Former Redskins Vernon Dean terminated after drug charges

PINE BLUFF, Ark. (KTHV) -- News out of Pine Bluff  Thursday is linebackers coach Vernon Dean has been terminated.

Pine Bluff police pulled over UAPB linebacker coach Vernon Dean on January 11 around 11- p.m. for turning without a signal and an improper turn.

According to the police report, officers searched Dean's car and found what tested positive to be crack cocaine in the vehicle.



Dean arrived at Pine Bluff in 2010 after spending the 2009 season at Fort Valley State where he coached outside linebackers. The Houston, Texas native spent seven seasons in the NFL tallying 22 interceptions and winning two Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins.

Dean NFL career ended in 1988 with the Seattle Seahawks. Wellington Vernon Dean played college football at San Diego State University and was drafted in the second round of the 1982 NFL Draft.

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Fulton Named Arkansas-Pine Bluff Interim Athletic Director

Pine Bluff, AR – University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Chancellor Dr. Lawrence A. Davis, Jr., has named Willie Fulton, the interim athletic director. Fulton, the Golden Lions associate athletic director for business, replaces Louis "Skip" Perkins who is now the athletic director at Howard University, Washington, D.C.

“He is experienced, knows how to handle the administrative end and works well with the rest of the Athletics staff,” says Davis. “I’m very pleased with Chancellor Davis’ selection of me,” says Fulton. “I want to thank the athletics staff and all those that have supported me. This is a great opportunity.”

New interim AD at UAPB

Longtime athletic department employee Willie Fulton has been named interim athletic director at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Fulton was appointed to the position by Chancellor Lawrence A. Davis Jr. on Thursday and began Friday. He’ll serve as interim athletic director until Davis finds a permanent replacement for Skip Perkins, after which Fulton will be allowed to return to his previous post as associate athletic director for business.

Perkins took over earlier this month as athletic director at Howard, a position he accepted in October before staying at UAPB through the remainder ofthe fall semester.

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UAPB’s Webber named to All-American team

Arkansas-Pine Bluff wide receiver Raymond Webber was named AFCA Football Championship Subdivision first-team All-American team on Tuesday. Webber, a senior who caught 101 passes for 1,429 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, was the first UAPB player to be named a first-team FCS All-American since the school moved from NAIA in 1997.

He was the only member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference named to this year’s team.

Webber benefited from a new pass-oriented offense brought in by first-year coordinator Jerry Mack. The Golden Lions, who finished 5-6, were third in the SWAC in passes attempted and total offense. Webber had more than 100 yards receiving eight times this season, including ...

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Auburn survives to beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff

AUBURN, AL -- Maybe some of the euphoria surrounding Auburn's SEC championship in football has rubbed off on the men's basketball team.

The Tigers survived a scare to beat winless Arkansas-Pine Bluff 76-72 Sunday in front of several hundred fans at a largely empty Auburn Arena. In a season that is likely to be full of indignities for Auburn (3-4), Sunday's game nearly became the most embarrassing.

The Golden Lions (0-7), a SWAC team that typically starts its season on an impossible non-conference barnstorming tour, had lost their first six games by an average margin of 26 points but led Auburn by seven late in the second half.

Auburn comes back to top winless Arkansas-Pine Bluff

AUBURN -- Auburn basketball coach Tony Barbee was still hoarse from cheering the Tigers' football team to victory a day earlier in Atlanta, so he shrugged off the sparse crowd Sunday afternoon at Auburn Arena. "It is what it is," he said. "Believe me, I'm caught up in the football hype, too."

The Tigers survived a scare to beat winless Arkansas-Pine Bluff 76-72 in front of a crowd listed at 4,561 fans -- and probably had about 4,000 fewer than that.

Payne's layup with 8 seconds left lifts Auburn past Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 76-72

AUBURN, Ala. — The play Auburn coach Tony Barbee called in the final seconds of a tie game broke down — and it worked out perfectly. Allen Payne hit a layup with 8 seconds left and Rob Chubb added two free throws to lead Auburn to a come-from-behind, 76-72 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday.

The Tigers (3-4) scored the final 11 points to rally from...

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Texas Southern Advances To SWAC Title Game

The TSU Football team makes the college football world take notice after its impressive performance against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

HOUSTON — It was an emotional night for Texas Southern University head football coach Johnnie Cole and his players following their 20-13 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Delmar Stadium. TSU clinched the program's first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Western Division title and now advances to the SWAC championship game in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 11.

The Texas Southern Tigers, who recorded their seventh straight victory, will now compete for their first SWAC title in over 40 years.

In what will go down as one of the most memorable football games in black college history, TSU wrote a new chapter in those books following its huge win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. When Arkansas-Pine Bluff's quarterback...

Wright Carries TSU To West Division Title

Texas Southern running back Marcus Wright probably wasn’t surprised at the defense Arkansas-Pine Bluff threw at him in Saturday’s regular-season finale.

The Golden Lions routinely stacked eight or nine defenders in the box, knowing full well that TSU would primarily run the ball. It was a somewhat risky move, but Arkansas-Pine Bluff was left with few options to keep Wright and his backfield mates from running wild at Delmar Stadium. It didn’t work.

Wright weaved masterfully through the Golden Lions’ defense, rushing for a game-high 134 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries...

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ATTENDANCE: 11,285



Videographer: djburntsu (TSU Tigers vs. UAPB Golden Lions 11/20/2010

Ramsey revives defense at Texas Southern

Texas Southern defensive coordinator Kevin Ramsey has a résumé that surpasses his Southwestern Athletic Conference counterparts.

Ramsey collected college coaching stints at Tennessee, Georgia, West Virginia, Northwestern, Kansas State and Arizona State. He had a stop in the NFL as the Arizona Cardinals’ secondary coach from 2001-03. He helped coach West Virginia to a Big East championship in 1993 and helped Tennessee win Southeastern Conference titles in 1997 and 1998 and a national championship after the 1998 season.

But Ramsey said he has always admired SWAC and envisioned himself coaching in it someday. He got his opportunity when TSU...


Videographer: Bookman (Texas Southern vs. Southern 2010)

Dunbar grad starring at Texas Southern

Texas Southern University running back Marcus Wright (Dunbar) is one win from playing for the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. It’s quite a bounce-back story considering Wright appeared in just four games last season as a sophomore mainly due to a suspension for violating a team rule. “It taught me a lot about responsibility,” Wright said by phone this week from the campus in Houston. “You’ve just got to handle your business.”

Arguably only one other SWAC running back has handled his business better this season. Having worked his way from the bottom of the depth chart after being reinstated this summer, Wright ranks second in the conference with 955 rushing yards. He is the reigning SWAC offensive player of ...

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Today's SWAC Football Reviews

ASU Hornets can secure spot in SWAC title game with win today over Southern

Alabama State (6-3, 5-3 SWAC) at Southern (2-7, 1-6), Radio - WVAS-FM 90.7 (Montgomery)

Following last week's wild win over Jackson State -- a game in which Jackson State was flagged 17 times for 143 yards, resulting in an expletive-filled tirade from its coach that drew a one-game suspension -- Alabama State can secure its spot in the SWAC title game this week.

The Hornets (6-3, 5-3 SWAC) meet a Southern squad (5:30 p.m.) that has struggled under first-year coach Stump Mitchell, particularly on defense. In each of its six conference losses, Southern (2-7, 1-6) has allowed 27 points or more.

Jackson State vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Jackson State (6-3, 4-3 SWAC), UAPB (5-4, 4-3 SWAC), 3:30 p.m. ET at Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Radio: JSU Network (WHLA-95.5 FM, Jackson), Yahoo Internet Radio: JSU vs. UAPB .

Jackson State's chances of winning the SWAC East and traveling to Birmingham for the conference title game are hanging on by the thinnest of threads.

A loss at Pine Bluff seals the once high-flying Tigers' fate. They won't win the East. A win and JSU will anxiously await the final score of the Alabama State-Southern game. If the Jaguars pull the upset, the Tigers will have a chance to claim the East crown with a win over Alcorn State.

That said, the most intriguing storyline heading into the game is the absence of coach Rick Comegy, who was suspended by the SWAC for his profane criticism of officials last week. Comegy said the coordinators will handle head coaching duties, but who makes the tough calls: Kick a field goal or go for it on fourth? And what about calling timeouts?

