Kicking is focus for NSU after two costly blocks

NORFOLK - The kicking game was supposed to be Norfolk State's big weapon. Instead, it's become the Spartans' biggest worry.

Norfolk State spent the week with the focus - both wanted and unwanted - on kicker Everett Goldberg and a field goal unit that is surprisingly one of worst in the MEAC. The Spartans rank next-to-last in the MEAC in extra-point percentage (7 of 10) and ninth in field-goal percentage (2 of 6).


Coach Pete Adrian keyed in on kicking this week, opening Wednesday's and Thursday's practices with field goals. The fans had focused on it, consumed enough that Adrian admits he's heard suggestions to bench Goldberg.

"It's a unit," Goldberg said. "You have to rely on other people and, right now, the unit is failing. It's frustrating when you go to class and 20 people are staring at you like you cost them the conference and teachers say stuff, but there's nothing you can do."

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Rams Notebook: WSSU's Massey getting his legs under him

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -  Wide receiver Jameze Massey of WSSU had to fight through lingering leg injuries in preseason camp and the first part of the season. He appears to be at full strength now and leads the Rams with an average of 24.7 yards per catch.

Massey said the Rams took what they were given in last week's 55-21 victory against Morehouse and that's how they rolled up 677 yards.

"Our offensive line was doing a great job, and their defense was putting an extra man in the box, so we just exploited that," Massey said. "(Quarterback) Kam Smith has been making some great reads for us, and that's been a big key."

Massey, who missed the opener against UNC Pembroke, has 10 catches in two games.



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Xavier's Pieri, Fakler are GCAC Runners of the Week



Matt Pieri



Catherine Fakler



NEW ORLEANS — It's a familiar situation for Matt Pieri and a new one for Catherine Fakler. Both Xavier University of Louisiana cross country standouts are the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Runners of the Week for Sept. 10-16.

Pieri, a senior from New Orleans and a graduate of Brother Martin High School, extended his GCAC career record with 11 weekly men's awards. He's won the award at least once in each of his four seasons. Fakler, a sophomore from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, won the women's award for the first time. Both were honored after their performances Saturday in the Azalea City Classic at Mobile, Ala.

Pieri produced the fastest time — 26 minutes, 39.71 seconds — by an XU male for 8,000 meters since 1998. Pieri beat his personal record by nearly 12 seconds and placed 18th out of 105 runners.

Fakler broke her XU women's record for 6,000 meters. Her 24:09.65 beat her old mark of 24:10.3. She placed 28th out of 115 runners.

Both XU teams will compete Saturday in the ASICS Embry-Riddle Classic at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., The 8,000-meter men's race will start at 7:20 a.m. EDT, followed by the women's 5K at 8. It will be Xavier's third meet of the season. Embry-Riddle's men are ranked 15th in the NAIA, and the women are ranked 20th. Embry-Riddle's best male is senior Evans Kirwa, the reigning NAIA National Men's Runner of the Week.

Twelve additional schools will compete Saturday: Ave Maria, Bethune-Cookman, Flagler, Florida College, Johnson & Wales (Fla.), Lynn, Rollins, Seton Hall, Southeastern (Fla.), Stetson, Tennessee State and Warner. Embry-Riddle also will field an alumni team.

 

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

XU Rush, Nuggets open season at UNO's Big Easy Classic

Coach Alan Green (black jacket) begins his 10th season as XU's tennis coach.

2012-13 schedules:  Men    Women


NEW ORLEANS — Xavier Univerity of Louisiana will begin the fall portion of its 2012-13 men's and women's tennis schedules Friday in the Big Easy Classic at the University of New Orleans.

 The three-day event will be played at UNO's University Tennis Center. In addition to Xavier and the host school, participating teams will be the men of South Alabama and Tulane, the women of McNeese State, Troy and Southern Illinois and the men and women of Alcorn State, Loyola and Nicholls State.

There will be three flights of singles, one flight of doubles and a consolation bracket for first-round losers. The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets also will compete Sept. 28-30 in the USTA / ITA NAIA South Regional in Gainesville, Ga. Brenau University will be the host.

Alan Green, in his 10th season as coach of XU's men and women, said he plans to add one more fall event to the schedule. Xavier will announce its schedule of spring-semester dual matches near the end of 2012 or in early 2013. The Gold Rush were ranked seventh and the Gold Nuggets 19th in the 2012 NAIA postseason coaches poll.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Shake-up at Southern keeps Jackson State guessing

JACKSON, Mississippi - Jackson State football coach Rick Comegy can't remember entering a situation quite like the one that awaits the Tigers on Saturday.

JSU (1-2, 1-0 SWAC) will play its home opener at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday against Southern University. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. That much he knows.

Outside of that, Comegy isn't sure what to expect when the Jaguars (0-2, 0-1 SWAC) arrive with a reshuffled coaching staff. Stump Mitchell, who was 6-18 in his third season as the Jags' coach, was re-assigned last Friday following SU's 6-0 loss to Mississippi Valley State on Thursday.

Defensive coordinator Dawson Odums was named the interim coach. On Monday, Odums announced that quarterbacks coach Chad Germany and running backs coach Elvis Joseph would be co-offensive coordinators and Germany would be responsible for play calling. Got that?  


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Parker will be a Wildcat Hall of Famer one day, a Tiger the next

DAYTONA BEACH — On Friday, Bethune-Cookman will honor Jeff Parker. On Saturday, he will be the enemy.

The former B-CU receiver is one of 12 former Wildcats who will be inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame at 7 p.m. Friday at the Center for Civic Engagement on campus.

 Parker, who is now the quarterbacks coach, passing game coordinator and assistant head coach at Tennessee State, will trade his maroon and gold for blue and white on Saturday as the Tigers visit Municipal Stadium to play B-CU in its home opener.

“It's just coincidence that I was going to be there this weekend,'' Parker said. “I got a call maybe three weeks ago that I made the Hall of Fame. I don't think it was planned. But, yes, it's going to be a big weekend. I'm excited about it. I'm excited about the football game. We're excited about having the opportunity to play one of the best teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Parker grew up in Daytona Beach and was a multi-sport star at Seabreeze. He chose to play football at Tennessee State in 1987 but transferred to B-CU after his redshirt freshman season when the Tigers changed coaches.

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Alabama State football: Hornets look for redemption on national stage

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - The Hornets were eager to prove themselves on national television in the season opener, facing Bethune-Cookman in the eighth annual MEAC-SWAC Challenge in a made-for-TV Sunday afternoon matchup.

After giving up 38 unanswered points in a 38-28 loss to the Wildcats on Sept. 2, they’ll get another chance to prove themselves on a national stage in tonight’s Southwestern Athletic Conference showdown with Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Cramton Bowl on ESPNU.

“Every game is a blessing to play,” Alabama State quarterback Greg Jenkins said, “but national TV gives you extra drive to prove yourself, not only to your teammates and the Hornet Nation but to the whole.world.” Embarrassed by the season opening loss, Alabama State rebounded with wins over Mississippi Valley State and Grambling State, getting a little more in synch with each game. READ MORE

Texas A&M wants no part in helping S.C. State Bulldogs ‘rebound’

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -  Having rebounded in dominating fashion from a loss in the program’s first-ever Southeastern Conference game, Texas A&M sees a South Carolina State team looking to do the same.

The Bulldogs have dropped two straight and are coming off their worst loss in the Buddy Pough era in a 56-0 shutout at 22nd-ranked Arizona. Nevertheless, the Aggies’ players are preparing for S.C. State’s best effort this Saturday at Kyle Stadium in College Station, Texas.

“They got beat pretty badly last week,” linebacker Jonathan Stewart said during a Wednesday teleconference. “They’re a team on the rebound. Just because they are from a smaller conference, not a marquee conference, we can’t take them lightly. We only have 12 guaranteed opportunities and we’ve already played two of them. We have to prepare for every single opponent as if they are a big-time opponent.

 “We can’t take them lightly at all and end up being one of the teams that everybody looks at around the nation as, ‘How did you lose to that team?’ We’re going to prepare as if this is any other opponent.”

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Maynor likes the way his WSSU Rams are improving

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Fifth-ranked Winston-Salem State didn't do much wrong Saturday in its 55-21 victory against Morehouse at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Even coach Connell Maynor, who likes to keep his team hungry, couldn't find much fault.

"Offensively, we were more consistent, and it showed because we scored 55 points," said Maynor, whose Rams also had 677 yards of offense and eight touchdowns on 13 possessions.

"Our defense is still playing great, and with two of their touchdowns, they got inside of our 5 because of a punt return and a fumble."

Now, WSSU (3-0) has turned its attention to Virginia Union for its CIAA opener at 6 p.m. Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium. Maynor said that the Rams have done a good job correcting mistakes. There were plenty of missteps on offense in victories against UNC Pembroke (28-23) and

 

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Alabama A&M football: Goldsby's year has taken off

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Bobby Goldsby knows all about Alabama A&M football coach Anthony Jones and his penchant for utilizing the tight end. After all, Jones played the position in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins.

However, Goldsby, who starts at tight end for the Bulldogs, hadn't been utilized that much in his first three seasons in an A&M uniform. Entering this season, the 6-foot-4, 229-pound redshirt senior from Leominster, Mass., had managed just eight catches for 90 yards. Even worse, Goldsby had failed to score a touchdown.

"It's been frustrating," Goldsby said.

Not anymore. Goldsby, who came to A&M as an invited walk-on and later earned a scholarship, is in the midst of a career year three games into his final season.

He has eight catches - equaling his total from his first three years - for 111 yards and two touchdowns and is coming off of the best game of his career after hauling in five catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns in A&M's 42-30 victory over Prairie View last Saturday night at Louis Crews Stadium.



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Alabama State Continues Prep For UAPB Golden Lions

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -  The Alabama State football Hornets were back at practice Tuesday night getting set for Thursday night's game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Cramton Bowl.

Kickoff between the Hornets (2-1 overall, 2-0 SWAC) and Golden Lions (2-1, 1-1) is at 6:30 p.m. It's Faith, Family and Military night as fans are encouraged to wear ASU gold to the game, which will be broadcast live on WVAS 90.7 FM and televised live on ESPNU.

“Practice was decent,” head coach Reggie Barlow said. “Guys were flying around getting more understanding of UAPB. As I coach, I look at small things of how we get from drill to drill and movements from play to play, and those are the areas I'd like for us to clean up a bit.”

Offensively, the Golden Lions have one of the league's best quarterbacks in dual-threat sophomore Benjamin Anderson.



“I like Anderson and their offense,” Barlow said. “Their offensive line is good with great size and well-coached. Anderson is young, but has really grown into the position. He's doing a great job and has weapons he can get the ball to. If you don't protect the edges, he can run the ball effectively as well.”

Arkansas-Pine Bluff is statistically one of the most balanced teams in the SWAC. In averaging 334.0 yards per game, just four yards separates UAPB's passing yards and rushing yards.

“Everyone talks about they want to be balanced, but this team is as closed to balanced as I've ever seen,” said Barlow of the Golden Lions, who have passed for 503 yards and rushed for 499 yards in three games this season. “Their offensive coordinator (Eric Dooley) has the type of players that he wants and the quarterback that he wants. They're making plays, and we have to be mindful they can pass and run equally well.”

The Hornets return to practice Wednesday at 3 p.m.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Davis sees opportunity at Texas Southern

HOUSTON, Texas - He has been at the pinnacle, taking a name-brand program to the Final Four.

Which begs the question: why? Why would Mike Davis, who in a not-so-distant life led Indiana to the national semifinals, take a job at SWAC-member Texas Southern?

And not just any job, but an interim job that has all the promise of exactly nothing for the future.

“I’m a basketball coach,’’ Davis said. “This is what I do. I would coach anywhere because I love it.’’

Texas Southern is both anywhere and somewhere, which is why Davis, five months after he was fired by UAB, said yes.



The SWAC is not an easy place to compete. Budgets are small and challenges are big. According to the U.S. Department of Education Equity in Athletics information, the Tigers spent $946,691 on men’s basketball in 2010.

At Austin, the University of Texas spent $8.1 million.

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Dothan High Catcher Denise Anderson Commits to FAMU

DOTHAN, Alabama - The Dothan High Softball Team will have one of the top batteries in the state this coming season. Along with Auburn commit Kasey Cooper, catcher Denise Anderson will also continue her career at the Division One level.

Anderson has committed to play for Florida A&M, and she can't wait to get to Tallahassee and her her new team compete for MEAC titles.



"They're close to home and I really like the environment," Anderson said. "The coaches are really nice, and I really liked it a lot.

"It's the perfect place for me."

Anderson has been one of Dothan's top players for the past few years, and she played a key role for a successful summer league team out of ...
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Week 3 MEAC Power Poll

Offensive Player of the Week – James Owens, RB, Florida A&M – On 11 carries he had three touchdowns and 157 yards, and all this came against a Hampton team that’s not normally a weakling and brought back much of last year’s defense. Runner-ups Nico Flores (QB, Norfolk State) and Terrence LeFall (RB, Howard).

Defensive Player of the Week – Olusegun Ayanbiola, DE, Delaware State – Forced two fumbles against an FBS team in Cincinnati, broke up a pass and recorded four tackles, one for loss. That’s a big game. When it keeps a game close against a nationally-prominent opponent it’s award winning. Runner-ups Brandon Hepburn (LB, FAMU) and Makari Pugh (DB, NCAT)

Special Teams – David Julien, DB, Howard – Blocked the extra point in overtime to give Howard a 37-36 overtime win over Norfolk State. Also forced Xavier Boyce’s fumble in the first quarter. Runner-ups Rodney Tyson (WR, Howard) and Zack Cimaglia (K, NCAT)

At the quarter poll – It’s never too early to look at MEAC postseason awards is it? Yes, it probably is, but that’s never stopped me.

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Quarterback ruled ineligible for game surprisingly comes off bench, leads Howard to win

NORFOLK, Virginia  -  "Ineligible" isn't the iron-clad term it used to be.

College football players don't usually shift from ineligible to eligible in the middle of a game, but that's what happened during a contest between Howard and Norfolk State last week, leaving Norfolk State upset about the situation.

According to a story by the Virginian-Pilot, Howard quarterback Greg McGhee began last Saturday's game ineligible because of NCAA violations. The Washington Post reported in August that 14 players were ineligible because of improper use of textbook allowance money. McGhee was in that group, and the Virginian-Pilot said Howard's web site declared McGhee would "be available for the team's game against Savannah State on Sept. 29."

Well, Howard coach Gary Harrell changed its mind about that when McGhee was needed to win the Norfolk State game.

McGhee, last year's MEAC rookie of the year, suddenly was trotting out on the field late in the first quarter when starter Randy Liggins Jr. had back spasms, to the surprise of the Norfolk State coaches and players. The Virginian-Pilot said the only other quarterback on Howard's roster was injured against Rutgers earlier this season. So in came McGhee.



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Saturday's NSU Demons vs.MVSU Delta Devils battle can't wait for Halloween

NATCHITOCHES, Louisiana – A matchup of Demons and Delta Devils seems ideal for Halloween, but Northwestern State coaches and players aren't willing to wait that long to tee it up in Turpin Stadium against Mississippi Valley State.

Kickoff is at 6 Saturday evening in the first-ever football meeting between the schools. For the Demons, it's the 23rd time to take the field against a Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent, with NSU having won seven of the last eight, all this century, although the most recent contest in 2009 was a 38-17 loss at Grambling that still sticks in the craw of NSU senior safety Jamaal White.

“I'm really excited about playing a SWAC team. We lost to Grambling in my freshman year and I want to use this game to get even,” said White. “I watched Mississippi Valley against Southern and they have a real nice running back. We have to fight. It's a good game for us to measure ourselves before conference play begins.”

Valley (1-2) won 6-0 at Southern last Thursday.

“Whenever you play a SWAC team, you know it's going to be well coached with a lot of really talented players, and this is no different. They went into Southern, and we all know how tough it is to win there, and they threw a shutout,” said Demons head coach Bradley Dale Peveto.

“Demons and Devils, there is a rare matchup, but mascots aside, this is a good team coming into Turpin Stadium. We've got to bring our A-game on Saturday night to get to 2-2 and get headed into Southland Conference season with momentum.”




NSU began workouts Tuesday afternoon in Turpin Stadium after meeting Monday night to review game tape of its 45-34 loss at Nevada and to be introduced to the scouting report on Valley.

The Demons had an explosive offensive day in Reno with 585 total yards. In the previous two games, NSU (1-2) relied on its defense and special teams as the offense struggled.

When we put all three phases together, we know we can be a very good team,” said Peveto. “I've watched us make progress in all three phases. Now let's see if we can pull it together in the same night.”

COURTESY Doug Ireland/Sports Information Director, NSU Athletics

SSU NOTEBOOK: Nothing is easy for Savannah State

SAVANNAH, Georgia - Savannah State coach Steve Davenport doesn’t want his team thinking it has a breather Saturday night against North Carolina Central. Of course, after playing Oklahoma State and Florida State during the first two weeks, any FCS school on the Tigers’ schedule would be a welcomed relief.

“I certainly hope our kids don’t think this game will be easy,” Davenport said. “We played a couple of good teams, but we didn’t play them well.”

SSU (0-2) lost to Oklahoma State and Florida State by a combined score of 139-0. And now the Tigers are meeting the only team they’ve beaten the last two seasons.

Months ago, Davenport targeted the North Carolina Central game as the real start of SSU’s season. But what if the Tigers lose?

“It’s huge for us as far as the confidence level,” Davenport said. “The realistic thought was we weren’t going to be very successful in those first two games, so there’s obviously a bulls-eye on game 3 for us. It would be really disappointing if you get beat in a game you’re putting a bulls-eye on.”



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Florida A&M Rattlers Hit Road Again, 2nd Conference Game

Tallahassee, Florida - James Owens ran with all the attention this week after rushing for 157 yards and three touchdowns. But he expects more from their next opponent, Delaware State.

"Hopefully I can come out this week and I will have a great practice," Owens said. "I'm just gonna have great intensity and push my teammates."

FAMU needed that win against Hampton last Saturday. They were among their own fans for the first time this season. With the win, the Rattlers have initiated their hunt for a conference title.

"We feel like our hardest games are out of the way," said Devan Roberts, a sophomore defensive back. "So we're focusing on winning out right now."

That next win will have to come on the road, their third trip in four weeks.



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Mobile defeats Xavier Gold Nuggets in 4 sets

NEW ORLEANS — Kiara Gay had 14 kills and 10 digs Tuesday, and Sara Van Wert had 12 kills in Mobile's 21-25, 26-24, 25-15, 25-18 women's volleyball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana at The Barn.

The Lady Rams (12-4) have a two-match win streak and six victories in their past seven matches.

Taylor Reuther had 10 kills and 13 digs for the Gold Nuggets (5-4), and Moira Kirk's 10 blocks were the most for Xavier in a match since the program resumed in 2010. Kirk and teammate Chinedu Echebelem had seven kills apiece.

Xavier came back from a 19-16 deficit to win the first set and was aided by eight Mobile errors in the final 10 rallies. The Gold Nuggets rallied again late in the second set — tying the score at 24 after trailing 22-13 — but the Lady Rams ended the set with consecutive kills by Gay and Van Wert. Mobile closed the third set with a 15-5 run, then ended the match on a 12-3 run. The Lady Rams clinched on Bailey Nations' kill.

"We made too many errors," Xavier coach Christabell Hamilton said. "We dug ourselves into too many holes we couldn't get out of."

Mobile had advantages of 48-32 in kills and 12-3 in aces. Xavier committed a season-high 52 errors.

It was the first time in 31 matches that Xavier won the first set but lost the match. And the Nuggets, 8-1 at home a year ago, are 0-2 at home for the first time since 2004.

Xavier will play Edward Waters at 7 p.m. EDT Friday in Jacksonville, Fla., in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opener for both. The Gold Nuggets are the defending GCAC regular-season and tournament champion.

NOTES: Kirk's previous high for blocks in match was seven, which she accomplished three times . . . Reuther's double-double was her fifth of the season and 18th of her career . . . Freshman libero Darian Harris had 10 digs and, like Reuther, reached double figures for the third consecutive match . . . Mobile, a former GCAC member, is 3-0 against GCAC opponents this season. The Lady Rams beat Tougaloo and SUNO in August . . . Xavier wore new gold jerseys with black numbers for the first time . . . In Hamilton's two seasons at Xavier, her teams are 3-7 against Southern States Athletic Conference opponents (1-0 Faulkner, 1-1 Belhaven, 1-2 Mobile, 0-1 Loyola, 0-3 Spring Hill) and 25-4 against everyone else . . . It was just the second time in 14 matches under Hamilton that the Nuggets lost in a match longer than three sets.

Box score

Read more about this match and other sporting events from Xavier at: xulaathletics.


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

Delaware State Hornets: Good fight not good enough

DOVER, Delaware - DOVER — There was no talk of a “moral victory” after Delaware State battled mightily before falling 23-7 to Cincinnati Saturday night.

Instead, DSU was left with thoughts of what could have been after the Hornets’ defense forced six turnovers against the heavily favored Bearcats, a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent, and stayed closer than any oddsmaker could have ever imagined.



“I feel like that we proved a lot of things in that game,” said linebacker Olusegun Ayanbiola, who had eight tackles and forced two fumbles against Cincinnati. “We accomplished a lot of things that we wanted to accomplish. I think we left with a sour taste in our mouths since we didn’t actually win the game, so it’s bittersweet.”

Delaware State running back Malcolm Williams also enjoyed a big night at the Bearcats’ Nippert Stadium. He scored on a 60-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, which was the longest rushing TD by a Hornet since a 63-yard scoring run by Kareem Jones in 2007.

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CIAA Notebook: Conference play will begin this weekend in CIAA

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - With CIAA conference play beginning this week, one game worth keeping an eye on is Bowie State (3-0) playing St. Augustine's (2-1) at Durham County Stadium on Saturday.

Bowie State, which has emerged as the possible team to beat in the Northern Division, is coming off a hard-fought 24-17 win against Fairmont State.

"We're excited about the opportunity to play this week against a good St. Aug's team," coach Damon Wilson of the Bulldogs said.

The Bulldogs aren't ranked in any of the Division II major polls, but that doesn't matter to Wilson.

"We don't pay attention to the polls," Wilson said. "We are all about finishing our games off and that's something we didn't do very well last season."

The conference office is promoting this game as the game of the week, something coach Michael Costa of St. Aug's said he noticed.



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West transfers from Centenary (La.) to Gold Nuggets

OLIVIA WEST

NEW ORLEANS — Olivia West of Humble, Texas, has signed a women's tennis scholarship with Xavier University of Louisiana. West is enrolled at XU for the current semester as a chemistry/pre-pharmacy major after transferring from Centenary (La.) College, and she will have three seasons of eligiblity with the Gold Nuggets.

West, a left-hander, was 8-3 in singles and 9-2 in doubles at Centenary this past season and shared the team lead in singles victories and doubles victories. She helped Centenary's Ladies win 7-of-11 dual matches during the spring, including a 6-1 record in the American Southwest Conference.

At Atascocita High School, West was a district champion in singles and doubles in 2009 and 2010. She qualified for the state tournament and was voted team MVP both seasons.

West was No. 1 in the USTA Texas Championship Division girls 16s rankings in 2009.

The Gold Nuggets' previously announced signees were Vashni Balleste of Rock Tavern, N.Y., Simone-Alyse Ewell of Detroit, Brion Flowers of Lafayette, La., and Alexandria Locure of New Orleans. Coach Alan Green also said that Carmen Nelson, a letterwinner in 2009-10 and 2010-11, has re-enrolled at Xavier and rejoined the team. The Nuggets' 11-player roster is the largest of Green's 10 seasons as coach, and there are no seniors.

The XU women have won eight conference or group championships in the past 10 seasons and qualified for the NAIA National Championships six of the past eight seasons. They were 19th in the 2012 NAIA coaches posteason poll, the seventh time in eight seasons that the Gold Nuggets were among the final top 25.

2012-13 Xavier University of Louisiana Women's Tennis Signees
Name	Ht.	Yr.*	Hometown	High School (College)
Vashni Balleste	5-4	Fr.	Rock Tavern, N.Y.	Washingtonville
Simone-Alyse Ewell	5-5	Fr.	Detroit, Mich.	The Roeper School
Brion Flowers	5-6	Fr.	Lafayette, La.	St. Thomas More
Alexandria Locure	5-4	Fr.	New Orleans, La.	John Curtis Christian
Olivia West	5-4½	So.	Humble, Texas	Atascocita (Centenary [La.])
* athletic classification at Xavier in fall of 2012 By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director VISIT: XULAATHLETICS VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Alabama A&M football: Matchup excites Dejarnett

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama  -  Mention Texas Southern to Alabama A&M wide receiver Reshaad DeJarnett and a smile quickly emerges.

"Texas Southern excites me," DeJarnett said. "I got my first touchdown against them."

DeJarnett, a sophomore from Elmore County High School in Eclectic, had a 70-yard catch and run for a touchdown to help the Bulldogs down the Tigers 24-21 last year at Louis Crews Stadium before a national audience on ESPNU.

I had to redeem myself," DeJarnett said afterward.

Before DeJarnett scored, he fumbled a punt that helped set up the Tigers' go-ahead touchdown with just under five minutes remaining. When he got back to the bench, A&M coach Anthony Jones was there to encourage him.

"Coach said keep your head in the game," said DeJarnett, who hadn't caught a pass that night before taking Mason's screen to the house. "You can get it back."

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Howard Bison off to hot start

WASHINGTON, D.C. - It’s not easy to go on the road and win a game against the defending conference champion, but that’s what Howard did over the weekend.

The Bison pulled off a big upset when they blocked the PAT attempt, which gave Howard a 37-36 overtime win against the reigning MEAC champion Norfolk State (2-1) at Dick Price Stadium in Norfolk, Va.

This was a huge win for the Bison. It was certainly a big victory for coach Gary “The Flea” Harrell. In his second year, Harrell is trying to build the football program, which hasn’t had a winning season since 2002 it finished with a 6-5 record.

It looks like Harrell has the Bison heading in the right direction. Last season, Howard posted a 4-4 league record and was 5-6 overall. If there’s ever anyone who knows how to win football games at Howard, it’s this guy.

He was a four-year standout wide receiver and ...

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Southern University interim coach Dawson Odums addresses media, names offensive coordinators

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Dawson Odums sounded as comfortable as seat cushions, addressing the media for the first time as Southern University's interim head football coach Monday during the SWAC's weekly coaches teleconference.

The position was bestowed upon the Jaguars defensive coordinator when athletic director William Broussard announced that Stump Mitchell had been reassigned to undisclosed administrative duties at a press conference in Baton Rouge, La. Friday afternoon.

Mitchell's firing came the day after Southern, which was coming off a bye, fell 6-0 at home to a Mississippi Valley State squad which had just four days rest before the Thursday night affair that was aired live on ESPNU.

The Jaguars (0-2) will travel to face conference foe Jackson State Saturday (1-2, 1-0) at 4 p.m. After dropping their first couple ball games, the Tigers defeated Texas Southern 45-35 in Houston to get into the win column.

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