Spelman, Black Schools Hit by Budget Ax as Bush Erases Aid Gain

(Bloomberg)--When it comes to America's more than 100 historically black colleges, the Bush administration is giving with one hand and taking back with the other.

President George W. Bush signed a law in September adding $85 million to the annual support of $238.1 million for Spelman College, Grambling State University in Louisiana and the other schools, saying it would help low-income Americans earn degrees and prepare them to compete for U.S. jobs. The Bush administration's new budget cuts aid to the schools by the same amount, angering Democrats who helped provide the money.

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Virginia Tech tops Morgan State

The Virginia Tech men's basketball team advanced to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament with a 94-62 defeat of the Morgan State Bears yesterday evening.

The victory was the 300th of head coach Seth Greenberg's career and the 20th of his team's season.

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Alabama State Hornets hit spring practice wall

Photo: ASU head football coach Reggie Barlow

Spring practice at Alabama State had gone rather smoothly over the first seven days. The Hornets had spent the week working hard to learn a new offense and push each other along.

While the novelty has somewhat worn off the spread offense, it isn't completely gone. Offensive players still show up at practice each day not entirely comfortable in their usual positions. Defense players, in the meantime, continue to be frustrated by the ridiculous amounts of screens, draws and swing passes in the new offense.

"It's like it's all they run," defensive tackle Clyde Holloway said. "I've never seen so many screens in all my life. It really is pretty strange to watch. They've got so many receivers out there and everybody's running around. It's hard to predict what's coming, I'll say that much."

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SSU's Wells conducts first football practice

Photo: Savannah State University head football coach Robby Wells.

Tuesday morning lights.

It's not the sequel to the movie "Friday Night Lights." It's what Savannah State's football team was practicing under at 5:30 a.m. at T.A. Wright Stadium.

The Tigers had their first spring practice and conducted a variety of drills for first-year head coach Robby Wells and his six assistants until 7:30 a.m.

For the next four weeks, SSU will conduct 11 practices from 5:30-7:30 a.m. The Tigers will have one afternoon practice and two late-morning scrimmages before wrapping up with an afternoon spring game April 12.

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Brooks, SU dominate Coppin State

Photo: SU Coach Roger Candor.

The important part of Southern University’s 19-5 win over Coppin State came in getting a solid, knuckle-down start from junior right-hander Sherrard Brooks.

Brooks, who had struggled in three appearances, settled down after a rocky first inning, got out of a jam in the second and dominated from there until coming out after the sixth.

For a team with two starting pitchers, Chris Donaby and Seth Monaghan, out with injuries and still trying to build its bullpen, having Brooks gain confidence is a big help.

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Florida Classic faces trouble

For a couple of days late last month, it looked like Bethune-Cookman's football team would be participating in two major events in Orlando next season. But the presidents of B-CU and Florida A&M quickly ended that speculation.

On Feb. 26, ESPN Regional Television announced its MEAC/SWAC Challenge game will move from Birmingham, Ala., to Orlando's Florida Citrus Bowl for at least next season. The game will be played Aug. 31, which is Sunday of the Labor Day weekend.

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This article title is totally incorrect--It should read: MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Trouble. The Florida Classic is going nowhere with a strong base of 68,000 -71,000 fans making it the largest game in history for the Florida Citrus Bowl facility.

Without the participation of FAMU and BCU, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge will be seeking a new home regardless of the sponsorship. This is a meaningless "made for cablevision" game. Folks have to remember the product IS the HBCU football teams, not the stadium, or the classic name, or whether the game will be televised.

Jackson State football means as much to Floridians as Delaware State football--they are not on the radar.

-beepbeep

NCA&T Aggies to play at South Carolina in WNIT

Photo: NCA&T Patricia Cage-Bibbs will face a South Carolina team that finished 15-15, 4-10 in the SEC.

GREENSBORO, March 18, 2008 – After heartbreaking loss in the MEAC Championship Game on Saturday, the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team still has one more chance to win a tournament championship. The Aggies will play in their first postseason game in 14 years when they face the University of South Carolina on Friday, March 21 in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament at the Colonial Center in Columbia, S.C.

The brackets were released late Monday night. Game time is 7 p.m. A win could put the Aggies back in Raleigh where they just played three games in the MEAC Tournament because Friday’s winner will play N.C. State at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh NEXT Monday night.

“We had a great season,’’ said head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. “I think playing in this tournament will remind people of that. Yes, we would love to play in the NCAA tournament. But in our case, you have to have had a great season to play in this tournament too.”

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