B-CU beats buzzer, Norfolk State Lady Spartans

Photo: BC-U Lady Wildcat Demetria Frank hit winning shot to give Wildcats first conference win of the season. The 5-9 freshman guard is from Miami Jackson Senior High School, Miami, FL and is the first member of her family to attend college.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Bethune-Cookman University's freshman Demetria Frank hit a desperation shot from the top of the key as the buzzer sounded to stave off a spirited comeback attempt by Norfolk State and give the Wildcats a 76-74 win Saturday afternoon at Moore Gymnasium.

It also avoided what would have been a tough loss for the Wildcats. B-CU (4-17, 1-8 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) played on of its better games of the season to snap a 10-game losing skid. The Wildcats had a season-high 76 points. They led by 14 points at the half and by as much as 16 during the second half.

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Harrison, Coppin State defeat S.C. State

Antwan Harrison scored 19 points and Tywain McKee and Vince Goldsberry each had 16 to lead Coppin State past visiting South Carolina State, 79-67, yesterday. Coppin State University (6-19, 2-8 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) never trailed against South Carolina State (8-15, 4-5) and has won two straight conference games after losing eight straight to start the season. The Bulldogs, who are third in the league in scoring, had trouble adjusting to Coppin State's high-pressure defense and committed 17 turnovers.

Jason Flagler had 19 points, Robert Baker had 15 and Julius Carter added 11 points for South Carolina State.

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Savannah State drops Longwood in O.T.

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University dropped a disappointing 69-66 men’s basketball decision to visiting Savannah State University Saturday afternoon at Willett Hall in Farmville; a closely-played contest that featured 12 lead-changes and 14 ties. The Lancers (6-21) were led by senior Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) who matched his career-high with 23 points, adding a season-high 12 rebounds, while the Tigers (11-16) were led by Chris Linton with 14 points. Longwood will play again on Monday, February 11, on the road at Florida Atlantic University of the Sun Belt Conference in Boca Raton, Florida beginning at 7 p.m.

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Jacksonville Jam owner wasting his money

Photo: Jacksonville Jam Coach Mike Gillespie and several former FAMU and MVSU players may soon become unemployed due to the failure of the Jam owners to cover payroll and travel expenses of the team.

When Jacksonville Jam owner Felix Krupczynski decided to bring the umpteenth minor-league pro basketball franchise to this city, I publicly warned him that he was throwing money away. He brought the Jam here anyway and it couldn't last two seasons, in two different leagues, without running into financial problems.

If you don't have the resources to pay salaries or travel costs, why start this kind of business? Asking the Premier Basketball League to come to your rescue only makes things worse. Krupczynski claims the PBL reneged on promises to help the Jam, but isn't it the responsibility of the owner to cover expenses?

Now that the PBL has severed ties with Krupczynski midway through this season, you'd think he would pack it in for good...

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We are sorry to see the failure of this franchise as it adversely impacts former Florida A&M University coach Mike Gillespie and several former MEAC and SWAC basketball players that played at FAMU and MVSU, respectively. Hopefully, they all will land on their feet and get a true opportunity for pro basketball.

Prairie View women roll past visiting TSU

Photo: Prairie View A&M University head women basketball coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke has led the Lady Panthers to a 10-0 SWAC record (15-7 overall) on the first half of their schedule.

PRAIRIE VIEW — After a flat start, Prairie View's Lady Panthers proceeded to flatten Texas Southern University. A 20-6 run midway through the first half at the William Hicks Building was the spark Prairie View needed to rout TSU 75-46 on Saturday and remain undefeated in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Prairie View (15-7, 10-0 SWAC) won its 12th straight game behind a suffocating defensive effort that limited TSU (6-14, 4-6) to just 31 percent shooting.

"We weren't as focused as we should have been at the beginning," said Prairie View coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, whose team wore pink uniforms to promote "Think Pink Day" and raise breast cancer awareness. "Once we got going, we did some good things, especially on defense."

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NCA&T 2nd half sinks FAMU Lady Rattlers

Photo: Coach Debra Clark's Lady Rattlers have gone into a nose dive after a 9-1 start and have lost 10 of the past 11 games. Is it the players or the coaching leaders and what will the published excuse be next week?

The second-half collapses continued for the Florida A&M women's basketball team Saturday afternoon as the Lady Rattlers fell to the first-place North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies 69-53 at Gaither Gymnasium.

The Lady Rattlers, sporting their new pink uniforms in support of the "Think Pink" breast cancer awareness initiative, trailed by just a point in the first half but were outscored 41-26 in the second half. The woes sent FAMU to its 10th loss in 11 games.

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FAMU loses to N.C. A&T in two OTs

It was Thomas Coleman, however, who left Tallahassee with the last laugh Monday evening after he sank two free throws to lift his North Carolina A&T Aggies past the Rattlers 80-78 in double overtime. Coleman was fouled by FAMU senior guard Leslie Robinson with 1.1 seconds left in double overtime.

Thomas, who was 0 for 2 on his previous trip to the line, including the air ball, swished both shots to give his team the lead. The Rattlers, who at one point in the first half led by as many 16 points, tried to get off a desperation shot, but junior Joe Ballard's long inbounds pass was picked off by Aggies guard Steve Rush.

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Southern women trounce Grambling

GRAMBLING — Grambling scored the most points of any Southwestern Athletic Conference team against Southern all season. Not that it mattered. Southern, which has struggled on offense all season, scored a season-high for the second time this season against the Lady Tigers, who had 39 turnovers, in an easy 83-61 victory Saturday at the Assembly Center.

Deidra Jackson had 14 points and five assists to lead four players in double figures for SU (9-10, 7-3 SWAC), which won its fifth straight game.

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DSU Hornets seniors savor revenge over Hampton

DSU wipes out streak of four losses to Pirates

Burbage, Collier and Palmer combined for 22 points and Selena Galloway had a team-high 13 points to give DSU (11-12 overall, 6-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) the win. The threesome bonded in the way seniors do, with an unofficial pact to defeat the Pirates, a task they deftly handled in a 58-36 victory at Memorial Hall.

"It feels good," said Burbage, a Seaford High product. "I knew we were up for the challenge."

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Delaware State aces crucial test over Hampton U.

Victory over Hampton keeps Hornets in running for MEAC title

DOVER -- It's been a while since Delaware State's men's basketball team was faced with a game it had to win. That opportunity arrived Saturday.

The Hornets responded to the fate of their schedule, beating Hampton 67-58 in the only regular-season meeting of these schools before 1,231 at Memorial Hall. Over the past three seasons, in which DSU won each Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season championship, it had lost a collective eight league games. This season has been different. The Hornets entered Saturday's game with three MEAC losses.

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Southern loses at Grambling State Tigers

GRAMBLING – The red-hot scoring duel between Grambling State’s Andre Ratliff and Southern University’s Andre Davis was ultimately decided by a guy who didn’t even have a point for the first 37 minutes.

Grambling freshman Duran Diaz, who got all 12 of his points in the final 2:30 of regulation and overtime, scored the game’s final five points, lifting Grambling to a 79-76 overtime win Saturday at Memorial Gymnasium.

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WSSU signs 4 more to complete recruiting class

For the first time in the past 11 years of recruiting, Coach Kermit Blount of Winston-Salem State did not sign a local player. The Rams completed their class of 14yesterday with the addition of four players. The four signees announced yesterday included two teammates from Georgetown Prep in Washington, D.C. - Edgar Sheppard, a 6-4, 305 offensive lineman, and Jimmy Johnson III, a 6-3, 230-pound tight end.

Johnson, is the son of Jimmy Johnson II, a former NFL player who is the tight-ends coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Also signed was defensive end Akeem Ward, 6-4, 260, from Holly Springs, N.C. and Stephen Young of Woodbridge, Va., a 6-3, 260, defensive end and a state champion in wrestling in the heavyweight division for Gar-Field High School and has a career record of 106-22.

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Signing period's buzz absurd

Each year at this time, the South exacts revenge on the rest of the nation for losing the Civil War. Officially, it's known as the national signing period for college football recruits, but obviously, greater forces are at work. How else to explain why the first Wednesday in February is dedicated to teenagers who can barely diagram a sentence holding press conferences to announce where they will go to school to play a game 12 times a year?

Or adults tailgating at the university athletic complex and taking the day off of work in order to track recruits who land at their favorite — or least favorite — programs? Signing day essentially has become a national holiday for college football fans. Not to be confused with local football holidays that include the home opener, the spring game, fan appreciation day and the battle for the Commonwealth Cup or the Old Oaken Bucket or the Iron Bowl or whatever.

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Florida A&M University releases 2008 Football Schedule

Photo: Gregory Clark, RS Sophomore, 5-8/180 Corner back, Tampa, FL Durant H.S., runs back ball against Hampton University in November 2007 game.

The Joe Taylor era of Florida A&M football will debut at Bragg Memorial Stadium Aug. 30 against Alabama State. The Alabama State game is one of five home games the Rattlers have on their 2008 football schedule released Friday afternoon.

"It's a competitive schedule and features a nice mixture of home and road games," Taylor said. "With three of the six away games on neutral sites, I would say it is a competitive, but balanced schedule."

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2008 FLORIDA A&M FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

August 30 ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY, @ Tallahassee, FL

September 6 at *Delaware State @ Dover, DE

September 13 Bye

September 20 at *Howard University@Franklin Field, Philadelphia, PA

September 27 vs. Tennessee State at Georgia Dome (Atlanta Football Classic), Atlanta, GA

October 4 Open

October 11 *WINSTON SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY @ Tallahassee, FL

October 18 *SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY @ Tallahassee, FL

October 25 at *Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA

November 1 *MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY (Homecoming) @ Tallahassee, FL

November 8 at *North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC

November 15 *HAMPTON UNIVERSITY @ Tallahassee, FL

November 22 *Bethune Cookman University @ Orlando, FL - Citrus Bowl (Florida Classic)

Bold: home game; * MEAC game


Joe Taylor should go undefeated in his first season as head of the Rattlers program. The most critical game that will determine this outcome will be September 6, at Delaware State. Not that we are taking any of the MEAC opponents for granted, but a Joe Taylor coached team will come prepared to play and will be well conditioned.

The greater disappointment here are no games with Football Bowl Championship programs, no Southern Jaguars game and no game with a ranked Football Champion Subdivision program. Teams are permitted to play twelve games this season and FAMU has decided to fore go a potential home game payday on September 13 or October 4. Why?

MEAC fans will have to satisfy their thirst for David versus Goliath by watching the South Carolina State University games vs. University of Central Florida and Clemson; or Norfolk State University at University of Kentucky and Delaware State at Kent State.

Florida A&M has not signed one football or basketball player from the Atlanta area in the past five years, so what is the reason the Rattlers continue to play Tennessee State at this NFL venue? It certainly has not helped the Rattler recruiting efforts for student-athletes.

Tennessee State University home games are played at the Tennessee Titans venue, LP Field, which seats approximately 68,798 fans. It's time for the FAMU athletic director to work a deal for a home and Florida neutral site (home) game with the Tennessee State Tigers for 2009.

More importantly, FAMU athletic director Bill Hayes need to understand that Rattler Nation is not satisfied with having the dean of black college coaches, Joe Taylor, playing a typical cupcake schedule with no diversity and no Football Championship Subdivision (1-AA) powerhouses on the schedule. Why make Joe Taylor the highest paid football coach in HBCU football ($237,000 annually) if you are not moving the program towards national supremacy?

No doubt, FAMU schedule should have included a Georgia Southern, Wofford, Troy University, Florida Atlantic, University of Alabama-Birmingham or University of Central Florida, schools within a short bus ride to the Rattlers campus.

This football schedule does not make a strong argument for an at-large playoff berth nor does it lay the foundation for multiple teams from the MEAC making the FCS Playoffs in 2008. We would be hard pressed to see a 9-2 FAMU team in the playoffs with this weak schedule, especially if ASU and TSU have .500 seasons. A one loss season in the MEAC should knock FAMU out of the playoffs, as Delaware State, Norfolk State and South Carolina State strength of schedule are superior to FAMU's.

An 8-3 mark is definitely a ticket to stay at home for the holidays, but a great improvement over the 3-8 Rattler record of 2007.

-beepbeep

FAMU baseball team looking for consistency

The offseason got even quirkier when former head coach Robert Lucas was named head coach again, replacing Joe Durant, who took over for Lucas when he initially left FAMU. Lucas, who led the Rattlers to three MEAC titles in 1987, 1988 and 1990, was associate head coach on the team last season after spending a number of years as a scout for the Atlanta Braves.

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Florida A&M University 2008 Baseball Schedule

Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result
02/16/08 Alumni Game Tallahassee, FL 10:00 a.m. ET
02/22/08 at UCF Orlando, FL 6:00 p.m. ET
02/23/08 at UCF Orlando, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
02/24/08 at UCF Orlando, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
02/28/08 at Concordia Al Selma, AL 3:00 p.m. ET
03/01/08 vs. Savannah State Tallahassee, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
03/02/08 vs. Savannah State Tallahassee, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
03/04/08 at Mercer Macon, GA 4:00 p.m. ET
03/05/08 at Mercer Macon, GA 1:00 p.m. ET
03/06/08 vs. Presbyterian Tallahassee, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
03/07/08 vs. Presbyterian Tallahassee, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
03/12/08 at Edward Waters Jacksonville, FL 6:00 p.m. ET
03/22/08 vs. Bethune Cookman @ Tallahassee, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
vs. Bethune Cookman @ Tallahassee, FL TBA
03/23/08 vs. Bethune Cookman @ Tallahassee, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
03/25/08 vs. Alabama State Tallahassee, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
03/26/08 vs. Albany State Tallahassee, FL 3:00 p.m. ET
03/27/08 at Albany State Albany, GA 3:00 p.m. ET
03/29/08 at North Carolina A&T @ Greensboro, N.C. 1:00 p.m. ET
at North Carolina A&T @ Greensboro, N.C. TBA
03/30/08 at North Carolina A&T @ Greensboro, N.C. 1:00 p.m. ET
04/01/08 at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL 3:00 p.m. ET
04/03/08 vs. Concordia Al Tallahassee, FL 3:00 p.m. ET
04/05/08 at Savannah State Savannah, GA 1:00 p.m. ET
04/06/08 at Savannah State Savannah, GA 1:00 p.m. ET
04/08/08 vs. Mercer Tallahassee, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
04/09/08 vs. Mercer Tallahassee, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
04/10/08 at Morehouse Atlanta, GA 3:00 p.m. ET
04/12/08 at Delaware State @ Dover, DE 1:00 p.m. ET
at Delaware State @ Dover, DE TBA
04/13/08 at Delaware State @ Dover, DE 1:00 p.m. ET
04/15/08 vs. Edward Waters Tallahassee, FL 3:00 p.m. ET
04/16/08 vs. Jacksonville Tallahassee, FL 3:00 p.m. ET
04/19/08 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore @ Tallahassee, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
vs. Maryland Eastern Shore @ Tallahassee, FL TBA
04/20/08 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore @ Tallahassee, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
04/22/08 at Alabama State Montgomery, AL 3:00 p.m. ET
04/23/08 at North Florida Jacksonville, FL 3:00 p.m. ET
04/26/08 vs. Coppin State @ Tallahassee, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
vs. Coppin State @ Tallahassee, FL TBA
04/27/08 vs. Coppin State @ Tallahassee, FL 1:00 p.m. ET
05/03/08 at Norfolk State @ Norfolk, VA 1:00 p.m. ET
at Norfolk State @ Norfolk, VA TBA
05/04/08 at Norfolk State @ Norfolk, VA 1:00 p.m. ET
05/15/08 MEAC Baseball Tournament Norfolk, VA TBA
05/16/08 MEAC Baseball Tournament Norfolk, VA TBA
05/17/08 MEAC Baseball Tournament Norfolk, VA TBA
05/18/08 MEAC Baseball Tournament Norfolk, VA TBA

Schedule Key

@Conference Event

Optimism abounds for Southern University baseball

Optimism is an important ally for any coach in the weeks before his or her season is set to launch. It was certainly a handy companion for LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri and Southern University counterpart Roger Cador on Wednesday when the two men spoke to the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge at its weekly luncheon.

With the college baseball season pushed back to a common start date (Feb. 22) this season, the Tigers and Jaguars both have two more full weeks of practice before they take the diamond for real.

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The Jaguars will again be in a battle for the SWAC championship with Prairie View A&M. However, before the Jags can think about traditional opponents, they must face LSU in a televised game ( Feb. 26, CST Network/Cox Cable Channel 37 at 6:30 p.m.), UCLA, Southern Cal and Tulane. Ouch!

Gladness finds happiness at Alabama A&M

Photo: Alabama A&M University NBA pro prospect Mickell Gladness, 6-11/205 forward, Sylacauga, AL, Lawson State CC .

Center's love of hoops may lead to a pro career

Mickell Gladness arrived at Alabama A&M three years ago with little fanfare. He will leave with a whole lot more. Scouts and agents have come from near and far to get a look at Gladness, who has improved his scoring ability to go along with his shot blocking and rebounding skills.

"My dream has been to play beyond college," Gladness said Thursday before practice. "I love basketball, and I would love to play and get paid for it." Gladness'love for the game has been obvious lately. Over the last six games, the 6-foot-11, 205-pound senior has played as well as he's played during his career. During that stretch, Gladness is averaging 14.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.5 blocks while shooting 60 percent from the field.

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Hampton Pirates hoping Justice is served

HU might have a replacement for Kendall Langford in Jalal Gee.

Can Richmond-area lightning strike again for Hampton University? New coach Jerry Holmes thinks Jalal Gee of John Marshall High can become the program's latest Capital City bolt from the blue. Gee, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive tackle, signed to play for the Pirates on Tuesday to little fanfare. Gee, who carries a 3.0 grade-point average, chose Hampton over Old Dominion.
He bench-presses 370 pounds and runs a 5.0-second 40-yard dash. His other attributes are similar to those Langford brought to HU. "He has good footwork and an explosive first step." "He'll clog up some holes and tackle whatever comes through them. "He's that quick and he's that strong."

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Diversity Rule Goes to College

I-A Football Adopts NFL Hiring Practice

A version of the minority-interviewing rule that was the catalyst for the NFL to diversify its head coaching ranks has been adopted by major college football.

A written policy stipulating that any division I-A football program with a head coaching vacancy will interview at least one minority candidate was sent just more than three weeks ago to athletic directors at the 120 schools. The two-page document details what it calls "acceptable standards" regarding diversity in interviewing and hiring practices, and was distributed by the Division I-A Athletic Directors' Association.

The policy does not include a mechanism for punishing a school that does not comply with the requirement.

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Light Jazz from Howard University

The Flutes of Howard University - "A' Bientot"


Andrew White! Giant Steps and Hey Sexy Chocolate! With the Howard University Jazz Ensemble.


Afro Blue @ A Night Of Vocal Jazz at Howard University in the Blackburn Gallery Lounge - "Oh Freedom"

UMES Lady Hawks sting DSU Hornets 61-55

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. -- Maryland-Eastern Shore scored the last six points to earn a 61-55 victory over Delaware State University in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's basketball Wednesday. The score was tied 55-55 with 34 seconds remaining when UMES freshman Casey Morton started the 6-0 run by hitting a short jumper and a free throw to give the Hawks their first lead of the second half. Morton added two more free throws with 13 seconds left and Queenique Tyler hit one with one second remaining.

The Hawks won their school-record sixth straight to improve to 13-8, 6-2 in the MEAC.

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Johnnie Cole signs 27 recruits for Texas Southern

Texas Southern coach Johnnie Cole signed a group of 27. Seven members of the Tigers' class came from Mitchell High School in Memphis, Tenn., including quarterback Kenyan Torry, who accounted for nearly 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns last season.

TSU also addressed its needs at receiver and in the secondary, bringing in three wideouts and five defensive backs. Perhaps the biggest defensive pickup was defensive back Kydarian Wilkins of Dallas South Oak Cliff. Wilkins fell off many recruiting charts because of his 5-8, 165-pound size but is a potential shutdown corner. "Our coaching staff did a great job," Cole said. "We came in behind the eight-ball, but they hit the ground running. We wanted to build a foundation of Texas kids."

Texas Southern 2008 (27) Signees

Stephen Owens QB/TE 6-4 220 Alvin, Texas Alvin

Robert Hersh K 5-11 210 Pearland, Texas Pearland

Marc Ellis WR 6-4 200 Missouri City, Texas Willowridge

Samuel Gordy LB 6-1 200 Denton, Texas Denton Guyer

Christian Benard DL/FB 5-9 245 Denton Guyer

Donald Holloway OL/DL 6-3 270 Memphis, Tenn. Mitchell

Kenyan Torry QB 6-2 175 Memphis, Tenn. Mitchell

Darius Green DL 6-4 295 Memphis, Tenn. Mitchell

Lewis McCaster DL 6-3 255 Memphis, Tenn. Mitchell

Justin Toliver DB 6-0 185 Memphis, Tenn. Mitchell

Antonio Harris FB 5-10 210 Memphis, Tenn. Mitchell

Ashton Rucher OL 6-6 315 Memphis, Tenn. Mitchell

Joshua Robinson QB 6-4 200 Clinton, La. Clinton

Ian Williams OL 6-7 330 Pensacola, Fla. Pensacola

Ricky Williams LB 6-0 215 Pensacola, Fla. Pensacola

Wayne Ingram TE 6-3 230 New Orleans, La. John Curtis

Kydarian Wilkins DB 5-8 165 Dallas, Texas South Oak Cliff

Demarcus Washington DB 5-8 160 Dallas, Texas Lincoln

Montgomery Jackson DB 6-0 175 Okl. City, OK. Northeast

Joseph Igboeli DB 6-2 165 Grand Prairie, TX, South Grand Prairie

Andrew Phorne OL 6-6 335 Dallas, TX Carter

Chivas Belton DL 5-10 270 Houston, TX Klein Forest

Harry Brown QB 6-2 175Port Arthur, TX, Memorial

Brian Arnwine LB 6-0 190 Grand Prairie, TX South Grand Prairie

James Davis WR 6-3 200 Lufkin, TX Lufkin

Coach Billy Joe's Miles College Golden Bears signs 12 football student-athletes

Photo: College Football Hall of Fame coach William "Billy" Joe, Miles College.

I know, I know--NCAA Division II Miles College is not a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference or Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Golden Bears are a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), where former FAMU head football coach William "Billy" Joe is in his first season as Papa Bear.

This hall of fame coach has been our long time favorite coach, especially when it comes to recruiting philosophy and his ability to snatch a blue chip player or two.

Coach Joe will be one of five persons enshrined into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Hall of Fame during a reception on Thursday, March 13, 2008 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Marriott Crabtree Valley Hotel in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Joe has always be an entertaining ball coach, doing the unthinkable like coaching from the Press Box or saving scholarships for the late July rush of Division I transfers to help his teams. It will be interesting to look in on Coach Joe from time to time, to see how he's doing and his success in rebuilding the Miles College Bears.

Billy Joe signed 12 players on national signing day. The surprise was he nabbed (transfers) former Florida A&M University players Richard Koonce, OT, 6-7/315, Lantana, FL; Dan Henderson, OG, 6-4/330 Columbus, OH; and Carlton Hill, QB, 6-4/210, University of South Florida, Monticello, FL. These guys will be starters in Coach Joe explosive no huddle spread offense and are Division I level players.

Also signed were:

1. Josh Maxwell OC 6-3/305 Nashville, TN Stratford High School Accomplishments: All Region, All Metro and Rival Top 50

2. Steven Randlerson LB 6-0/205 Lake Worth FL Lake Worth High School, Accomplishments: All Area and All Star.

3. Lucius Wade, Jr. RB 5-8/161 Monticello FL Jefferson Co. High School Accomplishments: 2007 All State All Star.

4. DeMarcus Starks QB 6-3/190, Midfield AL Midfield High School,
Accomplishments: 2007 All Metro

5. Cedric Pendeleton OL 6-2/300 Jackson, MS Hinds C.C.

6. Aquantis Mobbley DB 5-10 180 Monticello, FL Gulf Coast C.C.

7. John Wilson DE 6-3 210 Graceville, FL Edward Waters College

8. Larry Johnson DE 6-3 250 Clinton MD West Hill C.C.

9. Justin Chapman OLB 5-9 210 College Park, GA Banneker High School
Accomplishments: Carter School Record, 367 Tackles All Region and All SW Metro

Have you noticed that Michael Strahan and Coach Joe both won Super Bowls with teams that were not given a prayer of a chance of winning. Coach Joe played on the 1969 Jets that won Super Bowl III with Joe Namath at quarterback, who guaranteed the win due to the lack of respect given by Baltimore Colts fans. Sounds familiar--so is the gap that Strahan and Joe's have in their similes. When they smile, you cannot help it but smile too, which is great for the soul. They both have a tremendous sense of humor that will keep you laughing.

The 67 year old coach has a game scheduled with 1-AA new Southern Conference member Samford University on September 6, 2008. Let the Coach Billy Joe era begin or better, the scheduled opponents should get ready for some major beat downs given by the Miles College Golden Bears and the second winningest coach in HBCU football history.

-beepbeep

Prairie View A&M University signs 20 on national signing day

Photo: Prairie View A&M University head football coach Henry Frazier III.

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – After the first day of signing football players to National Letters of Intent, the Prairie View A&M University list of commitments currently sits at 20. The Panthers have inked 16 student-athletes from high school, three junior college transfers and one division one transfer.

“As a staff we’re extremely pleased with our 2008 recruiting class, said Prairie View A&M head coach Henry Frazier III. “As a team we were able to address many of our needs. We were able to bring in a solid group of student-athletes that will be the foundation of Panther football in years to come.”

Highlighting the list of transfers and recruits is Russell Ball a 5-9, 170 pound transfer from Florida State University. Ball's presence in the Panthers backfield should provide an immediate impact.

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2008 PVAMU FOOTBALL SIGNEES

Deon Jones DT 6-1 285 Garland, TX North Garland

Damon Grant LB 6-1 225 San Antonio, TX Robert Cole

Anthony Wilson OL 6-2 260 Flower Mound, TX Flower Mound

Langston Patterson OL 6-2 300 Houston, TX Langham Creek

Elton Holmes LB 6-0 225 Bryan, TX Bryan

Randle Cole OL 6-2 260 Katy, TX James E. Taylor

Ryan Love DT 6-1 310 Houston, TX Langham Creek

Christopher Stanley OL 6-3 280 Jacksonville, Fla. Sandalwood

Antonio Morales OL 6-2 312 Galena Park, TX Galena Park

Spencer Nelson ATH 5-9 170 Jonesboro, Ga. Lovejoy

Marquis Hollie ATH 5-9 175 San Antonio, TX Earl Warren

Joshua Mack LB 6-3 230 Visalia, Ca. College of Seqouias

Anthony Banks OL 6-1 280 Baton Rouge, La. Glen Oaks

Dwayne Chappell DL 6-1 260 Washington, D.C. Dunbar

Charles Alston Jr. DE 6-4 280 Visalia, Ca. College of Seqouias

Russell Ball RB 5-9 170 La Marque, TX Florida State

Jermaine Bluford OL 6-3 320 Compton, Ca. Compton CC

Leighland Koonce WR 6-2 200 San Diego, Ca. St. Augustine

Duriel Harris WR 6-5 205 Channelview, TX Channelview

Thaddeus Wesley OL 6-4 310 Houston, TX Nimitz

UAPB Coach Coleman targets offensive linemen

Monte Coleman is a former Washington Redskin with three Super Bowl rings and plenty of name recognition. That combination certainly helped as he worked to secure his first recruiting class in his first season as Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s head coach.

The Golden Lions signed 22 players Wednesday on the first day of the national signing period, including six from Arkansas. Coleman said he expects to sign 30 players before the signing period ends. “ I am extremely pleased with this class, ’’ said Coleman, who served as UAPB’s defensive coordinator for two seasons before taking over head coaching duties for Mo Forte in November.

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