The FAMUNAA Raises $203K, Reigniting the Rattler Spirit of Giving

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Florida A&M University National Alumni Association (FAMUNAA) set a new participation record as more than 450 alumni participated in convention activities in Houston, Texas to raise dollars for scholars during the 2015 National Convention. A total of $203,000 was raised on site, with additional donations flooding in virtually through the portal, www.FAMU.edu/RattlersGive.

“In just a few moments, together we have doubled the amount of money raised at this event last year,” said FAMUNAA President Tommy Mitchell. “This is how much Rattlers love and support FAMU. We give to ensure a bright future for our alma mater so that the legacy will continue to be there for Rattlers yet unborn.”

Alumna Cheryl A. Miller, Allstate Senior Vice President of Sourcing and Procurement Services, set the tone through her stirring keynote speech where she encouraged the alumni to support the new administration because innovative change is critical to FAMU’s future. Miller reminded the audience that history tells the story of several corporations that are no longer present because they refused to change, such as Blockbuster, Kodak Camera, and Borders Bookstore. Similarly, academia has witnessed the demise of several institutions of higher learning. Miller stressed the importance of coming together to protect FAMU’s longevity.

“Industries evolve to meet future demands and FAMU is no different,” said Miller. “FAMU must evolve to meet the needs of today’s students or lose relevancy.” She invited the alumni to be a part of the change by financially supporting the new president’s vision.

FAMU President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., delivered a video message thanking the alumni for their continuous support. FAMU Provost Marcella David shared an impressive list of recent campus accolades. The Social Mobility Index ranked FAMU no. 3 in the nation for facilitating economic opportunity for underserved students. FAMU outranked the nation’s leading Ivy League institutions on the list, such as Princeton (360 th), Harvard (438 th), and Yale (440 th). Additionally, FAMU recently awarded two doctoral degrees in physics to two accomplished African American women. The national average number of African Americans awarded the Ph.D. in physics annually is six.

“There is a lot for you to be proud of as alumni,” said David.

Throughout the convention, alumni were reminded that there are several options to support FAMU. NAA Life Membership dues help to increase the university’s endowment, and those attending the conference were honored during the exclusive Doris Hicks Life Members Reception. Football Coach Alex Wood, Men’s Basketball Coach Byron Samuels, Golf Coach Marvin Green, and Tennis Coach Carl Goodman each outlined financial needs to increase team productivity, including a request for monies to send student athletes to summer school.

Professor Charles Magee, Ph.D., gave a history lesson on the significance of FAMU’s status as an 1890 Land Grant Institution. He has several scholarships to give to students who major in the lucrative field of agriculture science, but needs alumni assistance to direct top scholars his way. Alumna Cecka Rose Green, founder of the FAMU 10 for 10 Campaign, gave a presentation on how the fundraiser went viral instantly when she asked 10 friends to donate $10 to FAMU monthly and then ask 10 others to do the same. Within 48 hours, the campaign raised $10,000. To date, the initiative has generated $176,000 and garnered 3,000 first time donors. The next phase of the campaign is #8434. When 8,434 commit to donating $10 a month for 12 months, the collective efforts will raise $1 million annually.

Additionally, the convention hosted the FAMU Foundation Board, which met privately to plan business affairs for the next year. The Distinguished Alumni Awards made its inaugural debut at the convention with a sell-out crowd. Twenty-four phenomenal alumni were recognized for their contributions to FAMU and society, each sharing a touching story of how FAMU helped them embody the leadership skills that they share with the world today.

FAMU alumni from across the nation partied with a purpose throughout the 4-day convention. Many are already making plans to attend the 2016 convention, which will be held Memorial Day Weekend in Tampa, Fla.

“The national convention is essentially a large FAMU-ly Reunion,” said Lt. Col. Gregory Clark, FAMUNAA 1 st Vice President and Convention Chair. “It’s a great time to catch up with old friends, find out the latest news from the university and give back so that the next generation of Rattlers can experience everything that FAMU has to offer. This has been our largest turn out in six years, and I expect even larger numbers as the Rattlers gather in Tampa next year.”

For more information on the FAMU National Alumni Association, visit www.FAMUNAA.org. To donate to FAMU, visit www.FAMU.edu/RattlersGive.


Read all about these campus winners, view their videos and cast your votes for your favorite Queen.

Morgan State signs Williston State guard/forward Phil Carr

PHIL CARR
Courtesy: Williston State Athletics

WILLISTON, North Dakota – Williston State transfer Phil Carr has signed to play for Morgan State University.

MSU head coach Todd Bozeman announced the signing of the forward on Wednesday.

A 6-foot-7, 190-pound guard/forward transferred from Williston State and will be a sophomore on the court and a junior in the classroom.

Prior to Williston State, Carr averaged 8.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and shot 57 percent from the field at Mohawk Valley Community College. He also shot 33 percent from beyond the arc to help lead the Hawks to a 24-6 record last season.

