Monday, April 2, 2012

Stillman baseball stays perfect in SIAC

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama | The Stillman College baseball team erased a five-run deficit by scoring 10 in the bottom of the fifth inning en route to a 21-11 win over Paine College on Sunday.

Stillman (15-14, 12-0 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic COnference) has won 10 of 11. Paine (15-15, 7-5 SIAC) has lost three straight.

Stillman sent 14 batters to the plate in the fifth. Shortstop Kameron McCreless ripped a two-run double that hit off the top of the left field wall and third baseman Paul Winterbottom added a three-run triple that put the Tigers ahead to stay.

Paul Winterbottom went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and five RBIs. He had two triples and one double.

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TSU Men's golf prepares for Red Wolf Intercollegiate

JONESBORO, Arkansas - The Tennessee State University men's golf team will return to action on Monday, April 2 at the 16th annual ASU Red Wolf Intercollegiate.

The tournament, hosted by Arkansas State, will be played at the RidgePoint Country Club in Jonesboro, Ark., on Monday and Tuesday.

The field of 22 teams features OVC members Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Jacksonville State, Murray State, SIU Edwardsville, UT Martin and Tennessee State while the rest of the participating schools include host Arkansas State, UALR, Belmont, DePaul, Drake, Louisiana-Monroe, Meridan Community College, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma City Univ., Oral Roberts, Southern Illinois, Texas-Pan American, Troy and Vanderbilt.

RidgePoint is a par-72 golf course that plays to 6,565 yards. Live scoring will be available for the tournament on golfstat.com. Rounds one and two are scheduled for Monday while the final round will be played on Tuesday.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

West Rowan's Laster signs with Livingstone

MOUNT ULLA, North Carolina — Most of Zay Laster’s friends had some advice for the West Rowan quarterback when he told them he was going to sign a football scholarship with Livingstone. “They told me, ‘Don’t go there. Don’t do this. Don’t do that,’ ” Laster smiled.

Laster has obviously been taught to listen to his elders, not his buddies. He took the advice of West coach Scott Young and the invitation of Livingstone coach Elvin James and decided, “This is what’s best for me and my family.”

So Laster, the 6-foot signal-caller is going to be taking his talents the 12 miles from Mount Ulla to Monroe Street. He’s going to be a Blue Bear. And he brings exactly what James’ team needs — an athletic quarterback with leadership skills and an ability to throw the ball downfield.

“Coach James came in and watched film,” Young said. “They just hired a new offensive coordinator and they like how Zay throws the deep ball. They’re going to give him a chance to play immediately.”

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Sunday, April 1, 2012

FAMU's backs shine in scrimmage

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Piece by piece, Florida A&M coach Joe Taylor seems to be getting the kinks ironed out during spring football practice. Special teams personnel emerged last week and this week the confirmation came from the running backs.

While the statistics are unofficial, LaVante Page, Eddie Rocker, James Owens and even seldom-used Jordan Stanley combined for more than 150 yards rushing. Owens, Page and Stanley each scored once, the only touchdowns during Saturday's scrimmage.

Page alone ran for about 70 yards. He got 20 of those on consecutive runs during a series that featured quarterback Damien Fleming repeatedly handing off to one of the runners out of the backfield.

"Today we got hot and coach put ...

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Saint Augustine’s College announces name and status change

RALEIGH, North Carolina - The Saint Augustine's College Board of Trustees announced today (March 30, 2012) that the College is moving into a new phase as it joins peer institutions in moving to the status of University to become Saint Augustine's University (SAU) effective August 1, 2012. The change to university status aligns the College’s public identity with the structure and breadth of academic, athletic and student development programs currently being offered at Saint Augustine’s College.

"This isn't just a name change," states President Dianne Boardley Suber. "We're committed to changing the way we do business. Our guiding principle will continue to be the training of leaders and change agents. All of our curricula, student organizations and student life will have leadership training as its backdrop – the common thread that runs through and drives, all of our standing programs and new initiatives.

We've completely retrenched the general education core of courses for the freshman class of 2012. The new general education courses, which are required of all freshmen and sophomores, ensure that the content and objectives of all courses are relevant to the goal of retaining and graduating students who are prepared to compete and succeed in today’s challenging work force or graduate and professional level programs following their graduation.”

Saint Augustine’s University will expand its programs for nontraditional students to include students seeking a four year degree that includes online courses and expanding off-site access to campus programs. The University has established Centers of Excellence that will serve as the anchor programs of a Saint Augustine’s University degree.

