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Showing posts with label Delaware State University. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Delaware State University. Show all posts
Bower is Pennsylvania track's first female feature race champion.
During the school year, Nicole Bower is on a mission to bring Delaware State University its first NCAA team championship in any sport. But during the summer, Bower kicks off her bowling shoes and puts on her racing helmet and firesuit to race sprint cars at tracks in Pennsylvania.
On the bowling lanes, Bower helped the Hornets advance to their second consecutive NCAA Tournament last spring. She has found success behind the wheel, too. In early May, Bower led all 20 laps of the 358 sprint feature at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicburg, Pa., becoming the first female to win a feature race at the half-mile clay track. The "358" designation refers to engine displacement. Bower lives about 15 minutes from the track in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
"It was unbelievable," said Bower, who began her racing career at the age of 12 in a quartermidget, often racing at New Castle's Airport Speedway. "It took quite a few days for the win to set in. I had dreamed of standing in victory lane at Williams Grove for a long time. All of the great drivers have been there ... and to get that opportunity is just great."
The 19-year-old will gott yet another thrill on August 5, when she competed against Sprint Cup regulars Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart in the Ollie's Bargain Outlet "Battle at the Grove" charity race at Williams Grove.
DOVER, DE- Delaware State University track & field standout Leslie Murray has earned world recognition this summer. The All-American Murray, running for his native U.S. Virgin Islands, claimed the bronze medal with his third place finish in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2010 IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada last weekend, the first medal for his country in the history of the event.
Murray posted a time of 50.22 seconds in the race, trailing only gold medal winner Jehue Gordon of Trinidad & Tobago (49.30) and runner-up Takatoshi Abe of Japan (49.46). Murray, who is entering his junior year at Delaware State, helped lead the Hornets to the 2010 MEAC indoor championship in the 1600-meter relay this past season.
B-CU Coach Mervyl Melendez's Wildcats clinch #1 Seed for MEAC Tournament and earned 2010 Regular Season MEAC Baseball Title.
For the second time in school history, Bethune-Cookman's baseball team has gone undefeated in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. B-CU scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning in a 13-9 win over Delaware State (12-30, 8-10) on Sunday. It's the first-ever 18-0 MEAC regular season; B-CU was 15-0 in 2006. The Wildcats (32-19) will have the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament May 20-23 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach.
Dover, DE -- Bethune-Cookman scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning in a 13-9 win over Delaware State in MEAC baseball at Soldier Field today. The Wildcats, who clinched the MEAC regular season title on Saturday, completed the conference schedule with an 18-0 record (32-19 overall). Delaware State is 8-10 in the MEAC and 12-30 overall. Delaware State broke an 8-8 tie on a two-out single by Scott Davis in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Bethune-Cookman tied the game at nine on a single by Emmanuel Castro in the top of the ninth inning. The Wildcats pulled ahead 10-9 when Matt Wright followed with a run-scoring in the inning. BCU padded its lead when the next batter, Alejando Sanchez, followed with a three-run homer. The Hornets trailed 6-1 before scoring seven runs in the third inning to take the lead. Mike Rizzuto doubled in the first two runs of the inning. Also in the inning, Matt Aleman had a run-scoring single and Abe Eubank was credited with a RBI on a bases loaded walk. Brandon Crist capped off the inning with a three-run homer to give DSU an 8-6 lead.
NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- The Delaware State University bowling team was eliminated from the NCAA National Collegiate Women's Bowling Championship after suffering two losses in double-elimination play on Friday at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lane. No. 7-seeded Delaware State (98-36) exited the tournament after a four-games-to-two loss to No. 3 Vanderbilt in a Baker format match on Friday afternoon. The Hornets had earlier lost 4-0 to No. 2 Arkansas State in the morning.
In the Vanderbilt match, Delaware State had four open frames en route to a 170-147 loss. The Hornets bounced back to even the match at 1-1 after a 245-178 victory in Game 2. DSU opened the game with five strikes. After the Commodores won game three 241-183, Delaware State evened the contest at 2-2 after a 198-184 victory in game four. The Hornets had marks in each frame, including strikes in the seventh and eighth.
DSU played at Michigan last season; now adds MEAC/SWAC Challenge to its resume. Go Hornets!
Dover, DE --- Delaware State University will kick off its 2010 football season in the land of Disney. The Hornets will battle Southern University of Baton Rouge, LA., in the Sixth Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Sunday, September 5, 2010, in Orlando, Florida. The contest at Orlando's Citrus Bowl Stadium will be televised on an ESPN network, which will be announced, along with the kick off time, at a later date.
"This is a great opportunity for our university to participate in an outstanding event," said Derek Carter, Delaware State's Director of Athletics. "I'm sure the experience will be cherished by our student-athletes, alumni and fans will years to come. We invite the entire DSU family to join us in Orlando for the game and other event activities."
The will be Delaware State's first appearance in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, which pits a top team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference against one from the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Southern will be making its second appearance in the challenge. The Jaguars defeated the MEAC's Florida A&M 33-27 in 2007 in Birmingham, Ala. Delaware State is 2-0 all-time vs. Southern. The Hornets, led by first-year head coach Bill Collick and All-American John Taylor, defeated the Jaguars 46-8 in 1985 in Baton Rouge, La. The teams met again the following year in Shreveport, La., with the Hornets coming out of top, 21-14.
FAMU Head Baseball Coach Robert Lucus and the Rattlers season opener is Friday, Feb. 19 in Jacksonville in a three-team tournament at the University of North Florida. The Rattlers will face Richmond, followed by Ohio State and UNF. (See complete schedule below)
Four years ago when Mykel Benson asked his FAMU football coach's permission to join the Rattlers' baseball team, he was denied. He didn't ask third-year coach Joe Taylor for fear of the answer he might have gotten. Now that his career as a fullback is over, Benson is making a comeback to the diamond after seven years. He's shown in practice that he hasn't lost much — at least with his bat — to earn a starting position at first base. "It's actually brought me some joy," said Benson, 6-foot, 240 pounds. "It's gotten me back to loving the game.
