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Welcome to the SIAC Jungle. My name is Sofistakat, your guide on this 12-week safari. The majority of this adventure will take you to 5 states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee. There will be official stops in Albany, Atlanta, Columbia, Fairfield (Birmingham), Fort Valley, Frankfort, Jackson, Tuscaloosa and Tuskegee. Side trip include: Durham/Raleigh N.C.; Jefferson City/St. Louis, MO; Valdosta/Savannah, GA; and Normal (Huntsville)/Montgomery/Selma, AL (should you not be up on your geography, please consult Rand McNally or Mapquest). At each destination, there will be an assortment of beasts for your prognosticating pleasure. Dragons, 4 clans of tigers, some bears - Oh My!!! (Ok, we know dragons are extinct so I'll refer to them as "fire lizards"); horses, panthers, wildcats and rams that can fly. (Yes, I'm crazy but at least I admit it) So put on your sunscreen (45 spf minimum - it's HOT until October), shades and a hat. Climb aboard your pachyderm (consult Merriam Webster if necessary), fasten your safety belt, get a short shot or long pour from your flask, and let's get this party started... Week 1 Itinerary (all times are local): 1. Tuskegee Golden Tigers (Coach: Willie Slater) vs. Stillman Tigers (Coach: Greg Thompson), 3 p.m., Stillman Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL (Televised on ESPNU) This is the first of two battles of the Tiger clans. Both teams have new head coaches. Kevin Huff, SIAC POY, returns for the Golden Tigers. Stillman looks to avenge last year's 32-20 loss and wants to be a major player in its second year in conference play. Golden Cubbies over Bama Cousins 2. Morehouse Maroon Tigers (Coach: Terry Beauford) vs. Benedict Tigers (Coach: John Hendrick), 6 p.m., Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, Columbia, S.C. The other family feud this week. The Maroon Tigers will be without star running back J. D. Washington (yeah, Denzel's son) who graduated this spring. Benedict, predicted to finish 6th in the conference is looking for payback after a 20-17 loss in 2005. S.C. Cousins over Maroon Cousins 3. Ft. Valley St. Wildcats (Coach: Deondri Clark) vs. Clark Atlanta Panthers (Coach: Ted Bahur), 7 p.m., Panther Stadium, Atlanta, GA What?? More cats? Yep. (didn't you read up above?) The Wildcats can usually chalk this game up as a win if they just show up. But the Panthers, though only winning 3 games in 2005, put a scare in most of their opponents. Ft. Valley won't take them lightly. Wildkitties over ATL Cats Side Tours: 4. Lane Dragons (Coach: Johnnie Cole) vs. Lincoln (MO) Blue Tigers (Coach: Lemar Parrish), 2 p.m., Dwight T. Reed Stadium, Jefferson City, MO After a winless 2005 season, the only place for the Dragons to crawl is up. Lincoln (who was suppose to become a provisional member of the SIAC this season but that's another story), has only won 1 of 3 games played this Millenium. That may change this week. Blue Kats over Fire Lizards 5. Kentucky St. Thorobreds (Coach: Fred Farrier) vs. Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers , 7 p.m., Bullet Wilson Field, Owensboro, KY The Thorobreds start the season in-state at the Panthers' home. It should be an interesting test for both teams. KSU is young but should leave Owensboro with smiles on their faces. Ponies over Panthers 6. Albany St. Golden Rams (Coach: Mike White) vs. N. C. Central Eagles, 6 p.m., O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, Durham, N.C. The game of the week in southeast region of Division II. Early playoff positioning.The SIAC champs visiting the CIAA champs.Both were playoff partipants. In 2005, the Eagles had their first 10-win season in school history and won the CIAA conference crown for the first time in 25 years. The Golden Rams won their 3rd consecutive SIAC crown. This is NCCU's last season in the CIAA/D-II (yes, some of them have been beak bumping to anyone who will listen - and those who won't) and they will be joining the MEAC for the 2007 season. But wait!!! (always some intrigue ain't it???) Both teams will be without players who were major contributors to their 2005 success. Albany State's star running back, Antonio Atkins, died last spring. NCCU's star QB, Adrian Warren, decided not to play this season. Central also lost its offensive coordinator and a couple of other coaches 6 weeks or so ago. Soooooooo... Look for a good game, but unless the fix is already in, I see the Golden Goats prevailing over the N.C. Fowl...even in Durham. Short shots: In 2005, the SIAC won the D-II attendance title for the 3rd consecutive year and 7th time in the last eight years. Long pour: The SIAC had five of the 13 HBCU D-II preseason All Americans (Don Hansen) and all of them will be playing this week. Congratulations to Roosevelt Echeverry (Tuskegee), Denatay Heard (Stillman), Kevin Huff (Tuskegee), Marcus Jefferson (Albany St.) and Rashod Moulton (Ft. Valley).
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