The Florida A&M Rattlers opened the black college football season a week ago by snake biting the Texas Southern Tigers 29-7. FAMU Quarterback Ryan Stanley led the way passing and running for touchdowns finishing the day with 217 Yards.Two other games were played last week as Edward Waters fell to Bethel 19-13 and Louisburg dominated Virginia University at Lynchburg 41-10.
Fast forward to this week, which is actually the first full week of games. Thursday the defending CIAA ( Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) champion Winston Salem State Rams slipped past UNC Pembroke 34-31, Clark Atlanta topped Mississippi College 32-29 while Delaware State lost to in-state rival the University of Delaware 22-3. A big win so far this week is Tennessee State beating Georgia State 17-10. The Tigers win the first time TSU was victorious over a school from the Football Bowl Subdivision.
This holiday weekend features Bethune Cookman traveling to Coral Gables Florida to take on the University of Miami. The Wildcats are coming off a four win and six loss season in 2016 and have not made the start of this season any easier opening up against the Hurricanes. Speaking of tough opponents, the defending MEAC champion North Carolina Central Eagles will take on the Blue Devils of Duke in the Bull City Classic. The Eagles of NCCU lost key members from their 2016 conference championship. Their coach on the field quarterback Malcolm Bell has graduated, and key defensive back Michael Jones has moved on to Temple. Saturday coach Jerry Backs will depend on the legs of preseason all-conference running back Ramone Simpson and preseason all conference defensive back Alden McClellon, not to mention punter Nathaniel Tilque can help by putting the Blue Devils in bad field position.
Saturday will also feature the defending national black college football champion Grambling State taking on the Tulane Green Waves. Coach Broderick Fobbs Tigers are coming off one loss season. The Tigers have not lost a conference game in two years and look to three peat the SWAC (South Western Athletic Conference ). All conference quarterback Devante Kincade who passed for 2999 yards last season and rushed for 342 more. The Tigers may give Tulane all it can handle as the Tigers will also feature Urban Media today Black College watch list members Kincade, running back Martez Carter and Defensive tackle Brandon Varner.
Sunday will cap off the weekend’s action as Southern University battles the South Carolina State Bulldogs in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. The Jaguars are the only SWAC team to win the challenge in the games 10-year history. Meanwhile, two players to watch will be Southern quarterback Austin Howard and Bulldogs Linebacker Darius Leonard ( two more players on the UMT watch list for 2017).
Check Back after this weekend to find out who won their games and the final scores. Also, find out what black college football players are on this year “Urban Media Today Watch List” listen for our Black College Report on Urban Media Today Radio.
Trevin A Jones
Follow me on Twitter: @UMTSportsreport