MEAC/SWAC/OVC Sports: This Week in Review

North Carolina Central University Eagles
Eagles still knocking on MEAC's door

Stop me if you've heard this one before: N.C. Central is this close to becoming a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Yep, any day now; yes sir, Bud, just you wait -- and wait and wait. The conference last Friday hosted its annual kickoff football luncheon in Newport News, Va., and once again the Eagles were on the outside looking in. When asked for the umpteenth time about NCCU's status, Commissioner Dennis Thomas said -- for the umpteenth time -- "Both schools [Savannah State is the other] are still under review. We are in the process of reviewing and a decision is very soon. We're on the tail end."

That tail must be on the end of a donkey. NCCU is doing everything on its end: the athletics department has combined all the booster clubs into one, a suggestion the NCAA strongly recommends to keep better track of funds; increased scholarships and coaching staffs; an enlarged sports information department to further expand coverage of all its programs, and now the installation of artificial turf at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium to curtail costs.

Commissioner, Dr. Dennis E. Thomas, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

And let's not forget NCCU's most important asset: its countrywide fan base. With the economy squeezing wallets and advertisers scaling back on sponsorships, the MEAC needs all the leverage it can get. Somebody needs to remind them of that since NCCU can't. Instead of saying something like "What the heck is taking so dang long? Do we have to turn into Keith Sweat and beg all night long?"

NC Central looks to make progress in Division I

Maturing Eagles face ambitious schedule...N.C. Central is in position to put together its best Division I season ever. The Eagles return 18 starters from a team that went 4-7 last year. Improving that record in 2009 will be difficult with a schedule that includes Championship Subdivision powerhouse Appalachian State and Bowl Subdivision rival Duke. NCCU finished strong in ‘08, winning three of its final four games. Half of the returning starters are juniors, with six on defense, but head coach Mose Rison is looking to boost depth through competition with the addition of several redshirt freshmen and a highly-regarded recruiting class.

The Eagles’ offense, a weak link over the past two seasons, could be an asset with more experienced personnel throughout the lineup. NCCU has 33 letter winners on offense, with 16 who were in the starting lineup at some point a year ago. “Unlike in years past, we do have returning starters and people who have played on offense,” Rison said. “They will be comfortable. They will not be shell-shocked playing in their first game.” Four starters return to the offenisve line, anchored by senior tackle Gabriel Manns (6-6, 305), a three-year starter. “We are going to line up with some experience, size and athleticism up front,” Rison said.

Helmet auction bodes well for Central

Maybe the helmet is a good sign. One of the highlights of the Triangle Pigskin Preview is the auctioning off of the four universities' helmets. Last Thursday for the first time in a long while, if ever, N.C. Central's helmet wasn't the lowest bid. It came in third at $500 behind Duke ($1,000) and UNC ($600). Those cheap N.C. State folks were last at $350. The Eagles are nowhere near the caliber of major Division I programs yet, but maybe, just maybe, the helmet signals that better times are ahead.

Coach Mose Rison sounded cautiously optimistic as his team tries to rebound from a 4-7 season. "We have tremendous speed on both sides of the ball," he said. "And, unlike two years ago, we return a veteran of core players." NCCU won all of its games either at home or on a neutral site. But it must be emphasized that one of those wins was against hated rival N.C. A&T. That lone made the season a success.

Stephens Inks Three Year Deal

Cheyney University Men’s Basketball Coach Dominique Stephens (NCCU '92) signed a three year contract extension. Last season, as interim head coach, Stephens guided the Wolves to the PSAC post season tournament compiling an 18-9 mark along the way. He also led the Wolves to a victory over Division I Delaware State. It was the first time in more than 20 years that Cheyney knocked off a D I opponent.

On the signing of his contact Cheyney athletic director China Jude stated, “Coach Stephens has demonstrated his commitment not only to the athletic department’s success but to the University. He is a strong teacher, administrator and role model for our student athletes. We are very proud of his contribution and are happy that he has committed to remain at Cheyney.” The previous five seasons, Stephens served as an assistant coach under Cleo Hill Jr. Stephens is a native of Philadelphia and younger brother of Cheyney University women’s head coach and former Temple All-American women’s basketball player Marilyn Stephens.

Stephens has been part of many championships and great team from Philadelphia and Durham, NC. From past to present, Stephens was a member of the Dobbins High School Football team and 1984 basketball team that consisted of Doug Overton, Bo Kimble, and the late Hank Gathers. That famous hoop squad went onto win the Philadelphia Public League Championship. After high school, Stephens enrolled at North Carolina Central University. As a sophomore, NCCU posted a 26-3 mark. The following year the NCCU won the NCAA Division II title with a 28-4 season. The championship season, Stephens was named to the NCAA Tournament Team. His senior year, the Eagles went 28-5. Stephens was inducted into the North Carolina Central University Hall of Fame in 1995.

After college Stephens signed to play professionally in the Philippians Basketball League. In 2000, he was a member of the Lancaster Storm of the Eastern Basketball League. While always dreaming to play in the NBA, Stephens continued his schooling earning his Bachelors of Science in Mathematics from NCCU in 1992. Stephens went on to earn a Masters of Science in Human Services from Springfield College in 2002. He is the father of Cheyney standout Dominique Curry.

Brickey named assistant coach at NC Central

North Carolina Central University head men's basketball coach LeVelle Moton has announced the hiring of former Duke University standout Robert Brickey as assistant coach with the Eagles. Brickey comes to NCCU after serving a one-year stint with the women's basketball program at Duke University as the assistant director of basketball operations. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Shaw University for three years (2005-2008).

Before his arrival at Shaw, Brickey was an assistant coach at James Madison (2004-05), Southern Methodist (2002-04), and the United States Military Academy (2000-02). He also served as the community outreach coordinator with the Blue Devils from 1999-2000, before going into the coaching business.

