FAMU 's National Signing Day Recruits

Head Rattler, Coach Joe Taylor is poised for a championship '09 season with a talented incoming class.

RATTLER RECRUITING RECAP: Florida A&M signed 15 players in their 2009 recruiting class, 13 of whom are from the Sunshine State....... Six (6) of the players are transfers, including five I-A imports from East Carolina, Marshall, South Carolina, Florida State and Illinois - all of whom originally hail from Florida.

COACH JOE TAYLOR COMMENTS: "We used a three-prong approach in our recruiting - Division I-A and junior college transfers, high school prospects, as well as looking within at redshirts already within the program - to give scholarships to....

"We ended up with about 15 or so newcomers total and we are satisfied that we met our needs, particularly on our offensive and defensive lines.... Since we lost only five seniors, we didn't have many pressing needs, but we felt that getting some experienced hands (from I-A ranks) could only be a plus for us....

"We still place a lot of emphasis on high school recruiting, which is the backbone of any successful program, and it is especially important for us to develop and maintain relationships with the high school programs in the state and region."

2009 Florida A&M Football Newcomers

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Class. Hometown/High School/College or JUCO
Chirstopher Atkins DE 6-5 260 r-So. Quincy, Fla./E. Carolina
Corey Atkins RB 5-11 193 Fr. Madison, Fla./Madison HS
Jerod Brisbom LB 6-1 215 Fr. Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough HS
Jay Culpepper LS 6-5 290 r-Jr. Madison, Fla./Florida State
Brandon Curry OT 6-6 320 r-Fr. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Marshall
Brandon Davis OL 6-3 290 r-So. Jacksonville, Fla./Illinois
Jonathan Ferrell LB 6-1 200 r-Fr. Tallahassee, Fla. / FAMU DRS
Trevon Fleshmon TE/DE 6-2 235 Fr. Jacksonville, Fla./Forrest HS
Bobby Jackson OLB 6-2 225 Fr. Miami, Fla./Miami Jackson HS
Rodeshawn Joseph CB 6-1 170 Fr. Ft Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson HS
Abraham Muhieze S 6-1 205 Jr. San Diego, Calif./Grossmount College
Jamil Parris DE 6-5 230 r-Jr. Vero Beach, Fla./Kentucky
Harrison Sweeting LB 6-4 235 Fr. Jacksonville, Fla./Ed White HS
Daniel Walker P 5-11 180 r-So. Wakulla , Fla./Wakulla HS
Jerry Willis DL 6-4 280 So. Chicago, Ill.

Recruiting Class Profile

Name Pos Ht Wt Hometown / Previous School
Chris Atkins DE /LB 6-5 255 Quincy, Fla./East Carolina
Transfer from East Carolina. Graduate from West Gadsden where he was a five-sport letterman and versatile athlete playing S, LB and DE. HS Career totals: 380 tackles, 43 sacks, 114 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two block punts.

Corey Atkins RB 5-11 193 Madison, Fla. / Madison HS
This Madison HS standout has blazing speed and a power clocking 4.4..rated a three star recruit by Scout.com. Atkins rushed for over 1700 yds, 24 Touchdowns and was Second-Team all state in Class 2A.

Jerod Brisbom LB 6-1 215 Tampa, Fla. /Hillsborough HS
This Hillsborough HS product was their top LB for three consecutive seasons… Recorded over 100 tackles for three straight seasons… career stats 316 tackles, 13 sacks, 7 FF…Recruited by Iowa State, Bethune Cookman University, FIU.

Jay Culpeper OL/LS 6-5 290 Madison, Fla. /Florida State
This Madison county high school graduate and was on the state championship team. Versatile offensive lineman and Long Snapper with a great upside considering size….Culpepper will compete in Special Teams for snapping duties in 2009… four-year letterman at Madison HS… played two seasons at FSU, Criminal justice major.

Brandon Curry OL 6-6 305 Lauderdale, Fla. / Marshall University
Transfer from Marshall University. HS: Sun Sentinel & Miami Herald First-Team All County both Jr and Sr Year. First-Team All-State class 6A as a senior. Rated # 14 recruit out of broward county, no sacks allowed for two consecutive years, Army vs Navy all American game, selected for Dade vs broward all star game in 2007.

Brandon Davis OL 6-4 285 Jacksonville, Fla./Illinois
Highly touted offensive lineman from Jacksonville Fl. 4 star recruit, selected to play in Shrine Bowl, All Conference, Captain of Shrine Bowl, Top 5 offensive lineman in Florida. Recruited by FSU, Miami, Illinois, Tennessee, Ole Miss, WVU, FIU and FAU.

Jonathan Ferrell S 6-0 195 Tallahassee, Fla./FAMU DRS
Gray shirt sophomore from FAMU high school. Recorded 112 tackles his sr year along with 3 int, 2 ff and 7 sacks. Versatile player who can also line up at LB, was Second-Team All State in 2007 and also led the baby rattlers to 2007 state championship.

Trevon Fleshmon TE/DE 6-2 235 Jacksonville, Fla./Forrest HS
First-team TE shrine bowl, First-team all county selection, nominated for Army vs Navy all star game, First-team all state selection.4.5 speed TE with Career stats totaling 67 receptions, 17 TDs, 43 pancakes blocks; on defense 63 tackles, seven sacks…considered one of the top wrestlers in Florida, Fleshman only loss three matches in High School…Recruited by East Carolina, FIU, UCF and Arkansas State…Criminal justice major.

