Karsceal Turner – I Got Next!
I’ve decided to emulate and enact Emeril Lagasse’s token phrase of – “Kicking it up a notch!” in regard to the column you now are reading online. Allow me a few sentences to thank you for taking time to click the link, either on the WONO site, or via Social Media. I promise to give you more of what you want!
I Got NEXT! was born in 2006, it has been featured in the Daytona Times, Florida Courier, the B-CU/NAA Legacy Magazine and now makes its home with West Orlando News Online. Although the commentary began as a not so normal sports column, I’ve been blessed to expand it to include newsworthy events of local (Central Florida), and of National origin. These are the stories that don’t always get any shine in mainstream media. These are the stories of you and me, the things we talk ish about in the barber shops and in the stands, and on the sidelines. I’m in the mix in all these places and gladly give you my varied perspective. Sometimes, I use curse words (always with class), but you’ll be alright. Now on to football 2014.
Wildcats hold off Panthers for 14-12 win
Folks let me begin by reminding you that this is a back to back victory for the Bethune-Cookman University football team. Coach Brian Jenkins is fresh off a kick-boxing match and a 2013 campaign that saw the Cats go and earn Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship honors. Saturday’s game was a staunch indicator that he intends to keep the heat on and kick it up a notch.
A 46-yard strike from Quentin Williams to Michael D. Jones coupled with a Williams’ 17 toss to Darian Baker put the ball at the Panther one. Jones later trumped into the endzone to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead with 11:26 remaining in the first half. B-CU upped its lead to 14-6 with 12:26 remaining to intermission.
The Wildcats held FIU to a pair of Austin Taylor 25-yard field goals in the second quarter until Richard Leonard’s 71-yard punt return to the Bethune-Cookman 7 set up Alex McGough’s fourth-down 5-yarder touchdown to T.J. Lowder with 5:16 remaining that cut B-CU’s lead to 14-12. Williams was good for 8 of 17 for 149 yards with one touchdown passing while rushing for 39. Anthony Jordan was good for a career-high 150 last year during this game had 64 yards on 19 carries.
B-CU’s defensive held FIU to 186 yards and a single third down conversion in 16 tries. The Wildcats test their prowess against South Western Athletic Conference (SWAC) foe Grambling State University on September in their home opener. Yes, yesss, back-to-back battles of the cats, and I will be all up in the mix!
Aggies bash Bulldogs 47-13 in MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Speaking of SWAC opponents, I hung out in Orlando for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney was a dogfight between the Aggies of North Carolina A&T State University of the MEAC and the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M University out of the SWAC.
In a game played at Bright House Networks Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Florida, North Carolina A&T (1-0) extended the MEAC’s dominance in the series to 8-2 in this the 10th installment of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge with a 47-13 bashing of the Bulldogs.
First off, let me tell you about that sweltering last day of August. I swear I saw the Devil do the ALS ice-bucket challenge across the field. I was doing my back and forth thing between the two bands (and their cheerleaders) during the battle of the bands in the stands for pre-game. When I crept over to the AAMU side of the field, I focused my camera and caught the cheerleaders…they were passing out one-by-one from heat exhaustion, and it was NOT pretty at all. Five people had to be checked out by the medical staff. But they should have been concerned for the Bulldogs on the field. That thing was ugly, I had more than enough time to keep my eyes trained on sideline and fan activities. AAMU had the most fan support but there were aggie fans on the other side of the stadium too. Now, on to the action.
Cesar Ramon’s second field goal of the first quarter pulled Alabama A&M (0-1) within 7-6, but A&T’s Tony McRae closed the quarter by returning the kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
The Aggies scored 38 unanswered points and led 38-6 at halftime. There I was dipping into the AAMU band and cheerleader Powerade bucket for refreshment from my labor, (squares can dig it)!
A&T’s starting quarterback, Kwashaun Quick had 194 total yards (99 rushing, 95 passing) and Tarik Cohen, a sophomore running back, had 167 yards on the ground and 20 on receptions. One of his 11 carries went for an 80-yard touchdown. A&T simply outmatched their doggy counterparts from south. It was no better in the stands between the bands and it was even uglier at halftime.
The showdown between the AAMU Marching Maroon and White and the NCA&T Marching Sound Machine went much the same as the gridiron action. I hammed it up with the drum majors from AAMU and kicked it with their cheerleaders but NCA&T mopped up the field with the Maroon and White. I’m no band officious but I’ve spent my entire collegiate life as a fan of the TRUE “Baddest” band in the land …the Marching Pride of Bethune-Cookman University. I tried to be a casual observer but it was “hella” difficult. Call it whatever you want but MY band would blow BOTH of those very good bands off the map. Check them out come September 13, when B-CU plays Grambling State, (which also has a renown band), B-CU will validate my boasts.
In this contest, from where I stood in the hot Florida sun, The Blue & Gold Marching Machine was the better band, their horns blared louder and their song selection and formations were on point.
Let us be clear, I was rooting for Bulldogs in this contest but A&T was simply too much for them on the field and in the battle of the bands. You never know where I might be in pursuit of subject matter to talk noise about, the name of the column is I Got NEXT!
