Having their kicks (and blocks and returns): Grambling special teams paves way for Bayou Classic victory

NEW ORLEANS -- After Southern scored the go-ahead touchdown with 5 minutes, 2 seconds left in the Bayou Classic, things didn't look good for Grambling.

There was plenty of time left, but Southern's defense had forced a Grambling punt on four of the previous five Tigers' possessions up to that point.

However, Calief Samon, a junior, returned the Jaguars' ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the Southern 40, setting up Grambling's winning touchdown in what became a 30-21 victory with that 10-point spurt after falling behind 21-20.

“We were very dominant in the kicking game,” Tigers coach Broderick Fobbs said. “I thought it was the deciding factor in the game.

"We blocked a kick, they missed a kick because of our pressure, we ran a kickoff back across the 50. We were able to flip the field with a punt return. And, then we had (three) touchbacks (two on kickoffs)."



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WSSU football schedule for next fall nearly complete

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State’s football schedule for next fall is nearly complete.

Athletics Director Tonia Walker is trying to fill one more date for a nonconference game on Sept. 15. The rest of the schedule, however, is already.

The Rams, who went 6-4 this fall and missed out on playing for the CIAA championship for the first time in six years, will open next season with two straight home games.

“It’s good to open at home two weeks in a row but you have to be prepared and that will start with spring ball and carry over into the summer,” Coach Kienus Boulware of the Rams said.

The Rams will open against UNC Pembroke on Sept. 1 and will then welcome Catawba on Sept. 8 to Bowman Gray Stadium. Catawba went 9-2 last season and just missed qualifying for the Division II playoffs.

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Hampton's Marching Force band preparing for national 'battle'

Dr. Thomas L. Jones, Jr., Director of University Bands, Music

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Thomas Jones is very good at keeping a secret. And for a week or two, he had a good one to keep.

Jones, director of bands at Hampton University, learned in late October that the school’s Marching Force unit had been selected as one of eight finalists to compete in the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase on Jan. 27 at the Mercedes Benz Dome in Atlanta.

“I got the phone call from the organizers, but we had to keep it quiet until they were ready to make the announcement,” Jones said. “I didn’t even tell the band until the day before the press release was going to come out.”

And when he told them, how did the 100 or so members of the band and dance teams react?

“They were so excited,” Jones said. “It meant a lot to them. It was a validation for everything we’ve been doing this year.”

The event, in its 16th year, is a showcase for marching bands from historically black colleges and universities. The selection process incorporates input from band directors, school presidents, corporate sponsors and online voting. Each of the eight finalists receive a $20,000 grant from Honda to support music education, and the sponsor covers all travel expenses for the showcase.



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Pennsylvania State System BOG names Aaron A. Walton President of Cheyney University

Aaron A. Walton, President
CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY

CHEYNEY, Pennsylvania  --  The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education has named Aaron A. Walton president of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania for a term beginning immediately through June 30, 2021, to ensure stable leadership while the university implements a multi-year financial plan.

Walton has served as Cheyney’s interim president since May, shortly after the Middle States Commission on Higher Education ordered Cheyney to “show cause” as to why its accreditation should not be withdrawn. Since then, the university has made significant strides, including submitting a detailed operating plan to Middle States that explains, among other things, how it will balance its budget in the future while meeting the educational needs of students.

“While I came here to help transform Cheyney University, I can tell you that Cheyney University has changed my life. It beats in my heart. It courses through my veins,” said Walton. “The students on this campus will forever be part of my family. These remarkable young people deserve every opportunity to receive a high-quality education here and to earn a degree that will help ensure their successful future, and I will do everything within my power to make that happen.”

Last week, the Council of Trustees recommended Walton be named the university’s next president and in accordance with state law, the Council conferred with students, faculty and alumni prior to voting on the recommendation.

Cheyney University is America’s oldest historically Black university, and it has an important role in our society.

“When we considered who would be best to ensure the university's future, it was clear that Aaron Walton is that person,” said Robert W. Bogle, chair of Cheyney University’s Council of Trustees. “I applaud what he has accomplished in just six months, and I can only imagine what he will do with more time.”

“Since the day he arrived on campus, Aaron has demonstrated his commitment to securing Cheyney’s continuing accreditation and—just as important—to ensuring the university’s long-term future so it can continue to serve students,” said Board of Governors Chairwoman Cynthia D. Shapira. “There is no stronger advocate for Cheyney University, and no one better able to lead the effort to shape the future of this historic institution and ensure it is on the road to success.”

“We are confident that the strides the university already has taken under President Walton’s leadership will demonstrate to Middle States that Cheyney has a bright future,” said State System Interim Chancellor Karen M. Whitney. “He crafted an exceptional multi-year recovery plan that was submitted to Middle States. There is no better person to ensure the university’s success.”

Among the issues cited by Middle States in its “show cause” order was the importance of leadership. Walton is scheduled to appear before the commission Thursday, after which a decision regarding the university’s accreditation will be made.

PSSHE voted to forgive $30 million in loans it provided to the school, providing the budget is balanced in each of the next four years. So, Walton has agreed to serve until then. 

“I welcome the opportunity that has been given to me, and commit my all toward working together with the Board, the Trustees, and the students, faculty, staff and alumni to ensure there is a Cheyney today, and a Cheyney forever,” said Walton.

Prior to his arrival at Cheyney, Walton was previously employed by Highmark Inc., where he was one of nine principle officers responsible for providing overall management and direction of all of the organization’s corporate activities. During his 40-year tenure with Highmark, he held progressively higher key management roles in both corporate and subsidiary operations. Additionally, he has served on more than 35 community boards.

