4C
SPORTS/Vte Clarltttt jfiptt
Thursday, December 8, 2005
FoH THE V\*E Of Dec 6- 12, 2006
FINISH
WITH A
FLOURISH
▼ GRAMBLING PLAYS FOR SWAC, BLACK
BCSP Photo
EUGENE: Looks to close out
bnlhant career with mp at
SWAC Championship Game
in Birmingham
COLLEGE TITLES; FOBBS IN AT NC A&T
SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP YARDSTICK
GSU
AA&M
l8t • 493 2 ypg
TOTAL OFFENSE
4th - 389 2 ypg
2nd - 322 8 ypg
TOTAL DEFENSE
let - 274 6 ypg
l8t - 44 0 ppg
SCORING OFFENSE
5th - 28.6 ppg
2nd - 20 9 ppg
SCORING DEFENSE
let -16 3 ppg
I8t - 362 1 ypg
PASSING OFFENSE
5th -182 5 ypg.
2nd -181 7 ypg
PASSING DEFENSE
let • 174 6 ypg
9lh- 131 1 ypg
RUSHING OFFENSE
1st - 206 6 ypg
4th ■ 141 1 ypg
RUSHING DEFENSE
1st ■ 100 0 ypg
Joe Daniels Photo
FOBBS: New coach
also to coach offense
at A&T for $165,000
per year
UNDER THE BANNER
WHAT’S GOING ON IN AND AROUND BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS
NC A&T PICKS FOBBS: l ee F«bbs,
who ha.s spent the la.st three years as a running backs coach
at Texas A&M, was introduced
Friday xs the new head football
coach at North Carolina A&T.
Fobbs, 5.6. a 1973 Cramhiing
State graduate who played and
coached under legendary GSU
coach Eddie Robinson, has
served as a high school head
coach and xs an xssistant at seven
Div, I programs including stints at
Alabama. Baylor. Minnesota,
LSU and Tulane during his 30-
year career. He will be A&Ts
16th head coach. Fobbs wxs intro
duced by A&T Athletic Director Dee Todd Friday before a
packed house of enthusiastic Aggie supporters which
included A&T Chancellor James Kenick, other adminis
trators, faculty, staff and members of the football team at
the Bryan Fitness and Wellness Center on campus. This is
Fobbs' first collegiate head coaching job. He replaces
Aggie alum (Jeorge Small who was let go after compiling
a 16-19 mark in three sexsons, including back-to-back 3-8
campaigns after posting a 10-3 mark and winning the Mid
Eastern Athletic Conference title in his first year in 2003.
Tixld said Fobbs came highly recommended including a
glowing mxl from former Grambling QB and head coach
Doug Williams, now an executive in the front office of the
NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Williams was on hand
Saturday as Fobbs was introduced at an A&T basketball
game. The new coach, who will also serve xs the Aggies'
offensive coordinator, reportedly signed a four-year con
tract at $165,000 per year. Small's annual salary wxs
SllO.OtX).
COMEGY GETS THE NOD, AGAIN?:
A Jackson State search commiliee has recommended thai
ihe school hire 'l\iskegee head
coach Rick Comegj as the Tigers’
next head f(X)tball coach, but the
matter is far from decided. The
10-year Tuskegee head coach
apparently beat out Alcorn State
offensive coordinator John
McKenzie, a JSU grad, and for
mer Tennes.see State and
.Alabama State head coach L. C.
Cole, who is now defensive ewr-
dinator at Lane, who were also
interviewed by the committee.
Comegy and his TU Golden
Tigers finished off an II-I record Saturday with a 28-26
win over Bowie State in the Pioneer Bowl in Charlotte and
the wheels started taming immediately after. ”I know the
search committee has recommended me, but that's just one
avenue." Comegy said to reporter Mark Alexander of the
Jackson Clarion-Ledger after the game. ’’There’s a lot of
avenues to deal with to make something happen." He said
he expected to hear from JSU on Sunday. The committee
made its recommendation Wednesday to JSU President
Ronald Mason. but Mxson is not bound by the com
mittee’s choice. As of press time, it was not clear how
Mason would ntove on the recommendation. Comegy. 52,
who has won 90 games, four Southern Intercollegiate
.Athletic Conference titles and one black college national
title in his ten years at Tuskegee. was .sent a contract after
being offered the head coaching position at Morgan State
in 2001 only to decide to stay at Tuskegee for more money.
He then was announced and made an appearance as the
new head coach at Norfolk State in December 2002 only
to hold a press conference at Tuskegee a month later, on the
day be was to report to NSU. announcing he was again
staying at Tuskegee. Stay luned.
Tuskegee Sports Photo
COMEGY: May get
his third offer to leave
Tuskegee. this time
tor Jackson State
CAZEEZ CannuveaEaw. me
VOL XII, NO ie
2005 BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL (Results, Standings and Yearly Honors)
SCORES
0eCfWKR3
Grvftrtng StM 4«. Aknn SUM ^ 9
PloimrBttif
TuritoQM a. Bdxm 9M» 21
(^lA A CcNTiui.hrraicoxEO'ATE
AT>*£TIC AsacxaATtoM
' Ar>i£Tc Cof^^ROce
OIV
W L
LWBKM
't BoMe State
Wgnta Stale
Shaw
St PauTs*
\Argna Union
El2 City State
W.DIVISKM
*'N C
W-Saleni Slate
St Auguatne'a
Fayetievila Stale 4 3
jvingtfone 1 6
J C Sittih 0 7
'Cont Champnn ’OnhadOn.
0 Panem Boot ftpmtnitM
10 2
6 4
’Hampicn
SC Slate
Delawere Stale
RondaAiM
Be(hune>>3kman
NCA&T StM
Norfok Stale
Howard
Morgan State
CONF Aa
W I w
9 1 11
7 1 9
6 2 7
5 3 6
4 4
1
2 9
'CarxrwrfaMameUto. FAApUyofftwtfi
IIEAC PLAYERS OF T>€ YEAR
OFFENSE
ALONZO COLEMAN, Jr. RB. HAMPTON,
SouA Bo«on. VA - Led MEAC wti 1.30e ruMt-
ftgywdi. lieOypg 69ytic,ieTD«
CtAAPUYERSOFTNEYEAR
MARTIN HICKS, 6r. RB. WSSU. Oiford. NC -
9B9y«.t7y«dtpifcarTy UT0»
DEFENSE
HRONE PEHAWAY. Sr.. LB. Sl AuguMtiWt.
N««i>ort Nem. W - S3 laddM 43tolo«
JUSTW DURANT. Jr. LB. HAMPTON • 110
taddei. 10 per game 14 S tacUw Icr loee. S
sad».int
ROOKIE
VASHON WINTON. Fr, OB. OELSTATE •
SlMd el 11 gemei 1364 yvdi per geme. 8
TDi
□NEMAN
GERREL Q0U6HTLY. Sr„ (3. HAMPTON
COACH
JOE TAYLOR, HAMPTON • 11-0 r»gii» tee-
ion. 64) rt MEAC
OIA^ SounetNiwTERCoaeouTE
ATNLETCCONFEReNCe
'Afcany State
W L W L
6 18 2
8 1 11 1
Fort Valey State
Kentucky Slate
SOlman
BenedKrt
dark Atlanta
Mdes
Morehouse
Lane
* dnefted conrstwice Bis, Dh. H pityoll
Pioneer SowT tapresartaew
SIAC PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
OFFENSE and MVP
KEVIN HUFF. Jr.. 06. TUSKEGEE - Led SIAC n
poang n] iotM odenee - 311-181-9. 56 2%.
2311,13 TO*. 228 3 yards per geme
ALTON PETTWAY, Jt, DL ALBANY STATE • 58
taddee. 24 tdoa, 5 6 tpg. Lad SIAC wtli 9 sacks
FRESHMAN
SHERARO aUS, Fr, 06, LANE -^npaae-
ng. 295-146-18.49 SS. 1.932 yds, 13TDs
COACH
JAMES ’HKE' WHITE, ALBANY STATE - Led
Golden Rams to aecend ttatye SIAC tile
SWAC
Sot/THweSTERN
ATHLETC OjNFSteNCE
LonnsioN
Alabama A&M
Alabama St^
Alcorn State
Miss \«leySt
Jackson State
W. DIVISION
'Grambkng State
Southern
Ark Pine Bfcjff
Praine \AewA&M
Texas Southern
’ Cinched Duf. tdie
W l W L
9 2
6 5
6 5
6 5
2 9
10 1
4 5
3 8
5 6
1 10
SWAC PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
OFFENSE
BRUCE EUGENE, Sr.. 06, GRAMBUNG • l-AA
pasang and total oBaree leader - Paseed lor
3.953 yds. 50 TDs and only e niercepicne
DEFENSE
TYLER KNIGHT, Jr. LB, MISS. VALLEY ST. •
125 tackles. 43 soloe. 175 tkkles ter loea. 9
sacks
NEWCOMER
HAKEEM MUHAMMAD, So., DB, PRAIRIE
VIEW • 49 total tackles. 32 soloe. led SWAC wth
5 rtercepPcni, l sack
FRESHMAN
MICKEY DEAN. Fr. RB. ARK.-PfNE BLUFF •
27fz.r :''?y«rite 'CTrx
SWAC title game rematch to wrap 2005
LUT WILLIAMS
HCSP Editor
Head coach Melvin Spears' West Division
champion (Jrambling State Tigers can clinch
their first Southwestern Athletic Conference
championship since he took over from Doug
Williams last year when they go up against Ea.st
Division winner Alabama A&M for the second
time this year at Saturday's 7th SWAC
Championship Game in Birmingham.
The game will be the last game of the 2005
black college football season and will be carried
live on ESPN Cla.s.sic beginning at 1 p.m. Central
Time.
The 10-1 Tigers, whose only loss was 44-7 to
Div. IA Washington State on Sept. 17, also have
the black college national championship in their
sights. They moved to the top of the BCSP Top
Ten following their 50-35 Bayou Classic win over
Southern on Nov. 22 and MEAC champion
Hampton's 38-10 loss on the same day to
Richmond in the first round of the I-AA playoffs.
Grambling is second to Hampton (-11-1) in the
Sheridan poll.
The Tigers rolled to the West Division crown
outscCMing conference opponents by an average of
42-19. Their only scares were a 26-23 win over
.Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Oct. 15 and a 37-22
decision a week earlier over .Mississippi Valley
State where they scored 24 fourth-quaner points
to pull out the victory.
Alabama A&M (9-2) began its run to the Easi
title after an embarrassing 17-7 homecoming loss
Grambling looking for conference and black college national title
GAME THIS WEEK
SATURDAY, DEC. 10
7th SWAC Championship Game (ESPN Classic)
Grambling St vs. Alabama A&M at Bham, AL
1:00pm
on Oct. 1 to lowly Texas Southern, TSU's only win
in a 1-10 campaign. Since then the Bulldogs have
won six straight games, including a 31-28 come-
from-behind win over defending division and SWAC
champ Alabama State at the Magic City Classic.
Their 9-2 mark is the best in school history.
Grambling shutout and shellacked Anthony
Jones' A&M Bulldogs in their first meeting on Sept.
10, getting ten sacks in a 44-0 rout.
"There was no doubt after watching that game
from the sidelines that they would be representing
the West," said Jones. "1 had to try to find a way to
mature my team to try to have a rematch. We’re a
very, very much improved football team than then."
This will be the G-Men’s fourth appearance in
the title game. Under Williams, they won title game
matchups in 2000. 2001 and 2002. A&M is making
its third championship game appearance, the .second
under Jones, but has yet to win a title. Grambling
beat then head coach Ron Cooper's Bulldogs in
2000, 14-6. Jones’ troops lost to Williams' G-Men,
31-19 in 2002.
As it was in the teams’ previous meetings in the
title games and in the regular seasons, this game pits
Grambling's cu.siomary prolific offense against- the
JONES
SPEARS
PIONEER BOWL VIII
l\iskegee survives Bowie State, 28-26
SIAC runner-up Tiskegee completed an 11-
1 season Saturday preventing a last-minute two-
point conversion by CIAA runner-up Bowie State
to pull out a 28-26 at the Pioneer Bowl Saturday at
Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
Tuskegee drew first blood in the see-saw con
test as the Golden Lions' SIAC Player of the Year,
QB Kevin Huff hit all-conference wide receiver
Kenneth Henderson on a 28-yard scoring loss
early in the second quarter. After a turnover, TU
scored again on a three-yard run by RB Richard
Fitzhugh to go up 14-0. Bowie Slate got on the
board 17 seconds before halftime on QB Lamar
Manigo’s 19-yard toss to WR Glenn Thomas.
.Michael Walls’ PAT was wide left leaving the
Bulldogs trailing 14-6 at the half.
After rushing for just 21 first half yards,
Tuskegee started the second half trying to estab
lish its ground game. Instead, it was Bowie State
that did work on the ground. First, fullback
Oiayenka Adeboyeku rumbled 34 yards for a
score and tailback Isaac Redman ran in a two-
point conversion to tie the score at 14 with 9:41
left in the third period. Redman then capped a 10-
play. 74-yard drive with a three-yard burst early in
the fourth period that gave BSU its first and only
BCSP Notes
lead, 20-14, after Walls again missed the point-
after kick.
Tuskegee went back to its passing attack and
Huff and Henderson responded. They hooked up
on a 48-yard scoring play and Roosevelt
Echeverry’s PAT put the Tigers back on top 21-20.
Tuskegee struck again with 3:51 to play as
Fitzhugh ran in from 15 yards to give them a 28-20
lead and set up the final heroics.
With 19 seconds left, Thomas, BSU’s all-con
ference receiver, oulleapi a Tuskegee defender to
haul in a six-yard fade pass from Manigo to bring
the Bulldogs to within 28-26. After a delay-of-
game penally pushed them back to the 8, Manigo
checked from a fade route to Adeboyeku who was
.stopped by TU’s Jarod Simpson four yards .short
of the goal line.
Redman rushed for 207 yards in 37 carries to
win the game's offensive MVP award. Henderson
hauled in 11 passes for 194 yards and two TDs to
win the game MVP award. TU linebacker Torres
Mozley was the game’s defensive MVP with 15
tackles.
This was Tuskegee's fourth win in six Pioneer
Bowls. The SIAC leads the series, six games to
two.
Bulldogs’ perennially stingy defense.
This year, the Tigers will again be led by
senior QB Bruce Eugene, recently named the
conference’s offensive player of the year on the
strength of 3,953 passing yards, 50 TDs and
only Six interceptions. Eugene’s championship
game appearance closes out a career that ranks
as one of the best in SWAC and I-AA history.
In three seasons at Grambling, Eugene has
passed for over 13,000 yards and 134 TDs,
shattering Williams' school records and threat
ening all-time I-AA marks held by former
Alcorn State and now NFL star QB Steve
McNair and former Mississippi Valley State
QB and now MVSU head coach Willie Totten.
The nation’s passing efficiency (172.0)
and total offense (367.0 ypg.) leader, the 6-1,
270-pounder leads an offense that is tops in the
SWAC and I-AA in scoring (44.0 ppg.), pass
ing (357.7 ypg.) and total offense (493.2 ypg)..
It features a bevy of talented receivers led by
second team all-SWAC pass-catcher Henry
Tolbert who led the conference with 63 recep
tions for 1,207 yards and 15 TDs. averaging
19.1 yards per catch. WR Clyde Edwards
averaged another 19.8 yards on his 45 recep
tions and hauled in ten scoring losses. In all,
Eugene threw TD passes to 12 different recip
ients.
Though the Tigers’ running game doesn't
get many opportunities, tailback Ab Kuaan
has rushed for 837 yards and eight TDs while
averaging a robust 5.1 yards per carry.
Alabama A&M's defense is once again the
best in the SWAC, leading the conference in
every major category; rushing defense (100.0
ypg.), passing defense (174.6 ypg.), total
defense (274.6 ypg.), and scoring defense
(16.3 ppg.). Even in Grambling’s win earlier in
the season, Eugene could manage just eight
completions in 21 attempts though three of
them went for touchdowns covering 39,26 and
70 yards. It was Eugene’s first game back after
going out in the first game of the 2004 sea.son
with a knee injury.
The A&M offense, which totalled just 157
yards in that meeting, has come to life since.
QB Kelcy Luke finished the season complet
ing 56.8% (138 of 243) of his passes for 1,975
yards, 13 TDs and 7 interceptions. The running
attack, which was held to 34 yards in the first
meeting, bounced back to lead the SWAC in
rushing at 206.6 yards per game. Nic Luke
with 775 yards and 7 TDs leads the way.
SWAC Football Honorees
The Southwestern Athletic Conference
announced its 2005 All-Conference Team with
Grambling State quarterback Bruce Eugene and
Mississippi Valiev State linebacker Tyler
Knight taking top honors. The team was selected
by nominations and votes from the member
schools’ coaches and sports information contacts.
Eugene, the 2005 SWAC Offensive Player of
Ihe Year (6-1,270, Sr., QB, New Orleans, LA) has
had a season to remember during his senior cam
paign at Grambling Slate. He has completed 226-
of-409 passes for 3,953 yards and 50 touchdowns
while ru.shing for 146 yards and three touch
downs. He is averaging 357.7 passing yards and
371.4 total offensive yards per game.
Tabbed as the 2005 SWAC Defensive Player
of the Year, Knight (6-0,210. Jr., LB. North Little
Rock. AR) has garnered 125 total tackles (43
solo) with 17.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks.
The 2(X)5 SWAC Newcomer of the Year is
Hakeem Muhammad of Prairie View .A&.M.
Muhammad (5-10. 175. So., DB. Dallas, TXJhas
49 total tackles on (he season and league-leading
five interceptions on the seasoo. He has 32 solo
stops and one sack.
The 2005 SWAC Freshman of the Year is run
ning back Mickey Dean of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Dean (6-0. 200. Fr.. RB, Little Rock, AR) is tied for
the conference lead in scoring with 72 points (10
touchdowns). He has 127 carries for 712 yards (5.6
yards/carry) averaging 71.2 yards per game.
2005 AU-SWAC RRST TEAM
CfFENSE
OL-Jona^ Lowe, Afcom State - 6-3. 330. Sr, Shreveport, LA
OL-SeOanir Freeman, Ark -Pine Bbff - 6-4.330. Sr, Easton, TX
OL-Jooalhan Banka, Grambhng St - 6-6. 360. Sr.. B Rouge. LA
OL-Richard Burch. Miss V^y State - 6-5. 320. Sr. Brandon, MS
OL-Lunda Wiela Southern - 6-2. 320. Sr. Baker. LA
QB-Oruca Eugene Grambing Slate - 6-1, 260. Sr. N Orleans, LA
RBsJeremy McCoy. Alcorn Stale - 6-1,213. Jr. Dates, TX
REVBrent WHson. Texas Southern -5-11.180. So., SilvSpnng. MD
TE-T^ Lott, Alcorn Slate • 6-6.225. Jr. Gautier. MS
^•Alvaoce Robinson, Alabama State • 5-9,1^, Sr. Dayton. OH
^-Tyrone Tinvnona Mss Vtfey State • 6-3, 210. Jr, Tampa. FL
PK-Joseph Btanco. lAss Valey ^e - 5-9,180, So, Houston, TX
KR-Charte Sptler. Alcorn State - 60,183. Jr, YAx)dvile. MS
DEFENSE
DL-Maiasta Hi. Alabama A&M - 225, Sr. Stone Mountain, GA
DL*Martsi Jackson, Alcorn Slate ■ 64.250. Jr. New Orleans. LA
OL-Jaaon Hatcher. Grambing Stale - 60. 285. Sr, Jena LA
DL-Joe Sykes Southern • 6-5.270, Sr, Grenada MS
LB^Iohnny BakiMn. Alab A&M • 6-1, 225. >. Bess, AL
LB-Tyltf Kra{^. MVSU • 60. 210. Jr. North Little Rock. AR
LBslarelte ProuL Mss i^fey State • 6-0.220. Sr, Boothvile. LA
D&Corey Harden. A A&M • frO. 188, Sr. Macon. GA
DB^IermM Mis. GranMng-S-l, 180, Sr. BR. LA
D&Clebs Gordon. Jackson State - 6-2.195. Sr, Arrele. LA
DB-Wveni Dancy. JSU • 60. 218. Jr. Shuqualak. MS
P-Trey Butts. MVSU -5-11.190, Sr, Ekandoo, MS
PR-James Vernon. Southern ■ 8-0,175, Sr, BR. LA
Six black college players
to play in Cactus Bowl
Six players from HBCUs are among the
42 players that have been named to the East
All-Star squad for the 13th annual
Whataburger Cactus Bow! game, featuring the
top NCAA Div. II senior players, on Friday.
Jan. 6, 2006, in Texas A&M-Kingsville's
Javelina Stadium.
Winston-Salem State running back
Martin Hicks. Tuskegee wide receiver
Kenneth Henderson. N. C. Central wide
receiver Torey Ross. Cheyney light end Jason
Harris. Tuskegee center Robert Durham and
Kentucky State defensive back Marcus
Wright are on the East squad.
FOX Sports Southwest will televise the
game which will be carried also by FOX
Sports Network nationally. The broadcast will
begin at 6 p.m. and the kickoff is set for 6:35
p.m. The players in the game will report on
Saturday. Dec. 31.