Super Bowl XLIII: Bethune-Cookman Band to get 6 minutes of fame

DAYTONA BEACH -- Twenty-three minutes before kickoff Sunday at the Super Bowl, members of the Bethune-Cookman Marching Wildcats will be doing their thing. They get six minutes -- a performance condensed by about half -- to leave their mark on the celebrities and flashing bulbs at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium. Director Donovan Wells told the band it appears unlikely the show will be aired on NBC's pregame.

With NBC selling 30-second spots to advertisers for $3 million, even any exposure for this historically black university could be incalculable. Band members, though, were holding on to a four-letter word after practice. "Keep hope alive," Darius Hatcher said. "Maybe we'll get a clip," Kourtney Lewis added.



THE PREPARATION

Even still, Wells is sure the 320 musicians and dancers won't be star-struck. He's making sure with some 15 hours of practice in advance of the big six minutes. For about two hours Tuesday, band members played with precision, sprinted, marched and danced their routines over and over in search of perfection.

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Super Bowl: Hometowns of Boldin, Holmes falling victim to economy, violence

PAHOKEE, Fla. -- This is not a happy story. Maybe you heard otherwise, but if you did, you heard wrong. This story isn't happy. Dead teenagers don't giggle.

This story is about the two star receivers in Super Bowl XLIII who clawed their way out of the same nook of Florida, the Cardinals' Anquan Boldin and the Steelers' Santonio Holmes, but it's also about the death and destruction they left behind. People are dying. Towns are dying. So don't believe a damn thing you've heard about the reunion of Boldin and Holmes in this Super Bowl. Not if all you've heard is hokey happiness. Because this story isn't hokey. It isn't happy.

"Kids are getting killed," Holmes says. Yes they are. "Our towns ... they're in trouble," Boldin says. Yes they are. This isn't a happy story. But it should be.

Going home

On a per capita basis, no town in the United States has better football than Pahokee. Pahokee High has been to six straight state championship games, and won five. Pahokee products are all over college football, including Wake Forest All-American cornerback Alphonso Smith and starting defensive back Janoris Jenkins of national champion Florida. Pahokee has sent more than a dozen players to the NFL, a statistically staggering feat for a city of 6,000.

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Alcorn State Names Interim Head Coach

By Alcorn State Media Relations

President George E. Ross has announced that Earnest Collins, Jr. is the Interim Head Football Coach. Coach Collins assumed his duties on January 29, 2009.

"We are pleased to have Coach Collins serve in this capacity. He is an exceptional leader, he’s student-athlete centered, and possess the knowledge base to lead our football program in a positive direction. The respect and support this young man has garnered from the ASU community is tremendous," says President Ross.

As Interim Head Football Coach, Collins will operate with all the responsibilities and authority of the head coach. "I want to thank Dr. Ross for the opportunity to become the Interim Head Football Coach. I believed when I came here that we were going to take this program to new heights, and that is still our plan."

Coach Collins brings over 13 years of coaching and teaching experience in athletics. He entered his first season as Defensive Coordinator/Associate Head Coach at Alcorn State University last year. Prior to joining the Braves’ staff, Coach Collins spent a year coaching the Secondary for the University of Central Florida, where the Knights ranked 3rd in the C-USA defensive statistics.

Coach Collins began his collegiate coaching career at Northwest Missouri State University as a Secondary/Assistant Special Teams Coach from 1996-1999. During those three seasons with the Bearcats, they won two NCAA Division II National Champions 1998, 1999. After leaving Northwest Missouri, he returned to his alma mater, the University of Northern Colorado as the Coordinator-Secondary/Special Teams, Strength and Conditioning during 1999-2003. While there, he helped to shape a defense that was ranked nationally from 2000-2003.

When Coach Collins departed from the Bears, he became a part of the Jayhawks coaching staff. From 2003-06, he served in the capacity of the Special Teams and Cornerbacks Coach. During his tenure there, he organized the "Character First" and "Mentors" programs. Also, the Jayhawks’ defense was ranked 3rd in the Big12 and 20th in the nation.

Coach Collins began his collegiate playing career at the University of Northern Colorado 1991-94, as a defensive back and punt returner. He earned All-North Central Conference honors following his senior year. He currently holds the Northern Colorado records for career (967) and season (497) punt return yards.

