JACKSON, Mississippi - It wasn’t that long ago that Jackson State coach Rick Comegy watched in anguish as former Madison Central High star Tobias Singleton signed to play his college football at Ole Miss.
Now, the player Comegy so coveted then is one of his own.
Singleton, who left Ole Miss on Wednesday, joined the JSU program today, completing a whirlwind of phone calls, visits and discussions between the two sides. According to Comegy, Singleton and his family first contacted JSU Wednesday. Then, on Thursday morning, Singleton arrived on the JSU campus for a visit and meeting with the Tigers’ coach.
Singleton, a high school All-American, was rated the No. 5 player in Mississippi, the No. 20 wide receiver in the country by Rivals.com following the 2010 season, his senior year at Madison Central.
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Saturday, August 18, 2012
Howard Women's Soccer Opens Season with Radford and Lafayette
Saturday Update: Radford University Junior Rachel Conway (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada/Forest Heights Collegiate) scored 24 seconds into the second overtime to give Radford a 1-0 win over Howard Lady Bison in the Highlanders' season-opener Friday evening from Cupp Memorial Stadium. READ MORE
WASHINGTON, D.C. (www.howard-bison.com) - Soccer is back and Howard University head women's soccer coach Brent Leiba, who was the 2009-10 Great West Conference Coach of the Year, is ready to kick-off the season with a weekend series at Radford on Friday, Aug. 17 (7:00 p.m.) and a home-opener against Lafayette on Sunday, Aug. 19 (1:00 p.m.).
Nonetheless, HU is ready for a new season with a team of seasoned student-athletes and newcomers. For starters, the team returns a strong nucleus of players. Leiba welcomes back a veteran squad of fifteen student-athletes. Along with the strong returning corps of student-athletes, the Lady Bison secured three student-athletes in their recruiting class. Daryl Bradley, Jocelyn Evans, and Dytria Ruddy will be key student-athletes for this team entering the season and for years to come.
During the 2011 season the Lady Bison secured a 2-1 double overtime win at North Dakota to snap a 7-game losing streak and spark a 3-game winning streak. During the 3-game winning streak, the Lady Bison shutout two conference foes Delaware State and Jew Jersey Institute of Technology..
The Lady Bison will host 10 games this season on the road to postseason action. Five Lady Bison notched points in 2011and will need to get a greater production from every position in 2012.
Seniors Jordan Brown and Retha Koefoed will key to the offense this season, with each being asked to lead the Lady Bison attack, with five and four goals, respectively as juniors last year.
Seasoned midfielders Owyn Manson, Arielle Elizee, Sydney Ross, and Nia Walcott will provide leadership, as well as scoring.
From the 2011 roster, senior forward/defender Cynthia Snyder and defender/forward Ayanna Carter participated in every game last season and will bring experience to the field. Snyder and Carter started in 16 games, Snyder notched a goal against NJIT.
The Lady Bison defensive unit will receive more physical play from senior Brittany Peebles, junior Selena Mason, and sophomore Tresechelle Gibson-Serette. In goal, Kyra Dickinson returns for her second year between the pipes. Dickinson recorded 15 games played and 89 saves. Dickinson is ably backed up by sophomore Natasha Moore, who is looking to push up for some playing time.
Rounding out the Lady Bison's returning student-athletes are: junior midfielder Payton Bouie and sophomore forward Jeseca Hinds. Bouie and Hinds appeared in at least five games last season. Hinds proved to be a vital asset to the team, when she scored the game-winning goal against Delaware State last season.
The Lady Bison open the 2012 season Friday, Aug. 17, with a 7:00 p.m. non-conference game at Radford. Additional non-conference contests include road games at Loyola (Md.), Rider, Robert Morris, Wagner, and Mary Washington.
The Lady Bison first home game will be against Lafayette on Saturday, Aug. 19, at 1:00 p.m. Conference play begins for the Lady Bison on Saturday, Oct. 6, when they face South Carolina State in Orangeburg, S.C.
For more information on Howard University Women's Soccer, visit the official HU Athletics website at www.howard-bison.com.
Written by Zakiya Cob, Sports Information Intern
Ariel V. Germain, Assistant Sports Information Director
ASU Hornets wrap up two-a-days, prep for Saturday scrimmage, fan day
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama State University football team had its final two-a-day practice of fall camp Friday night, and is set to hold its second scrimmage Saturday morning at Hornet Stadium.
The scrimmage, which will begin around 9:30 a.m. after individual drills, is part of Fall Fan Fest activities at Hornet Stadium and Lockhart Gym. The Mighty Marching Hornets Band will be in attendance during the scrimmage, with free food and games to begin around 11 a.m. Alabama State's cross country, football, soccer, and volleyball teams will be presented to the audience at noon, with an autograph session to follow where fans can pick up schedule posters of all four sports teams. The day concludes with Lady Hornets' volleyball practice from 2-3 p.m. at Lockhart Gym.
ASU had a spirited practice for about 100 minutes Friday night in shoulder pads and shorts.
"Practice was good tonight," head coach Reggie Barlow said. "Anytime we practice at night, the guys are energized. We had great energy level, and it was another opportunity to evaluate the guys on film.
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The scrimmage, which will begin around 9:30 a.m. after individual drills, is part of Fall Fan Fest activities at Hornet Stadium and Lockhart Gym. The Mighty Marching Hornets Band will be in attendance during the scrimmage, with free food and games to begin around 11 a.m. Alabama State's cross country, football, soccer, and volleyball teams will be presented to the audience at noon, with an autograph session to follow where fans can pick up schedule posters of all four sports teams. The day concludes with Lady Hornets' volleyball practice from 2-3 p.m. at Lockhart Gym.
ASU had a spirited practice for about 100 minutes Friday night in shoulder pads and shorts.
"Practice was good tonight," head coach Reggie Barlow said. "Anytime we practice at night, the guys are energized. We had great energy level, and it was another opportunity to evaluate the guys on film.
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Keeping up energy is still a challenge for SCSU Bulldogs
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina - Even South Carolina State “Bulldogs” are not immune from the rigors and climate associated with the “Dog Days” of summer.
Coming off a two-a-day session Wednesday to be greeted by hot temperatures Thursday morning at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, the 2½-hour practice was a challenge for the players to maintain a high energy level.
“It’s rough, but you’ve got to get up and do it,” S.C. State left guard Sam Hammond said Thursday. “You’ve got to find some motivation and get through it.”
Even head coach Buddy Pough acknowledged being fortunate the team is not currently scheduled for an early Saturday afternoon contest (no time is scheduled yet for the Sept. 22 game at Texas A&M).
“I’d hate to have to play a game at this time of day because it would be rough, especially on this hot turf,” he said.
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Coming off a two-a-day session Wednesday to be greeted by hot temperatures Thursday morning at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, the 2½-hour practice was a challenge for the players to maintain a high energy level.
“It’s rough, but you’ve got to get up and do it,” S.C. State left guard Sam Hammond said Thursday. “You’ve got to find some motivation and get through it.”
Even head coach Buddy Pough acknowledged being fortunate the team is not currently scheduled for an early Saturday afternoon contest (no time is scheduled yet for the Sept. 22 game at Texas A&M).
“I’d hate to have to play a game at this time of day because it would be rough, especially on this hot turf,” he said.
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Cizova Named Full-Time Volleyball Assistant Coach at HU
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| ASSISTANT COACH ZUZANA CIZOVA LADY PIRATES VOLLEYBALL HAMPTON UNIVERSITY (Photo Courtesy HU Pirates Athletics) |
She will be the first full-time assistant coach during Gonzalez’s tenure.
Cizova joined the Lady Pirates last season as a graduate assistant, and she had a hand in the team’s 13-14 record and third-place finish in the MEAC Northern Division. The Lady Pirates advanced to the semifinals of the MEAC Championships after defeating South Carolina State for their first conference tournament win at the Div. I level.
A native of Zlin, Czech Republic, Cizova graduated from Div. II Cal State-Los Angeles in 2011 with a degree in psychology. She was named California Collegiate Athletic Association Newcomer of the Year in 2009, and in 2010 she was a First Team honoree.
Cizova, who in 2010 was named Cal State-Los Angeles Best Offensive Player, also received the Billie Jean King Scholarship and the Exceptional Student-Athlete Award.
Prior to her time at Cal State-Los Angeles, Cizova was a standout at both Saint Petersburg (Fla.) Community College and San Jacinto (Texas) Community College. She was an All-American at San Jacinto, as the school finished 2008-09 fifth in the nation as Cizova averaged 4.36 kills and 4.13 digs per set.
Cizova was also a member of the VKKP BRNO Club Team that won national championships in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
The Lady Pirates, in their sixth season under Gonzalez, will open the 2012 season on Aug. 24-25, when they travel to Durham, N.C. for the North Carolina Central Tournament. Hampton will square off against the likes of Elon, Winthrop, and North Carolina Greensboro.
For more information on Hampton University volleyball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.
COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
FAMU: 49ers Raw rookie WR Tyms learning from legend
SAN FRANCISCO, California - Before I asked Carlos Rogers a question about Brian Tyms on Wednesday, a thought crossed my mind: Would the Pro Bowl cornerback have any idea who in the world I was talking about?
Just to be safe, I inserted Tyms’ jersey number – No. 9 – into the question in case Rogers didn’t know the undrafted rookie wide receiver from Florida A&M by name.
Maybe that bit of information helped. Whatever the case, Rogers smiled. Yes, he was familiar with The Fade Guy.
“Most of the time I’ve gone against him he’s run a fade route against me.” Rogers said. “In my mind, that’s what I’m trying to cover. But seeing him going against some of the other (cornerbacks), he does pose that deep threat. A guy that can catch the jump ball. A fade guy that you can put the ball up to in the back of the end zone. He’s a guy that’s learning and getter better and better each and every day.”
49ers QB Scott Tolzien to Brian Tyms #9 and Kyle Williams at Training Camp - August 14, 2012.
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Just to be safe, I inserted Tyms’ jersey number – No. 9 – into the question in case Rogers didn’t know the undrafted rookie wide receiver from Florida A&M by name.
Maybe that bit of information helped. Whatever the case, Rogers smiled. Yes, he was familiar with The Fade Guy.
“Most of the time I’ve gone against him he’s run a fade route against me.” Rogers said. “In my mind, that’s what I’m trying to cover. But seeing him going against some of the other (cornerbacks), he does pose that deep threat. A guy that can catch the jump ball. A fade guy that you can put the ball up to in the back of the end zone. He’s a guy that’s learning and getter better and better each and every day.”
49ers QB Scott Tolzien to Brian Tyms #9 and Kyle Williams at Training Camp - August 14, 2012.
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Stillman: D-II school calls on Purnell
The football team of the historically black college — stuck in the vast shadows of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa — hadn’t had much success in the three years before Purnell’s arrival. The Tigers finished at or near the bottom of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings in each of those years.
But when Stillman alumnus Teddy Keaton took over the program in 2011, it was the perfect opportunity for Purnell to come in and show what he could do. That’s exactly what he’s done.
“I had to compete and earn my job as a freshman,” Purnell said. “There wasn’t a spot guaranteed to anybody, and we all had to work to start and get playing time.”
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Friday, August 17, 2012
FAMU trying to settle suit in band hazing death
TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Florida A&M University wants to try to settle a family's lawsuit against the school over the hazing death of a band member.
FAMU trustees on Thursday voted to enter a voluntary mediation session with attorneys for the parents of Robert Champion, who authorities said died last November after Marching 100 members beat him during a hazing ritual.
Eleven FAMU band members face felony hazing charges, while two others face misdemeanor counts. They have pleaded not guilty.
The Champions, who live in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, Ga., claim university officials did not take action to stop hazing even though a school dean proposed suspending the band because of hazing three days before their son died.
School officials also fell short in enforcing anti-hazing policies and did not keep a close eye on band members to prevent hazing, the lawsuit said.
Chris Chestnut, an attorney for the Champions, said ...
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Hampton University Co-Ed Sailing Releases Fall 2012 Schedule
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| Fall 2012 Hampton University sailing schedule (Photo Courtesy: HU Pirates Athletics) |
HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton University head sailing coach Alessandro Ambrosi announced the fall 2012 schedule on Friday, a slate that includes a home regatta and five other meets within the Hampton Roads area.
The Faye Bennett MAISA Women’s Singlehanded will be held Sept. 22-23 in Annapolis, Md. to help set the field for the national regatta in November. Giuditta di Laghi (Albenga, Italy) ran in the national meet last season, becoming the first Hampton sailor ever to compete for a national title.
Hampton will also compete in the William & Mary Colony Cup in Williamsburg, Va. on Nov. 22-23.
The South #1 at ODU will be held in Norfolk, Va. on Sept. 29-30, before the Pirates head to Alexandria, Va. on Oct. 6-7 for the South #2 at Georgetown. On Oct. 13-14, the Pirates will return to Annapolis, Md. for the Navy Fall Intersectional, before heading to Newport News, Va. on Oct. 20-21 for The Webb Open hosted by Christopher Newport.
The War Memorial will be held on Oct. 27-28; if Hampton does not qualify, the Pirates will compete in the Henry Luce Regatta that weekend at a site yet to be determined.
The ICSA Women’s Singlehanded Nationals will be held in Long Beach, Calif. on Nov. 2-4. Di Laghi finished 12th in last year’s meet.
Hampton will close out the fall 2012 portion on its schedule on Nov. 10-11 in The Brennan Russell hosted by CNU – a regatta in which the Pirates finished second last season.
COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Pro Football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow to lead Lakeland College athletics, wellness
Winslow, 54, will serve as Lakeland's director of athletics. He will also lead development of a college-wide focus on wellness designed to help all students understand how lifestyle choices they make in college impact their personal health and their ability to get a job after college.
"This role at Lakeland fulfills two things I've been looking for — a place where I can continue to be involved in athletics and to implement a comprehensive student wellness plan," said Winslow, who becomes the 11th person to lead Lakeland athletics since intercollegiate athletics was organized in 1932.
"President Grandillo shares my vision and is giving me his support in making the vision a reality. Athletics is a major portion of campus life and community engagement."
Winslow and Grandillo met approximately four years ago. Grandillo started as Lakeland president in July.
See photos from the event.
To most, Winslow is best known for revolutionizing the tight end position while playing for the San Diego Chargers from 1979 to 1987. A fixture in San Diego head coach Don Coryell's passing-oriented offense, Winslow transitioned the position from primarily a line blocker to a major part of the offense. He led the NFL in receptions in 1980 and 1981 and had three 1,000-plus yard seasons.
At the time of his retirement, Winslow ranked fifth among active receivers and 14th among all NFL pass-catchers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
Prior to coming to Lakeland, Winslow served four years as athletic director at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. He helped the school, an athletic independent for decades, become a founding member of the Great-Midwest Athletic Conference and a member of the football-only Great Lakes Valley Conference.
He also launched a speaker series that brought leaders from the world of sports to inspire and motivate community leaders in business, government and nonprofit organizations. The series, modeled after a similar series led by Grandillo when he served at Tiffin University, included Pro Football Hall of Famers Anthony Muñoz and Gale Sayers and pro basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
Winslow plans to start a similar series at Lakeland.
Former Central State University of Ohio athletic director, Kellen Winslow Sr. has been named vice president for athletics and wellness at Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a NCAA Division III athletic program.
Kellen's accomplishments on the football field speak for themself, and we're obviously excited to have such an accomplished athlete leading our athletic department," Grandillo said. "But that's not why we hired him. In the four years we have known each other, we've had a number of discussions about ways to ensure that college students — especially first generation college students — have success.
"I share the vision of the wellness plan that Kellen will implement at Lakeland, and I believe our shared vision is fully in sync with Lakeland's mission. It will help make Lakeland distinctive by bringing healthy lifestyles to the forefront for all our students, not just our student-athletes."
Winslow said as more employers search for ways to control rising healthcare costs, colleges and universities can help by producing graduates who understand the importance of wellness.
"I believe this program will help Lakeland draw students and attract interest from parents," Winslow said. "It will also make our graduates more attractive to employers."
A firm believer in that academics and athletics go hand in hand, Winslow graduated from University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor's degree in counseling psychology. He returned to school after his football career and earned his jurist doctorate from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1993.
A native of East St. Louis, Ill., Winslow did not play football at East St. Louis High School until his senior season. Despite that, he earned a football scholarship to attend Missouri.
After earning consensus All-American and Big Eight Conference Player of the Year honors as a senior tight end at Missouri, he was drafted in the first round by the Chargers in 1979, the 13th overall pick. He ended his college career as the sixth leading receiver in school history, and Missouri retired his jersey in 1995. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
His athletic accomplishments have been paralleled with a successful career in the media. He served as an analyst for Fox Sports Net College Football Saturday Studio Show, and has provided color commentary for NFL broadcasts on CBS Radio, ESPN college football and for University of Missouri football.
He has appeared on ABC's Nightline, ESPN, Fox Sports and most major local and national radio and television sports talk shows. He is often called upon to speak on social, political, economic and racial issues relating to sports.
He recently served as the executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, an affinity group made up of minority members of the National Football League front office, coaching and scouting personnel and as the Director of Planning and New Event Development for the Walt Disney World Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Recently, Winslow agreed to serve on the NFL Advisory Committee on Wellness and Transition.
His son, Kellen Winslow, Jr., is entering his ninth season as an NFL tight end and his first with the Seattle Seahawks.
COURTESY LAKELAND COLLEGE MEDIA RELATIONS
Alabama A&M's construction plan: broader unity is as important as the new football field
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- There is the incessant beep-beep-beep-beeping of a dump truck, backing up to expel a load of gravel. There is a dozer devouring heavy blankets of sod behind the north end zone. An armada of heavy equipment is on the scene.
Right now, the football field inside Louis Crews Stadium is bald as Mr. Clean. Now an oval of red clay, it more resembles a small-town quarter-mile race track than a football field.
Alabama A&M is to play its first home football game Sept. 15 on new artificial turf. A month to go, "they're actually ahead of schedule" in laying the new carpet, A&M coach Anthony Jones said Thursday morning. Weather has blessed the effort. The Hellas Construction team has been outstanding, Jones said.
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Right now, the football field inside Louis Crews Stadium is bald as Mr. Clean. Now an oval of red clay, it more resembles a small-town quarter-mile race track than a football field.
Alabama A&M is to play its first home football game Sept. 15 on new artificial turf. A month to go, "they're actually ahead of schedule" in laying the new carpet, A&M coach Anthony Jones said Thursday morning. Weather has blessed the effort. The Hellas Construction team has been outstanding, Jones said.
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Ellender's Aaron Yarmush will join his sister at Xavier
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| AARON YARMUSH |
NEW ORLEANS — Aaron Yarmush of Houma, La., and Ellender Memorial High School has signed a men's cross country scholarship with Xavier University of Louisiana. He also will compete for XU's track and field program.
Yarmush finished eighth in 2011 and 2010 in the Class 4A state cross country meet. His best three-mile time is 16 minutes, 38.85 seconds.
On the track Yarmush won MVP awards at five outdoor meets in 2012, including the District 8-4A championships, where he placed first in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. At the 4A state meet he finished among the top nine in the 3,200 each of the past three seasons. His highest finish at state was seventh in the 800 in 2011.
Other best times for Yarmush include 2:04.84 in the 800 and 4:43.63 in the 1,600. His best 3,200 time was 10:26.28 indoors. He was the 8-4A track MVP as a junior.
He will join his sister Hali, a sophomore, in XU's cross country program. Hali was All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference a year ago. Aaron and Hali will be one of two sibling pairs in Coach Joseph Moses' program this year. The others are 2011 GCAC individual champions Kwame and Zahri Jackson, both sophomores.
Yarmush will major in computer science at Xavier and be one of two Gold Rush freshmen this season. David Holobowicz of Montgomery, Texas, signed in May.
The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets this year will seek their seventh consecutive GCAC team championships and fourth appearances in five years at the NAIA National Championships. Both teams will start the season Aug. 31 in the Mississippi College Opener at Clinton, Miss.
Xavier is one of 38 U.S. colleges listed as a "Best Buy School" in the 2013 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges.
2012-13 Xavier University of Louisiana Cross Country Signees MEN Ht. Wt. Yr.* Hometown High School
David Holobowicz 5-5 130 Fr. Montgomery, Texas Montgomery
Aaron Yarmush 6-3 173 Fr. Houma, La. Ellender
WOMEN Ht. Wt. Yr.* Hometown High School
Hannah Finnegan 5-2 116 Fr. Pekin, Ill. Tremont
Briana Simms 5-7 103 Fr. Hendersonville, Tenn. Station Camp
* athletic classification at Xavier in fall of 2012
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information DirectorVISIT: XULAATHLETICS
Hornets' Love line: ASU freshman makes a quick impact on offensive front
MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Reggie Barlow figured that Damian Love would see action as a true freshman.
The Alabama State football coach couldn’t exactly pinpoint how much time or where on the offensive line the former Stanhope Elmore star would contribute.
But just a few weeks into summer training camp, the speculation halted, when Love walked on to the field at Hornet Stadium with the first-team unit at right guard during ASU’s first scrimmage last week.
“When we recruited him we knew we were going to get a good one, if he came,” Barlow said. “We felt like if he came here that he could start or play for us right away as a freshman. The kid is athletic, he’s strong, he’s smart and he loves to complete.”
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The Alabama State football coach couldn’t exactly pinpoint how much time or where on the offensive line the former Stanhope Elmore star would contribute.
But just a few weeks into summer training camp, the speculation halted, when Love walked on to the field at Hornet Stadium with the first-team unit at right guard during ASU’s first scrimmage last week.
“When we recruited him we knew we were going to get a good one, if he came,” Barlow said. “We felt like if he came here that he could start or play for us right away as a freshman. The kid is athletic, he’s strong, he’s smart and he loves to complete.”
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Lincoln (Pa.) Hoping To Break Through In 2012
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| Lincoln University senior defensive end Tim Green #51,(Fanwood, N.J./Scotch Plains- Fanwood HS) continued to add to his list of honors as he was named to the USA College Football NCAA Division II Preseason All-American Team. |
The Lions, out of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, were in just about every game last year with four of their losses coming by 12 points or fewer. And they have some experience as seventeen starters are back from 2011, but they were picked to finish 11th in the 12 team CIAA.
The headlines for this team come from the defense, specifically from their wonderful senior defensive end Tim Green.
A 6’1″, 215-pound native of Fanwood, New Jersey, Green led all of Division II last season by averaging 1.50 sacks a game and that helped him become Lincoln’s first-ever Division II All-American. He also has been named to several preseason All-American teams this summer. Lincoln head coach O.J. Abanishe says Green’s dominance on the edge helps open things up for the rest of their defense.
Listen to Matt Leon’s interview with O.J. Abanishe: CLICK HERE
Former South Carolina standout joins XU Gold Nuggets' staff
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| ASSISTANT COACH HANNAH LAWING GOLD NUGGETS VOLLEYBALL |
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has hired former University of South Carolina standout Hannah Lawing as an assistant women's volleyball coach. She worked her first practice Tuesday as the Gold Nuggets prepare for their season opener next week.
This is the first collegiate coaching job for Lawing, 23, who was a varsity assistant at Heathwood Hall Episcopal High School in Columbia, S.C., in 2011 and co-head coach of the South Carolina Midlands 18s Elite club team this year.
Lawing graduated from South Carolina in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She played four seasons of volleyball for the Gamecocks and as a senior set a school record for digs per set with 4.89.
"We're excited to have Hannah join the Xavier volleyball family," XU head coach Christabell Hamilton said. "She has collegiate experience and brings energy to our program. She fights right in with our team."
Lawing was an outside hitter and defensive specialist with the Gamecocks. She was SEC Defensive Player of the Week twice as a senior and once as a freshman. She excelled in the classroom as a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and made the dean's list.
Lawing is third all-time at South Carolina with 1,334 digs and fifth with 3.35 digs per set. As a senior she posted the second-most digs in program history and the most in the rally-scoring era with 523. That year she also recorded a USC match-record 38 digs against Mississippi State. Lawing had 23 career double-doubles, including a career-high 28 kills and 14 digs in a four-set victory against Harvard in 2009.
Lawing is a Winston-Salem, N.C., native and lived there 10 years before moving to the Atlanta area. She is a 2007 graduate of Lassiter High School in Marietta, Ga.
Lawing replaces Darrilyn Broussard, who split time with volleyball and women's basketball coaching a year ago. Broussard, the associate head coach of XU women's basketball, returns for her 12th season with that program.
Xavier was 23-7 in 2011 — the Gold Nuggets' first winning season — and didn't lose a match en route to the program's first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and first appearance in the NAIA National Championship. The Nuggets will open their season Aug. 24 with matches against 20th-ranked Lindsey Wilson and third-ranked Lee in the Lee Invitational at Cleveland, Tenn. The home opener will start at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 against city rival Loyola.
Xavier is one of 38 U.S. colleges listed as a "Best Buy School" in the 2013 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information DirectorVISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
JSU Welcomes Olympian Anaso Jobodwana Back Home
JACKSON, Mississippi - Jackson State University welcomed back JSU sophomore and 2012 Olympian Anaso Jobodwana during a congratulatory celebration on Aug. 15 in the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center.
The event featured the Sonic Boom of the South marching band, greetings from Athletics Director Dr. Vivian L. Fuller, men's track coach Mark Thorne and David Hoard, vice president for Institutional Advancement.
A native of Eastern Cape, South Africa, Jobodwana ran for his home country during the 2012 Summer Olympics. He had the honor of qualifying for the men's 200-meter Olympic final. During the race, which included Jamaican world record holder Usain Bolt, Jobodwana finished eighth. The 20-year-old ran a personal best of 20.27 seconds.
The 2012 Olympics was the first race for Jobodwana on the world stage, but certainly not the last. He's expected to continue as one of the world's top contenders in the 200 meter and is also expected to dominate national competitions as well.
COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Hall to coach WSSU women's basketball
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - A.G. Hall, a veteran college assistant who played basketball at N.C. Central, is the new women's basketball coach at Winston-Salem State.Hall, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant at Bethune-Cookman, replaces Steve Joyner Jr., who left WSSU after two seasons to coach at his alma mater, Johnson C. Smith.
"I'm extremely excited," Hall, 37, said by phone Thursday afternoon. "I've been waiting for this chance to be a head coach, and I'm really looking forward to the challenge."
Athletics director Bill Hayes said that WSSU's board of trustees approved Hall's hiring Thursday morning. "A.G. is a great young coach, and we're thrilled to have him," Hayes said.
Hall also spent two seasons as an assistant women's coach at Clemson and six season's as an assistant at Providence. He played for N.C. Central in the 1990s, graduating in 1998, and started his coaching career there as a graduate assistant.
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Thursday, August 16, 2012
Former Florida High star making splash for Florida A&M Rattlers
TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Going back to his days at Florida High, DeWayne Harvey had quite a reputation for making good on all of his opportunities on the football field.
When he was brought on as a back-up quarterback, he demonstrated such consistency that Florida High coach Jarrod Hickman didn’t think twice about making him a starting quarterback in his last two seasons as a Seminole.
Then in his freshman season last fall at Florida A&M, he was so effective in the few chances he got to touch the ball as a converted wide receiver that Joe Taylor and his coaching staff began to take a hard look.
Harvey gave them confirmation he could be a player of the future with a touchdown catch during a last-ditch effort to rally against Bethune-Cookman.
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Tennessee State Tiger Camp: Practice Heats Up
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Rising temperatures and higher humidity gave Tennessee State the conditions they were looking for Wednesday at fall camp.
"It got a little bit warm out here, which I like," said head coach Rod Reed. "We were a little flat at times, but you could see some areas in practice where we picked up the intensity."
One of the more important aspects that Coach Reed has been preaching this fall is maintaining a high level of energy throughout practice and hoping that it translates into the games.
"Championship football teams have that type of intensity all the time and that’s one of the things that we keep preaching to these guys. We’ve got to play at a high level every play. If somebody goes down, then the next man steps in. We don’t have the luxury to take plays off. We’ve got to be 100 percent all the time."
The defensive line shined through on the day as Reed was pleased with what his saw upfront despite a lack of depth.
"I thought we played well on the defensive front. We’re thin at that position, but we’ve got some guys that really got after it today. I am sure it will be a tug of war. The offensive line will come back tomorrow and we’ll get some good play out of them."
Fan Day Set
TSU Fan Day will be Saturday, Aug. 25 at the indoor practice facility. Fans are invited to come out and collect autographs and photos with the 2012 football team.
Kick-Off Times Confirmed
TSU Athletics announced last week that kick-off times have been set for all home games. The John Merritt Classic against Florida A&M is slated for a 6pm contest on Sept. 1. All Hale Stadium games (Austin Peay - Sept. 15, Eastern Kentucky - Oct. 6 and Tennessee Tech - Oct. 27) are scheduled for a 1pm start time. TSU kicks off Homecoming against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 29 at 5pm.
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
"It got a little bit warm out here, which I like," said head coach Rod Reed. "We were a little flat at times, but you could see some areas in practice where we picked up the intensity."
One of the more important aspects that Coach Reed has been preaching this fall is maintaining a high level of energy throughout practice and hoping that it translates into the games.
"Championship football teams have that type of intensity all the time and that’s one of the things that we keep preaching to these guys. We’ve got to play at a high level every play. If somebody goes down, then the next man steps in. We don’t have the luxury to take plays off. We’ve got to be 100 percent all the time."
The defensive line shined through on the day as Reed was pleased with what his saw upfront despite a lack of depth.
"I thought we played well on the defensive front. We’re thin at that position, but we’ve got some guys that really got after it today. I am sure it will be a tug of war. The offensive line will come back tomorrow and we’ll get some good play out of them."
Fan Day Set
TSU Fan Day will be Saturday, Aug. 25 at the indoor practice facility. Fans are invited to come out and collect autographs and photos with the 2012 football team.
Kick-Off Times Confirmed
TSU Athletics announced last week that kick-off times have been set for all home games. The John Merritt Classic against Florida A&M is slated for a 6pm contest on Sept. 1. All Hale Stadium games (Austin Peay - Sept. 15, Eastern Kentucky - Oct. 6 and Tennessee Tech - Oct. 27) are scheduled for a 1pm start time. TSU kicks off Homecoming against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 29 at 5pm.
2012 TSU FOOTBALL CAMP SCHEDULE
Thursday, Aug. 16 - Scrimmage - 7:30-9:30am/Special Teams 5:45-7:45pm
Friday, Aug. 17 - Practice (full) - 9:15-11:30am
Saturday, Aug. 18 - Scrimmage - 7:30-9:30am/Special Teams 5:45-7:45pm
Monday, Aug. 20 - Practice (full) - 9:15-11:30am
Tuesday, Aug. 21 - Scrimmage - 7:30-9:30am/Special Teams 5:45-7:45pm
Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers and Twitter @TSU_Tigers.
Friday, Aug. 17 - Practice (full) - 9:15-11:30am
Saturday, Aug. 18 - Scrimmage - 7:30-9:30am/Special Teams 5:45-7:45pm
Monday, Aug. 20 - Practice (full) - 9:15-11:30am
Tuesday, Aug. 21 - Scrimmage - 7:30-9:30am/Special Teams 5:45-7:45pm
Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers and Twitter @TSU_Tigers.
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Jenkins ready to take B-CU team all the way
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - With the 2012 football campaign around the corner, Bethune-Cookman University held its B-CU held Media Day on Sunday, Aug. 12.
Head Coach Brian Jenkins stressed keeping his team living in the moment.
“We have to learn to stay in the moment. I think that sometimes we jump ahead. We can’t look forward to certain games or opponents. We have to stay focused and work the moment. We have to be consistent and master the fundamentals,” stated Jenkins.
Players dressed in shirt and tie spoke to the press about the upcoming season.
“At first they didn’t agree with it but now they’ve come to understand it. Our players represent us well. It’s more than just football. It’s also about making young men,” added Jenkins.
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Head Coach Brian Jenkins stressed keeping his team living in the moment.
“We have to learn to stay in the moment. I think that sometimes we jump ahead. We can’t look forward to certain games or opponents. We have to stay focused and work the moment. We have to be consistent and master the fundamentals,” stated Jenkins.
Players dressed in shirt and tie spoke to the press about the upcoming season.
“At first they didn’t agree with it but now they’ve come to understand it. Our players represent us well. It’s more than just football. It’s also about making young men,” added Jenkins.
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JCSU driven to beat history, preseason poll
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Johnson C. Smith quarterback Keahn Wallace isn’t impressed by the league’s preseason poll.
Conference coaches picked the Golden Bulls to finish fifth in the six-team South Division despite coming off a 6-5 season and Pioneer Bowl win in 2011. Wallace, the league’s offensive rookie of the year, was livid.
“It’s motivation at the same time it’s disrespect,” said Wallace, who accounted for 2,478 total yards and 24 touchdowns (16 passing) as a freshman. “What we did last year put a big dent in the CIAA from the standpoint of scoring, making plays, keeping our defense off the field. I look at it as disrespect because we’re building on what we have done and for them to rank us fifth in our side of the conference is disrespectful.”
Golden Bulls coach Steve Aycock is ...
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Conference coaches picked the Golden Bulls to finish fifth in the six-team South Division despite coming off a 6-5 season and Pioneer Bowl win in 2011. Wallace, the league’s offensive rookie of the year, was livid.
“It’s motivation at the same time it’s disrespect,” said Wallace, who accounted for 2,478 total yards and 24 touchdowns (16 passing) as a freshman. “What we did last year put a big dent in the CIAA from the standpoint of scoring, making plays, keeping our defense off the field. I look at it as disrespect because we’re building on what we have done and for them to rank us fifth in our side of the conference is disrespectful.”
Golden Bulls coach Steve Aycock is ...
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XU revises schedule, will travel to Florida 2 weeks earlier
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| XU seeks its seventh consecutive conference championship in women's cross country. |
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Xavier University of Louisiana announced two changes Monday to its 2012 men's and women's cross country schedules.
The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets still will compete in Florida, but two weeks earlier than originally announced. Xavier will run Sept. 22 in the ASICS Embry-Riddle Classic at Daytona Beach, Fla. The other new meet will be Oct. 5 in the Mississippi College/Watson Ford Invitatiional at Clinton, Miss.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information DirectorVISIT: XULAATHLETICS
In the FCS Huddle: 2012 MEAC Preview
Philadelphia, PA – In the past, MEAC football has been overlooked. The conference has always had some of the best bands, game-day atmospheres and rivalries (particularly with the SWAC), but not the national attention.
Usually, in FCS football, conferences achieve that through national championships, playoff appearances and quality competition. But, it doesn't happen overnight, it takes time.
Few have noticed the changes the MEAC has made in the last couple of years in order to take the next step forward. Teams are scheduling tougher out-of- conference opponents as well as adding FBS games, which the conference had never been accustomed to on a regular basis. The talent of athletes has increased and multiple teams can now fight for the title because there isn't just one premiere program.
"Dr. (Dennis) Thomas (the MEAC commissioner) had a firm direction for us about 10 years ago, he wanted us to become more competitive," Florida A&M coach Joe Taylor said. "Since 1996, MEAC football has evolved and become a lot more competitive. The trend in FCS football is playing FBS games and we do it now, too. We can use that as a recruiting tool and as revenue games. Now with the economy, it's a pretty good purse of money not just for MEAC teams, but for other teams as well."
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Lumberton picks FSU's Moses as hoops coach
LUMBERTON, North Carolina — Seated between opposing fans at a Fairmont basketball game in 2010, Fayetteville State assistant coach Mike Moses Jr. quickly realized this was no ordinary recruiting visit.“I’ve been to a lot of high school games around North Carolina, but those games between the Tornadoes and Red Springs are some of the most memorable,” Moses said. “They take their basketball very seriously.”
Moses liked the intensity so much he threw his name into the local coaching ring recently after Ted Gaskins retired from Lumberton High as boys basketball coach. Headlining the hiring committee with county athletic director Jason Suggs was Pirates A.D. Tripp Satterwhite who was immediately impressed with the former All-CIAA standout’s interview and vision.
Hand-picked from a list of 25 applicants, Moses, 28, becomes the county’s youngest head coach
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