The Center for Forensic Discovery (forensic science, forensic accounting, and forensic psychology) and the Center for Applied Medical Sciences are two signature academic programs that are expected to enhance and expand students’ marketability for a global workforce. The third Center of Excellence will be the Center for Athletic Facilities and Sports Management. This center affords students a unique concentration in the operational and administration aspects in the world of professional, collegiate and leisure sports. Graduates from this center would have the competitive advantage to secure positions in the “front office.”

An additional center of excellence being considered is the Center for Athletic Scholarship. “The University will focus on being NCAA championship contenders while continuing to raise the four-year graduation rates of student athletes,” says President Dianne Boardley Suber.

The University will move towards offering its first master's degree program as early as 2014. The Physician Assistant (PA) Master’s Degree Program will focus on training PAs for rural and other underserved communities.

While the complete branding package is still under development, preparations for the name change will begin next month. Full implementation will take place this summer including the launch of a new Saint Augustine’s University web site and revised materials for new student orientation and prospective student events.

“When students return in the fall, we will officially be Saint Augustine’s University not only in name, but also in look and feel. There will be a full overhaul of paraphernalia in the bookstore and our presence throughout Raleigh and the country will be seen as Saint Augustine’s University. We’re very excited and look forward to sharing our new look with the world,” says Marc Newman, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Development.

DSU's Meagley Strikes Out Nine in 5-0 Shutout Over Hampton

Rachel Meagley
5-5 pitcher, Sophomore
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Courtesy Mike Baker
DOVER, Delaware  -  Sophomore  Rachel Meagley (Seattle, Wash.) continues to impress in her first season with the Delaware State University softball team as she struck out a career-high nine strikeouts to lead the Hornets to their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory of the season in a 5-0 win over Hampton University Saturday afternoon at the Hornets' Nest.

In addition to nine strikeouts, Meagley allowed just four hits and held a perfect game through the first two and two-thirds innings as she struck out the first seven batters and forced a pop up before senior Brooke Boykin singled back to the pitcher. Meagley got out of the inning by striking out the next batter.

Del State (11-11-1; 1-0) got on the board in the fourth inning as senior Tawny Reeger (Simi Valley, Calif.) doubled to right center to lead off the inning and fellow senior Casey Beighley (Los Angeles, Calif.) followed up with a two-run home run to left field. Freshman Bria Green (Wheatley Heights, N.Y.) then singled through the left side and advanced to second on a passed ball with senior Rachel Carroll (Oxard, Calif.) at bat. Carroll continued the onslaught with an RBI double to right field to score Green

Carroll moved to third on a groundout from freshman Kelsey Doherty (Harbeson, Del.) and eventually scored the fourth run of the game for the Hornets on a wild pitch from Hampton freshman Jailynn Jackson before the end of the inning.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Green singled to third base as sophomore Stephanie Martello (Oxnard, Calif.) scored to give DSU a 5-0 lead. The Hornets had the opportunity to end the game in the fifth via the mercy-rule, but recorded three straight outs to leave three runners stranded.

The Lady Pirates (13-21; 2-2) posed a threat in the top of the seventh inning as junior Carla Trimble walked to lead off the frame. Sophomore Margaret Wilkins reached on an error by Carroll, the shortstop, before junior Nina Ferguson walked to load the bases.

DSU head coach brought in sophomore
Stephanie Sarris (Rohnert Park, Calif.) in relief and she immediately struck out junior Kelsei Saunders to end the game.

Beighley and Green led the Hornets from the plate, each going 2-for-3 on the day.

The Hornets and Lady Pirates wrap up their weekend series on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at noon at the Hornets' Nest. Live stats can be found via
www.DSUHornets.com and also www.twitter.com/DelStSB

COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU baseball drops doubleheader to NCCU



TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Florida A&M baseball coach Willie Brown almost came up with the right moves Saturday in an attempt to avoid dropping a doubleheader to North Carolina Central at Moore-Kittles Field.

Starting with a lineup shuffle to start the second game, Brown seemed to have the right personnel in the right place for the Rattlers to force an extra inning of the seven-inning game. But the Eagles mounted a six-run rally to beat FAMU 8-3 and sweep a MEAC doubleheader.

