Ex-Lake Taylor star is newest NSU transfer

MIKE PRIVOTT
(Photo Courtesy U. of Louisville)

NORFOLK, Virginia - Norfolk State didn't have to look past Corprew Avenue to fill its vacancy at inside linebacker. Mike Privott, the all-time leading tackler at Lake Taylor, spent the previous three seasons at Louisville and will transfer to Norfolk State this season.

Raised largely by his brother, Ramon, his grandmother and his uncle Vaughn Parker, Privott grew up in Norfolk around Park Place, Lambert's Point and, eventually, his grandmother's house on Corprew Avenue.

"If we weren't (at the games), we could hear the stadium," Parker said. "Excited isn't the word. He's elated to come home and play in front of his hometown. We'll have 100 people in the stands on Saturdays."

Privott, who said he took an NSU physical on Tuesday, hopes to make as immediate an impact on the field as his family intends to make on NSU's attendance.

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Annual tournament has helped Paine College's golf program

AUGUSTA, Georgia - The Paine College Golf Tour­nament started in September 2009 in response to a travel fiasco. The golf team had qualified for the PGA Mi­nority Collegiate Golf Champ­ionship and was ready to go, then found out at the last minute that there wasn’t enough money in the budget to cover expenses. The team stayed home.

Thanks to the Paine tournament, that problem was quickly solved. Plus, the money raised the past three years has helped turn around the program.

Proceeds from the tournament – $71,000 so far, according to the college – go to the golf program. That money played a role in the Lions’ first Southern Inter­collegiate Athletic Con­fer­ence golf title last season and their sixth-place finish in the Division II portion of the PGA Minor­ity Collegiate Golf Champ­ionship.

The fourth edition of the Paine College Golf Tour­nament will be Aug. 27 at Gordon Lakes Golf Course.

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Passion for game brings Mays south to FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -  Frank Mays was so convinced that a high school janitor was onto something when he mentioned football as an extra curricular that he practiced an entire season without playing a single down.

When he got his opportunity to play in his senior year of high school, he simply showed out. Mays recorded 96 tackles, enough to catch the eyes of coaches at Minnesota Central Lakes College, although he was shunned by bigger programs.

FAMU is the next stop for Mays, a 6-foot-10, 285-pound defensive end. Coming to Tallahassee to play at FAMU is much farther than he thought he’d go after his high school janitor told him his size could get him somewhere in the game, Mays said.

“I figured I’d give it a shot,” Mays said Monday during a break between strength and conditioning drills. “I really wasn’t looking for anything bigger than high school (but) I fell in love with the game.”

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North Carolina A&T Bowling Announces Recruiting Class

GREENSBORO, North Carolina - The North Carolina A&T bowling program announced the signing of five talented bowlers to join the Aggies for the 2012-13 season.

"All in all, the coaching staff is really excited about this year, really excited about what [the recruits are] bringing to the table, and knowing that this is the first step in returning A&T back to winning MEAC championships, which is what we used to do quite often," said A&T head coach James Williams, referring to the Aggies previous four MEAC titles, the last one occurring during the 2003-04 season.

Joining the Aggies this fall are freshmen Najah Owens (Sanderson, Knightdale, N.C.), Briana Jackson (Davie County, Winston-Salem, N.C.), Emily Strombeck (Kestrel Heights School, Durham, N.C.) and Khadijah Clark (West Johnston, Garner, N.C.) and junior college transfer Courtney Crook (GTCC, Jamestown, N.C.)

Three of the recruits-Owens, Strombeck, and Crook-have qualified for the 2012 North Pointe Junior Gold Championships, a national tournament for the top youth bowlers in the country which was held July 14-21 in Indiana. Youth bowlers have an opportunity to earn a spot on the USA Junior Team at the tournament as well.

"For this coming season, we were looking for spare consistency, we were looking at approach consistency as far as if you are able to reproduce the same thing over and over again, and just basically overall talent with the releasing of the ball, generating revolutions and just making sure that you are able to make a quality shot and leave yourself a makeable spare," Williams said. "We were able to get that with each one of the girls. But each one also brings her own special piece to those things."

