Southern's Cador savors 2-week twin bill

Coach Roger Cador (left)

Baton Rouge, LA - Southern baseball coach Roger Cador experienced a special doubleheader in the past couple of weeks. It started July 3 in Lubbock, Texas, when he witnessed Danny Goodwin, a teammate of his with the Jaguars in 1972-73, becoming the first Southern player inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

The nightcap came Tuesday night in Phoenix when Cador was at Chase Field to watch Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks become the first player he has coached to play in the Major League All-Star game.

“To see a former teammate and also the first player from Southern go into the College Baseball Hall of Fame was really rewarding,” Cador said after returning to Baton Rouge on Wednesday. “And the All-Star events are always exciting. You get to see and meet so many people, shake hands and talk to everyone. Everyone wants to talk. That’s the beauty of it.”

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Grambling State Walls' belief paid off

Grambling, LA - When nobody believed in Everson Walls, and that was often, he always believed in himself. "You're going to have to have the heart," he would tell himself. "You're going to have to come through for yourself."

Finally, after years of steady effort, the former Grambling State defensive back came to understand one of football's basic truths: "Whatever was going to happen for me," Walls said, "would have to happen because of what I did on the field."


During Walls 14 seasons, he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and won a Super Bowl with the NY Giants.

That tireless ambition to overcome whatever obstacles lay in path paid off with league titles in college, pro bowls and a championship in the NFL and, this weekend, induction as part of the third class of the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame. The sold-out ceremonies will be held Saturday at the Hobdy Assembly Center on the Grambling campus.

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Calhoun County's Brown commits to NC A&T

Saint Matthews, SC - Walt Wilson called it a good day for Calhoun County football.

Turns out, Clyde Johnson, who announced his intentions to play at S.C. State, wasn't the only Saint to give a verbal commitment Thursday. Calhoun County defensive tackle Javontae Brown (6-1, 280), a T&D All-Area first team selection after finishing with 94 tackles, six sacks and eight tackles for loss in 2010, gave his verbal commitment to North Carolina A&T.

Should Brown follow through on his verbal and sign with the Aggies in February it would be a coup for the MEAC school. As a sophomore, MaxPreps ranked Brown among the top 100 prospects in the country and, at one time, he had interest from such major colleges as South Carolina.

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UMES Announces 2011 Recruiting Class

Hawks adds four transfers, five freshmen to four-time defending MEAC Northern Division champion

Princess Anne, MD - UMES head volleyball coach Don Metil has announced the addition of nine players for the 2011 season, joining five returners from last year after the Hawks won the MEAC Northern Division for the fourth time in a row.

"UMES will definitely have a different look on the court this upcoming season," says Metil, "we will need our recruiting class to make an immediate impact due to the loss of Samantha Chukwura and Stephanie Sierra."

Four players join the Hawks with collegiate experience plus five freshmen will suit up at the college level for the first time.

Coming from Indiana State University, Auriel Armstrong (Long Beach, Calif.) transfers to UMES with two years of eligibility remaining. With the Sycamores, the 6-2 middle blocker played in 31 matches in 2010, leading the team in solo blocks with 14 and finishing with 69 total. She also notched 177 kills with a hitting percentage of .224 plus 22 aces and 95 digs.

"I saw Auriel play in 2009 for MLB out of California and wanted her to join us then. Now that she's decided to finish her career with us, she'll make an immediate impact with her athleticism, ability to play back-row, aggressive serve, and her setting ability."

Also providing a boost at the middle blocker position, Ndidi Ibe (North Richland, Texas) joins UMES after two years with the United States Naval Academy. The 6-0 junior started 25 matches last season with 28 appearances overall, leading the Mids and ranking third in the Patriot League in total blocks with 96, also adding 174 kills. Last year, UMES defeated Navy 3-2 during the Kristen Dickmann Memorial Tournament in Annapolis, with Ibe notching 14 kills and eight blocks against the Hawks.

"When we played Navy in 2010, Ndidi hurt us offensively, so when the opportunity became available that she could join us, I definitely wanted her to be playing for us, and not against us."

Corey Haynes (Falls Church, Va.) will look to boost the setter position, coming in with junior standing after two years at St. Peter's College. She is the tallest setter to play for Coach Metil at UMES, standing at 6-3. Hayes played in all 31 matches for the Peahens in 2010, starting 29 of them, leading the squad with 436 assists. She contributed in a variety of ways, including offensively with 160 kills and 18 aces and defensively with 72 blocks and 218 digs.

"Corey touches a great ball and has the height we have needed in this position for a long time. She has experience running 5-1 as well as 6-2 which will give us some flexibility in our offensive systems we plan on using."

Rounding out the transfers is Raquel Rogers (Baltimore, Md.), the lone representative from the state of Maryland. Coming from CCBC-Essex, the 5-9 Rogers will contribute as an outside hitter. For the Knights in 2009, Rogers contributed 186 kills and dug out 171.

"Raquel has worked hard to become a part of the Hawk program, and we look for her to contribute on the right and left sides."

Saitaua Iosia (Long Beach, Calif.) will join the Hawks as a freshman, coming from the same high school as Zoe Bowens, Long Beach Poly. The 5-10 hitter led the Jackrabbits, ranked as high as #3 in the nation, to the state finals, averaging 12 kills and digs a match and will help bolster the outside.

"Sa has played club ball for MLB and TCA as well as for a highly success high school team and brings international experience, too. She jumps well, hits a very heavy ball, plays all the way around, and is a true leader. Sa has the skill set and drive to be one of the best athletes to come through our program here at UMES."

Also hailing from California, Victoria Williams (Los Angeles, Calif.) will play her first season for UMES. The tallest outside hitter on the team at 6-3, the left-handed Williams, who also played for TCA, will contribute primarily from the right side and is in her second year in Princess Anne.

"Tori trained off the court during the 2010 campaign and made huge gains. She is long, lean, left-handed, powerful, jumps well over 10' and is an incredible blocker. She could potentially develop into a key six-rotational player."

Finishing out the freshman outside hitters, Emily Shannon (Cross Junction, Va.) joins the maroon and grey standing six feet tall. She was the first player in James Wood High School history to record 1,000 kills, getting 344 her final season, and was named to the 2010 Winchester Star All-Area Volleyball Team.

"Emily jumps well, hits a heavy ball, is a primary S/R passer, and a six rotational player. Emily is level-headed on the court and will give us some consistency on the outside. She also has experience in the middle which gives us the flexibility to do some creative plays offensively."

With the final freshmen of the class, the Hawks bring in two international players to boost the team's strengths.

Hailing from America's neighbor up north, Jessie Vicic (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada) arrives in Princess Anne after playing for the Forest Heights Collegiate Institute, leading the Trojans to league championships all four seasons plus earning First Team All-Star status in Central Ontario. At 5-9, Vicic was the primary setter for the KW Predators in Ontario.

"Jessie has the drive, determination, ability and knowledge to run our offense. She has been trained by some well-known, respected individuals of the game, and her experience, even though a freshman, will prove invaluable to our success."

The final player of the class is Nadja Nemeth (Bettlach, Switzerland), becoming the second European player to suit up for Coach Metil, the other being Karin Vikterlof from Sweden in 2009. The 5-9 Nemeth, coming from Kantonsschule Solothurn, will serve as a utility player for the Hawks. She played in the Swiss Junior Championships, where her teams took first place three times.

"Nadja has played at a very high international level and has great S/R passing, is defensively quick, and shows great range when attacking. Nadja will be an integral part of our team play and will swing from both pins."

With these nine newcomers joining a team that went 20-12 last season and won the MEAC Northern Division, the future looks bright for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

"I'm eager to see the growth in this young squad," says Metil, "This team has the potential to achieve some of the best results since my time here at UMES."

By UMES Sports Information

VISIT: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE
VISIT: UMESHAWKS

With development coming on all sides, Howard University takes a look inward

Washington, D.C. - Howard University sits in the midst of one of the country’s best real estate markets, and there are signs all around it.

A few blocks to the west, a 184-unit building, View 14, recently sold for $104 million, or $670 per square foot, maybe the highest ever for a Washington apartment building.

A few blocks to the south, atop the Metro station that bears the university’s name, the mixed-use “Progression Place” is under construction, which will add another new 205 apartments and a new headquarters for the United Negro College Fund.

While the neighborhood around it has seen an incredible growth of new housing and retail in the past 20 years, Howard has allowed large swaths of property its owns in the Cardozo-Shaw neighborhood north of U Street Northwest to be used as surface parking lots or to languish vacant.

Meanwhile Howard residence halls are currently able to house just 45 percent of the school’s students, compared with 60 to 70 percent at competing schools. Of the students who do live on campus, about three-quarters live in buildings that are at least 50 years old.

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New Howard University Campus Plan Finalized

While campus plans for American and Georgetown Universities -- the latter of which is apparently considering expanding into Northern Virginia to circumvent the wrath of its Advisory Neighborhood Commission -- Howard University's plans are rolling along. The University officially released its finalized decennial Campus Master Plan to the public on July 12, 2011.

The plan has been under development since 2009. (Neighborhood blog Left for LeDroit has a fine repository of information on the several drafts that have been produced since that time.) Among the key features of the plan are the closure of several alleys, the construction of new residence halls and the renovation of several buildings around the campus. A minority of Howard's student population lives on campus -- the overarching goal of the plan is to attempt to pull more students closer to the University's core, enrich Georgia Avenue's commercial potential and increase transportation options -- including Bikeshare -- inside the campus.

You can read an entire copy of the plan below; all of the maps in the final plan can be viewed here.

Pigskin Preview: Fort Valley State Wildcats

Fort Valley, GA - Depending on how you look at the 2010 season, Fort Valley State Wildcat fans and players alike debate on whether their 8-3 finish was successful or disappointing. After going 8-1 before the season ending SIAC championship game with Albany State, the Cats dropped two straight to end the season while losing their starting quarterback to off the field trouble in the process.

"We just fell short," says head coach Don Pittman. "We felt like we just lost our momentum. We were disappointed that we didnt make the playoff and we lost in the Pioneer bowl because of that I think that was the main reason."



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Paine College Baseball Marshall(s) In New Era

Head Baseball Coach Kirby Marshall

Augusta, GA - Melvin Le’Kerby Marshall (Kerby) joins the Paine College baseball staff as head coach, Director of Athletics, Tim Duncan announced. Marshall comes to the program from Edward Waters College, in Jacksonville, Florida where he was head coach for six years.

“We are excited to add a proven winner to lead the Paine College baseball program”, stated Director of Athletics, Tim Duncan. “Coach Marshall has a demonstrated track record of success and that was one of several factors that led to the decision to hire him as the leader of the Paine College baseball program.

“During the interview process, he impressed the committee with his preparedness, his vision for the program and his passion for the academic success of the young men he coaches. We are fortunate to add a coach of his caliber to Paine College.”

“I am truly honored and excited to be a part of the Paine College family as the new head baseball coach,” states Marshall. “It is my goal to continue to build upon and strengthen the foundation of academic excellence, athletics, and community service already in place here.”

During his tenure at Edward Waters, from 2005-2011, Coach Marshall led his team to four consecutive 20 plus win seasons, two 35 plus win seasons and a trip to the NAIA championships in 2011. Last season, Marshall’s team finished the season with a 37-24 overall record and recorded the first postseason trip in the history of Edward Waters College Baseball. Coach Marshall was named NAIA unaffiliated conference Coach of the Year, and received the number one ranking in Black College for NAIA and Division II baseball. Also under his tutelage at Edward Waters College, Coach Marshall helped produce the school’s first player selected for the Major League Draft (Charles Thomas/Chicago Cubs-2009). In 2008, Coach Marshall’s team set the school record of 35 wins and received their first national ranking in NAIA Top 25 poll. Coach Marshall has also spent time working as an assistant area scout for the Florida Marlins.

The Jacksonville, Florida native is a graduate of Englewood High School, where he was a three-sport letterman, and received a double scholarship to play basketball and baseball at Shaw University, in Raleigh, NC, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management in 1992. As a student athlete, Marshall earned baseball MVP honors in his junior and senior seasons, and was also named to the All-CIAA conference honorable mention team.

Coach Marshall’s coaching career began at Ribault Middle School, where he coached baseball and basketball for a year, and then moved to the high school level, where he coached baseball from 1998-2005. While at Ribault, he was instrumental in teaching the game of baseball to inner city youth, who were not exposed to the sport. He coached his middle school basketball team to a 12-0 record championship, and his baseball team finished the season with a 13-2 overall record. Once coach Marshall transitioned to high school, several of his players received baseball scholarships to Alcorn State University, Shaw University, and Lake City Community College.

“We are extremely fortunate to retain the services of Assistant Coach Kenny Bellamy. Coach Bellamy did an outstanding job as interim head Coach. We think with the addition of Coach Marshall and the retention of Coach Bellamy, Paine College has the finest baseball staff in the SIAC and we look forward to competing for championships in the near future”, states Duncan.

“Our goal will be to produce a team and individuals who are competing at the highest level.” Marshall states. “I want to express my gratitude to Edward Waters College for giving me the opportunity to become a head coach and to Paine College for the opportunity to take the reins of this program and guide them in the future.”

Coach Marshall will officially begin August 1.

by Paine College Athletics

VISIT:  PAINE COLLEGE

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Florida A&M Grad Hits Golf Ball 457 Yards!

Tallahassee, FL - On a good day, the weekend golfer can hit a drive somewhere north of 250 yards. If you really get into one, you can go 300 yards. Maurice Allen doesn't even play golf that much--and he can almost double what you or I can do...so how in the world does he hit the ball over four football fields long?

Maurice Allen can flat out hit a golf ball. He's a big, strong guy, but what he can do on the range is ridiculous With a swing like this, you'd think he's had years of practice -- "I started 12 months and two weeks ago," said Maurice Allen.



Allen is a long drive hitting phenom. For years, he laughed at those who golfed because it just wasn't cool. But what is cool is how far he can hit a golf ball. His longest is 457 yards but it went out of bounds--the average PGA tour player goes about 320-350 on a good day.

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Norfolk State University welcomes new president

NORFOLK, Va. - On July 1, Norfolk State University (NSU) welcomed its fifth president, Dr. Tony Atwater. Atwater says he wants to expand and strengthen programs at the university, but says his main focus is the students.

"We're about achieving dreams and helping students to achieve success beyond measure," said Atwater. One of those dreams is expanding graduate and professional programs at the university. Atwater continued, "At the forefront of my vision for Norfolk State University is serving the student and the faculty and helping the institution develop to go to the next level. Academic success and academic strength."

Atwater is very familiar with leading a campus community having most recently served as...



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ASU generates $901 million a year for state, study says

Montgomery, AL - Alabama State University generates $901 million and 10,500 jobs for the state each year, ac­cording to a report commissioned by the school.

Officials said the study is part of a broader push to remind the local business community of the school's growth and development over the past several years. ASU leaders hope to drum up support as they cope with state funding cuts and mull another possible tui­tion increase.

"We want this business com­munity in this region to recognize the importance of Alabama State and invest in it, and support it," said John Knight, a state repre­sentative and Alabama State's ex­ecutive vice president and chief operating officer.

The report, done by the Wash­ington Economics Group, based in Coral Gables, Fla., found the school generates $885 million for the River Region, including 9,714 jobs and $111 million in state and local taxes. University operations create an economic impact of $341 mil­lion, according to the study, and support 3,931 jobs.

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LINKS:
ASU Economic Impact Press Conference, July 8, 2011
Click to view virtual fly-over of new ASU Football Stadium
The Week in Pictures at ASU
June 26-July 2, 2011

Albany State University plans 12th annual football reception

ALBANY, GA — Albany State University football fans and supporters are invited to meet and greet the football coaches and hear exciting information about the 2011 season at a preseason reception.

The 12th annual Preseason Football Reception will be July 29 at 5:30 p.m. at Eula Lovett Hall at the ASU Coliseum. The reception, which is free of charge and open to members of the Quarterback Club and Golden Rams football fans, is the official start of the 2011 season, according to head coach Mike White.

“This is a great opportunity to thank our fans for supporting us during the 2010 season and solicit support...



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Guaranteed Success: Bulldogs’ ‘Money Games’ have brought over $2 million to program

S.C. State has earned over $2.2 Million in "money games"
and a 0-6 record against 1-A competition like Central Florida.

Orangeburg, S.C. - Facing Division I teams was uncharted territory the first 100 years of existence for South Carolina State football.

When the Bulldogs opened the 2007 season at Air Force Academy, head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough was not surprised about the outcome, a 34-3 loss. At the same time, he also saw the big picture for the program in competing against larger schools.

"I think you've seen a little bit of a change in our team in the time that we've been playing those kind of games," Pough said. "I guess we'll get to the point where eventually we've been a pretty usual customary participant in the playoff structure. I think that kind of sense of urgency that's created by those games being on the schedule helps...

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Los Angeles Lakers Roster Review: Trey Johnson

Vitals
Age: 26
NBA Experience: 2 years
Contract Status: Free Agent
2010-11 Averages: 4.2ppg, 1.3apg, 36% FG, 33% 3PT, 90% FT



Umm…yeah…so the Lakers lost Devin Ebanks to injury, they needed a new body to fill a roster spot so…bam! Heeeeerrrrrrrrresssssss’s Trey Johnson.

The only thing more shocking than the Lakers’ exit from the playoffs was Johnson’s entrance in said playoffs. Trey was one of the first men off the bench for Phil Jackson in the opening game of the 2011 playoffs. Otherwise there wasn’t too much to talk about with regards to Johnson’s brief stint as a Laker.

The former SWAC player of the year is a scorer pure and simple. Before being recalled from Bakersfield in the D-League, Johnson was dropping 25 a night in the NBA’s second tier.

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Hampton University President Donates Additional Gift to Staff

Hampton, Va. – Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey and Mrs. Norma B. Harvey, have given a $166,000 personal gift to HU to support a wage increase to all full-time permanent HU staff earning less than $8 an hour. Through this donation, 118 full-time, permanent HU staff employees will receive a wage increase equal to $8 an hour. This increase takes effect July 1.

This contribution follows the recent gift of $1 million to HU by the Harveys (May 2011).  In July 2006, President and Mrs. Harvey made a similar donation of $45,000 to the University in support of a five percent increase to staff earning less than $7 an hour.

In total, the Harveys have gifted more than $2.2 million to the University over the past ten years.

“Norma and I have made another gift to increase the wages of hourly support staff to $8 an hour. While everyone at Hampton already receives more than the minimum wage, we wanted to show our gratitude to those staff members who serve the campus behind the scenes. These dedicated employees serve our faculty, administration and students and warrant our recognition,” said President Harvey.

From HU Press Release; Alison Phillips@757.727.5754 or email alison.phillips@hamptonu.edu 

S.C. State football to face Arizona in 2012

Orangeburg, S.C. - "Orangeburg Heat" has prepared many a South Carolina State football player over the years for competing in scorching conditions early in the season.

This season, the Bulldogs will head to Daytona Beach, Fla. for a Sept. 10 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference showdown against Bethune-Cookman. In 2012, another Wildcats' team which competes in a city which averages 94 degrees in the month of September will test their mettle.

On Tuesday, athletics director Charlene Johnson and head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough confirmed S.C. State will travel west to Tucson, Arizona for a Sept. 15, 2012 contest against the University of Arizona. The game's date could change given the revamped Pac-12, according to Arizona athletics director Greg Byrne.

The game is historic for both programs...



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Banks’ time at Southern University arrives

Baton Rouge, LA - A decade ago, when Southern University was looking for a new men’s basketball coach, Roman Banks hoped to prove he was the right man for the job. An assistant to Tommy Green for five seasons, Banks served as interim head coach while SU looked for Green’s replacement. But he didn’t get the full-time gig. That, instead, went to Ben Jobe for the second time.

