Five HBCU tracksters make U.S. team

WASHINGTON, D.C.  --  Black college products finished 1-3 in the men's 400 meter hurdles and three others earned top three finishes at the recently concluded USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.                        

    

All five HBCU products earned spots and will represent Team USA at the IAAF World Championships August 10 - August 18 in Moscow, Russia.

 

Reigning Olympic silver medalist Michael Tinsley out of Jackson State took home the title in the 400 meter hurdles and former Saint Augustine's hurdler Bershawn "Batman" Jackson finished third in Saturday afternoon's men's final.

    

Tinsley held off Kerron Clement to capture his first national outdoor title. Tinsley finished in 47.96 seconds, the best time in the world this year, nipping Clement who ran 48.06. Jackson was a close third in 48.09. Tinsley runs for adidas while Jackson is with Nike.

    

In the long jump, current Stillman junior sprinter and long jump specialist Jeffrey Henderson, who won NCAA Div. II national titles in the long jump and 100 meters two weeks prior, was narrowly edged for the top prize by George Kitchens, Jr.

    

Henderson leaped 8.22 meters (26 feet, 11 3/4 inches) in his next-to-last (fifth) jump Sunday afternoon to come up just short of Kitchens' winning jump of 8.23 meters (27 feet). This will be Henderson's second trip to the World Championships.

    

"This is my second time making the team, so I'm just preparing for Moscow," Henderson said in an interview after the meet. "The first time I was kind of scared. I was shocked that I made the team but I'm really prepared now."
 

 

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Palmetto's Jordan Smith shoots way into Division I scholarship at S.C. State

JORDAN SMITH

PALMETTO, Florida -- Jordan Smith has been known to make the most of his opportunities on the basketball court.

He scored more than 1,450 points during his high school career at Palmetto and gained a reputation is a deadly long-range shooter, knocking down 66 attempts from beyond the arc (42 percent) during his senior year, when he averaged 20-plus points per game in earning Bradenton Herald All-Area honors. Smith had to change his game last season at Brevard Community College, coming off the bench while being asked to be primarily a shooter, and his averaged dipped to 7.4 points per game.

But against arch-rival Indian River, Smith drained 7 of 10 three-pointers and scored 29 points in 23 minutes in a big Southern Conference game. In the previous game, Smith was 6-for-6 shooting 3-pointers and scored 18 points against Miami Dade.

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XU's Franklin named HBCU Female Athlete of the Year

SiMon Franklin
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

JACKSON, Mississippi --  Xavier University of Louisiana's SiMon Franklin was named HBCU Female Athlete of the Year for 2012-13 on Friday evening.

Franklin, from Baton Rouge, La., and a graduate of Xavier and St. Joseph's Academy, received the honor during the HBCU Awards banquet at the Jackson State University Student Center. The banquet is part of the inaugural National HBCU Media Week, which will conclude Saturday.

Franklin was a standout for Xavier in basketball and track and field. In basketball, Franklin was a four-year starter at guard who earned honorable mention as a senior on the NAIA Division I All-America Team. She was All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference for the second consecutive season after leading the Gold Nuggets with 10.7 points, 2.4 steals ands 24.9 minutes per game in 2012-13. The MVP of the 2012 GCAC Tournament, Franklin is one of nine Gold Nuggets to reach 1,000 points, 300 rebounds and 200 steals in a career. Franklin had 1,136 points, 331 rebounds, 208 assists, 220 steals in 128 career games at Xavier and helped the Gold Nuggets win three GCAC regular-season championships, two GCAC Tournament championships and qualify for the NAIA Division I National Championship three times.

In track and field, Franklin was the 2013 GCAC outdoor champion in the 400-meter dash, and her time of 56.74 seconds at that meet qualified her automatically for the NAIA National Championships. She ran the anchor leg of the 400 relay team which finished second in the GCAC and also qualified for nationals.

"I am extremely honored," Franklin said. "I thought I was done with athletics and receiving awards after track season ended, but then this happened. To be honored nationwide, that is amazing. I never though anything like that is possible."

Franklin recently began her first full-time job, in the mortgage department of Iberia Bank in downtown New Orleans.

"Monee is first-class person, a wonderful choice for this award and a great representative of Xavier University," said her basketball coach, Bo Browder. "She is the type of student-athlete we continue to recruit for Xavier."

Runners-up to Franklin were Dillard's Jazzmin Smith and Albany State's April Thomas, both basketball players.

XU nominees who did not win were Christabell Hamilton (women's volleyball) for female coach of the year, women's tennis for female team of the year and the College of Pharmacy for best STEM program (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).

Xavier is one of 38 U.S. colleges listed as a "Best Buy School" in the 2013 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges.

A list of all the winners:

Female athlete of the year: SiMon Franklin, Xavier

Male athlete of the year: Anaso Jobodwana, Jackson State

Female coach of the year: Toyelle Wilson, Prairie View A&M

Male coach of the year: Connell Maynor, Winston-Salem State

Female team of the year: Hampton basketball

Male team of the year: Southern basketball

Best marching band: Jackson State

Best choir: Oakwood's Aeolian Choir

Best student government association: Albany State

Best student organization: Spelman's SpelBots team

Best student newspaper: North Carolina Central's Campus Echo

Best alumni publication: Morgan State's Morgan Magazine

Female alumna of the year: Nicole Bernard, Howard

Male alumnus of the year: Tom Colbert, Kentucky State

National alumni association of the year: University of the Virgin Islands

Best research center: Howard's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -- Center for Atmospheric Sciences

Best STEM program: Hampton

Best social work program: Fayetteville State

Best fine arts program: Alabama State's Department of Theater Arts

Best business program: Paul Quinn

Best nursing program: Dillard

Female student of the year: Olivia Stinson, Winston-Salem State

Male student of the year: Polite Stewart, Southern

Female faculty member of the year and lifetime achievement award: Myrlie Evers Williams, Alcorn State

Male faculty member of the year: Kinfe Ken Redda, Florida A&M

Female president of the year: Dianne B. Suber, Saint Augustine's

Male president of the year: M. Christopher Brown, Alcorn State

HBCU of the year: Spelman

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

TSU's Covington Inks Deal With the Houston Rockets

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  On Friday, former Tennessee State forward Robert Covington signed a partially guaranteed contract with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association.

“[I] may not have been drafted, but [I’ve been] given a different route to pursue my dreams,” Covington said. “I’m blessed for this opportunity. God still works even in different ways.”

Last season, Covington started 22 games for the Tigers, missing 10 due to a knee injury. He still made the Second-Team All OVC Team after averaging 17 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest. Covington was also second on the squad with 16 steals.

He left TSU as the seventh leading scorer (1,749 career points) and rebounder (876) in school history.

The Rockets were one of the handfuls of teams that brought Covington into workout. The list also includes Memphis, Oklahoma City, Utah, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Detroit, Atlanta and Chicago.

The last Tiger to play in an NBA game was Anthony Mason of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2006.

The Rockets finished 45-37 last year, earning the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

 

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern Jaguars' Odums to address Baton Rouge Press Club July 1

Courtesy Southern University Athletics

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University Football Coach Dawson Odums will be the guest speaker at the Baton Rouge Press Club Monday, July 1.

Coach Odums will talk about the upcoming season and what people can expect as he tries to rebuild the program. The Jaguars open fall camp July 31 before conducting its first practice on Aug. 2.

Southern opens its 12-game schedule against the University of Houston Friday, Aug. 30 in Reliant Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. and the game will air live on ESPN3.com.

Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

The Baton Rouge Press Club meets on Mondays at De La Ronde Hall, which is located at 320 Third Street. in downtown Baton Rouge.

 

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

NCA&T Aggie Men Announce Dominican Republic Trip

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  --  The 2013-14 North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team will look much different from the one that captured the 2013 MEAC basketball championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament. In order to get a head start on trying to repeat despite major changes in his roster, head coach Cy Alexander has announced the team will travel to the Dominican Republic, Aug. 4-8, to play three exhibition games against various semi-professional teams from the Caribbean nation.

A&T lost seven seniors from a team that led the school to its first-ever NCAA win, a 73-72 victory over Liberty in March. Three other players from that historic squad are also not returning. The departures leave the Aggies with five returning players and 10 newcomers.

“This is huge for our program based on the fact we have so many new players,” said Alexander, who has six MEAC titles as a head coach. “This trip allows us to bond as a team and develop chemistry with one another on and off the court. We’ll get to play against very good competition, so we’ll get a chance to see what we need to do to prepare for 2013-14.”

The team has arrived on campus for the second summer school session.  Individual workouts will begin on July 1. Team practice begins July 25 and will be conducted two hours every night until Aug. 3 when the team leaves for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. While there, Alexander also plans to have the team participate in community outreach in order “to bring good will to the Dominican Republic.”

