HSRN's HBCU Sports Nation Best Of The Bands 2011 Volume 1

Performances from some of the top HBCU Marching Bands during the 2011 season of college football that was covered by Heritage Sports Radio Network at halftime of the game broadcasts.

South Carolina State sophomore Seymour Walter set a new Virgin Island record

ST. CROIX  --  South Carolina State University sophomore runner Seymour Walter boosted his chances of qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics after he broke a U.S. Virgin Island National record June 2 at the Music City Distance Carnival held at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

The St. Croix, Virgin Island native ran a blazing time of 1:49.19 in the 800 meter event, snapping the record held by former S.C. State runner Terry Charles, also a native of the Virgin Islands. Charles had set his record back in 2008 with a time of 1:49.50.

Walter hopes to run in the world Olympics, but will have to continue his success in another event he’s scheduled to run early this summer. He will race in the 2012 North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association Under-23 Championships, held in Mexico in July.

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FAMU women's basketball goes JUCO to acquire height

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - On paper, the Florida A&M women's basketball team shouldn't be lacking height or experience next season.

Coach LeDawn Gibson made sure of that, bringing in two big junior college players among the five signees whose names were released this week. Ariel Thomas, a 6-foot-2 forward, and 6-3 Tanikqua McFarlane, who played forward/center at ASA Community College, will continue their college careers along with Avenger teammate Ashley Watson at FAMU. Watson is a 5-5 point guard.

Junior college transfer Monesiea Prothro and Shiniece Beamon, a 6-2 center from Lakewood High School, also signed to play for the Rattlers.





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Alston, Harrell strengthens 2012 class

BATON ROUGE. Louisiana - With expectations rising in the aftermath of the Jaguars surprising 17-14 record and second place finish in 2011, head coach Roman Banks continues to add key pieces to his 2012 class with the signing of Aaron Alston and Michael Harrell.

Alston joins a Jaguar squad looking to improve its overall team depth and athleticism with the departures of seniors Quinton Doggett and Fredrick Coleman.

"(Alston) brings length and versatility to our programs," said Bank, who earned Louisiana Sports Writer Association's 2012 Coach of the Year honor in his first season at Southern.

"We needed some guys with some athleticism that can play above the rim. Obviously, with three years (of eligibility remaining), we will be able to work with him a little bit differently than we would be able to work with other junior college transfers."

The 6-7 forward was named the Northwest Athletic Association Community College Freshman of the Year. The Hesperia, California native averaged 16.6 points and 8 rebounds as a freshman at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington.

"Aaron learned a lot in his time and we're proud he was able to earn a scholarship at Southern," said LCC head coach Jim Roffler. "He should have a great time in the Bayou."

After two seasons on the Southeastern Louisiana basketball squad, Harrell returns to Baton Rouge where he prepped at Southern Lab High School. The Beaumont, Texas native played in 30 games for the Lions before transferring to Southern last spring.

"Anytime you are able to get a quality student-athlete from the area its great for our basketball program," said Banks. "He is very tenacious on defense and he definitely has a quick, fast-paced tempo to his game and we like to play fast."

Before signing with Southeastern in 2010, Harrell, a 5-10 guard, averaged 24 points, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals and was voted the District 6-1A MVP as a senior. Harrell helped the Kittens to a pair of district titles and was named to the Baton Rouge Advocate All-Metro Team.

"We're excited about having him join our basketball program," said Banks. "He can help us quicker because he's played in the system (at Southeastern) where I coached before and we do some of the same things. His understanding will far surpass that of a first-year player in our program."

LISTEN: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY HUMAN JUKEBOX MARCHING BAND
I'm So Glad

Ole Southern Spirit

Southern U. Alma Mater

Southern U. Fight Song

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Albany State Golden Rams connect with fans with new website

ALBANY, Georgia - The athletics department at Albany State University has launched its new sports website - www.asugoldenrams.com. The new site is part of the overall strategic plan in branding the Golden Rams athletic teams in Georgia and beyond. 

Great Site.  Check it out for yourself!

Florida A&M Rattlers Baseball Inks Four In 2012 Class

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Florida A&M baseball announced the signing of four players to help rebuild the squad. Included in the group are two pitchers. The achilles heel for the Rattlers this past season was relief pitching.

Garrett Johnson is a 6'1", 195 lb, catcher and right-handed pitcher from Tallahassee,FL. He attended Leon High School, where he was an honor student.

Jordan Montague is a right-handed pitcher and infielder from Wakulla High School in Wakulla,FL. He was a two-time letter winner with the Eagles, capturing six wins and two losses in 2012. His senior season, he batted .338, had a .442 on-base percentage and a .415 slugging percentage. He also had a .905 fielding percentage.

