So the week I decided to delay my gameday preview, BCU Athletics and the Daytona Beach News Journal released their previews a day earlier than normal.  That’s fine by me.  No sense in rehashing the same information.  Check out the Hampton Athletics, Daytona Beach News-Journal, and BCUAthletics previews below.

From HamptonPirates.com:   HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team will return to Armstrong Stadium this Saturday, coming off a bye week to take on the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman at 6 p.m.

Saturday will be Military Appreciation Night, as well as Greek Night and Take-a-Kid-to-the-Game Night.

The Pirates (0-3, 0-1 MEAC) fell 44-20 to Florida A&M in their conference opener on Sept. 15, while the Wildcats (2-2, 1-0 MEAC) fell 21-14 to Tennessee State this past Saturday.

The Pirates are 9-8 all-time against Bethune-Cookman, though the Wildcats have won the last four meetings – including a 35-31 win in Daytona Beach, Fla. last season. Hampton last defeated Bethune-Cookman in 2007, when the Pirates left Armstrong Stadium with a 31-24 win.

 The two teams first met in 1995, when the Pirates won 34-14. In fact, Hampton won the first three meetings before the Wildcats picked up their first win against Hampton, 14-13, in 1998.

The Pirates are 4-4 all-time against Bethune-Cookman at Armstrong Stadium. http://www.hamptonpirates.com/news/2012/9/25/FB_0925122212.aspx?path=football

From the Daytona Beach News-Journal:  Three Keys to Victory

1. Mix it up. This is a chance for B-CU’s offense to get on track. Although Hampton has faced three good offensive teams — including the top-ranked offense in the country in Old Dominion — the Pirates rank 102nd (among 121 FCS teams) in total defense, allowing 462.3 ypg, and 114th in scoring defense, allowing 43.3 ppg. The Wildcats are 13th in the nation is rushing at 239.8 ypg.

2. Pressure the QB. Champion is averaging 222.0 yards passing, but the Pirates have allowed five sacks. Richardson has been held sackless the past two weeks going up against big and strong offensive linemen, but he should be able to utilize his quickness this week.

3. Win the turnover battle. B-CU is fourth in the nation in takeaways with 12 and is tied for sixth in turnover margin at 1.75 per game (plus-seven overall).

PREDICTION: B-CU 35, Hampton 17 — Read more: Daytona Beach News-Journal:

From BCUAthletics: 8 points About The Hampton Game

HAMPTON, Va. — Eight points to consider as the Bethune-Cookman – Hampton game unfolds Saturday night:

1) BOUNCE BACK: Bethune-Cookman has never lost more than two consecutive games in the Brian Jenkins era. The last three-game Wildcat losing streaks were in 2009 when B-CU started the season 0-4 and in 2007 when that team dropped four straight after starting 2-1. Before that, one must travel back to 1997 for a three-game losing streak.

2) BOUNCE BACK, PART II: Six of the seven Jenkins era losses have occurred in sets; the two at the end of 2010, the Miami-North Carolina A&T combo of 2011 and this present set. In all, B-CU is 2-3 after a loss under Jenkins and 30-14 since 2000.

Continued here: http://www.bcuathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205701009&DB_OEM_ID=23910

BCU vs Tenn State — Photo Courtesy of BCU Athletics

My uncle T-Bird use to tell me that there is nothing more humbling to a man than getting his tail whipped.  I am not certain if the same prevailing wisdom holds true for football teams, but if does then Rod Reed’s Tennessee State Tigers delivered a face full of humble pie to Ms. Mary’s boys in Daytona Beach this past Saturday.

The Litmus Test

This matchup was BCU’s litmus test.  This was the game BCU could announce to the FCS world that they were ready to compete on a national level.  It was the first time in the Brian Jenkins era that the Wildcats faced a school from a FCS automatic qualifier (AQ) conference during the regular season.  The only other matchup against an out-of-conference AQ foe during that timeframe ended in a 45-20 beatdown at the hands of New Hampshire in the 2010 playoffs.  But that was Coach Jenkins’ first year at the helm.   MEAC Offensive Player of the Year Matt Johnson was injured that game and so were half of his teammates.  This is a new team!  A new year!  A new moment!  Right?  Unfortunately for BCU, it was Tennessee State who announced “their coming out party”.  The Fighting Wildcats were left licking their wounds and searching for answers.

Losing a game against a quality team like Tennessee State is no reason to panic but the manner in which the Wildcats loss was disconcerting.  TSU’s offensive and defensive lines physically beat-up Bethune’s units.  I hope this was more the result of one of those “on any given Saturday” moments as opposed to BCU simply not being able to match the physicality of a quality team from an FCS playoff bound conference.

No yeah buts, but…

Let me be very clear about this: Tennessee State was the better team on Saturday.  They had a better game plan, they executed better, and they flat out deserved to win.  No excuses.  Tennessee State beat Bethune-Cookman on the field of play.  There is your disclaimer but the point has to be made.  TSU’s performance against BCU this past Saturday was very reminiscent of North Carolina A&T’s defeat over the Wildcats a year ago.  The game plans were very similar (load the box on defense and force BCU to beat you throwing the ball–and on offense run the ball straight at the BCU defense); but more interestingly the game play was similar.  The Wildcats struggled with the physicality of both TSU and NCA&T.  Ironically, BCU faced TSU this year and NCA&T last year the week after playing the University of Miami.  Maybe TSU and NCA&T matchup well against BCU from a personnel and/or schematic standpoint.  Or maybe, and I do stress maybe, there is something to be said about playing a bigger, stronger, faster and deeper Miami team a week prior.  No matter how strong-willed and well-conditioned you are, playing against a top flight FBS school like Miami has to take a little extra out of you.  Again, it’s not an excuse…..I’m just saying.

Oh and for the record, BCU went on to win 6 straight after losing to the Aggies a year ago.  Hopefully the Wildcats can rest, recover, and start a similar streak beginning this Saturday against Hampton.

He told us so

Coach Brian Jenkins tried to warn anyone who would listen that his team’s slow starts would eventually do them in if not corrected.  The Wildcats started slowly again this past Saturday and the ole ball coach turned out to be dead-on.  The Blue Tigers jumped out to a three-touchdown 2^nd quarter lead and never relented.   It looked like BCU might overcome their second 21-0 deficit of the year after scoring 2 touchdowns with less than 90 seconds remaining in the 2^nd quarter, but that was as close as BCU would get as both teams failed to score in the second half.

BCU will look to end their 2 game skid when facing off against Hampton in Virginia this Saturday at 6:00.

If you want to see Coach Brian Jenkins get upset, ask him about one of his six losses as a Bethune-Cookman’s head football coach.  If you want to see him get really angry, ask him about being passed over for last year’s FCS playoffs.  Chances are the fiery coach will bite down on his bottom-lip, pound his fists, and stare right through you as he passionately talks about what he perceived as a perverse injustice to his squad a year ago.  Coach Jenkins’ remedy in 2012….schedule the best out-of-conference opponents available to beef up the schedule; and “win them all so you won’t have to worry about being passed up”.

The Wildcats will have yet another opportunity to strengthen their 2012 playoff resume when Tennessee State travels to Municipal Stadium on Saturday for the home opener.  The matchup features the #1 and #2 ranked teams in HBCU football.  Saturday’s contest will be the first ever visit for Tennessee State to Daytona Beach for a football contest and the first meeting of the two squads in 25 years.  The teams last met in 1987 when BCU defeated TSU 16-13 in Nashville.

Tennessee State (3-0) enters the contest undefeated with victories over Florida A&M, Jackson State, and Austin Peay respectively.  The Blue Tigers are led on offense by quarterback Michael German.  Last week, German completed 75% of his passes (27 of 36) for 318 yards and two touchdowns.  German’s performance was good enough to earn him Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors. 

Joining German in the backfield are two quality running backs, Travis Ward (287 yards rushing on 71 attempts, 5 TDs) and Volusia County (New Smyrna Beach H.S.) product Telvin Hooks (199 yards rushing on 29 attempts).

The TSU offensive line is very experienced featuring 3 players who are All-Conference performers and 4 players who started all 11 games last year.  Tennessee State boast a host of good pass catchers on the outside including University of Florida transfer A.C. Leonard.  However, it is on the defensive side of the ball where the Tigers have been most successful this season.

Tennessee State leads the Ohio Valley Conference in Scoring Defense (13.3 points per game), Total Defense (339.7 yards per game), and Rushing Defense (93.3 yards per game).   

But before the TSU faithful begin printing up tee-shirts, they should know that the team on the other side of the field is no gracious host.  The Wildcats will be looking to get the sour taste of defeat off their lips and would like nothing more than another dominating performance against an FCS opponent.  BCU ranks 10^th nationally in rushing offense (254.3 yards per game) and has scored an average of 32.5 points per game against FCS competition.  The Wildcats’ aggressive defense has them ranked 9^th nationally in turnover margin. 

Saturday’s contest has all of the makings of a classic showdown.  It should be fun.

