SPORTS/The Charlotte Post Thursday, August 22,1996 For tre week of August 20 through August 26,1996 SHIFTIN' INTO HIGH GEAR Hampton U. Sports Photo TAYLOR: His Pirates face aformidabie MEAC and Classic schedule. T HAMPTON, GRAMBUNG, NEW COMMISH AMONG THOSE FACING NEW CHALLENGES T HOMECOMINGS, CLASSICS & TV UNDER THE BANNER WHArS GOING ON IN AND AROUND BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS DISSED: First it was Hampton and Grambling set for the 19th Whitney Young Urban League Classic at the Meadowlands, Sept. 28. That was before E^die Robinson's Tigers found they had also scheduled Prairie View on the same date. So defending NAIA champion Central State was invited to replace Grambling. But wait a minute! Last week New York Urban League officials, citing recent nega tive publicity related to CSU, sent a letter to Athletic Direc tor Ken Hudson, officially dis-inviting the Marauders. Spokesperson Anna Taylor-Clarke says the decision is "embarrassing ... a crushing blow and ...a slap in the face" given the fact that the school is "responding to current challenges." She said the institution is examining their options. The Wilberforce, Ohio school has endured the resignation of its board of trustees, a president's firing and the condemnation of all nine dormitories by the Fire Marshall recently in the wake of an $8 million budget deficit. Ohio Gov. George Voinovich has pledged to keep the school open. For now, pencil in defending Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association champ Virgina State for the game that usually draws over 60,000 to the New Jersey meadow. TV GAME OF THAT WEEK: Televi sion returns to black college football this year, (or is it black college football returns to television). Regardless of how you look at it, there's almost a black college television game of the week scheduled for the 1996 football season.This year it's a combination of BET, ABC and ClAA telecasts on the tube. Here's the schedule with at least two games (one ABC game and another ClAA telecast) to be added. • SATURDAY., AUG. 31 - Norfolk State vs. Virginia State (Latxir Day Classic, ClAA Regional) • SATURDAY, SEPT., 28 - Virginia State vs. Hampton (Whitney Young Classic, BET) • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 - W-S state vs. NC Central (Durham, NC - ClAA Regional) • SATURDAY, SEPT., 14- Tenn. State vs. Jackson State (Southern Heritage Classic, BET) • SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 5 - Hampton vs. Florida A&M (Circle City Classic, BET) • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 - Southern vs. Jackson State (Baton Rouge, LA, ABC) • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9 - Southern vs. Florida A&M (Baton Rouge, LA, ABC) Important shifts to mark 1996 grid season LUTWILUAMS BCSP Editor With no visible Heisman candidate and no 400-victory milestone to reach, there ap pears to be no clear cut lead story for the 1996 black college football season Instead, a lot of important questions are up to be answered related to shifts in the game. 1) Is legendary Grambling coach Eddie Robinson about to shift downward losing some luster off his sterling career through a damning NCAA in vestigation? 2) Is Hampton up to the challenge of a shift to a full NCAA Div. I-AA/Mid East ern Athletic Conference schedule? Are the Spartans of Norfolk State prepared to make a similar shift upward? 3) Will changes at the head coaching position shift Tennes see State, Tuskegee and Mor gan State back into the upper echelon of their respective con ferences? 4) Is new commissioner Charies S. Harris the man to take the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference to the next level now that he has the commissioner's chair? These are just a few linger ing questions as the 104th year of black college football begins. With Hampton out and Norfolk State nearly out, Vir ginia State could be poised to shift into the front seat of the ClAA. The Trojans took the league title a year ago and look to land their»first ever NCAA Div. il playoff spot. Robinson's Tigers may be on a free fall downward. De spite getting Coach Rob's 400th victory last year, the G-Men could only muster a 5-6 record, the Coach's sixth losing record in 55 years. This year pragnostictors have picked Grambling to finish in the middle of the Southwestern Athletic Conference pack. Meanwhile, the NCAA has an nounced an investigation of the THE STAT CORNER WHO ARE THE BEST PERFORMERS IN BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS The homecoming menu The objective is to win your homecoming game, maybe that's why Bethune-Cookman and Knoxville have the most homecom ing appearances in 1996. BCC finished 3-8 a year ago, while Knoxville managed only one win in 12 games. They each have four homecoming dates this year. Opponents better watch out for BCC. They are developing a reputation for ruining the festive affairs. Two years ago they upset North Carolina A&T's homecoming, and had two-point losses to South Carolina State and Howard on their special days. Last year they pulled the cover off the SIAC champion Albany State Rams, 40-28 on their homecoming.. (host team listed first) September 21,1996 Alabama A&M vs. Savannah St. at Huntsville, AL Virginia Union vs. Fayetteville St. at Richmond, VA September 28,1996 Knoxville vs. Benedict at Knoxville, TN October 5,1996 Bethune-Cookman vs. Delaware State at Daytona Beach, FL Jackson State vs. Texas Southern at Jackson, MS Langston vs. Prairie View A&M at Langston, OK Virginia State vs. Knoxville at Petersburg, VA Winston-Salem St. vs. Livingstone at Winston-Salem, NC October 12,1996 Bowie State vs. Elizabeth City St. at Bowie, MD Central State vs. Knoxville at Wilberforce, OH Kentucky St. vs. Lane at Frankfort, KY Miles vs. Fort Valley St. at Birmingham, AL Morris Brown vs. Savannah State at Atlanta, GA West Virginia St. vs. West Liberty at Institute, WV October 19,1996 Alcorn St. vs. Texas Southern at Lorman, MS Cheyney vs. American Internat'l at Cheyney, PA Elizabeth City St. vs. New Haven at Elizabeth City, NC Fort Valley St. vs. Alabama A&M at Fort Valley, GA Miss. Valley St. vs. Lane at Itta Bena, MS Morehouse vs. Howard at Atlanta, Ga Norfolk State vs. Virginia Union at Norfolk, VA S.C. State vs. Bethune-Cookman at Orangeburg, SC Tennessee State vs. Tennessee-Martin at Nashville, TN October 26,1996 Albany St. vs. Clark Atlanta at Albany, GA Fayetteville St. vs. Bowie State at Fayetteville, NC Howard vs. N.C. A&T at Washington, DC FINAL 1995 INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATS RUSHING NAME Q AT YDS AV TO YPQ Huntley, WSS, Sr 10 273 1889 6.9 16 188.9 Lane, Lane, So 9 233 1598 «.8 15 177.5 Porter, FVSt, Jr 11 274 1537 5.6 5 139.7 Brim, Lang, Sr 10 215 1327 6.1 10 132.7 Hicks, SCS, Sr 10 228 1299 5.7 13 129.9 Ryan, ClAtl, Sr 9 168 1162 6.9 8 129.1 Leroy, AlbSt, Jr 12 225 1426 6.3 21 118.8 PASSING NAME Q A C INT TO YDS YPG Sparrow, NorfSt, Sr 10 409 238 14 32 3434 343.4 Granger, VaSt, Jr 9 312 161 13 20 2300 255.5 Davis, CnSt, Sr 10 269 153 8 28 2484 248.4 Walker, BCC, Jr 10 385 194 11 19 2408 240.8 Fletcher, AlcSt, Sr 10 354 178 15 10 2378 237.8 Moore, MorSf, Sr 11 369 178 18 14 2469 224.4 Pratt, JSU, So 11 345 191 14 21 2372 215.6 Bolin, NCAT, Sr 11 298 162 6 17 2257 205.1 Ruffin, VaUn, Sr 10 293 149 10 15 2044 204.4 RECEIVING NAME Q R YDS TD R/Q YDSQ Roe, NorfSt, Sr 10 64 1248 15 6.4 124.8 Lanier, Vast, Jr 10 56 914 9 5.6 91.4 Shelly, CnSt, Jr 10 52 896 10 5.2 89.6 Jenkins, AlcSt, Jr 11 7 875 4 6.3 79.5 Parson, VaUn, So 9 51 871 5 5.6 96.7 Johnson, CnSt, Sr 10 41 855 11 4.1 85.5 Brannon, NCCn, Sr 11 59 846 5 5.3 76.9 Adderley, BCC, Fr 10 54 843 7 5.4 84.3 Jenkins, Hamp, Jr 11 52 836 7 4.7 76.0 Cameron, MorSt, Sr 11 49 797 6 4.4 72.4 SCORING NAME G TD X 2X PTS P/Q Leroy, AlbSt, Jr 12 24 0 0 144 12.0 Morgan, VaSt, Jr 10 18 0 3 114 11.4 Surtain, AlaSt, Sr 10 18 0 2 112 11.2 Lane, Lane, So 9 15 0 2 94 10.4 Williams, SU, So 10 17 0 0 102 10.2 Roe, NorfSt, Sr 10 15 0 5 100 10.0 Huntley, WSS, Sr 10 15 0 0 90 9.0 RETURNING PLAYERS IN BOLD school for changing grades of 75 student/athletes over the last two years. Robinson says it's no big deal but some say it could cost him some of those 400-I- victories. Shifting into head coach ing positions are seven new comers, five of whom are be ginning their head coaching ca reers while two have moved over from other programs. RickComegy left Central State an NAIA championship last season before moving to Tuskegee while Joe Crosby returns to the SIAC at Morris Brown following a controver sial departure from Savannah State. First-time head coaches are in place at Tennessee State (L. C. Cole), Morgan State (LaVonia "Stump" Mitchell), Central State (Jack Busch), West Virginia State (Carl Lee) and Elizabeth City State (Elisha Harris). With a television deal in place and all the makings of an exciting race in his conference, it looks as if Harris' first year as MEAC commish will get off to a good start. He's also fortunate to have Norfolk State waiting in the wings to join the confer ence and a deal already in place A riWD ▼ ups DOWNS Lou Anderson Eddie Robinson SMILES AND FROWNS: While Virginia State head coach Lou Anderson ponders a move up to the NCAA Div. II playoffs, legendary Grambling head coach Eddie Robinson has to deal with the downer of a looming NCAA investigation. to take the conference basket ball tournament to NSU's cam pus this Spring. Harris brings a resume loaded with big-time college administrative experi ence but it's former commish Ken Free's work he inherits. Whether Hampton is a con tender or pretender should be apparent by early October. Joe Taylor's troops face Howard, NC A&T, Virginia State and Florida A&M on successive weekends. It was Howard that rudely welcomed them to I-AA play last season. MEAC hoops to Norfolk in '97 The Mid Eastern Athletic Arena. Instead, new Commis- Conference announced last sioner Charies S. Harris an- week that the 1996-97 basket- nounced a one-year deal to play at ball tournament will return to Norfolk State's 7,6(X)-seat Jo- Norfok, but not to the Scope seph G. Echols Memorial Arena. A feast of Classic football 1:00p 1:30p 1:00p 2:00p 3:00p 2:00p 1:30p 1:30p 1:00p 2:00p 1:45p 1:30p I'.OOp 1:00p 1:30p 1:00p 2:00p 1:30p 2:00p 2:00p 1:30p 1:30p 6:00p 1:00p 1:30p 1:30p Johnson C. Smith vs. Winston-Salem St. at Charlotte, NC 1:30p Lane vs. Knoxville at Jackson, TN 3:00p Livingstone vs. N.C. Central at Salisbury, NC 1:30p Morgan State vs. Delaware State at Baltimore, MD 2:00p November 2,1996 Clark Atlanta vs. Tuskegee at Atlanta, GA 2:00p Delaware State vs. S.C. State at Dover, DE 1:00p Florida A&M vs. Morgan State at Tallahassee, FL 3:00p N.C. A&T vs. Bethune-Cookman at Greensboro, NC 1:30p N.C. Central vs. Johnson C. Smith at Durham, NC 1:00p Savannah St. vs. Fort Valley St. at Savannah, GA 1:30p Texas Southern vs. Grambling St. at Houston, TX 7:00p November 9,1996 Grambling St. vs. Alabama State at Grambling, LA 1:30p Hampton vs. Bethune-Cookman at Hampton, VA 1:30p Prairie View A&M vs. Midwestern St. at Prairie View, TX 2:00p Tuskegee vs. Alabama A&M at Tuskegee, AL 1:00p November 16,1996 Ark.-Pine Bluff vs. Knoxville at Pine Bluff, AR 2:00p Southern vs. Texas Southern at Baton Rouge, LA 3;00p November 28,1996 Alabama State vs. Tuskegee at Montgomery, AL: 1:00p There'll be a feast of black college classic football games in 1996 and Hampton Uni versity has supplanted Grambling as the main course. Five exciting appearances in classic games, the most for any black college football squad, accentuate the Pirates first year of Mid Eastern Athletic Conference play. Perennial champ Grambling joins Alabama State with four classic game appearances. Hampton opens Aug. 31 against Clark Atlanta in Atlanta'sLaborDay Classic double- header at the Georgia Dome, faces Howard Sept. 13 in the Urban League Classic inWash- ington, DC, takes on Virgina State Sept. 28, August 31,1996 Honda City Classic - Columbus, OH Central State vs. Morgan St. - 2:00p Aggie-Eagle Classic - Raleigh, N.C. N.C. A&T vs. N.C. Central - 4:00p Labor Day Classic - Norfolk, VA Virginia State vs. Norfolk St. - 7:00p Regatta Bowl- Charleston, WV West Virginia St. vs. Bowie St. - 7:00p Arkansas Classic - Little Rock, AR Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Lane - 7:00p September 1,1996 Labor Day Classic - Birmingham, AL Alabama St. vs. Jackson St. - 7:00p Labor Day Classic - Atlanta, GA Clark Atlanta vs. Hampton - 3:00p Morris Brown vs. Miss. Valley St. - 7:00p September 7,1996 6th Sportsman’s Classic - Wilmington, NC Elizabeth City St. vs. Fayetteville St. -1:30p September 13,1996 3rd Urban League Classic - Washington, DC Howard vs. Hampton - 8:00p September 14,1996 Motor City Classic - Pontiac, Ml Central State vs. Grambling St. - 7:00p 4th Southern Heritage Classic - Memphis, TN Tennessee State vs. Jackson State - 7:00p September 21,1996 Approaching Storm Classic - Atlantic City, NJ Delaware State vs. N.C. Central - 12:30p Cheyney vs. Bowie State - 6:00p 4th Gateway Classic - St. Louis, MO Central State vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 4:(X)p Queen City ClassicIV - Charlotte, NC Johnson C. Smith vs. Elizabeth City St. - 7:00p September 28,1996 49th Annual Fish Bowl - Norfolk, VA Norfolk State vs. Delaware State - 2:30p Atlanta Football Classic - Atlanta, GA Tennessee State vs. Southern - 4:00p at the Whitney Young Classic in the New Jersey Meadowlands, travels to Indianapolis Oct. 5, for a showdown with Florida A&M in the Circle City Classic and then finishes out their schedule Nov. 16, with the Battle of the Bay Classic against Norfolk State. The doubleheader scheduled for Atlantic City's Convention Hall Sept. 21, could be called the Hemorroids Classic instead of the Approaching Storm Classic. NC Central and Delaware State play first followed by Bowie State and Cheyney. Fourteen tractor trailer loads of Kentucky Bluegrass will be brought in to conver the Convention Hall's concrete floor. Could be tough sledding for the guys. 19th Whitney Young Classic ■ East Rutherford, NJ Hampton vs. Virginia State - 6;00p 12th Al Upscomb/State Fair Classic - Dallas, TX Grambling St. vs. Prairie View A&M - 7:00p October 5,1996 13th Circle City Classic- Indianapolis, IN Hampton vs. Rorida A&M - 4:00p October 12,1996 61st M'house-'Skegee Classic - Columbus, GA Tuskegee vs. Morehouse - 7:00p 23rd Gulf Coast Classic - Mobile. AL Alabama St. vs. Clark Atlanta - 7:(X)p October 19,1996 4th Red River Classic - Shreveport, LA Grambling St. vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 7:00p October 26,1996 55th Magic City Classic - Birmingham, AL Alabama A&M vs. Alabama St. -1:00p 20th Gold Bowl Classic - Richmond, VA Virginia Union vs. Virginia State -1:30p November 9,1996 7th Fountain City Classic - Columbus, GA Fort Valley St. vs. Albany State -1:30p November 16,1996 8th Battle of the Bay Classic - Hampton, VA Hampton vs. Norfolk State -1:30p November 23,1996 2nd Capitol City Classic - Jackson, MS Jackson St. vs. Alcorn St. -1:00p 2nd Carolinas Classic- Charlotte, NC N.C. A&T vs. S.C. State -1:30p 17th Florida Classic- Tampa, FL Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M - 3:00p November 28,1996 73rd Turkey Day Classic - Montgomery, AL Alabama St. vs. Tuskegee -1:00p November 30,1996 Bayou Classic XXIII - New Orleans, LA Southern vs. Grambling State -1 :(X)p THE WAY THEY FINISHED IN 1995 - FINAL CONFERENCE STANDINGS, YEARLY HONORS AND BCSP POLL BCSP FINAL POLL 1. SOUTHERN (11-1) 2. CENTRAL STATE (10-1) 3. FLORIDA A&M (9-3) 4. JACKSON STATE (9-3) 5. HAMPTON (8-3) 6. DELAWARE STATE (8S) 7. ALBANY STATE (8-4) 8. VIRGINIA STATE (8-2) 9. ARK -PINE BLUFF (8-4) 10. (tle) NORFOLK STATE (7-3) ALABAMA STATE (8-3) NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP Central State 37, NE Oklahoma 7 NCAA DIV. I-AA PLAYOFFS Marshall 38, Jackson State 8 NCAA DIV. II PLAYOFFS North Alabama 38, Albany State 28 HERITAGE BOWL Southern 30, Florida A&M 25 ^ 1 A A CeKTTUL iNTERDOLLfOIATI Athlchc Association MEAC Mid Eastern Athletic Co««peRBNce CONF ALL CONF ALL W L T W L T W L T W L T "Va State 7 0 8 2 0 “FAMU 6 0 0 9 3 0 Norfolk St 6 2 0 7 3 0 Dei State 5 0 6 5 0 Eliz. City 6 2 0 7 4 0 SC State 4 2 0 6 4 0 Livingstone 4 3 1 5 4 1 Howard 2 4 0 6 5 0 NC Centrai 4 4 0 5 6 0 NCA&T 2 4 0 4 7 0 W-Salem St 3 3 2 4 4 2 Beth-Ckmn 2 3 0 3 8 0 Bowie St 2 6 0 3 7 0 Morgan St 0 6 0 \ 10 0 JO Smith 2 6 0 2 8 0 Hampton * 8 3 0 FayetteVi St 5 2 1 7 2 * • Not eligible for conf championehip Va Union 0 6 2 0 8 2 * (Conference champion ClAA OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS OFFENSE AAPON SPAKtOW ■ Sr., OB, Norioik Stall -Threw for 3,300yards and32 TDS. fflCN4RDNUNn£y-Sr.,RB,WSSU - Set career and single season (1,889) rush ing marks, #2 al-tkne colegiate rusher. DEFENSE TELLEY PRIESTER - So., DB, Va. State - Led Va. State defense and conference with 8 interceptions COACH LOU ANDERSON-Va. State-Led Trojans to conference championship. MEAC OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS OFFENSE HtCHAELHICKS -Sr., RB, SC State - Had 1,299 yards with 14 TDs. Set ieague all-time scoring record with 316 points and finished career as second all-time ieague rusher. DEFENSE EARL HOLMES - Sr., LB, FAMU - Dominating defender ied conference in total tackles (146). COACH B/liTJOE-FAMU-LedRallleistoconfaf- ence championship in his second year. SIAC SouTHtRN kmoOLUOIATE Athletic CoNmcNCt SWAC Amunc CoNmiNcl | CONF ALL CONF ALL W L T W L T W L T W L T ^Albany St 7 1 0 8 4 0 "Jackson St 7 0 0 9 3 0 Ala A&M 5 3 0 6 5 0 Southern 6 0 11 0 Clark Atlanta 5 3 0 5 5 0 Ala. State 5 2 0 8 3 0 Morehouse 5 3 0 5 6 0 Grambling 4 4 0 5 6 0 Miles 4 4 0 4 6 0 Alcorn St 3 4 0 4 7 0 Savannah St 4 4 0 7 4 0 Miss Valley 2 5 0 2 9 0 Ft. Valley 3 5 0 3 8 0 TX Southern 6 0 2 8 0 Tuskegee 2 6 0 2 9 0 Prairie Vw 0 7 0 0 11 0 Mfxris Brown 7 0 1 9 0 ''Conference champion Kentucky St * 7 4 0 * - Not eligible for conf championship * Conterencs champion SIAC PLAYERS OF THE YEAR OFFENSE ANTONIO L£ROY-Jr.,RB, Albany State Rushed for 1,426 yards averaging 6.3 yards per cany and scored 21 TDs. It was his third 1,000 yard season in a row. DEFENSE UARKCOIUODOX-Sr., DB, Albany State- Led ASU defense (146). COACH GEORGESMAU-Kentucky Stats Led KSU to 7-4 record in first year. SWAC OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS OFFENSE MELVIN WILLIAMS, So, RB, South ern - Led the league in rushing, was second in receiving and lead in all purpose yardage. DEFENSE PICASSO NELSON - Sr., S, Jack- son State - Led the league and I-AA in interceptkxis with eight. Also had 68 tackles and six pass break-ups. COACH JAMES CARSON - Jackaon Slata Led Tigers to SWAC tide and I-AA playoff berth. -1 INDEPENDENTS Cent state 10 1 0 Lane 9 1 0 Aikansas-PB 6 4 0 Langston 4 6 0 Tenn State 2 9 0 WVAState 1 9 0 Knoxville 19 0 Cheyney 0 10 1 BCSP OUTSTANDMG PERFOmnn OFFENSE FRED LANE, Jr., RB, Lane - Rushed for 1,598 yards averaging 6.8 yards per carry, 177.5 yards per game with 15 TDs. DEFENSE MICNAEL NOLCEY-Jr., LB, Tan- neaaee State - Picked to all-OVC first team after leading TSU hi tack les. Projected I-AA aH-Ameflcan. COACH RtCKCOMEQY-CanMSma Led Marauders to NAIA Div. I na tional crown. O AZEEZ Communications, Inc., VOLIII, NO. 1