Vikings waive RB Maurice Hicks

The (NFL Minnesota) Vikings waived running back Maurice Hicks on Wednesday after their 2008 free-agent signee averaged only 23.8 yards per kickoff return. He didn't have any carries as a running back in 2008, and he was inactive for five of the Vikings' 17 games. He did have the second-most kickoff return yards (133) in Vikings playoff history against the Eagles, which was the first playoff game in his five-year career.

Before coming to Minnesota, Hicks held the top two single-season kickoff return yardage marks in 49ers history. His 1,428 total return yards (all on kickoffs) set a 49ers franchise record (2006) in his first season as the full-time kick returner. Ranked fifth in the NFL and third in the NFC in that category, he had only 82 yards rushing on 29 attempts, and 13 receptions for 137 yards.

Former North Carolina A&T Aggies RB Maurice Hicks (Tom Dahlin/Viking Update)

The 5-11/205 five year NFL veteran is the all-time leading rusher at North Carolina A&T with 2,812 yards in only two seasons at the school. Hicks was named third-team Division I-AA All-American and Black College Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in rushing as a senior with 1,325 yards and 15 rushing TDs on 181 attempts with a long play of 79 yards. He was a two-time first-team all-MEAC winner leadind the Aggies with 92 points in 2001.

Hicks also led the MEAC with 165.6 rushing yards per game and 7.3 yards per carry. and set an NCAA Division I and II single-game record with 437 rushing yards on 34 carries vs. Morgan State (10/6/01). He added six receptions for 41 yards in eight games played as a senior and rushed for 1,487 yards as a junior in his first season at N.C. A&T.

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Money to be top priority for next athletics director at WSSU

Chancellor Reaves says he wants to pick replacement for fired Caldwell quickly

There's no mystery about the primary duty of Winston-Salem State's next director of athletics. "Raising money is paramount," Chancellor Donald Reaves said. "We need somebody who can raise money and engage the community in trying to get support for athletics." Reaves, hoping to act quickly in replacing Chico Caldwell, spent the weekend writing a job description for the advertisement that WSSU will run as part of its national search. "I don't have a timetable, but I do want to get this done as fast as possible," Reaves said.

Caldwell, who was fired Feb. 9 after nine years, had his critics and his allies. Although Caldwell spent time traveling around the country and attending alumni meetings to talk about WSSU's program, some older alumni have said they felt as if they weren't being heard. On the other side, current athletes wonder what Caldwell did to get fired. Bryant Bayne, a senior wide receiver, said he thought that Caldwell worked very hard behind the scenes, especially with the football program.

"I know he worked very closely with our program, and I really didn't know him that well, but once I did get to know him, I thought he was a good guy," Bayne said. Reaves would not go into detail about why he fired Caldwell, saying only that he is looking for fresh ideas. Also unresolved is the status of Caldwell's contract. Caldwell had two years left at an annual salary of about $107,000, according to the university. Neither Reaves nor Caldwell would discuss the contract buyout.

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Victory says it all for DSU

Hornets women rally to knock off MEAC leader North Carolina A&T

DOVER, DE -- When the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament starts next month, Delaware State should be the top seed. That's the opinion of junior Selena Galloway, who helped the Hornets deliver that message Monday afternoon at Memorial Hall. Delaware State, down by 14 early in the second half, embarked on a furious rally over the final seven minutes to upend MEAC leader North Carolina A&T 68-66 in a showdown between the conference's top two teams.

Galloway's driving layup with 1:52 to play forced a 63-63 tie, and her two free throws with 1:35 left put the Hornets ahead after they had trailed from almost the opening tip. Delaware State coach Ed Davis called the victory his team's most significant in two years. Galloway agreed. "It's very, very, very big," said Galloway, a reserve who came off the bench to score 13 points.

DSU Hornets forward Ashley Thompson fights for ball with Lady Aggies Tierra Thomas.

"We're actually underrated in the MEAC conference. Nobody looks at us as the No. 1 seed, but I think we proved it [Monday]." The conference tournament starts March 9. Delaware State (14-11, 10-2) has four conference games remaining -- all on the road -- before the Hornets can worry about tournament seeding. Still, the statement was made. The Hornets ended North Carolina A&T's 12-game win streak and handed the Lady Aggies (18-6, 11-1) their first conference loss. More importantly, the Hornets pulled within one game of first place.

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NCCU announces fan friendly football schedule

Complete Schedule in PDF Format

DURHAM,N.C. -- Prestige and proximity are the keywords for N.C. Central's 2009 football schedule, which was announced Friday. Four home games plus trips to cross-town foe Duke and Appalachian State -- the dominant power in the Football Championship Subdivision in recent years -- highlight the 11-game slate. NCCU's two biggest rivals, North Carolina A&T and Winston-Salem State, are on the schedule, along with former CIAA rival Hampton.

Those five games will be played on the road, as will contests at Liberty and Old Dominion, making each of the seven road trips shorter than 200 miles. The Eagles, who went 4-7 in 2008 in their second season of Football Championship Subdivision competition, will be at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium against Savannah State and Morehead State as well as Division II Central State of Ohio and NAIA member Central Methodist. All home games are at 1:30 p.m.

Six opponents -- Duke, Appalachian, Liberty, ODU, Morehead State and Central Methodist -- are on NCCU's football schedule for the first time. "I think it's a great schedule, a very challenging schedule for our football team," NCCU coach Mose Rison said. "We wanted to have five games in Durham, and we were able to accomplish that. Another good thing is that all those teams we play on the road, except Appalachian and obviously Duke, will return the dates."

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Grambling State's James 'Shack' Harris hired as senior exec with Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew announced today the hiring of James Harris as Senior Personnel Executive. He will assist Mayhew with the day-to-day management of the player personnel department, and he will assist in the player evaluation process for college and pro talent. Terms of his contract were not disclosed. Harris joins the Lions player personnel department after spending the past six seasons (2003-08) as the Jacksonville Jaguars vice president of player personnel. While directing the Jaguars player personnel area, he oversaw all player acquisitions, including: college draft, free agency, undrafted player signings and the scouting of players in other professional leagues.

Known affectionately as "Shack," Harris brings 34 years of NFL experience to the Lions' front office, with the past 22 years working in player personnel and scouting. Harris originally began his front office career in 1987 when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a scout, a position he would hold for six years (1987-92). He then moved on to the New York Jets and served as the team's assistant general manager from 1993-96. In 1997, Harris was named the director of pro personnel for the Baltimore Ravens. He was a member of the Ravens' player personnel department from 1997-2002, and he earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens as the team claimed a world championship with a victory in Super Bowl XXXV.

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Gulf Coast Classic participants Alabama State, Southern still waiting for payout from game organizers

The foundation owes Southern $103,900 and Alabama State $88,319, Hodge said. He said both schools expect to be paid in full, but have agreed to be patient.

Three months after the Gulf Coast Classic was played, the organization that runs the game still owes the two schools involved nearly $200,000. Game organizers said they have some concerns that their revenue shortfall could cause the two teams to back out of next season's contest, but so far neither one has indicated they would do so. Because of the shortfall, organizers said they also were unable to give out any scholarship money.

Despite all that, officials with the Gulf Coast Classic Scholar & Sports Foundation remain upbeat about the game's prospects. Board members Ray LaPierre and Taylor Hodge said they plan to make several changes before this year's game, such as requiring the teams to sell more tickets, holding the parade on Friday night instead of Saturday morning and, most importantly, adding a title sponsor.

LaPierre said the foundation has an agreement in principal with a national company for a three-year title sponsorship starting with this year's game. LaPierre said board members are hoping to get a signed letter of intent and announce the company next week. "With the upcoming improvements to (Ladd-Peebles Stadium) and the hospitality of the city, all the elements are there to make this a good event," Hodge said. "We just need to overcome the negative thought processes or clouds that may be over us at this point in time."

Before 2008, the Classic had been played in Mobile for 34 years as an Alabama State home game, with the school footing most of the expenses and playing a randomly scheduled Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent. Last year, game officials decided to try to make Mobile's game more like successful classics in New Orleans and Birmingham by locking in two teams that would play every year. The foundation offered Southern University $250,000 a year and Alabama State $225,000 a year to enter into a two-year contract with two option years for the game.

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If $275,000 is coming from the City of Mobile and $50,000 from the Mobile County Commissioners (total: $325,000), why does Southern and Alabama State need the Gulf Coast Classic Scholar & Sports Foundation? Last years attendance was 25,378. At $15.00 per ticket average, you got $380,670 at the gate -- before concession sales, tailgating fees, parking, reserve seating and sponsorship. With 24 corporate sponsorships and other paying events such as Rayco Industrial Mayors’ Luncheon at the Riverview Plaza Hotel and the McDonald’s Stomp the Bay Step Show, presented by AT&T, held at the Saenger Theater, there was some serious cash made at the '08 Gulf Coast Classic events.

I am not saying there was not overhead and other expenses to promote this event, but some M'fers got paid and it wasn't Southern University and Alabama State University. Clear case of breach of contract, and who would execute a contract calling for "unspecified" scholarship money to be provide and without a required audit of all income for this event? You got screwed once--why go down that same path in '09 SU and ASU? Your students deserve better and your lazy athletic departments need to get off their butts and earn their pay by being their own promoter for this game. Otherwise, keep it home and home between the respective schools. Stop pimping your brand and assets to the local hustlers!

-beepbeep

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ASU SIGNEES

Alabama State dominates Alabama A&M

MONTGOMERY, AL - The Alabama State University Hornets did not get every rebound here Saturday at the ASU Acadome against in-state rival Alabama A&M. It just seemed like it. The first-place Hornets imposed their will upon the Bulldogs and rolled to an 87-43 Southwestern Athletic Conference win in front of 5,264 fans.

