Jitters over, SU Jaguars set to play Rice

Baton Rouge, Louisiana - The first-game jitters should be gone by now. Roman Banks and his Southern men’s basketball team took care of that Friday with a season-opening win at home against Dillard (67-48).

The road-game jitters should be gone by now.  Sure, the Jaguars might have lost at Texas A&M by 25 points, but they were outclassed, and they didn’t give up. The emotional roller coaster should be over now. Oh, Southern will undoubtedly go through the peak-and-valley routine many times between now and March, but it’s possible that nothing matches how Banks felt when he saw A&M coach Billy Kennedy on the sideline Sunday.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, when the Jaguars (1-1) face Rice at Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston, their minds should be centered on nothing more than basketball. Of course, it’s always supposed to be like that. But you had to forgive Banks for  ...

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AAMU Bulldogs will have to contend with Hamilton

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M had little success last week against Jackson State largely because of defensive ends Joseph Lebeau and Donovan Robinson. The Bulldogs will face another dynamic defensive Saturday when they visit Prairie View.

The Panthers feature arguably the best defensive end in the country in Adrian Hamilton. A transfer from Texas Tech, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Hamilton has 74 tackles and leads the Football Championship Subdivision in sacks with 15.5.

"He's a hell of a football player," A&M coach Anthony Jones said of Hamilton. "He's going to be very similar to what we saw last weekend with LeBeau and Robinson. He's quick. He's strong. He's relentless. He jumps off the screen."

Prairie View coach Heishma Northern said ...

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KEYS: Recruiting landscape tougher for Southern

Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Fresh off their most impressive win of the Stump Mitchell era, Southern football players returned to campus this week, reinvested and ready to prepare for the Bayou Classic. The big game, of course, is still nine days away; Southern and Grambling both have an open date Saturday.

Meanwhile, this week, between light practices and study halls, SU coaches spent part of their time evaluating recruits - the lifeblood of any program. “We’re trying to get a kicker, of course, and some defensive tackles to help our young guys that played as true freshmen on defense,” Mitchell said. Give the man high marks for recognizing the obvious.

In the offseason, Southern lost a very valuable player when place-kicker William Griswold, who made 15 of 20 field goals last season, withdrew from the university, citing, among other things, a fading interest in football.

It’s not a wild leap to think that if ...

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Arkansas State Red Wolves Add Alcorn State To 2012 Schedule

JONESBORO, Arkansas -- Arkansas State Director of Athletics Dr. Dean Lee announced Wednesday the addition of a home game against FCS member Alcorn State to ASU's 2012 football schedule, completing the Red Wolves' non-conference lineup of opponents for next season.

The Red Wolves will play their fourth game of the season when they host SWAC member Alcorn State on Sept. 22, catching the Braves for the first time in school history. The Red Wolves first four games will all be against non-conference opponents, including longtime rival Memphis in their home opener on Sept. 8.

A-State will open its 2012 campaign on the road at Oregon on Sept. 1 and play at Nebraska a week before its game against Alcorn State.  With the addition of Alcorn State to its schedule, the Red Wolves will have six home games on its schedule for the second consecutive year and the third time over the last five. Arkansas State is 5-0 at home this season and has put together seven consecutive seasons with a winning record at ASU Stadium.

The Sun Belt Conference office will set the dates early next year for ASU's eight league games.

"We are thrilled to complete our 2012 non-conference schedule with the addition of Alcorn State," said Lee.  "We feel like alternating home and road games to complete our non-conference schedule before starting conference play benefitted our team this year, so we are excited that the 2012 schedule will mirror that layout. We feel like this schedule is built for success."

While ASU has never played Alcorn State, the Red Wolves have played four current SWAC members a combined five times and hold a 5-0 record in those games. A-State most recently defeated Mississippi Valley State 61-0 in its 2009 season opener, but also defeated the Delta Devils in 1995 and holds additional victories over Jackson State, Grambling and Texas Southern. The Red Wolves will play an FCS opponent for the second consecutive season and for the third time over the last four seasons.

Courtesy: Arkansas State

Hartnell's Thomas signs D-I letter with Coppin State Eagles

Salinas, California -- Daryl Thomas, a sophomore guard on the Hartnell College men's basketball team, has signed a national letter-of-intent to play basketball at Division-I Coppin State University in Baltimore, MD. Thomas is the first Hartnell player from a local high school to sign a letter-of-intent to play D-I basketball since Eric Petty from North Salinas High signed to play at Mississippi Valley State University in 2008.

"I really don't care too much about my individual stats," Thomas said. "I'm more worried about helping this team win conference and getting to the state tournament. We have a really good defensive style of play this year, and I think we can go far."

The former Monterey Toreadore red-shirted his first year at Hartnell, and made second-team all- conference last season.

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ASU Hornets' fate in rival's hands

Montgomery, AL -- Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow called it one of the worst feelings he's ever had. Four days after losing to Southern University on a last-second touchdown, the Hornets once again are picking up the pieces and wondering what might have been.

Two weeks after dropping what would have been a division-clinching game to Alabama A&M, the Hornets had the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division title within their grasp once again Saturday.

Jackson State had pounded Alabama A&M, and for the second time in three weeks, the Hornets were on the verge of clinching a berth in the SWAC title game.

But J.P. Douglas drove the Jaguars 73 yards in just under three minutes. Brian McCain scored on a 1-yard plunge with nine seconds remaining to give Southern an improbable 26-23 victory.

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Alabama State highlights vs. Southern University on Saturday, Nov. 12.

For now, uncertain futures at Capital City Classic

Jackson, Miss. -- The Capital City Classic may be the final game for Jackson State coach Rick Comegy. The No. 21 Tigers (7-2, 6-2 SWAC) entertain Alcorn State (2-6, 1-6) on Saturday at 1 p.m at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Comegy’s contract expires after the Tigers’ season finale. School officials didn’t try to give him an extension during the season. Alcorn State coach Melvin Spears may also not return, as school officials plan to evaluate the program.

The former Tuskegee coach isn’t concerned about his contract status, only wanting Jackson State to beat its biggest rival. The Tigers defeated Mississippi Valley State earlier this season.

“It’s about playing football,” Comegy said in a SWAC Teleconference call. “We enjoy winning games at Jackson State. We want to win out and have the best season we possibly can.”

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