FAMU issues farewell to women's basketball coach Debra Clark and staff

Photo: Debra Clark ends her FAMU career with an overall career record of 211-194. She was 100-109 in leading the Lady Rattlers program for seven years.

Florida A&M University officials announced Tuesday that the contract of head women’s basketball coach Debra Clark would not be renewed, and that a committee would be appointed shortly to conduct a search for a successor.

“We truly wish to express our appreciation to Coach Debra Clark and her staff for their service to the university for the past seven seasons. However, after a thorough evaluation of the program, the decision was made to pursue a different course,” said FAMU Athletic Director Bill Hayes on Tuesday.

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The assistant coaches released with Coach Clark were: her husband, John Clark (Hampton University/native - Chesapeake, VA); Niki Washington (Southern Illinois University/native - Sanford, Florida); and Melaney Denson (S.C. State/native - Fort Pierce, FL). Coach Clark was in the final year of her contract which was not renewed.

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Disappointing finish doesn't dim Alabama State Hornets' optimism

As the Alabama State basketball players gathered their belongings and boarded a plane headed for Montgomery from Arizona last Wednesday morning, there were no long faces. There were no feelings of doom and gloom. There was no sadness.

That seems a bit odd given what had happened to the Hornets in the previous week. They had dropped a heartbreaker in overtime of the semifinals of the SWAC tournament the previous Friday. That had cost them a trip to the NCAA tournament and sent them on a quick trip out West to face the National Invitation Tournament's top seed, Arizona State, on its home floor.

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UAPB gets $500,000 from Angel for complex

Photo: Torii Hunter donates half million dollars to build new UAPB baseball complex. Hunter did not attend UAPB or any other college.


PINE BLUFF, AR — Major league baseball player Torii Hunter committed $500,000 on Friday afternoon toward a proposed $9 million University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball complex, which will bear his name.

UAPB Athletic Director Skip Perkins said Hunter closed the deal Friday morning.

Perkins said the complex will be named the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex. The donation is the largest ever to the school’s athletics department from a single person, Perkins said.

“We are very, very grateful,” Perkins said. “We’re ready to rock and roll now. That was a huge component to our fundraising efforts.” Perkins said the fundraising committee will begin its drive next month, although he wasn’t certain exactly when.

Hunter, a Los Angeles Angels outfielder and a 1993 graduate of Pine Bluff High School, was traveling with the team Friday afternoon and unavailable for comment, said Larry Babcock, a spokesman for the Angels. A message left on Hunter’s cell phone Friday was not returned.

Hunter did not attend UAPB or any other college. He was a first-round draft pick for the Minnesota Twins straight out of high school. He played his first major-league game in 1997.

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Osborne in the fast lane at Texas Southern

Having been a key member of the 2005 Marshall High School football team that finished the season with a 13-2 record (state runner-up), it can be said Junior Osborne carried with him to Texas Southern University a pedigree for success.

Osborne has lived up to his billing, and then some, having two recent noteworthy successes — one on the track and one in the classroom.

His time of 21.97 seconds in the 200 meters established a new Southwestern Athletic Conference indoor record — surpassing that of Southern University's Albert Turner (22.29) set in January 2005.

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STANDING OUT: Former WSSU star catches scouts' eyes

Safety Nate Biggs has kept a low profile since exhausting his eligibility at Winston-Salem State last fall. But after his performance at an NFL pro day at East Carolina earlier this month, scouts are starting to take notice.

Biggs (6-1, 190) was a four-year starter for the Rams and had eight career interceptions, including three last season to tie for the team lead. He also had 230 career tackles, including 72 last season to finish second on the team.

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Jackson State's RB Giles stands out at Pro Day

The Jackson State football program welcomed 20 NFL scouts to the practice field outside the Walter Payton Center on Monday for the school's "Pro Day."

Representatives from New Orleans, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Chicago, Jacksonville, Carolina, Indianapolis, the New York Giants, Philadelphia, Cleveland, New England, Green Bay and Seattle were in attendance.

Thirteen JSU players took part with athletes from Mississippi College, Alcorn State and Belhaven.

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FAMU begins spring with high-tempo practice

Each player on FAMU's practice field earned every minute of the short water breaks they were granted Monday afternoon. An extra gulp wouldn't have been too much for a group of linebackers stationed at the sled.

One by one, they took a rapid-fire approach as they slammed into the padded metal sled, jerking it back with every contact. Linebackers coach Earl Holmes wouldn't let a man let up. "Grab and control," Holmes bellowed after every strike. "Run through it. Bring your hips with it."

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Excellent article and comments by Coach Joe Taylor and A.D. Bill Hayes.