Grambling wins SWAC title with 16-15 win over Alabama A&M

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Grambling State University knew before the season started that its defense would be tested in light of the team's young offense. And as GSU's defensive did all season, it passed that test Saturday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Tigers scored on a second-half fumble return before SWAC Defensive Player of the Year Cliff Exama sealed the deal with a late interception to stop a last chance scoring drive by Alabama A&M to take a 16-15 win over the Bulldogs before a crowd of 23,476 at Legion Field.

It was the fourth conference title for SWAC Coach of the Year Doug Williams in his first season returning to lead the Tigers.

GSU trailed 15-0 late in the second quarter before ...

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Photo Gallery: SWAC Football Championship: Dec. 10, 2011 (28 photos)

Grambling rallies to beat Alabama A&M for SWAC championship

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Jacarde Carter's 66-yard fumble return five minutes into the fourth quarter helped rally Grambling to a 16-15 win over Alabama A&M today in the SWAC championship game at Legion Field.

Carter scooped up a Bryan Nelson fumble just two plays after A&M recovered a muffed punt at the Tigers' 30-yard line.

The Bulldogs led 12-0 and 15-3 at various points of the game.They are now 0-4 all time against Grambling in SWAC title games.

A&M led Grambling 15-9 going into the fourth quarter on the strength of a 12-yard touchdown run from Kaderius Lacey, a 36-yard scoring pass from Deaunte Mason to Terrance Pride and a 34-yard field goal by Chance Wilson.

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Road Warriors: Wayne State wins again on road, advances to Div. II title game

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- 'Bama bound. That's the buzz phrase for Wayne State these days. The Warriors' defense held steady when it mattered most in a 21-14 victory over Winston-Salem State in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II football playoffs Saturday.

The win puts Wayne State (12-3) in the national championship game in Florence, Ala., against Pittsburg State (12-1) on Saturday at 11 a.m.

"When I recruited a lot of these guys, I told them that we would compete for a national championship," said coach Paul Winters. "Now they can see that everything has come together. We're going to play for a national championship."

The defense, led by safety Jeremy Jones, put on a stellar display at crucial moments. Winston-Salem State's normally potent offense came up empty on three trips inside the red zone. However, the most crucial stop for WSU came during the closing moments.

The defense, led by safety Jeremy Jones, put on a stellar display at crucial moments. Winston-Salem State's normally potent offense came up empty on three trips inside the red zone. However, the most crucial stop for WSU came during the closing moments.

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WSSU's mole-hill mistakes became mountains

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - Winston-Salem State came up empty shortly before a full moon rose over Bowman Gray Stadium on Saturday. The ground game ran out of time, and frantic passes hit the ground, and the drive for a national championship died right there on the dormant Bermuda grass surrounded by an asphalt racetrack.

Wayne State, the last seed in the last regional revealed on selection day, won 21-14 and booked a trip to Alabama for the NCAA Division II title game. The Rams altered their season-long plans at the end of the finest season in school history — 13 wins and just one final defeat.

They lamented the slipped tackles and bobbled catches and the molehill mistakes that eventually seemed like mountains. Connell Maynor, their detail-conscious coach, tipped a gracious cap to relentless Wayne State. He also remembered every blown chance, including quarterback Kameron Smith's fumble at his 16-yard line, which teed up the Warriors' third score.

"We had three dropped touchdowns," Maynor said. "The plays were there to be made, but the guys just didn't make the plays when they had to."

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SEE ESPN3 REPLAY OF GAME: CLICK HERE

End Game for WSSU Rams

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina -- Third-ranked Winston-Salem State's historic season ended Saturday with a 21-14 loss to upstart Wayne State in the semifinals of the Division II football playoffs.

The Warriors turned up their defensive pressure and capitalized on key Rams mistakes to win their fourth straight road game in the playoffs. They will play for the national championship next Saturday in Florence, Ala., against Pittsburg State.

After setting the school record for victories with a swashbuckling offense that seemed to score at will, the Rams found things more difficult this time in front of nearly 9,000 at Bowman Gray Stadium.

"We had too many mistakes offensively," coach Connell Maynor of the Rams said. "We were dropping balls, and the turnover on the goal line hurt us, and we were missing tackles.

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GALLERY: WSSU vs. Wayne State, December 10, 2011 

Little things make a big difference in loss to Wayne State

WINTON SALEM, North Carolina - They don’t grow teams like Wayne State in the CIAA. That was the general consensus after watching a team that had a big offensive line that was even bigger than Winston-Salem State's line.

During the season the Rams usually dwarfed their CIAA opponents but that wasn’t the case on Saturday as Wayne State won 21-14 to end the Rams’ unbeaten season. The Rams (13-1) lost in the semifinals of the Division II playoffs and it was the line of scrimmage where they got beat.

Running back Josh Renel isn’t very big, but he’s fast and darted inside his big linemen to gain valuable yardage when it mattered most.

“Those linemen were big but they only had 130 yards rushing on 39 carries,” coach Connell Maynor said. “That’s not good and only about 3.9 yards a carry. We missed tackles and we don’t normally miss tackles and they got the extra yards from those missed tackles.”

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College Baseball: ASU's schedule revamped

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - One of the first things Mervyl Melendez did when he was hired as Alabama State's baseball coach was to take the Hornets' proposed 2012 baseball schedule and tear it up.

There are 24 required Southwestern Athletic Conference games on the 56-game schedule, a home-and-home series with the other five East Division rivals.
Even that was subject to change as Melendez tried to put his signature on the ASU schedule that was released today.

"Conference games were set," said Melendez, the first-year coach." Some of the opponents were set at different venues. But we rearranged the entire schedule, one way or the other. If we had the (right) opponents on the schedule, I didn't like the site.

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ASU welcomes their new Head Baseball Coach, Mervyl Melendez, to Montgomery and Alabama State University, June 22, 2011.

Alabama State Hornets Baseball Releases 2012 Schedule

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - The Alabama State University baseball team released its 2012 baseball schedule, a 54-game regular season slate which includes 22 home contests at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex as the program will play its first full season on campus since 1996.

Highlighting this year's schedule are home-and-home games with Alabama-Birmingham, Georgia State, Mercer, Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State, and a home game against Troy. Alabama State will also travel to Auburn for a two-game series and to Oklahoma for a three-game series against the Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma. The Hornets will open the season at home Saturday, Feb. 18 with a three-game series against Grambling State.

“Our schedule shows our commitment of playing the best Division I teams in the country,” first-year head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez said. “I am most proud of opening our season at home and bringing college baseball back to the ASU campus for a full season for the first time in many years.”

The three-game season opening series against Grambling State is part of a five-game homestand to open the season, as the Hornets will then host UAB and Kennesaw State. Alabama State will end the season's opening month by playing three games in the Nicholls State Tournament, followed by a pair of games at Auburn.

2012 ALABAMA STATE BASEBALL SCHEDULE (.pdf)

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME

Sat. Feb. 18 GRAMBLING STATE (DH) MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. Feb. 19 GRAMBLING STATE MONTGOMERY, ALA. NOON

Tue. Feb. 21 ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM MONTGOMERY, ALA. 4 P.M.

Wed. Feb. 22 KENNESAW STATE MONTGOMERY, ALA. 4 P.M.

Fri. Feb. 24 Stony Brook Thibodaux, La. 2:30 P.M.

Sat. Feb 25 Nicholls State Thibodaux, La. 1 P.M.

Sat. Feb 25 Stony Brook Thibodaux, La. 5 P.M.

Tue. Feb. 28 Auburn Auburn, Ala. 5 P.M.

Wed. Feb. 29 Auburn Auburn, Ala. 5 P.M.

Sat. March 3 ALABAMA A&M (DH)* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. March 4 ALABAMA A&M* MONTGOMERY, ALA. NOON

Wed. March 7 Alabama-Birmingham Birmingham, Ala. 6 P.M.

Fri. March 9 Jackson State* Jackson, Miss. 6 P.M.

Sat. March 10 Jackson State (DH)* Jackson, Miss. 2:35 P.M.

Tue. March 13 Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla. 4 P.M.

Wed. March 14 Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla. 4 P.M.

Fri. March 16 Gardner-Webb Boiling Springs, N.C. 5 P.M.

Sat. March 17 Gardner-Webb (DH) Boiling Springs, N.C. Noon

Sun. March 18 Gardner-Webb Boiling Springs, N.C. Noon

Tue. March 20 GEORGIA STATE MONTGOMERY, ALA. 4:30 P.M.

Sat. March 24 Mississippi Valley State (DH)* Itta Bena, Miss. 1 P.M.

Sun. March 25 Mississippi Valley State* Itta Bena, Miss. 1 P.M.

Wed. March 28 TROY MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M

Sat. March 31 ALCORN STATE (DH)* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 1 ALCORN STATE* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Wed. April 4 Georgia State Atlanta, Ga. 4 P.M.

Sat. April 7 Alabama A&M(DH)* Huntsville, Ala. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 8 Alabama A&M* Huntsville, Ala. 1 P.M.

Wed. April 11 Kennesaw State Kennesaw, Ga. 4 P.M.

Sat. April 14 JACKSON STATE(DH)* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 15 JACKSON STATE* MONTGOMERY, ALA. NOON

Fri. April 20 Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 6 P.M.

Sat. April 21 Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 22 Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 1 P.M.

Tue. April 24 MERCER MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M.

Wed. April 25 MERCER MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M.

Sat. April 28 MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (DH)* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 29 MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Tue. May 1 Jacksonville State Jacksonville, Ala. 6:30 P.M.

Wed. May 2 JACKSONVILLE STATE MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M.

Sat. May 5 Alcorn State (DH)* Alcorn State, Miss. 4:35 P.M

Sun. May 6 Alcorn State* Alcorn State, Miss. 1:35 P.M.

Tue. May 8 Mercer Macon, Ga. 5 P.M.

Wed. May 9 Mercer Macon, Ga. 5 P.M.

Wed. May 16 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Thur. May 17 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Fri. May 18 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Sat. May 19 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Sun. May 20 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Schedule subject to change; Home Games in CAPS; All Times Central

READ MORE AT BAMASTATESPORTS.COM

A candid conversation with B-CU’s Brian Jenkins

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Bethune-Cookman University head coach Brian Jenkins just concluded his second season at the helm of the Wildcat football program. The Wildcats followed up a remarkable 10-2 season in Jenkins’ first year with an 8-3 overall record and a 2nd place finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Through 23 games, Jenkins has won 18, compiling an impressive .783 winning percentage for the Daytona Beach, FL institution. While wins and losses are important to every coach, Jenkins’ real testament has been in the way his players have performed off the field. Since his arrival, graduation rates have improved and players have become a mainstay in the community, forging a strong relationship with the Daytona Beach, FL community and surrounding areas.



Thursday, I had the pleasure of speaking to Coach Jenkins via conference call on everything from his rating of the team’s performance this past season to his prediction of this year’s Liberty Bowl. (Jenkins is a 1993 graduate of U. of Cincinnati and the Bearcats take on Vanderbilt in this year’s game).

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No. 18 Georgetown Hosts Howard on Saturday at Verizon Center

GAME TIME: NOON

TV: MASN, SNY & BRIGHTHOUSE NETWORK (Fla.) 

INTERNET LIVE: ESPN3


WASHINGTON, D.C. - The No. 18/21 Georgetown University men's basketball team hosts D.C. rival Howard on Saturday in a non-league contest at Verizon Center. Tipoff is slated for noon.

The game will be shown live on MASN, with Jason Knapp and Mark Tillmon calling all of the action. Fans can also see the game on SNY in New York and Connecticut and on the Brighthouse Network in Florida. Locally, fans can tune into Rich Chvotkin's radio call on ESPN 980 AM.

The Hoyas improved to 7-1 with an 84-44 win over NJIT last Saturday, the team's fifth-straight win. Georgetown moved into the national rankings after five-straight wins, highlighted by victories over then-No. 8 Memphis (91-88 in overtime) and at then-No. 12 Alabama, 57-55. The Hoyas are ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press poll and No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches' poll.

The meeting with Howard on Saturday will be the seventh all-time between the schools, with Georgetown leading the head-to-head series, 6-0. The last meeting between the teams was a 79-55 Hoya win during the 2004-05 season.

Junior forward Hollis Thompson (Los Angeles, Calif./Loyola), who was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week on Monday, led the team to three wins week, including the thriller at Alabama, when he hit a three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left to seal the team's second triumph over a top-15 team this season. Thompson is second on the team in scoring (15.0 points per game) and rebounding (5.5 rpg). He is shooting 56.8 percent from the floor and 58.8 percent from three-point land.

Last week, Thompson averaged 17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists to lead the Hoyas to wins over IUPUI, Alabama and NJIT. He recorded his second career double-double in the win over IUPUI, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, and against NJIT, he scored 20 points and set a career-high with six three-point field goals.

Howard enters Saturday's game with a 3-5 overall record following a 72-65 win over Delaware State earlier in the week. Calvin Thompson leads the team in scoring with 11.3 points per game, while Mike Phillips is second on the team with 9.8 points and leads the team with 7.5 rebounds per game.

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Maynor: CIAA stronger that its reputation

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - When coach Connell Maynor of Winston-Salem State wants to get something off his chest he does it. Earlier this week, Maynor defended the CIAA and it’s reputation for being a weak conference.

“For all the CIAA haters and naysayers who say the CIAA is weak and we can’t play football and all of that, let me say this,” Maynor said. “I’ve been in the CIAA for two years now as a head coach and we are 21-2, and our only two losses have come against CIAA teams.

“So that tells you something — that the CIAA is stronger than people say.” Those two losses came last season, when Shaw and St. Aug’s beat the Rams.

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DSU Hornets to take on Delaware Hens in First State Rivalry

2011-12 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL
HORNETS (4-4) VS. DELAWARE BLUE HENS (3-4)
SAT., DEC. 10, 2011 (1:00 P.M.)- DOVER, DEL. (MEMORIAL HALL)

THE GAME

Delaware State welcomes the University of Delaware to Memorial Hall for a First State rivalry contest. The Hornets bring a 3-4 overall record (1-1 MEAC) into the contest. DSU is coming off a 72-65 loss to Howard last Tuesday. The Hornets trailed by 22 points midway through the second half of the contest, but could get no closer than the final score the rest of the way. Casey Walker and Kendall Gray led Delaware State with 17 points each in the Howard contest. Delaware is 3-4 this season (1-0 CAA). The Hens are trying to bounce back from a 69-60 loss to Penn at the Palestra on Wednesday. Kyle Andrews led four Delaware players in double figures with 13 points vs. Penn.

DSU VS. DELAWARE SERIES HISTORY (DELAWARE LEADS 9-2)

The Hornets and Hens are meeting for the third straight year and 12th time overall. Delaware holds a 9-2 series lead, highlighted by an eight-game win streak from 1992 to 2000. The Hens won last year's contest 61-50 at UD's Bob Carpenter Center. DSU led by 11 points in the second half, but was scoreless in the last 5:07 of the game. Alphonso Dawson led UD with 16 points, while Jay Threatt was high man for the Hornets with 13. The last time the teams played at Delaware State, the Hornets posted a 75-67 victory in 2009. The state's only Div. I teams did not meet from 2001 to '08.

College hazing rituals come under new fire after death of FAMU marching band student

'The truth needs no defense, and blind ignorance needs no facts'  --
The Famuan Student Newspaper, FAMU.

Anycampus, United States -- In the cult classic, "Animal House," the 1978 iconic coming of age film, young men and women seek acceptance among their peers by doing just about anything to join a select group of inner circle members.

More than three decades later, the issue of hazing on college campuses is hardly new, however with the recent death of a Florida A & M University band member, the ritual has once again taken center stage.

The University has formed an independent task force to examine the sudden death of Robert Champion, a member of the famous A & M Marching Band. According to NewsOne, the panel is trying to “determine if there are patterns of inappropriate behavior within the culture of the band,” said A & M President James Ammons, amid rumors of hazing as a possible factor in Champion’s death.

College students seeking membership into elite fraternities and sororities, or in Champion's case, competitive marching bands, sometimes face rigorous physical work-outs and grueling mental accuity tests that can sometimes challenge their moral and ethical standing. Peer pressure to gain acceptance ...

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A Day in the Life - A Drum Major

FAMU band director re-hired, expelled students back in school

Florida A & M University officials have halted dismissal procedures against “Marching 100” band director Julian White and reinstated four students previously expelled for their connection with the death of band member Robert Champion.

