Saturday, May 2, 2015

Round 4: Baltimore Ravens Select Texas Southern CB Tray Walker

BALTIMORE, Maryland --The Ravens waited to draft a cornerback until the fourth round, but they got one with plenty of upside.

Baltimore drafted Tray Walker out of small-school Texas Southern with their third pick in the fourth round (No. 136 overall). He’s the sixth player Baltimore drafted in 2015.

“I’m really overwhelmed right now. I’m stunned,” Walker said. “I really can’t think right now.”



Pundits didn’t project Walker going so high, listing him as a sixth- or seventh-round pick. But Ravens Assistant General Manager Eric DeCosta indicated Friday night that Baltimore had their eyes on some sleepers.

The Ravens took a chance with small-school Nicholls State cornerback Lardarius Webb in 2009 and it worked out. They’ll hope for the same result from Walker. On paper, they’re two very different players, however.

Walker said Ravens Cornerbacks Coach Matt Weiss came to his personal workout.

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MEAC, SWAC Grab Some NFL Draft Sportlight



CHICAGO, Illinois -- - The two FCS conferences for historically black colleges and universities have developed a spotlight for both the start and end of the 2015 season.

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference also grabbed some of the FCS spotlight on the final day of the three-day NFL Draft on Saturday.

Each conference boasted a fourth-round selection, the only two from the FCS taken in the round on the day the bulk of players from the lower half of Division I college football were gulped up.

The Arizona Cardinals traded up seven spots to use the the 116th overall selection on Delaware State defensive lineman Rodney Gunter and the Baltimore Ravens picked Texas Southern cornerback Tray Walker in a surprising final pick of the fourth round at No. 135.

The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Gunter is an athletic run stopper in the interior who also can play on the edge to get after quarterbacks. Walker, at 6-2, 180, is strong in press conference and has the longest arms and largest wingspan of any cornerback in the draft class.

The two HBCU conference will open the season with the annual MEAC-SWAC Challenge on Sept. 6. This season, their conference champions will square off in the new Celebration Bowl on Dec. 18.



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WSSU Rams stay unbeaten at CIAA Tournament

CARY, North Carolina -- Gavin Culler, Dylan Dombrowskas and Jacob Barber had three hits each to help Winston-Salem State beat Virginia State 8-4 Friday afternoon in a semifinal game at the CIAA Baseball Championships in Cary.

The Rams, four-time defending CIAA champions, advanced to today's title game(s) in the double-elimination tournament. WSSU will face Virginia State, which defeated Chowan 4-3 in an elimination game Friday night.

WSSU will clinch the title with a win today. The first game is scheduled for 1 p.m.; if WSSU loses, a second game would follow immediately after the first.

The Rams (37-13) trailed 2-1 the Trojans (24-17) scored two runs in the top of the third off Rams’ starter Aaron Hatch (8-1). However, the Rams rallied in the bottom of the inning.

With one out in the third, Culler doubled off Trojans’ starter Nicholas Christopher (4-3). Colby Keene singled to knock in Culler to tie it 2-2. Connor Andrus was hit by the hit, advancing Keene to second. Dombrowskas singled to knock in Keene and stole second with Nathan Steger batting. Steger struck out, but Barber doubled to knock in Dombrowskas and Andrus to take a 5-2 lead.

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Southern plays final SWAC series at Grambling

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern baseball team wraps up Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season play with a series at Grambling that starts with a doubleheader at noon Saturday.

This series has no measurable impact on the Jaguars’ SWAC fortunes because they are locked into the second seed from the West Division for the conference tournament, which begins in 11 days in New Orleans.

Southern (13-22, 10-8 SWAC) can’t catch second-place Texas Southern (14-6). Fourth-place Grambling (7-14, 9-30) can’t catch the Jaguars. First-place Arkansas-Pine Bluff is ineligible for the conference tournament.

Senior right-hander Santos Saldivar said his experience has been that the specific seed doesn’t make a big difference anyway.

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Friday, May 1, 2015

Obadiah Simmons Named Interim Athletic Director at Grambling State University

DR. OBADIAH SIMMONS JR.
Interim Athletic Director
GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Obadiah Simmons, Jr. has been named the interim athletic director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Grambling State University.

Simmons is a 35-year veteran of Grambling State University. He most recently served as the interim head and director of the Department of Kinesiology, Sport and Leisure Studies and was the recipient of the Robert L. Piper Endowed Professorship in Health and Physical Education. Prior to joining the KSLS Department in 2008, Simmons worked in numerous administrative capacities at GSU in enrollment management, academic support, total quality management and student affairs.

As the interim athletic director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Simmons will provide administrative direction and oversight for Grambling's 17-sport athletics program, supervise the control and compliance with applicable National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and University rules and regulations governing all facets of intercollegiate athletics.

Simmons is a native of Inkster, Michugab and a three-year letterman of Grambling's baseball team from 1972-1974. He received his bachelor's degree in secondary education from Grambling State University in 1974, earned his master's degree in physical education from the University of North Carolina in 1976 and earned his doctoral degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University in 1988.

Simmons has served as Chair of the NCAA Athletics Certification Self-Study Steering Committee (2006-2008), chair of the Grambling State University Athletic Council (2008-Present), University Policy Review Committee member (2008-Present), and Institutional Representative for the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame Nominating Committee (2006-Present).

