The 2009 Liberty Cup-a Recap-By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Football Reporters Online

When the schedule came out last winter, I quickly circled the date on the calendar: Saturday the 19th of September, 2009. It would be the day the 8th annual Liberty cup would be played. The benefit game between Fordham and Columbia is a fast growing rivalry between the only 2 division 1-AA (or FCS) teams in close proximity to each other in New York City. Columbia ‘s Morningside campus is close to midtown Manhattan, While Fordham’s main campus is in the heart of the Bronx, surrounded by the Botanical gardens and the Metro North Harlem Line and the Fordham Road shopping district.

This would be my 4th year attending the game, and it’s always a pitched battle between the teams. Each year the game is highly anticipated and there are always several “back stories” about the players and coaches. This year was no different. The Rams return the Skelton brothers to the roster. John is the QB, and a senior, while Stephen is a junior who plays the “Y” position, more or less the tight end spot. Both are 6’5” tall. John has been mentioned in several circles as a pro prospect, and is well deserving of the attention, no matter who is proclaiming what ranking he is or should be. He gained 30 pounds two off seasons ago, and reminds some of a Joe Flacco type of QB, big and strong, yet still mobile. He moves well in the pocket, but is also a threat as a ball carrier as well. He does have an issue with his left knee. While it was never severely injured, he has had some soreness since increasing his size. Skelton was 25-47 for 383 yards, but was sacked twice and threw 3 interceptions to offset his 4 TD performance. Fordham Punter Patrick Murray was named the Patriot League special teams player of the week for his 6 punt, 274 yard performance (45.7yd per kick average). On the defense for the Rams. Isiejah Allen let the unit with 11 Tackles (8 solo), and the unit overall amassed 96 total tackles!

All that said, we expected a quality game from both sides. Columbia has some special players of their own, including at least one player who has gained some recognition as well. WR Austin Knowlin, a 5”11” Senior, has been a first team all Ivy selection in his sophomore season, and a second team as a junior as both a Kick/Punt returner and a Receiver. He has a natural ability to find the “gaps” in a defense when running his routes as a receiver, and has proven time and time again that he can find the end zone as a receiver and return man. Two other players earned player of the week honors for their play Saturday night. Sr. QB M.A. Olawale for his 13-23-167-2TD performance (plus 50 yards net rushing), and Freshman Punter Mike Willamson. Also deserving mention were RB Ray Rangel for his 25 carry 118 yards net rushing performance (1TD), and TE Andrew Kennedy who had 4 receptions for 83 yards and 2 TD’s. The Lions Defense was led by Adam Merher at Free Saftey, with 16 Tackles (7 Solo)!

While the final was 40-28 Columbia, this game was closer then the score would indicate. An early missed XP conversion, as well as a late two point try after RCB Jared Morine’s Interception return for a TD kept the final score under a two Touchdown difference. The performance of both teams was a fitting tribute to the Charities supporting 9/11 victims from the NYC Police and Fire departments and the Port Authority Police attending the games, as well as settingan example for the Youth football programs and H.S. teams’ Players enjoying a Saturday evening Honoring the game of Football as well.

The 38th Annual NY Urban League Classic-A recap

By The Gambler [J.Gamble] Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online
 
East Rutherford, N.J. -- The first half of Morgan State’s 16-10 OT win over Winston-Salem State in the 38th annual NY Urban League Classic should have been renamed The Exuse Caboose Classic.
 
Each team had credible and understandable exuses as to why despite the huge stage – 25,000 Giant Stadium fans, an epic battle of the bands and the Deputy Mayor of New York sitting front endzone – they played sloppy and uninspired football.
 
“We have to get back and work on our timing on offense, said MSU coach Donald Hill-Eley, “and we have to create an identity for our offense.”
 
The Bears were without the services of their offensive identity, junior sensation Devan James. James, out with an abdominal strain, is an All- MEAC First Team tailback. He rushed for a whopping 1,337 yards last season as a sophomore. And 219 of those were in one big game against Howard !
 
Quarterback Carlton Jackson seemed to be battling two fronts. The lingering effects of an injury that caused him to miss some key games at the end of the 08’ season, and the 41-0 beating MSU suffered in a season-opening loss to Akron. The negative effects of James absence was obvious, as MSU’s offense sputtered. The ground game was non-existent. The passing attack was limited.
 
WSSU entered the game in the midst of turmoil and disheartening circumstances.  The Rams, in their fourth year of a five-year transition into Div 1 football, found out on Thursday that the school’s chancellor has abandoned the ambitious plan, and will return the school to Div II status next season.
 
“Its been tough for the whole team not only football team but whole athletic program,” said Rams sophomore defensive end Stephen Young, whose college will suffer a loss in scholarships from 53 to 38 as well as exclusion from high-profile Div I games, like the Urban League Classic.
 
“We feel the freshman and sophomores deserve better than that. We came here with the intention of playing DIV I football. The whole team was sad and upset. A whole lot of emotions were going through our minds.”
 
There were even rumors around the WSSU campus of an organized boycott of games. But Young says the team had a meeting and never considered quitting on the season.
 
With the halftime score an offensively stifled 7-3, Hill-Ely looked at the scoreboard and realized there was a game up for grabs that neither team seemed to want. He needed a few good men to stop feeling sorry, and will his team to victory.
 
Senior quarterback Carlton Jackson and widereciever Ed Baptiste seized the moment.
 
Down 10-7 late in the fourth quarter, Jackson found a groove with Baptiste and they connected on pass plays of 36 and nine yards to fuel a 5-play, 39-yard drive, capped with a  42-yard field goal that tied the game and sent it into an overtime shootout.
 
On MSU’s first OT possession Jackson -- who at this point had transformed into Doug Williams -- withstood a vicious hit in the pocket and connected with Baptiste, who outhustled a leaping defender in the end-zone, sealing victory for the Bears. MSU evened its record at 1-1, and can look forward to trying to play up to the team’s high preseason MEAC Conference and FCS [Football championship Subdivision] expectations.
 
“Me and Baptiste we work everyday for moments like this,” said Jackson, who completed an efficient 16 of 21 passes for 146 yards and two TD's. “I been playing with Devan James since five years old and he is a vital part of our offense and he is missed, but that doesn’t stop the show. We got to keep trucking.”
 
WSSU, on the other hand, is just stunned. Stunned by the news of going back to Div II. Stunned by the likelihood of falling to 0-4 with a meeting against FCS No. 1 South Carolina State a week away.  Stunned by the way they relinquished a 10-7 lead. Stunned by the fact that they had 188 rushing yards to MSU’s 43. And 79 more total yards. And still lost.
 
The future of the Rams athletic program is in limbo. Coach Kermit Blount has re-written the record books at WSSU in his 17 years there. He is confident the university and its football team will end up on its feet.
 
 “We just didn’t make the plays” said Blount. “We’ll make the proper adjustments. I won’t blame it on the transition back to Div II. The kids were hurt and the coaches were hurt [by the news], but the things we control are in between the lines. We have to move on.”
 
 
 

Close Win For SBU Over The Brown Bears

By Douglas Speigel-Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online

Sure it was only a one point victory, but if you want an early prediction, here it is, Chuck Priore: FCS coach of the year. After quipping “We needed it” during his entrance to the post game conference he went on to explain, what could be clearly seen, as the mental and philosophic fever that is spreading throughout this team’s players.
Tonight at LaValle Stadium, Brown was in town to play their first game of the season vs.-The Seawolves. Ticklish excitement from home-based fans could be felt the moment you entered the parking lot, and moved beautifully into the first plays of the game.
The Browns stability and togetherness, throughout the first half, could be clearly seen as they marched down the field, between a series of flags drawn by the very patient Stony Brook.
These periods, of well played football, lead to a beautiful roll-out pass from Caballero, to the man in the end zone, Matthew Sudfeld. A successful kick and it is 7-0.
Stony Brook immediately answered back with a 51-yard kick-off return by WR #80 Matthew Brevi, a well-choreographed five yard pass to Porter, and hand off to Edwin Gowins, who hesitated not at all, and broke to the outside for an explosive 27 yard touch down run.
The game tied 7-7, it was Browns turn to score again, and Kyle Caballero, did just that. Locating #46 Buddy Famham for the touch down.
#80, does it again, with a 36-yard kick off return, giving the Seawolves great field position. With SBU looking for the end zone, they go to the air a lot for what had to be seen as a bunch of nearly gotten beautiful plays.
SB Freshman Justin Blake intercepts a pass in the end zone. Tides still not being sturdy the Seawolves #46 Schwicke intercepts a deflected pass and takes it for a nice run leaving SBU at the 44.
This series of action culminated with a gorgeous Coulter pass, on a gorgeously orchestrated play, and a gorgeous reception by Number 25 Jordan Gush, putting Stony Brook on the board again. Skiffington makes the second of his first two extra point attempts and leaves the game tied 14-14 at the half.

The marching band graces the crowd with the classic White Rabbit and an early 70’s Don’t Fear the Reaper.. and it is on to the second half.

Who else to start it off, but the sophomore Matt Brevi. #80. Gaining yet another 53 yards, moving like a barracuda’s chewing at his heels and leaving his daily kick off return total at 140 yards.
Kyle, with a nothing less then relentless performance, showed his ability to run, picking up 22 important yards on foot, and earning 267 yards passing for the game. However, getting to Alex Prestly for The Bears third touch down, proves to be the turning point as the third of Plitcha’s field goal attempts flies right and leaves the score, Bears 20 SBU-14.
With 47 seconds left on the clock, The Seawolves come up strong again as Coulter connects with WR Donald Porter(#6) in the end zone, setting up Skiffington for the potential game winning extra point. The kick is good and after enough 47 seconds of play to keep us all interested, including a failed 43 yard kick by Brown, Stony Brook walks away with their first victory of the season.

I felt a quite sense of strength in the Browns locker room after the game, a sense of brightness on the rise, and heard a lot of silence. While I am a reporter, I also respect privacy. I know it is not best to put a word in a person’s mouth, but I do believe If I had gotten up the momentary rational to ask the The Bears coach Phil Estes for comment, he undoubtedly would have spoken of hope for their next game on September the 25th.

Next week, look to see the Bears come out strong and for Stony Brook to try many new things in Massachusetts, and as Chuck put it “be what they need to be to win that game.”