MVSU loses QB, recruit for 2011 season

MVSU Coach Karl Morgan

ITTA BENA, Miss. — Mississippi Valley State starting quarterback Oliver Hughes and transfer defensive lineman Ronald Byrd will miss the 2011 season with torn ACLs.

Delta Devils coach Karl Morgan tells the Delta Democrat Times that Hughes was injured during a scrimmage last week. Morgan says Byrd, a transfer from South Carolina, had surgery last week after being injured in the team's first spring practice. Morgan says both players will seek a medical redshirt and plan to return next year.

The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Byrd sat out the 2009 season at South Carolina after tearing an ACL during a team scrimmage. Morgan says he doesn't know if it was the same knee.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Southern U’s Banks talks with players for first time

Baton Rouge, LA - His day was a virtual parade of handshakes, paperwork and face-to-face meetings with officials at Southern University — but as the sun crept closer to the Mississippi River, Roman Banks had one more important matter to handle Thursday.

It was, he said, the most enjoyable part of his first full day on campus as the new men’s basketball coach. It was, arguably, the most important part of the day. At about 5:30 p.m., he met with his new players. Together, he said, they had to restore pride to a hurting program.

“I remember when Southern, I thought, was one of the best programs in the state,” Banks said later. “I always dreamed of coaching and hopefully having a chance to bring that pride, that enthusiasm back to the (F.G. Clark) Activity Center. ... It always made Southern very appealing to me.”

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.
VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE
VISIT: SUJAGUARS

Alabama State: Officials huddle on stadium strategy

Montgomery, AL - As construction crews continue grading the site of Alabama State's new football stadium, the real work goes on behind the scenes as school officials and sports marketing consultants try to set prices for luxury suites, signage and other aspects of the stadium.

The ASU board of trustees' stadium committee met Thursday to discuss the next step in constructing an on-campus stadium that will include 24 luxury suites and seating for 26,500 fans.

Grading the site is phase one of the project. Bids will be evaluated Tuesday for the second phase, which includes the foundation and structural package for the stadium, estimated at $18 million.

Board chairman Elton Dean asked that those who evaluate the bids indicate a preference for minority contractors in at least 25 percent of the bids or, at the very least, make sure those contractors employ 25 percent minority workers.

NEW STADIUM FLY-OVER

READ MORE, CLICK HERE

Southern University names Banks new head basketball coach

Coach Roman Banks

The Southern University Department of Athletics is proud to announce Roman Banks as its new head men's basketball coach. He will officially take over the men's program on May 1, 2011.

His appointment is conditional, pending confirmation by the Southern University Board of Supervisors at its upcoming meeting on April 29, 2011.

Roman Banks replaces Rob Spivery, who coached the Jaguars from 2005 through this past season.

Banks has served as Southeastern Louisiana University's men's associate head basketball coach the past five years, and spent eight years total on the coaching staff.

Banks comes to Southern with a keen knowledge of the Baton Rouge community and surrounding Ark-La-Tex regions, along with his knowledge of recruiting and game preparation. He was worked extensively on athletic projects, including fundraisers with the community and has coached and lectured at numerous basketball camps throughout the state. He also brings a true knowledge and conception of the game of basketball and what the game brings to the community -- socially as well as economically. He also brings a strong work ethic.

During his tenure in Hammond, Banks was part of a program that produced seven winning seasons (the most of any Division I school in the state of Louisiana) and 140 total wins (second to LSU's 144 wins from 2003-11). He played a vital role in the Lions' defensive effort in 2004-05 as Southeastern finished fourth in the nation in scoring defense (55.8 ppg) and produced the school's first Southland Conference Tournament championship and berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Banks played a key role in the recruitment of several of the Lions' standout players, highlighted by 2005-06 SLC Player of the Year Ricky Woods, along with All-Conference selections Daryl Cohen, Kevyn Green and Terry Bryant.

Regarded as one of the top recruiters in Louisiana, Banks spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Southern University where he served as the Jaguars' chief recruiter. While at Southern, he was responsible for the recruitment of two-time Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year Adarrial Smylie and Dionte Harvey, the 1997-98 SWAC Newcomer of the Year.

