Art Shell UMES Celebrity Golf Classic: Congress-Shell-nal

UMES is one of 20 colleges in the nation with the PGA-sanctioned golf management major, and the only one at a historically black institution.

WESTOVER, MD -- A little more than 100 yards away from the pin on the 16th hole at Great Hope Golf Course, team Delmarva Auto Glass had a decision to make. The group of five golfers, competing in the Art Shell UMES Celebrity Golf Classic, had to decide which of their drives they were going to play during the scramble-format tournament.

"Do you want to play this one up here or the one in the fairway?" asked one member of the team as he stood over his shot, which had landed in the light rough on top of a small hill. "It doesn't matter to me," said Jim Dent, the celebrity of the group, who captured 12 Senior PGA Tour titles between 1989 and 1998. "I can hit it anywhere."

After conferring, the group decide to play the drive that found the fairway and would go on to land a shot 5 yards from the target before sinking a birdie putt on the par-4 hole.


Art Shell, a pro football Hall of Famer and University of Maryland Eastern Shore alumnus, again hosted the tournament, which features its traditional roster of former athletes who enjoy a round of fund-raising golf. The stars were: Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown, who like Shell, is a former Oakland Raider; gridiron greats Otis Sistrunk, Reggie Branch, Ed Simmons, UMES alumni Curtis Gentry, Earl Christy and Emerson Boozer; PGA golfer Jim Dent, James Black, who at age 21 became the first black golfer to card a first-round 67 in his PGA Tour debut in 1964 and Renee Powell, who joined the LPGA Tour in 1967 as the first female African-American golfer.

Similar conversations could be heard throughout the golf outing that benefits University of Maryland Eastern Shore student scholarships and the university's PGA golf management program. But most participants, such as Homer King of team Delmarva Auto Glass, cared less for the strategy and more for the company.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Earl Monroe helps extend legacy of WSSU's 'Big House' Gaines

ADVANCE, N.C. -- Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, as busy now as ever because of his career in the film and entertainment business, always finds time to honor the late Big House Gaines.

Monroe was at Oak Valley Golf Club on Friday, swinging his clubs in the Big House Gaines Scholarship Fund Tournament. And he had three former teammates from Winston-Salem State's 1967 Division II championship basketball team with him.

"Quite frankly, we can't do enough to honor coach Gaines," said Monroe, 66. "I always make time to come back for this because it's something Big House always stressed to us and that was getting your education."

Three others from the national-title team — Eugene Smiley, Ernest Brown and Johnny Latham — also attended the fundraiser organized by the Reynolda Rotary Club.

The tournament, in its sixth year, raised more than $10,000 on Friday, proceeds that will go toward a college scholarship for a student from Cook Elementary School. The first scholarship recipient selected six years ago, as a fifth-grader at Cook, will enroll at Winston-Salem State in 2012.


Sorry I missed this ya'll, but Earl still looks great for his age--66.

READ MORE

FAMU athletes spending summer fine-tuning future

Brandon Hepburn #53
Linebacker, 6'4/235, Redshirt Junior
Pomona, New York
Major: Biochemistry

Excerpt:

Tallahassee, FL - Brandon Hepburn, a linebacker with the Rattlers, isn't banking on making it to the NFL. He is majoring in biochemistry. This summer he is at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, where he is participating in a program funded by the National Science Foundation.

"The opportunity is great because it allows us to step out of the classroom and apply what we've been learning," Hepburn said. "It's great to be able to put it into work in the actual environment in which you plan to get a career in one day.

"I think one of the big things with Corporate America is, 'Can you do what we want you to do how we want you to do it?'"

That's part of what FAMU's Career Center does under director Delores Dean. Students aren't just settling for the odd jobs but focusing more on what will benefit their careers, Dean said, adding the tough job market has also brought a change of attitude about limiting the areas they might want to work.

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

JSU Tiger Nation learning to live with SWAC title ban

Jackson, MS - It's become a tradition for Charles Bishop. As soon as Jackson State releases its football schedule each year, he picks up the phone, dials a Birmingham hotel and books his room for the weekend of the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship football game.

Nine times out of the last dozen years, JSU didn't qualify for the title game, and Bishop had to call back six or so months later to cancel. This year, he didn't have to wait nearly that long. "I had to call the other day," Bishop said earlier this week.

Jackson State's banishment from this season's league championship game has been a powerful punch in the gut to diehard fans like Bishop. It's been a disappointing shock wave to players who signed with the school in February. They're all feeling the sting of the SWAC's ruling last week to make the Tigers ineligible for the 2011 title game - a decision that conformed with the NCAA's postseason ban, placed on JSU for low academic performance.

CONTINUE READING



2011-2012 JACKSON STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Date Opponent / Event Location Time

09/03/11 Concordia (Selma, AL) *MVMS 1:30 p.m. CT
09/10/11 vs. Tennessee State Memphis, TN 6:00 p.m. CT
09/17/11 at Southern Baton Rouge, LA TBA
09/24/11 vs. Alabama State *MVMS 4:00 p.m. CT
10/01/11 vs. Texas Southern *MVMS 4:00 p.m. CT
10/08/11 vs. Arkansas - Pine Bluff *MVMS 4:00 p.m. CT
10/15/11 at Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, MS 2:00 p.m. CT
10/29/11 at Prairie View A&M Shreveport, LA 4:00 p.m. CT
11/05/11 vs. Grambling State *MVMS 2:00 p.m. CT
11/12/11 at Alabama A&M Huntsville, AL 1:00 p.m. CT
11/19/11 vs. Alcorn State *MVMS 1:00 p.m. CT

*MVMS (Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium)

Bethune-Cookman free agent signs with Chicago Cubs

Ryan Durrence 

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Bethune-Cookman first baseman/designated hitter Ryan Durrence, who was not selected in the Major League Baseball Draft earlier this month, signed a free-agent deal with the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

"I'm really excited for this opportunity," he said. Durrence, a three-year starter at B-CU who leaves as one of the school's league leaders in doubles and home runs, headed to Arizona to check out the Cubs' spring training facility before going to Boise, Idaho.

Durrence will play in Boise with the Rookie League Hawks, who open their season today.

"I'm extremely happy for Ryan," said longtime B-CU coach Mervyl Melendez, who left the school Thursday to take over Alabama State's program. "He definitely deserves to play in the professional ranks. The job that he was able to do for our program was invaluable, and we're happy that he's making the next step. We wish him the best and know that he's going to succeed because he's a hard worker."

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Jim Koerner named NCCU's Eagles head baseball coach

DURHAM, N.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com) – With more 10 years of collegiate coaching experience at both the NCAA Division I and III levels, Jim Koerner has been named as the new head baseball coach at North Carolina Central University. Koerner is coming to NCCU from the University at Buffalo, where he helped build the Division I Bulls baseball program as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator since 2005.

“First of all, I’m very excited to be the new head baseball coach here at NCCU,” said Koerner. “NCCU is the complete package for me and my family. The atmosphere and attitude I’ve experienced from the people I have met is exactly what I was looking for. There is a passion for athletics and in this case the baseball program in particular. There is a solid foundation in place with our current players, we are in a great location for college and high school baseball and we play in a gorgeous facility, the Durham Athletic Park.”

His previous stops include a stint at Marshall University from 2003-05 where he also served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the staff, and his first Division I job came at Monmouth University after a three-year head coaching stint at Medaille College in Buffalo, N.Y., where he took a relatively brand-new baseball program and turned it into a winner in a short time. In his final season at Medaille, he improved the Mavericks win total by 15 games, one of the top turnarounds in Division III, and was named the 2003 North East Conference Coach of the Year.

“I am excited about having Coach Koerner as a part of our NCCU athletics program,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree. “We pride ourselves on hiring qualified individuals who have shown passion and dedication to their careers. Coach Koerner has been able to make an indelible mark at each of the institutions he has been associated with in the past and we know that he will do the same here at NCCU.

“Coach Koerner’s career journey includes coach of the year recognition as an NCAA Division III head coach and success as a top recruiter at three NCAA Division I programs, which will definitely bring unique experiences to help take our baseball program to the next level,” said Wicker-McCree. “Most importantly, our students will benefit from his vast knowledge of the game and his great concern for student success.”

New Eagles Head Baseball Coach Jim Koerner
(Photo courtesy MEAC Media Relations)

Passion and enthusiasm are certainly two character traits that Koerner shares when it comes to the game of baseball.

“I love the game,” said Koerner. “I’ve been involved with this game for a long time. I absolutely have a passion for teaching. Nothing gives me more satisfaction then working with a player from the beginning of August and watching that player mature and get better as the year goes along. To me that’s what it’s all about. If every guy on the team can take those steps to improve and get better and has that desire, the whole team will get better and that’s how you achieve your goals.”

Koerner, who earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from St. John Fisher (N.Y.) and a master’s degree in athletic administration from Marshall, truly believes in emphasizing the student portion of student-athlete.

“I personally believe that there is a direct correlation between academic aptitude and a player’s ability to adjust and improve on the field,” said Koerner. “Excellence needs to be established in all parts of life. It’s not just a baseball thing. I don’t want student-athletes that treat excellence as a light switch. It needs to be a constant process in everything we do. That’s what I am going to stress here.”

Koerner has had 19 players move on to the next level and play professional baseball during his collegiate coaching career, and the 2009 and 2010 Bulls broke 27 all-time and single-season offensive records as he was directly in charge of hitting at the University at Buffalo.

Koerner wants to get this message out to the Eagle nation.

“Get excited about NCCU baseball,” said Koerner. “We’re going to do things the right way on and off the field and we’re going to be a lot of fun to watch. I’m especially looking forward to meeting everybody, so when February rolls around make sure to get out to the ballpark and see us in action.”

During his time at UB, the Bulls had four players earn All-Mid-American Conference, honors including the 2011 MAC Player of the Year in Tom Murphy.

Prior to Buffalo when Koerner held the same position with Marshall University, he coached one of his players to All-Conference USA honors and also helped the Thundering Herd to its first post-season appearance in 10 years. During the 2006 season, Marshall was consistently in the top 5 in most offensive categories and had two players finish in the top 10 in batting.

At Monmouth, where Koerner broke into Division I coaching as an assistant, he helped lead the team to its seventh consecutive conference tournament appearance.

Koerner has also been head coach of several U.S. teams that competed in international tournaments, including the Belgium Open and the Chianti (Italy) Baseball Challenge. Out of college in 1998, he was also signed by the Richmond Roosters of the Independent Frontier League.

A native of Hamburg, N.Y., which is a approximately 14 miles south of Buffalo, Koerner and his wife, Kylie, are the proud parents of a son, Sam, and five-month old daughter, Elizabeth.

By Chris Hooks, Assistant Sports Information Director/ Broadcast Media Coordinator
VISIT: NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
VISIT: NCCUEAGLEPRIDE

Stillman Tigers announces 2011 Football schedule

Tuscaloosa, AL- The Stillman Tigers have announced their 2011 football schedule. The Tigers' open the season at home and will finish the season at home. First year head coach Teddy Keaton will lead the Tigers in an eleven game schedule, six home games and five away. The scheduled season will feature one DI-AA, two CIAA schools, and seven SIAC conference games.

Stillman will open the season at home on Sept. 3rd when the Tigers face CIAA defending champions Shaw University. The Tigers will get on the road for a three-game stretch—making a short trip to Birmingham on Sept. 10th to play DI-AA Samford University. Stillman will then travel north to Frankfort, Ken., on Sept. 17th to face Kentucky State University, and then south for another short trip to Tuskegee, Ala., on Sept 24th to faced Tuskegee University.

The Tigers will return home for three games to face Lane College on Oct. 1st, Benedict College on Oct. 8th and Chowan University on Oct. 15th .The Tigers will then return to the road and travel to Fort Valley, Ga., on Oct. 22nd to play Fort Valley State University. The Tigers will return home for a Thursday night match-up against in-state rival Miles College on Oct. 27th. The following week, the Tigers will make their final regular season road trip to play Clark-Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga., on Nov. 5th.

All game are listed with central time zone.

9/3/2011 5:00pm Shaw University H
9/10/2011 6:00pm Samford University A
9/17/2011 6:00pm Kentucky State University# A
9/24/2011 1:00pm Tuskegee University A
10/1/2011 5:00pm Lane College H
10/8/2011 5:00pm Benedict College H
10/15/2011 5:00pm Chowan University H
10/22/2011 1:00pm Fort Valley State University# A
10/27/2011 7:00pm Miles College H
11/5/2011 1:30pm Clark Atlanta University A
11/12/2011 1:30pm Concordia College-Selma H
# School is located in the Eastern Time zone
Games in Bold are home games.

By Steven Lockhart, Stillman Athletics
VISIT: STILLMANATHLETICS
VISIT: STILLMAN COLLEGE

Coach Marvin Green: Kingmaker for Florida A&M Golf

Tallahassee, Fla. - Ten years ago, Marvin Green was selected by athletic administrators to become Florida A&M's the head golf coach. He has turned the team into a perennial top five team among HBCU's.

Green, a native of Chicago, is a FAMU alumnus that received his bachelor's in business and master's in Sports Administration. Unlike most head coaches, he was not a student athlete while in school. He did not begin playing golf until halfway through his undergrad years.

"I got into golf my junior year of college because I had to take a business sport," Green said. "I fell in love with the challenge. I had always been a basketball or football player growing up but, golf is challenging, it gives you a chance, you against the golf course."

Green stayed rooted in Tallahassee after completing his second degree and became a faculty member, as a physical education instructor. Green was eventually offered the head golf coaching position by the athletic director in 2001.

Marvin E. Green Named Director of Student Activities

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Marvin E. Green Jr. has been named Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) new director for Student Activities. Green will officially begin his new position on July 1.

“I am honored and excited that I can serve my alma mater at this capacity,” Green said. “I am excited about the challenges and look forward to helping to produce that millennial student. We have special students at FAMU who are ready to learn to be productive and it is our responsibility to mold and help them to bring out their creativity.”

Green, who currently serves as the FAMU men’s golf coach, said some of his goals include helping with FAMU’s retention and graduation rates.

“I think FAMU is a special place,” he said. “We are always going to bring in the best and brightest minds. We must find a way to keep our students active outside the classroom, which will help make them better students.”

For nearly 20 years, Green has established a notable career at FAMU in intramural/recreational sports and golf. During that time, he has been instrumental in shaping and developing not only the Department of Campus Recreation, but also the highly successful Men’s Golf Program at the university.

“I am very pleased that Mr. Marvin Green was selected as the director of Student Activities,” said Henry Kirby, “Mr. Green will bring the necessary experience, professionalism, vision, energy and team spirit to the position as well as take the Office of Student Activities to a higher level of performance and excellence.”

A Chicago, Ill. native, Green attended FAMU’s School of Business and Industry (SBI) majoring in business administration. While in college, he was active in several groups and organizations including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); the Upsilon Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; the Pan-Hellenic Council in which he served two terms as president; and FAMU Student Government Association (SGA).

“The fact that I have been around students affairs at FAMU for so long through SGA, Greek life, and campus recreation, I’ve had the opportunity to deal with the different facets of student life,” Green said. “Now is my time to take all those things I’ve learned and give back in a way.”

After completing his master’s degree in sports and leisure management at FAMU, Green worked as an adjunct professor at the university, teaching introductory and intermediate golf courses. In 2001, Green became the head coach for the men’s golf team, a position he has held ever since.

In 2002, he became the first college golf instructor in the country to earn the Golf Teacher/College Golf Coaching Certification from Trahan’s Swing Surgeon Group, Inc.

For the past 10 years, Green has coached the FAMU Women’s Flag Football Team, “Simply Marvelous.” The nationally recognized team has won a total of six National Championships for both the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) and American College Intramural Sports (ACIS). The team’s accomplishments have been documented on CBS Sports for the past three years.

Green serves as president of the National Black Golf Coaches Association and holds memberships in the NIRSA, J.R.E. Lee, Sr. Masonic Lodge No. 422, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and the FAMU National Alumni Association. He also is a past advisor for the Pan-Hellenic Council and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Green and his wife, Cecka Rose Green, have three children: Marhee, 10, Chaela, 8, and Marvin III (Tre), 5.

Marvin E. Green Jr., president of the National Black
 Golf Coaches Association

FAMU's Green jack of all trades

Marvin Green, coach of the Florida A&M men's golf team, moonlights as coach of a women's flag football team. And recently he was named director of student activities at FAMU, a job he will begin July 1.

Green, who has a penchant for working long hours, admits that all three of his involvements are demanding but coaching two teams and being the head of student activities will take some delegating.

"If it's all about Marvin, that's not what's good for FAMU," Green said. "I think a sign of a good leader is what happens when he is away. So, it's about delegating and knowing how to get some good people to step up when the boss is gone. It gives them a chance to grow."

He says he still intends to continue spending plenty of early morning hours coaching the golf team, then pick up coaching the women's team after his days in the office.

Q&A: FAMU Golf Coach Marvin Green

Today on Wildman’s Corner, I interviewed a coach who works for the school that has the best band in the country. Let me make this perfectly clear, as well: I believe there should be no marching bands during halftime. Call me a hater, but I am just not a band guy.

