Hampton Lady Pirates Run Past Central Michigan Chippewas, 77-51

Choicetta McMillian 5-5 Guard, Senior Fairfield, Texas

Jericka Jenkins

5-4 Guard, Senior

 Lancaster, Texas 

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana - Jessica Green tied her career high with 17 points as the five-game win streak of Central Michigan ended in the 77-51 loss to Hampton, during the first round of the Tulane Double Tree Holiday Tournament.


The Chippewas (7-6) never led in the game as the Lady Pirates (9-2) began the game on a 10-2 lead. CMU battled back and tied the game at 12 with 13:46 left in the first half. Hampton stiffened up its defense and used a 10-2 run to retake the lead at 22-14 at the 10:55 point. The Maroon and Gold were held without a bucket for over five minutes, as Hampton reeled off a 16-3 run, until Green hit a waning-second layup to put CMU down 45-29 at the half.  

Keiara Avant
5-11 Forward, Junior

Chesapeake, VA



Olivia Allen
5-6 Guard, Junior
Kildeer, Illinois

 This is the first game since Purdue that the Chippewas trailed at half-time, and the most they have trailed at the break this year.

 

The Lady Pirates opened their lead, 58-31, in the second half behind a 13-2 run four minutes in. That would be it for the Chippewas as the Lady Pirates built upon their lead to claim their ninth win of the year.



For the first time all season Crystal Bradford was held under double digits only scoring six poi nts, but grabbing 11 rebounds. Skylar Miller added eight points going three-for-four from the floor.

The Chippewas were out-rebounded 44-38 and 21-11 offensively. They tied their season high 28 turnovers, which resulted into 31 Lady Pirate points. The CMU bench chipped in scoring 37 out of the total 51 points.

The Maroon and Gold will play Thursday at 6 p.m. CT against the College of Charleston, who lost 57-42 to Tulane.  Hampton will play for the tournament's championship against Tulane.

BOX SCORE             Courtesy: Erin Mowrey/CMU Athletics



LADY PIRATES DOMINATE IN WIN OVER CENTRAL MICHIGAN  



Melanie Warner

5-10 Forward, Senior

Tallahassee, Florida



Ariel Phelps
6-2/F-C, Junior
Virginia Beach, VA

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Hampton University women’s basketball team issued a dominating performance on Wednesday night, upending Central Michigan 77-51 at the Fogelman Arena in the opening night of Tulane/DoubleTree Classic. 

The Lady Pirates (9-2) have won two straight and seven of their last eight games. Hampton will take  on tournament host Tulane on Thursday at 9 p.m. EST in the tournament’s championship game.


Senior guard Choicetta McMillian (Fairfield, Texas) led the way with 17 points, hitting three 3-pointers, while senior guard Jericka Jenkins (Lancaster, Texas) added 16 points and a team-high seven assists. Sophomore forward Ariel Phelps (Virginia Beach, Va.) poured in 11 points and pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

Sherena Abercrumbia
6-3 Center, Senior
Dallas, Texas

Alyssa Bennett

6-2 F/C, Sophomore

Hampton, Virginia

 Junior forward Keiara Avant (Chesapeake, Va.) added 11 points in the win.



The Lady Pirates took control immediately, jumping out to a 10-2 lead after a fast-break jumper from Jenkins at the 16:18 mark. Central Michigan answered with a 10-2 run to tie the game at 12-12 after a Jessica Green layup at the 13:46 mark, but McMillian gave Hampton the lead back with a 3-pointer at the 12:11 mark. 

GAME NOTES .pdf 



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New Bethune-Cookman athletic center taking shape

 LARRY R. HANDFIELD ATHLETIC TRAINING CENTER
Courtesy William Chapin, FAIA Architect

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- If you've driven past the intersection of International Speedway Boulevard and Lincoln Street recently, the three-story blue building on the corner -- now being covered in bricks -- may have caused you to do a double take. Bethune-Cookman University is convinced that same facility -- the school's new football complex -- will have a similar effect on prospective athletes.

The $4.6 million Larry R. Handfield Athletic Training Center -- which the Wildcats' football coach is calling one of the best in the nation at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level -- is scheduled to be ready for use by mid-May, B-CU athletic director Lynn Thompson said.

"This will elevate us," Thompson said. "Recruits can see the building going up rapidly. It's an exciting time."

Head coach Brian Jenkins, who has turned around the B-CU football program in his first two years, said recruits are "nearly shocked, when they go see (the facility)." "It really puts a major impression not only on the recruits, but their families," he said.

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ABOUT THE FACILITY:

LARRY R. HANDFIELD ATHLETIC TRAINING CENTER
Courtesy William Chapin, FAIA Architect

SLIDESHOW
(To view Slide Show: click Slideshow; Current; and Handfield to view Photo Album @ Wm. Chapin site).