Banks played basketball at Northwestern State and was the Demons' point guard in their upset win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena. He finished his career as the school's all-time leader in assists while ranking second in steals and seventh in scoring. He led the Demons in four categories as a senior in 1991-92, including a 16.2 scoring average, was named honorable mention All-Southland Conference and was a third-team All-Louisiana selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Banks was named to the All-Southland Conference second team in 1989-90 after averaging 14.7 points and dishing out a career-high 157 assists. He helped the Demons to their first winning season in five years and helped the team establish 23 school records while leading the nation in team scoring, averaging 95.0 points per game.

Banks started his coaching career at Shreveport's Green Oaks High School before spending two years at Southern University-Shreveport, where he was the Athletic Director and head men's basketball coach.

A native of Shreveport, Banks was a three-time All-District 2-4A selection at Captain Shreve High School where he averaged 22.7 points and 7.6 assists as a senior in helping lead the Gators to a 28-7 record.

Banks, a member of the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches, is married to the former Tiffaney McCoy, a school teacher in the Tangipahoa Parish School System. They are the parents of two children, a son Tre'lun (15) and a daughter Kennedi (9).

Banks gets Southern men's basketball job

Thursday morning, Roman Banks pulled out of his driveway in Hammond and headed west toward Southern University, where he agreed to become the new men's basketball coach. Along the way, his car might have been on Interstate 12. But at some point, Banks' head started to wander down Memory Lane.

Banks, who has two family members in the SU Hall of Fame, started to think of his days as an assistant there from 1996-2002. There was the time the Jaguars got thumped at Alabama A&M. "They came to us a couple weeks later," he said. "Our guys just put on a clinic. One of our better wins in school history. It was special to me." There was the time in late 1998, when Texas A&M came into the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

By Southern University and A&M College
VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
VISIT: SUSPORTS

Arkansas Pine Bluff Raymond Webber ready for the NFL

PINE BLUFF, Ark. (KTHV) -- Raymond Webber is one of two(2) players to finish a season in the Southwest Athletic Conference(SWAC) with 100 or more passes. The other player was Jerry Rice.

Like many football players, Webber hopes to hear his name called at some point in the 2011 NFL draft. Webber says playing under Monte Coleman has prepared him for the NFL. He understands the NFL Lingo thanks to the pro style offense at UAPB.

He's visited 8 teams leading up to the draft and hopes one of those will become his new home soon. He sat down with Today's THV and talked about his visits and his approach to the pro game.

The NFL draft is April 28-30th.



VISIT: UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF
VISIT: UAPBLIONSROAR


Videographer: isasports; Raymond Webber UAPB Pro-Day 3-7-2011

WR Webber: From PHL to Rams?

Call him a late bloomer, or a classic case of someone who slipped through the cracks. But St. Louisan Raymond Webber, a wide receiver from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, is a secret no more to NFL teams.

Webber, who finished his high school career at Miller Career Academy in the PHL, is in the midst of a whirlwind tour of the NFL. He already has visited Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, and Green Bay. Next week, he tours Florida with pre-draft visits to Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and Miami.

He also had a visit and a private workout for his hometown team, the Rams, at the end of March. So when did Webber realize he was an NFL prospect?

"I really didn't know," Webber said. "It's all overwhelming. We have a top prospect in our ‘d-tackle' _ Ibraham Abdulai. During the season a lot of scouts were coming to scout him, and I was just riding his coattails, hoping to get seen, hoping to just talk to a scout to give me more motivation."

Webber participated in two lesser known postseason all-star games: the Russell Athletic HBCU All-Star Bowl in Atlanta on Dec. 18; and the inaugural Eastham Energy All-Star Game Jan. 23 in Tempe, Ariz. But he didn't get invited to the NFL scouting combine, and didn't realize there was this kind of interest in him until about a month ago.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.


Videographer: isasports; Raymond Webber UAPB College Highlights

South Aiken's Dingle signs to play college tennis at Prairie View

Aiken, S.C. - South Aiken High School senior Jonathan Dingle took the next step to continuing his tennis career on Wednesday, signing to play at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas. Dingle chose the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) institution over Winston-Salem State, North Carolina Central and Florida A&M for the opportunity to compete on a bigger stage.

