Standout DE Jackson leaves Texas Southern program

HOUSTON, Texas - All-SWAC defensive end Marquis Jackson has been granted his release from Texas Southern University's football program. Houston, TX (Sports Network) - All-SWAC defensive end Marquis Jackson has been granted his release from Texas Southern University's football program.

Jackson, from Northridge, California, requested the release heading into his redshirt senior season.

The 6-foot-5, 275-pound standout earned All-SWAC first-team honors in each of the past two seasons. Last season, Jackson had 50 tackles and six sacks while also ranking sixth in the conference with 18.5 tackles for loss.

TSU, which finished 4-7 last season...

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Southern Jaguars cancel LSU-E games

NEW ORLEANS - The Southern baseball team has canceled the final two games of its exhibition series at Lee-Hines Field, coach Roger Cador said.

The Jaguars lost a 9-6 exhibition Thursday. They were scheduled to play the Bengals again Friday and Saturday, but had to wipe out the games because of the weather.

Southern was hit by rain Friday morning and afternoon. Typically, the infield at Lee-Hines would’ve been covered by tarp, but the infield was re-sodded earlier this month. The new sod needed rain, Cador said, but also could’ve been damage if it had been covered by the tarp.

Southern wants the field in the best possible condition for next week’s Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.

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NEW ORLEANS - Listen to an exclusive audio replay of Southern University head baseball coach Roger Cador on Inside the SU System hosted by Robyn Merrick.

Cador and the Southern Jaguars, who won the SWAC Western Division title after sweeping UAPB, are preparing for the 2012 SWAC Baseball Tournament in Baton Rouge, La. May 16-20. The Jaguars will open postseason play at the double-elimination tournament against Mississippi Valley St. on May 16 at Lee-Hines Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Inside the Southern University System airs Sundays at 6 p.m. on KQXL 106.5 FM in Baton Rouge and on the web at q106dot5.com.

Memphis standout becomes XU Gold Nuggets' third signee

CLAUDIA HAYWOOD
photo from the signing ceremony (via Facebook)

NEW ORLEANS — Claudia Haywood, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker from Memphis, Tennessee, and Cordova High School, is Xavier University of Louisiana's third women's volleyball signee for the 2012 season.

Haywood signed an XU scholarship Friday afternoon at her school.

As a senior in 2011, Haywood led Cordova's Lady Wolves to a 19-10 record, a district championship and the Class AAA city championship. She was selected the outstanding player of the city championship match. Haywood also was named to the Memphis Commerical Appeal's Best of the Preps Division 1 team. She was all-district her final two seasons, and she had 30 kills in a five-set match as a senior.

"I'm excited to welcome Claudia to our family," XU coach Christabell Hamilton said. "She is strong at the net and will contribute to our offensive game. She is the second middle blocker we've signed in her class, so the level of competition in our gym will be intense and high, just the way I like it."

Haywood was a four-year varsity starter and played her first two seasons at Southwind High School before transferring to Cordova. She played four seasons of club volleyball, the first two with the Memphis Juniors, then two more with Memphis Volleyball Academy. She helped MVA qualify for the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships in 2011.

Haywood will be a biology/pre-medical major at Xavier.

Middle blocker Jodi Hill of Prairieville, La., and Dutchtown High School signed with Xavier on Feb. 16, and outside hitter CeCe Williams of Houma, La., and Vandebilt Catholic High School signed on Wednesday.

Xavier was 23-7 in 2011, won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and qualified for the NAIA National Championship.

2012-13 Xavier women's volleyball signees
Name Pos. Ht. Yr.* Hometown High School (College)
Claudia Haywood MB 5-11 Fr. Memphis, Tenn. Cordova
Jodi Hill MB 5-9 Fr. Prairieville, La. Dutchtown
CeCe Williams OH 5-6 Fr. Houma, La. Vandebilt Catholic
* classification at Xavier in 2012-13



Clips from Xavier University of Louisiana Head Coach Christabell Hamilton Volleyball Clinic at American Samoa, March 2012.

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

Eagle Stadium a big hit for baseball tournaments

DOTHAN, Alabama - Since Steve Sherrill arrived as director three years ago, things have really been looking up for the City of Ozark Parks and Recreation Department. And if you really question that, just try to find a hotel room in Ozark this weekend.

“Every single hotel is booked solid,” Sherrill said Friday afternoon. “Some of the umpires called today and they couldn’t find any rooms here at all. There is nothing left.”

Sherrill has helped to bring in tournament after tournament to Ozark. Including the tournaments scheduled for later this summer, that total is now up to 11 in just three years.

This week, it’s the third consecutive year Ozark has hosted the Alabama Community College Conference Tournament. Last week, it was the SIAC Tournament.

So how has Sherrill been so successful at bringing so many tournaments to Ozark?

“Well the first thing we did is bring Eagle Stadium up to NCAA standards,” he said. “We built new dugouts, added new fencing, a warning track, and a lot of other upgrades. Then we just went out and worked hard to get people in here.”

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Sean Woods Named Head Men's Basketball Coach at MSU

MOREHEAD, Kentucky -- Sean Woods, who has spent time with five Division I men’s basketball programs and led Mississippi Valley State to the 2012 NCAA Tournament, has been named the 13th head coach in Morehead State University history.

Woods will be formally introduced during a press conference on Monday at 2 p.m. ET.   The press conference, which is open to the public, will be held at MSU’s Adron Doran University Center.

“I am very pleased to welcome Sean as the new head men’s basketball coach at Morehead State University,” said Dr. Wayne D. Andrews, MSU president. "I believe that Coach Woods' experience, character and integrity will help us continue the momentum that our basketball program has achieved in recent years. I have no doubt that he will be an outstanding leader for our young men.”

“We are very excited to add Sean and his family to the Morehead State athletics family,” said Brian Hutchinson, MSU director of athletics. “Sean is a strong leader and tireless worker. We were impressed with his energy, character, vision and professionalism throughout the interview process.”

Woods led Mississippi Valley State to 50 overall wins and 44 Southwestern Athletic Conference victories the past four years. The 2011-12 Delta Devils finished 21-13 overall, 17-1 in the SWAC, won the conference tournament and advanced to the school’s fifth-ever NCAA Tournament.

MVSU improved by 14 overall wins and 10 conference victories from his first season to his fourth. Woods was recognized as the 2011-12 SWAC Coach of the Year and earned the prestigious Ben Jobe Award, which honors the top minority coach in NCAA Division I men’s college basketball.

Prior to accepting the head job in Itta Bena, Miss., Woods spent time on the coaching staffs at TCU (2006-08), Texas A&M Corpus Christi (2005-06) and High Point (2003-05).

Woods may be best known as one of the “Unforgettables” from Kentucky’s 1992 East Regional final team. He scored 21 points against Duke in one of the NCAA Tournament’s most memorable games, but Christian Laettner’s buzzer beater gave the Blue Devils a 104-103 overtime win over the Wildcats.

Woods, a UK Athletic Hall of Famer, played in 91 games for the Wildcats from 1989-92. He was coached by Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, Herb Sendek and Billy Donovan at Kentucky. Pitino, Smith and Donovan all have won national championships as head coaches.

“Sean has an impressive background, ties to the state of Kentucky and has been around some of the top coaches in the game,” Hutchinson added. “Our men’s basketball program has enjoyed a lot of success in recent years, and we look forward to keeping the bar high with Sean at the helm.”

Woods succeeds Donnie Tyndall, who accepted the head job at Southern Mississippi in late April.

Morehead State has enjoyed a postseason berth in three of the past four seasons. The Eagles have won 102 games the past five years, including a 2011 upset of Louisville in the NCAA Tournament.

COURTESY MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Today Is A Great Day and Tomorrow Will be Better!

ANN ARBOR, Michigan - The "Beep" is on a little R&R and family business in Ann Arbor.

At 3:00 p.m. today, my daughter will be conferred the Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Michigan Medical School.   For any parent, this is a day to be proud.  I am and we are!

She has raised the bar significantly higher for her two brothers and step-sister, that all will soon be pursuing their own pathway in life.  Her undergraduate major --- bio-chemistry, Spelman College, only four years ago.  Seems like forever, and also valedictorian of her high school class.  If you can get your first born to a high level, hopefully the rest will follow and make good decisions.

Second daughter will be a junior at her college in Virginia and doing well.  Older son has won three high school championships in soccer and lacrosse.  Just elected to be the captain of his track and soccer teams for his senior year.  Bright future with good grades and good athletic skills.

The eight year old --my joy and giving the ole man a real challenge in staying physical fit.  May become a Rattler --if the mess can ever get cleaned up!

FAMU, an institution with a proud 125 year history, and now enduring its worst scandal in decades.  Not over academic integrity or research shortcomings -- but the marching band!

We are talking about an entertainment group with 100 "semi-pro" non-students that have made FAMU ground zero for a  life-style of hazing and beat downs of tuition paying students that were pursuing a college education.

One such student, drum major Robert Champion ends up dead after a severe beating at the hands of these thugs.

Robert Champion deserved better than what Julian White and his staff provided.

I'm a FAMU graduate (undergrad) and former Marching 100 member - a few decades ago. Without that Dr. William P. Foster music scholarship, I may not have earned a college degree.  Certainly, I would not have had the pleasure of marching with 193 other men and three women, in the pre-final decade of the celebrated career of Dr. William P. Foster. 

Make no mistake, without FAMU's band and the many lessons learned, I would not have had a successful career that has led me to the highest levels in my career fields, and one that gave me the entrepreneur skills to form my own corporation, and build it into a successful regional employer and service firm. 

Back in the day, I was in a hurry.  Earned degree in less than three years at FAMU and rushed off to face life challenges and pursue my dreams.  No time for frats and foolishness.  On a  mission, seeking success for my future family.

My car has a FAMU-1 plate.  Over the years, I have been an active donor, but today, I have mixed emotions about my institution.

How can you have 100 folks marching in the band and they are not even students at your university?

Read the report yourself. at the Rattler Nation Blog.  What good is expulsion, when they never were qualified to even be on the bus or field with legitimate, tuition and board paying college students.

It is unimportant when Dr. White and Dr. Ammons made the wrong turns -- but this is inexcusable!  Period!

Pay the Champions whatever they want for their son's death! Case Closed!!

And end the Marching 100.

The program ended forever with the retirement of Dr. Foster. These impostors are not the "Marching 100" that I once knew and loved.

The University can survive without a marching band.

FAMU is better than the 100 idiots that have been parading around in its uniforms for possibly the past few years with no financial or academic connection to the institution.  Flat out fraud and abuse of the higher education system.

The FAMU -1 plate will come off my vehicle once I return home.  Dr. White, James Ammons and others within the Department of Music have demolished a legacy that took Dr. William P. Foster a lifetime to build.

Back in the day, when I marched with 195 others, we stood for something greater than our individual goals.  Back in the day, we were 1,000 times better than this 420 member -- bloated, gang minded version, formally known as the Incomparable Marching 100.

I can't get pass 100 people marching in the band that are not students at FAMU.

Why would leadership let folks with no school affiliation, and students at Florida State University or Tallahassee Community College march on the "Patch" or in official university performances as members of the FAMU band?

Only full-time FAMU students should be allowed in the FAMU's band. Case Closed! 

I am outraged!  Rattlers everywhere are outraged!  Clean house!

This is a great teaching moment for our children.  You can learn from other folks mistakes.
 
Have a great day!  Tomorrow will be better.  Hubba Doc!

beepbeep

B-CU tops North Carolina A&T at MEAC Softball Championships

ORMOND BEACH, Florida -- Shamaria Engram hit a two-run home run and had an RBI double as Bethune-Cookman beat North Carolina A&T 6-1 to go 2-0 on the first day of the MEAC Championships at Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

B-CU beat Norfolk State 3-2 in its opener to move into the winner's bracket, where it will face Hampton at 1 this afternoon.

Engram went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs for the Wildcats (28-29) in their win over the Spartans (26-34).

The game was scoreless until Engram's two-run blast that highlighted the Wildcats' three-run fifth inning. B-CU added three more in the sixth on RBI hits by Romeo, Engram and Amari Foster.

Karina Romero went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs, and Shanel Tolbert (28-24) scattered six hits and allowed one unearned run to pick up her second win of the day.

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WSSU Rams to rely on pitchers Johnson, Edwards

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - Sure, Winston-Salem State can hit, but in next week's NCAA regional baseball tournament, good pitching will be just as important.

That's where the Rams might have an advantage, with workhorse seniors Sheldon Johnson and Wes Edwards. Both right-handers are expected to see plenty of action in the six-team tournament, which will start May 17. Pairings and sites will be announced Sunday.

Johnson, 23, was drafted in the 41st round by the Atlanta Braves in 2007 and also was recruited to play quarterback at Syracuse. He decided baseball was his sport, but suffered an arm injury in 2008 that led to Tommy John surgery.

"We've come a long way as a pitching staff since the beginning of the season," said Johnson, the No. 2 starter who also can pitch in relief if needed. "Everybody knows their role, and we've got a good backbone with the bullpen, and I think myself and Wesley are kind of the leaders."

Johnson transferred to WSSU after helping ...

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FAMU band director Julian White retires unexpectedly

Dr. JULIAN E. WHITE

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M University band director Julian White, who has been under intense criticism since the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion in Orlando last fall, retired unexpectedly Thursday amid more troubling revelations about the embattled Marching 100 band.

White's attorney, Chuck Hobbs, announced the decision late Thursday afternoon. White, 71, chairman of the university's music department and director of bands since 1998, had been fighting for months to keep his job.

Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott and the chancellor of the State University System said Thursday that FAMU's famous band, which is under indefinite suspension, is not ready to take the field again.  White's retirement comes days after FAMU revealed that at least two band members charged in Champion's death — and possibly a third — should not have been in the band, and that nearly 100 others may not have been eligible to join the band.

Percussionists Caleb Jackson and Brian Jones, both charged with felony hazing in Champion's beating Nov. 19, were allowed to travel with the band and be on a parked charter bus where the attack took place.

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Ineligible band members implicated in FAMU hazing death of Robert Champion

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - - Dr. Julian White's leadership has been under scrutiny in the wake of a hazing death of a drum major, and it turns out not all of those arrested in the scandal were students; 101 people on the band's roster were not enrolled in school's music department.

Now Florida's top education official says the band should remain suspended indefinitely.

CBS News correspondent Mark Strassman reports that when Florida A&M's famed band traveled to Orlando last November, 60 of the more than 300 performers on the field had no business being there because they were not enrolled in a mandatory band course. It was a direct violation of school policy. The school can't confirm they were even enrolled in college.

Hours later, drum major Robert Champion Jr. was beaten to death in a hazing ritual aboard a band bus. Eleven defendants were charged for that crime; three - Caleb Jackson, Bryan Jones and Lasherry Condor - were among the ineligible performers.
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SSU's Gonzalez named MEAC softball coach of the year

JOSE GONZALEZ
HEAD SOFTBALL COACH
SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY
(COURTESY SSU SPORTS INFORMATION)

NORFOLK, Virginia — Savannah State’s Jose Gonzalez was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Softball Coach of the Year, and freshman Amber Hallman was named Rookie of the Year by the conference Wednesday.

Last Sunday, the Tigers captured the MEAC Southern Division Title with their 24th win of the season, the most wins in school history.

Today SSU will play in its first MEAC postseason tournament as the top seed in the Southern Division, facing off with the Northern Division’s fourth seed, Hampton University, at 10 a.m. at Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Gonzalez, in his fifth year, holds the best coaching record for Savannah State softball since the program’s inception, at 76-132. At 24-22 (12-3 MEAC), the Tigers, regardless of post-season results, will have the first .500 season in softball in school history.

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2 charged in drum major's hazing death are not FAMU students

I DON'T ATTEND COLLEGE, BUT
I MARCH AND HAZE OTHERS
IN THE FAMU BAND.
NOW, WHO IS CLUELESS?

ORLANDO, Florida -- At least two of the people charged with felony hazing in connection with the beating death of Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion last fall should not have been traveling with the band because they were not enrolled in FAMU or one of the nearby schools that would allow participation in the band, according to school records obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.

In addition, nearly 100 others who were allowed to travel with the band may have been ineligible at the time of Champion's death after the Florida Classic football game in Orlando on Nov. 19.

FAMU's board of trustees was made aware of these potential violations of school policy Tuesday in documents sent to board members by school President James Ammons and his chief of staff, Rosalind Fuse-Hall.

Christopher Chestnut, a lawyer for Champion's parents, Pamela and Robert Champion, said Ammons' revelations underscore the family's belief that the university lacked procedures to protect band members from hazing.

"There were no rules, no regulations, no supervision," Chestnut said.

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Tarrell Robinson Introduced As N.C. A&T's New Womens Hoops Coach

GREENSBORO, North Carolina - North Carolina A&T has a new head women's basketball coach. Today, Director of Athletics Earl Hilton introduced Tarrell Robinson as the Lady Aggies new head coach.

In choosing Robinson, A&T didn't stray far from the formula that has made the women's program successful over the past seven seasons. Robinson replaces legendary coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs, who resigned last month to take the head women's basketball coaching position at her alma mater Grambling State University.

Robinson, 34, served as an assistant coach to Bibbs for four seasons. Prior to the 2008-09 season, he was promoted to associate head coach. The four-year working relationship resulted in the program's most prosperous era in terms of championships and player accolades.

After a 9-19 season in 2005-06, Robinson made his mark at A&T through rigorous recruiting. He assisted Bibbs in landing Fayetteville, N.C., native Ta'Wuana Cook. Cook went on to be ...

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Vandebilt Catholic's Williams signs with XU Gold Nuggets

CeCe Williams
photo from the signing ceremony
(via Facebook)

NEW ORLEANS — Cecily "CeCe" Williams, a 5-foot-6 outside hitter from Houma, La., and Vandebilt Catholic High School, is Xavier University of Louisiana's second women's volleyball signee for the 2012 season.

Williams signed an XU scholarship Wednesday afternoon at her school.

Williams was chosen to The Courier/Daily Comet All-Region first team in 2011 and was all-district for the third consecutive year. She helped lead the Lady Terriers this past season to a 34-10 record, the District 5-III championship and, for the third straight year, the semifinals of the state tournament.

"CeCe is very athletic, explosive at the net, and has good ball control in the back row," Xavier coach Christabell Hamilton said. "She definitely will raise the competitiveness of our team."

Williams' club team, Blue Crab Volleyball of New Orleans, will compete in the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships this summer.

Williams also started for two years on Vandebilt's basketball varsity and was second-team All-District 8-4A as a sophomore.

Two of Williams' cousins, Kristen Brown-Frank and Allison Williams-Betts, played women's basketball for Xavier. Williams' 2011 volleyball coach at Vandebilt, LaTashia Wise, also played basketball for the Gold Nuggets.

"Xavier is a really good school in my major (speech pathology)," Williams said. "My family wanted me to go to Xavier. And it's close to home."

Middle blocker Jodi Hill of Prairieville, La., and Dutchtown High School signed with Xavier on Feb. 16.

Xavier was 23-7 in 2011, won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and qualified for the NAIA National Championship.

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

Former TSU Football Players to Honor Gilliam with Roast

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Former Tennessee State University football athletes will honor TSU legendary coach Joe Gilliam, Sr., in a roast on Saturday, May 26 at the Sheraton Music City Hotel.

Tickets for the roast are $50 per person. Each ticket sold will support the Joe Gilliam Scholarship fund, whose purpose is to support any football player and their immediate family as they pursue his or her education at TSU.

Coach Gilliam’s career spanned more than 24 years at Tennessee State, as he helped the Big Blue to an impressive 254-93-15 record. Approximately 144 football players were drafted into the National Football League (NFL), including Hall of Fame inductee Richard Dent.

The gala begins with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m., followed by the program and dinner at 7 p.m.

Fans can purchase tickets through any committee member or at Harper’s Restaurant on Jefferson Street. For additional information, call 901-340-5581.

Joe Gilliam Sr. Roast Flyer

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Andre the Giant: Former Forest Hills star signs with Coppin State

ANDRE ARMSTRONG
6-2 GUARD
QUEENS, NEW YORK
MONROE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

NEW YORK, New York - Andre Armstrong's journey to a Division I scholarship featured as many stops and starts as the Brooklyn/Queens Expressway.

After four solid years at Forest Hills, it included one year of prep school at Notre Dame Prep, two junior college years at Monroe Community College and a verbal commitment to Maine. The talented shooting guard’s plan was to attend Maine after one year at Monroe, but the NCAA red-flagged his transcript, forcing Armstrong to do a second year at the JUCO.

Armstrong’s Division I goal was finally realized on Tuesday as the 6-foot-2 Flushing, Queens native signed with Coppin State of the MEAC conference.

“I was relieved, finally after everything,” he said. “I’m very excited. I went through a lot to go to where I’m at. A lot of people doubted me, said I couldn’t play at this level. A lot of people were trying to force me to go Division II. I felt I deserved a chance to play Division I.”

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Xavier Rush await Point Loma-Mobile winner in NAIA 2nd round

NEW ORLEANS — For the second consecutive season, Xavier University of Louisiana has a first-round bye in the NAIA Men's Tennis Championship at Mobile, Ala. The Gold Rush will play at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16 against the winner of an opening-round match between Mobile and Point Loma Nazarene.

The NAIA announced the pairings Tuesday.

The XU men (17-7) are seeded seventh, the same position as in the coaches poll announced Monday. Point Loma is the No. 10 seed, and Mobile is 24th. Xavier is in the top 10 for the 10th straight time, including all eight sthis season, and in 13 of the last 14 polls.

The Gold Rush received an automatic bid by virtue of winning an unaffiliated group tournament. It's the fourth consecutive season that the Rush compete at nationals.

Xavier won 5-4 at Point Loma Nazarene on April 2. The Rush have not played Mobile since the Rams left the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference for the Southern States Athletic Conference in the summer of 2010, but Xavier was 8-0 against Mobile from 2008-10, including victories in the finals of GCAC tournaments in 2008 and 2009.

Loic Didavi, seniors Zach Taylor and Steffen Giles-Osborn and sophomore Viktor Svoboda are Xavier's top four players. Didavi is eighth, Taylor 19th, Svoboda 21st and Giles-Osborn 47th in the Campbell's-Intercollegiate Tennis Association NAIA singles rankings. Didavi and Corey Huggins were chosen NAIA Men's Tennis Player of the Week on consecutive occasions in April.

Fresno Pacific is the defending champion. Copeland-Cox Tennis Center is the tournament venue.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, May 6) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Fresno Pacific (12) 22-1 312 1 2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 18-3 302 2 3 Oklahoma Christian 16-3 290 3 4 Azusa Pacific 19-2 284 4 5 Auburn Montgomery 16-7 272 5 6 Vanguard 14-10 262 6 7 Xavier 17-7 252 7 8 Westmont 11-9 241 8 9 Point Loma Nazarene 12-10 227 9 10 William Carey 16-4 225 10 11 Concordia (Calif.) 8-12 209 11 12 Lindsey Wilson 18-5 207 12 13 Aquinas 25-2 190 13 14 Bethany (Kan.) 21-3 184 14 15 Belhaven 15-3 172 15 16 Cumberland 17-2 162 16 17 Warner 13-4 149 17 18 Campbellsville 14-6 143 18 19 Lewis-Clark State 11-9 129 19 20 Northwestern Ohio 19-7 121 20 21 Olivet Nazarene 15-4 110 22 22 Shorter 12-15 105 21 23 Webber International 15-7 88 23 24 Our Lady of the Lake 7-7 67 24 25 Lee (Tenn.) 9-8 63 25 Others receiving votes: Spring Arbor 56, Pikeville 55, McPherson 50, Biola 30, Bethel (Tenn.) 8, Northwood (Fla.) 7, Asbury 6, Hastings 5, Davenport 3, Graceland 1, Georgetown (Ky.) 1, Oklahoma Baptist 1, Roberts Wesleyan 1, SCAD Atlanta 1. Tournament bracket (PDF) NAIA tournament website

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

XU Nuggets get rematch with Vanguard at NAIA tournament

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana will play Vanguard at 9 a.m. next Tuesday in the opening round of the NAIA Women's Tennis Championship at Mobile, Ala.

The NAIA announced the pairings Tuesday.

It will be a rematch between the Gold Nuggets (7-21) and the Lions (9-14), who won the final two doubles matches to rally for a 5-4 victory against Xavier on April 5 at Costa Mesa, Calif. Since then Xavier has won 4-of-5 duals, including all three in an NAIA unaffiliated group tournament which earned the Nuggets an automatic bid to nationals.

It will be the sixth time in eight seasons that the Nuggets compete at nationals. They're 5-0 in first-round matchups there, but never have they advanced past the second round.

Vanguard finished fifth in the Golden State Athletic Conference, which has of the tournament's 24 teams, and received the last of 10 at-large bids.

Vanguard was 15th and Xavier 20th in the coaches poll announced Monday. The Nuggets dropped one place from a week ago, but it was the first time this season that the XU women appeared in back-to-back top 25s.

Sophomore Kourtney Howell and freshman Amanda Materre are Xavier's top two players. Howell is 27th in the Campbell's-Intercollegiate Tennis Association NAIA singles rankings, and Materre is 38th. Howell was the NAIA Women's Tennis Player of the Week for April 23-29.

Auburn Montgomery is the defending champion. Copeland-Cox Tennis Center is the tournament venue.

NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, May 6)

Rank	Team	Record	Points	Last
1	Auburn Montgomery (13)	22-2	343	1
2	Fresno Pacific	20-4	332	2
3	Embry-Riddle (Fla.)	18-3	321	3
4	Oklahoma Christian	16-3	310	4
5	Azusa Pacific	17-3	299	5
6	Point Loma Nazarene	16-5	286	6
7	Brenau	13-5	279	7
8	Concordia (Calif.)	14-7	266	8
9	William Carey	14-9	253	9
10	Southern Nazarene	12-5	243	10
11	Lindsey Wilson	15-3	231	tie-11
12	Shorter	19-8	226	tie-11
13	SCAD Savannah	9-3	209	13
14	Lewis-Clark State	7-14	201	14
15	Vanguard	9-14	187	15
16	Indiana Wesleyan	22-2	181	16
17	Campbellsville	13-6	158	18
18	Lee (Tenn.)	9-7	154	17
19	Westmont	7-11	145	20
20	Xavier	7-21	141	19
21	Martin Methodist	11-4	126	21
22	Robert Morris (Chicago)	17-2	126	22
23	St. Thomas (Fla.)	5-4	97	23
24	Oklahoma Baptist	10-8	89	24
25	Marian (Ind.)	21-6	76	25
Others receiving votes: Northwestern Ohio 68, Davenport 36, Webber International 35, Belhaven 27, Nebraska Wesleyan 26, Olivet Nazarene 10, Georgetown (Ky.) 9, Bethel (Kan.) 8, Indiana Southeast 4, Missouri Valley 3, Milligan 1.

Tournament bracket (PDF) NAIA tournament website

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

Fourteen Savannah State Athletes Graduate With Honors

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Several former Savannah State athletes were awarded their degrees during the university's 180th commencement ceremony in Tiger Arena on May 5.

Michael King (baseball) earned his master of business administration degree.

Receiving undergraduate degrees were Julius Green (baseball), Dexter Kelley (baseball), Rod Mitchell (basketball), Derek Williams (football), Ashley Roper (women's basketball), Cheick Diop (football), Darren Hunter (football), Cordarian Robertson (baseball), AJ DeFilippis (football), Ivy Smith (women's basketball), Courtrevez McTier (baseball), Treasure Monroe (women's basketball), Chris Herans (football), Brittany Lewis (volleyball), Matthew Nowacki (baseball), Channing Welch (football), Courtney Long (women's basketball), Alisha Nelson (women's basketball, track), Thelmore Jackson (football), Amara Jones (women's track), William Edwards (football), Damon McKinney (football), Eric Ransom (baseball), Calvin Leonard (football), Vince Cochran (football), Brandon Miller (football), Angela Palmer (tennis), Patrice Rogers (softball), Jarvis Thomas (football), Rodney McDowell-Turner (track), Shamyra Adama (softball), Craig Huling (football) and Devin Stowers.

A total of 14 athletes graduated with honors.

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Lamar Cardinal assistant Price leaves to coach Grambling State

JOSEPH PRICE
 MEN'S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH
GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY
(PHOTO COURTESY: LAMAR UNIVERSITY
ATHLETICS)

BEAUMONT, Texas -- If Pat Knight has his way, Lamar will lose other assistant coaches after future seasons. That's a sure sign of success, he figures.

Joe Price, an assistant to Knight in his only season at Lamar, has left the school to be the head coach at Grambling. The Louisiana-based school announced the hiring Tuesday.

"When I took this job, I said I wanted assistants to move on to bigger assistants jobs or to be head coaches," Knight said. To replace Price, Lamar will move Kermit Holmes from director of basketball operations, a position that will be ...

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Alabama State, Tuskegee Agree to Play in Turkey Day Classic

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Alabama State University President William H. Harris has announced that ASU and Tuskegee University have signed a contract that will allow the two teams to be matched against each other in this year's Turkey Day Classic (TDC) football game.

The TDC game will be played on Thanksgiving Day, which is Nov. 22.

The game will be played in ASU's new Hornet Stadium.

“The Alabama State University family is excited that the tradition between Tuskegee and Alabama State will be continued during this year's 2012 Turkey Day Classic,” Alabama State President Dr. William H. Harris said. “We look forward to the annual reunion between the institution and our students, alumni, family and friends. It will be an exciting day in the history of ASU as we open the new ASU Stadium and are elated that our first opponent will be none other than Tuskegee University.”

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Grambling wins SWAC track and field title again

NEW ORLEANS — Three-time defending champion Grambling’s men’s track and field team trailed Southern by two points (64.50-62.50) after eight events when the Southwestern Athletic Conference men’s 1,500-meter run started Sunday at Tad Gormley Stadium.

But Grambling senior Darwin Price wasn’t fazed by the pressure. The Tigers distance runners and jumpers have been carrying the team most of the season.

Price finished in 4 minutes 1.90 seconds for his fourth consecutive championship in the 1,500 to give Grambling the lead. And when his teammate Deonte Pope finished second in 4:04.17, the Tigers were well on their way to their fourth consecutive SWAC championship.

Grambling finished with 149.50 points, followed by Prairie View (125) and Southern (112.50). The Tigers have won titles in seven of the past eight years.

Alabama State won its third consecutive women’s title with 243 points. Prairie View finished second with 166.

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Sarah Needleman signs with Tennessee State

Sarah Needleman signs with Tennessee State
Courtesy: Tennessee State Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Head women's golf coach Chris Seibel has announced that Sarah Needleman has signed a National Letter-of-Intent with Tennessee State.

Needleman competed on the golf team at Fishers High School in Indiana for four years. She also received Hamilton Southeastern County honors.

