Saturday

Final Florida Classic Rant

/ J Bell / 1 Comment

Undisputed and outright champs

At the conclusion of this past Saturday’s Florida Classic, coach Brian Jenkins was seen hugging players, celebrating with the Marching Wildcats, and wearing a 2012 MEAC Champions Belt around his waist.  Yeah you heard me, coach Jenkins was rocking a Championship belt around his waist that Dusty Rhodes would have been proud to don. 

“I have been telling (our football team) about the belt.  You want to be the one to put on the belt in the end.  Right now this phase of our season is done.  We have won this belt and hopefully we can put things together and be able to put on another (belt)” coach Jenkins stated.

 Look Good Play Good

BCU White Helmet

The Bethune-Cookman football team wore all white uniforms (helmets included) for the first time in school history on Saturday.  The new white headgear is the fourth helmet the Wildcats have competed in during the Brian Jenkins era.  When asked about the abundance of helmets and uniform combinations, coach Jenkins stated: “the young men deserve it.  We are so hard on our young men throughout the year about doing things right.  I believe in rewarding them for the effort that they put in for this university.  So it’s things like that I do to show them appreciation for their effort, dedication, commitment and passion to each other, for each other, and also for this university”.

He went on to state: “the guys did not know when the white helmets were coming.  When they came into the locker room before the game, they saw the maroon helmets.  They put them on (and went out for pregame).  When they came back in (the locker room) they saw the white helmets.  The helmets gave our guys a charge and some excitement to our fans”.  “I don’t know you might see a different helmet next week” (in the playoff matchup).

BCU is 4-0 in helmet reveal games during the Brian Jenkins era.

Eddie Robinson Award Finalist

Coach Brian Jenkins, who has led his Bethune-Cookman Wildcats to their second FCS playoff appearance in three years, has been named a 2012 Eddie Robinson Award Finalist.  The award is presented annually to the national coach of the year in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) by The Sports Network.

“Obviously, this is an extreme honor to be named a finalist for an award of this magnitude,” expressed Brian Jenkins on Monday afternoon. “This award not only shows the hard work of a head coach, his staff and players throughout the year, but also the hard work and dedication of a man for whom the award is named. “Not only was Eddie Robinson an inspiration to me, but he paved the way for African-American coaches like myself and many more to reach new heights in the college football coaching ranks. Again, it’s such an honor to be named a finalist for this award.”

Coach Jenkins led BCU to their first ever 10-0 start when he arrived on campus in 2010.  Saturday’s win earned the Wildcats their first ever 8-0 season in league play.     

The Wildcats, who earned the league’s automatic bid to the FCS playoffs, will host Big South champion Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m.  Tickets can be purchsed from the Bethune-Cookman Box Office or from Ticketmaster.com.

BCU game against Norfolk will be Streamed Live (video)

/ J Bell / Leave a comment

Brock Waters

I really hope that all who wish to attend Saturday’s matchup against Norfolk State in Daytona Beach can make it.  For those of you who can not attend Saturday’s contest, you’ll be happy to know that the game will be streamed live on the CatEye Network.  The cost of the broadcast will run you about the cost of a Whopper Combo Meal ($7.95).

Viewers can be assured that the broadcast is of high quality.  If you have concerns about the quality of the feed and/or the content, I suggest that you watch the replay of the Homecoming contest against NC A&T also on the CatEye Network.  That broadcast is free and available here: http://www.bcuathletics.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?catid=48432&id=1068896

The official announcement regarding the live stream can be found on BCU’s Athletics website.  http://www.bcuathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205716126&DB_OEM_ID=23910

BCU Thumps Morgan 49-23

/ J Bell / 12 Comments

Last Saturday’s 49-23 Homecoming thumping of Morgan State was a near perfect microcosm of The Fighting Wildcats 2011 football season. 

 Much like the first half of this season, the first 2 quarters of Saturday’s contest were filled with both explosive plays –174 yards of total offense and 2 defensive turnovers– and untimely penalties –6 for 54 yards– for the Wildcats.  BCU looked vulnerable as a result and clung to a 14-10 halftime lead.

 The Wildcats seemed to sure up a few things in the halftime locker room and looked completely dominant and playoff worthy in the second half; outscoring MSU 35-13 in the process.

Isidore Jackson had another solid afternoon rushing for 94 yards (1 TD) on 20 carries and catching 2 passes for 22 yards. Senior fullback Johnathan Moment enjoyed his best statistical game of the season accounting for 106 yards of total offense (78 rushing; 28 receiving) and two touchdowns in the contest. 

Jackie Wilson

Sophomore quarterback Jackie Wilson continues to play well.  Wilson completed 67 percent of his passes (10/15 for 186) and rushed for 74 yards and 3 touchdowns on the afternoon.  “The game is starting to slow down to me,” Wilson said after the contest. 

 Although Wilson’s insertion into the starting lineup has seemed to stabilize the Wildcat offense, Coach Brian Jenkins states that there will continue to be an open competition for the starting quarterback spot.  Jenkins went on to state that David Blackwell almost received the starting nod this week instead of Wilson.

 The Wildcat starting defense held the Morgan State offense to 173 yards of total offense and 10 points through 3 quarters.  Senior linebacker Ryan Lewis led the way with 7 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss.  The Bear offense accumulated 137 yards of offense and 13 points in the final quarter mostly against BCU’s second and third teamers.  Even still, Coach Jenkins was none-too-happy about how his defense finished the contest; and he was particularly upset about yielding a 44-yard touchdown run to Travis Davidson with 58 seconds remaining in the contest.  “No matter the score, I want my guys to execute.”  “We had one guy out of position and a few others who didn’t make the play that was to be made” Jenkins stated.  Davidson finished the afternoon with 133 yards rushing on 17 carries for the Bears.

Bethune hosts upstart Savannah State next Saturday in Daytona Beach at 4:00 p.m.