Bozeman says he likes Carr's versatility and scoring ability.

Carr graduated from Transit Tech High School in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Morgan State head coach Todd Bozeman has led the Bears to NCAA appearances in 2009 and 2010. MSU has won three MEAC Tournaments (1977, 2009 & 2010) and has made six championship appearances in nine seasons under Coach Bozeman.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Mitchell Headed to Grambling State

Ervin Mitchell commits to Grambling State University
 to play men's basketball for the Tigers

BATAVIA, New York -- GCC men's basketball guard/forward Ervin Mitchell recently committed to Grambling State University and will join the Tigers' basketball program beginning this fall.

Mitchell leaves Genesee as the all-time leading scorer with 1,476 career points. He became the 10th player in school history to reach 1,000 points and took over the scoring record on Feb. 28. Mitchell received National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American honors this past season as a sophomore and was named to the All-Region III First Team in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.

The Brooklyn native was a part of 46 wins during his two seasons at GCC and helped lead the Cougars to a Region III title and a trip to the NJCAA National Tournament this season, both a first since 2002-2003.

Grambling State is a Division I member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in Grambling, LA. The Tigers are members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and are coached by Shawn Walker, who completed his first season at the helm in 2014-2015.

Genesee Community College athletics program endeavors to provide a quality and competitive intercollegiate athletics program consistent with the National Junior Collegiate Athletics Association (NJCAA) philosophy and the overall educational mission of Genesee Community College. Participation in collegiate athletics should be an extension of the total educational experience for the student athlete. The inherent philosophy emphasizes the athletic setting as a classroom used to teach character, commitment, work ethic, respect for differences, and the importance of sacrifice, teamwork, and cooperation. 

Grambling State University Releases 2015 Football Schedule

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Home games against Southwestern Athletic Conference rivals Alabama A&M, Mississippi Valley, and Texas Southern highlights the 2015 Grambling State University football schedule, which was officially released on Wednesday.

The GSU Tigers have two non-conference contests for the 2015 season, the University of California Berkeley and Bethune Cookman University. The schedule features three home games and six road games.

The Grambling State University Football team opens the 2015 season against the University of California at Berkeley on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium. Next, the Tigers will open its first home game of the season against Bethune Cookman University on Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. On September 19, Grambling State will travel to Montgomery, Alabama, to battle conference opponent, Alabama State University. After that the Tigers will play Prairie View A&M University in the State Fair Classic on Sept. 26 with Grambling as the home team.

The GSU Tigers will travel to Jackson, Mississippi, to face Jackson State University on Oct. 3. On the following weekend, season ticket holders will have the opportunity to return home for the 2015 home conference season opener scheduled for Oct. 10 against Alabama A&M University.

Grambling will hit the road to travel to Lorman, Mississippi, to take on Alcorn State University on October 17. Homecoming 2015 will be played on Oct. 24 against Mississippi Valley State University at 2 p.m. Next up for the Tigers will be SWAC rival Texas Southern on November 7. The GSU Tigers will then hit the road again to take on the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

After an open date on Nov. 21, the final home game of the regular season for GSU will be played during the 42nd Annual Bayou Classic against SWAC rival Southern University on November 28 at the Mercedes- Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

2015 Grambling State University Football Schedule

Sept. 5 – at University of California Berkeley
Sept. 12 – BETHUNE COOKMAN UNIVERSITY
Sept. 19 – at Alabama State University
Sept. 26 – Prairie View A&M University (State Fair Classic)
Oct. 3 – at Jackson State University
Oct. 10 – ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY
Oct. 17 – at Alcorn State University
Oct. 24 – MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY (Homecoming 2015)
Oct. 31 - Open date
Nov. 7 – TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Nov. 14 – at University of Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Nov. 21 – Open date
Nov. 28 – Southern University (42nd Bayou Classic)
Dec. 5 – SWAC Championship

Dec. 19 –MEAC/SWAC Celebration Bowl (Atlanta, GA)



COURTESY GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

PVAMU Announces Changes In Baseball Program

ASHLEY ROBINSON
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
PVAMU

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Prairie View A&M University Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson announced today that Waskyla Cullivan will not return as the head coach of PVAMU's baseball program. A national search for PVAMU's next head coach will begin immediately.

Cullivan recently completed his seventh season as head coach of the Panthers as the 2015 team finished with a record of 15-36. A former assistant coach at PVAMU for six seasons before being elevated to head coach in 2009, Cullivan's seven-year record stands at 149-199.

"We very much appreciate the effort and energy that Coach Cullivan has poured
into our baseball program and the student-athletes at Prairie View A&M University," said Robinson. "This was a tough decision but I have decided that it is time for a new direction."

