GAME TIME
Morgan State (3-3, 2-1 MEAC) continues the 2012 season play in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference matchup against Howard on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET at Greene Stadium. The game will mark Homecoming for Howard.  The Bison enter the 2012 season under the leadership of second-year head coach Gary “The Flea” Harrell. The Bison (4-2, 3-1) are coming off a disappointing 38-10 loss at North Carolina A&T.  The Bears fell in the last seconds to  North Carolina Central 24-20 in Hughes Stadium.

THE BEARS-BISON MATCHUP 
• The Bears and Bison will meet for the 66th time since 1931. Morgan leads the series 40-24-1.
•  Morgan State posted a 14-9 win against Howard last year at the New York Urban League Football Classic in front of 24,996 fans in attendance… redshirt-freshmanRobert Council threw the first touchdown of his career when he connected with tight end Kristian Johnson for a 3-yard score.  Council led the Bears by completing 12 of 18 passes for 119 yards.
• The last time the Bears were in Greene Stadium was on Oct. 18, 2008 … RB Devan James rushed for a career-high 219 yards and scored two touchdowns, including one in overtime to help Morgan State beat Howard 31-30 in double-overtime, handing a Howard Homecoming loss before 6,843 fans at Greene Stadium.

QUICK HITS
• Travis Davidson currently leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in rushing with 619 yards (103.2 avg/g). He also ranks No. 1 the MEAC in scoring (60 Pts).
•  QB Robert Council, making his second career start, completed 8-of-18 passes for 91 yards and was sacked three times against North Carolina Central.
•  Cornerback Joe Rankin registered his 9th interception of his career, picking off Savannah State quarterback Antonio Bostic in the 1st quarter…He currently leads the MEAC in INTs with four in six games…he also leads the league in passes defended (10).
• The MSU defense has collected 10 interceptions (FCS T-8th) through the first six games of 2012.
•  The Bears continue to be among the top scoring offenses in the league, entering Saturday’s contest as the MEAC’s No. 3 ranked scoring offense (26.0 avg/g).
•  True freshman LB Elandon Roberts currently ranks No. 7 in the MEAC in tackles by posting 53 tackles so far this season … he recorded a season-high 14 tackles against N.C A&T and was named Rookie of the Week.
•  Redshirt sophomore DE Chris Robinson posted seven tackles and two sacks vs. N.C. Central … he currently leads the MEAC with five sacks (5).
•  Travis Davidson currently has 1,351 yards and sits 101 yards away from surpassing James Fields at No. 10 on the school’s all-time rushing list.
•  Earvin Gonzalez currently ranks No. 1 in the MEAC by connecting on 10-of-14 field goals and is a perfect 18-of-18 on PATs and booted a career-high 47-yard field goal against N.C. Central.

HOWARD THUMBNAILS
• Howard ranks among the nation’s top black college football teams The Bison currently rank No. 8 in the Heritage Top 10 Poll, No. 9 in the BoxToRow HBCU Media Top 10 Poll and No. 9 in the Sheridan Poll.
• In 2011, Howard finished with a 5-6 overall record and 4-4 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
• Sophomore QB Greg McGee leads the Bison on offense this season. The 6-3, 200-pounder from Pittsburgh (Pa.) has completed 37 of 70 for 386 yards and a touchdown with four interceptions. He has also rushed for 127 yards on 35 carries (3.6 avg) with two touchdowns.
• Through the first six games, RB Aquanius Freeman (5-10, 213) has been the Bison’s leading ground gainer and is among the league’s rushing leaders (Ranked 7th). The sophomore from New Orleans, La. has recorded 57 carries for 370 yards (6.5 avg), including 5 TDs.  He was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Week following a a career-high 212 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns to lead Howard to a 56-9 victory over Savannah State.
• MSU’s offense will have to account for the Bison’s All-American linebacker Keith Pough. Pough currently ranks among the league leaders with 49 tackles (ranks 3rd), 8.5 tackles for loss (ranked 2nd) and 3.5 sacks (T-7th).
• Through six games, the Howard defense has allowed 145.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks 5th in the MEAC. The Bison also rank 3rd in sacks (17) and 5th in total defense (359.2).

NEXT UP
After Saturday’s contest versus Howard, the Bears will play at home against the Delaware State Hornets. The matchup is set for Thursday, October 25 and will be televised by ESPNU. Kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

GAME TIME
Morgan State (3-2, 2-0 MEAC) continues the 2012 season play in a battle of undefeated teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference when they matchup against North Carolina Central on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET at Hughes Stadium. The game will mark Homecoming for Morgan State and it will be the Bears first home contest since its home-opener on Sept. 1 against Sacred Heart.  The Eagles enter the 2012 season under the leadership of second-year head coach Henry Frazier III. The Eagles (3-2, 2-0) are coming off an impressive 40-10 win versus South Carolina State.  The Bears rolled Savannah State 45-6 in T.A. Stadium.  The game will be broadcast live by WEAA, 88.9 FM.

THE BEARS-EAGLES MATCHUP 
• The Bears and Eagles will meet for the 37th time in history. Morgan leads the series 22-12-2.
•  The Bears opened up with 42 first half points en route to a 52-3 rout at North Carolina Central last season… Travis Davidson led the Bears with142 yards on 25 carries and scored three touchdowns on runs of 49, 2 and 8 yards.
• The last time the Eagles were in Hughes Stadium was on Sept. 14, 2008 during MSU’s Homecoming…Bear RB Devan James rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown and MSU collected a school record six interceptions, en route to a 49-7 win over N.C. Central.

QUICK HITS
• Morgan State extended to a 7-0 winning streak against Savannah State, and it marked the fifth consecutive time the Bears have posted 40 or more points against the Tigers.
• Travis Davidson currently leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in rushing with 514 yards (102.8 avg/g). He also ranks No. 1 the MEAC in scoring (48 Pts).
•  QB Robert Council, made his first career start at Savannah State and completed 6-of-10 passes for 71 yards and rushed for 23 yards for Morgan State (3-2, 2-0), which hasn’t gotten off to a start this good in conference play since 2009.
•  Cornerback Joe Rankin registered his 9th interception of his career, picking off Savannah State quarterback Antonio Bostic in the 1st quarter…He’s currently tied for first place in the nation (FCS) in INTs with four in five games.
• The MSU defense has collected seven (9) interceptions (FCS T-10th) through the first five games of 2012.
•  The Bears continue to be among the top scoring offenses in the league, entering Saturday’s contest as the MEAC’s No. 4 ranked scoring offense (27.2 avg/g).
• Chris Flowers was acknowledged for his individual performance against Savannah State on Oct. 6. Flowers was named the National Kickoff Returner of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) … the redshirt junior scored on an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
• Morgan State currently leads the league in kick returns (ranked No. 11 in the FCS) by averaging 25.7 yards per return.
•  For the second time this season, MAU placekicker/punter Earvin Gonzalez has been named MEAC Special Teams Player of the Week, which was announced Monday … Gonzalez connected on 6-of-6 point after attempts, and averaged 41.6 punting yards, including a 59-yarder with two inside the 20 in the Bears’ win Saturday over Savannah State.
•  True freshman LB Elandon Roberts currently ranks No. 8 in the MEAC in tackles by posting 45 tackles so far this season … he recorded a season-high 14 tackles against N.C A&T and was named Rookie of the Week.

JUICE UPDATE
Senior RB Travis “Juice” Davidson returns as one of the top running backs in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The senior led the Bears by accounting for 125 rushing yards and three TDs against Savannah State on Oct. 6. The Redford (Mich.) product has 15 TDs in his Blue & Orange career and will continue to be one to watch.

N.C. CENTRAL THUMBNAILS
• North Carolina Central University forced five turnovers that resulted in 24 points during a 40-10 victory over South Carolina State University in the 29th annual Circle City Classic inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
• The win improved the Eagles to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
• Junior QB Jordan Reid leads the Eagles’ offensive attack. Reid ranks No. 4 in the MEAC in pass efficiency (125.5 effic.), No. 7 in passing average (123.0/g) and No. 9 in total offense (130.6/g).
• Geovonie Irvine is a bonafide threat as long as he’s on the field. The senior wideout currently ranks No. 7 in all-purpose yards and is the Eagles’ second leading receiver with eight catches for 132 yards, including two touchdowns. He has also leads the team’s special teams unit by averaging 25.3 record three punt returns for 45 yards and a touchdown
• Through the first five games, RB Andre Clarke (5-10, 213) has been the Eagles leading ground gainer. The redshirt sophomore from Mauldin, S.C. has recorded 48 carries for 305 yards (5.8 avg), including 7 TDs (Ranked 2nd in MEAC in scoring TDs).
• Through five games, the NCCU defense has allowed just 110.2 rushing yards per game, which ranks first in the MEAC and 12th among the FCS statistical leaders. The Eagles also rank T-11th in the FCS in tackles for loss with an average of 7.6 per contest.

BALTIMORE, Md. – Morgan State (2-2, 1-0 MEAC) continues Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play with a matchup at Savannah State on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET at Theodore A. Wright Stadium. The game will mark the fourth consecutive road contest for the Bears.

The Tigers enter the 2012 season under the leadership of second-year head coach Steve Davenport. The Tigers (0-4, 0-2) are coming off a 56-9 loss at Howard.  The Bears stunned N.C. A&T with a  21-18 win in a game that was televised live by ESPNU.

THE BEARS-TIGERS MATCHUP 
• The Bears and Tigers will meet for the 7th time in history. Morgan State leads the series 6-0 since 2000.
• Savannah State fell 44-17 at Hughes Stadium during Morgan State’s Homecoming last season. Morgan State’s Seth Higgins completed 14-of-24 passes for 239 yards and tossed four touchdowns, while backup redshirt-freshman quarterback Robert Council took his first pass of the day and delivered a 52-yard touchdown strike to tight end Lamont Bryant.
• Last year’s game also marked the first time Donald Hill-Eley coached from the pressbox.

QUICK HITS
• Morgan State’s win at N.C. A&T snapped a 2-game losing streak and the Bears racked up 373 yards of total offense, including 251 passing yards.
• Travis Davidson currently leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in rushing with 389 yards (97.2 avg/g). He also ranks No. 5 the MEAC in scoring (30 Pts/G).
•  QBs Seth Higgins and Robert Council have combined for 1,262 passing yards (99-of-159) and four touchdowns.
•  Cornerback Joe Rankin registered his 8th interception of his career, picking off N.C. A&T quarterback Lewis Kindle in the 2nd quarter…The pick gives him sole possession of first place in the MEAC in INTs with three in four games.
• The MSU defense has collected seven (7) interceptions (FCS T-12th) through the first four games of 2012.
•  The Bears continue to be among the top scoring offenses in the league, entering Saturday’s contest as the MEAC’s No. 5 ranked scoring offense (22.8 avg/g).
•  True freshman LB Elandon Roberts recorded a season-high 14 tackles and a tackle for a loss against N.C A&T…he was recently named MEAC Rookie of the Week.
•  Redshirt freshman DL Damarco Bisbee posted five tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack at N.C. A&T.
•  Punter Earvin Gonzalez registered his longest punt of his career, covering 65 yards.
•  Tight end Kristian Johnson had four receptions for 91 yards last week against N.C. A&T, including a 34-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. It marked the first touchdown of his career.
•  Wide receiver Andrew King caught a career-long 32-yard pass from Robert Council in the final seconds to help the Bears pullout a 21-18 victory at N.C. A&T…King finished the night with three receptions for 55 yards.

A WIN WOULD …
… improve the Bears to 3-2 this season.

… make the Bears 3-2 for the first time during the Donald Hill-Eley era.

… be the Bears second road win of the season, and mark its first back-to-back road wins since beating North Carolina Central  on Oct. 15, 2011 and Delaware State on October 24, 2011.

… improve Coach Hill’s record against Savannah State to 4-0 since 2003, and 2-0 at Theodore Wright Stadium.

SAVANNAH STATE THUMBNAILS
• The Tigers have employed the services of both Antonio Bostick and Victorian Hardison at the quarterback position. Bostick has completed 33-of-89 passes for 451 yards with two touchdowns, while Hardison has thrown for 137 yards on 12-of-26 passes with a touchdown.  So far this season, Bostick holds a 4-to-2 margin with Hardison in games played.
• Through the first four games, Simon Heyward has been the Tigers go-to receiver on offense.  The Savannah product has recorded 14 catches for 267 yards (19.1 avg), including 2 TDs.

GAME TIME
The Bears (0-0, 0-0) will host Sacred Heart in the season opener on Saturday (Sept. 1) at Hughes Stadium. The Pioneers enter the 2012 season under the leadership of interim head coach Mark Nofri. The Pioneers completed the 2011 season with a 5-6 overall record and a 3-6 mark in the Northeast Conference.  Morgan State posted a 5-6 record last season and was 4-4 in MEAC play. Donald Hill-Eley, ranked third among winning coaches at MSU, enters his second decade as head coach of the Bears.  Game time at Hughes Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.

THE BEARS-PIONEERS MATCHUP
• The Bears and Pioneers will meet for the first time in history.

SEASON OPENERS
• The Bears have lost three of their last four season openers, including five of its last seven.
• MSU is 4-6 under head coach Donald Hill-Eley in season-openers.
• The Bears last season opener victory was during a 14-7 win against Bowie State on Sept. 4, 2010 at Hughes Stadium.

QUICK HITS
• Morgan State will enter the 2012 season with plenty of veterans … the Bears’ roster includes 22 seniors.
•  Seth Higgins returns as the Bears starting QB … He completed 97-of-186 passes for 1,116 yards, including 9 TDs as a true freshman.
• Morgan State returns three of its top rushers from last season: Travis Davidson (792 yards), Tracy Martin (317 yards) and Brian Mann (101 yards).
• Travis Davidson had a 49-yard rushing touchdown and led the Bears with 74 yards on seven carries against Norfolk State.
•  MSU wideout Tyrone Hendrix collected a season-high 371 yards on 19 catches, including three touchdowns in 2011.
•  Kenneth Ridley emerged as a shutdown cornerback last season and ranked T-No. 2 in the MEAC with four interceptions.
•  LB Allen Stephens posted a team-high 80 tackles to go along with 7.5 tackles for loss and an interception.
•  DE Richard Ndubueze was selected to the 2012 Preseason All-MEAC First Team.

SACRED HEART THUMBNAILS
• The Pioneers finished the 2011 season with a 5-6 overall record and went 3-5 in the Northeastern Conference.
• The Pioneers played with a lot of question marks at the quarterback position last season, but will enter the 2012 season with Tim Little as the unquestionable starter. Little (6-4, 215, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) threw for 2,200 yards while completing 57.9% (206-356) of his passes. Little helped lead the NEC’s top-passing offense (237.8 ypg).
• Sacred Heart has led the NEC in throwing the ball for the last three-straight seasons.
• Defensively, the Pioneers are led by Niko Sierra. Sierra is a two-year starter at outside linebacker and finished with 57 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and led the Pioneers with four interceptions, five pass breakups, a forced fumble and a sack last season.

TASTY SHIRT GIVEAWAY
One of our favorite local streetwear brands, UNIVERSITY OF TASTE, has stepped up to the plate to partner with us to help start the 2012 Morgan State football season off right. On this Saturday’s football season-opener against Sacred Heart, we’ll be giving away brand spankin’ new t-shirts to the first 200, courtesy of UNIVERSITY OF TASTE.

NEXT UP
After Saturday’s contest the Bears’ next three games will be on the road. MSU will travel to face Buffalo on Saturday, Sept. 8^th, followed by road matchups at Akron (Sept. 15) and North Carolina A&T (Sept. 27).

WASHINGTON, DC – The Washington Wizards will conduct pre-draft workouts on Wednesday, June 13th at Verizon Center.

The following players are currently scheduled to participate in tomorrow’s workout:

• Al’Lonzo Coleman – F – Presbyterian College – 6’7, 255 lbs
• Thomas Robinson – F – Kansas – 6’10, 237 lbs
• Kevin Thompson – F – Morgan St. – 6-9, 240 lbs

Thompson was one of the premiere big men in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference over the last four seasons. He helped lead the Bears to two MEAC Tournament championships and two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. His MSU teams reached the MEAC Championship Game three times in his four seasons.

As a senior Thompson averaged 10.8 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game. As a junior he averaged 13.1 points and 9.1 rebounds. As a sophomore he averaged a double double, 12.7 points and 11.8 rebounds. Even as a freshman Thompson averaged a respectable 8.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

Thompson’s former Morgan teammate Reggie Holmes was signed by the Memphis Grizzlies after the 2010 NBA Draft and played for the team in the NBA Summer League.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Coppin State seniors Michael Harper and Tony Gallo were each named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 15 team as selected by the member coaches of the NABC.

Harper was named to the first team and Gallo was named to the second team.

Harper averaged 11.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game and led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference shooting 41.7 percent from the three-point line. He was second on the team with 68 three-point baskets and also shot 73.8 percent from the free throw line.

Gallo was honored on the second team after leading the Eagles averaging 17.1 points per game. He led the Eagles in scoring, three-point baskets, free throws made and assists.

Joining Harper on the first team was Kyle O’Quinn of Norfolk State, Darrion Pellum of Hampton and Dewayne Jackson and Kevin Thompson of Morgan State.

The second team was comprised of Gallo, Chris McEachin of Norfolk State, Dominique Sutton of North Carolina Central, Brandon Riley of South Carolina State and Garrius Holloman of Bethune-Cookman.

Honorable Mention: Boxing-Orlando Salido vs. Juan Manuel Lopez (Saturday 10pm from San Juan, Puerto Rico live on Showtime); Mixed Martial Arts: Bellator Fighting Championships 60 (Friday 8pm from Hammond, IN live on MTV2); Soccer: MISL Eastern Division Final-Rochester Lancers @ Baltimore Blast (Saturday 7:35pm 1st Mariner Arena, Leg 2 Monday 7pm in Rochester); Tennis: ATP Tour/WTA Tour BNP Paribas Open (Saturday-Monday 2pm from Indian Wells, CA live on Tennis Channel); Charm City Roller Girls (Saturday 5:30pm Du Burns Arena)

10. Black Keys/Arctic Monkeys (Friday 8pm Verizon Center); Boyce Avenue (Wednesday 6:30pm Rams Head Live), Pat Green (Friday 8pm Rams Head Live), moe. (Saturday 8pm Rams Head Live), Orgy (Sunday 6:30pm Rams Head Live); Cris Jacobs Band (Friday 8pm 8×10 Club), Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers (Saturday 8pm 8×10 Club); Kindred the Family Soul (Friday 7:30pm Baltimore Soundstage); Playing for Change Band (Wednesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Mutemath (Saturday 7pm 9:30 Club), Young The Giant/Grouplove (Sunday 7pm 9:30 Club); Experience Hendrix feat. Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd (Tuesday 8pm Strathmore); Travis Tritt (Tuesday 7:30pm Birchmere); North Mississippi All-Stars (Saturday 9pm State Theatre); Bruce Springsteen “Wrecking Ball” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

The Black Keys sold out the Verizon Center. That’s amazing. I’ll most look forward to the part where the place that usually houses smelly Caps fans turns into one large Phoenix Coyotes rally…

Boyce Avenue is not an act I should ever voluntarily admit to enjoying. I should ABSOLUTELY never admit to enjoying their cover of Rihanna’s “Umbrella”…

The PFC band is fantastic. You’ll probably remember this…

Young The Giant authored perhaps the single most underrated song of 2011…

9. Bill Bellamy (Thursday-Saturday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Kevin Pollak (Thursday-Saturday Magooby’s Joke House); Todd Glass (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); Baltimore St. Patrick’s Day Parade/Shamrock 5K (Sunday 1:15pm Inner Harbor/Downtown Baltimore); “Friends With Kids” opens in theaters (Friday)

One-I love a good St. Patty’s Day throw down a week before the 17th. In honor of that, I think I’ll make a stop at the Tilted Kilt in White Marsh after the parade…

Note: I’m aware that’s a Scotish thing. It’s late. I’m tired.

Note 2: Does it really matter anyway?

And since we’re here, I actually think “Friends With Kids” has a bit of a “watchable chick flick” feel. It also has Jon Hamm. As in THIS Jon Hamm…