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It's go time for dynamic duo
A&M's Mathis, Ware looking for payback against Alabama State
10/23/02
By REGGIE BENSON
Times Sports Staff [email protected]
They were reduced to cheerleader status last year at the Magic City Classic.
Injuries prevented end Robert Mathis and inside linebacker Jamaal Ware, Alabama A&M's top two defensive players, from participating in last year's game. Mathis was out with a knee injury and Ware missed almost the entire season with a shoulder injury.
Alabama State took full advantage of their absences, torching A&M's defense for almost 550 yards in total offense in a 35-0 victory.
''I was acting a fool because things weren't going the way they were supposed to go,'' said Mathis, who watched the game from the sideline with Ware and the rest of his teammates.
''It was the most helpless feeling I've ever had in my life,'' Ware said.
With Mathis and Ware back in the lineup, A&M's defense isn't helpless anymore. Instead, opposing teams have been rendered helpless.
The Bulldogs lead the Southwestern Athletic Conference in scoring defense (16.3 ppg), pass defense (165.4 ypg), total defense (262.9 ypg) and is second in rushing defense (97.4 ypg).
''Ever since this year began, we wanted the team to jump on our backs and we'll take them to Birmingham,'' said Ware, referring to the site of the SWAC championship game. ''We just need the guys to help us make plays.''
TV: Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State, tape-delay, Saturday, 6 p.m., BET. Ware and Mathis have gotten plenty of help from their friends, but they have led the way.
''We're letting it rip this year,'' Ware said.
Ware is the Bulldogs' leading tackler and fourth in the league with 63. With five games left and six if A&M makes it to the SWAC championship game, he is on pace to shatter his previous career-high of 92 in 1999. Ware also has five sacks, three off of his career-high in 2000.
Mathis, A&M's third-leading tackler with 34, leads the league in sacks (13), tackles for loss (20) and forced fumbles (7).
Now, they're ready to make amends for last year's lopsided loss to the Hornets.
They get that opportunity Saturday when A&M takes on ASU in the 61st annual Magic City Classic at Legion Field. Kickoff is 3 p.m.
The Bulldogs enter the game 5-2 overall and atop the Eastern Division standings with a 3-0 mark. The Hornets are 5-2 and 2-2 in league play.
''I still remember a lot of things that were said on their behalf in the newspaper,'' Mathis said. ''That adds fuel to the fire. We're not going to let anything stop us this year.''
''Last year, I had a setback,'' Ware said. ''This year, I'm making a comeback. I've got some things brewing inside of me.
''You better believe I'm going to be ready. That 35-0 is running through my head. I've got some making up to do this year.''
ASU claims Pine Bluff used ineligible players: Alabama State filed a petition with the SWAC on Monday to look into allegations that Arkansas-Pine Bluff used two ineligible players in a 32-26 victory over the Hornets on Sept. 21, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.
Alabama State coach L.C. Cole alleged lineman T.C. Jeffries and wide receiver Brian Jones were ineligible to play against the Hornets. Cole said Jeffries was enrolled at Texas Southern this year and, under NCAA rules, would have had to sit out this season after transferring to Ark.-Pine Bluff.
Meanwhile, Jones reportedly left Louisiana-Lafayette, having been declared academically ineligible, and enrolled at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and was ruled to be eligible.
''If you're academically ineligible at one school, you can't just transfer and become immediately eligible at another school,'' Hornets offensive coordinator Johnnie Cole said. ''What they did at Pine Bluff was just average up all of his classes and came with a number that made him eligible there. It doesn't work like that.''
If Arkansas-Pine Bluff is ruled to be in violation, the Golden Lions would most likely be forced to forfeit any wins that Jones and Jeffries played in, including the one over the Hornets.
That would make Alabama State 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the SWAC. Currently, the Hornets are 5-2 and 2-2.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff coach Lee Hardman denied the allegations.
''Every player we've got on this team is straight,'' Hardman said. ''(Our compliance officer) has assured me everything is straight with both of those guys. Alabama State is just looking for a way to get back into the race.''
Patrick Carter, the SWAC's associate commissioner, declined to comment Tuesday.
A&M's Mathis, Ware looking for payback against Alabama State
10/23/02
By REGGIE BENSON
Times Sports Staff [email protected]
They were reduced to cheerleader status last year at the Magic City Classic.
Injuries prevented end Robert Mathis and inside linebacker Jamaal Ware, Alabama A&M's top two defensive players, from participating in last year's game. Mathis was out with a knee injury and Ware missed almost the entire season with a shoulder injury.
Alabama State took full advantage of their absences, torching A&M's defense for almost 550 yards in total offense in a 35-0 victory.
''I was acting a fool because things weren't going the way they were supposed to go,'' said Mathis, who watched the game from the sideline with Ware and the rest of his teammates.
''It was the most helpless feeling I've ever had in my life,'' Ware said.
With Mathis and Ware back in the lineup, A&M's defense isn't helpless anymore. Instead, opposing teams have been rendered helpless.
The Bulldogs lead the Southwestern Athletic Conference in scoring defense (16.3 ppg), pass defense (165.4 ypg), total defense (262.9 ypg) and is second in rushing defense (97.4 ypg).
''Ever since this year began, we wanted the team to jump on our backs and we'll take them to Birmingham,'' said Ware, referring to the site of the SWAC championship game. ''We just need the guys to help us make plays.''
TV: Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State, tape-delay, Saturday, 6 p.m., BET. Ware and Mathis have gotten plenty of help from their friends, but they have led the way.
''We're letting it rip this year,'' Ware said.
Ware is the Bulldogs' leading tackler and fourth in the league with 63. With five games left and six if A&M makes it to the SWAC championship game, he is on pace to shatter his previous career-high of 92 in 1999. Ware also has five sacks, three off of his career-high in 2000.
Mathis, A&M's third-leading tackler with 34, leads the league in sacks (13), tackles for loss (20) and forced fumbles (7).
Now, they're ready to make amends for last year's lopsided loss to the Hornets.
They get that opportunity Saturday when A&M takes on ASU in the 61st annual Magic City Classic at Legion Field. Kickoff is 3 p.m.
The Bulldogs enter the game 5-2 overall and atop the Eastern Division standings with a 3-0 mark. The Hornets are 5-2 and 2-2 in league play.
''I still remember a lot of things that were said on their behalf in the newspaper,'' Mathis said. ''That adds fuel to the fire. We're not going to let anything stop us this year.''
''Last year, I had a setback,'' Ware said. ''This year, I'm making a comeback. I've got some things brewing inside of me.
''You better believe I'm going to be ready. That 35-0 is running through my head. I've got some making up to do this year.''
ASU claims Pine Bluff used ineligible players: Alabama State filed a petition with the SWAC on Monday to look into allegations that Arkansas-Pine Bluff used two ineligible players in a 32-26 victory over the Hornets on Sept. 21, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.
Alabama State coach L.C. Cole alleged lineman T.C. Jeffries and wide receiver Brian Jones were ineligible to play against the Hornets. Cole said Jeffries was enrolled at Texas Southern this year and, under NCAA rules, would have had to sit out this season after transferring to Ark.-Pine Bluff.
Meanwhile, Jones reportedly left Louisiana-Lafayette, having been declared academically ineligible, and enrolled at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and was ruled to be eligible.
''If you're academically ineligible at one school, you can't just transfer and become immediately eligible at another school,'' Hornets offensive coordinator Johnnie Cole said. ''What they did at Pine Bluff was just average up all of his classes and came with a number that made him eligible there. It doesn't work like that.''
If Arkansas-Pine Bluff is ruled to be in violation, the Golden Lions would most likely be forced to forfeit any wins that Jones and Jeffries played in, including the one over the Hornets.
That would make Alabama State 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the SWAC. Currently, the Hornets are 5-2 and 2-2.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff coach Lee Hardman denied the allegations.
''Every player we've got on this team is straight,'' Hardman said. ''(Our compliance officer) has assured me everything is straight with both of those guys. Alabama State is just looking for a way to get back into the race.''
Patrick Carter, the SWAC's associate commissioner, declined to comment Tuesday.
