Spring Hill College to join NCAA; SIAC holding spot for Badgers

MOBILE, Alabama -- Spring Hill College President Rev. Richard P. Salmi, S.J., announced today that Spring Hill College has accepted an invitation to join the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and intends to apply for NCAA Division II membership in spring 2013.

Spring Hill has been a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) since 1959. The decision to switch national and conference affiliations comes after nearly two years of study and planning concerning the future of the Badger athletic program.

“We have enjoyed our relationship with the NAIA and SSAC (Southern States Athletic Conference)," said Salmi. “The SSAC is an excellent conference, and we have been pleased during our time as a member. However, we feel that strategically the NCAA is a better long-term fit for our goals and aspirations for the college and our athletic department.”

“Over the past year and a half, we have engaged in a comprehensive study of how best to ensure that our athletic program reaches its full potential and enjoys the same level of recognition and success that our academic programs have earned for more than 180 years,” said SHC Director of Athletics Jim Hall.

“We believe that being a member of the SIAC and the NCAA is a positive step in making that goal a reality.”

“The NCAA enjoys strong 'brand recognition' nationally and is regarded as being committed to competitive excellence, the welfare of student athletes and the support of its member institutions,” Hall said. “The NCAA also affords its members tremendous access to educational and professional development programs including postgraduate scholarships, athletic internships, conferences, symposiums and programs for women and minorities.”

One of the primary benefits cited in the study for moving to NCAA Division II is the opportunity to connect athletically with some of the best academic institutions in the country, including 26 of 28 Jesuit institutions nationwide. “Spring Hill has always been one of the highest ranked academic schools in the NAIA,” said Hall. “It is important that we continue our academic commitment to excellence as we build a highly regarded athletic program.”

“Spring Hill presently has more than 220 student athletes competing in 15 sports and we believe membership in the NCAA will make us an even more attractive college choice for outstanding student athletes from across the United States who, as studies suggest, are more likely to want to enroll at an NCAA campus,” said Hall.

SIAC commissioner Greg Moore formally communicated the conference’s acceptance of Spring Hill’s application after the SIAC president’s meeting on Aug. 20, 2012.

“We are pleased about the prospect of Spring Hill College becoming a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference,” Moore said. “Not only is Spring Hill College an institution with strong academics and athletics, but they were also cited by Dr. King for its commitment to racial justice and equality in his 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail.'”

As a result of the SIAC’s invitation, Spring Hill College will submit its NCAA application prior to the Feb. 1, 2013 deadline and begin what it hopes to be a three-year process toward full membership in NCAA Division II. Spring Hill will continue to hold membership in the NAIA and the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) through the 2013-2014 academic year, but will play a full schedule against SIAC opponents beginning in 2014-2015.

Founded in 1913, SIAC membership spans the states of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee and is comprised of 13 historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) that compete in 13 sponsored sports. SIAC teams and its athletes are known for being staunch competitors and for excelling on the national level. The conference as a whole has claimed more than 50 team and individual national championships.

“We believe that being a member of the NCAA and the SIAC is in concert with Spring Hill’s academic goals and mission,” Hall said. “It helps the college fulfill its promise of forming leaders engaged in learning, faith, justice and service for life.”

For the latest athletics news, visit www.shcbadgers.com.

It was announced on August 27, 2012, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Council of Presidents unanimously approved the application of Central State University (Ohio) as an associate football member of the SIAC, effective July 1, 2013.

Basketball schedule is released for WSSU men

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -  We interrupt the middle of football season for some basketball news.

There’s not a lot of news coming from the WSSU men’s basketball team other than the schedule is out and it’s a good one. And when I say a good one, I mean it’s a challenging one for coach Bobby Collins.

The Rams, 21-9 last season and the defending CIAA champions, will play an exhibition against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. Then, the Rams will open the regular-season against Division I UNC Greensboro at Greensboro Coliseum on Nov. 12.

Collins had a good quote about playing their opener in Greensboro against a Division I school that’s not N.C. A&T or N.C. Central.

“Since our rivals A&T and Central don’t want to play us we are hoping to start a nice little rivalry with UNCG,” Collins said. “I think it’s a great way for us to open our schedule with Duke and then UNCG because it will prepare us for our tough competition in the CIAA.”

Last season the Rams earned the automatic berth to the Division II tournament thanks to winning the CIAA Tournament title. With just about all of his team back along with several talented newcomers Collins and the Rams will likely contend again.

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Chowan Hawks grab historic victory

MURFREESBORO – Earthquake.

If it hasn’t shaken things up, it’s at least a seismic shift – football-wise – in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

Your usual top dogs don’t live here anymore. Or at least now they’ve got some company.

Chowan’s 27-3 win Saturday at James G. Garrison Stadium over league opponent Fayetteville State - the first in the school’s gridiron history - left the Hawks’ overall record at 3-2 midway through a season for the first time since 1999.

It also put them into a tie for first place in the CIAA Northern division with Elizabeth City State at 2-0; and it marked the first time Chowan’s defense had not allowed an opponent a touchdown since 2005.

How tenacious was the Hawks-D? They allowed just a single field goal from an offense that came in averaging over 23 points per game.

Junior Jason Ampy had 13 tackles while Anthony Joffrion and T.J. Batchelor assisted with 10 each. Batchelor also added two sacks in the contest, upping his season total to nine.

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SIAC Battle Of The Bands: Albany State University vs. Miles College

Alabama State golf team wins Black College Hall of Fame tournament

ATLANTA – The Alabama State men’s golf team shattered both team and individual records, coming from four strokes back to win the Black College Hall of Fame tournament.

The Hornets matched Saturday’s 10-under-par round with another 10-under 278 on Sunday and pulled away from first-day leader Savannah State and Tennessee State, whom they were tied with after the first day. ASU finished 15 strokes ahead of its nearest competitor.

The Hornets’ combined 20-under-par score shattered the former team record for 36 holes which was set two years ago at the James Shannon Invitational when ASU shot a two-day total of 1 over par.
Jose Rodriguez completed the tournament matching his Saturday score with another 6-under 66. He finished 12 under for the tournament and won the all-around individual championship.

Rodriguez’s 12 under was also an individual school record for 36 holes. Former ASU standout John Montgomery previously held the record with a 7-under-par finish at the James Shannon Invitational in 2010.

Branson Ferrier and Francis Berthaime both shot 69s on Sunday and both finished at 5 under par.

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Addison leads Bethune-Cookman to 38-26 win over Hampton

HAMPTON, Virginia  -  While quarterback Quentin Williams was making the first start of his college career, another redshirt freshman from the Tampa area had his coming-out party for Bethune-Cookman on Saturday night.

Nick Addison intercepted two passes -- returning one 90 yards for a touchdown -- and B-CU forced seven Hampton turnovers as the Wildcats held off the Pirates for a 38-26 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory in Hampton, Va.

“Nick has been in place to make those kind of plays the last few weeks,'' B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said. “We told him if he sees it to pull the trigger. He did his job tonight and was able to make the play.''

 

B-CU, which ended a two-game losing streak, improved to 3-2, 2-0 in the MEAC. The Wildcats will host North Carolina A&T in their homecoming game at 4 p.m. Saturday.

 

The Pirates (0-4, 0-2) rolled up 536 yards on offense but could not overcome four interceptions and three lost fumbles.

 

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Langston holds off Southern Nazarene

LANGSTON, Oklahoma — The stakes were considerably less than a year ago. No conference championship was on the line. No playoff berth was up for grabs. 

This time, two oft-successful small college football programs were simply trying move a step closer to .500.

Langston moved within one victory of an even season Saturday night with a 17-14 victory over winless Southern Nazarene before an estimated 3,500 fans at W.E. Anderson Stadium.

Anthony Fernandez kicked a 37-yard field goal with 9:07 left in the game to give Langston (2-3) the lead for good. The field goal came four plays after the Lions kept the drive alive with a fourth-and-1 conversion plunge by quarterback Brendan Crawford. Fernandez, a senior who played soccer in high school in California, said there was no doubt the field goal was good. After that, he said, it was all up to the defense to keep the lead.

“Our team hasn't been down or anything like that,” Fernandez said of the Lions' slow start. “We've played some good teams, and we've lost some tough games. But this is a big confidence boost for us.”





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Tuskegee smothers Fort Valley State in a 49-18 victory

TUSKEGEE, Alabama - Tuskegee defeated Fort Valley State 49-18 on Saturday at Abbott Memorial Stadium.

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup featured the top teams from the East and West Divisions. The Wildcats (3-2), coming off two straight conference victories, strolled into a hostile Golden Tigers (3-1) atmosphere looking to extend their win streak to three games.

On the first possession of the game quarterback Antonio Henton launched a 69-yard pass between two TU defenders to wide receiver Marquavious Trice for the touchdown. Tuskegee quickly responded scoring on a 57-yard run from running back Derrick Washington to tie the game at 7-7.

In the second quarter the Golden Tigers offense began to tear apart the Wildcat defense. TU scored four touchdowns in the second quarter and compiled 407 yards of total offense in the first half alone. Tuskegee's 77-yard touchdown with 14:44 left in the second half and a 66-yard run with 9:52 in the second quarter gave the Golden Tigers a 21-7 lead.

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Norfolk State offense is abysmal at S.C. State

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Bad offenses struggle to reach the end zone. Norfolk State's barely got past midfield.

The Spartans' offense was so bad that head coach Pete Adrian met with offensive coaches on the field, a back-up quarterback pondered its identity and the unit was outscored by South Carolina State's defense.

With the season just five games old, any significant chance at repeating last year's MEAC championship disappeared with the no-show offense in a 14-0 loss at South Carolina State (2-3, 1-1).

"We'll go back and evaluate film, evaluate very position," Adrian said. "We're not going to sit still. It's not going to be business as usual around here this week. That's what I was talking to them about right there."

The probable end of NSU's reign came early during a fourth consecutive slow start. The Spartans (2-3, 0-2), who have now been outscored 85-17 in the first half, trailed by a touchdown before the game was 2 minutes old. They were down 14-0 after one quarter.

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Reuther earns her 5th GCAC weekly award in 2 seasons

Taylor Reuther

NEW ORLEANS — For the second time this season and the fifth time in two years, Xavier University of Louisiana's Taylor Reuther is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in women's volleyball.      Reuther, a 5-foot-7 sophomore outside hitter from Metairie, La., and a graduate of St. Mary's Dominican High School in New Orleans, led Xavier with 31 kills, 21 digs and 10 aces during a 3-0 week which extended the Gold Nuggets' school-record road win streak to 10. Reuther had nine kills, eight digs and two aces to help Xavier win in four sets at SUNO and snap the Lady Knights' school-record nine-match win streak. In a sweep of Fisk she had 14 kills, six digs and three aces — all five of her third-set attacks were kills — and she had eight kills, seven digs and five aces in a sweep of Philander Smith.

Since the start of the 2008 season, only Whitney Knight of former member Mobile has won more GCAC weekly awards (12) than Reuther. No other active GCAC player has won more than twice. Xavier has received three weekly awards this season — sophomore outside hitter Chinedu Echebelem won the other.
    
Xavier's next match will start at 6 p.m. Friday against GCAC opponent Edward Waters at The Barn. It will be the first of three home matches in six days for the Gold Nuggets (10-4 overall, 4-0 GCAC).


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

XU's Erves, Joseph, Simmons are preseason All-GCAC

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Denzell Erves, Wanto Joseph and Anthony Simmons have been selected to the All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference preseason men's basketball team by the GCAC head coaches. The conference announced the 12-player team Monday.      Xavier, 23-9 in 2011-12 and the GCAC regular-season co-champion, was the only school with more than two players chosen.

Denzell Erves

Wanto Joseph

Anthony Simmons

    
Erves, a 6-foot-7 senior forward from Vicksburg, Miss., and a graduate of Vicksburg High School, averaged 9.5 points this past season and led the Gold Rush with 6.8 rebounds per game and 33 blocked shots. Erves was All-GCAC and a three-time GCAC Player of the Week in 2011-12, and his six double-doubles were the most by a Gold Rush player since the start of 2003-04.

Joseph, a 5-9 senior guard from New Orleans and a graduate of O. Perry Walker High School, averaged 8.6 points, 3.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds as a junior. He led the team with 43 steals, 89 free throws and 132 free throws attempted.

Simmons, a 6-8 senior forward from Rochester, N.Y., and a graduate of Allendale Columbia School, averaged 9.7 points and six rebounds and shot a team-best 62.9 percent from the floor a year ago. He's a two-time All-GCAC selection, and he was GCAC Player of the Week twice in 2011-12.

Xavier qualified six times in the past eight seasons for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship. The Gold Rush season will begin in early November, and the schedule will be announced soon.

2012-13 Preseason All-GCAC Men's Basketball Team

Name	School	Ht.	Year	Position	Notes (provided by coaches)
Kadon Day	Tougaloo	6-5	Junior	Forward	2010-11 GCAC Freshman of the Year
Javon Demerson	Philander Smith	6-11	Junior	Center	Strong rebounder and scorer
Carlton Downing	Edward Waters	6-7	Junior	Forward	12.9 points, 9.1 rebounds per game
Kevin Dukes	SUNO	6-2	Sophomore	Guard	2011-12 GCAC Freshman of the Year
Denzell Erves	Xavier	6-7	Senior	Forward	9.5 points, 6.8 rebounds per game
Juan Gray	Tougaloo	6-0	Senior	Guard	10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds per game
Wanto Joseph	Xavier	5-9	Senior	Guard	8.6 points, 3.3 assists per game
Cameron Lewis	Fisk	6-3	Sophomore	Guard	Four 20+ point games last year
DeMarkus Lipscomb	Philander Smith	5-9	Senior	Guard	One of top defensive players
Darrell Miller	Fisk	6-7	Junior	Forward	15 double-doubles last season
Clyde Moore	SUNO	6-4	Senior	Forward	16.6 points, 8 rebounds per game
Anthony Simmons	Xavier	6-8	Senior	Forward	9.7 points, 6 rebounds per game

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

Tennessee State Ranked 24th in Coaches Poll

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -  After starting the season 5-0 for the first time since 2001, Tennessee State broke into the Top 25, coming in at No. 24 in the FCS Coaches poll released on Monday.

It marks the first time the Tigers have been ranked since Nov. 17, 2008, when they were 25th in both major polls. TSU was ranked as high as 18th that season when the team started the year 8-2.

TSU is one of just 11 undefeated teams left in the FCS and one of the six teams to have a 5-0 record.

The Tigers opponent this week, Eastern Kentucky, placed 16th in the Coaches poll. It is the highest ranking for the Colonels since they were 16th on Oct. 5, 2009, right before losing to Tennessee State that week.

Kick off is slated for 1 p.m. this Saturday at Hale Stadium.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Jackson State bounces back, downs Prairie View

JACKSON, Mississippi  - On an otherwise dark, dreary and damp Saturday inside a partially filled Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson State running back Tommy Gooden flashed a smile that seemed to sum up the Tigers’ joyous mood.

One week removed from an ugly 28-21 loss to previously winless Southern University in their home opener, the Tigers slugged their way to a 34-13 win over winless Prairie View A&M before an announced crowd of 6,566. They did it behind their best rushing performance of the season.

JSU piled up a season-high 256 yards on the ground on 58 attempts — also a season high — to bury the Panthers. And it was Gooden leading the way with 135 yards. He even provided the exclamation point to the victory with a 15-yard touchdown run off the left tackle with 5:25 left.

Gooden’s 18 carries on the night matched his season total of 18 entering the game. Given the heavier workload, it was understandable he was a little slow getting to the interview room afterward.

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Cox-led defense comes up with 4 interceptions to spark Jackson State

JACKSON, Mississippi  -  Qua Cox and his Jackson State teammates entered Saturday’s game with Prairie View without a turnover to their name. That’s not the case today.

Cox intercepted a pair of passes and teammates Richard Hughes and Caleb Lester each had one pick apiece in the Tigers’ 34-13 victory. It came shortly after coach Rick Comegy challenged the redshirt junior to start making more plays and cause more turnovers.

Cox’s first pick was an acrobatic move that came after he appeared to be beaten. He showed off his closing speed and made a leaping pick in front of the Prairie View sideline. His second led to the eventual go-ahead touchdown for the Tigers.

Cox said he wasn’t surprised to see the Panthers attack his side so often.  “I’m one of the best corners in the SWAC,” Cox said. “So if they want to go at me and try to think I’m not good, it is what it is.”

Prairie View coach Heishma Northern said he recently told one NFL scout Cox could play in the league “right now.”

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AUM beats XU's Howell, Flowers in regional doubles final

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Auburn Montgomery's top-seeded Jade Curtis and Morgane Zowczak rallied Sunday for a 6-4, 6-0 victory against Xavier University of Louisiana's Kourtney Howell and Brion Flowers in the women's doubles championship of the USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional.
    

Howell and Flowers led 4-2 in the opening set before Curtis and Zowczak won 10 consecutive games. The victory qualified the AUM pair for the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships next month.
    

AUM denied the Gold Nuggets their first NAIA regional championship. The XU men won singles and doubles championships in this event a year ago.
    

Howell was a runner-up for the second consecutive weekend. She reached the singles consolation final of the Big Easy Classic at the University of New Orleans in Xavier's opening tournament of the fall semester.
    

Howell, a junior, and Flowers, a freshman, are 5-2 as a doubles team.
    

Curtis, No. 1 in the final ITA/NAIA doubles rankings each of the past two seasons, won a regional doubles title for the second consecutive year.

Results

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 

THE SHOW: 2012 Atlanta Football Classic

Classic a game of two halves

ATLANTA — After a performance against Southern University that demonstrated the good and the bad of the FAMU defense, players insisted they’ll band together to find the consistency needed to get through the season without another loss.

“We are a family and this can’t do nothing but make us stronger,” said cornerback Marvin Ross, who had one of two FAMU interceptions in Saturday’s 21-14 defeat here at the Georgia Dome.

“I’ve got to be a leader on the field and if something goes wrong we’ve got to come back and make a good play.”

Ross and the Rattlers (2-3) return to the road at Howard (3-1) in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. Kickoff is 1 p.m. The Bison blitzed Savannah State 56-9 last Saturday.

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Southern holds off Florida A&M in Atlanta

ATLANTA, Georgia  — Florida A&M quarterback Damien Fleming lofted the ball for the back corner of the end zone. To send the Atlanta Football Classic into overtime, all he needed was a pair of friendly hands.

Instead, the ball found nothing but Georgia Dome turf.

One kneel-down later, Southern’s sideline burst into celebration with chest-bumps and the now-weekly tradition of spraying interim coach Dawson Odums with water.

In the stands, the SU faithful screamed and cheered, and on the club level, a group of Jaguars fans twirled umbrellas and danced carefree to the sounds of the Human Jukebox.

Ah, that’s what two in a row feels like.  The Jaguar Nation might have forgotten that feeling in recent years, but after Southern’s 21-14 win against Florida A&M, the team has its first back-to-back wins since 2009, not to mention something that seemed inconceivable two weeks ago: momentum.

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Southern sticks with Dray Joseph after FAMU victory

ATLANTA — In a 21-14 win over Florida A&M that was often a struggle offensively, Southern’s coaches showed just how confident they are in starting quarterback Dray Joseph.  After saying last week that he planned to put backup J.P. Douglas in for a series or two per game, interim coach Dawson Odums and his staff stuck with Joseph throughout Saturday’s Atlanta Classic.

A change could have been expected just after halftime, when Joseph was 9 of 15 for 88 yards and threw an interception on his first pass of the second half. At that point, Southern trailed 7-0.

“We believe in our starting quarterback,” Odums said. “We just felt like it wasn’t anything that he was doing that was preventing us from scoring. We went into halftime and made some adjustments and corrections, got some protections together, and we challenged him.”

It worked, as Joseph rebounded in a big way. He was a perfect 8 of 8 on a game-tying touchdown drive, then finished 25 of 35 for 226 yards and two touchdowns to earn the game’s MVP award.

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Dawson Odums has Southern believing it can win

ATLANTA — At halftime of Saturday’s Atlanta Classic, Southern interim coach Dawson Odums had his work cut out for him.

The Jaguars had played a sloppy and sluggish first half, with four punts, two turnovers and only 94 yards of offense. They trailed Florida A&M 7-0, with the lone score coming after a fumble led to an easy Rattlers touchdown.

At that point, it was eerily similar to Southern’s 6-0 loss against Mississippi Valley State two weeks earlier — the kind of performance that has already proven deadly to an SU coaching career.

Not that a negative result would have cost Odums his job, but he and the Jaguars were well on their way to losing the momentum they had built in a win at Jackson State. They were in dire need of a second-half turnaround.

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West Virginia State University Celebrates Homecoming 2012

“New Visions, Timeless Traditions” theme for weeklong celebration

INSTITUTE, West Virginia - Thousands of alumni will return to West Virginia State University to join students, faculty, staff and friends in a celebration of Homecoming, Oct. 1-6. With the theme New Visions, Timeless Traditions, events will continue the momentum brought to campus by new President Brian O. Hemphill, while honoring and remembering the University’s proud history.

Hemphill will give his first State of the University address at 10 a.m. Oct. 3 in Ferrell Hall Auditorium. Friends of WVSU are encouraged to attend.

Homecoming begins Oct. 1 with festive events for students in the early part of the week. The following activities are a few of the week’s headliners:

·  Campus carnival on the Student Plaza, Oct. 4, will set the tone for the weekend with fun and food

·  Coronation of Mr. and Ms. State and the royal court Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. in Ferrell Hall auditorium.
·  Black and Gold Day, Friday, Oct. 5, everyone is encouraged to show spirit by wearing the WVSU colors.
·  ROTC Induction Ceremony, 11 a.m. Oct. 5, Davis Fine Arts Theater.
·  NAACP Oratorical contest returns for its second year, 1 p.m. Oct. 5, in the Davis Fine Arts Theater. Students will speak on the topic "I Am State."

·  President Hemphill holds an open forum with alumni, 3 p.m., Oct 5, Davis Fine Arts Theater.

·  Bonfire and pep rally, 10 p.m., Oct.5.

 

Homecoming Day, Oct. 6, gets off to a quick start at 7:30 a.m. with a 5K run/walk to raise money for the Students Matter Most scholarship fund. Following that, the “W” Club will hold its traditional Hall of Fame induction brunch at 8:30 a.m. in the Wilson University Union. After the inductees don the traditional gold jackets and enter the Canty House, the Homecoming parade will make its way down the red road through campus at 11 a.m.  At its conclusion, the Alumnus of the Year will be recognized at the Erickson Alumni Center.

The game begins at 1:30 p.m., as the Yellow Jackets take on the West Liberty Hilltoppers.

 

Following the game at 5 p.m., the Greek step show in Ferrell Hall Auditorium gives fraternities and sororities a venue to show their talent and spirit.

After the Step Show, alumni can enjoy the Taste of State buffet and dance at 8 p.m. at the Embassy Suites, while students dance the night away at the Dusk ‘til Dawn dance in Fleming Hall, beginning at midnight.

           

For a complete Homecoming Schedule, visit www.wvstateu.edu/alumni/homecoming-information.

Fifth-Ranked Winston-Salem State Rolls Pass Bowie State

BOWIE, Maryland  -  Defending Central Interscholastic Athletic Association (CIAA) and 2011 NCAA semifinalist Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) scored 21 points in the second half and rolled to a 35-3 victory over Bowie State University (BSU) on Saturday Sept. 29 in Bowie, Md.

The Bulldogs fell to 3-2 overall on the season and 0-2 in CIAA play, while Winston-Salem State improves to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the CIAA.

The Rams struck first on their very first possession of the game, going 64 yards in five plays before junior quarterback Kameron Smith threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Jahaunn Butler. Kicker Alejandro Suarez, a sophomore, added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Bowie State wasted no time cutting into the early first quarter Rams lead, taking the second possession 63 yards in six plays, but only managed three points on a 28-yard field goal by redshirt sophomore kicker Mario Diaz-Aviles at the 8:54 mark. Unfortunately, those would be the only points the Bulldogs would score for the rest of the game.

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WSSU extends Collins' contract

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Bobby Collins, the longest tenured men's basketball coach at Winston-Salem State since Big House Gaines, has had his contract extended.

Collins, who will start his seventh season at WSSU this month, was given a three-year extension by school officials.
 

"I thought coach Collins did a good job, especially down the stretch last season," athletics director Bill Hayes said. "He won the tournament championship and kept that team together — and it was a young team. They got to the playoffs and he brought them together and represented the school very well."

 Collins, who was making around $97,000 a year, was given a raise to around $110,000 a year. The three-year extension will take him through the 2015-16 season.

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THE SHOW: Howard University "Showtime" Marching Band

Alabama A&M cruises to 38-17 victory over Grambling State

NORMAL, Alabama - Alabama A&M cruised to a 38-17 victory over Grambling State on Saturday night to remain undefeated. 

The Bulldogs (5-0) broke out to a 28-7 lead by halftime thanks to in part to three touchdown pass from quarterback Deaunte Mason. He completed touchdown passes of 32, 30 and 32 yards in the first half. The Bulldogs also got a 45-yard touchdown run from Kaderius Lacey. 

Alabama A&M scored two more times int he second half thants to a 31-yard field goald by Chance Wilson and a 19-yard touchdown run by Brendon Johnson.

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Week 5 HBCU ScoreCard

The new Talladega College Tornadoes(GCAC) marching band performs in the 2012 Atlanta Football Classic Parade, 9/29/12. CIAA
Shaw 16, Virginia State 6
Chowan 27, Fayetteville State 3
Elizabeth City State 23, Saint Augustine's U. 21 (Down East Classic)
Livingstone 23, Virginia Union 21
Winston Salem State 35, Bowie State 3

OVC
Tennessee State 40, Arkansas Pine Bluff 13

SIAC
Albany State (Ga.) 17, Kentucky State 14
Miles 50, Benedict 7
Morehouse 34, Clark-Atlanta U. 16
Stillman 32, Lane 22
Tuskegee 49, Fort Valley State 18

OTHER
Langston (Ok.) 17, Southern Nazarene 14
Valdosta State 58, Edward Waters 10
Mercyhurst 36, Cheyney 10
Central State (Ohio) 23, William Jewell 21
Emporia State 37, Lincoln (Mo.) 26
West Virginia State 21, Seton Hill 13

SWAC
Sam Houston State 50, Texas Southern 6 (Thursday game)
Southern U. 21, Florida A&M 14 (Atlanta Football Classic)
Alabama A&M 38, Grambling State 17
Alabama State 54, Alcorn State 14
Jackson State 34, Prairie View A&M 13

MEAC
Morgan State 21, North Carolina A&T 18 (Thursday game)
South Carolina State 14, Norfolk State 0
Bethune-Cookman 38, Hampton 26
Howard 56, Savannah State 9
Southern U. 21, FAMU 14

Howard Grounds Out Easy Win Over Savannah State

Washington, DC — Aquanius Freeman rushed for a career-high 212 yards and two touchdowns to lead Howard to an easy 56-9 win over Savannah State University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Greene Stadium.  A 5-10 sophomore from New Orleans, La, Freeman averaged a single-game school-record 16.3 yards per carry, including a 71-yard jaunt.

A reserve, Freeman was starting for starter Terrence Leffall, and he made the most of it. Freeman got the Bison on the board first with a 16-yard scamper that gave Howard (3-1, 2-0 in the MEAC) the early 7-0 lead with 38 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

That opened the door for the Howard running game, which amassed 466 yards and nine yards per rush.  Senior Jarren Brown and junior quarterback Randy Liggins, Jr. got into the act, Brown on a one-yard dive and Liggins on runs of 12 and 29 yards during a seven minute stretch in the second quarter that put the game away.

"We established the run early," said Howard Coach Gary Harrell.  "Our offensive line, the running backs, and even the quarterback, did a great job running the ball today.  We played sound football and stuck to the fundamentals."

The Tigers (0-4, 0-2 in the MEAC) did manage to get on the board when Preston McCarthy capped off a 73-yard drive with a 33-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, the opportunistic Bison special teams made its presence felt for the fourth game this season, this time with senior safety DeCarlos Knight blocking his second punt attempt of the season.  Freshman LB Devin Rollins returned Knight's gift 23 yards for a TD to extend the lead, 35-3.

Savannah State got a boost from sophomore reserve quarterback Victorian Hardison who connected with Simon Heyward less than two minutes later to make it 35-9 at the 12:37 mark of the third period.  Hardison came off the bench to complete 12 of 24 passes for 137 yards and a TD.

"Howard did not do anything different. They are who they are, a solid football team," said SSU Coach Steve Davenport.  "There is nothing positive that we can take from this game.  No one tackled, no one blocked and they scored on offense, defense and special teams.  They beat us in all phases of the game."

Operating on a short field on their next possession, the Bison scored again, this time with senior fullback Justin Duncan punching it in from one-yard out.  A little more than two minutes later, freshman William Parker scored on a twisting, winding 46-yard run.

It seemed only fitting that Freeman who close out the scoring.  The 5-10, 195-pound sophomore from Stone New Orleans, La streaked 71 yards down the final score.

"All of the credit has to go to the offensive line," said Freeman.  "They did an outstanding job.  The strength of our team on offense is  to be able to run the ball effectively.  We did that today."

Parker finished with a career-high 87 yards on nine carries while Liggins (10 carries, 70 yards) and Terrence Tuscan (7 rushed for 51 yards) contributed to the game.

The 212 yards was the third highest in school history behind former All American Harvey Reed (260 vs Newberry in 1987) and Antoine Rutherford (230 vs Norfolk State on 11/01/03).

The 59 points was the most by a Howard team since the 1998 season against Morgan State.

"We preach ball control and execution and that was what we were able to accomplish today," said Liggins, who was 9 of 13 passes for 85 yards to go along with 70 yards rushing. Liggins has filled in admirably for starter Greg McGhee, who had to sit out his third game of the season.  He has yet to throw an interception this season.

Savannah State was led on offense by Sheldon Barnes (62 yards rushing on 14 carries), Hardison who added 30 yards rushing to his 137 yards passing and wide receiver Dylan Cook, who grabbed 5 passes for 72 yards.

GAME NOTES:The 59 points is the second highest in school history.  The Bison defeated Morgan State, 69-3 in 1998,..Keith Pough had a half tackle for a loss and now needs 3.5 to break the FCS record…the current 3-1 record is the best start for Howard since the 1993 season when the Bison went undefeated….It is also the last time that Howard has started the season, 2-0 in the MEAC.

NEXT UP:  Howard will host Florida A&M University next Saturday at 1 pm in Greene Stadium.

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THE SHOW: Tennessee State University 2012 Homecoming