MEAC/SWAC Challenge rotates away from Legion Field

The fourth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge is set for Aug. 31 and, for the first time, the football game won't be held at Legion Field.

The game is moving to Orlando but the move was not unexpected because, from the birth of the event that is owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television, the plan was to hold the game on a rotating basis in the footprint of each of the two historically black college conferences.

Along with leaving SWAC country, the game also picked up Walt Disney Resort as presenting sponsor for the three-year deal.

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Howard Football to Host Spring Game on Saturday

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Howard University football team will close out its 2008 spring schedule with the spring game at Greene Stadium on Saturday, April 19. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m.

Head Coach Carey Bailey and his staff will split the squad into two teams and run an offense/defense format. "We've had a very good spring and are looking forward to finishing on a strong note on Saturday," Bailey said.

Bailey, who is completing his first season with Howard, and the Bison will open the 2008 season on September 6 at home versus cross town rival Georgetown University.

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Morgan State to Hold Spring Game Friday at Hughes Stadium

Photo: Morgan State's head football coach Donald Hill-Eley

BALTIMORE, Md. - Morgan State University head football coach Donald Hill-Eley is leading his team through the last few days of Spring practice in preparation for Friday's annual Blue & Orange scrimmage. The game will be played at Hughes Stadium.

“The purpose of the scrimmage is to help our young men gain an understanding of our schemes,” said Hill. “It will also enable the coaching staff to evaluate the depth of our team.”

The scrimmage will pit the offense versus the defense with a scoring system in place to determine the outcome.

The annual Blue & Orange scrimmage will kick-off Friday, April 18th at 6 p.m. at Hughes Stadium. Admission is free.

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FAMU to get Jenkins more involved

Jenkins has earned a place in coach Joe Taylor's offensive scheme that will make him a fixture in the Rattlers attack. Jenkins' size and agility makes him a must-have in the offense, Taylor said, especially because of the options that his presence presents.

"Jenkins has proven to us that he needs to be on the football field," he said. "When you're throwing the football to everyone on the field, you're forcing the defense to play honest. When they play honest, it creates more voids that you can attack. That's very, very important."

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Defense shines for S.C. State in practice

Monday's spring practice at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium proved productive in many forms for South Carolina State. Not only were the Bulldogs able to get in the 2 1/2 hour session before any potential rainfall, the oft-criticized defense had one of its best showings of the spring.

During one goal line drill, the secondary managed to keep the offense out the end zone. Despite still having low numbers on the defensive line, the defense also held its own stopping the run. "They're trying to find their way back," S.C. State head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough. "We're starting to get some of those people back that we had on the shelf with injuries and what not. But yeah, they showed some signs of being okay."

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FAMU search continues for new women's basketball coach

The Florida A&M University committee charged with finding a new women’s basketball coach will meet today with the returning players, according to Athletic Director William Hayes. Debra Clark, coach of the Lady Rattlers for the last seven years, was informed on March 25 that her contract would not be renewed. FAMU finished the season 14-17. Clark’s overall record at FAMU was 100-109.

Twelve of the 15 players on the 2007-08 team will return for the Lady Rattlers. Their season ended with a 76-65 loss to North Carolina A&T in the quarterfinals of the MEAC tournament. Today’s meeting will be the second time the search committee has convened, Hayes said. Rosalind Fuse-Hall, chief of staff for FAMU President James Ammons, is chairwoman of the search committee.

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SCSU revives "Jet" Invitational

Aside from making the program competitive again, reviving the Robert “Jet” Johnson Invitational was one of Tyree Price’s goals in his first season as S.C. State track and field coach.

After a one-year hiatus, the event named after the S.C. State Athletic Hall of Famer returned Saturday to the Lorry H. Dawkins Track Facility as part of a busy athletic day on the campus. A total of six schools, including Claflin, Benedict, Queens College out of North Carolina, Voorhees and Morehouse College, and former track and field athletes from S.C. State and the University of South Carolina took part in the 18-event meet.

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BCU Tops Norfolk State, 5-2 to Complete Series Sweep

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Eric Thomas struck out seven over seven innings, and Jose Ortiz went 3-for-4 with two RBI as first-place Bethune-Cookman completed a three-game MEAC sweep of Norfolk State with a 5-2 win on Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Thomas moved to 6-0 on the hill as he allowed just three hits and two runs (one earned) for the Wildcats (22-13, 9-0 MEAC). Phil Enright got the save by pitching the final two innings on the bump. For Enright, a strong right-hander from nearby Deltona, it was his third save in four attempts this year.

NSU starting pitcher and stud ace Leon Schabacker took the loss for NSU (13-13, 3-6 MEAC) to drop to 4-3. He allowed four earned runs in seven innings, striking out three Wildcats in the process.

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DSU baseball splits with Florida A&M

Courtesy: DSU Athletic Media Relations, Release: 04/13/2008

DOVER, DE- The Hornets split the doubeleheader against FAMU today, losing the first game 7-4 and winning the second game 10-4 at Soldier Field. The Hornets improved their record to 11-20 and 6-2 in the MEAC while the Rattlers record is now 10-15 and 3-5 in the MEAC.

The Hornets tied the first game 4-4 in the fourth inning with a solo homeruns by both Jose Sanchez and Jamie Friel while Troy Drummond drove in two runs off a double to right field. However, the Hornets were unable to score the rest of the game off of Rattlers starter Miguel Parga.

The Rattlers came back and scored two more runs in the 7th inning and took the lead for good when Corey McFadden hit a two-run homerun to right field. The Rattlers won the game 7-4.

Leading offensively for the Rattlers were Jared Jeffries, Corey McFadden and Timothy Schalch. Jeffries went 3-for-5 with 1 run and 2 RBI's. McFadden and Schalch also contributed 2 RBI's on the day.

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Pickoff highlights average day for TSU defense

When Jamal Coleman raced 40 yards with an interception return Saturday in Tennessee State's Blue & White Spring Game some fans might have been relieved to see that replacing Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was possible. But Coach James Webster and new defensive coordinator Rod Reed warned against being too presumptuous.

As it turned out, Coleman's big play was one of the few highlights for the unit in the offense versus defense game. Even without starting quarterback Antonio Heffner or 1,000-yard rusher Javarris Williams on the field, the offense had more highlights in a 36-20 victory at Hale Stadium before a crowd of about 1,000.

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TSU gets JUCO hoops commitment

Chris Goodwin, a 3-point shooter from Hendersonville who spent the past season at Wallace State Community College (Ala.), has verbally committed to play at Tennessee State. Goodwin, a 6-3 shooting guard, helped Wallace State to a 32-1 record by making 121 3-pointers and averaging 11.9 points per game.

Goodwin averaged 23 points per game his senior year (2005-06) at Hendersonville Christian High School, which finished 29-4. He spent his freshman season at Tennessee Temple University where he made 96 3-pointers.

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Grambling soccer signs seven with eye on building quickness, solidifying defense

Grambling State University soccer head coach Tamura Crawley announced that a total of seven student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play soccer for the Lady Tigers next season.

With an emphasis on quickness and solidifying the team’s defense, Crawley feels her needs were met with the signees and has high expectations as she expects this group to help her accomplish the goal of winning the SWAC and competing on a high level outside the SWAC.

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Grambling splits pair of games against reigning SWAC champ Prairie View

Grambling State began its final conference homestand of the season on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader split against visiting Prairie View A&M University. Holding a one-run lead in the bottom of the sixth, Grambling’s Brent Smith smacked a three-run homer to propel the Tigers to a 9-5 win in game one.

Prairie View jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the third and led 1-0 but GSU tied the game in the bottom half on a sacrifice fly by Manny Kumar. The Tigers moved ahead 3-1 in the fourth after Prairie View starter Charlie Aceto issued a wild pitch and a bases-loaded walk.

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Florida A&M Cruise Past WSSU Men's Tennis

Rams fall to Florida A&M in next-to-last match of the 2008 season.

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Winston-Salem State University men's tennis team fell in defeat to the Florida A&M University Rattlers on Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee, Florida by the score of 7-0 as WSSU dropped their ninth consecutive match to drop to 1-22 overall on the season.

The Rattlers swept all six singles matches, two by 6-0, 6-0 sweeps and then earned the doubles point with a pair of 8-0 victories at first and third doubles and an 8-1 victory at second doubles.

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Southern getting ready for final week of spring football practice

Southern heads into its final week of spring practice, going Tuesday and Thursday and then finishing with the Blue and Gold Spring Game at 3 p.m. Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Photo: Southern University head coach Pete Richardson.

The Jaguars concluded their third week of four practices with a workout in shoulder pads and helmets on a breezy, early Saturday afternoon. “We wanted to look at the down-the-line guys, trying to get them in a position they can get to the scrimmage and have a chance to get at least play a few plays in the scrimmage (Saturday),” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “We’re trying to sharpen up on each side of the ball.

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Stewart back to anchor Southern offensive line

This turned out to be a happy miscommunication. Southern offensive line coach Damon Nivens didn’t find out until around the Bayou Classic that center/guard Demarcus Stewart had the possibility of returning this season.

“We looked at it and figured out he had another year when he told us at the end of the season,” Nivens said. “He said, ‘Coach, I have another year.’ I said, ‘Really, that’s good. That’s good. That will give me more depth, more guys with experience up front.’” The confusion stemmed from when Stewart initially transferred from Nicholls State.

Photo: #75 Demarcus Stewart had a second team All-SWAC season in 2007, and will return 29 pounds lighter at 6-0/303 in August to lead the Jags OL.

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Southern Jaguars do well at Pelican Relays

Southern University athletes and well as several area high school standouts fared well at the 2008 Pelican Relays held at Southern’s A.W. Mumford Stadium on Saturday. In team standings, Southern finished second behind Grambling University on the women’s side, while the Jaguars won the men’s division. Northside won the high school girls division while Scotlandville finished first in the boys division.

