Bozeman talks Morgan State's 2008 recruiting class

Todd Bozeman has a lot returning from Morgan State’s 2007-08 team.

But he’s also adding several talented newcomers to the Bears -- the reigning regular-season MEAC champions. Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College center Buford Foote, Hagerstown Community College forward John Long, Northeastern (Colo.) Junior College guard Troy Smith and Gwynn Park guard Sean Thomas are the new additions to MSU’s roster. Philadelphia forward Ameer Ali, former Walbrook center Kevin Thompson and ex-St. Frances point guard Desmond Thomas all redshirted for Morgan last season and will be eligible this fall.

Bozeman spoke with Recruiting Report recently about the Bears’ 2008 recruiting class. Give us an overview of your class of newcomers...

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"Meet The WSSU Rams" draws record crowd

Coach Kermit Blount and the Winston-Salem State University Rams football team were home in the friendly confines of Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday afternoon as they participated in their annual “Meet the Rams” Fan Fest and Media Day in front of a record crowd that took advantage of their first chance to see the 2008 WSSU football team.

The Rams, entering into their third year of a transition to NCAA Division I status following 61 years of membership at the NCAA Division II level, head into the 2008 season on the heels of a 2007 season which saw WSSU surprise college football pundits by posting a 6-5 record overall.

16th-year head coach Kermit Blount, a man that needs only three more wins to overtake Bill Hayes (current A.D. at Florida A&M University) as the winningest coach in WSSU history, fielded questions from both media members and loyal Ram fans at the annual fan fest and media day.

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Cooper Is Firmly at the Controls for Howard Bison

Video Games Help LB Develop Plan of Attack

Before he would entrust his defense to Endor Cooper, Howard coordinator Andre Creamer wanted to make certain the senior middle linebacker fully understood all of its nuances. The two men spent countless hours going over the playbook, watching film together and discussing defensive strategies. But it wasn't until they sat down in front of a television and played football video games that Creamer became convinced that Cooper grasped every aspect.

By manipulating the outcome of the game, Creamer was able to throw every scenario he could think of at Cooper. Trailing 21-17 with four minutes to go: What's the plan? The opponent just went to a hurry-up offense: How do you react? Each time, Creamer allowed Cooper to work through the situation, to make mistakes and to learn from them.

Howard University Bison 2008 Team Photo.

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Howard University 'Show-Time' Marching Band

TSU linebacker's goal: Be top tackler

Willis wants to lead nation in category

Linebacker Remond Willis was one of the few bright spots on Tennessee State's defense last year and hopes to stand out even more this season. The transfer from Illinois led the Tigers last year with 84 tackles. He's set a higher goal this year, hoping to lead the nation in tackles. "I've got a lot to prove this year,'' Willis said. "I'm going to try to lead the nation in tackles and I believe it's a realistic goal. Fifteen tackles a game is nothing."

Nothing? It's nearly twice as many tackles as Willis had last year when he averaged 7.6 tackles a game. He didn't finish among the nation's top 100 tacklers, but was 11th in the Ohio Valley Conference. TSU's defense needs that type of improvement all over the field. The unit cost the team in a big way last year, allowing an average of 33.4 points a game.

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Cowboys' Bob Hayes (FAMU) and Falcons/Eagles Claude Humphrey (TSU) gets Hall nod as finalist

CANTON, Ohio — Claude Humphrey (Tennessee State University) and Robert Lee ("Bullet Bob") Hayes" (Florida A&M University) were nominated by the seniors committee Wednesday as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Hayes, an Olympic gold medalist as a sprinter, played for Dallas from 1965-74 and for San Francisco in 1975. He averaged 20 yards a catch for his career and led the NFL with a 20.8-yard average per punt return in 1968. He was a seniors finalist in 2004 but did not get the necessary 80 percent of the vote to make the hall. He died in 2002 at the age of 59.

Hayes was the first player in the history of the Dallas franchise to surpass 1000 yards receiving in a single season and he did that in his rookie year by finishing with 1,003 yards. Hayes was the first person to break 6 seconds in the 60 yard dash with his indoor world record of 5.9 seconds. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times and All Pro four times and is the only person so far to win both an Olympic gold medal (1964 Tokyo Olympics) and a Super Bowl ring (1971). Bob Hayes finished his 11-year career with 371 receptions for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns, giving him an impressive 20 yards per catch average. (Both career TDs and yds per catch average remain franchise records.)

Humphrey was a regular finalist two years ago, his final year of eligibility. He played 11 seasons with Atlanta before finishing his career with Philadelphia from 1979-81. He was considered one of the best pass rushers in the game during an era in which sacks were not an official statistic. Humphrey was selected out of Tennessee State University in the first round of the 1968 NFL Draft with the 3rd overall choice by the Falcons.

They will join 15 modern-era finalists yet to be determined in the final selection the day before the Super Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 31. The two seniors finalists are voted on separately. A total of seven can be elected — the two seniors and up to five modern candidates.

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JSU looking into possible NCAA rules violation

Jackson State is investigating whether its football program violated NCAA rules by allowing quarterback Domonick Britt to participate in practice, compliance director Alethea Ringo confirmed this morning.

Britt, the star of the 2008 recruiting class, has not yet been cleared academically by the NCAA but has been practicing with the team. NCAA bylaw 14.3.5.1.1 says a recruited athlete may practice during a 14-day period after reporting for athletic competition without being cleared academically. After 14 days the institution cannot provide athletically related financial aid and the player cannot practice until being cleared.

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Norfolk State's QB Dennis Brown is ready to go

NORFOLK, VA -- He has yet to throw a pass, but Dennis Brown is already the talk of Norfolk State football. Frankly, the guy everybody calls Dino says he'd rather be just another Spartan. But there's no chance of that with all the hype around the transfer from the University of Connecticut, despite his efforts to make himself just one of the guys since he set foot on campus in January. Coach Pete Adrian raves about his new quarterback's arm, talks up his ability to scramble and even suggests that the magnetic Brown is almost too mentally sharp.

"Sometimes I have to calm him down. I don't want him to think he has to go out against Virginia State and win the game by himself," Adrian said. "He doesn't have to throw the ball 200 mph. He's really hyped up. He's not a milquetoast guy who hangs in the corner. He's someone who can walk in a room and immediately start talking to everyone there."

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Virginia State University 'Trojan Explosion' Marching Band

Virginia State University Cheerleaders "Woo Woos"