SWAC champions Grambling announce major upgrades to Robinson Stadium

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State University Director of Athletics Paul Bryant announced the first major renovations and upgrades to the Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium in decades, including a total football field turf overhaul and a high-tech digital scoreboard.

The project, with an estimated cost of $1.5 million to $2 million, is scheduled to start as early as next week. The aggressive construction timeline calls for a mid-August completion, just before the first game against Tulane University in New Orleans on Sept. 2 and the first home game at Robinson Memorial Stadium on Sept. 9.

"I haven't been here long, but I've heard loud and clear from our alumni, students and all kinds of GSU fans and stakeholders that this is long overdue," said Bryant, who arrived in January. "There's no time like the present, and it's time to make this happen."

In addition to the stadium upgrades, Bryant said the school is adding a fourth home game, something fans have discussed for years. Rather than play the Red River Classic in Shreveport this fall, the Texas Southern University football matchup will be played at home on Oct. 28. TSU has a big fan base, with a 2016 regular home attendance of 5,371 and away attendance averaging 8,665. Bryant said that game will now be the GSU homecoming game.

The 19,600-seat stadium opened in 1983, replacing the old Grambling Stadium, which was located not far from the university's baseball field. The stadium replaced a huge peach orchard, and contractors dug a lot of dirt to make the sloping landscape accommodate the football field that head football coach Eddie Robinson wanted. Often called "The Hole" because the entrances sit high above the field with seats in between, Grambling State fans have enjoyed G-Man football home games at the stadium for decades. In recent years, fans have clamored for upgrades.

"In 1983 when the stadium opened it was the only one of it's kind," said GSU President Rick Gallot. "Now, in 2017, it's the only one of its kind – and our championship football team deserves a championship stadium."

Gallot said Bryant and his athletics team brought the stadium upgrade ideas to him and he told the AD he would have to find a way to pay for the project. Bryant discussed options with Marc Newman, the school's institutional advancement vice president, and David Aubrey, chairman of the Grambling University Foundation, and they hatched the idea to seek foundation support to finance the project. The board approved the concept just a few days ago.

"This wouldn't be possible without the strong endorsement of Aubrey and the foundation board," added Bryant. "We have a partnership and a vision that all Grambling State University sports are important, and this is a piece of pursuing championship-level athletics programs."

Bryant noted that the school's soccer and softball fields are also being renovated.

"President Gallot has the type of athletics vision that brought me here, and he's allowing me to lead Grambling State to match the huge brand the school has internationally," said Bryant. "Thanks to the board and the president, we are going to make these things happen."

Head football coach Broderick Fobbs said he is excited about the stadium upgrades, and he's especially happy for his coaches and players. "This is huge for this team. This team has been through some tough times and they have stayed focused and brought home a national championship last year," he said. "This says a lot about how this administration views football and all of athletics, and we can't wait to play on a state-of-the-art football field with a state-of-the-art scoreboard. Our guys are going to love it."

Bryant said the company handling the turf overhaul and installation is Hellas Construction Inc., a nationally recognized leader in sports turf. Hellas has designed and installed turf for professional, college and high school sports groups, including the Dallas Cowboys, the Jacksonville Jaguars and several Texas high school teams. A new digital scoreboard will be installed by NEVCO of Greenville, Illinois, sign installment will be done by Shreveport Neon Signs and the new sound system will be handled by Gulf Coast Sound.

Aubrey said the foundation decided to support the upgrades with a significant investment because they believe in the leadership of Gallot and Bryant, and they see opportunities to seek additional support with field and scoreboard sponsorships as well as increased attendance. "This is a lot of money, but sometimes it takes spending money to bring the type of money you need to make a program successful," said Aubrey. "Gallot says he's supporting the athletics program with a holistic approach, and we believe that's what it's going to take to make the athletic program, and the school, successful."

Newman said businesses and corporate sponsors can expect to hear about some tremendous sponsorship opportunities associated with the project in the coming weeks. "We're looking for partners who want to invest in something great, and we're doing great things at Grambling State University," he said. "This whole thing has been moving quickly, and that's really exciting. I like the speed with which we've been moving to make things happen. We want to be sure existing and new partners have a chance to join us as the construction gets underway."

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS RELEASE

WSSU Athletics Director Tonia Walker receives three-year contract extension

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State University announced today a three-year extension to the contract of Athletics Director Tonia Walker. Walker has served in the role since May 2014 and has led the Rams athletic department to success on the field and in the classroom.

In her tenure, the Rams have taken home 14 CIAA championships. Student-athletes have also shined in the classroom, with more than 100 of them named to the Dean’s List for Fall 2016. The average GPA of student-athletes has increased from 2.80 to 2.93 from Fall 2014 to Fall 2016, and the graduation rate of student-athletes surpasses the university’s graduation rate by 10 percent. Additionally, since Walker assumed the director of athletics position, the department has seen a 34 percent increase in athletics giving and a 29 percent increase in ticket sales.

“Tonia Walker is undoubtedly the right choice for WSSU,” said Chancellor Elwood L. Robinson. “I believe she is one of the finest ADs in the country. Her commitment to our students is demonstrated in their success both on and off the field. She is a tremendous asset to the university and to college athletics.”

Named the 2015-16 CIAA Athletic Director of the Year and the 2016 Administrator of the Year for the National Association for Collegiate Athletics Administrators, Walker works to continuously advocate for and champion WSSU student-athletes and opportunities for women and minorities. She was one of eight participants around the country selected for the NCAA

Fellows Leadership Development Program. She is currently a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association as well as the Black Women Sports Foundation.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead the department of athletics at Winston-Salem State University,” said Walker. “We have been able to accomplish some amazing things with the support of the administration, alumni, supporters, and a phenomenal staff. I look forward to our continued journey together.”

WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU AD Overton: Budget cuts about 'right-sizing'

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. is looking to balance the budget of a cash-strapped athletic department. That means for the second year in a row, cuts are part of that equation.

Overton recently told coaches another 10 percent will be sliced from the athletic department’s budget, on top of a 10-percent cut from the previous year.

Overton told the Tallahassee Democrat in an interview after FAMU’s spring game he’s “right-sizing” FAMU’s budget.

He said in the end, he’s making FAMU’s spending more efficient and making choices that will benefit the department in the long run.

“I’ve done that every year I’ve been here,” Overton said.

CONTINUE READING

Is Anderson ASU's next 1,000-yard rusher?

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State coach Brian Jenkins isn’t questioning Alex Anderson’s talent.

He just wonders if the Miami Gardens, Fla., native wants to meet the challenge of replacing Khalid Thomas, the SWAC’s second-leading rusher last season.

“Anderson is going to have to make that decision if he wants to be that guy,” Jenkins said after Saturday’s Black and Gold game at ASU Stadium.

Jenkins said he has “several guys” who can be a featured back. Jenkins mentioned sophomore Ezra Gray out of Lynn Haven, Fla., as a player who just needs experience and could be a “home run hitter."

Still, Anderson is the team’s top returning rusher and possesses the ability to lead ASU’s rushing attack.

“It’s just about who’s going to step up,” Jenkins said. “Whether we get it done with one guy or by committee, doesn’t matter to me. Just as long as we can get it done, but I think Alex Anderson does have the ability to be a 1,000-yard back, but like I said, that’s going to be up to Alex.”

CONTINUE READING 

FAMU Softballers Clinch MEAC Southern Division

Alexis Day led FAMU with four hits and three RBIs in
Sunday's win over B-CU.

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – The FAMU Women's Softball team overcame its' self-destructive tendencies Sunday afternoon with a 15-hit attack to overhaul host Bethune-Cookman, 13-7, and capture the 2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Division championship at Sunnyland Field.

Sunday's win gave the Lady Rattlers (18-27-1, 13-2 MEAC) their first Southern Division crown since 2009, while foiling archrival Bethune-Cookman's bid for their first division title since 2014.

Bethune-Cookman (21-29, 11-4 MEAC), which gained a split of Saturday's doubleheader with a 6-5 win in Game Two, aided by an uncharacteristic eight FAMU errors, struck for three runs in the bottom of the second Sunday for an early 3-0 lead.

FAMU sliced the B-CU edge to 3-2 in the top of third, when Amber Fullwood's RBI double,followed by Toni Anderson's RBI single drove home two runs and began stoking the offensive flames for the Orange and Green.

The Wildcats plated a run in the bottom of the third for a 4-2 edge, but the FAMU offense found its' stride in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring 11 runs to break the game open.

In the fifth, FAMU scored six runs on four hits to take the lead for good at 8-4, keyed by two-run singles each from pitcher Kenya Pereira and shortstop Jamesia Stoudemire.

The Lady ‘Cats would not fold however, scoring three runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth to pull within one run, 8-7, before FAMU would take control in the sixth.

FAMU scored five runs on four hits, aided by two Lady ‘Cats errors to close out the game's scoring by extending their lead to 13-7.

Alexis Day lashed a two-run double, scoring Amber Fullwood and Trinity Alexander for a 10-7 count. Tahlia Snider bashed a two-run double two batters later, scoring Day and Pereira for a 12-7 edge, with Snider scoring the final run later in the inning from third on a two-out throwing error.

Pereira (8-9) closed out Bethune-Cookman, tossing two scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh, finishing the day with seven strikeouts, two walks, scattering 13 hits while allowing seven runs in seven complete innings.

Heading the FAMU offense Sunday was Alexis Day, who finished with four hits and a pair of RBI, Snider who had three hits and two RBI, along with the trio of Toni Anderson, Whitney Farris and Pereira, who each had two hits.

WHAT'S ON DECK: FAMU will close their 2017 regular season schedule in Gainesville next Saturday and Sunday in the Florida Invitational Tournament. Saturday, FAMU is slated to face North Texas (3:30 p.m.), and Sunday, they will tangle with the host Florida Gators (2:30)…. The next weekend, Thursday-Saturday, May 11-13, FAMU heads to Ormond Beach, Florida for the 2017 MEAC Softball Championship, where they will gun for their fourth straight league title.

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Coleman qualifies for NAIA nationals in triple jump

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi — Xavier University of Louisiana's Keairez Coleman qualified for the NAIA National Track and Field Championships when he triple-jumped 14.32 meters (46 feet, 11 3/4 inches) Friday at the Southern Miss Open.

Coleman, a sophomore biology major from Harrisville, Miss., and a graduate of Mendenhall High School, produced the qualifying mark on his third of five jumps. He finished seventh out of nine jumpers and was ahead of a pair of NCAA Division I athletes.

The mark was a PR for Coleman, whose previous best was 14.19 meters (46-6 3/4) in winning a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championship April 22.

Coleman will join XULA female qualifiers Clarke Allen, Janelle Jones, Ireyon Keith, Alexis Milton, Ry-Anne Riley, Tramaine Shannon, Ariane Williams and Martina Wright at nationals May 25-27 at Gulf Shores, Ala. Jones, Milton, Riley and Wright qualified in the 400 relay, and Allen, Riley,

Shannon and Williams qualified in the 1,600 relay. Williams qualified in the 400, and Riley and Keith qualified in the long jump.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Texas Southern claims Western Division crown

HOUSTON, Texas --- The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University claimed the Southwestern Athletic Conference's West Division championship outright Saturday after splitting a doubleheader with Grambling.

TSU won the series finale 11-3 in six innings after falling 4-3 in the opening game of the afternoon.

Madilynn Marek knocked in three runs, while Heaven Benavidez added two RBIs to help the Lady Tigers win the finale and earn a split of the doubleheader and the series victory. TSU (21-16) finishes conference play with a 12-6 league record.

Lauren Rodriguez pitched four and one-third innings and scattered only three hits to pick up the win in game two. She improved to 8-4 on the season. Only one of Rodriguez' three runs given up was earned.

Though the Lady Tigers won their contest thanks to the mercy rule, it was not without a save opportunity. With TSU ahead 5-0 going into the fourth inning, Grambling pieced together a three-run rally, prompting a call to relief pitcher Jasmin Fulmore. Fulmore shut down the visitors' rally, striking out two batters and allowing only one hit en route to her first save of the season.

Casares knocked a first-inning RBI for TSU in the opening game, while Yockman ignited a rally in the bottom of the seventh, knocking a two-run a home run to cut Grambling's lead to one run. Paranich scored twice in the opener.

Courtesy: Texas Southern Sports Information