Evans agrees to 3-year deal as Norfolk State basketball coach

Photo: NSU first year head basketball coach Anthony Evans.

When Norfolk State takes the floor for Saturday’s big men’s basketball game against Hampton University, it will do so without its interim head coach. Instead, Anthony Evans will coach Saturday with the interim tag removed. Today, Norfolk State announced that Evans was named permanent head coach and was given a three-year contract through the 2010-11 season.

Evans and assistant coaches Lonnie Blow and Robert Jones have guided the Spartans to a 9-9 overall and a 5-1 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. NSU is tied with Hampton for second place in the conference, one-half game behind Morgan State in the standings.

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Super Strahan 'a very long way from Texas Southern University

"When I was a boy, I didn't dream of Super Bowls," Michael Strahan said. "I was dreaming just to have a job and get out of my parents' house."

Seven Pro Bowls and two Super Bowls later, it's hard for Strahan to truly grasp just how his journey landed him here. He spent much of his childhood in Germany because his father, Gene Strahan, was stationed there as a major in the U.S. Army. Michael played one year of football at Westbury High School before attending Texas Southern University.

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Bethune-Cookman see endowment growth

Photo: Bethune Cookman University President, Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed.

Bethune-Cookman University is the only school to earn a bullet as a fast-riser in this week's issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education.

President Trudie Kibbe Reed and her board have infused energy and ideas into the fundraising effort, growing the endowment at the end of fiscal year 2007 to $42.9 million, a 21.2-percent growth.

"We asked alumni to give every month, as if they were tithing in church,’’ Reed told us this morning. “We went from 7 to 64 percent in alumni giving."

Reed said the endowment has gone from $24 million when she started in 2004 to about $47 million, but the recent market downturn has it back down to about $44 million.

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Football scheduling mix-up costs Alabama State Hornets

Photo: Alabama State University Hornets Interim Athletic Director Ron Dickerson.

Alabama State interim athletic director Ron Dickerson likes to map his days out weeks in advance and hates surprises. Unfortunately, his school's 2008 football schedule -- which Dickerson finalized months ago -- is in shambles now with the discovery of two games both scheduled for Sept. 6, 2008. It will now cost the university several thousand dollars to resolve the problem.

Part of the problem stems from the Southwestern Athletic Conference's decision in spring of 2006 to go from a nine-game mandate within conference -- meaning every SWAC team was forced to play each other -- to a seven-game mandate.

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It is great to see that FAMU is moving away from the classic games. The Rattlers are already committed to two of the largest--the Florida Classic with Bethune Cookman and the Atlanta Football Classic with Tennessee State. We would prefer to see FAMU play the Florida FBC teams like Miami, Central Florida, South Florida and Florida that can pay the $350,000-$400,000 market rate guarantee for an FCS game.

South Carolina State is playing at Central Florida and Clemson this season. Norfolk State is playing at Kentucky and Delaware State is playing for the second consecutive season at Kent State. It's all about the money for MEAC programs and a few are moving in the right direction in scheduling games with the FBC teams for the big payouts and the higher grade competition.

Grambling snatches one -- and it's a big one -- from Saban

Photo: Grambling State University head football coach Rod Broadway is loading up on blue chip players for '08.

Grambling State has picked off a massive offensive tackle commitment from under the nose of Nick Saban and the University of Alabama. Greg McGrue, a 6-8, 360-pound Huffman (Birmingham, Ala.) High prospect, also reported interest from Auburn, Georgia, Purdue and Southern Mississippi.

He is a two-star Scout.com prospect, and ranked No. 34 overall in Alabama by Rivals -- which called McGrue a “massive offensive lineman with superior strength. Could be more flexible and quicker but nobody pushes him back and he uses his hands well.”

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This guy runs a 5.4/40 and once he completes Coach Broadway program in the weight room, he will be bigger than a tractor trailer. That's out-recruiting the competition, Grambling State. He's a clear cut blue chip!

Jackson State Comegy off road, critiquing recruits

Photo: 2007 SWAC Football Championship Coach, Rick Comegy, Jackson State University.

Comegy has been racking up the frequent flyer miles with a trip two weeks ago to accept an award in Washington D.C. and spending last week in California coaching the Southeast team in the American Heritage Bowl.

The Tigers currently have 15 commitments on top of four mid-year signees. Mississippi Delta Community College 6-0/205 cornerback Recardo Hines gave his verbal to Jackson State last night. He is a one-star juco prospect by Scout.com and runs a 4.47 40.

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MEAC wants to hold tourneys at Old Dominion instead of Scope

NORFOLK, VA - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference would like to hold its men's and women's basketball tournaments at Old Dominion University's Ted Constant Convocation Center next year rather than Scope. Mayor Paul Fraim said Tuesday that MEAC officials, including commissioner Dennis Thomas, made the request at a recent meeting, saying they prefer the modern amenities of the Constant Center.

Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot's response was blunt, especially when MEAC officials asked the city to pay their rent at ODU: "If the tournament is coming to Norfolk, it needs to come to Scope," Burfoot said he told them. Thomas was unavailable for comment.

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Background

Old Dominion University opened the Ted Constant Convocation Center for the 2002-2003 basketball season. "The Ted" has 8,600 fully cushioned seats, 16 luxury suites, and a state-of-the-art scoreboard. In addition to being used for home basketball games, the Constant Center hosts family-oriented events as well as concerts and lectures. (See Seating Visuals of "The Ted" by clicking on this link and click the seat location you desire: http://constantcenter.com/seating/viewer/event_type/

View Constant Center photos: http://constantcenter.com/photos/?album=3

Opened in 1971, Norfolk Scope is the host to a wide variety of events, including Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus, conventions, concerts and family shows. Scope is proud to be the home of the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL and Arena Racing USA. Scope has an exclusive in-house caterer, Aramark, who runs Showcase Restaurant and will help with any catered event. (See Seating Chart: http://mediacache.eventbooking.com//7074_Seating_Scope_Basketball.gif).

A few words of advice for Commissioner Thomas--hold your ground on this issue. MEAC fans and players have no interest in attending the MEAC Basketball Tournament at a second rate facility. You do not see the NCAA, or any other conference in America holding their tournaments at outdated facilities. If it (the Scope) wasn't good enough for Old Dominion University or the Harlem Globetrotters, it's not an appropriate venue for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament.

-beepbeep

Nickelberry has Hampton winning with defense

Photo: Hampton University Pirates men's head basketball coach Kevin Nickelberry (Virginia Wesleyan '86).

The Pirates excel defensively, whether in passive zone, half-court trap or overplaying man-to-man. Among the 328 Division I teams ranked in the NCAA's statistics, Hampton is 31st in scoring defense and 39th in field-goal percentage defense. But if basketball were all slides, steals and switches, no one would play or watch. Scoring is not only necessary but also cool. It's why we play pick-up at the Y and watch Sports Center morning, noon and night.

Here the Pirates are lacking. They rank 269th nationally in scoring, 288th in field-goal percentage, 295th in 3-point percentage and 314th in free-throw percentage. Wall Street's recent numbers aren't that bleak.

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Tennessee State shoot past Jacksonville State

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Yet another comeback attempt fell short for the Jacksonville State men’s basketball team on Tuesday night, when Tennessee State held off the Gamecocks for an 88-77 home win at the Gentry Center.

The Gamecocks (4-17, 2-11 Ohio Valley Conference) used a 55-point second half to cut a 24-point deficit with 6:27 to play to a nine-point game with just under three minutes to play, but the rally proved too little too late for JSU in its fifth-straight loss and the fifth straight to the Tigers (10-11, 7-5 OVC) in Nashville.

Tigers guard Reiley Ervin had another big night against the Gamecocks, scoring a season-high 19 points, just 17 days after he set his previous high of 16 points in a loss to JSU in Jacksonville. He set his career high last season with 29 points in a home win over the Gamecocks.

Reigning OVC Freshman of the Week Gerald Robinson added 18 for the Tigers, while Price was 10-for-10 from the charity stripe to account for the majority of his 14 points. Jerrell Houston grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to lead a TSU attack that out rebounded the Gamecocks, 47-29. Murphy led the Gamecocks on the glass with six boards.

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All-American Football League holds draft

The All-American Football League, a for-profit, professional football league, held their inaugural draft on Saturday, January 26th. In that draft were 47 alumni of schools who played Football Championship Subdivision football. Tennessee State had the most FCS draftees with six selections, followed by Western Illinois with four.

Florida A&M University had former players drafted: Tyronn Johnson, Keith Williams and Freddie Moore.

League teams will employ only those players who have both completed their college football eligibility and earned a four-year degree. This policy is expected to have a very positive impact on universities’ NCAA Graduation Success Rate and their Academic Progress Rate. To the extent practical, graduates of host universities will play for the team hosted by their alma mater.

Currently there are six teams in the AAFL, consisting of: Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Tennessee, and Texas. A total of 300 players were drafted.

CLICK ON THE BLOCK TITLE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE DRAFT LIST OF PLAYERS.

READ MORE ABOUT AAFL: http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/aboutus.php

Short-handed NSU women surge to stunning victory

Photo: Natasha Huntley, 5-6 freshman guard from Greensboro, N.C. was instrumental in win with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist.

NORFOLK, VA - It started with a 3-pointer. Then another. And another. All in the span of six seconds. A coast-to-coast layup tied it. A clutch free throw provided the lead. And, finally, one frenzied defensive stop later, Norfolk State experienced the joy of six.

"It's overwhelming," said a beaming Tashawna Higgins after her three-point play with 11.7 left propelled the Spartans - all six of them - to an improbable 62-61 victory against Winston-Salem State on Monday night at Echols Hall.

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NSU win over Winston Salem State

Photo: Norfolk State University 6-0/175 junior guard Michael Deloach, Rocky Mount, N.C., Bonner Academy.

NORFOLK, VA - Ugly game. Didn't do the little things. Have to get better in a lot of areas. Norfolk State coach Anthony Evans shook his head as he rattled off areas of deficiency in his team's play Monday night. Imagine if the Spartans hadn't won by 15.

It's been that kind of roll lately for NSU, which is winning big even when the overall play comes up, at least by the coach's standards, relatively small. Michael Deloach scored 23 points as NSU thumped Winston-Salem State 82-67 for its seventh victory in eight games.

The Spartans (9-9) got more good news when they learned Morgan State knocked off Hampton on Monday. Both the Pirates and Spartans are 5-1 in the MEAC, a half-game behind Morgan State (6-1).

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Texas Southern falls to Arkansas-Pine Bluff 73-58

The Texas Southern Tigers' frigid shooting continued in a 73-58 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff at HOPE Arena on Monday night. They dropped their fourth straight game and fell to 4-16 and 3-4 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. TSU hit just 36 percent of its shots, including a chilly 3-for-14 from 3-point range.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (9-9, 5-2) put the game away with a 12-2 run, as Marcelle Goins and William Byrd combined for eight points to give the Golden Lions a 68-54 cushion. Matthew Miller led the Tigers with 16 points; Sollie Norwood added 13 for TSU. George Davis had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Byrd contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Golden Lions, who out rebounded TSU 42-29.

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Southern picks up two football commitments

With just over a week remaining until the start of the national signing period, the outlook for Southern’s recruiting efforts continue to improve. The Jaguars persistence paid off with two more commitments on the offensive side of the football from Catholic High-Pointe Coupee’s Darian Prentiss and Lutcher’s Tyrus Harris.

Prentiss, a versatile 5-foot-9, 155-pounder, is projected to play slot receiver for Southern. Prentiss evolved into one of the state’s leading passers — regardless of classification — and directed Catholic-PC’s “Air Raid” offense to the District 6-1A championship. The 6-3, 260-pound Harris started at tight end and turned into a defensive force near the end of Lutcher’s season.

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Alabama State remains SWAC leader with win over SU Jaguars

Alabama State showcased all the facets of why the Hornets are the top team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in beating second-place Southern, 59-44, in a nationally televised showdown Monday night. And most of all, Alabama State showed how tough the Hornets can be.

With 7-foot-1 center Chief Kickingstallionsims limited to 11 minutes by foul trouble, starting forward Brandon Gordon (ankle) limited to five and senior reserve forward Richard Lott (back) not even dressing, Alabama State still dominated at the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

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North Carolina A&T keeps MEAC lead with 85-66 win over SCSU Bulldogs

Photo: Leading scorer Tweet Cook, 22 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals had another complete game.

Greensboro, N.C. - Sophomore point guard Ta'Wuana "Tweet" Cook hit four 3-pointers and scored 22 points, leading host N.C. A&T (13-5, 6-0) over South Carolina State in a MEAC game Monday at the Corbett Sports Center. Brittany Taylor-James had a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds for A&T. All five starters scored in double figures, and the league-leading Aggies built a 51-36 halftime lead.

Marie Reid scored a game-high 27 points off the bench for South Carolina State (6-11, 3-3). The Aggies improved to 13-5 overall and 6-0 in the conference after winning their sixth straight – their longest winning streak in 14 seasons. “We are in a position right now where everyone we play is going to give us their best game,’’ said Bibbs. “Everybody wants to be the first team to knock us off, so we’re going to get everybody’s best shot.

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N.C A&T Aggies run winning streak to five at expense of SCSU

GREENSBORO -- On a night when their backcourt was 20-20, the N.C. A&T Aggies almost didn't want to see the end. With Steven Rush and Austin Ewing scoring 20 points apiece, A&T survived a South Carolina State comeback bid for an 82-77 victory Monday night.

The Aggies led by 17 points at halftime and saw most of the lead disappear in three minutes. They built the edge back to 14 with 3:53 to go and were one Bulldogs turnover removed from terror. "When somebody outrebounds you 46-29, you're not supposed to win," said Jerry Eaves, N.C. A&T coach.

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Guards pace DSU to win over FAMU Lady Rattlers

Photo: Ashlee Burgage, 5-6 senior guard, Seaford, DE hit 3-pointer and jumper to help Hornets scored 17 unanswered points in the second half.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- On Monday, the Delaware State women's basketball team began to see signs of another title run. The defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Hornets played well on defense and offense in their 50-40 victory over Florida A&M at Gaither Gym. Delaware State (9-10, 4-1) has won five of its past six games and improved to 4-1 in the MEAC after suffering five straight losses in tournaments from Dec. 17 to Dec. 29.

In DSU's seventh straight win over the Rattlers, Hornets coach Ed Davis employed a "show me" approach, rotating his guards in and out depending on their play.

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Morgan State leads MEAC with win at Hampton

Photo: Senior forward Boubacar Coly snatched 12 rebounds over Hampton University. The 6-9 Coly is the leading rebounder in the MEAC.

HAMPTON - Morgan State's rebounding and shot blocking were strengths coming in against Hampton University, but just a little better shooting made the difference.
The Bears pulled out a 64-57 victory over Hampton in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Monday night at HU Convocation Center. The result forced a three-way tie for first place in the loss column between the two teams and Norfolk State.

"We played against a good team tonight, a team that was hungry," HU coach Kevin Nickelberry said. "And they made the plays down the stretch to win."

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Technical costs DSU a second time

Three Florida A&M players ejected, but foul call goes against Hornets.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Delaware State saw another technical foul play a key role in a men's basketball game Monday night, and again it ended in a loss -- 70-68 to Florida A&M at rowdy Gaither Gym. The Rattlers (8-11, 4-3 MEAC) made 11-of-12 free throws in the final 2:23.

FAMU's Cassius Bell, Darryl Demps and Jon Mason were ejected with 4:38 remaining after DSU's Marcus Neal received a technical for shoving FAMU guard Jon Ballard under the basket after Neal fouled Ballard on a layup. No technical fouls were called against FAMU, despite a prolonged discussion between DSU coach Greg Jackson, FAMU coach Eugene Harris and the referees.

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South Carolina State faces rival N.C. A&T

Photo: Full house (5,834) at N.C. A&T Corbett Sports Center on 1/26/08 with WSSU Rams.

S.C. State Continues Road Trip at N.C. A&T Monday

South Carolina State will continue a two-game Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference road swing Monday at Greensboro in a doubleheader against North Carolina A&T, which gets underway at 6 p.m. with the women's contest. The men's game will follow at 8 p.m. The SC State women (6-10, 3-2) will be going for their third consecutive win and the fourth in five outings against the Lady Aggies (12-5, 5-0) who sit atop the league standings with a perfect 5-0 mark.

Both teams enter the game after easy victories on Saturday. Coach Tonya Mackey's Lady Bulldogs won 74-58 at Norfolk State behind 22 points by Sophilia Hipps and 18 by Marie Reid, while the NC A&T women defeated Winston-Salem State 71-51 at home.

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LB Tracy Sims has committed to play for Tennessee State

Loyalty guided Tracy Sims when it came time to decide his college future. The Red Bank High School linebacker has committed to sign with Tennessee State University, the program that has recruited him first and most heavily. “They showed a lot more real interest in me from the beginning,” Sims said. “They showed me love from early on, and I wanted to show my gratitude and go ahead and commit to them.”

The 6-foot, 235-pound Sims chose TSU over Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He will join former Baylor linebacker Sidney Tarver and former Howard linebacker Rico Council at TSU.


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NFL Pro Bowl Bound - Antoine Bethea, Colts safety/former Howard Bison

Photo: Former Howard University safety Antoine Bethea(41) intercepting a pass intended for Ravens Heap at the Colts’ 1-yard line.

Colts Safety Antoine Bethea to Make First Pro Bowl Appearance
INDIANAPOLIS - The Colts' defense emerged as one of the NFL’s best units this past season, and a big reason was the development of a young secondary. On Friday, yet another member of that secondary earned one of the league’s most-prestigious honors.
Antoine Bethea, a second-year safety who started 13 games for the Colts this past season, has been named as an injury replacement to the 2008 AFC Pro Bowl roster, the league and the Colts announced Friday morning.

It will be Bethea’s first Pro Bowl appearance.

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Amazing story! An undersized walk-on at Howard University will be in the NFL Pro Bowl just 6 short years later. Let us not forget that Bethea won a Super Bowl with the Colts last season.
Bethea is also the 11th NFL draft pick in Bison football program history. He was selected in the 2006 NFL Draft in the 6 round, 207 overall choice by the Indianapolis Colts.

Texas Southern Reid looks to strike it big on, off field

Photo: Former Oklahoma State University quarterback Bobby Reid, 6-3/235 (Houston, Texas) is now a Texas Southern Tiger and is expected to be the starter come Fall.

Bobby Reid feels good about football again, something that not too long ago he didn't believe would happen.

What was supposed to be a breakout 2007 season for the then-Oklahoma State quarterback became a campaign of disappointment and frustration. Reid suffered an injury in the Cowboys' second game against Florida Atlantic, then endured being the focal point of a well-publicizedstory by an Oklahoma City newspaper columnist that led to coach Mike Gundy's rant that became a YouTube staple.

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South team pulls out Under Armour Senior Bowl win

Photo: Hampton University All-American defensive end Kendall Langford played outstanding in the Senior Bowl game. The 6-6/294 Langford is from Petersburg, Virginia, Petersburg H.S.

Despite a Senior Bowl record punt of 69 yards by North Dakota State’s Mike Dragosavich, the South team prevailed. Lead by outstanding play by Tennessee State University cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Hampton University defensive end Kendall Langford the South scored in the waning seconds to win.

Florida wide receiver Andre Caldwell scored on an end-around run on a fourth-down play as time expired to help the South Team clinch a 17-16 win over the North Team in the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl.

It was a game that was filled with irony as play progressed at Ladd-Peebles Field in Mobile, Alabama under overcast skies and a temperature hovering around 50 degrees. Caldwell, a receiver, tied the game on a running play called by San Francisco offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who is well-known for his aggressive and potent passing offenses.

Under Armour, the game’s title sponsor, presented Penn State linebacker Dan Connor and Tennessee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with the Under Armour New Prototype Award.

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Photo: Tennessee State University All-American Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was awarded the Under Armour New Prototype Award for his play at the Senior Bowl. The 6-2/185 defensive back is from Bradenton, Florida and majored in Psychology.

Highlights:

Hampton defensive end Kendall Langford yanked California running back Justin Forsett down just shy of the first-down marker, setting up the South's game-winning drive led by Ainge.

UD Joe Flacco sent a deep floating down the right sideline, but it hung up a bit and didn't get far enough to the outside to avoid an opportunistic interception by Tennessee State's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.