WSSU's receivers told to be aggressive going after the ball

By John Dell, JOURNAL REPORTER

When the Winston-Salem State Rams passed the ball last season, the results weren’t all that great.

There’s no statistic to get the exact number, but the Rams had plenty of dropped balls from their wide receivers. Nick Calcutta, the new offensive coordinator, has seen the films of last year’s games.

“We’ve tried to improve on that all preseason and for the most part they have done very well in that department,” Calcutta said.

The Rams are hoping to be more balanced, but to do that the receivers must catch the ball a lot better. The top four receivers from last season all exhausted their eligibility, which means that this season’s receivers are very inexperienced.

Despite the youth, Calcutta is optimistic.

“They are catching the ball a lot better, making the tough catches and they are all going after the ball,” Calcutta said. “Nobody is waiting for the ball to come to them and they are taking care of it when they do catch it.”

The expected starters will be sophomore Michael Scarbrough, who missed all of last season with a broken leg, senior Brent Thomas, who had three catches last season, and Bryant Bayne, a sophomore who saw little playing time last season.

Scarbrough has the chance to be one of quarterback Monte Purvis’ top targets.

“We worked on that over the summer because there were some dropped balls last season,” said Scarbrough, who has four career catches. “And we did a lot of ball-control things in camp as well.”

The Rams threw the ball 155 times last season, an average of 14 a game. That average is expected to go up this season.

Also hoping to add to the production is Jonathan Kinzer, a sophomore who had eight catches last season but fell out of the rotation late in the year. Freshman Avyd Baldwin, who has an eye infection and has missed practice time, could also play a big role.

Thomas has the most experience of the wide receivers, but he has four career catches. He will likely be Purvis’ possession receiver who can get open in the middle of the field.

“Everything has been going great in practice,” Thomas said. “The new offense is looking good for the wideouts and we are excited about it.”

Even though the receivers will be called upon to catch more, they also will have to take their turns blocking. It’s a premise that Kevin Downing, the wide receivers’ coach, has been stressing.
“They are responding very well to everything,” Downing said. “Some of the things we can’t control if they do drop some balls, but we can control our blocking so we’ve been focusing on that.”

Said Thomas: “Blocking is still something we need to do. We are working on that with making moves upfield and other things.”

If the Rams are going to be more of a balanced team instead of relying on their running game, it’s up to the receivers to respond.

“We’ve been working on seeing the ball all the way in,” Downing said. “I’ve loved working with those guys and we are pleased with how things are going.”

Calcutta has three scrimmages to base his judgment on how the receivers have fared, but he hopes that when the lights come on Saturday night against N.C. A&T the receivers will be ready.
“I’m sitting here with my fingers crossed, but we’ve been blessed with the way the receivers have picked up what we are trying to do,” Calcutta said. “They are trying to master it and we are going to play a lot of those receivers because we are always going to be moving.”

Hornets enjoy the challenge of a top opening opponent

By KRISTIAN POPE, The News Journal

DSU hopes to set tone vs. Coastal Carolina

DOVER -- Delaware State doesn't believe in taking the easy way out when opening the football season. Not since 2002, anyway.

Starting in 2003, the Hornets have played their first game against all types of opponents, but none of them could be considered a "gimme."

Instead of a struggling NCAA Division I-AA team or a mediocre foe from Division II, DSU has faced teams who have presented a significant challenge.

There have been nationally ranked powerhouses, seemingly unknown playoff contenders and even rivals from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

This season, DSU again must exit the starting blocks by going against the wind.

At 7 p.m. Saturday at Alumni Stadium, the Hornets face three-time defending Big South Conference champion Coastal Carolina, a team burning to make the Division I-AA playoffs for the second year in a row.

"It's not up to us," DSU senior kicker Peter Gaertner said of the schedule. "It's a game like any other, really."

Oh, really?

One must go back to 1986 for DSU's last season-opening win over a nonconference Division I-AA foe, a 21-14 victory at Southern University.

Since 2003, DSU has opened against Bucknell, Massachusetts and Florida A&M twice.

DSU, 8-3 last year, reached No. 23 in The Sports Network poll for one week before the Hornets bowed out of the MEAC race and missed the playoffs. While playing nonconference games against high-caliber opponents can boost a team's chances of making the postseason, suffering a loss at the start can have lingering effects.

DSU's recent opening games are a lesson in living up to the standards coach Al Lavan has set for his program.

Photo: RB Kareem Jones

"The conference is tough enough for us, but if you want to grow the program, you have to step up your level of competition," Lavan said. "It's as simple as that."

Coastal Carolina, which started its football program in 2003, continues DSU's history of bold season openers.

The Chanticleers beat the Hornets 24-6 in 2005, the only other meeting between the schools. CCU wide receiver Jerome Simpson was chosen a preseason All-American by the College Sporting News.

"In the case of Coastal Carolina, it's a win-win situation for us," Gaertner said. "If we win, we'll be in great shape. We might even be ranked. If we lose, well, it's a nonconference game. A loss always hurts, but it wouldn't have the same effect as a conference loss."

Last season, DSU finished one victory short of a share of its first MEAC title since 1991. A loss at Howard in DSU's final game gave Hampton the championship outright.

Senior linebacker Russell Reeves believes this season could play out differently, especially if the Hornets perform well against Coastal Carolina.

"In the winter and summer, I think these kinds of games are in the backs of everyone's minds, and they get us to prepare harder for the season," Reeves said.

"When you go to college, you want to play the best competition. You don't come to play Division II schools. You want to play the best."

Hornets buzz

Running back Kareem Jones, a transfer from Syracuse, appears to have earned the starting job for the opener. Senior Lennox Norville is expected to back up Jones. ... Coastal Carolina is scheduled to arrive by plane at Dover Air Force Base today. ... As of Wednesday, about 2,000 tickets had been sold. ... DSU has planned a memorial service before the game to honor the three students killed in Newark, N.J., this month.

UAPB Golden Lions wants another shot at SWAC title

By RONNIE TURNER, For The Chronicle

Arkansas-Pine Bluff ready to shine; Golden Lions want another shot at SWAC title

Last season was a surprising one in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, with traditional powers Grambling State and Southern each failing to crack the .500 mark.

Instead, Arkansas-Pine Bluff ran through the league with a 7-2 mark before falling to Alabama A&M in the SWAC championship game.

Alabama A&M returns 15 starters, including eight to a defense that led the SWAC in scoring defense (19.5 points per game). Arkansas-Pine Bluff placed eight players on the All-SWAC preseason team, none more notable than quarterback Chris Wallace, the 2006 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year. Last season, Wallace threw for 2,023 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Hard to read
Texas Southern faces tough non-conference matchups against defending Conference USA champion Houston and UTEP, with both games on the road. On top of that, TSU must travel to meet defending SWAC champion Alabama A&M, Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State.

Picture books
Alcorn State will host Grambling State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alabama A&M, three of the league's better teams, while traveling to face Alabama State and Texas Southern, who figure to be two of the league's worst teams.

Plot twist
Prairie View A&M over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 3). The Panthers barely missed taking down the defending Western Division champions in a 28-21 home loss last season. However, Prairie View's improved passing game could make a difference.

Compelling reads
• Texas Southern at Grambling State (Oct. 27): TSU pulled off a stunning 33-28 upset when these two met last season, and Grambling State won't be able to live down the embarrassment of that loss until it returns the favor.
• Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alabama A&M (Oct. 18): The league's top two teams from a year ago will meet up in what could be a preview of this season's SWAC championship game.
• Southern at Grambling State (Nov. 24): The winner of this matchup could wind up representing the Western Division in the SWAC title game.

Pop-up book
Prairie View A&M. The Panthers dropped five games by seven points or less a season ago but appear to be close to turning the corner. With 14 returning starters and even more confidence, Prairie View should be on its way to recording its first winning season since 1976.

Make book on it
Eastern Division: 1. Jackson State; 2. Alabama A&M; 3. Alcorn State; 4. Mississippi Valley State; 5. Alabama State.

Western Division: 1. Arkansas Pine-Bluff; 2. Grambling State; 3. Prairie View A&M; 4. Southern;. 5. Texas Southern.

Stout defense lifts chances for revival for PVAMU

By CHRIS ELLIOTT, For The Chronicle

After close calls in 2006, Panthers expect turnaround

They can feel it. There's an aura of confidence radiating from the Prairie View A&M players that wasn't there in previous years, and it's so evident that even coach Henry Frazier III said he has begun to take notice.

Frazier said he's noticed the greater effort players are putting into practices. He's noticed how few disciplinary problems he's been faced with. And he's taken particular notice of the awareness of the players' potential. Despite finishing with a 3-7 record in 2006, most of the players believe the Panthers will win the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.

"It was a tough year last year, but it was a process you go through with turning a program around," Frazier said. "And those are some of the growing pains you're going to have to go through. We lost five ballgames by seven points or less.

"What's important to me is that the players now realize that if we had put forth better effort on about seven plays last year, we would have been 8-2. They were able to see that. We've got the feeling that we're much better than our record indicated."

Prairie View will return seven starters on each side of the ball. Those seven defensive starters could make the difference in the Panthers' quest for their first winning season since 1976.

Prairie View finished with the SWAC's top defense last year, allowing a conference-low 266 yards per game. Sophomore strong safety Anthony Beck said this defense can be just as stingy.

"We've got an older defense," Beck said. "We're much more mature than last year. We didn't lose a lot of seniors. So we know what we're doing, and we're moving faster. I think that's going to make us a better defense overall."

If Frazier and his staff get the offense and special teams to operate as efficiently as the defense, Prairie View will be in good shape. Though the Panthers rushed for a SWAC-high 180.6 yards per game, they could muster only a dismal 69.2 passing yards per game.

Frazier will look to senior quarterback Chris Gibson, who has been known more for his legs than his arm, to turn the offense around.

SU soccer team to open season

Photo: Divinity Bradley, Goal Keeper, Freshman, 6-1, Fairfield HS, Fairfield, CA
The Southern University soccer team opens its home season at 7 p.m. today, facing the University of Louisiana at Monroe at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

It’s the season opener for ULM. Southern lost its opener at William Carey last week.

“The young ladies played real hard at William Carey,” coach John Knighten said. “They’ve been practicing hard and are really excited about playing at home.”

True freshman Divinity Bradley, in her first collegiate game, recorded 15 saves off of 33 attempts.

“Divinity played a great game considering it was her first time in goal on the college level,” Knighten said.

Britnee Matthews, Miriam Akinfosile, Renell Reid and Olyvhia Essien all the team’s four seniors who will be participating in their final home season opener.

Following the SCSU Bulldogs

By Thomas Grant, T&D Blog

Time to get to business
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
4 PM
After checking in, the offenses and defenses separate for team meetings prior to a 5 p.m. practice at Air Force Academy High School. It’s the first opportunity for many of the players to test themselves with the altitude. By the way, the temperatures are in the low 80s with some clouds hovering over the mountains.

So far, so good
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
The plane is about 90 minutes away from Colorado Springs. For the most part, there have been no commotions or jitters shown by first-time flyers like offensive lineman Jake Johnson. As the plane descends, Assistant Athletics Trainer Stephanie Troscinski is serenaded with ‘Happy Birthday’ and also receives a cake. Can’t tell what the time is since all cellphones are turned off the entire flight. As it turns out, we land at 4:10 Eastern Time. Next stop, the Antlers’ Hilton.

Off in the air
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
1:10 PM - Finally, the proper weight and balance is achieved and the plane is ready to depart. More good news comes in the fact that the pilot will not have to make a fuel stop, insuring the two-hour, 57-minute trip will be non-stop and should keep the Bulldogs right on schedule.

‘Smells like a Lockerroom’
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
12:36 PM

Departure time is still 24 minutes away and the inside of the airplane feels like a sauna. The pilot has yet to start the plane as the luggage carriers continue to work towards loading the plane. Needless to say, water is in high demand and some have resorted to use the exit seating instructions as a fan.

“It smells like a lockerroom and feels like hell,” one Bulldog party member was heard saying.

We later learn the carriers are having trouble balancing the weight of some luggage (I hope he wasn’t talking about me).
More water!

Ready to fly
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
12:03 PM

Word of advice to future travelers. Certain deodorants can possibly set off a metal detector. After three attempts through the security check, I was allowed to board the plane. The players grab a Chick-Fil-A bag and board an sky blue, white and gold Alligient Air aircraft. The craft apparently seats as many as 150 people and just about every seat is taken. Once aboard, I take the long walk to the rear of the plane and plant down at Row 35, Seat D. It’s a window seat, but much of the view is obstructed by one of the wings. The wait begins.

John Edwards ‘reunites’ with SCSU
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
11:20 PM

The Bulldogs’ buses arrive at Eagle Aviation 10 minutes early. In what had to be a sheer coincidence, Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards has just landed for more than likely a campaign stop in the capitol city. He had virtually no interaction with the team, save for accidentally bumping into one of the members of the Bulldogs’ travelling party on the way out. It never ceases to amaze me how smaller politicians look in person.

As SCSU head football coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough departs the bus, he does a brief interview with WLTX. During the interview, he said Saturday’s game was ‘real special for the program. It’s something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time.” He also said the Bulldogs ‘we’re going out there to compete.”

Moving day
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
9:15 AM

Today is moving day for the South Carolina State football team. The team is currently eating breakfest at Truth Hall and are about an hour and 15 minutes away from leaving Orangeburg for Eagle Aviation. They are scheduled to depart for Colorado Springs at 1 p.m. with the flight lasting close to three hours. Once the Bulldogs settle in, they will waste little time getting down to business. A team meeting will take place at 6 p.m., followed by practice a half-hour later at Air Force Academy High School.

Hopefully, there will be no reports of players or school officials getting sick or passing out on the airplane. As for myself, I’ve only flown cross-country once back in 1995 to New Mexico. I understand the rules have become more stringent in regards to what is acceptable on board and when you can use a cellphone, DVD or CD player. As long as use of such items are still limited to takoff and landing, no one will have to worry about boredom.

Getting ready for Colorado
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007
8:12 p.m. Eastern Time

I’m still at the newspaper getting last-minute instructions from team officials and the higher-ups. Like the Bulldog players, this is definitely a business trip where I hope to provide exclusive game coverage of the Bulldogs.

For the first time, Lee Enterprises has given us the tools and capability to cover SCSU football like never before. Fans will be able to access this blog and the website for interviews, previews and game updates pertaining to Orangeburg’s only college football team. As the season progresses, we hope to have video footage showcasing the sights and sounds which make up Bulldog football. This is an ambitious challenge the newspaper has decided to undertake, but as SCSU aspires to reach another level in football, we hope to do the same with our coverage.

SCSU Bulldogs hit the ground in Colorado

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

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Last time quarterback Cleveland McCoy practiced in long sleeves was during spring practice.

On Thursday, he and his South Carolina State teammates were greeted in Colorado Springs by temperatures more cooler and comfortable than the ones they left behind in Orangeburg. With the Rocky Mountains serving as the background, the Bulldogs held a light two-hour workout at Air Academy High School located on the grounds of the United States Air Force Academy. Much of the workout on the thick grass was spent on special teams. At times, the Bulldog players found themselves having to avoid automatic sprinklers which kept popping out of the ground at random.

Overall, the Bulldogs seemed to be effected little by the altitude and the lower temperatures. In fact, McCoy came away even more optimistic about the Bulldogs ability to perform in the altitude.

"I wasn’t expecting it to be this cool," he said. "The main thing, it seems like an even swap. We came from Orangeburg where it was hot. We got a little tired. We come up here, it’s cool, the air is a little thin, but it’s not as bad as Orangeburg."

Thursday’s practice capped a long and somewhat frenetic day for the Bulldogs. The team arrived at Eagle Aviation at around 11:20 a.m. Before boarding the plane, SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough talked about the historic matchup for SCSU in facing a Football Bowl Subdivision team for the first time.

"We are going out there to compete," Pough said. "If we go out and win, that’s great. But, more importantly what we have to do is go up and play the best that we can and if we do let the chips fall where they may."

The flight took just under three hours, much to the relief of SCSU offensive lineman Jake Johnson who was making his first trip on a plane.

"It went alright," said Johnson, who chewed gum for most of the trip. "It went a lot better than I thought. After we got into the air I was good."

The trip to the practice field took longer than expected due to a traffic accident on Woodman Road which leads to Air Force Academy. With no lights on the soccer field where practice was scheduled to be held, SCSU spent the final 15 minutes of the workout in near darkness.

The Bulldogs are scheduled to work out again today, this time at Falcon Stadium, site of Saturday’s contest with Air Force Academy. Prior to the practice, the Bulldogs will receive a tour of the Academy and also visit some of Colorado’s famous sites such as the Garden of the Gods and the US Olympic Facility.