MEAC/SWAC/OVC Sports: This Week in Review

Alcorn State University
Police: Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was murdered

The death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was a homicide, though police said Sunday they have not classified the death of woman who was involved in a romantic relationship with him. Police found McNair, 36, and Sahel Kazemi, 20, fatally shot in a condominium in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Saturday afternoon after receiving a phone call about an injured person. McNair was shot twice in the head and twice in the chest, while Kazemi was shot once in the head, Nashville Metropolitan Police Department Spokesman Don Aaron told reporters Sunday after announcing the autopsies were complete.

Asked whether the shooting was a murder-suicide, Aaron said investigators had ruled out nothing. "I would expect that it would be a number of days before the classification is placed on Miss Kazemi's death," he said. McNair, a married father of four, and Kazemi "apparently were involved in a dating relationship over the past several months," Aaron said...



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Delaware State University
Hornets bowling coach resigns

Kim Terrell-Kearney had been one of the best-kept secrets at Delaware State University the past two years as coach of the women's bowling team. But on Tuesday, Terrell-Kearney stepped down to take a position with the United States Bowling Congress in Arlington, Texas.

"It was a tough decision to leave Delaware State because of the wonderful student-athletes and staff I was privileged to work with the past two years," Terrell-Kearney said. "I'm grateful to the university administration and athletic department for the support which enabled the bowling program to reach new heights. "The student-athletes in the DSU bowling program are among the best in the country, and I'm certain they will continue to bring pride to the university."

Last season, Terrell-Kearney guided the Hornets to a school-record 119 wins against 38 losses and their first appearance in the NCAA Women's Bowling Tournament. Delaware State advanced to the semifinals, two wins shy of the national championship. Terrell-Kearney was named the 2008-'09 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference coach of the year after guiding the Hornets to their first MEAC Tournament championship in March...



Touring professional, Kimberly Terrell-Kearney, ends her second year as Delaware State head bowling coach. The winner of the prestigious 2008 U.S. Women’s Open championship, she coached DSU bowling to its greatest achievements in Hornet history.

Terrell-Kearney Accomplishments:

• Guided the Hornets to a school-record 119 wins against 38 losses and their first appearance in the NCAA Women's Bowling Tournament


• Terrell-Kearney was named the 2008-'09 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference coach of the year after guiding the Hornets to their first MEAC Tournament championship in March '09.


• Terrell-Kearney posted a 193-85 record, including a 48-9 mark in MEAC play, during her two-year stint at DSU.


• Coached four all-conference selections, including 2008-09 MEAC rookie of the year Adriana Jaime, eight academic all-conference honorees, and four NCTA All-Americans.


• First Delaware State coach in any sport to earn a victory in an NCAA postseason contest.


• Delaware State advanced to the NCAA Tournament semifinals, two wins shy of the national championship.


• The Hornets defeated defending NCAA Division I National Women Bowling Champions, University of Maryland Eastern Shore to win the 2009 MEAC Championship.

Florida A&M University
Basketball coach Harris expects Rattlers to play bigger

Florida A&M men's basketball coach Eugene Harris hopes he's found the cure for what ailed his team most last season in his second class of recruits that are mostly big men. The list includes four junior college transfers, three who are expected to give the Rattlers the inside presence they sorely lacked during Harris' second season as coach.

Jeremy Lightfoot, a transfer from Holmes Community College in Goodman, Miss., comes as the most heralded of the big men. The 6-foot-9 post player was a key contributor in the Bulldogs' postseason in the NJCAA regional playoffs. Lightfoot's teammate Diamon Alexander (6-foot-6) is expected to give FAMU the strength it didn't have at wing. The two other junior college transfers are Chris Walker, a 6-foot-6 guard from Selma, Ala., and Rasheem Jenkins (6-foot-1) who played point guard last season at Panola Junior College in Texas. FAMU also signed Travis Wallace (6-6) who played forward at Campbell High School in Cobb County, Ga., Amin Stevens (6-6) of Mount Vernon Presbyterian in Roswell, Ga., and Nikko Acosta (6-8) from Hartford, Conn.




FAMU's Funderburk rediscovers his confidence

Jarvis Funderburk didn't shy away from the question about what has been holding him back during the past three seasons. He mentioned everything from a detected heart murmur to a hamstring and other injuries. Then he got to the issue that might have led to some of the injuries that slowed his progress as a receiver on FAMU's football team. "I was questioning myself. Why me?" he said. "Then, came the blame factor but when I was down and couldn't get any lower, something kicked in."

The spark was a burst of confidence. It showed this past spring when Funderburk, who did a stint with the practice squad, caught more than 75 percent of the balls thrown in his direction. Funderburk said his awakening occurred last season when he found himself on the bench after participating in the coin toss. All he has to show for the limited action he got in six games was minus-4 yards. He began to look for answers, he said, calling on his mentors. They weren't enough, as Funderburk turned to a high power. He began attending church more often and every sermon he heard seemed personal, he said.

Rocker joins former prep teammate Jacobs at FAMU

Former North Marion High running back Eddie Rocker has begun taking summer courses and participating in workouts at Florida A&M University. The all-state back will pay his own way this season, but the FAMU staff has promised to get him on scholarship by next year. “They had given out all of their scholarships,” Rocker explained. “So they asked me to walk on my freshman year, then I would get a scholarship for the next three years.”

It’s a common enough theme for Rocker, who said had offers from Boston College, Tulsa, Temple and Ball State during his senior season. The running back said he was confused as to when he needed to commit, and by the time he decided, the slots had been filled. Rocker rushed for 1,501 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior, even though he battled a hamstring injury throughout the season. “I think (FAMU) is a good fit,” Rocker said. “They like to run the ball a lot, so as a running back, I like that.”

Rocker found a familiar face on the Tallahassee campus in the form of another former North Marion running back, Andre Jacobs, who was a high school senior when Rocker was a freshman. Jacobs had a breakout spring game for the Rattlers and will also be battling for playing time this fall. For now, Rocker is taking three summer courses and making team workouts a priority as he starts working his way up the depth chart. “I know I’ve got to work hard,” Rocker said. “Nothing is going to be given to me.”

Trip to homeland in Nigeria helps FAMU backup QB be content

Two years ago Martin Ukpai took a trip to Nigeria that is helping him put his situation as a FAMU quarterback in perspective. Ukpai redshirted his first year, then spent last season on the scout team. He worked his way from sixth to third on the depth chart, but as he prepares for the upcoming preseason camp, there is an ever-present reminder in starter Curtis Pulley and backup Eddie Battle that Ukpai is still a quarterback in waiting. Reflecting on the Nigeria trip that he took in 2007 to his parents' homeland, Ukpai said seeing people endure lives without some basic necessities makes him appreciate where he is on the football team. In a sense, he views it like him going from being a high school starting quarterback to one who has to wait his turn.

Savannah State University
Conference officials visit SSU

Savannah State University on Tuesday continued its pursuit of joining the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference by playing host to an official site visit by members of the historically black NCAA Division I conference. MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas and other conference representatives met with members of SSU's administration and athletic department, and toured the Tigers' athletic facilities. SSU paid the MEAC a $10,000 non-refundable application fee in 2005. The Tigers have competed as an NCAA Division I Independent without conference affiliation since leaving the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2002.

"We need to be a member of a conference and the MEAC seems to be an ideal match for us," SSU President Earl Yarbrough said before attending a luncheon inside Tiger Arena. "We've been doing everything we can to try and make sure we're attractive to the MEAC and, hopefully, they're attracted to us." The MEAC does not have a Georgia school among its 12 members.

Sports with Walter Moore: What Does SSU Offer the MEAC?

Officials from the Mid- Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) visited the campus of Savannah State University (SSU) earlier this week. MEAC officials are thinking about conference expansion while SSU officials are looking for a place to call home. Let’s take a look at what SSU has to offer.

Founded in 1890, SSU is the oldest public historically black college in Georgia and sits on 173 acres of land. Amidst the mossy oaks, one can pick from over 20 undergraduate majors and four graduate programs. Enrollment hit its highest peak during fall 2008 at 3,456. Forty-one percent of those enrolled were from the Savannah metro area while 19 percent hailed from the Atlanta metro area. Fiftyeight percent of the enrollment is made up of females and five percent are nonblacks.

Academically, Savannah State student-athletes are doing well in the classroom. During the 2007- 08 academic year, 31 athletes made the Honor Roll, 14 were on the Dean’s List and two made the President’s List. During the 2008-09 school term, 42 made the Honor Roll, 19 were on the Dean’s List and one made the President’s List. Athletically, SSU offers 15 sports and just ended a three-year NCAA probation for rule violations. SSU has been Division I since 2002 and excuses are beginning to run out on why the program has a hard time competing in the league.

North Carolina A&T State University
Aggies invited to preseason WNIT

Fresh off its first conference championship in 15 years, the N.C. A&T women's basketball team has been invited to play in the Preseason NIT this November. An invite to a tournament of this magnitude is truly an honor,'' said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs, who is heading into her fifth season. "Out of roughly 300 Division I schools, we are one of 16 teams invited. It shows the women's college basketball world is paying attention to this program and what it has accomplished over the past few seasons. This will be an outstanding experience for my ladies."

Ten of the 16 teams in the field played in the NCAA tournament last season, including Arkansas-Little Rock, Bowling Green, Florida Gulf Coast, Georgia Tech, New Mexico, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Winthrop and Marist. Also in the field are Chicago State, Eastern Illinois, Northern Colorado, Towson and UTEP. Each team is guaranteed three games. The Aggies, who broke a one-year-old school record for wins last season by going 26-7 (15-1 MEAC) will open the tournament at Marist on Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. The winner will move on to play the winner of the Towson at West Virginia matchup.

South Carolina State University
SCSU hoops adds coach, loses player

One big addition. One major subtraction. That is the word coming out of the South Carolina State men’s basketball program. The good news. Thursday, Bulldogs head coach Tim Carter confirmed that he replaced former assistant Kyle Perry with Dwight Evans. The bad news. Jimmy Williams, an All-MEAC freshman team member this season, has decided to transfer to a junior college. “(Williams) called me and told me that he really felt like he could go to a higher-level program,” Carter said. “So, he’s going to transfer to a JUCO, play for a year, and then hopefully transfer to a bigger school.” Williams (6-4, 195), started 17 of the 24 games he played in for S.C. State, averaging 7.8 points per game. He led the team in assists with 69 and was third on the team in steals with 23.

“He was one of the top five freshman in the league this past year so that’s going to be a (heck) of a loss for us,” Carter said. “It happens a lot. That is one of the reasons why you want your players with you in summer school. You can keep them around you, especially a guy as good as he is. “We signed Devon McBride and Shaq Barber (two incoming guards), but I would have never thought we were losing Jimmy. It hurts. He is a tremendous player.”

Jamison becomes second H-K-T receiver to commit to S.C. State

The proclamation of Schawn Jamison as the best wide receiver at the Garden City Shootout last Friday came on a play where he didn’t even catch the pass thrown his way. Jamison (6-1, 150), a star receiver for Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, had just let a pass from quarterback Montaurus Gleaton skip off his fingertips during the waning moments of his team’s 7-on-7 game against the Woodland Wolverines when a Woodland coach looked back toward his sideline and made the announcement. “That’s the best receiver in this camp,” the coach said. “Did you see the routes he’s been running?”

Apparently, the South Carolina State Bulldogs have seen those routes. Wednesday, Jamison, who had 39 receptions for 809 yards and 10 touchdowns, became the second rising senior receiver for H-K-T to commit to play for the Bulldogs, joining teammate D’twane Fulmer (6-3, 195) who announced his plans to join the Bulldogs in May. “State has a lot of history behind it,” Jamison said during a break in the action at Wednesday’s passing league at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. “I thought that it would be an honor to attend South Carolina State.”

Jamison said he and Fulmer discussed the decision to attend SCSU, which happens to be the alma mater of their head coach, former Bulldogs’ star Jermaine Derricott. “We discussed that and we thought it would be great for both of us to stay together and stay true to Derricott’s system,” he said.

SCSU doing what good teams do

No doubt, this summer has been different on the campus of South Carolina State University. Due to the economic downturn, there was less money to go around and that meant less players on campus for summer school and fewer player-organized summer workouts. With Grambling State and Bethune-Cookman scheduled to open the season -- two road games in six days -- you can bet the turn of events has made for a few sleepless nights for Buddy Pough.

“It could be disastrous for us to not be able to condition our kids and to let them do some of the throwing exercises and drills that they can do among themselves that we’ve done the previous 3-4 summers here,” Pough said in an article in The T&D on June 11. “I’m kind of shaking in my shoes a little bit because the people that we play early will all be further along than us if the situation goes on right now as it looks like it probably will.”

But in tough times, strong teams pull together, and Bulldogs’ standout linebacker Marshall McFadden says that’s what the defending MEAC champions are doing. McFadden estimates around 25 Bulldogs are on campus and working out. Yes, that’s fewer than in past years. “It is a concern to a certain extent, but we have trust in our guys that if they are not going to be here, they are at home working out,” McFadden said after wrapping up a workout Monday afternoon. “Me and Markee (Hamlin) send out texts to make sure everybody is working out and things like that. Hopefully, everybody is on the same page. When they get here we will find out.”

Jackson State University
Shasta Averyhardt wins first professional title

SUNCOAST SERIES: Former JSU golfer Shasta Averyhardt of Flint, Mich., earned her first professional title in the SunCoast Ladies Series tournament that wrapped up Thursday at Stoneybrook West Golf Club in Winter Garden. Averyhardt finished at 222 (72-73-77). Jackie Barenborg of Vero Beach shot a final-round 1-under-par 71 to place second while posting a 223 (75-77-71). Anna Green of Fort Pierce tied for fourth at 226 (70-80-76) and amateur Elizabeth Alger of Tequesta was sixth at 231 (82-77-72).

Tennessee State University
Defensive back Wylie leaving Miami for Tennessee State...

Joseph Wylie spent just one season at the University of Miami. The school announced July 1, 2009 that Wylie has been released from his scholarship. "Freshman safety Joe Wylie has been granted his release by the University of Miami to transfer to Tennessee State University," the school said in a news report. "Wylie played in three games during his freshman season in 2008 (Charleston Southern, Georgia Tech and Duke)." Wylie was a three-star safety prospect coming out of Boyd Anderson High and signed with Miami after considering offers from schools like Ole Miss, Colorado, Auburn and South Carolina.

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