The "unofficial" meeting place for intelligent discussions of Divisions I and II Sports of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC).
America's #1 blog source for minority sports articles and videos. The MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, SIAC and HBCUAC colleges are building America's leaders, scholars and athletes.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana concluded its women's track and field recruiting for 2018-19 with the signing of hurdler Maya Alexander of Charlotte, N.C..
Alexander, competing for Mallard Creek High School, finished fourth in the 55-meter hurdles indoors and sixth in the 100 hurdles outdoors this year at the Class 4A state meets. Outdoors she helped the Mavericks finish fourth in the state in 4A team scoring.
Alexander's PRs include 14.74 seconds in the 100 hurdles and 48.29 in the 300 hurdles.
Alexander will be a biology/pre-medical major at XULA. She is interested in a career in cardiology.
Eight have signed with the Gold Nuggets for next season . The XULA women won five of the last six Gulf Coast Athletic Conference outdoor track team championships, including 2017 and 2018. They won the last 11 GCAC team championships in cross country. 2018-19 XULA women's track and field signees
Name Events Ht. Yr.* Hometown High School
Maya Alexander Hurdles 5-4 Fr. Charlotte, N.C. Mallard Creek
Mariah Cox Distance 5-10 Fr. Corona, Calif. Chino Hills
Ariel Ford Sprints 5-5 Fr. Mansfield, Texas Lake Ridge
Bryanna Lucas Distance 5-2 Fr. Louisville, Ky. Central
Raven Riley Hurdles, High Jump 5-7 Fr. New Orleans, La. Lusher Charter
Clarke Taylor Sprints 5-3 Fr. San Diego, Calif. Scripps Ranch
Alexis Williams Sprints 5-8 Fr. Luling, La. Hahnville
Hannah Young Sprints, Hurdles,
Triple Jump 5-5 Fr. Plaquemine, La. The Church Academy
* athletic classification at XULA in 2018-19
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The cosmetics of Bragg Memorial Stadium will have a stunning shine for the 2018 season.
In addition to a new coaching staff on the sidelines, the famed venue will feature a freshly-installed field turf.
School officials made the announcement Tuesday during a press conference at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
The official groundbreaking ceremony for the new field will take place in mid-July. FAMU opens the season at home on Sept. 1 against Fort Valley State.
"The turf contributes to a safe environment for student-athletes, the Marching 100 and the FAMU DRS (Developmental Research School)," FAMU Athletic Director John Eason.
"It increases reliability and creates opportunities to generate additional revenue by hosting local, regional and national events."
The field will be installed by AstroTurf and feature ... CONTINUE READING
HOUSTON, Texas -- The Texas Southern University men's basketball program is pleased to welcome highly accomplished and veteran coach Johnny Jones as its new head men's basketball coach.
A press conference to formally introduce Jones as head coach has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 27 at 12:00 pm at the HPE Arena located on the TSU campus.
Prior to arriving at Texas Southern Jones served as associate head coach at the University of Nevada. There he helped guide the program to an Elite Eight appearance in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Jones arrival at Nevada was following a five-year span at LSU where he served as head coach compiling a 90-72 record.
LSU hired Jones after a successful 11-year stint at North Texas where he took the Mean Green to two NCAA tournaments while compiling a 190-146 overall record.
During a 17 year career in which he has amassed a 295-234 overall mark he also spent one year as interim head coach at Memphis where his team went 15-16 prior to him taking the head coaching job at North Texas.
Jones played at LSU from 1980-84 and was an assistant coach under Dale Brown for a total of 13 seasons.
His 90 victories at the university was the most of any coach at LSU in their first five years and he concluded his career there as the fourth-winningest coach in the programs' storied history.
TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The success of a football program in the fall begins with weightlifting and conditioning in the offseason.
This is the mantra for the Florida A&M Rattlers as they assembled in the weight room for the first day of summer training Monday.
During the opening session, players engaged in a variety of activities from an Olympic lift to power clean. Each customized activity is designed to strengthen muscle for optimal results on game day.
The trickle-down effect of these workouts will provide a base for increased stamina and a quick recovery time between plays.
"We're trying to get these guys to use weight-room muscles on the field," said Parker Brooks, FAMU director of strength and conditioning.
