MEAC: Five SSU players earn preseason league honors

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Yes, Savannah State’s football team has something to play for during the 2014 season, Tigers second-year coach Earnest Wilson said Friday after the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference preseason football luncheon in Norfolk, Va.

SSU (1-11 in 2013) isn’t eligible for postseason play because penalties from a poor Academic Progress Rate released in the spring and the Tigers weren’t included in the league’s preseason poll voting.

But ...

“If we beat everyone in the MEAC, who’s the champion?” Wilson said.

Bethune-Cookman was the favorite in the voting of league coaches and sports information directors followed by South Carolina State, North Carolina A&T, Howard, Delaware State, Norfolk State, Hampton, North Carolina State and Morgan State.

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SWAC media day: SU Jaguars put 6 on all-conference teams

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Southern re-emerged as a dominant program in Southwestern Athletic Conference football last season by going 9-4 and winning the conference title by topping Jackson State 34-27 in double overtime.

All that success has the Jaguars on everyone’s minds. As the 2014 season nears, they put six players on the preseason all-conference teams, announced Friday, and they’re the favorite to win the SWAC West Division.

Junior receiver Willie Quinn and junior offensive lineman Anthony Mosley received first-team nods. Sophomore running back Lenard Tillery, senior offensive lineman Zach Brown, senior linebacker Daniel Brown and senior defensive lineman Arthur Miley were voted to the second team. Quinn also was honored as a second-team return specialist.

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Rabalais: The ring’s the thing for Southern, which will aim for another

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  — The Southern Jaguars don’t need a target on the back of their powder blues for opponents to aim at.

Just triangulate on the ring.

Southern’s rings from last season’s SWAC championship rank pretty high on the bling meter. They’re so massive that you had to think Jaguars football players Brian McCain and Arthur Miley, who accompanied coach Dawson Odums to SWAC media day here Friday, got in the equivalent of their daily offseason weight work just toting these things around.

Despite the constant silver reminders, the Jaguars are focused — shades on to protect against the sun’s glare off those rings — on the future.

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SU's Avery Johnson, others headed into Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame

NEW ORLEANS  -- At one point in his young life, Avery Johnson wasn’t good enough to crack the starting lineup at St. Augustine High.

“I was kind of a 30-point guy,” Johnson told The Advocate last year. “When we were up by 30, I would have an opportunity to go in the game and play a little bit.”

The diminutive backup had his number called when St. Aug’s starting point guard was suspended from the team during the 1983 state playoffs.

Off Johnson went, helping the Purple Knights complete a 35-0 season and win the Class 4A title.

That was followed, of course, by an illustrious career at Southern and 16 playing seasons in the NBA, where he later coached the Spurs and Nets.

He will be one of five persons entering the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame on Aug. 2.

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B-CU football picked by MEAC to defend conference title

NORFOLK, Virginia – The Bethune-Cookman University football team was picked to defend its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title on Friday.

B-CU had 487 votes to top South Carolina State (457) and North Carolina A&T (338).

B-CU senior offensive center Andrew Edouard was named to the all-MEAC preseason first team.

Teammates LeBrandon Richardson and Marquis Drayton were selected to the preseason first team on defense.

Quarterback Quentin Williams and senior defensive lineman Rony Barrow made the all-MEAC preseason second team.

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Tennessee State Football Tickets Still on Sale

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- Season and single game tickets for the 2014 Tennessee State football campaign are still on sale. Tickets can be purchased by visiting or calling the TSU Ticket Office (615-963-ROAR).

 

The reigning Black College National Champions open the season on Saturday, August 30 against Edward Waters College in the 16th annual John A. Merritt Classic.

 

TSU returns to Hale Stadium to face Tennessee Tech on Sept. 20 before taking on Florida A&M for Homecoming, Sept. 27.

 

In October, the Tigers will host Jacksonville State (10/11) and UT Martin (10/18) with the final home contest coming against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 1.

 

Last season, TSU finished with a record of 10-4 and advanced to the second round of the FCS Playoffs.

 

The Tigers are coming off of their first postseason victory since 1986 and return the bulk of a defense that ranked sixth nationally in yards per game (296.9).

 

Season tickets are $90 and season parking passes are $30. The season parking package will include the three contests at LP Field.  The Hale Stadium games will be $5 cash only for every contest.

 

Ticket Information

 

SEASON TICKET BROCHURE (First time season ticket holders)

Season Ticket Price - $90

TSU Faculty/Staff Price - $80

Young Alumni/Kids 12 and under - $60 (Must be listed among TSU graduates from 2010-2014 are eligible/ Must specify at time of purchase)

 

2014 Football Single Game Tickets

Single Game Tickets at LP Field – Range from $15 - $40

Single Game Ticket at Hale Stadium - $15

** Tickets increase by $5 on game day**

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

 

 

Six Rattlers Named To MEAC Preseason All-Star Team

NORFOLK, Virginia – Six Florida A&M University football players were named to the Preseason All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team during the MEAC Football Media Luncheon here Friday afternoon at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel.

The preseason All-MEAC team, selected by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors, featured FAMU with four second team selections, sophomore guard Keonte Cash (Miami, Florida), senior defensive back Devontae “Terry” Johnson (Tallahassee, Florida), redshirt sophomore Patrick Aiken (Pembroke Pines, Florida) and senior kicker Chase Varnadore (Tallahassee, Florida).

The two third team selections from FAMU included senior quarterback Damien Fleming (Jacksonville, Florida) and senior offensive lineman Ryan Templeton (Chicago, Illinois).

RATTLERS IN THE HOUSE

FAMU was well represented by a contingent of personalities which included athletic director Kellen Winslow, Sr., head football coach Earl Holmes, and star players Chase Varnadore and Devontae “Terry” Johnson.

All four gentlemen were run through a battery of interviews with media outlets from around the conference during a Media Day session prior to the Noon Coaches’ Luncheon.

MEAC NOTES

A pair of seniors snagged the Preseason Player of the Year honors, as Howard quarterback Greg McGhee, the league leader in both passing and total offense, was the Offensive Player of the Year, while Norfolk State All-America linebacker Lynden Trail, was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year.

South Carolina State led all league schools with 10 preseason all-star selections, tying defending champion Bethune-Cookman (7 selections) for the most first-team picks: four (4).

Norfolk State was second in the number of overall selections with eight (8), followed by Bethune-Cookman and MorganState with seven (7) apiece.

BETHUNE PICKED TO WIN

The league’s coaches and SIDs also weighed in on the coming football title chase, picking Bethune-Cookman to defend their 2013 title, garnering 487 points. South Carolina State (457 points) was second, followed by North Carolina A&T (338) and Howard University (309).

2014 MEAC Predicted Order of Finish

# School (Points)

1-Bethune-Cookman (487)

2-South Carolina State (457)

3-North Carolina A&T (318)

4-Howard University (309)

5-Delaware State (229)

6-Norfolk State (225)

7-Hampton (200)

8-North Carolina Central (187)

9-Morgan State (148)

**FAMU and SavannahState are ineligible for the conference title due to an NCAA postseason ban over the Academic Progress Rate (APR).

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION