Columbus, GA - The 8th Annual Historical Black College All-Star Classic is coming to Columbus (Georgia) on April 23rd with the game being played the Civic Center. The event pits the best players from the SWAC, MEAC, SIAC, and CIAA against each other in a battle of East and West.
In addition to the College game the event will also feature matchups including local boys and girls high school all stars. Among those expected to attend include: Jordan's Harry Short, Kendrick's Elbert Elliot, Dwayne Belfield, Erica Stanley, and Janai Merritt, Hardaway's Valenta Williams and Jamaine Burrey and many more.
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Paine College Appoints Link as Men's Head Basketball Coach
Augusta, GA (March 15, 2011) - Interim Athletic Director, Selina Kohn, announced today that Coach Jimmy Link will lead the Lions Basketball team. He served as the Interim Head Men’s Basketball Coach after being appointed the position mid-way during the 2010-2011 Season. Since then, Link has gone on to lead the Lions with an 11-17 record and second round appearance in the 2011 Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (SIAC) Tournament.
Link brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a former player and coach. During his basketball career, Link was a four-year letterman in men’s basketball at Flagler College, where he led the team to its first NAIA National Tournament bid as a point guard in 2002-2003. His team was ranked in the NAIA Top 25 nationally in each of Link’s four seasons as a player and he helped lead the team to a Florida Sun Conference Tournament Championship as a senior.
“I’m elated to be a part of the Paine College legacy,” Link said. Being named head coach is a highly regarded position and I am excited to take on the responsibility of successfully growing the Paine College Athletics Program through recruiting and coaching talented student athletes.”
Link sang the praises of several during a press conference, “I am so excited for the opportunity I have been given here at Paine College. I promised everyone, especially Dr. Bradley, that I would make him proud of choosing me to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Coach Ronnie Spry.”
“I am grateful for assistants, Coach Beard and Coach Smith, for helping me to move the team forward this season. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
He also shared, “Coach Spry recruited me to work as an Assistant Coach at Paine College.” “He has been an unbelievable influence in my life and I am so thankful that he brought me to Augusta, Georgia. Even throughout this transition, he has supported me as a Coach and as a Person. And, I thank him for that,” he said.
During the press conference, Link shared his goals for the Athletic Program. “We have three main goals for the Men’s Basketball Program. We want to graduate Players; mold men so that after they graduate, they make the Paine College Community proud, and win Games and contend in the SIAC Conference,” Link said.
Link has over eight years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, from Division I to the NAIA. He began his career as assistant basketball coach at Flagler College, an NCAA Division II institution in 2004, during which his team ranked Top 10 in the country and made a Sweet 16 Tournament Appearance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Florida Sun Conference.
He moved on to serve as assistant basketball coach at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland from 2005-2006. Link helped recruit 13 players to the NCAA Division III program, all of which ended up having a school best record. During this time he also assisted.
After a successful career at Washington College, Link returned to Flagler College from 2006-2008 as assistant basketball coach, where he helped sign one of the best recruiting classes ever, three freshman and one transfer and went on to have 20-7 season in their 2nd year of Division II.
Previously, Link served assistant basketball coach at the University of North Florida, an NCAA Division II institution, and member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. There he served along side long time head coach Matt Kilcullen for the 2008-2009 season. He also served as assistant men’s basketball coach at Newberry College NCAA Division II under Steve DeMeo for the 2009-2010 Season.
Touchingly, Link expressed his appreciation to his family who rendered tremendous support throughout his career. Expressing deep gratitude to his deceased mother, he commented, “To my mom, it was her kind soul and amazing heart that made my life special. And, to my Dad, thank you for raising me into the man that I have become and for supporting me in my career when times were tough.”
Link held a very special announcement toward the end. Referring to his biggest fan and the love his life, Link thanked his wife Jennifer for her support. He commented, “My wife Jen and I are expecting our first child. I am so excited to become a father.”
In closing, he said, “as you can tell, I am a family man, husband, and soon to be father. I have also added these young men to my family. I will take care of them like they are my own. We will go through great times and tough times and learn from our experiences. I welcome all of Paine College into my family and encourage all of Paine’s former athletes and men and women who bleed purple and white to come back to their Alma Mater to support the Athletic Program.
Link earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Flagler College in 2003. Link currently resides in Augusta, Georgia with his wife Jennifer.
By Natasha Carter, Office of Communications and Marketing
Paine College Lions
Visit: Fear the Paine/Lions Athletics
Link brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a former player and coach. During his basketball career, Link was a four-year letterman in men’s basketball at Flagler College, where he led the team to its first NAIA National Tournament bid as a point guard in 2002-2003. His team was ranked in the NAIA Top 25 nationally in each of Link’s four seasons as a player and he helped lead the team to a Florida Sun Conference Tournament Championship as a senior.
“I’m elated to be a part of the Paine College legacy,” Link said. Being named head coach is a highly regarded position and I am excited to take on the responsibility of successfully growing the Paine College Athletics Program through recruiting and coaching talented student athletes.”
Link sang the praises of several during a press conference, “I am so excited for the opportunity I have been given here at Paine College. I promised everyone, especially Dr. Bradley, that I would make him proud of choosing me to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Coach Ronnie Spry.”
“I am grateful for assistants, Coach Beard and Coach Smith, for helping me to move the team forward this season. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
He also shared, “Coach Spry recruited me to work as an Assistant Coach at Paine College.” “He has been an unbelievable influence in my life and I am so thankful that he brought me to Augusta, Georgia. Even throughout this transition, he has supported me as a Coach and as a Person. And, I thank him for that,” he said.
During the press conference, Link shared his goals for the Athletic Program. “We have three main goals for the Men’s Basketball Program. We want to graduate Players; mold men so that after they graduate, they make the Paine College Community proud, and win Games and contend in the SIAC Conference,” Link said.
Link has over eight years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, from Division I to the NAIA. He began his career as assistant basketball coach at Flagler College, an NCAA Division II institution in 2004, during which his team ranked Top 10 in the country and made a Sweet 16 Tournament Appearance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Florida Sun Conference.
He moved on to serve as assistant basketball coach at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland from 2005-2006. Link helped recruit 13 players to the NCAA Division III program, all of which ended up having a school best record. During this time he also assisted.
After a successful career at Washington College, Link returned to Flagler College from 2006-2008 as assistant basketball coach, where he helped sign one of the best recruiting classes ever, three freshman and one transfer and went on to have 20-7 season in their 2nd year of Division II.
Previously, Link served assistant basketball coach at the University of North Florida, an NCAA Division II institution, and member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. There he served along side long time head coach Matt Kilcullen for the 2008-2009 season. He also served as assistant men’s basketball coach at Newberry College NCAA Division II under Steve DeMeo for the 2009-2010 Season.
Touchingly, Link expressed his appreciation to his family who rendered tremendous support throughout his career. Expressing deep gratitude to his deceased mother, he commented, “To my mom, it was her kind soul and amazing heart that made my life special. And, to my Dad, thank you for raising me into the man that I have become and for supporting me in my career when times were tough.”
Link held a very special announcement toward the end. Referring to his biggest fan and the love his life, Link thanked his wife Jennifer for her support. He commented, “My wife Jen and I are expecting our first child. I am so excited to become a father.”
In closing, he said, “as you can tell, I am a family man, husband, and soon to be father. I have also added these young men to my family. I will take care of them like they are my own. We will go through great times and tough times and learn from our experiences. I welcome all of Paine College into my family and encourage all of Paine’s former athletes and men and women who bleed purple and white to come back to their Alma Mater to support the Athletic Program.
Link earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Flagler College in 2003. Link currently resides in Augusta, Georgia with his wife Jennifer.
By Natasha Carter, Office of Communications and Marketing
Paine College Lions
Visit: Fear the Paine/Lions Athletics
Some Sports Could Be Cut as WSSU Faces Budget Deficit
Some sports could be cut as Winston-Salem State University works to recover a $3.9 million deficit in its athletic program. The school went back to Division II this year after four years in the Division I ranks. That saved $2 million, but left the aforementioned $3.9 million deficit.
The downgrade has led to an upgrade in basketball game attendance, increasing by nearly 400 a game this year.
"Attendance was definitely up. It was more support for the team, especially since the basketball team went to the CIAA this year," said Kelsey Mobley, student.
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Red Flash Snap Howard's Three-Game Winning Streak
LORETTO, PA. (March 13, 2011) – The Lady Bison lacrosse team suffered their first loss during the month of March after dropping 19-3 to Saint Francis (Pa.), ending their three-game winning streak. Howard (3-4) started slow compared to the Red Flash (2-4) who sprinted to a 9-0 lead with 16 minutes into the opening half. Senior Desiree Cox scored Howard’s first goal in the first half with 13:55 left on the clock. The Red Flash limited Cox to only one score, marking a season low for Howard’s leading scorer.
The Lady Bison were outshot 16-31. The Bison recorded six saves while St. Francis chimed in with nine.
Cox and Courtland Lackey led the Bison with five shots a piece, while Cheryse Cox and Cynithia Smalls garnered two each. Chastity Dailey managed to only throw in one shot, but made it worthwhile as she converted it into Howard's second goal during the second half.
Lackey was responsible for the Lady Bison’s remaining goal. Lackey found the back of the net with 1:15 left in regulation to round out the final score, 19-3.
The Red Flash were able to secure the game over the Lady Bison after controlling every major statistical category.
Saint Francis dominated the draw control throughout the game, generating a 13-5 advantage. The Lady Bison were unable to grab ground balls in the second half, as Saint Francis garnered 12. Overall, the Bison relinquished 16 ground balls to their opponents, and only scooped up one throughout the entire game.
The Lady Bison will look to bounce back from their loss as they hit the road to take on Central Connecticut State on Friday, March 18 at 3 p.m.
Visit Howard-Bison.com for more updates on the Lady Bison lacrosse team.
By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
Howard University
Howard Softball Suffers Tough Weekend at Diamond Devil Invitational
The Bison faced off against tournament hosts No. 7 Arizona State on Friday, in its first game of the weekend slate. HU dug an early hole – giving up six runs in the opening inning. The Bison answered in the bottom half of the frame when Lorae Robinson rounded the bases to put Howard on the scoreboard. ASU proved to be too much for the Bison as they pushed the margin to 11-1 after two complete innings. The Sun Devils recorded two more runs in the fourth for the 13-1 final.
Carly Martin and Samantha Gatson combined for a total of four strikeouts against the nationally-ranked powerhouse.
Following the tough loss, the Bison played Florida Gulf Coast (11-15) for its first of a trio of Saturday games. Howard recorded two runs on three hits to take a quick 2-0 advantage over the Eagles in the top of the first. Christine Sborz led off with a double to left field before a Robinson single to the same side put runners on first and third. Robinson stole second and a sacrifice fly by Marissa Coats drove in Sborz. A ground out to second moved Robinson to the corner and then was knocked in by a Candace Rogers single.
