Gold Rush win, Gold Nuggets lose at Prairie View

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — Xavier University of Louisiana, ranked ninth in NAIA men's tennis, defeated NCAA Division I member Prairie A&M 7-0 Friday in the Prairie View A&M Invitational. Xavier's women lost 6-1 to Prairie View.

Loic Didavi, Zach Taylor, Viktor Svoboda, Steffen Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson won in doubles and singles for the Gold Rush (2-1). Taylor clinched the dual with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 victory against Karim Fotso at No. 2 singles.

It was the XU men's fifth consecutive victory against Prairie View in six seasons but the first time that the Gold Rush won every match.

"Our guys fought hard to come out with that win," XU coach Alan Green said. "There were a lot of tough points out there. Prairie View has a good team and should contend for the SWAC championship."

Freshman Amanda Materre scored the lone point for the Gold Nuggets (0-4) with her 3-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-3) victory against Lerato Ndlovu at No. 3 singles. At No. 1 singles XU's Kourtney Howell went to a third-set super-tiebreaker for the fourth consecutive dual but lost 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (10-2) to Brittany Harrell. Howell and Nicole DeLoach also lost in a tiebreaker to Raven Lewis and Ndlovu at No. 1 doubles.

"Our women played much better today," Green said. "We still have a lot of work to do, but the important thing is that we are playing hard and getting better."

Prairie View's men are 0-4, and the women are 2-4.

The Gold Rush will play NAIA No. 16 Bethany (Kan.) at 10 a.m. Saturday in this event. The Gold Nuggets are done at Prairie View, but they'll play McNeese State at noon Sunday at Lake Charles, La.

Results: Men Women

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

TSU Lady Tigers begin three-game home stand with Tenn. Tech

GAMEDAY

The Tennessee State University women's basketball team will return to action at home when the Lady Tigers host Tennessee Tech in the first contest of a three-game home stint to close out the regular season. Game time vs. Tech is set for 5:30 p.m. in the Gentry Center.

THE LADY TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Tennessee State (8-17, 4-9 OVC) has dropped four out of its last five, including four straight. The Lady Tigers are recently coming off a, 66-56, loss to Murray State on the road. TSU has a 4-9 OVC mark and sits in eighth place in the standings. With a 5-5 home record this season, the Lady Tigers will look to add one to the win column and stay in the OVC tournament hunt against Tennessee Tech.

As a team, TSU is averaging 68.3 points per outing while shooting 36.5 percent from the field and 28.3 percent from beyond the arc. TSU is currently shooting only 65.9 percent from the free-throw line while committing an average of 18.7 turnovers per game.

TSU averages 43.8 rebounds, 12.9 assists and 8.2 steals per game.

LAST TIME OUT
Tennessee State dropped its fourth straight contest with a, 66-56, loss to Murray State on the road. The game was close throughout the contest until the Racers used a late second half push to grab a double-digit lead with two minutes left to play. TSU was unable to forge a comeback. The offense struggled for the second consecutive game as Jasmin Shuler led TSU with 14 points and Rachel Allen added 12.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Tennessee Tech (12-14, 8-4 OVC) is coming off a, 68-65, win over Austin Peay on the road. The Golden Eagles have won six of their last seven contests including two straight.

In Tech's most recent win over APSU, Tacarra Hayes led the team with 18 points while Jala Harris added 14. Rachel Glidden followed with 12 points.

Overall, the Golden Eagles average 63.3 points per game behind a .396 field goal percentage (.27 three-point range). Tacarra Harris leads TTU in scoring with 17.0 ppg while Jala Harris averages 13.6 points per outing. Brittany Darling is the team's leading rebounder with 6.4 rpg.

TSU vs. TENNESSEE TECH
Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech will meet for the 56th time in the long series history. The Golden Eagles lead the series, 55-10. Tech claimed the first meeting of the season, 80-71, over the TSU in the Eblen Center.

LAST TIME THEY MET (Jan.9, 2012)
The Tennessee State University women's basketball team battled the whole night but couldn't pull out the win in an, 80-71, loss to Tennessee Tech on the road Monday night in the Eblen Center.

Tennessee State (6-11, 2-3 OVC) shot 37.1 percent from the field but only managed a dismal 8.3 shooting percentage (1-of-12) from three-point range. Tennessee Tech (6-11, 2-2 OVC) knocked down 40.3 percent of its shots, including 31.3 percent (5-of-16) from beyond the arc.

Tayla Foster led TSU with 20 points and nine rebounds while Avery Jones scored 11.

Tech had three players to score in double figures led by Tacarra Hayes' 27. Jala Harris (22) and Brittany Darling (13) also posted double-digits.

Both teams committed 13 turnovers as TSU held a slight edge in rebounds, 45-44. The Lady Tigers made 23-of-62 (68.6 percent) from the free-throw line while the Golden Eagles went 25-of-36 (69.4 percent) from the charity stripe.

COVERAGE

TSU vs. Tennessee Tech will be shown on OVCsports.tv. Live stats will be available at tsutigers.com while fans can listen live at tsuradio.com.

TEAM LEADERS

Jasmin Shuler leads TSU in scoring with 15.1 ppg while Tayla Foster (9.8 ppg) and Destiney Gaston (7.3 ppg) round out the top three scorers for the Lady Tigers. Foster is pulling down a team-best 5.1 rebounds per game while Chelsea Hudson and Simone Hopes average 4.5 caroms per outing. Rachel Allen leads the team in assists while Gaston also paces TSU with 30 blocks.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The Lady Tigers will have a week off before returning to action against Jacksonville State at home for Pink Zone. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18 in the Gentry Center.

Florida A&M's McKelton's Little Secret

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Tameka McKelton dreamed of playing basketball overseas one day. That was going to be her plan once she graduated from Florida A&M. But that all changed in December 2010. McKelton learned she was pregnant. Five months after the basketball season ended, McKelton gave birth to her daughter, Auria. The date was August 20, 2011.

Now, she doubles as a student-athlete and a mother.



"It's pretty challenging as far as being able to keep track with everything," she said. But nobody - her coaches, her friends, her family - knew about her pregnancy until the end of her junior season. "Roughly, I played about two or three months pregnant," McKelton admitted.

The West Palm Beach native feared she would get kicked off the basketball team. So she hid her secret from everyone except for her boyfriend and one of her teammates.

