Shaq Roland ‘pretty excited’ about moving on to Prairie View

Roland considered going to Winston Salem State, West Georgia, West Alabama and Coastal Carolina before deciding on Prairie View.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- A local legend and would-be USC superstar will finish his collegiate career far away from his home state, and that’s probably where Shaq Roland should have started it, say some of the people closest to him.

Roland will play his senior season at Prairie View A&M, an FCS program 45 miles northwest of Houston, his mother told The State on Friday.

“He’s pretty excited,” Petina Etheredge said.

Roland played in 10 games for the Gamecocks in 2014 but left the team Dec. 23, the day his teammates departed Columbia for the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. It was a quiet and disappointing ending to a career that began with plenty of promise.

Roland was named a PARADE All-American after leading Lexington High to an 11-1 record while gaining more than 2,000 yards and scoring 24 touchdowns as a senior in 2011. He was tabbed a five-star recruiting prospect by Scout.com. Alabama, Florida and Georgia all wore out U.S. 1 making recruiting visits to Lexington, but Roland spurned them and became the state’s fourth straight “Mr. Football” to sign with the Gamecocks.

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College Basketball Teams Most Likely to Stay Undefeated in Conference Play: NCCU Eagles

Record: 14-5 (6-0)

Biggest Hurdles Remaining: at North Carolina A&T (Feb. 7)

Chance Undefeated: 54.7 percent

It's been more than a full year since North Carolina Central lost a game in one of the worst conferences in the nation. The Eagles opened MEAC play in 2013-14 with a three-point loss at Florida A&M before winning 18 straight—most of them in blowout fashion.

Even without last year's outstanding backcourt of Jeremy Ingram and Emanuel Chapman leading the way on both offense and defense, it's been more of the same this year.

Scoring has been much more balanced, but the Eagles are winning games thanks to the evolution of senior Jordan Parks and the addition of transfers Nimrod Hilliard (Lamar) and Anthony McDonald (Mississippi Valley State).

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Hoppers name PVAMU's Hollis to 2015 coaching staff

COACH SEAN HOLLIS

HOPKINSVILLE, Kentucky  --The Hoptown Hoppers have added Sean Hollis, a native of Boling, Texas, to their coaching staff for the 2015 season. He will work with the Hoppers’ pitching staff.

Hollis is currently a physical education teacher and multi-sport coach at Boyd High School located just northwest of Fort Worth, Texas. He serves on the coaching staffs for baseball, basketball, and football.

Hollis played collegiate baseball at two institutions as a pitcher, including Prairie View A&M University from 2011-2014, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Health and Human Performance in 2013.

On the field for the Panthers, Hollis played a big part in Prairie View’s latest trip to the NCAA tournament. In his junior season he was featured as a starting pitcher and helped lead the team to a SWAC championship, along with an appearance in the 2012 Rice Regional.

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Guard Waters leading ASU Hornets’ charge in SWAC

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State junior guard Jamel Waters can fill a stat sheet as well as anyone.

Last Saturday against Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Alabama A&M, Waters scored a team-high 18 points and had a career-high eight steals, along with five assists and six rebounds.

"We lost a game there last year so we definitely wanted to come out with a lot of intensity," Waters said. "We came out flat at first, but we able to get the W. It was really big."

Waters was named the SWAC player of the week for the second time this season after his performance, and said his work in practice has earned him such awards.

"It's such an honor," Waters said. "Every day, I work to the best of my abilities and just prepare to be my best every time I step on the floor."

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WSSU Baseball Returns to BB&T Ballpark in 2015

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- For the fifth consecutive season, Winston-Salem State University’s baseball program will suit up at BB&T Ballpark for the majority of their home games. The Rams will play 27 games at BB&T Ballpark from late January until mid-April.

Winston-Salem State has scheduled almost 100 games at BB&T Ballpark since the downtown facility opened in 2010. This season’s slate begins on Saturday, January 31, with a doubleheader against Mars Hill. The BB&T Ballpark schedule also includes nine games in February, 12 in March and four in April.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 12 and under. Fans can purchase their seats at the BB&T Ballpark Box Office, which is located under the scoreboard in right-center field. Outside food and beverages are not permitted, but concession stands will be open for each game.

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NCA&T Aggies Look Ahead To NCAAs With Meet At VT

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- The North Carolina A&T track and field teams will be competing at the Virginia Tech Invitational this weekend in Blacksburg, Va. The meet is scheduled to begin Friday at 5 p.m., and resume Saturday at 11 a.m.

