FAMU issues farewell to women's basketball coach Debra Clark and staff

Photo: Debra Clark ends her FAMU career with an overall career record of 211-194. She was 100-109 in leading the Lady Rattlers program for seven years.

Florida A&M University officials announced Tuesday that the contract of head women’s basketball coach Debra Clark would not be renewed, and that a committee would be appointed shortly to conduct a search for a successor.

“We truly wish to express our appreciation to Coach Debra Clark and her staff for their service to the university for the past seven seasons. However, after a thorough evaluation of the program, the decision was made to pursue a different course,” said FAMU Athletic Director Bill Hayes on Tuesday.

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The assistant coaches released with Coach Clark were: her husband, John Clark (Hampton University/native - Chesapeake, VA); Niki Washington (Southern Illinois University/native - Sanford, Florida); and Melaney Denson (S.C. State/native - Fort Pierce, FL). Coach Clark was in the final year of her contract which was not renewed.

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Disappointing finish doesn't dim Alabama State Hornets' optimism

As the Alabama State basketball players gathered their belongings and boarded a plane headed for Montgomery from Arizona last Wednesday morning, there were no long faces. There were no feelings of doom and gloom. There was no sadness.

That seems a bit odd given what had happened to the Hornets in the previous week. They had dropped a heartbreaker in overtime of the semifinals of the SWAC tournament the previous Friday. That had cost them a trip to the NCAA tournament and sent them on a quick trip out West to face the National Invitation Tournament's top seed, Arizona State, on its home floor.

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UAPB gets $500,000 from Angel for complex

Photo: Torii Hunter donates half million dollars to build new UAPB baseball complex. Hunter did not attend UAPB or any other college.


PINE BLUFF, AR — Major league baseball player Torii Hunter committed $500,000 on Friday afternoon toward a proposed $9 million University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball complex, which will bear his name.

UAPB Athletic Director Skip Perkins said Hunter closed the deal Friday morning.

Perkins said the complex will be named the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex. The donation is the largest ever to the school’s athletics department from a single person, Perkins said.

“We are very, very grateful,” Perkins said. “We’re ready to rock and roll now. That was a huge component to our fundraising efforts.” Perkins said the fundraising committee will begin its drive next month, although he wasn’t certain exactly when.

Hunter, a Los Angeles Angels outfielder and a 1993 graduate of Pine Bluff High School, was traveling with the team Friday afternoon and unavailable for comment, said Larry Babcock, a spokesman for the Angels. A message left on Hunter’s cell phone Friday was not returned.

Hunter did not attend UAPB or any other college. He was a first-round draft pick for the Minnesota Twins straight out of high school. He played his first major-league game in 1997.

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Osborne in the fast lane at Texas Southern

Having been a key member of the 2005 Marshall High School football team that finished the season with a 13-2 record (state runner-up), it can be said Junior Osborne carried with him to Texas Southern University a pedigree for success.

Osborne has lived up to his billing, and then some, having two recent noteworthy successes — one on the track and one in the classroom.

His time of 21.97 seconds in the 200 meters established a new Southwestern Athletic Conference indoor record — surpassing that of Southern University's Albert Turner (22.29) set in January 2005.

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STANDING OUT: Former WSSU star catches scouts' eyes

Safety Nate Biggs has kept a low profile since exhausting his eligibility at Winston-Salem State last fall. But after his performance at an NFL pro day at East Carolina earlier this month, scouts are starting to take notice.

Biggs (6-1, 190) was a four-year starter for the Rams and had eight career interceptions, including three last season to tie for the team lead. He also had 230 career tackles, including 72 last season to finish second on the team.

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Jackson State's RB Giles stands out at Pro Day

The Jackson State football program welcomed 20 NFL scouts to the practice field outside the Walter Payton Center on Monday for the school's "Pro Day."

Representatives from New Orleans, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Chicago, Jacksonville, Carolina, Indianapolis, the New York Giants, Philadelphia, Cleveland, New England, Green Bay and Seattle were in attendance.

