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If there has been a theme to Alabama State's spring practice, it has been progress. With the task of implementing a new offense prior to next season, head coach Reggie Barlow has stressed the importance of making progress each day. The offensive players, time and again, have mentioned how much they're focused on improving each day.
It was that mindset the Hornets took into Saturday's Black and Gold spring game. Winning or losing seemed to make little difference to either side. It was all about judging how far they've come in 15 practices.
The offense's 29-24 win wasn't pretty, but no one seemed to care.
Photo: UMES Freshman Kristina Frahm (left) made All-Tournament Team along with the Tournament's Most Valuable Bowler, senior Jessica Worsley (right).
The title is the first NCAA National Championship women's titleever at the DI level by a historically black college or university (HBCU) and the first time a woman coach has won a bowling championship.
Press Release: Courtesy of NCAA
Maryland-Eastern Shore made NCAA bowling history Saturday night as it captured its first NCAA Women’s Bowling title since the sport’s NCAA sanction in 2004. Maryland-Eastern Shore’s Head Coach Sharon Brummel also became the first woman head coach to lead her team to a title.
“Somebody told me I was the first woman to win a championship,” Brummel said. “We’ve been to all five championships and finally a woman wins. It’s a wonderful feeling, it really is.”
The Hawks fought to be in the championship, as they were down three games to Vanderbilt in this afternoon’s elimination match. Momentum shifted the Hawk’s way and Maryland-Eastern Shore defeated Vanderbilt to contend for the championship.
“I’m speechless,” Brummel said. “After last year I felt that we were contending for the championship. Today, these young ladies fought. When were bowling against Vanderbilt earlier today and we were down three games, it got a little scary. Then Jessica Worsley decides to pick up a 2-10 split and it just seemed to change the whole momentum of the game and they came out fighting today when we were starting out in the championship.”
“I guess we all wanted to win,” Brommel said. “Jessica’s been here the whole four years. She’s gone to four national championships and on her way out she wanted to go out as a champion and she really went out as a champion.”
Maryland-Eastern Shore anchor Jessica Worsley stepped up for the Hawks in both matches today and emerged as the Most Valuable Bowler for the 2008 National Championship. Photo: Jessica Worsley, Most Valuable Bowler Award winner.
“It was just a dream even making the finals last year and finishing second,” Worsley said. “Most people can’t even said they’ve done that in their career. Just going out on top and finishing first my senior year, words can’t describe how great that feels. I couldn’t have asked for a better coaching staff or team to finish my career with and winning the national championship was just the icing on the cake.”
Maryland-Eastern Shore claimed the title with a 4-2 win over Arkansas State. The Hawks took an early lead in the first game, as Arkansas State had two open frames to start the game. However, Arkansas State came on strong during the fourth frame, as sophomore Maggie Adams started a series of six strikes for the Indians. Maryland-Eastern Shore was unable to overcome the deficit and fell, 179-223, to Arkansas State in the first game.
Maryland-Eastern Shore’s come back was quick in the second game as they out shot the Indians, 200-181. The Hawks recorded seven spares and three strikes, while Arkansas State held two open frames to begin the game. The teams were tied at 1-1 heading into the third game.
Despite two open frames to start game three, Arkansas State’s anchor Marissa Martinek helped the Indians to victory with back-to-back strikes in the tenth frame. Arkansas State defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore, 182-180.
Maryland-Eastern Shore answered back with a 217-164 win over Arkansas State in the fourth game. UMES was on fire with six strikes and five spares in the game, which brought them to a 2-2 draw with Arkansas State.
The Hawks kept rolling to a 3-2 lead over Arkansas State in the fifth game. Two strikes in both the eighth and ninth frames gave the Hawks a strong 175-152 win over the Indians.
With momentum on its side, Maryland-Eastern Shore capped the night with a 174-170 victory over Arkansas State to capture the 2008 Women’s Bowling Championship title.
Following the awards ceremony, five championship bowlers were recognized with all-tournament team honors. Brittany Garcia (Vanderbilt), Vicki Spratford (New Jersey City), Maggie Adams (Arkansas State), Jessica Worsley (Maryland-Eastern Shore) and Maria Rodriguez (Maryland-Eastern Shore) were each recognized, while Worlsey claimed the Most Valuable Bowler.
A tape-delay of the championship game will be broadcast on ESPN 2 at 6 p.m. Central on Monday, April 14.
