FAMU Marching “100” Receives Prestigious Invite to 2019 Rose Bowl Parade

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TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s (FAMU) world- renowned “Marching 100” is heading to the prestigious Tournament of Roses Parade in 2019. The University’s band has received an invitation to participate in this Rose Bowl-connected event in Pasadena, California.

“The Marching “100" has mesmerized audiences around the globe for more than 70 years. Throughout its history, the internationally acclaimed band has performed in multiple high-profile events including the Super Bowl, the Grammy Awards, 's and the 1989 French Bicentennial Celebration in Paris, France, and the inaugurations of two U.S. President’s.

As one of the most famous and recognized New Year's Day events in the nation, an opportunity to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade provides a unique platform to entertain millions of viewers on one of the most recognized stages in the world. This marks FAMU’s first appearance in the parade.

 FAMU Interim President Dr. Larry Robinson says, “It is an opportunity to give countless viewers exposure to a University that continues to make a significant and positive impact on the lives of many of America’s best and brightest young men and women,” said FAMU’s Interim President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “Congratulations to Band Director Dr. Shelby Chipman, his team, and our student-musicians for their leadership in taking the band to the next level.”

Band Director Dr. Shelby Chipman added that, “Our students continue to be recognized for excellence, hard work and their dedication to being the best in musicianship, performance and academics.  We look forward to this exciting opportunity and putting on an unforgettable show.””

Tournament of Roses parade officials say they chose FAMU because of the exceptional talent, dedication and showmanship.  Sixty million people will view the parade world-wide and as many as 700,000 people will watch the performance in-person.

The band has already started its fundraising efforts to finance the trip. Supporters can contribute by contacting the FAMU Foundation office at 850-412-5755 or Band Director Dr. Shelby Chipman at 850-599-3024.

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FAMU's Marching 100‏ @THEMARCHING100

The Road Starts NOW! Please donate to the “Road to Pasadena” Campaign by texting famurising to 41444! Please support the Marching “100” as it embarks on fundraising for the Tournament of Roses Parade! We appreciate your support!

10:57 AM - 25 May 2018

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VISIT www.famubands.com    

Homegrown FAMU coach brings solid resume

https://www.facebook.com/famu.bands/videos/1101270966693040

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Willie Simmons grew up just 25 miles from Florida A&M’s Bragg Memorial Stadium. The Quincy native spent plenty Saturdays watching the Rattlers, which helped to inspire a boy who went on to play football at Clemson and The Citadel before he went into coaching.

Simmons is home again – bringing an up-tempo, option attack to the Rattlers as their first-year head coach. The 37-year-old Simmons built a resume as an assistant in stops at Middle Tennessee and Alcorn State before taking over as the head coach at Prairie View, where he went 21-11 in three seasons (including 19-6 in conference play).

When FAMU administrators called in December, the offer was too good to pass up.

“It comes full circle,” Simmons said. “When I left Quincy 20 years ago, I would have never dreamed that I would be back in this capacity. The Lord has been really good to me and my family. To be able to come back to the place where it all started, the place where I grew up watching Saturday afternoon football games, I’m just blessed at the opportunity.”

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4 D1s on XULA Nuggets' schedule; Auburn to visit Nov. 28

2018-19 Schedule
 PDF of 2018-19 Schedule

NEW ORLEANS — Not only will Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball play four NCAA Division I opponents in 2018-19, but the Gold Nuggets also will do it over five games in 19 days.

Those are some of the highlights of a schedule that 20th-year head coach Bo Browder announced Wednesday. XULA is a longtime NAIA power.

Two of the DI teams will visit XULA's Convocation Center — Auburn on Nov. 28 and North Texas on Dec. 16. XULA will play Auburn for the second straight season and begin a two-year series with North Texas.

The other DI games will be Nov. 30 at Southeastern Louisiana and Dec. 15 at Louisiana-Lafayette. XULA and the Ragin' Cajuns will meet for the sixth straight season.

Additional highlights will include five games against 2018 NAIA national tournament qualifiers, two during a season-opening four-game home stand. The Gold Nuggets will open their 41st season of the Title IX era on Halloween evening against Stillman, an NAIA tournament qualifier a year ago. City rival Loyola, which reached the national round of 16, will visit Nov. 6.

The other NAIA tournament qualifiers on the schedule are Nov. 10 at Our Lady of the Lake and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference meetings with Dillard Jan. 26 at home and Feb. 16 on the road.

GCAC rival Edward Waters, a 25-game winner last season, will visit XULA Jan. 19 and play host to the Nuggets Feb. 4.

2018-19 RosterPDF Roster 

"We are looking for an outstanding season," Browder said, "which means challenging for the conference championship, getting back to nationals and winning some games there. I feel very good about our recruiting class and our returning players. We have talented freshmen and some transfers who will step up and make an impact. We will be solid and deep at the guard position."

The Xavier Classic will move to its earliest-ever dates, Nov. 2-3. The Nuggets will play Florida Memorial the first day and Langston the second. LSU-Alexandria will be the fourth team.

The Nuggets will take a warm-weather trip Thanksgiving week. They'll visit Florida Memorial, then play two games in a tournament at the University of the Virgin Islands.

There will be no first-time opponents. SLU is on the schedule for the first time since 1988-89, and North Texas appears for the first time since a pair of XULA victories in 1980-81. Rust became the eighth GCAC member in July, and the Nuggets will play them twice.

The GCAC Tournament will be March 1-3 in Jacksonville, Fla. followed by the NAIA Division I National Championship March 13-19 at Billings, Mont. XULA seeks to qualify for nationals for the 20th time in 25 seasons. The Gold Nuggets missed nationals last season for the second straight year after going 15-12 overall, 7-5 in the GCAC (tied for third place) and reaching the semifinals of the GCAC Tournament.

Beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, tickets for home games will be available online at xulatix.com.

NOTES: It will be the first time since the 2012-13 season that the Nuggets open with four straight home games . . . XULA will count the Auburn and North Texas games as exhibitions . . . Browder's 446 victories at XULA are No. 3 on the all-time Louisiana collegiate list for women's basketball coaches . . . This will be the Nuggets' seventh season in the Convocation Center, where they are 72-17.

Xavier University of Louisiana
2018-19 Women's Basketball Schedule
Oct. 31 (Wed.):  STILLMAN, 6 p.m.
Nov. 2 (Fri.):  FLORIDA MEMORIAL, 6 p.m. (Xavier Classic)
Nov. 3 (Sat.):  LANGSTON, 4 p.m. (Xavier Classic)
Nov. 6 (Tue.):  LOYOLA (N.O.), 6 p.m.
Nov. 10 (Sat.):  at Our Lady of the Lake, 7 p.m.
Nov. 12 (Mon.):  at LSU-Alexandria (DH), 5 p.m.
Nov. 19 (Mon.):  at William Carey (DH), 5 p.m.
Nov. 21 (Wed.):  at Florida Memorial, 7 p.m. EST
Nov. 23 (Fri.):  at Virgin Islands Tournament, TBA
Nov. 24 (Sat.):  at Virgin Islands Tournament, TBA
Nov. 28 (Wed.):  AUBURN, 6 p.m.
Nov. 30 (Fri.):  at Southeastern Louisiana, 6 p.m.
Dec. 3 (Mon.):  MOBILE, 6 p.m.
Dec. 15 (Sat.):  at Louisiana-Lafayette, TBA
Dec. 16 (Sun.):  NORTH TEXAS, 4 p.m.
Dec. 18 (Tue.):  VIRGIN ISLANDS, 1 p.m.
Jan. 3 (Thu.):  at LeMoyne-Owen, TBA
Jan. 7 (Mon.):  •  TOUGALOO (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 12 (Sat.):  •  at Rust (DH), 3 p.m.
Jan. 14 (Mon.):  •  at Philander Smith (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 (Sat.):  •  EDWARD WATERS (DH), 3 p.m.
Jan. 21 (Mon.):  •  at Tougaloo (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 26 (Sat.):  •  DILLARD (DH), 3 p.m. (Crosstown Classic)
Jan. 28 (Mon.):  •  at SUNO (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 (Sat.):  •  at Talladega (DH), 3 p.m.
Feb. 4 (Mon.):  •  at Edward Waters (DH), 5:30 p.m. EST
Feb. 11 (Mon.):  •  TALLADEGA (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 16 (Sat.):  •  at Dillard (DH), 3 p.m.
Feb. 18 (Mon.):  •  SUNO (DH), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 23 (Sat.):  •  RUST (DH), 3 p.m.
Feb. 25 (Mon.):  •  PHILANDER SMITH (DH), 5:30 p.m. (Senior Day)
March 1-3 (Fri.-Sun.):  Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, Jacksonville, Fla.
March 13-19 (Wed.-Tue.):  NAIA Division I National Championship, Billings, Mont.

Home games in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS
•  Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game
(DH) Doubleheader with XULA's men
All times are Central except where noted
Schedule is subject to change
Visit xulatix.com beginning Monday (Aug. 27) to purchase tickets for all XULA home events

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

College Football Preview 2018: Mississippi Valley Delta Devils

Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils

#Head coach: Vincent Dancy (First year)

#2017 record: 2-9 overall, 1-6 SWAC East

#Outlook and Prediction

#After last season, Mississippi Valley State University cut ties with head coach Rick Comegy in November 2017. It was not an unexpected move, as he had a 6-38 record in his four seasons at the helm of the program.

#MVSU named Vincent Dancy as interim coach before giving him the full-time position in December 2017. He inherits what might be the toughest job in college football. The team has not had a winning season since its back-to-back successes in 2005 and 2006.

#However, the Delta Devils do have something that rival JSU does not: Preseason All-SWAC players, such as star receiver Quinn McElfresh. MVSU will be better if the offense can become more consistent. The team used three quarterbacks last year and couldn't run, finishing with negative-103 rushing yards.

#The schedule is tough, with out-of-conference games against the University of North Dakota, Bethune-Cookman University, Jacksonville State University and Hampton University. 

#

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College Football Preview 2018: Alcorn State Braves

Alcorn State University Braves

#Head coach: Fred McNair (12-11 overall, all at ASU, entering third season)

2017 record: 7-5 overall, 6-2 SWAC East

#Outlook and Prediction

#Alcorn State should have a reload season instead of a rebuild. The Braves have 11 Preseason All-SWAC players. Only Grambling State University had more selections. First Team Preseason All-SWAC quarterback Noah Johnson 
returns this season with Preseason Offensive Player of the Year P.J. Simmons to run the ball.

#The offensive line should be good, as well, with 
offensive linemen Mustaffa Ibrahim, Deonte Brooks and Kevin Hall helping to open holes in the running game and 
provide quarterback protection. Linebackers Trae Ferrell and Solomon Muhammad should lead in organizing the unit. Defensive lineman Sterling Shippy will be the focus, with defensive back Brady Smith leading the secondary.

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College Football Preview 2018: Jackson State Tigers

Jackson State University Tigers

##Head coach: Tony Hughes (6-16 overall, all at JSU entering third season)

2017 record: 3-8 overall, 3-5 SWAC

#Radio: 95.5 FM

#Stadium: Veterans Memorial Stadium

#2017 Recap

#Year two under coach Tony Hughes started out with a seven-game losing streak. JSU had some close losses but didn't earn a win until its 24-5 victory over Mississippi Valley State University in late October. The Tigers lost their next game 3-13 to Alabama State University.

#The season highlights were narrow back-to-back wins against Alabama A&M University and East champion Alcorn.

#A lack of offense was the Tigers' biggest problem. JSU averaged just 12.7 points per game, and only scored 20-plus points three times. That put pressure on the defense all season long.

#Season Overview

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FAMU Volleyballers Open 2018 Season Friday At FIU

FAMU 2018 VB ROSTER

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The 2018 FAMU Women’s Volleyball season opens Friday in Miami, as the Rattler Women will compete in the Florida International University (FIU) Volleyball Invitational at Panther Arena.

FAMU will begin the 2018 campaign under new leadership, after the university appointed veteran volleyball coach and teacher, Gokhan Yilmaz, to take the reins of the program this past spring.

Yilmaz, whose resume includes a head coaching stint at UNC Charlotte, and a lengthy run as Associate Head Coach at cross town Florida State, along with years of experience working at the youth level as a coach and instructor in volleyball.

The new coach will have several returning veterans to work with in 2018, and a group of talented newcomers that hopefully will offset the loss of two-time All-MEAC outside hitter Nicole Abreu, and one of the league’s top rookies from 2017, middle blocker Candelaria Herrera.

Heading the list of returning veterans for FAMU will be a pair of 2018 preseason All-MEAC selections, senior libero Valentina Carrasco (Lima, Peru) and junior outside hitter Maria Yvett Garcia (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) were were named to the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Preseason All-Star Volleyball team announced on Friday, August 10.

@ Carrasco, who was a member of the Peruvian 18-and Under National team in in 2015, played all 99 sets for FAMU in 2017, leading the club with 446 total digs, good for a 4.51 per set average.

@ Garcia, who was a member of the bronze medal winning Dominican Republic Under 21 National team which played in the 2015 World Championships, led the club with 301 kills, good for a 3.04 per set average.

She also led FAMU in service aces (24), finished third in digs (243), while finishing with 37 total blocks a year ago.

Also returning are Nair Canessa, a 6-1 senior middle (Lima, Peru); 5-10 graduate outside hitter Pamela Soriano (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic); the Dimitrova twins, 6-2 junior outside Radka, and 6-1 junior setter Elena (Sofia, Bulgaria); along with 5-10 redshirt sophomore outside hitter Alexis Gosha (Apopka, Fla.), who sat out last season due to injury.

Yilmaz welcomes a quartet of new faces to the FAMU fold this fall, headed by a pair of sophomore transfers, 5-6 libero Jessa Long (Dixon, Ill.) who transferred from Marshall University, and 6-0 middle/outside Karina Pressoir (Orlando, Fla.), who came in from Johnson C. Smith University.

Rounding out the Fab Four are a pair of freshmen, 5-8 outside hitter Kalen Blathers from Tallahassee’s Rickards High School, and Jatia Littles, a 6-1 middle blocker from Gainesville (Fla.) High School.

THE FIU TOURNEY SLATE

FAMU opens the weekend Friday at 2:00 p.m. against Tennessee State, followed by a 6:00 p.m. bout against host FIU.

Saturday, FAMU closes out the first weekend with a 12 noon duel against Stetson (Fla.) University.

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Howard Bison Men Soccer Wins Sun Belt Conference Academic Team Award

HU 2018 ROSTER

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – The Sun Belt Conference (SBC) revealed its team GPA winners where the Howard University Men's Soccer team was honored. The announcement came Wednesday morning.

The awards honor the teams with the top cumulative team grade point average in each of the sponsored sports within the Sun Belt from the 2017-18 academic year. Collectively, the Bison posted a 3.30 GPA during the 2017-18 campaign.

"When I took over the program, my first goal was having academic success," said Howard Men's Soccer Head Coach Phillip Gyau. "My second goal is winning, and we have a great chance in doing both this year."

Overall, 119 programs on the list registered a GPA of at least 3.0; with the overall highest team GPA coming from Coastal Carolina's women's tennis team, which posted a 3.88 GPA for the 2017-18 academic year.

To view the entire 2017-18 SBC Team GPA winners, please Click Here.

Howard opens its 15-match regular season slate in our Nation's Capital against Bryant (Aug. 24). Match time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Greene Stadium.

For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.

Deeper NCCU Volleyball Squad Eyes Stronger Play in 2018

2018 ROSTER

DURHAM, North Carolina — Third-year head coach Jody Brown has added eight newcomers to a roster that only lost one graduate to strengthen the North Carolina Central University volleyball team for its upcoming 2018 season that begins on Friday, Aug. 24.
 
The Lady Eagles have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championship each of the last two years, but they are still looking for their first postseason win at the NCAA Division I ranks. NCCU has won nearly half of its matches in the MEAC Southern Division (9-11) since Brown has been guiding the Lady Eagles. However, NCCU has struggled to get in the win column when playing non-MEAC opposition. A deeper roster at practices is expected to make the whole team more competitive and help NCCU's chances in non-conference play and in the postseason. 
 
Whitney White highlights a senior class of four. The middle blocker has been NCCU's team MVP each of the last two seasons. White has played in all 76 matches over her first three seasons with the maroon and gray. She is coming off a strong junior season in which she led the Lady Eagles with 2.24 kills/set, 188 total kills, 61 total blocks and a .279 hitting percentage.
 
NCCU's other three seniors are defensive specialist/libero Bree Simmons, outside hitter/libero Erika Ianovale and outside hitter Kierra Shipman. Simmons and Shipman join White as four-year letter winners in 2018.
 
Simmons has anchored NCCU's defense for each of the last two seasons as the primary libero. She ranked eighth in the MEAC with 3.49 digs/set. She has also led the Lady Eagles in service aces each of her first three seasons. Ianovale transferred to NCCU last season and contributed over one kill and one dig per set in her first year with the Lady Eagles. She is expected to see more time on defense this year to help aid Simmons and sophomore Braxton Wright.
 
NCCU returns four of its top five blockers from a year ago with sophomore McKayla Young following White with 0.48 blocks/set in her first season. Fellow sophomores Da'Nesha Miller (0.43) and Christine Alcox (0.30) also contributed well on the front-line defense. This quartet will be strengthened by a pair of freshmen in Morgan Goodwin and Ammaarah Williams.
 
The coaching staff believes blocking will be one of the Lady Eagles' biggest strengths this year, while serving and serve receive will be NCCU's biggest areas of improvement.
 
Offensively, NCCU had five players back that averaged over one kill per set. Miller and Alcox had solid rookie seasons, averaging 2.02 and 1.86 kills per set and they were followed by Shipman (1.66) and Ianovale (1.04). Young and junior Kennedy White also return as offensive options. However, NCCU's attack only hit .120 for the season. That rate is expected to increase with more competition for travel spots on the attack with the addition of transfer Jessica Pilivi as well as three freshmen in Estfania Louis, Arlanda Faulkner and Hana Lee and having the potential to crack the lineup.
 
The biggest change fans will see on the court is the departure of its starting setter in Paige Phillips, who will be able to provide leadership to a couple freshman setters as a graduate assistant coach in 2018. Phillips joins Brown and third-year assistant Emma Celentano on the coaching staff.
 
Celene Morris and Isis Mitchell are the newbie setters tasked with taking over the vacancy left by Phillips, who ranked fifth in the MEAC with 7.65 assists per set last year. The rookie duo may compete for playing time in a continued 5-1 lineup rotation format for the Lady Eagles or NCCU may transition to a 6-2 system to give both players more experience as they improve at the collegiate level. 
 
The biggest challenge for Brown, Celentano and Phillips is getting and keeping the individuals and team in the athletic culture and mindset at all times, allowing each and every player the opportunity to prove themselves when their opportunities arrive.
 
NCCU has a total of 17 players on its team, which gives the squad a full rotation on both sides of the court in practices. That will make competition stronger daily, which is then expected to make match play the most competitive yet for the Lady Eagles under Brown.
 
NCCU is picked to finish fourth out of six teams in the 2018 MEAC Preseason Poll – the same position its finished each of the last two seasons. However, the Lady Eagles look to contend and prove the prognosticators wrong.
 
The Lady Eagles are scheduled to complete in a few more matches in 2018 with 27 regular season contested slated. NCCU opens up its season with three matches at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Friday-Saturday, Aug. 24-25. Fans of the maroon and gray can follow NCCU volleyball all season on NCCUEaglePride.com.