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NEXT GAME: SATURDAY- 2 PM @ HOWARD UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, D.C.   LADY RATTLERS WILL TRY TO CONTINUE 14 GAME WIN STREAK ...

Profiles in Speed: Carmelita Jeter shows value of technology in speed training

In Los Angeles — This wasn’t something as simple as mere joy. Carmelita Jeter looked to be hyperventilating on the track in Thessalonika, Greece, back in the summer of 2009. With eyes bulging in disbelief, she gasped and sobbed and screamed, then fell to the track.

She had just won a 100-meter race at a major international grand prix in 10.67 seconds. Though the event lacked the prestige of the 2012 Summer Games in London, where Jeter could become one of the world’s biggest stars, her finishing time plunged her into an unexpected, rarefied realm.

She had become the fastest woman in the world, and the third-fastest in history.  “She was lit up,” said John Smith, her coach and sprint guru. “Her whole aura just changed. I saw something transformed . . . It was remarkable.”



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ASU Braves ink 19 on National Signing Day

Lorman, Mississippi -- The Alcorn State University Football Program is pleased to announce the signing of nineteen (19) student-athletes on National Signing Day.

“I would like to commend the coaching staff and the entire athletic department staff for their hard work and efforts during our recruiting season. It is our sincere desire that the success of this recruiting class will mirror the successful season that we intend to have,” stated Coordinator of Football Operations, Todd McDaniel.

“The 2012 signing class will fill immediate needs at the Offensive Line and secondary positions,” said McDaniel.

"I feel really good and ecstatic about the guys that were signed," says Dr. M. Christopher Brown II. "Our coaching staff did a tremendous job coming in during a time of transition and quickly building relationships with prospective student-athletes. I'm really happy with their tireless work ethic to put together an outstanding recruiting class."

ASU Braves 2012 National Signing Day Class
 Name Position Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
David Adams DL 6'4 258 Rolling Fork, MS/South Delta HS

Kalen Calcote LB 6'2 220 Brookhaven, MS/Brookhaven HS

Theavis Cooper, Jr. DL 6'3 235 Sontag, MS/Brookhaven HS

Gunnar Gazar OL 6'3 320 Lumberton, MS/Purvis HS

William Isabell DB 6'2 205 Merrillville, IN/Merrillville HS

Marcquiso Jean P 6'1 215 Orange, NJ/Orange HS

Eric Jordan DE 6'2 215 Pensacola, FL/Pensacola HS

Dwayne King, Jr. DE 6'3 235 Mobile, AL/Murphy HS

Ladarion McGee TE 6'4 260 Pensacola, FL/Escambia HS

Michael Minton OL 6'5 320 Cantonment, FL/Pensacola Catholic HS

Johnathan Ned OL 6'4 290 Groves, TX/Port Arthur HS

Jordan Payne QB 6'3 220 Racine, WI/Washington Park HS

Jeffery Reno OL 6'5 300 Port Arthur, TX/Port Arthur HS

Isaac Sampson OL 6'6 345 Mobile, AL/Davidson HS

Jamahl Tatum DE 6'3 245 Purvis, MS/Purvis HS

Jarvis Turner WR 6'3 220 Mobile, AL/Murphy HS

Willie Wells, Jr. OL 6'4 325 Memphis, TN/Central HS

Takwain Whigham DB 6'3 215 Eufaula, AL/Barbour County HS
A'nthony Williams DB 5'11 190 Clinton, MS/Clinton HS
Signees by Position Signees by State
Quarterback-1 Indiana-1
Punter-1 New Jersey-1
Linebacker-1 Tennessee-1
Wide Receiver-1 Wisconsin-1
Tight End-2 Texas-2
Defensive Line-2 Florida-3
Defensive End-2 Alabama-4
Defensive Back-3 Mississippi-6
Offensive Line-6

COURTESY: ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida A&M University President Ammons Launches Research Initiative on Hazing

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons has launched a $50,000 research initiative that would give faculty at FAMU the opportunity to study the nature and extent of hazing behaviors among campus organizations and groups.

“Hazing is one issue that many colleges and universities face; yet, it presents a serious challenge to uncover and address as a hidden culture, shrouded in secrecy,” said Ammons. “I want our faculty members to be leaders in finding solutions and creating a body of work as FAMU becomes a part of this national discussion on hazing.”

JAMES H. AMMONS, Ph.D
PRESIDENT
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

The announcement of the research project comes on the same day the FAMU Board of Trustees announced the appointment of the FAMU Anti-Hazing Committee, an independent committee tasked with providing recommenda-
tions on determining the most effective and indelible approach to end hazing on campus. Both the Committee and grants are part of FAMU's overall efforts — both immediate and long-term — to eliminate hazing.

The “FAMU Anti-Hazing Research Initiative with a “Focus on Evidence-Based Measures” will offer small grants for faculty to conduct collaborative research across disciplines to study the nature and extent of hazing behaviors among campus organizations and groups. This anti-hazing research initiative will serve as a mechanism to stimulate additional FAMU participation in research to help better understand hazing at FAMU and around the nation that will lead to the development of strategies to eradicate hazing from our midst. The specific focus areas of this initiative:

1. Promote interdisciplinary approaches to study the nature and extent of hazing behaviors among student organizations, unofficial sub-groups and off-campus entities;
2. Develop strategies that offer alternatives to hazing and promote respect and dignity;
3. Develop novel approaches to eliminating the fear of retribution and encourage unencumbered reporting when hazing incidents occur to include administrative structure, alignment and reporting; and
4. Identify effective education, training, communication, and awareness mechanisms for existing students, faculty, staff and alumni as well as new entrants into the university community.

“As academicians across this country engage in research in this area, we want to ensure that FAMU is represented in a very significant way among these scholars,” said Ammons. “We view this as seed money for faculty to be involved into the greater pool of resources available to address this issue.”

FAMU Announces Members of New Anti-Hazing Committee

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees announced on February 9, 2012, the appointment of the FAMU Anti-Hazing Committee, an independent committee tasked with providing recommendations on determining the most effective and indelible approach to end hazing on campus. This esteemed group includes a diverse mix of thought and policy leaders from across the country, with invaluable experience and expertise that is related to all aspects of hazing and its culture. The FAMU Anti-Hazing Committee will work in unison with the ongoing efforts of the FAMU community to address the issue of hazing.

The FAMU Anti-Hazing Committee facilitator and members, as follows, were selected based on input from the board, administration, faculty, students and alumni:

• Stephen Craig Robinson (Chairman) – Former U.S. District Court Judge and current partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom;
• Dr. Na’im Akbar – Clinical Psychologist and Former President, National Association of Black Psychologists;
• Dr. Elizabeth Allan – Professor, University of Maine and Co-Director, The National Collaborative for Hazing Research and Prevention;
• Dr. Michael V. Bowie – Executive Director of Florida Fund for Minority Teachers & former national president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council;
• David Brewer – Former Vice Admiral of the United States Navy and Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District;
• Dr. Mary Madden – Professor, University of Maine & Co-Director, The National Collaborative for Hazing Research and Prevention;
• David Starnes – Band Director and Professor of Music at Western Carolina University.

"To put us in the best position to permanently stop hazing at FAMU, we feel it is important to bring in many of the most respected minds on the subject and ensure that we are addressing this destructive issue from all sides," said Solomon Badger, FAMU Board Chairman.

Trustee Belinda Shannon led the FAMU Anti-Hazing Committee initiative on the board’s behalf. 

“We are extremely grateful that these distinguished individuals have chosen to work with FAMU to help us find solutions to a problem that has persisted for far too long, both at the college and even high school level," said Shannon.

The committee will be asked to examine the following issues:

• Hazing at other universities and how has it been handled?
• Getting students to resist hazing; what has worked?
• How do we best govern the Marching “100” and its activities?

The committee’s work will result in findings and recommendations to be presented to the FAMU Board of Trustees for consideration and approval. 

The FAMU Anti-Hazing Committee is part of the University’s comprehensive plan to end hazing at FAMU and was approved by the Board of Trustees during its January 2, 2012 session. 

Following are biographies of the FAMU Anti-Hazing Committee members (click each name for additional background info and/or photo):

Dr. Na’im Akbar  (Vitae) – Dr. Akbar, a Tallahassee native, is a clinical psychologist that is considered one of the world's preeminent psychologists and a pioneer in the development of an African-centered approach in modern psychology. He has served on the Boards of Directors of a variety of civic and professional organizations, including several terms on the Board of the National Association of Black Psychologists, the editorial board of the Journal of Black Studies, and for eight years was the associate editor of the Journal of Black Psychology. Akbar attended the University of Michigan to complete his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in psychology.

Elizabeth J. Allan (Vitae) – Allan is a professor of Higher Education at the University of Maine. She is the author of two books and co-editor of a policy text. Her award-winning scholarship focuses on campus climates and has been featured in premiere education journals including the Harvard Educational Review and The Journal of Higher Education. Allan's professional experience educating about hazing spans two decades and includes research, prevention, student affairs, and policy work. She was the principal investigator for the National Study of Student Hazing (2008) and has authored and co-authored numerous articles, essays, book chapters, and encyclopedia entries on the topic of hazing. Allan earned a Ph.D. in educational policy and leadership from The Ohio State University, an M.S. in health promotion and B.S. in psychology from Springfield College.

Michael V. Bowie – Bowie is the former national president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. from 2003 -2007. Currently, he serves as executive director of Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc. He is also director for recruitment, retention and multicultural affairs at the University of Florida and courtesy faculty for University of Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University, a master’s degree at the Pennsylvania State University, and his Ph.D. at the University of Florida.

David Brewer (Vitae) – David Brewer is a retired Vice Admiral of the United States Navy and former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, second largest school district in the U.S. The 35-year veteran of the Navy commanded Military Sealift Command, with its fleet of 120 ships, from August 2001 until his retirement in March 2006. Admiral Brewer also served as Vice Chief of the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) from 1999-2001. As Vice Chief of NETC, he led the development of the Navy College Program and the negotiations of contracts with 11 colleges, universities and community colleges to provide online bachelor and associate degree programs to more than 300,000 sailors.

Mary Madden (Vitae) – Madden is an experienced researcher and program evaluator whose work has focused on the development, health, well-being, and education of adolescents, including hazing. She has co-authored curriculum to support facilitation of girls' groups as well as developed and facilitated trainings for adults working with girls. Madden directed the National Study of Student Hazing and has co-authored articles on hazing and presented the research findings at numerous conferences. Madden is an associate research professor in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Maine where she teaches research courses.

Stephen Craig Robinson (bio) – Judge Robinson is a former United States federal judge who served on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York from 2003 to 2010. He is currently a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Robinson was in private practice in New York City from 1984 to 1987 before becoming an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York in 1987. In 1991, he was managing director and associate general counsel for Kroll Associates before moving to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1993 where he was principal deputy general counsel and special assistant to the director. In 1998, he served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, where he served for three years.

David Starnes (bio) - Starnes joined the School of Music at Western Carolina University in the summer of 2011 as assistant professor/director of Athletic Bands. He directs the "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band and the Symphonic Band as well as teaches music education courses to Undergraduate students. Prior to coming to Western Carolina, Starnes was the founding director of bands at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw, Ga., where he served for 11 years. Starnes is sought nationally and internationally as an adjudicator, clinician, guest conductor and creative designer. A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., Mr. Starnes graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee.

Tennessee State Secures Historic Win over No. 7 Murray State

MURRAY, Kentucky  -  For the first time in school history Tennessee State won a game over a nationally ranked program, defeating the No. 7/9 Murray State Racers 72-68 in front of a sold out crowd at the CFSB Center.

The win didn't come easy as there were nine lead changes - five in the second half. With less than four minutes remaining Robert Covington hit a triple to give TSU the 65-62 lead.

From there the Tigers (16-10, 9-4 Ohio Valley) still battled with the Racers (23-1, 11-1 OVC), which cut TSU's lead to 69-68 with 11.2 seconds. TSU stole an inbounds pass and earned two free throw opportunities, but weren't able to capitalize. Murray State turned the ball over again and Kenny Moore picked up the steal and four - Moore banked both extending the Tiger's lead to three.

Murray State threw the long inbound pass away and Jordan Cyphers recovered to make one of two, giving TSU an historic win.



Thursday's win was the first time since 1996 that TSU defeated Murray State in regulation at the Racers' home court. The Tigers also secured their first winning season since 1995.

"I'm very proud of our young men to be able to come here and win on the road," Cooper said in the post-game press conference. "It is certainly not an easy place to play, a packed house and a team that just stuck to it. There was a point where we were down 12 points in the second half but yet, and still for whatever reason, we hung in there."

Covington led the Tigers with 17 points and eight rebounds, extending his double-digit scoring streak to 25 games. Moore came off the bench to tie a season-best 16 points with five rebounds and four steals.

Patrick Miller shot 5-of-11 for 12 points with three assists and three steals in 35 minutes. Cyphers added 10 points, including four of six made free throws.



Senior guard Wil Peters collected seven points, four rebounds and four steals in 35 minutes helping the Tigers to an historic win over a nationally ranked opponent.

"It's an amazing feeling," Peters said. "Most people don't get this experience in their whole college career to beat a team that was unbeaten for a long period of time and to share that with your teammates your senior year is very special and I'll probably remember this for the rest of my life."

TSU shot 48 percent (25-of-52) from the field and outscored Murray State's bench 30-to-10. The Tigers stole 15 passes, forcing 18 turnovers in the win.

The Racers knocked down six triples in the first half, taking a 40-33 lead at the half. The Tigers shot 50 percent (12-of-24) from the floor, picking up eight steals. Covington led TSU with nine points.

Murray State opened the game on a 15-7 run. Tennessee State used a trey and a dunk to pull within 15-12 with 11:04 left in the opening frame.

Tennessee State took a brief two-point lead at 8:11 with a basket from Patrick Miller. Murray State fired back with a five point swing to take a 29-26 lead with 3:57 on the clock. Murray State ended the first half on a 7-0 run to stretch their lead to 40-33.

The Tigers started out cold in the second half, allowing Murray State to stretch their lead to 45-33.

TSU cut the lead to six, 48-42, at 12:55. MSU maintained the lead at 53-46 with 10:42 on the clock.

Kenny Moore made five straight points to put the Tigers within one. Thornton's fade-away jumper at 7:12 gave TSU a 56-55 edge with 7:11 on the clock.

The Big Blue and Murray kept close from then on as TSU used key baskets from Moore, Covington and Cyphers to seal the win.

TSU returns to the Gentry Center to host Tennessee Tech in a 7:30 p.m. contest on Saturday, Feb. 11. Saturday is also Courtside Dining and will start with the Lady Tigers game at 4:30 p.m.

COURTESY: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Sean Woods makes Unforgettable run as MVSU coach

ITTA BENA, Mississippi - Even now, at age 41, Sean Woods wonders about what might have been.

On March 28, it will have been exactly two decades since the Kentucky point guard hit that running, 10-foot bank shot over the fully extended arms of Christian Laettner that put UK 2.1 seconds from upsetting mighty Duke in the 1992 NCAA Tournament round of eight.



What Woods still allows himself to ponder is how famous he would be if Laettner had not trumped the UK guard's runner with a stone-cold clutch shot of his own? "You tell me," Woods says. "How famous do you think I would be?"

Well, not Kardashian famous, but ahead of Bryce Drew. On the 20-year anniversary of his shot that almost decided the greatest college basketball game ever, Woods and the Mississippi Valley State University men's basketball team he coaches are creating a story that may produce an even more improbable ending.

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Bowie State football: Doing more with less

DAMON WILSON
HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY

BOWIE, Maryland  -  The annual ritual of National Signing Day arrived on February 1, complete with a deluge of coverage on the Internet and ESPN, and school assemblies where the future stars of college football announced their choices.

Beyond the ESPN spotlight and under the radar, Bowie State University football coach Damon Wilson and his staff quietly went about their business last week, putting the finishing touches on the NCAA Division II school’s latest recruiting class. For small colleges like Bowie State, signing day is a low-profile event. Like a struggling business trying to navigate a difficult economy, Bowie State’s football program seeks to do more with less as it competes for players in a region that has increasingly become a recruiting hotbed.

Football fans are quick to rank high school players by a simplistic conventional wisdom: All-state players go the BCS schools, all-county players go the mid-majors and to I-AA programs, and the rest are left to Division II coaches such as Wilson. But the Bowie State coach doesn’t subscribe to that mentality.

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BULLDOGS FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES 2012 SIGNEES

BOWIE, Maryland  -  Bowie State University head football coach Damon Wilson announced the signing of 13 recruits to the program with the arrival of National Signing Day.

• Jared Johnston – QB, 6-2, 190, ASA Junior College Team – Team Record: 4-4.



• Reuben Harris, Jr. – DL, 5-9, 245, Friendship HS, Washington, DC - Team Record: 9-1.  VIDEO

• Jordan Davis – DL/OL, 6-3, 250, Friendship HS, Washington, DC - Team Record: 9-1.  VIDEO

• Keith Davis – DB, 6-3, 190, Friendship HS, Washington, DC - Team Record: 9-1, Top 10 DB's in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV), 3 year varsity letterman, 35 tackles senior year,  VIDEO

• Andrew Thompson – DB, 6-3, 190, Wise HS, Upper Marlboro, MD - Team Record: 9-2. 



• Andreas Antone-Ford – DL, 6-3, 310, Wise HS, Upper Marlboro, MD - Team Record: 9-2, 1st Team All-State Lineman, 1st Team All-County Coaches Team, All-State Honorable Mention, Prince Georges County All-Star Team, Three-year Varsity Starter, Three-time Varsity Letterman, 31 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.

• Brandon McDowell – OL, 6-4, 300, Quince Orchard HS, Gaithersburg, MD - Team Record: 13-1. VIDEO

• Jamal Chappell – WR, 5-9, 180, Poly HS, Baltimore, MD - Team Record: 11-1, Top 100 players in the State, No. 11 WR in the State, Three-year varsity starter, Two-time City Championships, More than 1,000 All-Purpose Yards and 15 TD's.



• Jordan Garrison – WR, 6-2, 205, Poly HS, Baltimore, MD - Team Record: 11-1, 2009 Rookie of the Year, 2010 Best Athlete Award, 2011 Team MVP, Two-time City Championships.



• Nyema Washington – QB, 6-2, 185, Suitland HS, Forestville, MD - Team Record: 10-2, 2010 Co-pgsportsfan.com Player of the Year, 2010-2nd team All-Gazette, 2010-2nd team All-County, 2010 All-Met Honorable Mention, 2010 All-State Third Team, 2011 All-County First Team, 2011 All-Gazette First Team, 2011 ESPN High School All-State Honorable Mention, 2,046 yards (school single season record), No. 1 Passer (Yards) in Prince George's County, No. 11 Passer in DMV, No. 8 Passer (Yards) in State of Maryland with least amount of passing attempts 179, 2011 PG vs. SMAC All-Star Game participant, 2011 Maryland Crab Bowl participant, 2011 Sempter Fidelis U.S. Marine Bowl Invitee.



• Britton Savoy – DB, 5-10, 180, McNamara HS, Forestville, MD - Team Record: 3-6, 2 Td's, 4 INT's, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 86 solo tackles, 113 total tackles.



• Christopher Palmer – K, 6-2, 245, Chopticon HS, St. Mary's, MD - Team Record: 7-4, All Conference (SMAC) Special Teams (Kicker), Punter/Kicker Representing SMAC in the SMAC/PG Chick-Fil-A Senior Bowl Held December 10, 2011 at Bowie State University First Team All-County Kicker, Air Force Player of the Game (10/28/2011 vs. Lackey), Maryland “Minds in Motion” Recipient (Athletes with a Minimum of 3.25 GPA), First Team All-County Kicker (2010), 39 Punts (38 Yard Average / 54 Yard Long), 13 Punts Inside 20, 44 Kickoffs (53 Yard Average) / 7 Touchbacks, 25/25 PAT.



• Garry Cropper - WR, 5-10, 165, Arundel HS, Arundel, MD - Team Record 9-2.



COURTESY: BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

The SWAC dunk you have to see

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  - The Southwestern Athletic Conference is not a place from which viral videos frequently emanate. Frankly, it's not a place from which news of any sort frequently emanates. Until the play-in game (now games) roll(s) around in March, the SWAC -- frequently the worst conference in college hoops, for reasons often outside its own control -- is out of sight and out of mind.

But every so often, lightning strikes, brilliance ensues, and someone has the foresight to record it on video and get it on the Internet. Today, we have that video.



It's been four days since Arkansas Pine-Bluff and Grambling squared off (a 60-55 Grambling win Saturday), but video of of Savalace Townsend's absolutely ridiculous dunk over a Grambling State defender has officially made its way to YouTube (via the online repository that is World Star Hip-Hop.) And oh, is it ever so good.

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2012 Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Preview

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Mervyl Melendez takes over as the head coach at Alabama State, bringing an impressive resume from fellow HBCU Bethune-Cookman. Melendez's Wildcats won 11 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles in 12 seasons; he replaces Larry Watkins, the dean of SWAC coaches after a 30-year tenure and .399 winning percentage.

Alabama State's last winning season was in 2000.

Melendez already has turned over the roster, with 22 freshmen and just six holdover players. The top returnees are speedy Sr. OF Ryan Epperson (pictured at left, .324/.378/.441, 10 SB), who got just 68 at-bats a year ago; and Sr. 3B Darrion Pedro (pictured at right, .268/.341/.389, 12 SB). Pedro slides from shortstop to third to make room for Fr. Emmanuel Marrero, who originally signed with B-CU but followed Melendez to Alabama State. He's a switch-hitter who plays with energy and is a slick fielder. He will play next to 2B Leo Rojas, a transfer from St. Petersburg (Fla.) JC who is the son of ex-big leaguer Alvaro Espinosa.

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Tennessee State Alumnus John Moon To Serve As Men's Head Coach For USA At 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships

LEGENDARY HEAD COACH JOHN MOON (bio)
36TH YEAR
SETON HALL UNIVERSITY
 Courtesy: Seton Hall Athletic Communications

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -  USA Track and Field has announced that former Tennessee State Univeristy Flying Tiger 100 yards co-world record holder and national champion John Moon has been selected as the head coach of the USA men's track and field team at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey on March 9-11, 2012. Also, Moon will serve as the men's throws coach.

Currently, Moon is the head cross country coach at Seton Hall University.

Moon's distinguished coaching career spans over 40 years, has taken him to over 50 countries and has garnered him many coaching appointments, awards, and inductions. He started as a high school coach for Kilmer Job Center and Rahway High School in New Jersey. With Rahway, Moon earned 33 championships and a 99-11 dual meet record.

Moon became Seton Hall's head coach in 1972 and in his first year, coached the men's mile relay team to first place at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He has coached 71 All-Americans and seven NCAA Champions, including 400 meters specialist Andrew Valmon, an Olympic relay gold medalist and BIG EAST record holder. Moon guided the Lady Pirates to 3rd place at the 1994 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Moon's appointments, awards and inductions include: first assistant coach, men's Track Team, 2000 Summer Olympics; head track coach, 1995 Pan American Games; head coach, 2001 U.S. vs. Great Britain dual meet; assistant coach, 1991 Goodwill Games; head coach, 1983 U.S. Olympic Festival East Team; head coach, 1975 U.S. Junior National Team; 2002 Mid-Atlantic Region Women's Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year; NCAA Women's Indoor Track Coach of the Year; Big East Coach of the Year seven times; Collegiate Track Conference Coach of the Year six times; Newark YMWCA Legendary Coaches Award; Seton Hall Athletic Hall Fame; and New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Moon was equally impressive as a track star. At Linden High School, he ran the 100 yards in 9.7 seconds and the 220 yards in 21.0 seconds, earning All-State and All-American honors. At Tennessee State and with Wilma Rudolph as a teammate, Moon again earned All-American honors and tied the 100 yards world record at 9.3 seconds. Also, he won the 100 yards at the NAIA and placed third in the NCAA Championships. After graduating from TSU, Moon finished second in the 100 yards at the 1963 National AAU Championships and ran 20.3 seconds in the 220 and 46.2 in the 440.

In 1964, he became the last man to beat Bob "Bullet" Hayes (Florida A&M University), the Olympic legend who had established a new level of speed in track and field.

Moon's appointment as the head coach of the U.S. indoor team to the World Indoors is somewhat remarkable and ironic because Seton Hall cancelled its indoor and outdoor track and field teams at the end of the 2010 season to reallocate over $1 million to other areas. However, Seton Hall retained men's and women's cross country, and Moon continues as the head coach of both teams.

John Moon To Serve As Men's Head Coach For USA At 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships

SOUTH ORANGE, New Jersey - Seton Hall University head cross country coach John Moon will soon be able to add another prestigious accomplishment to his international coaching resume as he has been selected to serve as the men's head coach for team USA at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

The 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships will take place from March 9-11, in Istanbul, Turkey. This year's meet is on course to be the largest in the championship's history, with more than 160 IAAF member nations preparing to send a squad to Istanbul.

"I am excited and honored for my track & field colleagues to select me as the head coach for the U.S. international team," Moon said. "It's rewarding for the track & field community to hold me as one of the elite coaches in the country. To represent Team U.S.A. is a great honor, one of the biggest of my career, and I am excited to represent Seton Hall University as well."

Moon will serve as the USA men's head coach and also work with the team's throwers. He will be joined by New Mexico State University head coach Orin Richburg, Rowan University assistant coach Norm Tate, and USA Track & Field's Dave Schrock.

The post as the U.S. men's head coach at the World Indoor Championships is the latest in a long list of international coaching experiences Moon as accrued over his 40-year career in track and field.

He served as the top men's assistant coach for Team USA at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Moon was also the head coach for the United States at the 1995 Pan American Games, and in 2001 he guided the United State in the prestigious U.S. vs. Great Britain dual meet in Glasgow, Scotland.

COURTESY: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION AND SETON HALL UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS.

TSU Golf Coach Chris Seibel - Tigers Update

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State University head golf coach Chris Seibel talks about the golf team's recent workouts and outlook for the upcoming season.



COURTESY: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATON

MEAC Play Is Better in the North

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Though the Florida A&M University Lady Rattlers are undefeated in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play and atop of the standings, they may not be the team to beat. The same can be said of the Norfolk State Spartans Mens basketball team as they perch atop the conference standings with two losses. Both teams have been competitive during their tough non-conference schedule, but as Norfolk has already found out their real threat will come from the teams in the northern sector of the conference.

On the women’s side Hampton and Coppin State are presently the teams to beat. This is no slight to FAMU. Hampton is an experienced team with consistent play from game to game. They have already spanked conference top contender Howard University twice this season with one conference lost to guess who? The Coppin State women are quietly making themselves known in the conference and may well be the sleeper. They are the only team to overcome Hampton’s defense and beat them this season. They will not play FAMU during the regular season.

With wins over South Carolina State, Savannah State, Norfolk, North Carolina Central and the North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies, Morgan State is proof ...

VIEW WOMEN'S MEAC STANDINGS 2011-12

VIEW MEN'S MEAC STANDINGS 2011-12

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT SPORTS EDIT.ORG 

XU Gold Nuggets drop to 19th, Rush still 25th in NAIA polls

NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball team dropped two places to 19th in the NAIA Division I coaches poll. The XU men are 25th for the second consecutive week.

The polls, the eighth of the season, were announced late Monday afternoon, just before Xavier's doubleheader at SUNO.

The Gold Nuggets are in the top 25 for the 26th consecutive time. The Gold Rush appear in the top 25 for the 19th time in 20 polls.

Xavier, a 62-59 loser at William Carey in its only game of the past week, fell two spots for the second consecutive week. The Gold Rush, a 63-47 winner against William Carey and a 75-69 winner against New Orleans this past week, share 25th place with The Master's, which fell from 13th.

Oklahoma City's women and the men of Robert Morris (Chicago) are the top-ranked teams.

The only other ranked GCAC school is Tougaloo, which is 19th in the men's poll and climbed two places.

Xavier is one of nine schools with women's and men's teams in the top 25. The other schools are Azusa Pacific, Georgetown (Ky.), Lee (Tenn.), Lindsey Wilson, MidAmerica Nazarene, Shorter, Westmont and Southern Nazarene.

Xavier swept SUNO — the Nuggets won 67-55, the Rush won 73-62 — and will play a GCAC doubleheader at Talladega starting at 5 p.m. Saturday. Both Xavier teams will play Tougaloo next Monday in their final competition at The Barn, XU's 75-year-old gymnasium. A 4,500-seat facility, which is still under construction, will become the home of XU basketball and women's volleyball next season.

NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Feb. 5)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Oklahoma City (12) 21-1 312 1
2 Freed-Hardeman 21-3 302 2
3 Union (Tenn.) 22-2 292 3
4 Lee (Tenn.) 23-1 282 5
5 Cumberlands 21-1 269 6
6 Westmont 21-2 262 4
7 Lubbock Christian 18-3 253 7
8 Lewis-Clark State 21-3 241 8

9 Langston 21-2 226 10

10 Shawnee State 21-4 224 11

11 Olivet Nazarene 21-3 210 13

12 Vanguard 15-5 209 9

13 Azusa Pacific 16-6 194 12

Saint Xavier 17-6 181 14

15 Belhaven 19-5 171 tie-16

16 Georgetown (Ky.) 17-7 154 18  

17 Southern Nazarene 17-7 147 tie-16
18 Westminster (Utah) 15-7 142 19
19 Xavier 17-7 134 17
20 Loyola 19-2 123 21
21 Campbellsville 16-9 116 22
22 MidAmerica Nazarene 17-7 102 20
23 Shorter 18-5 76 RV
24 Lindsey Wilson 16-8 72 25
25 Lyon 18-6 71 24

Others receiving votes: William Woods 66, LSU-Shreveport 48, Rogers State 38, Avila 36, Columbia 15, San Diego Christian 10, Rocky Mountain 9, St. Gregory's 3, Central Methodist 1, Rio Grande 1, Montana State Northern 1, Robert Morris (Chicago) 1, Martin Methodist 1.

NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Feb. 5)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Robert Morris (Chicago) (7) 22-1 308 2
2 Shorter (5) 23-1 305 1
3 Oklahoma Baptist 20-3 293 4
4 Southern Poly 18-4 271 3
5 Our Lady of the Lake 18-4 269 5
6 Rogers State 18-4 264 6
7 Martin Methodist 18-5 241 9
8 Georgetown (Ky.) 19-5 240 12
9 Westmont 17-4 237 22
10 Mountain State 19-6 220 11
11 Azusa Pacific 19-5 219 7
12 Lindsey Wilson 15-7 179 8
13-tie Montana State Northern 20-4 176 10
13-tie Texas Wesleyan 17-4 176 14
15 John Brown 19-5 175 23
16 Concordia (Calif.) 18-5 170 16
17 Lee (Tenn.) 16-5 159 17
18 LSU-Shreveport 16-6 143 RV
19 Tougaloo 17-5 126 21
20 MidAmerica Nazarene 17-7 112 24
21 Columbia (Mo.) 19-6 106 18
22 Pikeville 15-8 97 20
23 Southern Nazarene 17-7 96 15
24 Montana Western 18-7 75 19
25-tie Xavier 17-6 70 25
25-tie The Master's 16-7 70 13

Others receiving votes: Saint Xavier 46, Evangel 28, Union (Tenn.) 23, Cal State San Marcos 22, Point Loma Nazarene 15, Oklahoma Christian 8, Cumberlands 7, Westminster (Utah) 7, Science & Arts 1, St. Thomas (Texas) 1, Baker 1, Harris-Stowe 1, Freed-Hardeman 1, Cumberland 1, Voorhees 1, Campbellsville 1, St. Catharine 1, Biola

DSU will play Delaware,VMI and Cincinnati in 2012

DOVER, Delaware -- Five home games and visits to Bowl Championship Series power University of Cincinnati and Football Championship Subdivision University of Delaware highlight the 2012 Delaware State University football schedule, announced today by Eric Hart, DSU's Interim Director of Athletics.

The 11-game slate begins at home in Alumni Stadium against Virginia Military Institute (VMI) on Sep. 1. This will be the second meeting between the Hornets and Keydets. Delaware State won the first meeting 24-21 in Lexington, Va., in head coach Kermit Blount's Hornet debut last season.

DSU will travel to the University of Delaware and the University of Cincinnati for the next two games.

The Hornets and Hens will play for the fourth time on Sep. 8 at Delaware Stadium in Newark. Delaware State is seeking its first win in the series between the state's two Division I football programs.

On Sep. 15, the Hornets will take on Cincinnati for the first time at UC's Nippert Stadium. The Big East Conference Bearcats were 10-3 last season, which ended with a 31-24 victory over Vanderbilt at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn. Cincinnati was ranked 21st in the final USA Today poll and 25th in the Associated Press poll of major college teams in 2011.

The Hornets are 1-1 all-time vs. Div. I-A/FBS opponents, winning at Akron in 1987 and falling to Michigan in 2009.

DSU returns home the following Saturday (Sep. 22) to take on Florida A&M. The Rattlers have won the last three meetings between the teams.

After an open week, the Hornets travel to Norfolk State on Oct. 6 to take on the reigning MEAC champion Spartans.

Delaware State is home for the next two Saturdays to take on South Carolina State and North Carolina A&T. The Hornets welcome SC State to Alumni Stadium on Oct. 13, while NCA&T will be the homecoming opponent on Oct. 20.

DSU is on the road the next two weekends, visiting Morgan State on Oct. 27 and North Carolina Central on Nov. 3.

The Hornets will wrap up the home schedule on Nov. 10 against Hampton and close out the regular season on Nov. 17 at Howard in Washington, D.C.

"I'm very excited about the 2012 DSU football schedule," said Hart. "It's a very challenging schedule that will put the Hornets to the test each week."

Hart says the 2012 slate should also appeal to Hornet fans.

"We have attractive home games against our long-time MEAC opponents and new rival VMI, in addition to exciting opportunities to cheer on the team in nearby conference road games, along with trips to Cincinnati and Delaware."

Delaware State will release game times, along with ticket plans and promotional dates this spring.

2012 DSU Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time (ET)

Sep 01 VMI Dover, Del.

Sep 08 Delaware at Newark, Del.

Sep 15 Cincinnati at Cincinnati, Ohio

Sep 22 FLORIDA A&M * Dover, Del.

Oct 06 Norfolk State * at Norfolk, Va.

Oct 13 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE * Dover, Del.

Oct 20 NORTH CAROLINA A&T * Dover, Del.

Oct 27 Morgan State * at Baltimore, Md.

Nov 03 North Carolna Central * at Durham, N.C.

Nov 10 HAMPTON * Dover, Del.
Nov 17 Howard * at Washington, D.C.

* Conference Games

COURTESY: DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

South Carolina State Announces 2012 Football Schedule

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina - South Carolina State announced its 2012 football schedule, which includes two Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams -- both first-time opponents, and four home games, on Tuesday.

The two FBS opponents are the University of Arizona of the PAC 12 and Texas A&M University, one of the newest members of the Southeastern Conference. Both contests will be on the road and will be mark the first meeting between the two teams and the Bulldogs. SC State travels to Tucson Sept. 15 to meet the Wildcats and journeys to College Station Sept. 22 for an encounter with the Aggies.

Coach Buddy Pough's team opens the 2012 campaign Aug. 30 in a Thursday night contest against Georgia State at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, before hosting Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Bethune-Cookman in its home opener Sept. 8.

Additional home games are Norfolk State (Sept. 29), Howard (Oct. 27), the Homecoming contest, and Savannah State (Nov. 17).

Other road games include North Carolina Central (Oct. 6), Florida A&M (Oct. 20) and North Carolina A&T (Nov. 10).

The entire schedule is listed below. Starting times for all games will be available later.

2012 Bulldog Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time#

8/30 at Georgia State Atlanta, GA TBD

9/8 Bethune-Cookman* Orangeburg, SC TBD  (Hall of Fame Game)

9/15 at Arizona Tucson, AZ TBD

9/22 at Texas A&M College Station, TX TBD

9/29 Norfolk State* Orangeburg, SC TBD  (Youth/ROTC Day)

10/6 at North Carolina Central* Away TBD

10/13 at Delaware State* Dover, DE TBD

10/20 at Florida A&M* Tallahassee, FL TBD

10/27 Howard* Orangeburg, SC TBD  (Homecoming)

11/03 Open

11/10 at North Carolina A&T* Greensboro, NC TDB

11/17 Savannah State* Orangeburg, SC TBD  (Senior/Faculty-Staff Appreciation Day)

*MEAC Contest – Home games in Bold – Dates, times and locations subject to change


SCSU Marching 101 Band at 2012 Honda Battle of the Bands, Atlanta, GA.

COURTESY: SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Lincoln women tough out victory

LOWER OXFORD, Pennsylvania – Not long ago, an upper echelon opponent from the CIAA Northern Division would come into Lincoln’s Rivero Hall expecting to cruise to an easy women’s basketball victory. But visiting Elizabeth City State discovered on Tuesday that the Lions are no longer an automatic ‘W.’

Despite more struggles at the free-throw line, Lincoln connected on six straight freebies in the final 22 seconds to hold off the Vikings, who entered the contest in a second-place tie, 55-48. It was the program’s second straight win and evens the Lions’ division record at 3-3 (7-17 overall).

“I don’t think the ladies understand what an ugly win means, but that’s what this was,” Lincoln head coach Jessica Kern said. “When the chips are down, you have to find a way to fight. It’s breaking the mold. In the past we were down and stayed down.”

Following a lackluster first half, LU outscored ECSU by a dozen the rest of the way. And even though the Vikings (3-3, 12-10) were dominant on the boards, and shot the ball a bit better from the floor, the Lions forced 31 turnovers and had a more than 2-to-1 advantage in free throw attempts.

Box Score

READ MORE 

Ragsdale senior Eroncia Berry signs with Jackson State;

JAMESTOWN, North Carolina -- Soccer forward Eroncia Berry took the first step toward a new athletic and academic career last Wednesday, Feb. 1, when they signed their letter of intent to their respective colleges.  Berry will be joining one of the elite women's soccer programs in the nation. Jackson State has won the Southwestern Athletic Conference title six years in a row and been invited into the NCAA tournament each time.

"I'm hoping to ease into some playing time immediately,” said the petite forward, adding, “I don't expect anything to be handed to me, though. I'll just go down there and work hard and see what happens.”



Berry's strengths are her speed, agility and overall athletic ability. She played basketball for Ragsdale three years (two varsity and one jayvee) and ran AAU track, but concentrated on soccer her senior year. “They (Jackson State) actually gave me the option to run track also,” she said, “but soccer and academics are my main focus.”

Ah yes, academics. Berry carries a 4.1 grade point average, and plans to major in business management and then go to law school. “I want to go into corporate law,” she said.

READ MORE 

Too Many Black Males Have Given Up

by Dwight Floyd, Editor of SportsEdit.Org

I can only look back to a period in Tallahassee, Florida’s history when the all black Lincoln High School sat in the heart of an economically poor community called French Town, just down the road from an area called Good Bread Lane. Across town there was the all black FAMU High School where kids from the poor neighborhood known as Bond community frequently attended.  Kids from middle class neighborhoods attended these schools too. Growing up in that environment you knew people cared about you and you had many reasons to care about yourself.

Today, too many black males have given up on life and too many others have given up on them.

For the black male the environment is not too encouraging. Fourteen percent of Florida’s population is black, yet forty-eight percent of prison inmates are black. There are over 102,000 inmates in state prison alone and less than 8,000 of them are female. Do the math. More than a majority of that 48 percent are black males. From a criminal justice perspective, logic would require then that if you are a black male you are guilty until proven innocent—a catch 22 known as profiling.

In the 1990’s researcher and Harvard Professor William Julius Wilson wrote a book called When Work Disappears. Wilson noted how individuals turned to crime as an alternative when resourceful ways were not as available.  Economist Jawanza Kunjufu in a book of his own noted that in 1910 ninety percent of black families were two parent households. Compare that to today when more than half of black households are single parent and in the scheme of things an accepted occurrence in American culture.

Things I got in trouble for as a youth would likely today end with some type of detention. Then, it was like the days of Opie on the Andy Griffith show. Opie would innocently and sometimes not so innocently get in trouble in the neighborhood. In my youthful days, adults, including those in authority, would use common sense and work together to redirect a lost kid. Now, kids are too delinquent or the rules too strict to let such a thing occur.

These are just reflecting thoughts, not excuses.

The black male does not need excuses, but much like the team that has become used to loosing he does need encouraging and adequate coaching. If you are a fan of a sport like football or basketball, perhaps you have seen a team struggle to win so much so that they begin to give up. The referee appears to call the game against them and as much as they try, they cannot get a fair whistle. In their frustration they just stop trying and pretend to be injured just to get a spot on the bench. A good coach will speak up for his players when he thinks the referees are calling it against his team and say just the right things to get his players to persevere and play a little harder.

At both Lincoln and FAMU High Schools there were confident black male teachers, more than a few, and an institution that was connected to both the church and the community. Of all those students only a handful ended up in prison and even the least literate turned out to be good citizens and able themselves to raise decent families. As for today where are the coaches, the family of adults that will encourage and guide the black male in face of adversity? For it is not the adversity that has changed, but the will to overcome.

Dwight Floyd is currently Editor of SportsEdit.Org and a careerist in the law enforcement field. He is a gifted writer that publishes a widely read Blog at www.sportsedit.org, which focuses on three of his five primary interests: Sports (FAMU sports in particular), his children (his son Ashanti, aka "The Mad Violinist" is occasionally featured on his site) and quality of life issues. 

Please bookmark www.sportsedit.org and visit daily to view  original articles on SPORTS, MUSIC, HUMOR, AND ENTERTAINMENT and other thought provoking editorials.   (beepbeep)

TSU Tigers Home Game with Murray State Selected for ESPNU

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  The February 23 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball contest between Murray State and Tennessee State has been selected for telecast by ESPNU as part of the league's television package.

When the OVC announced its ESPN basketball schedule on Oct. 5, there were three dates on the schedule designated as "wild card" dates where the game to be aired was not selected until 21 days before the contest, making sure an attractive matchup was televised, instead of having to determine the full schedule a month before the season began.

The televised contest will mark the third ESPN broadcast for the Big Blue this year. TSU played in an ESPN3 contest at then-ranked No. 1 North Carolina in November and will play Murray State in an ESPN3 broadcast this Thursday, Feb. 9.

Tennessee State (15-10, 8-4 OVC) has climbed to a tie for second in the OVC standings after winning five-straight games. The Tigers are just one win away from guaranteeing itself its first winning season since 1995-96.

Head coach John Cooper set a new career single-season win total by eclipsing his 14 wins set a year ago.

Entering this week's action Murray State (23-0, 11-0 OVC) is the only undefeated team in Division I and are ranked No. 7 in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 and No. 9 in the Associated Press Top 25.

The wild card game at the Gentry Center will air at 7:00 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

Courtesy: Tennessee State University Sports Information