From walk-on to dynamic running back, Carter enters final season at Morehouse

MARIETTA, Georgia - Talented athletes with a strong work ethic tend to get noticed. That wasn’t the case for David Carter.

Lightly regarded coming out of Sprayberry High School, the running back had to walk on to the football team at Division II Morehouse College — despite rushing for more than 3,000 yards during his career as a Yellow Jacket. To imply that Carter had something to prove to all of the programs that overlooked him would be an understatement.




“I definitely had something to prove,” he said about not being recruited, “and I’m thankful Morehouse gave me the chance to play football and extend my career.

“When I got here, my goal was to work hard to make the travel bus. But, to get the starting job was even better. I’ve worked as hard as I could since then to hold onto it and help my team win.”

Carter has completely changed his fortunes at Morehouse since walking on to the Maroon Tigers’ roster. In rushing for more than 1,000 yards as a freshman, he quickly earned a scholarship at the conclusion of the season.

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What led Oklahoma State to scheduling Savannah State

STILLWATER, Oklahoma — Riding on an Arkansas-bound bus with the Oklahoma State cross country team last fall, Dave Martin had football on the brain.

It wasn't the historic season that the Cowboys were in the midst of that he was thinking about but rather the season that was still a year away. The man who makes OSU's football schedule usually has contracts for nonconference games signed, sealed, delivered at least five years ahead of time, but last fall, he still needed one more nonconference game for a season that was less than a year away.

The situation was dire.  Calls to dozens of schools hadn't panned out, but Martin had a promising lead on a program that might be more desperate to schedule a game than he was.  It was on that bus ride that Martin first called Savannah State.

“Did we plan that?” he said of the scheduling scramble. “No.”


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Winning football helping Winston-Salem State Rams off field

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - The best football season in Winston-Salem State history has provided a boost, and it's showing in Horns Club memberships but not yet in season-ticket sales.

Membership in the $1,000 Horns Club, a separate fund-raising effort within the athletics department, has increased about 38 percent, according to figures provided by athletics director Bill Hayes. Before WSSU's first game last season, the Horns Club had 115 members. Now there are 159.

Season-tickets sales, however, are down slightly, from 462 in 2011 to 444 this year. WSSU, which finished 13-1 and reached the NCAA Division II semifinals in 2011, will open its season at 6 p.m. Saturday, with a home game against UNC Pembroke.

Joining the Horns Club does not give members season tickets but does give them special parking for games, a suite to use at Bowman Gray Stadium and other perks, including live music in a field-house suite during games.

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ASU names FAU transfer Kooi starting QB for Saturday's season opener

ALBANY, Georgia - — Albany State football coach Mike White ended weeks of speculation Tuesday, naming David Kooi the starting quarterback for Saturday’s season opener against North Greenville.

Kooi, a transfer from Division I Florida Atlantic, had been battling for the starting job for the past month with Gardner-Webb transfer Keenan Grissett.



The duo had been neck-and-neck for the job and traded an equal amount of snaps in the team’s only scrimmage Aug. 18, but Grissett was sidelined late last week with back spasms, making the decision of naming Kooi the starter an easy one.

Once Grissett went down with his back spasms, it became a lot clearer that David was going to run our offense,” White said.

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ECSU Football Preview 2012: Motivated Vikings thinking big

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina - Last November’s bus ride back to campus from California, Pa., covered 450 miles.

Plenty of time for Elizabeth City State defensive end Brad Davis and his teammates to dwell on the 44-0 pounding the Vikings absorbed in a first-round NCAA Division II playoff game.

“There wasn’t much talking, mostly just thinking to yourself,” the 6-1, 245-pound senior said.

“It hurt so bad. It didn’t feel real. It was no way to end the season. It was a big motivator for us to work harder.”

ECSU head coach Waverly Tillar can attest to the fact that the Vikings will be motivated to prove themselves when they open the season Saturday at Newberry College.

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New Mexico Lobo Volleyball Travels to Savannah State for Tiger Invitational

UNM to take on UNC Asheville, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Kennesaw State and Savannah State

Enjoy Lobo Volleyball with the Lobo Pride Pass



Lobo Volleyball (3-1, 0-0 MW) - Tiger Invitational (hosted by Savannah State - Savannah, Ga.

Friday, Aug. 31: Lobos vs. UNC Asheville (0-4), 9 a.m. MT; Lobos vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore (3-0), 5 p.m. MT
Saturday, Sept. 31: Lobos vs. Kennesaw State (3-0),11 a.m. MT.; Lobos at Savannah State (0-3), 5 p.m. MT.
GoLobos.com: Box Scores and match recaps

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - The University of New Mexico volleyball team travels to Savannah State to take part in the Tiger Invitational, Aug. 31-Sept. 1.

The Lobos (3-1) will face tough competition while on the east coast, particularly Maryland-Eastern Shore, a 2011 NCAA tournament participant who returns five of its top scorers, including three all-conference players from last season and the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year in Saitaua Iosia. Iosia was picked as the MEAC 2012 Preseason Player of the Year and was named Sports Imports Division I National Player of the Week by American Volleyball Coaches Association on Aug. 28 for her play last weekend in the St. Francis Terrier Invite.

"We'll play four matches while out on the east coast," head coach Jeff Nelson said. "Maryland-Eastern Shore will be a bit of a test of where we're at and what we've got. We'll be tested in terms of a high-quality player (in Iosia) that we'll have to handle, and in terms of a team that is experienced and competitive."

Nelson saw some great things from his Lobos last weekend in the Sheraton Airport/LA Boxing Lobo Classic.

"Alijah Gunsaulus played really well for us," he said. "She was steady and consistent. Another new face, Hannah Johnson, a redshirt freshman, had a really good weekend setting for us. Lena Skipper (junior transfer) also started last weekend and what we saw from her in the back row was exactly what we needed. She was really tough and was our best passer all weekend.

"Overall, the newcomers did a great job and the players that needed to step up, particularly Chantale Riddle, did, and then the rest of the group followed that lead."

Last time out

The Lobos won their season-opening tournament, the Sheraton Airport/LA Boxing Lobo Classic, finishing the weekend with a 3-1 record -With it's 3-0 win over Southern  University on Aug. 24, UNM improved to 6-0 in season-opening matches since the arrival of Jeff Nelson in 2007, and 20-12 since 1980 -The Lobos lost to Duquesne, 2-3, on Aug. 24 -On Aug. 25, UNM defeated Southern, 3-0, and beat Duquesne, 3-1.



On UNC Asheville, 0-4 (Ashveville, N.C. - Big South Conference) - First Meeting

-The Bulldogs finished 15-14 (7-7, fourth in Big South) in 2011 -UNC Asheville returns eight letterwinners players from last year's squad, including five starters -The Bulldogs were picked to finish fourth in the Big South and are 0-4 after opening with the Gamecock Invitational hosted by South Carolina, dropping matches to East Tennessee State (2-3), Akron (1-3), Temple (0-3) and South Carolina (0-3) -Senior MB Holly Shelton leads the Bulldogs at the net, averaging 2.93 kills/set and connecting with .229 accuracy -Freshman MB Christine Lakatos adds 2.13 kills/set and RS junior Anna Moore is averaging 1 block/set -Freshman Katie Davis handles setting duties, averaging 7.53/game

On Maryland-Eastern Shore, 3-0 (Princess Anne, Md. - Mid-Eastern Atheltic Conference) - First Meeting

-The Hawks are coming off their most successful season in career history, finishing 24-7 overall and 12-0 in the MEAC to earn a trip to the 2011 NCAA Tournament -UMES returns its five top scorers, including three all-conference players from last season -The Hawks won the St. Francis (NY) Terrier Invite last weekend with victories over NJIT (3-1), St. Francis (3-1) and Radford (3-1) -The team is led by 2011 MEAC Rookie of the Year/2012 MEAC Preseason Player of the Year OH/RS Saitaua Iosia who is averaging 5.33 kills/set -The sophomore outside hitter was named National Player of the Week by AVCA for her play last weekend, earning a double double in all three matches, leading off with 21 kills and 14 digs on Friday against NJIT -The next day, she followed up with 19 kills and 16 digs against St. Francis, and ended Saturday hitting .408 against Radford, tallying 24 kills and 17 digs -In total, Iosia hit .359 over the weekend with 64 kills and 47 digs and seven blocks

On Kennesaw State, 3-0 (Kennesaw, Ga. - Atlantic Sun Conference) - First Meeting

-The Owls finished 13-16 (8-5, fourth in A-Sun) in 2011 -KSU returns nine letterwinners from last year's squad, including fours starters -The Owls are 3-0, having picked up wins against Louisiana-Monroe (3-1), Jackson State (3-1) and Miss. State (3-2) -Junior setter Sarah Metroka averages 10.54 assits/set while RS senior OH Turea Jones leads the Owls with 3.77 kills/set

On Savannah State, 0-3 (Savannah, Ga. - Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) - First Meeting

-The Tigers finished 0-27 (0-9, MEAC) in 2011 - Savannah State returns 10 letterwinners

LOBO QUICK HITS
-New Mexico won the Sheraton Airport/LA Boxing Lobo Classic in its opening weekend, defeating Southern ce by 3-0 marks and splitting with Duquesne, 2-3 on Friday night and topping the Dukes, 3-1, on Saturday night -RS sophomore RS Chantale Riddle leads the Lobos with 4.31 kills/set, hitting with a .320 clip -Senior S Jordan Russell and RS freshman S Hannah Johnson split setting duties and after four matches, Russell is averaging 4.33 assits/set while Johnson averages 6.20 -The Lobos are outhitting opponents, 13 kills/set to 8.6 kills/set and are hitting with better accuracy than opponents, .284 to .094

Double-Double time
-Senior setter Jordan Russell recorded her first career double-double -- 24 assists and 11 digs -- on Aug. 24 in the Lobos' 2-3 loss to Duquesne -Russell doubled her double-double total the following night in UNM's 3-1 victory over Duquesne, tallying 26 set assists and 12 digs -Chantale Riddle also recorded a double-double on the weekend with 20 kills and 13 digs in UNM's 2-3 loss to Duquesne on Aug. 24

Nelson Nears a Milestone

-With a 3-1 weekend in the Sheraton Airport/LA Boxing Lobo Classic (Aug. 24-25), head coach Jeff Nelson's record at New Mexico improves to 95-56, just five shy of his 100th Lobo victory -Nelson's all-time record is 338-201 -His 100th career win came on Sept. 12, 1999 when he was coach at Texas Tech when the Red Raiders defeated his alma mater Ball State, 3-1, in the Nanook Classic in Fairbanks Alaska -Career win No. 200 was recorded while he was with San Francisco, when the Dons defeated Portland, 3-0, on Nov. 6, 2004 -His 300th career win came on Nov. 27, 2009 when the Lobos topped New Orleans, 3-1

Feel that freshmen impact

-A few of New Mexico's freshmen are seeing plenty of court time and are making an impact for the Lobos -Redshirt freshman Hannah Johnson played in every set in the Lobos' opening weekend, recording 92 set assists for an average of 6.20 per game -Johnson also had two kills, two aces and seven total blocks -True freshman Alijah Gunsaulus saw action in every match last weekend and started three matches, posting double-digit kills in New Mexico's 3-1 win over Duquesne on Aug. 25, connecting on 11 of 25 attempts -Gunsaulus also had 12 digs in the Lobos' 2-3 loss to Duquesne on Aug. 24 -Skye Gullatt, another true freshman, played in both of the Lobos' matches against Southern and recorded 12 kills and hit with .647 accuracy (12k - 1e - 17ta) -Gullatt finished the weekend with 13 kills on 21 attempts (.476)

Career weekend for several Lobos

-All six of the Lobos' returners from last season recorded and/or tied personal bests in UNM's opening weekend -Riddle recorded a career-high 20 kills on Aug. 24 in the Lobos' 2-3 loss against Duquesne and then topped that performance for a new career high of 22 in the Lobos' 3-1 win over Duquesne on Aug. 25 -Riddle also topped her career-high for points in a match, recording 22 on Aug. 24 against Duquesne followed by a 26-point performance on Aug. 25 against Duquesne -Russell set new career highs for set assists and digs, tallying 26 assists and 12 digs against Duquesne on Aug. 25 -Lexi Ross had a career-high 13 kills in the Lobos' 2-3 loss against Duquesne on Aug. 24 and tied her career high for total blocks in UNM's 3-1 victory over Duquesne on Aug. 25, recording five -Elsa Krieg recorded seven block assists, which translated to seven total blocks and two new personal bests in the Lobos' 2-3 loss to Duquesne on Aug. 25 -Ashley Newman tied her career high for kills with 13 in New Mexico's 3-0 sweep of Southern on Aug. 25 -Junior Miquella Lovato recorded a new career high for digs, tallying 26 in New Mexico's 2-3 loss to Duquesne on Aug. 24 -Lovato also recorded a kill in New Mexico's 3-1 victory over Duquesne on Aug. 25

ProView Networks to Broadcast Lobo Home Matches

-ProView Networks will be streaming Lobo home matches live online and showing matches on tape delay on local channel 27 -Free live streaming can be viewed at www.ProViewNetworks.com -Monday and Tuesday evenings are tentatively reserved on Ch. 27 for tape delay matches

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO ATHLETIC RELATIONS

Xavier runners withdraw from Mississippi College Opener

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's and women's cross country teams have withdrawn from Friday's Mississippi College Opener at Clinton, Miss., because Xavier will be closed until Tuesday.

The university has been closed since late Monday afternoon due to Hurricane Isaac, which made landfall on the Louisiana coast early Tuesday evening. XU teams do not compete when the university is closed due to emergencies.

The next meet for the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will be the Loyola Wolfpack Invitational at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, La. — a New Orleans suburb — on Sept. 8. It will be Xavier's only local meet of the 2012 season.

