S.C. State's Buddy Pough gears up for another title run

NORFOLK, Virginia — The lineup of teams and head coaches has changed over the past 11 years in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

If there’s one constant, it’s the presence of South Carolina State’s Buddy Pough. Only Morgan State’s Donald Hill-Elay has shown up for the conference’s annual football press luncheon with the same team since 2002 as many times as the second-winningest coach in school history.

For the first time in three years, Pough arrives today at the Sheridan Waterside Hotel not as the head coach of the current MEAC champion. A pair of 3-point losses to eventual titleholder Norfolk State and Florida A&M ended the Bulldogs’ three-year reign and run of Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearances.

Entering his 11th season at the helm, Pough talked about his “elder statesman” role, regaining the conference title and concerns about the schedule:

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Miles football coach Reginald Ruffin fills off time with family, SpongeBob

The 2012 Labor Day Golden Classic will be held on September 2, 2012 at Legion Field at 6:00pm. The Miles College Golden Bears will take on the Lions from the University of North Alabama.


CHELSEA, Alabama -- Coach Reginald Ruffin is a fighter. He learned that from his mother. "I watched her for 12 years fight cancer, and I took her to all her treatments up until she passed," he says. "She fought until the end, and that fighting is in me."

That fighting spirit has served Ruffin well, from his football-playing career at the University of North Alabama, where he was a three-time All-American, to coaching stints at UNA, Tuskegee University and elsewhere.

Ruffin just finished his first season as head football coach of the Miles Golden Bears, where he fought his way to the top. The team won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and he was named SIAC football coach of the year.

But at home in Chelsea—with wife Monica and son Gabe, 8—it may surprise folks to know that Ruffin is all about HGTV and SpongeBob SquarePants.

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HU forges into football without FCS playoffs goal

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Before preseason practice begins, Hampton University's football team knows the playoffs are unreachable. The Pirates are ineligible for the FCS tournament because of failure to meet NCAA Academic Progress Rate requirements, a sanction announced in June.

An APR is calculated annually for every Division I sports team. The APR is based on the eligibility and retention of each scholarship recipient. The three FCS schools ineligible for the 2012 playoffs are Hampton, North Carolina A&T, and Texas Southern. Hampton and N.C. A&T belong to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

HU returns 17 starters from last season's team, which went 7-4 and lost three games by four or fewer points. Coach Donovan Rose said he told his players, "A lot of this happened before you guys were here. We're going to accept that, and move on, and go forward."

Hampton's fourth-year coach, a former Pirates star player, said the school isn't addressing the APR issue only in a verbal way. The academic profile of the Pirates' incoming class of football recruits represents improvement from previous years, according to Rose. "Out of my 18 freshmen, 14 of them had a 3.0 (grade-point-average) or better," he said.

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Jackson State Student-Athlete Looses Battle to Cancer

VINCENT JONES
JSU Tigers

JACKSON, Mississippi - Jackson State University student and football team member Vincent Jones passed away Monday evening at the University of Mississippi Medical Center following a long battle against cancer.

Jones, a 6'3", 320 pound offensive lineman, was a Jackson, Miss., native. He enrolled at Jackson State University in the fall of 2011 as a freshman.

"Vincent was a wonderful young man," said JSU head coach Rick Comegy. "He was well liked by everyone in the football program and he will truly be missed."

The JSU football team will play the 2012 season in honor of Vincent Jones. Information concerning funeral services will be announced when it becomes available.

COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Motivated ASU Circling 2012 Opener

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Considering that preseason rankings mean just that- a simple preseason prediction. Albany State football isn't overly concerned with their predicted spot in the SIAC. Announced on Tuesday at SIAC Kickoff Lunch, ASU earned four first place votes…good enough for second place behind Morehouse College in the East Division.



The Golden Rams open the 2012 schedule with the team that closed the book on their 2011 season, North Greenville. Albany State lost to the Crusaders in the first round of the Division Two playoffs 63-14. That final score certainly isn’t lost on ASU Head Coach Mike White and his Golden Rams.

“I just think we can play a lot better than we did. I thought the conference championship loss had a lot to do with it...going in to that game. I just think we’ll go in with a better attitude and I think it’ll be a better ballgame,” Coach White said.

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A Prince George’s pool builds an African American swimming powerhouse

MITCHELLVILLE, Maryland - They drive their kids to swim team practice at 5 a.m. And bring them back to the pool at night for more. The Kingfish parents buy everything in orange, the team color. Sandals, shoes, purses, pants, hats. And they wear all of it, even to practice.

They create spreadsheets, newsletters, bar graphs and a Web site, which began counting down the days and hours to the first swim practice sometime back in February. They even have a team sandwich — The King Fishwich.

