Alabama State Hornets profit with new schedule

The Gulf Coast Classic just got a shot of life. On Tuesday, officials at Alabama State and Southern University signed an agreement guaranteeing the two schools will meet each season in Mobile's Ladd-Peebles Stadium through the year 2011.

The deal gives the game the two things its critics have demanded: A big-time, consistent opponent and a nice payday. Southern boasts one of the largest, most devoted fan bases in the conference and its continued involvement in the game puts an end to ASU's often-criticized practice of rotating opponents each season. In addition, the Gulf Coast Scholar and Sports Foundation, a non-profit organization in Mobile that's serving as host for the game, has promised a $900,000 payout to ASU over the next four years.

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New Era for Monte Coleman, UAPB Golden Lions

A new era has begun at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Former Washington Redskins, National Football League veteran linebacker Monte Coleman will begin his tenure as head football coach of the Golden Lions. Coleman is no stranger to Pine Bluff, having lived there in his youth and assisted former Golden Lions coaches after his retirement. Coleman won three Super Bowl rings with the Redskins in 16 seasons and upon his retirement entered the ministry.

Holding a Bible in one hand and a whistle in the other, figuratively speaking, Coleman plans to create strong Christian young men who win with heart and determination.

“My first hope is for winning football games — I’m not used to losing,” Coleman said. “I especially want to win when I’m on the football field, but it takes players being disciplined. As a football team, if we put discipline in everything we do, we can have some major accomplishments.”

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Ex-Granby star Chris Bell seeks fresh start at Norfolk State

Chris Bell has found a new home at his old home. The former Granby High School All-American is attending summer school at Norfolk State and says he plans to be on the football roster this fall. "Every step I take, I'm making sure is a positive step," Bell said Thursday evening after he cruised through conditioning drills at Dick Price Stadium. "I'm more mature now. I'm just trying to do the right thing."



For Bell, 21, the right thing would include putting a past behind him that includes legal and academic problems from the nearly two years he played at Penn State. In April, Bell was dismissed from the football team after police said he threatened a teammate with a knife in a campus dining hall. He was released from the university.

Bell said he was encouraged by several Penn State assistant coaches to transfer to Hampton University. "They thought that was a good program. I didn't feel they were interested in me," he said of Hampton. "I didn't want to put myself in a program I wasn't satisfied with. I had already done that once."

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If you have not noticed, the MEAC is in a Renaissance of sort with a few players at the FBS transferring down to the FCS HBCU programs or being signed outright. In addition to Chris Bell from Penn State, Justin Payne (Elon) signed with South Carolina State (5-7/170, 4.39/40; Sophomore DT (6-2/286) Shane Moore transferred from Marshall University to Norfolk State; RS Freshman OG Sergio Glenn (6-6/330) transferred from Marshall University to North Carolina A&T in the past several weeks. We will provide you with a comprehensive update on the FBC transfers to MEAC programs in a few days.

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FAMU recruit Bent set to play at high level

Young Cecil Bent would run around the basketball court while his mother coached her middle school girls' team — until it was time to do the blindfold dribbling drill. That's when he joined in. Penny Tapley didn't mind. She was big on teaching fundamentals, and she thought that if her son matured into a basketball player he'd find the workout useful. She was right.

"It helped because when I was young, I would always look down and I couldn't see the whole floor," Bent said. "Now when I dribble, I can see the whole floor. It was very helpful."

Now 6-foot-9 and 290 pounds, Bent credits his mother for showing him how to get a full range of the floor by dribbling blindfolded. He regularly gets rave reviews for how he can find an open guard to dish the ball to for a basket when he played at Swainsboro (Ga.) High School.

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Arkansas Record Breaking Receiver coming to UAPB Golden Lions

Gionni Harris was a key component in helping Fayetteville unlock the door to the school's first-ever state football title in 2007. Now Harris will represent the Purple Dogs in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Football contest at Reynolds Razorback Stadium Friday at 7 p.m.

Harris is also an incoming freshman to the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions football program. The 5-8/160 WR/KR has lightning quickness running a 4.4/40.

Gionni Harris 2007 Offensive Highlights (RB/WR/KR)


Harris finished the season in 2007 with a school-record 1,218 receiving yards and also broke the school record for single-season receptions in the state title game. He snared 5 catches for 89 yards in the title tilt. He hauled in 64 receptions on the season, breaking the mark of 59 that stood for nine years. Harris' 14 receiving touchdowns this year set the new mark for single-season TD catches.

Harris leaves Fayetteville as the all-time leader in receptions(164), career receiving yards(2,839), career receiving touchdowns(29) and career special teams touchdowns(6).

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That's keeping 'em home, baby!

Lawsuit doesn't spur North Carolina A&T students to rethink racing

Photo: Mauricia Grant, a former NASCAR official, filed a $225 million discrimination lawsuit against NASCAR last week alleging racial and sexual discrimination and wrongful termination (USPresswire, Mike Basso).

BROOKLYN, MI - Joshua Lewis still aspires to obtain a job in NASCAR. Yes, the 20-year-old in North Carolina A&T 's motorsports program has heard about this week's lawsuit that alleges racist and sexist allegations against NASCAR. No, he won't abandon his goal. Instead the lawsuit motivates him to help change the stock-car racing series. "I want to be one to bring about more diversity," he said.

Other classmates echoed his comments. Even Mauricia Grant, the woman who cites racial, sexual and gender discrimination in her suit against NASCAR, says she would recommend that minorities be a part of the sport. "We have to work together to change the racist culture and, anyone who has an interest in motorsports, they should be allowed to work in that environment without having to deal with racism or sexism or racially ignorant people," Grant said this week.

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VIEW ENTIRE MAURICIA GRANT DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT

In Grant's lawsuit, the 32 year old former NASCAR Official cites 23 specific incidents of sexual discrimination and 34 specific incidents of racial or gender discrimination. NASCAR officials Tim Knox and Bud Moore were placed on indefinite administrative leave Friday and are accused of exposing their genitals to Mauricia Grant.

She also is suing for wrongful termination after being fired from her job as a technical inspector responsible for certifying cars in the Nationwide Series. She was employed from January 2006 to October 2007, when NASCAR fired her citing poor work performance. Grant suit claims the termination was done in retaliation for filing complaints for workplace discrimination and sexual harassment.

NASCAR doesn't stand a chance to win this suit with 57 possible breaches of federal law and a well established culture of discrimination that is of no secret to the world. Look for Ms. Grant to prevail in this forthcoming battle that won't make it to the Court.

Grant's Bio

• Hired by NASCAR in January 2005, becoming NASCAR's first African-American female official.


• Successfully graduated from the Los Angeles Urban League Automotive Training Center (ATC) in 2004 with honors.


• Graduated from Stony Brook University.


• Born in The Bronx, New York in Eastchester Projects; raised by a single parent mother of four.

Southern University's Kevin Manns named SWAC SID of Year

The Southwestern Athletic Conference Sports Information Directors Group recently named Kevin Manns, Southern University, the 2007-08 SWAC SID of the Year. The award is given annually to the sports information person during the Conference's Spring Meetings.

Kevin Manns is in his eighth season on "The Bluff" as sports information director at Southern University. As the director, Manns's office is responsible for the dissemination of information concerning Southern University athletics, which serves as the curator of the University's athletic records and as the liaison between the department, various media entities, professional athletic organizations, among other responsibilities.

In 2003, Manns was instrumental in promoting SU star baseball player and current Milwaukee Brewer, Rickie Weeks, for National Player of the Year.

Before arriving at Southern, Manns was instrumental in providing stability to the sports information office at Alabama State, while directing the school in the right direction with their athletic website and various media guides. He has also spent stints at Winston-Salem State University, where as SID, he worked alongside legendary basketball Coach, Clarence "Big House" Gaines.

Manns is a 1986 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, West Virginia, where he was a three-year letterman and two-year starter on the Eagle football team. He also was a two-time high school All-American in track. He continued his collegiate football play at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. In 1990, Manns earned his bachelor's degree in Accounting.

After graduation, he went on to do PR work for Craig Hodges, who was a member of the Chicago Bulls. Manns served as Assistant to the President of Pro-Exec Manage Group in Chicago.

Manns is a member of CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors Association), BCSIDA (Black College Sports Information Directors Association) and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

TSU Athletic Director: The new guy on the team

Suit jacket flapping behind him, Charles McClelland swooped into the basketball arena at Texas Southern University, a dapper presence in a world of tank tops and gym shorts. The coaches snapped to attention, but McClelland focused on two familiar players hot-dogging on the floor.

"Daddy, daddy," one called to McClelland. "I want to do a jump shot." Seven-year-olds, it turns out, aren't quite ready for jump shots. But sometimes you have to take a risk, as McClelland demonstrated when he became TSU's new athletic director last month.

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Bethune Cookman's Ash finishes third in NCAA's

DES MOINES, Iowa - After finishing fourth in the semifinals Friday evening, Bethune-Cookman University freshman track runner Ronnie Ash took third place in Saturday men's 100-meter hurdles finals at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Ash turned in his second-best performance of the season with a time of 13.59 seconds.

File photo courtesy of Nigel Cook/News-Journal.

The third-place time was also good enough for Ash to collect All-America honors. He is the first recorded freshman All-American in Bethune-Cookman history. The last All-American performer for Bethune-Cookman was at the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships when Lewis Brown earned the award following an eighth-place finish in the triple jump.

Ash's time of 13.59 was behind second-place competitor Ty Akins (13.46) of Auburn and the winner Jason Richardson (13.40) from South Carolina.

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ASU Hornet football players hard at work this summer

The summer days are a little different around the Alabama State football complex of late. There's a little life around the place. Throughout the morning and into the afternoon on most days, dozens of players are on the Hornet Stadium practice field, going through drills and battling the summer heat.

Last year, which was the first time ASU paid for all players to attend summer school, Bruce said around 25 players showed up to workout in the 6 a.m. group. This year, there are routinely more than 40 in that group, and there are two additional groups (at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.).

The Alabama State Hornets will open the Coach Joe Taylor era at Florida A&M University on August 30 at Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL. This game will be the season opener for both the Hornets and Rattlers.

"Having so many guys on campus during the summer is a huge advantage for us," said ASU head coach Reggie Barlow, who is currently attending the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' training camps. "They are getting together on their own. They're planning workouts and 7-on-7 themselves, and doing everything possible to make the most of the summer." During these summer workouts, the coaches can have no input. They can't even watch.

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Valley already getting ready for football season

You won't find Willie Totten vacationing during the dog days of June. The Mississippi Valley State head football coach and the rest of his staff are hard at it preparing for the 2008 season. Each of the coaches will get a short break in early July, but for now, they are busy checking on players and newcomers making sure they are doing what they need to do to be eligible in the fall.
"It's constant phone calls and paper work," said Totten Thursday during an interview in his office on the Itta Bena campus. "June is a time to get organized for when everyone comes in early August. "We've got four new coaches in the (Southwestern Athletic Conference), so we're looking at film trying to pick up some things they might do against us this season."

The Delta Devils report to campus Aug. 3 and will begin two-a-day practices five days later in preperation for the Aug. 30 season opener at home against Texas College.

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Hampton's Alonzo Coleman hoping to be an eye-opener for Dallas Cowboys

IRVING, TX – This was before Marion Barber signed his seven-year extension and while first-rounder Felix Jones and fourth-rounder Tashard Choice were practicing for the first time with the Dallas Cowboys. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones reminded any and all of No. 30.

"Did you see No. 30 out there with that 4.3 speed?" Jones said. No. 30 is Alonzo Coleman. His name might not ring a bell because he spent last year on the practice squad and got all of eight carries for 27 yards in the preseason because of a sprained left ankle.

Coleman signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent after the 2007 draft. Former vice president of college and pro scouting Jeff Ireland liked his potential. Coleman left Hampton University as the school's all-time leading rusher with 4,707 yards and 62 touchdowns. He was named the MEAC offensive player of the year as a junior when he ran for 1,326 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also had a five-touchdown effort against Gardner-Webb.

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Father, Can You Hear Us?

Father Can You Hear Me - (Tyler Perry)

Alvin Ailey's "Revelations," Fix Me Jesus

Amazing Grace - Wintley Phipps

Obama & Brighter Day by John P Kee

Smokie Norful - I Need You Now

MEAC Football Press Luncheon Scheduled July 25

Courtesy MEACsports.com

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will host the annual MEAC Football Press Luncheon, Friday, July 25 at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel (777 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, Virginia 23510/757-640-2754). MEAC head football coaches and various players from each team will be on hand to offer an inside view of the upcoming 2008 football season.

A limited number of tickets are available to the public for the press luncheon and can be purchased by calling Stacey Kiger at (757) 416-7100. Tickets are $30 per seat or $300 per table (10 persons) and must be purchased before 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18.

Media members may obtain a credential for the luncheon and/or one-on-one interview sessions by completing an application found on http://www.meacsports.com/ or by contacting Patricia Porter at porterp@themeac.com or (757) 416-7100. One-on-one interviews with various offensive and defensive players from each team will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by head coaches beginning at 10:30 a.m.

