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.

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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.

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Fayetteville State 17, Livingstone 7

SALISBURY, North Carolina — Amid all the distractions and confusion surrounding Homecoming 2011 Saturday at Alumni Stadium, Livingstone’s football team made something perfectly clear. The Blue Bears can, indeed, play competitive football.

“It would have been nice to end it on a positive note,” said nose tackle Michael Haygood, one of eight seniors honored before LC fell 17-7 to Fayetteville State in its home finale. “But for all the guys coming back, this should be a spark for the rest of the year. It was a well-put effort.”

On a day filled with microphone malfunctions, a banished clock operator, incessant marching tunes and the hodge-podge aromas of fried delights, the Blue Bears (1-7, 0-5 CIAA) found reason to soldier on.

“Defensively, we were really focused today,” linebacker Tyheim Pitt said. “Offensively, we’ve still got to get it together. But it’s nothing we can’t fix.”




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CIAA Football: Winston-Salem State 62, Livingstone 7

Salisbury, North Carolina -- Livingstone knew it was operating with a small margin-for-error against 13th-ranked Winston-Salem State on Saturday. It just didn’t know how small.

“They’re not world-beaters,” coach Elvin James insisted after the Blue Bears flatlined and fell 62-7 at Alumni Stadium. “They weren’t the kind of team I thought would come in here and dominate us. But when you give a team ammunition to shoot at you — and you keep doing it — they’re gonna score.”

The visiting Rams (7-0, 6-0 CIAA) threw a cascade of offense at LC, reached the end zone nine times and clinched the league’s Southern Division championship, assuring themselves a berth in the Nov. 12 title game.

“That’s what we set out to do,” said second-year WSSU coach Connell Maynor. “Last year we went 8-2 and didn’t make it to the championship game, so we came in with a chip on our shoulders. Our expectations are high — win every game.”

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WSSU can lock up division today at Livingstone

Winston Salem, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State will try to remain undefeated today with a game at last-place Livingstone. The Rams (6-0, 5-0 CIAA), ranked No. 13 in the NCAA Division II poll, can clinch the Southern Division title with a win over the Blue Bears (1-5, 0-3). Game time is 6 p.m.

After doing just enough in a 35-28 win over St. Augustine's last week, the Rams should have an easier time against the Blue Bears, who average a CIAA-worst 10.8 points a game. The Rams allowed 464 passing yards last week. Of course, the Falcons did throw the ball 65 times, something that coach Connell Maynor of the Rams pointed out.



"We have to address it," Maynor said about the pass defense. "But they threw the ball 65 times. Most teams don't throw it that much in two games. When you throw the ball that many times and have 37 completions, you should have 400-something yards. "But we still won the game."

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CIAA Football: Shaw 54, Livingstone 0

DURHAM, North Carolina — The success the Livingstone Blue Bears found last week couldn’t be duplicated Saturday as Livingstone managed only 33 yards of total offense in a 54-0 loss to the Shaw University Bears in a CIAA Southern Division contest.

Livingstone’s second possession ended with a botched punt and Shaw needed to move only 17 yards to reach the end zone. The ensuing kickoff was fumbled by freshman John Paplillion and Shaw recovered. The Bears added a field goal off the turnover to go up 10-0. Another field goal was added only 2:07 into the second quarter to put Shaw up 13-0.



The turnover bug bit the Blue Bears again as the pass from sophomore quarterback Jaren Troutman was picked off. Shaw marched 39 yards on four plays for a score to go up 20-0.

Shaw added two more touchdowns before the half, including a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with less than a minute to play in the first half. The two scores put the Bears up 34-0 at halftime.

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Elizabeth City State routs Livingstone for the DEVFC victory

Rocky Mount, NC - Elizabeth City State University came into its game Saturday night expecting to win.

Starting running back Daronte McNeill felt it before the game, and coach Waverly Tillar saw it as the first half progressed. A victory was far from certain when the Vikings walked into the locker room at halftime ahead by only seven points.

Before the second half kicked off, Tillar reminded his team of three things: What they want, why they were there and where they are going.



After three touchdowns in the third quarter and two more in the fourth, the Vikings finally are headed back in the direction they wanted to go with a 49-7 victory against Livingstone College in the 14th annual Down East Viking Football Classic at Rocky Mount Sports Complex.

