S.C. State: Cue looking to make his case in Bulldogs’ quarterback battle

Malcolm Long came to South Carolina State as the most heralded recruit of the Buddy Pough era.

Long delivered, setting multiple school passing records and leading the team to three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles. His playing days at the school over, the big gunner from Gaffney High stood on the field at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Thursday night in windbreaker pants watching the Bulldogs run through practice.

"Good throw Cue!" Long said looking up from talking with a reporter. A few seconds later, the same, "Good throw Cue!"

It is becoming a theme - the "Good throw Cue" thing - it seems, at Bulldogs' practice. Richard Cue, a 6-1, 185 redshirt sophomore from Wilson High School, entered into the spring in a three-way battle to replace Long. His opponents in that battle - a pair of brothers, TeDarrius and Derrick Wiley.

Deep and deeper: Bulldogs have stable of runners ready to hit the ground running

Assistant coach Danny Lewis looks at his South Carolina State running backs and sees plenty of potential.

The Bulldogs return three juniors in Asheton Jordan, Devin Wherry and Chris Merrill, who each displayed moments of superior play last season. Looking to enter the mix is last year's highly sought high school senior running back Charles Brown and looming in the future are the anticipated arrivals of newly signed running backs Dondre Lewis-Freeman, Jalen "Scoop" Simmons, both out of Charlotte, N.C., and Darlington's Dominique Cooper.

On paper, it looks like a very deep backfield for S.C. State. Yet Lewis is taking a cautious, coy approach toward the expectations he has for the group he coaches.

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Robinson dual threat for FAMU

She leads the team in runs batted in. She has the second-highest slugging percentage and she's third in runs scored. And Whitney Robinson pitches as well as she hits for the Florida A&M softball team. That's a luxury the Rattlers haven't enjoyed since All-American Amber Alford made her name as a power hitter who pitched in the early 1990s.

Robinson's all-around play creates high energy every time she pitches or gets a hit, said pitching coach Lori Goodart.

"The team sees her in the circle and they play behind her defensively, then they see her go and give so much more at the plate," Goodart said. "So when she talks, they're going to listen. It's a huge advantage."

FAMU offensive line showing improvements

Whether it was the first or the second team, Florida A&M's personnel on the offensive line didn't change much. The same players worked from left to the right hash mark then back to the left again. Such has been the life of an offensive lineman on the FAMU football team.

Shelley Anthony and Brandon Curry are the only seniors on the unit of nine, including four walk-ons. That makes for a thin line, but coach Joe Taylor took the glass-half-full approach.

"That's a good and bad thing; the veterans can't get hurt and if the freshmen get in it will be some valuable experience," Taylor said. "I think coach (Lawrence) Kershaw has done a good job in working with what he has."

FAMU relay team better with every step on track

They're getting better every time out. At least that's the way it seems for the Florida A&M quartet that makes up the women's 4x400 relay team.

But no matter how good they get, this team of three freshmen and a senior won't be content until they run at least 3:31. That time is the best ever ran by a FAMU 4x400 team and it has become their target since early March at the FAMU Relays where they met the women who set the standard more than two decades ago.

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2010-11 All-Louisiana includes XU's Warren on 3rd team

Xavier Gold Nugget Christina Warren

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Christina Warren is third team on the All-Louisiana collegiate women's basketball team announced late Friday.

Warren, a 5-foot-9 senior forward/guard from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and a graduate of Los Osos High School and Chaffey College, averaged a team-leading 11.9 points in 34 games for the Gold Nuggets, who were 27-7, repeated as Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament champion and reached the second round of the NAIA Division I National Championship. Warren helped Xavier lead NAIA Division I in scoring defense for the second consecutive year.

A Louisiana Sports Writers Association panel selected the team.


2010-11 LSWA All-Louisiana Women's Basketball Team
First Team
Adrienne Johnson, Louisiana Tech
Ashlyn Baggett, McNeese State
LaSondra Barrett, LSU
Danielle Nunn, Tulane
Tillisha Givens, Louisiana College

Second Team
Keiva Council, Loyola
Mercedes Johnson, Louisiana-Lafayette
Adrienne Webb, LSU
Ricshanda Bickham, Nicholls State
Tarkeisha Wysinger-Mackey, Louisiana Tech

Third Team
Tiffany Aidoo, Tulane
Hannah Kador, Southern
Secrett Anderson, Grambling
Christina Warren, Xavier
KK Babin, Nicholls State

