FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 23 - 29, 2011

2011 football season gets underway

LUT WILLIAMS There's a good reason why the surprise of the 2010 football season, Bethune-Cookman, ran out to a 100 start en route to winning a share of the MEAC title. The Wildcats had the football version of the perfect storm a prolic offense and an opportunistic defense. Under new head coach Brian Jenkins, the B-CU fast-break offense designed by coordinator Mark Orlando with MEAC Player of the Year, senior quarterback Matt Johnson at the controls, was virtually unstoppable, leading the MEAC with averages of 425 total yards, 212 rushing yards and 38 points per game. On top of that, B-CU's cat-quick defense placed sixth in total defense in the MEAC, but had a whopping +27 in turnover margin, the largest in all of black college football and +24 better than anyone in the MEAC (Delaware State, +3). This year, the productive Johnson is gone as is Orlando who left to take the same position at Prairie View A&M. And it's unlikely that Jenkins's defense will get as big a margin in turnovers as it did a year ago. But there's also a reason the Wildcats are the pick for the top spot on the preseason BCSP Top Ten. They return a solid nucleus from last year's squad including holdovers up front on offense and defense and likely has a replacement for the Johnson. Additionally, nearly all of the other top teams are going thru serious re-tooling. Jenkins returns playmakers in running backs Isidore Jackson (514 yards, 8 TDs) and Androse Bell 450 yards, 8 TDs) and wide receivers Eddie Poole (33 receptions, 8
BCSP Editor
PRESEASON BCSP TOP TEN

B-CU STARTS AT NO. 1

Jackson State Sports Photo

SPOTLIGHT ON: Despite postseason ban, Jackson State quarterback Casey Therriault primed to deliver big numbers.

1. Bethune-Cookman 2. South Carolina State 3. Florida A&M 4. Grambling State 5. Texas Southern 6. Prairie View A&M 7. Norfolk State 8. Hampton 9. Winston-Salem State 10. Morehouse
11. Fort Valley State 12. Albany State 13. Jackson State 14. Shaw 15. Elizabeth City State

HOMECOMING SCHEDULES; RETURNING STAT LEADERS; PLAYERS WORTH WATCHING

W A T C H O U T F O R T H E S E G U Y S
Jenkins

2011 HOMEC

Natiel Curry

Ryan Davis

ECSU's Daronte McNeill

Holland

Wilson

Pough Jennings Doug Williams Ellis

GAMES THIS WEEK

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25 Langston vs. New Orleans in Langston, OK SATURDAY, AUGUST 27 Bellhaven vs. Texas College in Jackson, MS Delta State vs. Elizabeth City State in Cleveland, MS Virginia Union vs. Saint Augustine's in Richmond, VA 7pm

TDs), Pat Brown (30 receptions, 337 yards) and Courtney Keith. Three offensive linemen (Natiel Curry, Alex Monroe and Marquell Rozier) were named to the preseason all-MEAC team while the defense has all-MEAC selections in lineman Ryan Davis, linebackers Ryan Lewis and Reggie Sandilands and safety Michael Williams. Jenkins has 2010 back-up Jackie Wilson, Troy Dannehower and talented newcomer Quentin Williams competing to replace Johnson. Jenkins will replace Orlando calling the plays. One glaring B-CU weakness last year was the inefciency of young placekickers Sven Hurd and Kory Kowalski (2 of 10 eld goals, 52 of 62 PATs). Jenkins feels the two will be better with a year under their belts. The Wildcats will have their mettle tested with a daunting early season stretch that has them facing Prairie View A&M and Orlando in Orlando at the season-opening MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Sept. 5, hosting MEAC contenders South Carolina State (Sept. 10) and Hampton (Sept. 22) before travelling to Div. I Miami for an Oct. 1 date. MEAC co-champ South Caro-

lina State, which saw its 21-game MEAC win streak halted by B-CU last season, has to retool some key positions (QB, OL, LB) but still holds down the No. 2 spot. Florida A&M, the other MEAC co-champ, handed B-CU its only regular season loss but also has some key holes to ll. Joe Taylor's Rattlers are third. SWAC contenders Grambling State where Doug Williams is returning as head coach Texas Southern (Kevin Ramsey) and Prairie View A&M (Heishma Northern) all will be breaking in new coaches and playmakers. They hold down the 4-6 slots. Norfolk State and Hampton, the top challengers to B-CU, SCSU and FAMU in the MEAC, hold down the seventh and eighth spots. My CIAA pick, Connell Maynor's Winston-Salem State Rams, and my SIAC favorite, Rich Freeman's Morehouse Maroon Tigers, round out the Top Ten. Fort Valley State, Albany State, Jackson State, Shaw and Elizabeth City State make up the next ve. Toughest Schedule While Bethune-Cookman may have the toughest early season dates, SIAC contender Fort Valley State has this year's most challenging out-ofconference games. The FVSU Wildcats get a double-dose of MEAC co-champions as they travel to Florida A&M (Sept. 3) and Bethune-Cookman (Oct. 15). They also host NCAA Div. II national runner-up Delta State (Sept. 10). Fortunately, Donald Pittman's Wildcats get perennial SIAC contenders Tuskegee (Oct. 1) and Morehouse (Oct. 29) at home before its traditional season-ending battle with rival Albany State in Columbus, Ga. (Fountain City Classic) on Nov. 5.

South Carolina State opens with three tough dates on the road. The Sept. 10th MEAC showdown at Bethune-Cookman is sandwiched around Div. I games at Central Michigan (9/3) and at Indiana (9/17). Players to Watch Jackson State quarterback Casey Therriault is easily the most prolic offensive performer returning (See STAT CORNER) but his aura is somewhat diminished by the fact that his Tigers can not play for the SWAC championship. But it will still be interesting to see what kind of numbers he puts up. Also look for productive seasons out of Alcorn State sophomore quarterback Brandon Bridge, Albany State senior signal-caller Stanley Jennings and ECSU's productive Creven Powell. Five 1,000-yard rushers return led by Elizabeth City State's Daronte McNeill. Bruising WinstonSalem State tailback Nicholas Cooper leads the returnees averaging 6.2 yards per carry and scoring 15 TDs a year ago. The 6-2, 225-pounder averaged 18.4 carries and 113.5 yards per game. The lowest average of any of the top nine returning rushers is 4.6 yards per carry. Though no 1,000-yard receivers return, Robert Holland of Chowan who led all wideouts with 65 receptions and Justin Wilson of Delaware State topped black college receivers in yardage and TDs (57 receptions, 937 yards, 11 TDs) are back. Fort Valley State's Tony Davis who totalled 50 receptions a year ago to lead all tight ends, also begins his senior campaign. Prairie View defensive back Moses Ellis, Shaw defensive lineman Charles Deas, Howard linebacker Keith Pough are top defenders to watch.

6pm 6pm 6pm

BCSP Notes
NORFOLK, Va., August 18, 2011- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its 2011 television football slate last week featuring eight exciting matchups scheduled to broadcast on ESPN, ESPNU and ESPN Classic. The nationally televised games are a part of the MEAC's ongoing partnership with ESPN. The 2011 television schedule kicks off with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney featuring Bethune-Cookman and Prairie View A&M on Sunday, September 4. The game will air live beginning at noon ET on ESPN. The Thursday night lineup commences with Hampton against defending co-champion Florida A&M on September 8 at 7:30 p.m. Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State, who both also earned a share of the conference title, will meet on Saturday, September 10 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Wildcats will also host Hampton in a Thursday night game on September 22. Morgan State and Howard will be featured on Saturday, September 24 as the two teams compete in the New York Urban League Football Classic at the New Meadowlands Stadium, in East Rutherford, N.J. Bethune-Cookman will travel to Norfolk, Virginia on October 20 to take on Norfolk State in the MEAC's nal Thursday night televised game. The game will air live on ESPNU with a 7:30 p.m. kick off time. Florida A&M will compete in two additional conference televised games beginning on the road in Orangeburg, South Carolina against South Carolina State on Saturday, October 22. FAMU will conclude the MEAC's television slate with its annual matchup against B-CU in the Florida Classic. The game will be played at the Florida Citrus Bowl and will air live on ESPN Classic at 2:30 p.m. For more information on MEAC football, visit www.MEACSports. com
2011 MEAC FOOTBALL TELEVISION SCHEDULE
DATE GAME NETWORK TIME BROADCAST TIME

MEAC announces 2011 football television schedule

2011 HOMECOMINGS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Bowie State vs. Livingstone @ Bowie, MD SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 Edward Waters vs. Concordia-Selma @ Jacksonville, FL Lincoln (MO) vs. Fort Hays State @ Jefferson City, MO West Virginia State vs. Seton Hill @ Institute, WV Winston-Salem State vs. J. C. Smith @ W-S, NC - B-Gray Stadium 1p

STAT CORNER
WHO ARE THE BEST PERFORMERS IN BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS

3p 2p 1:30p 1p

RETURNING INDIVIDUAL FOOTBALL STATS LEADERS IN 2011

RUSHING YARDS McNEIL, Daronte - ECSU CARTER, David - MHC COOPER, Nicholas - WSS ANDERSON, Josh - CNST WRIGHT, Marcus - TXS MAYHEW, MIKE - NCAT PASSING YARDS THERRIAULT, C - JSU JENNINGS, Stan - ALB BRIDGE, Brandon - ALC POWELL,Creven - ECS PHILLIPS, Ricky - WVS WALLEY, Chris - NSU PERRY, Jeremy - TNST RECEPTIONS HOLLAND, Robt. - CHO WILSON, J. - DSU WILDER, Marcell - JSU WILLIAMS, R. - CNST ANDERSON, Jos. - TEX HAIRSTON, Vic - NSU RECEIVING YARDS WILSON, J. - DSU HOLLAND, Robt. - CHO ANDERSON, Jos. - TSU BRANTLEY, T. - WSSU WILDER, Marcell - JSU TOTAL OFFENSE THERRIAULT,C. - JSU BRIDGE, Brandon - ALC JENNINGS, Stan - ALB PHILLIPS, Ricky - WVS BENJAMIN, R. - FSU SMITH, Kameron - WSS
CL CL G CAR YDS AVG TDS AVG/G

JR JR SR SR SR
G

10 11 10 7 12 11

238 262 184 156 261 221

1321 1347 1134 718 1212 1082

PCT

5.6 5.1 6.2 4.6 4.6 4.9

10 10 15 12 8 7
YDS

132.1 122.5 113.4 102.6 101.0 98.4

TDS AVG/G

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 Alabama A&M vs. Miss Valley State @ Huntsville, AL - Crews Stadium 1p Clark Atlanta vs. Miles @ Atlanta, GA - Panther Stadium 6p Concordia-Selma vs. Texas College @ Selma, AL 5p Fayetteville State vs. Virginia State @ Fayetteville, NC 1p Florida A&M vs. Howard @ Tallahassee, FL - Bragg Stadium 3p Jackson State vs. Ark.-Pine Bluff @ Jackson, MS - Veterans Stadium 4p Kentucky State vs. Fort Valley State @ Frankfort, KY 1:30p Lincoln (PA) vs. Chowan @ Lincoln Univ., PA -Avon Grove HS 1p Morgan State vs. Savannah State @ Baltimore, MD - Hughes Stadium 1p SC State vs. NC Central @ Or'burg, SC - Dawson Stadium 1:30p Shaw vs. Johnson C. Smith @ Durham, NC - County Stadium 1p Virginia Union vs. Elizabeth City State @ Richmond, VA 1p SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 Benedict vs. Clark Atlanta @ Columbia, SC - Johnson Stadium 2p Central State vs. Southwest Baptist @ Wilberforce, OH - McPherson Stadium 1:30p Cheyney vs. West Chester @ Cheyney, PA 1p Elizabeth City State vs. Virginia State @ Eliz. City, NC - Roebuck Stadium 1:30p Johnson C. Smith vs. Virginia Union @ Charlotte, NC 1p Lane vs. Tuskegee @ Jackson, TN 2p Langston vs. SW Assemblies @ Langston, OK 2p N. C. A&T vs. Delaware State @ Greensboro, NC - Aggie Stadium 1:30p Va. Univ. of Lynchburg vs. Wesley @ Lynchburg, VA - City Stadium 12n SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 Alcorn State vs. Concordia-Selm @ Alcorn State, MS - Spinks Stadium 2p Chowan vs. Shaw @ Murfreesboro, NC 6p Fort Valley State vs. Stillman @ Fort Valley, GA 2p Grambling State vs. Miss. Valley State @ Grambling, LA - Robinson Stadium 2p Hampton vs. NC Central @ Hampton, VA - Armstrong Field 2p Howard vs. NC A&T @ Wash, DC - Greene Stadium 1p Livingstone vs. Fayetteville State @ Salisbury,NC 1:30p Miles vs. Lane @ Faireld, AL 4p Morehouse vs. Benedict @ Atlanta, GA - Harvey Stadium 2p St. Augustine's vs. J. C. Smith @ Raleigh, NC 2p Texas Southern vs. Central State @ Houston, TX - Delmar Stadium 2p SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 Albany State vs. Benedict @ Albany, GA 2p Delaware State vs. Morgan State @ Dover, DE - Alumni Stadium 1p Miss. Valley State vs. Texas Southern @ Itta Bena, MS - Rice-Totten Stadium 2p N. C. Central vs. Bethune-Cookman @ Durham, NC - O'Kelly-Riddick Stad. 2p Norfolk State vs. NC A&T @ Norfolk, VA - Price Stadium 2p Savannah State vs. Hampton @ Savannah, GA - Wright Stadium 2p Southern vs. Alcorn State @ Baton Rouge, LA 5:30p Texas College vs. Bacone @ Tyler, TX 2p Virginia State vs. Virginia Union @ Ettrick, VA 1:30p SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 Ark-Pine Bluff vs. Alabama State @ Pine Bluff, AR - Lions Stadium Bethune-Cookman vs. Morgan State @ Daytona Beach, FL Tuskegee vs. Miles @ Tuskegee, AL - Abbott Stadium SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Stillman vs. Concordia-Selma @ Tuscaloosa, AL Tennessee State vs. Tenn.-Martin @ Nashville, TN

COM - ATT - INT

SR SR SO SR

11 12 11 9 10 SR 11 SR 9
G

255-437-8 139-253-11 150-291-13 124-219-5 162-265-11 167-272-8 131-244-6

REC YDS TD

58.4 54.9 51.5 56.6 61.1 61.4 53.7

YPC

3436 2392 2086 1662 1758 1859 1469 80.4 85.2 66.0 56.1 68.2 52.7

31 26 19 10 18 10 9

312.4 199.3 189.6 184.7 175.8 169.0 163.2

REC/G

CL

YDS/G

JR 10 65 JR 11 59 SR 11 57 7 34 SR 12 56 SR 11 52
CL G REC

804 937 726 393 818 580

YDS

7 11 8 1 2 2
TD

12.4 16.0 12.7 11.6 14.6 11.2

YPC

6.5 5.4 5.2 4.8 4.7 4.7

YDS/G

JR JR SR SO SR
CL

11 10 12 9 11
G

59 65 56 38 57

937 804 818 608 726

11 7 2 5 8 538 411 359 346 330 278

PR

15.9 12.4 14.6 16.0 12.7 3600 2687 2534 2068 1976 1918
KR

85.2 80.4 68.2 67.6 66.0

AVG/G

RUSH PASS

PLAYS YDS

SR 11 164 3436 SO 11 601 2086 SR 12 142 2392 10 310 1758 SR 10 418 1558 JR 10 396 1522
G Rush Rec

