Dwight Floyd Commentary: No Easy Games for FAMU in Sept.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- If the Alabama State Hornets are any indication it takes more than a coaching wiz to turn a program around.
Brian Jenkins, who went 46-14 while at Bethune Cookman has yet to win a game in three tries at ASU.

Texas certainly has one of America’s most outstanding coaches for building programs in Charlie Strong. Before Texas he took Louisville from nowheresville to being a conference contender. In his second year at Texas his team continued to struggle until . . . until they found a quarterback, who could consistently make big plays and pose a threat.

Before new athletic director Milton Overton arrived on campus, head coach Alex Wood had already begun to follow the motto of “Success in the classroom, on the field, and then in life.” There are not that many sports programs anywhere as genuinely committed. He didn’t arrive in time to recruit and relied on the interim head coach for help in bringing in a recruiting class. That meant he didn’t have time to evaluate the team and recruit based on need.

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Melodie Malone earns SWAC Player of the Week honors

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Junior outside hitter Melodie Malone earned SWAC Offensive Player of the Week honor after helping Southern record its first win of 2015.

Malone, who posted 22 kills in eight games last week, helped Southern University volleyball secure a 3-2 road win over Grambling State Monday night. The Fort Worth, Texas native tied for a game high 16 kills as the Lady Jaguars overcame a 2-1 deficit before winning the final two sets 25-12, 15-5
Alabama State’s Riley MacDonald, Scout Wonsang and Kimeko Bennett join Malone as volleyball players of the week for their outstanding performance in competition from Sept. 16-22.

Offensive Player of the Week
Melodie Malone
Southern University
Outside Hitter • 5-6 • Jr. • Fort Worth, Texas
Malone delivered a 16-kill performance against Grambling to lead Southern to its first win of 2015. In two matches, Malone posted 22 kills and a .333 attack percentage as the Jaguars went 1-1. She also added four assists and six digs.

Defensive Player of the Week
Scout Wonsang
Alabama State
Middle Hitter • 6-0 • Sr. • Memphis, Tenn.
Wonsang had a team-best 63 digs, for a 3.71 digs-per-set average in four matches this past week against Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Louisiana Tech, Central Arkansas and South Alabama. Wonsang had 18 digs in the win against Louisiana Tech.

Setter of the Week
Riley MacDonald
Alabama State
Setter • 5-10 • Fr. • Frisco, Texas
MacDonald had a team-high 101 assists, averaging 5.94 assists-per-set, in four matches last week. She tied a career-high with 29 assists against both Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Louisiana Tech. This is MacDonald’s second weekly award after collecting Newcomer of the Week honor on Sept. 9.

Newcomer of the Week
Kimeko Bennett
Alabama State
Right Side • 6-2 • Fr. • Hollywood, Fla.
Bennett, collecting her second-straight weekly honor, had 29 kills and 10 blocks in four matches this past week against Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Louisiana Tech, Central Arkansas and South Alabama. Bennett tied a season-high with 12 kills against Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

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HBCU rivalry opens Texas State Fair season: PVAMU vs. GSU

DALLAS, Texas -- The Texas-Oklahoma game is usually the centerpiece of the Texas State Fair, but there's another game that draws just as many fans and just as much attention to Dallas' Cotton Bowl Stadium.

The State Fair Classic game between Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M is easily one of mostly highly anticipated games of the season. The two Historically Black [Colleges and] Universities have a long standing rivalry between them.



Even during winless seasons the teams draw record crowds to the State Fair of Texas. The contest between the bands is just as intense as the play on the field. In fact, the halftime show for this game is actually longer to allow both bands to perform elaborate and highly entertaining routines.

More often than not, fans show up for the first half and leave after the band performances conclude so that they enjoy the Midway fare and attempt to beat the traffic and attend the myriad of events following the game.

But don't let that sour you on the game. Historically black colleges rarely get a platform like this, so the game itself -- regardless of the records -- is a big deal for the members of the Grambling and Prairie View communities.

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Winless Jackson State seeks strong home cooking

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State's home opener is considered a reunion.

The winless Tigers (0-3, 0-1) entertain Texas Southern at 6 p.m. Saturday night at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Texas Southern is coached by former Jackson State quarterback Darrell Asberry.  John Shannon, a former Biloxi High school coach, is a former offensive coordinator at Jackson State.

Asberry, Jackson State's MVP in 1994, downplayed his return to the state's Capitol. Asberry is in his fifth year as Texas Southern's coach.

"The first couple of years it did affect me, but now it's just another game for us," Asberry said in a Teleconference call. In a hostile environment, we need to execute and play well."

Jackson State coach Harold Jackson has a simple solution for the Tigers.

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MSU Opens MEAC Play Against Bison in Chicago Football Classic

 Morgan State Notes  |     Howard Notes |    MEAC Notes |   Purchase Tickets   |
 MEAC Teleconference Transcript   |     Live Stream   |    Live Stats
 Facebook.com/MorganStateBears   |    @MorganStBears

TV: ESPN3/ESPNU
Shawn Kenney (Play-by-Play)
Jay Walker (Analyst)

Radio: WEAA, 88.9 FM is the flagship station for the Morgan State Bears .... Lamont Germany will call the play-by-play with former Bear coach Lex Taylor in the booth. The game will be broadcast live on 88.9 FM and streamed on WEAA.org. The game will also be broadcast on SiriusXM Channel 204.

GAME TIME
Morgan State (0-2) opens Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on Saturday when the Bears travel to face the Howard Bison (0-3, 0-1) in the 18th Annual Chicago Football Classic. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:32 p.m. (ET) at Soldier Field Stadium and will be telecast live on ESPN3 and tape delayed at 10 p.m. (ET) on ESPNU. The game will also be audio streamed on WEAA.org and on SiriusXM Channel 204.

THE SERIES
The Morgan State Bears lead the series against the Howard Bison with an overall record of 39-33-3. The Morgan State Bears have won 8 of the last 10 meetings against the Howard Bison since 2005, including a strecth of 7-straight from 2005 to 2011.

QUICK HITS
• Morgan State played against Alabama State in the 3rd Annual Benefit Football Classic held at Soldier Field on Sept. 15, 1973. The Bears posted a 32-0 victory.
• Junior RB Orlando Johnson had 39 yards (3.0 avg) on 13 carries at #4 Illinois State, while Lamont Brown III led the Bears ground attack with a season-high 58 yards (6.4 avg) on just nine carries.
• MSU had a conference-best 10 players selected to the 2015 All-MEAC preseason team, including four players who were named to the first team.
• Head Coach Lee Hull is 2-5 in his career in games played in Aug/Sept.
• Lee Hull's Bears were predicted to finish last in the MEAC's Preseason Order of Finish. However, MSU not only finished with its' first winning record since 2009...but they also captured its first MEAC Title in 35 years and its first Division I FCS Playoff berth.

SCOUTING THE HOWARD
• The Bison finished the 2014 season with an overall mark of 5-7 and a 3-5 MEAC record.
• They returned 40 letterwinners to go along with 15 nine starters from a team that won its last four games on the 2014 season.
• The Bison had eight (8) players selected to the Preseason All-MEAC Teams: TE Myles Williams; OL Toree Boyd; DL Damon Gresham-Chisholm; LB Devin Rollins; DB Kenneth Russ; DB John Fleck; WR Matthew Colvin; and OL Josh Smith.
• Howard is still in search of its first win of the 2015 season as a results of losses at Appalachian State (49-0), at Boston College (76-0) and most recently a 37-19 conference loss against Hampton at the AT&T Nation's Football Classic.
• The Bison have taken their lumps during the earlier going of the season. They've been outscored in their first three contests by a margin of 162-19.
• Jamie Cunningham, a 6-foot-4, 215 pound quarterback, will lead the Bison offense when they take on MSU. The redshirt junior from Greensboro (N.C.) has completed 20-of-36 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown, including three picks.
• Howard's ground game is led by standout RB Aquanius Freeman. The redshirt senior has 157 yards (4.6 avg) on 34 carries including a TD.
• The Bison defense has been led by Jacob Bennet, who has 30 tackles (22 solo) with a tackle or loss, while Travis Brown has added 19 stops.
• Gary "Flea" Harrell (Howard, '94) returns for his 4th year at Howard. The Bison stand 17-20 overall under Harrell's leadership. He led the Bison to a 7-4 record and a 6-2 mark in the MEAC in 2012. It was the first winning season for the Bison in a decade.
• Coach Harrell, offensive coordinator Ted White, special teams' coordinator Bobby Jones and tight ends coach Jimmie Johnson all played at Howard. Rayford Petty, the defensive coordinator, has twice been head coach for the Bison.
• Coach Harrell, William "B.T." Sherman, wide receivers coach, and Herbert Parham, defensive line coach, were all formerly members of the Morgan State football staff.

A WIN WOULD ...
... give Lee Hull his 8th career win as a head coach.

... would be the Bears' first win against a conference opponent since defeating Delaware State (69-7) on Nov. 22nd in the 2014 regular season finale.

... mark the Bears second straight victory against Howard.

... mark the Bears second in Chicago since defeating Alabama State (32-0) at the Chicago Urban League 3rd Annual Benefit Football Classic at Soldier Field on Sept. 15, 1973.

... mark the Bears first neutral site win since defeating Howard (38-35) at the Whitney Young Classic on Sept. 20, 2014 at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands.

FOOTBALL HERITAGE
Morgan State was a power as a former member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The Bears posted 173 wins between 1929 and 1959 when Edward P. Hurt was the head coach and the Bears won 14 CIAA championships. Earl Banks added to the championship collection by winning four titles during the 1960s and a MEAC title in 1971. Clarence Thomas led the Bears to a MEAC title in 1979...and now - after a 35-year drought - head coach Lee Hull has added a MEAC title following a thrilling and historical 2014 season. Other MSU highlights:

• Four (4) Pro Football Hall of Famers (Len Ford, Leroy Kelly, Roosevelt Brown & Willie Lanier)
• 19 CIAA championships
• 4 MEAC championships
• 30 consecutive games won (8th in 1964 to the 5th in 1968)
• 57 longest non-losing streak (4th in 1931 to the 6th in 1938)
• 4 MEAC Coaches of the Year; 3 Offensive POTY; 4 Defensive POTY; and 1 Offensive POTY
• 84 All-MEAC First Team selections
• 38 All-CIAA First Team selections

CAMPAIGNING FOR SUCCESS
The Bears enter the 2015 season looking to post their first back-to-back winning seasons (over .500) since going 7-5 in 2002 and 6-5 in 2003.

NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
The Bears will open the 2015 campaign with two of its first three non-conference matchups coming on the road. MSU opens the season at Air Force (Sept. 5), followed by a game at Illinois State (Sept. 12). The Bears round out non-conference play when they host Division II member VA-Lynchburg (Sept. 19) in the home-opener.

PRESEASON ALL-MEAC PLAYERS
Ten (10) Bears were named to the MEAC preseason team at the 2015 MEAC Football Press Luncheon in Norfolk, Va. Senior C Dominique Woods, junior RB Herb Walker Jr., redshirt junior DB Delonte Hall led the contingent with first-team nods, while OL Matthew Thompson, redshirt senior QB Moses Skillon and WR Andrew King and PK Chris Moller were voted to the second team. Junior DB Antonio Jefferson and redshirt junior Andrew Mitchell and redshirt sophomore Orlando Johnson were selected to the third-team.

BEARS NAME TEAM CAPTAINS
The MSU Bears wrapped up the preseason by naming the team captains for the 2015 season. The leadership group is comprised of a senior, two juniors and a sophomore ... offense - Andrew King (Columbia, Md.), defense - Andrew Mitchell (Memphis, Tenn.) and Greg Gibson (Houston, Texas) and special teams - Chris Moller (Newport News, Va.).

NEW BEAR IN THE CAVE
Jai Franklin joined the Bears as a transfer from Old Dominion and has three years of eligibility remaining. The 6-3, 280-pound defensive lineman brings FBS level experience to the Bears' young D-Line. "He's a smart player who plays with good pad level and he's hard to block," said Lee Hull. He recorded seven tackles in his season debut as the starting nose tackle against Air Force followed by a four stops at #4 Illinois State.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Main attraction in Georgia vs. Southern game might be halftime show

ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

ATHENS, Georgia  -- When it’s possible to have The Human Jukebox playing in your stadium, you might as while make sure it happens.

That was clearly Georgia’s intent when it signed a contract to host Southern University and its famed marching band for Saturday’s game at Sanford Stadium. UGA has three contracts committing to host nonconference opponents this season -- the others are Louisiana-Monroe and Georgia Southern -- but only one mentions the visiting team’s band.