Wednesday’s actions are the latest twist in the ongoing drama since Champion’s Nov. 19 death, which detectives say may have been caused by hazing.

Two weeks ago, FAMU president James Ammons put White on administrative leave with pay and said he intended to fire him. Last week, Ammons told the state university Board of Governors that four students were expelled in relation to Champion’s death.

On Wednesday, university officials said the students have returned to classes because state police ordered that no disciplinary action be taken until criminal investigations are completed. And a university attorney said White will remain on administrative leave with pay but dismissal actions have been dropped.

“This continues to be a sad time for the entire FAMU community, but each day, I see that Robert Champion’s death was not in vain. A dialogue of healing has begun ...

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FAMU's Marching 100: Some local students still want to join

TAMPA, Florida - Despite the death of 26-year-old Florida A & M University student Robert Champion, there are many students from the Tampa Bay area who want to be a part of the world famous marching band.

The Marching 100 dates back to 1946. It started out with just 16 members, but currently has more than 400. The music and the bold moves band members perform on the field mesmerizes crowds. It's why so many schools across the country and in the Tampa Bay area continue to try to duplicate it, like at Tampa Bay Tech High School in Tampa.



Band director Ronal Russell, Jr. and his assistant, Kayraynard Lawrence, were both members of the Marching 100 and there's no question where many of their students want to attend college. Janae Morrow, a senior who's in Tampa Bay Tech's band, says she'll never forget the first time she saw the Marching 100 perform. "It was, like, incredible. I honestly couldn't breathe."

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READ RELATED:
www.stophazing.org,

Ex-WSSU star Davis heading to Lithuania

Paul Davis #24

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - Center Paul Davis, the all-time blocks leader in Winston-Salem State history, has signed to play professionally with a team in Lithuania.

Because of the NBA lockout, Davis — who exhausted his eligibility last March — said that the offers from overseas weren't there before. Since the lockout has been settled, he had more options.

"The good thing about the strike was I stayed here in Winston and took more classes toward my degree," said Davis (6-foot-9, 197 pounds), who was a four-year starter for coach Bobby Collins.

Davis said he only needs one class — which he can take online — and an internship to get his degree from WSSU. But today he'll leave for Lithuania to begin his dream of playing pro basketball.

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Alabama A&M going up against tradition in SWAC Championship Game

2011 SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

TEAMS: GRAMBLING STATE TIGERS (7-4) vs. ALABAMA A&M BULLDOGS (8-3)
DATE: SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 2011

TIME: 1:00 PM ET

WHERE: LEGION FIELD, BIRMINGHAM, AL
TV: ESPNU
INTERNET: ESPN3

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- What's in a name?

Forget that.

How about, what's in a letter?

If it's a 'G' and is on the side of a football helmet, there's an abundance of excellence and tradition involved, that's for sure. Not just in the NFL, where the Green Bay Packers are the latest threat to the '72 Dolphins' version of perfection, but in the college ranks as well.

Grambling, with a roll call of legends and Hall of Famers such as Eddie Robinson, Willie Brown, Buck Buchanan, Willie Davis and Charlie Joiner, is the Green Bay of the Southwest Athletic Conference. That's pretty much the way it's been in the past - with 17 league titles under Robinson back in the day - and in the present - with five more since the conference went to a championship game format in 1999.

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GSU, ’Dogs collide for title

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Figure on another close game between Grambling State University and Alabama A&M this weekend, only this time under much more important circumstances.

In a late September regular season duel at Robinson Stadium, the Bulldogs pulled out a 20-14 victory.

Now, the longtime rivals from the West (GSU) and East (A&M) divisions collide in a winner-takes-the-title setting on Saturday (1:00 p.m., ESPNU) at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

“It’s probably going to be close again, I would think,” said Grambling wide receiver Mario Louis. “I’ll kinda be surprised if it isn’t. We’re both pretty evenly matched and have similar records.”

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Steffen: Tiger Pride on the prowl at Savannah State University

Basketball: Georgia Tech vs. Savannah State, SATURDAY 6 PM ET,  SSU Tiger Arena

SAVANNAH, Georgia - As I approach completion of three years of service as legal counsel for Savannah State University and as I prepare to help promote the rare opportunity for our hometown university to host a basketball game against an ACC school Saturday, I find myself reflecting on a new passion which can best be called “Tiger Pride.”