Braves to face Panthers

Alcorn State (5-4, 4-3 SWAC) at Prairie View A&M (5-4, 4-3 SWAC) 2:00 p.m. ET,

It’s a position that every school in the SWAC East division wants to be in, but right now, only Alcorn State can say the magic words. “We control our destiny.”

With Alcorn’s win over Alabama A&M and Jackson State’s loss to Alabama State last week, the Braves move to the head of the class in the East division. A win in their final two games means the Braves (5-4, 4-3 SWAC) will advance to the SWAC championship game for the first time ever.

Battle of have-nots when A&M and MVSU get together

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Alabama A&M usually is a contender for the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division title. The Bulldogs have won four East Division titles under coach Anthony Jones and won the school's lone SWAC championship in 2006.

This season, Jones and company will be lucky to escape the East Division cellar. "We're seeing and feeling what it's like to be on the other side of the stick," Jones said. A&M (2-7, 1-6) will try to stay out of the East Division cellar when it takes on Mississippi Valley State (0-9, 0-8) Saturday at 1 p.m. in Greenville, Miss. The Bulldogs, mired in a five-game losing streak, will try to avoid losing to the Delta Devils, who have lost 10 straight games dating back to last season when they fell to A&M 17-12.

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SWAC Boudreaux’s 7 TDs lift UAPB

What was seen by a homecoming crowd of 14,687 at Golden Lion Stadium on Saturday was the type of offensive superiority Arkansas-Pine Bluff envisioned when it shifted philosophies before this season.

Led by quarterback Josh Boudreaux, who had a hand in all seven of UAPB’s touchdowns, the Golden Lions scored on four of their first five possessions, added another touchdown before halftime and scored twice more in the fourth quarter as they coasted to a 49-20 victory over winless Mississippi Valley State.

As UAPB Coach Monte Coleman watched the convincing blowout from the home sideline, he couldn’t help but think he was seeing the smoothest of any of UAPB’s performances in his three seasons. “I’m ...

Boudreaux has 7 TDs as Ark.-Pine Bluff beats MVSU 49-20

PINE BLUFF, AR - Josh Boudreaux threw for 329 yards and five touchdowns and ran for two more scores as Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeated Mississippi Valley State 49-20 Saturday. Boudreaux was 23 of 31 and connected with Raymond Webber nine times for 159 yards and two TDs as the Golden Lions (5-4, 4-3 SWAC) had their highest-scoring output of the season. Boudreaux had scoring throws of 14, 10, 23, 46 and 42 yards while adding touchdown runs of 3 and 43 yards.

Oliver Hughes threw for 315 yards and two TDs for the Delta Devils (0-9, 0-8), who have lost 10 straight dating back to last season. Paul Cox caught 8 passes for 145 yards and a TD and Tristian Hudnall had 7 receptions for 102 yards and a score. MVSU was hampered by 13 penalties covering 177 yards.

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ATTENDANCE: 14,687




UAPB Golden Girls; Videographer: GoldenLionAllstars (11/1/10)

Big plays move Grambling past UAPB

Monte Coleman expresses almost weekly his fondness for wide receiver Raymond Webber. On Saturday, his chosen adjective was “special.” Arkansas-Pine Bluff ’s breakout star nearly brought the team back from a four touchdown deficit in an eventual 35-25 loss to Grambling State in front of an announced crowd of 29,373 at War Memorial Stadium.

The senior caught 9 passes for 243 yards with 1 touchdown, and his 71 receptions for the season set a new UAPB record. But it wasn’t enough to cancel out a second-quarter flurry that saw Grambling State score three times in just over four minutes and erase UAPB’s 10-point lead.

“[Webber] has been very special for us this year,” Coleman said. “He’s definitely ...

Webber Becomes UAPB All-Time Receiving Leader In Loss To GSU

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- Josh Boudreaux completed 24 of 41 passes for 438 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-4, 3-3) setting a new school record for passing yards in a game and wide receiver Raymond Webber had nine receptions for 243 yards and a TD but it wasn’t enough as Grambling State defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 35-25 on Saturday in the Delta Classic 4 Literacy.

