Alabama State University 2011 Football Schedule Announced

The Alabama State University Athletic Department has announced the 2011 football schedule for the reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Eastern Division Champions.

The Hornets will play five home games this season in Montgomery's Cramton Bowl. In addition to the traditional matchups, highlighted by the Magic City Classic in Birmingham and the Turkey Day Classic on Thanksgiving Day, the Hornets will travel to face Eastern Michigan of the Mid-American Conference.

“This game will accomplish several things for the program and the University,” Athletic Director Stacy Danley said. “It provides exposure and visibility for Alabama State in a unique geographical area that contains a high concentration of ASU alumni. It additionally gives us the opportunity to recruit a broader range of students and student athletes. As we continue to take ASU Athletics to new heights, it's not only important for us to play up but to win up. This contest also provides us with the opportunity to generate revenue.”

Former Hornet receiver Reggie Barlow begins his fifth season as head coach at his alma mater, leading his team into another tough nine-game conference slate of games as Alabama State comes off a SWAC Championship game appearance for the first time since winning the title in 2004.

“I think it's a good schedule,” Barlow said. “As a whole, it gives us exactly what we need when we go out and recruit players of what they will get an opportunity to go out and experience here. You get to play in front of large crowds like we do in the Magic City Classic and Turkey Day Classic, as well as the chance to play a Division I opponent in Eastern Michigan. The SWAC schedule is very competitive as it always is. We're excited about it.”

Alabama State will begin the season with back-to-back road games and three of its first four contests away from home in September. The Hornets will begin the season at SWAC foe Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 3 before venturing to Michigan to face the Eagles one week later in the first-ever meeting between the schools.

The Hornets will play their home opener Sept. 17 when Grambling State and new head coach Doug Williams come to the Cramton Bowl. ASU will end the season's opening month at Jackson State on Sept. 24.

Alabama State will face former offensive coordinator and new Alcorn State head coach Melvin Spears on Oct. 1 as the Braves come to Montgomery. The Hornets will then travel to Houston for a SWAC Championship Game rematch with defending champion Texas Southern, before coming home to host Prairie View on Oct. 15.

Following an open week, the Hornets will face Alabama A&M University in the 70th Magic City Classic, held at legendary Legion Field in Birmingham on Oct. 29.

ASU will play its final road game in 2011 on Nov. 5, when they travel to face the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The Hornets will play their final SWAC game of the season at home against Southern in Cramton Bowl on Nov. 12. Following an open date, ASU will conclude the regular season with the 88th Turkey Day Classic against Tuskegee University on Nov. 26th.



2011 ALABAMA STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Sept. 3 at Mississippi Valley St.* Itta Bena, Miss. 5 p.m.
Sept. 10 at Eastern Michigan Ypsilanti, Mich. TBD
Sept. 17 GRAMBLING ST.* Montgomery, Ala. 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Jackson St.* Jackson, Miss. 4 p.m.
Oct. 1 ALCORN ST.* Montgomery, Ala. 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Texas Southern* Houston, Texas TBD
Oct. 15 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M* Montgomery, Ala. 1 p.m. (Hornet Connection Day)
Oct. 22 open date
Oct. 29 ALABAMA A&M* Birmingham, Ala. TBD (70th Magic City Classic)
Nov. 5 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff* Pine Bluff, Ark. 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 12 SOUTHERN* Montgomery, Ala. 1 p.m.
Nov. 19 open date
Nov. 24 TUSKEGEE Montgomery, Ala. 1 p.m.(88th Turkey Day Classic)
Dec. 10 SWAC Championship Birmingham, Ala. TBD
Home games in CAPS; * denotes SWAC games; dates and times subject to change

By ASU Sports Information
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ASU Mighty Marching Hornets and ALL ASU ALUMNI

Hornets and Friends:

Please help the Alabama State University Mighty Marching Hornets give back to former director of bands, Dr. Thomas E. Lyle. There is a movement that is trying to get Dr. Lyle inducted in the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame (A.B.A).

ASU's former band students, band directors and ANY ASU ALUMNI may write letters requesting Dr. Lyle be inducted into the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame.

It is very important that we as Former Marching Hornets help get Dr. Lyle accepted into this prestige Hall of Fame. In your letter, please include the year you marched, and how Professor Lyle has influenced your life through music.

Your letters are to be sent to:

Dr. John Long
121 Hillcrest Blvd.
Troy, Alabama 36801

Please pass this information on to other former members of the ASU Mighty Marching Hornets Band.

Commentary: Dismissing Cole was only option for TSU program seeking legitimacy

Texas Southern University hired Johnnie Cole as its football coach because it wanted to win games. It hired Charles McClelland to be its athletic director for the same reason.

TSU also hired McClelland because it wanted to do things the right way. It fired Cole for the same reason. A college football program should be able to do both: win and do things the right way. Even TSU.

"The university's commitment to compliance is undaunted," McClelland said in a Friday statement that announced the school has parted ways with Cole because of major rules violations that, according to an athletic department official, will be revealed when a report from an NCAA investigation is released.



TSU interim football coach fires an assistant

Texas Southern interim football coach Kevin Ramsey said Saturday that associate head coach/quarterbacks coach Daryl Williams has been relieved of his duties.

