Artificial turf time at SU's Mumford Stadium?

Stump Mitchell had never seen A.W. Mumford Stadium when he agreed to take over as Southern football coach. When he got there, he quickly learned why some mockingly call it “Mudford.” On some mornings, when the sun rises over the eastside stands and rain hasn’t fallen in awhile, the field looks like a sea of emerald green. But on most mornings, after moderate rainfall and a smattering of cleat prints ... well, is this for college football or for farming?

That’s why Mitchell said he’d like to see artificial turf at Mumford. Though he said he’s trying to raise money for the project, Mitchell concedes it might not happen soon. The athletic department, already with a tissue-thin budget, dropped two sports last year in a money-saving move and instituted a hiring freeze. Then it bought out the final year of Pete Richardson’s contract (Richardson made $200,000 annually). On top of that, it takes more than a bake sale to pay for plastic grass.



Based on this 2009 video of the A.W. Mumford Stadium Expansion, you get a clear view of the brown areas on the Jaguars playing field from the Luxury Suites.

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Southern University's Cador likes new format for SWAC‎

After 25 seasons of coaching baseball within the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Roger Cador has learned, again and again, that road trips within the league sometimes come with unique obstacles. After all, some of the SWAC’s smaller hometowns don’t offer much in the way of fine restaurants, comfortable hotels or even video-rental stores, much less an open movie theatre. This weekend, in fact, the Southern baseball team will spent four more innings in Pine Bluff, Ark., than it has in previous years.

And Cador is actually happy about it. The up-and-down Jaguars (5-8, 3-0 Western Division) visit Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-10, 1-5) for three games, including a doubleheader that begins at noon today. Today will mark the second time the Jaguars play a two nine-inning games in a doubleheader — a new experience this season for SWAC teams. Before, conference series began with a pair of seven-inning games on Saturdays, then finished with one nine-inning game on Sunday. The SWAC changed its format during the offseason, opting for nine-inning doubleheaders on the first day.

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WNIT: Miami runs past North Carolina A&T

Senior Lamona Smalley ends A&T basketball career on a very high note with two historic post season wins and the MEAC regular season conference championship. The Lady Aggies ends the year at 23-11 (14-2 MEAC).

Miami Hurricanes reach WNIT quarterfinals

The North Carolina A&T basketball team came into its game against the University of Miami in the Women's National Invitation Tournament with the reputation as a fast-paced, never-slow-down team. UM had an answer for that. The Hurricanes laced up their sneakers and decided to run with the Aggies. In fact, they ran right past them 84-77 in front of 982 fans at BankUnited Center on Thursday night. While UM was celebrating and smiling at the end, A&T was left breathless and gasping -- and with its season over.

Next up for Miami (20-13) is a quarterfinal game at 2 p.m. Sunday against Providence (19-14), which defeated Maryland 77-64 on Thursday night. "An unbelievable basketball game," UM coach Katie Meier said of defeating A&T. The victory marked the first time Miami has won three postseason games. Meier had no doubts about what she was going to do against A&T. ``We were going to run,'' she said.

Lady Aggies suffer season-ending loss in Miami

The N.C. A&T Lady Aggies' early defensive struggles in the first half helped advance the Miami Hurricanes to the fourth round in their 84-77 victory in the Women's National Invitational Tournament. Miami hit 10 3-pointers for the game and expanded the lead to as much as 15 points shooting over 80 percent in the first half. A&T did cut the deficit to five points on multiple occasions in the second half, but had trouble stopping Miami's transition break in the final minutes. The Hurricanes held standout freshman, Amber Calvin, to just 13 points on a 4-17 shooting performance for the game. Calvin left the game in the final minutes with a knee injury.

Jaleesa Sams led all Aggies with 20 points and nine rebounds. The loss marked the end of a historic 2-game postseason winning streak, which is the longest for any historically black college in NCAA Division I postseason. It also brought two stellar careers to an end with Ta'Wuana Cook and Lamona Smalley both finishing among the school leaders in points and rebounds respectively. The other seniors playing in their final game included Tyronnica Alford and Shantar Waddell. A&T seasons ends at 23-11.

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Ex-Citadel standout gets fresh start with S.C. State‎

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Two years ago, Asheton Jordan was the top freshman running back in the Southern Conference with a promising future ahead of him at The Citadel. On Saturday, the Stratford High School product will play in South Carolina State's Garnet and Blue spring game with an eye toward securing a starting spot on coach Buddy Pough's team next fall. It's a fresh start for the 6-0, 206-pound Jordan, who spent last season on S.C. State's scout team after transferring from The Citadel, where he rushed for 711 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman in 2008.

