Auntwan Riggins hired as Prairie View A&M's baseball coach

AUNTWAN RIGGINS
HEAD BASEBALL COACH
COURTESY PVAMU ATHLETICS

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Prairie View A&M baseball team began its latest chapter Friday when the school announced it hired Auntwan Riggins as its head baseball coach.

Riggins comes to Prairie View A&M from the Warriors Baseball Academy in Houston, Texas. Prior to that, he spent 13 years with Houston's Proway Baseball Academy as one of its premier instructors and coaches. Both academies train baseball players ages 7 through 18 years old, and can claim numerous players who went on to play NCAA Division I baseball among its alumni.

"I'm very excited to join the Prairie View A&M family," Riggins said. "It's almost like the day of the draft for me. You wait and you know they are going to announce at some point; it's a feeling that you can't really describe."

Riggins has provided individual instruction to numerous players who have gone on to successful NCAA Division I careers, some of whom were also drafted professionally. His most recent alumnus to be drafted was Kyle Survance, who played collegiately at the University of Houston; Survance was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the eighth round of the 2015 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft.

"I'm very happy to bring him on as our head coach, and am excited about his vision for the baseball program," Prairie View A&M Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson said. "He brings a wealth of experience, has a great knowledge of baseball, and can teach the game and its fundamentals."

Another player Riggins trained was Spencer Dennis, whom Prairie View A&M fans may remember as a key player on the Panthers' 2007 SWAC championship team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.

Riggins is no stranger to the Southwestern Athletic Conference, having played collegiately at Texas Southern, concluding his career at the close of the 1998 season. In two seasons with the Tigers, he hit .364, and knocked 19 doubles, 11 triples, and six home runs. In 1997, he was named the SWAC's Newcomer of the Year after hitting .341 with five home runs.

At the conclusion of his junior season in 1998, Riggins was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 20th round of the Major League Baseball Draft. He reached the AAA level in 2001 while playing with the Portland Beavers in the San Diego Padres organization.

After he retired from professional baseball, Riggins eventually returned to Texas Southern to receive his degree, graduating from the school in 2011.

A native of east Texas and a graduate of Houston's Madison High School, Riggins looks forward to being part of the Prairie View A&M community.

"I don't think I've ever encountered people who have so much love and passion for their university and alma mater as a whole, than I have seen with the Prairie View A&M community. I was drawn to that," Riggins said.

The Panthers qualified for the 2015 SWAC Baseball Tournament. Prairie View A&M has won three SWAC championships in the last 10 years, winning the tournament in 2006, 2007, and 2012.

Riggins will be the seventh head coach in Prairie View A&M's baseball history – which dates back to the 1925 season – and will be the Panthers' fourth coach since 1970. He and his wife, Deveka, have been married eight years, and they have a 5-year-old daughter, Masyn.

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

New Atlanta bowl game names executive director

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Celebration Bowl, Atlanta’s new college football postseason game, Friday announced local businessman John Grant as its executive director.

The game will match the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Conference, two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) leagues. The inaugural game is scheduled for noon Dec. 19, live on ABC.

Grant has been CEO of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta organization for 14 years.

The MEAC and SWAC announced in March a six-year agreement to play the Celebration Bowl here: the first two years in the Georgia Dome and the next four in the new Falcons stadium, which opens in 2017 and this week was officially named Mercedes-Benz Stadium.



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Tennessee State University Mourns Death of Former President James A. Hefner

Dr. James A. Hefner
Sixth president of TSU
 

“We have lost a visionary and one of the best leaders to serve this great institution.” – President Glenda Glover

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  The Tennessee State University family is saddened to announce the death of Dr. James A. Hefner, the sixth president of the University. He died early Thursday morning surrounded by family in his Brentwood home following a long illness. Dr. Hefner was 76. Hefner served TSU as president from 1991-2005.

In a statement on the passing of Dr. Hefner, Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover said:  “The Tennessee State University family sends its deepest condolences to the Hefner family. Dr. Hefner devoted his entire adult life to serving others and expanding educational opportunities to all. As educators, we have lost a visionary and one of the best leaders to ever serve this great institution. He loved inspiring students and challenging them.”

The university’s progress during Dr. Hefner’s tenure was unprecedented. While President of Tennessee State University, Dr. Hefner transformed TSU into a top-tier research university. He was deeply committed to TSU’s land-grant mission. He pursued programs and efforts that aligned the resources of the university with the needs of students. His legacy will serve the university, the nation and the world.

Under his leadership, Tennessee State University saw marked physical, infrastructural and academic improvement, including the implementation of a $112 million capital improvement plan. The improvement was part of the Geier agreement that attempted to end race-based disparity in higher education funding in Tennessee. Several new buildings were constructed, including the Floyd-Payne Student Campus Center, the Ned McWherter Administration Building and the Performing Arts Center.

He was viewed as the students’ president and enrollment reached an all-time high of 9,100 students, an achievement that has only been recently achieved during the 2014-2015 academic school year. The TSU endowment also experienced remarkable growth from $500,000 to more than $25 million (through fund-raising and settling a Federal Consent Decree). He positioned Tennessee State University as a premier institution of higher learning.  TSU was listed in U.S. News & Worlds Report’s “Guide to America’s Best Colleges” for 11 consecutive years (1994-2005).

Dr. Hefner occupied the Thomas and Patricia Frisk Chair of excellence in entrepreneurship, a $2.3 million endowed chair at Tennessee State University.  He also established two other endowed chairs of excellence at Tennessee State. An advocate and proponent of African American intellectual achievement throughout his career, Dr. Hefner established two of the nation’s top honor societies, Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi, at Tennessee State University and Clark Atlanta University.

After retiring as president of Tennessee State University in 2005, Dr. Hefner was a non-resident fellow at Harvard University in the W.E.B. DuBois Institute for African and African American Research; Visiting Distinguished Professor of Economics and Presidential Leadership at Texas Southern University; and most recently as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Clark Atlanta University, where he worked diligently as he fought cancer up until the very end.

When recently asked how he wanted to be remembers, Dr. Hefner said: “As an educator who cared about black higher education and the welfare of students.”

He earned his undergraduate degree from North Carolina A&T University, his master’s degree in economics from Atlanta University, and his doctorate in economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

“My father lived a life of service to historically black colleges and universities and the students who attend them,” said Dr. David Hefner, the youngest son of Dr. Hefner and a 1993 graduate of Morehouse College. “He was an intellectual disciple of W.E.B. DuBois – a Fisk University graduate – in that he believed in the liberation that academic excellence promised to those who lived a life of service to the African American community, to truth and to humanity. So his legacy is a living one because there is still much work to do. And my father serves as an example of what service to HBCUs looks like, and we celebrate his life and legacy.”

TSU will be the site of a memorial service on Wednesday, September 2, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Poag Auditorium of the Davis Humanities Building. A reception will follow immediately afterwards in the Ferrell-Westbrook Building (the Barn). The funeral service will take place on Thursday, September 3, at 1 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 900 Broadway, downtown Nashville.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial gifts be made to the Dr. James A. Hefner Scholarship Foundation in his honor to the Tennessee State University or Morehouse College Development Offices. You may reach the TSU Foundation at 615-963-5481, for Morehouse 404-215-2660.

About Tennessee State University

With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

2015 North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine

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Tuskegee Golden Tigers preparing for Clark Atlanta September 5

COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

TUSKEGEE, Alabama  -- After an early morning practice, Tuskegee University head coach Willie Slater spoke to the media in the first weekly press conference of the season.

Slater begins his 10th year at the helm of the Golden Tigers and currently stands nine victories shy of becoming the second-winningest coach in school history.
"This has been the fastest 10 years of my life," Slater said. "It seems like everything is a blur since the last game we played, that's how fast it has gone by. It is a privilege for me to be here, this is a great institution for young men and young women."

With just nine days before the opening game against Clark Atlanta, the focus was on the offensive line and replacing the starters from last year.

