Alabama St notes:
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SlickPartna
Client & Player President
M/A -- 11.09.03
ASU takes Tigers to final play
By A. Stacy Long
Montgomery Advertiser
Doug Williams turned his head, but Bruce Eugene watched closely. Grambling State's coach and its quarterback stood on one side of Cramton Bowl on Saturday while Alabama State lined up for a potential game-tying field goal.
"I didn't want to see it," Williams said.
He let the announced crowd of 8,124 tell him.
Grambling's Joshua Kador blocked freshman Anthony Johnson's 38-yard field goal on the last play of the game to seal a 37-34 victory and cap a fourth-quarter comeback for the Tigers.
"I thought we were going to overtime because they drove so far and had the ball in the middle of the field," Eugene said. "But once I heard the kick and saw it come off his foot, I knew it was no good."
Alabama State (5-4) led 34-23 after Tarvaris Jackson threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Reginald Glover with 12 minutes to play.
Grambling (8-2) turned to Eugene, who led two touchdown drives. Eugene's 26-yard touchdown pass to Tim Abney with 3:38 to play put the Tigers ahead.
"You have to learn from tight situations," said Eugene, who finished with 334 yards passing, 103 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
"That's what we've done and continue to do," he said. "Even when we were down in the fourth quarter, no one hung their head. Everybody was saying, 'We believe, we believe.'"
The Hornets made a strategic error after Eugene's touchdown pass to Abney.
With Grambling ahead 35-34 and attempting a two-point conversion, Alabama State called a timeout to set its personnel.
The Tigers first called a timeout after lining up in a power formation, which caused the Hornets to send in their bigger defensive players after the break.
When Grambling returned to the field with a five-receiver set, Alabama State had to call another timeout to reset its defense.
After that timeout, Grambling returned to the power set and ASU was caught in a nickel defense. Grambling's conversion made it 37-34.
"We didn't have the right personnel for what they were doing," ASU defensive coordinator Tony Pierce said. "We were reacting to what each other were trying to do. It's just a coaches' game."
Alabama State interim head coach Charlie Coe, who is recovering from an Oct. 19 open heart surgery and missed the Hornets' last two games, returned to the sidelines in the first half.
Coe did not come out for the second half.
"He's still in a position where he gets tired real easily," Pierce said.
After Eugene's go-ahead touchdown pass, Jackson threw an interception on ASU's first offensive play, but Grambling couldn't turn it into points.
The Hornets took over with 1:10 to play on their own 12-yard line.
Jackson, who had the best game of his college career, moved Alabama State into a position to tie the game. His 9-yard pass to Herman Easter with six seconds left pushed the Hornets to the Grambling 21.
Jackson spiked the ball to stop the clock with four seconds to play and out came Johnson. The freshman from Bay Minette, who missed an extra point after Jackson's 75-yard touchdown pass, has made nine field goals this year.
"We put Anthony Johnson in a position to make the kick and unfortunately, he missed it," said Jackson, who was 23-of-37 passing for 361 yards and four touchdowns.
"That's how the game is," Jackson said. "You can't say it's his fault. We could go back a lot of plays and find things I missed or some of the rest of us missed."
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SOURCE
ASU takes Tigers to final play
By A. Stacy Long
Montgomery Advertiser
Doug Williams turned his head, but Bruce Eugene watched closely. Grambling State's coach and its quarterback stood on one side of Cramton Bowl on Saturday while Alabama State lined up for a potential game-tying field goal.
"I didn't want to see it," Williams said.
He let the announced crowd of 8,124 tell him.
Grambling's Joshua Kador blocked freshman Anthony Johnson's 38-yard field goal on the last play of the game to seal a 37-34 victory and cap a fourth-quarter comeback for the Tigers.
"I thought we were going to overtime because they drove so far and had the ball in the middle of the field," Eugene said. "But once I heard the kick and saw it come off his foot, I knew it was no good."
Alabama State (5-4) led 34-23 after Tarvaris Jackson threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Reginald Glover with 12 minutes to play.
Grambling (8-2) turned to Eugene, who led two touchdown drives. Eugene's 26-yard touchdown pass to Tim Abney with 3:38 to play put the Tigers ahead.
"You have to learn from tight situations," said Eugene, who finished with 334 yards passing, 103 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
"That's what we've done and continue to do," he said. "Even when we were down in the fourth quarter, no one hung their head. Everybody was saying, 'We believe, we believe.'"
The Hornets made a strategic error after Eugene's touchdown pass to Abney.
With Grambling ahead 35-34 and attempting a two-point conversion, Alabama State called a timeout to set its personnel.
The Tigers first called a timeout after lining up in a power formation, which caused the Hornets to send in their bigger defensive players after the break.
When Grambling returned to the field with a five-receiver set, Alabama State had to call another timeout to reset its defense.
After that timeout, Grambling returned to the power set and ASU was caught in a nickel defense. Grambling's conversion made it 37-34.
"We didn't have the right personnel for what they were doing," ASU defensive coordinator Tony Pierce said. "We were reacting to what each other were trying to do. It's just a coaches' game."
Alabama State interim head coach Charlie Coe, who is recovering from an Oct. 19 open heart surgery and missed the Hornets' last two games, returned to the sidelines in the first half.
Coe did not come out for the second half.
"He's still in a position where he gets tired real easily," Pierce said.
After Eugene's go-ahead touchdown pass, Jackson threw an interception on ASU's first offensive play, but Grambling couldn't turn it into points.
The Hornets took over with 1:10 to play on their own 12-yard line.
Jackson, who had the best game of his college career, moved Alabama State into a position to tie the game. His 9-yard pass to Herman Easter with six seconds left pushed the Hornets to the Grambling 21.
Jackson spiked the ball to stop the clock with four seconds to play and out came Johnson. The freshman from Bay Minette, who missed an extra point after Jackson's 75-yard touchdown pass, has made nine field goals this year.
"We put Anthony Johnson in a position to make the kick and unfortunately, he missed it," said Jackson, who was 23-of-37 passing for 361 yards and four touchdowns.
"That's how the game is," Jackson said. "You can't say it's his fault. We could go back a lot of plays and find things I missed or some of the rest of us missed."
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SOURCE
SlickPartna
Client & Player President
CONTINUES....
Wideouts keep ASU in game
By A. Stacy Long
Montgomery Advertiser
Brandon Horace stayed off in a corner and hobbled around on his crutches, while the Alabama State football team searched for another money receiver.
Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson threw for four touchdowns in Saturday's 37-34 loss to Grambling State at Cramton Bowl.
Reginald Glover and Chad Lucas caught five passes each and scored two touchdowns, while Horace -- who had been Jackson's favorite end zone target -- watched.
"Chad told me that he and Reg wanted 10 catches apiece," said Jackson, who was 23-of-37 for 361 yards.
"I said, 'Hell, 10 apiece is 20 completions for me.' They didn't have 10 each, but they both made big plays."
Lucas scored two first-quarter touchdowns, while Glover had two in the second half.
Neither had scored this year. Horace had six touchdown catches before a Monday knee surgery ended his season.
"Me and Glover both said we needed to step up," Lucas said. "We just had to come out and do it."
Lucas' 32- and 21-yard catches helped the Hornets (5-3) overcome a 9-0 deficit. With Grambling rallying in the second half, Glover's scores helped ASU take a 34-23 lead with 12 minutes to play.
Glover scored on a 44-yard play late in the third quarter, bouncing off Grambling's Earin Bridges at the 20 and running to the end zone to make it 28-16.
After Grambling scored to get within five, Jackson and Glover hooked up on a 75-yard touchdown pass. It's the longest scoring play of the season for Alabama State.
"We talked all week about how we needed to pick our play up," Glover said. "We were talking to T.J. all week and joking about how he needed to get us some stats."
Glover finished with 165 yards receiving, while Lucas had 93 yards. Jackson has had five games this year where he didn't throw for 165 yards.
"The offense did a nice job," ASU defensive coordinator Tony Pierce said. "It was the defense that didn't hold on to the game."
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SOURCE
Wideouts keep ASU in game
By A. Stacy Long
Montgomery Advertiser
Brandon Horace stayed off in a corner and hobbled around on his crutches, while the Alabama State football team searched for another money receiver.
Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson threw for four touchdowns in Saturday's 37-34 loss to Grambling State at Cramton Bowl.
Reginald Glover and Chad Lucas caught five passes each and scored two touchdowns, while Horace -- who had been Jackson's favorite end zone target -- watched.
"Chad told me that he and Reg wanted 10 catches apiece," said Jackson, who was 23-of-37 for 361 yards.
"I said, 'Hell, 10 apiece is 20 completions for me.' They didn't have 10 each, but they both made big plays."
Lucas scored two first-quarter touchdowns, while Glover had two in the second half.
Neither had scored this year. Horace had six touchdown catches before a Monday knee surgery ended his season.
"Me and Glover both said we needed to step up," Lucas said. "We just had to come out and do it."
Lucas' 32- and 21-yard catches helped the Hornets (5-3) overcome a 9-0 deficit. With Grambling rallying in the second half, Glover's scores helped ASU take a 34-23 lead with 12 minutes to play.
Glover scored on a 44-yard play late in the third quarter, bouncing off Grambling's Earin Bridges at the 20 and running to the end zone to make it 28-16.
After Grambling scored to get within five, Jackson and Glover hooked up on a 75-yard touchdown pass. It's the longest scoring play of the season for Alabama State.
"We talked all week about how we needed to pick our play up," Glover said. "We were talking to T.J. all week and joking about how he needed to get us some stats."
Glover finished with 165 yards receiving, while Lucas had 93 yards. Jackson has had five games this year where he didn't throw for 165 yards.
"The offense did a nice job," ASU defensive coordinator Tony Pierce said. "It was the defense that didn't hold on to the game."
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SOURCE
SlickPartna
Client & Player President
GAME NOTEBOOK
Teams get into pregame skirmish
GAME NOTEBOOK
Saturday's Alabama State-Grambling game didn't wait for the opening kickoff to have its first contact.
The two teams nearly came to blows minutes before kickoff when Grambling players huddled in the corner of the end zone where the Hornets entered the field.
The teams were taunting each other while coaches worked to keep them apart until ASU quarterback Tarvaris Jackson tried to run through the Grambling players.
"That was disrespect," Jackson said after Grambling's 37-34 win at Cramton Bowl. "You don't come on our side of the field, at our house, and do that. I decided I didn't care what happened and ran through them."
Neither side was penalized, though it gave an emotional spark to the game.
ASU's Quenton Urquhart committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the opening kickoff and the Hornets had two more in the game's first four minutes, including one on the team's bench.
In the fourth quarter, ASU's Ira Pinckney and Grambling's Seneca Lee were ejected after the Hornets punted.
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Eugene a Cramton Bowl fan? Grambling's Bruce Eugene had 437 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in the Tigers' win, but it wasn't the first time he's chopped up the Hornets at Cramton Bowl.
In 2001, Eugene was a freshman and made his first career start at Cramton Bowl. He finished 29-of-58 for 349 yards, threw for three touchdowns and ran for another. On Saturday, Eugene ran 16 times for 103 yards and was 27-of-57 for 334 yards.
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ASU runs in quicksand: Alabama State's top-rated rushing attack ran like an upside-down turtle.
The Hornets went nowhere.
ASU ground out 31 yards on 20 carries, a mere 167 yards less than its average in its first eight games. The Hornets led the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a 198-yard average before Saturday.
Keldrick Williams, the league's No. 2 rusher, waddled to five yards on seven carries. Robert Randolph led ASU with 15 yards on five carries.
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Alabamian bites Hornets: Sylacauga native Ab Kauuan scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and added a two-point conversion run for Grambling.
The sophomore scored on runs of 1 and 3 yards. Kauuan's two-point conversion run came after Grambling's final touchdown and put the Tigers ahead 37-34.
Kauuan has seven rushing touchdowns this season to lead the team.
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Blocked punt: Alabama State blocked its sixth kick of the season in the first quarter when junior Quinton Cole broke through on a Grambling punt.
Cole's play set up Alabama State's second touchdown, a 32-yard pass from Jackson to Chad Lucas.
The Hornets need only seven blocks in their last three games to tie Davidson's 1999 NCAA Division I-AA record of 13.
Teams get into pregame skirmish
GAME NOTEBOOK
Saturday's Alabama State-Grambling game didn't wait for the opening kickoff to have its first contact.
The two teams nearly came to blows minutes before kickoff when Grambling players huddled in the corner of the end zone where the Hornets entered the field.
The teams were taunting each other while coaches worked to keep them apart until ASU quarterback Tarvaris Jackson tried to run through the Grambling players.
"That was disrespect," Jackson said after Grambling's 37-34 win at Cramton Bowl. "You don't come on our side of the field, at our house, and do that. I decided I didn't care what happened and ran through them."
Neither side was penalized, though it gave an emotional spark to the game.
ASU's Quenton Urquhart committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the opening kickoff and the Hornets had two more in the game's first four minutes, including one on the team's bench.
In the fourth quarter, ASU's Ira Pinckney and Grambling's Seneca Lee were ejected after the Hornets punted.
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Eugene a Cramton Bowl fan? Grambling's Bruce Eugene had 437 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in the Tigers' win, but it wasn't the first time he's chopped up the Hornets at Cramton Bowl.
In 2001, Eugene was a freshman and made his first career start at Cramton Bowl. He finished 29-of-58 for 349 yards, threw for three touchdowns and ran for another. On Saturday, Eugene ran 16 times for 103 yards and was 27-of-57 for 334 yards.
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ASU runs in quicksand: Alabama State's top-rated rushing attack ran like an upside-down turtle.
The Hornets went nowhere.
ASU ground out 31 yards on 20 carries, a mere 167 yards less than its average in its first eight games. The Hornets led the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a 198-yard average before Saturday.
Keldrick Williams, the league's No. 2 rusher, waddled to five yards on seven carries. Robert Randolph led ASU with 15 yards on five carries.
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Alabamian bites Hornets: Sylacauga native Ab Kauuan scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and added a two-point conversion run for Grambling.
The sophomore scored on runs of 1 and 3 yards. Kauuan's two-point conversion run came after Grambling's final touchdown and put the Tigers ahead 37-34.
Kauuan has seven rushing touchdowns this season to lead the team.
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Blocked punt: Alabama State blocked its sixth kick of the season in the first quarter when junior Quinton Cole broke through on a Grambling punt.
Cole's play set up Alabama State's second touchdown, a 32-yard pass from Jackson to Chad Lucas.
The Hornets need only seven blocks in their last three games to tie Davidson's 1999 NCAA Division I-AA record of 13.
J C
Well-Known Member
Close games may not be breeding confidence with the Alabama State football team. Three of the Hornets' losses have been by less than seven points. In the two games ASU has won by close scores, the Hornets had to hold off late rallies. With Alabama State (5-4, 3-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) playing at Mississippi Valley State (2-8, 1-5) at 1 p.m. Saturday, the Hornets' close-game confidence may be waning. "We have to play a complete game," receiver Reginald Glover said. "Nobody wants to be in close games all the time. We have to learn to come out, jump on teams and put them away, but other teams have good athletes, too." The Hornets are coming off last weekend's 37-34 home loss to Grambling State. Alabama State blew an 11-point fourth-quarter lead and missed a last-play field goal that would have forced overtime. The Hornets had a late defensive touchdown nullified in a 31-26 loss to Bethune-Cookman in September. They had another defensive touchdown wiped out -- though replays clearly showed a fumble -- in a 20-17 loss to Alabama A&M last month. In a 24-22 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alabama State led 24-10 and had to make two late defensive plays to hold the lead. In a 27-20 win over Jackson State, the Hornets had a 20-point lead and held on. "We take the responsibility as coaches," defensive coordinator Tony Pierce said at a Monday luncheon in place of head coach Charlie Coe, who is still limited after open heart surgery last month. "Sometimes, there's not much of a difference between winning and losing." Jackson lands SWAC honor: The SWAC picked ASU quarterback Tarvaris Jackson as its Newcomer of the Week on Monday. Jackson, a sophomore in his first year with the Hornets, was 23-of-37 for 361 yards and four touchdowns on Saturday. Grambling quarterback Bruce Eugene, who accounted for 438 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, was the league's offensive player of the week. Alabama State registered 27 hits on Eugene. "That was a rough game," Eugene said Saturday. Injury report: Alabama State had two defensive linemen whose status for this weekend's game was unknown Monday. Sophomore J.C. Chambers was to have an X-ray Monday for what ASU coaches said they feared might be a broken hand. Junior Charles Parham suffered a shoulder injury Saturday, but should return for tonight's practice, assistant coach Rock Roggeman said.
nickderiso
TheDerisoReport.com
MACHIAVELLI
Chairman/C.E.O.
I'm just now seeing this. This is how lies get started. At the beginning of every game, Grambling football team runs to the opposite endzone and prays. If happened in 2001, but Bama was camping out in that circus tent at the end of Crampton. BTW, the incident took place on Grambling's side of the field.
SlickPartna
Client & Player President
They may wanna consider praying in their end zone.
Don't come trying to pray when the opposing team is walking out on the field. Common sense should come in to play at some point.
Don't come trying to pray when the opposing team is walking out on the field. Common sense should come in to play at some point.
MACHIAVELLI
Chairman/C.E.O.
Originally posted by SlickPartna
They may wanna consider praying in their end zone.
Don't come trying to pray when the opposing team is walking out on the field. Common sense should come in to play at some point.
Dear Consused:
It was their endzone and it was their side of the field. Actually Grambling was already in the endzone praying and Bama was standing behind the gated area on that end of the field.
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Bama QB trying to run through Grambling team is that using common sense.
MACHIAVELLI
Chairman/C.E.O.
Originally posted by FAB5
Not true Mach...the cheerleaders were in the endzone, had made a lane for the players to run thru. Gram players came to that end of the field, into the lane, took a knee and anybody could see something was about to jump off.
It was true. The Bama cheerleaders were more towards the 10 to 15 yard line in an angle towards the bama bench. Like I said before Grambling always goes to the endzone opposite from how they enter the field and takes a knee and prays. That is usually when the our band is playing the fight song. You'll see at the SCG.
SlickPartna
Client & Player President
Anywho....
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ASU's alumni will talk about stadium
By A. Stacy Long
Montgomery Advertiser
Alabama State alumni will discuss a proposed new football stadium today with the project's developer.
Frank Hawkins of the F.E. Hawkins Group in College Park, Ga., will present his plan at 2 p.m. in the Alabama Room of the school's student union.
According to a proposal dated Nov. 15 that was sent to ASU President Joe Lee, the project would include a 30,000-seat stadium to be built on the site of the school's current Hornet Stadium.
The project would also include new football offices and practice facilities, plus a 145-room hotel, at a total cost of $38 million.
Toreatha Johnson, the president of the school's board of trustees, said Tuesday she had reviewed the proposal, though not extensively.
One of Lee's secretaries said Lee would not be able to comment Tuesday.
"At first glance, it seems like a viable proposal," said Johnson, who said she will not be at today's meeting.
"It's quite impressive."
Johnson and the president of ASU's athletic boosters said the project would come at no cost to the school. Attempts to reach Hawkins were unsuccessful.
"Everybody is very excited about this," said Richard S. Jordan Jr., the president of the I Support The Athletic Program at Alabama State club. "This is the best news to come out in a long time."
Hawkins played football at Alabama State from 1959-62. He is also a member of the school's alumni association and the ISTAP club, Jordan said.
According to the Hawkins Group's proposal, the stadium construction would cost almost $14.3 million and include 26 skyboxes.
The Hawkins Group has helped build subdivisions, condominiums and single-family homes in Georgia, California and Texas, according to its Web site. Frank Hawkins founded the group in January 1973.
SOURCE
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ASU's alumni will talk about stadium
By A. Stacy Long
Montgomery Advertiser
Alabama State alumni will discuss a proposed new football stadium today with the project's developer.
Frank Hawkins of the F.E. Hawkins Group in College Park, Ga., will present his plan at 2 p.m. in the Alabama Room of the school's student union.
According to a proposal dated Nov. 15 that was sent to ASU President Joe Lee, the project would include a 30,000-seat stadium to be built on the site of the school's current Hornet Stadium.
The project would also include new football offices and practice facilities, plus a 145-room hotel, at a total cost of $38 million.
Toreatha Johnson, the president of the school's board of trustees, said Tuesday she had reviewed the proposal, though not extensively.
One of Lee's secretaries said Lee would not be able to comment Tuesday.
"At first glance, it seems like a viable proposal," said Johnson, who said she will not be at today's meeting.
"It's quite impressive."
Johnson and the president of ASU's athletic boosters said the project would come at no cost to the school. Attempts to reach Hawkins were unsuccessful.
"Everybody is very excited about this," said Richard S. Jordan Jr., the president of the I Support The Athletic Program at Alabama State club. "This is the best news to come out in a long time."
Hawkins played football at Alabama State from 1959-62. He is also a member of the school's alumni association and the ISTAP club, Jordan said.
According to the Hawkins Group's proposal, the stadium construction would cost almost $14.3 million and include 26 skyboxes.
The Hawkins Group has helped build subdivisions, condominiums and single-family homes in Georgia, California and Texas, according to its Web site. Frank Hawkins founded the group in January 1973.
SOURCE
SlickPartna
Client & Player President
HOMECOMING NEWS: Turkeyday Classic
Family feud
By A. Stacy Long
Montgomery Advertiser
Wiley Lucas walked up beside his son, Alabama State receiver Chad Lucas, while the Hornets were still celebrating a victory.
The turf was still warm at the Reliant Astrodome and the scoreboard still told of ASU's 38-26 win over Texas Southern on Saturday night.
Chad Lucas had yet to digest an eight-catch, two-touchdown night and a Southwestern Athletic Conference division championship when Wiley Lucas fired the first shot of the Turkey Day Classic.
"It's good you got all those catches and touchdowns tonight," Wiley Lucas said.
"Because you're not getting any Thursday."
The Lucas family has its annual schism Thursday at 1 p.m. when the Hornets play Tuskegee at Cramton Bowl. Dad will pull for son to have a good game, but dad will pull for son's team to lose.
Wiley Lucas is a former Tuskegee star who jokes that he was heartbroken when his son decided to play for Alabama State.
Chad Lucas is the Hornets' biggest receiving threat who desperately wants to shut up his dad.
"When it comes to Tuskegee, you can't tell him anything. I'm sure I'll be like that when I get old," Chad Lucas said Sunday night.
"We talk just like two 22-year olds. He called me a few minutes ago, 'Are you ready for the Tigers?'" Wiley Lucas was unofficially banned from the Alabama State football complex this week, but will be conspicuous today when he takes part in an on-the-field ceremony to honor ASU's seniors, including Chad.
Wiley made one concession to his son for Thursday and will wear a black and gold blazer, though he fears what his Tuskegee friends might say.
Wiley was also adamant that he will wear a Tuskegee hat.
"They say blood is thicker than water, but not that day," Wiley Lucas said. "If all my friends in Tuskegee see me in black and gold, they'd disown me."
Wiley taunted his son mercilessly after Tuskegee's 25-20 win last year. The end of the day brought relief, though Chad said his dad brought the game up daily until after Christmas.
"I didn't even want to sit next to him at dinner," Chad said. "From the time the game was over until we went to bed that night, the game was all he would talk about."
Wiley coached Chad when Chad was at Booker T. Washington High in Tuskegee and when Chad signed with Troy State, Wiley never thought his family would be split along Turkey Day Classic lines.
Chad decided to leave Troy State after two years and Wiley said he thought Chad would transfer to Tuskegee, but Wiley was wrong.
"It just disappointed me," Wiley Lucas said, joking. "I couldn't see my son in black and gold, but now I can honestly say, after getting to know a lot of these kids, that I'm really fond of the players and the program.
"I want to see them win all of their games -- except one. Thanksgiving Week, I jump off the ship."
Wiley Lucas was an offensive lineman for the Golden Tigers who had tryouts with two NFL teams and played with the USFL's Birmingham Stallions.
He was also 3-1 in Turkey Day Classics, losing his last game in 1976.
"My turkey didn't go down right that day," said Wiley, a retired teacher who is now an HIV educator for a non-profit organization in Anniston.
"The weather was bad. The (butt) whipping was worse."
Chad Lucas warns that today's game could have long-standing repercussions for Wiley, who gives his age as "50-plus."
If Alabama State wins, woe be unto Wiley Lucas.
"He's going to hear it for as long as he's alive because it's my last one," Chad said.
"He didn't win his last one, but wouldn't it be great if I win my last one?"
Family feud
By A. Stacy Long
Montgomery Advertiser
Wiley Lucas walked up beside his son, Alabama State receiver Chad Lucas, while the Hornets were still celebrating a victory.
The turf was still warm at the Reliant Astrodome and the scoreboard still told of ASU's 38-26 win over Texas Southern on Saturday night.
Chad Lucas had yet to digest an eight-catch, two-touchdown night and a Southwestern Athletic Conference division championship when Wiley Lucas fired the first shot of the Turkey Day Classic.
"It's good you got all those catches and touchdowns tonight," Wiley Lucas said.
"Because you're not getting any Thursday."
The Lucas family has its annual schism Thursday at 1 p.m. when the Hornets play Tuskegee at Cramton Bowl. Dad will pull for son to have a good game, but dad will pull for son's team to lose.
Wiley Lucas is a former Tuskegee star who jokes that he was heartbroken when his son decided to play for Alabama State.
Chad Lucas is the Hornets' biggest receiving threat who desperately wants to shut up his dad.
"When it comes to Tuskegee, you can't tell him anything. I'm sure I'll be like that when I get old," Chad Lucas said Sunday night.
"We talk just like two 22-year olds. He called me a few minutes ago, 'Are you ready for the Tigers?'" Wiley Lucas was unofficially banned from the Alabama State football complex this week, but will be conspicuous today when he takes part in an on-the-field ceremony to honor ASU's seniors, including Chad.
Wiley made one concession to his son for Thursday and will wear a black and gold blazer, though he fears what his Tuskegee friends might say.
Wiley was also adamant that he will wear a Tuskegee hat.
"They say blood is thicker than water, but not that day," Wiley Lucas said. "If all my friends in Tuskegee see me in black and gold, they'd disown me."
Wiley taunted his son mercilessly after Tuskegee's 25-20 win last year. The end of the day brought relief, though Chad said his dad brought the game up daily until after Christmas.
"I didn't even want to sit next to him at dinner," Chad said. "From the time the game was over until we went to bed that night, the game was all he would talk about."
Wiley coached Chad when Chad was at Booker T. Washington High in Tuskegee and when Chad signed with Troy State, Wiley never thought his family would be split along Turkey Day Classic lines.
Chad decided to leave Troy State after two years and Wiley said he thought Chad would transfer to Tuskegee, but Wiley was wrong.
"It just disappointed me," Wiley Lucas said, joking. "I couldn't see my son in black and gold, but now I can honestly say, after getting to know a lot of these kids, that I'm really fond of the players and the program.
"I want to see them win all of their games -- except one. Thanksgiving Week, I jump off the ship."
Wiley Lucas was an offensive lineman for the Golden Tigers who had tryouts with two NFL teams and played with the USFL's Birmingham Stallions.
He was also 3-1 in Turkey Day Classics, losing his last game in 1976.
"My turkey didn't go down right that day," said Wiley, a retired teacher who is now an HIV educator for a non-profit organization in Anniston.
"The weather was bad. The (butt) whipping was worse."
Chad Lucas warns that today's game could have long-standing repercussions for Wiley, who gives his age as "50-plus."
If Alabama State wins, woe be unto Wiley Lucas.
"He's going to hear it for as long as he's alive because it's my last one," Chad said.
"He didn't win his last one, but wouldn't it be great if I win my last one?"
SlickPartna
Client & Player President
more....
ASU's sparkplug wants nothing but wins, results
By A. Stacy Long
Montgomery Advertiser
Ronald "Rock" Dillon has been the most outspoken member of the Alabama State football team, whether it be in public or in the locker room.
The junior linebacker has chided teammates on the field and screamed at them off it. He's drawn the ire of his coaches and was held out of one half this year because of a halftime tirade.
Dillon is an emotional sparkplug for the Hornets. He's also one of their best defensive players.
"Rock, most of all, wants to win and when we don't win, he tends to get frustrated," ASU receiver Chad Lucas said. "If someone doesn't go all out, it bothers him because he's going all out every play."
Lucas has been a target, but so has much of the rest of the Hornets, who play Tuskegee on Thursday at Cramton Bowl.
Dillon screamed at punter Jason Bothwell after a mistake early in the Hornets' loss to Alabama A&M in the Magic City Classic.
Dillon ripped his defensive teammates so fiercely at halftime of ASU's loss at Southern that coaches held him out of the second half.
"When we're not playing the way we should," Dillon said, "I feel I need to do everything in my power to get everybody going.
"In the same vein, if I'm doing something wrong, I want them to put their foot in my tail."
Dillon, an undersized linebacking ball of emotion, admits to plenty of mistakes -- the outburst being one of them -- but he's also near a defensive triple crown in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Dillon leads the SWAC in tackles, sacks and tackles for loss. Dillon has 92 tackles with two games left to play. His 7 1/2 sacks and 16 1/2 tackles for loss are tied for the league lead.
"His knowledge of the game and his instincts are just amazing. You see very few players like that," defensive coordinator Tony Pierce said.
Pierce made the decision to hold Dillon out of the second half at Southern and muzzled Dillon for a few weeks after Dillon made inflammatory comments after the A&M game.
"The other stuff goes back to staying together as a team," Pierce said. "Look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and what can happen to destroy a team.
"We just wanted to make sure that you point your finger at yourself before you point at others," he said. "Let's be mature enough that when things aren't going well, we're not going to fall apart. That's not just about Rock. That's about all of us."
Dillon said he means nothing personal against any player he may have criticized, including Lucas, whom he scolded in the preseason when Lucas was having trouble catching passes.
"He pulled me to the side and said, 'You know you're better than that,'" Lucas said. "He said, 'You're a senior. You have to make the easy plays.'"
Missing the second half at Southern was a "smart move" by Pierce, Dillon said. "My mind wasn't on football."
He said rumors of him fighting with a teammate in the locker room were not true, and he welcomes any criticism of his play.
"Every game, I want them getting on me every play," Dillon said. "I need it. I know I need it.
"I want them to do whatever it takes to get me going and I'll do the same with them."
Dillon has been that emotional since he was at Northside High in Memphis, ASU assistant coach Darryl Williams said. Williams was Northside's head coach.
"You always have to calm him down. He's just that intense," Williams said. "He wants to win just as badly as anybody on the team. He's learned to control himself and put his emotions into playing."
ASU's sparkplug wants nothing but wins, results
By A. Stacy Long
Montgomery Advertiser
Ronald "Rock" Dillon has been the most outspoken member of the Alabama State football team, whether it be in public or in the locker room.
The junior linebacker has chided teammates on the field and screamed at them off it. He's drawn the ire of his coaches and was held out of one half this year because of a halftime tirade.
Dillon is an emotional sparkplug for the Hornets. He's also one of their best defensive players.
"Rock, most of all, wants to win and when we don't win, he tends to get frustrated," ASU receiver Chad Lucas said. "If someone doesn't go all out, it bothers him because he's going all out every play."
Lucas has been a target, but so has much of the rest of the Hornets, who play Tuskegee on Thursday at Cramton Bowl.
Dillon screamed at punter Jason Bothwell after a mistake early in the Hornets' loss to Alabama A&M in the Magic City Classic.
Dillon ripped his defensive teammates so fiercely at halftime of ASU's loss at Southern that coaches held him out of the second half.
"When we're not playing the way we should," Dillon said, "I feel I need to do everything in my power to get everybody going.
"In the same vein, if I'm doing something wrong, I want them to put their foot in my tail."
Dillon, an undersized linebacking ball of emotion, admits to plenty of mistakes -- the outburst being one of them -- but he's also near a defensive triple crown in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Dillon leads the SWAC in tackles, sacks and tackles for loss. Dillon has 92 tackles with two games left to play. His 7 1/2 sacks and 16 1/2 tackles for loss are tied for the league lead.
"His knowledge of the game and his instincts are just amazing. You see very few players like that," defensive coordinator Tony Pierce said.
Pierce made the decision to hold Dillon out of the second half at Southern and muzzled Dillon for a few weeks after Dillon made inflammatory comments after the A&M game.
"The other stuff goes back to staying together as a team," Pierce said. "Look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and what can happen to destroy a team.
"We just wanted to make sure that you point your finger at yourself before you point at others," he said. "Let's be mature enough that when things aren't going well, we're not going to fall apart. That's not just about Rock. That's about all of us."
Dillon said he means nothing personal against any player he may have criticized, including Lucas, whom he scolded in the preseason when Lucas was having trouble catching passes.
"He pulled me to the side and said, 'You know you're better than that,'" Lucas said. "He said, 'You're a senior. You have to make the easy plays.'"
Missing the second half at Southern was a "smart move" by Pierce, Dillon said. "My mind wasn't on football."
He said rumors of him fighting with a teammate in the locker room were not true, and he welcomes any criticism of his play.
"Every game, I want them getting on me every play," Dillon said. "I need it. I know I need it.
"I want them to do whatever it takes to get me going and I'll do the same with them."
Dillon has been that emotional since he was at Northside High in Memphis, ASU assistant coach Darryl Williams said. Williams was Northside's head coach.
"You always have to calm him down. He's just that intense," Williams said. "He wants to win just as badly as anybody on the team. He's learned to control himself and put his emotions into playing."
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