Alabama A&M's Frank Kearse taken by Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins' Frank "Big Spoon" Kearse

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M defensive tackle Frank Kearse was selected by the Miami Dolphins Saturday in the NFL Draft. Kearse, taken in the seventh round, was the 231st player taken in the draft.

A 6-foot-4, 315-pounder, Kearse was a second-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection after managing 57 tackles, including 30 solos and 14 tackles for loss last season. Kearse is the first A&M player taken in the draft since Johnny Baldwin was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2007.

Savannah High grad Frank "Big Spoon" Kearse drafted by Miami Dolphins

Savannah High graduate Frank "Big Spoon" Kearse was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft on Saturday night. Kearse, a 6-foot-5, 310-pound defensive tackle, attended Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Ala.

Kearse said he was watching NFL Network at his Savannah home when he received a phone call from the Dolphins about 10 seconds before his name appeared on the television screen.

Alabama A&M's Frank Kearse taken by Miami Dolphins

Excerpt:
A captain throughout the 2009 and 2010 season, Kearse was a second-team All-SWAC. He finished with 33 tackles, a career high 12 tackles for loss for 41 yards (11th in SWAC), 3.5 sacks for 41 yards, 3 quarterback hurries, a fumble and a forced fumble. Kearse was one of the four players to block a kick attempt. In 2008, he had 30 total tackles (nine solo), 3.5 tackles for loss (14 yards), 1.0 sacks (10 yards), two interceptions (six yards), and one pass break-up.

He was the only Southwestern Athletic Conference football player taken during the 2011 NFL draft.

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2011 NFL Draft: Colts Show Interest In AAMU DT Frank Kearse, BSU WR Derrick McPhearson

Two Bulldogs, Frank Kearse (AAMU)
and Derrick McPhearson (Bowie State)
are on NFL Colts draft board.

Colts Director of Pro Personnel Tom Telesco said yesterday at the team's pre-draft news conference that defensive line was one of the strongest areas, in terms of talent, in the 2011 NFL Draft. So, it should come as no surprise that Indianapolis has more than a passing interest in Alabama A&M defensive tackle Frank Kearse.

According to our buddies at National Football Post, the 6'4, 315 pound tackle is 'on the radar' for the Colts.

Just FYI: Alabama A&M produced Colts all-world defensive end Robert Mathis.  Indianapolis also conducted a private workout for Bowie State wide receiver Derrick McPhearson. McPhearson returned punts and kicks in college. He also played defensive back and even a little QB.

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Ex-Alabama A&M soccer player Patricia Ofori killed in car accident

Patricia Ofori
(Photo Courtesy AAMU)

Huntsville, Alabama - An ex-Black Queens player, Patricia Ofori has died following a car accident on April 20, 2011 in Huntsville. Media reports suggest that Ofori, born on June 9, 1981, was on the way to graduate school class when the accident occurred.

Ofori was a former player of Alabama’s A&M women soccer team and played for the Ghana Black Queens at two World cups in 2003 and 2007.

She played for the Bulldogs from 2005-2007 and led the team to the 2007 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament, Alabama news website al.com said.

“This is the biggest shock of my life…its unbelievable”, A&M women’s soccer coach Frank Davies was cited by the publication as saying.

Former Black Queens player killed in car crash

Former Black Queens player Patricia Ofori was killed in a car accident Wednesday in Huntsville in the United States. The 29-year-old, who played in two World Cups, lost control of her Ford Mustang while driving. Her car slid into the northbound lane, where it was hit by a pickup truck and caught fire.


She started her career in Ghana with Mawuena Ladies before she was called to the national team in 2003.

Ofori, played for the Bulldogs from 2005-2007 and led the team to the 2007 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.



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A&M University closer to hiring new men's basketball coach

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M is getting closer to hiring a new men's basketball coach, a member of the search committee told The Times Tuesday.

Nearly 60 applicants, including former South Carolina State and Tennessee State coach Cy Alexander, former Florida A&M coach coach Eugene Harris, who is also a former assistant at Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and South Alabama, and Stillman coach Michael Grant, who led the Tigers to a near upset of the University of Alabama-Huntsville last month in the NCAA Division II South Regional final, have applied for the job, but sources say only half of them meet the criteria. Alexander, Harris and Grant have emerged as serious contenders for the job, according to the source.

The committee is trying to trim the number of quality candidates down to 8-10 in hopes ...

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Catching Up On the Coaching Carousel

As far as we know, the coaching carousel is nearly complete. Did you even notice?

The usually far-reaching dominoes haven't fallen as much with plenty of positions being filled by out-of-work coaches, mid-major coaches and assistant coaches. There hasn't been a whole lot of poaching from one major school to the next, or at least not as much as usual. One high-profile move to the NBA, though, and that could all change.

With that said, here is a quick breakdown of what has occurred so far, with 30 positions having been filled and 13 still to go as of Friday morning:

Alcorn State
Alabama A&M
Florida A&M
Southern


Videographer: familymattersfirst; Reach Sports Director Luther Riley (Alcorn State University new head basketball coach) Returns from Taiwan.

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Texas Southern Clinches Share of SWAC Title in OT Win

Normal, AL - Harrison Smith scored 19 points as Texas Southern survived blowing a 14-point lead to edge Alabama A&M, 83-78, in overtime at Elmore Building in Normal Saturday.

With the victory, the Tigers (16-10, 14-1) clinched at least a share of the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season title. Even if TSU loses its last three games and Jackson State (11-4 SWAC) wins its last three, they would be tied. TSU swept the season series between the two and would earn the top seed in the SWAC tournament.

Tigers win eighth straight, clinch regular-season SWAC title

NORMAL, Ala. — Harrison Smith scored 19 points and Travele Jones added 18 to lead Texas Southern to an 83-78 overtime victory over Alabama A&M on Saturday night.

The Tigers (16-10, 14-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) shot 45.5 percent from the field (5 of 11), including 2 of 2 from 3-point range in the extra period en route to their eighth straight victory.

Kevin Galloway knocked down 1 of 2 free throws with 26 seconds left in regulation, tying the score at 70 and forcing overtime. Galloway finished with 10 assists.

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Videographer: bestartdoc; www.tsumurals.org
There are 123 murals by African American artists at Texas Southern University (TSU). Save the Murals initiative is underway to benefit art conservation/restoration efforts to provide for collection care needs. See more at www.tsumurals.org.

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Link: Walk Together Children: The Poetry of Harvey Johnson with Tribute to John Biggers

Alabama A&M Bulldogs open 2011 with tough slate

HUNTSVILLE, AL. - Alabama A&M will play a former rival at home for the first time in over a decade along with a up-and-coming program in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in addition to its rugged Southwestern Athletic Conference slate of games as athletics director Betty Austin released the school's football schedule Thursday.

The Bulldogs' non-conference schedule features a trip to Hampton University and a home game against long-time Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival Tuskegee in addition to nine SWAC games.

"I think it's a very good schedule," Austin said. "We're returning a game at Hampton and our fans wanted Tuskegee for the Louis Crews Classic. What concerns me is...

Alabama A&M Bulldogs 2011 Football Schedule

Sept. 3 at Hampton
*Sept. 10 at Southern
Sept. 17 Tuskegee (Louis Crews Classic), 6 p.m.
*Sept. 24 at Grambling
*Oct. 1 Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 6 p.m.
*Oct. 8 Mississippi Valley State (Homecoming), 1 p.m.
*Oct. 15 Texas Southern, 1 p.m.
*Oct. 29 Alabama State, Birmingham, 2:30 p.m.
*Nov. 5 at Alcorn State
*Nov. 12 Jackson State, 1 p.m.
*Nov. 19 at Prairie View

*Indicates Southwestern Athletic Conference game

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Jomarcus Savage has happy homecoming with Grambling victory over A&M

HUNTSVILLE, AL. -- When Jomarcus Savage decided to transfer from Auburn, he briefly considered Alabama A&M. "My parents were in my ear," he admitted. Naturally so, since his father Joe Savage played for A&M and since Jomarcus played at Johnson High. Alas, Alabama A&M was "too close to home," Jomarcus said.

Grambling State was apparently the right fit. On Saturday afternoon, as A&M held homecoming, so did Savage. For the first time since he was a 9-year-old linebacker in Pop Warner football, he was back at Louis Crews Stadium, this time for Grambling's 25-22 win over A&M.

Football team and the excitement around it proves to be heartbeat of Alabama A&M

HUNTSVILLE, AL. -- The prettiest girl. The most spectacular day. The greatest food. Every day should be homecoming. They just need to turn out differently than this one.

In a luxury box above Louis Crews Stadium, Alabama A&M president Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr. was following the frantic final seconds. "If we can just get close enough to kick a field goal," he was saying as the Bulldogs gained a late first down, then stopped the clock.

Peering over rows of his guests in theater seats, Hugine watched Deaunte Mason throw his 31st pass of the game. If ... If ...

Batiste's return sparks GSU comeback

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Alabama A&M, with a chance to prove it is one of the elite teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference on Saturday, failed to deliver. The Bulldogs, who have struggled against Grambling since joining the conference, had the Tigers on the ropes, but could not land the punch to knock them out.

Frank Warren ran roughshod through A&M's vaunted defense, and the Tigers also got an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that proved to be the difference as Grambling hung on for a 25-22 victory before an announced crowd of 12,328 on homecoming at Louis Crews Stadium.

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Offense comes alive as A&M dominates Southern

HUNTSVILLE, AL - In lopsided losses to Tennessee State and Texas Southern, Alabama A&M's offense looked virtually inept. The Bulldogs were limited to 276 yards in a 27-14 loss to Tennessee State and were held to 197 yards in a 32-9 loss at Texas Southern a week ago. Thank goodness for Southern.

A&M's offense came to life against the Jaguars, finishing with 455 total yards as the Bulldogs whipped Southern 34-14 Saturday night in an important Southwestern Athletic Conference game in front of an announced crowd of 6,218 at Louis Crews Stadium.

After strong start, Jaguars falter

NORMAL, Ala. — On the glorious first play from scrimmage, the Gary Hollimon experiment worked. Virtually everything else did not.

On a rain-soaked field at Louis Crews Stadium on Saturday night, the Southern football team started strong for the first time this season, getting a 62-yard touchdown run from Hollimon, their tailback-turned-quarterback, in the Jaguars’ Southwestern Athletic Conference opener against Alabama A&M.

From that moment, the Bulldogs blitzed, ran, passed and thoroughly beat Southern 34-14 in a game that had to make fans wonder if they’re in for a long first season under new coach Stump Mitchell.

Alabama A&M grades

Offense: A: The Bulldogs, who looked a lot some of Alabama A&M's units in recent years, finished with a season-high 455 yards in total offense, 234 rushing and 221 passing.

Defense: A-minus: Defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns wasn't pleased with Southern quarterback Gary Hollimon's 62-yard touchdown run to start the game, but the Bulldogs dominated the Jaguars the rest of the way.

Inaugural Louis Crews Classic to Honor All-Time Coach

A heightened sense of excitement is in the air for Alabama A&M’s home opener Saturday against Central State (Ohio) in the inaugural Louis Crews Classic. The game honors one of the Bulldogs’ legendary coaches, whose 93-53-3 record in 16 seasons makes him No. 1 in school history in victories and second in winning percentage (.624) behind only current A&M coach Anthony Jones (.642). A week of activities surrounds the game, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of Alabama A&M football.

“This is a way to honor a great man and set the tone for the season,’’ Alabama A&M Director of Athletics Betty Austin said.

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Tennessee State wins in Coach Rod Reed's debut

The Rod Reed coaching era started with a bang for Tennessee State and never let up. After redshirt freshman Ray Weatherspoon exploded untouched on the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown the Tigers roared to 27-14 route over Alabama A&M in the John Merritt Classic at LP Field before a crowd of 22,607.

It made for a jubilant debut for Reed, the former defensive coordinator who took over the head coaching job after James Webster resigned after TSU posted a 4-7 record last season. Reed was doused with a bucket of Gatorade by his players in the final seconds of the game.

After redshirt freshman Ray Weatherspoon exploded untouched on the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown the Tigers roared to 27-14 route over Alabama A&M in the John Merritt Classic at LP Field before a crowd of 22,607. It made for a jubilant debut for Reed, the former defensive coordinator who...




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The record shows Jones has been great for A&M Bulldogs

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Alabama A&M's football program was at a crossroads nine years ago. The athletics director at the time, the late Jim Martin, convinced that A&M had outgrown NCAA Division II and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, led the Bulldogs to NCAA Division I-AA in football and Division I-A in all other sports and into the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

He hired Ron Cooper, a local product who virtually grew up on campus, played at Jacksonville State and later coached at Notre Dame and Louisville, to put A&M's football program on the map. Cooper did a good job, but could have done better had it not been for all of his off-the-field projects. When he left after going 22-23 from 1998-2001 and leading A&M to a berth in the 2000 SWAC championship game, Martin needed someone that could improve what Cooper had built.

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Thomas is happy to be at A&M

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Demetrius Thomas could have gone to a number of different schools after he elected to leave Marshall. Southern Mississippi, South Alabama, Alabama State and Texas Southern pursued him. In the end, Thomas chose A&M and he couldn't be happier.

"A&M went to the SWAC championship game last year and I wanted to be a part of a winning program," said Thomas, a fleet-footed wide receiver from Theodore. It didn't hurt that the Bulldogs were in desperate need of some impact players after losing Thomas Harris, the school's all-time leading receiver.

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Alabama A&M's Goldsby finds home at tight end‎

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Bobby Goldsby looked near and far three years ago for a place to play college football. An undersized tight end, he was a decent high school player in Leominster, Mass., but didn't draw a lot of attention.

Goldsby knew about Grambling and Alabama A&M and sent his highlight tape to each school. Fortunately, A&M coach Anthony Jones called and offered him an opportunity to walk on.

"I watched him on film and I thought he had some ability, but he wasn't ready to play college football...

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A&M offense, defense in high gear in mock scrimmage

HUNTSVILLE, AL - While it has yet to play a game this season, Alabama A&M's offense looks like it will be pretty potent despite losing all-time leading rusher Ulysses Banks and all-time leading receiver Thomas Harris.

In a mock scrimmage against Tennessee State's defense, quarterback Deaunte Mason threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns and led the first-team unit to four scores in six possessions and the first defense came up with three sacks and forced four turnovers Saturday night at Louis Crews Stadium.

"Offensively, we made some mistakes, but...

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A&M offensive line will be good again‎

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - The goal hasn't changed for Alabama A&M's offensive line. Ever since offensive line coach Cedric Pearl came to town nine years ago, the Bulldogs have vowed not only to be the best unit in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, but the best unit in the South.

"We've got to perform at a high level because the offense can't function if we're not efficient," Pearl said. "We always want to shoot high. That's a standard we set and we try to work to reach that goal."

With so many key losses on offense...

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A&M's experienced secondary ready for big year

A&M's experienced secondary ready for big year

HUNTSVILLE, AL. - Experienced. Talented. Versatile. It sounds like an advertisement for a big name company. Instead, the words describe Alabama A&M's secondary. The Bulldogs, under long-time defensive coordinator and secondary coach Brawnski Towns, believe they can be one of the best units in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. They certainly have the experience to be.

Starting cornerbacks Korey Morrison and Chris Faush are fifth-year seniors. So are strong safety Ray Segura and will linebacker Marcus Thomas. Throw in junior free safety Rico Porch, who had 44 tackles and three interceptions last season, junior cornerback Clarence Morris and sophomore will linebacker Vernon Marshall, who had 49 tackles last season as a true freshman, and A&M has all of the ingredients to be solid in the secondary.

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Kearse still believes in A&M's defense

Defensive tackle Frank Kearse doesn't appear to be too concerned that Alabama A&M's first defense has struggled mightily against the first offense in two preseason scrimmages. Last Wednesday, quarterback Deaunte Mason got the best of Kearse and company. On Saturday, running backs Tony Green and Kaderius Lacey carved up the Bulldogs' defense.

"They caught us in some bad situations and made some big plays," Kearse said. Despite that, Kearse says the Bulldogs have more than enough time to get ready for the season opener against Tennessee State on Sept. 4. "I want us to play with more intensity and know our assignments," he said. "Getting in the playbook will help us out a lot."

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A&M still favored after losing offensive stars‎

Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones is flattered that his team is considered the front-runner in the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division. It's a pretty nice sign of respect since the Bulldogs must replace players like tailback Ulysses Banks, wide receiver Thomas Harris and defensive end Jeremy Maddox. "We lost a lot of weapons from last year, a lot of weapons," Jones said. "For people to think we'll be back in the hunt, that's pretty amazing.

You lose the No. 1 running back in school history, the No. 1 receiver in school history, the No. 1 placekicker (Jeremy Licea) in school history — all those weapons are gone. That's most of our points and yards gone. "People still think we have a chance. That's pretty special."

Of course, there are plenty of experienced players returning, including 14 starters. The Bulldogs won the East in 2009 but the season ended with a 30-24 loss to Prairie View A&M in the SWAC championship game. The same two teams were picked to win their divisions again. Alabama A&M has quarterback Deaunte Mason back with some seasoning, but the defense has the most experience and leadership coming back. That group is led by preseason All-SWAC picks linebacker Afu Okosun (79 tackles) and defensive lineman Frank Kearse (12 tackles for loss). Cornerback Korey Morrison returns after intercepting five passes. The Bulldogs do lose Maddox, who had 12 sacks.

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AAMU's Mason looks sharp in scrimmage

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Alabama A&M quarterback Deaunte Mason would love to have running back Ulysses Banks and wide receiver Thomas Harris back, but he says the Bulldogs' offense will be just fine this season. It sure looked that way early on during Wednesday's 80-plus play scrimmage as Mason led the first offense to a pair of touchdowns against the first defense.

After the early success with Mason, the Bulldogs' defense settled down and didn't allow any points over the last nine possessions. "It was a good day, but we've still got room to improve," said Mason, one of the big reasons A&M was picked to defend its Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division title. "I think we showed at times we can still have a good offense this season."

Mason engineered a 12-play, 70-yard drive and capped it with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Quintin Carlock, who beat All-SWAC preseason cornerback Korey Morrison on the play. Mason was 5-of-6 on the drive for 35 yards and also had a nine-yard run for a first down on a third-and-4 play.

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