New Orleans eliminates TSU in NCAA baseball

BATON ROUGE, La. — Texas Southern entered the NCAA Tournament with the worst record in the 48-team field. Accordingly, the Tigers didn’t last long, dispatched Saturday from the Baton Rouge Regional by the University of New Orleans, 18-5.

SWAC-champion TSU, crushed by host LSU 12-1 on Friday, ended its season 16-34. The Tigers were kept in check by UNO’s Jim McGonigle, a sophomore right-hander from Houston’s Second Baptist High School who improved to 2-2 as he kept the Privateers (43-20) alive for a 1 p.m. Sunday game against the loser of Saturday’s later game between LSU and Southern Miss.

Texas Southern learned a hard lesson that playing in the NCAAs is no SWAC picnic when you are undermanned in pitching talent.

“We didn’t play as well as I expected to play, but we played hard each game,” said TSU coach Candy Robinson, who finished his 19th season at the helm with his ninth losing season in a row.

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What's right with this picture? Ninth losing season in a row and getting stomped 30-6 in two NCAA games for a 0-2 Tournament record. TSU's Candy needs to be canned!

Harris-Williams Foundation gives back; Former GSU stars make donations

(L) James "Shack" Harris, VP of Player Personnel - Jacksonville Jaguars, and (R) Doug Williams, Player Personnel Executive, Tampa Bay Buccaneers are assisting local groups and Grambling State University athletic programs with their foundation charity donations.

Moments before making multiple donations to community organizations on Friday morning, former Grambling State and NFL great Doug Williams recounted how the Shack Harris and Doug Williams Foundation began.

He recalled playing in June Jones' golf tournament for charity in Hawaii. "After we (Williams and Harris) got through playing golf, we were talking and saying, 'Why don't we do this ourselves?" Williams said. They worked with Kevin Kaplan of Coaching Charities to form their foundation. There was one final step — finding a community to serve.

"We were trying to find the best place to hold the golf tournament and raise money to do something for the community," Williams said. "Hands down, the place I thought and James agreed, was Shreveport."

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NCAA Baseball Regionals: Ole Miss 14, Bethune-Cookman 1

CORAL GABLES, FL - Michael Guerrero homered twice in one inning as Mississippi eliminated Bethune Cookman 14-1 in the Coral Gables Regional Saturday afternoon.

Guerrero's home runs highlighted a 10-run sixth inning. The Rebels sent 14 batters to the plate against Wildcats starter Joseph Gautier and two relievers.

Guerrero drove Gautier's 2-2 pitch over the fence in left field for his ninth home run of the year and a 6-1 lead. His second homer of the inning, a two-run shot, put Mississippi ahead 13-1.

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Memorial held for North Carolina A&T Aggies football player

GREENSBORO -- Funeral arrangements have been finalized for North Carolina A&T football player Chad Wiley, who collapsed suddenly after a morning workout Wednesday. Friday, students and staff on campus held a memorial to also remember the senior offensive lineman.

"To me, with death, candles are always something that are calming and soothing," said one organizer at Friday’s memorial. The school closed out a tragic week with a moment of silence on the campus' quad.

The visitation will be this Sunday at 2 p.m. at Mills Chapel Baptist Church in Black Mountain. The funeral will follow at 3 p.m. The church is located at 328 Cragmont Road in Black Mountain , N.C.

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Former DSU McBride grabs attention in Eagles minicamp

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Wide receivers usually stand near each other on the sideline during practice, so Shaheer McBride quickly noticed that the Eagles have a herd of receivers in camp all closely resembling him -- somewhere in that 6-foot, 200-pound neighborhood.

That's one reason McBride reports to the NovaCare Complex each day feeling like he needs to be better than his counterparts. Them plus one, someone noted. "Plus two," McBride said. "Maybe three, sometimes."

Up and down the roster are receivers just like the 6-foot-2, 205-pound former Delaware State star, guys who ruled the roost at small schools or fell through cracks in bigger college programs: Penn State's Terrell Golden (6-2, 216), Nebraska's Frantz Hardy (6-0, 180) and North Carolina A&T's Jamal Jones (5-11, 205).

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SSU players start pro chase

Flegler, Coleman attend first showcase for North American and European pro leagues

RICHMOND, Va. - Joseph Flegler stood near courtside here Wednesday, with sweat running down his face at Virginia Commonwealth University.

While many college students have started their summer vacation, the former Savannah State University guard took the first step for a possible pro basketball career May 26-28 at the VCU International Basketball Showcase.

The annual event, held at ALLTEL Pavilion at the Siegel Center, attracted about 80 players who have ended their college eligibility.

Most were from Division I schools, including such programs as North Carolina State and Dayton. But Division II and III schools were also represented in the annual event that attracts scouts and coaches from pro leagues in North America and Europe.

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S.C. State football could bring windfall to school this year

A Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship and Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth are not the only “pots o’ gold” South Carolina State hopes to find at the end of this season.

With two more games against Football Bowl Subdivision teams, the SCSU Athletics Department could see as much as $607,500 in its coffers. More important for school officials is the increased visibility obtained from facing larger schools.

The S.C. State Bulldogs have an exciting home schedule for 2008, with Benedict College, Norfolk State, Hampton and Howard. (Photo by Mark's Digital Photography)

“We’re starting to get calls to play them,” said Brantley Evans, Senior Associate Director of Athletics. “I think it helps in recruiting because of the type of athletes that the coaches are able to go after and use these games as selling points. So it helps in those two areas, as well as financially.”