"We did twice the volume of pulling today (Monday). When you do twice the volume of pulling than pressing, you pull the body into a neutral alignment. This gives increased mobility and reduces the risk of injury."
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Alabama A&M University has accepted the resignation of head baseball coach Mitch Hill. Hill was the Bulldogs baseball coach for five seasons.
"We want to thank Coach Hill for his commitment to the Alabama A&M baseball program and we wish him much success on his future endeavors," Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks said.
Hill completed his career at A&M with a record of 84-188 overall and a 56-63 record in the SWAC.
A search for a new head baseball coach will begin immediately.
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- As the lead assistant for the Southern women’s basketball team the past 13 seasons, Carlos Funchess earned his reputation as a strong recruiter, a sound teacher and, perhaps above all else, a people person.
Parents, players and fellow coaches are happy to tell feel-good stories about Funchess, painting the picture of an easygoing guy who’s quick with a smile and a friendly handshake.
Now Funchess is the boss. And he’s got a new role to play.
On Thursday afternoon at the F.G. Clark Activity Center, SU athletic director Roman Banks formally introduced Funchess as the new head coach of the women’s basketball program — with the full expectation that Funchess can maintain the level of success set by his old boss, Sandy Pugh, who led the Jaguars to seven Southwestern Athletic Conference championships in 18 seasons.
“Sometimes you have to show commitment to the people who have been committed to you,” Banks said.
SU and Funchess agreed to a three-year contract with a school option for a fourth year, at an annual rate of $105,000 per year with incentive bonuses. The terms are similar to the last contract for Pugh, who was finishing the final year of her deal before she took the same job at Prairie View last month.
GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- When you play baseball, it's a dream come true to be elected into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame and Ken Free was one of those inductees.
Ken Free inducted into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame
Began playing semi-professional baseball at age 15
Played in the Negro Leagues with the Raleigh Tigers
At the age of 15, the Greensboro native played semi-professional baseball, later joined the Army and then played professionally in the Negro Leagues with the Raleigh Tigers in 1959. He got his time to shine playing in the All-Star game at the famous Comiskey Park in Chicago.
"We were out drawing some of the major league places," he said. "Comiskey Park drew 60,000 people."
The following year he played with Hall of Famer Satchel Paige. The next season, Free would play for Hickory in the Western Carolina league where he took lessons from Paige.
"I learned how to be patient, wait until your time [and] to hustle at all times. I learned how to make sure you didn't get upset with the abuse," he said. "Satchel would teach us that type of stuff."
After his playing career, the North Carolina A&T grad was named the first full-time commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 1978. Free helped expand the MEAC to 12 teams and lead them into Division I.
Kenneth A. “Ken” Free’s professional baseball career began in 1952 when he played for the semi-pro Greensboro Redbirds at the age of 15.
Free was a star baseball player and graduate of both Greensboro’s Dudley High School and North Carolina A&T State University and has always been devoted to athletics and recreation. Professionally, he played in the Negro League for The Raleigh Tigers during the 1959 season and played in the East/West All-Star game in Chicago’s famous Comiskey Park. That game highlighted the Negro League season and drew 45-50 thousand people and all the Major League scouts. He started the 1960 season traveling with Negro League icon Satchell Paige who is a member of the Major League Baseball Hall Of Fame. Free finished the 1960 season by signing a pro contract with Hickory of the Western Carolina League. In 1961 the NY Mets were approved as a MLB expansion team, bought the contract and assigned Free to their farm team, The Raleigh Caps of the Carolina League.
He began his venture into athletics management as a community center director at Windsor for the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department. He then moved up to become a regional Parks/Recreation consultant for the state of North Carolina Department of Natural and Economic Resources. Through his professional administrative prowess and deep concern for youth and intercollegiate athletics, Free became the first full-time commissioner of the MEAC in 1978 and reigned until June 1996. He made Greensboro the conference headquarters early in his tenure. Free was instrumental in the drive for MEAC institutions to attain NCAA Division I status, which became a reality in 1980. In 1987, he was named to the powerful NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Selection Committee, becoming the first African-American appointed to that group. After his MEAC run, Free served as Commissioner of the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (EIAC) from 1996-2006. In 1986, Free received the North Carolina Recreation and Parks Society prestigious FELLOW AWARD, the highest honor in that association. Also, during his eight years with the state of NC, he received the ORDER OF THE LONG LEAF PINE from the late Governor James Holshouser. Most recently, he served on the Greensboro Parks and Recreation committee. Since 2006, Free has served on the board of the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League (MJBL), which started in Richmond, Virginia and provides opportunities for African-American children to participate in America’s pastime. Ken was instrumental in bringing the MJBL’s Annual Inner-City Classic to Greensboro, which will be held from July 17-22. Ken Free, Sr. was inducted into the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. MEAC MEDIA COMMUNICATION
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana --Larry Wright’s epic basketball journeys always seemed to reach the same destination.