Player of the Year: Adrienne Johnson, Louisiana Tech
Newcomer of the Year: Jordi James, Northwestern State
Freshman of the Year: KK Babin, Nicholls State
Coach of the Year: Brooks Donald-Williams, McNeese State

Honorable Mention: Freda Allen, Southern; Caitlyn Baggett, McNeese State; Roshaunda Barnes, Tulane; Jasmine Bendolph, Louisiana Tech; Jasmine Brewer, Loyola; Sharday Cotton, LSU-Shreveport; Jordi James, Northwestern State.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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New coach brings new attitude to Hampton U's softball team

HAMPTON, VA — Her starting third baseman broke her arm two weeks before the season began. An outfielder broke her ankle sliding into second two weeks ago. Her pitching staff has of a total of two members, and her first season is off to a 9-23 start.

Those are the negatives. The positives radiate from Hampton softball coach Trena Peel's face, attitude and players.

"People keep saying, 'I feel bad for you. Your first year, you're in a trial by fire,' " said Peel, who responds to such talk with advice received from mentor and legendary UCLA coach Sue Enquist: " 'Keep believing and keep teaching the ones you have.' Just believe, and then we'll get the results."

A rookie head coach, Peel's career to this point has produced plenty of those.

 
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Benedict College Tigers Release 2011 Football Schedule

Columbia, SC-- Athletic Director Willie Washington, Head Football Coach Stanley Conner and the Benedict Tigers, have announced its complete 2011 football schedule for the upcoming Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season.

The Tigers will play a total of 11 games, five at home, five away, and one conference game at a neutral site (Augusta City Classic). Benedict’s schedule will feature three classics, the Palmetto Kick-Off Classic against new Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) opponent Virginia Union University, the South Carolina Historically Black College and University Classic (SCHBCU) versus another CIAA opponent Shaw University, and the Augusta City Classic against Miles College.

Benedict will open its season on Saturday, September 3rd against the Panthers of Virginia Union in the Palmetto Kick-Off Classic. The following week the Tigers will hit the road to face-off against CIAA power, Bowie State University. The Tigers will then have a two game home-stand that includes contests against the Bears of Shaw University in the SCHBCU Classic and on Saturday September 24th by facing off with the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University.

On Saturday October 1, the Tigers will hit the gridiron against the Golden Bears of Miles College in the Augusta City Classic in Augusta, GA.

During the second week in October the Tigers will be on the road traveling to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to face off against Stillman College and then on October 15, return home to the Charlie W. Johnson Football Stadium to hit the gridiron against the Clark Atlanta Panthers on Homecoming.

On October 22, the Tigers will head back on the road and collide with the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College. The following week the Tigers will travel again to Albany, Georgia and trade blows with Mighty Rams of Albany State University. The final home game of the 2011 season is set for Senior Recognition Day/High School Day on November 5th against the Blue Dragons of Lane College.

“With the announcement of the schedule, the 2011 season is definitely upon us. We are excited to kick off another season with our participation in three Classics,” said Willie Washington.

Benedict finished the 2010 season with a 5-6 overall record, while going 4-5 in the SIAC.



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BENEDICT COLLEGE 2011 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DATE	TEAM	LOCATION	TIME/RESULTS
September 3	Virginia Union University Palmetto Kick-Off Classic	Columbia, SC	5:00pm
September 10	Bowie University	Bowie, MD	1:00pm
September 17	Shaw University SCHBCU Classic	Columbia, SC	5:00pm
September 24	*Fort Valley State University Military, Business, Greek, Church, and Community Day	Columbia, SC	6:00pm
October 1	*Miles College Augusta City Classic	Columbia, SC	2:00pm
October 8	*Stillman College	Tuscaloosa, AL	5:00pm (CST)
October15	*Clark Atlanta University Homecoming	Columbia, SC	2:00pm
October 22	*Morehouse College	Atlanta, GA	2:00pm
October 29	*Albany State University	Albany, GA	2:00pm
November 5	*Lane College Take A Kid to the Game Day High School/Senior Recognition Day	Columbia, SC	2:00pm
November 12	SIAC CHAMPIONSHIP	TBD	TBD

GAMES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Courtesy of Benedict College Office of Sports Information

Catching Up On the Coaching Carousel

As far as we know, the coaching carousel is nearly complete. Did you even notice?

