Hometown showdown between Old Dominion and Norfolk State?

Norfolk, Virginia -- Picture this: Thanksgiving weekend.

Perfect fall weather. And a playoff game between Old Dominion and Norfolk State at Foreman Field. It could be a reality. With both teams hot, ODU athletic director Wood Selig is moving forward with plans to make an official bid to host a first-round playoff game in this season's NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. Selig said he will meet with a number of school officials today to discuss the prospects. The NCAA requires a minimum bid of $30,000 to host a first- or second-round game.

"I think it would be an interesting game in the fact that we just signed a six-year contract to play Norfolk State" beginning in 2013, Selig said. "It would be a great preview for what's coming down the road."

Selig received the NCAA's 40-page prechampionship manual Monday and believes the site selection criteria play to ODU's strengths.

Blount enjoying life at Delaware State

Dover, Delaware - Kermit Blount had no plans to give up on coaching. Relieved of his job in 2009 after a 1-10 finish in his 16th season at Winston-Salem State, Blount remained positive about his future.

He completed the obligations of his contract in 2010, spending the final year helping new athletics director Bill Hayes raise money, then landed the head-coaching job at Delaware State. His 2-4 Hornets will play Saturday at N.C. A&T.

"I'm doing what I love," Blount said recently. "You know my passion is coaching." Blount, WSSU's career leader in victories (91-87-3) and a 30-year veteran, said finding the right situation for him and his wife, Ava, was a key to his taking the job at Delaware State.

He has surrounded himself with assistants he can trust ...

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SSU NOTEBOOK: Tigers trying to regroup, get ready for FAMU

FLORIDA A&M (3-3, 1-2 MEAC) AT SAVANNAH STATE (1-5, 1-2 MEAC)

Savannah, Georgia -- It’s just past the midpoint of Savannah State’s football season. The Tigers have lost five of their six games, including the last two against teams expected to be in the lower half of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings.

First-year coach Steve Davenport said it was time for his players to regroup when they called a team meeting Monday. “Obviously, we’re disappointed, collectively,” Davenport said. “We had higher ideals than we’re meeting right now.”

There was some excitement after SSU defeated North Carolina Central in its first conference game two weeks ago. But the Tigers struggled in a 34-14 loss to Howard, snapping the Bison’s 29-game conference losing streak.

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Pough happy with performance, looks forward to Georgia State

Orangeburg, South Carolina -- Saturday's victory over North Carolina Central did not just save South Carolina State's season.

For South Carolina State head football coach Buddy Pough, it was another eye-opener into the team's quality young depth and ability to respond to adversity.

"It was a struggle, but it was a good struggle," said Pough at Monday's weekly press conference. "When you get a situation where you're faced with adversity and you find a way to overcome it, it makes you feel good about ourselves. We've got work to do. Don't think in the smallest form that we don't understand what our issues are. But at the same time, I am proud of our guys that we got through it and I like our team and I hope I can get them back healthy."



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FAMU welcomes new head baseball coach Willie Brown

Tallahassee, Florida -- In front of a conference room full of people Tuesday evening, Willie Brown vowed to take the Florida A&M baseball program where it was when he played for the Rattlers during an era when repeat MEAC titles were the norm.

"If I don't get a MEAC ring it's a failure and your coach isn't a failure at anything," Brown said, addressing his players in the room. "I know that I'm going to win. I know we are going to compete. I know that we are going to return to the glory of the past."



Brown made his prediction in his first public appearance as the Rattlers' new baseball coach. Both athletic director Derek Horne and FAMU president James Ammons told the audience they hired Brown because of his understanding of FAMU tradition and his commitment to turning the program around.

"He knows how to win here," Horne said. "He knows what it takes to wear that uniform and be successful. That's half of the battle."

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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
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