(Baseball) Wildcats earn victory over #16 Arizona State
What a difference a year makes
In Jason Beverlin’s first year as skipper of Bethune-Cookman’s baseball team, the Wildcats looked overmatched when squaring off against Top 25 programs. Such was not the case this past weekend when the Wildcats faced off against the 16th ranked Arizona State Sun Devils in Tempe, Arizona.
Junior Righthander Montana Durapau gave the Wildcats a strong outing in Friday’s Opening Night contest. Durapau yielded just three earned runs while striking out five in seven innings of work. The Cats were 1 out away from winning Game One (and the series) but surrendered an unearned run in the bottom of the 9th that forced the contest into extra innings.
The Sun Devils eventually prevailed 5-4 in the 11th inning.
The second game of the series saw the Wildcat bats heat up early but simmer down late. ASU pulled away for a comfortable 15-7 win in Game 2.
BCU (1-2) secured its first win of the 2013 campaign in the weekend cap upsetting the Sun Devils 7-6. 2011 MEAC Pitcher of the Year, Scott Garner (1-0) earned the victory going 6 1/3rd, striking out six Sun Devils batters, walking one, while allowing five earned runs.
Senior closer Jordan Dailey entered the contest with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th. Dailey held ASU scoreless over the final 2.1 innings preserving the victory and earning his first save of the year in the process.
The Biocic brother’s Chris and P.J. scored a pair of runs each in the victory.
Sunday’s win was the Wildcats’ first victory over a Top 25 program since defeating Auburn in 2011.
Beverlin’s squad will look to carry the momentum of Sunday’s victory into Tuesday’s home-opener against the University of North Florida at Jackie Robinson ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
Tampa Jefferson retires Quentin Williams’ number 3 jersey
BCU QB Quentin Williams
Nobody had a season like quarterback Quentin Williams did in 2010.
Nobody broke records like Williams did when he helped lead the Jefferson Dragons to the school’s first state championship.
And now nobody will wear Williams number again.
The team retired Williams’ No. 3 jersey during a ceremony at the Dragons end of the season banquet this past Saturday.
During his senior season, Williams set new state records for season passing touchdowns (56), passing yardage (4,451), as well as career touchdown passes (109). He also broke Tim Tebow’s career passing yardage record. Williams ended up with 10,384.
The Dragons defeated Miami Norland 44-34 for the Class 3A title. The victory capped off a spectacular season for Williams, who went onto Bethune Cookman.
Last season for the Wildcats, Williams played in 10 games and threw for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also rushed for 635 yards and three touchdowns.
Full Story: BayNews9 Sports
NFL Draft Zone Spotlight with BCU’s Dawud Lane
Dawud Lane shows his support for Aunt Gail (Breast Cancer survivor)
Draft Zone Spotlight: Dawud Lane, LB, Bethune-Cookman University
When you watch the Bethune-Cookman games, big Dawud Lane stuck out and was a fierce competitor. He was a very highly recruited defensive lineman/linebacker which attended Rutgers University in New Jersey. He has been given a couple nicknames one is “Wood” which is short for Dawud because he lays wood when he plays. Another one is “Mr. Energy” because he is always fired up. I talked to one person at Bethune Cookman who said that Dawud would run a 4.5 all day every day at 6’2, 225 pounds. That is very impressive. Enough of me talking, check out the linebacker from B-CU.
How many teams were recruiting you coming out of high school and how did you make your decision?
Out of high school I was not that highly recruited maybe 9 or 10 D1-A offers. I made my decision to attend Rutgers originally where I earned my undergrad degree. The reason I went there because as a young man I wanted to stay home in New Jersey and I truly loved the coaching staff at Rutgers. Upon graduating there I still had eligibility so I decided to come down to Bethune Cookman to receive my masters while helping build this program.
Who was your favorite NFL team growing up, and did you have a player you rooted for?
That’s an easy one thee Dallas Cowboys, second greatest franchise ever next to the one that picks me up. Real Stars wear Stars and the stadium opens up to allow God the best view. The players I rooted for growing up was Deion Sanders & Lawrence Taylor I loved their showmanship, and ability to take over a game. The passion that LT plays with while rushing the passer and Deion ability to take risk in coverage because of his speed are characteristics I adopted into my game.
At your position, how do you break down film, please inform our readers what you look for when breaking down film?
Breaking down film is at this level of college and the pros are an essential aspect to being productive. At Rutgers the coaches would do detailed breakdowns of tendencies and third down plays in which at BCU we did not have the man power to do so. Thus I took it upon myself to study route combinations that coincide with down and distance to gain an advantage defensively. After taking a couple days studying that you move into o line stances to get run/pass reads and then gun mechanics as far as the QB and alignment for the Wide receivers, now there are plenty more but I have to preserve my career.
Click here to read on: http://nfldraftzone.com/draft-news/draft-zone-spotlight-dawud-lane-lb-bethune-cookman-university/
BCU signs 24 high school and junior college players
Bethune-Cookman football coach Brian Jenkins announced the signing of 24 student-athletes on National Signing Day.
Jenkins stated the goal of this recruiting class was to “build a new team” and “create depth and competition at every position”.
The 2013 class includes: 9 offensive and defensive linemen; 6 wide receivers; 4 running backs, 2 quarterbacks, 1 athlete, and 1 linebacker.
Defensive Lineman Jamal Cooper (Coahoma Community College), Punter/Place Kicker, Johnathan Cagle (Pensacola Pine Forest HS), and running backs Nate Pryor (Sebastian River HS) and Jamaruz Thompkins (Tampa Bay Tech HS) were among those whom Coach Jenkins mentioned as having the potential to make immediate impacts.
Quarterback Larry Brihm (Delray Beach Village Academy) and wide receiver Frank Brown (Palm Beach Gardens) were the top performers at their positions in talent rich Palm Beach County in 2012. In addition to Brihm and Brown, BCU also landed speedy and athletic Werley Placide (linebacker) from Boca Raton Olympic HS. The Palm Beach Post referenced BCU’s nabbing of the trio as a bit of a coup d’état for Brian Jenkins and his staff.
The Wildcats landed two local high school standouts in former Mainland High School quarterback Shelton Willis and reigning 8A State Champions Apopka High’s Dazzie Morris.
Four players from Jacksonville Raines signed with BCU all of whom are listed as wide receivers.
This is a deep class of signees who possess a great mix of size, speed, and athleticism. Several of the signees selected the Daytona Beach institution over larger FBS programs which is a true testament to the growth of the BCU football program.
2013 Bethune-Cookman Football Signees
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Darian Baker WR 5-10 174 Jacksonville, Fla./Raines HS
Larry Brihm QB 6-0 210 Delray Beach, Fla./Village Academy
Frank Brown WR 5-11 176 Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Palm Beach Gardens HS
Johnathan Cagle P/K 6-3 175 Pensacola, Fla./Pine Forest HS
Jamal Cooper DL 6-4 280 Memphis, Tenn./Kirby HS/Coahoma CC
Jawill Davis WR 6-0 170 Miami, Fla./American HS
Terique Debois OL 6-3 310 Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem HS/Lackawanna CC
Jamal Dozier WR 6-1 160 Jacksonville, Fla./Raines HS
Andrew Edouard OL 6-0 290 Philadelphia, Pa./Overbrook HS/Lackawanna CC
Atreyu Farrior ATH 6-1 180 Lakeland, Fla./Kathleen HS
Anthony Green DT 6-1 245 Lakeland, Fla./Lake Gibson HS
Uriah Horne OG 6-3 260 McDonough, Ga./Eagles Landing HS
William Koen III OL 6-4 250 Lawrenceville, Ga./Mountain View HS
Dazzie Morris OG 6-2 260 Apopka, Fla./Apopka HS
Dre’Sean Nelson RB 5-8 160 Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Dillard HS
Phillip Norman OG 6-4 280 Sebastian, Fla./Sebastian River HS
Larry Overstreet RB 6-0 200 Lehigh Acres, Fla./Lehigh HS/Fresno City College
Nathaniel Pryor RB 5-9 180 Sebastian, Fla./Sebastian River HS
Dishawn Ray DT 6-4 305 Jesup, Ga./Wayne County HS
Bruce Seymore WR 6-2 171 Jacksonville, Fla./Raines HS
Jamaruz Thompkins RB 5-10 185 Tampa, Fla./Tampa Bay Tech
Devonte Washington WR 6-2 178 Jacksonville, Fla./Raines HS
Shelton Willis QB 6-0 165 Daytona Beach, Fla./Mainland HS
Lastest Update of BCU’s 2013 Football Signees (3:20 PM EST)
http://www.bcuathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=206284483&DB_OEM_ID=23910.
Brian Jenkins is having a whale of a day. Here is a look at BCU’s recruiting class as of 12:45 PM. BCU Athletics will continue to update the list of 2013 football signees throughout the day. Click the link above to access BCU’s Signing Day Central.
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Darian Baker WR 5-10 174 Jacksonville, Fla./Raines HS
Larry Brihm QB 6-0 210 Delray Beach, Fla./Village Academy
Frank Brown WR 5-11 176 Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Palm Beach Gardens HS
Johnathan Cagle P/K 6-3 175 Pensacola, Fla./Pine Forest HS
Jamal Cooper DL 6-4 280 Memphis, Tenn./Kirby HS/Coahoma CC
Jawill Davis WR 6-0 170 Miami, Fla./American HS
Terique Debois OL 6-3 310 Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem HS/Lackawanna CC
Andrew Edouard OL 6-0 290 Philadelphia, Pa./Overbrook HS/Lackawanna CC
Atreyu Farrior ATH 6-1 180 Lakeland, Fla./Kathleen HS
Anthony Green DT 6-1 245 Lakeland, Fla./Lake Gibson HS
Uriah Horne OG 6-3 260 McDonough, Ga./Eagles Landing HS
William Koen III OL 6-4 250 Lawrenceville, Ga./Mountain View HS
Dazzie Morris OG 6-2 260 Apopka, Fla./Apopka HS
Dre’Sean Nelson ATH 6-0 185 Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Dillard HS
Phillip Norman OG 6-4 270 Sebastian, Fla./Sebastian River HS
Larry Overstreet RB 6-0 200 Lehigh Acres, Fla./Lehigh HS/Fresno City College)
Nathaniel Pryor RB 5-9 180 Sebastian, Fla./Sebastian River HS
Dishawn Ray DT 6-4 305 Jesup, Ga./Wayne County HS
Bruce Seymore WR 6-2 171 Jacksonville, Fla./Raines HS
Jamaruz Thompkins RB 5-10 185 Tampa, Fla./Tampa Bay Tech
Devonte Washington WR 6-2 178 Jacksonville, Fla./Raines HS
Shelton Willis QB 6-0 165 Daytona Beach, Fla./Mainland HS
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Watch “BCU Men’s Basketball Game Winning Shot vs FAMU” on YouTube.
THE BELT
At the conclusion of this past season’s Florida Blue Florida Classic, coach Brian Jenkins was seen hugging players, celebrating with the Marching Wildcats, and very conspicuously wearing a 2012 MEAC Champions Belt that was large enough and elaborate enough to make Hulk Hogan envy.
Some fifteen (15) or so minutes after first being spotted with his new ornate accessory, coach Jenkins met with members of the media for his normal postgame recap. There it was again; this time prominently displayed on the conference room table almost touching the fiery coach’s left elbow. There was no attempt at modesty. No attempt to conceal it. It was as if coach Jenkins was silently screaming for someone to ask about THE BELT…and so I did.
The third year coach rather foxily revealed that THE BELT was an inside thing between him and his team. “I have been telling (our football team) about the belt. You want to be the one to put on the belt in the end” Jenkins exclaimed.
The story goes as follows:
Shortly after being named as the fifteenth (15) head football coach at Bethune-Cookman, Brian Jenkins had a chance encounter with a Florida A&M football fan. The FAMU fan approached the newly appointed coach and said let me show you something. He reached into his back pocket and unfolded a piece of paper. Listed on the paper were the results of all of the Florida Classics including the previous two (2); both of which FAMU won.
The FAMU fan was undoubtedly sending a clear message to the precocious new coach of what he should expect when facing the mighty Rattlers.
As fate would have it, coach Jenkins bumped into the same Rattler fan nearly a year later. The FAMU fan, feeling emboldened by his Rattlers’ upset victor over the Wildcats in the 2010 Florida Classic, even more vigorously than the year before flagged down coach Jenkins and again pulled out a folded piece of paper from his back pocket. It was an up-to-date history of the Florida Classic results. The FAMU fan proudly and boastfully pointed to his team’s upset win in 2010. It was shortly after that encounter that the idea of THE BELT was conceived in Brian Jenkins’ mind. Jenkins decided if his team could win the MEAC crown and win the Florida Classic, he would supply every graduating senior with his very own Championship Belt.
Senior Class awarded Championship Belts
What better way to memorialize the hardwork, sacrifice, and dedication that’s required to become MEAC and Florida Classic champs than to provide the senior class with Championship Belts. And besides, a Heavyweight caliber Championship Belt trumps a folded piece of paper any day.
Coach Jenkins’ statement to the media after the 2012 Florida Blue Florida Classic now makes so much more sense: “…in the end, you want to be the one to put on the belt.”
THE BELT is brilliant in everything that it represents. It is the proverbial gauntlet slap in the face, a one-upper, a ‘step ya game up’ if you will. It is a unique memento, it epitomizes excellence, symbolizes hardwork and manhood, and it is meant to draw a line in the sand. If you want THE BELT, come and take it. If you want to keep THE BELT, then be prepared to defend it. So keep your folded piece of paper and I will raise you a Championship Belt.
Interestingly, coach Jenkins stated that the last time he spotted the FAMU fan who flagged him down and showed off his folded piece of paper was shortly after the 2010 season. Coincidence? Maybe but not likely!
A source within the BCU Athletic department could not confirm whether THE BELT is a one year phenomenon or a new tradition for each senior class who wins both a MEAC and Florida Classic championship in the same season. Personally, I hope this becomes a new tradition. A new goal of sorts for each class of seniors. I think coach Jenkins said it best: “in the end, you want to be the one to put on the belt”.
Congratulations to all the guys who earned the right to wear THE BELT!!!
Top 12 Moments of 2012
Before 2012 takes its final curtain call and 2013 takes center stage, here is a look back at the Top 12 highlights of the 2012 football season.
(In no particular order)
Isidore Jackson joins 1,000 yard club:
Junior running back Isidore Jackson became just the 7th player in BCU history to rush for 1,000 in a season. It was the first time that a BCU player reach the 1,000 yard milestone since Allen Suber reached the magical mark in 2002. Jackson finished the year with 1,069 yards on the ground. He now has 2,449 yards rushing for his career which is good enough for 3rd all-time.
Steady Eddie:
Eddie Poole has played in every game of Brian Jenkins’ head coaching career. All Poole has done in that 35 game span is catch a pass in every contest and move into sixth (6th) place all-time on BCU’s touchdown receptions list with seventeen (17). No sweat; just another day at the office for Steady Eddie.
Preston Cleckley’s one hander:
The final score in the BCU/Tennessee State game did not favor the good guys; however, Preston Cleckley’s one handed grab in the back of the end zone against the Tigers may have been the single most spectacular play of the season.
The 9 yard TD strike to Cleckley was quarterback Quentin Williams’ first collegiate TD pass. The two hooked up again in the North Carolina Central game when Cleckley ran under a 76 yard Williams’ TD pass. The 76 yarder was the longest pass play of the season for the Wildcats.
Brock Waters
Comeback kids:
17 minutes into the 2012 season, BCU fans were frozen in disbelief. The Wildcat faithful watched Alabama State seize all the momentum and a 21-0 lead early in the 2nd quarter. But help arrived in the form of Louisiana Tech transfer Brodrick Waters. Waters replaced Jackie Wilson at quarterback midway through the 2nd quarter and BCU scored 38 unanswered points. BCU went on to win the contest 38-28.
The comeback theme was repeated the following week when BCU scored 27 unanswered points after South Carolina State jumped out to a 14-0 lead.
Courtesy of BCU Athletics
Defense plays lights out in the 3rd and 4th quarters:
7, 0, 0, 16, 3, 3, 3, 7, 6, 7; no those aren’t the winning Powerball numbers. Those numbers represent the total number of points the Wildcat defense surrendered to FCS competition in the second half of contests this season. That averages out to a measly 5.2 points per game in the 3rd and 4th quarters.
The Wildcat D surrendered no 2nd half touchdowns in the entire month of October. Hopefully the defense will figure out a way to extend their 2nd half achievements over 4 quarters of football and elevate themselves to a dominant defensive team in 2013.
Nick Addison’s coming out party
Redshirt freshman Nick Addison put on a display against Hampton that caused the Maroon and Gold faithful to reminisce of the days of Mathis, Collins, Williams, and Wyatt. Addison intercepted 2 passes against the Pirates including 1 he returned 90 yards for a touchdown, he recorded 11 tackles (9 solo, .5 tfl) in that contest, and he forced a fumble. That makes for one heck of a coming out party.
Henry Frazier none-to-happy….Is there a rivalry brewing???
NCCU head coach Henry Frazier disapproved of coach Jenkins’ decision to throw a pass while leading 35-17 late in the 4th quarter. A visibly upset Frazier stated after the contest that he would have elected to simply run the ball if he was in the same position and not attempt to “run up the score”. Frazier went on to state that he would remember Jenkins’ actions and have his team ready when the two schools meet again.
Could this evolve into another Bill Hayes/Alvin Wyatt type rivalry……we shall see!
8-0
For the first time in school history, the Bethune-Cookman football team finished the season with a perfect 8-0 record in MEAC play. The last time BCU finished undefeated in conference play was 1984 when quarterback Bernard Hawk led the Cats to a 4-0 mark. BCU has now won 14 straight MEAC contests dating back to 2011 and can tie South Carolina State’s all-time consecutive MEAC win mark of 22 if they finish undefeated in conference play in 2013.
Offensive line play
The BCU offensive line paved the way for the league’s leading scoring offense (29.4 points per game), rushing offense (244 yards per contest) and total offense (388.75 yards per contest). Ole Miss transfer, Terrence Hackney led the big men upfront. Hackney was named to several postseason All-American squads including the Beyond Sports College Network, The Sports Network, and Box-To-Row All-American teams. The best news for BCU fans is that Hackney has 2 years of eligibility remaining.
Lavon McCoy and Eugene Solomon were also noteworthy performers in the trenches in 2012.
He’s staying:
After entertaining offers from other colleges, namely Southern University, and at least one NFL team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brian Jenkins decided to sign a new deal and remain the leader of the BCU football team.
Jenkins has amassed a 27-8 record, 2 conference crowns, and 2 playoff berths during his brief time at Bethune.
Run Ike Run:
Isidore Jackson’s 93 yard touchdown scamper against NCCU displayed many of the attributes that make a running back great. Jackson broke 2 tackles (power), made a couple of guys miss (vision), and outran the rest of the field (speed) on his way to the endzone.
It was the 4th longest touchdown run in school history and good enough to make the Top 12 in 2012 countdown.
Larry R. Handfield Athletic Training Center/Photo Courtesy of Daytona Beach News Journal – David Massey
State of the Art
BCU Football Operations moved into the 16,378 square foot Larry Hanfield Athletic Training Center in September. The facility features a state of the art strength and conditioning center, hydrotherapy, x-ray and treatment rooms, technology equipped meeting rooms, a Hall of Fame lobby as well as other amenities.
The Training Center adds a huge boost to BCU’s recruiting, athletic facilities and footprint along the International Speedway corridor.
Brian Jenkins to remain as BCU’s head coach
Daytona Beach – Bethune-Cookman interim president, Dr. Edison Jackson, athletic director Lynn Thompson, and head coach Brian Jenkins announced to an assembly of media and Wildcat supporters that Brian Jenkins will remain as the head football coach at BCU.
“Mr. Jenkins has given me an early Christmas gift by remaining with (the Bethune-Cookman) family” Dr. Jackson stated.
Less than 24 hours ago, coach Jenkins was scheduled to spend all day Thursday completing a comprehensive interview for the same position at Southern University in Louisiana. But in an 11th hour change of heart, Jenkins cancelled his interview with Southern on Wednesday night and inked a contract extension to remain at the Daytona Beach institution.
Jenkins stated “it’s not all about finances and it’s not all about football”. “It all boils down to family and wanting to be with family”. He went on to state: “if I were to end my career at Bethune-Cookman I would be okay with that”.
The Wildcats are 27-8 under the fiery third year head coach. Jenkins led BCU to their first ever 10-0 start in 2010, their first ever 8-0 mark in MEAC play in 2012, and two (2) of the last three (3) MEAC titles.
Check back to read more details on today’s press conference including quotes from the head coach and administration.
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