Howard held FGCU scoreless until the bottom of the third when the Eagles scored three runs to take a slim 3-2 advantage. The Bison were unable to regain the lead as HU was only able to manage two hits over the next four innings.
Samantha Gatson took the loss on the mound – pitching a complete game – allowing just three hits while fanning seven batters.
In the second game, the Bison took an 8-0 shutout loss to Creighton (9-12). The Bluejays exploded for six runs in the bottom the second to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Rogers and Sborz notched the only hits for Howard, as the Bison were held scoreless for the fifth time this season.
For the final matchup of the day against Campbell (10-12), Sborz homered to lead off the game – her first of the season. A wild pitch with the bases loaded allowed Robinson to score from third to give the Bison a quick 2-0 lead heading into the bottom frame.
The Camels tied the game in the second. Pinch runner Katie Andrews scampered home with the team's first run, and then Katie Hinton walked to drive in Sarah Forgacs from third with the second run.
The Bison promptly took the lead back in the third inning. Coats walked, moved to second on a fielder's choice and third on the overthrow by the CU pitcher on the play. A wild pitch on the next pitch allowed Coats to score the team's third run. The Camels erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the frame and didn’t look back.
The Bison added an unearned run in the top of the second as Sborz drew a one-out walk and dashed all the way around the bases on the single by Robinson and throwing error from the CU first baseman. The Camels kept the offensive show with five more runs in the fourth for the 15-4 final.
Howard wrapped up play at the Diamond Devil Invitational by dropping a 5-1 decision to Virginia Tech on Sunday. Robinson rounded the bases was knocked in on a Coats double to right center to give the Bison their only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Sborz saw her seven-game hit streak snapped as she was unable to connect her bat the entire game.
Howard softball now shifts its focus to the Cherry Blossom Classic hosted by George Mason from March 18-20.
By Jamilah Corbitt, Assistant Director of Sports Information
Howard University
Visit: howard-bison.com
On To the Elite Eight: Shaw Beats JCSU For NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Title
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| Shaw University Women's Head Coach Jacques Curtis |
CIAA South rival Shaw beat the Golden Bulls 74-54 Monday in the Atlantic Regional Championship in Edinboro Pa. JCSU ends the season 26-5, the most wins in a single season in school history. The previous best was a 22-5 mark in 2009.
“We’ve had a good season, even though it didn’t end the way we would have liked,” said CIAA Coach of the Year Vanessa Taylor, who led the Golden Bulls to a pair of tournament wins – the first in six regional appearances. “Sometimes you give your best and it isn’t good enough, but we have certainly learned more from this experience and will apply these lessons as we prepare for next season.”
No. 8 seed Shaw upsets Johnson C. Smith in D-II regional
EDINBORO, PA -- Eighth-seeded Shaw University, led by D-I transfers Kyria Buford and Demaria Liles, ran away from CIAA rival and second-seeded Johnson C. Smith for a 74-54 victory Monday to win the Division II Atlantic Regional at McComb Fieldhouse in front of 93 fans.
The Bears (24-11), the CIAA tournament winner, advanced to the Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Mo., March 22-25. The Golden Bulls finished 26-5.
The 6-foot 1-inch Buford, a junior forward who played one season at Florida State, had 24 points and five assists, and MVP Liles, a 6-foot 1-inch senior forward who played at Maryland for one season, had 17 points and 14 rebounds. The Bears were 13-1 after Liles joined the team.
"Demaria took so much pressure off of me when she became eligible,'' Buford said.
Lady Bears Earn Berth in D-II Elite Eight With Win Over JCSU
Edinboro, PA - It was a drama in three acts - a game that was the fourth in a series, but had the highest stakes: a trip to the NCAA Division II Women's Elite Eight Tournament.
In the end, Shaw claimed the first and third act - and the win - downing CIAA rival Johnson C. Smith 74-54 to earn the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Title and a spot in the Elite Eight.
It was the fourth time the two teams had met this season. Johnson C. Smith (26-5) won the two regular season contests while Shaw (24-11) claimed the two post-season contests: the CIAA Championship and tonight's game, held at McCombs Field House on the campus of Edinboro University.
Shaw broke on top early, fought off a furious charge from the Lady Golden Bulls, and then built an increasing lead as the game ended.
"Smith changed their style today," said Shaw Head Coach Jacques Curtis. "They were running the ball, but today they basically took the air out of the ball. We weren't playing well at all."
Shaw's transfers too advanced for Edinboro women
EDINBORO, PA -- There are Division I players transferring to Division II schools all the time, but many of them saw little playing time or didn't fit and did not want to sit out the year necessary to play for another D-I school.
Then there's Shaw University's pair of Demaria Liles, who spent one full season starting on Maryland's Elite Eight team in 2008-09, and Kyria Buford, who played at Florida State as a freshman in 2005-06. Buford was homesick and first transferred to Johnson C. Smith, Shaw's rival and opponent at Edinboro's McComb Fieldhouse on Monday night.
CIAA schools had done little in the Atlantic Regional, to which the conference was moved before the 2008-09 season. They were a non-factor when host California (Pa.) won in 2009 and when Gannon captured the regional in 2010. Edinboro, which had a magnificent season (26-4) and was top seed and host of the Atlantic Regional, was a victim of bad luck.
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16th-seeded Prairie View women to face No. 1 Baylor in tourney
The Prairie View A&M Panthers’ anxiety over learning their destination in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament disappeared mere minutes into Monday evening’s selection show on ESPN.
Their name appeared underneath first-round opponent and No. 1 seed Baylor on the flat screens at Buffalo Wild Wings in Cypress, and the attendants at the Panthers’ selection show watch party roared in jubilation.