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Top-seeded Miami Defeats Bethune-Cookman, 7-4 in NCAA Regional Opener

Coral Gables, Fla. - Blake Tekotte had a big two-run single in the seventh inning to help top-seeded University of Miami--the nation's top-ranked team, win a 7-4 contest against Bethune-Cookman University in the NCAA Coral Gables Regional opener at Mark Light Stadium.

Leading 5-4 in the seventh inning, the Hurricanes (48-8) Ryan Jackson was hit by a pitch to start off the at-bat. He then advanced to second on a passed ball before Dave DiNatale and Adan Severino took back-to-back walks to load the bases. That's when Blake Tekotte stepped up and delivered a bloop single to centerfield that squeezed between B-CU (36-21) second baseman Mark Brooks and centerfielder José Ortiz.

The single scored two runs to push the Hurricanes lead out to 7-4 ... thus the final score. "I was just trying to put it in play," Tekotte said. "We knew we had our work cut out for us. This was the best fourth-seeded team in the nation."

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Getting feel for CFL, Cleve McCoy eager to learn at Bomber camp

Our balls are indeed bigger, our fields more expansive and there are bigger crowds on our gridiron. So, the biggest adjustments to the CFL game have to be made by quarterbacks who grew up with four-down football. And both highly-touted Blue Bomber pivots Bryan Randall and Cleveland McCoy got their first taste of it at Winnipeg's rookie camp before about 200 interested onlookers at Canad Inns Stadium yesterday afternoon.

"It's a different-size ball," said Randall, who still fired some zingers at practice. "The NFL ball's a little thinner than the CFL ball so that will take a little getting used to. But you keep throwing the ball over and over with more reps, you get a better feel for it.

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Southern Cook-ing

Esparto, California star headed to Division I Southern University on baseball scholarship

Sometimes, finding a Division I baseball scholarship can be a long, arduous process. Other times, it can be as lucky as stumbling upon an ESPN broadcast. Possessing a left arm that throws in the high 80's also helps. In late April, Suavae Cook signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Southern University, but months earlier it hardly seemed possible.

On Feb. 29, a Friday night, Esparto High School baseball coach Dennis Huitt was watching ESPN's telecast of the Urban Invitational at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles. During the broadcast of UCLA's game against Southern University - a historically black school in Baton Rouge, La. - analyst Tim Kurjian mused about the lack of African American baseball players at the Major League level.

During the next night's telecast, when Southern played USC, the broadcasters were talking up Southern coach Roger Cador, who has won 13 SWAC Coach of the Year awards, and how in his 23 years as the Jaguars coach they had won 13 Southwestern Athletic Conference titles, when it struck a chord with Huitt.

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Jackson State named SWAC's top athletic program

Jackson State won its second straight SWAC Commissioner's Cup, league officials announced Friday. The Tigers had 164 total points, edging Southern University (142.5 points), Grambling (142) and Prairie View (142) for the James Frank Award.

Jackson State won championships in football and golf. The Lady Tigers were huge contributors, capturing titles in basketball, track and field (indoor and outdoor) and golf.

Coach Rick Comegy with the 2007 SWAC Football Championship Trophy.

"Winning the Commissioner's Cup is a testament to our university as a whole," Jackson State Director of Athletics Robert Braddy said in a statement released by the SWAC. "This demonstrates the quality of coaches and athletes that we have at Jackson State.

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LSU Baseball Handles TSU, 12-1

BATON ROUGE -- LSU sophomore designated hitter Blake Dean homered twice and drove in four runs to lead the top-seeded Tigers to their 21st straight win with a 12-1 victory over Texas Southern in the opening game of the 2008 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional in front of 6,536 fans on Friday afternoon at Alex Box Stadium.

The Tigers, champions of the Southeastern Conference Tournament, improved to 44-16-1 on the year and 19-0 in NCAA regional opening games. LSU set the single-season school record for consecutive victories in its last outing and has not lost a contest since April 19.

Texas Southern dropped to 16-33 on the season. LSU advances to play the winner of tonight’s contest between Southern Miss and UNO at 6 p.m. Saturday. Texas Southern takes on the loser of tonight’s game at 1 p.m. Saturday.

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Norfolk State-Old Dominion hoops series remains a distant dream

Maybe you think that, with Old Dominion and Norfolk State kicking around a possible football series, it would be natural for the schools to meet again soon on the basketball court.

Maybe you should think about more realistic things, like Big Brown running the Belmont Stakes backwards to clinch the Triple Crown.

Promising and compelling as the football idea is, the inert basketball situation between the schools is reminiscent of an ancient Saturday Night Live line that was funny in direct proportion...

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WSSU contributing to MEAC

As the new kid on the block in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Winston-Salem State has made quite a splash.

WSSU helped land the MEAC basketball tournament at Joel Coliseum for the next three seasons and to do so it reached for its pocketbook. WSSU pledged $25,000 of the $100,000 the conference asked for during negotiations.

The $25,000 came from the Athletics Department, according to Donald Reaves, WSSU's chancellor.

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Rattlers to split defensive coordinator duties

Photo: Former FAMU defensive coordinator Orlando Mitjans.

Earl Holmes and Tim Edwards will share the role of defensive coordinator for FAMU's football team, a move that coach Joe Taylor confirmed Wednesday.

Taylor said he decided to make coordinating the defense a two-man job after Orlando Mitjans unexpectedly had to leave the position. Holmes and Edwards will work under the supervision of assistant head coach George Small. Mitjans decided to relinquish the position so that he could focus on a franchise business in Tennessee, Taylor said.

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(Casey Printers) Ticats expect to be right in thick of it

Photo: Former Florida A&M quarterback Casey Printers will try to jump start his CFL career with the extra baggage of being the highest paid player in the Canadian Football League for the lowly Hamilton Ti-cats.