When I was trying out for high school, it wasn't fun to me, but I like it out here with these guys. They're a lot of fun." Benson grew up in Palm Bay playing football and baseball on several youth teams. He couldn't convince his baseball coach at Bayside High School that he deserved a starting position. Instead, he devoted time to playing football. But all the time that he was plowing over defensive players on the gridiron, he believed that he could still swing a bat and make plays. The rust was there during his first week in practice and he remains a work in progress, said coach Robert Lucas, who expects Benson to become more of an offensive spark for the team.
Florida A&M University Rattlers 2010 Baseball Schedule Date Opponent Location Time
North Florida Tournament 2/19/2010 University of Richmond Jacksonville, FL 3 PM 2/20/2010 Ohio State University Jacksonville, FL 5 PM 2/21/2010 University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL 3 PM 2/23/2010 Mercer University Tallahassee, FL 4 PM
Savannah State Tournament 2/26/2010 Delaware State University Savannah, GA 11 AM 2/27/2010 Savannah State University Savannah, GA 11 AM 2/27/2010 Norfolk State University Savannah, GA 3 PM 3/2/2010 Mercer University Tallahassee, FL 4 PM 3/5/2010 Jackson State University (DH) Tallahassee, FL 2 PM 3/6/2010 Jackson State University Tallahassee, FL 12 PM 3/10/2010 Albany State University Tallahassee, FL 3 PM 3/13/2010 Savannah State University Tallahassee, FL 11 AM 3/14/2010 Savannah State University Tallahassee, FL 12 PM 3/16/2010 Mercer University Macon, GA 6 PM 3/17/2010 Mercer University Macon, GA 4 PM 3/20/2010 * Bethune-Cookman University (DH) Tallahassee, FL 1 PM 3/21/2010 * Bethune-Cookman University Tallahassee, FL 1 PM 3/25/2010 Selma University (DH) Tallahassee, FL 12 PM 3/30/2010 Edward Waters (Fla.) Jacksonville, Fla 1 PM 3/31/2010 Jacksonville University Jacksonville, FL 6:30 PM
April 4/2/2010 * North Carolina A&T (DH) Greensboro, NC 1 PM 4/3/2010 * North Carolina A&T Greensboro, NC 1 PM 4/7/2010 Alabama State Montgomery, AL 1 PM 4/13/2010 Edward Waters (Fla.) Tallahassee, FL 2 PM 4/14/2010 Alabama State Tallahassee, FL 1 PM 4/17/2010 * Delaware State (DH) Dover, DE 1 PM 4/18/2010 * Delaware State Dover, DE 1 PM 4/21/2010 Southern Baton Rouge, LA 6 PM 4/22/2010 Southern Baton Rouge, LA 3 PM 4/24/2010 * Maryland Eastern Shore (DH) Tallahassee, FL 12 PM 4/25/2010 * Maryland Eastern Shore Tallahassee, FL 12 PM 4/27/2010 Jackson State University (DH) Jackson, MS 3 PM 4/28/2010 Jackson State University Jackson, MS 12 PM
May 5/1/2010 * Coppin State (DH) Tallahassee, FL 1 PM 5/2/2010 Coppin State Tallahassee, FL 1 PM 5/4/2010 Albany State Albany, GA 3 PM 5/5/2010 Jacksonville University Jacksonville, FL 4 PM 5/8/2010 * Norfolk State (DH) 1 p.m. 5/9/2010 * Norfolk State Noon 5/12/2010 Alcorn State Alcorn State, MS 6 PM
5/20 -22/2010 MEAC TOURNAMENT, Daytona Beach, FL , TBA
WINNIPEG, MB - The Canadian Football League (CFL)Winnipeg Blue Bombers announce today they have agreed to terms with import running back Emmanuel Marc. Marc (5-10, 205, Delaware State '06) was in B.C.'s training camp in 2009. He played his College football at Delaware State where he notched 1,401 career rushing yards on 237 carries and added 14 touchdowns, along with 25 receptions for an additional 242 yards. He also returned 29 kickoffs for 633 yards.
In 2006, he ran for 1,230 yards, the fourth-best single-season total in team history, and 12 touchdowns to help lead the Hornets to an 8-3 record. He was an All-MEAC Second Team selection that year. Marc is a native of Spring Valley, New York.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. --- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference leader South Carolina State racked up more than 500 total yards in a 52-10 win over Delaware State before 21,257 delighted homecoming fans at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs won their fourth straight game to improve to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the MEAC. SC State has won 16 straight league games since the 2007 season. The defending MEAC champions were ranked 10th in the latest SportsNetwork and AFCA Coaches polls of Top 25 Football Championship Subdivision teams entering the contest.
The Hornets fell to 2-6 overall and 2-4 in the MEAC. The 42-point margin was the Bulldogs' largest over the Hornets since a 52-6 victory in 1979. "South Carolina State is an outstanding team, and my greatest fear this week was realized," said Delaware State head coach Al Lavan, who fell to 2-4 vs. South Carolina State and 38-28 in MEAC games. "We gave the Bulldogs a short field for most of the first half, and they took advantage of every opportunity. South Carolina State showed everyone why they are the best team in our league."
ORANGEBURG Tre Young was happy - but puzzled - when he heard his name announced Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in the late moments of South Carolina State's 52-10 demolition of Delaware State. Young, a senior receiver, had just broken the school record for career reception yards previously held by Charlie Brown (1977-80). With four catches for 135 yards, including a game-changing, 80-yard touchdown toss from Malcolm Long, Young has 1,734 yards.
Just one problem: Young professed not to know anything about Brown, the former Washington Redskins great who - oh, callow youth! - was in attendance for S.C. State's homecoming. "I heard that over the (public-address system), and I was shocked. I never broke any records in high school even," he said. So what about his famed predecessor? "I'm gonna have to Google him," Young said, shaking his head. Never mind that a recount later revealed Young had broken Brown's record the week before, one day before his 24th birthday. These days, S.C. State, ranked 10th in the FCS, is so prolific in all areas that it's easy to lose count.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- The game was long out of hand when Delaware State quarterback Nick Elko looked to his right and let go of a pass to Phillip Adams late in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon inside Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. It was a nice pass from Elko, a spiral into the flat, and Adams caught it clean. If Adams had been a Hornets' receiver it would have likely been a 10-yard pickup or so. Unfortunately for Delaware State, Adams was a South Carolina State defensive back, by himself in the right place at the right time, and instead of a nice pickup for the Hornets, the senior turned the play into a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown with just 12 seconds to play, giving the 10th-ranked Bulldogs the final points in a 52-10 win.
Nothing about Saturday worked out for Delaware State. Only half the team was on the field for the national anthem. The Hornets had only one first down -- on a Michigan penalty. The defense allowed 28 points. They had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown. Then they got to breathe, because the first quarter was over. While Delaware State, a Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA) team, found more of a rhythm as the game progressed, the Hornets appeared severely overmatched, losing to Michigan, 63-6, at Michigan Stadium.
"We came to play an outstanding football team and an outstanding football team showed up," Delaware State coach Al Lavan said. "Essentially, except for moments in the third quarter, they dominated us -- with our help. Make no mistake about it, Michigan played just like they played on the DVDs. ... I was not shocked, but I was surprised at how much the domination was." The Wolverines (5-2, 1-2 Big Ten) set a modern school record for total offense with 727 yards, tied a record with the 28 first-quarter points and set another with 442 yards in the first half.
Two losses in one day won't seem so bad once Delaware State checks its bank balance. The Hornets lost to Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday, a game they agreed to play despite having a previously scheduled conference game the same day. By rule, the Hornets were forced to forfeit their contest against fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe North Carolina A&T, giving them two losses in one day. The reason for the double-booking? Michigan paid Delaware State $550,000 to give up the loss and make the trip to the Big House.
The far superior Wolverines squad had little trouble against the second-tier program, posting a 63-6 drubbing. The Wolverines (5-2) set team marks with 442 yards in the first half and 727 total in the game. They matched a school record with a 28-point first quarter and led 49-3 with their second-highest score by halftime.
He might be the preseason all-conference quarterback, but it was the legs of Florida A&M quarterback Curtis Pulley that did the most damage In a 21-12 Rattlers win over Delaware State in both teams’ football opener Saturday in Tallahassee. Riley led the way with 196 yards rushing and a 47-yard touchdown scamper to lead Florida A&M to the win, snapping a four-game losing streak to the Hornets in the process.
FAMU dominated the time of possession, 35:28 to 24:32, rushing for 328 yards overall and putting up 485 total yards to Delaware State’s 274. Anthony Glaud was 17 of 32 for 188 yards and a 31-yard touchdown pass in his first start at QB for the Hornets. Jason Randall led the team in rushing with 54 yards and scored his first career TD on a 4-yard run with 12 minutes to play. Darius Jackson, playing in front of dozens of relatives in his home state, caught seven passes for 67 yards.
Saturday's attendance for the opening game of the 2009 season was 17,209, which was impressive considering Florida A&M had sold less than 200 walk-up tickets as of Wednesday evening. Bryan Parker was the leading tackler for Florida A&M and his fumble recovery with 4:04 remaining sealed the game. The senior from Randlestown, Maryland had 11 tackles.
Curtis Pulley didn't run for a single yard until late in the first quarter, but when his night was done it was just a typical performance by the senior quarterback that led FAMU's rushing attack to a 21-12 victory over Delaware State. Pulley rushed for 196 yards, accounting for more than half of the Rattlers yards on the ground, in front an opening-night crowd of 17,209 at Bragg Stadium. The victory snapped a four-game losing skid against the Hornets that dates back to the 2003 season.
15-point deficit too much to overcome in second half...Delaware State's football team had not trailed Florida A&M since 2003, but played catch-up to the Rattlers all Saturday night. The Hornets' four-game winning streak over FAMU ended in a 21-12 loss at Bragg Memorial Stadium, thanks to a costly late fumble and 328 Rattlers rushing yards, including 196 from quarterback Curtis Pulley. "We got ourselves behind the 8-ball early," Delaware State coach Al Lavan said. "Even in the third and fourth quarters, we managed to get some stops on defense, but we gave up too many big running plays to [Pulley]."
DSU quarterback Anthony Glaud tried to erase a 15-point second-half deficit and came close. He led the Hornets (0-1, 0-1 MEAC) on a seven-play, 54-yard scoring drive that ended with Jason Randall's four-yard touchdown run and cut FAMU's lead to nine. "We sat down and talked at halftime and kind of slowed things down so we could execute better," Glaud said. "We had guys dropping the ball a little bit and guys started catching the ball and making plays. We all picked it up."
The coaches and players at 3,534-student Delaware State know their chances of winning at mighty Michigan later this season are slim at best. But they also understand why their program will make the trip: a $550,000 pay day. At Delaware State, that's equivalent to the revenue from at least two years of home games. "From a competitive standpoint, it's not an ideal situation," says Delaware State football coach Al Lavan. But, "you always have hope." The Hornets aren't alone. Throughout the football season that begins this weekend, so-called guarantee games -- where lesser programs are paid lots of money in exchange for a presumed loss -- are common. The larger, better-funded programs in effect have an easy home game with more players seeing action.