South Carolina State University Bulldogs Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough: "Any time you follow a guy who is the leading rusher in the history of your conference, that's pretty heavy stuff," Pough said. "But I think Asheton has got a shot."

"It was tough to see them play every day last year and to just be running scout team," Jordan said before a recent spring practice. "I was glad to help the team get as far as they did, but I'm ready to be out there playing now." Jordan and S.C. State's other running backs have huge shoes to fill with the departure of Will Ford, who rushed for 1,032 yards and eight TDs a year ago while leading S.C. State to a 10-2 record, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and a berth in the FCS playoffs. Ford is the all-time leading rusher in MEAC and S.C. State history.

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ESPN's "Outside the Lines" visits Savannah State University

SSU's Dr. Claud Flythe, Vice President for Administration is the architect behind the Tigers successful move from Division I Independent to membership in the MEAC.

A crew from ESPN's investigative program "Outside the Lines," including reporter Jemele Hill, visited SSU on Tuesday and Wednesday. ESPN interviewed administrators and coaches about ex-football coach Robby Wells, who accused administrators of racism and lies in his Feb. 11 resignation letter. SSU golf coach Art Gelow said ESPN interviewed him for 15 minutes about the validity of Wells' accusations.

SSU Vice President for Administration Claud Flythe said ESPN was unaware of Wednesday's "MEAC Celebration" until it arrived on campus Tuesday afternoon. The crew filmed SSU's baseball game Tuesday against Charleston Southern, and ended up shooting footage of Wednesday's celebration in Tiger Arena.

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Alcorn State releases 2010 football schedule

LORMAN, MS — Alcorn State University released the Braves’ tentative 2010 football schedule on Tuesday, and head coach Earnest Collins can breath a little easier not only when he sees the teams the Braves are playing, but who they aren’t. Unlike last season, when Alcorn opened its season on the road against Bowl Subdivision teams Southern Miss and Central Michigan — and lost those two games by a combined 100-0 — the Braves will open up the 2010 season at Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 18.

That could change, however, as Collins said the school is trying to find an opponent to come to Lorman and play Alcorn on Sept. 4. Alcorn currently has four games scheduled at Jack Spinks Stadium. If the Braves are able to find an opponent to play them on Sept. 4, that would give them five home games only one year after they played just three games in Lorman. “We’re excited we have more home games this year,” Collins said. “We’d prefer to get a team to come in here on Sept. 4 and then leave the 11th open.”

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Alcorn State Braves 2010 Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time

9/18 Mississippi Valley* Itta Bena, MS TBA

9/25 Alabama State* Alcorn State, MS 2:00PM

10/2 Mississippi State Starkville, MS TBA

10/9 Texas Southern* (Homecoming) Alcorn State, MS 2:00PM

10/16 Grambling State* Grambling, LA TBA

10/ 21Arkansas Pine Bluff* Alcorn State, MS TBA

10/30 Southern University* Alcorn State, MS 2:00PM

11/6 Alabama A&M* Huntsville, AL TBA

11/13 Prairie View A&M* Prairie View, TX TBA

11/20 Jackson State* (Capital City Classic) Jackson, MS 1:00PM

12/11 SWAC Championship Birmingham, AL 1:00PM CT

Still wanted: Playmakers for AAMU Bulldogs

Alabama A&M football coach Anthony Jones went into spring practice looking for playmakers on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Bulldogs sought key replacements at running back, receiver and along the line, while defensively, the big need included pass rushers. With just four practices left, including Saturday's Maroon and White scrimmage, Jones is still looking for playmakers. "We need guys that can make a difference whether it's a tackle on offense or an end on defense," said Jones, whose team will return to practice today after taking off last week for spring break.

"We need guys who are going to make plays and the results will do the talking. I feel like we'll find those guys, but we've got to coach them. "I knew this day was coming. We're just going to have to fight our way through this. We've got some guys that will get a chance to play extensively for the first time and some of our young guys will have to show their mettle. Everybody is going to have to step their game up - players and coaches - for us to have a chance to be successful."

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WNIT: North Carolina A&T crowd drowns out 49ers to end Charlotte’s season

North Carolina A&T State University Lady Aggies coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs and team have made history, again. With the win over UNCC, the Aggies (23-10) become the first NCAA Division I historically black college or university to win two postseason games. The Aggies will play Miami Thursday night in the WNIT at 7 p.m., the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida.

Charlotte, N.C. - The University of North Carolina-Charlotte 49ers’ season came to an end Sunday afternoon at the hands of the North Carolina A&T Aggies, 79-70 in Halton Arena. Charlotte had won 13 straight games in Halton Arena, but Sunday afternoon didn’t feel like much of a home game for the Niners. Notoriously known for traveling well, the Aggies brought a crowd and band that easily outnumbered Niner Nation three to one. At times, it seemed like a battle of the bands, as Charlotte and A&T’s band went back-and-forth at one another with the best songs they had.

Charlotte jumped out to an early 6-0 lead but just as quickly, fell behind; as A&T hit three straight three-pointers to jump out to a 9-6 lead with 15:54 left in the opening stanza. Charlotte retook the lead shortly after and lead for a large portion of the rest of the half, until A&T used a 9-2 run to take a 35-32 lead into the break. “Well I thought their guard play was terrific, and you have to commend them on a gutsy performance,” Niner Head Coach Karen Aston said following the loss. “I thought every time we tried to make a run, they answered it. They were just a little bit tougher and more aggressive than us, in particular at the guard position.”

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Delaware State wins 2nd MEAC Bowling Championship

Greensboro, N.C. - The Delaware State bowling team has captured its second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament championship after defeating Maryland-Eastern Shore four-games-to-three in a dramatic best-of-seven Baker scoring series on March 21. The Hornets are the third team to win back-to-back MEAC bowling titles in the 11-year history of the tournament, joining Maryland-Eastern Shore (2005-08) and North Carolina A&T (2001-04). Delaware State ended Maryland-Eastern Shore's three-year championship run in 2009.

It also marks the first time that a Delaware State team in any sport has captured consecutive MEAC championships since women's indoor track & field earned five straight titles from 1984 to '88. "This is a tremendous achievement for our team and the university," said Delaware State first-year head coach Ricki Williams-Ellison. "Our girls worked so hard all season long to achieve this goal. I'm so grateful to Delaware State University for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this great bowling program."

Williams-Ellison was named Most Outstanding Coach of the MEAC Tournament, while Delaware State junior Angela Reynolds was selected as the Most Outstanding Performer. Reynolds tallied 764 pinfall in team games and anchored her team in the victory. "We knew we were facing a tough UMES team and they had to beat us twice, explained Reynolds." "I rallied the team and let them know that we had been in this position before and we approached the game like it was any other match-not just a championship match."

Joining Reynolds on the All-Tournament Team are teammates Brooke Peterson and Adriana Jaime. Florida A&M's Samantha Mighty and South Carolina State's Stephanie Sinclair completed the team. Delaware State earned its spot in the championship round after posting victories over Bethune-Cookman, Norfolk State and Maryland-Eastern Shore on Saturday. Maryland-Eastern Shore defeated South Carolina State earlier Sunday to advance to the championship round. The Hawks then outlasted the Hornets four-games-to-three to force the decisive series.

"We expected a tough match from UMES because it is a championship-caliber team," said Williams-Ellison. "Our teams compete against each other so much during the season that it was no surprise the championship went down to the wire."

Maryland-Eastern Shore is ranked No. 1 in the latest National Tenpins Coaches Association Top 20 poll, while Delaware State is No. 5. The Hornets were 3-1 against UMES during this weekend's MEAC Tournament. The NTCA poll helps determine the eight-team field for the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Although there are no automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, the Hornets (102-38 overall this season) are hoping they have made a case for selection to the field for the second straight year.

Delaware State earned the first NCAA Tournament bid in team history in 2009. The Hornets became the first DSU sports team to post a NCAA Tournament victory, defeating New Jersey City and Central Missouri en route to the Final Four in the '09 tourney. The Hornets were defeated by eventual champ Nebraska in the national semifinals last year.

The NCAA will announce its tournament selections this Wednesday (Mar. 24). The 2010 NCAA Women's Bowling Tournament is set for April 8-10 in East Brunswick, N.J. ESPNU will air the Delaware State/Maryland-Eastern Shore MEAC Tournament championship match on March 29 at 6:00 p.m.


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UConn Crushes Southern U. In NCAA Opener

UConn Crushes Southern U. In NCAA Opener

NORFOLK, VA - Let's be honest, if this was about something other than basketball, like pep bands and cheer squads, the top-seeded UConn women would be heading home today, the Huskies' run in the NCAA Tournament ended by a national powerhouse. But this wasn't a battle of the bands. There was only so much pep Southern University's world-class brass and percussion could pump into the Ted Constant Convocation Center Sunday. It stirred the crowd early and often, beginning an hour before the tip.

However, there wasn't much they could do for their basketball team against the Huskies. Tubas and trombones don't win tournaments. "They were very loud," UConn's Maya Moore said. "They were doing their best to distract us. But we were listening to Coach." Led by Tina Charles, who scored 22 points on 9-for-10 shooting with 11 rebounds and three blocks, the Huskies pounded No. 16 seed Southern 95-39 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Moore added 21 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals.

UConn rolls over Southern

NORFOLK, VA — Southern brought its hurricane defense north for Sunday’s first-round game of the NCAA women‘s basketball tournament. Problem was, the Jaguars ran into a Category 5 storm in top-seeded UConn, which blew out No. 16 seed Southern 95-39 in a first-round game of the Dayton region at the Constant Center. The Southwestern Athletic Conference champion and its rockin’ band refused to be discouraged by the 56-point beating suffered at the hands of the Huskies (34-0), who are looking to add a seventh national title to their legacy, which includes an NCAA-record 73 straight victories.

“We call our defense ‘hurricane,’ and we brought it,” Southern’s Ashley Augerson said, celebrating 21 Huskies turnovers. Southern (23-9) also forced UConn into two shot-clock violations. And despite having no following behind its bench, won over the local fan support that cheered the underdog. Despite the gritty effort, the Jaguars couldn’t hang with the eye of the storm, and that would be All-Americans Tina Charles and Maya Moore, who are battling each other for National Player of the Year honors. The 6-foot-4 Charles scored 22 on a pristine effort that left her without a miss in her first seven attempts, and Moore’s methodical afternoon produced 21 points and eight assists.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Southern, champions of the SWAC, are 0-4 all time in the NCAA Tournament. But the Jaguars played hard, just as they promised they would, giving the Huskies a tougher time in many ways than Northeastern or Seton Hall did during similar losses."

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Duke crushes Hampton 72-37 in NCAA women's tournament opener

Hampton University first year coach David Six: "You have to take baby steps, and I think this is one of them." "I think now we know what it's like. I think there were times during the game that we belonged on the floor. "

DURHAM, N.C. - For the Hampton University women, the fun lasted barely beyond the first TV timeout Saturday. The shots were falling, the Pirates had the lead against heavy favorite Duke, and the Hampton band and fans were jamming. Even the players on the bench looked like they wanted to join in the dancing during the first commercial break of this NCAA tournament first-rounder. The Pirates led 4-3, then 6-3 and later 8-5. But the March magic they had hoped for never materialized at Cameron Indoor Stadium as Duke rolled 72-37.

So what if it was their lowest scoring output in four NCAA tournament games. Now the players know what it feels like, even if it didn't feel so great at the final horn. "We know we don't want to feel like this again, if we get here," sophomore guard Jericka Jenkins said in a disconsolate Hampton locker room. "Right now, it makes it seem like everything we worked for is down the drain. But this one game does not determine our season."

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NCAA: No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 Southern University

Location: Ted Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk, Va.

Tip-off: 12:16 p.m. (ESPN2).

Records: Southern 23-8, UConn 33-0.
Probable starters: Southern, 5-11 Jr. F Tiffany Foster (8.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6-1 Jr. F Freda Allen (5.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg), 5-8 Sr. F Ashley Augerson (8.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 5-7 So. G Carneta Henderson (3.5 ppg), 5-9 Jr. G Hannah Kador (12.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg).

UConn, 5-10 So. G Tiffany Hayes (10.4 ppg), 5-10 So. G Caroline Doty (7.0 ppg), 6-0 Jr. F Maya Moore (17.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.2 spg), 6-4 Sr. C Tina Charles (18.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg), 5-10 Sr. G Kalana Greene (12.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg).

Noteworthy: UConn is the 11th women's team in history to begin the NCAA tournament without a loss. Of the first 10, five won national championships, including Texas in 1986, Tennessee in 1988 and UConn in 1995, 2002 and 2009. No team has even done it twice in a row. Moore, a junior, said this tournament has a different feel for UConn, coming off of last year's success and having to replicate that with a different team. "But we're still the same program," Moore said. "We're going to approach every game the same way and we'll focus on Southern." Said Moore: "When you lose that respect, when you lose that sense of urgency for every opponent, that's when you play poorly or get beat. It's the first game at the NCAA tournament. Where else would you rather be?" … It is the first meeting for UConn and Southern. It is also UConn's first game ever against a team from the SWAC. … Southern played one ranked opponent this season in then-No. 22 Cal, falling 78-47.

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NCAA: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 44, Duke 73

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff ends first NCAA Tournament experience with a 1-1 record, defeating Winthrop and falling to Duke 44-73.

Duke outmuscles UAPB

From the tip you could see that UAPB's lack of size would be an issue for the Golden Lions. They were outrebounded in this game 24-41, and that proved to be the difference in the game. Duke wins 73-44. In the first half, scoring points took a backseat to fouls as UAPB found themselves with several players in foul trouble before the midway point. The Duke Blue Devils looked untouchable as they shot 44 pct. from the field in the first half. Kyle Singler led the way with 13 points and 6 rebounds.

As for the Golden Lions, Terrance Calvin shot 66 pct. from the field and scored 7 of UAPB's 20 first half points. They were outrebounded in the first half 20-11 and committed 13 personal fouls. Duke led by 19 at halftime. In the second half it was much of the same for the Blue Devils. UAPB came out in a zone and shot the ball well but once again could not get to the freethrow line. Singler led Duke with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Blue Devils shot 28 freethrows for the game to the Golden Lions 7. No one on the Golden Lions roster scored in double figures.

Those "Enormously Heartening" Golden Lions

A friend and wise man posted this Facebook status update after UAPB won the NCAA play-in game on Tuesday:

"There was something enormously heartening about watching the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions beat Winthrop tonight. It reminded me of why I used to love March Madness (TM) even back when UCLA was winning every year. A bunch of kids you never heard of who didn't get 20 D1 offers each playing their hearts out for a shot at Duke. Chances slim and none, but hey they can say they did it."

Hear, hear! As uninspiring as the Hogs were this past season, UAPB has been that inspiring and then some. Everyone loves a Cinderella story. Well, it doesn't get much more Cinderella than the Golden Lions. The never-ending road trip with which they began the season caught the attention of the New York Times' basketball blog and Sports Illustrated. And not only did the Golden Lions play their first 14 games on the road (with most of those opponents belonging to major conferences such as the ACC and Big 12), but they began the year 0-11. And yet, here they are. Pretty amazing.

Photo Gallery: More photos »

Top-seeded Duke cruises into second round in Jacksonville ...

Arkansas-Pine Bluff had the success you would expect from a No. 16 seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament — none. Duke, the top seed in the South region, built an early double-digit lead and coasted to a 73-44 victory over the overmatched Golden Lions on Friday night at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. No top seed has ever lost to a 16. “That didn’t cross our minds, the whole 1 vs. 16 thing,” said Duke senior guard Jon Scheyer, who scored 13 points. “We wanted to get a win and start it off right.”

Junior forward Kyle Singler led the Blue Devils with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Duke shot 51 percent from the floor and held Arkansas-Pine Bluff to 32percent. “Defensively, we were excellent,” said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who earned his 72nd NCAA Tournament victory, extending his NCAA record. “We’re more talented than they are, but I was happy with how my team played, and I’m happy that we’re moving on.” Duke (30-5) will advance to Sunday’s second round against eighth-seeded Cal or ninth-seeded Louisville. The tip-off time will be announced today.


Click HERE to watch UAPB vs. Duke.

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NCAA: Morgan State Bears 50, West Virginia Mountaineer 77

[Morgan State Coach Todd] Bozeman said he felt historically black college and universities, with the right approach by administrators, could become a major player in Division I basketball.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- West Virginia fought off an early scare, got its act straightened out and rolled past Morgan State, 77-50 this afternoon at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo in a first-round NCAA tournament game. The Mountaineers -- the No. 2-seed in the East region -- advanced their record to 28-6 and, on Sunday, will play Missouri. Morgan State, looking to become the fifth No. 15-seed in tournament history to earn an opening round win, had its season end with a 27-10 record as West Virginia was led in scoring by Kevin Jones, who had 17, and Devin Ebanks' 16.

West Virginia was deplorable at the beginning, as the squad missed its first 11 shots and fell behind, 10-0 in the early going, and didn't score a field goal in the opening 7 minutes, 45 seconds. But the Mountaineers remaining steady against Morgan State's zone, never deviating from their intended offensive course and slowly climbed back into it. They narrowed the disadvantage and narrowed the disadvantage until West Virginia took its first lead, 22-21 with 5:42 remaining in the half on a Joe Mazzulla free throw. Coach Bob Huggins' team never trailed again. From there, the Mountaineers cruised into halftime, distancing themselves from the MEAC champions and securing a 38-27 halftime lead.

Loyal Bozeman Rebuilds Morgan State and His Reputation

Buffalo, NY - When Todd Bozeman faced the news media Friday, he was pleasant but far more somber than he had been a day earlier as he talked about Morgan State’s chances against West Virginia in the opening round of the N.C.A.A. tournament. Bozeman’s 15th-seeded Bears were crushed by No. 2 West Virginia, 77-50, but he told his players not to let the defeat mar what had been a heroic season. Heroic, not because of victories or a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, but for displaying grace under pressure during a season of heartbreaks.

The father of sophomore guard Ameer Ali committed suicide.

The senior guard Troy Smith’s daughter, who was born blind, had a tumor removed.

The popular freshman forward Anthony Anderson, who redshirted last season, was found to have leukemia sometime after the first day of practice.

Bozeman used the numbing events to underscore his favorite message: the power of overcoming obstacles. “Everybody is going to have adversity,” he said. “It just depends on how you deal with it.” Bozeman is an embodiment of fighting through adversity. He has endured a grueling journey, a rebound from a steep fall from grace. In a close-knit industry that is built largely on relationships, Bozeman’s odyssey through the treacherous waters of N.C.A.A. basketball is a testament to tempering rabid ambition with loyalty. He dabbled in the dark side of ambition, and it changed his life.

Click HERE to watch Morgan State vs. West Virginia game.

Morgan State University superstar, senior guard Reggie Holmes.

Morgan State is no stranger to emotion

Hugs can linger at the NCAA men's basketball tournament. It is an emotional time for coaches, parents, fans and players - especially those who are playing their final time in their collegiate careers. But even by those standards, the embrace shared by Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman and his senior guard Reggie Holmes at the end of a 77-50 loss to West Virginia Friday was long. The seconds flew by, until the hug stopped just shy of 30 seconds, by one rough estimate.

"Great career," Holmes said Bozeman's first words were. "We've been here the last four years, since it's started. Since our run started." "You ain't gonna tell them I told you I loved you, man?" Bozeman inquired at the podium. "Yeah, you love me," Holmes said, trailing off. The declaration of love is not a rare thing for Morgan State, the Baltimore school that came into the tournament as a 15th seed in the East region. No, on this day, every player had his emotions tattooed on his face.

And at many times this year, the emotions have been overwhelming. One Morgan State fan who made the trip to Buffalo held up a sign that read "Do It 4 Big Ant." That would be Anthony Anderson, the 6-foot-10 forward who did not play as a red-shirt freshman last year, and found out he had leukemia after the team's first practice this year. "Just imagine waiting for Christmas, then on Christmas, they take it away from you," Bozeman said yesterday.

NCAA tournament blogging – Morgan-W.Va. final thoughts

There really isn't a whole lot to add on Morgan State's loss. The Bears started strong, West Virginia started cold, and then Morgan State just got overwhelmed by the West Virginia size, depth and athleticism. If they played this game 100 times, West Virginia would probably win 98 of them. The Mountaineers are going to be tough to beat with their rebounding ability.

But I think we shouldn't walk away from this contest without acknowledging one very nice moment for the Bears that happened with 30 seconds left. Todd Bozeman called a timeout, and took Reggie Holmes out of the game. Holmes, a senior, is Morgan State's all-time leading scorer, and when the two men met at the scorer's table, Holmes started to cry. And then Bozeman started to cry.

Holmes was one of the first kids to buy into what Bozeman was selling four years ago when he got this job. He's a shy kid, but a year ago, we sat in the stands and talked about his decision to enroll at Morgan, which wasn't easy. The kids he grew up playing against in his neighborhood thought Morgan State was a joke. There was almost more pride in not playing at all instead of playing for a school like Morgan State back then, but Holmes believed what Bozeman told him. He was a good player, but if he came to Morgan State, he could develop and become a great player.

Mountaineers cruise to easy win‎

Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia's all-Big East swingman, once explained how current coach Bob Huggins differs from former coach John Beilein as such: Beilein teaches first and screams second. Huggins screams first, second and third and then gets down to the teaching. Given their coach's quick fuse and harsh critiques, one might expect the Mountaineers would have shed their penchant for listless starts by the 34th game of the season. Seriously, who among them could possibly enjoy heading to the first timeout knowing what's transpired to that point will send spittle and invective spewing from the mouth of Mount Huggins?

For whatever the reason, West Virginia has been incapable of shaking its malady. Like a sleeping engine on a winter's morning, the Mountaineers are simply slow to warm. And while the affliction might one day prove their undoing, Friday wasn't that day. If anything, West Virginia's 77-50 destruction of Morgan State at HSBC Arena spoke to the immensity of the Mountaineers' capabilities. They fell behind, 10-0. They needed almost eight minutes to score from the floor. And yet just seven minutes after their first field goal they had moved in front, by halftime they were up by double digits and the second half amounted to seven subs making early pitches for more playing time this season.

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BEST QUOTES OF THE DAY:

"Those damn 40-minute games," joked Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman. "If we had it at 12, we would have won the game."

"Coach Bob Huggins makes a mockery of the term "student-athlete"...even by today's threadbare standards. He once went four consecutive years at Cincinnati with a graduation rate of zero. Statistically speaking, you'd think at least one guy would get a diploma, just by accident. Nope. That's dedication, my friends." by SABREGUY29

One Morgan State fan who made the trip to Buffalo held up a sign that read "Do It 4 Big Ant."

"Just imagine waiting for Christmas, then on Christmas, they take it away from you," by Coach Todd Bozeman, MSU Bears.

University of Maryland Eastern Shore Bowling Ranked No. 1

HACKENSACK, N.J.—It took 16 months, but the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Women's Bowling Team has regained the number one ranking in the nation. The March poll of the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) featured a record breaking 21 members voting and eight of them cast the Lady Hawks as the first place team. Those eight votes, along with the other 13 voters gave UMES 566 total points and the top spot in the poll.

The move up is due to the recent play of the maroon and gray. They posted three straight tournament wins, collecting wins over many of the nation's top programs. They took home the hardware at the Lady Bulldog Classic, the Kutztown Invite and the Mid-Winter Classic. They took second place at the Holiday Classic, third at the Morgan State Invite and just won the USBC Chattanooga Sectional. The Hawks dethroned Vanderbilt who was the previous number one team. The Commodores collected eight first place votes themselves, but amassed 560 points, six shy of the UMES total. The Lady Hawk's schedule is one of the busiest in the nation as they sport an overall record of 93-26. That is 11 more wins than rival Delaware State.

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UMES Coach Sharron Brummell holds the Lady Hawks 2008 National Championship Trophy. The five-time MEAC Coach of the Year and the Lady Hawks will be seeking the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Bowling Championship, which will begin today, at 9 a.m. at the Gate City Lanes in Greensboro, North Carolina.

2009-10 NTCA MARCH NATIONAL POLL
Rank Institution, City, State Season Record W - L 1st Place Votes Adjusted Point Standings

1. Univ. of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 93 - 26 8 566 2
2. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 46 - 20 8 560 1
3. Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ 60 - 25 3 519 4
4. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 61 - 25 2 432 8
5. Delaware State University, Dover, DE 81 - 24 415 3
6. University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64 - 31 393 5
7. Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 61 - 32 391 6
8. New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ 60 - 26 359 9
9. Adelphi University, Garden City, NY 72 - 38 272 7
10. Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN 60 - 39 248 11
11. St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, NY 55 - 32 209 10
12. Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA 51 - 40 173 12
13. Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT 44 - 32 147 17
14. Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN 39 - 34 123 13
15. Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL 47 - 20 112 16
16. University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, WI 42 - 32 106 T14
17. Louisiana Tech, Ruston, LA 38 - 22 75 T14
18. Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 61 - 34 62 --
19. Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA 60 - 45 22 19
20. Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 52 - 48 18 20

Also receiving points:
St. Peter’s College, Jersey City, NJ; Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC; Elmhurst
College, Elmhurst, IL, Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA.

Point system: NTCA voters rank the top 20 teams on their ballot. Each position has a designated point value,
ranging from 32 points for first place and one point for twentieth place. Teams are ranked using the
adjusted total point standings, after the highest and lowest votes are dropped. The specific point values
follow:
1st place = 32 points, 2nd = 29, 3rd = 27, 4th = 25, 5th = 23, 6th = 21, 7th = 19, 8th = 17, 9th = 15, 10th =
13, 11th = 11, 12th = 9, 13th = 8, 14th = 7, 15th = 6, 16th = 5, 17th = 4, 18th = 3, 19th = 2, 20th

WNIT: North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies rout Wake Forest Deacons

North Carolina A&T State University took care of Wake Forest easily last night in the Women's NIT at sold-out Reynolds Gym.The Aggies jumped all over the Deacons early and never let up, rolling to a 73-49 victory in the first round. With close to 1,000 crammed into the on-campus gym that included both school bands, the atmosphere was as good as it gets. It was so loud that the scorer's table had to resort to using a bullhorn instead of the scoreboard buzzer.

And the Aggies' shooting and focus was as good as it gets. "To do this is just another step for us," Coach Patricia Bibbs of the Aggies said of winning their first postseason game in school history. "We knew we had to come out and play a near-perfect game and for the most part we did that." The Aggies (22-10) advanced, and will play UNC Charlotte on Sunday at 3 p.m., and they advanced rather easily. Coach Mike Petersen of the Deacons, who had hoped to have his team playing in the NCAA Tournament but didn't get a bid despite finishing fifth in the ACC, said that the Aggies, who had more fan support last night, came out blazing.

Final Stats

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Florida A&M Rattlers perform for NFL eyes

San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary couldn't stay for all of the events that his NFL peers brought to test the talent on display, but when he left he was thoroughly impressed. One by one former Florida A&M players went through the Pro Timing Day drills, knowing that nothing weighed as heavily as their speed in the 40-yard dash. For some the event that amounts to a job fair was their only opportunity to show off in front of prospective bosses, who carried stopwatches and notepads on Thursday as the players performed in front of a surprisingly large crowd on the FAMU practice field.

"There is a lot of untapped talent here," Singletary said. "It's a lot like a lot of other colleges (and) a lot of the guys are excited about what they're doing. I think the talent here is great, particularly on the big guys. They can run, they can move. It's just a matter of having the opportunity and making the most of it when they get it." Singletary said his team has interests in quarterback Curtis Pulley, offensive lineman Robert Okeafor, linebacker Bryant Parker and punt/kick returner LeRoy Vann. Vann worked out earlier this week for the Jacksonville Jaguars and will have a similar workout with the Tampa Bay Bucs next month.

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Morgan State Coach Todd Bozeman is making the most of his second chance

Todd Bozeman is on the other end of the phone and he wants to talk about the team he's coaching right now, Morgan State, which is a perfectly reasonable request since this Bears team has one of the best players in school history, a kid named Reggie Holmes, and it's 27-9 and heading into the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season. But I was a whole lot less interested in Morgan State than I was in talking to Bozeman about Bozeman, mostly about what happens from here going forward, about reputations and second chances and whether he'll ever coach on the big stage again.

See, it's no surprise to anybody that Morgan State won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the second straight year to get to the NCAAs, or that Bozeman won the league's coach-of-the-year award for the third straight time, or that he's got a couple of really big-time players in Holmes, a 6-foot-4 senior guard, and Kevin Thompson, a 6-9 sophomore forward.

Bozeman, a Washington native, can recruit and he can coach and anybody who tells you anything else is a fool. In 7 1/2 years as a Division I head coach, at the University of California and Morgan State, Bozeman has been in five NCAA tournaments and an NIT.

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Jackson High hires former FAMU QB Quinn Gray to be its football coach

Gray spent five seasons with NFL Jacksonville Jaguars

Jackson High School (Jacksonville, FL) has a new football coach, and it’s a name that area football fans will undoubtedly recognize. The school has hired former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Quinn Gray. The 30-year-old Gray spent six seasons in the NFL, including the first five (2003-07) with the Jaguars. “It’s truly a privilege and an honor to be part of such a great tradition here at Jackson," Gray said. “Jackson reminds me of my old high school [Dillard] with its great tradition. The student-athletes here measure up and being able to coach at a school with such a great tradition is a great opportunity for me.”

He succeeds Kevin Sullivan, who resigned to take over at Atlantic Coast, the new Duval County high school that opens in the fall. Gray, who is teaching physical education and health at the school, inherits a Jackson program that has posted consecutive 11-1 seasons. Gray spent last season playing for Hartford in the United Football League after his NFL run ended after a year with Kansas City. This will be his first coaching position.

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Howard University Announces 2010 Football Schedule

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University announced its 2010 football schedule on March 17. The Bison open the season on September 4 against Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Holy Cross is a perennial contender in the Football Championships Subdivision (FCS, formerly 1-AA). Howard will then host rival Hampton University on September 11 at 1 p.m. in Greene Stadium. In addition to it being The Battle of the Real HUs, it will also be part of the Military Appreciation Day.

The Bison will follow with another home date, this time against the Rattlers of Florida A&M University on September 18 at 1 pm. That game will be part of Mighty Blue & White and will be designated to honor alumni, student, faculty and Staff Appreciation Day. Howard will then follow with a game against Morgan State University at a site to be named later and a home game against Lincoln University, a one-time rival. That game will be October 2 at 1 p.m. and is labeled “A Rivalry Revived.” It is Kids/Community and Organization Day.

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HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON 2010 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Site Time
9/4 at Holy Cross Worcester, MA TBA
9/11 vs. HAMPTON Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
9/18 vs. FLORIDA A&M Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
9/25 vs. Morgan State TBA TBA

10/2 vs. LINCOLN Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
10/9 at Furman Greenville, S.C. TBA
1016 OPEN
10/23 at North Carolina A&T Greensboro, N.C. TBA
10/30 vs. NORFOLK STATE* Wash. D.C. TBA

11/6 at South Carolina State Orangeburg, S.C. TBA
11/13 at Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA
11/20 vs. DELAWARE STATE Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
*homecoming