Finishing first for the Jaguars in the college division, were India Anderson in the women’s long jump (5Ø feet), Jason House in the men’s high jump (2.1 meters), the men’s 1,600 sprint medley relay ‘A’ team (3:29.50), the men’s distance medley ‘A’ team (10:38.97), the women’s 1,600 relay ‘A’ team (3:49.01) and the men’s 1,600 relay ‘A’ team (3:15.40).

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Jackson State Combine to test football players

Jackson State will run its own version of the NFL Combine as part of its offseason workout program. Strength and conditioning coach Derek Scott will run the four-day session starting April 28. "It looks like a great, great program he's got," JSU football coach Rick Comegy said. "I just want us to be stronger ... where I see a muscle in their ear.

Photo: JSU head football coach Rick Comegy.

"I just know everybody else is eating iron at this time. We're the bull's-eye. They've picked up their momentum and we've got to pick up ours. We can't just lie idle and be happy where we are. We have to surpass what they do."

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New Alcorn AD Hamilton set to lead Braves' transition

Fundraising, hiring of men's basketball coach high on list of priorities

A billboard reading "In Transition" would be appropriate on the stretch of Highway 61heading into Lorman. In the last five months Alcorn State has welcomed a new president (George Ross), a new football coach (Ernest Jones) and a new athletic director (Darren Hamilton).

Samuel West was fired the day before Hamilton started last week, so a new basketball coach is on the way. "I'm sure it's a transitional phase," Hamilton, 44, said. "It's a very vibrant time on campus. "I think everybody is really, really hungry and ready to bring it back to the level of excellence and envy that was there in the past."

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TSU still has issues with NCAA

Tony Harvey is hoping the day will come when stories about him do not include the words "NCAA investigation." That day isn't today.

Texas Southern University did what should be the best thing the university has done with its athletic department in many years Thursday, when it announced it has lured athletic director Charles McClelland away from Prairie View A&M.

Many believe that last week the university did the worst thing it has done with its athletic department in many years when it announced it had hired Harvey as the men's basketball coach. Considering the school's lengthy and well-chronicled list of ill-advised moves, that says something.

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Gold Team prevails at PVAMU Annual Purple and Gold Football Game

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas- The Prairie View A&M Panthers football team concluded their 2008spring camp with the Annual Purple and Gold game played at Blackshear Field. Both teams offensive units began the game sluggish as both teams committed turnovers early in the contest. Regulation play concluded with both teams knotted at 3 points apiece.

During the overtime periods both teams added touchdowns as the Purple team's Calvin Harris reached the end zone for a rushing score while the Gold team's Lynderrick Williams scored a TD on a 15 yard reception from quarterback Austin Nwokobia.

The game was decided by a 30 yard field goal by Brady Faggard which gave the Gold team a three-point advantage at 13-10. The Purple unit would get a chance to force the game into another overtime exchange but Kyle Matthews 42 yard field goal attempt fell short giving the Gold team the victory.

The Panthers will now look toward off-season workouts as they get set to open the season against rival Texas Southern in the Annual State Farm Labor Day Classic football game.

Texas Southern football game rescheduled with Texas State

San Marcos — Texas State University director of athletics Dr. Larry Teis has announced that the Bobcats have moved their football game against Texas Southern to Oct. 4 on Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for September 13.

“Texas Southern had a problem with their schedule and we were able to accommodate them by moving the game,” Teis said. “As a result, we now have a two-year agreement and they also will play here in 2009.”

This season’s game marks the eighth game played between the two schools. Texas State owns a 7-0 record in the series that dates back to 1988. The last time the two schools met was on Nov. 9, 2006, when the Bobcats won a 41-21 decision in San Marcos.

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Coach Taylor grading all players after FAMU's spring game

Though the fact that there were members of the Marching 100 there was a change. Coach Joe Taylor wanted it, and so for the first time in 20 years the band showed up at Bragg Stadium on Saturday for the Orange and Green game.
"We wanted a game-like atmosphere," Taylor said. "We wanted to see how the guys react with the officials, with the crowd, with the band. Whenever we line up on the field (the Marching 100) has got to be here because they're the 12th man. I know it's going to benefit us."

The Green team chewed up a lot of yards while having its way against the Orange, to the tune of a 54-0 final score.

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SSU's Edwards, Osborne lead Orange in SSU's spring game

Running back Antwan Edwards and wide receiver Isaiah Osborne were the stars for the Orange team, which wore white jerseys, in Savannah State's football spring game Saturday. Linebacker Calvin Leonard and defensive back Jamar Graham were standouts for the Blue team.

A Memorial Stadium crowd of 389, including two handfuls of signees, watched the Orange's 18-6 victory over the Blue end four weeks of spring practice. Edwards ran 15times for 122 yards, and Osborne made 13 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown.

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BCU Wildcats Take Two from Norfolk State in MEAC Baseball

Ormond Beach, Fla. - Marvelous pitching was the story of the day on Saturday as Bethune-Cookman University took both games of a MEAC baseball doubleheader against Norfolk State University, 10-1 & 3-0 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Fla.

The first game started early for the Wildcats of B-CU (21-13, 8-0 MEAC) as they plated three runs in the bottom of the second to open the game up.

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