Grambling takes newly discovered confidence to Dallas

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DALLAS, Texas -- Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs can finally get down to business now that he has his first-career win with the Tigers.

With the monkey off his back following a 40-35 victory over rival Jackson State, Fobbs takes his Tigers to Dallas on Saturday for a clash with Prairie View A&M.

“It feels great,” Fobbs said earlier this week about the win. “Anytime you can come away victorious from a football game, it’s great. You put so much time into it from January up until this point that you need a little bit of sugar and getting a little bit of a taste of how it feels helps us and gives us the confidence we need in order to continue and grow.”

Until the win over JSU, Grambling was stuck in a dire 2-23 stretch dating back to 2012. The Tigers could be on the verge of reclaiming their role in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, which can start with a 2-0 record Saturday.

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Jackson State looking at a multipurpose stadium

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- If the concept outlined in a dome feasibility study Jackson State University commissioned is to become reality, it will require public financial help.

One source is more likely than the other.

The study recommended a 35,000 seat, domed multipurpose complex on the school's campus west of downtown Jackson.

The estimated cost of construction lies between $250 million and $280 million. The dome's annual operating deficit would hover around $400,000. That's where the need for some kind of public financing would arrive.

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Stopping Anderson main focus for JSU defense

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- When linebacker Ted Terrell was a freshman playing in the SWAC title game in 2012, he faced Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Ben Anderson.

Two years later, after watching film on UAPB this past week, Terrell didn't notice much change in the stud signal caller.

But there was one difference in the Lions' offense that the Tigers hope to take advantage of in Saturday's game.

"One thing I can say about him now is that he doesn't have as many choices as he did then with his receivers," Terrell said.

In 2012 championship game, Anderson spread the ball, hitting six different receivers for 225 passing yards, en route to the 24-21 victory.

The Lions (1-2, 0-1 SWAC) do return Isiah Ferguson and Willie Young from that game. But both missed much of the 2013 season because they weren't cleared. Three games into the season, both seem to be working their way back to consistency.

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Southern University football vs. Alcorn State game capsule

When/Where: Saturday at Jack Spinks Stadium in Lorman, Mississippi.

Television: The game will be shown online on ESPN3.

Radio: WYNK 97.7 FM

Coaches: Alcorn St. - Jay Hopson (third season as head coach, 16-11). Southern -- Dawson Odums (second season as head coach, was interim in 2012, 15-11).

Southern: Southern (2-2) looks to continue its good start in SWAC play after a 34-24 victory against Prairie View A&M last Saturday. Southern was able to win the turnover battle in the game and went on a 17-0 run in the second and third quarter to put the game out of reach.

The Jaguars were led by freshman quarterback Austin Howard, who before Saturday's game had been splitting time with redshirt freshman Deonte Shorts. Howard threw for 116 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing touchdown in the second quarter.

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NSU and HU get ready for MEAC openers

HAMPTON ROADS, Virginia -- Norfolk State and Hampton both open MEAC play this Saturday afternoon. The Spartans host Morgan State at 4:00 in the 67th annual Fish Bowl Classic.

Coach Pete Adrian’s team is coming off of an 0-4 non-conference start to the season. NSU lost to Maine, Liberty, William and Mary and Buffalo, but those games don’t mean much now that it’s MEAC games from here on out.

Saturday’s opponent, Morgan State, has averaged 30 points per game this season and has won two games in a row, including a 38-35 conference win over Howard.

“Morgan is one of the top rushing teams in the country,” said Pete Adrian. “They rush about 370 yards rushing a game and that’s outstanding which is 7th in the country and they are 50% on third down conversions, so we will have to try to keep them off the field as much as possible.”

Hampton opens its MEAC slate Saturday at 2:00 against South Carolina State. The Pirates picked up their first win of the season this past weekend, beating division 2 Miles College.



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Former NFL player Ricardo Silva (Hampton University) now teaches high school

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Similarities between NFL players and high school teachers might not seem numerous. However Ricardo Silva, who formerly played for the Detroit Lions and the Carolina Panthers, recently began a new job teaching geometry.

According to the Detroit Lions, Silva joined the Lions from 2011 to 2012 after graduating first team All-MEAC at Hampton University. Later, the football star became a free agent who played briefly for the Panthers in 2013.

Silva’s athletic career could have continued. Jobs playing football in Canada or coaching at a college were offered to him, The Washington Post reports.

Surprisingly, those alluring offers were turned down by Silva. Instead, he joined Teach for America, which is a corps of teachers striving to impact and improve the education of all children especially those in poverty. He is teaching 10th grade geometry at Ballou High School in Washington, D.C.

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Regular MEAC tourneys to stay at Scope through 2018

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Norfolk State's trip to the MEAC basketball tournament will continue to be short, and the city's mayor couldn't be happier about it.

The league's men's and women's tournaments will remain at Scope for an additional three years, keeping the event in the city through 2018, MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas announced Thursday.

Thomas made the announcement in an outdoor ceremony attended by many MEAC coaches and city officials in the shadow of the USS Wisconsin at Nauticus.

Mayor Paul Fraim, who spoke at the ceremony, said retaining the event was a financial coup for the city.

"It's substantial," Fraim said.

"There are thousands of visitors who come and enjoy Norfolk and everything that we have to offer as well as attending the tournament."

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