ASU, 14-8 overall and 11-1 in the league, outrebounded A&M 45-27 and 15-8 on the offensive glass. Coach Lewis Jackson's squad handed Vann Pettaway's Bulldogs their worst loss of the year - Auburn beat A&M by 42 in December - by shooting 60 percent from the floor in the opening half and 48.7 percent after intermission.

The Bulldogs' offensive output was the lowest of the season in a game between two SWAC teams and the fourth-lowest for any conference team all year. The Hornets made 40.9 percent from behind the 3-point arc while Alabama A&M made just 1-of-13 from long range and 31.3 percent from the floor overall. A&M (8-12, 5-7) appeared to be a step slow for most of the game, perhaps hampered by aftereffects of the flu, but Pettaway said he would not use that as excuse.

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NSU men win 4th MEAC track title in row; women take second

LANDOVER, Md - Norfolk State's men's track team, led by Marlon Woods, captured their fourth consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference track and field title Saturday with 150 points at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex. Morgan State was second with 103 points. Woods was named the Outstanding Performer by winning the high jump and triple jump and finishing second in the long jump.

"I'm really proud of my team," Woods said. "We haven't had the best of weather to practice in, but our whole team came together to get the win." Katie Wright, NSU's pole vaulter, set a MEAC record by clearing 3.36 meters and helped the Spartans finish second to Hampton in the women's competition. Hampton outscored NSU 148-107.

NSU's Kenneth Giles was named the Outstanding Coach for the 15th time.

Final Results
Men's Heptathlon
Women's Pentathlon

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WSSU's 31% athletic fee increase rejected

WSSU pays $15,000 per game to rent Bowman Gray Stadium and $3,500 to rent the Coliseum or the Coliseum Annex. Shouldn't the alleged "revenue sports" have generated some revenue before officials committing to a move to Division I?

RALEIGH, N.C. - Winston-Salem State University was dealt another setback yesterday in its bid to join Division I athletics. The university wanted to substantially raise the athletics fee that students pay to raise money for more scholarships, more coaches and other requirements of Division I. But the fee increase was rejected by the UNC board of governors, which met to approve tuition and fees at all 16 campuses in the UNC system.

The board approved tuition and fee increases that were generally smaller than what most schools had requested. Overall, average in-state tuition and fees for undergraduates in the UNC system will go up 3.9 percent, or $162, in the school year that will begin this fall. Specific increases vary from school to school. Those rates still must be approved by the General Assembly. Erskine Bowles, the president of the UNC system, said that it is especially important to avoid dramatic tuition increases during a recession. "In these times, it's really hard to raise tuition, because we know that families are suffering, that they're hurting, and we want to keep this university accessible and affordable," Bowles said.

Bowman Gray Stadium is the home of the Winston-Salem State Rams and has been hosting stock car races every saturday night during summer since 1949 (this is the minor leagues of NASCAR) on a 1/4 mile oval track surrounding the football field.

At WSSU, in-state tuition will go up by 4 percent, to $1,769 for a full-time undergraduate. The athletics fee, however, will remain the same, at $579 for a full-time student -- and that will make it difficult for the school to close a $1.5 million deficit in its athletics budget. If the school can't raise money for athletics some other way, it will be much tougher for the school to meet the standards that the NCAA requires of Division I programs.

"That question of moving on to Division I is still up in the air," WSSU Chancellor Donald Reaves said in an interview yesterday. "It was a big percentage of the funding that's needed to close the gap, and without it, it will be difficult." WSSU is in its third year of a complicated transition that is supposed to end in 2011 with the university joining the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. It is currently classified as a Division II program.

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A victory for students was snatched from jaws of conceit

UNC President Erskine Bowles and board members demonstrated far more concern for the students than some WSSU officials whose heads were swollen by pipe dreams of big-time athletics success.

With a precious few free minutes to squeeze in some extra study time before an exam at Winston-Salem State University, Cynthia Tart was focused Friday morning on the heavy textbooks weighing down her oversize bag and not the potential lightening of her wallet being considered by the UNC board of governors 80 miles away in Chapel Hill. "I heard about it, but I haven't had a lot of time to think about it," Tart said shortly after leaving an early class. "I'm barely covering my bills as is, so it'd be another strain, that's for sure."

"It" was the whopping 31.3 percent increase in the student athletics fee that university officials had sought from the board of governors to support an ill-advised move to Division I. The proposal would have raised WSSU's athletics fee to $760, up from the current $579 that is built into the (roughly) $3,800 annual bill for in-state tuition and assorted fees. "It'd be a terribly big bite for me and people like me," said Tart, 53, who is a full-time student who's studying gerontology. "What about the people who don't participate or don't have the time to participate? It just doesn't excite me. I have a job to keep up with, too."

