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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No. 23 UCLA Baseball Defeats Southern, 16-2, in Season Opener

LOS ANGELES - Right-hander Gerrit Cole allowed two runs and one hit in 6.0 innings to lead the No. 23 UCLA baseball team past Southern, 16-2, in the season opener for both teams in an MLB Urban Invitational contest on Friday evening at UCLA's Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium.Cole (1-0) recorded nine strikeouts and no walks as the Bruins' starter.

UCLA (1-0) received at least one hit from each of its nine starters in the lineup. Designated hitter Blair Dunlap led the way with a 3-for-4 effort, including one homer, two RBI and two runs. Dunlap led off the bottom of the first by connecting on the first pitch from Southern left-hander Chase Richard for a solo homer to left. Right fielder Brett Krill finished 3-for-5 with one run, and shortstop Niko Gallego went 2-for-4 with a career-high four RBI. Catcher Steve Rodriguez belted one three-run homer in a 1-for-3 effort, collecting a career-high four RBI and two runs.

Richard (0-1) absorbed the loss for Southern, surrendering 13 runs (seven earned) and 12 hits in 4.0 innings. UCLA led 9-0 after the first inning by taking advantage of seven hits and one fielding error. Dunlap's solo blast in the first inning put the Bruins on the board. With one out and the bases loaded, Espy reached on a sacrifice fly to center that was dropped, sending home Rahmatulla.

After an RBI-single by freshman Cody Keefer and a two-out bases-loaded hit-by-pitch from Rodriguez, Dunlap reached on an RBI-bunt single and Gallego blooped a three-run double to center field. Rahmatulla's second hit of the inning scored Gallego for the Bruins' ninth run. Espy's solo homer in the bottom of the second extended UCLA's cushion to 10-0. Southern scored two runs in the top of the third. With one out, left fielder James Armstrong lined a run-scoring triple down the right-field line, scoring right fielder Michael Lindsey. A sacrifice fly to center by first baseman Frazier Hall plated Armstrong from third.

Box Score (PDF)

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Defensive Slate for Mississippi Valley Delta Devils Football

Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils new head football coach Karl Morgan brings 21 years of coaching experience to Valley.

Miss. Valley tabs Morgan as coach

ITTA BENA, Miss. — Mississippi Valley State on Monday named Karl Morgan as its new head football coach. Morgan, a native of Houma and a former defensive line coach at both Nicholls State and Southern, spent the past five seasons as defensive coordinator at North Alabama. Morgan replaces Willie Totten, who stepped down Nov. 30 after eight seasons as the head coach of his alma mater. Morgan was introduced Monday on campus. A standout defensive lineman at Vandebilt Catholic and UCLA before playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Oilers and the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, Morgan has 21 years of coaching experience, including stints as defensive line coach at Nicholls State, Southern, Purdue and Arkansas State and as defensive coordinator at Alcorn State, Hampton and North Alabama.

UNA was a Division II semifinalist in 2005 and 2008 and a quarterfinalist in 2006, 2007 and 2009. Morgan got his start in coaching as the head football coach at Central Catholic High in Morgan City from 1989 to 1992. After spending the 1994 season as the defensive line coach at Nicholls State, Morgan spent 1995 as the defensive line coach at Southern. That year, SU went 11-1 and won the black college national title.

Valley introduces new football coach

Mississippi Valley State University’s new football coach, Karl Morgan, has “experience, professionalism, discipline, energy and a demonstrated winning attitude,” Interim Athletic Director Donald Ray Sims said Monday. The selection of Morgan, the former defensive coordinator at the University of North Alabama, was announced at a press conference. Morgan, a 48-year-old Louisiana native, will replace Willie Totten, who resigned after eight years as head coach. Valley has had only 13 winning seasons in its 58-year history. Morgan said he actively pursued the position.

“I went after this job full of energy and excitement,” he said. “I heard about all the things about consolidation, scholarships and all that kind of stuff. It did not deter me. I saw potential and I saw opportunity here.” After cleaning out his office at North Alabama, he plans to return to Valley on Wednesday. He said he already had a prospective staff put together and plans to serve as defensive coordinator as well as head coach. “The staff has been put together for the most part, but everybody has to now get away from where they’re at,” he said. “Some are going to take some time, as far as two-week notices and all that kind of stuff.”

Morgan has 21 years of coaching experience including stints as defensive line coach at Nicholls State, Southern University, Purdue University and Arkansas State University. He has also served as defensive coordinator at Alcorn State University, Hampton University and North Alabama. North Alabama, an NCAA Division II program, was 55-10 during Morgan’s five years as defensive coordinator. This past season, his defense led the Gulf South Conference in scoring defense, total defense and passing defense.

