Hampton Pirates hand North Carolina A&T Aggies first MEAC defeat

HAMPTON, Va. -- Bernadette Fortune scored 30 points and added 11 assists as Hampton knocked off N.C. A&T 90-80 on Monday night in MEAC women's basketball. It was the first conference loss of the season for the Aggies (17-8, 11-1). Hampton is 14-10 overall, 9-3 in the league. Jaleesa Sams led A&T with a career-high 28 points and 10 rebounds. JaQuayla Berry added 20 points, and MEAC Player of the Week Lamona Smalley recorded her fourth double-double in five games (16 points, 12 rebounds).

"That was our first loss," said Patricia Cage-Bibbs, A&T's coach. "I'd much rather have it happen now than to have it happen in the tournament. My young ladies really wanted to go undefeated in the conference. ... If we take care of business, everything will be fine."

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Hampton Pirates Signs a Load of Football Talent

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team, under the direction of second-year head coach Donovan Rose, welcomed in a new class of Pirates on Wednesday, National Signing Day. The Pirates signed eight transfers, as well as 12 other recruits. Four of Hampton’s recruits hail from the Hampton Roads area – including two athletes who went to high school in the city of Hampton. Five transfers are coming to Hampton from FBS (Formerly Div. I-A) schools, and the Pirates’ high school recruits have won a combined five state championships and six all-state honors.

“I feel really good about this class as it is my first full class as a head coach,” said Rose. “We are trying to get back where we once were here at Hampton and with these additions I feel that we can get there. It was not that long ago when Hampton won the MEAC and made it to the playoffs year after year and it is my task to get us back there and this is a major step in that direction.”

Hampton University Football Class of 2010 Signees

FBS Transfers
1. Jamal Lewis (Sr., OG, 6’4”, 310, Huntsville, Ala.): transfer from Middle Tennessee State; an All-Metro and All-State selection in high school.
2. Rafael Vazquez (Jr., OT, 6’6”, 320, Orlando, Fla.): transfer from Tulane University; All-District and All-County in high school.
3. Jeremiah Swartz (So., RB, 5’11”, 238, Orlando, Fla.): transfer from Iowa State University; rushed for 264 yards on 71 carries in 2009, averaging 3.7 yards per carry.
4. Marell Evans (Jr., LB, 6’3”, 230, Richmond, Va.): transfer from the University of Michigan; two-time All-State, Player of the Year in high school.
5. David Luckett (So., OC, 6’2”, 270, Waldorf, Md.): transfer from Winston-Salem State University; All-County, All-Conference and All-State in high school.
6. Nu’Keese Richardson (So., WR, 5’10”, 170): transfer from the University of Tennessee; caught eight passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in 2009 for the Volunteers – including three receptions for 54 yards and a score against Memphis.
7. Donte’ Davis (Sr., WR, 6’1”, 185, Chantilly, Va.): transfer from Syracuse University; caught 24 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown in 2009; named All-Big East as a freshman.
8. Lance Hawkins (R-Fr., DL, 6’2”, 315, Virginia Beach, Va.): All-state selection who redshirted as a walk-on for the Pirates.

High School Signees
9. Courtney Hunter (LB, 6’3”, 215, Middleton HS, Tampa, Fla.): Hillsborough County All-Star.
10. Andre Griffin (WR, 5’11”, 175, Phoebus HS, Hampton, Va.): played on three state championship teams, including the last two.
11. Leron Thomas (QB, 6’2”, 185, Belle Glades Central HS, Belle Glades, Fla.): All-State, All-County and All-Conference, 26-1 as a starter, threw for 70 career TDs and 6,791 yards.
12. John Dougherty (DE, 6’2”, 230, Milford Academy, Harrisburg, Pa.): All-State and All-Conference.
13. Greg Reese (TE, 6’6”, 220, Woodview Wilson HS, Camden, N.J.): All-Conference.
14. Delbert Tyler (LB, 5’11”, 225, Gateway HS, Pittsburgh, Pa.): All-Conference.
15. Norman Booker (OL, 6’2”, 265, Berkmar HS, Atlanta, Ga.): Preseason All-State selection.
16. John Rose (ATH, 5’10”, 190, Holy Cross HS, Jamaica, N.Y.): All-League CHSFL.
17. Rodrigo Hernandez (K, 6’1”, 155, Miami Springs HS, Miami Springs, Fla.): Second Team All-County.
18. Lorenzo Shinhoster (WR, 5’7”, 170, Miami Northwestern HS, Miami, Fla.): state champion as a sophomore, caught 33 passes for 655 yards and eight scores in 2009.
19. Robert Copeland (DL, 6’3”, 220, Bethel HS, Hampton, Va.): Second Team All-District, Second Team All-State.
20. Donte Dotson (ATH, 5’9”, 170, Deerfield HS, Deerfield, Fla.): named All-State, also set the 4x100-meter relay national track record.

Hampton Pirates adds Old Dominion, Central Michigan to 2010 Football Schedule

Hampton University Pirates second year head football coach Donovan Rose faces new opponents Old Dominion and Central Michigan in 2010.

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team, under second-year head coach Donovan Rose, will play an exciting schedule of games next fall that will include four marquee home games and two new opponents. HU officials released the school’s 2010 football schedule on Saturday, noting that the school has entered into a two-year contract to play Old Dominion University of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and a one-year pact with Central Michigan University of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

“This will be a challenging and exciting schedule for Hampton,” said HU athletics director Lonza Hardy Jr. “Playing ODU fits in well with our goal of playing more NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams in our region. Our vision is to play more CAA teams as well as forging relationships with other conferences, such as the Ivy League, the Atlantic 10 and the Big South. Adding Central Michigan gives our team the chance to step into the Bowl Subdivision arena and showcase our program.”

The Pirates will open the season on Sept. 2, when they head to Mount Pleasant, Mich. to face Central Michigan. From there, Hampton will head to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 11 to take on Howard in its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game of the year. Hampton’s first home game of the season will come on Sept. 18, when the Pirates take on North Carolina A&T at Armstrong Stadium at 6 p.m. as part of Parents’ Weekend, Alumni Day and Military Appreciation Day.

The Pirates will have a bye on Sept. 25. After a trip to Dover, Del. on Oct. 2 to face Delaware State, the Pirates will head to Durham, N.C. for a non-conference game against North Carolina Central. The Pirates will then return to Armstrong Stadium for the annual Battle of the Bay Classic, held Oct. 16 against Norfolk State at 1 p.m. From there, the Pirates head to Orangeburg, S.C. on Oct. 23 to face defending MEAC champion South Carolina State.

The Pirates will close out October with its second annual Hall of Fame Game, which will be Oct. 30 against second-year program Old Dominion. Kick-off will be 2 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium. Hampton’s home schedule will conclude on Nov. 6, when the Pirates face Bethune-Cookman for homecoming at 1 p.m. Hampton will close out the season with a pair of road games -- Nov. 13 at Florida A&M and Nov. 20 at Morgan State.

“I think playing Central Michigan is a great opportunity for us to not only play a Bowl Subdivision team, but it also gives us added incentives to work out hard this spring,” said Rose. “It’ll also help us to see where we are as a program and to see how to measure ourselves. The guys and the staff are all excited. “Playing ODU will be great in that it’ll bring the whole community together,” added Rose. “ODU did a great job of getting its program started back last season. Playing teams like this outside the conference, in addition to our conference opponents, will hopefully help us in taking our program where we want it to be.”

Hampton finished last season at 5-6 overall and 3-5 in the MEAC and qualified for the I-AA/FCS play-offs five times in its history, including a three-year run in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

Hampton University Pirates 2010 Schedule

9/2 at Central Michigan, Mt. Pleasant, MI
9/11 at Howard University, Washington, D.C.
9/18 North Carolina A&T, Hampton, VA
9/25 OPEN
10/2 at Delaware State, Dover, DE
10/9 at North Carolina Central, Durham, N.C.
10/16 Norfolk State, Hampton, VA
10/23 at South Carolina State, Orangeburg, S.C.
10/30 Old Dominion, Hampton, VA
11/6 Bethune-Cookman, Hampton, VA (Homecoming)
11/13 at Florida A&M, Tallahassee, FL
11/20 at Morgan State, Baltimore, MD
11/28 NCAA FCS Division I Playoffs

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Former Hampton Pirates All-American Latrell Scott Named Head Football Coach at Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond has introduced Latrell Scott as its new head football coach. Scott, who has previously served as assistant coach with the Spiders, was introduced by Director of Athletics Jim Miller as the school’s 34th football coach during a press conference December 15th at the Robins Center. A highly-regarded recruiter and graduate of nearby Lee-Davis High School, Scott brings 11 years of coaching experience back to the Spiders after spending the last two seasons as the wide receivers coach at the University of Tennessee and the University of Virginia, respectively.

“Coach Scott will provide great leadership for our football program,” said Miller. “He is an energetic young coach and proven recruiter who many of our players know and respect. He is a Richmond native, former assistant head coach here, and a great fit for the University. Latrell Scott will continue the Richmond tradition of attracting student-athletes of high-character who are champions on and off the field.”

“Growing up in Richmond, and having the experience of coaching at the University of Richmond previously, the opportunity to be the head coach is incredible,” said Scott. “The students, faculty, staff, and administration of this University are second-to-none, and with their continued support, we will continue the success that we have come to expect from the Richmond Football program.”

Prior to joining the Volunteers’ staff in 2008, Scott, 34, served for three years at Richmond under former head coach Dave Clawson as the wide receivers coach. He was promoted to assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator before the 2007 campaign. Richmond was 26-12, made two NCAA Playoff appearances and beat a BCS team (Duke) with Scott on staff. The Spiders shattered the offensive record books in 2007, which ended with a then-school record 11 wins and the school’s first-ever appearance in the National Semifinals.

Richmond’s leading pass-catcher was now-rising senior Kevin Grayson with a school-record 68 receptions for a freshman-record 970 yards and seven TDs. Then-senior Arman Shields began 2007 with a monster effort against Vanderbilt, catching 12 balls for 107 yards, before an injury limited him to just two more brief appearances. His skills and development under Scott, however, were enough to earn him a spot in the NFL Combine and a fourth-round NFL Draft selection by the Oakland Raiders. Of the 10 team records eclipsed in that season, Scott’s wide receivers helped the Spiders set new standards for scoring average (34.9), touchdowns (63) and total offense (5,675).

Scott inherits a Richmond team that went 11-2 in 2009, won the CAA Football Championship and reached the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Playoffs – the program’s third-consecutive postseason appearance and 10th in school history. The 2008 National Champions return eight starters next season, including arguably the best receiving and linebacking corps in CAA Football. Scott arrived in Richmond after spending three seasons as wide receivers coach at VMI. During his tenure in Lexington, the Keydets led the Big South Conference in passing in 2003. His first coaching assignment was at Fork Union Military Academy, where he spent two seasons before being named an assistant at Western Carolina in 2001.

A three-year starter at tight end during his playing days at Hampton University, Scott earned All-America honors following his senior season. He played on two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and NCAA playoff teams and also competed in the Gridiron All-Star Classic in Orlando, Fla. Scott graduated with a sport management degree in 2001. Scott is married to the former Brandi Bradby of New Kent, Va.

Personal
Born: July 17, 1975 in Richmond, Va. Family: Wife, Brandi

Education
High School: Lee-Davis High School, Mechanicsville, Va. College: Hampton University (sport management), 2001

Playing Experience
Hampton University (1994-97)

Coaching Experience
1999-2000: Fork Union Military Academy
2001: Western Carolina (wide receivers)
2002-04: VMI (wide receivers)
2005-06: Richmond (wide receivers/recruiting coord.) **FCS Quarterfinals
2007: Richmond (asst. head coach/WRs/recruiting coord.) **FCS Semifinals
2008: Tennessee (wide receivers)
2009: Virginia (wide receivers)

What They're Saying About Latrell Scott

"Latrell Scott is an outstanding young coach. He brings great energy to recruiting and is dynamic on the field working with players. Latrell is trustworthy and engaged very well with families, prospects and staff. Richmond has made a great choice and I wish him very well."
--Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee Head Coach (1992-2008)

"This is a great hire by the University of Richmond. Latrell will do a great job. He knows the school, he knows Virginia and he knows the league. I'm confident he'll pick up right where Mike London left off." -- Joe Taylor, Florida A&M Head Coach and Scott's former coach at Hampton University.

"I'm very excited for Latrell. He is well-known in the coaching fraternity for his communication and recruiting ability. With him being at Richmond previously, he understands the academic requirements it takes to be successful. He's a good football coach and I'm confident he'll continue the championship tradition at my alma mater." --Mike London, Virginia Head Coach

Video: Former UVA Receivers Coach Named Richmond Head Coach

UR names Scott football coach

University of Richmond Athletic Director Jim Miller called Dave Clawson a few days ago. The subject: Latrell Scott, whom Miller was considering as the Spiders' football coach. Clawson, UR's coach during 2004-07 and now Bowling Green's coach, acknowledged the conventional wisdom that Scott, 34, was probably a couple of years away from having the background expected of a head-coaching candidate. But Clawson, for whom Scott worked at Richmond, also made a point that Miller noted.

"In two years, you're not going to be able to get him as a head coach," Clawson told Miller. "If you wait, he may not be available." Miller did not wait. UR named Scott its coach yesterday after an eight-day search that began with Mike London accepting the University of Virginia job vacated by Al Groh. Miller met with Scott, a Virginia assistant this season, over the weekend. Scott never has been an offensive or defensive coordinator, which bothered Miller less than it would have several years ago. "I think we're on the cutting edge of that, on the front side, of having more coaches who specialize in being the CEO of the program," Miller said.

Hampton University graduate Scott to coach Richmond Spiders in football

RICHMOND - Hampton University graduate Latrell Scott has received his first head-coaching job, and it's at one of the Football Championship Subdivision's top programs. Scott, 34, was introduced Tuesday as coach at the University of Richmond. He becomes the 34th head coach in program history, one of the youngest coaches in the country, and takes over at an opportune time. The Spiders won the national championship for the first time last season. This year, they spent time at No. 1 in the nation, shared the Colonial Athletic Association championship with Villanova and advanced to the playoff quarterfinals, losing to Appalachian State in the closing seconds.

Scott, who played tight end for HU and graduated in 1999, is widely respected as a dynamic recruiter. At his news conference, he said keeping the Spiders' 14 current verbal commitments is his top priority. "If you want to ask the question if I think I'm prepared, I think I've been prepared by some of the best," Scott said, mentioning coaching mentors like former Richmond coaches Dave Clawson and Mike London, former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer and former Virginia coach Al Groh. "I've been raised by some of the best head coaches in the country."

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Hampton U. lures two prize Florida products

Glades Central starting quarterback Leron "L.J."Thomas is a Pirate early commitment.

Florida has long been recognized as a fertile recruiting ground, and Hampton University is now mining that prime territory as well. The Pirates have landed early commitments from two products of Glades Central High in Belle Grade, Fla., where first-year recruiting coordinator and running-backs coach Stephen Field once coached. Johnnie Dixon, a Rivals.com four-star defensive back/athlete, signed with Auburn out of Glades Central in 2007, but didn't qualify academically. He landed at traditional junior-college power Pearl River (Miss.) Community College, where he had 22 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions in 10 games in 2008.



