MIAMI — Bethune-Cookman will get everything it wants this weekend. A check for appearing. A chance to gather thousands of alumni in one place. Another opportunity to play on national television.

And best of all, a shot against one of college football’s big-time programs.

Only 86 years after starting its football program, Bethune-Cookman – a relatively small, historically black university in Daytona Beach, Fla. – is finally going to play one of football’s top brands. The Wildcats visit Miami on Saturday afternoon, marking the first time the team from the division formerly known as I-AA will line up against a team with ties to the Bowl Championship Series.

 Suffice to say, there’s going to be no shortage of alumni from the visiting school entering Sun Life Stadium this weekend.

“It happens to be the biggest game this week for us,” Wildcats athletic director Lynn Thompson said. “But I have to give credence to the fact that it’s an opportunity for the university to be seen on a national platform. It’s an infomercial on B-CU. For 3½ hours, we’ll have the nation’s undivided attention. We’re hoping to utilize this opportunity to penetrate some recruiting circles and maybe tell potential donors and sponsors something about Bethune-Cookman.”

Bethune-Cookman (2-1) is a perennial contender in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, where it plays alongside the likes of Florida A&M, Howard, Hampton and South Carolina State. Miami (1-2) is using this as another tuneup for its return to the Atlantic Coast Conference season next week, with road games looming at Virginia Tech and North Carolina.

 The Hurricanes are quite clear on what this opportunity means to Bethune-Cookman, which expects “thousands” of graduates to attend.

 “It’s their Super Bowl,” Miami quarterback Jacory Harris said. “We understand they’re going to come out here playing their hardest. They’re going to give us their best game. We’re going to give them our best game.”

 For the Bethune-Cookman players and coaches, it means as much as any rivalry game would. Maybe even more, when considering that it’s a homecoming for Wildcats coach Brian Jenkins. Like about two dozen of his current players, Jenkins grew up in South Florida, maybe a 20-minute drive from the stadium the Hurricanes call home. He rooted for them. He wanted to be them.

Come Saturday, he’ll try to beat them.

Click here to read more: http://www.news4jax.com/sports/29340402/detail.html.

If Miami running back Lamar Miller’s left shoulder injury is bearable, he will play against Bethune-Cookman University at Sun Life Stadium on Saturday.

It became evident late Sunday afternoon that Miami coach Al Golden in no way intends to peek past Bethune Cookman to plan toward 11th-ranked Virginia Tech — the Canes’ Atlantic Coast Conference road opponent on Oct. 8.

Not after UM’s 28-24 loss to Kansas State in which the defense allowed 265 yards rushing and couldn’t come up with a turnover after four Wildcats’ fumbles.

And not after the Hurricanes offense couldn’t score the winning touchdown after four chances from within 2 yards.

“All respect,’’ Golden said Sunday during his Kansas State recap teleconference, “we’re trying to win the game. That’s all we’re trying to do. … We’re not there right now.

“We’re playing too many young guys and we’re trying to settle into being a good team ourselves. We’re just trying to fix the things that we’re not doing well.

“For all the things we didn’t do well, we had a chance to win that game. That’s ultimately on my shoulders, and that’s something I’ve got to get fixed. Our kids are fighting back. They’re competing. They’re giving themselves an opportunity to win, and we’ve got to make sure we do that. But we don’t have time to move forward right now on anything else but Bethune.’’
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/26/2425115/miami-hurricanes-have-respect.html#ixzz1ZIV4Lqtk 

NORFOLK, Va., September 27, 2011 – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Commissioner Dennis Thomas has issued a statement regarding the final play of the Bethune-Cookman University vs. Hampton University football game played on Thursday, September 22, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The game was televised live on ESPNU.

“In addition to reviewing the video with the MEAC’s Coordinator of Football Officials Rosie Amato, I felt the need to procure external analysis of the play in question and requested three seasoned and nationally respected officials including Rogers Redding, CFO National Coordinator of Football Officials and NCAA Football Rules Committee Secretary-Rules Editor, Doug Rhoads, Coordinator of Football Officials for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and Dr. Gerald Austin, Coordinator of Football Officials of Conference USA, to independently review the play in question. Upon their review it was concluded unanimously that the ruling to reverse the on field call to an incomplete catch was accurate therefore invalidating the final Hampton touchdown.

The analysis of the video evidence concluded that the airborne receiver did not maintain control of the ball after hitting the ground, and by rule did not fulfill all the elements of the process of completing the catch. The rule support for this reversal is Approved Ruling 7-3-6-XII and 7-3-6-XIII found on page FI-35 of the 2011-12 NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations manual.”

Shortly after his team’s 26-18 setback to South Carolina State (on Sept. 10th), Brian Jenkins was asked how the defeat altered his outlook on the season. The second year head coach quickly and emphatically replied: “it doesn’t; we’re still going for it all”.

Coach Jenkins’ competitive nature and on-the-field success has helped re-energize the BCU fanbase and raise expectations in Wildcatland. However, if the second year head coach hopes to have any realistic chance of qualifying for this year’s FCS playoffs, his Fighting Wildcats (1-1) must win Thursday nights’ (Sept. 22nd) contest against the Hampton Pirates (2-1).

The Pirates are a formidable team who will not easily relinquish to defeat. Hampton (HU), boast the MEAC’s leader in Total Offense in quarterback David Legree (273.3 ypg); the MEAC’s leading rusher in Antwon Chisholm (81 ypg); as well as the conference’s leading tackler in Delbert Tyler (35 total, 11.7 per game). Legree played well in last week’s matchup against Old Dominion (ODU) accounting for over 320 yards of offense (260 passing, 1 TD; and 66 rushing 1 td); while Tyler (LB) was the defensive standout tallying 17 tackles in the defeat. The Pirates will look to rebound from the devastating 45-42 loss suffered at the hands of its Hampton Roads rival ODU. A 4th quarter blocked punt for a touchdown and two 4th quarter turnovers proved too much for Donovan Rose’s team to overcome. A Hampton victory over Bethune would give them the inside tract to the MEAC’s automatic playoff bid. Hampton, who already has a victory over MEAC foe FAMU and FCS opponent Alabama A&M, still controls its own destiny. The Pirates avoid South Carolina State (SCSU) this year thanks to the conference’s new unbalanced schedule. Based on the MEAC’s new tiebreaker system, HU (and not SCSU) would receive the conference’s automatic playoff bid if they both win out.

Uncharted waters

Thursday night’s game against Hampton is perhaps the most important game to date in Brian Jenkins’ young head coaching career. This will be the first time he has coach under any real distress. A win by BCU positions them nicely for a run at the MEAC crown and postseason play; while another conference loss all but certainly eliminates them from either. A defeat to Hampton would also start to raise some doubts and criticisms of Coach Jenkins. BCU is 1-3 in their last 4 overall matchups  and 0-2 in their last 2 conference games. The two defeats to end last season can be largely attributed to a compilation of injuries including a substantial one to the 2010-MEAC offensive player of the year, quarterback Matt Johnson. Conversely, the Wildcats were at full strength during last week’s defeat to the Bulldogs but uncharacteristically “played with a lack of discipline and detail” according to Coach Jenkins. Special teams miscues and untimely turnovers helped derail the Wildcats against SCSU. BCU will receive its first chance at redemption and hopes to prove that they are one of the best teams in all of FCS football when they faceoff with HU this Thursday night. The FCS world will be watching as the contest will be broadcast live to a national audience on ESPNU.  A good showing by the Wildcats could go a long way in helping them earn the “right to play for it all”.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other Notes

• Last year’s BCU vs. HU contest was also broadcasted on ESPNU. The Wildcats ruined the Pirates homecoming and narrowly escaped with a victory. HU defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis was nearly unblockable in that contest but the Wildcats clawed their way to a 23-18 victory. Ellis was selected by the NY Jets  in the 3rd round of the 2011 NFL draft.
• BCU has won the last three meetings versus Hampton.
• Remember to wear your black as Thursday night’s contest is a “Black Out” game. Tickets are available for as low as $5.00 (visitor’s side only). Also, you can receive a FREE TICKET (visitor’s side) if you purchase a BCU Football t-shirt for $10.00. Please contact the BCU Box office for ticket information (386) 481-2465. 

MEAC’s Bad Day At Black Rock??

This past weekend, only two of the nine MEAC clubs in action prevailed in their matchups.  Norfolk State bowled past Howard, 23-9 in the conference opener for both squads in Washington, D.C., while Morgan State won their first of the season, nipping Robert Morris (Pa.), 13-12 in Baltimore. South Carolina State’s 38-21 loss at Big Ten Indiana was more positive than negative, as the Bulldogs continued their trend of strong performances out of conference this year, which may serve them well if they make the postseason.

Several teams might call in grief counselors after heartbreaking losses Saturday, including North Carolina Central, whose two missed extra points and botched field goal attempt in the games closing moments resulted in a 23-22 home loss to Elon (N.C.) University.  Time ran out on BCU’s next opponent, the Hampton Pirates, who came ashore in nearby Norfolk and lost a 45-42 shootout with FCS darling ODU (Old Dominion University).

Three games were runaways with the biggest surprise coming in Tampa, where Florida A&M was crushed by South Florida, 70-17. Also suffering knockouts were Delaware State, a 45-0 shutout victim at the hands of Delaware, while Savannah State fell at Appalachian State, 41-6.

FAMU’s struggles continue

While the 2011 season is far from over just three weeks in, the perennial MEAC contenders in Tallahassee – Florida A&M – find themselves in a bit of a pickle. The Rattlers have already suffered a conference loss (Sept. 8th) to Hampton, putting them down a game on the standings.  And while the Rattlers have won four conference titles with one loss (1988, 2000, 2001, 2010), in each of those previous years, the conference losses came at midyear or later, not in the first conference game.   Also, this year’s club has struggled on offense, ranking last in the MEAC in rushing (40,0 ypg) and seventh (7th) in total offense (266.3 ypg).  Those offensive struggles haven’t helped an injury-riddled FAMU defense, which ranks at the bottom of the league in total defense (524.3 ypg) and pass defense (363.7), and seventh (7th) against the run (160.7). The Rattlers edged Fort Valley in the opener on a deflected pass for a 28-22 win in the final 39 seconds, but never got on-track in the nationally-televised loss at Hampton (23-17), Sept. 8. The margin of Saturday’s loss at South Florida (70-17) has the Rattler faithful a bit skittish; but FAMU’s opportunity for redemption begins this weekend in Atlanta against long-time rival Southern University (1-2).

Thursday Night Lights a big one

Needless to say, this week’s Thursday Night Lights special between Hampton and Bethune-Cookman will be crucial for both squads.  Hampton will be out to hold onto a share of the early league lead, while Bethune-Cookman, which has been off since their Sept. 10 home setback to South Carolina State, 26-18, hopes to stay in contention with a victory.  A loss by the homestanding Wildcats would drop them to 0-2 in the league, severely damaging their 2011 MEAC title hopes, while a win by Hampton could position them nicely for a title run.

Howard’s losing streak continues Saturday’s 23-9 home loss to Norfolk State extended Howard University’s trail of tears in MEAC play, as the Bison losing skid in conference games stretched to 28 games, dating back to 2007… In that 2007 campaign, the Bison lost their final three conference games and have gone winless in the MEAC each of the past three seasons (2008, 2009, 2010).

Word on the street is BCU’s next game (Thursday, September 22nd against Hampton) will be another “Blackout” game.  Hopefully this time they leave the lights on. 

In other news; check out the News Journal’s articles highlighting Maurice Francois and Ryan Lewis.  Great reads! 

Video highlights of the 09/10/11 contest against South Carolina State.

Non-Football News…sort of

Monday Night football fans were offered a glimpes of one of the best drumlines in the world.  Footage of BCU’s drumline (Sudden Impact) was featured during the September 12th broadcast of the Miami Dolphins/New England Patriots Monday Night Football contest.  The clip below is a video of the drumline’s recording.