TSU Golf places ninth at Grub Mart Intercollegiate

GLENCOE, Alabama -- The Tennessee State University men's golf team wrapped up action at the Grub Mart Intercollegiate on Tuesday afternoon, picking up a ninth place finish in the tournament.

Tennessee State recorded a team score of (+79) 943 after carding rounds of 316-309-318.

James Stepp posted his second top 10 finish of the season as he tied for seventh. Stepp opened with an 81 before registering his best score of the tournament (71) in round two. He carded a 3-over-par 75 in the third round to notch (+11) 227.

Ryan Pierson (T31) followed with 237 (78-78-81) while Tyler Hendrickson finished just one stroke behind Pierson with 238 (80-79-79).

Andrew Warner (79-82-83-244) and Dallas Hill (79-81-85-245) rounded out the scorers for TSU as they placed 42nd and 43rd, respectively.

Host Jacksonville State claimed the tournament title with a 33-over-897 while Eastern Kentucky finished second behind a score of (+45) 909. UT Martin also placed in the top three carding a final score of (+58) 922.

Next the Tigers will host the TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate, April 16-17, at the Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory, Tennessee.

FINAL RESULTS

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Iles chosen a BoxToRow.com second-team All-American

CHRIS ILES

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball standout Chris Iles collected another postseason honor when he was chosen to the BoxToRow.com Division II/NAIA HBCU All-America Team.

Iles, a 5-foot-11 senior point guard from Houston and a graduate of Alief Hastings High School, led the Gold Rush with 9.9 points per game, 4.0 assists per game, 55 made 3-pointers and a .433 3-point field-goal percentage. He ranked 14th in NAIA Division I in 3-point field-goal accuracy, and his percentage is the fifth best in a season in Xavier history.

Two XU teammates, junior forwards Denzell Erves of Vicksburg, Miss., and Anthony Simmons of Rochester, N.Y., received honorable mention. Simmons made the third team a year ago.

Iles, a two-year XU starter after transferring from Nicholls State, received NAIA Division I All-America honorable mention and was All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

The XU men finished 23-9, shared the GCAC regular-season championship, qualified for the second straight year for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship and ranked 24th in the postseason coaches poll.

From the Press Box to Press Row, a syndicated sports radio program, sponsors the team.

NOTES: The Gold Rush ranked sixth in the final BoxToRow.com Division II/NAIA poll . . . No XU players were chosen to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association's All-Louisiana team, but Dannton Jackson received five votes to tie for second place with Louisiana Tech's Michael White in balloting for Coach of the Year. Southern's Roman Banks won the award with 9½ votes . . . Senior forward Jamaan Kenner, Xavier's two-time Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete, will be featured in a taped interview on Ro Brown's Sport-a-Facts program between noon and 1 p.m. Friday on WBOK Radio (1230 AM) in New Orleans.

BoxToRow.com
Division II / NAIA HBCU All-America Team

First Team
Malik Alvin, Shaw
Darren Clark, Bowie State
Marcus Goode, Benedict
Travis Hyman, Bowie State
Tony Smith, Shaw

Second Team
Damion Harris, Virginia Union
Chris Iles, Xavier
Aaron McCuin, Paul Quinn
Marquise Mems, Tougaloo
Trevin Parks, Johnson C. Smith

Third Team
WyKevin Bazemore, Winston-Salem State
Ken Brown, Philander Smith
Joshua Eichelberger Tuskegee
Justin Glover, Winston-Salem State
Kenny Mitchell, Virginia State

Honorable Mention
Nate Barfield, Langston
Terrance Bowman, Claflin
Denzell Erves, Xavier
Denzel Mooney Lincoln (Pa.)
Andrae Nelson, Morehouse
Angelo Sharpless, Elizabeth City State
Anthony Simmons, Xavier
Calvin Thomas, Tuskegee
Byron Westmoreland, Bowie State
Devin White, SUNO

Player of the Year: Malik Alvin, Shaw
Coach of the Year: Cleo Hill Jr., Shaw

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 

Bethune-Cookman University's Jordan looking to expand role

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Last year, Bethune-Cookman running back Anthony Jordan showed flashes of what he can do. This season, Wildcats fans will likely get a chance to see the whole package.

"He's having a real good spring," B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said. "He's probably made bigger strides than anybody at his position."

B-CU Spring Game
WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday, April 21
WHERE: Municipal Stadium
ADMISSION: $5; $1 for students with ID; parking fee

Jordan was primarily the Wildcats' goal-line back in 2011, leading the team with nine touchdowns. But the 5-foot-11, 230-pound redshirt freshman also showed off some moves in the open field, highlighted by his 27-yard run against Miami in which he ran over safety Vaughn Telemaque on a first-and-23 to set up a first-quarter touchdown that put B-CU ahead 7-0.



"(My parents) called me (after the game)," Jordan said. "They were excited about it, so that made me excited."

Jordan had seven carries for 49 yards against the 'Canes. But in seven games, he carried the ball four times or less. He finished the year fifth on the team in rushing with 235 yards on 50 carries.

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CIAA tournament breaks more records in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The CIAA basketball tournament continues to grow in popularity, establishing new economic impact and attendance records in Charlotte.

According to the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority this year's conference tournament had an economic impact of $50.5 million over the seven-day period, a 14 percent increase from 2011. The overall attendance for official CIAA and uptown Charlotte functions increased to over 197,000 attendees.

“The CIAA cannot thank our alumni, students and fans enough for their unwavering support and role in making the 100th Anniversary Celebration a huge success,” stated Peggy Davis – Interim CIAA Commissioner. “The momentum generated from this year’s Tournament will be used to propel the CIAA into the future as we strive to continuously enhance the quality of our patron’s Tournament experience year-after-year.”

The CIAA has made Charlotte its home for the past seven years and has grown each year.

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Southern Jaguars, ULL Cajuns meet after successful weekends

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Fresh from a rare Monday practice at Lee-Hines Field, Roger Cador was in a great mood. In fact, the man was downright bubbly. He was chattier than usual, which in Cador’s case, is quite literally saying a lot.

He’d gotten a good bit of sleep since Saturday afternoon, when his Southern baseball team bounced back to complete a doubleheader sweep of Texas Southern, clinching the three-game weekend series. Cador was encouraged by what he saw from his players that day.

“I feel a lot better. You have to feel better when you look at what they were able to achieve,” Cador said. “They got more two-strike, two-out hits, which was something we had been preaching to them. We played some defense, and we got some very good pitching. “So when you put all that together, it’s wonderful.”

What could make him feel better? If the Jaguars keep it going, of course. At 6 p.m. Tuesday, they host Louisiana-Lafayette (15-16) at Lee-Hines Field, hoping to prove that they’re still capable of shaping up in time for a championship run.

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Chance to win lured former B-CU Weems to Chicago Bears

CHICAGO, Illinois - The national football pundits who’ve elevated the Bears in their offseason power rankings aren’t the only ones who envision a bright future for the team.

A main reason that wide receiver/kick returner Eric Weems signed with the Bears as a free agent March 14 was because he felt that they’re in position to contend for a championship.



“I was looking for a team with the best chance to win and I felt like this was the best place I could be,” said Weems, who spent his first five NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons from 2007-11.

Weems heard positive things about coach Lovie Smith and the situation in Chicago from Bears defensive end Chauncey Davis, a former teammate with the Falcons.

“He told me it’s a great coaching staff,” Weems said. “Guys want to come in and work for Lovie. He said guys work hard there. It’s all about business. It’s a football city, so you can’t come in and play around.”

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Alabama State football: Hornets offense jumps on defense in first scrimmage

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Alabama State reached the midway point of its spring workouts on Friday with a scrimmage highlighted by the offense.

The Hornets held their first of three scrimmages on Friday and the offense looked in midseason form, torching one of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s best defenses for seven touchdowns while committing just one turnover in an hour-long workout that covered 69 plays.

“I feel like we won the battle up front,” quarterback Greg Jenkins said, “and when you do that, everything else is like seven-on-seven out there.”

It often looked like a seven-on-seven drill for the senior quarterback, who completed 17 of 24 passes for 257 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His backup, Demetric Price, completed 5 of 8 passes for ...

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XU's Kenner receives $2,000 Pattison Family Scholarship

JAMAAN KENNER

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Jamaan Kenner is one of five NAIA men's basketball student-athletes to receive a $2,000 Pattison Champions of Character Scholarship for the 2011-12 season.

Kenner — 6-foot-4 senior guard from LaPlace, La., and a graduate of East St. John High School — also was named a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete for the second consecutive season.

Each of the 32 teams that qualified for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship nominated a player who best represents the five core values of the Champions of Character program: respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. Those student-athletes then were automatically considered for the Pattison scholarship.

The other scholarship recipients are Jake Greene of LSU-Shreveport, Maurice Rutherford of Rogers State, Brice Sharp of Lee (Tenn.) and Mico Sjekloca of Life.

This is the eighth year that longtime NAIA supporters Dr. Phil and Mary Pattison have awarded these scholarships. Xavier's Michael Varnado was a scholarship recipient in the 2004-05 season.

Minimum qualifications for Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete are junior academic status and a cumulative 3.5 grade-point average.

Kenner is a biology/pre-medical major with a 3.62 GPA and will graduate from Xavier on May 12. He has been accepted into the School of Medicine of LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport and Meharry Medical College of Nashville, Tenn.

Kenner, a four-year letterman, averaged 5.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 30 games and made 37-of-98 3-pointers this past season. The Gold Rush finished 23-9, earned a share of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship and were 24th in the NAIA postseason coaches poll.

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

Gold Rush add Tuesday dual at Tulane to the schedule

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has added to its men's tennis schedule a dual match against city rival Tulane.

The Gold Rush (12-6) and Green Wave (10-9) will play at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday (April 10) at Tulane's Goldring Tennis Center. It will be Xavier's fifth dual of the season against an NCAA Division I opponent.

Xavier lost its season opener 5-0 at Tulane on Jan. 28. The Gold Rush are ranked ninth in the NAIA.

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

Trayvon Martin: Police department shut down to public

SANFORD, Florida - Sanford officials have shut down the Sanford Police Department to the public today after Trayvon Martin protesters blocked the entrance into the building.  Moments later, Phillip Agnew and Stephen Green, leaders of the Dream Defenders, were called into the Police Department after Special Prosecutor Angela Corey asked to speak with them over the phone.

Green, 19, of Orlando, exited police headquarters, saying Corey, state attorney in Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, told protest leaders the process was continuing.

Earlier today, Corey announced there would be no grand jury in the case.

City Manager Norton Bonaparte, Jr. said the demonstration had forced him to shut down police headquarters.

VIDEO

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Trayvon Martin: No grand jury in case

SANFORD, Floroda - The special prosecutor assigned to the Trayvon Martin shooting investigation now says she will not take the case before a grand jury tomorrow, as had been scheduled.

Angela Corey, special prosecutor in the case and state attorney for Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, said Monday that her investigation will continue, but the grand jury will not hear the case. Corey stressed in a statement that the decision to forego the scheduled grand jury proceedings did not reflect whether or not there will ultimately be a prosecution in the case.

In lieu of a grand jury, Corey's office can choose on its own whether or not to charge George Zimmerman with a crime in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon on Feb. 26.

"The decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case," Corey's office said in a statement. Gov. Rick Scott appointed Corey as special prosecutor March 22.

"At this time, the investigation continues and there will be no further comment," the statement says. "From the moment she was assigned, Ms. Corey noted she may not need a Grand Jury."

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Trayvon Martin killing: UNITED NATIONS human rights chief calls for investigation

UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay has called for an "immediate investigation" into the circumstances surrounding the death of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teen who was shot dead by a volunteer neighbourhood watchman in Florida.

Ms Pillay made the comments about the controversial case at a press conference in Barbados, as she wrapped up a three-day visit to the Caribbean island nation.

"As High Commissioner for Human Rights, I call for an immediate investigation," she said.

"Justice must be done for the victim. It's not just this individual case. It calls into question the delivery of justice in all situations like this."

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Student marchers arrive in Sanford, call for action in Trayvon Martin case

SANFORD, Florida - In front of dozens of college students packed into a church sanctuary Sunday night, Sanford City Commissioner Velma Williams said she believes the majority of the city's police officers are good people.

However, "there is a cancer within the department that must be eradicated," Williams said as many in the crowded church stood and cheered.

Williams made the comments at a rally at the Allen Chapel AME Church put together by the Dream Defenders, a group of student leaders and others who had just completed a three-day, 40-mile march from Daytona Beach to Sanford as an effort to inspire youth to talk about the issues surrounding the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

While the rally included music, students loudly spoke out against the police department's handling of the investigation and for not arresting shooter George Zimmerman. A special prosecutor is now investigating.

Phillip Agnew, a Florida A&M University alumnus who took part in the march, angrily asked: "Why hasn't there been an arrest?"  He then encouraged the students to continue speaking out about the Trayvon shooting long after Sunday's event.

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SU's Pete Richardson, GSU's Aaron James headed for Induction with 2012 Class, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame

2012 LOUISIANA SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CELEBRATION: THURSDAY, JUNE 21 - SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS

NATCHITOCHES, Louisiana – Five football standouts, led by star NFL running backs Deuce McAllister of the New Orleans Saints and Baton Rouge native Warrick Dunn, are among the eight 2012 inductees who will enter the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Another remarkable running back, LSU great Terry Robiskie, joins Louisiana Tech pass catching sensation Roger Carr and highly-successful former Southern University head coach Pete Richardson in the five-man football component going into the Hall this summer.

COACH PETE RICHARDSON
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY JAGUARS
Click here for the inductee bios

Three-time Grambling basketball All-American Aaron James, a New Orleans native, joins LSU baseball stalwart Eddy Furniss and nationally-acclaimed jockey Mark Guidry, a Lafayette native, in the Hall’s 2012 induction class.

Their selection was announced late Saturday. They will be officially enshrined Saturday, June 23, 2012 in Natchitoches to culminate the June 21-23 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration.

A 30-member Louisiana Sports Writers Association committee selected the 2012 inductees. The panel considered a record 142 nominees from 24 different sport categories on a 25-page ballot, said Hall of Fame chairman Doug Ireland.

Richardson defined Southern University football from his arrival in 1993 to 2009, winning five Southwestern Athletic Conference titles, including a three-peat from 1997-99 (the school’s first consecutive SWAC titles since 1959-60), four black college national titles (1993, 1995, 1997 and 2003) and four Heritage Bowl titles. Richardson was 12-5 in the Bayou Classic and is the only SWAC coach never to have lost to Eddie Robinson.

His winning percentage of 68.4 percent in 17 seasons (134-62) at the school is second behind only College Football Hall of Fame coach Ace Mumford’s 70.4 percent (176-60-14). Prior to his arrival, Southern had last won the SWAC in 1975 and 1966. The program had four different head coaches in the 1970s and four between 1981 and 1992.

Richardson took over a program that had three straight losing seasons and guided it to an 11-1 record, winning the SWAC and black college national titles. At SU, Richardson had four 11-win seasons -- including a 12-1 run in 2003.

AARON JAMES
GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY
TIGERS
Click here for the inductee bios

A three-time All-American at Grambling after a prep All-America career at New Orleans’ Cohen High School, James played five seasons with the expansion New Orleans Jazz, who took him as their first-ever draft pick in the second round of the 1974 draft. Nicknamed “A.J. from the Parking Lot” for his long-range jump shots, he averaged 10.8 points and 4.1 rebounds and had 370 assists in 356 NBA games, then starred for five seasons in Italy and three in the Philippines.

The 6-foot-8 James excelled for legendary Grambling coach Fred Hobdy. James was the SWAC Freshman of the Year in 1970-71, a three-time All-Southwestern Athletic Conference pick and the league’s MVP as a senior in 973-74. He was a second-team small college All-American as a sophomore and junior and a first-teamer as a senior when he led the nation in scoring with a 32.1 average. For his college career, he averaged 22.2 points and 10.9 rebounds in 106 games, helping Grambling claim two SWAC titles and one NAIA District Championship.

Click here for the inductee bios

READ MORE AT LSHALL.COM

VISIT: THE LOUISIANA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
VISIT: THE LOUISIANA SPORTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION

Roman Banks named LSWA Coach of the Year

HAMMOND, Louisiana - Southern University head coach Roman Banks was named the Louisiana Men's Basketball Coach-of-the-Year after guiding the Jaguars to a 17-win season and a second-place finish in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association announced Saturday.

McNeese State University standout Patrick Richard was selected as the Louisiana Men's Basketball Player of the Year. LSU's Justin Hamilton was selected as the state's Newcomer-of-the-Year and Tulane's Ricky Tarrant was chosen as the Freshman-of-the-Year. The All-Louisiana Team is voted on by media members throughout the state of Louisiana and the nominating schools' sports information directors.

PHOTO COURTESY: THE SOUTHERN DIGEST.COM

Banks, who spent the previous eight seasons as an assistant at Southeastern Louisiana and was an assistant at Southern from 1996-2002, took over a Southern program that had recorded a combined 15 wins the previous three years.

Taking over a team that was picked to finish 10th in the league's preseason poll, Banks led Southern to a 17-14 record. The Jaguars led the SWAC in field goal percentage defense holding opponents to 38.7 percent from the floor while finishing second in the league in scoring defense allowing 63.9 points per game.

Richard, a Carencro native and the lone player from 2011 to repeat as a first-team member, led the Southland Conference in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game while grabbing 6.4 rebounds. The 6-foot-4 senior averaged 19.1 points per game in Southland Conference contests, where he was chosen as the league's Player of the Year. Richard, who finished as the Cowboys' 12th-leading scorer in school history with 1,625 points, joined a group of six players to lead his team in scoring for three years.

Hamilton, a transfer from Iowa State, helped LSU return to the postseason for the first time since 2009 after he averaged 12.9 points and 7.2 rebounds - both team bests. The seven-footer earned Second-Team All-SEC honors and recorded four double-doubles, highlighted by a 23-point, 16-rebound performance against Ole Miss in the league opener.

Tarrant, the Conference USA Freshman-of-the-Year, led the Green Wave in scoring as he reached the 20-point mark in nine games during the season. The 6-1 guard earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors and was second among all players in league games averaging 18.2 points per game. He scored in double figures in 15 of Tulane's 16 league games, paced by 33-point performances against SMU and UAB.

Richard, Hamilton and Tarrant were joined on the first team by Northwestern State's William Mosley and Quincy Roberts of Grambling.

Mosley, a Shreveport native, capped off a stellar career for Northwestern State as he finished fifth in NCAA history with 460 blocks. The 6-7 post player blocked 4.1 shots per game for the Demons, finishing second in the nation behind Kentucky's Anthony Davis. Mosley finished second on the team in scoring at 11.7 points per game and led the Southland Conference with 9.6 rebounds.

Roberts, a 6-5 guard, averaged 23.9 points (would have finished third among Division I players in 2011-12) in 20 games in his first season for Grambling State after transferring from St. John's. Named the SWAC Newcomer-of-the-Year and a first-team All-SWAC selection, Roberts scored 20 or more points 14 times on the season with a season-high 34 coming against Prairie View.

Leading the second team was Derrick Parker of LSU-Shreveport, who averaged 19.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. He was joined by Louisiana Tech's Raheem Appleby (13.9 ppg., 2.4 rpg.), Corey Gray of Loyola (17.7 ppg., 4.3 rpg.), Centenary's Maxx Nakwaasah (25.4 ppg., 8.6 rpg.) and Josh Brown of Louisiana-Lafayette (10.4 ppg., 6.4 rpg.).

LSU freshman Anthony Hickey (8.9 ppg., 3.8 assists) paced the third-team and was joined by Nicholls State's Trevon Lewis (12.6 ppg., 5.1 rpg.), Lovell Cook of UNO (14.0 ppg., 5.1 rpg.), Roosevelt Johnson of Southeastern Louisiana (11.5 ppg., 7.9 rpg.) and Tulane's Josh Davis (11.2 ppg., 9.3 rpg.).

2012 ALL-LOUISIANA MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM
Patrick Richard, McNeese State, F, Sr., Carencro, La. - 17.9 ppg., 6.4 rpg.
William Mosley, Northwestern State, C, Sr., Shreveport, La. - 11.7 ppg., 9.6 rpg., 4.1 blks
Justin Hamilton, LSU, C, Jr., Alpine, Utah - 12.9 ppg., 7.2 rpg., 1.3 blocks
Quincy Roberts, Grambling, G, Jr., Harrisburg, Pa. - 23.9 ppg., 6.0 rpg.
Ricky Tarrant, Tulane, G, Fr., Pleasant Grove, Ala. - 14.9 ppg., 3.6 rpg.

SECOND TEAM
Derrick Parker, LSU-Shreveport, F, Sr., Minden, La. - 19.4 ppg., 11.3 rpg.
Raheem Appleby, Louisiana Tech, G, Fr., Jacksonville, Ark. - 13.9 ppg., 2.4 rpg., 1.2 assists
Corey Gray, Loyola, G, Sr., Green, Ind. - 17.7 ppg., 4.3 rpg., 2.1 steals

Maxx Nakwaasah, Centenary, G, Sr., Dallas, Texas - 25.4 ppg., 8.6 rpg.

Josh Brown, Louisiana-Lafayette, G, Sr., Ruston, La. - 10.4 ppg., 6.4 rpg.

THIRD TEAM
Anthony Hickey, LSU, G, Fr., Hopkinsville, Ky. - 8.9 ppg., 3.6 rpg., 3.8 assists
Trevon Lewis, Nicholls State, F, Fr., Houma, La. - 12.6 ppg., 5.1 rpg.
Lovell Cook, New Orleans, F, Jr., New Orleans, La. - 14.0 ppg., 5.1 rpg.
Roosevelt Johnson, Southeastern Louisiana, F, Jr., Norco, La. - 11.5 ppg., 7.9 rpg.
Josh Davis, Tulane, F, Soph., Raleigh, N.C. - 11.2 ppg., 9.3 rpg.

HONORABLE MENTION
Quinton Doggett, Southern; Greg Shyne, LSU-Shreveport; Shamir Davis, Northwestern State; Robert Lovaglio, Loyola; Andre Stringer, LSU.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:Voting:

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:Voting:
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:Voting:
COACH OF THE YEAR:Voting:
Banks, Southern (9.5); Michael White, Louisiana Tech (5); Dannton Jackson, Xavier (5); Mark Slessinger, New Orleans (3.5); Chad McDowell, LSU-S (3); Michael Giorlando, Loyola (3); Dave Simmons, McNeese State (1 - write-in); no vote (1). Roman Banks, Southern Tarrant, Tulane (17); Raheem Appleby, Louisiana Tech (6); Anthony Hickey (4); Trevon Lewis, Nicholls State (4). Ricky Tarrant, Tulane Hamilton, LSU (13); Quincy Roberts, Grambling (11); Lovell Cook, New Orleans (5); Josh Davis, Tulane (1); Trevor Gaskins, Louisiana Tech (1). Justin Hamilton, LSU Richard, McNeese State (17); William Mosley, Northwestern State (6); Derrick Parker, LSU-S (4); Quincy Roberts, Grambling (3); Justin Hamilton, LSU (1). Patrick Richard, McNeese State.

COURTESY:  LOUISIANA SPORTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION PRESS RELEASE

DSU Hornets complete season sweep of Norfolk State Spartans

DOVER, Delaware - Delaware State scored in all but one inning in an 11-1 win over Norfolk State in a MEAC North contest at Soldier Field this afternoon. The game was called after the Hornets scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning due to the 10-run rule.

DSU completed a six-game season sweep of the Spartans to improve to 18-13-1 overall. The Hornets lead the MEAC North with an 8-1 mark. Norfolk State dropped its seventh straight game to fall to 8-19 and 5-6.

Tony Gatto drove in three runs, while Cameron Cecil, Ryan Haas and JP Frey had two hits each to lead the Hornets' 12-hit attack. DSU also scored two runs on Norfolk State errors and another on a wild pitch.

Norfolk State scored first with a run in the top of the second inning. The Hornets answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Haas doubled to lead off the inning, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a walk to Eddie Sorondo, Frey singled up the middle to score Haas with the tying run.

DSU scored five times in the third to pull ahead. Cecil was hit by a pitch with one out to begin the rally. He moved to third on a single by Haas, and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Hornets a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Aaron Nardone was walked with the bases loaded and Gatto followed with a two-run single to stretch Delaware State's lead to 5-1. Joey Babuca put the Hornets ahead 6-1 when he executed a suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Nardone with the final run of the inning. .

Sorondo singled in a run in the fourth and Scott Davis had a run-scoring double in the fifth to stretch DSU's lead to 8-1.

The Hornets opened up a 10-1 lead with two runs in the sixth. Sorondo was walked to lead off the inning. He was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Frey and reached third on a Nardone single. Nardone stole second and Sorondo scored on an error by Norfolk State catcher Chris Warren on the throw to second. DSU scored its second run in the sixth when Gatto drove in his third run of the game on a sacrifice fly.

Delaware State ended the game with a run in the seventh. Davis drew a one out walk and moved to second when Cecil was hit by a pitch. Haas followed with a sharp grounder to first. Norfolk State first baseman Ross Cardwell fielded the ball, but his throw to second was wild, allowing Davis to score the game ending run.

Starter Zach Adkins (3-1) threw six innings to pick up the win for the Hornets. He allowed three hits and one run, while striking out three.

Delaware State returns to action on Wednesday (Apr. 11) at Towson. Game time is 3:00 p.m. in Towson, Maryland.

GAME STATS

B-CU baseball team routs Savannah State

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Ali Simpson pitched for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery a year ago. The lefty started and went two innings, allowing one hit and no runs, striking out two and walking two in Bethune-Cookman's 10-1 win over Savannah State (11-21, 5-7 MEAC) on Sunday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark to complete a three-game sweep over the Tigers.

"It was an awesome feeling just to be able to pitch again," Simpson said. "I think my arm has gotten stronger from the rehab and everything that we've done, so I was really happy with that."

Brandon Turner went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored to lead Bethune-Cookman (19-13, 9-3). B-CU's Alejandro Sanchez also drove in three runs and finished 2-for-5 in the game. Anthony Stokes went 2-for-4 and homered for the Wildcats.

Bryan Rivera picked up ...

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Stillman softball pounds LeMoyne-Owen

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- The Stillman Lady Tigers sit atop of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Western Division after sweeping two doubleheaders from LeMoyne-Owen over the weekend. The Tigers roared out of an offensive slump and and 16-1 and 22-2 on Saturday, then 16-2 and 29-4 on Sunday.

Stillman (27-10, 20-2 SIAC) hosts Kentucky State, currently in second place in the SIAC West, this weekend to end the regular season.

“We had been in a bit of a slump over the past six games, but I am proud of how we went to work and blasted out of it,” Stillman coach Pam Phillips said. “We were patient and selective at the plate, and the results were positive. We really hit well, we stayed aggressive on the base paths, and we had a very productive weekend offensively.”

Stillman pitchers Brittany ...

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FAMU band halftime shows should be on hold until arrest in hazing death

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M University band should not take the field for a halftime show until an arrest has been made in the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion and school officials can make a convincing case that hazing no longer will permeate the Marching 100's mind-set.

It's a tall order, and the university does not control the Orange County law enforcement officials investigating the case, but how can the band strut its stuff while Champion's death remains unsolved? What message does that send?

It could be argued that suspending halftime shows punishes the many for the actions of only a few, but it's about respecting Champion's death and family — not being punitive.



Even if officials meet those standards, I can't envision the kind of rollicking halftime show I've loved all my life. Not this season. Wouldn't it have to be a more subdued presentation? …

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FAMU passes stricter hazing rules — lack of charges frustrates Champion's mom

The Scales of Justice for Drum Major
Robert Champion awaits decision
by Florida's Ninth Circuit State
Attorney's Office.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Trustees at Florida A&M University on Thursday adopted a new rule requiring virtually all who have a relationship with the school — students, employees, volunteers and even vendors — to report any hazing activity they learn about to campus police within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the mother of FAMU drum major Robert Champion, who died after a hazing in Orlando in November, expressed frustration that no one has been charged.

Last week, law-enforcement officials forwarded their investigation into Champion's beating death to the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office. But prosecutors have not decided how to proceed with the case — a tough case made more complicated because of the large number of people who likely were involved.

Pam Champion is pleading for answers. "What I'm looking for is to get some answers — to know what they're going to do," she said. "We've been very patient, to let the system just work out. It would be nice to get some answers."

As the State Attorney's Office continues reviewing the nearly 5-month-old case, FAMU leaders are ...

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Fired VUU coach plays hardball

MICHAEL BAILEY
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR/HEAD
FOOTBALL COACH
VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY

RICHMOND, Virginia - March 2011 was good for almost everyone in the local college basketball world.

But while Shaka Smart, Chris Mooney and their teams at VCU and the University of Richmond grabbed headlines as dueling Cinderellas, Willard Coker made news of a different sort.

Coker was fired as head coach of Virginia Union University men’s basketball team last year during March Madness, and now he has sued VUU for defamation and millions of dollars in damages.

The suit alleges that VUU Athletic Director Michael Bailey knew his statements to the press about Coker’s dismissal being tied to supposed recruiting issues were false when Bailey announced the hiring of Coker’s replacement at a news conference.

“The bottom line is we think Virginia Union went out of its way to throw Willard under the bus when they hired their new coach,” said Richard Hawkins, Coker’s attorney.

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Note: Why is Michael Bailey still the head football coach at VUU?  He has a career record of 14-16 (.466) over the past three seasons. With season records of 6-4, 3-7 and 5-5, athletic director Bailey should fire head football coach Bailey.

Willard Coker was fired with a 55-25 (.687) career record over three seasons.  In his first season, he lead the Panthers to a 21-7 (16-4 CIAA) record and a NCAA Division II Tournament Championship berth where they were defeated in the first round by Indiana of Pennsylvania 69-63. Coker also was defeated in the 2009 CIAA Tournament Championship game by Johnson C. Smith University, 70-63.

The Panthers bounced back with a 19-9, 12-4 CIAA record in 2009/10, but lost to Shaw University 76-70 in the 2010 CIAA Tournament.  Coker's contract was not renewed after a 15-9, 12-5 CIAA record in 2010/11, and a 2011 CIAA Tournament defeat to Livingstone College, 59-58.

As an assistant coach, Coker helped guide the Panthers to 2 National Championships, 19 NCAA Tournament Appearances and 10 CIAA Championships.  He served 23 years as an assistant coach to VUU's legendary head men's basketball coach Dave Robbins. 

Coach Robbins ended his 30 season career with a record of 713-194 (.786), including three NCAA Division II National Championships (1980, 1992, 2005); 21 NCAA Tournament Appearances; 14 CIAA Championships; 4 NCAA Division II Player of the Year; 5 NBA Stars -- Ben Wallace, Charles Oakley, Terry Davis, A.J. English and Jamie Waller.

Coach Robbins will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, November 18, 2012 at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City.

As a VUU player, Coker was a 4-year letter winner, capturing 2 CIAA Championships, 1 Regional Championship and 1 NCAA Division II National Championship.  Coker also won the 1975 North Carolina 4-A State Championship during his senior year in high school.

Coach Coker was replaced by his assistant coach, 30-year old Luqman Jaaber, that had two years total of coaching experience.  Jaaber ended his first season with a 15-14, 10-6 CIAA record.  The Richmond native started three seasons for the Panthers, winning the 2005 Division II National Championship and serving as team captain.  Jaaber is also a two-time CIAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The $2.35 million dollar question is why 53 year-old Coach Coker has been unable to continue his coaching career with a strong resume' and proven accomplishments with a hall of fame, legendary head coach Dave Robbins as a reference?  Published articles have previously stated:

 "Coker, has long been Robbins' choice to succeed him at one of the country's most successful Division II programs.  Coker was the only coach Robbins recommended to VUU athletic director Michael Bailey." "I couldn't have hand-picked a better person than Willard Coker," Robbins said.

Something is not right with this scenario... and unfortunately, a Court may have to resolve this matter.

-beepbeep

Spring Football Update: TSU Takes in Final Scrimmage

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State University football closed out its final scrimmage of spring on a beautiful Saturday morning. The Tigers shift to the final week of spring activity before culminating with the annual Blue-White spring game on Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers held out a few players in order to get healthy for next weekend's spring game. Coach Rod Reed saw some sluggish performances on Saturday, but is optimistic the Tigers will come out strong next weekend.

Watch his comments about Saturday's scrimmage:



TSU returns to the practice field next Monday, Wednesday and Friday with 4pm scheduled practices.

On Friday, April 13 the Tennessee State hosts the annual Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Celebrity Slam Jam. Tickets are $15 in advance for adults and $10 for children. They can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or by calling the TSU Ticket Office at 615-963-5841.

Spring game festivities begin with the Legends Game against Vanderbilt at 1 p.m. inside Hale Stadium. At the conclusion of that inaugural event, the Tigers host the Blue-White Spring Game at 3:30 p.m. National radio pundit Donal Ware and Boxtorow will broadcast live from Hale Stadium and will talk to numerous guests during the show. Admission to Saturday's events is free.

UPCOMING SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Monday, April 9 - 4 p.m.
Wednesday, April 11 - 4 p.m.
Friday, April 13 - 4 p.m.

UPCOMING TSU FOOTBALL EVENTS:
Celebrity Slam Jam - Friday, April 13 - 4 p.m. (Gentry Center)
TSU vs. Vanderbilt Legends Game - Saturday, April 14 - 1 p.m. (Hale Stadium)
Annual Blue-White Spring Game - Saturday, April 14 - 3:30 p.m. (Hale Stadium)

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NSU lineman finally getting chance to turn heads

CAMERON L. JUDE
DL 6-4/290
REDSHIRT SENIOR
HOMETOWN: RICHMOND, VA
TRANSFER: MICHIGAN STATE
MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL

NORFOLK, Virginia - Cameron Jude will be worth the wait.

The Norfolk State defensive lineman, who transferred from Michigan State but was ineligible last season because some credits didn't transfer, was the star of the Spartans' scrimmage on Friday afternoon.

Jude's status was up in the air until the middle of last season, and his unexpected absence left NSU woefully short on defensive line depth.

During practice on Friday, when the Spartans ran about 70 plays, he had three sacks. Jude will have only one year as a Spartan, but seems poised to make it count.

"He's as good as I've seen in a while," coach Pete Adrian said. "The only question now is can he carry that over into a game."

Perhaps the most impressive part of Jude's spring success is he hasn't played in a game in four years. "He's looked real good," Adrian said.

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Spring Football Update No. 1: Adrian Pleased with Team's Intensity

NORFOLK, Virginia — After seven of the team’s allotted 15 spring practice sessions, one thing is clear to Norfolk State head football coach Pete Adrian: the 83 players participating in spring drills aren’t content with their accomplishments from the 2011 MEAC championship season. They have been eager to start laying the foundation for a successful 2012 year.

“The thing that has pleased me most so far is just the intensity of our team on both sides of the ball,” Adrian said. “Our kids are practicing really hard and practicing well from the start of the spring.”

Adrian said the emphasis of the first week and a half of spring practice was to fine-tune fundamentals and knock the rust off individual skills which haven’t been drilled since November. Adrian also said that the three-plus weeks of spring practice will also be key for his team this year on both sides of the ball. Though the Spartans return starters at nine of 11 positions on offense, the team is learning a new scheme employed by new offensive coordinator Howard Feggins, who assumes play-calling duties after coaching the team’s wideouts last fall.

Defensively, the Spartans lost seven seniors from the MEAC’s top-rated defense and are incorporating four mid-year enrollees, three of whom originally signed with BCS conference schools.

“Offensively, we’ve been working on multiple formations, playing with more two-back sets in the backfield, and changing to different formations with the same personnel group,” Adrian said. “Defensively, we are trying to make sure the new players are comfortable with our base defense and know what adjustments to make in game situations.”

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SU Jaguars strand 12 runners, fall 5-3 to Texas Southern Tigers

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Southern head coach Roger Cador glanced at the postgame boxscore and found the one stat certain to doom even the most talented baseball squads.

"We just left to many men on base," said Cador. "We left 12 men on (base), (Texas Southern) left four. That's way too many."

Despite belting out eleven hits, including Demario Ellis' 3-hit outing, Southern stranded 12 baserunners and struck out 13 times in a 5-3 loss to Texas Southern Friday night at Lee-Hines Field.

"We had our opportunities with runners on base and we had several opportunities with less than two outs with runners on third and we didn't get them in once," said Cador.

Friday's loss marked the third time this season, Southern (15-14, 6-7) has dropped the opening game in a conference series. Ellis finished 3-for-4 with one RBI. Stephen Wallace and Cameron McGriff each added one RBI apiece.

"The one thing I told (the team), 'Forget about March in Houston,'" said Cador, referring to the Jaguars 3-game sweep of the Tigers during the opening weekend of SWAC play.

Texas Southern (15-14, 4-8) quickly erased the notion of another sweep, sprinting out to a 3-0 lead. Starting pitcher Robert Pearson held Southern at bay, pitching 5.2 innings and striking out 9 batters.

For the first three innings, Pearson retired seven batters, including four straight.

"Against the pitching we faced, the kinds of swings (we) were trying to take, the result is not going to be successful," said Cador. "We just refuse to make the necessary adjustments that it was going to take to beat that pitching tonight."

Southern will look to avoid losing its third SWAC home series of the season Saturday in a doubleheader against Texas Southern at Lee-Hines Field. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

Final Stats

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

TSU's Cooper Accepts Head Coaching Job at Miami (Ohio)

TERESA LAWRENCE PHILLIPS
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State University Athletic Director Teresa Phillips announced Friday that men's basketball coach John Cooper has accepted the head coaching position at Miami University (Ohio).

"Coach Cooper came to Tennessee State at a time when our men's basketball program needed a bolt of energy," said Phillips. "He has been a breath of fresh air with his direction and vision of our program. We are much better off after having him here for three years. We wish Coach Cooper much success as he continues his career at Miami (Ohio)."

Coach Cooper spent three seasons at Tennessee State, helping the Tigers to a 20-13 record in 2011-12. Cooper was a finalist for four coach of the year awards: Hugh Durham Award, Ben Jobe Award, Jim Phelan and the John McLendon Award.

The Tigers knocked off No. 7 Murray State earlier this year and defeated a SEC opponent for the first time in school history. The Tigers also recorded 20 wins for the first time in 32 years and made a postseason appearance (CIT) for the first time since 1994-95.

TSU will begin a search for a new head coach immediately.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Stillman coach is watching for signs of improvement

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama | Head coach Teddy Keaton and his staff produced a winner in their first season with the Stillman College football team.

The Tigers finished at 7-4 overall, 5-2 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Stillman was a contender in the West Division until it lost to Miles (9-7) on Oct. 27. The season ended with a loss to Concordia (12-7).

Keaton and his assistants were able to stress winning when they recruited in the winter, and help is on the way. But Keaton said spring training offered an opportunity for the current players to improve.

Keaton will be watching for signs of progress in today’s spring game, which pits the defense against the offense in a controlled scrimmage. Dedrick Dodge, the defensive coordinator, will direct the defensive unit. Offensive coordinator James Johnson will be in charge of the offense.

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Howard University reinstates all student athletes

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  An unusual week for Howard University athletics concluded Friday when the school reinstated all of the student-athletes it had ruled ineligible a week earlier. The school said in a press release that all of its five spring sports teams would “compete as scheduled for the remainder of the season.”

Despite the reinstatements, Howard’s internal investigation, which is a review of the entire athletic department, remains ongoing, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity. On Thursday, a school spokesman said Howard recently self-reported violations to the NCAA.

Howard had suspended intercollegiate activity for its spring sports March 30, when a number of student-athletes competing in those sports were ruled ineligible as a result of the school’s internal investigation. Howard canceled several sporting contests in the following days as it worked to reinstate those student-athletes.

On Wednesday — the day the school’s decision to suspend its spring sports became public — a Howard softball player said the school was investigating the practice by which some of its student-athletes acquired their textbooks. The student said some athletes apparently were pocketing the difference between the cost of their textbooks and their textbook allowance.

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Colts’ Pro Bowl Safety Antoine Bethea Encourages Higher Education through Free College Tour for Hometown Students

NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia -- Elite NFL safety, Antoine Bethea will give Newport News Public School students the opportunity to experience college life for a day. The 2nd Annual Antoine Bethea Safe Coverage Foundation Free College Tour will visit the campuses of the prestigious Georgetown and Howard Universities.

The Newport News native started the tour in 2010 with his former high school counselor, Eric Hairston at his alma mater, Denbigh High School for a group of 20 students. The success of that initial tour is apparent as this year’s participation has more than doubled, and the overwhelming response from students at schools throughout NNPS system.

The proud Howard University alum consistently champions education and accessibility through his Safe Coverage Foundation. He started his foundation to encourage youth to strive for their dreams and broaden their horizons. The college tour is the cornerstone of SCF and truly embodies Antoine’s mission.

“My parents instilled an understanding of the importance of education in me,” says Bethea. “My time at Howard further solidified that and was really the spark that motivated me to start the tour. I’m grateful that I’m in a position where I can put actions behind my words. This tour is truly about inspiring these students to dream bigger, because there is no limit to what you can accomplish if you work hard.”



The tour, which is sponsored in part by Williamsburg-based, Oleta Coach Lines will begin at Georgetown University’s undergraduate campus. From there the group will go to Howard University for a tour and lunch in the campus dining hall. The trip will conclude with a visit to some of the Capital’s great monuments and dinner in Fredericksburg, VA, before returning to Newport News.

The college tour kicks off the busy season for Bethea’s Safe Coverage Foundation. Upcoming events include free football camps in Newport News, Washington, D.C. and Indianapolis throughout the summer. SCF is also gearing up for its official East Coast launch with a fundraising mixer in D.C. to support its scholarship program.

About Antoine Bethea: Bethea is a two-time pro-bowler and has made two trips to the Super Bowl. He has developed a reputation as one of the top tacklers in the NFL and was selected to the 2010 USA Football/NFLPA All-Fundamentals Team.

About Safe Coverage Foundation: The Antoine Bethea Safe Coverage Foundation is committed to providing access and resources for students to achieve their dreams of a higher education. The Safe Coverage Foundation believes that by providing exposure to opportunities, enrichment experiences and the tools needed to succeed, SCF can change communities, one student at a time.

From Press Release - Katrina Leonce, Dow Lohnes Sports & Entertainment