In an article posted on school's site, Fishers assistant coach Abbey Rhodes said Needleman has been a leader for her golf team a both on and off the course.

Rhodes continued by saying: "She focused on her goal to play college golf, and achieved it while giving younger players on her team the incentive to adopt her devotion to her team. Sarah is a leader and motivator that her Fishers girls' golf team family will miss, but she's also a radiant example of what can be achieved through focus, determination, positive-thinking, and practice."

Sarah has plans to major in sports marketing in the fall.

"I am proud to bring in a student-athlete who has a solid golf game and is an excellent student," commented head women's golf coach Chris Seibel. "As a coach, it is nice to have a player receive the President's Academic Award. It gives me a feeling of comfort knowing that she will be just fine in the classroom, and we can go full force on the golf course. Sarah is the definition of a STUDENT-ATHLETE."

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NSU Spartans Clinch 7th Straight MEAC Track and Field Sweep

GREENSBORO, North Carolina – The Norfolk State men’s track and field team added another title to its MEAC championship legacy Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T, winning its seventh consecutive conference outdoor title and clinching its seventh straight sweep of the MEAC indoor and outdoor titles.

NSU amassed 145.5 points, comfortably ahead of runner-up North Carolina A&T’s 95, as the Spartans also recorded their fourth straight MEAC running triple crown since 2008 thanks to 2011-12 titles in men’s cross country, indoor and outdoor track.

The Spartans won five of the 10 track events contested on Saturday, including a pair of victories by junior Keith Nkrumah in the 110 and 400 meter hurdles. Nkrumah clocked personal-best times of 13.68 in the 110 hurdles final, and 50.40 in the 400 hurdles. The victories marked the first two MEAC gold medals in Nkrumah’s career. He tied with Florida A&M's Elias Chesire as the Most Outstanding Runner of the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship. Both tallied 20 points toward their team scores.

Two other Spartans also picked up their first career MEAC outdoor titles Saturday. Rookie Nathnael Meseret won the 1,500 meters in a PR of 3:53.62, and James Taylor won the 200 meters in 20.74 seconds.

NSU’s final win on Saturday came via Sean Holston, who repeated as MEAC 400 meter champion. Holston clocked a time of 46.01 seconds, .01 off his personal-best set in his 2011 MEAC victory. Holston was also runner-up to Taylor in the 200.

The Spartans also got solid performances from Vincent Brown, who ran a PR of 1:50.09 to place fourth place in the 800 meters, and Vincent Rono, who was third in the 3,000m steeplechase (9:55.98). Junior Amos Kipkosgei placed fifth in both the 1,500 and steeplechase, and Damtew Adnew was fourth in the steeplechase.

Kenneth Giles was named MEAC Outdoor Most Oustanding Men's Coach for leading the Spartans to their 25th conference title in his tenure (11 cross country, seven indoor and seven outdoor titles).

The Spartans will have a number of participants in the NCAA East Regional later this month in Jacksonville, Fla. Entries will be released in the coming weeks.

Final Results

COURTESY Matt Michalec, SID, NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPARTANS

Hampton takes MEAC championship - winning ninth crown

GREENSBORO, North Carolina - Hampton won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships on Saturday afternoon at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T State.

The Pirates tallied 136 points to win their ninth title in program history. Maryland Eastern Shore finished in second place with 106 points, followed by North Carolina A&T in third with 84 points.

South Carolina State’s Shamire Rothmiller tallied 26 points to earn the Outstanding Field Athlete award while Maryland Eastern Shore’s Cynthia Anais posted 25 points and was named the Outstanding Runner.

Hampton’s Maurice Pierce was selected as the Women’s Track and Field Outstanding Coach for the eighth time in his career.

“It feels good to win another championship,” Pierce said. “My assistant coaches and athletes did a great job. It wasn’t our best performance but at the end of the day we scored the most points so I’m excited to win.”

It was a record setting day as Bethune-Cookman’s Sasha Smallwood posted a meet record in the pole vault with a mark of 3.58m (11-09.00). Hampton’s Carolyn Lewis held the previous record of 3.35m, which she earned in 2007.

UMES’ Cynthia Anais topped her own meet record with a time of 2:05.97 in the 800m run. Anais set the previous mark of 2:07.97 during Friday’s semifinal.

Kadian Dunkley of Bethune-Cookman ran a time of 11:06.99 in the 3000m steeplechase to earn a new conference record. Hampton’s Jahlisa Smith held the previous mark of 11:15.28 in 2010.

Results | Photo Gallery

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