XU's Pieri, Mead selected CoSIDA Academic All-America

Javon Mead

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Matt Pieri and Javon Mead have been chosen to the Capital One Academic All-America® college division men's track and field/cross country team. Pieri was a second-team selection, and Mead made the third team.

Pieri and Mead are the second and third from Xavier to be chosen to an Academic All-America squad. Distance runner Joe Drexler-Dreis made the second team in men's track and field/cross country in 2009.

The College Sports Information Directors of America has sponsored the Academic All-America program since 1952. CoSIDA announced the team Monday.

"Matt and Javon are outstanding representatives of Xavier, the athletics department and our cross country program," XU coach Joseph Moses said. "They take care of their business in the classroom, in workouts and in competition. They're always focused on improvement and doing the right thing."

Matt Pieri

Pieri, a junior from New Orleans and a graduate of Brother Martin High School, is a pharmacy major at Xavier with a 3.79 grade-point average. Pieri is a three-time All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference runner and was the league's 2010 individual champion. He was a 2011 Daktronics Scholar-Athlete and was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society. Pieri has won a GCAC career-record 10 Runner of the Week awards, four this past season. He has 13 top-10 finishes and nine top-5s in three seasons.

At the Gulf Coast Stampede in Pensacola, Fla., on Oct. 1, Pieri ran 8,000 meters (4.97 miles) in 26 minutes, 51.1 seconds. That was Xavier's best time at that distance since Farris Gransberry set the school record of 25:54 in 1998.

Mead, a sophomore from Baton Rouge, La., and a graduate of Baton Rouge Magnet High School, is an accounting major with a 3.66 GPA. Mead is a two-time All-GCAC cross country runner who finished third in the conference meet in 2010 and fifth in 2011. He has four top-10 finishes and two top-5s in two years.

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. Pieri and Mead were announced May 31 as Academic All-District 4, which automatically advanced them for national consideration.

Xavier is a six-time defending GCAC team champion in men's and women's cross country. Both squads qualified for the NAIA National Championships three of the past four seasons, including 2011. The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will begin the 2012 season Aug. 31 in the Mississippi College Opener at Clinton, Mississippi.

2011-12 Capital One Academic All-America
Men's Track and Field/Cross Country

College Division First Team
Name School Yr. Hometown GPA and Major
Brayden Barrientez Oklahoma Christian Jr. Haysville, Kan. 3.96 Religious Edu./Children's Ministry
Hildon Boen Wayland Baptist Jr. Eldoret, Kenya 3.40 Business Adm., Accounting
Isaac Bryan Taylor Gr. Perkasie, Pa. 3.82 Higher Edu.&Student Devmt.
Andy Coy Dakota State Jr. Hill City, S.D. 3.96 Biology
Luke Fischer Northwest (Wash.) Sr. Kalispell, Mont. 3.75 Business
Jacob GunderKline Goshen Jr. Yellow Springs, Ohio 3.71 Interdisciplinary Studies
Bryson Harper Bryan Sr. Pikeville, Tenn. 3.90 Exercise and Health Science

John Harris Morningside Jr. Holstein, Iowa 4.00 Engineering Physics, Mathematics

Bo Johnson Concordia (Ore.) Jr. Toledo, Ore. 3.79 Exercise & Sport Sciences

Monte Larsen Morningside Sr. Neola, Iowa 3.98 Elementary Education

Tracy Marshall Oklahoma Christian Jr. Hutchinson, Kan. 3.96 Electrical Engineering

Micah Marvin Doane Sr. Crete, Neb. 3.96 Mathematics and Physics

David McWilliams Oklahoma Christian Jr. Naperville, Ill. 4.00 Youth Ministry
Tim Wyland Concordia (Ore.) Sr. Umatilla, Ore. 3.47 Exercise & Sport Sciences
Eric Whalen Concordia (Ore.) Sr. Tualatin, Ore. 3.37 Exercise & Sport Sciences

College Division Second Team

Name School Yr. Hometown GPA and Major

Brian Aukshunas Biola Sr. Orange, Calif. 4.00 Business Administration

Cordell Baker Oklahoma Baptist Jr. Sapulpa, Okla. 3.89 Biology

Brad Higgins Doane Jr. Norfolk, Neb. 3.61 Mathematics, Physics

Matt Huseman Northwestern (Iowa) Jr. Sac City, Iowa 3.34 Elem. Education

Matthew Hussey Roberts Wesleyan Gr. Marion, N.Y. 3.93 Teacher Education

Zachary Kraus Embry-Riddle (Fla.) So. New Milford, Conn. 3.85 Aerospace Engineering