"The fact that they were a major D-I school and the better chances to win the conference title and make it to the NCAA Tournament," was key, he said.

The Panthers' men's tennis team advanced to the SWAC semifinals this season, and played in last year's NCAA Tournament. Dingle said he was looking forward to the travel arrangements of college tennis.


READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

A&M University closer to hiring new men's basketball coach

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M is getting closer to hiring a new men's basketball coach, a member of the search committee told The Times Tuesday.

Nearly 60 applicants, including former South Carolina State and Tennessee State coach Cy Alexander, former Florida A&M coach coach Eugene Harris, who is also a former assistant at Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and South Alabama, and Stillman coach Michael Grant, who led the Tigers to a near upset of the University of Alabama-Huntsville last month in the NCAA Division II South Regional final, have applied for the job, but sources say only half of them meet the criteria. Alexander, Harris and Grant have emerged as serious contenders for the job, according to the source.

The committee is trying to trim the number of quality candidates down to 8-10 in hopes ...

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Jackson State AD search on hold, but 1 candidate emerges

A.D. Charles McClelland 

Even though Jackson State's search for an athletic director hasn't officially begun, one former finalist for the position has voiced his interest in the job again.

Charles McClelland, a Jackson native entering his fourth year as athletic director at Texas Southern, said the "opportunity to get interest from JSU and come home is exciting.

"Being from Jackson, I understand the rich history and tradition at JSU and what it means to the city of Jackson," said McClelland, a finalist for the job in 2006.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE

Young Grambling enjoys SWAC success

Coach James Cooper

Grambling head baseball coach James Cooper had a lot of holes to fill heading into this season as his team began the defense of its 2010 SWAC Tournament championship.

 The Tigers had to replace their entire outfield, both corner infielders, a second baseman and a catcher. Only three of the top players from the championship run — shortstop Chris Wolfe and starting pitchers Adrian Turner and Richie Bautista — were back in 2011.

Yet the Tigers are playing better now than they were at this point last season, holding on to second place in the SWAC Western Division standings. GSU is 10-5 (17-17 overall) in league play, and has the same number of losses as first-place Southern (13-5).


Videographer: weareintime

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Former Southern University athletic director files suit

Former Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur, who was fired three days after his April 3 arrest on a misdemeanor prostitution count in Houston, is suing the school for breach of contract. LaFleur contends in a lawsuit that Southern fired him “before giving him written notice and an opportunity to refute the alleged cause’’ for his termination.

Administrator arrested in Houston sues school over firing

BATON ROUGE, La. — Former Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur, who was fired three days after his April 3 arrest on a misdemeanor prostitution count in Houston, is suing the school for breach of contract. LaFleur contends in a lawsuit that Southern fired him “before giving him written notice and an opportunity to refute the alleged cause” for his termination.

“The cause alleged by Southern does not constitute just cause, good cause, reasonable cause, or other cause,” the suit, filed against the Southern University Board of Supervisors, alleges.

LaFleur, 52, is seeking damages, including his base salary for the remainder of his contract, which he says was to expire June 30, 2013.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Southern University, Spivery agree to settlement

Baton Rouge, LA - The Southern University Board of Supervisors’ Athletics Committee met with men’s basketball coach Rob Spivery and his attorney for more than an hour in an executive session Tuesday, after which both sides said they have reached an agreement in principle regarding Spivery’s termination.

Spivery was first informed March 18 of the university’s decision to terminate his employment effective Thursday.

A statement released by the university April 1 said Spivery was entitled to a hearing before the Athletics Committee.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

PVAMU Northern gives team a 'B' for first Spring Camp

Prairie View A&M wrapped up its first spring football practice under new coach Heishma Northern with Friday's Purple and Gold game. Northern said the team managed to get out of camp relatively injury-free and achieve a lot of the goals he set at the start.

"I thought we got a lot of keys in and got the guys to understand the new philosophy and the new tempo," Northern said. "I would rate (the camp) as a 'B.' "

One of the biggest competitions in spring practice was the battle for the starting quarterback job. Northern said senior-to-be Jonathan Troast, who started two games last season, will enter fall as the No. 1 quarterback, but Andrew McGlory and Amir Smith aren't that far behind at No. 2.



