Time (finally) to mark calendars on long-delayed Robinson Museum project

GRAMBLING — Key dates for the long-delayed Eddie Robinson Museum are being talked about in terms of months, instead of years. For a project now nearly a decade in the making, that's a remarkable achievement in itself. "We're hoping to have a groundbreaking some time in the fall, and we'll get the ball rolling," said Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, whose office would oversee the project. "We're making great progress."

At Grambling State from 1941-97, Robinson retired as the winningest football coach in college history with 408 wins — leading the Tigers to 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference titles over the years. He passed away in April 2007 at age 88, as the state moved to approve a plan to house a museum in his honor in the former women's gym on the Grambling campus.

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Extreme makeover for Savannah State athletics

The horse is catching up to the cart at Savannah State University. When SSU jumped into NCAA Division I - college athletics' highest level - in 2002, the Tigers lacked an extensive feasibility study, adequate facilities and financial resources. These days, the historically black college is a whirlwind of activity. Progress, something SSU athletes and alumni crave, is evident in renovations to T.A. Wright Stadium (football) and Wilcox-Wiley gymnasium (volleyball). The improvements don't end there.



SSU has created the Tiger Club for boosters, an attempt to secure the necessary funds for scholarships to recruit the best student-athletes possible. SSU also has developed licensing and corporate marketing programs. Even the walls are talking inside Tiger Arena (basketball) thanks to the addition of colorful action photographs featuring biographies of former athletes. The athletics upgrades, part of the vision of school president Earl Yarbrough, vice president for administration Claud Flythe and athletics director Bart Bellairs, are long-awaited steps toward fielding teams that can be competitive in all sports.

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MEAC Releases Volleyball Preseason Poll

Will 2008 be the Year of the Lady Hawks?

Florida A&M University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore were picked as the preseason favorites in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) southern and northern divisions, as voted on by the leagues head volleyball coaches and sports information directors.

The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers, who were slated to finish first in the Southern Division, completed the 2007 season with an 8-0 MEAC mark and 18-8 overall record en route to their seventh consecutive MEAC volleyball title. They return four starters including 2007 MEAC Rookie of the Year Jovana Blazeski. Blazeski recorded two 20-plus dig outings and seven 20-plus kill performances. She also tallied double-digit kills in 25-of-26 games played.

Florida A&M received 21 first place votes for a total of 261 points to earn the top preseason selection.

North Carolina A&T was predicted to finish second in the Southern Division with 183 points, followed by Bethune-Cookman (177), South Carolina State (154) and Norfolk State (149).

Maryland Eastern Shore Lady Hawks received 17 of the possible 22 first place votes to earn the nod to finish atop the northern divisional standings. The Lady Hawks posted a 10-0 MEAC mark in 2007 and a 24-4 overall record. They return six starters, three of which earned All-MEAC honors including 2007 MEAC Player of the Year Whitney Johnson, Christina Estebane’ and Caylin Woodward. Johnson ranked among the top three in the league in kills, hitting percentage and points.

Morgan State was picked second in the Northern Division with three first place votes and 191 total points, followed by Delaware State (172), Howard (169), Hampton (143) and Coppin State (114).

Conference play begins on October 3 with all MEAC northern and southern teams in action. The 2008 MEAC Volleyball championship is scheduled for November 14-16 in Holland Hall on the campus of Hampton (Va.) University.

2008 MEAC Volleyball Predicted Order of Finish
(As voted on by the leagues head coaches and sports information directors)
(First place votes in parentheses)

MEAC Northern Division
Maryland Eastern Shore (17) - 245 pts.
Morgan State (3) - 191 pts.
Delaware State -172 pts.
Howard (2) - 169 pts.
Hampton - 143 pts.
Coppin State - 114 pts.

MEAC Southern Division
Florida A&M (21) - 261 pts.
North Carolina A&T -183 pts.
Bethune-Cookman (1) - 177 pts.
South Carolina State - 154 pts.
Norfolk State - 149 pts.

Courtesy: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

SCSU Dogs' 'D' dominates Monday evening session

South Carolina State, following a day off Sunday, returned to the practice field Monday as the Bulldogs conducted two workouts. The Bulldogs conducted a 6:15 a.m. drill in full pads, then came back for a 6:50 p.m. workout in just shorts, helmets and shoulder pads.

S.C. State head coach Buddy Pough termed the morning session a lively and productive one, attributing his team’s performance to the cool temperatures. The evening practice, which was mostly devoted to the passing game – both offensively and defensively – was dominated by the defense, according to Pough.

“Going early gave us a chance to get in a real productive practice,” Pough said “Not having to worry about the weather, allowed us to maintain our focus and be more productive.

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North Carolina A&T Brown promoted to AD

GREENSBORO -- There are some subtleties to Wheeler Brown, a friendly sort with the frame of a bear. But Monday, the former Aggie football player spoke like an offensive lineman, not a diplomat.

"My No. 1 goal would be for us to get our swagger back," said Brown, who was named athletics director at his alma mater on a full-time basis Monday. "There was a time when we were kings. If you wanted a championship, you had to come through Greensboro to get it, and you had to fight like hell to get it. We're going back to those days. That's it."

Brown, who had been AD on an interim basis since Dee Todd was reassigned in November 2007, is familiar with the full spectrum. As a player in 1975, he helped the Aggies...




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WSSU's Darrell Wonge signs to play basketball in Japan

Darrell Wonge, a former forward at Winston-Salem State, has signed a professional contract to play for the Tsusho Toyota Eagles in Nagoya, Japan.

Click here to view team and Japan Basketball League: Tsusho Toyota Fighting Eagles

Wonge (6-6, 210) was noticed at a showcase for players from major and mid-major schools. The Fighting Eagles play in the JBL2 League and finished 14-2 last season. “I’m just happy that I got the opportunity to live out my dream of playing professional basketball,” Wonge said. “It was nerve-wracking at first especially after a number of other opportunities fell through, but I’m very grateful for the opportunity that I’ve received.”

At WSSU, Wonge had career totals of 845 points, 408 rebounds, 89 assists and 74 steals. He averaged a career-best 10.7 points and had a career-high 150 rebounds last season as a senior.

His best game was when he scored a career-high 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting as Winston Salem State University dropped a close one to Hampton University, 64-62, on January 21, 2008. Wonge played high school ball at Malverne High School, Lakeview, New York.

He is the second former Ram to sign a professional sports contract at the upper division level in as many months with former WSSU defensive end William Hayes signing with the NFL Tennessee Titans in July. Wonge will depart for Japan on September 1, 2008.

Follow Darrell Wonge's team and career at: Tsusho Toyota Fighting Eagles .

Grambling sets high volleyball goals for 2008

By GSU Sports Information

After falling short in the finals of the 2007 SWAC Volleyball Tournament, the Grambling State Lady Tiger volleyball team returned to campus this week hungrier than ever as they began preparing for the 2008 campaign.

Led by head coach Kim Young, the Lady Tigers came within a match of earning a NCAA Tournament bid as they had an emotional SWAC Tournament run that saw them play 25 consecutive games. With an experienced roster returning, expectations are high for the Lady Tigers this season but Young said her team has to get in shape before they move on to anything else.

“The first few days were pretty difficult,” she said. “I sent my players workout manuals that were designed to keep them in shape while on summer break. Half of the players came back in good shape while a few of the younger players thought it would be easy to whip back into shape at the beginning of camp. It took some time for them to get back to where I wanted but mostly everyone is in good condition.”

The Lady Tigers will hold two practices per day until the start of school on August 18. Young said the morning practices will emphasize conditioning while the afternoon session is spent on tactical issues. With a veteran team returning, Young said her goal is to capture the SWAC Championship.

“I’ve worked with this group for several years so we’re on the same page in terms of goals this year,” Young said. While Young has the luxury of experience on her side, she’s also going to spend a lot of time working her freshman group into the mix so they can gain the experience needed down the line.

“After the year is over, I’m going to lose some key seniors so the freshmen will see a lot of action,” said Young. “I have high expectations for them so that this time next year, they’ll be ready to step into the shoes of the seniors and pick up where they left off.”

Grambling opens the year on the road in Tampa Bay, Fla. at the University of South Florida Invitational on the weekend of Aug. 29-30.

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Prairie View A&M men's basketball opens at UCLA

Derek Johnson, 6-1/190 junior guard, Euless, Texas (Blackhawk JC).

Prairie View's men's basketball team will face one of its most daunting schedules, which includes a season-opening trip to fabled Pauley Pavilion to take on national power UCLA.

The Panthers will make the visit to Los Angeles on Nov. 12, taking on a Bruins team that has reached the Final Four in each of the last three seasons under coach Ben Howland. UCLA finished 35-3 last year and despite the loss of NBA first-round picks Kevin Love (Minnesota) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City), the Bruins are expected to be contenders for the national title.