"With the offensive line and tight end we are going to be brand new all the way through," Slater said. "It will be interesting to see how it unfolds. But at the same time, we have talent there we just don't have much experience. We are trying to make sure we take care of our guys, we are going to make sure we don't make our line do something they are not comfortable doing and go from there"

Although the Golden Tigers are young up front, the first three weeks of practices have been a learning experience and a chance to teach the new guys coming in. At the same time, the last week has been a week of preparation of the season opener.

"Practices are going good," Slater said. "Our guys are working hard, they are giving us good effort, and we are getting better. I can see us getting better each day, so hopefully we will be where we want to be when the time gets here. We are trying to get ready for Clark Atlanta. We don't worry about the next game, we worry about this one and we have to find a way to get through it. Our guys understand and are coming along accordingly."

The Golden Tigers were picked to win the SIAC West Division by the coaches in the preseason poll, and although Clark Atlanta is not a conference game it still a big one for Tuskegee.

"We know every time we play we are going to get the other team's best," Slater said. "We have to be ready to play. I wouldn't have it any other way to be honest. If you can win the conference with everyone putting the target on your back, then you know you deserve to win it. That is our goal every year."

Although the focus of the day was offense, Slater spoke highly about the defense and special teams before the end of the day.

"I am excited about our defense," Slater said. "We have improved ourselves on that side of the ball, particularly up front and in the secondary. We lost our two interior linemen, and we replaced those guys with two impact players. We have a lot of guys coming back on defense, including our two ends and two of our linebackers. We have had to replace some guys on defense, but the guys we have had stepped in. I am excited on seeing them play.

"At the same time I am excited about our special teams," Slater said. "We have a few guys returning the ball that will be exciting to watch, as well as our kicker."

Tickets are still available for the season opener and can be purchased by calling 334-727.8594 or 334-724-4385. Tickets are also on sale for the Whitewater Classic (September 12) in Phenix City, and the Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic (October 10) in Columbus.

Tuskegee Ranked in SBN Preseason Poll

The Sheridan Broadcasting Network released their preseason poll Tuesday morning with Tuskegee appearing in the top 10.

The Golden Tigers, coming off a 9-3 record and the SIAC championship in 2014, are the highest ranked NCAA Division II school in the poll as they are ranked seventh in the preseason. They are joined in the rankings by a pair of Division II schools, Virginia State (eighth) and Winston-Salem State (10th). The Golden Tigers are the only ranked SIAC member school in the poll.

Follow us on Twitter @MyTUAthletics and like us on Facebook for up to the minute information on Tuskegee University athletics.

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COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU impressive in final scrimmage

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- With a long and grueling preseason camp nearly behind them, the Winston-Salem State Rams had a bounce in their step Wednesday night under the lights at their practice field.

Coach Kienus Boulware watched his team go through its final scrimmage before next week’s opener at UNC Pembroke. The Rams wanted to simulate the 7 p.m. start for next week’s game and the scrimmage under the lights worked out well.

“Guys can kind of get a feel for what it will be like next week,” Boulware said.

Boulware said he saw a lot of good things, but what he loved the most was the energy level.

“I’m thinking that the night atmosphere gets the guys going a little faster, and that’s good to see,” Boulware said after the scrimmage. “And I thought the conditioning is the best that it’s been, because I see guys moving very well and not sucking wind.”



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FAMU Lady Rattler Volleyball Starts 2015 Season Today

FAMU Volleyball Game Notes

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COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

CORAL GABLES, Florida  – The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers open their 2015 season with high aspirations.  The team was picked to win the MEAC southern division, by the conference's head coaches and SIDs.  But, head coach Tony Trifonov seeks much more.  In a five year drought, the Lady Rattlers have their sights on winning the MEAC tournament.

Florida A&M received 22 first-place votes and posted a 9-1 record in the Southern Division and 13-15 overall finish last year.  The Lady Rattlers will be anchored by Pamela Soriano and 2014 All-MEAC First Team middle blocker Ginna Lopez-Chavez. Soriano, the 2014 MEAC Rookie of the Year, ranked second in the conference and 31^st in the NCAA in kills per set (4.25), and second in the MEAC and 39^th nationally in points per set (4.73). Lopez-Chavez ranked fourth in the MEAC in hitting percentage (.304) and fifth in blocks per set (0.90) and was selected to the preseason team.  Soriano was selected the MEAC preseason player of the year.

The Lady Rattlers will take on Kansas State on Friday at 5 p.m. to open the season.  That will be followed by Saturday matches with the University of Miami (12;30 p.m.) and Illinois State (5:30 p.m.).

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

from THE EDITOR DWIGHT FLOYD: Is FAMU Divided?

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Used to be that football games against Bethune Cookman were no contest. Competing wasn’t about the game. It was about getting together and having a good time.

Now that the Wildcats have become a big rival most of us hate losing to them even in marbles. Make no mistake though. We can butt heads on the field or in the gymnasium. We can debate history and quarrel over who is the best. Yet, at the end of the day you had better not harm a Wildcat or you’ll have to face me because after all, when all is said and done they are my brothers and sisters.

Such is the case with the Rattler family.  Yes, we are quarreling and we don’t know how to handle it. It’s the tar baby effect. We are bewildered and frustrated about what we see unfolding. Once you voice an opinion about it you get stuck in the conversation trying to defend your point of view. We all know we are right in our opinion and are confident we know where to st
and on an issue. It is called being stubborn.

People say that Floyd men are stubborn, but being a Floyd man I just don’t see it!

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UAPB’s Rucker wins 2015 Walter Payton Achievement Award

COURTESY SWAC.ORG

ORLANDO, Florida  --  The winners of the eighth annual Walter Payton Achievement Award, which is given to one player from each team participating in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, were announced today by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. The 11^th annual game, which showcases and celebrates teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, will feature the South Carolina State University Bulldogs of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 6, at the newly renovated Orlando Citrus Bowl and will be televised live on ESPN.

The 2015 Walter Payton Achievement Award winners, voted on by students and fans, are South Carolina State senior tight end Temarrick Hemingway and Arkansas-Pine Bluff redshirt senior safety Kevin Rucker Jr.

First presented in 2008, the Walter Payton Achievement Award is named in honor of the late Walter Payton, a former All-American at Jackson State University (1971 to 1974) and Professional Football Hall of Fame running back who spent his entire NFL career (1975 to 1987) with the Chicago Bears. The award recognizes exemplary student-athletes, shining a light on character and embodiment of team spirit.

Finalists are selected by a committee consisting of academic advisers and coaches from the two participating schools. Voting, open on the MEAC/SWAC Challenge website to students, fans, alumni and fans for a month leading up to the game, closed Wednesday, Aug. 26. Award winners are celebrated at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge kickoff banquet at the Walt Disney World Resort. The award, to be given out this year on Friday, Sept. 4, is regularly presented by Walter Payton’s son, Jarrett Payton.

Past winners of the Walter Payton Achievement Award include, for 2014: Alan Cruz, Alabama A&M, and Quentin Todd, North Carolina A&T State University; 2013: Jonathan Pillow, Florida A&M University, and Kevin Eugene, Mississippi Valley State University; 2012: Bobby Wenzig, Alabama State University, and Arlen McCray-Nibbs, Bethune-Cookman University; 2011: Nesly Marcellon, Bethune-Cookman University, and Raheem Cardwell, Prairie View A&M University; 2010: Kevin Green, Delaware State University, and Gary Hollimon, Southern University; 2009: Van Phillips, Grambling State University, and Zachary Middleton, South Carolina State University; 2008: Kevin Teel, Hampton University, and Marcus Smith, Jackson State University.

Tickets for the game are available via Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. Special packages for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and Walt Disney World Theme Park admission can be purchased via this link. For travel packages that include resort accommodations, game tickets, theme park tickets and much more, visit AnthonyTravel.com/MEACSWAC or call 1-888-632-6951. The MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN. For more information, visit meacswacchallenge.com.

 

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VUU Fans to get Sneak Peek of 2015 Football Team

RICHMOND, Virginia -- Fans of Virginia Union University football will get a sneak peek at the 2015 team when the inaugural "Panther Walk" takes place at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 28, on the VUU Campus in Richmond, Va.

The football team, led by head coach Mark James, will walk from the Belgium Building to the Dr. Claude G. Perkins Living & Learning Center during the event.

The VUU Marching Band and the cheerleaders, the Rah Rahs, will accompany the team on the premiere walk.

Then on Saturday, August 29, the Panthers will take to the Historic Hovey Field turf in the final pre-season scrimmage.



The inter-squad scrimmage will begin at 1 p.m., but members of the team, including pre-season All-American Addison Hayes, will start signing autographs and posters at 10 a.m. in Hovey Field that same day.

Admission is free to all!  Come join the Panthers for this historic walk and see what's in store for the 2015 season!  VUU finished 7-3 in 2014 and looks to dethrone defending CIAA Champion Virginia State University for the CIAA crown this season!

Virginia Union kicks off the 2015 season when the Panthers meet Brevard College at 1 p.m. in Hovey Field in Richmond, Va.

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JCSU Continues Partnership with AM 1450 WGNC

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- For the seventh consecutive year, all 10 Johnson C. Smith University football games will be broadcast on AM 1450 WGNC.

The 1,000 watt station, located in nearby Gastonia, N.C. reaches into the Charlotte market and provides JCSU with another valuable tool to highlight Golden Bulls Athletics.

WGNC Owner and General Manager Scott Neisler once again looks forward to the start of football season. "We're excited to continue our partnership with JCSU athletics and to the start of the upcoming football season," he said. "We're Golden Bulls through and through and we enjoy bringing JCSU football and other top-notch programming to the fans of the Gold and Blue."

Dave Friedman will once again be charged with providing play-by-play duties. Josh Diggs will join Friedman in the booth providing color commentary.

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WSSU’s Massey: a burly back with speed

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- A year ago, Tyree Massey was not an every-down running back at Winston-Salem State. Instead, he was a key element in a three-player rotation which totaled 1,555 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.

Although Massey was third on the depth chart, he made the most of his opportunities – 402 yards, six touchdowns and he averaged 5.4 yards per carry. With the departure of seniors Maurice Lewis and Mustafa Greene, Massey figures to be the featured Rams runner coming out of the backfield this season.

“I’m ready for the challenge,” said Massey, a senior from Bunnlevel. “Things went real well during the off-season. I stayed here all summer and worked out. As a result, I came to this year’s training camp in real good shape and I’m ready to go.”

Look for the Rams to give opponents a healthy dose of Massey at tailback all season long. And for good reason. At 5-feet-11, 240 pounds, he’s a punishing runner between the tackles. But that’s just one aspect of his game. Massey said his best time in the 40-yard dash is 4.7 seconds. Yet, he looks much faster under game conditions. Aside from that, he’s agile, elusive and rarely goes down after initial contact.



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Tyreece Brown Names FSU Head Cross Country Coach

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  --  Fayetteville State University Athletics has announced Tyreece Brown as the head men’s and women’s cross country coach for the upcoming 2015 season. This will be Brown’s first collegiate head coaching opportunity.

Brown has worked with FSU Athletics since his appointment as assistant women’s basketball coach in 2012. He was named athletics facility manager in 2014. Brown has been a volunteer assistant for cross country in previous seasons.

“The focus of the program is to compete at a championship level,” said Brown. “Our team this year is full of strong, motivated runners. Our student-athletes have been pushing themselves and each other in preparation for this upcoming season. Our program definitely has a championship mindset.”

Brown is a native of Philadelphia, PA and a 2008 graduate of Fayetteville State. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Brown later completed his master’s degree in Business with a Leadership concentration from Liberty University in 2013.

He was a two-year starter for the men’s basketball program and former cross country student-athlete. Brown served as a captain on the 2005 FSU men’s basketball team, which advanced to the CIAA Championship Game.  In his role with women’s basketball, Brown is primarily responsible for backcourt development and recruiting.

FSU men’s and women’s cross country have five meets scheduled before the 2015 CIAA Championships. Both teams open the season on September 4th at the Catawba College/Chik-Fil-A Invitational held at Salisbury Community Park in Salisbury, NC.

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Presumption of Innocence: Football player in Vanderbilt rape case signs with Lane College

Brandon Banks is a local kid from Gwynn Park High School in Brandywine, located in Southern Prince George's County, Maryland. 

JACKSON, Tennessee -- Brandon Banks, a Vanderbilt football player dismissed from the team two years ago and charged with rape, has been admitted to Lane College, President Logan Hampton said Monday night.

Lane head football coach Derrick Burroughs said Banks, a defensive back, is signing to join the Lane football team and is on campus.

Banks is accused with three other Vanderbilt football players in a June 2013 rape. He is charged with five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. His lawyer has entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, and Banks is awaiting trial.  

Hampton said he and the school’s chaplain and executive vice president, the Rev. Dr. Moses Goldmon, asked themselves what good the college could do in this situation.

“If the church isn’t open to him, who is?” Hampton said. He later added, “The church has an opportunity and an obligation to try to do what it can.”

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New coach, but expect more of the same from MEAC power Bethune-Cookman

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman University only had to go down the hallway to complete its national search for a football coach.

Now it’s Terry Sims’ turn to maintain, if not improve, the Wildcats’ prominence.

As an assistant to Brian Jenkins — who left for Alabama State — for the previous five years, Sims was a logical and popular choice. While he intends to make his own thumbprint on a program that has won or shared a piece of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title for the past three years, B-CU never lost a step in the transition.

“It makes it easier on the players,” Sims said. “We’ve all been around each other for a while. I know all their little quirks.

“We all take ownership of this team.”



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Southern settles depth chart

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern began the preseason with few doubts about who would be in its starting lineup.

Now that the preseason is winding down, the few preseason competitions at the top of the Jaguars depth chart seemed to have been settled — at least for the time being.

Performances in games and in practice can always produce promotions and demotions, but barring something unforeseen between now and Sept. 5, Southern seems to have settled on its first unit for the opener at Louisiana Tech.

Junior Nicholas McDonald, a native of New Orleans and incoming transfer from Southwest Mississippi Community College, has passed Blake Monroe as the starter at strong safety. That spot was unexpectedly thrown into a competition when incumbent starter Bryan Anderson was declared academically ineligible before the start of preseason camp.

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Southern’s Greg Pittman gets a kick out of extra duties

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Greg Pittman keeps telling Southern coach Dawson Odums he can do more than just place-kick.

Adding punting duties might not be everything Pittman has in mind, but it’s a start, and Pittman is expected to handle place-kicks, kickoffs and punts for the Jaguars when they open the season Sept. 5 at Louisiana Tech.

“Pittman’s a different guy,” Odums said. “He keeps telling me those guys aren’t just punters or kickers, they’re football players. They keep telling me they’re an elite group of performers, too.”

While the team was reviewing film recently, Pittman bristled when Odums chided one of Pittman’s teammates for being tackled by an opposing kicker.

“He was giving one guy a hard time for not being able to shake the kicker because we’re the worst athletes on the team and I said, ‘Coach, you must be crazy,’ Pittman said with a smile. ‘You had to see my tackle in the SWAC championship and you had to see my two-point conversion two years ago at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.’ ”

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100 Black Men of Atlanta Teams Up With ESPN to Highlight the Excitement of HBCU Football With the New Celebration Bowl

The Celebration Bowl will pit champions from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) against the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga.

ATLANTA, Georgia --  The 100 Black Men of Atlanta has teamed up with ESPN to promote a new, best-in-class Historically Black College and University (HBCU) football postseason bowl game.

The Celebration Bowl, a championship style game, will pit the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion against the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champion on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga. The inaugural game will kick off at noon ET and be televised nationally on ABC.  The game will be the first bowl game of the 2015-16 bowl season.

“We are excited about our multi-year relationship with ESPN,” said 100 Black Men of Atlanta Chairman Bill Lamar, who added that the 100 will forego the 2015 Atlanta Football Classic. “We see a new horizon in the world of HBCU football and look forward to beginning a new tradition with ESPN.  Our organization is committed to mentoring and educating our black youth and this bowl game gives us yet another opportunity to innovate in the arena of HBCU sports while supporting our community.”

