Homecoming 2010: WSSU puts on a grand parade

Winston Salem, N.C. - Musicians, dancers, beauty queens and fire trucks marched, strutted, waved and rolled through downtown yesterday in celebration of Winston-Salem State University’s homecoming.

WSSU’s Red Sea of Sound Marching Band helped kick off the 10 a.m. parade that drew a throng of people along the Fourth Street route.

Bobbietta Adams was there with her daughter Cameron, 4, who was having fun dancing to the music and waving to the band’s members as they marched by. Bobbietta Adams has been a WSSU fan all her life.

» Gallery: 10-23-2010 Homecoming Parade for Winston-Salem State University

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Grounded: JSU's vaunted passing attack stymied by TSU's attacking D‎

HOUSTON, TX - Air what? For the first time this season, Jackson State's Air Raid offense met its match. And then some.

Hounded, hassled and harassed, quarterback Casey Therriault and his prolific passing attack stood no chance as Texas Southern beat Jackson State 21-18 on Saturday, grounding the Air Raid with a swarming secondary and a pass-rushing defensive front.

The Football Championship Subdivision's leaders through the air, Therriault and JSU's new pass-happy offense walked out of Houston's Butler Stadium with a black eye of a day that included one offensive touchdown.

Clock ticks down on Jackson State's decisions

HOUSTON, TX - Jackson State fans let the boos reign during the final 2 minutes of the Tigers' 21-18 loss to Texas Southern on Saturday. The reason for it stemmed from some questionable game management that may have cost JSU a chance to get a final possession with the team down by three points. Here's a retake of the events:

Notebook: Banged-up defense melts down in second half

How about this for a tale of two halves in Jackson State's 21-18 loss to Texas Southern on Saturday? JSU's defense allowed 97 yards and 0 points in the first half. And in the second? 260 yards and 21 points.

The Tigers allowed a total of 295 yards rushing, most of those coming in the final two quarters and many of them coming on long third-down scampers from TSU QB Arvell Nelson.

Texas Southern holds off Jackson State

Marcus Wright ran for 139 yards and a touchdown and Arvell Nelson added 115 rushing yards and two scores as Texas Southern held off Jackson State 21-18 Saturday. Wright rushed 26 times while Nelson scored on a 12-yard run and a 1-yarder and passed for 62 yards.

Texas Southern (4-3, 4-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) finished with 295 yards on the ground while holding Jackson State (5-2, 3-2) to minus-6.

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Attendance: 8,767

No. 24 Saint Augustine's Falcons spoil JCSU Bulls' homecoming

Saturday was J.C. Smith's homecoming, but Walter Sanders' big day.

St. Augustine's tailback became the first Falcon to run for 1,000 yards since the program was revived in 2002 in a 34-24 CIAA South win against the Golden Bulls at McGirt Field. Sanders, Division II's third-leading rusher, ran for 208 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries to help No. 24 St. Augustine's (7-1, 5-0) win its sixth straight and remain tied for first in the division with Raleigh crosstown rival Shaw.

"Our offensive linemen came out ready to play because it was Johnson C. Smith's homecoming and we wanted to set an example ...

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SC State Pulls Out Tough 10-7 Victory Over Hampton

ORANGEBURG, SC—The South Carolina State Bulldogs (5-2, 3-1 MEAC)turned things around with a hard fought 10-7 victory over the Hampton University Pirates (5-2, 4-1 MEAC), Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

The Bulldogs celebrating “Homecoming 2010” took advantage of every option in front of a home crowd 22,000 students, alums, and former Bulldog athletes to preserve the victory.

“We are happy to get a win and it wasn’t easy beating a team like Hampton,” stated SC State head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough. “We kind of got things together and turned our week around after a tough loss to Bethune-Cookman a week ago.”

Bulldogs boot the Pirates, 10-7

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Scott’s Erickson’s 48-yard field goal with 7:32 to go in the fourth quarter lifted South Carolina State to a 10-7 conference victory against Hampton on Saturday before a homecoming crowd of 22,010 at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

The win allowed the Bulldogs (5-2, 3-1) to stay in the running for at least a share of the MEAC title and a spot in the FCS playoffs. Hampton (5-2, 4-1) saw its five-game winning streak end.

“That was a win that we had to have, and we found a way to get it done against a real good team,” Bulldogs coach Buddy Pough said. “Scott’s been hitting them pretty good for us all season, so I was pretty confident when I sent him out. He’s as good as you’ll find in the country.”

Hampton University's five-game winning streak ends with 10-7 loss at South Carolina State

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — In a game dominated by defense, Hampton's MEAC showdown with two-time defending South Carolina State on Saturday came down to special teams.

The host Bulldogs received a decisive 48-yard field goal from Scott Erickson with 7:23 remaining in the fourth quarter, while Hampton freshman Rodrigo Hernandez was 0-for-2, including a botched-snap mishap that doomed a potential game-tying bid from 37 yards out with 3:14 to go.

Erickson's 10th straight successful kick was the longest of his career, and lifted the Bulldogs (5-2, 3-1 MEAC) to a 10-7 win that kept their conference championship hopes alive. For the Pirates (5-2, 4-1), it was the end of a five-game winning streak and the fifth straight loss to S.C. State.

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ATTENDANCE: 22,010

Albany State comes back, edges Morehouse

Albany State scored a touchdown with 18 seconds to play Saturday for a come-from-behind 13-12 win over Morehouse.

The Golden Rams’ Ronnie Childs caught a 6-yard pass from Stanley Jennings in the corner of the end zone to keep Albany State undefeated. Morehouse players -- and fans who were congregated just off the field -- protested loudly that Childs’ foot was out of bounds on the catch. A scuffed foot mark on the end line was Morehouse’s claim as evidence. The back official saw it and called the head referee over to see the mark, but the head referee was having none of that. The play stood.

“It hurts really bad,” Morehouse coach Rich Freeman said. “I thought we were one first down away from getting the win, and we took a...

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Morehouse junior Lewis Eichelberger wowed the audience attending the Dedicatory Performance in the Emma and Joe Adams Concert Hall in the new Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College. Lewis was accompanied by professor Dr. Jefferson Ethridge on piano. Director Spike Lee took film classes from young Eichelberger's father, Dr. Herb Eichelberger, a professor at Clark Atlanta University.

Week 8: Pretenders vs. Contenders

My heart goes out to the players at Lane College. After 19 straight losses, you would think the Dragons (0-8, 0-7 SIAC) could hold onto a lead to beat the equally bad Stillman College Tigers (1-7, 1-6). No Sir! The Dragons allowed Coach L.C. Coles Tigers to come from behind scoring 9 points in the 4th quarter to squeak past Lane 26-25 on the final play of the game.

For Lane College first year Coach Derrick Burroughs, who was the defensive backs coach at Stillman in 2007, its another bad pill to swallow. With SIAC powers Fort Valley State and Tuskegee remaining on the Dragons schedule, it looks like an 0-10 season for Lane. It was pure joy for L.C. Cole who coached at Lane with his brother, Johnnie Cole (Texas Southern) a few years ago.

Does anyone have any ideal why Livingstone is not competitive? Fayetteville State romped 59-6 on the Blue Bears like they were playing their own "pit team." And Saint Paul's Tigers offense finally showed up scoring 28 points on Virginia Union, but the Panthers offense was 11 points better for a 39-28 VUU win. Enough with the pretenders....

Now to the contenders... Hampton botched a late field goal attempt in the 4th quarter to hand S.C. State a gift 10-7 homecoming win. Bethune Cookman conducted another coaching clinic, this time at North Carolina Central, and walked away with a 23-10 win to move to 7-0, 4-0 MEAC on the season.

Florida A&M is no cupcake and Norfolk State's homecoming party got squashed by the Rattlers 17-13. The Rattlers remain in contention for the MEAC championship with a 3-1 record, tied with S.C. State. Coach Joe Taylor is not looking ahead, but we are. Up next are Morgan State (homecoming), at North Carolina A&T, Hampton and the November 20, Florida Classic with league leading Bethune-Cookman.

Better get your tickets now for the Florida Classic. This B-CU/FAMU clash will be a sellout with 74,000 partying fans at the somewhat refurbished (new field turf) Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. But it won't mean a thing, if the Rattlers don't stop Morgan State next week. Taylor says, one game at a time, but the Rattlers offense has looked anemic since week 3 of the season.

FAMU's defense and special teams play is consistently good enough to help the Rattlers run the table and stay in title contention. It appears that the Rattlers are beginning to believe in their slogan -- " Don't take no for an answer!"

If the B-CU Wildcats continue to steamroll the conference, they will make the greatest one season turn-around in recent FCS memory. The 'Cats finished last season at 5-6 under former Coach Alvin Wyatt, and have a chance to go undefeated in their first season under Coach Brian Jenkins with the Speedway O spread offense.

What can you say about Grambling State other than they own the SWAC and the MVSU Delta Devils. The G-Men(6-1, 6-0 SWAC) won 35-14 without breaking a sweat.

Defense rules! Just ask Jackson State Tigers No. 1 ranked offense. Coach Johnnie Cole's Texas Southern Tigers defense proved again why they are the No. 1 ranked defense in the SWAC -- holding the "Air Raid" offense to -6 yards rushing, 5 sacks and holding the FCS leading passer, Casey Therriault in check.


TSU has two tune-up games next with Mississippi Valley and Southern before the November 11, Thursday night Clash of the Titans with Grambling State for the SWAC West Division title. This home game will be televised by ESPN Classic and ESPN3.com to the nation.

What more can you say about the No. 8 ranked Albany State Golden Rams other than their quarterback is backing up the talk. Junior quarterback Stanley Jennings, 2-times SIAC Offensive Player of the Week, guaranteed that the Golden Rams would not lose the remainder of the season.

It took a superman effort, but ASU scored a touchdown in the final18 seconds of the game on an 84 yard drive. The Golden Rams keep the promise alive with the come from behind 13-12 win to spoil Morehouse homecoming. Jennings was responsible for 92 yards rushing and 202 yard passing, to move ASU record to 8-0, 7-0 SIAC. No. 18 ranked Morehouse drops to 6-2, 5-2 SIAC.

-beepbeep



SIAC
Fort Valley State 14, Kentucky State 12
Albany State 13, Morehouse 12
Tuskegee 37, Clark Atlanta 10
Stillman 26, Lane 25
Benedict 20, Miles 14

MEAC
South Carolina State 10, Hampton 7
Bethune Cookman 23, North Carolina Central 10
Florida A&M 17, Norfolk State 13
North Carolina A&T 52, Howard 32
Morgan State 34, Delaware State
Alabama State 24, Savannah State 0

SWAC
Arkansas Pine Bluff 39, Alcorn State 35 (Thurs.)
Texas Southern 21, Jackson State 18
Alabama State 24, Savannah State 0
Grambling State 35, Mississippi Valley 14
Prairie View A&M 30, Southern 16

CIAA
Bowie State 20, Elizabeth City State University 12
Winston Salem State 21, North Carolina - Pembroke 7
Shaw 35, Chowan 14
Saint Augustine's 34, Johnson C. Smith 24
Virginia State 42, Lincoln (Pa.) 0
Fayetteville State 59, Livingstone 6
Virginia Union 39, Saint Paul's 28

OVC
Tennessee Tech 21, Tennessee State 10

OTHERS
Peru State 41, Lincoln (Mo.) 33
North Greenville 42, Edward Waters 0
Glenville State 42, West Virginia State 27
Shippensburg 50, Cheyney

LeMoyne-Owen closer on football

Committee favors starting in 2012; president, board still must approve.

A feasibility committee will recommend that LeMoyne-Owen College field a football team starting in 2012.

The recommendation, based on expectations that football will drive up enrollment, will be made to president Johnnie B. Watson -- who seems inclined to approve it and send it to the Board of Trustees for the final OK. Watson said Wednesday afternoon that he had not received the recommendation. But he said he would support a plan, if fiscally sound, that would return football to the school, which last fielded a team in 1951.

"I think any college president would love to have a football team because of all the people that it brings to the campus," Watson said. "The primary question I would raise is how are we going to fund it? How are we going to sustain the funding of it?

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Preview: Week 8 - CIAA, SIAC, SWAC, MEAC Football Games

EXCITING CIAA DIVISIONAL RACES ENTER STRETCH RUN!

GAME OF THE WEEK: ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT BOWIE STATE: The winner of this contest has won the Division four of the past five seasons. This season, however, both teams trail Virginia State after prior losses to the Trojans. Consequently, BSU and ECSU must take care of their business and wish for a Virginia State stumble. The question for the Vikings is....



This Week in the SWAC for Oct. 20, 2010

THE RATING GAME

1. GRAMBLING

Another week, another big game from RB Frank Warren.

2. TEXAS SOUTHERN

Tigers play four of last five regular-season games at home.

3. JACKSON STATE

Nov. 20 game against Alcorn could decide Eastern Division.

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FVSU Wildcats looking to keep things clean on road

FORT VALLEY, GA — The MUFLY tour is done for Fort Valley State. The Wildcats have made up for last year — aka MUFLY — by avenging 2009’s conference losses with consecutive wins over Benedict, Clark Atlanta and Tuskegee.

Now, for two weeks, the mantra might as well be TCOB — as in take care of business. And that starts with Saturday’s long road trip to Kentucky State. FVSU is 6-1 overall and 5-1 in conference action, sharing second with Morehouse, both a game behind unbeaten (7-0, 6-0) Albany State. The Wildcats will be keeping their ears open to in-game scoring updates at Alumni Stadium, since Morehouse hosts Albany State with the same 2 p.m. kickoff Saturday.

KSU's Derrick Addai proves he's more than Joseph Addai's little brother

Saturday afternoon will be a day of lasts for Kentucky State senior linebacker Derrick Addai. Last game at Alumni Stadium, last day to excite Thorobred nation with a jarring tackle or interception, last pre-game fight with nerves in the KSU locker room. But in spite of all the lasts, it’s the first that may stand out the most.

Football was an unexpected path for the 22-year-old defensive standout. Derrick never played the game until his senior year at Sharptown High School in Houston, Texas. By his second season with the Breds he had become the team leader in tackles. This year he is leading the entire SIAC in the category.

Derrick’s a conference standout, no doubt; one that should get a shot to play on Sundays. Maybe that’s not as surprising considering his cheering section for Saturday’s 1 p.m. Senior Day game against Fort Valley State, which will include his older sister Josephine and older brother Joseph.

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ALBANY STATE-MOREHOUSE: Just about as big as it gets

ALBANY, GA — There are a lot of storylines floating around Albany State’s football game against Morehouse in Atlanta today.

First, there’s the debate about which team is hungrier. Morehouse will be motivated after quarterback Stanley Jennings guaranteed the Rams wouldn’t lose the rest of the season, but ASU (7-0 overall, 6-0 in the SIAC) will be motivated to stay undefeated after its similar winning streak was snapped at this point last year.

Then there’s the ground game. Morehouse and David Carter are tops in the conference in rushing offense (210.9 yards a game), but Albany State has the best rushing defense (67.7 yards allowed per game). And finally, there’s the playoff atmosphere. It’s homecoming for the Tigers (6-1, 5-1), who are No. 19 in the AFCA Division II poll behind the Rams, who are No. 8.

State football capsules

Albany State at Morehouse
When, where: 2 p.m. today, Atlanta

Key matchup: Morehouse defensive tackle Derrin Nettles vs. Albany State quarterback Stanley Jennings. Much has been said about both players. They are the best at what they do in the conference and how one gets after the other could determine the outcome of the game. Albany State is 6-0 in the SIAC; Morehouse is 5-1.

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Comeback falls short as Alcorn State drops fourth straight

UAPB Golden Lions  Head Coach Monte Coleman

LORMAN, MS — It was do or die for Alcorn State quarterback Brandon Bridge Thursday night. With his team down 39-35 and time running out, Bridge had successfully driven the ball 70 yards all the way to the Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3-yard line. A false start knocked them back five yards, but the Braves had gotten back to the 5-yard line with 44 seconds remaining.

It was fourth and goal, and Bridge had one shot to put his team up with less than a minute to play. The ball was snapped, and Bridge scanned the field for a few seconds before attempting to hit tight end Ryan Singleton with the winning play.

SWAC: Golden Lions rally to win

Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored the final 12 points to take a 39-35 come from-behind victory over Alcorn State at Jack Spinks Stadium on Thursday. The Golden Lions (4-3, 3-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) jumped out to a 27-7 lead, only to see Alcorn State (3-4, 2-3) come back and take a 35-27 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Stephen Jones scored on a 10-yard touchdown run with 7:03 left to give UAPB a 36-35 lead. The Golden Lions added a 42-yard field goal by Chris Ewald and then held on for the victory.  Alcorn State’s final drive ended inside Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s 5-yard-line with less than a minute to play after Brandon Bridge’s pass fell incomplete on fourth down.

Attendance: 2000

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NSU report: Spartans lose leading tackler for the season

Norfolk State Spartans  Coach Pete Adrian

NORFOLK, VA | Anthony Taylor, Norfolk State's middle linebacker, leading tackler and quarterback of the defense, tore his left ACL during the fourth quarter of last weekend's 7-6 loss to Hampton and is out for the season.

Facing a Florida A&M team Saturday that has utilized a power running game, Taylor's absence will hurt. Through six games, Taylor had 40 tackles. Against Florida A&M last year, he had 14 - his best game during a season in which he finished fourth in the MEAC in tackles and earned second-team all-league honors.

"That takes a toll," fellow inside linebacker Corwin Hammond said. "He's a leader for the defense. With his play and what he did on the field, it's memorable. People want to compete with him, follow him. I definitely miss playing next to him."

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Howard University names Louis "Skip" Perkins Athletic Director

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Louis “Skip” Perkins Jr., athletics director at University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (UAPB), has been named Howard University’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics effective Jan. 1, 2011, University President Sidney A. Ribeau announced today.

“At Howard, we are committed to building and bolstering our intercollegiate program to ensure that student-athletes succeed in the classroom and compete at the highest levels in their respective arenas,” Ribeau said. “We sought a leader who is committed to academic and athletic excellence; we found that in Skip Perkins.”

Perkins will assume responsibility for Howard’s 19 varsity athletic programs, including Division 1 football and Division 1 basketball. Other sports programs include soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field for men and women; and four programs – bowling, lacrosse, volleyball and softball – in which only women participate.

"It’s a truly humbling and exciting experience for me to have the opportunity to return to the Washington, D.C. area to lead Howard University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics,” Perkins said. “I believe Howard’s and President Ribeau’s emphasis on academic and athletic excellence will serve as the foundation for returning Bison Athletics to national prominence. "

During Perkins' three-year tenure, Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Department of Athletics steadily improved. The UAPB athletic program won a total of five championships – highlighted by titles in women’s cross country (2007 and 2009); men’s cross country (2009); women’s soccer (2009) and men’s basketball (2010).

Under his leadership, the UAPB athletic facilities were significantly improved. The newly constructed, state-of-the-art, $5 million J. Thomas May Athletic Field House and football practice field currently serves as one of the premier athletic facilities in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and in the Southeast Arkansas Region.

A.D. Skip Perkins marketing the UAPB program (Archive Video: 8/7/2008)


Prior to his appointment at UAPB, he was the assistant director of Athletics at his alma mater North Carolina Central University (NCCU). He was instrumental in the institution’s transition from Division II to Division I ranks. Perkins’ year-long fundraising campaign yielded $1.8 million to benefit student-athletes.

He also served as the executive director of Communications and External Affairs at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C. He developed and directed communications strategies, which included the development of publications and institutional policies.

Perkins holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a pair of Masters degrees in public administration and instructional media from North Carolina Central University. He was an Academic All-American in both 1994 and 1995 as a member of the NCCU tennis team, where he was a four-year team captain.

Perkins is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, NCAA Division I Recruiting Cabinet and Athletics Personnel Issues Cabinet, United States Tennis Association, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc. and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 10/20/10
CONTACT:
Kerry-Ann Hamilton
Media Relations Manager
k_hamilton@howard.edu
202.238.2332

Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 12 schools and colleges. Founded in 1867, students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, two Truman Scholars, a Marshall Scholar, 21 Fulbright Scholars and 11 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, call 202-238-2330, or visit the University’s Web site at http://www.howard.edu/

Rumor mill: Despite whispers of sellout, tickets are still available for Albany State-Morehouse

Fear not, ASU fans: Tickets are still for sale for this weekend's SIAC clash between Morehouse and Albany State in Atlanta.

ALBANY, GA — Let’s clear something up. The rumors are not true no tickets for the SIAC showdown between the undefeated No. 8 nationally ranked Albany State University Rams and the No. 19 Morehouse College Maroon Tigers, set for Saturday are still available, according to Morehouse College athletic administrators Wednesday.

“The game is not sold out,” Morehouse Athletic Director Andre Pattillo told the ASU sports information office. “We will have enough tickets available for sale at the gate for Albany State fans.”

Rams ready for top 25 showdown at Morehouse

ALBANY, GA - One of the biggest games in Division II football takes place Saturday when 8th ranked Albany State heads to Atlanta to face 19th ranked Morehouse. This game will also play a big role in determining the SIAC champion.

The unbeaten Golden Rams lead Morehouse and Fort Valley State by a game in the conference standings. Morehouse is having one of its best seasons in eighty years. The Maroon Tigers are led by the conference's top rusher in David Carter. Albany State has the best defense in the SIAC at stopping the run.

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University of North Carolina - Pembroke contemplating move to CIAA

Winston-Salem State could be playing a future conference opponent Saturday when UNC Pembroke visits Bowman Gray Stadium.

UNC Pembroke officials, including Athletics Director Dan Kenney, continue to explore options about joining a conference for football. UNCP fields teams in 16 sports, and 14 play in the Peach Belt Conference. The football and wrestling teams compete as Division II independents. Kenney said that he and Commissioner Leon Kerry of the CIAA have had several conversations.

WSSU should be tested by UNC Pembroke

Winston-Salem State will have a chance Saturday to do something it has done only once this season — defeat a team with a winning record.

UNC Pembroke (5-2) will visit Bowman Gray Stadium for a 1:30 kickoff. WSSU is ranked 21st in the Division II coaches poll. UNCP is currently unranked but was as high as No. 14 in September.

The Rams are 7-1, with their only loss to St. Augustine’s (4-1 when it played WSSU, now 6-1 and ranked 24th). The seven wins came against teams that were a combined 3-14 when they played the Rams and are now a combined 10-39.

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6:30 p.m. CT- TONIGHT on ESPNU: Alcorn State hungry for a win vs.University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff

LORMAN, MS — After three consecutive losses, the Alcorn State Braves are hungry to get a win. And getting that win on national television would be even sweeter.

The Braves will host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night in a game that will be televised on ESPNU. This will be the second year in a row Alcorn State’s game against Pine Bluff will be televised on a Thursday night.

Alcorn seeks to bottle up Pine Bluff's dynamic WR Webber‎

In the national spotlight, the last thing Earnest Collins wants is for his Alcorn State team to be embarrassed. Then the Braves better stop Raymond Webber, the Arkansas-Pine Bluff receiver who leads the conference and the nation in most receiving categories. "That type of kid," Collins said, "you never know when he can explode on you."

When Alcorn (3-3, 2-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) hosts Pine Bluff (3-3, 2-2) at 6:30 tonight in a nationally televised conference clash on ESPNU, the Braves have to stop one of the most prolific receivers in the Football Championship Subdivision.

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Bethune-Cookman to play in MEAC-SWAC game

DAYTONA BEACH -- When the MEAC/SWAC Challenge football game was moved to Orlando two years ago, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference thought nearby Bethune-Cookman would be a natural to represent the conference.

But B-CU turned them down in 2008. The Wildcats and the Florida A&M Rattlers decided they would not be a part of the Labor Day weekend game as long as it was played at the Florida Citrus Bowl, because they thought it could infringe on their own Orlando game -- the Florida Classic -- played annually in late November.

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College football fan passion can go too far

The following article is one that every diehard college football fan needs to read and post as a screen saver on your computer.

The words of wisdom provided by Mr. Lynn W. Thompson, director of athletics at Bethune-Cookman University, for the following Times and Democrat piece is a wake up call for all serious football fans, especially South Carolina State University Bulldog fans and others.

To the wise, no amount of rationalizing can be an acceptable response for a shameful display of disrespect. (beepbeep)

THE ISSUE: College football fans

OUR OPINION: No place for ugliness toward players.

College football brings out all kinds of emotions in fans. The passion for the game can produce a lot of ugliness when things don't go a particular team's way, or a player's way. Coaches and administrators frequently urge fans to be courteous. That only has so much effect.

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Alcorn State heads for more prime time vs. UAPB Golden Lions

Alcorn State gets its second opportunity to play on television this season.

The Braves (3-3, 2-2) plays Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday night in a crucial SWAC contest that will be televised by ESPNU at 6:30. Mississippi State defeated the Braves 49-16 last month in a contest televised by Fox Sports South.

The Braves still control their destiny of reaching the SWAC title game on Dec. 11 in Birmingham. If Alcorn win its remaining games, it will capture the East Division championship.

Jackson State at Texas Southern, noon: The Tigers (5-1, 3-1) must improve their special teams play to stay ahead of Alcorn in the East. Jackson State ranks next to last in the SWAC in extra-point attempts. The Tigers also have given up big yards on punt and kickoff returns.

Game Time: Thursday: 6:30 p.m. EDT.
TV: ESPNU


UAPB's Webber lights up league

Last season, when Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alcorn State played on national television, viewers never got to see the end of the game. Nobody did. A three-hour-long lightning storm near Pine Bluff, Ark., forced officials to delay and ultimately cancel the game.

At 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Lorman, Miss., the teams meet again on ESPNU. And this time, if Raymond Webber does what he’s done for much of this season, something else — the scoreboard — might be lighting up instead.

The Golden Lions’ 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior wide receiver has taken over as the league’s best receiver, now that Juamorris Stewart’s stellar career at Southern has ended. Webber leads the SWAC in...



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FAMU to visit USF for football in 2011, 2015

First meeting with FAMU in 2005 attracted 43,122 fans to Raymond James Stadium, the second largest home crowd in USF Bulls history.

TAMPA, FL - Florida A&M will travel to Tampa to play the University South Florida in football in 2011 and 2015. USF announced today it has finalized its 2011 schedule, which also includes a visit by Texas-El Paso.

The Rattlers and Bulls will meet Sept. 17 at Raymond James Stadium, while the Miners will visit Sept. 24. USF will pay $400,000 to Florida A&M for the meeting, while UTEP will receive $650,000, according to contract figures provided by USF. FAMU, an NCAA Division I-AA team (FCS), will get $450,000 for 2015 game.

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View Full Press Conference Video: Bulls Complete 2011 Slate with FAMU and UTEP - GoUSFBulls.com—Official Athletics Web Site of the University of South Florida

Coast Guard, Morgan State Join for Game, Diversity Event

New London, Conn – The Coast Guard Academy men's lacrosse team has partnered with the Morgan State University men's lacrosse team to put together a fall ball scrimmage event. "Bears Lacrosse Showcase and Diversity Open House" will take place Sunday, October 24th at Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School in Baltimore. The clinic will begin at 12:00 p.m. with game faceoff at 2:00 p.m.

The goals of the event are to showcase the two lacrosse programs and to celebrate diversity in the sport of lacrosse. Highlights will include a clinic for local U.S. Lacrosse BRIDGE (Building Relationships to Initiate Diversity Growth and Enrichment) affiliates, a Coast Guard recruiting and information booth and, weather permitting, a fly-in and static display by a Coast Guard helicopter.

Morgan State has a rich lacrosse history and tradition that has been vital to the growth and diversity of the game. It was the first and, for a long time, the only historically black college or university to field a lacrosse team. The success of their dominant Division 2 teams of the 1970s was chronicled in the book Ten Bears.

During that era, Morgan State made the NCAA tournament twice and, in 1975, pulled off one of the great upsets in lacrosse history when they beat then-No. 1 ranked Washington & Lee. Today, Morgan State competes in the Chesapeake Division of the National Collegiate Lacrosse League (NCLL) against club teams from Navy, Towson, Washington College, Salisbury, Loyola, Johns Hopkins, and Delaware.

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Thinking Out Loud: Aggie-vation

One of Tuesday's editorials will react to the firing of N.C. A&T Athletics Director Wheeler Brown in the wake of a student's death during an "unofficial" track tryout in August.

A&T didn't require a mandatory physical and sickle cell screening that could have averted the tragedy that claimed the life of sophomore Jospin "Andre" Milandu. Wins and losses are definitely not life-and-death matters.

But there is a lot of grumbling in Aggieland about problems on the field as well. Brown may have been in hot water anyway.

Editorial: Taking account at A&T

This did not have to happen. The N.C. A&T student who died during an “unofficial” tryout for the track team had a potentially life-threatening condition that should have been detected in advance.

Twenty-year-old Jospin “Andre” Milandu collapsed on Aug. 19 during the workout and later died at Moses Cone Hospital. An autopsy revealed that the Knightdale sophomore had suffered from physical exertion and complications from sickle cell trait, a genetic condition that has claimed the lives of other college athletes.

Of all people, A&T athletics officials should have known better. In 2008, an Aggie football player, Chad Wiley, collapsed following a practice and died of complications from heat stroke. He also had carried the sickle cell trait.

Batter up: New Aggies QB has baseball skills

GREENSBORO, N.C. — After a two-month search, N.C. A&T football coach Alonzo Lee has found his quarterback. On the baseball team. George Hines, a redshirt senior and three-year starter in center field for the Aggies, will be A&T's quarterback for the final four games, Lee said Monday.

"He's more than just an athlete who wants it," Lee said. "He's a guy who wants to be a student of the game. The other guys see that, and that leadership made the difference. He's our guy going down the stretch. ... We'll do a little rotation with the wildcat (offense), but he's going to be our main guy."

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Norfolk State Spartan Legion vs. Hampton Marching Force (10/16/10)

Prairie View, Southern set for Classic week

Prairie View head football coach Henry Frazier sees his team's "home" game with Southern at Independence Stadium on Saturday as a good thing.

"That (playing at a neutral site) is pretty much how it is with us," Frazier said. "We only play three games at our stadium. We'll play at Reliant Stadium, at the Cotton Bowl, at the Independence Bowl, and all of those are our home games.

 "It's a good thing and a good problem to have. We have definitely outgrown our little high school stadium that we have. So that's a good thing. We're kind of used to it."

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SU showing signs of improvement

JACKSON, Miss. — It happened just after 9:20 p.m. Saturday night in Veterans Memorial Stadium, very late in the fourth quarter, while Southern’s sloppy, mistake-filled game against Jackson State turned into a bona fide thriller — easily one of the most exciting finishes in the long, proud history of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

It happened just after the Jaguars scored with 15 seconds left, presumably clinching their first signature win of the Stump Mitchell era. It happened while thousands of SU fans overflowed with joy and exhilaration, thinking— no, knowing — their team had pulled off the ultimate Houdini, in a hostile setting no less.

Mitchell bemoans bad play calls

Just minutes after his team lost 49-45 to Jackson State on Saturday in the last minute — quite literally the last minute, which included three touchdowns and three lead changes in a back-and-forth explosion of big plays — Southern coach Stump Mitchell, who calls the offensive plays, said this one was on him.

Even though the Jaguars had season highs in points (45), passing yards (293) touchdown passes (three), and committed no turnovers for the first time all year, Mitchell said his offense should have done even more.

Southern aims to cut down on penalities

Southern University head football coach Stump Mitchell doesn't need a stat sheet to tell him one area his team needs to improve. Still, the numbers jump off the page. Southern was penalized 16 times for 195 yards during the Jaguars' 49-45 loss at Jackson State on Saturday. Southern's 63 penalties are the most in the SWAC. The Jaguars' 119.8 yards in penalties per game also top the SWAC.

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