The Eagles took the first game 18-3, pounding out 18 hits. The doubleheader win was a first for NCCU against the Rattlers since the 2006 season. The loss was FAMU's sixth in a row, dropping the Rattlers to 3-5 in the MEAC and 7-22. Eagles improved to 5-6 in the league and 5-25 overall.

FAMU had never lost two consecutive games to the Eagles on its home field. Brown was attempting to avoid that when he made wholesale changes to the lineup that started the first game.

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Spring Football Update: TSU Holds Another Scrimmage

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State University football held its' second scrimmage on Saturday morning at Hale Stadium.

Third year head coach Rod Reed thought the Tigers showed significant improvement from last weekend's scrimmage.

“I thought we played hard, competed and showed improvement,” noted Reed. “Offensively, we moved the ball well, but we stalled in the red zone. Defensively, we have to be much better against the run, but we did stand strong in the red zone.”

Tennessee State was solid in special teams as junior Jamin Godfrey knocked in four-of-five field goal attempts – his longest from 40 yards out.

The Big Blue returns to the gridiron on Monday/Wednesday with 4pm practices before participating in its' final scrimmage next Saturday, April 7.

During the week of the University's Centennial Celebration, TSU hosts the second annual Domnique-Rodgers Cromartie Celebrity Slam Jam on Friday, April 13 at 7pm.

The Tigers then host a Legends game against Vanderbilt on Saturday, April 14 at 1pm with the Blue-White game following approximately at 3:30pm.

UPCOMING SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Monday, April 2 - 4 p.m.
Wednesday, April 4 - 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 7 – TBD

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Saturday, March 31, 2012

ASU Freshman Turning Heads on the Field

ALBANY, Georgia - It's track time for the Albany State “Running Rams”. ASU hosts the Alice Coachman Invitational Saturday, but the early focus for the ASU team has been with the field events.

Only five meets in to her college career, freshman CreeAnn Perkins is throwing the discus and shot put with the best in the nation. Perkins has placed first in both events three times netting SIAC Athlete of the Week awards in the process.

At the Morehouse Relays, Perkins earned a seventh place national ranking for a discus throw of 43.57m. Whether Perkins was expecting it or not, success has come quickly for the Golden Ram freshman. “I thought I would have to work harder to get it and it kind of came a little bit easier,” Perkins said. “I was just like "whoa, I'm getting all of this…I’m getting first and breaking records."

Perkins’ teammates are starting to take notice, but it’s not all about her performance on the field.

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SU Board approves Broussard as Athletics Director

Dr. William Broussard
Director of Athletics
SOUTHERN UNVERSITY
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana - After a two-week wait following the Athletics Committee of the Southern University Board of Supervisors approval, Dr. William Broussard is officially a member of the 'Jaguar Nation'.

The Southern University Board of Supervisors approved Broussard to become its new director of athletics Thursday by a vote of 15-0 during its March board meeting.

Broussard will assume his post at the helm of the athletics departments at Southern Monday, April 1. He anticipates working intensely to rectify the current trends involving three critical areas, including Southern's APR scores, which will be released to the public in April.

"The way that you go about addressing (APR issues) is your assessment has to be thorough," said Broussard. "Sometimes numbers don’t give you the full picture so you have to spend time looking at the data but also spend some time talking with coaches, student-athletes, and staff about what we are doing in those areas to help our student-athletes achieve success."

At the recommendation of SUBR Chancellor Dr. James Llorens, the Crowley, La. native was introduced to the board's athletics commitee chaired by attorney Patrick McGee during a March 15 special session held on the Baton Rouge campus.

Before Broussard's appointment became official, a final vote of the board was required in Shreveport. Board member and attorney Warren A. Forstall was not present at today's meeting but voted in favor of Broussard at the March 15 special session and offered a ringing endorsement of the prospective hire.
Highly regarded as a visionary with superb fundraising capabilities, Broussard delivers a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new post as Southern University's Director of Athletics.

Broussard's versatility is derived from a variety of administrative, athletic, and academic experiences garnered throughout his career and will be instrumental in his supervision of five men's and eight women's Division I programs at Southern.

His hire comes after 11-months of intense searching and the board's rebuttal of one finalist who was amongst two other finalists identified by a search committee.

Following his unanimous approval by the athletics committee, Broussard stated his most important task will be "to cultivate relationships, learn about the student-athletes who are here, the coaches who are here and their concerns, spend some time reviewing policies and procedure and ensuring that those are properly lined up so that the program performs adequately and excellently."

Broussard, 33, recently served as athletics director at Centenary College in Shreveport and cited NCAA rules compliance, academic performance and "institutional advancement" as areas he deemed vital to the success of the athletics department during his tenure.

"We want to reach the point where Southern is a flagship of the SWAC and a beacon for all historically black colleges and university athletic departments," said Broussard.

"We must identify private donors, corporate sponsors, alumni, friends of the university and supporters of the athletic program who want to help us continue to expand what we offer to student athletes and ensure that they have the best athletic experience and the best student experience they could possible have."

A 2000 graduate of the Louisiana Scholars' College at Northwestern State University, Broussard earned a master's and doctorate in Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of the English Language in 2007 from the University of Arizona. While in graduate school, he served as an undergraduate instructor, research supervisor, and held positions in athletics and student life. He also gained academic experienced as a faculty member at Pima community College in Tuscon.

Broussard, a graduate of Crowley High School, returned home to Louisiana and his alma mater to serve as Associate Athletic Director for External Relations as well as the Executive Director of the NSU Athletic Association.

In these roles, he oversaw all areas of athletic fundraising and external relations, breaking university records for attainment, annual fund, and corporate sponsorships. He garnered the largest gifts in the history of the department as well as the university as a whole. In addition, he worked closely with several sports, managing football game operations and coordinating schedules and contracts. He also served as the department's ambassador at campus events and on a wide variety of committees and working groups.

Concurrently with his work in the athletic department, Broussard worked closely with students on an academic level. He served as an assistant professor first in the journalism department and later in the language and communication department, teaching several traditional and online courses. In this role, he volunteered as a faculty advisory for the National Association of Black Journalists as well as NSU's Student Alumni Association.

During his two-year stint at Northwestern St., Broussard was an active leader in the community, serving on the Executive Board of the Boys and Girls Club and is a past president of the Natchitoches Lions Club. He also represented the NSU Athletic Department at regional and national conferences and the Southland Conference at the National Association of Athletic Development Directors conference.

As an undergraduate, Broussard was a varsity letter winner for NSU's Division I football team from 1997-2000. A two-time All-American center, Broussard was a member of the All-Conference, All-Louisiana, All-District teams and received several notable awards for his success both in the classroom and on the playing field.

Broussard, who is the son of Grambling State alums Wilfred and Elizabeth Broussard, is married to Kendra Broussard, also a Northwestern State alum and former volleyball student-athlete.

COURTESY: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Friday, March 30, 2012

O'Quinn Named Nation's Top Mid-Major Player, Wins Lou Henson Award

NORFOLK, Virginia – Norfolk State senior center Kyle O’Quinn added yet another impressive honor to his growing resume when he was named the winner of the 2012 Lou Henson Award as the nation’s top mid-major player on Wednesday evening.

The award – named in honor of former Illinois and New Mexico head coach Lou Henson – is awarded by CollegeInsider.com to the nation’s top player who does not compete in what are generally regarded as the country’s 10 best conferences: the ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC, Conference USA, Mountain West, WAC and Atlantic 10. O’Quinn is the third winner of the award, following Butler’s Matt Howard in 2011 and Oakland’s Keith Benson in 2010.



O’Quinn won the award over an impressive field of 24 other athletes from around the country. Other finalists included AP All-American forward Doug McDermott of Creighton, center LaRon Dendy of Middle Tennessee State, and standout guards Isaiah Canaan of Murray State, Matthew Dellavedova of St. Mary’s and Casper Ware of Long Beach State.

The MEAC Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Performer, O’Quinn averaged 15.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game while leading the Spartans to a 26-10 record, the program’s first-ever MEAC title and a second-round NCAA Tournament win over No. 2 seed Missouri.

O’Quinn will receive his award this Friday during Final Four festivities in New Orleans.

Xavier's Richardson selected GCAC Player of the Week

SEAN RICHARDSON
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Sean Richardson is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in men's tennis for March 19-25.

Richardson, a senior from Ellenwood, Ga., and a graduate of Stockbridge High School, was the only Gold Rush player to win in singles and doubles against NAIA No. 5 Auburn Montgomery during a 6-3 dual-match home loss to the Warhawks on Saturday. Richardson's 6-4, 7-5 decision against Matias Dasso was his 10th consecutive victory in his past 11 singles matches

This is the third time that Richardson was won the GCAC's weekly award and the first time since his sophomore season. The Gold Rush have received four GCAC awards this season; Zach Taylor won it twice, and Viktor Svoboda won it once.

Both Xavier teams will compete Monday at Point Loma Nazarene in the first of four consecutive days of dual matches in California against ranked opponents. The XU men are No. 9 in the NAIA, and the women are 24th. The next top 25 polls will be announced Tuesday.

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

Shaw's Curtis wins national coach of year award

RALEIGH, North Carolina - Coach Jacques Curtis said it has been hard to get any work done around his office at Shaw University since the Bears won the NCAA Division II women’s basketball national championship. “The kids are always dropping by, wanting to talk and just enjoy it some more,” Curtis said. “We don’t talk about enjoying ‘the moment’ any more, we just talk about enjoying ‘it.’ ”

The “it” grew this week when Curtis was named the national Division II women’s coach of the year by Schelde North America and Women’s Division II Bulletin.  The award has helped keep Curtis, his staff, his team and the Shaw community in a celebratory mood. “We’re all on Cloud Nine,” he said.

Curtis said he was excited about the award, but stressed that it is much more of a coaching staff award than a head coaching award. He said assistants Jonas Richard, Ashante Timoll and Carl Hatchell deserved much of the credit.

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SUUC resurfacing completed as SU host SWAC Round Up

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - As Southern University women's tennis prepares to host the SWAC Tennis East-West Round-Up Friday, the perennial SWAC title contenders received a much needed facility upgrade in hopes of elevating the program to new heights.

Southern University University Courts underwent a month-long resurfacing project, which culminated with a dedication Tuesday afternoon. Interim Athletic Director Sandy Pugh, Coca-Cola Executive Ron Sutton and members of the 2012 tennis squad were on-hand to break in the new courts.

"When you get a facility upgrade, its definitely a plus. It helps you with your recruiting and it helps the girls be happy," said head tennis coach Jeff Conyers.

"It's been a long time. A lot of (former) Jaguars spent some good years on these courts. To finally please this group of ladies following behind (past SU tennis alumni) and to get the courts resurfaced is a great honor."

The project, which cost $22,000 dollars, included leveling the playing area of five of the seven SUUC courts before painting the courts a vibrant green and royal blue.

"Tennis has been incredible. These young ladies are 4.0 students, they graduate, they've excelled, they represent and they optimize what you want in a student-athlete. We're just really happy that we were able to find them and fund it to make this happen. To be apart of this wonderful," said interim athletics director Sandy Pugh.



The SUUC is among four Baton Rouge area courts that will host the two-day round robin tournament. All 10 SWAC programs are schedule to participate and Southern will play all of its games on the newly resurfaced playing area at the SUUC.

Here is a complete listing of games scheduled for the 2012 SWAC Round-Up:

March 30th
9:00 a.m.
Alabama A&M vs. Jackson State - IPTC
Southern vs. Mississippi Valley - SUUC
Grambling vs. U of Arkansas Pine Bluff - GPTC
U of Arkansas Pine Bluff vs. Alabama A&M - HPTC

2:00 p.m.
Jackson State vs. Alcorn - IPTC
Grambling vs. Prairie View - SUUC
Mississippi Valley vs Alabama State - GPTC
U of Arkansas Pine Bluff vs Alabama A&M - HPTC

5:00 p.m.
Southern vs. Alabama State

March 31st
9:00 a.m.
Alabama A&M vs. Grambling - GPTC
Prairie View vs. Southern - SUUC
Alabama State vs. Jackson State - HPTC
Mississippi Valley vs. U of Arkansas Pine Bluff - IPTC

2:00 p.m.
Alabama A&M vs Mississippi Valley - GPTC
Alcorn vs. Alabama State - IPTC
U of Arkansas Pine Bluff vs Prairie View - HPTC
Southern vs. Jackson State - SUUC

5:00 p.m.
Grambling vs. Alcorn - SUUC

Highland Park Tennis Center - HPTC
Independence Park Tennis Center - IPTC
Greenwood Park Tennis Center - GPTC
Southern University Univertsity Courts - SUUC

Courtesy: Britany Brown, Media Relations Student Assistant
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY & A&M COLLEGE
VISIT: GOJAGSPORTS.COM

Thursday, March 29, 2012

UMES earns trip to ninth straight NCAA Championship

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - The NCAA Women's Bowling Committee announced the eight-team field that will compete for the 2012 National Collegiate Women's Bowling Championship today. The field includes the 2011 NCAA Champions, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) who will make their ninth straight trip to the event.