Bethune-Cookman University's new athletic training center will house a diverse menu of sports facilities. Included will be strength and conditioning facilities, sports medicine facilities, a football coaching headquarters, and a dramatic 3-story Hall of Fame. These facilities will be located in two main buildings which are connected by a gallery of sports, celebrating achievements by the best of Bethune-Cookman’s athletes over the 100 year history of the University. The buildings will be across from the University’s main campus, and has been designed to mirror the distinctive look of the Bethune Performing Arts Theatre, in order to broadcast the presence of the University to the other side of Daytona’s most-travelled avenue. Completion is scheduled for May 2012.

The building is named in honor of Dr. Larry R. Handfield, Esq., current chairman of the B-CU Board of Trustees and the first B-CU alumnus to hold this position. He is a Miami-based attorney who is a longtime donor and supporter of B-CU and a past recipient of an honorary doctorate degree. The majority of funds for this facility were raised by B-CU alumni, who participated in a “chapter challenge” fundraising campaign organized by the University’s regional alumni chapters.

Courtesy Bethune Cookman University

Bethune-Cookman ends Lady Wildcats skid in 2 OT; edge North Florida

Demetria Frank
RS Senior Guard
Jackson Senior High School
Miami, Florida

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Jasmine Elum's jumper with 2.1 seconds remaining in double overtime lifted Bethune-Cookman to a 66-63 victory over North Florida at Moore Gymnasium, snapping the Wildcats' nine-game losing streak.

Elum had 22 points for B-CU (2-9), which played a triple-overtime game last week against Florida Atlantic in the Hatter Classic.

Demetria Frank posted 16 points, a game-high eight rebounds, eight assists and seven steals, the last setting up Elum's game-winner against UNF (4-8). Cleniece Roberts was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 14 to go with seven rebounds.

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HU Women's Basketball Dominate Seton Hall, 63-44

South Orange, New Jersey - Saadia Doyle and Tamoria Holmes completed the game with a combined total of 43 points to guide the Howard Women’s Basketball team to a 19 point victory (63-44) over the Seton Hall Pirates (7-7) on Dec. 28.

To jump into a great match, Howard (7-5) came out on fire with six straight points. Jasmine Crew ended the Bison run with a trey at the 17:33 mark. The Pirates did not let up as they continued to go toe-to-toe with HU. HU continued to gain momentum as it put up an 11-2 run to increase the margin to 29-13 by the 3:17 mark. To end the first 20 minute segment, HU held the advantage with a 31-19 cushion over SHU.

Half-time notes: The Lady Bison went 4-4, from the free throw line, out-rebounded Seton Hall 17-16 and forced the Pirates into 12 turnovers.

Seton Hall opened up the second period with an 8-5 run. Sparked by a Doyle layup, Howard answered with a 14-2 run of its own to give the Bison its widest margin of the game, 50-29 at 11:17. Doyle scored 10 of the Bison’s 14 points during the run. The Pirates would not recover from the deficit. With the victory, HU captured its sixth straight win of the season, and remains undefeated in the month of December.

Holmes tallied a game-high 23 points – including 15 of them in the first half. Doyle notched 20 points and six boards, while Cheyenne Curley-Payne dished out a game best eight assist. Zykia Brown pitched in with nine boards off the bench and six points.

The Pirates were led by Crew who tallied 13 points for the night. Tajay Ashmeade pulled down a game high of 14 off the glass.

Game notes: HU held SHU’s leading scorer, Crew, to 13 points after averaging 19 prior to the game. SHU went 4-18 (22 percent) from behind the arc and 16-51 (31 percent) from the field. Howard dominated the Pirates in fast break points, 18-2. HU also owned the paint by outscoring Seton Hall 24-12. The Bison won the battle of the boards, 39-31.

The Bison look to continue their streak and end December undefeated, as they travel to Teaneck, N. J. to face Fairleigh Dickinson on Dec 30. The match is slated for 7 p.m.

Box Score 

By Jamilah Corbitt, Assistant Director of Sports Information
VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
VISIT: HOWARD-BISON.COM

STU Bobcats use late burst to defeat XU Gold Rush 70-60

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida -- Kevin Hincapie scored a career-high-tying 25 points Wednesday, and St. Thomas (Fla.) rallied in the final five minutes for a 70-60 men's basketball victory against NAIA No. 21 Xavier University of Louisiana in the Miami Gardens Classic.

The Bobcats (8-6), an NAIA Division II member, have won seven straight. The Gold Rush (7-4) have dropped two in a row.

Jamaan Kenner's 3-pointer with 5:12 remaining gave Xavier a 57-54 lead, but Hincapie and David Nesbitt scored six points apiece in the Bobcats' closing 16-3 burst. Hincapie's basket with 4:32 remaining put St. Thomas ahead to stay, 58-57.

Nesbitt scored 13 points and Kodamus Llongby 10 for St. Thomas, which avenged a 69-59 loss at Xavier from Nov. 11.

