GSU Panthers look to get back on track at South Carolina State

Orangeburg, South Carolina -- After a poor showing against Murray state, the Panthers will travel to South Carolina State University.

The Bulldogs are coming off of their homecoming game, and will look to dismantle the Panther defense in their pursuit of a fourth straight Mid- Eastern Athletic Conference title. With redshirt junior quarterback Derrick Wiley leading the way, the Panthers will be up against another prolific offense.

In a 69-0 victory over Delaware State on Sept. 24, Wiley threw for 250 yards and four touchdowns through the air. The 6'1 200 pound Wiley completed 12 of his 20 attempted passes. Along with torching Delaware State through the air Wiley rushed for 2 touchdowns on the ground. With his monster offensive show out, Wiley tied 2 school single game records.

These included the four passing touchdowns, and total touchdowns posted in a game with six.
Luckily for the Panthers, they won't have to face Wiley, who is out with a torn knee meniscus. Due to this injury Wiley could potentially miss the remainder of the season.

Richard Cue will be starting at quarterback in place of the injured Wiley.

In his first start last weekend, Cue completed 15 of his 22 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Although Wiley will be out due to injury, they still have freshman running back Jalen Simmons empowering the Bulldogs offense. In the 69 – 0 route of Delaware State Simmons set up two touchdowns for his team. Simmons rushed for 92 yards on 11 carries, averaging a stellar 8.36 yards per carry.




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XU climbs to fourth on Champions of Character Scorecard

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana is in the top 10 for the second straight year on the NAIA Champions of Character Scorecard released last week by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Xavier scored 91 points in 2010-11 to tie for fourth nationally with Biola University of La Mirada, Calif. Xavier climbed three places and four points from the previous year. NAIA members earned the Champions of Character Five Star Award by scoring at least 60 points.

Schools earned points in each of the following categories: character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Institutions earned points based on exceptional student-athlete grade-point averages and by obtaining zero ejections during competition throughout the academic year. The scorecard process is based on the NAIA's flagship program Champions of Character, which emphasizes the five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

Cornerstone University of Grand Rapids, Mich., repeated as the NAIA leader with 103 points. Xavier's point total ranked first in Louisiana, first among Catholic universities, first in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, first among HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) and first in the South. A year ago Xavier was second in the South but first in the other categories.

The GCAC was the only conference with three of the top 10 schools and four of the top 22. The GCAC's Tougaloo College of Tougaloo, Miss., placed eighth with 88 points, Talladega College of Talladega, Ala., tied for ninth with 87 points, and Edward Waters College of Jacksonville, Fla., tied for 18th with 85 points.

More than 80 percent of NAIA members — 220 in all — will receive the Champions of Character Five Star Award for 2010-11.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

FAMU's Taylor takes blame for loss

Tallahassee, Florida -- Coach Joe Taylor took responsibility Monday for the stunning loss that his Florida A&M football team suffered during homecoming on Saturday, while saying that his players have to recommit themselves if they want to finish the season with a winning record.

"I'm taking full blame because once they're on the field, I'm saying that they are the right ones," Taylor said. "I put them out there because through evaluation, written test, practice they're showing us that they can do it."



Taylor also responded to criticism of his coaching, which has become a social network talking point. Some even called for his termination in the face of the fact that FAMU (3-3, 2-2) is teetering with the possibility of not having a shot at the MEAC title.

He seemed unfazed Monday, though ...



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TSU snaps OVC losing streak, pounds SEMO 55-3

Nashville, Tennessee -- Tennessee State released a bunch of pent-up frustration Saturday night by pounding Southeast Missouri from the opening kickoff in a 55-3 victory. The Tigers snapped a nine-game OVC losing streak by beating the Redhawks 55-3.

TSU scored on seven of its eight possessions in the first half and claimed its most lopsided win since beating Tennessee Martin 76-0 in 1998. The 52-point loss matched Southeast Missouri’s worst since joining the OVC in 1991.



The Tigers snapped a four-game losing streak. They hadn’t won since the last time they played at LP Field, beating Southern 33-7 in the season opener. Last week TSU (2-4, 1-2) blew a 21-point first-half lead in a 37-34 loss at Austin Peay.

“I think we started something last week,” said second-year Coach Rod Reed, who earned his first OVC win. “We had an opportunity to win that game, but we let it slip away. We talked about finishing all week. We came in at halftime with that (41-0) lead, and it was still all business.”



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Vote will decide if TSU returns to Hale Stadium

Nashville, Tennessee -- The next election in Nashville won’t choose any political leaders, but it will decide if a treasured but dilapidated football stadium comes roaring back to life for its owner’s 100th birthday next fall.

Tennessee State University announced Thursday that students and alumni — and anyone else who cares enough to pay $10 — can vote on whether to bring football back to Hale Stadium for three games in 2012. Results will be announced at TSU’s homecoming game against the University of Tennessee-Martin on Nov. 12 at LP Field.

“We will abide by what you say,” interim President Portia Holmes-Shields said during a news conference at the stadium often known as “The Hole.”

“It’s going to be contingent on what you guys say: ‘Hale yes’ or ‘Hale no.’ Vote early, vote often.”

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Fayetteville State wins big over Virginia State

Fayetteville, North Carolina -- Even after a colossal 49-21 win over Virginia State, Fayetteville State coach Kenny Phillips was left scratching his head. The question isn't one of how the Broncos won the game. The fact that the Broncos forced six Trojan turnovers accounts for a lot of that.

No, instead, Phillips is wondering how his team, once again, fell behind 14-0 to start the game.
"We're trying to figure this out every week," the coach said. "We've been trying to work on getting out of the hole quicker. Sooner or later, we're going to have to go up 14-to-something."

It was the fifth straight game that Fayetteville State (2-4, 2-1 CIAA) had fallen behind by at least a two-score margin at the start of play. The Trojans (3-3, 2-2) put two rushing touchdowns on the board in the opening quarter.

But the Broncos rebounded, scoring 49 consecutive points to the win.



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Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls ends skid against Shaw Bears

DURHAM, North Carolina -- Before Saturday, the last time a Johnson C. Smith football team had beaten CIAA rival Shaw was 1978. But in his first game against the Bears, Smith freshman quarterback Keahn Wallace played a leading role in snapping the streak.

Wallace passed for 179 yards, three touchdowns and rushed for a late score to seal the Golden Bulls' 36-27 win at Durham County Memorial Stadium.

J.C. Smith improved to 3-3 and 2-1 in the CIAA. Shaw, which beat Livingstone 54-0 last week for its only win this season, is 1-5, 1-2.

The Golden Bulls, who never trailed, outgained Shaw 367-257 in total offense. Smith running back Dedric Anderson carried much of the load, rushing for 119 yards on 16 carries and scoring two touchdowns, one on a 10-yard pass.

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