Norfolk coach says MEAC trying to catch up to S.C. State

Coach Pete Adrian

Norfolk, VA - If head coach Buddy Pough is playing down his 22nd-ranked South Carolina State football team's credentials, his opposition Saturday afternoon is doing the complete opposite.

Norfolk State head football coach Pete Adrian had nothing but praise for the Bulldogs during Tuesday's weekly Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teleconference, while insisting his team faces an uphill battle at Dick Price Stadium.

"South Carolina State's the three-time defending champions and they're playing very well," Adrian said. "They have a lot of depth on both sides of the football. They've got just about two of everything that we're seeing. They play with great passion. They always play really hard and everybody in the conference is trying to catch them. I don't know if they'll ever get caught or not, but it's a typical South Carolina State team. They're going to hit you in the mouth and smile at you and play hard and see how you respond to it."

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Former S.C. State/Central State's Orlando Brown dies at age 40

Brown played for legendary Coach Willie Jeffries at South Carolina State University 

Baltimore, MD - Orlando Brown, 40, a mammoth offensive tackle who sued the National Football League in 1999 after he was struck in the eye by an errant flag thrown by an official, was found dead Sept. 23 at his home in Baltimore.

Rescue workers were called to Mr. Brown’s home when he was found unresponsive. Determination of the cause of death is pending an investigation by the Maryland medical examiner.

Mr. Brown, who grew up in Northeast Washington, was a bruising 6-foot-7, 360-pound behemoth who played 10 seasons in the NFL, despite missing three years because of his eye injury. He earned a reputation as one of the toughest and most aggressive players in the league.

During a game in Cleveland on Dec. 19, 1999, referee Jeff Triplette threw his flag while calling a penalty on another player. The flag, weighted with a small bag of metal pellets, passed through Mr. Brown’s face mask and struck him in the right eye, causing immediate partial blindness.

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WSSU women's hoop team ready to go

Winston Salem, NC - Losing just one starter in center Vontisha Woods has coach Steve Joyner Jr. very encouraged about this women’s basketball season at WSSU. But then again Joyner, who learned from his father, is always optimistic.

The Rams were 16-11 last season in Joyner’s first at WSSU. With four transfers and six freshmen added to his roster Joyner is hoping that the chemistry comes early. The Rams also lost key reserve Rene Rector from last season.

“We have a tough schedule playing some Division I teams early,” Joyner said. “If we can get through that stretch and get into the CIAA would should be OK.” The Rams will begin practice Oct. 15 and will play at Davidson on Nov. 5 in an exhibition game.



The core of the Rams, guard Courtney Medley, Taneisha White, Jasmine Newkirk and Jordhan Peterson, along with Taylar Wells gives Joyner plenty of experience. If Medley is more consistent I think she has a chance to be player of the year in the conference.

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JCSU Golden Bulls show a little gloss

Charlotte, NC - It's no secret that the Johnson C. Smith football program has had trouble gaining traction. Coach Steve Aycock is intent on giving his team solid footing. The Golden Bulls (2-2, 1-0 CIAA) will be homecoming opponents again when they play the undefeated Winston-Salem State Rams at 1:30 Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Aycock and his team won't shy away from the challenge.

"We are used to being homecoming bait," said Aycock, a former Golden Bulls assistant now in his third season as the head coach. "Next week, we are Shaw's homecoming game, so it's nothing new to us."

What is new is that the Bulls are starting to turn the corner. They already have two victories, matching their win total of last season (2-8). They were 3-7 in 2009, Aycock's first season.


JCSU vs. Davidson half-time performance.

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Savannah State Tigers excited about big week ahead

Savannah, GA - First-year coach Steve Davenport wanted to give Savannah State football fans something to get excited about. So Davenport and the Tigers delivered the ultimate elixir — a 33-30 win over North Carolina Central in their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game.

It was just the positive statement SSU hoped to produce before coming home to display beautifully renovated T.A. Wright Stadium to an expected huge throng for the home opener against Howard University on Saturday night.



The game culminates several days of festivities. An official dedication of the stadium begins Thursday afternoon followed by the school’s athletic hall of fame induction ceremony on Friday night. Excitement for the team started early Sunday morning. Davenport said about 500 supporters and students greeted team buses at 3:30 a.m. after returning home from Durham, N.C.

“It really gave me an eye-opening of how starved these kids and the community are to be successful,” Davenport said.

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MEAC upholds replay reversal in Hampton vs. Bethune-Cookman

NORFOLK, VA -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Commissioner Dennis Thomas has issued a statement regarding the final play of the Bethune-Cookman University vs. Hampton University football game played on Thursday, September 22, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The game was televised live on ESPNU.



"In addition to reviewing the video with the MEAC's Coordinator of Football Officials Rosie Amato, I felt the need to procure external analysis of the play in question and requested three seasoned and nationally respected officials including Rogers Redding, CFO National Coordinator of Football Officials and NCAA Football Rules Committee Secretary-Rules Editor, Doug Rhoads, Coordinator of Football Officials for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and Dr. Gerald Austin, Coordinator of Football Officials of Conference USA, to independently review the play in question. Upon their review it was concluded unanimously that the ruling to reverse the on field call to an incomplete catch was accurate therefore invalidating the final Hampton touchdown.

The analysis of the video evidence concluded that the airborne receiver did not maintain control of the ball after hitting the ground, and by rule did not fulfill all the elements of the process of completing the catch. The rule support for this reversal is Approved Ruling 7-3-6-XII and 7-3-6-XIII found on page FI-35 of the 2011-12 NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations manual."

Courtesy MEAC Media Relations

Paine's Tim Duncan already hard at work

Augusta, GA - When Tim Duncan officially started at Paine, he planned to take 90 days to observe and then take action. President George Bradley had other plans for his new athletic director, telling him he soon wanted a strategic plan in place. Shortly after his May 9 start date, Duncan assembled a five-part plan. That’s been just the start for Duncan, who’s made several other major changes for the athletic department.

“It’s been extremely busy,” Duncan said. “But it’s been very good.”

The former UNC-Wilmington associate athletic director and director of major gifts, Duncan has been working to become more visible in the Augusta community. He’s also spoken to several alumni groups throughout the state.

“Paine College has been a well-kept secret,” Duncan said. “I want people to know the good things we’re doing.” He established a five-part plan, which includes academic excellence, athletic excellence, compliance, external operations and student well-being.

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