2010 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced by MEAC

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced today the five members of its' 2010 Hall of Fame Class that will be honored during a banquet on Friday, March 12, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the M.C. Benton, Jr. Convention Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. "We are excited to recognize another outstanding class of inductees who have made a significant impact on their institutions and our conference during their collegiate days and beyond," said Dennis E. Thomas, MEAC Commissioner. "I'd like to congratulate the 2010 MEAC Hall of Fame Class for all of their achievements both athletically and professionally."

The Hall of Fame Class will be honored in conjunction with the 2010 MEAC Basketball Tournament, held March 8-13 at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum (LJVM) in Winston-Salem. Enshrinees were selected by an 11-person committee made up of administrators from each member institution. The MEAC Hall of Fame includes former student-athletes, coaches, university and/or conference administrators as well as special contributors, who have enriched the legacy of the conference since its inception in 1969.

The MEAC Hall of Fame inducted its first class on May 29, 1981, during a 10-year anniversary banquet in Greensboro, N.C. Since its establishment in 1981, the Hall of Fame has enshrined 103 people, including the Class of 2010.

The 2010 MEAC Hall of Fame Inductees are:

Inducted as a Student-Athlete:
Rickey Anderson, South Carolina State: was the first South Carolina State football player to surpass the 1,000 yard mark with 1,195 total yards. In 1977, he guided the Bulldogs to a 6-0 conference mark en route to their fourth consecutive MEAC title. That same year, he earned All-MEAC First-Team accolades and was named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year. The 1977 Associated Press College Division All-American holds the school record for career averages per carry (6.5; 1974-77). Anderson was a third-round draft choice by the San Diego Chargers in the 1978 National Football League (NFL) draft. He was inducted into the South Carolina State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 and was a member of the South Carolina State Centennial football team in 2008.

Jacquay Nunnally, Florida A&M: was a three-time football Division I All-American at Florida A&M, who led the Rattlers to the NCAA Division I FCS (formerly I-AA) playoffs in 1997-2000. He is second all-time in NCAA Division I FCS football record books in career pass receptions with 317 for 4,239 yards and 38 touchdowns. Nunnally holds the NCAA Division I FCS record for most yards gained by a freshman during a game in his 284 yard performance on October 11, 1997 against North Carolina A&T. He caught 13 passes in the victory. Nunally led the FCS in 1998 in receiving with 96 receptions for 1,316 yards and 12 touchdowns. The four-time All-MEAC First-Team honoree (1997-2000) was named the Black College Player of the Year in 1998 and 2000. He concluded his collegiate career with 362 catches and was inducted into the Florida A&M Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Ira Smith, Maryland Eastern Shore: led the nation and was the NCAA Division I batting champion in 1989 (.488) and 1990 (.519). Smith is sixth all-time in the NCAA Division I record books with the highest season batting average of .519 (1990) and 14th all-time with a .431 batting average from 1986 and 1988-90. Smith was Maryland Eastern Shore's Valuable Player in 1989 and had a career batting average of .330. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1991 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft and played professionally up until 1999. He was inducted into the Maryland Eastern Shore Hall of Fame in 2004.

Ted White, Howard: served as quarterback for the Howard football team from 1995-1998 and was named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year in 1996. He holds the MEAC and school record for passing completions (638), passing yardage (9,908) and touchdown passes (92) during his tenure at Howard. White set the MEAC record for a single-game best mark in passing yards with 561 and eight TD's against Florida A&M on October 17, 1998. He leads the MEAC with 1,169 passing attempts and 9,845 total offensive yards in his four-year career. White played professionally in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1998 and the Kansas City Chiefs in 1999.

Inducted as a Conference Administrator:

Ed Hill, Howard: has served as the Sports Information Director at Howard for over two decades (1983-present). The talented writer's stories have appeared in USA Today and the NCAA News. Hill is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and Black College Sports Information Directors of America (BCSIDA). He is also active in the Washington, DC community where he served as head coach and co-founder of the DC Warriors basketball program and as a counselor for the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP). Hill is also an adjunct professor at Howard where he teaches a course on Sports and the Media. He has worked 283 consecutive Howard football games and has not missed a game since the 1984 season. In 2005, Hill was honored by CoSIDA as the Bob Kenworthy Award recipient for his community service outside the profession. He was honored by CoSIDA again in 2009 when he was presented with the 15-Year Service Award. Prior to his appointment at Howard, Hill was a staff writer for the Winston-Salem Chronicle and the Black College Sports Page. He has also worked as a news aide and freelance writer for the Washington Post.

FAMU marching band picked to perform at Super Bowl pregame show

Florida A&M University's marching band has been selected to perform in the Super Bowl XLIV pregame show at Dolphin Stadium on Feb. 6 -- and they're rehearsing a tribute to Michael Jackson. This marks the third time in five years that the marching "100" has been invited to participate in a Super Bowl. "We are extremely honored and proud to be selected by the National Football League to perform during the pregame show," said Julian White, director of bands and chair of FAMU's Department of Music, who received a telephone call from the entertainment director for the National Football League.

"To be invited for a third time in only five years is confirmation that we give a quality performance," Dr. White said in a news release issued by the Tallahassee school on Tuesday. "It is only fitting that we salute the King of Pop for the world to see," White said. (Read More, Click Blog Title)

FAMU Rattlers 'Hawk' Dawson finally wings his way into MLB Hall of Fame

Former Florida A&M University Rattlers baseball star and alumnus, Andre Dawson (1973-75) was the lone inductee to Major League Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday. A graduate of Miami's Southwest High School, Dawson will be enshrined on July 25, 2010 in Cooperstown, NY., 15 days after his 56th birthday.

OTTAWA, Canada — Baseball graduated its 2010 Hall of Fame class on Wednesday, which turned out to be a class of just one player: Andre Dawson. At last, The Hawk is in the Hall. A joyous day, not just for the elegant outfielder and his cast of supporters, but for fans of the Montreal Expos, able to reflect on another fond figure from their long-gone ball team. Dawson, in his ninth year on the ballot, received 77.9 per cent of the vote, comfortably past the 75 per cent margin. He leaped more than 10 per cent in the voting by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America after reaching 67 per cent last year.

Dawson, angular, powerful and fleet in his youth, had Hall of a Fame markings in his 21 seasons with four clubs, but was severely hampered by injury late in his career. It wasn’t character that slowed Dawson, but a pair of bad knees, preventing this “five-tool” player from posting automatic Cooperstown numbers. Dawson finished his career as a .279 career hitter with 438 home runs, 1,591 runs batted in and 314 stolen bases. He was the National League’s rookie of the year with the Expos in 1977 and the 1987 NL most valuable player with the Chicago Cubs. Eight times he was an all-star and 12 times he underwent knee surgery. In history, only Willie Mays and Barry Bonds shared Dawson’s combination of at least 400 home runs and 300 stolen bases. (Read more, click main blog title)

'Well worth the wait' for baseball hall inductee Andre Dawson

The Hawk has a new nest: the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Andre Dawson, considered by some to be the best player ever produced by the Montreal Expos, was elected Wednesday to the baseball shrine — the only player to make the cut this year in voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America. "It was well worth the wait. I can’t really describe the elation," Dawson, who made the Hall on his ninth try, told reporters on a conference call. "If you’re a Hall of Famer, eventually you’re going to get in, no matter how long it takes."

Dawson appeared on 77.9 per cent of the ballots, after falling 44 votes short last year of 75 per cent needed for induction. A strong-armed outfielder whose speed and power on the diamond and class off it made him a fan favourite, Dawson played 21 seasons for four teams (the Expos, the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Florida Marlins), hitting 438 home runs, collecting 1,591 RBIs and stealing 314 bases. He is one of only three players in MLB history to hit 400 home runs and steal 300 bases in his career. Willie Mays and Barry Bonds are the others.

Dallas Green recalls Andre Dawson 'blank check' signing

Most free-agent negotiations are conducted under clandestine circumstances, far from the prying eyes of the public and media. But in 1987, for all to witness during spring training in Mesa, Ariz., free agent Andre Dawson and agent Dick Moss demanded the immediate and undivided attention of Cubs management. Dallas Green, then the Cubs' bombastic general manager, took umbrage at the fact the future Hall of Famer and Moss showed up with a blank contract. Green huffed and puffed, then referred to Dawson and Moss as "a dog and pony show."

I was the Tribune's Cubs beat reporter at the time, and In the Wake of the News columnist Bob Verdi and I thought the entire surreal scene was made for TV, as well as newspapers. I spoke with Green on Wednesday about the scene and he provided some background. "It all started in 1984 when we won (the division) and I had to sign all of those guys to multiyear contracts, and big contracts," said Green, 75, now the senior adviser to the general manager of the Phillies.

"You know, Rick Sutcliffe and Steve Trout and Scott Sanderson and Dennis Eckersley. ... I had to re-sign all of those guys because they were on one-year deals. It took a pretty good chunk of dough. And, of course, in '85 we didn't do too well, and in '86 we struggled a little, as well. It was where Tribune Co. finally had to put (its) foot down and say, 'Hey, we're approaching the payroll we want to be at.' I said, 'Well, I love this guy (Dawson)'.

Andre Dawson receives just due with Hall of Fame election

Never one to sweat the details, Andre Dawson is happily on his way to Cooperstown. A man who generated respect along with run production throughout his 21-year career, six of his most satisfying seasons coming when he was based at Wrigley Field, Dawson will take his place in the Hall of Fame alongside Ryne Sandberg, who like "The Hawk" knew Wrigley before there were lights. There was never a real question of Dawson's Hall of Fame worthiness -- anyone who saw him dominate the National League with the Cubs and Montreal Expos knew he had earned his spot among baseball's greats. The question was how long he would have to wait, and that finally was answered Wednesday.

Dawson, whose signing with the Cubs in 1987 was one of the most amazing stories in team history, was more gracious than he needed to be on the subject of hard-to-convince voters. "The wait isn't a big factor in the scheme of things," said Dawson, 55, who was a huge fan favorite on the North Side. "You get frustrated when people say, 'When are you going to get in?' and you don't have an answer for that. As I sit here now, I think it was well worth the wait."

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Howard Bison 72, Navy Midshipmen 65

Howard Uses Late Run to Push Past Navy, 72-65

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Howard men's basketball team outscored Navy, 9-0, in the final minute of play to hand the Midshipmen a 72-65 setback on Monday night. The loss snapped Navy's modest two-game winning streak and drops Navy's record to 6-9 overall. Howard improved to 2-13 with the victory. Navy has lost six straight games away from Annapolis and has a 1-7 record away from Alumni Hall, entering Saturday night's Patriot League opener at Bucknell.

"We didn't do enough tonight for 40 minutes to be successful. When we don't play together, we aren't going to beat anyone," said Navy head coach Billy Lange. "We were careless defensively and didn't show enough patience on offense. It just seemed we got antsy in the second half and weren't patient enough. When we were, we got any shot we wanted." Howard was aided by seven three-point plays. Three of the seven came on fouled three-point shot attempts, while the Bison also connected on four and-one opportunities. "It's just a lack of focus, and we didn't close out on shooters properly," said Lange. "Our heads were somewhere else."

Final Stats

White, Collins Lead Balanced Attack In Win Over Navy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Curtis White scored 12 of his game-high 21 points in the second half and Dadrian Collins added 10 of his 15 after intermission to lead Howard to a 72-65 win over Navy in a non-conference men's basketball game at Burr Gymnasium. The Bison (2-13), who snapped a five game losing streak, rallied from a 36-30 halftime deficit on the scoring of White and Collins who combined for 12 of the team's points during a key 15-9 run that tied the score at 45-all.

Buoyed by the run, Howard embarked on an 11-4 run to open up a 56-49 lead at the 10:48 mark of the second half. This time it was Mike Phillips and Calvin Thompson who keyed the run as they combined for 8 of the points. But the scrappy Mids (6-9) put together a rally of their own, a 16-6 spurt that helped them regain the lead at 65-63 with 3:08 remaining.

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Hampton Pirates 78, Fordham Rams 54

Senior 6'-8" forward Michael Freeman took the Atlantic-10 Fordham Rams to school scoring 18 points, 10 rebounds in leading the Pirates inside attack.








Freeman's fourth double-double of the season leads HU to rout of Fordham

HAMPTON - — It's always nice to come home after a long trip … even if nobody's at the house. The Hampton Pirates put together their most complete performance in their first home game since Nov. 23, pounding Fordham 78-54 Sunday at the Convocation Center. And while there weren't many in attendance — just 342 showed up for the rare Sunday night game, even with free admission — those who were there got to see the Pirates (3-10) in rare form.

The 24-point margin of victory is Hampton's biggest since a 65-31 win Dec. 1, 2007 against Howard. The Pirates snapped a five-game losing streak and gave coach Edward Joyner Jr. his first home win. Their 51 percent field-goal shooting is a season-best, and they won the rebounding battle 42-31 — the first time they've done that all season. "We wanted more rebounding, and we got it," Joyner said. "We wanted better shooting, and we got it. The only thing we have to work on is turnovers (21, including 13 in the second half). Some of that was being ahead by a lot in the second half, but we need to play the complete 40 minutes."

Final Stats

Hampton Pounds Fordham

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team started 2010 strong, beating the Rams of Fordham University 78-54 at the HU Convocation Center on Sunday night. It was Hampton’s largest margin of victory since the Pirates beat Howard 65-31 on Dec. 1, 2007. The Pirates also snapped a five-game losing streak and gave interim head coach Edward “Buck” Joyner Jr. his first home win. Hampton (3-10) went on a 15-5 run late in the second half to pull ahead to its largest margin of the night, 69-37 with 5:25 to play after a 3-pointer from Brandon Tunnell (Wilmington, Del.). Fordham closed the game on a 17-8 run, but the Pirates’ lead was so large at that point, the Rams couldn’t complete the comeback.