Five years ago, the Kingfish swam in the least competitive division in the Prince-Mont Swim League.

“We’d set out a table by the Giant (Food Store), trying to recruit swimmers,” said Calvin Holmes, intense swim parent extraordinaire and president of the swim club. “And people would just walk by us. Or think we were selling fish.”

This summer, after going undefeated for three consecutive years, they are swimming in the league’s most competitive division. Now the swimmers come to them, from miles around, to the Lake Arbor pool in Mitchelleville.

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WSSU Rams' Bazemore enjoys summer league

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - WyKevin Bazemore isn't resting on the success he had in his first basketball season at Winston-Salem State.

Bazemore, a 6-foot-5 forward who was voted the CIAA freshman of the year for 2011-12, is back working on his game, playing in the Triad Pro-Am Summer League at Forsyth Country Day with WSSU teammates Tyre Desmore, William Peay and Justin Glover.

Also competing in the league, now in its sixth season, are Wake Forest and other current and former Division I and Division II players and some professional players with area ties.

"The competition is great, and the guys are really into it," said Bazemore, who also helped WSSU win last season's CIAA title. "We are in the gym a lot, all trying to improve, but these games are good for us because it's going to help with my confidence, and I'm working a lot on my jumper."

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SU Football set for third fall camp under Mitchell

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -  Southern head coach Stump Mitchell will open his third fall camp Wednesday, Aug. 1 in preparation for the 2012 season. Players are schedule to report to A.W. Mumford Fieldhouse for check-in at 1 p.m. before conducting preseason physicals later that afternoon.

The Jaguars will conduct mandatory team meetings and NCAA Compliance seminar on Aug 2. before hitting the practice field for the first time at 8:50 a.m. Aug. 3.

All practices are open to the public unless further specified and fans are encouraged to attend.

Southern will don full practice gear for the first on Aug. 8 for a 9 a.m. practice before conduct its first two-a-day on Aug. 9. Mitchell, who is 6-16 as head coach, will hold three scrimmages during fall camp 2012 with the first one arriving on Saturday, Aug 11. at 10 a.m.

The Jaguar will hold media day activities at 9 a.m. Aug. 18 before holding its final two-a-day of fall camp.

Fall classes begin Aug. 20 at 8 a.m. Fan Day is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 25 at 3 p.m.

Complete practice schedule for Fall Camp 2012

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
1 p.m. - Players report to camp
5 p.m. - Physicals

Thursday, August 2, 2012
9 a.m. - Team meeting 
2 p.m. - Condition Testing
4:45 p.m. - NCAA Rules Compliance

Friday, August 3, 2012
8:50 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Practice (AP 1 - helmets)

Saturday, August 4, 2012
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Practice (AP 2 shells)

Sunday, August 5, 2012
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Practice

Monday, August 6, 2012
3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Practice (AP 3- shells)

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Practice (AP 4 - Shells)

Wednesday, August 8, 2012
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Practice  (AP5- Full Gear)

Thursday, August 9, 2012
9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Practice (#6-helmets)
3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Practice #7-Full Gear

Friday, August 10, 2012
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Practice #8-Shells
3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Walk-Through

Saturday, August 11, 2012
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Practice #9 (Scrimmage)
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Practice #10 Caps/Helmets

Sunday, August 12, 2012
2 p.m. - Light Run

Monday, August 13, 2012
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Practice #11 Full Gear

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Practice #12

4:40 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. - Practice #13 Helmets

Wednesday, August 15, 2012
3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Practice #14 Full Gear

Thursday, August 16, 2012
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Practice #15 Full Gear 
3:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. - Practice #16 Shells

Friday, August 17, 2012
3:20 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. - Practice #17-Full Gear

Saturday, August 18, 2012
9 a.m. to 10 a.m. - MEDIA DAY (A.W. Mumford Fieldhouse)
10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. - Practice #18 Helmets
3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Practice #19 (Scrimmage)

Monday, August 20, 2012
8 a.m. Fall Classes Begins                 

 

Saturday, August 25, 2012

3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fan Appreciation Day (Tentative)

6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Practice #25 (Final Scrimmage)

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Rolland's debut: All-America in long jump, 4.0 GPA at XU

XU track and field standout Devinn Rolland displays her NAIA
 All-America plaque and her three conference championship medals.

NEW ORLEANS — After two semesters at Xavier University of Louisiana, Devinn Rolland has carved a unique niche in XU history.

A chemistry/pre-pharmacy major from the New Orleans suburb of Harvey, La., Rolland is the first XU freshman student-athlete to be named All-America. And she's the first from Xavier to record a 4.0 grade-point average for both semesters during an All-America year.

