MONTOGMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State University hit the practice field twice today for their first two-a-day practice of the preseason. The team's first practice was at 9 a.m., followed by an evening session that started at 7 p.m. The last few practice sessions have not gone exactly the way the ASU coaching staff had envisioned, but head coach Reggie Barlow has seen some things that the team has done well.
"I will say as a whole, this team's mindset has been positive," Barlow said. "They have embraced the work, even after three or four days where we were not good, I think the mindset has been pleasant for the majority of the guys."
"I am real pleased with the way Greg Jenkins is directing the offense. He has been real positive, real upbeat, and he has been doing a lot of positive things on the field and I am real happy about that," he said.
READ MORE
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
WSSU's Maynor says he's forgotten last season
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Coach Connell Maynor says he hasn't dwelled much on how last season ended for Winston-Salem State. The Rams were in position to clinch a berth in the Division II football championship game but lost 21-14 to Wayne State in the semifinals at Bowman Gray Stadium.It was a tough end to a dream season.
"We can't worry about what happened last year," said Maynor, whose team will open practice for the new season Thursday. "I didn't think too much about what happened, because in this business, you have to keep looking ahead, and that's what we've done."
Maynor said when he did look at the film of the loss to Wayne State, he saw that the Rams didn't make big plays when they needed them.
READ MORE
ASU signs former D-I QB from FAU, officially opens practice with sand dune run
ALBANY, Georgia - Welcome to Albany State football, David Kooi. The senior transfer from Florida Atlantic, who got his first dose of Rams football Monday morning with a 6 a.m. climb up the sand dunes near campus, will be the third quarterback fighting for the starting spot this season.
Kooi officially joins transfers Keenan Grissett (Gardner-Webb) and Rodney Castlin (Arizona Western College). Now, the trio has less than a month to win the spot before the Sept. 1 season opener against North Greenville. ASU coach Mike White hopes it doesn’t take that long.
“I hope that in a couple of weeks we will be able to name (the starter),” White said. “Before we get to our first game, I’m hoping we will be able to say who is our man. It won’t go as I would like if we don’t name somebody by game week.”
White and his fellow coaches were ...
READ MORE
Kooi officially joins transfers Keenan Grissett (Gardner-Webb) and Rodney Castlin (Arizona Western College). Now, the trio has less than a month to win the spot before the Sept. 1 season opener against North Greenville. ASU coach Mike White hopes it doesn’t take that long.
“I hope that in a couple of weeks we will be able to name (the starter),” White said. “Before we get to our first game, I’m hoping we will be able to say who is our man. It won’t go as I would like if we don’t name somebody by game week.”
White and his fellow coaches were ...
READ MORE
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Olympics 2012: JSU's Michael Tinsley takes silver in men's 400m hurdles
LONDON - One of the toughest races on Monday at the Olympics Stadium in London has a surprise outcome in favor of the United States. USA was well represented when Michael Tinsley crossed the finish line second in the Men’s 400 meter hurdles surprising everyone. In what was a tough race, Felix Sanchez brought home the Dominican Republic gold, but that was almost expected when he crossed the finish line at 47.63.
It was Michael Tinsley’s strongest moment on the field and gave the audience a shocker as most didn’t think the United States athlete had a chance. However as Tinsley proved, never underestimate the underdog.
It was Michael Tinsley’s strongest moment on the field and gave the audience a shocker as most didn’t think the United States athlete had a chance. However as Tinsley proved, never underestimate the underdog.
HU's Kellie Wells wins bronze in 100-meter hurdles
LONDON - Kellie Wells gained the redemption she's been seeking for four years. It took her only 12.48 seconds to get it.
After having to be carried off the track in 2008 after suffering a hamstring injury at the trials, Wells rebounded in 2012 to earn Olympic bronze, claiming third in the 100-meter hurdles Tuesday in 12.48 seconds.
Australia's Sally Pearson, who was the favorite entering Tuesday's final, claiming the gold medal with a wire-to-wire win in 12.35 seconds, an Olympic record. American Dawn Harper, who won gold in the event in 2008, earned silver in 12.37 seconds. U.S. teammate Lolo Jones placed fourth in 12.58.
"I had a long wait for this but it was definitely worth every day of it," Wells said. "I've had my great moments; I've had some tough times, too. It's made me a better athlete and a better person. An Olympic medal caps it all."
READ MORE
Chavous Joins Football Staff at Saint Augustine's University
 |
| COACH TIM CHAVOUS |
Chavous replaces long-time assistant Matthew Montgomery, who left the program to become a teacher and counselor in his home state of South Carolina. Chavous will coach the running backs, and offensive coordinator Jermaine Gales will handle the quarterbacks in place of Montgomery.
Head Coach Michael Costa is confident he has the right man to revive the running game. In 2011, the Falcons led the CIAA and ranked 33rd in NCAA Division II in passing offense (264.2 ypg), but finished 10th in the CIAA in rushing offense (61.4 ypg). Two years ago, the Falcons were fifth in rushing (152.64) in the CIAA and tailback Walter Sanders was named CIAA offensive player of the year.
“We are very fortunate to get Tim on short notice,” Costa said. “He has vast knowledge and experience working with running backs. He will also assist us with academic advising.”
Chavous was an assistant offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Saint Paul's College from 2005 to 2011. While at Saint Paul's, Chavous was head baseball coach, admissions recruiter and director of student activities. During his tenure at Saint Paul's, Chavous coached one All-CIAA rookie football player and one 1,000-yard rusher.
Chavous was running backs coach at Virginia State University from 2003 to 2004. He was a coach and camp coordinator at the University of Virginia during the summers of 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Chavous was a standout college running back at Bethune-Cookman University where he was a member of the 2001 MEAC championship team. He played two years at Pasadena (Calif.) City College for two years before transferring to Bethune-Cookman. Chavous graduated from Bethune-Cookman with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and recreation in 2002. He earned a master's degree in education and physical education in 2012 at his alma mater.
While Costa is glad to have Chavous on board, he will miss Montgomery, who was the longest tenured football assistant at Saint Augustine's University. Montgomery coached 10 seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He was the only full-time assistant coach left from the original staff when the Falcons re-instituted football in 2002.
“Matt has been with me from the beginning,” Costa said. “He played an integral role in the growth of our football program.”
COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
B-CU makes note of anti-hazing policy to first-year band members
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Moving her hips from side to side with nine other first-year band trumpet students, Erica Jones yelled out "Let's Go, Wildcats" and then raised her horn to her mouth and began playing.
The 18-year-old freshman from Miami was in her first day of practice Monday for the Bethune-Cookman University marching band with about 100 other freshmen or first-year band students, up about 5 percent from last year.
National attention to hazing and the death last year of a Florida A&M University drum major has put a "negative image" on bands, especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), according to B-CU director of bands Donovan Wells. But it didn't deter new students from applying.
"Image wise (hazing and the death at FAMU) has had a huge impact on us and every HBCU band because of the old adage we all have been painted with the same brush," Wells said. "But when you get down to the day-to-day operations and the product on the field -- all of that will be status quo."
READ MORE
The 18-year-old freshman from Miami was in her first day of practice Monday for the Bethune-Cookman University marching band with about 100 other freshmen or first-year band students, up about 5 percent from last year.
National attention to hazing and the death last year of a Florida A&M University drum major has put a "negative image" on bands, especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), according to B-CU director of bands Donovan Wells. But it didn't deter new students from applying.
"Image wise (hazing and the death at FAMU) has had a huge impact on us and every HBCU band because of the old adage we all have been painted with the same brush," Wells said. "But when you get down to the day-to-day operations and the product on the field -- all of that will be status quo."
READ MORE
Grambling embracing high expectations
GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Grambing's not trying to duplicate its 2011 SWAC championship performance. The Tigers are trying to pick up where they left off. Big difference.
No one in black and gold wants to relive the 1-4 start. Everyone wants to keep clicking the way they were during a redemptive seven-game win streak that reclaimed the crown.
"What I try to convey to those guys is, 'Last year we started rough, but we ended well,'" coach Doug Williams said. "The most important thing is to continue where we ended.
"If we can continue to play the kind of football we played down the stretch, this could be a pretty good year for us if we can understand where we are, and I think we've got the leaders to convey that to the younger guys and pull it out of 'em. And I think we've got guys that are gonna push each other because of what they accomplished last year."
READ MORE
No one in black and gold wants to relive the 1-4 start. Everyone wants to keep clicking the way they were during a redemptive seven-game win streak that reclaimed the crown.
"What I try to convey to those guys is, 'Last year we started rough, but we ended well,'" coach Doug Williams said. "The most important thing is to continue where we ended.
"If we can continue to play the kind of football we played down the stretch, this could be a pretty good year for us if we can understand where we are, and I think we've got the leaders to convey that to the younger guys and pull it out of 'em. And I think we've got guys that are gonna push each other because of what they accomplished last year."
READ MORE
Former B-CU standout signs with NFL Baltimore Ravens
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Former Bethune-Cookman standout linebacker Stevie Baggs Jr. is back in the NFL. Baggs, 30, a pass-rush specialist, has signed with the Baltimore Ravens, the team announced.
Baggs is a Canadian Football League veteran who has played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was a CFL All-Star with the Roughriders in 2009.
The Tiger-Cats cut Baggs in March after a reported contract dispute. He had made 50 tackles and five sacks in 18 games in 2011.
The 6-foot-1, 241-pound defender has been in NFL camps before with the Detroit Lions (2004-05) and Arizona Cardinals (2010).
READ MORE
Baggs is a Canadian Football League veteran who has played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was a CFL All-Star with the Roughriders in 2009.
The Tiger-Cats cut Baggs in March after a reported contract dispute. He had made 50 tackles and five sacks in 18 games in 2011.
The 6-foot-1, 241-pound defender has been in NFL camps before with the Detroit Lions (2004-05) and Arizona Cardinals (2010).
READ MORE
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
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
Monday, August 6, 2012
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
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
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
Sunday, August 5, 2012
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
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
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.
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
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 |
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
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
Saturday, August 4, 2012
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)