Retired NFL players angry about pensions

Many expressing frustration about lack of respect from league and union.

Ken Riley (Florida A&M University) of Bartow, Florida is one of the lucky ones. He played 15 years for the Cincinnati Bengals without injuring a knee. At age 60, Riley feels pretty good. He has yet to tap into his NFL pension. But he knows many players of his era haven't been so fortunate, and he's not sure they're getting enough help from players of this era.

"I went through four NFL strikes," said Riley, who retired as a player in 1983. "Guys make a lot more money now, and that's great. But a lot of guys paved the way for them, and the least they can expect is for the players of today to appreciate it." Riley, now an administrator at Winter Haven High School, says there should be no disconnect between active and former players.

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Grambling State stockpile offensive line prospects

Grambling's stockpile of offensive line prospects grew by two more, as Demetrius Porter (6-5, 280) out of Marksville and Georgia's Sanford Banks (6-5, 303) pledged. That makes five new commitments toward a remade GSU front four so far.

Banks, a one-star recruit out of Carver (Columbus, Ga.) High, was listed at 5:93 in the 40-yard dash by Scout.com. Rivals, which called Banks the No. 68 recruit in Georgia, also listed interest from Alabama-Birmingham, South Florida and Wake Forest.

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His Own Man: WSSU freshman is emerging from shadow of brother

It's easy to understand why freshman Isiah Tucker of Winston-Salem State plays with a chip on his shoulder. He has always been in the shadow of his older brother, P.J. Tucker. But he has lived with it his whole life and doesn't mind talking about it.

P.J. Tucker, a former star at Texas who now plays in Israel, is just two years older than Isiah. And at 6-5, he can do almost everything on the court - one reason that the Toronto Raptors made him the 35th pick in last year's NBA Draft. However, P.J. played in just 17 games for the Raptors, and is now playing overseas with hopes of getting back to the NBA.

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Evans agrees to 3-year deal as Norfolk State basketball coach

Photo: NSU first year head basketball coach Anthony Evans.

When Norfolk State takes the floor for Saturday’s big men’s basketball game against Hampton University, it will do so without its interim head coach. Instead, Anthony Evans will coach Saturday with the interim tag removed. Today, Norfolk State announced that Evans was named permanent head coach and was given a three-year contract through the 2010-11 season.

Evans and assistant coaches Lonnie Blow and Robert Jones have guided the Spartans to a 9-9 overall and a 5-1 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. NSU is tied with Hampton for second place in the conference, one-half game behind Morgan State in the standings.

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Super Strahan 'a very long way from Texas Southern University

"When I was a boy, I didn't dream of Super Bowls," Michael Strahan said. "I was dreaming just to have a job and get out of my parents' house."

Seven Pro Bowls and two Super Bowls later, it's hard for Strahan to truly grasp just how his journey landed him here. He spent much of his childhood in Germany because his father, Gene Strahan, was stationed there as a major in the U.S. Army. Michael played one year of football at Westbury High School before attending Texas Southern University.

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Bethune-Cookman see endowment growth

Photo: Bethune Cookman University President, Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed.

Bethune-Cookman University is the only school to earn a bullet as a fast-riser in this week's issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education.

President Trudie Kibbe Reed and her board have infused energy and ideas into the fundraising effort, growing the endowment at the end of fiscal year 2007 to $42.9 million, a 21.2-percent growth.

"We asked alumni to give every month, as if they were tithing in church,’’ Reed told us this morning. “We went from 7 to 64 percent in alumni giving."

Reed said the endowment has gone from $24 million when she started in 2004 to about $47 million, but the recent market downturn has it back down to about $44 million.

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Football scheduling mix-up costs Alabama State Hornets

Photo: Alabama State University Hornets Interim Athletic Director Ron Dickerson.

Alabama State interim athletic director Ron Dickerson likes to map his days out weeks in advance and hates surprises. Unfortunately, his school's 2008 football schedule -- which Dickerson finalized months ago -- is in shambles now with the discovery of two games both scheduled for Sept. 6, 2008. It will now cost the university several thousand dollars to resolve the problem.

Part of the problem stems from the Southwestern Athletic Conference's decision in spring of 2006 to go from a nine-game mandate within conference -- meaning every SWAC team was forced to play each other -- to a seven-game mandate.

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It is great to see that FAMU is moving away from the classic games. The Rattlers are already committed to two of the largest--the Florida Classic with Bethune Cookman and the Atlanta Football Classic with Tennessee State. We would prefer to see FAMU play the Florida FBC teams like Miami, Central Florida, South Florida and Florida that can pay the $350,000-$400,000 market rate guarantee for an FCS game.

South Carolina State is playing at Central Florida and Clemson this season. Norfolk State is playing at Kentucky and Delaware State is playing for the second consecutive season at Kent State. It's all about the money for MEAC programs and a few are moving in the right direction in scheduling games with the FBC teams for the big payouts and the higher grade competition.

Grambling snatches one -- and it's a big one -- from Saban

Photo: Grambling State University head football coach Rod Broadway is loading up on blue chip players for '08.

Grambling State has picked off a massive offensive tackle commitment from under the nose of Nick Saban and the University of Alabama. Greg McGrue, a 6-8, 360-pound Huffman (Birmingham, Ala.) High prospect, also reported interest from Auburn, Georgia, Purdue and Southern Mississippi.

