Houston, TX - The Texas Southern Tigers had a magical season in 2010 when they won the SWAC Football Championship for the first time in over 40 years.
However, an offseason of turmoil which led to a coaching change and NCAA sanctions has the Tigers trying to regroup as they head into this season.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Slater stresses Tuskegee's signs of improvement
Tuskegee, AL - Following a scrimmage a little more than a week ago, Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater gathered his players together and delivered his thoughts on their performance.
"I told 'em we wouldn't beat (Booker T. Washington High School) playing like we did in that scrimmage," Slater said. Slater, entering his sixth season as the Golden Tigers head coach, has been increasingly displeased with his team through the fall. And he's not surprised by that fact.
Tuskegee lost six starters on both sides of the ball, meaning 12 players with little to no playing experience are filling the holes this season. That has made practices for the normally fluid Golden Tigers a bit clunky.
"We had mistakes everywhere in that scrimmage," Slater said. "I'm serious -- we wouldn't beat anybody playing like...
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"I told 'em we wouldn't beat (Booker T. Washington High School) playing like we did in that scrimmage," Slater said. Slater, entering his sixth season as the Golden Tigers head coach, has been increasingly displeased with his team through the fall. And he's not surprised by that fact.
Tuskegee lost six starters on both sides of the ball, meaning 12 players with little to no playing experience are filling the holes this season. That has made practices for the normally fluid Golden Tigers a bit clunky.
"We had mistakes everywhere in that scrimmage," Slater said. "I'm serious -- we wouldn't beat anybody playing like...
READ MORE
Despite losses, Hornets feel they have talent to succeed
Montgomery, AL - Alabama State players and coaches were understandably dejected when they left Legion Field last December after losing a hard-fought defensive struggle to Texas Southern in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game. But there was a silver lining as well.Ten starters were set to return, and an incoming recruiting class would give the Hornets a level of talent and depth they haven't had in several years. That was before academic casualties and disciplinary action left the Hornets starting over, looking for starters at several positions, most notably at linebacker.
"We were young last year," defensive coordinator Cedric Thornton noted. "It was a young group of guys and a brand new system, so they had to adapt and catch it on the fly. We're basically in the same situation, the only difference is I have a good core group that has been in the system two years and they understand what's going on."
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Football Tour: Jackson State motivated despite setback
Jackson, MS - Jackson State has won a whopping 16 Southwestern Athletic Conference championships.
With Walter Payton Award candidate quarterback Casey Therriault and what figures to be a stingy Tigers' defense, JSU was primed to make a run at another league title in its upcoming 100th season of football. But last month, the school learned that both JSU and Southern University are banned from competing for the SWAC title because of low Academic Progress Rate scores.
The football team's score of 897 was less than the required 900, marking the third straight year the program has failed to reach 900. That led to the Tigers being banned from postseason play.
Nevertheless, that hasn't dampened the Tigers' enthusiasm for the 2011 season which begins Sept. 3 against Concordia College-Selma. "Sometimes, you've got to take the hand that's dealt," coach Rick Comegy said. "That hand's been dealt and the kids understand that and we're not sitting around.
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With Walter Payton Award candidate quarterback Casey Therriault and what figures to be a stingy Tigers' defense, JSU was primed to make a run at another league title in its upcoming 100th season of football. But last month, the school learned that both JSU and Southern University are banned from competing for the SWAC title because of low Academic Progress Rate scores.
The football team's score of 897 was less than the required 900, marking the third straight year the program has failed to reach 900. That led to the Tigers being banned from postseason play.
Nevertheless, that hasn't dampened the Tigers' enthusiasm for the 2011 season which begins Sept. 3 against Concordia College-Selma. "Sometimes, you've got to take the hand that's dealt," coach Rick Comegy said. "That hand's been dealt and the kids understand that and we're not sitting around.
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FAMU's Newkirk expects more in second year
Tallahassee, FL - Josh Newkirk could have been sulking all along if he wanted.
First, he transferred to Florida A&M from Winston-Salem State where he was a featured defensive end. Then, he was moved from defensive end to linebacker and back to defensive end. On top of the moving around, he suffered an injury that slowed his progress and adjustment to the Rattlers' defensive scheme.
"It was different because when I was at Winston-Salem I was a key player that started every game," he said. "Coming here and being a role-player on defense, it messed with my mind a little bit. But I'm a competitor."
Newkirk certainly looks like it during preseason camp. The way he is making the most of every chance to make a play has caught the attention of defensive coordinator Earl Holmes and associate head coach George Small, who coaches the defensive line.
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First, he transferred to Florida A&M from Winston-Salem State where he was a featured defensive end. Then, he was moved from defensive end to linebacker and back to defensive end. On top of the moving around, he suffered an injury that slowed his progress and adjustment to the Rattlers' defensive scheme.
"It was different because when I was at Winston-Salem I was a key player that started every game," he said. "Coming here and being a role-player on defense, it messed with my mind a little bit. But I'm a competitor."
Newkirk certainly looks like it during preseason camp. The way he is making the most of every chance to make a play has caught the attention of defensive coordinator Earl Holmes and associate head coach George Small, who coaches the defensive line.
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CIAA Preview
J.C. SMITH
2010 record: 2-8.
Players to watch
Offense: WR Avius Capers (Independence High) caught 21 passes for 313 yards and 2 touchdowns as a freshman.
Defense: DE Derrick Johnson (Hopewell High) led the Golden Bulls with 4.5 sacks as a sophomore in addition to 29 tackles.
Biggest question of the season: Will the defense show marked improvement from last season's 39 points allowed average?
Number to live by: Three freshmen (one redshirt) are competing for the starting quarterback position.
2011 schedule: Sept. 3 West Virginia State; S10 at Brevard; S17 Virginia State; S24 at Davidson; Oct. 1 at Winston-Salem State; O8 at Shaw; O15 Virginia Union; O22 at St. Augustine's; O29 Fayetteville State; N5 vs. Livingstone
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2010 record: 2-8.
Players to watch
Offense: WR Avius Capers (Independence High) caught 21 passes for 313 yards and 2 touchdowns as a freshman.
Defense: DE Derrick Johnson (Hopewell High) led the Golden Bulls with 4.5 sacks as a sophomore in addition to 29 tackles.
Biggest question of the season: Will the defense show marked improvement from last season's 39 points allowed average?
Number to live by: Three freshmen (one redshirt) are competing for the starting quarterback position.
2011 schedule: Sept. 3 West Virginia State; S10 at Brevard; S17 Virginia State; S24 at Davidson; Oct. 1 at Winston-Salem State; O8 at Shaw; O15 Virginia Union; O22 at St. Augustine's; O29 Fayetteville State; N5 vs. Livingstone
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Dress rehearsals over, SU season approaches
Baton Rouge, LA - With one week to go before college football’s grand opening, a small parade of RVs, trucks and smiling fans littered the parking lots around A.W. Mumford Stadium, anxious for a sneak peek at Stump Mitchell’s team.
They grilled. They ate. They laughed. They collected autographs from Mitchell and his players. And they watched Southern run through its final preseason scrimmage, hoping the Jaguars are prepared to turn a corner at last. But of all the sights and sounds from Saturday’s affair, the most appealing moment may have came after the scrimmage ended.
That’s when four players — quarterback Dray Joseph, tackle Chris Browne, center Lee Almanza and receiver LaQuinton Evans — strolled out of the locker room like supersized models on a grassy catwalk, each of them dressed in Southern’s new Columbia blue uniforms. It is, of course, a return to the school’s original color scheme.
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They grilled. They ate. They laughed. They collected autographs from Mitchell and his players. And they watched Southern run through its final preseason scrimmage, hoping the Jaguars are prepared to turn a corner at last. But of all the sights and sounds from Saturday’s affair, the most appealing moment may have came after the scrimmage ended.
That’s when four players — quarterback Dray Joseph, tackle Chris Browne, center Lee Almanza and receiver LaQuinton Evans — strolled out of the locker room like supersized models on a grassy catwalk, each of them dressed in Southern’s new Columbia blue uniforms. It is, of course, a return to the school’s original color scheme.
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