Hall of Fame Weekend

If Saturday’s colossal matchup wasn’t enough, BCU will be inducting new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame.  BCU will also formally dedicate the new, State-of-the-Art Larry R Handfield Athletic Training Center.  Saturday’s Legacy Walk at Municipal Stadium will be led by the 2012 Hall of Fame Class inductees.

Don’t forget about the bands

The Pride vs. The Aristocrats of Bands.  Let’s Go Wildcats vs. I’m So Glad.  The Marching Wildcat’s precision and sound vs. TSU’s song selection and intensity.  There really isn’t much more that needs to be said.  CAN’T WAIT!!!!

Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 EST.  The game can be viewed live on the Wildcats’ CatEyeNetwork.

Larry R. Handfield Athletic Training Center/Photo Courtesy of Daytona Beach News Journal – David Massey

DAYTONA BEACH — Bethune-Cookman University kicks off its home football schedule Saturday, but Friday the school kicks off a new era in athletics with the dedication of its $4.6 million training center.

She’s under 5’7″ but thriving in a sport filled with giants.  Major props to Krysta Gardner for getting it done on the court and in the classroom.  Check out the full story below.

Gardner A Candidate For National Senior CLASS Award – B-CUAthletics.com – The Official Web Site of Bethune-Cookman Athletics.

BCU falls to Miami 38-10 (Photo courtesy of Yahoo Sports)

The University of Miami defeated Bethune-Cookman soundly (38-10) after a breakout performance by highly touted freshman running back, Duke Johnson.  Johnson, who was playing in just his third collegiate contest, scored 4 times (1 kick return td, 1 receiving td, and 2 rushing tds).

BCU took an early 7-0 lead in the contest on Isidore Jackson’s 1 yard touchdown run.  The drive started at the Miami 20 yard line after Jazz Moss forced a fumble from Hurricane return man Phillip Dorsett.

Johnson made his first impact play of the game when he returned BCU’s ensuing kickoff 95 yards to tie the score at 7-7.  The Canes took a 17-7  lead into halftime behind Johnson’s 1 yard td run with 5:48 remaining in the 2^nd quarter and a Jake Wieclaw 20 yard field goal with :35 seconds left in the half.

The Duke Johnson show continued in the second half.  The Wildcats trailed by just 10 points midway through the third quarter but Duke Johnson struck again.  This time on a receiving touchdown after taking a Stephen Morris screen pass 50 yards for his 3^rd touchdown of the afternoon pushing the margin to 24-7 in the process.

Sven Hurd’s 31 yard field goal cut the lead to 24-10 and represented BCU’s only points of the 2^nd half.  But Johnson’s final score of the contest, a 28 yard touchdown run, put the game out of reach at 31-10.  The Canes tacked on another touchdown late for a 38-10 victory.

Coach Brian Jenkins was in no mood to celebrate Johnson’s 4 touchdown afternoon in his postgame press conference.  “He exploded because we missed tackles”.  “Any running back can be good when you miss as many tackles as we did today. We did not execute”.  “It wasn’t what Miami did…it was what we didn’t do. That is no disrespect to Miami.”  “I don’t care who we would have played today.  We could have played the (Pop Warner) Mighty Midgets; with the execution errors we had today they would have beat us”.

Quentin Williams makes debut

After trailing 24-7 in the 3^rd quarter, BCU redshirt freshman quarterback, Quentin Williams, made his college football debut.  Williams completed his first three passes and drove the Wildcats on a 13 play, 69 yard drive which cut the deficit to 14 points midway through the 4^th quarter.

Williams looked poised in his first performance and finished the afternoon going 5-9 passing for 69 yards.

The Wildcats return to FCS play in next week’s home opener against Tennessee State.  Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00.

Scoring Summary FIRST QUARTER COOK MIA

TD 02:37 Isidore Jackson 1 Yd Run (Sven Hurd Kick)  7 0

TD 02:25 Duke Johnson 95 Yd Kickoff Return (Jake Wieclaw Kick)  7 7

SECOND QUARTER COOK MIA

TD 05:48 Duke Johnson 1 Yd Run (Jake Wieclaw Kick)  7 14

FG 00:35 Jake Wieclaw 20 Yd  7 17

THIRD QUARTER COOK MIA

TD 04:26 Duke Johnson 50 Yd Pass From Stephen Morris (Jake Wieclaw Kick)  7 24

FOURTH QUARTER COOK MIA

FG 09:49 Sven Hurd 31 Yd  10 24

TD 08:25 Duke Johnson 28 Yd Run (Jake Wieclaw Kick)  10 31

TD 03:56 Eduardo Clements 10 Yd Run (Jake Wieclaw Kick)  10 38