No matter where he played, from Richwood High School to Grambling State University and into professional ball, Wright was always part of teams that won big.
“Winning has always been number one for me since I can remember starting to play at an early age,” Wright said. “Even as a small kid going to the rec center, winning was always the number one deal with me.”
Wright was a two-time Parade Magazine All-American at Richwood and won a Class 3A state championship in 1972. He transferred to Western High School in Washington D.C. as a senior and his team won the city championship. Grambling won the 1976 SWAC tournament championship with Wright starring as the conference player of the year.
Drafted in the first round by the Washington Bullets in 1976, Wright joined the franchise that won the NBA championship in 1978.
Wright finished his playing days as an international star, delivering a European Championship for Italy’s Banco DiRoma in 1983-84.
For all of his accomplishments, Wright has finally earned induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2018. He and 10 others will be enshrined at the annual induction dinner and ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center on Saturday, June 30. CONTINUE READING SHREVEPORT, Louisiana -- Wright, who teamed with 1988 LSHOF inductee Elvin Hayes on the Washington Bullets’ 1978 NBA Champion squad, was a prep and college standout in Louisiana who played six NBA seasons, and later served as the head coach at Grambling State, his alma mater. A sharp-shooting 6-1 guard, he was a prep All-American at two schools, Richwood of Monroe and Western High School in the Washington, D.C. metro area, then was a two-time NCAA Small College All-American (1975-76) at Grambling.
After being the SWAC Player of the Year as a junior with a 25.4 scoring average for the Tigers’ only SWAC Tournament championship team, he declared for the NBA Draft and was a first-round NBA Draft pick of Washington. In four seasons with the Bullets, he scored 2,489 regular-season points in 297 games (8.4 points a game), averaging between 9.3 and 7.3 points a game each season.
After playing a season for Detroit (7.4 ppg), Wright went on to play in Europe, leading Banco DiRoma to the Italian championship in 1982-83, winning Italian Player of the Year honors in 1983. One publication named him the European Player of the Year in 1983-84 when he led the team to the European title. In 1972, he led Richwood to the state Class 3A championship, averaging 28.9 ppg. A year later at Western HS, he led the team to the Inner City championship and the Knights of Columbus championship, earning a spot on the Parade Magazine Super 13 All-American team in 1973.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Earl Timberlake was asleep Friday at midnight when his phone started to go off. There was one buzz after another, as college coaches were persistent in trying to contact him directly, but Timberlake slept through each one. When the rising junior guard from DeMatha finally woke up at 7:30 a.m. and leaned over to check his phone, he saw how many messages he missed.
On his screen were texts and voice mails from coaches from Miami, TCU, Howard, Bryant, Florida, Notre Dame, DePaul, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Seton Hall, West Virginia, Maryland, Oklahoma State and Providence. All are interested in the talented player out of the Washington, D.C. area and wanted to make sure their pitches were heard during the first 24 hours college coaches were allowed to have unlimited contact with rising high school juniors.
“I’ve just had random numbers keep calling my phone,” Timberlake said Sunday.
Amid the chaotic recruitment weekend, Timberlake received five offers: DePaul, Howard, TCU, Pittsburgh and Boston College. He now has offers from those schools, plus ones from Bryant, Oklahoma State, Seton Hall, Florida, Wake Forest, Providence, Penn State, Kansas State, Virginia Tech, Georgetown and Rhode Island.
Former CAU Panthers head coach Darrell Walker makes smooth transition to UALR
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- Natural light cascaded down the staircase seating, where alumni, professors and administrators set down their glasses of wine and cans of beer to applaud the man at the base of the steps.