The usually far-reaching dominoes haven't fallen as much with plenty of positions being filled by out-of-work coaches, mid-major coaches and assistant coaches. There hasn't been a whole lot of poaching from one major school to the next, or at least not as much as usual. One high-profile move to the NBA, though, and that could all change.

With that said, here is a quick breakdown of what has occurred so far, with 30 positions having been filled and 13 still to go as of Friday morning:

Alcorn State
Alabama A&M
Florida A&M
Southern


Videographer: familymattersfirst; Reach Sports Director Luther Riley (Alcorn State University new head basketball coach) Returns from Taiwan.

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SCSU’S Bellamy is hardest working man in ‘Bulldog Business’

South Carolina State center Tristan Bellamy took a moment to think about what to say next.

The Strom Thurmond alum couldn't find a feasible answer when asked what his toughest challenge was and that could be a good sign of things to come out of the young offensive lineman.

"He's probably been the hardest working man in Bulldog business," Bulldogs head coach Buddy Pough said. "He's taken pretty much every rep for the last eight practices. We actually have another guy that we were working as his backup, but he had a little bit of an injury situation. So, he was out for a few days. Then, we got some other guys banged up and we ended up moving him to guard. But it just kind of gets him to the point where he gets the work that he needs anyway."

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Mitchell, Coppin still at odds

The awkward, three-week standoff between Fang Mitchell and Coppin State University shows no sign of relenting anytime soon. Mitchell, the iconic coach who lifted Coppin to basketball prominence in the 1990s, declined an offer from the university on March 17 to return for his 26th season.

 At the time, he said the offer was not in good faith, but declined to go further. Since then, he has communicated only minimally with university president Reginald Avery, and he had to cancel a Tuesday meeting because of the death of his father-in-law, Rudolph Lewis, on Monday. Now, there will be no talks before the funeral on Tuesday.

All of which leaves Mitchell twisting in the wind. Technically, his contract doesn’t expire until June 30.


Videographer: Andazmedia

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FAMU Rattlers Eye MEAC Golf Title

Florida A&M is looking to win the first-ever, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Golf Showcase in Savannah, Ga. The MEAC Showcase will pit FAMU against fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams in a fifty-four hole tournament. The teams will play 36 holes on the first day of competition and 18 holes on the second day.

The tournament will be held at the Henderson Golf Club. Coach Marvin Green described the course as straight forward yet challenging."What you see is what you get, but there are a lot of hazards out there," Green said.

Junior Shephard Archie III said that Henderson is one of the tougher courses the team will play all year. Archie and Green both described the course as tight. The Henderson Golf Club website says that accuracy and finesse are needed to succeed.

Consistency has been an issue with ...



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JCSU Golden Bulls Releases 2011 Football Schedule

Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University Department of Athletics has announced their 10-game football schedule for the 2011 season. The schedule features four home games, five road games, and one game played at a neutral location (to be determined).

JCSU will host four games at the Irwin Belk Complex on McGirt Field beginning with the season opener on Saturday, September 3rd against St. Paul's College at 4:00 p.m. These two last met during the 2009 season when the Golden Bulls held on for a 24-20 win over the Tigers inside the IBC.

Johnson C. Smith will stay at home in week two to face the Trojans of Virginia State University on Saturday, September 10th at 4:00 p.m. The next four week will be spent traveling as they compete against Brevard College, Davidson College, Winston-Salem State University, and Shaw University.

Brevard came to Charlotte last season and nipped out a 25-21 victory; JCSU hopes to return the favor in Brevard on Saturday, September 17th at 2:00 p.m. Davidson will be a first time opponent for J.C. Smith. The Wildcats compete in the Division I-AA Southern Conference (SoCon) and look to showcase their new artificial turf field during the Saturday, September 24th matchup at 7:00 p.m.

The Golden Bulls enter their divisional schedule when they square with Winston-Salem State on Saturday, October 1st at 1:00 p.m. That game is followed by challenging the defending CIAA Champion Shaw Bears on Saturday, October 8th at 4:00 p.m. Both opponents topped JCSU last season by at least 32 points in Charlotte.

Homecoming kicks off this season on Saturday, October 15th as they host Virginia Union University at 1:00 p.m. Johnson C. Smith will attempt to earn their first homecoming victory since 2008, when the contest was still played in Memorial Stadium.

JCSU will visit St. Augustine's College the following week on Saturday, October 22nd and will close out their home slate with Fayetteville State University on Saturday, October 29th at 4:00 p.m.

On Saturday, November 5th the third Annual Commemorative Classic will feature Livingstone College in the oldest black college football rivalry in the nation. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm, however a location is still being finalized. The 2011 CIAA Football Championship will take place on November 12th.



2011 Golden Bulls Football Schedule

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
9/3/2011 Saint Paul's College Charlotte, NC - Irwin Belk Complex 4:00 PM
9/10/2011 Virginia State University Charlotte, NC - Irwin Belk Complex 4:00 PM
9/17/2011 Brevard College Brevard, NC 2:00 PM
9/24/2011 Davidson College Davidson, NC 7:00 PM
10/1/2011 Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC 1:00 PM
10/8/2011 Shaw University Raleigh, NC 4:00 PM, 2011 Homecoming
10/15/2011 Virginia Union University Charlotte, NC - Irwin Belk Complex 1:00 PM
10/22/2011 Saint Augustine's College Raleigh, NC 1:30 PM
10/29/2011 Fayetteville State University Charlotte, NC - Irwin Belk Complex 4:00 PM 2011 Commemorative Classic
11/5/2011 Livingstone College TBA 1:00 PM

By JCSU Media Relations
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Two 27-game winners put XU in elite groups in 2010-11

NEW ORLEANS — What does Xavier University of Louisiana have in common with Connecticut, Duke, North Carolina and Notre Dame?

All five colleges had men's and women's basketball teams that won at least 27 games during the 2010-11 season.

The list isn't much bigger than that. Xavier was one of three NAIA Division I members to reach a pair of 27s — Azusa Pacific and Texas Wesleyan were the others — and NAIA Division II's Davenport and Indiana Wesleyan also achieved it. No schools in NCAA Division II or III had a pair of 27-game winners.




U.S. four-year colleges with 27-game winners in men's and women's basketball during 2010-11.

So that brings the total to nine out of more than 1,200 four-year U.S. colleges which sponsor men's and women's teams.

"That's an amazing list," said Dennis Cousin, Xavier's athletics director. "It's not a long list, and that's why it's great to see Xavier on there. I know our coaches and athletes worked very hard this season. Any positive recognition is good for them and for Xavier."

Although Xavier's basketball teams have combined for nearly 50 20-win seasons, this was the first time that both reached 25 victories in the same season. It's the seventh time in Louisiana history that a college had a pair of 25-game winners and the fourth time for a pair of 27s.

Among Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Xavier is the first with a pair of 25-game winners since Norfolk State in 1994-95. Norfolk State is the only other HBCU with a pair of 27-game winners, accomplishing that in 1993-94.

U.S. four-year colleges with 27-game winners in men's and women's basketball during 2010-11 College Affiliation Women's W-L Men's W-L Azusa Pacific NAIA I 33-5 29-6 Connecticut NCAA I 36-2 32-9 Davenport NAIA II 29-6 37-1 Duke NCAA I 32-4 32-5 Indiana Wesleyan NAIA II 28-8 29-6 North Carolina NCAA I 29-8 28-9 Notre Dame NCAA I 27-7 31-8 Texas Wesleyan NAIA I 30-4 28-6 Xavier NAIA I 27-7 27-6

Louisiana four-year colleges with 25-game winners in men's and women's basketball during same season College Season Women's W-L Men's W-L Xavier 2010-11 27-7 27-6 LSU 2005-06 31-4 27-9 LSU 1999-2000 25-7 28-6 New Orleans 1986-87 25-7 26-4 LSU 1985-86 27-6 26-12 Louisiana Tech 1984-85 29-4 29-3 Louisiana Tech 1983-84 30-3 26-7

Four-year HBCUs with 25-game winners in men's and women's basketball during same season College Season Women's W-L Men's W-L Xavier 2010-11 27-7 27-6 Norfolk State 1994-95 25-5 27-6 Norfolk State 1993-94 27-4 27-6

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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HU Bison Softball Drop To DSU In Final Inning

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After maintaining the lead for the entire game, the Howard softball team lost grip of the win as they allowed three runs in the final inning, giving Delaware State the 3-4 victory on Thursday afternoon. The game was rescheduled after a threat of bad weather on April 4 and followed a doubleheader split where both teams recorded a win.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third where the Lady Bison (10-20, 1-2 MEAC) posted a 2-0 lead following hits by Trina Kindred, Christine Sborz and Lorae Robinson and two DSU errors. Delaware State (19-10, 2-1 MEAC) responded with a run in the fourth as Casey Beighley launched a solo homerun.

Rebecca Kirshner immediately rallied back and homered in the bottom of the fifth inning bringing HU up, 3-1. The homerun marked her second of the season, tying her with Emily Johnson for most homers on the team this season.

Two Bison errors in the seventh coupled with four hits by the Lady Hornets caused a three-run rally that allowed Delaware State to steal the game. Howard was shutout at the plate in their final turn at bat, giving Delaware State the 2-1 advantage in the series.

Johnson pitched the majority of the game, but traded spots with Samantha Gatson with two outs in the seventh. Gatson was able to land a strikeout to end the inning, but it came after a Delaware State RBI double. Prior to being relieved, Johnson recorded two strikeouts, three walks and allowed five hits.

Kirshner, Kindred and Robison led the Lady Bison with two hits each. The trio currently leads the team at the plate, averaging .352, .341, and .317, respectively.

The Lady Bison softball team will look to bounce back from their loss as they travel to meet Coppin State on April 9. Visit www.howard-bison.com for more information on Howard softball.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Xavier's Abbas repeats as GCAC Player of the Week

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Hassan Abbas is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in men's tennis for the second consecutive time.

Hassan Abbas

Abbas, a senior from Saltaire, England, and a graduate of Bingley Grammar School and Ventura College, won in doubles and singles Saturday in a 4-3 loss at the University of New Orleans, an NCAA Division I member. Abbas and Zach Taylor won 8-6 against Benjamin Bouhana and Hossam Meligy at No. 1 doubles, then Abbas tied the dual at 3 with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) victory against Vinay Kamineni at No. 1 singles.

Abbas — 12-5 in singles and 13-5 in doubles this season — also won the GCAC award for March 7-13. There were no nominees for March 14-20 or March 21-27. Abbas won the award once in 2010.

Xavier's men and women will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., for duals with William Carey at 10 a.m. Sunday. Xavier's men are 11-7 and ranked eighth in the NAIA.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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HU Lady Bison Softball Split Two With George Mason

FAIRFAX, VA. – The Howard softball team returned to the field after a postponed meeting with Delaware State due to weather to face off against George Mason in a doubleheader on Wednesday. The Lady Bison (10-17) split the two games, taking a 3-1 win after suffering a 6-2 loss.

The last time the two teams met was on March 20 at the Cherry Blossom Classic where the Lady Bison gained their first shutout win of the season, taking down the Patriots (11-17) 6-0. This time around GMU would be the team to turn out six runs however, as the Patriots doubled Howard in hits with eight in the first game.

HU nabbed their lone pair of runs in the fifth inning after freshman Brittany Barker opened with an infield single to shortstop. Andascha Moore reached first on a fielder’s choice and went on to steal second. Trina Kindred singled to left, advancing Moore to third. Upon the throw to third base Kindred cruised to second. After Christine Sborz walked to load the bases, Lorae Robinson reached first on a fielder’s choice as Moore was called out at the plate. Marissa Coats launched a single to center that scored Sborz and Kindred and tied the game at two a piece.

After Howard put in work to even off the game, George Mason produced two additional runs in the bottom of the fifth and scored two more in the sixth. Pitcher Ashley Turner was called in to relieve Emily Johnson in the fifth after she gave up a double and inside the park homer. Johnson allowed four runs and five hits in 4.1 innings and managed to strike out six. Turner gave up three hits and two runs.

In game two Howard dominated at the plate and tallied 16 hits compared to George Mason’s five. Howard rallied five hits in the top of the first and racked in two runs. The Bison shutout GMU until the fifth and sixth inning where the Patriots scored two runs in both innings.

Howard secured the game with three runs in the seventh inning. Rebecca Kirshner opened the final inning with a double down the left field line and eventually advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Johnson. Kindred brought in two runs on a single to right field with two outs, bringing home Kirshner and Barker who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. Sborz brought in the final run of the game after she singled to center.

GMU managed to deliver a final run, but were unable to break Howard’s three-run lead. Kindred led the Lady Bison with four RBI and batted .750 at the plate (3-for-4). Sborz also tallied three hits, joining her seven teammates who tallied a hit during the game.

Samantha Gatson pitched the entire game and recorded seven strikeouts.

Up next the Lady Bison will face off against Delaware State for their rescheduled matchup at noon at home. Visit http://www.howard-bison.com/ for more information on the Howard softball team.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant

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