White Sisters Named First Team All-State In Softball

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  Sisters Daja and Jo'Landa White of Saint Augustine's University were selected to the N.C. Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) College Division All-State Softball First Team on Thursday, June 27, 2013.

Twenty-three students including six from CIAA schools were named to the all-state first and second teams. St. Aug is one of three schools to place two or more players on the first team.

The Leland, N.C., natives led the Lady Falcons to their first winning season in 10 years. The Lady Falcons won 17 games, finished second in the CIAA Southern Division and placed fourth in the CIAA Tournament. The fourth-place finish is the highest for the Lady Falcons in recent memory. The sister tandem led the CIAA in home runs with eight apiece.

Daja White, a freshman outfielder, ranked second in NCAA Division II with 1.5 runs per game and 1.0 stolen bases per game in addition to ranking 10^th with a .476 batting average. The Daktronics honorable mention All-American ranked second in the conference with 38 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. She was a Daktronics All-Atlantic Region first team pick and an All-CIAA rookie team selection.

Jo'Landa (Left) and Daja Receive More Postseason Honors

Jo'Landa White, a sophomore catcher, ranked eighth in the CIAA with a .422 batting average and tied for ninth with 29 RBIs. A Daktronics All-Atlantic Region second team selection, White was part of a college division all-star softball team which played international competition in Italy in June 2013.

The All-State first and second teams are comprised of players across North Carolina from NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA institutions. The nominees were submitted by the North Carolina sports information directors and voted on by the NCCSIA members.

North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association
2013 College Division All-State Softball Teams

First Team
Pos.	Name	Class	School	Hometown
P	Carley Tysinger	Fr.	Catawba College	Lexington, N.C.
P	Maryann Hoskins	Fr.	Lenoir-Rhyne University	Havelock, N.C.
C	Jo'Landa White	So.	Saint Augustine's University	Leland, N.C.
IF	Jessica Fellmeth&%	Sr.	Lenoir-Rhyne University	Waxhaw, N.C.
IF	Cynthia Hayes	Jr.	Guilford College	Seagrove, N.C.
IF	Haily Jarman	Jr.	Lenoir-Rhyne University	Wadesboro, N.C.
IF	Beth Overman	So.	Mount Olive College	­ Elizabeth City, N.C.
OF	Taylor Cloninger	Jr.	UNC Pembroke	Jacksonville, N.C.
OF	Leigh Ward	So.	Chowan University	Oriental, N.C.
OF	Daja White	Fr.	St. Augustine's University	Leland, N.C.
UTL	Brea Hartley	So.	UNC Pembroke	Lexington, N.C.
DP	Kayla Saliga	So.	Wingate University	Asheboro, N.C.
Second Team
Pos.	Name	Class	School	Hometown
P	Stacey Houser	Fr.	Wingate University	Mooresville, N.C.
P	Alora Lincoln	So.	Chowan University	Smithfield, VA
C	Sarah Tompkins	Fr.	Greensboro College	Wilmington, N.C.
IF	Sarah Connolly	Fr.	Greensboro College	Mount Airy, N.C.
IF	Kierston Garner	Fr.	Salem College	Danbury, N.C.
IF	Robyn Stanek	So.	Mars Hill College	Winston-Salem, N.C.
IF	Amanda White&	So.	Meredith College	Wilmington, N.C.
OF	Liz Hipple&	Jr.	Chowan University	Chincoteague, VA
OF	Kelsey Maffucci	Sr.	Wingate University	Rockledge, Fla.
OF	Jackie Nicholson	So.	Greensboro College	Snow Camp, N.C.
UTL	Spencer Embler	Jr.	Fayetteville State University	Thomasville, N.C.

& - Named to 2012 All-State Team
% - Named to 2011 All-State Team

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PVAMU's Barrick Named On College Football Performance Awards Watch List

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Last season, after being sidelined all week due to an undisclosed injury, Prairie View A&M kicker Chris Barrick answered the prayers of PV Nation when he knocked down his first career field goal and clenched the Panthers 37-34 victory over the Texas Southern University Tigers.

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  -- Prairie View A&M kicker Chris Barrick was named on the 2013 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS Watch List for the 2013 CFPA Placekicker Award.

Barrick, a 6-4 junior out of Copperas Cove (Texas), led the Panthers in scoring with 65 points and ranked second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in field goal percentage, going 9-for-11 last season. Barrick was named the SWAC Specialist of the Week on Oct. 22, 2012 following his team's 52-37 win over Alcorn State he went 7-for-7 on PATS and added a 23-yard field goal to pick up his second-career Specialist of the Week honor.

On kickoffs in 2012, Barrick averaged 56.1 yards per kick off of 54 attempts. He was named to the All-SWAC Second Team to cap off his season.

The CFPA is the largest awards organization in Division I college football, and it selected all of its recipients based upon objective scientific rankings to the extent of which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration. The winner will be announced January 8, 2014.    


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PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY
2013 PANTHERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Day	Date	Opponent	Location / Stadium	Time			Event
Sat.	8/31/2013	*Texas Southern	Houston, Texas - BBVA Compass Stadium	7:00 p.m.			29th Labor Day Classic
Sat.	9/7/2013	Texas State	San Marcos, Texas	6:00 p.m.
Sat.	9/14/2013	*Southern University	Baton Rouge, La.	6:00 p.m.
Sat.	9/21/2013	*Alabama A&M	Prairie View	6:00 p.m.
Sat.	9/28/2013	Stephen F. Austin	Nacogdoches, Texas	6:00 p.m.
Sat.	10/5/2013	*Grambling State	Dallas, Texas - The Cotton Bowl	6:00 p.m.			Southwest State Fair Classic
Sat.	10/12/2013	*Alabama State	Montgomery, Ala.	1:00 p.m.
Sat.	10/19/2013	*Mississippi Valley State	Prairie View	2:00 p.m.			Homecoming
Sat.	10/26/2013	*Jackson State	Shreveport, La. - Independence Stadium	4:00 p.m.			Shreveport Classic
Thu.	11/7/2013	*Alcorn State	Alcorn State, Miss.	6:30 p.m.
Sat.	11/16/2013	Abilene Christian	Prairie View	1:00 p.m.
Sat.	11/23/2013	*Arkansas-Pine Bluff	Prairie View	1:00 p.m.

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S.C. State Releases Football Season Ticket Promo

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS
2013 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date		Opponent	Location	Time
8/31/2013		COASTAL CAROLINA  $	ORANGEBURG, SC	6 p.m.
9/7/2013		Clemson University	Clemson, SC	TBA
9/14/2013		ALABAMA A&M	ORANGEBURG, SC	6 p.m.
9/21/2013		Benedict University %	Columbia, SC	4 p.m.
9/28/2013	*	HAMPTON UNIVERSITY &	ORANGEBURG, SC	2 p.m.
10/5/2013	*	N.C. A&T State University +	Atlanta, GA	4 p.m.
10/12/2013	*	NC Central University	Durham, NC	2 p.m.
10/19/2013		OPEN
10/26/2013	*	Bethune-Cookman University	Daytona Beach, FL	4 p.m.
11/2/2013	*	Savannah State University	Savannah , GA	1 p.m.
11/9/2013	*	FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY @	ORANGEBURG, SC	1:30 p.m.
11/16/2013	*	MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY #	ORANGEBURG, SC	1:30 p.m.
11/23/2013	*	Norfolk State University	Norfolk, VA	1 p.m.

Home Games are in bold

Neutral Site Games are in italics

* denotes a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest

$-Military Appreciation Day
%-Palmetto Capital City Classic
& -Youth/ROTC Day
+-Atlanta Football Classic
@-Homecoming
#- Senior/Faculty-Staff Appreciation Day

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Football 101: Seminar takes ladies inside FAMU football

Holmes, FAMU staff teach, explain nuances of football

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Saundra Brown isn’t your average female football fan.