Michael Freeman (Alexandria, Va.) led the Pirates with 18 points on 5-for-9 shooting and an 8-for-9 performance from the free throw line. Freeman also pulled down 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Vincent Simpson (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored 11 points for the Pirates, who shot a season-best 51.0 percent (25-for-49) from the floor and 5-for-11 (45.5 percent) from 3-point range. Read More...

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Is Southern, SWAC any good?

1. What’s the state of men’s basketball in the SWAC?

Not good. Not good at all. Seventeen years have passed since 13th-seeded Southern upset Georgia Tech in the NCAA tournament. Nowadays, the SWAC is simply not competitive. Take last year’s champion, for instance. Alabama State cruised through the league with a 14-4 record ... won the SWAC tournament ... and lost in the NCAA play-in game. The SWAC has taken at least a few corrective steps. It moved the conference tournament from the archaic, crumbling Fair Park Arena in Birmingham, Ala., to the modern CentruyTel Center in Bossier City. And next year, the tournament will end a week earlier, giving the champion more time to prepare for the NCAAs.

2. Where does Southern stack up?

Who knows? The Jaguars were hardly world-beaters in nonconference play; they were blown out by the likes of Utah, Brigham Young and Southeastern Louisiana. They have just two wins in 12 games. Then again, that’s two more wins than they had entering SWAC play last year. They have shown glimmers of hope, as well, with better play at the point, bench players with potential and some inside muscle. As the conference schedule begins, they at least have a chance to finish in the top half of the league. Any doubts? Please refer to Question No. 1.

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Morgan State 61, Coppin State 50

Senior guard Corin Adams hit five three pointers (career high) and 25 points for the Lady Bears in their victory over the Lady Eagles.

BALTIMORE, Md. --Corin Adams scored a game-high 25 points and Brittany Noel came off the bench and added a career-high 14 points to help visiting Morgan State to a 61-50 victory over cross-town rival Coppin State on Saturday afternoon in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener for both teams at the Physical Education Complex on the campus of Coppin State. The 11-point victory for Morgan State is its largest margin of victory over Coppin State in 11 years, since a 76-53 win over the Eagles on March 4, 1999 in a MEAC Tournament quarterfinal game in Richmond, Va. It is also Morgan’s largest regular season road win at Coppin since an eight-point (63-55) victory at the Coppin Center on Jan. 5, 2008.

With the win, Morgan State (4-8, 1-0 MEAC) put an end to its season-long five-game losing skid, which it had to close out the 2009. The victory was also the Lady Bears’ third consecutive MEAC opening win against the Eagles and spoiled Coppin’s first conference opener in its new facility. Adams, the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, shot 9-of-21 from the field, including a game- and career-high five three-pointers (5-of-10) for Morgan State, which has now won three of the last five meetings over its city and league rivals. Adams also added five rebounds, a team-high five assists and recorded a game-high two of Morgan State’s three blocks.

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SU choice Mitchell prepares to lead Jaguars

Thursday night, across the nation, millions of people chugged champagne and threw confetti, preparing for the new decade. Stump Mitchell sat in a room by himself on the East Coast, ostensibly working two jobs at once. At the moment, he is the assistant head coach and running backs coach of the Washington Redskins. Next week, he is in line to become the new head coach at Southern University. He can’t come out and say that exactly. But he’s certainly preparing that way.

On New Year’s Eve, Southern offered the position to Mitchell, who has spent the last 11 seasons as an NFL assistant coach but only three as a college head coach. Mitchell can’t say yes to the offer until next week; the Redskins finish their season Sunday at San Diego, and after that, he must meet with team management. “I can’t accept the job until I talk with our legal counsel,” he said. “I will get that opportunity next week. Then, everything should occur like we want it to.” In the meantime, he has started to put a plan in place.

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A Zebra Closeup: Niles native officially loves football

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Referee Kevin Violette describes the MEAC as a league comparable to the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), which includes Youngstown State University. "There is an awful lot of talent throughout the league. Some truly outstanding athletes," Violette said. The speed, size and talent of these guys makes for a condition where anything is possible."

Most former football players who wish to remain close to the game generally do so by playing a little touch football, or perhaps by joining a fantasy league. Niles (OH) native Kevin Violette is living out his football fantasy by putting himself smack-dab in the middle of the action. Violette spends his autumn weekends traveling up and down the East Coast as part of an officiating crew that works college games. Violette recently completed his fifth season as an official in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference - a nine team league that includes, South Carlina State, Florida A&M, Norfolk State, Morgan State, Bethune-Cookman, Hampton, North Carolina A&T, Delaware State and Howard.

The MEAC is a Division I-AA conference made up of historically black institutions located across the Atlantic coastline. A 1986 Niles McKinley High graduate, Violette currently resides in Wilmington, N.C. After graduating from Niles, Violette attended Ohio Northern, where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Biology. He then earned a Masters Degree in Marine Biology while attending the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. When he's not keeping order on the football field, Violette serves as Director of Enterprise Solutions. The company is the software development group which serves the University of North Carolina Wilmington. "I've always loved football and I always wanted to stay involved in the game in some way," Violette said. "Quite honestly, I never expected it to be as a referee."

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Mitchell has head-coaching offer from Southern University

Lyvonia 'Stump' Mitchell, currently the Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach for the Washington Redskins served as Morgan State's assistant head coach/offensive coordinator (1995) and head coach, 1996-1998, posting an overall record of 8-24.

Mitchell has head-coaching offer from Southern

While the future of just about every member of the Redskins' coaching staff will likely be up in the air following Sunday's game in San Diego, running backs coach Stump Mitchell has an offer on the table. Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., has offered Mitchell its head coaching position, according to a news release from the school. The terms of a contract have not been worked out and the school didn't expect to make any final announcement until after the Redskins conclude their season Sunday against the Chargers.

"Stump Mitchell's 21 years in the NFL, 10 as a player and 11 years as an assistant coach, combined with his head coaching experience, will bring a wealth of diverse knowledge to our football program," Greg LaFleur, Southern's athletics director, said in the news release. Mitchell told Joseph White of the Associated Press today that he'll make a decision after the season is concluded, but the quotes in today's news release from Southern sure sounded like the school was welcoming its new coach on board.

SU picks NFL vet Mitchell

Hours before he learned his fate with Southern University, Stump Mitchell said an offer to become its next football coach would be “a dream come true.” It’s not a dream anymore. Southern’s 24-day search for a new coach ended with its original lead candidate, Mitchell, a man who likely will arrive in Baton Rouge next week with a long history in the NFL, but only three years of experience as a college head coach. Mitchell, the Washington Redskins running backs coach and assistant head coach, has agreed in principle to take over at SU next season, Chancellor Kofi Lomotey said.

“We’re very excited,” Lomotey said. “Stump will be a tremendous addition for us. I believe he’ll add a boost to our athletic department, and he’ll also bring some excitement back to (A.W.) Mumford Stadium.” The Redskins play their final regular-season game Sunday at San Diego, and technically, Mitchell cannot agree to a contract with Southern until after the Redskins’ season ends. “I think it’s great that they considered me as being qualified to take over a program like that,” Mitchell said. “They’ve offered it to me. I don’t know what’s going to happen here. But if it’s not here, it’ll be there,” he said.