The 16th-seeded Panthers (21-11) will start their NCAA Tournament run against the Bears (31-2) in the Dallas Region at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ferrell Center in Waco. The winner advances to face the victor of Sunday’s earlier matchup between No. 8 seed Houston (26-5) and No. 9 seed West Virginia (23-9).
Baylor No. 1 NCAA seed at home vs. Prairie View
Baylor is a No. 1 seed for the first time and playing at home to start this year's NCAA women's tournament.
The Big 12 champion Lady Bears (31-2) open this year's tournament Sunday against SWAC champion Prairie View (21-11). If they want to make it to the Final Four for the second year in a row, there is the real possibility that they will have to beat Big 12 runner-up Texas A&M for...
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Their name appeared underneath first-round opponent and No. 1 seed Baylor on the flat screens at Buffalo Wild Wings in Cypress, and the attendants at the Panthers’ selection show watch party roared in jubilation.
The 16th-seeded Panthers (21-11) will start their NCAA Tournament run against the Bears (31-2) in the Dallas Region at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ferrell Center in Waco. The winner advances to face the victor of Sunday’s earlier matchup between No. 8 seed Houston (26-5) and No. 9 seed West Virginia (23-9).
Baylor No. 1 NCAA seed at home vs. Prairie View
Baylor is a No. 1 seed for the first time and playing at home to start this year's NCAA women's tournament.
The Big 12 champion Lady Bears (31-2) open this year's tournament Sunday against SWAC champion Prairie View (21-11). If they want to make it to the Final Four for the second year in a row, there is the real possibility that they will have to beat Big 12 runner-up Texas A&M for...
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2011 Women's NCAA Tournament Bracket: Hampton Receives No. 13 Seed, Will Play Kentucky Saturday
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| Hampton University second year Head Basketball Coach David Six wins triple crown -- NCAA Tournament bid, MEAC Tournament Champions and MEAC Regular Season Champs. |
The Pirates qualified for the tournament by winning the MEAC Tournament with a win over Howard. It was Hampton's second-straight conference championship and they lost only one conference game during the regular season.
Kentucky, on the other hand, was arguably the SEC's second-best team behind perennial favorite Tennessee. The Wildcats enter the tournament with an at-large bid with a 24-8 record overall and 11-5 in the SEC.
NCAA TOURNAMENT WOMEN'S BRACKET
LADY PIRATES TO FACE KENTUCKY IN NCAA FIRST ROUND
HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University women’s basketball team, fresh off its second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament championship, will face No. 4 seed Kentucky on Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M. in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Div. I Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. EST. Television and ticket information will be announced when made available.
The Lady Pirates erupted in jubilation when their name was unveiled on the ESPN broadcast in the Student Center Ballroom. Hampton (25-6) earned a No. 13 seed in the Spokane Region, the highest-ever seed for a MEAC school in the 64-team championship format. For second-year head coach David Six, the seeding was validating.
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TSU's Harvey named SWAC Coach of the Year
Texas Southern's Tony Harvey was named 2011 Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year on Monday. Harvey, who is in his third season, led the Tigers (19-12) to a 16-2 mark in SWAC play and the regular-season title. TSU fell to Alabama State in the semifinals of the SWAC tournament but earned a bid to the National Invitation Tournament.The eighth-seeded Tigers will open their NIT run against top-seeded Colorado at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Boulder, Colorado.
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Morgan State To Face Virginia On Thursday In Opening Round Of WNIT
BALTIMORE, Md. (March 15, 2011) - What a difference a year makes. Just a year ago the Lady Bears were invited to the 2010 Preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) and had to decline. The WNIT committee replaced Morgan State with then three-time defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season champion, North Carolina A&T. The Lady Aggies would later earn the MEAC automatic bid into the Postseason WNIT, where it made a historical run, winning two games and advancing to the Round of 16.This time there will be no declining, as the Lady Bears, who earned the automatic berth for the MEAC, found out Monday night they will head to Charlottesville, Va. to face host University of Virginia in Round 1 action of the WNIT on Thursday, March 17. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.
The game will air locally in the Charlottesville area on WINA 1070 AM. That broadcast will be available on the Internet at VirginiaSports.com with a subscription to Virginia Sports Online Radio. The winner of Thursday's contest will face the winner of Old Dominion vs. Loyola (Md.) in the second round.
2011 WNIT Bracket MSU TEAM ROSTER
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Southern University Accept WNIT Invite: Travels to Tulane on Thursday
Baton Rouge, La. - Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season women's basketball champion Southern University accepted an invitation Monday to the WNIT, an automatic berth for conference champions that do not win their respective tournament title. The Lady Jaguars will travel to New Orleans to face Tulane on Thursday in the opening round of the 64-team tournament.There was some speculation as to whether or not the Lady Jaguars would accept the bid to the tournament when head coach Sandy Pugh announced in her post-game interview following the SWAC Tournament championship game that the school might not be able to afford to send the team to the post-season.
2011 WNIT Bracket
SU raises funds, draws Tulane in WNIT
One by one, they started to show up at Southern University with their checkbooks and wallets open, offering to support the women’s basketball team however they could. Thanks to a flood of 11th-hour donations from alumni and booster groups, the women’s basketball team collected enough money to cover last-minute travel costs for the WNIT.
That allowed the Jaguars to accept the automatic bid they received for winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season championship.
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Barlow Names Four to ASU Hornet Coaching Staff
MONTGOMERY – Alabama State head football coach Reggie Barlow has named four new coaches to his staff.Fred Kaiss joins the staff as offensive coordinator/running backs coach, Shannon Harris as wide receivers coach, Willard Scissum as offensive line coach, and Dominique Stevenson as safeties coach.
“With success, sometimes things change and we had some success this year,” said fifth-year head coach Reggie Barlow of his team which won the SWAC Eastern Division championship last season. ”We had a few guys that had an opportunity to move on to other positions. All in all, we have four really good guys we've brought into the fold that we think can give us what we need to take care of unfinished business.”
Hornets Begin Spring Practice
MONTGOMERY—Alabama State University's football team held the first of 15 practice sessions today with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement as the Hornets look to build on their 2010 SWAC Eastern Division Championship.
“It was a good first day,” head coach Reggie Barlow said. “The guys worked hard and did well on the first day. It was not hot and we were in helmets so we were able to get some things done.”
The Hornets welcomed some new faces on the coaching staff, but Coach Cedric Thornton is back to run the ASU defense and there were not a lot of changes on that side of the ball.
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WSSU Rams get ready to start spring football practice
Winston-Salem State, coming off an 8-2 season in football, will begin spring practice today. And coach Connell Maynor has a message for the 80 or so players who will go through the 14 practices: "Every job is always open," he said.If there's one thing Maynor isn't about to do, it's to let the older players who were starters last season cruise through spring practice and think they have jobs waiting for them in the fall. Maynor said that even though it's spring practice, the competition for the starting positions will be fierce.
"We will have an edge," Maynor said about practice. "The seniors had a good year and the fans were happy with 8-2 last season, but we didn't accomplish our goal and that was to win the CIAA and get into the playoffs.
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NCCU Football Opens Spring Practice Today
Four-Week Spring Practice to Conclude with 'Maroon vs. Gray' Scrimmage on April 9
DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – Tuesday (March 15) marks the beginning of spring football practice for North Carolina Central University and the first time new head coach Henry Frazier III will take the field with the Eagles.
NCCU’s opening practice is slated for a 4 p.m. start on Tuesday inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. The Eagles will practice on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for four weeks and will conclude with a ‘Maroon vs. Gray’ scrimmage on Saturday, April 9 at 3 p.m., also inside their home stadium.
“We’ll get the opportunity to see the guys in action to get an athletic evaluation in regards to football,” said Frazier. “We know what they can do in the weight room, so now we get to see them in action to get a fair assessment of how they will fit into our program.
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DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – Tuesday (March 15) marks the beginning of spring football practice for North Carolina Central University and the first time new head coach Henry Frazier III will take the field with the Eagles.
NCCU’s opening practice is slated for a 4 p.m. start on Tuesday inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. The Eagles will practice on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for four weeks and will conclude with a ‘Maroon vs. Gray’ scrimmage on Saturday, April 9 at 3 p.m., also inside their home stadium.
“We’ll get the opportunity to see the guys in action to get an athletic evaluation in regards to football,” said Frazier. “We know what they can do in the weight room, so now we get to see them in action to get a fair assessment of how they will fit into our program.
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Monday, March 14, 2011
WSSU Audit Finds $3.9 Million Athletics Deficit
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- A state audit of finances at Winston-Salem State University found a $3.9 million athletics department deficit, but the university blamed the shortfall on its decision to move its athletics programs to NCAA Division I classification.The audit also found no means of eliminating the deficit in the coming years and that the university is using "unidentified funds" to support the athletics program.
Read Full Audit
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CIAA rivals Shaw and JCSU to decide Regional title
Shaw and Johnson C. Smith have been rivals in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association for decades. Now, the two women's basketball teams will face each other hundreds of miles away from North Carolina in the NCAA Atlantic Regional final today at 7 p.m. at Edinboro's McComb Fieldhouse.Eighth-seeded Shaw (23-11) has won nine straight, and the Bears from Raleigh, N.C., beat second-seeded Johnson C. Smith (26-4) in the CIAA championship game after the Golden Bulls beat them twice during the regular season.
Shaw demolished cold-shooting host and top-seed Edinboro 72-51 in the quarterfinals when the Scots missed 28 straight 3-pointers. In the semifinals, the Bears rallied past fifth-seeded California, Pa., 70-63 for their second straight win over PSAC teams that have dominated the regional in recent years.
NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship
Shaw (23-11) vs. Johnson C. Smith (26-4)
Today, 7 p.m.
Edinboro's McComb Fieldhouse
Live Stats
Live Audio
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Former WSSU Rams great joins Delaware State
Tory Woodbury, a former Winston-Salem State quarterback and a native of Winston-Salem, has been hired as an assistant coach at Delaware State.Woodbury, who played three years in the NFL, has been hired by Kermit Blount, a former coach of the Rams who coached Woodbury in the late 1990s.
"This is a great opportunity for me to get into college coaching, and I can't thank coach Blount enough for what he's done for me through the years," Woodbury said by telephone from Charlotte, where he has spent the past three years coaching at the high school level.
Woodbury, 32, helped WSSU to consecutive CIAA titles in 1999 and 2000, and then went on to play in the NFL with the Jets and the Bills. After his NFL career, he got into coaching at Carver and Atkins before moving to Charlotte, where he was the quarterbacks coach at Garinger.
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Hampton Pirates get top seeded Duke
HAMPTON, VA – The Hampton University men’s basketball team, fresh off winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament championship, will face No. 1 seed Duke on Friday in Charlotte, N.C. in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The Pirates learned their fate at a Selection Show party Sunday evening in the Student Center Ballroom, erupting in raucous applause and cheers when the school’s name was announced in front of an audience of fans and boosters.
Hampton (24-8), making their first NCAA appearance since 2006, earned the No. 16 seed in the West Region. They defeated defending MEAC champion Morgan State 60-55 on Saturday in the title game for their fifth straight win.
Ex-Trenton mayor: 16th-seed Hampton will shock No. 1 Duke in NCAA Tournament
TRENTON, NJ -- Watch out, Dukies, little ol' Hampton is coming to eat your lunch! So says former Trenton mayor Doug Palmer after hearing that his alma mater is slated to open the NCAA Tournament against the defending national champion and top seed in the West.
Hampton University (24-8) is the 16-seed after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. On Friday in Charlotte, N.C., the Pirates will face No. 5 Duke (29-4), which beat North Carolina to win the ACC crown and grab a top seed for the 12th time.
But Hampton has history on its side in tournament games against powerhouses.
NCAA MEN'S BRACKET
PIRATES TO FACE DUKE IN NCAA FIRST ROUND
HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team, fresh off winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament championship, will face No. 1 seed Duke on Friday in Charlotte, N.C. in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The time of the game has yet to be determined. The Pirates learned their fate at a Selection Show party Sunday evening in the Student Center Ballroom, erupting in raucous applause and cheers when the school’s name was announced in front of an audience of fans and boosters.
“We're excited for the opportunity, and it marks a chance for our program to do something special,” Pirates head coach Edward “Buck” Joyner Jr. said. “It's been 10 years since we last made history, and we want to put that stamp on our program and show the world what we're capable of.”
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Texas-San Antonio to open NCAA Tournament play against Alabama State on Wednesday night
INDIANAPOLIS — The UTSA men's basketball team learned its NCAA Tournament destination and opponent on Sunday evening and the Southland Conference Tournament Champion Roadrunners will square off against Alabama State, which won this weekend's Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament. The two squads will play at 5:40 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday at UD Arena as part of the newly-created "First Four" games on the campus of the University of Dayton.UTSA, winners of five consecutive outings in the last 11 days, will bring a 19-13 overall record into its fourth "Big Dance" appearance in program history and first since 2004 (1988, '99 are the others). The No. 7 seed Roadrunners earned the Southland's automatic bid following their 75-72 championship game victory against top-seeded McNeese State on Saturday afternoon. Senior guard Devin Gibson was named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player and he was joined on the All-Tournament Team by freshman Jeromie Hill.
NCAA MEN'S BRACKET
Hornets To Face Texas-San Antonio In NCAA Tournament
The Alabama State men's basketball team will face Texas-San Antonio in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. central time in Dayton, Ohio. The two teams will be a part of the newly created “First Four” games on the campus of the University of Dayton.
The Hornets emerged from the fourth seed in the Farmers Insurance SWAC Tournament to win the title and the league's automatic berth for the fourth time in school history and second time in three seasons.
“We're excited to have an opportunity to be in the NCAA Tournament again,” Hornets' head coach Lewis Jackson said. “It's great for our players, Alabama State University, the community of Montgomery and people around the city and the state. Guys will have the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament again and that's big. That's as high as it gets, and we're excited about being in it.”
Alabama State (17-17) enters the NCAA's as one of the nation's hottest teams, being victorious 11 of their last 12 games. That lone loss, a 74-73 decision at Grambling on March 5, was avenged in the tournament championship game Saturday night with a 65-48 win over the Tigers.
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Stillman's Big Second Half Ends Florida Southern Mocs' Season
Huntsville, AL - A big second half by Stillman wiped out a 13-point lead by the Moccasins and the Tigers ended the Moccasins' season, 92-86, in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II South Regional at Huntsville, Ala., Sunday night. The Moccasins finished the season at 23-9.The Moccasins had shot 61.6 percent from the field en route to their 51-38 advantage at halftime, but it took Stillman just over five minutes in the second half to erase the deficit. The Tigers pulled even at 56-56 with 14:43 remaining, as they hit seven of their first nine shots in the period.
Stillman didn't take the lead for good until the 5:31 mark, when LaDarius Rhone sank a three-pointer to put the Tigers in front 74-72 and the Moccasins never saw the lead again. The Tigers were as hot from the field in the second half as the Moccasins were in the first half, shooting 60.7 percent, while the FSC shot just 34.4 percent in the second half.
Mocs Let Lead Slip Away in Semifinal Loss
A big halftime lead can turn out to be a bad thing and it was for the Mocs on Sunday. The Florida Southern College men's basketball team led by 13 at the break and couldn't keep its intensity level high enough afterward to avoid a 92-86 loss to Stillman in the NCAA Division II South Regional semifinals in Huntsville, Ala.
"They came out, got on a roll and we couldn't stop them," said head coach Linc Darner, whose Mocs ended their season with a 23-9 record.
Stillman (23-7) stormed back with an 18-5 run after the break to tie it at 56 and took the lead for good with 5:31 to play.
Box Score
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Shaw Bears Raheem Smith Has Career Night In NCAA Loss to West Liberty U.
West Liberty, WV - On what would become the final night of his collegiate career, Raheem Smith exploded for a career-high 36 points - including 27 in the first half alone - but it wasn't enough as Shaw fell to the nation's highest ranked team, West Liberty, 98-93. The NCAA Atlantic Regional Semi-final was played on WLU's home court.Shaw (23-9) had their highest offensive outburst of the season and held West Liberty (31-0) below 100 - only the second time all season the Hilltoppers have been held under triple digits on their home court.
"This was a great game from a fan standpoint. We were up and down the court, throwing in three pointers and playing good defense," said Shaw Head Coach Cleo Hill, Jr. "Both teams played hard, but in the end, the home team won."
In the end, the game was decided at the free throw line. The Bears went to the charity stripe 12 times -- hitting eight -- while the Hilltoppers found themselves shooting 31 free throws, sinking 26.
Boxscore
Hilltoppers Outlast Shaw 98-93
Atlantic Region Player of the Year Corey Pelle led four double-figure scorers with 23 points and senior pivot John Wolosinczuk hit a back-breaking 3-point bomb with less than 90 seconds remaining as unbeaten and No. 1-ranked West Liberty held off a determined Shaw squad in a regional semifinal thriller.
The Hilltoppers will host defending regional champion and No. 2 seed Indiana (Pa.) Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Atlantic Region championship game with the winner advancing to next week’s NCAA Division II Elite Eight at Springfield, Mass.
West Liberty led throughout the second half but weren’t able to put the hot-shooting Bears away until Wolosinczuk’s clutch 3-pointer pushed the Hilltoppers out to a 92-86 lead with 1:25 to play. Barry Shetzer then came up with a steal and hit a streaking Alex Falk for a runout layup that finally put the game out of reach, 94-86, heading into the final minute.
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Bowie State Falls 94-81 In NCAA Region Semifinal to Indiana (PA)
WEST LIBERTY, WV - Indiana University of Pennsylvania fell into a 14-point hole in the opening seven minutes of the game before the trio of Ashton Smith, Julian Sanders and Scooter Renkin rallied the Crimson Hawks to a 94-81 win over Bowie State University in the semifinals of the NCAA Atlantic Region.“I’m really proud of my basketball team and happy for the opportunity to be here (NCAA’s)”, said second year Bowie State coach Darrell Brooks. “We lost to a very good and experienced basketball team that reached the Division II finals last season, and they understand this regional tournament and hopefully our young team will learn from this experience and be back here next year.”
The Bulldogs made four 3-pointers in the first six minutes of the game and built an 18-4 lead on a steal by junior Darren Clark (Largo, MD, Largo, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania) with 13:22 left in the half. Ashton Smith hit a jumper on IUP’s first shot attempt of the game, but the Crimson Hawks missed four shots and committed six turnovers as the Bulldogs surged ahead.
Renkin got the Crimson Hawks comeback started when he converted a steal into a layup and was fouled, making the free throw for a three-point play. Smith made three buckets, including a 3-pointer, and Willi Estrella made two free throws at the 10:22 mark to cap a 14-2 run that pulled IUP within 20-16.
PHOTO GALLERY (Courtesy of Sherri Fillingham)
IUP Rides Red Hot 3-Point Shooting to Victory over Bowie State and Berth in Atlantic Region Final
IUP fell into a 14-point hole in the opening seven minutes before the guard trio of Ashton Smith, Julian Sanders and Scooter Renkin rallied the Crimson Hawks to a 94-81 win over Bowie State in the semifinals of the NCAA Atlantic Region tournament Sunday in West Liberty, W.Va.
IUP (26-5) won for the 13th straight time and will face West Liberty in the championship contest for the second straight year on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The host Hilltoppers advanced with a 98-93 victory over Shaw. The Crimson Hawks defeated West Liberty 84-72 in the regional final at home a year ago and then won twice at the Elite 8 to advance to the national championship game.
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Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) To Receive MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street Global Exposure
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| GCAC president Kiki Baker Barnes |
The GCAC was established in 1981 and recently (2010) went through a major transformation with the six (6) non-HBCU institutions leaving for the Southern States Athletic Conference and the Red River Athletic Conference. This move left six (6) small, mostly private HBCUs institutions under the GCAC banner.
The president of the GCAC is Dillard University's Athletic Director and head women's basketball coach Kiki Baker Barnes. Barnes was unanimously voted in by her peers as the 17th president of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference at the 2009 fall meetings, making her the first African-American woman to hold the position.
She is one of only two African-Americans named to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' (NAIA) newly formed National Administrative Council and a member of the Black Coaches and Administrators (BCA) professional organization. Upon her installation as conference president, Barnes stated, "now is a critical time in the history of the conference as it attempts to draw new members and build new rivalries, and I look forward to the challenge."
Talladega College will be leaving the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and will be rejoining the GCAC in 2011-12 academic year, along with Philander Smith College (Little Rock, AR). Voorhees College decided in July 2010 not to accept an invitation to join the conference. Further expansion of the GCAC remains one of the conference's most important goals, in addition to raising its profile and sports branding by member institutions.
The conference fields 13 sports programs--Men's Basketball, Golf, Soccer, Cross Country, Track and Field, Tennis and Baseball; and Women's Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, Cross Country, Track and Field, and Tennis. Not all institutions are able to field teams in each sport, and may have as few as three programs, like Fisk University. Playoff bids for sports like tennis, soccer, baseball and golf will have to come by way of play-in tournament games with the NAIA's Association of Independent Institutions.
Current GCAC member institutions are: (click each name for auto link to each college athletic website)
1. Dillard University Bleu Devils, New Orleans, LA
2. Edward Waters College Tigers, Jacksonville, FL
3. Fisk University Bulldogs, Nashville, TN
4. Southern University at New Orleans Knights, New Orleans, LA
5. Tougaloo College Bulldogs, Tougaloo, MS
6. Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush/Gold Nuggets, New Orleans, LA
7. Talladega College Tornadoes, Talladega, AL
8. Philander Smith College Panthers, Little Rock, AR
Edward Waters College is the only football playing member of the conference and plays as an NAIA Independent for football. The EWC Tigers recently selected Bethune-Cookman University's assistant Brad Bernard as its new head football coach. Bernard tapped B-CU assistant coach Greg Ross as the Tigers new offensive coordinator and Millsaps College (Miss.) assistant Lane Powell as his defensive coordinator.
The basketball powerhouses this season are Tougaloo Bulldogs (27-4) and Xavier Gold Rush (men) (27-5) that are bracketed in the NAIA Division I National Championship Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri on March 16-22. The Xavier Gold Nuggets women's team (26-6) are also participants in the national championship tournament in Kansas City.
Many thanks to Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director at Xavier University of Louisiana who has been sending us stories on the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets nationally ranked Tennis Teams. This pushed us to take a closer look at what was going on with the GCAC and examine the historic academic powerhouses that are charter member institutions, i.e., Dillard University, Tougaloo College and Xavier University of Louisiana.
Check back often for links to articles on our student-athletes from the fifth HBCU conference -- the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.
Thank you to our growing 380,706 readers world-wide that continue to confirm that Historically Black Colleges and Universities are as relevant today, as they will be when Jesus comes. Please continue to provide your financial support to our HBCU Institutions, especially to the sports and music programs which are a cornerstone to American society and culture. Thank you also for the nearly one million page views from the readers from 176 countries/territories, above all, our active members of the American military services.
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Videographer: ewc1777; Edward Waters College Triple Threat Marching Band vs. North Carolina Central University Marching Sound Machine ( Nov. 2010)
TSU headed to NIT, will face Colorado in Boulder on Wednesday
HOUSTON – The Texas Southern Tigers had high hopes heading in this past week’s SWAC Conference tournament. They dreamed of playing in the Final Four. Alabama State ruined those plans last Friday night with a 73-66 victory in the semifinals, ending the Tigers chance at making it to the NCAA Tournament.
There isn’t much consolation for that crushing loss, but TSU’s season isn’t over just yet. On Wednesday, the Tigers (19-12) will head to Boulder, Colorado to take on the Buffaloes in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament.
TSU's Harvey to be Named SWAC Coach of the Year
HOUSTON - The Southwestern Athletic Conference will name Texas Southern men's basketball coach Tony Harvey as the SWAC Coach of the Year on Monday. TSU won the SWAC regular season championship and lost in the semifinals of the conference tournament to eventual champion Alabama State.
"It's a great honor," Harvey said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "I'm really excited. I'm blessed and I'm thankful. "It's tears of joy." Harvey said he won the award for TSU which has given him great support.
Texas Southern draws Colorado in NIT
The Texas Southern Tigers fell just short of reaching the NCAA Tournament after bowing out to Alabama State on Friday in the semifinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.
But their consolation prize — an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament — represents a milestone for a program that hasn’t reached the postseason since the 2003, when it advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers (19-12), who were the SWAC’s regular-season champions, were named a No. 8 seed in the NIT and will face top-seeded Colorado (21-13) at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Coors Events Center in Boulder, Colo.
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There isn’t much consolation for that crushing loss, but TSU’s season isn’t over just yet. On Wednesday, the Tigers (19-12) will head to Boulder, Colorado to take on the Buffaloes in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament.
TSU's Harvey to be Named SWAC Coach of the Year
HOUSTON - The Southwestern Athletic Conference will name Texas Southern men's basketball coach Tony Harvey as the SWAC Coach of the Year on Monday. TSU won the SWAC regular season championship and lost in the semifinals of the conference tournament to eventual champion Alabama State.
"It's a great honor," Harvey said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "I'm really excited. I'm blessed and I'm thankful. "It's tears of joy." Harvey said he won the award for TSU which has given him great support.
Texas Southern draws Colorado in NIT
The Texas Southern Tigers fell just short of reaching the NCAA Tournament after bowing out to Alabama State on Friday in the semifinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.
But their consolation prize — an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament — represents a milestone for a program that hasn’t reached the postseason since the 2003, when it advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers (19-12), who were the SWAC’s regular-season champions, were named a No. 8 seed in the NIT and will face top-seeded Colorado (21-13) at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Coors Events Center in Boulder, Colo.
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The NAIA changed basketball, and Kansas City
Alcorn State was minutes away from tipping off a game at the 1974 NAIA Tournament when Braves coach Davey Whitney received a tap on the shoulder from a Municipal Auditorium official.“Phone call,” he was told. Now? Whitney shooed away the messenger. A few minutes later came another tap. “I was told it was important and I had to take the call,” Whitney said. “So I left the bench and got on the phone.”
On the line was the school president. A bill had just been signed into Mississippi law to grant Alcorn university status. No longer was it Alcorn Agricultural & Mechanical College but Alcorn State University. The president wanted everybody at the NAIA to know.
“We had ’em change the scoreboard,” Whitney said. “It meant a lot to us to be called Alcorn State University at the NAIA. It was where we were welcomed. To us, it was a special place.”
Basketball's African American Pioneers
A forgotten ballplayer walked into a small reception room last week at the Reagan Building, had the privilege of meeting the famous Earl Monroe -- and promptly told the Pearl a story.
While Monroe was becoming NBA royalty in New York, Perry Wallace played for a pittance in the Eastern League, a basketball minor league, and moonlighted as a math teacher at the Pearl's alma mater, Philadelphia's John Bartram High School.
"And at the same time, Joe Bryant -- Kobe's father -- attended that school," Wallace said. "Isn't that something?"
From the Pearl to Perry, to Jellybean Bryant and on to his son, the entire evening became a game of human H-O-R-S-E. They bonded over coincidences and zero degrees of separation, of events of 30, 40 and 50 years ago, all told by living historians before the screening of "Black Magic."
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