BCSP Notes . . .
SC State home opener moved
Due to major enhancements being made at
South Carolina State's Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, the Bulldogs' Sept. 16 home opener
against Bethune-Cookman is being moved to The Citadel's Johnson
Hagood Stadium in Charleston, according to Athletics Director
Charlene Johnson. Kickoff for the contest remains the same, 6 p.m.
| GETTIN' READY: Former Alabama State QB Tavaris Jackson waits his turn as the Minnesota Vikings opened training camp on July 31. Jackson, a second round pick, is trying to earn a spot backing up 14-year veteran Brad Johnson. The former SWAC star impressed new Vikings coach Brad Childress in the team's first preseason game Monday. |  |
Synthetic turf is replacing the grass field at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, and a new state-of-the art scoreboard with replay capability is also being installed. These modifications, which will give the stadium a new and enhanced look, are expected to be completed in time for SCSU's Oct. 7 home contest against Norfolk State.
SCSU last hosted a game in Charleston at Johnson Hagood on Sept. 20, 2003 when the team defeated Savannah State 53-0 in the Low Country Classic. The Bulldogs also hosted Winston-Salem State at the site in 1994, winning 48-27, and played several games there during the 70s.
Jackson impressive in preseason opener
Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Tavaris Jackson
out of Alabama State had an impressive showing in his first NFL
preseason game Monday night on ESPN.
The surprise second round pick entered the game vs. Oakland in the second quarter after starter Brad Johnson and back-up Mike McMahon had played. The former SWAC star, wearing the same No. 7 he wore at Alabama State, looked comfortable in the pocket and finished 7-for-13 passing for 60 yards and rushed for a game-high 36 yards on three carries.
"I'm just trying to get better each day," Jackson told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune after the game. "I'll go to practice Wednesday and try to get better and just try to continue to progress. I'll leave it up to my coaches to grade the film."
Jackson was scheduled to play the entire third quarter but had to leave after hitting his head on the turf after a 17-yard scramble. Jackson came back in the game after getting his bearings and completed the quarter.
"I thought Tavaris came in and did a nice job," said new Vikings head coach Brad Childress after the game. "He learned a couple of lessons. Number one, that astroturf's hard. I don't think it was the hit that got him, I think it was the head slam on turf. I think the other thing he learned is that when you slide, you need to make the first down. He needs to know in the NFL they mark that thing, and progress. That could have been a very east first down. But he's OK. He cleared his head and got back in there."
Reports from Vikings websites lauded Jackson as `the quarterback of the future' after his first-game performance. Jackson could have had his first TD pass vs. NFL competition in the third quarter but fullback Steven Jackson dropped the ball.
Vikings Photo
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