Already battling for recruits, ODU-HU set to battle on the field

Hampton University was first. But Old Dominion was shinier. Colby Goodwyn rushed for 1,869 yards and 29 touchdowns in a senior season at Phoebus High that culminated in the 2009 Group AAA Division 5 state title. The Pirates took notice early on, making Goodwyn his first scholarship offer during the season.

The Monarchs, in their second season of FCS play, came later, with a phone call during a celebratory post-championship dinner. Goodwyn excused the tardiness. “I was thinking, ‘I want to see what else might come open,’ ” he said. “The facilities are real nice (at ODU), and the teaching and all that stuff. Everything’s brand-new here. I like it a lot.”

Hampton, Old Dominion launch new rivalry Saturday

Just down the road at Hampton University's Armstrong Stadium on Saturday afternoon, they'll stage a football game that doubles as a socially competitive exercise. Or vice versa. Hampton U. and Old Dominion meet at 1 p.m. in a game with no tradition and little bearing on the big-picture aspirations of both programs, yet is widely anticipated in both camps.

In the football offices at Hampton U. and on Norfolk's Powhatan Avenue, they're calling this a big game. Not in the "Every game is a big game" or "It's a big game because it's the next game on our schedule" coaches' mantra that provokes reflexive eye-rolls among non-believers.

Hampton-Old Dominion: The preview, our prediction

HAMPTON (5-2, 4-1 MEAC) vs. OLD DOMINION (4-3)
WHEN: 1 p.m.
WHERE: Armstrong Stadium
TV/RADIO: 88.1 FM

THE BUZZ: The Pirates play host to ODU in the first game of a home-and-away series with the second-year Monarchs. Hampton's defense ranks 13th in the country, allowing opponents less than 290 yards per game, but its offense has scored just 14 points in its last two games. ODU averages 29.4 points, but gives up 23.9.

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Wildcats blackout Aggies: Bethune-Cookman 67, N. Carolina A&T 17

B-CU game delayed by power outage

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- The game was billed this week as a "black-out."

Bethune-Cookman marketers had no idea how prophetic that label would be. As the Wildcats were setting up for a 2-point conversion with 3:37 left in the first quarter Thursday night, power went out at Municipal Stadium. Because of a blown transformer and lightning in the area, B-CU's nationally televised game with North Carolina A&T was delayed for one hour and 42 minutes with the Wildcats leading 19-0.

B-CU (8-0, 5-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) went on to defeat N.C. A&T 67-17 as the Wildcats racked up 621 yards of total offense.

NC A&T's primetime game goes awry

The bus left Greensboro early Tuesday morning for the long ride to Daytona Beach, Fla., where N.C. A&T would get its one shot at a nationally televised game this season. This wasn’t what the Aggies (1-8, 1-5 MEAC) had in mind.

Not a 50-point loss. And certainly not a game that started Thursday night and ended in the wee small hours of Friday morning. A&T’s primetime showcase game on ESPNU at undefeated Bethune-Cookman (8-0, 5-0) got off to a rough start. The host Wildcats scored on their first three possessions to take a 19-0 lead. Then the lights went out.



Power outage darkens B-CU spotlight

DAYTONA BEACH -- The spotlight on Bethune-Cookman University's football program went dark Thursday night when a distant piece of power equipment -- a lightning protector about a mile-and-a-half from Municipal Stadium -- sent the game into an hourlong blackout.

B-CU, playing in front of a national TV audience on ESPN's college-dedicated ESPNU channel, was leading 19-0 late in the first quarter when, at 8:16 p.m., the stadium went dark. Moments later, a thunderstorm moved over the stadium.

Mayhew Reaches 1000, Aggies Fall To Wildcats

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., -- Junior running back Mike Mayhew was the bright spot in what otherwise was a very dim night for the North Carolina A&T football team. His historic season continued on Thursday as he rushed for 211 yards on 31 carries. He is the first Aggie to rush for more than 200 yards in a game since Brandon Sweeney rushed for 205 yards on Oct. 8, 2005 against Morgan State at FedEx Field.

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Shaw holds keys to CIAA championship

Kienus Boulware doesn’t get too excited too often. As the coordinator of Winston-Salem State’s defense, he has used his steady hand and quiet nature to help make an already talented unit even better.

On Saturday, Boulware will face his old boss, Coach Darrell Asberry of Shaw. Boulware spent the previous four seasons as Shaw’s defensive coordinator, and his players sense something different this week. “When you are playing a school you used to coach, there’s a different feeling,” defensive lineman Juan Corders of WSSU said. “Of course Coach Boulware wants us to be successful on Saturday.”



Stakes sky high for WSSU, Shaw

Coach Darrell Asberry of Shaw is well aware of what his team will have at stake the next two Saturdays. First, his Bears will take on the 18th-ranked Winston-Salem State Rams at 1 p.m. Saturday at Durham County Stadium. The next weekend, on Nov. 6, they will play No. 23 St. Augustine’s.

“When you get down to this point in the season, they are all big,” said Asberry, who is in his fifth season. With Shaw (6-2, 5-0 CIAA), WSSU (8-1, 5-1) and St. Aug’s (7-1, 5-0) all chasing the CIAA’s Southern Division title, there’s late-season drama, but Asberry said that’s not a bad thing.

Maynor: Playoffs begin now for Rams

Coach Connell Maynor of Winston-Salem State has done a good job keeping his players from worrying about whether one game is more important than another. He doesn’t have that luxury this week. The 18th-ranked Rams (8-1, 5-1 CIAA) will play the Shaw Bears (6-2, 5-0) in their regular-season finale Saturday. For WSSU, it might as well be a championship game.

“It doesn’t get any bigger,” Maynor said. “We have to win it.”

The game will help settle who wins the CIAA’s Southern Division title. A loss most likely would end the season for the Rams, eliminating them from the Southern Division race and a shot at the Division II playoffs.

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A Rattler with deep roots: Bobby Lang hails from the glory days of Jake Gaither

A small rose garden at the entrance of Bobby Lang's home seems a fitting prelude to the tranquility inside. There are no wall-of-fame mementos of the many championships his teams won when Lang coached track and field at Florida A&M University.

Yet hours of conversation reveal the years of accomplishments Lang enjoyed in a coaching career that spanned more than four decades, including the years he spent as a multi-sport coach at FAMU High. Talk long enough with Lang, and he will touch on being the offensive line coach under four different FAMU coaches before becoming Rudy Hubbard's defensive line coach.

FAMU Rattler relishes homecoming as a chance to give back to her alma mater

I hail from the university that sits on the highest of Tallahassee's seven hills. Yes, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. It was my school of choice. To this day, I proudly say I'm so glad I'm from FAMU!

I'm sure you've seen in the Tallahassee Democrat that this week is homecoming. It was always a good time while I was a student — with all the parties and entertainment events going on. Now that I've graduated, homecoming has become more important to me, because it means the Rattlers are returning home. It's the time for me to see all my friends who I haven't seen in a year or longer. It'll be like a big family reunion.



Ukpai develops as FAMU leader on and off field

The first day of practice this week had been completed for more than 30 minutes and quarterback Martin Ukpai was still on the field with a handful of Florida A&M players from the offensive unit. When they were done tossing balls and making catches, they huddled in a close circle.

Ukpai had a lot to say, being very animated as he went through specifics of plays. His mannerism resembled the way he took charge of the offense in Saturday's game against Norfolk State.

FAMU homecoming activities kick into high gear

Florida A&M University’s 2010 homecoming has gone into full swing starting with events on Saturday. This year’s theme is: Lights, Camera, Action: The Reel Rattler Spirit. The schedule of events for homecoming is as follows:

Friday - Homecoming Convocation in Gaither Gymnasium from 10:10 a.m.-12:10 p.m. Keynote speaker is FAMU alumna Sonia Myles, director for Global Printed Packaging Purchases for Proctor and Gamble Company.

MSU, Florida A&M Will Battle to Stay in MEAC Title Contention on Saturday

2010 MORGAN STATE FOOTBALL
Game 8
Saturday, October 30 – 3 p.m. (ET)
Morgan State (4-3, 3-1 MEAC) at Florida A&M (4-3, 3-1 MEAC)
Florida A&M Homecoming
Tallahassee, Fla. – Bragg Memorial Stadium
Live Coverage)
Radio: WEAA Radio (88.9 FM) in Baltimore, Md. Rob Long (Play-by-Play).
Live Stream: www.morganstatebears.com
Rattlers TV: http://www.famu.edu/famcast/


Rattlers not new to playing crucial homecoming game

Running back Philip Sylvester can joke about it now, but when Florida A&M lost its 2008 homecoming game to Morgan State, it dealt the Rattlers' postseason hopes a huge blow.

The scenario is the same this year: FAMU has to beat the Bears on homecoming to keep its hopes alive for a shot at winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. But Sylvester, who will be one of the Rattlers' featured weapons, couldn't help being a little humorous earlier this week about the matchup.

FAMU Homecoming parade gets rolling on Saturday

FAMU's homecoming festivities are winding down with this weekend's activities, which include the annual high-stepping parade and the game against Morgan State, while FSU's homecoming is getting ready to crank up.

Today (Orange And Green Day)

Homecoming Convocation featuring FAMU alumna Sonia Myles at 10:10 a.m. in Gaither Gymnasium on Wahnish Way on FAMU campus. Call 599-3400.

Block party and concert featuring K. Michelle, Midget Mac, Trina, Webbie and Ice Bergat at 1 p.m. at FAMU Park on West Osceola Street, near the softball field on campus. Free.

Coach heads turf initiative

With the football season in motion, Florida A&M is standing 4-3 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, head coach Joe Taylor has put his prime initiative of revamping Bragg Memorial Stadium's football field on pause until the season is over. Artificial turf was initially aimed at being installed by the Oct. 2 game against South Carolina State, but lack of funds from the Got Turf campaign postponed those plans.

However, Taylor is optimistic that the new field will be installed over the summer and in place for the 2011 football season. University Relations confirmed the amount needed is $750,000, and as of August 5, approximately $50,000 had been raised.

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Magic City Classic on SWAC TV

Birmingham, Ala. - The Southwestern Athletic Conference will carry live the 69th Magic City Classic from Legion Field on SWAC TV. The free telecast will begin Saturday at 2:00 p.m. (CT) with the kickoff between Alabama A&M and Alabama State set for 2:30.

The game will not be broadcast on television, so fans that are unable to make it to the stadium, can catch all the action on their computer at www.swac.org/allaccess.

SWAC Cross Country Championship Set for Sunday

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southwestern Athletic Conference kicks off the 2010 Fall Championships schedule on Sunday, October 31 with the Men's and Women's Cross Country Championship held at the Choctaw Running Trails in Clinton, Miss.

The women's 5K race will start at 9:00 a.m., followed by men's 8K competition at 10:15 am. A year ago, the Arkansas-Pine Bluff men and women won team titles at the conference's championship meet in Baton Rouge, La.

SWAC Cross Country Championship Central

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Howard University: "No other homecoming compares"

First, this is a sports blog, so we must not get our priorities twisted...

There is a big homecoming game this Saturday with Norfolk State University Spartans vs. your Howard University Bison at Greene Stadium. Game time is 1:00 p.m. Tickets are still available.

The Sports Information department at HU has been working overtime to keep everyone informed about the exciting sports activities planned for the remainder of the week. A great thank you to Ed Hill, Director and Jamilah Corbitt, Assistant Director of Sports Information for the timely release and links sent for VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 of THE BISON, the official newsletter of Howard Athletics.

Click Here to view "The Bison" Newsletter. Ticket information is included in this issue and for other events.