Banks — whose father (Cleophus Banks), brother (Carlos Sample) and godfather (Bob Love) all played at SU — later conceded he was stung by the snub. “We would tell him: In spite of politics, in spite of all the personal agendas, your time will come at Southern,” Cleophus Banks said. “Just wait and be patient.”

A decade later, Banks finally has the job. But here’s the thing: The Southern job is a whole lot tougher than it was in 2001. The Jaguars are short on firepower. In losing three seniors, they lost 50 percent of last year’s scoring and 36 percent of last year’s rebounds.



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Lewis: I'd pick Grambling again

Wide Receiver Frank Lewis NFL career span 13 season
397 receptions, 6,724 yards, 40 TDs  and 2 Super Bowl
Championships with the Pittsburg Steelers, who drafted
Lewis in the 1971 NFL Draft, 1st Round, Pick 8.

NFL great to join other inductees into Grambling Legends Hall

Houma, LA - Frank Lewis was as quiet as he was deadly proficient in the game of football. And, in many ways, the Houma native remains just that unassuming. Until you get him to talking about his college alma mater.

"There's something about Grambling," he said. "It's a small school in a secluded area. But if I had to choose again — even as big as things are in today's world of college football — I'd still go to Grambling. I'd want that same experience. It's unforgettable. I don't think you could trade that for anything."

That passion, which led to a league championship at Grambling and then a pair of Super Bowl titles in the pros, will be recognized Saturday when Lewis joins the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame. The class also includes former Super Bowl winner Everson Walls, former NBA champion Larry Wright, former Pro Bowl MVP James "Shack" Harris and College Football Hall of Fame coach Douglas Porter, among others. Ceremonies will be held...



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Saint Augustine's College stadium plan renews old spat

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The yard lines are painted, the goal posts are up, and a video scoreboard stands ready to flash the first Falcons touchdown. But one thing is missing from the new sports complex at Saint Augustine's College, and it's not referees, offensive linemen or a drum line. The stadium has no bleachers.

Saint Augustine's finished work this spring on a turf field and nine-lane track, marking progress on the long-awaited George Williams Athletic Complex. But the school put off installing bleachers while it worked to resolve conflicts with neighbors aghast at the prospect of noisy crowds and game-day traffic.



At issue is the seating capacity for the stadium, nestled in a quiet residential area off Oakwood Avenue. In 2004, after several rounds of talks between neighbors and school leaders, the City Council approved a 2,500-seat stadium under a compromise brokered by Mayor Charles Meeker. But the school never acted on the plan. Now, college officials are convinced they need more seats to attract recruits and compete for upper-tier NCAA track competitions.

"At 5,000 seats, we will be one of the smallest stadiums of any institution we play," President Dianne Boardley Suber told a group of concerned neighbors last week. "I don't expect this to be an easy decision for you. ... There is nothing in our history to suggest we're going to be anything other than good neighbors."



The George Williams Athletic Complex is a special tribute to the contributions of distinguished alumnus and Athletic Director George "Pup" Williams. Coach Williams has earned thirty-one (31) NCAA Division II Track Championships, produced nine Olympians including 2008 Bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson, and served as head coach of the 2004 gold medal-winning United States Olympic Men's Track and Field Team.

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Wright to join Grambling State University 'Legends'

Monroe, LA - Larry Wright, the product of a single-parent home in the poorest part of southside Monroe, never let his humble beginnings slow him down. He'd help teams win basketball championships in high school and college — then titles in the NBA and overseas.

That fiery determination will be recognized with Wright's induction July 16 as part of the third class of the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame.

"The best small guard we've ever had, pound for pound the best guard," Wright's coach, the late Frederick C. Hobdy, once said. "A great jumper, he gets an 'A' in every category."

Wright was a two-time Parade All-American at Richwood, where he won a Louisiana state Class 3A title in 1972 as a junior under...

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Harris: Tough road ahead for the ECSU Vikings

Elizabeth City, N.C. - Less than a month away from the start of football practice and seven weeks until Elizabeth City State kicks off the season and the Vikings’ path to the CIAA championship game and playoffs is finally set. And what a tough road it is.