Attendance: 29,373

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Howard University names Louis "Skip" Perkins Athletic Director

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Louis “Skip” Perkins Jr., athletics director at University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (UAPB), has been named Howard University’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics effective Jan. 1, 2011, University President Sidney A. Ribeau announced today.

“At Howard, we are committed to building and bolstering our intercollegiate program to ensure that student-athletes succeed in the classroom and compete at the highest levels in their respective arenas,” Ribeau said. “We sought a leader who is committed to academic and athletic excellence; we found that in Skip Perkins.”

Perkins will assume responsibility for Howard’s 19 varsity athletic programs, including Division 1 football and Division 1 basketball. Other sports programs include soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field for men and women; and four programs – bowling, lacrosse, volleyball and softball – in which only women participate.

"It’s a truly humbling and exciting experience for me to have the opportunity to return to the Washington, D.C. area to lead Howard University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics,” Perkins said. “I believe Howard’s and President Ribeau’s emphasis on academic and athletic excellence will serve as the foundation for returning Bison Athletics to national prominence. "

During Perkins' three-year tenure, Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Department of Athletics steadily improved. The UAPB athletic program won a total of five championships – highlighted by titles in women’s cross country (2007 and 2009); men’s cross country (2009); women’s soccer (2009) and men’s basketball (2010).

Under his leadership, the UAPB athletic facilities were significantly improved. The newly constructed, state-of-the-art, $5 million J. Thomas May Athletic Field House and football practice field currently serves as one of the premier athletic facilities in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and in the Southeast Arkansas Region.

A.D. Skip Perkins marketing the UAPB program (Archive Video: 8/7/2008)


Prior to his appointment at UAPB, he was the assistant director of Athletics at his alma mater North Carolina Central University (NCCU). He was instrumental in the institution’s transition from Division II to Division I ranks. Perkins’ year-long fundraising campaign yielded $1.8 million to benefit student-athletes.

He also served as the executive director of Communications and External Affairs at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C. He developed and directed communications strategies, which included the development of publications and institutional policies.

Perkins holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a pair of Masters degrees in public administration and instructional media from North Carolina Central University. He was an Academic All-American in both 1994 and 1995 as a member of the NCCU tennis team, where he was a four-year team captain.

Perkins is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, NCAA Division I Recruiting Cabinet and Athletics Personnel Issues Cabinet, United States Tennis Association, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc. and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 10/20/10
CONTACT:
Kerry-Ann Hamilton
Media Relations Manager
k_hamilton@howard.edu
202.238.2332

Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 12 schools and colleges. Founded in 1867, students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, two Truman Scholars, a Marshall Scholar, 21 Fulbright Scholars and 11 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, call 202-238-2330, or visit the University’s Web site at http://www.howard.edu/

6:30 p.m. CT- TONIGHT on ESPNU: Alcorn State hungry for a win vs.University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff

LORMAN, MS — After three consecutive losses, the Alcorn State Braves are hungry to get a win. And getting that win on national television would be even sweeter.

The Braves will host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night in a game that will be televised on ESPNU. This will be the second year in a row Alcorn State’s game against Pine Bluff will be televised on a Thursday night.

Alcorn seeks to bottle up Pine Bluff's dynamic WR Webber‎

In the national spotlight, the last thing Earnest Collins wants is for his Alcorn State team to be embarrassed. Then the Braves better stop Raymond Webber, the Arkansas-Pine Bluff receiver who leads the conference and the nation in most receiving categories. "That type of kid," Collins said, "you never know when he can explode on you."

When Alcorn (3-3, 2-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) hosts Pine Bluff (3-3, 2-2) at 6:30 tonight in a nationally televised conference clash on ESPNU, the Braves have to stop one of the most prolific receivers in the Football Championship Subdivision.

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Alcorn State heads for more prime time vs. UAPB Golden Lions

Alcorn State gets its second opportunity to play on television this season.

The Braves (3-3, 2-2) plays Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday night in a crucial SWAC contest that will be televised by ESPNU at 6:30. Mississippi State defeated the Braves 49-16 last month in a contest televised by Fox Sports South.

The Braves still control their destiny of reaching the SWAC title game on Dec. 11 in Birmingham. If Alcorn win its remaining games, it will capture the East Division championship.

Jackson State at Texas Southern, noon: The Tigers (5-1, 3-1) must improve their special teams play to stay ahead of Alcorn in the East. Jackson State ranks next to last in the SWAC in extra-point attempts. The Tigers also have given up big yards on punt and kickoff returns.

Game Time: Thursday: 6:30 p.m. EDT.
TV: ESPNU


UAPB's Webber lights up league

Last season, when Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alcorn State played on national television, viewers never got to see the end of the game. Nobody did. A three-hour-long lightning storm near Pine Bluff, Ark., forced officials to delay and ultimately cancel the game.

At 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Lorman, Miss., the teams meet again on ESPNU. And this time, if Raymond Webber does what he’s done for much of this season, something else — the scoreboard — might be lighting up instead.

The Golden Lions’ 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior wide receiver has taken over as the league’s best receiver, now that Juamorris Stewart’s stellar career at Southern has ended. Webber leads the SWAC in...



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SU Jaguars cannot hold off UAPB Golden Lions in SWAC rout

Waving their hands toward the sky, running toward the west sideline at A.W. Mumford Stadium after halftime Saturday night, Southern football players felt the way they wanted to feel.

At the time, they were tied with visiting Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In the first half, they had showed passion, emotion and a stronger game plan, and they felt confident that their first Southwestern Athletic Conference win in the Stump Mitchell era was a mere 30 minutes away.

They were wrong. The Golden Lions used a dominant third quarter to pull away for a 41-23 victory, burning the beleaguered SU defense for big play after big play.

Too many mistakes hold Jaguars back

Saturday night in A.W. Mumford Stadium, for the second consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference game, the Southern football team was left to lament all the times it turned the football over, all the times it committed a game-changing penalty, all the little things it failed to do.

Saturday night, all those mistakes helped Arkansas-Pine Bluff leave town with a 41-23 victory, handing SU its third straight loss in the process. The Jaguars had four turnovers, nine penalties and a handful of hiccups on special teams.

Jaguars see glimpses of hope

Receiver Curry Allen sat down at a table after Saturday night’s 41-23 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, trying to put in words what went wrong and even more importantly, how the Southern offense can recover. His answer was simple: stop trying so hard.

“We’ve been playing uptight, not really playing our game,” said Curry, a redshirt senior. “We have to relax and go out there and have fun.

Making the Fixes

There were plenty of mistakes to go around during Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s 41-23 SWAC win over Southern University Saturday night, but most came in the first half for the Golden Lions.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff helped set up an early Southern field goal with a punt interference penalty. Another Southern field goal was set up when wide receiver Raymond Webber lost a fumble deep in UAPB territory, and quarterback Josh Boudreaux later tossed an interception.

But it all came together in the second half as Boudreaux and Webber led the UAPB rally that saw it outscore the Jaguars 28-10 after a halftime tie.

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UAPB's Richard Webber grabs 3 TD passes to star in Gateway Classic

The last time Raymond Webber played in a football game at the Edward Jones Dome was four years ago when he caught two passes and scored a touchdown while participating in a jamboree for his high school, Miller Career Academy.

On Saturday, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior receiver made a triumphant return, catching 11 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns and earning the offensive most valuable player award as he helped Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a 35-19 win over Clark Atlanta University in the 17th Gateway Classic.

"Really, with our offense, it's just whoever is open," said Webber, who was playing in front a big throng of family and friends. "Whoever is making plays, we're just feeding him the ball. Everybody contributed to this win." The win was the first this season for the Golden Lions (1-2).

Ark.-Pine Bluff 35, Clark Atlanta 19

ST. LOUIS -- Josh Boudreaux ran for a touchdown and threw three scoring passes to Raymond Webber as Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeated Clark Atlanta 35-19 on Saturday in the Gateway Classic. Inside the Edward Jones Dome, Webber caught 11 passes for 162 yards for the Golden Lions (1-2).

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Attendance: 22781

Clark Atlanta and Arkansas - Pine Bluff performing at the Gateway Classic Pep Rally

New director aims to revitalize Gateway Classic

Although his father founded and ran the Gateway Classic Sports Foundation for 16 years, Rich Gray never yearned to succeed Earl Wilson Jr., whose goal was to fill the Edward Jones Dome once a year. In fact, Gray had every intention of retiring from corporate America before health issues forced Wilson to step down.

"He had talked to me about it previously, but our styles were a little different," Gray said. "So, it wasn't something I embraced."

When the time came to talk seriously, Gray budged and accepted. In a short time, he has served notice that all effort will be made to revitalize the Gateway Classic, an annual football game featuring teams from historically black colleges and universities.

Gateway Classic 

Clark Atlanta vs. University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff

When: 3 p.m. Saturday

Doors open at 1:30 p.m.

Featuring the Halftime Battle Of The Bands w/Special guest performance by Bradd Young

Tickets: Edward Jones Dome box office

More info & events: gatewayclassic.org

A 'Classic' homecoming, Jamaal Phillips comes home for Gateway Classic

St. Louis native Jamaal Phillips is coming home to play in the 2010 St. Louis Gateway Classic football game this Saturday, September 25 at the Edward Jones Dome at 3 p.m.

Phillips, a Hazelwood East High School graduate, plays offensive line for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions. They face the Clark Atlanta Panthers in this year’s showdown between historically black universities. “I get to play in front of hometown fans. I have a lot of family and friends coming out to support me,” said Phillips. One important source of support will come from the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club.

In 2008, Phillips was Youth of the Year for Herbert Hoover, as well as youth clubs in the State of Missouri and the Midwest region. He got a chance to travel and compete nationally for Youth of the Year honors and network with individuals from boys and girls clubs around the nation.

Comanches in the Classic

For Thomas Winters Jr. and Terron Armstead, it will be a dream comes true this weekend. The former Cahokia High standouts are coming home to perform in front of family members, friends, former teammates and coaches in this Saturday’s 17th Annual Gateway Classic Football Game.

Winters and Armstead play for the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which takes on Clark Atlantic University in this year’s Classic at the Edward Jones Dome. Kick- off is set for 4 p.m.

Both young men were stellar student–athletes for Cahokia on some of the school’s best football teams ever. Together, they helped lead Cahokia to a few South Seven Conference titles as well as four consecutive playoff appearances. In addition, Armstead was one of the best field event athletes in track and field on some great Comanche teams that won state championships.

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UTEP Miners wear down UAPB Lions 31-10

El Paso, TX - UTEP has been rather inconsistent in its openers under Mike Price, but there has been a common thread in those seven games -- when the Miners outclass their opponent, they muddle through.

A Donald Buckram-less UTEP certainly didn't outclass the FCS's Arkansas-Pine Bluff as badly as it hoped Saturday, but the Miners' superior talent and numbers finally wore down the feisty Golden Lions for a 31-10 victory. Price improved to 4-3 in openers in front of 30,029 fans and UTEP came away with a list of things to fix.

"It was a good way we won it. It was a little bit frustrating at times, a lot of opportunities blown, particularly the first half. But we stuck together and that's good," Price said. "It was a good win because we're not fat and sassy. We've got a lot of work to do and the kids know that." The new 4-3 defense, after giving up an embarrassing 80-yard touchdown drive to UAPB to start the game....



Photo Gallery: UTEP Miners defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff

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UAPB Golden Lions and UTEP Miners kickoff 2010 campaign at the Sun Bowl

The UTEP football team opens its 93rd season at home Sept. 4 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. While UTEP hasn’t won a home opener since 2007, they are 3-3 in season openers during the coach Mike Price era. The Miners come off a 2009 season in which they were 4-8 overall and 3-5 in Conference USA. UTEP has never faced the Golden Lions before. The Miners who play in the Football Bowl Subdivision don’t have to look too far to know that playing a team in a lower division can still be a challenge.

“New Mexico State beat us a couple of years ago and beat Pine Bluff by only three points so I’m the most concerned with us,” said Price. “I want to see us play to our best against every team and play the best we can every time we come out. Its just different colored uniforms, it doesn’t matter if its Pine Bluff or Fayetteville (University of Arkansas) you have to play the best you can.”



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UAPB Golden Lions Look for Reversal of Fortune

PINE BLUFF, AK — A year ago, UA-Pine Bluff was anxiously awaiting the opening of the football season hoping some late success from the previous fall would carry over into a big 2009. Just the opposite is true this year. UAPB is looking forward to the season, but hoping it starts much better than how 2009 ended.

In Coach Monte Coleman’s second year as head coach, after previously serving as Mo Forte’s defensive coordinator, his Golden Lions stubbed their toes late in the season after a 4-2 start that included a monumental 20-13 overtime win at Jackson State.

Starting with a home loss against Southern, UAPB dropped three of its last four games. Even Texas Southern got the better of the Golden Lions in Dallas’ Cotton Bowl Stadium at season’s end, 14-10. A 49-42 win over Grambling State in Little Rock in that four-game stretch could not mask the overall disappointment within the program in the last month.



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UAPB Head Coach Monte Coleman talks about Golden Lions football team‎

The UAPB Golden Lions finished up spring practices with their annual scrimmage two weeks ago. Now Arkansas Pine Bluff is focused on the fall. UAPB lost their last two game of the 2009 season to finish with a record of 5-5. The Golden Lions open the season on the road against Texas El Paso. Friday afternoon head coach Monte Coleman called in to talk to Wess Moore. Click on the video button to see their conversation.

NCAA: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 44, Duke 73

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff ends first NCAA Tournament experience with a 1-1 record, defeating Winthrop and falling to Duke 44-73.

Duke outmuscles UAPB

From the tip you could see that UAPB's lack of size would be an issue for the Golden Lions. They were outrebounded in this game 24-41, and that proved to be the difference in the game. Duke wins 73-44. In the first half, scoring points took a backseat to fouls as UAPB found themselves with several players in foul trouble before the midway point. The Duke Blue Devils looked untouchable as they shot 44 pct. from the field in the first half. Kyle Singler led the way with 13 points and 6 rebounds.

As for the Golden Lions, Terrance Calvin shot 66 pct. from the field and scored 7 of UAPB's 20 first half points. They were outrebounded in the first half 20-11 and committed 13 personal fouls. Duke led by 19 at halftime. In the second half it was much of the same for the Blue Devils. UAPB came out in a zone and shot the ball well but once again could not get to the freethrow line. Singler led Duke with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Blue Devils shot 28 freethrows for the game to the Golden Lions 7. No one on the Golden Lions roster scored in double figures.

Those "Enormously Heartening" Golden Lions

A friend and wise man posted this Facebook status update after UAPB won the NCAA play-in game on Tuesday:

"There was something enormously heartening about watching the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions beat Winthrop tonight. It reminded me of why I used to love March Madness (TM) even back when UCLA was winning every year. A bunch of kids you never heard of who didn't get 20 D1 offers each playing their hearts out for a shot at Duke. Chances slim and none, but hey they can say they did it."

Hear, hear! As uninspiring as the Hogs were this past season, UAPB has been that inspiring and then some. Everyone loves a Cinderella story. Well, it doesn't get much more Cinderella than the Golden Lions. The never-ending road trip with which they began the season caught the attention of the New York Times' basketball blog and Sports Illustrated. And not only did the Golden Lions play their first 14 games on the road (with most of those opponents belonging to major conferences such as the ACC and Big 12), but they began the year 0-11. And yet, here they are. Pretty amazing.

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Top-seeded Duke cruises into second round in Jacksonville ...

Arkansas-Pine Bluff had the success you would expect from a No. 16 seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament — none. Duke, the top seed in the South region, built an early double-digit lead and coasted to a 73-44 victory over the overmatched Golden Lions on Friday night at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. No top seed has ever lost to a 16. “That didn’t cross our minds, the whole 1 vs. 16 thing,” said Duke senior guard Jon Scheyer, who scored 13 points. “We wanted to get a win and start it off right.”

Junior forward Kyle Singler led the Blue Devils with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Duke shot 51 percent from the floor and held Arkansas-Pine Bluff to 32percent. “Defensively, we were excellent,” said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who earned his 72nd NCAA Tournament victory, extending his NCAA record. “We’re more talented than they are, but I was happy with how my team played, and I’m happy that we’re moving on.” Duke (30-5) will advance to Sunday’s second round against eighth-seeded Cal or ninth-seeded Louisville. The tip-off time will be announced today.


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