SSU hires 3 football assistant coaches

Savannah State University football interim head coach Julius Dixon has hired three assistant coaches: Carl Funderburk (offensive line), Corey McCloud (defensive line) and Dwayne Curry (linebackers). They will join SSU assistant coaches Alan Hall, Eddie Johnson, Hans Batichon and Barry Casterlin.

John Montgomery (offensive line) resigned earlier this year.

Coach Funderburk is a 1989 graduate of Elon University and coached the offensive line at Winston-Salem State University in 2009. Prior to WSSU, he served seven years at Methodist University (Fayetteville, N.C.), where he was the offensive line coach and travel coordinator.

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Grambling State locals honored for contributions

The Monroe-Ouachita Chapter of the Grambling State University National Alumni Association will host its eighth annual Evening with the GSU Athletic Department tonight at the Monroe Civic Center. Athletics Director Lin Dawson and head football coach Rod Broadway are expected to be on hand to discuss the upcoming season, and a selection of local alumni will be honored for their contributions to GSU: James "Shack" Harris, Delles Howell, Lee Fobbs.

The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Fort Miro Room, with a silent auction beginning at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $10. Door prizes will be given away, including Bayou Classic tickets and GSU football season tickets. Ezzard Burton, a former president of the Monroe-Ouachita Chapter, said the event drew a crowd of about 180 last year and raised about $4,000 for GSU athletics. He hopes for a turnout of over 200 this year.

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NCCU Eagles Centennial Sports History: DID YOU KNOW?

NCCU Teams Have Won 41 Conference Championships, Two National Titles



This video is a look back at some of the history of NCCU, compiled as a tribute during Trailblazers Weekend. Images provided by NCCU Archives and Records, along with NCCU Public Relations (Robert Lawson).

DID YOU KNOW? North Carolina Central University sports teams have won 41 conference championships in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), including 10 conference titles in its final three seasons of NCAA Division II competition (2004-07).

In addition, two NCCU teams have captured national championship titles. The Eagles won the NCAA Division II men’s basketball national championship in 1989, while the men’s track & field team won the NAIA national championship in 1972.

NCCU has competed in the NCAA playoffs 21 times in the sports of football, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, softball and women’s cross country.

As part of North Carolina Central University's Centennial celebration, the NCCU Department of Athletics posted sports history facts from the institution's first 100 years to its official web site, http://www.nccueaglepride.com/, every week during the year-long observance.

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New members of S.C. State board help undo vote to oust president

Two weeks after a divided board voted 7-4 not to renew his position as president, Dr. George Cooper is back as head of South Carolina State University. The board met Thursday morning with new members Robert Waldrep Jr. and Patricia Lott replacing Lumus Byrd and Earl Bridges. Both Byrd and Bridges had voted against rehiring Cooper as president on June 14. Their terms expired July 1. The board voted 8-5 to rescind and expunge from the minutes the non-renewal of Cooper's position as president of the university. A few minutes later, trustees again voted 8-5 to rehire Cooper, whose position ended on June 30.

Voting to rehire Cooper were John Corbitt, Linda Edwards-Duncan, Patricia Lott, Robert Nance, Jonathan Pinson, Matthew Richardson, Robert Waldrep Jr. and Lancelot Wright. Voting not to rehire were Reggie Gallant, Karl Green, Martha Smith, Walt Tobin and Maurice Washington. A standing-room-only group of faculty members, staff and alumni greeted the vote with a standing ovation, cheers and applause.

Cooper responded that he did "not take this vote lightly as we reaffirm our mission as a land-grant university and meet our highest goal - the education needs of our students." Cooper says he can and will work with the entire board to follow through on what is best for the university. "I want you to know that I will work with the board to stay focused on priorities and open lines of communication that will improve our work as a board and administration," he said. The polarized board voted 8-5 on all issues except the election of Robert Nance as secretary of the board. The five trustees who voted to elect Judge Merl Code as interim president Monday at the board retreat opposed all motions at the meeting on Thursday. They were not present but voted via teleconference.

