Alcorn ready to challenge in SWAC East

LORMAN, MS — It may only be the fourth week of the season, but when Alabama State heads into Jack Spinks Stadium to take on the Alcorn State Braves, SWAC East division title implications could be on the line.

Alabama State has a 3-0 record in the SWAC, including an 18-15 upset victory over Prairie View last week, while the Braves have a 1-0 conference mark following a 27-9 win over Mississippi Valley State. And if the Braves want to play in their first SWAC Championship Game, the Hornets might be the team that stands in their way.

“Regardless of what our records are early in the year, this is a big game,” Alcorn State head coach Earnest Collins said.

Bridge gives Alcorn dual threat at quarterback‎ 

 Don't berate Alcorn State coach Earnest Collins if he's coy about his quarterback plans for Saturday's key conference game against streaking Alabama State. It's a coaching thing. They all do it. Collins replaced starting quarterback Terrence Barnes with true freshman Brandon Bridge during Alcorn's win over Mississippi Valley State last week, sparking the Braves to the 27-9 victory.

That raises the question: Who will start Saturday? "We'll work that out in practice," Collins said earlier this week.

Bridge, a 6-foot-5, 195-pounder from Canada, ran and threw for a combined 250 yards. He threw a touchdown and ran for another after replacing Barnes in the second quarter. Bridge, who Collins says runs the 40-yard dash in less than 4.6 seconds, accounted for 150 yards more in three quarters than Barnes had in the first two games.

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New director aims to revitalize Gateway Classic

Although his father founded and ran the Gateway Classic Sports Foundation for 16 years, Rich Gray never yearned to succeed Earl Wilson Jr., whose goal was to fill the Edward Jones Dome once a year. In fact, Gray had every intention of retiring from corporate America before health issues forced Wilson to step down.

"He had talked to me about it previously, but our styles were a little different," Gray said. "So, it wasn't something I embraced."

When the time came to talk seriously, Gray budged and accepted. In a short time, he has served notice that all effort will be made to revitalize the Gateway Classic, an annual football game featuring teams from historically black colleges and universities.

Gateway Classic 

Clark Atlanta vs. University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff

When: 3 p.m. Saturday

Doors open at 1:30 p.m.

Featuring the Halftime Battle Of The Bands w/Special guest performance by Bradd Young

Tickets: Edward Jones Dome box office

More info & events: gatewayclassic.org

A 'Classic' homecoming, Jamaal Phillips comes home for Gateway Classic

St. Louis native Jamaal Phillips is coming home to play in the 2010 St. Louis Gateway Classic football game this Saturday, September 25 at the Edward Jones Dome at 3 p.m.

Phillips, a Hazelwood East High School graduate, plays offensive line for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions. They face the Clark Atlanta Panthers in this year’s showdown between historically black universities. “I get to play in front of hometown fans. I have a lot of family and friends coming out to support me,” said Phillips. One important source of support will come from the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club.

In 2008, Phillips was Youth of the Year for Herbert Hoover, as well as youth clubs in the State of Missouri and the Midwest region. He got a chance to travel and compete nationally for Youth of the Year honors and network with individuals from boys and girls clubs around the nation.

Comanches in the Classic

For Thomas Winters Jr. and Terron Armstead, it will be a dream comes true this weekend. The former Cahokia High standouts are coming home to perform in front of family members, friends, former teammates and coaches in this Saturday’s 17th Annual Gateway Classic Football Game.

Winters and Armstead play for the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which takes on Clark Atlantic University in this year’s Classic at the Edward Jones Dome. Kick- off is set for 4 p.m.

Both young men were stellar student–athletes for Cahokia on some of the school’s best football teams ever. Together, they helped lead Cahokia to a few South Seven Conference titles as well as four consecutive playoff appearances. In addition, Armstead was one of the best field event athletes in track and field on some great Comanche teams that won state championships.

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TSU safety keeps piling up tackles

Even though safety Eugene Clifford is Tennessee State's leading tackler, that doesn't mean opposing ball carriers are making it to the last line of defense, Coach Rod Reed said.

"That doesn't bother me because the coverages we've been running put safeties down in the box, up close to the line," Reed said. "Tackling is what his job is. A lot of the linebackers' responsibility on runs is to clog up the middle and spill to the safeties."

The scheme has worked against the run as TSU (1-2) is first in the OVC and 21st in the Football Championship Series, allowing 110.0 yards per game. The Tigers play Florida A&M (2-1) on Saturday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

The Rattlers have depended heavily upon the running back tandem of senior Philip Sylvester and sophomore Eddie Rocker. TSU held Sylvester and Rocker to a combined 61 rushing yards in FAMU's 31-12 win last year, and Clifford recorded six tackles.

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QB has triggered fast starts for NSU's offense

NORFOLK, VA - Norfolk State quarterback Chris Walley's career has started just as the Spartans hoped. His starts to each game, though, have been far better than anticipated.

Walley, a transfer from Joliet (Ill.) Junior College and the winner of a three-way quarterback competition in the preseason, has three straight torrid starts. He completed four of his first five passes against Rutgers, eight of his first 10 against North Carolina A&T and 11 of his first 13 against Virginia State.

Heading into Saturday's game at Bethune-Cookman, the Spartans have played their best in the first half, outscoring opponents 47-20. The transfer credits scouting for the early success.


B-CU's schedule getting tougher

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- It's hard to imagine a more favorable scheduling scenario for a first-year head coach and a team learning an entirely new system.

Preseason drills and practice were followed by a season-opener that, for all intents and purposes, was a glorified scrimmage against a totally overmatched opponent -- Edward Waters College, which fell 70-10. After that came a rare second-week bye, allowing for an extra week of preparations leading up to Game 2, against Savannah State, which offered a small step up in competition yet still resulted in a lopsided victory, 42-7.

After Saturday's decisive win over Savannah State, Bethune-Cookman coach Brian Jenkins assessed how his team currently looks, compared to what he was hoping to see at this early stage. Since football coaches are never completely satisfied, the answer was fairly predictable.

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ASU kickoff moved to 4 pm in battle of unbeatens this Saturday

Alabama State University's showdown with Alcorn State University will be moved to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Jack Sprinks Stadium in Lorman, Miss. The two unbeaten teams were originally scheduled to play at 2 p.m., but the time has changed due to anticipated mid-day heat. The teams are the only remaining that are unbeaten in the SWAC.



Hornets swarming

Monday morning, just two days after Reggie Barlow’s Alabama State team notched a landmark victory at Prairie View, the Hornets’ fourth-year coach didn’t gloat. Instead, he apologized.

Alabama State dumped the reigning champions of Southwestern Athletic Conference with a game-winning field goal in a hard-fought 18-15 win — and upon further review, Barlow said, his players might have taken their celebration a little too far. Barlow made it clear he didn’t intend to show up Prairie View or its coaching staff.

ASU's Lyons named Special Teams Player of Week

MONTGOMERY, AL — Andrew Lyons, place kicker for Alabama State University, has been named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Special Teams Player of the Week. Lyons, a junior from Panama City, Fla., hit a game-winning 47-yard field goal with 23 seconds left to give ASU an 18-15 win at Prairie View A&M over the weekend. Lyons also connected on his only extra-point attempt.

The 47-yard field goal was Lyons career-long and was his fourth field goal of the season. He leads the team in points with 20 as he has also hit all eight of his extra point attempts.

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A&M investigates Thomas' eligibility

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Alabama A&M conducted an internal investigation late last week on the eligibility of wide receiver Demetrius Thomas, The Times has learned.

Thomas, a transfer from Marshall, apparently spent four or five days at Texas Southern, sources said, before coming to A&M last month. A&M coach Anthony Jones said he couldn't comment on the matter Sunday and Monday. Sources say Thomas is the reason Jones and Texas Southern coach Johnnie Cole got in a heated exchange after the Tigers whipped the Bulldogs 32-9 on Saturday. Sources also say Jones and Cole reached a mutual agreement that Thomas, a 6-0, 170-pound redshirt sophomore from Mobile, wouldn't play Saturday. Thomas didn't make the trip with the team and wasn't made available to the media on Monday during Jones' weekly press conference. He also didn't practice Tuesday.

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Alabama A&M University Bulldogs Fight Song

STAND UP AND CHEER
CHEER LOUD AND LONG FOR DEAR OLD NORMAL
FOR TODAY WE RAISE
THE MAROON ABOVE ALL OTHERS

OUR NOBLE TEAM IS NOW FIGHTING
IS FIGHTING TO HARD TO WIN THE FRAY
WE'VE GOT TO WIN! WE'RE SURE TO WIN!
FOR THIS IS DEAR OLD NORMAL'S DAY

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

Fayetteville State expects big group of WSSU fans

Fayetteville State will have a web broadcast of the game at http://www.fsubroncos.com./

Winston-Salem State football fans have a reputation for traveling well, and they’ll have the chance to uphold that tradition Saturday, when undefeated WSSU plays at Fayetteville State, the defending CIAA champion. The game, at 6 p.m. at Luther “Nick’ Jeralds Stadium, will be the Rams’ biggest since they last played in the CIAA in 2005.

Antoinette Fairley, Fayetteville State’s ticket manager, said she’s prepared and that she already has sent 100 tickets to WSSU. “And if need be, we can overnight some more to them,” she said. “We’ve been getting a lot of calls already, so we are expecting a pretty big crowd for this one.”

Fairley said that the stadium seats about 6,200, and she’s expecting a favorable forecast to drive game-day ticket sales.

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Blount's Harris leads Tuskegee into Mobile

Joshua Harris has always dreamed of owning something. He graduated in May from Tuskegee University with a 3.2 GPA and degrees in business administration and management science, and hopes to own a franchise one day. For now, the 6-1, 224-pound quarterback has owned opposing defenses as a starter for the Golden Tigers.

After replacing injured Jeremy Williams over the last four games last season, Harris has thrown for 1,543 yards, 4 touchdowns and 7 interceptions as a starter.

On Saturday at 1 p.m., the Blount High graduate will return to familiar territory when Tuskegee (2-1) travels to Mobile to battle Texas Southern (1-2) at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

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Colleges quietly charge millions in fees to support athletics

Linda Randall says her daughter, Randi-Lyn, a student at Radford University in southwestern Virginia, is not a "die-hard" follower of the Highlanders sports teams.

Even so, by the time Randi-Lyn graduates in 2012, her parents probably will have paid an average of nearly $1,000 a year in fees to the school's athletics department. They just didn't know it from the school's billing statements or website.

"We're looking at five years because she changed majors. That's $5,000," Randall says. "That's one of her loans. That would have paid rent off-campus for a year. It's kind of disheartening. I don't think I'd have as much of a problem with it if I knew I was paying it. With what we're paying, it doesn't seem right."

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NOTE: Tennessee State University student athletic fee of $224 generates $1.95M of the Tigers $8.62M 2010/11 athletic budget. TSU is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference and has the second lowest student athletic fee of nine Division I public school programs in Tennessee.

RELATED

• Chart: Analyzing the percentage of tuition that goes to athletics
• PDF: 2010-11 Athletic spending in Tennessee

Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands performance at Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game on 9/18/2010.

Losing is no longer routine for resurgent Prairie View A&M‎

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – There was a time in the not-so-distant past when handling defeat was like rolling out of bed to the Prairie View A&M football team. It was routine, rote, all too regular. Holders of the NCAA record for consecutive losses at a mind-boggling 80 from 1989 to '98, the Panthers did not post a winning season from 1977 through 2006.

Yet there was nothing been-there, done-that about their latest loss. A last-minute 47-yard field goal by Alabama State resulted in an 18-15 defeat Saturday in front of a shocked crowd at Blackshear Stadium. Walking off the field with a 15-game Southwestern Athletic Conference winning streak in tatters, players sank into an abyss of remorse and pain.

"This is awful," said senior receiver Shaun Stephens. "We just don't do this." Not anymore, anyway.

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Next Game: Saturday: 6:00 p.m., Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic - PVAMU Panthers vs. Grambling State Tigers, Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX
TV: ESPNU (delayed broadcast)

Albany State Rams rack up awards, land at No. 16 in poll

ALBANY, GA — The Golden Rams are living up to their name these days, and they have the gold to prove it. The Albany State football team racked up some more awards this week, as the SIAC announced Monday that multiple Rams earned honors for their performance in a 34-6 win against Tuskegee Saturday.

Quarterback Stanley Jennings earned Newcomer of the Week after he completed 9 of 15 passes for 136 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 83 yards. Starting center Michael Mavromichalis was also honored, earning Co-Offensive Linemen of the Week with Fort Valley State’s Bobby Young. “Big Mike” and the Rams didn’t allow a sack against the Tigers as the Albany State offense racked up 362 total yards on offense.

FAMU Football Sending a Message to the MEAC

FAMU's 50-7 win Saturday afternoon did more than improve the Rattlers conference record to (2-0), it sent a message to the rest of the MEAC.  FAMU sophomore defensive tackle Padric Scott says,"This early on in the season to come out with a victory 50-7, that definitely speaks volumes. Not only did we score on special teams, offense, and then defense as well. You start scoring on all phases you get excited to what's to come, but you still have to be humble."

Even with Senior Running Back Philip Sylvester sidelined from an ankle injury, the Rattlers gained 209 yards on the ground and rushed for four touchdowns.

Special teams play big for FAMU

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Florida A&M football coach Joe Taylor opted to try for fourth-down conversions twice during Saturday's 50-7 victory over Howard. But if he had any concerns about his special teams units, they appeared to be answered.  Kicker Trevor Scott hit a 47-yard field goal on his only attempt of the game to account for three of the 14 points scored by the special teams unit. Also included were five points on PATs and a touchdown off a blocked punt.

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Winston Salem State Rams will have experienced team for 2010-'11

Rivals N.C. Central, N.C. A&T not on this season's schedule

Bobby Collins, the men’s basketball coach at Winston-Salem State, found it tough to schedule nonconference opponents for the coming season, but there’s a reason.

The Rams will have a front line that measures 6-10, 6-11 and 6-8 and most likely will also have five senior starters. Not many Division II programs can match the height.

“It was very tough finding games, and we didn’t have many choices,” said Collins, whose team will play a full Division II schedule after four seasons of playing mostly Division I opponents. “We tried to get some Division I programs to play us, but it just didn’t work out.”

HOMECOMING: Rams will have extra motivation

Winston-Salem State will play a key CIAA game at Fayetteville State on Saturday, and three WSSU coaches will focus on what lies ahead, not their pasts.

Coach Connell Maynor of WSSU, assistant head coach John Eder and assistant Duane Taylor will be returning to Luther “Nick” Geralds Stadium, where they helped build Fayetteville State into one of the CIAA’s best programs.

Taylor will be making his first trip back since graduating in 2005 after starring at quarterback, leading the Broncos to CIAA titles in 2002 and 2003 and setting more than 25 school records.

Rams Dismantle Hawks; Winston-Salem State Defeats Chowan 48-7

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Nothing went right for the Hawks of Chowan University on Saturday evening at Bowman Gray Stadium as the Rams of Winston-Salem State rolled up 499 yards of total offense and put 48 points on the scoreboard to defeat Chowan 48-7 at Bowman Gray Stadium as WSSU improved to 4-0 in 2010.

The Hawks started the game with a five-yard delay of game penalty before the opening kickoff and it would only get worse for visiting Chowan as WSSU would need less than five minutes to jump out to a 14-0 advantage.

Tehvyn Brantley got the Rams on the board only 1:09 into the contest as he reeled in a 35-yard touchdown pass from Kameron Smith to give WSSU a 7-0 lead as the true freshman wide receiver scored his fourth touchdown of the year.

Rams rout hapless Hawks

Winston-Salem State made it look easy against undersized and overmatched Chowan last night at Bowman Gray Stadium.

The Rams rolled to a 48-7 win to remain unbeaten. The Rams (4-0, 2-0 CIAA) rolled up 499 yards of offense on their way to their most lopsided victory of the season. It was also their widest winning margin since a 47-0 victory over N.C. Central in 2003.

Running back Nic Cooper did much of the damage, with 11 carries for 149 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. The offensive line established itself early and Cooper took advantage with his best run, a 74-yard touchdown burst right up the middle in the second half.

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SIAC Football moves to Divisional Alignment and will play Inaugural Championship Game in 2011

Atlanta, GA — The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) is proud to announce that football will move to divisional play starting in 2011. The 10 football-playing members will be aligned into two five-team divisions—East and West.

As a result, the SIAC will also play its inaugural championship football game in 2011. The game will be played November 12, 2011 at a location yet to be determined.

“Moving to an East-West divisional format will not only provide our teams with an opportunity to compete for divisional championships, but also allow the SIAC to determine its conference champion by playing the first ever SIAC Championship Football Game, which we are very excited about,” says Commissioner Greg Moore.

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A&M's Jones, Texas Southern's Cole exchange words

HOUSTON, TX - Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones and Texas Southern coach Johnnie Cole exchanged words after the game was over and had to be separated. Jones said Cole said something to him and everything became chaotic.

"He said I was disrespecting him and his program," Jones said. "When I asked him for an explanation, one of his guys starting pushing me. I didn't throw a punch. I didn't try to throw a punch. I asked Johnnie what he was talking about and I told him he was being disrespectful.

"He ran off and the guy pushed me and (A&M sports information director) Brandon (Willis). Johnnie came back and I told him we could talk and people started grabbing me."

Alabama A&M, Butler High collaborate on The Hill Project - Class ...

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Madison County District Judge Lynn Sherrod knows what happens too often to high-school dropouts. They show up in her courtroom.

"There's a direct correlation between school performance and delinquent behavior," said Sherrod, who tries juvenile court cases. In the prison population, "an overwhelming percentage did not graduate from high school," she said.

With that in mind, Sherrod spearheaded a recent trip to Alabama A&M University for freshmen at Butler High School. About half the class of 180 spent the day attending workshops on decision making and preparing for college as well as touring the campus.

Offensive outburst fuels TSU past Alabama A&M

Texas Southern stumbled like a punch-drunk boxer for three quarters against Alabama A&M on Saturday, landing only occasional jabs. The Tigers, however, had plenty left in the tank to deliver the knockout blow in the final period.

With an aggressive defense leading the way, TSU forced two turnovers and broke open a close game with 20 points in the fourth quarter to sprint past the Bulldogs 32-9 before 6,347 at Delmar Stadium.

Bowie State hoops loads up on Baltimore talent

Darrell Brooks got off to a good start as Bowie State’s men’s basketball coach in his first year back at his alma mater.

The longtime George Washington assistant guided the Bulldogs to a 16-10 record last season. This year, he’ll attempt to better that mark with the help of a few former Baltimore City high school stars.

Brooks has added four Baltimore natives to the Bulldogs’ roster for the 2010-11 season: Trawn Rogers, a 6-foot-8, 185-pound forward from St. Frances, Byron Westmoreland, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound shooting guard from Mervo, Julian Harrell, a 6-foot point guard from Good Counsel, and Tyrone Lawson, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward from Northwestern.

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Hampton Pirates Get Past North Carolina A&T Aggies

HAMPTON, VA – Coming into Saturday’s football game here at Armstrong Stadium, the Hampton University Pirates had not lost a season-opener since 2003. Behind the arm and legs of quarterback David Legree and running back Antwon Chisholm, the Pirates improved upon that streak after a 35-21 victory over the Aggies of North Carolina A&T.

Hampton improved to 2-1 on the season and a more important 2-0 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, while the Aggies dropped to 0-3 on the year and 0-2 in MEAC play.

The Pirates opened the game slowly as they would score just once in the first half on a 34-yard pass from Legree to Donte Davis for the first score of the game. The Aggies were not going to be outdone on the ensuing kick-off as Justin Ferrell retuned the kickoff 85 yards to tie the game at 7-7.



Legree's four TD passes lead Hampton past NC A&T 35-21‎

Hampton, VA - The scores came often as North Carolina A&T paid a visit to Armstrong Stadium on Saturday night. As the Aggies faced Hampton, two long-time college football rivals renewed a tradition. The Aggies and Hampton's Pirates have played for many years and are both members of MEAC. The contest turned into a scoring parade, with the Pirates winning, 35-21.

After a scoreless first quarter, the teams found the end zone.The scoring came within just a few seconds in the second period. Hampton's Donte Davis hauled in a 34-yard pass from David Legree. N.C. A&T answered quickly with a blazing 85-yard kickoff return by Justin Ferrell. The offenses, especially Hampton's, really moved into high gear in the second half.

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NSU, VSU & NCA&T 3-Way Battle of the Bands

Fans, this was an ole fashion barn burner of a band brawl with host Norfolk State University Spartan Legion and the Hot Ice dancers; North Carolina A&T State University Marching Machine and Golden Delight dancers; and Virginia State University Trojan Explosion Marching Band, the Satin Diva Flag Corps, and the Essence of Troy dancers.

Who won? Not sure, but it was a heavy weight brawl of the best kind! Overall, a very exciting football weekend in the 757 region with Norfolk State and Hampton University dominating the VSU Trojans and NCA&T Aggies.

NSU Spartans romp Virginia State Trojans

Norfolk, VA - Senior running back DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.) rushed for 167 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to lead Norfolk State to its most points in five years in a 51-28 rout of Virginia State on Saturday night in the Spartan-Trojan Classic at Dick Price Stadium.

Quarterback Chris Walley (Tallahassee, Fla.) completed 17-of-22 passes for 237 yards and two scores for the Spartans (2-1), who piled up 505 yards of total offense en route to their fifth straight win over the Trojans (2-1). The five-game winning streak is NSU’s longest in the series, which dates to 1963. The 51 points recorded by NSU is the team’s most since ...

Branche puts legs to work as Spartans trample Trojans

NORFOLK, VA - The only labor came from the scoreboard operator. Behind running back DeAngelo Branche's career-high four touchdowns and quarterback Chris Walley's best effort yet, Norfolk State's offense barely broke a sweat. The Spartans were efficient throughout a 51-28 trouncing of Virginia State on Saturday, scoring on two of their first three offensive plays.

"I kept saying in the first quarter that we could do whatever we wanted to, run or pass," Norfolk State wide receiver Victor Hairston said.

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Smith leads FVSU to 56-2 rout over Stillman

FORT VALLEY, GA — Eugene Smith has waited a long time for his Fort Valley State debut. He was in school last year but didn’t play. And assorted paperwork and administrative issues kept him off the field for FVSU’s first three games. His debut was the kind one dreams of.

“It’s about time,” the 6-foot-3 quarterback said. “It’s been a long time. The strong right-hander had 167 yards worth of touchdown passes before halftime as FVSU rolled past Stillman 56-2 on Saturday night at Wildcat Stadium.

FVSU improved to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the SIAC while Stillman fell to 0-4 overall and in conference play. The Wildcats are off before hosting Benedict on Oct. 2 for homecoming.

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VUU overcomes miscues to earn 55-31 win over Lincoln (Pa.)

Virginia Union first had to beat itself. After that, Lincoln went down easily as the Panthers claimed a victory in their home opener, 55-31 against the Lions. Quarterback Aris McGlone-English threw for five touchdowns and added another on the ground, finding a way to overcome an early stretch of penalties, miscues and even a punt where the team fielded only 10 players.

"We've just got to be smarter," coach Michael Bailey said. "Winning is good, but we need to learn to be more disciplined." Once they did, the Panthers showed that this year's edition is potent in the air, with McGlone-English finding his favorite target, Joseph Jean-Pierre, seven times for 80 yards and three TDs.

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B-CU does its job again; Savannah State fall 42-7

DAYTONA BEACH -- Preseason is over. And finally Bethune-Cookman coach Brian Jenkins was ready to admit it. Jenkins went into his first two games with the Wildcats building up his opponents. But after he built them up during the week, the 'Cats tore them down on game day.

Quarterback Matt Johnson passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more Saturday, as B-CU improved to 2-0 with a 42-7 win over Savannah State in front of 2,510 fans at Municipal Stadium. Johnson accounted for 277 of the Wildcats' 446 yards on offense in the rout, which came on the heels of a 70-10 demolition of Edward Waters two weeks ago.

Next week the competition will get decidedly tougher, as the 'Cats play host to Norfolk State in their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener.



Tigers fall 42-7, remain winless

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Savannah State University's multitude of offensive problems seemed on the verge of becoming a thing of the past after the Tigers' opening drive Saturday against Bethune-Cookman University. It turned out that those problems would only get worse.

In addition to remaining winless by losing, 42-7, to the Wildcats, the Tigers absorbed a beating which went beyond the scoreboard.

Running back Justin Babb, who rushed for 125 yards and accounted for the offense's first touchdown all season, injured a hamstring in the third quarter attempting to recover a fumble and never returned to the game. Two starting linemen also needed to be helped off the Municipal Stadium field...

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The Savannah State University Coastal Empire Sound Explosion works it out at the Drumline Battle of the Bands on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at Memorial Stadium in Savannah, Ga.

JSU Darkside defense anything but against G-men

GRAMBLING, LA. — Milton Patterson dropped his head and frowned as he walked into the locker room following Jackson State's 28-21 loss to Grambling State on Saturday night. JSU's starting inside linebacker didn't have an answer for all of those gaping holes in the run defense or for all of those missed tackles.

"Frustrated right now," he mumbled. "I can't even think about it."

Clearly, Patterson was still awestruck by it all - and that's before he saw the statistics. Jackson State allowed 379 rushing yards, the most by an opponent under coach Rick Comegy and defensive coordinator Darrin Hayes' five years at the school. A defense once dubbed the Darkside was anything but Saturday.

Defense bends for GSU, holds

GRAMBLING — Grambling State and Jackson State's matchup Saturday lived up to the all the hype of the SWAC rivals' sixth meeting in less than three calendar years. In the end, coach Rod Broadway's Tigers needed a little bit of everything junior defensive back David Stuckman had to offer to hang on for a thrilling 28-21 victory.

Jackson State junior quarterback Casey Therriault spotted Anthony Mayes breaking toward the left side of the end zone as he dropped back on fourth-and-2 from the Grambling 12-yard line with the clock winding down to less than 10 seconds.

Air Raid grounded

GRAMBLING, LA. — High-powered and having fun, quarterback Casey Therriault and Jackson State's Air Raid offense entered Saturday's game at Grambling State overflowing with a confidence that this program hadn't seen in nearly a decade. They left with bruises - the kind that'll take more than a night to fade away.

Behind a stiff rushing attack and a hard-hitting, ball-hawking, blitz-crazy defense, Grambling beat Jackson State 28-21 Saturday night, ending the team's euphoric start to the 2010 season with one pounding of a loss.

Grambling opens SWAC schedule

Grambling State head coach Rod Broadway wasn't pleased with the way his defense played early in the season opener against Louisiana Tech. However, the Tigers' defense stiffened after the opening quarter at Independence Stadium and has since had what must seem like an eternity to improve.

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