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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Behind big third quarter, Lincoln takes Homecoming game, 31-15

WEST GROVE, Pa. – Behind a 19-point third quarter, the Lincoln University football team won its first Homecoming game since the return of football in 2008, as the Lions knocked off Chowan, 31-15, on Saturday afternoon in a CIAA Northern Division showdown at Avon Grove High School.

The Lions (2-4 overall, 2-2 CIAA) opened the game with a big kickoff return by Lance Rutledge to set up Lincoln at the Chowan 25-yard line. Four plays later, Gerald Swain scored on a 2-yard touchdown up the middle to give the Lions a 6-0 advantage with 13:22 remaining in the opening quarter.



“We always prepare to start off any game with that type of kickoff,” Lincoln head coach O.J. Abanishe said. “We have been preaching all week to play four quarters. We got another huge game from Kyle Jaski, who has been doing that all season for us.”

The Hawks (1-5, 0-4) answered the Lincoln scoring drive by marching 55 yards in 10 plays as Robert Holland caught a 2-yard pass by Jordan Roby to give Chowan a 7-6 lead with 4:56 left.

Lincoln ended the opening quarter by driving 91 yards in 11 plays, capped by Doug Cook connecting with Matthew Coston for a 10-yard touchdown pass to give the Lions a 12-7 advantage. After a timeout, Lincoln went for the 2-point conversion, but Anthony Wilson couldn't hold on to the Cook pass to keep the game at 12-7 with 18 seconds remaining.

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PSB to stream live 12 men's games, 12 women's games at XU

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Monday that Panhandle Sports Broadcasting of Pensacola, Fla., will provide live internet broadcasts of 12 XU men's basketball games and 12 XU women's basketball games during the 2011-12 regular season.

All broadcasts will be XU home games at The Barn, beginning with the Gold Rush opener Nov. 2 against Carver and the Gold Nuggets' opener Nov. 4 against Florida Memorial.

PSB will broadcast 10 XU doubleheaders, including seven Gulf Coast Athletic Conference matchups. Fans can access the live broadcasts at  www.psblive.com or www.xula.edu/athletics/stream.

There will be no charge to watch the games live. PSB will archive XU broadcasts at its website, www.psblive.com, and sell DVDs of broadcasts for $20 per game.

"This is another upgrade for our program," said Dennis Cousin, Xavier's director of athletics. "These live broadcasts will strengthen our brand and provide us increased visibility."

Panhandle Sports Broadcasting is a regional company which covers college, high school and youth sports through internet streaming in audio and video media. Its first broadcast was in 2007. Co-owners are Bill Brownell and Joe Paschal.

"PSBLIVE is very excited about this opportunity," Brownell said, "and looks forward to broadcasting Xavier basketball to its many loyal fans both nationally and internationally."

Businesses and individuals interested in advertising on the broadcasts should contact Cousin at (504) 520-7330.

Both Xavier teams won 27 games this past season and qualified for the NAIA Division I National Championships.

PSB Live Internet Broadcasts of Xavier University Basketball in 2011-12
(all times Central — doubleheaders in bold)

Men
Nov. 2, 2011 (Wednesday) — Carver, 7 p.m. (home)
Nov. 19, 2011 (Saturday) — Wiley, 2 p.m. (home)
Nov. 29, 2011 (Tuesday) — Loyola, 7:30 p.m. (home)
Dec. 3, 2011 (Saturday) — Concordia (Ala.), 4 p.m. (home)
Jan. 10, 2012 (Tuesday) — SUNO, 7:30 p.m. (home)
Jan. 13, 2012 (Friday) — Edward Waters, 7:30 p.m. (home)
Jan. 14, 2012 (Saturday) — Fisk, 7 p.m. (home)
Jan. 16, 2012 (Monday) — Philander Smith, 7 p.m. (home)
Jan. 21, 2012 (Saturday) — Talladega, 7 p.m. (home)
Jan. 28, 2012 (Saturday) — Dillard, 7 p.m. (home)
Feb. 1, 2012 (Wednesday) — New Orleans, 7 p.m. (home)
Feb. 13, 2012 (Monday) — Tougaloo, 7:30 p.m. (home)

Women
Nov. 4, 2011 (Friday) — Florida Memorial, 7 p.m. (home)
Nov. 19, 2011 (Saturday) — Huston-Tillotson, noon (home)
Nov. 25, 2011 (Friday) — Holy Names, 6 p.m. (home/Xavier Classic)
Nov. 29, 2011 (Tuesday) — William Carey, 5:30 p.m. (home)
Dec. 3, 2011 (Saturday) — Shorter, 2 p.m. (home)
Jan. 10, 2012 (Tuesday) — SUNO, 5:30 p.m. (home)
Jan. 13, 2012 (Friday) — Edward Waters, 5:30 p.m. (home)
Jan. 14, 2012 (Saturday) — Fisk, 5 p.m. (home)
Jan. 16, 2012 (Monday) — Philander Smith, 5 p.m. (home)
Jan. 21, 2012 (Saturday) — Talladega, 5 p.m. (home)
Jan. 28, 2012 (Saturday) — Dillard, 5 p.m. (home)
Feb. 13, 2012 (Monday) — Tougaloo, 5:30 p.m. (home)



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