Big Easy Blastoff will open 2015 XU volleyball schedule

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana will open its 2015 women's volleyball schedule with a six-team, two-day home tournament.
    
Third-year coach Hannah Lawing announced Monday the schedule, which consists of 24 regular-season matches, 11 at home.
    
Joining the Gold Nuggets in the Big East Blastoff Aug. 28-29 will be four NAIA members — city rival Loyola, Faulkner, Mobile and Wayland Baptist — plus NCAA Division I's Mississippi Valley State. Xavier will play all but Loyola that weekend.
    
Xavier and Mississippi Valley will meet at 9 a.m. in the first of five matches Aug. 28. The Gold Nuggets and Mobile will close the day with a 5 p.m. match.
    
Xavier will travel to Brunswick, Ga., for the Mariner Invitational the second weekend and play Bethel (Ind.), Bryan, Coastal Georgia and Martin Methodist.
    

Wayland Baptist — a second-day opponent in the Big Easy Blastoff — and Coastal Georgia were NAIA National Championship qualifiers in 2014.
      
The Gold Nuggets will be at home for their first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference match, 7 p.m. Sept. 7 against Talladega. Xavier is the four-time defending GCAC regular-season and tournament champion and is 59-0 the past four seasons against GCAC opponents. Xavier is one of 12 schools to qualify for the NAIA National Championship each of the last four seasons.
    
Still undecided is the site of the GCAC Tournament Nov. 13-14. The tournament winner will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship, which will begin Nov. 21.
    
Xavier will play three road matches in New Orleans: SUNO on Sept. 25 and Dillard on Nov. 9 in the GCAC and Loyola on Oct. 29. The visit to Dillard will be the Gold Nuggets' regular-season finale.
    
Xavier's final home match of the regular season will be Oct. 31 against SUNO. It will include a Senior Day ceremony for six Gold Nuggets: Darian Harris, Claudia Haywood, Jodi Hill, Franziska Pirkl, Taylor Reuther and CeCe Williams. All but Hill have been All-GCAC selections. Reuther was the 2012 GCAC Player of the Year, and Reuther (2011), Haywood (2013) and Williams were GCAC Tournament MVPs.
 
Match times and dates are subject to change.
    
Xavier was 20-6 in 2014, 14-0 in the GCAC.

Xavier University of Louisiana
2015 Women's Volleyball Schedule

Aug. 28 (Fri.):  MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, 9 a.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Aug. 28 (Fri.):  MOBILE, 5 p.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Aug. 29 (Sat.):  WAYLAND BAPTIST, 9 a.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Aug. 29 (Sat.):  FAULKNER, 3 p.m. (Big Easy Blastoff)
Sept. 4 (Fri.):  Martin Methodist, 11 a.m. EDT (Mariner Invitational, Brunswick, Ga.)
Sept. 4 (Fri.):  Bryan, 3 p.m. EDT (Mariner Invitational, Brunswick, Ga.)
Sept. 5 (Sat.):  at Coastal Georgia, 11 a.m. EDT (Mariner Invitational, Brunswick, Ga.)
Sept. 5 (Sat.):  Bethel (Ind.), 3 p.m. EDT (Mariner Invitational, Brunswick, Ga.)
Sept. 7 (Mon.):  •  TALLADEGA, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 (Fri.)  •  at Edward Waters, 6 p.m. EDT
Sept. 19 (Sat.):  •  TOUGALOO, 2:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 (Tue.):  •  DILLARD, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 (Fri.)  •  at SUNO, 6 p.m.
Oct. 2 (Fri.)  at Mobile, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 (Sat.)  at Spring Hill, 1 p.m.
Oct. 6 (Tue.):  BELHAVEN, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 8 (Thu.):  •  EDWARD WATERS, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 (Sat.):  •  PHILANDER SMITH, 1 p.m.
Oct. 17 (Sat.)  •  at Talladega, 1 p.m.
Oct. 24 (Sat.)  •  at Tougaloo, 1 p.m.
Oct. 29 (Thu.)  at Loyola, 6 p.m.
Oct. 31 (Sat.):  •  SUNO, 1 p.m.
Nov. 2 (Mon.)  •  at Philander Smith, 6 p.m.
Nov. 9 (Mon.)  •  at Dillard, 7 p.m.
Nov. 13-14 (Fri.-Sat.):  Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, site TBA

Home matches in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS
All times are Central except where noted
Schedules are subject to change

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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MEAC Football Press Luncheon Kicks Off Friday, July 31

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

NORFOLK, Virginia -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host the annual Football Press Luncheon, Friday, July 31 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel (235 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510/ (757) 627-4200). MEAC head football coaches and two student-athletes from each team will be on hand to offer an inside view on the upcoming 2015 football season.

A limited number of tickets are available to the public for the press luncheon and can be purchased by calling Jane Vega at (757) 951-2055 or jvega@themeac.com. Tickets are $30 per seat or $300 per table (10 persons).

Media members may obtain a credential for the luncheon and/or one-on-one interviews by completing an application found on www.MEACSports.com. One-on-one interviews will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.

The 2015 MEAC football season kicks off on Saturday, September 5 featuring nine MEAC institutions in non-conference action.

South Carolina State will compete against Arkansas at Pine Bluff in the 11th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge also on Labor Day Weekend, Sunday, September 6. Details and ticket information can be found on www.meacswacchallenge.com.

For more information about the MEAC, logo on to www.MEACsports.com.

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Shaw U. hires Jolisa Williams as Sports Information Director

JOLISA WILLIAMS
SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
SHAW UNIVERSITY

RALEIGH, North Carolina – Jolisa Williams has joined Shaw University Athletics as its Sports Information Director, Marcus Clarke, the Director of Athletics announced Monday afternoon. In this capacity she will be the primary media relations contact for the Bear's 11 varsity sports.

After serving a one-year stint as Director of Sports Information and Marketing at Richard Bland College, Williams brings with her experience and knowledge in the athletic media relations field.

During her time at Richard Bland, Williams was the media relations contact for all nine athletic varsity teams including the men’s basketball program, who not only captured their respective 2015 Region 10 Conference title, but also the 2015 NJCAA National Championship for DII men’s basketball. She was also responsible for the 2015 Region 10 regular-season champion softball team and five track and field national qualifiers. Atop of her sport responsibilities, Williams was a key ingredient to launching and enhancing the Statesmen social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

No stranger to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), Williams’ roots in the field came way of CIAA Conference foe, Virginia State University where worked as a Life Skills Coordinator and Sports Information Assistant for the 2013-14 athletic year. While working with the Trojans, she aided the Office of Athletic Communications in various areas. Along with assisting in the publicity for men’s basketball, football, and baseball, she served as the primary contact for women’s basketball, volleyball, women’s tennis and softball. Williams also played a role in growing VSU athletics’ social media platforms.

Prior to her role as an assistant, Williams interned with the Trojans’ Office of Athletics for one year where she contributed to all aspects and needs to the department. In addition to day-to-day and game-day tasks, Williams was also a full-time graduate student at Virginia State.

A 2012 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Saint Augustine’s University, Williams earned her Bachelors of Science in sport management. A three-year letterwinner for the Lady Falcons women’s basketball team, Williams served as the starting point guard and contributed to the CIAA Western Division title in 2009-10 and three CIAA Team Highest GPA Award (2008, 2011, 2012) for women’s basketball during her tenure. Williams received her master’s degree from Virginia State University in 2014.

A native of Charles City, Va., Williams was All-District First Team recipient for four years at Charles City High School, where she ranks second on the all-time scoring list and current assist leader. She averaged 21.1 points, 4.2 assist, and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Williams is a member of CoSIDA and BC-SIDA.

COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Veteran NBA trainer joins XU sports medicine staff

MARK ARMOUR II

NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana athletics department announced Monday the hiring of Mark Armour II, formerly of the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans, as athletic trainer.

Armour worked for the Pelicans from 2010-15 and provided the team with daily sports medicine coverage. Among his many duties, he developed and administered rehabilitation protocols.

Armour has a combined 10 years of experience at the professional and collegiate levels. He was an athletic training assistant during the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl championship season of 2009, and he worked two years as a graduate assistant trainer at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, from 2007-09. Armour also interned with the Arena Football League's New Orleans Voodoo in 2006 and 2007.

"Mark is a valued asset to the Ochsner Sports Medicine team," Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute's Jordan Blough said. "We are excited he is now able to share his knowledge and skills with Xavier Athletics."

Armour will be the primary sports medicine contact for men's basketball, men's and women's cross country and men's and women's track and field. He will assist with the other teams as needed.

"Mark brings a wealth of experience managing and working with athletes at the NCAA Division I level, as well as the world-class athletes of the NFL (Saints) and most recently the NBA (Pelicans)," said Jason Horn, XU director of athletics and recreation. "Mark will prove to be an excellent addition to our support staff as we continue to progress in the classroom and work to improve our programs to compete at a high level nationally."

Armour received his bachelor's degree in athletic training from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2007 and his master's in kinesiology from Lamar in 2009. He lettered in football (wide receiver) and baseball (right-handed pitcher) at Clark Atlanta University and ran the 800 and 1,500 meters on the track team.

Armour is licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

"I am excited about starting this new venture in my career," Armour said. "Xavier University has such a rich history and tradition here in my hometown, and I'm looking forward to being a part of the success of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets. I appreciate the coaches and administrators for selecting me to be a member of their team."

The XU trainer positions are part of the partnership between Xavier Athletics and Ochsner Health System's sports medicine division. XU's other full-time athletic trainer is Allie Wood, a member of the staff since April 2014.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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NCAA awards AASP Grants to six HBCU schools

Funding will support academic programs to help student-athletes graduate

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- The NCAA has awarded more than $4 million in grants to nine Division I schools to support academic programs that help student-athletes earn their degrees.

The recipients of the Accelerating Academic Success Program Comprehensive Grants (multi-year) include: Alcorn State University ($900,000), California State University, Bakersfield ($870,686), Hampton University ($675,000), Florida A&M University ($675,000) Delaware State University ($449,850) and North Carolina A&T State University ($277,284.38).

Recipients of Accelerated Academic Success Program Initiatives Grants (single year) include: California State University, Northridge ($100,000), Idaho State University ($8,333.33) and Texas Southern University ($80,608).

The grants help schools improve the academic success of their student-athletes. The goal is to support the school’s efforts to meet the requirements of the Division I Academic Performance Program, which was developed to ensure schools provide an environment that supports education while enhancing the ability of student-athletes to earn a degree.

The NCAA has awarded more than $4 million in grants to nine Division I schools to support academic programs that help student-athletes earn their degrees.

The recipients of the Accelerating Academic Success Program Comprehensive Grants (multi-year) include: Alcorn State University ($900,000), California State University, Bakersfield ($870,686), Hampton University ($675,000), Florida A&M University ($675,000) Delaware State University ($449,850) and North Carolina A&T State University ($277,284.38).

Recipients of Accelerated Academic Success Program Initiatives Grants (single year) include: California State University, Northridge ($100,000), Idaho State University ($8,333.33) and Texas Southern University ($80,608).

The grants help schools improve the academic success of their student-athletes. The goal is to support the school’s efforts to meet the requirements of the Division I Academic Performance Program, which was developed to ensure schools provide an environment that supports education while enhancing the ability of student-athletes to earn a degree.

Schools eligible to apply for the program are non-FBS Division I schools in the bottom 10 percent of resources as determined by per capita institutional expenditures, athletics department funding and Pell Grant aid.

The comprehensive grants will be distributed over a three-year period and used to fund increased academic support services staffing and space; technology upgrades (software and hardware); career planning; professional development; and increased availability of summer financial aid for student-athletes.
Schools can request a maximum of $300,000 per year for three years. The participating schools are required to match grant dollars each year of the program, with either direct funds and/or in-kind contributions. In the first year, the school must commit a 25-percent match, 50 percent in year two and 75 percent in year three.

“We want to make sure we address the critical issues we’re facing, and the Academic Progress Rate is one of those,” said Alcorn State University Associate Athletics Director for Compliance Jason Cable. “We’re focused on degree completion, and we have a program where former student-athletes can come back and receive funds to complete their degree. While doing so, they must mentor a current student-athlete. We also plan to increase staffing. Our student-athlete-to-counselor ratio is around 100:1. We want to make that more sustainable.”

California State University, Bakersfield Interim Athletics Director Ziggy Siegfried said some of the grant funds his department receives will focus on facility enhancement.

"The current space we have is nice, but it is too small for our student-athletes," Siegfried said. "We couldn't conduct study halls there or enough tutoring. We've outgrown that facility and the square footage is going from 2,200 square feet to 7,000-plus square feet. There is an existing building that we'll be able to move into. This will give our student-athletes more space."

The announced awards mark the third round of Accelerating Academic Success Program funding distributed by the NCAA.

By Greg Johnson
COURTESY NCAA MEDIA RELATIONS

Ravens rookie corner Tray Walker (TSU) passes physical, cleared to practice

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Ravens rookie cornerback Tray Walker is all set to practice..

Walker officially passed his physical Saturday, clearing him to participate in training camp after the Ravens' rookie class reported Wednesday.

Typically, the Ravens don't pass a player on his physical until he passes a mandatory conditioning test. That entails running six timed 150-yard runs.

Walker didn't have any injuries that sidelined him during offseason practices.



The fourth-round draft pick from Texas Southern was regarded as a draft sleeper after not being invited to the NFL scouting combine.

Walker excelled at the NFL super regional combine.

A big press cornerback at 6 feet 2, 200 pounds with 4.42 speed in the 40-yard dash, Walker had visited the ...

CONTINUE READING

Edward Waters, Talladega to compete for A.I.I. softball title in 2016

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- - Edward Waters and Talladega will all be eligible to compete for the Association of Independent Institutions Softball Championship in 2016 the association announced over the weekend.

A total of 13 teams will vie for eight spots and a chance to play for one of the two automatic bids given to the tournament Champion and Runner-up.

Georgia Gwinnett College will host the double-elimination tournament in Lawrenceville, Georgia at the Grizzly Softball Complex from May 5-7 with May 8 set as a make-up date in case of rain.

The field of six will be named between April 18 and April 25. Georgia Gwinnet recieves an automatic bid as the tourney host with the other five schools selected based on national ratings.

Edward Waters won both the GCAC regular season and tournament championships this past season.


COURTESY GULF COAST ATHLETICS CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS

Philander Smith College Release 2015 Volleyball Schedule

HEAD COACH ALEXIS LOWE
LADY PANTHERS VOLLEYBALL
PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- The Philander Smith Lady Panthers' 2015 volleyball schedule, released today, is highlighted by a number of challenging non-conference games along with its 12-game Gulf Coast Athletic Conference slate.

Philander Smith will take on three teams from the Red River Athletic Conference, as well as opponents from the American Midwest, Southern States, Midlands Collegiate, and Southern Intercollegiate (NCAA Div II/SIAC) Athletic Conference along with one NAIA Independent.

Alexis Lowe is 15-11 against GCAC foes in her two seasons at Philander Smith.

This season unofficially begins with the 2015 Green & Gold inner-squad scrimmage on Aug. 19 in Mims Gymnasium with the first official regular season match against intrastate foe Lyon College coming three days later on Aug. 22.

The month of August also features a road game at Wiley College on the 26th followed by a matchup with Henderson Sate University's junior varsity squad at home on Aug. 29.

September kicks off with the PSC Volleyball Classic from Sep. 4-5. The Lady Panthers visit Henderson State on Sep. 9 and travel to compete in the Belhaven Volleyball Tournament from Sep. 11-12. The road trip continues with games at Texas College on Sep. 15 and the conference opener against Talladega College on Sep. 19. Philander Smith returns home to take on former GCAC foe Fisk on Sep. 22 before a pair of conference matchups against Tougaloo on Sep. 26 and Southern University at New Orleans on Sep. 28. They close out the month on the road at Jarvis Christian College on Sep. 30.

The October/November schedule is dominated with conference matchups as PSC plays 10 of its final 13 games against GCAC competition. Non-conference opponents LeMoyne-Owen (Oct.3), Cental Baptist (Oct. 8), and Fisk (Oct. 14) fill out the remainder of the schedule.

The Lady Panthers finished the 2014 season 15-20, including an 8-6 mark in the GCAC. Philander Smith is the only school in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference to have improved their win total in each of the past three seasons. Head Coach Alexis Lowe will rely on her three returners Samantha (Comet) Moore, Zyra Wright and Victoria Hicks.


 

Philander Smith 2015 Volleyball Schedule
Date	Time	Opponent	Location	Notes
August
19	6:00 PM	Philander Smith	Mims Gymnasium	2015 Green & Gold Game
22	1:00 PM	Lyon College	Mims Gymnasium	Home Opener
26	6:00 PM	Wiley College	Marshall, Texas
29	1:00 PM	Henderson State	Mims Gymnasium	HSU Junior Varsity Game
September
4-5	TBA	TBA	Mims Gymnsaium	PSC Volleyball Classic
9	6:00 PM	Henderson State	Arkadelphia, Ark.	HSU Junior Varsity Game
11-12	TBA	Belhaven University	Belhaven, Miss.	Belhaven Volleyball Tournament
15	6:00 PM	Texas College	Tyler, Texas
19	1:00 PM	Talladega College*	Talladega, Ala.	Conference Opener
22	6:00 PM	Fisk University	Mims Gymnasium
26	1:00 PM	Tougaloo College*	Mims Gymnasium
28	7:00 PM	Southern University at New Orleans*	Mims Gymnasium
30	6:00 PM	Jarvis Christian College	Hawkins, Texas
October
3	2:00 PM	LeMoyne-Owen College	Memphis, Tenn.
5	6:00 PM	Talladega College*	Mims Gymnasium
8	6:00 PM	Central Baptist College	Conway, Ark.
10	12:00 PM	Xavier University*	New Orleans, La.
12	6:00 PM	Edward Waters College*	Jacksonville, Fla.
14	7:00 PM	Fisk University	Nashville, Tenn.
17	1:00 PM	Dillard University*	Mims Gymnasium
18	3:00 PM	Edward Waters College*	Mims Gymnasium
24	1:00 PM	Southern University at New Orleans*	New Orleans, La.
26	7:00 PM	Dillard University*	New Orleans, La.
31	8:00 PM	Tougaloo College*	Tougaloo, Miss.
November
2	7:00 PM	Xavier University*	Mims Gymnasium	Senior Night

Home games are in BOLD     *indicates GCAC games

Dr. Collea McKinney, Ed.D., Sports Information Director 

COURTESY PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION 

Glover introduced as new sports information director at Wiley

ANDREW GLOVER
SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
WILEY COLLEGE

MARSHALL, Texas – Wiley College and the Wiley Department of Athletics have introduced Andrew Glover as the new sports information director.

Glover, a native of Littleton, Colorado, comes to Wiley from Stillwater, Okla., where he was a sports reporter for the Stillwater News Press from 2012-2015. He helped with the newspaper's coverage of Oklahoma State University, which included covering the baseball team's run to Super Regionals in 2014. Glover covered the OSU women's basketball team this past season.

"I'm looking forward to becoming a part of Wildcat Nation," Glover said. "I've always had a passion for college sports. I'm excited about using that passion to increase the fan base at Wiley College."

Before working in Stillwater, Glover served as the sports reporter for The Pampa News in Pampa, Texas, from 2009-2012. He covered Pampa High School, other area high schools and local athletics. In 2011, Glover won third place in sports writing at the Panhandle Press Association Awards.

Glover graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism in May 2009. He will start officially as sports information director August 1.

The RRAC is an affiliated conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics with 12 member colleges and universities in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana. Established in 1999, the RRAC sponsors 15 championships annually in eight women's sports and seven men's sports. Due to its commitment to character and sportsmanship, the RRAC has been recognized as a Five-Star Conference under the NAIA Champions of Character program. 

COURTESY RED RIVER ATHLETICS CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS

Dillard University Bleu Devils add New York/New Jersey standout Karon Blackwell to basketball program

2-Times NY/NJ All-State combo guard Karon Blackwell becomes first signee at Dillard University under new head men's basketball coach Mike Newell.  Karon is the son of former NFL Giants cornerback Kory Blackwell.  In the photo are Karon and his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Kory Blackwell.

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- The Dillard University Bleu Devils basketball team added combo guard Karon Blackwell (pronounced Kay-Ron) The Robinson Preparatory Academy in Newark, New Jersey, to its 2015-16 recruiting class. Blackwell, a 6'3" 190 lb. native of Deer Park, New York, is an incoming freshman from

"We are excited to have Karon join our program," said head coach Mike Newell. He comes from a good program and was a major contributor to the Robinson Academy's success last season." Robinson Academy finished ranked number one in the country among prep schools.

Blackwell is a two-time All-State selection and also a three-time All-Suffolk League IV as well as two-time Long-Island selection at Deer Park High School as a senior. In his senior season, Blackwell helped lead Deer Park to an 18-4 record including a perfect 14-0 Suffolk League IV mark. He averaged 17.5 points while leading the Falcons to their second straight Suffolk County championship game appearance. Blackwell was ranked one of the top 15 players in New York City by sports fanatic website Rivals.com that year.


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"I am very excited that I got a scholarship because this is what I always wanted, a chance to go to school without worrying too much about financial issues," said Blackwell. "I have a dream to go to the [NBA] so I have to do big things in college."

It is clear to see how elated, excited and proud his family members are, especially his father.

"It means everything to me," said Kory Blackwell, who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) with the New York Giants. "He is following in the footsteps of his father by going to college and playing a sport. It gives hope for the other youngsters," he added.

In his one season at the Robinson Prep Academy, Blackwell averaged eight points, six assists and four rebounds. Last year he was lauded as the 2014 Long Island Player of the Year and was also named as the Suffolk County Boys Basketball Player of the Year by Newsday.

COURTESY DILLARD UNIVERSITY BLEU DEVILS SPORTS INFORMATION

Maryland's Travis Manger Joins Morgan State Football Staff

COACH TRAVIS MANGER
Courtesy: Maryland Athletics

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State University head football coach Lee Hull announced the recent hiring of Travis Manger as an assistant coach for the Bears.

Manger, who will coach the Morgan State offensive line, joins the Bears staff from the University of Maryland where he spent three seasons helping the offensive unit as a graduate assistant coach under head coach Randy Edsall.

In 2012, he assisted coach Lee Hull with the wide receivers and the development of Terps standout Stefon Diggs. He also assisted coach Tom Brattan with the offensive line during the 2013, followed by coach Greg Studrawa in 2014.

Manger was a Graduate Extern at Temple University from 2009-2012. In that role he served primarily with academics and special teams. He assisted with the Owl's defensive line (2009-10) and work with the tight ends in 2011. His duties also included study hall, organized class checks in addition to other football duties assigned by the head coach.

He launched his coaching career as a student assistant coach at Temple (2008-09) where he assisted with the quarterbacks and tight ends.

A native of Newtown, Pa., Manger was a standout quarterback at Council Rock North High School. He was a two-time first team All-Conference selection (2002 & 2003) and was an All-State honorable mention.

Manger played quarterback for a season at Millersville University before he transferred to Temple. He played quarterback and tight end for the Owls under head coach Bobby Wallace (2005), and completed his career at Temple under head coach Al Golden (2006-2007). Manger, who began as a walk-on for the Owls, earned a scholarship during the spring of 2007, and was the recipient of the Dr. Chodoff Academic Excellence Award.

Manger earned his Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Temple August 2008, and earned a Master's degree in Sports Psychology from Temple in 2013. He is currently working toward completing his second Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Maryland.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Pulley & Jordan to Represent Lincoln U. at GLVC Kickoff

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced Wednesday the 18 student-athletes who have been selected to attend the 2015 GLVC Football Kickoff, which will take place in Lebanon, Illinois on Friday, July 31. The GLVC contingent, highlighted by nine All-Conference returners combining for 18 career postseason honors, will participate in the fourth annual event. The 2015 GLVC Football Kickoff will take place at The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on the campus of McKendree University from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT, and will serve both the league's media members and passionate fans through several social media outlets.

The head coach and two student-athletes from each of the nine GLVC football institutions will be on hand to help promote the conference's fourth season.

Six first-team All-GLVC honorees will be in attendance, including University of Indianapolis senior defensive lineman Lee Campbell and Saint Joseph's College senior running back Braxton Shelton, who earned first-team annals at their respective positions the past two years. The remaining first-team selections in attendance include one of the nation's top wide receivers in Southwest Baptist University senior Nathan Mourik, McKendree junior linebacker A.J. Wentland, William Jewell College senior offensive lineman Brandon Klewer, and UIndy senior quarterback Connor Barthel, who was a first-team signal caller in 2013 and a second-team selection last season. Klewer and Wentland were also second-team honorees at their positions in 2013.

Quincy University senior fullback Greg Eilerman returns as a second-team offensive utility pick in 2014, while Lincoln University senior quarterback Owen Jordan was tabbed as an honorable mention.

McKendree senior running back Cameron James holds special distinction within the group, as he has been recognized every year since the league began sponsoring the sport in 2012. James earned second-team laurels at running back in 2012 and was honored at both wide receiver and return specialist following the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Also in attendance will be Lincoln senior linebacker Treston Pulley, Missouri S&T sophomore quarterback Lamar Wilkes and junior linebacker Rob Cidlik, Quincy junior defensive end Tanner Day, Saint Joseph's senior defensive back Jamyl Scott, Southwest Baptist senior defensive tackle Josh Caver, Truman State University senior offensive lineman Brad Hardin and senior defensive end Devin Gillespie, and William Jewell junior defensive lineman Aaron Neier.

Fans are encouraged to participate in the event through a variety of social media platforms, and interact with each GLVC school as they rotate through stations over the course of the 90-minute event. A complete schedule, as well as the official GLVC Football Kickoff 2014 website, will be announced on Tuesday, July 28.

Media members interested in attending the 2015 GLVC Football Kickoff can apply for credentials by contacting GLVC Associate Commissioner Jeff Smith at jeff@glvc-sports.org.

LINCOLN
Owen Jordan, Sr., QB (Fort Scott, KS/Pittsburg State)
After beginning the season as the second-string quarterback, Jordan ended up starting 10 games at quarterback and throwing for 1,867 yards, completing 160 of his 288 pass attempts (.556) in the process. Jordan threw 12 touchdown passes and ended the season ranked sixth in the GLVC in average (186.7) and seventh in efficiency (115.7). Jordan also proved he could make plays with his feet, rushing for 79 yards and two scores. Jordan ended the season on the All-GLVC Honorable Mention list.

Treston Pulley, Sr., LB (Sikeston, MO/Sikeston)
One of the leaders of the Lincoln defense in 2014, Pulley made 83 tackles, including 50 solo, the second-most on the team. Pulley was also second on the squad with 14.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, forcing opponents to lose 34 yards. Pulley additionally broke up two passes.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Morgan State grad Greg Barnett helped negotiate K.C. Chiefs Justin Houston's record $101 million deal

GREG BARNETT
NFL Agent

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- One of the key figures behind Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston's blockbuster, $101 million six-year contract is former Morgan State strong safety and Deer Park Middle school coach and teacher Greg Barnett.

The deal is the richest linebacker contract in NFL history and includes $52.5 million in guaranteed money, $32.5 million fully guaranteed and a $20.5 million signing bonus.

An NFL agent since 2004 who also represents St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (Dunbar) and Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller (Mount Saint Joseph), Barnett recruited Houston out of the University of Georgia. He negotiated this blockbuster deal in tandem with powerful NFL agent Joel Segal and edged out Houston Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt's six-year, $100 million deal that included $30.9 million guaranteed.

"It was nerve-wracking, a long day of negotiating and we've been working on this since the scouting combine," Barnett told The Baltimore Sun. "We finalized the deal Tuesday night. I was actually in the emergency room until I got my blood pressure down and had to ...

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Jacksonville Jaguars sign wide receiver Greg Jenkins, ASU

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- Former Alabama State University quarterback Greg Jenkins has been signed by the Jaguars as a wide receiver.

Jenkins, 6-1, 205, has appeared in six career games since entering the league as an undrafted rookie with Oakland in 2013. As a rookie, the Alabama State product returned six punts for 49 yards (8.2 punt return avg.) and 10 kickoffs for 221 yards (22.1 kick return avg.). Jenkins recorded his only NFL touchdown on a fumble return on the opening kickoff against Dallas on Nov. 28, 2013. The Dade City, Fla. native spent part of the 2014 season on the Raiders’ practice squad.

Jenkins started for two years at quarterback at Alabama State after transferring from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. As a senior, he completed 137 of 233 passes (58.8 comp. pct.) for 1,691 yards and nine touchdowns, and rushed for 507 yards and eight touchdowns on 121 carries (4.2 rush avg.). Jenkins attended Wesley Chapel High School in Pasco County, Fla..

With the signing of Jenkins, the Jaguars now have 90 players on their roster.



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JSU opponent preview: Grambling State

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Today's installment of The Clarion-Ledger's game-by-game analysis of Jackson State's 2015 schedule focuses on Grambling State, which has been held in high regard this preseason.

Grambling State rebounded from a tough 2012 season and a terrible '13 season, which included a forfeit against Jackson State after GSU players held a boycott, in a big way a year ago.

After an 0-3 start, coach Broderick Fobbs turned things around in Year 1. The Tigers were a goal-line stand by Southern away from potentially playing in the SWAC title game.

They were close to title contention last season, are the preseason favorite to win the West Division this year, and should prove to be a formidable foe for JSU.

Senior quarterback Johnathan Williams returns to lead an offense that was the No. 1 in passing in the SWAC last year.

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TSU Coach Rod Reed - John Merritt Classic Press Conference

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  –  Tennessee State held its annual press conference for the John Merritt Classic football game on Friday morning at Nissan Stadium.

Long time WSMV newscaster Rudy Kalis served as the master of ceremonies, which included head coaches and athletic directors of each institution.

TSU AD Teresa Phillips opened the panel discussion with comments and was followed by ASU interim AD Melvin Hines. The Hornets first-year coach, Brian Jenkins, followed before comments from Tigers coach Rod Reed. Kalis brought the JMC committee chairman Clinton Gray to the podium before posing questions to all four members of the panel.

The 17th Annual John Merritt Classic football game on Sept. 6 will pit TSU against the Alabama State Hornets. The two teams will square off for the third time as part of the classic and for the 13th time all time.

The classic began in 1999 with a 41-8 victory for the Big Blue over the Hornets. The Tigers earned a 30-13 victory against ASU the very next season, the last time the classic featured both squads. In 2014, TSU traveled to Montgomery, Ala. and fell to ASU, 27-21.

The Tigers defeated Edward Waters College, 58-6, last year to improve to 11-5 all-time in JMC games.

TSU great, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, will serve as the honoree for the classic. Jones was a two-time All-American defensive lineman, playing on a team that only lost two games, on the way to winning the black college football national championship in 1971 and 1973. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the first overall pick in the 1974 draft.


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Saints inform 2014 sack leader Galette (Stillman) of his release

METAIRIE, Louisiana -- The New Orleans Saints are getting rid of their best pass rusher.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the Saints will release Junior Galette, according to a source informed of the situation Friday. Galette recorded 22 sacks over the last two seasons, and was handed a four-year extension worth $41.3 million in September of last year. He received $17.95 million in the last year alone.

Galette recently met with NFL officials, according to Rapoport. The league is looking into two off-the-field incidents by Galette and the Saints have grown increasingly frustrated with him. Galette was arrested on domestic violence and simple battery charges in January; the charges were eventually dropped. Galette was also dealing with a torn pectoral muscle this offseason. Doctors were split regarding whether Galette required surgery.

In a conversation with Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune, Galette cNalled the move "the worst call they've ever made. It was a terrible call to kick me when I'm down.

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“Meet the Jaguars” to draw Southern fans in Cenla

ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana -- Southern University’s pride is wide across Louisiana.

That statement can be said in Central Louisiana as the Rapides Chapter of the Southern University Alumni Federation will host an event where fans and alumni can meet with school officials prior to the season.

“Meet the Jaguars” will take place Saturday at Best Western Inn as Jaguars coach Dawson Odums will be in attendance.

“The Southern fan base is huge in Central Louisiana,” city councilman Roosevelt Johnson said. “Most of the fan base here are prominent in the community as lawyers, teachers and businessmen.”

One of the key points of the event is to help benefit a scholarship fund for future prospective students who may want to attend the university.

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Grambling, TSU could make Fobbs a winner

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling’s Broderick Fobbs has come full circle to get where he’ll be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.

As a youngster, Fobbs sat in the Independence Stadium stands with his parents and watched his favorite college team beat up on an opponent. Flash forward a few years and Fobbs was a Grambling Tiger participating in the game and beating up on yet another opponent.

“I’m undefeated in that stadium,” Fobbs said at a news conference on Friday morning announcing the Red River State Fair Classic, featuring the Fobbs-coached Tigers against Texas Southern. The game will be held during the run of the Louisiana State Fair and ticket holders to the game will be admitted to fair at no additional charge.

The game will in essence replace the Port City Classic, a three-year venture that ...

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FAMU's Jonathan Ferrell, the Randall Kerrick case and a college coach's remembrance

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- On September 14, 2013, former Florida A&M football player Jonathan Ferrell lost his life on a Charlotte roadside. It's a script that now sounds too familiar. An unarmed black man. An armed police officer. And now, a contentious trial featuring two sides of the same story that always ends the same:

A life cut short. A life now recalled in twelve snapshots —one for every bullet fired toward Ferrell's body:

I. Ferrell fit the profile. Big and physical enough to play linebacker. Fast enough to play safety. Instinctive enough to grab a key interception in the Florida state championship game. A Florida A&M University High graduate with high-level D-I talent, but homebody tendencies, his heart Tallahassee-bound.

So naturally, Florida A&M’s college football program and then-defensive coordinator Earl Holmes saw Ferrell. And they took a shot.

II. September 14, 2013, in the dark hours past midnight:

Ferrell fit the profile from the panicked 911 call. A black man. Bleeding. Big enough to have filled the doorframe of Sarah McCartney’s Charlotte home.

According to Randall Kerrick’s attorneys, he ignored repeated police demands to hit the ground. He advanced.

So naturally, Officer Kerrick saw Ferrell. And he took a shot. Then he took eleven more. 12 bullets. Ten intercepted by Ferrell’s body. An 83.3 completion percentage. A body, touched down.

An officer shackled Ferrell's wrists as he died.

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XU Rush, Nuggets will compete for GCAC and Red River titles in 2015

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's and women's cross country teams will take shots at a pair of conference team championships this year.

Joseph Moses, beginning his 11th season as head coach, announced Thursday the 2015 schedules of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets.

Xavier recently announced its affiliation with the Red River Athletic Conference for cross country only in 2015. The Red River men's and women's champions will qualify automatically for the NAIA National Championships. But Xavier's longtime conference home, the Gulf Coast Athletic, still will offer a league meet, even though it is not an NAIA automatic-qualifying conference this season.

The GCAC meet — which will be scored as part of the Choctaw Open in Clinton, Miss. — will be Oct. 17. The RRAC meet will be Nov. 6 in San Antonio, Texas.

Xavier is the nine-time defending GCAC men's and women's team champion.

For the second straight year, Xavier will begin the season at home in its Big Easy Opener Aug. 28 at nearby City Park. Xavier's other metro New Orleans competition will be Sept. 12 in the Louisiana Army National Guard / ROTC Wolf Pack Invitational in Metairie, La.

Xavier will compete in two meets hosted by NCAA Division I schools: Sept. 4 in the Southern Miss Invitational and Sept. 19 in the LSU Invitational.

Charlotte, N.C., will be the site of this year's NAIA national meet. Lawrence, Kan., was the site the previous two years.

Xavier returns 2014 All-GCAC runners Christopher August and Brent Kitto from the men's team and Hannah Finnegan and Briana Simms from the women's. August and Finnegan were GCAC second-place finishers a year ago.

Xavier University of Louisiana 2015 Men's and Women's Cross Country Schedule Friday, Aug. 28 XAVIER BIG EASY OPENER, City Park, 5:30 p.m. women, 6 p.m. men Friday, Sept. 4 Southern Miss Invitational, Hattiesburg, Miss., 5:30 p.m. men, 6 p.m. women Saturday, Sept. 12 Louisiana Army National Guard / ROTC Wolf Pack Invitational, Metairie, La., 7:50 a.m. women, 8:25 a.m. men Saturday, Sept. 19 LSU Invitational, Baton Rouge, La., times to be announced Friday, Oct. 9 Mississippi College / Watson Ford Invitational, Clinton, Miss., 4:30 p.m. women, 5:15 p.m. men Saturday, Oct. 17 Choctaw Open / Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships, Clinton, Miss., 8:30 a.m. women, 9:15 a.m. men Friday, Nov. 6 Red River Athletic Conference Championships, San Antonio, Texas, times to be announced Saturday, Nov. 21 NAIA National Championships, Charlotte, N.C., 10:30 a.m. EST men, 11:45 a.m. EST women Home meets in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS      All times are Central except where noted      Schedules are subject to change

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Commentary: Accident changes perspective of ASU's Jenkins

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Brian Jenkins now walks with a noticeable limp.

It's not a result from pacing up and down the football sidelines for several years. Something else happened and in a split second did more than just change the manner in which he gets around.

For Jenkins, it changed his life.

Earlier this month, Jenkins said he was hit by an RV while sitting on his motorcycle on the side of the road on I-95 outside of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Jenkins said he was in the hospital for two days.

"As I laid there in the road, I thought I was dead," Jenkins said. "The grace of God kept me alive."

That's how Jenkins responded to a question at SWAC Media Day about his job security as it relates to allegations about ASU football and his time at Bethune-Cookman. This isn't to say he hasn't or isn't concerned or shouldn't be concerned about his future because there are reasons for him to be.

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Mack likes NCCU Eagles' depth and experience

CARY, North Carolina — N.C. Central football coach Jerry Mack displayed the confidence on Thursday at the the 13th annual Pigskin Preview luncheon he expects from his team when they open their season in about six weeks against St. Augustine's.

Mack's confidence has been built by years of playing and coaching, while the second edition of his Eagles will have the confidence that grew immensely during the last half of last season. After a rough 1-4 start, N.C. Central rebounded to win six of its last eight games and grab a share of the MEAC football championship.

Oh yeah, there was that season-ending victory over North Carolina A&T that capped it all off for a 7-5 overall mark and a 4-2 MEAC record.

On Thursday with Mack on the stage with the area's other Division I coaches David Cutcliffe, Larry Fedora, Dave Doeren and Ruffin McNeill, he said he will have plenty of experience players back to count on.



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Shaw, St. Aug’s football teams look to bounce back in CIAA

RODERICK DAVENPORT
6'-1/200 Redshirt Senior RB
Orangeburg, S.C.
SAU Falcons

MARQUISE GRIZZLE
5'-7/165 Junior RB
Camden, N.C.
Shaw Bears
 






















DURHAM, North Carolina — The CIAA held its annual football media day Thursday, announcing its predicted order of finish and preseason All-CIAA selections. Heading into the 2015 season, here are the top story lines for Shaw and St. Augustine’s:

Running toward history

Shaw and St. Aug’s are coming off turbulent 3-7 seasons and were predicted to finish eighth and 11th, respectively, in the 12-team league, but both teams have weapons in the backfield that will give them a chance to compete.

Shaw running back Marquise Grizzle enters his senior season 333 yards from the team’s all-time rushing record. He missed three games last season with an injury but still ran for 750 yards and is closing in on 3,000 yards.

Grizzle was not named to the preseason All-CIAA team, but his coach wouldn’t hand off to anybody else.

“Marquise Grizzle hands down is the best running back in this conference – I’ll go to my grave with that off the last four years he’s been in this conference running the ball,” Shaw coach Robert Massey said. “Maybe the injury took (preseason all-conference honors) away from him.”

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FSU Broncos picked 4th in poll; hope to build on strong 2014 finish

DURHAM, North Carolina - The bus ride from Petersburg, Virginia to Fayetteville is about three hours, and the Fayetteville Broncos put that time to good use last September.

The Broncos had just suffered a 21-point loss against Virginia State to start the 2014 season with an 0-4 record. Second-year head coach Lawrence Kershaw didn't wait to get back to Fayetteville before engaging in a stern discussion with his team.

"We were on the bus ride back and Coach got up to talk to us," running back Andre Montgomery recalled. "We talked about how and why our season was going down the way it was. We were making too many errors and sometimes we were loafing.

"But talking about it on that bus ride, and again the next day in another meeting, it seemed like everyone got on the same page after that."

The result saw the rejuvenated Broncos win five of their final six games and for a second straight season come within a victory of advancing to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic championship game.

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