Midfield's Shackleford heading to Mississippi Valley

Birmingham, AL - Midfield linebacker James Shackleford, number 51 on your roster, has committed to Mississippi Valley State. A good student, the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder plans to major in chemistry. "I love the atmosphere and I think it's a great school," Shackleford said. "I see how they've made Birmingham a big focus of their recruiting."

Under Willie Totten, the SWAC school has turned Birmingham into a cornerstone of recruiting. During his official visit to the school, Shackleford met Erwin quarterback Anthony Bowie, another Mississippi Valley commitment.

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UAPB Golden Lions Release 2009 Football Schedule

by UAPB Sports Information

Classics, Five Home Games Highlight 2009 Golden Lion Football Schedule

PINE BLUFF, AR - A pair of exciting college football Classics and five home games highlight the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff's 2009 Golden Lions' football schedule, which was released by the UAPB athletic department on Tuesday.

The Golden Lions are slated to take on fellow Southwestern Athletic Conference member Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 19 in the annual Chicago Classic and second-year head coach Monte Coleman's troops will once again travel to Dallas during the Thanksgiving weekend to battle SWAC nemesis Texas Southern in the Dallas Lone Star Classic on Nov. 28.

In addition, five home games are also on the Golden Lions' schedule for the upcoming season. Last year UAPB had six home games at Golden Lion Stadium. UAPB opens the season on Sept. 5 against long-time foe Arkansas-Monticello at Golden Lion Stadium, followed by Central (OH) State in Pine Bluff on Sept. 12. After the Chicago trip on Sept. 19, UAPB travels to Huntsville, AL to take on Alabama A&M on Sept. 26.

"We're extremely pleased with this year's football schedule," UAPB Director of Athletics Louis "Skip" Perkins said. "Our fans have asked us for more "Classics" and we've tried to accommodate that request with the addition of the game in Chicago and our return to Dallas."

UAPB returns home to take on Alcorn State (Oct. 3), before traveling to Jackson State (Oct. 10). The Golden Lions close out the month with a pair of home games: Edward Waters College (Oct. 24) which will serve as the annual homecoming contest and Southern University (Oct. 31). The Golden Lions will spend the entire month of November on the road as Grambling State (Nov. 7 in the annual Delta Classic 4 Literacy in Little Rock), Prairie View A&M in Houston (Nov. 21) and Texas Southern in the Dallas Lone Star Classic (Nov. 28) wrap up the Golden Lions' 11-game season.

UAPB 2009 Schedule
Sept. 5 Arkansas-Monticello @ Golden Lion Stadium
Sept. 12 Central State (OH) @ Golden Lion Stadium
Sept. 19 Mississippi Valley @ Chicago Classic, Chicago, IL
Sept. 27 Alabama A&M @ Huntsville, AL
Oct. 3 Alcorn State @ Golden Lion Stadium
Oct. 10 Jackson State @ Jackson, MS
Oct. 24 Edward Waters College (Homecoming)@ Golden Lion Stadium
Oct. 31 Southern University @ Golden Lion Stadium
Nov. 7 Grambling State (Delta Classic 4 Literacy) @ Little Rock, AR
Nov. 21 Prairie View A&M @ Houston, TX
Nov. 28 Texas Southern @ Dallas Lone Star Classic, Dallas, TX

2009 Honda Battle of the Bands Harness the Power of Dreams

2,200 Strong – 10 of America’s Top HBCU Marching Bands Harness the ‘Power of Dreams’ At the 2009 Honda Battle of the Bands

View Battle of the Bands Photos Gallery

Atlanta, GA - As the curtain dramatically closed on the seventh annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase, 10 of America’s top Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching bands brought the house down, leaving themselves completely spent of energy, but their souls fulfilled. They brought their all, but left every bit of it on the field of the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, as the widely acknowledged “Super Bowl of Black College Marching Bands” concluded.

The 2009 Invitational Showcase, aptly themed “The Power of Dreams,” had special significance as the nation inaugurated its first African-American president. With one renowned HBCU band—the Florida A&M University “Marching 100”—just returning from having marched in the presidential inauguration parade in Washington, D.C., this year has already proven a dream come true for many HBCU student musicians.

More than 60,000 HBCU friends, fans, students and alumni traveled from all around the country to take part in the 2009 Honda Battle of the Bands. A virtual mosaic of music filled the Dome on Saturday as fans enjoyed everything from the latest chart-topping R&B and Hip-Hop hits, to contemporary, funk and classical music. Special guest host Rosci of Black Entertainment Television’s top-rated show, “106th & Park” and Atlanta’s WVEE evening drive time host, Ryan Cameron, introduced the bands while R&B artist Lloyd treated fans to a special performance of his hit single, “Girls Around the World.” To close out the show, the 150-voice Atlanta chapter choir of the Gospel Music Workshop of America took the field and helped the bands end on a reverent, inspirational note.

The 2009 Invitational Showcase bands included: Edward Waters College, Fayetteville State University, Florida A&M University, Jackson State University, Kentucky State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Texas Southern University, Tuskegee University and Virginia State University.

Florida A&M University Marching 100 - 2009 Honda Battle of the Bands

Cheap Seats View--FAMU Part I

Cheap Seats View--FAMU Part II


Supporting HBCU Music Programs

The Honda Battle of the Bands not only showcases the pageantry and showmanship of HBCU bands, but also and more importantly, acts as the nation’s only HBCU music scholarship program of its kind. The ten bands selected to participate in the Invitational Showcase were awarded $20,000 for their music scholarship programs - a $10,000 increase over last year. They also received an additional $1,000 grant for their participation in the Celebration Tour, the Honda Battle of the Band’s pre-qualifying event. In all, a total of $244,000 in scholarship money will be given to HBCU music programs this year.

“We’re proud and humbled to continue for a seventh year as founder and principal sponsor of this one-of-a-kind event,” said Marc Burt, senior manager, Office of Inclusion and Diversity for American Honda. “What’s especially satisfying about this program is that, in the end, it’s a national scholarship program that will help incredibly talented young student-musicians realize their dreams.”

FOX MUSIC EXPERIENCE RETURNS

The winners of this year’s FOX MUSIC EXPERIENCE were Ralph Jean Paul from Florida A&M, and Kevin Greene from North Carolina A&T State University. Jean Paul, a senior at Florida A&M, is currently the band president and said that deciding to attend FAMU has been the best decision of his life. Through his involvement with the band he has had the opportunity to play in two Super Bowl half time shows, and most recently, at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Kevin Greene, a junior at North Carolina A&T acts as his band’s drum line captain. Greene, who started playing instruments when he was just five years old, is currently majoring in Music Education and one day hopes to be a high school band director and open his own school of arts and social science.

The FOX MUSIC EXPERIENCE is a unique music internship/immersion program that works in conjunction with the Honda Battle of the Bands to help expose HBCU student musicians to the broader world of music and entertainment. The program, launched last year, offers two lucky Invitational Showcase student musicians the opportunity to spend a few weeks in the summer working on the Twentieth Century Fox studio lot in Los Angeles learning film and television music production first hand.

Recruiting Future Generations

For the fourth year in a row the Honda Battle of Bands also hosted an HBCU Recruitment Fair. Designed to expose young people to opportunities historically black college and universities can offer, the Recruitment Fair allows prospective college students to meet with marching band and admissions recruiters to discuss admissions requirements and scholarship opportunities. This year, 32 schools exhibited and more than 3,300 young people attended.

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Tip-in a winner for UAPB over Texas Southern

UAPB Coach George Ivory

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - No coasting this time around. After blowing out their previous Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent, the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions needed a last-second tip-in by Tavaris Washington to post a 58-56 victory over Texas Southern on Saturday at Clemmons Arena. Terrance Calvin and Savalance Townsend led UAPB (5-12, 4-2 SWAC) with 13 points each, while Gavin Montgomery added 10. UAPB forced 30 turnovers.