Rolland was named NAIA All-America after finishing sixth May 24 in the long jump — she produced a personal record of 19 feet, 5½ inches on her fifth of six jumps — at the national outdoor track and field championship meet in Marion, Ind. The top eight in each individual event and all four runners from the top eight relay teams received that honor. Nearly three weeks earlier, she completed her second straight XU semester with all A's.

Rolland also qualified for the NAIA meet in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. In both events she reached the semifinals.

"I'm not surprised," said Nancy Walsh, her basketball coach at Cabrini High School in New Orleans. "Devinn is amazing. Her senior year we did early morning preseason conditioning several days a week . . . from the start of school in August until the start of practice in October. Devinn never missed a workout, and her grades never suffered."

Rolland was a Cabrini salutatorian and a National Achievement Scholarship recipient. It's her academic success which enabled her to attend Xavier on a Board of Trustees Scholarship, a full cost-of-attendance award that she'll keep for 2012-13 because of her outstanding grades.

"You have to study," Rolland said. "You have to stay on top of your academic work because if you don't, it'll get difficult."

It seems that the only difficulty Rolland has encountered is deciding to participate in track and field. She says she's always been fast — "When I was younger, I was always beating the other kids when we raced on the playground" — and an uncle in coaching encouraged her to formally compete. Rolland remembers attending one practice for a local age-group team, but she didn't continue.

Finally, after one year at Cabrini, Rolland joined the track team in ninth grade. "I thought it would be too tough," she said. But her performances suggested otherwise. Rolland was a Class 4A state champion outdoors as a sophomore in the long jump and won another 4A state title in the 200 a year later. As a senior at the 4A outdoor meet she placed second in the long jump, third in the 200 and anchored a pair of top-three relay teams. Cabrini scored 64 points to finish second, its best finish ever at the state meet.

Rolland faced another do-I-or-don't-I decision at Xavier. Coach Joseph Moses — who revived the XU track program by entering some of his cross country runners in meets during the spring 2010 semester and had followed Rolland's Cabrini career — had an open-arm welcome ready for her. But, once again, she had doubts.

"I was very close to not running track," Rolland said. "I thought I wouldn't be able to handle it and stay on top of my studies. But when I got to orientation in August, I decided to give it a try and see what happened."

What happened was Rolland's usual standard of excellence. She handled all challenges in the classroom. Though she didn't relish weight training and the resulting soreness, eventually she got stronger.

"Devinn had an awesome year," Moses said.

At the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships on April 28 at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans, Rolland was the only female to win three individual events. She beat defending champions in the 100 and long jump and finished first in the 200. All three of Rolland's winning marks were better than those of the previous year. Her times of 11.87 seconds in the 100 and 24.51 in the 200 were personal records.

Her long jump PR at the NAIA meet qualified her for the USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Bloomington, Ind., in mid-June. Though she finished 11th out of 19 jumpers and did not qualify for the U.S. team which competed at the IAAF World Junior Championships this month in Barcelona, Spain, Rolland finished ahead of NCAA Division I athletes from Kent State, North Texas and Appalachian State. And, according to Moses, she took another positive step just by competing.

"Devinn has just begun to scratch the surface in track and field," Moses said. "She's a special young lady with tremendous natural ability. She will get better the longer she competes because of the experience she'll gain. Going to NAIA nationals and going to USA juniors opened her eyes to what's out there. I expect her to get PRs in the sprints and the long jump next season."

This XU program made noise a year ago, too. With the help of several basketball players, who combined to score nearly one-third of the the Gold Nuggets' points, Moses coached Xavier's women to the 2011 GCAC outdoor championship, edging crosstown rival Dillard by 5½ points. The women's 4x400 relay team — Marchelle Jones, Brianna Dekine, Ashley Taylor and Dominique Webb — competed at the 2011 NAIA meet.

"Track at Xavier has a long tradition of success," Moses said. "I think the potential is here for a team to win a national championship."