Valley fans ready to support new football coach

Greenwood-area Mississippi Valley State fans are excited about their new coach, and most of them hope Karl Morgan will recruit the Mississippi Delta more heavily. Morgan, a 48-year-old Louisiana native, replaces Willie Totten, who resigned Nov. 30 after eight years as head coach. Valley had a 3-8 record this year this past season. It was the sixth losing season for Totten, who went 31-58 at the helm of his alma mater. Morgan spent the past five seasons as the defensive coordinator at North Alabama, one of the nation's top NCAA Division II programs. The Lions went 55-10 during Morgan's stint as defensive coordinator. This past season, Morgan's defense led the Gulf South Conference in scoring defense, total defense and passing defense.

Greenwood High School football coach and athletic director Clinton Gatewood, a former Valley player, is excited about meeting Morgan and learning how the new coach plans to turn things around in Itta Bena. "One of our former players, Leroy Collins, played under Morgan at North Alabama, and he loved him as a coach," Gatewood said. "I would love to see coach Morgan recruit the talent in the Delta a lot more because we have a host of talent in this area." Fred Ford, an assistant football coach at Amanda Elzy and a former player at Valley, believes his alma mater selected the right man for the job.

New hire embraces task

ITTA BENA, MS - Karl Morgan knows exactly what he's getting into as the new coach at Mississippi Valley State. He knows that the program can't fill the 63 scholarships allotted to Football Championship Subdivision teams. He knows Gov. Haley Barbour has proposed consolidating Valley and Alcorn State into Jackson State. He knows some of his assistant coaches will have to teach classes. Morgan, formerly the defensive coordinator at North Alabama, doesn't care about any of that.

"It wasn't a deterrent because I think I can be successful raising money," he said. "We're going to be proactive. We're going to hit everybody that we think has some money. If you ask, you can find. "We just need the basics so we can compete. There's a lot of things we need that we probably don't have. But there's not going to be any buyer's remorse. We're going to get it done." The first words out of Morgan's mouth after being introduced by interim athletic director Donald Sims were, "I want to be here." He needed the Valley faithful to understand that he actively pursued the job, looking for an edge by calling several contacts and even getting some help from his two sons to put together a PowerPoint presentation for his interview. A collegiate assistant coach since 1993, this is the head coaching opportunity Morgan has been looking for.

MVSU names new head football coach

Former UCLA standout Karl Morgan has been named the new head football coach at Mississippi Valley State. Morgan, who has served as defensive coordinator for NCAA Division II powerhouse North Alabama for the past five season, was announced as the man to replace MVSU legend Willie Totten on Tuesday. Totten, who starred as a quarterback for Valley during the 1980s, went 31-57 during his eight seasons as the head coach in Itta Bena. The Delta Devils were 3-8 last season. Morgan was defensive coordinator at Alcorn State in 2001 and also coached at Southern University in 1995. He played two years for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was captain of UCLA's 1983 Rose Bowl Championship team.

NOTE: Valley brought five candidates to the campus last week for interviews and public forums. In addition to Karl Morgan, the university interviewed Charlie Brown, ex-head coach at Savannah, Ga., High School; Sam Washington, Grambling State assistant and a former MVSU defensive coordinator; Richard Wilson, head coach at Arkansas Baptist; and L.C. Cole, head coach at Stillman College.

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Delaware State Hornets 49, UCLA Bruins 66

Reeves Nelson leads UCLA to victory over Delaware State

Reeves Nelson scored a career-high 21 points and UCLA defeated Delaware State 66-49 Sunday. The Bruins have won three of their last four games, but their 5-7 record leaves them last in the Pac-10 in nonconference play. UCLA opens its Pac-10 schedule against Arizona State on Thursday at home. Marcus Neal led the Hornets (4-6) with 15 points. Frisco Sandidge added 12. Tyler Honeycutt and Nikola Dragovic scored 11 points apiece for a UCLA, which shot 52 percent from the field.

The Bruins grabbed their largest lead, 51-22, with 12:55 to play before Delaware State ended the game on a 27-15 run. Sandidge scored nine of his points during the run. In what started out as a battle of jump-shooters, the Bruins took over midway through the first half when they started taking the ball inside to Nelson, who helped spark a 14-0 run that put UCLA up 26-10.

Bruins Lock Delaware State in a Full Nelson

Box Score Photo Gallery

Reeves Nelson scored a career-high 21 points and UCLA defeated Delaware State 66-49 Sunday. The Bruins have won three of their last four games, but their 5-7 record leaves them last in the Pac-10 in nonconference play. UCLA opens its Pac-10 schedule against Arizona State on Thursday at home. Marcus Neal led the Hornets (4-6) with 15 points. In what started out as a battle of jump-shooters, the Bruins took over midway through the first half when they started taking the ball inside to Nelson, a 6-foot-8 freshman center.

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Delaware State: A speed bump for UCLA? Not likely

A speed bump for UCLA? Not likely

The Bruins, looking for some momentum heading into Pac-10 Conference play later this week, meet Delaware State today -- a deliberate, disciplined team that moves at a snail's pace. Momentum has been tough to come by -- or too often moving in the wrong direction -- for a struggling UCLA team this season. So when the Bruins face Delaware State at Pauley Pavilion this afternoon, they will be eager to grab a second consecutive victory. But they can't be too eager, not against an opponent that tends to move at a snail's pace.

Delaware State (4-5) averages only 49 shots a game by holding the ball for 15 or 20 seconds, trying to score near the end of each possession. Impatient defenses can get burned with back-cuts and back-screens. "It's going to be a game where the tempo is slow," Coach Ben Howland said. Last week, the Hornets held No. 17 Ohio State to a season low in scoring, losing 60-44. "They may be the most disciplined team I've ever seen in my life," Ohio State Coach Thad Matta said. "I would have had a hard time in that one as a player. Our guys had to focus for the full 40 minutes."

Heading into the UCLA game, Hornets Coach Greg Jackson has a 311-221 career record. More importantly, the Hornets are nearly unbeatable at Memorial Hall with a 74-22 record over the past ten years.

Ben Ball Gameday Roundup: End Of Out Of Conference Season

Excerpts:
"The only plan we had was to limit their possessions and keep them out of transition, and I thought for the most part our kids did that. We don't have the talent that they have." It was as close to a stall game as you'll find during the era of the shot clock. Ohio State was held to a season-low in points despite coming in 10th nationally (84.7 per game). "To hold them to 60 points is obviously a success for us," Jackson said. "We had a plan to come in and shorten the game and keep them on the defensive end as much as possible. The only chance we had was to limit possessions and take them out of areas that they like to operate."

The Hornets are lead in scoring by Marcus Neal, who averages 13 points a game and Frisco Sandidge who leads the team with 6.4 rebounds per game. Sandidge is also second in the scoring department as he averages about 12 points per game. Despite some recent struggles, Delaware State has played solid defense all season and that can be reflected in the stats. So far this year, DSU has only allowed opposing teams to score 58.8 points per game, which is the nation's 26th best scoring defense. The Hornets also rank pretty high in turnover margin (22nd with +4.8) and steals (15th 10.0).

Delaware State starting guard Jay Threatt has been one of the best players in the country in steals this season. As of Dec. 13, Threatt was ranked No. 5 in the nation in steals with an average of four per game and had recorded 25 overall. Also, Threatt tied the school record for steals in a game Nov. 16 against Wilmington when he recorded nine. The Hornets are now 0-4 on the road this season. This is just the 3rd meeting between the Hornets and UCLA with the Bruins leading the series 2-0 with both games being contested in Pauley Pavilion. UCLA posted a 56-37 victory in the last meeting on Nov. 19, 2005.

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UCLA makes sure it's not sweet for 16, MVSU Delta Devils

Photo: Mississippi Valley State University head basketball coach James Green.

Josh Shipp wasn't apparent, Darren Collison didn't score in the first half, Kevin Love played with intelligent caution and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute didn't play at all, not that it mattered on this first night of the 2008 tournament basketball for UCLA.

The top-seeded Bruins coasted to a 70-29 win over 16th-seeded Mississippi Valley State on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA West Regional at the Honda Center. The Bruins (32-3) will play ninth-seeded Texas A&M (25-10) in the second round Saturday. The Aggies beat eighth-seeded Brigham Young, 67-62.

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Highlights: The 29 points scored by the Delta Devils was the lowest total in a NCAA Tournament game since college basketball began using a shot clock in 1985.

UCLA held Mississippi Valley State to just 19.7 percent shooting from the field and 7.1 percent from 3-point range.

The Bruins had 6 blocked shots in the first five minutes and finished with 13 overall, one shy of tying the record for a single NCAA Tournament game.

Coach Ben Howland pulled his UCLA starters from the game midway through the first half and played reserves the rest of the way.

Larry Cox led the Delta Devils (17-16) with seven points.

Urban Invitational comes to a close

COMPTON, Calif. -- The first MLB Urban Invitational has now come to a close, but the three-day event at USC's Dedeaux Field, UCLA's Jackie Robinson Stadium, and the MLB Urban Youth Academy created such goodwill and positive feedback from everyone involved, there is little doubt that this will set the stage for more and bigger invitationals in the coming years.

"It has been a tremendous opportunity to showcase the historical black colleges and universities [HBCUs] and a chance for the commissioner's initiative on African-Americans participation in baseball to be even further enhanced," said Major League Baseball Executive Vice President of Operations Jimmie Lee Solomon.

"What really struck me though is we had over 3,500 people here at the academy on Saturday night. People stayed here past midnight, cheering, watching the games -- we had kids running around and the crowd was extremely diverse. You can't tell me that the African-American population is not interested in our game."

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What a positive way to kick off the baseball season for Bethune Cookman and Southern University. Once again you proved that HBCUs can compete successfully in Division I Baseball. Those two losses by BCU to USC and UCLA 2-0 were great pitching duels. And how 'bout that SU slugfest with USC that ended 13-9?

The `Cats next test will be Georgia Southern on Tues, Mar. 4 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. Southern University will play Tulane on Tuesday.

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