Hampton job has Maynor ‘excited,’ Division I challenge awaits Pirates coach

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HAMPTON, Virginia  -- Connell Maynor is stepping up to Division I competition at  Hampton University.

Maynor, who left Division II Winston-Salem State last week, led the Rams for the past four years., with three CIAA championships, three NCAA Division II playoff appearances and a national runner-up title under his tenure. He replaces Donovan Rose.

Maynor, who also interviewed for the N.C. Central opening, led WSSU to a 45-6 overall record and 29-2 in the CIAA. The program had gone 1-10 the season prior to his arrival, but was in the process of return to Division II after a failed attempt at Division I reclassification.

“I am very excited about having a ...

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ASU's Jackson, Seahawks Seek No. 1 NFC Seed - NFL Report

Tarvaris Jackson is one of four former Alabama State football standouts on NFL rosters.

SEATTLE, Washington  -- Former Alabama State star Tarvaris Jackson and the Seattle Seahawks will seek the top seed in the NFC in the final regular season game this Sunday at home against St. Louis.

Jackson, in his eighth NFL season, has played in three games this season as the No. 2 quarterback to starter Russell Wilson. Jackson has completed 10 of 13 passes for 151 yards and one touchdown for the 12-3 Seahawks, who need a win to clinch the NFC West title, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Another former Hornet QB, Greg Jenkins, is playing wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders and is the team's primary returner on punts and kickoffs. Jenkins, who began the season on the practice squad and was promoted to the 53-man roster in mid-November, is averaging 9.6 yards on five punt returns, and just over 22 yards on 10 kickoff returns. Jenkins scored his first career NFL touchdown on a fumble return on the opening play of the game against Dallas on Thanksgiving Day. The Raiders finish the season at home Sunday against Denver.

Former ASU standouts Terren Jones and Saeed Lee will complete the regular season with the Atlanta Falcons at home Sunday against Carolina. Jones was promoted from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster in late November and the offensive lineman is awaiting his first action in a regular season game. Lee has been on injured reserve with the Falcons throughout the 2013 season.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Fisk Jubilee Singers at Duke University

DURHAM, North Carolina -- In October 2013, Duke Performances brought the Fisk Jubilee Singers® to Duke and Durham for a four-day residency to share the tradition of Negro spirituals. Dr. Paul T. Kwami, musical director of the Jubilee Singers, worked with over 500 singers from the Durham School of the Arts and Duke University.

Seventy-five choral students from Durham School of the Arts performed with the Jubilee Singers at the culminating sold-out concert at Duke's Baldwin Auditorium. Dr. Kwami also participated in a panel discussion on the history and influence of the Jubilee Singers at Duke's Forum for Scholars and Publics, with Professor Maurice Jackson, and Rev. Dr. Luke Powery, dean of Duke Chapel.

COURTESY FISK UNIVERSITY & DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

A&M's Robert Mathis breaks Colts' franchise sack record

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Robert Mathis hasn't done too bad for fifth-round draft choice.

Sunday, the 32-year-old linebacker and Alabama A&M product broke the Indianapolis Colts' franchise sack with a stop of Houston Texans' quarterback Case Keenum in the third quarter of his team's 25-3 win.

It gave him an NFL-best 16.5 sacks on the season, also a team record, and 108 on his career to pass the previous mark set by former teammate Dwight Freeney.

He forced a fumble on the play which was recovered by one of his teammates for a safety as the first-place Indianapolis improved to 9-5 heading into a big match up against Kansas City next week.

Click here to watch the record-setting play. 

Mathis, an 11-year veteran, has 49 tackles and six forced fumbles on the season.

"I enjoyed it to the utmost," Mathis told Colts.com, "Never take it for granted because it is such an accomplishment. I'm just happy to have it."



COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATION

Fisk Jubilee Singers Alumni Association

"He's The Messiah" - Morgan State University Choir

Merry Christmas from the Franklins - Morehouse College

Bluefield State College Blues Accepted as Full Member to Eastern College Athletic Conference

CENTERVILLE, Massachusetts -- Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Commissioner Dr. Kevin T. McGinnis announced on Dec. 12, 2013 that Bluefield State College has been granted membership by the ECAC Board of Directors. Bluefield State College is eligible for all ECAC Championships, awards, officiating services and other benefits effective immediately.

With the addition of Bluefield State, the ECAC is now comprised of 306 member institutions competing in NCAA Divisions I, II and III.

The ECAC provides the opportunity for a championship experience by conducting high-level tournaments and events. The conference enhances the student-athlete experience by professionally administering nearly 100 preseason and postseason events in 37 men's and women's sports for over 120,000 student-athletes each year. The ECAC also publicizes the achievements of its member institutions' student-athletes through its weekly and postseason awards program, recognizing more than 2,500 student-athletes annually.

The ECAC also conducts the weekly Lambert Meadowlands Football Poll and distributes other information highlighting accomplishments and contributions of member institutions' student-athletes, coaches, and administrators.

"Bluefield State College looks forward to competing as a full member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference" said Bluefield State College President Dr. Marsha V. Krotseng. "I'm very impressed with the Conference and its leadership. The ECAC has a proud 75-year history and is an excellent fit for BSC's athletic prdgram and our student athletes."

"BSC Athletic Director Terry Brown affirmed, "The Bluefield State College Athletic Department is extremely honored to be accepted into the ECAC NCAA Division II Athletic Conference. The ECAC philosophy mirrors BSC's commitment to the student athlete's welfare. ECAC, like BSC, has a major overall emphasis on positive student athlete experience that includes: graduation, student athlete individual recognition, team recognition, post season play, and post season championship."

