Mitchell back home at Southern University

There was always an air about Jackie Mitchell. That maturity level melded with athleticism to drive him into being a two-sport standout at Southern. Now, in returning to his alma mater after a successful run in the Canadian Football League, Mitchell’s aura — a seamless blend of easy confidence, attention-grabbing command and seriousness — remains one of his biggest assets.

“I truly felt I just had a different agenda,” Mitchell said of his time at SU. “I knew what I wanted to do, and I wasn’t going to be deterred by anything to get there.” The Canadian experience has added another layer of polish for Mitchell, who will be SU’s defensive backs coach.

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Sprinter headed to Olympic time trials

Since the seventh grade, Romulus' Landria Buckley has been excelling in track. Now this soon to be junior at Howard University in Washington D.C. is headed to the July 6 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. "In the beginning of the year my goal was to run under 13.3 seconds and qualify for regionals," Buckley said. "I surprised myself and made to nationals and ran 13.24 in the 100-meter hurdles."

She said that the adjustment from high school to college was different. For her she had to continue to work hard and really hit the weight room. The workouts are a lot harder and a lot more," she said. "The competition ends up being the best in the country."

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DSU football opener moved to Sept. 4 for TV

Delaware State University's season-opening football game against Florida A&M has been moved to Thursday, Sept. 4, and will be telecast on ESPNU.

The home game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ESPNU also will carry two other Delaware State games during the 2008 season. The Nov. 1 matchup with South Carolina State (1 p.m.) at Alumni Stadium and the Nov. 15 game at Norfolk State (1 p.m.) will be shown on tape-delay on ESPNU at a time to be determined.

The DSU-FAMU game was previously scheduled for Sept. 6.

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Big challenge for SSU coach

Robby Wells says he likes a challenge. He’s got one, all right. Wells was named head coach of the Savannah State University football team on Dec. 22, 2007, taking over one of the most maligned and moribund football programs in Division I. The Tigers have not had a winning season since 1998. They haven’t won more than two games in a season since 1999, and they went 1-9 in 2007.

“We’re doing the same thing Georgia State is doing,” Wells said, noting the Atlanta university’s plans to start a football program. “We’re doing it from scratch.” Problem is, Georgia State doesn’t plan to put its first team on the field for another two years. Savannah State’s been playing football since 1915. They are 7-47 since moving up to Division I in 2002.

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FAMU seeks kicking coach

All-American Vasquez favored to land position

FAMU's kicking game continues to be a major concern for football coach Joe Taylor. Just as soon as he found a seasoned kicker to add experienced depth with signee Trevor Scott, Taylor finds himself searching for a special-teams coach to replace J.B. Gibboney after he unexpectedly took another job.

Taylor said he'll have a replacement hired within the next two weeks. Former FAMU kicker and two-time All-American Juan Vasquez is the leading candidate among applicants for the job.

Gibboney spent spring practice working with freshman Troy Walker, a kicker from Wakulla High School. But Gibboney left FAMU for Purdue about two weeks ago, following his former boss Danny Hope, who is associate head coach for the Boilermakers. Gibboney's departure ironically came just weeks after Orlando Mitjans resigned as defensive coordinator to pursue a business venture. Both Gibboney and Mitjans came from Eastern Kentucky and were the last two hires for Taylor's staff in January (2008).

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FAMU football coach Taylor reaches out to alumni

GAINESVILLE — Recruiting in Alachua County and surrounding areas should be a lot easier for Florida A&M — at least that's the impression that a lively gathering of alumni gave football coach Joe Taylor last weekend.

Taylor's offseason speaking tour made its stop in Gainesville on Saturday, where the Alachua chapter of the FAMU Alumni Association is being revived after a two-year hiatus. The group also promised to help FAMU's recruiting efforts in an area where Rudy Hubbard was the last FAMU coach to seriously recruit during the 1970s.

"There's going to be more competition (for athletes) because he has shown up," said Jesse Heard, a retired football coach at the old Lincoln High School in Gainesville. "He's been tremendously received and it's going to be a lot of energy here."

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers axe SCSU's Cleve McCoy

The axe came down hard on a number of Winnipeg Blue Bombers Saturday afternoon as the Canadian Football League club made its final cuts.

Sent packing were punter Brian Monroe, quarterback Cleve McCoy, defensive backs Greg Moss, Willie Amos, Kevin Garrett, Sebastian Clovis and Marc Beswick; linebackers Dwayne Slay, Brad Newman, Art Thomas, Jordan Matechuk and Joe Lobendahn...

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McCoy does have a slim opportunity of being signed to the Bombers practice roster.

Ex-NFL linebacker, Disney Sports exec Reggie Williams fighting to save his leg

Battling infection takes ex-NFL star to New York

NEW YORK - Reggie Williams got in his car two months ago and headed north. He said goodbye to the swans and almost nobody else. He'd come to know them on his walks around Lake Eola. They'd take his mind off the pain as he circled the lake. Now the gnawing in his right knee had become too much.

Williams packed his Lexus with a few clothes and an iPod loaded with 18,226 songs. He did not know when he'd get back to Orlando, but the ex- NFL linebacker was certain of one thing. "This was all or nothing," Williams said.

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Hampton U's Briggs jumps to title at Nike Outdoor Nationals

Recent Booker T. Washington graduate DeShana Briggs,will attend Hampton University this fall, won the high jump at the Nike Outdoor Nationals.

GREENSBORO, N.C. - DeShana Briggs and Marlena Wesh came to Nike Outdoor Nationals this weekend hoping to make a statement. Both dominated opponents in Virginia but they wanted to see how they would fare on the national level. Both left satisfied.

Briggs, a recent Booker T. Washington grad, won her first national title when she cleared 5 feet, 8 ½ inches to win the high jump.

“She made goals for herself all season,” Booker T. Washington coach Yolanda Penn said about Briggs. “She got the district title, the region title, the state title and placed third at the indoor national meet. But this was her last time competing as a high school athlete. And I told her it was now or never for a national title and she went out there and competed.”

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Ex-Clemson RB McElrathbey to play for Howard

Southern Pigskin writer B.J. Bennett reports that former Tiger running back Ray Ray McElrathbey will play for Howard University. McElrathbey became famous in 2006 after it was discovered he took custody of his younger brother, Fahmarr, while is mother struggled with a drug addiction and his father with a gambling problem. The younger McElrathbey will accompany Ray Ray to Washington, D.C.

It wasn't a hard decision to pick Howard because I graduate from Clemson with a degree in Sociology on August 9th and Howard has a tremendous Master's Degree program in communications," McElrathbey told Bennett in the Southern Pigskin.com exclusive interview. "Howard is also in a huge market in Washington D.C. It was a no brainer."

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Ray Ray was a reserve running back for the Clemson Tiger, but will become the featured back in Coach Carey Bailey's spread offense. The 5-11/207 back runs a 4.36 40 yard dash with 38 inch vertical. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Coming out of Atlanta's Mays High School, the three sport star was a Rivals.com 3 star rated running back.

Ray Ray will join Howard incoming Division IA transfers Xavier Rucker (Nebraska) and Oscar Gonzales (Auburn) on Bailey's second Bison team. The Bison season opener against Georgetown just became worth the price of admissions and Metro subway fare to Georgia Avenue.

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Bright showcases talent at 76ers workout

Ex-DSU standout hopes for a shot to realize dream

PHILADELPHIA -- Roy Bright knows his name won't be called when the NBA draft comes around Thursday night and that he has a "long road" ahead of him in order to fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA. Bright just wants a chance.

That's why Bright, who spent his final two seasons of college eligibility at Delaware State, was more than happy to work out for the 76ers on Saturday. It was his first workout for an NBA team, although he said scouts from a few other teams saw him recently in Atlanta.

"He's not ready right now," 76ers president and general manager Ed Stefanski said. "This kid has an NBA body and size (6-6/225), and if he works at his game, you never know. But it's going to take him a couple of years."

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JSU alum Johnson to join NBA Bucks' summer team

Former Jackson State star Trey Johnson has been invited to play with the Milwaukee Bucks' summer league team in Las Vegas starting July 11. But the Murrah High graduate isn't waiting to get started. Johnson plans to travel to Milwaukee next week and start working with the organization.

Johnson averaged 27.1 points as a senior and led JSU to a 2007 NCAA appearance, losing to eventual national champion Florida. He played with the Hemofarm Stada in Serbia for three months at the end of last year. Johnson has been putting his communications degree to work in Jackson with a morning segment "The NBA according to Trey" on WJMI 99.7 and has a blog on the station's website at http://www.wjmi.com/.

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Broadway, Grambling prepare for 'bottom heavy’ season

In his first year at the helm of the venerable program at Grambling State, Rod Broadway guided a young Tigers team to an 8-4 record, a Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division title and an appearance in the SWAC championship game.

Heading into his second year, the veteran coach is faced with the challenge of meeting the always high expectations in the program made famous by the late Eddie Robinson with an even younger, though highly regarded, group of players.

"We're bottom heavy right now," Broadway told the fans and friends of Tiger football who attended the 2008 Tiger Round Up sponsored by the Mildred S. Jones Alumni Chapter at the Martin Community Center in Alexandria Saturday.

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Wait a minute! How can Coach Broadway make this statement...""A few years down the road, we're going to have a team that should be a little better than just OK and a team that should be able to compete for a national championship."

Did I miss a key announcement by the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) while I was out sick for the past four days? If you don't participate in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, how can any SWAC team talk about competing for a national championship? We certainly would like to see the SWAC back into the FCS playoff picture and it can be done with a little schedule rearranging of the Bayou Classic.

Broadway, hopefully, isn't speaking out the side of his neck and there is some internal movement a foot to get the SWAC back into the FCS playoffs as a regular participant.

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Q&A: ASU football coach Barlow tries to move forward

The last few months have been a bit of a roller coaster ride for Alabama State's Reggie Barlow. Unfortunately, there have been far more deep plunges than nice, slow uphill rides for the Hornets' second-year head coach.

The trip started just after last football season, when he fired a friend -- offensive coordinator Maurice Harris. That was followed by the hiring of current OC Ben Noonan to completely revamp ASU's offense. That was followed by the release of an NCAA notice of infractions that detailed 668 violations committed by the Hornets from 1999 to 2003. Then came the debacle that was Barlow's interview on Paul Finebaum's radio program.

All in all, he would probably just as soon forget the last half-year. But first, he has to talk about it.

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Former FAMU Basketball Coach Josh Giles inducted in Polk County Hall of Fame

The late Josh Giles was inducted posthumously into the Polk County Hall of Fame at the eighth annual Polk County All Sports Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremony, on June 17. The event was sponsored by Polk County Sports Marketing and The Ledger Newspaper.

When it comes to athletic excellence, Polk County doesn't take a back seat to many counties. Giles, along with four other inductees, was recognized for his accomplishments in putting Polk Community College on the athletic map.

Josh Giles continues to help Polk County young people with their educational pursuits with the Josh Giles Foundation (scholarships and youth programs) and the Josh Giles Tip Off Classic - http://joshgilesclassic.com/ . "The mission of the Josh Giles Foundation is to continue his work and goals by focusing on the youth of our area and helping to enrich their lives through education and activities that can highlight their talents and dreams," said founder Cynthia Giles, widow of the late Polk Community College basketball coach.

At Florida A&M University, Giles coached for four seasons, 1979-1983 and compiled a career record of 41 wins, 71 losses (0.366).

JOSH GILES (1942-2002)

The late Giles is credited with putting Polk Community College athletics on the map.

As the school's basketball coach from 1987 to 2000, Giles compiled a record of 262-130 with six conference titles, three state titles and three trips to the national tournament.

But there is more to Giles' story than just numbers. He is credited with influencing the lives of hundreds of children, many of whom he didn't coach.

Giles grew up in Detroit, where he used athletics as a way to gain an education. He played basketball at Okaloona Junior College and later at the University of West Texas State where he received a bachelor's degree in education. He later received his master's at the University of Maryland.

He began coaching in 1970 at Shaw College in Detroit before becoming an assistant at Stetson. He later became the head coach at Florida A&M University and was an assistant at the University of New Orleans and Mercer before going to Polk Community College.

He's still making a difference through the Josh Giles Foundation, which provides scholarships to Polk High School students and support to the PCC basketball program.

Greatest Sports Accomplishment: Doug Williams' Super Bowl Win

The position of quarterback has been a microcosm of the black man's struggle in America—a door supposedly “open to all”—except for us of a darker hue who continuously knock, kick, and scream until an answer comes.

For 80 years, the black man has fought tooth and nail to lead a professional football franchise to glory. Many came before Doug Williams, and some of them may have even been better skilled. But looking back on the life of Douglas Lee Williams—none were better prepared.

My mother says, “The Lord chooses whom he will.” If you ask Williams about being the Chosen One, he places it at the feet of hard work, opportunity, and determination more than anything.

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Southern University basketball adds two signees

The Southern men’s basketball program has concluded its signing class with the addition of two more players. Tim Brown, a 6-foot-8 center, from Garden City Community College and Lester “Skip” Johnson Jr., a 6-5 small forward/shooting guard, from Hale High in Tulsa, Okla., have signed with SU.

Those two join Duncanville (Texas) High point guard Brian Talley, who signed in November. “We’re pleased with the recruiting,” Southern coach Rob Spivery said. “With the people sitting out and the ones we’re bringing in, they all have the capability of helping us.”

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SWAC, MVSU mourn ex-A.D. Prophet’s death

ITTA BENA, Miss. — Charles “Chuck” Prophet, former athletic director and sports information director for Mississippi Valley State University, died on Friday. He was 67. Prophet, who was widely known as “The Wagon Master” of the famed Southwestern Athletic Conference football press tours, died about midday Friday at Greenwood Leflore Hospital in Greenwood, university officials said.

“Words cannot express how dearly Chuck will be missed,” said interim director of athletics Donald Sims. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Anna and the rest of the family. Chuck will always remain in our hearts.” “His hard work and his dedication at MVSU and within the conference were immeasurable,” said SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp.

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UMES Brummell named NTCA Coach of the Year/Three Lady Hawks named All-Americans

The National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) has named the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Head Women’s Bowling coach Sharon Brummell their 2008 Division 1 National Coach of the Year. “Wow,” said Brummell, a four-time Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC) Coach of the Year. “What a compliment, to be voted the Division 1 National Coach of the Year by your colleagues is truly an honor and a humbling experience.”

Brummell led the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) to their fourth MEAC Championship and the first ever NCAA National Championship in Women’s Bowling this past season and was rewarded for her efforts by being selected for the honor. The National Championship is just the second in school history and the first NCAA title. Brummell also became the first woman and African-American to lead her team to an NCAA Bowling National Championship.

The Lady Hawks Bowling Team have earned three All-Americans for the second straight year and with it move their total up to seven in the last three seasons. The awards, named from the National Tenpins Coaches Association selected Kristina Frahm (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East H.S.), Maria Rodriguez (Ibague Tolima, Columbia/La Presentacion) and NCAA Tournament Most Valuable Bowler Jessica Worsley (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial H.S.) as the latest three Lady Hawks to earn All-American status.

Frahm, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Most Outstanding Performer, earned First-Team All-American status and with it was voted the Division 1Rookie of the Year. The freshman “sensation “ knocked down over 15,000 pins individually during the season and averaged an impressive 201.83 over the course of the year.

Rodriguez, a Second-Team All-American selection was equally impressive. Also a freshman, Rodriguez only bowled the second half of the season and still managed to take out over 8,000 pins and post an average of 204.7. Rodriguez earned All-Tournament Team honors at two of the biggest events of the year for UMES, the MEAC Championships and the NCAA Championships.

Worsley, one of just two seniors on the team was named a Third-Team All-American. The NCAA Tournament MVP, Worsley was as clutch as they come in big spots. She hit the “big four,” 4-6-7-10 split against Arkansas State to seal a win early in the NCAA Championship and then a critical 2-10 split against Vanderbilt. A former MEAC MVP, Worsley was also named the UMES Female Athlete of the Year the past two seasons.

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Former PVAMU Volleyball standout named assistant coach at UTPA

Photo: TPA Coach Laura De La Fuente was Volleyball star at Prairie View A&M University.

EDINGBURG, Texas- The University of Texas-Pan American women's volleyball program announced that former Prairie View A&M University standout Laura De La Fuente has been named as an assistant coach with the Lady Broncs.

"I'm really excited to be given this opportunity to work with the UTPA volleyball program," said De La Fuente. "I will be able to get the valley involved with our sports program here. UTPA is one of the pride and joys of the Valley so that's why I chose to come back here. I think Coach Hubbard is starting something great, she has a great group of girls and she is doing an excellent job here."

"We are very excited about the addition of Laura to our staff," said head volleyball coach Angela Hubbard. "She has such a passion for the Valley and is exactly what we need to complete our staff. We feel that she is such a great fit with what we are trying to accomplish. She is very knowledgeable of the game and is ready to help Bronc volleyball make an impact within the Valley as well as in the national scene. "

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DSU Hornets name Livingston offensive line coach

Delaware State University today named Lawrence Livington offensive line coach for the football team. Livingston, 46, has coached at several Division I-A programs, including UTEP, Washington State, Texas A&M and Army. Livingston replaces Jeff Braxton, who left DSU to become head coach at Cheyney University.

“Coach Livingston stood out among the many fine candidates for the position because of his broad experience and track record of success.” head coach Al Lavan said in a press release. “He was highly recommended by some of the most respected names in college football. I am confident he is the right person to lead our offensive line to even greater success.”

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Ex-TSU All-American Swain, 78, dies

First-round pick of Celtics in 1958 was on title team

Bennie Swain, the first All-American basketball player at Texas Southern University, died after a long illness Thursday at the age of 78. Swain led the nation in scoring during the 1957-58 season, when he was named to an All-American team that featured future Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain.

He left TSU as the school's all-time leading scorer, a mark that stood until Harry "Machine Gun" Kelly surpassed Swain in 1981.

The 6-8 Swain was chosen by the Boston Celtics with the seventh overall pick of the 1958 draft. He played 58 games for the NBA champions in 1958-59, his only professional season, averaging 4.6 points and 4.5 rebounds as the backup center to Hall of Famer Bill Russell.




















Photo: Bennie Swain #16 is shown on 1958/59 autographed photo of 12 team members of the World Champions Boston Celtics, including Gene Conley, Bob Cousy, head coach Red Auerbach, Bill Sharman, Bill Russell, K. C. Jones, Lou Tsioropoulos, Tommy Heinsohn, Ben Swain, Jim Loscutoff, Sam Jones and Frank Ramsey.

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Hampton University stockpiling FBS Football Transfers

Photo: Hampton University head footall coach Jerry Holmes (Mark's Digital Photography).

Hampton gains a former I-A player at defensive end and is poised to add a former I-A wide receiver.

Pirates coach Jerry Holmes said Friday that Bryant Miller, a defensive end from Auburn, will play for Hampton this season. Holmes also said that former Florida State wide receiver Damon McDaniel wants to play for Hampton and that the school is "finalizing" the process of admitting him.

McDaniel and Miller would swell the list of I-A transfers to six since Holmes became the Pirates' head coach in December. The others are tailback LaMarcus Coker (from Tennessee), linebacker Brandon Peguese (South Florida), safety Ricardo Kemp (Tennessee) and linebacker J'Courtney Williams (Virginia).

McDaniel and Miller were ranked among the highest recruits at their positions in the Class of 2006, but played little during their first two years in college. Holmes said that Miller transferred to Hampton to get more playing time, while McDaniel plans to transfer because he wants to be closer to his Virginia Beach home.

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Hampton University hire has good track record

Hampton University is turning to an area high school coaching legend to revive its men's track and field program. Steve Lewis was hired Thursday as the Pirates' head coach, replacing Emmanuel Daux — the interim coach this past year. Daux was an assistant to Enrique German, fired in June 2007 after two years as coach.

Lewis, 65, brings a sterling resume to his new position. He guided his teams to 10 Virginia High School League state titles from 1970-82: one at Mathews and nine at Menchville. He left his post at Menchville in 1982 to coach at the University of Pittsburgh, where he also was hugely successful before his release in 2002. He began as an assistant, became the women's head coach in 1984 and was promoted to men's and women's head coach in 1995.

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DSU Roy Bright workout for Philadelphia 76ers

Depending on which NBA mock draft you check, the 76ers could be deciding on any number of prospects to be selected at No. 16. They are, in fact, scheduled to check out four more today at Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. But today's session appears to be more about being nice to the local basketball community. To that end, the Sixers' group includes Roy Bright (Delaware State), Charron Fisher (Niagara), John Griffin (Bucknell) and Gary Ervin (Arkansas).

The two-round draft will be held Thursday. The Sixers do not have a second-round pick. The 6-6 Bright averaged 19.1 points and 5.3 rebounds as a senior, spending two seasons at Delaware State after transferring from Garden City Community College and Cincinnati; he withdrew from last year's draft after applying for early eligibility.

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