PVPanthers.com sat down with wide receivers coach Harry Williams and talked about a variety of topics as the Birmingham, Ala. native begins his first year as the team's receivers coach.

A native of Birmingham, Ala. Williams spent the past two seasons as a student assistant with the Panthers while enrolled in the school's engineering program. Williams, who'll graduate in May, was a standout wide receiver at Tuskegee University and was drafted in the seventh round by the New York Jets in 2005. He has also spent time with the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Houston Texans and the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

VISIT: PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY
VISIT: PVPANTHERS

ASU notebook: Offensive linemen sport golden look

Alabama State's Black & Gold Game had a different look this year as head coach Reggie Barlow divided the squad into two teams for the fans.

NCAA sanctions against the program left it short of scholarship players the last two years, and the 14 offensive linemen were allowed to wear gold jerseys and mingle among the teams wearing black or white jerseys, but Barlow said the players wanted to try a game format.

"These guys were really excited about it," Barlow said. "The last couple of years...

ASU Black and Gold Game: Price was right for Hornets

Greg Jenkins has had the upper hand throughout much of spring practice, but Demetric Price won Saturday's Black & Gold Game before the first snap was taken.

The two Alabama State quarterbacks continued their duel on Saturday in the annual spring game at Hornet Stadium with Price's team pulling out a 19-12 victory.

Price and his Gold squad (which was actually wearing white jerseys) trailed for virtually the entire 71-play contest before the offense scored on its final two possessions, with Price clinching the victory on a 2-yard run on the final play of the game.



ASU football: Long uses his speed to get results

Charlie Long has never been the biggest defensive lineman on the foot­ball field, but he has
always been one of the fastest. The Alabama State sophomore hopes speed can translate into a bigger role for the Horn­ets this fall.

"I just play as fast as I can," he said. "Because I'm undersized, I have to use my quickness. By playing fast, plays just open up for me."

So far, the 5-foot-11, 240-pounder has made a favorable impression on his coaches.

Alabama State football: Coaches to look at younger players

Alabama State coaches wanted to divide the team into two squads for today's Black and Gold Game but couldn't find enough offensive linemen to have two teams.

"I thought about just putting the O-line in another color," Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said. "Have a Black (team) and a White (team) and put the offensive linemen in gold and that way we would have an offensive line for both teams."

Barlow decided to keep the squad divided into offensive and defensive teams, but the assistant coaches haven't given up on the idea.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

VISIT: ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: BAMASTATESPORTS

Grambling climbs back into SWAC hunt

(CLICK ON FLYER TO ENLARGE)

In 2010, the Grambling State baseball team seemingly came out of nowhere when it caught fire late in the season, captured the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament championship, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

This season, the Tigers have been in the thick of the SWAC race all along.

Grambling (16-15 overall, 10-5 SWAC) now sits in second place in the SWAC Western Division standings, one game behind first-place Southern (19-12, 11-4). The Tigers visit Alabama State today for a doubleheader starting at noon in Montgomery, Ala.

ASU Black and Gold game, other athletic events set for Saturday

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State University has a busy Saturday of athletic events planned, which will include the annual Black and Gold football game set for 2 p.m. at Hornet Stadium.

The Hornets held their final of 14 spring practices prior to the game, which will feature a defensive unit returning several key players and a defensive coordinator back for another year. The defense ranked second in the SWAC in fewest points allowed and third in total defense.

The offense is learning a new scheme, which is being installed by first-year offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

VISIT: GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: GSUTIGERS

Los Angeles Lakers Sign JSU's Trey Johnson

EL SEGUNDO, CA (April 13, 2011) - The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Trey Johnson, it was announced today.  Johnson rejoins the Lakers after spending the 2010 preseason with the team before being waived on October 21, 2010. In five preseason games, he averaged 2.8 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 8.8 minutes.

A 6’5” guard out of Jackson State, Johnson has spent the last four seasons playing for the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League. A 2011 D-League All-Star West Team selection, Johnson did not play in the game after being called up to the Toronto Raptors and signing a pair of 10-day contracts with the team. In seven games with the Raptors this season, Johnson averaged 4.0 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 11.6 minutes.

Lakers sign Trey Johnson and recall Derrick Caracter from Bakersfield Jam

In a move to address their depleting roster, the Lakers signed Trey Johnson and recalled Derrick Caracter from the Bakersfield Jam and will be available to play in the team's season finale Wednesday against the Lakers.

These movies coincide with a number of absences that began plaguing the Lakers before their 102-93 victory Wednesday over the Spurs. The Lakers are without Lakers reserves Steve Blake (chicken pox) and Matt Barnes (sore right knee) for an undetermined amount of time, while center Andrew Bynum plans to have an MRI today after hyperextending his right knee.



Lakers adding D-Leaguer Johnson

The two-time NBA champ Los Angeles Lakers are shorthanded. Steve Blake(notes) is out indefinitey with the chicken pox. And the right knee of Matt Barnes(notes), which has undergone surgical repair in the past, is so sore that when he woke up Tuesday he couldn't move easily, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. Plus, it's unclear if Andrew Bynum(notes) and his knee will be ready to go when the playoffs start. Not a great way to finish out the season and start the postseason, right?

Lakers Call-Up Trey Johnson From NBA D-League's Bakersfield Jam

Trey Johnson spent the preseason with the Los Angeles Lakers and, after playing the regular season with the NBA Development League's Bakersfield Jam, it looks like he'll spend the postseason with the Lakers as well.

Johnson will be signed for the remainder of the season by the Lakers, a source close to the situation told Ridiculous Upside, after averaging 25.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 39 games for the Jam during the regular season. In Bakersfield's lone playoff game so far this season, Johnson scored 29 points to lead the Jam to a 110-105 upset victory over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

This will be his second call-up of the season after...

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

VISIT: JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: JSUTIGERS
VISIT: LA LAKERS

JSU Tiger blissful at free safety

JSU Tiger blissful at free safety

Jackson, MS - Tim Dandridge is back where he feels he belongs - roving in the secondary, frantically screaming out formations, putting teammates in the correct places. To Dandridge, this is where it's at: free safety. "I think I fit in good there," he said. "That's my natural position."

Dandridge's move this spring from outside linebacker/cornerback to free safety is one Jackson State hopes will strengthen a defense that struggled last season. Dandridge and his D have a chance to prove they're better than last season - and last week - at noon today during JSU's spring game.



JSU set for Tiger Fest 2011

JACKSON, Mississippi - The Jackson State football team will complete its 2011 spring practice sessions with its annual "Blue and White" spring game Saturday, April 16 at the JSU practice field. The spring football game is held in conjunction with the 2011 Tiger Fest sponsored by the JSU Tiger Fund.

Tiger Fest activities officially got under way with the annual Rick Comegy Golf Tournament played at LeFluer's Bluff Golf Course on Friday.

Saturday (April 16) activities will begin with the JSU Lady Tigers Volleyball "Spring Fling" Tournament at 9 am in the T.B. Ellis Gymnasium. The JSU Legends "Flag Football" game will take place at 10 am on the JSU practice field.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

VISIT: JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: JSUTIGERS

Tony Harvey Stays At TSU

HOUSTON - Texas Southern University basketball coach Tony Harvey told FOX 26 Sports Wednesday he has decided not to pursue the vacant head coaching job at Eastern Michigan. Eagles officials contacted TSU athletics director Charles McClelland Monday to let him know of their interest in Harvey.

Harvey was named Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after leading TSU to the SWAC regular season championship this past season and a spot in the NIT.

"After carefully evaluating the situation, which I believe is a wonderful opportunity, I have decided to continue with my plans at TSU," Harvey said "

TSU hoops coach a hot commodity after recent success ‎

Texas Southern men's basketball coach Tony Harvey said Wednesday that Eastern Michigan has contacted him about its vacant head coaching position.

Harvey, who grew up in Benton Harbor, Mich., and served as an assistant at Eastern Michigan from 1996-99, led TSU to a 19-13 record in 2010-11 and the program's first Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season championship since 1998. The Tigers, who went 16-2 in conference regular-season play, failed to reach the NCAA Tournament after being upset in the semifinals of the SWAC tournament but received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament, where they lost to Colorado in the first round.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

VISIT: TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
VISIT: TSUTIGERS

Texas Southern coach Tony Harvey a candidate for EMU job

Houston, TX - Texas Southern coach Tony Harvey, who has roots in Michigan, is a candidate to become the next men's basketball coach at Eastern Michigan. EMU athletic director Derrick Gragg contacted Texas Southern athletic director Charles McClelland as a courtesy Tuesday and expressed his interest in Harvey.

"Eastern Michigan's athletic director left me a message as a courtesy, saying he was interested in Tony Harvey," McClelland said Tuesday evening. "He never mentioned an interview, but I didn't call him back either."

Harvey, a 1983 graduate of Benton Harbor High School, was an assistant coach under Milton Barnes at EMU when the Eagles finished 23-10 in 1997 and then won the MAC tournament in 1998. He was also an assistant coach at Missouri when the Tigers reached the Elite Eight in 2002.

Harvey recently finished his third season as head coach at...

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.


Videographer: UrbanSportsITG
VISIT: TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
VISIT: TSUTIGERS

Keys: Southern University Pugh takes on a tough assignment

Southern Interim Athletic Director Sandy Pugh

Baton Rouge, LA - Monday afternoon, less than a week into her new role as the interim athletic director at Southern University, Sandy Pugh was all smiles. Above her head, sunlight poked through a field of fast-moving clouds. All around her, trees swayed in a strong breeze. What a day it was.

“I want people to believe some fantastic things are getting ready to happen,” she said. “It’s a beautiful day here at Southern.”

Lately, fewer and fewer people are able to share Pugh’s sunny disposition. Who could blame them? After all, this has been the wildest, most disturbing year in the history of Southern athletics. The football team posted its worst record ever, going 2-9. The men’s basketball team posted its worst record ever for the third straight year, going 4-26, and coach Rob Spivery was fired.

Southern University seeks to fill the athletic director position quickly

Baton Rouge, LA — To borrow a phrase from the sports teams it presides over, Southern’s athletic department has lost some big names, and the work of replacing them must now begin.

Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur was let go from his post last week after being arrested for allegedly soliciting a prostitute. LaFleur was in Houston scouting potential hires for the men’s basketball team after the firing of former coach Rob Spivery following a 4-26 season.

“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,” Southern Chancellor Kofi Lomotey said in a release last week.

The decision leaves Southern with two big positions to fill.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.
VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE
VISIT: SUJAGUARS

TSU softball team continues to shine

Houston, TX - The Texas Southern softball team is surging at the right time.

The Tigers swept rival Prairie View A&M in a three-game series over the weekend at Memorial Park to improve to 20-22 overall and 11-3 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. TSU, which has won nine of its last 10 conference contests, has a 3½-game lead over Grambling State in the SWAC Western Division.

The Tigers dismantled Prairie View in convincing fashion. Sophomore Rebecca Villarreal tossed a one-hit shutout in Friday's run-ruled 9-0 victory, and TSU polished off the sweep with Saturday's 11-3 (5 inn.) and 7-2 wins.



The TSU All-Sports Athletics Banquet will include the Football Championship Ring Ceremony

The Texas Southern Football Championship Ring Ceremony will now take place on Thursday, April 14th along with the Texas Southern 2010-11 All-Sports Athletic Banquet.

“In light of our recent changes, we had many complications in continuing with the original plans for the football ring ceremony,” said TSU athletics director Dr. Charles McClelland. “Therefore, we will have the ceremony along with our overall athletics banquet where all the student-athletes, supporters and administrators can enjoy the event.”

The All-Sports Banquet will be held at the Intercontinental Houston Hotel (2222 West Loop South) at 7:00 pm in the Discovery Center Rooms A&B.

Members of the 2010 championship football team will be presented with their rings and recognized for their accomplishments. The 2010 TSU Tigers Football team defeated Alabama State to capture TSU’s first lone football championship title.

Outstanding student-athletes from all Texas Southern sports will also be recognized for their accomplishments both on and off the playing field.

If you purchased a table or tickets to the football ring ceremony, those tickets will be honored for the combined event on April 14th. If you cannot attend, the athletics department will offer refunds. Please contact Tonia Kirven for more information at 713-313-7048 or kirventm@tsu.edu.

By Rodney Bush, TSU Sports Information Director

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.
VISIT: TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
VISIT: TSUTIGERS