However, if you haven’t seen the FAMU (Marching 100), you are missing out.

Let me introduce Coach Marvin Green. Green is the head men’s golf coach of the Florida A&M Rattlers:

Question: Golf at Florida A&M, where does it rank among sports at your university?

Answer: Probably at FAMU, it’s No. 18 out of 18. We have a passion for it at Florida A&M University, we have been around for about 50 years, had a great program early on, and I think we still have a good program amongst historically black colleges and universities. Probably every year out 25 to 28 historically black colleges, we are probably one of the top five out of all those teams in the country.

• • •

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges historically black schools face trying to create or develop their schools’ golf programs each year?

A: Our problem typically always comes down to the budget. We’ve had a great situation in Tallahassee because we actually have a lot of support from the local golf courses who give us a place to go out and practice. When you are talking about a full allotment of scholarships, like other schools have all across the country, we don’t necessarily have that. We are right about 2.8 (scholarships) out of three, which can kind of hurt you in recruiting, so when you don’t have that full allotment of scholarships, it doesn’t allow you to go out there and always go after that one guy you are looking for. It’s tough to tell a kid sometimes I can only offer you a part of a scholarship, as opposed to a whole one.

• • •

Q: Being at a historically black school, is it tough to recruit?

A: Not really. I think you try to be open and stay open to all individuals of all nationalities whenever you may be recruiting. Typically, most of the young men who choose to come to our university are going to be African-American, so you want to go out and look at those tournaments and events. We have a lot of young men at our school who you would call a minority who always are looking to come to our school as well. It’s not really that hard to recruit because most guys just want to make sure they can play at a quality facility as well as have a quality-type playing schedule at quality events. The one beautiful thing about playing golf is if you score low, you are going to be recognized, no matter where you are.

• • •
READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Bethune Cookman's Mervyl Melendez resigns to take baseball job at Alabama State University

Daytona Beach, Florida -- Longtime Bethune-Cookman Baseball Coach Mervyl Melendez has resigned to accept the head coaching position at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, B-CU Director of Athletics Lynn W. Thompson announced late Thursday afternoon.

"Mervyl is pound-for-pound one of the best coaches I have ever been around," said Thompson, "but he is a far greater husband, father, and teacher than that. It has truly been an honor to watch him bloom into a legend, and I wish him well in his search for life's next challenge. We truly hate to see him leave the campus, but he can never leave our family."

Melendez has been part of the Bethune-Cookman program for 19 years, first playing for the Wildcats and earning Black College All-American honors then serving as an assistant for three seasons and finally as head coach for the last 12 seasons, during which time he has taken the B-CU program to legendary heights.


Regarding Hornets new $3.9 million baseball complex: Stacy Danley, Athletic Director, says “It gives us a chance to be our best, to recruit the best and to compete at the highest level so I’m excited about where this program is headed. This is just one of many new projects going on. I hope the people out there understand that Alabama State is trying to raise the bar.”

B-CU's baseball coach leaving

DAYTONA BEACH -- The most successful baseball coach in Bethune-Cookman history is departing. And he's taking his coaching staff with him. Mervyl Melendez resigned from B-CU on Thursday to take the head coach position at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Ala.

The 37-year-old, who guided the Wildcats to 11 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships over 12 seasons, is leaving his alma mater for a struggling program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. "They really wanted me and my staff to take on the challenge," Melendez said. "It's a program that needs a little TLC, and we're going to give it that TLC."

Jose Vazquez, who had been Melendez's associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at B-CU, assistant coach Drew Clark and pitching coach Matt Crane are going to the Hornets, too. "When somebody wants to buy your whole coaching staff, what a compliment that is to Mervyl and your whole program," said B-CU Athletic Director Lynn Thompson. "Mervyl and I have talked often in the past about how this day would come."

Melendez said Alabama State's five-year contract offer "was too good to refuse'.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Savannah State University football season tickets on sale now

Savannah, Georgia - Season tickets for the 2011 Savannah State football season are now on sale through the SSU Ticket Office and on the SSU athletics website ssuathletics. Season tickets will be $75 which includes parking as well as a commemorative season ticket pass.

SSU season tickets can be purchased online through ssuathletics.com, over the telephone (912-358-3429) or by visiting the SSU Ticket Office in Tiger Arena.

The Tigers home games will feature Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponents Howard (Oct. 1), Florida A&M (Oct. 15), Hampton (Oct 29), Norfolk State (Nov. 5) and South Carolina State (Nov. 19).

Under the direction of new head football coach Steve Davenport, Savannah State will kick off the season September 3 in the Macon’s Music City Classic at Henderson Stadium against in-state rival Albany State.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.
VISIT: SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: SSUATHLETICS

Goody becomes Gold Nuggets' 3rd newcomer for 2011-12

Jordyn Goody

NEW ORLEANS — Jordyn Goody of Lake Charles, La., and St. Louis Catholic High School has signed a women's tennis scholarship with Xavier University of Louisiana.

Goody and Juliann Baggett were the Division II (Class 4A) state runner-up in girls doubles in May and the Division II-Region II champion in April. Goody helped St. Louis finish second in the team standings at the state tournament and win the regional team championship.

Goody was a regional champion for St. Louis in singles as a sophomore and junior and in doubles with Maggie Laborde as a freshman. Goody and Laborde reached the Division III (Class 3A) semifinals in 2008 and helped St. Louis win the team championship.

A right-hander, Goody was 10th in Louisiana in the final USTA girls 18 singles rankings of 2010 and qualified for Southern Closed tournaments in each of the five age groups. She will be a biology/pre-medical major at Xavier.

Also signed with Xavier for next season is Amanda Materre of Richmond, Texas. Also eligible for the Gold Nuggets next season will be Kourtney Howell of Cypress, Texas, who enrolled at XU in January after transferring from Navy.