The Golden Lions lumbered through the first half, making 8 of 25 field-goal attempts. Most of those attempts came from long range, including 11 three-point attempts, only two of which were made. The Golden Lions entered Saturday making just over 27 percent of their threepointers. UAPB Coach George Ivory said he'd like to see better shooting numbers, but he'd also rather see aggressiveness, even if it backfires. "I was a little disappointed with them," Ivory said. "But we need to be coming with the shots. We need to take shots."

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Weathers leads Arkansas-Pine Bluff past Alcorn State 101-77

Purples’ Young verbals to SWAC’s Alcorn State

Young chose Alcorn State over Middle Tennessee, Marshall, Western Kentucky, Kentucky and Louisville.

Bowling Green H.S. (Kentucky) senior Elijah Young wanted to find a home away from home when deciding on a college choice. At Alcorn State in Mississippi, Young seems to have found just that. After making an official visit last weekend, the 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive tackle made his official verbal to the Braves this week. “Really what sold me was how personable they were when I was down there,” Young said today. “The coaches were very accepting of me and I really liked how they talked to me more like a person than other schools that I went to. “It was just really easy to get along with everybody and it just felt like a home away from home.”

A dominant force on the defensive front, Young finished last season with 54 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery before finishing the year on the Kentucky Associated Press’ first team all-state squad. For his career, Young posted 116 tackles, four sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception. The Purples finished the '08 season with a 9-2 record.

Young chose Alcorn State, a member of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivison’s Southwestern Athletic Conference, over Middle Tennessee, Marshall, Western Kentucky, Kentucky and Louisville. In addition to enjoying spending time with fellow players and coaches, another selling point for Young was the chance to play early.

View Video: Elijah Young Rankings, Grade, News, Stats - College Football ...

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Bethune-Cookman marching band headed for Super Bowl XLIII

The Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats will perform at Super Bowl XLIII. The band will take the field during the pre-game show Feb. 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Marching Wildcats will perform eight to 10 songs at approximately 6 p.m., with kickoff set for 6:28 p.m. "For a marching band, there's no bigger stage to play on than the Super Bowl playing field," B-CU band director Donovan Wells said. "We're working hard to put on a great show for all the fans."

The band has 320 musicians, not counting members of the Sophisticat Flag Corps and the 14KT Gold Dancers. The Marching Wildcats have performed at halftime shows for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at the pre-race show of the Daytona 500 and on "The Ellen Degeneres Show."

BCU Marching Wildcat Band - 1/2009



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Former FAMU head coach named position coach for New Mexico Lobos

Lobo Football Assistant Coaches Press Conference Photo Gallery

Excerpt:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - University of New Mexico head football coach Mike Locksley has announced his coaching staff for the 2009 season. All nine position coaches/coordinators as well as football strength and conditioning coach Troy Hatton are beginning their first year at New Mexico. Locksley was named the 29th head football coach at UNM on Dec. 9, 2008. It's a diverse staff with five coaches boasting over 15 years of experience and four coaches age 31 and younger.

"I've always said that the first mark of leadership is a man who can lead himself and this group of coaches at the University of New Mexico exemplify that quality of leadership. I put a premium on character when assembling this staff because I believe that we will win on character." "We've got a tremendous blend of experienced, veteran coaches and young, energetic guys. The one thing they all have in common is that they've been winners everywhere they've been throughout their careers. Five have played or coached in a national championship game, six have won conference titles as either players or coaches, one has played in a Super Bowl."

"I think this staff is among the best in the country and I believe the Lobo nation is going be very proud to have this group of coaches leading our football program."

2009 Lobo Football Coaching Staff
Mike Locksley - Head Coach
Darrell Dickey - Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs
Doug Mallory - Defensive Coordinator
Toby Neinas - Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers
George Barlow - Defensive Backs
Cheston Blackshear - Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends
Rubin Carter - Defensive Line
Mike Degory - Centers/Offensive Guards
J.B. Gerald - Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator
Tee Martin - Quarterbacks
Troy Hatton - Football Strength & Conditioning

After a two year paid holiday by Florida A&M, former Rattlers head coach Rubin Carter has signed on as the Lobos new defensive line coach for 2009.

Rubin Carter (Miami, 1975) - Defensive Line

• 21st year as a collegiate and professional coach (age 56).
• Most recently head coach at Florida A&M (2005-07) - Combined record of 16-17, but was 13-9 his first two seasons.
• NFL defensive line coach for the New York Jets (2001-03), Washington Redskins (1999-2000) and Denver Broncos (1987-88) - Coached Pro Bowl players John Abraham, Shawn Ellis, Marco Coleman, Greg Kragen, Rulon Jones and Karl Mecklenburg.
• Defensive line coach at Temple (2004), Maryland (1997-98) and San Jose State (1995-96) - Coached on the same staff with Mike Locksley at Maryland and Toby Neinas at Temple.
• Defensive coordinator and strength & conditioning coach at Howard University (1989-93) - Bison led Division I-AA in total defense and scoring defense in 1989 .
• 12-year defensive tackle for the Denver Broncos (1975-86) - Played on five AFC West Championship teams and in two Super Bowls (1978, 1987) as a key member of the Broncos' famed "Orange Crush" defense.
-In 1977, was featured on a Sports Illustrated cover which touted him at "The Prototype NT in the 3-4 Defense"
-Upon his retirement, he had played in more games (152) than any other nose tackle in NFL history
• All-America defensive lineman as a senior at Miami (1974) and inducted into the University of Miami's Hall of Fame in 1992 - MVP of the 1975 Hula Bowl and selected by Denver in the fifth round pick of the 1975 NFL Draft.
• Son, Andre Carter, attended California and was the seventh overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers - Andre, a defensive end, just finished his fourth season with Washington Redskins

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New Grambling athletics director discusses his football scheduling philosphy

New Grambling athletics director Lin Dawson revealed a few of his thoughts on football scheduling during a meet-and-greet stop in Shreveport this week. Dawson, who has been the Grambling AD for four months, is researching the viability of playing a future game in Shreveport. He said he contacted SMU about the possibility.

“I think part of the reason we are here today is to explore options and relationships,” Dawson said. “We’re certainly open to playing. We want to go where our fans want to go. We have about 5-to-6,000 alumni in Shreveport. That would be very important to them.” A Shreveport game, though, would need to fit into the school’s scheduling philosophy.

Last year, Grambling traveled to Reno, Nev., to open its season against Football Bowl Subdivision member Nevada. The Tigers also played an in-state opponent with a visit to Northwestern State. “Our philosophy is, No. 1 to schedule competitive games,” Dawson said. “We want to be the best at competing at the highest level in our division. It’s important for us to beat the people we play against.

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HBCU Bands' Presidential March on Washington

Florida A&M University's Incomparable Marching 100 (420 Members)
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, "Musical Machine of the Mid-South" ('M4') Marching Band - (250 Members)

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http://video.aol.com/video-detail/grambling-band-preps-for-dc-parade/3134795440
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President Obama's Oath and Inaugural Address

Aretha Franklin Sings

Westlake’s Babb picks up offer from North Carolina A&T

Atlanta, GA - Westlake running back Devon Babb picked up his second offer last week, from North Carolina A&T in Greensboro that competes in the Division I-AA Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

Babb has an offer from Alcorn State and plans to visit both schools. He said he is leaning toward Alcorn because his quarterback, Louis Kindle, has committed to the Braves, who compete in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

Morgan State Routs Bethune-Cookman

Boxscore

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Reggie Holmes scored 29 points and Kevin Thompson added 16 as Morgan State defeated Bethune-Cookman 78-44 on Monday. Holmes was 6-for-11 from 3-point range and 8-for-16 from the field for Morgan State (9-9, 4-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). Cold shooting plagued Bethune-Cookman (9-9, 4-2), which had won four of its previous six games. The Wildcats shot only 26.5 percent (13-for-49) for the game, while the Bears shot 51 percent (25-for-49), including 10-for-18 from 3-point territory.

