Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Xavier Gold Rush announce changes to 2012-13 schedule

XU senior guard Wanto Joseph is a preseason All-GCAC selection

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced changes Tuesday to the November part of its 2012-13 men's basketball schedule.

XU moved up by two hours its Big Easy Classic games Nov. 10. Jarvis Christian will play Spring Hill at 2 p.m., and Xavier will play Tuskegee at 4 p.m. The Gold Rush will have two different opponents and starting times in the Memphis HBCU Classic. Xavier will play Concordia (Ala.) on Nov. 23 and Wiley on Nov. 24. Tip-off of both games will be 2 p.m.

The season will begin at 1 p.m. on Nov. 3 when Xavier plays Morehouse in the opening game at the new Convocation Academic Center.

Revised schedule

Xavier University of Louisiana
2012-13 Men’s Basketball Schedule
Call (504) 520-7329 for ticket information
Date and Day Opponent Site Time

November
3 Saturday MOREHOUSE (DH) HOME 1 p.m.
4 Sunday CARVER HOME 2 p.m.
9 Friday JARVIS CHRISTIAN
(Big Easy Classic)
HOME 6 p.m.
(also November 9: Spring Hill vs. Tuskegee, 4 p.m.)
10 Saturday TUSKEGEE
(Big Easy Classic) HOME 4 p.m.
(also November 10: Spring Hill vs. Jarvis Christian, 2 p.m.)
13 Tuesday at Loyola New Orleans, La. 7 p.m.
17 Saturday WILEY (DH)
(Homecoming)
HOME 2 p.m.
19 Monday WILLIAM CAREY (DH) HOME 7:30 p.m.
23 Friday Concordia (Ala.)
(Memphis HBCU Classic) Memphis, Tenn. 2 p.m.
24 Saturday Wiley
(Memphis HBCU Classic) Memphis, Tenn. 2 p.m.
27 Tuesday MOBILE (DH) HOME 7:30 p.m.

December
5 Wednesday LOYOLA (DH) HOME 7:30 p.m.
14 Friday Martin Methodist
(Spring Hill Classic) Mobile, Ala. 5 p.m.
15 Saturday Voorhees
(Spring Hill Classic) Mobile, Ala. 3 p.m.
18 Tuesday at William Carey Hattiesburg, Miss. 6 p.m.
31 Monday at Belhaven Jackson, Miss. 2 p.m.

January
5 Saturday
at Edward Waters (DH) Jacksonville, Fla. 5 p.m. EST
7 Monday
at Talladega (DH) Talladega, Ala. 7 p.m.
12 Saturday • TOUGALOO (DH) HOME 5 p.m.
14 Monday • SUNO (DH) HOME 7:30 p.m.
19 Saturday • PHILANDER SMITH (DH) HOME Noon
21 Monday • FISK (DH) HOME 1 p.m.
26 Saturday
at Dillard (DH) Dent Hall 7 p.m.
28 Monday at Mobile
(DH) Mobile, Ala. 7:30 p.m.

February
2 Saturday • TALLADEGA (DH) HOME Noon
4 Monday • EDWARD WATERS (DH) HOME 7:30 p.m.
9 Saturday
at Philander Smith (DH) Little Rock, Ark. Noon
11 Monday
at Fisk (DH) Nashville, Tenn. 7:30 p.m.
16 Saturday
at SUNO (DH) The Castle 4 p.m.
18 Monday
at Tougaloo (DH) Tougaloo, Miss. 7:30 p.m.
23 Saturday • DILLARD (DH)
(Crosstown Classic, Senior Day and
HOME 5 p.m.
Rush/Nuggets Alumni Weekend)

February-March
28 Thursday- Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Little Rock, Ark. TBA
2 Saturday

March
13 Wednesday- Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship Kansas City, Mo. TBA
19 Tuesday

Home games (in bold and CAPITAL LETTERS) are played at the Convocation Center (capacity 3,817),
Xavier University campus, New Orleans.
• Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game. DH — doubleheader with Xavier's women.
TBA — to be announced. All times are Central, except where noted. Schedules are subject to change


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

XU Gold Nuggets' Kirk chosen GCAC Player of the Week

MOIRA KIRK
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Moira Kirk is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in women's volleyball for Oct. 8-14. It's the first time this season and the second time in two years that she's won this award.

