DURHAM, North Carolina -- There’s not a lot Jerry Mack hasn’t accomplished in his four years as the head football coach at N.C. Central.
Mack, 36, has won three MEAC championships, becoming the first coach in school history to win 24 games in his first three years. Last season he led the Eagles to their first national ranking as a Division I-FCS program, finishing No. 19 in the FCS Coaches Poll. After N.C. Central’s first outright MEAC title in 2016, Mack led the team to its first bowl game since making the switch to Division I in 2011.
This season, N.C. Central is off to a 4-1 start and is 3-0 in the MEAC. Since starting at NCCU in 2014, Mack has gone 29-12 and 24-3 record in conference play. But for all he has accomplished, Mack, until this past weekend, still had one more thing to check off his list: beating a non-conference opponent.
N.C. Central this past Saturday finally did just that by beating Gardner-Webb (1-5) from the Big South 24-17, in the fifth meeting between the two in-state schools. The win goes a long way in helping the national reputation of N.C. Central, which entered the game ranked No. 25 in the FCS Coaches Poll.
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Monday, October 16, 2017
Unbeaten North Carolina A&T 'on the right track' after seventh victory
On the road at Florida A&M, playing in front of a standing-room-only homecoming crowd in a stadium that seats 25,500, N.C. A&T looked vulnerable in its 31-20 victory over the Rattlers on Saturday.
The Aggies lost three turnovers, including quarterback Lamar Raynard’s second and third interceptions of the season, and committed a season-high eight penalties for 64 yards.
And yet, it was still win No. 7. The Aggies are 7-0 for the first time since 1943 and just the third time in the program’s 93-year history.
“Man, let’s don’t take these wins for granted,” A&T coach Rod Broadway said today. “Winning is hard. Sometimes we get in a comfort zone where we think this (7-0 start) is the norm. Well, this isn’t normal. These guys are doing something special.”
Now comes the most difficult game of the season. A&T (7-0, 4-0 MEAC) will host Bethune-Cookman (3-3, 2-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Aggie Stadium.
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Grambling State has 'chip on shoulder' entering Alcorn State game
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- When you’re talking champ versus champ, breath’s not wasted on clichΓ©s or coach speak.Fourth-year Grambling State head football coach Broderick Fobbs could’ve doled out the politically correct banter Monday morning at his weekly press conference, where he previewed the reigning SWAC champion Tigers’ big showdown with Alcorn State, the league’s champion the year prior, coming up Saturday at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
The Braves defeated the G-Men, 49-21, for the title in 2015, and maybe that still doesn’t quite sit well with Fobbs. Or maybe it’s from last season’s SWAC championship game where Alcorn raced out to a 17-0 halftime advantage – a stark difference from the regular season meeting where GSU dominated, 43-18 – before his Tigers roared back to win, 27-20, in the final minutes.
Likely reasoning is a combination of the two. But any way it’s sliced, Grambling State (5-1, 2-0), now ranked 17th in the FCS Coaches Poll, has entered Alcorn State week with a chip on its shoulder.
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JSU AD: Tony Hughes still the right man for the job at Jackson State
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State director of athletics Wheeler Brown gave Tiger football coach Tony Hughes a vote of confidence Monday morning, despite the team's 0-6 start.Reached by phone, Brown said he understands the frustration fans feel towards the program, which is off to its worst start since 1969 following Saturday's 33-7 loss to Division II Tuskegee.
"I don't think the kids or the coaches have quit," Brown said. "I hope we can work to rectify those things that have kept us from being successful on the field, but my support hasn't wavered and at the end of the day, I still think coach Hughes is the man for the job."
The Tigers are set to host Southern University this weekend at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
The athletic department decided to postpone Monday's regularly scheduled football press conference to Tuesday, prompting many to believe there may be a shakeup within the coaching staff.
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Sunday, October 15, 2017
The 16th Annual Honda Battle of the Bands Returns to Rock Atlanta
Polls are now open for the public to vote for their favorite marching bands to perform in the 16th annual HBOB Invitational Showcase.
TORRANCE, California – Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) will make its highly-anticipated return to Atlanta on January 27, 2018, when eight marching bands from the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) take the field to dazzle fans with their music, choreography and pageantry. The polls are now open for the public to vote for their favorite marching bands to perform in the 16th annual HBOB Invitational Showcase.
Beginning today, fans can visit http://www.hondabattleofthebands.com/the-bands and vote daily to help select the eight bands that will perform at the 2018 Invitational Showcase. Voting will close on Friday, October 20 at midnight Eastern.
“For more than 15 years, Honda Battle of the Bands has provided a stage for exceptional marching bands—a hallmark of HBCU culture,” said Stephan Morikawa, Vice President, Corporate Relations & Social Responsibility for Honda. “Honda is honored to celebrate these student musicians and their teamwork, and we look forward to their dynamic performances come January.”
This year’s theme, March On: Dream Together, highlights the distinctive culture of HBCUs—both on and off the field. It is a culture that impacts and inspires far beyond its community. In addition to music education, HBOB celebrates everything from the rich history and traditions of HBCUs to the life-long connections that fuel future leaders.
In the last two years, the HBOB Invitational Showcase has attracted a combined audience of nearly 120,000 fans via the live show and online livestream. Tickets for the anticipated event start at $10 and will be available for purchase on October 16 at HondaBattleoftheBands.com.
In addition to the marching bands, the 2018 Invitational Showcase will also feature the fourth-annual HBCU Power of Dreams Award. Honda established the award to honor extraordinary individuals who are positively affecting the lives of others and moving the HBCU community forward. Members of the HBCU community will have the opportunity to nominate an exceptional individual who is making a difference in the community. Honda will recognize the winner in a ceremony during the event.
