Alabama State Baseball To Host A Pair Of Midweek Games

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  The Alabama State baseball team will open the month of April by hosting a pair of midweek games against Mercer Tuesday and Jacksonville State Wednesday at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

Both games begin at 6 p.m., with bamastatesports.com carrying live stats of both games. Live video for Wednesday's game will be available free of charge at bamastatesports.com/showcase.

The Hornets (24-8) have won six in a row and are coming off a three-game weekend sweep over North Carolina Central in which Alabama State had to score in the late innings to win twice. A walk-off single in the ninth inning helped ASU capture a 3-2 win in game one. Sunday, a four-run eighth inning rally erased a two-run deficit in a 9-8 win.

"I'd thought about that over the last few days that we hadn't played in a lot of close games," head coach Mervyl Melendez said. "As a coach, you want your team to perform at a high level offensively and not be in those situations. The reality is that you're going to have to win games late. We were able to do that twice this weekend. It was good see our guys fight back, especially when we were down, to come back to win, as well as scoring in the ninth to win."

It's the third straight year the Hornets have faced both Mercer and Jacksonville State in home-and-home matchups. Tuesday's matchup with Mercer (22-7) is perhaps one of few if not the first on the 2014 schedule nationally featuring a pair of 20-win teams. The defending Atlantic Sun Conference champion Bears opened the season with nine straight wins, and have won eight of their past nine games, including a win last week over 23^rd-ranked Georgia Tech.

"Mercer always has a good team, regardless of the win total," Melendez said. "They are a very good offensive ball club, and we know we are going to have to pitch very well to come out on top. They are a well-coached team, and we have our hands full. We're looking for to the challenge, and to continue to play well and see if we can continue to improve."

Jacksonville State (17-10) has won three in a row and six of its last seven games. Among the victories this season for the Gamecocks of the Ohio Valley Conference are wins over Troy and UAB.

"I think they are playing better than they have in recent years," Melendez said. "Credit that to the guys they have coming back who have continued to get better, similar to what we have done, as we have a lot of the same players who have matured. I think it will be a matchup of two teams that have players who have been with their programs for a few years now, understand the game better and playing with more confidence. We haven't beaten Jacksonville State in our previous matchups, so it will be a good test for us."

The mid-week games have continued to challenge and test Alabama State, something Melendez has wanted and established in the program. The difference this season, according to Melendez, is the opponents seemingly are all playing well.

"Almost every team we have faced during mid-week has played well throughout the season," Melendez said. "We don't have time to relax and put new guys in the mix and see if they can perform. We have to play our best game, and our guys who play on weekends. We have benefitted as well, because our players have gotten better. By being tested, you get better, and you improve on your game."

SCHEDULE CHANGE: This weekend's SWAC doubleheader at Miss. Valley St. will now be played Sunday in Moorhead, Miss at Mississippi Delta Community College. First pitch is 1 p.m. with live internet radio at bamastatesports.com/showcase .

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Spring Training brings a Sense of Excitement to Texas Southern Tigers Football

HOUSTON, Texas  --  A sense of excitement, urgency and optimism fills the air around the Texas Southern Tigers football field house and practice field.

Third year head coach Darrell Asberry is fired up about his team and their change in attitude.

"They know it's time to win and they have the attitude and will to want to win," said Asberry. "No one's complaining and everyone wants to work.  They see the writing on the wall."

Asberry is excited about the talent on the team but also the fact that he gets to test that talent for the first time in two years during the spring.

"We didn't have spring training last season and it showed," Asberry said.  "The guys didn't start to come together until the second half of the season.  They've worked hard in the weight room and now we are on the field.  I'm very optimistic about our future."

Asberry said he is focused on finding out what these guys do best, and working that to perfection.  He would like to get the ball down field fast, and he seems to have the talent to do it.

Starting quarterback Homer Causey is back for his junior year.  He played in 10 games with 1459 yards passing and 5 touchdowns.  He also rushed for 694 yard and 6 touchdowns.

"Homer's attitude has improved a lot and he is showing maturity and good leadership skills," said Asberry.

Jay Christophe saw playing time as a true freshman and he is getting some quality reps in spring practice.  Asberry said a redshirt freshman is also stepping up.  "The surprise at quarterback was Rico Smalls' brother, Mario," Asberry said.  "He moved the team during his reps and he made good decisions with his reads."

The offensive line is missing their veteran left tackle.  Glen Jackson won't practice in the spring because of his injury, but he's expected back for the fall.

Senior wide receiver Fred Plummer is back in action after missing most of last season because of an injury.  Plummer's hard work and rehab is playing off.  Coach says he is catching everything thrown in his direction.

The defensive line was a concern according to Asberry, but the squad has squashed some of the head coach's worries.  "I had concerns about the D-line, but they are doing a good job," said Asberry.  "They got after us pretty good on Saturday.  We still have a lot of work to do but I'm encouraged by what I've seen so far."

Special teams should be a very special group this season.  The Tigers now have two experienced kickers who both have experienced some success.  "Corey [Carter] and [Eric] Medina are back with us and we brought in another long snapper," Asberry said. "We put some pressure on Medina as a true freshman and he did well despite some freshman tendencies.  Corey went through the same thing as a true freshman and he came back and led the conference in punting his sophomore year.  We feel real good about those guys."

Asberry believes he has a solid core of student-athletes on campus, with a group of freshmen and transfers on their way to help fill in the gaps.  What's high of Asberry's list for spring training?..staying healthy and science.  "Think it's very important that we get some chemistry going with these guys," Asberry said.  "Their attitudes have really changed…so we are focused on discipline and our commitment to working as a team."

The Tigers have two more weeks of spring training, and Asberry and his coaching staff plan to take full advantage of it.

"We are a very talented football team.  We are going to work real hard to get these guys going in the right direction.  It feels good to come to work in such a positive atmosphere."

Texas Southern's 2014 season kicks off on August 31^st. 

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY 2014 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date	Opponent	Location	Time
8/31/2014	Prairie View A&M University	Houston, TX	4:00pm
9/4/2014	Texas College	Houston, TX	7:30pm
9/13/2014	Central State-Ohio	Wilberforce, OH	TBA
9/20/2014	Alabama A&M	Houston, TX	7:00pm
9/27/2014	Alabama State University	Montgomery, AL	TBA
10/4/2014	Mississippi Valley State	Houston, TX	7:00pm
10/18/2014	Alcorn State	Alcorn, MS	TBA
Homecoming
10/25/2014	Arkansas-Pine Bluff / Homecoming	Houston, TX	2:00pm
11/1/2014	Grambling State	Houston, TX	2:00pm
11/8/2014	Southern University	Baton Rouge, LA	TBA
11/15/2014	Jackson State	Houston, TX	2:00pm

By Rodney Bush TSU Sports Information Director 
COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Venue for Alabama A&M football opener against North Carolina A&T changed

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama  --  Alabama A&M will still open its 2014 football season up against North Carolina A&T August 31st in sunny Orlando. 

However, the Bulldogs won't be doing so at The City Beautiful's Citrus Bowl. 

Organizer's of the 10th Annual MEAC-SWAC Challenge have switched the venue for the game to Bright House Networks Stadium, home of the University of Central Florida Knights. 

The Citrus Bowl, where the game was played from 2008-2013, is currently under renovation and will not be available for the Challenge, which will be aired live on an ESPN Network. The game was held at Birmingham's Legion Field from its inception in 2005 through 2007. 

"We are thrilled to have North Carolina A&T State University and ...

 

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Reggie Johnson added to Alabama A&M coaching staff as defensive coordinator

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Reggie Johnson, a former Alabama A&M assistant coach most recently on the staff at UAB, has been named as new defensive coordinator for Alabama A&M.

According to a press release from Alabama A&M on Monday, that completes the staff of new head coach James Spady.

The Bulldogs open spring practice Friday and will hold their spring game April 26 at 3 p.m.

Johnson played collegiately at the University of Louisville and after a season as graduate assistant there, his first full-time coaching role was at Alabama A&M in 1998-1999 as the defensive tackles coach, then in 2000 as linebackers coach under Ron Cooper, the Huntsville native who coached Johnson at Louisville.

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Florida A&M Rattlers Open Spring Practice With Drills Today

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  (Mar. 31) -- There was a sense of urgency in the voices of FAMU coaches during the opening day of Spring football drills today at the Rattler practice fields.  While at most times, football teams merge their way into activity, the Rattlers jumped full head of steam into the beginning of the 2014 football campaign.  Head coach Earl Holmes was the leader of the pack, speaking to media briefly before practice.

“3-9 simply is not good enough.  We’ve grown as a coaching staff and we understand that we want to do better right now.  That means more emphasis on basic skills.  Blocking, tackling and catching will be at a premium this Spring, because all positions are open,” Holmes concluded.

On a sunny 77 degree day, the team went through a battery of drills, highlighted by stiff competition in 7-on-7 drills.  Carson Royal was leading the way, taking snaps at the No.1 position.  He was thrown into the fray last season against rival South Carolina State.  Without taking many reps all season, Royal was baptized in the fire as he would start the remainder of the season for the Rattlers.

Damien Fleming, the Rattlers’ star quarterback, was injured in the SCSU game, and was sidelined for the remainder of the season.  He was in practice in a protective boot, though he was in some drills throwing without restraint.  Fleming will have the boot removed this week and work his way into Spring drills.

“I’m ahead of schedule, and I just want to get back in there and start working to get things right for this year.  This is my last season, so I want to begin building our program back to where it needs to be.  I really want to flip our record from last season to more like 9-3 and get in the playoffs, “ Fleming said.

Offensive coordinator Quinn Gray and defensive coordinator Levon Kirkland were flying around the field like the season had already started.  The entire battery of coaches were in mid-season form, demanding perfection from the Rattlers from the start.

The feeling among the players is one of focus as well.  Royal spent much of his offseason with quarterback coaches.  “I have to be able to lead this team.  I set a goal for myself to help coach Gray guide this team as a leader,” Royal said.  “I spent a lot of time in the offseason with our receivers getting our timing down,” he added.




The Rattlers will continue Spring drills with the annual Orange 7 Green game slated for April 19^th.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU vs. B-CU Baseball FInale To Air Live on ESPN

COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS

Final game of crucial MEAC Southern Division showdown to be televised liver nationally

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced Friday, that  ESPN3.com would broadcast the final game of this weekend’s FAMU vs. B-CU baseball series live nationally, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern from historic Jackie Robinson Stadium in downtown Daytona Beach, Florida.

Veteran broadcasters Joe Davis (play-by-play)and Jay Walker (analyst) will handle the on-air presentation for the game, which will also air on a taped delay basis at 6 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU.

This weekend’s Sunshine State series took on even more importance when the resurgent FAMU Rattlers (7-4 MEAC, 10-16 overall), under first-year head coach Jamey Shouppe, took over first place in the MEAC Southern Division after sweeping a three-game series at North Carolina A&T (6-6, 11-16) last weekend, to vault from fourth place to first.

The trade in places by FAMU moved the Rattlers past second place Bethune-Cookman (7-5, 15-14), which sits just one-half game behind their in-state rivals heading into the weekend.

In their previous meeting this season, the ‘Cats won three hard-fought games against FAMU in Tallahassee on March 1-2, highlighted by a marathon 15-inning 10-5 opening win, followed by 4-2 and 11-6 decisions in the final two games

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

WSSU's Townsend switches from QB to tight end

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- “The Big Show” is taking his talents to another position at Winston-Salem State.

DeShean Townsend, who is 6-3 and close to 230 pounds, certainly deserves his nickname. But because he’s been a backup quarterback for three seasons he hasn’t been on the field much.

His only significant playing time in his career came in the final game last season in a 7-0 loss to Shepherd in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Townsend struggled after starter Rudy Johnson went out with an injured shoulder in the first half. Townsend couldn’t rally the Rams with a makeshift offensive line and a depleted wide-receiver corps as the season came to an abrupt end.

Johnson and the highly-touted Phillip Sims are the top quarterbacks in practice this spring; with redshirt freshman Justin Johnson also in the mix, there wasn’t room for Townsend at his old position.

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