He is a two-star Scout.com prospect, and ranked No. 34 overall in Alabama by Rivals -- which called McGrue a “massive offensive lineman with superior strength. Could be more flexible and quicker but nobody pushes him back and he uses his hands well.”

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This guy runs a 5.4/40 and once he completes Coach Broadway program in the weight room, he will be bigger than a tractor trailer. That's out-recruiting the competition, Grambling State. He's a clear cut blue chip!

Jackson State Comegy off road, critiquing recruits

Photo: 2007 SWAC Football Championship Coach, Rick Comegy, Jackson State University.

Comegy has been racking up the frequent flyer miles with a trip two weeks ago to accept an award in Washington D.C. and spending last week in California coaching the Southeast team in the American Heritage Bowl.

The Tigers currently have 15 commitments on top of four mid-year signees. Mississippi Delta Community College 6-0/205 cornerback Recardo Hines gave his verbal to Jackson State last night. He is a one-star juco prospect by Scout.com and runs a 4.47 40.

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MEAC wants to hold tourneys at Old Dominion instead of Scope

NORFOLK, VA - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference would like to hold its men's and women's basketball tournaments at Old Dominion University's Ted Constant Convocation Center next year rather than Scope. Mayor Paul Fraim said Tuesday that MEAC officials, including commissioner Dennis Thomas, made the request at a recent meeting, saying they prefer the modern amenities of the Constant Center.

Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot's response was blunt, especially when MEAC officials asked the city to pay their rent at ODU: "If the tournament is coming to Norfolk, it needs to come to Scope," Burfoot said he told them. Thomas was unavailable for comment.

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Background

Old Dominion University opened the Ted Constant Convocation Center for the 2002-2003 basketball season. "The Ted" has 8,600 fully cushioned seats, 16 luxury suites, and a state-of-the-art scoreboard. In addition to being used for home basketball games, the Constant Center hosts family-oriented events as well as concerts and lectures. (See Seating Visuals of "The Ted" by clicking on this link and click the seat location you desire: http://constantcenter.com/seating/viewer/event_type/

View Constant Center photos: http://constantcenter.com/photos/?album=3

Opened in 1971, Norfolk Scope is the host to a wide variety of events, including Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus, conventions, concerts and family shows. Scope is proud to be the home of the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL and Arena Racing USA. Scope has an exclusive in-house caterer, Aramark, who runs Showcase Restaurant and will help with any catered event. (See Seating Chart: http://mediacache.eventbooking.com//7074_Seating_Scope_Basketball.gif).

A few words of advice for Commissioner Thomas--hold your ground on this issue. MEAC fans and players have no interest in attending the MEAC Basketball Tournament at a second rate facility. You do not see the NCAA, or any other conference in America holding their tournaments at outdated facilities. If it (the Scope) wasn't good enough for Old Dominion University or the Harlem Globetrotters, it's not an appropriate venue for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament.

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Nickelberry has Hampton winning with defense

Photo: Hampton University Pirates men's head basketball coach Kevin Nickelberry (Virginia Wesleyan '86).

The Pirates excel defensively, whether in passive zone, half-court trap or overplaying man-to-man. Among the 328 Division I teams ranked in the NCAA's statistics, Hampton is 31st in scoring defense and 39th in field-goal percentage defense. But if basketball were all slides, steals and switches, no one would play or watch. Scoring is not only necessary but also cool. It's why we play pick-up at the Y and watch Sports Center morning, noon and night.

Here the Pirates are lacking. They rank 269th nationally in scoring, 288th in field-goal percentage, 295th in 3-point percentage and 314th in free-throw percentage. Wall Street's recent numbers aren't that bleak.

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Tennessee State shoot past Jacksonville State

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Yet another comeback attempt fell short for the Jacksonville State men’s basketball team on Tuesday night, when Tennessee State held off the Gamecocks for an 88-77 home win at the Gentry Center.

The Gamecocks (4-17, 2-11 Ohio Valley Conference) used a 55-point second half to cut a 24-point deficit with 6:27 to play to a nine-point game with just under three minutes to play, but the rally proved too little too late for JSU in its fifth-straight loss and the fifth straight to the Tigers (10-11, 7-5 OVC) in Nashville.

Tigers guard Reiley Ervin had another big night against the Gamecocks, scoring a season-high 19 points, just 17 days after he set his previous high of 16 points in a loss to JSU in Jacksonville. He set his career high last season with 29 points in a home win over the Gamecocks.

Reigning OVC Freshman of the Week Gerald Robinson added 18 for the Tigers, while Price was 10-for-10 from the charity stripe to account for the majority of his 14 points. Jerrell Houston grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to lead a TSU attack that out rebounded the Gamecocks, 47-29. Murphy led the Gamecocks on the glass with six boards.

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All-American Football League holds draft

The All-American Football League, a for-profit, professional football league, held their inaugural draft on Saturday, January 26th. In that draft were 47 alumni of schools who played Football Championship Subdivision football. Tennessee State had the most FCS draftees with six selections, followed by Western Illinois with four.

Florida A&M University had former players drafted: Tyronn Johnson, Keith Williams and Freddie Moore.

League teams will employ only those players who have both completed their college football eligibility and earned a four-year degree. This policy is expected to have a very positive impact on universities’ NCAA Graduation Success Rate and their Academic Progress Rate. To the extent practical, graduates of host universities will play for the team hosted by their alma mater.

Currently there are six teams in the AAFL, consisting of: Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Tennessee, and Texas. A total of 300 players were drafted.