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FSU Football Schedule Preview: Bethune-Cookman

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Two familiar baseball opponents will meet for the first time on the gridiron when Florida State takes on Bethune-Cookman in week three of the 2013 season.

It’s FSU’s first and only FCS opponent this season, one year removed from playing two of them which greatly damaged the Seminoles schedule strength. But rest easy, as the Wildcats aren’t nearly as pitiful as Murray State nor Savannah State ,the latter being their MEAC brethern.

 

 

Bethune and Florida State shared two mutual opponents last season, the afermentioned Savannah State and the swagger-filled team from Coral Gables. In fact, BCU has played Miami each of the last two seasons, scoring first on the Hurricanes each time before eventually succumbing to the talent difference and losing 45-14 in 2011 and in 2012.

Head coach Brian Jenkins was ...

 

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Florida A&M Lifts Suspension of 'Marching 100' Band

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  —  FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson announced at a press conference today that he has lifted the suspension on the Marching “100,” highlighting the sweeping changes the university has implemented during the past year and a half to address hazing.

“When considering all of the measures we have put in place, I believe this constitutes us having the right conditions,” said Larry Robinson. “Our newly appointed Director of Marching and Pep Bands, Dr. Sylvester Young, will decide when the band is ready for public performances.

We have created a comprehensive anti-hazing plan in which we:

• Revised the BOT Anti-Hazing policy;
• Revised the Student Code of Conduct procedures;
• Implemented enhanced procedures for reporting and investigating hazing allegations;
• Launched a new anti-hazing website, StopHazingFAMU.com;
• Awarded funding to FAMU faculty and students for research on hazing prevention;
• Created two unique positions to provide a comprehensive approach to implement the anti-hazing initiatives, hired a special assistant to the President for anti-hazing, and a music compliance officer — to make sure that all music department ensembles including the band meet all standards to be eligible to perform.
• Scheduled campus training and forums and anti-hazing sessions.
• Enhanced the membership intake process for clubs and organizations;
• Revised the organizational structure of the Department of Music and hired a new Director of Marching and Pep Bands; and

“As a result of these actions, it helped us respond more swiftly and decisively to deal with allegations of hazing in any university groups, emphasizing our zero tolerance approach to hazing,” said Robinson.

In May of this year, the university launched anti-hazing tour conceived by our students featuring the Music Department ensembles, reaching out to students in three counties in South Florida.

According to Sylvester Young, the director of Marching and Pep Bands, he is continuing his assessment of the band. Since his appointment in May, Dr. Young has been communicating with the University in scheduled sessions regarding the right conditions needed for the return of the Marching “100.” He officially reported to work June 14.

“We are looking at the faculty who will be involved in the band under the new structure, the maximum and minimum sizes of musical units needed for standard of excellence we’ve grown accustom to. We are also assessing equipment, uniforms, pre-drill activities and other related processes to determine our readiness,” said Young. “As soon as the assessment is completed, we will announce when the first public performance is scheduled.”

Young said that he is honored to be back at FAMU and is excited about preparing the band for its first performance.



COURTESY: FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

Hampton University's McCorory aims for podium at world championships after running personal best at nationals

HAMPTON, Virginia --  From Richmond to Rome, from Des Moines to Daegu, Olympic gold medalist Francena McCorory has run hundreds of races. Never had she blazed 400 meters like this.

At the USA outdoor track championships Saturday in Iowa, McCorory ran a personal best of 50.01 seconds to qualify for her second world championships. But it wasn't good enough.

It wasn't good enough to beat Natasha Hastings, and it certainly wasn't good enough to satisfy her coach.

"She should have won that race," said Maurice Pierce, McCorory's coach since her college days at Hampton University.

Pierce contends and McCorory confesses that she ran the first 200 meters "too relaxed," allowing Hastings to build a margin that withstood McCorory's strong finish.

"I thought I had it in me," McCorory said of her career best. "It's been my goal for awhile to run under 49 seconds, and 50.01 is pretty darn close."



Natasha Hastings. Francena McCorory. Ashley Spencer -- that's your World Championship team.

Hastings' 49.94 is the second fastest time in the world. She was in complete control the whole time, but McCorory was charging hard in the final 50m. She's now #3 in the world.  Entering the U.S. Championships, McCorory was #2 in the world and Hastings was #4. The third spot was up for grabs and the two-time NCAA 400m champ came up big. Fighting all the way to the line, Illinois' Ashley Spencer went from fifth to third in the final few steps and will continue her season in Moscow.

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Hampton University Olympian Kellie Wells finishes 4th in U.S. Outdoor Championships

DES MOINES, Iowa --  Brianna Rollins broke the 13-year-old American record in the 100-meter hurdles, running the fastest time in the world since 1988. Her world-leading 12.26 seconds (shattering Gail Devers’ mark of 12.33), made world and Olympic champion Sally Pearson of Australia tweet that she would have to bring her “A++ game to Worlds.”

Rollins, the NCAA champ from Clemson who just turned pro, finished comfortably ahead of Queen Harrison, a 2008 Olympian in the 400-meter hurdles, whose time of 12.43 equaled sixth on the U.S. all-time list. Nia Ali, the 2011 NCAA champion, had a personal best of 12.48 to edge 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Kellie Wells (12.54) and two-time Olympic hurdler and Olympic bobsled hopeful Lolo Jones (12.55).

Dawn Harper Nelson, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist, competed in the preliminaries and withdrew, knowing her 2011 world title assured her of the fourth U.S. berth in Moscow.

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NCAA Clears Two ASU Hornet Teams For Postseason Play

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- The Alabama State University women's volleyball and baseball teams have been cleared to participate in postseason competition in the upcoming 2013-14 season.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) informed ASU of its decision, which will allow the women's volleyball and baseball teams to be eligible to qualify for, and compete in, Southwestern Athletic Conference championship tournaments, and subsequent NCAA Tournament play if postseason bids are won.

Alabama State still awaits decisions on the NCAA's previously announced postseason bans for its football and men's basketball programs for the upcoming season.

"We believe this decision is evidence of progress, showing that changes we have implemented, both in programs and personnel, are providing positive measureable results," Alabama State Interim President Dr. William H. Harris said. "We are pleased and appreciative of the decision rendered by the NCAA in regards to our women's volleyball and baseball programs regaining their postseason eligibility. We will continue our commitment to ensure all athletic programs meet and exceed established standards, and remain optimistic for favorable outcomes for our football and men's basketball programs."

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

GW Men's Hoops to Prep for 2013-14 With Bowie State Exhibition

WASHINGTON, D.C.  --  The 2013-14 George Washington men's basketball team will hit the Charles E. Smith Center's newly designed hardwood for the first time on Saturday, Nov. 2 with an exhibition contest against the Bowie State Bulldogs. 

It marks the third time in the last four seasons that GW will be tested by the local NCAA Division II program in an exhibition at the Smith Center. The Colonials posted an 82-64 victory in November 2010 and a 92-65 triumph over the then No. 8 nationally ranked Bulldogs before Coach Mike Lonergan's debut 2011-12 season.

GW has gone 9-0 in exhibition games since 2004 when the NCAA required Division I programs to face college teams, including last season's 72-46 victory over district Division III foe Catholic. Isaiah Armwood, one of five starters set to return for the Colonials in 2013-14, grabbed 16 rebounds against the Cardinals in his first-ever appearance for the Buff and Blue.

Bowie State enters its fifth season under the direction of Darrell Brooks, a former GW assistant coach and 1979 BSU alumnus who has led the Bulldogs to a 77-36 mark during his tenure. BSU is coming off a 16-14 season in 2012-13 during which it captured the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) title en route to its second NCAA D-II Tournament appearance in the past three seasons.

Be sure to check back to GWsports.com each day until the release of season tickets on July 8 as a new men's basketball non-conference event is announced and broken down by Coach Lonergan.

2013-14 George Washington Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule Saturday, Nov. 2 vs. Bowie State - Charles E. Smith Center, Washington, DC

COURTESY GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU's William Bennett Named Best In NCAA FCS



William Jerrod Bennett
(Courtesy: FAMU Athletics)

 TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Since 2006, all Rattler football coaches have come to depend on the craft of one of it’s behind-the-scenes most valuable players.  William Jerrod Bennett has been responsible for logging every practice, scrimmage and game for the Rattlers for the last seven years.

Affectionately known as “Will” by all who encounter him, Bennett was recognized by his peers as the best in the FCS by the Collegiate Sports Video Association on May 16.  He was awarded the Bob Matey National Video Coordinator of the Year Award for his professionalism, engagement of new technologies and innovation.  Bennett stays on the cutting edge of technology, allowing the best possible imagery and ease of use for all of the coaches.

“I like the fact that most of the coaches call me coach.  It relates to the fact that I’m the first line of defense.  I am the first person to make contact with an opposing team, as I contact them to exchange game film.  I then have to break that down before our coaches even see it.  It’s a tremendous responsibility, but it’s one of the things I enjoy about this position,” Bennett said.

Bennett came to FAMU in 2006 after leaving the U.S. Army, where he was a communications specialist.  He is a native of Plant City, Fla., and held a post at Florida’s News Channel before coming to FAMU.

Bennett not only assists the football staff, but all 18 sports at Florida A&M.  He often travels with other sports to ensure that they are getting the coverage, practice footage and game recordings necessary to be successful.  Bennett has integrated the use of GoPro cameras for point-of-view photography, as well as migrating from standard definition to high definition.  “When I first started in the video coordinating field, we used VHS tapes.  Today we use mini DV tapes, but I am migrating our system to a tapeless setup.  Our coaches need every technological advantage I can give them,” Bennett said.

Head coach Earl Holmes has relied upon Bennett’s craft to evaluate his defenses.  “When I was defensive coordinator, good video was critical to showing the result of a strategy, or reviewing what went wrong.  I’m not surprised at all that Will was recognized for his efforts.  This is a chance for the world to see what we already knew.  It’s an honor to have him on our team,” Holmes concluded.

“One of the most rewarding things is to be able to see the players grow from freshmen to seniors.  Watching them improve their abilities, talent and maturity level, and knowing that you are a part of that is one of the big rewards of this job.  I also get the opportunity to mentor some of the athletes as well.  Often times athletes come to me with issues that they feel comfortable discussing with me.  That’s when I have to switch hats to a life coach, because these kids are at a turning point in their lives, and they need encouragement and guidance,” Bennett said.

Bennett looks at his responsibility as a challenge to always deliver for the coaches.  To be recognized by his peers takes that responsibility to a whole new dimension.  “I was surprised and shocked to be voted on by my peers.  It is truly a humbling recognition.  With my military background, I take this award seriously, but can’t rest on it.  I feel I have to continue to deliver for our coaches even if it isn’t recognized by anybody but them.  Right now, I feel like FAMU is in position to have a great athletic year, and I’m ready to do my part to continue to make our teams successful,” Bennett concluded.

by Florida A&M Sports Information

VISIT: Florida A&M University

VISIT: famuathletics.com  

Ball in CIAA’s court for tournament host

League considers negotiating extension for Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  The CIAA doesn’t have a home for 2015, but Charlotte will get a long look.

CIAA Commissioner Jacqie Carpenter said league officials are weighing whether to extend Charlotte as host city or put the tournament up to the highest bidder next month.

“We’re continuing to refine the vision for the ideal tournament and how best to deliver the vision, so the conversation will continue moving forward,” she said. “We’re doing our homework right now to determine how best to move in this process, both with Charlotte and the long-term best interests for the conference.” Charlotte boosters, headed by regional visitors authority chief Tom Murray, have pushed for an exclusive negotiation period to extend the tournament’s contract after it expires in 2014. CIAA board of directors – comprised of the league’s 12 presidents and chancellors – haven’t made a commitment yet, but are considering its options.

“I think before we make any ...

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Howard University Olympian Oliver Heads to Moscow

WASHINGTON, D.C. (www.howard-bison.com) – Howard University Olympian David Oliver continues to make is alma mater proud as he prepares for the 2013 Outdoor Track and Field World Champions on Aug. 10-18 in Moscow, Russia.

Oliver is a world-class 110 meter hurdler, who advanced to the World Championship after taking second place with a time of 13.05 seconds during the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 20-23.

In his career, Oliver was the former American record holder in 110m hurdles until the 2012 Olympic Games, which unfortunately he did not qualify for, he took bronze during the 2008 Beijing games and the World Indoor Championships in the 60m hurdles (2010 Doha) and took gold in the in 2010 during the Continental Cup.

During his undergraduate matriculation, he won four consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Championship 110-meter hurdles titles, from 2001–2004. He was also a MEAC indoor champion in the 55-meter hurdles, winning in 2003 in 7.34 seconds.

Oliver received his first All-American with a fourth place finish at the 2003 NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship, running a personal best 13.60 seconds. His performance made him, Howard's two-time NCAA Division 1-A All-American selection in any sport. This was also Howard's first track & field All-America since Calvin Branch received the honor in 1989.

The following year he received his second All-American honor, having taken fifth place at the NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship, marking a university record of 7.69 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles. Later that season, he paced to another HU record with a time of 13.55 in the 110-meter hurdles at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta, Ga. During his time as a Bison, Oliver was a wide receiver for the Howard Football team.

USA Championships
Three-time USA Outdoor champion – 2008 (12.95); 2010 (12.93); 2011 (13.04)
2008 USA Indoor champion (7.47)

International Championships
2008 Olympic Games bronze medalist (13.18)
2010 World Indoor bronze medalist (7.44)

Collegiate Championships
Two-time NCAA All-American

Awards and Honors
2010 Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year Award winner
2010 Diamond League Champion

For more information on David Oliver, who is Nike sponsored athlete, visit www.usatf.org.



By Ariel V. Germain, Assistant Director for Athletic Media Relations
Howard University Athletics

Smith adjusts to role as interim Director of Athletics at FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  School may be out for the summer, but Michael Smith is far from taking a vacation.

As the new interim Director of Athletics at Florida A&M enters his office, there's a stack of papers waiting for his signature and an inbox full of emails waiting for his reply.

"It's been real busy," Smith says of his first three weeks on the job. "Lots of meetings, telephone conversations, just individuals and other people interested in the program wanting to know how they can help where we're going, what we're doing, and the success of the athletics program."

Smith once had an even more direct hand in the success of FAMU athletics as a kick returner and wide receiver on the Rattlers' football team in the early 1980s. Since then, he's worked for more than 20 years with the university, and this current stint as interim A.D. is his second time in that role. For more than eight months of 2010, Smith had the same interim role, bridging the gap between Directors of Athletics Bill Hayes and Derek Horne.



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West Virginia State University baseball player killed by train

Tyler Kincaid
(Courtesy WVSU Athletics)

CHARLESTON, West Virginia -- Although his death is still under investigation, a West Virginia State University baseball player struck and killed by a train early Sunday apparently didn't react to the train's whistle, the Putnam County sheriff said.

 

Tyler Kincaid, a 2011 graduate of Winfield High School, had just finished his first season at WVSU, where he was studying criminal justice in addition to playing on the school's baseball team.

 

Kincaid was killed around 3 a.m. Sunday while walking on the tracks close to Hedrick and Joyce roads in Scott Depot (W.Va.)

 

Putnam County Sheriff Steve DeWeese said his department can't officially rule on the nature of Kincaid's death until it receives a coroner's report. But a video shot from the CSX train shows the train's operators trying to warn Kincaid with the train's whistle and to slow the train before the accident.

 

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Officials investigate baseball player's death 

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Deputies still investigating after a West Virginia State University baseball player was struck and killed by a train over the weekend.

 

Tyler Kincaid, 20, was walking along the railroad tracks at about 3 a.m. Sunday between Hedrick Road and Joyce Road in Scott Depot (W.Va.) train struck him, Putnam Sheriff Steve Deweese said Monday.

Kincaid lives near the scene of the incident. He did not know what Kincaid had been doing prior to the incident.

Deweese said it wasn't clear if Kincaid was walking toward or away from the train. The conductor saw the young man and blew the whistle to alert him but to no avail.

"He did everything by the book to try to avoid a collision with him," Deweese said.  He said it's illegal and very dangerous to walk on railroad tracks. The sheriff did not know why the man did not move from the tracks.

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Cal Bailey Announces 2014 Will be his Last Year Coaching West Virginia State

Coach Cal Bailey
(Courtesy WVSU Athletics)

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Legendary West Virginia State University (WVSU) baseball coach Cal Bailey has announced that the 2014 season will be his last at the helm of the Yellow Jackets.

Bailey finished the 2013 season with more than 1,000 career victories, one of only seven coaches in NCAA Division II history to win that many games.

Overall, heading into his final season, Bailey will carry a career record of 1,029 wins and only 466 losses. His career record in West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) play is 619-154 and under his leadership the Yellow Jackets have won 17 conference championships.

A native of Newton, W.Va., and a graduate of Spencer High School, Bailey first came to Institute as a baseball player.  He was named to the All-WVIAC baseball team in 1966, and signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates to play professionally at the conclusion of that season.

After playing professional baseball through the 1971 season, Bailey returned to work at WVSU in the school’s admissions office. He also resumed his classwork earning his bachelor’s degree from WVSU in 1972 before taking classes from the W.Va. College of Graduate Studies and earning a master’s degree in 1974.

In 1978 Bailey was named the head coach of the Yellow Jackets and established WVSU as one of the premier baseball programs in the WVIAC.

Bailey has been named WVIAC Coach of the Year on eight occasions and was selected the West Virginia College Coach of the Year in 1982. In 1999 and 2005 he was voted the North Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.

He guided the Yellow Jackets to the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional Championship and a trip to the NCAA Division II World Series in 1999 where they finished third in the World Series and also garnered a third place finish in the final NCAA Division II Baseball Poll. In 2005 Bailey's squad captured its second North Atlantic Regional title and advanced to the NCAA Division II World Series in Montgomery, Ala. The Jackets finished fifth there and also in the final national coaches' poll.

In addition, 39 of Bailey’s former Yellow Jacket players went on to play baseball professionally, including a handful that made it to the Major Leagues.

Bailey is married to the former Ruth Fisher, herself a 1967 WVSU graduate and former cheerleader. They reside in Cross Lanes and are the proud parents of two children, Danny and Janna, and have four grandchildren.

Away from the baseball diamond, Bailey is an avid hunter and farmer. In 2002, Bailey was named Kanawha County Farmer of the Year.
          
West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi-generational institution, located in Institute, W.Va. As a “living laboratory of human relations,” the university is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service, and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research.

XU Fakler, Rolland selected CoSIDA Academic All-America

Catherine Fakler

Devinn Rolland

More on this Academic All-America team

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana sophomores Catherine Fakler and Devinn Rolland have been chosen to the Capital One Academic All-America® college division women's track and field/cross country team. Both are second-team selections.
    
Fakler and Rolland are the fifth and sixth from Xavier to be chosen to an Academic All-America squad. Five were selected in 2012-13, including Matt Pieri (second team) and Javon Mead (third team) in men's track and field/cross country.
    
The College Sports Information Directors of America has sponsored the Academic All-America program since 1952. CoSIDA announced the team Monday (June 24). The college division consists of NAIA, National Junior College Athletic Association and Canadian members.
    
Xavier is one of 11 schools with two or more females honored. Forty-five student-athletes were selected.     

 "This is a tremendous honor for Catherine and Devinn," XU coach Joseph Moses said. "They're both sophomores, but they have accomplished a lot at Xavier so far and are deserving of these accolades. You'll hear much more from these two gifted ladies during the next two years."
    
Fakler, from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory High School, is an English major at XU with a 4.0 grade-point average. She was All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference in cross country and outdoor track this past year and helped the Gold Nuggets win GCAC team championships in both sports. She was the GCAC croas country runner-up in October — her time of 18 minutes, 55.20 second for 5,000 meters is the second fastest in school history — and she scored a meet-high 40 points at the GCAC track meet in April with victories in the 1,500- and 5,000-meter runs and the 3,000 steeplechase. She also finished second in the 3,200 relay and 800.
    
Rolland, from Harvey, La. (a New Orleans suburb), and a graduate of Cabrini High School, is a chemistry / pre-pharmacy major with a 4.0 GPA. Rolland in 2012 became Xavier's first freshman All-America athlete by virtue of a sixth-place finish in the long jump at the NAIA National Championships. This year Rolland was an NAIA outdoor automatic qualifier in five events — the 100, 200, long jump, 400 and 1,600 relays — and she repeated as GCAC champion in the 100, 200 and long jump. Rolland won six field and three track GCAC Athlete of the Week awards this year. In April she was named an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar.
    
Academic All-Americans are starters or important reserves with at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. They also must have completed at least one full calendar year at their current institution and reached sophomore athletic eligibility. Fakler and Rolland were announced May 30 as Academic All-District 4, which automatically advanced them for national consideration.
    
Senior Breanna Mathes of Morningside was chosen College Division All-America of the Year.
    
Xavier is a seven-time defending GCAC team champion in men's and women's cross country. Both squads qualified for the NAIA National Championships four of the past five seasons, including 2012. Xavier also won two of the last three GCAC outdoor track team championships. The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will begin the 2013 cross country season in late August or early September.