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Morgan State Bears 87, Long Island Blackbirds 70

MEAC leading scorer Reggie Holmes leads Bears over Blackbirds in University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Dr. Pepper Classic.

Recap: Long Island vs. Morgan State

Reggie Holmes scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Morgan State Bears to an 87-70 win over the Long Island Blackbirds in the consolation game of the Dr. Pepper Classic at McKenzie Arena. Kevin Thompson scored 13 points and collected 17 rebounds for the Bears (8-5), who were upended by Eastern Kentucky in the event last night. Troy Smith added 16 points and DeWayne Jackson tallied 15 points and seven boards off the bench for Morgan State.

Kyle Johnson had 21 points to pace the Blackbirds (4-8), who have now dropped five in a row. Jamal Olasewere added 13 points, David Hicks scored 12, and Michael Culpo finished with 10 points in the loss. LIU jumped out to a 27-19 lead on a layup by Culpo at the 10:09 mark of the opening half. However, the Bears responded with a quick 9-2 flurry, and they would eventually head to the locker room with a 42-38 halftime advantage. The Bears were simply too much in the second stanza, as they shot 54.8 percent from the floor and knocked down 6-of-9 three-pointers to pull away.

Men's Basketball Outlasted by Morgan State at Dr Pepper Classic

Chattanooga, Tenn. – The Long Island University men’s basketball team was unable to keep pace with an experienced Morgan State squad, falling 87-70 on Wednesday night in the consolation contest at the Dr Pepper Classic in McKenzie Arena. The Blackbirds held a lead for much of the first half and were close early in the second half before the Bears began to pull away.

Long Island (4-8) took a lead early in the contest after rolling off seven unanswered points. Freshman Jamal Olasewere sandwiched two pairs of foul shots around a three-point play by junior Kyle Johnson to give LIU a 12-6 lead at the 16:02 mark in the opening half. Kevin Thompson snapped the run, but the Johnson and sophomore Michael Culpo connected on three pointers in three straight LIU possessions to keep the Bears at bay. Freshman Kenny Onyechi and Culpo hit back-to-back layups to give the Blackbirds their largest lead of the day at 27-19 with 10:09 to play in the opening period.

Morgan State (8-5) promptly held LIU to just three field goals the rest of the half and outscored the Blackbirds, 23-11, to take a four-point lead into halftime. Troy Smith led the charge with seven points during the extended run, including a pair of foul shots with 0:03 left in the period to make it 42-38 at the intermission.

A three-pointer by Culpo got LIU within 50-44 early in the second half, but that was as close as it would be the rest of the way. Morgan State used a 16-4 spurt over the next 6:29 to build an 18-point cushion. DeWayne Jackson scored the final three points in a run of 11 unanswered points to make it 66-48 with 9:32 to play. The Blackbirds managed to cut the deficit to 79-66 with 2:34 to play on a driving layup by junior David Hicks, but Jackson answered with a three-pointer at the other end to push the game out of reach. Reggie Holmes capped the scoring on a jumper with 0:45 left sending LIU to its fifth straight defeat.

Box Score

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College Basketball Conference Power Rankings—New Year Edition

MEAC and SWAC basketball has absolutely nothing to talk about this season other than Morgan State and its leading scorer Reggie Holmes. Both conferences football playing schools would be better served to move that scholarship money from basketball to football and play non-scholarship basketball for 2011 and beyond. They couldn't possible do any worst than what they have shown the past decade.

28. MEAC (Morgan State, Bethune Cookman, NC A&T) 38-81 (31.9 %)

The MEAC already has four teams with 10 or more losses, and only three teams from the MEAC are above .500 (Morgan State, South Carolina State, Bethune-Cookman). Morgan State is the only respectable team from the MEAC, led by one of the nation's leading scorers, Reggie Holmes. It is hard to tell if South Carolina State has the potential to be good because they got crushed by Miami and Iowa, but then played Clemson to the buzzer. Bethune-Cookman does not deserve to be .500. Three of their seven wins are against Division II schools, and two of them are against Independents.

33. SWAC (Prarie View A&M, Alabama A&M, Texas Southern) 22-88 (20.0 %)

Last, and most certainly least, is the SWAC. Alcorn State is most likely the worst team in college basketball. Up until Wednesday night, they had lost every game 15, most of their losses being by much more. On Wednesday night, they played their first home game and only lost to Central Michigan by four. The SWAC has five teams with at least 10 losses. Not one team is an even .500. Two teams are winless (Alcorn State and Arkansas Pine Bluff), and Alabama State and Mississippi Valley State do not have any wins against Division I teams.

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Southern Jaguars 84, Talladega Tornadoes 86

Senior guard Ramondo Banks from Bernice, LA returned home to help the 2009 USCAA Division I National Champions Talladega Tornadoes achieved another college basketball milestone by defeating Southern 86-84. The second year program achieved two humongous milestones last season by defeating five NCAA Division I programs (Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Mississippi Valley State, Southern, and Grambling State) in a single season on its journey to winning the NAIA Division I National Championship in its first season of competition.

Talladega triumphs in tight tilt over SU, 86-84

The game featured six lead changes in the first half alone, a box score that showed neither team with a significant edge in any area and — yes — a frantic final minute that decided the outcome. A couple of missed opportunities kept Southern from winning that final minute. As a result, the Talladega College men’s basketball team left F.G. Clark Activity Center with a victory for the second year in a row, this one an 86-84 triumph that went to the wire.

“I felt like Urban Meyer down the stretch,” Talladega coach William Brown said, referring to the Florida football coach. “My chest got tight.” Then again, Brown, whose NAIA team has lost twice in overtime and once in double overtime, has seen his share of close calls through an 8-8 start. The Tornadoes were on the right end of this one thanks in large part to Kerry Harvis and Micah Hagens, who combined for 48 points on 15-of-29 shooting.

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Delaware State Hornets 49, UCLA Bruins 66

Reeves Nelson leads UCLA to victory over Delaware State

Reeves Nelson scored a career-high 21 points and UCLA defeated Delaware State 66-49 Sunday. The Bruins have won three of their last four games, but their 5-7 record leaves them last in the Pac-10 in nonconference play. UCLA opens its Pac-10 schedule against Arizona State on Thursday at home. Marcus Neal led the Hornets (4-6) with 15 points. Frisco Sandidge added 12. Tyler Honeycutt and Nikola Dragovic scored 11 points apiece for a UCLA, which shot 52 percent from the field.

The Bruins grabbed their largest lead, 51-22, with 12:55 to play before Delaware State ended the game on a 27-15 run. Sandidge scored nine of his points during the run. In what started out as a battle of jump-shooters, the Bruins took over midway through the first half when they started taking the ball inside to Nelson, who helped spark a 14-0 run that put UCLA up 26-10.