Prairie View will also make trips to Missouri (Nov. 15) and Hawaii (Dec. 1), along with visits to Baylor (Dec. 13), New Mexico State (Dec. 17) and Colorado (Dec. 19) before opening Southwestern Athletic Conference play at Alcorn State on Jan. 3.

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SEE ENTIRE SCHEDULE, CLICK HERE: PVAMU Panthers Men's Basketball 2008/09 Schedule in pdf format

VIEW: PVAMU Panthers Team Information

SU’s Selders ready to go out strong

To his friends and teammates, Southern defensive tackle Joseph Selders is known simply as Midnight. To his coach, defensive coordinator Terrence Graves, Selders has another handle. “He’s basically the engine of the train,” Graves said between mops of his brow on a baking Saturday afternoon in Mumford Stadium. “We tell him all the time, how he goes, we go.”

The engine has some helping horsepower. Fellow starters Frank Harry at defensive tackle, Vincent Lands and Don Holloway at ends. Plus the glorious bonus of depth, something that has been desperately lacking on Southern’s front in the past. “You don’t know what a blessing it is to have 15 defensive linemen,” Graves said during SU Media Day.

“There were times we had to do some things, like make a linebacker a defensive end, because of injuries.”

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FAMU glad to have ferocious Shipman

Latasha Shipman didn't know it then, but she made a lasting impression on LeDawn Gibson when they first met a few years ago. Shipman journeyed from North Carolina, knowing very well that she'd be competing against some Division I powers in a bid to recruit players from the Winter Haven High School basketball team coached then by Gibson.

Shipman, then an assistant coach at Shaw University, didn't get a single player to commit to playing for the Bears. She made a pretty strong case, though, from what Gibson remembers. "That says a lot about her," said Gibson, who became the women's basketball coach at FAMU earlier this year. "She is aggressive. She just wanted the girls that she thought would have made Shaw successful, and she didn't mind who she was competing against."

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Mitchell talks Coppin's 2008 recruiting class

Guard Tywain McKee (Mark's Digital Photography)

Last season Fang Mitchell led the Coppin State men’s basketball team to one of the more improbable seasons in NCAA history. The Eagles suffered through a 20-loss season before catching fire down the stretch, winning 12 of their last 13 games, including an upset of Morgan State in the MEAC championship, which earned the team an NCAA tournament berth. It was the first time a 20-loss team made the tournament.

This season, Mitchell returns the team’s leading scorer Tywain McKee, to the roster. But Mitchell must replace the other four starters, all of whom graduated.

Mitchell will look to his 2008 recruiting class to help make up for that lost production. The Eagles are bringing in four freshmen this season: Loch Raven shooting guard Jordan Lee, Mount St. Joseph point guard Justin McCoy, Milwaukee Custer guard Michael Harper and Philadelphia North Catholic guard Lenny Young.

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ShootAround: Coppin State proves it's not the start, but the finish that counts

Tywain McKee will return to CSU for a second senior season (Prop. 48) to lead the Eagles (Mark's Digital Photography).

Going into the 2008 MEAC tournament, Coppin State was the longest of long shots. With a 12-20 overall record and a No. 7 seed, the Eagles were figured by few to have any chance of lasting more than a game or two. One Web site's formula put Coppin's chances of making the NCAA tournament at just 3 percent.

But speculative statistical algorithms are no match for March math. The Eagles won four games in five days, all in the final seconds, against the best teams in the league. All top-three seeds went down to defeat to the MEAC's mighty underdogs, as Coppin went from lost cause to the Big Dance, earning a spot in the NCAA play-in game.

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In it to win it: New SCSU President encourages fans to support all Bulldog athletics

SCSU President Dr. George E. Cooper

New South Carolina State President George Cooper looks like someone with an extensive athletic background. He has a slender but imposing 6-2 frame similar to a sprinter and starts his day at 5 a.m. by sauntering around the track at the Lorry H. Dawkins Track and Field Facility.

Ask about Cooper and his athletic prowess, however, and it’s considerably on the modest side. “I’m the non-athlete in my family,” he said. “As a youngster, I swam in the intramural leagues in Tallahassee, Fla. I was second and third and didn’t win. I’ve been an avid racquetball player. A, B class racquetball player. Played in some state tournaments there.

“For the last 2 1/2 years, I’ve been an avid golfer and I plan to go on the Senior PGA circuit sometime in the next few months. That’s my aspiration. I don’t play that well.”

