Howard Comeback Falls Short In Loss To Morgan State

Photo: Boubacar Coly, 6-9/220 senior forward, blocked 4 shots, snatched 14 rebounds and scored 8 points in the victory over the Howard Bison.

BALTIMORE, MD. - Howard University staged a furious second half rally but fell just short in a 64-59 loss to Morgan State University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball game at Hill Fieldhouse.

The Bison (5-22 overall, 2-10 in the MEAC) appeared all but done when the Bears took a seemingly insurmountable 59-34 lead at the 9:39 mark of the second half. Morgan State (17-9 overall, 11-2 in the MEAC) combined some stifling defense and a sizzling fast break to keep Howard on its heels.

The Bears, who are now alone in first place in the MEAC after Norfolk State's loss to Coppin State, got a team-high 17 from Marquise Kately, 12 from Jamar Smith and 10 from Reggie Holmes off the bench. Boubacar Coly, one of the top rebounders and shot blockers in the nation, grabbed 14 caroms and was credited with 4 blocks.

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Betty Powers North Carolina A&T to wins

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Early indications are there is no sophomore slump in store for CJ Beatty.

Beatty went a combined 4-for-7 with two home runs and four RBI to lead the North Carolina A&T baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Buffalo 9-1 and 10-4 at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The Aggies improved to 2-0 while the Bulls fail to 0-2.

In the opener, Beatty, the 2007 MEAC Rookie of the Year, took the first pitch he saw on the season and towered over the right field fence for a solo home run and a 1-0 Aggies lead. The Bulls’ Nick Walczak evened the score in the sixth by going deep off of N.C. A&T starter Tim Johnson.

The Aggies broke the game open in the next half inning, however. The Aggies put together six straight hits and a walk off of starter Zach Anderson before he was replaced by reliever Mike Stangroom.

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S.C. State snaps NSU’s 5-game winning streak 97-86

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - The moment captured the essence of a game Norfolk State would rather forget. In a fit of anger, Norfolk State forward Larry Vickers slammed the ball underneath his team's basket. There were 40 seconds left in regulation and the Spartans had allowed South Carolina State to secure another offensive rebound and one more opportunity to score.

The Bulldogs, just like they had done all afternoon, took advantage - scoring two more points and increasing their lead in their surprising 97-86 victory Saturday at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Center.

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Sweat's Career-High Eight Strikeouts Lead UCF Past Florida A&M, 16-2

Brown drives in four runs, Duffy scores four times in the win over the Rattlers.

ORLANDO, Fla.- After suffering through a lengthy rain delay before first pitch, the UCF baseball team moved to 2-0 on the season with a 16-2 win over Florida A&M Saturday at Jay Bergman Field. Junior starter Kyle Sweat delivered with a career-high eight strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work for the victory.

The Knights racked up 15 hits in the win over the Rattlers (0-2), led by senior Dwayne Bailey and sophomore Shane Brown, who each posted three hits. Brown also posted a career-high four RBI, and sophomore Chris Duffy set a personal mark with four runs scored.

UCF climbed on top of FAMU and starter Anthony Espin (0-1) in the second as Duffy reached on an error and senior Ryan Richardson blasted a double high off the center-field fence. Following an intentional walk to Brown, freshman Evan Stobbs was issued a free pass with the bases juiced for the first run.

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NCCU's Futrell an inspiration

Photo: Charles Futrell, 6-6/205 forward, senior, Fayetteville, NC, major: Mathematics/Computer Science.

DURHAM -- Even after another defeat, even when N.C. Central’s basketball season seemingly couldn’t get worse, Charles Futrell smiles. It’s the kind of smile that comes with perspective.

To have it, you have to look past the Eagles’ 3-25 record, the 17-game losing streak, the 65-point loss at Duke and the ugly 28-point offensive output at Nebraska. You have to look more at a day in December, when freshman guard Michael Glasker returned from the holiday break and told teammates that his best friend had been shot and killed back home, on Christmas Eve of all days.

The first player to offer condolences was Futrell, who said simply, “I understand.”

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UAPB Golden Lions knock off SEMO in 2008 opener

Now this is the way you start a season.

Traditionally slow starters, Arkansas-Pine Bluff bucked that trend Friday as the Golden Lions outlasted Southeast Missouri State 4-2 in nine innings in their season opener at Taylor Field.

Daniel Gathright (1-0) earned the victory on the mound by pitching three scoreless innings of relief and UAPB (1-0) managed to overcome six errors in the contest to get the win. Justin Moring started the game for UAPB. The junior pitched six innings and gave up two runs — neither of which was earned — to go along with three hits and four strikeouts.

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Atkins is off to good start for Alabama A&M Bulldogs

AAMU QB does well on first dayof spring practice

Kevin Atkins jogged off the field smiling.

A rising sophomore on the Alabama A&M football team, Atkins is the heir apparent to quarterback Kelcy Luke. After Friday's first day of spring practice, all seemed right in Atkins' world. "It went pretty good," said the 6-0, 213-pounder out of Durham, N.C. "I've got to prove to my teammates and my coaches I can lead this team and be the starter. I don't want to get too comfortable or too relaxed.

"I'm going to stay hungry every day and try to get better."

Atkins and Jared Loftin will battle for the starting job this spring. While Atkins played in five games, Loftin, a redshirt sophomore from Troy, has yet to play in a college football game.

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Cobb appeal denied by SCSU

The news came quicker than David Cobb expected Thursday morning.

Upon reading the letter from the Student-Athlete Appeals Committee, it did not take long for Cobb to realize that his South Carolina State basketball career was truly over.

Less than 24 hours after holding a hearing requested by Cobb in regards to his dismissal from the men's basketball team, the five-member committee denied his appeal for reinstatement. Speaking on behalf of the committee, NCAA Faculty Representative Clemmie Hill said they 'supported' the decision by SCSU men's basketball coach Tim Carter to dismiss him following an incident after the loss to Coppin State game on Feb. 9.

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Elliott leaves SCSU football staff for Furman

Photo: New Furman University Wide Receiver coach Antonio (Tony) Elliott.

South Carolina State football head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough confirmed Friday afternoon that Bulldogs wide receivers coach Tony Elliott had left to take the same position at Furman.

"It's a big loss for us," Pough said. "He has done a tremendous job, built great relationships with the kids and is an all-around quality guy. When you lose a guy of that quality it's tough, but we are going to try to replace him with somebody just as good or better."

Elliott spent the past two years at SCSU, and was a graduate of Clemson University where joined the Tiger football program as a walk-on. He lettered all four years at Clemson and was voted team captain in 2003. As a senior, Elliott caught 23 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown in helping Clemson to a 9-4 record that included a 27-14 Peach Bowl victory over sixth-ranked Tennessee.

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NSU’s success yields renewed enthusiasm

Photo: Junior Michael Deloach #2, makes move against NCA&T. The 6-0/175 guard is from Bonner Academy, Rocky Mount, N.C.

NORFOLK - There is already tangible evidence that the basketball team is moving the needle. The hotel rooms the school bought in blocks for the MEAC tournament next month are already filled up.

Donations have increased, too, according to Kim Walton, director of the school’s alumni relations department. Normally, 8.2 percent of the university’s graduates contribute money. This year, Phillip Adams, vice president of university advancement, said Norfolk State should be able to realize its goal of securing financial contributions from 10 percent of alumni.

The school’s fundraising campaign, coincidentally, is titled “Winning Season.”

The student community and alumni are gradually embracing the Spartans, who are tied for first in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as they prepare to face South Carolina State this afternoon in Orangeburg, S.C.

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This 4 p.m. game will be televised live on ESPN Classic, Norfolk State University Spartans vs. South Carolina State University Bulldogs.

UCF Baseball Pounds Out 17 Runs in Opening-Day Win over FAMU

Photo: FAMU starting pitcher Cirilo Manego had a difficult day on the mound pitching 2.1 innings, giving up 12 hits, 10 runs and 3 strikeouts to UCF Knights.

Knights defeat Rattlers, 17-1, to tie school record for most runs in a season-opener.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A festive crowd of 1,282 ventured to Opening Day at Jay Bergman Field Friday and had a lot to cheer about as UCF routed Florida A&M, 17-1. The Knights' 17 runs tied a school record for most in a season-opener, as they also accomplished the feat vs. Rollins in 1998.

Senior Jaager Good (1-0) got the start for the Black and Gold and gave up just two hits and struck out eight in 5.2 innings of work, including striking out the side in the first. At the dish, senior Dwayne Bailey came one hit shy of matching the school mark for hits in a game, as he went 5-for-5 with four runs scored. Meanwhile, senior Tyson Auer tied his career high by scoring four runs as well.

"As long as you win by one run, it's a W," said head coach Jay Bergman, who enters his 26th season with UCF. "I thought we played very well tonight, particularly defensively, and Jaager was in control of his game. The team played with a lot of enthusiasm and what we call synergy."

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Promise still has Williams at Coppin State

Photo: Coppin State University Coach Harvey Lee had some painful days last season going 0-44 with only 11 players. Better days are ahead for the Eagles in 2008 with a full roster of talented players.

No games have been played yet, but life as a Coppin State baseball player is better for Harry Williams (Potomac '06) this season than it ever was last season. It's easy to see why. All the sophomore first baseman has to do is scan the field.

There are players catching fly balls in the outfield, third basemen taking grounders and pitchers working out on the mound. Last season, Williams did all those things, filling in at all but two positions for a Coppin State team that fielded 11 total players and finished the season 0-44.

Williams could have bolted the program after 2007, but second-year coach Harvey Lee made a promise to Williams. If Williams stayed, Lee said he would not only find more players to field a competitive team. That team would be built around Williams. "Coach Lee guaranteed that we would have a team and it would be a lot better," said Williams, who hit a team-high .339 last season. "When he said that, I believed every word he said about it. He kept his word."

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The Coppin State baseball home opening weekend has been postponed due to snow and rain in the Baltimore area and instead the Eagles will travel to Hofstra for their season opener. The Eagles were originally scheduled to host the Pride for single games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Hofstra and Coppin State, pending weather in the Hempstead area, will play a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at noon.

FAMU quarterback jailed; reported attack a hoax

Photo: Division I transfer freshman quarterback and student Mike Johnson confessed to filing a false report on being attacked at Florida A&M University. The entire story was a fabrication.

Florida A&M freshman quarterback Michael Johnson was arrested Friday after he admitted to campus police that he lied about being attacked at gunpoint by three masked men in his dorm room earlier this week. Johnson, 19, was taken to the Leon County Jail. He faces charges of filing a false report to law enforcement and making false official statements. Both charges are misdemeanors.

"During the course of the investigation, he decided to confess to committing the act," FAMU Police Chief Calvin Ross said Friday evening.

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A Renaissance is on in the SWAC and MEAC

Photo: North Carolina A&T State University Aggies head baseball coach Keith Shumate (9th year). #23 is RH Pitcher Marquis Frink, 5-10/180 junior, Garner, N.C., Louisburg Junior College/Pine Forest H.S.

As Mississippi Valley State coach Doug Shanks looks around the Southwestern Athletic Conference, he likes the scenery.

He sees a traditional power like Southern University, the first historically black school to win an NCAA tournament game. He sees the new bully on the block at Prairie View A&M, the two-time defending SWAC champion. He sees vastly improved programs at Grambling and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He sees schools like Jackson State and Texas Southern with a stable of fine athletes. He sees improving facilities. He sees better attendance. He sees higher-caliber players.

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Rattlers trying to make the right pitch for '08 season

Photo: FAMU head baseball coach Robert Lucus.

The Florida A&M Rattlers were picked to finish fifth in the MEAC's preseason baseball poll. Whether FAMU finishes above, below or right at its preseason ranking could depend a lot on its effectiveness of their pitching.

Injuries decimated the unit last season, but the pitching staff appears relatively healthy heading into this weekend's season-opening series at Central Florida.

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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

Fisk eliminates varsity sports as part of cost-cutting measures

The players on Fisk's men's basketball team knew they had only one game left to play this season. On Thursday they learned Sunday's game at Spalding University would be the last for the Bulldogs. The school announced Thursday it will transition from NCAA sanctioned athletic teams to an intramural and club sports system as part of an effort to cut costs.

Fisk's athletics program costs the school approximately $300,000 per year to operate and brought in only about $10,000 each year in revenue, according to Ken West, vice president of communications and public relations. Fisk competes on the NCAA Division III level, which means it does not provide athletic scholarships.

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This article is posted for my sister who is a Fisk University alumna...send more money!!

Texas Southern releases tenative 2008 schedule

Texas Southern University announced its tentative schedule Thursday, with the Tigers playing four of their five home dates at Alexander Durley Field, including a Nov. 15 game against Grambling. The school's Nov. 8 homecoming contest against Mississippi Valley State is at Delmar Stadium.

TSU will play Shaw (N.C.) University on Sept. 13 in Sacramento, Califorinia, and the Tigers will close out the season in Dallas against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 29. This will Coach Johnnie Cole first season as head of the football program.

TSU 2008 football schedule

Aug. 30: vs. Prairie View (Reliant)
Sept. 13 vs. Shaw (Sacramento, Ca.)
Sept. 20 vs. Texas College (Waco)
Sept. 27 vs. Concordia
Oct. 4 vs. Langston
Oct. 11 at Southern
Oct. 18 vs. Jackson State
Oct. 25 at Alcorn State
Nov. 8 vs. Miss. Valley St. (Delmar Stadium)
Nov. 15 vs. Grambling
Nov. 29 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Dallas)

Bethune Cookman Wildcats carry weight of expectations

Photo: BCU head baseball coach Mervy Melendez

Baseball is the flagship program at Bethune-Cookman as far as competitiveness goes. While a winning season in many other sports at the schools is reason to celebrate, that's not the case with the baseball teams. "If we don't make the NCAAs, there's a feeling that we haven't been successful," B-CU coach Mervyl Melendez said. B-CU has dominated the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and has advanced to the NCAAs in seven of the last eight seasons.

The journey toward the 2008 NCAA tourney begins tonight for both teams, as Bethune-Cookman plays host to Temple at 6 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

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2008 Bethune-Cookman Baseball Schedule

Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result

Fri., Feb. 22 vs. Temple Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 23 vs. Temple Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 24 vs. Temple Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 26 vs. Florida Atlantic Daytona Beach, Fla. 4:00 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 29 at USC Los Angeles, Calif. 10:00 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 1 at UCLA Los Angeles, Calif. 8:00 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 2 vs. Southern Los Angeles, Calif. 4:00 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 4 vs. Georgia Southern Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 5 vs. USF Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Fri., Mar. 7 vs. Illinois State Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 8 vs. Illinois State Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 9 vs. Illinois State Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
Mon., Mar. 10 vs. North Florida Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 11 at Mercer Macon, Ga. 6:00 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 12 at Mercer Macon, Ga. 4:00 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 15 vs. Penn State West Palm Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
vs. Pittsburgh West Palm Beach, Fla. 5:00 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 18 vs. Florida Gulf Coast Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 19 vs. Florida Gulf Coast Daytona Beach, Fla. 3:00 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 22 at Florida A&M * Tallahassee, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
at Florida A&M * Tallahassee, Fla. 4:30 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 23 at Florida A&M * Tallahassee, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 25 at Miami Coral Gables, Fla. 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 26 at Miami Coral Gables, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Fri., Mar. 28 vs. Savannah State Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 29 vs. Savannah State Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 30 vs. Savannah State Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
Tue., Apr. 1 at Stetson DeLand, Fla. 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Apr. 2 at USF Tampa, Fla. 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 5 vs. North Carolina A&T * Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
vs. North Carolina A&T * Daytona Beach, Fla. 4:30 p.m.
Sun., Apr. 6 vs. North Carolina A&T * Daytona Beach, Fla. 2:00 p.m.
Tue., Apr. 8 at Stetson DeLand, Fla. 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Apr. 9 vs. Jacksonville Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 12 vs. Norfolk State * Ormond Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
vs. Norfolk State * Ormond Beach, Fla. 4:30 p.m.
Sun., Apr. 13 vs. Norfolk State * Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
Tue., Apr. 15 vs. Jacksonville Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Wed., Apr. 16 vs. USF Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 19 at Coppin State * Baltimore, Md. 1:00 p.m.
at Coppin State * Baltimore, Md. 4:30 p.m.
Sun., Apr. 20 at Coppin State * Baltimore, Md. 1:00 p.m.
Tue., Apr. 22 vs. Stetson Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
Thu., Apr. 24 at North Florida Jacksonville, Fla. 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 26 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore * Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
vs. Maryland Eastern Shore * Daytona Beach, Fla. 4:30 p.m.
Sun., Apr. 27 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore * Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
Tue., Apr. 29 at Jacksonville Jacksonville, Fla. 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Apr. 30 at USF Tampa, Fla. 7:00 p.m.
Sat., May 3 at Delaware State * Dover, Del. 1:00 p.m.
at Delaware State * Dover, Del. 4:30 p.m.
Sun., May 4 at Delaware State * Dover, Del. 1:00 p.m.
Tue., May 6 at Florida Atlantic Boca Raton, Fla. 4:00 p.m.
Wed., May 7 at Florida Gainesville, Fla. 6:30 p.m.

MEAC Tournament
Thu., May 15 MEAC Tournament Norfolk, Va. TBA

FAMU QB robbed, threatened at gunpoint in campus dormitory

Photo: Mike Johnson, 6-1/208 quarterback, freshman transfer from Division I, University of Tulsa/Durham (NC) Hillside H.S.

Masked men wrote 'Mike + football = death' on son's mirror, says mother of football player.

The mother of a Florida A&M University football player says three masked men put a gun to her son's head and threatened that he would die if he stays on the team.

Mina Forte-Ferguson, of Durham, N.C., said it happened to her son, Mike Johnson, 19, in his campus dorm room. Johnson heard a knock at the door about 4 a.m. Tuesday. The three men rushed in and pushed him onto his bed. They wrote "Mike + football = death" on his mirror, television and refrigerator, his mother said. They also stole items from his room. She and her husband, Neil Ferguson, drove from Durham, N.C., to meet with FAMU officials Thursday.

Johnson is a freshman and enrolled at FAMU for the spring semester. He transferred from the University of Tulsa and was recruited as a quarterback.

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Johnson was a three-year letter winner and two-year starter at Hillside High School completing 65 percent of his passes for 3,142 yards and 27 touchdowns his senior season. He also rushed for 500 yards and five TDs and was a first-team all-conference, all-area and honorable mention all-state selection as a senior. Johnson had a two-star rating by Scout.com and Rivals.com coming out of high school. He threw for 1,524 yards and 12 touchdowns his junior campaign and was a second-team all-conference performer as a junior.

Florida A&M football is coached by Joe Taylor, who was hired in late December 2007.

Three Baltimore teams could be tournament-bound

Photo: Coach Todd Bozeman has built the Bears into a NCAA Tournament contender in two seasons as head of the Morgan State program.

UMBC, Morgan State and Loyola in the hunt as season winds down

In a perfect storm of opportunity, chemistry and ambitious coaching, three NCAA, Division I college basketball teams from Baltimore have raised the roof on expectations this season. As the college basketball season careens down the stretch, it's worth noting that Baltimore rarely has one team in contention for an NCAA berth. This season, it could hit the trifecta. Who would've imagined that?

On the east side of town, coach Todd Bozeman's cultural revolution has lifted Morgan State from the dregs of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to a first-place tie with Norfolk State. The chances of a historic first NCAA Division I berth are not lost on the Bears. What were the odds that Bozeman could elevate the program at Morgan State in just two years? The MEAC is among the lower ranked conferences in Division I, but the Bears are not the product of a weak conference. With Marquise Kately, Boubacar Coly and Jerrell Green, they have the look of a legitimate tournament team.

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Alabama A&M quarterback job up in air

Sophomores lead race to replace Luke at A&M

Life after Kelcy Luke begins Friday for Alabama A&M's football team as redshirt sophomores Kevin Atkins and Jared Loftin compete for the starting job during spring drills. Luke, a first-team All-SWAC selection last season, was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs and led them to the 2006 league title.

Stanley Allen, who took over for an injured Luke in the '06 title game as A&M came from behind to beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff, left the team last season after falling behind Atkins on the depth chart. "He felt he had some other obligations he had to take care of," said A&M coach Anthony Jones, who is starting over in terms of finding someone to execute the Bulldogs' offense.

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Here's to you, (Savannah State) Ms. Robinson

Photo: SSU's Patrice Robinson stays busy with school, basketball and visiting her 18-month-old daughter. The 6-1 junior forward is majoring in mass communications.

Patrice Nicole "Nikki" Robinson was only 22 when she learned she was pregnant.

A former basketball star at Swainsboro High School, Robinson thought her dream of playing for four years at the collegiate level had vanished.

During her senior season at Swainsboro, Robinson led the Tigers to the Class AAA state championship game, where they lost to Northeast Macon. She was named the Savannah Morning News Player of the Year in 2002.

Although recruited by Savannah State, Robinson signed a letter of intent to play for Mercer. But she ended up at Georgia Perimeter, a junior college in Decatur, where she played for two seasons.

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CHASING THE DREAM: North Carolina A&T grad rolling with the punches

Photo: Actress Zonya Love (Johnson) stars in the Broadway production of The Color Purple. The Durham, N.C. native earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from North Carolina A&T State University and a Masters of Fine Arts in Theatre from UNLV.

NCA&T and UNLV grad looking toward future as big break in 'Color Purple' comes to end.

It's one of those moments that can break a career -- or a heart.

There Zonya Love was, an aspiring actress fresh from completing her graduate studies in the UNLV theater department, vying for the role of a woman on a long journey of self-discovery, a path marked by bruises and scars, tough luck and tougher skin.

It was last November, and after months of auditioning for the role of "Celie" in the Broadway production of "The Color Purple," Love got one of those calls that can change a life.

"They called me into the room, and the producer said, 'So, can we officially call you Ms. Celie?'" Love says, her voice still scorched with incredulity. "My eyes got big, my mouth opened wide, and I was taken aback for a second. I remember twirling around and shaking hands, keeping my composure, and then going into the restroom and I just lost it. I was crying. I was praising God. I was dancing. It was the best feeling. Ever."

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Zonya Love made her Broadway debut as Celie in the hit musical The Color Purple, on January 9, 2008, alongside Chaka Khan as Sofia and BeBe Winans as Harpo. It also stars Elisabeth Withers-Mendes as Shug Avery, Alton Fitzgerald White as Mister, Darlesia Cearcy as Nettie and Krisha Marcano as Squeak.

A native of Durham, North Carolina, Love received a BFA in theatre from North Carolina A&T State University,(AGGIE PRIDE!!!) and a MFA in theatre from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She moved to New York in September 2007 and was teaching theater and Head Start classes when she got a callback for The Color Purple. Love's previous stage credits include Intimate Apparel, Wit, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Smokey Joe's Cafe.

Her parents are Zander Johnson Sr. and Earline Shackleford and she has five siblings.

The Color Purple was produced by Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, and others...

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Prairie View A&M Releases 2008 Football Schedule

Prairie View A&M University Sports Information

Prairie View A&M's schedule highlighted by three classics

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - Prairie View A&M Athletics Department has released its 2008football schedule which features a total of eleven games.

The Panthers will open the season with the Annual State Farm Labor Day Classic against cross town rival Texas Southern on August 30th. Prairie View A&M will then hosts Texas College on September 6th before heading to Huntsville to take on Sam Houston State on September 13th.

“We’re extremely excited about the 2008 Prairie View A&M Panthers football schedule,” said Athletics Director Charles McClelland. The schedule features eleven games with the addition of the Sam Houston State Bearkats from the Southland conference,”

Photo: PVAMU Panthers football coach Henry Frazier III.

After facing the Bearkats, the Prairie View A&M Panthers will make their first out of state appearances as they travel to Itta Bena, Miss. on September 20th and Los Angeles, Calif. on September 27th to square off against Mississippi Valley State University and Morehouse College, respectively.

“It’s definitely an honor for our football program to have the opportunity to travel back to Los Angeles to participate in the Angel City Classic,” said McClelland. “We’re looking forward to an exciting game between the Panthers and the Morehouse Tigers”.

Prairie View A&M will take on Grambling State in the Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic on October 4th, followed by a Southwestern Athletic Conference East vs. West showdown against Alabama State for Homecoming 2008 on October 11th.

“Traditionally our Homecoming game has been scheduled for the last weekend in October or first weekend in November,” said McClelland. “Due to a change in SWAC scheduling policy several of our conference games were moved down. Our annual game against Southern which is typically played during the third week of the season, has been moved to October 25th at Reliant Stadium which left October 11th as the most viable option for Homecoming.”

The week following Homecoming, PVAMU will travel to Pine Bluff, Ark. for a game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on October 18th, before hosting the Southern Jaguars on October 25th at Reliant Stadium.

The Panthers will close out their 2008 season with a road outing versus Alabama A&M on November 8th and a home contests against Alcorn State at Blackshear Field on November 15th.

“Overall we’re highly anticipating the 2008 football season,” said McClelland. “We look forward to bringing exciting Panther football to Prairie View A&M fans and athletics supporters.”

Prairie View A&M head football coach Henry Frazier III is also pleased with the Panthers 2008 schedule.

“We were able to put together a highly competitive schedule and we’re looking forward to the upcoming season,” said Frazier. “We will face two ex Big 12 starting quarterbacks the first three weeks of the season. Our first couple of games should be a great gage for measuring what type of football team we have.”

On August 30th the Panthers defensive unit will look to contain former Oklahoma State starting quarterback Bobby Reid who recently signed to play at TSU. Two weeks later the Prairie View A&M Panthers will once again find themselves tangling with another former Big 12 starting quarterback as they travel to Huntsville to take on OU transfer Rhett Bomar and the Sam Houston State Bearkats.


DATE OPPONENT STADIUM LOCATION TIME

Aug. 30 * Texas Southern (Labor Day Classic)Reliant Houston, Texas 7:00 pm
Sept. 6 Texas College Blackshear Field Prairie View 4:00 pm
Sept. 13 Sam Houston State Bowers Stadium Huntsville, Texas 6:00 pm
Sept. 20 Miss. Valley State Rice-Totten Stadium Itta Bena, Miss. 2:00 pm
Sept. 27 Morehouse (Angel City Classic)Coliseum Los Angeles, Calif. TBA
Oct. 4 * Grambling State (State Fair Classic)Cotton Bowl Dallas, Texas 6:00 pm
Oct. 11 * Alabama State (Homecoming) Blackshear Field Prairie View 2:00 pm
Oct. 18 * Arkansas- Pine Bluff Golden Lion Pine Bluff, Ark. TBA
Oct. 25 * Southern Reliant Houston, Texas 6:00 pm
Nov. 8 * Alabama A&M Lewis Crews Huntsville, Ala. TBA
Nov. 15 * Alcorn State Blackshear Field Prairie View 2:00 pm

*Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games.

For season pass and ticket information please call 936-261-9100 or 9111 or visit the Pathers online at http://sports.pvamu.edu/.

Click on Blog Title for printable schedule.

He once shunned basketball; now embraces it at Norfolk State

Photo: NSU #11, Joseph Dorsett-Jeffreys, Center, 6-11/285 sophomore, Brox, NY/North Dakota State College of Science.

NORFOLK, VA- In the crowded streets of New York City, Joseph Dorsett-Jeffreys was admittedly self-conscious. Each day, he would attract stares of strangers, some of whom would pepper the unusually big teen with the usual questions:

How tall are you? Do you play basketball? What team do you play for?

Dorsett-Jeffreys, Norfolk State's 6-foot-11 sophomore center, would sigh and roll his eyes. He didn't appreciate that he was typecast at 15. Even though he had a decided advantage because of his height, he was determined that he wouldn't spend his free time running up and down 94 feet of finished hardwood. Besides, his high school coach at Park West in Manhattan told him he had no future in the sport.

"At first, I couldn't even stand basketball," Dorsett-Jeffreys said. "I can't even lie."

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