Bruins Lock Delaware State in a Full Nelson

Box Score Photo Gallery

Reeves Nelson scored a career-high 21 points and UCLA defeated Delaware State 66-49 Sunday. The Bruins have won three of their last four games, but their 5-7 record leaves them last in the Pac-10 in nonconference play. UCLA opens its Pac-10 schedule against Arizona State on Thursday at home. Marcus Neal led the Hornets (4-6) with 15 points. In what started out as a battle of jump-shooters, the Bruins took over midway through the first half when they started taking the ball inside to Nelson, a 6-foot-8 freshman center.

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What Can the MEAC and SWAC Learn from the Southland Conference?

Coppin State University Coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell has been accused of over-scheduling the Eagles with powerhouse money games. However, the Eagles do have their share of lower Division cup-cake games this season...Lincoln (Pa.), West Virginia Tech and Washington Adventist University.

Raising the level of its competition

To improve seeding in NCAA Tournament, Southland wants teams to cut down on number of lower division foes.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Southland Conference is building its regional television network, and commissioner Tom Burnett is working with ESPN to expand the league’s reach. But there still are obstacles impeding the Southland’s quest for an enhanced national profile. They are seemingly small stumbling blocks, but part of a big issue. Try Harris-Stowe, Paul Quinn or Ecclesia. Maybe the University of Science and Arts or Mid-America Christian. Perhaps a name off Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s schedule — Oklahoma Panhandle State.

Those schools are a sampling of the non-Division I opponents that line Southland men’s schedules this season. They are part of the reason the league is stuck in a rut of being seeded 14 or higher in the NCAA Tournament. Non-Division I schools do not count toward a Division I team’s win total when analyzed by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. The games are a lost opportunity to improve the RPI, the NCAA’s rating of a team’s or league’s strength of schedule, its opponents’ strength of schedule and how it fared against opponents. Division I teams can face up to four non-Division I schools a season, but it’s best not to use the full allotment, if any. Yet the 12 Southland men’s teams combine to face 44 non-Division I opponents this season. That does it no favors with the selection committee, which factors the RPI into its seeding process.

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The MEAC and SWAC should take note of the strategy of the Southland Conference. A 16th seed in the NCAA Tournament is always a guaranteed ticket for a quick exit home.

MEAC Men Basketball Scheduled Cup-Cakes...

1. Delaware State: Holy Family, Wilmington and Mary Washington
2. Coppin State: Lincoln (Pa.), West Virginia Tech and Washington Adventist University
3. South Carolina State: Erskine College, Allen, Southern Wesleyan
4. Florida A&M: Albany State (Ga.)
5. North Carolina A&T: Brevard College, Davis & Elkins and Carson Newman
6. Bethune Cookman: Edward Waters, Florida Gulf Coast, Carver Bible, Florida Christian College and Jacksonville
7. Winston Salem State: Atlanta Christian, Milligan, Ferrum College and Columbia Union
8. Morgan State: None
9. UMES: Stevenson
10. Howard: None
11: Hampton: None
12: Norfolk State: None

SWAC Men Basketball Scheduled Cup-Cakes...
1. Alabama A&M: Oakwood, Martin Methodist, Stillman and Tuskegee
2. Alabama State: Columbus State and West Alabama
3. Alcorn State: Tougaloo College, Mississippi College and University of Detroit-Mercy
4. Grambling State: Centenary College (Louisiana), Paul Quinn College (Texas)
5. Jackson State: Spring Hill
6. Mississippi Valley: Champion Baptist
7. Prairie View A&M: Schreiner, Florida Gulf Coast, Champion Baptist, Ecclesia, Dallas Christian
8. Southern: Xavier (La.), Talladega, Central Arkansas and Chicago State
9. Texas Southern: Northern Colorado, Dickinson State, Jarvis Christan University
10. Arkansas Pine Bluff: None

Other Division I HBCUs
1. Tennessee State (OVC): Detroit-Mercy
2. North Carolina Central (Indep/MEAC): North Carolina Wesleyan, Carver Bible College, Florida Gulf Coast, Tennessee Temple University and The Apprentice School
3. Savannah State (Indep): Webber International, University of North Florida, University of Virginia-Wise, Allen University, Carver Bible College and Jacksonville University.

Delaware State: A speed bump for UCLA? Not likely

A speed bump for UCLA? Not likely

The Bruins, looking for some momentum heading into Pac-10 Conference play later this week, meet Delaware State today -- a deliberate, disciplined team that moves at a snail's pace. Momentum has been tough to come by -- or too often moving in the wrong direction -- for a struggling UCLA team this season. So when the Bruins face Delaware State at Pauley Pavilion this afternoon, they will be eager to grab a second consecutive victory. But they can't be too eager, not against an opponent that tends to move at a snail's pace.

Delaware State (4-5) averages only 49 shots a game by holding the ball for 15 or 20 seconds, trying to score near the end of each possession. Impatient defenses can get burned with back-cuts and back-screens. "It's going to be a game where the tempo is slow," Coach Ben Howland said. Last week, the Hornets held No. 17 Ohio State to a season low in scoring, losing 60-44. "They may be the most disciplined team I've ever seen in my life," Ohio State Coach Thad Matta said. "I would have had a hard time in that one as a player. Our guys had to focus for the full 40 minutes."

Heading into the UCLA game, Hornets Coach Greg Jackson has a 311-221 career record. More importantly, the Hornets are nearly unbeatable at Memorial Hall with a 74-22 record over the past ten years.

Ben Ball Gameday Roundup: End Of Out Of Conference Season

Excerpts:
"The only plan we had was to limit their possessions and keep them out of transition, and I thought for the most part our kids did that. We don't have the talent that they have." It was as close to a stall game as you'll find during the era of the shot clock. Ohio State was held to a season-low in points despite coming in 10th nationally (84.7 per game). "To hold them to 60 points is obviously a success for us," Jackson said. "We had a plan to come in and shorten the game and keep them on the defensive end as much as possible. The only chance we had was to limit possessions and take them out of areas that they like to operate."

The Hornets are lead in scoring by Marcus Neal, who averages 13 points a game and Frisco Sandidge who leads the team with 6.4 rebounds per game. Sandidge is also second in the scoring department as he averages about 12 points per game. Despite some recent struggles, Delaware State has played solid defense all season and that can be reflected in the stats. So far this year, DSU has only allowed opposing teams to score 58.8 points per game, which is the nation's 26th best scoring defense. The Hornets also rank pretty high in turnover margin (22nd with +4.8) and steals (15th 10.0).

Delaware State starting guard Jay Threatt has been one of the best players in the country in steals this season. As of Dec. 13, Threatt was ranked No. 5 in the nation in steals with an average of four per game and had recorded 25 overall. Also, Threatt tied the school record for steals in a game Nov. 16 against Wilmington when he recorded nine. The Hornets are now 0-4 on the road this season. This is just the 3rd meeting between the Hornets and UCLA with the Bruins leading the series 2-0 with both games being contested in Pauley Pavilion. UCLA posted a 56-37 victory in the last meeting on Nov. 19, 2005.

