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Extra Point - Week One: I-AA In Good Shape
By Matt Dougherty, The Sports Network
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) -
SATURDAY?S GAMES
QUICK HITS
Howard (0-0) vs Alabama State (0-0), (Detroit, MI) 1:00
Howard, based in Washington, D.C. will take on Alabama State (Montgomery, Ala) in a contest played in Detroit. Such is life in the "classic" games, as this kickoff is the first of 15 for MEAC teams. Alabama State head coach Charlie Coe will be happy to just start the season anywhere after the NCAA said Coe was aware statements he made in July 2000 regarding NCAA infractions at the University of Alabama were being videotaped. Coe has denied giving consent for an on-the-record interview. Coe did have a great coming out party in his first season, leading the Hornets to the SWAC East division title. Howard struggled in a 4-7 season, but brings back running back Antoine Rutherford and defensive back Antoine Bethea among 18 starters. Howard will be better than last year and Alabama State won?t be quite as good. Expect that to show in this contest. Final Score: Howard 24, Alabama State 17
No. 19 Massachusetts (0-0) at Delaware State (0-0), 1:00
After leaving Northeastern to take the Massachusetts job, Minutemen head coach Don Brown will be forced to sit out the first three games of the 2004 season. Next week against Colgate, that fact could make a difference. But nothing about Delaware State should scare the Minutemen. Tim Day takes over the reigns at quarterback, and will get a chance to gain some confidence going into next week?s game with the Raiders. First-year head coach Al Lavan has his work cut out to turn around Delaware State, and it?s not going to happen in week one. Final Score: Massachusetts 42, Delaware State 10
Jackson State (0-0) at Hampton (0-0) (Orlando, FL), 7:00
This game is being played in Orlando, but it could be played on the moon and the result would be the same. Jackson State is one of the four or five teams that seem to always bring the SWAC down as a conference. Hampton might not be a national power, but that won?t stop it from pummeling the Tigers. Final Score: Hampton 45, Jackson State 10
Alabama A & M (0-0) at Tennessee State (0-0), 7:30
In contests where two teams appear to be fairly evenly matched, it?s time to look for the intangibles and factors that could come in to play. For one, the game will be played in Nashville. Advantage, Tennessee State. Secondly, Tennessee State?s Charles Anthony and Paul Thomas are the only pair of teammates on the Payton and Buchanan watch lists. Throw in the questions at quarterback for Alabama A & M, and the Tigers should prevail. Final Score: Tennessee State 24, Alabama A & M 21
Florida A & M (0-0) at Illinois (0-0), 6:00
There probably isn?t a team in America that is happier to take the field than Florida A & M. The failed move to I-A, the sanctions from the MEAC (and who knows what else from the NCAA) and suspension of four players for being academically ineligible were just some of the lowlights of the Rattlers offseason. Now, Florida A & M opens with a three-game road trip against I-A opponents. That said, Illinois has been a shade of its former self since the graduation of Kurt Kittner, and the Rattlers could at least keep it close for a while. They might not win, but just getting on the field at this point is huge for Florida A & M. Final Score: Illinois 31, Florida A & M 17
Alcorn State (0-0) at Grambling State (0-0), 7:00
Everyone involved should be thankful that this game won?t be played in Los Angeles and will not be called the Silver Dollar Classic. A conference rivalry should not be decided on the other side of the country. It?s not often that a game that pits two of the best teams in a conference comes on the first weekend, so this contest will be a treat for Grambling State fans. Each team has plenty of talent at the quarterback position. Everyone knows about Grambling?s Bruce Eugene, but Alcorn State?s Donald Carrie threw for 2,833 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2003 and is a second team All-SWAC pick in the preseason. And while Braves coach Johnny Thomas is 0-6 lifetime against the Tigers, the games have been much closer in recent years. Last season, Alcorn State held a five-point lead in the fourth quarter before two botched punts led to Grambling State touchdowns in the Tigers? 40-28 victory. The Braves appear to be the top team in the SWAC East division, while Grambling has the inside track for high honors in the West. The Tigers are still the class of the league, and will prove it in a close contest here. Final Score: Grambling State 34, Alcorn State 27
No. 8 McNeese State (0-0) at Southern (0-0), 8:00
In one of the most interesting matchups of the week, both teams have huge question marks coming into the season after winning their respective conference titles a season ago. For McNeese, who was ranked No. 1 through much of the season and finished 10-2, numerous all-conference players have to be replaced. Wide receiver B.J. Sams, running back Vick King, and linebacker Roderick Royal are just a few of the names that no longer dominate the field in Lake Charles. Still, with Scott Pendarvis at quarterback and John Paul Jones on the defensive line the Cowboys have strong leadership on both sides of the ball. A few weeks ago, the Jaguars looked to have more talent in this contest. But that was before preseason All-SWAC running back Kevin Peoples and defensive back Jarmaul George were ruled ineligible and wide receiver Alfred Ard ventured into a baseball career. With 2003 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Quincy Richard already lost to graduation, suddenly the offensive firepower of last year?s team has completely disappeared. Neither team is anywhere near as good as a season ago, and both have their work cut out for them to repeat as conference champions. McNeese has the better history of reloading lost talent, and that edge should be enough to take them past the Jaguars. Final Score: McNeese State 24, Southern 21
09/01 08:46:33 ET
By Matt Dougherty, The Sports Network
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) -
SATURDAY?S GAMES
QUICK HITS
Howard (0-0) vs Alabama State (0-0), (Detroit, MI) 1:00
Howard, based in Washington, D.C. will take on Alabama State (Montgomery, Ala) in a contest played in Detroit. Such is life in the "classic" games, as this kickoff is the first of 15 for MEAC teams. Alabama State head coach Charlie Coe will be happy to just start the season anywhere after the NCAA said Coe was aware statements he made in July 2000 regarding NCAA infractions at the University of Alabama were being videotaped. Coe has denied giving consent for an on-the-record interview. Coe did have a great coming out party in his first season, leading the Hornets to the SWAC East division title. Howard struggled in a 4-7 season, but brings back running back Antoine Rutherford and defensive back Antoine Bethea among 18 starters. Howard will be better than last year and Alabama State won?t be quite as good. Expect that to show in this contest. Final Score: Howard 24, Alabama State 17
No. 19 Massachusetts (0-0) at Delaware State (0-0), 1:00
After leaving Northeastern to take the Massachusetts job, Minutemen head coach Don Brown will be forced to sit out the first three games of the 2004 season. Next week against Colgate, that fact could make a difference. But nothing about Delaware State should scare the Minutemen. Tim Day takes over the reigns at quarterback, and will get a chance to gain some confidence going into next week?s game with the Raiders. First-year head coach Al Lavan has his work cut out to turn around Delaware State, and it?s not going to happen in week one. Final Score: Massachusetts 42, Delaware State 10
Jackson State (0-0) at Hampton (0-0) (Orlando, FL), 7:00
This game is being played in Orlando, but it could be played on the moon and the result would be the same. Jackson State is one of the four or five teams that seem to always bring the SWAC down as a conference. Hampton might not be a national power, but that won?t stop it from pummeling the Tigers. Final Score: Hampton 45, Jackson State 10
Alabama A & M (0-0) at Tennessee State (0-0), 7:30
In contests where two teams appear to be fairly evenly matched, it?s time to look for the intangibles and factors that could come in to play. For one, the game will be played in Nashville. Advantage, Tennessee State. Secondly, Tennessee State?s Charles Anthony and Paul Thomas are the only pair of teammates on the Payton and Buchanan watch lists. Throw in the questions at quarterback for Alabama A & M, and the Tigers should prevail. Final Score: Tennessee State 24, Alabama A & M 21
Florida A & M (0-0) at Illinois (0-0), 6:00
There probably isn?t a team in America that is happier to take the field than Florida A & M. The failed move to I-A, the sanctions from the MEAC (and who knows what else from the NCAA) and suspension of four players for being academically ineligible were just some of the lowlights of the Rattlers offseason. Now, Florida A & M opens with a three-game road trip against I-A opponents. That said, Illinois has been a shade of its former self since the graduation of Kurt Kittner, and the Rattlers could at least keep it close for a while. They might not win, but just getting on the field at this point is huge for Florida A & M. Final Score: Illinois 31, Florida A & M 17
Alcorn State (0-0) at Grambling State (0-0), 7:00
Everyone involved should be thankful that this game won?t be played in Los Angeles and will not be called the Silver Dollar Classic. A conference rivalry should not be decided on the other side of the country. It?s not often that a game that pits two of the best teams in a conference comes on the first weekend, so this contest will be a treat for Grambling State fans. Each team has plenty of talent at the quarterback position. Everyone knows about Grambling?s Bruce Eugene, but Alcorn State?s Donald Carrie threw for 2,833 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2003 and is a second team All-SWAC pick in the preseason. And while Braves coach Johnny Thomas is 0-6 lifetime against the Tigers, the games have been much closer in recent years. Last season, Alcorn State held a five-point lead in the fourth quarter before two botched punts led to Grambling State touchdowns in the Tigers? 40-28 victory. The Braves appear to be the top team in the SWAC East division, while Grambling has the inside track for high honors in the West. The Tigers are still the class of the league, and will prove it in a close contest here. Final Score: Grambling State 34, Alcorn State 27
No. 8 McNeese State (0-0) at Southern (0-0), 8:00
In one of the most interesting matchups of the week, both teams have huge question marks coming into the season after winning their respective conference titles a season ago. For McNeese, who was ranked No. 1 through much of the season and finished 10-2, numerous all-conference players have to be replaced. Wide receiver B.J. Sams, running back Vick King, and linebacker Roderick Royal are just a few of the names that no longer dominate the field in Lake Charles. Still, with Scott Pendarvis at quarterback and John Paul Jones on the defensive line the Cowboys have strong leadership on both sides of the ball. A few weeks ago, the Jaguars looked to have more talent in this contest. But that was before preseason All-SWAC running back Kevin Peoples and defensive back Jarmaul George were ruled ineligible and wide receiver Alfred Ard ventured into a baseball career. With 2003 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Quincy Richard already lost to graduation, suddenly the offensive firepower of last year?s team has completely disappeared. Neither team is anywhere near as good as a season ago, and both have their work cut out for them to repeat as conference champions. McNeese has the better history of reloading lost talent, and that edge should be enough to take them past the Jaguars. Final Score: McNeese State 24, Southern 21
09/01 08:46:33 ET