I started to experience it even before coming to work at the university in my interaction with the great number of successful and proud SSU alumni I met in the business, political and faith communities.

The sense of community and place at Savannah State was an attraction to a job that represented a fairly big change of direction for me.

I came to better understand what Tiger Pride was in my interactions with long-time staffers, faculty and administrators who I met at the cafeteria, at functions or just walking around the beautiful marsh view circle.

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WSSU's Hayes feeling 'pure joy'

William "Bill" Hayes
Director of Athletics
Winston Salem State University

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - Bill Hayes has a bounce in his step and a smile on his face that could light up a Christmas tree. Hayes, 68, is in his second year as athletics director at Winston-Salem State — and these are some glorious times for the school.

"There have been some long days and I think Saturday I put in 15 hours — but it was 15 hours of pure joy," Hayes said earlier this week. "I'm really happy for these coaches and kids, and I'm happy for the university because it deserves what it's getting right now. "I haven't had a chance to let out a big yell yet but I'm extremely happy for this school."

The third-ranked football team is 13-0 and will play Saturday in the semifinals of the Division II playoffs against Wayne State at Bowman Gray Stadium. The Rams are making noise on the national level, and Hayes is relishing what's going on.

Since he's come aboard ...

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Jackson State: Rico’s big season

Rico Richardson

NATCHEZ, Mississippi — As Jackson State’s No. 83 made it to the end zone after an 87-yard reception late in the first half against Alcorn State to give the Tigers a 31-0 lead the excitement of the moment took over, and he hurled the ball deep into the stadium seats at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.

A 15-yard penalty was the immediate result, but the touchdown, and the celebration, actually served as the culmination of a brilliant junior season for Jackson State wide receiver, and Natchez native, Rico Richardson.

“I want to say (the touchdown) in the Alcorn game (was the highlight of the season),” Richardson said. “Being in front of the home crowd where everybody knows me and going 87-yards, and then I threw the ball in the stands. That was the biggest play for me.”

Richardson’s 37 catches for 896 yards and 11 touchdowns earned him ...

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Florida A&M Rattlers Romp Over Southeastern U. Fire 82-64

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Yannick Crowder scored a career-high 28 points as the Florida A&M Men's Basketball team picked up their second win of the season with a 82-64 win over Southeastern University (Fla.), here Thursday night at the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium.

Crowder finished with a double-double as he scored 14 of his 28 points in the second half, while pulling down 13 rebounds. Both Reggie Lewis and Brandon Hosely finished with 11 points each to round out the cast of Rattlers scoring in double figures.

Southeastern was led by Chris Carlyle as he scored 12 points from the bench, while Arthur Jackson led the Fire on the boards with seven.

FAMU (2-7) took a 21-10 lead on a Crowder put back with 11:22 to go in the first.

PHOTO GALLERY: FAMU vs. Southeastern (Fla.)

The Rattlers would then extend their lead to 31-16 on a Jeffrey Kennings jumper with 5:33 to go in the first half as they would take a 31-20 lead into the break.

FAMU would finish the first half shooting 37.1 percent (13-of-35) from the floor, while Southeastern shot 25.0 percent (7-of-28) from the floor.

Southeastern (9-5) would outscore FAMU 6-5 in the first two minutes of the second half, as they cut the Rattlers' lead to 36-27 on a Tim Jickell field goal with 17:54 to go in the game.

The Rattlers would return the favor with a 16-9 run as they took a 54-38 lead on a Lewis layup with 10:41 to go in the game.

FAMU took a 69-46 lead on a Markee Teal field goal with 7:33 go in the game capping a 15-8 run.

Southeastern would outscore FAMU 18-13 down the stretch, as the Rattlers would hold on for the 82-64 win.

The Rattlers will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 11 as they will travel to Tampa, Fla., to take on the University of South Florida in a 2 p.m. tip.

by Florida A&M Sports Information

NCAA Division II Football Championship: Midwest powerhouse Wayne State (11-3) at #3 Winston-Salem State (13-0)

DATE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2011
GAME TIME:  2:00 PM EST
VENUE: BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM, WINSTON SALEM, N.C. (18,000)
TV: NONE
INTERNET LIVE STREAMING VIDEO/AUDIO: ESPN3




DETROIT, Michigan - The Wayne State University football team (11-3) continued an unprecedented road streak with its third consecutive road playoff win last Saturday, 31-25, at defending national champion Minnesota Duluth.

This week the Warriors travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., to face the unbeaten Rams of Winston-Salem State. This Saturday’s contest will start at 2 p.m. and is available online at ESPN3.COM. This will be the first meeting between the schools.

WSU has won five straight road games and has been victorious in eight of its last nine contests away from Detroit with the only setback coming on a last second fi eld goal at Ashland on Oct. 15. Wayne State is 20-5 in its last 25 contests and has an 11-2 mark in its last 13 road games. After recording their best start (6-0) since 1974, the Warriors are 5-3 in their last eight games.

WSSU began and ended the regular season with wins over NCAA qualifier Elizabeth City State, the second coming in the CIAA Championship game. After receiving a first round bye as Super Region 1 top seed, the Rams edged California (Pa.), 35-28, then disposed of New Haven, 27-7, last Saturday in the regional championship contest.

MINNESOTA DULUTH RECAP
Wayne State’s Cinderella story continued last Saturday as the Warriors claimed a 31-25 triumph at Minnesota Duluth. WSU, seeded sixth in Super Region 3, has recorded three consecutive road wins (48-38 at #14-St. Cloud State, 38-26 at #4 Nebraska Kearney, and 31-25 at #9 Minnesota Duluth) to reach the national semifinals.

In a defensive fi rst half that saw teams combine for 190 yards of total off ense (UMD - 126; WSU - 64), it was the Warrior special teams that set up the lone touchdown. After the Bulldogs tallied the only points of the opening stanza on a 39-yard fi eld goal by David Nadeau, Wayne State’s Matt Maus blocked a UMD punt that was recovered at the UMD 11. On WSU’s third play, Mickey Mohner found Troy Burrell just inside the pylon for an 11-yard score.

The Warriors marched down the fi eld with the second half kickoff , with Chet Privett scoring on a fourth-and-goal on the 14th play of the drive. Bulldog D.J. Winfield returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards and a two-point conversion pass was successful, cutting the Wayne State lead to 14-11.

Following a 21-yard kickoff return by Josh Renel, the Warriors went 60 yards in six plays with Burrell making a great adjustment to haul in a 38-yard scoring toss. Burrell fi nished the contest with 11 receptions for 163 yards and two scores.

WAYNE STATE FOOTBALL WEEKLY RELEASE #15


Head Football Coach Paul Winters
Wayne State University

ON THE HEADSET

Head coach Paul Winters, the reigning AFCA Region Coach of the Year, is in his eighth season at the helm of the Wayne State football program and guided the Warriors to their first NCAA Division II playoff appearance and victories in school history. Winters (47-42) passed Joseph G. Gembis (1932-45) for first on the WSU career wins all-time list with the Oct. 22 victory over Hillsdale.

Coach Winters guided Wayne State to its winningest team in school history last year. The 2010 squad set school records for overall wins (9), conference wins (8), points in a season (347), passing completion percentage (59.9%), and yards per passattempt (7.67), while tying the institutional mark for touchdowns in a season (45). All these accomplishments plus a 12th-place ranking in the final regular-season AFCA national poll earned Winters the AFCA Division II Regional Coach of the Year honors.

WSSU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Connell Maynor

Connell Maynor has a 21-2 record in his second year with the WSSU Rams. He previously spent 10 seasons as a member of the Fayetteville State coaching staff, where he helped to lead FSU to four CIAA title game appearances and three CIAA Championships (2002-03-09).

VISIT: WSUATHLETICS

VISIT: WSSURAMS

Davis Selected to Lead Historic Conference Through 100th Anniversary Tournament Celebration

Ms. Peggy Davis
Interim Commissioner, CIAA 

HAMPTON, Virginia – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and its Chairman – Dr. Mickey Burnim announced the appointment of Peggy Davis as Interim Commissioner for the Conference.

Davis, whose role is effective December 10, has been a part of the CIAA family since 1997 where she held the titles of Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at Virginia State University (VSU) in Petersburg, Virginia. In July of 2003, Davis was named Athletic Director at VSU.

“The CIAA Board of Directors is very pleased that Ms. Davis has agreed to accept this assignment and serve this great Conference in that capacity”, stated Chairman of the CIAA, Dr. Mickey Burnim. “Her accomplishments are exemplary and well respected across the Conference and beyond.” Davis plays a vital role as a member of the CIAA 100th Anniversary Planning Committee.

Davis’s accomplishments are vast. She is a two-time Hall of Fame recipient at VSU and Howard Payne University. Davis has been named Athletic Director of the Year of the CIAA four of the last five years 2006-07, 2007-08, 2009-10 and again in 2010-11. Davis was also recognized this year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) as the 2010-11 Under Armour SE Region for Division II Athletics Director of the Year. She was also honored with the Jannette A. Lee Administration Achievement Award in 2005 and 2010.

Davis is past President of the CIAA Executive Committee, as well as the CIAA Athletic Director’s Association. She is also a member of the CIAA Tournament Committee. She holds memberships in the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA), National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Davis also sits on the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Tennis Committee representing the Atlantic Region. In June 2010, Davis was elected to the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), Board of Directors.

“I would like to thank the CIAA Board of Directors for this opportunity to serve as the Interim Commissioner of the CIAA. I’ve been a part of the CIAA family for over 14 years and nothing brings me more honor”, stated Peggy Davis, Interim Commissioner of the CIAA. “This Conference has a strong tradition and rich legacy and I’ve excited to lead the CIAA into the biggest year of its history; celebrating 100 years is a great accomplishment.”

Associate Commissioner and Senior Woman Administrator Monique Smith served on a short-term base during the transition in leadership and will remain on board to assist through this adjustment period.

A national search has begun for a permanent Commissioner for the CIAA. The Board of Directors is expected to complete the search by July 1, 2012.

ABOUT THE CIAA

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) was founded in 1912 and is based in Hampton, Virginia. The CIAA is America’s oldest historically black college and university conference and is made up of 12 colleges and universities situated along the Eastern Seaboard. For more information about the CIAA Basketball Tournament, visit http://www.ciaatournament.org/. For more information about the CIAA Conference, visit theciaa.com.

Alabama A&M football: Nelson fueled by something extra

Bryan Nelson
 Sophomore, Starting Fullback #42
From Jess Lanier High School
Bessemer, Alabama

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - When Alabama A&M fullback Bryan Nelson takes the field Saturday, he'll be trying to help the Bulldogs win the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. He'll also be playing for his brother.

Nelson's older brother, Tavoris Mitchell, passed away more than a year ago due to complications from open heart surgery. He had had open heart surgery six years ago. Mitchell was just 34 years old and his birthday is Saturday.

"I broke down after we beat Prairie View because I knew we would be playing on his birthday," Nelson said. "He was like my father. He never missed a game. My mom and dad worked two jobs and my brother had me with him all the time."

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Shawn Yonker: UMES Hawks volleyball program setting example

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland - Say "University of Maryland Eastern Shore athletics" to the man (or woman) on the street on Delmarva and it will likely bring to mind one of two things: the two-time national championship-winning bowling team or the sorry men's basketball program.

So when the Hawks volleyball team dropped its opening-round match in the NCAA tournament Friday night, not a lot of people probably noticed here.

Sure the match against UCLA didn't start until 11 p.m. in Los Angeles and was only televised on the Internet, but the fact is that many people here -- even those who have an interest in volleyball -- don't know what coach Don Metil and his staff are building in Princess Anne.

And that is a shame.

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WSSU: It's hard to wipe the smile off Hayes' face these days

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - It’s hard to catch up with Bill Hayes these days. Even at age 68 Hayes, the athletics director at WSSU, doesn’t stay in places too long so you better move fast if you want to talk to him.

One thing for sure is when you see Hayes chances are there is a smile on his face. I caught up with Hayes just outside his office this afternoon during Connell Maynor’s weekly press conference at the Bowman Gray Stadium field house.

Hayes, as you could imagine, is relishing what the Rams are doing in football (13-0) and basketball (5-0). In fact WSSU might be the only athletics program in the country in all divisions that still has an unbeaten football and basketball team.



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