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Unfinished business: Grambling State Tigers Football

Unfinished business: Grambling didn't live up to own championship expectations

By Grambling’s standards, 7-4 isn’t cutting it. After consecutive trips to the SWAC Championship — including a victory to claim the conference crown in 2008 — it’s hard to call the Tigers’ 2009 season anything but a disappointment. “Coming into the season we wanted a championship,” junior defensive end Christian Anthony said. “It’s always our No. 1 thing. Winning is the No. 1 thing. We fell short of that goal. ”Watching the Tigers, they had the look of a championship-caliber team. The talent was there, with nearly all of GSU’s 2008 starters returning on both offense and defense. The coaching was there, too. But it never quite came together. A tendency to self-destruct early in games, combined with a few untimely injuries, turned the Tigers from the odds-on favorite to win the SWAC to also-rans.

Grambling's Anthony earns two All-America honors

Celebrated Grambling defender Christian Anthony has been named to the 2009 Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision All-America team, released on Wednesday. The team is headed by Walter Payton Award winner Armanti Edwards and Buck Buchanan Award recipient Arthur Moats. Anthony was one of just two from the Southwestern Athletic Conference to be included on the first team, joining kick returner Mareo Howard of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Grambling punt returner Kiare Thompson earned second-team honors. Anthony was also named to the American Football Coaches Association’s FCS All-America first team. He was one of only three from the SWAC on that unit, joined by Southern wide receiver Juamorris Stewart and Prairie View punter Pedro Ventura.

Grambling’s Christian Anthony named SWAC defensive player of year

Grambling State end Christian Anthony has been named the 2009 Southwestern Athletic Conference defensive player of the year. “I don’t think about all of these honors,” said Anthony, who has one more year of eligibility. “My whole thing is to go out and play as hard as I can every game.” Grambling kicker Ari Johnson was named freshman of the year. GSU offensive lineman Revay Smith, linebacker Cliff Exama and returner Kiare Thompson were named first-team All-SWAC. Running backs Frank Warren and Cornelius Walker earned second-team nods. Anthony, a Birmingham, Ala., led the SWAC in solo tackles (55) as he tied for sixth in the conference with 76 tackles. “He’s as good as anybody I’ve ever coached,” said Grambling coach Rod Broadway. “I think he has an opportunity to do something special. I think he will have an opportunity to play on Sundays.”

Photo of Grambling's Dillon honored by SportsCenter; see the shot!

A photo of Grambling quarterback Greg Dillon scoring during the Tigers’ 31-13 victory over Southern in the State Farm Bayou Classic was selected as the SportsCenter Bud Light Freeze Frame photo of the week. The photo taken by Associated Press photographer Patrick Semansky is of an upside down Dillon scoring as he dives into the endzone over Southern cornerback Tim Berry in the first half of the game. The shot of Dillon beat out photos of UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel holding his players back after they nearly had an all-out fight with USC and of Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt celebrating after making the game-winning catch against the Arizona Cardinals. The winning photo was selected by a national online poll of voters from the Sportscenter website. The photo of Dillon received 62 percent percent of the votes.

2009 Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision All-America Team

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE: QB - Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State, Sr; RB - Deji Karim, Southern Illinois, Sr; RB - Pat Paschall, North Dakota State, Sr; FB - Tommy Fraser, Coastal Carolina, Sr; WR - Terrell Hudgins, Elon, Sr; WR - Marc Mariani, Montana, Sr; WR - Tim Toone, Weber State, Sr; TE - Clay Harbor, Missouri State, Sr; C - Kyle Mutcher, Weber State, Sr; G - Jeff Hansen, Montana State, Sr; G - Matthew McCrackern, Richmond, Sr; T - Vladimir Ducasse, Massachusetts, Sr; T - Ben Ijalana, Villanova, Jr; AP - Matt Szczur, Villanova, Jr.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE: DE - Arthur Moats, James Madison, Sr; DE - Danny Batten, South Dakota State, Sr; DL - Christian Anthony, Grambling, Jr; DT - Sean Lissemore, William & Mary, Sr; DT - Mychal Savage, Youngstown State, Sr; LB - Matt Coen, Lehigh, So; LB - Brandin Jordan, Southern Illinois, Sr; LB - J.C. Sherritt, Eastern Washington, Jr; LB - D.J. Smith, Appalachian State, Jr; CB - Cortez Gilbert, Appalachian State, Sr; CB - Josh Morris, Weber State, Sr; SS - Jeromy Miles, Massachusetts, Sr; FS - Mark LeGree, Appalachian State, Fs; S - Terrell Whitehead, Norfolk State, S.

FIRST TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS: PK - Matt Bevins, Liberty, So; P - Trevor Ward, Southern Utah, Sr; KR - Mareo Howard, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, So; PR - Leroy Vann, Florida A&M, Sr.

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE: DE - Dane Fletcher, Montana State, Sr; DE - Adrian Tracy, William & Mary, Sr; DL - Austen Lane, Murray State, Sr; DT - Christian Clark, Sacramento State, Jr; DT - Martin Parker, Richmond, Jr; LB - George Howard, Morgan State, Sr; LB - Adrian McLeod, Western Carolina, Sr; LB - Terrence Thomas, Villanova, Jr; LB - Jabara Williams, Stephen F. Austin, Jr; CB - Korey Lindsey, Southern Illinois, Jr; CB - Patrick Stoudamire, Western Illinois, Sr; SS - Terrence Klein, New Hampshire, Sr; FS - Charles Graves, Delaware, Sr; S - J.J. Vercammen, Dayton, Jr.

SECOND TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS: PK - Zach Kutch, Illinois State, Sr; P - Jonathan Plisko, Old Dominion, Fr; KR - Scotty McGee, James Madison, Sr; PR - Kiare Thompson, Grambling, Jr.

THIRD TEAM OFFENSE: QB - *Ryan Perrilloux, Jacksonville State, Sr; QB - *Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross, Sr; RB - Brent Grimes, Central Arkansas, Sr; RB - Toddrick Pendland, McNeese State, Jr; FB - Marlin Meeks, Nicholls State, Sr; WR - Duane Brooks, Stephen F. Austin, Sr; WR - Pat Simonds, Colgate, Sr; WR - Juamorris Stewart, Southern, Sr; TE - Nathan Overbay, Eastern Washington, Sr; C - Chaz Millard, Eastern Illinois, Sr; G - Dorian Brooks, James Madison, Sr; G - Terran Hillesland, Montana, Sr; T - Levi Horn, Montana, Sr; T - David Pickard, Southern Illinois, So; AP - Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington, Jr.

THIRD TEAM DEFENSE: DE - Tim Knicky, Stephen F. Austin, Sr; DE - Tim Kukucka, Villanova, Sr; DL - James Ruffin, Northern Iowa, Sr; DT - Sam Daniels, James Madison, Sr; DT - Ko Quaye, South Dakota, Sr; LB - Kadarron Anderson, Furman, So; LB - Luke Bonus, Hofstra, Sr; LB - Rob Damon, Rhode Island, Jr; LB - Jacque Roman, Appalachian State, Sr; CB - Jeremy Caldwell, Eastern Kentucky, So; CB - T.J. Heath, Jacksonville State, Jr; SS - Anthony Beck, Prairie View, Sr; FS - Jason House, Southern, Jr; S - Anthony DiMichele, Holy Cross, Jr.

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‘Rob’ Museum Nearing Reality

GRAMBLING, LA — When a museum is dedicated in memory of Eddie Robinson in February (2010), the stars will definitely be out to pay a lasting tribute to the late and legendary leader of Grambling State University’s football program. Mike Tomlin, the youngest head coach ever to win a Super Bowl championship, will be the keynote speaker for a gala banquet scheduled for the GSU Assembly Center on Feb. 12 starting at 7 p.m. Many of the former National Football League players guided by Robinson during his record-setting 57-year career at GSU are scheduled to be in attendance, both for the banquet and the museum’s ribbon-cutting ceremonies beginning at 10 a.m. Feb. 13.

Among the expected celebrities to be present for either or both events are former NFL quarterbacks Doug Williams and James “Shack” Harris; Pro Football Hall of Famers Willie Davis, Willie Brown and Charlie Joiner and former Pro Bowl defensive back Everson Walls, among many others. Also expected to appear will be Grant Teaff, former head coach at Baylor University and current executive director of the American Football Coaches Association. Invitations have been sent to the 200-plus players who starred at GSU under Robinson and later played in the NFL.

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Wake-Up Call: Vann's records make sweet music

Two-time All-American. For Florida A&M University senior LeRoy Vann (Tampa Blake High), it's a sweet sound and the best way to be remembered. Vann, a record-setting return man who garnered national attention this season through ESPN's SportsCenter and on the pages of Sports Illustrated, again made first team on the Walter Camp Football Championship Subdivision All-America team, which was announced Wednesday. "I almost can't believe some of the things that have happened to me playing college football," said Vann, a 5-foot-9, 185-pounder who plays cornerback.

To Vann, one of the most unbelievable things was when former Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard visited the FAMU campus to do a story for ESPN's College GameDay program. "That was crazy," Vann said. "I didn't know until right before it happened that he was coming to talk to me. I felt like a little girl, blushing and everything. I could hardly talk." All modesty aside, Vann's FAMU career was something to talk about.

FAMU's record-setting kick return specialist LeRoy Vann was named to the 2009 Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America team on 12/23/09. It was the second straight year that the 5-9, 185-pound fireball from Tampa, Florida was named to the first team, thanks to a memorable senior season which witnessed him take a school record five punts back for touchdowns; tie a single-season NCAA record for TD punt returns, while setting a new single-season return yardage mark for the school and the MEAC. Vann also finished his career as just the fifth player in NCAA FCS history to compile at least 1,000 yards on both punt returns and kickoff returns and he holds the career mark for combined kick returns for touchdown, 11 in the past two years (eight punts, three kickoffs). Vann has been named to four (4) All-American teams in the past two years as a kick returner.

It's hard to believe that Vann actually arrived at FAMU as a preferred walk-on player. While at Blake, he had dreams of earning a scholarship to a large school. But college coaches didn't share that vision. "They thought I was too small," Vann said. "I wasn't the average size they were looking for. But I think it's more than size. You've got to have no fear. You've got to play with heart."

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HU's Tracy White Making Most of First NFL Real Chance

PHILADELPHIA, PA - For six years, he ran around covering punts and tackling kick returners and pouncing on loose footballs in the Lambeau Field end zone after Greg Lewis fumbles. For six years, he was Tracy White, special teamer. Now, he's Tracy White, football player. After bouncing from Seattle to Jacksonville to Green Bay to Philadelphia exclusively as a special teamer, the 28-year-old White has emerged for the first time as a real-life NFL linebacker.

White, in his second season with the Eagles, has been playing in many two-linebacker nickel formations with Will Witherspoon, a combination that doesn't have much size but offers plenty of speed. On Sunday, in his 97th career game, he recorded his first interception, picking off Alex Smith late in the second quarter to set up a field goal in the Eagles' 27-13 win over the 49ers.

And on a unit that has gone through eight starters this year, White has been a valuable - and improbable - contributor. "To tell you the truth, I really didn't think I'd ever get a chance (to play defense)," White said. "But they gave me my shot, and I made the most of it. It took seven years to do it, but I got my chance." White played at Division 1-AA Howard University, a historically black college in Washington, D.C., and began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Seahawks in 2003.

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The Tracy White File...
Tracy White started all 44 games played at Howard University and led the Bison each season in tackles, becoming the school's all-time leader with 500, to go along with 22 sacks and six interceptions. As a junior, he was named the Black College Defensive Player of the Year. White also earned All-MEAC three times (2000-2002); twice MEAC Defensive Player of the Year (2001-2002); and twice Buchanan Award finalist (2001-2002). White is 6’0, 230 from St. Stephen, South Carolina (Timberland High School) and was a star linebacker for the Bison.

After being undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft, White signed with the Seattle Seahawks on 05/01/03. After spending two seasons with the Seahawks, in which he saw mostly special teams work, he was waived on 09/03/05. White was immediately claimed off waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played in 15 games, mostly on special teams. On 12/28/05 before the season finale, he was placed on the injured reserve list with an ankle injury. The Jaguars did not offer him a contract for the next season, making him a free agent.

White signed with the Green Bay Packers on 03/17/06. On 03/16/08, White re-signed with the Packers to a two-year contract after visits with the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. The contract was worth $1.8 million and the deal included a $250,000 signing bonus. He was released by the Packers on 10/07/08 and was signed by the Philadelephia Eagles on 10/14/08 to a two year contract as a special teams player.

MERRY CHRISTMAS MEAC/SWAC AND OVC FANS...

A&M Chancellor Supports Prairie View A&M Stadium Efforts

HOUSTON, Texas - The chancellor of the Texas A&M System told FOX 26 Sports Wednesday he is 100 percent behind efforts by school officials at Prairie View A&M to build a new football stadium and athletics facility. It will be the first new stadium and facility on the Prairie View Campus in nearly 50 years. This season the Panthers won their first SWAC football championship in nearly 50 years. Head Coach Henry Frazier helped put Prairie View back on the map and Chancellor McKinney has taken note.

Chancellor McKinney used his November '09 visit to the 6,000-seat Blackshear Stadium, which opened in 1960, to talk about ideas for funding improvements. "Prairie View needs a new stadium," McKinney said. "The stadium they have is rundown and needs to be replaced. I am trying to help them raise money for the project. "It's vital and absolutely necessary to build a stadium for Prairie View that reflects the growth and the success of the school." McKinney said he and George Wright, the president of Prairie View, have been discussing ways to enhance sports programs at the second oldest public institution of higher learning in the state of Texas.

"Building a new athletics facility and stadium at Prairie View is tremendously important," said McKinney. "My opinion is athletics is the front door to our universities. "It's important we get people on our campus. Education is our mission. Athletics is the front door." Prairie View officials have completed 90 percent of their athletics economics study according to Athletics Director Fred Washington. Washington said the first phase, which involves the football stadium and athletics facility, will cost roughly $30 million with groundbreaking expected in around two years. "This is probably one of the largest undertakings that our university and our athletics department has taken on in its existence," said Washington. "We haven't built a new facility since the 60's. "So this is going to be huge for us."

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Former Hampton Pirates All-American Latrell Scott Named Head Football Coach at Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond has introduced Latrell Scott as its new head football coach. Scott, who has previously served as assistant coach with the Spiders, was introduced by Director of Athletics Jim Miller as the school’s 34th football coach during a press conference December 15th at the Robins Center. A highly-regarded recruiter and graduate of nearby Lee-Davis High School, Scott brings 11 years of coaching experience back to the Spiders after spending the last two seasons as the wide receivers coach at the University of Tennessee and the University of Virginia, respectively.

“Coach Scott will provide great leadership for our football program,” said Miller. “He is an energetic young coach and proven recruiter who many of our players know and respect. He is a Richmond native, former assistant head coach here, and a great fit for the University. Latrell Scott will continue the Richmond tradition of attracting student-athletes of high-character who are champions on and off the field.”

“Growing up in Richmond, and having the experience of coaching at the University of Richmond previously, the opportunity to be the head coach is incredible,” said Scott. “The students, faculty, staff, and administration of this University are second-to-none, and with their continued support, we will continue the success that we have come to expect from the Richmond Football program.”

Prior to joining the Volunteers’ staff in 2008, Scott, 34, served for three years at Richmond under former head coach Dave Clawson as the wide receivers coach. He was promoted to assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator before the 2007 campaign. Richmond was 26-12, made two NCAA Playoff appearances and beat a BCS team (Duke) with Scott on staff. The Spiders shattered the offensive record books in 2007, which ended with a then-school record 11 wins and the school’s first-ever appearance in the National Semifinals.

Richmond’s leading pass-catcher was now-rising senior Kevin Grayson with a school-record 68 receptions for a freshman-record 970 yards and seven TDs. Then-senior Arman Shields began 2007 with a monster effort against Vanderbilt, catching 12 balls for 107 yards, before an injury limited him to just two more brief appearances. His skills and development under Scott, however, were enough to earn him a spot in the NFL Combine and a fourth-round NFL Draft selection by the Oakland Raiders. Of the 10 team records eclipsed in that season, Scott’s wide receivers helped the Spiders set new standards for scoring average (34.9), touchdowns (63) and total offense (5,675).

Scott inherits a Richmond team that went 11-2 in 2009, won the CAA Football Championship and reached the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Playoffs – the program’s third-consecutive postseason appearance and 10th in school history. The 2008 National Champions return eight starters next season, including arguably the best receiving and linebacking corps in CAA Football. Scott arrived in Richmond after spending three seasons as wide receivers coach at VMI. During his tenure in Lexington, the Keydets led the Big South Conference in passing in 2003. His first coaching assignment was at Fork Union Military Academy, where he spent two seasons before being named an assistant at Western Carolina in 2001.

A three-year starter at tight end during his playing days at Hampton University, Scott earned All-America honors following his senior season. He played on two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and NCAA playoff teams and also competed in the Gridiron All-Star Classic in Orlando, Fla. Scott graduated with a sport management degree in 2001. Scott is married to the former Brandi Bradby of New Kent, Va.

Personal
Born: July 17, 1975 in Richmond, Va. Family: Wife, Brandi

Education
High School: Lee-Davis High School, Mechanicsville, Va. College: Hampton University (sport management), 2001

Playing Experience
Hampton University (1994-97)

Coaching Experience
1999-2000: Fork Union Military Academy
2001: Western Carolina (wide receivers)
2002-04: VMI (wide receivers)
2005-06: Richmond (wide receivers/recruiting coord.) **FCS Quarterfinals
2007: Richmond (asst. head coach/WRs/recruiting coord.) **FCS Semifinals
2008: Tennessee (wide receivers)
2009: Virginia (wide receivers)

What They're Saying About Latrell Scott

"Latrell Scott is an outstanding young coach. He brings great energy to recruiting and is dynamic on the field working with players. Latrell is trustworthy and engaged very well with families, prospects and staff. Richmond has made a great choice and I wish him very well."
--Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee Head Coach (1992-2008)

"This is a great hire by the University of Richmond. Latrell will do a great job. He knows the school, he knows Virginia and he knows the league. I'm confident he'll pick up right where Mike London left off." -- Joe Taylor, Florida A&M Head Coach and Scott's former coach at Hampton University.

"I'm very excited for Latrell. He is well-known in the coaching fraternity for his communication and recruiting ability. With him being at Richmond previously, he understands the academic requirements it takes to be successful. He's a good football coach and I'm confident he'll continue the championship tradition at my alma mater." --Mike London, Virginia Head Coach

Video: Former UVA Receivers Coach Named Richmond Head Coach

UR names Scott football coach

University of Richmond Athletic Director Jim Miller called Dave Clawson a few days ago. The subject: Latrell Scott, whom Miller was considering as the Spiders' football coach. Clawson, UR's coach during 2004-07 and now Bowling Green's coach, acknowledged the conventional wisdom that Scott, 34, was probably a couple of years away from having the background expected of a head-coaching candidate. But Clawson, for whom Scott worked at Richmond, also made a point that Miller noted.

"In two years, you're not going to be able to get him as a head coach," Clawson told Miller. "If you wait, he may not be available." Miller did not wait. UR named Scott its coach yesterday after an eight-day search that began with Mike London accepting the University of Virginia job vacated by Al Groh. Miller met with Scott, a Virginia assistant this season, over the weekend. Scott never has been an offensive or defensive coordinator, which bothered Miller less than it would have several years ago. "I think we're on the cutting edge of that, on the front side, of having more coaches who specialize in being the CEO of the program," Miller said.

Hampton University graduate Scott to coach Richmond Spiders in football

RICHMOND - Hampton University graduate Latrell Scott has received his first head-coaching job, and it's at one of the Football Championship Subdivision's top programs. Scott, 34, was introduced Tuesday as coach at the University of Richmond. He becomes the 34th head coach in program history, one of the youngest coaches in the country, and takes over at an opportune time. The Spiders won the national championship for the first time last season. This year, they spent time at No. 1 in the nation, shared the Colonial Athletic Association championship with Villanova and advanced to the playoff quarterfinals, losing to Appalachian State in the closing seconds.

Scott, who played tight end for HU and graduated in 1999, is widely respected as a dynamic recruiter. At his news conference, he said keeping the Spiders' 14 current verbal commitments is his top priority. "If you want to ask the question if I think I'm prepared, I think I've been prepared by some of the best," Scott said, mentioning coaching mentors like former Richmond coaches Dave Clawson and Mike London, former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer and former Virginia coach Al Groh. "I've been raised by some of the best head coaches in the country."

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