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NCCU settles into MEAC

DURHAM, N.C. -- For the past three school years, the N.C. Central athletic program has been like a one-man band, traveling wherever it could to get a gig while just trying to make ends meet. Today, however, the Eagles have landed. NCCU officially is now among the 14 members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, a league the school left in 1979 when the conference moved up to Division I. Savannah State also joins the league today as a provisional member. NCCU is rejoining the MEAC as a part of its continued effort to become a full-fledged Division I athletic program. NCCU was accepted into the conference on Sept. 10, 2009, but actually becomes a MEAC member today.

"It occurred in September, but for the actual day to be here, it's even more exciting," NCCU athletic director Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree said. "Finally, we maybe can all take in a big breath of fresh air." The Eagles certainly can use some fresh air, having bounced around for three years as an independent, looking for games anywhere and everywhere. With the move to the MEAC, they join a conference with the likes of North Carolina A T, Winston-Salem State, Hampton and Norfolk State.



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Doing More--With Less: Most budgets rise, but not at Mississippi Valley State

Mississippi Valley State University Devilettes Softball Team ended the 2010 season with an overall record of 27-23. The Devilettes lost 6-3 in the SWAC Championship game to eventual champion Alcorn State University Lady Braves.

Mississippi State and Ole Miss will each spend about four percent more on athletics than they did a year ago, according to athletic department budgets approved Wednesday by the state College Board. Ole Miss has the larger of the two totals, checking in with a projected $43.7 million. Mississippi State's 2010-11 budget is $37.4 million. Both budgets are among the smallest in the Southeastern Conference. Southern Miss projects a $19.7 million budget, up 2.3 percent from last year.

Jackson State's $6.8 million, which increased by 3.3 percent, is the largest of the state's three Southwestern Athletic Conference teams. Budgets didn't rise everywhere, though. Mississippi Valley State's $3.3 million budget is 20 percent less than last year's edition. Alcorn State's $5.3 million budget stayed basically the same. Division II school Delta State has the smallest budget, at $2.7 million. That's down 2.5 percent from last year.

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FAMU coaches adapting to cuts

Florida A&M's Volleyball Coach Tony Trifonov has dominated the MEAC with nine consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championships. He has one of the smallest recruiting budgets in all of NCAA Division I, but the Lady Rattlers annually participate in the NCAA Tournament against teams with budgets at least one-hundred times greater.


While the two revenue-generating sports — football and basketball — have been able to weather the financial storm hovering over Florida A&M and stay in the recruiting hunt with their mid-major counterparts, coaches of Olympic sports have been finding ways to keep their programs competitive. From bowling to swimming, navigating the recruiting landscape could be a little bit of a landmine without enough full scholarships. But somehow bowling, tennis, softball and volleyball have done well enough to make it to the postseason in the face of cuts over the past three years.

Even men's and women's track have been able to get a handful of athletes into the NCAA regionals this past season, despite finishing in the bottom half of the standings at their conference meet. With that kind of success, there's a renewed emphasis to give more to non-revenue sports, said interim athletic director Mike Smith. "It ignites us to continue to look for ways to get them resources to enhance their recruiting effort to get the kind of athletes that we need," Smith said. "We are putting our efforts to give our coaches an opportunity to get out and recruit. They're doing a good job in looking at student-athletes that will bring success to the program.

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Texas Southern to California students & student-athletes: Come on down

SACRAMENTO, CA -
State funding cuts and tuition increases are forcing California students to look out of state when it comes to attending college. Texas Southern University brought a team of enrollment workers to Sacramento Wednesday for a mini-orientation camp for incoming students. They were able to arrange class schedules and sign up for students housing and financial aid according to TSU vice-president of enrollment Hasan Jamil.

Jamil said the number of California students attending TSU has grown over the last few years because tuition at the University of California and California State University have jumped. Last year the two school systems raised fees by 32 percent and CSU is considering bumping them up by another 10 percent. "I think it's a loss for California to lose these bright students," Jamil declared. "If they do not have access to higher education, what are these students going to do? They're options are limited. And California's workforce is going to suffer."



Shantell Phillips of Elk Grove was excited to learn TSU is offering her a $40,000 scholarship. When she adds in a grant and money from the school's work-study program, her father will only have to pay $110 a year for her to go to school. "Words just explain how this makes me feel. I'm just so happy," Phillips said.

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Things looking up at Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University athletic director Charles McClelland has released a statement that Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M will play the 2010 Labor Day Classic at 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at Reliant Stadium. The game had been originally set for Sept. 4.