Bobby Jackson OLB 6-2 225 Miami, Fla. / Miami Jackson HS
Recorded 103 Tackles, 18 sacks (school record), 4 FF, 2 Ints, Miami Dade All Dade team. Sr season defensive captain, boasts 4.5 speed, honor student with 3.5 gpa….interests by East Carolina , Marshall, FIU and FAU.

Rodeshawn Joseph CB 6-1 170 Ft Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson HS
Aggressive player and lock down corner with great upside. Selected Broward county all star team, and played in Dade vs Broward game. Recorded 73 tackles, 4 int. Defensive captain during senior season….top 100 athlete in state of Florida... Business Management major.

Abraham Muhieze S 6-1 205 San Diego, Calif./Grossmont College
Juco transfer from Grossmont college in CA where he was the team captain and recorded 136 tackles, seven int , one ret for td, two FF, three blocked punts in one game Totaled five blocked punts in his career at Grossmont.. In HS, was versatile athlete who played QB/S… career stats Passed for 4,000 yds and 1300 yds rushing (which is a CA record for total yardages) 56 total touchdowns 43 passing and 13 rushing. At Safety, recorded 118 tackles, 10 Ints (3 returned for a TD)…First-Team All American, First-Team All State, Red Zone Player of the Year…recruited by Idaho State, Montana State, Texas State Major in Kinesiology.

Jamil Paris DE/LB 6-5 245 Gifford, Fla./Kentucky
Transfer from University of Kentucky where he played as a true freshman where he recorded 4 sacks, 23 tackles…recorded sack versus Chris Leak in Music city Bowl 2006…HS Sabastian River High where he was the #1 Wk DE in Florida, #13 in the Nation and Florida's top 100 at # 57….career totals 31 sacks, 113 tackles, 23 tkfls in just two seasons.

Harrison Sweeting LB 6-4 235 Jacksonville, Fla. / Ed White HS
Recorded 6 sacks, 93 tackles and 1 int…career stats 167 tackles 13 sacks…honorable mention all state.

Daniel “Troy” Walker P 6-0 195 Wakulla, Fla./Wakulla HS
Grey shirt sophomore with tremendous leg power…HS 2007 Wakulla High First-Team All State, First-Team All Big Bend as a Punter averaging 42.1 yds per punt… also Rushed for seven TDs, while playing Running Back at Wakulla…Undefeated wrestling title and was First-Team All Big Bend in wrestling.

Jerry Willis DT 6-4 295 Chicago, Ill. /
Who has tremendous upside at DT. Former all conference at FB/DT…Willis also received interest from Kentucky State, Grambling and Tenn State.

Morgan State Announces 2009 Football Signees

MSU Sports Information

BALTIMORE, Md. – Morgan State University head football coach Donald Hill-Eley announced the signing of nine (9) high school and D-I transfers on National Signing Day. Overall, the nine (9) signees included three (3) linebackers, two (2) defensive backs, one (1) offensive lineman, one (1) wide receivers, one (1) running back and one (1) defensive lineman. The Bears signed seven (7) from high school and two (2) JUCO transfers.

2009 National Letter of Intent Signees

Antonio Brown 6’2 – 290, OL
Dunbar HS - Baltimore, Md.
…50 pancakes…78 tackles…7 sacks…anchored a line that won three State Championships…cleared the way for the state's premiere rusher and scorer in West Virginia-bound Tavon Austin…First Team All-State…First Team All-Metro…First Team All-Digital Sport…Black National Football Scholar of the Year.

Anthony Elliott 5’11 – 180, WR
Friendship Edison HS – Washington, D.C.
…44 receptions…785 yards…11 TDs…5 INTs…Two defensive TDs…4 TD Returns…First team All-Washington Post Independent League…Washington DC All-City Bowl.

Collin Bing 5’11 – 170, RB
Glenn Hills HS – Hephzibah, Ga.
…80 carries…700 yards…20 receptions…325 rec. yards…10 TDs…50 tackles…5 interceptions…3 forced fumbles…Second team All-Area…Three time Offensive MVP.

Zachary Harper 6’3 – 210, LB
Gwynn Park HS – Brandywine, Md.
…90 tackles…11 tackles for loss…16 sacks…4 interceptions…TD…First Team All-Prince George’s County…2009 Crab Bowl…All-Metro…All-State.

Brian Saunders 6’1 – 225, LB
Northern Iowa Community College – West Palm Beach, Fla.
…98 tackles…6 sacks…20 tackles for loss…two fumble recoveries…three forced fumbles…First Team All-Region…First Team All-Conference

Lance Simmons 6’1 – 225, LB
Carman Ainsworth HS – Flint, Mich.
…105 tackles…7 sacks…Second Team All-State…Team Defensive MVP…Ainsworth Big Stick Award.

Montique Allen 6’2 – 285, DL
John Marshall HS – Chicago, Ill.
…36 sacks…104 tackles (39 assisted)…10 tackles for loss…Three time All-City…Two time All-Conference…2008 All-State.

Derrick Kinchen 5’11 – 165, DB
Coral Gables HS – Miami, Fla.
…45 tackles…10 pass breakups…3 forced fumbles…First Team All-Miami Dade…Dade County All-Star Team.

Kirkland Davidson 5’9 – 185, DB
Northern Iowa Community College – Highland Park, N.J.
…30 tackles…5 pass breakups…800 return.

18 recruits bolster DSU on offense and defense

DOVER, DE -- Delaware State University football coach Al Lavan unveiled a list of 18 newcomers who he hopes will put the Hornets back in the mix for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title in 2009. The Hornets announced Wednesday that they have signed 13 high school seniors to National Letters of Intent and added three junior college transfers and two Division I transfers to their roster. Lavan seemed pleased with the early returns of his class, which is represented by nine different states, including four players from Virginia.

"This is the strongest class both academically and athletically that we've had," said Lavan. "This is the first year that we have had significant improvement in the quality of recruits entering this program. "We are excited about the ability to stabilize some areas on offense, defense and special teams. The mid-years [students already enrolled at DSU] will come in and add to our team. In the long run, a class like this will help strengthen many of our positions."

The Division I transfers, quarterback Chris Johnson from Boston College and running back Tahree McQueen from Cincinnati, have the promise to fight for starting jobs immediately. Both players redshirted during the 2007 season and did not play in 2008. Johnson (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) and McQueen (5-10, 200) are enrolled at Delaware State.

DSU FOOTBALL'S 2009 RECRUITING CLASS

George Bansah, defensive lineman, 6-1, 265, Potomac (Va.)
Aaron Boyd, offensive tackle, 6-5, 325, Fork Union Military Academy (Va.)
Kyle Brown, kicker, 5-10, 160, Laurel
Brandon Cunningham, center, 6-2, 260, Rancocas Valley (N.J.)
Quinton Fortes, defensive end, 6-3, 230, South Lakes (Va.)
Darryl Hicks, offensive tackle, 6-4, 300, Hudson Valley (N.Y.) CC
Geoff Hicks, wide receiver, 6-5, 200, Alfred State (N.Y.) JC
Jadira Green, defensive tackle, 6-4, 300, Oxon Hill (D.C.)
Chris Johnson, quarterback, 6-2, 215, Boston College
Kristian Johnson, tight end, 6-3, 255, Bonner (Pa.)
Ryan Langdon, tight end, 6-4, 235, Father Judge (Pa.)
Byron Lewis, defensive lineman, 6-2, 240, Tallwood (Va.)
Tahree McQueen, running back, 5-10, 200, Cincinnati
Oscar Palmer, defensive back, 5-9, 180, Pierce (Cal.) JC
Aaron Richardson, defensive lineman, 6-1, 230, St. John's (D.C.)
Ernest Robinson, defensive lineman, 6-1, 295, Gwynn Park (Md.)

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Delaware State at Michigan football game set for '09

DSU Coach Al Lavan takes a giant step in facing Michigan Wolverines at Ann Arbor in '09.

Oct. 17 contest gives Michigan a 12th game

ANN ARBOR, MI -- The Michigan football team finalized its 2009 schedule with the addition of Delaware State, a historically black college. Delaware State will fill the Oct. 17 slot in Michigan's 12-game regular season, a source within the athletic department confirmed. Delaware State is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, and is a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly Division I-AA, team.

Delaware State's coach, Al Lavan, was an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan and also spent 18 seasons in the NFL as an assistant.

Lavan became coach at Delaware State in 2004. In 2007, the Hornets won 10 games and the MEAC championship, the school's first since 1991. Last season, Delaware State was 5-6. Delaware State will be the second FCS school Michigan has played in three years. Appalachian State stunned the Wolverines, 34-32, in the 2007 season opener.

Michigan's 12-game schedule now features nonconference games at Western Michigan in the Sept. 5 opener, Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan and Delaware State, all at Michigan Stadium.

2009 U-M schedule
Date Opponent
Sept. 5 Western Michigan
Sept. 12 Notre Dame
Sept. 19 Eastern Michigan
Sept. 26 Indiana
Oct. 3 at Michigan State
Oct. 10 at Iowa
Oct. 17 Delaware State
Oct. 24 Penn State
Oct. 31 at Illinois
Nov. 7 Purdue
Nov. 14 at Wisconsin
Nov. 21 Ohio State

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The Hornets are making a helluva step-up from Kent State and Central Connecticut State, who beat, DSU 24-3 and 28-10 respectively, in '08. But how many opportunities will the Hornets get to play a $50 million BCS football program (MI 2005/06 football revenue) chock full of Rivals.com 4-5 star recruits--before 111,000 at the Big House? Michigan will pull in $5 million for this home game alone in ticket sales and that's after cutting a check for $400,000 to DSU.

You will have to make this game, as it will be one of the greatest experiences in MEAC history. The Hornets, with a student enrollment of 3,500, average less than 4,000 at their on campus Alumni Stadium that seats around 7,000 for football games.

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N.C. State one stop on long road tour for N.C. Central

Eagles learning hard lesson on road

N.C. Central coach Henry Dickerson said that if his players can get through this season, they will be able to handle just about any hurdle they face in life. In its second season of Division I basketball, N.C. Central is traveling 25,344 miles for 21 road games in 14 states, including today's 7 p.m. game at N.C. State. The Eagles have scheduled seven teams from BCS conferences, including Wake Forest, South Carolina and Miami. When injuries hit on top of everything else, a dismal record became almost inevitable for N.C. Central.

The Eagles are 2-22 and ranked last among the 347 Division I men's teams in the Sagarin computer ratings through Sunday's games. NCCU was 4-26 last season. "No matter what they go through in life, this will truly prepare them," Dickerson said of his players. "It seems to me that everybody should go through it to see what it's like." N.C. Central was hurting before it even played its opener. Projected starting forwards Lamar Pittman and Dami Sapara suffered season-ending knee injuries.

In the Eagles' most recent game against Savannah State, 6-foot-9 center Stevy Worah-Ozimo broke an arm. The Eagles are a virtually guaranteed win for many of their opponents, which enrich N.C. Central's athletics budget for playing on the road without demanding a return trip. N.C. State (11-8) will pay N.C. Central $50,000 for playing at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Dickerson said players spend so much time on buses and jets that he has to cut short practice in order for them to keep up with their school work.

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Cleveland Cavaliers Sign Trey Johnson of Bakersfield Jam

NEW YORK - The Cleveland Cavaliers today signed Trey Johnson of the Bakersfield Jam, making him the seventh GATORADE Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season and the 126th overall since the league began play in 2001. Johnson is the first member of the Jam to earn a call-up this season. Johnson, a 6-6 guard, has appeared in and started 25 games for the Jam this season where he averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 39.2 minutes. Johnson scored in double-digits 23 times this season, including three games where he scored 30 or more points.

For his efforts this season, Johnson earned the right to play in the 2009 NBA D-League All-Star game which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14 on Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by Adidas. Johnson will need to be active on an NBA D-League roster in order to participate.

A two-year contributor at Jackson State, Johnson averaged 27.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 35 games during his senior season (2006-07) when he was named All-SWAC Player of the Year, also earning a spot on the NABC All-NCAA District 8 1st team, and SWAC Tournament MVP honors.

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Georgetown's Gadsden- Gilliard make college pick--SCSU

One of the area's top uncommitted prospect made his college choice on the final weekend before Wednesday's National Signing Day. Georgetown standout Kinard Gadsden-Gilliard will play both football and basketball at South Carolina State, Georgetown coach Tyronne Davis said. Gadsden-Gilliard will sign a football scholarship with MEAC champion S.C. State, Davis said. The Bulldogs will allow Gadsden-Gilliard to also play basketball.

"They made him a good offer," Davis said. "Kinard really is a good football player. He can play both sports, but I think for his size, he'll be a good college football player." Gadsden-Gilliard, a 6-foot-5, 235 pounder, was the Toast of the Coast Basketball Player of the Year as a junior and was named a North-South All-Star in football as a senior. Gadsden-Gilliard will play tight end and likely forward at S.C. State.

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Former Hornet Roy Bright expected to sign with Australian Basketball League

THE Albury-Wodonga Bandits are poised to add what will be the marquee attractions for this year’s squad. The Border club is expected to announce by the end of this week the signing of US import Fernandez Lockett and possibly fellow American Roy Bright.

Lockett, a 194cm forward, averaged 10.7 points and 6.8 rebounds for Austin Peay State University last year and was the Governors’ leading rebounder during the past two seasons. Bandits coach James Madigan said Lockett was athletic and if signed, would excite fans with his explosive ability. “No one is an absolute definite right now but Lockett is the one we would like to have,” Madigan said. “I’ll be talking to the committee over the next couple of days about two imports.

“At this stage, getting some Australian NBL players is too far off. “We need to make some decisions now as the immigration process now takes a bit longer than it did before so we need to act in the next couple of days if we’re going to bring the Americans in. “One is 6-5, the other 6-6 and they can play both forward spots. Because I’m not going to bring in a whole new team, we’re going to need players who are extremely versatile.”

The other potential signing, Bright, averaged 19.1 points and 5.3 boards as a senior at Delaware State University last year. The 197cm swingman was rated highly enough to have the Philadelphia 76ers invite him to a pre-draft workout before the 2008 NBA draft. He was also the second pick in the US CBA draft by the East Kentucky Miners and has also played in the US NBDL as well as in the Dominican Republic and Latvia.

Roy Bright Highlights


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FOOTBALL RECRUITING: ASU attempts to put minds at ease about probation

Few people know more about NCAA rules than Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow. And, oh, how he wishes he knew much less. During his two years as Hornets head coach, Barlow has picked up a career's worth of compliance and enforcement knowledge, as he's guided the football program through the longest NCAA investigation in history. While neither he nor any of his coaches or players were di­rectly involved in any rules vio­lations, Barlow was still forced to get neck deep in the process in order to quell any costly miscon­ceptions that could damage the program.

Last spring, when the NCAA issued a notice of infractions that accused the school of hun­dreds of violations, Barlow acti­vely sought out media inter­views in an attempt to explain the violations had occurred un­der a previous staff and more thanfour years earlier. Since December, when the NCAA issued its final ruling that left the program on five years probation and facing a postseason ban, Barlow has been back on a mini-lecture tour. This time though, he's doing most of his explaining in the living rooms of coveted re­cruits.

"We've been forced to put out a bunch of fires," Barlow said. "You would like to think that other (coaching staffs) wouldn't use bad information, but it's ob­viously happening. We've got a lot of questions from kids and their parents. That's perfectly fine, we expected that. But some of the questions, you know someone has been filling their heads with (bad information)."

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Tired of losing to Valley, JSU gets early lead, rides it out

Jackson State was getting tired of Mississippi Valley State. The Tigers have been picked to win the SWAC the last two seasons, and did advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2007. But, in 2008, expecting to repeat, JSU stubbed its toe on Valley. As talented as JSU was last year, Valley won both of the regular-season matchups and then rallied late to win the final one that mattered most - for the SWAC Championship and NCAA berth.

Though the Delta Devils are built around new players and a first-year coach, that didn't dim the Tiger smiles after a 64-58 victory inside the Athletics and Assembly Center on Saturday. "It's just a little bit of relief," JSU guard Darrion Griffin said. "It was a little bit too close for comfort. "(That last game was) eating at us. We think about it all the time. To get the victory against them makes us feel like we can beat any team in the conference."

Jackson State stuck to its recent blueprint for success by busting out to a 12-point lead less than 10 minutes into the game. Valley would never lead for a single second of the 40 minutes, but it also refused to get blown out. The Delta Devils chipped away at the lead and trailed 31-27 at halftime. A dribble-drive layup by Julius Cheeks cut the lead to 35-34 at the 16:05 mark, but Valley never got any closer.

Photo Gallery: Jackson State-Mississippi Valley

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Former pro has DSU rolling to the top

Delaware State's second year head bowing coach and touring professional Kim Terrell-Kearney is on the verge of building the Lady Hornets into a national bowling powerhouse. DSU is ranked No. 4 nationally ahead of defending NCAA champion Maryland-Eastern Shore, which slipped to No. 5 after placing first in the preseason poll.

DOVER, DE -- When one door slammed closed on Kim Terrell-Kearney, she quickly turned her attention to finding a new challenge. Terrell-Kearney, winner of 11 pro bowling tour titles, decided to try her hand at coaching. There she could instill in youngsters a passion for the game that she loves. The two-time U.S. Women's Open winner found out that she was pretty good at getting her lessons across and two years ago landed a job as the head coach of Delaware State University's women's bowling team. Ever since she arrived, the Hornets have soared to new heights.

Last season, she led the Hornets to a school-record 74 wins and a No. 11 ranking in the final National Tenpin Coaches Association regular-season poll. DSU also finished second in the 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship, the best finish in team history. This year, Delaware State is ranked fourth in the nation -- an all-time high for the program -- as the Hornets travel to Laurel, Md., for the Bowie State Tournament today and Sunday.

Terrell-Kearney admits that becoming a bowling coach in Delaware was not exactly on her radar about five years ago. "I've been coaching really since [the Ladies Professional Bowling] tour folded, which has been about six years now," Terrell-Kearney said. "It's definitely different, but I like it very much. "I wanted to coach in college and there's only five full-time coaching jobs in college right now in the country. They [DSU] used to be part-time but now they made it a full-time position and I applied and there we were."

Terrell-Kearney definitely boasts a strong résumé.

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Finally!! FAMU's Bob Hayes named to Pro Football Hall of Fame

Bob Hayes had run a 9.1 100 as an 18-year-old freshman at Florida A&M; he later changed professional football forever, bringing speed into the game in a way it had never been there before. A four-time All-Pro, Hayes is the only man that has won an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl.

TAMPA, FL – Bob Hayes' wait is finally over. On Saturday, Hayes, the former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver and Olympic gold medalist, earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, nearly 30 years after he was first eligible to be selected and seven years after his death from kidney failure. "It didn't matter how long it took," his oldest sister, Lucille Hester, said not long after the announcement. "He's made it. This day is here

Hayes is joined in the Class of 2009 by Minnesota guard Randall McDaniel, Buffalo defensive end Bruce Smith, Pittsburgh cornerback Rod Woodson, Kansas City pass rusher Derrick Thomas and Buffalo owner Ralph Wilson. The induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio, will take place Aug. 8.

Hayes became the 11th member of the Cowboys' organization to earn induction, joining teammates Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Rayfield Wright and Mel Renfro as well as fellow Ring of Honor members Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Randy White, Tom Landry and Tex Schramm.

Had Hayes not been selected this time, it would have been highly unlikely for him to come through the Senior Committee a third time. He made it to the finals in 2004 only to miss the cut. Five years to the day of that disappointment, however, came elation. "I guess the only downside is that he's not here to enjoy this moment," Hester said. "It's such a wonderful moment for him, a wonderful moment.



Across the state in Hayes' native Jacksonville, (Florida) Charles Sutton, Hayes friend from elementary school and teammate at Matthew Gilbert High School and Florida A&M, got a phone call from their high school coach, Earl Kitching.

"He says, 'Your boy made it. Y'all played ball so you're a part of it,' and all I could think was, 'Thank you, Jesus, thank you,' " Sutton said. "I can see Bob now. He'd be hugging me and saying, 'I made it, roomie, I made it. Let me kiss you.' He would've been so happy he would've started crying and I'd say, 'Man, what are you crying for?' "

Hayes' stats with Cowboys
1,000-yard receivers Pro Bowlers

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Bob Hayes Letter:

October 29, 1999

Lucille,

You know I am not sure I am going to be around if I get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame so you must read this for me, I am not sure, I guess I am feeling sorry for myself at this time but you must remember everything I want you to do and say. Mother said you would do what I want because you always did. So read this for me.

I would like to thank everyone who supported me to get into the NFL Hall of Fame, the Dallas Cowboys organization, all of my team mates (sic) and everyone who played for the Cowboys, (thank the San Francisco 49ers too). Thank the fans all around the country and the world, thank the committee who voted for me and also the ones who may did not vote for me, thank Mother and my family, thank Roger Staubach and tell all my teammates I love them.

Thank the Pro Football Hall of Fame, all the NFL teams and players, Florida A&M University, thank everyone who went to Matthew Gilbert High School, thank everyone in Jacksonville and Florida and everyone especially on the East Side of Jacksonville. Thank everyone in the City of Dallas and in Texas and just thank everyone in the whole world.

I love you all.

Super Bowl XLIII: Bethune-Cookman Band to get 6 minutes of fame

DAYTONA BEACH -- Twenty-three minutes before kickoff Sunday at the Super Bowl, members of the Bethune-Cookman Marching Wildcats will be doing their thing. They get six minutes -- a performance condensed by about half -- to leave their mark on the celebrities and flashing bulbs at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium. Director Donovan Wells told the band it appears unlikely the show will be aired on NBC's pregame.

With NBC selling 30-second spots to advertisers for $3 million, even any exposure for this historically black university could be incalculable. Band members, though, were holding on to a four-letter word after practice. "Keep hope alive," Darius Hatcher said. "Maybe we'll get a clip," Kourtney Lewis added.



THE PREPARATION

Even still, Wells is sure the 320 musicians and dancers won't be star-struck. He's making sure with some 15 hours of practice in advance of the big six minutes. For about two hours Tuesday, band members played with precision, sprinted, marched and danced their routines over and over in search of perfection.

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PAHOKEE, Fla. -- This is not a happy story. Maybe you heard otherwise, but if you did, you heard wrong. This story isn't happy. Dead teenagers don't giggle.

This story is about the two star receivers in Super Bowl XLIII who clawed their way out of the same nook of Florida, the Cardinals' Anquan Boldin and the Steelers' Santonio Holmes, but it's also about the death and destruction they left behind. People are dying. Towns are dying. So don't believe a damn thing you've heard about the reunion of Boldin and Holmes in this Super Bowl. Not if all you've heard is hokey happiness. Because this story isn't hokey. It isn't happy.

"Kids are getting killed," Holmes says. Yes they are. "Our towns ... they're in trouble," Boldin says. Yes they are. This isn't a happy story. But it should be.

Going home

On a per capita basis, no town in the United States has better football than Pahokee. Pahokee High has been to six straight state championship games, and won five. Pahokee products are all over college football, including Wake Forest All-American cornerback Alphonso Smith and starting defensive back Janoris Jenkins of national champion Florida. Pahokee has sent more than a dozen players to the NFL, a statistically staggering feat for a city of 6,000.

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Alcorn State Names Interim Head Coach

By Alcorn State Media Relations

President George E. Ross has announced that Earnest Collins, Jr. is the Interim Head Football Coach. Coach Collins assumed his duties on January 29, 2009.

"We are pleased to have Coach Collins serve in this capacity. He is an exceptional leader, he’s student-athlete centered, and possess the knowledge base to lead our football program in a positive direction. The respect and support this young man has garnered from the ASU community is tremendous," says President Ross.

As Interim Head Football Coach, Collins will operate with all the responsibilities and authority of the head coach. "I want to thank Dr. Ross for the opportunity to become the Interim Head Football Coach. I believed when I came here that we were going to take this program to new heights, and that is still our plan."

Coach Collins brings over 13 years of coaching and teaching experience in athletics. He entered his first season as Defensive Coordinator/Associate Head Coach at Alcorn State University last year. Prior to joining the Braves’ staff, Coach Collins spent a year coaching the Secondary for the University of Central Florida, where the Knights ranked 3rd in the C-USA defensive statistics.

Coach Collins began his collegiate coaching career at Northwest Missouri State University as a Secondary/Assistant Special Teams Coach from 1996-1999. During those three seasons with the Bearcats, they won two NCAA Division II National Champions 1998, 1999. After leaving Northwest Missouri, he returned to his alma mater, the University of Northern Colorado as the Coordinator-Secondary/Special Teams, Strength and Conditioning during 1999-2003. While there, he helped to shape a defense that was ranked nationally from 2000-2003.

When Coach Collins departed from the Bears, he became a part of the Jayhawks coaching staff. From 2003-06, he served in the capacity of the Special Teams and Cornerbacks Coach. During his tenure there, he organized the "Character First" and "Mentors" programs. Also, the Jayhawks’ defense was ranked 3rd in the Big12 and 20th in the nation.

Coach Collins began his collegiate playing career at the University of Northern Colorado 1991-94, as a defensive back and punt returner. He earned All-North Central Conference honors following his senior year. He currently holds the Northern Colorado records for career (967) and season (497) punt return yards.

Coach Collins received his B.A. in Kinesiology (Physical Education) from University of Northern Colorado. In 2000, he received his M.S. in Athletic Administration from Northwest Missouri State University.

He is a member of the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee. Collins’ professional memberships include the Black Coaches Association and the American Football Coaches Association.

He is married to Tabatha, and they have two daughters, Tayler and Marci.

FAMU bowling overcoming adversity to roll to second in MEAC

Jazmin Bingham was looking so much to the start of the bowling season with FAMU's team. She was finally going to get a chance to rejoin her former high school teammate Nina Gilbert on a college team. Then, the news came last summer that left Bingham numb. Gilbert had lost her life in an automobile accident. "I lost a teammate and I lost a friend," said Bingham, who played with Gilbert at Gwendolyn Brooks Preparatory High School in Chicago. "She was always very high-spirited and always looked out for me. It was sad. It was devastating to lose somebody like that."

The entire FAMU team was devastated, then just two months into the season more adversity came. Their assistant coach Paul Williams died unexpectedly; just a few weeks after the team had undergone a head-coaching change. But through their misfortune, the Rattlers found inspiration to roll to a second-place tie in the Southern Division of the MEAC. That secured a berth for FAMU in the conference championship as one of eight teams that qualified.

Photo Gallery: FAMU Bowling Team Practices

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N.C. A&T's Lee: We're selling a brand-new era

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Alonzo Lee's first two weeks as N.C. A&T's new head coach have been anything but quiet. Lee was introduced Jan. 16 and immediately met with recruits and current players while trying to fill out the rest of his coaching staff. Between meeting with recruits and trying to find a house in Greensboro, Lee sat down with the News & Record to talk about myriad issues surrounding Aggie football, next week's national signing day, A&T's recruiting budget and how long he thinks it will take to turn around a program that has lost 36 of its last 39 games:

Let's talk about recruiting. How much of a handicap is it when it's just you and two other coaches out there talking to players?

It's very much a handicap, but it's the way you look at things. It's definitely an uphill battle. You would love to have your entire staff, but I can't count anything that's not there.

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Tough non-conference benefits Prairie View women

Prairie View A&M women's basketball coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke's philosophy has been to take life a game at a time.With a 6-1 record in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, life has been pretty good for the Lady Panthers, who host Alabama State Saturday afternoon (5:30 p.m.). The two-time defending conference champs have ripped off five straight wins since a 63-58 loss to Southern Jan. 5 and are reaping the benefits of a daunting non-conference schedule.

"Our biggest concern is that we don't want to peak too soon," said Cooper-Dyke. "We know everyone has been the aggressor against us, and that's something we need to change. We've worked on that in practice, so now we have to be able to turn the tables against our opponents." The Lady Panthers had their mettle tested in an 83-77 overtime win at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Monday, where Prairie View had to overcome a 17-point deficit with 12 minutes left. In Cooper-Dyke's eyes, the rally could serve as a turning point for the team.

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Doing his best to make NSU the best it can be

Marty Miller does his best thinking while tooling around in his little red Corvette. In those moments, Norfolk State's athletic director imagines a dynamic future in which the Spartans dominate the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Miller believes 2009 will be the football team's best season since joining Division I in 1997. Men's and women's basketball - both under upstart coaches - are two to three years away from separating themselves from the rest of the conference, he assures.

If NSU's major sports programs follow his lofty time line, it will largely be due to Miller's commitment to the program, which he took over on an interim basis in December 2004. He fashions himself a winner, and he has high expectations for the future. Whether it's Scrabble or any game the Spartans are involved in, Miller hates to lose - one reason the former Army lieutenant coached the Spartans' baseball team to 700 victories. "I'm always competing in everything I do," Miller says. "I wonder how I got to this point in life. But I'm like that at everything I do. In life, I want to be the best."

His wife of 35 years - and mother to their son, 33-year-old Marty Eric - confirms that. "He would come home after coaching, and I knew when he walked in the door whether he won or lost," Liz Miller says. "It's always been about NSU for him. "NSU is the other woman in my life."

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Hampton U. gears up for new transition

The Pirates move forward with Donovan Rose after the unexpected dismissal of Jerry Holmes.

Donovan Rose has known Jerry Holmes since 1986, when the two played against each other in the NFL. So when Rose learned that Holmes had been dismissed as Hampton University's football coach, and that he would be replacing him, he reached for the phone. "I wanted to call Jerry," said Rose, a defensive back with the Miami Dolphins when Holmes was a cornerback with the New York Jets. "It was in my heart. ... I said, 'You gonna be all right?' He said, 'Yeah. I'm good, I'm good.' Jerry, he's a realistic guy. He's fine. "I'm glad that I spoke to him. That took a load off, just being able to speak to him."

Rose, Hampton's secondary coach for 17 seasons before taking Holmes' defensive coordinator spot when Holmes became the Pirates' head coach last year, was introduced officially as Holmes' replacement Wednesday. Holmes, who went 6-5 in his one season, was fired Monday, after athletic director Lonza Hardy said his planned job interviews with NFL teams were hurting the program.

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FAMU baseball heads into season with reloaded roster

FAMU Coach Robert Lucas cleans Rattlers house; only 12 players return from last year's squad

With less than half of the players from last year's roster returning to FAMU's baseball team, coach Robert Lucas has reloaded the Rattlers with a mix of transfers and walk-ons. At least two football players are expected to join the team along with transfer outfielders Stavone Martin and Tobi Adeyemi. Their presence should bolster the Rattlers offensively, said Lucas, who has shaken up his team's personnel after they were unable to carry late-season momentum into the MEAC tournament.

"We talked about last year and the disappointment we had in the tournament for one day," Lucas said. "There is no point in us belaboring the fact that we didn't do what we were supposed to do. I think not bringing it up is going to help us focus on the things we need to do fundamentally." FAMU will have a much different look when the season starts with a doubleheader against Jackson State on Feb. 20. Only 12 players, including infielder/pitcher Tim Schalch and MEAC MVP pitcher Jared Jefferies, will return from last year's squad.

Of the 14 players who won't return, only two were lost to graduation, Lucas said. "After a while, you have to make some decisions on education and athletics," he said, explaining the cuts that he's made. "I felt from what I didn't see in their abilities that it was time for them to work on their academics."

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WSSU Athletics Releases 2009 Football Schedule

by WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations

Rams to play five home contests and UC Davis in California

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Winston-Salem State University Director of Athletics, Dr. Chico Caldwell officially released the 2009 Ram football schedule on Wednesday morning with several highlights of the 11-game slate being WSSU's five home games to take place at Bowman Gray Stadium, the Urban League Classic in East Rutherford, N.J. and a West coast road trip to Davis, Calif. to face the Aggies of UC Davis.

The Rams will play a full complement of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games with only two non-conference opponents gracing the schedule in longtime rival, North Carolina Central University (November 14) and Great West Football Conference member, the University of California, Davis (October 17). WSSU, who will enter into their fourth year of a five-year transition to the NCAA Division I level in the fall of 2009, will play nine MEAC contests highlighted by MEAC home games against North Carolina A&T in the Battle of I-40 Classic (September 5), Florida A&M (October 10), Hampton for Homecoming 2009 (October 31), Delaware State (November 7).

The Rams will take to the road to face Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member South Carolina State in Orangeburg (September 26) before traveling to the nation’s capital to kickoff versus Howard in Washington, D.C. (October 3) on back-to-back weeks. WSSU will also travel to points south as they visit Daytona Beach, Fla. to face Bethune-Cookman (October 24) before completing their road schedule in Norfolk, Va. against Norfolk State University in the final week of the season (November 21).

Highlighting the Rams’ games away from home marks dates at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. with the Bears of Morgan State University in the Urban League Classic and a cross-country trip to Davis, Calif. to face the Aggies of UC Davis. The Aggies, a team that recently completed a five-year transition to NCAA Division I will face the Rams in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

“We are extremely pleased with our 2009 football schedule” WSSU Director of Athletics, Dr. Chico Caldwell commented. “We have a good schedule with several highlights.”

“We’ll be in the Urban League Classic at Giants Stadium and we have Florida A&M coming into Bowman Gray Stadium, which is something that our fans are excited about. We have a very balanced schedule with five home games and six games away from home and we get to take our team out to California to play UC Davis as well as playing host to Hampton at Bowman Gray Stadium for Homecoming” Caldwell added. It's uncertain whether Florida A&M will bring its famous 424-member band to Winston-Salem. "I don't know if their band is coming, because I know we can't pay for it -- they have a big band," Caldwell said. "We're excited about them coming to Bowman Gray Stadium."

Season tickets for 2009 WSSU football will go on sale on Monday, July 6 at 10:00 a.m. at the WSSU Ticket Office. Tickets may be purchase in person, or by phone via credit card at (336) 750-3220. For additional information on WSSU football, log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at http://www.wssurams.com/.

Click here for 2009 Printable Schedule.

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Note to Dr. Caldwell... Great move scheduling a weaken Hampton for homecoming. The unofficial FAMU answer is no, the Marching 100 will not be coming to Winston Salem. The policy is simple--no Money, No Marching 100 Band. Nine buses, hotel and food is not free for 450 members of the hundred. Still, the price of admission is worth the trip to WSSU for the fans to see Joe Taylor's Rattlers steamroll the Rams on their way to the MEAC Championship.

Not sure who has the correct date for the Rams vs. Rattlers game -- FAMU schedule shows the game scheduled on September 12th, the Rams current OPEN DATE. The Rattlers plan to be at Miami on Oct 10 for a $400,000 payday and another demoralizing D-I flattening by the Hurricanes.

-beepbeep

UMES bowlers win Bulldog Classic title

(L) All-American Kristina Frahm with last season's All-MEAC senior Jessica Worsley during NCAA national championship tournament.

BOWIE, Md. -- The nation's defending NCAA champions, University of Maryland Eastern Shore headed to the Lady Bulldog Classic in search of their first title of the year. They got it, taking first place on pin fall, amassing almost 10,500 pins, 162 better than the next team. All-American Maria Rodriguez averaged a 240.1 and earned tournament MVP honors.

Rodriguez was unstoppable as she posted a pin fall of 1441 over six games including five games over 200. Her high came against the host Lady Bulldogs of Bowie State, as she roiled a 279, the highest game of her collegiate career. She went on to roll games of 224, 267, 257 and 233.

She wasn't the only Hawk to post an average of 200 or better. Kristina Frahm (Oswego, Ill.) tallied 1,226 pins and an average of 204.3. She finished ninth overall individually. New Hawk Paula Vilas was close with a 990 pinfall over five games.

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UMES Bowling Team 2008-09 Roster

NAME YR Hometown (Last School)
Benson, Christine FR Greensberg Pa. (Greensberg Salem H.S.)
Brown, Katherine SO Level Green, Pa. (Penn Trafford H.S.)
Culbreth, Jamie SR Hochspeyer, Germany (Kaiserslautern American)
Davis, Jennifer SR Severn, Md. (Meade H.S.)
DiScioscia, Sara SR Hampton, Va. (Poquoson H.S.)
Frahm, Kristina SO Oswego Ill. (Oswego East H.S.)
Perez, Martha SO Bogota, Colombia (English School)
Rodriguez, Maria SO Ibague Tolima, Colombia (La Presentacion)
Vilas, Paula FR Santo Domingo, Dominican Rep. (Univ. of APEC)
Young, Kaitlyn FR Sycamore, Ill. (Sycamore H.S.)

Coaches
Sharon Brummell - Head Coach
Doug Dukes - Assistant Coach
Vince Brummell - Volunteer Assistant Coach

Glades Central (FL) expects 12 football players to sign

Excerpt:

Last year Glades Central only needed one table on the stage for national signing day. The Raiders might need three or four for the football team when they sign letters of intent next Wednesday.No fewer than 12 seniors from the 2008 football team are expected to sign., and nine of them already are committed.

Alabama State has verbal commitments from defensive back James Melton (5-11, 200) and linebacker Emmanuel Rackard (6-3, 230). The Hornets got a verbal from Pahokee offensive lineman Jaquan Bentley during the season and have a shot at landing undeclared Raiders offensive lineman Vincent Harper (6-3, 285). Harper also has an offer from Hampton.

Hampton is one of several schools making a run at diminutive running back Antonio McCloude. McCloude is listed at 5-8, 165. Both of those numbers seem generous, but his speed and his elusiveness helped him pick up offers from Ball State, Alabama State, FIU and Hampton. McCloude is set to visit Hampton this week and there is a growing belief in Belle Glade that he will sign with the Pirates. Hampton has been one of the MEAC’s top teams this decade and sent five players to the NFL combine in 2007.

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Cubs to host Bethune-Cookman Invitational Games

The Daytona Cubs are excited to work together with Bethune-Cookman to bring exciting college baseball to the area. The Bethune-Cookman Invitational will bring teams from Georgia State University, Michigan State University, and Xavier University.

The Invitational will kick off with three games on Friday, March 6th and will end on Sunday, March 8th at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Game times will start at 11am, 3pm, and 7pm. Tickets for this exciting event will be $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children, seniors, and students. Make sure to come support the local students and see if they have what it takes to become the next Daytona Cub!

The Daytona Cubs will also host the MEAC Tournament in May. Games will kick off on Friday, March 15th and will go through Sunday, March 17th. Check the Daytona Cubs website as more information unfolds!