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE

Events DC Kicks-Off 5th Annual AT&T Nations's Football Classic

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The AT&T Nation's Football Classic®, an annual football game featuring historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), will take place at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., featuring two storied programs -- Hampton and Howard -- on Friday, Sept. 18th at 7 p.m.

"As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the AT&T Nation's Football Classic, we wanted to refresh the event and bring back a classic rivalry, as we did in 2011 with Morehouse and Howard," said Erik Moses, senior vice president and managing director of Events DC, Sports and Entertainment Division, "The battles between Hampton and Howard in RFK Stadium during the early 90's were instant classics.  Giving this type of rivalry a rebirth is what we had in mind when conceptualizing this event."

The AT&T Nation's Football Classic® was created to celebrate the passion and tradition of the college football experience, recognizing the history of service to others by the students, faculty and alumni of historically black colleges and universities, highlighting the unity of African-American culture, while honoring the heritage and excellence of these proud institutions.

"The Classic has become a signature event for our nation's capital and is the only one of its kind within the city limits," said Greg O'Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC. "It's more than just a game, it's an overall experience that attracts fans from around the country who continue to come back in part because of the great hospitality they receive from our hotel and restaurant partners."

The Hampton and Howard rivalry, which dates back to their first meeting in 1908, has affectionately been termed the "Battle for the Real HU" by both schools' loyal supporters. These institutions pride themselves on their academic excellence and athletic traditions. This match-up, which had a home in RFK Stadium in the 1990s, has been a series of runs, with the Bison dominating play throughout the 1970s and the Pirates posting 14 straight wins from 1997 through 2010.

The last two contests were nail-bitters, with Howard winning on the road in double-overtime in 2013 and narrowly escaping with a 30-29 victory this past season. Howard is currently riding a four-game winning streak; however, Hampton leads the overall series 47-43.

Tickets for the 2015 AT&T Nation's Football Classic are now available, with a special $15 lower-level seat offer in effect through ticketmaster.com, throughout the end of May. Regular priced tickets will start at $25 with group discount rates and suite level experiences available as well.  For additional information, please visit NationsFootballClassic.com.
 
About the AT&T Nation's Football Classic 
The AT&T Nation's Football Classic® is a black college football game held annually at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Now in its fifth year, the game features Howard University against Hampton University. Organized by Events DC, the AT&T Nation's Football Classic® was created to celebrate the passion and tradition of the college football experience, recognize the history of service to others by the students, faculty and alumni of historically black colleges and universities, highlight the unity of African American culture, and honor the heritage and excellence of these proud institutions. Tickets for the AT&T Nation's Football Classic® are on sale now at ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets, the Howard University Box Office at Cramton Auditorium and the Hampton University Box Office (at 757-728-6828). Seats are priced starting at $25.
 
ATTNFC website: www.NationsFootballClassic.com
ATTNFC Twitter: @NationsClassic
ATTNFC Facebook: www.facebook.com/NationsFootballClassic
Howard University website: www.howard.edu 
Hampton University website: www.hamptonu.edu
Howard University Athletics: hubison.com

Hampton University Athletics: www.hamptonpirates.com 

About Events DC
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation's capital.  Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District's hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes the historic Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, and the non-military functions of the DC Armory.  Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com.


COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Reception Held in Honor of Hank Aaron Will Raise Funds for Eddie G. Robinson Museum

HANK AARON
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State University and the Friends of Eddie G. Robinson Museum are hosting a special reception following the 2015 Spring Commencement featuring former members of the Atlanta Braves, including Henry “Hank” Aaron, to raise funds for the Eddie G. Robinson Museum. The reception will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 8 at the Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant.

“I just think that every individual needs to make sure they get an opportunity to come and see this great American, Hank Aaron. He’s the king of baseball as far as I’m concerned,” said Wilbert Ellis, president of the Friends of Eddie G. Robinson Museum. “Eddie Robinson had the chance to meet Hank Aaron, and you know Eddie would be excited.”

Many state museums across Louisiana were forced to reduce operations in mid-April due to mid-year budget cuts. Currently, the Eddie G. Robinson Museum only receives enough state funding to remain open one day a week, but the Friends of Eddie G. Robinson Museum want to keep the museum operational for four days a week.

“The museum is named after one of American’s greatest, Eddie G. Robinson, who coached at Grambling for 57 years and is in every Hall of Fame you can name. He’s touched the lives of so many individuals, including myself. We want young people to see this great American and his contributions and what he has done for Grambling State University and the whole country,” Ellis said.

Four former Atlanta Braves players, who are all Louisiana natives, will be honored at the reception: Wayne Causey, Gary Eaves, Ralph “Roadrunner” Garr and George Stone.

An auction will also be held featuring autographed sports memorabilia, including baseballs and bats signed by Aaron and basketballs signed by Willis Reed, a Grambling alumnus and former New York Knicks player.

Aaron, who is the senior vice president in the Atlanta Braves front office, will be awarded Grambling’s highest honor, the Doctor of Humane Letters degree, during the 2015 Spring Commencement at 10 a.m. May 8 at the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center for his numerous contributions to professional baseball and charity.

There are a limited number of tickets available for the event. Tickets can be purchased for $100 each at the following locations: Ruston-Lincoln Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau, Barnes & Noble Bookstore at Grambling State University and the Clark Company in Monroe. Donations to the museum can be made payable to The Friends of Eddie G. Robinson Museum.

For more information about the reception, please call Ellis at 318-614-8716 or John Belton at 318-680-6904.

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE