MEAC/SWAC Sports Clipboard

Compiled by beepbeep

Photo: Texas Southern University new head football coach Johnnie Cole.

Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University athletic director Alois Blackwell announced the hiring of 46 year old Johnnie Cole as the Tigers new head football coach. Cole was the head football coach at Lane College (Jackson, Tennessee) of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAC) - Division II and compiled a three year record of 15-16 for the Dragons. He is also a former Texas Southern quarterback (1982-86) and graduated with a B.S. degree in civil engineering.

Cole replaces Steve Wilson (4-38 record) who was terminated after game nine of the 2007 season. He has signed a five year contract at $130,000 per year.

At Lane College, his teams went 0-10 (2005), 8-3 (2006) and 7-3 (2007). Cole was named SIAC Coach of the Year in 2006.

Cole does have a checkered past with the NCAA Infractions Committee.

Cole was fired from Alabama State University before the 2003 season with this brother L.C. Cole. L.C. was the Hornets' head coach and Johnnie was the offensive coordinator from 2000 to just before the 2003 season, when they were fired by the school for alleged NCAA rules infractions. The Coles have denied the claims against them and ASU's case is still being investigated by the NCAA enforcement staff.

In 1999, Cole was banned from the coaching staff at Tennessee State University where he served as offensive coordinator. After a 17 month investigation concluded there were several NCAA rules violations and Tennessee State was hit with self-imposed sanctions by the NCAA. Cole moved on to Alabama State in 2000-03. Thereafter, he served as a wide receiver coach at Arizona Western College (2004) before being hired at Lane.

"We needed someone who could effectively maximize our team's potential and take the TSU football program to the next level and based on his success at Lane College, we believe Johnnie Cole is that person," athletic director Alois Blackwell said. Cole was able to give Lane its first winning season in 12 years and first consecutive winning record in 24 years.

The Texas Southern University Tigers are currently on a 14 game losing streak. Mr. Blackwell indicated that eight candidates applied for the position.

Earlier this week, Johnnie Cole told the Montgomery Advertiser that he would offer L.C. Cole the defensive coordinator's position at TSU. His brother served as his defensive coordinator at Lane College for a season. L.C. is currently the head coach at Sidney Lanier High School, Montgomery, Alabama.

Johnnie Cole has the third best career-passing mark at Texas Southern with 4,247 yards and 33 touchdowns.

Florida A&M University

Florida A&M University is planning renovations and upgrades to Bragg Memorial Stadium. Based on information contained in the September 27, 2007 Board of Governors, State University System of Florida legislative report, FAMU has requested approval of $35 million dollars in Stadium upgrade, new field house, sky-boxes and seating expansions. The funding source is to come from Rattlers athletics.
See: http://www.flbog.org/bog/meetings/2007_09_27/034.xls

Florida A&M University Volleyball was defeated by #23 ranked Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA volleyball tournament 3-1 (30-25, 32-30, 29-31, 30-14). The Lady Rattlers team of eight players put up a great fight before fading in the later part of each match due to a lack of depth. FAMU team has only two seniors, Iva Lakic and Hannah Uckelmann, that were instrumental in continuing the Rattlers streak of 99 consecutive MEAC matches won, eight MEAC championships in the past nine years and seven consecutive MEAC championships. The MEAC champions end their season with an 18-8 record.

Former Aggie athletic director DeLores "Dee" Todd-- first women appointed as A.D. in N.C. A&T sports history and first female to serve as an Assistant Commissioner in the 50-year history of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

North Carolina A&T State University

The North Carolina A&T State University Aggies have initiated a national search for a new athletic director. DeLores "Dee" Todd was removed from the position of athletic director on November 29, 2007, by Chancellor Stanley F. Battle, who told her he had reassigned her to an unspecified job in the university's School of Education. Todd is a 27-year veteran of college athletics administration and is primarily responsible for the hiring of Coach Lee Fobbs (0-27) as head football coach. Chancellor Battle, who took over as chancellor July 1, did not offer a specific reason for her reassignment.

The university plans to reduce Todd's annual salary from $135,106 to $120,000 on the reassignment. She initially signed a five year contract agreement starting at the lower figure. Lee Fobbs is in the second year of a guaranteed four year contract paying him $165,000 per season.

An issued statement by the chancellor said, "This decision was made in the best interests of the athletics program. The university expresses our appreciation for Ms. Todd's services and contributions during her tenure as athletics director."

Todd graduated with honors from Winston-Salem State University in 1972 with a degree in Health and Physical Education, and received her Masters Degree in Human Relations and Psychotherapy from Governor’s State University in Park Forest, Illinois in 1981.

Tennessee State University

Tennessee State senior corner back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, has been selected to play in the East-West Shrine game in Houston on Jan. 19 and in the Senior Bowl All-Star game in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 26.

Rodgers-Cromartie returned two interceptions for touchdowns spanning 69 and 71 yards, and finished the season with 11 pass breakups, 37 tackles and 1,016 all-purpose yards to earn first-team All-OVC honors this season.

Additionally, he is the reigning Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track Champion in the 60-yard dash, the long jump (25'-00.75") and the high jump.

He is projected as an early second-round NFL draft pick next April.

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The TSU Tigers volleyball team was eliminated by 9th ranked University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine volleyball team (27-5) 3-0 (20-14) 30-26, 30-14 and 30-17) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday. The Tigers end the season with a record of 19-15.

Alabama A&M University

Alabama A&M University Volleyball seventh berth into the NCAA Tournament in the last eight years came to an end Friday as No. 8 UCLA swept the Bulldogs 30-9, 30-14, 30-13 at Jervey Gymnasium on the Clemson University campus. The SWAC champions Bulldogs finished the season with a 15-10 record.