Thirteen JSU players took part with athletes from Mississippi College, Alcorn State and Belhaven.

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FAMU begins spring with high-tempo practice

Each player on FAMU's practice field earned every minute of the short water breaks they were granted Monday afternoon. An extra gulp wouldn't have been too much for a group of linebackers stationed at the sled.

One by one, they took a rapid-fire approach as they slammed into the padded metal sled, jerking it back with every contact. Linebackers coach Earl Holmes wouldn't let a man let up. "Grab and control," Holmes bellowed after every strike. "Run through it. Bring your hips with it."

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Excellent article and comments by Coach Joe Taylor and A.D. Bill Hayes.

SCSU Bulldogs Pro Day: Three Men and a Dream

Photo: Former SCSU QB Cleve McCoy prepares for NFL Pro Day tryouts, today at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium at 10 a.m.

Eight grueling weeks of learning, preparing and getting ready to make a push toward a dream that has been in his heart and mind since he was a little boy growing up in Hollywood, South Carolina. Over the span of those past 56-or-so days, Cleve McCoy signed with an agent, took a ride to Charlotte, reunited with former backfield mate and former South Carolina State star Deshawn Baker, and sat about the task of making himself into an NFL prospect.

There were plenty of runs through the 40-yard dash for the pair, plenty of "how many times can you rep out 225" going on and plenty of drills. Six days a week, every week, Baker and McCoy trained alongside the likes of former Louisville tailback Eric Shelton, a second-round draft pick out of Louisville by the Carolina Panthers in 2005and current member of the Washington Redskins. The work is behind them now.

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S.C. State Bulldogs kick off Spring practice

Overall, the Bulldogs remained in good spirits throughout the 2 1/2 hour practice session which was low on heavy contact and high on refining team fundamentals after a four-month layoff.

It was a difficult first day for rising sophomore quarterback Malcolm Long. He did complete a long touchdown pass to Denmark-Olar's Semaj Moody, but the heir apparent to Cleveland McCoy was picked off four times during passing drills against the SCSU secondary. Gaffney teammate and MIKE linebacker Julius Wilkerson had one pick, while the other three came at the hands of two-sport defensive back Phillip Adams.

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SSU Tigers add five to 2008 football recruiting class

SAVANNAH, Ga - The Savannah State football staff has announced additions to the recruiting class for 2008. The Tigers have picked up commitments from five players incluiding three from College of the Sequoias in California.

Inking grank-in-aids to play at Savannah State were Pasa Mohetau (6-4, 330), Sangatua Lelea (6-3, 295), Jackie Crankfield (6-3, 285), Todd Bowden (6-3, 305) and running back Kendall Blackshear (5-9, 195) from Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas.

Mohetau, Lelea and Crankfield are junior college transfers while Bowden originaly signed with Norfolk State in high school but never played with the Spartans. These signees increase new coach Robby Wells first recruiting class to 33 players.

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FAMU's first football practice photo gallery

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Coach Joe Taylor looks great in the Orange and Green, and the players appear to be in good shape for spring practice.

Southern U. shuffles assistants as spring work starts today

As Southern prepares to open its spring football practices this afternoon, the defensive coaching staff is making a last-minute shuffle.

Defensive line coach David Geralds has left after three seasons, Southern head coach Pete Richardson said Monday. The move leaves no time for SU to add another assistant defensive coach and bring him up to speed for the spring workouts. Instead, the staff will have to adjust.

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Hampton University suspends three football players

Quarterback T.J. Mitchell is among three Hampton University football players suspended from the team.

HAMPTON, VA - – Hampton University announced the suspensions on Monday of three football players, including starting quarterback T.J. Mitchell. A release issued by the school did not specify a reason, but sources said they were suspended for their involvement last week in a fight on campus.

The others suspended are punter Jahmal Blanchard and wide receiver Antonio Brown. Hampton athletic director Lonza Hardy said that the players' futures will be determined following an internal hearing at the university.

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Hampton U. suspends Smalling for two games to start next season

Hampton University announced that men's basketball forward Theo Smalling, a sophomore, has been suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament in Raleigh, N.C.

Smalling has been suspended for two games at the start of next season and will be required to perform 25 hours of community service before the start of the fall semester, according to HU athletic director Lonza Hardy.

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It's official: Backup QB Quinn Gray signs with Texans

Photo: Former Florida A&M University/NFL Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Quinn Gray signed today with the Houston Texans.

As expected, free agent quarterback Quinn Gray signed a one-year contract with the Texans today. Gray, who played his first five seasons with Jacksonville, signed a one-year deal for the $605,000 minimum and a $40,000 signing bonus.

Gray was 2-2 as a starter last season, including victories over Tampa Bay and Tennessee and losses to New Orleans and the Texans. Gray arrived in Houston on Sunday and he is spending today at Reliant Stadium, meeting with head coach Gary Kubiak and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

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With Brown leading the way, Coppin State finds consistent success

Photo: Coach Derek Brown celebrates the 2008 MEAC Women's Basketball Tournament Championship with his CSU Lady Eagles and fans at the RBC Center.

The low-key coach and his unsung basketball team will huddle one more time today, roll up their sleeves and go to work. When Coppin State meets Maryland at Comcast Center in a women's NCAA tournament game, it will be the Eagles' latest milestone on the road to prominence.

This game marks four postseason tournaments in four years for the Coppin women, three in the NCAA. It marks the end of a golden era for senior guards Rashida Suber and Shalamar Oakley.

As much as anything, it underscores the job coach Derek Brown has done since taking over the team in mid season nine years ago amid a coaching controversy. He has come a long way since working as a jail guard in Camden, N.J., but he's not above mopping the floor before the Eagles practice at 5 a.m. each day.

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ASU FOOTBALL: Things come full circle for QB Engram

Photo: #16, QB Alex Engram

No Alabama State player has been discussed more over the last two years than quarterback Alex Engram. He was hailed as a savior when he first arrived, moved to punter a year later and is now back as a surprise threat to retake the starting QB role.

To say it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride for the senior is an understatement.
"Things haven't been easy for Alex," ASU head coach Reggie Barlow said. "But I'm proud of him and the way he's responded to everything." The way Engram has responded is to keep working no matter what his coaches asked of him. And they've asked plenty.

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Southern can't overcome early deficit

GRAMBLING — Grambling broke out to a 6-0 lead after three innings and held off Southern, 7-4, in Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon.

The Tigers (10-11, 8-4 SWAC West) took two of the three games from the rival Jaguars (7-9, 6-3).

“We lost the game in the first three innings,” Southern coach Roger Cador said. “They had a couple of Texas hoppers and a home run and after that we were playing catch-up.”

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S.C. State Bulldogs: Long's time coming

Photo: #7 - QB Malcolm Long leads a pack of inexperienced signal callers into the Bulldogs Spring training sessions.

For sophomore quarterback Malcolm Long, the time is now.

Since the arrival last fall of the former South Carolina "Mr. Football" winner out of Gaffney, South Carolina State fans have anticipated the day he would take the reins as the starter. The glimpses of potential Long exhibited during spot appearances late in the season only added to the hype.

Now that record-setting quarterback Cleveland McCoy has graduated, the Bulldogs have essentially handed Long the keys to the offense. It's a responsibility Long is anxious to seize hold of and guide in the direction of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

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UMES Hawks Bowling wins third MEAC Title

#2 UMES tops #11 Delaware State for 4-1 for their fourth overall championship.

HAMPTON, Va. - Two games. That is the amount of baker games the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) dropped during the entire Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship as they topped Delaware State University (DSU) 4-1 in the best of seven baker game format in Sunday's final to secure their third straight women's bowling title and fourth overall. The one game came to the nation's 11th ranked team, DSU in the finals, the other to Norfolk State University (NSU) in the semi-finals. They won every other match via shut out.

The Lady Hawks took on the Lady Hornets in the finals. DSU defeated NSU 4-1 in the semi-final round for the right to face UMES earlier in the day. The Hawks topped the Hornets 169-158, 175-181, 183-181, 153-151 and 190-169 to secure the title.

"It was how it was supposed to be," said Head Coach Sharon Brummell. "The two teams in the finals were the two teams ranked in the nation. Everything played out correctly and it was a competitive final."

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Tennessee State's signee Parker Smith is star quality

Photo: TSU signee #30 Parker Smith averaged 30 ppg in his high school career.

Times 2008 Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Chestatee's Parker Smith

GAINESVILLE, GA — There’s not much that Chestatee High basketball player Parker Smith can’t do.

Smith, who finished his career at Chestatee with 2,038 career points—924 points as a senior — led the War Eagles to the playoffs for the second consecutive season. As a senior, he shot 55-percent on two point shots, and 56-percent behind the 3-point line. He is signed to play next season at Tennessee State University.

The 6-3 shooting guard seems to excel at everything, whether it be in the classroom or on the court. The kid has incredible work ethic in all aspects of his life. It’s impressive enough to think that he’s an outstanding basketball player, but he is a straight-A student, too. According to Smith, the opportunity to play at TSU trumped offers from schools like Air Force, Buffalo and Dartmouth, among others.

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Southern splits with Grambling State

GRAMBLING — Southern pitcher Jarrett Maloy gave up just four hits in going the distance to help the Jaguars salvage a split of a Southwestern Athletic Conference doubleheader with Grambling State on Saturday.

Southern took the nightcap, 3-1, behind Maloy’s solid pitching performance. In seven innings of work, he struck out six while walking just one.

Grambling scored all of its runs in the third inning of the first game to take a 5-4 win in the opener of the three-game SWAC West series.

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Bethune Cookman baseball sweeps FAMU Rattlers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida A&M Baseball team grabbed an early 2-0 lead before Bethune-Cookman rallied to complete a sweep of their weekend Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference series with a 16-6 victory here Sunday at Moore-Kittles Field.

Florida A&M (2-11, 0-3 in MEAC) struck first Sunday, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Jared Grace, who reached safely via a one-out single, scored from first on a Jared Jeffries infield hit and a throwing error by B-CU pitcher Eric Thomas.

Bethune-Cookman (14-7, 3-0 in MEAC), which outhit FAMU, 9-7, scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead, 3-2, but broke the game open in the seventh, scoring seven runs on two hits and two errors, aided by several Rattler wild pitches, for a 10-2 lead.

The BCU Wildcats won Saturday games against the Rattlers with scores of 10-0 and 9-1, scoring 35 runs in the three game series.

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Maryland survives against Coppin State

Photo: Coppin State University head coach Derek Brown watches action as the Lady Eagles gives the Terps all they could handle in NCAA Tournament game. CSU ends season at 22-12.

Rashida Suber scored 25 points and Shalamar Oakley had 20 for Coppin State, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions.

COLLEGE PARK, MD - The silence in the arena was as telling as the numbers on the scoreboard.

Playing at home against unheralded Coppin State, Maryland found itself locked in a duel with historic ramifications. Only once had a No. 1 seed lost in the opening round, and with 17 minutes left in the game, the mighty Terrapins were in danger of becoming the second such victim.

Maryland finally pulled away to an 80-66 victory Sunday, but the performance was uninspired, unimpressive and hardly worthy of a team that spent the entire season ranked in the top five.

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LSU runs by Jackson State

Photo: Jackson State University guard Carena Easley soaks in the NCAA experience.

Fowles said she believed No. 2-seeded LSU was closer to achieving that more in the final 20 minutes of play of Saturday’s first-round NCAA tournament game which the Lady Tigers administered a 66-32 victory over No. 15 Jackson State before 4,513 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

LSU (28-5) advances to face No. 7 Marist, a 76-57 winner over No. 10 DePaul. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPN2. LSU, which has won 17 of its last 19 games, extended its string of NCAA first-round wins to 11, averaging a winning margin of more than 20 points.

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PHOTO GALLERY: http://www.2theadvocate.com/multimedia/16935551.html