NCAA grants Jackson State full waiver from academic penalties

Jackson State University has received good news from the organization that had threatened to level harsh penalties against the school's football program.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has agreed to waive, for now, penalties the team faced for poor academic performance, according to documents obtained by The Clarion-Ledger.

Without the waiver, JSU likely would have been banned from post-season participation this fall and faced other punishment, including the loss of scholarships and even expulsion from Division I, the NCAA's highest classification for athletics. JSU's football program is in trouble because it has routinely fallen below the NCAA's benchmark score of 900 for Academic Progress Rate (APR)...


Videographer: JSUTigers1877; JSU Day at the Capitol w/ the Sonic Boom of the South

NCAA gives Jackson State more time to improve football team's academics

JACKSON, Miss. — The NCAA has given Jackson State University more time to improve the football team's academic performance.

The Clarion-Ledger reports documents it obtained through a public records request shows Jackson State will not be banned from postseason play this season and will get a break on scholarship reductions. Earlier reports were the academic performance rate by JSU was below — for a third straight year — what the NCAA required.

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FAMU Shows Off at Pro Day

Tallahassee, FL - Six seniors from last year's MEAC championship winning team showcased their skills in front of scouts today.

Lincoln grad Isaac West impressed at wide receiver. Marianna (FL) speedster Philip Sylvester also turned some heads as well. Curtis Holcomb made his impression on the defensive side of the ball. Qier Hall, Marquiste Ramos, and Kendrick Washington also participated in Wednesday's Pro Day.



FAMU football players give their all during workout

They gave their best shots in front of 14 NFL scouts during Wednesday's Pro Day testing. The next best thing would be a phone call with an invitation to attend one of the team's training camps.

"I think it was a good impression overall," said running back Philip Sylvester, one of the Rattlers' leading prospects for playing at the next level. "We did well; did what was expected. I've been working out six days a week and I met my expectation.

"It was just going out there and doing your business. That's all you can do." What they did was a battery of physical tests that included weight lifting, running the 40-meter dash and vertical jumps during the two-hour workout.

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Reggie Barlow turns down NFL opportunity to remain at Alabama State

Coach Barlow is secure with new 4-year deal with Hornets

For the second time in four years, Alabama State football coach Reggie Barlow has turned down an offer to join the staff of an NFL team.

Barlow, a member of the 2002 Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, turned down an offer from the Denver Broncos and coach Mike Shanahan in 2007.

He repeated his action over the weekend, turning down an offer made by new San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh. Barlow, 38, declined a chance to be an assistant to receivers coach John Morton. Morton was Barlow's position coach during his stint with the Oakland Raiders.

A former standout receiver at Alabama State, Barlow took over as head coach in 2007 and has compiled...

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Hampton University names Willie Snead III as its new offensive coordinator

Willie Snead III is Hampton University's new offensive coordinator, replacing Fred Kaiss, who was not retained after last season.

Snead comes to HU from Muskegon Heights High School in Michigan. He was head coach there for two years, compiling a 16-8 record with one trip to the state semifinals. In 2008, he coached Holland Christian to a state championship, also in Michigan.

Kaiss was offensive coordinator at HU from 2001 to 2006 before leading the offense at Tennessee State through the 2009 season. His return to Hampton wasn't successful. Last year, the Pirates averaged 17.5 points per game, 103rd out of 117 FCS teams and down from 2009's average of 19.5. HU's average of 301.7 yards per game ranked 93rd, and its 156 passing yards were 94th.


Videographer: snead84; Fast Break No Huddle football by Willie L. Snead III

The Snead file

◦Who: Willie Snead III, 44.
◦What: New Muskegon Heights varsity football coach and teacher.
◦Family: Wife Sofia; sons Willie Snead IV (18) and Isaiah Snead (13); daughter Taylor Snead (15).

◦Coaching background: Snead comes to Muskegon Heights after leading Holland Christian to a 14-0 season and the 2008 Division 4 state championship in his only season with the Maroons. Snead compiled a three-year record of 36-6 at his alma mater, Glades Central High School (Florida), and captured the Class 3A state championship in 2006. He also produced winning teams at Blanche Ely High School (Pompano Beach, Fla.), Mount Carmel High School (San Diego, Calif.) and Lake Forest High School (Lake Forest, Ill.).

◦Playing background: Snead played wide receiver for Coach Galen Hall at the University of Florida. He was drafted by the New York Jets and played two seasons for the Jets and Houston Oilers. He also played in the Canadian Football League and World Football League.

• Notable: Snead employs the exciting spread offense, which should be a nice fit for the athletic players at Hampton University.

Muskegon Heights football coach Willie Snead III resigns, takes job as Hampton University assistant

Muskegon Heights High School has begun the search for a new varsity football coach after Willie Snead III resigned on Thursday.

Athletic Director Keith Guy said Snead submitted his resignation and has accepted a job as offensive coordinator at Hampton University in Hampton, Va. Hampton, a school of about 5,000 students, is a member of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA).

Snead came to Muskegon Heights in 2009 after leading Holland Christian to a state championship in 2008. At Heights, he compiled a two-year record of 16-8 with two playoff appearances, including a trip to the 2009 Division 5 state semifinals.


Coach son, QB Willie Snead IV has verbally committed to Div. IA - Ball State.

Football coach Willie Snead leaves Muskegon Heights

Muskegon Heights, Mich. (WZZM-TV) - After two successful seasons on the Muskegon Heights sidelines, Willie Snead III is leaving to take an assistant position at Hampton University in Virginia. Muskegon Heights athletic director Keith Guy confirmed Snead's resignation Friday morning.

"I think the program is better than it was two years ago," says Guy. "I think it was a huge shot in the arm for this community and this football program and our school. But life goes on. I think it's been proven over the last couple of years that we have the athletes. We just have to have the right leader and that's my job to go out and try to find the person that can take us to the next level and that's what we're going to do."

Snead led Muskegon Heights to 16 wins in two seasons including two playoff berths and a state semi-final appearance in 2009. He also led Holland Christian to an unbeaten state title season in 2008. Snead's son Willie Snead IV earned a football scholarship to Ball State University in Indiana.



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Alcorn forms football coach search committee

LORMAN, MS — The Alcorn State University administration has released the names of those who will serve on the search committee that will be in charge of finding the Braves’ next football coach.

Those who will be helping to select that person include Alcornite and former head baseball coach and assistant football coach Willie ‘Rat’ McGowan of McComb, who was recently inducted into the SWAC Hall Of Fame.

The committee will also include Dr. John Igwebuike, who is associate dean of business at ASU and a faculty representative as president of the A Club; alum Nathaniel Hughes of Columbus a track star when he was a student; Jackson native Marcus Ward, associate vice president of development and alumni affairs at the university; Harry Brown of Vicksburg, who played...

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S.C. State football schedule close to completion

With the date confirmed of a second game next season against a Division I opponent, the 2011 football schedule for South Carolina State is close to completion.

Visit Indiana University’s athletics website and it lists the Hoosiers playing host to the Bulldogs Sept. 17. Earlier this year, it was revealed the school was finalizing talks with Central Michigan for a tentative Sept. 3 season-opening game.

TENTATIVE 2011 S.C. STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
SEPT. 3 - at Central Michigan
SEPT. 10 - TBA
SEPT. 17 - at Indiana University
SEPT. 24 - TBA
OCT. 1 - FLORIDA A&M
OCT. 8 - at Norfolk State
OCT. 15 - at Bethune-Cookman
Oct. 22 - at Savannah State
Oct. 29 - DELAWARE STATE
Nov. 5 - at Howard
Nov. 12 - NORTH CAROLINA-CENTRAL
Nov. 19 - NORTH CAROLINA A&T

Report: CMU to open 2011 season against South Carolina State

The Central Michigan football team will open the 2011 season against Football Championship Subdivision opponent South Carolina State on Sept. 3, 2011, according to a report Wednesday by The (Orangeburg, S.C.) Times and Democrat.

The game marks the third consecutive time CMU will play its home opener at Kelly/Shorts Stadium against an FCS team. The Chippewas beat Hampton 33-0 on Sept. 2 in their first game of the season.

South Carolina State, an all-black school in Orangeburg, S.C., plays in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs finished the 2010 season 9-3 and 7-1 in the MEAC, clinching an FCS playoff berth for the third consecutive season. This will be the...

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Ned, longtime Southern assistant trainer, dies at 53

Terrence Graves was hard at work Friday night in Itta Bena, Miss., when his cell phone practically fell off the table, ringing with calls and text messages from old friends from Southern University. Graves, the former Southern defensive coordinator, knew that was bad news.

His worst fear about a longtime friend was true: Assistant trainer John Ned, a fixture at Southern University for the better part of four decades, died late Friday night from cancer at 53, leaving behind friends and family who were saddened by the loss and stunned by how quickly his life ended.

“He and I became like family, so it’s kind of rough right now,” said Graves, now coaching at Mississippi Valley State. “I want to remember Ned like he was — healthy and happy.”

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Doug Williams hoping for more visibility for Grambling-Southern Bayou Classic

After quarterbacking Grambling State against Southern University in the inaugural State Farm Bayou Classic 36 years ago and coaching the Tigers from 1998-2002, Doug Williams is enjoying the spectator's view of the annual game between African-American universities. It's visibility he hopes maintains its relevance beyond Saturday's contest at the Louisiana Superdome.

"I'm always going to be involved around the game," the former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl XXII MVP said. "It's been affected by the economy, but it's still viable. I mean, you can't take away black college rivalries like Jackson State-Alcorn, Alabama State-Tuskegee and Grambling-Southern."

Grambling RB Frank Warren earns praise on and off the field

Grambling senior running back Frank Warren sat among the crowd during Monday’s Bayou Classic news conference on the floor of the Superdome, donning an old-school letterman’s sweater. Nothing flashy. And one by one, someone from either Grambling or Southern took the podium and showered him with compliments in anticipation of Saturday’s State Farm Bayou Classic.

First, it was Grambling Athletic Director Lin Dawson.

“Not only do I respect him as the leading rusher in the history of Grambling, but also as a man of character,” Dawson said. “And I will tell you after the Bayou Classic is over, years from now, people will be hearing about this young man. He is a man of integrity and a young man of character.”

Bayou Classic keys to victory

Grambling State and Southern have to focus on playing for pride, and make it the driving point. Texas Southern swiped the Tigers’ chances of playing in next week’s SWAC championship game a couple of weeks ago. Yet, Tigers Coach Rod Broadway continues to talk up this game to his team. The Jaguars have endured one of their worst seasons in school history. They’re riding a five-game losing streak and have lost eight of the past nine games. A win today for first-year coach Stump Mitchell could make up for this season’s struggles.

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Grambling State in showdown at Texas Southern

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - It may not be one of the neutral-site "classic" games that Southwestern Athletic Conference teams often play in, but Grambling State's visit to Texas Southern Thursday night is a classic matchup. The showdown, fittingly, will be broadcast on ESPN Classic. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Eastern.

SWAC races going down to wire

This much we know for sure: When the Southwestern Athletic Conference holds its championship game Dec. 11 in Birmingham, Ala., the two contestants will need a city map and a decent restaurant guide. After all, they’ll be visiting Legion Field for the first time in at least two years.

Prairie View, the reigning SWAC champion, lost too many early conference games and is out of the running for the Western Division title. Alabama A&M, last year’s Eastern champion, has found itself in a major rebuilding year; the Bulldogs have lost five straight games since they defeated Southern on Sept. 25.

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Videographer: Bookman

Morgan State opportunistic on both sides of ball

One thing that Morgan State football coach Donald Hill-Eley found out about his team last weekend was his players are a very opportunistic bunch.

The Bears had to rally in the fourth quarter to get a 10-point victory over struggling Delaware State to remain a contender in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship race. Sheldon Jacques returned a fumble 2 yards for the final touchdown, adding to an already tough performance by the MSU defense.

Morgan State at Florida A&M Matchup

When Morgan State has the ball... Florida A&M has feasted on teams like Morgan State who statistically are one of the worst offenses in Division I-AA. The Bears are averaging just 3.57 yards per play and 214.1 total yards per game, which is 116th out of 117 teams. The only other team worse than 100th in that category with a winning record is Florida A&M, whose total offense is 107th.

Morgan State may have a plodding offense, but it takes advantage of scoring opportunities when they arise. In Mid-Eastern Conference play Morgan State is averaging 28.3 points per game, primarily through running the football.

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Week 7: Pretenders vs. Contenders

A new powerhouse has emerged in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. This is a good thing!

Bethune-Cookman has beaten South Carolina State, breaking the Bulldogs string of 21 consecutive conference wins. The Wildcats in their 14-0 shutout Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg also broke the Bulldogs 13 game home winning streak.

With the win, the Wildcats are tied with the Hampton Pirates for the conference lead with a 4-0 record. B-CU is scheduled to play the Pirates on November 6 in Hampton. The Bulldogs drop into a second place tie with Florida A&M with a 2-1 conference mark.

The Bulldogs have little time to recover as Hampton is scheduled for Saturday at Dawson Stadium in an ESPNU nationally televised cable game. Both the Bulldogs and Rattlers will need some help from the other MEAC teams, if they expect to overtake the Wildcats for the championship.

The Wildcats (6-0/4-0 MEAC) will play at North Carolina Central in Durham next Saturday in a non-conference game. The Eagles (2-4) fell to the upstart Georgia State Panthers 20-17 in overtime at the Georgia Dome.

Who ARE Those Guys on the B-CU Coaching Staff?

For starters, 39 year old first year head coach Brian Jenkins has never served as a head football coach at any level -- not even Pop Warner, junior high or high school. Jenkins was a career Division I position coach, serving 15 years at a number of schools as either wide receivers, running back or special teams coach at: Rutgers (2009), Louisiana-Lafayette (2002-08), NFL Europe - Frankfort Galaxy (2001), Bowling Green (2000), Eastern Illinois (1995-1999) and Western Kentucky (1994).

Coach Jenkins played wide receiver and running back at the University of Cincinnati and earned an associate’s degree in Education and bachelor’s degree in social work in 1993.

Jenkins is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and played football at Dillard High School under a renowned high school football coach, the late Otis Gray. Jenkins played on the 1986 and 1989 Dillard High School State Championship teams with NFL running back Lorenzo White.

For you football historians, Gray is the father of former Florida A&M University and Jacksonville Jaguars star quarterback Quinn Gray Sr., who also played for his father at Dillard High School.

Nothing in Jenkins vitae shed any light to his instant success with B-CU other than the assembly of a great coach staff with great teaching skills, and superb chemistry with the players.

Offensive Coordinator Mark Orlando's Speedway O scheme has the Wildcats ready to play every game while their opponents look totally confused and unprepared for the no-huddle offense. His scheme is very similar to the legendary "Gulf Coast Offense" ran by former FAMU Coach Billy Joe during the 1990's on his way to several FCS playoffs berths.

Orlando won the 1981 Division I-AA National Championship as FAMU's offensive coordinator during six seasons with the Rattlers; five SWAC Championships and three HBCU National Championships during his tenure at Southern University under former Jaguars head coach Pete Richardson.

The jury is still out on Coach Jenkins, but we can confirm he is a great recruiter of Florida talent, a tremendous leader and exceptional facilitator of proven coaching talent. That in itself is a major plus up for MEAC Football -- that now has a four- headed monster in the Wildcats, Pirates, Bulldogs and Rattlers, battling for the MEAC Football Championship and FCS playoff berth.

Link: B-CU Football Coaches

Surprise of the Week: Jackson State quarterback Casey Therriault throwing a 28 yard TD with two seconds left in the game for a 49-45 Tiger victory over Southern. Therriault has passed for 2,087 yards and 20 touchdowns in six games. He has only 3 interceptions on the year and has rushed for 3 TDs.

Grambling State has hitched its wagon to senior running back Frank Warren who recorded his second 200 yard rushing game of the season. The Tigers' (5-1, 5-0 SWAC) earned a 38-28 win, as Warren rushed for 202 yards and 4 touchdowns on 29 carries, and caught a 9 yard pass for a 5th touchdown.

ASU true-freshman quarterback Brandon Bridge accounted for 445 yards of offense for the Alcorn State Braves. Bridge passed for 4 touchdowns and 404 yards but had 2 INT.

GSU's Warren is the second leading rusher in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Now, the rest of the story...

MEAC
#23 Bethune Cookman 14, #9 South Carolina State 0
Florida A&M 31, Savannah State 0
Hampton 7, Norfolk State 6
Delaware State 31, North Carolina A&T 26
Georgia State 20, North Carolina Central 17 (O.T.)

SWAC
Grambling State 38, Alcorn State 28
Prairie View A&M 45, Lincoln (Mo.) 12
Arkansas Pine Bluff 21, Alabama A&M 14
Jackson State 49, Southern 45

OVC
Jacksonville State 24, Tennessee State 0

SIAC
Fort Valley State 26, Tuskegee 0
Morehouse 38, Stillman 34
Miles 20, Lane 6
Albany State 27, Benedict 10
Clark Atlanta 19, Kentucky State 7

CIAA
Bowie State 24, Lincoln (Pa.) 18
Chowan 31, Saint Paul's 20
Virginia Union 44, Johnson C. Smith 21
Shaw 34, Fayetteville State 27
Winston Salem State 58, Livingstone 0
Virginia State 15, Elizabeth City State 10 (Thursday)

Others
Panhandle State 23, Texas College 14
West Chester 48, Cheyney 34
West Liberty State 48, West Virginia State 26

-beepbeep

Coastal Carolina dominates early in win over DSU

CONWAY, S.C. -- Coastal Carolina dominated the first half en route to a 34-14 win over Delaware State on Saturday night.

Coastal Carolina (1-3) led 31-0 at halftime, and 34-0 late in the fourth quarter before DSU (0-3) scored two touchdowns in the final 1:58 of the game to avoid being shut out for the first time since 2004, a span of 66 games.

The Hornets gained 97 yards in the fourth quarter to finish with 210 for the game. The Chanticleers racked up 339 total yards in the contest. Coastal Carolina scored touchdowns on each of its first three possessions. The Hornets' second possession ended with a fumble that was recovered by the Chanticleers at the DSU 34. Coastal Carolina needed six plays to pad its lead.

Coastal Carolina tops Delaware State for its first victory of season

CONWAY, SC -- There will be no talk around the Coastal Carolina football program this week about early season struggles or missed opportunities. There will be no need to scavenge for positives or search for ways to explain a season careening off path. Not this week, at least. The Chanticleers played nothing like a team mired in a winless slump - and everything like a squad eager to prove it is better than it had showed through the first three weeks.

The Chants shook the demons of the last three weeks - thoroughly and impressively - and started the process of righting their season with a 34-14 win over visiting Delaware State before an announced crowd of 9,218 at Brooks Stadium.

Hornets Dominated by Coastal Carolina

Conway, S.C. --- Coastal Carolina completely dominated the first half en route to a 34-14 win over Delaware State before a sellout crowd of 9,218 at Brooks Stadium this evening. The Chanticleers improved to 1-3 on the season, while the Hornets fell to 0-3.

Coastal Carolina led 31-0 at halftime, and 34-0 late in the fourth quarter before DSU scored two touchdowns in the final 1:58 of the game to avoid being shutout for the first time since 2004, a span off 66 games.

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Fumble return keys Norfolk State's 23-14 win

NORFOLK, VA - Hit them when they're up, hit them when they're (headed) down. That's Norfolk State linebacker Corwin Hammond's philosophy on dealing with quarterbacks. Hammond said he was just trying to punish North Carolina A&T quarterback Shelton Morgan when he helped Norfolk State pull away in a 23-14 win in front of 14,550 at Dick Price Stadium on Saturday.

"He was going down, so you might as well hit him," Hammond said. "You might as well. If he's going to run it, he's going to get hit." Trailing 13-7 with 8:12 left in the third quarter, the Aggies (0-2) were moving the ball well for the first time against NSU (1-1). North Carolina A&T finished with just six first downs, but Morgan looked ready to move the chains for the third time on the drive.

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Viewings of North Carolina A&T's "Bed Intruder Song" arrangement has now reached over 631,400 on YouTube within 30 days.

Texas Southern's mission: to compete with UConn

As with most games between teams at college football's highest level and those one step below, this one should be a mismatch. Just as the players on the Connecticut sideline will realize quickly Saturday they aren't playing the likes of Texas or Texas Tech, those on the Texas Southern sideline at Rentschler Field will undoubtedly see they aren't facing Concordia.

It can be as much a negative for the favorite as a positive. Overconfidence often arises from the Goliath in these games, leaving David with one or two shots at a huge upset. Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams annually knock off one or two of the big boys, proving the task at least isn't impossible.

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Meet Grambling Legend Melvin Lee

For Grambling's ageless Eddie Robinson, Melvin Lee was a constant.

Over nearly five decades, Lee either played for Robinson or coached beside him. Yet he remains a shadowy figure in his old boss' march to a still-standing Division I record of 408 career football victories.

Lee, unassuming and fiercely steadfast as an offensive assistant, was most comfortable outside of the spotlight. But his fingerprints are all over the Robinson era. He was there for more than 300 of the College Hall of Famer's wins, and every league title Robinson ever claimed -- eventually earning such profound respect from Robinson that the two would collaborate on playcalling.

It's fitting, then, that Lee has claimed a spot in the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame, a collection that already includes a trio of those whom Lee credits with propelling him into a life around football.

"It started at the top, of course," said Lee, who still lives on Martin Luther King Drive in Grambling. Former school president "R.W.E. Jones set the stage and then (longtime sports information director) Collie J. Nicholson gave us so much attention in news print. That helped Coach Robinson focus on being a consistent fundamentalist. They allowed us to learn and progress as the years went by."

The 2010 Legends induction ceremonies will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 17, at the Monroe Civic Center. Admission is $60 per person, and $500 for a table of eight, with all proceeds going to the non-profit Legends group for distribution in support athletics at Grambling. Tickets can be purchased at the Monroe Civic Center box office. Call 329-2837.

Lee attended Clark High in New Orleans, where he said he earned a spot on the All-City district football team, and planned to play football at Dillard -- until a friend convinced him to enroll at Grambling. He tried out for the Tiger football team in 1952, meeting a lasting friend and mentor in Robinson. Undersized at 175, Lee nevertheless played both ways for Grambling -- as center and linebacker. In 1955, Lee would be part of a group that earned the program's first black college national championship.

"To the individuals on the team, we remember it like it was yesterday," Lee said. "We're proud the fact that we didn't allow more than 24 points in any game that year. The offense was based around the tailback; there was never a question about passing. We ran to the right most of the time. We more or less came right at you." In going 10-0, Lee and a group of talents that included future Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Davis would establish just the second undefeated record in Grambling's history, and still its most recent.

"As we played for that championship, Coach talked about giving your best effort and that, looking back, you would see this as your finest hour," Lee said. "I'm sure most of us look back and realize that was a fantastic time. It can only happen to a few individuals, and not very often."

Two years in the Army followed, and Lee ended up back in New Orleans, where he was offered a job as a cement finisher. Then Robinson called.

Photo by Darryl D. Smith

Returning to the piney hills of Lincoln Parish in 1960 was a dream come true. "We gained so much from our time with Coach," Lee said. "We got a chance to see the country and a portion of the world. It was something that being in a smaller school, you never thought would happen."

Thoughtful and precise, Lee will never be confused with the stair-stepping assistants of today. Rather than looking for the next great job, he was looking for the next great play. "Being in charge wasn't the most important thing to me," Lee said. "Seeing things work well was."

The consummate players' coach, Lee was the first one they turned to when things went awry. That created an almost familial bond. "Coach always took up for his linemen, no matter what happened," said former Grambling quarterback Doug Williams, a fellow 2010 Legends inductee. "Coach Rob would say: 'Hell, Melvin, you've got to stop taking up for them.'" "I've heard that a few times," Lee admits, with a chuckle.

The milestones and memories were many: 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference championships, most for any program. Celebrated trips to Japan, to Hawaii, to Yankee Stadium. The formation of the Bayou Classic game against in-state foe Southern at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

By the mid-1970s, after fellow Grambling assistant Douglas Porter had launched his own College Hall of Fame head coaching career, offers began arriving for Lee, as well. He stayed. "Back then, we were going everywhere -- Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York -- and I knew I'd have to give that up if I left," he said. "There was always something new and entertaining going on at Grambling."

There would be many more memories, and many, many more milestones: The opening of Robinson Stadium. Advancing past Paul "Bear" Bryant's mythical mark for career victories, then the unfathomable 400-win plateau.

Lee continued, all along, quietly tinkering with Grambling's familiar Wing-T offense, something that endlessly entertained the professorial assistant. Lee somehow found time to return to school, as well, earning a master's degree at nearby Louisiana Tech in 1969.

"We called him 'Silent Lee,'" Davis said. "But he has one of the very best football minds."

At practice, Lee kept a pencil behind one ear, and pieces of paper either in hand or stuffed in his pockets. He was always ready to scribble down what Robinson said, to update their plan. During the game, he'd break down the opponents through a trusty pair of binoculars, looking for the tiniest opening. "It would be impossible to describe how much Melvin Lee meant to me over all these years," Robinson said, late in their career together. "It was his genius that helped make our Wing-T offense so effective for so long."

Bayou Classic 2009 from Darryl D. Smith on Vimeo.

They walked out of the Superdome, one last time, after the season finale in 1997 -- the legend and the right-hand man. Lee has spent the ensuing years, unsurprisingly, largely unnoticed. Most days, you'll find him working in his yard with wife Pauline. He's also been tending to another relationship that's never wavered, refurbishing a property that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina back in his hometown.

Lee makes only rare public appearances, as when Robinson was honored upon his passing in 2007 with an all-day memorial in Baton Rouge, something typically reserved for heads of state. There, Lee found himself, suddenly, in the middle of this maelstrom of memory. It seemed every Grambling generation wanted to take a photograph on the Louisiana State Capitol's imposing granite steps alongside the former assistant. He carefully moved the conversation, then as now, back to Eddie Robinson -- back to the time they shared together.

The two men remain inseparable, connected in memory as they once were on the field.
Lee, ever the loyalist, doesn't mind. "We all looked up to him, and the country would recognize how special he was in later years," Lee said of Robinson. "As individuals, we were really impressed by his leadership. He always inspired you. There was always something that was different and unique and very stimulating."

READ MORE @ www.GramblingLegends.net.

Crunch time for Southern athletics

His hands folded, his posture tall and towering, Greg LaFleur surveyed the carnage inside his office last Wednesday afternoon. Old books, stacked high on a chair, formed a dusty skyscraper. His computer took up residence on the couch. Files covered bookshelf after bookshelf. LaFleur, who enters his sixth year as Southern’s athletic director, had tough decisions to make. What does he need to keep? What can he afford to scrap?

Stuff was everywhere — and when you move from one place to the other, that’s the best word for it: stuff. This summer, members of the athletic department are bailing out of old Jesse Owens Hall, a building grimy and battered beyond salvation. Some personnel will head back to the F.G. Clark Activity Center. LaFleur is moving to a seldom-used room in the new A.W. Mumford Field House. “Definitely a move for the better,” he said. “For everyone involved.” This offseason marks another crossroads for the SU athletic department. All at once, it’s an exciting and stressful time.

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FAMU coaches adapting to cuts

Florida A&M's Volleyball Coach Tony Trifonov has dominated the MEAC with nine consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championships. He has one of the smallest recruiting budgets in all of NCAA Division I, but the Lady Rattlers annually participate in the NCAA Tournament against teams with budgets at least one-hundred times greater.


While the two revenue-generating sports — football and basketball — have been able to weather the financial storm hovering over Florida A&M and stay in the recruiting hunt with their mid-major counterparts, coaches of Olympic sports have been finding ways to keep their programs competitive. From bowling to swimming, navigating the recruiting landscape could be a little bit of a landmine without enough full scholarships. But somehow bowling, tennis, softball and volleyball have done well enough to make it to the postseason in the face of cuts over the past three years.

Even men's and women's track have been able to get a handful of athletes into the NCAA regionals this past season, despite finishing in the bottom half of the standings at their conference meet. With that kind of success, there's a renewed emphasis to give more to non-revenue sports, said interim athletic director Mike Smith. "It ignites us to continue to look for ways to get them resources to enhance their recruiting effort to get the kind of athletes that we need," Smith said. "We are putting our efforts to give our coaches an opportunity to get out and recruit. They're doing a good job in looking at student-athletes that will bring success to the program.

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Sharpe highlights SSU HOF induction class

Shannon Sharpe

Savannah State University will induct 10 new members into the SSU Athletics Hall of Fame on May 28 at 7 p.m. at Tiger Arena. The 2010 inductees will be the third induction class in SSU's history. SSU inducted 17 members in 1973 and 12 members in 1974. The Class of 2010 includes:

Lee Blitch, baseball and football player (1974-78): All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference catcher in baseball (1975, '76, '77,'78); SSU Baseball MVP in 1977; All-SIAC defensive back in football in 1975 and 1976; Played in the Atlanta Braves minor league system for three years; Native of Claxton. Lives in Union City.

Shannon Sharpe, football player (1986-89): All-SIAC First Team as a flanker in 1987, '88, '89: Co-SIAC Player of the year in 1989; Kodak Small College All-America First Team in 1989; Named College Player of the Year in Georgia in 1989; First Savannah State football player to play in Blue-Gray Classic in 1990 and East-West Shrine Game in 1990; owns SSU single-season receiving records for yardage, touchdowns and yards per catch; Played in NFL for 14 seasons; Glennville native. Lives in Atlanta.

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Howard University Announces 2010 Football Schedule

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University announced its 2010 football schedule on March 17. The Bison open the season on September 4 against Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Holy Cross is a perennial contender in the Football Championships Subdivision (FCS, formerly 1-AA). Howard will then host rival Hampton University on September 11 at 1 p.m. in Greene Stadium. In addition to it being The Battle of the Real HUs, it will also be part of the Military Appreciation Day.

The Bison will follow with another home date, this time against the Rattlers of Florida A&M University on September 18 at 1 pm. That game will be part of Mighty Blue & White and will be designated to honor alumni, student, faculty and Staff Appreciation Day. Howard will then follow with a game against Morgan State University at a site to be named later and a home game against Lincoln University, a one-time rival. That game will be October 2 at 1 p.m. and is labeled “A Rivalry Revived.” It is Kids/Community and Organization Day.

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HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON 2010 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Site Time
9/4 at Holy Cross Worcester, MA TBA
9/11 vs. HAMPTON Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
9/18 vs. FLORIDA A&M Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
9/25 vs. Morgan State TBA TBA

10/2 vs. LINCOLN Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
10/9 at Furman Greenville, S.C. TBA
1016 OPEN
10/23 at North Carolina A&T Greensboro, N.C. TBA
10/30 vs. NORFOLK STATE* Wash. D.C. TBA

11/6 at South Carolina State Orangeburg, S.C. TBA
11/13 at Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA
11/20 vs. DELAWARE STATE Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
*homecoming

South Carolina State gets more powerful; Signs 22 new All-Stars

Midlands talent boosts S.C. State

South Carolina State's back-to-back MEAC championships and appearances in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs have not gone unnoticed by recruits. The Bulldogs landed a class of 22 players Wednesday, highlighted by a dozen instate players. "We're getting a different kind of reception from people in general, both instate and in neighboring states," S.C. State coach Buddy Pough said. C.J. Wilson, a Shrine Bowl offensive tackle from Richland Northeast High, was more than happy to sign with the Bulldogs. "I was looking for the best school that fit me," the 6-foot-4, 270-pound Wilson said. "I've been to Orangeburg, and there's something about that place that kept me coming back."

A large part of the appeal was consecutive 10-win seasons, which both ended with tough first-round losses to perennial FCS power Appalachian State on the road, as well as a black college national championship this past season. Curtis Hill, a 6-1, 287-pound defensive tackle from Blythewood High, wants to take the Bulldogs even higher. "I would love to go there and play Appalachian State again, beat them and possibly go to the (FCS) national championship game," said Hill, who had an offer from Big 10 power Wisconsin earlier in the process. Coach Buddy Pough was thrilled to get both players.

SC State Signs 22 Football Prospects

S.C. State head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough said the Bulldogs meet all of its needs with the 2010 Class.

ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State, on Wednesday, announced the signing of twenty-two prospects to national letters. Twelve of the Bulldog signees are from the Palmetto State, seven are from Georgia, two from North Carolina and one from Maryland. Three are from schools not far from the SC State campus. The 2010 Class, which features three Shrine Bowl and North-South All Star Game participants each, includes five wide receivers and defensive linemen each, four defensive backs, three offensive linemen, two prospects designated as athlete, and one running back, quarterback and linebacker each.

Coach Buddy and his staff were seeking help at defensive line, wide receiver and defensive back and it appears they met their goals for the most part. We had three areas (WR, DB, DL) that we concentrated our efforts on,” said Pough who begins his ninth season at the helm. “You are never certain about things, however, we think we addressed our needs. In this group, we have some outstanding personnel, some good people with strong credentials and several who are highly rated,” Pough continued. “Sometimes it takes some players a little longer than others to play well at this (collegiate) level, but I expect a few of these guys to come in and really fill some of the voids we have.

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2010 S.C. State Bulldogs Signed Recruits
1. Antuawn Blue WR 5-10 175 Dillon, S.C. Shrine Bowl
2. AJ Brown DL 6-5 380 Rockmart H.S., Rockmart, GA, Rivals 2 Star
3. Charles Brown RB 5-11 200 St. John’s College H.S., Capitol Hgts., MD 1,816yds, 24 TDs
4. Darius Drummond DB 6-0 170 Asheville H.S., Asheville, NC All-State
5. Santez Emory ATH 6-1 175 Heard County H.S., Franklin, GA All-State
6. Terrell Fitts LB 6-1 230 Glenn Hills H.S. Augusta, GA Georgia All-Star Game
7. Dtwane Fulmer WR 6-2 200 Hunter-Kinard-Tyler H.S., Springfield, SC All-State
8. Kendrick Frazier DL 6-3 250 Denmark-Olar H.S., Denmark, SC, North-South Game
9. Curtis Hill DL 6-2275 Blythewood H.S., Columbia, SC Rivals 3 Star
10. Matt Jackson DL 6-2 240 Camden CountyH.S., Kingsland, GA, Georgia State Champ
11. Schawn Jamison WR 6-1 175 Hunter-Kinard-Tyler H.S., Salley, SC All-State
12. Tyler McDonald WR 6-1 185 Stratford High/Fork Union H.S., Summerville, SC, North-South Game
13. Xavier McFadden DB 5-11 165 Rock Hill H.S., Rock Hill, SC, Shrine Bowl
14. Denzel Myers DB 5-11 180 North Charleston H.S., N. Charleston, SC North-South Game
15. Brandon Miller ATH 6-0 170 Manning H.S., Manning, SC, 2,000yds, 30TDs
16. Steven Murphy DB 6-1 180 Camden County H.S., St. Mary’s, GA, Georgia State Champ
17. Marquis Parks DL 6-3 260 Lincoln County H.S., Lincolnton, GA All-State
18. Dennis Rowe WR 6-3 190 Keenan H.S., Columbia, SC 42 Receptions, 1123 yds, 14TD
19. Jarrad Quarles OL 6-1 330 Richmond Academy, Augusta, GA All-Region
20. TeDarrius Wiley QB 6-2 185 Richmond County H.S., Rockingham, NC, NC State Champions
21. Cephas “CJ” Wilson OL 6-3 275 Richland Northeast H.S. Columbia, SC Shrine Bowl
22. Domanic Wilson OL 6-3 260 Lake City H.S., Scranton, SC 3-Yr. Starter

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