We expect to be right in there competing with them," Taaffe said. "We played very competitively most of the time. That's part of the growing process. When you've got a chance to win in the fourth quarter, that's the next step, learning how to close the deal."

The feeling is having Casey Printers at quarterback from the start of the season (he joined the Cats mid-2007) could go a long way to this team's return to the post-season. But will an improved Printers be enough to make up for weaknesses throughout the roster?

That's where veteran CFL talent guru Bob O'Billovich enters the picture, taking over as Hamilton's GM. Known for unearthing talent, most recently for the B.C. Lions, O'Billovich has also been forced to address a losing climate in Steeltown.

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MEAC tourney coming in '09

Photo courtesy Mark's Digital Photography, www.marksdigitalphotography.com

Joel Coliseum to be host for three years

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has been hopping from city to city, trying to make its basketball tournaments a success. It hopes that the next stop, Winston-Salem, will be the right one.

MEAC officials awarded the conference's men's and women's basketball tournaments to Winston-Salem and Joel Coliseum yesterday for the next three years. The contract will begin with the 2008-09 tournament scheduled for March 10-15. All men's and women's games will be played at Joel Coliseum.

Commissioner Dennis Thomas of the MEAC praised Winston-Salem for having all the ingredients to help the tournament grow.

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BCU Wildcats Like Chances At College World Series

Photo: Bethune Cookman University head coach Mervyl Melendez has the Wildcats poised for the upset in the NCAA Regionals.

ORMOND BEACH -- The road to the College World Series begins soon for the best NCAA programs in the game, and Central Florida has a potential giant-killer to add to the mix.

Bethune-Cookman University is heading to its third-consecutive NCAA baseball regional and they are underdogs. They have had a great season so far, but now they are headed to Coral Gables to face Missouri, Ole Miss and the No. 1 team in the country -- the Miami Hurricanes.

"It's going to be a way-different scenario now. NCAA regionals. There's something on the line. You have to lose two games, so I'm sure it's going to be a tougher game, but we're going to be ready for the challenge. A lot of people are probably not giving us a chance to play well or beat University of Miami and I think that we have a very good chance," said Mervyl Melendez, the BCU head coach.

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North Carolina A&T football player dies from heat illness complications

Greensboro, N.C. — A senior offensive lineman on the North Carolina A&T State University football team died Wednesday from complications of heat illness, school officials said.

Chad Wiley, 22, collapsed Tuesday after a supervised voluntary workout on campus, officials said. An A&T athletic trainer treated Wiley on the field before he was transported to Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital.

A&T officials said Wednesday afternoon that Wiley had been running hills during a workout when he became dizzy. A trainer gave him water and he continued his workout. He lost consciousness inside the training room.

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READ: Update 4:22 p.m., http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/NRSTAFF/957891935

READ: Aggie Football Player Dies After Workout, http://www.digtriad.com/news/mostpopular/article.aspx?storyid=104275&provider=top

Wiley profile from North Carolina A & T State University Athletic Website: http://www.ncataggies.com/Football/profiles/wiley_chad.htm

Dawn of a rivalry? ODU and NSU talk football series

Old Dominion and Norfolk State are negotiating a long-term series between the schools' football teams, with ODU officials looking at 2013 as a starting point.

Norfolk State athletic director Marty Miller was even more proactive when reached Tuesday. "Why not 2012?" he asked. ODU would have its first class of fifth-year seniors in 2012.

The Monarchs, after nearly seven decades without football, are kick-starting a Division I-AA program that will begin play in 2009 and will join the Colonial Athletic Association in 2011. The school's first class of recruits arrives on campus this fall.

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You gotta love Marty Miller's attitude--stomp Old Dominion University in the turf before they get any momentum to becoming a winning program. Great question, why wait until 2013? NSU has two opportunities with Colonial Athletic Conference foes William and Mary, and now ODU, that should improve the MEAC's future strength of schedule profile. These local contests are great for college football and its good to see NSU take a proactive approach to getting these games on their schedule.

ODU first game will be against CIAA newcomer (in football only), Chowan University Hawks on September 5, 2009.

-beepbeep

Texas Southern faces #7 National Seed LSU in NCAAs

Photo: Texas Southern Tigers will face the LSU Tigers on their home field in the first round of the NCAA Baseball Tournament.

LSU is the No. 7 national seed in the NCAA baseball tournament field released today, and the Tigers could host a super regional at Alex Box Stadium for the first time since 2004.

LSU would be at home for the super-regional round if it wins this weekend's regional at Alex Box Stadium.

The Tigers will face Texas Southern (16-32) at 1 p.m. Friday in the regional opener in Baton Rouge. New Orleans (42-19), the No. 3 seed in the regional at LSU, will face No. 2 Southern Miss (40-20) at 6 p.m. Friday in the other first-round matchup.

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Bethune-Cookman Travels to Miami for NCAA Baseball Regional

Wildcats draw top-seeded Hurricanes for opening game

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman University Baseball found out Monday afternoon that they will stay in state and travel down I-95 south to the University of Miami for their NCAA Regional in Coral Gables, Fla. The Wildcats will be making their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Baseball Regional, as well as their third trip to a Regional hosted by the Miami Hurricanes. B-CU traveled to Coral Gables in 2003 and 1999 as well.

Joining the Wildcats in the Coral Gables (Fla.) Regional will be the University of Mississippi [Ole Miss], Missouri and of course homestanding and host University of Miami. B-CU faced off against the Rebels of Ole Miss two years ago in the Oxford (Miss.) Regional in one of the most exciting Regional games in Bethune-Cookman history. The `Cats fell 3-2 to the Rebels in the opening game in front of a sell-out crowd.