“Coming in, they probably had the game won already in their minds,” Tillar said. “It wasn’t like that. You have to play one snap at a time, 11 people at a time. You have to play the entire game. At the half, I got their minds straight and told them what to do.”


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ECSU still confident despite 0-2 mark

Elizabeth City, NC - Elizabeth City State’s football team was a confident bunch heading into the season. After two games and two losses, it would be understandable if that confidence was waning. But coach Waverly Tillar says it is business as usual around the Vikings’ facility.

“They really feel like they didn’t play well Saturday night (in a 22-17 loss to Winston-Salem State) and they know they need to come out big this week to set them on the right course for an eight-game run,” Tillar said. “The attitude has been up tempo, execution has been sharp and the camaraderie has been good.”

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Chowan Routs Livingstone in Football Season Opener

Happy days at Chowan

MURFREESBORO, N.C. – “It's just one game,” said head coach Tim Place. True. When that one game is a 43-7 thumping, however, there is cause for optimism for the Chowan University football program.

The Hawks held the Blue Bears of Livingstone College to only 12 yards of total offense as they picked up their first win of the 2011 season in convincing fashion Thursday night. This marks the first opening day win for Chowan since a 16-13 victory over Randolph-Macon College in 2005.

The Hawks tallied 310 first half yards, with 178 of them coming through the air from quarterback Cameron Stover. Stover opened up the scoring for Chowan with a six yard touchdown pass to Kevin Hodrick at the 9:17 mark of the first quarter. The Hawks dominated the opening drive, going 79 yards in 15 plays.

After a slow-moving quarter and a half, the Hawks exploded midway through the second frame offensively. Ryan Murphy nailed a 23 yard field goal with 7:40 left in the quarter to give the Hawks a 9-0 lead. Livingstone fumbled the ensuing kickoff to give the Hawks the ball at the Blue Bears 21 yard line. Only a minute and five seconds later, Adrian Ferns plowed into the goal line with a one-yard touchdown run to open up a 16-0 lead.

Chowan then forced a three-and-out and began the following drive at the Livingstone 46 yard line. After two first downs, Cameron Stover found Michael Satterwhite for a 27 yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 22-0 with 4:02 remaining in the half.

On the next Livingstone drive, Patrick Charles intercepted a Levon Stanley pass and returned it to the LC 33 yard line. The Hawks stayed on the ground for their ensuing drive, and Elliot Smalls capped it with a 13 yard scoring run to open the game wide open at 29-0.

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CIAA Football: Livingstone opens tonight at Chowan

SALISBURY, N.C. — The second year of the Elvin James era begins for Livingstone tonight when they travel to Murfreesboro to take on the Chowan Hawks in the season opener.

The Blue Bears will have a new quarterback in transfer Jaren Troutmanwhile sophomore returner Levon Stanley will be the backup. Stanley was Livingstone’s top passer last season, finishing with 406 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Whoever is under center, they will be protected by an experienced offensive line which includes three returners (Allyne Hall, Josiah Simms and Chris Woodard), a Division I transfer in Harlee Frink and freshman Stuart Wallace.

In the backfield, Livingstone has a strong returning core with senior Jamel Moore, junior Terrill Gourdine and sophomore Tevin Mishoe. Each of them finished in the top four in rushing for the Blue Bears last season. The Blue Bears have also added some depth, starting with Javon Williams, a freshman from Goldsboro.

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CIAA Football: Livingstone preview

SALISBURY, NC — Livingstone’s 2011 football season begins with an unavoidable question: Why is Elvin James smiling?

Is it because the second-year coach has four of his five starting offensive linemen from last season back on board? Or because a full complement of running backs returns intact, a year older and fiercer? Or because a handful of newcomers — including three highly touted assistants, four top-shelf local products and a bona fide, full-scholarship kicker — have injected the Blue Bears with a dose of inspiration?

All are poignant queries. But maybe, just maybe, the answers can be found in James’ old record collection.



“It was Sam Cooke who sang ‘A Change Is Gonna Come,’” he said, channeling the man who invented soul. “And it’s coming to us. I see the progression here and, mark my words, change is coming.”

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Livingstone College: Former West QB Aycoth now throwing javelin

Let’s see if I’ve got this straight. When Bryan Aycoth used to play football in the fall at West Rowan, he was a quarterback who was named Rowan County Offensive Player of the Year.

When Aycoth suits up for Livingstone College in the fall, he’s be a linebacker.

When Aycoth used to play baseball in the spring at West Rowan, he was an all-state catcher, using that strong right arm to throw out runners.

When Aycoth suits up in the spring at Livingstone, he is still using that strong right arm, only now to throw the javelin.

The what? That’s right. The javelin.

Bryan Aycoth Named to 2011 CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic Team

HAMPTON, VA – Junior Bryan Aycoth, a two-sport athlete in football and track and field was named to the 2011 CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic Second Team, it was announced Friday by the conference office.

This year's team defines the total NCAA DII student-athlete experience with each member excelling on their respective playing fields as well as in the classroom and in their communities.

Aycoth, a native of Salisbury, NC, has a cumulative GPA of 3.87 as a biology major. Aycoth led the Livingstone football team in tackles this season with 67 total tackles including 11.5 tackles for loss.

On the track and field team Bryan excelled in the javelin throw, breaking his own school record five times over the season. At the conference championships Bryan threw his collegiate best of 60.27 meters which won the CIAA title for the second year in a row, set the CIAA record and provisionally qualified him for the NCAA Division II National Championships.

The CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic Team is voted on by the CIAA Sports Information Directors' Association and is in its 14th year. To be eligible for the team a student-athlete must have completed one academic year at a CIAA institution, earned a minimum 3.2 grade point average, and have excelled as a starter or significant reserve in a CIAA sanctioned sport.

Bryan Aycoth Named to USTFCCCA All-Region Atlantic Team

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Bryan Aycoth has been named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II outdoor track & field Atlantic All-Region Team, for his performance in the javelin, it was announced Tuesday.

Aycoth was named to the All-Region team by virtue of finishing in the top-five in the Atlantic region in the javelin throw. Aycoth's top performance came in the 2011 CIAA Championships where he threw 60.27 meters which won him the CIAA title, set the conference record and provisionally qualified him for the NCAA National Championships.

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VISIT: LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE
VISIT: BLUEBEARATHLETICS

2011 CIAA All-Tournament Team

Member Institutions

NORTHERN DIVISION
Bowie State
Chowan
Elizabeth City State
Lincoln (PA)
Saint Paul's
Virginia State
Virginia Union

SOUTHERN DIVISION
Fayetteville State
Johnson C. Smith
Livingstone
Saint Augustine's
Shaw
Winston-Salem State

Raheem Smith (Shaw University) was named Tournament MVP, and he joined the Bears' Tony Smith and Devon Mclendon (Shaw)on the All-Tournament team. Other players who made the All-Tournament team include Trent Bivens of Elizabeth City State, Eric Vann of Bowie State, CIAA player of the year Trevin Parks of Johnson C. Smith, Sidney Evans of Fayetteville State, and Charles Rhodes of Chowan. Fayetteville State won the John B. McLendon Sportsmanship Trophy at the tournament.

On the women's side, tournament MVP Demaria Liles (Shaw University), Kyria Buford and Aslea Williams (Shaw) joined Liles on the All-Tournament team. Johnson C. Smith was represented by Terran Quattlebaum and Terrica Jones.

Rounding out the All-Tournament team was: Rhon’Neisha Taylor (Virginia State), Allison Sikes, (St. Augustine’s), Umeka Benson (St. Augustine’s) Ransheda Jennings (Chowan) and Vontisha Woods (Winston-Salem State).

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Shaw University Raheem Smith's Late Free Throws Clinch CIAA Championship

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Raheem Smith scored 28 points including two free throws with 2.3 seconds left in the game to give Shaw a 72-69 win over Livingstone Saturday for its second CIAA men's championship in school history.

Victory wasn't assured until a desperation three-pointer by Livingstone misfired, setting off a celebration inside Time Warner Cable Arena. Smith was named Tournament MVP, and he joined the Bears' Tony Smith and Devon Mclendon on the All-Tournament team. They led the Bears (22-8 overall), the No. 2 Southern Division seed, to victory over a game Livingstone squad making its first CIAA finals appearance.

Charlotte Observer Photos: Championship games 

"I can't say enough about this team," Shaw Head Coach Cleo Hill, Jr. said. "I'm proud of them and we fought throughout this tournament."