Walton holds a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from California University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University.

CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

CIAA Basketball Legend Cal Irvin Passes Away

Calvin "Cal" Irvin finished his career with a remarkable 401-132 record at Johnson C. Smith University and North Carolina A&T State University, finishing third in the NAIA Tournament twice.  Irvin was a giant at A&T, where the basketball court now bears his name.

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- I stood in a funeral line several years ago with one of the greatest basketball minds in the history of the game. We didn’t talk about basketball.

Cal Irvin, a legendary basketball coach and a giant at N.C. A&T, died Saturday after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Irvin brought big-time basketball to Greensboro long before the ACC Tournament came here, leading A&T to the 1959 NCAA College Division Final Four, the first historic black university to even earn a bid to the NCAA tournament, much less reach a Final Four.

Irvin would win 308 games in 18 years as the coach of the Aggies, leading A&T to CIAA titles in 1959, 1962, 1964 and 1967.

He’s a member of the CIAA Hall of Fame, the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

The brother of Negro League baseball legend Monte Irvin, Cal was also a great baseball player who played for the Newark Eagles and the Raleigh Grays before coming to Greensboro, where he would coach basketball and serve as the athletics director at A&T.

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PVAMU Marching Storm Takes Over New York City -- Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

Neiko Hollins guides Prairie View past rival Texas Southern

HOUSTON, Texas -- Prairie View A&M struggled offensively, and Texas Southern's defense was outstanding.

At least that was the case for most of the first half Saturday night.

Then Panthers quarterback Neiko Hollins took over.

Hollins passed for three touchdowns and 319 yards, leading Prairie View to a 30-16 Southwestern Athletic Conference win over Texas Southern at BBVA Compass Stadium, securing a third straight winning season for the Panthers under third-year coach Willie Simmons, who is unbeaten against the Tigers.

"We're in a good place with the program," Simmons said. "It was my job to come and give us some consistency."

But Hollins was far from perfect. A third-quarter interception returned 39 yards for a score by Archie White got the Tigers to within five points.

But Hollins was instrumental in the Panthers' win over their biggest rival.

Since taking over as the starting quarterback six games ago, Hollins has been the guiding force for the resurgent Panthers (6-5, 4-3 SWAC), who ended their 2017 football season with their third straight win.



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JOHNSON: Grambling reminded everyone why it is the best of the best in the SWAC

NEW ORLEANS -- It is true as it is cliché: To be the best, you have to beat the best.

Grambling — hands down, bar none — has staked its claim as the best program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference by executing that cliché precisely. The Tigers have staked their claim so far down into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome turf that it might be sprouting roots.

Southern tried mightily to rip that stake out and end Grambling’s stranglehold on SWAC supremacy. And, for a moment, there appeared to be some light — a Southern lead in the fourth quarter, a gap between the stake and the ground.

And then — WHAM! — the staggering reality set in. It took all of 85 seconds for that gap to close.

It was frighteningly fast, Grambling’s reminder to Southern that it truly is boss.

A big kick return led to a quick touchdown. Eighty-five seconds after Southern took its only lead, Grambling stole it right back.



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With a chance to topple the SWAC's best, Southern fails to cash in chances in 31-20 loss

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- A theme was forming for Southern: The Jaguars had whiffed on too many opportunities and a third consecutive Bayou Classic win for Grambling was brewing. And so, the Tigers' 25th Southwestern Athletic Conference win in a row seemed fairly inevitable.

That was until Southern snatched a third-quarter fumble and quarterback Austin Howard began generating excellence, as he has for much of the later stages of his senior season, when Southern was emptied of momentum and reliant on hope.



The third quarter’s fumble-score swing muddied any certainty regarding how Grambling's eventual 31-20 win in the 44th annual Bayou Classic would end, diminishing the 17-7 lead Grambling’s smooth offense created by halftime.

Southern linebacker Kaycee Ntukogu forced the fumble as nearly five minutes remained in the third quarter. Howard, 80 seconds later, dropped a beauty in the hands of Kendall Catalon as he gracefully slid across the Mercedes-Benz Superdome's end zone.

Following the touchdown, Saturday's game, the SWAC's Western Division and a bid to the conference championship game was going to go to which of Louisiana's SWAC teams could muster enough to hold off their fiercest rival.

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Back-and-forth Bayou Classic ends with third straight Grambling win

NEW ORLEANS -- This was one for the defenses.

Grambling’s Brandon Varner stripped the ball away from Southern quarterback Austin Howard, then recovered the late fumble to provide the key play in the Tigers' 30-21 win over the Jaguars in the 44th annual Bayou Classic at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The turnover set up Marc Orozco’s game-clinching 36-yard field goal and spoiled a spirited second-half effort by Southern’s defense.

Martez Carter led the Tigers on the ground with 106 yards and a touchdown on 14 rushes, including the 11-yard touchdown run that gave Grambling the lead for good with 3:22 left. Grambling quarterback Devante Kincaid was 14 of 30 for 171 yards and a score.

Grambling (10-1, 7-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) moves on to play Alcorn State next week in the SWAC championship game.

“I saw it all week. I had faith,” Varner said of his fumble recovery, which came with 2:44 remaining.

It was Grambling’s 10th straight win this season, third consecutive win in the series, and 25th consecutive win against a SWAC opponent. The Tigers have not lost a conference game since the 2014 Bayou Classic.

