| |
DEFENSE DOMINATES SATURDAY SCRIMMAGE AT
BRALY |
| |
FLORENCE -
The University of North
Alabama football team went
through a 125-play scrimmage
at Braly Stadium Saturday
morning with the Lion
defenders not allowing a
single touchdown.
|
| |
LIONS DODGE RAIN TO GET IN THURSDAY WORKOUT |
| |
FLORENCE --
University of North Alabama
head football coach Mark
Hudspeth was determined to
get in a practice session
Thursday and the Lions were
able to dodge the rain and
get in full two-and-a-half
hours on the field.
|
| |
INJURIES CONCERN HUDSPETH AS UNA SPRING
DRILLS CONTINUE |
| |
FLORENCE -- Just
three practice sessions into
the 2008 Spring drills,
University of North Alabama
Head Coach Mark Hudspeth is
already concerned about the
Lions mounting injuries.
|
| |
LION FOOTBALL OPENS SPRING PRACTICE |
| |
FLORENCE -- The
biggest news on the first
day of Spring football
practice at the University
of North Alabama was the
move of two-time All-Gulf
South Conference tight end
Covington Wright to
offensive tackle.
|
| |
UNA ADDS 29 SIGNEES |
| |
FLORENCE --
University of North Alabama Head
Football Coach Mark Hudspeth has
announced the signing of 29
student-athletes to National Letters of
Intent with the Lion football program.
|
| |
ARRINGTON NAMED OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR |
| |
FLORENCE --
University of North Alabama
offensive line coach Alan
Arrington has been promoted
to offensive coordinator,
UNA head football coach Mark
Hudspeth announced
Wednesday.
|
| |
LIONS ADD FOOTBALL SIGNEES |
| |
The University of North
Alabama has added seven
transfers to its football
program, head coach Mark
Hudspeth announced
Thursday.
The seven transfers, all
from Mississippi Community
Colleges, are currently
enrolled at UNA and will
participate in Spring drills
with the Lions in March.
|
| |
TWO LIONS NAMED ALL-AMERICAN |
| |
FLORENCE -- A
pair of University of
football standouts have
received All-American
recognition for their
performances during the 2007
season. |
| |
TWO LIONS SELECTED FOR CACTUS BOWL |
| |
Kingsville, Texas
-- University of
North Alabama senior
football standouts Jason
Messing of Knoxville, Tenn.,
and Tim Hunt of Mobile,
Ala., have been selected to
play in the 2008 Valero
Cactus Bowl Division II
All-Star Game to be played
at Javelina Stadium in
Kingsville, Texas on Friday,
January 11, 2008 at 7:00
p.m.
|
| |
THREE VSU TOUCHDOWN RETURNS COST LIONS IN
37-23 PLAYOFF LOSS |
| |
VALDOSTA, Ga. –
North Alabama held a
seven-point lead with just
over 11 minutes left in the
game but Valdosta State
retuned two punts for
touchdowns and got another
quick score off a turnover
as the Blazers downed the
Lions 37-23 at
Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in
the quarterfinals of the
NCAA Division II Playoffs. |
| |
THREE FOOTBALL LIONS EARN ALL-SOUTHEAST
REGION |
| |
FLORENCE -- Three
members of the University of
North Alabama football team
have been selected for
All-Southeast Region honors
by Daktronics in voting by
the NCAA Division II sports
information directors.
UNA senior offensive lineman
J.D. Whited of Oneonta,
Ala., and senior safety
Craig Fox of Kentwood, La.,
were named to the first team
Daktronics All-Southeast
Region team, while sophomore
linebacker Michael Johnson
of Panama City, Fla., was
named second-team
all-region. |
| |
LIONS AND
BLAZERS SQUARE OFF AT NOON SATURDAY |
| |
FLORENCE
– After being held to less than 20
total yards in the second half, the
University of North Alabama offense put
together a dramatic 10-play, 55-yard scoring
drive and pulled out a 20-17 win over Delta
State in the second round of the NCAA
Division II playoffs. |
| |
LATE DRIVE LIFTS LIONS OVER DELTA STATE |
| |
FLORENCE
– After being held to less than 20
total yards in the second half, the
University of North Alabama offense put
together a dramatic 10-play, 55-yard scoring
drive and pulled out a 20-17 win over Delta
State in the second round of the NCAA
Division II playoffs. |
| |
MILWEE NAMED FINALIST FOR HARLON HILL TROPHY |
| |
FLORENCE,
Ala. -- University of North
Alabama junior quarterback A.J. Milwee is
one of nine national finalists still in the
running for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the
NCAA Division II College Football Player of
the Year. |
| |
UNA TO HOST DELTA STATE SATURDAY |
| |
FLORENCE -- The University of North
Alabama's drive for a possible NCAA Division II
National Championship will continue Saturday when
the Lions host Delta State in the second round of
the playoffs at Braly Municipal Stadium. |
| |
EIGHT LIONS NAMED ALL-GSC |
| |
FLORENCE -- The University of North
Alabama football team earned four first-team
All-Gulf South Conference selections and eight
overall in voting by the league's head coaches. |
| |
FOOTBALL LIONS EARN 13TH NCAA PLAYOFF BERTH
AND FIRST ROUND BYE |
| |
FLORENCE
-- The University of North Alabama
football team was awarded its 13th NCAA
Division II Football playoff appearance
Sunday and will receive a bye in the
opening round due to a No. 2 seeding in
the Southeast Region. The Lions
finished their regular season with a 9-1
record after a 49-20 blow-out of West
Alabama at home Saturday. That win was
good enough to keep UNA at No. 2 in the
Southeast behind top seeded
Valdosta State. |
| |
LIONS CLOSE REGULAR-SEASON WITH ROUT OF WEST
ALABAMA |
| |
FLORENCE – The
University of North Alabama
rolled to a 21-0 first
quarter lead and went on to
close its regular-seasob
with a 49-20 rout of West
Alabama at Braly Stadium.
UNA improved to 9-1 overall
with the win and will find
out at 10:30 Sunday if it
will advance to the NCAA
Division II playoffs. |
| |
LIONS
MOVE TO SECOND IN SOUTHEAST REGION |
| |
FLORENCE
-- On the strength of a 65-17
pounding of West Georgia on Saturday, the
University of North Alabama football team
has moved up one spot to second in the
latest NCAA Division II Southeast Region
rankings. |
| |
LIONS ROUT WEST GEORGIA 65-17 |
| |
FLORENCE
– David McCants scored three touchdowns on
the ground and Jason Messing had two TD
receptions as the University of North
Alabama routed West Georgia 65-17 at Braly
Stadium.
|
| |
LIONS THIRD IN REGION |
| |
FLORENCE
-- Despite a 27-24 road loss at Valdosta
State, the University of North Alabama
football team is still a solid contender for
an NCAA Division II playoff berth at No. 3
in the latest Southeast Region rankings. |
| |
UNA FALLS TO VALDOSTA STATE, 27-24 |
| |
VALDOSTA, Ga .—
Valdosta State used a fourth quarter
touchdown drive and a defensive stand in the
closing minutes to hold off second ranked
North Alabama in a 27-24 Gulf South
Conference victory at Bazemore-Hyder
Stadium. UNA led 24-20 in the fourth
quarter but the Blazers put together an
eight-play, 48-yard drive to take the lead
with 5:58 left in the game. |
| |
LIONS LOOK TO REMAIN UNBEATEN AT VALDOSTA STATE |
| |
FLORENCE -- With
a win over fifth ranked
Delta State behind them, the
University of North Alabama
Lions will now try to remain
unbeaten when they travel to
Valdosta, Ga., to face the
11th ranked Valdosta State
Blazers Saturday at noon. |
| |
LIONS TAKE OVER TOP SPOT IN SOUTHEAST REGION |
| |
FLORENCE
-- With a perfect 7-0 record, and coming off
a 28-17 win over fifth ranked Delta State,
the University of North Alabama football
team moved into the top spot in the NCAA
Division II Southeast Region rankings
released Monday. |
| |
LIONS STAY PERFECT WITH ROUT OF ARKANSAS
MONTICELLO |
| |
MONTICELLO, Ark.
– A 37-point first half paved the way as the
third ranked University of North Alabama Lions
rolled to a 46-27 rout of Arkansas-Monticello at
Boll Weevil Stadium. |
| |
LIONS ROMP OUACHITA BAPTIST, 40-7 |
| |
FLORENCE
-- The third ranked North Alabama Lions
used three long plays in the second
quarter to break a 7-7 tie and rout
Ouachita Baptist 40-7 at Braly Municipal
Stadium. UNA, now 5-0 overall and
4-0 in the Gulf South Conference,
trailed 7-0 early after Ouachita Baptist
scored a first quarter TD on a 26-yard
run by Willie Hopson.
|
| |
LIONS HOLD OFF ARKANSAS TECH FOR 27-20 WIN |
| |
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark.
– The third ranked North Alabama Lions
survived a couple of early turnovers to
build a 14-point second half lead , then had
to hold off a fourth quarter Arkansas Tech
rally as the Lions picked up a 27-20 Gulf
South Conference victory. |
| |
THIRD RANKED LIONS ROUT SOUTHERN ARKANSAS |
| |
FLORENCE --
A 99-yard fumble return that halted Southern
Arkansas' opening drive set the tone for the
night as the third ranked North Alabama Lions
downed the Muleriders 27-8 at Braly Stadium. |
| |
THIRD RANKED LIONS ROUT
HARDING 58-17 |
| |
SEARCY, Ark.
– The third ranked University of North Alabama
Lions scored touchdowns on eight of their 11
possessions on the way to a 58-17 rout of
Harding in the Gulf South Conference opener for
both schools. |
| |
LIONS ROUT PIONEERS IN SEASON OPENER |
| |
FLORENCE -- The fourth ranked
University of North Alabama Lions scored touchdowns
on their first two possessions of the season and
went on to a 43-24 rout of Tusculum at Braly
Municipal Stadium. |
| |
HUDSPETH
PLEASED WITH TURNOVER-FREE SCRIMMAGE |
| |
FLORENCE -- The
defense dominated early, the
offense put on a show late
and the University of North
Alabama football team ran
123 plays without a turnover
Saturday in a scrimmage at
Braly Stadium. |
| |
LIONS RANKED FOURTH IN NATION |
| |
FLORENCE --
The University of North Alabama football team
will begin its quest for an NCAA Division II
National title as the No. 4 team in the nation.
Coming off an 11-1 season that saw the Lions win
the Gulf South Conference title and advance to
the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs,
UNA is ranked fourth in the preseason poll
released Wednesday by the American Football
Coaches Association. |
| |
NEWCOMERS SHINE IN FIRST UNA SCRIMMAGE |
| |
FLORENCE --
The University of North Alabama's first
scrimmage of the fall Saturday at Veteran's Park
gave several newcomers a chance to make
themselves known to the Lion coaching staff.
|
| |
LIONS FIRST DAY IN PADS IS PRODUCTIVE |
| |
FLORENCE --
The University of North Alabama's first day in
pads was a productive one but heat was again a
factor, according to UNA Head Football Coach
Mark Hudspeth. |
| |
UNA HAS GOOD, BUT HOT FIRST DAY |
| |
FLORENCE --
The first day of practice for the University of
North Alabama football team was a productive but
extremely hot day, according to head coach Mark
Hudspeth. |
| |
LIONS OPEN
PRE-SEASON PRACTICE WITH CONDITIONING WORK |
| |
FLORENCE —
The University of North Alabama football team
took to the practice field for the first time
Sunday for pre-season conditioning tests in
100-plus degree weather.
|
| |
LIONS OPEN
PRE-SEASON PRACTICE WITH CONDITIONING WORK |
| |
FLORENCE —
The University of North Alabama football team
took to the practice field for the first time
Sunday for pre-season conditioning tests in
100-plus degree weather.
|
| |
LION FOOTBALL TEAM TO REPORT FRIDAY |
| |
FLORENCE --
The University of North Alabama football team
will begin it's defense of the 2006 Gulf South
Conference championship Friday when the Lions
report to begin preseason workouts. |
| |
LIONS PICKED TO WIN GSC FOOTBALL CROWN AGAIN |
| |
Birmingham, AL—The
University of North Alabama football team has
been picked as the pre-season favorite to win
another Gulf South Conference football crown in
2007 in voting by the league's head coaches.
UNA received six first-place votes and 95 total
points in the voting.
|
| |
DEFENDING GSC CHAMPS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER BANNER
SEASON |
| |
Florence, AL—With more than 40
lettermen and 13 starters back from a team that
reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division
II playoffs in 2006, the University of North
Alabama football team hopes to again make a run
at another Gulf South Conference championship
and an NCAA Division II championship in 2007. |
| |
MERRITT SIGNS WITH NEW ORLEANS SAINTS |
| |
NEW ORLEANS, La.
-- University of North Alabama All-American
receiver and kick returner Anthony Merritt of
Columbus, Ga., has signed a free agent contract
with the New Orleans Saints of the National
Football League.
|
| |
LIONS HOLD SECOND SCRIMMAGE OF SPRING |
| |
FLORENCE
-- After a week off for Spring break, the
University of North Alabama football team
returned to the practice field and held its
second scrimmage of the spring Thursday at
Braly Stadium.
|
| |
DEFENSE LEADS THE WAY IN LION SCRIMMAGE |
| |
FLORENCE --
The University of North Alabama football team
reached the mid-point of its 2007 Spring
Workouts Thursday with a scrimmage at Braly
Stadium that was largely dominated by the
defense.
|
| |
LIONS ANNOUNCE 2007 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE |
| |
FLORENCE --
The University of North Alabama has announced
its 2007 football schedule that UNA Athletic
Director Dr. Joel Erdmann says includes one of
the most attractive home schedules in several
years. |
| |
LIONS
GETTING READY TO BEGIN SPRING WORKOUTS |
| |
FLORENCE -- Having made a run at the
NCAA Division II Football Championship in three of
the last four seasons, the University of North
Alabama football team will officially begin that
quest for the
2007 national title on March 11 when the Lions open
Spring football drills. |
| |
UNA FOOTBALL RANKS FOURTH NATIONALLY IN
ATTENDANCE |
| l |
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.
-- NCAA football attendance set a new standard
during the 2006 season with record attendance,
and the University of North Alabama did its
part, ranking fourth nationally among all
Division II schools. Overall, the 615 NCAA
schools combined for a total gate of 47,909,313,
shattering the 2003 record by 1,764,774 fans. |
| |
LIONS ADD SOLID FOOTBALL SIGNING CLASS |
| l |
FLORENCE --
The University of North Alabama football program
signed a solid class of newcomers Wednesday to
National Letters of Intent that included 22 high
school signees and eight transfers. The Lions
also signed three mid-year transfers who will
take part in the team’s 2007 Spring Practice. |
| |
MERRITT NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICAN |
| l |
After
completing a record-breaking career as a wide
receiver and return specialists, North Alabama
senior Anthony Merritt became just the 13th Lion
player to be named an American Football Coaches
Association (AFCA) First-Team All-American. |
| |
HUDSPETH NAMED REGION 2 COACH OF THE YEAR BY
AFCA |
| l |
FLORENCE --
For the second time in four years, University of
North Alabama head football coach Mark Hudspeth
has been selected NCAA Division II Region 2
Coach of the Year by the American Football
Coaches Association. |
| |
STATESMEN CONTROL LIONS IN NCAA QUARTERFINAL |
| l |
FLORENCE – A dominating performance
by Delta State’s defense and an offensive effort
that put up 496 yards led the Statesmen to a
27-10 win over North Alabama in the quarterfinal
round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Braly
Stadium. |
| |
TWO LIONS NAMED ALL REGION |
| l |
FLORENCE
-- A pair of University of North Alabama
football standouts have been selected for
All-Southeast Region honors by the NCAA Division
II sports information directors. UNA
senior center JoJo Bates of Birmingham, Ala.,
and senior receiver/kick returner Anthony
Merritt were selected for first-team honors on
the Daktronics All-Southeast Region team. |
| |
MILWEE LEADS
LIONS TO 38-20 PLAYOFF WIN |
| l |
FLORENCE –
The University of North Alabama raced to a 24-7
lead and then held off a tough Newberry charge
in the second half as the Lions downed the
Indians 38-20 in the second round of the NCAA
Division II Playoffs at Braly Municipal Stadium. |
| |
LIONS
DOMINATE ALL-GSC FOOTBALL TEAM |
| l |
Birmingham, AL—Gulf
South Conference Football Champion North Alabama
leads the way on the 2006 All-GSC team, landing
ten players on the first-team and two on the
second-team. |
| |
LIONS
RECEIVE FIRST ROUND BYE |
| l |
The undefeated University
of North Alabama football team received a No. 2
seed in the Southeast Region and a bye in the
opening round of the NCAA Division II playoffs
when the pairings were announced Sunday. |
| |
PACKER NAMED GSC PLAYER OF THE WEEK |
| l |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- University of North
Alabama senior running back Eric Packer of Pine
Hill, Ala., has been named the Gulf South
Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his
efforts in the Lions' 45-3 win at West Alabama. |
| |
LIONS DROP WEST ALABAMA; WIN GSC
CHAMPIONSHIP |
| l |
LIVINGSTON, Ala.
– North Alabama scored early and often in a 45-3
win over West Alabama Saturday at Tiger Stadium
to secure the fourth perfect regular-season in
school history and earn an out-right Gulf South
Conference championship.
|
| |
UNA
MAINTAINS SECOND SPOT IN REGION |
| l |
FLORENCE
-- In
the all-important NCAA Division II Southeast
Regional rankings, the University of North
Alabama maintained its No. 2 position heading
into the final weekend of the regular-season. |
| |
UNA WINS 26-16 OVER WEST GEORGIA |
| l |
CARROLLTON, Ga.
– It wasn’t pretty but the third ranked North
Alabama Lions got the job done at Grisham
Stadium as UNA downed the West Georgia Wolves
26-16.
|
| |
UNA DOWNS BLAZERS IN OVERTIME TO STAY
PERFECT |
| l |
FLORENCE –
Tim Hicks scored on a one-yard run in overtime
and North Alabama’s Craig Fox picked off a
Valdosta State pass on the Blazers’
possession as the Lions picked up a huge 31-24
victory over VSU at Braly Stadium. |
| |
LIONS JUMP IN REGIONAL POLL |
| l |
FLORENCE -- With a solid win over 15th
ranked Delta State on the road Saturday, the
University of North Alabama football team
jumped two spots in the latest NCAA Division
II Southeast Region football poll to second.
UNA, now 7-0 overall, was ranked fourth in
the regional poll last week. |
| |
UNA GETS BIG WIN OVER NATIONALL RANKED
STATESMEN |
| l |
CLEVELAND, Miss.
-- North Alabama’s defense allowed the high
powered Delta State offense just three first
downs in the final 30 minutes and held on as the
No. 3 ranked Lions downed the #16 Statesmen
17-10 at Parker Field. |
| |
LIONS TAKE OVER GSC LEAD |
| l |
FLORENCE, Ala.
– The University of North Alabama
scored early and often in a 47-7 rout of
Arkansas-Monticello Saturday, and in the
process the Lions took over sole possession
of first place in the Gulf South Conference
standings.
|
| |
LIONS REMAIN
UNBEATEN, ROUT OBU 47-10 |
| |
ARKADELPHIA, Ark.
– North Alabama got off to a blazing start
and survived a turnover riddled second
quarter to remain unbeaten with a 47-10 rout
of Ouachita Baptist at A.U. Williams Field.
UNA, now 5-0 overall, 4-0 in the Gulf South
Conference and ranked No. 3 in the NCAA
Division II, built a 19-0 lead with scores
on three of its first four possessions.
Ouachita Baptist battled back with a touchdown and a field goal in the last
five minutes of the half, aided by a pair of
interceptions, to close the halftime score
to 19-10.
|
| |
LIONS PULL AWAY FROM ARKANSAS TECH, 38-14 |
| |
FLORENCE –
Backup quarterback Dusty Goodwin threw for 235
yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 3 North
Alabama to a 41-14 win over Harding Thursday
night in front of 11,051 fans at Braly Stadium.
Facing a Harding squad that was averaging better
than 36 points per game, it was the North
Alabama offense that lit up the scoreboard,
racing to a 34-0 lead. |
| |
LIONS GET IMPRESSIVE WIN IN GSC OPENER |
| |
FLORENCE –
Backup quarterback Dusty Goodwin threw for 235
yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 3 North
Alabama to a 41-14 win over Harding Thursday
night in front of 11,051 fans at Braly Stadium.
Facing a Harding squad that was averaging better
than 36 points per game, it was the North
Alabama offense that lit up the scoreboard,
racing to a 34-0 lead. |
| |
UNA GETS 22-10 WIN IN SECOND HALF RALLY |
| |
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – A.J. Milwee passed for
three touchdowns in the second half to bring
third ranked North Alabama back from a halftime
deficit and lead the Lions to a 22-10 road win
at Tusculum.
Milwee, in his first start for the Lions, was
just 7-of-13
passing in the first half for 83 yards but was
able to open things up in the third quarter. He
finished the game 15-of-28 for 203 yards and
three touchdowns |
| |
LIONS RANKED THIRD IN AFCA POLL |
| |
FLORENCE -- The University of
North Alabama football team will enter the
2006 season ranked No. 3 in the nation in
the NCAA Division II in the official poll
released by the American Football Coaches
Association. UNA finished the 2005 season at
11-3 overall, reached the semifinals of the
Division II playoffs and ranked fourth in
the final national poll. |
| |
LIONS PICKED TO WIN GSC. VALDOSTA ST.
PICKED SECOND |
| |
Birmingham - The University
of North Alabama has been picked as the
favorite to win the 2006 Gulf South
Conference football title in a pre-season
poll of the league's head coaches. UNA
snapped Valdosta State's four-year
pre-season No. 1 run, nipping VSU as the
2006
GSC Football pre-season favorite, 95-92. UNA
tops the pre-season poll for the first time
since 1998 behind six first-place votes. |
| |
2006 NORTH ALABAMA FOOTBALL
PREVIEW |
| |
With more than 30 lettermen and 11 starters back from a team that
reached the semifinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2005, the
University of North Alabama football team hopes to again make a run
at the Gulf South Conference and NCAA Division II championships in
2006. |
| |
LIONS
NAME 2006 FOOTBALL CAPTAINS |
| |
FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama football team
has elected Donald Tharpe and JoJo Bates as its permanent team
captains heading into the 2006 season.
Tharpe, a three-year starter
at linebacker for the Lions, is a native of Pensacola, Fla. Bates,
a three-year letterman and two-year starter, is a native of Mt.
Olive, Ala. The Lions are coming of an 11-3 season in 2005 that saw
UNA advance all the way to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II
playoffs. UNA opens its season on Sept. 9 at Tusculum.
|