FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 19 - JULY 25, 2011

Early look at 2011 SWAC football

2011 OUTLOOK: Head coaching changes at the top of programs that have won the last three SWAC championships and post-season bans instituted by the NCAA and the SWAC have made this year's race hard to handicap. Texas Southern, the West Division champion, defeated East Division champ Alabama State 11-6 in last year's title game giving the Tigers their rst SWAC championship in 42 years. BIG NEWS: Johnnie Cole (red) who won the 2010 championship at Texas Southern, Henry Frazier (resigned to become North Carolina Central head coach), who won the 2009 title at Prairie View A&M and Rod Broadway (resigned to become North Carolina A&T head coach), who led Grambling to the 2008 title are all out of the conference. Defensive coordinators Kevin Ramsey and Heishma Northern take over at TSU and PVA&M respectively. Doug Williams returns for his second stint as head man at Grambling. In his rst go-round, Williams led Grambling to three straight titles in 2000-02. BIGGER NEWS: Because of low scores on the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate (APR), perennial contenders and conference powers Southern and Jackson State were banned from NCAA postseason play. The SWAC followed suit by declaring them ineligible for the conference championship game this season. OTHER NEWS: Former Grambling head coach Melvin Spears, who coordinated 2010 East Division champ Alabama State's offense, is the new head man at Alcorn State replacing Ernest Collins (resigned to become Northern Colorado head coach). That makes four new coaches this season in the SWAC. PLAYERS TO WATCH (OFFENSE): Brandon Bridge, So., QB, Alcorn State New head coach Melvin Spears compares the 63, 200-pound Bridge to 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and to some of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the SWAC. Bridge ran for 601 yards and 8 TDs while passing for 2,086 and 19 TDs as a freshman. Casey Therriault, Sr., QB, Jackson State - Even though the Tigers are not eligible for the SWAC title game, Therriault will be worth watching. Last season he had seven 300-yard games and was on pace to break JSU passing marks before being injured in the nal game BRIDGE of the season. He nished with 3,436 passing yards and 31 TDs and also rushed for 10 TDs. PLAYERS TO WATCH (DEFENSE): Cliff Exama, Sr., LB, Grambling - Tied for the league-high with 61 solo stops out of 101 total tackles. Jeryann Harris, So., LB, Arkansas-Pine Bluff - The hard-hitting Harris posted 129 tackles to lead the SWAC as a freshman.
RUSHERS: Marquis Wright, Sr., Texas Southern: 1,212 yards, 101.1 ypg., 8 TDs Kadarius Lacey, Jr., Alabama A&M: 710 yards, 64.5 ypg., 5 TDs Gabriel Nash, Jr., Alcorn State: 612 yards, 55.6 ypg., 6 TDs PASSERS: Casey Therriault, Sr., Jackson State: 3,436 yards, 58.4%, 31 TDs, 8 ints. Brandon Bridge, So., Alcorn State: 2,086 yards, 51.5%, 19 TDs, 13 ints. Jeremy McGinty, So., Southern: 1,271 yards, 45.0%, 9 TDs, 6 ints. RECEIVERS: Marcellos Wilder, Sr., Jackson State: 57 receptions, 726 yds., 8 TDs Joseph Anderson, Sr., Texas Southern: 56 receptions, 818 yds., 2 TDs Nick Andrews, Sr., Alabama State: 48 receptions, 627 yds., 7 TDs SCORING: Zack Rizzo, Sr., Grambling: 11 FGs, 39 PATs, 72 points William Grizwold, So., Southern: 15 FGs, 25 PATs, 70 points Chris Ewald, So., Ark.-Pine Bluff: 10 FGs, 34 PATs, 64 points TACKLES: Jeryan Harris, So., LB, Ark.-Pine Bluff: 129, 50 solo, 79 assists, 11.7 per game Cliff Exams, Sr., LB, Grambling; 106, 61 solo, 45 assists, 10.6 per game Derrick Timber, Sr., LB, Ark.-Pine Bluff - 83, 32 solo, 51 assists, 7.5 per game INTERCEPTIONS: Moses Ellis, Sr., CB, Prairie View Kejuan Riley, Sr., Alabama State: 7 Zack Gallow, Sr., Texas Southern: 5 SACKS: Donovan Robinson, Sr., Jackson State: 7.5 Marquis Jackson, Jr., Texas Southern: 7.0 Miller Jordan, Sr., Southern: 7.0

PRESEASON ALL-SWAC HONORS

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: OFFENSE - Casey Therriault, JSU; DEFENSE - Moses Ellis, PVAM PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: WEST 1. Grambling (12) 103 2. Texas Southern (8) 79 3. Prairie View (2) 74 4. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1) 56 5. Southern 33 EAST 1. Jackson State (13) 88 2. Alcorn State (6) 84 3. Alabama State (3) 82 4. Alabama A&M (1) 62 5. Mississippi Valley State 27

PRESEASON KICKOFFS

KEITH POUGH: Howard linebacker, national FCS tackles for losses leader projected as one of nation's best, on Buchanan Watch List.

Howard Sports Photo

SWAC, CIAA STAGING FOOTBALL EVENTS; PRESEASON PICKS, WATCH LISTS UNVEILED

UNDER THE BANNER

WHAT'S GOING ON IN AND AROUND BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS

Former South Florida Congressman and Florida A&M Rattler football player Kendrick Meek has been nominated by President Barack Obama as a public delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. Meek's role will be to support U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Dr. Susan Rice, in her mission to foster world peace. MEEK "There's a lot going on the world. Turn on the news. You can go forever with what's going on in Afghanistan, with what's going on in Haiti," Meek said. Meek played football at FAMU under coaches Rudy Hubbard and Ken Riley. As a defensive end, he saw action in several games.

FAMU'S MEEK GETS UN POST:

PRESEASON ALL-SWAC 1ST-TEAM OFFENSE QB Casey Therriault * Jackson State * Sr. RB Marcus Wright * Texas Southern * Sr. RB Martin Gilbert * Texas Southern * Sr. WR Nick Andrews * Alabama State * Sr. WR Marcellos Wilder * Jackson State * Sr. TE Renty Rollins * Jackson State * Sr. OL James Dekle * Prairie View A&M * Sr. OL Sanford Banks * Grambling State * Jr. OL Terren Jones * Alabama State * Jr. OL Chris Browne * Southern * Jr. OL Roderick Gladney * Jackson State * Sr. PRESEASON ALL-SWAC 1ST-TEAM DEFENSE DL Marquis Jackson * Texas Southern * Jr. DL Donavan Robinson * Jackson State * Sr. DL Jomarcus Savage * Grambling State * Jr. DL Kynjee Cotton * Alabama State * Sr. LB Cliff Exama * Grambling State * Sr. LB Jer-ryan Harris * Arkansas-Pine Bluff * So. LB Willie Fuller * Alabama A&M * Jr. DB Moses Ellis * Prairie View A&M * Sr. DB Kejuan Riley * Alabama State * Jr. DB Zack Gallow * Texas Southern * Sr. DB Tim Dandridge * Jackson State * Sr. PRESEASON ALL-SWAC 1ST-TEAM SPECIALISTS PK Zoltan Riazzo * Grambling State * Sr. P Arturo Tamayo * Alcorn State * Sr. RET B.J. Lee * Jackson State * Jr. PRESEASON ALL-SWAC 2ND-TEAM OFFENSE QB Brandon Bridge * Alcorn State * So. RB B.J. Lee * Jackson State * Jr. RB Kaderius Lacey * Alabama A&M * Jr. WR T.C. McWilliams * Alabama State * Jr. WR Joe Anderson * Texas Southern * Jr. TE Kirk Fitzhugh * Texas Southern * Sr. OL Julian Wyndom * Grambling State * Jr. OL Tim Tusey * Prairie View A&M * Sr. OL Terron Armstead * Arkansas-Pine Bluff * Jr. OL Joaquenssi Eugene * Alabama A&M * Jr. OL Keyun Swinney * Jackson State * Sr. PRESEASON ALL-SWAC 2ND-TEAM DEFENSE DL Johnathan Billups * Jackson State * Jr. DL Adrian Hamilton * Prairie View A&M * Sr. DL Jonathan Hollins * Texas Southern * Sr. DL Antoine Rogers * Grambling State * Sr. LB Marcus White * Prairie View A&M * So. LB Milton Patterson * Jackson State * Jr. LB Demarques Taylor * Alabama State * So. DB Anthony Johnson * Jackson State * Sr. DB Vernon Marshall * Alabama A&M * Jr. DB Donovan Masline * Alabama State * Sr. DB Carlos Hollis * Mississippi Valley State * Jr. PRESEASON ALL-SWAC 2ND-TEAM SPECIALISTS PK Chris Ewald * Arkansas-Pine Bluff * Sr. P Chance Wilson * Alabama A&M * Jr. RET Byron Williams * Southern * Jr.

THERRIAULT

ELLIS

NEW EWC HOOPS COACHES:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Edward Waters College has announced the arrival of its new men's and women's head basketball coaches Frank Burnell and Charmaine Wilson. They were introduced to media, faculty staff and students in a press conference July 14. Burnell succeeds Anthony Mosley while Wilson takes over a program formerly led by Elroy Green Jr. Burnell, formally the head coach at Daytona Beach Community College, now Daytona State College, and an assistant coach at the University of South Florida, has been coaching men's collegiate basketball for 25 years. Wilson was the rst head coach at Allen University to lead her team to a victory in a Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament game. A graduate of South Carolina State, Wilson played with the Lady Bulldogs from 1996-1998. Immediately following graduation, she took her rst coaching position at AU as the assistant coach, and in 2001 was made head coach. Wilson also served as an assistant at Bethune-Cookman.

TOP RETURNEES:

WRIGHT

EXAMA

FRAHM, MEAC'S BEST:

University of Maryland Eastern Shore's Kristina Frahm was named the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Woman of the Year. Frahm will be awarded the honor during the annual MEAC Football Press Luncheon on Friday, July 29 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia. FRAHM The award, selected annually by the MEAC Senior Woman Administrators, celebrates the achievements of female senior student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics, service and leadership. Frahm, the NCAA Bowling MVP, led UMES to two national bowling titles in 2011. The Lady Hawks captured their second National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) bowling championship in four years and followed that with a 2-1 win over Lindenwood to win the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championship (ITC) title. Frahm served as a MEAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) rep and held leadership positions in the NCAA Career in Sports Forum conference, NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership conference. She volunteered as a youth group coach and also donated her time for projects such as Habitat for Humanity and Relay for Life.

BCSP Notes
Thirteen players from CIAA schools have been named to the Consensus Draft Service (CDS) Preseason All-American Teams. Consensus Draft Services is an independent scouting service which provides information on professional football prospects from the NCAA and NAIA. Winston-Salem State running back Nic Cooper was named Division II rst team offense while cornerback Darnell Evans of Shaw and safety Andre Lyles of WSSU's Nic Cooper Fayetteville State were selected rst team defense. Last season, the powerful 230-pounder nished 19th in the nation in rushing yards with 1,134 yards and 15 touchdowns on 184 carries. For the season, he averaged 6.16 yards per carry. Evans, one of only four sophomores on the rst team, led the CIAA in interceptions with six and was the only freshman on the 2010 All-CIAA First Team. He was also named the 2010 CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year. He collected 34 tackles in 2010 with 22 solo tackles and 12 assists. He led the CIAA in passes defended (17) and pass break ups (10). Virginia Union wide receiver Joseph Jean-Pierre was named second team AllAmericans. Pierre had 47 receptions for 963 yards averaging 20.5 yards per catch and 107 receiving yards per game. Pierre scored 6 TDs. Those receiving honorable mention were

CIAA puts 13 on CDS Preseason all-American teams

EVANS

LYLES

POUGH

ELLIS

Virginia State defensive end Timothy Durant; Shaw DL Charles Deas, Chowan DB Anthony Hooks; Lincoln DB Kwaheem Smith; Chowan KR Tony Goodman; Elizabeth City State RB Daronte McNeill; Fayetteville State OG Larry McDonald and FSU PK Austin Turner.

Pough, Ellis on initial Buchanan Watch List

THE STAT CORNER

WHO ARE THE BEST PERFORMERS IN BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS

THIS WEEKS' 2011 BLACK COLLEGE PRESEASON FOOTBALL MEDIA EVENTS

(SWAC) SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE Tuesday, July 19, 10 a.m. Sheraton Birmingham Birmingham, AL (CIAA) CENTRAL INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Thursday, July 21, 11:30 a.m. Gateway Dining and Event Center Virginia State University Petersburg, VA
AZEEZ Communications, Inc. Vol. XVII, No. 51

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Two black college players are on the initial 20-player Watch List for the Sports Network's 2011 Buck Buchanan Award, the Football Championship Subdivision's (FCS) top individual defensive honor, sponsored by Fathead.com, The Sports Network announced the list Monday that includes the black college standouts and six returning nalists from last season. On the list is Howard tackling machine, linebacker Keith Pough and Prairie View A&M defensive back Moses Ellis. The Buchanan Award is in its 17th season and will be presented to the FCS's outstanding defensive player at the national awards banquet Thursday night, Jan. 5 in Frisco, Texas. This season's winner will join a list of Buchanan Award greats such as Dexter Coakley, Jared Allen, Kroy Biermann and 2010 winner J.C. Sherritt of Eastern Washington. Two black college players have won the award since its inception in 1995. North Carolina A&T pass-rushing specialist, linebacker/defensive end Chris McNeil, won the award in 1997. Ball-hawk-

ing Bethune-Cookman safety and now NFL standout (Jacksonville Jaguars) Rashean Mathis took home the award in 2002. Howard's Pough is one six linebackers the largest contingent of any position on the initial list. As a sophomore last season, Pough nished third in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference with 100 total tackles, 59 solos with 41 assists, and nished third with 9.1 tackles per game. He topped the league and was tenth in the FCS in sacks with 10.5 (0.95 per game), and was rst in the MEAC in forced fumbles (4, .036 per game), a number good for seventh in the FCS. He led the MEAC and all of FCS in tackles for loss with 2.59 per game totalling 148 yards in losses. He has 40 tackles for losses in his two seasons playing for the Bison. Pough is a 6-3, 235-pound native of Orangeburg, S.C. As a junior a season ago, Ellis topped the Southwestern Athletic Conference and all of FCS in passes defended and interceptions. He averaged 2.0 passes defended per game, breaking up 14 passes and picking off a nation's best eight in 11 games. He also had 41 total tackles with 21 solos. Ellis is a 5-9, 180-pound senior from Fort Worth, Texas. The Buchanan Award Watch List will undergo revision during the 2011 season. Ballots will be sent to a panel of about 200 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries after the regular season on Nov. 21.