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Now in its ninth year, the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association East West All-Star Game continually broadens its horizons. Game alumni like Mike Cox, Bruce Gradkowski and Shaheer McBride (Delaware State - Philadephia Eagles) have gone on to play in the NFL. Ray Ventrone even made a tackle in the Super Bowl for the New England Patriots.
Strong Vincent's Deonte Flemings (red/black in photo) lost only one game in his senior season-- at the PIAA Class AAA semifinals. The 5-10/170 Vincent is a triple threat athlete--running QB, WR and lock down cornerback. Flemings is a Grambling State Tiger signee.
Unless there is a change in plans in the next few months, Erie Strong Vincent's Deonte Flemings will expand the game's scope to a new frontier: Louisiana. Flemings, one of 68 high school seniors who arrived at the Blair County Convention Center Sunday morning to begin preparations for this year's East West Game, has signed a letter-of-intent with the legendary Grambling State Tigers. Although he'll spend a few months at North Carolina Tech Preparatory School in Charlotte, should he fulfill his commitment to Grambling, he'd be the first player from the game to play his college ball in Louisiana and the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He'd also be making one of the farthest trips to a college of anyone to have competed in the game. This year's contest will be held at Mansion Park on Friday at 6 p.m.
That its talent would now be reaching the SWAC is a feather in the cap of the game and the talent in Pennsylvania. SWAC schools have produced Walter Payton (Jackson State) and Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State), the NFL's former all-time leading rusher and all-time leading receiver. Grambling is the most-storied football power in the conference, turning out four Pro Football Hall of Famers under the late Eddie Robinson, whom Penn State's Joe Paterno surpassed to become Division I college football's all-time winningest coach. That list doesn't even include No. 1 overall draft pick and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Doug Williams.
Florida A&M’s new $26 million Teaching Gymnasium, which will hold 9,639 fans: "There’s been plenty of talk in recruiting circles that FAMU’s new building helped dissuade potential Bulldog men’s basketball recruits from coming to Orangeburg."
There’s one common belief among all college head coaches, regardless of the sport.
When trying to recruit a high school prospect, a winning tradition and geography are high selling points. However, the quality of the facilities is more than often the deal maker or deal breaker. Take a look at the most successful Division I college football programs this decade (Florida, Southern Cal, Ohio State). In almost all cases, the facilities are second to none. The same is true even in the lower divisions in which former three-time defending Football Championship Subdivision champion Appalachian State can raise $32 million toward an athletic-enhancement campaign that already has produced three facilities.
Truly, the adage “if you build it, (they) will come” is as true in college sports as it was in the movie “Field of Dreams.” In the case of South Carolina State head coaches like Oliver “Buddy” Pough (football) and Hardeep Judge (tennis), renovations to their facilities have only further bolstered their proven ability to produce winning teams without the advantages of state-of-the-art athletics facilities.
FAMU's Teaching Gym Basketball Court
It’s no secret that S.C. State has managed to overcome a distinct disadvantage among its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference brethren when it comes to location and facilities. Out of the nine conference schools competing in football (not including Winston-Salem State, which remains non-eligible for MEAC title play), S.C. State has the smallest population and most rural setting:
Morgan State University Sriking Fear - By Jeff Glatzer, Football.com: Coaches love a defensive lineman with a nasty streak. That's exactly what defensive end Justin Lawrence from Morgan State of the MEAC conference play's with. This quick, powerful fifth-year senior has the mental make-up to be a fierce competitor. At 6-1, 280 pounds, Lawrence displays tremendous athleticism, earning him a selection to the All-MEAC first team in 2008. He also led the team in tackles for loss (17 for 82 yards), in sacks (8 for 60 yards lost), and forced fumbles (four).
Justin Lawrence #36 of the Morgan State Bears has the quickness and power to take over tackles and harass quarterbacks, especially cross-town rival Towson State.
Already a feared pass rusher, his strength has made him an excellent run stuffer at the nose position in 3-4 alignments. He has a tremendous motor in the trenches and is a very intelligent football player. He reads and defines his keys quickly as he reacts to the ball carrier and the quarterback. Off the field, Lawrence is a soft-spoken, friendly guy. He has a calm demeanor which translates well onto the field in pressure situations. When he peers across the line, anticipating what the tackles are going to do, he does so with a calm confidence. Film study is very important part of his game, helping to maintain his edge over the opponents.
Grambling State University The First Annual Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame Induction:Grambling State University (GSU) has spawned many great athletes who have made a significant impact on the world of sports. These extraordinary sports legends have set many records that still stand to this day. The Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame spearheaded by James “Shack” Harris (former NFL Pro Bowl MVP) and Doug Williams (former Super Bowl MVP) is committed to ensuring that these legends, their memories and accomplishments are cemented into historical posterity.
On July 18th 2009, the first group of 25 legends will be inducted into the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame at the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, Louisiana. The 25 inductees are; Willis Reed (Basketball), Tommy Agee (Baseball), Ernie Ladd (Football/Wrestling), Henry Dyer (Football), Ralph Garr (Baseball), Charlie Hardnett (Basketball), Robert Hopkins (Basketball), Lane Howell (Football), Stone Johnson (Football/Track), Willie Joseph (Football), Leglian “Boots” Moore (Football), Bo Murray (Football), Helen Richards-Smith (Basketball), Richard Stebbins (Track), Hershell West (Basketball), Willie Young (Football), Tank Younger (Football), Ralph W.E. Jones (College President and Coach), Eddie G. Robinson (Coach), Collie Nicholson (Sports Information Officer), Fred C. Hobdy (Coach), Willie Brown (Football), Buck Buchanan (Football), Willie Davis (Football) and Charlie Joiner (Football).
James "Shack" Harris and Doug Williams
The induction ceremonies will also be broadcast live and will be available to fans and alumni worldwide on Pay per View. For details visit www.gramblingsportshof.com.
Delaware State University DSU's Murray, Holmes earn All-American honors: Delaware State University freshman Leslie Murray has earned All-America recognition after finishing sixth in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2009 NCAA National Track & Field Championships. Murray was clocked at 49.91 seconds in the championship race of the NCAA 400-meter hurdles Friday evening at the University of Arkansas. A native of Beltsville, Md., and U.S. Virgin Islands, Murray set a DSU record in the 400 hurdles with a time of 49.83 seconds in the NCAA championship semi-finals on Thursday.
All-American MEAC 400 meter hurdles champion, Leslie Murray
The 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion in the 400-meter hurdles, Murray is Delaware State's first track & field All-America since the NCAA adopted its current championship format in 2000. Murray's sixth place finish in the 400-meter hurdle final also earned three points for Delaware State in the NCAA team standings, the first for the Hornets in the national championship competition. Donte Holmes also attained All-America status for his performance at the 2009 NCAA National Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Holmes, a sophomore, was 11th in the semi-finals of the NCAA championship 800-meter run with a time of 1:47.61 last Thursday. He reached the semi-finals with a time of 1:48.05 in the preliminaries the day before. The 2009 MEAC 800-meter champion, Holmes has competed in the NCAA nationals in each of the last two years.
Southern University Ex-Southern track coach Thomas dies:Johnny Thomas, whose SU men’s and women’s teams won 45 Southwestern Athletic Conference titles in 23 years, died Friday morning after a battle with prostate cancer, leaving many of his former athletes to recall how many lives he had impacted. Funeral arrangements for Thomas are pending, SU sports information director Kevin Manns said.
Pin Tales: Dartmouth High (Mass.) senior heading South on bowling scholarship: It's official. Kate McConnell signed her letter of intent to attend Southern University next fall. She will be attending on a partial bowling scholarship that will pay at least three quarters of her tuition. She's excited. "I"ve been e-mailing every NCAA Division I college bowling coach for the past year," she said, "and got a reply from Southern."
She met the coach last year in Detroit when she bowled (she later dropped out due to an injury) for the Junior Gold Team USA. "I was invited down to Baton Rouge (where the university is located)," she said, "and I liked what I saw." In the meantime, the 18-year-old Dartmouth High School (Massachusetts) senior is looking forward to her second trip to Junior Gold Nationals this July in Indianapolis.
"I have higher hopes this year," said McConnell, "I should be healthy and I'm more mature and I'll give it my best shot." She's been bowling since she was five years old and now bowls in the Wonderbowl Classic Junior League, the A.M. Junior League and the Junior Travel League. She carries a 180 average and has a career-high 268 game and 660 series. Once past the nationals, she can look forward to her trip down to her new school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Savannah State University SSU names offensivecoordinator:Eddie Johnson, who coached Savannah State's wide receivers last season, has been promoted to offensive coordinator, SSU head coach Robby Wells said. Johnson, 40, is in his second season with the program. He also served as the Tigers' strength and conditioning coach last season. In addition to being the offensive coordinator, Johnson will be the quarterbacks coach. He fills the void left by Alan Hall, who resigned in March to become Winston-Salem (N.C.) State's offensive coordinator. Johnson is a native of Cincinnati and a 1993 graduate of Georgetown (Ky.) University. He came to SSU from NCAA Division II Newberry (S.C.) College, where he was the defensive backs coach from 2005-07.
SSU 2009 Football Game Canceled:Because of a scheduling conflict, the football game between Savannah State and North Greenville has been canceled. The teams were supposed to have met October 10 in Savannah. North Greenville will play Samford in a Thursday night game Oct. 8. SSU will not schedule another opponent and will play a 10-game schedule.
Denver Broncos To Honor Shannon Sharpe: The Denver Broncos will honor former tight end Shannon Sharpe by placing him in the Ring of Honor. The ceremony will take place September 20 at halftime of the Denver 2009 home opener against the Cleveland Browns. The Savannah State grad played 12 seasons with the Broncos.
Jenkins' Mahany signs to SSU Baseball:Jenkins senior Chris Mahany wanted to play college baseball and he also wanted to stay close to home. Wednesday he got his wish granted on both fronts as he signed a national letter of intent to continue his career at the next level at Savannah State. "I would say that's probably their best athletic program, their baseball program," Mahany said. "I got a chance to meet the coach and he seems like a pretty cool guy and I should have a fun time over there." In his senior season, the 5-foot-9 Mahany hit .413 with 21 RBIs with five doubles, a triple and a home run in helping the Warriors to a 22-5 record and a Region 3-AAAAA championship. "My strengths, this year, I would say my hitting," Mahany said. "My hitting was real good and my arm, throwing from the outfield, is probably my strong point."
Prairie View A&M University Cooper-Dyke to be inducted: Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is among the six 2009 inductees to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. An exhibit honoring Sonja Hogg, Jennifer Azzi, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Jennifer Gillom, Jill Hutchison and Ora Washington was unveiled Friday. The class was to be celebrated at a ceremony Saturday night in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Cooper-Dyke won a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics. She was a national champion at Southern California in 1983 and 1984 and a four-time WNBA champion with the Houston Comets. She was the first WNBA player to reach 2,500 points. Cooper-Dyke now coaches at Prairie View A&M. "The players of today don't necessarily see the game the way I saw it," Cooper-Dyke said. "The opportunities that we have now -- 20, 30, 40 years ago they just weren't there."
Bethune Cookman University Simpson named to NCAA Div. 1 All-American Freshman Team:Courier-Islander, Canada --Campbell River's Ali Simpson, from Bethune Cookman University Wildcats, was honoured last week being named to Louisville Slugger Baseball America - 2009 NCAA Division 1 "All-American" Freshman Team. Last month Simpson was named Rookie of The Year in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference and to the first team All-MEAC honour squad. Simpson and his teammates won their fourth straight MEAC championship ending the year 32-28 with two heart-breaking 8-7 losses in the Gainesville NCAA Division 1 Regional tournament.
The game highlight of the season for Simpson was a 5-2 win over the Miami Hurricanes. The No. 15 Nationally ranked Hurricanes were limited to four hits in 8 1/3 innings by Simpson. On the season, Simpson was 9-2 with a 3.23 ERA, striking out 79 batters in 75 1/3 innings. Simpson allowed 68 hits and only 14 extra base hits through the season ending with seven straight wins and a no-decision at NCAA Regional's last month.
Interview with Bethune-Cookman University All-American and 110 Meter Hurdles NATIONAL CHAMPION, Ronnie Ash at5th Pepsi Florida Relays4/3-4/09.
NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship:The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats men were tied for 23rd with Arizona in the final team standings as the four-day meet concluded Saturday on the John McDonnell Field at the University of Arkansas. The 'cats sophomore sensation All-American, Ronnie Ash smoked the field in the 110-meters hurdles for a first place finish and the national title at a personal best 13.27 seconds at Saturday's finals.Ash also won the indoor title in the event in March. Ash's indoor-outdoor sprint hurdle sweep is just the 14th in NCAA history, the last time coming in 2006 by Tennessee's Aries Merritt. As a freshman, Ash finished third in the 110 hurdles at last year's outdoor championships behind Jason Richardson, the winner from South Carolina. On Saturday, Ash blew away the Gamecock with his personal-best 13.27 seconds, which also eclipsed Richardson's NCAA-best time of the season. Jason Richardson came in second in 13.49.
In the 200 meters, senior Joel Redhead finished in 8th place with a time of 21.15, ahead of Florida's Jeremy Hall 9th place finish at 21.30 seconds. His semifinal time of 20.49 would have been good enough to beat the 20.55 Charles Clark of Florida State put up to win the final. Redhead accomplishments on the national stage earned him All-American honors on Saturday.
South Carolina State University South Carolina football to pay out more than $1.2M: South Carolina will pay out more than $1.2 million in guarantees to home football opponents this season, including $800,000 to Florida Atlantic. The payouts were detailed in the athletic department's 2009-10 budget Thursday. South Carolina will pay South Carolina State$230,000 for its Oct. 3 visit this fall. The Gamecock athletic department will also pay $250,000 to Clemson for its annual rivalry game on Nov. 28. South Carolina receives a similar amount when the game is played at Clemson's Memorial Stadium. A season ago, South Carolina paid out $1.18 million in such guarantees.
Alabama State University RETROSPECT: The Alabama State University Marching Hornets and Stingettes: Rivalry weekend took on a new meaning when the Alabama State University Marching Hornets came to Tallahassee, Florida to open the 2008 season at Bragg Memorial Stadium and re-new its long time rivalry with FAMU. With the electrifying performance of the Stingettes, this was one of the best performances by a visiting band in Bragg Stadium history. The FAMU Marching 100... as usual, won the half-time competition, but the event overall was worth the price of admission for the fans of HBCU football and bands. Alabama State went on to stomp their SWAC band competition with one of the best ASU bands of the decade. Check those Honey Bees! A-S-U! A-S-U! Go Hornets!
SPECIAL FEATURE:Saint Augustine College Wins D-II Men's National Track Championship. SAN ANGELO, Texas – Saint Augustine’s College claimed the 4x400 relay in the last event to knock off seven-time defending champion Abilene Christian University and win the men’s national crown Saturday, May 23 at the 2009 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Angelo State University.
The Falcons scored 94 points to beat Abilene Christian, which scored 86. Adams State University was third with 75 and Lincoln (Mo.) University was fourth with 53. In the women’s division, the Lady Falcons placed fifth with 38 points. Lincoln (Mo.) gained the women’s crown with 85, edging Angelo State University with 82. The Falcons won their 10th outdoor men’s title and 31st overall under acclaimed head coach George Williams. This is their first outdoor men’s crown since 2001 when they beat Abilene Christian. Either Saint Augustine’s College or Abilene Christian has won the men’s championship since 1982.
The legendary and Olympic icon, George "Pup" Williams has won 25 NCAA Division II titles during his tenure and has received 90 Coach of the Year honors. His scholarship athletes at St. Augustine's have achieved a 95 percent graduation rate with his CIAA dynasty.
The Falcons, who practiced without a track on campus this season, also won the 2009 Division II national indoor men’s championship in March. They swept both indoor and outdoor men’s national crowns for the first time since 2001. “This is one of the most amazing championships that we’ve won,” Williams said. “We didn’t have a track and the talent pool wasn’t there like in the past but everything paid off.”
Both teams were tied at 84 points heading into the last event, setting the stage for a dramatic finish similar to 1994 when the Falcons won by one point over ACU, 118-117. But the Falcons outran the Wildcats in the 4x400 relay to take the crown. The foursome of Alvin Miles (Sr./Kingsville, Texas), Randy Curry (Sr./Atlanta, Ga.), Antonio Abney (Soph./Willingboro, N.J.) and Rashaud Johnston (Sr./St. Louis, Mo.) finished first in 3:06.90 while the Wildcats were seventh.
Miles replaced an injured Scott, who along with the other Falcon trio set the Division II national mark in the 4x400 (3:02.10) at the Penn Relays in April. Saint Augustine’s College also produced three individual national champions at the championship meet. Scott became the first Falcon since 1998 to win the men’s 400 dash. Scott beat Dane Hyatt of Lincoln (Mo.) University 45.41 to 45.77 Saturday for his first outdoor 400 title. Ledford Green of Johnson C. Smith University was third in 46.26.
Angelique Smith (Fr./Union City, Calif.) won her first outdoor title when she defeated Kim Prather of Abilene Christian in the women’s 400 dash Saturday. Smith edged Prather across the finish line 54.43 to 54.44.
On Thursday, Joe Kindred (Sr./Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) became a two-time winner in the men’s high jump. Kindred leaped 7-2.25 to defeat Oliver Harsanyi of Western State, who jumped 7-1. Chris Copeland (Fr./Suffolk, Va.) of the Falcons took third at 6-11.75. Kindred, named Division II national and regional outdoor male field athlete of the year, also placed second in the men’s triple jump and third in the men’s long jump.
Barbara Pierre (Jr./Winter Haven, Fla.) placed second Saturday in the women’s 100 dash, snapping her two-year title run in the event. Samoy Hackett of Lincoln (Mo.) was the winner, tying the Division II national record of 11.18 Saturday which Pierre set two days ago in the qualifying round. Pierre ran a time of 11.22 in the finals. She also placed second in the 200. Ramon Gittens (Soph./St. Michael, Barbados) was second Saturday in the men’s 100 dash, finishing in 10.18. Kawayne Fisher of Lincoln (Mo.) won the race in 10.15.
Southern’s football schedule has changed again. Texas Southern, in accepting a proposal from ESPNU, has moved its home game against the Jaguars to Dec. 5 — one week after the Bayou Classic and one week before the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game. The TSU game was originally scheduled for Oct. 10. Southern will have a bye that week instead.
The decision to move the game was made solely by TSU, Athletic Director Charles McClelland said.
“We got inquiries to move the game, and we were able to put it on national television,” McClelland said. “And there was financial benefit to both universities.” McClelland said both schools will receive a payout of more than $100,000, but declined to give an exact figure.
According to SU records, this would be the first time the Jaguars played a conference game between the Bayou Classic and the SWAC Championship Game, which began in 1999. In fact, this will be the Jaguars’ first regular-season game after the Bayou Classic since 1979, when they finished with back-to-back wins against Grambling and Alabama State. “I’m not pleased with it,” SU coach Pete Richardson said of the change. “I was informed that it would probably happen a few days ago. It could have an impact on the conference championship.
Head Coach LeVelle Moton, a North Carolina Central grad, is a former high school coach with plenty of recruiting ties in the Raleigh-Durham area.
The tornado never did touch down, despite the threats of a visit causing one heck of a windstorm. And now that John Wall has moved on, LeVelle Moton can get down to the business of building a basketball program.
Wall, the nation's most-coveted recruit this spring, told a North Carolina newspaper in late April that he was going to visit North Carolina Central to see what a historically black university had to offer. Wall never visited the campus, but for a brief moment the Eagles were caught in the whirlwind that is big-time recruiting, a pretty heady experience for a school still trying to secure itself a spot in a Division I conference. "I couldn't believe the magnitude of it," said Moton, who has known Wall, a North Carolina native, since he was a kid competing at Moton's basketball camps. "It was every day. It made Rome is Burning. It was crazy."
Defensive lineman Stevie Baggs (90) and offensive lineman Andrae Townsel have been doing battle at training camp. Baggs and Townsel both played in the MEAC. Baggs, 27, played with the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and was a three-time all-American. Townsel, 25, played with the Howard University Bison and was an all-MEAC honorable mention in his senior year.
The trenches have already produced some memorable battles during the early days of the Saskatchewan Roughriders' training camp. Some of the more impressive tussles have featured veteran defensive end Stevie Baggs and rookie offensive tackle Andrae Townsel. One can barely step into Mosaic Stadium without hearing that the two have engaged in another epic struggle during one-on-one drills.
"The battles on the field are as intense as they get,'' Townsel said Tuesday after the Riders completed the third day of training camp. "It's almost like game preparations but it's all love. There isn't anything personal. They get it all on film and afterwards we walk to the sideline and tell the guy, 'Good rep, good rep.' ''
From the safety of the sidelines, it doesn't look like a lot of affection is being shown when the offensive and defensive linemen collide in one-on-one drills. It's an intense 20-second battle of wills. "We're just trying to make each other better,'' said Townsel. "He's making me a better offensive tackle and I'm making him a better defensive end.'' Townsel has the size advantage. The native of Detroit is 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds. Baggs, who hails from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is 6-foot-1 and 241 pounds. It's about Townsel's might versus the speed of Baggs. The collisions and skirmishes after the contact are must-see viewing during training camp.
Seven home games, including visits from Hampton, William and Mary and defending MEAC champion South Carolina State, highlight the Norfolk State football schedule finalized Tuesday. The Spartans, who played just five home games last year, will play five of their first six at Dick Price Stadium this season, beginning with the annual Labor Day Classic against Virginia State on Sept. 5. They'll play just four road games.
"Last year, we had to kind of pay the piper," coach Pete Adrian said. "This year, we hopefully can get the reward." The Spartans play four straight at home from Sept. 19 to Oct. 17, beginning with a first-ever visit from William and Mary. They'll face the toughest part of their conference schedule next, with home games against Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State and Hampton.
QB Dennis Brown and the Spartans prepare for '09 MEAC title run.
Saying the school can make more money playing in Jackson than in Baton Rouge, Southern University officials have moved the Jaguars' Oct. 3 home game against Jackson State to 60,492-seat Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. The two SWAC East division rivals play yearly, alternating sites, but the chance to sell 40,000 or more tickets in Jackson outweighed the home-field advantage that comes with 28,000-seat A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge.
"You can't measure (home-field advantage)," said Southern athletic director Greg LaFleur, whose school is facing stiff budget cuts and recently eliminated its women's golf and men's tennis teams. "I can't worry about the part I can't measure. "But we can count cheeks in the seats." The schools have a verbal agreement, but nothing has been signed. While cash is the primary factor in the decision, how the money will be shared has not been solidified.
Mebane returns to Carolina as N.C. State assistant
RALEIGH, N.C. -- In his fifth year at Hampton University, Walter Mebane led the Lady Pirates to the MEAC tournament final. Hampton lost to N.C. A&T and coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs, Mebane's former boss. For his accomplishment, he was abruptly released. Now Mebane, a Durham native, is back home after being hired as an assistant coach at N.C. State under new coach Kellie Harper. Mebane recently talk to The Tribune about his latest career move.
Tribune: Were you surprised by your dismissal?
Mebane: Very. We were coming off one of our better seasons in the conference and also we got to the championship game with three freshmen, a junior and a sophomore. We had made some steady progression the year before and now had a turnaround this year, so I thought we had the program moving in a positive direction. I felt we could get back to the championship again next year Unfortunately that didn't happen. But I try not to look back, and I firmly believe that God closes one door and opens up another, and I just pray that He doesn't keep me in the hallway.
From Archives: Cox 11 Interview with HU Lady Pirates basketball coach Walter Mebane and forward Chinyere Ukoh (11/10/08).
Kirsten Stallings, a 6-0 junior forward from Memphis, Tenn. Ridgeway HS has transferred from FAMU to Augusta State University, Columbus, GA.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Mishayla Truttman of Gresham graduated in three years from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Spanish. In addition to graduating with a 4.0 grade point average, she was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Softball Team and received the MEAC First Team All-Conference award. Mishayla is the daughter of Paul and Marguerite Truttman and a 2006 graduate of Gresham High School. She plans to attend law school.
Hampton University The Saskatchewan Roughriders, CFL have signed receiver and kick returner Jeremy Gilchrist, the team announced on Wednesday. Gilchrist, at 5'10 and 174 pounds, spent two seasons at Hampton University after transferring there from Virginia Tech. The Riders said they felt it was necessary to add some depth to their roster to take part of the load off their bigger players. Gilchrist had 40 catches for 544 yard and two touchdowns in his senior year, averaging 15.6 yards on punt returns with three touchdowns. The 23-year-old was a first-team all-conference player in 2007 and made the second-team All-MEAC in 2008. Financial details of the contract were not released.
Hampton University's Jeremy Gilchrist will get pro football opportunity with the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders.
South Carolina State University S.C. State Bulldogs builds on ‘08 success with early top 20 ranking for ‘09: Going undefeated in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play and a strong first-round showing in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in 2008 more than earned South Carolina State long-sought respect nationally.At season’s end, the Bulldogs finished with their highest season-ending rankings in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs since 1997. They were ranked as high as 12th in FCS Coaches Poll and 13th in both the Sports Network and Any Given Saturday.com season-ending poll. Based on the new AGS poll, it appears national observers still hold S.C. State in high regard. The AGS Web site ranked the Bulldogs 17th in its sixth annual preseason poll, the highest showing for any historically black college and university.
Gamezone: S.C. State creates paid area for tailgating: Bulldog football fans are going to need a ticket if they want to get close to Oliver C. Dawson Stadium on game days this fall. South Carolina State University is implementing a policy establishing a “Gamezone” surrounding the stadium where patrons will have to pay for parking and must have a ticket to gain entry. President Dr. George Cooper said the zone will generate revenue for the university during tight financial times. In addition, he believes it will cut down on loitering and get more fans into the stands. Board Chairman Lumus Byrd said more fans need to go inside the stadium, which has the capacity to hold 24,500 people, instead of tailgating. “The program is well funded but poorly supported. We have to start running this like a business,” he said.
A fenced-in perimeter will be placed around the zone. It will extend from the Chestnut Street side of campus to the end of Mitchell and Felton Fields.Five kiosks are going to be outside of the zone where tickets can be purchased. Special parking passes for the zone must be purchased in advance. Cars entering from Russell and Magnolia streets will be charged $5 to park on campus.
Florida A&M University Derrick Shaw has been named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America team, it was announced Wednesday by Collegiate Baseball. Shaw made the team as one of the best designated hitters in the nation. Derrick Shaw, Florida A&M — A first team MEAC selection, Shaw hit .366 with 9 doubles, 42 RBIs and 9 stolen bases.
Jarquella Woods, a 5-2 sophomore guard from Columbus, Georgia/Hardaway HS has transferred from FAMU to Augusta State University, located in her hometown.
Augusta State University (NCAA Division II-Peach Belt Conference) head women’s basketball coach Tes Sobomehin announced the addition of a pair of Division I transfers to the Lady Jaguar program. Kirsten Stallings, a 6-0 forward from Memphis, Tenn., and Jarquella Woods, a 5-2 point guard from Columbus, Ga., come to ASU from Florida A&M. Stallings will have one year of eligibility remaining while Woods will have two years of eligibility left. Stallings, who spent three seasons at FAMU, played in 28 games and made one start for the Lady Rattlers as a junior in 2008-09. She averaged 8.7 minutes, 1.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game while shooting 36.4 percent from the field. “Woods, who prepped at Hardaway High in Columbus, Ga., played two seasons in the Lady Rattler program. As a sophomore, she appeared in 30 games, making five starts and averaging 2.9 points and 1.3 assists per game. She shot 31.9 percent from the field, including 30.5 percent from 3-point range. student and we are glad to have her join the family.” The Lady Jags return four starters and seven letter winners from the 2008-09 squad, including all-conference performer Jasmine Godwin.
Nunnally among seven to enter the FAMU athletics:Four-time All-American football player Jacquay Nunnally is among the newest class of inductees to the Florida A&M University Sports Hall of Fame. The group of seven will be enshrined as the Hall's 34th induction class during ceremonies on Sept. 4 at the Civic Center. Nunnally, a receiver who played from 1997-2000 and who still reigns as the NCAA Division I FCS career pass receiving leader with 318 regular-season receptions.
Rattlers last Four-time All-American, Jacquay Nunnally,#85 will be inducted into FAMU Athletics Hall of Fame. Nunnally played for Coach William "Billy" Joe in his legendary "Gulf Coast Offense" that destroyed 1-AA defenses.
Joining Nunnally is two-time All-America left tackle Terry Beauford (1989, 1990), who played several seasons in the National Football League (Green Bay, San Diego) and his FAMU teammate, quarterback Antoine "Tony" Ezell (1988-91), who was the first Rattler quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 yards in a season and who finished his career with 6,620 yards — the third-highest total in school history. Also slated for induction is basketball star Aldwin Ware (1984-88), a Black College All-American in 1988, who led NCAA Division I in steals with 142, helping lead the Rattlers to a 22-8 finish and a berth in the finals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament.
Leon "Tex' Collier (1956-59), a strapping 6-foot-9 two-way tackle for the FAMU Football team, who also played forward for the Rattler Basketball team. Collier played on the 1957 and 1958 basketball conference title winners, three football conference championship teams (1956, 1957, 1958) and the 1957 national championship football team.
FAMU finds its punter in a waiter: Just a few months ago, Branden Holdren was serving meals to customers at a Jacksonville restaurant. In two months, he's expected to be kicking punts on special teams for FAMU's football team. Holdren can thank his former Jacksonville First Coast High School teammate Trevor Platt for making the pitch that gives him the chance he didn't get coming out of high school last year. Holdren is getting the shot at becoming the Rattlers starting punter after Troy Walker, who had an impressive spring, became academically ineligible. Up to then, he had the job locked down following Will Platt's unexpected withdrawal from classes. Holdren, 6-foot-2, 210, is expected to report to preseason camp on Aug. 10 for the opening of two-a-days drills.
Alabama State University Alabama State's SWAC opener against Mississippi Valley State will be played at Chicago's Soldier Field and its season-ending game with traditional rival Tuskegee University will kick off two hours later than normal to accommodate a national television audience. The Sept. 26 game against MVSU has been moved to Chicago's Soldier Field as the Hornets and Delta Devils participate in the 10th annual Chicago Football Classic. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. ASU's Nov. 26 season-ending contest against Tuskegee will be televised live on ESPNU. The Hornets and Tigers will kick off the Turkey Day Classic at 3 p.m. from historic Cramton Bowl. HORNETS' 2009 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Practice field renovation now under way at ASU: Alabama State University has started work to replace the sod on its football practice field with artificial turf, the first phase of a planned $7 million renovation of the football complex. The $600,000 practice field project should be completed by the end of July. “This is a great improvement over the existing grass field because the synthetic field material will allow the team to practice year round, and is identical to the type of surface our team plays on throughout the Southwestern Athletic Conference,” said Kippy Tate, ASU’s vice president for buildings and grounds. Tate and ASU President William Harris were present Friday morning as a fleet of earth-moving equipment converged on ASU to scoop up all the old sod and dirt in preparation for the installation of the new synthetic field material. Tennessee State University John Jones, a linebacker who played the past two seasons at Florida, is transferring to Tennessee State. The 6-foot-2, 219-pound Sarasota, Fla., native played in 11 games last season and recorded 18 tackles, including a career-high seven against The Citadel. He had four tackles against South Carolina. As a freshman, Jones played in nine games, though most of his action came on special teams. Jones said he was seeking the opportunity for more playing time and consulted with his friend Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie about playing at TSU. Rodgers-Cromartie is a former TSU cornerback who also is from Sarasota (Booker High School) and a NFL 1st round draft choice. As a high school senior, Jones was rated eighth nationally among middle linebackers by Scout.com and 26th by Rivals.com. He also started at wide receiver in high school. Along with Florida, Jones was recruited by Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Michigan.
Alcorn State University Brenda T. Square, chief of staff and executive assistant to Alcorn State President George E. Ross, has been named the school’s interim athletics director. Square replaces Darren Hamilton, who left Alcorn to become athletic director at Livingstone College in North Carolina. Square was hired in 2008 to serve as Ross’ chief of staff and executive assistant.
Jackson State University Jackson State has earned the Dr. James Frank Commissioner’s Cup Award for all-sports competition in the Southwestern Athletic Conference for the third consecutive year and the women’s Barbara Jacket/Sadie Magee sports award for the fourth consecutive year. On the men’s side, Grambling claimed the C.D. Henry sports award. JSU totaled 160 points by winning conference titles in men’s and women’s golf, women’s tennis and women’s outdoor track. Jackson State had second-place finishes in football, men’s basketball, men’s outdoor track, women’s cross country, women’s soccer and women’s indoor track, and third-place finishes in volleyball, bowling and softball and tied for third in men’s tennis. In the all-sports competition, Grambling finished second (153.5 points) and Alabama State third (136.5 points). In women’s competition, Jackson State’s 96 points led all schools. Grambling (82 points) was second and Southern (78 points) third.
A different kind of athlete, calls the football field at Prairie View A&M University home. An athlete with a high step, and a bold drum line Varian Howard knows all too well. Howard says he would not have developed a love, for PVAMU band at an early age, if it hadn't have been for one man. "He was definitely a father and friend. Some of his teachings I hold dear to me to this day," says former PVAMU band member, Varian Howard.
Howard, along with hundreds of others returned to Prairie View A&M University to remember band director, George W. Edwards. The man affectionately known as "Prof Edwards" died May 28th after suffering injuries in a traffic accident. Friday, memories brought tears and smiles to the faces of many, as memories of discipline fill the hearts of others. "He taught us how to walk, talk, and act like royalty, cause he accepted nothing less" says Howard.
It's the type of expectation, Howard saw first hand in the seventh grade, while attending PVAMU's band practice. He says at that time he not only learned band principles, but meaningful life lessons. "As far as music, I mean your education, he was a very positive influence on me" says former PVAMU band member, Ernest Biggers. Biggers performed under Edwards direction more than 10 years ago.
"George Edwards will go down as one of the 7-8 top black college band directors of the last 60 years," said John Posey, CEO of Urban Sports News and HBCU band historian."He is in the conversation with William P. Foster at FAMU; Isaac Griggs at Southern; Frank Greer at Tennessee State; Conrad Hutchinson at Grambling; and Eddie Ellis at Morris Brown & South Carolina State.
Three summers ago, the athletic directors of all 10 Southwestern Athletic Conference schools agreed to move to a seven-game conference football schedule, rather than the nine-game schedule that had previously been used. The thinking was the creation of more nonconference openings would allow SWAC schools, which compete in the Football Championship Subdivision, to schedule games with schools from the Football Bowl Subdivision, games which usually come with a sizable payout.
But as the annual SWAC meetings wrapped up Friday in Birmingham, Ala., conference athletic directors have decided the experiment is over, and think the possibility of the paid games have been more trouble than they’re worth. “(Schools) wanted the opportunity to make more money” said UAPB athletic director Skip Perkins by phone from Birmingham. “Grambling (State), Southern and Jackson State were getting those games anyway, everyone else was having problems.”
The change back to the nine-game schedule, which was used up until last season, was approved by athletic directors and now only needs to be approved by the SWAC’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors Friday night before becoming official, the results of which were not known as of press time. If approved, the nine-game conference schedule would be reinstated for the 2010 season.
Help is on its way for Coach Sean Woods and the MVSU Delta Devils (7-11 SWAC, Overall 7-25) with first signing class.
ITTA BENA - The Mississippi Valley State Department of Athletics announced that it has signed eight student-athletes for the 2009-2010 season of Delta Devils' men's basketball. “This is where the revitalization and rebuild of our program begins,” said MVSU head coach Sean Woods. “We worked hard during the recruiting period and the players we signed should become important pieces of the program when they join us in the fall.”
Entering his second year as head coach, Woods - along with his staff - will be hoping that the eight signees will make immediate and intense impacts on the team. Along with the signees and an experienced group of returning players, Mississippi Valley State is in the midst of not only retooling, but restoring the pride and legacy known as Delta Devil basketball.
Below are the initial signees for the class of 2009-10:
Jason Sabb 6-foot-3 guard, Angelina Junior College in Lufkin, Texas. Darian Donald 6-foot-5 forward from East Mississippi Community College. Chris Hamblin 6-foot-6 forward, Western Nebraska Junior College. Mark Holmes 6-foot-6 combo forward from Guerin College Prep School in Illinois. Ricky Lamb 6-foot-6 combo player from Raines High School, Jacksonville,Florida. Michael Mayo 6-foot-3 guard from Cochise College in Douglas, Arizona. D'Angelo Jackson 6-foot-1 point guard from Arkansas-Fort Smith Community College. Jason Holmes 6-foot-9 post player from Conchise College.
DELAND, FL — Florida A&M football coach Joe Taylor came right into the backyard of Bethune-Cookman University and caused quite a stir with the help of an audience of FAMU fans Saturday morning. Taylor, who is preparing for his second season as the Rattlers' head coach, fielded questions from the audience. It was apparent that beating B-CU in recruiting in the tiny town is a priority for most of those in the group that makes up FAMU's Volusia County Alumni Association.
Getting the best of the qualified players in the small town — nestled between Orlando and Daytona — is part of his mission, Taylor told the gathering at Chisholm Community Center. "There are lots of schools in Florida that have tremendous athletes off the beaten-path," Taylor said afterward. "There is another college in this area (B-CU) that's recruiting in this area, but we just came to make sure that we talk to the alumni and let them know what kind of program we run."
Taylor will do just that during the next six weeks, as he makes the rounds throughout Florida and other parts of the country to inform FAMU fans on the upcoming season. The appearance in Volusia county was the third of seven stops on Taylor's summer tour.
Prior to Cooper-Dyke's arrival on campus, the Lady Panthers had never had a winning season.
Prairie View A&M has reached an agreement on a four-year contract with women’s basketball coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke. “Prairie View is where we want her,” athletic director Fred Washington said Wednesday. Cooper’s original four-year contract expired at the end of last season.
Cooper, a former star with the now-defunct Houston Comets, has led the Lady Panthers to the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three seasons and one trip to the Women's NIT. During that span, Prairie View has won three consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season titles and two postseason conference tournament titles.
“We hadn’t seen very much success in women’s basketball,” Washington said. “We had never approached 20 wins, which we had the last two years, and never seen championship-caliber performances or the level of interest in women’s basketball from our fans or potential student-athletes that we have now.”
Washington said Prairie View A&M has reworked the contract of football coach Henry Frazier III and signed men’s basketball Byron Rimm II to a new four-year contract. It's great keeping a coach who can coach anywhere."
PVAMU women’s basketball players GaatiWerema, Candice Thomas and Dominique Smith were selected by USA Athletes International to represent the United States in the 2009 Vienna Basketball Tournament in Vienna, Austria. The Lady Panthers trio are competing abroad this summer from May 28th – June 6. This is a first for PVAMU and the SWAC and shows the superb influence of Coach Cooper-Dyke on HBCU basketball on the global stage.
Coach Roger Cador ends year with a 30-17 mark with two-and-out in the NCAAs.
Sunglasses still covered much of his face. A gleaming dark-blue helmet still sat atop his head. Near home plate at Alex Box Stadium, Southern catcher Michael Thomas bent forward and placed his hands on his knees. His eyes searched the bright reddish-brown dirt for answers. Saturday afternoon, the Jaguars had just finished their last game of the season — an intense, emotional back-and-forth elimination game in the Baton Rouge Regional that ended in an 11-8 loss to Minnesota.
“A lot of pain,” Thomas said. “Standing out there, I thought we were going to pull out the win today.” For Thomas, this was tough to process. So many times, SU had battled back — not only in Saturday’s game, but for much of their wild and mostly successful 2009 season. Thomas, for his part, had returned to action after missing 20 games with a broken hand, one of many Jaguars who’d succumbed to injures over the season.
GAINESVILLE, FL -- Another day, another heartbreaking loss, another early exit from the NCAA Regionals for the Bethune-Cookman baseball team. On Friday, B-CU lost 8-7 when Florida scored three runs in the ninth. On Saturday vs. Jacksonville, the Wildcats again fell 8-7, this time when a pinch hitter failed to come through with two men on base in the ninth.
"We lost two close games," Bethune-Cookman coach Mervyl Melendez said. "(Friday) we lost in the ninth inning. (Saturday) we lost in the eighth inning. That is baseball." Jacksonville (37-21) moved on to play in another elimination game at 1 p.m. today against Miami, which lost 8-2 to Florida on Saturday night. Bethune-Cookman (32-28) went two-and-out in the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in 10 trips under Melendez, this time with an unusual ending.
Savannah State University's bid to be admitted to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is moving forward following a three-year delay. MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas told the Savannah Morning News on Tuesday that he and other MEAC representatives will be at SSU June 29-30 for an official site visit - one of the final steps before joining a conference.
SSU has competed as an NCAA Division I Independent since leaving the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2002. The Tigers paid a $10,000 non-refundable application fee to the MEAC in 2005.
"We will be visiting Savannah State University at the end of June," Thomas said during a telephone interview from MEAC headquarters in Virginia Beach, Va. "That's virtually all I can say about it. We will be visiting. It's a site visit for the membership committee. We won't be in town for more than two days." Thomas and other MEAC representatives made an official site visit to SSU on May 8, 2006. MEAC school presidents were set to vote on the school's admittance, but the NCAA placed SSU's football program on a three-year probation the week before the scheduled decision.
George Edwards, 60, dies of injuries from car accident. A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., Edwards earned a bachelor’s degree in music at Florida A&M University and his master’s from Michigan State University.
George Edwards, director of Prairie View A&M University’s Marching Storm band, died Thursday from injuries sustained in a car accident earlier this month. He was 60. Former students — many of whom followed Edwards’ example and became school band leaders themselves — were stunned to hear that the man they called “Prof” was gone.
“Everybody is still in shock,” said Christopher Knight, a member of the Prairie View band in the 1990s who now teaches at M.C. Williams Middle School in Houston. “You always suspected Prof would grow old in the position.” The Marching Storm, with its drum line and Black Foxes dance troupe, has performed around the world, including the inaugural parade for former President George W. Bush in 2001 and the Tournament of Roses parade in January. Houston audiences may be more familiar with the clash between the Marching Storm and Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul, a highlight of the Labor Day Classic football game between the two historically black universities.
LORMAN, MS — With Alcorn State’s baseball season coming to an end with a loss in the SWAC Tournament championship game last Sunday, one might think that coach Willie “Rat” McGowan could finally take it easy. After all, McGowan did announce his retirement last month and has coached his final game in the ASU dugout. But McGowan’s retirement doesn’t take effect until June 30, and the coach is still working hard until then.
“I’m recruiting and trying to find some ball players,” McGowan said on Wednesday. “We’ve got some good kids coming in. I’m going to be coaching until my last day. I want to leave the Alcorn baseball program competitive for the next coach. I think the team we’ll put together will be able to win a championship.”
Coach Willie "Rat" McGowan #25, won 720 games with the ASU Braves.
And that is something McGowan’s final Alcorn team almost did. The Braves lost the opening game of the SWAC Tournament to Texas Southern before winning four straight games to advance to the championship game. However, the Braves lost to Southern 12-10 to bring down the curtain on McGowan’s 40 years at the helm of the Alcorn baseball program.
Strong Vincent's Deonte Flemings (red/black in photo) lost only one game in his senior season-- at the PIAA Class AAA semifinals. The 5-10/170 Vincent is a triple threat athlete--running QB, WR and lock down cornerback. Flemings is a Grambling State Tiger signee.
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