Alabama State looks for better Turkey Day Classic results vs. Tuskegee

Alabama State vs. Tuskegee, 3 p.m. CT, Television: ESPNU

Since 2005, Turkey Day Classic oppo­nents Alabama State and Tuskegee have entered the showdown with familiar fore casts beyond Thanksgiving. Tuskegee has traditionally been set to play in December's Pioneer Bowl -- the exception being 2008, when the Pioneer Bowl was canceled -- while Alabama State knew the annual game was its last of the season. At today's 3 p.m. kickoff in Montgomery, the roles are reserved.

Tuskegee (8-2) has lost its four-year hold on the Southern Intercollegiate Ath letic Conference title, while Alabama State (7-3) has secured a spot in the Dec. 11 Southwestern Athletic Conference cham pionship game in Birmingham. Despite the looming SWAC title showdown with Texas Southern, Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said he won't be holding back today.


Videographer: vbrot11 (Alabama State University Marching Hornets vs. SU , 2010)

Turkey Day Classic on ESPNU

Alabama State has beaten Tuskegee University only once in the past six Turkey Day Classics at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl — and that one win in 2008 was a controversial one when TU’s apparent winnng touchdown was ruled out of bounds, which photos showed was the wrong call.

Tuskegee has been the dominant team in recent years, having won 11 of the past 14 games after Alabama State reeled off 15 wins in 17 games from 1975 through 1995. The two teams didn’t play in 1991-92.

For the first time in years, Alabama State comes into the game on a roll with four straight victories to nail down a berth in the SWAC Championship Game December 11 as the conference’s East Division representative.

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Bayou Classic: Southern athletic director gets flak as new coach Stump Mitchell struggles

BATON ROUGE, LA — Greg LaFleur chuckles a little bit, almost as if he knew the questions were coming. Does he regret hiring Stump Mitchell as coach? Did he pull the trigger too soon on Pete Richardson, who won 105 games, a national championship and five SWAC championships in 17 seasons at Southern?

Southern’s athletic director has sat through a difficult season, watching the crown jewel of his department — football — and the good friend he hired as coach struggle to a 2-8 record and a last-place finish in the SWAC Western Division.

To players, coaches Classic still a big deal

Yes, of course it’s still a big game. It is, after all, still Southern and Grambling.

At 1 p.m. Saturday in the Superdome, the two archrivals meet for the 37th Bayou Classic — and while attendance has lagged over the past few years, and even though both teams are out of the running for the Southwestern Athletic Conference football title, none of that will probably mean much to the coaching staffs and players at kickoff time.


Videographer: Realwidit5 (GSU Homecoming Half-Time Show 2010)

Southern defense ready for Grambling challenge

Southern defensive tackle Jordan Miller peered across the ground floor of the Superdome late Monday morning, sneaking a peek at the main attraction for this year’s Bayou Classic.

There he was, neatly attired in a black sweater, with a mustard-gold “G” on his chest: Mr. Frank Warren, the leading rusher in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, a running back whom Prairie View coach Henry Frazier III once referred to as a “stud, plain and simple.”

Bayou Classic win could ease SU pain

NEW ORLEANS — By the time Stump Mitchell strolled into the Superdome, just before 10 o’clock on a beautiful Monday morning in this city of second chances, the New Orleans Saints logos had already vanished from the playing field.

A team of workers and their paint-removing chemicals had taken care of that, and with five days to go until the biggest game in black college football, the crew had started to transform this giant building into a place fit for the Bayou Classic, which, as always, gets under way at 1 p.m. Saturday, with a national television audience looking in.


Videographer: Wayla2010 (Southern University Marching Human Jukebox, 11/8/2010)

SOUTHERN NOTES: McGinty to start at QB

NEW ORLEANS — During last season’s Bayou Classic, then-freshman quarterback Jeremiah McGinty walked up and down the Southern sideline, watching fifth-year senior Bryant Lee run for his life against a dominant Grambling pass rush.

McGinty assumed that the next time the Jaguars played in the Superdome, he’d be the one in charge, trying to lead the Jaguars toward better results. Evidently, at the end of an up-and-down season, he’ll get that chance after all.

A year of adversity

RUSTON — Grambling's championship hopes were on life support after the team's 41-34 overtime loss to Texas Southern on Nov. 11, and any remaining hope was dashed when Texas Southern beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 20-13 on Saturday to clinch the SWAC's Western Division.