As it did with the Atlanta Football Classic for almost three decades, the 100 will manage the game’s ancillary events, which will include a Youth Symposium, Robotics Showcase, College Fair, Job Fair and Fan Experience.

Added Lamar: “Fans can expect a highly competitive football game supported by our exciting Fan Experience events.”

“We are excited to work with the 100 Black Men of Atlanta in building a quality postseason experience for not only the MEAC and SWAC but for the Atlanta community,” said Pete Derzis, senior vice president, ESPN Events. “The Celebration Bowl will build on the traditions and legacy of black college football, and we hope that fans across the country will take advantage of this experience.”

Owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, the Celebration Bowl will provide fans a first-class bowl experience while continuing to celebrate the legacy, values and traditions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

For more information about the Celebration Bowl, visit www.TheCelebrationBowl.com and follow on Twitter and Facebook

About the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc.
The mission of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. is to provide support and improve the quality of life for African Americans, and youth in particular, in the Atlanta Community. Over 200 committed and engaged members give their time, talent and money to help youth overcome obstacles every day.
For more information about the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc., go to www.100blackmen.org.



ESPN Events

​ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; 13 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 250-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 700,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Boca Raton, Boise, Birmingham, Dallas-Fort Worth, Albuquerque, St. Petersburg and Las Vegas, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

Culver column: Are the Florida A&M Rattlers ready?

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Is Florida A&M ready for the 2015 football season?

I actually hear that question quite a bit from readers, folks on social media and random passersby. Usually they’re people in orange and green. They’re the fans who know I see practices and talk with head coach Alex Wood on a regular basis.

“How them Rattlers lookin’?”

“Is the team going to be ready for Sept. 5?”

“What do you think of the coaches?”

The 2015 Rattlers — even though many of the same players are on the team — will be completely different from what fans saw in 2014. The intensity of the coaches has affected the majority of the players, and it’s obvious the team is playing to erase whatever memories remain from last season.

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Alcorn State Final Scrimmage Ends Fall Camp

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Head Coach Jay Hopson recaps final scrimmage of fall camp. Defensive Coordinator Tony Pecoraro and Offensive Coordinator Fred Kaiss discusses unit performance during their scrimmage under the lights.



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Alabama A&M Bulldogs name football captains

NORMAL, Alabama – A pair of seniors, a junior and a sophomore have been named team captains for the Alabama A&M football team.

The captains were selected in a vote of their teammates.

Seniors Brandon Eldemire and Anthony Lanier, junior Tevin McKenzie and redshirt sophomore Bryan Brower will represent the Bulldogs during the pre-game coin flips and other duties on and off the field this season.

For Brower, a 5-10, 220-pound linebacker, it is a repeat honor – he was a team captain last season. The graduate of Stanhope Elmore High School near Montgomery was the team's leading tackler in 2014 with 46 solo tackles and 37 assists.

Lanier, 6-6, 265 pounds, is a first-team all-Southwestern Athletic Conference defensive lineman. The Savannah, Ga., product graduated from H.V Jenkins High School. He was second in tackles with 37 solo and 17 assists. Lanier had 18 tackles for loss for minus-74 yards, broke up four passes, forced two fumbles and blocked a kick.

Eldemire, at 5-10, 180 pounds, was second on the team in rushing last year with 530 yards – including a team-longest 63-yard run - and six touchdowns. He hails from Miami, Fla., and is a graduate of Dr. Krop Senior High School.

McKenzie, a 5-10, 190-pound wide receiver, had nearly 400 yards receiving with two touchdowns and another 226 yards in kickoff returns last year. He is a graduate of Murphy High School in Mobile.

The Bulldogs open the 2015 season on Sept. 5 at the University of Cincinnati. The game will be carried on ESPN3 with a 6 p.m. (Central Time) kickoff.

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NCAA adds TSU as Host Institution for 2016 Men’s Final Four

HOUSTON, Texas -- The NCAA Men's Basketball Committee has approved the addition of Texas Southern University as a host institution for the 2016 Men's Final Four, according to an announcement today from the Houston Local Organizing Committee (HLOC).

Along with the University of Houston and Rice University, Texas Southern will be a key component in planning, organizing and executing the city-wide event to be held April 1-4, 2016.

This marks the first time in the history of the Final Four that three institutions have collaborated to host the NCAA's largest championship.

"Texas Southern continues to be an important institution in our city and our region and we felt like it only made sense to add them as a host along with University of Houston and Rice," said Houston Local Organizing Committee Chair, Tony Chase. "In a city this size and this diverse in its population and students, it will take all the qualified resources we have to execute at the level we are planning. Texas Southern President Dr. John Rudley and Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Charles McClelland have shown a great interest in this event and we know they will be bring great resources and energy to help deliver the best Final Four ever."

"We are thrilled to have Texas Southern join University of Houston and Rice as tri-hosts for the next Final Four," said NCAA vice president of men's basketball, Dan Gavitt. "Texas Southern is a terrific school with nearly 90 years of history of providing a quality education to its students. Dr. Rudley and his leadership team will be a tremendous asset to the NCAA and the city of Houston as we work together to stage one of America's greatest sporting events."

"With our basketball programs having participated in the last two NCAA men's basketball championships, we feel like we understand this tournament and can help deliver a great experience for the student-athletes who will travel here," said Texas Southern President John Rudley." "We are thrilled to have been asked by the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee and the HLOC to participate as a host institution."

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Prairie View A&M Football 2K15 Day 21

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ASU Jenkins Discusses Tuskegee Announcement

MONTGOMERY, Alabama --  Alabama State University head football coach Brian Jenkins held his weekly press conference today (Wednesday) and most of the questions from the local media were in connection with the announcement earlier in the day of the ASU-Tuskegee football game beginning play again in 2017.

"It's really exciting," Jenkins said.  "It's something me and Athletic Director (Melvin) Hines have been discussing for a long time and I know he has been working on it behind the scenes very hard and has been very diligent in getting it done.  I was very excited to see that we got the deal done and look forward to renewing this great rivalry."

The Hornets and Tigers will face each other on Sept. 2, 2017, in the season opener for both teams. The teams last played in the opening of ASU Stadium before a sellout crowd on Nov. 22, 2012, in the 89^th Turkey Day Classic.

"I am pleased to announce the renewal of our football rivalry with Tuskegee," Alabama State University President Dr. Gwendolyn E. Boyd said. "This contest dates back to 1924 and has provided wonderful opportunities for fans on both sides to enjoy a longstanding tradition of spirited competition, as well as the reunions of families and friends. We look forward to welcoming the Tigers back to The ASU Stadium in 2017."

The two teams will also play on Sept. 1, 2018, Sept. 7, 2019, and Sept. 5, 2020, with all games played at The ASU Stadium.

Jenkins is not the only one that is very excited about the rivalry kicking off again, as he has had many of the Hornet faithful approach him to let him know about their excitement even though he knows he can't think about those future games just yet.

"I've had to stay away from that a little bit," Jenkins said.  "I don't want to lose focus on a very important opponent we have coming up in Tennessee State.  They are a team that needs all of our focus."

"I have talked to them (fans) briefly about it, because the rivalry is a great rivalry and it has had some great moments in the past and we can have some great moments in the future."

Even with most of the talk on today's Tuskegee announcement, the Hornets are only 11 days away from their season-opener against Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic in Nashville.

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Grambling looks for continued improvement

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- After making strides last year, the Grambling State Tigers aim to continue their progress in year two under Head Coach Broderick Fobbs.

Taking over at his alma mater, Fobbs inherited a team coming off of unprecedented one-victory campaigns. Regrouping from an 0-3 start, the G-Men rattled off seven straight victories en route to a 7-5, 7-2 finish.

GSU's six-victory improvement did not go unnoticed. Edging out Southern by two points, the Tigers were picked to win the SWAC West in the conference's preseason media poll.

Riding the arm of Johnathan Williams, the Tigers ranked 12th nationally while leading the SWAC in passing with 277.2 yards per game.

GSU was fourth in the league in scoring with 32.2 points per game and sixth in total offense with 403.9 ypg.

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