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5C 0*0 SPORTS/®5e Charlotte Thursday, August 17, 2006 0 FohtheWeekofAugust16-22, 2006 MVSU Sports Photo ON THE JACKSON; Former ASU QB, surprise second NeXT round pick wows \^kes ______ and new head coach in LE vEL first effort vs. Oakland. T GRAMBLING, HAMPTON RANKED; VB PREDICTIONS; THREE MORE MAKE HOF UNDER THE BANNER WHAT'S GOING ON IN AND AROUND BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS HAMPTON, GRAMBLING RANKED: Hampton and Grambling State were the only black col lege teams to make The Sports Network NCAA Div. I-AA football presea son poll released last week. Hampton, the two-time Mid Eastern Athletic Conference champion that finished tenth in the final poll last year, was picked 13th for the second year in a row. The Pirates' perfect 11-0 regular season record last season included an 8-0 MEAC mark and saw them rise as high as No. 2 in the final regular season TSN poll. They lost at home to Richmond (38-10) in a first round playoff game. Defending I-AA champion Appalachian State was voted first in the poll receiving 68 first place votes to easily outscore New Hampshire who finished second. Montana, Norther Iowa and Furman rounded out the top five. Defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Grambling State is 23rd in the poll. The Tigers finished a perfect 9-0 against SWAC competition and 11-1 overall last season suffering their only loss to Div. lA Washington State (48-7). ' SPORTS NETWORK I-AA PRESEASON POLL TEAM (FIRST-PLACE VOTES] 2005 RECORD POINTS 2005 1. Appalachian St (68) 12-3 2,306 1 2. New Hampshire (14) 11-2 2,153 5 3. Montana (5) 8-4 1,954 12 4. NorOiern Iowa (3) 11-4 1,936 2 5. Furman (1) 11-3 1,928 3 6. Cal Poly (3) 9-4 1,846 6 7. Youngstown State 8-3 1,446 14 8. James Madison 7-4 1,338 25 9. Illinois State , 7-4 ' 1,297 22 10. Massachusetts 7-4 . 1,170 19 11, McNeese State 5-4 1,006 NR 12. Georgia Southern 8-4 967 9 13. Hampton 11-1 939 10 14. Eastern Illinois 9-3 865 16 15. Richmond 9-4 835 8 16. Delaware 6-5 815 NR 17. Southern Illinois 9-4 809 7 18, Texas State 11-3 770 4 19. North Dakota St 7-4 713 NR 20. Eastern Kentucky 7-4 709 NR 21. UC Davis 6-5 576 NR 22. Montana State 7-4 550 18 23. Grambling State 11-1 511 11 24. Nicholls State 6-4 378 17 25. Coastal Carolina 9-2 356 24 BCSP Notes sc state home opener moved Due to major enhancements being made at South Carolina State's Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, the Bulldogs’ Sept. 16 home opener against Bethune-Cookman is being moved to The Citadel's Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, according to Athletics Director Charlene Johnson. Kickoff for the contest remains the same, 6 p.m. Synthetic turf is replacing the grass field at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, and a new state-of-the art scoreboard with replay capability is also being installed. These modifications, which will give the stadium a new and enhanced look, are expected to be completed in time for SCSU’s Oct. 7 home contest against Norfolk State. SeSU last hosted a game in Charleston at Johnson Hagood on Sept. 20,2003 when the team defeated Savannah State 53-0 in the Low Country Classic. The Bulldogs also hosted Winston-Salem State at the site in 1994, winning 48-27, and played several games there during the 70s. Jackson impressive in preseason opener Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Tavaris Jackson out of Alabama State had an impressive showing in his first NFL preseason game Monday night on ESPN. The surprise second round pick entered the game vs. Oakland in the second quarter after starter Brad Johnson and back-up Mike McMahon had played. The former SWAC star, wearing the same No. 7 he wore at Alabama State, looked comfortable in the pocket and finished 7-for-13 passing for 60 yards and rushed for a game-high'36 yards on three carries. "I'm just trying to get better each day," Jackson told the Minneapolis GETTiN' READY: Former Alabama State QB Tavaris Jackson waits his turn as the Minnesota Vikings opened training camp on July 31. Jackson, a second round pick, is trying to earn a spot backing up 14- year veteran Brad Johnson. The former SWAC star impressed new Vikings coach Brad Childress in the team's first preseason game Monday. Star-Tribune after the game. "I’ll go to practice Wednesday and try to get better and just try to con tinue to progress. I’ll leave it up to my coaches to grade the film." Jackson was scheduled to play the entire third quarter but had to leave after hitting his head on the turf after a 17-yard scramble, Jackson came back in the game after getting his bearings and completed the quarter. "I thought Tavaris came in and did a nice job," said new Vikings head coach Brad Childress after the game, "He learned a couple of lessons. Number one, that astroturfs hard. I don’t think it was the hit that got him, I think it was the head slam on turf. I think the other thing he learned is that when you slide, you rieed to make the first down. He needs to know in the NFL they mark that thing, and progress. That could have been a very east first down. But he's OK. He cleared his head and got back in there." Reports from Vikings websites lauded Jackson as 'the quarterback of the future' after his first-game performance. Jackson could have had his first TD pass vs, NFL competition in the third quarter but fullback Steven Jackson dropped the ball. VOLLEYBALL PICKS Florida A&M, Alabama A&M picked to repeat Five-time defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion, Florida A&M was picked as the preseason favorite for the second straight year to win the 2006 MEAC Volleyball title as voted by the leagues’ head volleyball coaches and sports infor mation directors. The Rattlers, who received 18 of the possible 20 first place votes, led all MEAC teams with 416 points. Florida A&M heads into the 2006 season vying for its sixth consecutive MEAC title and ninth overall. Senior outside hitter Maria Andonova and senior setter Diana Genkova return for the Rattlers along with two other starters from last year’s team. Andonova, an All-MEAC first-team member, averaged 4.02 kills and 2.05 digs per game last season and was named the 2005 tournament’s outstanding performer. Genkova led the league with 12,09 assists per game (1100) and earned a first-team All-MEAC selection in 2005. North Carolina A&T finished second behind the Rattlers in the preseason poll with two first place votes and 376 points. The Aggies, posted a 22-18 overall record in 2005 and were runners-up to Florida A&M during the regular season and at last year's MEAC Volleyball Championship. The team's 9-1 conference mark was their best since 1998, when they went 8-0 in conference play. The Aggies are return ing five starters this year, including senior outside hitter Arlene Mitchell, Mitchell, a three-time All-MEAC selection, recorded 400 kills (4,0 kpg) and posted 77 service aces and 36 blocks in 2005. Rounding out the top five in the preseason poll-are Morgan State at third, fallowed by Delaware State and Bethune-Cookman. The 2006 MEAC Volleyball season concludes at the MEAC Volleyball Championship, held November 17-18, 2006 on the campus of Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. 2006 MEAC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL (First Place Votes in Parenthesis) 1, Florida A&M (18) 416 2. North Carolina A&T (2) 376 3. Morgan State 312 4. Delaware State 274 5. Bethune-Cookman 216 6. Coppin State 197 7. Fiampton 192 8. Floward 170 9. UMES127 10. South Carolina State 98 11. Norfolk State 33 Alabama A&M (East) and Grambling State (West) were picked to win their respective divisions while Mississippi Valley State outside hitter Ashley Robinson was, voted preseason player of the year as the Southwestern Athletic Conference coaches and SIDs unveiled their volleyball picks for the upcoming season. Six-time defending champion Alabama A&M received 13 first- place votes, en route to 89 total points to easily outscore Mississippi Valley State, who finished with a 26-4 record last season. MVSU had five first-place votes as they tallied 80 points. Jackson State (52), Alabama State (38) and Alcorn State (26) rounded out the Eastern Division. The Grambling State Lady Tigers, runners-up for the last three seasons, were selected to win the Western Division. The Lady Tigers garnered 12 first-place votes and 86 points overall , Prairie View A&M received six first-place votes en route to 76 points. Southern (54), Texas Southern (40) and Arkansas-Fine Bluff (29) completed the Western Division voting. Robinson has been a conference standout for the past two sea sons and finished the.2005 season with 335 kills (4th in the SWAC), a ,290 hitting percentage (3rd), 50 service aces (5th), 212 digs and 53 total blocks. After a stellar campaign, she was named 2005 SWAC Player of the Year. In regards to preseason all-conference voting, Mississippi Valley State had the most players selected with five. 2006 SWAC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS . First Team Lacey Cormier, Sr., Grambling State - OH Ashley Robinson, Sr., Mississippi Valley State - OH Shatara Baydak, Jr., Mississippi Valley State - OH Brittani Lewis, So., Alabama A&M - MB Faion Holinaty, Sr., Mississippi Valley State - MB Jolene Brennan, Sr, Mississippi Valley State - S Alyssa Knaus, Jr., Mississippi Valley State - DS/L PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH (first-place votes in parenthesis) EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION Alabama A&M (13) 89 pts Grambling State (12) 86 pts Mississippi Valley State (5) 80 Prairie View A&M (6) 76 Jackson State (1) 52 Southern (1) 54 Alabama State 38 Texas Southern 40 Alcorn State 26 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 29 McCain, Dent and Rice make College Hall THE STAT CORNER WHO ARE THE BEST PERFORMERS IN BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Black College Inductees PLAYERS 1985-88 Kevin Dent, Jackson State 2006 1981-84 Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State 2006 1982-85 Willie Totten, Mississippi Valley State 2005 1959-62 Willie Richardson, Jackson State 2003 1924-30 Ben Stevenson, Tuskegee 2003 1972-75 Harry Carson, South Carolina State 2002 1974-77 Doug Williams, Grambling State 2001 1963-66 Willie Lanier, Morgan State 2000 1945-48 Paul Younger, Grambling State 2000 1953-56 Willie Galiimore, Florida A&M 1999 1970-73 Donnie Shell, South Carolina State 1998 1971-74 Gary Johnson, Grambling State 1997 1959-62 Buck Buchanan, Grambling State 1996 1976-79 Tyrone McGriff, Florida A&M 1996 1971-74 Walter Payton, Jackson State 1996 COACHES 1969-83 Vernon "Skip" McCain, Maryland State 2006 1963-92 Marino Casern, Alabama State Alcorn State, Southern 2003 1930-65 Billy Nicks, Morris Brown, Prairie View 1999 1941-97' Eddie Robinson, Grambling State 1997 1953-83 John Merritt, Jackson State, Tennessee State 1994 1960-73 Earl Banks, Morgan State 1992 1945-69 Jake Gaither, Florida A&M 1975 Three black college products were enshrined Saturday in the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana. Former Marjiand State head football coach Vernon "Skip McCain, for mer Mississippi Valley State wide receiver Jerry Rice and former Jackson State defensive back Kevin Dent were enshrined along with 17 others in the hall that reopened in 1995 near the campus of Notre Dame University. The induction of Rice and Dent brings the number of black college players in the hall to 15. McCain , is the seventh black college coach to be enshrined (See STAT CORNER), The rather paltry number of players and coaches from the black college ranks is because the hall did not open to players from NCAA Divisions I-AA, II and III until 1996. Former Florida A&M head coach, the late Alonzo "Jake" Gaither who was inducted in 1975, was the first player or coach from a black college to gain induction. Former Morgan State head coach Earl Banks was inducted in 1992 while former Jackson State arid Tennessee State head coach John Merritt was inducted in 1994. Walter Payton of Jackson State, Buck Buchanan of Grambling State and Tyrone McGriff of Florida A&M were the first black col lege players inducted in 1996. VERNON "SKIP" MCCAIN Head Coach, Maryland State, 1948-63; Langston University grad Died in 1993. McCain led his teams to four Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and never recorded a single losing season in 16 years at the helm. With a career record of 102-21-5, he is one of only 28 coaches to have a winning per centage greater than .800 among those who have coached at least nine seasons. McCain led Maryland State to three undefeated seasons and seven seasons of seven wins or more. While concentrating on his football duties, he directed the basketball team to a record of 76 wins and 11 losses from 1948 to 1952. Among his pupils was Johnny Sample, the first black college player to play in the prestigious College Football All-Star Game. For all of his accom plishments, he has been named to the UMES and Langston University Halls of Fame. KEVIN DENT Defensive back Jackson State, 1985-88 Dent posted 21 career interceptions as the leader of a defense that helped the Tigers win three consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and post a 27-1 con ference record. A fierce defensive talent. Dent is the first defensive player and third overall in school history to enter the College Football Hall of Fame, joining legends Waiter Payton and Willie Richardson. A constant interception threat. Dent is the school's only three-time first team all-America selection (1986-88). A three-time Sheridan Black College National Defensive Player of the Year, he led the nation in interceptions in 1986 and cur rently ranks among the Top 25 in NCAA Division I-AA history With 21 career picks. A two-time Mississippi Sports Writers All- Mississippi Team selection. Dent currently ranks fourth all-time at Jackson State in single-season interceptions (11 in 1988). A community minded individual, he continues to reside in Jackson, Mississippi. JERRY RICE Wide Receiver Mississippi Valley State, 1981-84 Rice set numerous Division I-AA records, includ ing single-season receptions (103) and receiving yards (1,450) and the single-season touchdown mark (27) that still stands. He set school records with 310 career receptions, 4,856 receiving yards and 51 touchdowns. Caught an NCAA record 24 pass es against Southern in 1983. Widely regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers in football his tory on any level, Rice will join his college team mate, QB Willie Totten as both ends of the famed Delta Devil "Satellite Express" will now be mem bers of the College Football Hall of Fame, A two-time first team all-America selection. Rice finished ninth in the 1984 Heisman Trophy voting. A three-time first team al 1-Conference pick, Rice was named the 1984 SWAC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year for the State of Mississippi. Drafted in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, Rice became arguably the greatest player in NFL history. In 20 seasons, he was named to the Pro Bowl 13 times, won three Super Bowls and broke virtually every receiving record. His NFL totals exceed 1,500 receptions, 22,000 receiving yards and 200 touch downs. ©AZEEZ Communications. Inc. VOL. Xlll, NO. 2
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