Xavier competes in the NAIA's Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. The Gold Nuggets qualified for the NAIA National Championship five of the last seven seasons and won first-round dual matches at nationals all five times.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Outstanding season pays dividends for JCSU Shermaine Williams

New York, NY – Johnson C. Smith University senior women's track and field student-athlete Shermaine Williams has earned a $1,000 donation towards the women's athletic fund for her nomination as the Collegiate Women Sports Awards 2010-11 Division II Athlete of the Year. The American Honda Motor Company will make the donation, which is scheduled to arrive in the fall of 2011.

Williams has been stellar in her senior year during the indoor and outdoor season. She recently won the 100m Hurdles national title (12.95) at the 2011 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Her time tied a meet record, which she set in 2009. Williams ran the anchor leg of the 4x100m relay team that placed second (44.79) at the national outdoor championships. With the help of Williams' points, JCSU finished 4th in the nation at the outdoor championships (highest finish in school history).

At the CIAA Indoor Championships, Williams won the title in the 60m Hurdles, 60m Dash, and 200m Dash. She earned CIAA Indoor MVP. Williams placed 5th in the 200m and 3rd in the 60m H at the 2011 NCAA DII Indoor Championships (All-American honors). At the CIAA Outdoor Championships, Williams earned Outdoor MVP after capturing the 100m H and 4x100m relay crowns.

Williams was named 2010-11 Pettis Norman Student-Athlete of the Year and the Coca-Cola Academic Award winner this season at the JCSU Annual Athletics Awards Ceremony. She was also one of five Golden Bull women named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track& Field Team. Instrumental component in the JCSU Women's Outdoor Track & Field team winning their 1st CIAA Championship in school history.

Williams has served as a counselor for the NCAA DII Track & Field Outdoor Championships Youth Clinic. She also stopped by the Charlotte Flight's (local youth track club) meet to speak to children (ages 6-14) on the importance of education and preparation in order to be successful. The JCSU Women's Track & Field Team appeared at the meet after winning the CIAA Outdoor Track Championships.

“Your student-athlete was judged the very best in her sport over all her peers in her division,” said Collegiate Women Sports Awards spokesperson Tora Grossman. “This speaks highly of your program and your administration and The Collegiate Women Sports Awards congratulate Johnson C. Smith University and honor Shermaine for that selection.”

Shermaine Williams, NCAA Division II National Champion
JCSU Lady Bulls

Now in its 35th year, The Collegiate Women Sports Awards program annually recognizes the accomplishments of female athletes in NCAA-member colleges with a variety of prestigious awards.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., sponsor of the program, celebrates each nominee by donating $5,000 to each Honda Sports Award recipient school and $1,000 to each nominee school. The Collegiate Women Sports Awards program is governed by a Board of Directors and Executive Committee. The Board of Directors includes individuals from NCAA institutions, members of the media, organizational representatives and a former Cup recipient.

After nation-wide balloting among NCAA Division II member schools, another athlete was voted the athlete of the year. All nominees appear now and for the future on the Collegiate Women Sports Awards website www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com. The winner will be announced later this week on that site. The winner of the Division II Athlete of the Year will be presented her award at a press conference June 27 in New York.

By Lamont Hinson, Sports Information Director
VISIT: JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY
VISIT: GOLDENBULLSPORTS

Alabama A&M vs. Hampton Football Opener to be played in Windy City

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team’s 2011 season opener against Alabama A&M will be played in Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinos on Saturday, Sept. 3 in the Chicago Football Classic.

Kick-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. EST/4 p.m. CST. Ticket information for the contest is pending.

For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at hamptonpirates.com.

For more information on Alabama A&M University football, please call the Tickets/Marketing Sales Office at (256) 372-4059 or visit the official Bulldogs website at aamusports.com

Xavier hires Christabell Hamilton as women's volleyball coach

CHRISTABELL HAMILTON 
Xavier University's new
women's volleyball coach

NEW ORLEANS — Christabell Hamilton is the new head coach of women's volleyball at Xavier University of Louisiana.

Hamilton, who has coaching experience at the college, high school and club levels, worked her first day at Xavier on Tuesday.

"We are confident that Christabell will do an outstanding job," XU Athletics Director Dennis Cousin said. "She impressed our search committee with her knowledge, her enthusiasm, her confidence and her personality. She's a great fit for Xavier."

Hamilton, 29, coached five seasons (2005-09) at Tarleton State University, an NCAA Division II member in Stephenville, Texas. She was a graduate assistant in the 2005 and 2006 seasons and was promoted to full-time assistant after receiving her master's degree there. She helped the TexAnns go 22-10 in 2008 — the program's first winning record in 16 seasons — and reach the semifinals of the Lone Star Conference Tournament for the second time in three years. Tarleton's 2008 team placed second in the LSC regular season.

She moved to New Orleans in August after her husband, Ronnie, was hired as a men's basketball assistant coach at Tulane University. She was a middle-school volleyball coach at Metairie Park Country Day School, then a varsity girls volleyball assistant coach at Louise S. McGehee School, where she helped the Hawks reach the semifinals of Louisiana's Division IV state playoffs in 2010. She was coaching the girls 17s at Krewe Volleyball Club when Xavier offered her its position.

"I want all my kids to graduate from Xavier, first and foremost," Hamilton said. "I want them to succeed in volleyball and get recognition on the conference, NAIA and national levels. And most importantly, I want them to be great people — to represent our community, Xavier, as well as their families in a positive light."

Hamilton was a three-time All-LSC selection — she was known then as Christabell Mariner — at NCAA Division II member Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. She played middle blocker and outside hitter for the Zias from 1999-2002, set school records for kills in a season (575 in 2001) and career (1,695) and was inducted into the ENMU Hall of Honor in 2009. She received her bachelor's degree from ENMU in 2005.

Hamilton is a native of Pago Pago, America Samoa, and was a standout volleyball player at Tafuna High School, where she had a 4.0 grade-point average and was valedictorian of the Class of 1999. Her uncle, Jesse Sapolu, was a San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman from 1983-97, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of four Super Bowl champions.

"Samoans are known as happy people," Hamilton said. "We are very family oriented, always put God first and respect others."

Because of her hiring at Xavier, Hamilton was forced to resign as a player on the American Samoan national team which will compete in the Pacific Games in Nouméa, New Caledonia, in August.

Hamilton replaces Al'lisa Hale, who coached the Gold Nuggets for one season. Xavier was 11-26 in 2010 and placed third in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. The Gold Nuggets will begin the 2011 regular season in late August.

What They're Saying About Christabell Hamilton

Christabell Hamilton coached five seasons at Tarleton State University,
 an NCAA Division II member in Stephenville, Texas.

Mike Maguire, Eastern New Mexico Women's Volleyball Coach: "You couldn't have gotten a better coach. Christabell is an extremely fine young lady. She played here four years, broke a lot of records and was as humble as can be. She did a great job when she coached at Tarleton State. I know she'll do a great job at Xavier. She's fun-loving and hard-working. You guys are extremely lucky to get her."

Mary Schindler, Tarleton State Women's Volleyball Coach: "I am so excited for Christabell. This is going to be a great job for her — to build a program and establish something. She can recruit very well. She has a great personality, and she got along great with our players at Tarleton. She wants to win and she's driven to win, but she wants to do it the right way. She wants her kids to graduate and do the right things."

Val Whitfield-Dunn, Louise S. McGehee Girls Volleyball Coach: "There are no negatives about Christabell. She is very lively and upbeat. She has an excellent personality. She's hilarious. She's a people person. We are extremely disappointed that she left McGehee, but she is fulfilling one of her dreams, which is to be a head coach. She will do extraordinary and fabulous things for Xavier University and your volleyball program."

By Ed Cassiere, Xavier University of Louisiana
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

The Xavier Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets compete in Division I of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) as a member of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). Xavier fields men's teams in basketball, cross country and tennis and women's teams in basketball, cross country, tennis and volleyball.

NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field All-America Recipients

NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announces those that earned USTFCCCA All-America distinctions for the 2011 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Honors are awarded for performances at the final site of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships occurring the previous weekend in Des Moines, Iowa.

USTFCCCA All-Americans (PDFs): By Team | By Event |
NCAA Championship Scoring Summary |

First-team USTFCCCA All-America honors are awarded to those who earn any portion of a team point at the national championships, or reach an eight-entrant final. Second-team All-America honors are handed out to those whose final placing in the national meet range from ninth to 16th place.
Those who participated at the final site but did not place in the meet’s top 16 are listed as honorable mention for the All-America award.

Student-Athletes listed are part of programs that are members of the USTFCCCA.



USTFCCCA All-Americans (Men), NCAA Division I, 2011 Outdoor Track & Field

Delaware State
4x400m Relay First Tyquan Brown Team
4x400m Relay First Ryan Carter Team
4x400m Relay First Tariq Devore Team
400m Hurdles Second Leslie Murray JR Team
4x400m Relay First Leslie Murray Team

North Carolina A&T
200m Dash Second Torrance Womack JR Team

USTFCCCA All-Americans (Women), NCAA Division I, 2011 Outdoor Track & Field

None from HBCUs

HONORABLE MENTION - MEN
110m Hurdles Kemar Clarke Bethune-Cookman
400m Hurdles Jibri Victorian Coppin State
Long Jump Leon Hunt Florida A&M
400m Hurdles Trey Charles Morgan State
400m Dash Marquis Holston Norfolk State
110m Hurdles Aramis Massenburg Norfolk State
Long Jump Darris Shelton Norfolk State
4x100m Relay Jarrell Elliott North Carolina A&T
4x100m Relay Jonathan Hancock North Carolina A&T
4x100m Relay Earl House North Carolina A&T
4x100m Relay Torrance Womack North Carolina A&T
100m Dash Philip Redrick Texas Southern

WOMEN
Long Jump Kendra Mayers Delaware State

Courtesy: Tom Lewis, USTFCCCA

Major League Baseball selects Jones, Martz and Morales in Draft

Videographer: NorthLouisianaRon; 2011 SWAC Baseball Tournament - Championship Game Slideshow

Rodarrick Jones (6-0/195), Southern University, Pittsburg Pirates

June 7, 2011: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 37th round, 1112th overall pick. Baseball America chose Jones as the #3 prospect in the New York Collegiate League in the summer of 2009, following his strong season at the University of New Orleans. He’s also a football standout and is athletic with good speed. His hitting fell off in 2010, though, and he transferred to Southern University. He was on the team’s roster but didn’t play, possibly due to ineligibility. He’s obviously very toolsy, but also obviously has some significant holes in his swing. Given the circumstances, there’s probably a good chance of him signing. If he does, he’ll be a project.

Chretien Martz, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, Detroit Tigers

University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions baseball player Chretien Matz was selected in the 44th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Detroit Tigers. Last season Matz was a standout on the Golden Lions baseball team leading the squad in batting average (.352) while ranking 5th in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. For his outstanding play on the diamond the Illinois native was chosen as a member of the SWAC's 2011 All-Conference First Team as an outfielder.

Julio Morales, Bethune-Cookman University, Kansas City Royals

Adding to the count of Bethune-Cookman baseball players selected in the draft, the Wildcats add one more for 2011, with the selection of senior RHP Julio Morales in the 45th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft by the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

“Julio is a pitcher that has great resources,” said Head Coach Mervyl Melendez. “He throws a fastball in the high 80s, low 90s, and his breaking ball and change-up are really good pitches. I think he is definitely going to excel at that level, and look for him to have a good pro career.”

Morales appeared in 23 games during his two-year stint with the Wildcats. He finished with a career record of 3-4, collecting 49 strikeouts, in 43 innings pitched.Originally from San Juan Puerto Rico, Morales transferred to B-CU from Wabash Valley Junior College before the 2010 season. Morales joins B-CU catcher Peter O’Brien as the second Wildcats drafted in the 2011 MLB Draft. O’Brien was selected 17th in the third round on June 7.

Spruce Creek's star Austin O'Brien signs with Howard University

PORT ORANGE, Florida -- Austin O'Brien is going places, judging from his selection of Howard University as the launching pad for his college soccer career.

O'Brien, a senior striker for Spruce Creek, went to the nation's capital in March to make it official: He has signed with Howard, a prestigious historically black university that U.S. News and World Report ranks No. 2 among all HBCUs and in the top 100 of all U.S. colleges and universities`.

While Howard is No. 2 on the magazine's list of HBCUs, O'Brien came out ranked No. 1 in voting by area coaches and The News-Journal prep staff to decide the 2011 Boys Soccer Player of the Year honor.

O'Brien, who had 28 goals and 13 assists for a Hawks team that lost 2-1 to Miami Varela in the Class 6A Final Four and played some of the toughest competition in the state, edged teammate Kiro Roman and Taylor's Jose Rios, both of whom had extraordinary seasons. Roman scored 22 goals and had 19 assists for the 26-2-4 regional-champion Hawks, while Rios had 43 goals for the 16-4-1 district-champion Wildcats.

Several schools in the Sunshine State, including Florida Gulf Coast University and South Florida, recruited O'Brien. But in the end he opted for one of his out-of-state options, deciding on Howard, which plays in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Soccer Conference that also includes Adelphi (Long Island, N.Y.), Longwood (Virginia), New Jersey Institute of Technology and Houston Baptist.



Boys soccer chatter with Spruce Creek's Austin O'Brien

O'Brien, a senior forward, is the Hawks' leading scorer with 23 goals and 11 assists for a total of 57 points. Creek is the No. 1 seed in this week's District 2-6A boys soccer tournament in large part to the offense put up by O'Brien and fellow Hawk Kiro Roman (18 goals, 13 assists, 49 points). O'Brien spoke to staff writer Sean Kernan.

You're having a great season. The team is 19-1-4. What's the mood going into districts?

"We plan on winning and doing really well. We just want to play our game and reach our goals -- stay focused on winning districts, playing well in regionals and just continue on and play out the season."

How old are you and how long have you been playing soccer?

"I'm 18 years old and I've been playing soccer since I was 3 years old. My mother (Maria) got me into soccer. She was a runner. She was pretty good at it. So she saw soccer as a running sport. I guess when you're 3 you can't run track. At first we started off just kicking a ball around the house and when I got to be 4 or 5 she put me in a YMCA league. I guess she saw that I was pretty good and she never took me out of it."

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Keys: Challenges ahead for Southern University, Mitchell

Baton Rouge, LA - Last summer, when Stump Mitchell boldly predicted his Southern football team could go undefeated, he didn’t exactly win over rival coaches. When his team fell disastrously short, finishing 2-9 ... well, he obviously didn’t win over the Jaguar Nation.

Still, as this summer begins and Mitchell prepares for his second year at SU, you have to feel a little sympathy. No, seriously.

Thursday afternoon, Southwestern Athletic Conference presidents and chancellors voted to keep SU and Jackson State from participating in the league’s championship football game, essentially expanding a one-year postseason ban handed down by the NCAA. Now, some three months before the season begins, Mitchell has to find a way to motivate his 18-to-23-year-old players — to give them reasons to keep fighting on every down, in a season that can’t possibly end with a title.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

A.J. Harmon Transferring To Alabama State, According To A.J. Harmon

Former University of Georgia Bulldogs offensive tackle A.J. Harmon tweeted Saturday: "UGA love u all...Thanks for many lessons but another chapter has been written...Now a new one starts at bama state."  The FCS Alabama State Hornets of Montgomery play in the SWAC; Harmon will be eligible to play in 2011.

Harmon left the UGA program in May, citing personal reasons. It had been rumored for days before his exit that both he and Caleb King were on the brink of being declared academically ineligible. Whether that was actually the case, we might never know.

The sophomore's transfer marks the second potential starter the Dawgs have lost to a FCS school this year, following Washaun Ealey's exit to the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Harmon came to Georgia as a four-star prospect, ranked the No. 2 guard in the nation and the No. 4 player in the state.

The (short) release from UGA in late May:

ATHENS, GA -- University of Georgia junior offensive tackle A.J. Harmon will transfer to another institution for personal reasons according to an announcement Tuesday by UGA head coach Mark Richt.  A native of Louisville, Ga., Harmon was redshirted in 2008 and appeared in seven games over the past two seasons in an offensive line backup role.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

FSU's Makusha breaks college 100-meter record

Florida State junior sprinter breaks 15-year mark with 9.89 time



DES MOINES, Iowa -- Florida State’s Ngonidzashe Makusha got word of the first national title he won on Friday when an official called him in his hotel room to tell him he’d taken the long jump crown.

Makusha made up for that anticlimactic victory with a win that brought everyone to their feet. Makusha broke the national collegiate record in the 100 meters Friday in the NCAA Outdoor championships, winning in 9.89 seconds to cap a stunning day in Des Moines.

It was the second dominant performance of the meet for Makusha, who won the long jump in 27 feet, 6 3/4 inches—the best mark at the NCAA meet in 18 years.

Running on a wet track and with a slight tailwind, Makusha broke the 100 mark of 9.90 set by Ato Boldon of UCLA in 1996. Makusha joined Michigan’s DeHart Hubbard (1925), Ohio State’s Jesse Owens (1935-36) and Houston’s Carl Lewis (1981) as the only athletes to sweep the 100 and long jump at an NCAA meet.

“It’s a blessing. I’m really thankful. I never planned to do this,” said Makusha, from Zimbabwe.

Live Results

Participants & Heat Sheets

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Former Florida A&M Rattlers star preparing for NFL camp

Tallahassee, FL - Curtis Holcomb didn't waste a minute after walking into the Success Athletic Training building. The former Florida A&M cornerback swirled his outstretched arms at shoulder height a few times and dove right into a rigid workout. He worked his way around a variation of weights and at a non-stop pace, then went on to knock out almost 100 push-ups.

As the 250th pick by the San Francisco 49ers in this year's draft, Holcomb knows that little is guaranteed. The current NFL lockout brings on a certain level of anxiety, too.



"I'm working hard every day, but I've got to keep that mindset that I'm working harder than the next person," said Holcomb, the first FAMU football player to be drafted since quarterback JaJuan Seider in 2000. "But, then again, I want to work hard because it gives me motivation."

The daily evening workouts that usually run for an hour is a boost of confidence as well as preparation, he said. He's been training with SAT owner...

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Southern’s Halls sign pro baseball contracts

Baton Rouge, LA - From the moment they got friendly with a baseball glove, Frazier Hall and Cody Hall worked and waited for their shot at the pros. Now the wait is over, and their lives are speeding up.

The two Southern University seniors, both taken earlier this week in the Major League Baseball draft, have signed pro contracts and will head to rookie camps Sunday.

Frazier Hall, the two-time Southwestern Athletic Conference player of the year, was selected in the 16th round by the Los Angeles Angels. The first baseman is headed to Tempe, Arizona, with the rest of the Angels’ draftees, where they’ll take physicals and work out for a few days. Frazier Hall said after that, he’ll be assigned to Orem, Utah, where he’ll play for the Angels’ short-season Class A team.

“I’m ready to go at it,” he said. “Now that it’s here, it’s crazy.”

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Former Delaware State Player and Coach Jackie DeVane named Head Women's Basketball Coach at West Virginia Wesleyan

Coach Jackie DeVane

Buckhannon, WV - West Virginia Wesleyan College Director of Athletics Ken Tyler announced today the hiring of Jackie DeVane as Head Women’s Basketball Coach. DeVane was selected from a pool of almost 100 applicants.

Tyler stated, "We are very pleased to welcome Coach DeVane to West Virginia Wesleyan. She brings a wealth of successful experience, as well as strong enthusiasm for teaching and coaching. Jackie will be a real asset to Wesleyan."

DeVane has spent 15 years as a collegiate head coach, including 10 on the Division I level. She began her career at Division II Cheyney University, where she led the Lady Wolves to their first 20-win season in 10 years. From Cheyney, DeVane was hired as the head coach at Division I Delaware State University, where she earned MEAC Coach of the Year honors. In addition, she coached the men’s basketball team for the final three games of their season and the conference tournament.

In 2000, DeVane accepted the head coaching position at Division I Monmouth University where she compiled an overall record of 75-57, made an appearance in the NEC finals, won the most games (18) since Monmouth joined the NEC, and set a school record with four consecutive winning seasons.

After so many years on the road, DeVane left coaching in 2005 to raise her daughter Kiki in a more stable environment. Kiki will be a freshman student-athlete at Bethune-Cookman University this fall. From her new base in Houston, Texas, DeVane stayed active in the game by coaching AAU and helping young athletes move on to college. During her 15-year head-coaching career, DeVane served on the Board of Directors of both the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association and the Black Coaches’ Association.

DeVane earned a bachelor’s degree from Delaware State, a master’s from Penn State, and has completed doctoral work at Temple University. DeVane was a four-year letter winner and captain at Delaware State and led the team in rebounding three years. She pulled down a school-record 28 rebounds in one game her freshman year, and was inducted into the DSU Hall of Fame in 1997.

DeVane summed up her hiring by stating, "I am excited to be a part of the West Virginia Wesleyan family. I think Ken Tyler is doing a wonderful job with the athletic department and I love that President Balch is so supportive of athletics! It’s an awesome feeling to be back in the saddle, and I’m looking forward to working with the student-athletes in the program."

What they’re saying about Jackie DeVane:

"She is a hard worker who pays close attention to dotting her I’s and crossing her T’s. Jackie is very diligent, is a great communicator, and is very smart when it comes to achieving educational goals."
-Hall of Fame Coach John Chaney, formerly of Temple University

"Wesleyan has hired a quality individual who also happens to be one of my favorite people. She is intelligent and relates extremely well to young people. She knows the game and is a great basketball coach who has always had a great love for the game. I think you guys got someone who the community will love. She is a very, very good recruiter and you’ll be very proud of the job she does with the young women that make up your basketball program. Congratulations on hiring such a beautiful person."
-Former Syracuse University Head Coach Marianne Freeman (DeVane’s coach at Delaware State)

By West Virginia Wesleyan College Sports Information

Colonial Heights' Phillingane will play softball at VSU next year

Colonial Heights, VA - For four years there has been one constant on the Colonial Heights softball team - senior pitcher Savannah Phillingane. Over her career, Phillingane has grown into one of the most competitive pitchers in the Central District with her delivery and hard-nosed attitude on the mound.

Next season, the Colonials pitcher will take those talents to Virginia State where she signed on the dotted line of a National Letter of Intent Tuesday to play college softball.

"This makes two players [Caitlin Underhill] in two years that we've seen gone on to play Division II softball, it is really exciting," said Colonial Heights coach Toni Martin. "I think it will be a good fit for her. She can do anything but I think that they might want her as a closer, but she really wants to catch."



READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.