Circle City Classic: FAMU vs. WSSU on NFL Network

by USA Today

On tap: NFL Network spokesman Dan Masonson says the channel will announce Monday (October 1, 2007) that it will air its first-ever regular-season college game Saturday: Winston-Salem State-Florida A&M, with announcers Spero Dedes and Sterling Sharpe.

by Winston Salem Sports Information

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The 2007 Circle City Classic that pits the Winston-Salem State University Rams versus the Florida A&M University Rattlers at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana on October 6, 2007 at 4:00 pm will air live on the NFL Network.

The Coca-Cola Circle City Classic enters its third decade as one of America's top football classics and favorite weekend celebrations. While the name and the quality of the game remains the same, the weekend has gained a name of its own, the American Family Insurance Classic Weekend featuring the Coca-Cola Circle City Classic.

The football game is the showcase event as it features some of the best rivalries in black college football. The weekend is a celebration of cultural excellence and educational achievement while showcasing the spirit, energy and tradition of America's historically black colleges and universities.

The 2007 Classic features the Rams of Winston-Salem State University and the Rattlers of Florida A&M University taking to the gridiron at 4:00 pm on October 6, 2007.

The game will air live on the NFL Network with Spero Dedes calling the play-by-play and seven-year NFL veteran Sterling Sharpe providing the analysis.

Play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes joined the NFL Network in 2006 as a host and as a play-by-play announcer.

Dedes serves as the play-by-play voice for NFL Network's NFL preseason games, college bowl games and other selected events.

The only year-round show dedicated to the NFL, NFL Total Access provides daily news, interviews and analysis from around the league. NFL Total Access airs six days a week, Monday at 6:00 PM ET and Tuesday through Saturday at 7:00 PM ET.

Dedes also currently serves as the play-by-play radio voice of the Los Angeles Lakers alongside Mychal Thompson on XTRA Sports 570. Prior to working with the Lakers, he was the host of NBA TV's Hardwood Classics and the NBA "Insiders."

Dedes has extensive play-by-play experience including NFL on Fox games, YES Network's coverage of college football and basketball and first-round playoff games for NBA TV. He began his broadcasting career at WFAN Radio in New York where he handled updates and served as the Jets' beat reporter. Dedes also worked as the radio voice of the Arena Football League's New Jersey Gladiators.

Dedes, a 2001 Fordham graduate from Paramus, N.J. was the inaugural recipient of the Marty Glickman Award, given to the Fordham announcer who best exemplifies the standards set by the late sports broadcasting icon. He continues a long line of sports excellence produced by Fordham University's WFUV Radio that began with the legendary voice of the Dodgers' Vin Scully in the late 1940's.

Providing game analysis for the Rams vs. Rattlers will be former NFL wide receiver Sterling Sharpe who begins his fifth season with NFL Network after joining at the network's kickoff in November 2003.

Sharpe serves as a co-host with Brian Baldinger on Playbook, the ultimate NFL chalkboard program utilizing the same "all 22" game film that coaches and players use to preview all of the upcoming games. Airing each Thursday and Friday at 8:00 PM ET, Playbook gives fans an insider's look at who could win each game as well as coach and player interviews conducted by Solomon Wilcots on-location at team headquarters. Playbook re-airs every Sunday morning at 11 AM ET with the latest pregame updates from around the league.

Previously, Sharpe spent seven years as an NFL analyst for ESPN and one season with NBC.

Sharpe never missed a game in seven stellar NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers. His 595 career receptions are tops in Packers history. Sharpe led the NFL in catches three times, touchdown catches twice and receiving yards once.

A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Sharpe had five 1,000-yard seasons. From 1992-94, Sharpe joined with Brett Favre to form one of the most prolific tandems in NFL history. The duo combined for 300 receptions, 3,696 yards and 41 touchdowns. Sharpe was the first receiver in NFL history to post at least 300 receptions in a three-season span and was the first player in NFL history with consecutive 100-catch seasons (1992-93).

Sharpe was the Packers' first-round draft choice in 1988 from the University of South Carolina.

NFL Network is the year-round programming network fully-owned and operated by the NFL.

It is every football fan's dream. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a network solely devoted to the most popular sport in America, football. NFL Network is a destination for all that happens around the league, on and off the field - during the season and throughout the non-playing season.

Each year, NFL Network televises nearly 200 NFL games, including 52 preseason games, eight regular season primetime games, 98 game replays, the Senior Bowl, Insight Bowl and Texas Bowl, plus past Super Bowl and NFL Classic games.

With a camera at each of the 32 NFL team facilities, plus tremendous cooperation from the NFL players, coaches, owners, officials and executives, the unique access allows viewers to get closer to the NFL experience than ever before.

NFL Films, created by the NFL more than 40 years ago, is a key supplier of NFL Network's programming. With more than 100 million feet of film in its library, NFL Films is the backbone of NFL Network.

NFL Network is the gathering place of the NFL, using the latest digital media applications to bring a new dimension to the NFL experience. The passion, the excitement, the highs and the lows are covered by NFL Network from an insider's perspective.

Locally the NFL Network is available on DirecTV channel 212 and the Dish Network channel 154. The broadcast begins at 4:00 pm as the 2007 Circle City Classic airs live.

SU’s perfect start to get big test this week

Photo: Del Roberts runs back kickoff against Alabama State in Gulf Coast Classic.

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Southern is the last unbeaten team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. How long can the run last?

The Jaguars (5-0, 3-0 SWAC) knocked off previously unbeaten Alabama State 21-2 in the 34th Gulf Coast Classic on Saturday in Mobile, Ala.

Now, here come two games which will tell much about Southern.

First, defending conference champion Alabama A&M (4-1, 2-1) visits for homecoming at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium. Then, Jackson State (2-2, 2-0) comes to Mumford Stadium on the following Saturday.

On deck, this A&M game is absolutely huge.

A&M, with senior Kelcy Luke at quarterback and rapidly emerging sophomore Ulysses Banks at running back, has averaged 45.8 points per game in its four victories. The Bulldogs, of course, also play some of the SWAC’s best defense every season.

This game alone may tell all about Southern.

“If you’re not there, you’re going to miss an experience,” SU strong safety Glenn Bell said.

SU coach Pete Richardson, around for 15 seasons, has always said October is where championships are won.

The last two Octobers, the Jaguars are 2-5, including 0-3 last season. In comparison, SU went 5-0 en route to the 2004 Western Division championship.

This team, of course, is different than the last two editions. The 5-0 start has put this team in position.

“We have to keep the momentum and keep the focus,” Southern quarterback Bryant Lee said.

What Southern has shown so far has been impressive.

Southern’s defense, using its speed and playing with passion, has been the difference-maker in all five games — shutting down Mississippi Valley State, Alabama State and Prairie View and, after first-down breakdowns, putting clamps on Tennessee State and Florida A&M.

The offense, meanwhile, may not have found consistency from game to game or quarter to quarter, but the playmakers make plays, Lee is an efficient winner and the running game, headlined by Darren Coates and a zone-blocking scheme, has been vastly improved.

Together, starting with the way the offensive linemen have selflessly adopted to their changes after losing so many teammates to grades and continuing to how the defense will pick up the offense and vice versa, this has been a team effort.

“We have to play, regardless of what happens. It’s a team sport,” Richardson said.

Richardson keeps talking about how this team has learned how to play hard for 60 minutes.

There’s a big 60 minutes ahead Saturday.

Do more of this
The balance rushing, even without Smith, was there again Saturday. Coates had 13 carries for 65 yards, Brian Threat had 14 for 52 yards and a touchdown and Lee had 16 carries for minus-2 yards and a touchdown (losing 22 yards on a sack and 21 yards on a bad snap, so effectively 14 positive carries for 41 yards).

Work more on this
Southern has to find a way to get a consistent offensive tempo, and the Jaguars have to do so quicker. So far this season, SU has had one sustained scoring drive in the first quarter. SU’s best scoring quarter is the second, with 53 points.

Up next
Southern hosts Alabama A&M for homecoming at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium. The Bulldogs won 28-21 last season. Though A&M return man Ulysses Banks took the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and the Bulldogs took a 14-0 lead in the second quarter, A&M trailed 21-14 entering the fourth quarter before scoring two touchdowns to win. A&M has beaten SU the last two seasons. Both teams have beaten Ohio Valley Conference member Tennessee State this season, with A&M winning 49-23 and SU winning 41-34. And both beat Mississippi Valley State, with A&M winning 45-14 and SU winning 23-6.

Challenge awaits SU's defense

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Alabama A&M’s offense against Southern’s defense looms as an exciting matchup Saturday.

A&M averages 443.6 yards and 37.8 points per game — both marks ranking 12th nationally — while Southern is fifth in pass efficiency defense (87.17), ninth in scoring defense (14.2 ppg) and 17th in total defense (301.0 ypg).

A&M (4-1, 2-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) visits SU (5-0, 3-0) for homecoming at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The normally conservative, defense-oriented Bulldogs have raised eyebrows for their explosive scoring — even as they had to replace a host of running backs and wide receivers.

A&M blew out Texas Southern 48-24 in the Bulldogs’ homecoming Saturday in Normal, Ala. Ulysses Banks ran for 112 yards and a touchdown, with senior quarterback Kelcy Luke throwing for 206 yards and four touchdowns.

Meanwhile, SU held Alabama State junior running back Jay Peck to 35 yards on 16 carries — his lowest total since the 2006 season opener, before he broke out and became an All-SWAC first-teamer — in a 21-12 win Saturday in Mobile, Ala.

“We saw some things on film,” Southern defensive coordinator Terrence Graves said. “Our thing was, we had to stone the run. We brought guys off the edge, because they were trying to outflank us. So we just brought the pressure to the side where they were trying to outflank us and it worked out for us.”

Two Alabama State quarterbacks combined to go 8-for-33 for 84 yards and two interceptions.

Southern made a fourth-down stand to win last season’s Bayou Classic, and the Jaguars have made several fourth-down stops deep in their territory this season.

Saturday, SU held on a fourth-and-goal at the 2 midway through the third quarter, preserving a 12-point lead.

“If it comes down to it, we’re going to step up,” SU linebacker Gary Chapman said.


By George
Southern senior free safety Jarmaul George, the SWAC’s preseason defensive player of the year, made his fourth interception this season Saturday. He has had one in each of the last three games.

George is tied with five other players, behind the five interceptions for Chris Wynn of Penn, for second in the Football Championship Subdivision.


He has 12 in his career at Southern.

Go for it
Alabama State made quarterback Alex Engram its punter the week before playing Southern and the move immediately paid off, with Engram named one of the SWAC’s co-special teams players of the week. What helped Saturday was Engram used his option to scamper twice in the second half to run for first downs.

First, he converted a fourth-and-4 with a 5-yard dash to the Southern 35 with 6:14 left in the third quarter. That drive ended on downs at the SU 16 with 4:22 to go.

Second, he converted a fourth-and-4 with a 16-yard run to the SU 35 with 14:49 left in the game. That drive ended on downs at the SU 13.

“We were going to try to fake them last week but the time didn’t present itself,” Engram said. “The first one, I watched Southern’s guy. He didn’t come. He kind of stayed flat-footed and back. I said, ‘OK.’ (Special teams coordinator Brian) Williams told me he trusts my judgment. The second one, we don’t run it to the left. When the guy crashed, he was out of control, to me, so I felt if I just faked, it would be alright.”

Duran Duran
SU punter Josh Duran was erroneously charged with a minus-2 yard punt in the first quarter. He fumbled the ball before he could kick it, with SU’s Antuanya Antoine recovering, but the Jaguars, of course, turning the ball over on downs at their own 40-yard line.

Duran actually had five punts for 227 yards — averaging 45.4 yards per punt (not 37.5). He also was 3-for-3 on PATs.

Quick hits
SU backup RB Kendrick Smith (24 carries, 135 yards; six catches, 48 yards, two touchdowns) missed Saturday’s game because of a strained Achilles’ tendon. He did not dress and wore a walking boot. There was no timetable for Smith’s return. Alabama State was held to its fewest points since losing 38-0 at Troy, a Football Bowl Subdivision member, to start the 2006 season. Alabama State true freshman K Jeremy Fetterhoff missed a 22-yard field-goal try in the second quarter, making him 0-for-3 this season. Saturday’s game was tape-delayed that evening on ESPNU. Alabama State spokesperson Kelvin Datcher said he was not informed until late Thursday night that the game would not be televised live.

Notes
SU had 10 quarterback hurries, five by Chapman (who also had a sack), and six pass breakups Saturday. The Jaguars have totaled nine interceptions and 24 breakups this season. Last season, SU had 14 interceptions and 30 breakups. In three of SU’s games this season, the Jaguars have shut out an opponent for a full half (Mississippi Valley State in the second half and Prairie View and Alabama State in the first half, with both of those teams getting their only points on a safety). SU has won six straight games, dating to last season. Sophomore QB Bryant Lee is 6-1 as a starter.

Alabama A&M notebook

Photo: SWAC pre-season defensive player of the year, FS Jarmaul George is just one of the many game breakers that SU has available to stop opponents.

Huntsville Times

Bulldogs have concerns about secondary

Alabama A&M's secondary had held up pretty well in wins over Tennessee State, Clark Atlanta and Mississippi Valley State. The Bulldogs had allowed under 160 yards per game in those three victories.

However, A&M gave up 235 yards in a 31-6 loss at Grambling and then allowed a season-high 352 yards in Saturday's 48-24 win over Texas Southern as quarterback Tino Edgecombe was 29-of-59 with three touchdowns and three interceptions.

While A&M coach Anthony Jones voiced some concerns about the Bulldogs' secondary play, he admitted the nature of the game dictated some of the things that happened.

"They were trailing throughout the game and that forced them to throw the ball almost 60 times," he said. "We had three interceptions and we had our hands on a few more that we let slip away."

But Jones admitted the Bulldogs would have to play a lot better if they hoped to beat Southern this weekend.

The Jaguars are 5-0 overall and 3-0 in SWAC play after beating Alabama State 21-2 Saturday.

"We'll go back to the drawing board and try to make some adjustments to curb that," Jones said in reference to his team's problems in the secondary.

"We know if Southern has that kind of success against us the results won't be the same."

A different Southern team: Southern's best teams under coach Pete Richardson have usually been highly productive through the air.

This year's squad has been effective throwing the football with sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee. But the Jaguars have been equally impressive running the ball, led by senior Darren Coates, who has been among the SWAC's top rushers.

"They're going to run the football," Jones said. "They still have a relatively young quarterback and their coaches are doing a great job of putting him in situations where he can manage the game.

"They're going to try to run the ball and we've got to be geared up to stop it. They've got some serious weapons when they throw the ball. (Gerard) Landry is really fast. They are an explosive unit. They're going to be a group that will be hard to contain."

A little worried in warmups: Jones is usually pretty good about gauging his team during pregame warmups. That wasn't the case Saturday.

Fortunately for A&M, it worked out as the Bulldogs rolled to an easy win over Texas Southern.

"Coach (Ben) Blacknall and I talked during pregame and we were trying to figure out which team was going to show up," Jones said. "I couldn't make a good assessment. Either we were going to come out and explode or lay an egg.

"Thank God we exploded."

A&M scored on four of its first five possessions and rolled up 514 yards in total offense.

Reggie Benson

Alabama A&M after Southern harmony

By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff

'Dogs hope second trip to Louisiana more fruitful

Alabama A&M failed miserably in its first big test of the season. On Saturday, the Bulldogs hope to pass their second one.

They will travel to Baton Rouge, La., to take on Southern in a big Southwestern Athletic Conference game at Mumford Stadium. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m.

The Jaguars, coming off back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in Pete Richardson's tenure, have been the class of the conference so far. Southern is 5-0 overall and 3-0 in league play following Saturday's 21-2 thumping of previously unbeaten Alabama State.

"They're playing the best football in the conference right now," A&M coach Anthony Jones said Sunday. "They're the only undefeated team left. When Pete has them playing this way, they're hard to handle.

"Then, you've got to do it on the road in front of their crowd and their fans. It's their homecoming and I guarantee you they'll have close to 40,000 there."

A&M failed to show up just over a week ago in its first trip to Louisiana. Grambling whipped the Bulldogs 31-6, limiting A&M's potent offense to a pair of Jeremy Licea field goals and only 147 total yards.

However, quarterback Kelcy Luke and company got back on track Saturday as the Bulldogs whipped Texas Southern 48-24. A&M rolled up 514 yards in total offense, including 308 on the ground, to take out the Tigers.

The Bulldogs scored on four of their first five possessions and topped the 40-point mark for the fourth time in five games.

"I liked our focus when we came out and the energy that we had," Jones said.

It'll take that same kind of focus and energy, Jones said, if A&M is going to come away with a win over a Southern team that is playing as well as it has since winning the SWAC and the black college national championship in 2003.

"Coach Richardson has them playing great football right now," Jones said. "He is the dean of this conference for a reason. He's been here the longest for a reason and it's very, very evident this year why he has the record he's had over the years.

"He's going to have his team ready to play. I've got to do the same thing."

That wasn't the case against Grambling, but Jones predicted his team would be ready to play this time around.

"I think our guys will be up for this game," he said. "We're not going down there just to be going down there."

Things tougher for BC-U Wildcats

Photo: Morgan State's #2 Chad Simpson steamrolled BC-U run defense in a second half run controlled offense. Expect more of the same this week from a strong DSU running game.

By SEAN KERNAN, Daytona Beach News-Journal

Just when the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats are at their lowest point in 10 seasons, and just when it seems like things can't get any tougher, the 'Cats are facing what might be their most difficult week of the season.

B-CU, winless after three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games, has to travel to Dover, Del., for a Thursday night nationally televised showdown with new conference power Delaware State (2-0 in league play including a 24-17 victory Saturday over three-time defending champion Hampton). The shorter amount of preparation time, coupled with the necessary travel for B-CU's longest road trip of the year, puts the 'Cats at a distinct disadvantage.

"We have our work cut out for us," Wildcats head coach Alvin Wyatt said. "It's going to take us some time to get it right. You cut two days out of your preparation and a team like us that needs to be nourished right now, that can have an effect right now. I think if we go in there with the right frame of mind and get some of these injuries behind us we can put up a good fight."

The Wildcats, 2-3 overall, played without injured defensive lineman Dennis King (knee) and fullback Justin Brannon (sprained ankle) in Saturday's 33-9 homecoming loss to Morgan State at Municipal Stadium. Additionally, slotback Corey Council, who also returns kicks and punts, left the game due to a bruised lung, and defensive lineman Dexter Jackson is out due to a shoulder injury.

Though beaten on the field Saturday, several Wildcats remained optimistic and anxious to turn things around.

"It was a difficult loss for homecoming, but we have to come right back," said linebacker Ronnie McCullough, who had 20 tackles.

Despite the short week and six-game conference losing streak, B-CU's players vow not to have a physical letdown.

"We're going to play our hearts out," defensive back James Monds promised.

Free safety Bobbie Williams admitted the team is hurting right now, but has to focus on the task at hand.

"It's a bad feeling, but we have to take every game game-by-game," Williams said. "Win, lose or draw we have to leave it all on the field. We have to follow the scheme. The coaches are putting us in the right spots, we just have to go out and execute."

B-CU at Delaware St.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Thursday

WHERE: Dover, Del.

RECORDS: B-CU 2-3 (0-3 MEAC), Delaware St. 3-1 (2-0)

TV: ESPNU

SCSU: The grass is not always greener

Following the Bulldogs by Thomas Grant

Times and Democrat Blog

The Grass is not always greener

Could South Carolina State depart the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the Southern Conference?

Apparently, SCSU chairman Maurice Washington believes the school should take a serious look into such a possibility. At Thursday’s board meeting, Washington brought up the issue in suggesting the move would reduce travel costs for the athletics department in allowing SCSU to play teams closer to home.

“We need to make a prudent examination into this,” Washington said.

SCSU President Andrew Hugine provided a rebuttal, stating the MEAC plans to expand in future years and this could divide the conference into two separate subdivisions like the Southeastern Conference. This would allow SCSU to schedule more non-conference opponents which could also allow games taking place closer to Orangeburg.

Considering both the MEAC and the NCAA for that matter currently have moratoriums in place preventing further conference expansions, such a prospect could be years in the making if ever.

But back to Washington’s proposal.

On the surface, it looks like a good idea for both revenue-making sports like football and basketball. The football team would get to compete in one of the best Football Championship Subdivision conferences in America, one with a significantly higher power ranking in the MEAC and face teams geographically close like Furman, Wofford, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. SCSU would also bring a loyal fan following to these venues, insuring higher gate attendance for the SoCon teams they face on the road.

For the positives for the revenue-sports, there are several unspoken negatives about making such a move. Number one, none of the non-revenue sports are in position right now to even compete in the SoCon with exception to tennis. Track and field, cross-country, softball, volleyball and soccer have all performed poorly in recent years not only in the MEAC, but outside the conference against teams from the SoCon and even Big South. Those same schools also even a major advantage in recruiting since - let’s be honest - it’s easier to recruit a white student-athlete who’s only at an FCS level to attend a Furman or Wofford than it is to attend SCSU. Unless the current coaches or administration at SCSU are willing to expand their reach, such a development will not change anytime soon and they can count on being one of the bottom-feeders for years to come in the SoCon or Big South.

There’s also another unspoken truth which applies to football and basketball and it pertains to attendance. While SCSU will bring a crowd to a road stadium, it’s been shown that those same fans at Wofford, Furman and Georgia Southern will not return the favor and flock to Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. SCSU football has accounted for two of the four largest crowds at Wofford College and one of the largest in Coastal Carolina’s school history, but only the game against Coastal Carolina drew well over 10,000 fans in Orangeburg.

The same was true last season in men’s basketball when the men’s team hosted two Big South opponents (North Carolina-Asheville and Coastal Carolina) and drew less than 500 fans. Truly, it’s been a win-lose proposition for SCSU when it comes to dealing with FCS schools. If anything, SCSU will be perceived as the ‘outsider’ among the veteran teams of the SoCon and Big South and those schools will look to get what they can out of SCSU without giving anything in return.

Granted, the MEAC is a conference in dire need of change. Commissioner Dennis Thomas’ administration has gone the way of his coaching tenure at SCSU - uninspiring and forgettable. The Presidents in this conference also seem more concerned about their own well-being and interest rather than working towards a collective goal for the good of the conference. There are no forward-thinking leaders in this conference and an argument could be add the CIAA has done more with less.

Perhaps SCSU could work out an arrangement should it join the SoCon to perhaps regulate its non-revenue sports to competing in a Division II conference during the transition. Or maybe SCSU could stay in the MEAC, but work diligently to demand the other conference members to ’shape up or ship out’. There’s also the independent route where SCSU could schedule MEAC, SoCon, Big South and Football Bowl Subdivision teams, but only Notre Dame makes money as an independent.

At the end of the day, it’s all about money when it comes to making a decision to end a longtime relationship and the rivalries which come with it to start new ones. While moving to the SoCon would mean less travel costs, it does not mean more money coming into the coffers especially if the same fundamental problem exists of drawing fans to the stadium. Until season ticket sales are at a level equivalent to USC or Clemson and the administration demands a higher level of excellence from all of its sports, it will not make a difference what conference SCSU joins in the future.

If joining the SoCon would guarantee higher revenues and better sports teams for SCSU, I would jump at the opportunity. Right now, however, I doubt it.