CLICK ON THE BLOCK TITLE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE DRAFT LIST OF PLAYERS.

READ MORE ABOUT AAFL: http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/aboutus.php

Short-handed NSU women surge to stunning victory

Photo: Natasha Huntley, 5-6 freshman guard from Greensboro, N.C. was instrumental in win with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist.

NORFOLK, VA - It started with a 3-pointer. Then another. And another. All in the span of six seconds. A coast-to-coast layup tied it. A clutch free throw provided the lead. And, finally, one frenzied defensive stop later, Norfolk State experienced the joy of six.

"It's overwhelming," said a beaming Tashawna Higgins after her three-point play with 11.7 left propelled the Spartans - all six of them - to an improbable 62-61 victory against Winston-Salem State on Monday night at Echols Hall.

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NSU win over Winston Salem State

Photo: Norfolk State University 6-0/175 junior guard Michael Deloach, Rocky Mount, N.C., Bonner Academy.

NORFOLK, VA - Ugly game. Didn't do the little things. Have to get better in a lot of areas. Norfolk State coach Anthony Evans shook his head as he rattled off areas of deficiency in his team's play Monday night. Imagine if the Spartans hadn't won by 15.

It's been that kind of roll lately for NSU, which is winning big even when the overall play comes up, at least by the coach's standards, relatively small. Michael Deloach scored 23 points as NSU thumped Winston-Salem State 82-67 for its seventh victory in eight games.

The Spartans (9-9) got more good news when they learned Morgan State knocked off Hampton on Monday. Both the Pirates and Spartans are 5-1 in the MEAC, a half-game behind Morgan State (6-1).

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Texas Southern falls to Arkansas-Pine Bluff 73-58

The Texas Southern Tigers' frigid shooting continued in a 73-58 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff at HOPE Arena on Monday night. They dropped their fourth straight game and fell to 4-16 and 3-4 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. TSU hit just 36 percent of its shots, including a chilly 3-for-14 from 3-point range.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (9-9, 5-2) put the game away with a 12-2 run, as Marcelle Goins and William Byrd combined for eight points to give the Golden Lions a 68-54 cushion. Matthew Miller led the Tigers with 16 points; Sollie Norwood added 13 for TSU. George Davis had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Byrd contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Golden Lions, who out rebounded TSU 42-29.

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Southern picks up two football commitments

With just over a week remaining until the start of the national signing period, the outlook for Southern’s recruiting efforts continue to improve. The Jaguars persistence paid off with two more commitments on the offensive side of the football from Catholic High-Pointe Coupee’s Darian Prentiss and Lutcher’s Tyrus Harris.

Prentiss, a versatile 5-foot-9, 155-pounder, is projected to play slot receiver for Southern. Prentiss evolved into one of the state’s leading passers — regardless of classification — and directed Catholic-PC’s “Air Raid” offense to the District 6-1A championship. The 6-3, 260-pound Harris started at tight end and turned into a defensive force near the end of Lutcher’s season.

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Alabama State remains SWAC leader with win over SU Jaguars

Alabama State showcased all the facets of why the Hornets are the top team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in beating second-place Southern, 59-44, in a nationally televised showdown Monday night. And most of all, Alabama State showed how tough the Hornets can be.

With 7-foot-1 center Chief Kickingstallionsims limited to 11 minutes by foul trouble, starting forward Brandon Gordon (ankle) limited to five and senior reserve forward Richard Lott (back) not even dressing, Alabama State still dominated at the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

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North Carolina A&T keeps MEAC lead with 85-66 win over SCSU Bulldogs

Photo: Leading scorer Tweet Cook, 22 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals had another complete game.

Greensboro, N.C. - Sophomore point guard Ta'Wuana "Tweet" Cook hit four 3-pointers and scored 22 points, leading host N.C. A&T (13-5, 6-0) over South Carolina State in a MEAC game Monday at the Corbett Sports Center. Brittany Taylor-James had a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds for A&T. All five starters scored in double figures, and the league-leading Aggies built a 51-36 halftime lead.

Marie Reid scored a game-high 27 points off the bench for South Carolina State (6-11, 3-3). The Aggies improved to 13-5 overall and 6-0 in the conference after winning their sixth straight – their longest winning streak in 14 seasons. “We are in a position right now where everyone we play is going to give us their best game,’’ said Bibbs. “Everybody wants to be the first team to knock us off, so we’re going to get everybody’s best shot.

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N.C A&T Aggies run winning streak to five at expense of SCSU

GREENSBORO -- On a night when their backcourt was 20-20, the N.C. A&T Aggies almost didn't want to see the end. With Steven Rush and Austin Ewing scoring 20 points apiece, A&T survived a South Carolina State comeback bid for an 82-77 victory Monday night.

The Aggies led by 17 points at halftime and saw most of the lead disappear in three minutes. They built the edge back to 14 with 3:53 to go and were one Bulldogs turnover removed from terror. "When somebody outrebounds you 46-29, you're not supposed to win," said Jerry Eaves, N.C. A&T coach.

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Guards pace DSU to win over FAMU Lady Rattlers

Photo: Ashlee Burgage, 5-6 senior guard, Seaford, DE hit 3-pointer and jumper to help Hornets scored 17 unanswered points in the second half.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- On Monday, the Delaware State women's basketball team began to see signs of another title run. The defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Hornets played well on defense and offense in their 50-40 victory over Florida A&M at Gaither Gym. Delaware State (9-10, 4-1) has won five of its past six games and improved to 4-1 in the MEAC after suffering five straight losses in tournaments from Dec. 17 to Dec. 29.

In DSU's seventh straight win over the Rattlers, Hornets coach Ed Davis employed a "show me" approach, rotating his guards in and out depending on their play.

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Morgan State leads MEAC with win at Hampton

Photo: Senior forward Boubacar Coly snatched 12 rebounds over Hampton University. The 6-9 Coly is the leading rebounder in the MEAC.

HAMPTON - Morgan State's rebounding and shot blocking were strengths coming in against Hampton University, but just a little better shooting made the difference.
The Bears pulled out a 64-57 victory over Hampton in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Monday night at HU Convocation Center. The result forced a three-way tie for first place in the loss column between the two teams and Norfolk State.

"We played against a good team tonight, a team that was hungry," HU coach Kevin Nickelberry said. "And they made the plays down the stretch to win."

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Technical costs DSU a second time

Three Florida A&M players ejected, but foul call goes against Hornets.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Delaware State saw another technical foul play a key role in a men's basketball game Monday night, and again it ended in a loss -- 70-68 to Florida A&M at rowdy Gaither Gym. The Rattlers (8-11, 4-3 MEAC) made 11-of-12 free throws in the final 2:23.

FAMU's Cassius Bell, Darryl Demps and Jon Mason were ejected with 4:38 remaining after DSU's Marcus Neal received a technical for shoving FAMU guard Jon Ballard under the basket after Neal fouled Ballard on a layup. No technical fouls were called against FAMU, despite a prolonged discussion between DSU coach Greg Jackson, FAMU coach Eugene Harris and the referees.

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South Carolina State faces rival N.C. A&T

Photo: Full house (5,834) at N.C. A&T Corbett Sports Center on 1/26/08 with WSSU Rams.

S.C. State Continues Road Trip at N.C. A&T Monday

South Carolina State will continue a two-game Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference road swing Monday at Greensboro in a doubleheader against North Carolina A&T, which gets underway at 6 p.m. with the women's contest. The men's game will follow at 8 p.m. The SC State women (6-10, 3-2) will be going for their third consecutive win and the fourth in five outings against the Lady Aggies (12-5, 5-0) who sit atop the league standings with a perfect 5-0 mark.

Both teams enter the game after easy victories on Saturday. Coach Tonya Mackey's Lady Bulldogs won 74-58 at Norfolk State behind 22 points by Sophilia Hipps and 18 by Marie Reid, while the NC A&T women defeated Winston-Salem State 71-51 at home.

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LB Tracy Sims has committed to play for Tennessee State

Loyalty guided Tracy Sims when it came time to decide his college future. The Red Bank High School linebacker has committed to sign with Tennessee State University, the program that has recruited him first and most heavily. “They showed a lot more real interest in me from the beginning,” Sims said. “They showed me love from early on, and I wanted to show my gratitude and go ahead and commit to them.”

The 6-foot, 235-pound Sims chose TSU over Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He will join former Baylor linebacker Sidney Tarver and former Howard linebacker Rico Council at TSU.


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NFL Pro Bowl Bound - Antoine Bethea, Colts safety/former Howard Bison

Photo: Former Howard University safety Antoine Bethea(41) intercepting a pass intended for Ravens Heap at the Colts’ 1-yard line.

Colts Safety Antoine Bethea to Make First Pro Bowl Appearance
INDIANAPOLIS - The Colts' defense emerged as one of the NFL’s best units this past season, and a big reason was the development of a young secondary. On Friday, yet another member of that secondary earned one of the league’s most-prestigious honors.
Antoine Bethea, a second-year safety who started 13 games for the Colts this past season, has been named as an injury replacement to the 2008 AFC Pro Bowl roster, the league and the Colts announced Friday morning.

It will be Bethea’s first Pro Bowl appearance.

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Amazing story! An undersized walk-on at Howard University will be in the NFL Pro Bowl just 6 short years later. Let us not forget that Bethea won a Super Bowl with the Colts last season.
Bethea is also the 11th NFL draft pick in Bison football program history. He was selected in the 2006 NFL Draft in the 6 round, 207 overall choice by the Indianapolis Colts.

Texas Southern Reid looks to strike it big on, off field

Photo: Former Oklahoma State University quarterback Bobby Reid, 6-3/235 (Houston, Texas) is now a Texas Southern Tiger and is expected to be the starter come Fall.

Bobby Reid feels good about football again, something that not too long ago he didn't believe would happen.

What was supposed to be a breakout 2007 season for the then-Oklahoma State quarterback became a campaign of disappointment and frustration. Reid suffered an injury in the Cowboys' second game against Florida Atlantic, then endured being the focal point of a well-publicizedstory by an Oklahoma City newspaper columnist that led to coach Mike Gundy's rant that became a YouTube staple.

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South team pulls out Under Armour Senior Bowl win

Photo: Hampton University All-American defensive end Kendall Langford played outstanding in the Senior Bowl game. The 6-6/294 Langford is from Petersburg, Virginia, Petersburg H.S.

Despite a Senior Bowl record punt of 69 yards by North Dakota State’s Mike Dragosavich, the South team prevailed. Lead by outstanding play by Tennessee State University cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Hampton University defensive end Kendall Langford the South scored in the waning seconds to win.

Florida wide receiver Andre Caldwell scored on an end-around run on a fourth-down play as time expired to help the South Team clinch a 17-16 win over the North Team in the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl.

It was a game that was filled with irony as play progressed at Ladd-Peebles Field in Mobile, Alabama under overcast skies and a temperature hovering around 50 degrees. Caldwell, a receiver, tied the game on a running play called by San Francisco offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who is well-known for his aggressive and potent passing offenses.

Under Armour, the game’s title sponsor, presented Penn State linebacker Dan Connor and Tennessee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with the Under Armour New Prototype Award.

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Photo: Tennessee State University All-American Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was awarded the Under Armour New Prototype Award for his play at the Senior Bowl. The 6-2/185 defensive back is from Bradenton, Florida and majored in Psychology.

Highlights:

Hampton defensive end Kendall Langford yanked California running back Justin Forsett down just shy of the first-down marker, setting up the South's game-winning drive led by Ainge.

UD Joe Flacco sent a deep floating down the right sideline, but it hung up a bit and didn't get far enough to the outside to avoid an opportunistic interception by Tennessee State's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

DSU Coach Al Lavan leads Northeast All-stars to Heritage Bowl Win

Photo: Delaware State University head football coach Al Lavan has won both the Black College National Championship and the American Heritage Bowl in the same season.

Fullerton, CA – Delaware State head football coach Al Lavan guided the Northeast All Star squad to a 24-7 win over the Southwest in the American Heritage Bowl last night. The Southwest squad was coached by Jackson State University head football coach Rick Comegy.

Chris Wallace (UAPB) threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Arkansas-Pine Bluff teammate Jason Jones for one score. Jones also had a 24-yard reception and was honored as the offensive player of the game, which featured seniors from historically black colleges and raised funds for severely injured military personnel.

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Even in new role, Dickens lifts Delaware State

Photo: DSU senior forward Joe Dickens,6-7/205, Baltimore, MD, Western Oklahoma State Comm. College, Laurinburg H.S.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- On most nights during preseason practices for the Delaware State men's basketball team, Joe Dickens was hard at work but all to himself. While the team was running drills on the court at Memorial Hall, Dickens could be seen running the length of the gym or doing specialized exercises. Always out of the way, but never out of the sight of his coaches.

Dickens suffered a major foot injury after the 2005-06 season and played just two games last season before red-shirting. Still, he continued to hold the attention of his coaches, who knew that for the Hornets to have any kind of success this season, they'd need the Baltimore-born forward back in the lineup.

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The Hornets,(7-10, 4-1) play at Florida A&M (7-11, 3-3) tonight at 7:30 p.m.

DSU’s senior forward Roy Bright has been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week. Bright averaged 22 points and five rebounds while shooting 57% from the floor, leading the Hornets to a 2-0 mark last week. Against Winston Salem State, he scored 24 points, connecting on four of eight from behind the arc, grabbed four rebounds and blocked two shots. He followed that performance with 20 points, six rebounds and two steals against Norfolk State.

Bright also hit for 17 points and 8 rebounds against Bethune Cookman in DSU overtime win at Daytona Beach this past Saturday. Roy Bright is the MEAC's pre-season player of the year and the MEAC leading scorer, averaging 19.1 ppg.
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A pictorial history of the 2007 FAMU Marching 100

2007 FAMU Marching 100 - A pictorial history of innovation and perfection.

MVSU Delta Devils get defensive in win over Texas Southern

Houston, Texas - The Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils held the Southwestern Athletic Conference “Top Gun”, Sollie Norwood to a mere three-points as they ran rampant over the hapless Tigers of Texas Southern University in a 98-66 blow out in the Tigers H&P.E. Arena. The Delta Devils received scoring from 11 different players, including five scoring in double figures as they have now reeled off four consecutive conference wins.

Valley was once again led by Larry Cox, Jr. who had a game high 18 points with seven rebounds and four blocked shots. Stanford Speech turned in another stellar performance posting 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Carl Lucas had 13 points and two rebounds, while Michael Clark and Dwayne Harmason added 12 and 10 points respectively.

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Southern U. women manhandle A&M Bulldogs

Want an indication of the progress the Southern University women’s basketball team is making? The Jaguars had 31 turnovers and yet still easily handled Alabama A&M 50-36, never trailing Saturday at the F.G. Clark Activity Center. Even with all the turnovers, including 10 by guard Deidra Jackson, and with having forward Indi Johnson go scoreless for the first time all season, SU got a balance of efforts — the kind of all-around play that would be teased but wouldn’t flow earlier this season.

Jackson nevertheless contributed 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals....

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Southern rebounds to victory over Alabama A&M

The boxscore on Southern University’s latest win, a 65-49 triumph over Alabama A&M, shows how a lot of players contributed Saturday night at the F.G. Clark Activity Center. That balance spills over to rebounding, with no Jaguar in particular dominant yet the team rallying to edge A&M in that department 36-35.

Guard Chris Davis had 18 points, while Joseph Jack added 13 points and five rebounds and forward Barry Honore 10 points and six rebounds for Southern (7-11, 5-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference). Guard Steffon Wiley also contributed nine points, five steals, five rebounds and four assists, and guard Geri Guillory had a season-best eight assists, six points and three steals.

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Obama routs Hillary in South Carolina

Democrats in South Carolina turned out in unprecedented numbers for their primary Saturday and handed Sen. Barack Obama a 2-to-1 victory over Sen. Hillary Clinton. Obama secured his first win since the Iowa caucuses by claiming 80 percent of the African-American votes.

Six months ago, Clinton was not only leading the polls in South Carolina, she was edging out Senator Barack Obama among African Americans. But in the end, Obama got four black votes out of five and they propelled him to an outright majority of the overall vote: 55 percent to Clinton's 27 percent and Edwards' 18 percent.

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Great turnout South Carolina! If this was a football game, it would be called a rout, but the stakes here are much greater. Stay tune...

Norfok State rout over SCSU satisfies Spartans fans – for the most part

Photo: Forward Michael Deloach led four Spartans in double digit scoring with 18 points. NSU Tony Murphy scored 17, Rashid Cann, had a career-high 14 points and Corey Lyons scored 14 points.

NORFOLK - With their team well on its way to its highest offensive output in a regulation game in eight years, a small but raucous crowd at Norfolk State wanted two things in the closing minutes at Echols Hall Saturday night: The first was for the Spartans to crack the 100-point barrier. The second was for at least two of those points to come from the team’s newest player – 6-foot-7, 320-pound Brian Harman, a recent addition from the football team and instant crowd favorite.

Unfortunately for the 1,232 on hand, neither happened. But after a 97-71 win over South Carolina State, it’s unlikely anyone was complaining.

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Marching bands bring their best moves to Georgia Dome battle

Photo: University of Arkansas Pine Bluff "Musical Marching Machine of the Mid-South Band."

Atlanta, GA - The marching bands with the know-how and the ones with the show-how took the field of the Georgia Dome on Saturday for the sixth annual Honda Battle of the Bands. Ten bands from historically black colleges and universities in the Southeast, left from an original field of 42 competitors, readied their best performances of the year for a roaring audience in the nearly full dome.

Driving beats, intricate marching and troops of dancing girls flashing sass and a little thigh had band members sweating as they left the turf. "It's always a competition when you step on the field," said John Graham, director of the Musical Marching Machine of the Mid-South from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

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Coppin State dumps Hampton Lady Pirates

Photo: 5-6 Senior point guard Shalamar Oakley scored 24 points in the upset win over Hampton. The Camden, NJ star is from Woodrow Wilson H.S. and is majoring in Criminal Justice .

HAMPTON, Va. -- Seniors Shalamar Oakley and Rashida Suber combined for 42 points leading Coppin State to a 64-54 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory over Hampton on Saturday and handing the Pirates their first conference loss of the season.
The Lady Pirates (10-7, 4-1 MEAC), trailing 33-31 at intermission, shot a miserable 15.6 percent in the second half (5-for-32) and were never in it after Coppin State (9-10, 4-2) opened the second half with a 10-3 run. Oakley scored six points during the run.

Oakley was 9-of-12 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line to lead the Eagles with 24 points, while Suber added 18 points. Whitney Cunningham added seven points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Rachel Butler scored 15 points to lead Hampton. Artavia Burns and reserve Roneisha Corbitt added 12 points apiece.

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Hampton Pirates avoid upset by Coppin State

Photo: Michael Freeman led the Pirates in scoring with 19 points and 9 rebounds. The 6-8 sophomore star forward is from Alexandria, Va./Brewster Academy.

HAMPTON - Scoring was at a serious premium, but Hampton University's men's basketball team converted a few more opportunities than Coppin State. The Pirates held off the Eagles late in a close Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest Saturday night to win 56-54 at HU Convocation Center. Hampton (11-6, 5-0) remained unbeaten in the MEAC, Coppin State (4-16, 0-6) winless.

Mike Freeman's 19 points inside and nine rebounds were the difference-maker for Hampton against an Eagles team that tried to slow down the Pirates' running game. HU coach Kevin Nickelberry had emphasized post play in his pregame preparation.

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The long anticipated clash for MEAC supremacy is scheduled for Monday with Morgan State University visiting the Hampton Pirates.

Morgan State extends to 3-game winning streak, Herd Bison

Photo: #34 (middle) Jamar Smith scored 27 points, 8 rebounds and 1 steal in hearding the Bison. Smith is a 6-2/210 senior guard from Brooklyn Park, MN, San Bernadino Valley College/Patrick Henry HS.

Washington, D.C. -- Morgan State put together a 16-2 run over the first six minutes of the second half to blow the game open and cruise to a 69-51 win over Howard at Burr Gymnasium before 1,980 fans. The win marked the Bears third consecutive victory.

Senior Jamar Smith led all scorers with 26 points and shot 13-for-19 from the floor for the Bears who improved to 10-8 overall and 5-1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, while it was the third straight loss for the Bison (4-15 overall, 1-4 MEAC).

The Bears scored 25 points off of 20 Bison turnovers and held a 46-32 advantage in points-in-the paint.

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Morgan State will try to continue its streak when it travels to Virginia to take on the Pirates of Hampton University on Monday at 7:30 pm.

Jones, Wallace connect for TD for Northeast in Heritage Bowl

FULLERTON, Calif. -- Chris Wallace threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Arkansas-Pine Bluff teammate Jason Jones and the Northeast beat the Southwest 24-7 in the American Heritage Bowl on Saturday night.

Jones also had a 24-yard reception and was honored as the offensive player of the game, which featured seniors from historically black colleges and raised funds for severely injured military personnel.