CLICK HERE to view the complete Howard Bison vs. Norfolk State Spartans game notes.

If you missed Midnight Madness at Howard University 2010, here are the highlights...hosted by Jae Murphy and music by DJ Chubb E. Swagg. Get your season tickets early...The Burr will be rocking with Men's Basketball Coach Kevin Nickelberry and Women's Coach Nikki Reid Geckeler high powered teams.

Now to the Real HU party stuff...

Tyrese Gibson to be grand marshal at Howard Homecoming Parade

Howard University usually unveils its celebrity homecoming officials (in recent years: Taraji Henson, Terrence Howard) with much fanfare. Sorry, no longer possible in the Twitter era: Before the school could announce him as this year's grand marshal, actor/singer Tyrese Gibson did via tweet Tuesday. Oh well! The "Transformers" star will head up Saturday's parade; other celebs expected around the Yard this weekend include rapper Rick Ross and alumni Tracie Thoms and Amiri Baraka.

Howard: "No other homecoming compares"

There are university homecoming celebrations -- and then there's homecoming at Howard University. It's an epic nine-day-long event that attracts more than 100,000 people each year, including a number of celebs.

"No other homecoming compares. Ours is the one that everyone tries to do; we are trendsetters," Homecoming Chair Brian Cox told the student newspaper, The Hilltop, as he explained this year's theme, "The Dynasty."
Going Out Guide: Howard University homecoming, Yardfest, DJ Chris Washington

Howard University's homecoming is about more than a football game. Would a mere college sporting event be immortalized in rhymes by Biggie and Ludacris, play host to live performances by Kanye West or P. Diddy and have thousands of non-alumni pouring into town to hit packed nightclub parties?

The Click Track 2010 Howard Homecoming Draft!

When confronted with a smorgasbord of live music, Click Track's Chris Richards and David Malitz see no other way of divvying up the spoils than with a draft. It worked well at FreeFest, so they're giving it another go with the Click Track 2010 Howard Homecoming Draft.



Coronation Celebrates a New Reign of Howard Students

Family members, friends and staff gathered in the Armour J. Blackburn Auditorium at 7 p.m. for the recognition of Mr. and Miss Howard University and the royal court winners Friday.

Senior theatre arts major, Jeffrey Rashad Pugh, and senior music education major, Adrian Pruett, were honored as the king and queen of Howard University. Both contestants were surprised by the coronation ceremony as neither had been allowed to go to practice with the other royal court winners or see the ballroom until the night of coronation.




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CLICK HERE to view the complete Howard Bison vs. Norfolk State game notes.

TONIGHT: 7:30 p.m. B-CU and NCA&T ready for close-up with nation on ESPNU

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Followers of college football's second tier (formerly Division I-AA; formally the Football Championship Subdivision) have likely been wondering about what's behind Bethune-Cookman's turnaround this season.

They'll get their best chance yet to take a look for themselves tonight as B-CU, ranked 12th in the national FCS poll, plays North Carolina A&T at Daytona Beach's Municipal Stadium, and the game will be televised live on ESPN's college-dedicated channel, ESPNU.

"It's still football," B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said. "You still have to play on a 100-yard field between the white lines. It hasn't disrupted us at all. We're getting prepared for the game and will be ready to play."

Hines was the missing ingredient

The North Carolina A&T football team earned its first win of the season on Oct. 23 with a 52-32 victory over Howard. The win ends a 10-game losing streak for the Aggies and is their first since defeating Howard 30-19 on Oct. 24, 2009. "More excited for them to see the hard work and all those things pay off because they have been working hard," said head coach Alonzo Lee. "They have been getting out there doing great things."

The star of the game for the Aggies was George Hines, the standout outfielder for the Aggies baseball team. He started for the second consecutive game on Saturday after making his debut in last weeks lost to Delaware State. Hines went 12-16 passing for 235 yards and three touchdowns, crediting the coaching staff for his preparation and knowing where the Bison defense would be.

"Of Course George Hines with that addition...

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