"Now we have to work harder," said Interim Head Coach Kristina Frahm, who won a title as a player in 2008 and 2011. "It's always an honor to attend but we plan to do more than that, we plan on defending our championship."

The field is made up of eight at-large selections that include Central Missouri and Nebraska. The pair, along with UMES, are the only three teams in the nation to make each of the nine championships the NCAA has sponsored since 2004.

The other teams attending include Arkansas State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Sacred Heart, Valparaiso and Vanderbilt.

All of the National Champions to date are represented in the field.

Nebraska won back to back titles in 2004 and 2005 and again in 2009. FDU won in 2006 and 2010 with UMES winning in 2008 and 2011. Vanderbilt won the other title in 2007. The Hawks were runners up to Vandy in 2007, finished fifth in 2010 and seventh in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2009. UMES won last year when they rebounded from a two-games-to-one deficit to top Vanderbilt and capture the 2011 Championship at Skore Lanes in Taylor, Michigan.

UMES will bring a squad of eight bowlers to the event, four of which saw action in last season's win. Lone senior Paula Vilas (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) was excited by the news as the team watched the announcement at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center on campus today. "It feels really good, I am very excited, and I want to go out bowl well and defend our title, this is my final year and I want to go out on top," she said.

The Hawks bring four freshmen to Ohio for their first NCAA Championships. "I am so excited for my first NCAA Championship, this is a big reason I wanted to bowl here, to be the best," said one of those freshmen, Victoria Jones (Baltimore, Md.). "UMES is one of the best teams in the nation and that is what I expected, to have a chance to win an NCAA championship."
UMES is currently ranked fifth in the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) Coaches' and Media polls. This season the field represents the top eight teams in both polls.

The selection show aired on NCAA.com today at 4 p.m. ET and is archived for viewing.

Competition begins with qualifying rounds in which each team bowls one five-person regular team game against each of the other seven teams participating in the championship for a total of seven games. Teams will be seeded for bracket play based on their win-loss record during the qualifying rounds. Teams will then compete in best-of-seven-games Baker matches in a double elimination tournament. In the Baker format, each of the five team members, in order, bowls a complete frame until a complete 10-frame game is bowled.

A Baker match tied 3½ games to 3½ games after seven games will be decided by a tiebreaker using the Modified Baker format.

The Mid-American Conference and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission will host the championship, which will be held April 12-14 at Freeway Lanes in Wickliffe, Ohio, the nation's largest bowling center. Tickets can be purchased on ncaa.com/tickets prior to the championship.

Qualifying through semi-final rounds will be streamed live on NCAA.com. This year's championship finals will air on ESPNU at 8 p.m. ET Saturday, April 14. A replay of the championship finals will air on ESPN at 2:30 p.m. ET Sunday, April 15.

Portions of this release appear compliments of NCAA.com and UMESHawks.com.

Tennessee State Spring Football Update: A Look at the Offense

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State University football closed out the sixth day of practice on Wednesday evening.

The Tigers wrapped up a 20-plus period and turn its' focus to the second scrimmage of the season on Saturday. The scrimmage is slated for 11:15 a.m.

TSU host its' annual Spring Game inside Hale Stadium on Saturday, April 14 at 3:30 p.m. Prior to the current Tigers' spring contest, TSU alums will play against Vanderbilt alums in the annual Legends Game.

Watch the video below for a one-on-one interview with TSU offensive coordinator Mike Jones about the Big Blue's offensive progression this spring.



UPCOMING SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Friday, March 30 - 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 31 - 11:15 a.m.
Monday, April 2 - 4 p.m.
Wednesday, April 4 - 4 p.m.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Professor at Florida's FAMU suspended over hazing

Dr. JAMES H. AMMONS
PRESIDENT
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- A music professor at Florida A&M University, the school rocked by the hazing death of a marching band member last fall, has been suspended over allegations he joined in the ritualistic beating of fraternity pledges at his home, authorities said on Thursday.

FAMU said one other professor had been suspended along with saxophone teacher Diron Holloway due to the alleged hazing incident during a party at Holloway's off-campus residence in the spring of 2010.

The two were placed on administrative leave on Wednesday evening due to allegations contained in a newly released police report, an FAMU statement said. "This administrative action occurred due to 'allegations of misconduct and/or incompetence,'" the university said.