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock threw a reception Thursday evening to introduce its new head men's basketball coach Darrell Walker and his wife, Lisa, at the Windgate Center of Art + Design.
Walker stood behind the podium, wearing a light gray and blue checkered suit, and ducked his head toward the microphone.
"I know I'm known for defense," said Walker, 57, a former All-American guard at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. "Yeah, I played for Eddie Sutton. Defense. Defense. Defense. But at the end of the day, you have to score."
It was a sentiment Walker expressed during practice the day before, a block away at the Jack Stephens Center practice gym.
He was directing the Trojans in a four-on-four defensive drill that worked on help defense and three-point responsibility -- something that terrorized UALR last season, when it ranked 10th in the Sun Belt Conference in three-point defense (35.3 percent).
Hard work will always beat talent when talent refuses to work hard.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Whether you believe that champions are born or that they are made, Shane Jamil Hill-Taylor is irrefutable proof that they cross paths with Howard University. The senior sports management major and jiu-jitsu athlete was recently crowned the 5th International Brazilian Jui-Jitsu Federation World Champion, making him the very first African-American to hold the title.
On Monday, June 4, Hill-Taylor locked his opponent, former IBJJF World Champion Leonardo Saggioro into a position he couldn’t escape, causing Hill-Taylor’s coach, 4thdegree black belt Lloyd Irvin, to jump from his seat, bursting with excitement. He knew that what they had been training for had been accomplished, even before the announcer proclaimed Hill-Taylor the new world champion at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Championship.
“To be the 2018 Brazil Jiu-Jitsu Champion at the Black Belt level and to be the first African-American to achieve that title is pretty crazy honestly, I have been working for this for 14 years; it’s the reflection of a lot of hard work and a lot of struggles,” says Hill-Taylor
The 20-year-oldwill enter his last semester at Howard University when the 2018-19 school year begins, graduating in December 2018. Upon graduation, he plans to travel more to compete in order to perfect his sport and he plans to use his degree to increase the presence of Jiu-Jitsu in his community.
“When I’m in school I still train the same amount of days, but I can’t always do two a-days if I have a lot of homework or studying to do,” says Hill-Taylor in a recent Jiu-Jitsu Times interview.
At 154 pounds, Hill-Taylor is the “Featherweight King,” in the words of several sportscasters. He is no stranger to breaking records either – he has nine other “champion” titles amongst a host of other medals and highly-esteemed achievements. Not to mention being a full-time student held accountable for performing equally as well in the classroom.
His life motto is “Hard work will always beat talent when talent refuses to work hard,” and the Howard community believes he has both. The SPYDER-sponsored athlete now focuses his training efforts to compete in the SPYDER Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship quarterfinals in Korea on July 21. Go Bison!
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation have partnered to host the Tamika Catchings Legacy Tour Basketball Clinic on July 19 at the Xavier University Convocation Center.
This is the second year that Catchings — a legendary basketball player for the University of Tennessee, USA Basketball and the WNBA's Indiana Fever — has conducted nationwide clinics to teach youth basketball fundamentals, sportsmanship and healthy lifestyle choices. The free clinic, scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon on July 19, is open to girls and boys ages 9-14.
Catchings is a four-time Olympic gold medalist, a seven-time first-team WNBA selection, a five-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time Kodak/WBCA All-America first-team selection at Tennessee. She was the 2011 WNBA MVP and led Indiana to the 2012 WNBA title. She is the WNBA career leader in rebounds, steals, made free throws and attempted free throws. Catchings was recipient of the 2015 ESPN Sports Humanitarian of the Year award and co-recipient of the 2016 National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy award.
"The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and Xavier University are great partners and frequently work together to bring sporting events to Louisiana," said Sports Foundation President/CEO Jay Cicero. "This free clinic, in partnership with WNBA Legend Tamika Catchings, is a great way to give back and provide an unforgettable experience for the local youth in our community."
Said XULA Director of Athletics & Recreation Jason Horn, "Xavier University is known for its tradition of community involvement and giving back. It is in that spirit that we are pleased to partner with the WNBA and Tamika Catchings for her Legacy Tour Basketball Clinic. We look forward to a fun and educational experience for local youth."
