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