“My boys played football and my dad was a football coach so I’ve been around football,” said Brown, whose son, Barry, played linebacker for the FAMU football team more than 15 years ago.

On Saturday, Brown got a refresher on the nuances of the game. But for the 50 or so other women who attended coach Earl Holmes’ “Heels and Helmet” crash course on football, it was their first glimpse inside the game.

The women braved a morning downpour to attend the four-hour session intended to ...

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MEAC/SWAC Challenge Weekend
SEPT. 1, 2013, ORLANDO, FLORIDA
Florida A&M Rattlers vs. Mississippi Valley Delta Devils

Rattler fans! Be sure to partake in the ancillary activities surrounding the 2013 MEAC/ SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney.  Accompany your FAMU Football season opener purchase with tickets to the Pep Ralley hosted at Downtown Disney, Band Showcase at Disney's Epcot or any other Official MEAC/SWAC Challenge weekend list of events.  The 2013 MEAC/ SWAC Challenge game tickets are currently on sale.  Visit www.MEACSWACCHALLENGE.com for more details.

 

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Arrest leads to father-son bonding for LaFleur

SPOKANE, Washington  -- In a matter of 30 seconds on the night of April 3, 2011, an undercover cop put Greg LaFleur in handcuffs and effectively ruined the former Southern University athletic director’s life.

In some ways, though, LaFleur’s arrest for allegedly soliciting a would-be prostitute at the Final Four in Houston — and his eventual acquittal in January 2012 — was also the best thing that happened to him.

To be sure, the 54-year-old former NFL tight end would never wish the last 26 months upon himself again — no way, no how.

After all, he was fired before he returned to campus, and he’s still struggling to find work in athletics, the only field he’s ever known. And because his name was so tarnished by the mere accusation — regardless of the eventual verdict — there’s no telling when he’ll land the AD position he desires.

But in losing his job and, in the eyes of many, his credibility, LaFleur gained something far more valuable — a chance to reconnect with an NBA-bound son more than 2,000 miles away.

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Lee Smith appointed Interim Athletic Director at Mississippi Valley

ITTA BENA, Mississippi  --  Lee C. Smith, head softball coach and intramural director at Mississippi Valley State University since 2001 has been appointed Interim Athletic Director of the University, pending IHL Board approval.

"Coach Smith's organizational skills and commitment to the success of student athletes on the field and in the classroom is what we need during this transition", said MVSU Acting President Dr. Alfred Rankins.

Smith, a Valley alumnus, was hired as the women's head softball coach in 2001 and has high standards of excellence for the student athletes. As head softball coach, he led the women's softball team to victory in eight Southwestern Athletic Conference titles in the last 10 seasons along with eight NCAA tournament appearances. Forty-five of his players have been National Fast Pitch Coaches Association Scholar Athletes; the team has an overall grade point average of 3.20; 95 percent of his student athletes graduated successfully; and in 2008, the team ranked 32nd among Division I all-academic programs by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association.

Other highlights of Smith's leadership include:

· 61 student athletes being named All-SWAC
· MVSU became the first HBCU softball team to win a game in the 2004 NCAA Tournament
· In that same tournament, they became first HBCU softball team to win multiple games
· Being named SWAC Coach of the Year seven times in his 12 years at MVSU.
 

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Queens College Hires VSU's Darryl Jacobs as New Head Men’s Basketball Coach

QUEENS, New York  --  In an historic day for the Queens College athletics department, Darryl Jacobs has been hired as the first full-time Head Men’s Basketball Coach in nearly two decades for the Knights, it was announced on Thursday, by Assistant Vice President for Athletics, China Jude.  This milestone marks a new person roaming the sidelines in nearly 20 seasons.

Jude reflected upon the hiring of Coach Jacobs: “I am excited to have Darryl Jacobs join our family.  His skill set and personality fits perfectly into our Knights family.  We look forward to him returning home to the Northeast to make a significant impact on our community.”

The Paterson, New Jersey native; returns to the northeast from Petersburg, Virginia, where he was the head men’s basketball coach at Virginia State for the past two seasons.  Under Jacobs’ leadership, the Trojans improved in victories each year and had back-to-back six win records in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association; culminating with his 2012-13 team advancing into the second round of the CIAA playoffs.



Before his time in Petersburg, Jacobs was the head men’s basketball coach at Clark Atlanta University from 2006-2011. While there, he built the Panthers into one of the elite programs in the country. He led the Panthers to two consecutive NCAA tournament appearances (2009-2011); while also leading them to their first SIAC Tournament Championship (2011) in 46 years.

Coach Jacobs was also named SIAC Coach of Year, Atlanta Tip-Off Club/Naismith Georgia College Coach of the Year and HRSN runner-up for National Coach of the Year in 2010.

His teams at Clark Atlanta from 2009-2011 were rank nationally on numerous occasions; culminating in a 22nd national ranking in 2010. With a reputation as a tireless worker and game strategist, his teams have been able to defeat several DI programs during his career.

Coach Jacobs has over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience to his credit. He was a two sports standout at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, starting as a running back on the football team and point guard on the men's basketball team. He played several years of professional basketball following graduation in both South America and the USBL.

Jacobs currently Chairs the NCAA Men’s Basketball South Region Rankings Committee, is a member of the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee and Vice President for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Coaches Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for High Blood Pressure of Richmond.

Jacobs is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Black Coaches Association.  Jacobs received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Finance/Accounting from William Penn University in 1988 and is pursuing his Master’s in Sports Management at Virginia State University.

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Former CFL QB Worman added to MVSU football coaching staff

Coach Rick Worman
MVSU DELTA DEVILS

ITTA BENA, Mississippi  –  Mississippi Valley State University head football coach Karl Morgan has added a new coach to his coaching staff.

Rick Worman has begun his duties at MVSU as quarterbacks coach, replacing Mike Pizinski who recently left to pursue other opportunities. Worman will also assist with wide receivers and running backs.

The former Canadian Football League (CFL) quarterback hopes to use his professional experience as a teaching tool for MVSU student-athletes.

"I want to use my knowledge from the pro ranks to help develop student-athletes on this level," said Worman.

The Fresno, California native comes to Valley after serving as a scout for the Ottawa-based CFL team. Before that, he served as the running backs coach for the CFL's Hamilton Tigercats. He also spent seven seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos, working as a West Coast Scout for four years before joining the coaching staff as a quarterbacks coach in 2007. He added the title of offensive coordinator in 2008.

Prior to joining the Eskimos, Worman spent time as the head coach of the Arena Football League 2's Fresno Frenzy in 2002 and the offensive coordinator of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2001. That season, the Bombers led the league in virtually every offensive category en route to a 14-4 record and a Grey Cup appearance.

Worman's coaching career includes three Grey Cup appearances and two Grey Cup championships. He previously coached former CFL quarterback MVPs Ricky Ray and Khari Jones.

He also spent one season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the College of the Siskiyous.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 1, 2013, FLORIDA CITRUS BOWL
 

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCAA Lifts ALL Postseason Bans Against Alabama State

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- All of Alabama State University's athletic programs are eligible to participate in postseason play due to decisions on Friday and earlier this week by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Acting Athletic Director Melvin Hines was notified Friday that the NCAA had completed its evaluation of the data and other information that was submitted to the NCAA following the initial announcement of penalties related to APR scores.

"We are thrilled that our student-athletes will now be eligible to compete in postseason play," said Hines.

According to Hines, after the initial APR penalties were imposed against the baseball, volleyball, football and men's basketball teams, ASU was given an adjustment phase with the opportunity to submit additional data.

"Once the NCAA evaluated that additional academic performance data, assessed our ASU Academic Improvement Plan and reviewed us according to its Limited Resource Institution component, the NCAA staff determined that ASU will not be penalized," said Hines.

The NCAA had announced earlier that the bans against baseball and volleyball had been lifted. Today's announcement lifts bans against both football and men's basketball, which means all 18 Alabama State University athletics teams are eligible for postseason play for the upcoming 2013-14 season, should they qualify.


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Five HBCU tracksters make U.S. team

WASHINGTON, D.C.  --  Black college products finished 1-3 in the men's 400 meter hurdles and three others earned top three finishes at the recently concluded USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.                        

    

All five HBCU products earned spots and will represent Team USA at the IAAF World Championships August 10 - August 18 in Moscow, Russia.

 

Reigning Olympic silver medalist Michael Tinsley out of Jackson State took home the title in the 400 meter hurdles and former Saint Augustine's hurdler Bershawn "Batman" Jackson finished third in Saturday afternoon's men's final.

    

Tinsley held off Kerron Clement to capture his first national outdoor title. Tinsley finished in 47.96 seconds, the best time in the world this year, nipping Clement who ran 48.06. Jackson was a close third in 48.09. Tinsley runs for adidas while Jackson is with Nike.

    

In the long jump, current Stillman junior sprinter and long jump specialist Jeffrey Henderson, who won NCAA Div. II national titles in the long jump and 100 meters two weeks prior, was narrowly edged for the top prize by George Kitchens, Jr.

    

Henderson leaped 8.22 meters (26 feet, 11 3/4 inches) in his next-to-last (fifth) jump Sunday afternoon to come up just short of Kitchens' winning jump of 8.23 meters (27 feet). This will be Henderson's second trip to the World Championships.

    

"This is my second time making the team, so I'm just preparing for Moscow," Henderson said in an interview after the meet. "The first time I was kind of scared. I was shocked that I made the team but I'm really prepared now."
 

 

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Palmetto's Jordan Smith shoots way into Division I scholarship at S.C. State

JORDAN SMITH

PALMETTO, Florida -- Jordan Smith has been known to make the most of his opportunities on the basketball court.

He scored more than 1,450 points during his high school career at Palmetto and gained a reputation is a deadly long-range shooter, knocking down 66 attempts from beyond the arc (42 percent) during his senior year, when he averaged 20-plus points per game in earning Bradenton Herald All-Area honors. Smith had to change his game last season at Brevard Community College, coming off the bench while being asked to be primarily a shooter, and his averaged dipped to 7.4 points per game.

But against arch-rival Indian River, Smith drained 7 of 10 three-pointers and scored 29 points in 23 minutes in a big Southern Conference game. In the previous game, Smith was 6-for-6 shooting 3-pointers and scored 18 points against Miami Dade.

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XU's Franklin named HBCU Female Athlete of the Year

SiMon Franklin
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

JACKSON, Mississippi --  Xavier University of Louisiana's SiMon Franklin was named HBCU Female Athlete of the Year for 2012-13 on Friday evening.

Franklin, from Baton Rouge, La., and a graduate of Xavier and St. Joseph's Academy, received the honor during the HBCU Awards banquet at the Jackson State University Student Center. The banquet is part of the inaugural National HBCU Media Week, which will conclude Saturday.

Franklin was a standout for Xavier in basketball and track and field. In basketball, Franklin was a four-year starter at guard who earned honorable mention as a senior on the NAIA Division I All-America Team. She was All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference for the second consecutive season after leading the Gold Nuggets with 10.7 points, 2.4 steals ands 24.9 minutes per game in 2012-13. The MVP of the 2012 GCAC Tournament, Franklin is one of nine Gold Nuggets to reach 1,000 points, 300 rebounds and 200 steals in a career. Franklin had 1,136 points, 331 rebounds, 208 assists, 220 steals in 128 career games at Xavier and helped the Gold Nuggets win three GCAC regular-season championships, two GCAC Tournament championships and qualify for the NAIA Division I National Championship three times.

In track and field, Franklin was the 2013 GCAC outdoor champion in the 400-meter dash, and her time of 56.74 seconds at that meet qualified her automatically for the NAIA National Championships. She ran the anchor leg of the 400 relay team which finished second in the GCAC and also qualified for nationals.

"I am extremely honored," Franklin said. "I thought I was done with athletics and receiving awards after track season ended, but then this happened. To be honored nationwide, that is amazing. I never though anything like that is possible."

Franklin recently began her first full-time job, in the mortgage department of Iberia Bank in downtown New Orleans.

"Monee is first-class person, a wonderful choice for this award and a great representative of Xavier University," said her basketball coach, Bo Browder. "She is the type of student-athlete we continue to recruit for Xavier."

Runners-up to Franklin were Dillard's Jazzmin Smith and Albany State's April Thomas, both basketball players.

XU nominees who did not win were Christabell Hamilton (women's volleyball) for female coach of the year, women's tennis for female team of the year and the College of Pharmacy for best STEM program (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).

Xavier is one of 38 U.S. colleges listed as a "Best Buy School" in the 2013 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges.

A list of all the winners:

Female athlete of the year: SiMon Franklin, Xavier

Male athlete of the year: Anaso Jobodwana, Jackson State

Female coach of the year: Toyelle Wilson, Prairie View A&M

Male coach of the year: Connell Maynor, Winston-Salem State

Female team of the year: Hampton basketball

Male team of the year: Southern basketball

Best marching band: Jackson State

Best choir: Oakwood's Aeolian Choir

Best student government association: Albany State

Best student organization: Spelman's SpelBots team

Best student newspaper: North Carolina Central's Campus Echo

Best alumni publication: Morgan State's Morgan Magazine

Female alumna of the year: Nicole Bernard, Howard

Male alumnus of the year: Tom Colbert, Kentucky State

National alumni association of the year: University of the Virgin Islands

Best research center: Howard's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -- Center for Atmospheric Sciences

Best STEM program: Hampton

Best social work program: Fayetteville State

Best fine arts program: Alabama State's Department of Theater Arts

Best business program: Paul Quinn

Best nursing program: Dillard

Female student of the year: Olivia Stinson, Winston-Salem State

Male student of the year: Polite Stewart, Southern

Female faculty member of the year and lifetime achievement award: Myrlie Evers Williams, Alcorn State

Male faculty member of the year: Kinfe Ken Redda, Florida A&M

Female president of the year: Dianne B. Suber, Saint Augustine's

Male president of the year: M. Christopher Brown, Alcorn State

HBCU of the year: Spelman

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

TSU's Covington Inks Deal With the Houston Rockets

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  On Friday, former Tennessee State forward Robert Covington signed a partially guaranteed contract with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association.

“[I] may not have been drafted, but [I’ve been] given a different route to pursue my dreams,” Covington said. “I’m blessed for this opportunity. God still works even in different ways.”

Last season, Covington started 22 games for the Tigers, missing 10 due to a knee injury. He still made the Second-Team All OVC Team after averaging 17 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest. Covington was also second on the squad with 16 steals.

He left TSU as the seventh leading scorer (1,749 career points) and rebounder (876) in school history.

The Rockets were one of the handfuls of teams that brought Covington into workout. The list also includes Memphis, Oklahoma City, Utah, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Detroit, Atlanta and Chicago.

The last Tiger to play in an NBA game was Anthony Mason of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2006.

The Rockets finished 45-37 last year, earning the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

 

 

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Southern Jaguars' Odums to address Baton Rouge Press Club July 1

Courtesy Southern University Athletics

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University Football Coach Dawson Odums will be the guest speaker at the Baton Rouge Press Club Monday, July 1.

Coach Odums will talk about the upcoming season and what people can expect as he tries to rebuild the program. The Jaguars open fall camp July 31 before conducting its first practice on Aug. 2.

Southern opens its 12-game schedule against the University of Houston Friday, Aug. 30 in Reliant Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. and the game will air live on ESPN3.com.

Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

The Baton Rouge Press Club meets on Mondays at De La Ronde Hall, which is located at 320 Third Street. in downtown Baton Rouge.

 

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NCA&T Aggie Men Announce Dominican Republic Trip

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  --  The 2013-14 North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team will look much different from the one that captured the 2013 MEAC basketball championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament. In order to get a head start on trying to repeat despite major changes in his roster, head coach Cy Alexander has announced the team will travel to the Dominican Republic, Aug. 4-8, to play three exhibition games against various semi-professional teams from the Caribbean nation.

A&T lost seven seniors from a team that led the school to its first-ever NCAA win, a 73-72 victory over Liberty in March. Three other players from that historic squad are also not returning. The departures leave the Aggies with five returning players and 10 newcomers.

“This is huge for our program based on the fact we have so many new players,” said Alexander, who has six MEAC titles as a head coach. “This trip allows us to bond as a team and develop chemistry with one another on and off the court. We’ll get to play against very good competition, so we’ll get a chance to see what we need to do to prepare for 2013-14.”

The team has arrived on campus for the second summer school session.  Individual workouts will begin on July 1. Team practice begins July 25 and will be conducted two hours every night until Aug. 3 when the team leaves for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. While there, Alexander also plans to have the team participate in community outreach in order “to bring good will to the Dominican Republic.”

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FSU Football Schedule Preview: Bethune-Cookman

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Two familiar baseball opponents will meet for the first time on the gridiron when Florida State takes on Bethune-Cookman in week three of the 2013 season.

It’s FSU’s first and only FCS opponent this season, one year removed from playing two of them which greatly damaged the Seminoles schedule strength. But rest easy, as the Wildcats aren’t nearly as pitiful as Murray State nor Savannah State ,the latter being their MEAC brethern.

 

 

Bethune and Florida State shared two mutual opponents last season, the afermentioned Savannah State and the swagger-filled team from Coral Gables. In fact, BCU has played Miami each of the last two seasons, scoring first on the Hurricanes each time before eventually succumbing to the talent difference and losing 45-14 in 2011 and in 2012.

Head coach Brian Jenkins was ...

 

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Florida A&M Lifts Suspension of 'Marching 100' Band

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  —  FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson announced at a press conference today that he has lifted the suspension on the Marching “100,” highlighting the sweeping changes the university has implemented during the past year and a half to address hazing.

“When considering all of the measures we have put in place, I believe this constitutes us having the right conditions,” said Larry Robinson. “Our newly appointed Director of Marching and Pep Bands, Dr. Sylvester Young, will decide when the band is ready for public performances.

We have created a comprehensive anti-hazing plan in which we:

• Revised the BOT Anti-Hazing policy;
• Revised the Student Code of Conduct procedures;
• Implemented enhanced procedures for reporting and investigating hazing allegations;
• Launched a new anti-hazing website, StopHazingFAMU.com;
• Awarded funding to FAMU faculty and students for research on hazing prevention;
• Created two unique positions to provide a comprehensive approach to implement the anti-hazing initiatives, hired a special assistant to the President for anti-hazing, and a music compliance officer — to make sure that all music department ensembles including the band meet all standards to be eligible to perform.
• Scheduled campus training and forums and anti-hazing sessions.
• Enhanced the membership intake process for clubs and organizations;
• Revised the organizational structure of the Department of Music and hired a new Director of Marching and Pep Bands; and

“As a result of these actions, it helped us respond more swiftly and decisively to deal with allegations of hazing in any university groups, emphasizing our zero tolerance approach to hazing,” said Robinson.

In May of this year, the university launched anti-hazing tour conceived by our students featuring the Music Department ensembles, reaching out to students in three counties in South Florida.

According to Sylvester Young, the director of Marching and Pep Bands, he is continuing his assessment of the band. Since his appointment in May, Dr. Young has been communicating with the University in scheduled sessions regarding the right conditions needed for the return of the Marching “100.” He officially reported to work June 14.

“We are looking at the faculty who will be involved in the band under the new structure, the maximum and minimum sizes of musical units needed for standard of excellence we’ve grown accustom to. We are also assessing equipment, uniforms, pre-drill activities and other related processes to determine our readiness,” said Young. “As soon as the assessment is completed, we will announce when the first public performance is scheduled.”

Young said that he is honored to be back at FAMU and is excited about preparing the band for its first performance.



COURTESY: FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

Hampton University's McCorory aims for podium at world championships after running personal best at nationals

HAMPTON, Virginia --  From Richmond to Rome, from Des Moines to Daegu, Olympic gold medalist Francena McCorory has run hundreds of races. Never had she blazed 400 meters like this.

At the USA outdoor track championships Saturday in Iowa, McCorory ran a personal best of 50.01 seconds to qualify for her second world championships. But it wasn't good enough.

It wasn't good enough to beat Natasha Hastings, and it certainly wasn't good enough to satisfy her coach.

"She should have won that race," said Maurice Pierce, McCorory's coach since her college days at Hampton University.

Pierce contends and McCorory confesses that she ran the first 200 meters "too relaxed," allowing Hastings to build a margin that withstood McCorory's strong finish.

"I thought I had it in me," McCorory said of her career best. "It's been my goal for awhile to run under 49 seconds, and 50.01 is pretty darn close."



Natasha Hastings. Francena McCorory. Ashley Spencer -- that's your World Championship team.

Hastings' 49.94 is the second fastest time in the world. She was in complete control the whole time, but McCorory was charging hard in the final 50m. She's now #3 in the world.  Entering the U.S. Championships, McCorory was #2 in the world and Hastings was #4. The third spot was up for grabs and the two-time NCAA 400m champ came up big. Fighting all the way to the line, Illinois' Ashley Spencer went from fifth to third in the final few steps and will continue her season in Moscow.

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Hampton University Olympian Kellie Wells finishes 4th in U.S. Outdoor Championships

DES MOINES, Iowa --  Brianna Rollins broke the 13-year-old American record in the 100-meter hurdles, running the fastest time in the world since 1988. Her world-leading 12.26 seconds (shattering Gail Devers’ mark of 12.33), made world and Olympic champion Sally Pearson of Australia tweet that she would have to bring her “A++ game to Worlds.”

Rollins, the NCAA champ from Clemson who just turned pro, finished comfortably ahead of Queen Harrison, a 2008 Olympian in the 400-meter hurdles, whose time of 12.43 equaled sixth on the U.S. all-time list. Nia Ali, the 2011 NCAA champion, had a personal best of 12.48 to edge 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Kellie Wells (12.54) and two-time Olympic hurdler and Olympic bobsled hopeful Lolo Jones (12.55).

Dawn Harper Nelson, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist, competed in the preliminaries and withdrew, knowing her 2011 world title assured her of the fourth U.S. berth in Moscow.

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NCAA Clears Two ASU Hornet Teams For Postseason Play

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- The Alabama State University women's volleyball and baseball teams have been cleared to participate in postseason competition in the upcoming 2013-14 season.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) informed ASU of its decision, which will allow the women's volleyball and baseball teams to be eligible to qualify for, and compete in, Southwestern Athletic Conference championship tournaments, and subsequent NCAA Tournament play if postseason bids are won.

Alabama State still awaits decisions on the NCAA's previously announced postseason bans for its football and men's basketball programs for the upcoming season.

"We believe this decision is evidence of progress, showing that changes we have implemented, both in programs and personnel, are providing positive measureable results," Alabama State Interim President Dr. William H. Harris said. "We are pleased and appreciative of the decision rendered by the NCAA in regards to our women's volleyball and baseball programs regaining their postseason eligibility. We will continue our commitment to ensure all athletic programs meet and exceed established standards, and remain optimistic for favorable outcomes for our football and men's basketball programs."

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION