2,000 reasons to like Morgan State's Simpson

Mike Peters, The Examiner

Morgan State senior Chad Simpson wants to leave as the school’s best running back. Last season, he finished fourth in the MEAC with 795 yards.

BALTIMORE - To Morgan State running back Chad Simpson, only one number matters most: 2,000.

“Oh, I’m sure I can do it — I’m positive,” he said. “If the passing game is right, and defenses keep eight men out of the box sometimes, I’m definitely going to do it.”

If Simpson fulfills his goal of rushing for 2,000 yards, he’ll leave Morgan State as the school’s most accomplished running back, as he’ll top the single-season mark of 1,191 set by Jason Jackson in 2004 and the career record of 2,727 set by Ali Culpepper from 1998-2001.

Simpson transferred from the University of South Florida in 2005, and immediately made an impact, finishing fourth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with 795 rushing yards, averaging 5.4 yards a carry to earn a spot on the All-MEAC second team.

The three players who finished ahead of Simpson — South Carolina State’s DeShawn Baker (1,289), Delaware State’s Emmanuel Marc (1,230) and Hampton’s Alonzo Coleman (1,052) — all graduated, leaving the 5-foot-10 kid from Miami as the front-runner to lead the league in rushing, a major reason why he was the only Bear selected to the conference’s preseason first team.

“He’s stronger. He’s been here all summer working out,” Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley said. “He can catch it out of the backfield, and he can definitely run with it. We’re definitely looking forward to him just staying healthy and finishing out strong.”

Simpson, the only Morgan State player selected to the All-MEAC first team, demonstrated why his coach thinks so highly of him against Bowie State last year, when he needed just 10 carries for a season-high 178 yards, highlighted by touchdown runs of 40, 54 and 60-yards during a 28-20 victory.

“You can depend on him at any time,” senior receiver Roderick Wolfe said. “He’s clutch. If you need a first down, and it’s fourth-and-1, you can give it to him. If you need a 20-yard run, you can give it to him.”

Expect the Bears to do just that tonight when they open the season against Savannah State. The Bears return nearly the same offensive line they did from last season’s unit that paved the way for Simpson to score a team-high nine touchdowns. The only difference in the line will be Robert Norris–a 6-foot-4, 335-pound transfer from Virginia Tech–will replace Cliff Louis, who signed a free-agent deal with the Cleveland Browns earlier this year.

“They’re all like my brothers. They take care of me,” Simpson said. “When I go in that huddle and look in their eyes, they want the same thing I want. If I get 2,000 yards this year, they get 2,000 yards this year. That’s all we talk about. I don’t even want them to put my name on the rushing yards: I want all our names on them.”

Calhoun says SCSU not an easy game for Falcons

By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer

COLORADO SPRINGS - Don’t tell new Air Force Academy head coach Troy Calhoun that Saturday’s season-opener against South Carolina State is an easy game.

Through hours of gametape, the Bulldogs have more than grabbed the attention and respect of the former Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. The level of respect Calhoun has for the SCSU football program was made evident during Tuesday’s teleconferences when he all but declared the Bulldogs "had no weaknesses" and were the type of forminable opponent AFA needed for its opener at Falcon Stadium.

"I think they’re a talented football team," he said. "They’ve got very good size. They’ve got experience. They’ve got a quality quarterback (Cleveland McCoy). They’ve got a darn good back (Will Ford) and just defensively, look at the front people. I think they do a terrific job. You’re looking at a football program that was outstanding on offense last year. They led (the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) in, I believe, total offense and rushing offense, and just look at their overall unit. This is a team that’s won 16 games the last two years and so it will be one stiff challenge."

The Falcons have gone in the opposite direction of SCSU, losing 15 games the past two seasons. After three straight losing seasons, longtime head coach Fisher DeBerry retired and the Air Force Academy selected Calhoun, a 1989 graduate, to help turn around the team’s fortunes.

He inherited a team which returns only four starters on offense, including senior quarterback Shaun Carney (618 rushing yards, eight TDs, 83 of 137 passing, 1,192 yards, 12 TDs), former halfback turned z-wide receiver Chad Hall, two-year letterman center Blaine Guenther and tight end Travis Dekker, who’s expected to play a larger role in the more pro-set offense.