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Jackson State receive commitment from Hinds CC 3 star player

The Jackson State football program is still pulling in verbal commitments despite losing a recruiting weekend to coach in the American Heritage Bowl on Saturday. Hinds Community College wide receiver Carlos Everett is one of the latest. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Webster, Florida native is rated a three-star junior college prospect with a 4.56 40-meter dash by Rivals.com.

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Copeland, Clarion Ledger, has indicated that Everett was being recruited by Florida State, but wasn't offered a scholarship.

Lady Aggies blast Winston Salem State before record crowd

Photo: Guard Ta'Wuana Cook had an outstanding game with 27 points, 8 steals, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. The 5-8 sophomore known as "Tweet" is from Seventy-First H.S., Fayetteville, N.C.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – If the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team was the stock market all indicators would be positive. On Saturday, the Aggies defeated their arch-rival Winston-Salem State 71-51 at Irvin Corbett Court.

Hampton’s loss to Coppin State on Saturday left the Aggies as the only team with an undefeated record in the MEAC, while giving them a full-game lead at the top of the MEAC standings at 5-0. Their five-game winning streak is their longest in 12 seasons, and their Pack the House night drew a record crowd of 3,813 fans.

But like the stock market, a basketball season fluctuates from time to time so head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs doesn’t want to see her team get complacent with its early-season success.

“We had a lot of turnovers, but that is about the average,’’ said Bibbs. “We can not keep playing like this. We played against a team tonight that is very, very young, but that team hustled. They really did. I really was not satisfied with the way we played. We won the game but I was not satisfied with the way we played. We play in a tough conference, so we can’t afford to let up.”

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The Hampton University vs. North Carolina A&T games should be a classic barn burner. However, the Lady Aggies must face South Carolina State and Howard University at home on Monday and Saturday, respectively, before they can look ahead to the Feb. 4 showdown with the Hampton Pirates.

N.C. A&T cruises past WSSU 75-56

Photo: 5-11/170 senior guard Steven Rush was unstoppable hitting for 23 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist over rival WSSU Rams.

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The renewed rivalry between Winston-Salem State and N.C. A&T was a “Rush” yesterday. Guard Steven Rush grabbed the game by the throat early, scoring 23 points as the Aggies raced to a rather easy 75-56 victory.

After a wait of 10 years since the schools last played, officials had to turn people away at the door, but nearly 5,900 still squeezed into jam-packed Corbett Center, which holds about 5,700. “I was ready for this,” said Rush, who hit five of his first seven shots, all 3-pointers, to get the Aggies going in the right direction. Coach Bobby Collins of the WSSU Rams (7-10) tried four different players to slow down Rush, a chemistry major with a 3.6 grade-point average.

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For a sellout of Corbett Center of 5,900, we wouldn't hesitate to schedule WSSU for NBA format best of five games series in 2008/09 between the two schools. Just give the fans the games they want to see. This is the game we like to see--where you turn away folks at the gate with a full house.

Game Attendance Men: 5,834 at Irvin-Corbett Court.
Game Attendance Women: Record crowd of 3,813 at Irvin-Corbett Court.

-beepbeep

UMES Rally falls short in 72-62 loss to FAMU Rattlers

Photo: Junior guard Ed Tyson, 6-2/200 (Baltimore, MD, Walbrook H.S.) led the Hawks with 18 points and 4 rebounds against FAMU.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) men's basketball team held a brief second half lead on the road against Florida A&M University (FAMU), but came up short, 72-62 on Saturday in the Gaither Athletic Center.

"Our guys definitely fought hard." Interim Head Coach Meredith Smith said. "At the end of the day though, this game was still more about the shots that we didn't make, as opposed to those that we made."

FAMU (7-11, 3-3 MEAC) would score five points within the opening minute of the second half, pushing their lead to 43-36. The Hawks, playing in front of a rowdy homecoming crowd, would show composure, tying the game at 45-45, and then again at 47-47. Gary Lee (Flint, Mich./Northwestern University) would then hit a three-pointer to give UMES a brief three point lead, 50-47. Lee would finish with a season-high 14 points.

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Second half three point shooting lifts UMES over Florida A&M

UMES Lady Hawks and fans are all smiles after defeating the Lady Rattlers earlier.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Lady Hawks used an impressive second half shooting display to knock off Florida A&M University (FAMU) 60-50 on Saturday afternoon in the Gaither Athletic Center.

UMES (9-8, 2-2 MEAC) spoiled the Rattlers homecoming by converting seven-of-11 (63.6 percent) from downtown and 14-of-22 (63.6) from the field in the second half.

"I thought both the effort and the energy were better in the second half," said Head Coach Fred Batchelor. "We were able to knock down some shots, which I thought gave us a lot of confidence and swung the momentum in our favor."

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Tennessee State Lady Tigers holds off Tennessee Tech

Photo: Oby Okafor recorded her 20th career double-double in Tennessee State’s win over TTU. The 5-9 junior forward is from Rolla, Missouri (Rolla High School).

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech fought an uphill battle the entire second half, and although the Golden Eagles got one step from the top several times, they never got over the hump as visiting Tennessee State held on for a 69-56 Ohio Valley Conference victory in Eblen Center.

A national TV audience was tuned in on ESPNU as Tech pulled to within one point with less than six minutes to play, and got to within two points twice after that. In the end, however, the Tigers (9-11/6-5 OVC) made nine out of 10 free throws in the final minute to pull away to the final 13-point margin.