Bennie Robinson is a 6'1", 200 lb transfer infielder from Hillsborough Community College. He hails from Tampa,FL, where he played at Forest High School. This season, he batted .322, with 46 hits and two doubles, while scoring 28 runs and garnering 24 RBI. He had a .401 on-base percentage, while also gathering a solid.968 fielding percentage.

Kendal Weeks is a second baseman and pitcher from Munroe High School in Munroe,FL. He stands 5'10", 135 lbs and collected an impressive 5-1 record this season.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

VISIT: FAMUATHLETICS

VISIT: FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY

In the FCS Huddle: FBS-to-FCS transfers to watch

EXCERPT:

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (Sports Network) - A transfer energizes a fanbase like little else during the offseason in the Football Championship Subdivision.

If their favorite school is willing to take on such a newcomer from a Bowl Subidivision program, fans reason that he must be a special player and will make an impact without any doubt.

Following are FBS-to-FCS transfers to watch this season:

Lynden Trail, OLB, Norfolk State (from Florida) - Trail needs to start making news on the field rather than off it. The defending MEAC champion Spartans think he can after switching him from defensive end to a 6-7, 250-pound outside linebacker during spring practice. Trail drew ire over a MySpace photo of him in eighth grade in gang apparel. He also was arrested on an assault charge this spring. As a player, he never took the field at Florida, but the Miami resident is the most highly recruited player in Norfolk State's Division I era.

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Coast legends return to hold basketball camp in Biloxi

BILOXI, Mississippi -- Dale Brown brought a personal touch to his "Practice With The Pros" basketball clinic Thursday at Biloxi High School. He brought along some friends, too.

Guys such as former NBA standout Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who was a two-time All-American known as Chris Jackson during his playing days at LSU. Former Alabama standout James "Hollywood" Robinson was here, too, along with Marcus Bullard, who helped get Mississippi State to the Final Four in 1996.

Litterial Green, Brown's assistant coach at Clark Atlanta, an NCAA Division II school, couldn't make it, but it makes sense that Brown and Green are coaching together.

"The first time I played against Litterial, we were in junior high," Brown said.

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VSU' Stephen Genchi and FSU's Jake Barge Named to Division II PING Atlantic All-Region Golf Team

Stephen Genchi
VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

PETERSBURG, Virginia -- Virginia State University’s Stephen Genchi (senior/ Jupiter, Florida) was named to the Division II PING Atlantic All-Region Golf Team, announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) on Wednesday, June 6th.

Genchi was one of 107 players honored by the GCAA across eight regions – East, Atlantic, Southeast, South, Midwest, South Central, Central and West – that earned all-region honors for 2011. Stephen Genchi was named to both the CIAA All-Tournament team and also the 2012 All-CIAA team after leading the Trojans to a second place finish at the 2012 CIAA Golf Championships.

Jacob Barge
FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

Fayetteville State University Broncos' star golfer Jacob Barge, a junior from Fayetteville, North Carolina., who competed in the National Junior College Golf Championship a year ago, was named to the Division II PING Athletic All-Region Golf Team as well.   Barge and Genchi were the only players named to the team attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

Barge recently had  a brilliant 11-day sojourn of golf, beginning with what became a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division-II Atlantic/East Regional in Hershey, Pennsylvania in May 2012.  It continued with a brilliant 54 holes in leading the Broncos to their record seventh PGA National Minority Collegiate Golf Championship in Port St. Lucie, Florida., a tournament in which Barge finished as the Division-II medalist after a scorching 3-under 213 to become the second straight Fayetteville State golfer to win the prestigious event.

His brilliant season, one in which he was named the Most Valuable Player for a Broncos team that collected its 26th CIAA Championship in April, culminated at the NCAA Championship. Barge fired rounds of 74, 79 and 77 in his first Division-II national championship appearance, becoming the first Fayetteville State golfer to compete in the event since 2009.

Division II PING All-Region Teams

East
Anthony Corsi, Dowling
Kevin Daniels, American International
Sylvain Debiais, UMass Lowell
Ross Earnshaw, Post
Mike Gunderson, St. Thomas Aquinas
Matt Horton, Saint Rose
Louis Kelly, Adelphi

Thomas Linehan, St. Thomas Aquinas

Matt Michel, Bentley

Daniel Ott, Wilmington

Thomas Rees, Post

Paul Tighe, Wilmington

Atlantic
Jake Barge, Fayetteville State
Brad Boyle, IUP
Charlie Durman, CUP
Jordan Eck, CUP
Stephen Genchi, Virginia State

