Delaware State Hornets Equestrian Team to Battle for 2011 National Championship

Waco, TX - The field is now set after the Varsity Equestrian Selection Committee chose the 2011 Varsity Equestrian National Championship (VENC) seeds. This year’s championship will be held April 14-16, 2011, in Waco, TX, and is expected to provide plenty of excitement throughout the competition as the top 12 teams in the country battle it out for the overall national championship title.

In the hunter seat bracket, Auburn University was selected as the No. 1 seed, followed by The University of Georgia as the No. 2 seed. Host institution, Baylor University, will be the third seed, followed by Big 12 foe, Oklahoma State University. Texas A&M University will be seeded fifth, followed by The University of South Carolina (6), Fresno State University (7), Kansas State University (8), Texas Christian University (9), University of Tennessee-Martin (10), Delaware State University (11) and New Mexico State University (12).

On the western side, Texas A&M University earned the No. 1 seed after an impressive 11-1 season. Oklahoma State University will be seeded in the No. 2 spot, followed by Auburn University in the third seed. The University of Georgia rounds out the team who earned a bye with the No. 4 seed. The University of South Carolina will start in the fifth seed, followed by Texas Christian (6), Kansas State (7), Baylor University (8), New Mexico State University (9), University of Tennessee-Martin (10), Fresno State University (11) and Delaware State University (12).

2011 DSU Equestrian Team (Roster - Click Here)
(Photo: DSU SID/Mike Baker)

Complete brackets are available at www.varsityequestrian.com. You can also follow along during the competition at www.baylorbears.com.

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Robinson dual threat for FAMU

She leads the team in runs batted in. She has the second-highest slugging percentage and she's third in runs scored. And Whitney Robinson pitches as well as she hits for the Florida A&M softball team. That's a luxury the Rattlers haven't enjoyed since All-American Amber Alford made her name as a power hitter who pitched in the early 1990s.

Robinson's all-around play creates high energy every time she pitches or gets a hit, said pitching coach Lori Goodart.

"The team sees her in the circle and they play behind her defensively, then they see her go and give so much more at the plate," Goodart said. "So when she talks, they're going to listen. It's a huge advantage."

FAMU offensive line showing improvements

Whether it was the first or the second team, Florida A&M's personnel on the offensive line didn't change much. The same players worked from left to the right hash mark then back to the left again. Such has been the life of an offensive lineman on the FAMU football team.

Shelley Anthony and Brandon Curry are the only seniors on the unit of nine, including four walk-ons. That makes for a thin line, but coach Joe Taylor took the glass-half-full approach.

"That's a good and bad thing; the veterans can't get hurt and if the freshmen get in it will be some valuable experience," Taylor said. "I think coach (Lawrence) Kershaw has done a good job in working with what he has."

FAMU relay team better with every step on track

They're getting better every time out. At least that's the way it seems for the Florida A&M quartet that makes up the women's 4x400 relay team.

But no matter how good they get, this team of three freshmen and a senior won't be content until they run at least 3:31. That time is the best ever ran by a FAMU 4x400 team and it has become their target since early March at the FAMU Relays where they met the women who set the standard more than two decades ago.

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Catching Up On the Coaching Carousel

As far as we know, the coaching carousel is nearly complete. Did you even notice?

The usually far-reaching dominoes haven't fallen as much with plenty of positions being filled by out-of-work coaches, mid-major coaches and assistant coaches. There hasn't been a whole lot of poaching from one major school to the next, or at least not as much as usual. One high-profile move to the NBA, though, and that could all change.

With that said, here is a quick breakdown of what has occurred so far, with 30 positions having been filled and 13 still to go as of Friday morning:

Alcorn State
Alabama A&M
Florida A&M
Southern


Videographer: familymattersfirst; Reach Sports Director Luther Riley (Alcorn State University new head basketball coach) Returns from Taiwan.