During his tenure as head coach, Cullivan reached the SWAC Baseball Tournament five times as he won the 2012 SWAC Championship in addition to competing in the 2013 SWAC Tournament Finals. Multiple players earned All-SWAC Honors under his watch along with a freshman All-American in 2014.

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Jackson State Tigers 2015 Gridiron Gals Clinic

JACKSON, Mississippi -- The Jackson State University football coaching staff hosted the third annual Gridiron Gals Football Clinic on Saturday, May 16.

This was the second year that the program was under the direction of head coach Harold Jackson and he was very excited about this year’s clinic. “We want them to know that they are a part of this team and we need their support.”

About 70 ladies participated in the two part clinic. The first part was clinical where the women learned basic principles of football from the Tiger coaching staff in a classroom setting. They learned the different positions for both offense and defense and dove into rules and regulation of the game. The second part of the day took place on the field where the Gridiron Gals were able to put into action the things that they learned earlier in the day.

“We were really happy with the turnout this year,” said organizer Franshell Fort. “We will definitely need a few more buses next year.”



Gridiron Gals Photo Album

COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Mississippi Valley State Men’s Basketball Inks Eight

HEAD COACH ANDRE PAYNE

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- The recruitment period allotted for men's basketball is underway and Andre Payne,  Head Men's basketball coach, has been making huge strides in building a solid Delta Devils' team.

Payne stated, "This year recruiting class we have added more scoring from the Guard position. We have signed some very athletic guys that going to allow us to play the up tempo style."

Kylan Phillips, will be close to home, as he travels from Memphis, Tennessee, to join the Delta Devils of MVSU. Phillips is a four-year letterman for Mitchell High School (Memphis), where he played for Head Coach Faragi Phillips, his father. He helped lead the team to a career high school record of 112-29. He also led the team to two consecutive state championships (2014 & 2015) and one runner-up state championship (2012). Four consecutive TSSAA Tournament appearances, three year starter and during the 2014-15 season, he averaged 15 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Phillips scored over 1000 points, had over steals and over 250 assists. In 2015 he was named to the TSSAA State Tournament 1st Team, Regional Tournament 1st Team twice (14 & 15), All-District 1st Team three times (13,14 & 15), 2014 and 2015 City Championship Game MVP, two time Commercial Appeal's Best of the Preps in 2014 and 2015.

Phillips was a major cog in the Mitchell High basketball machine. Flanked by two team mates that were prolific scorers, Phillips job was to set them up. As the son of a coach, Phillips has the ability to see the game from another perspective. His basketball IQ is off the charts. Kylan is also a pest on the defensive end. He's the type of aggravating defender that gets under the ball handler and causes turn-overs. This past season, Kylan helped led Memphis Mitchell to the Class A Tennessee State Championship during his junior campaign. Watch out for Kylan Phillips this Summer with the Memphis Hoopers



Rashaan Surles is a 6'5 point guard hailing from Chicago, Illinois. Last season (2014-15) he led McLennan Community College to a 23-8 record.



Dusan Langura, a 6'4 shooting guard transferred from University of Georgia, where he graduated in two and a half years.



Darrel Riley, a point guard from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, averaged 38 points a game. Riley is a 5'8 Milwaukee City Conference Player of the Year. This honor was bestowed upon him during his senior year, when he averaged 37.6 points per game while playing for the North Blue Devils.



Ronald Strother, 6'5 forward joins the Delta Devils after a successful career at Hueytown High School in Hueytown, Alabama. During his time there he was named to the Birmingham Metro Team and the All-Tournament Team in the Jefferson County Tournament. He averaged 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks per game.



Damian Young, 6'3 wing from Loganville, Georgia. In high school at Grayson, in 2011-12, he was named to the Long Beach High School 2nd Team All-Conference and South Mississippi All-Star game participant. During the 2012-13 school year he was named All County Defensive Players, averaging five steals per game and MVP of Walnut Grove Christmas Tournament. As a participant in the Gwinnett County All-Star Game, Young finished with 17 points. The freshman year of his junior college career, he (Young) had a season high 29 points and 10 rebounds in 15 minutes of conference play. His sophomore year he had 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and 22 minutes per game and in the final game of the regional tournament finished with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks.



Marcus Romain, a 6'2 guard from Brooklyn, New York, who averaged 17.5 points, 5 rebounds and three assists per games while at East Los Angeles College. He was named All State 1st Team twice and has been a conference champion.



Amir Savon, a 6'7 forward comes to Mississippi Valley from Woodstock, Georgia, he averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks and four assists per game. He shot 70 percent from the free throw line and 68 percent within the two-point coverage.



Men's basketball is expecting a couple more post players to join the team, after they conclude their junior college courses.