Bethune-Cookman University will make their second trip this season to Coral Gables to tangle with the Hurricanes. B-CU dropped both games of a midweek doubleheader (10-5 & 7-6) to the Canes earlier this season while Miami was ranked #3 nationally. The `Cats and Canes will hook-up on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium on the campus of the University of Miami. The entire Coral Gables Regional will be shown live on ESPNU, with games at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If necessary, Monday's contest will also be shown live on ESPNU at 7 p.m.

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Student Jazz Singers of Howard University

NPR - All Things Considered - Nine music majors at Washington, D.C.'s Howard University are also part of the schools vocal jazz ensemble AfroBlue. Michele Norris talks with the group's director, Connaitre Miller, and listens as the students demonstrate "crunchy" harmonies on a familiar tune, as well as some smooth chords on a cappella versions of "Surrey with a Fringe on Top" and "Sometimes I'm Happy."

LISTEN NOW: http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=90832142&m=90832117

Former HU - Rookie Dixon Trying To Complete Trying Journey To NFL Cowboys

IRVING, Texas - Making the team will be hard enough as an undrafted free agent for rookie Marcus Dixon. The Cowboys signed Dixon to a non-guaranteed three-year, $1 million free-agent deal made up of three minimum base salaries, along with a modest signing bonus, and days later he found himself here at Valley Ranch for the rookie mini-camp.

"I haven't gotten any calls from Oprah, but I have gotten calls from people who have supported me," he said after his first practice. "I've gotten e-mails. Everyone is just overwhelmed."

Dixon was just like every other rookie that first weekend - cramming in an unfamiliar playbook and trying to keep up with the speed a pro team works at during these non-pad practices. He returned with the majority of the rookies this past week to also begin his off-season strength and conditioning program, along with taking part in the three-day OTA workouts, which continue with another three-day session out here on Tuesday.

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Former NCCU Eagles set to give back

For More Info: https://www.nccueaf.org/

Upcoming Schedule of Events

Date Event
7/01/2008 - 2008 Membership Drive
7/19/2008 - Inaugural Golf Tournament in Winston-Salem, NC
8/24/2008 - 2008 Membership Cookout

Hunter & Co. late last year founded the Eagle Athletic Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Charlotte dedicated to providing support for football student-athletes at N.C. Central.

Football is a topic that's close to the heart of the EAF executive team. Why? Because they're all former Eagle football players who developed a special bond that continues some 20 years later.

They are: Gerald Mack, a four-year starter at cornerback (1985-88); Gerald Patton, a four-year starter offensive lineman (1982-86); Robert "Green" Horsley, a three-year starter at wide receiver (1983-86); center Eric Montgomery (1983-86); linebacker Gregory Tate (1981-85); Brian McCorkle, a three-year starter offensive lineman (1986-89); and Hunter, a three-year starter at wide receiver (1979-1983).

They all know firsthand the trials and tribulations of being a student-athlete on an HBCU campus.

"Each of us experienced trying times during our tenure at NCCU - lack of money and lack of equipment," said Hunter, the spokesperson for the group. "But we're thankful for the program, and with NCCU being the elite institution that it is, we believe we should try to give back."

NCCU also has the support of other organizations like the Eagle Club, which gives thousands of dollars to the entire athletic department, and the QB Club, whose name says it all.

The EAF's focus is football, also for obvious reasons. Plus every genius knows that football can make or drain an athletic department. Not to mention it's the first major sport of the season. So goes football, so goes the HBCU fan's psyche.

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Prairie View A & M University Marching Storm

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(VIDEO: The Marching Storm of Prairie View A&M University prepares for its first halftime show of the season, by The New York Times.)

PVAMU @ Dallas,Texas

PVAMU at 2008 Houston MLK Parade

PVAMU Marching Storm and the Black Foxes

PVAMU Marching Storm and the Black Foxes at Angel City Classic



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Two more I-A transfers set to join JSU Tigers

Photo: Ricardo Kemp

Former Tennessee defensive back Ricardo Kemp said Friday that he will sign with JSU, joining 2007 teammate Antonio Wardlow, who transferred recently. Kemp (5 feet 10, 185 pounds) played 26 games for the Volunteers over the last two years after redshirting in 2005. He posted 24 tackles at UT and recorded two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble last season. Kemp was also considering Hampton.

UNLV defensive end Larry Dennis, a one-time Ole Miss commitment, said Thursday he will sign with Jackson State after sitting out the 2007 season. In 2006 he was rated a four-star recruit (on a five-star scale) by Scout.com. The 6-2, 265-pound Lakeland, Fla., native attended Compton (Calif.) Junior College, then signed with UNLV before 2007 but didn't play because of academic issues.

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Sources: MEAC chooses Winston-Salem

City has won bid to hold tournament for next 3 years

Winston-Salem has won the bid to play host to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament for the next three years, according to several sources. At the MEAC spring meetings, which took place last week in Virginia Beach, Va., presidents and chancellors voted to award the tournament to Winston-Salem. The meetings ended Friday with one of the final votes determining where the tournament would be played for the next three seasons.

An announcement is expected to be made early this week. Neither Dennis Thomas, the commissioner of the MEAC, nor Chico Caldwell, the athletics director at Winston-Salem State University, could be reached for comment yesterday.

But sources have said that the vote came down to Winston-Salem and Raleigh as the final two choices. Winston-Salem officials made a strong proposal to bring the tournament to Joel Coliseum, pledging $100,000 to bring the tournament here.