Each of the ladies has competed in state youth leagues and travel leagues because of the lack of organized high school bowling in North Carolina, Williams said. He added that his recruits have run across each other in these tournaments as opponents. Now they will join forces in an effort to lead the Aggies back to MEAC dominance.

Owens earned plenty of accolades in competition over the last two years. She earned a top-10 finish in the 2012 N.C. State High School Bowling Championship in individual play for Sanderson High School. She also helped her league team garner a first-place team finish in the All-Stars Interstate Tournament, and as an individual she earned first place in the High Game at the Sectional Pepsi Tournament, a third place finish in the 2012 State Pepsi Tournament, and a second place finish in the 2012 N.C. State Youth Championship Tournament with a 2,010 score. She also earned a first-place finish in the 2011 Premier Junior Gold Tournament, which allowed her to compete in the Nationals and North Point Tournament in Las Vegas in July 2011. She also had a strong high school career in varsity golf as well.

"With Najah, she has a quiet assassin-type demeanor. She's very focused, very raw in talent and just has a tremendous upside," Williams said, adding that she'll be a major asset in bakers play with her accuracy.

Williams is also excited about Strombeck's accuracy. She took first place in the 2012 N.C. United States Bowling Congress Association Pepsi Youth Championship Finals, and finished fifth in the 2011 N.C. USBC Pepsi Youth Championship Finals. She also finished ninth in the 2012 N.C. USBCA Youth Championship Tournament with a 1,786 score. At home, she has a collection of rings that the North Carolina State Association of the USBC gave her commemorating her 300 game performances. She also played women's basketball in high school.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former Grambling coach Eddie Robinson rises in record books after fall of Penn State's Joe Paterno

GRAMBLING, Louisiana - The fallout of the devastating NCAA sanctions laid on Penn State on Monday spread around the country, from coast to coast and North to South.

Louisiana wasn't spared. In fact, the sanctions had a direct link to one of the state's own coaching legends: Grambling's deceased coach Eddie Robinson.



As part of the unprecedented sanctions, Penn State will vacate 112 victories gained from 1998 to 2011, 111 of those by Nittany Lions icon Joe Paterno. That allows Robinson to regain his title as the winningest Division I college coach in history with 408.

Robinson's son, Eddie Jr., was hardly gratified by the reordering of the names in the history books.

"I can't find anything to be happy about," said Robinson Jr., a Grambling assistant for 16 years. "It's not a win-win situation for anybody. He and my dad were good friends.

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Frazier back as NCCU head football coach

DURHAM, North Carolina - Less than two weeks away from its first day of practice, the N.C. Central football team has back its leader.

"When a university hires a football coach, they hire the entire family," NCCU head football coach Henry Frazier III said. "And in a million years, I never would have thought something like this would have happened to me or my family. This has been the toughest period in my life, thus far."

NCCU athletics director Ingrid Wicker-McCree expressed confidence in Frazier while announcing his reinstatement on Monday in a conference room in NCCU's Leroy T. Walker Complex.



Frazier since May had been on paid leave from his $225,000-a-year job while his wife's allegation of assault made its way through the Wake County court system.

Shortly after midnight on May 14, police responded to Frazier's house on Bending Branch Court in Morrisville after being notified that a domestic assault had occurred. Officers found evidence of an assault, but Frazier wasn’t there.

Police later caught up with Frazier in his car not far from the house. The coach was charged with assault on a female and jailed at the Wake County Detention Center, where he was released the same day under a $1,500 secured bond.

Frazier signed a court document on which he admitted to getting into an argument with his wife before praying for her by rubbing anointed oil on her, but that's not something she wanted to occur.

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SWAC Reacts to NCAA Sanctions Against Penn State

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - With the announcement of sanctions against Penn State University on Monday, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) acknowledges the decision by NCAA President Dr. Mark Emmert, and the NCAA Executive Committee. The SWAC expresses its condolences to the victims and their families who had their lives so deeply affected by this entire situation. It is the hope that with today's actions by the NCAA, the victims can begin to heal. While closure may be far away, perhaps this small measure of justice will aid in moving those affected in a positive direction.

The SWAC and its leadership continue to uphold the highest standards among its member institutions and promote exemplary behavior by its administrators, coaches and student-athletes.

While the SWAC recognizes the fact that former Grambling State head coach Eddie Robinson is now the NCAA All-Time winningest football coach overall in Division I, the focus remains with the pain suffered by the victims. Coach Robinson's 408 wins came through many years of hard work and mentoring generations of student-athletes.

The SWAC is deeply saddened by the turn of events which led to today's actions. The conference reiterates its heart-felt sympathies to the victims and families of these terrible acts.

"The NCAA, President Emmert and the Executive Committee sent a clear message today with their decision," said SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp. "It is our hope that going forward, all member institutions in the NCAA will take proper steps to ensure that nothing like this happens again in the future."

COURTESY SWAC.org

Three Selected Preseason All-OVC; Team Picked Fifth

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State University had three student-athletes selected preseason All-Conference and the team is picked to finish fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference as voted by the coaches and sports information directors on Monday.

TSU's guard Kadeem Edwards, defensive end Antonio Harper and return specialist Weldon Garlington all garnered preseason accolades.

Edwards, a native of Sanford, Fla., earned a preseason selection after posting second team honors a year ago. Last season, the junior played in 10-of-11 games, grading out at 85 to 88 percent with five pancakes per contest.

As a junior defensive end, Harper returns as one of the most lethal tacklers in the OVC. In 2011, the Memphis product racked up 44 tackles, 9.0 tackles-for-loss and 8.5 sacks in 11 starts. His sack total ranked 52nd nationally as Harper garnered second team All-OVC.

Garlington, a sophomore for the Tigers, returns as one of the most prolific kick returns TSU has seen in the past decade. Last season, Garlington returned a kick (100 yards) and a punt (91 yards) for touchdowns. Garlington averaged 20.9 yards per kickoff return and 19.4 yards in punt returns. Earlier this month, Garlington was named to the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Punt Returner Award watch list.

These young men deserve these preseason accolades because they put the time and effort on and off the field," said third year head coach Rod Reed. "It's an honor that is richly deserved, but it's just the preseason. The real test will see if these young men can translate this into the season and come out with the honors at the end of the year."

In the preseason poll, the Tigers were slated to finish fifth with 69 points behind Eastern Kentucky (124 points), Jacksonville State (117), Murray State (85) and Tennessee Tech (83). The Tigers edged out UT Martin (67), Southeast Missouri (44), Eastern Illinois (42) and Austin Peay (47).

In 2011, the Big Blue finished the season with 5-6 record and a 4-4 mark in the OVC. TSU earned the coveted Sgt. York Trophy after winning the tie-breaker over rival Tennessee Tech.

"The guys that were voted at the top are teams that beat us last year," said Reed. "It's just on paper. You still got to play the games. You got to go out there and play week-to-week. We are higher than we were a year ago, so we're making progress."

TSU opens the 2012 season in the 14th Annual John Merritt Classic at LP Field on Sept. 1 against rival Florida A&M.


COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE SPORTS INFORMATION

Defendant in FAMU drum major's death talks

Rikki Wills faces felony charges

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - A man charged in the death of FAMU drum major Robert Champion is defending himself. Rikki Wills said Wednesday that he tried to protect Champion, his roommate, the night he died.

Wills, 24, said Champion had refused to go through the process known as "crossing bus C." He decided to go on Nov. 19, the night of his death.

Willis said that if the other drum majors had known, they would have been on the bus helping Champion. Instead, Willis said, it was only him.

“What the drum majors get on the bus to try to do is to try to help each other. Basically, I’m trying to stop him from getting as many hits,” said Wills. Wills said Champion was hit about 300 times. He said he broke his hand trying to pull another band member off Champion.



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NCCU coach reinstated following assault allegations

DURHAM, North Carolina - N.C. Central University has reinstated head football coach Henry Frazier following a resolution of a legal matter.

In May 2012 Frazier was arrested and charged with assault on a female. Police say he and his wife were arguing when he allegedly assaulted her.

NCCU officials say the legal matter involving Frazier has been resolved and as a result, he has been reinstated to his full duties and responsibilities as head football coach, effective July 23. University officials did not elaborate on how the case was resolved.

“Coach Frazier is remorseful for the distraction to the university,” said NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms in a press release.

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NCAA imposes sanctions on Penn State; School fined $60 million, all wins from 1998-2011 vacated

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  –  By perpetuating a “football first” culture that ultimately enabled serial child sexual abuse to occur, the Pennsylvania State University leadership failed to value and uphold institutional integrity, resulting in a breach of the NCAA constitution and rules. The NCAA Division I Board of Directors and NCAA Executive Committee directed Association President Mark Emmert to examine the circumstances and determine appropriate action in consultation with these presidential bodies.

“As we evaluated the situation, the victims affected by Jerry Sandusky and the efforts by many to conceal his crimes informed our actions,” said Emmert. “At our core, we are educators. Penn State leadership lost sight of that.”

According to the NCAA conclusions and sanctions, the Freeh Report “presents an unprecedented failure of institutional integrity leading to a culture in which a football program was held in higher esteem than the values of the institution, the values of the NCAA, the values of higher education, and most disturbingly the values of human decency.”

As a result, the NCAA imposed a $60 million sanction on the university, which is equivalent to the average gross annual revenue of the football program. These funds must be paid into an endowment for external programs preventing child sexual abuse or assisting victims and may not be used to fund such programs at the university.

The sanctions also include a four-year football postseason ban and a vacation of all wins from 1998 through 2011. The career record of former head football coach Joe Paterno will reflect these vacated records. Penn State must also reduce 10 initial and 20 total scholarships each year for a four-year period. In addition, the NCAA reserves the right to impose additional sanctions on involved individuals at the conclusion of any criminal proceedings.

The NCAA recognizes that student-athletes are not responsible for these events and worked to minimize the impact of its sanctions on current and incoming football student-athletes. Any entering or returning student-athlete will be allowed to immediately transfer and compete at another school. Further, any football student-athletes who remain at the university may retain their scholarships, regardless of whether they compete on the team.

To further integrate the athletics department into the university, Penn State will be required to enter into an “Athletics Integrity Agreement” with the NCAA. It also must adopt all Freeh Report recommendations and appoint an independent, NCAA-selected Athletics Integrity Monitor, who will oversee compliance with the agreement.

Effective immediately, the university faces five years of probation. Specifically, the university is subject to more severe penalties if it does not adhere to these requirements or violates NCAA rules in any sport during this time period.

Read the NCAA’s report

Explanation of sanctions

NCAA’s Authority to Act

Transfer options for football players The Freeh Report on Pennsylvania State University

“There has been much speculation on whether or not the NCAA has the authority to impose any type of penalty related to Penn State,” said Ed Ray, Executive Committee chair and Oregon State president. “This egregious behavior not only goes against our rules and constitution, but also against our values.”

Because Penn State accepted the Freeh Report factual findings, which the university itself commissioned, the NCAA determined traditional investigative proceedings would be redundant and unnecessary.

“We cannot look to NCAA history to determine how to handle circumstances so disturbing, shocking and disappointing,” said Emmert. “As the individuals charged with governing college sports, we have a responsibility to act. These events should serve as a call to every single school and athletics department to take an honest look at its campus environment and eradicate the ‘sports are king’ mindset that can so dramatically cloud the judgment of educators.”

Penn State fully cooperated with the NCAA on this examination of the issues and took decisive action in removing individuals in leadership who were culpable.

“The actions already taken by the new Penn State Board of Trustees chair Karen Peetz and Penn State President Rodney Erickson have demonstrated a strong desire and determination to take the steps necessary for Penn State to right these severe wrongs,” said Emmert.

COURTESY NCAA PRESS RELEASE 7/23/12

FOOTNOTE: 
Grambling State University's Eddie Robinson becomes the Division I leader with 408 wins in 57 seasons, which ended in 1997. Florida State's Bobby Bowen is now the major college leader with 377 victories.  Bowden also had 12 wins vacated due to NCAA violations.

FAMU eyes improved attendance

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - The Florida A&M athletic department is ramping up its campaign to get fans to Bragg Stadium in a season that its football team will have to play without the sound of the Marching 100 in the background.

And the effort by athletic director Derek Horne is getting a little help from the Leon County Tourism Development Council. Horne said during an interview with the Democrat on Tuesday that entertainment is being planned to fill the void created by the absence of the band.

Former president James Ammons suspended the Marching 100 earlier this year amid an investigation following the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion. Ammons resigned last week.



Meanwhile, Horne is making an aggressive push to not only win back fans who might have decided they won’t attend games without the band but to those in nearby areas. A grant from the LCTDC will be used primarily to target fans from Jacksonville to Pensacola and nearby Georgia areas, he said.

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Savannah State picked 11th in preseason MEAC football poll

NORFOLK, Virginia - The Savannah State football team has been picked to finish last in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2012.

The Tigers received one first place vote, but were still picked to finish 11th in the conference by MEAC coaches and sports information directors. SSU won just one game in 2011. Savannah State opens the season on September 1st in Stillwater, Oklahoma against Oklahoma State. The following week the Tigers travel to Florida State.



Norfolk State has been tabbed as the team to beat in the MEAC. South Carolina State was second followed by Bethune-Cookman in third.

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UDC Coach Butler Hosts Youth Basketball Camp

WASHINGTON, D.C. - University of District of Columbia (UDC) women’s head basketball coach Lester “Jay” Butler believes in the importance of giving back to the community that supports you. That’s why he and his staff at UDC hosted a basketball camp for the youths of D.C.

Butler held the first session of his second annual Jay Butler Basketball Camp on the campus of UDC from June 25-29, inviting both boys and girls ranging in age from 7-17-years-old.

According to Butler, the week-long camp consisted of a number of basketball drills and workouts emphasizing fundamental skill development such as defense, boxing out, and footwork. The campers also competed in daily scrimmages and contests, emphasizing a team-friendly atmosphere.

“All camp drills and instruction were led by qualified instructors ranging from former UDC players to myself,” Coach Butler said. “At the conclusion of each camp day, one lucky camper was selected as “Camper of the Day” and one selected as “Camper of the Week.” All campers received certificates of completion upon dismissal on the last day.”

UDC assistant coach Robin Williams ...

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Howard University Athletic Director Discusses Bison Resurgence on News Channel 8's Sports Talk

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  Athletic Director Louis "Skip" Perkins appeared on the Thursday, July 19 edition of Sports Talk with Glenn Harris on News Channel 8. Mr. Perkins discussed the academic and athletic successes last season and preview of the upcoming season. To learn more about Howard Athletics, www.howard-bison.com.





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More good APR news for Southern University

BAGON ROUGE, Louisiana - During lunch on Thursday, Southern Athletic Director William Broussard’s phone kept buzzing in his pocket. When he checked it, he saw three missed calls from assistant academic counselor Trayvean Scott.

“I started thinking, is the place on fire?” Broussard said.

In darker days — those marred by severe penalties related to the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate — a flurry of calls from someone in Scott’s position may have spelled trouble, but those days are becoming a thing of the past at Southern.

Scott was calling with good news. SU had heard from the NCAA on its grant proposal, and the results were a first for all parties involved.

Southern received $21,300 from the NCAA’s Supplemental Support Fund — believed to be a school record — to be put toward sprucing up the Jaguars’ academic support of student-athletes.

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Colts acquire JSU's cornerback D.J. Johnson from Philadelphia

D.J. JOHNSON

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  -  The Indianapolis Colts and the Philadelphia Eagles have engineered a trade, sending cornerback D.J. Johnson to Indy in exchange for defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu.

Johnson is 6-foot-1 and 191 pounds out of Jackson State, where he was named the Defensive MVP of the 2007 SWAC Championship game. In that contest, he returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown in the 42-31 victory over Grambling. After leading his team in 2008 with four interceptions and leading the conference in pass breakups (13) and passes defended, Johnson was named first team All-SWAC.

He signed with the Denver Broncos in 2009 as an undrafted free agent and has since spent time with the New York Giants, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Minnesota Vikings, the Washington Redskins, and the Eagles. He has recorded a total of 10 tackles in 10 NFL games in his career--all of which were with the Giants. He spent the 2011 season on the Eagles' practice squad.

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FAMU QB Fleming has new look, attitude

NORFOLK, Virginia — At the end of last football season, Florida A&M quarterback Damien Fleming reviewed film of every game that he played and decided he needed to make some changes.

He set out to fix the mistakes and work on the aspects of his game that looked shaky. It started with his movement in the pocket.

He didn’t just stop with his techniques. Fleming said his personality needed some work too. Off went the long locks that had become his trademark since his first day of practice, dangling from under his helmet.



Fleming’s assessment of ways to improve went farther. He’s adopted a new attitude that he hopes will trickle down to every player on offense.

“I’m looking forward to making the average players great,” he said. “I’m looking to my O-line; those guys held me up last year. I just hope I can make everybody much better.”

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Inside the MEAC: Pough, Adrian not surprised by selections

NORFOLK, Virginia - Head coach Buddy Pough was not surprised South Carolina State was not selected as the preseason favorite for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title.

Even less surprised about the poll was the head coach of the team picked to repeat as conference champion Norfolk State.

“Oh yeah, great,” Norfolk State Pete Adrian was quoted by The Virginian-Pilot saying after the Spartans were introduced as the preseason favorites during Friday’s MEAC media day. “Nice little surprise. We knew we had an X on us. Now they just put a little red paint on it.”

The preseason poll, which includes votes from each school’s coach and sports information director, had the defending champion Spartans first with 11 of the 22 first-place votes. The Bulldogs received four first-place votes to finish second, followed by Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M and Hampton, which is ineligible for the post-season for low Academic Progress Report scores.

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President Obama talks FAMU hazing on campaign trail

JACKSONVILLE, Florida - President Barack Obama weighed in this week on a hazing incident at Florida A&M University which attracted national attention and resulted in the death of a band member.

Following a campaign appearance in the state on Thursday, CNN affiliate WCTV in Jacksonville caught up with the president who commented on last November's death of band member Robert Champion. Champion was badly beaten on a band bus after a football game in Orlando.

"Well, obviously the loss of that young man's life is heartbreaking. I think that we can't tolerate bullying of any sort, anywhere. And when we send our young people to college we expect them to be there to learn and to get a great experience, not to be beaten. So, you know, I'm pleased this has gotten attention," said Obama, adding that while tradition is something to be continued, "We don't need this kind of bullying to be a part of it."

Provost Larry Robinson, acting interim President at FAMU, is a former member of the Obama administration.



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Grambling petitions to remove Joe Paterno wins record

Breedlove said the letter was sent on behalf of the city of Grambling, not the university, though a favorable NCAA decision would benefit both entities.


GRAMBLING, Louisiana - The Grambling city attorney, in concert with Mayor Edward R. Jones, has sent a letter to the NCAA asking the college athletics governing body to vacate some of Penn State coach Joe Paterno's wins in order to restore the Division I football victories record to Grambling State's Eddie Robinson.

Pamela N. Breedlove of Bossier City sent a three page letter to the NCAA on Wednesday, explaining the city's position regarding Robinson, who won 408 games in his 57-year career at Grambling State.

“Even though it was done by outside counsel, the Freeh Report was the university’s report,” Breedlove said. “It said what their employees, including coach Paterno, did wrong. We’re hoping the end result of this is coach Robinson will get his record back so everyone will think a great man holds this record.”

Breedlove’s letter, written in concert with Grambling mayor Edward Jones, cites the cover-up of recently convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky, a longtime Paterno assistant coach, as violating NCAA constitutional articles 2.4 and 6.4 as well as operating bylaws articles 2.4, 11.1.1 and 11.2.1.

VIEW: THE FREEH REPORT ON PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

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JCSU football picked fifth in CIAA South

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Johnson C. Smith football is predicted to finish near the bottom of the CIAA South.

The Golden Bulls were picked fifth in the six-team division in a preseason poll of league coaches at Thursday’s media conference in Petersburg, Va. JCSU, which was the preseason No. 5 pick in 2011, went 6-5 (4-3 CIAA), finished third in the South and won the Pioneer Bowl.

The Golden Bulls, who are looking to post consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1973, return 21 lettermen and 12 starters in 2012, including quarterback Keahn Wallace, the CIAA offensive rookie of the year. They also return all-CIAA defensive end Derrick Johnson (Hopewell High) and offensive tackle Rico Arellano (Butler), both of whom were named to the 2012 preseason all-conference team.

Four South teams were among the coaches’ top five squads, with 2011 division champion and Division II semifinalist Winston-Salem State the preseason No. 1.

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Alabama A&M: Former Bulldog guard suits up for Hungary

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Obie Trotter was one of the best basketball players in the country during the early to mid-2000s.

A former Alabama A&M star, Trotter led the Bulldogs to the 2005 Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and a berth in the NCAA Division I Tournament. That year, Trotter was named the league's Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player during the SWAC Tournament.

He finished his illustrious career as a three-time All-SWAC first team selection and was twice named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. Trotter was also a two-time All-American, led nation in steals as a junior and finished third as a senior.



Trotter has spent the last six years playing professionally in Europe, but could find himself on a bigger stage later this month.

He recently received his Hungarian citizenship and was named to the Hungarian National Team and could find himself in the Olympics if Hungary is fortunate enough to make it there.

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Blount hopes low ranking motivates Delaware State

DOVER, Delaware - Delaware State University’s football team struggled to a 10th-place finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in Kermit Blount’s first year as the Hornets’ head coach last season.

The league’s coaches and sports information staffers don’t think much will change this season, as the Hornets were picked to once again finish 10th out of the 11 teams in the MEAC at the conference’s annual kickoff luncheon in Norfolk, Va., on Friday.

Blount, whose team went 3-8 overall, 1-7 in the conference last season, took the preseason ranking in stride.

“Predictions are just what they are,” Bount said. “We are not going to let predictions keep us from moving forward as a football team. I know this is not going to be a 10th-place football team. We’ll just take what we did last year and keep moving forward.”

Norfolk State was picked to win ...

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Prairie View picked to finish 2nd in SWAC

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Five members from the Prairie View A&M Panther football team were selected to the 2012 Preseason All-SWAC Team prior to the start of the league’s annual media day in Birmingham, Ala. on Monday. As a team, the Panthers were selected to finish second in the SWAC West by fellow coaches, sports information directors and media personnel.

Wide receiver Spencer Nelson, defensive tackle Ryan Love and outside linebacker Raheem Cardwell led the way with first team honors.

Nelson is the team’s top returning offensive threat as the senior from Georgia caught a career-high 53 receptions for 659 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned both punts and kickoffs on a part-time basis last fall and is slated to do both heading into fall camp. Cardwell was the third-leading tackler on the team last fall with 66 stops and seven tackles for loss.

The redshirt junior from Alexandria, Va. also logged a sack with two pass breakups. Redshirt senior defensive tackle Ryan Love rounds out the first teamers as the Houston native is coming off a career-best season with 42 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries.

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