The "unofficial" meeting place for intelligent discussions of Divisions I and II Sports of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC).
America's #1 blog source for minority sports articles and videos. The MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, SIAC and GCAC colleges are building America's leaders, scholars and athletes..
Houston, TX - When the regional pairings were announced for the NCAA baseball tournament, the Rice Owls already had a head-start on scouting reports. "They're not going to surprise us, that's for sure," Rice coach Wayne Graham said of No. 2 seed Baylor and No. 3 seed California being placed in the Houston Regional. "They've already beaten us."
Familiarity and a touch of don't-remind-us history will offer plenty of incentives why the top-seeded Owls can't overlook or underestimate the field in the four-team, double-elimination regional that begins Friday at Reckling Park.
The Owls, the No. 8 national seed, open the regional against fourth-seeded Alcorn State. The appearance of the Southwestern Athletic Conference champion offers another reminder of how quickly things can go awry in the postseason. In 2004, the Owls were the defending national champions and No. 6 national seed heading into the regional opener against Texas Southern.
No. 1 Rice (41-19, 16-8 in C-USA)
17th appearance (17 straight), automatic, Conference USA regular-season co-champion and tournament champion, No. 8 national seed
No. 2 Baylor (29-26, 13-14 in Big 12)
17th appearance (third straight), at-large, sixth place in Big 12 Conference
No. 3 California (31-20, 13-13 in Pac-10)
12th appearance (second straight), at-large, sixth place in Pacific-10 Conference
No. 4 Alcorn State (27-28, 19-4 in SWAC)
First appearance, automatic, Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament champion
Rice's young pitching staff was thrown into the fire immediately during the Owls' challenging nonconference schedule, as ballyhooed freshmen righthanders Austin Kubitza (6-4, 2.33) and John Simms (3-2, 3.32) each took turns in the weekend rotation when the Owls opened against Stanford. Those young power arms matured in conference play, helping lead the Owls to a share of their fifth CUSA title in the six seasons since they joined the league, as well as their fourth CUSA tournament title.
Morgantown, WV -- When West Virginia takes on Norfolk State on Sept. 10 in Milan Puskar Stadium, it will likely be the Mountaineers' least important game of the season. It could be Norfolk State's biggest game, though. The Spartans have one game against a higher-division foe, and that's West Virginia.
The Mountaineers won't start with a lower-division opponent for the first time since the 2007 season, when they faced Western Michigan (The Mountaineers haven't faced a team from an automatic qualifier conference since 2005, when they faced Syracuse).
The biggest question isn't whether WVU will overlook Norfolk State when the two teams get together. The question will be, however, if the Mountaineers do overlook the Spartans, will it matter?
Norfolk State went 6-5 last year ...
Videographer: nsuathletics; Big East 2010 Game: NSU at. Rutgers Highlights.
Tallahassee, FL -- Clemon Johnson, a Monticello native who set records at Florida A&M and also wears an NBA championship ring, finally experienced a homecoming Tuesday afternoon that was in the making for 18 years.
With about 200 Florida A&M fans looking on with the Marching 100 and cheerleaders as the backdrop at the Lawson Center, Johnson was introduced as the new men's head basketball coach. He hugged little children, signed autographs and took countless photographs, then pronounced himself ready to rebuild the program that had foundered as a bottom tier team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the past four years.
At the same time, Johnson was at the University of Alaska Fairbanks gaining experience that he said will help him make the Rattlers winners. He was hoping to...
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (May 31) - Florida A&M University welcomed home one of its favorite sons to lead the men's basketball program today at the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium. Clemon Johnson, was officially presented to alumni, fans and family at a pep rally and press conference in his honor. The world-famous Marching "100" and the MEAC Co-ed Champions Cheerleaders were on hand to add to the excitement.
Johnson was a star basketball player for the Rattlers from 1974-1978. He was an All-SIAC and All-American selection his senior year at FAMU, with several of his records still standing to this day. Johnson went on to a solid career in the NBA, winning a world championship with the Philadelphia 76ers. He later started coaching in the high school ranks, before being hired at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks
FAMU interim Sports Information Director, Vaughn Wilson, presided over the event. FAMU Director of Athletics, Derek Horne, gave the welcome from the FAMU Athletic Department and FAMU President, Dr. James H. Ammons, welcomed the crowd of about 300 people to the event and introduced new head basketball coach Clemon Johnson.
Horne, was excited to have the search completed and a Rattler hired to guide the team. "It's a great day for not only FAMU, but our athletic department. We have an alum coming back to the hill that we think will do a great job for us," said Horne.
Ammons, was emphatic about doing what it takes to regain championship composure for the basketball program. An emphatic Ammons said, " We wanted someone who could come back and ignite that old Rattler spirit. When you think about Rattler sports, you immediately think about some of the great student-athletes who have been a part of this campus. You think of Althea Gibson, Bob Hayes and legendary coach Jake Gaither. Then, when you think about basketball, you think about Clemon Johnson."
Howard University head football coach Gary Harrell has added the following coaches to his staff for the upcoming season:
Rayford Petty Defensive Coordinator
Ted White Offensive Coordinator/Quarterback Coach
Ron Bolton Defensive Back Coach
Bobby Jones Defensive Line Coach
Jonathan Brewer Wide Receivers Coach
Chennis Berry Offensive Line Coach
Theron Smith Running Backs
Mike Andrews Kicking Coach/Special Teams
Videographer: wcsaTV
Petty is no stranger to Howard. He served as head coach of the Bison from 2002-06. He also served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator here. The highly respected Petty has also served as defensive coordinator at both Delaware State and Norfolk State.
Petty was the defensive coordinator for the Bison during both the 1993 and 1996 seasons when the team captured the Black National championship.
White comes to Howard from Southern University where he served as quarterbacks coach last year. White is the Bison and MEAC all-time leading passer and total offense leader with almost 10,000 yards during his productive career at Howard from 1994-98.
White gained valuable coaching experience early in his career as a quarterbacks coach for Texas Southern University in 2006-07.
He played professionally for five years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. White also had stints with the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe and the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
Bolton also has strong ties to Howard, having served as defensive back coach under Petty from 2002-06 and playing a key role in the development of current NFL standouts, Antoine “Deuce” Bethea of the Indianapolis Colts and Ronald Bartell, Jr of the St. Louis Rams.
Prior to coming to Howard, Bolton served as secondary coach for Delaware State since 2009. He also coached at Norfolk State from 1997-2001 and at Liberty University from 1996-97.
Bolton played collegiately at Norfolk State and had an outstanding career before playing in the NFL for the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns.
Jones comes from Delaware State where he served as defensive line coach since 2009. Jones also served in the same capacity for the Bison under Petty from 2002-06. Jones played for Howard and was a member of the 1996 team that captured the Black National championship.
Videographer: meazteam1
Brewer comes to Howard from Johnson C. Smith where he served as wide receivers coach from 2006-09. He was a four-year letterman at Howard from 1999-2003 and was named all MEAC in 2003.
Berry comes to Howard from North Carolina A&T where he served as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach the past five years. The 1996 Savannah State graduate has also served stints at Morgan State and Forth Valley State.
Smith comes to Howard from Bowie State where he had served since 2004. At Bowie State, Smith coached under Coach Harrell, who was the offensive coordinator. He graduated from North Carolina A&T in 1993.
Andrews brings a wealth of knowledge to the kicking game. He was a standout and all-conference selection at Morgan State. He served as both punter and placekicker for the Bears.
Samuel Pough, who served as wide receivers coach last season, will continue his role of video coordinator.
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - For the first time since the 2004 NCAA Division-II playoffs, the Fayetteville State Broncos will play perennial powerhouse Carson-Newman in football in 2011.
And a win could mean a potential playoff berth for the Broncos.
Fayetteville State announced on Thursday it will travel to play the Eagles at 7 p.m. on Sept. 8 in Jefferson City, Tenn. The Broncos were originally slated to play St. Paul's on the road in the second week of the season, but St. Paul's College announced earlier this month that it would not field athletic teams next season.
The opportunity to play Carson-Newman gives Fayetteville State 10 football games for the 2011 season -- the number needed to qualify for a playoff berth.
"We are fortunate Carson-Newman had an opening on its schedule and we were able to make a game," says Broncos football coach Kenny Phillips. "It goes for our 10th game, and if we're fortunate enough to have a good season, we'd be eligible for the playoffs."
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announces the 172 men and 153 women that earned USTFCCCA All-America distinctions for the 2011 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season. A total of 416 awards will be given as a result of performances at the past weekend’s NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Turlock, California.
Just as the indoor season, Abilene Christian’s men and Grand Valley State’s women won NCAA team titles. Both squads were the top-ranked team by the USTFCCCA heading into the championships and ACU’s men went wire-to-wire as the nation’s No. 1 team throughout the outdoor season.
NCAA TEAM FINISHES
Abilene Christian scored 68 points for the team victory to extend their NCAA-record to 19 national outdoor team crowns. ACU has won the national crown in eight of the last ten years. The Wildcats claimed individual national titles with Desmond Jackson (200 meters), Amos Sang (10,000 meters), and Nick Jones (discus). Jones also placed second in the shot put and was the team’s top scorer with 18 points.
Adams State finished as the men’s runners-up with 55 points and national titles from Andrew Graham (1500 meters) and Luke Cragg (5000 meters). Lincoln (Mo.) placed third with 51 and Emporia State, with 43 points, earned fourth for their first “trophy” finish and highest national-team finish in school history (seventh, 1996).
Grand Valley State’s women scored 82½ points for the NCAA crown, holding off late-charging Lincoln (Mo.) who finished second with 68. For GVSU, it was their first outdoor crown, and, combined with national titles in cross country and indoor track & field, the school earned an academic-year “triple crown”. GVSU junior Lauren Buresh won a national crown in the shot put and Liz Murphy took first with the hammer throw.
For second-place Lincoln, junior Judith Riley won the 100 meters and led off the Blue Tigers’ 4×100 national-champ relay. Sophomore Yanique Haye won top honors in the 400 hurdles. Adams State placed third with 51 points as Indira Spence carried three top-three finishes, scoring 22 points in the 100, 200, and 100 hurdles. Cassie Mitchell won the steeplechase crown for the Grizzlies. With a national crown in the 100 hurdles, Shermaine Williams led Johnson C. Smith to a fourth-place showing.
Johnson C. Smith’s Shermaine Williams was the first to three-peat in the 100 hurdles since Abilene Christian’s Delloreen Ennis-London won four straight from 1996 to 1999. And, Fort Valley State’s Antionette Oglesby won a third-straight NCAA championship in the women’s triple jump. Neely Spence of Shippensburg won a third-straight crown in the 5000-meter run, becoming the first in D-II outdoor history to do so.
Kimour Bruce for Lincoln (Mo.) won his second-straight title in the 100-meter dash. Amos Sang won a second-straight crown in the men’s 10,000 meters. In the men’s pole vault, Western Washington’s Ryan Brown captured a second-straight win. And, Ashland’s Ryan Loughney won the men’s hammer and UC San Diego’s Nick Howe won the men’s javelin for the second year in a row.
USTFCCCA ALL-AMERICA HONORS
ohnson C. Smith’s Leford Green led all men in earning four USTFCCCA All-America certificates from the 2011 outdoor track & field season. Green was the national champ in the 400 meters, sixth in the 400 hurdles, and was a member of the winning 4×400 relay and as part of the fifth-place 4×100 relay.
Lincoln (Mo.) led all men’s teams with 15 All-America certificates, followed by Saint Augustine’s (13), Abilene Christian (13), and Johnson C. Smith (12).Lincoln also had the most women’s certificates with 19, followed by Grand Valley State (16), Saint Augustine’s (10), and Adams State (9).
The schools of the MIAA had the most certificates among all conferences with 39 men’s and 40 women’s. The Lone Star Conference had the second-most on the men’s side, followed by the CIAA (26), the RMAC (26), and the GLIAC (24). The GLIAC was second in the women’s category with 30, followed by the RMAC (23), the CCAA (20), and the CIAA (19).
To earn USTFCCCA All-America honors, athletes must have scored any portion of a team point at the NCAA Championships. USTFCCCA membership by a program is required to earn All-America awards.
Excerpt:
2011 USTFCCCA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD ALL-AMERICA – NCAA DIVISION II
Event
Name
School
Triple Jump LaQuan Priest Claflin
4x100m Relay Winston Brown Johnson C. Smith
4x400m Relay Winston Brown Johnson C. Smith
4x400m Relay Jamille Callum Johnson C. Smith
110m Hurdles Andre Collins Johnson C. Smith
4x100m Relay Gabriel Franklin Johnson C. Smith
400m Dash Leford Green Johnson C. Smith
400m Hurdles Leford Green Johnson C. Smith
4x100m Relay Leford Green Johnson C. Smith
4x400m Relay Leford Green Johnson C. Smith
400m Dash Akino Ming Johnson C. Smith
4x100m Relay Akino Ming Johnson C. Smith
4x400m Relay Akino Ming Johnson C. Smith
400m Hurdles Steve Banton Lincoln (Mo.)
4x400m Relay Steve Banton Lincoln (Mo.)
4x400m Relay Jermaine Blake Lincoln (Mo.)
100m Dash Kimour Bruce Lincoln (Mo.)
4x100m Relay Kimour Bruce Lincoln (Mo.)
100m Dash Dwain Bryden Lincoln (Mo.)
400m Hurdles Roxroy Cato Lincoln (Mo.)
4x400m Relay Roxroy Cato Lincoln (Mo.)
4x100m Relay Mandela Clifford Lincoln (Mo.)
4x100m Relay Terrel Cotton Lincoln (Mo.)
100m Dash Terrel Cotton Lincoln (Mo.)
4x100m Relay Ravel Grey Lincoln (Mo.)
200m Dash Dane Hyatt Lincoln (Mo.)
400m Dash Dane Hyatt Lincoln (Mo.)
4x400m Relay Dane Hyatt Lincoln (Mo.)
4x400m Relay Antonio Abney Saint Augustine’s
110m Hurdles Jason Boyd Saint Augustine’s
High Jump Christopher Copeland Saint Augustine’s
Triple Jump Orolando Duffus Saint Augustine’s
200m Dash Josh Edmonds Saint Augustine’s
400m Dash Josh Edmonds Saint Augustine’s
4x400m Relay Josh Edmonds Saint Augustine’s
400m Dash Kelly Fisher Saint Augustine’s
4x400m Relay Kelly Fisher Saint Augustine’s
100m Dash Ramon Gittens Saint Augustine’s
200m Dash Ramon Gittens Saint Augustine’s
4x400m Relay James Quarles Saint Augustine’s
110m Hurdles Gerkenz Senesca Saint Augustine’s
High Jump Maurice Hall Saint Paul’s
WOMEN
Event
Name
School
4x400m Relay Kimberly Johnson Albany State (Ga.)
4x400m Relay Kendra Nelson Albany State (Ga.)
4x400m Relay Ebony Stone Albany State (Ga.)
4x400m Relay Candice Vaughn Albany State (Ga.)
Long Jump Antionette Oglesby Fort Valley State
Triple Jump Antionette Oglesby Fort Valley State
4x100m Relay Naffene Briscoe Johnson C. Smith
100m Hurdles Rosemarie Carty Johnson C. Smith
4x100m Relay Lakaevia Tyler Johnson C. Smith
100m Dash Danielle Williams Johnson C. Smith
100m Hurdles Danielle Williams Johnson C. Smith
4x100m Relay Danielle Williams Johnson C. Smith
100m Hurdles Shermaine Williams Johnson C. Smith
4x100m Relay Shermaine Williams Johnson C. Smith
100m Dash Latoya Campbell Lincoln (Mo.)
400m Hurdles Latoya Campbell Lincoln (Mo.)
4x100m Relay Latoya Campbell Lincoln (Mo.)
4x100m Relay Nyoka Cole Lincoln (Mo.)
4x400m Relay Nyoka Cole Lincoln (Mo.)
400m Hurdles Michelle Cumberbatch Lincoln (Mo.)
4x400m Relay Michelle Cumberbatch Lincoln (Mo.)
400m Hurdles Yanique Haye Lincoln (Mo.)
4x400m Relay Yanique Haye Lincoln (Mo.)
Triple Jump Kimberly Hodges Lincoln (Mo.)
400m Hurdles Keniesha Jones Lincoln (Mo.)
4x400m Relay Keniesha Jones Lincoln (Mo.)
100m Dash Latoya King Lincoln (Mo.)
200m Dash Latoya King Lincoln (Mo.)
4x100m Relay Latoya King Lincoln (Mo.)
Triple Jump Sanchia Lee Lincoln (Mo.)
100m Dash Judith Riley Lincoln (Mo.)
200m Dash Judith Riley Lincoln (Mo.)
4x100m Relay Judith Riley Lincoln (Mo.)
4x100m Relay Jaivairia Bacote Saint Augustine’s
400m Dash Nicketa Bernard Saint Augustine’s
4x100m Relay Nicketa Bernard Saint Augustine’s
4x400m Relay Nicketa Bernard Saint Augustine’s
4x100m Relay Sheena Johns Saint Augustine’s
4x400m Relay Sheena Johns Saint Augustine’s
4x400m Relay April London Saint Augustine’s
400m Dash Kelly Shaw Saint Augustine’s
4x100m Relay Kelly Shaw Saint Augustine’s
4x400m Relay Kelly Shaw Saint Augustine’s
400m Dash Janae Jones Stillman
400m Dash Samantha Edwards Virginia State
Graham sees cause for Rice to be on alert