Written into Georgia’s contract with Southern is language stipulating that “the band of the visiting team agrees to perform at halftime of the game,” and it is set up that way for good reason. Mark Richt’s team almost certainly will get the comfortable victory that comes with paying the lower-division visitor $650,000 to make the trip from Louisiana, and the icing on the cake will come at halftime.

“Normally a stipulation for visiting band attendance is not included in game contracts,” Georgia spokesman Claude Felton said. “However, the Southern University band is nationally known for its performing excellence and will provide a unique entertainment experience for our fans.”



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Scoring grades: How schools cheat to keep athletes in the game

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey — At Rutgers University, it was a football coach working surreptitiously behind the scenes to boost the grade of an academically ineligible cornerback.

The University of North Carolina's athletic department was charged with steering athletes into "GPA booster" classes to keep them playing, in a cheating scheme that went on for 18 years.

And the Syracuse University basketball program was heavily penalized for a series of major compliance failures, including interference with an academic program to make sure star players stayed eligible to remain on the court.

Despite the threat of sanctions, suspensions and other threats by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, academic fraud similar to what was recently charged at Rutgers is no stranger to college athletic programs, with phony classes, no-show lectures and grade changing tactics still key parts of the playbook of athletic programs across the country, records show.

While the NCAA has not yet intervened at Rutgers, an analysis of NCAA enforcement actions shows 26 major infraction cases in just the past 10 years charging academic fraud, involving schools including UNC-Chapel Hill, the University of Georgia, Texas Southern University, Texas A&M and others. However, those cases are likely just the tip of the iceberg, said Andrew Zimbalist, a sports economist and professor at Smith College in Massachusetts, who called such cheating now a routine part of the game.

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Four different PVAMU Lady Panthers score goals in 4-1 win over New Mexico State

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Four Prairie View A&M players found the back of the net Sunday as the Lady Panthers concluded non-conference play with a 4-1 win over New Mexico State.

A free kick off the foot of Breanna Powell from 22 yards out that deflected off a New Mexico State player in the 42nd minute turned out to be the match-winner as the Lady Panthers improved to 3-3-1 on the season.

New Mexico State fell to 1-8 with the loss.

Senior goalkeeper Dominique Dillon picked up her third win in goal for the Lady Panthers this season, making eight saves. She stopped all five shots on goal she faced in the second half.

Juniors Ashley Virgil and Alicia Cooper also scored in the match, as did freshman Taylor Brown, who recorded the first goal of her collegiate career. Khalisha Bond assisted on both Virgil's and Cooper's goals.

Virgil opened the scoring in the 18th minute when she headed a crossing pass from Bond into the lower-right corner of the goal past Aggies goalkeeper Ashley Martin. It was Virgil's first goal at home since a 4-0 win over Grambling State on Oct. 27, 2013.

Powell's goal unlocked a 1-1 tie after New Mexico State's Sabrina Ruiz scored the Aggies' lone goal in the 33rd minute.

Brown stretched Prairie View A&M's lead to 3-1 17 minutes after the restart when she booted home a shot off a pass from Bailey LaBauve from four yards out. Cooper iced the game in the 85th minute when she took a long pass from Bond and beat the keeper in a one-on-one breakaway.

The Lady Panthers open Southwestern Athletic Conference play Friday when they host Arkansas–Pine Bluff. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

NOTES:•The Lady Panthers won their second-ever match over a team from a program that fields FBS Football. The only other such win was a 1-0 victory at North Texas on Sept. 12, 2009.
•Their 3-3-1 start is their best seven-match streak to open the season since 2004, when the Lady Panthers started 5-2. Six of those matches were against SWAC teams.
•The Lady Panthers have never had .500 record after seven matches when playing teams outside the SWAC.
•The Lady Panthers won their first-ever match over New Mexico State. They had been outscored 12-0 in their previous matchups with the Aggies, both losses.

BOX SCORE

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UGA's John Eason has unique perspective on Bulldogs playing Southern University: 'It's a big deal'

Coach John Eason, Ph.D.
UGA BULLDOGS
Courtesy: UGA Sports Communications

ATHENS, Georgia -- John Eason has spent 15 seasons on the football staff at Georgia, first as wide receivers coach and then in an administrative role. Before that he was a part of another major college football program as an assistant coach at Florida State under Bobby Bowden.

