Morgan State rides Florida wave

Photo: Morgan coach Donald Hill-Eley recruited Miami, FL native Jerrell Guyton, who steered former high school teammates to the Baltimore campus.

By Ken Murray, Baltimore Sun reporter

With 18 players from Sunshine State, Bears are enjoying Southern exposure

Morgan State caught Jerrell Guyton on the rebound. Guyton wanted to play football for Texas Southern in Houston in 2004, but detoured to Morgan State and Baltimore after a chance meeting with Bears coach Donald Hill-Eley.

From such quirks, college football legends are sometimes made.

A native of Miami, Guyton effectively opened a pipeline to that football-rich area for Hill-Eley. When the Bears open their season tomorrow night at home against Savannah State, their roster will number 18 Floridians, the second most by state after Maryland's 24.

"Florida has been major for us," Hill-Eley said. "It's changed the team morale; it's changed the team speed."

It also gives the Bears their best chance to end a streak of three straight losing seasons.

As many as seven players from Florida could start tomorrow. An additional five or six should receive substantial playing time.

The migration essentially started with Guyton, a 6-foot, 225-pound linebacker who was dismissed as too small by Texas Southern. When he visited the Houston campus late in 2004, Morgan State was in town for its final game of the season (a 37-21 victory).

Guyton met Hill-Eley on the sideline that day, offered to send tape, "and the next thing you know, I had a scholarship," he said.

It's not as if he knew where he was going, though.

"I never heard of Morgan State. I didn't know anybody that went to school here. When I first got up here, there were two people from Florida," he said.

Guyton had starred at Miami Edison and then went to Dodge City (Kan.) Community College before arriving in Baltimore in 2005. Soon after, he played a role in helping running back Chad Simpson (South Florida), wide receiver Edwin Baptiste (Bethune-Cookman) and defensive end Clarence McPherson (Akron) transfer to Morgan. All three had played at Edison.

"All of us coming out of high school basically are family," Guyton said. "You've got to look out for each other. If you see an opportunity where your friend can step in and do some good, you're going to let him know."

Simpson was disgruntled with limited playing time at South Florida. He quit the team not once but twice.

"Guyton was saying this is a good place, the coaches are down to earth and fair," Simpson said. "That's what I was looking for."

By the fourth game of the 2006 season, Simpson was Morgan's starting running back. He totaled 795 rushing yards, including games of 192 and 178. He was voted to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's preseason first team this summer.

"I'm trying to be way better than that," he said. "I'm trying to be a new man. I've been focusing on being great, being the first 2,000-yard Morgan running back here."

After listening to Guyton and Hill-Eley, Baptiste didn't bother with a recruiting visit. He just decided to come.

"Jerrell let me know what they were trying to build here," Baptiste said. "Coach Hill wasn't selling anything. He was talking to me like a man and said the best players will play. He offered a scholarship and I came off word of mouth."

Of the 18 players from Florida, eight are transfers and 13 are from Miami. Hill-Eley, who once coached with the Baltimore Stallions in the Canadian Football League, enlisted the help of former CFL players Kwame Smith and Joe Washington to open doors in Florida.

Hill-Eley said Morgan's campus helps close the deal, especially with transfers.

"A lot of times they'll contact a bunch of different schools," he said. "We always believe if we can get them here on campus and show them our facility, we shouldn't lose a one of them, and we've been successful getting them in here."

Strong safety Gary Albury came from Orlando, transferring from Mississippi. Cornerback Darren McKahn came from Miami Miramar and Connecticut. That's half the starting secondary.
McKahn said the high number of Florida recruits attracted him to Morgan. "I didn't visit," he said. "The people who were telling me about this school, I trust."

Hill-Eley said he even won a recruiting battle with Auburn for running back Devan James from Pompano Beach. For the most part, Hill-Eley goes head-to-head with Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman for Florida recruits.

He recruits Florida himself in May and December, a key point in certain cases.

"I recruit as the head coach, so I don't need to call back to tell the head coach 'I got a kid, what do you think?'" he said. "I can make my decision on those kids right there, and sometimes you have to do that."

Hill-Eley also said he first tries to speak with the parents to present the picture beyond football.

"I don't fill the kids with the Sunday [NFL] dream," he said, "and the parents understand. When you treat them right and make sure to keep education up front, you really don't have a problem."

Florida connection

Morgan State is a haven not only for Florida players, but for transfers, too. These Florida natives all began their college careers somewhere else before arriving in Baltimore.

Player, Cls., Pvs. school, Home

SS Gary Albury Fr.* Mississippi Orlando
• Strong in run support, fast enough to cover

CB Darren McKahn So. Connecticut Miami
• Playmaker on the corner with return skills

DE Clarence McPherson Jr. Akron Miami
• Played DE, LB and TE at Miami Edison

TB Chad Simpson Sr. S. Florida Miami
• Runs with power and elusiveness

FS Willie Hardemon Jr. Temple Miami
• Adds much-needed speed to the secondary

LB Chris Williams So. Fla. Intl. Miami
• Had 13 career interceptions in high school

WR Chauncey Thompkins Jr. W. Michigan Miami
• Converted quarterback

* Redshirt

Bears At A Glance

• Coach: Donald Hill-Eley (sixth season)

• Last year: 5-6

• Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic, Division I Football Championship Subdivision (the former Division I-AA)

• Radio: 88.9 FM

• Stadium: Hughes Stadium (10,000)

• Tickets: $20 reserved, $15 general admission, $12 senior citizens, $10 students

• Parking: Garage beside stadium, $10

• Offense: Multiple pro

• Defense: 4-3

• Outlook: The Bears need a passing game to keep defenses honest against RB Chad Simpson, an All-MEAC first-team preseason pick. Mario Melton won the quarterback job and will have to improve his .473 completion percentage. Roderick Wolfe is the go-to player in a three-receiver offense. The offensive line, led by right tackle Dakarai Grimsley, is huge, averaging 301 pounds. Offense was a weakness a year ago, when the Bears averaged 18.1 points.

They led the MEAC in run defense in 2006, defensive coordinator Alonzo Lee's first with the Bears. Transfer DE Clarence McPherson will help the pass rush, and newcomers Darren McKahn and Gary Albury will start in the secondary. The Bears allowed 17 touchdown passes last season, when they ranked next to last in MEAC red zone defense. They lost three of their last four games to finish 5-6.

AAMU: No set plan to play Atkins or Allen

Reggie Benson, Huntsville Times

Backup quarterback Kevin Atkins, a redshirt freshman, has yet to play in a game. Third stringer Stanley Allen, a redshirt junior, has played only in three games and two of those were in a mop-up role.

Even so, Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones says there is no set plan to get either one of them in Saturday's season opener against Tennessee State. The Bulldogs visit the Tigers at Nashville's LP Field at 6 p.m.

"The most important criteria is to try to win the ballgame," Jones said. "If that means there's a time I can put Atkins in there I will do so, but I'm not going to insert him into the game to get him some experience.

"I'll make a decision based on everything I'm seeing. Stanley is still not counted out of everything. If I don't like the way Kevin is handling everything, I might go with the more experienced guy."

Allen filled in admirably for much of the second half in last year's Southwestern Athletic Conference championship after starting quarterback Kelcy Luke went down with a broken leg and helped A&M rally to a 22-13 victory.

Wright to start: Even though Javarris Williams finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference in rushing last season and was named to the all-conference team, TSU coach James Webster said Tuesday that Terrence Wright will start at tailback for the Tigers Saturday night against Alabama A&M.

Wright, 5-10 and 190, rushed for just 86 yards on 24 carries last season and scored two touchdowns.

Williams finished with 1,233 yards on 245 carries and scored 11 touchdowns. He had 121 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown and also caught two passes for 41 yards in TSU's 27-20 loss to A&M last season.

"Terrence has earned the right to start," Webster said. "In my mind and in my heart, Javarris is still our starting running back, but every day you earn your starting position. In evaluating the running backs since last season, Terrence deserves an opportunity to start."

Afterward, Webster heaped praise on Williams.

"Javarris has worked hard," he said. "He reported to camp in good shape. He's big, strong, fast and physical. I'm excited about Javarris. I expect him to be our leading ballcarrier and lead us to victory."

Winston returns: Defensive tackle David Winston returned to practice Tuesday night and moved around pretty well, but defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns said redshirt sophomore Renaldo Askew will start Saturday night against Tennessee State.

Askew, a 6-1, 263-pounder out of Atlanta, played in five games last season and was credited with six tackles.

John Merritt Classic: Tigers tout improvement

By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff

With influx of Division I transfers, Tennessee St. coach shows optimism

Two years ago, Tennessee State coach James Webster inherited a program that had had three losing seasons in the last five years. The Tigers were devoid of talent and struggled to compete in the Ohio Valley Conference despite having won back-to-back league titles in the late 1990s under former coach L.C. Cole.

TSU went 2-9 during Webster's first season in 2005 and was among the worst teams in the country. Now, three days from beginning his third season at TSU, Webster says the Tigers are one of the more improved teams in college football.

"I think we're ahead of schedule," Webster said when asked to assess TSU's program. "You have to get your people in to see where you are. We were 2-9 my first year and last in the OVC. The last game we played last year we had a chance to share the OVC championship.

"I didn't think we could make that much progress in two years. We've upped the expectations for our fans. I really feel this program is ahead of schedule. We've got some young men that have stepped up and set high goals and standards for this program."

An indication if TSU's program is ahead of schedule could come Saturday night when the Tigers host defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Alabama A&M in the John Merritt Classic at Nashville's LP Field. Kickoff is 6.

A&M has beaten TSU the last two seasons and Webster says it's time the Tigers got back on the winning side.

"This is the most important game of the season," he said. "It's our Classic. We've lost two years in a row. We've got to get off to a positive start. With us being in our third year, it's important for us to win the football game and prove to ourselves and our fans that we've made progress."

Webster has turned TSU's program around with an influx of Division I transfers.

Last season, the Tigers had six Division I transfers in their starting lineup, including quarterback Antonio Heffner, who came from South Carolina, and linebacker Kalvin Baker, who came from Florida. Heffner was second in the league in passing, averaging just under 190 yards through the air, while Baker was one of the Tigers' top tacklers.

This season, TSU will have at least five more Division I transfers in the starting lineup, including three on defense.

Sophomore cornerback Marquez Hall came from Vanderbilt. Linebackers Kellen Woodard and Ramone Willis came from Western Michigan and Illinois, respectively. Nose guard Harold Avodele came from Coffeyville Community College.

On offense, wide receivers Kwame Patrick and Rod Evans came from UAB and Mississippi State, respectively.

"It takes time to build a program ... to get the kind of players that you want," Webster said. "We're going into our third year and we're beginning to get the kind of players we want in our program. We're catching up."

As a result, Webster believes his team will contend for the OVC championship. OVC officials picked the Tigers to finish fifth in the league's preseason poll. Webster expects his team to be a lot better than that.

"I expect us to win the OVC," he said. "I don't see anybody on our schedule, if we play well, we can't beat. I want this football team to be confident.

"I want them to feel we can win the OVC. I don't want them to question whether we can win."

ASU running back has been impeccable

By Josh Moon, Montgomery Advertiser

A few days ago, the Alabama State coaches sat down together and discussed the type of players they hoped to recruit to the school in coming years. With several new coaches, including a new head coach, on the staff and with recruiting starting to really heat up, the ASU coaches just wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page.

So, they spent a little time tossing out attributes and building the ideal ASU player. When they had finished, head coach Reggie Barlow noticed something a little strange.

"We already had our ideal player on campus," Barlow said. "It's Jay Peck."

From academics to community work to leadership, Peck is the player every coach dreams of. He's the all-star on the field, the excellent student in the classroom and an unofficial spokesman at team events.

"You can't beat Jay Peck," Barlow said. "Really, having him on this team is just a blessing. He does so much for you and sets such a great example for the rest of the players. You can take a young guy and show him Jay Peck and say, 'That's what you're shooting for.' You don't get many guys like that."

What's really odd, though, is to have a guy like that and not know it. Yet, that's exactly what happened with Peck during his first three years at ASU.

When he first joined the team in 2003, Peck was a little-known walk-on who the coaches felt deserved a chance. For the next three years, which included one redshirt season, he was the third-string running back behind two of the top rushers in the conference. Finally, in 2006, with those two backs gone, Peck was in line for the top spot.

Wrong. He opened the season as the third-string back behind a couple of freshmen. "I never stopped believing in myself," Peck said. "I knew I could do whatever they were asking of me, whatever they needed. I just needed the opportunity to prove it. But I never got frustrated really. I just worked harder."

Finally, a game into the 2006 season, after a blowout loss to start the year, Peck found himself starting. But that had less to do with the coaches' recognizing his talent and more to do with the complete ineffectiveness of the two guys in front of him. Making Peck the starter was a move made out of desperation more than anything else.

Sometimes, desperate measures work just fine.

Peck's first carry went for nine yards. His second went for 10. He finished the game with 20 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown.

"I think he just got buried behind some guys and nobody knew he was that talented," said Barlow, who was an assistant on both the 2005 and 2006 teams. "That happens sometimes. You'll get a guy who just needs that game situation to show you what he can do. When we gave it to Peck, he made the most of it."

And the Hornets made the most of him.

Over the next nine games, no back in the conference -- and few in college football -- carried more times than Peck's 229 carries. And only one back in the SWAC - Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Martell Mallet - had more total yards and touchdowns than Peck.

"People asked me if I didn't get worn down," Peck said. "But I loved it. This is what you play for."

And now, the guy few fans knew before the second game last season finds himself all over the place. He's on billboards, fliers, the team media guide and even the passes to games. He's an all-conference selection and is listed as one of the top running back prospects in black college football. When the football team participates in a public event, such as the conference's media day, Peck is Barlow's first choice.

For all intents and purposes, for his senior year, Jay Peck is the face of Alabama State football.

"It is a little surreal," Peck says, laughing. "I certainly don't mind doing any of that stuff. I'm a humble guy, so I'm not completely comfortable with the posters and stuff. But I see it all as such an honor. To think about where I was and to have all of this happening, yeah, it's pretty cool. I guess it just goes to show that if you keep working, good things will happen."


* The One Who Got Away: Barlow and the ASU coaching staff had been working this week to sign 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive lineman Matthew Hardick, who recently was released by Florida State.

But ASU admission standards got in the way.

"We had the kid. He was ready to sign," Barlow said. "He had taken some sort of remedial class or something at Florida State that we don't accept here. It wasn't NCAA rules, it was our rules. He was eligible to play. Could've been on the field this afternoon and playing in this weekend's game."

Barlow said it now appears that Hardrick will sign with Texas Southern, who the Hornets face in week two.

"I guess we'll get to see him play up close," Barlow said. "He'll be hard to miss."

Hardrick was ranked as the No. 8 offensive lineman in the country by Rivals, a recruiting Web site, two years ago and logged some playing time for the Seminoles last season. He had chosen ASU after taking visits to South Florida, Central Florida and Florida International. Because he's dropping a division to play at Texas Southern, Hardrick will be eligible to play immediately

Aggies' Miller will be back on familiar ground Saturday

By John Dell, JOURNAL REPORTER

The N.C. A&T Aggies might be down, but they won’t let themselves be counted out.

That’s the message that quarterback Herb Miller and his teammates have discussed at length in the preseason.

Miller, a redshirt sophomore quarterback from Winston-Salem, will lead A&T against rival Winston-Salem State at 6 p.m. Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium. Miller is familiar with Bowman Gray, having played there twice during his career at Carver High School.

“I’m looking forward to coming home and playing,” said Miller, whose 2006 season ended Oct. 21, when he tore two knee ligaments in a game against Howard.

Miller’s season wasn’t the only one ruined. The Aggies, in Coach Lee Fobbs’ first year, struggled in every facet of the game and finished 0-11.

“There’s no doubt it was a tough year, but we aren’t worried about the past,” Miller said.

After Miller had multiple surgeries on his knee, doctors told him he would need nearly nine months to recover. He wasn’t expected back for spring practice, but he worked at his rehabilitation and returned in four months. He is expected to be A&T’s main quarterback after Wayne Campbell was declared academically ineligible in the spring.

“I was a little sore in spring ball, but now I’m 100 percent and ready to go,” Miller said. “I don’t feel it at all, so I must have rehabbed it pretty well.”

Another Aggie who has some experience at Bowman Gray is center Tim Bess, a redshirt junior. He played for Parkland in those games against Carver, and he remembers the two victories well.
“Yeah, we beat Carver pretty good back in the day,” he said.

Bess said that coming home to play in a meaningful game is important, especially for bragging rights. Two of his former high-school teammates, Monte Purvis and Jed Bines, play for WSSU.

“This is huge for me right here,” Bess said. “Myself and Herb will have a lot of family and friends at the game, so we want to go out and represent.”

The Aggies have a 16-game losing streak, and they lost to the Rams 41-14 last season.

If A&T is to improve, Miller and the rest of the offense must cut back on mistakes. The Aggies scored just 17 touchdowns last season and averaged 10.4 points a game while allowing 43.2. They had 28 turnovers, with Campbell and Miller combining to throw 19 interceptions.

“It’s a different feel for me because I am a little wiser,” Miller said. “It was tough when the injury hit, but I was able to sit back and watch a little, and I think that helped.”

Miller also said that if he doesn’t play well, Shelton Morgan, a redshirt freshman from Elizabeth City, is pushing for playing time.

“I feel a whole lot more comfortable going into this season,” Miller said. “And I think that’s going to make a difference.”

Miller said that last year’s team had mostly individuals but that this year’s team is different.

“We come to practice together,” he said. “We are more cohesive and more of a team.”

Try as the Aggies might, Miller said that putting the winless season behind hasn’t been easy.

“You know it’s there in the back of your mind, but we are moving ahead to the future,” he said. “We can’t live in the past. That’s something all the coaches have stressed to us.”

The State of Aggie Football

By: Dwight Moore II-Contributor

North Carolina A&T University is the home of many things. "The Greensboro Four", one of the most respected engineering programs in the nation and one of the best football programs in all of black college football.

However, over the past few seasons this very proud football program has endured multiple losing seasons that has caused a lot of complaining within the Aggie community among the students, fans, alumni, and supporters.

The constant question of "When is the football team going to win a game?" has become very popular topic throughout campus.

Now I am 21 year old junior from right here in Greensboro . I have spent every fall since 1990 in Aggie Stadium watching, cheering, and loving A&T football. My family and I were at every home game, every classic from Atlanta to Indianapolis, and every big game home or away. So if anyone among the student body has the right to complain about the football team it would probably be me. But I'm not, because I realize no matter how great and proud a football program is there will come a time when they will have to rebuild and that is what Coach Fobbs and his staff are doing.

The reason that so many Aggies are having a hard time dealing with the rebuilding process is because we are not use to "rebuilding" but "reloading" and we became spoil fans who always thought that our football would be great and for good reasons.

From 1990 to 2003 the football team won 111 games to only 49 losses. This run of excellence would include four MEAC titles, three trips to 1-AA playoffs that included the school's first playoff win over the number one team in the nation at the time in Tennessee State that also claimed the school's first and only black national championship during the historic 1999 season, and also an appearance in the 1991 Heritage Bowl in Miami. Names such as James White, Rudy Artis, Connell Maynor , Maseo Bolin,Maurice Hicks, Chris McNeil, Darryl Klugh, Curtis Deloatch, and "The Blue Death Defense" became apart of Aggie football lore.

However, after the 2003 season the bottom started to fall out from under and you can trace the being of it back to the end of the 2002 season when Bill Hayes was fired as head coach.

That move began a string of very questionable moves by the administration and the athletics department that included a very bad attempt at trying to become a Division 1-A football program. Those moves along with poor results under the George Small tenure lead the program to the state that it was in last season.

Usually undermanned against the their opponents last season we went 0-11, a season that we would all like to forget and there is good chance that will happen in coming seasons.

Coach Fobbs and his staff are bringing transfers and recruits to go along with the other players that we already have which allows him to have more man power at his use and more means a more competitive team and that will lead to more wins.

As a person who has followed the A&T football program their entire life I have to say that the last a couple seasons have been very hard. Going 3- 8 two straight years and then going 0-11 has been really hard for the Aggie community to handle because many of us remember when A&T was one of the respected and feared teams in black college football.

But now things are about to change the rebuilding process has began and I hope the MEAC and the rest of the HBCUs enjoyed A&T being down for these last couple of years because now A&T is getting there "swagger" back although you could argue that it hasn't gone anywhere to being with.

It is now time to remind all the HBCUs in the nation why they have always been jealous of us Aggies because "we are A&T and they aren't and every school that isn't A&T is just school wishing that it was".

Because the day will come when once again our players will make us proud and we will be able to stand in the opponents faces and there will be nothing they can do about when we scream the those two words that known are worldwide...
AGGIE PRIDE!

Golden Lions scuffle through practice

By Mike Marzelli/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

Arkansas-Pine Bluff head coach Mo Forte couldn’t have been more displeased with his team’s effort at practice Tuesday.

With UAPB’s season opener at Mississippi Valley State looming on Saturday, the Golden Lions were sluggish throughout the three-hour plus workout that featured no contact and was mostly 7-on-7 work and special teams. Their execution suffered because of it, leaving Forte in a foul mood as he addressed the team afterwards

“I told them we had a meeting tonight and that was it, I didn’t have anything else to say,” Forte said. “We were completely uninterested out there and no one wanted to do anything. I don’t know what the problem was or what we were doing but we have to figure it out over night.”

Forte blamed his team’s lack of energy and focus on the start of school. Classes started Monday at UAPB and despite the fact that the coaching staff moved practice back a half-hour to accommodate players’ late classes, there were still a number of players who were in and out of practice.

“This always happens when school starts,” Forte said. “We move practice back and then we have kids who have a class they have to take at six and they have to leave and it really hurts us.
“There is no continuity for our football team when we have kids who have to miss parts of practice because there are only certain times that sections of classes are available and they are required to take them.”

UAPB won’t be changing anything with tomorrow’s workout but Forte has made it clear that he expects a different persona from his team.”

“They just need to come out refocused and re-energized and with a better attitude and get it done because our first game is right around the corner and we know that Valley is going to be ready even if we’re not,” Forte said. “It is still just mind boggling to me how poorly we performed [yesterday], especially considering it was the coolest day of camp.”

Heflin healthy

Kicker Brodie Heflin was back in pads Tuesday with his sprained right ankle heavily taped but showed no ill effects from the injury he suffered in last Saturday’s scrimmage. Heflin boomed his first punt of the afternoon over 50 yards and had no difficulty getting off four more kicks during the final portion of practice.

Expecting the unexpected

Forte says he doesn’t know what to expect from the Delta Devils, who will feature a new quarterback and a slew of new starters on both sides of the ball.

“I don’t know much about them, whether they’re going to run the same philosophy or a new one or anything,” Forte said. “We’re preparing for them generically because we know anything can happen.”

One thing the Lions can expect is a tough game. Valley has beaten UAPB two years in a row.

“I know they feel good about that,” Forte said “They’re going to be ready to do it again.”

Lee named SU Jaguars' starting quarterback

By Eric Narcisse, Daily World

BATON ROUGE - In the first of his weekly press conferences on Thursday held at The Table is Bread Restaurant, Southern Jaguars head football coach Pete Richardson addressed many issues, such as the strength and weaknesses of his team.
But the biggest announcement was that redshirt sophomore Bryant Lee will be the Jaguars' starting quarterback when they take the field at 2 p.m. Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. against Florida A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

"Last year, we had a number of injuries occur at the quarterback position," Richardson said. "Lee started the last couple of games at the end of the season and did a good job. He had a good offseason. He's bigger, stronger and has developed a good chemistry with the receivers."

The 6-1, 185-pound Lee from Hahnville High School, started the final three games of the season finishing second on the team with 302 yards rushing with five touchdowns on 67 carries, while completing 51-of-87 passes for 571 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions.

Lee beat out stiff competition from fellow redshirt sophomore Warren Matthews, a 6-4, 240-pounder from Warren Easton High School in New Orleans.

"Warren received a lot of reps in the spring," Richardson said. "I'm confident that either one of these guys can run our football team."

Regardless of who is throwing the ball for the Jaguars this season, they'll have quality receivers to pass to with the return of second team All-SWAC honoree Gerard Landry.

The 6-2, 220-pound junior started every game last season for the Jaguars, finishing the year as the team's leading receiver in receptions (55), yards (727) and yards per game (66.1), while scoring a career-high five touchdowns.

"Landry has good size and strength," Richardson said. "He made a commitment in the offseason to lose weight and increase his speed, because he already has great hands."

Joining Landry out wide is sophomore Juamorris Stewart, a 6-3, 195-pounder from Istrouma High School, and Del Roberts, a 5-8, 170-pounder, who played in every game last season.

Stewart finished the year as the Jaguars third leading receiver with 21 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown, while Roberts battled through injuries to finish as Southern's second leading receiver with 28 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown.

"We have developed some depth behind Landry at the receiver position," Richardson said. "Stewart is a great athlete, who has gained a lot of confidence this offseason.

"Roberts is also a lot bigger and stronger this year," Richardson said. "We have to find ways to get him the ball this year, because he can do some creative things once he gets it."

If there was one concern offensively for the Jaguars it was their offensive line according to Richardson.

"Our offensive line has almost been decimated," Richardson said. "But our coaches have been doing a good job of moving players around. They are shuffling people around and I think we'll be OK, we just can't have any injuries."

Defensively, everything starts in the secondary for the Jaguars, who return SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in safety Jarmaual George.

The 6-1, 195-pound senior led the Jaguars with five interceptions, while recording 51 tackles and one fumble recovery.

"Our defensive backs are really strong," Richardson said. "George is a guy who is always around the ball and he likes to hit."

Although names weren't released, Richardson said the Jaguars could be without several players when they face Florida A&M.

"We still haven't received paper work for some players," Richardson said. "If we don't receive that paper work on those players by the time we play, those individuals will not take part in the game."

JSU dependence on transfers shrinks

By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

Photo: CB Domonique Johnson

This time last season, Jackson State's coaches had finished an exhausting run of recruiting that made the "previous school" category on the team's roster look like a who's who of Division I-A colleges.

There were two players added from Ohio State. One from Notre Dame. One from Tennessee. One each from Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Miss.

Some got into trouble at their former schools while others had simply fallen out of favor with their respective coaching staffs.

Either way, they all had some interesting journeys into a Jackson State uniform.

Then first-year coach Rick Comegy said the sizable influx of talent - nine Division I-A transfers in all - was necessary to bolster the talent of the program to a reasonable level. All nine players started for JSU at various times during the season.

But in Comegy's second year with the Tigers, the newest wave of Division I-A help shouldn't be nearly as noticeable.

Most likely, only one transfer, cornerback Domonique Johnson (Missouri), will be fresh from his old school to Jackson State's starting lineup when the Tigers play Delta State at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

"We'll always be looking for talent, no matter where it comes from," Comegy said. "But I think it's obvious that we had some talent stockpiled and didn't have to make as many wholesale changes. That's a good thing. You always want some continuity."

It's not that Jackson State completely ignored the transfer scene this year. In fact, five Division I-A transfers came to the Tigers in the off-season.

While Johnson may be the only transfer starter for Saturday's opener, four out of the five could see extended action.

Running back Cody Hull and receiver Rodney Gray (both formerly of Southern Miss) figure to see plenty of time on the field.

Quarterback Tray Rutland (Mississippi State) will back up Jimmy Oliver after a hotly contested preseason position battle, but Comegy said he hopes to get Rutland some action under center against Delta State.

"We like what we've done," Comegy said. "These guys will help us, but we're not putting the weight of the world on their shoulders."

Johnson figures to make the most immediate impact at the starting corner slot with his 6-foot-2 frame, cocky demeanor and ample speed. He started four games for Missouri last season, but left the team in the spring for a variety of personal reasons.

While the Jackson State surroundings are decidedly less swank than the Big 12 atmosphere at Missouri, Johnson said he appreciates the more humble surroundings.

"I'd rather be down here playing with guys that are hungry," Johnson said. "Not all the guys at Missouri were lazy, but it was easy to get complacent in that atmosphere. I know it even happened to me a few times.

"But it's not going to happen again - not with this group of guys around me."

TSU sneak peek

• COACH: James Webster (8-14 in 2 seasons, both at TSU)

• 2006: 6-5, 5-2 OVC.

• RETURNING STARTERS: Seven on offense and five on defense.

• KEY STORYLINE: The Tigers are making the type of progress Webster had in mind when he began his rebuilding process three years ago.

• REVEALING STAT: Antonio Heffner (passing and rushing) and Javarris Williams (rushing) combined for 3,073 yards and were responsible for 25 of TSU's 30 TDs last season.

KEY RETURNEES

• QB Antonio Heffner: Can be a playmaker if he overcomes shoulder injury.

• RB Javarris Williams: One of TSU's best ever wants another 1,000-yard season.

• CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: An exceptional athlete who was third in the nation with six interceptions last year.

TOP NEWCOMER

• WR Jonathan Moore. Former Maplewood standout already has impressed coaches with his intense work ethic.

SCOUTING QUICK-HITTERS

Rodgers-Cromartie could be one of the nation's best cornerbacks. The offensive line welcomes back tackle Avern Alexander from an ankle injury, but lost three key contributors. LB Kalvin Baker had 47 tackles last year.

Tigers Depth Chart

Offense

Tight end

43 Antonio Graham, Jr., 6-3, 190

97 James Finch, Jr., 6-3, 285

Left tackle

67 Qudus Adeboyejo, Sr., 6-6, 260

73 Avern Alexander, Sr., 6-5, 300

Left guard

68 Duvall Young, So., 6-2, 305

75 Jarvis Cante, Fr., 6-6, 350

Center

64 Cecil Newton, Jr., 6-2, 305

60 Sherman Carter, Fr., 6-4, 300

Right guard

65 Eugene Banks, Sr., 6-6, 365

76 Alex Davis, Fr., 6-2, 310

Right tackle

66 Cornelius Lewis, Jr., 6-5, 310

78 Justin Ridgeway, Fr., 6-5, 280

Wide receiver

5 Chris Johnson, Jr., 6-2, 180

87 Jamal Ruffin, Jr., 6-3, 205

Wide receiver

83 Brandon Belvin, Jr., 6-3, 200

86 Javier Jackson, Fr., 5-10, 170

Quarterback

16 Antonio Heffner, Jr., 6-2, 195

1 Calvin McNairl, Fr., 6-0, 210

Running back

25 Terrence Wright, So., 5-10, 190

28 Javarris Williams, Jr., 5-11, 215

Fullback

4 Brandon Jackson, Jr., 6-1, 232

30 Brandon Williams, Sr., 6-0, 220

Defense

End

13 Shaun Richardson, Sr., 6-3, 250

52 Mark Drew, Sr., 6-1, 225

Tackle

91 Lamar Divens, Jr., 6-4, 315

59 Maurice Davis, Jr., 6-2, 245

Nose tackle

93 Harold Ayodele, Jr., 6-2, 315

61 Travis Stubblefield, Fr., 6-2, 270

End

53 Kellen Woodard, So., 6-3, 220

94 Maurice Royster, Jr., 6-3, 230

Outside linebacker

55 Nahshon Bigham, Jr., 6-2, 210

51 Carl Buford, Jr., 6-0, 210

Middle linebacker

9 Ramone Willis, Jr., 6-2, 245

27 Kalvin Baker, So., 6-1, 225

Outside linebacker

10 Reno Thompson, 6-0, 190

15 Brandon Blackmon, Jr., 6-4, 200

Cornerback

45 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Sr., 6-2, 185

26 Kevin Bledsoe, Jr., 5-9, 180

Free safety

6 Anthony Levine So., 6-1, 195

36 Brandon Bather, So., 5-11, 185

Strong safety

2 Larry Williford Jr., 6-1, 185

24 Marcus Snow Fr., 5-10, 203

Cornerback

21 Marquez Hall So., 5-9, 170

3 Ozzie Harrell Fr., 6-0, 200

Special teams

Placekicker

19 Eric Benson Jr., 5-10, 189

34 Taylor Cisneros, Fr., 6-0, 205

Punter

34 Taylor Cisneros, Fr., 6-0, 205

19 Eric Benson Jr., 5-10, 189

Kickoffs

19 Eric Benson Jr., 5-10, 189

34 Taylor Cisneros, Fr., 6-0, 205

Returner

18 Ronnie Powell, Fr., 5-8, 180

21 Marquez Hall So., 5-9, 170

TSU has painful memories

By MIKE ORGAN, Staff Writer

Coach says many injuries cost Tigers an OVC title

Tennessee State quarterback Antonio Heffner is healthy again, and if he can improve his game management skills he could lead the Tigers to the OVC title.

It hurts James Webster to talk about injuries. Especially the ones Tennessee State encountered last season.

It hurts the Tigers coach because he hates to blame injuries for shortcomings.

But if so many of TSU's key players hadn't been hurt, Webster believes the Tigers would have come even closer to winning the Ohio Valley Conference title last year than they did.

If the Tigers avoid injuries this year, then they expect again to be in the hunt for the conference title.

TSU headed into the final game with a shot at the championship, but lost at Eastern Kentucky 20-3 and finished behind UT Martin and Eastern Illinois, which tied for first.

''All that needs to happen for us to contend for the title is for us to stay healthy,'' Webster said. ''It wasn't so much that it was an inordinate amount of injuries last season, but I've never been anywhere where you had so many injuries to key people.''

TSU stars started falling early. First it was starting offensive tackle Avern Alexander in the first series of the first game who was lost for the season with an ankle injury.

In the second game, North Carolina transfer Mike Mason, the team's best receiver, went down with a knee injury.

Late in the year quarterback Antonio Heffner suffered a shoulder injury, which never fully healed.

The list went on and on and included linebacker Kalvin Baker, a transfer from Florida and the leading tackler at the time, who hurt his knee.

''All teams have injuries, I realize that,'' Webster said. ''But it was just the fact that it was to key people for us.''

No let-up

Keeping key players healthy is a priority this year, but Webster won't back off from the heavy demands he places on his team.

''I'll never be easier on a football team; that's not in my vocabulary,'' Webster said. ''All of those guys got hurt in the games; they didn't get hurt in practice. So I'm not worried that it was anything we were doing in practice.''

Not only is Heffner healthy again, he says he is prepared to be the leader the Tigers needed last year.

''Last season I was just out there, and my teammates were depending on me because of what they had heard about me,'' said Heffner, who transferred from South Carolina. ''Now everybody knows what I can do. They expect me to be their leader on and off the field.

''We're more of an experienced team this year, we know what to expect in the OVC, and we believe we can win a championship.''

Coach James Webster's three keys for taking it up a notch

Photo: TSU Head Football Coach James Webster

1. AVOID INJURIES

''We lost so many key players throughout the season that by the end of the year we were forced to play guys out of position and to rely on a lot of young guys. Hopefully, we'll stay healthy this season and benefit from some of the young players who were pushed into action last year.''

2. MANAGE THE GAME

''Make sure (QB) Antonio Heffner knows he does not have to win football games on his own. It is more important for him to manage the game. There are enough good players around him on offense to help out.''

3. REBUILD THE INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE

''That is the No. 1 place where we lost players. On the upside it will be an opportunity for some backups to step up. Getting Lamar Divens back (after being ruled ineligible last season) obviously will be a big help up front.''

Follow DSU's schedule to some great golf

By BRAD MYERS, The News Journal

Debate the strengths and weaknesses of the football teams at the University of Delaware and Delaware State University all you want. Until they play, we'll never know who is better.

But we already know which football team's fans travel to the better golf areas. Nothing against Delaware, but the Blue Hens' conference schedule can take them to New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Maine -- often not the warmest places to be in late October or November.

Delaware State's conference schedule has the Hornets frequently traveling to North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Case closed.

The Hornets will always play where top-flight golf isn't far away, and this year is no exception.

Sept. 8 at Florida A&M

You wish the Hornets were playing here later, because early September in Tallahassee promises to be hot. But look at the bright side: Hot weather makes a golf ball go farther.

The best choices nearby are Don Veller Seminole Golf Course, owned by Florida State University, and the Golf Club at Summerbrooke.

Sept. 15 at Kent State

This Division I-A opponent will likely be a tough go for the Hornets, but it will be early in the season. That's good, because Kent, Ohio, is about 35 miles southeast of Cleveland, and a round of golf there in November would likely be chilly.

Not so in mid-September, however, and there are three good choices. Kent State has its own university golf course, Raccoon Hill Golf Club is just north of town, and Fox Den Golf Course is owned by the City of Stow, northwest of Kent.

Sept. 29 at Hampton

The Virginia Beach area is loaded with quality golf courses, and the best are before you even cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

Bay Creek Golf Club is just off U.S. 13, about five miles before the start of the bridge, with 36 holes designed by a couple of guys you may be familiar with -- Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

The Nicklaus Course has three holes that play right along Chesapeake Bay and match any stretch on the East Coast for difficulty and beauty. The third hole on the Palmer Course does the same.

There are more quality courses across the bay, including Hell's Point, Heron Ridge, Honey Bee, Red Wing Lake and Signature at West Neck.

Oct. 13 at North Carolina A&T and Nov. 3 at Winston-Salem State

The Greensboro/Winston-Salem area has dozens of quality public courses, and the Hornets will visit this area twice this season.

The top recommendation is Bryan Park in Greensboro, which has 36 holes good enough to play host to the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in 2010.

Stoney Creek Golf Club is another highly rated course just east of Greensboro. Oak Valley Golf Club is in Advance, closer to Winston-Salem, and is where Bear's Eric Onesi qualified for the U.S. Amateur earlier this month.

Oct. 27 at South Carolina State

There isn't a lot of golf in Orangeburg, but Santee is just 25 miles away, right on Interstate 95, which makes for a convenient stop before or after the game.

There are three top-notch public courses in Santee -- Lake Marion, Santee Cooper Country Club and Santee National Golf Club. And late October should be a nice time to add an extra day or two and make it a golf/football vacation.

IF YOU GO


Tallahassee, Fla.

Don Veller Seminole Golf Course, (850) 644-2582

Golf Club at Summerbrooke, (850) 894-4653

Kent, Ohio

Kent State University Golf Club, (330) 672-2500

Raccoon Hill Golf Club, (330) 673-2111

Fox Den Golf Course, (330) 673-3443

Hampton, Va.

Bay Creek Golf Club, (757) 331-8620

Information on all other courses listed at Virginia Beach Golf.

Greensboro/Winston-Salem, N.C.

Bryan Park Golf Course, (336) 375-2200

Stoney Creek Golf Club, (336) 449-5688

Oak Valley Golf Club, (336) 940-2000

Santee, S.C.

Lake Marion Golf Course and Santee Cooper Country Club, (800) 344-6534

Santee National Golf Club, (803) 854-3531

SSU aims for first season-opening victory since 2004

By Noell Barnidge, Savannah Morning News

Savannah State has not won its football season opener since 2004, when the Tigers beat host Norfolk (Va.) State 41-34 in double overtime.

To win its season opener against Morgan State at 7 tonight in Baltimore, SSU's defense must find a way to stop Chad Simpson, one of the premier running backs in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound senior from Miami, was selected to the preseason All-MEAC first team.

As a junior, Simpson was chosen to the All-MEAC second team. He also was named the Bears' Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for a team-high 795 yards and nine touchdowns on 147 carries, an average of 5.4 yards per carry.

Against Norfolk State last season, Simpson gained a career-high 192 yards on 26 carries and scored two touchdowns. Don't think for a second that he isn't savoring the chance to break his own record against SSU, which was 2-9 last season.

"If they've looked at film of us from last year, they've seen that we had some problems stopping the run," said SSU second-year coach Theo Lemon, whose Tigers gave up 203.7 yards rushing per game. "I think (SSU) is a different team. They need to see and understand that this isn't the same Savannah St. that is coming up to play them. I hope we show them that."

Lemon said he expects Morgan St. to unleash Simpson, who transferred there from Big East school South Florida. Simpson was USF's top kick returner in 2005 and ranked 25th in the nation in NCAA Division I-A, averaging 25.6 yards per return. In an upset win that season against No. 9 Louisville, he returned the opening second-half kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown.

Photo: SSU wide receiver Deleon Hollinger hauls in a pass.

"They have the same coaches (as last season), and that means they're going to be the same type of team," Lemon said of Morgan St.. "They're a power football team and they're going to try to knock you off the ball. They have a lot of great offensive linemen, some guys who really come after you. What we're going to try to do, defensively, is attack them and show them some different things to keep them off guard."

SSU also faces the task of dealing with Morgan St.'s All-MEAC second-team selections: senior wideout Roderick Wolfe, senior linebacker Kofi Nkrumah, senior defensive back Kendell Jackson, and junior offensive lineman Dakari Grimsley. "Everybody's been talking about (the game)," said SSU junior middle linebacker Calvin Leonard. "Everybody is ready."

SSU will play Morgan St. for the fifth time in the series. The Tigers have never beaten the Bears, and have been outscored 138-46. When the teams last played in 2005, Morgan St. cruised to a 55-26 victory.

Last season, Morgan St. finished 5-6 overall and 4-4 in the MEAC. The Bears are predicted to finish sixth by MEAC coaches and sports information directors. "We've got to go up to Baltimore and show them what we've got," SSU senior defensive end Dominique Clark said. "Everybody is pumped."

Notes

Trent Newton, SSU's leading tackler the past two seasons, has transferred to NCAA Division II Fort Valley State, FVSU quarterback Garrett Williams confirmed Wednesday.
Newton and Williams were roommates at SSU.

Newton, who made 114 tackles last season as a sophomore, was suspended by SSU coach Theo Lemon on March 20 for the remainder of SSU's spring practice for violating unspecified team policy. Newton did not play for FVSU on Saturday.

Williams, SSU's starting quarterback the past two seasons, is FVSU's starting quarterback. The junior led the Wildcats to a 13-10 victory over host Clark Atlanta last Saturday. He threw a 29-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.

2,000 reasons to like Morgan State's Simpson

Mike Peters, The Examiner

Morgan State senior Chad Simpson wants to leave as the school’s best running back. Last season, he finished fourth in the MEAC with 795 yards.

BALTIMORE - To Morgan State running back Chad Simpson, only one number matters most: 2,000.

“Oh, I’m sure I can do it — I’m positive,” he said. “If the passing game is right, and defenses keep eight men out of the box sometimes, I’m definitely going to do it.”

If Simpson fulfills his goal of rushing for 2,000 yards, he’ll leave Morgan State as the school’s most accomplished running back, as he’ll top the single-season mark of 1,191 set by Jason Jackson in 2004 and the career record of 2,727 set by Ali Culpepper from 1998-2001.

Simpson transferred from the University of South Florida in 2005, and immediately made an impact, finishing fourth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with 795 rushing yards, averaging 5.4 yards a carry to earn a spot on the All-MEAC second team.

The three players who finished ahead of Simpson — South Carolina State’s DeShawn Baker (1,289), Delaware State’s Emmanuel Marc (1,230) and Hampton’s Alonzo Coleman (1,052) — all graduated, leaving the 5-foot-10 kid from Miami as the front-runner to lead the league in rushing, a major reason why he was the only Bear selected to the conference’s preseason first team.

“He’s stronger. He’s been here all summer working out,” Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley said. “He can catch it out of the backfield, and he can definitely run with it. We’re definitely looking forward to him just staying healthy and finishing out strong.”

Simpson, the only Morgan State player selected to the All-MEAC first team, demonstrated why his coach thinks so highly of him against Bowie State last year, when he needed just 10 carries for a season-high 178 yards, highlighted by touchdown runs of 40, 54 and 60-yards during a 28-20 victory.

“You can depend on him at any time,” senior receiver Roderick Wolfe said. “He’s clutch. If you need a first down, and it’s fourth-and-1, you can give it to him. If you need a 20-yard run, you can give it to him.”

Expect the Bears to do just that tonight when they open the season against Savannah State. The Bears return nearly the same offensive line they did from last season’s unit that paved the way for Simpson to score a team-high nine touchdowns. The only difference in the line will be Robert Norris–a 6-foot-4, 335-pound transfer from Virginia Tech–will replace Cliff Louis, who signed a free-agent deal with the Cleveland Browns earlier this year.

“They’re all like my brothers. They take care of me,” Simpson said. “When I go in that huddle and look in their eyes, they want the same thing I want. If I get 2,000 yards this year, they get 2,000 yards this year. That’s all we talk about. I don’t even want them to put my name on the rushing yards: I want all our names on them.”

Calhoun says SCSU not an easy game for Falcons

By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer

COLORADO SPRINGS - Don’t tell new Air Force Academy head coach Troy Calhoun that Saturday’s season-opener against South Carolina State is an easy game.

Through hours of gametape, the Bulldogs have more than grabbed the attention and respect of the former Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. The level of respect Calhoun has for the SCSU football program was made evident during Tuesday’s teleconferences when he all but declared the Bulldogs "had no weaknesses" and were the type of forminable opponent AFA needed for its opener at Falcon Stadium.

"I think they’re a talented football team," he said. "They’ve got very good size. They’ve got experience. They’ve got a quality quarterback (Cleveland McCoy). They’ve got a darn good back (Will Ford) and just defensively, look at the front people. I think they do a terrific job. You’re looking at a football program that was outstanding on offense last year. They led (the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) in, I believe, total offense and rushing offense, and just look at their overall unit. This is a team that’s won 16 games the last two years and so it will be one stiff challenge."

The Falcons have gone in the opposite direction of SCSU, losing 15 games the past two seasons. After three straight losing seasons, longtime head coach Fisher DeBerry retired and the Air Force Academy selected Calhoun, a 1989 graduate, to help turn around the team’s fortunes.

He inherited a team which returns only four starters on offense, including senior quarterback Shaun Carney (618 rushing yards, eight TDs, 83 of 137 passing, 1,192 yards, 12 TDs), former halfback turned z-wide receiver Chad Hall, two-year letterman center Blaine Guenther and tight end Travis Dekker, who’s expected to play a larger role in the more pro-set offense.

Calhoun said expect Carney to operate more out of the shotgun and to throw 10-12 more passes per game. Carney needs 890 passing yards to become the school’s all-time passing yardage leader and 832 yards to set a new school record for total yards.

"He’s a guy that I think can be a dual-threat player," Calhoun said about Carney.

The defense returns five seniors, including leading tackler Drew Fowler (123 total tackles, two sacks), although as many as seven freshman could see significant playing time. The key for AFA against a mobile quarterback like McCoy, according to Calhoun, is being "disciplined", "hard-nosed", "tough" and "assignment-sound".

"He’s a guy with good size," Calhoun said. "He throws an excellent ball. I think anytime you’ve got a guy that’s got mobility then as a defense, when you look at it from that perspective, it’s something that you’ve got to take into consideration just because all of a sudden, a play breaks down, he tucks it under his arm and it can be one of the better plays that an offense has that day. He makes you be extremely disciplined. Assignment-wise, just make sure you’re dead on the nose. He’s one good football player."

Special teams was the one bright spot last season for Air Force Academy as it led Division I-A in kickoff coverage, a category SCSU was number-one in for Division I-AA. When asked about the rule change which moves the kickoff from the 35-yard line to the 30-yard line, Calhoun was more than receptive.

"I like the rule," Calhoun said. "I think they’re varying opinions on whether it should remain at the 35 or the 30, but it does have a way of injecting even more activity and action into the game. Because of that, that’s where it helps you to have a guy perhaps who has a little more powerful leg because we play games at altitude and if he can pin an opponent back, he still can hit the end zone and they’re starting at the 20 and you’re bringing your returns out to around the 35-yard line and that happens consistently throughout the game, it could have a cumulative effect on the field position standpoint and ultimately, the outcome of the game."

Perhaps one reason for Calhoun’s approval is the kick return potential of freshman Reggie Rembert, who had a 95-yard touchdown return in a recent scrimmage. He also has a place-kicker in junior Ryan Harrison who booted a 62-yarder during the same scrimmage.

Although the Falcons also open conference play the following week against Utah, Calhoun plans to have them more than prepared to face SCSU before an expected crowd of 40,000 or more in Colorado Springs for "Parents Weekend."

"In terms of a first game, I think you’ve got to play this one," he said. "You’ve got to use every bullet you’ve got to win the opener and with the kind of challenge we’ll face in South Carolina State, that’s the only approach that we can take."

SCSU ready to play the Air Force Academy

By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer

Quarterback Cleveland McCoy is treating it like a business trip.

Tight end Spencer Miller views it as a 'Homecoming' visit.

As for offensive lineman Jake Johnson, he only wants to make it through without 'getting nauseous and fainting'.

All three will join their South Carolina State teammates today on a 12:30 p.m. flight from Eagle Aviation Airport in Columbia to Colorado Springs, Colo. for Saturday's against Air Force Academy.

It's the first-ever visit out west for the Bulldogs and the first of two games against Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) foes. For redshirt freshman Johnson, this also marks the first time he's ever boarded an aircraft.

"I was talking to my mom who said just chew a lot of gum because my ears are going to be popping and be relaxed," he said.

Needless to say, Johnson's trepidations have brought on some friendly ribbing from veteran Bulldogs.

"It's going to be an experience for him," McCoy said. "He's going to have to go in there and man-up and take that flight."

McCoy remembers having similar jitters during his first flight with SCSU two years ago. He insists his nerves were much calmer than a certain former teammate and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

"I was kind of timid, but Deshawn Baker made it a little worse for us," he said. "He was shaking, crying and everything. So, he kind of made me uncomfortable. But, we made it and we made two more trips after that, so I've gotten use to it."

All humor aside, McCoy has adopted SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough's no-nonsense approach to Saturday's game. As the flag-carrier for the MEAC, both McCoy and Johnson said it's important the Bulldogs show that they can compete against a larger school.

"This is a business trip," McCoy said. "We're not going up there to have fun and get lackadaisical. We're up there to play football."

"We're all about business," Johnson said. "Coach said we're going down there to handle business and that's what we're going to do."

The close to three-hour trip is nothing new for Miller, who spent a season at the University of Wyoming before transferring to SCSU.

"It's almost like 'Homecoming' for me for the simple fact I have family out there that stay in Denver," he said. "I'm just going in, going to have a good time and come Saturday, play my hardest."

Much of the talk during camp has concerned adapting to the altitude of Colorado Springs, which lies a mile above sea level. To a man, the Bulldog players believe withstanding the hotter than usual 'Dog Days' of training camp will benefit them.

"It's a little different," Miller said. "It's going to test us to see if we've got enough gas in our tank. But I feel we'll ready. We've been working hard at camp and we'll give it all we've got."

"The main thing is we worked hard this summer," McCoy said. "It's hard to get a look as far as altitude, but the heat this summer was outrageous. We practiced in three-digit degree weather and on the turf is 10 degrees hotter. So if we're not prepared, I don't know what to tell you."

Schedule brutal at S.C. State

By Charles Bennett, The Post and Courier

Bulldogs to face two big-conference foes in first three weeks

ORANGEBURG — South Carolina State began shopping around for games against Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) opponents a couple years ago, and as either good luck or bad luck would have it, the Bulldogs wound up landing two for 2007.

Thus the schedule finds South Carolina State opening at Air Force on Saturday, and after a MEAC game at Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 8, the Bulldogs play at South Carolina on Sept. 15 — a murderer's row if ever there was one.

"Back then, it didn't seem like such a big deal," said South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough, "but now that you're actually here, it gets to be a little bit bigger challenge."

The reason the Bulldogs went shopping for those road games at Air Force and South Carolina is for the money the games will put in their operating budget.

Air Force will pay South Carolina State $225,000 for making the trip to Colorado, while South Carolina will fork over $230,000 for the Bulldogs to make the short drive up I-26 to Columbia.

"Of course, financially, it does help us," said S.C. State athletic director Charlene Johnson. "We're in a position where we have to be creative in how we raise dollars. Those two schools are giving us a chance to not only increase revenue but increase exposure for the football program and the university."

The biggest question remaining is whether the grueling early schedule will take its toll on the Bulldogs over the long haul of the upcoming season.

"We've certainly got as much as we can handle in those first three games," Pough said. "It's a challenge, but we're excited about it. The guys just want to play right now. I'm just hoping it will somehow be good for us in the long run."

Meanwhile, Johnson continues shopping for payday games for future schedules. South Carolina is locked in again in 2011 and Johnson says she has had conversations with Clemson, Georgia Tech and Central Florida.

However, Johnson says the Bulldogs are looking for one per year, not two.

Around the SWAC: the rating game

Grambling
First-year Grambling coach Rod Broadway brought back 45 players from spring and added about 45 more in preseason camp. And he still isn’t sure what he has, with the Tigers opening at Alcorn on Saturday.

“I don’t know how good we’ll be, because I don’t know the competition (in the SWAC), Broadway said. “I don’t know that we’re consistent enough to be a good football team now. I don’t know what these kids are going to do, actually.

“We’re trying to change the culture here. &hellip When you’re 3-8, you create some bad habits. It’s a job. You can tell by body language. It’s amazing what one bad year can do.”

Broadway is unsure who will take the place of RB Ab Kuuaan. Four freshmen — Cornelius Walker, Frank Warren, Kenny Batiste and J.R. Spivery — are among the possibilities.

“Once they get in the flow, they’ll be good running backs, not great, not bad, just good running backs at this point,” Broadway said.

Prairie View

Senior running back Arnell Fontenot, who ran for the game-tying and game-winning touchdowns in the Panthers’ 26-23 overtime stunner over Southern last season, won’t be with the team this season because of “personal issues medical issues,” said PV coach Henry Frazier III Monday, though the Houston Chronicle reported earlier this month Fontenot is academically ineligible. The plan is Fontenot will redshirt this season, Frazier said.

Fontenot ran for 483 yards and three TDs last season with Kerry Wilson, a senior last year, going for 498 yards and four TDs.

Sophomore Calvin Harris, who ran for 422 yards and one TD last season, is No. 1.

Sophomore Donald Babers, a nonqualifier last season, is second. Babers will also be a return specialist. Ben Boyd is third.

“We won’t give up on the kid, but we have some ample backups,” Frazier said. “I don’t think we’ll miss a beat.”

Alabama State

Sophomore quarterback T’Chelpio Woods, who started at times last season and came off the bench to throw two TDs in a loss at Southern, is academically ineligible, first-year coach Reggie Barlow said.

Junior Alex Engram, a former Western Michigan transfer who threw for 787 yards and six TDs last season, is the starter.

Freshman Devin Dominguez and junior college transfer Chris Mitchell competed with Engram in preseason camp.

Jackson State

Division II power Delta State is on the schedule Saturday, but JSU coach Rick Comegy said he wants to start playing the big powers in the state, Mississippi State and Ole Miss, for bigger game checks.

“A lot of schools in our conference have hooked onto that,” Comegy said. “I’d sure like to be part of that, so we don’t get left behind.”

Notes

The conference has 11 television games, including Sport South, with three of those Saturday: Southern vs. FAMU in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge (ESPN Classic), Texas Southern vs. Prairie View in the Labor Day Classic (tape-delayed on ESPNU) and UAPB at Valley (CSTV). Four more televised games will be seen by Sept. 22. Interim SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp on Monday confirmed, when the conference goes to a seven-game mandate starting next season, conference schools can still play each other in games that won’t count toward SWAC standings.

THE RATING GAME

1. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Wallace and the best 1-2 punch of tailbacks in the SWAC

2. Jackson State

Started 5-1 but finished 1-4 in first year under Comegy

3. Alabama A&M

Bulldogs lost a lot on offense, but Kelcy Luke is a solid QB

4. Southern

Has all the tools, except on offensive and defensive line

5. Grambling

New coach Broadway doesn’t sound excited about his team

6. Miss. Valley State

Seemed to building toward run, but that didn’t happen

7. Alcorn State

See above, except Braves have been on same treadmill yearly

8. Alabama State

RB Peck is solid, but still has new coach, rebuilding to do

9. Prairie View

Lost a lot of close games, but still losing many games

10. Texas Southern

TSU coach Wilson, 4-29 in three years, has a veteran team

THE BIG GAME

Southern vs. Florida A&M

2 p.m. Saturday at Legion Field in Birmginham, Ala., on ESPN Classic

One of the series that defined black college football is back, with the schools playing for the first time since 2001 and beginning a five-year run with a nationally televised game. Though today’s players don’t have a feel for the rivalry and the teams have lost the swagger they had in the late 1990s, having the rivalry back is fun.

-- Joseph Schiefelbein

Contract, attrition on SU Richardson’s mind

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Southern coach Pete Richardson on Wednesday used his first news luncheon of the season to make opening statements concerning his contract status as well as the attrition of players, mostly because of academics, in his program.

“It is my intention to fulfill my contractual obligation to Southern University, which ends 12-31-07,” Richardson said. “My top priority at this time is to get our team ready to meet (Florida A&M) in Birmingham (Ala.).

“It’s going to be a challenge for our football team, because of the attrition of certain athletes. Let me speak on that, starting off with. I’m in the process of meeting with some people so this won’t happen again for Southern University.

“We’re trying to get a program in place to help our student-athletes. &hellip I’ve also had the opportunity to have some conversations with the administration dealing with the football program. I think I’m optimistic some positive changes can be made.”

Southern has had two straight losing seasons and begins the third and final season of Richardson’s contract when the Jaguars, 5-6 last season, play Florida A&M, 7-4 last season, at 2 p.m. Saturday in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge at Legion Field in Birmingham.

SU officials have said the school will review Richardson’s status after the season.

Richardson, the second-most successful coach in school history, said he wants to continue to coach but he also contended his record speaks for itself, that one season wasn’t needed to prove he could be a successful coach.

“I don’t want (the contract situation) to distract our football team. &hellip I don’t want to put that pressure on my football team, deciding on my future,” Richardson said. “I don’t want to do that.”

Richardson refused to discuss his contract status, or any possible negotiations or scenarios Wednesday.

“I’m not going to make any comment on those situations,” Richardson said. “We’ve had some talks and I’m going to leave it at that.”


The Jaguars have already lost at least 15 players since spring practice. While two are because of injuries which happened in spring practice, the majority of that attrition are players who are not qualified academically.

Plus, the status of two players expected to make an impact this season — starting center Ramon Chinyoung, a sophomore, and tailback Kendrick Smith, a transfer — is uncertain. Though the two have practiced this week, if they are not clear, they may not be on the bus when the Jaguars leave this afternoon.

“The concern I have, in 2007, first of all is the depth of our football team,” Richardson said. “We’re going to be thin at certain areas.”

This season’s attrition echoes that of 2005, when the Jaguars lost more than two dozen players for a variety of reasons from the end of spring practice until the conclusion of the season.

Southern, coming off consecutive runs to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, went 4-5 that season. Based on the youth forced into play in 2005, there was a sense the program was building toward progress last season, but the Jaguars were hindered by injuries and depth issues.

Now, SU is dealing with a second round of attrition that could potentially sap any growth.

The losses are most felt along the offensive and defensive lines.

Southern signed five offensive linemen, but four of those are currently ineligible (although the NCAA Clearinghouse has yet to render a decision on guard Brian Bridges).

“We had some individuals who are no longer with us,” Richardson said. “I’m concerned about them. I want them to feel our concern is for them to get back in school. A lot of them are back in school. I don’t think that will be an issue.”

In response to the high number of academically ineligible players and the school’s NCAA Academic Progress Rate struggles, SU Interim Chancellor Margaret Ambrose and Athletic Director Greg LaFleur both have said the school is planning on establishing an academic support center for student-athletes in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

In an orientation meeting with student-athletes Thursday at the Clark Center, Ambrose told them, “We’re going to find some money — and you know we’re broke.”

Southern, like many historically black universities, recruits high-risk students.

“When you look at the situation of our recruiting area, down in Louisiana, Mississippi and, of course, Texas is a little better, we’re struggling academically in certain areas, especially with the math and biology,” Richardson said. “More than that, it’s the choices some of the players make. Some of them are not realistic about majors. That’s really killing us right there. Also part is our academic support. The main issue is the students themselves. They have to be the ones who get to the classes and do the required work.”

Ambrose also stressed personal responsibility Thursday.

“All that is going to do no good if you don’t show up,” she told them of the school’s efforts. “You have to care for yourself. You have to realize not the only reason you came is to just play your sport.”

FAMU's Chester leaves practice early

By St. Clair Murraine, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Florida A&M starting quarterback Albert Chester II sat out the second half of Wednesday's practice complaining of a tingling sensation in his right arm.

Chester said it was a pre-existing problem that has come and gone in the past.

"I think he's going to be OK," FAMU coach Rubin Carter said Wednesday. "We just have to be patient and make sure that he's healthy because it is a long football season.

"It's the first game out of 11 games during the year. He's an important part of what we want to do within the offense."

Chester, a redshirt senior from Jacksonville, is by far the most experienced quarterback on the team and a preseason All-MEAC first team selection.

Senior Leon Camel, who played six games last season including a start against Miami, is the primary backup and redshirt freshman Eddie Battle is third on the depth chart.

Chester's health isn't Carter's only concern heading into Saturday's season opener in Birmingham, Ala. against SWAC rival Southern.

Photo: Albert Chester II and Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach Bob Cole

A handful of key players may not make the trip to Birmingham because of eligibility issues. Among those players are starting cornerback Donovan Johnson, reserve defensive end Marquis Matthews and reserve linebacker Bryan Parker.

"We're addressing the eligibility issues with a few of our players right now," Carter said. "A couple could end up being casualties. Whether it is with APR (Academic Progress Report) or progress toward degree or eligibility based on semester performance. We will weather the storm and fight with what we have."

One definite casualty for at least Saturday's game is senior receiver Ronald Wright, who has yet to be cleared to practice with the team.

Carter did say some of the players could get their issues cleared before the team leaves for Birmingham Thursday afternoon.

"It is that close," Carter said. "It can come down to the wire this time of year. It could be anything from declaring a major or getting a degree audit. Those types of things. Those are the types of things that can get accomplished within 24 hours."

Hampton: Kendall Langford has high standards

BY DAVE FAIRBANK

He wants 'two or more' sacks a game and to make the NFL.

In one of his favorite pastimes, Kendall Langford doesn't follow form. It's understandable -- even appropriate -- for Hampton University's All-America defensive end candidate.

Most guys who play EA Sports' Madden video-game football on defense operate as a linebacker or maybe a free safety. More sideline-to-sideline action, defending both the run and the pass.

Langford, however, designates himself as a defensive end. He blows up running backs and crunches quarterbacks. He loves crunching quarterbacks, in pixels on TV screens and in the flesh on Saturdays.

"I'm usually good for two sacks a game," Langford said of his Madden exploits. "That's what I'm going for in the MEAC on the field this year, two sacks a game."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Two or more." Emphasis on "or more."

Langford has set the bar high for himself and the Pirates. They don't lack for motivation. After three consecutive MEAC titles, the Pirates were picked to finish second this season behind South Carolina State.

The Pirates have made three straight NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) playoff appearances and have yet to make it out of the first round, even with home games in two of those three years.

On a more personal note, Langford aspires to play in the NFL.

Though the league is dotted with players from outside marquee conferences and programs, the path is often more difficult and the skeptics more numerous.

Langford often refers to a remark from HU head coach Joe Taylor.

"Coach Taylor always says, don't ever let someone expect more of you than you expect of yourself," Langford said. "So I have to be self-motivated."

Langford needs to look no further than his own locker room for proof that the NFL is a realistic goal. Former teammate Jerome Mathis is a kick returner and wide receiver with the Houston Texans. All-everything Pirates linebacker Justin Durant was drafted in the second round by Jacksonville last spring.

"He played with a chip on his shoulder," Langford said of Durant, "trying to prove that he was as good as anybody else. I don't care how big the chip is; you can't look past talent."

Langford certainly passes the first-glance test. He is 6-foot-5½ and 295 pounds, with long arms and an athlete's bearing.

HU defensive coordinator Jerry Holmes said, "Then, when you talk to him you can tell he wants to be something special, he wants to be good. And when you take it to the field, his work habits amplify that he wants to be one of the best, that he definitely wants to go to the next level."

Langford led the Pirates with eight sacks and 15½ tackles-for-loss last year.

His 55 total tackles were third on the team and led all defensive linemen.

"Having Kendall on the field, the other defensive linemen are going to get breaks they wouldn't have gotten if Kendall weren't there," Holmes said, "because Kendall's going to get a lot of double teams. That helps us out a lot in game-planning because we know a lot of teams are going to design their protection toward Kendall."

Holmes is inclined to turn Langford loose, confident in both his player's ability and in those around him.

"I like to let the defensive players play," Holmes said. "I know that Kendall can really rush the passer. I'm not going to get in his way and give him a lot of stuff -- he has 'contain' and this kind of stuff. I'm going to give him a free go at the passer. If you run a 4.5 (-second 40-yard dash), I'm going to let them run a 4.5. I don't want to give them a lot of stuff that will slow that 4.5 down."

Holmes played 10 seasons in the NFL and coached in the league for another five before coming to HU. When he says that Langford is a legit pro prospect, it carries extra weight.

In fact, Holmes said that he's heard Langford compared to Pro Bowlers Jason Taylor and Shawne Merriman -- quick, rangy perimeter pass rushers and havoc-wreakers who actually are a little lighter than Langford. Holmes said that he's even shared those comparisons with Langford, unconcerned that his player's head will swell.

"Because he's at a I-AA school, he's still hungry," Holmes said. "You might not tell a kid at Ohio State or USC that, but a kid at a I-AA school knows that he has to be that much better than a kid at a I-A school."

Langford, a Petersburg native, almost went to a I-A program. He seriously considered Virginia, Virginia Tech and Hampton out of Petersburg High.

He didn't get the required qualifying standardized test score until late in the summer before his freshman year. Virginia Tech had backed out of the recruiting process. Virginia still recruited him, Langford said, but wanted him to attend prep school for a year.

Hampton could afford to wait on a player of his potential and held a scholarship for him.

When Langford got the score he needed, he was able to enroll at HU immediately.

"I didn't want to wait a year before I started college," Langford said.

Langford doesn't engage in "what if …" thinking about Tech or Virginia.

"I'm well beyond that," he said. "I've made some lifetime friends. I played for a great coaching staff at a great program. I love Hampton. I can see that you can make it to the next level from this level."