Nevada transfer makes presence felt at Jackson State

Photo: Jackson State Tigers No. 1 free safety, Sergio Villasenor, transfer from University of Nevada.

Blue & White Game: Today, 1:30 p.m., Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium

Rick Comegy kept seeing the same face around the football offices, but it wasn't a familiar one. That's a little strange for the head football coach. Comegy finally decided to say something. "One day he walked out and he looked like a baseball player to me," Comegy remembered with a smile.

"I said, 'How's baseball?' Coach (James) Woody said, 'Man, he's one of our players.'" That player turned out to be Nevada transfer Sergio Villasenor - who's currently listed on the depth chart as the No. 1 free safety.

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FAMU Rattlers remain undefeated in MEAC

Photo: Dr. Carl B. Gooman is in his 11th season as the FAMU Men's Tennis Coach and has guided the Rattlers to eight MEAC championships.

Men's tennis able to take care of B-CU.

Paul Paige didn't need a lot of motivation, although he was playing the No. 6 spot for FAMU's men's tennis team. Just playing Bethune-Cookman University was enough motivation Friday afternoon.

He fought off a couple of service breaks to put down Kristofer Martin 6-2, 6-3 to help secure a 6-1 victory over the Wildcats. FAMU, 9-10 overall, remains the only undefeated team in the Southern Division of the MEAC standings with its third straight conference win.

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Weather changes plans for UAPB Golden Lions

File Photo: UAPB Golden Girls 2007 at JSU Homecoming.

Just as the Arkansas-Pine Bluff football team was getting back into football mode this week, Mother Nature’s method of madness has a way of scuttling plans.

UAPB head coach Monte Coleman called off Wednesday’s practice due to unfavorable field conditions at Old Pumphrey Stadium due to the weather. Although the Golden Lions returned to the field Thursday to practice for the second time this spring, Friday was UAPB’s scheduled day off, therefore they did not practice to make up for Wednesday. UAPB players lifted weights on Wednesday and Friday.

“It’s put a damper on us, as far as on paper,” Coleman said. “But the attitudes of the players and coaches are a blessing in disguise.”

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UAPB M4 Marching Band and Golden Girls 2007

BCU Baseball to host nationally televised game on Sunday, April 6

Wildcats will have Greek Spirit Day at Jackie Robinson Ballpark

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman University baseball will host North Carolina A&T State University on Sunday, Apr. 6 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in front of a nationally-television audience as the game will be broadcast live on ESPNU at 2 p.m. in Daytona Beach, Fla.

This will mark the first-ever live televised game at Jackie Robinson Ballpark for the Wildcats. These same two teams met last season on ESPNU in Greensboro, N.C. where the entire nation saw the Aggies defeat the Wildcats by a score of 14-11 in one of the best contests for both teams of the year.

















Photo: Home of BCU Baseball, Jackie Robinson Baseball Park, Daytona Beach, FL.

Bethune-Cookman will be having an array of events during the day, including Greek Spirit Day at the ballpark. Every fraternity and sorority at B-CU is invited to attend and wear their Greek paraphernalia. The first 100 students wearing their fraternity and/or sorority paraphernalia will be able to receive a hot dog and soda compliments of the B-CU Athletic Department.

Once again, the game is slated for a 2 p.m. first pitch time, and all tickets are just $5. All faculty/staff and students with current valid ID are admitted free.

For more information on the event and local television listings, please call the B-CU Office of Sports Information at (386) 481-2206.

Bethune Cookman coach on track to better things

Photo: Bethune Cooman University head track and field coach Garfield Ellenwood.

The odds were not in Garfield Ellenwood's favor.

Those who fall off the mountain don't usually climb back up. But Ellenwood, Bethune-Cookman's track and field coach, just needed to find the right path.

He thought it was football. In 1993, Ohio State offered a scholarship to the star receiver at Ben Franklin High in Rochester, N.Y. But he blew it.

"I had some trouble throughout high school, but toward the end it got really bad," Ellenwood said. "I was in the street doing things I had no business doing. I got in fights in school. I got suspended. I actually got sent to alternative school right after football for two months. I was able to get back into my high school and graduate. But a lot of the offers got taken away."

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Harvey named men's basketball coach at Texas Southern

Photo: Texas Southern University Tigers head basketball coach Tony Harvey.

Tony Harvey was officially named Texas Southern's men's basketball head coach on Friday morning, and the former Missouri assistant promised that, with time, he would be able to restore the Tigers' program to its glory days under the man he replaced, Robert Moreland.

"Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will this program," said Harvey. "But no one -- and I mean no one -- will outwork me and my staff when it comes to making TSU a quality program."

Harvey signed a five-year contract with the school. Financial terms of the deal were still be finalized.

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Tennessee State football defensive coordinator and backfield coaches named

Photo: Tennessee State University head football coach James Webster.

Tennessee State Sports Information

Tennessee State University head football coach James Webster has elevated Rod Reed to defensive coordinator, adds Lee Calland and John Parker to the Tigers’ defensive coaching staff for the 2008 season.

Rod Reed, a TSU graduate and former All-American, presently serves as linebackers coach, will begin his sixth season on the Tigers’ staff. Reed returns to the defensive coordinator’s position he held in his first year at TSU. During that stint the Tigers led the Ohio Valley Conference in total defense for the first time in school history.

A keen recruiter, Reed is responsible for bringing several key players into the TSU program. Reed counts Javarris Williams, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Shaun Richardson among his recruits. He has also coached All-American and professional player Jamie Landrom (Jacksonville Jaguars).

Lee Calland joins the Tigers’ staff as a defensive backs (safeties) coach. Calland a former NFL defensive back with the Minnesota Vikings’ “Purple People Eaters” and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steel Curtain” defenses. He has served stints on the coaching staffs of the London Monarchs (WFL), Southern University, Fort Valley State (GA) and Morris Brown College.

John Parker will coach the corner backs at TSU. Parker is the former head coach and defensive coordinator at Cumberland (TN) University and Cheney (PA) University; he has served stints on the staffs with the River City Rage (AFLII), East Tennessee State and Minnesota-Morris.

Defection, injuries take toll on Southern's LBs

First, Southern University’s defense suffered a blow when the Jaguars lost emerging eagle linebacker Brian Lewis, who left the program this semester.

Then, a rash of injuries throughout the linebacking corps further complicated matters as SU tries to adjust during spring practice.

Eagle Corey Ray (back), okie Johnathan Malveaux (pectoral muscle) and okie D.J. Bolton (knee surgery) aren’t expected back this spring. Of those, Ray practiced some before getting injured Saturday. Meanwhile, eagle Allan Baugh (knee) isn’t expected back until next week.

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Injuries force Southern's Cador to look at reserves

Photo: Southern University catcher Michael Thomas tags out LSU runner at home plate.

Though the Southern baseball schedule is awfully busy, as the Jaguars get ready to play an unusual, four-game, out-of-division weekend set, this is also the last time SU can rest some players.

That’s important, because SU’s roster continues to nurse a host of injuries as the Jaguars keep an eye on being strong for the second round of divisional play and then the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament in May.

Southern (10-11) hosts Chicago State (3-22) at 6 p.m. today and stages a doubleheader of two nine-inning games Saturday, first playing Eastern Division leader Jackson State (18-12) at noon and then Chicago State at 4 p.m., at Lee-Hines Field.

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South Carolina State to host Bulldog Golf Classic

By SCSU Sports Information

South Carolina State men's golf team will host the two-day Bulldog Golf Classic Saturday and Sunday (April 5-6) at the Hillcrest Golf Course in Orangeburg. The event, in its sixth year, returns to the Par 72, 6,722-yard course where it was played the first four years before being conducted at the Orangeburg Country Club last year.

The competition gets underway at 8 a.m. Saturday when 18 holes will be played. The final 18 holes will be played Sunday, beginning at 8 a.m.

Nine teams, including the host Bulldogs, will be participating in the tournament, which will have a practice round on Friday. This year's field is the largest since the inception of the event.

Other participating teams are Bethune-Cookman, the 2005 and 2006 champion, Charleston Southern, 2007 winner Florida A&M, Hampton, High Point, Savannah State, St. Augustine and Winston-Salem State.

Coach Richard Arrington's Bulldogs have been the runner-ups each of the last two years.

Documentary: Grambling State University Tigers Band

TSU Football Spring Practice Begins Monday

Photo: Texas Southern's incoming transfer QB Bobby Reid is ranked #22 of 123 NFL potentials by NFL scouting. He should be the starter for the 0-11 Tigers (2007).

Houston - Texas Southern Football spring practices begin Monday, April 7th for the 2008 season under the leadership of new Head Coach Johnnie Cole. The team will go through drills and conditioning five days a week through April 25th.

The practices will be held at TSU’s Alexander Durley field from 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm Monday thru Friday and the public is welcomed. The spring game is scheduled for April 26, 2008 at 3:30 pm at Texas Southern.

Texas Southern’s most celebrated new player for the 2008 season is former Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid. In 2006 at OSU, Reid passed for 2266 yards with 24 touchdowns and rushed for 500 yards with five touchdowns.

The Houston native was the Houston Touchdown Club’s Offensive Player of the Year and all-Greater Houston, all-District and the district MVP his senior year at North Shore high school. Reid led his team to the 2003 State Class 5A Championship in an undefeated season. He was named to both the national and Texas top 100 recruiting lists.

The media may contact the sports information office to arrange interviews, photo and video opportunities.

Returning starters:

No. Player Pos Ht Wt Cl Hometown Previous School
2 Osborne, William WR 5-7 160 JR Marshall, TX Marshall HS
23 Gardner, Camreron CB 5-10 175 JR Fort Worth, TX North Crowley HS
38 Beck, Camrunn DB 6-0 245 JR Sacramento, CA Florin HS
40 Fonua, Junior FB / LB 5-11 220 SR Rancho Cucamonga, CA Rancho Cucamonga HS
42 Chism, Carl DB 5-11 192 SR Washington, DC Dematha HS
44 Fulghum, Dejuan LB 6-1 215 SO Killeen, TX Harker Heights HS
46 Blakney, Willie LB 6-0 205 JR Washington, DC Dematha HS
48 Robins, Roland TE 6-3 270 SR Houston, TX Yates HS
53 McCall, Craig LB 6-1 225 JR Killeen, TX Harker Heights HS
63 Knighten, David DT 5-11 300 SR Bradenton, FL Lonewood Ranch HS
64 Wilson, Reggie OL 6-1 300 SO Plano, TX Plano East HS
65 Perez, Mario OL 6-4 310 JR Schafter, CA Schafter HS
67 Ford, Glenden DT 6-3 290 JR Washington, DC Dunbar HS
70 Hardrick, Matt OL 6-6 340 JR Eatonville, FL Florida State
74 Wiggins, Kevin OL 6-8 340 JR Washington, DC Dunbar HS
78 Malone, Joe DL 6-7 350 SR Houston, TX Clearbrook HS
88 Haith, Brian (BJ) WR / KR 6-1 180 JR Upland, CA Upland HS
90 Valmore, Matthew DL 6-2 290 SR Houston, TX Jones HS
96 Johnson, Bert DE 6-4 275 SR Long Beach, LA Long Beach CC
98 Olomojobi, Segun LB 6-2 240 SR Sugar Land, TX Dulles HS

2008 Signees include:

NAME POS HT WT SCHOOL HOMETOWN
1 Stephen Owens Ath 6'4" 220 Alvin Alvin, TX
3 sport letterman in Football, Basketball and Track. QB Threw for 1400 yds and TE 12 Catches for 220 yds

2 Robert Hersh K 5'11" 210 Pearland Pearland, TX
Number 2 Kicker of 140 at Texas Kicker Camp. 2nd Team All District Kicker(23 Extra Points and 4 FGs)

3 Marc Ellis WR 6'4" 20 Willowridge Missouri City, TX
2-Time 1st Team All-District 23-5A, Basketball player that avgs. 15 points per game

4 Samuel Gordy LB 6'1" 200 Denton Guyer Denton, TX
All District LB, Lead the team in tackles

5 Christian Bernard FB 5'9" 245 Denton Guyer Denton, TX
All District DL with good speed and explosion

6 Donald Holloway OL/DL 6'3" 270 Mitchell Memphis, TN
45 Tackles, 10 Tackles for lost and 7 Sacks, All Conference

7 Kenyan Torry QB 6"2" 175 Mitchell Memphis, TN
2875 Passing Yards and 27 Touchdowns, 1115 Rushing and 5 Touchdowns, 10 Receptions and 4 Ints

8 Darius Green DL 6'4" 295 Mitchell Memphis, TN
8 Sacks, All Conference

9 Lewis McCaster DL 6"3" 255 Mitchell Memphis, TN

10 Justin Toliver DB 6'0" 185 Mitchell Memphis, TN

11 Antonio Harris FB 5'10" 210 Mitchell Memphis, TN

12 Ashton Rucher OL 6'6" 315 Mitchell Memphis, TN
All Conference

13 Joshua Robinson QB 6'4" 200 Clinton Clinton, LA

14 Ian Williams OL 6'7" 330 Pensacola Pensacola, FL
1st Team All Conference OL with great size and strength

15 Ricky Williams LB 6'0" 215 Pensacola Pensacola, FL

16 Wayne Ingram TE 6'3" 230 John Curtis New Orleans, LA

17 Kydarian Wilkins DB 5'8" 165 South Oak Cliff Dallas, TX
Rivals.com Top 20 Texas, 1st Team All District and 1st Team All Region

18 Demarcus Washington DB 5'8" 160 Lincoln Dallas, TX
1st Team All Region and 1st Team All District

19 Montgomery Jackson DB 6'0" 175 Northeast Oklahoma City, OK
OK 4A District Co-DB of the year, 1st and 2nd Team WR; Also lead the state in INTs

20 Joseph Igboeli DB 6'2" 165 South Grand Prarie Grand Prarie, TX
Texas All State and 1st Team All District

21 Andrew Phorne OL 6'6" 335 Carter Dallas, TX
1st Team All District

22 Chivas Belton DL 5'10" 270 Klein Forest Houston, TX
2-Time 1st Team All-District 17-5A, Led team in TFL with 22.

23 Eric Johnson WR 5'11' 180 Lufkin Lufkin, TX
1st Team All District 2 years and Basketball player

24 Christian Davis OL 6'6" 265 O.D. Wyatt Duncanville, TX
1st Team All District 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008

25 Harry Brown Ath 6'2" 175 Port Arthur Memorial Port Arthur, TX
1st Team All District with 1884 Yds Passing and 10 Touchdowns

26 Brian Arnwine LB 6'0" 190 South Grand Prarie Grand Prarie, TX
1st Team All District LB and Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the District

27 James Davis WR 6'3" 200Lufkin Lufkin, TX
2nd Team All District 06 and 1st Team All District 07, Basketball Player

NCCU Football announces the addition of two coaches

Cabell Named Defensive Coordinator, Gladden Tagged Running Backs Coach

DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University head football coach Mose Rison has announced the addition of two coaches to the Eagles staff, defensive coordinator Jake Cabell and running backs coach Marcus Gladden.

"We are fortunate to have both of them as part of this football program," Rison said. "They coach with a great deal of enthusiasm and energy."

Cabell, a veteran defensive coach who played for and graduated from the University of Nebraska, will serve as NCCU's new defensive coordinator.

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MVSU Green finalist for Jacksonville State coaching vacancy

Photo: Mississippi Valley State University James Green is looking to move up the coaching ladder as a finalist for the Jacksonville State head basketball coaching vacancy.

Jacksonville State University has named four finalists for its vacant men's basketball coaching job.

They are University of Alabama assistant Philip Pearson, Hoover High boys head coach Charles Burkett, Mississippi Valley State University head coach James Green and University of Massachusetts associate head coach Timothy Maloney.

Those four will be invited to come to campus next week for further interviews after they were among about a dozen candidates screened by a committee and recommended to JSU President Bill Meehan.

Coach Green led MSVU to the NCAA Tournament this season after winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament. He was also head coach at Southern Miss from 1996 to 2004 and has been an assistant at Alabama, Iowa State, Texas A&M and Idaho.

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Offense has ASU Hornets up to speed

Photo: Alabama State players have adjusted well to the spread offense (Texas Tech style) implemented by offensive coordinator Ben Noonan.

When he first made the decision to bring the spread offense to Alabama State, head coach Reggie Barlow guessed he might see some surprising things from his players. He figured one or two guys would come out of nowhere to be major contributors.

He wasn't exactly going out on a limb with those ideas.

Because of its simplicity, producing surprise players has become one of the most common attributes of the spread offense.

"It reduces everything down to its simplest form and allows players to worry about just one or two plays," Barlow said. "Think about it. Before, our play list out here for seven-on-seven drills, we would have several plays and run them all one or two times. Now, we've got seven (plays). And we run them over and over and over and over. That takes a lot of thinking out of things for the players."

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Arboleda the last line of defense for FAMU

Photo: FAMU LB Dannel Shepard missed making tackle against Southern's RB Brian Threat in 2007 game.

When Victoriano Arboleda came to FAMU three years ago, he simply wanted to get in where he could fit in on the Rattlers’ football team. That meant playing linebacker with an occasional assignment on special teams.

Now in his senior year he’s where he wanted to be in the first place – playing safety. The move is one of two position changes that coach Joe Taylor made to shore up the Rattlers’ last line of defense, where sophomore Donnie Alexander was the only returning player.

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FAMU DBs making strides in spring practice

Archive Photo: Southern's Jamorris Stewart being tackled by FAMU DB Jason Beach after catch and run in 2007 game.

Defensive back Gregory Clark didn't like what he'd just witnessed Thursday while standing on the sidelines with a group of FAMU defensive players. What had happened? A catch was completed in the secondary.

Clark bit down on his mouthpiece so hard it was clear that he didn't want plays like this happening to his unit. "All you have to do is watch the quarterback because nine times out of 10 they're going to throw a slant," he said loud enough for his counterparts to hear.

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Legendary coach Billy Joe says Miles is like heaven

Achive Photo: Coach Billy Joe being honored by the FAMU community on Sept. 15, 2007 at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Billy Joe has been to the mountaintop in the game of football.

He has a Super Bowl championship ring to prove it. He has plaques in three halls of fame, including the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame where he was inducted alongside Joe Paterno in 2007.

He has more wins than any black-college football coach not named Eddie Robinson with 237.

So, why would he pick Division II Miles College as the place to end his three-season retirement?

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Miles College Purple Marching Machine

Texas Southern Gets Permission to Talk to PVAMU McClelland

Photo: PVAMU athletic director Charles McClelland

School Looking for New Athletics Director

HOUSTON, TX -- Texas Southern University's search for a new athletics director now includes Prairie View A and M Athletics Director Charles McClelland. Prairie View A and M President George Wright told FOX 26 Sports he was contacted Tuesday by T.S.U. President John Rudley.

"I have granted TSU permission to talk to Charles McClelland about their vacant athletics director position," Wright said.

Texas Southern has been searching for a new AD since firing Alois Blackwell in February.

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FAMU linebacker coach, Holmes, has high standards

Photo: FAMU Inside Linebacker coach Earl Holmes.

If Florida A&M linebacker coach Earl Holmes had to pick a player to demonstrate a stunt or blitz technique, there's a good chance senior Vernon Wilder would be his choice. "The fact is, he is a leader," Holmes said. "He doesn't lead by his mouth. He leads by example.

"He is the first one to give me everything he has on every play and guys respect that. With his work habits, I think a lot of good things are going to come."

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TSU set to name Harvey as new basketball coach

Photo: Texas Southern University new head basketball coach Tony Harvey.

Texas Southern University will introduce Tony Harvey as its new men's basketball coach Friday at an 11 a.m. news conference, according to two people familiar with the situation.

Harvey coached as an assistant at Missouri from 1999-2004, helping the program to four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. According to media reports, he left the school in 2004 after being accused of multiple NCAA rules violations, including giving cash to former guard Ricky Clemons and impermissible contact with recruits. He was then cleared of any wrongdoing in early 2006.

Harvey has also had coaching stints with Southern and Eastern Michigan.

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More drama at TSU...read the entire article on what Blackwell did before he was fired. Does the Tigers know how to stay out of court or what?

The charges that were filed against Harvey while at Missouri were:

(a) In a formal notice of allegations, the NCAA accused Harvey of giving player Ricky Clemons $250 in violation of NCAA rules. Harvey denied that allegation; and (b) Harvey was accused by the NCAA of treating high school and Amateur Athletic Union coaches to meals and then seeking reimbursement from the university by misrepresenting who received the meals.

Harvey resigned from his position as the associate head basketball coach at Missouri prior to being cleared of all charges by the NCAA's Infraction Committee. The university bought out the remainder of Harvey’s contract in exchange for a promise that Harvey would not try to sue the school. Missouri paid Harvey $136,000 in exchange for his resignation and a vow to never sue.

During the summer of 2003, Ricky Clemons was arrested for assaulting Jessica Bungee and spent 42 days in jail. On his work release program he was found at Missouri's president Elson Floyd's house driving and wrecking an ATV.

After Mizzou, Harvey started a new career as a sports agent and held the position of Director of Basketball Operations for MAC Sports and Entertainment.

Let's summarize....Texas Southern's acting athletic director/head football coach Johnnie Cole is still under NCAA Infraction Committee investigation for the mess created by he and his brother, L.C. Cole at Alabama State University.

L.C Cole is presently defensive coordinator at TSU, hired by his brother Johnnie Cole in January 2008. The Alabama State University case is not expected to be completed and resolved by the NCAA until 2009. Both Cole brothers were fired from Alabama State in 2003, for alledged rules infractions.

Lane College, where Johnnie Cole left a head coaching position for TSU is now on NCAA probation for rules violations in the athletic department. Cole was not responsible for these violations.

In 1999, Johnnie Cole was banned from the coaching staff at Tennessee State University where he served as offensive coordinator. After a 17 month investigation concluded, there were several NCAA rules violations. Tennessee State was hit with self-imposed sanctions by the NCAA.

Harvey, a former sports agent is now introduced as the new TSU basketball coach.

What a recipe for possible disaster with three coaches with a shaky past with the NCAA Infractions Committee in the same athletic department.

-beepbeep

Fans say Grambling basketball can bounce back, despite recent struggles

GRAMBLING — Supporters insist Grambling State’s new basketball coaches will take over programs with a wealth of potential, despite last season’s slumping records.
That starts with GSU’s sparkling new Assembly Center, a long-awaited hoops facility that opened a year ago. Already, it’s been featured on a national television broadcast, as Grambling faced Southern in February.

A recruiting cornerstone for years to come, it bolsters many boosters’ resolute belief that things can get better in the wake of Grambling’s twin announcements on Tuesday that neither men’s coach Larry Wright nor women’s coach David “Rusty” Ponton would return.

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Photo: Interior of GSU new Assembly Center (GSU vs. JSU 2008).

Grambling should be an expert on how not to recruit a new coach after the FAMU bru-ha-ha with Rod Broadway a few months ago. Before sending up trial balloons in the press, the Grambling power brokers need to pick up the telephone and call Patricia Bibbs, Willis Reed and others, and see if they are first "interested" in the Grambling openings.

Secondly, forget the high school coaches for any head coaching position(s) in the SWAC. That in itself says, Grambling ain't serious about basketball, especially with 8-10 "money games" on the schedule each season.

Reed was a great Grambling and New York Knicks player, but 99.9% of the youth today are clueless and he just as well be Mr. Irrelevant. Few know that Reed coached in the NBA as a head coach with the Knicks and at Creighton University.

If the brand on the building does not read--LSU, Louisiana Tech, UL-Monroe, UL-Lafayette, Tulane, New Orleans, McNeese, Northwestern State or other such mid-major program, Grambling could hire Knicks coach Isaiah Thomas and the results would be nearly the same.

Doug Williams, with all the name recognition, could not change the trend of blue chips going the other direction away from HBCUs, like Grambling. Former coach Larry Wright of NBA Washington Bullets fame, couldn't change that nor compete outside of the SWAC for talent.

It will take more than name recognition and a new facility to build a success basketball program. It's a great START, but you need a great recruiter and teacher at the head of these programs. HBCUs need to find another revenue stream other than "money games" which destroys most programs, the conference RPI, and many head coaching careers in both SWAC and MEAC.

My two cents says, go to the Division II level and select a coach that's proven and committed to building these programs. It's not an overnight project nor should GSU waste time being the training grounds for rookie coaches that should not be at the Division I level. Go for the proven coach that has built NCAA championship level programs with little financial support at the D-II level.

Finally, leave those high school coaches alone. They do a fine job at that level and its necessary to produce good/great college players, but Division I is not high school.

-beepbeep

Norfolk State's football recruit/Sherando’s Brisco is fastest in 100 meters

Photo: Running back Markeith Brisco, #29 (5-11/195) eluding Millbrook's Butch Kaczmarzewski (44), rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns in helping the Warriors clinch their second straight district title. Brisco has signed a NLI to play football for Norfolk State University Spartans.

STEPHENS CITY, VA — When Sherando High School track and field coach Tom Grim was asked last week about who the Warriors’ top newcomers were this season, he didn’t want Markeith Brisco’s name to be mentioned publicly because of his concern over a hamstring injury that Brisco suffered in practice.

The Sherando senior, competing in the same stadium in which he thrilled fans on a routine basis on Friday nights for the football team, recorded a time of 10.9 seconds to win the 100 meters, faster than any area athlete ran during the entire 2007 season. Though his time might have been aided by a breeze, even a strong wind in the face of the muscular Brisco likely would have been just a mere annoyance, much like his opponents were during football season.

#29 ALL-STATE RB Markeith Brisco, Sherando High School Warriors; 2007 Virginia State Championship Runner Up (13-1 season).


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Markeith Briscoe (5-11/195) was ranked #7 statistically by the Washington Post of the Top 20 Rushers in the Metro Washington, D.C. Region with 221 rushes, 1726 yards, 26 TDs (averaging 123 yards per game/7.8 yards per carry) in 2007/08 season.

His team finished 13-1, as Virginia Class AA State runner-up. Virginia's top division is AAA.

Sherando lineman Joey Christine (6-2/300) also signed with Norfolk State.

NSU coach Pete Adrian was quoted on NV daily.com of saying, "Markeith, I think, is going to be an outstanding college running back,"Adrian said. "He just finishes a run with such, what I call, a nasty attitude, a 'You're not going to tackle me."

"We saw the stadium, and I didn't know what to say," Briscoe said. "I tried to imagine what it would be like with all the fans in there. We're very excited, and we're ready to go down there and play some ball. "I'm just happy to see Juicy's (Christine) ugly mug for four more years," he was quoted as saying--laughing.

Christine was a steamroller for the Sherando offense, helping Markeith Briscoe rush for over 1,700 yards and QB Ross Metheny (signed with University of Virginia) pass for over 2,200 yards.

As a DT, Christine played dominant football with 70 tackles and 4.5 sack his senior season.

Coach Pete Adrian said both Briscoe and Christine will compete for playing time as freshmen. The Spartans also have freshman standout Takeem Hedgeman, who rushed for nearly 2,900 yards as a senior at Monticello (VA) High School coming with this star quality 2008/09 class.

With the incoming players to build upon their 8-3 record of 2007, Norfolk State appears to be major competitive trouble for the rest of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the fight for the 2008/09 championship and FCS playoff bid.

Just maybe, 2007 was not a fluke season after all for Pete Adrian's team.

-beepbeep

Quaker Valley's Rogers chooses Morgan State Bears

Photo: Christa Rogers is an Pennsylvania All-State volleyball player, an all-section basketball player, and track star. Rogers plans to major in electrical or mechanical engineering at MSU and selected the Bears over scholarships offers from Delaware State and UMES.

LEETSDALE, PA – As she looked toward college, Christa Rogers chose to create rather than wait. An NCAA Division I prospect in three sports, she could have waited for the telephone to bring college opportunities. She could have waited for the postman to deliver possibility, or for talent-starved recruiters to contact her high school coaches.

Instead, she sat down with her mother and, like a true setter, assisted possibility.

“I sat down with my mother and made a list of colleges that had what I’m looking for, and we sent them tapes.” Morgan State University quickly responded with a scholarship offer to play NCAA Division I volleyball, and Rogers, this week, accepted.

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OTHER ARTICLES ON CHRISTA ROGERS:

(1) http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08094/870145-116.stm
(2)http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/03/30/sports/high_school/doc47ef1b1e542dd351296100.txt

Alabama State's Hayles, Morgan State's Smith honorable mention AP All-Americans

Photo: AP honorable mention All-American Andrew Hayles, ASU Hornets.

by Alabama State Sports Information

Montgomery, Ala. - The honors continue to roll in for Alabama State guard Andrew Hayles. On Monday, Hayles was named Associated Press honorable mention All-American.

"It's a real honor, but it says more about what our team accomplished that what I did individually," Hayles said. "This is really motivation to work even harder to in the offseason."

Earlier this month, Hayles, a junior from Mobile, Ala., was tabbed as the SWAC player of the year after leading the Hornets to a 20-11 season and the SWAC regular season championship.

He averaged 14.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He ranked in the conference's top 10 in six categories: scoring, shooting percentage, free throw percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, 3-pointers made, and minutes played.

After his first season at ASU, Hayles was named the SWAC freshman of the year in 2005-2006. As a sophomore, he led the Hornets in scoring with 14.5 points per game.

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Jamar Smith, Morgan State University, the MEAC Player of the Year was also named an AP honorable mention All-American. Smith, a 6-2/210 senior guard played at Patrick Henry HS/San Bernadino Valley College prior to attending MSU. Smith is from Brooklyn Park, MN.