Photo: Sharon Brummell, UMES Head Bowling Coach of the NCAA Division I National Champions Hawks
2007/08 UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE HAWKS BOWLING TEAM -NCAA DIVISION I NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
NAME YR Hometown (Last School) Brown, Katherine FR Level Green, Pa. (Penn Trafford H.S.) Culbreth, Jamie JR Hochspeyer, Germany (Kaiserslautern American) Davis, Jennifer JR Severn, Md. (Meade H.S.) DiScioscia, Sara JR Hampton, Va. (Poquoson H.S.) Frahm, Kristina FR Oswego Ill. (Oswego East H.S.) King, Christine SR Upper Darby, Pa. (Archbishop Predergast) Perez, Martha FR Bogota, Colombia (English School) Rodriguez, Maria FR Ibague Tolima, Colombia (La Presentacion) Smithson, Jessica RS FR Selbyville, Del (Sussex Technical H.S.) Worsley, Jessica SR Brick, N.J. (Brick Memorial H.S.) Zanrucha, Laura JR Binghamton, N.Y. (Susquehanna Valley H.S.)
Amazing!! Congratulations UMES Hawks! The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference members, fans and all HBCUs are extremely proud of our first NCAA Division I National Championship and the historic accomplishments by the UMES Hawks 2008 National Championship Bowling Team. Now we all know the truly impossible--is now possible for all MEAC sports teams. ( beepbeep)
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Jazz Ensemble, "God Bless the Child"
The Joe Taylor era at Florida A&M is off to a perfect start. Taylor, the Rattlers’ new head football coach, guided the first-stringers to a resounding 54-0 win on Saturday in the annual Orange & Green game.
Even the weather was faultless, though there was a 12-minute downpour shortly before the 1 p.m. kickoff that may have kept the crowd at Bragg Stadium to about 300.
Philip Sylvester, the freshman sensation from Marianna, rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Green team. Those gaudy numbers don’t include an 82-yard touchdown run that was nullified by a penalty.
OMAHA, Neb. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) thought they would have the advantage today. After all, they are a fresh oil team. When they faced Vanderbilt yesterday to start they day they topped them 4-0. Suddenly the tables were turned and the hot team was Vanderbilt who went up 3-0. Don't call it a comeback, call it fate, UMES rebounded to pick up four straight games, riding the back of anchor Jessica Worsley and advance to the National Championship to face Arkansas State.
UMES faces the team they defeated yesterday in eight games, ASU in the national championship match.
For more than two years now, as he's worked to be the Alabama State starting quarterback, Alex Engram has tried to ignore the doubters and pessimists. It just does no good to listen to them. Things haven't always gone well during his time at QB and he knows it. In fact, they've gone downright terrible at times, and Engram is the first to admit that.
So, he understands why fans now doubt his ability to run the ASU offense. He just doesn't care.
Photo: #16 Hornets QB Alex Engram.
"I've always been the kind of guy that I don't listen to that stuff from fans, whether it be good or bad," Engram said. "I don't mean any disrespect, but listening to them doesn't help. I've always tried to keep my head down, work with my coaches and just get better."
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It appears that Engram with be the third string quarterback for ASU. From the comments made by coach Reggie Barlow, he has his eyes set on the baseball player, Devin Dominguez as his starter, and Brandon Dowdell as his second string QB. Unless Engram has an NFL type Fall camp, he can get ready to kiss the end of the bench for the season opener at Florida A&M.
A tone of relief hung heavy in the words of Jackson State football coach Rick Comegy when asked about the injury situation at the conclusion of spring workouts. Defensive tackle Emmanuel Muhammad went down with a strained knee in the Blue and White game, but otherwise the Tigers were unscathed Saturday.
Even senior quarterback Joe Hawkins played, despite being scheduled to sit out the game with a leg injury. He took a few big hits, came out and returned with the red no-touch jersey on. "We came out good," Comegy said, "which I am so happy about. And we played a full game, rather than a 60-play series.
GRAMBLING. LA — Holding a three-game divisional lead means little when the two-time defending league champions are in the other dugout. That’s been second-year Grambling baseball coach Barret Rey’s pulpit-pounding sermon all week.
“The confidence is coming,” Rey said, “but I don’t want them to get overconfident. We haven’t accomplished anything yet.” That may be overstating things a bit.
Darren Coates was a bolt of lightning last season, becoming an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference second-teamer and the best pass-catching running back of the Pete Richardson era in his one season as Southern’s feature back. Now that Coates is gone, Southern is deep into the business of replacing him as spring practice continues. Brian Threat, who will be a sophomore, and Kendrick Smith, who will be a senior, are the veterans.
Behind them are two freshmen who redshirted last season — Micah Smith and Amonte Harper — and ex-Nicholls State player Joe Robbins, who has one season of eligibility remaining and is learning the entire playbook this season. SU, like at times last season, can employ tight end Evan Alexander in the backfield as well.
Southern also signed two prep players in February: Clinton High’s Byron Williams and Ville Platte High’s Jerry Joseph.
While the rest of FAMU’s football players who hold more glamorous positions practice on the main field, kicker Troy Walker and long snapper Kory McCloughen go through their skill drills almost unnoticed. When they get a chance on the field their entry usually serves as notice that practice is about finished — not so much that they’re participating in a special teams workout.
Neither Walker nor McCloughen mind, though. They know they are the heart and soul of special teams. So they toil in obscurity under the watch of special teams coach Justin Gibboney, attempting to improve their kickoffs, punts, field goals and extra points.
Hawks get the bye and guarantee they will play on Saturday.
OMAHA, Neb. - In one of the most exciting matches in the history of the NCAA Women's Bowling Tournament, The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) and Arkansas State University (UMES) went to an extra game to decide who stayed in and who left the winner's bracket. The second ranked Hawks proved to be the better team on this day as they got down to ASU 2-0 but rallied to tie the series at two. They got down 3-2 but tied the match and sent it to a crucial game seven. It wouldn't end there as UMES and ASU tied at 173. The Lady Hawks came out on top however, and won game eight to send the Indians to the loser's bracket.
Brummell's team survived the spunky ASU team and now earns a bye until 6:20 p.m. ET when they play the winner of the University of Central Missouri and Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt edged Sacred Heart 4-3 in their second match of the day while Central Missouri fell to New Jersey City University (NJCU) 4-3.
NORFOLK, VA - Spring football practice at Norfolk State has been an embarrassment - of riches, that is. Even with the freshmen still a few months from arriving on campus, the Spartans are bursting with depth, particularly at quarterback.
This spring, five Spartans are on the roster with the letters "QB" by their names. UConn transfer Dennis Brown is getting the most attention but also on the list are Oscar Smith graduate Dexter Merritt, a redshirt last year; Rakeem Kersey; Tallwood graduate Brian Jackson, also the starting punter; and Jones, a rising senior.
With Brown taking the majority of the snaps this spring, Adrian said the Spartans are more versatile offensively.
Photo: South Carolina State University women's basketball coach Douglas "Doug" Robertson will be introduced to the Bulldogs community on April 17 at Noon at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.
(BOWIE, MD) Bowie State University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Doug Robertson has resigned his position to accept the head coaching post at South Carolina State University. South Carolina State, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), finished the 2007-2008 season in 7th place with a record of 9-7 (13-17 overall)
“Coach Robertson did an outstanding job advancing our women’s program," said Athletic Director Derek Carter. “We wish him much success as he embarks on this newest phase of his coaching career.”
During his three years with the Bowie State Lady Bulldogs program, Robertson compiled a record of 53-33 (61.6%), led BSU to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Eastern Division title and was named the 2007-2008 CIAA Coach of the Year.
Prior to his stint at Bowie State, Robertson served as the number one assistant for the Delaware State University Lady Hornets (2000-2005) and helped guide them to an 82-64 overall record and three MEAC Championships game appearances in five years.
Photo: G.D. Rogers Sr. turned Central Life Insurance Co., which sold policies to black people during the days of segregation, into a million-dollar business after taking over in 1933. [photo provided by Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library]
Black Golf Hall of Fame to induct land that G.D. Rogers donated to Tampa.
TAMPA, FL — Rogers Park has come a long way from the days when Tampa's black community met there to spread a blanket on the soft, billowing hills and have a quiet lunch outdoors in the shade of a fragrant long-leaf pine tree.
G.D. Rogers of Bradenton, who had business interests in Tampa, contributed the land for the segregated park. Rogers died before the civil rights movement took off. During the first half of the 20th century, the activist businessman started numerous projects on behalf of black people -- including a Bradenton school and a beachfront resort near Daytona Beach.
When local black golfers began chipping around the vast green open spaces at Rogers Park, they sealed the fate of the tract -- north of Sligh Avenue at the end of 30th Street. The Rogers Park Golf Club opened in 1952.
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Let's be honest here, as most of us would have flunked this black history test, as most are clueless on the life and achievements of Garfield Devoe Rogers, e.g., G.D. Rogers.
"When G.D. Rogers Sr. died in 1951, the funeral procession traveled nearly 50 miles, a convoy of Fords and Oldsmobiles streaming through Tampa's black neighborhoods and its white country estates, past the farming communities and pastures farther south before reaching a little Methodist church in Bradenton."
"Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, presided over the funeral. One newspaper later said that the "black Jesus" must have died," wrote the St. Pete Times.
Dr. Rogers was an extraordinary businessman becoming wealthy during an era where racial boundaries were clearly enforced, to limits one's prospects and future.
Here are a few eye opening articles on the man and his great achievements:
If we don't learn our African American history and record it in books and electronic records, it will be lost forever, and the next generation will never know of our achievements nor of our existence during these periods of time, after slavery and the beginining of the Civil Rights Movement.
I've done the Lord's will and made my very small contribution of keeping our positive achievements and HBCU sports happenings at the forefront of America's consciousness.
Preparation is one of the key ingredients of a successful football program. For Arkansas-Pine Bluff head coach Monte Coleman, he’s got the preparation part down pat.
With the weather conditions that have plagued the state of Arkansas this spring, the Golden Lions have been affected by the wet weather as well. UAPB was forced to call off Wednesday’s practice at Old Pumphrey Stadium because of poor field conditions that were caused by the storms late Tuesday night.
Instead of going outside and practicing Wednesday, Coleman and the Golden Lions watched film of Tuesday’s practice. Tuesday was the first day of the spring that UAPB had practiced in full pads.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff head coach Monte Coleman and the Golden Lion Athletic Department will hold the first Monte Coleman Celebrity Golf Tournament and Meet and Greet reception on Thursday, June 12 and Friday, June 13 at the Pine Bluff Country Club.
Celebrities expected to attend this year’s tournament include NBA greats Scottie Pippen, John Starks and Dennis Scott; and former NFL stars Darrell Green, Art Monk, Charles Mann, Tony Peters, Ken Coffey, Jay Novacek and Eddie Payton.
This year’s tournament begins at 8 a.m. on June 13 with the women’s flight, followed by the men’s flight beginning at noon. There is a $100 entry fee for all participants and that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner along with a commemorative gift bag. Additionally there will be prizes available for the first through third place finishers along with closest to the pin and longest drive.
There will also be a silent auction with various pieces of autographed sports memorabilia set to be auctioned off with all proceeds benefiting the UAPB Football Program. In addition to the tournament, there will also be a Meet and Greet Reception on June 12 at the Pine Bluff Country Club beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Interested parties, whether to play in the tournament or become a sponsor, can contact either Coleman at (870) 575-8664 or UAPB Athletic Director Skip Perkins at (870) 575-8675 for more information. Spaces are limited.
Photo: Coach Reggie Barlow has no clear winner for starting quarterback.
The Alabama State football team went through its final spring practice on Thursday afternoon, and the questions that surrounded the team at the start of spring ball were still in place at the end. The coaching staff still isn't sure about the quarterback situation or if there are enough talented receivers to efficiently run the new spread offense or if the defense can replace a few key components or if a capable kicker can be tracked down.
But while the questions were clearly unanswered, head coach Reggie Barlow believes the answers are now much closer."We have a better idea now, I think, of where we are and what we need to get better," Barlow said.
"The same questions are still there, but I think we know where the answers are a little better now. We've definitely made some progress."
Photo: Bowie State University Lady Bulldogs Head Coach Doug Robertson
After a month-long search, it appears South Carolina State is close to naming a new women's basketball coach. S.C. State sports information director Bill Hamilton said Thursday an announcement could come "any day now" in regards to the hiring of a replacement for Tonya Mackey, who went 43-72 in four seasons before resigning.
While Hamilton could not divulge details on the search, the T&D has learned S.C. State has apparently targeted Bowie State women's basketball coach Doug Robertson. Bowie State sports information director George Goings confirmed Thursday S.C. State had contacted his school's athletics director Derek Carter seeking permission to interview Robertson. However, he had not heard whether or not Robertson had spoken with the school since he was in San Antonio, Texas for the Final Four.
Veteran coach with MEAC experience takes over men's basketball program
PRINCESS ANNE -- Standing under banners that boast of the past success of the men's basketball program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Thursday afternoon, director of athletics Keith Davidson introduced Frankie Allen as the 10th head coach of the program in its 27-year span as a Division I program. The new coach donned a UMES hat when introduced and received a standing ovation.
"Let me just say this, it fits," Allen said after putting on the cap. "Not only does it fit, it feels good." The hiring makes a nice birthday present for Allen, who just turned 59 on Monday and received a call from UMES president Thelma B. Thompson sending her good wishes. Allen will make $110,000 per year during his four-year contract, looking for the program's second Division I winning season and the first since the 1993-94 campaign.
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The Hawks have had one winning season in 27 years of Division I basketball, five coaches in seven years, and 14 consecutive losing seasons. Best decision Thelma Thompson, President, could ever make--hiring a coach with a winning history of making losers competitive. Frankie Allen is the right man for the job, but I'm not so sure about his No.1 assistant coach, Jamal Brown.
Photo: UMES plans to sign Jamal Brown on April 21 as No.1 assistant coach to Coach Frankie Allen.
Brown's career at South Carolina State ended badly (fired) after one season as the head coach due to allegations of an "unprofessional relationship with a female trainer." Brown is married; he did have a star playing career at S.C. State and led the Bulldogs to the 1996 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament.
The new Bulldogs Coach Tim Carter nearly cleaned house of Brown's recruits and the leftovers managed a 13-20 and 7-9 MEAC record for 8th place. We believe in second chances, but one does have to question the wisdom of Frankie Allen's decision to hire an unproven coach with no Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, D.C., or New Jersey connections for recruiting. If UMES is going to improve, they must get inner city players to come to the Shore, and we are not speaking of Ocean City.
With Fang Mitchell at Coppin State, Todd Bozeman at Morgan State, Towson State, UMBC and Mount St. Mary's just completing an NCAA run, UMES will have an uphill battle to get 12-15 talented players. Princes Anne is not Nashville, Washington, D.C. or Baltimore County, and Allen will have difficulty in procuring quality players from the available lower 2nd and 3rd tier.
Let's move along; nothing much happening here with the Hawks program.
Photo: Senior Jessica Worsley was high bowler for the Hawks, who averaged 192.5 (12th best individually at the championship) bowling in all four games; her 226 in the opening game was the team's best individual pinfall of the day.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore bowling team picked a bad day to struggle. Thursday was the qualifying day of the NCAA championship in Omaha, Neb. The eight teams bowl nine games (four team games and five Baker games) to determine seeding for the final two days of the event, and the Hawks, who entered the tournament as the No. 2 team in the country, qualified as the seven seed.
"We struggled, a lot of other teams struggled in the Baker (games)," UMES coach Sharon Brummell said. "Hopefully, (Friday) we'll just be a better Baker team than our opponent." The Hawks bowled team games of 954, 902, 862 and 887 in the morning, then bowled Baker games of 723, 763, 706, 791 and 689 for a pinfall total of 7,277.
THIBODAUX, LA — Four Southern University pitchers held Nicholls State to one run on three hits, defeating the Colonels, 6-1, on Wednesday night at Ray E. Didier Field. The Colonels fell to 6-26 on the season, while Southern improved to 15-11.
Belfred Pryer (1-0) threw five innings of one-hit baseball, walking one batter and striking out two. Pryer faced just 17 batters in picking up his first win. Nicholls State starter Nathan Quebedeaux (0-1) allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits while giving up two walks in two innings.
Photo: #51 LT Kwame Akkebela (with ball) played Center last season when Steve Brazzle was out with shoulder injury. Akkebela moves back to LT this season.
Brazzle's shoulder fully healed after a season out
It didn't take too long after the Florida A&M football team put on pads earlier this spring for offensive lineman Steve Brazzle to find out if he was completely healed. A right shoulder injury kept him on the sidelines all of last season.
"After I hit somebody the first day, I knew I was back to normal," Brazzle said following Thursday's final practice before Saturday's Orange and Green game. "I'm going as hard as I can every day." Brazzle's absence created a huge gap in the offensive line last year. The line turned into a patchwork unit at a point in the season when FAMU was going through a quarterback shuffle.
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It appears if this lineup remains for the Spring game scheduled for 1:00 p.m, April 12, the Rattlers starting offensive line will average 6.44 in height and 304.6 pounds. That lineup would consist of:
#73 RT Chris Sands, 6-8/315, RS Fr., Tallahassee, FL Leon H.S. #61 RG Javier Wallace, 6-3/270 RS So., Austin, TX LBJ H.S. #64 C Steve Brazzle, 6-4/328, Jr., Coatesville H.S., PA #60 LG Anthony Collins 6-3/355 RS Jr., Miami, FL Pace H.S. #51 LT Kwame Akkebela 6-4/255 So., Orlando, FL Jones H.S.
Photo: #25 Alcorn State head baseball coach Willie “Rat” McGowan, Sr.
Press Release: University of Arkansas Athletic Media Relations
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas has added a game to its 2008 baseball schedule and will host Alcorn State University Braves at Baum Stadium on Wednesday, April 16, at 6:35 p.m.
Alcorn State is 19-6 on the year which included a 14-game winning streak in March. Since that time, the Braves have lost five of their last eight games including two of three from Jackson State two weeks ago.
The Razorbacks added games to the 2008 schedule after missing three dates due to inclement weather. Arkansas’ first weather outage came on Feb. 26 against Southeast Missouri State followed by rainouts on March 28 against Vanderbilt and April 2 against Mississippi Valley State. Unused tickets to any 2008 regular season game will be honored for admission to the April 16 contest. Tickets may also be purchased on game day at Baum Stadium.
Photo: University of Maryland Eastern Shore new men's head basketball coach Frankie Allen.
Former Division I head coach and UMBC assistant Frankie Allen today was named the head men's basketball coach at University of Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Allen, who spent the past two seasons at UMBC under head coach Randy Monroe, helped lead the Retrievers to their first NCAA tournament bid last season. He previously coached Virginia Tech, Tennessee State and Howard University. UMBC won the America East title last season but fell to second-seeded Georgetown, 66-47, in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Allen has 18 seasons of head coaching experience in Division I.
UMES finished last season 15-16 overall and 9-7 in the MEAC.
Wisdom from FAMU Coach Joe Taylor: "I always tell a young man don't let a dollar bill decide your value; even if you come and you're not on scholarship," he said. "If you do what's important, do what necessary-- you easily come on money."
During his first two seasons playing defensive end at Florida A&M, DozellVarner always felt like he should be playing another position. With that, FAMU football coach Joe Taylor didn't have to look too far to find a fit for the new defensive scheme that he's putting in place this spring.
Varner has been making the transition to linebacker, part of Taylor's switch of FAMU's defensive scheme to an odd-man front which will require an extra linebacker on the field. Varner's switch is one of four that Taylor has made on defense, with one on offense that moved Kalum Harris from halfback to fullback.
Taylor didn't hesitate when Varner requested the change before he knew it would fit Taylor's plans perfectly.
Football coach Al Lavan confirmed Wednesday evening that two former Virginia Tech football players plan to enroll at Delaware State University in the fall, running back Elan Lewis and linebacker Matt Wright.
Lewis and Wright are both from Hampton, Va. Both graduated from Phoebus High, Lewis in 2005 and Wright a year later. Neither played in 2007, but Lavan welcomes what the two could bring. "They bring skills and experience to our team," Lavan said. "We expect both players to come in and compete and be a significant addition to our program."
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It appears the Hornets have signed two solid players...
Running back Elan Lewis came to Virginia Tech as the No. 2 recruit in Commonwealth of Virginia in 2005. He is the class AAA (Virginia's largest school classification) career rushing leader with 7,156 yards at Phoebus High. The torn ACL has been his major setback and he has been battling a weight problem during his career. He is 5-8/238 and runs the 40 in 4.54.
Inside linebacker Matt Wright is 6-2/215 and runs the 40 in 4.55. He is ranked as a Rivals.com 3-star player with a 3.0 gpa. Wright was AP First Team AAA All-State as a linebacker. He also played tight end in H.S. He was rated the No. 24th inside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com; was rated as the No. 17th player in Virginia in the Top 100; and his high school team complied a record of 46-5 during his career. Wright's brother, D.J. Parker played for VT as the No. 1 free safety for the Hokies, 2004-2006.
The MEAC/SWAC usually does not receive this level of talent with three years of eligibility.
If there has been a theme to Alabama State's spring practice, it has been progress. With the task of implementing a new offense prior to next season, head coach Reggie Barlow has stressed the importance of making progress each day. The offensive players, time and again, have mentioned how much they're focused on improving each day.