Vincent Krejci Doane Jr. Crete, Neb. 3.74 Biochemistry
Randy Magnuson Taylor Sr. Aurora, Ill. 3.79 English Education
Lucas Manring Central Methodist Sr. Stockton, Mo. 3.56 Accounting
Greg Montgomery College of Idaho Jr. Boise, Idaho 3.48 Biology
Matt Pieri Xavier Jr. New Orleans, La. 3.79 Pharmacy
Austin Simikns Oklahoma Christian So. Fayetteville, Ark. 3.87 Accounting
Randy Sterk Grace Sr. McBain, Mich. 3.68 Biology
Nate Teten Doane Sr. Auburn, Neb. 3.59 Business Administration
Nate Winters Mount Vernon Nazarene Sr. Hilliard, Ohio 3.58 Chemistry (Pre-Medicine)


College Division Third Team
Name School Yr. Hometown GPA and Major
Gabe Aeschliman Biola Sr. Colfax, Wash. 3.79 Business Administration
Austin Basterrechea College of Idaho So. Gooding, Idaho 3.74 Undecided
Neal Ellis Oklahoma Baptist Jr. Midlothian, Texas 3.93 Applied Communication
Mike Huseman Morningside Jr. Alta, Iowa 3.52 Management Information Systems
Samuel Jones Goshen Jr. Timber Lake, S.D. 3.61 Theater
Anthony Lee Mount Vernon Nazarene Jr. Lisbon, Ohio 3.84 Sports Management
Jason McLeod Bryan Jr. Ocoee, Fla. 3.81 Exercise&Health Science, Business Adm.
Javon Mead Xavier So. Baton Rouge, La. 3.66 Accounting

David Parry McPherson Sr. Morganville, Kan. 3.90 Automotive Restoration

Jon Schoening Clarke Jr. Glenwood, Iowa 3.89 Biochemistry

Ryan Sherman Central Methodist Jr. Fayette, Mo. 3.60 Business
Peter Stacy Biola So. Issaquah, Wash. 3.69 Biology, Chemistry
Anthony Stasiak Park So. Liberty, Mo. 3.46 Chemistry

Alex Stephens Bryan Jr. Cleveland, Tenn. 3.79 Communication

Collin Whitsett Southern Nazarene Sr. Tulsa, Okla. 3.94 Biology

Monte Willett Embry-Riddle (Fla.) Sr. Grapevine, Texas 3.78 Aerospace Engineering

More on this Academic All-America team

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

71 Year Old Michigan Man Has 29 College Degrees and Counting; none honorary or from online classes

KALAMAZOO, Michigan -- Every June, students all over the country don their caps and gowns for graduation. Whether it's from high school, college or graduate school, most people could easily count their own graduations on one hand.

But not 71-year-old Michael Nicholson of Kalamazoo, Michigan

Nicholson has earned 29 degrees and is now pursuing his 30th.

"I just stayed in school and took menial jobs to pay for the education and just made a point of getting more degrees and eventually I retired so that I could go full-time to school," Nicholson told ABCNews.com.

"It's stimulation to go to the class, look at the material that's required and meet the teacher and students. It makes life interesting for me," he said. "Otherwise, things would be pretty dull."

Nicholson has one bachelor's degree, two associate's degrees, 22 master's degrees, three specialist degrees and one doctoral degree.

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Former TSU standout Christian Lowe signs contract to play volleyball in Germany

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Former Tennessee State University volleyball player Christian Lowe has signed a contract to play with Turnverein Dingolfing (Dingolfing TV) in Germany.

The Dingolfing TV was established in 1868 and has almost 2,000 members.

Lowe, a native of San Antonio, Texas played two years with Tennessee State. As a junior she helped TSU claim the 2007 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship and the program's first NCAA tournament berth.

Christian Lowe
(Photo Courtesy TSU Sports Information)

A 6-0, Opposite Side Hitter, Lowe was named to the OVC All-Newcomer team in 2007 and was third on the team in kills and blocks per set. As a senior, she led the team in total kills and blocks while ranking third in the league in points and fourth in kills per set. She also garnered two OVC Offensive Player of the Week awards during her senior campaign.

"I have always wanted to play professional volleyball," said Lowe. "That was the plan after college, but I became pregnant my senior year and I had to be there for my daughter. It wasn't until last October, when a friend asked me to play in an all-day tournament, that I realized that I could still hang."

Lowe says that after playing in that tournament and consulting with her sister, who has played volleyball in Germany for ten years, she really felt like she could pursue a career professionally. She continued working out, competing in all-day tournaments and practicing with the TSU volleyball team to keep her mind focused on her dream.

"My sister has been a huge help," Lowe added. "She set up all the tryouts, translated and negotiated with the teams."

Lowe and her daughter, Jentelle, will travel to Germany next month.

"I am excited, extremely nervous and scared all at the same time. I haven't played and practice in a competitive way in years, so that makes me scared and nervous. All I want to be is the best I can be (that's with everything I do). But I am so excited; this dream that seemed so far away is in the palm of my hands."

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hawaiian Islanders Come to St. Augs. Campus

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- The 2012 recruiting class for Saint Augustine's College's football team includes two players from Hawaii. Christian Kama, a 6-5, 275-pound offensive tackle, and Joseph Pelesasa, a 6-foot, 245-pound linebacker, will arrive on campus later this week. The recruits hail from Waimanalo, Hawaii, a small community on the island of Oahu.

Saint Augustine's College football coaches recruited Kama and Pelesasa while in Hawaii to support the Lady Falcons basketball team during their tournament on the island.

Assistant coach Tremayne Henry said the players are tough kids and hard workers. Out of all the potential recruits the coaches met in Hawaii, Henry said these two were the ones who had the most initiative and enthusiasm.

"They were excited about the opportunity to come to the mainland," Henry said.

Kama and Pelesasa are just two players in a solid recruiting class for the Falcons.

"The rule is, you want to recruit better than what you have," Henry said. "I think we've done that."

The attraction of playing in the new stadium has been a good recruiting tool, Henry said.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Blazers target second-round picks in Monday workout

TUALATIN, Oregon – The Trail Blazers resumed draft workouts Monday with a focus on their second-round picks. The Blazers, who have the 10th and 11th picks of the second round, brought in six players, all but one of whom played four years of college.

“It was a good group, a competitive group, a lot of good guys,” Blazers general manager Neil Olshey said. “They’re four-year guys, and we’ve scouted them a ton. But just getting them in the gym, there are some guys here that have the ability to do more than you would find based on their role with their teams.”

The most intriguing player might have been Kyle O’Quinn, who played at Norfolk State and won the Lou Hensen Award given to the nation’s top mid-major player. O’Quinn did not start playing basketball until his junior year of high school. He said he grew from 6-foot-2 to 6-10 while attending Campus Magnet High School in Cambria Heights, N.Y.






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GSU approves Doug Williams' contract

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, at its monthly meeting this morning in Baton Rouge, approved the three-year contract for Grambling State University’s (GSU) Head Football Coach, Doug Williams.

“The University is delighted that Coach Williams successfully led the Tiger Football team to an astounding 2011 football season that culminated in winning the 2011 SWAC Championship. Having received all appropriate signatures and board approval on the contract, the university will continue to move forward in preparation for another victorious season this fall,” states GSU President, Frank Pogue. “On behalf of the Grambling State University family, we express our appreciation to the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors for their support.”

“After talking with Dr. Pogue and all other interested parties, we were able to come together on common ground. We all want what’s best for Grambling State University and to ensure that the university continues to move in a positive direction,” says Coach Doug Williams.

Alabama A&M athletics: Hicks ready for challenge

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- There are not enough hours in the day for Bryan Hicks to do everything he wants to do as he begins to put his signature on Alabama A&M's athletic department. Hicks, who just completed his second week on the job as athletics director, made it clear to his staff and The Times in an interview last week what is important to him.

"First and foremost, the student-athletes are going to be at the heart of the program," said Hicks, an A&M graduate. "Every decision we make is going to be about improving and assisting our student-athletes to be productive not only on campus, but in the community and giving them the skills to be successful when they complete their degree.

"If we put our student-athletes at the heart of our program, the community will get to know them. They will see the great work they do and understand the committment to their success in the classroom, the playing field and in the community. Why wouldn't you support them? I'm going to challenge our alumni, our administration and our community. It's going to be all hands in to grow the athletic program and the university."

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Williams Concludes Successful TSU Boys Basketball Camp

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State University men's basketball coach Travis Williams held his inaugural boys basketball camp that concluded Thursday at the Gentry Center.

The four day camp focused on teaching fundamentals and introducing enthusiasm to the game of basketball to young men ages six to 15. Approximately 65 campers from the Nashville community participated in the event.

"I thought it was a great overall camp," noted first year head coach Travis Williams. "It was great to see smiling faces and young kids running down the court having fun. It felt good to see all of these young kids from the community participate in this camp."

The Tennessee State men's basketball program finished the 2011-12 season with a 20-13 record and earned a postseason berth the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Coach Williams was hired as TSU's 16th head coach on April 13.

PHOTO GALLERY

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

LeMoyne-Owen student-athlete Deyquan Nesbit overcame the odds to become 142nd graduating class valedictorian

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- The valedictorian for LeMoyne-Owen College's 142nd graduating class is a young man who has overcome challenges on and off the court. Deyquan Nesbit is not only this year's MVP of LeMoyne-Owen College's men's basketball team, but also the top student on campus with a 3.93 grade point average. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Finance on May 12, 2012.