Calhoun said expect Carney to operate more out of the shotgun and to throw 10-12 more passes per game. Carney needs 890 passing yards to become the school’s all-time passing yardage leader and 832 yards to set a new school record for total yards.

"He’s a guy that I think can be a dual-threat player," Calhoun said about Carney.

The defense returns five seniors, including leading tackler Drew Fowler (123 total tackles, two sacks), although as many as seven freshman could see significant playing time. The key for AFA against a mobile quarterback like McCoy, according to Calhoun, is being "disciplined", "hard-nosed", "tough" and "assignment-sound".

"He’s a guy with good size," Calhoun said. "He throws an excellent ball. I think anytime you’ve got a guy that’s got mobility then as a defense, when you look at it from that perspective, it’s something that you’ve got to take into consideration just because all of a sudden, a play breaks down, he tucks it under his arm and it can be one of the better plays that an offense has that day. He makes you be extremely disciplined. Assignment-wise, just make sure you’re dead on the nose. He’s one good football player."

Special teams was the one bright spot last season for Air Force Academy as it led Division I-A in kickoff coverage, a category SCSU was number-one in for Division I-AA. When asked about the rule change which moves the kickoff from the 35-yard line to the 30-yard line, Calhoun was more than receptive.

"I like the rule," Calhoun said. "I think they’re varying opinions on whether it should remain at the 35 or the 30, but it does have a way of injecting even more activity and action into the game. Because of that, that’s where it helps you to have a guy perhaps who has a little more powerful leg because we play games at altitude and if he can pin an opponent back, he still can hit the end zone and they’re starting at the 20 and you’re bringing your returns out to around the 35-yard line and that happens consistently throughout the game, it could have a cumulative effect on the field position standpoint and ultimately, the outcome of the game."

Perhaps one reason for Calhoun’s approval is the kick return potential of freshman Reggie Rembert, who had a 95-yard touchdown return in a recent scrimmage. He also has a place-kicker in junior Ryan Harrison who booted a 62-yarder during the same scrimmage.

Although the Falcons also open conference play the following week against Utah, Calhoun plans to have them more than prepared to face SCSU before an expected crowd of 40,000 or more in Colorado Springs for "Parents Weekend."

"In terms of a first game, I think you’ve got to play this one," he said. "You’ve got to use every bullet you’ve got to win the opener and with the kind of challenge we’ll face in South Carolina State, that’s the only approach that we can take."

SCSU ready to play the Air Force Academy

By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer

Quarterback Cleveland McCoy is treating it like a business trip.

Tight end Spencer Miller views it as a 'Homecoming' visit.

As for offensive lineman Jake Johnson, he only wants to make it through without 'getting nauseous and fainting'.

All three will join their South Carolina State teammates today on a 12:30 p.m. flight from Eagle Aviation Airport in Columbia to Colorado Springs, Colo. for Saturday's against Air Force Academy.

It's the first-ever visit out west for the Bulldogs and the first of two games against Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) foes. For redshirt freshman Johnson, this also marks the first time he's ever boarded an aircraft.

"I was talking to my mom who said just chew a lot of gum because my ears are going to be popping and be relaxed," he said.

Needless to say, Johnson's trepidations have brought on some friendly ribbing from veteran Bulldogs.

"It's going to be an experience for him," McCoy said. "He's going to have to go in there and man-up and take that flight."

McCoy remembers having similar jitters during his first flight with SCSU two years ago. He insists his nerves were much calmer than a certain former teammate and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

"I was kind of timid, but Deshawn Baker made it a little worse for us," he said. "He was shaking, crying and everything. So, he kind of made me uncomfortable. But, we made it and we made two more trips after that, so I've gotten use to it."

All humor aside, McCoy has adopted SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough's no-nonsense approach to Saturday's game. As the flag-carrier for the MEAC, both McCoy and Johnson said it's important the Bulldogs show that they can compete against a larger school.

"This is a business trip," McCoy said. "We're not going up there to have fun and get lackadaisical. We're up there to play football."

"We're all about business," Johnson said. "Coach said we're going down there to handle business and that's what we're going to do."

The close to three-hour trip is nothing new for Miller, who spent a season at the University of Wyoming before transferring to SCSU.

"It's almost like 'Homecoming' for me for the simple fact I have family out there that stay in Denver," he said. "I'm just going in, going to have a good time and come Saturday, play my hardest."

Much of the talk during camp has concerned adapting to the altitude of Colorado Springs, which lies a mile above sea level. To a man, the Bulldog players believe withstanding the hotter than usual 'Dog Days' of training camp will benefit them.

"It's a little different," Miller said. "It's going to test us to see if we've got enough gas in our tank. But I feel we'll ready. We've been working hard at camp and we'll give it all we've got."

"The main thing is we worked hard this summer," McCoy said. "It's hard to get a look as far as altitude, but the heat this summer was outrageous. We practiced in three-digit degree weather and on the turf is 10 degrees hotter. So if we're not prepared, I don't know what to tell you."

Schedule brutal at S.C. State

By Charles Bennett, The Post and Courier

Bulldogs to face two big-conference foes in first three weeks

ORANGEBURG — South Carolina State began shopping around for games against Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) opponents a couple years ago, and as either good luck or bad luck would have it, the Bulldogs wound up landing two for 2007.

Thus the schedule finds South Carolina State opening at Air Force on Saturday, and after a MEAC game at Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 8, the Bulldogs play at South Carolina on Sept. 15 — a murderer's row if ever there was one.

"Back then, it didn't seem like such a big deal," said South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough, "but now that you're actually here, it gets to be a little bit bigger challenge."

The reason the Bulldogs went shopping for those road games at Air Force and South Carolina is for the money the games will put in their operating budget.

Air Force will pay South Carolina State $225,000 for making the trip to Colorado, while South Carolina will fork over $230,000 for the Bulldogs to make the short drive up I-26 to Columbia.

"Of course, financially, it does help us," said S.C. State athletic director Charlene Johnson. "We're in a position where we have to be creative in how we raise dollars. Those two schools are giving us a chance to not only increase revenue but increase exposure for the football program and the university."

The biggest question remaining is whether the grueling early schedule will take its toll on the Bulldogs over the long haul of the upcoming season.

"We've certainly got as much as we can handle in those first three games," Pough said. "It's a challenge, but we're excited about it. The guys just want to play right now. I'm just hoping it will somehow be good for us in the long run."

Meanwhile, Johnson continues shopping for payday games for future schedules. South Carolina is locked in again in 2011 and Johnson says she has had conversations with Clemson, Georgia Tech and Central Florida.

However, Johnson says the Bulldogs are looking for one per year, not two.

Around the SWAC: the rating game

Grambling
First-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway brought back 45 players from spring and added about 45 more in preseason camp. And he still isn’t sure what he has, with the Tigers opening at Alcorn on Saturday.

“I don’t know how good we’ll be, because I don’t know the competition (in the SWAC), Broadway said. “I don’t know that we’re consistent enough to be a good football team now. I don’t know what these kids are going to do, actually.

“We’re trying to change the culture here. &hellip When you’re 3-8, you create some bad habits. It’s a job. You can tell by body language. It’s amazing what one bad year can do.”

Broadway is unsure who will take the place of RB Ab Kuuaan. Four freshmen — Cornelius Walker, Frank Warren, Kenny Batiste and J.R. Spivery — are among the possibilities.

“Once they get in the flow, they’ll be good running backs, not great, not bad, just good running backs at this point,” Broadway said.

Prairie View

Senior running back Arnell Fontenot, who ran for the game-tying and game-winning touchdowns in the Panthers’ 26-23 overtime stunner over Southern last season, won’t be with the team this season because of “personal issues medical issues,” said PV coach Henry Frazier III Monday, though the Houston Chronicle reported earlier this month Fontenot is academically ineligible. The plan is Fontenot will redshirt this season, Frazier said.

Fontenot ran for 483 yards and three TDs last season with Kerry Wilson, a senior last year, going for 498 yards and four TDs.

Sophomore Calvin Harris, who ran for 422 yards and one TD last season, is No. 1.

Sophomore Donald Babers, a nonqualifier last season, is second. Babers will also be a return specialist. Ben Boyd is third.

