Coats has J.C. Smith covered on defense

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Mike Coats is thriving in the center of Johnson C. Smith's defense.

The Golden Bulls' middle linebacker leads Smith in tackles (71) and interceptions (three) going into Saturday's Pioneer Bowl against SIAC champion Miles (Ala.) College in Columbus, Ga.

Statistically, J.C. Smith (5-5) has improved to 71st in Division II in total defense at 362.2 yards allowed compared to last year's team, which ranked 124th at 405.5. First-year coordinator Craig Cox's emphasis on speed and pressure suits Coats, a 6-foot, 230-pound junior.

"It's the scheme we play," Coats said. "I'm more comfortable with what we're playing and I know everything we're doing. It's simple and the more comfortable I am, I know I play better.

READ MORE

CIAA Football: Johnson C. Smith 31, Livingstone 0

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — The 2011 Livingstone football season came to an end Saturday as the Blue Bears fell 31-0 to the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls in the 3rd Annual Commemorative Classic hosted at Memorial Stadium.

Livingstone finished 1-10.

On the opening drive for Johnson C. Smith, the Golden Bulls set up for a 50-yard field goal attempt, but senior Devonta Harmon broke through the front line and blocked the attempt. The ball was returned by fellow senior Jerrell Gaynor Golden Bull 30 yard line. Despite the momentum and the solid field position, the Livingstone offense turned the ball over on downs after only four plays.

Johnson C. Smith broke through on its first drive of the second quarter, an eight-play, 77-yard drive together for a 7-0 lead.

READ MORE




Golden Bulls finish season strong

Johnson C. Smith University closed a break-even season with a breakout win. The Golden Bulls rolled past CIAA rival Livingstone 31-0 in the Commemorative Classic Saturday at Memorial Stadium. It was Johnson C. Smith's third straight victory in a series that dates back to 1892.

The Golden Bulls (5-5, 4-3) dominated after a scoreless first quarter, limiting Livingstone to 102 yards total offense and creating momentum-crushing stops on special teams.

"This year we definitely tried to step up our defense up and special teams," said defensive end Dylan Steele, who was named Johnson C. Smith's most outstanding player after returning his first collegiate interception 81 yards for a score and recording a sack. "Last year, we were near the bottom of everything (statistically). This year we wanted to step it up."


R&B artist Ruben Studdard performs during the Johnson C. Smith - Livingstone halftime show on 11/5/2011.

READ MORE

Gamble comes up a winner for Johnson C. Smith University

LaQwesha Gamble

Charlotte, North Carolina -- LaQwesha Gamble plans on going out with a bang. The Johnson C. Smith senior power forward was named all CIAA after the leading the Golden Bulls to a 26-5 record last season. She is a preseason all-conference pick by league coaches. However, she expects to do even better than last season’s 11.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

“Out of all the awards I have received, the all CIAA award means the most to me,” she said. “It’s one of the toughest conferences to play in, therefore it means the most.”

Gamble has been a force to be reckoned with since high school in Winter Haven, Fla. At Winter Haven High, she was named Miss Florida Basketball and led the Blue Devils to the 2005 4A state championship. Gamble had no intentions of playing basketball, however. She used the sport as way to stay in shape between volleyball and track seasons.

READ MORE

JCSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SHOWS DEPTH IN 63-51 EXHIBITION LOSS TO UNC-WILMINGTON

Wilmington, NC - The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team made their public debut for the season with a resilient 63-51 exhibition loss to the Seahawks of UNC-Wilmington on Wednesday evening inside the Trask Coliseum. UNCW is a NCAA Division I institution competing out of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

Senior preseason All-American guard LaQwesha Gamble (Winter Haven, FL) had the most offensive production in the first half. Gamble had a team-high six points, three steals, and three rebounds (all offensive) at the break. Fellow senior guard Terrica Jones (Raleigh, NC) shot two-of-six from the field for five points in the first period. Both Gamble and Jones started along with three other seniors: forward April Smith (Auburn, AL), guard Ashley McGee (Milwaukee, WI), and guard Terran Quattlebaum.

Shooting rust was apparent as J.C. Smith only made seven-of-37 shot attempts (18.9%) in the opening half. UNCW held a 30-19 lead at halftime, shooting 44.8% (13-29) from the floor.

READ MORE

Transit authority: Johnson C. Smith basketball adding speed for up tempo attack

Charlotte, North Carolina -- Expect fewer one-man fast breaks from Johnson C. Smith basketball this season. The Golden Bulls were pedestrian last season despite having All-America guard Trevin Parks as one of Division II’s best transition players. The goal this year is to get everyone up to play at a quicker pace.

“This team right now is built around him,” JCSU coach Steve Joyner said. “He had to carry us a number of occasions last year and he has that type of ability, but we’re hoping some of the other young players, especially those freshmen who’ve turned into sophomores, will be able to take more of a leadership role in terms of what we need to do offensively, defensively, rebounding – the whole nine yards.”

“We are a transition team that’s going to get out on the break, but we’re disciplined to the point that if we have to slow the game down and manage the clock we can do that,” said Parks, who averaged 21.3 points and 4.4 assists per game last season en route to earning the CIAA player of the year award. “As a point guard, it starts with me managing the clock and I think I’ll do a good job putting everybody in their correct spot on the court and milking the clock if we have to slow it down.”



READ MORE

St. Aug's christens new complex with win; JCSU 15, SAC 34

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- Saint Augustine's College couldn't have wished for a better day to open its George Williams Athletic Complex. Not even a 15-minute delay waiting for the paramedics to arrive - a must-have for any college sporting event - could spoil the festivities.

And, like any good homecoming host, the Falcons sent the guest crowd away happy with a 34-15 win over Johnson C. Smith Saturday before an overflow crowd of 5,100.

"The president [Dianne Boardley Suber] stressed to us that it was on us today," St. Aug's quarterback Teddy Bacote said. "This was big. We knew we would play a very good team, and we needed to finish out and play 60 minutes."  Bacote did his part, completing 21 of 39 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. And so did the offensive line, which didn't allow a sack.

Photo Gallery
READ MORE