XU wins GCAC all-sports trophy for 2nd consecutive year

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana is the winner of the Thomas Howell Cup, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference's all-sports award, for the second consecutive year.

The Thomas Howell Cup, named for the GCAC's longtime commissioner, is awarded annually to the school with the most points based on order of finish in various sports. Xavier, boosted by GCAC championships in men's cross country, women's cross country, women's volleyball, women's basketball and men's basketball, finished the year with 44½ points. SUNO was second with 33 points, and Edward Waters was third with 30½.

It's the second time that Xavier has won the award. The athletics department finished in the top three for the past eight seasons.

Xavier has won 36 conference/group team championships and earned 27 berths in NAIA national championships during the past seven seasons. Xavier suspended intercollegiate athletics in 2005-06 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In six seasons since then, the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets have combined for 32 conference/group team championships and 24 berths in NAIA national championships.

Thomas Howell Cup 2011-12 Standings

No. School Points

1. Xavier 44½

2. SUNO 33

3. Edward Waters 30½

4. Dillard 30

5. Tougaloo 27½

6. Talladega 27

7. Fisk 12

8. Philander Smith 8½

Thomas Howell Cup winners School Year Cup Winner Points XU Finish XU Points 2011-12 Xavier 44½ 1st 44½ 2010-11 Xavier 31 1st 31 2009-10 Belhaven 49 3rd 40 2008-09 Mobile 42 3rd 34½ 2007-08 Mobile 56½ 3rd 37 2006-07 Mobile 43 3rd 37½ 2005-06 No cup awarded because of Hurricane Katrina 2004-05 Mobile 47 3rd 40½ 2003-04 Mobile 51 2nd 48 2002-03 Spring Hill 2001-02 Spring Hill 2000-01 Mobile

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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Jackson State University Names McCall Offensive Coordinator

COACH DERRICK MCCALL
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State University head football coach Rick Comegy has named Derrick McCall to serve as offensive coordinator. The 2012 season marks McCall's fifth as a member of the JSU Tigers coaching staff. In the last two seasons he served as the quarterbacks coach under Comegy.

For the first two seasons at JSU he was the wide receivers coach. Prior to coming to JSU he served two seasons with Shaw University as the Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator.

McCall has a wealth of knowledge and experience. In 2007, his second season at Shaw, McCall helped lead the Bears to a Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association Championship and a historic NCAA Division II berth.

From 2002-05, he was the wide receivers coach for the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers. While at Tuskegee, he served as Interim Head Football Coach and won a SIAC Championship and Pioneer Bowl Championship. He has helped send two athletes to the National Football League, Harry Williams of the Houston Texans and Calvin Russell of the Green Bay Packers and one athlete to the Arena Football League, Ken Henderson of the Philadelphia Soul.

From 1985-87, he coached with the semi-pro football team, Buck Town Suns. He spent one season, in 1988, as the quarterback coach at Edison High School in Miami, Fla. From 1996-97, he coached at Shaw High School in Mobile, Al. From 1997-2000, McCall was the assistant head football coach and offensive coordinator at M.T. Blount High School, where he helped led them to three consecutive Alabama 5-A State Championship titles. He also served as quarter back coach for the Mobile Seagulls Arena Football League from 1999-2000.

McCall also had a successful collegiate career as a quarterback for Jackson State from 1979-82. While at Jackson State, he won two SWAC Championships and made two NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances.

The Mobile, Alabama native is a 2001 graduate of Spring Hill College, he received a bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in management. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Mt. Hebron Baptist Church. McCall is the proud parent of three daughters, Tiffany, Tanesha and India. He has two grandchildren, Isaac and RhyAnn. He is married to the former Theresa Middlebrook.



COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF SPORTS MEDIA

High ITA rankings maken XU's Didavi, Taylor, Howell All-America

Loic Didavi

 NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Loic Didavi, Zach Taylor and Kourtney Howell have been named NAIA All-America for the 2011-12 season by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

The three earned the honor by being top 20 in singles or top 10 in doubles in the ITA's postseason individual rankings. Didavi, a junior from Cotonou, Benin, and a graduate of Lycée

Jean Dautet, La Rochelle, was ranked eighth in singles and sixth in doubles with Taylor, a senior from Monroe, La., and a graduate of St. Frederick High School and Ventura College. Those are the highest final NAIA rankings of the Gold Rush.


Zach Taylor

Taylor ranked 19th in singles. This is the second straight year he's an ITA All-American; he qualified last year when he and Hassan Abbas ranked 10th in doubles. Taylor is Xavier's first two-time ITA All-American, male or female.

Howell, a sophomore from Cypress, Texas, and a graduate of Cypress Woods High School, set a Gold Nuggets record with her No. 15 final ranking.

Also ranked nationally in the postseason were XU's Viktor Svoboda, 33rd in men's singles, and the men's doubles team of Steffen Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson at No. 16. Amanda Materre was 36th in singles and was one of eight NAIA freshmen in the women's final top 50.

Svoboda is a sophomore from Kamenice, Czech Republic, and a graduate of Vitezna Plan. Giles-Osborn is a senior from Atlanta and a graduate of Westlake High School. Richardson is a senior from Ellenwood, Ga., and a graduate of Stockbridge High. Amanda Materre is from Richmond, Texas, and a graduate of Westside High.

Kourtney Howell

This is the first time that the XU men have three in the final singles top 50, and it's their first time with two teams in final doubles top 20. Xavier is one of seven men's programs — the others are Embry-Riddle (Fla.), Fresno Pacific, Point Loma Nazarene, Vanguard, Westmont and national champion Oklahoma Christian — with at least three singles players and two doubles teams in this year's final rankings.

Materre is the first XU female in the final singles top 50 since Dominique Bell was 30th in 2003-04. Giles-Osborn is in the final doubles top 20 for the third time.

Both Xavier teams won unaffiliated group championships to qualify automatically for the NAIA National Championships. The Gold Rush reached the quarterfinals at nationals and became the first XU team in any sport to advance that far since 1973.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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Pete Richardson's Louisiana Hall of Fame Credentials Forged in Bayou Classic Glory

NATCHITOCHES, Louisiana - The teams always found a way to disappoint. Championships were a pipe dream. And the end of every season came with yet another loss to Grambling.

Southern's football program, once the class of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, had gone decades without realizing its potential, gaining a reputation for chewing up coaches and falling short against in rivalry games.

Then, in late 1992, university leadership made a compromise hire. It settled on Pete Richardson — a virtual unknown in Louisiana, a man with a slender build, thick glasses and a quiet, businesslike approach.

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B.C. Lions wanting to take a look at "The White Tiger" JSU's Casey Therriault



QUARTERBACK CASEY THERRIAULT
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
(Photo Courtesy: JSU Athletics)

KAMLOOPS, British Columbia -- A White Knight typically rides in to save a damsel -- or a football team -- in distress.

But the B.C. Lions insist that their recruitment of quarterback Casey Therriault -- who played with the Jackson State Tigers, a predominantly black university in Mississippi -- is no such saviour, though Therriault was known as “The White Tiger” at Jackson State.

“A guy like Casey wasn’t on our radar, because we didn’t think we’d be able to sign him,” GM Wally Buono said Sunday. “We want to bring him in as part of our evaluation process. That’s all it is. It’s no reflection on the other guys we have.”

The CFL team's training camp quarterback contingent went from five to four on Friday with the release of Corey Leonard, who spent the 2011 season on the injured list but participated in every practice as the “scout team” quarterback.



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BSU's Isaac Redman has no doubts he’s ready to lead the Steelers

MONROEVILLE, Pennsylvania  -  New Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley is expected to implement a run-first offense in Pittsburgh, and the biggest question is who will do most of the running. After Rashard Mendenhall suffered a torn ACL in Week 17, it appears that the carrying the load will fall to Isaac Redman. And Redman says he’s ready for that.



“Rashard and I really haven’t spoken that much,” Redman told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “We both understand that he’s working as hard as he can to get back. I’m working hard to lead this team until he gets back to 100 percent, and I don’t doubt that I can.”

Redman has every reason to be confident after the way he played when Mendenhall went down: In that Week 17 game when Mendenhall was hurt against the Browns, Redman stepped in and had 19 carries for 92 yards. The next week, in the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Broncos, he had 17 carries for 121 yards. Redman says that’s what gives him confidence in himself, and his teammates confidence in him.

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2nd Annual Joe Taylor Football Camp Set For June 28-30

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - FAMU head football coach Joe Taylor, will host his annual football camp on the campus of Florida A&M University on June 28-30. The camp will take place at the Rattler practice fields, Galimore-Powell Fieldhouse and Bragg Memorial Stadium.

The camp will host more than 150 young athletes (ages 10-18). Taylor and his staff of coaches will train the youngsters in updated techniques for all basic fundamentals.

Taylor and his staff will also provide instruction in the fundamentals of football, conditioning, health and safety, and leadership at the camp. On-site housing is available.

Campers are expected daily to bring their camp t-shirt, cleats and a bottle of water.

To register, please contact Aaron Taylor at (850)599-3723.




FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY RATTLERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 2012 (.pdf version)

Sept. 1, at Tennessee State, "Big" John Merritt Classic, Nashville, TN
Sept. 8, at University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Sept. 15, Hampton,* Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL#
Sept. 22, at Delaware State,* Dover, DE
Sept. 29, at Southern, Atlanta Football Classic, Atlanta, GA%
Oct. 6, at Howard, * Washington, D.C.
Oct. 13, Savannah State* (Homecoming), Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL*
Oct. 20, South Carolina State,* Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
Nov. 3, at North Carolina A&T,* Greensboro, NC
Nov. 10, North Carolina Central,* Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL$
Nov. 17, Bethune-Cookman, at Florida Classic, Orlando, FL+

Key:

# Hall of Fame Weekend
% Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic
* Homecoming
$ Prince Hall Shriner's Diabetes Classic/Community Day
+Blue Cross/Blue Shield Florida Classic
Games Times to be announced when confirmed.

Season Tickets Prices
$60 General Admission (Limited Quantity
$75 - Reserved
$100 Chair Back Box Seating (Renewal Only)
$125 - Reserved Basketball Included
$150 - Chair Back Box Seating with Basketball Included (Renewal Only)

For ticket information, please call (850) 599-3141

Rattler Booster packages are available now by calling their office at (850) 224-6093. For more information on the Rattler Boosters, please visit TheRattlerBoosters.com.

Don't forget, if you can't make it to a home game, you can sign up to Rattler Vision, where you can watch the game streamed to your laptop or home computer. To sign up to Rattler Vision, go to FAMUAthletics.com.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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NSU's Everett Goldberg has a superman leg

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Everett Goldberg, a 6-4/210 junior field goal kicker at Norfolk State University has shown a leg of steel during his summer practice. Superman Goldberg has been working out with field goal kicks starting at 65 yards moving down to 50 yards. Not only is the Mesa Ridge, Colorado native making the distance, but with almost 100 percent accuracy, as shown by these multiple video views.

Goldberg is the real deal and his consistency from long distances will make the defending champions NSU Spartans a difficult win for all MEAC foes in the upcoming 2012 football season.

Let the church say "Repeat" for the 2011 FCS Playoffs Norfolk State Spartans.




2012 NSU Football Season Tickets Now on Sale (Click for Ticket Information)

2012 Norfolk State University Football Schedule

9/1/2012		Virginia State (Virginia Lottery Labor Day Classic)	Norfolk, Va.	6 p.m.
9/8/2012		Liberty University	Lynchburg, Va.	7 p.m.
9/15/2012	*	Howard University	Norfolk, Va.	4 p.m.
9/22/2012		Ohio University	Athens, Ohio	TBA
9/29/2012	*	South Carolina State	Orangeburg, S.C.	2 p.m.
10/6/2012	*	Delaware State University	Norfolk, Va.	4 p.m.
10/13/2012	*	Hampton University (Battle of the Bay)	Hampton, Va.	1 p.m.
10/20/2012	*	Bethune-Cookman University	Daytona Bch., Fla.	TBA
10/27/2012	*	North Carolina A&T	Greensboro, N.C.	1:30 p.m.
11/3/2012	*	Savannah State (Homecoming)	Norfolk, Va.	2 p.m.
11/10/2012	*	Morgan State  (Senior Day)	Norfolk, Va.	1 p.m.

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

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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.

READ THE COMPLETE STORY

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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