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Bayou Classic 2017 Halftime Show

FINAL: GRAMBLING STATE TIGERS 30, SOUTHERN JAGUARS 21

Langston University Lions Football Grabs 39 Selections On All-CSFL Team

QUINTON MORGAN

HEAD COACH - 2ND SEASON

Photo by Na'Tianna Stocker, @LivingatLU

LANGSTON, Oklahoma --The Central States Football League (CSFL) has announced the All-CSFL selection for the 2017 season with the Lions receiving 39 selections.

Langston University head football coach Quinton Morgan was selected as the CSFL coach of the year as leading the Lions to a 10-0 undefeated regular season and a home playoff berth in the NAIA Football Championship Series. It was the first time since 1973 that the Lions finished the regular season undefeated.

Jamarae Finnie (SR/Tacoma, Wash.) was selected as the CSFL Defensive Player of the Year, racking up 64 total tackles, 33 solo with 7.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss; the senior defensive linemen currently ranks 10th in the NAIA in total tackles for loss.

James Cox (SO/Hammond, La.) was selected as the CSFL Newcomer of the Year after tallying 55 total tackles, 40 solo to go along with 1.5 sacks. 6.5 tackles for loss and one interception that was returned for a touchdown.

Jaylen Lowe (JR/Collinsville, Okla.) got the nod for the CSFL Athlete of the Year after serving the 2017 season as both quarterback and punter for the Lions; the junior signal caller finished 101-of-171 for 1,116 passing yards for 11 touchdowns with 353 yards on the ground and five scores. On special teams, he finished with a 36.5 punting average on 67 punts for the year.

Dennis Gafford (FR/Houston, Texas) was honored with the CSFL Freshman of the Year award after finishing with 32 total tackles, 27 solo with one tackle for loss in his first season with the Lions.

Cedric Jackson (JR/Marrero, La.), Christopher Carillo (JR/Midland, Texas), Eugene Fuller (SO/Stockbridge, Ga.) and Michael Smith (SR/Compton, Calif.) in addition to Finnie were selected to the All-CSFL first team for their efforts during the 2017 season.

Jackson finished with 522 receiving yards on 37 catches with five touchdowns; he led the Lions in every receiving statistical category.

Fuller finished four on the team in total tackles with 52 including 25 solo, one sack, one interception and two tackles for loss.

Smith was second on the team in total tackles with 56 while finishing with 42 solo tackles, three interceptions and six tackles for loss; he finishes his Langston career with 73 total tackles, one sack, six tackles for loss and three interceptions.

Timothy Whitfield, Trevin Carson (JR/Midwest City, Okla.), Tyler Bess (SR/Hollis, Okla.), Peter Gordon (JR/Del City, Okla.), Jeffry Reed (JR/Ardmore, Okla.) in addition to Cox were all selected to the All-CSFL second team.

Whitfield led the Lions in rushing for the season with 535 yards on 95 carries with seven touchdowns.

On the defensive side Bess finished with 27 total tackles with three sacks, Gordon accumulated 48 total tackles to go along with three sacks and Reed tallied 19 total tackles and two interceptions.

11 athletes were named All-CSFL honorable mention which includes Milton Harper (SR/Tulsa, Okla.), Tyree Hanson (JR/Los Angeles, Calif.), Glenn Irons (JR/New Orleans, La.), Michael Andrade (JR/New Orleans, La.), Darrell Hill, Jr. (SR/Oklahoma City, Okla.), Domonick Foy (SR/New Orleans, La.), Jay Hura (SR/Oklahoma City, Okla.), Eric Jackson (SR/Oklahoma City, Okla.), Joel Thurman (SO/Nashville, Ark.), Bryon Forte (FR/Houston, Texas), Dontre' Searcy, Malik Argue (SR/New Orleans, La.), Terrance Grimsley (JR/Lawton, Okla.), Quincy Warren(FR/Fort Worth, Texas), Traveon, Miller, Dejon Cash (SO/Inglewood, Calif.), Charles Harvin III (SO/Denver, Colo.), Aric Cormier (FR/Orange, Texas), James Caligone IV (JR/Tulsa, Okla.) in addition to Lowe, Jackson and Gafford.

Harper and Fuller were also named to the CSFL Champions of Character which consists of student-athletes that best emplify the five core values of the NAIA, which are: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

Additionally, Max Benson, Demontre Burkhalter, Croey Myers, Daylon Person (SO/Watts, Calif.), Joel Thurman, Justin Wade (SO/Baton Rouge, La.) were named to the CSFL All-Academic team in addition to Carson, Finnie, Hill, Jr, and Lowe. To be selected as an All-Academic performer, you must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and have completed 12 hours of coursework at their current institution.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS 

John Thierry, Alcorn State All-Star and Bears first-round pick in 1994, dies at 46

CHICAGO, Illinois -- John Thierry, whom the Bears drafted in the first round in 1994, has died. He was 46.

A defensive end from Alcorn State, Thierry was drafted 11th overall and spent five seasons with the Bears. His alma mater announced Thierry’s death.

Thierry attended the Bears’ alumni weekend functions scheduled around the Sept. 10 opener against the Falcons at Soldier Field.



“That’s the last time I saw him, and he looked good, damn good for his age,” former teammate James “Big Cat” Williams said. “We hung out that weekend. This is a shock. I feel bad for everybody.”

Former Bears offensive lineman Marcus Spears wrote on Instagram that Thierry suffered a massive heart attack Friday night.

The Bears released this statement Saturday afternoon: “The Chicago Bears offer their deepest condolences on the passing of former linebacker John Thierry. Our thoughts and prayers go out to John and his family.”

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North Carolina A&T Aggies Release 2018 Baseball Schedule

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- North Carolina A&T will spend a lot of time at historic War Memorial Stadium during the 2018 baseball season. Aggies baseball, who staged one of the biggest turnarounds in the country last season, improving by 15 games from the 2016 season, released their 2018 schedule on Friday.

The 52-game schedule features 32 home contests. It also features three opponents from the Big South and two opponents apiece from the ACC, Patriot League and Atlantic-10 conferences, as well as teams from the SEC, Southern Conference, SWAC, Sun Belt and Atlantic Sun.



2018 NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE BASEBALL SCHEDULE

“The opportunity to play 32 home games at War Memorial Stadium in front of our fans is an awesome opportunity,” said N.C. A&T coach Ben Hall, the reigning coach of the year in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. “We are excited with the challenges it presents with five NCAA regional teams from 2017 and a two-time national championship program. We are continually working to put our guys in situations that will prepare them for a very challenging MEAC Southern Division schedule and beyond.”

N.C. A&T opens the 2018 schedule on Friday, Feb. 16 with a three-game homestand versus MEAC member Coppin State that will not count toward the league standings. This marks the sixth time out of seven years that the Aggies have started the season at War Memorial Stadium.

Two days after their battle with the Eagles, the Aggies tangle with North Carolina State in their first road game on Tuesday, Feb. 20 in Raleigh. Last season, the Wolfpack advanced to its third consecutive NCAA tournament and made its 16th appearance in the last 21 seasons. The teams last played in 2016 with N.C. State winning both games.

A day later High Point makes their way to WMS for the first of two meetings between the two Triad universities. The two teams will also face each other on April 25 in High Point. After the home contest with the Panthers, N.C. A&T will host Lehigh of the Patriot League for three games including a twin bill slated for Saturday, Feb. 24. The month of February concludes with back-to-back non-conference matchups against Davidson on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at home and a road game against USC Upstate on Wednesday, Feb. 28 in Spartanburg, S.C. USC Upstate will return the home game with the Aggies on March 27 in a 6 p.m., contest at WMS.

Another Patriot league foe is slated to visit the Gate City as Bucknell will be the Aggies fifth different opponent at WMS to start March in a weekend series on Friday, March 2-4. Last season, Bucknell (21-28) made an appearance in the Patriot League championship series. N.C. A&T heads back to South Carolina for a midweek matchup with the SEC’s Gamecocks who were 35-25 last season, advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament.

MEAC play begins on Saturday, March 10 as the Aggies host rival North Carolina Central in a doubleheader followed by a single game on Sunday, March 11. The Aggies finished 15-9 in the MEAC last season, tying the school record for MEAC wins.

Next, N.C. A&T travels to their second ACC opponent when they face the North Carolina Tar Heels on Tuesday, March 13. UNC was the No. 2 national seed and won 49 games in 2017. Presbyterian comes to WMS a day later before a weekend-series with the A-10’s St. Bonaventure, March 16-18. The Bonnies went 26-22 and head coach Larry Sudbrook was honored as coach of the year in the A-10. An evening neutral site meeting with crosstown rival UNC Greensboro at First National Bank Field takes place on March 21.

Conference play resumes with a road trip against reigning MEAC tournament champion Bethune-Cookman (March 24-25) in Daytona Beach, Fla. The month of March wraps up with a trip to Savannah State for a weekend series beginning with a doubleheader on March 30.

Four home games will occur for the Aggies from April 7-11 as Florida A&M comes in for a weekend conference series before in-state non-conference rival Appalachian State visits on April 11. The Aggies will return the home game on May 2 when they go to Boone, N.C., for a midweek contest.

A short-distance trip to NCCU (April 14-15) in Durham will be followed by a three-game non-conference matchup against SWAC opponent Alabama A&M on April 20-22 at WMS. The Aggies host Bethune-Cookman and Savannah State in consecutive weekends (April 28-29 and May 5-6) to conclude their home slate. N.C. A&T closes the regular season with a three-game set at FAMU, May 11-12.

The 2018 MEAC Baseball Championship Tournament is set for May 16-19 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Aggies are looking for their first title in 13 years. The Aggies return 24 players who saw action from a 2017 squad that went 28-25, had five players voted either first or second-team All-MEAC and had a player, Cutter Dyals, selected in the MLB Draft.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCAA: Prairie View A&M men’s basketball coach failed to promote compliance

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Prairie View A&M and members of its men’s basketball staff violated extra benefit, financial aid, head coach responsibility and ethical conduct rules, according to a Division I Committee on Infractions panel.

This case was resolved through the summary disposition process, a cooperative effort in which the involved parties collectively submit the case to the Committee on Infractions in written form. The NCAA enforcement staff, university and participating parties must agree to the facts and overall level of the case to use this process instead of a formal hearing.

Penalties include two years of probation, a financial penalty, recruiting restrictions and a vacation of records. The panel also prescribed a show-cause order for the head coach, which includes a one-game suspension and a two-year show-cause order for the former assistant coach. Should the former assistant coach be employed by another NCAA school during this time, his athletics duties may be restricted.

The violations centered on an arrangement made by a former assistant coach for a friend to pay the cost of a course a student-athlete needed to take at a two-year college to maintain his eligibility. The former assistant coach engaged in unethical conduct due to involvement in this arrangement.

Additionally, even though the head coach knew the former assistant coach was locating and arranging a course for the student-athlete, he did not properly oversee these efforts. Further, the head coach later learned that a third party had paid for the course, yet he did not report this information, even though the university was investigating the matter. Because of this, the head coach did not promote an atmosphere of compliance and monitor his staff, thus failing to meet his responsibility as a head coach.

The violations occurred after the implementation of the current penalty structure, so the panel used the current Division I infractions penalty guidelines approved by the membership in 2013 and adjusted by the membership in 2017.

Download the Nov. 2017 Prairie View A&M Public Infractions Decision 

Penalties include the following:

• Public reprimand and censure for the university.
• Two years of probation from Nov. 21, 2017, through Nov. 20, 2019.
• A $5,000 fine.
• Suspension of the head coach from all coaching duties for one contest during the 2017-18 season. As part of the show-cause order, the coach must also attend NCAA Regional Rules Seminars in 2018 and 2019.
• A two-year show-cause order for the former assistant coach from Nov. 21, 2017 to Nov. 20, 2019.
• A vacation of records for the seven games the student-athlete participated in while ineligible between Dec. 20, 2016 and Jan. 16, 2017.
• The university will limit official visits in men’ basketball to 10 over the next two years (self-imposed by the university).
• A three-day delay in the start of practice for the men’s basketball team from the official start date for the 2017-18 season (self-imposed by the university).

Members of the Committee on Infractions are drawn from NCAA membership and members of the public. The members of the panel who reviewed this case are Norman C. Bay, attorney in private practice; Alberto Gonzales, dean of the law school at Belmont and former attorney general of the United States; Stephen A. Madva, retired attorney; Vince Nicastro, deputy commissioner and chief operating officer for the Big East Conference; Joe Novak, former head football coach at Northern Illinois; David M. Roberts, chief hearing officer for the panel and special advisor to the president at Southern California; and Sankar Suryanarayan, university counsel, Princeton.

COURTESY: NCAA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS 

Alcorn looks to solve season long penalty issues

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State’s colors are the time worn purple and gold. This year, however, yellow has seemed to become one of the primary colors. Alcorn State is the most penalized of the 123 teams in the Football Championship Subdivision. It has been flagged 129 times for 1,246 yards, 12 penalties and more than 100 yards more than runner-up North Carolina Central.

By comparison, Furman is the least penalized team in the FCS with 36.



It hasn’t crippled the Braves. They still have a 7-4 record and won the SWAC’s East Division championship for the fourth year in a row. It is clearly a source of frustration for head coach Fred McNair, however.

“It’s about guys not doing the things that they’re supposed to. We should never be seeing this many chop blocks. We have two weeks to fix it and we will,” McNair said after Alcorn was penalized nine times for 111 yards in a 7-3 loss to Jackson State last week.

Alcorn has had at least 100 yards worth of penalties in six of its 11 games this season — including each of the past three — and at least seven penalties in every game. In the last three games alone it has been penalized 42 times for 443 yards.

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2017 Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands -- Southern vs. Grambling

2017 Celebration Bowl tickets on sale now

ATLANTA, Georgia – With the college football postseason fast approaching, tickets are now on sale for the third annual Celebration Bowl. As the Bowl season’s opening game, the Celebration Bowl is a championship-style game between the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champions. The game will be broadcast live on ABC at noon ET on Saturday, Dec. 16, from the brand-new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. SportsCenter on the Road will once again air live from the Stadium beginning at 10 a.m.

Establishing itself as a premier bowl game, the Celebration Bowl celebrates the heritage, legacy, pageantry, and tradition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. ESPN works with 100 Black Men of Atlanta to organize the game’s ancillary events which include a youth symposium, robotics showcase, fan experience and more. Each conference has claimed a victory in the event’s first two years, with MEAC Champion North Carolina A&T defeating Alcorn State 2015 and SWAC Champion Grambling State beating North Carolina Central in 2016. Two bowl champions were selected in the 2017 NFL Draft: 2015 Offensive MVP Tarik Cohen (Chicago Bears) and 2016 First Team All-SWAC member Chad Williams (Arizona Cardinals).



Fans can purchase tickets to the Celebration Bowl online at thecelebrationbowl.com or ticketmaster.com, or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. Prices range from $50 to $175. A full list of events surrounding the game are available on the event’s website.

For more information, visit www.TheCelebrationBowl.com, and follow the event on Twitter and Facebook.

About ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of 31 collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; FCS opening-weekend game; 14 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 300-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 700,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boca Raton, Boise, Dallas-Fort Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Montgomery and St. Petersburg, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.



SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Prairie View A&M Panthers Beat Georgia State, Win MGM Main Events Tournament Middleweight Bracket

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Prairie View A&M men's basketball won the 'Battle Of The Panthers', defeating Georgia State 71-56 in the Middleweight Bracket final of the MGM Resorts Main Events Tournament at T-Mobile Arena.

Gary Blackston posted his first double-double with game highs of 21

points and 10 rebounds along with four assists. Zachary Hamilton scored 17 points and added three assists, and Dennis Jones continued his solid play off the bench with 13 points.

Prairie View A&M shot 47 percent from the field (20-43), including a blistering 50 percent from three-point range (11-22) and 91 percent from the free throw line (20-22).

"I'm really proud of our young men," PVAMU head coach Byron Smith. "I'm happy for our administration who work so hard to give us everything we need to be successful. Georgia State has established itself as one of the top mid-major programs in the country. That is our goal here at Prairie View A&M, and today's win has us headed in that direction."

There were six lead changes in the first five+ minutes of the game before Prairie View A&M (2-3) took the lead for good on a three pointer by Jones at 13-11 with just under 14 minutes to play in the first half. After Georgia State (3-2) of the Sun Belt Conference tied the score for the final time at 13-13, a three-pointer by Blackston gave PVAMU a 16-13 lead with 12:30 to play in the first half.

The three-pointer sparked a 21-5 run over the next seven minutes, as Blackston's third three of the half provided a bookend to the run and gave Prairie View A&M a 34-18 lead with 5:29 to play in the first half.

Leading 40-27 at intermission, the lead dwindled to four points as Prairie View A&M did not make a field goal for nearly the first 10 minutes of the second half. Shay'rone Jett made a pair of layups sandwiched around a GSU basket, with the second Jett layup at the 9:15 mark sparking a 10-2 run. A pair of free throws by Jones gave PVAMU a 14-point lead at 57-43 with 6:19 to play. PVAMU never lead by less than nine points the remainder of the game.

J.D. Wallace added eight points, five rebounds, and one blocked shot. Jett added seven points, four rebounds and two blocks off the bench as PVAMU held a 14-5 advantage in second-chance points and a 23-8 advantage in bench scoring.

The Panthers limited Georgia State to 37 percent field goal shooting, including only of four of 20 from three-point range.

"We are and always will be a defense-first program," Smith said as his purple and gold-clad Panthers outrebounded Georgia State 37-25. "We really guarded well today because at times we had trouble scoring because Georgia State is very similar to us in terms of style of play."

Prairie View A&M returns to action Friday at UC-Santa Barbara. The game, scheduled for tipoff at 9 p.m. CT, can be viewed via pvpanthers.com.

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Prairie View A&M Football To End Regular Season Against Rival Texas Southern in Labor Day Classic on Saturday

HOUSTON, Texas -- Prairie View A&M football ends the 2017 season in a Saturday night showdown against Texas Southern in the 33rd Labor Day Classic at 6 p.m. at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The PVAMU Sports Network radio broadcast begins at 5:30 p.m. online at pvpanthers.com/sportsnetwork with interviews with PVAMU QB Neiko Hollins and HC Willie Simmons ahead of kickoff. The game will also be televised on ATT SportsNet.

A win by the Panthers (5-5 overall, 3-3 in SWAC) would give the football program its third straight winning season, a feat only accomplished once since 1968 (four straight winning seasons from 2007-10). It would also give PVAMU a winning record in SWAC play, which would be the ninth non-losing season in conference play in the last 11 seasons.



"You seem a team that's playing its best football at this time of year," said Simmons of Texas Southern, which has won two of its last three games following an 0-7 start. "They are playing with confidence. They went on the road and won a tough road game at UAPB (24-10 last week). I expect a hard fought football game. A Mike Haywood coached football team is one that is going to be well coached, is going to be disciplined and going to play hard. They are going to make us execute."

Prairie View A&M has won two straight and three of its last four contests. Since the October 21 bye week, the Panthers have posted home wins over Bacone (34-17) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (35-12), with the victories sandwiched around the lone loss in that stretch at Southern (37-31). PVAMU is coming off a 42-28 road win last Thursday night at Incarnate Word.

In five starts under Hollins, the offense has averaged 32.6 points and 461 yards per game, with four 400+ yard games, which includes 515 total yards at Incarnate Word and 610 yards against UAPB in the last two weeks. Hollins earned SWAC Player and Newcomer of the Week honors after passing for 348 yards and a career-high tying four touchdowns. WRs Khadarel Hodge, who leads the SWAC with 12 touchdowns, and Darius Floyd, who is second in the nation in kickoff returns, each caught a pair of touchdown passes last week. Floyd had career-best 268 all-purpose yards to earn his second SWAC Specialist of the Week honor.



In those last four games, the defense has forced seven turnovers, five of them interceptions. DB Ju'Anthony Parker, who is tied for the SWAC lead in both interceptions (four) and interception returns for touchdowns (two), has two of the five picks for the defense. LB Jalyn Williams continues to rank second in the nation in tackles for loss with 19.5 and has at least one TFL in nine straight games.

The Tigers have posted road wins at Miss. Valley St. (38-21) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (24-10), sandwiched around a home loss to Southern (33-7). TSU has turned a heavy focus on running the football, rushing the football on more than 87 percent of its plays (152 of 173) in the last three weeks.



"You can throw records, you can throw everything else out the window when it comes to rival games," Simmons said. "We saw that last week with Alcorn and Jackson State (A 7-3 JSU win over SWAC East Champion Alcorn)…Whenever there's a rivalry, given our proximity being 45 minutes from each other and being the two premier HBCUs in the state of Texas, we understand how huge this game is. There's a lot riding on it for both teams, for both coaching staffs, for both administrations, the student body, the alumni bases. For 365 days, there are bragging rights."

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Texas Southern Lady Tigers Downs New Mexico State Aggies

EL PASO, Texas – The New Mexico State women's basketball team traveled to take on Texas Southern in the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic at the Don Haskins Center on Friday afternoon. The Aggies fell to the Lady Tigers 66-50 to open the tournament.

NM State (2-3) began the contest with an 8-0 run in the first quarter. The Aggies lead dwindled late when TSU (1-3) scored eight–straight to tie the game at 14-14. Monique Mills hit a three-pointer with less than a minute remaining in the opening period, putting NM State ahead 17-14 at the break.

New Mexico State fell behind early as the Lady Tigers went on a five-point run to start the second quarter. Mills ended the Texas Southern rally by nailing a three-pointer and converting her free-throw on the play. The back-and-forth action continued but NM State maintained a single-point advantage as the team went to the locker room leading 25-24.

The Aggies started the second half on a seven-point run with Gia Pack hitting back-to-back jumpers and Brooke Salas nailing a shot from behind the arc. The Lady Tigers did not go away quietly as the team closed the gap back to a pair of points with 4:58 left in the period. NM State surged back with a Salas scoring 10-straight points for the Aggies and at the end of the third quarter, the New Mexico State squad held the 46-34 edge.

In the fourth quarter, NM State collapsed as TSU posted a 13-2 run to bring the Aggies advantage to a single point. A three-pointer by the Lady Tigers put New Mexico State behind 50-48 late in the game but a steal and layup by Salas tied the contest with 3:18 remaining. The layup proved to be the final basket the Aggies converted and Texas Southern ended the game on a 16-0 run, handing NM State the 66-50 loss.

New Mexico State was led on offensively by Salas, who posted 23 points for the Aggies. Pack recorded her second double-double of the season when she tallied 10 rebounds and 10 points. Mills was the third player from NM State to post double-figures in points with 11 total points in the game.

The Aggies continue play at the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic by facing Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 12 p.m. (MT).

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Sharpshooting UMES Hawks Fly By Jackson State Tigers in Emerald Coast Classic

NICEVILLE, Florida -- Behind hot shooting and an early second half surge, Maryland Eastern Shore men’s basketball established control, holding off a late Jackson State run to win 66-63 on Friday at The Arena at Northwest Florida State College.

The Hawks (2-3) now move onto the fifth-place game in the Emerald Coast Classic tomorrow, where they will meet Tennessee Tech. The Golden Eagles knocked off Omaha 86-85 earlier in the day. The teams will tip at 1:30 p.m. EST.

“I was very proud of the fight our guys gave,” said Hawks head coach Bobby Collins after the win. “That’s a very talented basketball team we played, but today the ball just fell our way, and I thought we were very deserving of that.”

Down 45-43 with 15:15 to play, The Shore evened things up behind an Ahmad Frost (Cincinnati, Ohio) layup. Frost was fouled on the play and missed the free throw but tipped out his own rebound to teammate Logan McIntosh (Atlanta, Georgia), who drove in and drew his own foul before hitting a pair of shots to put his team up 47-45 at the 14:47 mark.

After a LeAndre Thomas (St. Petersburg, Florida) block on the defensive end, Cameron Bacote (Norfolk, Virginia) pushed it in transition and found an open Tyler Jones (Atlantic City, New Jersey) for a layup. Bacote then ripped down a board at the other end and again found Jones, who drained a three from straightaway to make it 52-45 with 13:41 to play, capping a 9-0 run over just over a minute.

The Hawks kept the Tigers (1-4) at an arm’s length for most of the rest of the second half. Colen Gaynor’s (Berlin, Maryland) three at the 8:48 mark made it 57-49 and capped a spectacular day for Gaynor. The freshman led the Hawks with a career-high 15 points on a perfect 5-for-5 from long range.

“I was proud to see Colen shoot the ball as well as he shot the ball,” said Collins of his local standout’s career game. “He was really in the dumps earlier, I’ve been riding him pretty hard, but he really stepped up and did some things today.”

Eastern Shore led by as many as nine with five minutes to go, but Jackson State hung around thanks to several missed Hawk free throws down the stretch. Chace Franklin’s layup with 37 seconds to go got the Tigers within one possession at 64-61, and a botched inbound play gave possession right back to JSU. Franklin immediately took a deep three from the wing that hit nothing but air. Jeremiah Jefferson got the offensive rebound and scrambled for the left corner, but his three clanged off the bottom of the iron and into Jones’ hands. Jones hit 1-of-2 ensuing free throws to make it a two-possession game and then hit another after a JSU miss with two seconds left. Jackson State hit a shot at the buzzer to give the game its final margin.

Jones recorded his first career double-double on the afternoon, scoring 13 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. McIntosh played 37 minutes in his return to the lineup after a back injury, contributing 10 points, three boards, three assists, and two steals, in addition to a calming hand in the backcourt.

“It was great having Logan McIntosh back to give us some stability,” said Collins. “He broke the defense down and was finding the right guys all day. He does a lot for us.”

Eastern Shore fell behind by as many as nine in the first half, trailing 29-20 with 5:44 to play. A Jones three within that minute started the comeback, then Gaynor hit back-to-back treys from the left corner to make it 31-29. JSU responded with a Maurice Rivers three-point play, but Gaynor’s hot hand again connected to make it 34-32 with 3:23 before the break. Down 37-32 inside of two minutes to go, Bacote spotted up from deep on the right wing for three, and McIntosh went up for a rebound and bobbed through the defense for a coast-to-coast layup, tying things at 37-37 and giving the Hawks all the momentum going into the locker room.

Jefferson led the Tigers with 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting, while Franklin added 18 of his own.

The Hawks lit up the scoreboard all afternoon, shooting 50 percent (19-for-38) from the floor and hitting 11-of-18 from downtown, including 9-of-12 threes in the first half.

Eastern Shore wraps up play in the Emerald Coast Classic on Saturday afternoon against Tennessee Tech. Tip from The Arena at Northwest Florida State College is set for 1:30 p.m. EST. Saturday’s game will be broadcast locally on flagship radio station Fox Sports 960 AM WTGM and online at EasternShoreHawks.com. Pregame coverage starts at 1:15 p.m. with Will DeBoer on the call for The Shore Sports Network.

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Clemson beats Texas Southern 84-77

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CLEMSON, South Carolina — Elijah Thomas reached career-highs with 26 points and 16 rebounds to lead Clemson to an 84-77 victory over Texas Southern on Friday.  Thomas, who recorded his second double-double of the year, made 10 of 11 field goals, the most of the junior center's career.
Senior Clemson guard Gabe DeVoe scored 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting and made all five of his 3-pointers, all career-highs.

"Both of those guys had subpar games (last game) against Temple and felt awful about it," Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. "Just didn't play very well. Those guys in a lot of ways won the game for us today."

Donte Grantham and Shelton Mitchell added 10 points each for the home team.  The ACC Tigers enjoyed a nice afternoon of shooting as they hit a season-high 61 percent from the field and connected on seven 3-pointers.

"This was a good win for our team. Texas Southern is talented," Brownell said. "They're hard to guard. We knew that coming in. We held them to 40 percent shooting. They play four guards and a 7-footer. They can all make 3s and they can drive right by you."

Demontrae Jefferson led Texas Southern with 22 points on 7-of-18 field goals. Kevin Scott added 14 points while Derrick Bruce chipped in with 12 points.

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Boyd leads Grambling Lady Tigers past McNeese Cowgirls

LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana | Jazmin Boyd led three Grambling State University women's basketball players in double figures with 18 points as the Lady Tigers used a big first-half run in a 75-60 victory over McNeese on Wednesday afternoon in Burton Coliseum.
 
Grambling State (2-3) trailed 13-5 early in the first quarter, but used a 14-2 run over the final five minutes to grab a 19-15 lead. The Cowgirls (2-2) cut the margin to two a few times, but could not get past the Lady Tigers.
 
Boyd finished with 18 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, five assists and four rebounds. Monisha Neal and Deja McKinney each added 17 points, as both players sank three 3-pointers. Neal and Takerra Parsons led the way on the glass with eight boards. Shakyla Hill added nine points, a team-high six assists, six rebounds, two steals and one block.
 
Keara Hudall paced McNeese with 21 points, on 9-of-23 shooting, and four rebounds. Caitlin Davis tallied 17 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals.
 
Turning Point
McNeese raced out to a 13-5 advantage after a Caitlin Davis free throw with 5:21 left in the opening quarter, but Grambling State rallied and closed the first quarter strong as the Lady Tigers used a 14-2 run over the final five minutes to grab a 19-15 lead.
 
The Cowgirls cut the deficit to 26-24 after a 3-pointer by Gabby Guidry with 4:32 left, but again the Lady Tigers answered and pushed the margin to 33-26 after a Deja McKinney 3-pointer with 1:42 remaining in the first half.
 
McNeese trimmed the margin to 33-31 after a Keara Hudnall 3-pointer, but Grambling State got a layup by Shakyla Hill at the buzzer to take a 35-31 advantage into the break.
 
The Lady Tigers came out of the break and used an 11-4 run, capped by a McKinney layup, to extend the Grambling State lead to 44-36 with 6:15 left in the third.
 
Grambling State dominated the third quarter and outscored McNeese, 24-12, to take a 60-43 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The Lady Tigers pushed the margin to 67-45 after a Boyd layup with 8:02 left and the Cowgirls could never recover as Grambling State picked up its second win of the season.
 
Inside the Numbers
· Grambling State shot 43.1 percent (28-of-65) from the field and 75 percent (10-of-25) from the free-throw line.
· The Lady Tigers sank 10 3-pointers and shot 40 percent from behind the arc.
· McNeese was 20-of-52 shooting (38.5 percent) from the floor and 60 percent (15-of-25) from the charity stripe.
· The Lady Tigers registered 44 rebounds, including 25 off the defensive glass.
· The Cowgirls tallied 31 rebounds, with 12 of those coming on the offensive end.
· Grambling State finished with 39 bench points, 32 points in the paint, 23 points off 16 Cowgirl turnovers and 19 second-chance points.
· McNeese registered 20 points in the paint, 20 points off 20 Grambling State turnovers, nine second-chance points and eight bench points.
· There were no ties and just one lead change.
 
News and Notes
· Grambling State got back into the win column after back-to-back losses to Xavier and Florida State.
· The Lady Tigers will take seven days off before playing host to Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 30
· The Southeastern Louisiana game will be the final home game for the Lady Tigers in 2017.
· With the win, Grambling State improved to 6-2 all-time against McNeese.

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Up Next
Grambling State returns to action on Thursday, Nov. 30 against Southeastern Louisiana. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at the Fredrick C. Hodby Assembly Center.
 
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Bayou Classic gameday: Turnovers could play a big role — again — in deciding the Bayou Classic

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- In last year’s Bayou Classic, Grambling did to Southern what Southern had been doing to other teams all season — it capitalized on just about every Southern mistake.

The Jaguars led all Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams with 32 forced turnovers last season, but in the 2016 Bayou Classic it was Grambling that made those turnovers count.

A promising 12-play, 88-yard Southern drive ended in the first quarter when Austin Howard fumbled at the 1-yard line. On the Jaguars’ next drive, a Howard interception turned into a short field and a Grambling touchdown.



“If you look at the turning point in the game a year ago, it was turnovers,” said Southern coach Dawson Odums.

Southern is hoping to flip the script in this year’s edition of the game.

Entering Saturday, Grambling is leading the Southwestern Athletic Conference and is ranked second among FCS teams in turnover margin (+19). The Tigers’ 26 turnovers forced rank No. 6 nationally.

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