COOKEVILLE, Tennessee – The Hampton University football team will open the 2012 season on the road on Thursday, taking on Tennessee Tech at Tucker Stadium at 8 p.m. EST.
The Pirates, in their fourth season under head coach Donovan Rose, won seven games last season and went 5-3 in the MEAC. Tennessee Tech won the Ohio Valley Conference championship in 2011, also going 7-4 overall with a 6-2 mark in conference play.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Hampton and Tennessee Tech.
Game Notes
The Pirates averaged almost 29 points per game last season – 28.4, to be exact – ranking third in the MEAC in total offense. Hampton eclipsed the 30-point mark in five contests in 2011 – including a season-high 42 in back-to-back games against Delaware State and Morgan State to close out the season. The Pirates also scored 41 points at Old Dominion on Sept. 17, 31 points in a road loss to Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 22, and 30 points in an overtime Homecoming win over North Carolina Central on Oct. 22.
Junior running back Antwon Chisholm (Belle Glade, Fla.), the 2010 MEAC Rookie of the Year, comes into his junior season as a Preseason Second Team All-MEAC selection. He was the team’s leading rusher last season, ranking fifth in the MEAC with 72.4 rushing yards per game.
He carried the ball 192 times for 796 yards and eight touchdowns. He rushed for over 100 yards twice last season – including a season-high 141 yards against Alabama A&M – and for his career, Chisholm has four 100-yard rushing games in his career.
Defense has long been a strength for the Pirates – particularly given Rose’s background – and 2012 appears to be no different as Keith Goganious enters his third season as defensive coordinator. The Pirates will return their top five tacklers from last season, led by linebackers Delbert Tyler (Monroeville, Pa.) and Lyndell Gibson (Virginia Beach, Va.), both of whom eclipsed 100 tackles last season.
Tyler led the Pirates with 110 total stops, including 41 solo efforts, while Gibson – a transfer from Virginia Tech – had 108 total tackles, including a team-high 52 solo stops. Gibson also led the team in tackles for loss (14.0) and tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles.
The Pirates were fourth in the MEAC in scoring defense last season, giving up just 21.8 points per contest. The Pirates also led the MEAC in pass efficiency defense, holding opponents to an efficiency rating of just 98.4 – the only rate under 100 in the conference. Hampton was also fourth in the conference in passing defense, holding opponents to just 183.9 yards per game through the air.
Hampton also had 14 interceptions as a defense in 2011, sitting fifth in the MEAC. The defense was also a major part of Hampton leading the MEAC in turnover margin at +13, between those 14 picks and 15 recovered fumbles.
The Pirates are 0-2 all-time against teams currently in the Ohio Valley Conference, having gone 0-2 all-time against Tennessee State. Tennessee State is the only school from the OVC that Hampton has faced to this point; the Pirates have never played Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Murray State, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee Tech, or Tennessee-Martin.
The Pirates went 1-3 on the road last season, with their lone win coming at Savannah State on Oct. 29. Hampton also lost road contests last season at Old Dominion, at Bethune-Cookman, and at Norfolk State. During Rose’s tenure as head coach, Hampton is 7-9 on the road.
The Pirates have six road contests this season.
For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
MEAC champion Spartans show off their ring bling
"I wanted it to be smooth," said Adrian, who helped pick the model. "I didn't want it to be real flashy-flashy where it gets your attention."
The NSU football team received the rings Friday, the first ever for the school. Items that rare, it seems, don't follow the same sizing conventions as things like pants.
"Most of the big sports, they typically use something in this range," said Maureen Cooper, the sales representative for Jostens.
Norfolk State would not reveal how much each ring cost, and the NCAA regulates the amount of money that can be spent on each ring.
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U. Charleston vs. Shaw Bears
CHARLESTON, West Virginia - Charleston, picked fourth in the WVIAC preseason poll, opens up against CIAA foe Shaw in the first of two Thursday night games for the Golden Eagles. The two programs have not met in recent history.
UC boasts All-American Jordan Roberts on the offensive side of the ball. He averaged 130 yards a game on the ground and scored 17 touchdowns a season ago. All-conference offensive lineman George Davilla could challenge for All-America honors as well in 2012.
Honorable mention all-conference performer Jeff Green tallied 11 sacks a year ago. He, alongside Ike Gibson will help out what could be a strong defensive unit this season. First-team all-conference punter Puma Nuredini will hold down the kicking game for the Golden Eagles.
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West Virginia State University toughens up schedule
The Jackets have a tough schedule, not only J.C. Smith, but they also have two 1-AA opponents on the schedule. According to Jacket head coach Earl Monroe, the tougher schedule alone has helped in recruiting.
"We have a tough schedule. I think our guys will be up for the challenge. We've got some junior college transfers that we were able to sign simply because we have 1AA teams on our schedule."
WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY YELLOWJACKETS
2012 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| 1:00 PM | vs Johnson C. Smith University | Live Stats | 1:00 PM | Details | |||||
| 6:00 PM | at North Carolina A&T State University | Greensboro, NC | 6:00 PM | Details | |||||
| 3:00 PM | at Elon University | Elon, NC | 3:00 PM | Details | |||||
| HOME GAME | |||||||||
| 1:00 PM | vs Concord University |  | Live Stats | 1:00 PM | Details | ||||
| Noon | at Seton Hill University (Pa.) | Greensburg, PA | | Noon | Details | ||||
| HOME GAME | |||||||||
| 1:30 PM | vs West Liberty University | | Live Stats | 1:30 PM | Details | ||||
| 1:00 PM | at Glenville State College | Glenville, WV | | 1:00 PM | Details | ||||
| HOME GAME | |||||||||
| 1:00 PM | vs Shepherd University | | Live Stats | 1:00 PM | Details | ||||
| 1:00 PM | vs West Virginia Wesleyan College | | Live Stats | 1:00 PM | Details | ||||
| 1:00 PM | at Fairmont State University | Fairmont, WV | | 1:00 PM | Details | ||||
| 1:00 PM | at University of Charleston | Charleston, WV | | Live Stats | 1:00 PM | Details | |||
COURTESY WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
TSU Tigers open season vs. Florida A&M Rattlers
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - On Saturday, the Tennessee State football team hosts the Rattlers from Florida A&M at LP Field. The Tigers take on their rivals in the fourteenth annual John A. Merritt Classic in honor of legendary TSU coach John A. Merritt.
This year's game will be the 51st meeting between the two schools and the first since 2010's Atlanta Football Classic. The Tigers won the last contest, 29-18 to tied the all-time series at 25-25 dating back to 1944.
For Tennessee State, the Tigers are looking to build upon last year's 5-6 record with a season opening victory. TSU returns a total of 14 starters, including nine on the offensive side of the ball. They also return six specialists from a year ago - everyone except punter Matt Moseley.
On offense, the Tigers will feature an offensive line that boasts three all-conference selections in tackle Rogers Gaines, center Sherman Carter and guard Kadeem Edwards. Tennessee State will count on those three plus the rest of its line to help protect quarterback Michael German and open up running lanes for running back Trabis Ward.
Last season, German passed for 1,899 yards and 12 touchdowns en route to being named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. German accomplished the feat after only starting eight games last season.
Tennessee State loses its leading receiver in terms of yards from a year ago, but junior wideout Devin Wilson looks to build upon his sophomore campaign where he caught a team-high 48 passes, two of which went for touchdowns.
Ward was 23 yards shy of 1,000 last season after carrying the ball 193 times. He also scored 11 touchdowns on the ground.
 | Rod Reed Weekly OVC Teleconference - Talks about upcoming John Merritt Classic and FAMU. |
| | TSU Game Notes |
| | FAMU Game Notes |
Defensively, the Tigers lose their leading tackler from a year ago in Rico Council, but do return all-conference selection Antonio Harper. Harper will start for TSU at one of the defensive ends after leading the squad in sacks last season with 6.5. The Memphis, Tenn. native also recorded nine tackles-for-loss and 44 total tackles.
Another key returnee from last season is defensive back Steven Godbolt. Godbolt is coming off of freshman campaign that saw him grab All-OVC Newcomer honors and a team-high two interceptions.
On special teams, the Tigers welcome back return man Weldon Garlington who accumulated 544 return yards including a 100-yard scamper that went for a touchdown. This preseason, Garlington was named an All-American by Boxtorow.
Last year, FAMU sported a 7-4 record, but the Rattlers will have to find a way to replace 13 starters from a year ago.
The key returnees for the offense are quarterback Damien Fleming and left guard Steven Robinson. As a freshman last year, Fleming threw for 1,622 yards and 11 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. Robinson was vital in padding Fleming's numbers, as the 300 pound senior earned First Team All-MEAC honors last season.
Defensively, the Rattlers must find replacements at both defensive ends and at three linebacker positions. FAMU does return one linebacker in Brandon Hepburn and First Team All-MEAC safety John Ojo. Last season, the duo combined for 105 tackles, and Ojo recorded a team-high four interceptions.
This year's John A. Merritt Classic honors all the players that were coached by "Big John". The game starts at 6 p.m. at LP Field.
Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers and Twitter @TSU_Tigers.
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
3 former SCSU Bulldogs cut from NFL rosters; 4 remain for Week One
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina - A trio of former South Carolina State players was among the casualties of NFL cuts.On Monday, the Washington Redskins released free agent signee offensive lineman James Lee. The move came after the weekend saw Jacksonville Jaguars’ linebacker Donovan Richard and Kansas City safety Dominique Ellis get the notice from “The Turk.”
In the case of Richard, this marked the second time in three months he was released by the Jaguars.
There are currently four Bulldogs on NFL rosters heading into Week One: cornerback Phillip Adams (Seattle Seahawks), safeties Rafael Bush (Denver Broncos) and Christian Thompson (Baltimore Ravens) and linebacker Marshall McFadden (Pittsburgh Steelers).
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Finally, Harvey gets his big shot at FAMU
TALLAHASSEE, Florida - The last three football seasons have been difficult for receiver Travis Harvey on the FAMU campus. He always had some explaining to do.“Everybody knew I played football but when the game came I wasn’t playing,” he said. “To say I was ineligible was hard because I’m not a dumb person. I wasn’t as focused as I needed to be.”
After taking a redshirt in his first season as a walk-on from Inglewood, Calif., Harvey came up ineligible for the next two seasons. Last season, he started a turnaround and ended up in four games.
He showed enough to restore FAMU coach Joe Taylor’s faith in him. A strong spring solidified him as the replacement for Brian Tyms.
At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, he’s shown ...
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