Bluefield State competes in NCAA Division II, and the ECAC will assist with the College's national letters of intent, coaching certification and other services. The Blues will be able to qualify for ECAC championship play and earn awards in each of its sport offerings -- men 's and women's cross country, men's and women 's tennis, women's volleyball, men's and women 's basketball, men's golf, baseball, and softball.

"Bluefield State College is a welcome addition to the ECAC," said McGinnis. "We look forward to providing service to their administration, coaches, and student-athletes. The addition of Bluefield State College strengthens our NCAA Division II membership while expanding our footprint in the state of West Virginia."

About the ECAC
The ECAC is the nation's largest athletic and the only multi-divisional conference in the country with more than 300 Divisions I, II, and III colleges and universities. The ECAC stretches from Maine to North Carolina and westerly to Colorado. Established in 1938, the ECAC, a non-profit service organization, sponsors nearly 100 championships in 37 men's and women's sports and assigns more than 4,400 officials in 12 sports. The ECAC also administers nine affiliate sports organizations and six playing leagues, and through the public relations arm of the conference, more than 2,500 student-athletes in 23 sports are recognized annually. Finally, the ECAC serves as the primary conference for select members in the sports of men's and women's ice hockey and men's lacrosse.

COURTESY BLUEFIELD STATE COLLEGE SPORTS ADMINISTRATION

Morgan State University first snow 2013

Happy Holidays All, From Howard University!!!

JUCO Transfer QB Billerman Signs with NCCU Football As Coach Mack's First Recruit

QUINN BILLERMAN, QUARTERBACK
6'-3" 215 lbs.
NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE
(Courtesy NCCU Eagles Athletics)

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- New North Carolina Central University head football coach Jerry Mack wasted little time securing his first recruit.

Mack was announced as the Eagles' gridiron leader on Thursday (Dec. 19). On Monday (Dec. 23), former Ravenscroft High School quarterback and New Mexico Military Institute transfer Quinn Billerman signed a national letter of intent to attend NCCU.  Family and friends gathered at Ravenscroft in Raleigh, N.C., to witness the signing.

"Quinn is the type of quarterback that can dissect the defense, make all the throws and is intelligent," said Mack. "He ran a similar style of offense at NMMI, so the transition should be an easy one for Quinn as he comes into our system."

In three seasons at Ravenscroft, Billerman became the Ravens' all-time leading passer with 6,152 yards and 62 touchdown passes from 2009-11. He capped his scholastic career by being named to the 2011 NCISAA Football Division I All-State Team.
Billerman is coming off a record-breaking sophomore season at New Mexico Military Institute. He set new single-season standards with 2,962 passing yards and 34 passing touchdowns in 2013. The 6-3, 215-pound signal caller completed 176-of-335 passes (52.5%), averaged 246.8 passing yards per game and led the Broncos to an 8-4 overall record.

During his record-breaking campaign, Billerman threw for a season-high 494 yards and six touchdowns versus Scottsdale Community College on Oct. 5, completing a season-best 23 passes on 39 attempts. In the final game of the 2013 season, he was named Offensive MVP of the El Toro Bowl by completing 21 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Arizona Western on Dec. 7.

As a freshman at NMMI, Billerman passed for 1,938 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 176.2 passing yards per contest during the team's 6-5 season.

"We're really excited to add a young man of such high character, solid academics and extraordinary physical ability," Mack said. "We're excited about Quinn being our first signee in this new era of NCCU football."

Billerman is expected to enroll for the spring semester at NCCU starting in early January.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU's Fitzpatrick Named AFCA FCS Coaches' All-American

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- Tennessee State football player Daniel Fitzpatrick was named to the 2013 AFCA Football Championship Subdivision Coaches’ All-America Team announced today by the American Football Coaches Association. 

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.

 

Fitzpatrick made the squad following a season in which he picked off six passes during the regular season and added two more in the team's first round FCS Playoff victory over Butler. The eight total interceptions currently leads all Division I players (FBS or FCS). Of those eight interceptions the junior returned three for touchdowns, scoring a 50-yarder against Jackson State in the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis, returning what proved to be the game-winner 20 yards at UT Martin and a 26-yarder at Butler.

He added a season-high nine tackles twice during the season, in a victory at nationally-ranked Jacksonville State and against nationally-ranked Eastern Illinois in the playoffs.

Fitzpatrick anchored a secondary that ranked third nationally in total passes intercepted (21) and a defense that was sixth nationally in total defense (296.9 yards/game) and seventh in scoring defense (18.1 points/game).

The strong safety finished the year with 75 tackles (52 solo), 5.5 TFL and eight pass breakups, leading TSU to a playoff victory for the first time since 1986.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Morgan State Bears Begin West Coast Swing at Cal-Northridge on Friday Night

Friday, Dec. 27, 2013
Opponent: Cal-Northridge (7-5, 0-0 Big West)
Site: The Matadome, Northridge, Calif.
Game Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Radio: n/a
MSU Coach: Todd Bozeman (131-107 - 8th yr)
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com / www.GoMatadors.com

BALTIMORE, Maryland — Morgan State (3-7) continues the 2013-14 campaign at California-Northridge (7-5) on Friday for the first of a three-game west coast swing. The trip will include matchups with Oregon (Dec. 29) and California-Irvine (Jan. 2). The Bears will enter the contest attempting to build upon its 85-74 non-conference win last week against High Point. Friday night's contest will mark the first basketball meeting between the teams.