XULA's Convocation Center opened in November 2012, seats approximately 4,000 and features all-chairback seating. It was the site of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference basketball tournaments for women and men the past five seasons. This past summer the facility hosted Master P's Hope Nola Celebrity Basketball Game.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- On June One 1946, Dr. William P. Foster founded his brainchild, The Florida A&M University Marching Band, referred to affectionately as The Marching "100".
The organization celebrates its 72nd birthday this year, 2018.
TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- Director of Athletics, Willie Slater officially introduced new head women's basketball coach Trelanne Powell to the public at a press conference from Logan Hall on the campus of Tuskegee University Wednesday morning.
Moore comes to TU after spending the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Mercer University, where she helped lead the team to the 2017-18 Southern Conference Regular Season and Tournament crowns posting a (24-9,12-2) record. She also apart of assisting the Bears win the 2016-17 and 2015-16 Regular Season Championships.
Before her time at Mercer, she was the head assistant coach at Francis Marion University, a Division II school in Florence, S.C. While at Francis Marion, Moore's duties included player development, recruiting, serving as an academic liaison, film coordination and public relations.
Prior to her time at Francis Marion, Moore spent three years as the head coach at Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City, Ala., where she was named the 2013-14 ACCC Southern Conference Coach of the Year. She guided the Chattahoochee Valley to a 2014 ACCC Southern Conference Championship after a second place finish in 2013 and a third place finish in 2012. Additionally, she recruited and guided the development of 2014 ACCC Southern Conference Player of the Year, Braxtyn Talton.
From 2009-2011, Moore served as an assistant coach at Chattahoochee Valley, helping CVCC claim the ACCC Southern Conference regular season title in 2011 after a fourth place finish in 2010. She also recruited Shan Basley, the 2011 NJCAA Honorable Mention/Southern Conference Player of the Year.
A Macon native, Moore played collegiately at Hiawasee Community College from 2000-2002 and Columbus State from 2002-2004. She also played at the professional and semi-professional levels for four seasons. Additionally, Moore was a graduate assistant coach at Columbus State for the 2007-2008 season, helping the Cougars to a 17-12 record.
ATLANTA, Georgia -- Clark Atlanta University junior guard Jamal Pollydore cited coaching changes as one of the reasons he will be trasferring from the Panthers program to Glenville State College, a Division II program in West Virginia. Pollydore started 26 of the 27 games he played this season, averaging 10.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while shooting .442 percent from the field and .411 from three-point. Pollydore transferred to Clark Atlanta following an All-American career at Niagra Community College (N.Y.). He was part of a recruiting class that former head coach Darrell Walker and assistant coach Alfred Jordan brought to Atlanta. Both coaches have taken similar positions at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock earlier this year. The Panthers finished the 2017-18 season 24-6 overall with a 16-3 conference record. The Glenville State College Pioneers play in the Mountain East Conference and were 8-21 overall and 6-16 in conference last year. The Pioneers head coach Justin Cladwell will be in his first season with the program this fall.
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State University officials weren’t going to leave the table during negotiations with Broderick Fobbs until he was one of the highest paid HBCU football coaches.
And that’s what GSU President Rick Gallot and Athletic Director Paul Bryant, plus the clutch help from the university’s Foundation, did as well as spring their coach up the FCS salary ladder.
Fobbs and his alma mater agreed to a new, four-year contract “several weeks ago” and officially received approval on the deal worth $1.28 million from the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors Thursday afternoon. The new contract takes effect July 1 and runs through Dec. 31, 2022.
While the institution wasn’t able to offer Fobbs a base salary raise – it did increase from $195,000 to $198,000 due a 2-percent uptick all GSU faculty garnered – the $121,000 yearly kick from the Grambling State University Foundation, the 43-year-old head coach stands to make $319,000 for the 2018 season before incentives. That rate makes Fobbs the highest-paid head football coach in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the next closest being Texas Southern’s Mike Haywood at a $300,000 base salary. Also, Fobbs is the highest- paid FCS football coach in state of Louisiana. CONTINUE READING
ST. LOUIS, Missouri -- Head Women's Soccer Coach Scot Vorwold is excited to announce the signing of Chole Bowen for the 2018 season.
Bowen, an Essex, England native, comes to Harris-Stowe from Saint Louis Community College where she was a defenseman for the Archers. While there, she helped lead the team to a 10-7 record in the 2017 season.
The daughter of Maureen and David, Bowen has been part of multiple teams that have won the London Cup, National League, and other major tournaments.
When asked why she chose HSSU, Bowen said that the coach and great program as well as the Saint Louis area helped make her decision easy.
Be sure to stay up to date on news on the women's soccer team at hornetsathletics.com.
Fans make sure to stay connected on all Hornet Athletics on all our social media pages: Twitter (@HSSU_athletics), Facebook (/HSSUathletics), and Instagram (@hssuathletics).
Former N.C. A&T student-athletes like Whitney Martin (pictured) have benefited from NASCAR's diversity programs. Courtesy: NC A&T Sports Information
GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- Creating a multicultural environment not only allows people from different ethnic groups, religions and races to share their various experiences and ideas to accomplish a common goal within an organization. It also gives groups of people opportunities they normally would be unaware of.
Thus, is the case for the NASCAR’s minority career opportunities. North Carolina A&T graduates and former student-athletes are playing a major role in NASCAR’s diversity programs such as Drive for Diversity Driver, Pit Crew Development Program, NASCAR Diversity Internship Program, Opinion Leader Initiative and NASCAR Scholarships.
NASCAR’s diversity programs are designed to attract minorities and females to the sport as drivers, owners, sponsors, crew members and corporate workers with intent to create a more diverse audience. Coach Phil Horton, a 1983 graduate of N.C. A&T heads The Pit Crew Development Program.
It is NASCAR’s newest diversity program as it enters its third year.
Horton received his master’s degree from Michigan State before becoming an athletics trainer at Florida A&M and the University of Memphis. He also worked for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks an athletics trainer and strength and conditioning coach. In 1989, Horton established Athletic Training Concept, Inc. He left the Bucks in 1996 and started working at ATC, Inc., full-time which led him to become the personal trainer for former NASCAR driver Ernie Irvin.
Horton’s clientele expanded to include pit-crew men, as well as eight other NASCAR drivers and 12 racing teams over the span of seven years. In 2016, Horton was hired by Rev Racing to be the pit crew coach for the Drive for Diversity Crew Member Development program during its inaugural year.
NASCAR just completed its latest Pit Crew Combine held at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. Two of Horton’s fellow Aggies, recent graduates Keiston France (2017) and Joshua Patrick (2018), did well at the combine. France, a former men’s tennis player at N.C. A&T, and Patrick, a former football standout for the Aggies, were selected for the Pit Crew Development Program.
In May, France and Patrick endured a four-hour skills competition to test their fitness and agility. France and Patrick were among a group of 10 competitors who started the day with warm-up drills before taking a physical assessment test that included 100 single-under jump ropes, 25 lateral-cone high knees, five speed-ladder drills, 25 push-ups, 25 ab-mat rollouts and 100 medicine-ball sit-ups. They were then put in a live pit-stop situation where they changed and carried tires in a mock pit-stop set up.
France crushed the competition with the fastest physical-assessment test time (4:17) followed by Patrick in third (5:07). The Aggie pair will start the six-month program in September 2018 and will then receive a pit-crew job with the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
France says he is a long-time NASCAR fan and has always wanted to work on a pit crew. After finding out about the program from his father, France contacted Horton to get more information. France was eventually informed of his selection to the combine.
“I was elated when I received the call inviting me to the combine,” said France, who is training to be a tire changer. “Working for a pit crew has been a dream of mine since middle school.”
Patrick learned of the program through a friend and former teammate Courtney Edmonds who learned about the program from another former Aggie football player, Corbin Martin. Patrick also contacted Horton and received a call two weeks later that he had been selected to train as a tire carrier.
“My experience so far has been very eye-opening to see the different possibilities for African-Americans in the sport of NASCAR,” said Patrick. “I never really thought I would be in this position, but I am enjoying myself and hopefully in the near future, I can make some big things happen in the sport.”
Edmonds and Martin did not go through the Pit Crew Combine or development program but were hired by Richard Childress Racing’s Diversity Development Program in Welcome, N.C. Edmonds is looking to get into the 2019 Pit Crew Combine and hopes to be selected to the development program.
Another Aggie, former women’s basketball player Whitney Martin, has also worked with NASCAR. In the summer of her junior year, Martin used the Diversity Internship Program to work at NASCAR’s corporate office in Daytona Beach, Fla. Martin met an array of people who helped her throughout the internship. She graduated in ’17 and interned at Integrated Marketing Communications before landing a job with the company where she works as their senior coordinator in racing communications.
“At the time I was searching for an internship and as an athlete, I knew I wanted to be involved with sports,” said Martin. “I didn’t know what to expect because this was my first NASCAR experience, but I could not have asked for a better internship.”
And she could not have asked for a better opportunity thanks to the willingness of a company to promote diversity.
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
SAINT LOUIS, Missouri -- The Harris-Stowe Softball program is excited to announce the signing of Kaylee Schrand for the upcoming 2019 season.
Schrand, a Breese, IL native, comes to HSSU from Missouri Baptist University where she played 1st base and pitched for the Spartans.
The daughter of Michael and Evelyn, played for Breese Central High School where she was named to the Belleville News Democrat 2016 Small School All-Area Team. That year, Schrand had an impressive line with 23 runs, 33 RBIs, 2 homeruns, and a .458 batting average. She was also named 1st Team All-Conference for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
When asked why she chose HSSU, Schrand said, "I chose HSSU because of the welcoming and positive environment. I also chose this school to continue athletically and academically. "
Schrand will be a junior this year and will major in Information Technology and minor in Business.
Be sure to stay up to date on news on the softball team at hornetsathletics.com.
Fans make sure to stay connected on all Hornet Athletics on all our social media pages: Twitter (@HSSU_athletics), Facebook (/HSSUathletics), and Instagram (@hssuathletics).
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M football is steeped in tradition with an abundance of riches in marquee players and legendary coaches.
However, perhaps the crowning achievement of the Rattlers' legacy happened in 1978.
Forty years ago this fall, famed head coach Rudy Hubbard led the Rattlers to an 11-1 record.
FAMU made college football history by becoming the first team to win the newly-established Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision or FCS) national championship.
Every detail of that landmark season is captured in the soon-to-be-released documentary titled, "No Stoppin Us."
The film debuts Friday, Sept. 14 as the perfect lead-in for FAMU's clash with Jackson State the next day. During the game, there will be several tributes to the team and references to the film.
OTTAWA – The Ottawa REDBLACKS shone on both sides of the football en route to a 40-17 win over the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders on Thursday Night Football at TD Place.
Trevor Harris threw for 345 yards and a pair of touchdowns, William Powell found the end zone twice and Diontae Spencer showcased his dynamic ability in the win for Rick Campbell’s team, which was bolstered by a monstrous performance by its defence at-large.
On the flip side, the Riders lost starting quarterback Zach Collaros in the second quarter and managed just 345 yards of offence — 41 of which came in garbage time — on the night. Four turnovers proved costly for Saskatchewan, which never seemed to find its groove on either side of the football.
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS 66 Bladek, Dariusz OL N 6'4 300 24 Bethune-Cookman 68 Coleman, Thaddeus OL I 6'8 320 32 Mississippi Valley State 9 Watford, David QB I 6'2 212 25 Hampton 6-GAME INJURED LIST 27 Francis, Kevin LB N 6'5 220 25 North Carolina A&T
OTTAWA REDBLACKS 95 Leonard, A.C. DL I 6'2 250 26 Tennessee State
The REDBLACKS opened the scoring on the first drive of the night, when a handful of pretty Trevor Harris completions and an offside penalty set up a 26-yard field goal for Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward.
Zach Collaros and the Riders offence struggled on their first two possessions, with a pair of two-and-outs highlighted by a monster sack by Ottawa’s Michael Wakefield.
A second field goal from Ward — another chip shot from 23 yards out — then doubled the REDBLACKS lead.
But O'Quinn is not the only one who is in line to make some cash.
Last season, as his Knicks stumbled to a 29-and-53 record - the fifth-worst in the NBA's Eastern Conference, O'Quinn would regularly take to Twitter to release frustrations. He'd do so in the form of cryptic acronyms. Even now that the season is over - he'll still send the coded tweets to his nearly 30,000 followers.
"Nobody will ever know what I'm saying," O'Quinn explained to News 3 during an appearance at Coach Robert Jones' Green and Gold Basketball camp held at his alma mater. "I'm not putting anything up there that doesn't have meaning - it always stands for something. It's a way for me to write on social media, blow some steam off and get my point across to myself."
Fans and followers often try to guess what the acronym means.
"You see people trying to translate it and they're totally off," O'Quinn said smiling. "But if you get an acronym, word-for-word, totally correct - I will give you $1,000 on the spot. That's the deal." CONTINUE READING
ALBANY, Georgia -- The Albany State University (ASU) Athletics Department has announced the appointment of Verniece Graham as new head volleyball coach for the Golden Rams. Graham assumes the role after Robert Skinner stepped down from the position. During his tenure, Coach Skinner guided the Golden Rams to ten SIAC Championships and eight NCAA Division II playoff berths. He also spent five seasons as the head coach at Paine College compiling a combined overall career record of 449-298. "I have had a wonderful run as volleyball coach here at Albany State," says Skinner who has been at the helm of the program since 1991. "I'm looking forward to giving my full attention to women's basketball and am excited for what's to come for volleyball under the guidance of Coach Graham." "It is an honor to work with a man of such great passion and commitment to this community, institution, program and the development of young women. I am grateful for his leadership and immeasurable impact to the Department of Athletics," stated ASU Athletics Director Sherie Gordon. "We look forward to Coach Skinner continuing his success leading the women's basketball program." Verniece Graham takes over the program after serving as the assistant head coach since the fall of 2008. During her tenure Graham helped guide the team to two straight SIAC Championships (2008, 2009). In addition to her coaching duties, she played an integral role in day-to-day operations of the program including budgeting, recruiting and scheduling. "We are excited to see Verniece lead the volleyball program. I am confident in her ability to sustain and grow the program and uphold a strong commitment to the academic and social development of our volleyball student-athletes," said Gordon. Graham is no stranger to the athletics program at ASU. She had a standout career during her time a dual-sport in volleyball and softball for the Golden Rams. Graham was twice named to the All-SIAC Second Team in volleyball and as a libero/outside hitter helped bring three SIAC Championships to Albany State (2005,2006,2007). As a center fielder for the softball team, Graham was a First Team All-SIAC performer and was a part of the 2005 SIAC Championship team. She was recognized with several awards during her playing days including softball and volleyball MVP (twice), offensive MVP for both sports and was a two time honoree as the Female Athlete of the Year. Graham also served as an assistant for the softball team and would later earn SIAC Championships in 2009 and 2013. A 2017 graduate of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy, Graham obtained her bachelor's degree in Health Physical Education and Recreation from Albany State in 2008, and is currently pursuing her master's degree in Coaching/NCAA Compliance. A native of LaBelle, Florida she is the mother of sons Chayse and Chandlyr. ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATION
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana | The Southern soccer team and head coach Jeremy Fontenot officially announced a competitive 2018 fall campaign, which features eight home games, and eight road games.
The Jaguars will open fall play with a pair of inter-squad scrimmages on (Aug. 10 and 12), before heading on the road to face LSU-Alexandria in an exhibition match (Aug. 17) before entering the regular season.
Southern will kick off the regular season with a pair of home games with an exhibition match sandwich in between, opening the season at home versus North Dakota (Aug. 19), followed by an exhibition tilt versus Louisiana College (Aug. 24). Southern will conclude their first week of the season versus Southeastern (Aug. 27).
SU will conclude their non-conference slate on the road facing Lamar (Aug. 31), Huston-Tillotson (Sept. 2), Northwestern (Sept. 7), and Nicholls (Sept. 16).
The Jags will open Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play at home, versus Alabama State (Sept. 21) and Alabama A&M (Sept. 23).
Southern takes the show on the road to the Lone Star state, to face Prairie View A&M (Sept. 28) and Texas Southern (Sept. 30).
Southern opens October at home versus Grambling (Oct. 5) and UAPB (Oct. 7). Then, head up Highway 61 to face Mississippi foes Alcorn (Oct. 12) and Mississippi Valley (Oct. 14).
The Jaguars will conclude the regular season at home versus Howard (Oct. 19) and hold senior night versus Jackson State (Oct. 26).
SU will face North Dakota and Huston-Tillotson for the first time in program history.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana concluded its women's track and field recruiting for 2018-19 with the signing of hurdler Maya Alexander of Charlotte, N.C..
