Five-a-Side: Texas Southern's Kevin Ramsey

TSU Head Football Coach Kevin Ramsey

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Conference champions aren't supposed to have the type of offseason that Texas Southern has had since it won the Southwestern Athletic Conference football title in December - its first in 42 years.

This spring, head coach Johnnie Cole was shown the door because of the program's poor academic performances and then NCAA sanctions were levied against the Tigers, including the loss of 14.78 of their 63 scholarships and four hours of practice time each week.

The university promoted defensive coordinator Kevin Ramsey to interim head coach and he has tried to settle the program, maintaining the "storm" will pass as the Tigers strengthen their academic requirements stardards.

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Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul Marching Band

Texas Southern University parts ways with football coach Cole

TSU Interim Head Coach Kevin Ramsey
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Texas Southern University football coach Johnnie Cole was fired Friday afternoon in advance of an NCAA report that is expected to detail major violations committed by the program.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Ramsey was elevated to interim head coach, and a permanent replacement will be named after the 2011 season, athletic director Charles McClelland said in a release obtained by the Chronicle.

TSU coach Johnnie Cole out as report of major violations expected

HOUSTON — Texas Southern University, expecting a report detailing major NCAA violations, says head coach Johnnie Cole will not be leading the Tigers next season. 

Athletics Director Charles McClelland said Friday he appreciated the coach's service, however, "we have agreed that Coach Cole's separation from the program is best for all parties."  The move is effective immediately.  McClelland said the school anticipates "major NCAA violations toward our football program ...

TSU: Johnnie Cole no longer head football coach

HOUSTON – TSU on Friday said Johnnie Cole is no longer their head football coach, ahead of what they expect will be “major NCAA violations” toward their football program.

TSU Director of Athletics Dr. Charles McClelland said Defensive Coordinator Kevin Ramsey will serve as interim head coach while they search for Cole’s permanent replacement.

"We want to thank Coach Cole for his years of service at Texas Southern, however at this time, we have agreed that Coach Cole’s separation from the program is best for all parties," McClelland said. "We will utilize the next nine months to thoroughly search for a head football coach; one that will ensure that the needs of our students are met, and engage the alumni, employees and the entire TSU community."

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Tennessee State's Richard Dent voted to Pro Football Hall of Fame

Bears’ Dent finally makes Hall of Fame


Videographer: TheNFLhistory; 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame class Announcement

DALLAS — Former Bears defensive end Richard Dent, a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist in seven of the last eight years, was voted in Saturday as part of the Class of 2011. “It’s very appreciated, and I’m very happy,” Dent said on NFL Network. “Long time coming.”

Dent was the MVP of Super Bowl XX, but he had to be patient to earn election, joining coach Mike Ditka (1988), running back Walter Payton (1993), linebacker Mike Singletary (1998) and defensive tackle Dan Hampton (2002). The Bears have a record 27 enshrinees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Dent will be inducted Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio, along with running back Marshall Faulk, linebackers Chris Hanburger and Les Richter, contributor Ed Sabol, cornerback Deion Sanders, and tight end Shannon Sharpe.

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USC, UCLA Recruit Signs With Texas Southern

Houston,Texas - Defensive end Marquis Jackson, who had verbally committed to play college football at USC, told FOX 26 Sports Tuesday he signed scholarship papers to play at Texas Southern University. Jackson, who played junior college football at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California in 2008, did not play last season. By choosing to play for the Tigers Jackson will not get the opportunity to be reunited with his twin brother, Malik, who has played defensive end for the Trojans for the past two years.

Jackson said the fact that USC has been placed on probation by the NCAA had nothing to do with his decision. "I just signed to Texas Southern University, I signed my commit letters," said Jackson. "The things that are going on at SC had no influence on my decision. I felt like TSU was the best place for me." Jackson had originally committed to play at UCLA before switching to USC and then ultimately signing with TSU. "It felt like home," Jackson said. "I felt the love. I felt the family connection. I'm from Cali and I thought it was time for a change.

Jackson has three years of eligibility left to play college football. He is a 6-4/222 Rivals 2-star DE transfer from College of the Canyons/Birmingham Senior H.S., Van Nuys, CA.

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Texas Southern's Reid college career marked by tirade, injury‎

Texas Southern University quarterback Bobby Reid

While some potential NFL players are eagerly waiting for their name to be called on draft day, beginning April 22, most players are waiting just for a chance to make a team. Texas Southern quarterback Bobby Reid is one of those players just searching for an opportunity. Reid tore the ACL and meniscus in his right knee during the 2008 season with the Texas Southern Tigers, missed all of the 2009 season rehabbing it and now is ready to take his career to the next level.

Reid is mainly known for being the spark of Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy's "I'm a man. I'm 40" rant in 2007. After that season, Reid transferred to Texas Southern, after toying with the idea of entering the NFL Draft. His preparation has included working out at the Michael Johnson Performance Center in McKinney in February, participating in Pro Days at Texas Southern and LSU, and even throwing passes to former Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant during Bryant's workout for scouts last month in Lufkin. On Tuesday, Reid's agent, Brian Overstreet, said the quarterback has worked out for the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans since LSU's Pro Day.

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Texas Southern 2009 Football Recruits

Texas Southern Media Relations

Houston, Texas – The Texas Southern Fighting Tigers are bringing a new group of playmakers into the football program. This is a new TSU and these young men exemplify the top quality student-athletes that we are recruiting. “We accomplished what we wanted in this recruiting class,” said football head coach Johnnie Cole. “We went after Texas kids and older kids to fill some voids and we believe we got them.”

Coach Cole got some new fuel for his high octane big play offense. Cole’s impact-players include quarterback Arvell Nelson from Iowa, wide receiver Ricky Dixon from LSU, wide receiver Chip Gregory from Arkansas and offensive lineman Ernest McCoy from LSU. “These guys are play-makers and that’s what we were missing. They are big time players who played in the big leagues,” Cole said. “And adding McCoy upfront should make our offensive line one of the best in the conference.”

When the last form is faxed in, Cole expects to have at least 35 new faces on the team… including 11 top players from Texas…nine of them from the Houston area.
“These kids will take care of business on the field and in the classroom. We are not where we want to be, but we are off to a good start,” said Cole.

2009 Texas Southern Football Signees & Transfers

NAME POS HT WT CL HOMETOWN (Previous School)

Day 1 Announced Recruits
* Jared Benton OL 6-3 320 FR Houston, TX (North Shore HS)
* Justin Coleman DL 6-2 285 JR Schulenburg, TX (Navarro College)
* Chip Gregory WR 6-4 225 Jr Carrollton, TX (Arkansas)
* Vontray Sellers OL 6-2 300 JR Dillon, SC (Feather River CC)
* Jordan Curtin TE 6-4 270 JR Manistee, MI (Eastern Arizona JC)
* Edward Collins DL 6-5 295 FR Chaneyville, LA (Northeast HS)
* Arvell Nelson QB 6-5 210 JR Cleveland, OH (Iowa)
* Antonio Bassett DB 6-0 200 JR Cincinnati, OH (Iowa Central)
* Michael Griggs FB 5-11 225 FR Southfield, MI (Valley Forge Military Academy)
* Gordi Metezier DB 6-2 190 SO Margette, FL (Dodge City CC)
* Ernest McCoy OL 6-6 330 SO Belle Glade, FL (LSU)
* Ricky Dixon WR 6-2 210 JR Reserve, LA (LSU)

Day 2 Announced Recruits
Marvin Hollie OL 6-3 320 Fr Houston, TX (Madison HS)
Kingsley Akinwole DL 6-3 330 JR Allen, TX (Trinity Valley JC)
Alvin Samuel RB 6-0 215 FR Clute, TX (Brazoswood HS)
Sean Spears DL 6-0 260 FR Baton Rouge, LA (Clinton HS)
Jonathan Ellis OL 6-4 325 Fr Houston, TX (Spring Westfield HS)
Tyrrell Jones FS 6-2 200 FR Channelview, TX (Channelview HS)

Day 3 Announced Recruits
Dedric Shipman DB 6-2 200 FR Lawrenceville, GA (Meadow Creek HS)
Eloes Whitaker LB 5-10 200 FR Houston, TX (Westbury HS)
Andrew Franklin LB 6-2 195 FR Memphis, TN (Mitchell HS)
Danny Wash OL 6-2 265 FR Memphis, TN (Mitchell HS)
Serigne Sarr OL 6-3 320 FR Houston, TX (St. Pius X HS)

* Players currently enrolled in school

TSU's playoff hopes dashed with road loss

Heffner's heroic effort not enough at Murray State

MURRAY, Ky. — Antonio Heffner came to Murray State on Saturday with no intention of playing. By the fourth quarter, Heffner was on the field with no intention of letting Tennessee State lose. After playing sparingly in the first half, the senior quarterback, who was nursing a shoulder and foot injury, volunteered to go back into into the game for starter Dominic Grooms, who broke the thumb on his throwing hand.

Three times in the fourth quarter, Heffner, who threw a touchdown in the second quarter, got TSU in scoring range with a chance to either tie the score or send it to overtime. But, unlike so many times before, he was unable to get the Tigers into the end zone and Murray State held on for a 24-17 victory.

"I didn't think there was any way, coming into the game, that I could play. But basically, when they needed me, I had to try to go in and do my best,'' Heffner said. "After I went in, every time I threw, my shoulder hurt and my foot gave me problems too." The loss took No. 25-ranked TSU (8-4, 5-3 Ohio Valley Conference) from being a long shot for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs to having no shot at all. The Tigers, who spent most of the season in first place in the OVC, wound up in fourth.

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Attendance: 2,292 at Stewart Stadium, Murray, KY

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Tennessee State offense not a problem

Offensively, the Tigers return 10 of 12 starters, including the OVC's leading passer, senior quarterback Antonio Heffner. Heffner completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,486 yards and 10 touchdowns before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in the seventh game of the season.

One of Heffner's favorite targets, senior receiver Chris Johnson, grabbed 41 passes for 740 yards and four touchdowns last year. He'll be a key part of the Tigers' effort to end an eight-year OVC title drought. "We always had the pieces, but we didn't have the mental toughness to do what we needed to do," Johnson said. "But now since we have matured, we believe we can break a lot of school records and we'll make a deep playoff run."

Photo: TSU QB Antonio Heffner is back for his senior campaign to lead the big blue Tigers.

TSU travels to Normal, Ala., for its first test of the season against Alabama A&M. The Tigers then return to LP Field to face Southern in the 10th annual John Merritt Classic, a game that honors the Tigers' late coach and helps raise scholarship money for TSU students.

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