Defendant in FAMU drum major's death talks

Rikki Wills faces felony charges

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - A man charged in the death of FAMU drum major Robert Champion is defending himself. Rikki Wills said Wednesday that he tried to protect Champion, his roommate, the night he died.

Wills, 24, said Champion had refused to go through the process known as "crossing bus C." He decided to go on Nov. 19, the night of his death.

Willis said that if the other drum majors had known, they would have been on the bus helping Champion. Instead, Willis said, it was only him.

“What the drum majors get on the bus to try to do is to try to help each other. Basically, I’m trying to stop him from getting as many hits,” said Wills. Wills said Champion was hit about 300 times. He said he broke his hand trying to pull another band member off Champion.



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NCCU coach reinstated following assault allegations

DURHAM, North Carolina - N.C. Central University has reinstated head football coach Henry Frazier following a resolution of a legal matter.

In May 2012 Frazier was arrested and charged with assault on a female. Police say he and his wife were arguing when he allegedly assaulted her.

NCCU officials say the legal matter involving Frazier has been resolved and as a result, he has been reinstated to his full duties and responsibilities as head football coach, effective July 23. University officials did not elaborate on how the case was resolved.

“Coach Frazier is remorseful for the distraction to the university,” said NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms in a press release.

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NCAA imposes sanctions on Penn State; School fined $60 million, all wins from 1998-2011 vacated

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  –  By perpetuating a “football first” culture that ultimately enabled serial child sexual abuse to occur, the Pennsylvania State University leadership failed to value and uphold institutional integrity, resulting in a breach of the NCAA constitution and rules. The NCAA Division I Board of Directors and NCAA Executive Committee directed Association President Mark Emmert to examine the circumstances and determine appropriate action in consultation with these presidential bodies.

“As we evaluated the situation, the victims affected by Jerry Sandusky and the efforts by many to conceal his crimes informed our actions,” said Emmert. “At our core, we are educators. Penn State leadership lost sight of that.”

According to the NCAA conclusions and sanctions, the Freeh Report “presents an unprecedented failure of institutional integrity leading to a culture in which a football program was held in higher esteem than the values of the institution, the values of the NCAA, the values of higher education, and most disturbingly the values of human decency.”

As a result, the NCAA imposed a $60 million sanction on the university, which is equivalent to the average gross annual revenue of the football program. These funds must be paid into an endowment for external programs preventing child sexual abuse or assisting victims and may not be used to fund such programs at the university.

The sanctions also include a four-year football postseason ban and a vacation of all wins from 1998 through 2011. The career record of former head football coach Joe Paterno will reflect these vacated records. Penn State must also reduce 10 initial and 20 total scholarships each year for a four-year period. In addition, the NCAA reserves the right to impose additional sanctions on involved individuals at the conclusion of any criminal proceedings.

The NCAA recognizes that student-athletes are not responsible for these events and worked to minimize the impact of its sanctions on current and incoming football student-athletes. Any entering or returning student-athlete will be allowed to immediately transfer and compete at another school. Further, any football student-athletes who remain at the university may retain their scholarships, regardless of whether they compete on the team.

To further integrate the athletics department into the university, Penn State will be required to enter into an “Athletics Integrity Agreement” with the NCAA. It also must adopt all Freeh Report recommendations and appoint an independent, NCAA-selected Athletics Integrity Monitor, who will oversee compliance with the agreement.

Effective immediately, the university faces five years of probation. Specifically, the university is subject to more severe penalties if it does not adhere to these requirements or violates NCAA rules in any sport during this time period.

Read the NCAA’s report

Explanation of sanctions

NCAA’s Authority to Act

Transfer options for football players The Freeh Report on Pennsylvania State University

“There has been much speculation on whether or not the NCAA has the authority to impose any type of penalty related to Penn State,” said Ed Ray, Executive Committee chair and Oregon State president. “This egregious behavior not only goes against our rules and constitution, but also against our values.”

Because Penn State accepted the Freeh Report factual findings, which the university itself commissioned, the NCAA determined traditional investigative proceedings would be redundant and unnecessary.

“We cannot look to NCAA history to determine how to handle circumstances so disturbing, shocking and disappointing,” said Emmert. “As the individuals charged with governing college sports, we have a responsibility to act. These events should serve as a call to every single school and athletics department to take an honest look at its campus environment and eradicate the ‘sports are king’ mindset that can so dramatically cloud the judgment of educators.”

Penn State fully cooperated with the NCAA on this examination of the issues and took decisive action in removing individuals in leadership who were culpable.

“The actions already taken by the new Penn State Board of Trustees chair Karen Peetz and Penn State President Rodney Erickson have demonstrated a strong desire and determination to take the steps necessary for Penn State to right these severe wrongs,” said Emmert.

COURTESY NCAA PRESS RELEASE 7/23/12

FOOTNOTE: 
Grambling State University's Eddie Robinson becomes the Division I leader with 408 wins in 57 seasons, which ended in 1997. Florida State's Bobby Bowen is now the major college leader with 377 victories.  Bowden also had 12 wins vacated due to NCAA violations.

FAMU eyes improved attendance

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - The Florida A&M athletic department is ramping up its campaign to get fans to Bragg Stadium in a season that its football team will have to play without the sound of the Marching 100 in the background.

And the effort by athletic director Derek Horne is getting a little help from the Leon County Tourism Development Council. Horne said during an interview with the Democrat on Tuesday that entertainment is being planned to fill the void created by the absence of the band.

Former president James Ammons suspended the Marching 100 earlier this year amid an investigation following the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion. Ammons resigned last week.



Meanwhile, Horne is making an aggressive push to not only win back fans who might have decided they won’t attend games without the band but to those in nearby areas. A grant from the LCTDC will be used primarily to target fans from Jacksonville to Pensacola and nearby Georgia areas, he said.

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Savannah State picked 11th in preseason MEAC football poll

NORFOLK, Virginia - The Savannah State football team has been picked to finish last in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2012.

The Tigers received one first place vote, but were still picked to finish 11th in the conference by MEAC coaches and sports information directors. SSU won just one game in 2011. Savannah State opens the season on September 1st in Stillwater, Oklahoma against Oklahoma State. The following week the Tigers travel to Florida State.



Norfolk State has been tabbed as the team to beat in the MEAC. South Carolina State was second followed by Bethune-Cookman in third.

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UDC Coach Butler Hosts Youth Basketball Camp

WASHINGTON, D.C. - University of District of Columbia (UDC) women’s head basketball coach Lester “Jay” Butler believes in the importance of giving back to the community that supports you. That’s why he and his staff at UDC hosted a basketball camp for the youths of D.C.

Butler held the first session of his second annual Jay Butler Basketball Camp on the campus of UDC from June 25-29, inviting both boys and girls ranging in age from 7-17-years-old.

According to Butler, the week-long camp consisted of a number of basketball drills and workouts emphasizing fundamental skill development such as defense, boxing out, and footwork. The campers also competed in daily scrimmages and contests, emphasizing a team-friendly atmosphere.

“All camp drills and instruction were led by qualified instructors ranging from former UDC players to myself,” Coach Butler said. “At the conclusion of each camp day, one lucky camper was selected as “Camper of the Day” and one selected as “Camper of the Week.” All campers received certificates of completion upon dismissal on the last day.”

UDC assistant coach Robin Williams ...

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Howard University Athletic Director Discusses Bison Resurgence on News Channel 8's Sports Talk

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  Athletic Director Louis "Skip" Perkins appeared on the Thursday, July 19 edition of Sports Talk with Glenn Harris on News Channel 8. Mr. Perkins discussed the academic and athletic successes last season and preview of the upcoming season. To learn more about Howard Athletics, www.howard-bison.com.





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