Alabama A&M 17, Mississippi Valley State 12

A&M beats MVSU to advance to SWAC title game

HUNTSVILLE --- Ulysses Banks rushed for 160 yards and scored a touchdown to lead Alabama A&M to a 17-12 victory over Mississippi Valley State Saturday. With the win, A&M (7-4, 4-3) captured the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Eastern Division title and will play Prairie View in the championship game on Dec. 12 at Birmingham's Legion Field. MVSU ended the season 3-8 and 1-6.

MVSU finishes season with loss at Alabama A&M

NORMAL, Ala. — The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils fought hard in their season-ending contest with the Alabama A&M Bulldogs, but fell 17-12 on the road at Louis Crews Stadium. Backup QB Eddie Ivory ended the day with 200 yards passing on 11-of-28 passing with a touchdown and an interception. Starting QB Anthony Bowie was knocked of the game early in the first half. The Devils got on the board late in the second quarter when Stephen Robert scored from two yards out capping a seven-play, 78-yard, 2:45 drive. At the intermission, AAMU led 17-6. MVSU put one final score on the board as Ivory found WR Chris Williams for a six-yard score with two seconds remaining in regulation. The point-after attempt failed.

Will this be Totten's last game at Valley?

Coach Willie Totten record - Eight Seasons: 31-56; Totten blamed the school's small budget and scholarship restrictions (39 compared to 63 for the other nine SWAC schools) in remarks he made to the The Greenwood Commonwealth newspaper.

Beleaguered Valley football coach Willie Totten will lead the Delta Devils into their season finale Saturday at Alabama A&M in what might be his last game at his alma mater. The Delta Devils enter the game at 3-6 overall, 1-5 in the Eastern Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Huntsville, Ala. The big question is will this be it for Totten. Speculation continues to swarm the Itta Bena campus about the future of Totten, who has just two winning seasons and a combined record of 31-56 in his eight years at Valley. Win or lose Saturday, his coaching fate has probably already been decided. Totten's current contract, which pays him $92,928 annually, expires Dec. 31.

PHOTO GALLERY: A&M vs. Mississippi Valley State Football

Attendance: 2,776@ Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville, AL

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Prairie View 49, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff 17

Prairie View finishes undefeated in SWAC play







PRAIRIE VIEW, TX — With a spot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game already secured, Prairie View A&M didn’t have much to play for in Saturday’s regular-season finale against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. But that didn’t mean the Panthers would take it easy on the Golden Lions. Quarterback K.J. Black tossed a career-high five touchdown passes, running back Donald Babers rushed for two scores, and the defense forced four turnovers to carry the Panthers to a dominant 49-17 win before a crowd of 3,889 at Blackshear Stadium.

The Panthers (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) closed the regular season on a seven-game winning streak and recorded their first undefeated conference campaign since 1964. Prairie View, the Western Division champion, will try to capture the program’s first SWAC crown since 1964 when it faces Eastern champion Alabama A&M in the league’s title game Dec. 12 in Birmingham, Ala.

Prairie View 49, Ark.-Pine Bluff 17

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- K.J. Black threw for five touchdowns and 312 yards to lead Prairie View A&M to a 49-17 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. The win closed out a dominant season by Prairie View (8-1, 7-0), which already clinched the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division title the week before.

Prairie View A&M Caps Off Undefeated Conference Slate With 49-17 Win Over ...

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - K.J. Black threw five touchdown passes and Donald Babers rushed for 121 yards and two scores as Prairie View capped off an undefeated conference slate for the first time since 1964 in a 49-17 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday afternoon at Blackshear Field. A 45-yard field goal by Carlos Reyes gave UAPB (5-4, 5-3 SWAC) an early 3-0 advantage in the first quarter but Prairie View (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) answered on its opening drive as Black found wideout Shaun Stephens for a 41-yard touchdown reception. After a UAPB punt, Prairie View moved ahead 14-3 as Black hit wide receiver Gabe Osaze-Ediae on a 21-yard touchdown reception.