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Southern University fires Greg LaFleur; Coach Sandy Pugh recommended as interim athletics director

SU's Interim Athletics Director Sandy Pugh

BATON ROUGE, LA – Southern University Chancellor Kofi Lomotey today (4/6/2011) dismissed Athletic Director Greg LaFleur. He will recommend to the university's Board of Supervisors that Lady Jaguar Basketball Coach Sandy Pugh become the interim athletic director.

LaFleur’s dismissal comes after his arrest for allegedly soliciting a prostitute in Houston, Texas.

“This decision was reached after consultation with campus and system administrators. We think the decision is in the best interest of Southern University,” Lomotey said.

The chancellor praised LaFleur for his guidance of Southern University athletics during tough economic times and coaching changes. “I appreciate his effort and the hard work he put in during some difficult situations,” Lomotey said. “I speak for the rest of my staff in wishing him well.”

Lomotey said his decision to fire LaFleur is one that had to be made and made quickly for the stability of Southern's athletic program. “Given the circumstances, I think it would be difficult for the university to move forward with Mr. LaFleur as the head of the athletic program,” he said.

“I think that bringing Sandy Pugh into the job provides us with someone who has done a great job of recruiting student athletes, who is a rising star in her profession and who commands respect immediately,” the chancellor said.

“Her presence and background will be invaluable in guiding our athletic department over the next several weeks and especially next week during crucial meetings with representatives from the NCAA,” Lomotey said.

Coach Pugh has brought the Lady Jaguar basketball program to an unprecedented level of prominence in her 11-year tenure. She presently serves on the Top 25 Coaches poll. Her teams have been to four NCAA Tournaments, two WNIT appearances and have won four regular season Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships, as well as having produced the only player ever drafted from the SWAC into the WNBA.

“But more importantly,” Lomotey said, “her teams have consistently averaged an APR score well above the standard.”

Lomotey said the University will launch a nationwide search for a new athletic director. “The person hired will come into the job with the full support of the campus, administration and the Jaguar Nation,” he said. “That person will be expected to help our coaches attract and graduate the best student-athletes available.”



by Southern University Media Relations

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Southern University AD Greg LaFleur arrested, Southern releases statement

HOUSTON, TX  - Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur has been arrested in Houston for prostitution. According to the police report, Greg LaFleur, 52, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Sunday on Main Street in Houston for solicitation of a prostitute.

The prosecutor's office in Harris County characterizes the case as "straight sex for pay," because the police report says LaFleur picked up a female for sex. According to the police report, the female he picked up happened to be an undercover police officer.

The former LSU and NFL football player was booked on a misdemeanor charge by Houston Police, with bond set at $500 according to court records.



Ex-NFL player and Southern A.D. arrested for solicitation

It’s been a wacky couple of days for NFL arrests, with Mike Vrabel’s beer heist almost topping Louis Murphy’s Viagra adventure for sheer ridiculousness. Now even ex-NFL players want to get in on the act.

The Associated Press notes that Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur is free on bond after being arrested for soliciting a prostitute. LaFleur was a third-round pick of the Eagles who played for the Rams for six seasons.

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Tulane women's basketball team routs Southern 61-31 in WNIT

No point for Tulane to sit back and let its WNIT opener against Southern become competitive. The Green Wave swarmed the Jaguars with a full-court press from the onset.

Any lethargic Tulane tendencies the Green Wave might be expected to have after not earning an NCAA Tournament bid never appeared.

Tulane’s pesky defense helped it cruise to a 61-31 win over Southern on Thursday night at Fogelman Arena. The Green Wave will take on Oral Roberts, who defeated TCU, in Tulsa, Okla. either on Saturday or Sunday at 4 p.m.

Missing the women’s NCAA tournament is still a sore spot for tguard Olivia Grayson, who scored a team-high 12 points and still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Tulane Women's Hoops Rolls Past Southern In WNIT Opener, 61-31

NEW ORLEANS - Sophomore Olivia Grayson had 12 points and the Green Wave defense forced 22 turnovers as the Tulane University women's basketball team defeated Southern, 61-31, in the opening round of the 2011 WNIT Thursday evening in Fogelman Arena.

The Wave used its press to tally 12 steals - the 15th double-digit steal outing of the year and the most by the team since having 16 thefts at SMU on Feb. 3 - while limiting the Lady Jaguars to a 16.9 field goal percentage (12-of-71). With the win, Tulane improves to 23-10 on the year and advances to take on Oral Roberts in the second round of the WNIT on Monday, March 21, at 7 p.m. in Tulsa, Okla. Southern, meanwhile, concludes its 2010-11 season at 20-12.

Tulane routs SU in WNIT

NEW ORLEANS – Southern’s stay in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament was over almost before it began as an epidemic of missed shots and turnovers doomed the Jaguars in the first half of a 61-31 loss to Tulane in the first round Thursday night at Fogelman Arena.

Both teams were sloppy offensively at the outset, but the Green Wave (23-10) gradually got a handle on things. Southern (20-12) never did as it finished with its lowest point total of the season, falling short of an 85-36 loss at Miami on Nov. 29. The Jaguars made just 12-of-71 shots (16.9 percent), including 3-for-35 (8.6 percent) in the first half, and committed 22 turnovers.

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Alabama State Beats Grambling State, Wins SWAC, NCAA Bid

ASU Coach Lewis Jackson and the Hornets are rolling to the Big Dance

GARLAND, Texas - Tremayne Moorer scored 14 points and Tramaine Butler added 13, lifting Alabama State to a 65-48 victory over Grambling on Saturday night to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament.

The Hornets are sure to be a low seed considering they are only 17-17. At least they have momentum going for them — they were 6-16 at the start of February, but head into the tournament on an 11-1 run. This victory avenged their only loss in their recent spurt, a one-pointer on the road in the regular-season finale.

Grambling (12-21) reached the SWAC tournament finals for the first time on a big roll of its own, winning nine of 11. The sixth-seeded Tigers led 28-26 at halftime, then fell apart.

Grambling falls, 65-48

The red-hot Grambling basketball team's fire finally burned out in the second half of the SWAC tournament championship game. The Tigers led Alabama State by two points at halftime, but were badly out-played in the second half and lost 65-48 at the Special Events Center in Garland, Texas.

The second half opened with GSU leading 28-26, and Alabama State quickly tied the game at 30-30 after a jump shot from Shareif Adamu. A Tramaine Butler layup gave the Hornets the lead, and from that point the lead only continued to grow.



ASU Throttles Grambling; Wins SWAC Tournament Championship

Garland, Tx. –Alabama State defeated Grambling State 65-48 at the Special Events Center in the 2011 Farmers Insurance Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament Championship. The victory gave Lewis Jackson his second conference tournament crown in his six years as head coach and the school's fourth.

ASU led 10-4 at the 15 minute mark of the first half. GSU responded with a pair of layups each from Justin Patton and Donald Qualls tying the game at 10 apiece. Qualls scored 35 points the night prior in the semi-finals against Jackson State. He finished with only 12 points on the night to lead Grambling.

Grambling's first lead came off of a Peter Robinson jump hook to make the score 22-20, with just under seven minutes to play before halftime. Four free throws later from Qualls and all of a sudden GSU led 26-20. The biggest deficit the hornets would see all tournament long.

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NaKena Cromartie is Ms. FAMU 2011-2012

NaKena Cromartie was elected Miss FAMU 2011-2012 yesterday in a runoff election. Cromartie won the title with 1,072 votes, besting runner-up Chelsea Earby, who had 734 votes.

Cromartie, 22, a fourth-year accounting student from Tampa, Fla, came up short with votes on election night held on Tuesday with 1042 votes while Earby had a solid 1328, but the close count called for a run-off.

After an additional day of campaigning and voting, Cromartie claimed victory.



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Pep band, students and alumni resurrect a UMES tradition

PRINCESS ANNE, MD -- The once popular UMES Homecoming Parade that had disappeared during the past few decades will be resurrected this Saturday featuring the campus' new pep band.



University officials originally planned to keep the parade small and limited to campus, but recently changed the route to go through downtown Princess Anne after student and alumni groups signed up to participate, said Kimberly Dumpson, director of Alumni Affairs and planned giving at the university.



"The parade has taken on a whole new life," she said. "It's really turned into something bigger than what we thought."



At the center will be the pep band, which will turn into a marching band for the occasion.

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JSU football could face loss of NCAA membership

Coach Rick Comegy is in final year of contract

Jackson State University's football team will be banned from postseason play this fall and the athletic department's membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association is likely to be restricted by 2012 if the NCAA does not grant the school's waiver request.

The team's Academic Progress Rate, a rolling, four-year figure that calculates academic performance, has fallen below a critical benchmark for the third straight year, according to documents obtained recently by The Clarion-Ledger through a public records request.

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JSU LATEST NCAA APR REPORT: CLICK HERE

JSU 2011 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result
09/03/11 Concordia (Selma, AL) Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 1:30 p.m. CT
09/10/11 vs. Tennessee State Memphis, TN 6:00 p.m. CT
09/17/11 at Southern Baton Rouge, LA TBA
09/24/11 vs. Alabama State Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 4:00 p.m. CT
10/01/11 vs. Texas Southern Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 4:00 p.m. CT
10/08/11 vs. Arkansas - Pine Bluff Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 4:00 p.m. CT
10/15/11 at Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, MS TBA
10/29/11 at Prairie View A&M Prairie View, TX TBA
11/05/11 vs. Grambling St. Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 2:00 p.m. CT
11/12/11 at Alabama A&M Huntsville, AL TBA
11/19/11 vs. Alcorn State Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 1:00 p.m. CT

SportsGroove TV Presents HSRN's HBCU Sports Nation

Jackson State Athletic Director Retires

Jackson State University announces that Athletics Director Robert Braddy has retired.

“The entire Jackson State University family joins me in thanking Coach Braddy for his more than 30 years of service to this university,” said Carolyn Meyers, university president. “I know that all who know him join the university in wishing him and his family well.”

Braddy, affectionately known as “Coach,” started his retirement February 1.

Having served as athletics director for five years, Braddy previously served as the Tigers’ baseball coach for 28 years. A 1964 JSU graduate, Braddy also served as the university’s interim director of athletics in 2000. Under his leadership, the JSU athletics programs have won 17 SWAC titles and captured the Commissioner’s Cup (the James Frank Award) four times, as well the men’s and women’s all sports awards.

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SSU's Davenport signs 20 players

Two days after announcing the hiring of five assistants, first-year Savannah State University football coach Steve Davenport on Wednesday announced the signing of 20 players to national letters of intent.

Davenport, who was hired Jan. 7 after four seasons as the running backs coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, signed 13 players from Georgia high schools. None of the signees are from the Coastal Empire.

"I don't have a lot of relationships that were built in Savannah, but I will," said Davenport, a 43-year-old Decatur native. "We're going to extend ourselves to the coaches in the community, and to the community as a whole. But this wasn't an opportunity to do that. I got the job so late I hit the ground running, and ran to where I knew I would be accepted. We'll get to the people of Savannah."



Tigers Ink 20 Football Recruits

SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State head football coach Steve Davenport announced the signing of 20 young men who have decided to continue their educational career at SSU. “We wanted to bring in quality student-athletes and good football players,” said Davenport.

Of the 20 signees, 13 hail from the state of Georgia in the Atlanta metro area. Davenport thinks that linebacker Jordan Mincy, wide receiver Vaughn Cornelia, defensive lineman Evince Dossous, wide receiver Kristopher Drummond and defensive end Brandon Rhodes could come in a possibly get some playing time early.

Full Signee List (Click Here)

Hilton Takes Over As North Carolina A&T Athletics Director

Aggies Athletics Director Earl Monroe Hilton III

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Chancellor Harold L. Martin has announced the appointment of Earl Hilton as the new North Carolina A&T intercollegiate director of athletics.

"For the last three months, Mr. Hilton has served as interim athletics director," said Martin. "During this time, we have had the opportunity to examine his work ethic and professional practices, and we have been impressed with both his managerial and interpersonal skills. We are anticipating significant changes and growth in our athletics programs under Earl's leadership."

Hilton is no stranger to N.C. A&T. He worked as the department's finance, compliance and personnel director from 2000-02. After his first stint with Aggie Athletics, he spent eight years an assistant vice chancellor for student affairs at the university. His duties included budget oversight, personnel development and management. In addition to his role in student affairs, Hilton assisted Aggie Athletics in its second-cycle NCAA certification. Before becoming the interim director of athletics, he was the chairman of N.C. A&T's 2011 NCAA re-certification committee.

"In many ways, student affairs and athletics mirror one another," said Hilton. "Both areas offer an environment to nurture, train and protect the welfare of our students. I want to assure you that N.C. A&T Athletics will be steeped in individual accountability, transparency and student safety."

Before coming to N.C. A&T, Hilton worked as Buffalo State's NCAA compliance director from 1997-2000. He also handled the departmental budget and served as the recreational and intramural supervisor. In 1993, he became an academic counselor at Texas Tech.

Hilton received his B.S., degree in political science in 1992. He also has a master's degree in public administration and Juris Doctorate from Texas Tech.

Courtesy: NC A&T Sports Information               Release: 02/03/2011

NCAA Investigating Texas Southern University Athletics

The investigation is on inconsistent Academic Performance Program data provided to NCAA for the years of 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, found by the present university administration and self-reported.

HOUSTON - FOX 26 Sports has learned the NCAA is investigating the athletics programs at Texas Southern University. The school was formally notified of the investigation on Oct. 18, 2010. The investigation is scheduled to be completed next month according to a letter written by NCAA vice-president of enforcement David Price and sent to TSU president John Rudley.


NCAA Investigating TSU Athletics: MyFoxHOUSTON.com
LINKS:
READ NCAA Letter, Page 1
READ NCAA Letter, Page 2

TSU probe nears end

The NCAA’s investigation into possible violations committed by the Texas Southern athletic department is expected to be completed in February, according to a letter the NCAA sent the school Oct. 18.

The letter, which was obtained through an open records request, was written by NCAA vice president of enforcement David Price and addressed to TSU president John Rudley. It indicated that violations mostly involve those found by the institution and the NCAA during an Academic Performance Program data review.

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Howard University president announces school's upgraded commitment to athletics

Howard University President Sidney Ribeau stood before a packed conference room at Blackburn Center on Wednesday and made a pronouncement that came as welcome news to Bison fans: Ribeau pledged his commitment to athletics.

The purpose of the gathering was to formally introduce Athletic Director Skip Perkins, who took over on Dec. 6, and the new football coach Gary Harrell, who was hired earlier this month. But the message Ribeau delivered was clear: Howard, which in the past had at best ignored and at worst disdained athletics, is at long last committed to fielding competitive sports programs.

"Let me just say to you without any kind of reservation that we are committed to intercollegiate athletics at Howard University," said Ribeau....


Videographer: SportsGrooveTV

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She's Got Game: FAMU Bowling Team On A Roll

Success is a common word used when talking about the FAMU Women's Bowling Team. In the middle of their season, the 9 women squad is continuing their quest to reach their goals. " We are trying to reclaim our division championship title." says coach Sheila Martin.

Most recently the Lady Rattlers finished at the top of the FSU Seminole Bowling Classic, and 4th in the MEAC Southern Division Tournament. These bowlers will compete in two away tournaments before bowling again on their home lanes in the beginning of February. They know in order to keep their 18th national ranking and inprove on it, its going to be a team effort.



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Tyler, Phillips, White, Stewart and Holmes elected to 2011 MEAC Hall of Fame

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced today the five members of its' 2011 Hall of Fame Class that will be honored during a brunch on Friday, March 11, beginning at 9 a.m. at the M.C. Benton, Jr. Convention Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

"We are thrilled to recognize another class of remarkable inductees who have made a considerable impact to their communities, institutions and our conference," said Dennis E. Thomas, MEAC Commissioner. "I'd like to applaud the Hall of Fame Class for all of their achievements both athletically and professionally."

The Hall of Fame class will be honored in conjunction with the 2011 MEAC Basketball Tournament, held March 7-12 at the Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem.

A limited number of tickets are available for the induction brunch at $30 per seat or $275 per table (10 persons). Tickets can be purchased by calling the MEAC Office at 757-951-2055.

 The MEAC Hall of Fame includes former student-athletes, coaches, university and/or conference administrators as well as special contributors, who have enriched the legacy of the conference since its inception in 1969. Enshrinees were selected by an 11-person committee made up of administrators from member institutions.

The first Hall of Fame class was inducted on May 29, 1981, during a 10-year anniversary banquet in
Greensboro, North Carolina. Since its establishment, the Hall of Fame has enshrined 108 people, including the Class of 2011.

The 2011 MEAC Hall of Fame Inductees are:

Inducted as a Student-Athlete:
Earl Holmes, Florida A&M - Holmes played for the Rattlers from 1992 to 1995, finishing as the school's all-time leader in tackles. Holmes, a three-time All-MEAC First Team selection, holds the school record with 509 total tackles (309 solo). During his senior season, he set school marks for solo tackles (103) and total tackles (171). He captured the NCAA Division I-AA and Black College All-American honors in 1994 and 1995. The 1995 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and Sheridan Broadcasting Network College Defensive Player of the Year, Holmes was selected in the fourth round of the 1996 National Football League (NFL) draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played 10 seasons in the NFL as a member of the Steelers (1996-2001), Cleveland Browns (2002) and Detroit Lions (2003-05) before retiring. Holmes currently serves as the Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers coach at his alma mater.

Stephen Stewart, Coppin State - Stewart guided the Eagles to a 1993 MEAC Tournament title and was named the MEAC Tournament Outstanding Performer in his rookie season. He earned back-to-back MEAC Player of the Year honors (1994, 1995) and helped lead the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament in 1993 and the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) in 1995. The forward scored 19 points against St. Joseph's in the NIT aiding Coppin State in its first-ever postseason victory. Stewart ranks eighth all-time in scoring at Coppin State with 1,393 points and seventh with 546 rebounds. The 1993 MEAC Rookie of the Year Stewart earned All-MEAC First Team honors in 1994 and 1995. He joins his brother Larry, another former standout at Coppin State, who was inducted in the MEAC Hall of Fame in 2005.

Natalie White, Florida A&M - White played point guard for the Lady Rattlers, helping them to two regular season MEAC titles (1994, 1995) and the 1995 MEAC Tournament crown. During her career, FAMU earned its' first-ever NCAA Tournament bid (1995). White holds the NCAA Division I record as the all-time steals' leader (624) and is second all-time in the school record books in assists (497). She led the nation in steals as a freshman (143), junior (172) and senior (191). The 1995 MEAC Player of the Year White still holds the NCAA record for total steals as freshman. The guard earned All-MEAC First Team honors in 1993-1995. She was also a four-time Black College All-America recipient (1992-95).White currently serves as an Account Executive/Dream Ambassadors Coordinator for the Women's National Basketball Association's (WNBA) Atlanta Dream.

Inducted as a Head Coach:
James Phillips, Morgan State - Phillips guided the Bears to 13 MEAC wrestling championships from 1985-1994. Under his helm, over 75 wrestlers were named All-Americans and two earned NCAA Division II National titles. He earned MEAC Outstanding Coach accolades 12 times and was the only Head Wrestling Coach from a Historical Black College or University (HBCU) to host a NCAA Eastern wrestling regional in 1984. Phillips was also the Head Coach of the Morgan State football team from 1983-84. On the field, Phillips competed as a member of MSU's football team from 1963-65 and played professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Phillips retired from Morgan State in 2004 after serving for more than 30 years as an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

Sanya Tyler, Howard - became the Lady Bison's first full-time women's basketball coach in 1980. Under her tutelage, the Lady Bison earned five MEAC regular-season titles, nine MEAC tournament titles and eclipsed nearly 300 victories. In her first season at the helm, Howard became the first MEAC women's team to participate in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. In addition to the 1982 NCAA appearance the Bison earned berths in 1996-1998. She was the first MEAC women's basketball coach to have victories over an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent (North Carolina State). The eight-time MEAC Outstanding Coach and 1994 MEAC Coach of the Year coached five MEAC Players of the Year, seven MEAC Outstanding Performers and was the first coach in MEAC history to have a player drafted in the WNBA. Tyler was inducted into Howard University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.

Written By: MEAC Media Relations  Release: 01/19/2011

Alabama State University student-athletes get it done with high GPAs in the classroom

While Alabama State University athletic programs see plenty of individual success on courts and fields, much of it is equaled in classrooms on campus. Following the fall semester, 95 student-athletes had attained grade point averages of 3.0 or higher, according to the university.

Five student-athletes had a perfect 4.0 GPA while 29 others attained a 3.5 or higher.

The SWAC Eastern Division Champion football team led the way with 15 members reaching that mark while the softball team had 12 and the baseball team had 11. The soccer team had 10 student-athletes with a 3.0 or higher.

95 Student-Athletes Receive 3.0 GPA or Higher in Fall Semester

MONTGOMERY, AL — There have been several strong performances for the Alabama State University athletic programs so far this season, and that performance can also be seen in the classroom. Following the fall semester 95 student-athletes had attained grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.

Five of those student-athletes attained a perfect 4.0 gpa and another 29 student-athletes attained a gpa of 3.5 or higher.

The SWAC Eastern Division Champion football team led the way with 15 members of the team reaching that mark. The softball team had 12 team members and the baseball team had 11 members attain the mark while soccer had 10 student-athletes with a 3.0 or higher gpa.

Several teams with smaller squad sizes had a high percentage of the student-athletes attain the mark such as seven members of the men's golf team and five members of the women's golf team.

Men's tennis, women's basketball and volleyball all had five team members with high gpa's while men's track had six members and women's track had seven members with solid gpa's.

Bowling (three), women's tennis (two) and men's basketball (two) also had student-athletes reach a 3.0 or better gpa.

Below are the student-athletes that have attained the 3.0 and higher gpa.

Baseball                                                 Women's TrackJahmal Brooks                                       Jamie Brooks
Ronald Frost                                          Quayana Browne
Kyle Granger                                          Courtney Gooch
Jourdan Mott                                           Tokeyah Jones
Trent Popp                                              Breana Kelly
Josue Quinnoes                                      Melissa Romelus
Drew Quinney                                        Shanice Mells
Anthony Ricciardi                                  SoccerMitchell Smith                                        Alex Ayers
Rashad Snell                                          Samantha Bruno
Marc Threet                                            Jordan Creel
Women's Basketball                           Melissa Douglas
Yahindra Edwards                                Stephanie Howard
Jasmine Evans                                      Dominique Humphrey
Erica Henderson                                    Lenna Lamas
Tanika Jackson                                      Franka Schauss
Talaih Robertson                                    Jasmine Wilson

Volleyball                                                Helma Von Zadow
Deidra Byner                                           Football
Roselande Corneille                              John Andrews
Genise Fletcher                                      Nick Andrews
Jessica Lindsey                                     Daquandra Campbell
Ana Pego                                                 Tim Clark
Bowling                                                    Drequay Everette
Jessica Ledbetter                                   David Hate
Paige Roquemore                                  Carlton Jones
Briana Wells                                            Saeed Lee
Women's Golf                                         Lorenzo Leonard
Amelie Buhl                                             Andrew Lyons
Taaj Hubbard                                          Zachery Meadows
Danielle Robinson                                Tuipulotu Ofahulu
D'Anrrielle Robinson                             Montavious Paulk
Jessica Williams                                    Corey Schofield
Men's Golf                                               Gregory Smith
Scott Benson                                          Softball
Anthony Dadamo                                   Courtney Crossley
Joseph Killebrew                                   Meagan Dixon
John Montgomery                                  Ayesha Famble
Joseph Morrison                                    Quayanna Forte'
Corey Price                                             Mercedes Frazier
Sam Strachan                                         Ariel Gainey
Men's Tennis                                          Amanda Gracia
Joshua Donaldson                                 Boshia Richardson
Clifford Frazier                                      Brehanna Rodrigues
Jonathan Freeman                                Megan Surovik
Alexis Pierre                                            Brittany Webb
Kevin Tan                                                Tiffany Wooden
Women's Tennis
Shenice Rawlins
Shameka Williams
Men's Basketball
Harvey Dwayne
Ivan Johnson
Men's Track
Jeffery Adams
Vincent Butler
Joaquin Dugan
Christopher Duncan
Jonathan Franklin
Kekei Jephtah

Courtesy: Alabama State University Sports Information Director
 Darrell Orand

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FAMU A.D. Derek Horne's Rattler Progress Report

You will want to watch the exclusive interviews (see below) conducted by Tallahassee WCTV's Elton Gumbel with Florida A&M University athletic director Derek Horne. I can honestly say that the RattlerNation is well pleased with Horne's actions to raise the bar on Rattler athletics.

Yes, we know the Rattlers men basketball program need some serious attention, but that's coming with the completion of the present coaching staff contracts.

When the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc., finalizes negotiations with Southern University to be the 2011 classic opponent for FAMU, the football schedule will have some great new flavor, with Fort Valley State (SIAC), University of South Florida (Big East), North Carolina Central (MEAC) and possibly Southern (SWAC).

The FVSU Wildcats finished 8-2 in 2010, and will be an exciting season opener for FVSU's eighth president, Dr. Larry E. Rivers on his return to the hill. Dr. Rivers previously served as one of two FAMU “distinguished university professor” and dean of the FAMU College of Arts and Sciences. We will talk more about the schedule later.

Now, back to Derek Hornes and his perspectives on where he is leading the Rattlers athletic programs.

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Just a few years ago the FAMU Rattlers' athletic road seemed to be full of speed bumps and maybe even a few wrong turns. But now their Wahnish Way is brighter and brighter by the day. For the last 149 days (and counting), Quitman, Georgia native Derek Horne has been settling into his role as athletic director.

Having the Rattlers win a MEAC football title just 4 months into the job helps make the new gig easier... But now that FAMU has transitioned from football and started putting the focus on Winter and Spring sports, the new leader has had a little bit of time to sit back and evaluate the state of the program. Safe to say, he likes what he sees.

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Please Click Each Title below to view WCTV Video Interview

FAMU's Derek Horne on FAMU Optimism
FAMU's Derek Horne Unplugged
FAMU's Derek Horne on Spring Sports
FAMU's Derek Horne on Atlanta Classic Changes
FAMU's Derek Horne on First 4 Months as A.D.