Sunday, October 2, 2011

Howard Bison ends Savannah State University's celebration

Savannah, Georgia - A festive weekend for athletics on campus at Savannah State University ended on a sour note Saturday night at T.A. Wright Stadium. A crowd of 5,635 was treated to the amenities of the newly renovated stadium, but didn’t have much else to cheer about in a 34-14 loss to Howard, the first SSU football game on campus in nearly two years.

“We wanted to come out and please the fans. We didn’t get the job done,” said Tigers wide receiver Darren Hunter as fireworks were shot off after the game.



It was Savannah State’s first loss in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play and the Bison’s first win in league play since defeating Norfolk State 17-10 on Oct. 27, 2007. Howard (2-3, 1-1 MEAC) snapped a 29-game conference losing streak.

View Spotted® photos of the game

It ruined the party for the Tigers, who held a stadium dedication celebration on Thursday and their athletic hall of fame induction ceremony on Friday night. The school’s most famous alum, Shannon Sharpe, was in town for some of the festivities and gave the team a pre-game speech.

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Xavier Gold Nuggets 5-0 in GCAC after four-set win at Dillard

NEW ORLEANS — Taylor Reuther had 19 kills and a season-high 21 digs Saturday in Xavier University of Louisiana's 24-26, 25-16, 25-12, 25-18 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's volleyball victory at Dillard.

The Gold Nuggets (10-3, 5-0) won for the ninth time in 10 matches.

Chinedu Echebelem had 10 kills and 16 digs for Xavier, Moira Kirk had 10 kills and three blocks, and Patrice Hightower had a season-high-tying 10 digs and a career-high 42 assists. Celeste Poe had 19 digs, one less than her career best.

It was the second time in the Nuggets' four-year history that they won on the road after losing the first set. It was the first time they did it on an opponent's floor, and it was the first time in four tries that they beat Dillard at Dent Hall.

"I always wanted to come to Xavier and break records," said Echebelem, who recorded her second kill-dig double-double of the season. "I'm glad to do it as a team."

Dillard (5-7, 0-2), the defending GCAC Tournament champion, opened the match with a 10-1 run. Xavier rallied for ties at 20, 21, 23 and 24, but the Lady Bleu Devils closed the set with a Monica De Alcantara kill and a Jessica Goods-Morris block.

"We just had to calm down, relax and get in a groove after that start," Hightower said. "We were shaking and nervous. Ne (Echebelem) got a kill, got us pumped up and got us going."

Xavier trailed only twice more after the first set — at 3-2 and 4-3 in the fourth. Reuther's kill put the Nuggets ahead to stay at 5-4, and she ended the match with a kill.

Reuther recorded her team-leading seventh kill-dig double. She hit minus-.333 in 15 attacks the first set but .419 in the final three sets.

Dillard's 6-1 run in the fourth set cut Xavier's lead to 13-12 and prompted first-year Xavier coach Christabell Hamilton to call timeout. Then the Lady Bleu Devils committed attack errors on each of the next four rallies, and Dillard never challenged seriously again.

"Our team had to come together quickly after that start," Hamilton said. "Dillard is the defending champion, and you don't want to give them that kind of lead at their place. We stayed in there and started to fight."

Paula Ogbevoen led Dillard with 10 kills.

The teams will meet again Nov. 5 at The Barn. Next for the Gold Nuggets will be a two-match home stand — 7 p.m. Wednesday against the University of New Orleans, then 5 p.m. Thursday against Prairie View A&M — before returning to Dillard for GCAC matches against Philander Smith and Tougaloo on Friday and Edward Waters on Saturday.

NOTES: Xavier is 36-14 all-time (16-4 home, 8-4 away, 12-6 neutral) when winning the first set and 4-62 (2-16 home, 1-29 away, 1-17 neutral) when losing the first set . . . Attendance was 800 . . . Poe had eight digs in the first set . . . Xavier was 5-17 in GCAC regular-season matches its first three seasons.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Winston Salem State Rams holds off Johnson C. Smith Bulls

WINSTON SALEM, NC - Winston-Salem State, riding high after three straight lopsided victories, was brought back to earth Saturday by pesky Johnson C. Smith. Nonetheless, the Rams stayed unbeaten, winning 28-10 in front of more than 20,000 at Bowman Gray Stadium and surviving what coach Connell Maynor called a week of distractions.

"All the distractions with homecoming, the CP3 All-Star Game and the dances and everything else," Maynor said. "Everything is going on, and it's hard to stay focused."

The Rams, ranked No. 21 in Division II, averaged 50 points in their first four games, but the Bulls' defense was effective in harassing quarterback Kameron Smith.

Running back Nic Cooper was the workhorse again for the Rams (5-0, 4-0 CIAA) with 203 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 28 carries. The Rams finished with 401 yards of offense, but they also made three turnovers that kept giving the Bulls (2-3, 1-1) new life.



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Florida A&M Rattlers dominates Delaware State Hornets

Tallahassee, Florida - Florida A&M scored in every quarter, including 14 points in the third quarter, to seal a 34-7 win over Delaware State on Saturday in Tallahassee. The Rattlers got a pair of Trevor Scott field goals to take a 6-0 halftime advantage. The first was from 25 yards out and the second from 34.

Florida A&M (3-2 overall, 1-1 MEAC) saw its offense come alive in the third quarter. Damien Fleming hit Brian Tyms on a 23-yard strike for the first score. Al Terek McBurse burst through the line for a 25-yard run on the second.

Delaware State (2-3, 0-2) got on the board for the first time early in the gourth quarter when Nick Elko hit Milton Williams on a 9-yard touchdown pass. But it was too little too late, as Fleming responded with a 1-yarder touchdown and, just for good measure, Eddie Rocker added a 20-yarder to bring the game to its final score.

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FAMU offense in midseason form

The FAMU Rattlers' offense is clicking at exactly the right time despite an early-season change at quarterback.

Freshman quarterback Damien Fleming started his first collegiate game Saturday and provided a strong performance and leadership for a team looking for its first conference win. Fleming threw for 245 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another touchdown against the Delaware State Hornets.

Head coach Joe Taylor said he was impressed with his quarterback's poise after mistakes and his willingness to fight after a slow first half against the Hornets.

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DSU ends scoreless streak, but drops third in a row

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Delaware State put points on the board for the first time in more than 11 quarters, but had little else to celebrate in a 34-7 loss to Florida A&M in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Saturday. The Hornets (2-3 overall, 0-2 MEAC) dropped their third straight game.

Delaware State scored its lone touchdown on a 9-yard pass from Nick Elko to Milton Williams with 11:37 left in the fourth quarter. The score was the first for the Hornets since the game-winning touchdown with 35 seconds left in a 31-27 win over Shaw on Sep. 10.

"We played well for a while, but made too many mistakes," said Delaware State coach Kermit Blount. "Hopefully, we'll get some of our injured players back soon to help out the offense."

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Benedict drops OT game to Miles

AUGUSTA, Georgia - A new coach brought some new enthusiasm for the Benedict College Tigers football team, but some old demons were too much to overcome as Mile College defeated Benedict 20-14 in overtime Saturday at Lucy Laney Memorial Stadium in the annual Augusta City Classic.

Miles drove 75 yards on 11 plays to score on a 1-yard run by Jordan Lewis with one minute left on the clock to cut Benedict's lead to 14-12. Lewis got the call again on the two-point conversion to tie the game. The key play on that drive was a 33-yard pass from David Thomas to Jerromy Mardis on fourth down and eight on their final drive in regulation.




The Tigers got the ball first in overtime, but quarterback Simeon Kelley fumbled the exchange on the second play in overtime, turning the ball back over to the Golden Bears.

On Miles' possession, Lewis carried the ball on all five plays, and ran in from one-yard out to seal the victory for the Golden Bears. Miles improves to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the SIAC.

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Late fumble leads to OT loss for Bowie State at Virginia State

ETTRICK, Virginia - The Bowie State University football team gave up the tying touchdown after fumbling the ball with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter and went on to lose to Virginia State in overtime, 28-21, on Saturday in Ettrick, Va.

The game was punctuated by a wild fourth quarter that had an even wilder final minute. Each team scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and it appeared Bowie State had the game won when it took possession at the Virginia State 48-yard line with a 21-14 lead and 30 seconds left.

After Virginia State used a time out to stop the clock with 22 seconds to go, Bowie State's Michael Gagne lost 20 yards on a second-down play and fumbled at the Bowie State 21, where Virginia State's Malcolm Solomon recovered. With 16 seconds left on the clock, Jarred Battle tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Timothy Paulk, and William Rudd's extra point tied the game at 21-21, forcing overtime.

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Alabama State beats Alcorn State 31-23

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Greg Jenkins passed for a career-high 297 yards and three touchdowns and Nick Andrews became the all-time school leader in receiving touchdowns as Alabama State held off Alcorn State 31-23 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game Saturday night at Cramton Bowl.

Alabama State (4-1 overall, 4-0 SWAC) is the lone undefeated team in the conference, improving to 4-0 for the first time since 2005. Alcorn State (1-4, 1-4) lost its fourth game by a margin of eight points or less this season.


Highlights, interviews as Alabama State beats Alcorn State 31-23. Courtesy Alabama State University Athletics

Tied 10-10 at halftime, the Hornets scored touchdowns on consecutive possessions to take the lead for good. Jenkins' nine-yard touchdown run gave Alabama State the lead for good at 17-10 with 11:40 remaining in the third quarter. Andrews' 16-yard touchdown catch gave the Hornets a 23-10 lead with 6:13 to play in the quarter.




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North Carolina A&T Aggies put up strong defense

BALTIMORE, MD - North Carolina A&T used a stingy defense, three blocked field goals and big running plays from Mike Mayhew to earn a 24-3 conference win over Morgan State at Hughes Stadium on Saturday.

The Aggies defense held Morgan State to 33 yards rushing, while Mayhew finished with a career-high 233 yards rushing and one touchdown. It was their first win over Morgan State in six years and their first win at Hughes Stadium since 2003. The win also marked the Aggies (2-2, 1-0 MEAC) first road win since beating Howard in Washington, D.C., two years ago.

"All wins our big wins at this stage in our program," said N.C. A&T head coach Rod Broadway. "This is the first time in a long time we've defeated Morgan, so it's going to be a nice bus ride home. But we've got to continue to get better. We missed out on a lot of opportunities today."

In a twist of irony, Morgan State's inability to take advantage of opportunities to score touchdowns early allowed N.C. A&T to gain some confidence defensively. On the game's first play, a Lewis Kindle interception gave the Bears (2-3, 1-1) the ball at the Aggies 16-yard line.

The Bears minus-10-yard drive was highlighted by a Travis Crosby sack. Ervin Gonzalez booted a 43-yard field goal to give the Bears a 3-0 lead. Morgan State's good field position would be a trend that would continue throughout the first quarter. Three of the Bears first four drives started in Aggies territory. The one drive that did not start in Aggies territory, started at the Bears 48 after a Kindle fumble.

Each MSU good fortune was met with an Aggies rebuff. Mayhew finally turned the field position in N.C. A&T's favor late in the first quarter. A 12-yard run helped the N.C. A&T move the ball from in front of its own goal line. Mayhew then sprinted down the sideline for a 78-yard touchdown run, the longest of his career.


Morgan State Band @ Collegiate Marching Band Festival 9/25/2011, Allentown, Pennsylvania

"Once I got off the bus today, I was feeling it," said Mayhew. "I was in that zone. My offensive line stepped up today. (Offensive line coach Keith Wagner) told us all week it was time for a 100-yard game. We've been slacking the first three games, so I'm glad we got it going today."

Saturday marked Mayhew's second career 200-yard performance. His showing also put him 17 yards shy of the 2,000-yard mark for his career. But it was the Aggies defense that allowed the Aggies to keep a comfortable lead.

After stopping the Bears on 4th-and-1 from the Aggies 47 to open the second quarter, Jose Garcia-Camacho hit a 35-yard field goal to give the Aggies a 10-3 lead. Morgan State answered by putting together its best drive of the game, a 9-play, 50-yard march that led to a 41-yard field goal attempt.

But a bobbled snap led to Terence Webb blocking the kick. With the Aggies defense playing so well, the game was put away on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Kindle to Larry Raper to close out the first half.

"We started the game in the hole with an interception and the defense held them to three," said Broadway. "I thought that set the tone. I think we gave up one 3rd down-and-14 today, but overall we were great on third down."

Senior Justin Ferrell had two blocked kicks and an interception. Brandon Hover finished with 10 tackles and a 31-yard interception return. N.C. A&T's last two wins over Morgan State has included a 200-yard rusher. Brandon Sweeney ran for 205 yards in 2005.

The Aggies return home next week to host Bethune-Cookman at 1:30 p.m.

Courtesy: NC A&T Sports Information

XU's Didavi, Giles-Osborn reach NAIA regional singles final

ATLANTA, Georgia -- It will be an all-Xavier University of Louisiana matchup in Sunday's men's singles final of the USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional.

Second-seeded Loic Didavi defeated Auburn Montgomery's sixth-seeded Zine Jouini 6-4, 6-0 in one semifinal Saturday, and teammate Steffen Giles-Osborn rallied in the other semifinal for a victory against William Carey's eighth-seeded Ricky Keppeler, who retired while trailing 5-0 in the final set. Keppeler won the first set 6-4, but Giles-Osborn won a 7-4 tiebreaker to force a third set.

Didavi, a two-time NAIA second-team All-American and an AUM transfer, will try to win a singles title for the second straight week. He beat Shorter's No. 7 Guillame Ledrap 6-2, 6-0 in the quarterfinals. Giles-Osborn advanced to the semis when XU teammate Amir Rahbar retired at 3-all in the second set. Giles-Osborn won the first set 6-4.

"Steffen's win in the semifinals may be his best at Xavier," XU coach Alan Green said. "It was a huge win against a very good player."

XU newcomer Viktor Swoboda beat William Carey's Duffy Loel 8-3 to win the men's singles consolation championship.

Didavi and Zach Taylor, seeded second in men's doubles, will play William Carey's top-seeded Jody Claasen and Thomas Rizk in the final. Didavi and Taylor defeated Shorter's Ledrap and Romain Lefevre 8-3 in the semifinals.

In women's doubles, XU's Kourtney Howell and Nicole DeLoach lost 8-0 in the semifinals to AUM's top-seeded Ana Veselinovic and Jade Curtis. Howell lost 6-1, 6-0 to Curtis, a No. 2 seed, in the singles quarterfinals.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

CIAA Football: Shaw 54, Livingstone 0

DURHAM, North Carolina — The success the Livingstone Blue Bears found last week couldn’t be duplicated Saturday as Livingstone managed only 33 yards of total offense in a 54-0 loss to the Shaw University Bears in a CIAA Southern Division contest.

Livingstone’s second possession ended with a botched punt and Shaw needed to move only 17 yards to reach the end zone. The ensuing kickoff was fumbled by freshman John Paplillion and Shaw recovered. The Bears added a field goal off the turnover to go up 10-0. Another field goal was added only 2:07 into the second quarter to put Shaw up 13-0.



The turnover bug bit the Blue Bears again as the pass from sophomore quarterback Jaren Troutman was picked off. Shaw marched 39 yards on four plays for a score to go up 20-0.

Shaw added two more touchdowns before the half, including a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with less than a minute to play in the first half. The two scores put the Bears up 34-0 at halftime.

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Saturday, October 1, 2011

Jackson State and Tigers fan base are above the crowd

Jackson, Mississippi -- What some are proclaiming to be the "best show that the Jackson State Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band has performed in recent times," was missed by most of the nation. As usual, ESPNU cut away to Sports Center for the entire half-time period of the televised Texas Southern vs. JSU game on Sept. 29.

With over 26,000 in attendance (this has to be an HBCU attendance record for a Thursday night game) at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, the JSU Sonic Boom of the South, the Air Raid offense, the Darkside defense, and Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger made it a memorable event for JSU/TSU fans.

Ruettiger, the inspiration for the 1993 Disney movie "Rudy" spoke at a luncheon at Jackson State University and gave the JSU Tigers football team an uplifting speech before the game.

The rest is history as the JSU Tigers manhandled Texas Southern's No.1 ranked defense (in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision) with 37 points in the second quarter on their way to a 58-13 rout.

The Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul Marching Band made the trip to Jackson, and also performed extremely well.

There is no other fan like a fervent JSU Tigers fan. No doubt, they have some of the most passionate fans in all of college football.

Dang -- 26,000 on a Thursday night! Who went to work on Friday in Jackson?

The videos shown below are brought to you by MarchingsportHD, who has been doing an exceptional job in creating a library of high definition video history of our HBCUs band performances. Check out all their band videos by clicking HERE.
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Delaware State braces for FAMU

Tallahassee, Florida - Delaware State's new head coach, Kermit Blount, sees two things in the way FAMU rallied last weekend that he could use to motivate his football players who are coming off two humiliating defeats.

First, the way the Rattlers came back in the fourth quarter to earn a five-point win gives him a power point to show his players there is hope to the end of every game. Secondly, he's been telling them that they can expect more of the same from the Rattlers. DSU comes to Bragg Stadium today for a MEAC matchup with the Rattlers.

"We have to learn how to play through all of the adversity," said Blount, who was hired after this past recruiting period to turn around the DSU program. He was out of coaching for a year after being fired at Winston-Salem State University.

Coaching the Hornets (2-2, 0-1), gives him an opportunity to resume doing ...





TODAY'S GAME
• Delaware State at Florida A&M, 6 p.m.
• RattlerNews.com: Live game blog.
• Radio: 96.1 FM.
. Internet: audio/streaming video LIVE -- FAMU ATHLETICS RATTLER VISION

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Wildcats' game against Miami to net Bethune-Cookman $400,000

B-CU at Miami
KICKOFF: 3:30 p.m. today
SITE; Sun Life Stadium
TV: ESPNU
RADIO: WELE (1380-AM)

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman University's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rivals have been scooping cash from the well-stocked Division I Football Bowl Subdivision vault for years.

The Wildcats will join the party today. B-CU will visit Miami at 3:30 p.m. in the Wildcats' first "guarantee" football game. The game will be televised live by ESPNU.

B-CU (2-1) is guaranteed a payday of slightly more than $400,000 to travel to South Florida, athletic director Lynn Thompson said. Thompson, though, hopes the Wildcats' players stay injury-free and don't get demoralized.

The Hurricanes (1-2), on the other hand, are pretty much guaranteed a victory. While Football Championship Subdivision teams are winning more and more games against FBS teams since Appalachian State's stunning upset of No. 5 Michigan in 2007, an MEAC team has yet to upend one of the big boys.








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1st-timers to meet in this year's Circle City Classic: Division II schools Albany (Ga.) State, Kentucky State bring different fan bases

Indianapolis, Indiana - The names had become routine around Indianapolis during the first weekend of October: Florida A&M. Grambling. Alabama A&M. . . . This year's Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium will be different.

Today's game features two teams -- Kentucky State (3-1, 0-1) and Albany State (3-1, 1-0) -- that have never participated in the game. That hasn't occurred in nearly three decades.

"It's a great opportunity for our players and us coaches," Albany State coach Mike White said. "We're all excited about having the chance to play in the Classic for the first time. We've heard so much about it over the years. I think of it as a big-time game with a lot of hype leading up to it."

Kentucky State and Albany State are NCAA Division II schools that play in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Kickoff has been moved up to 2:30 p.m. There will be the customary battle of the bands at halftime.

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VISIT: CIRCLE CITY CLASSIC
VISIT: THESIAC

Prairie View WR Nelson steps into spotlight

Dallas, Texas - Prairie View A&M junior Spencer Nelson entered summer camp with the most game experience among the wide receivers and was expected to glide into the No. 1 role.

But Nelson struggled to gain his footing as the Panthers experienced inconsistent play at quarterback from the outset. He had only four catches for 68 yards in the first two games. What a difference two weekends make.




Nelson rebounded with the first two 100-yard, one-touchdown performances of his career. He caught seven passes for 113 yards in a 36-29 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 17 and had nine catches for 117 yards in last Saturday's 43-34 win over Mississippi Valley State.

Nelson (5-8, 175) has quickly become ...

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Maynor says Winston Salem Rams locked in

Winston Salem, NC - Hardly anything has gone wrong for unbeaten Winston-Salem State this season.
Well, actually, there was one play in last week's 56-20 win over Fayetteville State that didn't work. Punter Landen Thayer just missed Patrick Terry on a fake punt when the Broncos sent 11 defenders and tried for a block.

But that's about the only miscue the Rams have had in building a 4-0 record (3-0 CIAA) and climbing to No. 21 in the Division II coaches' poll. They'll play again at 1:30 today, taking on Johnson C. Smith (2-2, 1-0) at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Coach Connell Maynor has been pleased with the balance of his offense, and the Rams are averaging a CIAA-best 50 points a game.

The Golden Bulls, losers of 10 straight to the Rams, will try to spoil homecoming in a game expected to draw about 20,000.

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SIAC Battle Of Bands Week 4 - FVSU vs. BC

Fort Valley State plays host to struggling Tuskegee

Fort Valley, GA - For years, conventional wisdom held that the SIAC title had to go through Tuskegee and Albany State, with Fort Valley State often part of the equation.

Tuskegee usually spent most or all of the season ranked, and the Tigers shared the 2006 title with Albany State before winning three straight championships.  Now? Tuskegee enters October winless and is the only team in the SIAC to do so. Sympathy among opponents is non-existent.



“I don’t know,” FVSU head coach Donald Pittman said about what’s wrong with Tuskegee. “I hope they stay the same way on Saturday.”

The Golden Tigers will try to right the ship at 6 p.m. on Saturday when they visit FVSU in an SIAC battle. FVSU got into the win column nine days ago with a 40-23 win over Benedict. “

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NSU report: South Carolina State offense may be problematic

Norfolk, VA - Norfolk State has seen this offense before, just not quite like this. South Carolina runs a spread offense predicated on a single play and single player, much like the offenses run by Charleston Southern and Howard - teams the Spartans have shut down this season.

The zone read quarterback run, recently brought to prominence by Tim Tebow and then Cam Newton, will be a big part of the Bulldog offense. South Carolina State quarterback Derrick Wiley might not be as effective as the aforementioned, he is better than both quarterbacks the Spartans previously faced.



"They're almost identical as far as scheme is concerned...," head coach Pete Adrian said. "They have a lot better players, which presents a problem."

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Savannah State University looking for second MEAC win

Savannah, GA - Savannah State’s football team doesn’t want to slow down the wave of enthusiasm rushing over the school these days.

The Tigers are looking to make it two wins in a row, in the process showing students and alumni a good time in newly renovated T.A. Wright Stadium, when visiting Howard University comes to town tonight at 7.

“Coach has been telling us, ‘We’re the new Savannah State,’” said SSU sophomore receiver Simon Heyward.



The new Savannah State has a new stadium, a new Hall of Fame class and a new athletic director while playing football in a new conference.

Here’s another new aspect of the Tigers — undefeated in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play after knocking off North Carolina Central, 33-30, in Durham, N.C., a week ago in their first game in the MEAC.



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A&T football: 'Bargain' coach battles history in rebuilding effort

Baltimore, MD - N.C. A&T begins another MEAC football season tomorrow afternoon on the road against Morgan State. Last year’s coach, Alonzo Lee, will work the opposite sideline in Baltimore as the Bears defensive coordinator. Lee was fired last November after a 1-10 season. He was 6-16 in two years with the Aggies.

Rod Broadway was hired a few days after national signing day in February. It was the latest in a line of changes at A&T.



In the late 1990s Edward Fort (18 years on the job) was the chancellor, Bill Hayes (15 years) the football coach and Willie Burden (eight years) the athletics director. Recent history makes the length of their tenures seem like an eternity

In the last 12 years, A&T has gone through five chancellors, five football head coaches and nine athletics directors. And beginning with Hayes’ final season in 2002, the Aggies’ football team has finished with a losing record eight times in the last nine years, going 29-74 (.282 winning percentage). They haven’t won a homecoming game since 2003.

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TSU prepares to face Austin Peay with depleted roster

Clarksville, Tennessee - A 63-24 loss at Air Force last week and a 58-27 loss the week before at Murray State left the Tigers (1-3, 0-1) with a long list of injured players as they prepare for Saturday’s OVC game at Austin Peay (1-2, 1-0). Seven starters are listed as questionable or out for this week’s game:

Nose tackle Donte’e Nicholls left last week’s game with an upper body injury. He will be replaced by freshman Samquan Evans. Defensive end Tyler Lusk did not play last week (leg) and is not expected back this week. Freshman Detorrius Shipley will replace him. Defensive tackle Lamar Wallace did not start (leg). Redshirt freshman D.J. McCellion replaced Wallace.

Middle linebacker Rico Council, TSU’s leading tackler with 34, left last week’s game (leg) and did not return. He practiced Tuesday, but is questionable. Freshman Mike West came in for Council. Fullback Johntae Gleaves did not play (leg). He returned to practice wearing a brace on his knee but won’t start this week. Redshirt freshman Stephen Brooks, a converted linebacker, has replaced Gleaves.

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Xavier advances 4 to singles semifinals in NAIA regional

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Xavier University of Louisiana's tennis teams won 14 of 23 main-draw matches Friday at the USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional.

Reaching the quarterfinals were Loic Didavi, Amir Rahbar and Steffen Giles-Osborn in men's singles and Kourtney Howell in women's singles. Advancing to semifinals were the men's doubles teams of Didavi and Zach Taylor and Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson. Howell and Nicole DeLoach reached the women's doubles semifinals.

Didavi, seeded second, improved to 5-0 in singles for the fall semester with a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Shorter's Arturo Lifshitz.

Howell beat Shorter's Katie Wilmer 6-0, 6-0, then upset SCAD Atlanta's seventh-seeded Daniela Vukadinovic 2-6, 6-1, 2-0, retired.

Rahbar defeated Shorter's Colt Kelley 6-1, 6-0 and William Carey's fourth-seeded Thomas Rizk 5-7, 7-6, 7-5. Giles-Osborn beat Auburn Montgomery's Josh Reason 6-4, 7-5 and will play Rahbar in the quarterfinals Saturday.

Howell and DeLoach upset Brenau's fourth-seeded Hannah Thompson and Theresa Neumeyr 8-3.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Alabama State hopes to avenge 2010 loss as they host Alcorn

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Alabama State opens October at home when the Hornets host Alcorn State Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Cramton Bowl.

"I think these guys have put in the work this week," head coach Reggie Barlow said of his team's preparation. "Friday is really a jog-through day for us. Spirits are good and they have good energy. Guys seem to be pretty relaxed. We'll meet later tonight and get them ready for tomorrow."



The Hornets have started strong this season with a 3-1 record to begin the 2011 season. The September schedule had Alabama State on the road three times and ASU will play just its second home game Saturday night.

"We've been gone for a while, to only have one home game to start after traveling to Mississippi (twice) and Michigan," Barlow said. "It's going to be good for us to be back at home. We know our fans will come out, support us and give us good energy and hopefully our guys will feed off of that."

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2011 Road To The SIAC Championship Episode 3