Sunday, November 22, 2009

Capital City Classic: Alcorn State 14, Jackson State 7

Braves defense dominates in Capital City Classic win

JACKSON, MS — When the Alcorn State Braves scored two quick touchdowns in the opening six minutes of the first quarter, most observers probably assumed their game against Jackson State Saturday would be a high-scoring one. However, the Alcorn State defense wound up being the story of the game, as the Braves did not score again after the quick 14 points. The Braves defense held the Tigers to negative 12 rushing yards on 38 attempts, and tallied eight tackles for a loss, en route to a 14-7 win in the Capital City Classic at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Jackson State managed only one touchdown, a 38-yard pass reception by Anthony Mayes with less than two minutes left before halftime. Braves head coach Earnest Collins said his team felt like it had something to prove in terms of its rushing defense. “It was a challenge for our defensive guys,” Collins said. “We’ve been getting the ball run on us for the last couple of weeks. I’m so thankful that the Lord blessed me to have a coordinator like Zach Shay, because his temperament is, he wants to go, go, go, go, go. I knew that, at some point in time, he would get these guys going again.”

PHOTO GALLERY: Jackson State - Alcorn State

Rutland gets final chance, can't deliver win

Tray Rutland's collegiate football career ended Saturday on the turf of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Jackson State senior came off the bench in the first quarter but wasn't able to stop a 14-7 Alcorn State victory. The Capital City Classic, however, won't be the last time JSU fans can watch the strong-armed, 6-foot-3 lefty. Rutland plans to join the baseball team in the spring and pitch for coach Omar Johnson. In the meantime, Rutland will go down as one of the most talked about players since coach Rick Comegy took over the program. He was a highly-touted transfer out of Mississippi State but couldn't beat out Jimmy Oliver in 2007. He started most of 2008 and led JSU to a second consecutive SWAC Championship Game.

This season was supposed to be his time to shine, but he was benched in the first game and didn't return to the starting lineup until the fourth week. Inconsistency prompted his return to the bench in the seventh game against Mississippi Valley.

Collins, Braves add to Tigers' woe

Alcorn State coach Earnest Collins stood in the middle of the field at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, rain falling from the sky and chunks of ice resting on his head. As an announced 16,429 made their way out of building wet and cold, Collins wasn't bothered at all. Maybe that's because he had just been hit with a celebratory Gatorade shower and was being handed a trophy for a 14-7 win over Jackson State in the Capital City Classic, ending a two-year run by the Tigers. "I'm kind of at a loss for words," Collins said. "We started preparing for 2010 this week.




Attendance: 16,429@ Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, MS

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Savannah State Tigers 44, Georgetown Hoyas 63

SSU, Georgetown bring out crowd

Harold Lynch visited Savannah State University's campus for the first time in his life Saturday afternoon. The 77-year-old Savannah resident, who is white, was among the 3,176 spectators who came to see No. 19 Georgetown play SSU in the biggest men's college basketball game in the historically black college's history. "We're Georgetown alumni, so we're bringing most of the family here," Lynch said as a line of people in front of a ticket window spilled into the parking lot outside Tiger Arena. "We brought 30 people to support the Hoyas."

Lynch said he was impressed with Tiger Arena and "probably would" return to SSU for future games even if Georgetown is not the opponent. "From what I see, they're very lucky to have this kind of a facility to have their games in," he said. "Everything seems well-organized and looks brand new." SSU tried its best Saturday, both on and off the court. Georgetown defeated SSU, 63-44, but it was a moral victory for a Tiger program that lost, 100-38, to the Hoyas last season in Washington, D.C.

Photo Gallery: View photos from the game.

Savannah St no match for No. 19 Georgetown, 63-44

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Jason Clark scored a career-high 14 points and four Hoyas were in double figures as No. 19 Georgetown rolled to a 63-44 victory against over matched Savannah State on Saturday. Greg Monroe added 13 points for Georgetown (3-0). Austin Freeman had 12 and Chris Wright added 11 in a game that gave the Hoyas a much-needed breather after they squeaked past Temple 46-45 on Tuesday. Darius Baugh scored 10 points to lead Savannah State (2-2), which hit only 13 of 48 field goal attempts. The highlight for Savannah State came when the Tigers shocked the crowd and the Hoyas by jumping out to a 7-0 lead. That prompted Georgetown coach John Thompson III to call a timeout, and it was all Hoyas the rest of the way.

Armchair QB: SSU whiffs on hoops ticket prices

Savannah State reaches out to the local finicky sports fan this weekend. Problem is, the hand is going for your wallet instead of around your shoulder. The school has a rare opportunity Saturday to showcase what has quietly become a quality basketball program. No. 18 Georgetown is in town to play the Tigers, and the Hoyas are the rare draw on SSU’s schedule. To see the game, though, Savannahians will have to part with at least $15 and as much as $50 a head. What should be viewed by SSU as an opportunity to impress potential return customers is a one-time money grab instead.

The decision is as baffling as milking alumni for $125 to tailgate at Homecoming and then charging an additional $20 at the gate. Bart Bellairs, SSU’s athletic director, explains the situation from a pure business perspective. Selling 2,000 tickets at $15 apiece nets much more profit than 3,000 tickets at the regular price of seven bucks. He has officials and game operations people to pay and a budget to meet, not to mention the fact playing the game in Savannah costs the Tigers a huge paycheck: To coax Georgetown to Tiger Arena, SSU had to forego the $30,000 to $40,000 guarantee the school usually receives to play the big boys. And besides, he believes the 3,000-plus tickets reserved for the public will sell anyway.

Attendance: 3,176@ Tiger Arena, Savannah, GA.

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Note to Readers: The connection here is SSU Coach Horace Broadnax is a Georgetown alumnus and played for John Thompson II in the '80s with Patrick Ewing. However, you got to give credit to SSU athletic director Bart Bellairs for capitalizing on the connection and bringing the 19th ranked Hoyas to Tiger Arena. What other HBCU has a "home and home" deal with a Top 25 basketball program? (answer: none) This is what all HBCUs should be doing, in lieu of "barn storming" for $30K-$40K guarantees at someone else arena. Simply, play us at our place for no cost and we will play at your place next season for no cost. This is how you build the local fan base using Top 50 "brands" to get the entire community out to your arena.

The SSU game drew 3,176 fans to Tiger Arena (facility capacity: 6,000)--more or slightly less than the Alabama A&M vs. Mississippi Valley (2,776), Delaware State vs. Howard (2,731) and Tennessee State vs. Eastern Illinois (3,509) football games played in Week 12. In other words, Savannah State made money on this game where the others lost a truck load of money.

Tennessee State 21, Eastern Illinois 10

Coach James Webster Jr., ends TSU career with 25-31 record and a First Round draft pick (16th pick overall in 2008 NFL draft), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Cornerback, Arizona Cardinals.

Tennessee State stalls Panthers' title plans

CHARLESTON, IL -- With ribs hurting and spirits perhaps even worse, Seymour Loftman clung to hope. “Yeah, I’m a No. 1 Gamecocks fan now,” Eastern Illinois’ senior safety said referring to Jacksonville State. Loftman was not doing cheerleader-like cartwheels, however, after his Panthers’ NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff hopes were put on hold with Thursday night’s 21-10 Ohio Valley Conference loss to Tennessee State in a regular season finale at O’Brien Field. “So now we have to get help,” EIU coach Bob Spoo said.

Now 8-3 overall, the nation’s 13th-ranked Football Championship Subdivision team stands 6-2 in the OVC and has to hope Eastern Kentucky, 5-2, loses Saturday’s game at 17th-ranked Jacksonville State. If Eastern Kentucky can knock off Jacksonville State, it would win the first-place tie-breaker for the automatic FCS playoff berth because of a 36-31 head-to-head win over EIU on Oct. 3. Even if Eastern Kentucky beats Jacksonville State, the Panthers would have a chance for an at-large berth when the 16-team playoff field is announced Sunday afternoon but the OVC’s postseason failures this decade makes that questionable.

Tennessee State coach James Webster Jr. resigns

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — James Webster Jr. has resigned as Tennessee State's football coach after five seasons. Webster announced his resignation Thursday after a season-ending 21-10 win over Eastern Illinois. The Tigers finished 4-7 this year and Webster compiled a 25-31 record at the school. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak. In a statement, the school said a search for a new coach would begin immediately.

TSU wants coach with sense of past

Less than 24 hours after accepting football Coach James Webster's resignation, Tennessee State Athletics Director Teresa Phillips started receiving inquiries from those interested in the position. Phillips said the position would not be officially posted until Monday. "Based on the pace that I see now there are going to be a lot of résumés,'' Phillips said. Webster, in his fifth season, resigned after TSU ended the season Thursday night with a 21-10 upset win over Eastern Illinois. After posting the position, Phillips said she and an advisory committee, which will include TSU president Melvin Johnson, would discuss the type of candidates they wish to bring in for interviews. "This search is wide open,'' Phillips said. "We really think we've got to get the right combination guy in here. You want to get the most experienced person you can get, the most proven person you can get."

TSU football coach quits, spoiling upset win

CHARLESTON, Ill. —James Webster resigned as Tennessee State's football coach after Thursday night's 21-10 upset win over Eastern Illinois. Webster gathered his players on the field after they beat the first-place team in the Ohio Valley Conference and informed them of his decision, which brought many to tears.

"I just told them I was very, very proud of them. I'm proud of the way that they fought back tonight. I'm proud of the character they have shown all year long,'' Webster said. "I'm proud of the fact that they haven't been in the newspaper for getting in trouble. You haven't read about Tennessee State's football players committing crimes and getting in trouble. That's because of the character I instilled in them during the five years I was here." The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the Tigers, who finished with a 4-7 overall record and 3-4 in the OVC.

Attendance: 3,509@ O'Brien Stadium, Charleston, IL

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South Carolina State 28, North Carolina A&T 10

Ford Breaks MEAC Rushing Record In 28-10 Win Over NC A&T

ORANGEBURG,SC — Senior running back Will Ford had a record-breaking game on "Senior Day" as he rushed for 156 yards 23 carries to lead the South Carolina State Bulldogs to their 19th straight MEAC win and a 28-10 victory over rival N.C. A&T Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson. SC State (10-1, 8-0 MEAC), which secured its second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and back-to-back berths in the FCS playoffs last Saturday in a 37-13 win over Morgan State. Coach Buddy Pough's team finished its second season with a perfect league record. The defense came up big limiting N.C.A&T to just 176 total offensive yards, SC State finished with 458 on the day.



Aggies look to future after 5-6 finish

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- For 30 minutes, N.C. A&T went toe-to-toe with MEAC football champion South Carolina State on Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. It was no contest in the second half. The Aggies played the Bulldogs to a 7-7 draw in the first half, but the FCS playoff-bound hosts pulled away after intermission to close the regular season with a 28-10 win and a 10-1 record. A&T finished with a 5-6 overall record and a 3-5 MEAC mark in Alonzo Lee's first season in charge. Not bad, considering the Aggies won only nine of 56 games from 2004 through 2008.

"I'm proud to be part of the senior class that had a part in turning things around this season," said defensive end Tyre Glasper. "It was a bittersweet way to end the season. "We wanted to challenge for a championship and finish with a winning record. That didn't work out, but we did win five games this year after winning three games last year and none the year before. Now it's up to the guys coming back to keep this going." Lee said the overwhelming youth in the program was something of a curse and a blessing.

Bulldogs want house in order

ORANGEBURG - With a second consecutive MEAC championship in hand, South Carolina State was strictly concerned with style points in Saturday's final regular season game against North Carolina A&T at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. The idea was to make a final, favorable impression on the FCS seeding committee in the quest to land a first-round home game in the national playoffs for the first time since 1981.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 7 in all three major FCS polls, downed the improved Aggies 28-10 to close the regular season with a 10-1 record - matching the school record for wins in a season. It was also S.C. State's 19th consecutive conference win - a MEAC record - and ties a school mark for consecutive conference games without a loss. S.C. State now will sweat it out until the pairings are announced at 3 p.m. today. "Getting a home game is what it's all about now," Bulldogs coach Buddy Pough said.

The Bulldog Bite: No. 7 SCSU closes 2009 campaign undefeated in FCS, awaits ...

Inside the locker room of a 7-7 game at halftime with North Carolina A&T, the foreboding words of his mother were on South Carolina State head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough’s mind. Earlier in the week, M.T. Pough cautioned her son about letting history repeat itself. It was six years ago when the Bulldogs routed North Carolina A&T 49-9 to hand the Aggies a devastating loss prior to opening play in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Even with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship trophy already at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium awaiting presentation from conference president Dennis Thomas, the thought of deja vu in reverse occurring inspired a sense of urgency in Pough as he addressed his team. There was no talk about running back Will Ford closing in on the conference career rushing record or playing host to a first-round home playoff game.

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Alabama A&M 17, Mississippi Valley State 12

A&M beats MVSU to advance to SWAC title game

HUNTSVILLE --- Ulysses Banks rushed for 160 yards and scored a touchdown to lead Alabama A&M to a 17-12 victory over Mississippi Valley State Saturday. With the win, A&M (7-4, 4-3) captured the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Eastern Division title and will play Prairie View in the championship game on Dec. 12 at Birmingham's Legion Field. MVSU ended the season 3-8 and 1-6.

MVSU finishes season with loss at Alabama A&M

NORMAL, Ala. — The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils fought hard in their season-ending contest with the Alabama A&M Bulldogs, but fell 17-12 on the road at Louis Crews Stadium. Backup QB Eddie Ivory ended the day with 200 yards passing on 11-of-28 passing with a touchdown and an interception. Starting QB Anthony Bowie was knocked of the game early in the first half. The Devils got on the board late in the second quarter when Stephen Robert scored from two yards out capping a seven-play, 78-yard, 2:45 drive. At the intermission, AAMU led 17-6. MVSU put one final score on the board as Ivory found WR Chris Williams for a six-yard score with two seconds remaining in regulation. The point-after attempt failed.

Will this be Totten's last game at Valley?

Coach Willie Totten record - Eight Seasons: 31-56; Totten blamed the school's small budget and scholarship restrictions (39 compared to 63 for the other nine SWAC schools) in remarks he made to the The Greenwood Commonwealth newspaper.

Beleaguered Valley football coach Willie Totten will lead the Delta Devils into their season finale Saturday at Alabama A&M in what might be his last game at his alma mater. The Delta Devils enter the game at 3-6 overall, 1-5 in the Eastern Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Huntsville, Ala. The big question is will this be it for Totten. Speculation continues to swarm the Itta Bena campus about the future of Totten, who has just two winning seasons and a combined record of 31-56 in his eight years at Valley. Win or lose Saturday, his coaching fate has probably already been decided. Totten's current contract, which pays him $92,928 annually, expires Dec. 31.

PHOTO GALLERY: A&M vs. Mississippi Valley State Football

Attendance: 2,776@ Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville, AL

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Prairie View 49, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff 17

Prairie View finishes undefeated in SWAC play







PRAIRIE VIEW, TX — With a spot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game already secured, Prairie View A&M didn’t have much to play for in Saturday’s regular-season finale against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. But that didn’t mean the Panthers would take it easy on the Golden Lions. Quarterback K.J. Black tossed a career-high five touchdown passes, running back Donald Babers rushed for two scores, and the defense forced four turnovers to carry the Panthers to a dominant 49-17 win before a crowd of 3,889 at Blackshear Stadium.

The Panthers (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) closed the regular season on a seven-game winning streak and recorded their first undefeated conference campaign since 1964. Prairie View, the Western Division champion, will try to capture the program’s first SWAC crown since 1964 when it faces Eastern champion Alabama A&M in the league’s title game Dec. 12 in Birmingham, Ala.

Prairie View 49, Ark.-Pine Bluff 17

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- K.J. Black threw for five touchdowns and 312 yards to lead Prairie View A&M to a 49-17 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. The win closed out a dominant season by Prairie View (8-1, 7-0), which already clinched the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division title the week before.

Prairie View A&M Caps Off Undefeated Conference Slate With 49-17 Win Over ...

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - K.J. Black threw five touchdown passes and Donald Babers rushed for 121 yards and two scores as Prairie View capped off an undefeated conference slate for the first time since 1964 in a 49-17 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday afternoon at Blackshear Field. A 45-yard field goal by Carlos Reyes gave UAPB (5-4, 5-3 SWAC) an early 3-0 advantage in the first quarter but Prairie View (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) answered on its opening drive as Black found wideout Shaun Stephens for a 41-yard touchdown reception. After a UAPB punt, Prairie View moved ahead 14-3 as Black hit wide receiver Gabe Osaze-Ediae on a 21-yard touchdown reception.

GOLDEN LIONS CAN’T KEEP UP WITH PRAIRIE VIEW

Arkansas-Pine Bluff entered its game against Prairie View A&M on Saturday without the possibility of advancing to next month’s Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, but with the hope of knocking off the only team yet to lose a SWAC game. After giving up two touchdowns in the first quarter on Saturday at Blackshear Stadium in Prairie View, Texas, the Golden Lions pulled within four points late in the second quarter. The Panthers, however, added a touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter that started a string of four unanswered touchdowns to put the game away.

The Panthers’ three second-half scores were all on plays longer than 30 yards as they blew out UAPB 49-17 on Saturday. The Golden Lions (5-4, 3-3) will finish their season next Saturday against Texas Southern in Dallas, while Prairie View (8-1, 7-0) will play Alabama A&M in the SWAC Championship Game on Dec. 12 in Birmingham, Ala. The Golden Lions couldn’t have advanced to the conference title game with a win Saturday, but they could have ended a progress-making season on a three-game winning streak. That possibility went away when its usually stingy defense had its second sub-par outing in as many games.

Attendance: 3,889@ Blackshear Stadium, Prairie View, Texas

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Saturday, November 21, 2009

30th Florida Classic Hits Gridiron at 2:30 p.m. Today

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30th Florida Classic Hits Gridiron Today


ORLANDO -- A huge college football rivalry returns to the Florida Citrus Bowl today for the 30th anniversary of the Florida Classic. The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and Florida A&M Rattlers meet again in what has become the nation’s largest football rivalry between two historically black colleges. Though Daytona Beach-based B-CU is closer to home at the Citrus Bowl, Florida A&M has the upper hand in the series at 19–10. Since moving to the Citrus Bowl from Tampa in 1997, the Rattlers are 8–4 against the Wildcats.

Video: Will It Stay Or Go?

B-CU has shot to save season

ORLANDO -- After consecutive 5-6 seasons in 2006-07, Bethune-Cookman's Dexter Jackson would have been satisfied with the Wildcats' 8-3 record last year -- if that third loss hadn't come against Florida A&M in the season-ending Florida Classic. "Last year we went 8-3, but all you could think about that whole off-season was the last game we played," the senior defensive tackle said this week. "I just want to come back and make it right this year." The Wildcats, winners of five of their last six games, will get that chance today when they meet FAMU at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m.

"When you lose to FAMU, it sticks with you," B-CU quarterback Matt Johnson said. "When you win, it makes the atmosphere around campus a lot better place to be." B-CU (5-5, 4-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) is 1-3 in its past four meetings with FAMU (7-3, 5-2) after beating the Rattlers three straight in 2002-04 for the first time in series history. "It's the biggest game on our schedule," B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt said. "It's nationally televised. It's a bigger crowd that you've had all season (an average of 68,000 in the 12 years the game has been in Orlando).

FAMU Too Strong for B-CU

Last year, I didn't quite know what to expect heading into the Florida Classic battle between Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M. I knew it had the potential of being a tight game, and it was for a while. I knew the crowd would be great and the bands would be even better, which they were. What surprised me, however, was the offensive explosion that took place. Both teams scored at such a rapid pace that my pen nearly ran out of ink while I took notes. FAMU won the shootout, 58-35, and once it was finally over, many in the Florida Citrus Bowl were exhausted, including myself.

As the 30th annual Florida Classic takes place in Orlando this afternoon, I know quite a bit more about these two teams and their capabilities. For one, expect to see a lot of points, but don't think it's going to be 93 this time. Despite a shocking shutout loss at Hampton last week, FAMU (7-3) has the firepower to hold up its end of the bargain, and it should rebound. Quarterback Curtis Pulley has the dual-threat ability to punish the Wildcats like he did last year when he rushed for 171 yards, passed for 125 and combined for four touchdowns. This year, he's more dangerous and has no shortage of targets, including former Kathleen receiver Adrian Smith.



FAMU Seniors Ready for Classic

For the Rattlers 27 seniors, the annual meeting with Bethune Cookman in the Florida Classic will mark their final regular season game wearing the Orange and Green.
FAMU Senior Offensive Tackle Robert Okeafor says, "I've been going to the Classic since '99. I had a cousin who played for Florida A&M back in the day so I think I've missed two since '99 so I know the excitement. All my family is going to be there, a lot of my friends will be there so it's going to be a real big deal come Saturday." FAMU Senior Outside Linebacker Gregory Boler adds, "Coming from Philly, there's really no type of anything to that magnitude." The Rattlers will look to go out with a bang in 2009, similar to the way they ended 2008, when they beat Bethune 58-35.

Taking different paths, both Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman can reach bigger ...

TALLAHASSEE — Four games into the 2009 football season, the annual Florida Classic game between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman was shaping up as an afterthought. FAMU looked unstoppable at 4-0. Bethune-Cookman looked lost at 0-4. As the two teams end their regular seasons, it's a different story. FAMU stumbled to a 3-3 record over their last six games, while Bethune-Cookman rallied to go 5-1 in the same span. Facing off today at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FAMU needs to win to keep alive any playoff hopes. A Bethune-Cookman win would cap an impressive turnaround and allow the Wildcats to finish with a winning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference record.

"I am a little bit shocked and surprised with where we are today," Wildcats coach Alvin Wyatt said. "I thought it was going to take a little bit more time for us to get to where we are." Bethune-Cookman's resurgence came as its turnovers faded. The Wildcats are tied for 111th in the Football Championship Subdivision with 30 turnovers lost, but 17 of those came in their first four games. Ball security was a major issue for the Wildcats in last year's game, as FAMU forced six fumbles and one interception in a 58-35 win.

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