Mclendon added 19 points and 14 rebounds and Tony Smith scored 11 points for the Bears, who shot 52 percent from the floor including 54 percent in the second half. Livingstone, who put Darius Cox and Greg Henry on the All-Tournament team, shot 46 percent for the game including 50 percent in the second half, to make the game close.

The win gave Shaw a sweep of the men's and women's tournaments, which is a first for the private Raleigh, N.C., school. Hill, Jr., claimed his first crown in only his third season as head coach after being an assistant coach on the 2001-02 team which won the CIAA Tournament with former NBA player Ronald "Flip" Murray, who was the NCAA Division II player of the year for the Bears at the time.


Videographer: Cwallace281; Shaw University Choir joins Wake Forest Baptist Church in Wake Forest North Carolina, featuring soloist Brandi Hancock. Song: Lord Make Me An Instrument

Blue Bears Fall 72-69 to Shaw in CIAA Championship

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Livingstone men’s basketball team fell in its bid to win the 2011 CIAA Championship Saturday, falling in its first-ever title game, 72-69 to the Shaw University Bears at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Livingstone finishes its 2010-2011 campaign with a 17-12 overall record.

The Blue Bears were led by game MVP and All-Tournament Team selection Darius Cox who finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Fellow All-Tournament Team selection Greg Henry finished with 10 points and six boards. Also in double figures was Nasir Austin with 11 points and Carl Boswell who added 10 points.

Mush as they had all tournament, the Blue Bears jumped out to an early lead on Saturday. Livingstone led 12-5 with 13:42 left in the first half, but a 14-4 run by Shaw gave the Bears a 19-16 edge with 8:58 remaining in the opening half. Towards the end of the first half the Blue Bears stayed close and went into the break only down two, 32-30.

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By Livingstone College and Shaw University Media Relations

Livingstone Blue Bears Advance to CIAA Semi-Finals in Thrilling 59-58 Upset Victory Over Virginia Union

CHARLOTTE, NC – For only the second time in school history the Livingstone men’s basketball has advanced to the semifinals of the 2011 CIAA Basketball Tournament after a thrilling 59-58 upset victory over the Panthers of Virginia Union University, the second-seeded team out of the CIAA’s Northern Division.

“This win says a lot about our program with a victory over a team like Virginia Union,” CIAA Coach of the Year James Stinson said. “It shows our players that we are not second-rate to anyone.”

Livingstone, the third seed out of the Southern Division, advances to Friday’s semifinals against the winner of the Winston-Salem State/Fayetteville State contest. The semifinal contest is scheduled for a 9 p.m. tip on Friday at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC. This is Livingstone’s first trip to the semi-finals since 1998.

Livingstone Shocks VUU in CIAA Tourney 59-58

Virginia Union University's Braxton Byerson scored 21 points while teammate Gregory Redford grabbed 11 rebounds, but Livingstone College downed VUU 59-58 in the quarterfinals of the 2011 CIAA Tournament on March 3 in the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.

The loss ended VUU's season and gave the Panthers a final record of 15-9.

VUU trailed by 10 at halftime, 39-29, but fought back in the second half to take a three-point lead with 1:15 left in the game, but Livingstone was able to hit the shots to win the game.

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CIAA Tournament: Chowan gets first-ever CIAA tournament win‎

Chowan wrote a new chapter in its women's basketball history at the CIAA tournament.

The Hawks recovered from a 19-point deficit to beat Livingstone 56-53 in a first-round game at Time Warner Cable Arena, the program's first tournament win since joining the CIAA last year. Chowan (15-12) didn't panic after falling behind, calling on previous experience to climb ahead.

"For us it was another challenge on the road," Hawks coach Pat Mashuda said. "We were in this situation earlier this year playing Bowie at home when we were down 20 with four minutes to play and came back to win that game. Having this experience from before, unfortunately then but fortunately as well, helped us today."

Photo Gallery: 2011 CIAA Basketball: Opening Day 

Livingstone College Women Out of CIAA Tournament

Livingstone’s women’s basketball team ended its season with a 56-53 loss against Chowan in the first round of the CIAA Tournament on Monday afternoon in Charlotte.

Livingstone held Chowan to 10 points in the first 15 minutes and led 33-14 late in the first half. Livingstone still led by 13 points at halftime, but a cold-shooting second half doomed the Blue Bears (16-10).

Chowan (15-12) advanced to play Johnson C. Smith tonight. Talaya Lynch led the Hawks with 17 points.

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CIAA Basketball: Livingstone 82, J.C. Smith 65

The Livingstone men’s basketball team picked up a crucial divisional victory Saturday, downing the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls 82-65 and earning the third seed out of the Southern Division for the 2011 CIAA tournament.

Trone Jackson led the Blue Bears with 17 points off the bench accompanied by Nasir Austin who scored 15 points and had five rebounds. Greg Henry was the leading scorer among the starters with 12 points to go with his seven rebounds.

Livingstone (14-11, 9-8) will open the conference tournament on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against St. Paul’s College who is the sixth seed out of the CIAA Northern Division.

Livingstone victory leaves Bulls blue

SALISBURY, N.C. - Saturday was Senior Night at Livingstone, but the Blue Bears' subs were the heroes. Livingstone's bench poured in 51 points during an 82-65 win against Johnson C. Smith at Trent Gym. Livingstone (14-11, 5-5) earned the CIAA South Division's third seed for this week's league tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena and dropped arch rival J.C. Smith (15-10, 4-6) to fourth.

"Before the game even started, coach (James Stinson) told us to come out and play 40 minutes of basketball and execute," said Livingstone reserve forward Nasir Austin, who scored 15 points with 6-for-11 shooting. "If we do that, it's easy for us to win."

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CIAA Basketball: Livingstone 81, Winston-Salem State 73

WINSTON-SALEM — The Livingstone men’s basketball team pulled off a big road upset Saturday against Winston-Salem State 81-73.

With the victory, James Stinson’s Blue Bears (12-5, 7-3 CIAA) improved to 3-1 in the division and move into a tie with the Rams for first place in the Southern Division at 3-1. The Rams (15-4) came into the contest as the fourth-ranked team in the latest NCAA Atlantic Region rankings.

Donte Durant had his best offensive output of the season, leading the Blue Bears with 18 points. Darius Cox fell just short of a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds while Quentin Redfern added 13 points with 11 of them coming at the charity stripe.

Rams lose to Blue Bears 81-73

Winston-Salem State failed to answer the bell against Livingstone on Saturday night at the Gaines Center. Playing their sixth straight home game the Rams thought they could turn it on whenever they needed to but that wasn’t the case as the Blue Bears won 81-73. It was the Blue Bears first victory at the Gaines Center since the 1997-98 season.

“We can’t just flip a switch,” said guard Shelton Carter of the Rams, who was one of many who struggled and scored just seven points. “We need to defend better and not just in spurts – we need to do that the entire 40 minutes.”

The Rams (15-4, 3-1) finally flipped the switch late but...

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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG; Fayetteville State vs. Winston-Salem State 1/28/11

Newberry opens season with 55-0 rout of Livingstone

NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Newberry College Wolves (1-0) took off to a 28-point first quarter lead and steadily pulled further away in a 55-0 rout of Livingstone College (0-2) at Setzler Field to open the season Saturday. The Wolves' first four drives all ended in touchdowns, leaving no doubt in the final result of the game. Quarterback Bryan Ehrlich (San Antonio, Texas) completed 6-of-9 passes for 108 yards and four touchdowns in his first collegiate start.

Senior wide receiver David Pressley (Anderson, S.C.) caught touchdown passes of two and 27 yards, while Edward Gilliard (Summerville, S.C.) caught a 39-yard touchdown and Cameron Winchester (Gilbert, S.C.) caught a 30-yarder.

In the midst of the offensive fireworks, senior defensive end Derrell Kinard (Boiling Springs, S.C.) put on a show of his own. While applying pressure to the Livingstone quarterback, Kinard made a spectacular one-handed interception and scampered 27 yards into the endzone.

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Livingstone College: Mount Holly's Farrar no stranger to being a pioneer

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. – Breaking barriers is nothing new for John Farrar, even as little had ever been made of Farrar’s pioneer status until Saturday night’s fourth annual Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame banquet at that city’s citizens center.

Farrar was among the first African-American players to play for Mount Holly High in the 1960s. He later became the city’s first NFL player, though many in his own city new nothing of his accomplishment.

Finally, on Saturday, Farrar became the first African-American member of the four-year-old Hall of Fame, much to the delight of Farrar, his friends, fans and family members who attended the ceremony.

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