Deyquan Nesbit
Hometown: Harlem, New York
2012 Valedictorian (142nd Class)
LeMoyne-Owen College

Nesbitt joined the LeMoyne-Owen College Magicians in 2010 after transferring from Monroe Community College in Louisiana. Originally a shooting guard, at 5' 10”, he was a bit small for the position in LeMoyne-Owen's Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). An assistant coach at the time, Antonio Burks convinced Magician's Coach William Anderson to take on Nesbitt at the point guard position. Burks took him under his wing and helped him make a smooth transition from a sharp shooter to a floor general.

This year Nesbitt finished the season with the following stats per game:
• Points: 5.6
• Assists: 5.7
• Steals: 2.8
• Rebounds: 2.4
• Minutes played: 23 minutes No injuries

Nesbit was born and raised in Harlem, New York. He developed a passion for basketball in his teens. He began his collegiate basketball career at Hostos Community College in Bronx, New York and transferred to Monroe Community College before arriving at LeMoyne-Owen College.

Nesbit not only has been the Magicians' team captain for the past two years, but also was selected as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic Team for 2010/2011 and 2011/2012.

LeMoyne-Owen's student athletes are required to participate in community service as an important part of their education. Nesbitt's service has included speaking to student athletes at Manassas High School and participating in the campus clean up event for the past two years. He also served as a skills development instructor for potential student athletes this past spring.

Coach William Anderson lauds Nesbitt for being so coachable. “His leadership abilities on and off the court begins with his supreme work ethic. He goes hard in every practice and works on his game in his free time. He truly leads by example. He is the epitome of coachable. Early on in this season, we realized the key to our success was going to be the point position and DeyQuan. He rose to the challenge which is why we voted him MVP.”

COURTESY LEMOYNE-OWEN COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

A woman’s touch from Fingers

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- When Southern football players got a first look at their new strength and conditioning coach this spring, most opinions ranged from doubtful to incredulous. They’d heard Corliss Fingers might be joining the team, but now it was real.

The person in charge of getting them physically ready for another season and helping them chase the dream of a pro career would be … a she?

It is the 500-pound barbell in the room, and Fingers likes to address it early. “Yes, I’m a female. We’ll get over that in about 10 minutes, and we’ll move on,” she said.

That’s about how long it took Fingers to make it clear that there would be no sugar and spice in her weight room. She hadn’t officially begun her new job at Southern; the day was supposed to be spent shadowing coach Stump Mitchell, to watch his players work out. Just a nice, easy visit.

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Former UDC, Coppin State head coach hired at Northeastern

BRITT KING

BOSTON, Massachusetts -- Head coach Daynia La-Force and the Northeastern women's basketball team has announced the hiring of Britt King as a new assistant coach. King's duties will include recruiting, scouting and post development.

“I am very excited to be working with one of the brilliant minds in our game," La-Force said. "I welcome her back to a game she is so passionate about and a game she has exceled in both as a player and a coach. Our women's basketball team will benefit from what Coach King can bring to every aspect of the program.”

King comes to Huntington Ave after spending more than 25 years as a fixture on the women's basketball scene, both as a player and as a coach. Her most recent coaching experience came from 2006-09, when she was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Appalachian State. During her time with the Mountaineers, King helped to recruit four Southern Conference All-Freshman performers.

Prior to her stint at Appalachian State, King worked as an assistant coach at American University from 2004-06, where she also graduated with an MBA in in 1989. While working at American, King was tasked with coordinating all practices and workout schedules and also had a hand in recruiting.

King also possesses a plehtora of head coaching experience, most recently at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania from 2002-04. For four seasons from 1998-02 King guided Fresno State as the program's head coach. While with the Bulldogs, King recruited and developed five All-WAC conference performers, along with the 2001 WAC Co-Freshman of the Year, Aritta Lane. Her 2001 recruiting class was nationally ranked.

Before her time in Fresno King spent a season as the head coach at Coppin State, where she recruited future MEAC Player of the Year, Keisha Brooks. Her first head coaching gig came from 1992-97, when she guided the Division II University of District of Columbia Firebirds. King took the upstart program to national prominence, pushing UDC to a national ranking and an appearance in the NCAA tournament. King compiled a 64-57 record in her career at UDC, including a 20-6 mark in 1994-95.

King got into the coaching game after a highly successful playing career. King spent four years as a star of the Providence College Friars from 1982-86. She was inducted into the Providence Hall of Fame in 2008. King left the Friars as the program's all time leading rebounder with 1,205 boards, and averaged 13 points and ten rebounds a game during her career. During her time in Providence she earned All-Big East First Team honors (1985-86), All-Big East Second Team laurels (1984-85), Big East All-Tournament honors (1986) and was a KODAK District I All-American in 1985. King also earned Providence College Female Athlete of the Year in 1986.

Following her sterling collegiate career, King played overseas for two seasons with the El Masnou Club in Barcelona, Spain. King was selected as one of the squad's two Americans.

The Northeastern women's basketball team finished 8-22 last season, winning four of five to close the regular season before a 70-60 defeat at the hands of George Mason in the first round of the Virginia 529 Collegiate Savings Plan CAA Championship. The Huskies return three of their top four scorers from last year's squad for the 2012-13 campaign.

COURTESY NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

MSU's Kenny Ridley Named to CFPA Preseason Watch List

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State junior Kenny Ridley (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) was one of three defensive backs from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selected to the College Football Performance Awards preseason watch list. The CFPA announced the defensive backs list on Monday (June 11) as part of its weekly position announcement this summer.

Ridley led the Bears with four (MEAC ranked T-2nd) of the team's 12 interceptions (MEAC ranked No. 6th) last year while breaking up six passes. He recorded a personal-high 42 tackles playing in all 11 games and recorded three tackles for a loss.

Ridley is one of three returning starters in the secondary, and is hungry to improve upon last season's accomplishments.

The goal of the CFPA, as it states on its website, is to provide the most scientifically rigorous criteria in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Jackson State names new women's basketball coach

JACKSON, Mississippi - Surina Dixon, who was fired as the Texas Southern women’s head basketball coach in 2008 before coaching a game there, returned to the SWAC today. Dixon is the new women’s coach at Jackson State, the school announced in a news conference.

Dixon, 50, was fired at Texas Southern in June 2008. Last August, she was awarded $730,000 by a jury after filing a federal lawsuit in which she claimed her firing was retaliation for complaining about gender discrimination regarding her contract.


Dixon’s hire comes nearly a year after Denise Taylor was fired by JSU last June. Taylor filed a federal lawsuit earlier this year against the university alleging wrongful termination and discrimination. A May 2013 trial date has been set for her lawsuit.

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N.C. Senate kills WSSU request to buy Bowman Gray; Childress is a potential buyer

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Winston-Salem State University's effort to buy Bowman Gray Stadium from the city was snuffed out Thursday when state lawmakers killed the university's request for permission to borrow $7.5 million for the purchase.

The legislative move — sponsored by Sen. Don East, R-Surry, and pushed by Winston-Salem entrepreneur Harold Day — opens the door wider to another potential bidder: Richard Childress, the NASCAR icon from Winston-Salem who sold peanuts as a child at Bowman Gray and started his racing career there in the 1950s.

Bill Patterson, an executive vice president at Richard Childress Racing, met with Martha Wheelock, an assistant city manager, recently to talk about costs related to the stadium, he said.  Bowman Gray has sentimental value for Childress. It's a landmark stock-car racing stadium and more could be done with it, Patterson said, though he declined to provide further information about what else could be done.

"We do have an interest in it," he said.

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The FAMU Rattlers Are Getting Ready - Get Your Tickets!

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Padric Scott had been flying under the radar since returning from his freshman year, where he was at Stanford University. Recruited out of Lincoln High School, a virtual national powerhouse, Scott accepted a scholarship from the Cardinal to play football and pursue his degree in biology. Not long after, and for several reasons, Scott returned to Tallahassee to play at FAMU and continue his quest for a degree.  On April 28, 2012, Scott achieved the degree in biology and now his focus is squarely on football...and of course, graduate school. 

Scott is the strongest person on the Rattler football team, pressing well over 500lbs. Recently, for the commercial (below), he pressed 405 lbs. five times in a single set. Since his breakout season last year, Scott is no longer under the radar. In fact, several trade magazines have put him on their watch lists. The latest includes the Sports Network (which rated him the top lineman to watch in the MEAC) and College Football Performance Awards, who both recognized Scott by placing him on their watch lists.


Padric Scott, 6'-1"/305, B.S. Biology (2012), Florida A&M University

Last season, Scott battled an injury sustained in the opening game against Fort Valley State to return after missing a few games and salvage a decent season. Last season he had 28 total tackles. Six of those were for loss. In addition, he captured three sack, caused three hurries, grabbed one fumble and caused another fumble.

Head coach Joe Taylor is high on Scott's work ethic.  "We always say that hard work does not go unnoticed. As a student, there was never any doubt that Padric would excel. As a player, he has come into his own and this looks to be a solid senior season. He is diligent in the weight room, which translates to his performance on the field. He is a true testament to reaping the rewards of your labor. I couldn't be happier for him. When he sets his mind to something, he pursues with a laser focus and I couldn't be more proud to have him as a leader on our team," Taylor said.

Brochure: The Rattlers Are Getting Ready - Get Your Tickets!

FAMU RATTLERS 2012 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

 

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Banks opens first youth camp at SU since 2005

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Head Coach Roman Banks and the Southern University's Men's Basketball Program opened its "Future Jaguars" Youth Basketball Camp Monday in F.G Clark Activity Center.

From 8 a.m. to noon kids, ages 6-12, participate in drills and learned basic basketball fundamentals

"This is Southern's first camp on site in seven years and the turnout has been wonderful," said Banks. "I do envision our numbers being greater in the future."

Campers receive one-on-one instruction from the coaches and student-athletes to provide them with a great foundation to the game of basketball. Camp consists of 10-minute stations where stationary ball-handling, passing, layups, defense, shooting and rebounding drill are being conducted.

Most importantly, the youth camp allows the men's program the opportunity to welcome in a new generation of Jaguars fans.

"This camp gives us a chance to open our doors to kids in the area and gives them an opportunity to meet Coach Banks and interact with some of our players while we try to build a basement of fundamentals and build them up," said Rodney Kirschner, Director of Basketball Operations.



"We teach them the correct way to pass, rebound and basic principles of defense. We want them to have fun," said Kirschner.

For a change of pace, younger kids engage in relay races that implore many if the skills the campers learned that day, while the older campers play 3-on-3 games and "Knockout."

"It's really to introduce Southern's basketball program to the campers. Also to interact in the community and be that pillar of young leadership as it relates to our basketball players and the image of Southern University," said Banks. " We're bringing the tradition back!"

Banks and the Jaguars will conclude camp on Thursday, June 14th.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Paine's Link likes new recruiting class

AUGUSTA, Georgia - Coach Jimmy Link is bringing in four transfers and a high school senior to bolster his lineup, which includes nine returning lettermen off last season’s 14-12 campaign. When play begins in November, the Lions will look to make a run at claiming its first Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season title since 1994.

“I’m trying to win the thing,” Link said. “We’re definitely going to go hard at it.”

The recruiting class is highlighted by a pair of front-court players with Division I experience in Toby Veal (Virginia Commonwealth) and Jerel Stephenson (UNC Wilmington). After playing at Colorado, Northwest Florida State and VCU, Veal will play his final college season at Paine. Veal saw time for the Rams when they advanced to the 2011 Final Four. When VCU upset No. 1 Kansas in the Elite Eight, Veal had six points and five rebounds in 16 minutes.

The 6-foot-7, 245-pound Veal, who played high school basketball in ...

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PEACH STATE PIGSKIN PREVIEW: Albany State Rams have serious QB quandary

MACON, Georgia -— Just over a month ago as the Albany State football team was preparing for its spring scrimmage, coach Mike White said he was looking forward to the long, competitive quarterback battle between Blaize Schaeffer and Keenan Grissett. That battle is now over before it ever really began.

Schaeffer, who was the backup last season behind star QB Stanley Jennings, is academically ineligible for the upcoming season, White told The Herald, and his absence Tuesday at the annual Peach State Pigskin Preview in Macon was one of the biggest concerns addressed.

“The quarterback position is huge right now,” White said. “It’s not real clear, and I’m hoping it gets itself worked out real soon.”

White said the Rams, who were 8-4 last year but ended the season with losses to Miles in the conference championship game and North Greenville in the opening round of the Division II playoffs, have several holes left to fill before ...

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CIAA NOTEBOOK: Team USA taps Shaw University duo

Jolene Arroyo (left) and Chelsea Holliday (right) are in Curacao
this week representing the USA. 
(Photo Courtesy: Shaw University Sports Information)

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- Two key members of Shaw University's softball lineup have earned all-expenses-paid vacations. Well, working vacations.

Jolene Arroyo and Chelsea Holliday have been selected to play for the United States during the Curacao Friendship Series.

USA Athletes International — in conjunction with Curacao Softball partnerships — handpicked Arroyo and Holliday to compete in the series on the Caribbean island located just north of South America.

The United States will be coached by Southern Oregon University's Christie Hall. The roster consists of 14 players, including Shaw's two standouts.

Arroyo hit .320 with nine doubles and 22 RBIs over ...

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Howard University Announces the 2012-13 Men’s Basketball Schedule

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Bison open the basketball season at home vs Lincoln University (PA) on November 10. Howard will follow with games at the University of Iowa and Wichita State as part of the Cancum Challenge. The Bison will then travel to Cancum, Mexico to play Gardner Webb and either Austin Peay or Western Carolina, also in the Classic.

Non-conference games include road games at the University of Pittsburgh on November 27, at Oregon State on December 19, at Rutgers on December 21, at Central Florida on December 28 in the opening round of the Central Florida Christmas Tournament and will take on either Boston University or Kent State on December 29 in the consolation or championship.

2012-13 Howard University Men's Basketball Schedule
Date                            Opponent                        Location                      Time
November 10/Sat      vs Lincoln University     Burr Gym                      4 pm
November 15/Thur      at Iowa#                         Iowa City, IA                           TBD
November 17/Sat        at Wichita St.#                Wichita, KS                             TBD
November 20/Tue       vs Gardner Webb#          Cancun, Mexico                     TBD
November 22/Thur      vs Austin Peay/Western Carolina # Cancun, Mexico                     TBD
November 25/Sun      vs Wilmington University   Burr Gym                   2 pm
November 27/Tue       at University of Pittsburgh    Pittsburgh, PA                 7 pm
December 1/ Sat         *vs Hampton University&      New York, NY             8 pm
December 4/Tue        vs American                     Burr Gym                       7pm
December 6/Thur        at William and Mary           Williamsburg, VA               7 pm
December 15/Sat       vs Liberty                      Burr Gym                           4 pm
December 19/Wed      at Oregon St                   Corvallis, OR                         7 pm
December 21/Fri         at Rutgers                       New Brunswick, NJ               8 pm
December 28/Fri         at Central Florida$            Orlando, FL                          TBD
December 29/Sat        vs Boston University or Kent   Boston, MA or Kent, OH   TBD
January 5/Sat              *at Coppin State University    Baltimore, MD                   4 pm 
January 12/Sat           *vs Hampton                Burr Gym                               4 pm
January 14/Mon         *vs Norfolk St                Burr Gym                            7:30 pm
January 19/Sat            *at North Carolina A&T      Greensboro, NC                  6 pm
January 21/Mon          *at North Carolina Central    Durham, NC                       7:30pm
January 23/Wed          *at Delaware State           Dover, DE                               7:30 pm
February 2/Sat           *vs Savannah State           Burr Gym                           4 pm
February 4/Mon         *vs South Carolina State    Burr Gym                         7:30 pm
February 9/Sat           *vs University of MD Eastern Shore   Burr Gym       4 pm
February 11/Mon       *vs Morgan State              Burr Gym                           7:30 pm
February 16/Sat           *at Florida A&M                  Tallahassee, FL                    6 pm
February 18/Mon         *at Bethune Cookman         Daytona Beach, FL                8 pm
February 23/Sat         *vs Coppin State University      Burr Gym                    4 pm
February 25/Mon         *at University of Maryland Eastern Shore     Princess Anne, MD  7 pm
March 2/Sat                *vs Delaware State (Senior Night)             Burr Gym  6 pm
March 11-15                MEAC tournament            Norfolk, VA                             TBD

Scrimmage- October 27 / Sat  -Mount Saint Mary's  @ Burr 4:00pm
Scrimmage- October 31 / Wed – Navy @ Naval Academy

Note:   Howard University home games are in bold print.
            *Denotes Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Games
            #Denotes Triple Crown Cancum Challenge
            &Denotes Big Apple Classic at Madison Square Garden
            $Denotes the Central Florida Christmas Tournament

XU wins GCAC all-sports trophy for 2nd consecutive year

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana is the winner of the Thomas Howell Cup, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference's all-sports award, for the second consecutive year.

The Thomas Howell Cup, named for the GCAC's longtime commissioner, is awarded annually to the school with the most points based on order of finish in various sports. Xavier, boosted by GCAC championships in men's cross country, women's cross country, women's volleyball, women's basketball and men's basketball, finished the year with 44½ points. SUNO was second with 33 points, and Edward Waters was third with 30½.

It's the second time that Xavier has won the award. The athletics department finished in the top three for the past eight seasons.

Xavier has won 36 conference/group team championships and earned 27 berths in NAIA national championships during the past seven seasons. Xavier suspended intercollegiate athletics in 2005-06 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In six seasons since then, the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets have combined for 32 conference/group team championships and 24 berths in NAIA national championships.

Thomas Howell Cup 2011-12 Standings

No. School Points

1. Xavier 44½

2. SUNO 33

3. Edward Waters 30½

4. Dillard 30

5. Tougaloo 27½

6. Talladega 27

7. Fisk 12

8. Philander Smith 8½

Thomas Howell Cup winners School Year Cup Winner Points XU Finish XU Points 2011-12 Xavier 44½ 1st 44½ 2010-11 Xavier 31 1st 31 2009-10 Belhaven 49 3rd 40 2008-09 Mobile 42 3rd 34½ 2007-08 Mobile 56½ 3rd 37 2006-07 Mobile 43 3rd 37½ 2005-06 No cup awarded because of Hurricane Katrina 2004-05 Mobile 47 3rd 40½ 2003-04 Mobile 51 2nd 48 2002-03 Spring Hill 2001-02 Spring Hill 2000-01 Mobile

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Jackson State University Names McCall Offensive Coordinator

COACH DERRICK MCCALL
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State University head football coach Rick Comegy has named Derrick McCall to serve as offensive coordinator. The 2012 season marks McCall's fifth as a member of the JSU Tigers coaching staff. In the last two seasons he served as the quarterbacks coach under Comegy.

For the first two seasons at JSU he was the wide receivers coach. Prior to coming to JSU he served two seasons with Shaw University as the Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator.

McCall has a wealth of knowledge and experience. In 2007, his second season at Shaw, McCall helped lead the Bears to a Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association Championship and a historic NCAA Division II berth.

From 2002-05, he was the wide receivers coach for the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers. While at Tuskegee, he served as Interim Head Football Coach and won a SIAC Championship and Pioneer Bowl Championship. He has helped send two athletes to the National Football League, Harry Williams of the Houston Texans and Calvin Russell of the Green Bay Packers and one athlete to the Arena Football League, Ken Henderson of the Philadelphia Soul.

From 1985-87, he coached with the semi-pro football team, Buck Town Suns. He spent one season, in 1988, as the quarterback coach at Edison High School in Miami, Fla. From 1996-97, he coached at Shaw High School in Mobile, Al. From 1997-2000, McCall was the assistant head football coach and offensive coordinator at M.T. Blount High School, where he helped led them to three consecutive Alabama 5-A State Championship titles. He also served as quarter back coach for the Mobile Seagulls Arena Football League from 1999-2000.

McCall also had a successful collegiate career as a quarterback for Jackson State from 1979-82. While at Jackson State, he won two SWAC Championships and made two NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances.

The Mobile, Alabama native is a 2001 graduate of Spring Hill College, he received a bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in management. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Mt. Hebron Baptist Church. McCall is the proud parent of three daughters, Tiffany, Tanesha and India. He has two grandchildren, Isaac and RhyAnn. He is married to the former Theresa Middlebrook.



COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF SPORTS MEDIA

High ITA rankings maken XU's Didavi, Taylor, Howell All-America

Loic Didavi

 NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Loic Didavi, Zach Taylor and Kourtney Howell have been named NAIA All-America for the 2011-12 season by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

The three earned the honor by being top 20 in singles or top 10 in doubles in the ITA's postseason individual rankings. Didavi, a junior from Cotonou, Benin, and a graduate of Lycée

Jean Dautet, La Rochelle, was ranked eighth in singles and sixth in doubles with Taylor, a senior from Monroe, La., and a graduate of St. Frederick High School and Ventura College. Those are the highest final NAIA rankings of the Gold Rush.


Zach Taylor

Taylor ranked 19th in singles. This is the second straight year he's an ITA All-American; he qualified last year when he and Hassan Abbas ranked 10th in doubles. Taylor is Xavier's first two-time ITA All-American, male or female.

Howell, a sophomore from Cypress, Texas, and a graduate of Cypress Woods High School, set a Gold Nuggets record with her No. 15 final ranking.

Also ranked nationally in the postseason were XU's Viktor Svoboda, 33rd in men's singles, and the men's doubles team of Steffen Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson at No. 16. Amanda Materre was 36th in singles and was one of eight NAIA freshmen in the women's final top 50.

Svoboda is a sophomore from Kamenice, Czech Republic, and a graduate of Vitezna Plan. Giles-Osborn is a senior from Atlanta and a graduate of Westlake High School. Richardson is a senior from Ellenwood, Ga., and a graduate of Stockbridge High. Amanda Materre is from Richmond, Texas, and a graduate of Westside High.

Kourtney Howell

This is the first time that the XU men have three in the final singles top 50, and it's their first time with two teams in final doubles top 20. Xavier is one of seven men's programs — the others are Embry-Riddle (Fla.), Fresno Pacific, Point Loma Nazarene, Vanguard, Westmont and national champion Oklahoma Christian — with at least three singles players and two doubles teams in this year's final rankings.

Materre is the first XU female in the final singles top 50 since Dominique Bell was 30th in 2003-04. Giles-Osborn is in the final doubles top 20 for the third time.

Both Xavier teams won unaffiliated group championships to qualify automatically for the NAIA National Championships. The Gold Rush reached the quarterfinals at nationals and became the first XU team in any sport to advance that far since 1973.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Pete Richardson's Louisiana Hall of Fame Credentials Forged in Bayou Classic Glory

NATCHITOCHES, Louisiana - The teams always found a way to disappoint. Championships were a pipe dream. And the end of every season came with yet another loss to Grambling.

Southern's football program, once the class of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, had gone decades without realizing its potential, gaining a reputation for chewing up coaches and falling short against in rivalry games.

Then, in late 1992, university leadership made a compromise hire. It settled on Pete Richardson — a virtual unknown in Louisiana, a man with a slender build, thick glasses and a quiet, businesslike approach.

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