His first exposure to college football in person came as a ninth-grader with his Howard (Fla.) High School football team watching Southern (La.) play at Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Fla.

His team played the night before in nearby Quincy.

“We didn’t go in the stadium,” he said. “We sat on the top of the grass and looked down.”

Eason, who went on to play at Florida A&M, will be inside the stadium Saturday when Southern comes to town to play No. 7 Georgia. It’s the first time a team from the historically black colleges and universities has played against Georgia.

“It’s a big deal for historically black colleges to come and do that,” said Eason, an All-American punter who also played wide receiver at Florida A&M from 1963-66. “It does a lot for their budget. It’s an opportunity for their players to come and show what they can do.”

Southern gets a $650,000 guarantee for the game.


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Two NCCU Football Starters Suffer Season-Ending Injuries

DURHAM, North Carolina -- The North Carolina Central University football team suffered three losses on Saturday at Florida International University in Miami.

The visiting Eagles lost the game to FIU by a score of 39-14, but also lost two starters for the rest of the season due to injuries.

NCCU junior FCS All-American cornerback and return specialist Mike Jones suffered a fractured ankle in the first quarter, while junior transfer receiver Khalil Stinson fractured his hip on a second-quarter punt return.

NCCU head coach Jerry Mack says the loss of Jones and Stinson has a “huge impact” on the team.


“This is very unfortunate for these two young men and their families,” said Mack. “Mike is obviously a key player for us and I was looking forward to watching Khalil continue to grow as we enter conference play. We’re sure they will be back in 2016 ready to go.”

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Key Member of A&T Basketball Title Teams Passes Away

L. J. Pipkin
Courtesy: NC A&T Sports Information

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- L.J. Pipkin, a key member of three North Carolina A&T MEAC men’s basketball championships, passed away Saturday as confirmed by his daughter Latasha McDougal, Monday night. Pipkin was 58.

“When I think about him and the crew who came in with me I think about the fact that these are the best guys a teammate could ever had,” said former teammate and Aggie legend James Sparrow who holds the school’s single-season scoring record with 647 points. “L.J. and I started out as teammates. We turned into friends and from there we turned into brothers. We were family. We went everywhere together – the basketball courts, we ate together along with doing a few other things. He was one of the best teammates and friends you could ever have in your life. It was an eternal bond.”

Born L.J. Sander Pipkin on Oct. 5, 1956 in Laurinburg, N.C., Pipkin was a high school standout at Scotland County High School where he was known as a scorer and a shot blocker. He came to N.C. A&T in 1975 under head coach Warren Reynolds. Along with teammates like Sparrow and Joe Brawner, Pipkin helped to usher in the Aggies dominance of the MEAC in the 80’s by dominating the late 70’s.

A&T won three consecutive MEAC titles from 1977-79, the last two under head coach Gene Littles. Pipkin, who stood 6-foot-9, was an intimidating force on defense for the Aggies according to teammates. In 103 games played, he averaged 11.1 points and 7.0 rebounds. His 1,143 points and 723 rebounds ranks him 20th and 10th on the Aggies all-time list.

Pipkin was a two-time second-team All-MEAC performer (1976-77, 77-78). He went on to have a successful basketball career in Amsterdam where he set several scoring records. Funeral arrangements have not been made. Mr. Pipkin was living in Amsterdam, Netherlands at the time of his death. He is survived by two sons and a daughter, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren and two brothers and two sisters.

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JSU’s Jackson ignores critics, focuses on next game

JACKSON, Mississippi -- The first season of Harold Jackson’s tenure as Jackson State coach was so tumultuous there was a change.org petition, which called for the firing of Jackson and then-athletic director Vivian Fuller.

The petition had 831 supporters.

Another petition, which had 424 supporters as of 3 p.m. on Monday, calling for Jackson’s job popped up following the Tigers’ 50-31 loss to Southern in their SWAC opener this past weekend.

“Harold Jackson Has (sic) turned Jackson State Universities (sic) football team into a laughingstock,” wrote Tim Jones, who created both petitions.

That’s some of the outside noise Jackson is trying to drown out after JSU, which hosts Texas Southern this weekend, fell to 0-3 for the first time since 2009 this past weekend.



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Southern sets sights on SEC powerhouse Georgia

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern is off to a fast start in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, having won its first two league games and scoring 50 points in each.

Now the Jaguars get a taste of Southeastern Conference play when they visit seventh-ranked Georgia on Saturday.

“Hopefully,” coach Dawson Odums quipped Monday during the weekly SWAC coaches teleconference, “we’ll come back with the same number of guys that we take up there.”



Certainly the Bulldogs present the most physical challenge the Jaguars will face this season, if not ever. But, Odums added, Southern can’t allow that to affect its preparations.

“You’ve got to line up and play,” Odums said. “They’re no different than you, they just play for a bigger school with more resources, but they can’t play more than 11 players at a time. You’ve got to go in there with the right mindset to play your very best just to give yourself a chance.”

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Alcorn State, Tuskegee Remain On Top in Week 3 of HSRN Polls

HARTLEY, Delaware  –  Alcorn State University and Tuskegee University held on to the top spots following the third full week of HBCU football action.   The Braves of ASU remained in the top FCS position while TU’s Golden Tigers were unanimously picked #1 in DivisionII/NAIA HSRN Football Polls.

 

In the Division I FCS poll, Alcorn State celebrated “Family and Friends Day” by demolishing Mississippi Valley State, 55-14, in their home opener at Spinks-Casem Stadium.

North Carolina A&T moved up to second place followed by South Carolina State, Southern and Bethune-Cookman.

 

In Division II, Tuskegee’s 28-13 win over Winston-Salem State left no doubt about their strength in the division.  The Golden Tigers are undefeated and captured all the first place votes of the HSRN pollsters.

 

Virginia Union and Virginia State tied for second place leading a strong representation for the CIAA.  Elizabeth City has moved into third place followed by Bowie State and Livingstone.  Chowan enters the poll at #7 following their stunning defeat of Delaware State, 31-30, in Dover.

www.HSRN.com

 

Division I FCS
	School (First Place Votes)	Record	Pts	Last Week
1	Alcorn State (11)	2-1	134	1
2	North Carolina A&T	2-1	120	3
3	South Carolina State (2)	2-1	107	5
4	Southern	2-1	81	6T
5	Bethune-Cookman	2-1	79	4
6	Hampton	2-1	62	6T
7	Tennessee State (1)	2-1	60	2
8	Prairie View A&M	2-1	44	9
9	Texas Southern	2-1	19	10
10	North Carolina Central	1-2	13	8
	Others receiving votes
	Grambling St., Alabama St., Morgan St., Jackson St..
	Alabama A&M, Ark-Pine Bluff, Norfolk St.

    

Division II/NAIA
	School (First Place Votes)	Record	Pts	Last Week
1	Tuskegee (12)	3-0	120	1
2T	Virginia Union	2-1	78	2
2T	Virginia State	2-1	78	3
4	Elizabeth City State	2-0	66	5
5	Bowie State	2-1	50	4
6	Livingstone	1-0	44	6
7	Chowan	2-1	37	NR
8	Morehouse	2-1	36	8
9	Albany State	1-2	32	NR
10	Winston-Salem State	0-3	28	7
	Others receiving votes
	Fort Valley St., Central St., Lane, Fayetteville St. Lincoln (Pa) Johnson C. Smith, Kentucky St. Miles, Benedict, Cheyney West Virginia St.

About HSRN:

HSRN (Heritage Sports Radio Network) is the national leader in live radio broadcasts of mid-major athletics. HSRN combines innovative programming and production with a vast broadcast network. The SiriusXM platform avails partners of HSRN exposure on the world's largest radio broadcaster as measured by revenue and exposure to 28.3 million subscribers. In addition to SiriusXM, HSRN is available on terrestrial radio affiliates, smartphones and other connected devices as well as online at HSRN.com.

  
BY ERIC MOORE

HERITAGE SPORTS RADIO NETWORK, LLC

Xavier puts NAIA-leading win streak on line against DU

NEW ORLEANS -- The NAIA confirmed it Monday: Xavier University of Louisiana has the association's longest active conference win streak in women's volleyball.

The Gold Nuggets will put that 51-match win streak -- ninth longest in NAIA history -- on the line Tuesday when longtime city and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference rival Dillard visits. Starting time will be 7 p.m. at XU's Convocation Center, and admission is free.

Columbia (Mo.) holds the NAIA record of 159 consecutive regular-season conference victories and also shares ninth place with Xavier. Next on the list for Xavier to catch are Taylor (Ind.), which won 53 in a row, and Northwestern (Iowa) at 58.

The NAIA's win-streak list does not include conference tournaments. Xavier has won 62 straight against GCAC opponents, regular season and tournament, since a five-set loss to SUNO in the semifinals of the GCAC Tournament on Nov. 13, 2010.

Xavier, 7-4 this season and 3-0 in the GCAC, has won five straight overall. Third-year coach Hannah Lawing said focus and unity have been the keys to success.

"We are making a lot of progress," said Lawing, who is 34-0 against GCAC opponents, 29-0 in the regular season. "We have a lot of depth, and our practices have gotten more intense. We have people competing at each position for starting spots, and it's fun to watch.

"This group has figured out the balance between being all-business on the court while playing loose and not getting uptight. That was something our team last year struggled with."

Xavier is the only GCAC team with five players with 70 or more kills. CeCe Williams has 87, Taylor Reuther 81, Claudia Haywood 75, Ruby Hunt-Thompson 71 and Jodi Hill 70. Hunt-Thompson is a freshman, and the other four are seniors.

Chelsea Wilkinson has 65 kills and Ty Howard 53 for Dillard (2-9, 1-0), and Demetria Horton has 154 digs. The Lady Bleu Devils won 2-of-3 matches after losing their first eight and won 25-12, 25-16, 25-11 at home against Tougaloo in their GCAC opener Friday. Xavier beat Tougaloo 25-7, 25-9, 25-16 at home Saturday.

The Gold Nuggets were 2-0 a year ago against Dillard, winning 25-18, 25-16, 25-10 at home and 25-23, 25-21, 25-17 at DU.

Xavier will visit its other GCAC city rival, SUNO, at 6 p.m. Friday.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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2015 SWAC Football Teleconference - Week 4

Alabama A&M - James Spady

Alabama State - Brian Jenkins

Alcorn State - Jay Hopson

Jackson State  - Harold Jackson

Mississippi Valley State - Rick Comegy

Prairie View A&M - Willie Simmons

Grambling State - Broderick Fobbs

Southern - Dawson Odums

Texas Southern - Darrell Asberry

Arkansas-Pine Bluff - Monte Coleman

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Convicted FAMU hazer crusades against culture of abuse

University of West Florida boasts stringent hazing policies, plans activities for Hazing Prevention Week

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Before Dante Martin, Caleb Jackson and Robert Champion became household names, there was Michael Morton.

In the spring of 2006, Morton had it all.

Weeks from graduating from Florida A&M University with a degree in engineering on a full-ride scholarship. Job offer at Pepsi's Dallas plant in hand. A child on the way.

That all changed in 2007, when Morton, then 23, and his fellow Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brother, Jason Harris, were the first two people sentenced under Florida's tougher 2005 hazing law after an initiation beating that landed a pledge on a surgical table with a broken eardrum.

The stricter law made hazing that leads to serious bodily injury a felony, regardless of a victim's consent. The two men, who had been viewed by many as models of FAMU's student success, spent two years in prison before an appeals court overturned their convictions and freed them in 2009. They pleaded no contest to felony hazing and were sentenced to time served.

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FAMU settles hazing lawsuit spawned by death of drum major Robert Champion

ORLANDO, Florida -- The family of Robert Champion — the Florida A&M University drum major killed in a hazing ritual in Orlando — settled a lawsuit against the university, accepting $1.1 million and an apology, according to documents obtained Friday by the Orlando Sentinel.

The university will pay $300,000 through the Florida Department of Financial Services, the maximum allowed without a claims bill that would have required the Florida Legislature's approval.

An insurance company for the Rosen Plaza hotel will pay $800,000 to the drum major's estate. The hazing occurred on a bus parked at the hotel where the marching band was staying.

FAMU also will honor Champion by renaming the marching band's anti-hazing program for the drum major and dedicating a commemorative plaque in his memory in the band room on FAMU's campus, the student union, or "The Patch," as the band's practice field is known.

The Champions can choose the plaque's location, according to the agreement.

Champion, 26, died Nov. 19, 2011, after the hazing that followed a performance at the Citrus Bowl that was part of the Florida Classic weekend, an annual football game and band competition with its in-state rival, Bethune-Cookman University.

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East: Southern’s high-flying offense spells trouble for the rest of the SWAC

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- If someone is going to deny Southern a third consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title, that team is probably going to have to score an awful lot of points when it faces the Jaguars.

Southern has scored 100 points in its first two SWAC games, splitting the total evenly between its 19-point win at home against Jackson State on Saturday and its 37-point win nine days earlier at Mississippi Valley State.

That certainly doesn’t mean 50 points is going to be the norm. Valley is one of the least talented teams in the SWAC, and Jackson State, though more talented than its fellow Magnolia State team, has looked like a lost group since Harold Jackson replaced Rick Comegy as head coach before last season.

Nonetheless, it’s obvious the Jaguars are going to be extremely difficult to defend. It’s not just the point totals or the 675 yards they accumulated against JSU; it’s also the comfort with which they have moved the ball through the air and on the ground.

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FAMU Rattlers looking to fix problems before first home game

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M finally plays its first home game Saturday against Tennessee State after a rough three-game road trip to start the season. That excitement aside, the Rattlers have a host of problems to fix before debuting at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

The Rattlers were blown out in all three games to start the season, including a 36-0 shutout loss in at South Carolina State on ESPNU Thursday. It was the first time FAMU failed to score since losing 76-0 to Ohio State in 2013.

FAMU coach Alex Wood said the coaching staff is looking for solutions on offense. Through three games, the Rattlers have scored 24 points and haven’t thrown a touchdown pass.

FAMU is one of eight teams in all of FCS football without a touchdown pass this season.


ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

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'Classic' back in Circle City for 32nd year

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- It's that time of year again — the leaves are turning, the breeze is blowing, and the Circle City Classic is bringing marching bands, football fans and supporters of the Black community and Indiana's youth to Indianapolis for the 32nd consecutive year.

The annual "Classic" — put on by Indiana Black Expo and Indiana Sports Corp. — raises funds for college scholarships for deserving Hoosier students. According to the Classic's website, proceeds from the event have funded more than $3 million in scholarships.

There are several events planned for the Classic, including the Miss Circle City Classic Coronation, a prayer service and a pep rally, all culminating with the main events on Sept. 26 — a parade, tailgating, football game and marching band competition.

Here's what you need to know for the big day, Sept. 26:

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Circle City Class Schedule of Events

Date/Time	Event	Location
Friday, September 25, 2015, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.	NCAA Circle City Classic Coaches Luncheon	Lucas Oil Stadium	Learn More
Friday, September 25, 2015, 7 p.m.–9 p.m.	Friday Nite Classic Cabaret	Indiana Convention Center	Learn More
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.	Circle City Classic Parade	Downtown Parade Route	Learn More
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 12 p.m.–3 p.m.	Circle City Classic Fan Fest (Tailgate)	Lucas Oil Stadium	Learn More
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 3 p.m.–6 p.m.	Circle City Classic	Lucas Oil Stadium	Learn More
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.	Circle City Classic Pep Rally	Monument Circle	Learn More
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 7:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m.	Circle City Classic Comedy Jam	Old National Centre	Learn More
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 11 p.m.–1 p.m.	Circle City Classic Comedy Jam	Old National Centre

Tickets are available at the Indiana Black Expo Box Office, the Lucas Oil Stadium Box Office, through Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Alcorn State Annihilates Mississippi Valley

LORMAN, Mississippi  -- Valley State why it’s the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Saturday in its 55-14 win.

The Braves (2-1, 2-0 SWAC) ran an efficient offense and defense and more than doubled the total yards gained — 494 to 191 — while having the ball 10 minutes less than the Delta Devils.

The defense held Valley to 2-of-15 on third down conversions.

“I really thought we played well on both sides of the ball,” said Alcorn coach Jay Hopson.

“Offensively we had some good early drives. We have a few things we have to correct like every game but as a whole, a pretty good day.” Alcorn came out early on offense and blew the crowd away. At the end of the first quarter, the Braves already had 173 total yards on 15 plays.



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