Spring football drills begin for Grambling State Tigers

Photo: GSU head coach Rod Broadway starts his second season preparation for the Tigers after toying in the off-season with coaching vacancies at Duke University and Florida A&M University.

by Grambling State University Sports Information

The Grambling State Tiger football team began spring practice Thursday afternoon in the friendly confines of Robinson Stadium.

The Tigers began the first day with non-contact drills as they wore only helmets, jerseys and shorts. The players opened practice with station drills followed by offense/defense breakout sessions before wrapping up the first day with conditioning exercises.

Grambling State, which finished 8-4 last year, begins year two of the Rod Broadway era with a total of 14 starters returning on both sides of the ball. While that number bodes well in terms of experience, the eight starters who departed were mainstays the past four years such as Clyde Edwards (WR), Tavarus Cockrell (OL), Zaire Wilborn (DB), Jason Banks (DL), Tim Manuel (P/PK), DeMichael Dizer (DB) and Reginald Jackson (WR).

Per NCAA rules, the Tigers are allotted 15 practice sessions which concludes with the annual Black and Gold Game on Apr. 19 at 1 p.m. in Robinson Stadium With only a limited to evaluate players, each practice is critical to both the staff and players as the Tigers won’t suit back up as a team until the first week of August for the start of fall camp.

Caribbean sings (literally) Obama's praises

Obama Girl, move over. Your I've Got a Crush on Obama video has got some rhythmic competition and it comes in the form of reggae and calypso from some hot Caribbean icons.

With big-name U.S. celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney already stumping for him, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is also striking a chord with Caribbean-born artists.

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Delaware State University Equestrian Team to compete for national championship

Photo: DSU Hornets 2008 Esquestrian Team (Courtesy: Carlos Holmes)

DOVER, DE -- Delaware State University's equestrian program has been selected to compete in the Varsity Equestrian National Championships, April 17-18 at the Heart O' Texas Fairgrounds in Waco, Texas.

Delaware State will compete in the Hunt Seat (English) Division championship. The Hornets are ranked 10th among the 12 teams in the tournament.

The national championship field is selected on the basis of winning percentage, strength of schedule and number of competitions. In 2007, University of South Carolina defeated the University of Georgia to win the national championship for the Hunter Seat Division.

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Alabama State's NCAA case still ongoing

The longest NCAA rules investigation in history still has no definite end in sight.

Alabama State's rules infraction case, which began when the school submitted a self-report to the NCAA in July 2003, is still ongoing, with an investigator requesting an interview in the case within the last month. In the meantime, the three coaches at the heart of the investigation have new college jobs, several key figures have passed away and a mountain of paperwork in the case continues to grow by the day.

"Honestly, this case might not be wrapped up in a year or a year and a half," said Montgomery attorney Don Jackson, who has represented several witnesses in the case and reviewed numerous documents. "If (the NCAA) sent out a notice of allegations (the next step in the process) next week, you're still looking at this case not going before the NCAA Committee on Infractions for a hearing until February at the earliest."

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Featured Multimedia: SCSU James Lee

Former S.C. State standout James Lee speaks about his performance at Pro Day and the performance of his former teammates.



Scouts from three NFL teams -- the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears and Saints -- showed up to workout the 25 athletes in attendance for the S.C. State Pro Day.

It has been reported that James Lee, the MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, shined. Lee tied for the second most bench-press reps of 225 pounds with 26, ran a 5.2 40, and had a 31.5-inch vertical jump. He also turned in one of the days best broad jumps, 9'7".

"I feel like I went out there and made me some money today by increasing three of the six events, the bench, the broad and the vert, from last week in Athens,Georgia" Lee said. "I talked to the scouts and they said they were impressed. I feel like I put myself in a better predicament."

Lee said he also had a strong workout with the Cleveland Browns Sunday, and that the Browns, Chiefs, Saints and Bears all want him to come in for private workouts. Lee is a former transfer player from the University of Georgia and stands 6-6/300. The Bell Glade, FL/Glades Central HS native played offensive line for the Georgia and S.C. State Bulldogs, respectively.

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Southern U O-line eager after tough '07

Photo: SU head coach Pete Richardson will need to replace a defensive coach after losing line coach David Geralds to Shaw University. Richardson is also unsure if running backs coach Elvis Joseph will return.

As Southern huddled as a team at the close of football practice Thursday, center Ramon Chinyoung let out a challenge to the defense that the pads were coming on in the next few days.

Though some of that bellow is eagerness after being academically ineligible and missing last season, the enthusiasm — combined with just having Chinyoung and two others in similar circumstances, tackle Adrian Banks and guard Joshua Keelen, back at work — is welcome.

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Practice intensity picks up on FAMU Rattler football field

Photo: RS senior LB Vernon Wilder, 6-0/248, Miami Carol City H.S., Miami, FL

An unusually large crowd of onlookers gathered closer to the fence that separated them from the Florida A&M practice field, as the Rattlers lined up in pads for the first time Thursday during spring practice.

The onlookers were close enough to see some of the things that left coach Joe Taylor believing his team is finding its identity.

Running back Philip Sylvester dashed for 40 yards into the end zone. Kicker Troy Walker hit a 30-yard field goal before he had two blocked by special teams defense.

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UAPB to name Mississippi Valley assistant George Ivory head coach

Mississippi Valley State assistant coach George Ivory will be named the new head men’s basketball coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, according to UAPB Athletic Director Louis “Skip” Perkins.

A press conference has been scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Golden Lion Stadium. The press conference is open to the public.

Ivory served under James Green at MVSU for one season as the Delta Devils won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament championship and played UCLA in the NCAA Tournament last Thursday. Mississippi Valley State ended the Golden Lions’ season on March 14 in the semifinals of the SWAC Tournament in Birmingham, Ala.

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Coach Ivory is expected to sign a four year deal worth $ 85,000 annually, not including incentives.

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SCSU holds second day of Spring Practice

By: By SCSU Sports Information

South Carolina State conducted its second day of spring drills Wednesday going through the basic fundamentals on offense and defense.

"Once again it was another pretty exciting practice going through the motions," said SCSU coach Buddy Pough. "The kids are working hard learning their assignments so when we do get into full gear everything goes smoothly."

Pough noted that all the players are enthusiastic and seemed to be taking to the new coaches well.

The Bulldogs will continue with a light workout the next few days before suiting up in shoulder pads on Friday.

"This will give us a chance to start more of our team style drills," stated Pough. "A lot of the guys are running around out there so now we get a chance to see what they can do in different positions."

SC State will resume practice on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and will conduct a light scrimmage beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The Bulldogs will wrap up spring drills Apr. 19 with their annual Garnet and Blue game.

Governor, Legislature salute DSU Football Champs

Photo: Seated (L-R): DSU Dir. of Athletics Rick Costello, Governor Ruth Ann Minner and DSU head coach Al Lavan surrounded by Hornet football team during visit to Governor's office.

By: DSU Athletic Media Relations

Dover, DE --- Delaware State’s 2007 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football champions were guests of honor during a recent visit to Legislative Hall. Led by Director of Athletics Rick Costello, along with head coach Al Lavan and his staff, more than 40 members of the Hornets were honored for their historic 2007 season by Governor Ruth Ann Minner and the General Assembly.

Last season, the Hornets posted a school record 10 wins (10-2), captured the school’s first MEAC championship since 1991 and made the first NCAA playoff appearance in team history. The ’07 Hornets became the third team in the 36-year history of the MEAC to post an 8-0 league record during the regular season.

Alcorn State football to play Southern Miss in 2009

Photo: Alcorn State University's new head football coach Earnest Jones is bringing excitement to the Braves program by playing Mississippi's Division I football programs.

LORMAN, MS — The Alcorn State Braves are on the verge of making some football history.

The Braves released their 2009 football schedule on Wednesday, which includes a trip to M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg to play Southern Miss. It will be the first time in the 88-year history of the football program that the Braves will play one of the three Division 1A schools in Mississippi.

Alcorn State football coach Ernest Jones said the game is a way to give the Alcorn State program some good recognition and step the program up a notch.

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The Golden Eagles will host Alcorn State on Sept. 12, 2009, in the first meeting between the two schools located about 150 miles apart.

USM will pay Alcorn between $150,000-$160,000. The Braves also will get the proceeds from the first 5,000 tickets they sell and the proceeds from a second allotment of tickets to ASU, if needed, would be split.

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Receivers shine for FAMU Rattlers

Florida A&M assistant football coach Jerry Stevens is still getting the names of all of the players under his watch down pat, but he can point them out one by one and give an account of their abilities.

Stevens, FAMU's receivers coach, already knows what lanky Isaac West can do with his height. Small but speedy Jarvis Funderburk is another one that Stevens is already familiar with. Even those whose names he's still learning bring something that Stevens is already getting a little ecstatic about.

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Southern U needs receivers to fill void

Archive Photo: SU Pete Richardson begins his 16th season as head of the Jaguars football program.

Who will be making up the 575 yards and nine catches of Gerard Landry and the 737 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground and the other 566 yards and five touchdowns through the air of Darren Coates?

This was what Southern, 8-3 last season, was trying to figure out as spring practice began Tuesday.

Juamorris Stewart, who has teased with flashes in his first two seasons, and Corderious Gregory, who will be a sophomore but missed last season with a knee injury from spring practice a year ago, are in Landry’s “X” spot.

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Three-Run 8th Inning Rallies No. 2 Miami Past BCU Wildcats, 7-6

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Freshman catcher Yasmani Grandal drove in the game-winning run after junior Dave DiNatale hit a two-run game-tying single in the bottom of the eighth as No. 2 Miami rallied to defeat Bethune-Cookman, 7-6, Wednesday night at Mark Light Field. Junior right-hander Carlos Gutierrez tossed the final inning to record his fifth save for the Hurricanes, who improved to 19-2 on the season.

The Wildcats managed to the get the tying-run on base in the top of the ninth, but after back-to-back strikeouts by Carlos Gutierrez, Grandal threw out the baserunner trying to steal second to end the game.

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Tennessee State CB Rodgers-Cromartie on short list

Photo: On April 26, Tennessee State's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie could become the first small-school cornerback drafted in the first round since 1995.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's renowned trainer believes he's the second coming of Deion Sanders.

Skeptics wonder if Rodgers-Cromartie can become a prime-time NFL cornerback.

A small-college standout with big-time athleticism, Rodgers-Cromartie has become one of the most hotly debated draft prospects. That's because he might become the first defensive back chosen despite a pedigree that normally scares NFL teams from taking such a gamble.

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Florida A&M pounds Albany State, 17-4

Photo: RF Jared Grace drove in four runs with two hits, including three-run HR in the 7th inning.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida A&M Rattler Baseball team snapped a four-game losing skid as they pounded Albany (Ga.) State, 17-4 in a non-conference affair at Moore-Kittles Field Wednesday afternoon.

Florida A&M (3-12) finished the day with 16 hits, riding not only their offense, but solid performances in the pitching and defensive departments.

Chris Fullman led the Rattler offense with three hits and two RBI. Thaddeous McBurrows and Jared Grace each had two hits and four RBI apiece, with Jared Jeffries and Tim Schalch each driving in two runs. Corey McFadden and Tim Jones also had an RBI each Wednesday.

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Hampton U. picks up basketball transfer

Photo: George DeGrout, #31 averaged 19.03 ppg, 10.52 rpg, 1.27 apg, 1.14 steals while shooting 62 percent from the floor for Allegany College of Maryland.

A former star forward at Norcom High School commits to Hampton University's men's basketball team.

George DeGroat, a former standout at Norcom High in Portsmouth, has given a commitment to Hampton University's men's basketball team.

The 6-foot-5 forward has played the past two seasons at Allegany Community College in Maryland, and prior to that spent a year at Genesis One Christian School in Mendenhall, Miss. He averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds this past season.

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Nutt withdraws from UAPB basketball search

Former Arkansas State head coach Dickey Nutt has withdrew his name from the head coaching search at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

UAPB Athletic Director Louis “Skip” Perkins said Tuesday that Nutt called him and told him that he was taking his name out of the running. Nutt told Perkins that he was grateful for the opportunity, but that he wanted to pursue other opportunities.

Nutt praised the administration at UAPB and hopes that the Golden Lions can find themselves a “great head coach.”

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UMES Hawks Bowlers get NCAA invitation

Photo: UMES Head Bowling Coach Sharon Brummell

Championship to be held April 10-12 in Omaha.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN---The NCAA's Bowling Committee met today to announce the eight teams that will comprise next month's NCAA Championship field.

Defending champion Vanderbilt was one of five Central Region teams chosen along with three Northeast Region squads to compete April 10-12 in Omaha. The selection criteria includes many factors including strength of schedule and success against top opponents.

Top-rated Nebraska, Minnesota State-Mankato, Arkansas State and Central Missouri are the other Central Region teams making the cut while Maryland-Eastern Shore, runner-up to Vanderbilt last year, New Jersey City and Sacred Heart are the Northeast teams with a chance to win.

This year's tournament will be held at Thunder Alley in Omaha, hosted by the University of Nebraska.

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Miami pulls away from tough Bethune-Cookman

For the sixth consecutive game, the Hurricanes (18-2) scored 10 or more runs, topping a five-game streak last set by UM's 1998 team. Miami also won its 15th game in a row over the Wildcats to lead the all-time series 16-1, but Bethune-Cookman (14-8) made it close.

The Wildcats tied the score at 4, with four runs in the second inning, and they threatened to take the lead in the seventh during a bases-loaded situation before reliever Kyle Bellamy got the Canes out of the jam. "The scoreboard doesn't show it,'' UM shortstop Ryan Jackson said. "They had some chances throughout the game that could have made things interesting."

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The comments made by UM Ryan Jackson and coach Jim Morris shows tremendous respect to the capabilities of the BCU baseball team. That's great coming from the #2 ranked Hurricanes team, and all MEAC/SWAC programs should be striving to be as competitive as BCU is in Division I baseball. The Wildcats started a freshman pitcher and was in a position to win. Wildcats and Hurricanes play again today.

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Lavan wary as Hornets look to build on 2007

Photo: Delaware State University Hornets head football coach Al Lavan.

DOVER -- Al Lavan has maintained an important principle during his more than 35 years of coaching football: Forget your accolades.

That's not easy, particularly when a team comes off a season like Delaware State had in 2007. But Lavan will be preaching his mantra when the Hornets open spring practice tonight at Alumni Stadium.

"You don't want to dwell on it," Lavan said of last season, when DSU went 10-2, won its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship since 1991 and qualified for the ...

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Cold weather challenges SSU quarterbacks

JaCorey Kilcrease and Brandon Webster also learning a new offense. Welcome to winter, uh, spring football practice at Savannah State. It was 35 degrees when the Tigers began drills at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday under the lights at T.A. Wright Stadium. It was their fifth practice since opening camp March 18.

"This is good for these kids," SSU first-year head coach Robby Wells said. "When you think spring practice, you don't think about 35 degrees. But my thing is I want to make it as tough on them in practice as possible so that when we get to the game it will be a little bit easier for them."

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McCoy impresses at SCSU Pro Day

File Photo: Cleve McCoy #19 is showing NFL scouts what the MEAC already knows--he's a talented hard nose player.

Cleve McCoy threw a few balls and then did what he had been expecting -- moved to wide receiver.

That's not to say the record-setting South Carolina State quarterback's passes were bad, actually, he was told he had good velocity on his ball. But, after McCoy, who measured in at 6-1 and 225 pounds, ran a 4.55 in the 40 and displayed a 35-inch vertical jump at South Carolina State's Pro Day at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Tuesday, he became a very intriguing prospect at slot receiver. So, a Saints scout split McCoy out, gave him a few routes to run, and started slinging passes -- around 20 total -- in his direction. He didn't drop a one.

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Love among QB choices at FAMU

Archive Photo: RS Sophomore Eddie Battle, 6-2/215 starts Spring as the #1 Rattler QB.

Love showed Tuesday that he could become a solid backup should Battle remain the front runner coming at the end of spring drills.

"The reps felt good," he said. "It felt good to go out there with the ones and the twos and see what's going on with the installations," he said. "Most of all I want to get my timing with my receivers and my feet down with my linemen, letting them know how I feel about the protection and everything."

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FAMU to let Coach Clark's contract expire

Photo: Florida A&M University athletic director William "Bill" Hayes.










Calling the termination of women's basketball coach Debra Clark's contract one of the hardest decisions he's made since becoming athletic director at FAMU, Bill Hayes said the move was necessary to change the direction of the program.

Clark's $120,000 annual salary was one of the highest in the MEAC, Hayes said. Initial talks about renewing her contract began immediately after he became athletic director late last year, he said. "We had a lot invested ...

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