This is the first banked or raised track the Aggies will compete on during the indoor season. With many athletes already qualified for the MEAC championships, the Aggies look forward to using this meet to continue improving times and prepare for the NCAA championships.

The last Aggie to compete at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships was Alexandria Spruiel back in 2009. Spruiel ran a 53.67 in the women’s 400 meter dash to place seventh overall. She is still the A&T record holder for indoor (53.60) and outdoor (51.59) 400 meter races.

“NCAA championships are run on a banked track,” says Duane Ross, director of track and field programs. “We believe in being prepared for everything, and we plan on having multiple athletes at these championships. This track, along with the competition will help us prepare for that.”

At the rate the Aggies have been performing thus far, many athletes chance to break the five-year gap of not having an Aggie at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Kentucky State University Partnering With Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates

FRANKFORT, Kentucky – The Kentucky State University Athletics Department will recognize the life-saving gifts of T'neil Martin during halftime of the women's and men's basketball games this Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Exum Center.
 
KSU alumni and parents of T'neil Martin, Denisha Henry and Dale Martin, unselfishly donated their daughter's organs, tissues, and corneas as part of the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) program. T'neil saved six lives through her organ donation, gave sight to two people through cornea donation, and enhanced the lives of countless others with tissue donation.
 
"We will never be able to count the number of people T'neil has truly touched. We know we have honored her legacy through her life-saving gifts," T'neil's mother Denisha Henry said.
 
During halftime of Saturday's basketball games, which will serve as the backdrop for Alumni Appreciation Day, the family of T'neil Martin will be given special recognition in order to bring awareness to the importance of organ donation.
 
Kentucky State University and Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) are collaborating to give students, alumni, faculty, staff, and fans the opportunity to give hope by registering as life-saving donors.  For those who are in critical need of the "Gift of Life" through organ donation, one life-saving registration with KODA means everything. On-site registration will be available during both of the Kentucky State University basketball games.
 
For more information about KODA or to become an organ donor, visit their website at http://www.kyorgandonor.org/.


COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Spring Hill Uses Late Run In Regulation To Stun Kentucky State In OT, 61-59

FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- The Spring Hill College Badgers used an 11-0 run at the end of regulation to propel them to a stunning 61-59 overtime victory against SIAC opponent Kentucky State University on Thursday night at the Exum Center.
 
Spring Hill (6-12, 5-4 SIAC) grabbed a fast 6-0 lead over Kentucky State (4-10, 4-5 SIAC), but it was the Thorobreds that controlled for most of Thursday's game. KSU held the lead for almost 32 minutes (71 percent) of the contest.
 
The Thorobreds built their lead to a many as 11 points in the first half when Ivan Hookerconnected on a jumper to push the score to 30-19 in favor of KSU at halftime.
 
In the second half, Kentucky State came out as the aggressor and pushed their lead to 14 whenDarrien Wilkins hit a layup to put the Thorobreds ahead 43-28 with 12:35 remaining. Spring Hill responded with a 9-0 run to cut the KSU lead to six before the momentum swung back to KSU who went on a 8-3 run of their own. When Ulysses Thomas III hit a 3-pointer with just under four minutes remaining to push KSU's lead back to 11, everything looked to be going the Thorobreds way.
 
Unfortunately for KSU, they wouldn't get on the scoreboard again in regulation. SHC went on an improbable 11-0 run to close out regulation and send the game into overtime.
 
Still reeling from the final minutes of the second half, Kentucky State was unable to bounce back in overtime. After a pair of free throws from Tryston Ford gave KSU a one-point advantage at 53-52, Spring Hill took the lead right back with a pair of free throws from center Dejan Stefanovic and never looked back.
 
Despite the loss, Kentucky State had several bright spots on Thursday. Ulysses Thomas IIIscored a game-high 18 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals. Point guardQuentin Henderson finished with seven points, a game-high seven assists and three steals.Darrien Wilkins finished with a team-high seven rebounds while also dropping in five points and picking up three steals. Ivan Hooker had some solid minutes off the bench with four points, a pair of boards and a steal.
 
Junior guard Wesley Pietri had 13 points to lead SHC while sophomore center Stefvanovic added 12 points to go along with five board. DeVaughn Hardrick also pitched in with 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds. SHC controlled the boards with a 43-34 edge in rebounding.
 
Kentucky State continues their current three-game home stand when they host Tuskegee on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Exum Center.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

21 NSU-Athletes Earn Degrees at Winter Commencement

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Twenty-one Norfolk State University student-athletes received their bachelor's degrees at the university's winter commencement in December.

The graduates include 10 former Spartan football players, three from men's track and field, two each from the baseball, men's basketball and softball programs, and one each from women's basketball and women's track and field.

The graduates were:

Football
Noel Clarke, Sociology
Ramsey Henderson, Mass Communications
De'Marta Johnson, Health Fitness Instruction
Keenan Lambert, Management
Darrin Marrow, Sociology
Michael Privott, Sociology
Edwin Rogers, Mass Communications
Jairus Spain, Mass Communications
Nick Taylor, Accounting
Cameron Williams, Political Science

Baseball
Justin Bhatti, Marketing
Ryan Montgomery, Medical Technology

Softball
Kathy Cortez, Psychology
Jamie Schulle, Health Fitness Instruction

Women's Track & Field
Ashley Sessoms, Business

Women's Basketball
Rachel Gordon, Psychology

Men's Track & Field
Ian Copeland, Biology
Quentin Parker, Health Fitness Instruction
Quinten Walker, Kinesiotherapy

Men's Basketball
Calvin Brown, Tourism & Hospitality Management
Chris McEachin, Political Science

Congratulations to all of the graduates and good luck in your future endeavors!




By Matt Michalec, SID
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

Norfolk State Releases 2015 Football Schedule; Opens with 3 Games at FBS Teams

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State University head coach Latrell Scott announced the Spartans' 2015 football schedule on Thursday. Highlighting the slate are three non-conference games against Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents and four home games against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foes.

"We have a very challenging schedule this year, but I know it's one our coaches and players are excited about facing head-on," Scott said. "Playing three high-caliber FBS programs is a tremendous opportunity for our program."

The Spartans open the year with three straight FBS road games, starting with a Sept. 5 matchup at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights, now a member of the Big 10, have hosted NSU three times previously (2007, '10, '13), with Rutgers winning all three. Rutgers is coming off a 7-6 season and a win in the Quick Lane Bowl.

The following week, the Spartans face cross-town rival Old Dominion on Sept. 12 at ODU's Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. The game is a return matchup from a memorable 2013 game at NSU, which ODU won 27-24. It will be the third meeting all-time between the city of Norfolk's two Division I programs, including a 2011 matchup in the FCS playoffs. The Monarchs of Conference USA went 6-6 last season.

NSU's non-conference slate wraps up on Sept. 19 at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. It will mark the first-ever meeting between the teams. The Thundering Herd went 13-1, captured the C-USA championship and also won the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl this past season.

The remainder of the schedule consists of eight MEAC opponents. The league slate kicks off with NSU's home opener against Hampton in the annual Battle of the Bay on Sept. 26 at William "Dick" Price Stadium. NSU also has home games with North Carolina A&T (Oct. 10), Savannah State (Nov. 7 for Homecoming) and South Carolina State (Nov. 14). NSU travels for MEAC road contests at Howard (Oct. 3), Bethune-Cookman (Oct. 24), North Carolina Central (Oct. 31) and Morgan State (Nov. 21).

The Spartans face all five MEAC teams that shared the league title last year – N.C. A&T, N.C. Central, S.C. State, Bethune-Cookman and Morgan State. Florida A&M and Delaware State rotate off the Spartans' schedule this year. NSU will have its lone bye week of the season on Oct. 17.

2015 NSU Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time
9/5/2015 Rutgers Piscataway, N.J. TBA
9/12/2015 Old Dominion Norfolk, Va. (ODU) TBA
9/19/2015 Marshall Huntington, W.Va. TBA
9/26/2015 * Hampton Norfolk, Va. 4 p.m. 
10/3/2015 * Howard Washington, D.C. TBA
10/10/2015 * North Carolina A&T Norfolk, Va. 2 p.m.
10/24/2015 * Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA
10/31/2015 * North Carolina Central Durham, N.C. TBA
11/7/2015 * Savannah State (Homecoming) Norfolk, Va. 2 p.m.
11/14/2015 * South Carolina State Norfolk, Va. 1 p.m.
11/21/2015 * Morgan State Baltimore, Md. TBA

BOLD: Home Game
* Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Game

By Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Decision by Division I athletic powers forces lower-level schools like NDSU to consider paying student-athletes

In an effort just to keep revenue flowing, some FCS schools are playing multiple FBS opponents for guaranteed money. Norfolk State (Va.), for instance, has Rutgers, Old Dominion and Marshall.

FARGO, North Dakota -- Now that the power players in Division I athletics have approved paying players funds in addition to scholarships, the question circulating among the lower levels of the division – “Will schools like North Dakota State pay its players?” – may have some in Division I FCS football on edge.

Bison athletic director Matt Larsen said Thursday that giving funds to student-athletes in addition to scholarship money – commonly called “cost of attendance” – is something his school will take a look at, but that’s as far as he’s willing to go. There are many unanswered questions, he said.

“What makes sense for us? What’s the cost?” Larsen said. “We still have to remain competitive and we have to allow our coaches to recruit against the schools we’re recruiting against now.”

The NCAA’s five major conferences, which include the Big Ten and Pac-12, approved a motion by a 79-1 vote last weekend allowing those universities to pay student-athletes funds in addition to scholarships to cover their general expenses. The range is expected to be between $2,000 and $6,000 per year per student-athlete.

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AAMU mourns the death of Assistant Men's Basketball Coach James Wright

JAMES WRIGHT
COURTESY ALABAMA A&M ATHLETICS

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- It is with great sadness Alabama A&M announces the death of Assistant Men's Basketball Coach James Wright.

Wright passed away Wednesday. He was 46.

Head Coach Willie Hayes and Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks spoke with the basketball team Wednesday evening.

"We ask that you pray for Coach Wright's family and keep them in your thoughts," Hicks said.

A tireless recruiter, this was Wright's fourth year with the Bulldogs.

"We've lost a great coach, a great man and a great person," said Hayes. "I've known him since high school … I've lost a great friend."

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Wright, a 1993 graduate of Jackson State, also coached at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the University of West Alabama.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern ready for baseball practice

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern baseball team doesn’t start practice until Friday, but already the Jaguars are ahead of where they were at this time last year.

Coach Roger Cador and his staff have a clearer idea of who will fill the most prominent roles. Most of the roles were determined during preseason last season.

Though positions can still be won and lost, Cador has a pretty good idea where things are headed. Most importantly, he hopes Southern is headed in the right direction after an uncharacteristic record of 10-26 last season, failing to qualify for the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.

“I feel good about the group because the kids feel good about the group themselves,” Cador said Wednesday.

He said he got a good feeling when he informed 11 seniors that they had the opportunity to transfer to another school and become eligible immediately because of Southern’s ongoing ban from NCAA post-season play.

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Southern’s Human Jukebox prepares for competition

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Rehearsal was supposed to begin at 7:30 p.m. but was pushed back to 8 p.m., and then even later.

“We won’t be going outside until 9:30,” Southern University’s Director of Bands Nathan Haymer says. “We have some class schedule conflicts, so we’re having to accommodate for that.”

“It’s worth it,” Wayne Matthews says.

Even on what had to be one of the coldest nights of the year, it was worth marching late into the night if it meant having a chance to win a second Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase championship.

“I’ve attended it before I got in the band, and I was able to see Southern perform,” Matthews says. “Now I’m a band member, and I know we have a lot of pressure on us.”

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Livingstone Women's Basketball 17-0 after romp over FSU

LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE AT #18 IN USA TODAY POLLS

SALISBURY, North Carolina — Livingstone guard Amber Curtis prefers passing to shooting. So she turns down good shots in the search for great shots.

“She’s very unselfish, so opponents leave her open a lot,” Livingstone coach Anita Howard said. “There are times when she has to show them she can shoot, and today she felt it.”

Curtis had 18 points by halftime. She finished 9-for-14 from the floor, including three 3-pointers, and scored 23 points as Livingstone blew out Fayetteville State 92-47 in Wednesday’s CIAA game at New Trent Gym.

Eleven Blue Bears scored. Cierra York (14 points), Precious Roberts (12) and Kyra Crosby (11) joined Curtis in double figures. Crosby had a game-high 11 rebounds. The Blue Bears (17-0, 8-0 CIAA), a runaway train all season, forced 24 turnovers and dominated the boards 52-24. The only negative was 21 Livingstone turnovers

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Culver column: FAMU Field House still a major topic of discussion

Bragg Stadium and Field House Aerial Views (2014)

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- One topic of discussion constantly on the minds of many Florida A&M sports enthusiasts is the state of the Galimore-Powell Field House.

The field house, originally built in 1983, has never been renovated. It’s certainly not ancient, but fans believe a new field house would be a major step in improving FAMU’s football image.

Of course, a major renovation would take cash, and FAMU’s athletic department is in short supply.

Tommy Mitchell, president of the university’s Alumni Association, proposed a $1 million fundraiser to renovate the field house in October, and during Wednesday’s 220 Quarterback Club meeting, he mentioned they’re still looking to break the $22,000 mark.

Angela Suggs, associate athletic director for external affairs, was also at Wednesday’s meeting. She said several groups will have to meet — they haven’t yet — in order to coordinate funds for a project like renovating the field house, which would take an estimated $2.5 million.

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LC men hang on, avoid FSU upset

SALISBURY, North Carolina -- Livingstone’s men’s basketball team won 90-87 over Fayetteville State at New Trent Gym on Wednesday.

Eric Dubose scored 22 points for the Blue Bears and made two clutch free throws with 40 seconds left and Livingstone clinging to a one-point lead.

Fayetteville State misfired on three 3-point attempts in the closing seconds that would’ve sent the game to overtime.

Livingstone (11-6, 5-3 CIAA) also got double-figure scoring from Ty Newman (19), Eric Mayo (16) and Hakeem Jackson (10).

Mayo had seven rebounds. Daryl Traynham had four assists.

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Why I should be JCSU's next coach

I love alma mater, will win in dream job ...

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- My name is Tim Newman and I love Johnson C. Smith University. I went to school there. I played football there, and was lucky and blessed enough to earn All-American honors there.

It’s always been my dream to come back and be a head coach at my school. I was an assistant there from 1988-90. And I don’t want to come back to Smith to go somewhere to use it as a stepping stone. I’m like Bobby Lutz when he was head coach at UNC Charlotte. That was his school, his love, his passion. He was willing to go above and beyond to make sure “his” school did well. I think Charlotte never should’ve let Bobby go. I’d imagine more than a few alumni might agree with me now.

When a man is passionate about something, he’ll give it his all. I’m passionate about Smith. I understand the type kid that goes there. I was that kid. I know the CIAA. I coached more than 50 players who went to CIAA schools when I coached a N.C. Tech Preparatory School. In seven years, our teams were 54-5. Several of my players eventually made the NFL, players like Cordarrelle Patterson (first round pick, Vikings), Greg Blair (free agent, Browns) and Antonio Brown (sixth round, Steelers).

Now, I’ve made some mistakes, too. ESPN did a feature video special and news story about...

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Winston-Salem State slips past Shaw

WINSTON-SALEM, Virginia -- Winston-Salem State keeps building momentum in the parity-driven CIAA. And it keeps winning along the way.

The Rams had another solid effort in a 74-69 win over Shaw on Wednesday night at the Gaines Center. It was a typical rough and rugged Southern Division game but the Rams held it together to win their third in a row.

Coach James Wilhelmi of the Rams refuses to acknowledge any win streak because he calls that “fool’s gold.” He’d rather take each game as it comes, and on Wednesday night he was proud of another balanced showing.

Center Donta Harper led the way with 17 points and point-guard C.J. Ford added 14 with Marquez Jones coming off the bench to score 13. But as they have done during the three-game win streak it was the bench that came through again getting 27 points out of seven players.



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Many challenging opponents on 2015 XU tennis schedules

 Nour Abbes

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana again will face a slew of talented tennis opponents. Alan Green, the 12th-year coach of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets, announced Wednesday the 2015 spring schedules.
    
The XU men and women will open the season at 3 p.m. Jan. 30 — one week from Friday — against city rival Loyola at XU Tennis Center.
    
The Gold Nuggets were 17-7 last season and became the first XU team in any sport to reach the NAIA's national semifinals in consecutive years. They were ranked No. 1 in two consecutive polls and, for the second straight season, finished at No. 3. The Gold Rush were 13-12 in 2014 and became the first XU team to reach the NAIA's national quarterfinals three consecutive years.
    
NAIA National Championship qualifiers from 2014 on the XU schedules are:
    
Men and Women:  Auburn Montgomery, Vanguard and Westmont.
    
Men Only:  Belhaven and William Carey.
    
Women Only:  Brenau and Lewis-Clark State.
    
NCAA Division I opponents will be:
    
Men and Women:  Alcorn State, Louisiana-Lafayette, New Orleans and Nicholls State.
    
Men Only:  Troy.
    
Women Only:  Southern and Tulane.
    
Both XU teams could play additional ranked NAIA opponents or 2014 national-tourney qualifiers in the AUM Invitational at Montgomery, Ala., March 6-8. Brackets for that event have not been determined. AUM, Belhaven, Campbellsville, Cumberland, Martin Methodist, Pikeville, William Carey and Xavier are scheduled to compete.
    
The Rush and Nuggets will close the regular season April 11 at West Florida, whose men were 29-0 last year and won the NCAA Division II national championship and whose women ranked seventh in the postseason poll.
    
The men of Auburn Montgomery and Vanguard were NAIA semifinalists last year. The women of AUM and Brenau reached the quarterfinals.
    
Another high-powered opponent will be Lewis-Clark State's men, who ranked 22nd in the postseason.
    
It will be the third season of the XU Tennis Center, a $2.5 million facility which opened in October 2012.
    
Five All-Americans — Nikita Soifer and Kyle Montrel on the men's team, Nour Abbes, Simone-Alyse Ewell and Brion Flowers on the women's — return for Xavier. Green was the Wilson/ITA NAIA Women's Region IV Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2013. Last year the Rush defeated two NCAA D-I opponents and seven ranked NAIA teams, and the Nuggets beat three NCAA D-I opponents and 10 ranked NAIA teams, six in the top 10.
    
Abbes, a sophomore, won the NAIA singles division of the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships in October and finished second in the "Super Bowl" playoff. Abbes was the ITA/NAIA National Rookie of the Year in 2014.
    
The NAIA will announce its preseason men's and women's top-25 team polls on Tuesday. The first ITA NAIA individual player rankings of the spring will be released March 11.

2015 Xavier University of Louisiana Women's Tennis Schedule
click here for schedule with site details

January
30 Friday: LOYOLA, 3 p.m.
31 Saturday: at Tulane, 2 p.m. (1)

February
7 Saturday: BELHAVEN, noon
8 Sunday: LSU-ALEXANDRIA, noon
11 Wednesday: at Louisiana-Lafayette, 4:30 p.m.
14 Saturday: WILLIAM CAREY, 11 a.m.
21 Saturday: at New Orleans, 3 p.m.
23 Monday: Brenau, 2 p.m. (2)
24 Tuesday: at Alcorn State, 3 p.m.
28 Saturday: RHODES, 10 a.m.
28 Saturday: • TOUGALOO, 2 p.m.

March
6 Friday-8 Sunday: at AUM Invitational, Montgomery, Ala.
15 Sunday: at Southern, noon
17 Tuesday: at Nicholls State, 10 a.m.
19 Thursday: at William Carey, 3 p.m.
30 Monday: at Vanguard, 1 p.m. PDT
31 Tuesday: Lewis-Clark State, TBA (3)

April
1 Wednesday: at Westmont, noon PDT
10 Friday: AUBURN MONTGOMERY, 2:30 p.m.
11 Saturday: at West Florida, 10 a.m.
24 Friday-25 Saturday: NAIA UNAFFILIATED GROUP TOURNAMENT at XU Tennis Center and one additional site

May
12 Tuesday-16 Saturday: NAIA National Championship at Mobile, Ala.

Home matches in BOLD TYPE
• Gulf Coast Athletic Conference match
All times are Central except where noted
(1) at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center
(2) at Mobile, Ala.
(3) at La Mirada, Calif.
TBA — to be announced
Schedule is subject to change

2015 Xavier University of Louisiana Men's Tennis Schedule
click here for schedule with site details

January
30 Friday: LOYOLA, 3 p.m.

February
6 Friday: at Louisiana-Lafayette, 6 p.m.
7 Saturday: BELHAVEN, noon
14 Saturday: WILLIAM CAREY, 11 a.m.
24 Tuesday: at Alcorn State, 3 p.m.
25 Wednesday: at New Orleans, 3 p.m.
28 Saturday: RHODES, 10 a.m.
28 Saturday: • TOUGALOO, 2 p.m.

March
6 Friday-8 Sunday: at AUM Invitational, Montgomery, Ala.
12 Thursday: Troy, 2 p.m. (1)
19 Thursday: at William Carey, 3 p.m.
22 Sunday: at Nicholls State, 11 a.m.
30 Monday: at Vanguard, 1 p.m. PDT
31 Tuesday: Lewis-Clark State, TBA (2)

April
1 Wednesday: at Westmont, noon PDT
10 Friday: AUBURN MONTGOMERY, 2:30 p.m.
11 Saturday: at West Florida, 10 a.m.
24 Friday-25 Saturday: NAIA UNAFFILIATED GROUP TOURNAMENT at XU Tennis Center and one additional site

May
12 Tuesday-16 Saturday: NAIA National Championship at Mobile, Ala.

Home matches in BOLD TYPE
• Gulf Coast Athletic Conference match
All times are Central except where noted
(1) at Pensacola, Fla.
(2) at La Mirada, Calif.
TBA — to be announced
Schedule is subject to change


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold

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2014-2015 Head Coaching Changes --By Football Scoop

Here’s an updated look at the NFL, FBS, FCS, D-II, D-III and NAIA head coaches changes

Consider this page your one-stop shop for coaching changes at every level of football – NFL, NCAA and NAIA – throughout the winter, so check back frequently. For your reference, here are our lists of coaching changes from the 2012-13, and 2013-2014 hiring seasons.

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TSU Lady Tigers Comeback to Clip Golden Eagles, 67-64

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- A Brianna Lawrence three-pointer with 1:09 left proved to be the difference, as the Tennessee State women’s basketball team came back to drop Tennessee Tech, 67-64, on Wednesday afternoon in the Gentry Center.

The Lady Tigers (8-9, 5-1 OVC) were down by as many as nine with seven minutes to go and held the lead for just 2:33.

TSU had four players finish in double-figures led by Lawrence’s 12. Rachel Allen, Imani Davis and Chelsea Hudson each finished with 11.

Hudson also recorded 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season, and her third straight.



Tennessee Tech (5-15, 2-5 OVC) also had four scorers reach double-figures led by Hannah Goolsby’s 16 – 10 of which came in the first half.

The Golden Eagles made their first five shots to begin the game, and led, 11-6, after the opening four minutes. The Lady Tigers were just 2-of-8 during TTU’s hot start.

The Lady Tigers tied the score three times during the remainder of the first half, but TTU answered each time with hoops to re-take the lead.

The Golden Eagles struck the largest lead of the half, 36-28, with just 1:18 to go, but a freebie by a Jayda Johnson and a buzzer-beater by Jemilah Leonard put the Lady Tigers down by five at the break.

Rebounds (15) and turnovers (10) were all square during the opening 20 minutes, but the Golden Eagles managed to make two more shots (24-22) to account for their slim lead.

TSU made just two field goals during a nine minute stretch in the second half, allowing the Golden Eagles to soar to a nine-point lead. The Lady Tigers quickly found their footing and went on a 9-0 run to tie the game once more at 56 with 5:10 left in the game.



Lawrence canned a coffin corner three to draw even for the sixth time at 60 and Imani Davis converted on a layup following a TTU turnover to give the Lady Tigers the lead for the first time since 18:31 in the first half.

Lawrence came through again a couple of minutes later, hitting another three to put Tennessee State back on top, 65-64, with 1:09 left.

After a couple of TSU free throws, TTU’s Candace Parson had a chance to tie the game, but her three pointer clanked off the iron to seal the win.

The Lady Tigers’ defense held the Golden Eagles to just a 23.3 percent shooting line during the second half and forced 25 turnovers in the game.

Tennessee State will next host Belmont this Saturday, Jan. 24 at 5:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

BSU Bulldogs Basketball Remains Ranked #4 in Atlantic Region

ROSTER

BOWIE, Maryland -- The men's basketball D2SIDA Atlantic Region media poll was released yesterday (1/20) and the Bowie State Bulldogs remained in 4th place. The Bulldogs currently hold an overall record of 14-5 (6-1 CIAA) and won two conference games last week, beating Fayetteville State on the reoad (74-66) and edged Lincoln University at home by a score of 66-65.

In spite of losing a game last week, West Liberty and Glenville State remain #1 and #2 in the Atlantic Region followed by Charleston (W.Va.) tied for second, Bowie State and Indiana (Pa.) is fifth. Slippery Rock (Pa.) moves up to sixth, followed by Mercyhurst (Pa.) in 7th, Winston-Salem State (8th), East Stroudsburg (9th) and Fairmont State along with Livingstone are tied for 10th.

Bowie State will host Virginia Union University tonight (1/21) at 7:30 pm in BSU's Leonidas S. James Complex (A.C. Jordan Arena).

D2SIDA ATLANTIC REGION MEDIA POLL
RANK SCHOOL W-L PTS. PREV.
1 West Liberty (W.Va.) 14-1 40 1
2 Glenville State (W.Va.) 12-4 30 2
3 Charleston (W.Va.) 12-4 30 6
4 Bowie State (Md.) 14-5 29 4
5 Indiana (Pa.) 15-3 26 3
6 Slippery Rock (Pa.) 13-5 20 7
7 Mercyhurst (Pa.) 13-5 15 8
8 Winston-Salem State (N.C.) 10-5 11 9
9 East Stroudsburg (Pa.) 11-5 7 T10
T10 Fairmont State (W.Va.) 10-6 4 NR
T10 Livingstone (N.C.) 10-6 4 NR

COURTESY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

The Enduring Relevance of HBCUs in America

Co Authored by:

Gregory J. Harris, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, Florida
Email: greogry.harris@famu.edu

and

Herron Keyon Gaston, M.Div., MPA
Yale University Graduate Student
& Education Consultant
Email:herron.gaston@yale.edu

An ongoing debate at the collegiate and legislative levels across the U.S. has been about the relevance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Currently there are 105 HBCUs across the country mainly in the southern states established post-Civil war. Many of these were established as part of legislation of The Morrill Act of 1862 which we know as the Land Grant College Act. However, during that time, U.S. systems were segregated by race and the opportunity to achieve the American dream though education could not be fully realized by many African Americans in many of the Confederate states. It was not until the Second Morrill Act of 1890 passed that this was extended to include to black institutions. The vision of the originator of the Morrill Act, Congressman Justin Smith Morrill from Vermont, himself a high school drop-out, was to finance agricultural and mechanical education and to make this education available to all social classes of people in the U.S.

CONTINUE READING

FAMU baseball coach Shouppe confident heading into second season

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The bar for second-year head baseball coach Jamey Shouppe is already set pretty high.

During his first season, he coached the Rattlers to their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament in three years. The team finished with a 26-26 overall record – FAMU’s first baseball season with more than 19 victories since 2009 – and brought down the No. 6-ranked Florida Gators along the way.

Shouppe wants more, and he made that clear during a meeting with the 220 Quarterback Club Wednesday afternoon.

“They thought I was a little bit crazy,” said Shouppe, whose team opens practice Friday.

CONTINUE READING


FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY BASEBALL SCHEDULE 2015
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME (ET)

Fri, Feb 13 Marshall University Moore-Kittles Field 4:00 PM
Sat, Feb 14 Marshall University Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Sun, Feb 15 Marshall University Moore-Kittles Field 11:00 AM
Tue, Feb 17 University of Florida at Gainesville, Fla. 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb 21 Alabama State at Montgomery, Ala. 1:00 PM
Sun, Feb 22 Alabama State at Montgomery, Ala. TBA
Tue, Feb 24 Mercer University at Macon, Ga. 6:00 PM
Wed, Feb 25 Mercer University at Macon, Ga. 4:00 PM
Sat, Feb 28 MEAC Conference Meet #3 Tallahassee, FL 9:00 AM
Sat, Feb 28 Bethune-Cookman Univ. * at Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 PM
Sun, Mar 01 Bethune-Cookman Univ. * at Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 PM
Tue, Mar 03 Jacksonville University at Jacksonville, Fla. 5:00 PM
Sat, Mar 07 Savannah State University * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Sun, Mar 08 Savannah State University * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Tue, Mar 10 Mercer University Moore-Kittles Field 4:00 PM
Wed, Mar 11 Mercer University Moore-Kittles Field 4:00 PM
Fri, Mar 13 University of South Florida at Tampa, Fla. TBA
Sat, Mar 14 University of South Florida at Tampa, Fla. TBA
Sun, Mar 15 University of South Florida at Tampa, Fla. TBA
Tue, Mar 17 Georgia State Atlanta, Ga. 5:00 PM
Sat, Mar 21 North Carolina Centeral Univ. * at Durham, NC TBA
Sun, Mar 22 North Carolina Centeral Univ. * at Durham, NC TBA
Wed, Mar 25 Troy University Moore-Kittles Field 5:00 PM
Sat, Mar 28 North Carolina A&T Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Sun, Mar 29 North Carolina A&T * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Tue, Mar 31 Jacksonville University Moore-Kittles Field 5:00 PM
Fri, Apr 03 Bethune-Cookman Univ. * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Sat, Apr 04 Bethune-Cookman Univ. * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Wed, Apr 08 University of North Florida Moore-Kittles Field 5:00 PM
Sat, Apr 11 Savannah State University at Savannah, Ga. 1:00 PM
Sun, Apr 12 Savannah State University * at Savannah, Ga. 1:00 PM
Tue, Apr 14 University of North Florida at Jacksonville, Fl. 5:00 PM
Fri, Apr 17 Texas Southern at New Orleans, La. TBA
Sat, Apr 18 Texas Southern at New Orleans, La. TBA
Sun, Apr 19 Texas Southern at New Orleans, La. TBA
Tue, Apr 21 Auburn University at Auburn , Al. 7:00 PM
Sat, Apr 25 North Carolina Central Univ. * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Sun, Apr 26 North Carolina Central Univ. * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Sat, May 02 North Carolina A&T * at Greensboro, NC 1:00 PM
Sun, May 03 North Carolina A&T * at Greensboro, NC TBA
Wed, May 06 Troy University at Troy, Ala. 6:00 PM

MEAC TOURNAMENT
Wed, May 13 MEAC TOURNAMENT Salisbury, MD TBA

* Conference Games