SCOUTING THE MATADORS
The Matadors welcomed back six veterans, including five starters, from a squad that posted a 14-17 overall record and went 5-13 in the Big West. Stephen Hicks leads the Matadors by averaging 18.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg and is shooting 56 percent (78-140) from the field.  Stephen Maxwell leads the Matadors on the boards (8.4 rpg) and in blocks and also averages 16.2 ppg. Senior guard Josh Greene is also averaging double figures (13.8 ppg) and leads the team averaging 2.1 assists per contest. Reggie Theus (California Coast '02) enters his first season as Cal-Northridge's head men's basketball coach. Stephan Hicks scored 20 points while Josh Greene added 17 points and Stephen Maxwell collected 15 points to lead CSUN to a 79-69 win Saturday night against the Idaho Vandals. The Matadors collected a season-high 47 rebounds (compared to 33 for the opposition) and posted its fourth win in the last five outings.

MSU'S LAST TIME OUT
Dec. 18, 2013 -- Justin Black scored 23 points to lead five Morgan State players in double figures as the Bears defeated High Point 85-74 on Wednesday night at Hill Field House. The Bears (3-7), led 43-36 at halftime and used a 13-2 run midway through the second half to help extend to their largest lead of 17 points, 72-55, with 9:22 left. The Panthers wouldn't get closer than nine after that.
Black finished the game shooting 8-for-18 from the field and including a game-high six steals to go with three rebounds. Ian Chiles added 18 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. The Bears (3-7) hit 29 of 57 shots for 50.9 percent, outscoring the Panthers 46-18 in the paint. The Bears also collected 11 steals, six by Black, and scored 23 points off 19 High Point turnovers. Anthony Hubbard added 13 points and eight boards, while Blake Bozeman added 12 points and Shaquille Duncan had 10.

BEARS GO 1-2 AT PARADISE JAM
Morgan State particiapted in the 2013 Ezybonds Global Payments U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. The Bears fell to La Salle in the first round of the by a 78-59 margin (11/22), followed by a 75-66 loss against Vanderbilt (11/23). MSU wrapped up the tournament by posting a 74-67 victory against Marist (11/25) to finish in 7th place.

MORGAN STATE TABBED SECOND IN PRESEASON POLL
Morgan State was picked to finish second in the 2013-14 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball preseason poll behind defending regular season champion Norfolk State.

BLACK, CHILES AND HUBBARD EARN PRESEASON HONORS
Morgan State senior Justin Black was selected to the Preseason All-MEAC First Team by the conference head coaches and sports information directors. Redshirt-senior center Ian Chiles was selected to the Second Team and Anthony Hubbard to the Third Team.

BOZEMAN LOOKS FOR ANOTHER 20-WIN SEASON
For three of the last seven seasons, all as head coach, Todd Bozeman has guided teams to at least 20 victories. Bozeman set the Morgan State record for consecutive 20-win campaigns in 2007-08 with a 22-11 record and extended it with a 23-12 campaign in 2008-09, followed by a Division I school record 27-11 record in 2009-10. The previous record was back-to-back 20-win seasons under coach Nathaniel Frazier when he guided the Bears to a 20-8 record in 1972-73, followed by 28-5 in 1973-74.

BLACK MOVING IN ON 1,000 POINTS
Senior guard Justin Black has 982 points for his career and needs just 18 to join the 1,000 points club.

TOUGH IN THE PAINT
Ian Chiles and Cedric Blossom are both shooting better than .500 from the field this year. Thru the first 10 games Chiles is shooting 55.8 pct. (58-104), while front court teammate Blossom is shooting .571 (28-49) from the floor.

CHILES STANDS TALL
Redshirt senior Ian Chiles returns as one of the tallest centers in the state of Maryland. The 7-foot-2 senior averaged 9.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 1.7 bpg last season. The New Jersey native was also one of the most efficient low-post players in the league by shooting 53.5 percent from the field. "Big Slew" used the offseason to improve his strength and conditioning and is expected to be among the most dominant post players in the league. "Slew" is currently averaging 14.1 ppg and 5.9 rpg.

HOMECOMING
Morgan State has three players on the roster from California. Thair Heath and Hassante Manning are both from Los Angeles, while Rasean Simpson is from San Diego.

UP NEXT
After Cal-Northridge, the Bears will face Oregon (Dec. 29), followed by California-Irvine (Jan. 2).



COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Al Lawson joins 43 other FAMU president hopefuls

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- As he promised, former state legislator Al Lawson has applied for the Florida A&M University presidency. He joins a crowded field with 43 others who want the job, including many who applied before the search was suspended in March. And there could be even more by the time the Board of Trustees starts reviewing candidates on Jan. 6.

Here is the field of candidates in alphabetical order. We put an asterisk by those who were listed as candidates in March, meaning the rest applied since the search resumed last month.

The Board of Trustees hopes to select a winner at its Jan. 9 meeting. Meanwhile, alumni continue to campaign in favor of allowing interim President Larry Robinson to stay on the job.

Here is a list of all 44 candidates in alphabetical order:

Tony Atwater: Former president at Norfolk State University. He was fired abruptly by the school's board in August following news of delayed financial audits and academic issues at the nursing school.

Desa Allen Ballard: Attorney and an adjunct professor at University of South Carolina School of Law.

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Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/12/al-lawson-joins-43-other-famu-president-hopefuls.html#storylink=cpy

Alabama State University Selects New President

Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd
(Courtesy Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.)

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- By unanimous consent, the Alabama State University Board of Trustees will extend an offer to Dr. Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd to become the next president of Alabama State University.

During its December 20 meeting, the Alabama State University’s Board of Trustees selected Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd to serve as its new president. Boyd marks the 14th president to serve in the position in the school’s 146-year history. The Board selected Boyd after a nearly year long search process. Boyd will succeed Dr. William H. Harris, interim president and president emeritus.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley presided over the meeting, during which each of the three candidates was interviewed individually for approximately an hour, fielding questions from trustees on issues ranging from experience and leadership style to expansion of the University's academic and athletic programs. Onlookers at the meeting included ASU faculty and staff, student government officials, members of the governor's staff, and a slew of media outlets. The meeting was broadcast live on some television stations.

After a short deliberation, the Board voted unanimously to select Boyd.

The Board recognized that Boyd also was the consensus choice among the University’s student body, as expressed in a letter by SGA President Sharod Campbell. The Board also authorized the Board Chair and Executive Committee to negotiate a contract for presentation to the full Board. Boyd received a standing ovation from the Board and the gallery when she returned to the boardroom after her selection.

“We are proud to have selected an accomplished, capable, nationally recognized leader with the skills and experience to move Alabama State University forward,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Elton Dean. “Dr. Boyd is the embodiment of what is great about ASU. As an ASU graduate, she will serve as a daily reminder to our students that ASU is preparing them to impact the world; as a Montgomery native, she is the representation of what makes Montgomery the Capital of Dreams; and as a leader, she has the vision and drive to lead ASU to Vision 2020 and beyond.”

Governor Bentley agreed, stating that “I think Dr. Boyd will make a great president. She has my full support and I will not interfere unless asked.”

Boyd currently serves as an engineer and executive assistant to the Applied Physics Laboratory chief of staff at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., where she has worked for the past 33 years.

Boyd is a former Miss Alabama State University and an initiate of ASU’s Beta Eta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She earned a B.S. in mathematics from ASU and became the first African-American to earn a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Yale University. She also holds a doctoral degree in ministry from Howard University.

Boyd continues to be a trailblazer, as she is the first female president in ASU’s history.

Her history of leadership is extensive. She served as national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., chaired the Johns Hopkins Diversity Leadership Council, and was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the Barry Goldwater Foundation for Excellence in Education.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Shockers survive scare from North Carolina Central

WICHITA, Kansas  -- North Carolina Central prepared for Wichita State using picks set by pickup trucks with yellow lines and curbs as their boundary markers. Their assistant coaches got a lesson in the importance of carry-on luggage.

No, it wasn’t the ideal way to get ready for the 11th-ranked Shockers.

North Carolina Central didn’t want use its travel issues as an excuse, and it didn’t. It took WSU until the final two minutes to get comfortable in a 77-66 victory Sunday night at Koch Arena. North Carolina Central hadn’t been comfortable since it left Durham, N.C. on Saturday, enduring a day full of flight cancellations and airports before the team broke into three groups and arrived throughout Sunday.



“I’ve never seen anything like it, but to our credit, we don’t even talk about it,” Eagles coach LeVelle Moton said. “In 10 more minutes, I may fall asleep up here.”

In its final game before Christmas break, WSU (12-0) extended its school-record unbeaten streak to start a season. The 12-game win streak is the third-longest in program history. The Shockers led by 17 in the first half, but couldn’t complete the blowout, largely because North Carolina Central’s Jeremy Ingram scored 27 of his career-high 37 points in the second half.

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Alabama State Lady Hornets Rally Back For Win Over SSU

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Behind Quentori Alford's double-double performance of 13 points and 16 rebounds, ASU defeats Savannah State by the final score of 57-52.

Along with Alford, Taila Arrington had ten points and a team high four assist. Nakiya Smith added nine points of her own in the Lady Hornets victory.

"Our ladies fought hard all game," said head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson. "We started off slow tonight, but the girls played really good defense to pull us within three points at the half, the girls showed they had a lot of will power in the second half which helped us fight back and pull off the victory."



The first six minutes of the game Savannah State jumped out to the early five point advantage over the Lady Hornets. SSU would then extend their lead by going on a 7-2 run for a span of three minutes.  Poor shooting would hurt the Lady Hornets as they managed to shoot just 26.9% from the field at the end of the half but, remained much alive in the contest only trailing the Tigers by three heading into the locker rooms (26-23).

Alford led the way for ASU at the half with ten rebounds despite having only four points shooting (0-2) for the field for the half.

"Quentori had a great night, she had to battle against SSU's Tiyonda Davis size, but she had a really good game even though she scared me a little after taking that shot to the nose, she showed toughness by going back into the game and finishing it out." Freeman-Jackson stated.

ASU would come out for the second half energized as they would outscore SSU 7-4 in the first five minutes tying the score at 30 a piece. Both teams would battle back and forth until the 8:29 mark when ASU would take the one point lead (37-36).  After a stretch of ties by both teams in the final minute of play the Lady Hornets Daniele Ewert would capitalize off of a key put back basket with 29.7 seconds to go. ASU would then take the 57-53 victory over SSU after sinking in their final free throws.

The Lady Hornets defense came up big tonight forcing 19 Tiger turnovers limiting their offense to just 17-53 from the field shooting 32.1% for the entire game.

"Our defense played possession basketball in the final two minutes stepping up getting multiple stops which led to tonight's victory." said Freeman-Jackson.

Alabama State will go on break for a short holiday break and will be back in action as they will travel to Georgia Tech, Holiday Tournament in Atlanta, Ga. on Dec.29-30^th.

Box Score

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU's I’mani Davis Selected to Gator Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team

s

I'MANI DAVIS
(COURTESY TSU TIGERS ATHLETICS)

GAINESVILLE, Florida --- Tennessee State Women’s Basketball Freshman I’mani Davis was named to the 2013 Gator Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team on Saturday.

 

Davis, a 6-0 Guard, averaged a double-double of 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during the tournament. She also shot 41.7 percent from three-point range.

 

The Tulsa, Okla. native registered her second double-double of the season after scoring 15 points and hauling in 16 rebounds against LaSalle on Saturday. She also knocked down three triples versus the Explorers.

 

In the game against Florida, she had nine points and four rebounds while shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from long range. 

 

Davis is currently TSU’s third leading scorer and second best rebounder. She is ranked third in the OVC in steals and 10^th in defensive rebounds. 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

All-Louisiana: Kirk on first team, Reuther on second team

(L) MOIRA KIRK AND TAYLOR REUTHER (R)

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Moira Kirk was a first-team selection on the All-Louisiana women's volleyball team announced late Saturday, and teammmate Taylor Reuther made the second team.
    
It's the first time that Kirk — a 5-foot-9 junior middle blocker from Dallas and a graduate of Bishop Lynch High School — was named All-Louisiana. Reuther, a 5-foot-7 junior outside hitter from Metairie, La., and a graduate of St. Mary's Dominican High School, is All-Louisiana for the third tiime. She made the second team in 2011 and the first team a year ago.
    
Kirk produced 311 kills to rank second on her team and led the Gold Nuggets in hitting percentage (.347) and blocks (87) for the third consecutive year. Kirk hit .436 during the Nuggets' school-record 20-match win streak.
    
Reuther led Xavier in kills (395), aces (39), digs (403) and double-doubles (18) for the third consecutive season. She became the first to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in an XU career.
    
It's the first time that Xavier produced two All-Louisiana volleyball players in the same season.
    
Kirk finished third in voting for Player of the Year. XU's Hannah Lawing was the runner-up to Tulane's Sinisa Momic for Coach of the Year. Lawing, in her first season as head coach, led Xavier to a 26-8 record, Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and a berth in the NAIA National Championship. The Gold Nuggets set a school record for season victories and extended their winning streak against GCAC opponents to 43.
    
The GCAC championships and the appearances at the national tournament were Xavier's third in a row. The Gold Nuggets set school records for road victories (17), victories on opponents' courts (9), kills per set (12.6), hitting percentage (.249) and digs per set (15.4). They recorded four victories against NAIA tournament qualifiers and became the first XU team to win all home matches (9-0).
    
A Louisiana Sports Writers Association panel of sports publicists selected the All-Louisiana team, which consists of players from NCAA Division I and NAIA members.

2013 All-Louisiana Women's Volleyball Team

FIRST TEAM
Briana Holman, freshman, LSU
Tea Juric, freshman, Tulane
Moira Kirk, junior, Xavier
Cati Leak, sophomore, LSU
Mel Mandelbaum, senior, Tulane
Cori Martone, senior, Tulane
Libero:  Keelie Arenson, junior, Northwestern State

SECOND TEAM
Stacey Defrancesco, junior, Northwestern State
Ashley Elrod, freshman, Northwestern State
Andrea Hole, junior, Louisiana-Lafayette
Malorie Pardo, junior, LSU
Taylor Reuther, junior, Xavier
Malina Sanchez, sophomore, McNeese State
Libero:  Marcela Araya, junior, Louisiana-Monroe
      
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Briana Holman, LSU
Voting:  Holman 7, Martone 3, Kirk 2

LIBERO OF THE YEAR:  Keelie Arenson, Northwestern State
Voting:  Arenson 6, Araya 4, Grace Weaver (Tulane) 1, Haley Smith (LSU) 1

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR  Celeste Ramirez, New Orleans
Voting:  Ramirez was only nominee

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:  (tie) Briana Holman, LSU; Tea Juric, Tulane
Voting:  Holman 6, Juric 6

COACH OF THE YEAR:  Sinisa Momic, Tulane
Voting:  Momic 8, Hannah Lawing (Xavier) 2, Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman (Northwestern State) 1, Heather Mazeitis-Fontenot (Louisiana-Lafayette) 1

HONORABLE MENTION
Eva Allen, sophomore, Loyola
Kayla Burling, freshman, Nicholls State
Maria Coelho, junior, Louisiana Tech
Desiree Elliott, senior, LSU
Chantelle Gardner, freshman, Louisiana-Lafayette
Kayla Mashburn, freshman, Nicholls State
Caiti O'Connell, junior, Northwestern State
Tonice White, senior, Louisiana-Lafayette


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Florida A&M football inks 13 transfers

HEAD FOOTBALL COACH EARL HOLMES
(COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS)

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- As head coach Earl Holmes and two members of his staff waited for the last couple of signed scholarships to come into Wednesday night, they used the opportunity to review some of the junior college transfers who will come to FAMU in January.

They clearly were high on quarterback Brian Blackburn, who is transferring from the University of Toledo.

“You see a 6-foot-6 quarterback who step back and look over the field and throw the deep ball as well as can run it,” Holmes said. “It’s a great thing.”

That is exactly the way that Holmes, who is beginning his second season as head coach, summed up his first signing class. The day’s signings were limited to transfers from BCS programs and junior colleges.

FAMU also signed quarterback Shazzon Mumphrey from Monroe College. Mumphrey. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, he threw for 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.

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Florida A&M Signs Early Class For Rattler Football 2014

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (12/18/13)  --  Coach Earl Holmes and staff today announced early period signing of junior college, transfers and prep school athletes for the 2014 football season. 

The following recruits represent the early signing class of 2014:

 

Patrick Dalton (6’6", 340 lbs.) Fayetteville, Ga. – OL,  Whitewater High School, Jireh Preparatory School.  Dalton is an impressive addition to the Rattler offensive line.  He was recruited by Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Clemson and Tennessee.  He is considered a behemoth lineman, who could develop into a prototype of a guard.  For his size, he is reported to have quick feet and extremely strong hands.  He has athletic legs and a massive upper body.  His lengthy wingspan is important because when he latches on to a defender, he can render them useless.  Rated #51 on Georgia Top 65 rankings in 2012 by National Underclassmen Football Combine (NUFC).  NUFC 5th ranked OL of 13 on Georgia Top 65 for 2012.

Keir Abrams (5’11", 240 lbs.)  Berkeley, California – FB, Berkeley High School.  Abrams is a solid lead blocker and capable of getting tough yards.  He also has soft hands and is able to make receptions out of the backfield.  He went to Costa Contra College in San Pablo, California. Bench pressed 335 lbs. at age 16.

Shazzon Mumphrey (6’4”, 230 lbs.), Louisville, Kentucky – QB, Waggener Traditional High School, Dakota College at Bottineau.  Mumphrey is an athletic quarterback, who excels in a pro-style offense, who threw for over 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.  He runs a 4.5, 40-yard dash. He is a solid athlete benching 335 lbs., and squatting 475 lbs. Photo Gallery.  Offered by Alabama A&M, Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina Central, and Savannah State. A Dec. 2013 junior college graduate, he was rated as a two star QB by Rivals.Com.

 
Brian Blackburn Jr. (6’6”, 225 lbs.), Detroit, Michigan's Crockett Vocational Tech – QB, He was ranked the No.25 ranked player in the state of Michigan and was ranked three star by 247.com and Scout.com.  As a junior, Blackburn went 134 for 219 (61%), 2234 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He rushed for 1,049 yards and nine touchdowns. Received offers from Toledo, Buffalo and Central Michigan of the MAC.    Photo Gallery. Transferring from University of Toledo  as redshirt sophomore.

Mateo Kambui (6’3”, 288 lbs.) Wichita, Kansas – OC, Heights High School.  Helped Butler Community College to a 9-2 record last season.  He made first team All-KJCCC this past season at center. Highlights.  Kansas Class 6A, First Team All-State as senior. Photo  Appears also to be a comedian.....from his twitter account 12/20/13: "Felt broke putting $5 in my gas tank, then I looked over and seen this dude put $4 in his.... At that moment I knew the struggle was real."

Kendall Bruton (5’11", 185 lbs.) Long Island, New York -- DB, Nassau Community College.  Bruton is a solid run-stopper as well as pass defender.  He had 20 tackles, 11 pass break-ups and two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns last season. 

Sumir Burns (6’2”, 295 lbs.) Linden High School, Linden, NJ – NG/DT, Monroe College.  Burns earned Player of the Week Oct. 8, for his defensive performance.  He had 60 tackles on the season, with 31 solos and 29 assists.  He had three sacks and finished fourth in the conference in tackles.  Photo  Named First Team All Northeast Football Conference in 2013.

Antoine Pickett Jr. (6’0”, 190 lbs.) De La Salle High School, Concord, California – RB/LB/DB, Contra Costa College.  Pickett was ranked the No.2 defensive back in California by MaxPreps.  He runs a 4.5 - 40 yard dash and has a 25” vertical leap.  Previously offered by Sacramento State, North Dakota and Northern Colorado. Signed with Sacramento State in Feb. 2011, played one season, and bounced back to JC for a second shot at FBS.  He was one of the top players on De La Salle's 2009 and 2010 CIF State D-I title teams. Brother is Adarius Pickett, a four star cornerback and UCLA commit out of El Cerrito High School (Class of 2014). Photo.

A.J. Liddell (6’3”, 200 lbs.) Atlanta, Georgia – WR, Atlanta Prep.  ESPN rated Lidell as the No.49 player in the state.  He was also three-star ranked by ESPN.  Originally out of West Lake HS, he had several offers out of high school.  While he plays wide receiver, he is also solid as a punt and kick returner. 

Matt Tiedermann (6’1”, 310 lbs.) Ephraim, Utah – OL, Snow College.  Tiedermann is an agile offensive lineman who could bolster the interior offensive line. With quick feet and great arm strength, Tiedermann was a teammate of Rattler receiver Casey Glines. 

Photo

Ronald Harris II (6’3”, 220 lbs.)  Raleigh, NC – LB, Jireh Prep.  All-Conference in high school at Leesville Road High School. Harris is known as a solid tackler, while having good coverage skills when he drops back. He has excellent lateral movement inside a solid frame. His story.  As a senior Ron helped the Pride (Leesville Road H.S.) to it first undefeated (12-1) regular season in 2011 and the third round of the NCHSAA 4AA playoffs. Ron made 68 solo tackles and one fumble recovery during his senior season.

Eddie Lee Williams  (6'-3", 204 lbs.) Panama City Beach, Florida - Safety, Arnold High School. Transfer from Alabama, ranked No.1 player in Florida by ESPNU and Rivals.com in 2011. The football All-American was kicked out of the University of Alabama following his involvement in a second degree robbery and credit card fraud with three other Alabama football players. Williams, a former five-star recruit, did not play in 2012, but did practice at WR, as a redshirt freshman with the 2012 'Bama national championship team.  He chose Alabama over Florida State, Florida and Auburn.  Photos.  Williams Bio.  (beepbeep)
 

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Note: The Eddie Lee Williams input, YouTube Videos, photo links, hot-links selected by the beepbeep.   Sheeeeeee.... don't tell the rest of the MEAC that the Rattlers are on their way Back! I like this class!!!

East: Southern, Odums right fit for each other

Regarding NCCU:  “I’m a different kind of guy,” Odums said. “I only knock on your door so many times, and if you don’t let me in, I respect you for what you’re trying to do. But I just don’t foresee that in the future that’s a door I’ll knock on.”

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  Southern didn’t need North Carolina Central to show interest in Dawson Odums to appreciate what it had in its head football coach.

Likewise, Odums didn’t need to do any comparative shopping to appreciate what he had at Southern.

NCCU bringing in Odums to interview for the Eagles head coaching position didn’t change the fact that Odums was the right coach for Southern and Southern was the right place for Odums.

In fact, a brief negotiating period that yielded a three-year contract extension for Odums on Thursday reinforced to both sides what a mutually satisfying union this has become.

When NCCU interviewed Odums a week and a half ago, Jaguars Athletic Director William Broussard didn’t panic.

He knew the Eagles had one thing he couldn’t match: the emotional tie Odums has to his alma mater. But Broussard was confident in what he did have to offer.

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Dawson Odums foresees stability at Southern

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern football coach Dawson Odums has a new message for recruits.

He had been telling them that even though he had just one year left on his contract and he had a job interview at North Carolina Central, he was working on a long-term commitment to the Jaguars.

But now that he has agreed to a three-year extension, subject to approval by the SU System Board of Supervisors, he can be more definitive.

“Now we’re able to go back into the homes of the young men after Christmas and let them know, ‘hey we’re going to be here at least until you graduate,’ ” Odums said Friday, one day after agreeing to the new deal. “That’s great when you start talking to freshmen and transfers and even junior college players, that the coach that is recruiting them is going to be there. It projects a sense of stability in the program.”

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K-State Outlasted in 2OTs by Hampton Lady Pirates

HAMPTON, Virginia  --  K-State used a pair of late comebacks in regulation and the first overtime, but it was not enough for the Wildcats to defeat Hampton as the Lady Pirates defeated K-State 86-75 in double overtime at the HU Convocation Center. The loss ended K-State’s three-game winning streak.

K-State (5-4) saw three players reach double figures on Saturday. Senior Katya Leick tallied K-State’s first double-double of the season and the first of her career with career-highs of 18 points and 12 rebounds. Ashia Woods joined Leick in double figures with 15 points.

Freshman Leticia Romero added 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Hampton (9-3) was led by Nicole Hamilton and Alyssa Bennett with 24 points apiece. Bennett also hauled in 10 rebounds. Joining Hamilton and Bennett in double figures was fresh Malia Tate-Defreitas with 19 points.

Hampton chipped away at K-State’s nine-point halftime lead in the second half with aggressive, physical defense and timely baskets. The Lady Pirates would capture its first lead of the game, 45-44, with 9:12 to play in the second half.

K-State would regain the lead, 59-55, with a 13-5 run with 3:19 remaining in the game. The run was sparked by a three from Leick and a Chantay Caron three-point play. The Wildcats also received five made free throws from Romero.

Following two free throws from Romero to give K-State a 61-57 lead with 1:27 to play in regulation, Hampton raced up the floor  and Hamilton connected for a three with 1:20 to play to cut K-State‘s lead to 61-60.

K-State turned the ball over on its next possession and Hampton took advantage with four points. Hamilton connected on a running layup and was fouled on the play. After Hamilton missed the free throw, the Lady Pirates grabbed the rebound and connected on a second running layup, this one by Tate-Defreitas with 29 seconds to play.

Romero raced the ball up the floor in the heart of Hampton’s press and nailed a jump shot to bring the Wildcats to within one, 64-63, with 18.6 seconds left. After K-State called its final timeout, Woods stole the inbounds pass and made a layup to give K-State a 65-64 lead with 17.3 seconds remaining.

A missed shot rebounded by Hampton resulted in a foul on the Wildcats. The Lady Pirates made one of two to tie the game, 65-65, with 4.7 seconds left. A final running shot attempt by Woods rolled off the rim to send the game to the extra session.

In the overtime, Leick tallied K-State’s first basket with a layup with 4:20 to play to give K-State a 67-65.  Hampton answered with a pair of layups from Hamilton to give the Lady Pirates a 69-67 lead with 2:56 to play. After two made free throws from Hampton, Sheble carded a free throw and a layup to bring K-State to within one, 71-70, with 9.2 to play.

After K-State fouled to send Hampton to the line, the Lady Pirates missed both free throws. After the second miss  and ensuing scrum, Leick was fouled trying to rebound the ball. Leick made the first of the two free throws to send the game to a second overtime.

In the second overtime, Leick staked K-State to a 73-71 lead on a layup with 3:45 to play. Hampton answered with a 13-2 run to defeat the Wildcats.

The Wildcats shot .362 from the field for the day and registered a 23-13 edge in bench points.

Kansas State will return to action, after a brief holiday break, to face North Carolina State on Dec. 28 in the Surf n’ Slam Classic in San Diego. The game will tip-off at 6:30 p.m. (CT), and the audio will be available on kstatesports.com/all access for free. K-State will face either UC Riverside or San Diego State on Dec. 30 to close out its 2013 non-conference schedule.

Box Score

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Second-Half Surge Lifts Herd Over Delaware State, 62-47

HUNTINGTON, West Virginia --  A slow start didn't stop the Thundering Herd (5-5, 0-0 C-USA) from picking up its second consecutive win, taking down Delaware State (3-7, 0-1 MEAC), 62-47, Saturday afternoon at Cam Henderson Center.

For the first time in coach Matt Daniel's two seasons, Marshall has won back-to-back games and will enter the holiday break with a .500 record. The Herd's last winning streak came in February 2012, when Marshall defeated Memphis, 65-54 (Feb. 16), and UAB, 40-37 (Feb. 19).

"This is a great way to go into the holidays, especially with everything that we've been going through and dealing with," Daniel said. "We found a way to win another game today. That's two in a row and I'm really pleased with the last two team victories that we've had."

It took the Herd almost four minutes to reach the scoreboard - a Chelsey Romero (Hampton, Va.) layup tied the game at two at 16:25 in the first half. Marshall found its first lead at 8:33 when senior Suporia Dickens (Freeport, Ill.) hit a jumper to put the Herd up, 9-8.

The score would tie thrice more before knotting for the fifth time at 19, going into the break.

Marshall's 19 halftime points were the fewest since putting up only 16 versus UAB, Feb. 17, 2013.

Junior Leah Scott (Detroit) opened the second half with an and-one layup, giving the Herd a 22-19 lead, and Marshall would never surrender again. With help from sophomore Norrisha Victrum's (Columbia, S.C.) 12 second-half points, including 8-of-10 free throws, the Herd gained momentum and had its largest lead of 15 with 20 seconds remaining. The final buzzer sounded for Marshall's fifth win of the season, 62-47.

Victrum finished the game on top for the Herd's third consecutive game, putting up 16 points. She had a solid outing from the point guard position, making four assists, three steals and committing zero turnovers. Two other Marshall players found double figures, with Scott's 13 and Dickens' 11.

Despite being outrebounded by Delaware State (42-37), Marshall feasted off the Hornets' 22 turnovers, scoring 20 points. The Herd also controlled the paint offensively, pouring in 36 points to the Hornets' 20.

"We literally, at a couple points in the game, had three kids on the court under 5-foot-6," Daniel said. "AJ Johnson did a great job. Chelsey Romero's size helped us tremendously." Romero tied her career-highs of 14 rebounds and three blocks in 32 minutes played.

After the teams' first meeting, Marshall now leads the all-time series with Delaware State, 1-0.

The Herd will have a week-long holiday hiatus before hosting Navy at 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 29, at Cam Henderson Center. For all the latest information about Marshall women's basketball, follow @HerdWBB on Twitter.

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Nipe, Jackson, Jones Lead GW Women's Hoops Past North Carolina A&T, 80-54

Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Highlights

WASHINGTON, D.C.  -- Grad students Megan Nipe and Danni Jackson and sophomore Jonquel Jones combined for 61 points as the George Washington women's basketball team defeated North Carolina A&T, 80-54, on Saturday afternoon at the Charles E. Smith Center for its third straight victory.

Making her GW debut after transferring from Clemson last December and sitting a full year due to NCAA transfer rules, Jones posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, connecting on 7-of-10 field goal attempts. Nipe poured in a game-high 23 points, and Jackson added a season-best 21 to go with seven assists, as two Colonials topped 20 points for the first time since Jackson and Tara Booker ('13) did it on Jan. 7, 2012 against Fordham.

Freshman Caira Washington pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds, the most by a Colonial this season, and matched her career best with five blocks.  With the seven helpers, Jackson became the seventh Colonial ever with 400 assists in her career and just the third with 1,000 points and 400 assists, joining Kimberly Beck ('08) and Anna Montañana ('05).

GW (7-4) led by three, 51-48, with 10:59 left in the game, but a three-pointer by Jackson ignited a 27-6 run over the final 9:50 of action, including 14 straight points to start the surge. Jackson scored all 13 of her second-half points during the game-ending run. The Colonials' lead peaked at 27 on a three-pointer by freshman Shannon Cranshaw that made it 79-52 with 55 seconds left.

Jones scored GW's first eight points, as the Colonials jumped out to an 8-3 lead, but A&T (7-2) responded with six straight to take a 9-8 lead with 14:40 left in the half. The score remained close for the next seven minutes, with three ties and neither team leading by more than four.

The Aggies led, 17-16, at the 9:01 mark, but a pair of free throws by Nipe put the Colonials on top for good and sparked a 16-2 GW run that included six straight points from Jackson, as the Colonials took a 32-19 lead. A&T rallied back with an 11-3 run of its own to cut its deficit to five, 35-30, at the break.

Nipe scored seven of GW's first nine points out of the break as the Colonials regained a double-digit lead, but the Aggies again responded with a 12-5 run to pull within three, 51-48, with 10:59 to go. Neither team found the basket again for 69 seconds before Jackson's three started GW's big game-ending run.

The Colonials shot 64.3 percent (18-28) in the second half and finished at a season-high 53.4 percent (31-58) in the game. GW reached 80 points for the fourth time this season.

Debbie Smith led the Aggies with 21 points and six rebounds. A&T, which saw its seven-game win streak snapped in the loss, shot just 29.7 percent (11-37) in the second half and 32.8 percent (19-58) in the game while committing 25 turnovers.  The Colonials return to action next Saturday, Dec. 28, when they host crosstown rival American at 2 p.m. at the Charles E. Smith Center.


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