Benedict Names James Woody Interim Head Football Coach

Columbia, SC - Benedict College announced the hiring of James Woody as interim head football coach on Monday.

Woody brings more than 25 years experience as one of the nation's top offensive coordinators to the Tigers, who dropped to 1-3 after 40-23 televised loss to Fort Valley State on Thursday night. The Tigers travel to Augusta, Ga., this Saturday to face Miles College in the annual Augusta City Classic.

“I'm really looking forward to get going,” Woody said at a late-morning press conference at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium. “My first priority here is to make sure we put a team on the field that can be competitive - competitive week in and week out.”

Woody takes over for Stanley Conner, who went 21-27 in four full seasons, plus the first four games this season.

“We are very appreciative of the work of Coach Conner,” said Willie Washington, Benedict College Director of Athletics. “But as life has it, changes take place, and this is one of those changes that occurred here at Benedict College.”

This will be Woody's first head coaching position.

As an offensive coordinator at Tuskegee University and Jackson State University, Woody was instrumental in developing high-powered, high-scoring offenses. He said his coaching philosophy is simple – to play hard and play smart.

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Winless Valley on the rise

Baton Rouge, LA -- After a tough opening month, this is the kind of game the Southern football team really needs. This figures to be an easier week. This one is a no-brainer. Or is it?

At 2 p.m. Saturday in Itta Bena, Miss., the Jaguars (1-3, 1-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) face winless Mississippi Valley State (0-4, 0-3) in Rice-Totten Stadium.

At first glance, the game looks like it’s made to order for the Jaguars, who need a feel-good moment after losing fourth-quarter leads in crushing back-to-back losses against Jackson State and Florida A&M. But take a closer look. It’s possible this game won’t be the gimme it appears to be.

Yes, the Delta Devils are winless in 14 games under second-year coach Karl Morgan. But they’re still there. They’re still trying ...

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B-CU Coach Denson helps mold running backs

Bethune-Cookman at Miami

WHERE: Sun Life Stadium, Miami

WHEN: 3:30 Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011

RECORDS: B-CU 2-1, Miami 1-2

TV: ESPNU

RADIO: WELE 1380AM

Daytona Beach, FL - Autry Denson Jr.'s playing resume gave him instant credibility when he arrived at Bethune-Cookman as the Wildcats' running backs coach. His character away from the field also paid immediate dividends.

"Autry is a great example as a father, as a man, for our players to follow," B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said. "I think he's made a big impression on our players being good decision-makers off the field."

Denson a South Florida native is Notre Dame's all-time leading rusher and played four seasons in the NFL. He earned a business degree at Notre Dame and put it to use as a financial adviser to pro athletes before he retired from playing football. He also spent some time in the corporate world and focused on charities to help inner-city youth.

Denson, who played two seasons for the Miami Dolphins ...

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Falcons Pro-Bowl returner Eric Weems keeps everything in perspective

TAMPA -- A popular joke inside the Atlanta Falcons' locker room is that Eric Weems is so tight with his money that he still has a couple of Pell Grant checks left over from his college days at Bethune-Cookman.

The Pro Bowl return specialist smiled when he heard that line again inside the visitors' locker room Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. He didn't mind hearing it, because he knows there's a little bit of truth to it.

"That's always been me," Weems said after Tampa Bay beat the Falcons 16-13. "I like to be smart with my money. I'm tight. I'm a cautious investor. I'm not going to buy five cars, a house here, a house there. I've got one car -- my Dodge Magnum. It's an '08 and rides smooth."

Weems doesn't just throw away his money. The way the 26-year-old looks at it, every NFL player's career has an expiration date. For someone who makes a living returning kickoffs and punts, that expiration date can come sooner rather than later.



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Points a rarity for Johnson C. Smith University

Charlotte, NC - Points are scarce at Johnson C. Smith. After lighting up opponents for 99 points in their first two games, the Golden Bulls offense has produced 14 in the last pair. JCSU (2-2, 1-0 CIAA) split those games – a 14-7 win against Virginia State and 35-7 loss at Davidson.

I'm concerned, but I know schematically the coaches do a great job on game planning what we have to do to take advantage of another defense," JCSU coach Steve Aycock said. "We've just got to go back to square one and get the basics."

The Bulls are having trouble moving the ball, especially via the pass. Freshman quarterback Keahn Wallace has thrown for 359 yards and two scores in the last two weeks compared to 337 and four touchdowns against West Virginia State and 325 and three against Brevard. Very little went right against Davidson, with Wallace hitting 11-of-29 passes for ...

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Clash of the cymbals, roll of the drums bring spectacular, high energy, festive game day entertainment

Washington, D.C. - Let's Groove ... Can't get enough of that funky stuff ... Can't get enough of that funky stuff ... I said, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa..., yeah ...

Whether its Earth, Wind & Fire or Kool and the Gang, HBCU Bands are rocking the house this season with innovation, marching creativity, rap, ole school songs, and exceptional musicianship that is sure to please any die hard critic or connoisseur that follows the HBCU football circuit.

This posting is not about who is the best ... no contest, as Florida A&M University Marching 100 sets the standards for all others to follow.

The FAMU 100'rd marches 420 members -- all first chair musicians from their respective high schools from all across the United States and have been the innovators of the modern marching bands since 1946, the year that the legendary Dr. William P. Foster, started implementing his vision for college bands.

There is no debate here, as this is my blog!

It's more about the high quality of the HBCU marching band programs, be it small schools like Livingstone, Fort Valley State or Benedict; or median sized programs like Tennessee State, Norfolk State or Prairie View. Or the super-sized programs like Bethune-Cookman, Alabama State, Southern, Jackson State.  The outcomes are the same -- exceptional marching performances with superb musicianship that connects with all age groups and genres.

Our favorite teams and bands may differ and that's perfectly OK,  but you gotta make it to the nearest HBCU stadium to take in a few of the football games. Ole school, new school, high school, and those that never attended an HBCU -- the band battles alone is worth the price of the tickets and 3-4 hours of entertainment.  Plus, a great family atmosphere with out-of-sight B-B-Q ribs, chicken, fried fish, and so forth sold by the local vendors -- are worth all the efforts in fighting the game day traffic to arrive at your favorite HBCU stadium.

Did I mention there is some hellacious football being played by our teams in their battle for conference supremacy?

Most importantly, all the students are the real winners -- for the countless hundreds of  hours dedicated to perfecting their craft that brings us so much athletic and musical enjoyment. If you have not experienced an HBCU game day, this is a must see activity before you leave this planet! 

 Now, let's groove.

-beepbeep

FSU's Phillips praises the WSSU Rams

Fayetteville, NC - Coach Kenny Phillips of Fayetteville State, who has three CIAA titles on his résumé, gave high praise to Winston-Salem State after his team's 56-20 loss last Saturday.

"Talent-wise, they are stacked," Phillips said of the 4-0 Rams. "They didn't have to throw the football because we did such a poor job with their running game. That quarterback (Kameron Smith), we got him bottled up, and he got out there and went 60 (yards for a touchdown). He's got some weapons."

Smith had six touchdown passes in a 55-24 thumping of Chowan on Sept. 17, and WSSU had six rushing touchdowns against Fayetteville State. The Rams have been balanced, with totals of 968 yards rushing and 1,102 passing.



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