the Golden Lions will be anchored by 2011 SWAC Preseason First Team selection Jer-ryan Harris and cornerback James Harrell who looks to have a breakout year after starting off strong last season.

Discipline, focus, and quick reaction was consistently relayed to the defense on the first day of camp with several players running to the ball at all times. On the defensive side of the ball Arkansas-Pine Bluff also welcomes back Michael Johnson (DT), Joe Brown (DB), and Jamel Maxwell (DB) who return from injuries.

“It was good to see several guys from last years' team who had to sit out much of last season,” said Coleman. “Johnson, Brown, and Maxwell all have contributed to this program in the past and they all seemed fired up to be back out on the football field. Collectively the defense flew around today and as a coach you're always pleased to see that early on. I feel we started camp today with the right team attitude and we'll look to get better tomorrow.”

Arkansas-Pine Bluff will continue camp on Tuesday at 2:15 pm at the Golden Lions practice field. UAPB will host two scrimmages on Friday, August 19th at the White Hall football stadium at 7:00 pm and another on August 24th at 6:00 pm at the UAPB practice field. Both scrimmages are set to be open to the general public.

By UAPB Media Relations 

Hut hut! NSU Spartans begin preseason camp

Norfolk, VA - The first two days of practice for Norfolk State are in the books with a few noteworthy occurrences. The biggest move was sophomore Nico Washington going from defensive line to offensive line in an effort to help solve NSU's biggest issue heading into the season.

A defensive tackle who played in all 11 games and made eight tackles in 2010 as a true freshman, Washington is the leading candidate to begin the season at right tackle. There's good and bad to that.

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