Mack, NCCU not backing down from challenge

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  Jerry Mack might be a new kid on the block, but he’s not backing down from anyone. Neither is his team.

That was the message Mack relayed last Friday at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Football Media Luncheon in Norfolk, Va.

N.C. Central was picked to finish eighth in the conference, a ranking that perturbed Mack, one of four new coaches in the MEAC. Bethune-Cookman was picked to win its third straight conference title.

“We are second to no one and will not back down to anyone,” the NCCU coach said. “We want to be the best in the conference and one of the top FCS teams in the country. And there is only one way to do that, and that’s the right way.”

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FAMU looking for redemption despite tough schedule

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- His statement was cliché, but it is how Earl Holmes choses to explain whether this will be a season of redemption for his FAMU football team.

"Put it this way," Holmes said, as the countdown begins to the start of practice next week. "Time will tell what's at stake as far as what the critics might say. We are going to take it one game at a time."

Remember, the Rattlers finished Holmes' first season as a head coach with a 3-9 record. That put Holmes, just in his second season as a head coach, under the gun.

But he seems to understand why even some of the diehards seem a little impatient.

"As far as redeeming, I feel it's time for us to make a statement," Holmes said." But there are a lot of variables; injury bug and all that stuff.

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Florida Classic still set for Citrus Bowl

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Worry not fans of FAMU and Bethune Cookman football teams.

That's the assurance that came from the office of Orlando's Mayor Buddy Dyer on Tuesday, responding to concerns that renovation of the Citrus Bowl might force the Florida Classic to another venue.

"It's halfway completed and on track to be ready to host FAMU and B-CU for the Florida Classic," Dyer's spokesperson Heather Fagan told the Democrat Tuesday. "It will be game-ready that day."

The annual season-ending rivalry game between FAMU and Bethune-Cookman is scheduled to take place Nov. 22.

"It will be a great experience for the fans," Fagan said.

LIVE CAM:   Construction Cam - Citrus Bowl Stadium Reconstruction ...

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ASU defensive tackle Derrick Billups can be SWAC's best

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Derrick Billups can be the most dominating defensive player in the Southwestern Athletic Conference this season.

That's the attitude he has. And that's the attitude he should have, according to his coach.

"I think he should," Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said. "I think if he doesn't, then he would not have lived up to his ability. He just has to do it.

"I believe he has the ability to play in the NFL and he has to set the tone for us every day, in practice as well as in the game. We're going to demand that from him. I think he needs to be that. He has the ability to do it."


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JSU Baseball stadium for Farish Street? It’s possible

JACKSON, Mississippi — The City of Jackson, Jackson State University and Tim Bennett, owner of Overtime Sports, may begin talks in the next few weeks on the feasibility of building a baseball stadium for JSU in the Historic Farish Street District.

“This is just in the observation stages,” said Bennett, who was the force behind moving the Mississippi Braves to Pearl 10 years ago and moving the Huntsville Stars to Biloxi for next season.

“We’re taking a look at the potential for a stadium. The next step is to sit down with the mayor (Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber) and discuss entering into an agreement to do feasibility and economic impact stories.”

“Jackson State is agreeable to taking a look at this opportunity, but there are no firm commitments in place.”
The Jackson State baseball program won the SWAC Championship this year and participated in the Division I post-season, which included a victory over highly regarded Louisiana Lafayette.

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GREENSBORO, North Carolina  -- The A&T football team will return to the field for its first official practice at 9 a.m. Saturday on the practice field behind the Bryan Fitness and Wellness Center on campus.

A&T will hold a 2½-hour practice in preparation for a 12-game 2014 schedule. Twenty-nine days later the Aggies will open the season in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney at 11:45 a.m. Aug. 31 at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Fla. A&T’s home opener is at 6 p.m. Sept. 6 against FCS playoff quarterfinalist Coastal Carolina at Aggie Stadium.

The Aggies were 7-4 overall and 4-4 in the MEAC last season. The Aggies return five starters on offense and four players on defense. The Aggies have four preseason first-team All-MEAC players: reigning MEAC rookie of the year running back Tarik Cohen, fifth-year offensive lineman William Ray Robinson III, senior wide receiver Desmond Lawrence and fifth-year linebacker D’Vonte Grant.

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Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference aims to end FCS playoff drought

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  Bethune-Cookman coach Brian Jenkins has a simple strategy for snapping the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's lengthy playoff losing streak: play better.

"We haven't played good enough football in the playoffs, and that's why we came out on the down side," Jenkins said last week at the MEAC's preseason football media day in Norfolk. "It's time to put it all together.

"The opportunities have presented themselves and we just have not produced," he said. "It's time for this program and other programs who are getting opportunities to get past the point of not being able to win a playoff game. It's time to make it happen."

MEAC teams have lost 17 consecutive playoff games dating to 1999. Florida A&M recorded the league's last playoff win, over Troy State in the 1999 quarterfinals. Since 2000, seven different schools have lost a total of 16 playoff games.

The MEAC is the only one of ...

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