XU's GCAC outdoor track champions of the past two seasons

2012 Men
5,000 — Kwame Jackson, 17:49.84

Women
100 — Devinn Rolland, 11.87
200 — Devinn Rolland, 24.51
800 — Zahri Jackson, 2:24.41
1,500 — Catherine Fakler, 5:00.81
Long Jump — Devinn Rolland, 17-10¼
Shot Put — Keldra Hall, 37-2½

2011 Men
1,500 — Matt Pieri, 4:28.49
5,000 — Matt Pieri, 16:55.88

Women (1st in team standings)
400 — Brianna Dekine, 57.51
400 Hurdles — Ashley Taylor, 1:05.78
4 x 400 Relay — Marchelle Jones, Brianna Dekine, Ashley Taylor, Dominique Webb, 4:00.72
4 x 800 Relay — Yazmin Ramirez, Donyé Coleman, Rubeneisha Cooper, Brianna Dekine, 10:19.02
Shot Put — Keldra Hall, 36-5

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

TSU Track & Field Finishes Signing Period by Inking Ten

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - As the signing period comes to a close, Tennessee State University Track & Field Director Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice announced the addition of 10 more student-athletes who will compete in meets this upcoming season. The 2012 signee class includes a total of 14.

The newly inked student-athletes are Shaquille Cragwall (Lebanon, Tenn./Lebanon HS), Shawn Harris (Memphis, Tenn./Central HS), Jalon McCutcheon (Nashville, Tenn./Hume Fogg Magnet), Ronnie Scott (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lafayette HS), Jason Griffin (Gallatin, Tenn./Gallatin HS), Kareem Nicholas (Decatur, Ga./Cedar Grove HS), Amber Townsend (Decatur, Ga./Cedar Grove), Michelle Bradley (Chattanooga, Tenn./Ooltewah HS), Jasmine Owens (Antioch, Tenn./Martin Luther King Magnet HS) and Angel Davis (Ellenwood, Ga./Cedar Grove HS).

"We are excited about where the program is headed with this recruiting class," Cheeseborough-Guice said. "I want to say thank you to all of my coaches for bringing in such a good class."

The class features four sprinters, three jumpers, three hurdlers, three middle-distance runners and one thrower. The diversity and size of the class will help fill holes left vacant by departed seniors, as well as add depth to next year's squad.

"We lost a lot of seniors last year and we needed to replace them. We did that along with putting some athletes in key places," Cheeseborough-Guice noted. "We are excited about having such a large group and we feel like we can compete with more depth."

Cragwell, from Lebanon, is a multiple event jumper who finished second in the triple-jump and high jump events at the 2012 TSSAA State Meet. He also competed in the Great 8 Selective Track meet at Vanderbilt University. Cragwell broke the school record in the triple-jump event and his personal best is 46- 8.75 in.

Harris, a native of Memphis, is one of three hurdlers signed to this year's upcoming squad. This past year, Harris was the State champion in the 110m hurdles, and he also competed in the 300m hurdle event. He has personal best times of 14.57 (110m) and 39.54 (300m).

Gallatin product Jason Griffin is another hurdler that joins the Flying Tigers this season. Griffin competed at the state meet and the Selective Great 8 Track meet hosted at Vanderbilt University earlier this year, and he set several school records throughout his high school career in the hurdle events.

Jalon McCutcheon, from Nashville, is a middle distance runner who comes to TSU with a number of accolades. McCutcheon was a 4 time National All-American and earned Tennessee All Mid-State Team honors. He also competed at the Jesse Owen Classic XC Elite, placing 4th in the 400m in 2011 and 3rd in the 800m in 2012.

Jumper Ronnie Scott is the only player from the 2012 recruiting class that did not attend high school in the southeast, coming from Brooklyn, N.Y. Scott had success at the city and state level, and he was a part of several teams that competed at prestigious Penn Relays track meet. He excels at the triple-jump where his personal best is 46- 2.75 in.

Nicholas and Townsend both come to TSU from the same high school in Decatur, Ga. Nicholas performed well as both a hurdler and a jumper with personal bests of 46- 5 in. in the triple-jump and 39.99 in the 300 meter hurdles. Townsend will be primarily used in the triple-jump where she was the county runner up, region runner up, and sectionals runner up. She placed first at the event in a tournament at Morehouse College and also placed first at three other events throughout the season.

Bradley, a native of Ooltewah, will feel at home this fall during cross country season, as she was a cross country runner during high school while also competing at the state meet in track and field in the 800m and high jump.

Another student-athlete committed is sprinter Jasmine Owens who comes to Tennessee State from Antioch. She has a personal best time of 57.48 in the 400m dash which earned her second place honors at the state meet. Owens also led her high school to three straight State Championships.

The sole thrower in the recruiting class is Angel Davis from Ellenwood, Ga. She was the 2012 county champion in the discus with a throw of 129.10 ft and she beat that toss with a 132.9 ft. throw at the Marietta Last Chance Invitational, placing first. In 2012 alone, Davis placed first five different times in discus.

The other four student-athletes who signed their National Letters of Intent are Clairwin Dameus, Leslye Williams, Jerome Henderson and Quamel Prince.

2012 TSU Track & Field Signees
Michelle Bradley - Middle Distance/Cross Country - Chattanooga, Tenn. (Ooltewah HS)Shaquille Cragwall - Jumper - Lebanon, Tenn. (Lebanon HS)
Clairwin Damues - Sprinter - Boynton Beach, Fla. (Santaluces Community HS)
Angel Davis - Thrower - Ellenwood, Ga. (Cedar Grove HS)
Jason Griffin - Hurdler - Gallatin, Tenn. (Gallatin HS)
Shawn Harris - Hurdler - Memphis, Tenn. (Central HS)
Jerome Henderson - Sprinter - Clarksville, Tenn. (Clarksville HS)
Jasmine Owens - Sprinter - Antioch, Tenn. (Martin Luther King Magnet HS)
Quamel Prince - Sprinter/Middle Distance - Nashville, Tenn. (Antioch HS)
Jalon McCutcheon - Middle Distance - Nashville, Tenn. (Hume Fogg Magnet HS)
Kareem Nicholas - Jumper/Hurdler - Decatur, Ga. (Cedar Grove HS)
Ronnie Scott - Jumper - Brooklyn, N.Y. (Lafayette HS)
Amber Townsend - Jumper - Decatur, Ga. (Cedar Grove HS)
Leslye Williams - Sprinter - Nashville, Tenn. (Martin Luther King Magnet HS)

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

GSU's Doug Williams, others ponder Bayou Classic future

GSU's COACH DOUG WILLIAMS

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — The last few Bayou Classics have seen records for lowest attendance and highest margin of defeat for Southern, and this summer, the game lost its sponsor of more than a decade when State Farm announced it would pull out in 2013.

Any way you slice it, the game isn’t what it used to be. But if the first step toward fixing a problem is recognizing there is one, things are on the mend.

Grambling coach Doug Williams, who played in and won the first Bayou Classic in front of 76,753 at Tulane Stadium, said he’d be lying if he said he didn’t worry about the game’s future.

“We cannot afford to lose probably one of the greatest rivalries in New Orleans of all time,” Williams said. “The most important thing is the fans, the alumni, everybody in the state of Louisiana has to rally around this and try to keep the Bayou Classic what it is.”

Williams said that could mean moving ...

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Alabama A&M: Bulldogs seek yet another baseball coach

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M is looking for yet another baseball coach. The job was posted Tuesday and sources say interim coach Michael Tompkins is expected to apply.

Tompkins, who couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday, was forced into the job after the holidays last year when then-head coach Eddie McCann retired due to health problems after leading the Bulldogs to a 10-37 record in 2011, including a 6-18 mark in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Tompkins, who had served as McCann's top assistant in 2011, took over and led A&M to an 8-42 record last season, including a 1-23 mark in league play. The Bulldogs went 0-23 on the road and were outscored 440-145.

A&M got off to a good start under Tompkins, going ...

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SIAC notebook

ATLANTA, Georgia - Morehouse didn't have to worry about a lack of representation Tuesday.

When the preseason All-SIAC teams were announced, eight Maroon Tigers dotted the rosters, with six players named to the first team and two to the second. Morehouse coach Rich Freeman said garnering that much recognition from his coaching peers was "a tremendous accomplishment" for his team.

"We're kind of used to being picked toward the bottom," he said. "Back in 2007 we were the No. 10 team, and we were able to dispel that with what we did during that season [going 7-3], so it provides a little bit of gratitude for us that now we're being congratulated."

Morehouse-rival Clark Atlanta had three players selected, all on the second team. The two Atlanta schools were not the only ones from Georgia with All-SIAC nominations, however. Albany State, the league runner-up last season, had eight players named to the two teams, and Fort Valley State had five.

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Toyota Named Title Sponsor of SWAC Title Game

Courtesy SWAC.org

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and Toyota announced that Toyota will serve as title sponsor for the 2012 SWAC Football Championship at Monday's annual SWAC Football Media Day.

"Toyota is excited to serve as title sponsor of the 2012 SWAC” stated Jim Colon, vice president of Toyota product communications for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "We look forward to continuing our dialogue with SWAC students and alumni who have been overwhelmingly receptive to our Toyota Green Initiative, an environmental education and action program for the African American community.

This year, Toyota will serve as the presenting sponsor of the 2012 men’s football regular season and championship games. Toyota will also continue working with SWAC on its Toyota Green Initiative program. Since 2009, the Toyota Green Initiative has reached over 50 HBCU schools, campuses and events with a fully-immersive consumer experiential featuring a Toyota hybrid vehicle test drives, a simulated recycling center and eco-friendly games, prizes and exhibits. On select HBCU campuses the Toyota experiential display will include; an environmental service event and a 'Toyota Green Lecture' conducted by African American experts on environmental issues.