For more information on Honda Battle of the Bands and to buy tickets, visit www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com. To join the social media conversation, use #HBOB and visit the following social media handles for official updates:
Facebook – Facebook.com/HondaBattleoftheBands
Twitter – @The_Honda / Twitter.com/The_Honda
Instagram – @the_honda / Instagram.com/the_honda
About Honda
Honda seeks to be a company that society wants to exist, creating products and technologies that improve the lives of people while minimizing the environmental impacts of its products and business operations to ensure a sustainable future for society. Honda is also committed to making positive contributions to the communities where we do business, to socially responsible business practices and to the promotion of diversity in our workforce. From our involvement in STEM education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to our support of pediatric brain tumor research, and volunteer efforts by Honda associates, including environmental clean-up activities, Honda believes in giving back to the communities where we live and work.
Honda supports a variety of initiatives aimed at advancing education and creating experiences of discovery that help young people see and achieve their own dreams. Honda's partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund is one of many programs demonstrating Honda's commitment to the Latino community and to helping young people access The Power of Dreams.
NCCU Football Defeats Gardner-Webb to Extend Record Home Win Streak
DURHAM, North Carolina – No. 25 North Carolina Central University amassed 409 yards of total offense, including a season-high 333 passing yards by freshman quarterback Chauncey Caldwell, to lift the Eagles past Gardner-Webb University by a score of 24-17 inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.
The nationally-ranked Eagles extend their school record home win streak to 11 games.
Sophomore wide receiver Xavier McKoy made the most of his three catches, finishing with 139 receiving yards, including an 89-yard touchdown on the third-longest pass play in NCCU history.
Senior receiver Jacen Murphy collected a game-high seven receptions for 64 yards, while freshman Nique Martin caught three passes for 66 yards with a 57-yard touchdown.
Defensively, safeties Davanta Reynolds and Alden McClellon topped NCCU with eight tackles apiece. The lone takeaway by the Eagles was a fumble recovery by linebacker De'Niro Laster that was forced by defensive end Kawuan Cox to halt the Runnin' Bulldogs' opening drive of the contest.
NCCU's kicking game played a big factor in Saturday's outcome. Aedan Johnson made a 40-yard field goal and Nathaniel Tilque placed five of his seven punts inside the 10-yard line with a long of 52 yards.
BOX SCORE
Gardner-Webb (1-5) was led by senior quarterback Tyrell Maxwell, who accounted for 303 total yards with 138 yards passing and 165 yards and two touchdowns rushing. Linebacker Kenyatta Dunbar recorded 10 tackles with a sack and an interception.
Up next, NCCU (5-1) returns to MEAC action by hosting Norfolk State University on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. The Eagles have won 18 consecutive conference games.
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
The nationally-ranked Eagles extend their school record home win streak to 11 games.
Sophomore wide receiver Xavier McKoy made the most of his three catches, finishing with 139 receiving yards, including an 89-yard touchdown on the third-longest pass play in NCCU history.
Senior receiver Jacen Murphy collected a game-high seven receptions for 64 yards, while freshman Nique Martin caught three passes for 66 yards with a 57-yard touchdown.
Defensively, safeties Davanta Reynolds and Alden McClellon topped NCCU with eight tackles apiece. The lone takeaway by the Eagles was a fumble recovery by linebacker De'Niro Laster that was forced by defensive end Kawuan Cox to halt the Runnin' Bulldogs' opening drive of the contest.
NCCU's kicking game played a big factor in Saturday's outcome. Aedan Johnson made a 40-yard field goal and Nathaniel Tilque placed five of his seven punts inside the 10-yard line with a long of 52 yards.
BOX SCORE
Gardner-Webb (1-5) was led by senior quarterback Tyrell Maxwell, who accounted for 303 total yards with 138 yards passing and 165 yards and two touchdowns rushing. Linebacker Kenyatta Dunbar recorded 10 tackles with a sack and an interception.
Up next, NCCU (5-1) returns to MEAC action by hosting Norfolk State University on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. The Eagles have won 18 consecutive conference games.
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
HBCU Football Judgement Day Scoreboard - Week 7
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2017
OVC
Austin Peay 21, Tennessee State 17
MEAC
Morgan State 48, Savannah State 28
Hampton 16, Norfolk State 14, Battle of the Bay
Howard 52, Delaware State 23
North Carolina Central 24, Gardner-Webb 17
North Carolina A&T 31, Florida A&M 20
Bethune-Cookman 12, South Carolina State 9
SWAC
Alabama State 23, Texas Southern 16
Alcorn State 34, Prairie View 21
Central State (OH) 40, Arkansas Pine Bluff 35
Alabama A&M 49, Mississippi Valley 14
Tuskegee 33, Jackson State 7, 5th Quarter Classic
CIAA
Virginia State 47, Bowie State 35
Virginia Union 35, Chowan 10
Shaw 35, Livingstone 14
Fayetteville State 41, Johnson C. Smith 16
Saint Augustine's 17, Winston-Salem State 14
Elizabeth City State 56, Lincoln (PA)18
OTHER CONF.
Langston 44, Texas College 17
West Virginia State 47, Concord 29
Webber International 16, Edward Waters 9
Shippensburg 56, Cheyney 0
Missouri S&T 37, Lincoln (MO) 3
SIAC
Central State (OH) 40, Arkansas Pine Bluff 35
Tuskegee 33, Jackson State 7
Albany State 34, Morehouse 10
Fort Valley State 37, Lane College 14
Miles 35, Kentucky State 0
Benedict 14, Clark Atlanta 3
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