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Southern University names new chancellor

Dr. Kofi Lomotey holds a Ph.D. and Master's degree from Stanford University in Educational Administration and Policy Analysis, a M.Ed. from Cleveland State University in Curriculum and Instruction and a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College in Economics. He previously served as President of Fort Valley State University, Senior Vice President, Provost and Professor of Education at Medgar Evers College (CUNY) and as a member of the faculties at Louisiana State University and the State University of New York (Buffalo).

Southern University picked a new chancellor Saturday. Southern University System President Ralph Slaughter and the Board of Supervisors chose Kofi Lomotey, 57, of Fisk University in Tennessee out of three finalists. Lomotey was picked on a 9-6 vote at the end of a five-hour meeting that included final interviews on campus.

Those board members voting in opposition said they wanted more time to deliberate after interviewing the three for the first time Saturday. The Fisk executive vice president and provost was chosen over Southern University at Shreveport Chancellor Ray Belton and Alcorn State University Vice President for Academic Affairs Napoleon Moses.

Lomotey will lead Southern’s main campus in Baton Rouge with an enrollment of about 8,000 students starting July 1 after his contract is worked out. “I’m attracted to the tremendous potential...

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Sneads’ Perry preparing to make college choice: FAMU or ...

Former Sneads Pirates wide receiver/kick returner Alex Perry will soon choose between FAMU and Valdosta St. for his collegiate football services. Perry will take the trip to Tallahassee Monday to workout for the new Rattler coach Joe Taylor before visiting Valdosta St. June 21.

Perry, who said he has a scholarship offer from both FAMU and Valdosta St, said that Taylor wanted him to come to the FAMU campus to go through position drill training and update his 40-yard dash time. Immediate playing time will be the biggest factor in his decision, Perry said.

“Basically, what it comes down to is that I want to start in my first year,” he said. “I think I could start at receiver right off the bat as a freshman.”

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SSU boosters: We'll support new athletic director

Photo: Savannah State University new athletic director Bart Bellairs will start on June 1.

'Race doesn't matter'

SSU booster Danny Parrish, a founding member with Alfred Berry of the Atlanta-Downtown Alumni Chapter, one of SSU's largest clubs, is ecstatic that Bellairs was selected from 32 applicants. The Richmond, Ky., native was chosen over Wichita State assistant AD Leonard Clark and NCAA assistant director of championships Keshia Campbell.

"I'm very excited to have him there," Parrish said. "He has the background and experience to build the program to what we need. Everybody wants the same thing: to turn the Savannah State athletic program around and have a successful athletic program. I think he's capable of doing that.

"Race doesn't matter at all. I think diversity is very good. We need to represent the entire Savannah community. I'm glad that we're getting past the color issue." Horace Scandrick, president of the SSU Community Booster Club, agreed with Parrish.

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UMES Hawks add six athletes to the Basketball Program

Head Coach Frankie Allen assembled a strong first-year recruiting class.

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Head Men's Basketball Coach Frankie Allen announced the signing of six athletes to National Letters of Intent on Friday.

"Overall we are very pleased with the signees and feel that we have started to put together a foundation that the entire basketball community will be proud of in the upcoming years," said Allen.

Coach Allen who took over the helm on April 10 put together a solid core of prospects during the late signing period that will look to contribute to the Hawk basketball program in 2008-09, including Reginald "Tyler" Hines (6-7, 220, PF/C, Sewell, N.J./Timber Creek H.S.), Mark Robertson (6-5, 215, SF/PF, Lakewood, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep), Christopher Conner (6-4, 210, SG/SF, Powell, Tenn./Hargrave Military Academy), Neal Pitt (6-6, 230, SF/PF, Ft. Washington, Md./Frederick C.C.), Hillary Haley (6-6, 210, SG/SF, Waldorf, Md./St. Bonaventure Univ.), and Samuel Obetoh (6-7, 190, SF, New York, N.Y./Washington Irving H.S./Boys' Club of New York).

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Frankie Allen is still a great recruiter of Division I level talent. The Hawks are going to make a big move forward this upcoming season. Way to go, Coach Allen! Great crop of student-athletes.

Jackson State University - J-Settes

JSU J-settes Field Routine (Man eater)


JSU J-Settes Dancing to "I'm Dreaming"

Bryant High's Patrick earns scholarships to Alabama State

TUSCALOOSA Joe Patrick learned a few things about priorities in his life during his career at Paul W. Bryant High School. Patrick capped his senior season by accepting academic and athletic scholarship offers from Alabama State University in Montgomery.

Patrick, who stands 5-foot-9, finished second in the high jump in the AHSAA meet by clearing a height of 6-6. Patrick ran in the 4x800-meter relay during sectional competition. He said he’d like to be a versatile performer in college.

It feels great just to know I’ve done a lot for myself with the help of my parents, the track team and God,” Patrick said. “It feels great to know I’ve lifted a burden off my parents so they don’t have to pay anything.

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ASU to pay outgoing president Joe Lee nearly $289,000

MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama State University will pay President Joe Lee nearly $289,000 when he resigns May 31 under a severance agreement reported Friday. Lee announced unexpectedly at a Feb. 8 board of trustees meeting that he planned to resign, ending a seven-year administration that saw a $125 million building campaign and record enrollment.

But he also upset some alumni by firing the football coach and over accounting problems revealed by an audit. Most of the payout — $215,875 — is the balance remaining on Lee's contract that's set to expire Aug. 31, 2009; $47,446 is in retirement and other fringe benefits; and $25,666 is in accrued paid leave.

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A well deserved payout for a president that accomplished many great things for the Hornets.