Zack Kempa, IUP

Matthew Morgan, Concord

Evan Muscari, Concord

Jack Owen, IUP

Ross Pringle, Clarion

Joey Seabright, West Liberty

Ryan Thomson, West Liberty

Southeast

Liam Ashby, Carson-Newman

Matt Atkins, USCA

Matthew Campbell, Newberry

Daniel Claytor, Barton

Joel Dahlenburg, Flagler

Patrick Garrett, Georgia College

Craig Gibson, Georgia Southwestern

J.P. Griffin, Georgia Southwestern

Gavin Hay, Carson-Newman
Adam Hedges, Belmont Abbey
Eric Kennedy, Lincoln Memorial
Jonathan Kim-Moss, Carson-Newman
Antoine Le Saux, Wingate
Jonathan McCurry, UNC-Pembroke
Greg Mergel, Flagler
Jordan Walor, UNC-Pembroke

South
Nick Brothers, St. Leo
Ricardo Celia, Nova Southeastern
Tyson Chandler, North Alabama
Spencer Cole, Rollins
Case Gard, Florida Southern
Jake Greer, North Alabama
Thomas Guste-Pedersen, West Florida
Oscar Lendgden, Nova Southeastern
Carlos Rodriquez, West Florida
Marcelo Rozo, Lynn
Marcus Segerstrom, Barry
Taylor Smith, Georgia College
Scott Smyers, Barry
Daniel Stapff, Barry
Ben Taylor, Nova Southeastern
Christian Westhorpe, Florida Tech
Daniel Young, Lynn

South Central
Alex Carpenter, Abilene Christian
Josh Creel, Central Oklahoma
Andrew Green, Central Oklahoma
Ben Hargis, West Texas A&M
Jose A. Hernandez, St. Edward’s
Brandon Johnson, Dallas Baptist
Jared King, Central Missouri
Luke Kwon, St. Edward’s
Joe Migdal, Central Missouri
Casey Nelson, Northeastern State
Santiago Quintero, St. Edward’s
Dillon Rust, Central Oklahoma

Midwest
Joe Atkisson, Missouri-St. Louis
Trent Davison, Ferris State
Aaron Monson, Indianapolis
Jay Overy, Ashland
Bryan Ratterman, Bellarmine
Corey Richmond, Northern Kentucky
Steve Rickels, Northern Kentucky
Michael Schmitmeyer, Findlay
David Shearn, Bellarmine
Garrett Simons, Ferris State
Micah Skidmore, Saginaw Valley State
Shawn Vanderwal, Drury

Central
Cory Bacon, Colorado School of Mines
Billy Barnhart, St. Cloud State
James Berry, CSU-Pueblo
Spencer Biersdorff, UCCS

Brandon Bingaman, Colorado Mesa

Grant Dean, UCCS
Eddie DeLashmutt, UCCS
Gordy Diekman, St. Cloud State

Kyle Grassel, Colorado School of Mines

Jim Knous, Colorado School of Mines

Michael Lee, Colorado School of Mines

Charlie West, St. Cloud State

West

Trevor Blair, CSU-Stanislaus

Kyle Chappell, Dixie State

Rob Damschen, CSU-Stanislaus

Eric Frazzetta, Chico State

Dylan Goodwin, Western Washington

James Hall, Hawaii-Hilo

Ryan Mahoney, Grand Canyon

Chris McCracken, CSU-Stanislaus

Travis Russell, Hawaii-Hilo

Teddy Schrier, CSU-Stanislaus

Alex Sobstad, CSU-Monterey Bay
Kyle Souza, Chico State
Nick Varelia, Western Washington
Jeremy Wendelken, Sonoma State

COURTESY VIRIGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION & FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION  -- (ALEX PODLOGAR)

Xavier Nuggets add 3 from Louisiana, including 2 D-I transfers

Whitney Gaston-Loyd

NEW ORLEANS — NCAA Division I transfers Whitney Gaston-Loyd of Shreveport and Schyler "Sky" Morton of New Orleans are among three from Louisiana to sign women's basketball scholarships with Xavier University of Louisiana.

The third signee is New Orleanian Kelsee Singleton. Thus far XU has announced five recruits, four from Louisiana, for next season.

Gaston-Loyd, a 6-foot center, will have two seasons of eligibility at Xavier after transferring from Arkansas-Little Rock, where she played 12 games the past two years for teams which finished a combined 43-21, won a pair of Sun Belt Conference tournaments and qualified for two NCAA tournaments. At Shreveport's Southwood High School, Gaston-Loyd was a member of a Class 5A state championship team (2007-08 season) and two state runners-up. As a senior she averaged 15.9 points and 7.5 rebounds, leading the Lady Cowboys to a 37-1 record and a state runner-up finish. She scored 20 points in each of the final two rounds of the playoffs.


Schyler Morton

Gaston-Loyd made the 5A All-State first team as a senior and was honorable mention as a junior. She was District 1-5A MVP each of her final two seasons.

