Jackson's jumper gives WSSU a win

Andrew Jackson saved the day, and helped re-fuel a rivalry with Johnson C. Smith as he hit a buzzer-beating 35-foot jumper in a 78-77 victory for Winston-Salem State. In front of a packed house of 3,200 at the Gaines Center on Monday night the Rams kept a hold of their first-place grip in the CIAA’s Southern Division. But it was far from easy.

“I know I beat the clock,” said Jackson, a senior guard who took Marcus Wells pass from midcourt and then hit the long jumper. The Rams coughed up the lead with sloppy play near the end and the Bulls had a 77-75 lead with three seconds left. With 1:18 left the Rams were up by five but the Bulls never gave up and came charging back.

JCSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BLOCKS OUT WINSTON-SALEM STATE FOR A 64-60 VICTORY

Winston Salem, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team remains unbeaten on the road after a 64-60 win over Winston-Salem State University on Monday evening inside the C.E. Gaines Center on the campus of WSSU. JCSU improves to 17-1 overall, 10-1 in the CIAA, and 3-0 in the division; while the Lady Rams move to 12-7 overall, 7-3 in the conference, and 2-1 in the Southern.

Coming into this game, there were a few interesting storylines. First, this was the first contest between JCSU and Winston-Salem State since January 2007; after WSSU ventured out of the CIAA to Division I-AA competition. WSSU head women's coach Stephen Joyner, Jr. has several ties to Johnson C. Smith University.

Joyner, Jr. is an alum of JCSU and former student-athlete, he served two seasons as the assistant women's basketball coach (under current JCSU head women's coach Vanessa Taylor), and he is the son of JCSU Director of Athletics and head men's basketball coach Stephen Joyner, Sr. Despite all those facts, JCSU and WSSU were battling for the top spot in the CIAA Southern Division.

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JCSU Golden Bulls struggle, but put LU Lions away

J.C. Smith's rusty, but resilient.

The Golden Bulls won their sixth straight game Wednesday with a 69-61 CIAA victory against Lincoln (Pa.) at Grady Cole Center. Smith (8-4, 4-0 CIAA) struggled to put the Lions away in a game that was postponed from Monday because of weather.

Ultimately, the backcourt combination of Trevin Parks (29 points) and James Otey (17 points) were enough to compensate for Ronald Thornhill's 0-for-6 shooting and Lincoln's (1-9, 0-3) upset bid.

JCSU Men Slip Past Lincoln, Women Improve to 10-0

Sparked by Trevin Parks and James Otey, Johnson C. Smith withstood a furious comeback to defeat Lincoln (Pa.) in a CIAA contest at Grady Cole Center in Charlotte Wednesday.

Parks scored 29 points, including 16 in the second half, and Otey added 17 points for the Golden Bulls (8-4, 4-0), who built up a lead as large as 19 points (42-23) in the first half. They settled for a 42-26 halftime lead after getting 13 points from Parks and 12 from Otey in that first half.

Women: Johnson C. Smith 68, Lincoln (Pa.) 57

Overcoming poor field goal shooting with tenacious defense, the Golden Bulls stayed perfect on the season by downing the Lady Lions.

JCSU scored 25 points off 28 Lincoln turnovers and also had 21 second-chance points, courtesy of a 23-11 edge in offensive rebounding.

LaQwesha Gamble led the Golden Bulls (10-0, 3-0) with 12 points. Shakeena Cunningham and Shavonda Price each had 11 points, while Brittane Neely grabed 10 rebounds.

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No. 24 Saint Augustine's Falcons spoil JCSU Bulls' homecoming

Saturday was J.C. Smith's homecoming, but Walter Sanders' big day.

St. Augustine's tailback became the first Falcon to run for 1,000 yards since the program was revived in 2002 in a 34-24 CIAA South win against the Golden Bulls at McGirt Field. Sanders, Division II's third-leading rusher, ran for 208 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries to help No. 24 St. Augustine's (7-1, 5-0) win its sixth straight and remain tied for first in the division with Raleigh crosstown rival Shaw.

"Our offensive linemen came out ready to play because it was Johnson C. Smith's homecoming and we wanted to set an example ...

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Virginia Union 44, Johnson C. Smith 21

Virginia Union University's Cheston Hickman completed 10 of 18 passes for 175 yards and Tarian Donaldson and Jerell Washington rushed for two touchdowns apiece as VUU beat Johnson C. Smith 44-21 at Hovey Field. The win sent 7,650 fans home happy who took part in the 2003 Homecoming game.

Washington rushed for 91 yards on 12 carries and Donaldson had 69 yards on 15 carries. Joseph Jean-Pierre had seven receptions for 135 yards.

The Panthers (2-5) blocked two Golden Bull punts, and both resulted in touchdowns for VUU. In the first quarter, VUU's Damon Ramsey blocked a punt and Derek Parker recovered. Three plays later, VUU scored their first touchdown on a one-yard run by quarterback Ares McGlone-English.

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Attendance: 7,650

JCSU Golden Bulls beaten on both sides of ball

Shaw is hitting its stride at the right time. The Bears remained unbeaten in the CIAA with a 45-13 South Division win against J.C. Smith Saturday at McGirt Field, for Shaw's sixth straight in the series and third in as many league games. Shaw (4-2, 3-0 CIAA) remains tied for first in the division with crosstown Raleigh rival St. Augustine's and Winston-Salem State.

"Personally, I love being under the radar," said Shaw defensive tackle Michael Carter, a Wake Forest transfer who led the Bears with eight tackles and a sack. "That way, you can come up and surprise people and show them where they should be but they're not."

Shaw Finds Its Rhythm; Downs JCSU 45-13

Charlotte, NC – Shaw found its rhythm in all three aspects of the game and handily defeated Johnson C. Smith 45-13. The Bears gave up only one offensive touchdown, while generating nearly 500 yards of offense.

“The defense and special teams had been playing well all season,” said Shaw Head Coach Darrell Asberry. “This week the offense finally found its rhythm. (Quarterback) Kevin Atkins needed a breakout game, and I think this was finally it.”

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Last Week Highlights: Shaw Bears at Livingstone Blue Bears

WSSU cruises past Johnson C. Smith

Charlotte, N.C. -- Make it six in a row for Winston-Salem State. The Rams crushed CIAA rival Johnson C. Smith 49-3 at Memorial Stadium last night to improve their record to 6-0, 4-0 in league play.

The defense sparkled early, turning back two early Golden Bulls drives in the shadow of the Rams’ end zone. The offense then kicked into gear, scoring 21 second-quarter points to take a 28-0 halftime lead that put the game out of reach.

“They got off on a good start,” said defensive lineman Juan Corders, who led WSSU with 11 tackles, including 3½ for losses, and a sack. “They played us quite well, but the defense stuck in there and got adjusted to fight them off.”

Bulls fail to convert while Rams pile it on

Winston-Salem State's return to Division II and the CIAA still is perfect.

The Rams ripped off a 21-point second quarter on their way to a 49-3 league win against Johnson C. Smith at Memorial Stadium, their sixth to start the season. Winston-Salem State (6-0, 4-0), which rejoined the CIAA after four years in Division I, shook off an early challenge by J.C. Smith (1-4, 0-2 CIAA) to pull away by halftime.

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Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls vs. WSSU Rams Football Matchup Moved to Memorial Stadium

Saturday, October 2nd game moved to Memorial Stadium, at 6:00 p.m.

Charlotte, NC – The football contest between Johnson C. Smith University and Winston-Salem State University scheduled for Saturday, October 2nd at 6:00 pm originally set to be played at the Irwin Belk Complex has been relocated to the American Legion Memorial Stadium.

The game has been moved to accommodate the potentially larger than capacity seating at the Irwin Belk Complex. The stadium seats approximately 4,500 fans. The move will not be unfamiliar for the team; JCSU has played its homecoming football games in the past at the nearby Memorial Stadium.

“We just wanted to take safety precautions and be proactive, with a big rivalry game between these two institutions, and the success that Winston has had this season; it made economical sense to move the game to Memorial,” said JCSU Athletic Director, Stephen Joyner, Sr.

American Legion Memorial Stadium is a 21,000-capacity stadium located on 7th Street in the Elizabeth community of Charlotte, North Carolina.

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NCCU Eagles overwhelm JCSU Golden Bulls in season-opener

DURHAM, N.C. -- It had been 44 years since N.C. Central hosted a Thursday night game. It’s not likely the Eagles will wait that long again, considering the overwhelming performance they summoned under lights against Johnson C. Smith in their season-opener.

Relying on a sturdy offensive line and a thumping defense, the Eagles hammered the Golden Bulls in a 59-0 rout at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium before an announced crowd of 9,257. From the first drive, they controlled the game with a mix of power running and short yardage passing, handing coach Mose Rison his first season-opening victory in four seasons as head coach.

A five-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Keon Williams to fullback Justin Manning with nine minutes remaining in the first half stamped the Eagles’ dominance and essentially put the contest out of reach.





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Eagles overwhelm Golden Bulls in season-opener THURSDAY-NIGHT RUNAWAY

ECSU Vikings takes opener over JCSU 45-27

ELIZABETH CITY, NC- Elizabeth City State held off an upstart Johnson C. Smith football squad for a 45-27 win in their season opener at Roebuck Stadium Saturday evening.

After holding a 24-7 lead at the intermission, the Golden Bulls seized the momentum in the second half reeling off 14 unanswered points via two touchdown tosses from Golden Bull quarterback Ryan Carter. The Vikings got some much needed breathing room on the Golden Bulls' next drive when an errant Carter pass was picked off and returned 33 yards for a score by Devon Price with and 3:40 remaining in the third quarter the Vikings led by ten, 31-21.

ECSU extended their lead in the fourth quarter when Cedric Blacknall's first of two rushing scores capped an 11 play, 82 yard drive with 12:29 left in the contest. JCSU (0-1, CIAA 0-1) broke the scoring plane again on a 3-yard touchdown run by Archie Barrow at the 7:32 mark. However all hopes of a late comeback were dash when Billy Wiggins returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards to the Golden Bull 30 yard line, setting up a 3 play drive which Blacknall finished with his second 3-yard TD of the evening for the final point spread.

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Pass it on: JCSU Bulls will take to air

Johnson C. Smith’s offense is under close inspection. After scoring an average of 18.7 points per game last season, the Golden Bulls have a new offensive coordinator in Maurice Flowers and nine returning starters. The most scrutinized of the lot will be quarterback Ryan Carter, who completed 97-of-182 passes for 1,024 yards and eight touchdowns in 2009.

He will have to be more productive in order to push the Bulls forward. “He needs to go from being a guy who was handed the job into a leader,” head coach Steve Aycock said. Carter, who was an erratic decision-maker in his first season as a starter, will get his opportunities to improve. He’ll have a running attack that averaged 138.3 yards per game going for him, as well as three-time all-CIAA receiver Jeremy Franklin, whose productivity slipped to 48 catches for 610 yards and five scores last season.

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JCSU Golden Bulls going to use pass-first spread offense

Steve Aycock is taking an aggressive approach to his second season as Johnson C. Smith football coach. When the Golden Bulls opened practice Saturday, the roster was overhauled with an infusion of first-year players to challenge for starting jobs. There's a new offensive coordinator - former Olympic, West Charlotte and Chester (S.C.) coach Maurice Flowers - who'll push a more dynamic attitude.

The changes are necessary for a program that's produced three consecutive 3-7 seasons. To break the streak, Smith will have to rebuild a tattered defense that allowed more than 30 points per game last season and an offense that scored fewer than 19 an outing. The Bulls have some work to do before the Aug. 28 opener at Elizabeth City State, starting with finding answers to these questions:

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Flowers named JCSU offensive coordinator

Successful high school coach returns to alma mater

Maurice Flowers greatest coaching challenge will come from his college alma mater. Flowers, Johnson C. Smith’s new offensive coordinator, will be responsible over a unit that averaged 18.7 points and 279.5 yards per game in 2009. Both ranked near the bottom of the CIAA in a 3-7 campaign. “I’m excited about it,” said Flowers, 40, a 1991 JCSU graduate who resigned from Chester (S.C.) High in May. “I want to get my feet wet. I’m looking forward to it. It’s short notice, but that’s no excuse.”

Flowers developed a reputation as one of the top offensive coaches in the Charlotte region, earning playoff berths at Olympic, West Charlotte and Chester. In two seasons at Chester, the Cyclones went 21-6 and advanced to the 2008 S.C. 3A championship game. Flowers' 2007 West Charlotte team went 13-2 and advanced to the N.C. 4A semifinals and his 2006 Olympic squad tied a school record with 10 wins.

“He was a potential candidate (for the position) last year, but it didn’t work out,” second-year Golden Bulls head coach Steve Aycock said. “He’s here now, and I’m looking forward to his contribution. It’s a situation where he’s confident in what he does and I can’t wait to see what he does in the college ranks.”

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Former JCSU football standout fits in with Montreal Alouettes

Former Johnson C. Smith University All-America De’Audra Dix (#35 in photo) is in his second season with the Canadian Football Leauge’s Montreal Alouettes.

De’Audra Dix is making the transition to playing cornerback in the Canadian Football League. Learning a new language, however, is more challenging.

Dix, a former Johnson C. Smith All-America, is in his second season with the Montreal Alouettes. After sitting the bench during the Alouettes’ 2009 Grey Cup championship run, he’s earned a spot in the starting lineup. Getting past the language hurdles in predominantly French-speaking Montreal is a different matter.

“I’ve learned a little French, but I kind of talk fast and my teammates don’t understand me anyway,” the Merritt Island, Florida, native said. “There are guys on the team who speak French and when you hear it enough you kind of understand what they’re saying, but I’m not fluent in it at all.” Dix, 26, is becoming more fluent as a cornerback in the pass-oriented CFL. Because the Canadian game is played on a field that is longer and wider than the American standard, defenders have to be quicker to compete. In his first start, a 54-51 loss to Saskatchewan in the season opener, he was credited with a pair of tackles and forced a fumble.

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MEAC/SWAC/CIAA/SIAC Players in the CFL.

# Name Pos I/N HT WT Birthdate College

B.C. Lions
1 Printers, Casey QB Import 6.02 225 1981-05-16 Florida A&M University
63 Olafioye, Jovan OL Import 6.06 325 1987-12-16 N.C. Central
84 Arceneaux, Emmanuel WR Import 6.02 211 1987-09-17 Alcorn State

Edmonton Eskimos
99 Pettway, Kenneth DE Import 6'3 248 1982-11-13 Grambling State
37 Williams, Roderick DB Import 5'11 180 1987-05-27 Alcorn State (Practice Squad)

Calgary Stampeders
94 Landry, Mike DL Import 6.03 266 1978-12-12 Southern University

Saskatchewan Roughriders
14 Patrick, James S Import 5.11 175 1982-06-07 Stillman College
26 Jones, Kitwana DE Import 6.00 227 1981-07-07 Hampton University
19 Byrd, Willie DB Import 6.03 198 1983-07-19 Miles College
(Practice Squad)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers
None

Hamilton Tiger-Cats
6 McDaniel, Marquay WR Import 5.10 205 1984-04-20 Hampton University

Toronto Argonauts
7 Carpenter, Dwaine DB Import 6.02 207 1976-11-04 North Carolina A&T
84 Lucas, Chad WR Import 6.01 201 1981-11-07 Alabama State
5 Heard, Denatay DB Import 5.09 169 1984-03-13 Stillman College (Injured)

Montreal Alouettes
35 Dix, De'Audra CB Import 5.10 160 1984-03-03 Johnson C. Smith
34 Marc, Emmanuel RB Import 5.11 200 1982-11-17 Delaware State (Practice Squad)

JCSU hires Steelers great as mentoring consultant

Johnson C. Smith University has hired four-time Super Bowl champion Donnie Shell to launch a mentoring facility on campus. JCSU's Center for Spiritual Life will facilitate spiritual and religious outreach on campus and the surrounding faith community. Shell's consulting firm will also help the university develop responsibilities for the center's director. School officials will review his findings and implement them in the fall.

“In my conversations with Mr. Shell, I have been impressed with his approach to mentoring young people spiritually,” Johnson C. Smith President Ronald L. Carter said in a statement. “I have asked him to develop a similar mentoring program on campus.”

Shell, a South Carolina State University graduate, won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers and retired with 51 interceptions. A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Shell has been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was named to the Steelers' all-time team, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the NFL's silver anniversary Super Bowl team. He was director of player development for the Carolina Panthers from 1994-2009, where he mentored players in their education and post-football activities.



Donnie Shell is one of our all time favorite players...this is a funny Roast of Shell.

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Donnie Shell

In CIAA, the South's stout

No offense to the CIAA North Division, but the best preseason buzz is in the South. There’s Fayetteville State, the 2009 champion looking to break the league’s sorry postseason record of playoff futility. Shaw, the resident bully, is always in the title hunt. Winston-Salem State is back after a failed engagement with Division I, with its sights set on establishing dominance with a first-year head coach.

Fayetteville went 8-4 in 2009, including 8-1 against league competition, but struggled outside the CIAA. The Broncos lost close decisions to South Atlantic power Catawba and independent UNC Pembroke early in the season, and took a 42-13 beatdown by California (Pa.) in the first round of the Division II playoffs. Can FSU improve on last year’s magic, especially after losing offensive coordinator Connell Maynor to Winston-Salem?

Shaw (8-2) had championship aspirations before a 29-28 at Fayetteville left the Bears in second place – a spot they weren’t accustomed to in recent seasons. The Bears have the offense (42.1 points per game last season) to move up a step, however, with preseason honorable mention all-CIAA running back Raymond Williams and a line anchored by Lindy’s all-America Markus McElveen.

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Hampton leads JCSU basketball class‎

The Golden Bulls JUCO transfer, Terrell Barrett is a rugged 6-6/225 athletic player who has a Division-I body, possesses the ability to put it on the floor, post up and shoot from beyond the arc. The All-Panhandle conference player also made the conference All-Academic Team. Barrett originally signed with Gardner-Webb University out of high school, a NCAA Division I, Big South Conference program.


Johnson C. Smith's basketball overhaul has seven new parts.

The biggest prize in the class of seven signees is Providence High forward Terrance Hampton, who averaged 22.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks as a senior. Hampton, 6-6, was the fourth Providence player to break the 1,000-point barrier with 1,115. He played in the Charlotte Pro-Am All-Star Classic and was named MVP in the Lindberg Moody Holiday Classic. Hampton also earned All-District honors from the N.C. Basketball Coaches Association. “We expect Hampton to be one of our instant contributors,” Golden Bulls coach Steve Joyner said in a statement. “He has good size, scoring ability, and awareness in the low post; he has the potential to be All-CIAA.”

JCSU recruited frontcourt help, adding Zachary O’Brien from Watchung Hills (N.J.) Regional High, Terrell Barrett of Farmville Central, Antwan Wilkerson of Western Guilford and Robert Williams of Sandy Creek (Ga.) High. The Bulls signed guards Richard Daniels from Winston-Salem Carver and Charlotte transfer Trevin Parks. Barrett (6-6, 225) is transferring from Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College, where he was all-conference for two consecutive seasons. He averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in his senior season at Farmville Central.

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JCSU Athletes Receive Top Track Awards

JCSU junior sprinter Shermaine Williams was named 2010 Atlantic Region Female Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Leford Green and Shermaine Williams, junior student-athletes of NCAA Division II, Johnson C Smith University, were this week named Atlantic Region Male and Female Track Athlete of the Year by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The 23-year-old Green also capped a distinguished season by also being named by the USTFCCCA as National Division II Male Track Athlete of the Year. The 6-3/195 sprinter, Green, is from St. Catherine, Jamaica and is majoring in Information Systems Engineering.

On the Atlantic Region award, the USTFCCCA said: "Green... was the nation's leader in three events heading into the NCAA II Championships. Green clocked 20.68 over 200 metres, 45.88 over 400 metres, and 49.56 in the 400m hurdles." The Bridgeport High and Kingston College former student-athlete also anchored Johnson C Smith Golden Bulls to the second-best mark among 4x400m relay squads. He was also the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) champion in the 400m hurdles earlier this season.

JCSU junior sprinter Leford Green has also been named by USTFCCCA as National Division II Male Track Athlete of the Year.

At the NCAA Division II Championships held at Johnson C Smith University at Charlotte, North Carolina, Green placed second in the 400m in 45.68 seconds, behind defending champion Joshua Scott of St Augustine's College, and ran a blazing 48.67 seconds to win the 400m hurdles. Only 2005 world champion Bershawn Jackson has run faster (48.50) at the NCAA Division II Championships. Given those achievements, Green was also named the National Division II Male Track Athlete of the Year.

For the 20-year-old Shermaine Williams, a World Junior Championships and a World Youth Championships silver medallist, she "won a second-straight NCAA Championship in the 100m hurdles, clutching victory over Adams State's Indira Spence (another Jamaican) by an eyelash in a 13.14 to 13.15 photo finish". The best of Williams is yet to come, with a personal bests in the 60m, 100m, 200m this year. She ran her personal best 13.06 metres in the 100m hurdles last year for a new national junior record.

The 5-8 sprinter, Williams is from St. Andrew, Jamaica and is majoring in Biology.

North Carolina A&T Aggies rediscover that winning feeling

Photo Gallery of N.C. A&T record breaking win

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- After searching for almost three years, N.C. A&T finally found somebody it could beat. After losing 27 straight games, the fourth-longest streak in NCAA Division I-AA history, the Aggies and coach Lee Fobbs defeated Johnson C. Smith 44-12 Saturday in the first game of Fobbs' third season at A&T.

And there was great rejoicing. Maybe too much. A&T's band was admonished by officials in the first quarter, presumably because the Marching Machine was bothering its own team. The fans had no idea how much time was left on the malfunctioning scoreboard clock, so they just enjoyed the long evening as if it would last forever. By the end, it was the Smith band being chided by officials for making too much noise, and the Aggies taunting the opponents the way winning programs can taunt opponents.

It had been a long time.

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Attendance: 11,552 @ Aggie Stadium (Capacity: 22,500)