2017 SIAC Football Predicted Order of Finish

ATLANTA, Georgia – Quarterback Johnathan McCrary of Clark Atlanta University was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year along with linebacker Osband Thompson of Tuskegee University who was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced Tuesday during media day at the College Football Hall of Fame.

All votes are submitted by SIAC head coaches and sports information directors.

McCrary, a redshirt senior from Decatur, Ga., completed 142-of-256 passes for 1,903 yards and averaged 211.4 yards per game last season. In his first year in the SIAC, McCrary led the league with 14 touchdown passes. In the come-from-behind victory over Morehouse (Oct. 1) he set SIAC single-game highs with 456 passing yards and five touchdowns.

Thompson recorded 137 tackles in 2016 for the Golden Tigers who advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the second consecutive year. The Miami, Fla. native totaled 67 solo tackles on the year, including 11.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He also forced three fumbles, intercepted one pass, recorded four pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. Thompson was also the 2016 SIAC Defensive Player of the Year and Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Super Region 2 Defensive Player of the Year.

Tuskegee was picked to win the west division with 75 points and 11 first-place votes in the preseason poll. Miles (60) was voted second, ahead of Kentucky State (48), Lane (37), and Central State (21).

Albany State was the preseason favorite in the east division with 65 points and six first-place votes. Fort Valley State earned 55 points followed by Benedict (52), Clark Atlanta (42), and Morehouse (26).

2017 SIAC Preseason Football All-Conference First Team

Johnathon McCrary	Quarterback	Clark Atlanta	Redshirt-Senior	Decatur, Ga.
Ryan Edwards	Tight end	Morehouse	Senior	Atlanta, Ga.
Okechi Ntiasagwe	Wide receiver	Benedict	Junior	Columbia, S.C.
Dre Martin	Wide receiver	Clark Atlanta	Sophomore	LaGrange, Ga.
Marcus Holliday	Running back	Lane	Junior	Memphis, Tenn.
Ger’Kerry Jackson	Running back	Miles	Junior	Montgomery, Ala.
Tedrick Cofield	Offensive lineman	Albany State	Senior	Atlanta, Ga.
Leeward Brown	Offensive lineman	Tuskegee	Senior	Miami, Fla.
Marcus Campbell, Jr.	Offensive lineman	Kentucky State	Junior	Radcliff, Ky.
Justin Brown	Offensive lineman	Benedict	Junior	Marietta, Ga.
Howard Bush	Offensive lineman	Lane	Senior	Mobile, Ala.
Charles Williams	Defensive lineman	Benedict	Senior	Barnwell, S.C.
Rodriguez Jones	Defensive lineman	Kentucky State	Senior	Newport News, Va.
Aaryn Guy	Defensive lineman	Benedict	Junior	Grand Rapids, Mich.
Kaelan Bonds	Defensive lineman	Miles	Senior	Florence, Ala.
David Smith	Linebacker	Morehouse	Senior	Newport News, Va.
Osband Thompson	Linebacker	Tuskegee	Senior	Miami, Fla.
Kendrick Frazier	Linebacker	Benedict	Senior	Charleston, S.C.
Edward Kirkland	Defensive back	Benedict	Senior	Columbia, S.C.
Jonah McCutcheon	Defensive back	Tuskegee	Senior	Mobile, Ala.
Travionte Brown	Defensive back	Benedict	Sophomore	Albany, Ga.
Kenneth Morgan	Defensive back	Clark Atlanta	Sophomore	Milledgeville, Ga.
Nick Christiansen	Kicker	Miles	Senior	Clayton, N.C.
Juan Serna	Punter	Fort Valley State	Senior	Douglasville, Ga.
Ricci Nuckles	Kick returner	Morehouse	Sophomore	Suwanee, Ga.
Deandre Jackson	Punt returner	Clark Atlanta	Senior	Atlanta, Ga.

2017 SIAC Preseason Football All-Conference Second Team

Marcus Reynolds	Quarterback	Lane	Junior	Calhoun, Ga.
Darius Nelson	Tight end	Benedict	Junior	Milledgeville, Ga.
Jules St. Ge	Wide receiver	Kentucky State	Sophomore	Lakeland, Fla.
Javarrius Cheatham	Wide receiver	Tuskegee	Junior	Greenville, Ala.
Jamari Clark	Running back	Fort Valley State	Junior	Stockbridge, Ga.
Lavelle Cloyd	Running back	Kentucky State	Senior	Lexington, Ky.
Darius Thomas	Offensive lineman	Central State	Sophomore	Cincinnati, Ohio
Craig Hinson	Offensive lineman	Benedict	Junior	Hephzibah, Ga.
Christopher Ruffin	Offensive lineman	Miles	Senior	Bessemer, Ala.
Darius Preyer	Offensive lineman	Clark Atlanta	Junior	Montgomery, Ala.
Lowell Richardson	Offensive lineman	Tuskegee	Junior	Miami, Fla.
Antonio Johnson	Defensive lineman	Morehouse	Junior	Birmingham, Ala.
Voris Bryant	Defensive lineman	Morehouse	Senior	Gray, Ga.
Devonte West	Defensive lineman	Fort Valley State	Senior	Largo, Fla.
Mekiye Kingston	Defensive lineman	Clark Atlanta	Junior	Jonesboro, Ga.
Zavondric Shingleton	Linebacker	Albany State	Senior	Millen, Ga.
Anthony Hardy	Linebacker	Miles	Senior	Demopolis, Ala.
Keonte Reynolds	Linebacker	Kentucky State	Junior	Louisville, Ky.
Nick Scott	Defensive back	Albany State	Senior	Ellabell, Ga.
Ryan Luckett	Defensive back	Kentucky State	Senior	Orlando, Fla.
Robert Cummings	Defensive back	Benedict	Sophomore	Macon, Ga.
Kentron James	Defensive back	Fort Valley State	Junior	Tallahassee, Fla.
Carlos Saldana	Kicker	Clark Atlanta	Sophomore	Austell, Ga.
Nick Christiansen	Punter	Miles	Senior	Clayton, N.C.
Deandre Jackson	Kick returner	Clark Atlanta	Senior	Atlanta, Ga.
Ladarrell Pettway	Punt returner	Tuskegee	Redshirt-Sophomore	Spanish Fort, Ala.

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Johnathan McCrary, Clark Atlanta

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Osband Thompson, Tuskegee

COURTESY THE SIAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Slater wants more than title of Tuskegee AD

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- Tuskegee’s new athletic director already has an office at the school.

Tuskegee head football coach Willie Slater takes over for Curtis Campbell, who left to take the same position at Western Oregon.

Tuskegee interim president Dr. Charlotte Morris introduced Slater on Friday, stating that Slater was passionate and goal-oriented.



“He’s had great football teams here,” Morris said. “He is focused on the success of the student-athletes. He’s led with discipline and his players have graduated with honors in the various majors we offer here at Tuskegee University.”

Slater said he was skeptical at first when asked to accept the job.

“Being athletic director was never something I had envisioned,” Slater said. “It was an opportunity that popped up. I didn’t really pursue it, but I was asked. My first response was that I just want to be a good football coach.”

CONTINUE READING

Tuskegee returns to face Jackson State in 5th Quarter Classic

Tuskegee won last year’s game 20-17. The squad, which finished 9-3, is ranked No. 22 in Division II by Lindy’s Sports College Football Preview magazine.

MOBILE, Alabama -- Each year the Mobile Sports Authority (MSA) releases a report documenting how the athletic events it attracts to Mobile County impact the local economy. During the 2016 fiscal year, MSA had a hand in 35 events, together generating an estimated $25,592,016.

At the top of the list was a new event, the 5th Quarter Classic football game, which brought more than 19,000 fans to Ladd-Peebles Stadium to watch Tuskegee and Florida A&M compete. Thanks to festivals, concerts, a parade and alumni parties, MSA said, the economic impact was $6,480,000, while more than $2 million in scholarship offers went to Mobile-area youth.

Officials with MSA joined with promoter Robert Buck recently to announce the 5th Quarter Classic will return this fall. The Golden Tigers from Tuskegee will be back on Oct. 14, this time to face Jackson State University.

“We’re pleased to once again be hosting the 5th Quarter Classic powered by the Mobile Sports Authority this fall,” said Danny Corte, MSA executive director. “After last year’s successful return to Mobile of a classic-style game, we believe this year’s match-up of Tuskegee and Jackson State will add another exciting chapter to our series as we welcome the teams, officials and fans to our beautiful area in October.



CONTINUE READING

Restivo returns to be S.C. State defensive coordinator

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- What was old is now new again. Well, not exactly. But, former South Carolina State defensive coordinator Tommy Restivo is now the new defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs.

Don’t let that confuse you.

After two seasons at the post for S.C. State, Restivo left Orangeburg in January of 2016 and took the DC post at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Former South Carolina linebackers coach Kirk Botkin then came to head up the defense for the Bulldogs last season. With Botkin leaving the program this summer, Bulldogs head coach Buddy Pough has turned once again to Restivo to direct the aspect of the S.C. State team that has been its calling card for many decades.

“You always are happy when you can put a piece back in place and don’t have to bring it up to speed with the rest of the program,” Pough said on Friday. “Coach Restivo is familiar with all the intricacies of what we do here at South Carolina State, and he knows the rest of our staff well.

CONTINUE READING

Nuggets' 2017 schedule includes 10 in a row at home

2017 Schedule Page

NEW ORLEANS — A school-record 10 consecutive home matches are on the 2017 Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball schedule, new coach Pat Kendrick announced Thursday.

The Gold Nuggets, six-time defending Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament champion, will open the season Aug. 25-26 with four matches at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Early Bird. Then XULA will play 10 in a row at its Convocation Center, four during the third annual Big Easy Blastoff Sept. 1-2.

NAIA National Championship 2016 qualifiers on the schedule are Madonna (Aug. 25 at UM-Dearborn), Mobile (Aug. 29 in XULA's home opener, then Sept. 26 at Mobile) and Our Lady of the Lake (Sept. 1 in the Big Easy Blastoff). XULA also will play twice — Sept. 7 at home, Oct. 12 away — against Spring Hill, a 27-5 NCAA Division II team a year ago.

The Gold Nuggets will open their GCAC schedule Sept. 9 at home against Tougaloo. The GCAC Tournament will be Nov. 10-11.

There will be five first-time opponents — Trinity International, Madonna and Lawrence Tech at UM-Dearborn and UM-Dearborn and Texas Wesleyan at the Big Easy Blastoff.

This will be XULA's 10th season of intercollegiate volleyball, and the home opener against Mobile will be the Gold Nuggets' 100th match on their campus.

Xavier University of Louisiana
2017 Women's Volleyball Schedule
Aug. 25 (Fri.): Trinity International, 3 p.m. EDT (UM-Dearborn Early Bird, Dearborn, Mich.)
Aug. 25 (Fri.): Madonna, 7 p.m. EDT (UM-Dearborn Early Bird, Dearborn, Mich.)
Aug. 26 (Sat.): Lawrence Tech, 10 a.m. EDT (UM-Dearborn Early Bird, Dearborn, Mich.)
Aug. 26 (Sat.): Fisk, 2 p.m. EDT (UM-Dearborn Early Bird, Dearborn, Mich.)
Aug. 29 (Tue.): MOBILE, 6 p.m.
Sept. 1 (Fri.): OUR LADY OF THE LAKE, 3 p.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Sept. 1 (Fri.): RUST, 7 p.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Sept. 2 (Sat.): MICHIGAN-DEARBORN, 3 p.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Sept. 2 (Sat.): TEXAS WESLEYAN, 7 p.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Sept. 5 (Tue.): LOYOLA (N.O.), 6 p.m.
Sept. 7 (Thu.): SPRING HILL, 6 p.m.
Sept. 9 (Sat.): • TOUGALOO, 1 p.m.
Sept. 11 (Mon.): • EDWARD WATERS, 6 p.m.
Sept. 16 (Sat.): • TALLADEGA, 1 p.m.
Sept. 19 (Tue.) at William Carey, 6 p.m.
Sept. 21 (Thu.) • at SUNO, 6 p.m.
Sept. 26 (Tue.) at Mobile, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 (Thu.): • DILLARD, 6 p.m.
Oct. 5 (Thu.): WILLIAM CAREY, 6 p.m.
Oct. 7 (Sat.): • PHILANDER SMITH, 1 p.m.
Oct. 12 (Thu.) at Spring Hill, 6 p.m.
Oct. 14 (Sat.) • at Edward Waters, 1 p.m. EDT
Oct. 16 (Mon.) • at Tougaloo, 6 p.m.
Oct. 17 (Tue.) • at Philander Smith, 6 p.m.
Oct. 21 (Sat.) • at Talladega, 1 p.m.
Oct. 26 (Thu.): • SUNO, 6 p.m.
Oct. 31 (Tue.): at Loyola (N.O.), 6 p.m.
Nov. 2 (Thu.) • at Dillard, 6 p.m.
Nov. 10-11 (Fri.-Sat.): Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, TBA
Nov. 18 (Sat.): NAIA National Championship opening round at campus sites, TBA
Nov. 28-Dec. 2 (Tue.-Sat.): NAIA National Championship final site at Sioux City, Iowa, TBA

Home matches in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS
All times are Central except where noted
Schedules are subject to change

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 
www.instagram.com/xulagold

P-Rays' Brown (JSU) bearing up in transition to pros

PRINCETON, West Virginia — Princeton Rays outfielder Bryce Brown comes from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a land of unique and world-reknowned regional cuisine, Zydeco music, alligators and hoodoo folk remedies; a place where hot sauce is as ubiquitous a condiment in restaurants as salt, pepper and ketchup is everywhere else.

For many Mercer County residents, Louisiana would seem downright exotic. But if you’re from Baton Rouge, so does Mercer County.

“I like it out here ... All the mountains and stuff. I’ve never seen so many mountains and trees,” said Brown.

“I saw my first black bear the other day out on the road,” he said.

A live bear?

“No. It was dead on the side of the road. I’d never seen a black bear before,” said the 20-year-old Brown, who was picked by Tampa Bay in the 15th round of the 2017 draft.

CONTINUE READING

2017 SCSU Bulldog football has strong nucleus

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Since the inception of the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl, which pits the champion from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference against the Southwestern Athletic Conference champion in a postseason game the week before Christmas in Atlanta, South Carolina State University football fans have been waiting for the Bulldogs to claim a spot in the signature contest kicking off the bowl season.

The S.C. State faithful watched as Bulldog MEAC rival North Carolina A&T claimed an exciting 41-34 win over the SWAC’s Alcorn State two years (2015) ago at the Georgia Dome, and stood by last season (2016) as the SWAC evened the series 1-1 with Grambling’s 10-9 triumph over North Carolina Central in a defensive battle.

“When is our turn?” bemoan the Bulldog faithful, perhaps. S.C. State had high hopes of reaching that coveted game each of the last two seasons, but Coach Buddy Pough and his squad got derailed along the way each time.

Well, what will 2017 bring? Labor Day weekend (Sept. 03) should give S.C. State and its supporters a glimpse of what is to come as Pough and the Bulldogs kick off the 2017 campaign against one-time SWAC kingpin Southern in the annual MEAC-SWAC Challenge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

CONTINUE READING