Maintaining focus

Forcing students such as Tart to support an athletics program that's running a deficit would have been a crime in this economic climate. In addition to carrying 12 classroom hours a week this semester, Tart works three 12-hour overnight shifts as a health-care worker. She couldn't care less whether WSSU's teams compete in the Division I MEAC, the Division II CIAA or any of the other athletics alphabet-soup leagues. Tart enrolled at WSSU to learn and to improve her standing in the job market by getting the bachelor's degree that she has been coveting for years. "Education has always been my No. 1 thing," she said. "Even after I dropped out of high school to go to work, I knew I had to get back to school."

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Tuition increases

Leaders of the UNC system approved yesterday an average 3.9 percent increase of in-state undergraduate tuition and fees at its 16 campuses:

■ Winston-Salem State University: 4 percent, from $3,338 to $3,471.
■ UNC School of the Arts: 4.2 percent, from $5,015 to $5,227.
■ Appalachian State University: 3.5 percent, from $4,274 to $4,424.
■ UNC Chapel Hill: 4.4 percent from $5,228 to $5,456.
■ N.C. State University: 4.9 percent, from $5,143 to $5,396.
■ UNC Greensboro: 2.5 percent, from $4,084 to $4,186.
■ N.C. A&T University: 2.5 percent, from $3,512 to $3,600.
■ Western Carolina University: 3.1 percent, from $4,085 to $4,214.
■ East Carolina University: 1.7 percent, from $4,149 to $4,220.
■ UNC Charlotte: 3.1 percent, from $4,226 to $4,356.
■ N.C. Central University: 3.5 percent, from $3,729 to $3,861.
■ UNC Pembroke: 3.6 percent, from $3,527 to $3,655.
■ UNC Asheville: 3.7 percent, from $4,174 to $4,329.
■ Elizabeth City State University: 3.8 percent, from $2,920 to $3,031.
■ Fayetteville State University: 4.4 percent, from $3,020 to $3,152.
■ UNC Wilmington: 9.7 percent, from $4,441 to $4,873.

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UM announces 2009 football schedule

Excerpt:

Greensboro, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference released the 2009 football schedule today and the University of Miami football team will again play one of the toughest schedules nationally in head coach Randy Shannon’s third season. The Hurricanes will play six homes games at Dolphin Stadium including a match up with BCS National Championship Game participant Oklahoma. Miami opens its season with a nationally televised game at instate rival Florida State on Labor Day night. Game times have yet to be announced.

Eight of Miami’s 12 opponents played in postseason games in 2008. The Hurricanes, annually one of college football's top television ratings draws, have two games already scheduled for national telecast – a Labor Day Monday night meeting with instate rival Florida State on Sept. 7 to open the season and a Thursday night home meeting with Georgia Tech on Sept. 17. For the first time since joining the ACC in 2004, UM opens the season with three consecutive games against ACC opponents. Besides the season opener against Florida State and week two match up with Georgia Tech, Miami will travel to defending ACC champion Virginia Tech on Sept. 26.

The Hurricanes will host Florida A&M on Saturday, Oct. 10 in the eighth meeting between the schools. Miami has won all seven previous meetings. The two teams last met in 2006, a 51-10 victory for Miami. Last season, the Rattlers finished 9-3 and second in the MEAC conference. Florida A&M is the only Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team on the UM schedule in 2009.

Day/Date Opponent (2008 Record) TV ’08 Polls 2008 Bowl Game
Mon., Sept. 7 at Florida State* (9-4) ESPN 21/23 Champs Sports Bowl (W, 42-13)
Thurs., Sept. 17 Georgia Tech* (9-4) ESPN 22/22 Chick Fil-A vs. LSU (L, 3-38)
Sat., Sept. 26 at Virginia Tech* (10-4) TBD 15/14 Orange vs. Cincinnati (W, 20-7)
Sat., Oct. 3 Oklahoma (12-2) TBD 5/5 BCS National Title Game vs. Florida (L, 24-14
Sat., Sept. 10 Florida A&M (9-3) TBD
Sat., Oct. 17 at UCF (4-8) TBD
Sat., Oct. 24 Clemson* (7-6) TBD Gator vs. Nebraska (L, 21-26)
Sat., Oct. 31 at Wake Forest* (8-5) TBD EagleBank vs. Navy (W, 29-19)
Sat., Nov. 7 Virginia* (5-7) TBD
Sat., Nov. 14 at North Carolina* (8-5) TBD Meineke Car Care vs. WVU (L, 30-31)
Sat. Nov. 21 Duke* (4-8) TBD
Sat., Nov. 28 at USF (8-5) TBD Magic Jack St. Petersburg vs. Memphis (W, 41-14)

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How soon they want to forget...One of the most notable wins in FAMU football history came when the Rattlers defeated the University of Miami in the series opener (16-13) in 1979. Following a perfect season in 1977, Rudy Hubbard’s Rattlers won the first-ever Division 1-AA national championship en route to a 11-1 season in 1978. You cannot erase history...

-beepbeep

Southern Conference announces cost-cutting measures for 2009-10

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Southern Conference will cut all conference baseball series from three days to two for the 2009-10 year, part of a move to cut $120,000 from its budget. Other budget-cutting moves include:

l increasing the use of teleconferences instead of in-person meetings for head coaches and select administrative committees.
l reducing the number of teams qualifying for Conference tournaments in the sports of women's soccer, volleyball, men's soccer, softball, men's tennis and women's tennis to the top four teams.

l eliminating football and basketball media days.

l eliminating printed media guides next year, as well as staff travel to regular-season contests, televised games and conventions.

"We are all faced with some difficult choices right now," said UNCG Director of Athletics Nelson Bobb. "This isn't limited to small schools or big schools, athletic departments or academic departments. While different institutions are affected in different ways, no one is immune to it at this time. "Everyone is taking a hard look at expenditures and methods of operation at a tough financial time," he said. "Hopefully, the choices that we are all having to make are just for the short term."

The conference will review these measures in January 2010 to determine the financial play for the 2010-11 season.

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The SoCon is cutting costs to save $120,000 as the MEAC continues to move games away from the home campus to classic promoters who promises wealth, but all the teams are going broke. It's time for schools like FAMU to cut loose those high paid ($90,000- $140,000) athletic department marketing stiffs that are a drain on the budget. This is not the time for wasteful spending with the economic outlook bleak for the coming months.

Florida A&M athletics $4.2 million in red

William "Bill" Hayes is fast becoming an expert on deficit spending without a realistic game plan for balancing the Rattlers athletic budget.

Florida A&M University athletics officials face a grueling climb from a deep hole to correct problems identified during a Thursday board of trustees meeting. Athletics has a $4.2 million deficit — almost double what it was one year ago. In addition, a department employee was fired after being accused of misdirecting funds, according to university administrators. It is unclear if the deficit was further exacerbated by the employee's alleged actions. Either way, FAMU Chief Financial Officer Teresa Hardee has been overseeing the financial side of the athletic department since January, FAMU attorney Avery McKnight said.

Albert Smith was fired in early December, McKnight said. A warrant was issued for his arrest and Smith turned himself in. Smith, who worked with ticketing, is contesting the termination, McKnight added. "An internal investigation revealed the misdirection of funds by one individual and the matter is currently before the State Attorney's Office for appropriate action," said Trustee Karl White in reading Thursday from the audit committee's report. A 26-page financial audit also shed light on problems plaguing the department. "The program concluded one of its most successful football seasons in recent years, " FAMU's Athletic Director William Hayes and Erica Wilcox, assistant director of athletics for business management, wrote in an overview letter included with the financial report.

However, the financial success of the program is still having difficulty balancing the cost of competition with its anticipated revenues. The overall decline in revenues coupled with the increased cost of operating expenses has resulted in the deficit." No red flags or findings were highlighted by the independent auditor. However, it's unclear how long the athletics department has been operating in the red. The audit covers from July 2007 to June 30, 2008. Athletics made nearly $8.1 million during that time. But department expenses exceeded $9.7 million, creating nearly a $1.7 million deficit. That deficit only added to the $2.61 million deficit detailed in the report that covered July 2006 to June 2007.

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MEAC vs. SWAC: ESPN ‘strongly considering’ SCSU-Grambling matchup

Fans who wished conference champions South Carolina State and Grambling could settle the debate over the 2008 black college football championship could get the next best thing. ESPN spokesperson Tilea Coleman confirmed Thursday that the network was “strongly considering” pitting the Bulldogs against the Tigers in this year’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge. The fifth annual contest, which matches up a team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference for bragging rights in Football Championship Subdivision black college football, is tentatively scheduled for Labor Day Weekend at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Neither ESPN, S.C. State nor Grambling officials have confirmed or denied talks about the possible matchup. However, Alcorn State sports information director LaToya Shields said Wednesday the school was told not to schedule Grambling for its Sept. 5 season opener because of the Tigers’ expected involvement in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. The two schools were reportedly in negotiations to move the contest, which would not count against Grambling in the SWAC standings.

Grambling State University Coach Rod Broadway

S.C. State athletics director Charlene Johnson would only state Thursday the school was waiting on an announcement from ESPN in regard to the matchup. The same stance has also been taken by both commissioners Dennis Thomas of the MEAC and Duer Sharp of the SWAC. The Bulldogs are slated to open the 2009 campaign Sept. 5 at Benedict College. Neither school has indicated whether discussions have taken place between them about the possibility of postponing the game in order to make the Bulldogs available.

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Not a game S.C. State should play...A loss to Grambling State will knock the Bulldogs out of an at-large berth in the '09 1-AA playoffs, as the FAMU Rattlers are expected to win the MEAC. Coach Rod Broadway has a way of getting the GSU Tigers ready for a big game. Too bad the SWAC does not participate in the 1-AA playoffs, as that SWAC championship game--sucks like the MEAC/SWAC (made for second tier cable) Challenge. The Bulldogs should take a pass on the 10 thousand fans at the Citrus Bowl and limited ESPN2 exposure and go schedule the home contest with rival Division II, Benedict College.

It high time that HBCUs stop selling themselves cheap to ESPN and demand $600,000+ EACH for this neutral site game. A better match up is Richmond vs. SCSU and Grambling vs. Montana in a double-header at the Citrus Bowl. Now, that's worth the cost of the trip to Orlando and what I would want to see. Now that's a MEAC-SWAC Challenge worth playing--not this Negro league garbage.

Time to give the paying fans what they want--an exciting match up! GSU and SCSU have been beating each other for 100 years. Time to do something different! Make it happen ESPN, SWAC Commissioner and MEAC Commissioner.

-beepbeep

Vinston's NCAA-best long jump of year sparks Norfolk State to lead at MEAC indoor track meet

LANDOVER, Md. - Norfolk State junior Corey Vinston, a Phoebus High graduate, broke his own meet record in the long jump, leaping a national-best 25 feet, 9 ½ inches to win his second straight title in that event at the 2009 MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championship at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex on Friday. The Spartans, who are seeking their fourth consecutive conference indoor championship, are in first place through six events, with 55 points. Morgan State is second with 33.

Vinston, who was ranked ninth in the nation coming into the day with a season-best leap of 25-1 ¼, tied the meet record last year by leaping 24-7 ¼. He easily topped that mark Friday, and also bettered LSU's Will Coppage (25-7), who had the nation's top long jump heading into this weekend. Vinston's mark automatically qualifies him for next month's NCAA Indoor Championship. Teammate Marlon Woods (Norfolk, Va.), who was ranked second in the nation in the long jump heading into the weekend, placed second behind Vinston, at 25-1 ¾.

The Spartans capped the day on the track with a first-place finish in the distance medley relay. The team of Keenan Harris (Norfolk, Va.), Darryl Brickhouse (Suffolk, Va.), Carlton Phipps (Lynchburg, Va.) and Dominic Luka (Marietta, N.Y.) finished in 10:15.37, just more than one second ahead of runner-up Hampton. NSU's other top finish Friday came via Brett Dodd (San Antonio, Texas) in the pole vault. Dodd, who won the conference indoor title last season, cleared a school-record 14-11 on Friday to take second place.

MEAC Track and Field Indoor Championships-Day Two Results

Click here for 09 MEAC Indoor Results (.pdf)
Click here for 09 Men's Hep (.pdf)

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University of Iowa conference to look at black athletes

An upcoming conference at the University of Iowa will explore the role black athletes play in athletics. "The State of the African American Athletes, Coaches and Administrators in the 21st Century" will be today at the Iowa Memorial Union. All sessions are free and open to the public. All sessions will take place in the Indiana Room at the Iowa Memorial Union except the keynote address and public forum, which will be in the IMU's Richey Ballroom. Today's events are:

• 9:30 a.m., Maureen Smith of California State University at Sacramento will present "When and Where I Enter: African American Female Athletes in College Athletics, Post Title IX."

• 10:30 a.m., Anthony Grant of Millersville University will speak on the lack of diversity in key leadership positions within college sport and how social network characteristics contribute to that phenomenon.

• 11:30 a.m., Dana Brooks of West Virginia University will discuss the educational and professional achievements of black athletes who participated in the NCAA Degree Completion Program at her university.

• 1:30 p.m., Michael Oriard of Oregon State University will provide an overview of "three decades of out-of-control commercialization and failed academic reform in Division I-A football," emphasizing the impact on black athletes.

• 2:30 p.m., Gary Sailes of Indiana University examined the opportunities, productivity and hiring practices of NCAA Division I head football coaches and stratified the data by race (blacks and whites).

• 3:30 p.m., George Cunningham of Texas A&M University points out that while blacks represent 25 percent of all athletes -- and a majority of athletes in revenue-generating sports -- they are underrepresented in coaching and leadership positions.

• 4:30 p.m., Todd Crosset of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, reviewed recent high-profile sexual assault cases, exploring the developmental risk young black male athletes face when they transition from black high schools to historically white institutions.

• 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., public forum on blacks in athletics moderated by Charlotte Westerhaus, vice president of diversity for the NCAA.

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"The State of the African American Athletes, Coaches and Administrators in the 21st Century" conference has not one speaker from an HBCU institution. Dam shame!!

Courtesy press-citizen.com

WSSU fires athletics director of 9 years

On Friday, the board of governors of the University of North Carolina system will vote on WSSU's request to increase student athletics fees. That vote could determine whether WSSU continues to Division I or returns to Division II and the CIAA.

Dr. Percy "Chico" Caldwell, the athletics director at Winston-Salem State since 2000, was fired yesterday by Chancellor Donald Reaves. Caldwell, who was hired by former chancellor Harold Martin, had been instrumental in steering the Rams athletics program to NCAA Division I status. The program is in its third year of transition after having left Division II and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. When reached yesterday by phone and asked why he was fired, Caldwell said: "I don't know -- that's what I'm trying to find out."

Reaves, who was hired in February 2007, did not return a phone call to discuss his decision but said in a prepared statement that it was time for "new leadership." "A stated goal in my short tenure as chancellor is to implement a talent strategy that has the right people in the right position at the right time," Reaves said in the statement. "The university, including its athletics program, is at a critical transition point where fresh ideas and approaches are needed, and in keeping with my commitment to the talent strategy, I believe that the athletics program and our student-athletes will benefit from new leadership."

Reaves named Tonia Walker, the associate director of athletics and senior women's administrator, as the interim AD. She has been at the school since August 2000, when she was hired as the volleyball coach and assistant AD after spending eight years as the director of public relations for the CIAA. Walker, a two-sport athlete in college, received a bachelor's degree from Hampton in 1993 and a master's degree from Old Dominion in 1998. At WSSU, she has twice been named the CIAA senior women's administrator of the year.

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WSSU Athletics Director Leaves Post

Note: The Winston-Salem Journal reports the candidates to replace Caldwell include Tim Grant, a former basketball player and assistant coach at WSSU, and Dee Todd, a former basketball player at WSSU and former AD at N.C. A&T. Please! You're $1.5 million in the tank heading to athletic purgatory and your top candidates are "unequipped retreads" with no fundraising skills. Time for the Rams to move away from X-HBCU retreads.

Only wish one president would make the same move at FAMU--Bill Hayes.

-beepbeep

ASU Hornets hit the jackpot

Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow figured some­thing must be wrong with George Washington Carver High School running back An­drew Pitts. In his prep career, Pitts had more than 2,600 yards and 36 touchdowns. He looked good on film. His grades were in order.But Pitts was getting very little interest from Division I colleges. So, Barlow put in a call to an old NFL buddy who was coach­ing at the University of Miami and asked what he thought of Pitts.

"The guy said, 'If we didn't have our backs already, we'd of­fer him,' " Barlow said. "That's exactly the way we felt. I'll tell you this -- I think he's going to make a lot of people regret not offering him. We're absolutely ecstatic to have him." Pitts was one of the stand­outs in a 27-player class signed by ASU on Wednesday. The group included 11 in-state players, seven tri-county standouts and four Carver stars. Joining Pitts from a Wolverines squad that finished a game short of the Class 5A finals are Terre­nce Walters, Edmond Davis and Therell Tyus.

"It means a lot to go over there with a group of guys who I've played with since we were little kids," Pitts said following a signing ceremony at Carver. "We're all very excited about going to ASU. We know about their crowd support here in the city. My mom and dad can come and see me play every game. That means a lot. It's a good fit for me." The ASU staff believes the rest of this year's class will fit nicely into the holes left by 23 seniors. The Hornets addressed immediate needs at linebacker and wide receiver and added several sought-after players.

ASU SIGNEES

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Alabma State University Stingettes

ASU 2009 Football Class

LB Demarques Taylor, 5-11, 220, Jack­sonville, Fla., Andrew Jackson HS ILB Joshua Abbott, 5-10, 220, Tifton, Ga., Tift County HS
MLB Avery Smith, 6-0, 215, Troup, Ga., Troup County HS
SS Marcus Solomon, 5-11, 193, Valdos­ta, Ga., Lowndes County HS
DE Lawrence Henderson, 6-5, 225, Jacksonville, Fla., Raines HS
LB Justin Marable, 5-10, 220, Lithonia, Ga., Lithonia Springs HS
DT Robert Harvey, 6-0, 280, Miami, American HS
OT Adam Calhoun, 6-8, 330, Newman, Ga., Newnan HS
FS Michael Green, 6-1, 185, Camden, Ga., Camden County HS
OT Jermaine Ridgeway, 6-5, 275, Adamsville, Minor HS
TE Najee Leftwich, 6-2, 220, Griffin, Ga., Spalding HS
DE Le'Andre Crawford, 6-3, 220, Troup, Ga., Troup HS
C Jaquan Bentley, 6-2, 285, Pahokee, Fla., Pahokee HS
OT Terren Jones, 6-7, 320, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Choctaw HS
OL Terrence Walters, 6-3, 270, Mont­gomery, Carver HS
C Edmond Davis, 6-1, 270, Montgom­ery, Carver HS
WR Therell Tyus, 5-9, 170, Montgom­ery, Carver HS
WR Landon Jones, 6-3, 180, Wetump­ka, Wetumpka HS
WR Raphael Poellenitz, 6-0, 177, Mur­phy, Murphy HS
RB Andrew Pitts, 5-10, 205, Montgom­ery, Carver HS
LB Leland Baker, 6-0, 200, Birming­ham, E.B. Erwin HS
ILB Maurice Tate, 6-1, 225, Linden, Linden HS
WR Demorius Beasley, 6-0, 175, Deca­tur, Decatur HS
DB Carlos Seawright, 5-11, 175, Bir­mingham, Huffman HS
Kejuan Riley,, 6-2, 185, Wetumpka, Wetumpka HS
WR Charles Payne, 5-11, 181, Mont­gomery, Sidney Lanier HS
DE Gary London Jr., 6-5, 260, Baton Rouge, La., Southern Lab HS

Alabama State University Stingettes






















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JSU-TSU rivalry set for another five years

When Fred Jones founded the Southern Heritage Classic in 1990, he modeled it after other major neutral-site rivalries. Jones looked to the Red River Shootout in Dallas between Texas and Oklahoma. He looked to the game formerly known as the World's Largest Cocktail Party between Florida and Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla. He considered the Bayou Classic -- celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2009 -- pitting Southern and Grambling in New Orleans.

"That seemed to be the model you should follow," Jones said. "Two rival teams that are evenly matched and convenient to the game's location." Confirming Tuesday that Jackson State and Tennessee State have agreed to five-year contract extensions with the SHC -- ensuring that they will continue meeting each other on the second Saturday in September at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium through at least 2014 -- Jones solidified his own growing rivalry.

JSU and TSU have met in Memphis each year since 1994, and the SHC's profile has grown leaps and bounds in recent years with major increases in TV distribution. (Jones said he has struck a deal with SportSouth to televise the SHC in HD for the second year in a row.) "We obviously have something here that works from the fans', the sponsors', the schools' and the city's standpoint," Jones said.

The SHC, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, was not initially founded as a classic rivalry with two set opponents. While TSU has participated in all 19 contests, the Tigers played Grambling and Mississippi Valley State once each in the game's early years. Now, with JSU firmly on board, the SHC can continue developing the rivalry aspect of the event. The TSU and JSU football teams and marching bands have earned their schools more than $3 million each through their participation in the SHC. The new contract gives each school the opportunity to earn $300,000 per year from 2010 to 2014 to help fund educational activities and expenses.


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Norfolk State adds receiver, defensive back

Norfolk State signed two more football players to its fall recruiting class Friday. Defensive back Denzel Coleman and wide receiver Derrick Demps signed with the Spartans two days after National Signing Day. NSU signed five players Wednesday. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Coleman played four years at Mays High School in Atlanta. He recorded 71 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two sacks and three fumble recoveries in his senior season. Coleman also ran sprints on the track team for the past two seasons.

Demps, 6 feet and 180 pounds, hails from Florida High School in Tallahassee. The third-team all-state Class 2A selection caught 42 passes for 743 yards with seven touchdowns last fall. Demps also returned an interception 75 yards for a score.

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Norfolk State University Spartan Legion Marching Band


National Signing Day Signees to NSU

Karl Butler, OL, 6-5/310, Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend HS. Was an honorable mention all-district pick as a senior. Adrian says: “Butler is very athletic and comes off ball well. He is excellent in pass protection.”

Quartez Carter, TE, 6-5/250, Spotsylvania, Va./Spotsylvania HS. Two-time first-team All-Battlefield District selection at tight end…also named honorable mention All-Region I as a junior and senior…selected to the all-district second team at defensive end in his final prep season…caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns as a senior…also an all-district pick in basketball. Adrian says: “He has a chance to help us right away. He runs well for his size, has good hands, and is big for a tight end.”

Kevin Leatherwood, QB, 6-2/205, Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville HS. A three-year starter at quarterback for Charlottesville…missed most of his senior season due to injury…was an all-district and all-region performer as a junior, when he accounted for 2,000 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns…also the Jefferson District Player of the Year and an all-state selection in basketball as a junior. Adrian says: “Leatherwood is an exceptional athlete. He’s a smart player who throws the ball with good velocity and understands the game.”

Victor Martin, DL, 6-2/270, Fort Meade, Fla./Independence (Kan.) CC/Fort Meade HS. A second-team All-Jayhawk Conference selection last year…team captain…tallied 62 tackles, 12 for loss, and eight sacks…a first-team All-State Class 1A selection as a senior at Fort Meade HS, when he helped the Miners win the state title…redshirted his first year at Independence, and has three years of eligibility remaining. Adrian says: “Martin has a great ‘motor.’ He is tailor-made for our defense because he moves well and is always around the football.”

Cameron Williams, OL, 6-4/295, Alexandria, Va./St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes HS. A second-team all-state (VISAA) offensive lineman as a senior. Adrian says: “Williams is another athletic lineman who has excellent strength and movement.”