Faulkner University

Players earn spring awards

From left: Brandon Johnson, T.J. Barker, Frank Chinoski, Jason Evans and Lee Waller

April 28, 2008

     Faulkner head coach Jim Nichols and his staff announced the spring football awards Monday, two days after the Eagles' inaugural Blue-White game.
     The offensive most valuable player was running back J.T. Barker, while the most improved offensive player was offensive tackle Brandon Johnson. The defensive most valuable player was linebacker Jason Evans and the most improved defensive player was linebacker Lee Waller.
     Defensive back Frank Chinoski was the recipient of the Jimmy Faulkner Award, given annually to a player who best displays Christian leadership qualities both on the field and in the classroom. The award is named after Dr. James Faulkner, long-time chairman and member of the university's board of trustees. The school was re-named after Dr. Faulkner in 1985.

Quarterbacks shine in Faulkner's Blue-White game
(click here to view images)

April 26, 2008

     Faulkner unveiled its new offense at the Blue-White game Saturday afternoon in front of a crowd of 500at Cramton Bowl and everyone, including head coach Jim Nichols, seemed to like what they saw.
     T.J. Jacobs and Phillip Moore both ran and passed the ball effectively in the Eagles' first-ever spring game, pleasing Nichols, who is coordinating the new-look offense. No official score was kept in the game, which included about 120 plays from scrimmage.
     "I thought both quarterbacks played well after they settled down," Nichols said. "We scored some touchdowns, and it was exciting for our players and our fans. In the short amount of time we've had this spring to put in our offense, I'm really pleased with how we've developed."
     Jacobs, a redshirt freshman from Mobile, was 14-for-30 passing for 182 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 52 yards rushing on 19 carries. Jacobs was involved in the game's most electric play - after a bad shotgun snap sailed over his head, the 5-11, 180-pounder tracked down the loose ball, dodged tacklers,and threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Ross.
     Moore, from Edgewood Academy in Wetumpka, was equally impressive, completing 19 of 32 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns. He also had a pair of scoringruns in goal-line situations. Jacob Lanier led the receivers with five catches for 60 yards. Bobby Britten caught four passes for 56 yards. Jurrell Williams had 69 yards receiving on tworeceptions, both resulting in touchdowns.
     Lincoln Taylor had two rushing touchdowns, while Matt Fleck and Scotty Pennington scored one apiece.
     Nichols was also impressed with the aggressiveness of his defense, which was definitely the backbone of last year's team. A pair of Eagle defenders - Duron Robinson and Dominique Johnson - had interceptions, and the defense also recorded seven sacks in the game. Sophomore noseguard Ryan Nixon had five tackles and two sacks to lead the way.
     "Ryan had a wonderful spring game," Nichols said. "We know what he's going to give us in the fall. He'll be one of the guys who'll anchor things for us up front." 
     Sean Thom had eight tackles, while Brett Edwards added seven and Paul Adams and Terrance Craig five apiece.
     Faulkner opens its 2008 season on Sept. 6 in Birmingham against NCAA Division 1-AA Samford. The Eagles first home game will be the following week at Cramton Bowl against crosstown rival Huntingdon.

Blue-White Game to to have honorary coaches
April 22, 2008

     Faulkner's first Blue-White Game, set for Saturday morning at 10 at Cramton Bowl, will feature a pair of honorary coaches walking the sidelines. (click to read more...)

Blue-White Game to close Faulkner's spring drills
April 18, 2008

      Head coach Jim Nichols will guide his Faulkner football team through its first Blue-White game on Saturday, April 26, at Cramton Bowl. The game, which will be a 100-play scrimmage, kicks off at 10 a.m.
      There will be no admission charge to the game and parking will be free as well. All fans will enter Cramton Bowl through the main Madison Avenue gate and will sit on the press box side of the stadium. 
      "We're excited about our first spring game," Nichols said. "Not having a spring practice last year heading into our first season set us back, so we're excited about getting this close look at our team in game-type situations to gauge just how far we've come. We think it will be a great day for our program and the entire Faulkner family."
       The Eagles open their 2008 season in Birmingham on Sept. 6 against NCAA Div. I-AA Samford. Faulkner's first home game is set for Sept. 13 when Huntingdon visits Cramton Bowl.


Faulkner to open season at Samford

     Faulkner will travel to Birmingham to face NCAA Division I-AA Samford on Sept. 6, head coach Jim Nichols announced Thursday.
     The Eagles and the Bulldogs, coached by former Auburn Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan, will kickoff at 6 p.m. at Seibert Stadium on the Samford campus. It will be the season opener for both schools.
     For Faulkner, which finished 1-9 in its inaugural season last fall, the Samford game finalizes its 2008 schedule. The Eagles' home opener is set for Sept. 13 against Huntingdon at Cramton Bowl.
     "This is a great opportunity for our program in it's second year of existence," Nichols said. "Coach Sullivan runs a solid program and we look forward to going up to Birmingham on the 6th. Samford will bring a tough challenge for us but our kids will be ready and I know our fans will make the trip to Birmingham to support us. We're excited about the game, and we appreciate coach Sullivan giving us the opportunity."

Faulkner releases 2008 football schedule

      Faulkner head football coach Jim Nichols, transitioning his team into the Mid-South Conference after spending the inaugural season as an NAIA independent, has released the Eagles full schedule for the 2008 season.
      In addition to the Capital City Showdown with Huntingdon on Sept. 13 at Cramton Bowl, which opens Faulkner's season, the Eagles will play a complete MSC schedule that includes games with traditional NAIA programs such as Lambuth (Tenn.), Bethel (Tenn.) and Virginia-Wise. Shorter, who like Faulkner is only a football member of the MSC, is also on the 2008 schedule, as is Kentucky Christian. Faulkner and KCu compete annually for the Stone-Campbell Cup.
      "Being affiliated with the new conference has certainly made scheduling a lot easier," head coach Jim Nichols said. "Huntingdon and Kentucky Christian will be our only non-conference opponents. Both of those games are important to us because of the relationships we have built with those schools."
      The MSC is home to some of the nation's top football programs. Bethel, Virginia-Wise, Cumberlands (Ky.) and Georgetown (Ky.) all finished the 2007 season in the Top 25.
      Nichols was pleased that Faulkner and Huntingdon were able to work out scheduling conflicts so the budding rivalry between the two local small schools could continue without interruption. Huntingdon hosted the first Showdown and won 30-12. It was first thought that the two teams wouldn't meet again until 2009, but Nichols and Hawks head coach Mike Turk worked out the details for the 2008 matchup, which will have a 7 p.m. kickoff.
      "Our off week is the first week of the season, so we're looking forward to beginning our season against Huntingdon," Nichols said. "Both of us wanted to move the game to earlier in the season to give the players and city something to look forward to at the start of the year." Faulkner will kick off its season against the Hawks at Cramton Bowl on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.
       The Showdown will be Huntingdon's second game of the season.

Four Former Lions Top Faulkner's Class
Feb. 6, 2008

      Montgomery, Ala. - Starting cornerback Willie Mullins of the two-time 6A state champion Prattville Lions highlights Faulkner's 2008 signing class, Eagles head coach Jim Nichols announced Wednesday afternoon. Two other members of Prattville's 2007 championship team – offensive lineman Chance Guyon and wide receiver A. J. Yelder – also signed with Faulkner. Offensive lineman Trey Clark, who played for the 2006 Lions' state champions, is transferring to Faulkner from the Naval Academy.
      "These guys from Prattville are going to make a major impact on our program," said Nichols, whose Eagles went 1-9 in their inaugural football season last fall. "Bill Clark is a great football coach, and he has taught his players how to win, and that's a big part of what we're trying to do. I know one of our problems last year was that we just couldn't close out games when we had a chance, and I think much of that comes from not knowing how to win.
      "All of the area coaches do a great job, and we're spending a lot of time as a staff looking at their players. We want to make a strong effort at bringing in guys from this area."
      In all, Nichols announced 11 additions to the Faulkner program on Wednesday. Others include running back Ryan Williams from Chilton County High School; offensive lineman Chris Wood from Charles Henderson High School; kicker Win Knight from Clay County High School; offensive lineman D.R. Forrester from Northview High School; defensive lineman David Parker from Cooper City High School in Miramar, Fla.; wide receiver Kris Yeats from Newnan High School in Newnan, Ga. 
      "We feel like we have a solid class and I think our coaches have done a tremendous job establishing a relationship with our local and state high schools," Nichols said. "In our second year we are still working to get where all the other schools are and by looking at today we are taking the right steps. It's exciting to be at Faulkner right now and I look forward to seeing these guys perform in the fall."

2008 Signing List: