Washington Redskins Sign (former HU) Wide Receiver Mathis

The Washington Redskins signed wide receiver Jerome Mathis, the team announced yesterday. Mathis, a member of the Houston Texans his first three seasons in the NFL, appeared in three games in 2007 before a leg injury ended his season.

As a rookie in the 2005 season, Mathis, 24, finished second in the NFL in kickoff returns with a 28.6-yard average. He scored two touchdowns on kickoff returns and went to the Pro Bowl. In his career, Mathis has six receptions for 80 yards (a 13.3-yard average) with one touchdown.

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Mathis, a wide receiver/kick returner was taken in the 2005 NFL Draft, Round 4, pick 114 by the Houston, Texans. The Petersburg, Virginia native is 5-11/191.

ASU Hornets set to scrimmage today

With the possibility of inclement weather on the way, and with a scrimmage set for this morning at 9 a.m., the Alabama State football team went light Friday afternoon. Instead of their usual full-scale practice, the Hornets went with a brief walk through at Cramton Bowl.

The walk through was in preparation for this morning's scrimmage, which Barlow said would focus primarily on game situations, particularly on the game management by the coaches.

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Alabama State Hornets releases 2008 Football Schedule

*08-30: @Florida A&M
* 09-06: @Bethune-Cookman
* 09-13: Concordia
* 09-20: @UAB
* 09-27: Mississippi Valley St.
* 10-04: OPEN
* 10-11: @Prairie View A&M
* 10-18: @Grambling
* 10-25: Alabama A&M#
* 11-01: @Alcorn St.
* 11-08: Jackson St.
* 11-15: Southern *
* 11-22: OPEN
* 11-26: Tuskegee%
#Birmingham, Magic City Classic
*Mobile, Gulf Coast Classic
%Turkey Day Classic

SCSU football to scrimmage this morning

On the eve of his team's second scrimmage of the spring, South Carolina State head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough had a little to smile about Friday night. Of course, he had a little to frown about to. "It was a pretty good day by the defense," Pough said. But, a good day for the defense often means a bad day for the offense.

"The offense was a little bit ugly," he said with a sigh.

At least there was a reason for that. The Bulldogs were without lineman Nygel Pearson who was busy handing out report cards at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. The big, fifth-year senior, is practicing teaching at the school. While the Bulldogs practiced he met parents. So, South Carolina State was short a lineman before Johnny Culbreath took a knee to the thigh that ended his practice.

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South Carolina State University Marching 101 Band @ Nov. 2007 LowCountry Classic, Charleston, S.C.

Alabama State discussed future games with TSU Coles

Alabama State's 2008 football schedule is almost set. Finally. Athletic director Ron Dickerson's strange, and often frustrating, quest to fill the school's 12-game schedule lacks only the signatures of Southern University and Concordia College officials on contracts.

Those contracts would see ASU and Southern meet in the Gulf Coast Classic for the next four years and would bring Concordia to Montgomery for the Hornets' home-opener on Sept. 13.

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Spotlight: Greek Life at Hampton University

How do Black Greeks feel about their stereotypes?

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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