Coach Collins received his B.A. in Kinesiology (Physical Education) from University of Northern Colorado. In 2000, he received his M.S. in Athletic Administration from Northwest Missouri State University.

He is a member of the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee. Collins’ professional memberships include the Black Coaches Association and the American Football Coaches Association.

He is married to Tabatha, and they have two daughters, Tayler and Marci.

FAMU bowling overcoming adversity to roll to second in MEAC

Jazmin Bingham was looking so much to the start of the bowling season with FAMU's team. She was finally going to get a chance to rejoin her former high school teammate Nina Gilbert on a college team. Then, the news came last summer that left Bingham numb. Gilbert had lost her life in an automobile accident. "I lost a teammate and I lost a friend," said Bingham, who played with Gilbert at Gwendolyn Brooks Preparatory High School in Chicago. "She was always very high-spirited and always looked out for me. It was sad. It was devastating to lose somebody like that."

The entire FAMU team was devastated, then just two months into the season more adversity came. Their assistant coach Paul Williams died unexpectedly; just a few weeks after the team had undergone a head-coaching change. But through their misfortune, the Rattlers found inspiration to roll to a second-place tie in the Southern Division of the MEAC. That secured a berth for FAMU in the conference championship as one of eight teams that qualified.

Photo Gallery: FAMU Bowling Team Practices

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N.C. A&T's Lee: We're selling a brand-new era

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Alonzo Lee's first two weeks as N.C. A&T's new head coach have been anything but quiet. Lee was introduced Jan. 16 and immediately met with recruits and current players while trying to fill out the rest of his coaching staff. Between meeting with recruits and trying to find a house in Greensboro, Lee sat down with the News & Record to talk about myriad issues surrounding Aggie football, next week's national signing day, A&T's recruiting budget and how long he thinks it will take to turn around a program that has lost 36 of its last 39 games:

Let's talk about recruiting. How much of a handicap is it when it's just you and two other coaches out there talking to players?

It's very much a handicap, but it's the way you look at things. It's definitely an uphill battle. You would love to have your entire staff, but I can't count anything that's not there.

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Tough non-conference benefits Prairie View women

Prairie View A&M women's basketball coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke's philosophy has been to take life a game at a time.With a 6-1 record in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, life has been pretty good for the Lady Panthers, who host Alabama State Saturday afternoon (5:30 p.m.). The two-time defending conference champs have ripped off five straight wins since a 63-58 loss to Southern Jan. 5 and are reaping the benefits of a daunting non-conference schedule.

"Our biggest concern is that we don't want to peak too soon," said Cooper-Dyke. "We know everyone has been the aggressor against us, and that's something we need to change. We've worked on that in practice, so now we have to be able to turn the tables against our opponents." The Lady Panthers had their mettle tested in an 83-77 overtime win at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Monday, where Prairie View had to overcome a 17-point deficit with 12 minutes left. In Cooper-Dyke's eyes, the rally could serve as a turning point for the team.

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Doing his best to make NSU the best it can be

Marty Miller does his best thinking while tooling around in his little red Corvette. In those moments, Norfolk State's athletic director imagines a dynamic future in which the Spartans dominate the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Miller believes 2009 will be the football team's best season since joining Division I in 1997. Men's and women's basketball - both under upstart coaches - are two to three years away from separating themselves from the rest of the conference, he assures.

If NSU's major sports programs follow his lofty time line, it will largely be due to Miller's commitment to the program, which he took over on an interim basis in December 2004. He fashions himself a winner, and he has high expectations for the future. Whether it's Scrabble or any game the Spartans are involved in, Miller hates to lose - one reason the former Army lieutenant coached the Spartans' baseball team to 700 victories. "I'm always competing in everything I do," Miller says. "I wonder how I got to this point in life. But I'm like that at everything I do. In life, I want to be the best."

His wife of 35 years - and mother to their son, 33-year-old Marty Eric - confirms that. "He would come home after coaching, and I knew when he walked in the door whether he won or lost," Liz Miller says. "It's always been about NSU for him. "NSU is the other woman in my life."

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Hampton U. gears up for new transition

The Pirates move forward with Donovan Rose after the unexpected dismissal of Jerry Holmes.