Kirk, a 5-foot-9 sophomore middle blocker from Dallas and a graduate of Bishop Lynch High School, totaled 10 kills, five blocks, three digs and an ace in two matches, including the Gold Nuggets' first-ever three-set sweep of city and GCAC rival Dillard. Kirk has recorded at least one block in her last 37 matches and 45 of 47 in her career.

"Front row or back, Moira can do it all," XU coach Christabell Hamilton said. "She has an effective jump floater serve that can take any team out of system. She is never satisfied with her performance. When she is in the front row, she is a big wall that seals every seam in the block. She is the smartest hitter on the team and needs to be fed the ball more often. I would leave her in the game if I knew it wouldn't kill her legs by the third set. It's too much work to be in the middle alone and then have to transition to the back row and play some defense. Moira does not get very much glory because she does not
get enough sets. But she is definitely what keeps this team in the game almost all the time."

Kirk and two teammates have won a combined four GCAC player awards this season. Taylor Reuther has two, and Chinedu Echebelem has one.
    
Xavier (12-5) will play Friday at 2 p.m. against Union (Tenn.) and at 6 p.m. against city rival Loyola in the Hampton Inn Wolf Pack Classic at The Den. Xavier's next home match will start at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 against GCAC opponent Tougaloo at The Barn.


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

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Doug Williams: 'No one is exempt' in Grambling's struggles

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Doug Williams has seen the highest of highs both at Grambling and in the NFL.  Right now, however, his Tigers are about as low as they can go.

“I almost didn’t come today,” Williams said with a laugh to begin his Monday news conference. “I’m trying to run away. Then I realized, tough times don’t last. Tough people do. So I decided to show up. I think I’m one of those tough people. I almost have to be under these circumstances, I’ll tell you that.”

Undoubtedly, Williams finds himself in a tough situation.

His Tigers, the preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division favorite, are 0-6 as they prepare for Saturday’s homecoming game against Virginia-Lynchburg. 
Two of the Tigers’ first three losses came by a point, each to a SWAC foe and each when the Tigers’ lack of a kicker surfaced at the wrong time.




READ MORE

SWAC boasts next-level talent

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  --  Next spring, there should be no shortage of talented prospects available for the NFL draft from the SWAC. The conference has a number of great players on both sides of the football.

It has produced some terrific players over recent seasons, including Donald Driver (Green Bay Packers, Alcorn State), Robert Mathis (Indianapolis Colts, Alabama A&M) and Jason Hatcher (Dallas Cowboys, Grambling State).

The following list has some players who could be chosen on draft day or signed as free agents. But any way you cut it, the SWAC has some players to watch this season.

Kejuan Riley/free safety
Alabama State
6-1, 208-pound senior

Riley is probably the No. 1 prospect among HBCU players. He has 19 career interceptions, which makes him the active career leader in the FCS. He should be in the Senior Bowl and should get invited the NFL combine. Riley is a terrific player against the pass and does a good job of covering a lot of ground in the secondary with his quickness and anticipation. He has 20 solo and 32 total tackles along with two interceptions.

READ MORE

Southern tries to reduce distractions



BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  As it turns out, Saturday’s 34-7 win against Texas Southern truly was a homecoming for the Southern Jaguars.  They spent the previous night out of town. On Friday evening, while their friends and fans enjoyed the festivities in Baton Rouge, SU’s coaches and players were about an hour away, staying at a hotel in Lafayette.

As linebacker Anthony Balancier put it, that left them with one thing to do. “Get sleep,” he said.  And that was the point. With the host of distractions included in a packed calendar of events during homecoming weekend, interim coach Dawson Odums felt it best to make an escape.

“It’s just a way to get them isolated and have our meetings and really just jell together, have our walk-through and cut down on distractions,” he said. “Being (on campus) on a Friday night during homecoming, I could imagine they would have never gotten any sleep in the dorm.”

READ MORE

Alabama State quarterback Greg Jenkins says he needs to take better care of the ball

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Greg Jenkins went toe-to-toe with another dual-threat quarterback in Jackson State's Clayton Moore this past Saturday.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder threw for a season-high 262 yards and a touchdown, completing 14 of his 25 passing attempts. But following the game, which ended in a 37-34 loss when Tigers' kicker Ryan Deising hit a 40-yard field goal as time expired, the senior wished he could have had one throw back.

With this team leading by seven, Jenkins faced a third-and-6 at the Hornets' 39-yard line with a little more than eight minutes to play. He dropped back to pass then rolled left toward the Alabama State sideline and fired the ball deep down the field. It was intercepted by JSU standout defensive back Qua Cox, who was tackled at the Tigers'31.

Aided by a 53-yard reception by JSU receiver Rico Richardson, the Tigers tied the game up at 34 on a 3-yard run from Moore with 3:53 to play. Moore, who rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 269 and two scores in the game, was named the SWAC's Newcomer of the Week Monday.



READ MORE

HBCU Legends: Benjamin F. Payton, Former President of Tuskegee University



Beginning in 2009, SEF began producing a series of filmed interviews with education advocates and leaders at various stages in their careers to capture their personal stories, foster mentorship, and promote the intergenerational exchange of information and ideas on social change and education.

Former President of Tuskegee University, Dr. Benjamin F. Payton who is the fifth president of the institution since 1881 was interviewed for this video series. In this short excerpt, Payton provides valuable insight on what strategies must be enacted to make change in education policy and practice and why still too many low income and minority people are denied the opportunity to fully contribute to our society.

Alabama A&M looking to regroup after first loss, coach Anthony Jones says

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama  --  The perfect storm for an upset was already brewing before Alabama A&M took to the field at Louis Crews Stadium in Normal this past Saturday, a game the Bulldogs would lose 21-20 to Alcorn State.

A&M was undefeated. It was rated No. 2 in most every major black college football poll and made its debut in the FCS national poll at No. 25. It was the state's hottest team outside of Tuscaloosa and was scheduled to face a Braves team one-game removed from a four-game losing streak on its homecoming.

"This past weekend was something that we as coaches had a fear of," Jones said during Monday's SWAC coaches teleconference. "We'd watched Alcorn on film. You look at some of these teams they've played. People don't look at that. They just look at the scores and things of that sort and try not to give people their just due. We tried to make sure our guys were aware of this."





READ MORE

U-Pick-Em: The Only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Fan Poll

DWIGHT FLOYD
"The Editor"
SportsEdit.Org Fan Poll
TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Every week a few media and college personnel, and football coaches, get to vote on teams they think are the best in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. Their votes and the final polls have a direct impact on who makes the NCAA FCS playoffs each year. Not since the inaugural 1-AA football playoff has teams like Florida A&M and Jackson State had the kind of success that led to the Rattlers winning the whole thing. Since then FAMU has come close only twice in the 90s under Coach Billy Joe when they reestablished themselves as a contender for the championship. Each of those years FAMU was recognized in the polls.

There are only 20 playoff slots available that are chosen from among top conference teams and at large bids. Conferences like the Big Sky, CAA and Southern annually have multiple teams in the rankings and playoffs. A vote for a team in the rankings usually means a spot in the playoffs. Which teams get the votes depend on who gets the national exposure as well as quality of play. Many of the people that vote don’t get to see many teams outside of their conference and don’t have the time to study the stats to see who the best really is.

READ MORE

Former Wildcat won't stop believin'

WILMINGTON, North Carolina  -- Throughout the world, sports represent opportunity. Whether it's escaping an oppressive tyrant in a foreign country or young Americans from poverty-stricken areas, sports is a way out.

 
Yet reality shows it's a narrow path to travel. According to a study conducted by the NCAA, only 1.6 percent of college football players become professionals.
 
Former New Hanover Wildcat Jermaine Jones doesn't worry about numbers. The redshirt junior wide receiver for St. Augustine's University aspires to become a professional, and is doing whatever it takes to make his dream a reality.
 
"I can't sum up my love for the game," said Jones. "It's going to take a lot of hard work. Putting in the work, doing what I have to do on the field and classroom, but playing the game I love is something I can't live without. It's my way out."
 
Jones was the 2009 StarNews Track & Field Athlete of the Year as a senior at New Hanover. His best tool of the trade is speed, but family fuels the 6-foot-4 receiver on and off the field.
 
 

ASU Basketball Opens with Midnight Madness

ALBANY, Georgia  -- Madness took over the Albany State basketball teams Sunday night.

Albany State’s Midnight Madness marked the first official basketball practices for the Golden Ram men’s and women's squads. Both teams are looking for some improvement in 2012 after losing seasons.

The SIAC preseason predictions and all-conference teams have been released. Sophomore guard April Thomas was the only Golden Ram named to the All-Conference team. The Bainbridge-native led the Lady Rams in scoring as a freshman.

As for the preseason rankings, the Golden Rams have some room to move up.


READ MORE

WSSU, at No. 2, sets standard for CIAA

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Winston-Salem State is creeping closer to No. 1 in Division II football.

The 7-0 Rams jumped a spot to No. 2 on Monday in the American Football Coaches Association poll. Colorado State-Pueblo moved up a spot to No. 1 after Pittsburg State, last season's D-II national champion, lost 31-21 to Northwest Missouri State on Saturday.

Until Monday, no CIAA team had been higher than No. 3 in the poll, which was started in 2000.

"It's a great honor for the university and for the alumni and our fans," Coach Connell Maynor of the Rams said. "And it's nice to be the highest-ranking CIAA team ever in the poll's history, but we also know our work isn't done."

The Rams are coming off their fourth straight CIAA blowout — 56-37 against St. Augustine's. Over the last four games, they have outscored their CIAA opponents 189-53. WSSU will play Livingstone in its homecoming game Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium.




READ MORE

Monday, October 15, 2012

HBCU Legends: Norman Francis, President of Xavier University, Louisiana



Beginning in 2009, SEF began producing a series of filmed interviews with education advocates and leaders at various stages in their careers to capture their personal stories, foster mentorship, and promote the intergenerational exchange of information and ideas on social change and education.

Dr. Norman C. Francis, President of Xavier University of Louisiana and the longest serving college president in the United States was interviewed for this effort and provided meaningful advice and wisdom on what real leadership looks like and what is needed from tomorrow's next generation of leaders (including our President) to make our society more equitable and just.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, Xavier continues to rank first nationally in the number of African American students earning undergraduate degrees in both the biological/life sciences and the physical sciences.
The College of Pharmacy, one of only two pharmacy schools in Louisiana, is among the nation’s top three producers of African American Doctor of Pharmacy degree recipients.

In pre-medical education, Xavier ranks first in the nation in placing African American students into medical schools, where it has been ranked since 1993.

Today Xavier retains its distinction as the only historically Black, Catholic University in the United States.

Xavier University's 5th Annual Dr. Norman C. Francis Endowed Scholarship Benefit Concert


5th Annual
Dr. Norman C. Francis Endowed Scholarship Benefit Concert
Ernest N. Morial
Convention Center

PURCHASE TICKETS
call
(866) 448-7849
or go online at
www.ticketmaster.com

What They're Saying:
Stephanie Mills was polished and poised at Essence Fest


Ticket Prices and Information
Concert Series/Scholarship Fund
Featured Performers
Dr. Norman C. Francis
About Xavier
Sponsorship Opportunities





MORE INFORMATION @ XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

NCCU Eagles enjoy win, shift focus to Thursday night game

DURHAM, North Carolina — That fourth-down touchdown by N.C. Central tight end Detwan Robinson did a number on Morgan State's homecoming Saturday and amplified the attraction of Thursday's nationally televised game between the Eagles and a Hampton team that is looking for momentum after its first win of the season.

NCCU wrapped up a five-game road swing with a 24-20 win at Morgan State's Hughes Stadium in Baltimore, keeping the Eagles undefeated in the MEAC at 3-0, tied with Bethune-Cookman for first place in the league.



Trailing 17-10 at halftime, NCCU adjusted its defense to shut off the yardage Morgan State was getting off the edges, Eagles coach Henry Frazier III said.

Offensively, NCCU went to a quick passing game to shorten the field for quarterback Jordan Reid, who was playing with an injured leg.  "We just told Jordan to go through your progressions, just take your time," Frazier said.

Facing fourth-and-2 in the fourth quarter on Morgan's State's 26, Reid took the snap and got rid of the ball in a hurry to Robinson with 25 seconds left in the game.

READ MORE

Chowan Hawks earn critical homecoming win over Virginia Union


MURFREESBORO, N.C.—Chowan picked up a critical 28-21 win over Virginia Union University on Saturday.  The Hawks moved to 4-3 and 3-1 in league play. The record marks the most wins in a season for the football team since 1999 when CU finished 5-4 on the year.

Despite collecting 19 penalties for a total of 143 yards, Chowan fought for 413 yards of offense en route to the CIAA Northern Division win.

Elliot Smalls rushed for a team-high 70 yards. Cameron Stover was 23-38 in pass completions and connected with seven different receivers in the win. Ryan Nolan and Antjuan Randall led the offense with 95 and 71 receiving yards, respectively.

On the defensive side of the ball, Chris Morris collected seven tackles. Additionally, the Hawks’ defense collected five interceptions with Dakorian DeSamme, David Fulton, Anthony Joffrion, Brandon Whitaker and Christian Niekens all managing to pick off passes from the Panther’s quarterback tandem Kenneth Graham and Abe Coleman.

Chowan’s defense shutout the Panthers in the first quarter. Virginia Union prevented the Hawks from scoring.

READ MORE

Winston-Salem State Rams New No. 2 in AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll; Miles College enter poll at No. 21

WACO, Texas  --  Seven ranked teams lost this past weekend, including previous No. 1 Pittsburg State (Kan.), causing a big shakeup in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. Colorado State-Pueblo is the new No. 1 team this week. The Thunderwolves picked up 23 first-place votes after they beat Colorado School of Mines, 35-21, and moved their record to 7-0.

Winston-Salem State (N.C.) moves up to the second spot with six first-place votes. The Rams are also 7-0 after a 56-37 defeat of St. Augustine’s (N.C.). New Haven (Conn.) is No. 3 this week, followed by Bloomsburg (Pa.) at No. 4 and Northwest Missouri State at No. 5. The Bearcats beat then-No. 1 Pittsburg State (Kan.), 31-21, in the Fall Classic at Arrowhead Stadium and received one first-place vote.

With its loss, Pittsburg State (Kan.) drops to a tie with Minnesota-Duluth at No. 7. Then-No. 4 Missouri Western State fell 12 places to No. 16 after its 31-30 loss to Missouri Southern State.

Miles College (Ala.) enters the Division II Coaches’ Poll for the first time in school history at No. 21. The Golden Bears are 6-1 on the season after a 45-0 blowout of Kentucky State. Also entering the poll for the first time in over a year is Michigan Tech. The Huskies are ranked No. 22 and sit 5-1 after a 28-21 win over Northwood (Mich.).

2012 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches’ Poll – October 15

RankSchool (1st votes) Rec. Pts.Prev.Week SevenNext Game
1.Colorado St.-Pueblo (23)7-07422D. Colorado School of Mines, 35-21Oct. 20 vs. Black Hills St. (S.D.)
2.Winston-Salem St. (N.C.) (6)7-07183D. St. Augustine’s (N.C.), 56-37Oct. 20 vs. Livingstone (N.C.)
3.New Haven (Conn.)6-06795D. Bentley (Mass.), 17-13Oct. 18 at Stonehill (Mass.)
4.Bloomsburg (Pa.)7-06516D. East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 48-27Oct. 20 at Cheyney (Pa.)
5.Northwest Missouri St. (1)6-16287D. No. 1 Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 31-21Oct. 20 at Missouri Southern St.
6.Ashland (Ohio)7-05868D. Walsh (Ohio), 30-0Oct. 20 at Malone (Ohio)
7t. Minnesota-Duluth6-15199D. Minot St. (N.D.), 44-6Oct. 20 vs. Bemidji St. (Minn.)
7t.Pittsburg St. (Kan.)5-15191Lost to No. 7 Northwest Missouri St., 31-21Oct. 20 vs. No. 16 Missouri Western St.
9.Minnesota St.-Mankato7-051410D. Southwest Minnesota St., 34-31 2OTOct. 20 at Winona St. (Minn.)
10.Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)6-045811D. Arkansas-Monticello, 58-7Oct. 20 vs. No. 25 Harding (Ark.)
11.Henderson St. (Ark.)7-043812D. No. 23 Harding (Ark.), 38-10Oct. 20 vs. East Central (Okla.)
12.Midwestern St. (Texas)5-141613D. Angelo St. (Texas), 35-28Oct. 20 at Abilene Christian (Texas)
13.Shippensburg (Pa.)7-038416D. Kutztown (Pa.), 73-35Oct. 20 at West Chester (Pa.)
14.California (Pa.)6-134715D. Lock Haven (Pa.), 30-0Oct. 20 at Gannon (Pa.)
15.Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.)6-132117D. No. 18 Wayne St. (Mich.), 24-7Oct. 20 at Hillsdale (Mich.)
16.Missouri Western St.6-13114Lost to Missouri Southern St., 31-30Oct. 20 at No. 7t Pittsburg St. (Kan.)
17.West Texas A&M6-126620D. Abilene Christian (Texas), 36-0Oct. 20 at Eastern New Mexico
18t.Emporia St. (Kan.)7-025821D. Lindenwood (Mo.), 13-0Oct. 20 at Truman St. (Mo.)
18t.Washburn (Kan.)6-125819D. Truman St. (Mo.), 35-24Oct. 20 at Lindenwood (Mo.)
20.Indiana (Pa.)6-119722D. Edinboro (Pa.), 26-10Oct. 20 vs. Mercyhurst (Pa.)
21.Miles (Ala.)6-1100NRD. Kentucky St., 45-0Oct. 20 at Lane (Tenn.)
22.Michigan Tech5-187NRD. Northwood (Mich.), 28-21Oct. 20 at Ferris St. (Mich.)
23.Sioux Falls (S.D.)6-169NRD. Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.), 31-23Oct. 20 at Augustana (S.D.)
24.Grand Valley St. (Mich.)5-23914Lost to Northern Michigan, 38-10Oct. 20 vs. Northwood (Mich.)
25.Harding (Ark.)5-13123Lost to No. 12 Henderson St. (Ark.), 38-10Oct. 20 at No. 10 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)