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Tennessee State Volleyball Signs Five for Upcoming Season

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State volleyball head coach Kathy Bullock announced the signings of five athletes for the upcoming 2015 season. Chloe Watson, Lapeka Kalulu-Sugai, Puamana Danielson, Tyra Long and Ayanna Chase will enter in the fall and will look to replace outgoing seniors Naomi Wells, Taylor Swayzer, Jaime Cooper and Ileanushka Maldonado.

“I feel confident that the quality of the entire class from top to bottom can compete with some of the best classes we have ever brought in,” Bullock said. “They all possess great athleticism and volleyball IQ. We addressed all of our needs going into next year, so we expect 2015 to be a very special season.”

Watson is a 5-9 outside hitter from Kent, Wash. Who spent one season at Eastern Washington University before finishing up at College of Southern Idaho. Watson averaged 2.59 kills, .42 aces, 2.29 digs and 0.51 blocks per game earning Region 18 first team honors and was named second team All-American.



Watson, along with Kalulu-Sugai and Danielson, led CSI to a Scenic West Athletic Conference title, a Region 18 championship and a third-place finish at the NJCAA National Championships.

Prior to CSI, she played in 26 matches and compiled 40 kills and 48 digs at EWU. At Kent-Meridian High School, Watson earned first team league honors all four years and MVP honors in 2012, while becoming the all-time kills and aces leader. Watson also played basketball and ran track and field.

The incoming junior is known for her success in the classroom, as well as on the court. Watson earned a 4.0 gpa at CSI and was named to the 2013 Big Sky All-Academic Team while attending EWU.

“Chloe is a big-time player who has had experience at many different levels,” said Bullock. “She is going to bring energy to our team through her explosiveness and her leadership. We think Chloe will plug right into our rotation because she is so mentally strong.”

Danielson and Kalulu-Sugai joined forces with Watson to guide CSI to a 35-3 record and a 9-1 mark in the SWAC.

Danielson served as a setter, averaging 4.06 assists per game as a sophomore and 3.89 as a freshman. The 5-6 incoming junior hails from Ewa Beach, Hawai’i where she played three seasons at Kalani High School, helping her team to a fourth place finish in OIA as a senior. Danielson earned first team and second team division honors over her final two seasons.

“Pua will be a great setter for us this fall because of her ball-control and play-making skills,” mentioned Bullock. “I could see her coming in and competing for the starting role because her abilities. It will allow us to try different formations on the floor which could keep the other team off balance.”

Kalulu-Sugai played two seasons at CSI splitting time between libero and outside hitter. The Haleiwa, Hawai’i product recorded 351 digs, 21 service aces and 57 kills as a sophomore after averaging 0.81 kills, 0.13 aces, 0.10 blocks and 2.09 digs per game in 26 matches as a freshman.

Kalulu-Sugai played her first two years at Kahuku High School, helping KHS to a OIA Championship as a sophomore. The 5-8 incoming junior finished her prep career at Waialua HS where she was chosen to play for the senior invitational all star team in her final season.

“Lapeka comes from a very prestigious community college that has a long history of producing top D-I talent,” Bullock stated. “She is a top-quality defender and she was the best hitter on her team, so she is very diverse. Her ball-control and volleyball IQ are very strong and those were two areas that we wanted to address with this class.”

Long comes to TSU after one year at Mississippi State. The 6-0 outside hitter from Tampa, Fla. was a solid offensive presence in limited action at MSU and was hampered by injuries throughout her first season. Long played in 12 matches for the Bulldogs and completed her first year with 37 kills, seven blocks and six digs.

Long, a three-year letter-winner at Land O’ Lakes High School, helped the Gators capture district championships in all four seasons. She earned First Team All-Conference and All-District honors and was named team MVP her senior year.

“Tyra brings experience after playing in the SEC,” said Bullock. “She will give us that extra height that we needed. She won’t be overwhelmed by anything that we throw at her and I know she is ready to show off what she can really do.”

Chase prepped at Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Fla. The 5-11 middle hitter was a three-year letter-winner and ranked second in blocks as a sophomore for 8A District 2. Chase was chosen to represent Team Florida/Florida Region and participated in the USA Volleyball Championships in Fort Lauderdale in July, 2013. Chase played competitively for Inland Volleyball Club’s 18 Elite.

“Ayanna will probably be one of the most dynamic and athletic players for us next year,” Bullock said. “She is very fast and jumps well off of one leg. She can do it all from the front row from blocking to hitting.”

2015 TSU Volleyball Signees

Ayana Chase, MH – Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Lake Brantley HS)

Puamana Danielson, S - Ewa Beach, Hawai’i (Kalani High School/College of Southern Idaho)

Lepeka Kalulu-Sugai, OH/L - Haleiwa, Hawai’i (Waialua HS/College of Southern Idaho)

Tyra Long, OH – Tampa, Fla. (Land O’ Lakes HS/Mississippi State)

Chloe Watson, OH - Kent, Wash. (Kent-Meridan HS/College of Southern Idaho)

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Coppin State Photo Gallery: 2015 Graduation (Student-Athletes)

BALTIMORE. Maryland -- Coppin State had several student-athletes earn their degrees during Saturday's 115th annual commencement ceremonies. CLICK HERE to view the photo gallery.



COURTESY COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former ASU AD awarded $140,000 in lawsuit

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- After more than two years of delays, recusals and near-settlements, former Alabama State University athletic director Stacy Danley has won his wrongful termination lawsuit against his former employer.

Over the weekend, retired Circuit Court Judge James Reid, who was assigned the case after several Montgomery County Circuit Court judges recused themselves, determined Danley "was not properly terminated" by ASU and awarded him $140,216.87.

Reid also dismissed a counter-claim ASU brought against its former AD for unapproved travel expenses, calling the claim "conflicting and confusing."

We, of course, are very pleased with the outcome and thankful to the judge," Danley's attorney Joseph Fitzpatrick said. "Any time you go to court with a case like this, you should feel confident as an attorney. We did going in, and we were able to prove our case. Hopefully, Stacy can move forward now."

CONTINUE READING  

The SWAC Remains No. 1 in FCS Attendance

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference is the top attended football conference in the NCAA Div. I- Football Championship Series (FCS). As a league, the SWAC averaged 12,781 fans at each of its 57 home football contests.

The SWAC outnumbered the Missouri Valley Conference by nearly 2,000 in attendance, despite playing 10 less total games in its league. The Big Sky Conference finished third with an average of 9,508.

The SWAC has been the FCS leader in attendance 36 of the last 37 years; however, the average does not include neutral site games such as the Magic City Classic which drew a crowd of 67,710 and was the highest single-game attendance figure in 2014, the Bayou Classic (57,852), and the State Fair Classic (32,877). These contests were three of the highest attended games in the country among the FCS level.

Five schools out of the SWAC finished in the top 30 with Southern placing eighth with an average of 15,416. Jackson State was next with a 12th place finish at 14,276, followed by Alabama State in 13th (12,697), Alcorn State 15th with a total of 12,268, while Grambling State averaged an attendance of 9,691 at its home contests.

The SWAC and the MVC were the only two conferences with an average of over 10,000 fans per game with a total attendance average 728,523 and 724,064 respectively.

Alcorn State and Southern University played in front of a SWAC Championship crowd of 39,583 in Houston’s NRG Stadium which was fifth best out of eight football conference championship games.


ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

VUU's C'Evon Jones Selected for NCAA Championships

RICHMOND, Virginia -- Virginia Union University's C'Evon Jones of the women's track & field team has been selected to compete in the 2015 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, to be held May 21-23 in Allendale, Michigan.

Jones, who won the indoor national championship in the women's 60-meters dash, will compete in the women's 100 meter dash.

Jones, who is currently ranked sixth in the nation in the 100 meters, was named to the USTFCCCA All-Region Team in that event.



COURTESY VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Ebony Magazine Campus Queens Voting Under Way

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Ebony magazine is conducting online voting for its annual HBCU Ebony Campus Queens feature. Miss UAPB, MICHE'LA MARTIN.

Voters can cast as many votes as they want on the Ebony website through May 22nd.

The top 10 contestants will take part in a photo shoot that will appear in the September issue of Ebony.

Vote Now!

Ty Grace Hired As Howard University New Women's Basketball Head Coach

GRACE PRIMER (QUOTES, EXPERIENCE)

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick and Interim Director of Athletics Shelley Davis have announced the hiring of former University of New Haven head coach Tiesha "Ty" Grace as the newest head coach of the Lady Bison Women's Basketball program.

Grace comes to The Hilltop with impressive credentials, boasting nearly 20 years of coaching experience on every level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association along with a standout career in her days as a student-athlete.

"We are pleased to welcome Ms. Grace to the Howard family," said President Frederick. "We anticipate great things coming from our Women's Basketball team through her coaching and leadership."

Added Davis, "Coach Grace's success as a head coach at New Haven - on the court, in the community, and in the classroom - is remarkable and we are excited to welcome her to Howard. Her integrity, leadership style, coaching & recruiting ability, and commitment to excellence make her an exceptional fit to lead the program."

A 1999 graduate of New Haven, Grace takes over at Howard after spending two successful seasons as the head coach at her alma mater. Grace won over 73 percent of her games (44-16) and led the Chargers to a pair of NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. In 2014-15, New Haven posted the fourth-most victories in school history (26), set a school record with 16 Northeast-10 Conference wins and made its first trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in nearly three decades after defeating 13th-ranked Stonehill College to win the East Region Championship.

"I would like to thank President Frederick and Ms. Davis for entrusting Howard's women's basketball program to me. The history and tradition of Howard are well-known and I am excited to be a part of that," said Grace. "This is a place where you can win, and it's been proven by those before me. I can't wait to get started."

Prior to New Haven, Grace spent seven combined seasons as a Division I assistant coach at Seton Hall University & the United States Military Academy. She served as the top assistant & recruiting coordinator at Big East Conference member Seton Hall from 2009-13, helping bring a pair of McDonald's All-Americans and a 25th ranked recruiting class to South Orange, New Jersey. Grace also helped develop an All-Big East Rookie Team member and two Second Team All-Big East selections for the Pirates. She spent most of her time at SHU coaching alongside Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist and current Connecticut Sun Head Coach Anne Donovan.

During Grace's three-year stint at Army (2006-09), the Black Knights recorded a then-program-best 24 victories in the 2006-07 campaign, including a record 12-game winning streak, and featured a Patriot League Player of the Year, two Rookies of the Year and a Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Grace earned her first head coaching experience at Division III Ramapo College of New Jersey from 2004-06 and served as a Division I assistant at Fairleigh Dickinson University from 1999-2004. She began her formal coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Hartford from 1998-99.

A 2010 inductee into the New Haven Athletics Hall of Fame, Grace is one of only two Chargers to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds for her career, totaling 1,347 points and 1,047 boards with 47 double-doubles from 1994-98.

A native of Roosevelt, New York, Grace graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in the Management of Sports Industries from New Haven in 1999 and a Master's of Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson in 2001. She holds memberships with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and Black Coaches Association. Grace is married to Keith Cobb and has one son, Kalen.

Grace replaces former head coach Tennille Adams.

COLLEGE COACHING EXPERIENCE
Head Coach, University of New Haven (2013-15)
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Seton Hall University (2009-13)
Assistant Coach, U.S. Military Academy (2006-09)
Head Coach, Ramapo College of New Jersey (2004-06)
Assistant Coach, Fairleigh Dickinson University (1999-04)
Graduate Assistant Coach, University of Hartford (1998-99)

*17 Seasons (4 as Head Coach / 13 as Assistant Coach or GA)

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU baseball looks to be in good shape going forward

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Coach Kevin Ritsche of Winston-Salem State could see the expressions on the faces of his players after losing to Millersville on Sunday afternoon in the Atlantic Region playoffs in Erie, Pa.

“It wasn’t like a ‘we-are-just-glad-to-get-this-far look,’” Ritsche said. “It was more, ‘we expected to win this thing.’”

The Rams ended the best season in school history two steps short of getting to the Division II College World Series for the first time. If the Rams could have beaten Millersville, they would have set up the winner-take-all game later on Sunday afternoon against Mercyhurst.

“It’s no secret this program’s goal is to win a regional,” Ritsche said. “And we did fall short but this was different than the past losses in the regional. I think we definitely made an impression on this regional and that bodes well for the future.”

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Bryan Henry Blog: Front-row seat to history

SALISBURY, Maryland -- ON THE ROAD HOME – I had a front-row seat – or I should say a top-step view in the Florida A&M baseball dugout – to witness history being made on Saturday.

The count was no balls and two strikes to Bethune-Cookman’s lead-off hitter with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland.

We had gotten the hitter out with breaking balls earlier in the game. But with a six-run lead, I did not want to mess around. Alex Carrasco, our relief pitcher, painted a fastball on the outside corner for called strike three to end the game.

The celebration was on.

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Culver column: Strong spring signals bright future for FAMU

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY RATTLERS
2015 MEAC BASEBALL CHAMPIONS
Courtesy FAMU Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M's athletics department is on the right track.

The problems aren't solved. There's a deficit to deal with and teams need to be taken off postseason bans. Facilities need to be upgraded and there's still plenty of salt left in the wound Kellen Winslow opened when he resigned after less than a year on the job.

Winslow fired two coaches, said the entire athletic department was "broken" and was gone before he could even replace one of the coaches he fired.

But there's plenty of fight left in the Rattlers – if you can't see that, you aren't paying attention.

The baseball and softball teams beat Bethune-Cookman – FAMU's arch nemesis – to win their respective MEAC titles. The softball team was eliminated from the NCAA tournament over the weekend, but the Rattlers played much better in their rematch against Florida, the defending national champion.

And let's not forget the women's track team defeated Hampton, the defending conference champion, for its own MEAC title.

CONTINUE READING

Southern coach talks 'little things' after 6 errors plague SWAC title loss

NEW ORLEANS -- Roger Cador spent a few minutes after his Southern baseball team lost in the SWAC tournament championship talking about "little things." And who could blame him?

His infield erred six times in a 10-0 loss to Texas Southern at Barrow Stadium, which caused Cador to look ahead to 2016 after he was asked a question about 2015.

"We'll have a completely different team next year," he said. "Mainly with new people who know how to do little things better. Obviously we got far along with these kids who didn't do little things very well, so we're very pleased with that."

But still...

Five of the errors came on throws, including one by third baseman Rivers Frederick on a throw to first after a bunt. That let two runs score during a five-run sixth for Texas Southern.



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Former ASU Hornet Tovar Allen signs with Washington Redskins

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Former Alabama State football player Tovar Allen has signed a free agent contract with the Washington Redskins. Allen was one of five players to sign with the Redskins following the team's rookie mini-camp Friday and Saturday of last week.

Allen, an offensive tackle, was a three-year starter along the Hornets offensive front and helped open holes for the SWAC's leading rushers the past two seasons, Isaiah Crowell and Malcolm Cyrus.

During his career with the Hornets, ASU led the SWAC in scoring two years and averaged 30 points per game for three consecutive seasons.

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Texas Southern blanks Southern for SWAC tournament title

NEW ORLEANS -- Through its first three games in the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament, the Southern Jaguars were a poised team that performed well in all facets of the game.

All that went by the wayside in Sunday’s championship game against Texas Southern.

The Jaguars were undone by six errors and a lack of hitting, self-destructing in a 10-0 loss at Wesley Barrow Stadium.

“We didn’t deserve to win,” said coach Roger Cador, who has guided the program to 14 SWAC titles. “It’s really sad that we played as well as we did to get here and we wouldn’t for one day to win the championship make the necessary adjustment.

“We wanted to hit the ball out of the park and the wind was blowing in at 25 miles per hour. Never was going to happen.”

It is Texas Southern’s third SWAC baseball tournament championship and its first since 2008, the year before coach Michael Robertson arrived.

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WSSU eliminated from NCAA baseball playoffs

ERIE, Pennsylvania -- The best season in Winston-Salem State baseball history came to a crushing end on Sunday afternoon in the Atlantic Region playoffs.

Tyler Orris singled up the middle to score Ted Williams in the bottom of the ninth as Millersville ended WSSU’s season with a 6-5 victory.

The elimination game sent Millersville to the championship game that was played later in the day against Mercyhurst. The winner of that game advanced to the College World Series, which starts in Cary on Saturday.

The Rams, the fourth seed and 21st-ranked team in the country, end the season with a 42-15 record, the best in school history.

The Marauders, the second-seed, improved to 45-10.

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Hampton Sailing Announces Fall 2015 Schedule

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton University head sailing coach Alessandro Ambrosi, who is entering his seventh season at the helm, announced his fall 2015 slate of regattas on Thursday, a schedule that includes two home races.

The first of those two will open the season on Sept. 5-6, when the Pirates play host to the Edward Teach Memorial in memory of the legendary pirate known as Blackbeard. The regatta will take place at Strawberry Banks.

Hampton will then compete in the Riley Open hosted by Old Dominion on Sept. 12-13, before heading to Throggs Neck, N.Y. on Sept. 19-20 to compete in the NY Maritime Fall Open.

The Pirates will then compete in the William & Mary Colony Cup on Sept. 26-27.

Hampton's second home regatta of the fall – which will also be held at Strawberry Banks – will be the South Qualifier on Oct. 3-4. From there, the Pirates will head to Geneva, N.Y. on Oct. 10-11 for the David Lee Amoff Trophy.

In the event Hampton does not finish in the top four at the South Qualifier, the Pirates will return to Norfolk, Va. on Oct. 17-18 to compete in the Henry Luce Regatta.

The MAISA Women's Fall Championship will be held in Saint Mary's City, Md. on Oct. 24-25, before the Pirates close out the fall slate at the War Memorial on Oct. 31-Nov. 1, which will be held up in King's Point, N.Y.

For more information on Hampton University sailing, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

Fall 2015 Hampton University sailing schedule

Date		Opponent	Location	Time
9/5-6/2015		Edward Teach Memorial	Hampton, Va.	All Day
9/12-13/2015		ODU Riley Open	Norfolk, Va.	All Day
9/19-20/2015		NY Maritime Fall Open	Throggs Neck, N.Y.	All Day
9/26-27/2015		William & Mary Colony Cup	Williamsburg, Va.	All Day
10/3-4/2015		South Qualifier	Hampton, Va.	All Day
10/10-11/2015		David Lee Amoff Trophy	Geneva, N.Y.	All Day
10/17-18/2015		Henry Luce Regatta	Norfolk, Va.	All Day
10/24-25/2015		MAISA Fall Women's Championship	Saint Mary's City, Md.	All Day
10/31-11/1/2015		War Memorial	King's Point, N.Y.	All Day

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Date Changed for SCSU Bulldogs Home Football Game versus Florida A&M Rattlers

HEAD COACH OLIVER "BUDDY" POUGH

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The home football game between South Carolina State and Florida A&M at Oliver. C. Dawson Stadium has been changed to Thursday, September 17. The game will now kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

The previous game was scheduled for Saturday,Sept. 19 at 6:00 p.m.

This will be the second of five home games for the South Carolina State, including Coastal Carolina (9/12), Howard (10/17), Hampton (10/31) and N.C. A&T (11/7).

For more information about SC State athletics, you can go online at www.scsuathletics.com and follow the Bulldogs. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (803)-536-8579 or 1-800-298-9157.


2015 SCSU Bulldogs Football Schedule

Date		Opponent	Location	Time
MEAC/SWAC Challenge
9/6/2015		University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff $	Orlando,Fla.	3:30 p.m.(EST)
9/12/2015		Coastal Carolina University	Orangeburg, SC	6 p.m.
9/17/2015	*	Florida A&M University +	Orangeburg, SC	7:30 p.m.
9/26/2015		OPEN
10/3/2015		Furman University	Greenville, SC	TBA
10/10/2015	*	Bethune-Cookman University	Daytona Beach, FL	4 p.m.
10/17/2015	*	Howard University &	Orangeburg, SC	2 p.m
10/24/2015	*	Delaware State University	Dover, DE	2 p.m.
10/31/2015	*	Hampton University @	Orangeburg, SC	1:30 p.m.
11/7/2015	*	North Carolina A&T State University #	Orangeburg, SC	1:30 p.m.
11/14/2015	*	Norfolk State University	Norfolk, VA	1 p.m.
11/21/2015	*	Savannah State University	Savannah, GA	TBA

Home Games are in bold

Neutral Site Games are in italics

* denotes a Default contest

$--MEAC/SWAC Challenge (Televised live ESPN)
+-Former Student-Athlete Appreciation Day
& -Youth/ROTC Military Appreciation Day
@-Homecoming
#- Senior/Faculty-Staff Appreciation Day
* MEAC Contest-Home games in Bold-# Dates, times and locations are subject to change

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU Lady Rattlers Bow Out of NCAA With 7-2 Loss To FAU

GAINESVILLE, Florida  --  The Florida A&M Softball Team saw its' 2015 come to close her Saturday afternoon in a 7-2 loss to Florida Atlantic University in the elimination round of the NCAA Softball Regionals at the University of Florida's KSP Stadium.

Florida A&M (18-39) rallied from an early 2-0 deficit, by scoring single runs in the third and fourth innings to tie the game at 2-2.

In the third, Jessica Nathan socked a solo homer over the left field wall to slice the Owls' edge to 2-1, then in the fourth, FAMU starting pitcher Kenya Pereira, bashed an RBI double scoring Naesha Lewis for a 2-2 count.

Miesha McBride, who was waved home on the play, hesitated and was thrown out at the plate.

FAU (38-18-1), scored two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to close the game's scoring, and advance to the final game of the day, a 6:15 p.m. elimination final against Hofstra.

The winner will face Florida Sunday at 1 p.m. for the regional title.

FAMU REFLECTIONS: Head coach Veronica Wiggins reflected on the season just concluded following Saturday's game: "I am very proud of this team, especially the way we came back today and fought.

"When we do our exit interviews, we are going to look at what we need to do to improve, and to go farther in the NCAA playoffs.

"We accomplished a lot this season, but we can get better and want to take this team beyond the regionals,and I believe with the core of players coming back, and some of the incoming recruits we have, we will be able to do just that... That will be our focus for next year,"

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MSU's Acker Signs With British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League

BALTIMORE, Maryland –  Former Morgan State University linebacker Cody Acker was signed to a contract by the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League on Monday (May 7).

"It's an honor and a lifetime achievement," Acker said about joining the Lions. "I play this game for the love and to compete at a high level. To be awarded the opportunity to play professionally is a blessing."

Acker, a 6-foot, 235-pound linebacker, completed the 2014 season as an All-MEAC first team selection and led the Bears by posting a career-high 113 tackles (No. 5 in MEAC), 11.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and an interception. He ranked No. 17 in the nation with 69 solo tackles and also posted a career-high 19 tackles (T-No. 12 in FCS) to lead the Bears at Eastern Michigan.



Acker added, "I would like to thank my coaches and the University for giving me the opportunity to get a quality education, play the game I love and showcase my talents on a national stage."

The Landover, Maryland product was also a key contributor to the MSU capturing a share of the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Title, marking its first conference championship since 1979. The Bears also made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs when they faced #16/18 Richmond.

Acker has extensive experience, starting in 33 of 44 games played as a four-year letterman and three-year starter at MSU. During his span with the Bears he recorded 240 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, four forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and a blocked kick.

Ackers reports to camp on May 27th. He joins former Howard Bison quarterback Greg McGhee, who was also signed by the B.C. Lions.

The British Columbia Lions are members of the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Lions played their first season in 1954. As such, they are the oldest professional sports franchise in the city of Vancouver and in the province of British Columbia. They have appeared in the League's Grey Cup championship game 10 times, winning six of those games, with their most recent championship occurring in 2011.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION