Nashville, TN - The unknown factor is usually prominent in the first game of the season. But that’s not the case for Tennessee State and Southern, which meet tonight in the 13th annual John Merritt Classic at LP Field.
Southern’s second-year Coach Stump Mitchell was a running back in the NFL with the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals from 1981-89. TSU’s second-year Coach Rod Reed was a linebacker (1985-88), who became the Tigers’ all-time leading tackler (406). That kind of takes the guesswork out of what to expect.
“I don’t think there’s any question about how this game will play out,” Mitchell said. “I’m a running back, and I’m calling the plays. Rod’s a linebacker, and they’re going to try to stop the run. They play good defense, but we have to find ways to run the ball. We didn’t run the ball last year, but we’re going to this year.”
Mitchell said the personnel he inherited at Southern wasn’t suited to run the ball when he left the Washington Redskins as running-backs coach after the 2009 season.
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Saturday, September 3, 2011
MEAC/SWAC Challenge: Bethune-Cookman vs. Prairie View
Orlando, FL - Sunday's seventh installment of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge features an experienced team in Bethune-Cookman versus a relatively inexperienced team in Prairie View A&M.
The series pits annual contenders from the two FCS conferences for Historically Black Colleges and Universities against each other. While this game is very early in the season, it can set the tone for each team. The MEAC leads the series 4-2 with South Carolina State being the only team to have won twice.
Sunday's game will take place in Orlando, Fla., at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The game attracts nearly 20,000 fans each season. Bethune-Cookman comes into the season as one of the preseason favorites for a black college national championship.
A look at the two teams:
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The series pits annual contenders from the two FCS conferences for Historically Black Colleges and Universities against each other. While this game is very early in the season, it can set the tone for each team. The MEAC leads the series 4-2 with South Carolina State being the only team to have won twice.
Sunday's game will take place in Orlando, Fla., at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The game attracts nearly 20,000 fans each season. Bethune-Cookman comes into the season as one of the preseason favorites for a black college national championship.
A look at the two teams:
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WSSU volleyball team will make debut today
Winston Salem, NC - Not only is the WSSU football team debuting this weekend but the WSSU volleyball team will open its season this afternoon. The Rams volleyball team, coached by Edric Poitier, were decent in the CIAA last season going 13-8. Overall, however, it was just 13-15.This afternoon the Rams will take on Coker College at the Queens Invitational in Charlotte.
Poitier, who begins his second season at WSSU, says that part of is plan is to play tougher non-conference teams to prepare for the CIAA. Last year the Rams were third in the CIAA.
“I am a little different in my approach, because I don't want my girls to get a false sense of security by playing a weaker teams and building up wins early,” he said in a press release. “We are going to play some tough completion, so hopefully they will see what it takes to win against that kind of team, so when we get to CIAA conference play, and at the end of the season come tournament time, we will know what it takes to win against that tougher kind of competition.”
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NSU report: Unsettled Spartans 'a work in progress'
NORFOLK, VA - Norfolk State can't prove how good it will be during its season opener against Virginia State. It may give glimpses of how bad things could get. If the Spartans trounce the Trojans, they'll be doing what's expected, just as they did last year during a 6-5 campaign. Struggles, though, would be a bad omen.
"It's like when we go play a bigger school," NSU head coach Pete Adrian said. "Do you expect to win? Sure. You have more scholarships. But they can still beat you."
Rutgers felt the same way when NSU visited New Jersey for last year's season opener. The Scarlet Knights won 31-0, but more telling was an offensive line that surrendered three sacks against an inferior opponent. Rutgers went on to allow an NCAA-record 61 sacks and finished a disappointing 4-8.
Norfolk State enters this season with major questions on each of its lines, so while the scoreboard might not be worth watching today - NSU has won the past five games against its Division IIrival by an average of 24.4 points - the line of scrimmage should be.
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"It's like when we go play a bigger school," NSU head coach Pete Adrian said. "Do you expect to win? Sure. You have more scholarships. But they can still beat you."
Rutgers felt the same way when NSU visited New Jersey for last year's season opener. The Scarlet Knights won 31-0, but more telling was an offensive line that surrendered three sacks against an inferior opponent. Rutgers went on to allow an NCAA-record 61 sacks and finished a disappointing 4-8.
Norfolk State enters this season with major questions on each of its lines, so while the scoreboard might not be worth watching today - NSU has won the past five games against its Division IIrival by an average of 24.4 points - the line of scrimmage should be.
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Jackson State vs. Concordia
Game info
When: Today, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
Television: None
Radio: WHLH-95.5 FM
History
Last meeting: First meeting
All-time series: 0-0
Scouting the Hornets
Keep an eye on...
Louis Manning, RB
Jackson State struggled to stop the run last season, allowing more than 190 yards rushing in five games. It'll take more than one game - especially one against a team that doesn't offer athletic scholarships - to show the unit has improved, but slowing the Hornets' veteran running back Manning is crucial.
Unit that could give Tigers fits:
Middle linebackers
How about the only unit that completely returns? The Hornets return just five starters and two of those are linebackers Javonne Roman and Cruz Forbes.
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When: Today, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
Television: None
Radio: WHLH-95.5 FM
History
Last meeting: First meeting
All-time series: 0-0
Scouting the Hornets
Keep an eye on...
Louis Manning, RB
Jackson State struggled to stop the run last season, allowing more than 190 yards rushing in five games. It'll take more than one game - especially one against a team that doesn't offer athletic scholarships - to show the unit has improved, but slowing the Hornets' veteran running back Manning is crucial.
Unit that could give Tigers fits:
Middle linebackers
How about the only unit that completely returns? The Hornets return just five starters and two of those are linebackers Javonne Roman and Cruz Forbes.
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SSU opens with Division II Albany State
Macon, GA - First-year coach Steve Davenport wants his Savannah State Tigers to look ahead. They certainly don’t want to stare in the rear-view mirror against today’s 5 p.m. season-opening opponent Albany State in the Music City Classic at Henderson Stadium in Macon.
Davenport, an assistant running back coach at Alabama-Birmingham last season, inherits a 1-10 squad playing in its inaugural season in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Eight of the losses a year ago were by 31 or more points. But he says that’s a past that doesn’t need to be revisited.
“We feel good about what we have going on,” said Davenport during a teleconference call with the media. “We have 19 seniors, the most they’ve had here in a while, and they’ve shown tremendous leadership. Obviously, it’s been rough and tough around here, but the day I met those kids, I told them we weren’t going to worry about the past. We’re focused on the present and future.”
Quarterback A.J. DeFilippis, defensive back Darren Hunter and running back Justin Babb have been providing the senior leadership. DeFilippis, a Benedictine graduate, will ...
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Davenport, an assistant running back coach at Alabama-Birmingham last season, inherits a 1-10 squad playing in its inaugural season in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Eight of the losses a year ago were by 31 or more points. But he says that’s a past that doesn’t need to be revisited.
Savannah State (0-0) vs. Albany State (0-0)
When: today, 5 p.m.
Where: Henderson Stadium, Macon
TV/radio: No TV/WHCJ 90.3 FM
“We feel good about what we have going on,” said Davenport during a teleconference call with the media. “We have 19 seniors, the most they’ve had here in a while, and they’ve shown tremendous leadership. Obviously, it’s been rough and tough around here, but the day I met those kids, I told them we weren’t going to worry about the past. We’re focused on the present and future.”
Quarterback A.J. DeFilippis, defensive back Darren Hunter and running back Justin Babb have been providing the senior leadership. DeFilippis, a Benedictine graduate, will ...
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ASU coach Reggie Barlow preps hornets for Mississippi Valley
GREENWOOD, Mississippi -- The Alabama State University football team held a one-hour walkthrough practice at Pillow Academy Friday afternoon as Saturday's 2011 season opener at Mississippi Valley State approaches tomorrow at 5 pm.
The game can be heard live on 90.7 WVAS-FM in Montgomery and can be seen live over the internet free of charge on www.swac.org. Hornets Football Gameday Central on www.bamastatesports.com will have links for live stats, live radio and live video.
The Hornets departed Montgomery shortly after 8:30 a.m. Friday to a rousing sendoff by the ASU campus students, faculty, staff, band and cheerleaders. After arriving around 2:30 p.m., the Hornets departed to the nearby school for practice.
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Alabama State at
Mississippi Valley State
The game can be heard live on 90.7 WVAS-FM in Montgomery and can be seen live over the internet free of charge on www.swac.org. Hornets Football Gameday Central on www.bamastatesports.com will have links for live stats, live radio and live video.
The Hornets departed Montgomery shortly after 8:30 a.m. Friday to a rousing sendoff by the ASU campus students, faculty, staff, band and cheerleaders. After arriving around 2:30 p.m., the Hornets departed to the nearby school for practice.
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Alabama State atMississippi Valley State
Saturday, Sept. 3
5 p.m.
5 p.m.
(live links will be active prior to kickoff)
Live Stats
Listen Live on 90.7 WVAS FM
Watch Live Online Free of Charge on SWAC TV
Alabama State Game Notes
Alabama State Game Notes
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