Dropped Out: Wayne St. (Mich.) (18), North Carolina-Pembroke (24), Shepherd (W.Va.) (25)

 

COURTESY AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION

Ex-high school teammates Dukes, Coleman lead B-CU men's hoops

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — The good news for Bethune-Cookman's basketball team is it returns leading scorers Kevin Dukes and Adrien Coleman, who averaged more than 23 points between them last year.

The bad news is the Wildcats lost big men Anthony Breeze and Garrius Holloman, who averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds between them.

But with the help of some newcomers and the improvement of some returning players, second-year coach Gravelle Craig expects the Wildcats to compete again for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

Last year, B-CU finished fourth in the conference at 11-5 (18-17 overall) but came within two missed shots in the final 5 seconds of beating Norfolk State in the MEAC tournament championship game, falling 73-70.
 
“If we play to our potential and if the junior-college guys play well for us, we have a shot,'' Craig said at the Wildcats' media day Sunday evening at Moore Gym. “I think we can compete for the championship.''

READ MORE

Will Cash-Strapped HBCUs Survive?

NEW ORLEANS -- (The Root) -- When Walter Kimbrough opted last July to helm 143-year-old Dillard University, his choice stumped friends and colleagues who knew some of what Dillard was up against. Compounding the costs of running the New Orleans campus is a $160 million federal loan for post-Hurricane Katrina reconstruction, a repayment that Kimbrough calculates could consume a quarter of Dillard's overall budget within a decade.

"We're lobbying the government to forgive the loan, wipe the slate clean," said Kimbrough, previously president of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., a campus founded expressly to educate former slaves. Kimbrough is credited with helping to orchestrate its revival.

Citing Dillard's longstanding academic viability -- its nursing program is Louisiana's oldest, its digital media and film project draws collaborations with filmmaker Spike Lee and so forth -- Kimbrough continued pressing the case for loan forgiveness during this year's annual conference of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. That September confab draws HBCU presidents, lower-level administrators and players in Washington who control federal education policy and purse strings.

READ MORE

THE SHOW: Howard U. Showtime Marching Band vs. North Carolina A&T Blue and Gold Marching Machine

Wallace leads Johnson C. Smith past Fayetteville State

FAYETTEVILLE,  North Carolina  --   Quarterback Keahn Wallace completed 21 of 28 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another in leading Johnson C. Smith (3-4, 2-2 CIAA) to a 35-18 win against Fayetteville State (1-6, 0-4).

J.C. Smith’s Dedrick Anderson added 103 yards rushing – the third time this season he has eclipsed 100 yards. He also rushed for one touchdown and scored on one of four catches.

The Golden Bulls, who led by as much as 21-0 late in the second quarter, scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, one on offense and the other on defense.

Anderson capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run for the first score. The Broncos squandered an offensive drive at the J.C. Smith 5 with a fumble. Linebacker Darryl Rankin scooped the ball and returned it 95 yards for a score.

J.C. Smith led 21-10 at halftime. Fayetteville State produced back-to-back, seven-play drives for a touchdown and a field goal before closing the first half.

READ MORE

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/13/3596884/wallace-leads-golden-bulls-past.html#storylink=cpy

Shaw 48, Livingstone 20

SALISBURY, North Carolina --  It seemed like old times at Alumni Stadium Saturday afternoon - and not only because former Livingstone coach Robert Massey was visiting with the Shaw University football team.

It was because the late-season Blue Bears looked a lot like last season's Blue Bears in a disheartening 48-20 CIAA setback.

"There really are no hard feelings," said Massey, who coached LC through a couple of barren seasons in 2005 and 2006. "Yeah, I worked here and I got fired. But I still wanted to win every game. Just like today. We just wanted to win."

Shaw prevailed largely because it moved the ball like it had a police escort against Livingstone (2-5, 2-2). The guests amassed 601 total yards and scored seven touchdowns in the last three quarters,
"We've got playmakers but we made stupid plays," said third-year LC coach Elvin James. "We regressed today. We went backwards. We prepared ourselves all week to make it happen and it just didn't happen."

Sophomore linebacker Kenneth White, who was in on 13 tackles, tried to voice the team's disappointment after Livingstone played its final home game.




READ MORE

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Edward Waters escapes with 30-29 homecoming win




JACKSONVILLE, Florida  The Webber International University Warriors football team traveled to Jacksonville, Florida to face off against the Edward Waters College Tigers. The Game started at 3:00 p.m. on hot Florida day the Tigers won the game with a final score of 30-29.

The first half of the game was a defensive battle in which neither team would score until the second quarter when the Tigers would kick a 28 yard field goal to take the lead, 3-0. The Warriors Mason Prater would tie the game with 1:28 left in the second quarter, 3-3. The Tigers would score the last points of the first half on a 32 yard pass to the endzone, 10-3. The Warriors would go into the half trailing by seven points.

After the half the Warriors would score first on the second half on a Kentrall Mims one yard run, 10-10. The Tigers would score on a 26 yard run regaining the lead, 10-17. Just 30 seconds later the Warriors would tie the Tigers on a Brendan Deshields 25 yard run, 17-17. The Warriors Mason Prater would set a new career record hitting a 52 yard field goal giving the Warriors their first lead of the game. 20-17. The Warriors would add a safety at the start of the fourth quarter, 22-17. The Warriors Brendan Deshields would score from three yards out with 10:34 left to play, 29-17. The Tigers would end the Warriors 19 point run when they scored on a seven yard pass and miss the extra point, 29-23, with 6:36 left to play. The Tigers would score the final points of the game on a 49 yard pass giving them a one point lead and the win, 30-29.


The Warriors were lead on offense by Kentrall Mims who threw for 10-15 for a total of 96 yards and a long of 25 yards, and four yards rushing. Mason Prater would score six points on his two field goal attempts the first from 37 yards away and his new personal best of 52 yards. The Warriors were lead on defense by Nate Keller who had five solo tackle, six assisted tackles, one fumble recovery, two and a half tackles for a total loss of 11 yards, and one quarterback hurry.

The Warriors will return to action on Saturday, October 20th as they are hosted by Point University starting at 1:00 p.m.

COURTESY WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Familiar problems sink NSU Spartans in Battle of Bay

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Poor special teams play cost Norfolk State its first conference game. An awful offense cost them the second. A referee's decision took away the third.  Small issues cost the Spartans in three close losses.

On Saturday, they were afflicted with all those problems, all in the first half of a painful 28-14 loss at previously winless Hampton that NSU never seemed close to winning.

"Sometimes when it rains it pours," Spartans quarterback Jake Basmagian said. "We're saying that a little too often around here."

The trickle of concerns that ate away at the foundation of NSU's season has turned torrential.

Defending MEAC champion Norfolk State (2-5, 0-4) struggled against Hampton (1-4, 1-2) in the same areas that have hampered it all season, turning the ball over five times and compiling just 72 yards of offense in the first half.  The Spartans also struggled with more basic tasks.

READ MORE