In 2011, Toyota served as the official automotive partner for SWAC. The Jackson State University was the SWAC affiliated HBCU campus with the most qualified promises on Toyotagreen.com and won a $1,000 scholarship endowment and $4,000 towards a campus greenhouse. SWAC students competed for prizes and to provide the best ideas on howto “green” their campuses in conjunction with TGI, with Tamika Smith of Jackson State University being voted as the Grand prize winner of a 2013 Toyota Prius because of her work in the Toyota Green Campus Contest.

Fellow SWAC student, Nara McCray of Alabama A&M University, was right on her heels as the contest runner up. Both students won a Toyota Tree Park for their respective campuses and will serve on the Toyota Green Initiative as student Coalition members to guide other HBCU students on how they can make a green difference on their campuses.

The SWAC is proud to have Toyota as the title sponsor for the SWAC 2012 Football Championship,” says Commissioner Duer Sharp. “We are excited to continue our relationship with Toyota and are looking forward to the championship in December.”

About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of nearly 1,500 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers which sold more than 1.64 million vehicles in 2011. Toyota directly employs over 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion.

For more information about Toyota, visit http://www.toyota.com/, http://www.lexus.com/, http://www.scion.com/ or http://www.toyotanewsroom.com./

To learn more about the Toyota Green Initiative, please visit www.ToyotaGreen.com.

COURTESY  SWAC.org

SIAC coaches find no fault in preseason poll

ATLANTA, Georgia  -  Morehouse and Miles were two of the top teams in the SIAC last season.

That's not expected to change in 2012, as the schools were picked to win their respective divisions in a preseason poll conducted by the league's coaches Tuesday at the conference's media day. The Maroon Tigers were selected by half of the 10 coaches to make it to the conference championship game from the Eastern Division, edging Albany State by one vote.

Morehouse coach Rich Freeman was not surprised with the poll results and was confident of what his team could do this fall.

"It just makes you feel good that your peers feel the same way," he said. "That gives us a lot of confidence going into the season. At the same time, it provides a lot of pressure, pressure that we're not afraid of. We'll go into it headfirst."



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Dustin Washburn Named Lincoln Offensive Line Coach

Dustin Washburn

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri  -  The Lincoln football team has hired Dustin Washburn as its new offensive line coach. Washburn joins the Blue Tigers after spending the past year serving in the same position on the coaching staff at Northeastern State.

Washburn brings experience as both a player and coach to Lincoln. After spending three years as the starting center at Tarleton State, where Washburn was a two-time all-conference offensive lineman, he joined the professional ranks, playing for the West Texas Roughnecks arena team in 2010. Washburn helped lead the team to the Indoor Football League playoffs that season.

Following his playing career, Washburn was student assistant coach at Tarleton State, working as the tight ends coach and assistant offensive line coach. From there he was hired to the position of offensive line coach at Northeastern State, one of four school which are joining the MIAA for the 2012-13 athletic season. Washburn assisted in film breakdown and analysis at Northeastern State and coached a unit that allowed just 18 sacks last season. The RiverHawks boasted one of the top 10 offenses in the country in 2011, with three players coached by Washburn going on to earn all-conference honors.

Washburn also has extensive experience in recruiting, having helped bring players to both Tarleton State and Northeastern State during his time at each program. An NCAA-certified recruiter, Washburn helped organize and coordinate recruiting visits with the RiverHawks.

A 2010 graduate of Tarleton State, Washburn also holds a masters degree in Education Administration (Tarleton State, December 2010) and is working towards another in Education Leadership at Northeastern State.

By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BLUE TIGERS

WSSU Ram Ramblings: Football season is getting closer

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -  I know when the summer is getting closer to ending because the CIAA is holding its football media day very soon. That will come on Thursday when the coaches get together in Petersburg, Virginia with the contest being which coach can say the least about their team.

The media day is nothing more than a chance for coaches to vote on a preseason poll, but as for actually getting information from the coaches - forget about it. A lot of coaches are still trying to figure out which players will be showing up so it’s hard for them to talk about how well their teams might do.

Practices won’t start for another two weeks or so, and by then coaches will have a better handle on what their team might look like.

With Winston-Salem State coming off the CIAA title and a deep run in the Division II playoffs it will be a shock if the Rams aren’t selected as the favorite to win the conference again. I realize they lost Nic Cooper, Akeem Ward, Dominique Fitzgerald and Alton Keaton but there’s plenty of talent left for coach Connell Maynor.

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SWAC Announces 2012 Preseason All-Conference Team

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced the 2012 Preseason All-Conference football team on Monday at the annual Media Day event at the Birmingham Marriott.

Grambling State running back Dawarence Roberts was chosen as the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Jackson State defensive lineman Joseph LeBeau was tabbed preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Roberts rushed for 1,102 yards in 2011, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He scored eight touchdowns and averaged 110.2 yards per game. Meanwhile, Lebeau was ranked in the top 10 in the SWAC in tackles last season with 75, He led the conference in tackles for loss and fourth in FCS with 24.5. He was also 2nd in FSC in Sacks: with 16. In addition to his SWAC preseason laurels, Lebeau is a BSN 2012 Preseason 1st Team All-American, CFPA preseason watch list, In 2011, he was named SWAC Newcomer of the Year.

The preseason All-SWAC teams were selected by the league coaches, Sports Information Directors and selected members of the media.

Preseason All-SWAC 1st-team Offense

QB Deaunte Mason, SR, Alabama A&M
RB Kaderious Lacey, SR, Alabama A&M
RB Dawrence Roberts, Grambling State
WR Rico Richardson, SR, Jackson State
WR Spencer Nelson, SR, Prairie View
TE E.J. Drewery, SR, Jackson State

OL Jamal Johnson-Webb, SR, Alabama A&M

OL Terren Jones, SR, Alabama State
OL Terron Armstead, Arkansas-Pine Bluf
OL Sanford Banks, Grambling State
OL Zion Pyatt, SR, Jackson Stte

Preseason All-SWAC 1st-team Defense

DL Joseph LeBeau, SR, Jackson State
DL Carlton Jones, JR, Alabama State
DL Ryan Love, SR, Prairie View
DL Devon Carter, Grambling State
LB Todd Wilcher, Jackson State
LB Raheem Cardwell, Prairie View
LB Jacarde Carter, Grambling State
DB Kejuan Riley, Alabama State
DB Qua Cox, Jackson State
DB Saeed Lee, Alabama State
DB Vernon Marshall, Alabama A&M

Preseason All-SWAC 1st-team Specialists

PK Chance Wilson, Alabama A&M
P Bobby Wenzig, Alabama State
RET Terrance Lewis, Alcorn State

Preseason All-SWAC 2nd-team Offense

QB Greg Jenkins, SR, Alabama State

RB Arnold Walker, JR, Alcorn State
RB Trey Bateaste, SR, Mississippi Valley State
WR G'Alonzo Milton, SR, Alabama A&M
WR T.C. McWilliams, SR, Alabama State
TE Mike Berry, Southern
OL Clint Marsh, Grambling
OL Stephen Capler, SR, Jackson State
OL Tre Glover, SO, Prairie View
OL Chris Browne, Southern
OL Justin Goodrich, JR, Alabama A&M

Preseason All-SWAC 2nd-team Defense

DL Leployer Franklin, JR, Mississippi Valley St.
DL Johnathan Billups, SR, Jackson State
DL Jarvis Wilson, Prairie View A&M
DL Tim Tillman, Alabama A&M
LB Bill Ross, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
LB Brandon Slater, Alabama State

LB Jer-ryan Harris, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

DB Naquan Smith, Grambling State
DB Virgil Williams, Southern
DB Casey Freeman, Alcorn State
DB Tyree Hollins, Grambling State

Preseason All-SWAC 2nd-team Specialists

PK Carlos Sanchez, Mississippi Valley State

P Fabian Carter, Grambling State

RET B.J. Lee, Jackson State

SWAC Predicted Order of Finish (1st-place votes)

Western Division

1.         Grambling State (20) 119 points

2.         Prairie View A&M (1) 82 points

3.         Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2) 69 points

4.         Southern (2) 54 points

5.         Texas Southern 51 points

Eastern Division

1.         Alabama State (11) 108 points

2.         Jackson State (7) 95 points

3.         Alabama A&M (7) 94 points

4.         Alcorn State (1) 42 points

5.         Mississippi Valley 36 points

COURTESY SWAC.ORG

Barlow: Taking Crowell not risky for Alabama State

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — The most talked-about player in the Southwestern Athletic Conference wasn't selected to the preseason all-conference team. He didn't attend Monday's Media Day event either.

Then again, Alabama State's star running back hasn't even played in a SWAC game yet. Isaiah Crowell, the former Georgia running back who was dismissed from the Bulldogs following his June arrest, has since enrolled at Alabama State and could give the Hornets one of the league's most explosive offensive weapons.

But it's a high-risk, high-reward situation.

Crowell had numerous off-field issues, including a pair of in-season suspensions due to breaking team rules. Still, Crowell managed to be Georgia's leading rusher, finishing with 850 yards and five touchdowns before being named the Southeastern Conference's Freshman of the Year by The Associated Press.

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Savannah State Athlete Headed to London

SAVANNAH, Georgia - Arriving soon in London, one of Savannah's own. Amara Jones is headed to the Olympics, part of the Bahamas 4X100 relay team.



"It's something that I still can't put into words yet," said Amara. "I have the opportunity to represent my country on the biggest stage in the world. It's a life changing experience to know that you are going to be part of something that is so much bigger than yourself."

Amara is already a big deal on the campus of her alma mater, Savannah State University.

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If Alabama State can build its own football stadium, why can't UAB?

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  -   Have you made plans for Thanksgiving yet? I've got an idea. How about going to see a college football game? It won't be just another game. It'll be a traditional in-state rivalry game. It won't be played in just any stadium.

It'll take place in a brand-­new, 26,500-seat, on-campus stadium, and this rivalry game on Thanksgiving Day will be the very first game played in that stadium.

I'm not talking hypotheti­cals here. I'm not envisioning UAB vs. Troy at Bartow Field in Bir­mingham in 2020. Well, I am envisioning that kind of game in that kind of house on the UAB campus one day, but that vision is cloudy.

Why? See the Tuscaloosa tunnel vision of the University of Alabama System board of trustees and its new chan­cellor, Dr. Robert Witt.

The game I'm talking about isn't something to envision. It's something to anticipate because it's going to happen this year.

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2012-13 Prairie View A&M Season Tickets

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - Purchase your 2012-13 Prairie View A&M season tickets as a variety of packages are available at www.PVPANTHERS.com. Support your Panthers and Lady Panthers as they set out to win their second straight SWAC Commissioner's Cup!

Alabama State edges JSU, Alabama A&M as SWAC division favorite

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - The offseason hype surrounding the Alabama State football team peaked when the Hornets were tabbed to win the Eastern Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference here on Monday at SWAC Media Day.

The Hornets received 11 votes, edging out Jackson State and Alabama A&M who each received seven.

Alabama State has been in the news even before Monday's vote with the addition of dismissed University of Georgia running back enrolling at the Montgomery school. The Hornets, who have several returning players on the depth chart, will also dedicate a new on-campus stadium late in the season.

But players at the media gathering Monday aren't buying into the hype.

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FAMU band member details hazing death of roommate to HBO Sports

Rikki Wills, Age 24

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -  A roommate of Florida A&M drum major Robert Champion, who died last year following a hazing ritual from other band members, told HBO's Real Sports how Champion was literally beaten to death in the back of the band's bus.

Rikki Wills, Champion's former roommate, spoke about what happened last November that led to Champion's death. Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel debuts on HBO Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
CBSSports.com obtained an advance copy of the segment reported by Real Sports correspondent Frank Deford.

Eleven FAMU band members face felony hazing charges and two others face misdemeanor counts for alleged roles in Champion's hazing. Wills is one of the 13 charged and the first defendant to speak publicly about the incident, according to HBO. He said he tried to protect Champion during the hazing.  The band's initiation is called “Crossing Bus C” and took place on the band's bus after an FAMU football game behind the band's hotel in Orlando, Fla., Wills told Deford.

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Texas Southern Head Coach is Back in the SWAC

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - The prelude to the 2012 football season kicked off in Birmingham, Alabama with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Football media day. Members of the television, radio and print media from across the country came out for a first hand preview of the upcoming season.

The SWAC welcomed two new head coaches to the conference including Texas Southern’s Darrell Asberry. Members of the media greeted coach Asberry like an old friend. They knew him from his head coaching days at Shaw University and they seemed to be excited to see him back in the SWAC…this time as a head coach rather than a player. Asberry had senior linebacker William Parker and junior offensive lineman Kenneth Hall by his side.

Coach Asberry knows he has his work cut out for him. No Tigers were selected to the 2012 Pre-Season All-SWAC Teams and TSU was picked to finish 5th in the West but Coach Asberry remains optimistic about his players and his team.



"Those are just votes and people have their opinions. We are just going to prove ourselves because I know what these young men can do,” Asberry said. “We are going to be disciplined and play hard. We are going to be fine.”

Texas Southern’s first game of the 2012 season will be the Labor Day Classic against Prairie View A&M on September 1st, at 7:00pm in Reliant Stadium. The Tigers’ first game in their new home, the BBVA Compass Stadium is September 15th at 7:30pm against Jackson State.

SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp announced Toyota as the title sponsor for the 2012 SWAC football and the SWAC Men and Women’s basketball Championship Tournaments.

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION