GameDay preview: Southern at Alabama State

THE GAME
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: ASU Stadium
Records: ASU (2-3, 2-2 SWAC), SU (2-2, 2-0)
On the air: TV -- none; Radio -- WQKS-FM 100.5, WKXK-FM 96.7, WKXN-FM 95.7, WJAM-FM 96.3
Twitter: @kamarrid, @MGMsports

FOUR-DOWN TERRITORY

1. Prayers for SU: Though the Hornets face the Jaguars on Saturday, they say they're also praying for them. Southern receiver Devon Gales suffered a major spinal injury in a 48-6 loss at Georgia on Sept. 26 and is paralyzed below the chest. He remains in an Atlanta hospital. “I pray to God that everything goes right for him and his family,” ASU linebacker Kourtney Berry said. “I understand it may not make sense now, but I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Regardless of what that reason is, you have to stay faithful. You have to believe that something is planned for you.” Gales was hurt making a block on a second-half kickoff return. “My heart goes out to Southern University,” ASU coach Brian Jenkins said. “I have to say they've done a first-class job of supporting that family and making sure that young man has everything he needs. Hopefully, here at Alabama State, we'll be able to make some type of contribution or do something to help that family.”

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B-CU Wildcats slip past SCSU Bulldogs

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Quentin Williams said his confidence never wavered as he led his Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on the deciding drive of Thursday night’s 17-14 win over MEAC rival South Carolina State.

And, cornerback Elliott Miller said, the Wildcats believed in Williams too.

“We always believe in (Williams) and our offense,” he said.

That confidence was rewarded with a 51-yard drive, capped by a 3-yard jaunt by Williams in which he fought off a defender on his way to the end zone, to give the Wildcats the lead for good with 5:14 left to play.

The quarterback's run answered a highlight-reel, 83-yard punt return for touchdown by Antonio Hamilton that gave S.C. State the lead with 10:40 left.

And, most importantly, it kept Bethune-Cookman’s MEAC title hopes alive.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

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A&T Aggies have Broadway on verge of milestone

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  -- The next time A&T wins a football game, it will be the 100th victory for head coach Rod Broadway.

It’s a nice round figure, a milestone for a man who has spent the past 37 years of his life in college football as either an assistant or head coach.

But what does 100 wins mean to Broadway himself?

“Honestly? Nothing,” Broadway said. “I just want to win one, man. That’s as far as I look ahead. If we can win the next one, I’ll be grateful. All the 100 means is that I’ve been coaching for a long time, and that I’ve had good (assistant) coaches and good players. ... It isn’t about me. I didn’t do this for me. I do this to try to help people.”

Broadway has certainly helped A&T. He took over a program that was 1-10 the season before his arrival and saddled with academic issues.

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Why Kyle O’Quinn felt right at home in his strong Knicks debut

NEW YORK, New York  -- Kyle O’Quinn certainly looked at home Wednesday night. While many of the other new Knicks had some predictable jitters playing at the Garden for the first time as members of the home team, O’Quinn had no such problems.

After all, the versatile 6-foot-10 power forward grew up a Knicks fan, just a 45-minute subway ride from MSG, in South Jamaica, Queens.



“Being in the home locker room, putting on the white jersey, it felt good,” O’Quinn said after practice Thursday at the MSG Training Center. “My mom was there, she was happy to be there. It was a good feeling being at the Garden. It was definitely a good feeling getting a win at the Garden.”

He came to the Knicks in a sign-and-trade with the Magic this offseason in exchange for cash and Orlando being given the option of switching second-round picks in the future with the Knicks. O’Quinn received a four-year, $16 million deal from the Knicks.

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Nuggets beat EWC for 6th straight home victory

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana hit a season-high and Convocation Center-record .451 and defeated Edward Waters 25-10, 25-9, 25-11 in volleyball Thursday.
     
The Gold Nuggets (10-7, 5-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) won their sixth in a row at home and their second straight overall. They have 28 consecutive home victories against GCAC opponents, 26 during the regular season.
     
XU freshman Sarah Pitts-Groce had a career-high nine kills and her first two aces of the season. She produced kills on her first four swings and finished with a .533 percentage in 15 attacks.
     
Xavier's attack percentage broke its previous facility mark of .446 against Voorhees on Sept. 29, 2014. This is the Gold Nuggets' third season at the Convocation Center, where they've won 28-of-33 matches.
     
Also serving a career-best two aces were Patricia Young Yen and Ruby Hunt-Thompson. Young Yen, who was celebrating her birthday, also had five kills.
     
Jada Broussard had eight kills for Xavier. Darian Harris had 10 digs — the 12th time this season she reached double figures — and Kaelan Temple had a career-high nine. Jodi Hill had four blocks, giving her 21 in the last five matches.
    
 Larissa Pereira had four kills for Edward Waters (6-12, 0-4), and Kaylin Davison had nine digs and two aces.
     
Xavier scored 26-of-29 points in a run which started midway through the second set. Xavier scored 14 consecutive points, two on Hunt-Thompson aces, to take a 14-1 lead in the third.
     
Xavier limited the Lady Tigers to minus-.141 hitting and had advantages of 44-8 in kills and 38-24 in digs. The Gold Nuggets served a season-high 10 aces, and seven players served at least one.
     
Xavier will conclude its home stand with a 1 p.m. Saturday GCAC match against Philander Smith at the Convocation Center. It will be the Gold Nuggets' Dig Pink match for breast cancer awareness, and fans are encouraged to wear pink. Admission is free.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

CFAF awards grant to Devon Gales Fund

LAS VEGAS, Nevada  -- The College Football Assistance Fund (CFAF) announced that a grant of $5,000 has been awarded to Southern University football player Devon Gales to help his family with travel and loss-of-income expenses after Devon was injured during a recent game.

Gales, a wide receiver from Baton Rouge, suffered a severe spinal injury on September 26, 2015 during the Southern-Georgia football game in Athens, GA. He underwent successful surgery the following day at Athens Regional Medical Center and has since been transferred to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Coincidentally, this is also where Ty Williams, who received a grant from the College Football Assistance Fund last week, is rehabilitating as well.

“You’re never prepared, emotionally or financially, for your son to suffer such a serious injury,” said Devon’s parents, Donny and Tanisha. “The support of the College Football Assistance Fund allows us to focus on Devon and his recovery, and not on how we’re going to afford being with him at such a critical time in his life.”

There has been an outpouring of support since Devon’s injury. Following the game, the University of Georgia flew Devon’s parents from Louisiana to Atlanta, then drove them to Athens Regional Medical Center. A few days later, Southern University set up a fund to help with medical expenses.

“In football, we’re a tight-knit community, and you really feel for the player and his family in this situation,” said CFAF Board Member and Super Bowl XX MVP Doug Williams. “This is the whole reason for the College Football Assistance Fund – to be ready to help families in need.”

Medical and non-medical expenses for the family will continue to rise for many months, meaning fundraising efforts must continue. Those able to assist the
family can make donations atwww.CFAFund.org, which will be put in a restricted fund for Devon.

ABOUT CFAF

The College Football Assistance Fund (CFAF) is a non-profit tax-exempt organization dedicated to the support of football players. Assistance is provided to ease the burden of medical costs associated with injuries such as joint replacement, spine treatment, neurological care and other related expenses.

The CFAF was established in 2010 by a group of collegiate coaches and athletic administrators concerned about the limited resources available to injured football players. Major donors include some of today’s top college football coaches and Bowls.

For more information about CFAF, please visit www.CFAFund.org.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

from THE EDITOR DWIGHT FLOYD: You Should Be Proud to be a Texas Longhorn or FAMU Rattler

DWIGHT FLOYD'
the Editor

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- On the Florida A&M University campus there is a main road called Wahnish Way. Visit any campus sporting event and you will likely pass through or by it. As you stroll down Wahnish Way and focus your attention toward the main campus you will see a statute in tribute to one of the greatest football coaches of all time in the late great Alonza S. Jake Gaither. The brick building that sits behind the statute is the historical Jake Gaither Gymnasium. The College Hall of Fame football coach is so respected that many a youth have spent most of their spare time at the recreation center and golf course named in his honor.

Neither the University of Texas or Florida A&M University are playing Hall of Fame style football right now. They are hoping to return to winning and to get there they are both taking what may appear to be the least likely road. Historically though, it is a road once traveled.



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