"Robert brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our staff," Moton said. "Because of his previous stops at the Division I level at places like James Madison, West Point, and SMU, his recruiting territories expand outside of North Carolina. At the same time, he is a hometown guy, with strong ties to the Triangle and Fayetteville areas. Everything he does and everything he stands for is parallel to what I was looking for in an assistant coach."

A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Brickey played four years at Duke from 1986-90. He served as team captain in 1990 and received first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament honors in 1988. He was a member of three Final Four teams and started in the national championship game in 1990. During his Blue Devil career, Brickey amassed 1,299 points, 649 rebounds, 146 assists, 115 steals and 90 blocked shots in 134 games played. Known for his athleticism, Brickey had a brief stint with the Global Basketball Association's Fayetteville Flyers in the early 1990s. He received his bachelor of arts degree in political science from Duke University.

Moton, named head coach at his alma mater on March 25, has now completed his full-time coaching staff with the addition of Brickey. Ray Martin, a former men's basketball student-athlete at Notre Dame with more than 30 years in the coaching profession, returns for his third season on the NCCU bench as assistant coach.

NCCU leases buses for school use

North Carolina Central University announced Friday that it signed a 5-year lease for two 56-passenger motor coaches. The brand new 2009 buses will be used to transport students, faculty and staff to cultural and athletic events. The buses are named Eagle One and Eagle Two. They are equipped with satellite TV and radio, Wi-Fi, video monitors and a DVD player. "The division of student affairs takes very seriously the stewardship of the student fees and other monies," says Vickie McNeill, special assistant to the vice chancellor.

Texas Southern University Tigers
TSU football program taking steps in right direction

Johnnie Cole wants to see more improvement from his young TSU team this season... Texas Southern’s 2008 season can be summed up in one word — inconsistency. TSU went on a three-game winning streak after dropping its first two but lost six out of its last seven to finish 4-8 overall and 1-6 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, fifth in the Western Division. The start of preseason camp is less than a week away, and more consistent play is a priority for second-year coach Johnnie Cole.

“During the season, teams make jumps from game to game,” Cole said. “We’re expecting better things this year in order to make a jump from season one to season two.” In Cole’s first year back at his alma mater, the Tigers did produce the program’s best finish in six seasons, but that’s not good enough for Cole. Part of TSU’s problem in 2008 can be attributed to youth. The Tigers played 30 freshmen, including both starting cornerbacks. Moreover, their starting safeties were only sophomores.

Delaware State University Hornets
2009-10 DSU Men's Basketball Schedule Announced

Twenty-one teams from nine different conferences highlight the 2009-10 Delaware State Men's Basketball slate as announced by Head Coach Greg Jackson. The 2009-10 schedule will feature four teams that earned berths in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Included in this year's schedule will be three former NCAA Division I Champions (Arkansas, Ohio State and UCLA) as well as the first meeting between Delaware State and Delaware since 2000.

"This year's schedule is a challenging one," said Jackson. "That will give us a chance to gauge where our team is at heading into MEAC play. We have gone to a lot of tough places during my 10 years here at Delaware State and this year's trips to UCLA, Arkansas, Ohio State and Arizona State continue that trend. Our home schedule, once again, will be exciting as teams like Maine, Lehigh and Delaware along with a number of tough MEAC foes come to Memorial Hall."

DSU opens the season with a five-game home stand, featuring Holy Family (Nov. 14), Wilmington University (Nov. 16), Maine (Nov. 18), Mary Washington (Nov. 24) and Delaware (Dec. 1). A pair of Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) teams in Holy Family and Wilmington visiting Memorial Hall. The season-opening meeting between the Hornets and Tigers will be the first-ever. Wilmington University will visit Dover two days later as the Hornets look to improve their all-time record versus the Wildcats to 4-0. Last season, DSU downed Wilmington, 71-59, to tip off the 2008-09 campaign. America East's Maine Black Bears come to town on Nov. 18 before Mary Washington (Capital Athletic Conference) takes on the Hornets on Nov. 24. DSU closes out its five-game home stand with the Delaware Blue Hens on Dec. 1. This will mark the first meeting between the two teams since Nov. 20, 2000 - Coach Jackson's first-ever contest at Delaware State.

Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University Panthers
Westminster star signs with Prairie View A&M

Westminster Christian Academy graduate James Fontenot has received an athletic scholarship to Prairie View A&M. The son of Tellin and C. James Fontenot, he has played baseball, basketball and football for the school, but it was his skill at baseball that attracted the attention of more than one university. Southern University and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff have expressed interest in the former Westminster shortstop, but Prairie View appealed to him more than the other two schools.

"I wanted to be someplace I felt comfortable," he said. After meeting with Prairie View's baseball coach, he decided the Texas university was that place. A good student, as well as a good athlete, Fontenot attended LSU E and took online courses from South Louisiana Community College, said his mother, Tellin Fontenot, a native of Ville Platte. His mother and father, C. James Fontenot, were with him Thursday at Westminster as he signed the papers that made his future association with Prairie View official. He plans to major in management.

Former UL wide receiver Jawanza Mitchell has transferred to Prairie View A&M...

Former University of Louisiana - Lafayette, wide receiver Jawanza Mitchell has transferred to Prairie View A&M, a FCS school in Prairie View, Texas. The Mesquite, Texas native redshirted as a true freshman in 2007 and did not make any catches in 2008 …

Data find more injuries for girls there than in any other sport

Although Title 9 has increased the participation of girls and women in high school and college sports, little has been done to address the most serious source of catastrophic injuries for young female athletes — cheerleading.

Data from the Consumer Products Safety Commission show that the number of catastrophic injuries — those involving death or disability caused by head or spine trauma — have grown from fewer than 5,000 in 1980 to 26,000 to 28,000 per year in the past few years, said Dr. Amy Miller Bohn, a family medicine specialist at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor. According to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, cheerleading accidents account for 65 percent to 66 percent of all female catastrophic sports injuries in high school and college.

The problem, Bohn said, is that cheerleading has become a competitive sport, with girls being tossed high into the air, jumping off pyramids and trying other risky stunts, often without adequate supervision. Prairie View A&M University cheerleader Bethany Norwood, 24, was left paralyzed in January 2004 after a fall during cheerleading practice. She died two years later. Injuries such as Norwood's are repeated every day around the country, Bohn said on Monday.

On the heels of a 9-1 season, the Panthers find themselves wanting more: a SWAC championship

Prairie View may be coming off its best season in years, but make no mistake about it, the Panthers finished short of their goal of winning a conference championship. Last season, Prairie View finished 9-1, its best record since it went 9-0 in 1964, claiming both the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Black College national championships. Prairie View's last SWAC title came that year. The Panthers have played 35 seasons of football since.

If they do make a championship push, Anthony Beck's play will have a lot to do with it. “We had a lot of individual accomplishments and broke a lot of records last season, but we didn't win a championship, so that stuff doesn't mean that much,” Beck said. Somehow, Prairie View will try to replace the leadership and experience of fifth-year senior quarterback Mark Spivey. Junior Jay Bluford and Western Kentucky transfer Kenneth “KJ” Black will battle it out in training camp to determine who takes the starting role. Camp begins Aug. 10, and coach Henry Frazier III expects to name a starter by the third week of camp. Defensively, Prairie View lost Zach East, its best linebacker. “You start looking at those holes losing East and Spivey — those were our leaders,” Frazier said.

Winston Salem State University Rams
WSSU recruit Wells academically eligible

Victories haven't been plentiful for Coach Bobby Collins in his first three basketball seasons at Winston-Salem State, but that could change with the latest news about this year's recruiting class. Collins signed three players in April, including point guard Marcus Wells of Southern Durham High School. Wells, however, had yet to qualify for freshman eligibility through the NCAA clearinghouse. That changed this week, and Collins got word Thursday that Wells (6-2, 160) is eligible for the 2009-10 season.

"We're definitely excited, and now we feel this class is complete," Collins said. "It's the first great step in the right direction with us having a team that can compete at the Division I level." ESPN.com, in its ranking of senior guards at North Carolina high schools last season, called Wells "a true point guard who possesses terrific vision with passing skills you just can't teach."

ESPN.com ranked Wells as the No. 3 senior point guard in the state after last season, behind John Wall (who signed with Kentucky) and Akeem Richmond (who signed with Rhode Island). Wells' status as a non-qualifier might have caused several schools to back off, but WSSU stayed with him. According to Collins, James Madison, George Mason, Cincinnati, N.C. State and Southern California also recruited Wells. Wells started for four years at Southern Durham and averaged 15 points and six rebounds over his final two seasons. He averaged 18 points, six rebounds, four steals and five assists as a senior, and the Durham Herald-Sun named him its player of the year.

Grant interviews for AD position at WSSU

Tim Grant, a former basketball player, assistant coach and administrator at Winston-Salem State, has been interviewed for the vacant athletics director's job at WSSU. According to several sources, Grant was on campus earlier this week for a lengthy interview with the 15-person search committee. Grant, now the director of Winston-Salem's Recreation & Parks Department, did not respond to phone messages left by the Journal.

Grant, 50, is the second candidate known to be interviewed by the search committee, according to sources. Michael Bailey, the AD and football coach at Virginia Union, was interviewed in mid-July. Several sources said that another candidate who has experience as a Division I athletics director also has been interviewed, but none of those sources knew the candidate's name.Dennis Felder, an assistant compliance coordinator in athletics and the head of the Human Performance & Sports Science major at WSSU, is the chairman of the search committee. He would not comment on any facet of the search.

Winston-Salem State Adds New Members To Hall Of Fame

The Winston-Salem State University Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame will welcome seven former WSSU student-athletes and athletic supporters in the induction class of 2009. The WSSU C.E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame enshrines a 2009 class of distinguished individuals in four different categories as football, wrestling and track and field will see members inducted into the Hall of Fame and two members of the 2009 induction class will be enshrined for their untiring service to the WSSU Department of Athletics.

Three former Ram football players will be enshrined as Derrick Beasley, Hubert "Muddy Waters" Hargett and Harrison Junior Stokes will earn the highest WSSU athletic honor in 2009. Willie Mouzon will be enshrined after a record-setting wrestling career with the Rams a history that saw him earn a pair of CIAA titles and receive back-to-back All-America honors. Vanessa Kaye Smith Johnson will be the sole Lady Ram to be inducted after a stellar track and field and women's basketball career.

DeValdean Penn and Michael McCoy will be inducted for their 30-plus total years of meritorious service to the WSSU Department of Athletics. The seven inductees will be honored with enshrinement into the Winston-Salem State C.E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame in a formal ceremony to be held on September 4, 2009 at the Anderson Center McNeill Banquet Hall. The inductees will also be honored at halftime when the Rams take on the North Carolina A&T Aggies on Saturday September 5, 2009.

Jackson State University Tigers
84 of 89 Tigers report on time

Eighty-four of Jackson State's expected 89 players reported for duty Tuesday to kick off the 2009 football preseason. The five absences were no reason to panic as coaches had excused the players and knew they wouldn't be arriving on time. Freshmen Qutavious Parks (athlete), Antowan Westry (offensive lineman) and Tobias Williams (linebacker) were among those expected to miss check-in. Transfer Akeem Williams (cornerback) and sophomore Marcellos Wilder (receiver) rounded out the quintet.

Not even listed on today's roster was linebacker LeBrandon Glover. The senior took the lion's share of the starting snaps, during the spring session, at the inside position vacated by 2008 SWAC defensive player of the year Marcellus Speaks. But Glover had knee surgery (meniscus) over the summer and is expected to miss at least four games. Freshman linebacker Todd Wilcher was another expected no-show after tearing an ACL this summer. He is out for the season.

Comegy seeking toughness

Tigers begin practice today with few spots to fill...Optimism hung thicker than imagined smoke in the hallways of Stewart Hall on Tuesday. Two false fire alarms and the subsequent evacuations couldn't even dampen spirits. Eighty-four Jackson State football players reported to preseason camp in the morning of what is routinely one of the most positive days of the year. There are no losses to cause stress. Two-a-day practices have yet to begin. Dreams of championships are still alive.

JSU Head Football Coach Rick Comegy

And no one has been benched yet. Newcomers and veterans alike know there's opportunity to impress coaches and fight for jobs. Truthfully, reality will be a disappointment for the majority of those 84. Several starting offensive positions were up for grabs in 2008 as every skill position was left open by departing seniors. That's not the case this season as experienced returners are the favorites to hold onto positions throughout the lineup. But there are holes to be plugged.

Season Opener
Jackson State at Mississippi State
Sept. 5, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU
Scott Field, Starkville, Mississippi

Takin' it back to the house: Ex-Dog now home at JSU

It was his crowning moment, the kind small boys dream about in front of the TV during SEC games every Saturday. When the moment happens, and 50,000-plus people in the stands cheer your name, it almost seems surreal. Sometimes, though, those moments can be fleeting and those who pat you on the back one second ask you to disappear the next. Anthony Johnson knows. Two years ago, the Jackson native returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown, helping Mississippi State beat Alabama 17-12. The victory sparked MSU's first winning season in seven years and the play was, arguably, the biggest of the Sylvester Croom era.

"It felt like a dream come true," Johnson said. "A moment of a lifetime." The moment also feels like a lifetime ago. Less than six months after scoring that TD, Johnson had withdrawn from school after an on-campus gun charge. He subsequently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an arrest. He was ineligible for the 2008 season and was released from the team in the spring of 2009. It wasn't until a week ago that the Provide High graduate signed to play with Jackson State.

Mile run brings thrills, chills

The first official Jackson State football practice featured plenty of enthusiasm and one extremely scary moment during the session that lasted just over two hours - and that was without a single football brought onto the field. The coaching staff put players through a conditioning session that included a timed mile run before heading to the weight room for 225-pound bench presses. "I wanted to see what they had, who worked out this summer," coach Rick Comegy said. "I see some excitement. That feeling of accomplishment ... we had to have that at the start before we do anything."

Strength coach Derek Scott signaled the beginning at 4 p.m. by shouting, "It's time to go to work!" Linemen, who were broken into two groups, had to finish the mile run in under 9 1/2 minutes. Defensive end Javarius Conner led all linemen with a time of 7:11, but it was offensive lineman Terrael Williams who was the talk of the day. At 6 feet 8, 350 pounds, Williams' size has been tantalizing to fans and coaches alike. His conditioning and mental approach have been in question. Williams had everyone roaring when he was the fourth among the second group, finishing in 9:07. He pointed to the sky and flexed both arms immediately afterward. Less than 20 minutes later, he would put up 225 pounds 22 times in the weight room.

South Carolina State University Bulldogs
Bulldogs Kick Off Preseason Camp

Unlike the past couple of years, S.C. State head football coach Buddy Pough did not have to answer questions about how close his team came to winning the conference title. Instead, Pough was talking about how his team will handle the role of defending MEAC champion. Pough guided the Bulldogs to their first playoff appearance in 26 years, but said his team needs to win a playoff game in order to stake its claim as one of the country's top programs.

The good news for the Bulldogs is that it will have All-America running back Will Ford. Ford rushed for nearly 1,500 yards in 2008 will be joined by in the backfield by returning starter Malcolm Long who set school records for passing yards and completions. Also back is running back Travil Jamison who led the Bulldogs with 16 touchdowns. Throw is receiver Tre Young who led the way with 48 receptions in 2008 and you have an offense that should not have trouble scoring.

Defensively, the Bulldogs should be fine with all-MEAC safety Markee Hamlin and second-team all-conference linebacker Marshall McFadden leading the way. S.C. State will open the season September 6 in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge against Grambling.

Excitement, expectations high for SC State football

The South Carolina State Bulldogs kicked off preseason football practice Friday afternoon in Orangeburg. The Bulldogs have the added pressure of being the defending champs of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Buddy Pough is starting his eighth season as head coach of the Bulldogs. Last year was his best. SC State finished 10-and-3 overall and 8-and-0 in the MEAC as the Bulldogs won their first outright conference championship since 1994.

After having such a stellar season, the Bulldogs are eager to return to work. "It's been a long off-season," said Pough. "Anytime you've had some success, I think it makes it that much more excited just to go again, so our kids are excited and the staff's ready to go." "It's going to be kind of exciting until the ball snaps and we get back in the groove of things, you know, back to football," said defensive back Marshall McFadden.

Video: Excitement, expectations high for SC State football, Rick Henry reports

University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions
GOLDEN LIONS DEFENSE RETURNS DEPTH IN SECONDARY

Returning three of four players who started games for what turned out to be — statistically speaking — the best defensive backfield in the Southwestern Athletic Conference last season would most likely garner high expectations. And that’s just the way Arkansas-Pine Bluff defensive coordinator Alonzo Hampton likes it. When thinking back to last season, Hampton, who will still coach defensive backs after being given defensive coordinator duties this summer, can quickly list off all of UAPB’s impressive statistics.

Without any quick glances he knows the Golden Lions allowed 160 passing yards per game (best in the conference), he knows they intercepted 15 passes and he also knows they gave up 12 passing touchdowns in 12 games. But he also knows every other team in the conference is curious to see if the Golden Lions can do it again. “People are going to throw the ball. They want to throw it,” Hampton said. “We’ve got to go out and prove ourselves, (prove) that it wasn’t a fluke.” Hampton is hoping the return of Kevin Thornton, Robert Mingo, Joseph Brown and James Harrell will prevent that from happening.

Thornton’s six interceptions last season are the most of any player returning to the SWAC this season. And Brown’s 13 passes defended are also the most of any returning player. Harrell, a true freshman last season, started the final three games of the season and intercepted two passes, one that was returned for a touchdown against Lincoln (Mo.) University.

Alcorn State University Braves
Braves report for Fall Camp

The countdown for the 2009 Football season has officially begun at Alcorn State University. First-year head coach, Earnest Collins, Jr., and his staff welcomed the returning players as well as newcomers to campus yesterday. “There seems to be a different temperament of the senior class. Players are also holding their teammates more accountable. We tested some things out today in practice to see what we needed to do,” says Collins.

Collins also feels that the incoming freshman class is one of the best in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Yesterday, the players were issued equipment, given physicals and had a series of meetings with the football staff. The Braves will face Southern Mississippi in their first game of the season on September 5, 2009 at 6 pm in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Alabama State University Hornets
Nixon's the one to run ASU defense

First-year Alabama State defensive coordinator Jo Nixon isn't into pacing himself.Tuesday morning, as the ASU players reported for their first practice for the fall, Nixon was seemingly in midseason form already. He was ready to move forward implementing his defensive schemes and appeared ready to start the season.

"Our motto this year is 'Restore the Tradition,'" Nixon said. "That's what we're going to do. I can't wait. You know, coming from NAIA, I had some success against SWAC programs, but there was always an excuse. They always said, 'We weren't really looking for you guys.' Now the playing field's level, and I just can't wait to hear the excuses. I'm so ready to do this." And that was before the first practice even started.

Photo Galleries: ASU 1st practice

Alabama State opens the season at home on Sept. 5 against Concordia College. Kickoff for the season opener is slated for 7 p.m. at Cramton Bowl.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Rattlers
Big day comes for Dallas Cowboys' Hayes as his teammates kept the faith...

Mel Renfro never doubted he'd return to Canton one day to see his Cowboys teammate Bob Hayes join him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Keeping the faith in Hayes was easy for Renfro after the consternation over his own candidacy for the Hall of Fame. "I got passed over a long time myself," Renfro said. "I'd get real angry. My statistics were better than a lot of guys in the Hall. But Bob Lilly told me one time, 'Mel, you're going in. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.'

"That's the way I felt about Bob Hayes. It was never a matter of if – it was always a matter of when. He revolutionized the game. He deserved to be in the Hall of Fame." Renfro waited 19 years for his own stamp of approval from the Hall of Fame selection committee. Three times he was a finalist and three times he was rejected before a fourth and triumphant trip to the finals in 1996. Hayes was enshrined Saturday – 35 years after playing his final NFL game. He spent 25 years as a modern-era candidate but never was a finalist.

That's a long time to be overlooked. His candidacy was resurrected by the Hall of Fame's seniors committee in 2004. That put Hayes in the finals for the first time but, in a cruel twist, he received a thumb's down from the selectors in a yes-no vote. Four of the finalists were enshrined that year and two were rejected – the two Cowboys, Hayes and Rayfield Wright.

Hayes became the ninth player on the Cowboys inducted into the Hall of Fame and the fourth in the last four years. He joined Staubach, Troy Aikman, Tony Dorsett, Michael Irvin, Rayfield Wright, Bob Lilly, Randy White and Mel Renfro. He is also the first FAMU Rattler inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the second Olympic gold medalist holder, joing Jim Thorpe. But the bust of Hayes honors the only athlete to win both an Olympic gold medal (2)and a Super Bowl ring.

Granbury sculptor carves Hall of Fame busts of Hayes, other stars ...

GRANBURY, Texas – He was 8 years old then, in the stands at the Cotton Bowl, so infatuated with the Dallas Cowboys that he'd memorized the jersey number of every player on the roster. But even on a team filled with superstars – Lee Roy Jordan, Don Meredith, Chuck Howley and Don Perkins – Scott Myers had his favorites: Bob Lilly on defense, and on offense, Bob Hayes, the man who changed the way the game was played.

Today, Hayes finally takes his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Myers will be there as the bronze bust of the late player is revealed, proud to have created his long-ago hero's image with his own hands. Trained as a veterinarian, a profession he still pursues three days a week, Myers is also a largely self-taught artist and sculptor, with seven Hall of Fame busts to his credit. But the bust of Hayes honors the only athlete to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring – Myers' homage to the man he watched so many years before.

"It will be a little bit bittersweet," he said. "Bob's family is so happy this day has come, but they wished Bob could have been here for it. He's in several halls, but this is the one he always wanted." Hayes, a man so fast that no defensive player could cover him one on one, died of kidney failure in 2002. He was 59.

Health care is focus of FAMU TE

The politicians in Washington, D.C., might not care what FAMU tight end Brandon Hepburn thinks of their action on hot-button health-care issues, but he is watching their every move. With reason. Hepburn has dreams of one day building his own biochemistry company. One of his goals is to make prescription drugs affordable to everyone.In other words, he said, he wants to be a part of the change that he believes health-care reform could bring.

"The Lord put it in my heart to write goals from what the trend is from most pharmaceutical and biochemical companies today," said Hepburn, a devout Christian. "They're trying to turn people into dollar bills, kind of like the matrix." It's not like he doesn't have his own issues. Hepburn is looking to move up on the depth chart on FAMU's football team — although, as a redshirt freshman, he has some maturing to do. Max Purcell and converted quarterback Tobias Lee are the front-runners to replace Taj Jenkines, who held down the starting job the last two seasons.

FAMU volleyball team has full roster »

FAMU's volleyball team could end up having plenty of competitions for playing time at some positions this season. To anyone who has been following the program for the past two years, that might seem a little out of the norm. But for the first time since the 2007 season FAMU coach Tony Trifonov will have more than eight players on his roster. The team will be bolstered by three recruits and at least three experienced walk-ons. Samara Ferraz, one of the Rattlers' who transferred from Barry University last season and became a leading performer on the team, also is hoping to return.

Ferraz' fate rests with the NCAA, which has to decide whether it would reinstate a year of eligibility based on her petition for a medical hardship, Trifonov said. In all, Trifonov hopes to have a 12-player roster for the first time since the 2004 season. That year the Rattlers broke into the NCAA national rankings. Two of the three recruits – Pamela Barrera and Maria Cicccarelli – are former members of Peru's junior national team. The other recruit, Jessica Barnes, is just as experienced. She played two seasons at Southwestern Oregon Community College.

FAMU won't have Graham »

Lincoln High School standout receiver D'Vonte Graham didn't take North Carolina A&T's scholarship offer on National Signing Day, but when the 2009 season starts he will be wearing the Aggies' blue and gold. Graham changed his mind on signing day about taking a scholarship offer from A&T, deciding instead to walk-on at FAMU. He has since changed his mind again. FAMU coach Joe Taylor said it was a family decision for Graham to follow through on his commitment to the Aggies.

Graham's mother Gladys Pleas had said on signing day that she was glad that her son made his own decision to attend FAMU. Taylor seemingly wasn't bothered by the decision. Graham would have joined an already loaded receiving corps at FAMU. "I've learned a long time ago you've got to have a strong team," he said, "not a strong segment." Graham's move to North Carolina gives the Aggies five Tallahasseeans on its roster. They include Purdue transfer Kevin Green, a sophomore defensive back who starred in high school at Rickards.

FAMU LB has eyes on more

Last season was supposed to be a time for FAMU redshirt freshman linebacker Alvis Graham to learn his role in the new defensive scheme that Coach Joe Taylor introduced during his first season as head coach. But consider this: Graham overcame an early season ankle injury and wound up as the second-leading tackler for the Rattlers. During the spring, Graham raised a few eyebrows. As the Rattles begin to count down to starting practice on Aug. 17, Graham knows that the bar has been taken up a notch to the point that he's expected to be an impact player.

"Now that I know the defense, I can put the speed behind it," he said. "I want to be the best that I can be to help my team out as much I can. I'm trying to work hard to be the kind of player who could do whatever I need to do on the field." Graham was a fast study last season. He credits senior Vernon Wilder for being his mentor and helping him grasp the system. But as fast as Graham was learning, linebackers coach Earl Holmes gave just enough for the freshman to handle.

On the Recruiting Trails

Roberts getting interests from South Carolina...WR Dominique Roberts (6-0 203) of Daytona Beach, FL is getting interest from USC and he likes the Gamecocks and Wake Forest the most right now. Neither has offered. Roberts had planned to visit USC in late July but that visit was postponed. "They said they want to see me," Roberts said. "I met coach Spurrier Jr. last year."

Roberts has offers from Connecticut, Florida International, Western Kentucky, Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman. He's also getting interest from Florida and Rutgers. Roberts plays quarterback but is being recruited as a receiver. He was 4A all state last season after rushing for 1227 yards and 17 touchdowns and passing for 1145 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils
Cox signing with Mississippi Valley State

Cor-J Cox will officially become a member of the Delta Devils today. Thanks to some help from NBA player and fellow Washington native, Damien Wilkins, Cox will be signing a basketball scholarship with Mississippi Valley State University today. Cox also sparked interest from Tennessee Chattanooga, Auburn and Chipola (Fla.), but the former Pam Pack star said signing with Mississippi Valley State was an easy choice.

“I feel great about it,” Cox said. “ I feel comfortable with the coaching staff and the area.” Cox, who averaged 12.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game as a senior at Washington, played last year at Olney Central College. The 6-5, 215-pounder averaged around 4 points and 3 rebounds per game at Olney. Cox is ready to contribute right away at Mississippi Valley, a Division I program that plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Delta Devils went 7-25 overall and 7-11 in SWAC play last year.

Tennessee State University Tigers
Receiver's eligibility leaves Tennessee State in the air

Rebuilding Tennessee State's offense might be tougher than expected because the eligibility of JaJuan Spillman, the Tigers' leading returning receiver, is in limbo.Spillman, a transfer from Louisville, was held out of spring practice so he could concentrate on academics. Coach James Webster said on Tuesday he is not sure whether Spillman, who is taking summer classes, will be allowed to report when the Tigers begin practice Monday.

"We'll have to wait and see what happens because he is in school right now,'' Webster said. "JaJuan has been a model player and person for us, and I have nothing but respect for him. We're going to work with JaJuan to help him be successful in life … whatever we need to do whether he's here for our first practice or not we're going to work with him to get that done." Spillman, who could not be reached for comment, would be one of the few returning starters for a unit that ranked third in the Ohio Valley Conference in total offense last year. TSU has three other offensive starters back — tight end Enoch Hill, left guard Jarvis Canty and right guard Alex Davis.

TSU Women's Hoops Coach Inks Contract Extension

Tennessee State University women’s basketball coach Tracee Wells has signed a contract extension. The deal adds five years from her previous contract and runs through the 2014-15 season. Wells, the 2008 OVC Coach of the Year, led the Lady Tigers to an 18-13 mark in 2008-09, marking the program's first winning season since the 1994-95 campaign.

The Lady Tigers also notched a 13-5 conference mark, the best OVC record since the 1993-94 season. This record led to TSU securing a third place finish in the league and hosting round one of the OVC tournament for the first time in school history.

The 2008-09 campaign was a season of history making accomplishments as TSU advanced to the OVC semifinals game for the first time since the 1998-99 season. The Lady Tigers were ranked in the top 10 nationally for most of the season in turnover margin and finished the campaign leading the OVC in steals.

Additionally, TSU had three players to receive All-OVC honors. Seniors Kendra Appling and Tiffany Jackson were named to the All-OVC first and second teams, respectively while sophomore Jasmine Smith made the All-Newcomer team.

“We are pleased to have come to an agreement with Coach Wells on extending her employment contract,” commented athletic director Teresa Phillips. “Coach Wells is one of the young, bright and ambitious coaches in women’s basketball, and we think she will continue to build a successful program here at TSU. “

TSU Football Camp Opened This Week

The 2009 football season will begin as Tennessee State football players report to campus on Saturday, August 8, and will begin one-a-day practices on Monday evening August 10. Two-a-day drills will begin on Saturday, August 15. The Tigers are scheduled to participate in one-a-day practices during the first week, culminating in Fan/Media Photo day on Friday, August 14. The first full scrimmage is set for Saturday morning, August 15.

Head coach James Webster, begins his fifth campaign at the helm of the Tigers' program, and looks to prepare his players to improve on last year's 8-4 record, the best in seven years. Webster says he and his staff face the task of re-tooling an offense that lost seven starters. TSU, however, will welcome back nine defensive starters from the top defensive unit in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2008.

Preseason practice will end on Sunday August 30 after which, the Tigers will prepare for their season opener against Alabama A&M in the John Merritt Classic on September 5.

* Fans /Media are welcome to attend Photo Day at Hale Stadium with cameras - Contact TSU Athletic Media Relations Personnel for assistance arranging shots of players/coaches.

Bethune Cookman University Wildcats
Pushing for more than athletes

There is a simple question Jerrell Cogmon (former Plant High and Bethune Cookman University Linebacker) poses to his players. "Do you want to be a $100,000 man or $6-an-hour man?" In other words, would you rather settle for a low-paying job or attend a university and transition into a lucrative career? That isn't a question used to test the players' football acumen, although it could bleed into the world of football smarts.

When Cogmon, who was hired in April to take over the Zephyrhills (Florida) Bulldogs' high school football program after Tom Fisher retired after 20 seasons, poses that question, he wants his group to think beyond the playing field. He's not looking to fill his roster with players that are just "jocks." "It's all about application," Cogmon said. "Applying yourself in all the things you need to do to get yourself to that point where you can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel and let it translate itself into going in any direction. I think the kids are doing a good job as far as buying into that. I know they are."

It appears the message has taken hold. Zephyrhills has several players on its roster with grade-point averages that are 3.0 or higher. Those players include: Stephen Cottrell (4.0), Adrian Sanchez (3.5), John Dodd (3.4), Josh Geiger (3.4), Nick Trujilo (3.3), Chris Reaves (3.1) and Ben Williams (3.0). Geiger, Williams and Anthony Viernes also have posted ACT and SAT scores that qualify them to play college athletics. So why the heavy hand when it comes to academics?

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Aggies
Freshmen could make immediate impact at NC A&T

Football practice officially began Tuesday morning at N.C. A&T and new head coach Alonzo Lee spoke about the senior leadership he's seen so far. But Lee also said his new recruits could make an immediate difference in the Aggies' efforts to stem the tide of six losing seasons in the last seven years. So far, leading the way among the freshmen are wide receiver Larry Raper from Shelby and two defensive linemen from Greensboro.

"We found out Mr. Raper can definitely fly," Lee said after the freshmen went through running tests starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday. "He can run. He's doing some great things. Matter of fact, he's worked his way into that starting huddle when we go to four wideouts." The running tests are no picnic. To pass, a player must run 110 yards in 16 seconds. If that sounds easy, there's a catch: The player has to run the 110 sprint 16 times. "You've got to be humpin' to make that happen," Lee said. "You can gut out about five or six of them, but come eight, nine, 10 and beyond, everything has to kick in right there. That's when being in shape comes into play."

Lee said more than 80 percent of the players passed the running tests, including most of the freshmen. "Chris Neal and those guys from right here at Dudley, oh, they look great with the running tests," Lee said. "We're looking for some real good things from those guys." Neal, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound defensive end, has a chance to get on the field right away. So, too, does Darius Hall, a 6-2, 260-pound freshman from Dudley who is working at both defensive tackle and defensive end.

NC A&T Adds Three Recruits to Football Team

The North Carolina A&T football program added three signees as the 2009 season approaches quickly. Head coach Alonzo Lee announced the signing of two defensive players and one offensive lineman. Cornerback Kevin Green (6-foot, 185 pounds, Tallahassee, Fla.) offensive tackle Terrance Humes (6-5, 320, Compton, Calif.) and linebacker Eteyen Edet (6-2, 240, Fort Washington, Md.) all signed with other schools before coming to N.C. A&T.

Green comes to North Carolina A&T after spending one season with the Purdue Boilermakers of the Big 10. He played in nine games for the Boilermakers in 2008. Purdue signed Green out of Rickards High School, where he put together a stellar career. Rivals.com ranked him 64th nationally among cornerbacks. As a senior, he recorded 49 tackles, recovered three fumbles, returned two fumbles for touchdowns and has an interception. Green's play earned him All-State, All-Big Bend and All-District honors.

Humes is a junior college transfer out of San Bernardino Valley Junior College. He was a two-year starter for SBVJC. As a high school standout at San Bernardino High School, Humes was a two-time All-San Andreas League member. Humes was named Cardinal Lineman of the Year during his junior and senior seasons in high school.

Edet was highly-recruited coming out of Friendly High School. Scouts.com rated him the No. 41 linebacker in the country. Edet turned down Louisville, Ohio, Pitt, Michigan State and UNC to sign with the University of Maryland. After his decision to play at Maryland did not work out, he spent one season at North Carolina Tech Prep School, where he had a successful season.

Renewed sense of optimism for A&T football

The day was already warm a few minutes before 9 a.m. Tuesday, the scheduled start of N.C. A&T's first football practice. And the players were already on the dew-covered field.Offense in gold jerseys. Defense in blue. Quarterbacks, kickers and punter in red. Everyone in blue "Aggie Pride" shorts and shiny new Riddell helmets that gleamed in the bright sun. It was hot. But it will only get hotter as the Aggies work toward their opener Sept. 5 at Winston-Salem State.

The heat is on this program, which is on its fifth head coach in eight years. Take away 2003 -- when A&T went 10-3 and won the MEAC title -- and the Aggies are 13-55 in that span, including a 27-game losing streak that mercifully ended last year during a 3-9 season. And this year? A&T was picked eighth among the MEAC's nine football-playing schools in a preseason poll.

Against that backdrop and under the hot sun, the Aggies officially started work Tuesday under new coach Alonzo Lee. If they lose again this season, it won't be for a lack of effort. "We're just thankful we were able to have most of our young men around working out this summer," Lee said. "It makes a difference. Look around. Those guys right now look good. We're looking like a football team. We're in shape."
They ought to be.

Southern University & Agricultural and Mechanical College Jaguars
SU’s Wells learning valuable lessons

Way back in his toddler years, before he could walk steadily or speak a complete sentence, Anthony Wells learned a valuable lesson: Sometimes it’s harder to get out of trouble than to keep away from it. He was about 3, strolling around his mother’s college apartment in Tennessee, when he decided to shove one of her keys into a light socket. The results? Not pretty.

“I don’t really remember much of it, but it shut off the electricity. The whole building went dark,” Wells recalls. “My mom told me that all I did was say ouch. I didn’t cry or anything.” Fast-forward to Sept. 30, 2008. That day, Wells woke up in a hospital, fresh from knee surgery, with a tube of morphine running into his leg. This time, he was truly in pain. This time, he cried. Southern’s starting free safety was a starter no more. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee was a mess. In fact, Wells’ knee throbbed so heavily, he figured his football career was over.

Keys: Jaguars explain why they play football

Thirty more days. Thirty days still stand between the Southern Jaguars and their Sept. 5 season opener, just down the road at Louisiana-Lafayette. Between now and then, it’s all about practice, heat, fatigue and misery. Between now and then, at some point, almost every player will wonder if it’s worth the trouble. With that in mind, this week was a good time to ask two simple questions: What got you into football in the first place? And why do you still love it?

The answers varied. But they were always interesting. Defensive coordinator Terrence Graves: “I played soccer, baseball and basketball. I swam. I did it all. ... But eventually I had to make a decision, and football was my first love. My father was a baseball man; he wanted me to play baseball. “But there’s just something about football. It’s the excitement, the camaraderie, the team chemistry. It’s the strategy, the competition. It’s all that. ... And it’s not just the sport; it’s the building of the total man. That’s part of what keeps you going.” span>

Chinyoung happy man despite heat

It was shaping up to be a hot one, all right. Wednesday afternoon at Southern, for the first practice of training camp, the air was vintage south Louisiana — warm, humid and not very forgiving. By the middle of practice, even some of the Jaguars’ veterans started to drag a little, their bodies showing rust from the offseason. It was the start of the 17th fall camp at Southern under coach Pete Richardson, who noted Wednesday was just the beginning of a long journey — a season premiere in helmets, jerseys and shorts.

Still, Ramon Chinyoung could not have been happier. The senior center looked like a man who’d gotten an extra cookie from his grandmother. “I feel great, man,” he said. “I feel ready.” Although the Jaguars are much deeper on the offensive line than they’ve been for the past few seasons, Chinyoung is SU’s only proven commodity at center as camp begins. He also knows what it’s like to miss football. He was academically ineligible in 2007, then returned to the lineup in 2008, when the Jaguars went 6-5 and finished third in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division. Naturally, Chinyoung hoped to close his career with a bang this fall.

SU football going digital in film room

When Southern University’s coaches move into the new field house at A.W. Mumford Stadium next month, they will not only move into the modern era of football offices, weight rooms and meeting rooms. They will go digital, too. For years, SU coaches have relied on old-fashioned, time-tested tools to review game film: VCRs, VHS cassettes and cathode-ray tube-style televisions. In some cases, they used projectors.

Heck, some staffers — including head coach Pete Richardson and defensive coordinator Terrence Graves — lived in an era when 16-millimeter film was the most modern development. That era is gone, much to the delight of interns and graduate assistants who usually had to cut and splice. “I did all that. Oh, yeah,” Graves said. “When I was a freshman in college, we went from black-and-white to color. But I actually learned how to splice film as a player.

Savannah State University Tigers
SSU in good 'Hans' with Batichon

Coach reflects upon journey from Haiti to becoming three-time national champion. As a football player at Appalachian State, Hans Batichon learned how to win. Now, can he teach it? The 23-year-old native of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is the wide receivers coach at Savannah State, his first collegiate coaching job. He replaced second-year assistant Eddie Johnson, who was promoted to offensive coordinator in March.

Appalachian State finished with a 6-5 record during Batichon's freshman season in 2004. During his final three years, he helped the Mountaineers become the only program to win three consecutive national championships in the Football Championship Subdivision. "Isn't that cool?" said Robby Wells, SSU's second-year head coach. "These kids are going to gain a lot of experience and a lot of knowledge from this guy because this guy's been there and done it. Not just once. Not just twice. But three times he's done it. Actually scored a touchdown against Michigan in 'The Big House."

SSU's Baker hires two assistants

Savannah State University women's basketball head coach Cedric Baker has hired Sonya Wilson and Billy L. Hamilton II as assistant coaches, SSU announced. Wilson comes to SSU from Orangeburg-Wilkerson High School in Orangeburg, S.C. A 1994 cum laude graduate of South Carolina State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, the Orangeburg native was a standout player for the Bulldogs. She was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament's Most Outstanding Player in 1992-93 and received a second-team All-America citation in 1993-94. After her collegiate playing career, Wilson spent two seasons playing in Switzerland and Italy.

Hamilton was an assistant at Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College last year and spent the 2007-08 season as an assistant at Albany State University. A 2008 graduate of Albany State with a bachelor's degree in recreation health and physical education, Hamilton was a member of the Rams' football team for two years as a tight end.

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