Bethune-Cookman athlete's arrest is a 'sad story,' says top cop

A Bethune-Cookman University football player faces charges ranging from attempted murder to drug possession in a case that has even Daytona Beach's hard-nosed police chief shaking his head.

"What a sad story," said Chief Mike Chitwood about the arrest Monday of 20-year-old Brandon Wright. Wright found himself in need of money but unable to take a job because he was a student athlete, Chitwood said. "He has been very honest and forthcoming," the chief said. "He said, 'What I did was wrong.'"

Wright had no prior criminal record. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy for a year before coming to Bethune-Cookman, Chitwood said. Wright's lack of past record and his willingness to cooperate with police could help, Chitwood said.

Wright's case illustrates the plight of lower-income students struggling to cope with the rising costs of everything from tuition to transportation. Chitwood said. "There's a bigger thing here than his arrest."

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For once, I can agree with Chief Chitwood. There is a greater problem here than just the drug dealing and other criminal activity. What makes a young person with all the educational opportunities before them, make the wrong choices, risk everything--education, unlimited future career opportunities and most importantly, FREEDOM, for $200.00?

It is long overdue for the NCAA to authorize the payment of a reasonable stipend beyond the normal costs for books, tuition, housing and meal plan to college athletes for their services on the gridiron, tracks and fields. I don't agree with the NCAA that it's alright for them (NCAA) and the institutions to collect millions of dollars annually off what amounts to 'slave labor' and the coaches and administrators at many major Division I institutions enjoy million dollar a year salaries, luxury perks, country club memberships, etc., while most of their players live far below the national poverty level, barely surviving from one semester to another.

The current NCAA legislation/regulations are long overdue for a modification so that institutions or the NCAA can pay these players a reason fee for their services.

No doubt, Brandon made some bad choices and he has no one to blame but himself. But, who is the NCAA blaming for their methods of greed?

HBCU college athletes are not lower-income students; the majority are NO INCOME students and that's the plight that we as a society must deal with to stem the tide of criminal activities that have engulfed our next generation of young students.

And this problem is not just limited to HBCUs. Surf the Internet, and there similar type stories posted by the Press that are coming from the University of Alabama, University of Massachusetts, University of Virginia, Jackson State University, Penn State and Wake Forest this month.

Some of these problems may be fixed with a reasonable stipend provided by the NCAA to student-athletes for mentoring/coaching public school elementary and head start level children, several hours each week. Let the athletes earn the stipend by giving back to the community through a positive educational effort. If we don't take initiative on this issue, there will be many more Brandon Wrights that we will read about and the next one may be your next door neighbor's kid, your child or grandchild.

Chief Chitwood is right-- "There's a bigger thing here than his arrest."

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Alabama A&M returns to schedule for Tuskegee University football

Tuskegee University Football, coming off an undefeated season in 2007 (12-0) and a national black college championship, on Friday (April 4) released its 2008 football schedule.

The 11-game regular season includes five home games, three "classics" and three other road contests. A nine-game mandated Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule will determine the conference championship.

"This year, we have two 1AA schools (Alabama State and Alabama A&M), making it a much tougher schedule than usual, in addition to playing every school in the conference (SIAC)" said Willie Slater, head coach of the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers. "At the same time, we will deal with it and are ready to do so."

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The Miles College Golden Bears/Coach Billy Joe era kickoff at the Golden Tigers Abbott Stadium in TU's season opener on September 6.

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME

Sept. 6 MILES COLLEGE + TUSKEGEE 1:00

Sept. 13 BENEDICT COLLEGE + TUSKEGEE 1:00

Sept. 20 Stillman College + Tuscaloosa 5:00

Sept. 27 Fort Valley State University + Fort Valley, GA 1:00 ET

Oct. 4 Alabama A&M University (25th Circle City Classic-Lucas Oil Stadium)Indianapolis, IN 5:00 ET

Oct. 11 Morehouse College + (73rd Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic) Columbus, GA TBA

Oct. 18 ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY + TUSKEGEE 1:00

Oct. 25 KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY + TUSKEGEE 1:00

Nov. 1 Clark Atlanta University + Atlanta, GA 7:00 ET

Nov. 8 LANE COLLEGE (HOMECOMING) + TUSKEGEE 1:00

Nov. 27 Alabama State University (85th Annual Turkey Day Classic) Montgomery 1:00

Pough not happy with SCSU's Wednesday practice

Get one key player -- Marshall McFadden -- back, and lose another, Julius Wilkerson. Throw in a bad practice to boot and it's easy to understand why Bulldogs head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough was deflated Wednesday night.

"We just went through the motions a little," he said. "Some days the offense is better. Some days the defense looks like it has a little more life. Today, we didn't have either." The practice was already choppy in the sense that Wednesday, according to Pough, is a "big class day" for many of the Bulldogs. So, several players were in and out of practice.

"We did a lot of individual, fundamental stuff early," Pough said. "And, we did most of the team stuff in the middle of practice because we had those kids who had to leave for practice. Really though, it was medium at best."

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Hampton U. to open football season vs. Jackson State on ESPN2

The Pirates adjust their football schedule to open the season by playing in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, Fla., on Aug. 31.

Hampton University athletic director Lonza Hardy announced a huge upgrade on Wednesday to the Pirates' football schedule. The Pirates now will open the 2008 season against defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Jackson State of Mississippi in MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

The contest is set for 2 p.m. on Aug. 31 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., and will be telecast on ESPN2, Hardy said. The Pirates had been scheduled to open the season on Aug. 30 at home against Division II Virginia Union.

But Hardy said that a little more than three weeks ago, the Pirates were offered the opportunity to represent the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the annual MEAC\SWAC Challenge because...

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Hampton University 2008 Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time/Result

8/30/2008 Jackson State (MEAC/SWAC Challenge) Orlando, Fla. 2:00 p.m.
9/6/2008 Southern Illinois Carbondale, Ill. 6 p.m. (CST)
9/13/2008 * Howard Hampton, Va. 6 p.m.
9/20/2008 * North Carolina A&T Hampton, Va. 6 p.m.
9/27/08 OPEN
10/4/2008 * Delaware State Dover, Del. TBA
10/11/2008 OPEN
10/18/2008 * Norfolk State - Battle of the Bay Hampton, Va. 1 p.m.
10/25/2008 * South Carolina State Orangeburg, S.C. TBA
11/1/2008 Winston- Salem State - Homecoming 2008 Hampton, Va. 2 p.m.
11/8/2008 * Bethune-Cookman Hampton, Va. 2 p.m.
11/15/2008 * Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fl. TBA
11/22/2008 * Morgan State Baltimore, Md. TBA

Home Games are in bold
Neutral Site Games are in italics
* Denotes a conference game.

FAMU Rattlers edge Mercer, 4-3

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida A&M Baseball scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull out a 4-3 victory over Mercer University, here Wednesday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field.

FAMU (8-15) pounded out eight hits, while Rattler pitching held Mercer (14-20) to three hits. The Rattlers were paced by Tim Jones with two hits, while John Dortch, Tyler Brown and Steve Karwatt, all finished with one hit each for the Bears.

Anthony Espin (3-3) got the win for the Rattlers, giving up two hits, one run and striking out two in two innings of relief. Cirilo Manego, the FAMU starter struck out a season high nine batters, allowing one hit in seven innings of work.

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UAPB Jones garnering interest from several NFL teams

Former Arkansas-Pine Bluff wide receiver Jason Jones may be the first Golden Lion to be drafted by the National Football League in five years later this month. The 6-foot-1 Jones is currently being scouted by several NFL teams as the NFL Draft looms on April 26-27. The Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers, and Oakland Raiders have shown interest in the former UAPB receiver.

Jones led UAPB with 47 receptions for 793 yards and three touchdowns in 2007. His best season at UAPB was in 2006, when he had 38 receptions for 933 yards and 13 touchdowns, helping the Golden Lions win the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division championship. The 24-year old Jones is a 2003 graduate of Forrest City High School.

During his workout with the Browns, Jones ran a 4.32 40-yard dash time. In the same workout, he ran a 4.35 40-yard dash. Jones plans on visiting Green Bay and St. Louis in the next week...

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Bethune-Cookman football player faces attempted murder, drug charges

DAYTONA BEACH -- A Bethune-Cookman football player, who police said was dealing drugs to make ends meet, now faces a slew of charges, including attempted murder, after he pulled a shotgun on a man who owed him money.

Brandon Wright, a back-up cornerback and running back on the Wildcats, was arrested at his dorm room Monday where police discovered cocaine, marijuana, and the shotgun used in the attempted murder, said Daytona Beach police chief Mike Chitwood.

"He had no record." Chitwood said. "He was very honest and forthright. He came right out and said I did it."

Wright went to DeLand High School where he was quarterback until his graduation in 2004. He signed with the Naval Academy in 2005 and played in 2006 but never made the varsity team. He transferred to B-CU for the 2007 season, where he was the third-string quarterback.

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UMES to announce new men's basketball coach

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore will hold a press conference Thursday afternoon to announce its new head coach for men’s basketball. The press conference is open to the public, as well as media, and will be held in the arena at that William P. Hytche Athletic Center.

Meredith Smith had led the program through a 4-28 campaign during the 2007-08 season, as interim head coach. Smith had been the first assistant under Larry Lessett during his three-year tenure when the program was 13-75.

The new coach announced today will be the fourth coach in a six-year span for UMES.

Delaware State Hornets shock U Delaware Hens in ninth, 10-6 win

Photo: Photo: Delaware State's Troy Drummond reacts after striking out as the Hornet try to rally in the ninth.

DSU posts eight runs in final frame to top in-state rival for Blandin's 200th coaching victory

NEWARK -- A Delaware State-Delaware baseball game that was drifting toward a typical conclusion instead made a sudden about-face late Tuesday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium. That was bad for the Blue Hens and great for the Hornets, who found themselves in possession of a satisfying and impromptu victory over their state rivals.

Designated hitter Ryne Mailen's bases-loaded triple concluded an eight-run, ninth-inning rally that gave Delaware State a 10-6 nonconference win, its first at UD since 2002 and just DSU's seventh in 35 all-time games against the Blue Hens. Such an outcome didn't appear likely when Delaware (10-19) cruised into the ninth on top 6-2.

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PVAMU McClelland to Take Over TSU Athletics Program

Photo: TSU new athletic director, Charles McClelland.

HOUSTON -- Texas Southern University will name Prairie View A and M athletics director Charles McClelland as TSU's new athletics director at a news conference Thursday.

"I am excited about accepting the athletics director's job at Texas Southern but I am not going to make any further comment until the news conference tomorrow," McClelland said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports.

Texas Southern had been searching for a new A.D. since firing Alois Blackwell in February. Prairie View A and M President George Wright told FOX 26 McClelland officially resigned from the school Wednesday morning.


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Spotlight: Ex-Raider/Grambling Tiger now playing All-Pro as Texas grape grower

Photo: Former pro football player Alphonse Dotson now grows coveted grapes at his Certenberg Vineyards (Photo by Dutch Rall).

Former Grambling State University All-American defensive tackle Alphonse A. Dotson hopes to open winery

VOCA, Texas — As he strides through his vineyard wearing a wide-brimmed hat and tan coveralls, the years fall away so easily from Alphonse Dotson that, even at age 65, one can picture him lining up at defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders. While nearly 40 years have passed since Dotson was tossing aside blockers, he remains an imposing figure — the result of 70-hour work weeks tending some of the most prized grapes in Texas.

His broad grin and outstretched hand belie his fearsome football image as he greets visitors to his 83-acre vineyard northwest of Austin. His handshake, which threatens, but doesn't crush, reveals the calluses that come from hard work.

Here, at Certenberg Vineyards, Dotson's grapevines — some 1,800 plants in all — have produced what some say are the best cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay grapes in the Texas Hill Country. Wine is hot in Texas and the wine coming out of the Hill Country is winning numerous awards. In January, Saveur magazine included Dotson and the vineyard in its 10th annual list of 100 favorites in the world of food.

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Dotson not only grow the best wine grapes in Texas, but has produced a line of great football players in his family. His son is defensive tackle Santana N. Dotson who was NFL Rookie of the Year in 1992 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played in two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers. He was a Super Bowl champion winning Super Bowl (XXXI) with the Packers and ended a 10 year career playing with the Washington Redskins in 2002.

Dotson's grandson is Alonzo Dotson ... nephew of Santana Dotson. Alonzo is an Oklahoma senior DE that is preparing for the NFL draft.

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ASU Hogan almost back to his old self

Even at a little under 6 feet, Alabama State senior linebacker John Hogan is hard to overlook. He's one of those guys you just don't miss. Whether it be on the playing field with 80 other guys dressed exactly the same or strolling around campus with hundreds of other students, when Hogan is around, people know it -- for a variety of reasons.

First of all, his voice is unmistakable. It's loud, it's attention-getting and it's constant. Then, there's his hair, which is often flying in a dozen different directions. There's also the friendly smile that's always in place and the confident demeanor that tends to draw people to him. Add it all up and John Hogan might just be the hardest guy to overlook on the ASU campus.

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Southern Jaguars hurting with Nicholls up next

Southern’s baseball team is on a roll, but limping badly as the Jaguars head into a midweek road game at Nicholls State. SU and the Colonels take the diamond at Ray Didier Field in Thibodaux at 6:30 p.m. today.

“We’re limping pretty darn bad right now,” Jaguars coach Roger Cador said. “But we’ve played relatively well despite our physical condition.” That condition hit the SU pitching corps hard over the weekend when starters Chase Richard and Jarrett Maloy went down with injuries. Richard suffered an arm injury that a team doctor said could cause him to miss a couple of weeks.

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FAMU Walk-ons working to impress

Photo: #3 Former FAMU Rattler WR Willie Hayward, Miami Jackson Senior High School, Miami, FL. , vs. WSSU Rams in last season's Circle City Classic.

Aja Hayward heard the voices. They were telling him to play receiver like his older brother, Willie. He refused, deciding to play safety instead.

Willie is no longer a Rattler, leaving at the end of last season with legacy as one of the best receivers to play at FAMU in the last two seasons. Now it's Aja's turn to try to make become a Rattler as a walk-on, the same route that his brother took to join the team.

It has not been an easy quest through the first two and a half weeks of spring practice, though. FAMU has plenty of experience in the secondary, but Aja isn't backing down as one of a handful of players who are trying to earn their keep without scholarships.

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Former FAMU's Hicks moves to Eugene, Oregon with hopes of regaining spot among 800’s elite

Photo: Miami, Florida native Kevin Hicks; Career Highlights: 2005 USA Indoor champion; 3rd at 2005 USA Outdoors; 2nd at NCAA Outdoors.

Three years ago, Kevin Hicks was one of the rising stars in U.S. track and field.

The Florida A&M sophomore won the NCAA indoor title in the 800 meters, took second at the NCAA outdoor meet with a time of 1 minute, 44.94 seconds, and placed third at the U.S. outdoor championships to earn a trip to Helsinki for the 2005 World Championships. The future looked bright for Hicks.

He was ranked third in the U.S. in the 800 by Track & Field News, and his exploits were being compared to the school’s two former Olympians — the late Bob Hayes (1964) and Rey Robinson (1972), the present FAMU coach.

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Collegiate, professional athletics akin to slavery

Blacks sold like cattle to white schools looking for brawn, not brains

The situation of black male athletes in America is an interesting one. In one sense, they are heroes - to their communities and the nation - but in another sense, they are comparable to slaves. No, I did not just call black male athletes, slaves. I said the situation is comparable.

Imagine it this way: The predominantly white institution is the plantation, the white head coach is the slave master and the black athlete is the slave. The crops being reaped: Money, prestige and reputation.

It is generally known that there are more black athletes competing on national collegiate and professional teams than there are owners and coaches of these teams.

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Will it be 1st and 10 or 9 to 5?

Photo: With a 2007 FAMU degree earned in public management, former Rattlers defensive back Carlos Rolle pursues NFL dream.

Athletes weigh in on the probability of going pro after collegiate careers

When it comes to college football, each player's goal varies. While some see themselves going pro, others are content with their athletic careers ending upon graduation.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association estimates that out of the 56,500 students playing football in America, only 2 percent will play professionally. "You have a better chance at becoming a rocket scientist than going to the NFL," said Joe Taylor. "So you better go to class."

Taylor, the new head coach of Florida A&M University's football team, said he doesn't want anyone on his team...

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Ashley Hampton completes stellar prep career with mom along for the ride

Florida A&M University's incoming recruit Ashley Hampton named Ocala Star-Banner 2008 Girls Basketball Player of the Year, same award her Mom won in 1987.

OCALA, FL — It was one of those seasons you dream about as a little kid. Leading your tiny school to the big time with your mother and coach along for the ride. St. John Lutheran forward Ashley Hampton made it all a reality in 2008, willing her Saints to the private school's first-ever final four and filling her scrapbook along the way.

She did it with sheer talent - Hampton's 25.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 3.7 assists per game compare favorably to any player in the state. She did it with leadership - setting a standard for her teammates while never developing the ego that can easily haunt a star.

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More importantly, Ashley carries a 4.4 grade point average and plans to major in Pharmacy at FAMU. She will soon join a family legacy that have had seven other family members attend and graduate from Florida A&M.

Howard University Announces 2008 Football Schedule

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Howard University will open the 2008 season with a home game against the Hoyas of Georgetown University. It will mark the first time that the two schools have met on the gridiron. That match-up will take place in Greene Stadium.

The Bison will follow with a road game at Hampton, VA against the Pirates of Hampton University on September 13. Howard will then return home for a MEAC showdown with rival Florida A&M University on September 20.

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The following is the complete 2008 schedule:

Sept. 6 vs GEORGETOWN Wash., DC 1 pm
13 at Hampton University Hampton, VA TBA
20 vs FLORIDA A&M Wash., DC 1 pm
27 vs Savannah State Miami, FL TBA
Oct. 4 at Winston-Salem State Winston-Salem, NC TBA
11 OPEN
18 vs MORGAN STATE Wash., DC 1 pm$
25 at North Carolina A&T Greensboro, NC TBA
Nov. 1 vs NORFOLK STATE Wash., DC 1 pm
8 at South Carolina State Orangeburg, SC TBA
15 at Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach, FL TBA
22 vs DELAWARE STATE Wash., DC 1 pm
HOME GAME IN UPPER CASE
$ Homecoming

Howard University Showtime Marching Band

ASU Hornet coaches hope reinforcements are on the way

Photo: ASU Hornets head coach Reggie Barlow.

As Alabama State's final week of spring practice opened on Monday, the guys in charge were not very happy. There was a lot of yelling, a lot of running after practice and some very frank comments from the head coach.

"When we came into the spring, we had our eyes on the players we thought would step up and step out," ASU coach Reggie Barlow said. "So far, some of those guys haven't played as well as we think they can. We were looking for the five-to-eight guys who would take that next step and be big contributors, and we've had only a couple of guys to do that."

The lack of productivity has the coaching staff eyeing the arrival of several transfers and junior college signees expected ...

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Grambling State Tailgating: Possibly the Best in the SWAC

Grambling/I-20 Classic Tailgating and Band 2007

Rattler head coach, Taylor: Battle is FAMU's starting QB

Photo: #8, Eddie Battle is No. 1 on the Rattlers quarterback depth chart, followed by Robert Love and Tobias Lee.

Although Florida A&M football coach Joe Taylor didn't hesitate to call redshirt sophomore Eddie Battle his No. 1 quarterback after Monday's spring practice, Taylor was just as quick to point out that Robert Love is right on his heels. Battle's leadership and ability to make quick decisions are what led Taylor to name Battle the number one guy, for now.

"Eddie is just a good manager, he's a good decision maker and he takes over the huddle," Taylor said. "He has a lot of authority. He's really moved forward, but Love is right there with him."

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SCSU defense frustrated in Sunday's scrimmage

Photo: SCSU LB Tony White.

South Carolina State University head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough praised his team's defense for its performance in Friday's practice, but in Sunday's scrimmage there wasn't much praise being handed out to anyone on the defensive side of the ball.

On the bright side, the South Carolina State offense -- especially the second unit against Brooks and the Bulldogs' first-team defense -- looked good. Actually, it was Malcolm Long and the Bulldogs' first-team offense that got the ball rolling, mounting an 11-play scrimmage opening drive that was capped by a short touchdown pass from Long to tight end Octavius Darby.

While Long and the starters remained consistent throughout the scrimmage, backup quarterback DeWain Clark and the second team offense were explosive. After turning the ball over on four downs on its first possession, Clark and the second-team were backed up and given the ball again. On the third play of that series, Clark connected with tight end Sean Lampkin over the middle for a 60-yard touchdown. Shortly after, Clark tossed another touchdown, this one 40 yards, to receiver Semaj Moody.

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Alabama State Hornets' schedule hits another snag

Alabama State's 2008 football schedule isn't quite so final. Athletic director Ron Dickerson said Saturday morning that it appears as if the game against Concordia College won't happen, leaving ASU with just 11 total games and only three games in Montgomery.

"(Concordia officials) told us they could get out of a game on that date and it now appears as if they can't," Dickerson said. "We're still looking, still working, but for now, we're going to go with an 11-game schedule. Hopefully, we can work out something soon. But right now, it's 11 games."

If Dickerson and ASU officials are unable to fill that Sept. 13 spot on the schedule....

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QB surprise emerges from ASU scrimmage

Photo: Sophomore QB Brandon Dowdell, 6-3/190, Opelika, AL, had a break-out scrimmage on Saturday for the Hornets.

Reggie Barlow studied the forecast almost as closely as he did his playbook late Friday night. The ASU head football coach knew that Saturday morning's scheduled scrimmage -- the last before the Black & Gold game -- was vital to his team staying on track in preparing for the fall.

After considering pushing back the time, or canceling it altogether, Barlow and the Hornets boarded the buses and made the quick trek to Cramton Bowl for a spirited scrimmage that featured big plays from and unlikely source.

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