Tech (3-18/2-9 OVC) made it 58-56 when Kristina Tyler hit both free throws with 1:53 remaining, but that was the last time the Golden Eagles scored.

Oby Okafor recorded her 20th career double-double in Tennessee State and led all scores with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals. Tiffany Jackson also posted double-digits with 11 points and 4 blocked shots.

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Tennessee State gets last-second win over Tennessee Tech

Photo: Bruce Price, 6-3/205 guard scored 13 points to help the Tigers in win. Price is a junior from South H.S., Minneapolis, MN.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - LaDarious Weaver'ss 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded lifted Tennessee State to a thrilling 73-72 victory over Tennessee Tech Saturday afternoon in Eblen Center. With the win, TSU (10-12/6-5 OVC) played leapfrog and jumped ahead of Tech (9-13/6-6 OVC) in the Ohio Valley Conference standings.

Tech, which came into the contest in a tie for fourth place, could find themselves anywhere from fifth to ninth place when the dusts settles later Saturday night in what's shaping up as one of the closest races in conference history.

Gerald Robinson was the game-high scorer with 27 points. Bruce Price added 13 points and Reiley Ervin canned 10 points for the Tigers. Darius Cox scored 8 points for the Tigers, while collecting 8 rebounds.

Tennessee Tech’s top scorers were Amadi McKenzie (19), Anthony Fisher (15) and Will Barnes. Northern Daniel was the game’s top rebounder, pulling down 12 rebounds.

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DSU Lady Hornets cruise past Bethune Cookman

Photo: #3 Keyhana Wakefield scored 16 points, 7 rebounds against the Wildcats.

Daytona Beach, FL - DSU women's coach Ed Davis, who can shout with the best of them, kept no secrets Saturday. "Come on, get inside!" he said to his Hornets as they trailed early on. Heeding his call, Delaware State got the ball inside. That's all the Hornets needed to do to turn around their fortunes and secure a 71-51 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win.

"I wanted to see them get productive in the post," Davis said. And so they did. In the end, the Hornets out-scored Bethune-Cookman 40-24 in the paint. DSU's Raquel Collier had a game-high 20 points on 9-for-16 shooting. Keyhana Wakefield added 16 points as four DSU players scored in double digits.

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Delaware State erase 16-point deficit for OT win at Bethune Cookman

Photo: Roy Bright led the Hornets in scoring with 17 points and 8 rebounds.

Daytona Beach, FL - Trailing by 16 points, only the Hornets knew what they had inside. "We always think we can come back," DSU senior Roy Bright said. "It's never over." For the second game in a row, they found resolve and, this time, the ability to finish, in a gritty comeback victory in overtime, 69-66 over Bethune-Cookman in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play.

"That's Delaware State, they have the understanding of what it takes to win. They keep pulling up their pants," Bethune Cookman University's Coach Reed said.

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The Hornets are 7-10, 4-1 MEAC and are scheduled to face the Florida A&M Rattlers on Monday evening. The attendance at the BCU men game was 2,002.

Hillary Clinton speaks to Nashville voters at Tennessee State University

Hundreds of eager Hillary Clinton supporters pack the hallways at Tennessee State University waiting to get in on Saturday to here Clinton Speak. Kim Houser, who attended the speech said, "I'm happy with the diversity in the democrat party this year and very hopeful for the country." Supporters were let into the event about an hour early because the line was so long. Some people lined up three hours before the event.

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The message here is get out and hear all the candidates, decide who you are going to support, and go VOTE! This was probably the first time some citizens in the Nashville region visited the Tennessee State University campus. Great job TSU in hosting this event.

Now, back to MEAC/SWAC sports...

-beepbeep

WSSU glad NCA&T rivalry being revived

Photo: Darrell Wonge, 6-6/210 forward, Malverne H.S., Lakeview, New York.

Senior forward Darrell Wonge is playing his best basketball at the right time and will have to be at his best again to help Winston-Salem State defeat rival N.C. A&T today. Tipoff will be at 4 p.m. at the Corbett Center in Greensboro.

“I heard a lot about the rivalry, and I was at both of the football games when we played A&T the last two years,” said Wonge, who scored a career-high 30 points Monday in a 64-62 loss to Hampton. “I like it. It feels like a Carolina-Duke thing, only a smaller version.”

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Saturday's contest will mark the first contest between the two teams in 10 years as the last meeting between the two storied programs came during the 1997-98 season in a contest that the Aggies won in Winston-Salem, NC by the score of 68-66. The two teams are no stranger to one another as they played annually during the late 80's and early 90's. The Rams will meet the Aggies on Saturday for the first time as a Division I program.

The Rams and Aggies have met 63 times in history with the all-time series slanted in favor of the Rams 35-28.

-beepbeep

SU Jaguars to face Alabama A&M

For a team in the thick of a tight Southwestern Athletic Conference race, being successful on its longest home stand of the season is high on the list of important musts in order to win that race.

The Southern men’s basketball team (6-11, 4-2 SWAC) has three consecutive home games, beginning tonight, when Alabama A&M (4-11, 1-4) visits at 4 p.m. today at the F.G. Clark Activity Center. Still ahead: SWAC-leading Alabama State (8-7, 4-1) at 7 p.m. Monday in a game that will be televised on ESPNU and Alcorn State (3-16, 2-4) at 4 p.m. a week from today. SU is then idle on Monday, Feb. 4.

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