Morgan State never trailed in the game and led 15-12 with 7:30 left in the first half. The Bears used a 19-6 run to take a 34-18 advantage at intermission. Morgan State continued to widen the gap in the second half and led 73-38 with 2:20 left. Tyrel Adams paced the Wildcats with nine points, while Jarrell Thomas and John Holmes scored eight apiece.

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Florida A&M defeats Coppin State 60-56

Twitty leads FAMU to victory; Senior scores 21 points in a win.

Photo Gallery: FAMU Men Silence Coppin State 60-56

Senior forward Lamar Twitty takes his leadership role on the FAMU basketball team seriously. He demonstrated that Monday night when the Rattlers needed it in a pivotal MEAC game. Twitty scored a season-high 21 points to lead the Rattlers past Coppin State 60-56 to complete a four-game home-win streak at Gaither Gym. As if to put an exclamation mark on his work, Twitty sank the last two points of the game from the free-throw line.

"I just have to keep working hard — keep shooting," said Twitty, who also had six rebounds. "I can't lose my confidence as leader on this team. A couple of the conference games, I wasn't knocking it down. "As a leader on the team, I've got to go to the line and knock them down." As the Rattlers' only other double-digit scorer, freshman guard Dale Hughes got all of his 12 points on shots from behind the 3-point line. Three Coppin players scored 10 points or more, led by Sam Coleman's 14. Twitty gave FAMU its biggest lead of the night with a 3-pointer that put the Rattlers in front, 35-19, with 6:50 to play in the first half. FAMU connected on 8 of 18 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes.

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Obama's Inauguration Parade Guide

There will be over 10,000 people marching all together, representing all 50 states. Based on Florida A&M University Marching 100 Band first division placement in the lineup, no doubt the hundred is the best band in the nation. It is the first marching band after Barack and Michelle Obama's alma maters.

FAMU Marching 100 Band --420 members

Here is the complete line up (as of last night) with the HBCU Bands highlighted:

Representatives from the US Army, United States Military Academy & US Army Reserve
Punahou School JROTC
Punahou School Marching Band
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School Navy JROTC
Isiserettes Drill and Drum Corps
Jesse White Tumbling Team
Florida A&M University Marching 100 Band

Crow Nation of Montana
Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School Marching Band (Washington, D.C.)
Illinois Home State Float
Brooklyn Music and Arts Program
Theodore Roosevelt High School Marine Corps JROTC Color Guard and Drill Team (Wash.,D.C.)
Colts Drum and Bugle Corps
Klein Collins High School Air Force JROTC
Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drums
Southern Ohio Ladies Aside
Redwood Middle School Marching Band and Auxiliary Units
Representatives of the US Marine Corps and US Marine Corps Reserve
Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association
University of Delaware Fightin' Blue Hen Marching Band, The Pride of Delaware
Delaware Home State Float
Alexis I. duPont High School Band
Comfort Carriages
Tuskegee Airmen
Delaware State University Marching Band
Special Olympics Inc.
Sanford High School Marching Band
Peace Corps Community
Adams Central High School Patriot Band
Oneida Nation Veterans
Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps
Idaho State Leadership: State and Tribal Representatives
Roosevelt High School Marching Band
Suurimmaanitchuat Eskimo Dance Group
South Cobb High School Blue Eagle Marching Band
Representatives of the US Navy, US Naval Academy & US Navy Reserve
Brattleboro High School Marching Band
George Washington University
Petal High School Marching Band
Freedom Riders
Bonnie Brae Knights
Federal Protection Service
Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band

American Workers Contingent
East Greenwich High School Avenger Band
Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard, First Infantry Division, Fort Riley KS
Green Valley High School Marching Band
Angel Drill Team
Manning High School Golden Pride Marching Band
Wind River Reservation Youth Council
Lincoln Highway National Museum and Archives
University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Band
Tempel Lipizzans of Tempel Farms
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Marching Band
Representatives of the US Air Force, US Air Force Academy & US Air Force Reserve
Mountain Ridge High School Pride of the West Marching Band
United Tribes Technical College
Montana Delegation
Hampton University Marching Force
AmeriCorps Alums
North Allegheny High School Tiger Marching Band
World Famous Lawn Rangers from Amazing Arcola
Blue Springs High School Golden Regiment Marching Band
McCrossan Boys Ranch
Colony High School Knights Marching Band
54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment, Company A
54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment
Espanola Valley High School Mariachi Sol Del Valle
1965 Mustang of the DC Metropolitan Police Department
Grambling State University World Famed Tiger Marching Band
Nicholas County Army JROTC, the Wilderness Battalion
J. P. Taravella High School Band
Representatives of the US Coast Guard, US Coast Guard Academy & US Coast Guard Reserve
Morton High School Marching Band
U.S. Border Patrol
Harding University High School Marching Band of Gold
Hawaii Home State Float
Howard University Showtime Marching Band
Pennsylvania Home State Float
Lesbian and Gay Band Association
Mobile Azalea Trail Maids
Londonderry High School Marching Lancer Band and Color Guard
T.C. Williams High School Army JROTC
Windsor High School Marching Band
Michigan's Multi Jurisdictional Mounted Police Drill Team and Color Guard
Ohio State University Marching Band
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 358, Philadelphia, PA
Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital, Troops 1803 & 382
Fergus Falls High School Marching Band
Representatives from the US Merchant Marine Academy
Evergreen High School Marching Band
Culver Academies
Carl Sandburg High School Marching Eagles
USO Float
Carnaval de San Anto, the URBAN 15 Group
Prevention Partnership, Warren County, KY Sheriff's Office
Siloam Springs High School Band
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association CCBA
Get a Life Marching Band
Union High School Air Force JROTC
University of Utah Marching Band
Virginia Military Institute Corps of Cadets
NASA Astronaut Crew and NASA Lunar Electric Rover

Inaugural festivities kick off in D.C.

Son says MLK's dream being realized

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the March on Washington, August 1963

Today the nation celebrates what would have been the 80th birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. The next day, the civil rights leader's dream will approach reality when the nation inaugurates its first African-American president. "With the election of Barack Obama, our nation has powerfully and decisively struck down a monumental barrier," says Martin Luther King III. "This moment serves as proof to the power of faith in ourselves and each other.

"It is proof that the idea of an America where no one will be judged by the color of their skin is real, tangible and something we can work towards in our lives. Let me be clear, it is delusional to think that centuries of pain and struggle endured by many in this country will somehow vanquish on Jan. 21. "This new presidency symbolizes a task accomplished, a hope achieved or a dream realized. It also signals that we have progress toward the summit of that mountaintop much sooner than any of us could have imagined."


1968 - Martin Luther King's Prophetic Last speech - Remember


On Sunday, King hosted the fourth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration and Realizing the Dream Award Celebration at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill. The event honored Sen. Ted Kennedy, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, the Rev. Claude Black and Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The event, featuring a performance by BeBe Winans, was attended by Harry Belafonte, Al Sharpton and Andrew Young.

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Hampton tops WSSU 59-43

Reeling Rams commit 25 turnovers, lose their fourth straight

RICHMOND,VA - Another game, another loss for Winston-Salem State. The pattern was all too familiar for Coach Bobby Collins of the Rams. After sleepwalking through the early parts of the first half against Hampton, the Rams fell in a deep hole and spent the rest of the way trying to climb out. It all added up to a 59-43 loss to the Pirates in the Freedom Classic at the Richmond Coliseum.

In his postgame address to his team, Collins spent about 20 extra minutes in the locker room and his message was clear. "He just wants us to stay positive and he said we lost this game, it wasn't anything that Hampton did, we lost it," said reserve guard Brandon Hobbs of the Rams. The Rams (4-12) had a season-high 25 turnovers, shot 33 percent and looked out of sorts most of the game. It was the Rams' fourth straight loss.

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Florida A&M stops Morgan's streak with 63-58 win

Photo Galleries:
FAMU Men Edge Morgan State 63-58
FAN CAM - FAMU vs. Morgan State

Brandon Bryant scored 16 points and Florida A&M hit five of six free throws in the final 30 seconds to beat Morgan State yesterday in Tallahassee. Reggie Holmes led the Bears with 16 points, and Jermaine Bolden added 11. Morgan's three-game winning streak ended. The Rattlers (5-10, 3-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), who won their third straight game, are in a four-way tie atop the conference standings with Morgan (8-9, 3-1), Bethune-Cookman and Hampton.

Holmes' three-pointer with 17.5 seconds left cut the Bears' deficit to one. But Larry Jackson and Bryant each hit two free throws for the Rattlers in the last 17 seconds, and Bolden missed a three-point try. Yannick Crowder had 10 points for Florida A&M.

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Barlow satisfied with new Alabama State Hornets staff

Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow went into this offseason with several ideas about how to improve his coaching staff. He wanted to fill his five vacant assistant positions with coaches who are loyal to the program and loyal to him. He wanted to add experience, specifically SWAC experience. And he wanted to put together a group of coaches that best fit the ASU program. In filling those slots, Barlow believes he's achieved every goal.

"I'm happy with the hires and believe they're really good fits here," said Barlow, who said it would be a few days before the hires are finalized. "We're happy to have them and feel all of these guys are quality coaches." There were a couple of familiar names among the group of new coaches. Roger Totten, who was Barlow's position coach when he was a player at ASU in the early 1990s, is leaving Alabama A&M to coach receivers again with the Hornets. And Cedric Thornton, a former linebacker who played with Barlow at ASU, will coach the linebackers.

Joining Totten and Thornton are defensive coordinator Jo Nixon, a former Florida State player and defensive coordinator at Langston University, running backs coach Vyron Brown, a former Grambling State running back and Doug Williams protg, and offensive line coach Kenneth Ray, a former Southern Miss player and offensive line coach at North Carolina A&T.

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Finally!: Timberland’s ‘Rock,’ host of recruits visit SCSU today

The “Rock” is coming to Orangeburg today for a visit. Shrine Bowl All-State running back Rockarius King of Timberland, who rushed for 2,056 yards and 31 touchdowns this season, highlights a group of 15 prospects slated to visit South Carolina State University today. This is the first of two recruiting weekends taking place on the Orangeburg campus as the Bulldogs look to replenish their roster on the heels of last year’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship and Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearance.

The 5-7, 170-pound King is among the leading rushers in state history. He emerged for the Wolves as a sophomore, amassing over 2,700 total yards of offense. As a junior, King surpassed the 1,000-yard plateau in his first five games and finished with close to 1,700 rushing yards. King finished his career with 6,343 rushing yards, good for fifth all-time among South Carolina High School League running backs, using his speed (4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and strength (has bench-pressed 350 pounds) to his advantage. For all his success, Timberland head coach Art Craig said King’s work ethic and strong humility are among his greatest traits.

“I’ve had kids before that were high-caliber players that sometimes wouldn’t do the things that it took to be successful,” he said. “They made the least amount of workouts and he was always a leader on that part and that’s what made him unique and that was the thing that I think South Carolina State is going to get out of him. They’re going to get a hard worker. He’s probably going to play with a little chip on his shoulder because some of the bigger schools didn’t give him a chance because he’s five-foot seven. “I think (South Carolina State) is going to get him and he’s going to be a superstar for them.”

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Alonzo Lee era dawns at North Carolina A&T

Lee signed a four-year contract that will pay him $145,000 annually, said he was "ordained to be here, because I walk in faith."

GREENSBORO -- For all the weighty matters that lie ahead for Alonzo Lee -- implementing a new offense and defense, completing his staff, meeting with current players and recruits -- his immediate priority is decidedly mundane. Lee, introduced Friday as the head football coach of N.C. A&T, has a skeleton staff of coaches who have been in limbo throughout the university's prolonged search to replace Lee Fobbs. He plans to provide them with a schedule and offseason calendar as quickly as possible. That's because Lee, who is known among his peers for his organization and attention to detail, has much to accomplish this month, with 19 recruits paying a visit to A&T this weekend and the national signing day looming Feb. 4.

And there is no time to waste regarding the chore that might come to define his coaching tenure -- weeding out a small group of football players perceived by many last season as quitters and replacing them with athletes who fit his mold of tough, relentless Aggies. "There are a lot of things that haven't been done, but I can promise you we'll get them done and before the next season," Lee said. "And come next season we'll have some men who will fight for four quarters."

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Southern finalizes Thursday night football game

Coach Pete Richardson and the SU Jaguars will have lighter out-of- conference schedule in '09 facing Division II Central State (OH), Tennessee State and UL-L. The Jags are currently seeking a D-II or FCS D-I opponent for an Oct. 17 home date.

Jaguars to face Prairie View on Oct. 22

As expected, Thursday night football is coming to Southern. SU Athletic Director Greg LaFleur and coach Pete Richardson confirmed Tuesday that the Jaguars’ home game against Prairie View will happen on a Thursday — at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 in A.W. Mumford Stadium before a national television audience on ESPNU. SU’s move to Thursday night is a result of the television deal between the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the ESPN family of networks.The SWAC had three Thursday night ESPNU games in 2008: Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alcorn State on Sept. 18; Mississippi Valley State at Alabama State on Sept. 25; and Grambling at Texas Southern on Nov. 20.

Southern hosted Florida A&M on Oct. 18 on ESPNU. This, however, will be SU’s first Thursday night home game. “You never like to play on a Thursday night, especially with our fan base,” Richardson said. “But it was our turn to play, and we’ll play. It’ll be a little bit of a different experience, playing on a short week. You just hope you don’t come out with too many injuries the game before that.” Of course, at this point, Richardson doesn’t yet know whom he’ll play the week before the Prairie View game. SWAC teams will play seven conference games next season, leaving schools to fill out their schedules with four nonconfrence opponents (teams within the Football Championship Subdivision will play 11 games in 2009).

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Howard Bison Fall In Overtime To Florida A&M

Boxscore
Photo Gallery: FAMU 79 Howard 74
FAN CAM - FAMU vs. Howard University women's basketball

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Joe Ballard tallied 21 of his game-high 28 in the second half and extra period, but it was freshman David Buchanon's 14 points in overtime that proved to be the difference as Florida A&M University held off Howard, 79-74 in a wild and woolly affair at Gaither Gymnasium. After sophomore guard Kyle Riley sank two free throws to tie the game at 61-all and send it into an extra period, Buchanon took over. Ballard converted two free throws to give FAMU (3-10 overall, 1-1 in the MEAC) a 63-61 lead. Howard (1-13 overall, 0-2 in the MEAC) countered with a slam dunk by Paul Kirkpatrick off a nice feed by Riley to deadlock the score at 63.

Then Buchanon buried a three pointer from straight on to help the Rattlers regain the lead at 66-63 at the 3:38 mark. Kiley sank two free throws to get Howard to within, 66-65. Then Buchanon launched another bomb, this time from the right side to up the margin to 69-65. Brandon Bryant's layup increased the lead to 71-65 and Buchanon was at it again, hitting a three ball from the left side and giving FAMU its biggest lead at 74-65 with 2:15 left in overtime.

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Morgan State's Lee gets A&T job

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- N.C. A&T has a new head football coach. Morgan State defensive coordinator Alonzo Lee accepted the job Thursday, according to several university sources with knowledge of the search process. Athletics director Wheeler Brown said Thursday night he had extended an offer to one of the two remaining candidates -- Lee or interim coach George Ragsdale -- earlier in the day and that the candidate had accepted.

Brown said he would not identify the new coach until "personnel issues" -- presumably Ragsdale's fate -- were resolved. The announcement of Lee's hiring could come as early as today, Brown said. "I'm excited about our new coach and getting back to football," the AD said. "It's been a long process, but it's been worth it. I believe we've come out of this process with the best coach for A&T." Reached at home in Washington (D.C.) earlier in the day, Lee declined to say whether he had been hired.

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