Delaware State’s football team had not trailed Florida A&M since 2003, but played catch-up to the Rattlers all night. The Hornets’ four-game winning streak over FAMU ended tonight in a 21-12 loss at Bragg Memorial Stadium, thanks to a costly late fumble and 246 Rattlers rushing yards. “We got ourselves behind the 8-ball early,” Delaware State coach Al Lavan said. “Even in the third and fourth quarters, we managed to get some stops on defense, but we gave up too many big running plays to (FAMU quarterback Curtis Pulley). “Essentially, that’s what happened last year, though we won,” Lavan added. “The pattern just continued.”
DOVER, DE -- Having wrapped up a busy preseason camp with a pair of practice sessions Friday, Delaware State University's football team is now focusing on dotting the i's and crossing the t's. The Hornets will conduct a "game simulation" scrimmage at 6 tonight at Alumni Stadium before turning their eyes toward their season opener on Sept. 5 at Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Florida A&M. DSU coach Al Lavan will be looking closely at all the details in tonight's scrimmage.
"We plan to focus on simulating game situations these next couple of days," said Lavan, who is 34-22 in five seasons with the Hornets. "During [today's] final session, we'll try to go over all situations that may be encountered in a game, from A to Z. "We'll focus on everything from our various packages to sideline and press box personnel. It will amount to a mental exercise to determine how prepared we are for next week's opener." There is a sense of anticipation among the Hornets as the regular season looms.
Anthony Glaud, who earned the job as DSU's starting quarterback, has been studying and working to be as prepared as he can be. "Right now, we are working on execution and polishing up the playbook," Glaud said. "We are trying to get in as many plays and formations as possible before the end of camp. About 95 percent of the offense is in place."
Coach Al Lavan (center).
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2009 Hornets Football Schedule(Record: 0-1; Forfeit to NCAT)
Date Opponent Location Time (ET)
Sat, Sep 05 Florida A&M * at Tallahassee, Fla. 6:00 p.m. Sat, Sep 19 Delaware at Newark, Del. 12:00 p.m. Sat, Sep 26 Hampton * at Hampton, Va. 6:00 p.m. Sat, Oct 10 Bethune-Cookman * Dover, Del. 7:00 p.m. Sat, Oct 17 Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mich. TBA Sat, Oct 24 Morgan State * Dover, Del. 1:00 p.m. Sat, Oct 31 South Carolina State * at Orangeburg, S.C. 1:30 p.m. Sat, Nov 07 Winston-Salem State at Winston-Salem, N.C. 1:00 p.m. Sat, Nov 14 Norfolk State * Dover, Del. 1:00 p.m. Sat, Nov 21 Howard * Dover, Del. 1:00 p.m.
Alcorn State University Alcorn mourns huge loss in its family WHETHER IT WAS the flags, jerseys or baseball caps, the Alcorn State presence was very evident Saturday at former football star Steve McNair's funeral at Reed Green Coliseum. Just as many people think of Brett Favre when Southern Miss is mentioned, Alcorn State will always be associated with the NFL MVP quarterback from Mount Olive.
"Steve McNair is someone that Alcorn was very proud of and put the school on the map." said Charles Longmire, an ASU alum wearing his purple and gold baseball cap. When asked how the Alcorn community is handling the death of it's greatest legend, Longmire just let out an exhausted sigh, "sadness." "He was really a family member," the former ASU football trainer said. "Even if you graduated in 1955, you still know him as a true family member. He's a fallen comrade so I just wanted to come out and support the family."
DOVER, DE -- It has been a whirlwind summer so far for Derek A. Carter, who was hired as Delaware State University's athletic director in April. Carter, who came to DSU after serving as athletic director at Bowie State University since 2003, has met all of the school's head coaches and all of the staff and has had to acclimate himself and his family to their new home. He knows it will only get more hectic as fall approaches, but he wouldn't want it any other way.
"I am excited with the opportunity and challenge to join DSU and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference," Carter said. "I am looking forward to all the great things that will take place." Carter has been involved in athletics for most of his life and was a starting cornerback for Virginia Tech, where he was a defensive teammate of former Buffalo Bills defensive lineman and 2009 NFL Hall of Fame inductee Bruce Smith. He even earned an opportunity to try out as a free agent with the Eagles in 1985. Now, Carter has taken on a new challenge. He has a plan to revitalize the 17 intercollegiate sports programs at Delaware State University.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Perry Clark has a new and battle-tested lieutenant at his side heading into the next Islander basketball season. He's added Cy Alexander as associate head coach. Alexander was let go by Tennessee State earlier this year after his sixth season with the Tigers. He led them to the conference title game in 2008, but had a losing overall record.
The legendary Cy Alexander is the winningest coach in MEAC and South Carolina State (277-202) history. He has a career record of 344-306 in 24 seasons, leading the S.C. State Bulldogs to five seasons of 20-plus wins, five NCAA Tournaments and five MEAC championships.
It was a stark contrast to his first stop at South Carolina State, where he spent 16 seasons and reached the NCAA Tournament five times. He replaces Billy Garrett, who left to take a job at DePaul. Garrett also served as the team's recruiting coordinator, a job Alexander should fit right into. Combined with Clark, the duo has piled up more than 600 career coaching victories. "I don't think there will be very many situations on the court that either one of us have not seen. I think that's going to bring a very positive influence to what we're trying to get done. I don't think we'll be outcoached," Alexander said.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University FAMU Marching “100” Hosts its Annual Band Camp and Parade The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Marching “100” will host its Annual Band Camp from Monday, July 13 through Saturday, July 18. The “100” will lend its talent to hundreds of the nation’s best high school band students. More than 400 band participants will have the opportunity to master and emulate the style and concepts of the world-renowned Marching “100”. The participants will showcase their new skills and moves to the FAMU family and the Tallahassee community at the annual band camp parade scheduled for Friday, July 17, at 2 p.m. Ranging from grades 9 through 12, these young students have shown a sincere desire to better themselves as not only musicians, but as leaders of their respective band programs.
Sights and sounds from FAMU Summer Band Camp 2008 -- Building another generation of Incomparable Marching 100s...
The parade’s grand marshals are Linard McCloud (Class of 1976), director of bands for Burke High School in Charleston, South Carolina; Attorney Daryl Parks, Parks and Crump, LLC; Gallop Franklin, president of FAMU’s Student Government Association; and Mr. & Miss FAMU. The special guest will be the legendary Marching "100" director (retired), William P. Foster, Ph.D. This year’s parade will consist of both campus and community organizations.
Band participants will continue to showcase their new skills at events through the end of the week. Thursday, July 16, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., an ensemble concert is scheduled and from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., a symphonic concert is scheduled. Both concerts will be held in Lee Hall Auditorium. Participants attending the camp will travel from around the world such as California, Detroit, Bahamas and Virgin Islands. For more information, call the FAMU Band Department at (850) 599-3024.
Jasmine Grice's father can't remember when he wasn't a part of his daughter's basketball life. It doesn't appear that will change now that she is taking her game to the college level at FAMU. Grice called on her father, Vincent, for just about every answer during her first sit-down interview since becoming a Rattler. But when it came to talking about what she brings to coach LeDawn Gibson's women's program, Grice was pretty succinct. And, by the way she puts it, not much is going to change in her approach that led to an average of 25.6 points per game when she played at East Gadsden High School.
2009 First Team All-Big Bend (Florida) and Co-Big Bend Player of the Year, Jasmine Grice, 5'-7" wing guard averaged per game - 29.7 points, 4.3 steals and 5.4 rebounds at East Gasden H.S.
"I've got to stay determined," said Grice, named the Big Bend girls' basketball co-player of the year as a senior. "I'll be more focused." Grice should be able to do that now that the recruiting frenzy is over. For at least a year, she said, a long list of schools that included Boston College, Wisconsin and LSU sought after her. She said she saw the onslaught of letters and telephone calls coming, but she wasn't prepared to handle them. Yes, that job was handed off to her father.
There weren't too many significant offers for Austin Trainor when he was looking for a place to play college football. He listened to everyone's pitch anyway. Florida A&M football coach Joe Taylor and his staff struck the right chord with the former North Florida Christian quarterback. "When I went to FAMU and met all the coaching staff, everybody seemed sincere and real," Trainor said. "I asked them if I had a chance and they told me yes. They told me everything happens on the field and that's all I needed to hear. All I needed to prove myself was the opportunity."
Austin Trainor is a Rattler freshman QB prospect from Tallahassee's North Florida Christian H.S.
Trainor's situation could easily be that of the 29 other walk-ons who are hoping they'll catch the eyes of Taylor. The ones who make the mark could actually have a better-than-average chance of getting playing time next season with 24 players expected to graduate after this season. Considering the slots that will be opened up, Taylor has assigned assistants coaches Jimmy Tyson and Edwin Pata to monitor the walk-ons. "The program is going in the direction now that we could have some pretty good walk-ons," Taylor said. "I don't want anybody who looks at TV and thinks they're football players," he said. "Usually that's a hospital bill. We want the young man who the only reason is not on scholarship is because he came late or because we don't have the scholarship."
What a difference a 9-3 record makes. FAMU football coach Joe Taylor took a few minutes Wednesday to tell members of the Tallahassee Rotary Club how last season's success is affecting his team. For one thing, going from 3-8 to 9-3 has raised the expectations of Rattler fans. Then there are those who want to jump on the bandwagon — something that Taylor obviously is leery about. One of the biggest concerns is the outpouring of volunteerism when it comes to conditioning his players. He said he's warned them not to seek outside help and stick with what they're getting from strength and conditioning coach Antonio Wallace. Anything else, he said, is a distraction.
"So many people now want to jump on board and supposedly want to help," Taylor said, following his talk to the Rotarians in a small room at the Civic Center. "We need to stay in our tree, stay within our realm. When you were 3-8 nobody wanted to talk to you. Now everybody wants to talk to you." Taylor told the audience how he and his staff turned around the program in his first season as head coach, using the same blueprint that worked during 16 seasons at Hampton University. The change has more to do with the players' attitudes, he said.
Recruit can be scorer and make impact early for team Curtis Berry, who coached Florida A&M basketball signee Amin Stevens, might as well have been talking about a prizefighter when responding to a question about his protege's tenacity. "He will fight back," said Berry, who coached at Mount Vernon Presbyterian High in Roswell, Ga. "That's one thing that will toughen him up — when someone is in his face challenging him." That's the very reason Eugene Harris didn't hesitate to get in the fray to recruit Stevens. Stetson and South Carolina State also made bids for Stevens.
"I knew that he would be a guy that didn't shy away from contact," Harris said. "He is a guy that likes to score and I like scorers. There should be no reason why he can't come in here and play as a freshman." Stevens, a 6-foot-6 small forward, is expected to get plenty of playing time in his first season with the Rattlers. He's already on campus attending summer school and spending his spare time in the weight room. His willingness to face up to the challenge that awaits him, especially during conference play, will give FAMU more options on defense.
FAMU's Battle is like a coach on the football field A receiver chased a pass from quarterback Curtis Pulley, dropping the ball. Eddie Battle didn't like what he'd just witnessed. Battle, Pulley's second on FAMU quarterback depth chart, stood back, shook his head and folded his arms. His displeasure was obvious. Another play and the receivers pulled in the catch. Battle didn't take his eyes off the receiver as he trotted back to the huddle. The look on his face was one of approval. So went the afternoon for Battle as he took charge of running Monday evening's 7-on-7 unsupervised workouts.
Rattler QB Eddie Battle
With help from some of the veterans on the team, Battle has the undertaking of keeping order and structure during the 60 minutes that the Rattlers participate in the practice intended to stay sharp for the upcoming preseason drills. He seemed especially concerned about the timing between receivers and quarterbacks. "You could have a defensive lineman that is just causing hell up front," Battle said, "but if you have a receiver who is running perfect routes, the quarterback can give him the ball." Lallygagging annoy him as much as horse playing. He roams the field looking for the good and the bad, just like a coach.
While Florida A&M's athletic department continues to crawl out from under a financial blanket of red, head coaches in two revenue-generating sports won't have to sing the blues over a shortage of money to hire assistants. FAMU is currently searching for coaches to run the men's and women's track program. Those positions as well as vacancies in football and basketball will be filled, said athletic director Bill Hayes. He also said Tuesday that cost-cutting measures that he implemented several months ago will stay in place.
The athletic department operated last year with a deficit of $7 million, prompting concerns about how the current economic crisis would affect FAMU athletics. Additionally, FAMU's administration is looking for ways to make cuts in other departments. "We are making every effort to be frugal and manage the monies that we have without being wasteful in any way," Hayes said. "That's the direction that we are going in.
You have to hand it to James “Shack” Harris. He sure knows how look at his job with a “glass is half-full” point of view. The Grambling legend was named the Detroit Lions’ Senior Personnel Executive in February, joining General Manager Martin Mayhew and head coach Jim Schwartz in the task of rebuilding the franchise that recently became the first in NFL history to suffer through a winless season. But the Lions aren’t 0-16 any more. They’re 0-0. “It’s going good — we’re tied for first place, so we’re feeling pretty good,” Harris said of his first few months on the job.
Eligibility of several Bulldogs depends on summer courses -- Defensive end Jeremy Maddox and wide receiver Nate Baxter are among a handful of key Alabama A&M players who are in summer school seeking to become eligible for the upcoming season, coach Anthony Jones said. The Bulldogs report for preseason practice Aug. 2 and open the season at Tennessee State on Sept. 5.
"We have a couple of guys in summer school that have some issues this summer," Jones said. "The guys who are on the border ... all you can do is encourage them to go to class and monitor their progress. Ultimately, a lot of that responsibility has to fall upon them. They have to go to class and make the grades. The summer is always tough because everything is condensed and you have a ton of distractions. If it's important to them, they'll endure." According to Jones, approximately 40 players are in summer school, but most of them are trying to get ahead.
The death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was a homicide, though police said Sunday they have not classified the death of woman who was involved in a romantic relationship with him. Police found McNair, 36, and Sahel Kazemi, 20, fatally shot in a condominium in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Saturday afternoon after receiving a phone call about an injured person. McNair was shot twice in the head and twice in the chest, while Kazemi was shot once in the head, Nashville Metropolitan Police Department Spokesman Don Aaron told reporters Sunday after announcing the autopsies were complete.
Asked whether the shooting was a murder-suicide, Aaron said investigators had ruled out nothing. "I would expect that it would be a number of days before the classification is placed on Miss Kazemi's death," he said. McNair, a married father of four, and Kazemi "apparently were involved in a dating relationship over the past several months," Aaron said...
Kim Terrell-Kearney had been one of the best-kept secrets at Delaware State University the past two years as coach of the women's bowling team. But on Tuesday, Terrell-Kearney stepped down to take a position with the United States Bowling Congress in Arlington, Texas.
"It was a tough decision to leave Delaware State because of the wonderful student-athletes and staff I was privileged to work with the past two years," Terrell-Kearney said. "I'm grateful to the university administration and athletic department for the support which enabled the bowling program to reach new heights. "The student-athletes in the DSU bowling program are among the best in the country, and I'm certain they will continue to bring pride to the university."
Last season, Terrell-Kearney guided the Hornets to a school-record 119 wins against 38 losses and their first appearance in the NCAA Women's Bowling Tournament. Delaware State advanced to the semifinals, two wins shy of the national championship. Terrell-Kearney was named the 2008-'09 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference coach of the year after guiding the Hornets to their first MEAC Tournament championship in March...
Touring professional, Kimberly Terrell-Kearney, ends her second year as Delaware State head bowling coach. The winner of the prestigious 2008 U.S. Women’s Open championship, she coached DSU bowling to its greatest achievements in Hornet history.
Terrell-Kearney Accomplishments:
Guided the Hornets to a school-record 119 wins against 38 losses and their first appearance in the NCAA Women's Bowling Tournament
Terrell-Kearney was named the 2008-'09 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference coach of the year after guiding the Hornets to their first MEAC Tournament championship in March '09.
Terrell-Kearney posted a 193-85 record, including a 48-9 mark in MEAC play, during her two-year stint at DSU.
Coached four all-conference selections, including 2008-09 MEAC rookie of the year Adriana Jaime, eight academic all-conference honorees, and four NCTA All-Americans.
First Delaware State coach in any sport to earn a victory in an NCAA postseason contest.
Delaware State advanced to the NCAA Tournament semifinals, two wins shy of the national championship.
The Hornets defeated defending NCAA Division I National Women Bowling Champions, University of Maryland Eastern Shore to win the 2009 MEAC Championship.
Florida A&M men's basketball coach Eugene Harris hopes he's found the cure for what ailed his team most last season in his second class of recruits that are mostly big men. The list includes four junior college transfers, three who are expected to give the Rattlers the inside presence they sorely lacked during Harris' second season as coach.
Jeremy Lightfoot, a transfer from Holmes Community College in Goodman, Miss., comes as the most heralded of the big men. The 6-foot-9 post player was a key contributor in the Bulldogs' postseason in the NJCAA regional playoffs. Lightfoot's teammate Diamon Alexander (6-foot-6) is expected to give FAMU the strength it didn't have at wing. The two other junior college transfers are Chris Walker, a 6-foot-6 guard from Selma, Ala., and Rasheem Jenkins (6-foot-1) who played point guard last season at Panola Junior College in Texas. FAMU also signed Travis Wallace (6-6) who played forward at Campbell High School in Cobb County, Ga., Amin Stevens (6-6) of Mount Vernon Presbyterian in Roswell, Ga., and Nikko Acosta (6-8) from Hartford, Conn.
FAMU's Funderburk rediscovers his confidence Jarvis Funderburk didn't shy away from the question about what has been holding him back during the past three seasons. He mentioned everything from a detected heart murmur to a hamstring and other injuries. Then he got to the issue that might have led to some of the injuries that slowed his progress as a receiver on FAMU's football team. "I was questioning myself. Why me?" he said. "Then, came the blame factor but when I was down and couldn't get any lower, something kicked in."
The spark was a burst of confidence. It showed this past spring when Funderburk, who did a stint with the practice squad, caught more than 75 percent of the balls thrown in his direction. Funderburk said his awakening occurred last season when he found himself on the bench after participating in the coin toss. All he has to show for the limited action he got in six games was minus-4 yards. He began to look for answers, he said, calling on his mentors. They weren't enough, as Funderburk turned to a high power. He began attending church more often and every sermon he heard seemed personal, he said.
Former North Marion High running back Eddie Rocker has begun taking summer courses and participating in workouts at Florida A&M University. The all-state back will pay his own way this season, but the FAMU staff has promised to get him on scholarship by next year. “They had given out all of their scholarships,” Rocker explained. “So they asked me to walk on my freshman year, then I would get a scholarship for the next three years.”
It’s a common enough theme for Rocker, who said had offers from Boston College, Tulsa, Temple and Ball State during his senior season. The running back said he was confused as to when he needed to commit, and by the time he decided, the slots had been filled. Rocker rushed for 1,501 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior, even though he battled a hamstring injury throughout the season. “I think (FAMU) is a good fit,” Rocker said. “They like to run the ball a lot, so as a running back, I like that.”
Rocker found a familiar face on the Tallahassee campus in the form of another former North Marion running back, Andre Jacobs, who was a high school senior when Rocker was a freshman. Jacobs had a breakout spring game for the Rattlers and will also be battling for playing time this fall. For now, Rocker is taking three summer courses and making team workouts a priority as he starts working his way up the depth chart. “I know I’ve got to work hard,” Rocker said. “Nothing is going to be given to me.”
Two years ago Martin Ukpai took a trip to Nigeria that is helping him put his situation as a FAMU quarterback in perspective. Ukpai redshirted his first year, then spent last season on the scout team. He worked his way from sixth to third on the depth chart, but as he prepares for the upcoming preseason camp, there is an ever-present reminder in starter Curtis Pulley and backup Eddie Battle that Ukpai is still a quarterback in waiting. Reflecting on the Nigeria trip that he took in 2007 to his parents' homeland, Ukpai said seeing people endure lives without some basic necessities makes him appreciate where he is on the football team. In a sense, he views it like him going from being a high school starting quarterback to one who has to wait his turn. Savannah State University Conference officials visit SSU Savannah State University on Tuesday continued its pursuit of joining the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference by playing host to an official site visit by members of the historically black NCAA Division I conference. MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas and other conference representatives met with members of SSU's administration and athletic department, and toured the Tigers' athletic facilities. SSU paid the MEAC a $10,000 non-refundable application fee in 2005. The Tigers have competed as an NCAA Division I Independent without conference affiliation since leaving the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2002.
"We need to be a member of a conference and the MEAC seems to be an ideal match for us," SSU President Earl Yarbrough said before attending a luncheon inside Tiger Arena. "We've been doing everything we can to try and make sure we're attractive to the MEAC and, hopefully, they're attracted to us." The MEAC does not have a Georgia school among its 12 members.
Officials from the Mid- Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) visited the campus of Savannah State University (SSU) earlier this week. MEAC officials are thinking about conference expansion while SSU officials are looking for a place to call home. Let’s take a look at what SSU has to offer.
Founded in 1890, SSU is the oldest public historically black college in Georgia and sits on 173 acres of land. Amidst the mossy oaks, one can pick from over 20 undergraduate majors and four graduate programs. Enrollment hit its highest peak during fall 2008 at 3,456. Forty-one percent of those enrolled were from the Savannah metro area while 19 percent hailed from the Atlanta metro area. Fiftyeight percent of the enrollment is made up of females and five percent are nonblacks.
Academically, Savannah State student-athletes are doing well in the classroom. During the 2007- 08 academic year, 31 athletes made the Honor Roll, 14 were on the Dean’s List and two made the President’s List. During the 2008-09 school term, 42 made the Honor Roll, 19 were on the Dean’s List and one made the President’s List. Athletically, SSU offers 15 sports and just ended a three-year NCAA probation for rule violations. SSU has been Division I since 2002 and excuses are beginning to run out on why the program has a hard time competing in the league.
Fresh off its first conference championship in 15 years, the N.C. A&T women's basketball team has been invited to play in the Preseason NIT this November. An invite to a tournament of this magnitude is truly an honor,'' said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs, who is heading into her fifth season. "Out of roughly 300 Division I schools, we are one of 16 teams invited. It shows the women's college basketball world is paying attention to this program and what it has accomplished over the past few seasons. This will be an outstanding experience for my ladies."
Ten of the 16 teams in the field played in the NCAA tournament last season, including Arkansas-Little Rock, Bowling Green, Florida Gulf Coast, Georgia Tech, New Mexico, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Winthrop and Marist. Also in the field are Chicago State, Eastern Illinois, Northern Colorado, Towson and UTEP. Each team is guaranteed three games. The Aggies, who broke a one-year-old school record for wins last season by going 26-7 (15-1 MEAC) will open the tournament at Marist on Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. The winner will move on to play the winner of the Towson at West Virginia matchup.
One big addition. One major subtraction. That is the word coming out of the South Carolina State men’s basketball program. The good news. Thursday, Bulldogs head coach Tim Carter confirmed that he replaced former assistant Kyle Perry with Dwight Evans. The bad news. Jimmy Williams, an All-MEAC freshman team member this season, has decided to transfer to a junior college. “(Williams) called me and told me that he really felt like he could go to a higher-level program,” Carter said. “So, he’s going to transfer to a JUCO, play for a year, and then hopefully transfer to a bigger school.” Williams (6-4, 195), started 17 of the 24 games he played in for S.C. State, averaging 7.8 points per game. He led the team in assists with 69 and was third on the team in steals with 23.
“He was one of the top five freshman in the league this past year so that’s going to be a (heck) of a loss for us,” Carter said. “It happens a lot. That is one of the reasons why you want your players with you in summer school. You can keep them around you, especially a guy as good as he is. “We signed Devon McBride and Shaq Barber (two incoming guards), but I would have never thought we were losing Jimmy. It hurts. He is a tremendous player.”
The proclamation of Schawn Jamison as the best wide receiver at the Garden City Shootout last Friday came on a play where he didn’t even catch the pass thrown his way. Jamison (6-1, 150), a star receiver for Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, had just let a pass from quarterback Montaurus Gleaton skip off his fingertips during the waning moments of his team’s 7-on-7 game against the Woodland Wolverines when a Woodland coach looked back toward his sideline and made the announcement. “That’s the best receiver in this camp,” the coach said. “Did you see the routes he’s been running?”
Apparently, the South Carolina State Bulldogs have seen those routes. Wednesday, Jamison, who had 39 receptions for 809 yards and 10 touchdowns, became the second rising senior receiver for H-K-T to commit to play for the Bulldogs, joining teammate D’twane Fulmer (6-3, 195) who announced his plans to join the Bulldogs in May. “State has a lot of history behind it,” Jamison said during a break in the action at Wednesday’s passing league at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. “I thought that it would be an honor to attend South Carolina State.”
Jamison said he and Fulmer discussed the decision to attend SCSU, which happens to be the alma mater of their head coach, former Bulldogs’ star Jermaine Derricott. “We discussed that and we thought it would be great for both of us to stay together and stay true to Derricott’s system,” he said.
No doubt, this summer has been different on the campus of South Carolina State University. Due to the economic downturn, there was less money to go around and that meant less players on campus for summer school and fewer player-organized summer workouts. With Grambling State and Bethune-Cookman scheduled to open the season -- two road games in six days -- you can bet the turn of events has made for a few sleepless nights for Buddy Pough.
“It could be disastrous for us to not be able to condition our kids and to let them do some of the throwing exercises and drills that they can do among themselves that we’ve done the previous 3-4 summers here,” Pough said in an article in The T&D on June 11. “I’m kind of shaking in my shoes a little bit because the people that we play early will all be further along than us if the situation goes on right now as it looks like it probably will.”
But in tough times, strong teams pull together, and Bulldogs’ standout linebacker Marshall McFadden says that’s what the defending MEAC champions are doing. McFadden estimates around 25 Bulldogs are on campus and working out. Yes, that’s fewer than in past years. “It is a concern to a certain extent, but we have trust in our guys that if they are not going to be here, they are at home working out,” McFadden said after wrapping up a workout Monday afternoon. “Me and Markee (Hamlin) send out texts to make sure everybody is working out and things like that. Hopefully, everybody is on the same page. When they get here we will find out.”
Jackson State University Shasta Averyhardt wins first professional title
SUNCOAST SERIES: Former JSU golfer Shasta Averyhardt of Flint, Mich., earned her first professional title in the SunCoast Ladies Series tournament that wrapped up Thursday at Stoneybrook West Golf Club in Winter Garden. Averyhardt finished at 222 (72-73-77). Jackie Barenborg of Vero Beach shot a final-round 1-under-par 71 to place second while posting a 223 (75-77-71). Anna Green of Fort Pierce tied for fourth at 226 (70-80-76) and amateur Elizabeth Alger of Tequesta was sixth at 231 (82-77-72).
Joseph Wylie spent just one season at the University of Miami. The school announced July 1, 2009 that Wylie has been released from his scholarship. "Freshman safety Joe Wylie has been granted his release by the University of Miami to transfer to Tennessee State University," the school said in a news report. "Wylie played in three games during his freshman season in 2008 (Charleston Southern, Georgia Tech and Duke)." Wylie was a three-star safety prospect coming out of Boyd Anderson High and signed with Miami after considering offers from schools like Ole Miss, Colorado, Auburn and South Carolina.
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Bower is Pennsylvania track's first female feature race champion.
The 19-year-old will gott yet another thrill on August 5, when she competed against Sprint Cup regulars Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart in the Ollie's Bargain Outlet "Battle at the Grove" charity race at Williams Grove. 
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