In addition to the press luncheon, the MEAC will host the 2008 Woman of the Year ceremony on Wednesday, July 23 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Sheraton. Sponsored by the conference’s Senior Woman Administrators, the Woman of the Year ceremony honors female student-athletes for their collegiate achievements in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.

The 2008 MEAC football season kicks off on Saturday, August 30 featuring five MEAC football teams in action, including two classics. The Hampton University Pirates highlight the opening day list, as they face Jackson State University in the fourth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge beginning at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPNU.

The annual Virginia Lottery Labor Day Classic kicks off at 6 p.m. featuring the Norfolk State University Spartans against NCAA D-II non-conference opponent Virginia State University Trojans.

Florida A&M University hosts Alabama State University and Johnson C. Smith University will travel to North Carolina A&T State University as the Rattlers and Aggies kick off their home openers beginning at 6 p.m. The South Carolina State University Bulldogs will travel to Orlando, Florida to face Conference USA’s University of Central Florida at 6 p.m.

For more information about the MEAC, log on to http://www.meacsports.com/

B-CU baseball loses 4 recruits to pros

Bethune-Cookman's 2008 baseball signing class has become less crowded since last week's major league draft. Of five Wildcat recruits who were drafted, four have signed or have agreed to sign with their teams, B-CU coach Mervyl Melendez said Thursday.

Bethune-Cookman shortstop Jose Lozada, drafted in the 17th round by the Nationals, has signed and will be a teammate of Pruitt's with Vermont. Pitcher Joseph Gautier, taken in the 19th round by Arizona, has not yet signed. The B-CU recruit rated highest going into the draft, right-hander Ryan Gonzalez, who was selected in the 18th round (544 overall) by the Oakland Athletics, will likely be at school this fall, Melendez said.

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Work ethic to remain high for FAMU transfer Bryant

Brandon Bryant had no clue that Florida A&M would be the Division I school where he'd play college basketball. He just knew wherever he ended up that he'd be prepared.

Bryant also knew his 6-foot-3 frame was a little too lean at 160 pounds. So he spent the past two seasons honing his skills, working with what he had. He also gained 20 pounds in the process while playing at Snead State Community College in Alabama.

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For FAMU football's Taylors, no separating father-son

Joe Taylor planted the seeds early. He didn’t get to every one of his sons’ pee-wee games, but they talked a lot of football at home. He was at more of their youth baseball games and occasionally he’d get to a basketball game. Taylor’s wife, Beverly, always made sure the boys got there. As they got older with their own issues, Taylor was never too busy to get involved, Aaron said.

He didn’t coach his sons in football. His job conflicted with their season, but dad was there when Aaron made a play that’s still vivid almost 20 years later.


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JSU Comegy signs contract extension

Jackson State University head football coach Rick Comegy signed a contract extension through 2011 after winning the 2008 SWAC championship. The deal is worth $186,000 annually, including bonuses based on ticket sales, academic achievements, Coach of the Year honors and winning the Black College National Championship.

The third-year coach will receive an extra year and $15,000 for winning additional SWAC championships.

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DSU Football Game Times Announced

Photo: DSU quarterback Vashon Winton, 6-2/195, Senior, Chicago, IL (Simeon HS).

Courtesy: DSU Athletic Media Relations

DOVER (June 12, 2008) – The Delaware State Athletic Department has announced the times for the 2008 football season. Comprised of 11 games, the 2008 schedule has the Hornets hosting six home games in defense of their 2007 MEAC Championship.

The Sept. 6 contest between the Hornets and the Florida A&M Rattlers will be start at 7:30 p.m. to kickoff the 2008 campaign. Two weeks later, DSU will host the Central Connecticut Blue Devils on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m.

A 1:00 p.m. kickoff is scheduled for the remainder of DSU’s slate – Hampton (Oct. 4), North Carolina A&T - Homecoming (Oct. 18), South Carolina State (Nov. 1) and Winston-Salem State (Nov. 8).

Tickets for the 2008 DSU football season can be purchased by calling (302) 857-7497 or toll free at (866) 378-2845. Season ticket packages are available for purchase with Early Hornet discounts for any packages purchased before July 25. Season tickets include parking, reserved seating for all six home games, a 2008 DSU Football media Guide and first priority for post-season ticket purchases. Single-game tickets go on sale on August 11. Tickets can also be purchased by logging on to the team’s official website http://www.dsuhornets.com/

Carver’s Coleman signs with North Carolina Central

Carver baseball standout Cedric Coleman has played more baseball games than anyone he knows at Carver. As a matter of fact, he finished his prep career second on the all-time list of games played at CHS.

“He’s played in just about every game,” said Carver head baseball coach Melvin Palmer. “He’s been a tremendous impact player for us for four years. Anytime you lose a four-year starter it’s big. He impacted the team in every game. We’re also losing a leader. He’s the type of guy that motivated other players to play hard.”

Coleman played rather well for the Yellowjackets too. He finished with a .410 batting average. Coleman had a .640 slugging percentage, to go along with a .450 on base percentage. He also finished with 37 RBIs, 12 triples, 32 doubles, 54 runs scored, 24 steals and 22 strikeouts in four years. Those numbers, as well as a few other things helped Coleman get a scholarship to play baseball for North Carolina Central University. He signed his letter of intent in front of family and friends last Friday — one day before graduating from Carver.

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UAPB Golden Lions Roaring Abroad for Track Signees

The Arkansas Pine Bluff men’s and women’s cross country track-and-field squads recently signed eight student-athletes, according to Golden Lions’ head coach Curtis Pittman. Kenyan natives Magabo Damasin (Thika, Kenya) and Boniface Yator (Kabarnet, Kenya) will be joining UAPB men’s cross country teams in the fall. Both athletes specialize in the 1,500- and 5000-meter runs and cross country.

Pittman also signed Mathias Haller of Badeu-Wuerttemberg, Germany. Haller is expected to run the 400-meter, 800-meter and cross-country.

For the women’s team, Shelleyka C. Rolle of Freeport, Bahamas signed to run the 400 and 800. Kericho, Kenya native Gladys Cheronah Rob rounds out the Kenyan natives, while Papua, New Guinea’s Betty Burua signed to run the 400 and 800. Rob will run the 1,500-meter, 5,000-meter and cross country.

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Giants' Strahan sacks his 15-year career

Photo: Former Texas Southern University defensive end and NFL future hall of famer, Michael Strahan retired after 15 seasons with the N.Y. Giants.

Any of the people Michael Strahan reached out to yesterday morning - team management, players, owners and coaches - must have known what was up when they saw their caller ID or the sender of the text message.

This is it, they undoubtedly thought.

Strahan had been mulling retirement ever since the Super Bowl - since last summer, really - but the 36-year-old's announcement that he'll hang 'em up still caught many off guard. The news was made public early in the day in a report by Foxsports.com in which the unsubtle Strahan subtly stated: "It's time. I'm done."

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Southern University's House setting bar high at championships

In the two most important meets of the season, Southern high jumper Jason House has added a certain dramatic flair to the end of his performance. But it’s not the kind of dramatics House, a sophomore, wants in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which begin Wednesday at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

In the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships in April and the NCAA Mideast Regionals two weeks ago, House had to come up with a clutch jump just to stay alive in the competition. House, a native of Laurel, Miss., was down to his final try at 6 feet 10 inches when he cleared the bar. He went on to win the title at 7-1, which turned out to be the second-best jump in the NCAA Mideast Region this spring.

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WSSU Lady Rams Volleyball sign four to National Letters of Intent

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The 2008 Winston-Salem State University volleyball team will welcome some new faces this fall as WSSU head coach Douglas Hunter announced the signing of four prospective student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The four signees will strengthen the Lady Rams in every area on the court.

A pair of talented players will fill the team's needs at the setter position, which was hampered by injury last season. Setter Asia Carr from St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C. will join the Lady Rams at the setter position as well as Alexandria Brown from Harris County High School in Hamilton, Ga.

The Lady Rams will also add to its front line with the addition of middle hitter/blocker Jasmine Frazier from Chancellor High School in Fredericksburg, Va. and outside hitter Kameryn Craig from Apex High School in Apex, N.C.

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The Natural: B-CU star has found competitive spirit

DAYTONA BEACH -- Ronnie Ash can't really explain his reluctance to play organized sports. Like a homecoming queen playing hard-to-get, he rebuffed his high school suitors year after year.

Basketball coaches, football coaches -- you name it -- they all drooled when they saw the lithe 6-foot-3, 190-pounder ambling down the hallways. They all recruited. They were all rejected, until Knightdale, N.C., High School track coach David Castell finally got a bite in Ash's senior year and was able to reel him in.

Now a freshman at Bethune-Cookman, Ash's rapid rise in track and field might even astound all of the spurned coaches who envisioned greatness for this young man. Ash will compete in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Division I track and field championships this week at Des Moines, Iowa.

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