After getting a waiver from the NCAA to open the season a week early, ECSU now opens at Delta State, last year’s NCAA Division II runner-up. To be honest, this has loss written all over it.

Delta State has been one of the most consistent programs in the nation and a routine participant in the postseason. ECSU is traveling a long way to play in hostile territory. Not something the team cannot overcome, but a tremendous challenge — one I am sure the team and coaching staff are ready for.

The key to this game is....

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New A.D. at Paine College hits the ground running

Paine College Athletic Director Tim Duncan

Augusta, GA - If you drive over near and around Paine College you'll see things are starting to happen. That's a good sign with the new health eduction activities learning center or heal center about to break ground. The new man in charge of the athletic department, Tim Duncan is looking forward to it.

Duncan has been on the job for a couple of months and is getting caught up to speed on everything Paine College athletics. The HEAL center is a big part of it seeing there will be a 2500 seat arena incorporated in it. Duncan also knows there's a few fences to be mended along the way.

"I think my job is to get out in the community and to show we are still a part of the community that Paine College is here, that we're looking to build relationships, if there's relationships to be repaired, we will definitely do that very aggressively and we're excited about the opportunity." said new athletic director Tim Duncan.

Duncan says they hope to break ground in the next 30 days and it'll take 11 months to finish for the center. In the mean time, the basketball team will need a place to play. They finished out this past year at Josey and are working on one location for the entire season.

"Basketball is our revenue generating sport for Paine College so we want...

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE

Alabama State Hornets Football Coaches Caravan to Tour Alabama and Georgia Next Week

Montgomery, AL - Officials from Alabama State University announced today the schedule for the 2011 Football Coaches Caravan that runs from July 11 through July 15.

The inaugural caravan, aimed at promoting ASU Athletics and boosting football season ticket sales, will roll through five cities in Alabama and Georgia. ASU athletic director Stacy Danley and head football coach Reggie Barlow will lead the Tour Team during stops in Mobile, Birmingham, Phenix City/Columbus, Ga., Atlanta, and Montgomery. Also traveling on the tour are ASU's associate vice president for Development, Zillah Fluker, and director of Alumni Relations, Cromwell Handy.

“'It's a GREAT time to be a Hornet' is more than just a catch phrase,” Danley said. “The transformation that is taking place on campus directly affects where we are looking to go with ASU Athletics. I am excited to get out and meet with alumni, fans and friends of Alabama State on the caravan.”

The Tour Team will meet alumni, fans and other ASU supporters at various venues during the five-city tour. Danley will provide an overview of the entire Hornet athletics program. The Tour will also showcase the University's Vision 2020 Transformation Plan, construction progress of the new Hornets Football Stadium, the outlook for the upcoming football season, season tickets packages, the Hornet Club and the many new and exciting developments taking place on campus.

Fans will get an insight on the crown jewel of the athletics construction project, the new Alabama State University Football Stadium. Located on campus just off of I-85, the 30,000-seat stadium will feature 20 suites, club and loge seating and will be one of the premier facilities of its size in the nation. Construction is set to be completed in time to host the 2012 Turkey Day Classic.

The Caravan will also allow Hornet fans a chance to get to hear from Coach Barlow and members of his coaching staff as they prepare for the 2011 season. Entering his fifth season as head football coach, Barlow is thrilled to meet with supporters as well.

“I am looking forward to meeting with everyone that stands with ASU,” Barlow said. “I love Alabama State and feel blessed to be at my alma mater during this amazing time of transformation.”

The 2010-2011 ASU Athletic season was arguably the best in school history. A total of five Hornet teams won SWAC divisional, league or tournament titles, helping Alabama State finish second in the Commissioners Cup standings for Best Overall Program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The ASU football team had a big season in 2010. The Hornets had a pair of three-game winning streaks, posting its highest win total since 2003. They won the Eastern Division Championship for the first time since 2004 and won the State Farm Magic City Classic defeating archrival Alabama A&M.



The following is the official schedule, subject to change:

Monday, July 11: Mobile, Ala; 6-8 P.M. Mobile Marriott, 3101 Airport Boulevard, Mobile, Ala. 36606

Tuesday, July 12 – Birmingham, Ala; 6-8 P.M. Birmingham Sheraton, 2101 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North, Birmingham, Ala. 35203

Wednesday, July 13 – Columbus, Ga; 6-8 P.M. Columbus Double Tree, 5351 Sidney Simmons Boulevard, Columbus, Ga. 31909

Thursday, July 14 – Atlanta, Ga; 7-9 P.M. Stats Restaurant, 300 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30313

Friday, July 15 – Montgomery, Ala; – 6-8 P.M. Alabama State University Acadome, 1595 Robert C. Hatch Drive, Montgomery, Ala. 36106

By Alabama State University Sports Information

Birmingham's Darieal Wimbley earns lacrosse scholarship to Howard University

Darieal Shana Wimbley
Howard LAX

Birmingham, AL - Three years ago, Darieal Wimbley had never heard of lacrosse. Next month, she will head to Howard University in Washington, D.C., on a lacrosse scholarship.

It’s a historic event for the recent Ramsay High School graduate. Wimbley is the first girls athlete from a Birmingham city school to sign an NCAA Division I lacrosse scholarship.

Wimbley has Ramsay assistant principal and lacrosse coach Yancey Williams to thank for her improbable college sports choice. Wimbley had been a member of the Rams’ highly successful basketball program throughout high school. She also played soccer until Williams introduced lacrosse to the students one day during Wimbley’s sophomore year.

"He came to our P.E. class and had a trash can full of (lacrosse) sticks and some balls," Wimbley recalled. "I looked at him and said to myself, ‘What in the world does this man have with him?’ He started talking about lacrosse and we played it in the gym."

It still took some convincing from Williams for the 5-foot-7 Wimbley to join Ramsay’s lacrosse club team that spring.

"I was playing soccer and I didn’t want to play lacrosse," Wimbley said. "He kept asking me, so finally I went out there and fell in love with it.

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Ellis joins Mississippi Valley State coaching staff

Coach Brian Ellis

Crestview, FL - July 1 was a big day for Crestview native and former Baker basketball player B.J. Ellis as he was named an assistant basketball coach at Mississippi Valley State University, a NCAA Division I school in Itta Bena, Miss.

The Delta Devils are best known for football, or at least one football player, Jerry Rice, the National Football League’s all-time leading receiver. That doesn’t mean MVSU doesn’t take basketball seriously.

The Delta Devils are coached by former Kentucky star Sean Woods. And it was one of Woods’ college games that helped fan the fire Ellis has for basketball.

“I’ve always loved basketball,” he said. "And I can remember sitting down and watching the game between Duke and Kentucky (the NCAA tournament East Region finals) when my boss was playing at Kentucky. He hit the floater to put Kentucky up over Duke and then of course Christian Laettner hit the shot in the last second (to give Duke the win).

“It was one of the craziest shots I’ve ever seen in basketball. To think that I would be his assistant, his right-hand man is unbelievable.”

In his own way Ellis has taken a less traveled path from Baker to Mississippi Valley State.

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Lions executive James (Shack) Harris to enter Grambling Sports Hall of Fame

Detroit, MI - Lions senior personnel executive James (Shack) Harris will be inducted into the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame on July 16 in Grambling, La.

Harris, who played quarterback for legendary coach Eddie Robinson, helped Grambling win or share the Southwestern Athletic Conference title in 1965-68 and compiled a 31-9-1 record. In 1969, the Buffalo Bills drafted Harris in the eighth round. In 1974 with the Los Angeles Rams, Harris became the first African-American quarterback to start an NFL conference championship game.

Harris said he was inspired to dream big and play quarterback in 1963, when he watched Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his "I Have a Dream" speech on television. In a released statement, Harris said playing for Robinson at Grambling was "probably the greatest decision I ever made. Coach Robinson told me, in four years I would play quarterback in the NFL -- and I believed him. And I believed in Martin Luther King's words."

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