MEAC/SWAC/OVC Sports: This Week in Review

Kirsten Stallings, a 6-0 junior forward from Memphis, Tenn. Ridgeway HS has transferred from FAMU to Augusta State University, Columbus, GA.








University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Mishayla Truttman of Gresham graduated in three years from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Spanish. In addition to graduating with a 4.0 grade point average, she was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Softball Team and received the MEAC First Team All-Conference award. Mishayla is the daughter of Paul and Marguerite Truttman and a 2006 graduate of Gresham High School. She plans to attend law school.

Hampton University
The Saskatchewan Roughriders, CFL have signed receiver and kick returner Jeremy Gilchrist, the team announced on Wednesday. Gilchrist, at 5'10 and 174 pounds, spent two seasons at Hampton University after transferring there from Virginia Tech. The Riders said they felt it was necessary to add some depth to their roster to take part of the load off their bigger players. Gilchrist had 40 catches for 544 yard and two touchdowns in his senior year, averaging 15.6 yards on punt returns with three touchdowns. The 23-year-old was a first-team all-conference player in 2007 and made the second-team All-MEAC in 2008. Financial details of the contract were not released.

Hampton University's Jeremy Gilchrist will get pro football opportunity with the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders.

South Carolina State University
S.C. State Bulldogs builds on ‘08 success with early top 20 ranking for ‘09: Going undefeated in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play and a strong first-round showing in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in 2008 more than earned South Carolina State long-sought respect nationally.At season’s end, the Bulldogs finished with their highest season-ending rankings in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs since 1997. They were ranked as high as 12th in FCS Coaches Poll and 13th in both the Sports Network and Any Given Saturday.com season-ending poll. Based on the new AGS poll, it appears national observers still hold S.C. State in high regard. The AGS Web site ranked the Bulldogs 17th in its sixth annual preseason poll, the highest showing for any historically black college and university.

Gamezone: S.C. State creates paid area for tailgating: Bulldog football fans are going to need a ticket if they want to get close to Oliver C. Dawson Stadium on game days this fall. South Carolina State University is implementing a policy establishing a “Gamezone” surrounding the stadium where patrons will have to pay for parking and must have a ticket to gain entry. President Dr. George Cooper said the zone will generate revenue for the university during tight financial times. In addition, he believes it will cut down on loitering and get more fans into the stands. Board Chairman Lumus Byrd said more fans need to go inside the stadium, which has the capacity to hold 24,500 people, instead of tailgating. “The program is well funded but poorly supported. We have to start running this like a business,” he said.

A fenced-in perimeter will be placed around the zone. It will extend from the Chestnut Street side of campus to the end of Mitchell and Felton Fields.Five kiosks are going to be outside of the zone where tickets can be purchased. Special parking passes for the zone must be purchased in advance. Cars entering from Russell and Magnolia streets will be charged $5 to park on campus.

Florida A&M University
Derrick Shaw has been named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America team, it was announced Wednesday by Collegiate Baseball. Shaw made the team as one of the best designated hitters in the nation. Derrick Shaw, Florida A&M — A first team MEAC selection, Shaw hit .366 with 9 doubles, 42 RBIs and 9 stolen bases.

Jarquella Woods, a 5-2 sophomore guard from Columbus, Georgia/Hardaway HS has transferred from FAMU to Augusta State University, located in her hometown.








Augusta State University (NCAA Division II-Peach Belt Conference) head women’s basketball coach Tes Sobomehin announced the addition of a pair of Division I transfers to the Lady Jaguar program. Kirsten Stallings, a 6-0 forward from Memphis, Tenn., and Jarquella Woods, a 5-2 point guard from Columbus, Ga., come to ASU from Florida A&M. Stallings will have one year of eligibility remaining while Woods will have two years of eligibility left. Stallings, who spent three seasons at FAMU, played in 28 games and made one start for the Lady Rattlers as a junior in 2008-09. She averaged 8.7 minutes, 1.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game while shooting 36.4 percent from the field. “Woods, who prepped at Hardaway High in Columbus, Ga., played two seasons in the Lady Rattler program. As a sophomore, she appeared in 30 games, making five starts and averaging 2.9 points and 1.3 assists per game. She shot 31.9 percent from the field, including 30.5 percent from 3-point range. student and we are glad to have her join the family.” The Lady Jags return four starters and seven letter winners from the 2008-09 squad, including all-conference performer Jasmine Godwin.

Nunnally among seven to enter the FAMU athletics: Four-time All-American football player Jacquay Nunnally is among the newest class of inductees to the Florida A&M University Sports Hall of Fame. The group of seven will be enshrined as the Hall's 34th induction class during ceremonies on Sept. 4 at the Civic Center. Nunnally, a receiver who played from 1997-2000 and who still reigns as the NCAA Division I FCS career pass receiving leader with 318 regular-season receptions.



















Rattlers last Four-time All-American, Jacquay Nunnally,#85 will be inducted into FAMU Athletics Hall of Fame. Nunnally played for Coach William "Billy" Joe in his legendary "Gulf Coast Offense" that destroyed 1-AA defenses.

Joining Nunnally is two-time All-America left tackle Terry Beauford (1989, 1990), who played several seasons in the National Football League (Green Bay, San Diego) and his FAMU teammate, quarterback Antoine "Tony" Ezell (1988-91), who was the first Rattler quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 yards in a season and who finished his career with 6,620 yards — the third-highest total in school history. Also slated for induction is basketball star Aldwin Ware (1984-88), a Black College All-American in 1988, who led NCAA Division I in steals with 142, helping lead the Rattlers to a 22-8 finish and a berth in the finals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament.

Leon "Tex' Collier (1956-59), a strapping 6-foot-9 two-way tackle for the FAMU Football team, who also played forward for the Rattler Basketball team. Collier played on the 1957 and 1958 basketball conference title winners, three football conference championship teams (1956, 1957, 1958) and the 1957 national championship football team.

FAMU finds its punter in a waiter: Just a few months ago, Branden Holdren was serving meals to customers at a Jacksonville restaurant. In two months, he's expected to be kicking punts on special teams for FAMU's football team. Holdren can thank his former Jacksonville First Coast High School teammate Trevor Platt for making the pitch that gives him the chance he didn't get coming out of high school last year. Holdren is getting the shot at becoming the Rattlers starting punter after Troy Walker, who had an impressive spring, became academically ineligible. Up to then, he had the job locked down following Will Platt's unexpected withdrawal from classes. Holdren, 6-foot-2, 210, is expected to report to preseason camp on Aug. 10 for the opening of two-a-days drills.

Alabama State University
Alabama State's SWAC opener against Mississippi Valley State will be played at Chicago's Soldier Field and its season-ending game with traditional rival Tuskegee University will kick off two hours later than normal to accommodate a national television audience. The Sept. 26 game against MVSU has been moved to Chicago's Soldier Field as the Hornets and Delta Devils participate in the 10th annual Chicago Football Classic. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. ASU's Nov. 26 season-ending contest against Tuskegee will be televised live on ESPNU. The Hornets and Tigers will kick off the Turkey Day Classic at 3 p.m. from historic Cramton Bowl. HORNETS' 2009 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Practice field renovation now under way at ASU: Alabama State University has started work to replace the sod on its football practice field with artificial turf, the first phase of a planned $7 million renovation of the football complex. The $600,000 practice field project should be completed by the end of July. “This is a great improvement over the existing grass field because the synthetic field material will allow the team to practice year round, and is identical to the type of surface our team plays on throughout the Southwestern Athletic Conference,” said Kippy Tate, ASU’s vice president for buildings and grounds. Tate and ASU President William Harris were present Friday morning as a fleet of earth-moving equipment converged on ASU to scoop up all the old sod and dirt in preparation for the installation of the new synthetic field material.

Tennessee State University
John Jones, a linebacker who played the past two seasons at Florida, is transferring to Tennessee State. The 6-foot-2, 219-pound Sarasota, Fla., native played in 11 games last season and recorded 18 tackles, including a career-high seven against The Citadel. He had four tackles against South Carolina. As a freshman, Jones played in nine games, though most of his action came on special teams. Jones said he was seeking the opportunity for more playing time and consulted with his friend Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie about playing at TSU. Rodgers-Cromartie is a former TSU cornerback who also is from Sarasota (Booker High School) and a NFL 1st round draft choice. As a high school senior, Jones was rated eighth nationally among middle linebackers by Scout.com and 26th by Rivals.com. He also started at wide receiver in high school. Along with Florida, Jones was recruited by Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Michigan.

Alcorn State University
Brenda T. Square, chief of staff and executive assistant to Alcorn State President George E. Ross, has been named the school’s interim athletics director. Square replaces Darren Hamilton, who left Alcorn to become athletic director at Livingstone College in North Carolina. Square was hired in 2008 to serve as Ross’ chief of staff and executive assistant.

Jackson State University
Jackson State has earned the Dr. James Frank Commissioner’s Cup Award for all-sports competition in the Southwestern Athletic Conference for the third consecutive year and the women’s Barbara Jacket/Sadie Magee sports award for the fourth consecutive year. On the men’s side, Grambling claimed the C.D. Henry sports award. JSU totaled 160 points by winning conference titles in men’s and women’s golf, women’s tennis and women’s outdoor track. Jackson State had second-place finishes in football, men’s basketball, men’s outdoor track, women’s cross country, women’s soccer and women’s indoor track, and third-place finishes in volleyball, bowling and softball and tied for third in men’s tennis. In the all-sports competition, Grambling finished second (153.5 points) and Alabama State third (136.5 points). In women’s competition, Jackson State’s 96 points led all schools. Grambling (82 points) was second and Southern (78 points) third.