Female MEAC official to make NFL history Thursday

SAN DIEGO, California - Shannon Eastin will become the first female to officiate an NFL game when she works as a line judge for the Green Bay at San Diego preseason match Thursday night.

The regular NFL officials have been locked out by the league.

Eastin is a college referee who has worked in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, in which Norfolk State and Hampton compete. She is one of the replacement officials hired by the NFL and has 16 years of experience.

A resident of Tempe, Arizona, Eastin also has won six national judo championships. She was the youngest judo athlete ever to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, doing so when she was 11.

READ MORE

Female ref to work NFL preseason game

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin — For the first time in league history, a female referee will officiate an NFL game Thursday night.  Shannon Eastin, a referee from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, will wear the officiating stripes when the Green Bay Packers travel to San Diego to play the Chargers for each team's preseason opener.

When that news hit the Packers' locker room Monday afternoon, the players were surprised but supportive that a female would be given such an opportunity.

"Female, male, dog, cat, as long as they're calling the right calls and they know what they're doing out there, it really doesn't matter," tight end Jermichael Finley told FOXSportsWisconsin.com in an exclusive interview. "It's a person. She'll see the same things as a man. She knows how to blow the whistle the same way.  "It's going to be something weird to see, but you deal with it and just roll."

With the league and NFL Referees Association currently in contract negotiations, the NFL has been training replacements since June.

READ MORE

Trifonov anticipates a ready FAMU volleyball team

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Tony Trifonov will learn on Tuesday just how well his Florida A&M volleyball team adhered to its offseason workout plan. The Rattlers coach was actually anxious to find out last week, mentioning one major incentive why players needed to remain committed — they were stopped short of winning the MEAC title for a second straight season last year.

FAMU opens practice on Tuesday, three weeks before its first match in the University of Florida Tournament.



“I will see on the first day of practice how much they have done over the summer and how much time they’ve spent in the weight room,” said Trifonov, whose team won nine consecutive conference titles before hitting its recent dry spell.

“You would think that coming off a second-place finish in the conference tournament they would try to do a little bit extra so that we could return to the tradition of winning championships.”

READ MORE

New Norfolk State receivers coach has NFL experience

NORFOLK, Virginia - The Norfolk State football team rounded out its coaching staff less than a week before training camp begins, bringing in Quintin Smith to coach wide receivers.

Smith, who signed with the Chicago Bears as an unsigned free agent out of Kansas and played in the 1990 and '91 seasons, becomes the only NSU coach with NFL playing experience and the first since quarterbacks coach Jeff Parker in 2009. He has coached high school and college football, been a professional scout and taught high-level social studies.



"I think I bring a unique skill set," Smith said Thursday. "There's not a lot of scouts that get into coaching. There's not a lot of teachers that were players. I was undrafted out of college, but I was at the next level.

"Guys that play in college, they all have that dream to play professionally. I think it brings some automatic credibility."

READ MORE

NSU football | Five questions as practice kicks off

NORFOLK, Virginia - Norfolk State won its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship in 14 tries last season. The Spartans, the favorites to repeat in a poll of coaches and sports information directors, have much to address first.

1. Who will replace Chris Walley?

Walley was NSU's first MEAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year and the most accurate passer the Spartans have had. Backup Nico Flores was 9 for 17 and fumble-prone. Norfolk State brought in two junior college quarterbacks this season, but head coach Pete Adrian has named Flores the starter heading into training camp - but not his starting quarterback for the opener. None of that screams confidence. Flores' early performance will likely dictate whether there's a true quarterback competition during the fall, or whether the Spartans maintain the natural line of succession.

READ MORE

Alabama A&M's Davies welcomes 17 players to "The Hill"

NORMAL, Alabama – Head coach Frank Davies welcomed 17 women soccer players to “The Hill” today for the start of their 2012 preseason camp.

Opening his 12th season at Alabama A&M, coach Davies introduced two newcomers to the athletic department and 15 returnees.