Visit xulaemergency.com to view updates on XU closures and reopenings.

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

(Ad)Vantage Point: State's Defensive Line vs. JSU's Offensive Line

STARKVILLE, Mississippi - This is a column that I will be doing weekly. I will focus on matchups from an MSU perspective. I will also point out what I believe to be a specific matchup to keep an eye on, in most cases it will be an advantage MSU should be able exploit. Anyways, lets talk some JSU Tigers (not something you hear often).

So, JSU comes to town on the heels of their best finish under coach Rick Comegy. The Tigers finished at 9-2 last season, posting a 7-2 record in the SWAC. However, building on 2011 could be a challenge as they will be replacing record-setting quarterback Casey Therriault.

The Jackson State offense will, however, receive a boost from former Ole Miss quarterback signee, Clayton Moore, and recent Ole Miss transfer, Tobias Singleton. Coupled with preseason All-American Rico Richardson, along with do-it-all back BJ Lee, the Jackson State offense should be able to cause some trouble for SWAC defenses this season. Moving the ball against the Bulldog defense should prove to be a different animal, though. It will be a nice early season test to face an offense like this in the opener for the State.

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WSSU's Maynor confident heading into opener against UNC Pembroke

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Those wondering if coach Connell Maynor of Winston-Salem State would tone down his act in front of television cameras don't know him very well.

When asked Wednesday at a news conference about the Rams' chances of winning against UNC Pembroke at home on Saturday in their opener, Maynor was frank — maybe too frank.

"I think we'll win by two touchdowns," Maynor said about the ninth-ranked Rams, who are coming off a school-best 13-1 record.



"If you ask me I'm going to tell you. I know we got better and I don't know if (UNC Pembroke) has gotten better, but I think we can win by two touchdowns."

So there you have it, the Rams are not shying away from the high expectations or their goal of winning the Division II national championship.

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Bethune, FAMU kick off new season this weekend

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - The Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats and Florida A&M University Rattlers football teams are gearing up for another run at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, which both teams shared, along with South Carolina State University in 2010 when all three teams posted 7-1 conference records.

Both teams will travel this season to take on traditional Division I powerhouses, with FAMU traveling to Norman, Okla., on Sept. 8 to face the University of Oklahoma, ranked No. 4 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls, while the Wildcats will travel to Miami to square off on Sept. 15 with the University of Miami Hurricanes.

The teams will play each other on Nov. 17 in the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Tickets will go on sale beginning Saturday.

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MEAC-SWAC Challenge Notes

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - There's no downplaying it.

Sunday's eighth annual MEAC-SWAC Challenge in Orlando is a kind of a big deal.

The MEAC has dominated the series in recent years. The conference has won three of the last four series meetings, including Bethune-Cookman's 63-14 shellacking of Prairie View A&M last season. It's a trend Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow is well aware of, heading into Sunday's 11 a.m. kickoff at the Citrus Bowl.

The contest is scheduled to air on ESPN.

"For our guys, our team and our school, we're blessed. We're not just playing for Alabama State." Barlow said in the SWAC coaches weekly teleconference. "That's our approach to this game. This is about Walter Payton (Jackson St.) and Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley St.) and all those wonderful Grambling (St.) players, Doug Williams, and all those guys that represented the SWAC conference."

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Savannah State faces uphill climb in clash with No.19 Oklahoma State

STILLWATER, Oklahoma – The Oklahoma State Cowboys enjoyed their best season in school history last year, and with a revamped roster they begin their journey to try and repeat as Big 12 Conference champions when they take on the Savannah State Tigers this Saturday to open the 2012 season.

The 2011 campaign was one of transition for FCS member Savannah State. It was the Tigers' first year as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as well as their first year under the tutelage of head coach Steve Davenport. It was a rough season to say the least, as the Tigers finished just 1-10 and 1-7 in the MEAC, with their lone win coming on Sept. 24 at North Carolina Central, 33-30.

Oklahoma State's season, on the other hand, was nothing short of spectacular, cruising to a 12-1 overall record and an 8-1 mark in the Big 12, with signature wins coming against nationally-ranked foes Texas A&M (30-29), Texas (38-26), Kansas State (52-45) and Oklahoma (44-10). The Cowboys ultimately missed out on the national championship game thanks to ...

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In the FCS Huddle: Week 1 Preview

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — It's that time of the year again. Summer has passed quicker than we remember, it's time to start paying more attention to your job and it's time to send the kids back to school. More importantly, the road to Frisco begins this week for FCS teams.

For the fans, some fleeting hours remain to re-live their favorite moments from last season, before the new season officially kicks off. It's an opportunity to remember all the glory, triumph, happiness, and, yes, even the brutal losses, disappointment and failed expectations your team didn't live up to.

Ads by GoogleIt's the last chance to trash-talk with sworn enemies before the teams do the talking for everyone. It's both exciting and nerve-racking to play out dozens of scenarios in the new season.

It's the smell of a cornucopia of meats being grilled in ...

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Alabama A&M, Tuskegee try to erase bad memories

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Alabama A&M and Tuskegee will both be looking to take a first step toward erasing some bad memories from the 2011 season when they meet at 7 p.m. Saturday at Legion Field in Birmingham.

Despite going 8-4 last year and making it to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game, A&M exited 2011 with the disappointment of blowing a 15-point halftime lead to Grambling in the SWAC title game and losing 16-15. It was the Bulldogs' second consecutive loss in the conference championship game.



"Last year was last year. There's nothing we can do about it now," said A&M coach Anthony Jones, who is entering his 11th season leading the Bulldogs. "The only thing our guys will be thinking about (Saturday) is the guy standing across from us trying to pound us."

Meanwhile, Tuskegee is coming off a rare losing season. The Golden Tigers won nine or more games every year from 2004-2010, highlighted by a 12-0 record in 2007. But Tuskegee got off to a 1-4 start in 2011 - including a 21-6 loss to Alabama A&M - on the way to a 4-6 final record.

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D.J. Williams leads GSU charge

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — The setting and cast of characters — and Grambling hopes the outcome — will bear many similarities, but the Tigers see a much different D.J. Williams leading the charge.

The quarterback was a freshman question mark, albeit a confident one, in last season's opener against Alcorn State in Shreveport.

But GSU's coaches and players have a better idea what to expect from a more battle-tested sophomore Williams this time around as they meet the Braves again this Saturday.

"My teammates know that I can do it and I have the capabilities to take this team to where we went last year," Williams said. "I see it in everybody's eyes that they're confident in me, and I'm confident in them, and that's a good feelin'."

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South Carolina State, Georgia State Look Forward to Thursday Night Opener

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30

Football vs South Carolina State, Georgia Dome

Time: 7:30 PM

Live Video  
Television: CSS

Radio: NewsTalk 1160, WCFO-AM;
1690 WMLB-AM
Affiliates
Game Day Central: Ga. State vs. S.C. State

ATLANTA, Georgia  - Season three of Georgia State football kicks off with a stern test as the Panthers host a South Carolina State program that has posted 11 straight winning seasons in Thursday's season opener at the Georgia Dome.

Thursday's game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and will be regionally televised on CSS. Radio coverage is available on the GSU Radio Network, including flagship stations Newstalk 1160 AM (WCFO) and 1690 AM (WMLB) as well as WGST (AM 640 and FM 92.3).

For tickets, call 866-GA-STATE or visit GeorgiaStateSports.com.

Opening on Thursday night, Georgia State will be among the first college teams in the nation to tee it up, and head coach Bill Curry and his squad appreciate that."It's something that Cheryl Levick, our director of athletics, works very hard to put together," said Curry at his weekly press conference.

"We love the idea of us starting out on Thursday night. Our students love it. Our fans love it. We do get to go first. It's going to be televised. It's an exciting moment and we want to play well. We want to go out and execute.

"And Curry, entering his final season on the sideline, knows that the Panthers will have to play well to give themselves a chance against a very good football team."South Carolina State is one of the better FCS programs, and when I say program, I'm talking about perennial winners," he said.

"They've got 11 consecutive winning seasons to their credit and have won championships in their league. They have a tradition of over a century of excellent football."Included in that century is a victory over Georgia State last season, when South Carolina State scored the game's final 13 points to down the Panthers, 23-13, at Orangeburg, S.C.

"Last year was a lesson playing against them because we played very hard, but they played harder," said Curry. "The game was a good physical match and was won by the team that was more determined. We've got to be more determined when the chips are down."For Georgia State, redshirt freshman Ben McLane of Snellville, Ga., will make his debut at quarterback, with junior Kelton Hill also expected to see action.

"The way to prepare for a game like this, in my opinion, is not to make a big deal out of it," said McLane, whose last game in the Georgia Dome came when he led Brookwood High School to a victory over Colquitt County in the 2010 Class AAAAA state title game.

"We prepared so hard in the off-season and we've had a long training camp. You put so much pressure on yourself that when it comes to a big game like this, it's like another day at work. When you do walk out under the lights and have a bunch of people there, it's just like in practice. We've done that to ourselves, and we embrace whatever comes our way.

"South Carolina State, coached by Buddy Pough, counters with returning starter Richard Cue, an athletic quarterback who passed for 900 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 514 yards and eight scores in leading the Bulldogs to a 7-4 record in 2011.

In the game against GSU, he finished 16-for-30 for 213 yards passing while rushing for two touchdowns. Curry announced that the game captains for the South Carolina State contest are senior safety Demazio Skelton, junior wide receiver Jordan Giles - a native of Columbia, S.C. - and junior long snapper Scott McQueen.

COURTESY GEORGIA STATE SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS

Alabama State Hornets Bring Gameday to Practice

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Head Coach Reggie Barlow brought a gameday atmosphere to the Alabama State football  practice Tuesday night during practice at Hornet Stadium.

The 8^th edition of the MEAC-SWAC Challenge between the Hornets and Bethune-Cookman Wildcats kicks off Sunday just after 11 a.m. CT/Noon ET (WVAS 90.7 FM/HSRN.com./ESPN) in Orlando, Fla. at the Citrus Bowl.

The Mighty Marching Hornets band played during most of the night practice in the stands, giving both players and coaches a taste of what Sunday's gameday atmosphere could feel like.

“I thought the guys had good energy tonight,” Barlow said. “We tried to bring additional elements out here to be distracting and see how they would perform. It's a direct correlation to Sunday. There will be a lot of things going on on gameday and we want our guys to be focused on the task at hand. I thought the energy level was good and hopefully we will continue that this week.”

The Wildcats posted an 8-3 record last season, 6-2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. B-CU led the conference in scoring (33.9 ppg) and total offense (435.3 ypg), based on a potent rushing attack that averaged nearly 260 yards per game, also a conference-best.



“They have several outstanding running backs,” Barlow said of the Wildcat offense. “They like to change their formations in a variety of ways, and have had a lot of success with it. We have to make sure we're dialed in and read our keys defensively.”

Last season, the Hornet' D struggled at times against the run, allowing on average 158.1 ypg. With several returning veterans in the front seven, Barlow is confident the run defense will be effective this Sunday.

“Brandon Slater is a big, strong guy for us in the middle, along with Winton Steward,” Barlow said in discussing some key pieces of the linebacker corps. “It's all about our alignments, making sure we're where we are supposed to be and fighting off blocks. We believe we have quality guys in the lineup, but they haven't been tested yet this season. They'll be tested on Sunday, and hopefully we'll be able to hold up.”

The Hornets will practice Wednesday at 3 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hampton vs. Tennessee Tech

COOKEVILLE, Tennessee – The Hampton University football team will open the 2012 season on the road on Thursday, taking on Tennessee Tech at Tucker Stadium at 8 p.m. EST.

The Pirates, in their fourth season under head coach Donovan Rose, won seven games last season and went 5-3 in the MEAC. Tennessee Tech won the Ohio Valley Conference championship in 2011, also going 7-4 overall with a 6-2 mark in conference play.

This will be the first-ever meeting between Hampton and Tennessee Tech.



Game Notes

The Pirates averaged almost 29 points per game last season – 28.4, to be exact – ranking third in the MEAC in total offense. Hampton eclipsed the 30-point mark in five contests in 2011 – including a season-high 42 in back-to-back games against Delaware State and Morgan State to close out the season. The Pirates also scored 41 points at Old Dominion on Sept. 17, 31 points in a road loss to Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 22, and 30 points in an overtime Homecoming win over North Carolina Central on Oct. 22.

Junior running back Antwon Chisholm (Belle Glade, Fla.), the 2010 MEAC Rookie of the Year, comes into his junior season as a Preseason Second Team All-MEAC selection. He was the team’s leading rusher last season, ranking fifth in the MEAC with 72.4 rushing yards per game.

He carried the ball 192 times for 796 yards and eight touchdowns. He rushed for over 100 yards twice last season – including a season-high 141 yards against Alabama A&M – and for his career, Chisholm has four 100-yard rushing games in his career.

Defense has long been a strength for the Pirates – particularly given Rose’s background – and 2012 appears to be no different as Keith Goganious enters his third season as defensive coordinator. The Pirates will return their top five tacklers from last season, led by linebackers Delbert Tyler (Monroeville, Pa.) and Lyndell Gibson (Virginia Beach, Va.), both of whom eclipsed 100 tackles last season.

Tyler led the Pirates with 110 total stops, including 41 solo efforts, while Gibson – a transfer from Virginia Tech – had 108 total tackles, including a team-high 52 solo stops. Gibson also led the team in tackles for loss (14.0) and tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles.

The Pirates were fourth in the MEAC in scoring defense last season, giving up just 21.8 points per contest. The Pirates also led the MEAC in pass efficiency defense, holding opponents to an efficiency rating of just 98.4 – the only rate under 100 in the conference. Hampton was also fourth in the conference in passing defense, holding opponents to just 183.9 yards per game through the air.

Hampton also had 14 interceptions as a defense in 2011, sitting fifth in the MEAC. The defense was also a major part of Hampton leading the MEAC in turnover margin at +13, between those 14 picks and 15 recovered fumbles.



The Pirates are 0-2 all-time against teams currently in the Ohio Valley Conference, having gone 0-2 all-time against Tennessee State. Tennessee State is the only school from the OVC that Hampton has faced to this point; the Pirates have never played Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Murray State, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee Tech, or Tennessee-Martin.

The Pirates went 1-3 on the road last season, with their lone win coming at Savannah State on Oct. 29. Hampton also lost road contests last season at Old Dominion, at Bethune-Cookman, and at Norfolk State. During Rose’s tenure as head coach, Hampton is 7-9 on the road.

The Pirates have six road contests this season.

For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

MEAC champion Spartans show off their ring bling

NORFOLK, Virginia - Pete Adrian didn't want Norfolk State's MEAC championship ring to be too gaudy. So he only ordered extra-extra-extra large.

"I wanted it to be smooth," said Adrian, who helped pick the model. "I didn't want it to be real flashy-flashy where it gets your attention."

The NSU football team received the rings Friday, the first ever for the school. Items that rare, it seems, don't follow the same sizing conventions as things like pants.

"Most of the big sports, they typically use something in this range," said Maureen Cooper, the sales representative for Jostens.

Norfolk State would not reveal how much each ring cost, and the NCAA regulates the amount of money that can be spent on each ring.



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U. Charleston vs. Shaw Bears

CHARLESTON, West Virginia - Charleston, picked fourth in the WVIAC preseason poll, opens up against CIAA foe Shaw in the first of two Thursday night games for the Golden Eagles. The two programs have not met in recent history.

UC boasts All-American Jordan Roberts on the offensive side of the ball. He averaged 130 yards a game on the ground and scored 17 touchdowns a season ago. All-conference offensive lineman George Davilla could challenge for All-America honors as well in 2012.

Honorable mention all-conference performer Jeff Green tallied 11 sacks a year ago. He, alongside Ike Gibson will help out what could be a strong defensive unit this season. First-team all-conference punter Puma Nuredini will hold down the kicking game for the Golden Eagles.

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West Virginia State University toughens up schedule

INSTITUTE, West Virginia - In Institute, The West Virginia State Yellow Jackets are gearing up for their season opener Saturday against CIAA power Johnson C. Smith University.

The Jackets have a tough schedule, not only J.C. Smith, but they also have two 1-AA opponents on the schedule. According to Jacket head coach Earl Monroe, the tougher schedule alone has helped in recruiting.

"We have a tough schedule. I think our guys will be up for the challenge. We've got some junior college transfers that we were able to sign simply because we have 1AA teams on our schedule."

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WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY YELLOWJACKETS
2012 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

9/1/2012	1:00 PM	vs Johnson C. Smith University			Live Stats			1:00 PM	Details
9/8/2012	6:00 PM	at North Carolina A&T State University	Greensboro, NC					6:00 PM	Details
9/15/2012	3:00 PM	at Elon University	Elon, NC					3:00 PM	Details
HOME GAME
9/22/2012	1:00 PM	vs Concord University			Live Stats			1:00 PM	Details
9/29/2012	Noon	at Seton Hill University (Pa.)	Greensburg, PA					Noon	Details
HOME GAME
10/6/2012	1:30 PM	vs West Liberty University			Live Stats			1:30 PM	Details
10/13/2012	1:00 PM	at Glenville State College	Glenville, WV					1:00 PM	Details
HOME GAME
10/20/2012	1:00 PM	vs Shepherd University			Live Stats			1:00 PM	Details
10/27/2012	1:00 PM	vs West Virginia Wesleyan College			Live Stats			1:00 PM	Details
11/3/2012	1:00 PM	at Fairmont State University	Fairmont, WV					1:00 PM	Details
11/10/2012	1:00 PM	at University of Charleston	Charleston, WV		Live Stats			1:00 PM	Details

COURTESY WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Tigers open season vs. Florida A&M Rattlers

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - On Saturday, the Tennessee State football team hosts the Rattlers from Florida A&M at LP Field. The Tigers take on their rivals in the fourteenth annual John A. Merritt Classic in honor of legendary TSU coach John A. Merritt.

This year's game will be the 51st meeting between the two schools and the first since 2010's Atlanta Football Classic. The Tigers won the last contest, 29-18 to tied the all-time series at 25-25 dating back to 1944.

For Tennessee State, the Tigers are looking to build upon last year's 5-6 record with a season opening victory. TSU returns a total of 14 starters, including nine on the offensive side of the ball. They also return six specialists from a year ago - everyone except punter Matt Moseley.

On offense, the Tigers will feature an offensive line that boasts three all-conference selections in tackle Rogers Gaines, center Sherman Carter and guard Kadeem Edwards. Tennessee State will count on those three plus the rest of its line to help protect quarterback Michael German and open up running lanes for running back Trabis Ward.

Last season, German passed for 1,899 yards and 12 touchdowns en route to being named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. German accomplished the feat after only starting eight games last season.

Tennessee State loses its leading receiver in terms of yards from a year ago, but junior wideout Devin Wilson looks to build upon his sophomore campaign where he caught a team-high 48 passes, two of which went for touchdowns.

Ward was 23 yards shy of 1,000 last season after carrying the ball 193 times. He also scored 11 touchdowns on the ground.

	Rod Reed Weekly OVC Teleconference - Talks about upcoming John Merritt Classic and FAMU.
	TSU Game Notes
	FAMU Game Notes

Defensively, the Tigers lose their leading tackler from a year ago in Rico Council, but do return all-conference selection Antonio Harper. Harper will start for TSU at one of the defensive ends after leading the squad in sacks last season with 6.5. The Memphis, Tenn. native also recorded nine tackles-for-loss and 44 total tackles.

Another key returnee from last season is defensive back Steven Godbolt. Godbolt is coming off of freshman campaign that saw him grab All-OVC Newcomer honors and a team-high two interceptions.

On special teams, the Tigers welcome back return man Weldon Garlington who accumulated 544 return yards including a 100-yard scamper that went for a touchdown. This preseason, Garlington was named an All-American by Boxtorow.

Last year, FAMU sported a 7-4 record, but the Rattlers will have to find a way to replace 13 starters from a year ago.

The key returnees for the offense are quarterback Damien Fleming and left guard Steven Robinson. As a freshman last year, Fleming threw for 1,622 yards and 11 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. Robinson was vital in padding Fleming's numbers, as the 300 pound senior earned First Team All-MEAC honors last season.

Defensively, the Rattlers must find replacements at both defensive ends and at three linebacker positions. FAMU does return one linebacker in Brandon Hepburn and First Team All-MEAC safety John Ojo. Last season, the duo combined for 105 tackles, and Ojo recorded a team-high four interceptions.

This year's John A. Merritt Classic honors all the players that were coached by "Big John". The game starts at 6 p.m. at LP Field.

Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers and Twitter @TSU_Tigers.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

3 former SCSU Bulldogs cut from NFL rosters; 4 remain for Week One

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina - A trio of former South Carolina State players was among the casualties of NFL cuts.

On Monday, the Washington Redskins released free agent signee offensive lineman James Lee. The move came after the weekend saw Jacksonville Jaguars’ linebacker Donovan Richard and Kansas City safety Dominique Ellis get the notice from “The Turk.”

In the case of Richard, this marked the second time in three months he was released by the Jaguars.

There are currently four Bulldogs on NFL rosters heading into Week One: cornerback Phillip Adams (Seattle Seahawks), safeties Rafael Bush (Denver Broncos) and Christian Thompson (Baltimore Ravens) and linebacker Marshall McFadden (Pittsburgh Steelers).

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Finally, Harvey gets his big shot at FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - The last three football seasons have been difficult for receiver Travis Harvey on the FAMU campus. He always had some explaining to do.

“Everybody knew I played football but when the game came I wasn’t playing,” he said. “To say I was ineligible was hard because I’m not a dumb person. I wasn’t as focused as I needed to be.”

After taking a redshirt in his first season as a walk-on from Inglewood, Calif., Harvey came up ineligible for the next two seasons. Last season, he started a turnaround and ended up in four games.

He showed enough to restore FAMU coach Joe Taylor’s faith in him. A strong spring solidified him as the replacement for Brian Tyms.

At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, he’s shown ...

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Junior QB Darius Smith ready to lead Alcorn into 2012 opener

LORMAN, Mississippi — Last season, Alcorn State quarterback Darius Smith was thrown into the fire when he took over for departed starting quarterback Brandon Bridge midway through the Braves' season.

This year, Smith knows that he is the man under center from Day 1, but he said he is not letting the lessons he learned last season be forgotten.

"Last season I was kind of thrown into it, but it definitely helped me get ready for the upcoming season," Smith said. "I wasn't expecting to play, and I didn't study like I should have. But now I know I'm the guy and am taking the time out (to prepare)."

Saturday, Smith and the Braves will take the field for the first time under a new coaching staff led by head coach Jay Hopson when they face Grambling State University in the Port City Classic. Smith said he is ready for the challenge and ready to show how his game has improved.

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