327.3 244.3 211.2 206.8 197.6 191.8

YDS YDS/G

9/4 9/8 9/10 9/22 9/24 10/20 10/22 11/19

B-Cookman v. Prairie View A&M Florida A&M at Hampton S. C. State at B-Cookman Hampton at B-Cookman Morgan State v. Howard B-Cookman at Norfolk State Florida A&M at S. C. State Florida A&M v. B-Cookman

ESPN ESPNU ESPNU ESPNU ESPNU ESPNU ESPNU ESPN Classic

12n 7:30p 4p 7:30p 3:30p 7:30p 1:30p 2:30p

Live Live 10:30p (Tape) Live 10:30p (Tape) Live 10:30p (Tape) Live

ALL PURPOSE CL JOHNSON, Land. - WVS McNEILL, Daronte - ECS JR CARTER, David - MHC JR COOPER, Nick - WSS SR SCORING ANDERSON, J - CNST COOPER, Nich. - WSS ERICKSON, Bl. - SCS REID, Tony - FVSU McNEILL, Dar. - ECS PUNT RETURNS BARBER, Demar. - FVS GOODMAN, T. - CHO FITZGERALD, D - WSS PONDER, Orion - ALB KICKOFF RETURNS L'HOUSE,T. - SAC FERRELL, J. - NCAT MOORE, Jamel - LIV PROCTOR, J. - BSU MARDIS, Jeremy - MIL
AZEEZ Communications, Inc.
CL

10 10 11 10
G

15 1321 1347 1134

TDS

541 133 37 57
FGS

47 0 0 0
PAT

952 0 0 49
PTS

1555 1454 1384 1240

AVG/G

155.5 145.4 125.8 124.0

SR SR SR SR JR
CL

7 10 12 11 9
G

14 15 0 14 11
RET

0 0 18 0 0
YDS

0 0 39 0 0
TD

84 90 93 84 66
LNG

12.0 9.0 7.8 7.6 7.3

AVG

JR JR SR JR
CL

11 10 10 9
G

25 24 23 20
RET

393 359 282 221

YDS

0 1 1 0
TD

66 66 52 37
LNG

15.7 15.0 12.3 11.1

AVG

JR SR SR SR JR

11 11 11 10 9

15 26 14 20 23

442 694 350 486 558

0 3 0 1 0

47 90 82 89 59

29.5 26.7 25.0 24.3 24.3

Atlanta, GAThe Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced last week that the rst SIAC Football Championship game will be held in Atlanta, GA. "We're excited to have the city of Atlanta host our inaugural SIAC championship football game. In light of the many SIAC fans and alumni living in or in close proximity to Atlanta, this game will not only showcase our two most outstanding football teams, but also feature a college fair, battle of the bands competition, as well as game day tailgating and vending activities to make this event a signicant community engagement experience for our fans," said SIAC Commissioner Greg Moore. The SIAC Football Championship game will be held Saturday, November 12th at 3 p.m. at Lakewood Stadium, a newly renovated 10,000-seat stadium located in Southeast Atlanta, Georgia. The game will feature the regular season champions from the SIAC East and West divisions. This is rst championship game in the 98-year history of the conference and also makes the SIAC one of only two conferences (along with the CIAA) with a designated championship football game in NCAA Division II.

Atlanta to host inaugural SIAC Football Championship Game

2:30p 4p 1p

1:30p 5p

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 Prairie View A&M vs. Alabama A&M @ Pr. View, TX - Blackshear Field THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24 Alabama State vs. Tuskegee @ Montgomery, AL - Cramton Bowl

2p

3p

Vol. XVIII, No. 4