FAMU Rattlers getting ready for next football season

FAMU quarterback Eddie Battle slowed down from the rapid pace he’d set, going from one weight-training piece of equipment to another. It was brief, but not long enough to notice Joe Wims being spotted by Taj Jenkines.

“Let’s go, Joe,” Battle said, sweat dripping from his face. “Ain’t nothing but up and down.”

Photo: FAMU's #76 DeWayne Lanier, 6-7/315 Offensive Lineman, RS Sophomore, beheads a Southern Jaguar defensive player in last season MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

Wims gave the loaded weight bar a few more jerks, then turned it over to Jenkines. Battle and about 15 FAMU football players had been working out hard for almost an hour. Different groups of players go daily in three sessions.

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Eagles' undrafted quarterback (NSU Casey Hansen)

Photo: Casey Hansen (#3) left his mark at Norfolk State University as the second all-time leading Spartan passer with 4,277 yards in two season. Expect Hansen to surprise and stick with the Donavan McNabb led Eagles as a backup QB. (photo by Mark's Digital Sports Photography)

WITH HIS shirt off, Casey Hansen would tend to get noticed anywhere. A 6-5, thin, strawberry blond guy with a huge tattoo across his back - a pair of six guns framing a skull wearing a cowboy hat, with smoke from the guns curling up to where it spells out "HANSEN" across his shoulders?

That's a bit different, even without the large right-shoulder tattoo of a crown-wearing Jesus.

But Hansen, signed last month by the Eagles as a rookie free-agent quarterback, is used to standing out because of his looks, even fully clothed. To get on the field in college, to create the opportunity he's now pursuing in rookie camp, Hansen played his final two seasons at historically black Norfolk State University. The Spartans' Web site estimates that 86 percent of the school's 6,238 students are African-American, 7 percent are caucasian.

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Historic Rivarly moves to Historic Stadium in Charlotte

NCCU, NC A&T to Play Oct. 4 Football Game at Memorial Stadium in Charlotte

DURHAM, N.C. - In order to accommodate an anticipated crowd that exceeds the capacity of its own stadium, North Carolina Central University will move its home football game against long-time rival North Carolina A&T State University to Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.

The 80th gridiron contest between the Eagles and Aggies will kickoff at 5 p.m. on Oct. 4.

"We are excited about partnering with the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department to bring this historic rivalry to Charlotte," said NCCU Director of Athletics Ingrid Wicker-McCree. "Memorial Stadium provides a terrific atmosphere for college football, and I am sure the fans will enjoy the many accommodations the Queen City has to offer."

A crowd of 19,320 witnessed the last meeting in 2007, played inside Aggie Stadium in Greensboro. Since 1994, the average attendance at an NCCU versus NC A&T football game is 35,478, including a high of 48,001 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh in 1997.

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New Blue QBs can run like the wind

Photo: Former South Carolina State University QB Cleve McCoy is now a Winnipeg Blue Bomber.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers' playbook is about to get a little fatter and -- Doug Berry has his fingers crossed -- the offence a whole lot more difficult to defend.

The Bombers finally made official on Tuesday what has been speculated for days when they announced the additions of quarterbacks Bryan Randall and Cleve McCoy, both Canadian Football League neophytes. But what's intriguing about the two transactions isn't just the addition of QB depth behind incumbents Kevin Glenn and Ryan Dinwiddie, it's about the skill set they will both begin showcasing with the opening of rookie camp next Wednesday.

Simply put, both Randall and McCoy tore it up in college by using their legs to help open up the pass -- McCoy rushed for 823 yards last year for South Carolina State; Randall had 511 yards along the ground as a senior at Virginia Tech in 2004.

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AFCA honors FAMU legend Jake Gaither

Florida Governor Claude Kirk visited Jake Gaither, the nationally renowned coach of the Florida A & M University football team, circa 1967-70. (photo provided by Florida's Division of Historical Resources)

Coaches group lauds Rattlers great with Trailblazer Award

Almost 40 years after he coached his last football game, Jake Gaither is still winning.

Gaither, who became a legend during a 24-year coaching career at FAMU, was recently named winner of the Trailblazer Award, a posthumous honor. He is the fourth winner of the prestigious national award that is given by the American Football Coaches Association.

The award recognizes black coaches who became greats of the game during an era when their accomplishments were seldom recognized. Gaither is considered on the same plateau with legend Paul "Bear" Bryant, who Gaither once recruited during the 1950s to assist with a coaches' clinic.

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READ: Jake Gaither
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/FAMU/70824026

READ: Jake Gaither, 90, Successful And Influential Football Coach:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D07E0D9153BF93AA25751C0A962958260&sec=&spon=

Rudy Hubbard returns to sidelines tonight

Jamboree first test for new Rickards coach

Rudy Hubbard left football 23 years ago when he coached his last game at Florida A&M. Tonight he returns as the first-year coach for the Tallahassee's (FL) Rickards High Raiders, who take part in a three-team jamboree at Cox Stadium.

Hubbard built on Jake Gaither's legacy by guiding FAMU to the Black College National Championship in 1977 and the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA title in 1978. He took over the Rickards program on March 20.

The Raiders will open tonight's jamboree by playing West Gadsden at 6 p.m. West Gadsden then plays Leon at 7 p.m. and Rickards and Leon play at 8 p.m. in the third.

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WSSU choir sings leader's praises

D'Walla Burke's students say that she teaches them much more than music

» AUDIO: Click to hear a recording of the Winston-Salem State University Choir singing "That's How Good God Is," under the direction of D' Walla Simmons Burke

Christopher Hawley said he had trouble meeting people when he arrived at Winston-Salem State University ­-- so much so that he was thinking about going back home to Durham. Then, he said, a friend suggested that he try out for WSSU's choir.

He tried out, was accepted and decided to stay for another semester.

Now a senior, Hawley says that his relationships with choir members and the choir's formidable director, D'Walla Simmons Burke, made all the difference in his career at WSSU.
















Photo: Choir Director D'Walla Simmons Burke philosophy is simply, "You can do nothing great by yourself." The Fort Valley, GA native was educated at Hampton University, UNC Greensboro and has lead the WSSU Choir as conductor to perform Faure's Requiem at New York's Carnegie Hall, becoming the first black female professor to debut as a conductor in this venue. In 2006, the WSSU choir was invited to perform with the Dvorak Symphony Orchestra in Prague, Czech Republic.

"The people in choir are like family to me," he said. "If it wasn't for choir, I probably would have transferred to another school."

He thinks of Burke, he said, as a second mother.

"She's very stern. She's going to push you, but that's a good thing," he said. "My mother's in Durham -- she's not with me now. Ms. Burke is right here with me."

Burke has been the director of choral and vocal studies since she came to WSSU in 1989. She had been teaching at Voorhees College near Denmark, S.C.

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FAMU's Harris fits men's basketball recruits into place

Photo: Cecil Bent is the crown jewel of Coach Eugene Harris first incoming class. The 6-9/290 center will play immediately for the Rattlers.

Coach Eugene Harris isn't exactly starting from scratch, but he likes what he has so far as he attempts to rebuild the FAMU men's basketball program.

Harris said he believes he's found a center and a forward to improve the Rattlers in the post. Akini Akini did most of the work down low for FAMU last season in his final year of eligibility.

Incoming center Cecil Bent and forward Yannick Crowder will play right away, Harris said. Six of the seven other recruits are guards. They will join four returning players from last season's team.

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Bent averaged 14 points per game with 8 rebounds at Swainsboro (GA), Swainsboro High School. He was a member of the 2008 Region 3-AA Champions basketball squad. He also competed in the State Sweet 16 tournament. Bent played for the South team in the GACA North-South All Star Game in which his team defeated the North team 100-95. He was also ranked as one of the top 24 basketball players in the state of Georgia.

-beepbeep

SSU goes for experience in AD hire

Within seconds of being introduced as Savannah State University's athletic director, Bart Bellairs on Tuesday used words like "gold mine" and "sleeping giant" to describe Savannah's only NCAA Division I school.

He'll no doubt use those terms frequently in his quest to help SSU increase revenue, join a conference and achieve success, both athletically and academically. Bellairs will begin at SSU on June 1.



Bellairs, 51, has spent the past three years as Virginia Military Institute's senior associate athletic director. He was instrumental in tripling revenue during his first two years at the Lexington, Va., school, which competes in the Big South Conference.

Bellairs is the first white AD at SSU, a historically black university that began playing sports in 1915. His hiring comes five months after SSU hired its first white football head coach, 39-year-old Robby Wells.

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Barack Obama - in Portland, OR

Senator Obama spoke before a crowd of 75,000 people in Portland, Oregon on May 18th, 2008. This was the largest crowd of any event in the Democratic Primary.


Yolanda Adams recently performed during a political rally for Senator Barack Obama. during her performance she had a mutlitude of encoraging words for the audience.

Yolanda Adams recently performed in Louisville, Kentucky during a rally for Senator Obama. In this clip she performs her hit song "Open My Heart"

Carter adds seven to SCSU men's basketball team

With the exception of the coaching staff and four returning starters, the 2008-09 South Carolina State men’s basketball team will look altogether different than last year’s edition.

Last year’s 20-loss campaign only served to expedite head coach Tim Carter’s ongoing make over of the team. Taking advantage of the scholarships made available with the departure of four players and the dismissals of David Cobb and Derrick Davis, Carter was able to add seven players during the recently completed signing period:

- Guard Jimmy Williams (6-4), East Laurens High School in Dublin Ga.- The Class 2-A Player of the Year in Georgia, he averaged...

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Jim Brown, TSU team up to motivate potential college students

By TSU Media Services

Academy to feature life-skills program started by Jim Brown

Houston, Texas - NFL Hall of Famer and community activist Jim Brown’s “Amer-I-Can” program will be a major component in Texas Southern University’s conditional summer academic program for students who do not meet the University’s new admission requirements that will be phased in over the next year.

Hundreds of students will attend TSU’s summer program that will run June 6 through July 31. The summer program is a unique opportunity that prepares students for college-level coursework.

Photo: The 72 year old Jim Brown is still a force with his "Amer-I-Can" program.

The free program provides students with centered instruction in mathematics, reading, and writing along with leadership and character development. The “Amer-I-Can” program is a 60 to 90 hour, 15 chapter life management skills curriculum that will be part of the program.

Video: http://www.khou.com/video/index.html?nvid=246709&shu=1

“The beauty of the 'Amer-I-Can' program is that it is applicable to all people, as it transcends race, age, gender, religion, and socio-economic status,” said Brown. “The Amer-I-Can” program will change the lives of these students and will motivate them to make the best of their college experience and become great leaders on campus.”

Since its inception in 1988, more than 500,000 youth and young adults have successfully completed the “Amer-I-Can” program. Students who complete the program experience on average a 60% decrease in disciplinary incidents, a 38% decrease in absences, and a 35% increase in their grade point averages. The program is changing lives nationally in more than 16 states and internationally in the United Kingdom, Belize, and South Africa.

TSU’s recently adopted admissions standards change the University’s previous “open-admissions policy” by raising the bar for students upon acceptances. Prospective students will be required to graduate from high school with a minimum 2.0 GPA. Students who graduate in the top 25% of their class will be automatically admitted. Other students will need to submit an ACT score ranging from 15 to 17 or a combined SAT in the range of 775-825 (on the 1600 scale). Any student who does not meet the University’s minimum requirements will still have the opportunity to enroll at the University after successfully completing the conditional summer academic program.

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Jim Brown, The Greatest Player in NFL History

TSU top defending champ Prairie View for SWAC title

Candy Robinson spent most of a disappointing 2008 baseball season trying to convince Texas Southern it could be a good team.

On Monday the Tigers proved they’ve been listening to their longtime coach.

Texas Southern capped an improbable run through the 2008 SWAC tournament with an improbable victory against Prairie View A&M, claiming the championship with a 12-11 triumph at Lee-Hines Field.

The Tigers (16-32) will be the SWAC’s representative in the NCAA tournament after scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to erase an 11-7 deficit.

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PVAMU ousts SU to reach SWAC final

Prairie View will get the chance to win a third consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball title today after prevailing on a wild and gritty Sunday in which the Panthers took two games by one run from traditional powerhouse Southern on the Jaguars’ own field.

Adrian Canales froze Michael Gavion for a full-count strikeout, with a runner on second base, as the Panthers beat Southern 15-14 in a zany second game at Lee-Hines Field.

And Josh Lara struck out 11 in a complete-game gem, finishing by getting SU’s Frazier Hall, a .400 hitter, to fly out to center field with Gavion on third base, as PV forced the second game 5-4 — after trailing 4-0 in the fourth — earlier Sunday.

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Obama Warns GOP "Lay Off My Wife"

Sen. Barack Obama ripped into a Republican ad today that targets comments made by his wife, Michelle, and called the GOP tactic "low class" and "detestable."

The senator and his wife discuss the race for the White House. The Illinois senator told "Good Morning America" that he expects hardball tactics from the Republicans if he becomes the Democratic presidential nominee.

"But I also think these folks should lay off my wife," he told "GMA" as his wife chuckled beside him.

GMA Exclusive Video: http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=4883537

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Clark withdraws from SSU AD search

Clark withdraws from SSU consideration

Wichita State assistant athletic director Leonard Clark told The Wichita Eagle newspaper he withdrew from the athletic director search at Savannah State last week. Clark was one of three finalists for the position. The others are Bart Bellairs, Virginia Military Institute's assistant AD for operations and marketing, and Keshia Campbell, the NCAA's assistant director of championships.

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2007 Video Classics: Southern University Dancing Dolls

SU Dolls: The Hall Sisters (One night only)
SU Dancing Dolls - "Ain't no other man

SU Dancing Dolls - Sweet Escape

SU Dancing Dolls - D'Tara Feature

SU Dancing Dolls -Give it to me baby

SU Dancing Dolls (Gansta B**ch)

SU Dancing Dolls - Get It Shawty

SU Dancing Dolls - The Cupid Shuffle

SU Dancing Dolls - Suga Mama

SU Dancing Dolls - Neck

Alcorn State Fires Women Basketball Coach

On Thursday, Alcorn State Athletic Director Dr. Darren J. Hamilton announced that longtime coach Shirley A. Walker has been removed of her duties. Walker has been running the Braves program for the last thirty years and posted a record of 492-332.

In 2006, the basketball program received a one-year postseason ban and a three-year probation. The Braves lost one scholarship and had to remove all references to their 2005 NCAA Tournament appearance. The NCAA cited a lack of institutional control that included violations such as the use of ineligible players, giving improper financial-aid benefits and travel expenses, exceeding weekly practice limits, failing to provide a day off from practice each week, and allowing non-certified assistant coaches to recruit off-campus.

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Fighting an Uphill Battle...Why Division I-AA and II Get The Cold Shoulder

Next time someone mentions a Division I-AA or Division II school or player to you, research the player. Research the school. Because odds are that player is better than 90% of your favorite BCS team's roster.

I-AA Winston Salem State University had an NFL 4th Round (#103) draft pick in Defensive End, Willaim Hayes (Tennessee Titans). (Photo by Mark's Digitial Sports Photography).

What happened along the way? Back in the "Good ole' days," we saw small schools being held in, actually, high regard when it came to college football. Grambling was respected, Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State, Jackson State, etc.

Now, when someone mentions that a Division I-AA school did this (FCS? What? Stop with that.), or a Division II did that, the first response is "Who cares?" I'll tell you who cares. Quick, name the alma maters of Steve McNair, Jerry Rice, and Walter Payton.

They were all named above.

Steve McNair, one of only a handful of college football players in history to pass for 10,000 career yards and rush for 3,000 career yards, attended Alcorn State and even made a run at a Heisman trophy.

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PVAMU Captures Emotional Win Over Southern Jaguars

BATON ROUGE, La.- The Prairie View A&M Panthers captured and emotional 5-4 victory over the Southern Jaguars in Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball action in the two team’s second meeting of the tourney.

PVAMU rallied from a 5-3 deficit to claim the win on Southern’s home turf. The win sets up a winner take all match-up where the victor will be awarded with an opportunity to participate in the SWAC’s title game where they will face Texas Southern.

PVAMU All-SWAC First Team Pitcher Wardel Taylor.

The Texas Southern Tigers remain as the only unbeaten team in tournament play as they have amassed a perfect 3-0 mark. TSU eliminated the Jackson State Tigers from title contention with a convincing 9-2 victory.

Prairie View A&M’s game versus Southern is set for 5:00 p.m. at Lee Hines field located on the campus of SU.

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