Donovan Rose has known Jerry Holmes since 1986, when the two played against each other in the NFL. So when Rose learned that Holmes had been dismissed as Hampton University's football coach, and that he would be replacing him, he reached for the phone. "I wanted to call Jerry," said Rose, a defensive back with the Miami Dolphins when Holmes was a cornerback with the New York Jets. "It was in my heart. ... I said, 'You gonna be all right?' He said, 'Yeah. I'm good, I'm good.' Jerry, he's a realistic guy. He's fine. "I'm glad that I spoke to him. That took a load off, just being able to speak to him."

Rose, Hampton's secondary coach for 17 seasons before taking Holmes' defensive coordinator spot when Holmes became the Pirates' head coach last year, was introduced officially as Holmes' replacement Wednesday. Holmes, who went 6-5 in his one season, was fired Monday, after athletic director Lonza Hardy said his planned job interviews with NFL teams were hurting the program.

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FAMU baseball heads into season with reloaded roster

FAMU Coach Robert Lucas cleans Rattlers house; only 12 players return from last year's squad

With less than half of the players from last year's roster returning to FAMU's baseball team, coach Robert Lucas has reloaded the Rattlers with a mix of transfers and walk-ons. At least two football players are expected to join the team along with transfer outfielders Stavone Martin and Tobi Adeyemi. Their presence should bolster the Rattlers offensively, said Lucas, who has shaken up his team's personnel after they were unable to carry late-season momentum into the MEAC tournament.

"We talked about last year and the disappointment we had in the tournament for one day," Lucas said. "There is no point in us belaboring the fact that we didn't do what we were supposed to do. I think not bringing it up is going to help us focus on the things we need to do fundamentally." FAMU will have a much different look when the season starts with a doubleheader against Jackson State on Feb. 20. Only 12 players, including infielder/pitcher Tim Schalch and MEAC MVP pitcher Jared Jefferies, will return from last year's squad.

Of the 14 players who won't return, only two were lost to graduation, Lucas said. "After a while, you have to make some decisions on education and athletics," he said, explaining the cuts that he's made. "I felt from what I didn't see in their abilities that it was time for them to work on their academics."

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WSSU Athletics Releases 2009 Football Schedule

by WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations

Rams to play five home contests and UC Davis in California

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Winston-Salem State University Director of Athletics, Dr. Chico Caldwell officially released the 2009 Ram football schedule on Wednesday morning with several highlights of the 11-game slate being WSSU's five home games to take place at Bowman Gray Stadium, the Urban League Classic in East Rutherford, N.J. and a West coast road trip to Davis, Calif. to face the Aggies of UC Davis.

The Rams will play a full complement of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games with only two non-conference opponents gracing the schedule in longtime rival, North Carolina Central University (November 14) and Great West Football Conference member, the University of California, Davis (October 17). WSSU, who will enter into their fourth year of a five-year transition to the NCAA Division I level in the fall of 2009, will play nine MEAC contests highlighted by MEAC home games against North Carolina A&T in the Battle of I-40 Classic (September 5), Florida A&M (October 10), Hampton for Homecoming 2009 (October 31), Delaware State (November 7).

The Rams will take to the road to face Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member South Carolina State in Orangeburg (September 26) before traveling to the nation’s capital to kickoff versus Howard in Washington, D.C. (October 3) on back-to-back weeks. WSSU will also travel to points south as they visit Daytona Beach, Fla. to face Bethune-Cookman (October 24) before completing their road schedule in Norfolk, Va. against Norfolk State University in the final week of the season (November 21).

Highlighting the Rams’ games away from home marks dates at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. with the Bears of Morgan State University in the Urban League Classic and a cross-country trip to Davis, Calif. to face the Aggies of UC Davis. The Aggies, a team that recently completed a five-year transition to NCAA Division I will face the Rams in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

“We are extremely pleased with our 2009 football schedule” WSSU Director of Athletics, Dr. Chico Caldwell commented. “We have a good schedule with several highlights.”

“We’ll be in the Urban League Classic at Giants Stadium and we have Florida A&M coming into Bowman Gray Stadium, which is something that our fans are excited about. We have a very balanced schedule with five home games and six games away from home and we get to take our team out to California to play UC Davis as well as playing host to Hampton at Bowman Gray Stadium for Homecoming” Caldwell added. It's uncertain whether Florida A&M will bring its famous 424-member band to Winston-Salem. "I don't know if their band is coming, because I know we can't pay for it -- they have a big band," Caldwell said. "We're excited about them coming to Bowman Gray Stadium."

Season tickets for 2009 WSSU football will go on sale on Monday, July 6 at 10:00 a.m. at the WSSU Ticket Office. Tickets may be purchase in person, or by phone via credit card at (336) 750-3220. For additional information on WSSU football, log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at http://www.wssurams.com/.

Click here for 2009 Printable Schedule.

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Note to Dr. Caldwell... Great move scheduling a weaken Hampton for homecoming. The unofficial FAMU answer is no, the Marching 100 will not be coming to Winston Salem. The policy is simple--no Money, No Marching 100 Band. Nine buses, hotel and food is not free for 450 members of the hundred. Still, the price of admission is worth the trip to WSSU for the fans to see Joe Taylor's Rattlers steamroll the Rams on their way to the MEAC Championship.

Not sure who has the correct date for the Rams vs. Rattlers game -- FAMU schedule shows the game scheduled on September 12th, the Rams current OPEN DATE. The Rattlers plan to be at Miami on Oct 10 for a $400,000 payday and another demoralizing D-I flattening by the Hurricanes.

-beepbeep

UMES bowlers win Bulldog Classic title

(L) All-American Kristina Frahm with last season's All-MEAC senior Jessica Worsley during NCAA national championship tournament.

BOWIE, Md. -- The nation's defending NCAA champions, University of Maryland Eastern Shore headed to the Lady Bulldog Classic in search of their first title of the year. They got it, taking first place on pin fall, amassing almost 10,500 pins, 162 better than the next team. All-American Maria Rodriguez averaged a 240.1 and earned tournament MVP honors.

Rodriguez was unstoppable as she posted a pin fall of 1441 over six games including five games over 200. Her high came against the host Lady Bulldogs of Bowie State, as she roiled a 279, the highest game of her collegiate career. She went on to roll games of 224, 267, 257 and 233.

She wasn't the only Hawk to post an average of 200 or better. Kristina Frahm (Oswego, Ill.) tallied 1,226 pins and an average of 204.3. She finished ninth overall individually. New Hawk Paula Vilas was close with a 990 pinfall over five games.

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UMES Bowling Team 2008-09 Roster

NAME YR Hometown (Last School)
Benson, Christine FR Greensberg Pa. (Greensberg Salem H.S.)
Brown, Katherine SO Level Green, Pa. (Penn Trafford H.S.)
Culbreth, Jamie SR Hochspeyer, Germany (Kaiserslautern American)
Davis, Jennifer SR Severn, Md. (Meade H.S.)
DiScioscia, Sara SR Hampton, Va. (Poquoson H.S.)
Frahm, Kristina SO Oswego Ill. (Oswego East H.S.)
Perez, Martha SO Bogota, Colombia (English School)
Rodriguez, Maria SO Ibague Tolima, Colombia (La Presentacion)
Vilas, Paula FR Santo Domingo, Dominican Rep. (Univ. of APEC)
Young, Kaitlyn FR Sycamore, Ill. (Sycamore H.S.)

Coaches
Sharon Brummell - Head Coach
Doug Dukes - Assistant Coach
Vince Brummell - Volunteer Assistant Coach

Glades Central (FL) expects 12 football players to sign

Excerpt:

Last year Glades Central only needed one table on the stage for national signing day. The Raiders might need three or four for the football team when they sign letters of intent next Wednesday.No fewer than 12 seniors from the 2008 football team are expected to sign., and nine of them already are committed.

Alabama State has verbal commitments from defensive back James Melton (5-11, 200) and linebacker Emmanuel Rackard (6-3, 230). The Hornets got a verbal from Pahokee offensive lineman Jaquan Bentley during the season and have a shot at landing undeclared Raiders offensive lineman Vincent Harper (6-3, 285). Harper also has an offer from Hampton.