2012-13 Capital One Academic All-America Women's Track and Field/Cross Country
College Division First Team
Name	School	Yr.	Hometown	GPA and Major
Kesha Beethe	Peru State	Sr.	Tecumseh, Neb.	3.89 Sport Management, Exercise Science
Kate Carr	Bethel (Ind.)	Jr.	Carmel, Ind.	3.70 Cell and Molecular Biology
Gabriella Dixson	Concordia (Ore.)	Sr.	Battle Ground, Wash.	3.49 Psychology
Breanna Goring	Embry-Riddle (Fla.)	Sr.	Ocala, Fla.	3.67 Human Factors Psychology, Systems
Hannah Helker	Oklahoma Baptist	So.	Edmond, Okla.	3.93 Undecided
Erin Helmuth	Goshen	Sr.	Elkhart, Ind.	3.98 Secondary Education, Mathematics
Stephanie Hescock	Northwest Christian	Gr.	Drain, Ore.	3.90 Master of Business Administration
Hillary Holt	College of Idaho	Jr.	Meridian, Idaho	3.54 Political Economy
Sarah Kortze	Concordia (Neb.)	Sr.	Rockford, Ill.	3.94 Biology, Physical Science
Breanna Mathes	Morningside	Sr.	Cherokee, Iowa	3.99 Mathematics Teaching
Linsie Michels	Concordia (Ore.)	Gr.	Salem, Ore.	3.70 Master of Business Administration
Jillian Ourada	Doane	Sr.	Omaha, Neb.	3.73 Biochemistry
Evan Shimanek	Oklahoma Baptist	Sr.	Hennessey, Okla.	3.97 Pre-Physical Therapy
Katie Thurbon	Baker	Jr.	Topeka, Kan.	3.94 International Studies
Briana Vander Woude	Dordt	Sr.	Clara City, Minn.	3.57 Elementary Education
College Division Second Team
Name	School	Yr.	Hometown	GPA and Major
Katie Bonnema	Dordt	Jr.	Ireton, Iowa	3.38 Elementary Education
Erin DeVries	Doane	So.	Chambers, Neb.	3.91 General Studies
Stephanie Erlandson	Jamestown	Sr.	Breckenridge, Minn.	4.00 Exercise Science
Catherine Fakler	Xavier	So.	Phoenix, Ariz.	4.00 English / English Education
Chantalle Falconer	Oliver Nazarene	Jr.	Byron, Ill.	4.00 Music Education
Aspen Frey	McPherson	Jr.	Newton, Kan.	4.00 Elementary Education
Danielle Kendall	Calgary	Sr.	Calgary, Alberta	3.77 Chemical Engineering
Kelly Klusmeyer	Central Methodist	Jr.	Boonville, Mo.	4.00 Biology
Natalie McIntyre	Arizona Christian	Sr.	Casa Grande, Ariz.	4.00 Music (praise and worship emphasis)
Trisha Nelson	Bethel (Ind.)	Sr.	Maquoketa, Iowa	3.81 Intercultural Studies
Danielle Prchal	Peru State	Sr.	Omaha, Neb.	3.87 Social Science Teaching
Devinn Rolland	Xavier	So.	Harvey, La.	4.00 Chemistry / Pre-Pharmacy
Beth Segerholm	Jamestown	Sr.	Northwood, N.D.	4.00 Nursing
Ellie Staker	Embry-Riddle (Fla.)	Jr.	Seattle, Wash.	3.72 Engineering Physics
Megan Williams	Vanguard	Sr.	Fort Worth, Texas	3.57 Liberal Studies
College Division Third Team
Name	School	Yr.	Hometown	GPA and Major
Abbi Brock	Lubbock Christian	Jr.	Lamesa, Texas	4.00 Pre-Veternary Medicine
Karina Coelho	Embry-Riddle (Fla.)	Sr.	Chesapeake Beach, Md.	3.51 Meteorology Research
Hilary Halford	St. Francis (Ill.)	Jr.	Antioch, Ill.	3.48 Nursing
Cheryl Held	William Woods	Sr.	Wildwood, Mo.	3.60 Exercise Science / Sports Management
Chelsea Janzen	Biola	Jr.	Clovis, Calif.	3.97 Studio Arts
Rachel Jerrils	Davenport	Jr.	Rockford, Mich.	3.69 Nursing
Bethany Jones	Southeastern (Fla.)	Sr.	Pittsburgh, Pa.	4.00 Accounting
Allison McFayden	Grand View	Sr.	Omaha, Neb.	4.00 Graphic Design
Sydnee Nelson	Southwestern (Kan.)	Sr.	Clay Center, Kan.	3.78 Biology / Biochemistry
Kayla Roemmich	Jamestown	Sr.	Bottineau, N.D.	3.45 Elementary Education
Sharon Ronoh	Lindsey Wilson	Sr.	Timboroa, Kenya	3.38 Nursing
Alexandra Sciarra	Biola	Jr.	Orange, Calif.	3.61 Kinesiology
Rachel Stump	Biola	Sr.	Los Gatos, Calif.	3.88 Business Administration
Ali Swart	Taylor	Sr.	Oostburg, Wis.	3.96 Health and Physical Education
Jessica Zink	William Woods	Jr.	Iberia, Mo.	3.90 Elementary Education

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS