Jackson High coach Quinn Gray quits, blames budget crisis
JACKSONVILLE, FL - Quinn Gray wanted to stay on as Jackson High School's football coach. However, the looming elimination of athletics from the Duval County public schools system created too unstable a future.
The former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback resigned his post on Monday to accept an assistant coaching position with Florida A&M, his alma mater. The 31-year-old Gray spent six seasons in the NFL, including the first five (2003-07) with the Jaguars. Facing a $97 million shortfall, Duval County School Board Chairman W.C. Gentry has stated that all athletic programs will be cut if that figure remains largely in tact.
Jackson Football Coach Resigns Amid Cuts
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Andrew Jackson football coach Quinn Gray is leaving Jacksonville disappointed after just one season at the helm. The idea that high school sports could be eliminated altogether is something the former Jaguars quarterback can hardly believe.
"The determining factor was all the uncertainty when it comes to Duval schools and athletics for the season," Gray said of why he's resigning. "It would be a shame for the kids in the upcoming year, because a lot of students use sports as an outlet, and they use it as a motivator as well."
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Thursday, March 17, 2011
FAMU Shows Off at Pro Day
Tallahassee, FL - Six seniors from last year's MEAC championship winning team showcased their skills in front of scouts today.
Lincoln grad Isaac West impressed at wide receiver. Marianna (FL) speedster Philip Sylvester also turned some heads as well. Curtis Holcomb made his impression on the defensive side of the ball. Qier Hall, Marquiste Ramos, and Kendrick Washington also participated in Wednesday's Pro Day.
FAMU football players give their all during workout
They gave their best shots in front of 14 NFL scouts during Wednesday's Pro Day testing. The next best thing would be a phone call with an invitation to attend one of the team's training camps.
"I think it was a good impression overall," said running back Philip Sylvester, one of the Rattlers' leading prospects for playing at the next level. "We did well; did what was expected. I've been working out six days a week and I met my expectation.
"It was just going out there and doing your business. That's all you can do." What they did was a battery of physical tests that included weight lifting, running the 40-meter dash and vertical jumps during the two-hour workout.
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
NCCU Eagles: A new hill to climb for Frazier
DURHAM, N.C. -- Hills: Henry Frazier III knows a few things about hills.
He learned how to win from the high school coach who made him run up the hill behind the field, over and over again, and he never forgot, becoming a winning quarterback at Bowie State and a winning coach there.
He climbed what may the biggest hill in all of college football, making a winner out of Prairie View A&M. The Panthers, famous for an NCAA-record 80-game losing streak, hadn't had a winning season in 31 years. Frazier needed only four to do it.
Videographer: NCCUEagles
Now Frazier faces a new challenge: seeing how far he can take N.C. Central in Division I and the MEAC. The Eagles have a long tradition of success in Division II, but this is a whole new ballgame.
FRAZIER ANNOUNCES NCCU FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – Henry Frazier III, who was named North Carolina Central University’s new head football coach on Dec. 16, has announced his coaching staff.
Among the 10 assistant coaches, four rejoin Frazier from his prior coaching position at Prairie View A&M University, including Dwayne Foster (Assistant Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/Offensive Line), Michael Bryant (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks), Roy Jones (Director of Football Operations/Tight Ends) and Lamar Manigo (Wide Receivers).
Four coaches have been retained from last season’s Eagles staff, including Mike McGlinchey (Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs) and Antoine Rivens (Defensive Line), along with former NCCU gridiron student-athletes Jamar Harp (Assistant Offensive Line/Video Coordinator) and Andre George (Assistant Defensive Backs).
Rounding out the staff are John Morgan (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs), who served as defensive coordinator at NCCU in 2007, and Mike Mendenhall (Linebackers/Assistant Special Teams).
Videographer: NCCUEagles
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VISIT: NCCUEAGLESFOOTBALL
He learned how to win from the high school coach who made him run up the hill behind the field, over and over again, and he never forgot, becoming a winning quarterback at Bowie State and a winning coach there.
He climbed what may the biggest hill in all of college football, making a winner out of Prairie View A&M. The Panthers, famous for an NCAA-record 80-game losing streak, hadn't had a winning season in 31 years. Frazier needed only four to do it.
Videographer: NCCUEagles
Now Frazier faces a new challenge: seeing how far he can take N.C. Central in Division I and the MEAC. The Eagles have a long tradition of success in Division II, but this is a whole new ballgame.
FRAZIER ANNOUNCES NCCU FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – Henry Frazier III, who was named North Carolina Central University’s new head football coach on Dec. 16, has announced his coaching staff.
Among the 10 assistant coaches, four rejoin Frazier from his prior coaching position at Prairie View A&M University, including Dwayne Foster (Assistant Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/Offensive Line), Michael Bryant (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks), Roy Jones (Director of Football Operations/Tight Ends) and Lamar Manigo (Wide Receivers).
Four coaches have been retained from last season’s Eagles staff, including Mike McGlinchey (Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs) and Antoine Rivens (Defensive Line), along with former NCCU gridiron student-athletes Jamar Harp (Assistant Offensive Line/Video Coordinator) and Andre George (Assistant Defensive Backs).
Rounding out the staff are John Morgan (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs), who served as defensive coordinator at NCCU in 2007, and Mike Mendenhall (Linebackers/Assistant Special Teams).
Videographer: NCCUEagles
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VISIT: NCCUEAGLESFOOTBALL
Today's NIT: Texas Southern vs. Colorado
CU Buffs' resiliency will be tested in NIT opener in Boulder
The prevailing feeling from coast to coast is that Colorado deserved to be in the NCAA Tournament. Well-respected Seattle Times columnist Bud Withers on bubble teams scorned: "Clearly, the team with a beef is Colorado, which was 6-7 against the top 50, usually a figure that would guarantee entry."
ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale, known for his love of all things Big East and ACC, said if this were a beauty contest, at-large selection Alabama-Birmingham would be Roseanne Barr and shunned CU would be Scarlett Johansson.
TEXAS SOUTHERN (19-12, 16-2 SWAC) vs. COLORADO (21-13, 8-8 BIG 12)
INTERNET STREAMING BROADCAST: 7 p.m., ESPN3.com
GAME NOTES: Game Notes #35: NIT 1st Round
The prevailing feeling from coast to coast is that Colorado deserved to be in the NCAA Tournament. Well-respected Seattle Times columnist Bud Withers on bubble teams scorned: "Clearly, the team with a beef is Colorado, which was 6-7 against the top 50, usually a figure that would guarantee entry."
ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale, known for his love of all things Big East and ACC, said if this were a beauty contest, at-large selection Alabama-Birmingham would be Roseanne Barr and shunned CU would be Scarlett Johansson.
TEXAS SOUTHERN (19-12, 16-2 SWAC) vs. COLORADO (21-13, 8-8 BIG 12)
INTERNET STREAMING BROADCAST: 7 p.m., ESPN3.com
GAME NOTES: Game Notes #35: NIT 1st Round
BOULDER - In most cases, the NIT is all about appetite - that is, which teams can summon the hunger to stay competitive and keep playing in the aftermath of an overlook by the NCAA or being bounced out via an upset in a conference tournament.
Colorado is an uncomfortable fit in the first category, having been passed over by the NCAA Selection Committee, while Texas Southern falls into the second. They could commiserate Wednesday night at the Coors Events Center (7 p.m., ESPN3.com) in the first round of the NIT, but CU Coach Tad Boyle isn't expecting that from the Buffaloes.
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Today's NIT: Tech, a top seed in NIT for third time, hosts Bethune-Cookman
Bethune Cookman Wildcats (21-12) at Virginia Tech Hokies (21-11)TELEVISION: 8 p.m. EDT, ESPNU
While Virginia Tech was still trying to come to grips with yet another NCAA Tournament snub Sunday evening, Bethune-Cookman’s players and coaches waited excitedly to find out who they would play in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.
They cheered wildly as ESPNU revealed their matchup with Tech.
DAYTONA BEACH -- C.J. Reed doesn't need to glance at the newspaper box scores from the MEAC tournament to recall his rare back-to-back off nights. The league's Player of the Year has every aspect of his struggles memorized.
"Four for 19, four for 17, three free throws in the first game and five in the second," Reed said of his stat lines during two games in Winston-Salem, N.C.
"I know those numbers inside and out. I don't think I made the shots I normally make and didn't get to the line enough. That hurt us in the long run."
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Today's NCAA Tournament: Alabama State vs. UTSA
No. 16 Texas-San Antonio (19-13) vs. No. 16 Alabama State (17-17)
WHEN/WHERE: 5:40 p.m.CDT, Dayton, Ohio
TELEVISION: truTV Channel
A CLOSER LOOK: Texas-San Antonio likes a fast pace; Alabama State tries to keep games low-scoring. The winner will be the team that imposes its will. Alabama State was an upset winner of the SWAC Tournament. The Hornets have an RPI of No. 257 but have won 11 of 12 games. The Roadrunners upset McNeese State in winning the Southland tournament title. Area hoops fans might remember Texas-San Antonio coach Brooks Thompson, who played at Oklahoma State in the early 1990s before a short NBA career. The winner meets top-seeded Ohio State in the East Region.
Alabama State has tourney's worst record
Alabama State reached the NCAA tournament with a lousy record and a remarkable turnaround. The Hornets (17-17) have the worst record in the 68-team field. Everyone else has more wins than losses.
Alabama State must win its first-round game on Wednesday night against Texas-San Antonio (19-13) to improve to a winning record. Their reward? Heading up to Cleveland to try to knock off top-seeded Ohio State.
Roadrunners battle Hornets in "First Four" encounter
Dayton, OH (Sports Network) - Day two of the inaugural "Field of 68" play-in format for the 2011 NCAA Tournament has the champions of the Southland Conference, Texas-San Antonio, squaring off against the Southwestern Athletic Conference champs, Alabama State, from Dayton, Ohio.
Dubbed the "First Four", Wednesday's matchup is the third of four games over two days at UD Arena as part of the NCAA's re-formatted expansion of the traditional 64-team field. The winner of this matchup moves on to face the tournament's top overall seed, Ohio State, in the East Region Friday in Cleveland, Ohio at Quicken Loans Arena.
ASU basketball: White works to get job done for Hornets
Ivory White spends the first few minutes of every basketball game trying to figure out how he can help his Alabama State teammates. Need an offensive spark? White is your guy. Looking for someone to shut down the high-octane perimeter offense of your opponent? Call on White.
Hoping someone can bolster your inside game with a few rebounds and help speed up the transition game? Then the junior guard from Greensboro is the perfect answer to your problems.
Duncan sparks Hornets' streak
Chris Duncan came to Alabama State with one thing on his mind.
And while he has excelled at defense in his two years with the Hornets, he has started to understand his value to the team as an offensive performer. The Hornets have won six consecutive games, transforming from a team that had underachieved and showed little chemistry to one that has dreams of earning an NCAA tournament bid.
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WHEN/WHERE: 5:40 p.m.CDT, Dayton, Ohio
TELEVISION: truTV Channel
A CLOSER LOOK: Texas-San Antonio likes a fast pace; Alabama State tries to keep games low-scoring. The winner will be the team that imposes its will. Alabama State was an upset winner of the SWAC Tournament. The Hornets have an RPI of No. 257 but have won 11 of 12 games. The Roadrunners upset McNeese State in winning the Southland tournament title. Area hoops fans might remember Texas-San Antonio coach Brooks Thompson, who played at Oklahoma State in the early 1990s before a short NBA career. The winner meets top-seeded Ohio State in the East Region.
Alabama State has tourney's worst record
Alabama State reached the NCAA tournament with a lousy record and a remarkable turnaround. The Hornets (17-17) have the worst record in the 68-team field. Everyone else has more wins than losses.
Alabama State must win its first-round game on Wednesday night against Texas-San Antonio (19-13) to improve to a winning record. Their reward? Heading up to Cleveland to try to knock off top-seeded Ohio State.
Roadrunners battle Hornets in "First Four" encounter
Dayton, OH (Sports Network) - Day two of the inaugural "Field of 68" play-in format for the 2011 NCAA Tournament has the champions of the Southland Conference, Texas-San Antonio, squaring off against the Southwestern Athletic Conference champs, Alabama State, from Dayton, Ohio.
Dubbed the "First Four", Wednesday's matchup is the third of four games over two days at UD Arena as part of the NCAA's re-formatted expansion of the traditional 64-team field. The winner of this matchup moves on to face the tournament's top overall seed, Ohio State, in the East Region Friday in Cleveland, Ohio at Quicken Loans Arena.
ASU basketball: White works to get job done for Hornets
Ivory White spends the first few minutes of every basketball game trying to figure out how he can help his Alabama State teammates. Need an offensive spark? White is your guy. Looking for someone to shut down the high-octane perimeter offense of your opponent? Call on White.
Hoping someone can bolster your inside game with a few rebounds and help speed up the transition game? Then the junior guard from Greensboro is the perfect answer to your problems.
Duncan sparks Hornets' streak
Chris Duncan came to Alabama State with one thing on his mind.
And while he has excelled at defense in his two years with the Hornets, he has started to understand his value to the team as an offensive performer. The Hornets have won six consecutive games, transforming from a team that had underachieved and showed little chemistry to one that has dreams of earning an NCAA tournament bid.
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Stillman's Dream Run Ended by Alabama-Huntsville
For a while, it looked as if Stillman's dream run in the NCAA Division II tournament might continue as the Tigers held a 43-42 halfttime edge against regional host Alabama-Huntsville Tuesday night. Alas, the Chargers proved too much, overcoming Stillman and eventually holding on for an 88-81 victory in a Sweet 16 matchup at Spragins Hall.Alabama-Huntsville (29-4) will now take on Minnesota State-Mankato in the Elite 8. Stillman (25-8), which began its run in the tournament by upending heavily-favored second-seeded Harding and then defeated Florida Southern, began this game on a similar high note. The Tigers took...
Stillman Tigers Enter Sweet 16
Huntsville, AL-- Stillman reached yet another milestone with a win over the Florida Southern Moccasins 92-86 and advanced to the NCAA DII South Region final for the first time in school’s history in Spragins Hall at the University of Alabama campus.
The Tigers trailed 38-51 at the half. Following the half, the Tigers overcame a 13-point deficit to tie the game 56-56 at the 14:43 mark. Both teams exchanged baskets and enjoyed the lead until the 5:31 mark when junior LaDarius Rhone made a 3-points basket and the Tigers went ahead for the last time and held it to the end of regulation.
LaJay Sears led the Tigers with 31 points on 10-20 shooting from the field and 7-8 from the free-throw line. Sears was followed by Kevin Johnson and Lee Riley both with 16 points. LaDarius Rhone chipped in 14 points. Rakee Anderson, despite not having a great shooting performance, added a game-high 11 assists.
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Josh Magette, who typically holds the basketball game in his hands, was at the moment holding a thin strand of twine in his right hand. It was a piece of a basketball net, surgically removed Tuesday night in the middle of the warmest, loudest, lovingest, darndest bit of celebration and history this building has seen.
"You can't dream of something like this," said Magette, the UAH point guard. A couple of weeks ago, he had collected another piece of twine, from UAH's official coronation as Gulf South Conference East Division champion.
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PV's Wilson shines in own right
 |
| Coach Toyelle Wilson |
Wilson took the reins in May after former coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke stepped down to take the top job at North Carolina-Wilmington. Cooper-Dyke, a Basketball Hall of Famer, went 86-72 in five seasons at Prairie View, leading the Panthers to four postseason appearances, including their first two NCAA Tournament appearances, and three Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season titles.
Wilson, a former assistant under Cooper-Dyke, had a huge shadow cast over her first season as head coach once athletic director Fred Washington opted to promote her. Some doubted she would be able to duplicate her predecessor’s success.
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Historical Black College All-Star Classic
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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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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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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