Washington, D.C. - Interspersed with dramatic footage from the film "Transformers" are Howard football highlights. The two-minute trailer on the school's athletic website, titled the "Road to Redemption," introduces a new era of high expectations for Howard football.
When the video was shown to the Bison at the start of preseason camp, the first image that popped on screen was 11-0.
If that goal sounds preposterous for a team coming off a 1-10 season, consider the man who authored it. If anyone knows the road map to 11-0 at Howard, it's new coach Gary "Flea" Harrell. As a player, the former New York Giants wide receiver helped Howard improve from 2-9 in 1991 to 11-1 in 1993, the last time the Bison went undefeated in the regular season and won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
"When I was here, [11-0] was our goal...
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Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Miami-Dade’s high school marching bands make a joyful noise
Miami, Florida - Turns out John Phillip Sousa , the cowboy in the Village People and Lady Gaga have something in common.
All three figure prominently in South Florida high schools’ marching band’s repertoires. Sousa’s familiar march, The Washington Post, meets the disco wedding party staple, YMCA. But the combination isn’t a bad romance for the kids in the band — or the audience in the stands.
“Last year we did Lady Gaga; we did Bad Romance, and that was interesting,” says a laughing Andrea Villegas, lead drum major for the John A. Ferguson Senior High’s Mighty Falcon Band. The football team liked it, but it’s still weird listening to a marching band playing Lady Gaga.” Weird, perhaps, but don’t knock the sweet sounds of success.
Several South Florida high school marching bands are racking up honors in statewide competitions with their high-stepping blends of old and new. Some students use marching band as a platform to attend college. Many of the bands feature...
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All three figure prominently in South Florida high schools’ marching band’s repertoires. Sousa’s familiar march, The Washington Post, meets the disco wedding party staple, YMCA. But the combination isn’t a bad romance for the kids in the band — or the audience in the stands.
“Last year we did Lady Gaga; we did Bad Romance, and that was interesting,” says a laughing Andrea Villegas, lead drum major for the John A. Ferguson Senior High’s Mighty Falcon Band. The football team liked it, but it’s still weird listening to a marching band playing Lady Gaga.” Weird, perhaps, but don’t knock the sweet sounds of success.
Several South Florida high school marching bands are racking up honors in statewide competitions with their high-stepping blends of old and new. Some students use marching band as a platform to attend college. Many of the bands feature...
READ MORE
SCSU Pough expects tough test from Chippewas
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| Bulldogs QB Derrick Wiley |
In fact, he expects the Chippewas, which lost six of their last seven games last season, to be as formidable as the five previous Division I opponents the Bulldogs have faced since 2007.
"Offensively it's going to be tough," said Pough at Monday's press conference. "This defense in Central Michigan is a big, rugged, fundamental style defense and you can tell when a defense gets in some pretty classic looks and ...
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Two Rivers Classic: Fayetteville State, UNC-Pembroke prepare for Saturday's rivalry game
Fayetteville, NC - Fayetteville State safety Andre Lyles has been trained well. It's easy to see that. For when asked Monday to describe his emotions heading into Saturday's Two Rivers Classic against UNC-Pembroke, Lyles shrugged and played the "just another game" card.
"This rivalry doesn't necessarily flip a switch for me," he said. "It's just another football game. We try to win and we treat every game the same. So the rivalry won't be a big issue."
Don't, however, take that sentiment at face value. Ed McLean, Fayetteville State's athletic director, certainly didn't. McLean knows full well that no matter how composed Lyles seemed at Monday's press conference, his adrenaline will inevitably spike Saturday when the Broncos storm onto the turf at Nick Jeralds Stadium to square off against UNCP for the third straight season.
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"This rivalry doesn't necessarily flip a switch for me," he said. "It's just another football game. We try to win and we treat every game the same. So the rivalry won't be a big issue."
Don't, however, take that sentiment at face value. Ed McLean, Fayetteville State's athletic director, certainly didn't. McLean knows full well that no matter how composed Lyles seemed at Monday's press conference, his adrenaline will inevitably spike Saturday when the Broncos storm onto the turf at Nick Jeralds Stadium to square off against UNCP for the third straight season.
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Rutgers coach Greg Schiano eager to see how inexperienced players respond in season opener vs. NCCU
Piscataway, NJ - Beyond whatever the final score may be — or the statistics compiled — Rutgers coach Greg Schiano sees something much more significant to be gained from Thursday's season opener against North Carolina Central: Game experience for a team that is surprisingly low on it.
"We really want to play the best we can," Schiano said during his weekly press conference today. "I think we have some depth on our team but a lot of that depth has not been tested in games. So I think it's going to be a great experience opportunity for them — and I don't mean down the road.
"I mean, (we have) guys that just haven't played that are first or second team players. To be in a game ... no matter how much you try to simulate game situations, it's difficult. I'm anxious to see how they respond. Everyone responds differently when the lights come on."
A quick check of the two-deep underscores just how short Rutgers is on starting experience.
NEXT GAME: THURSDAY, SEPT. 1, 2011 vs. NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL EAGLES
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"We really want to play the best we can," Schiano said during his weekly press conference today. "I think we have some depth on our team but a lot of that depth has not been tested in games. So I think it's going to be a great experience opportunity for them — and I don't mean down the road.
"I mean, (we have) guys that just haven't played that are first or second team players. To be in a game ... no matter how much you try to simulate game situations, it's difficult. I'm anxious to see how they respond. Everyone responds differently when the lights come on."
A quick check of the two-deep underscores just how short Rutgers is on starting experience.
NEXT GAME: THURSDAY, SEPT. 1, 2011 vs. NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL EAGLES
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Conference newcomer SSU seeks respect
Savannah, GA - This is a special season for Savannah State University’s football program because it’s the Tigers’ first as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
“It’s a sense of belonging,” said SSU senior quarterback A.J. DeFilippis, a Benedictine graduate. “We have a home now. We have a group of teams that we can play every year and maybe establish some rivalries, and establish our power and maybe get some respect from these teams.
“Our past records, we’re not really thinking of it that way. We don’t want to look back. We want to look forward and know that we can establish our power in this conference.”
Homecoming 2011: Savannah State vs. Hampton University, 2 p.m.
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“It’s a sense of belonging,” said SSU senior quarterback A.J. DeFilippis, a Benedictine graduate. “We have a home now. We have a group of teams that we can play every year and maybe establish some rivalries, and establish our power and maybe get some respect from these teams.
“Our past records, we’re not really thinking of it that way. We don’t want to look back. We want to look forward and know that we can establish our power in this conference.”
Homecoming 2011: Savannah State vs. Hampton University, 2 p.m.
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