Hampton is one of several schools making a run at diminutive running back Antonio McCloude. McCloude is listed at 5-8, 165. Both of those numbers seem generous, but his speed and his elusiveness helped him pick up offers from Ball State, Alabama State, FIU and Hampton. McCloude is set to visit Hampton this week and there is a growing belief in Belle Glade that he will sign with the Pirates. Hampton has been one of the MEAC’s top teams this decade and sent five players to the NFL combine in 2007.

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Cubs to host Bethune-Cookman Invitational Games

The Daytona Cubs are excited to work together with Bethune-Cookman to bring exciting college baseball to the area. The Bethune-Cookman Invitational will bring teams from Georgia State University, Michigan State University, and Xavier University.

The Invitational will kick off with three games on Friday, March 6th and will end on Sunday, March 8th at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Game times will start at 11am, 3pm, and 7pm. Tickets for this exciting event will be $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children, seniors, and students. Make sure to come support the local students and see if they have what it takes to become the next Daytona Cub!

The Daytona Cubs will also host the MEAC Tournament in May. Games will kick off on Friday, March 15th and will go through Sunday, March 17th. Check the Daytona Cubs website as more information unfolds!

Alcorn fires coach again

Coach Ernest T. Jones ends Alcorn State coaching career with 2-10 record.

Ernest T. Jones was fired as Alcorn State’s football coach Tuesday, a year after being hired and three months after an eruption of firings, rehiring and a lawsuit.

In a statement released Tuesday, Alcorn officials said Jones “has been terminated on the grounds of malfeasance and contumacious conduct. The decision was reached following ASU’s fulfillment of due process procedures as indicated under the terms of Jones’ employment contract.” Contumacious is defined as a legal term meaning “obstinately disobedient or insubordinate.” “The decision was what we believed to be the best decision for the campus and our student-athletes. We feel we made the best decision for everyone involved,” Alcorn president Dr. George E. Ross said this morning.

Jones said Tuesday night he would speak with his attorney and make a statement “in a few days.” A university grievance committee rejected Jones’ appeal of his dismissal, bringing another chapter in the coach’s brief tenure at his alma mater to a close. Jones was first reported to have been fired Dec. 11, exactly one year after he was hired and a few days after all of his assistant coaches were fired and then reinstated. In later weeks, Jones sued Alcorn for breach of contract and was reinstated pending an appeal. In the lawsuit, Jones is seeking $3.5 million in damages. He agreed to a three-year, $140,000 per year contract in December 2007, although his lawsuit states he did not sign the contract until last summer and it contained different terms than he had agreed to.

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Dang Soap Opera!! Why leave a true Division I coaching position at Big East Conference Cincinnati to put yourself and family through this HBCU foolishness? Another example why talented Division I football professionals do not seek to place their career in jeopardy by answering the call from MEAC and SWAC football programs. Shame on Alcorn!! The only winner here is Jones' lawyers...They got paid!

-beepbeep

Hampton U. fires football coach after one season

Former head coach Jerry Holmes finishes Hampton career with 6-5 record. Holmes replaced Joe Taylor, who left for Florida A&M after building the Hampton program into a MEAC powerhouse.

Athletic director Lonza Hardy fired Jerry Holmes as the Pirates’ head football coach after only one season, and Holmes’ interest in the NFL was a primary cause. In a statement released by the school Tuesday, Hardy indicated he and Holmes had differences on the direction of the program, and he questioned Holmes’ commitment to the team.

He also announced the longtime assistant Donovan Rose, a Norview High and Hampton U. grad, would be the new coach. “I felt a dire need to have atop our football program a coach whose commitment, loyalty and devotion to Hampton University were without question,” Hardy said.

Hardy told the Daily Press of Newport News that school officials had heard Holmes might be seeking jobs with NFL teams. Then, Holmes informed the school that he planned to interview with pro teams at this past Saturday’s Senior Bowl. “We could not approve that,” Hardy told the newspaper. “He felt the need to go and do those interviews anyway.”

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Give it a break Hampton--you are not Boston College! Get ready to become the homecoming queen for entire MEAC. I know of no professionals that should not seek a higher office, a better paying job or greater job security, especially during a period of great economic depression for our country. How soon Hardy forgets--he jumped ship from Mississippi Valley on June 20, 2008 after a six year stint, to come to Hampton for more MONEY! Chump!!

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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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

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President Obama's Oath and Inaugural Address

Aretha Franklin Sings