One of the newcomers is Miss Marissa Oehler a goalkeeper from Deltona, Florida. She participated with the Omega Soccer Club where she was the starting goalkeeper, when the team played in the Humanitarian Games.

The other signee is Miss Maria Farella who played defender at Baker High school in Cape Coral, Florida.

The women’s soccer team will begin camp on Friday, August 3rd with a full day of meetings then assessments and physical training. Opening practice begins on Saturday morning.

The Maroon and White are slated to play its home opener against Belmont University at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12th at the women’s soccer field.

Admission is free.



COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

ECSU's ‘Wonderful Radio, Viking Style’ making waves

ELIZABETH, North Carolina  -  Wonderful Radio, Viking Style. Locals may know it as the initials WRVS, or 89.9 on their radio displays, but there is a lot more than just a number behind that frequency.

The Elizabeth City State University-based radio station is staffed with people from the surrounding area who have expressed the desire to invest in the community’s talent, and the station displays such talent in its content.

“Coool Cat”, on Sundays at 2 p.m., is one example. The syndicated radio program was founded by Elizabeth City local, Ray White, who has been able to parlay his interest in music into a syndicated radio program that is run from the comfort of his home, or even on the road, thanks to his portable radio station.

Coool Cat’s unique twist on radio and music is that it concentrates on ...


READ MORE

Johnson C. Smith grad Leford Green running for gold on Monday

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Recent Johnson C. Smith University graduate Leford Green will compete for Olympic gold Monday in London.  Green, running for his country of Jamaica, qualified for the 400-meter hurdles finals Saturday when he finished second in his semifinal heat with a season’s best time of 48.61 seconds.

Green will run in the finals at London’s Olympic Stadium on Monday at 3:45 p.m. (EST).



“It was a good run and I’m glad to be in the final, because at this stage basically anything can happen,” Green told reporters. “I have been working a lot in practice and I’m going to try and fix up for the final. I’m going to see if I can go faster.”

Green, whose personal best is 48.47 seconds, was the NCAA Division II champion in the 400-meter run in 2011, the year he graduated from J.C.Smith.  Green is trying to become ...

READ MORE

2012 SCSU Bulldogs fueled by intensity to regain MEAC crown

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina - Press and Picture Day is a time for South Carolina State football players and coaches to put on their best faces for the cameras and discuss the upcoming season.

Bubbling beneath the smiling faces on display Saturday morning at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium was an intensity which burned to the surface when the topic turned to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title.

“Last year hurt that we couldn’t get the title,” quarterback Richard Cue said. “But we’ve just got a big chip on our shoulder right now. We’ve going to go back and start and do what we’ve supposed to do.”

“It’s definitely motivation,” said wide receiver and Goose Creek graduate Tyler McDonald. “We never like to give away something that we feel is ours. So, everybody’s been working with a chip on their shoulder since the season’s been over just to get that back.”



READ MORE

Tougaloo College Acquires WUFX-TV in Jackson

TOUGALOO, Mississippi - Tougaloo College announced today that it had agreed to acquire television station WUFX-TV, Channel 35, in Jackson, Mississippi. WUFX is the MyNetworkTV affiliate for the Jackson market and can be seen on Cable One channel 9 and Comcast channel 11.

“This is a remarkable opportunity for the College to further its academic mission, as well as its economic interests through the purchase and operation of WUFX,” said Dr. Beverly W. Hogan, President of Tougaloo College. “Most importantly, a commercial television station will offer our students, particularly those from our Mass Communication department, some real world experience of seeing how a television station works, aiding them in knowledge acquisition and application. It will, without question, bring other benefits to the College, as well.”

“I also want to thank the Tougaloo College Board of Trustees for its role in making this acquisition a possibility, along with the generous gift by American Spirit Media to make it a reality. Without the leadership of our Board, this opportunity would not have come to fruition,” concluded Dr. Hogan.

“Dr. Hogan deserves the credit for having the vision to pursue this opportunity”, commented Mr.LeRoy Walker, Chairman of the Board of Tougaloo College. “I also want to thank Charlene Priester and Melvin Preister of The Priester Law Firm for their legal guidance and advice in putting together the documentation to make our ownership of WUFX a reality”, concluded Mr. Walker.

The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

About Tougaloo College:
Tougaloo College is a private, co-educational, liberal arts institution of higher education founded in 1869. Through its diverse curricula and its fostering of scholarly inquiry, the College prepares its students to become imaginative, self-directed, lifelong learners and mindful thinkers who are committed to leadership and service in a global society. The College is consistently listed in national rankings and continues to produce a significant number of the African American physicians, attorneys and educators practicing in the State.

Tougaloo College Bulldog Athletics are members of the Gulf Coast Athletics Conference (GCAC) and Division I, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

ASU Marching Band Part of Online Mini-Series

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Alabama State University’s Mighty Marching Hornet Band has recently entered into an agreement with NBTV Online Live Media Network to star and perform in the "Magic Before the Classic" mini-series.

According to ASU Band Director James Oliver, filming will begin on August 5 at the start of the band's preseason camp and will culminate with the first "Battle of the Bands" between ASU vs. Alabama A&M University Bands in Birmingham, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Friday, October 26, the night before the Magic City Classic football game.

The agreement will net the ASU program $125,000 over a five-year period, in addition to royalties from online sales.

“I am truly excited about this deal,” Oliver said. “It is a major accomplishment for the band program and our great university.”

Funds from the show will be used to support the Marching Band program.



About NBTV
NBTV is an online news and information delivery service, headquartered in Atlanta. With worldwide bureaus, NBTV is promoted as the first 24-hour online broadcasting network in the world.

Southern Jaguars' WR Michael Berry blends size, 4.4 speed

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - When Southern lined up for a brief scrimmage on Friday, this was a frequent occurrence: Michael Berry sprinting past a defender, catching the ball over his shoulder in the middle of the field and cruising toward the end zone.

It borders on alarming to see someone as big as Berry (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) move as fast as he does, and that’s why he’ll be one of the most watched players in the Southwestern Athletic Conference this season.

“I just feel like this year I have to have the mentality that nobody can hold me,” Berry said.

That was largely true in 2011, when Berry finished 11th in the conference in receiving yards (508) and fifth in receiving touchdowns (seven). He racked up five plays of 25 yards or more, including scores of 56 and 60 yards.

And he did that while having to play out of position.

READ MORE

GSU Runner's Road

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — One more month of a long road remains, but Jeremy Runner will take the progress thus far.

The Monroe native and 2009 Neville state champion touched a football field this week as part of a full team practice for the first time in more than a year as he joined Grambling — finally — to work toward the 2012 season's Sept. 1 opener.



"First time in a year," he panted as his first post-practice words Friday before stopping for the first of many moments to catch his breath. "I thought I was in good shape until I came back for this fall, this fall training. I was in good shape in the spring, but it feels real good being back out here."

The 2009 all-district, all-northeast and all-state athlete admitted his return has been more difficult than he initially expected. Conditioning has been an obvious struggle ...

READ MORE

Wetumpka’s Ross set to lead UAPB Golden Lions defense into 2012

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas - Bill Ross is an understudy in the term “perseverance.” After playing two years at New Mexico Military the 5-foot-11, 204-pound Ross jumped head first into SWAC football, accepting a scholarship to play linebacker for the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions.

“I hated New Mexico, but it was something I had to experience to put me where I wanted to be,” Ross told the kids at Monday’s Indians Youth Football camp.

In his first year at Pine Bluff, Ross became one of the architects of the Golden Lions’ defense recording a bulk of the tackles.

“He made a huge impact for us. He was worth his weight in gold,” said Monte Coleman, coach of the Golden Lions. “We watched him on film and knew what he could do. We were just hoping that he could transition from junior college to here and he turned into one of our key leaders.”

READ MORE

Langston University Announces New Women’s Basketball Coach

COACH DAVID JOHNSON

LANGSTON, Oklahoma - Langston University will continue its winning tradition in women’s basketball with the hiring of David Johnson as the new head coach today.

Johnson was hired after having spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach for Pepperdine University, which is located in Malibu, California. Johnson had previously served as an assistant at Pepperdine in 2004-05 before taking a head coaching position for six years at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino.

“We hired David Johnson because of his experience as an outstanding coach in women’s basketball, and for his ability to coach and motivate young people,” LU Athletic Director Mike Garrett said. “He should do a great job as the head coach and we expect to continue down a path of excellence with our tradition-rich women’s basketball program. We fully expect David Johnson to follow LU’s goals of promoting the student-athlete by winning on the court and in the classroom.”

In addition to his three years at Pepperdine and his six years at Aquinas, Johnson served as the top assistant on the Cal State San Bernardino’s women’s basketball team for three years. Johnson’s career began in 1991 as the head basketball coach at Washington High School, where he coached for seven years.

Johnson earned his degree in physical education and health science from Sonoma State University in 1989. He and his wife, Carol, have three daughters, Chauntyle, Bobbie and Detrice.

Panthers’ (SU) rookie receiver runs NFL pattern carved by his all-pro father

SPARTANBURG, South Carolina – If you go to the Carolina Panthers’ training camp, there are things you notice: late mornings hot enough to make a mannequin sweat; nasty little bugs at evening practices; Jared Green getting open.

That’s Green, an undrafted rookie receiver, running a post pattern. That’s Cam Newton throwing the ball flat-footed at least 50 yards, the prettiest spiral of camp. The ball is in the air so long it’s as if somebody hit pause so he could watch later. Finally the ball lands in the hands of Green.

Minutes later Newton is intercepted by middle linebacker Jon Beason. Beason has momentum and, if you know him, one purpose: score. Nobody is close to him.

Green runs him down six yards short of the end zone.



READ MORE

Benedict Tigers, Virginia State Excited To Play In Palmetto Capital City Classic

COLUMBIA, South Carolina – Benedict College head football coach James Woody has been on the job for about 10 months. One of the things he missed when he came on board four games into the 2011 season was the Palmetto Capital City Classic. So when the 2012 Palmetto Capital City Classic Organizing Committee held a press conference on Thursday to introduce the participating head coaches and announce the schedule of events, Woody was genuinely enthusiastic about the upcoming contest.

“I've been hearing a lot of great things about this Classic,” Woody said. “I'm hearing there is going to be a sellout crowd and I'm used to playing in front of big crowds. Our kids are very excited about it as well. When you have a big crowd out there, the kids feed off that energy. We're expecting a lot of people to come out and support this Classic and we're just looking forward to the opportunity to be a part of it.”

Benedict will be playing in the Palmetto Capital City Classic for the 11th straight year the Classic has been in existence. This year, the Tigers will face the Trojans of Virginia State University at 4 p.m. on September 15 at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.




Virginia State head coach Andrew Faison said he is also looking forward to another meeting on the field with his old friend Woody. He recalled when his Virginia State team traveled to Tuskegee when Woody was an assistant coach there.

“They invited us down to Tuskegee and boy, did they treat us great,” Faison said, getting a laugh from the audience. “They put us in a locker room with a dirt floor. There were bees and mosquitos. His job was to get my guys unfocused on the game. It worked, because they wound up beating us.”

Faison also said he owes a debt of gratitude to Woody. When Virginia State was looking for a new head coach 10 years ago, Woody flew to Petersburg, Va., to interview for the position. He turned the job down, and called his friend Faison. That opened the door for Faison, who was an assistant coach at Winston-Salem State at the time and is a Virginia State graduate.

“So I've got to thank him, because if he had taken that job, I probably wouldn't be in this position right now,” Faison said.

Woody was a long-time offensive assistant coach before taking over at Benedict last season. Faison has a deep background as a defensive coach. The two said that also could make for an interesting matchup.



“I've been knowing coach Faison for more than 20 years, and he's a defensive-oriented coach and I'm an offensive-oriented coach, so there's going to be a lot of fireworks out there,” Woody said. “It's going to be a lot of fun.”

“I promise you we will give you an event to remember,” Faison said.

The Palmetto Capital City Classic is a week-long event with some major events, including the Gospel Explosion, featuring the USC Gospel Choir and Men of Praise at the Township Auditorium on Sept. 9; The Garnell McDonald Memorial Golf Tournament at LinRick Golf Club on Sept. 14 and the "Famously Hot" Jazz Show, featuring Maysa at the Columbia Convention Center. Gameday will feature a parade around the Benedict College campus to the football stadium.

Tickets are available at the Palmetto Capital City Classic office at 2352 Two Notch Road, South Carolina Community Bank locations, Victory Travel Agency at Fort Jackson, Columbia Township Auditorium, Sunset Place, and the Benedict College Bookstore and Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

PVAMU Panthers Set To Begin Football Camp

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  -  The Prairie View A&M Panther football team begins year two under head coach Heishma Northern this weekend as returning players and newcomers report to campus.

The first practice of the 2012 campaign is scheduled for Monday night at 7:00 p.m. on the Prairie View A&M practice fields. For the first three days, the Panthers will practice in helmets only before donning shoulders pads on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, Aug. 11, the team will suit up in full pads for the first time before the start of two-a-days on Monday, Aug. 13.

Training camp will run through Sunday, Aug. 26 with Prairie View A&M's first contest scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 1 versus TSU in the annual Labor Day Classic at Reliant.



COURTESY PVAMU SPORTS INFORMATION

Dillard Coach Assists in Capturing 1st AAU National Title

COACH NORBERT ROME JR.

NEW ORLEANS - Norbert Rome Jr., assistant basketball coach for the Dillard Lady Bleu Devils, is no stranger to basketball. He also knows a thing or two about winning. But he has never helped coach a team to a national championship, until now.

Despite several attempts in recent years, the Angels Basketball team overcame tremendous adversity during some very intense basketball games as they were crowned 2012 11th Grade Division I AAU National Champions in Orlando. Led by head coach Denis Aidoo and assistant coaches Alton Clivens, Rome Jr. and his younger sibling Norvell Rome, the team managed to battle through two crucial games where they trailed by double digits in the second half to remarkably come back and win.

After six straight wins in the tournament, Angels Basketball entered the championship game and had to face the Saratoga Sparks. The 2012 11th Grade Division I AAU National Championship Game,
which was televised live on ESPN 3, was dominated by the post players Paije Hall (St. Thomas More High-Lafayette) and the unannounced MVP, Kaitlyn Pratt (McDonogh 35-New Orleans) of the Angels.

Pratt's size allowed her to shoot high percentage shots from the paint as she also dominated the boards, marvelously collecting a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) in the championship game. Although the Saratoga Sparks produced a valiant effort, it wasn't enough as Angels Basketball won the championship game by the score of 53-46.

"We really believed we had a shot to win it all because everything was falling in place at the right time," said Coach Rome Jr. "We came into this tourney without our star point guard, Di'Mond Jackson (University High-Baton Rouge), and despite injuries, we rode the wave as our bench stepped up huge and played a major role."

In the first round, the teams participated in pool play. The teams were split into six groups of four teams each, with the top two advancing. Angels Basketball breezed through the first game with a 79-43 victory over Jacksonville Lady Tarheels.

However, their second game proved to be a rollercoaster ride. In the first half, Angles Basketball found themselves up by 10 points over Germantown Lady Panthers half, but after a twenty point swing, they trailed by 10 points in the second half.

The Angles cut the lead down to three with less than 30 seconds to go and forced Jacksonville into a turnover on the following possession. With just seconds remaining in the game, Coach Rome's team buried a three pointer to face overtime where they went on for the 55-52 victory.

In the third and final game of pool play, Angels Basketball would cruise on to yet another easy victory, this time defeating Lady Shottas by the score of 65-32. Their impressive 3-0 record in pool play earned them a first round bye as they advanced to the next round.

Angels Basketball won its next game 64-60 against a formidable opponent, N.M.B. Hoop Dreams Blue and eased its way into the final four after a 56-45 defeat over Illinois Wolverines Elite.

According to Coach Rome Jr., the semi-final game versus Ohio Lady Attack was the most challenging game throughout this AAU National Tournament in Orlando.

"Their ability to drive and dish it to the three-point line made it tough to stop them, especially when they hit almost all their shots," said Rome Jr. "We were down by 18 at one point, and our coaching staff made a key substitution when we put in Alexandra Seale (Ponchatoula High-Hammond) who is our lock down defender."

The Angels cut the deficit to 10 by halftime, and after a tough third quarter, they trailed by only seven points entering the fourth quarter.

Ohio Lady Attack could feel the lead slowly slipping away throughout the fourth quarter as the Angels applied heavy pressure on the defensive end. With three minutes remaining in the ball game, Angels Basketball's Kolbi Morgan (John Curtin High-River Ridge) buried a three-point shot as the shot clock expired to tie the game. The 18 point deficit which seemed insurmountable was overcome by the will to never give up as Angels Basketball defeated Ohio Lady Attack 49-45.

"I really feel like Angels Basketball was very special," said Rome Jr. "The team was on board and believed from the very beginning and had to overcome a lot of adversity throughout the tourney in order to win the championship."

By Habtom Keleta, Sports Information Director
VISIT: DILLARD UNIVERSITY
VISIT: DILLARDBLEUDEVILS.COM

Morgan State Lacrosse Club Seeking Funding

BALTIMORE, Maryland - The Morgan State Lacrosse Club is seeking donations to fund its return to varsity status.

From 1970 through 1975, the "Ten Bears," as the team was called, ranked in the Top 10 four times and made the NCAA tournament twice. In 1975, Morgan State defeated top-ranked Washington and Lee, which had not lost a regular-season game in three years.

The program folded in 1980. For more information, contact coach Bill Krehnbrink at 410-733-3432.





READ MORE

Former TSU Merritt Coaches, Players & Staff Invited to JMC

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Former coaches, players and staff of Coach John A. Merritt will be honored by the John Merritt Classic Committee on Aug. 30 through Sept. 1.

The JMC Committee would like to extend a personal invitation to all former players, coaches and staffers who played or worked under coach Merritt during his tenure at TSU.

All former players, coaches and staff members please register now to reserve your space for this exciting reunion weekend.

JMC Honorees Registration Form

John Merritt Football Reunion Highlights

Friday, August 31, 2012
9:00 p.m. - Until
Welcome Mixer & Dance
Location: Millennium Maxwell House Hotel
Hosted by the TSU Football Alumni Chapter
Cost: $10 in advance; $15 at the door

Saturday, September 1, 2012
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Honoree Meet & Greet
(for all former players, coaches and staffers under Coach Merritt)
Location: Tiger Town Honoree Tent at L.P. Field
All registered honorees will receive two wristbands for admittance to the game.

6:00 p.m.
Tennessee State Tigers vs. Florida A&M Rattlers
Location: L.P. Field

Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers and Twitter @TSU_Tigers.



COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Miles College sign Nine Basketball Players

FAIRFIELD, Alabama - Miles College head women's basketball coach Phillip Wallace has announced the signing of nine basketball players for the 2012-13 season. Included in this class is eight freshman and one junior college player. “I am extremely excited about this signing class. The young ladies are not just basketball players, but tremendous student-athletes,” said head coach Phillip Wallace.

Wallace signed the following players:

Aleasa Allen (6'2, FR, Center) from LoveJoy, GA (LoveJoy High School)
Allen scored 15 points per game and 10 rebounds

Darlicia Bond (5'7, FR, Guard) from Riverdale, GA (Mundy Mill High School)
Bond averaged 14 points per game and grabbed 5 rebounds

Ashley Curry (5'7, FR, Point Guard) from Birmingham, AL (Minor High School)

Rone Francis (5'8, FR, Guard) from Ozark, AL (Ozark High School)

Bianna Jones (5'10, FR, Forward) from Fairfield, AL (Fairfield High School)

De'Oshia Long (6'0, FR, Forward) from Adamsville, AL (Dora High School)

Ebony Mcneill (5'8, JR, Guard) from Fairburn, GA (Chattahoochee Valley Community College)

Shonkerria Nelson (5'6, FR, Point Guard) from Sandersville, GA (Washington County High School)
Nelson dished out 9 assist and scored 10 points per game

Imani Simmons (5'8, FR, Guard) from Sandersville, GA (Washington County High School)
Nelson scored 11 points per game

COURTESY MILES COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

Renewed zeal: S.C. State Bulldogs want the MEAC title back

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina - The rigors of training camp have not gotten old for South Carolina State head football coach Buddy Pough. If anything, coming up short for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title last season has reenergized Pough’s focus entering his 11th season at the helm.

The same is apparently true for returning players like senior running back Asheton Jordan of Charleston, who’s hungry to retaste the championship success from the previous three seasons.

“It’s just the fact that we’re not on top,” Jordan said. “We lost the MEAC last year and that hasn’t happened at (S.C.) State in a while and everybody’s attitude is to win the MEAC championship and that’s what we’re working to. There’s no exceptions. We want to win the MEAC championship and advance in the (Football Championship Subdivision) playoffs.”

The serious tone was evident at Friday’s opening preseason practice at ...

READ MORE

Delaware State Hornets Gear Up for Preseason Camp

DOVER, Delaware - The 2012 Delaware State University football team begins preseason camp next week. Hornet second-year head coach Kermit Blount expects about 85 players, including more than 50 returning letter winners, to report for camp.

Blount is eagerly anticipating his second preseason camp in Dover. Joining the Hornets just days before the beginning of the 2011 recruit signing period and weeks before the start of spring camp, DSU managed just three wins (3-8 overall; 1-7 MEAC) in his first season with the team.

Despite the record, the Hornets showed noticeable improvement on the field last season. DSU closed out the 2011 campaign with a 39-36 win over Howard, which featured one of the nation's stingiest defenses entering the contest. The Hornets racked up 412 total yards, including 324 passing during the game. The Bison were third among all FCS schools in pass defense (141.3 ypg) and fourth in total defense (288.5 ypg) prior to the contest.

Delaware State was also the most ...

READ MORE

A&T Aggies haven’t lost hope despite NCAA sanctions

GREENSBORO, North Carolina — All the progress, all the momentum built from N.C. A&T’s four-game improvement in Rod Broadway’s first season as head football coach last year has gone for naught.

The Aggies welcome back almost all of their core, including back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher Mike Mayhew and three preseason first-team All-MEAC performers on defense, but their 2012 season is over before it has even started because of a one-year postseason ban levied by the NCAA as a result of poor Academic Progress Rate showings.



At least, that’s one way to look at it. Broadway and his players are choosing to approach the setback from another direction. They’re building something.

“We knew some of the situation when we accepted the job. To be honest, I didn’t know it was as bad as it is,” Broadway said. “We’re not going to complain about it. We’re just going to try to go to work and build a football team.”

READ MORE

ASU Rams report to camp, amped to start 2012 season

ALBANY, Georgia — Justin Blash stepped on campus Thursday morning ready to push himself, ready to prove he and his teammates are better than they looked the last time they stepped off the field.

Albany State’s senior defensive lineman and the rest of his teammates reported to campus for the first time this season, and Blash said they all came together with one thing on their minds: hard work.

So when he ran into teammates Travis Walker and Darvel Nelson minutes after arriving, his first question was pretty simple.

“I said, ‘Y’all ready to get it?’ ” Blash said to the pair of offensive linemen, who will be going head-to-head against one another once practices start next week. “Darvel laughed at me and told me he is down to 328 (pounds), and Travis just gave me a little head nod. So I think we are ready to go.”



READ MORE