Editorial Cartoon: Billy the Panther
Murray State head coach Matt Griffin was issued a one-game suspension by the Ohio Valley Conference for comments he made about the officiating following the Racers’ 42-23 loss against Illinois State on Saturday.
“Coach Griffin’s comments were not consistent with the principles outlined in the OVC’s sportsmanship statement,” OVC commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher said in an official release. “The OVC has in place a program that provides ample opportunity for feedback and criticism. In this case, Matt did not work within our system.”
Griffin will serve his suspension when the Racers play at Western Kentucky on Saturday.
Skyhawks blow out Hornets in non-conference win
Tennessee Martin won its second straight game against a non-Division I opponent, and it did so in dominating fashion.
The Skyhawks beat Concordia College (Ala.) 87-21 in Martin, Tenn., on Thursday night and scored at least 10 points in each quarter in doing so.
“We certainly weren’t trying to run up the score or embarrass anybody, but we got several short fields,” UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson said. “Sometimes those things are unfortunate.”
Simpson said he played several young players, and when his team got a short field after a Concordia possession they found the end zone.
Five different UT Martin players scored rushing touchdowns and three different receivers caught touchdown passes.
UT Martin freshman running back Daryl Bourne led the Skyhawks with 111 yards rushing and one touchdown on 10 carries.
He was named the Ohio Valley Conference Co-Newcomer of the Week.
Bourne now ranks second in the OVC in rushing yards.
“People asked how we were going to replace Donald Chapman, and that’s still a hard thing to do,” Simpson said. “We just kind of do it by committee. (Bourne’s) been fortunate with the draws in the first three games to have some long runs and kick those yards per game up.”
Racers’ linebacker snares national defensive honor
The Sports Network named Murray State red-shirt senior linebacker Nathan Williams the National Football Championship Subdivision Defensive Player of the Week after he had 23 tackles in the Racers’ loss to Illinois State.
“I’ve told a lot of people I’m always leery when you see double digit tackles, (because) you’re not sure if the statisticians are always correct,” Griffin said. “Those were solid hits.”
Williams missed nearly the entire 2007 season after suffering a season-ending injury during the Racers’ first game against Louisville. He also missed the entire 2004 season with a hip injury. Williams was granted a rare sixth year of eligibility because of medical reasons.
“We’re just pleased to have him,” Griffin said. “Besides the tackles, his leadership is huge for us.”
Tigers only undefeated team remaining in OVC
Tennessee State is the sole undefeated team in the OVC with a 3-0 record, as the Tigers beat Jackson State 41-18 on Saturday.
TSU moved into the national FCS polls for the first time with its third win and now sit at No. 25 in The Sports Network poll.
The Tigers are led by red-shirt senior quarterback Antonio Heffner, who has 744 passing yards and five passing touchdowns.
“These kids deserve that ranking because they’ve earned it, because they’ve worked hard,” Tennessee State head coach James Webster said. “Now it lets them know that someone else – other than me and our coaches recognize the fact that they’ve worked hard to achieve something.”
Scott Richey can be reached at 581-7944 or at srrichey@eiu.edu.