So there will be no championship for Grambling (8-2 overall, 7-1 SWAC) in 2010. But by no means does that mean the Tigers' season is over.

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UTC blows early lead as Jackson State scores first win

JSU Head Coach Tevester Anderson

Jeff Smith didn’t bother putting on his goggles for the final minute. They just hung around his neck as Jackson State guard Rod Melvin dribbled out the clock in JSU’s 87-75 win over the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

The Tigers earned their first win of the season by turning a two-point game with 10 minutes to play into a comfortable victory for the SWAC preseason favorites. Jenniro Bush led all players with 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting including 5-of-8 from the 3-point line. Rod Melvin added 13, Grant Maxey contributed 12 points for JSU.

Jefferson Ties Career High as Mocs Lose to Jackson State

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball team heads into Thanksgiving on a sour note losing 87-75 to Jackson State Wednesday night. Chattanooga is now 2-4 on the season, while the Tigers improve to 1-5.

DeAntre Jefferson (Bloomington, Ill.) and Ricky Taylor (Brownsville, Tenn.) tied for team-high scoring honors with 18 apiece. Jefferson's came on a perfect shooting night hitting 8-8 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line. JSU's Jenirro Bush led all scorers with 31 points, while grabbing six rebounds. Three other Tigers joined him in double-digits including Rod Melvin who tallied 13 points and eight assists.

The Mocs led by 10 points twice in the first half. A three-point play by Jefferson on a tip-in made it 21-11 at 11:29. Leading 26-17 at 6:21, Chattanooga's offense went cold as the Tigers closed the half on a 19-5 run to take a 36-31 advantage into intermission. Jackson State built its lead to nine, 51-42 on a Grant Maxey three-point play at 14:58. But the Mocs stormed back.

Photo Album Stats Postgame Notes Postgame Quotes

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Next Game: Dec. 1 at Nebraska

Honda Battle of the Bands Unveils 2011 Invitational Showcase Line-Up

Top Historically Black College and University Marching Bands From Around the Nation Prepare to Take the Field at Ninth Annual Showcase

Torrance, Calif. – Today, the journey of 45 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Marching Bands has reached its destination. It all began in late summer when these HBCUs took that first high step and that first rehearsal where increasingly challenging drills and compositions were tested to develop the most dynamic, spirited halftime performances of the fall season. Notoriety is earned today by the following top eight HBCU marching bands selected to perform at the 2011 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase:


Videographer: AkeemC998 (Clark Atlanta University Mighty Marching Panthers Band, Oct. 30, 2010)

Virginia State University “Marching Trojan Explosion” (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association)
South Carolina State University “Marching 101” (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Albany State University “Marching Rams Show Band” (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)
Jackson State University “Sonic Boom of the South” (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Bethune Cookman University “Marching Wildcats” (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Clark Atlanta University “Mighty Marching Panthers” (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)
Winston-Salem State University “Red Sea of Sound” (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association)
Tennessee State University “Aristocrat of Bands” (Independent)


Videographer: Cassfl (Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands at Jacksonville State University, Alabama, Oct. 16, 2010)

The 2,000 student-musicians that make up these bands have staked their claims to being among the elite in the country and will take the stage to prove their mettle on January 29th at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Each band will have the opportunity to perform for 12 minutes and showcase their musical skills, dancing talents and creativity. This year’s showcase features first-time South Carolina State University as well as eight-time participant Virginia State University. Band sizes range from the small but powerful 120-member ensemble of Clark Atlanta University, to the 300-member goliath of Bethune Cookman.

Marking its ninth year, the Honda Battle of the Bands is the only national scholarship program that highlights music education as an important facet of HBCU heritage and culture. The eight winning band programs chosen to participate in this year’s Invitational Showcase will be awarded $20,000 by American Honda for their music programs, in addition to the $1,000 grant they received for participation in the pre-qualifying Celebration Tour. Through this program, American Honda annually awards a total of $205,000 in scholarships to HBCU music programs. Since the program’s inception, an excess of $1 million in grant money has been bestowed to black colleges.


Videographer: JSUTigers1877 (Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band, Half-Time Show at 2010 Southern Heritage Classic, Memphis, TN).

“The Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase is about more than what happens on the field at the Georgia Dome on show day,” said Marc Burt, Senior Manager, Office of Inclusion and Diversity for American Honda. “This event is about celebrating the abilities and brilliance of young people coming out of the nation’s black colleges. The discipline and drive these student-musicians exhibit both on and off the field are phenomenal, and Honda is pleased to be able to contribute to the music education programs that help foster the artistic and academic growth of these students.”

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BSU Bulldogs Advance to 2-0 after Win over No. 2 Team

The Bowie State men’s basketball team made the best of its weekend with a surprise victory over one of the best teams in the country. Heading into Nov. 20, the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks were ranked No. 2 in the entire Division II conference of the NCAA, but that didn’t help them stop the BSU Bulldogs from claiming a 71- 68 home victory.

The Bulldogs may have won by only three points, but the game wasn’t as close as the score suggests. BSU led by as many as 14 points late in the second half, and kept the Crimson Hawks away from any chance of wining the game.

BOWIE STATE DOWNS #2 INDIANA (PA) 71-68

BOWIE, Md. - Bowie State University held off a furious late second half rally by Indiana University of Pennsylvania and defeated the Crimson Hawks 71-68. Indiana (Pa.) (1-1) came into the game ranked #2 in the early D-II polls.

Bowie State (2-0) led by as much as 14 points in the second half (67-55) after free throw by junior Darren Clark (Largo, MD, Largo, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania) with 4:31 left to play. However, a 13-4 run put the Crimson Hawks in position to tie the game in the final seconds before the last of IUP’s 21 turnovers sealed the win for the BSU Bulldogs.

Darryl Webb led Indiana (Pa.) with a game-high 19 points followed by Ashton Smith with 17 points. Webb also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for the Crimson Hawks.



IUP Nearly Erases Big Deficit in Final Four Minutes but Falls at Bowie State

A furious IUP comeback in the final four minutes fell just short in a 71-68 loss at Bowie State, only the fourth loss in the past 38 games for the Crimson Hawks over the past two seasons.

IUP (1-1) trailed by as many as 14 in the second half and was down 67-55 after a free throw by Darren Clark with 4:31 remaining. But a 13-4 run the rest of the way put the Crimson Hawks in position to tie the game in the final seconds before the last of IUP’s 21 turnovers sealed its fate.

Darryl Webb led IUP with 19 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double dating back to the last four games of the 2009-10 season that included the NCAA Atlantic Region championship game and all three games at the Elite Eight. Webb has 40 double-doubles in his career.

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Hampton rallies to beat George Washington 62-51

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Darrion Pellum scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half and Hampton pulled ahead with a late 15-0 run to defeat George Washington 62-51 in the consolation round of the NIT Season Tip-Off Tuesday night.

With the Pirates trailing 34-28 with 13:47 remaining in the second half, Pellum scored eight straight points with a fast break dunk and consecutive 3-pointers to give Hampton a 39-38 lead. Kwame Morgan finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Pirates (4-1), who won their fourth straight

Pellum scores 19, Hampton defeats Boston University 51-50 in preseason NIT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Darrion Pellum scored 19 points and Charles Funches scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half as Hampton defeated Boston University 51-50 in the consolation round of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Monday night.

Tied at 47, Funches fed Danny Agebelese for a layup and then made two free throws to put the Pirates (3-1) up 51-47 with 1:04 remaining. John Holland's three-point play brought the Terriers within 51-50 with 46.2 seconds left.

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North Carolina A&T overtakes UNC Wilmington

GREENSBORO, N.C. — N.C. A&T weathered 13 3-pointers by UNC Wilmington and won 84-79 in overtime Tuesday. "We're just so young," A&T coach Jerry Eaves said. "We have to learn how to finish games. We're going to have to grow with that."

The Aggies (2-3) used their quickness and defense to build a six-point first-half lead, forcing 12 turnovers. But the youth that Eaves lamented reared its head at the break as sophomore DaMetrius Upchurch was called for a technical for dunking during warm-ups.

After rallying in second half, UNCW falls in overtime at N.C. A&T

Greensboro, N.C. - Bad shots and turnovers infested the UNC-Wilmington offense during the first half Tuesday night against North Carolina A&T. Distracted by an upcoming break, the Seahawks paid for their sluggish start with a painful 84-79 overtime loss to the Aggies at the Corbett Sports Center.

UNCW (2-3) rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit with a flurry of 3-pointers and strong drives from its guards, including Ahmad Grant who hit 7-of-7 from behind-the-arc and scored a career-high 30 points.

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Videographer: SpeechlessQue (NCA&T Aggies Half-Time Show 11/20/2010)