Washington, D.C. - If anyone knows how far the Howard football program has fallen, it’s first-year Coach Gary Harrell. As a 5-foot-7 wide receiver, he helped lead the Bison to an 11-1 record and the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 1993. Since 1999, though, Howard has had only two winning seasons and is coming off a 2010 campaign in which a win over Division II Lincoln was its only victory.
So it’s no surprise that Harrell has one word on his mind: redemption.
“It’s not just redemption toward the other schools in our conference, it’s redemption for ourselves, getting back to the way we play at Howard University, getting back to our tradition,” said the 39-year-old Harrell, who had a brief stint with the New York Giants. “This is the job I’ve been praying for, been preparing myself for, to be the head coach at Howard University, to be in charge of leading this program in a different direction.”
Harrell still owns the Howard record for career receptions and is known around campus as “The Flea,” the nickname he earned as a player because of his size and tenacity.
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Friday, September 2, 2011
From Bowie High to Bowie State Football
The sky was mostly blue with a slight wind blowing the small markers on the top of the goalposts on the football field at Bowie State University on Monday afternoon.
About 50 yards behind one end zone students were unloading their cars in preparation for the fall semester.
Inside the football stadium the Bulldogs of Bowie State were preparing for their first game of the season, a non-conference contest at Assumption on Saturday in Worcester, MA.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
North Carolina A&T Names Sanchez Head Baseball Coach
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| Head Baseball Coach Joel Sanchez (Courtesy: NC A&T Sports Information) |
"Coach Sanchez has what I call 'championship experience,'" said Hilton. "He spent numerous years learning what it takes to win championships on a consistent basis. We are excited about blending his winning knowhow with what we believe is already an outstanding baseball program."
Prior to joining N.C.A&T, Sanchez held the assistant baseball coaching position at Daytona State College for one season in 2011.
The bulk of Sanchez's coaching success came during his eight seasons (2001-08) at Bethune-Cookman University, where he served as the head assistant under Mervyl Melendez. During his stint at B-CU, the Wildcats earned seven MEAC Championships, and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Regional each time.
Sanchez's coaching experience is not limited to college baseball. He served as the minor league pitching coach for the Gulf Coast League Nationals, the rookie-level minor league affiliate of the Washington Nationals in 2010; and the Vermont Lake Monsters, the short-season level-A affiliate of the Nationals in 2009. He was responsible pitching staff of each team.
As a player, Sanchez played professionally with the Ciudad Juarez of Chihuahua, Mexico from 1997-1999. He was a two-year letterman at New Mexico State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in psychology in 1998.
Sanchez replaces Keith Shumate, who resigned in July after 15 seasons with the Aggies. Austin Love will remain as an assistant for the program.
Courtesy: NC A&T Sports Information
Elko blends in just fine with Delaware State Hornets' mission
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| QB Nick Elko (Photo Courtesy: Mike Baker) |
Nick Elko will be the starting quarterback for the Hornets in their season opener Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Virginia Military Institute
Dover, DE - Being a white quarterback in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, made up of historically black colleges, doesn't faze Nick Elko, who says he's just one small part of the team at Delaware State University.
Besides, he said, it's not like he's the first white player to ever put on the Hornets' uniform. "When I first came in to Delaware State I thought about it, but it is what it is," Elko said. "I mean, I like it, I feel accepted, and it's just normal for me. It's really no big deal."
That's the way preseason MEAC offensive player of the year Justin Wilson sees it. Elko and Wilson have been working together the past three seasons and have developed a close bond during that time.
"We've always had that chemistry since Day One," Wilson said. "We have different signals that we do [on the field] and all that so we're fine with it. Elko's a really good quarterback and he'll get to show it this season."
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Rutgers/NCCU Gameday: Scarlet Knights host North Carolina Central in season opener
Rutgers vs. North Carolina Central Eagles
Tonight, 7:30 p.m.
High Point Solutions Stadium, Piscataway
TV: ESPN3.com
Radio: 1450-AM, 710-AM, 97.5-FM
THE STORYLINES
1. Has Rutgers’ offensive line improved enough to make it through a game against an FCS opponent without yielding a sack? Norfolk State, a MEAC school like N.C. Central, recorded three sacks in last year’s opener against the Scarlet Knights — which should have been an immediate tip off to how much the unit would struggle that season. In allowing an NCAA record 61 sacks, Rutgers gave up at least one in all 12 games in 2010. The good news/bad news: Four of those O-line starters are back, but the return to a pro-style offense is supposed to help. N.C. Central, with five returning defensive starters, doesn’t have a player who recorded more than two sacks last season. A sack-free performance should be possible.
2. How much of heralded true freshman running back Savon Huggins will we see — especially with North Carolina waiting in nine days? Huggins will get his share of playing time and may even start. He might get enough carries to flirt with 100 yards rushing in his collegiate debut, too. But don’t expect to see the wraps taken off Huggins just yet. It’s too soon. This is one of those games where the coaches want to get Huggins just enough of a feel for game action without revealing too much. It’s even possible, if the game is lopsided, that redshirt freshman Jawan Jamison will wind up with the most carries of all the tailbacks — almost all after halftime. It may be the only time this season that happens
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Tonight, 7:30 p.m.
High Point Solutions Stadium, Piscataway
TV: ESPN3.com
Radio: 1450-AM, 710-AM, 97.5-FM
THE STORYLINES
1. Has Rutgers’ offensive line improved enough to make it through a game against an FCS opponent without yielding a sack? Norfolk State, a MEAC school like N.C. Central, recorded three sacks in last year’s opener against the Scarlet Knights — which should have been an immediate tip off to how much the unit would struggle that season. In allowing an NCAA record 61 sacks, Rutgers gave up at least one in all 12 games in 2010. The good news/bad news: Four of those O-line starters are back, but the return to a pro-style offense is supposed to help. N.C. Central, with five returning defensive starters, doesn’t have a player who recorded more than two sacks last season. A sack-free performance should be possible.
2. How much of heralded true freshman running back Savon Huggins will we see — especially with North Carolina waiting in nine days? Huggins will get his share of playing time and may even start. He might get enough carries to flirt with 100 yards rushing in his collegiate debut, too. But don’t expect to see the wraps taken off Huggins just yet. It’s too soon. This is one of those games where the coaches want to get Huggins just enough of a feel for game action without revealing too much. It’s even possible, if the game is lopsided, that redshirt freshman Jawan Jamison will wind up with the most carries of all the tailbacks — almost all after halftime. It may be the only time this season that happens
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SC State heads to Michigan with a record 13 freshmen
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - The South Carolina State Bulldogs boarded a plane in Columbia Wednesday afternoon and took off for what will prove to be a major challenge to open up the season Thursday night.
The team headed to Mount Pleasant, Michigan to play the Central Michigan Chippewas. Thursday's 7:00 p.m. game will be the first in the 2011 NCAA football season.
A record number of freshmen are traveling with the team for this game. 13 true freshmen made the trip and it's expected that 6 or 7 will see playing time and a couple may even start.
Head Coach Buddy Pough's team is coming off a 9-3 season in which they shared the MEAC title and made a third straight appearance in the playoffs.
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The team headed to Mount Pleasant, Michigan to play the Central Michigan Chippewas. Thursday's 7:00 p.m. game will be the first in the 2011 NCAA football season.
A record number of freshmen are traveling with the team for this game. 13 true freshmen made the trip and it's expected that 6 or 7 will see playing time and a couple may even start.
Head Coach Buddy Pough's team is coming off a 9-3 season in which they shared the MEAC title and made a third straight appearance in the playoffs.
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Norfolk State football preview: Schedule switcheroo
Norfolk, VA - The Norfolk State football team expects a better conference record than it had last season. The MEAC coaches think the Spartans will finish in the upper half of the conference.
Because of the league’s two-team expansion, though, meeting expectations wouldn’t indicate the Spartans made significant strides from last season.
While players head into the season as they always do, with championship hopes and dreams of grandeur, a long-term analysis typically requires a measuring-stick approach. The offseason changes to the MEAC have created a new ruler.
Gone from Norfolk State’s schedule is its annual game against Florida A&M, a contest that, since head coach Pete Adrian’s arrival, has been a game between upper-half programs. In three of the past four years, the game has come down to one score or less.
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Because of the league’s two-team expansion, though, meeting expectations wouldn’t indicate the Spartans made significant strides from last season.
While players head into the season as they always do, with championship hopes and dreams of grandeur, a long-term analysis typically requires a measuring-stick approach. The offseason changes to the MEAC have created a new ruler.
Gone from Norfolk State’s schedule is its annual game against Florida A&M, a contest that, since head coach Pete Adrian’s arrival, has been a game between upper-half programs. In three of the past four years, the game has come down to one score or less.
READ MORE
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