Cordell Hadnot and Chris Iles scored 11 points apiace for Xavier, and Hadnot grabbed nine rebounds.

Hincapie scored 13 first-half points to give the Bobcats a 31-28 lead at intermission. They led 42-35 after Hincapie's basket with 15:23 remaining, but Iles and Renard Smith made 3-pointers during an 11-0 run which gave the Gold Rush a 46-42 lead with 12:35 to play.

St. Thomas committed a season-low eight turnovers and outshot Xavier 43.1 to 36 percent from the floor. The Gold Rush committed 11 turnovers, also a season low. Xavier outscored St. Thomas 33-7 from the line in their November meeting, but this time the Bobcats had a 19-18 advantage. St. Thomas made 10 free throws in the final five minutes.

It was Xavier's first game since a triple-overtime loss Dec. 17 at city rival Loyola.

Xavier will play Florida Memorial at 5 p.m. EST Thursday in its second and final game of this event. Florida Memorial (4-8) lost 89-88 Wednesday to Palm Beach Atlantic and has dropped six in a row.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: GCACSPORTS

Howard Basketball Coach Takes a Stand Against Bullying

Kevin Nickelberry
Head Coach Men's Basketball
Howard University Bison

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Howard University Men’s Basketball Coach Kevin Nickelberry shared his personal account of the impact of bullying to a gymnasium full of elementary school students at Cleveland Elementary School’s “Bullying Awareness Week” last month.

“Dream big and don’t let bullying stop you from achieving your dreams,” said Nickelberry.

Pamela Parker, the physical education director at Cleveland Elementary, invited Nickelberry to share his experiences with bullying and to provide an interactive dialogue with the students. The goal was to teach ways to prevent bullying. His approach went beyond a spirited lecture.

Coach Nickelberry shared his own story of being bullied throughout his adolescent years in school. He explained how he was teased because he had dreams of playing on a basketball team, but was shorter than average basketball players. He said his peers teased him so badly that he would sometimes avoid attending school.

“Some days, I would fake being sick so I could stay home and not face being bullied,” said Nickelberry. “It was a horrible way to spend my years in school. And that’s why I’m here sharing my story with you all today —hoping to inspire you all not to be a bully; and if you are one, to stop being one.”

Coach Nickelberry, a native of Washington, D.C., was rated among the Top 25 “Up-and-Coming” college basketball coaches by The Sporting News and Hoopscooponline.com in 2008. He graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan University. He began his coaching career as the head women’s basketball coach at Columbia Union College in 1991 and moved to Howard University for four seasons, from 1994-1998.

Coach Nickelberry was named head coach of the Howard University men’s basketball program in May 2010. He has coached basketball at various schools in the country and internationally for more than 22 years. He has also traveled the nation to speak to thousands of students about bullying and bullying prevention as part of his “No Bullying Campaign.”

ABOUT HOWARD

Howard University is a private research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Founded in 1867, students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, two Truman Scholars, a Marshall Scholar, 24 Fulbright Scholars and 11 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information, visit www.howard.edu

Congresswoman Wilson to Introduce Federal Anti-Hazing Bill in January

Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.)

Tuesday December 27, 2011

Washington, DC – Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) announced today that she plans to introduce a federal anti-hazing bill when Congress reconvenes in January. A staunch fighter of bullying and hazing during her career as a school principal and school board member, Rep. Wilson decided that action is needed at the federal level to combat hazing incidents like the tragedy that claimed drum major Robert Champion’s life at Florida A&M University in November.

“Hazing is demeaning, dangerous, and, sadly, deadly,” said Rep. Wilson. “It’s time that we put an end to this horrible and humiliating ritual once and for all, so that no more students suffer the way that Robert and others have.”

Rep. Wilson fought hazing throughout her four-year reign as the South Atlantic Regional Director for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the first sorority founded by black students on the campus of Howard University in 1908. Rep. Wilson was nicknamed by a Miami Herald reporter as “THE HAZE BUSTER” because of her very public stance to stamp out hazing on college campuses.

“I am having policy discussions now with presidents of historically-black colleges and universities, band members and presidents of Greek-letter organizations so that we will be able to craft a strong bill for introduction next month,” Rep. Wilson said.

Rep. Frederica Wilson's hazing bill may include penalties for bystanders of rituals

Democratic U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson plans to introduce a federal hazing ban when she returns to Congress in mid-January. Details of the bill aren't yet ironed out, though she is consulting officials from the (United States) Justice Department and universities to figure out how far she can go, she said.

"I've been toying with different scenarios," she told (Miami) Times/Herald. "I want it to be broad enough to affect a lot of people so they will stop." 

She wants her bill to target the people who haze, the person being hazed and those who are present for the ritual and "don't report it or intervene."

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Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a first-term congresswoman representing the 17th District of Florida, including Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward Counties. She is a former state legislator and school principal and the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Wilson earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Fisk University in 1963 and her Master of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Miami in 1972.

3rd Mother of former FAMU student claims daughter was hazed

23 year old Sean Hobson (above) 
is charged with hazing and battery.

AUGUSTA, Georgia - Doretha Smith learned of Robert Champion’s death just hours after it happened. Her 21-year-old daughter woke her at 3 a.m. to relay the news she had received via text message. Both mother and daughter immediately suspected that the Florida A&M University drum major had been hazed.

Smith’s daughter –- who asked not to be named in this story for fear of reprisals -- was repeatedly beaten three years ago as a freshman member of FAMU's famed Marching 100, Smith told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She said the freshman clarinet player was slapped and punched in the stomach and chest, beatings she only admitted to her mother after calling in tears and asking to withdraw from the university.

Smith said she was especially disturbed when her daughter told her that one of those who hit her was a student who had played with her in the Southwest DeKalb High School band: Sean Hobson ...



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Bethune-Cookman: No other students coming forward to support hazing claim

Trudie Kibbe Reed, Ed.D
President
Bethune-Cookman University

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - A former member of the Bethune-Cookman Marching Wildcats said he could never predict when upper classmen baritone (horn) players would force him and other freshmen to do strenuous exercises behind a school building in August and hit them in the back of the neck after band practice.

"Our heads would be down the majority of the time and you couldn't see and it was dark," said Christopher King, about what he called hazing incidents after 9 p.m. behind the School of Business. "It was numerous times. You never knew (when it would happen.)"

The exercises, King said in a phone interview this week, included squatting with their arms out and heads down while being hit in the back of the neck. The breaking point, the 18-year-old said, was when he and the other five freshmen in his section were one day made to roll in the muddy water.

"We would run into the water and get back up and get slaps in the back of the head. Roll in the water again and slap in the back of the head again.

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Schedule change in Florida; XU Rush to play Bobcats first

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's basketball team will play St. Thomas (Fla.) at 7 p.m. EST Wednesday and Florida Memorial at 5 p.m. EST Thursday in the Miami Gardens Classic.

St. Thomas, host of the event, revised the pairings this past week. Xavier originally was scheduled to play Florida Memorial on the first day of this fourth annual event. Both Xavier games will be played in the Fernandez Center at St. Thomas.

This is Xavier's third consecutive appearance in the event. The Gold Rush defeated Florida Memorial 56-46 and lost 79-61 to St. Thomas in 2009, then beat Webber International 69-42 and lost 61-58 to Dakota Wesleyan in 2010. Xavier defeated St. Thomas 69-59 at The Barn on Nov. 11.

Xavier is 7-3 and ranked 21st in NAIA Division I. Junior guard Nick Haywood averages a team-leading 10.4 points, and senior forward Cordell Hadnot averages 10 points and a team-best 7.6 rebounds.

St. Thomas is 7-6 with a six-game winning streak, and Florida Memorial is 4-7 with a five-game losing streak. FMU will play host to Palm Beach Atlantic on Wednesday before facing the Gold Rush.

Fourth Annual Miami Gardens Classic
Miami Gardens, Fla.
NAIA Men's Basketball
Hosts: St. Thomas, Florida Memorial
Participating Schools: Florida Memorial, Palm Beach Atlantic, St. Thomas, Xavier (La)

Tournament Schedule:
Wednesday, December 28

5 p.m. - Palm Beach Atlantic vs. Florida Memorial
7 p.m. - Xavier (La) vs. St. Thomas

Thursday, December 29

5 p.m. - Xavier (La) vs. Florida Memorial
7 p.m. – Palm Beach Atlantic vs. St. Thomas

BOLD GAMES TO BE HELD AT FERNANDEZ FAMILY CENTER ON STU CAMPUS

By Ed Cassiere, SID

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: GCACSPORTS

Wednesday: Morgan State Bears at Saint Joseph's Hawks

SAINT JOSEPH’S HAWKS (9‐3) vs. MORGAN STATE BEARS (2‐7)
Game #13 • December 28, 2011 • 7 p.m.
Hagan Arena • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's (9-3) returns to action on Wednesday, December 28, when it hosts Morgan State (2-7) at 7 p.m. It marks the end of a five-game homestand for the Hawks.

Hawks' head coach Phil Martelli will be going for his 310th career win, which would make him SJU's all-time leader in victories.  The game will be broadcast on SportsRadio 610 WIP (AM) with with Matt Martucci and Joe Lunardi calling the action. Audio and video streaming of the game will be available on SJUHawks.com. The audio stream, is available free of charge. LISTEN LIVE

A subscription to Hawks All-Access is necessary to view the game. VIEW GAME

GAME NOTES

GAME NOTES: • If the Hawks win tonight, Phil Martelli will become Saint Joseph's all-time leader in career victories with 310, surpassing the mark of 309 set by Bill Ferguson in 25 seasons (1928-53). • The Hawks received three votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll for this week, marking the third straight week they have gotten votes. It is the first time since 2007-08 that SJU has received votes in one of the weekly rankings. • Saint Joseph's has won four in a row and six of the last seven. • C.J. Aiken continues to lead the nation in blocked shots with his 4.5 average, while the Hawks rank third (8.1) as a team. • The Hawks are meeting a MEAC team for the second game in a row. SJU defeated Coppin State a week ago here at Hagan Arena. • Saint Joseph's is finishing up a string of five consecutive home games on campus. The only other time this occurred in school history was February 1990. • Saint Joseph's is again sporting one of the youngest teams in the nation, with no seniors, two juniors, five sophomores and three freshmen. (More on page 6)

MARTELLI MILESTONE: A win tonight would make Phil Martelli the Hawks' all-time leader in career victories with 310, surpassing the mark of 309 set by Bill Ferguson 25 seasons (1928-53). The coach, now in his 17th season, will be on top of the list of a distinguished group of coaches who comprise the strong tradition of SJU basketball.

SJU COACHES BY VICTORIES COACH YRS W L 1. Phil Martelli 17 309 212 Bill Ferguson 25 309 208 3. Jack Ramsay 11 234 72 4. Jim Boyle 9 151 114 5. Jack McKinney 8 144 77

Courtesy SJU Hawks Athletics

Wednesday: Howard University Lady Bison at Seton Hall Pirates

SETON HALL VS. HOWARD GAME NOTES (.pdf)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2011 - SOUTH ORANGE, N.J.
WALSH GYMNASIUM - 7:00 PM
SETON HALL (7-6) vs. HOWARD (6-5)
VIDEO STREAM: SHUPIRATES.COM • RADIO: WSOU 89.5 FM

PIRATES' STATUS
Seton Hall was outscored 35-22 in the second half as they fell to William & Mary on Dec. 21 by a score of 61-54. Senior Tajay Ashmeade secured her second straight double-double with 13 points and 21 rebounds. The Tribe used a 17-0 run to spark the comeback and led by as many as 12 points before a late rally by the Pirates. SHU rallied to pull within five with 1:36 on the clock, but failed to score the rest of the way and William & Mary converted from the free-throw line down the stretch to preserve the win.

BISON'S STATUS
Howard improved its win streak to five games after defeating the University at Buffalo, 81-57, on Dec. 20, marking the widest margin of victory this year for the Lady Bison, and a season-high in points scored. Tamoria Holmes led all scorers with a game-best 26 points, while Saadia Doyle notched her sixth double-double of the season with 25 points and 11 boards. Howard scored the first 11 points of the game and never trailed despite a slew of comeback tries by the Bulls.

BEAST OF THE BOARDS
Senior Tajay Ashmeade posted her fifth double-figure rebounding game and second straight double-double after pulling down 21 boards and adding 13 points against William & Mary on Dec. 21. The rebounding total is tied for the highest by any BIG EAST player this season. She is the only current Pirate to have a double-figure rebounding game this season.

SHU VS. THE MEAC
The Pirates are 10-2 all-time against schools currently in the MEAC. Their only losses came to South Carolina State in 1979 and to Morgan State in 2009. The fourth meeting against the Bison will make them SHU's most common opponent within the MEAC.

BOMBS AWAY
The Pirates' 11 three-pointers against Drexel on Dec. 12 tied the single-game record for triples. It is the second time SHU has mounted double-figure trifectas in a game. They knocked down 10 treys in their win over New Hampshire on Nov. 16. The record was originally set against Syracuse on Feb. 13, 2008.

EASY BEING GREEN
Junior Terry Green exploded for 17 points off the bench against Drexel on Dec. 12. The forward shot 6-for-6 from the floor with five three-point goals.

SHU IN BIG EAST OPENERS
The Pirates fell to 12-18 all-time in BIG EAST openers after their loss to UConn on Dec. 9. SHU's last win to open conference play came on Jan. 5, 2008 when the Pirates topped Cincinnati, 54-43, in Walsh Gym.

MAGNIFICENT MORRIS
Through her last eight games, junior Brittany Morris is averaging 14.5 points per game. She recently set career-highs in scoring after in back-to-back games against ODU and Hofstra.

Courtesy SHU Athletics

On Hazing, FAMU, and Hypocrisy

By Lee Bessette, College Ready Writing, INSIDE HIGHER ED

Like the situation at Penn State, what’s been going on at FAMU is another topic I’ve been trying to avoid writing about. One of the reasons is because of my own brief history as a faculty member there; I was on the tenure track there for a year but left to keep our family together when my husband got a better tenure-track job. Another reason is that hazing is a clearly sensitive topic, particularly in higher education but seemingly also in society at large. The extent that our society both implicitly tolerates and explicitly encourages hazing is maddening and unsurprising.

I was bullied as a child, not just at school, but also at swimming. I was locked in lockers, mentally tormented, and often physically assaulted in the pool, where it can easily be made to look like it was an “accident.” These weren’t initiation rituals, as enduring them in no way made me a part of the team, but they closely resembled the physical and mental anguish friends of mine suffered in “legitimate” initiations to sports teams.

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Rattlers ready to get back to work

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - LeDawn Gibson wasn't buying into the hype that says so much pressure comes with playing at home. And who can blame the Florida A&M women's basketball coach, considering the Rattlers are on a four-game win streak — coming during the longest road stretch they'll play this season.

"We don't see it as pressure," Gibson said Monday. "We accept it as a challenge; just come home and continue to play well for your fans."

FAMU (7-5, 1-0 MEAC) will end its Christmas break today to begin preparation for the University of Alabama-Birmingham (8-2) on Jan. 2 at the Lawson Center. The Rattlers will be going into the game with plenty of momentum that's reminiscent of the 2009 season when they won seven of their first 12 games.

 Lawson Center

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Message to the MEAC: Let Them Play!!

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Just a few nights ago the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers visited and defeated the Tennessee State Lady Tigers. Beside the significance of old rivalries playing for the first time in years this game looked a lot like a MEAC game, but not in a good way.

Hopefully, it will not be an indicator of things to come. Having raised the level of media exposure, quality of coaching and recruiting in the league, the MEAC has made lady basketball well worth watching if the referees will let them play.

Basketball is a physical game. When you play some of the better teams during the non conference schedule you either learn to play physical or you’re not going to be competitive, which brings me to the Tennessee State versus FAMU game. It started out physical and you could tell that at least FAMU was a bit low on energy not doing their usual good job on the boards. Even without the normal high level of play there were few penalties in the first half.

The second half, however, more than made up for it. All of a sudden one particular referee—and these are Ohio Valley Conference refs—must have felt he wasn’t getting his quota and he began calling touch fouls. The game slowed and quality of play began to resemble high school competition.

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Mickell Gladness (AAMU) and Terrel Harris in for Heat; Eddie House out in final cut

MIAMI, Florida - Christmas came early for Mickell Gladness and Terrel Harris.  In a surprising move Saturday, the Miami Heat decided to keep the pair of free-agent rookies on their final 15-player roster, waiving guard Eddie House instead.  House, who was drafted by the Heat in 2000, was informed of the move Friday night.

"It was an extremely tough decision," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Eddie started his career with us, we drafted him and he’s part of our Heat family.  "(Gladness and Harris) simply overwhelmed us with their effort and their desire and their want this week. It was a little bit of a surprise and they continued to make us watch."



Miami was so intrigued that Gladness, a shot-blocking center out of Alabama A&M who spent time with the Heat in the team’s 2010 summer league, and Harris, a former Oklahoma State standout who went undrafted in 2009 and had played in recent years in France, Germany and the NBA Development League, will be with the Heat as they travel to take on the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day.

"This was probably the best Christmas gift that I’ve ever gotten in my life," Gladness said. "I probably would have said that when I was younger and I got a Sega Genesis for Christmas, but now this just tops that."

BOX SCORE
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A second look: Justin Durant played like he hadn't been to the playoffs since 1999

DETROIT, Michigan - While it hasn't quite been 12 years, it's been some time since Detroit Lions linebacker Justin Durant had played in such a meaningful football game.

After a successful college career at Hampton University which included three MEAC Defensive Player of the Year awards and three Divisison I-AA/FCS playoff appearances, Durant was drafted in the second round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007.

In Durant's rookie year, he played in 13 games and the Jaguars went 11-5. They went on to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the opening round of the playoffs before being eliminated by the undefeated New England Patriots, 31-20.



The Jaguars fell on hard times after that season going 20-28 over the next three years, and missing the playoffs each time. After four years in Jacksonville, Durant opted to sign with Detroit prior to the 2011 season.



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HBCU Detroit Lions Spotlight 

ACTIVE 
#   NAME              POS   HT.   WT.   AGE      EXP.     SCHOOL
 31 Carey, Don       DB     5-11  192    24           3          Norfolk State

52

Durant, Justin

LB

6-1

240

26

5

Hampton

91

Hill, Sammie

DT

6-4

329

25

3

Stillman

39

Silva, Ricardo

S

6-3

225

23

R

Hampton

INJURED RESERVE

72

Culbreath, Johnny

T

6-5

322

23

R

South Carolina State

PRACTICE SQUAD/INJURED

86

Hughes, Nate

WR

6-2

195

26

3

Alcorn State

Seventeen BSU Student - Athletes Receive Degrees

BOWIE, Maryland -- Seventeen current and former student-athletes and cheerleaders were among Bowie State University graduates who received degrees in the 2011 Winter Commencement – Friday, December 16th in BSU's A. C. Jordan Arena.

“I would like to personally congratulate all of our graduating student-athletes that participated in the December 2011 ceremony. We celebrate many victories in the athletic department, but none more important than when we see our student-athletes walk across the stage. I know that our coaches and staff are just as proud of them as I am. The work that goes into being a student-athlete can never be underestimated. We wish all of our graduates the best as they transition into the next phase of their life”, said Athletic Director Anton Goff.

We thank you for your contribution to BSU Athletic Department and your respective sport. Congratulations and best wishes to you as you begin your next journey.

Current Student-Athletes
Tariq Jones – B.S. Social Work – Football

Former Student-Athletes
Duncan Aldous – M.A. Master of Public Administration – Football
Jennifer Geter – M.A. Master of Public Administration – Women's Track
Adeshola Ashira – B.S. Biology – Women's Bowling
Kirkland Beale – B.S. Biology – Men's Track
Arthur Bowers – B.S. Communications – Men's Basketball
Dominique Carroll – B.S. Elementary Education – Women's Bowling
Chelyce Fields – B.S. Sociology – Women's Tennis
Breaun Garner – B.S. Sports Management – Women's Volleyball and Softball
Carmen Herbert – B.S. Business Administration - Softball
Joel Lavela – B.S. Mathematics – Men's Track
Kyara Lombre – B.S. Communications – Women's Tennis
David Matthews – B.A. Fine Arts – Men's Track
Melissa Pate – B.S. Sociology – Cheerleading
Franklin Robinson – B.S. Sociology – Men's Track
Christina Rowles – B.S. Sports Management – Women's Track
Lakisha Walker – B.S. Communications – Women's Basketball

Courtesy BSU Athletics

Creative License - Fisk Jubilee Singers

Note: As we celebrate the Christmas and New Year seasons, let us not forget God and his role in our lives. Let us say a special prayer for my Florida A&M University family, especially the Marching 100, and the family of drum major Robert Champion.

Nowhere in God's vision and in his chosen creator of the FAMU Marching 100 -- Dr. William P. Foster, was the practice of hazing an acceptable behavior. Let us honor the legacy of those that have come before us and that contributed positively to building our HBCU institutions and organizations, so that the youth of today, can see God's glory and achieve greatness in his honor.

Without God, we are nothing!

It is an honor of the highest order to participate in these bands, ensembles, sports teams and attend college --  to earn degrees in our chosen fields of interest, and to become contributing members of society. Let us not forget who we are representing when we are blessed with these opportunities.

There is much we can learn from this documentary of the Fisk Jubilee Singers and the legacy they continue to carry forth.  Be blessed; and Merry Christmas! Amen

-beepbeep


Music video by Shania Twain performing "God Bless The Child."  The video features two choirs -- one included the Fisk University Jubilee Singers and the second was a local performing arts choirs singing along with Twain in a hanger at the Nashville airport.  It was filmed on October 3, 1996 and debuted on October 26, 1996. (C) 1997 Mercury Records.

Alabama State's Riley adds to honors

Kejuan Riley
 Walter Camp FCS All-America Team
6-1/208 Jr. Free Safety
Hometown: Wetumpka, Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Alabama State free safety Kejuan Riley added to his 2011 honors Friday by being named to the Walter Camp FCS All-America team.

Riley, a junior from Wetumpka, had career highs in tackles (75) and interceptions (nine), while tying a career-high in passes defended with 13. Riley's nine interceptions ranked second in the FCS this season and his 17 career interceptions are tied for the most in ASU history.

Riley also has been named first-team All-SWAC and first-team All-America by Boxtorow HBCU, College Sports Madness and College Sporting News.

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Doug Williams reflects on Grambling's strong finish

BASTROP, Louisiana -- When Thomas Wolfe wrote the famous line, “You can never go home again,” in his 1929 novel, ‘Look Homeward, Angel,’ he obviously hadn’t met Doug Williams.

Now in his third stint at Grambling, Williams keeps coming back to his alma mater. A former Tigers’ quarterback who went on to NFL stardom, Williams recently completed his first season of his second term as the school’s head football coach. To Williams, the words of his mother, Laura Williams, ring more true than Wolfe’s literary quotation.

“I never said I wouldn’t come back home, but I never thought I would be here for a second run (as head coach),” Williams admitted Thursday night while attending a function of the Morehouse chapter of Grambling State University Alumni at the Bastrop Municipal Center. “My momma always said, ‘Mysterious things happen.’”

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Hot shooting helps Norfolk State blow past Saint Francis Terriers

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, New York -- The Norfolk State Spartans used a 19-0 run in the opening half and went on to defeat the host St. Francis (NY) Terriers, 84-74, Friday afternoon at the Pope Physical Education Center. The Spartans, who shot a blazing 55.1 percent (27-of-49) for the contest, improved to 9-5 and the Terriers dropped to 3-8.

Senior forward Stefan Perunicic (four steals) paced the Terriers with a season-high 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting and junior forward Travis Nichols added 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Senior point guard Justin Newton added seven assists and six rebounds.

A layup by Perunicic gave St. Francis an early, 8-5 advantage, with 16:56 remaining in the opening half, but Norfolk State scored the next 19 points to establish a 24-8 lead at the 12:33 mark. The Spartans connected on four three-point field goals during the run, three of which came by sophomore guard Pendarvis Williams (game-high 24 points). Williams also added a tip-in to cap the run.

The Terriers managed to close within seven points, 36-29, with 1:50 left before halftime after a trifecta and a layup by sophomore guard Brent Jones.  The Spartans settled for a 41-31 halftime advantage.

WATCH GAME REPLAY ON DEMAND (FREE) CLICK HERE

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Trio sizzles for Spartans in Big Apple

Pendarvis Williams scored 24 points, leading a trio of Norfolk State players with 20 or more points, as the Spartans beat St. Francis (N.Y.) 84-74 on Friday. Kyle O'Quinn added 21 points and Chris McEachin had 20 for Norfolk State (9-5), which has won two straight.

The Terriers led 8-5 about three minutes in when Williams made the first of four consecutive 3-pointers in a two-minute span for NSU. Williams hit three of those, sparking a 19-0 Spartans run.

"Got off to a hot start," said Williams, who finished with 8-for-11 shooting from the field and was 3 for 5 from the 3-point line. He made 5 of 7 free throws, all in the second half.

With 14 seconds before halftime, Williams jabbed the ball from St. Francis guard Brent Jones. McEachin sprinted to the other end, where Williams hit him for a layup. Jones' foul gave McEachin a three-point play and the Spartans a 41-31 halftime lead.

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FAMU's Hazing Scandal: What Now?

Alumni and experts discuss what happened at FAMU
 and how to make sure it never happens again.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - After the vigils for Robert Champion, after the marches, after the homicide investigation and after the headlines, the campus of Florida A&M University will have to move forward.

Champion, a 26-year-old drum major for FAMU's celebrated Marching 100 band, died on Nov. 19 from what authorities say was hazing.

Since then, three other members of the band have been arrested in connection with a hazing incident that occurred three weeks before Champion's death and resulted in a female student's leg being broken. Law enforcement has also opened an investigation into FAMU's finances pertaining to the band's travel.

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Howard Bison wins overtime thriller over Delaware Blue Hens

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University guard Glenn Andrews scored 28 points and hit a game-tying three-pointer to force overtime as the Bison men’s basketball team posted an 88-83 victory over the University of Delaware in an overtime thriller Thursday night at Burr Gymnasium.

The Bison, who improved to 4-9 on the season while snapping a four-game losing streak, also got 16 points from Calvin Thompson and 11 from Dadrian Collins. Andrews, playing in just his third game for Howard after transferring from Tulsa, went 9 of 18 from the field including 6 of 12 from behind the arc as the Bison snapped a three-game skid to the Blue Hens.

Delaware, which dropped to 5-5 on the year, got a career-high 17 points from freshman guard Jarvis Threatt, while junior forward Jamelle Hagins posted his seventh consecutive double-double with 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Devon Saddler reached double figures for the ninth time in 10 games by pouring in 14 points, while Josh Brinkley had 12 for the Blue Hens.

The game was tied at 70-70 in the final minute when Saddler drove the right side before feeding Kyle Anderson, who buried a three-pointer from the right wing to put Delaware in front by three with 43 seconds on the clock.



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NCCU Eagles finish off PVAMU Panthers for second straight win

EUGENE, Oregon (NCCUEaglePride.com) – In a contest that that saw eight ties and 13 lead changes, a late second half run was all the Eagles of North Carolina Central University needed to finish off the Panthers of Prairie View A&M University 69-58 to end the 2011 Global Sports Hoops Showcase with a 2-1 record, giving the maroon and gray momentum heading into the holiday break.

Judging by the first 20 minutes of action it looked as if the first meeting between these two squads would go down to the wire with neither team holding a lead larger than six. In fact, there were seven ties and nine lead changes, but the swarming Eagle defense recorded four steals and forced 10 turnovers, which NCCU turned into 12 points in favor of the maroon and gray.

With 8:09 left in the first half and the game knotted up at 23, the Eagles made their best move going on a 6-0 earning their largest lead of the half at 29-23. The momentum of that rally was short-lived when the Panthers answered back with an 8-2 spurt to tie the game at 31 with 15 second left following a three-pointer by guard Tim Meadows.

NCCU took the lead at the half when junior Ray Willis (Atlanta, Ga.) was fouled in the act of shooting with 0.1 seconds left giving the Eagles a 33-31 lead.

Box Score

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