It said the matter was still under review and "the university will take appropriate action against faculty members or students, up to and including dismissals."

TPD Report on 2010 FAMU Hazing Incident

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Update: Ammons places band faculty members on administrative leave

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M University President James H. Ammons has placed two band faculty members on paid administrative leave following a Tallahassee Police Department investigation released today cited the professors as suspects in a reported 2010 off-campus hazing incident.

Diron T. Holloway, associate professor of music and director of clarinets and saxophones, and Anthony E. Simons III, assistant professor of music for euphonium and tuba, were put on leave because of “allegations of misconduct and/or incompetence involving reports and allegations of hazing within the Department of Music and the Marching ‘100.’”

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Family: We knew cousin's gun may have killed JSU student

JACKSON, Mississippi -- The grandmother of a slain Jackson State University freshman said Thursday her family wasn't surprised by the arrest of a cousin.

“We had assumed it might’ve been his gun that did it," Alma Henderson told the AJC by telephone from her home in Mississippi, saying the family knew the accused shooter had firearms and had brought two of them to a confrontation at an off-campus party.

Nolan "Ryan" Henderson, 19, of Stone Mountain, died early Sunday at the Palisades Apartments in Jackson, Miss., according to police. Late Wednesday, Jarrod Emerson, 25, of Jackson, was charged with murder in Ryan Henderson's death, the Jackson Police Department said.

According to investigators, Ryan Henderson was involved in a fight at the complex's swimming pool with several players from the JSU football team and was assaulted. The teen left the fight and called Emerson, his cousin, who was nearby, police said.

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B-CU defensive end Ryan Davis' stock rising for April's NFL draft

Ryan Davis
Tampa, Florida
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Two days before the University of Miami's pro day on March 8, Ryan Davis' agent called to tell him he had been invited to participate with the Hurricanes' prospects.

The former Bethune-Cookman defensive end had been immersed in the heaviest cycle of his weight-training regimen, and he wasn't in optimum shape to perform in front of scouts. But he wasn't going to miss that chance.

"My legs were still sore, but I knew it was a good opportunity," Davis said. "Those Miami guys are very good down there. I was paired with some of the top athletes in the country."

Since his eye-opening performance that day, Davis has been a rising NFL prospect who has a chance of getting drafted April 26-28. If he's not selected in the draft, he'll likely receive a free-agent offer with the chance of making an NFL roster next season.

"I've heard from scouts that he could be ...

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TSU Tennis host Western Kentucky Today

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State University men's and women's tennis team returns home to host Western Kentucky on Thursday afternoon at the TSU Tennis Complex. The Tigers and Hilltoppers square off in a 3 p.m. contest.

Last weekend, the Tigers (0-4, 0-4 OVC) fell in a pair of Ohio Valley Conference contests at SIUE and Eastern Illinois. This Saturday, the TSU men host Tennessee Tech, while the women take on Southeast Missouri. The women's netters also play UT Martin on Sunday.

Senior Lawrence Washington won his first match of the season defeating Eastern Illinois' Michael Sperry, 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 1 spot.

WKU's men (4-6) have not played in a contest in 20 days due to last week's match postponement with the Tigers. The Hilltoppers women (7-4) dropped 7-0 contest at Middle Tennessee on March 25.

Results of the match will be posted online at TSUTigers.com.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Report details 2010 faculty-involved FAMU hazing

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- A Tallahassee Police report on hazing made public today, detailing a 2010 Florida A&M University band fraternity incident involving two faculty members, sheds light on the difficulty of bringing such cases to prosecution.

Stalled reporting, lack of cooperation, insistence on anonymity, hesitation to press charges: those are just a few of the hurdles that plagued this investigation, eventually leading to its closure as the statute of limitations ran out.

Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott is now urging a FAMU task force charged with reviewing campus hazing policies to reverse a decision it made last week that would allow it to operate in private, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

The 2010 incident described in Wednesday’s report predated a hazing ritual that police said killed FAMU drum major Robert Champion last year, but was only reported to police after Champion’s death made headlines, according to the TPD report.

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U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush escorted from House floor for wearing hoodie in honor of Trayvon Martin

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush, of Illinois, was escorted off of the House floor on Wednesday after donning a hoodie and sunglasses in honor of slain teenager Trayvon Martin.

Rush, who began his remarks in a suit jacket and glasses, lamented the tragic death of 17-year-old Martin, who was killed last month by George Zimmerman, a volunteer member of a Sanford, Florida, neighborhood watch. Zimmerman, who has not been charged, claims he was defending himself.

Martin was unarmed and wearing a hoodie at the time of his death.



"Too often, this violent act that resulted in the murder of Trayvon Martin is repeated in the streets of our nation," Rush said in his statement. "I applaud the young people all across the land who are making a statement about hoodies, about the hoodlums in this nation, particularly those who tread on our laws wearing official or quasi-official clothes."

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Less-frantic start for Delaware State's Coach Blount

DOVER, Delaware -- Everything was a blur for Kermit Blount a year ago as he rushed to ready for his first spring football camp as Delaware State's head coach.  Blount was hired less than six weeks prior to the Hornets' 2011 spring drills. He and his newly hired staff had to get to know their players and their skill sets as well as implement new offensive and defensive schemes in rapid order.

This spring has been notably different for Blount, as his Hornets opened the first of 15 spring practice sessions at Alumni Stadium on a windswept Monday afternoon. Spring camp will culminate with the annual Red-White scrimmage on April 14.

"We're still behind with numbers," Blount said, since his first recruiting class at DSU won't arrive until the summer. "I won't catch up with numbers until August, but the feel is different. "I've got a really, really good feel now of what I've got and what we have to work on. I'm not working in the blind, so I feel real good about that." 

Blount said he expects more than 60 players to be working out by August.

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Discipline, toughness stressed as NCCU opens spring football

DURHAM, North Carolina — The bullhorn's back, and the N.C. Central Eagles are going to be in trouble if they can't show some discipline during spring practice.

Players not learning their playbooks, jumping offside, losing their cool, being late — and everything in between — won't cut it, second-year NCCU football coach Henry Frazier III said Tuesday after his team's first day of spring drills.

"If you can't do it when the pressure is not on, how can we trust you to do it in the fall?" Frazier said.

NCCU went 2-9 overall and 1-7 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference last season, and some of those defeats were close games the Eagles lost on account of a lack of discipline — that and just flat-out not being tough enough, Frazier said.

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2012 NCCU Football Schedule

Season tickets are on sale now for a discounted price of $99 for the first 500 sold. For details, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com or call the NCCU Ticket Office at (919) 530-5170.

TSU Flying Tigers Earn OVC Team Sportsmanship Award

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- On Tuesday the Ohio Valley Conference announced that Tennessee State University Flying Tigers were the recipients of the 2011-12 Team Sportsmanship Awards for indoor track & field.

Voted on by the student-athletes and coaches of the respective sports, the team awards are bestowed upon the Conference squads deemed to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA. Included in the areas for evaluation are the conduct of student-athletes, coaches, staff and administrators and fans.

"Without sportsmanship there are truly no meaningful victories," said Beth DeBauche, OVC Commissioner. "The recipients of the OVC Team Sportsmanship awards should accept this award with great pride for their fellow competitors have made it clear their teams exemplify the best in intercollegiate athletics. In receiving this prestigious honor other competitors are saying these student-athletes compete with class, respect their opponents and value fair play. That is quite a compliment as those are all traits that will lead to true victories throughout the course of life."

The 2011-12 school year marks the seventh year the team sportsmanship honors have been awarded, and sixth year the indoor track and field awards have been distributed. This marks the second indoor track and field sportsmanship award for the Flying Tigers.

TSU finished fourth at this year's OVC Indoor Track and Field Championship.

"We are excited to know that the men had won the sportsmanship award," said Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice, Tennessee State Director of Track and Field. "When we go out to the track, we want to perform well on the track as well as participate in good sportsmanship. I commend our young men on this great honor."

Jacksonville State finished third this season at the OVC Indoor Track and Field Championship.

Implemented in August 2005, the team honors are the most recent addition to an awards program that recognizes and celebrates sportsmanship within the Conference. In 1998, the league established the Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to a male or female student-athlete of junior or senior status who best exemplifies the characteristics of the late Morehead State student-athlete, coach and administrator. Five years later, the Conference added the OVC Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to the member institution selected by its peers to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA.

In 1995, the Ohio Valley Conference implemented a first-of-its-kind "Sportsmanship Statement," a policy promoting principles of fair play, ethical conduct and respect for one's opponent. The statement answered the challenge of the NCAA Presidents Commission to improve sportsmanship in collegiate athletics, and has become a model for others to follow across the nation.

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