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DSU releases 2008/09 men's basketball schedule

DOVER, DE – Twenty-three teams from nine different conferences highlight the 2008-09 Delaware State Men’s Basketball slate as announced by Head Coach Greg Jackson, today. Featuring 10 teams which reached postseason play during the 2007-08 season, the 2008-09 schedule will pit the Hornets against three teams ranked in last season’s final Top 25 (Connecticut, Notre Dame, West Virginia) as well as three former NCAA Division I Champions (Kentucky, Connecticut, Maryland).

"Once again, Coach Jackson and his staff have put together a tremendous schedule," said DSU Director of Athletics Rick Costello. "The opportunity for our student-athletes to play some of the premier programs in the NCAA will only make our program stronger."

"This is one of our toughest schedules to date," said Jackson. "This year’s schedule is going to give our program the best shot at grabbing a fourth regular season MEAC Championship over the past five years. We are going to play some of the top programs in the nation with teams like UConn, Maryland and Kentucky – all of which have won national championships.

We’ve got an exciting home schedule with a number of tough MEAC foes and an exciting and challenging road schedule that rivals any program’s in the nation. We look forward to the challenge and I know it will be fun for our fans and players alike."

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DSU 2008/09 Men's Basketball Schedule

Nov. 14-15, Hornet Classic, (Delaware State University, Wilmington University, Cheyney University, Coppin State)
Nov. 17, at Lehigh
Nov. 19 , at Dayton
Nov. 22, at Kentucky
Nov. 25, at West Virginia
Nov. 28, vs. Oakland (in Las Vegas), 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 29. vs. Longwood/Southeast Missouri (in Las Vegas)

Dec. 1, at UConn
Dec. 4, vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore*
Dec. 6, at Richmond
Dec. 12, at Maryland
Dec. 14, at Rutgers
Dec. 20, at Notre Dame

Jan. 10, vs. South Carolina State*
Jan. 12, vs. Winston-Salem State
Jan. 17, at Norfolk State*
Jan. 19, at North Carolina A&T*
Jan. 24, vs. Bethune-Cookman*
Jan. 26, vs. Florida A&M*
Jan. 31, vs. Coppin State*

Feb. 2, vs. Morgan State*
Feb. 7, at Hampton*
Feb. 9, at Howard*
Feb. 14, vs. Norfolk State*
Feb. 16, vs. North Carolina A&T*
Feb. 21, at Bethune-Cookman*
Feb. 23, at Florida A&M*
Feb. 28, at Morgan State*

March 5, at Maryland-Eastern Shore*
March 9-14, MEAC Basketball Tournament , Winston-Salem, N.C.

* MEAC games

FAMU names Carrington new swim coach

Douglas Carrington, the assistant swim coach at Florida A&M for the past four years, has been named the head coach. Carrington was a member of the swim team at FAMU and a team captain. The 26-year-old native of Wappingers Falls, N.Y., replaces E. Newton Jackson, who had been interim swim coach. “This is a dream to me,” Carrington said. “I get the opportunity to provide the same environment when I was an athlete.

“It’s an opportunity for me to do positive things with our university — a great opportunity for me to give back.” Clifton Huff, special assistant to Athletic Director William Hayes, said what he liked most about Carrington is the “solid” relationship he has with the athletes.

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Assistant coach vows: N.C. A&T's offense won't be boring

GREENSBORO -- To some observers, the football principles of new N.C. A&T coordinator John McKenzie replicate the West Coast offense. Others might call it a spread. Still others invoke the name of Dan Henning. Confused? Well, good. That's sort of the point. "We'll take one play and run it six or eight ways," said McKenzie, who became head coach Lee Fobbs' first offensive coordinator at A&T this spring.

People in motion, myriad forms of deception and play-calling balance are the goals, all of which signal opportunity for as many players as possible. McKenzie, who directed the offense at Alcorn State for the past seven seasons, vows it won't be boring. "Sounds good to me as a receiver," said senior Chaz Dawson. "We like the system. We feel we can move up and down the field."

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S.C. State athletics leadership sees program ready for new glory era

S.C. State athletic director Charlene Johnson

South Carolina State University is a few weeks from reopening its doors for the student body. But for Athletics Director Charlene Johnson, it’s not too early to hold a pep talk with some of the new and returning coaches involved with the school’s 17 sports. Crowded together in the conference room of Rowe Hall, they listen to Johnson’s expectations and optimism about the upcoming school year.

“I’m still trying to learn everybody’s names,” said Johnson as she hustled back to her office to prepare for another meeting. Having replaced six head coaches over the past 15 months and having seen just one program (tennis) reach the postseason during her second tenure as AD, Johnson is ready to see a rebirth in S.C. State athletics.

