Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BY TED TAYLOR

The Tennessee State Tigers returned to Bragg Stadium for the first time since 1997 to spoil the home opener for Florida A & M University.

The longtime rivalry took a detour through Atlanta from 1998-2010, resuming last year in Nashville. On Saturday afternoon, the Tigers used the Florida heat, scoring with every phase of the game to wear down the Rattlers 27-7, before 14,237. From the outset, TSU sent a message to FAMU when defensive back David Van Dyke returned an interception 46 yards for a touchdown on the fifth play of the game.

On its next possession, runningback Tim Broughton used a 10-yard dash to increase the first quarter lead to 14-0. Early in the second frame, FAMU quarterback Damien Fleming found wide receiver Lenworth Lennon in the end zone to cut the lead in half. The momentum lasted no longer than the timeout as Mart Stevenson returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards up the middle for a 21-7 lead that stood to halftime.

TSU went on a 13-play, 76-yard, 7:00 drive to open the second half, to stretch the lead to 27-7. The point-after kick was no good. The Rattler offense remained in hibernation having the ball for only 3:13 in the third quarter, and just a minute more in the fourth. Despite not scoring anymore, TSU was in control as they wore down the Rattler defense for 105 rushing yards on 15 attempts in the fourth quarter. FAMU was held to 22 yards on the ground on 24 attempts while TSU gained 268 yards on 45 rushes.

Also, FAMU was held to 9 first downs. The Rattlers will be at home again next weekend against Stamford University of Birmingham, Alabama. It will be the first meeting ever between the two schools.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will start off their 2013 season with games against the New York Jets; at home against division foe, the New Orleans Saints, on the road against the New England Patriots, and back home against the Arizona Cardinals.

If Sunday’s performance is any indication of what the season will be, the Bucs just might be 0-4 before their bye week October 6th. The Bucs were leading the Jets 17-15 Sunday with 34 seconds left in the game, and found a way to give the game back to the Jets, losing 18-17. The Buccaneer defense played a steady game, recording sacks against rookie quarterback Geno Smith, and disrupting the Jet offense.

However, the Buccaneer offense sputtered, occasionally getting itself in gear, only to bungle the whole thing later. The just couldn’t get any consistency, and their ground game never materialized. Josh Freeman (pictured) finished the day 15 of 31 for 210 yards, 1 touchdown and interception. Smith finished 24 for 38 for 256 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

The Bucs stumbled with no points on drives, offensive penalties, giving the Jets 16 points on drives with defensive penalties; recording 3 penalties on their opening drive, and recording 13 total penalties for 102 yards.

 Serena Williams got the challenge a defending U. S. Open champion should expect on Sunday.

It took three sets for her to close out a victory over Victoria Azarenka. Final score: 7-5, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1. It’s the fifth Open title for Williams and her only difficult match in two weeks at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. She hadn’t lost a set in her previous six matches, but was bothered by the swirling air and Azarenka’s strong play.

“Vika’s such a great opponent; she’s such a fighter,” Williams said after the match. “It was never over until match point.” The match started with a pair of breaks as first Azarenka and then Williams failed to hold serve. In a tight first set, Williams notched the decisive break in the 11th game and then served out the set to love.

A mammoth fourth game in the third set ended with Williams breaking Azarenka to lead 3-1 and the defending champion did not look back to move within one major victory of matching Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova (both 18 majors).

Williams smashed 36 winners during the final, compared to just 17 from Azarenka, but Williams finished with 35 unforced errors to Azarenka’s 27.

Tiger Woods has committed to play in the BMW Championship next week at Conway Farms Golf Club near Chicago.

The tournament is the third in the PGA TOUR’s four-event FedExCup Playoffs and will consist of the top 70 players on the points list. Henrik Stenson of Sweden moved into first place Monday after his victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship. He has accumulated 4,051 points, while Woods has 4,037 (-14).

Rounding out the top five are Adam Scott with 3,917 (-134), Matt Kuchar with 3,103 (-948) and Graham DeLaet with 2,806 (-1,245). The winner of the BMW Championship receives 2,500 points, and there is no cut. The top 30 on the points list advance to the TOUR Championship, Sept. 19-22, at East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta, where the FedExCup winner receives $10 million.

Any player in the top five on the points list entering the TOUR Championship who wins at East Lake will clinch the FedExCup title. Woods is a two-time winner of the BMW Championship (2007, 2009).

He also won when the tournament was called the Western Open in 1997, 1999 and 2000. All five of his victories were recorded at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, Ill.

BY TED TAYLOR

Florida A & M University propelled a dominating first half into a 27-10, victory on Sunday afternoon in Orlando over Mississippi Valley State University of Itta Bena, Mississippi. This was the 9th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge, a battle between the two major Historically Black Colleges and Universities athletic conferences, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference.

The was a two-fold celebration as it also heralded the return of the famed Marching 100 band from a 21-month suspension resulting from the hazing death of a drum major following the Florida Classic in Orlando in 2011.

FAMU jumped to an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 6-yard run by quarterback Damien Fleming. The second quarter began with a 1-yard run by reserve runningback Omari Albert, culminating a 16-play, 96-yard drive, using 8:07. The Rattlers made it a 20-0 halftime lead on field goals of 27 and 23 yards by Chase Varnadore. The Delta Devils’ offense was held to 86 yards in the half.

MVSU finally got on the board late in the third quarter on a 21-yard field goal by Cherchen Galon. Early in the fourth, backup quarterback Jeremy Collins scored on a 2-yard run to cut the score in half. Late in the game, FAMU added an insurance touchdown on a 15-yard scamper by backup tailback Al-Terek McBurse. The drive covered 75 yards in 12 plays, all running plays, consuming 6:40.

FAMU will entertain the Tennessee State Tigers in a non-conference home opener in Bragg Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The 0-1 Tigers of the Ohio Valley Conference lost a defensive battle to Bethune-Cookman University 12-9, on last Sunday night in Nashville.

To the delight of National Football League fans all over the world, and especially in the inner-city, there will be 9 African American quarterbacks starting for their teams on opening day for the NFL.

Starting Sunday will be Robert Griffin, III,  (Redskins) (pictured, l), Michael Vick (Philadelphia Eagles) (pictured, r), Terrelle Pryor (Oakland Raiders), Josh Freeman (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Geno Smith (New York Jets), Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers), Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks), E.J. Manuel (Buffalo Bills), and Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers.

RGIII will be starting for his second season, and trying to get through uninjured. Mike Vick had stiff competition in Philadelphia, but prevailed.

Terrelle Pryor finally won the job with the Oakland Raiders.

Josh Freeman is under a lot of pressure this season with the Buccaneers.

Geno Smith beat out Mark Sanchez for the starting job with the Jets.

Cam Newton will again lead the Panthers.

Russell Wilson will try to take the Seahawks all the way this season.

E. J. Manuel was the first quarterback selected (15th overall pick) and will be trying to turn things around in Buffalo.

Colin Kaepernick will be trying to get the 49ers to the Super Bowl again with hopes of coming out the winner.

Darrelle Revis spent six seasons with the New York Jets, so he of all people should know about coach Rex Ryan’s tendencies.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers said he has no problem giving his new coaches tips on his former team’s tendencies. “I’ll spill the beans and let him know what we used to run,” Revis said. “What things coach Ryan might do. It’s almost like stealing a little bit. That’s what you’ve got to do.”

Revis also told said he has the inside scoop on the Jets’ receiving corps. “I know these guys…I got a bunch of tips on these guys and the good thing about it, I’ve been sharing them,” he said. Revis isn’t making any bold predictions about his debut with his new team.

The star cornerback’s return from knee surgery that has sidelined him nearly a year is set for Sunday, when Buccaneers open the season against the Jets.

The sum of money Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is making for merely appearing in the ring reportedly reached a new record high, according to news that broke Wednesday.

According to Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, and Golden Boy Promotions head Richard Schaefer, Mayweather will receive a $41.5 million guarantee for his impending Sept. 14 fight against Canelo Alvarez.

Mayweather has shattered his own record in guarantees for this latest bout, which will be held at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. In each of his previous two showdowns against Miguel Cotto and most recently Robert Guerrero, Mayweather received a guaranteed $32 million, according to Forbes’ Kurt Badenhausen.

The 36-year-old boasts a perfect 44-0 record in his illustrious pro career, but faces a formidable foe in Alvarez who himself has never lost as a professional, with a 42-0-1 record.

Warren Sapp was inducting into the NFL Hall of Fame this year, but it doesn’t mean his financial difficulties have gone away.

Sapp filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in April 2012, and part of the deal was the sale of his assets, including a massive sneaker collection. Someone came up on 213 pairs of Nike kicks for a cool $6,390.

Now, as part of the deal Warren struck with his creditors, some of his items were sold at a bankruptcy auction … including 213 pairs of Nikes, which sold to a guy from Connecticut for a whopping $6,390.

For the record, that breaks down to $30 a pair.