SPORTS/The Charlotte Post
Thursday, November 20, 1997
Fob the Week of Novembeb 18 through November 24,
ye-
FIVE
WILL
PLAY ON
T KENTUCKY STATE JOINS CONFERENCE
CHAMPS IN POSTSEASON PLAY
UNDER THE BANNER
WHATS GOING ON IN AND AROUND BUCK COLLEGE SPORTS
HURDLING STAR PASSES: Former
SWAC and Olympic hurdles champion Rod Milburn of
Southern University was buried Saturday in Louisiana.
Milburn, 47, who won the 110-meter high hurdles gold
medal at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, died Nov.
11 on his job at a Georgia Pacific paper plant in Baton Rouge.
Milburn, a 1992 SWAC Hall of Fame inductee, was the
world's greatest high hurdler from 1971-74 winning the gold
medal in '72 with a time of 13.24 and twice setting world
records in hurdling events. He set the 120-yard high hurdles
record of 13.0 seconds in 1971 and raced to a world indoor
record time of 7.0 seconds in the 55-meter high hurdles in
1973. During the period he went undefeated in 27 consecu
tive final races. At Southern, Milburn was all-SWAC three
times and later served as the school's track and field head
coach. He is the only athlete to win major track and field
titles while on the collegiate level in the NAIA, NCAA and
AAU. He was voted the world's most outstanding athlete in
1971 and most outstanding athlete in Louisiana in 1971,
1972 and 1973. He received the Sugar Bowl's prestigious
James Corbett Award in 1971 and 1973.
HEADY BISON: The Howard University men's
soccer team defeated Georgia State 4-2 Sat., Nov. 15 in an
NCAA Play-In game and will now travel to 9th ranked
University of Virginia (15-3-3) for a first round game of the
32-team Div. I soccer championship Sun., Nov. 23 in
Charlottesville. Howard (12-7-2) won the Mid Continent
Conference tournament beating Central Connecticut State 4-
I in the finals. This is the Bison's first time in the tournament
since 1989, when they lost to Indiana in the quarterfinals. In
1988, they reached the final game, losing 1-0 to Indiana.
Howard beat Virginia en route to the finals in 1988. The
Bison compete in the Mid Continent Conference because no
other MEAC school fields a soccer team.
PLAYIN' IN: Morgan State won the MEAC cham
pionship beating Florida A&M in the finals and will face
three-time SWAC champion Grambling State in the NCAA
Div. I Volleyball Play-In game Friday Nov. 21 at Grambling.
Brackets for the full tournament field will be set Sunday,
Nov. 23.
WHO'S BETTER: The Mid Eastern Athletic
Conference compiled a 6-1 football record against competi
tion from the Southwestern Athletic Conference this sea
son. The loan SWAC win was Jackson State's 35-33 victo
ry over Howard in the Bison's first game of the season. The
last game between the two this year will be the McDonald's
Heritage Bowl VII, Dec. 27 in Atlanta's Georgia Dome. Last
year the MEAC came out on top 5-3, including Howard's 27-
24 win over Southern in Heritage Bowl VI.
GAMES THIS WEEK
November 22,1997
Delaware State vs. Howard at Dover, DE 1:00p
Hampton vs. Morgan State at Hampton, VA 1:30p
SE Mo. State vs. Tenn. State at Cape Girardeau, MO 12:00p
CLASSICS
51st Florida Classic
Florida A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman at Orlando, FL 7:30p
Capital City Classic
Jackson State vs. Alcorn State at Jackson, MS 1 ;00p
3rd Carolinas Classic
South Carolina St. vs. N.C. A&T at Charlotte, NC 1:30p
PLAYOFFS
Div. II - First Round
Albany State vs. Southern Arkansas at Albany, GA 1:30p
THE STAT CORNER
WHO ARE THE BEST PERFORMERS IN BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS
NFL SACK LEADERS
T2. Michael Strahan, NY Giants
(Texas Southern)
T6. Robert Porcher, Detroit Lions
(S. C. State)
11
SOURCE: NFL Stahstica
OAZEEZ Conmuokatioas, Inc. VOL. IV, NO. 14
BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL (Results, Standings and Weekly Honors)
SCORES
Albany State 12. Fort Valley St. 7
Clark Atlanta 23, Savannah St. 22
RoridaA&M22, S. C. State 20
Glenville State 54, W. Va. State 14
Hampton 24, Delaware Stale 20
Howard 30, Morgan State 27
Jackson State 20, Prairie View 7
Kentucky State 27, Alabama A&M 7
Millersville 39, Cheyney 14
Miss. Valley St. 34, Alabama St. 10
Murray State 13, Tennessee St. 7
Norfolk State 21, Bethune-Cookman
N. C. A&T 37, Grambling State 35
Southern 27, Texas Southern 17
Virginia State 30, Lane 0
Virginia Union 44, Benedict 12
CIAA
CONF Aa
W L T W L T
#’Lrvingstone 5
Virginia State 5
Virginia Union 5
WSSU 4
NC Central 4
Fayetteville St. 3 4
Bowie State 3
Elizabeth City 1 6
X Smith 1 6
iConlerence champion
Two games lost by forfeit
CIAA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
None this week.
DEFENSE
None this week.
MEAC
CONF
W L
W L T
#Hampton 6 0 0 9 1 0
SC State 4 2 0 6 2 0
FloridaA&U 4 2 0 8 2 0
NCA&T 3 3 0 7 3 0
Howard 3 3 0 6 4 0
Morgan Stale 2 4 0 3 6 0
BethuneXookman 1 5 0 4 6 0
Delaware State 1 5 0 3 7 0
•Norfolk State 0 0 0 2 7 0
(Conference champion
'Not eligible lor championship. Conference
games not in standings.
MEAC PUYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
MICHAEL BASNIGHT, Jr., (RB) • North
Carolina A&T -Rushed 19 times for 108
yards and three scores (25,3 and 42) and
caught three passes for 23 yards and
another TD in 37-35 win over Grambling.
DEFENSE
DARRIN FORD, Sr. (P), Rorida A&M •
Averaged 50.8 yards on five punts.
JASON REEVES, Sr., (SS) • Norfolk
State - Had an interception, recovered a
fumble and had frve tackles vs. Bethune-
Coomaa
Q I A ^ SOUTHeRN iNTERCOaEGIATE C\A/A ^
Athletic Conference
W L T W L T
#AJbany State
‘Alabama A&M
Kentucky SL
Fort Valley
Tuskegee
Morris Brown
Miles
Clark Atlanta
Savannah St.
Morehouse
10 0
7 4
6 5
5 6
6 4
6 5
4 6
4 7
3 8
3 8
( Conference champion
*Games count in standing though not eligible
for conference championship
SIAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
ROBERT GUMMING, Fr. (RB) • Albany
State - Carried 15 times for 160 yards
including a 96-yard TD run in 12-7 win
over Fort Valley.
DEFENSE
MICHAEL MASON, Sr., (DE), Kentucky
State - Recorded 20 tackles, seven for
fosses of 28 yards. Also had a OB sack
and two pass break ups.
W L T W L T
#Southem
Jackson State
Ark. Pine Bluff
Alcorn State
Texas Southern
Miss. Valley
Grambling
Alabama State
Prairie View
9 1
8 2
6 3
6 0
8 0
(Conference champion
SWAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
SILAS PAYNE, Jr. (WR) - Grambling
State - In 37-35 loss to NC A&T, Payne
caught seven passes for 182 yards and
four touchdowns (40, 52, 10 and 25
yards).
DEFENSE
ANTHONY BONNER, Jr., (DT) Miss.
Valley State- In 34-10 win over Alabama
State, Bonner had nine tackles and two
06 sacks. Sb( of his tackles resulted in 23
yards in losses.
INDEPEN-
W
W. Va, State 5
Benedict 3
Tennessee State 3
Langston 1
Cheyney 0
Lane 0
BCSP PUYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
NA
DEFENSE
NA
Champions crowned; All to play in postseason
Last weekend could have
been dubbed Championship
Saturday as results produced
titles in all four black college
conferences and ensured that
all four champions will see
action in the postseason.
Albany State to
Div. II playoffs
Albany State (6-0, 10-0)
defeated Fort Valley State 12-
7 to finish the regular season
as the only undefeated team in
black college football and
claim their fifth consecutive
SIAC title and fifth straight
trip to the Div. II playoffs.
Hamp Smith's Golden Rams
finished sixth in the last
NCAA Div. II poll, second in
the South Region and will host
Southern Arkansas (9-1), the
third ranked team in the South
Region Saturday.
Meanwhile, Kentucky
State, under George Small,
emerged from a three-way tie
for second in the SIAC to cap
ture the conference's Pioneer
Bowl berth. The
Thoroughbreds finished in a
WINNERS ALL
lyp
■7
Albany State's Livingstone's
SMITH ABRAMS
Hampton's
TAYLOR
Southern's
RICHARDSON
CHAMPS: Two go to the playoffs, two enter Bowl games.
tie with Alabama A&M (4-2,
7-4) and Fort Valley State (4-
2, 5-6) but were awarded the
berth by virtue of their 36-7
win over Fort Valley and 27-7
win over A&M, A&M is ineli
gible for postseason play
because of their upcoming
move to Div, I,
Livingstone to
Pioneer Bowl
This was the only title actu
ally decided before the weekend
as CIAA officials awarded
Livingstone (5-2, 8-2) their
first-ever CIAA championship
in a tie breaker in the middle of
the week. Head Coach Rudy
Abrams' Blue Bears finished in
a three-way tie with Virginia
State (5-2, 8-2) and Virginia
Union (5-2, 7-4).
Livingstone's only two
losses came by forfeit for using
an ineligible player in their first
two games. They will be
rewarded for their outstanding
season with the conference's
berth in the inaugural Pioneer
Bowl against Kentucky State
Dec. 20 in Atlanta. That's
because NCAA Div. II officials
did not grant the Bears a spot
after their eligibility error
though their efforts on the field
may have merited it,
Hampton to
l-AA Playoffs
Hampton (6-0,9-1) defeat
ed Delaware State 24-20 to
clinch their first MEAC title in
just their second year in the con
ference and earn the confer
ence's automatic I-AA playoff
spot. Head Coach Joe Taylor's
Pirates need a win at home over
Morgan State (2-4, 3-6)
Saturday to finish with an unde
feated conference mark. Their
postseason opponent will be
announced on Nov. 23 when I-
AA playoff bids go out.
Florida A&M (4-2, 8-2)
boosted their I-AA olayoff
hopes with a 22-20 win at South
Carolina State (4-2, 8-2)
Saturday. If the Rattlers defeat
Bethune-Cookman (1-5. 4-6)
this Saturday, they could and
should be the second MEAC
team in the playoffs - the first
time ever the MEAC has gotten
two teams in. If FAMU beats B-
CC and does not get a playoff
bid they will represent the
MEAC in the McDonald's
Heritage Bowl. If they lose to B-
CC a host of scenarios could
come into play. Anyway, the
winner of the Carolinas Classic
this weekend in Charlotte
between South Carolina State
(4-2, 8-2) and North Carolina
A&T (3-3,7-3) has the next best
shot at the Heritage Bowl.
Southern to
Heritage Bowl
Southern (7-0, 9-1) will
represent the SWAC at Atlanta's
McDonald's Heritage Bowl as
they got by Texas Southern Ti
ll to clinch the SWAC champi
onship, This will be the Jaguars'
third consecutive trip to the
Heritage Bowl. They have split
the last two, defeating Florida
A&M in 1995 and losing to
Howard last year.
Jackson State (6-1, 8-2)
has an outside chance at a play
off spot but don't count on it.
The Tigers are ranked 14th in
the latest Sports Network poll as
they head into their season-end
ing contest at home against
Alcorn State (4-3, 4-6).
Photo by Wade Nash
HIT 'EM IN THE HEART: Legendary Grambling coach Eddie Robinson can't hold back tears as he
salutes the flag and listens to the Gramibing marching band play the national anthem Saturday (Nov.
15) at his final home game at the stadium named in his honor. The emotion is even felt by those
around him who share the loss as this icon of American culture moves on. Coach Robinson is retiring
this year after 55 seasons coaching the Tigers, He has led his G-Men since 1941. His 408 career vic
tories are the most wins in the history of college football. His final home game, a 37-35 loss to North
Carolina A&T, was played before a disappointing official crowd of nearly 4,000 fans who had to brave
drizzling rain and temperatures near freezing. Players from all six decades of Coach Robinson's tenure
were on hand to honor him. The Marine Corps presented him with a plaque, and Ruston, La., artist
Reggie McElroy presented Coach Robinson and his wife of 56 years, Doris with a painting of the cou
ple. The final game of Coach Robinson's career will be Nov. 29 at the Bayou Classic in the New
Orleans SuperDome against Southern University. That game will be televised live on NBC at 1:30 pm.
Livingstone rides emotions, seniors to first CIAA title
BCSP TOP TEN
1. HAMPTON (9-1) - Held on to defeat Delaware State, 24-
20. Clinched MEAC title and automatic I-AA playoff spot,
NEXT: Finishes regular season at home vs. Morgan State.
2. ALBANY STATE (10-0) - Got by Fort Valley State, 12-7
to finish perfect regular season with fifth consecutive SIAC
title. NEXT: First round NCAA Div. II playoff game vs.
Southern Arkansas.
3. FLORIDA A&M (8-2) - Squeaked by S. C. State 22-20.
NEXT: In Orlando to finish regular season against Bethune-
Cookman.
4. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (8-2) - Fell in last minute to
FAMU, 22-20. NEXT: In Charlotte to finish regular season
vs. NC A&T. Outcome will have bearing on Heritage Bowl.
5.SOUTHERN (9-1) - Knocked off Texas Southern, 27-17
to clinch SWAC title. Heritage Bowl berth. NEXT: Idle
before season-ending Bayou Classic on Nov. 29.
6. JACKSON STATE (8-2) - Extended Prairie View's mis
ery to 77 games, 20-7. NEXT: At home vs. Alcorn State.
7. LIVINGSTONE (8-2) - Awarded first CIAA championship
by tie breaker. NEXT: A month to wait before competingin
Pioneer Bowl I, Dec. 20 in Atlanta.
8. VIRGINIA STATE (8-2) - Shut out Lane, 30-0. Tied for
second in CIAA
9. HOWARD (6-4) - Got by Morgan State 30-27. NEXT: At
Delaware State.
10. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF (8-3) - Season over.
ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: North Carolina A&T
CHAMP
LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor
The 1997 season has been a lot of
dream and a little bit of nightmare for
the Livingstone College Blue Bears.
The dream
= = began last year
S SSmmm when players com-
milted themselves to
win this year's
CIAA championship
on the field after
they were denied a share of the 1996
title awarded to Virginia State -
despite the Trojans pulling out of a
game against Livingstone. It reached
fulfillment when the team delivered the
school’s first-ever CIAA football cham
pionship last week. But it didn’t come
without some scary moments.
A perfect 10-0 season and sure Div.
II playoff spot vanished two weeks ago
when the Bears had to forfeit two opening
season wins for use of an ineligible play
er. That left both the conference title and
playoff spot in doubt and sent more than
a few nightmarish thoughts through the
Bear faithful. Just last week however,
they were awarded the CIAA title in a tie
breaker over Virginia State and Virginia
Union. Winning the conference title and
a spot in the inaugural Pioneer Bowl
(Dec. 20 in Atlanta) has kept the dream
season alive.
"Finally, their accomplishments on
the field were rewarded," said a relieved
Clifton Huff, the school's athletic direc
tor, who as much as anyone had to suffer
through last year's snub and this year's
snafu.
"We've earned our place in history,"
Huff said. "It's in the books now. It won't
be taken from us. It's one thing when
someone else says you're champs and
another thing when everybody knows
you're the winner,"
He said the players are also relieved.
"They deserved the title," Huff
added. "I was hoping the kids would not
be denied this because of mistakes adults
made. They played ball every week and
did everything asked of them. We need to
do a better job."
On the field there was no denying
the Bears. They outscored opponents
387-100 including a 28-14 win over
defending champion VSU in the Sept, 27
game the team had pointed to since last
year.
Head Coach Rudy Abrams, who
was unavailable Monday as coaches met
in Durham for end of the season voting,
got great leadership from a senior class
that has sparked the Bears emergence
from worst to first in his four years at the
helm.
Senior quarterback Pemell Wilder
,_led the conference in passing (57-128,
1,071 yds, 16 TDs) while bruising senior
running back Wilmont Perry, who has a
year of eligibility left, racked up the third
highest rushing total in conference histo
ry (1,770 yds.), led in total offense and
broke the scoring record with 21 TDs.
Senior all-conference defensive back
Roderick Dunlap (six inis.) and versatile
linebackers Mike Austin and Bacardi
Ayers anchored a stingy, hard hitting
defense. Sophomore limning back Chris
Williams also topped the 1,000 yard
mark (1,021, 8.0 yds. per carry) as the
Pernell Wilder Wilmont Perry
DYNAMIC DUO: Wilder led the con
ference in passing while Perry led an
assault on the record books, rushing
for over 1,700 yards, 9.1 per carry, and
eventually breaking the CIAA single
season scoring record with 21 TDs.
Bears ground out an impressive 316
yards per game.
"This senior class is responsible for
the turn around in Livingstone athletics,"
Huff said, noting that teams in every
sport are doing better than ever. "These
are dedicated, committed kids. They're
proud kids. They want to win. They've
started a chain reaction that's infected the
whole school. At a small school like ours,
it's easy to challenge each other. Our
morale is up. Our spirit is up."