Monday, February 14, 2011

Step Aside FCS....Here Comes the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

There is excitement in the air in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

With incoming head football coaches Rod Broadway (67-27 career) at North Carolina A&T, Henry Frazier (69-55 career) at North Carolina Central, Kermit Blount (91-87-3) at Delaware State, Gary "Flea" Harrell (0-0) at Howard University and Steve Davenport (0-0) at Savannah State, the MEAC just got 50 percent better than last year.

North Carolina native Broadway, served 22 years as a Division I, FBS defensive assistant coach, mostly under Steve Spurrier at Florida and Duke. He also coached at East Carolina and North Carolina. His resume includes: a Division I-A National Championship (1996) at Florida; CIAA Championships (2005, 2006) as head coach at N.C. Central; CIAA Coach of the Year Award (2006); and 2006 AFCA National Coach of the Year (Division II) award.

Not bad for a former defensive lineman, that played his college ball at North Carolina and spent his entire career coaching the defensive line. At Grambling State, Broadway compiled a record of 35-14 and won the SWAC Championship in his second season (2008) as head coach of the Tigers.

Frazier has served as the head football coach at his alma mater, Bowie State University (1999–2003) and at Prairie View A&M University (2004-2010). The former CIAA quarterback was able to lead PVAMU to a 43–30 record, including the 2009 SWAC Championship. Coach Frazier was recognized for his total body of work in resurrecting the Panthers program and was honored with the Eddie Robinson Award in 2009. This award is given annually to college football's top head coach in the Division I, Football Championship Subdivision (1-AA).

Upon his resignation at Prairie View A&M in December 2010 to take the NCCU job, Frazier was the second winningest coach in Prairie View A&M football history.

Coach Kermit Blount has gained the reputation over the years as a builder of men. Blount has served in his career as an offensive coordinator (1984-89) under College Football Hall of Fame Coach Willie Jefferies at Howard University and South Carolina State University. Blount won a MEAC championship in 1987, before returning to his alma mater, Winston Salem State University, as the head coach (1993).

He won two CIAA championships (1999, 2000) and improved the WSSU players' graduation rate from 42% in 1993 to 80% by 2009.

Both Gary Harrell and Steve Davenport are first time head coaches, but each has assembled a coaching staff that is ready to compete. Let's not forget the success of Bethune-Cookman's Coach Brian Jenkins that lead the Wildcats to a portion of the MEAC Championship and the FCS Playoffs in his first season as a head coach. He too, was a long time assistant Division I, FBS position coach.

With Coach Joe Taylor at Florida A&M, the American Football Coaches Association Region 2 and 2010 MEAC Coach of the Year - Brian Jenkins at Bethune Cookman, Oliver "Buddy" Pough at South Carolina State, Donald Hill-Eley at Morgan State, Pete Adrian at Norfolk State, and Donovan Rose at Hampton, the MEAC has the potential to become a powerhouse football conference overnight.

It is no longer a league for under-achieving players and under performing coaches. Expectations are high for great performances not only in the classroom, but on the gridiron and weight rooms as well. The administrations have raised the bar. The fans are demanding more for their financial support of the athletic programs. And athletic directors know their jobs are on the line if they do not deliver a championship product on the field.

Let's not forget parity of the conference this past season which ended in a three-way tie for the championship. Florida A&M ruined Bethune-Cookman's perfect, undefeated season and earned a share of the conference crown with the Wildcats and South Carolina State. The Bulldogs and Wildcats lost in the initial round of the FCS playoffs, with B-CU earning a first round bye.

The 2011 season will be even more exciting with the infusion of proven winners -- Broadway and Frazier--both bringing a championship mentality and wide-open brand of football over from the Southwestern Athletic Conference. We all know how well Grambling State and Prairie View dominated the SWAC competition under the experienced eyes of Broadway and Frazier. Expect more of the same in the MEAC.

What Delaware State lacks this season in pure athletic talent, Coach Blount will make the Hornets competitive right away with a powerful offensive game and tough defense. The only question is how quickly can Savannah State and Howard become competitive with new commitments from their Administrations. We believe they hired the right guys for their situations, but they need time to put the pieces together to build the programs.

Parity is the right word to use in describing the new MEAC, as there will be "no cupcakes" in this conference in a 2-3 years. At least not in football competition.

So get ready to move over Colonial Athletic, Southern, and Ohio Valley conferences as its a new day in the Football Championship Subdivision.

High Quality Players returning to HBCUs
If you don't believe me, check out the outstanding haul of three and four-star players that signed National Letters of Intent with MEAC institutions. Who would have thought that Bethune-Cookman would ink 2010 Florida Mr. Football, record-setting quarterback Quentin Williams. Williams led Tampa Jefferson (15-0) to the 3A state championship and rewrote the Florida passing record lists, with new standards for yards in a season (4,451) and career (10,384) and TDs in a season (56) and career (109).

Florida A&M may have the second best class overall, signing 24 of 25 players on their draft board, including quarterback Tyler Bass, a transfer from Memphis, Casey Turner, a star running back transfer from Rutgers and a bunch of stud linemen to build depth on both lines. Coach Taylor describes the class as his best ever, since taking over the Rattlers program. Don't expect the Rattlers to not make the FCS playoffs in 2011, as Taylor has a stable of smart and athletically sound players returning.

S.C. State as always, snatched the best skill players in the state and is loaded with redshirt talent from last year's signing class. The Bulldogs will be in contention again for the conference championship and a playoff berth, if they can survive a September schedule with road stops at Central Michigan, Bethune-Cookman and Indiana University (Bloomington) before their home opener with Delaware State.

Coach Pough also has a difficult month of October, with Norfolk State on the road and NCCU coming in for an early homecoming. Georgia State is next at home for the Bulldogs and you may not want to call the Panthers a "cupcake," who went 6-5 in its first season, knocking off both SSU and NCCU at the Georgia Dome.

MEAC improving in Attendance
The FAMU brand is also at the top in Football Championship Subdivision in 2010 home attendance. The Rattlers were ranked #11 out of 117 FCS (#2 in HBCUs) programs in home attendance with 15,913 average for four home games.

This was better than Division I, FBS program attendance at Eastern Michigan 15,885, Miami (OH) 15,559, Ball State 8,947, Bowling Green 13,306, Buffalo 12,981, Akron 10,105, Florida Atlantic 14,425, Idaho 12,730, New Mexico State 15,906, San Jose State 14,474, Western Kentucky 14,577 and Western Michigan 14,255.

South Carolina State was ranked #13 out of 117 FCS programs (#3 in HBCUs) with a 14,862 average for five home contests. This was better than nine of the twelve Division I FBS programs listed above.

The Rattlers and Bethune-Cookman attracted 61,712 to their annual neutral site Florida Classic battle at the Orlando Citrus Bowl with a national television audience watching. The same was repeated with the Atlanta Football Classic, FAMU vs. Tennessee State with 52,202 in attendance. The game was televised live by Versus nationally.

Let us share with you another positive fact about the MEAC.

The NCAA data does not include neutral site games into the average per home game computations. In other words, the MEAC's best attended games--the Florida Classic and the Atlanta Football Classic are not included in the average attendance numbers. If it was included in the data for 2010, FAMU average attendance would be 29,594 or 4,000 fans per game average better than FCS #1, Appalachian State.

And Jackson State's Southwestern Athletic Conference leading average would be 27,564, not 24,140 as indicated in the report.

So, what does that tell you?

The MEAC did better in attendance in 2010 than some Sun-Belt, Western Athletic and Mid-American conference teams playing on the Division I, FBS level.

With the World-renowned Florida A&M University Marching 100, the Rattlers helped University of Miami set its third highest attendance record at Sun Life Stadium with 53,674 in 2010. Expect more of the same when the Rattlers visit University of South Florida on September 17, 2011. The last FAMU game in 2005 drew an announced crowd of 43,122, then the second-largest crowd ever to see the USF Bulls at Raymond James Stadium.

MEAC programs like the FAMU brand is returning to its former glory with top student-athletes selecting the Rattlers and the MEAC over FBC programs. No doubt, Florida A&M and other conference programs have a better academic reputation and a very long history of placing great players into the NFL.

For some parents, the MEAC institutions offers an opportunity for guaranteed success both in the classroom and in the field of completion. More importantly, most student-athletes are walking away in 4-5 years having earned their undergraduate degrees and ready to take on the challenges of life.

With the MEAC experimenting with video replay for ESPN televised games next season, the conference front office has really gotten serious about the quality of its football. Now that everyone is on the same page, it will be interesting to see how the out-of conference schedule plays out.

Out-of-conference schedules stronger
Viewing the few schedules that have been released so far, 2011 should be a bumper year in attendance and support for the MEAC with high quality opponents filling out the schedules. Here's a quick look of the 2011 MEAC out-of conference games:

BCU vs. Miami, Oct. 1
BCU vs. Fort Valley State, Oct. 15
FAMU vs. Fort Valley State, Sept. 3
FAMU vs. South Florida, Sept. 17
FAMU vs. Southern, Sept. 24
SCSU vs. Central Michigan, Sept. 1
SCSU vs. Indiana, Sept. 17
SCSU vs. Georgia State, Oct. 15
SSU vs. Albany State, Sept. 3
SSU vs. Southeastern Louisiana, Sept. 10
SSU vs. Appalachian State, Sept. 17
NCAT vs. Appalachian State, Sept. 10
NCCU vs. Rutgers, Sept. 1
NCCU vs. Central State, Sept. 10
NCCU vs. Elon, Sept. 17
NSU vs. VSU, Sept. 3
NSU vs. West Virginia, Sept. 10
NSU vs. Charles Southern, Sept. 14
Hampton vs. AAMU, Sept.3

We are always reminded that the reason most women come to the games are for the half-time shows. With new members Savannah State and North Carolina Central, expect major improvements in their marching band programs along with their quick growth in football competition. The SSU Tigers have a tremendous upside, and having a head coach that coached and recruited in Atlanta and the backwoods of Georgia is a major plus. The former Georgia state high school coach of the year recruited the region as a position coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham and played his college ball at Georgia Tech.

Georgia Avenue in Washington, D.C. may never be the same again, with new Bison athletic director Louis "Skip" Perkins and Gary "the Flea" Harrell on board. Perkins is a local product from Fort Washington, Maryland (Prince George's County) and is very familiar with the local football landscape at the high school level. He comes to Howard from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, where he had much success as the athletic director over the Golden Lions program.

Harrell is a Miami native that would love to get some of that Florida speed on the Bison team. With Ted White on board as the Bison offensive coordinator, there is no doubt that the 2011 Bison will be the most improved team in the MEAC.

You would think that Morgan State would recruit those strong musicians that plays in the Coppin State pep band, to give it more brass horsepower. But that's another story for another day. As you can see below, most of the MEAC bands are improving--NCCU, SCSU, NSU and B-CU are becoming world-class music organizations, like their teacher -- the Florida A&M University Marching 100.

Who said competition wasn't good for the MEAC? Iron does sharpen iron!

by beepbeep 2/13/11


















Credits:
1. North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine & Golden Delight Dancers, Videographer: SpeechlessQue; 11/13/2010.
2. Savannah State University Coastal Empire Sound Explosion Marching Band & The Klassy Kitties Dancers, Videographer: TheOProductions1907
3. Howard University ShowTime Marching Band & Oh La La Dancers, Videographer: HUReaction
4. Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats & 14 Karat Gold Dancers, Videographer: MarchingsportHD
5. Delaware State University Marching Band 'The Approaching Storm and D'Elegance Dancers' Videographer:8to5pros
6. Norfolk State University Spartan Legion Marching Band and Hot Ice Dancers, Videographer: freezezone1
7. Morgan State University "Magnificent Marching Machine & Foxy Dancers" Videographer: pvimaging
8. South Carolina State University Marching 101 Band & Champagne Dancers, Pt.1&2, Videographer: Biranandrew
9. Hampton University Marching Force Band and Ebony Fire, Videographer:JayHowEdu
10. North Carolina Central University Marching Sound Machine Band & The Exquisite Ladies of the eClipse; Part 1&2, Videographer: Music213
11. Coppin State University Eagle Band, Pt. 1&2, Videographer: Anakoni2012
12. Florida A&M University Marching 100, Videographer: ThePoopFly
13. Florida A&M University Marching 100, Videographer: sonyadenise1974

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Benedict Tigers Hold Off Claflin Panthers 69-63

Columbia, SC- The electricity was building since 10:30 a.m. and by tip off time the pitch was deafening. For Claflin University and Benedict College the moment had come. A nationally televised men’s basketball game carried on CBS Sports network. An opportunity that comes rarely to NCAA Division II programs that had been afforded to these two prestigious institutions.

Crucial free-throw shooting by the Benedict Tigers (16-6, 16-4), foiled all hopes of a miraculous comeback by the Claflin University Panthers (9-14, 8-13). Benedict went 6-6 at the line in the final minute and took the 69-65 SIAC win over Claflin.

The Panthers began the second half down by seven points, and again came out slowly, which quickly put the Tigers up again by double-figures, 39-29 with just one and a half minutes had ticked off the second half clock. But the Panthers never said die and began to cut the Tiger lead inside of ten points 47-54, with: 25 remaining.

And after a steal Claflin’s Stacy McAlister was fouled and he made both free-throws to pull the Panthers to within five points, 49-54. Benedict’s Antrjuan Albright quickly responded with a three point basket to push their lead back to eight points, 49-57, at the 5:13 mark.

Claflin Lady Panthers Fall to Benedict Lady Tigers 62-53

Columbia, SC- The air calmed down considerably, but the game began hot for the Lady Panthers taking a commanding 19-3 lead early. However Benedict tried to make a comeback but could only get as close as eight points 19-11 with six left in the first half. The teams ended the half on even terms scoring 10 points each for the 29-21 halftime score.

Claflin shot a sizzling 42 percent form the floor compared to just 17 percent for Benedict. Claflin was also 60 percent from beyond the arc (3-5) while Benedict was poultry 16 percent.

Natalie Davis went 3-4 from three point land for nine points. Santeria Grooms also scored nine points for Benedict, by intermission.

by Claflin University Sports Information

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Bennett hits 1,000 in FAMU win over UMES Hawks

Antonia Bennett had an attitude going into Saturday's basketball game against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore as if she wasn't going to let the Hawks build the kind of lead like they did when the two teams met a month ago.

Bennett scored 17 points in the first half for Florida A&M, reaching the 1,000-point plateau along the way, as the Rattlers rolled past UMES 81-58 at the Lawson Center. The win kept FAMU (12-11, 7-4) locked in a third-place tie with North Carolina A&T (11-11, 7-4), which beat Howard University to knock the Bison out of the three-way tie.

As important as the win was for the Rattlers' MEAC standing, the night clearly was....


Rattlers Sweep Hawks

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Antonia Bennett scored 17 first half points and became a member of the Lady Rattler 1,000 point club as the Lady Rattlers handed Maryland Eastern Shore an 81-58 loss, here Saturday afternoon at the Alfred Lawson Center.

FAMU (12-11, 7-4 MEA) had a pair of Lady Rattlers to score 20-plus points as Bennett finished with a game high 25 points to lead all scorers. Tameka McKelton dropped in 21 points followed by Shekeira Copeland with 14 points from off the bench, while Jasmine Grice added 10. Bennett led the Lady Rattlers on the boards with 10 rebounds.

Moore, Rattlers catch fire in win

Just before his men's basketball team returned to the floor to begin the second half, coach Eugene Harris pleaded with his players to be as accurate as they could from the free-throw line.

That was in spite of a first-half effort by former Rickards standout Avery Moore, who already had hit three of five 3-pointers against Maryland Eastern Shore. Moore went on to hit 15 of 17 points from 3-point range, but it was the insistent on free-throw accuracy that turned away the Hawks 63-55 Saturday night at the Lawson Center.

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Hampton's Morgan shoots Pirates past Norfolk State 86-72

NORFOLK, VA — Kwame Morgan looks like any normal red-blooded human being, but he clearly has ice chips, not platelets, coursing through his circulatory system.

Morgan made three huge 3-pointers, each which swung the momentum firmly to Hampton's side, as the Pirates held off Norfolk State 86-72 on Saturday night to win their fourth straight game and remain atop the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

"He's one of those kids that relishes the big moment," HU coach Ed Joyner said. "He understands it. He'll deal with the criticism for not making the play, and he'll handle the credit when he knocks down the big shot."

Photo Gallery: Hampton vs. Norfolk State

HU sweeps Battle Of The Bay



NORFOLK, VA – The Hampton University men’s basketball team picked up its fourth straight win in front of a sold-out Echols Hall on Saturday night, beating Norfolk State 86-72.

The Pirates (19-5, 9-2 MEAC) were led by 26 points from junior guard Darrion Pellum on 8-for-16 shooting and 6-for-11 from the free throw line. Junior guard Kwame Morgan added 19 points, while senior guard Brandon Tunnell scored 15 points. Senior forward Charles Funches added nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.

NSU victory puts Pirates in driver's seat in MEAC

NORFOLK, VA - If the standings in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference were a bit murky a little over a week ago, they are becoming crystal clear now: The Hampton Pirates are the team to beat.

The Pirates rolled into hostile - and heavily populated - territory Saturday night and strutted out of sold-out Echols Hall with an 86-72 victory over Norfolk State.

Mixing a packed-in zone defense with man-to-man, which was designed to offer help down low, the Pirates kept Spartans center Kyle O'Quinn from ever finding a rhythm. The 6-foot-10 junior, who had earned back-to-back MEAC Player of the Week honors, was limited to 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Jenkins' mastery at point guard helps Lady Pirates to 74-53 win vs. Norfolk State

NORFOLK, VA — Choicetta McMillian tied a career-high with 20 points and Jericka Jenkins had 16 of her 22 points and five of her nine assists in the first half as Hampton's women's basketball team rolled to a 74-53 victory against Norfolk State.

The Lady Pirates held an opponent to fewer than 60 points for the 11th straight time while topping 70 points for the third consecutive game in their 10th win in a row against the Lady Spartans.

Jenkins, a junior guard who came into the game tied for second in the nation with seven assists per game, steadied Hampton (18-6, 10-1 MEAC), leading the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, during the game's first 13 minutes, when the Lady Spartans (8-13 1-10) seemed determined to make a game of it. Jenkins sparked a stagnant Lady Pirates offense with her penetration, scoring seven early points from the free-throw line — where she was 9-of-10 - after drawing fouls in the lane.

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JSU lets 15-point lead slip away, takes hit in SWAC standings

The shot bounded off the side rim. Grant Maxey's head dipped. And Jackson State missed a monumental opportunity. Texas Southern overcame a 15-point second-half deficit to stun JSU 70-67 on Saturday night, clawing back into the game in the final moments to take control of the conference lead.

"To say the least, it was very disappointing," JSU coach Tevester Anderson said. "This game will hurt for a while because it was a big game."  Huge.

It was a battle between the conference's No. 1 and No. 2 teams, a clash involving the third- and fourth-ranked squads in Division I black college basketball - both scrapping for a leg up in the league in front of an announced 2,002 crowd at the Athletics and Assembly Center.

Men's Basketball: JSU 67, Texas Southern 70

By JSU Office of Athletic Media Relations

JACKSON, Miss. - Despite having three players score in double figures and owing a 16-point second half lead the Jackson State men's basketball team fell 70-67 to Texas Southern in a battle for the No. 1 spot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings Saturday night at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center.

With the loss JSU falls to 13-11 overall record and a 9-3 SWAC mark. Texas Southern improves to 12-10, 10-1 record.

Grant Maxey led JSU with 18 points in 21 minutes. Tyrone Hanson added 16 and Jenirro Bush scored 15. Travele Jones recorded a double-double as he scored a game high 22 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for Texas Southern. Lawrence Danner-Johnson scored 15, Keithtrick Denson added 14 and Kevin Galloway scored 10.

Bench scoring proved to be the difference in the game for TSU. Texas Southern got 22 bench points while JSU got 14 bench points.

JSU jumped out to an early lead and took a 37-28 advantage into halftime. In the second half, JSU led by as many as 16, 53-37, with 13:06 left to play. Texas Southern then outscored Jackson State 23-8 to pull within 61-60 on Kevin Galloway's free throws with 2:28 remaining.

Jackson State returns to action Monday, Feb. 14 when the Tigers host Prairie View A&M on ESPNU. Tip-off is set for 8:00 pm.

Final Stats

Women Basketball: JSU 56, Texas Southern 49

JACKSON, Miss. - Three Lady Tigers scored in double figures to help the Jackson State women's basketball beat Texas Southern 56-49 Saturday at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center. JSU swept the regular season series against Texas Southern.

With the win JSU improves to a 6-15 overall record and a 5-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference mark. Texas Southern falls to a 4-18, 2-9 record. Jackson State is ranked seventh in the SWAC standings.

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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG

Shaw Bears turns back WSSU Rams

RALEIGH -- The race for the CIAA's Southern Division title just got a little more interesting. Shaw made all the right moves on Saturday night to come away with a 77-64 victory against Winston-Salem State at sold-out Spaulding Gym. One Shaw official was asked how many Spaulding actually seats. His reply: "It seats 1,000. … Well, it seats 1,000 skinny people."

The Rams were a little shell-shocked out of the gate playing in such a small gym and fell behind by 17, thanks to the Bears (15-7, 4-2 Southern Division) scoring on 10 of their first 13 possessions. The Rams (16-5, 4-2) finally did get it together late in the first half.

"This was the smallest, hottest gym I've ever been in," said forward McIntoche Alcius of the Rams. "And it was a tough crowd out there."

Strong Performances Lead Shaw Past Winston-Salem State

(Raleigh, NC) - Shaw got zero points from its bench Saturday night, but four of the five starters scored 17 points or more to lead the Bears past Winston-Salem State 77-64 in a CIAA divisional game played at C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium.

Shaw (15-7, 8-5 CIAA) built a big lead early, and while Winston-Salem State (16-5, 9-4 CIAA) tied the game with their first bucket in the second half, they did not hold a lead at any time in the game.

The Bears seemed equally comfortable from the arc and the paint, hitting nine of 23 three-point attempts and garnering 32 points in the paint (versus 22 for the Rams).

Coming off a career-high 27-point performance against Livingstone Monday night, Dwight Bell started the game hot – scoring Shaw's first eight points, on the way to what would become a 16-2 lead with 14:40 remaining in the first.

Second Half Scoring Surge Powers Shaw Lady Bears Past WSSU 73-53

(Raleigh, NC) - The Shaw women's basketball team used a 34-9 scoring run at the start of the second half to power past Winston-Salem State 73-53 in a CIAA divisional contest played at C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium.

Shaw (14-10, 7-6 CIAA) and Winston-Salem State (14-8, 9-4 CIAA) played a see-saw first half, but the Lady Bears stormed through the opening ten minutes of the second half to build a lead that never fell below 20 in the last eight minutes of the game.

The Lady Rams opened the game with a hot shooting hand from the three-point line, with Jasmine Newkirk hitting three three-pointers to build an 11-2 lead with 15:33 left in the half.

Demaria Liles, in her first game for the Lady Bears, hit two unanswered buckets, then Kyria Buford added two more – one a three pointer – to tie the game at 11. Aslea Williams would then add four unanswered points of her own, allowing Shaw to take a 15-11 lead with 9:05 left in the first.

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Videographer: ShawUniv; 2011 CIAA TICKETS ON SALE

ASU women flatten FVSU, seize control of No. 1 in SIAC

Albany, Ga. - Good things come to those who wait. Just ask the Albany State women’s basketball team, which had to wait a little over a month to get another crack at Fort Valley State after the Lady Wildcats handed the Lady Rams their first conference loss (74-69) in early January.

So when the time finally came for ASU to take the court against one of its fierce rivals, the Lady Rams did not hold anything back, especially Kourtney Alexander who scored a career-high 35 points, as ASU soundly defeated FVSU, 82-69, Saturday night.

“We needed this win,” ASU coach Robert Skinner said of the victory, which propelled into sole possession of No. 1 in the SIAC. Skinner than added: “This is what we have been waiting for, a chance to get an opportunity to get Fort Valley back in Albany and it feels good and we are really pleased with the win (Saturday night).”

The win gives ASU (15-9, 14-4 in the SIAC) sole possession of the No. 1 spot in the conference, while FVSU (15-9, 13-5) drops to the second spot.

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Saturday, February 12, 2011

Softball kicks off season at Tiny Laster classic

Courtesy: Tennessee State Athletics
Nashville --- The Tennessee State University softball team will officially kick-off the 2011 season at the fourth annual Tiny Laster HBCU classic this weekend in Conyers, Georgia.

The three-day event, named in honor of Hampton University's legendary softball and volleyball coach, will be held February 12 through 14, 2011, at the Earl O'Neal Sports Complex, located at 2709 Old Covington Road, Conyers, Georgia.

Teams from eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) representing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) will participate in an inter-conference round robin tournament.

The Tigers will face four schools from the MEAC : South Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T, Hampton University and Florida A&M.

TSU will face South Carolina State in the opening game of the tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m. before the Tigers take on North Carolina A&T at 3 p.m.

South Carolina State was predicted to finish fourth in the Southern Division of the MEAC preseason poll. Last year the Bulldogs finished with an overall record of 9-43, winning one of their last three games.

North Carolina A&T was selected to finish third in the Southern Division of the MEAC after finishing last year with an overall record of 27-26.

On Sunday, TSU will match-up with Hampton University in the morning game at 10 a.m. before competing against Florida A&M in the afternoon game.

Hampton University, the only school from the Northern Division of the MEAC that TSU will face was picked to finish third in a preseason poll. The Lady Pirates are led by preseason selection Kelsei Saunders. HU finished last season with an overall record of 21-38.

Florida A&M was picked to finish second in the Southern Division of the MEAC. The 2009 MEAC Champions are led by preseason selection Jasmine Donaldson. The Rattlers concluded the 2010 season with an overall record of 30-24.

North Carolina A&T State University has dominated this tournament for the past two years posting a perfect 8-0 record. During the life span of this tournament, the MEAC and SWAC have split years in collecting the most wins for the tournament.

Tennessee State was scheduled to participate in the Tiny Laster tournament last year but it was canceled due to the inclement weather in the Georgia area.

Under first year head coach Jeff Dabney, Tennessee State returned nine letterwinners from last year's team that finished 11-34 and added seven newcomers to the squad. Among the key returners include seniors Caitlin Eaton and Brittany Webb.

Eaton and Webb were the offensive leaders for the Tigers for the majority of last season. They led TSU in the categories of batting average, hits, doubles and runs batted in.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Courtesy: Tennessee State Sports Information           Release: 02/11/2011

NSU center O'Quinn loses 15 pounds, gains stature

NORFOLK, VA - Thin is in for Kyle O'Quinn. Anybody looking for answers as to why Norfolk State's 6-foot-10 junior center has been the best player in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the past month should look no further than the scale. These days, it reads 235 pounds, 15 less than a year ago.

"I can get down the court now, almost all the time, where last year, I couldn't and didn't," said O'Quinn, who has averaged 25.4 points and 13.3 rebounds in his past five games. "Nothing tells you that you're dragging better than watching game film and running across a possession where your team is playing 4-on-5 because you haven't yet made it across half court."

So what spurred the weight loss? O'Quinn points to local high school basketball coach Walter Webb, whom O'Quinn met through a mutual acquaintance.




1. Videographer: UrbanSportsITG
2. Videographer: SportsGrooveTV

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Benedict's Goode takes the long way home

Today’s Game
WHO: Claflin (9-13, 8-12 SIAC) at Benedict (15-6, 15-4)
WHEN: Noon today
WHERE: HRC Arena, Benedict College
TV: CBS College Sports (channel 537 on Time Warner digital cable)


It’s been a long journey but Marcus Goode feels likes he has finally found a home. The much-traveled former Mid-Carolina star has landed less than 45 miles from his home and is leading a resurgent Benedict team to the top of the SIAC standings. Benedict is tied for the SIAC lead going into today’s game against Claflin at noon. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS College Sports.

“I went through a lot to get here,” Goode said of his journey. “I finally made it and I’m trying to stick with it. I’m here now and I just want to get my grades right and play ball.”

Goode’s travels have covered five schools. After playing at Mid-Carolina for two years, he transferred to the Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C., his final two years to try and get his grades in order.

The 6-foot-10, 295-pound center signed with Marshall but had to sit out his first year because of his grades. He played one semester during the 2008-09 season, averaging 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds and eight minutes per game.

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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG

Friday, February 11, 2011

Savannah State Sweeps Morris College in Hoops



Ezinne Kalu's free throw with 4 seconds to play gave Savannah State University a 75-74 victory over Morris College in a women's basketball game Thursday night at Tiger Arena. A crowd of 610 watched as Kalu scored a game-high 34 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead SSU (12-10). Rikiah Gatlin added 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Morris College (7-17), an NAIA team from Sumter, S.C., was led by Tyneshia Eaddy, who scored 23 points. Staci Holmes and Erica Wilkerson scored 13 points apiece.

Morris led twice in the game. The Hornets took their first lead, 69-67, with 2:53 to play on Shaniqua Campbell's layup. SSU's Kalu made two free throws with 1:52 left to tie the game at 69.


Men's Hoops: Savannah State 102 Morris College 47

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Alabama A&M Bulldogs open 2011 with tough slate

HUNTSVILLE, AL. - Alabama A&M will play a former rival at home for the first time in over a decade along with a up-and-coming program in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in addition to its rugged Southwestern Athletic Conference slate of games as athletics director Betty Austin released the school's football schedule Thursday.

The Bulldogs' non-conference schedule features a trip to Hampton University and a home game against long-time Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival Tuskegee in addition to nine SWAC games.

"I think it's a very good schedule," Austin said. "We're returning a game at Hampton and our fans wanted Tuskegee for the Louis Crews Classic. What concerns me is...

Alabama A&M Bulldogs 2011 Football Schedule

Sept. 3 at Hampton
*Sept. 10 at Southern
Sept. 17 Tuskegee (Louis Crews Classic), 6 p.m.
*Sept. 24 at Grambling
*Oct. 1 Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 6 p.m.
*Oct. 8 Mississippi Valley State (Homecoming), 1 p.m.
*Oct. 15 Texas Southern, 1 p.m.
*Oct. 29 Alabama State, Birmingham, 2:30 p.m.
*Nov. 5 at Alcorn State
*Nov. 12 Jackson State, 1 p.m.
*Nov. 19 at Prairie View

*Indicates Southwestern Athletic Conference game

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Southern University Releases 2011 Football Schedule

Jaguars face stiff 2011 slate

Stump Mitchell, quite naturally, wants to win more than two games in his second season as Southern University’s football coach. Apparently, his team won’t grow fat on weak opponents. SU’s schedule for 2011 includes three games in NFL stadiums, home games against big rivals and a first month that looks like a doozy.

Southern opens its season in Nashville, Tenn., against Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic at LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans.

After that, the Jaguars face Alabama A&M and Jackson State on back-to-back Saturdays, followed by an appearance at the Georgia Dome in the Atlanta Football Classic, against an opponent to be announced later (Florida A&M University Rattlers).

Southern University Jagaurs 2011 Football Schedule

September
3 Tennessee State Nashville, Tenn.
10 Alabama A&M Baton Rouge
17 Jackson State Baton Rouge
24 Florida A&M Atlanta Football Classic Atlanta
October
1 at Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, Miss.
8 Prairie View Baton Rouge
15 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, Ark.
22 Open
29 Alcorn State Baton Rouge
November
5 at Texas Southern Houston
12 at Alabama State Montgomery, Ala.
19 Open
26 Grambling New Orleans


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FAMU Rattlers add depth, replace Ukpai with pair of signings

A week after National Signing Day, Florida A&M added more depth at two positions — quarterback and offensive line — that were on the brink of depletion by the end of last season when the Rattlers ended up sitting sophomore quarterback Martin Ukpai and going on to win a share of the MEAC football championship.

Thursday, Coach Joe Taylor announced the signing of quarterback Damien Fleming, a 6-foot-3, 175-pounder out of Jacksonville Ribault High School. FAMU also signed Ryan Templeton, a highly touted 6-foot-5, 280 pound offensive lineman from Chicago.

The signings give FAMU 24 of 25 players that it recruited leading up to signing day. Taylor also confirmed that Ukpai, whose inconsistencies cost him the starting job in the last three games last season, has left the program. He's now attending a junior college in South Florida, Taylor said.

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Videographer: ospreywill;

Damien Fleming is an athletic quarterback with a live arm who can make all the throws. He is an accurate passer who has the ability to throw in the pocket or on the move & get the ball to his man. Damien has verbally committed to Vanderbilt university over offers from West Virgina & Southern. He has also received interest from Southern Miss, Louisville, Wisconsin, Ole Miss & Middle Tennessee St. Fleming is a 3.3 student and is the captain of the basketball team.

T.F. South's Templeton to play football at Florida A&M

T.F. South senior offensive linemen Ryan Templeton said he is glad he chose a school in Florida. With school canceled Wednesday because of the weather, Templeton couldn't fax his letter of intent to play football for Florida A&M, which is located in Tallahassee. He said he will fax it today or Friday, weather permitting.

"I couldn't even get out of my house," Templeton said. "I called the coaches (at Florida A&M) and told them I would fax it over this week. I am still going there. "Next year at this time, I guess I won't have to worry about snow down in Florida. I hope not."

It's all in the footwork for T.F. South football player Templeton

T.F. South High School's Ryan Templeton, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound senior, signed Wednesday with Floria A&M.

LANSING, IL | Ryan Templeton didn't need to take dance lessons to get his steps down. He just simply worked on his footwork. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound tackle knows he has to be agile as Templeton moves from right tackle to left tackle.

"I've got to be quicker, because on passing downs, I am protecting the blind side for (quarterback) Kevin Hallberg. I always tell him I got his blind side."

Hallberg is confident in his senior classmate. "He does tell me that, and I have all the confidence in Ryan, because I know he will make his blocks," Hallberg said. "He has really worked hard, and I know he lost a lot of weight since his freshman year, and he has just put in a lot of effort to getting better."


Videographer: RattlerBoosters; 2011 Rattler Signing Day Bash - Schedule & Team Analysis pt I

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Jefferson 2B Muniz commits to Bethune-Cookman

Jefferson second baseman Einar Muniz has committed to Bethune-Cookman University, Jefferson coach Pop Cuesta confirmed Thursday.

The 5-foot-3, 140-pound Muniz is small in stature, but has been one of the Dragons' top players. As a junior he hit .358 and struck out just five times in 81 at bats. He also made just three errors in the field in 28 games last year.



BCU Wildcats Pre-Season Pick to Repeat as MEAC Baseball Champs; O'Brien Named Pre-Season POTY, Four Named All-MEAC

NORFOLK, Va. - The votes are in and it's the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats getting the pre-season nod to be Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champions in the 2011 season, officials from the MEAC announced. The Wildcats are seeking their sixth consecutive MEAC title in 2011 under the guidance of 2010 MEAC Coach of the Year Mervyl Melendez. The Wildcats received a unanimous decision in the vote by the league's sports information directors and head coaches.

But the pre-season honors don't end there for the defending champions; B-CU junior catcher, recently tabbed as the #18 player in America by College Baseball Today, was selected as the MEAC's pre-season Player of the Year. O'Brien won final MEAC Player of the Year award last season.

oining O'Brien in recognition on the pre-season All-MEAC team, the 'Cats filled three other spots on the team. Pitcher Ali Simpson, first baseman Ryan Durrence, and outfielder DJ Leonard all earned pre-season accolades.

Joining the Wildcats on the Preseason Team is pre-season Pitcher of the Year Esterlin Paulino (NCAT), along with Ryan Shook (NSU), Marquis Riley (NCAT), Chris Joyce (NSU), Xavier Macklin (NCAT), John Lynch (NSU) and Bryan Chaikowsky (UMES).

The Wildcats set off their season on Friday, February 18th, as Alabama A&M travels to Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The first pitch of the 2011 B-CU season is set to be thrown at 6:00 p.m.

2011 MEAC Preseason Baseball Predictions
As voted on by the conference’s Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
(First Place Votes in Parenthesis)

Team …................................. Points
1. Bethune-Cookman (14) .............. 196
2. North Carolina A&T ….................. 134
3. Norfolk State …........................... 128
4. Delaware State ........................... 100
5. Florida A&M ……........................... 60
6. Maryland Eastern Shore ................ 46
7. Coppin State .................................36


2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Baseball Preseason All-Conference Awards
As voted on by the conference’s Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors

Player of the Year: Peter O’Brien, Bethune-Cookman
Pitcher of the Year: Esterlin Paulino, North Carolina A&T

Pos Name School Cl. Ht. Wt. Hometown
P Ali Simpson Bethune-Cookman Jr. 6-2 170 Campbell River, British Columbia
P Esterlin Paulino North Carolina A&T Jr. 5-6 147 Santo Domingo
RP Ryan Shook Norfolk State Jr. 6-2 185 Virginia Beach, Va.
C Peter O’Brien Bethune-Cookman Jr. 6-3 215 Miami Gardens, Fla.
1B Ryan Durrence Bethune-Cookman Sr. 6-2 230 Jacksonville, Fla.
2B Marquis Riley North Carolina A&T Jr. 5-10 190 Efland, N.C.
3B Chris Joyce Norfolk State Sr. 6-1 195 Chesapeake, Va.
OF DJ Leonard Bethune-Cookman Jr. 6-0 180 West Palm Beach, Fla.
OF Xavier Macklin North Carolina A&T Jr. 5-11 195 Rocky Mount, North Carolina
OF John Lynch Norfolk State Sr. 6-2 215 Newport News, Va.
DH Bryan Chaikowsky Maryland E. Shore Sr. 6-2 210 Bethlehem, Pa.

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CIAA ticket sales ahead of 2010 pace

Demand for tickets to the 66th annual Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament is running ahead of last year’s pace. With former members Lincoln (Pa.) and Winston-Salem State universities rejoining the league, ticket sales are up, according to CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry. The men's and women's tournaments will take place Feb. 28-March 5 at Time Warner Cable Arena – their sixth year in Charlotte.

The CIAA consists of 13 schools – 12 of them historically black colleges and universities – from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. Charlotte organizers and league officials have agreed to an extension of the tournament through 2014, the first time a host site has secured the event for nine straight years.

“Ticket sales are strong,” CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry said at a press conference Feb. 10 at the Charlotte Convention Center. “Almost $2 million in ticket sales, that’s up from last year. What makes the CIAA go and what makes this great is the community, and the connection we have with the city.”

The tournament concludes March 5 with the women's final at 5 p.m. and the men’s final televised on ESPNU at 8 p.m. TV One will broadcast the men’s quarterfinals and the semifinal rounds.

CIAA alumni may buy tickets from their respective schools; the general public can buy them online at www.ciaatournament.org or Time Warner Cable Arena box office.



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CIAA Releases 2011 Class of Honorees: John B. McLendon Hall of Fame

HAMPTON, VA – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) welcomes seven individuals as its 2011 class of inductees into the John B. McLendon, Jr. Hall of Fame. The honorees will officially be enshrined on Friday, March 4, 2011 at the Charlotte Convention Center at 11:00am- as part of the CIAA Tournament’s week of events.

This year’s class is filled with star-power, exceptional talent and inspiring dedication to the conference through corporate support.

Anita Cooper Epps led the Lady Pirates Basketball Team to two Virginia Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (VAIAW) state championships; a CIAA tournament title, and to two appearances in the NCAA Division II national tournament. At the end of the 1986 season, Epps was named Kodak first team All-American and the American Women's Sports Foundation's Regional Player of the Year. She was voted to the All-CIAA team for the second time, captured Kodak All-District III honors and was named to the first team All-America by the Black College Sports Information Directors Association and made the National Association for Women's Sports All-America team. She currently holds the Hampton University career field goal record with a percentage of .542, is second in career field goals with 762 and is third in the Hampton University record book for career scoring with 1,795 points.

Dr. Paulette Walker Johnson spent 30 years coaching the nationally recognized Virginia State University “Woo-Woos” Cheering Squad. Setting the standard for HBCU cheering programs, the Woo Woos and Dr. Johnson have been featured on the BET television network, Urban Sports Network, ESPN and have had numerous appearances on locally based television stations. In the 1990's the squad performed at a boxing match staged by the legendary promoter Don King. In 1999, the Mayor of the City of Petersburg established “Dr. Paulette Walker Johnson Day”. Johnson is noted as the first female athletic director in VSU history and coached the VSU softball team to win its first CIAA Softball Championship. In the conference she was the first president and founder of the CIAA Cheerleader Coaches Association. She is 2003 inductee of the VSU Wall of Fame.



Gregory Hines is a four- year starter and men’s basketball letterman (1979-1983) for Hampton University. He is the university's second all-time scorer with 1,967 points and rebounder (1,254). Hines is ranked in the Top 30 of CIAA All-time career scorers and is 11th in CIAA career rebounding. He has been named as a three time All-American; CIAA Rookie of the Year (1980); CIAA MVP (1982), and is a member of both the 1982 and 1983 CIAA Championship teams. Even after his years as a Pirate, Mr. Hines continued to excel in his sport as an NBA draft choice for the Golden State Warriors. His professional sports career spanned for more than 12 years and included playing in Europe, South America, Canada, Mexico, and Israel. Gregory Hines was inducted into the Hampton University Hall of Fame in 2009.

Charlie Neal began his broadcasting career over 30 years ago as a radio disc jockey before turning to television as a sportscaster, working for several affiliates in the Detroit, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. markets. In 1980, Charlie Neal commentated the first nationally televised regular season CIAA Basketball game and became the television voice and face of Black College Sports. Neal and Black Entertainment Television (BET) provided a platform to bring the CIAA into American homes. Neal became a part of the CIAA by serving as an emcee for tip-off banquets and refereeing CIAA All-Star games.

Yancey Thigpen was named to the All-CIAA Football teams of 1989 and 1990. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 4th round of the 1991 NFL Draft. After being drafted, he spent six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1992-97); breaking and recording several records which are still unbroken today. As a Steeler, he was a Pro Bowl alternate on special teams before emerging as one of the best receivers in the NFL. This two-time Pro Bowl honoree and most sought after free agent wide receiver, signed with the Tennessee Oilers; becoming the highest paid wide receiver in the league. Thigpen spent the next three years with the Oilers, assisting them in reaching the Super Bowl. Yancey Thigpen retired after the 2000 season with 313 career receptions for 5,081 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also rushed for four yards, returned two punts for 30 yards and gained 188 yards on eight kickoff returns.

Richard Franklin, Coca-Cola’s then African-American Consumer Marketing Manager, managed its corporate sponsor relationship with Commissioner Leon Kerry for a span of 18+ years. In 1998, he was involved in securing the first HBCU Conference $2 million dollar sponsorship commitment with the CIAA. He was also able to secure the first tournament visit of a Fortune 500 company president with the tournament participation of Coca-Cola Company President Jack Stahl. In 2003, he was instrumental in renewing the commitment for $3 million dollars and five more years. Under his guidance, Coca-Cola initiated numerous marketing programs such as the Ball Boy/Ball Girl program, the Slam Dunk Competition, the CIAA Step Show, High School Day sponsorship, the men's and women's tournament championship awards presentation, the Big House Gaines Men's Commemorative Championship Trophy and the Football Championship MVP trophies and hospitality tent.

James Morgan holds the CIAA Basketball Career rebounding record with 1,741rebounds (1967-70). While starring at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), he was a member of the CIAA’s first undefeated regular season basketball team in 1969-70, with a regular season record of 29-0. Morgan was named to the All-CIAA team in 1970 and the CIAA All-Tournament Team 1969 and 1970, where he was second in the NAIA in rebounds during the 1967-68 season (23.3). He played in the NAIA quarter finals in 1970 and was a 7th round draft pick for the Seattle Supersonics; but played in the Continental Basketball Association. Morgan was inducted into the UMES Hall of Fame in 1984.



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Howard Volleyball Inks Four

Alexis Skinner
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Howard Volleyball Head Coach, Dawn Barnes has announced the signing of four student-athletes during early signing period. Alexis Skinner, Meagan Lagerlef, Assata Conway, and Stephanie “Teppi” Shultis will join the Lady Bison in the fall of 2011.

“I look for them to make our gym more competitive and bringing back the rich tradition Howard Volleyball once had,” said Barnes.

Skinner is a 5-7 outside hitter from Thomas Johnson High School. The Frederick, MD native led her team to the Maryland 4A State finals with a record of 15-4 this past season. She is a two-time first team All-Gazette selection, and a Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention. Skinner led her team in offense – boasting 163 kills, 104 digs and 32 aces as the team captain. She is also a leader in the classroom, maintaining a 3.25 GPA.

“Skinner is a competitor whose natural athleticism and versatility will allow her to play a couple of positions for us,” commented Barnes. “I am excited to see her future development in our program.”

Meagan Lagerlef
Lagerlef is a 5-10 outside hitter and defensive specialist from James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, MD. She is a four-time letter winner, a two-time first team All-Gazette selection, and a 2010 All-Met Honorable Mention. The Montgomery County Senior All-Star is a member of the nationally ranked Metro-American 18U Travel Team. Lagerlef maintains a 3.64 GPA and is a recipient of the Motion Scholar Athlete award.

“Lagerlef will bring a fierce and competitive edge into our gym. She is very athletic and explosive, and her tough mentality and work ethic will be a great addition to our program,” said Barnes.

Assata Conway
Conway is a 6-2 middle blocker from Westside High School in Missouri City, TX. She is a two-time first team All-District selection. She has also lettered in basketball and track, and maintains a 3.2 GPA.

“Conway has a huge upside and I am looking for her to make great strides as she prepares to play at this level,” commented Barnes. “Her natural athleticism and blocking ability will definitely add depth to our middle blocker position.”

Shultis is a 6-2 right side hitter and setter from Richmond High School. The Annadale, VA native served as team captain and received team MVP and Coach’s Award following her senior season. She is also a 2010 second-team All-District selection.

“I am expecting great things out of Teppi right away in the setter position,” said Barnes. “She is going to help us on the right side with her blocking abilities. Teppi will add a great deal of poise, intensity, and game savvy to this program. She has the opportunity to become one of the more poised setters to ever play at Howard.”

by Jamilah Corbitt
Assistant Director of Sports Information
Howard University


Videographer: meazteam1; Howard Athletics Volleyball Finale Home Game Fall 2010

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Where Are They Now? MEAC player of the year to make D-League debut

For Reggie Holmes, father might prove to know best in this situation, too.

After finishing his career as Morgan State's all-time leading scorer with 2,051 points last season, Holmes ended up going overseas to play in Morocco. His father, Mark, thought Reggie should have tried something else instead.

"He wanted me to go to the D-League from the jump," Holmes said. "I was like, 'Nah!' and he said, 'You're grown now.' "

With things not going to his full liking overseas, Holmes, 23, has decided to give his dad's suggestion a shot. Holmes will make his D-League debut for the Erie BayHawks in their 7 p.m. game today against the New Mexico Thunderbirds (14-18) at Tullio Arena. OK, Dad, he'll give this a shot.

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TODAY'S BAYHAWKS GAME
New Mexico Thunderbirds (14-18) at Erie BayHawks (20-9)
Today, 7 p.m., at Tullio Arena.
On the air: WFNN-AM/1330; www.nba.com/dleague

The Erie BayHawks are the NBA Development League Affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors. The NBA Development League is the official minor league of the NBA.

MEAC Tourney To Stay in Winston-Salem Through 2012

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced a one-year extension for the City of Winston-Salem (NC) to host the annual men's and women's basketball tournament through 2012.

Mayor Allen Joines of the City of Winston-Salem and MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas made the official announcement during a press conference held in the main lobby of the Coliseum.

"The MEAC is extremely elated to extend our partnership with the City of Winston-Salem," said MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas. "Special thanks to Mayor Joines and the City Council, Bucky Dames, Jocelyn Johnson, the Steering Committee and others for their efforts in extending this great partnership and providing the support needed to make the MEAC Basketball Tournament a tremendous success."


The City of Winston-Salem has hosted the men's and women's Division I basketball tournament in 2009 and 2010. The 2011 Tournament is scheduled for March 7-12 and will be played at the Joel Coliseum.

Ticket books for the 2011 MEAC Basketball Tournament can be purchased at all 13 MEAC university ticket offices, Joel Coliseum Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, the MEAC Office and online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available by calling the MEAC at (757) 951-2055 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

For more information about the 2011 MEAC Basketball Tournament including brackets, ancillary events, tickets and travel information, log on to www.MEAChoops.com.

About the MEAC Basketball Tournament

The MEAC Basketball Tournament is a single elimination championship playoff that involves Division I historically black colleges and universities located across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman, Coppin State, Delaware State, Florida A&M, Hampton, Howard, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina Central, Savannah State, and South Carolina State. A bonus game featuring the men's teams from North Carolina Central and Savannah State will also highlight championship day.

The tournament is played at the Joel Coliseum. Both the men's and women's champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Written By: MEAC Media Relations Release: 02/09/2011

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Prairie View Bowling Places Second At FAMU Classic

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Prairie View A&M bowling team returned to the lanes this past weekend and put forth a strong showing as they finished second in the FAMU Classic.

Prairie View A&M jumped out to a 4-1 record in Baker Set after the first day of tournament play as they beat Alabama State (702-600), Jackson State (720-664), Florida A&M (692-641) and Florida State (729-696). Their lone loss came at the hands of Sam Houston State as the No. 5 ranked team in the nation defeated them 674 to 629.

After a solid opening day, day two wasn’t as successful for the Lady Panthers in team format as they began with a heartbreaking two-pin loss to Sam Houston State (918-916). The Lady Panthers bounced back with wins over Alabama State (880-736) and FAMU (789-786) before dropping the last two matches to Florida State (1001-837) and Jackson State (822-773) for a 2-3 mark.

Going into the third and final day of competition, the Lady Panthers were seeded second overall and began bracket competition against top-seeded Sam Houston State. Playing in a 4-of-7 Baker format, the Lady Panthers fell 4-2 to SHSU and dropped into the loser’s bracket. Prairie View A&M bounced back and knocked off FAMU 4-2 and advanced to the championship match versus Sam Houston State once again. Unfortunately, the Lady Panthers couldn’t overcome their nemesis as SHSU defeated them 4-2 to win the championship.

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WSSU Peay following in footsteps of his parents

Maybe William Peay should be a history major.

Peay, a freshman basketball player at Winston-Salem State, probably knows more about the history of WSSU than anybody on campus. Peay, a former star at Reagan, has been deeply schooled in WSSU's storied history. His parents, William and Brenda, are 1974 graduates of WSSU and have been active boosters for many years.

"It's amazing," Peay said. "I didn't know I'd wind up here but I always wanted to come; and so when I got the chance, I was ecstatic with the opportunity."

There aren't a lot of young players who dream of one day putting on the WSSU uniform. But Peay is different. If his mother and father weren't regaling him with tales of their time in school — when Big House Gaines ruled the CIAA in basketball and Bill Hayes ruled the CIAA in football — his godfather, Devaldean Penn, was telling him one of his countless stories.

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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG

ASU women's hoops escapes Clark Atlanta in OT, set for FVSU showdown

ATLANTA, Ga. — Whew ... that was a close one.

That was the reaction of Albany State women’s basketball coach Robert Skinner on Tuesday night after his Lady Rams narrowly pulled out a key SIAC win against Clark Atlanta on the road, 84-78, in overtime, to maintain its top spot in the conference race. Albany State is 12-4 and is tied with Fort Valley for first, and as long as FVSU takes care of business at home on Thursday against Claflin, it will set up a showdown for the regular-season SIAC title Saturday at HPER when the two teams meet for the second time this season.

“We got pushed to the limit (Tuesday night),” Skinner said. “No one’s going to make it easy on us.”

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Randall, Claflin Panthers hungry for SIAC Baseball title

Claflin head baseball coach James Randall couldn't help but to think about what could have been. With his team just two games away from the 2010 SIAC Baseball Tournament's championship game, the Panthers saw their quest to be the conference's best team dashed at the hands of eventual champion Stillman College. Now that the season is here, Randall and his squad are ready to set their sights on a title run once again.

"Our mindset going in is to win our conference championship," Randall said. "From day one, our goal is to put ourselves in a position to win the conference championship."

Led by preseason All-SIAC selections Julius McDougal, Donald Smith, Leonard Williams and Fedor Herrera, the Panthers return a number of players from their 2010 campaign in hopes of winning a title and earning a bid in the NCAA Division II Championship tournament.

Claflin falls to USC Beaufort in opener of 2011 season

Tuesday proved to be a long day for James Randall. The Claflin University head baseball coach arrived at historic Mirmow Field at 3:30 a.m. to work on a soggy infield, ensuring that the surface was playable for his team and the visiting USC Beaufort Sandsharks. About 15 hours later, Randall's hands were tied as he could only watch as the Sandsharks capitalized on critical infield miscues, handing his Panthers a season-opening 9-3 loss.

Claflin (0-1) wasted no time taking a 1-0 lead when Chauncey Davis, who reached thanks to a leadoff walk, scored on a sacrifice fly by Randolph Brown in the bottom of the first inning.

USC Beaufort (1-0) responded in the top of the second with two runs of their own. After reaching on a 1-out walk and stealing second, Keifer Youmans tied the game 1-1 on an RBI double by Brett Martin. Two batters later, David O'Neal drove in Martin on a single, giving the Sandsharks a 2-1 lead.

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Claflin University 2011 Baseball Schedule

Panthers Baseball Roster Profiles (.pdf)

OPPONENT DATE DAY GAME TIME SITE
USC-BEAUFORT FEB. 8 TUESDAY S 2:00 PM HOME
BREWTON-PARKER FEB. 12 SATURDAY D/H 1:00 PM HOME
COKER COLLEGE FEB. 15 TUESDAY S 2:30 PM HARTSVILLE, SC
DAVIS & ELKINS FEB. 19 SATURDAY D/H 12:00 PM HOME
DAVIS & ELKINS FEB. 20 SUNDAY S 2:00 PM HOME
SAVANNAH STATE FEB. 23 WEDNESDAY S 2:00 PM SAVANNAH, GA
PAINE COLLEGE FEB. 25 FRIDAY S 1:00 PM HOME
VOORHEES COLLEGE MAR. 2 WEDNESDAY D/H 12:00 PM DENMARK, SC
USC-BEAUFORT MAR. 8 TUESDAY S 4:00 PM BLUFFTON, SC
PAINE COLLEGE MAR. 12 SATURDAY D/H 12:00 PM AUGUSTA, GA
PAINE COLLEGE MAR. 13 SUNDAY S 1:00 PM AUGUSTA, GA
ELIZABETH CITY ST. MAR. 15 TUESDAY D/H 1:00 PM HOME
ST. AUGUSTINE'S MAR. 16 WEDNESDAY S 5:00 PM HOME
ALBANY STATE MAR. 19 SATURDAY D/H 12:00 PM ALBANY, GA
ALBANY STATE MAR. 20 SUNDAY S 1:00 PM ALBANY, GA
ST. AUGUSTINE'S MAR. 23 WEDNESDAY D/H 2:00 PM RALEIGH, NC
TUSKEGEE MAR. 26 SATURDAY D/H 12:00 PM TUSKEGEE, AL
TUSKEGEE MAR. 27 SUNDAY S 1:00 PM TUSKEGEE, AL
MORRIS COLLEGE MAR. 30 WEDNESDAY S 5:00 PM HOME
STILLMAN COLLEGE APR. 2 SATURDAY D/H 12:00 PM HOME
STILLMAN COLLEGE APR. 2 SUNDAY S 1:00 PM HOME
MORRIS COLLEGE APR. 5 TUESDAY S 5:00 PM SUMTER, SC
CLARK-ATLANTA APR. 9 SATURDAY D/H 12:00 PM ATLANTA, GA
CLARK-ATLANTA APR. 10 SUNDAY S 1:00 PM ATLANTA, GA
COKER COLLEGE APR. 12 TUESDAY S 6:00 PM HOME
MOREHOUSE APR. 16 SATURDAY D/H 12:00 PM HOME
MOREHOUSE APR. 17 SUNDAY S 1:00 PM HOME
VOORHEES COLLEGE APR. 19 TUESDAY D/H 4:00 PM HOME
BENEDICT COLLEGE APR. 23 SATURDAY D/H 12:00 PM HOME
BENEDICT COLLEGE APR. 24 SUNDAY S 1:00 PM HOME
SIAC TOURNAMENT APR. 27-30 WEDNESDAY TBA ALBANY, GA


Videographer: Checkpoint2010; prod. by: Racardo Davis

Florida A&M's Leon Hunt has his eyes set on the 2012 Olympics

Leon Hunt has his eyes set on the 2012 Olympics. But before he punches his ticket for London, the St. Croix, Virgin Islands native wants to be the best college long jumper in the country.

He set a personal best last weekend at the Niswonger Invitational track meet at East Tennessee University when he leaped 7.75 meters (25 feet, 4 inches). The Florida A&M University senior won the event and is nationally ranked in the top 15 of all NCAA indoor long jump athletes.

"The rankings are updated almost every week, so you never know what's going to happen," Hunt said Monday after a workout in Tallahassee, Fla. "But I've been pretty happy with what I've done so far this indoor season."

According to USVI track and field team coach Wallace Williams, Hunt's leap last weekend set a territory record for the indoor long jump. Hunt set the previous record in 2009 and also holds the outdoor long jump record.

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CLICK LINK FOR INFO -- February 17-19, 2011 MEAC Track and Field Championships in Landover, Maryland.

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LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY

Hidden one floor beneath a college gymnasium, tucked at the end of a hallway and through two sets of heavy double doors, Matt Salerno checked his stopwatch and shouted time results to swimmers crisscrossing a small, six-lane pool whose very existence is unknown to even some students at Howard University.

As one of three historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to field a swimming and diving team, Howard faces a number of challenges - lack of recognition, for one, but also in recruiting, resources, competitiveness and its role in the continued expansion of a sport across racial boundaries. But despite those issues, many on the team believe they are on the right path toward forming a competitive program over the next few years - and one that can continue to break down barriers.

"I don't even know if they know how much of an inspiration they are to many black swimmers or African American swimmers or divers," Salerno said. "That they're doing something that's 1 in 50. And I think when they look back on it, they'll feel a lot of pride for their accomplishments."

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