Dixon said he kept in contact with Field, who sold him on an HU program that includes two other former Glades Central players in freshmen running back Antonio McCloude and fullback Vincent Harper. Dixon, 6-foot and 195 pounds, said he's a better player after two years at Pearl River, which finished 6-3 in 2009 and where he played cornerback and wide receiver.

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Blogger Notes: L.J. comes from a very talented Glades Central program...He is the fifth Raider to commit this season, joining DB Travis Bell (West Virginia), DB/WR Greg Dent (Miami), TE Clive Walford (Miami) and DB/RB Antwon Chisholm (Mississippi State). The 6-2, 175 star was the best quarterback in the region last season and has had several discussions with Florida International. Hampton is the only program so far, to offer him a scholarship during the early recruitment period.

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Delaware State Hornets 21, Hampton Pirates 6

DSU athletic director Derek A. Carter

DSU fights for first win

HAMPTON, Va. -- There would be no last-second heartbreak for Delaware State this year. A year after a late touchdown gave Hampton a win in Alumni Stadium, Delaware State's Olusegun Ayanbiola snatched an interception and ran it back 13 yards for a touchdown to seal the Hornets' 21-6 win over Hampton at Armstrong Stadium. A glance at the stats would indicate domination by Hampton, which had 390 yards of offense to the Hornets' 277. The Pirates also had more first downs and forced six punts. The Pirates also were flagged 14 times for 141 yards and were picked off three times.

Mistakes, flags doom Pirates

HAMPTON - It's tough to beat a quality team when you give away yards and the ball. That was the theme of the day as Hampton fell to Delaware State 21-6 at Armstrong Stadium. Hampton was flagged 14 times for 141 yards and intercepted off three times. "We kept shooting ourselves in the foot, but my hat goes off to them because they obviously did enough to win," Hampton coach Donovan Rose said. "I thought our offense was doing fine, but every time we got a good drive going, we'd get a big penalty or give the ball away. I know it's disappointing to our guys right now, but it's not the end of the world."

The statistics indicate domination by Hampton, which had 390 yards of offense to the Hornets' 277. The Pirates also had more first downs and forced six punts. Yet every time they seemed poised to break out, something held them back. Hampton threatened in the first quarter after a 31-yard run by LaMarcus Coker gave it the ball on the Hornets' 18. The Pirates lost three yards on the next three plays before Jordan Stovall came up short on a 38-yard field-goal try.

Attendance: 4,632 Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, VA

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Alabama A&M Bulldogs 31, Hampton Pirates 24

A&M makes key stops down stretch

Alabama A&M's defense, under pressure for most of the second half Saturday night against Hampton University, thought it had come away with a game-saving stand with less than two minutes remaining. The Bulldogs had stopped the Pirates, giving the ball back to their offense. However, running back Ulysses Banks fumbled on the ensuing play and Hampton recovered it, forcing A&M's defense to come up with yet another stop. Jeremy Maddox, who had been held in check for much of the game, came to the Bulldogs' rescue.

A 6-foot, 263-pound All-Southwestern Athletic Conference defensive end, Maddox had managed just one sack and a tackle for loss against the Pirates. However, with the game on the line, he broke through and sacked Hampton quarterback David Legree, and the Bulldogs hung on for a 31-24 victory before an announced crowd of 6,377 at Louis Crews Stadium. "I missed three sacks," said Maddox, clearly upset with himself, "but I got the one that counted. I knew we had to make a stop for us to win. I think we got a little ahead of ourselves and didn't play as well in the third quarter, but we came together and stepped it up in the fourth quarter and got the win."

Finally, Segura has some good news for Mom

New Orleans native is an A&M starter after three years of injuries, disappointments. Raymond Segura calls his mother back home in New Orleans almost nightly. Unfortunately for Segura, the Alabama A&M weakside linebacker hasn't had much to offer his mom, Angela Waxter, concerning his football career. Truth be told, Segura's first three seasons have been filled with one injury after another. The list includes shoulder, back, foot and knee injuries. "I've dealt with just about every injury you can have," Segura said. Still, despite all of his ailments, Segura kept the faith and, because of an injury to one of his teammates, was inserted into the starting lineup last week against Tennessee State. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound redshirt junior didn't disappoint. He had plenty to tell his mother after the game.

Mitchell:Study in perseverance

Losing two years to ineligibility fails to faze A&M receiver. Anthony Mitchell was headed for stardom. A 6-foot-2, 197-pound receiver, Mitchell was supposed to team with Thomas Harris to give Alabama A&M one of the best tandems in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Unfortunately, eligibility issues got in the way. Mitchell was the team's third-leading receiver in 2006 as a sophomore when A&M downed Arkansas-Pine Bluff to win the SWAC championship. With quarterback Kelcy Luke back along with a number of returning offensive starters, the Bulldogs were expected to repeat the following year. However, Mitchell, who had 20 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns during A&M's championship year, wasn't there to participate, having been ruled academically ineligible for the 2007 season. Jackson State beat A&M late that season and went on to win the SWAC title.

A & M holds off Hampton

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Over and over, Alabama A&M quarterback Kevin Atkins dropped back to pass and scanned the field for wide receiver Thomas Harris. The Hampton University defense could do nothing to stop it. Harris caught 10 passes for 224 yards with two touchdowns, and the Bulldogs held on to beat the Pirates 31-24 Saturday night at Louis Crews Stadium. It was the first loss for Hampton coach Donovan Rose, whose Pirates fell to 0-5 on the road against Southwestern Athletic Conference schools.

"Defensively, we've got to find a way to stop the pass," Rose said. "They threw the ball something like 36 times in the first half, and I'm still waiting on our guys to recover. We've got to find a way to stop that and give our offense the ball. Thirty-one points and 24 points in two games, defensively, we've got to find a way to stop that."Twelve seconds into the game, it appeared as if the Pirates could name their score. Senior running back LaMarcus Coker took the A&M kickoff at the 13, cut up the middle, faked his way past a couple of Bulldog defenders and returned the kick 87 yards for a touchdown. Jordan Stovall's extra point gave Hampton a 7-0 lead before the echoes of the national anthem had died down.

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Hampton Pirates 31, North Carolina Central 24

Hampton U. rallies late on Coker's 29-yard run

Hampton, VA--LaMarcus Coker's touchdown run technically measured 29 yards. Throw in the long celebration run on Hampton University's newly surfaced track and it was closer to 100 — at a clip few other than Usain Bolt could manage. Coker's sprint to the end zone on a draw with 1 minute, 28 seconds to play in the game gave the Pirates a come-from-behind 31-24 win over North Carolina Central. His run afterward was a combination of celebration for new head coach Donovan Rose, and an expression of relief for a Hampton team that seemed beaten only 90 seconds earlier.

"At that point I was having a horrible game, but I told my teammates, 'I'll get it this time,' " said Coker, who ran for only 59 yards. "After I scored, I just got emotional and didn't know what to do, so I just ran." Pirates, quarterback David Legree, who started because school record-setting quarterback Herbert Bynes was hobbled by a sprained ankle, added, "That's Coker for you, man. Coker will give you that five yards a pop, five yards a pop, and then spring the big play on you." The Pirates (1-0) needed the big play to secure the non-conference win. The Eagles disintegration moments earlier put them in position to get it.

Happy return for HU QB

Hampton University quarterback David Legree had not played in a football game since 2006, as a senior at South Shore High School in New York. He said it felt more like 20 years."And I'm only 19," he joked.Legree, a transfer from Syracuse University, handled himself admirably in a fill-in role. He completed 10-of-18 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown in the Pirates' 31-24 win over N.C. Central. Most important, he displayed poise after a rough start. On the first series of the game, he threw an interception, which the Eagles converted into a touchdown.

Often under heavy pressure, Legree was sacked on the Pirates' next two possessions, which ended in punts. But, after Julio Sanchez forced a fumble by Eagles quarterback Michael Johnson, Legree put his new scrambling experience to work. Hounded yet again by an Eagles defender, Legree scrambled to the right. His run prompted receiver Damon McDaniel's defender to break away from him in case Legree ran with the ball. Legree braked and threw to a wide-open McDaniel. The 32-yard touchdown pass tied the score at 7 and settled Legree.

QB coach Pep Hamilton knows how to deal with talent

As the point guard on the same AAU team as college stars Jeff Capel and Jeff McInnis, Pep Hamilton learned to funnel his basketball knowledge to highly skilled players. Now, 15-plus years later, Hamilton finds himself in a similar situation as the Chicago Bears' quarterbacks coach, working with Pro Bowler Jay Cutler. Inheriting such a talented player should make Hamilton's job a lot easier, considering the unsteady quarterback situation from a year ago.

3rd. year Chicago Bears QB Coach Pep Hamilton is a former Hampton University Top Student and star quarterback.

"I take pride in the fact it's my job to try and help guys realize their full potential," Hamilton said. "We didn't achieve our ultimate goal as a team [last season], so there's no way I can say that any us did our job to the level we expected."

Hamilton, who turns 35 on Sept. 19, is in his third season with the Bears and sixth in the NFL. The Charlotte native never played in the league, opting to jump into coaching after his last season as quarterback at Hampton University. Yet his lack of pro playing experience has not impeded his progress up the coaching ranks. Cutler is the third first-round quarterback under Hamilton's tutelage, joining former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith of 49ers and ex-Bear Rex Grossman. No doubt Cutler is the most talented of the three.

Hampton bowler returns to No. 1

Becca Glazier of Sparetimes headed the girls all-star team with a 185 average. Glazier, the Hampton Women's Bowling Association Female Bowler of the Year for 2009, is a repeat selection. As a freshman at Hampton University, she hopes to pursue a career in forensic science and will compete for the school's bowling team this season.

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Bill Laimbeer quits Shock gig; Rick Mahorn (Hamptonite) named new coach

Head Coach, Rick Mahorn, WNBA Detroit Shock

Former Pistons star Bill Laimbeer resigned as the head coach and general manager of the defending WNBA champion Shock this afternoon, following an immensely successful 6 1/2-year run. Rick Mahorn (Hampton University) was promoted to head coach and Cheryl Reeve was promoted to assistant coach/general manager. It is believed that Laimbeer’s long-term aspiration is to become an NBA head coach. The Shock is 1-2 this season.

“It’s disappointing that Bill has decided to step down as head coach and general manager of the Detroit Shock,” Shock president Tom Wilson said in a released statement. “But at the same time, Bill led the Shock to three WNBA championships and a league-record 27 postseason victories during his seven-year tenure. We thank him for his guidance and dedication to the franchise and our organization.”

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The Rick Mahorn Story...

• Derrick (Rick) Allen Mahorn, born 9/21/1958 in Hartford, Connecticut.
• Played high school ball at Weaver H.S. in Hartford, CT., but didn't start for the basketball team until his senior year. Received more scholarship offers as a tightend and defensive end playing for the Weaver football team.
• Played college basketball at Hampton University as a 6'10 center/power forward.
• Rick graduated with a degree in business administration and became the most successful basketball player in the history of Hampton University.
• First player from Hampton University ever drafted by the NBA.
• Drafted in 2nd round, 35th overall, 1980Washington Bullets (Washington Wizards).
• Pro career --1980–1999; Played for: Washington Bullets (1980–1985); Detroit Pistons (1985–1989); Philadelphia 76ers (1989–1991); Virtus Roma (1991–1992); New Jersey Nets (1992–1996); Detroit Pistons (1996–1998); and Philadelphia 76ers (1999).
• In 1981, Mahorn picked up his first NBA nickname playing for the Washington Bullets. Teamed with Jeff Ruland 6'11", 275-pound, they formed an intimidating inside tandem; one that Boston Celtics announcer Johnny Most dubbed "McFilthy" [Ruland] and "McNasty" [Mahorn].
• Mahorn won his only NBA championship (1989) with the Pistons and served as one of the team leaders of the Detroit Bad Boys teams of the late 1980s.
• Known as the master of intimidation, Mahorn shelled out $11,000 in fines for rough play in 1989 and was the baddest of the Bad Boys in NBA Detroit.
• 1989-91-- teamed with superstar Charles Barkley to form the top-rebounding duo of "Thump N' Bump."
• Served as assistant coach under former teammate Bill Laimbeer with the WNBA's Detroit Shock for five seasons.
• Won WNBA titles in 2006 and 2008 as an assistant coach to Bill Laimbeer, with Cheryl Reeve, former George Washington University women assistant coach.
• 6/15/2009, Mahorn became head coach of the WNBA's Detroit Shock with a head coaching resume limited to 22 games in the CBA.

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HU men's basketball coach resigns

Coach Kevin Nickelberry joins the exit train of successful former HU Pirates coaches -- Patricia Cage-Bibbs, Steve Merfeld, Bobby Collins, Joe Taylor, Jerry Holmes and Walter Mebane.

Hampton University men's basketball coach Kevin Nickelberry resigned Wednesday with one year remaining on his multi-year contract. Hampton athletic director Lonza Hardy said in a release that Nickelberry resigned now so that his decision would not affect recruiting. "I want to thank coach Nickelberry for his three years of service to Hampton University," Hardy said. "While we hate to lose him, I respect his decision to resign in order to pursue other opportunities."

Hardy said assistant head coach Edward Joyner will be the Pirates interim head coach through the 2009-10 season.Nickelberry, 44, said in the same release that the decision was a tough one. "I want to thank Hampton University for giving me my first college head-coaching opportunity," Nickelberry said. "Everyone here has helped to work to make me a better coach." Joyner joined Nickelberry's staff when Nickelberry was hired at Hampton in 2006. Joyner, a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C., served as an assistant for 11 years at his alma matter.

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Ex-Crabbers receiver returns to play for HU

Reginald "P.J." Hicks' long football road has brought him back home. Hicks, a former wide receiver for Hampton High, will play next season for Hampton University, completing a two-year odyssey that took him to Kansas and California. After concentrating on basketball for most of his high school career, Hicks played one season for Crabbers football coach Mike Smith, catching 23 passes for 458 yards and five touchdowns as a senior in 2006. The Crabbers went 9-1 in that regular season but lost their playoff opener.

"(Football) was just always something my mama always wanted me to do," Hicks said, and it ended up being his path to college — albeit a winding one. Hicks, 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, first went to Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, but couldn't find a spot on a roster crowded at his position. So he ended up at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif., where he played for one semester.

Hicks is one of four additions to the Pirates' 10-member 2009 signing class announced Feb. 4. The others are T.J. Patterson, a 5-11, 180-pound athlete from Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School in Beaumont, Texas; Jordan Stovall, a 6-2, 185-pound kicker/punter from River View High School in Elgin, S.C.; and Ken Overstreet, a defensive back from West Los Angeles College.

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New HU assistant has 'unbelievable heart'

One thing is certain about Hampton University's new recruiting coordinator: He knows how to keep a clear head. On Dec. 6, Stephen Field, then in his second season as a graduate assistant at the University of Miami, was driving near a busy interchange with I-95 when he saw a car smashed into a tree. He broke the car's windshield with a hammer and pulled the driver, a man whose identity was not released, free of the smoking car. So the coach now charged with convincing recruits to come to Hampton can tell them he's a bona fide hero, right?

"There were, like, 1,000 articles, and that's what they said," said Field, who didn't want to say much else about the rescue. Clint Hurtt, the Hurricanes' defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, wasn't as reticent."It didn't surprise me. That's the kind of heart he has," Hurtt said. "When Coach Field first got the GA job down here in Miami, he didn't have a place to stay, so I let him come stay with me. He's a great person, a great guy with an unbelievable heart. ... He's the kind of person, if you call him at 2 o'clock in the morning and you have an issue, he's going to roll right out of bed to do whatever he can to help you out."

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Hampton signees

STEVEN ROBINSON RB 6-2 220 Georgia Military/Milledgeville, Ga. Second-team All-American had more than 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in two years at Georgia Military.

DARYELL WALKER DE 6-5 225 Bethel High School/Hampton. Second-team all-district pick had 50 tackles and two sacks as a senior.

LANCE HAWKINS DT 6-2 310 Atlantic Shores High School/Virginia Beach. First-team all-state as a senior and as a junior.

ANTONIO McCLOUDE RB 5-7 175 Glades Central High School/Belle Glade, Fla. All-state pick and team MVP as a senior; played in the Outback Steakhouse all-star game.

RAY RIJOS OG 6-2 330 Bayside High School/Virginia Beach. Second-team All-Tidewater pick as a senior; two-time All-Beach District selection.

DENZEL BONNER C 6-2 305 Godby High School/Tallahassee, Fla. Second-team all-area and all-state pick; played in the Florida-Georgia Border War all-star game.

VINCENT HARPER FB 6-0 260 Glades Central High School/Belle Glade, Fla. All-area pick voted "Toughest Player in the Area"; had 50 pancake blocks as a senior.

GABRIEL SMITH FB 5-11 250 Friendship Collegiate High School/Washington, D.C. All-conference pick and an all-independent-school selection by The Washington Post.

JORDAN DAVIS QB 6-0 180 William Penn/York, Pa. County player of the year and all-state honorable-mention selection.

JAMIE SLAUGHTER DT 6-3 280 Hazelwood East High School/St. Louis. First-team all-state selection in Missouri.

Hampton tops WSSU 59-43

Reeling Rams commit 25 turnovers, lose their fourth straight

RICHMOND,VA - Another game, another loss for Winston-Salem State. The pattern was all too familiar for Coach Bobby Collins of the Rams. After sleepwalking through the early parts of the first half against Hampton, the Rams fell in a deep hole and spent the rest of the way trying to climb out. It all added up to a 59-43 loss to the Pirates in the Freedom Classic at the Richmond Coliseum.

In his postgame address to his team, Collins spent about 20 extra minutes in the locker room and his message was clear. "He just wants us to stay positive and he said we lost this game, it wasn't anything that Hampton did, we lost it," said reserve guard Brandon Hobbs of the Rams. The Rams (4-12) had a season-high 25 turnovers, shot 33 percent and looked out of sorts most of the game. It was the Rams' fourth straight loss.

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Fast Start Leads Kent State To 68-43 Win Over Hampton

Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications

HAMPTON, VA — Kent State used a 14-0 run to start the game on the way to a 68-43 win over host Hampton University tonight at the Hampton Convocation Center. The Golden Flashes improved to 7-6 with their fourth win in the last five games after holding the Pirates (6-7) scoreless for the first seven minutes of the game.

Playing in his home state, junior Tyree Evans (Richmond, VA/Motlow C.C. (Tenn.) scored six points during the opening run and finished the game with a team high 21 points, including five three pointers Junior guard Chris Singletary (Chicago, IL/Florida Prep.) added 11 points while handing out five assists. Singletary now has 24 assists in his last four games. “I was very amped up for the game and I was excited that my family came out and supported me” said Evans. “It was a good game for Kent State basketball. We talked on defense and let the offense take care of itself.”

Behind the 14-0 start Kent State took a 35-18 halftime lead by forcing the Pirates into 13 turnovers. The Golden Flashes started the second half with a 14-4 run as they built up a 27-point cushion and never looked back. Evans, who is shooting 53.8 percent (14-26) from three this season hit two three-pointers during the stretch.

Senior Julian Sullinger (Columbus, Ohio/Fork Union Military Academy (VA)), scored 10 points to round out the double-digit scorers for Kent State which shot 48.2 percent from the field. Hampton connected on just 23.2 percent for the game. “We played solid defense, but it was a tough shooting night for them,” said Head Coach Geno Ford, “It was nice to get the win, but our defense look a lot better because they missed some open shots.”

Kent State travels to Temple on Monday. Hampton travels to Bethune Cookman on January 10th for a 4 p.m. contest.

Dolphins/Former HU Pirates Kendall Langford Unfiltered

Dolphins rookie DE Kendall Langford attempts to knock the snot out of Bills QB J.P. Losman in road game several weeks ago.

Kendall Langford has stood tall all season, anchoring one end of the Dolphins' front line. The Hampton University product, who has contributed 31 tackles, two sacks and three pass deflections this season has been one of the Dolphins' four rookie starters who have held their own this season. His steady play as a run stuffer has not only provided hope for the future, but the present looks pretty bright.

During this unfiltered Langford, the Dolphins' third-round pick, explains why he wouldn't do anything different with his football career if he had to do it all over again, he breaks down the other rookie contributors, and he talks about his team's storybook turnaround.

I'm disappointed to inform you that Langford did dodge my bar fight question, calling it a "trap." Considering he beat out Matt Roth for the starting spot during training camp it's hard to believe he's scared of the team's resident tough guy. But exactly how am I going to force a guy twice my size to answer a question. I tried, but much like this season, Langford held his ground.

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Pirates' defense smothers Yale Bulldogs

Junior guard Vinny Simpson left shooting game at dorm, going 0-8 in game against Yale.

HAMPTON, VA - Hampton University has developed the habit of smothering opponents on defense and making do with marginal shooting. Entering Tuesday night's home contest against Yale, the Pirates (6-6) had held foes to 39.4 percent field-goal shooting, while making only 38.3 percent of their shots. With 32.3 percent shooting Tuesday, the offensive touch eluded Hampton again, but in the final five minutes, freshmen Chris Tolson and Kwame Morgan drained three successive 3-pointers to lift Hampton to a 58-56 come-from-behind win.

Morgan gave Hampton its first lead and capped a 9-0 Pirate spurt when he fired in a trey from the right wing for a 50-48 advantage with 5:18 remaining. Until that basket, Hampton had made only one of 15 attempts from beyond the 3-point line. Yale's Travis Pinick tied the score at 50 with a basket, and then Tolson, who led all scorers with 21 points, pumped in the next eight Pirate points. Tolson made a 3-pointer with 4:41 left to regain the lead at 53-50. He then drew a foul while shooting from long-range and made two of three free throws. When he drilled a 3-pointer with 3:05 left, Hampton led 58-52.

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Hampton coach says changes are coming after 6-5 season

Jerry Holmes eyes changes, possibly in the assistant ranks, after his first season at the helm.

Jerry Holmes isn't satisfied. Not with Hampton's 6-5 record in his first season as head coach. Not with a team that was 5-1 before losing four straight games and its focus. And not with some of his assistant coaches, many of them holdovers from former Pirates coach Joe Taylor's staff. "If I had to do it again, I still would give those guys an opportunity to try to prove themselves, but now, Year 2 is gonna be what I want," Holmes said. "I'm not a 6-5 kind of guy."

Holmes wouldn't specify any planned coaching changes, but clearly was unhappy with the Pirates' offensive imbalance. Hampton averaged 247 passing yards per game but just 106 on the ground. That changed in Saturday's season finale, when the Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak with a 17-13 win at Morgan State. The Pirates attempted just seven passes but ran for 124 yards against a defense that had been giving up only 92 per game.

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Wasted chances costly for Morgan Bears

Morgan State leading rusher Devan James

Morgan State's dream of capturing a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship ended with last week's loss to South Carolina State, but the Bears still had much at stake in yesterday's season finale against visiting Hampton. The Bears, nonetheless, squandered another huge defensive effort and fell to Hampton, 17-13, despite giving up only 167 total yards. Morgan State blew opportunities to finish with a winning conference record for the first time since 2003 and to have its third winning season in almost 30 years.

"We contribute to our losses. We contribute to our demise," Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley said. "Everything they got, we gave them. We have got to get to the point where players make plays. As a team, after you work all week, you have to look out for each other." Bears running back Devan James, who leads the MEAC with 111.4 rushing yards per game, finished with 112 on 25 carries. Morgan State (6-6, 4-4 MEAC) had 279 total yards and led the time of possession 35:11 to 24:29.

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Attendance: 2,145 at Hughes Stadium, Baltimore, MD

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ESPN GameDay coming to FAMU, Saturday

Watch out FAMU and MEAC! ESPN will be coming to FAMU on Saturday.

The multimedia giant will bring its popular GameDay show to the Florida A&M campus this weekend, the first time the show will broadcast from the campus of an historically black university. The two-hour live broadcast will begin at 10 a.m. and precedes the MEAC showdown between the Rattlers and Hampton scheduled for 1 p.m.

“It is an honor to be the first historically black university to host ESPN’s College GameDay,” FAMU president James H. Ammons said in a release on the MEAC website. “We look forward to having ESPN on our beautiful campus as we take on the Hampton Pirates.”

FAMU is 7-3 overall and 3-3 in the MEAC while Hampton is 5-4, 4-2 MEAC.

The FAMU versus. Hampton game will not be broadcast by ESPN family networks, but can be viewed over the Internet on Florida A&M University's FAMCast Video Streaming Network at: http://www.famu.edu/famcast/famusports/ (Click Link).

TAKING CONTROL: Bulldogs take over first place in the MEAC

Travil Jamison was in his own world in the South Carolina State locker room during halftime of Saturday’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference showdown with Hampton. Held to zero yards in a scoreless first half, Jamison kept to himself as he gathered his thoughts in hopes of putting together a more productive second half.

When Jamison returned to the Oliver C. Dawson Stadium field, he entered a “zone” which propelled him to the best game of his college career and the Bulldogs into the driver’s seat of the MEAC title race. His career-best four touchdowns and 151 rushing yards – all in the second half – helped turn a scoreless game at halftime into a decisive 35-13 victory over the Pirates.

“Obviously, he had a really good game,” said an ecstatic S.C. State head football coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough. “This guy has always been right on the edge of being a real good guy for us.”
























Travil Jamison runs ball again Benedict College earlier in season.

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