Jackson twins pit stats from TSU, Tennessee

Southern at Texas Southern
When/where: 6 p.m.; Delmar Stadium, Houston, Texas
TV/radio: KHOU 11.2; 90.9 FM.
Records: Southern 3-5, 3-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference; Texas Southern 3-5, 3-3.
Last meeting: TSU won 54-7 last season at Baton Rouge, La.

Houston, Texas -- Texas Southern defensive end Marquis Jackson made his strongest statement of the season against Central State of Ohio on Oct. 22. He finished with a season-high three sacks to go along 4 ½ tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the Tigers' 42-11 victory.

That gave him plenty of breathing room against one of his main rivals. "Three sacks," Jackson said after the game. "(Let's) see if he can beat me now."

The challenge was directed at Jackson's twin, Malik, a senior defensive tackle at Tennessee. Malik Jackson went up against No. 2 Alabama in a Southeastern Conference showdown later that Saturday. Malik recorded just one sack.



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SU comes through with homecoming win over Alcorn Braves

Baton Rouge, Louisiana -- With one last chance to win at A.W. Mumford Stadium, a group of seniors on Southern’s football team held an impromptu meeting. This homecoming game against Alcorn State, they said, was a gift. It was senior night. It was the home finale.

Saturday night, the seniors didn’t want to blow it. “We gathered up and said, ‘We’re not going to lose our homecoming,’” receiver LaQuinton Evans recalled. “It was up to the players, whether or not we were going to win tonight.” And win they did.

The Jaguars got a steely performance from their defense, scored three lightning-quick touchdowns and overcame a sloppy second half en route to an easy 30-14 victory over the Braves.

“I’m glad we came out with the victory,” Evans said. “Nobody wants to lose on homecoming and on senior night. So I’m glad. I’m glad.” Of course, Evans had a big hand in the win.

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Miscues doom Alcorn State

It took just less than 11 minutes before Alcorn State dug itself into an enormous hole, en route to a 30-14 defeat against Southern University on Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium. On Alcorn’s first three drives, the Braves had three three-and-outs. It was a different story for SU. The Jaguars converted their first three drives into touchdowns.

J.P. Douglas scrambled 50 yards for the Jaguars’ first score, followed by his touchdown passes to Mike Berry from 59 yards out and a 25-yard toss to LaQuinton Evans.

On all three scores, the Braves made mistakes defensively that could have been avoided. First, it was missed tackles against Douglas, then broken coverage against Berry and tangled feet by cornerback Jamison Knox on Evans down the sideline.

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Southern defense steps up

Southern University’s defense was missing three key players Saturday night against Southwest Athletic Conference rival Alcorn State, but the Jaguars turned in an effort that was anything but short-handed.

Behind Southern’s best defensive performance of the Stump Mitchell era, the Jaguars dominated Alcorn’s offense on the way to a 30-14 homecoming win at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Southern held Alcorn to 219 total yards, well below its 315-yard average. Most importantly, Southern’s defense pitched a “shutout” as both Alcorn touchdowns came off of special teams miscues.

“The defense played well,” Mitchell said. “They didn’t give up any points, so that’s definitely a bright spot. I don’t think (Alcorn State) had too many big plays against us.”

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Southern gets 30-14 homecoming win over Alcorn

J.P. Douglas threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as Southern scored the game's first 30 points and held on for a 30-14 win over Alcorn State Saturday in Southern's homecoming at Mumford Stadium.

Douglas threw touchcown passes of 25 yards to LaQuinton Evans and 60 yards to Mike Berry as SU (3-5, 3-3) snapped a two-game losing streak. Alcorn dropped to 2-5, 1-5.

Sylvester Nzekwe added a 58-yard touchdown run for Southern, which led 23-0 at halftime and increased the lead to 30-0 in the third quarter.



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Southern Jaguars thin for Alcorn State

Baton Rouge, Louisiana -- As Southern football coach Stump Mitchell noted last week, his wasn’t the only team to engage in questionable activity lately. Yes, a fight broke out after the Jaguars lost at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Oct. 15. Yes, the Southwestern Athletic Conference suspended 16 Southern players and 25 UAPB players.

Maybe something’s in the air this month. On Oct. 14, Baker High and Parkview Baptist engaged in a third-quarter brawl. So did Bastrop and Carroll. Last week, a Georgia high-school coach, David Daniels, was beaten with a football helmet as he and his Warren County team returned to their locker room after a 21-2 victory over Hancock Central.



And the Pac-12 Conference suspended 10 players for their roles in a fight Thursday during the UCLA-Arizona game.

Nevertheless, Mitchell said, he’s doing what he can to convince players that fighting isn’t worth it, regardless of circumstances.

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Southern University secondary a bright spot

Baton Rouge, Louisiana -- In the past four weeks, the Southern football team is 1-3, its three losses coming by four points, five points and three points. It’s been a disappointing month for the Jaguars, who at times have faltered in almost every area - passing offense, rushing offense, special-teams units, run defense and the like.

One area, however, has been rock-steady: pass defense.

“Not bad at all,” second-year coach Stump Mitchell said, referring to his secondary. Last season, Southern gave up a conference-high 25 touchdown passes. Through six games this season, the Jaguars have allowed three. They rank second in the SWAC in pass defense, allowing 181.3 yards per game, and opposing quarterbacks have completed only 47 percent of their throws.

What’s made the difference?

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Southern's football team bracing for a tough test in Jackson State

Baton Rouge, LA - After a 21-6 victory against Alabama A&M last weekend, Southern is preparing for the biggest home game in Coach Stump Mitchell's two seasons, as Jackson State comes to A.W. Mumford Stadium for a 6 p.m. game Saturday.

"It's going to be a big game," Southern quarterback Dray Joseph said. "No matter where the game is located, when it's Jackson State versus Southern, it's important. We could be playing this at a high school stadium, and the magnitude of the game would still be great."




Jackson State (2-0, 0-0 SWAC) was picked to win the SWAC's Eastern Division in the preseason and returns Walter Payton Award finalist and preseason SWAC Player of the Year Casey Therriault, a senior quarterback.

Therriault, who passed for nearly ...

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Southern tops Alabama A&M

Baton Rouge, LA - Dray Joseph believed he was a better quarterback. He felt it.

In the days after Joseph and the Southern football team lost an ugly season opener, Joseph said he focused on his playbook and trusted his instincts. He also prayed.

Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium, hours before the Jaguars began Southwestern Athletic Conference play with a stunning 21-6 victory over Alabama A&M, the sophomore quarterback wrote a biblical verse, Mark 9:23, on one of his taped wrists. Everything is possible for one who believes.




Saturday night, Joseph believed in himself, and his teammates believed in each other.

It certainly showed.

In a virtuoso performance that stunned almost as many Southern fans as it did the visiting team, the Jaguars ripped apart Alabama A&M’s secondary for 332 passing yards ...

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Southern notes: Jaguars end skid at 7 games

If you believe Southern football coach Stump Mitchell, the results of Saturday’s 21-6 victory over Alabama A&M were not surprising at all. Not to him. “No,” the second-year coach said. “Last week was shocking.”

Mitchell was referring to last week’s season-opening 33-7 loss at Tennessee State, during which the Jaguars were often manhandled at the line of scrimmage.

At the time, it dropped Mitchell’s record to 2-10 at Southern. It also extended the team’s losing streak to seven games, including a six-game slide to end last year.

“It was only a one-game losing streak for this team,” Mitchell said. “But for me, it was seven or eight, or whatever it was. It was too long.”

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QB Mason takes road less traveled

Huntsville, AL - At the end of every summer workout and practice in the grueling heat, Alabama A&M quarterback Deaunte Mason and his teammates closed with this: “SWAC Champs.”

For Mason, and his teammates, that is the ultimate goal. Instilling this motto, as Mason characterizes it, made A&M shake off the feeling of a 3-8 season in 2010. The 21-year-old Mason’s journey to Huntsville, Ala., was a road he didn’t expect to travel.

Named Tennessee’s Mr. Football for Class 3A in 2008, Mason passed for 2,375 yards, rushed for 1,052 yards and scored 35 touchdowns as a senior at Pearl-Cohn High School, in Nashville, Tenn. His strong senior season garnered a scholarship from the University of Kentucky.

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Familiar traits back in SU loss

Baton Rouge, LA - It all started well enough. In the opening minutes of an otherwise gruesome season-opening 33-7 loss, the Southern football team looked like it might actually stand toe-to-toe with Tennessee State.

The defense held TSU on its first possession, and Jaguars quarterback Dray Joseph went to work. Working on scripted, predetermined plays, he connected on each of his first three passes — quick throws on three-step drops to his two best receivers, LaQuinton Evans and Charles Hawkins.

The old feeling was on its way back. Maybe Southern, in its second opener under coach Stump Mitchell, really was on its way back to respectability.

Just like that, the feeling was blown away for good. Joseph’s next pass, though high, fluttered off the hands of receiver Jared Green, then into the hands of TSU defender Joseph Wylie. He promptly returned his interception for a touchdown.  And the rout was on.

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Southern Jaguars season opener nears

Baton Rouge, LA - It's easy to see Southern University coach Stump Mitchell wants his football program to win more games than it did in his first season on campus.

Mitchell knows, and rightfully so following a 2-9 season in 2010, the Jaguars have a lot of improving to do. Mitchell, who doesn't shy away from putting in long hours, knows it won't be easy turning around his slumping program.

So in an attempt to do so, Mitchell is keeping things simple, now only four days away from the beginning of his second season at SU.

"Our preseason preparation was like everyone else's as we were trying to get our offense and our defense going. But, to be honest, it was much better than it was last season because it was a continuation (of) what we did last season," Mitchell said Monday.

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Southern University: “Remembering a Forgotten First: The Story of Charlie Granger”

The documentary World Premieres at 7 p.m. June 11 in the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union, Southern University and A&M College. This event includes: Meet and greet session (6pm) with filmmaker Cindy Hurst (Southern University alumna) and Charlie Granger and other NFL players with photographer available for pictures; Viewing the film (7pm - 8pm), and SU Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (8pm - 10pm) where former Southern University athletes are honored for their athletic sucesses.

Baton Rough, LA  -  Minutes before the final game of the 1961 NFL preseason, Tom Landry stood before his rookie right tackle from Southern University, prepared to issue one more steep challenge — the toughest yet for young Charlie Granger. The icy, mild-mannered Dallas Cowboys coach liked what he’d seen from Granger, but the regular season loomed, which meant that roster spots were in high demand and short supply.


The Film recounts the life of Charlie Granger, who played professional football during the NFL's reintegration of African-Americans into the league in the early 1960s. Mr. Granger is a 2-Time Southern University Football All-American, 4-Time Track & Field All-American, and a member of Southern University Hall of Fame and the SWAC Hall of Fame.

This last exhibition game, against the mighty Baltimore Colts, was Granger’s biggest test yet. And maybe his last chance. “I’ll never forget (Landry) saying to me: ‘Granger, tonight, I’m going to find out if you can play in the NFL,’” he recalled. Granger’s assignment: block Colts defensive end Gino Marchetti, a future Hall of Famer and seven-time All-Pro. Right. No pressure there.

Granger admits he took a severe beating that night. But he stood firm against Marchetti, and after the game, the Dallas staff gave him a grade of 100 percent. He made the final cut, and, in doing so, became the first black man to start on the Cowboys offensive line.

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Join Producer/Director Cindy Hurst, this Sunday, June 5, 2011 with host Robyn Merrick of "Inside the Southern University System" from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. Central Time on KQXL 106.5 FM CLICK HERE to listen live) as she talks about the WORLD SCREENING PREMIERE of "Remembering a Forgotten First: The Story of Charlie Granger.

Release Date	June 11, 2011
Genre	Documentary
Studio	The Sankofa Project, LLC
About	Biography

Description	This film depicts the life of Charlie Granger, a Former NFL player (Dallas Cowboys and Boston Patriots), SWAC Hall of Fame Inductee, and College All-American in track and football.
Plot Outline	This is the story of how a poor and determined boy from Southern Louisiana beat the odds of making it to the professional football league during the re-integration period of African-Americans into the league in the early 1960's. It recounts his college and professional experiences as an African-American player and how the racial climate of the times impacted his career as a professional player.
Starring	Appearances by: Eugene Daniel (Indianpolis Colts/Baltimore Ravens, Frank Pitts (Played in Superbowls 1 and 4 - Kansas City Chiefs), and Garland Boyette (Houston Oilers)
Directed By	Cindy Hurst
Written By	Cindy Hurst
Produced By	A Sankofa Project Productions

SWAC takes big hit in latest APR report

Southern's head football coach Lyvonia “Stump” Mitchell
 was not with the Jaguars during the APR reporting period
-- 2006/07 through 2009/10. Former coach Pete Richardson
compiled a career record at SU of 134-62, including 5
SWAC Championships and 4 Black College National Titles.
Richardson was fired on Dec. 7, 2009 after 17 seasons
at Southern University.

INDIANAPOLIS -- NCAA President Mark Emmert expects athletes at historically black colleges and universities to make the grade -- and he's willing to help after seeing the results of the latest Academic Progress Rates.

The NCAA banned Jackson State and Southern of the Southwestern Athletic Conference from postseason play in football next season and did the same thing for Southern and Grambling in men's basketball, citing poor classroom performance by all three schools and a host of others in the SWAC and Mid-Eastern Athletic conferences.

The SWAC does not get an automatic bid to the NCAA's FCS playoffs, but its own conference title game could be affected. The NCAA released the penalties Tuesday. Southern became the first school to be banned from the postseason in two sports in the same year -- football and men's basketball -- because of academic performance.

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Surging Texas Southern tops Southern Jaguars

As Texas Southern coach Michael Robertson emerged from a postgame huddle Sunday at Lee-Hines Field, he carried three things — his trademark slow-motion stroll, two weekend victories under his belt and the kind of grin money can’t buy. This, Robertson concluded, had been a nice trip to Baton Rouge.

It wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t have to be. It simply served as affirmation that the Tigers can compete with, and defeat, any opponent they face in the upcoming Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.

Sunday afternoon, TSU scored four runs in the sixth inning and got a standout performance from starting pitcher Abel Flores en route to a 5-3 victory — one that gave the Tigers two wins over Southern on the final weekend of conference play.

Box Score

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McGriff, Southern Rally To Gain Split With Grambling

Baton Rouge, LA - Southern baseball coach Roger Cador said his third baseman, Cameron McGriff, had been so solid on defense that he couldn’t afford to keep McGriff out of the starting lineup. Even though McGriff had struggled at the plate. A lot. When Saturday’s doubleheader against Grambling began, McGriff had a .160 batting average.

By the bottom of the 10th inning of the second game, when he stepped to the plate with one out and teammate Kevin Williams on first base, McGriff’s season average had dropped to .125. He was 0-for-7 on the day. “I’d been taking bad swings for a long time,” he said. Somehow, however, McGriff came through when the Jaguars absolutely needed him to.

McGriff laced a triple down the right-field line, easily scoring Williams and giving Southern a 9-8 win in the second game of its doubleheader with Grambling.

Box Score: Grambling vs. Southern


Videographer: AaronMychael; 2011 NFL Draft Prospect Jordan Miller/DT  Pro Day

SOFTBALL: SU edges Grambling, 3-2

The Southern softball team scored runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings, and Michael Pless pitched a five-hitter as the Lady Jaguars edged Grambling 3-2 in the first game of their Southwestern Athletic Conference series Friday.

Southern (10-21, 4-5) scored one run each in the first, fourth and fifth innings. Gailyn Thibeaux, Audrey Phillips and Shabanese Brown each had RBIs.

Grambling (10-15, 3-6) scored twice in the sixth inning but stranded two runners in the top of the seventh.

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VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
VISIT: SUJAGUARS
VISIT: SUHUMANJUKEBOX

SWAC West champion Southern defeats Xavier 9-0

NEW ORLEANS — Southern University, the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division champion, defeated Xavier University of Louisiana 9-0 Sunday in a women's dual at City Park Tennis Center.

The Lady Jaguars (9-5) won every set but one and picked up defaults at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles to defeat the shorthanded Gold Nuggets (3-14) for the second straight season.

Jo'Vonna Gaines, Carlista Mohammed and Kathryn Curtis won singles and doubles matches for Southern. Gaines and Mohammed defeated sisters Melissa and Nicole DeLoach 8-0 at No. 1 doubles, and Mohammed beat Amber Brown 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. Curtis and Lois Alexis improved their win streak to 10 matches with an 8-0 decision against Brown and Carmen Nelson at No. 2 doubles.

Nelson won her first set against Demetria Woods at No. 3 singles, but Woods rallied for a 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-6) victory. Freshman Lisbeth Castaneda clinched the dual with her 6-3, 6-0 victory against Ashley McGill at No. 5 singles.



Xavier, an NAIA member, has dropped three consecutive duals — its second in as many days against an NCAA Division I opponent — and 12 of its last 13. Half of the Gold Nuggets' losses this season are against NCAA D-I.

Xavier's women and men will visit William Carey at 10 a.m. next Sunday. Southern will visit Nicholls State at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Different looks highlight final scrimmage for Southern

Baton Rouge, LA - This was a good way for Casey Narcisse to announce his grand return. Friday night, long after sunlight had disappeared from A.W. Mumford Stadium, the Southern football team had one more play left in its final spring scrimmage.

Narcisse, a short-but-large defensive tackle who takes pride in playing with passion, suffered a torn knee ligament last October in a loss to Prairie View — one of many losses in Stump Mitchell’s first season as the Jaguars coach.

Back in action after surgery and rehab, Narcisse found himself in the flat, near the sideline, where a pass from quarterback Dray Joseph was zeroing in on tailback Dallas Fort. All at once, the ball, Fort and Narcisse met.

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Galloway Leads TSU in Come from Behind Win over Southern

Texas Southern point guard Kevin Galloway took a struggling Tiger team, and propelled them to a come from behind win against Southern in the H&PE Arena. Galloway scored 26 of his 32 points in the second half to give TSU a 71-63 victory.

Texas Southern was down by 11 points (22-11) with 7 minutes left to play in the first period. The first half ended with the Tigers trailing 24-33.

Southern increased their led to 16 points (48-32) after playing just 5 minutes into the second half. That’s went Galloway and his teammates stepped up and took control of the game. It took TSU 7 minutes to cut their deficit to 3 points (49-52). One minute later, the game was tied 54-54. Texas Southern took the lead on a jump shot by Abdallah Boune and Galloway did the rest. He attacked the rim and set up his follow Tigers for easy shots. When it was done, TSU won with an 8 point cushion.

Galloway was the high scorer of the game with 32 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Lawrence Johnson-Danner had 11 points, 4 steals and 3 assists and Harrison Smith had 10 points.

Texas Southern will host Alcorn on Saturday for the final regular season game, before heading to Garland, TX to fight for the SWAC Championship Tournament Title.

Box Score

By Rodney Bush, TSU Sports Information Director
Visit: Texas Southern Athletics

Harvey Johnson Mural Overpaint Removal Tests - Texas Southern University (TSU)

Two historic murals were painted out resulting in international protest. The safe removal of the overpaint and restoration/conservation requires careful testing. See the other related videos, articles etc., go to blog at www.tsumurals.org




This video was not produced by TSU. Scott Haskins and Fine Art Conservation Laboratories has only been contracted to conduct the collection survey of the mural collection, do limited tests as related to estimates for future projects and act as an expert consultant. TSU is under not obligation or contract to work with Scott Haskins or FACL, Inc. in the future. Scott Haskins and Fine Art Conservation Laboratories is not an employee of Texas Southern University.

Rain can't dampen Urban Invitational festivities

COMPTON, Calif. -- Rain was the only thing that could get in the way of Saturday's marquee doubleheader on the second day of the fourth annual Urban Invitational presented by the U.S. Army at the MLB Urban Youth Academy.

Luckily, despite forecasts calling for heavy precipitation, the rain didn't come until the eighth inning of the second game and the day's events carried on mostly as planned with several former big leaguers in attendance to help mark the biggest day of the three-day tournament that aims to spotlight Historically Black Colleges and Universities by giving them national exposure.

That national exposure was certainly evident, as both of the day's games were aired live by MLB Network and MLB.com with Greg Amsinger and Harold Reynolds calling the action. And plenty of former stars were there to take part in the event such as...

Video: MLB Network wraps up day at Urban Invitational

Urban Invitational kicks off in SoCal

COMPTON, Calif. -- Cloudy skies carrying the threat of rare Southern California rain couldn't put a damper on the first day of the fourth annual Urban Invitational presented by the U.S. Army at the MLB Urban Youth Academy on Friday.

The three-day tournament, which helps spotlight Historically Black Colleges and Universities by giving them national exposure, got off to a great start even though both opening games began at 1 p.m. PT -- five hours ahead of schedule -- to avoid evening rainfall.

SCOREBOARD
Friday
Grambling State 5, Bethune Cookman 3
UC Irvine 7, Southern 1

Saturday
UC Irvine 9, Bethune Cookman 3
Grambling State 8, Southern 4

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SU Jaguars hold off A&M rally

When the final horn sounded and the Southern women’s basketball team walked off the floor with its 12th consecutive victory Monday night, players smiled, high-fived each other and hugged a few die-hard fans.

Their sense of joy was noticeable. But it was matched by a sense of relief. “This one got to me,” said coach Sandy Pugh, who watched her team hold off Alabama A&M for a 65-57 win. “I’m happy with the win, but not happy with our defensive performance in the second half.”

One look at the final statistics showed why.

Alabama A&M-SU women: By the numbers

Southern’s losing streak continues

Yet again, in a desperate attempt to keep up with an opponent, the Southern men’s basketball team tried almost everything Monday night against Alabama A&M.

The Jaguars took timeouts. They substituted liberally. They changed defensive schemes and tried an array of offensive sets. In the end, it was the same song, eighth verse.

The visiting Bulldogs spent the entire second half building on their lead, and pulling away for an easy 64-45 victory in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

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Brewers, Weeks agree to four-year, $38.5 million deal

MILWAUKEE, WI — After a record-breaking season, the Milwaukee Brewers took the risk that Rickie Weeks’ injury-plagued career is firmly in the past. The former Southern University star agreed to a $38.5 million, four-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday that contains a 2015 option that could increase the total value to $50 million.

“We are thrilled that Rickie has chosen to remain a Brewer,” general manager Doug Melvin said. “He has become one of the best leadoff hitters in the game today; possessing speed, plate discipline and power. His aggressive style sets the tone for our offense.”

Weeks, the No. 2 overall draft pick in the 2003 amateur draft, was a day from an arbitration hearing after saying last month he would end long-term contract talks with the team when he reported to spring training.

Rickie Weeks and the Brewers agree to $50 million extension

UPDATE: Rosenthal now says it’s a five-year deal worth $50 million, but the Brewers can void the fifth year if Weeks “is not an everyday player in 2013 and 2014.” That provision eliminates some of the health-related risks, but that’s still a huge investment in player who’s provided star-level value just once in five seasons.

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Southern routs UNO in season opener

Near the third-base dugout at Lee-Hines Field, just moments after his Southern baseball team routed the University of New Orleans 19-2 on college baseball’s opening night, longtime coach Roger Cador delivered a simple reminder to his smiling players.

“It’s one game,” he said, “and it has zero impact on what we’ll do the rest of the season. We’ve still got to go play baseball.”

Across the diamond, near the right-field foul line, UNO coach Bruce Peddie delivered a nearly identical message.

The teams play again at 4 p.m. Saturday at Maestri Field, followed by the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday back in Baton Rouge. No one has scored in either of those games yet.

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SU-UNO: By the numbers

Southern, Florida A&M to play in Bank of America Atlanta Classic

The Southern University football team has long played in the Bayou Classic, matching up with rival Grambling every year. Now, the Jaguars will head east to play in the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic.

100 Black Men of Atlanta announced Wednesday that Southern and Florida A&M will square off Sept. 24 in the annual game.

First played in 1989, the Atlanta Football Classic matches Historically Black Colleges & Universities in the Georgia Dome. Southern and Florida A&M have both played in the game, but it’s the first time they will face each other in it. The halftime show features a battle of the bands.

FAMU, Southern will renew rivalry

Organizers of the Atlanta Classic ensured the revival of one of the oldest rivalries in college football Wednesday afternoon when they officially announced Southern University as Florida A&M's opponent in the September game.

The games between the two programs go back to the years when Ace Mumford coached at Southern and Jake Gaither at FAMU. When the Jaguars and Rattlers meet on Sept. 24 it will be their first since 2008.

Both teams signed a four-year deal in 2007, but had been able to keep the agreement because of conflicting commitment to their conferences. The 100 Black Men of Atlanta have signed both teams to a two-year deal to play in the annual Classic

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