“We won’t give up on the kid, but we have some ample backups,” Frazier said. “I don’t think we’ll miss a beat.”

Alabama State

Sophomore quarterback T’Chelpio Woods, who started at times last season and came off the bench to throw two TDs in a loss at Southern, is academically ineligible, first-year coach Reggie Barlow said.

Junior Alex Engram, a former Western Michigan transfer who threw for 787 yards and six TDs last season, is the starter.

Freshman Devin Dominguez and junior college transfer Chris Mitchell competed with Engram in preseason camp.

Jackson State

Division II power Delta State is on the schedule Saturday, but JSU coach Rick Comegy said he wants to start playing the big powers in the state, Mississippi State and Ole Miss, for bigger game checks.

“A lot of schools in our conference have hooked onto that,” Comegy said. “I’d sure like to be part of that, so we don’t get left behind.”

Notes

The conference has 11 television games, including Sport South, with three of those Saturday: Southern vs. FAMU in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge (ESPN Classic), Texas Southern vs. Prairie View in the Labor Day Classic (tape-delayed on ESPNU) and UAPB at Valley (CSTV). Four more televised games will be seen by Sept. 22. Interim SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp on Monday confirmed, when the conference goes to a seven-game mandate starting next season, conference schools can still play each other in games that won’t count toward SWAC standings.

THE RATING GAME

1. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Wallace and the best 1-2 punch of tailbacks in the SWAC

2. Jackson State

Started 5-1 but finished 1-4 in first year under Comegy

3. Alabama A&M

Bulldogs lost a lot on offense, but Kelcy Luke is a solid QB

4. Southern

Has all the tools, except on offensive and defensive line

5. Grambling

New coach Broadway doesn’t sound excited about his team

6. Miss. Valley State

Seemed to building toward run, but that didn’t happen

7. Alcorn State

See above, except Braves have been on same treadmill yearly

8. Alabama State

RB Peck is solid, but still has new coach, rebuilding to do

9. Prairie View

Lost a lot of close games, but still losing many games

10. Texas Southern

TSU coach Wilson, 4-29 in three years, has a veteran team

THE BIG GAME

Southern vs. Florida A&M

2 p.m. Saturday at Legion Field in Birmginham, Ala., on ESPN Classic

One of the series that defined black college football is back, with the schools playing for the first time since 2001 and beginning a five-year run with a nationally televised game. Though today’s players don’t have a feel for the rivalry and the teams have lost the swagger they had in the late 1990s, having the rivalry back is fun.

-- Joseph Schiefelbein

Contract, attrition on SU Richardson’s mind

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Southern coach Pete Richardson on Wednesday used his first news luncheon of the season to make opening statements concerning his contract status as well as the attrition of players, mostly because of academics, in his program.

“It is my intention to fulfill my contractual obligation to Southern University, which ends 12-31-07,” Richardson said. “My top priority at this time is to get our team ready to meet (Florida A&M) in Birmingham (Ala.).

“It’s going to be a challenge for our football team, because of the attrition of certain athletes. Let me speak on that, starting off with. I’m in the process of meeting with some people so this won’t happen again for Southern University.

“We’re trying to get a program in place to help our student-athletes. &hellip I’ve also had the opportunity to have some conversations with the administration dealing with the football program. I think I’m optimistic some positive changes can be made.”

Southern has had two straight losing seasons and begins the third and final season of Richardson’s contract when the Jaguars, 5-6 last season, play Florida A&M, 7-4 last season, at 2 p.m. Saturday in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge at Legion Field in Birmingham.

SU officials have said the school will review Richardson’s status after the season.

Richardson, the second-most successful coach in school history, said he wants to continue to coach but he also contended his record speaks for itself, that one season wasn’t needed to prove he could be a successful coach.

“I don’t want (the contract situation) to distract our football team. &hellip I don’t want to put that pressure on my football team, deciding on my future,” Richardson said. “I don’t want to do that.”

Richardson refused to discuss his contract status, or any possible negotiations or scenarios Wednesday.

“I’m not going to make any comment on those situations,” Richardson said. “We’ve had some talks and I’m going to leave it at that.”


The Jaguars have already lost at least 15 players since spring practice. While two are because of injuries which happened in spring practice, the majority of that attrition are players who are not qualified academically.

Plus, the status of two players expected to make an impact this season — starting center Ramon Chinyoung, a sophomore, and tailback Kendrick Smith, a transfer — is uncertain. Though the two have practiced this week, if they are not clear, they may not be on the bus when the Jaguars leave this afternoon.

“The concern I have, in 2007, first of all is the depth of our football team,” Richardson said. “We’re going to be thin at certain areas.”

This season’s attrition echoes that of 2005, when the Jaguars lost more than two dozen players for a variety of reasons from the end of spring practice until the conclusion of the season.

Southern, coming off consecutive runs to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, went 4-5 that season. Based on the youth forced into play in 2005, there was a sense the program was building toward progress last season, but the Jaguars were hindered by injuries and depth issues.

Now, SU is dealing with a second round of attrition that could potentially sap any growth.

The losses are most felt along the offensive and defensive lines.

Southern signed five offensive linemen, but four of those are currently ineligible (although the NCAA Clearinghouse has yet to render a decision on guard Brian Bridges).

“We had some individuals who are no longer with us,” Richardson said. “I’m concerned about them. I want them to feel our concern is for them to get back in school. A lot of them are back in school. I don’t think that will be an issue.”

In response to the high number of academically ineligible players and the school’s NCAA Academic Progress Rate struggles, SU Interim Chancellor Margaret Ambrose and Athletic Director Greg LaFleur both have said the school is planning on establishing an academic support center for student-athletes in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

In an orientation meeting with student-athletes Thursday at the Clark Center, Ambrose told them, “We’re going to find some money — and you know we’re broke.”

Southern, like many historically black universities, recruits high-risk students.

“When you look at the situation of our recruiting area, down in Louisiana, Mississippi and, of course, Texas is a little better, we’re struggling academically in certain areas, especially with the math and biology,” Richardson said. “More than that, it’s the choices some of the players make. Some of them are not realistic about majors. That’s really killing us right there. Also part is our academic support. The main issue is the students themselves. They have to be the ones who get to the classes and do the required work.”

Ambrose also stressed personal responsibility Thursday.

“All that is going to do no good if you don’t show up,” she told them of the school’s efforts. “You have to care for yourself. You have to realize not the only reason you came is to just play your sport.”

FAMU's Chester leaves practice early

By St. Clair Murraine, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Florida A&M starting quarterback Albert Chester II sat out the second half of Wednesday's practice complaining of a tingling sensation in his right arm.

Chester said it was a pre-existing problem that has come and gone in the past.

"I think he's going to be OK," FAMU coach Rubin Carter said Wednesday. "We just have to be patient and make sure that he's healthy because it is a long football season.

"It's the first game out of 11 games during the year. He's an important part of what we want to do within the offense."

Chester, a redshirt senior from Jacksonville, is by far the most experienced quarterback on the team and a preseason All-MEAC first team selection.

Senior Leon Camel, who played six games last season including a start against Miami, is the primary backup and redshirt freshman Eddie Battle is third on the depth chart.

Chester's health isn't Carter's only concern heading into Saturday's season opener in Birmingham, Ala. against SWAC rival Southern.

Photo: Albert Chester II and Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach Bob Cole

A handful of key players may not make the trip to Birmingham because of eligibility issues. Among those players are starting cornerback Donovan Johnson, reserve defensive end Marquis Matthews and reserve linebacker Bryan Parker.

"We're addressing the eligibility issues with a few of our players right now," Carter said. "A couple could end up being casualties. Whether it is with APR (Academic Progress Report) or progress toward degree or eligibility based on semester performance. We will weather the storm and fight with what we have."

One definite casualty for at least Saturday's game is senior receiver Ronald Wright, who has yet to be cleared to practice with the team.

Carter did say some of the players could get their issues cleared before the team leaves for Birmingham Thursday afternoon.

"It is that close," Carter said. "It can come down to the wire this time of year. It could be anything from declaring a major or getting a degree audit. Those types of things. Those are the types of things that can get accomplished within 24 hours."