GOLDEN LIONS CAN’T KEEP UP WITH PRAIRIE VIEW

Arkansas-Pine Bluff entered its game against Prairie View A&M on Saturday without the possibility of advancing to next month’s Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, but with the hope of knocking off the only team yet to lose a SWAC game. After giving up two touchdowns in the first quarter on Saturday at Blackshear Stadium in Prairie View, Texas, the Golden Lions pulled within four points late in the second quarter. The Panthers, however, added a touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter that started a string of four unanswered touchdowns to put the game away.

The Panthers’ three second-half scores were all on plays longer than 30 yards as they blew out UAPB 49-17 on Saturday. The Golden Lions (5-4, 3-3) will finish their season next Saturday against Texas Southern in Dallas, while Prairie View (8-1, 7-0) will play Alabama A&M in the SWAC Championship Game on Dec. 12 in Birmingham, Ala. The Golden Lions couldn’t have advanced to the conference title game with a win Saturday, but they could have ended a progress-making season on a three-game winning streak. That possibility went away when its usually stingy defense had its second sub-par outing in as many games.

Attendance: 3,889@ Blackshear Stadium, Prairie View, Texas

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30th Florida Classic Hits Gridiron at 2:30 p.m. Today

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30th Florida Classic Hits Gridiron Today


ORLANDO -- A huge college football rivalry returns to the Florida Citrus Bowl today for the 30th anniversary of the Florida Classic. The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and Florida A&M Rattlers meet again in what has become the nation’s largest football rivalry between two historically black colleges. Though Daytona Beach-based B-CU is closer to home at the Citrus Bowl, Florida A&M has the upper hand in the series at 19–10. Since moving to the Citrus Bowl from Tampa in 1997, the Rattlers are 8–4 against the Wildcats.

Video: Will It Stay Or Go?

B-CU has shot to save season

ORLANDO -- After consecutive 5-6 seasons in 2006-07, Bethune-Cookman's Dexter Jackson would have been satisfied with the Wildcats' 8-3 record last year -- if that third loss hadn't come against Florida A&M in the season-ending Florida Classic. "Last year we went 8-3, but all you could think about that whole off-season was the last game we played," the senior defensive tackle said this week. "I just want to come back and make it right this year." The Wildcats, winners of five of their last six games, will get that chance today when they meet FAMU at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m.

"When you lose to FAMU, it sticks with you," B-CU quarterback Matt Johnson said. "When you win, it makes the atmosphere around campus a lot better place to be." B-CU (5-5, 4-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) is 1-3 in its past four meetings with FAMU (7-3, 5-2) after beating the Rattlers three straight in 2002-04 for the first time in series history. "It's the biggest game on our schedule," B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt said. "It's nationally televised. It's a bigger crowd that you've had all season (an average of 68,000 in the 12 years the game has been in Orlando).

FAMU Too Strong for B-CU

Last year, I didn't quite know what to expect heading into the Florida Classic battle between Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M. I knew it had the potential of being a tight game, and it was for a while. I knew the crowd would be great and the bands would be even better, which they were. What surprised me, however, was the offensive explosion that took place. Both teams scored at such a rapid pace that my pen nearly ran out of ink while I took notes. FAMU won the shootout, 58-35, and once it was finally over, many in the Florida Citrus Bowl were exhausted, including myself.

As the 30th annual Florida Classic takes place in Orlando this afternoon, I know quite a bit more about these two teams and their capabilities. For one, expect to see a lot of points, but don't think it's going to be 93 this time. Despite a shocking shutout loss at Hampton last week, FAMU (7-3) has the firepower to hold up its end of the bargain, and it should rebound. Quarterback Curtis Pulley has the dual-threat ability to punish the Wildcats like he did last year when he rushed for 171 yards, passed for 125 and combined for four touchdowns. This year, he's more dangerous and has no shortage of targets, including former Kathleen receiver Adrian Smith.



FAMU Seniors Ready for Classic

For the Rattlers 27 seniors, the annual meeting with Bethune Cookman in the Florida Classic will mark their final regular season game wearing the Orange and Green.
FAMU Senior Offensive Tackle Robert Okeafor says, "I've been going to the Classic since '99. I had a cousin who played for Florida A&M back in the day so I think I've missed two since '99 so I know the excitement. All my family is going to be there, a lot of my friends will be there so it's going to be a real big deal come Saturday." FAMU Senior Outside Linebacker Gregory Boler adds, "Coming from Philly, there's really no type of anything to that magnitude." The Rattlers will look to go out with a bang in 2009, similar to the way they ended 2008, when they beat Bethune 58-35.

Taking different paths, both Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman can reach bigger ...

TALLAHASSEE — Four games into the 2009 football season, the annual Florida Classic game between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman was shaping up as an afterthought. FAMU looked unstoppable at 4-0. Bethune-Cookman looked lost at 0-4. As the two teams end their regular seasons, it's a different story. FAMU stumbled to a 3-3 record over their last six games, while Bethune-Cookman rallied to go 5-1 in the same span. Facing off today at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FAMU needs to win to keep alive any playoff hopes. A Bethune-Cookman win would cap an impressive turnaround and allow the Wildcats to finish with a winning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference record.

"I am a little bit shocked and surprised with where we are today," Wildcats coach Alvin Wyatt said. "I thought it was going to take a little bit more time for us to get to where we are." Bethune-Cookman's resurgence came as its turnovers faded. The Wildcats are tied for 111th in the Football Championship Subdivision with 30 turnovers lost, but 17 of those came in their first four games. Ball security was a major issue for the Wildcats in last year's game, as FAMU forced six fumbles and one interception in a 58-35 win.

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Who Really Cares About FCS Division I HBCU Football?

Alcorn State helped Southern Mississippi (C-USA) set attendance record of 36,232 at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Roberts Stadium on Sept. 5, 2009. The Braves were defeated 52-0 by the Golden Eagles. Alcorn State ranks #68 in the latest NCAA Accumulated Attendance Report averaging 5,425 in 3 home contests, 24.11 accumulated percent of capacity. Only 3,774 came to Jack Spinks Stadium to watch the home team Braves fall to SWAC leader Prairie View (7-1, 6-0) 34-14 on Saturday.

If attendance numbers are the real measure of how most feel about college football at HBCU campuses, then why do we have stadiums that keep a vacancy rate of empty seats in the range of 17.96 (2008/09 MEAC Champions South Carolina State) to 83.31 (Alabama State) percent on college game day? Secondly, how are we maintaining Division I status, with little income being earned from gate receipts, parking and concessions? Are we supporting the entire programs on student generated fees and a few alumni donations? Just a few questions you may want to ask your university administrators and athletic directors.

We are not saying ALL programs are doing poorly in accumulated attendance at the FCS level but some are in financial trouble. For example, Florida A&M University athletic department has been struggling to retire a -$4.2 million accumulated deficit from its proposed move up to Division I-A football and athletic department mis-management. The Rattlers budget is still reeling from this ill-advised move and the highly paid athletic directors that followed have had no real solutions to address the financial mess.

However, it's unclear how long the FAMU athletics department has been operating in the red. An independent audit covering from July 2007 to June 30, 2008, shows Rattler athletics made nearly $8.1 million during that time. But department expenses exceeded $9.7 million, creating nearly a $1.7 million deficit. That deficit only added to the $2.61 million deficit detailed in the audit report that covered July 2006 to June 2007.

The Florida Classic continues to be the savior for both FAMU and its cross-state rival, Bethune Cookman. This game is important for millions of reasons -- and millions of dollars. Without this game and the combined $3 million (combined) it puts into the coffers of both schools, the cash-strapped athletic departments of FAMU and Bethune would shrivel up and blow away. Each are expected to pocket $1.5 million next weekend, if attendance continue to hold in the 62,000 - 69,000 range.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that FAMU was in discussions with the University of Georgia for a game in Athens in the near future. We are not privy to the financial negotiations, but Louisiana-Lafayette will get $875,000 to open next season in Athens and New Mexico State will get $925,000 for a game in Nov. 2011. The Rattlers earned $600,000 from its money game with the University of Miami this season and possibly, $325,000 more from the Atlanta Football Classic with rival Tennessee State University.

The Ratters are scheduled to open the 2010 season at Miami, playing the same Hurricanes for another $600,000 check. So, why is a premier program built by legendary coach Jake Gaither in financial trouble today?

Simply, to complete at the FCS Division I level--it takes money, lots of money--millions of dollars that general admission tickets and a $200,000 annual contribution from the local booster club does not cover. HBCU fans need a reality check--ticket sales, parking and concession fees at a 10,000 -20,000 seat facility does not pay the bills. FAMU fans also need a reality check--12,490 average attendance (49,960 accumulated attendance) to four home games in 2009 doesn't cut it for a $10 million athletic department budget. Bragg Memorial Stadium holds 25,500 but hasn't seen a sell-out since the Coach Billy Joe era.

If you think attendance is based upon wins and losses, go check the attendance figures. For the past decade, FAMU and Southern have been ranked in the Top 10 in home attendance. But the Rattlers and Jaguars have been replaced by an upstart program like Old Dominion, ranked #4 in attendance averaging 19,782 in 7 home games in its first season of football and North Dakota State, ranked #8, averaging 17,069 in 4 home contests. North Carolina A&T was the doormats of the MEAC over the past several years, but the Aggies are now ranked #7 in home attendance--averaging 17,219 with an 80.09 accumulated percent of capacity in Aggie Stadium.

FCS 2008 National Champion, University of Richmond operates a CAA championship football program on more than the gate receipts generated from four home games which averages 8,737 in attendance. The Spiders are only filling the home stadium to 40.98 percent of accumulated capacity in 2009. Richmond played one 1-A money game--defeating Atlantic Coast Conference, Duke University 24-16 in Durham, N.C. in the season opener before 33,311 at Wallace Wade Stadium. This was Duke's largest crowd since 2001.

For small schools in conferences like the MEAC, SWAC and OVC, there are great paydays awaiting in road trips to major Division I programs. Delaware State earned $550,000 playing at 106,000 seat Michigan; Western Kentucky got $700,000 to play at Tennessee; Montana State received $650,000 playing at Michigan State; Charleston Southern was paid $450,000 for playing at defending national champion Florida and Liberty earned $365,000 at West Virginia.

Looking ahead to 2010, the going rate for top tier programs to "buy a guaranteed win" will range from $750,000 to $950,000 for lower tier Division I programs and $450,000 to $650,000 for money straped MEAC programs such as FAMU. With the upper tier BCS programs earning $3.8 million to $4.5 million per home contest, the future for MEAC and SWAC programs are to sign on for the lucrative pay days with the BCS conferences and limit themselves to 3 home contests during the season. At some point, the conference leadership will have to move to 8 conference game schedules and 3-4 out of league contests that can be sold to the highest bidders to pay the bills. Tradition will soon be a thing of the past as scheduling will be based on potential payouts.

South Carolina State dive into the Division I money pool started with games versus South Carolina, Central Florida, Air Force and Clemson. Although the Bulldogs have not realized the $450,000+ pay days like FAMU, Norfolk State and Howard, they have improved their recruiting, moved to #5 ranking in home stadium attendance--averaging 18,050 in four home contests-- and become the conference powerhouse. Not bad for a school located in the smallest market in the MEAC by population and business base.

Below are the game scores, attendance numbers and team records for Week 11 at the FCS Division I HBCU programs. You may draw your own conclusions on how your favorite university is maintaining its Division I football program with sub-par attendance and dwindling revenue in 2009. Classics, one D-I money game and a Thursday night television game check from ESPNU may pay some of the bills, but it does not build sustainable home stadium fan support and championship football programs.

You may want to blame the weather, the economy and the lack of an aggressive athletic marketing & PR program--but the outcome are programs on the verge of bankruptcy or with $2-$4 million in red ink as a carryover to the next fiscal year. No business is sustainable when the income cannot cover the expenses, especially in Division I college football. Who Really Cares About FCS Division I HBCU Football and who will help it survive and thrive? The answers are within you.

1. North Carolina Central 18, Winston Salem State 10 11,232 @ Bowman-Gray Stadium, Winston Salem, N.C. Records: NCCU 3-7; WSSU 1-9.

2. South Carolina State 37, Morgan State 13 10,542 @ Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, Orangeburg, S.C. Records: SCSU 9-1, 7-0 MEAC; MSU 5-5, 3-4 MEAC.

3. Southern University 34, Alabama State 24 8,459 @ Ladd Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL Records: SU 6-3, 3-2 SWAC; ASU 4-6, 1-6 SWAC.

4. Austin Peay State 24, Tennessee State 21 6,968 @ Governors Stadium, Clarksville, TN Records: APSU 4-6, 3-4 OVC; TSU 3-7, 2-4 OVC.

5. Alabama A&M 13, Jackson State 5 5,402 @ Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville, AL Records: AAMU 6-4, 3-3 SWAC; JSU 3-6, 3-3 SWAC.

6. Norfolk State 21, Delaware State 16 4,127 @ Alumni Stadium, Dover, DE Records: NSU 6-4, 5-3 MEAC; DSU 3-6, 2-4 MEAC.

7. Prairie View A&M 34, Alcorn State 3,774 @ Jack Spinks Stadium, Lorman, MS Records: PVAMU 7-1, 6-0 SWAC; Alcorn State 2-6, 2-4 SWAC.

8. Grambling State 47, Texas Southern 33 3,549 @ Robinson Stadium, Grambling, LA Records: GSU 6-5, 4-3 SWAC; Tex So 4-5, 3-2 SWAC.

8. Webber International 35, Savannah State 20 1,956 @ Ted Wright Stadium, Savannah, Georgia Records: Webber Intern'l. 4-6 NAIA Savannah State 2-7 NCAA Div. I Indep.

9. Hampton University 25, Florida A&M 0 1,931 @ Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, VA Records: HU 5-5, 3-4 MEAC; FAMU 7-3, 5-2 MEAC.

10. Bethune Cookman 21, Howard University 10 541@ Greene Stadium, Washington, D.C. Records: BCU 5-5, 4-3 MEAC; HU 2-8, 0-7 MEAC.

11. Mississippi Valley State 16, Lincoln (MO) 6 503 @ Rice-Totten Stadium, Itta Bena, MS Records: MVSU 3-7, 1-5 SWAC; Lincoln University of Missouri 0-11 NCAA Division II.

by: beepbeep 11/16/09

Hampton Pirates 25, Florida A&M Rattlers 0

Hampton University Pirates first year head coach Donovan Rose clobbers FAMU Rattlers FCS Playoffs hopes with 25-0 stomping.

Former HU coach handed first career shutout loss

HAMPTON - Rarely in 27 years as a head coach has Joe Taylor been on the wrong end of such domination. Playing with an outside chance of winning the MEAC and making the playoffs, Florida A&M was handed a 25-0 spanking by Hampton University. Afterward, Taylor showed his usual class. And even a sense of humor. "Well," he said in the interview room, "this is not a good welcoming home." No, it wasn't — at least, not on the field. The man who won 136 games for the Pirates from 1992 through 2007 went through a brutal afternoon.

As flat and uninspired as the Rattlers looked Saturday at Armstrong Stadium, that's how revved up and sharp the Pirates looked. The result left FAMU with its first shutout loss since 1988 — and Taylor with his first ever. "I'm not surprised," Taylor said about the Pirates' energy. "I told the team they'd be energized for some obvious reasons. Take your hat off to them, because they played well." Conspicuously absent from HU's inaugural Hall of Fame class, Taylor made his first trip to Armstrong's opposing sideline since 1989, when he was coaching at Virginia Union. He was 6-3 vs. the Pirates, including a 45-28 win last year in Tallahassee.

Photo Gallery: FAMU falls to Hampton, 25-0

Much better this time for HU offensive coordinator

Without checking to be certain, we can safely say that Terry Beauford feels a lot better today than on the final day of the 1988 season. Back then, he was an offensive lineman for Florida A&M. And the Rattlers were blanked that day 25-0 by Bethune-Cookman. Now, Beauford is the offensive coordinator at Hampton University. And on Saturday, his Pirates shut out his alma mater ... by the same 25-0 score. His offense had a season-high 464 yards.

If you play a game and nobody sees it ...
HU's most complete performance of the season was seen by only 1,931 fans, which left nearly 15,000 empty seats at Armstrong Stadium. For the season, the Pirates' average attendance is 5,172. If that figure holds — there is one home game remaining — it would be the worst since 1989. The largest attendance this season was 7,417 for the opener.

Hampton Nearly Perfect in Big Win

HAMPTON — All season long, Hampton University football coach Donovan Rose saw flashes here and there. One game, the offense looked decent. One game, the defense did. But never, not throughout the first nine weeks of the season, had the Pirates put it all together. Saturday afternoon, on a soggy track with emotions running high, they did. Behind a power running game that two quarterbacks spearheaded and a defense that allowed virtually nothing all day, Hampton spoiled Joe Taylor's homecoming with a 25-0 win over Florida A&M at Armstrong Stadium.

To say it was the Pirates' best day this year would be unnecessary. "I told the guys, we've had spurts," Rose said. "But we never had a game where everybody played well. We wanted to do this against a team like (FAMU). They have a great program, and this is something to build from. "To me, it wasn't about (FAMU). I know they probably feel disappointed because this probably took them out of the playoff hunt. But it was about us. Our guys have been up and down all year. I told them to relax and have fun with it."

Attendance: 1,931@Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, VA

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South Carolina State 37, Morgan State 13

South Carolina State Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough is FCS Division I playoff bound. The powerhouse 2008 and 2009 MEAC Champions have won 18 consecutive conference games for a new MEAC record.

SC State Clinches MEAC Title With 37-13 Win Over Morgan State

ORANGEBURG, SC—Junior quarterback Malcolm Long connected for 21-32 for 319 yards and four touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Oliver Tre’ Young had a career day with six catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns as South Carolina State clinched their second-straight league title and a playoff berth with a 37-13 victory over Morgan State Saturday.

Young, who also posted 313 All-purpose yards with 108 coming from punt returns, broke the SC State Career Reception Record held by Tavarus Morgan. Also, junior Malcolm Long became the schools first 2,000-yard passer with his performance on the day. “I am very excited about winning the game and even more about winning another MEAC Title,” said SC State coach Buddy Pough. “I am very impressed with Tre’ Young’s play today.”

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 27-7 lead in the first-half. Ford scored the first touchdown of the game on a 19-yard toss from Long with 9:04 left in the first quarter. Long put the Bulldogs ahead 14-0 on a 45-yard bomb to Oliver Tre’ Young. Morgan State scored to pull within seven on a 7-yard punch from quarterback Carlton Jackson with to close out the first quarter.

Sophomore kicker Blake Erickson scored six of the Bulldogs 13 points in the second quarter with field goals of 24 and 29. SC State closed the half with a 27-7 lead. Pough stated, “We didn’t play as effectively as I would have liked us to be, but overall we were able to get the job done throwing some deep balls.”

Long’s 12-yard connection with Young in the third quarter open up the lead and the Bulldogs took a 34-7 advantage and sealed the victory for Coach Pough’s team. All-MEAC running back Will Ford finished the day with 20 rushes for 107 yards. Ford is just 155 yards why of becoming the MEAC All-Time leading rusher. “Our goal is to get into the playoffs and make some noise”, said Pough. “It would be really nice for our fans and community if we could host a playoff game."
South Carolina State will close out the regular season against rival North Carolina A&T in a 1:30 p.m. showdown on Saturday.

Courtesy: SC State



SC State repeats as MEAC champs

ORANGEBURG -- The outcome was a mere formality with 6 minutes left in the third quarter Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. With the news of Florida A&M's 25-0 loss at Hampton, ninth-ranked South Carolina State was assured a second straight Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth and a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. As long as the Bulldogs avoided another comeback from double-digits by the Bears, a second consecutive outright title and a MEAC-record 18th straight win would await them at the final whistle.

S.C. State (9-1, 7-0 MEAC) finished out the 37-13 victory over Morgan State (5-5, 3-4) on a record-setting day before 10,542 fans for quarterback Malcolm Long and wide receiver Tre' Young. Long completed 21 of 32 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns to become the first Bulldogs QB in the program's 102-year history to pass for over 2,000 yards in a season. Long's four scores also tied a single-game school record, with Young responsible for two of the touchdown catches. The former Burke High standout had six catches for 166 yards in breaking the school record for career receptions and also had 148 yards in kick returns.

Gallery: S.C. State vs. Morgan State

Top-ranked SC State clinch MEAC Title, drop Bears 37-13

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The top-ranked Bulldogs of South Carolina State took care of business on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Dawson Bulldog Stadium in front of 10,542 fans. Malcolm Long threw four touchdown passes and OliverTre Young accounted for 313 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Morgan State 37-13 Saturday for its 18th consecutive Mid –Eastern Athletic Conference win and clinched its second straight MEAC Title.

The Bears (5-5, 3-4) dropped its four straight game, while SCSU played another well-rounded game and improved to 9-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference. William Ford, the MEAC’s leading rusher last year, scored on a 19-yard screen play and Young caught a 45-yard touchdown bomb from Long to help the Bulldogs jump out to an early 14-0. Long connected on 21-of-32 passes for 319 of the Dawgs’ 448 total yards. Young led all receivers with six tackles for 166 yards.

Attendance: 10,542 @ Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, Orangeburg, S.C.

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Florida A&M Coach Has Faith in His Rebuilding Program

Tallahassee, FL — When Joe Taylor took over as the football coach at Florida A&M, barely a month after the Rattlers lost six of their last seven games to finish 3-8 in 2007, he summoned every returning player for an individual conference. In each session, he asked the same question: why did things happen the way they did last season? And each player pointed the finger at someone else. Not one acknowledged any role. “There was a whole lot of what I call deflecting,” Taylor, 59, said in recent interview.

Coach Joe Taylor stands next to the statue of legendary Rattlers Coach Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither on the campus of Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL.

Taylor said that he realized that the job facing him was more than returning Florida A&M to its customary success. He had to oversee a character makeover, which for him meant a regimen of churchgoing, class work and off-season training. As he said, “My whole idea is that if you can improve the person, you can improve the player.” Less than two years later, the results vindicate the thesis. Taylor’s 2008 team went 9-3, and after last Saturday’s 31-28 overtime victory against Morgan State, the Rattlers were 6-2 in 2009, with one of those losses to Miami.

Florida A&M now ranks in the top 25 in the N.C.A.A. Football Championship Subdivision poll for the first time in eight years. Before Saturday’s home game against North Carolina A&T, the No. 24 Rattlers were in second place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and third in the Sheridan Broadcasting System ranking of historically black colleges. Impressive as the improvements have been, the Florida A&M tradition demands even more. Taylor toils here in the shadow of Jake Gaither, one of the greatest college football coaches ever, who retired in 1969 with a career record of 203-36-4.



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