Gaston-Loyd, who will be a biology/pre-medical major at Xavier, will be the third recent Southwood graduate to play for the Gold Nuggets. Guard Jasmine Grant completed her eligibility in March after four seasons and 203 made 3-pointers, and guard/forward Jessica Savannah will return for her sophomore season.

Morton, a 5-7 guard, will have three seasons of eligibility at Xavier after transferring from New York's Fordham University, where she played two games this past season. Morton was a standout at Ursuline Academy, where she was a varsity player for five seasons and helped the Lions go 136-37 with five district championships and five state playoff appearances. Ursuline reached the Class 3A semifinals in 2009, Morton's sophomore season, and the 4A quarterfinals the following year. As a senior Morton averaged 11.6 points per game and was 4A All-State honorable mention, All-District 9-4A and All-Clarion Herald (Catholic schools). She scored more than 1,000 career points.

Morton also competed in track at Ursuline as a triple jumper and on relay teams. She will be a psychology/pre-medical major at Xavier.


Kelsee Singleton

Singleton, a 6-2 center, averaged four points and five rebounds per game for Edna Karr High School this past season. She was a three-year varsity member and a two-year starter and helped the Lady Cougars reach the 4A state playoffs three times.

"Kelsee is an outstanding person, student and basketball player," Karr coach Jessica Barber said. "She demonstrates tremendous leadership ability on and off the court. Her game developed in the year that I was with her. She is a sponge and always willing to try harder to improve. Her best basketball lies before her, and Xavier will be a better place because of her."

Singleton was a three-year starter at first base on Karr's softball team, and she started as a senior at receiver in her only season of flag football. She will be a chemistry/pre-pharmacy major at Xavier.

Xavier was 26-9 in 2011-12, won Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and, for the second consecutive year, reached the second round of the NAIA Division I National Championship. The GCAC Tournament title was the Nuggets' third in a row. Xavier reached 20 victories 19 of the past 20 seasons and qualified for the national tournament 16 of the past 18 seasons.

2012-13 Xavier women's basketball signees
Name Pos. Ht. Yr.* Hometown High School (College)
Whitney Gaston-Loyd C 6-0 Jr. Shreveport, La. Southwood (Arkansas-Little Rock)
Whitney Gathright G 5-4 Fr. New Orleans, La. John Curtis Christian
Schyler Morton G 5-7 So. New Orleans, La. Ursuline Academy (Fordham)
Andraquay Quinnine G 5-9 Jr. Elk Grove, Calif. Franklin (Consumes River JC)
Kelsee Singleton C 6-2 Fr. New Orleans, La. Karr
* athletic classification at Xavier in fall of 2012

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

DSU's Underwood Named Wesley College Head Baseball Coach

BRET UNDERWOOD
HEAD BASEBALL COACH
WESLEY COLLEGE
CAREER RECORD: 31-15
YEAR: FIRST YEAR
COLLEGE: DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY '04

DOVER, Delaware - Wesley College Director of Athletics Mike Drass has announced that the interim tag on head baseball coach Bret Underwood has been lifted and Underwood will remain at Wesley in his same head coaching position.

"We are excited to announce Bret has the head baseball coach at Wesley College," said Drass. "He did an outstanding job during his interim period and we are excited for what he will bring to the program in the future."

"It is a great honor to be the new head coach of the Wesley College baseball program," Underwood said. "I am excited to have this opportunity to help influence kids' lives in a positive way and help them turn into young men.

In his first season as the Wolverines skipper, Underwood led Wesley to a program-record 31 victories in 2012, with three victories over nationally-ranked teams, a trip to the Capital Athletic Conference Semifinals and the top-seed in the ECAC South Championship. The Navy & White hit .318 as a team this year and topped the CAC in fielding percentage, runs scored, hits, walks, runs batted in, stolen bases and sacrifice flies.

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ASU Football Camp Underway

ALBANY, Georgia - Summer is the time when college football coaches are hosting their youth camps. Albany State coach Mike White and his staff are seeing their annual camp grow.

More than 75 young men are out for a few days of learning blocking, route running and other areas of the game from the SIAC champion Golden Rams coaching staff.

Spending the year working with the college age players, the Albany State staff enjoys this time to work with some younger minds who are eager to learn everything they can about the game of football.


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XU runners open Aug. 31, compete at Disney in October

Xavier will aim for its seventh consecutive GCAC team championships
in men's and women's cross country.

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, six-time defending men's and women's team champions of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, will begin the 2012 cross country season Aug. 31 in the Mississippi College Opener at Clinton, Mississippi.

Joseph Moses, returning for his eighth year as coach of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets, announced the schedule Thursday.

Xavier will compete three additional times in the regular season — Sept. 8 at the Loyola Wolfpack Invitational in suburban Metairie, La., Sept. 22 at the LSU Invitational in Baton Rouge, La., and Oct. 6 at the Walt Disney World Classic in Kissimmee, Fla. — before returning to Clinton on Oct. 20 or 27 to defend its GCAC titles.

The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets hope to qualify for the NAIA National Championships at Vancouver, Wash., for the second straight year and the fourth time in five years. Both GCAC team champions will receive automatic bids to the national meet.

Xavier will make its first appearance in the Walt Disney World Classic since 2006 and compete in the Eastern time zone for the first time since 2007.

Xavier has 10 returning All-GCAC runners: Emmanuel Detiege, Kwame Jackson, Javon Mead, Matt Pieri, Charles Shaw and Jamaal Williams on the men's team and Donyé Coleman, Catherine Fakler, Zahri Jackson and Hali Yarmush on the women's. The Jackson siblings were GCAC individual champions a year ago, as was Pieri in 2010.

2012 Xavier University of Louisiana Cross Country Schedule
all times Central unless noted

Aug. 31 (Fri.): Mississippi College Opener, Clinton, Miss. — women 5 p.m., men 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 (Sat.): Loyola Wolfpack Invitational, Metairie, La.
Sept. 22 (Sat.): LSU Invitational, Baton Rouge, La.
Oct. 6 (Sat): Walt Disney World Classic, Kissimmee, Fla. — men 7:45 a.m. EDT, women 8:30 a.m. EDT
Oct. 20 or 27 (Sat.): Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships, Clinton, Miss.
Nov. 17 (Sat): NAIA National Championships, Vancouver, Wash. — women 10:30 a.m. PST, men 11:45 a.m. PST

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

Board Names ASU DL Coach As New Head Football Coach At Lee

TYRONE ROGERS

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Montgomery County Board of Education has selected a former Lee High graduate to lead the school’s football program this fall.

At its Tuesday board meeting, the board voted to hire 1994 Lee alum and current Alabama State University Defensive Line Coach Tyrone Rogers as the Generals new head football coach.

“Coach Rogers has several years of experience and the ability to motivate students to succeed both in the classroom and on the playing field,” said Superintendent Barbara Thompson. “He has demonstrated a knack for developing potential in student-athletes and he is very dedicated to the football program he once played for in high school. I think he is a great choice for Lee and we look forward to many successful football seasons.”

Rogers brings more than 13 years of experience to the position. A former football standout at ASU, his collegiate career was marked by several honors including Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason All-American, ASU Turkey Day Classic Most Valuable Player and being selected to participate in the HBCU All-Star Bowl.

From 1999-2004, he played professionally as a defensive end for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, earning Player of the Week honors three times.

Since leaving the league, he had enjoyed several coaching experiences including the Inaugural HBCU Bowl and SWAC Conference Championship. For the past five years he has served as the defensive line coach for the ASU Hornets where he was responsible for developing game strategies, recruiting talent and academic monitoring.

Rogers holds a bachelor’s in physical education from ASU.

HU Lady Pirates to play in 2012 Paradise Jam

HAMPTON, Virginia - The Hampton University women’s basketball team will be among the teams competing in the 2012 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, which will be held at the University of the Virgin Islands Nov. 22-24.

The Lady Pirates will be in the Reef Division, along with DePaul, South Carolina and Florida Gulf Coast. All four teams in the Reef Division made it to the NCAA Tournament last season.

Game times are listed on the bracket as Atlantic Standard Time (Eastern Daylight Time plus one hour) and are subject to change.

Hampton is scheduled to take on South Carolina, out of the Southeastern Conference, on Nov. 22 at 2:15 p.m. local time, before squaring off against DePaul on Nov. 23 at 2:15 p.m. local time.

The Lady Pirates are then scheduled to face Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 24 at 2:15 p.m. local time.

2012 Paradise Jam Reef Division Bracket 

2012 Tournament Website

The Lady Pirates set a school Division I record for wins in a season in 2011-12, going 26-5 en route to picking up their second straight MEAC regular-season title. Hampton then won its third straight MEAC Tournament crown under head coach David Six, before advancing to the NCAA Tournament to face top-seeded Stanford in the first round.

Hampton finished last season ranked No. 8 in CollegeInsider.com’s Mid-Major Top 25 poll.

South Carolina went 25-10 last season under head coach Dawn Staley, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Stanford. The Gamecocks finished the season ranked No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 25 in the Associated Press poll.

DePaul finished the season ranked No. 23 in the Coaches Poll after going 23-11 last season and falling to Tennessee in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Demons will return their top three scorers from last season.

Florida Gulf Coast went 29-3 last season, going a perfect 18-0 in the Atlantic Sun conference before taking the conference tournament and earning a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles are led by three-time Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year Karl Smesko.

The Island Division bracket will feature Connecticut, Marist, Purdue and Wake Forest.

For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

West Rowan's Norman going to Livingstone

MOUNT ULLA, North Carolina — Mike Norman is staying close to home to play college football. The West Rowan offensive lineman has chosen Livingstone.

Only a two-year player, the 6-foot-2, 260-pound tackle has been named to the East-West All-Star game in July. He’ll play tackle in that game but may switch to guard for Blue Bears’ coach Elvin James.

“Their tackles are bigger than Mike,” said West Rowan coach Scott Young. “But for a kid that big, he’s very athletic. I think he’s athletic enough to potentially play center.” When asked about the line switch, Norman laughed. “I’m going to have to get really, really fat. I’ll have to add 20 pounds.”

Young said Norman is what Livingstone wants. “He’s an East-West All-Star and that’s the kind of player they’re moving toward recruiting,” Young said. West Liberty, located in West Virginia, has signed several West Rowan players, and had an offer on the table for Norman. But Young said Zay Laster made an impression.

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WSSU Hall of Fame class announced and it's a good one

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- OK here’s a definite sign that I’m getting old when teams you covered at WSSU are now going into the hall of fame.

That’s the case when it was reveled today that the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 men’s basketball teams will be inducted into the Big House Gaines Hall of Fame later this summer. Those two teams, who were coached by Winston-Salem native Rick Duckett, were not only two great teams but they were fun to cover.

Duckett was intense, to say the least, but he also knew the deal about what I needed from him as the beat writer. One of my best memories was when Duckett allowed me to tag along on a road trip with the team for a whole weekend.  It was a unique experience to see how a team gets along on and off the court and all the interactions and decisions that are made.

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Just one job remains open on the college basketball coaching carousel. Or is it two?

ITTA BENA, Mississippi - It's the first full week of June, fully two months after the end of the 2011-12 season, but there still is one coaching vacancy.

Well, there's officially just one coaching vacancy, at Mississippi Valley State. The Delta Devils, who went to the NCAA tourney last season, are looking for a coach to replace Sean Woods, who left for the job at Morehead State.

As for the "officially" part, a few media reports have Cal State Fullerton looking for a new coach. But the school hasn't officially announced the departure/dismissal of Bob Burton, who guided the Titans to a 21-10 mark last season, including an appearance in the CIT; the Titans, who finished tied for second in the Big West, fell to Loyola Marymount in the first round of the event. Burton has been at Fullerton since 2003 and owns a 155-122 career mark with the Titans.

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Winslow out as Central State (Ohio) Athletics Director

WILBERFORCE, Ohio - Kellen Winslow has been fired as the athletics director at Central State University.

The much-heralded Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end who took over the job in 2008 said he got his letter of termination — which goes into effect June 12 — from CSU president John Garland last Thursday, a week after the two men had sat down together and he was told his contract would not be renewed in August.

Late Monday afternoon, Garland — who is retiring at the end of the month and will be replaced by Dr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond, the provost at Coppin State — met with the CSU coaches and athletic staff and informed them of his decision.

He also announced Jahan Culbreath, CSU’s associate athletics director and the Marauders’ longtime track and field coach, would serve as the interim athletics director. He had been a finalist for the job when Winslow was hired.

The reasons for Winslow’s termination remain unclear.

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Alcorn State announces White as Interim AD, football staff taking shape

LORMAN, Mississippi – Alcorn State University President M. Christopher Brown II has named Dwayne White as interim director of Intercollegiate Athletics pending the completion of a formal search.

White is a 1990 alumnus of Alcorn who played seven National Football League seasons from 1990-1996 for the New York Jets and the St. Louis Rams where he earned the nickname “The Road Grader”. White holds a B.S. in political science and a M.S. in athletic administration. AD White will begin on June 11, 2012.

President Brown stated in the transition meeting, “Alcorn must be committed to knowledge and character at every level of the campus. The heightened focus on campus athletics and corollary affairs require us to have unit heads with the experience and gravitas to serve our students and stakeholders with excellence. Our recent hires in men's basketball and football warrant us having an athletic administration equivalent to the front office of any professional sports team.”

Additionally, President Brown informed the Cabinet that he received an update on football staffing from Alcorn's new head football coach. Head Coach Jay Hopson confirmed the hiring of Fred McNair of Collins High School in Mississippi as assistant head coach and passing game coordinator, as well as Willie Simmons from Middle Tennessee State University as offensive coordinator.

Coach Hopson has also hired Charles Gamble from the University of Cincinnati who will join Braves Football as head of running backs/tight ends, and Ralph Street of Air Force who will join the defense. Rounding out Hopson's early hires is Mark McHale, the 30-plus year coaching veteran who worked with Bobby Bowden at Florida State, as Alcorn's offensive line coordinator.

President Brown said, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. When the sun fully rises on Alcorn football, the Braves will all be wearing shades.”

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NOTE:  Patric Simon, the previous athletics director for Alcorn State, tendered his resignation after two months on the job for personal reasons.  The resignation was reported on June 4, 2012, and his name was removed from the Braves athletics website today.    No further information has been released by ASU on this matter.  TRANSLATION: Mr. Simon has another job in the making...

Former USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett To Be Named AD At Langston University

LANGSTON, Oklahoma -- Former University of Southern California Heisman Trophy winner and athletic director Mike Garrett will be named the new athletic director for Langston University.

Garrett replaces Patric Simon, who left Langston in April to take the athletic director position at Alcorn State University.

Garrett will be introduced to the public at a news conference on Thursday, June 7 at 10 a.m. on the university campus. He will assume the position in July.

"We are pleased that Mr. Garrett has bought into our vision of moving our athletic programs and University to a higher level of competition and visibility," said LU President Kent Smith, Jr. "Mike Garrett is just the type of leader we need to take our athletic program to the ultimate level and put Langston University's name at the top of the list of schools that are serious about competing on and off the field while maintaining a high level of academic excellence and winning with integrity."

Garrett won the Heisman Trophy in 1965, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

Garrett had been the athletic director at USC for 17 years before being fired in August 2010 for overseeing the program during the time former Trojans Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo received numerous illegal benefits, resulting in several NCAA violations.

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Champaign Central's Butler signs with North Carolina A&T

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois  - - One of Champaign-Urbana's best basketball players is going Division I, and Monday he made it official. 

Central forward Corvon Butler signed this afternoon with North Carolina A&T State University. They're part of the MEAC Conference. That is the same league that sent Norfolk State to the NCAA Tournament last year - they knocked off 2nd-seeded Missouri. Butler says heading to A&T was just the right fit.



CORVON BUTLER #42, 6'-6"/215 Combo Forward, Champaign Central


The numbers

 Following a summer of intense training, Butler saw all that work pay off in a new uniform. The Centennial transfer led a Maroons team that won its first regional title in four years in scoring average (14.7) and rebounding (7.4). A powerhouse in the paint, the 6-6 Butler produced seven double-doubles, highlighted by a 14-point, 15-rebound performance Jan. 7 against Missouri Class 5 state champion-to-be McCluer North. Butler led Central in scoring 10 times, with a season-high 25 points against Centennial on Feb. 3. Among colleges he is considering: St. Bonaventure.

Your season highlight: Winning regional championship against rival Centennial.
Your career highlight: In AAU, hitting the game-winning three-pointer to go to the finals.
Favorite college player: Jeremy Lamb
Favorite entertainers: Kevin Hart and Denzel Washington
Favorite class: Entrepreneurship
Favorite movie: "Project X"
Favorite store: Citi Trends
Favorite restaurant: Po' Boys
Favorite car: '87 Buick Grand National
My first job was ... working for my dad at his auto repair shop.
Plans for college: Going to a four-year college, playing basketball and getting my education.
In five years, I will be ... playing basketball in the NBA or over in the Euro-league.

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NBA Draft Profile: Norfolk State's Kyle O'Quinn

NORFOLK, Virginia - Kyle O'Quinn turned into the face of the NCAA Tournament, both for his singing and scoring.

The center led Norfolk State to just the fifth 15-2 upset against Missouri, and busted brackets everywhere. Without that win, there is a chance we might never have heard of O'Quinn (something the Mid-Major Madness will make sure never happens to another player like him). He might have been regarded as just another small school center that dominated lesser competition.

Instead, he is now being talked about as a potential first round, guaranteed contract draft pick. Continuing our look at the mid-major draft prospects, we go a little deeper.







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An NAIA rarity: XU's Didavi is Louisiana Player of the Year

Loic Didavi

NEW ORLEANS — Athletes from HBCUs or NAIA schools seldom receive the highest recognition on All-Louisiana teams. But Xavier University of Louisiana's Loic Didavi did late Sunday when he was selected the men's tennis player of the year for the 2011-12 season.

That makes the Didavi the first HBCU athlete to be named Louisiana Player of the Year or its equivalent since Grambling quarterback Bruce
Eugene was football offensive player of the year in 2005.

Didavi is the first NAIA athlete to reach the top since SUNO's Julius Achon shared the men's track outstanding performer award in 1995.

Zach Taylor

"Wow! This is a great honor for Loic and Xavier," XU coach Alan Green said. "I've always wanted a program equipped with players that can compete with all the big schools in Louisiana. Loic has put in the work to earn everything he achieved this year. He has really taken our team to another level of play, and I'm grateful for him doing so."

Didavi, in his first season at Xavier after transferring from longtime NAIA power Auburn Montgomery, also was voted Newcomer of the Year. His doubles teammate, Zach Taylor, also made the first team. It's the first time that the Gold Rush have two first-team All-Louisiana tennis players. And Green — who led the XU men to a school-record 18 victories, Xavier's first national tournament quarterfinal berth in any sport since 1973, a school-record seventh straight conference/group championship and a No. 7 ranking in the postseason NAIA coaches poll — was chosen Louisiana Coach of the Year for the second straight season and the third time in four years.

Alan Green

A Louisiana Sports Writers Association panel selected the All-Louisiana team.
Didavi, a junior from Cotonou, Benin, was 25-6 in singles and 27-8 doubles and earned top-10 rankings in singles and doubles from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. He was ITA/NAIA South Regional champion in singles and doubles (with Taylor) in October and was NAIA Player of the Week for April 2-8.

Didavi denied LSU senior Neal Skupski a third consecutive Louisiana Player of the Year award and the Tigers their sixth in a row.

Taylor, a senior from Monroe, La., and a graduate of St. Frederick High School and Ventura College, was 19-6 in singles and 25-7 in doubles. He was a three-time Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week and set a GCAC career record with six weekly awards.

"Zach has also been a big part of bringing our program to top-10 status," Green said. "He is one of the craftiest players I've ever had, and he can beat just about anyone in the country on any given day. He is a small guy, but he has the ability to hit every shot in the book. He also is an extremely smart player and a tough competitor, which gives him the
opportunity to win all his matches. Zach has come in and embraced our team, our university and the entire atmosphere of playing college tennis. He is a great team guy, and he always comes through for his teammates."

Green, a New Orleans native with bachelor's and master's degrees from Xavier, led the Gold Rush (18-8) to a fourth consecutive berth in the NAIA National Championship, His team was top-10 in all nine polls this season — 11 straight dating to 2011 — and 10-5 vs. ranked NAIA teams, including road victories on consecutive days vs. top-10s Point Loma Nazarene and Westmont. The Gold Rush beat three NCAA Division I opponents and won nine straight, six against ranked NAIA teams, for the program's longest streak since the start of the 2001-02 season. For the fourth straight year, all the Gold Rush losses were to ranked NAIA opponents or DIs.

2011-12 All-Louisiana Men's Tennis First Team Olivier Borsos, junior, LSU Loic Didavi, junior, Xavier Carlin Murray, senior, Louisiana-Lafayette Chris Simpson, freshman, LSU Neal Skupski, senior, LSU Zach Taylor, senior, Xavier Second Team Ricardo Campos, junior, New Orleans Rick DeGroot, sophomore, Louisiana-Lafayette Dmitry Kozionov, junior, Nicholls State Yanick Mandl, senior, Louisiana-Lafayette Idan Mark, junior, Tulane Rodrigo Rappaccioli, junior, Tulane Player of the Year: Loic Didavi, Xavier Newcomer of the Year: Loic Didavi, Xavier Freshman of the Year: Chris Simpson, LSU Coach of the Year: Alan Green, Xavier

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

SU's Stump Mitchell to host 3rd Annual Golf Tournament

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Stump Mitchell is extending a personal invitation to Jaguar fans to join him at his third annual golf tournament June 23 at the Copper Mill Golf Club in Zachary.

The one-day tournament is sponsored by the Blue and Gold Century Club in conjunction with the SU Quarterback Club and includes a continental breakfast and a full course lunch.

Gerry Lane Buick will serve as the tournament's hole-in-one sponsor, offering a 2012 Buick Lacrosse or a vacation to the golfer who sinks a hole-in-one.

"I feel fortunate to have the tournament hosted by the Blue and Gold Century Club, in conjunction with the Quarterback Club," said head coach Stump Mitchell, who will enter his third season as Southern's head football coach this fall.

Prices for the third annual Stump Mitchell Golf tournament include $85 for singles and $500 for one-team foursomes, which features hole sponsorship on the course.

For companies interested in entering several teams, the tournament offers All-American and Hall of Fame level sponsorship packages which include gifts for each member on the team, SU Football season tickets and Bayou Classic tickets.

"This tournament will benefit Southern University Athletics as a whole. The funds raised will be used for to help the various sports teams function more effectively," said Mitchell.

"I would like to extend my sincerest thanks Craig Pierre and the other members that work so hard to make this a beautiful and successful event at the marvelous Copper Mill Golf Club in Zachary."

For more details regarding the third annual Stump Mitchell Golf Tournament, contact Craig Pierre at 225-324-7234 or via email at craigpierre@bellsouth.net.

Click here to view tournament brochure.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS