Photos copyright 1999, Bryan Steven Follins
SIAC 2002
Click here to go to the SIAC-99 archives.4 Sep Albany State, Miles College Football Game Site Changed The Albany State University Golden Rams and the Miles College Golden Bears will meet in gridiron action in The Good Life City and not The Windy City. The football game between the twoSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) schools will be playedin Albany, Ga., on Sept. 7, ASU athletic administrators announced today. The site of the game was changed from Albany to Chicago so both schools could play in the First Annual Skyway College Football Classic. “We were extremely excited about playing football in Chicago. The game in Chicago would have meant more national exposure for our team. This was also an opportunity for our student athletes to visit Chicago and to recruit students to Albany State University,” said Dr. John I. Davis, ASU athletics director. “But game sponsors and administrators did not meet financial obligations in a timely manner and we did not want to get any closer to game day with uncertainties as it relates to travel, hotel and food arrangements for both our band and football team.” Unlike the Chicago trip, all financial obligations for the Nov. 9 game between Albany State and Morehouse College were met as of July 8, Davis said. The ASU-Miles game will be played at Hugh Mills Memorial Stadium in Albany, Ga., with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Tickets for the game are $13 in advance and $15 at the gate, and will be available Thursday, Sept. 5, at Odyssey Records, June Bug’s Grocery and Connie Corner in Albany. Tickets will be available also on campus at the Business Office and Post Office. Albany State lost its home opener to Valdosta State, 26-0, on Aug. 31. The Golden Rams will play West Georgia on Sept. 14. 31 Aug Click here for details of Albany State's Loss to Valdosta State. Aug. 14, 2002 Albany State, Miles College to play football in Chicago The Albany State University Golden Rams will be "all over the map" during the 2002 football season. The Golden Rams have added another classic football game to their 2002 schedule, athletic administrators announced today. The Golden Rams and the Miles College Golden Bears will travel north to Chicago, Ill., to play in the First Annual Skyway College Football Classic on Sept. 7. The game will kickoff at 7 p.m. (Central Standard Time) at Hanson Stadium, a 25,000-seat facility in Chicago. The game was originally scheduled to be played in Albany, Ga., at 7 p.m. "We are extremely excited about playing football before our fans in Chicago. This classic means more exposure of Golden Rams football and black college football," Davis said. "We are fortunate to add another football classic to our schedule." William G. Thurman, CEO of the classic, said the classic was organized because of the need for black college football in the Chicago area. "There are a lot of alumni and fans in the Chicago area from both Albany State University and Miles College that love football and that want to see their schools in competition," Thurman said. "There was a need in this area for black college football." Augustus James, director of Athletics at Miles College, said, "This is a good situation for both schools and the conference (SIAC) and it gives our school more visibility in other communities." In addition to the football game, Thurman said other activities are planned for the weekend, including receptions and luncheons, live performances of both college bands in downtown Chicago, step show, pep rally and a concert by the legendary R&B performer, Bobby Womack. Tickets for the football game are $20 for reserved seats, $18 for general admission tickets and $10 for students and senior citizens. Tickets will be available at outlets in the Chicago area or fans may purchase tickets online at www.skywaycollftballclassic.com after Aug. 19. The change in location for the Albany State and Miles College game leaves Albany State with four home games. The Golden Rams will open its 2002 season on Aug. 31 at home against Valdosta State University at 7 p.m. ASU will play University of West Georgia on Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. and Lane College on Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. before home crowds. The Golden Rams will celebrate Homecoming 2002 on Oct. 26 against Clark Atlanta University at 1:30 p.m. Last week, Albany State announced the playing its game with Morehouse College in San Diego, Ca., on Nov. 9. Miles College will open Sept. 1 against Alabama State University in Birmingham. 12 Aug Albany State, Morehouse to meet in San Diego classic The Albany State University Golden Rams and the Morehouse College Maroon Tigers will strike gold this fall. The teams will meet in gridiron action in the Sixth Annual Gold Coast Classic, set for Nov. 9 in San Diego, Cal., university athletics administrators have announced. Set to kickoff at 3 p.m. (PST) at Qualcomm Stadium, home of the National Football League’s San Diego Chargers, the classic features two top teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) each year. The game was originally scheduled to be played in Atlanta at 1:30 p.m. “We are excited about the opportunity to play in San Diego,” said Dr. John I. Davis, director of Athletics at Albany State. “Not only will this classic bring national exposure for both teams, both schools and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), but black college athletics in general.” Andre Patillo, director of Athletics at Morehouse College, said the classic ... “will be something good for the conference as well as both schools in terms of exposure.” The Gold Coast Classic was created by the San Diego African-American Sports Association in 1997, and will feature a week of activities, including a parade, golf tournament, stepshow, college recruitment fair and battle of the bands. Albany State and Morehouse are the first Division II teams to be invited to play in the classic. Howard University and Morgan State University played in the first Gold Coast Classic in 1997. Grambling State University and Winston-Salem State University played in both 1998 and 1999 classics. Norfolk State played Texas Southern University in the 2000 contest and Delaware State University in the 2001 game. Albany State will open its 2002 season on Aug. 31 at home against Valdosta State University at 7 p.m., while Morehouse will face Fort Valley State University in Macon, Ga., at 5 p.m.
PICTURE/MEDIA DAY 2001
Tuskegee, Alabama - Dr. Benjamin F. Payton, President of Tuskegee University, Rick Comegy, Director of Athletics/Head Football Coach
and the Office of Sports Information are pleased to announce Picture/Media Day 2002 for the football Golden Tigers. The event is set for Sunday, August 11, 2002 at 3:00 p.m.
in the Daniel “Chappie” James Center for Aerospace Science and Health Education on the campus of Tuskegee University.
In addition to the team’s photo and individual player mugs, Coach Comegy and players will be available for other print and electronic photographic shots and interviews.
Comegy guided the Golden Tigers to the SIAC championship and a 28-0 victory in the Pioneer Bowl at the Georgia Dome in 2001. His six-year ledger at Tuskegee includes
a 54-16 overall record, 3 Pioneer Bowl wins, 3 SIAC championships, an undefeated 12-0 season in 2000, and a historically Black College title in 2000.
The eleven-game schedule includes five home games, two classics, and four other road contests.
Travel with the Golden Tigers when they visit SIAC foe Clark Atlanta University on August 31 to December 21
at the Georgia Dome in Pioneer Bowl VI.
Tuskegee will tangle with Morehouse in the 67th Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic in a televised game
on October 19 and will meet Alabama State in the 79th Annual Turkey Day Football Classic on Thanksgiving Day,
Thursday, November 28.
The Golden Tigers will host Benedict College on September 14 in their home opener.
In addition to the Homecoming date with Lane on November 2, TU will face Miles, Lincoln and Albany State at Abbott Stadium.
They will journey to Winston-Salem State, Fort Valley State and Kentucky State in other road treks.
You are invited to join us in covering the nation’s winningest HBCU football program (544 victories)
for this annual event.
The team will arrive for fall camp on Saturday, August 10, 2002.
SOME GOLDEN TIGERS TO WATCH IN 2002:
Senior Jeffrey Stanton (#19) 2002 Pre-season All-SIAC First Team Return Specialist/Second Team Free Safety
Soph Travis Gumbs (#20) 2002 Pre-season All-SIAC First Team Punter
Senior Nathaniel Jones (#58) 2002 Pre-season All-SIAC Second Team Linebacker
Senior Drayton Florence (#29) 2002 Pre-season All-SIAC Second Team Defensive Back
Senior Donald Joyce (#99) 2002 Pre-season All-SIAC First Team Defensive Lineman
Junior Vance Babin (#75) 2002 Pre-season All-SIAC Second Team Defensive Lineman
Senior Kylin Kimble (#86) 2002 Pre-season All-SIAC First Team Wide Receiver
Junior Bruce Lawrence, Jr. (#70) 2002 Pre-season All-SIAC First Team Offensive Lineman
Junior Terrance Jones (#11) 2002 Pre-season All-SIAC Second Team Quarterback
12 AprAlbany State Signs Seven Basketball Athletes Seven athletes signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball with the Albany State University (ASU) Golden Rams men's team for the 2002-2003 season, the ASU coach said today. ASU men's head coach John I. Davis says he is excited about the type of student athletes that have committed to play basketball at Albany State. "So far, we have been able to sign some good, solid athletes that we hope will make great contributions to our program," Davis said. "We are still on the hunt for more good basketball players." Athletes signing with Albany State are: Jarriel R. Mann, a 6-7 forward from Lithonia, GA (Green Forest Academy), Jeremy Cooper, a 6-4 forward from Shellman, GA (Randolph-Clay High School), Angelo Simpson and Antonio Simpson, both 6-5 forwards from Stone Mountain, GA (Cross Keys High School), Antavious Hilliard, a 6-3 forward from Norcross, GA (Valdosta State University tranfer), Jarred Christian, a 6-6 forward from Cuthbert, GA (Randolph-Clay High School) and Daryl Neal a 6-4 forward from Columbus, GA (Carver High School).5 Apr
Albany State to host Alice Coachman Invitational Track Meet Albany State University (ASU) will host the Tenth Annual Alice Coachman Invitational Track Meet on Saturday, April 6, at the ASU Track and Field Complex. Field events are slated to start at 10:30 a.m., with running events starting at 11:30 a.m. The awards ceremonies will begin at approximately 4:45 p.m. Sponsored by the ASU Athletics Department, the track meet will feature Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and non-conference teams, including Paine College, Miles College, Savannah State University, Claflin College and Edward Waters College. The annual track meet held in honor of Alice Coachman-Davis, the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Coachman-Davis made history and gained international attention by capturing the high jump title with record-setting jump of 5' 6 1/8" during the 1948 Olympic Games in London. While the 1948 games catapulted her to international acclaim and the first endorsement among African-American women, she had proven herself as a major track and field force in prior years. She won 10 consecutive U.S. titles in the high jump and national titles at 50-meters, 100-meters and as a member in the 400-meter relay on the Tuskegee championship team. Many believe she would have dominated the 1940 and 1944 Summer Games, which were cancelled because of World War II. The Albany, Ga., native attended Tuskegee University, but earned her bachelor's degree from Albany State (College) after returning from the 1948 games. As a collegian, she was a member of three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championship basketball teams. She dominated Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) competitions in the high jump. From 1938 to 1948, she won 10 consecutive AAU high jump titles, a record which still holds today. In 1994, she established the Alice Coachman Track and Field Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists both young athletes and retired Olympians.18 Mar
Services For Former SCSU Football Coach Bill Davis Set for Friday Savannah, GA- Funeral services for former South Carolina State head football coach William R. Davis will be held Friday (Mar. 22) at 11 a.m. at St. Philip A.M.E. Church, Martin Luther King Boulevard, Savannah, Georgia. Burial will be on Saturday (Mar. 23) at St. Paul Cemetery in Union, South Carolina. Visitation is set for Thursday (Mar. 21) from 6-8 p.m. at St. Philip A.M.E. Church in Savannah. Sidney A. Jones Funeral Home of Savannah is in charge of arrangements. The family requests that memorials be made to the Savannah State University football program. Coach Davis, a Union native in his second stint as head football coach at Savannah State, died Sunday, March 17, 2002. He was 60 During a seven-year (1979-85) stint as head coach for the Bulldogs, when he succeeded Willie Jeffries, Davis compiled a 53-25-1 record, won four conference championships and made two appearances in the Div. I-AA playoffs. As a Jeffries assistant for six seasons (1973-78), he helped the Bulldogs to a 50-13-4 record, five conference titles and four postseason appearances. In addition to coaching stints at S.C. State and Savannah State, Davis also served tenures at Tennessee State and Johnson C. Smith. Davis is survived by wife, Amy Thompson Davis of Charlotte, NC; son, William R. Davis Jr. of Albany, GA; daughter, Tomeka Davis (and son-in law Radcliff Quarterman) of Savannah; sisters, Betty Gilliam of Lancaster and Debra Clayton.6 Feb
Albany State Golden Rams sign 12 football student athletes Twelve high school and junior college football athletes signed National Letters of Intent to play football with the Albany State University (ASU) Golden Rams for the 2002 season, during the national initial signing day on Feb. 6, according to ASU football coaches. ASU head coach James "Mike" White says he is excited about the season and hopeful of the contributions the 2002 signess can make to the team. "We had a good recruiting season, so we are pleased. We signed some good, solid student athletes to add some depth on both sides of the ball," White said. "We should have a production 2002 season with these new players, along with talent we are bringing back." White said he expects to sign a few more athletes before the April 1 deadline. For more information, contact Edythe Y. Bradley, sports information director, at 229-430-4673 or by email at ebradley@asurams.edu. Albany State University 2002 signees Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown High School/Junior College Brian Ceasar TB 6-0 190 Blakely, GA Early Co. H.S. Lemon Cole TE 6-4 260 Waycross, GA Ware Co. H.S. Zontavious Johnson WR 6-1 190 Stone Mountain, GA Middle Georgia College Julius McClealan WR 6-3 205 Lakeland, FL Kathleen H.S. Troy Williams LB 6-2 225 Fitzgerald, GA Fitzgerald H.S. Rennado Winbush OLB 6-1 220 Blakely, GA Early Co. H.S. Latavius Walker S 6-2 205 Augusta, GA Laney H.S. Vincent Early OT 6-4 315 Mobile, AL John LeFlore H.S. Lance Liverman LB 6-3 225 Jacksonville, FL First Coast H.S. Keon Boles CB 5-11 185 Jacksonville, FL First Coast H.S. Wilbert Carson LB 6-2 240 Mobile, AL Shaw H.S. Johnaton Wilson OT 6-5 285 Lakeland, FL Kathleen H.S.