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2008-09 NSU schedule kicks off with Bahamas trip

Michael Deloach, 6-0/175 guard, senior, Rocky Mount, N.C., Bonner Academy (Mark's Digital Photography).

Norfolk State's men's basketball team has lined up a 2008-09 schedule that includes its typical long December road trip to help fill the athletic department's coffers with guarantee money. But fans willing to do a little traveling can catch the Spartans in-state to begin the season. NSU kicks off the slate with games at Longwood (Nov. 16) and William and Mary (Nov. 19).

The Spartans are also going to take advantage of the NCAA's allotment of an overseas trip once every four years and will travel to the Bahamas in a few weeks for a two-game set against club teams in the Nassau area. NCAA rules allow for 10 days of practice before such trips.

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2008-2009 Men's Basketball Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time/Result Details
11/16/2008 Longwood Farmville, Va. 7 p.m. Details
11/19/2008 William & Mary Williamsburg, Va. 7 p.m. Details
11/25/2008 Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. 8 p.m. Details
11/30/2008 Air Force Colorado Springs, Colo. 4 p.m. Details
12/2/2008 Jacksonville State Norfolk, Va. 7 p.m. Details
12/6/2008 * North Carolina A&T Greensboro, N.C. TBA Details
12/17/2008 Wright State Cleveland, Ohio TBA Details

Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tournament
12/20/2008 TBA Springfield, Mo. TBA Details
12/21/2008 TBA Springfield, Mo. TBA Details

Montana State Classic
12/28/2008 Texas-Pan American Bozeman, Mont. TBA Details
12/29/2008 Consolation/Championship Bozeman, Mont. TBA Details

1/10/2009 * Coppin State Baltimore, Md. TBA Details
1/12/2009 * Morgan State Baltimore, Md. 7:30 p.m. Details
1/17/2009 * Delaware State Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. Details
1/19/2009 * Maryland Eastern Shore Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details
1/24/2009 * South Carolina State Orangeburg, S.C. 4 p.m. Details
1/26/2009 Winston-Salem State Winston-Salem, N.C. 7:30 p.m. Details
1/31/2009 * Hampton Hampton, Va. 6 p.m. Details
2/2/2009 * Howard Washington, D.C. 8 p.m. Details
2/7/2009 * Bethune-Cookman Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. Details
2/9/2009 * Florida A&M Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details
2/14/2009 * Delaware State Dover, Del. 4 p.m. Details
2/16/2009 * Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, Md. 7:30 p.m. Details
2/21/2009 * South Carolina State Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. Details
2/23/2009 Winston-Salem State Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details
2/28/2009 * Hampton Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. Details
3/2/2009 * Howard Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details
3/5/2009 * North Carolina A&T Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details

2009 MEAC Basketball Tournament
3/10/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/11/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/12/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/13/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/13/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/14/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details

Colonie's Newsome Picks Mississippi Valley State

MVSU new head basketball coach Sean Woods has first blue chip commitment from 6-2 guard, Tashan Newsome from Colonie Central H.S., Albany, New York.

Another former Section II basketball standout is will be playing Division I college ball next season, with Colonie's Tashan Newsome giving his verbal commitment to Mississippi Valley State University. The Delta Devils won the SWAC last season, advancing to the NCAA's where they lost to UCLA.

"They were very interested in me. They didn't want me to do anything else. They wanted me bad and when you show that kind of loyalty and interest in me, I'm going to show it back," Newsome said. Newsome, and his AAU coach Antwan Morrison said the list of schools interested in the 6-2 senior guard was extensive.

North Carolina Central, Villanova, Sacred Heart, VCU, Norfolk State, St. John's, Virginia Tech, George Mason were schools on that list.

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Laurel coach appears headed to Hampton University

Hampton University head basketball coach Kevin Nickelberry (Mark's Digital Photography)

Coutreyer led Spartans to Final Four

Laurel High (Maryland) boys basketball coach Keith Coutreyer plans to sign a contract Aug. 4 to become an assistant basketball coach at Division I Hampton University in Virginia, he said July 29. Coutreyer said he interviewed in person with Hampton head coach Kevin Nickelberry in mid-July.

"I have been offered the job," Coutreyer said. "It looks like it is going to be a positive move for me. The final piece to the puzzle will be Monday." Coutreyer said he plans to meet with school president William R. Harvey and other personnel at Hampton. He said he is "98 percent" sure he will leave Laurel High, where he also teaches special education students, to take the job in southeast Virginia.

Coutreyer said he informed current Laurel High players that he plans to accept the job at Hampton. Division I schools are allowed three full-time assistants in men's basketball.

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