If the 2009-10 sports season is an indication, the turnaround of Texas Southern's athletic program is gaining steam. TSU's campaign officially ended last week when the baseball team fell in the semifinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament. The Tigers set a school record for total wins (30) and conference wins (18) en route to capturing the SWAC's Western Division title.

The baseball team's season capped a year full of notable accomplishments for TSU. The football squad finished 6-5 for its first winning season since 2000. The men's basketball program improved to 17-16 from 7-25 the year before, advancing to the SWAC tournament final and falling one win short of its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003. The softball team went 21-20 for its first winning season since 2002 and first Western Division title since 2000.

The Tigers faltered in some areas, notably women's soccer and the track and field programs, but Charles McClelland sees encouraging signs heading into his third year as athletic director. “The ironic theme is that approximately 90 percent of our student-athletes will be returning for next year's competition, so we're a young athletic program and a program that has made tremendous strides,” McClelland said. “We're extremely happy and positive about the direction that (we're heading in) after only two years.”

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B-CU sports complex wins approval

Bethune Cookman University President Trudie Kibbe Reed, Ed.D., said the Wildcat students have a $350 million dollar economic impact on the Daytona Beach area. The proposed Larry R. Handfield Athletic Training Center will address NCAA Title IX concerns for balancing men's and women's athletics sports facilities at the college.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Bethune-Cookman University has a new addition coming: a 27,000-square-foot athletic facility on International Speedway Boulevard where students can work out and coaches can strategize. Students at the private, United Methodist school also will have a new place to pray together, and someday kids in the neighborhood might have a place to connect with mentors. The city's Midtown Redevelopment Area Board voted Wednesday night to let the $4 million project move ahead. Construction is slated to start in about a month, and should wrap up in roughly a year.

The vote brought smiles to dozens of students who packed into the City Hall meeting room. "Behind me you see a group of young men who probably would not have had an opportunity for higher education without the football program," said Bethune-Cookman President Trudie Kibbe Reed. University officials hope the sports complex will save their NCAA division status, something that came into question several years ago after NCAA inspectors called for improvements to Bethune-Cookman athletic facilities. Preserving that status should also protect the $1.5 million the school gets each year to play in the Florida Classic football game, money that goes toward academic programs.

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Florida A&M Inks State Champion Brittany Jones

A lot of what was said about Brittany Jones’ ability as a runner was like old hat to her parents, as they flanked their daughter Tuesday morning at Rickards High School when she signed to run for Florida A&M University. Joseph and Stephanie Jones have been hearing their daughter referred to as a “phenomenal athlete” and “future Olympian” for several years. The first time the Joneses heard such glowing description of their daughter, she was just a middle school runner.

They got their first glimpse of things to come when Brittany ran the anchor leg to bring her Fairview Middle School team from the back of the pack to a second-place finish. Since then, she’s captured countless ribbons and trophies and even won a state high school title in the 300-meter hurdles for the Raiders last season. Her signing to attend FAMU makes her the third Rickards athlete to become a Rattler within a week. She also had offers from Georgia Southern and the University of North Florida. “I’m very thankful for this opportunity,” Jones told the audience that included classmates, coaches and several Rickards administrators. “I want to thank my parents. They’ve been very supportive and they’ve been with me from Day One.”

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U.S. House of Representatives passes North Carolina Central University Resolution

Washington, D.C. - Today, the United States House of Representatives passed H.Res. 1361, Recognizing North Carolina Central University (NCCU) on its 100th Anniversary by a vote of 408-1.

NCCU is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The resolution was sponsored by Representatives David Price (NC-04) and G.K. Butterfield (NC-01). Rep. Price’s district includes NCCU and Rep. Butterfield earned an undergraduate and juris doctorate from the university.

Yesterday, Rep. Price addressed the House of Representatives to recognize the institution’s impact on North Carolina and urge swift passage of the resolution. The text of Rep. Price’s remarks is below.

CONGRESSMAN DAVID PRICE
FLOOR STATEMENT ON H. RES. 1361
Recognizing North Carolina Central University on its 100th Anniversary
May 19, 2010

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.Res.1361, which commemorates the centennial anniversary of North Carolina Central University and honors its founder, Dr. James E. Shepard. I’ve introduced this resolution as the member of this body privileged to represent North Carolina Central, but I’m proud to say it has the support of the entire North Carolina delegation as well as a number of other members who recognize the university’s significance.

People frequently talk about the “Big 3” universities in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina – referring to Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – but I like to remind them that it is actually the “Big 4”. North Carolina Central is fully as integral to the historical fabric of our state as its three peer institutions; it is one of the oldest and most prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation; and it has rapidly assumed an important role as a research institution.

Established by Dr. James E. Shepard in 1909 in Durham, North Carolina, the University first opened its doors to students a year later as the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua. Dr. Shepard was a visionary leader guided by the conviction that individual self-improvement and collective self-advancement were inextricably intertwined. “There is no economy in ignorance,” he declared. “Education is a vastly expensive resource, but ignorance is incomparably more so. Ignorance and poverty are cures for nothing.”

Dr. Shepard led the University until his death in 1947, guiding the institution through several name changes; watching the University grow in size and mission; and helping the school to gain the support of the North Carolina state legislature. In 1925, thanks to Dr. Shepard’s leadership, the school became the nation’s first state-supported liberal arts college for African-American students.



Now an integral part of the University of North Carolina system, NC Central offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 100 fields of study and graduate degrees in about 40 disciplines to a student body of about 8,500. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked NC Central the top public HBCU in the nation and one of the top ten HBCUs overall. The NC Central School of Law has been named the “Best Value Law School” in the nation by National Jurist magazine for two consecutive years.

NC Central is also renowned for its contributions to the cultural and performing arts. The University is home to the “Marching Sound Machine,” an award-winning marching band that will be performing on New Year’s Day 2011 in the Rose Parade, and the NC Central Jazz Ensemble, which recently performed in the Newport Jazz Festival.

NC Central also has a strong history of athletic prowess: its sports teams have won 41 conference championships, three NCAA regional titles, and two national championships. More than 50 of its student-athletes have won individual NCAA and NAIA national championships; and student-athletes representing NCCU competed in every Olympic Games from 1956 to 1976 in track and field, capturing eight Olympic medals, including five gold medals, during that span.

As a co-chair of the congressional National Service Caucus, I must also note that NC Central was the first state university in North Carolina to establish community service as a requirement for graduation and has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a “community-engaged university”. It should therefore come as no surprise that the University has enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with its home city of Durham throughout its 100-year history.

Thousands of NC Central graduates have served Durham as community leaders, educators, professionals, entrepreneurs and volunteers. However, the reach of NC Central extends far beyond the borders of the Triangle region of North Carolina. In the century since its founding, the University has graduated approximately 40,000 students and proudly boasts many distinguished alumni, including civil rights lawyer and educator Julius L. Chambers, basketball Hall of Famer Sam Jones, two-time Olympic track gold medalist Lee Calhoun, NC Superior Court Judge Toby Fitch, state Senator and former Speaker Dan Blue, and state Rep. Mickey Michaux, not to mention my friend and lead cosponsor of this legislation, Congressman G.K. Butterfield.

In the words of NC Central’s current Chancellor, Dr. Charlie Nelms: "It's no small accomplishment that an institution of higher education - and in this case founded by African-Americans at a time when African-Americans were barred from most colleges - survived and thrived for 100 years." I could not agree more. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Shepard, Dr. Nelms, and all who served the institution in between, the University has flourished and has touched countless lives in North Carolina and throughout the country and the world.

With that, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution and yield back the remainder of my time.

Grambling State Broadway meets the fans, talks football

Grambling State football coach Rod Broadway isn't shy about telling you his dislike of putting Football Bowl Subdivision schools on his nonconference schedule. The Tigers have played the likes of Nevada and Oklahoma State lately, and while the university gets an added financial benefit to play in the games, the Tigers have been dealt lopsided losses with numerous injuries.

Broadway used this argument as his push to get more fans in the stands for football games when he spoke at Lake Bethlehem Baptist Church for the Shreveport leg of the GSU sports caravan Thursday night. "If we sold our home games out, we don't have to play teams like Oklahoma State," Broadway said to about 50 members of the Shreveport alumni chapter. "The Oklahoma States have 22 more scholarships than we do. That's just not fair."

Grambling State University

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NCCU Eagles: Your Time Is Coming in 41 Days...

NCCU, your time is near but let us take a brief look back at the year that was at the Eagle's nest. This is the video that was played at "The Eddies" culminating a year of exciting moments at North Carolina Central University. The NCCU Eagles will officially join the MEAC as its 13th member, as voted on by the conference's Council of Chief Executive Officers (CCEOs), effective July 1, 2010. Eagle Pride! Eagle Pride! Welcome Home...

Braddy to stay on as JSU Tigers' AD

Jackson State athletic director Bob Braddy will stay on for one more year as the university looks for a replacement for outgoing president Ronald Mason. raddy had planned to retire July 1 and a search committee had already been formed, but administration did not want vacancies at both positions concurrently. Chief of staff Evola Bates and Braddy met Monday to discuss the situation.

The search for a new athletic director has been suspended and the new president will conduct the process once hired. "I had planned to play golf 3-4 times a week," Braddy said with a laugh. "A lot of my plans have been put on hold." Braddy will sign a one-year extension, but could step down earlier if the new president is ready to hire a successor before then.

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Former high school football star Lee McElroy finds opportunity in college athletic administration

Photo: Lee McElroy, former president of the National Association of Athletic Directors (2006-07), took a career-killer job at the University of Albany (SUNY) in 2000. While he recognized the problems at the University of Albany--administrative instability, no Division I conference affiliation, mediocre facilities, little private booster support--he also sensed opportunity. Today, under the athletic leadership of McElroy, UAlbany is the star of the East Coast Conference. (Courtesy DONNA ABBOTT VLAHOS THE BUSINESS REVIEW)

When others saw risk, Beaumont native Lee McElroy found opportunity. The oldest of 12 siblings, the former Hebert High School football star became the first to go as far from home has he did. Years later, an unexpected career shift took him from home again, this time on a journey that has allowed him to make as bigger a difference off the field than he ever did on it.

Through it all, McElroy points to a racially segregated upbringing that shaped his values today, as he is one of few African-Americans to run an athletic program at a non-traditionally-black school. "I've had a lot of success everywhere I've been, and that's because I learned to go in and look at an environment and then develop the pieces to make it fit," said McElroy, the director of athletics at New York's University of Albany since 2000.

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McElroy previously served as athletics director for four years at American University in Washington D.C., seven years at California State University-Sacramento and one year at the University of the District of Columbia.

Delaware State needs some help to win fourth MEAC title

Photo: Forward Roy Bright #45 leads the Hornets in scoring and is in second place in the MEAC scoring race averaging 18.7 ppg.

Confident Hornets ready for second-place Norfolk State

DOVER -- The next two weeks will decide if Delaware State will be crowned a four-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball champion or have its streak of regular-season titles end.

Trailing first-place Morgan State by two games, the Hornets begin their mission tonight when they travel to Norfolk State (12-10, 8-2 MEAC). Hornets coach Greg Jackson is skeptical about his team's chances. He said the confidence gained by beating Hampton and Howard in the Hornets' past two games isn't enough to propel his team past Morgan State (15-8, 9-1) and to a fourth straight title.

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Firings, hirings at Texas Southern University signal president's resolve

Photo: Texas Southern University President, Dr. John Rudley.

First week's housecleaning demonstrates his desire for stability

Texas Southern University's new president marked his first week on the job by making sweeping changes to the top ranks of the troubled institution's administration.

"This should signal that we will make the changes required," John Rudley said Friday.

Rudley replaced the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, Bobby Wilson, and fired athletic director Alois Blackwell.

Rudley also inherited an athletic department with budget shortfalls, poor performance on the field and in the classroom and an NCAA investigation into the tennis teams. The problems led to Blackwell's dismissal, Rudley said.

Only 16 percent of students earn bachelor's degrees within six years of arriving at TSU, compared with the state rate of 55 percent.

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FAMU "sole source" new athletic director

Compiled by beepbeep

Photo: FAMU president Dr. James Ammons

The Tallahassee Democrat announced in today's edition that Florida A&M University president Dr. James Ammons has recommended to the FAMU Board of Trustees that William "Bill" Hayes be accepted as the hire for the athletic director position. More importantly, Dr. Ammons requested the academic committee of the board of trustees issue a waiver for advertising the vacant post on a competitive basis and confirm Mr. Hayes hiring immediately. The academic committee is composed only of trustees.

The Board is also expected to vote today on issuing a waiver for the advertisement for the head football coaching position vacated by the fired Rubin Carter. Dr. Ammons also advised the Trustees that he would be bringing forth a recommendation for a head coach by December 17.

First, is anyone surprised by this development?

We're not, as Dr. Ammons has shown a personal preference in hiring the familiar or individuals that worked with him previously at North Carolina Central University, i.e., William "Bill" Hayes and possibly--Rod Broadway (head coach).

Upon being selected at NCCU in May 2003, Hayes stated, “I’m excited,” while giving credit to current head football coach Rod Broadway for helping get him off the golf course and back to work in athletics. Broadway had known Hayes since his coaching days at WSSU and had maintained a relationship over the years. “Coach Broadway called me two or three times a week,” Hayes stated. “He wasn’t interested in Xs and Os, he wanted to know about building a program. As I thought about all this free advice I was giving I decided to pursue this opportunity.”

Photo: William 'Bill" Hayes is proposed FAMU new athletic director.

Coach Broadway is in his first season at Grambling State University, but may be committed only until completion of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game on December 15, in Birmingham, Alabama. The 48 hours thereafter, is just enough time to raise the SWAC Championship trophy, issue a letter of resignation and make travel plans to Tallahassee. Broadway has won 74 percent of all of his games at both NCCU and Grambling State and coached NCCU to an undefeated regular season in 2006 and the Black National Championship.

Not even opening the 2008 season at Western Athletic Conference foe University of Nevada at Reno on August 30, 2008, can keep Rod Broadway at Grambling State. Broadway said as much in his outburst to alumni that were unhappy with Grambling 22-13 loss in the Bayou Classic. It's difficult for Broadway to meet their unrealistic expectations--with a possible 9-3 record playing with the other guys players.

Broadway is one of 16 finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award. He is the second highest paid coach in the SWAC behind Southern University's Pete Richardson (3-years $200,000 annually) and above Jackson State University Rick Comegy. The fourth highest paid football coach in the SWAC is Anthony Jones at Alabama A&M University--that has interviewed with Southern Conference member Western Carolina University for the head coaching vacancy. Jones has a contract offer on the table at $155,000 annually from AAMU that he has not yet signed.

We will provide you with the exact numbers of Broadway's contract that was effective on January 25, 2007 later. Broadway did earn $100,000 annually under a six year deal at NCCU and $114,125 as an assistant coach at University of North Carolina.

Mr. Hayes is expected to receive a three year contract at $175,000 per year, upon Board of Trustee approval. Hayes was hired as athletic director by Dr. Ammons on July 1, 2003 and accepted a three year contract paying $110,000 annually at North Carolina Central University. He was instrumental in formulating a highly successful $1,000 Eagles Campaign--1000 Eagles giving $1,000 to fund student-athletic scholarships. This initiative raised over $1 million dollars for the program in short order.

You may read Bill Hayes complete Bio at: www.nccuatlanta.org/pdf/HayesBilly.pdf

Our only question is--are we limiting our goals and outlook for FAMU by hiring Bill Hayes?

We see Hayes as a great short term solution to bring leadership, professionalism and stability to the Rattlers athletic department. This may be just what the doctor ordered and is necessary to later make the push to the higher echelons of the Football Championship Subdivision. Hopefully, Hayes will hire his successor as an assistant athletic director so that there will be no detours as the Rattlers move to their rightful place among the college athletic elite.

We are all for a simple initiative of 2000 Rattlers at $1,000 to payoff Rubin Carter's contract and lay a solid financial foundation for 2008. It will take this additional infusion of cash to supplement the contract of a Rod Broadway or Al Lavan (Delaware State). Let's not forget that Al Lavan is a Florida native who graduated from Colorado State and coached at Eastern Michigan prior to leading the Hornets to the MEAC championship and FCS playoffs. The connection is Ammons and Lavan are from the same neck of the woods--Winter Haven and Fort Pierce, Florida, respectively.

We don't expect Broadway to have a change of heart for Grambling or FAMU to go after Lavan, unless Grambling steps up to keep Broadway. Based on the information we have received, it's going to be a Funky, Fun-ky Broadway at Bragg Memorial Stadium in 2008 and beyond.

Great move Dr. Ammons!!