Ramsey, the defensive coordinator who was named interim coach Friday after former coach Johnnie Cole was dismissed, informed Williams of the move shortly after being promoted by athletic director Charles McClelland.

Williams was hired by Cole in 2008 after serving as Alabama State’s director of football operations from 2005-07.

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ASU Hornets scrimmage marks midway point of spring drills

MONTGOMERY - The Alabama State football team reached the midway point of its 2011 spring football season with an approximately 50+play scrimmage Saturday morning at Hornet Stadium.

"I was so excited last night I couldn't sleep thinking about getting out there and watching these guys play," Hornets' head coach Reggie Barlow said of his anticipation of Saturday's scrimmage. "It was fun to have them out there to see them tackling. They've been itching at the bit to do that."

The defense was impressive in the session, scoring on a safety while making four sacks and allowing just four-of-14 third down conversions and one touchdown. DE Charlie Long led the defense with six tackles, including four for loss, and two sacks.


Videographer: CelebrityMLMarketing

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Albany State: Spring In Their Step

ALBANY, GA — How good are these guys?

Really, just how much better can Albany State’s football team be next fall? It’s seems like it was 15 minutes ago when the Rams were making history, winning the SIAC and marching deep into the Division II playoffs in a season no one in the Good Life City will soon forget.

But could they be better? They sure looked like it Friday night during the annual Blue and Gold scrimmage spring game at the ASU Coliseum, where they made a little April history. That’s what quarterbacks coach Uyl Joyner called it after watching the offense (the Gold) beat the defense (the Blue), 37-19.

“It’s about time,’’ said Joyner, who smiled when he said it. “Defense always rules at Albany State. But the offense finally won. It’s history!’’

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Videographer: rhoward84; ASU Golden Rams Marching Band - Praise Is What I Do

FAMU Green Team Dominates Orange in Scrimmage

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Apr. 2) - The FAMU Rattlers Football Team put on their annual Orange & Green Game today in Bragg Memorial Stadium. Thousands of fans showed up for the preview of who would be the stars of the upcoming season. Coming off a season that ended on a six game winning streak and a share of the MEAC championship, fans were anxious to see where this team stood.

The green team won the scrimmage 40-0, as several first and second string players on both offense and defense were on the green team. Players looking to earn a role on the Rattlers' 2011 squad were on the orange team.

Austin Trainor clearly led the Rattler offense to its best success. Trainor passed for 129 yards, hitting on 12 of 21 attempts, and had one interception. Showing an uncharacteristic fleet-footedness, Trainor rushed for 51 yards and caught one pass for 11 yards.

Tyler Bass, who transferred this semester from...


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FAMU defense comes up big in Orange and Green game

Whatever questions coach Joe Taylor might have had about the Florida A&M defense were answered during Saturday's Orange and Green game, which quarterback Austin Trainor used to put a little more separation between himself and Tyler Bass.

Trainor didn't have much of a problem engineering drives that produced points as the Green team defeated the Orange 40-0 at Bragg Stadium.  But after the first quarter, the Green defense which is made up of first teamers took over.

Two of the seven touchdowns were scored by linebackers. Brandon Hepburn recovered a fumble in the end zone in the second quarter and the Green's ensuring touchdown came when...

Rattlers should have a potent running back corps

They may not yet remind anyone of legendary runners like Willie Galimore or Rashard Pompey, but the current FAMU running back corps cumulatively hopes to be as effective as the pair of running backs of yore.

James Owens and Eddie Rocker appear ready to take that responsibility as the two ran for a combined 127 yards and a touchdown in the annual Orange and Green game. Both had 11 carries, and Owens may have run for 83 yards, but the redshirt freshman also fumbled.

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FAMU Orange and Green Game
 Orange & Green Game

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Taylor, Abbas ranked nationally in NAIA singles, doubles

Hassan Abbas

NEW ORLEANS — Two men from Xavier University of Louisiana — junior Zach Taylor and senior Hassan Abbas — are ranked nationally in NAIA singles and doubles by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

The rankings, the first of the spring semester, were announced this week.

Taylor is 23rd and Abbas 39th in singles, and as a doubles team they're 15th. In the NAIA's South rankings, Taylor is eighth, Abbas 14th and Steffen Giles-Osborn 20th in singles. Taylor and Abbas are fifth in doubles, and Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson are 10th.

The women's doubles team of Amber Brown and Carmen Nelson is 14th in the South.

Taylor is from Monroe, La., and a graduate of St. Frederick High School. Abbas is from Saltaire, England, and a graduate of Bingley Grammar School. Both are graduates of Ventura College.

Giles-Osborn is a junior from Atlanta and a graduate of Westlake High, and Richardson is from Ellenwood, Ga., and a graduate of Stockbridge High. Brown is a home-schooled freshman from Decatur, Ga., and Nelson is a sophomore from Jonesboro, Ga., and a Faith Academy graduate.

The fifth NAIA team rankings of the season will be announced Tuesday.

Where the NAIA ranks Xavier tennis
Men's Singles
Zach Taylor: 23rd nationally, 8th in South
Hassan Abbas: 39th nationally, 14th in South
Steffen Giles-Osborn: 20th in South
Men's Doubles
Zach Taylor and Hassan Abbas: 15th nationally, 5th in South
Steffen Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson: 10th in South
Women's Doubles
Amber Brown and Carmen Nelson: 14th in South

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
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