TSU Men's Basketball Wins Tight One Over JSU, 66-60

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  Deshawn Dockery hit a three with 13 seconds remaining, helping the Tennessee State men’s basketball team upended Jacksonville State, 66-60, on Thursday night.  The victory pushed the Tigers’ home record to 8-0 and their OVC record to 6-0, which are the best marks since the 1994-95 season.

Kellen Thornton and Patrick Miller led TSU in scoring with 17 apiece while Jordan Cyphers also scored in double-figures with ten.

M.J. Rhett narrowly missed his third double-double in five games as the sophomore grabbed a game-high 10 boards and scored nine points.

Rhett’s work on the glass helped the Tigers to a 30-22 rebounding advantage during the contest.

JSU started the game on a 6-2 run, but the swing was promptly ended by an emphatic two-handed slam by Rhett at the 17-minute mark. Rhett flew by and over defenders to complete the play, got fouled and made the following free throw to put the Tigers down one.

Rhett finished the first period with five points (2-of-3), a half-high five rebounds and a block.

Another dunk, this one by Kellen Thornton, put TSU up by three with just over 13 minutes left in the half. Thornton’s bucket was the exclamation point on a 9-2 TSU run.
 

TSU maintained a small advantage for the better part of the first half and Thornton was again able to extend the Tigers’ lead with a coffin corner triple and a lay-in on the following possession. The second hoop put TSU up 23-17 with six minutes to go in the opening frame.

Thornton had a half-high 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting (66.7 percent) and grabbed two boards during the opening stanza.

Tennessee State got up by as many as 11 points during the first, and Jordan Cyphers poured in a three with just seconds remaining to send the Tigers into the locker room with a 33-22 advantage.

TSU ended the half on a 22-9 run and shot 55 percent (11-of-20) while holding the Gamecocks to a 36.4 line (8-of-22) during the first 20 minutes.

The Gamecocks started the second half off strong and took the lead, 43-42, with a 21-9 run that spanned over seven minutes. JSU only missed one of nine field goals during the stretch (88.8 percent).

TSU eventually regained the lead when Miller nailed a jumper at the 11:08 mark, and raised the score to 53-45 when Miller converted his second triple in as many trips down the floor.

Again, JSU came back and eventually pulled within one when Ronnie Boggs hit a three with three minutes to go.

Thornton answered with a triple of his own, but the score remained tight until Dockery canned his game-sealing three.

Miller drained one-of-two free throws and that would be all the Tigers needs, as they defeated the Gamecocks 66-60.

TSU shot 50 percent (22-of-44) for the game and 57.1 percent from downtown (8-of-14).

TSU will next play at Belmont, Saturday at 7 p.m. The winner of that contest will take sole possession of first place in the OVC East Division.

NOTE: head coach Travis Williams will appear on Steve Ulry’s 180 Show on 104.5 FM tomorrow at 12:50.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida A&M hires anti-hazing leader for Marching 100

Bryan F. Smith, Esq.
Special Assistant to the President
for Anti-Hazing
Florida A&M University

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Florida A&M University (FAMU) has announced that Bryan F. Smith will serve as the new special assistant to the president for anti-hazing. Recently, Smith, who is a FAMU graduate, was the executive director/co-founder of Destined for Success Educational Services, Inc. in Decatur, Ga.

“We welcome Mr. Smith back to FAMU,” said Interim President Larry Robinson. “We are confident that with his expertise, he will ensure that all of the initiatives that have been put in place will be implemented.”

“I know this position will require a high level of communication with various entities around campus, with the local community and with investigative agencies,” said. “It will be a demanding position but I am very confident in my abilities and I vow to be organized, timely, fair, proactive, open and honest, ethical and hard-working. It will be my goal to change any culture of hazing through a variety of strategies, to maintain an efficient reporting process for any allegations of hazing, to facilitate tangible informational sessions regarding hazing, to ensure that the Student Code of Conduct is being adhered to and to help maintain the integrity of the University.”

Smith received his juris doctorate from John Marshall Law School, a master’s degree in public management from FAMU and a bachelor’s degree in political science from North Carolina A&T State University. 
 
He is registered as a certified mediator for the State of Georgia. He has been offered a salary of $90,000 and is scheduled to report to work on Feb. 1.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/01/famu-hires-anti-hazing-czar.html#storylink=cpy

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY PRESS RELEASE

TU running back Derrick Washington talks about time in prison

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Derrick Washington vividly remembers the darkest point in his life.

His college football career was on life-support and his reputation was in a far worse condition as he endured a four-month prison stint.

Washington was a standout running back at the University of Missouri who had more than 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns during three years at the then-Big 12 Conference school. He was an all-conference selection in 2008 and earned team-captain status following his junior season.



Those accomplishments meant absolutely nothing the day he was accused of a sexual offense against a former Missouri tutor in 2010, a felony deviate sexual assault charge he would later be convicted of in 2011. Washington would be released from scholarship and kicked out school just weeks prior to the start of what was supposed to be his final season with the Tigers.

"It was a real stressful situation," said Washington, who finished his career at Tuskegee and will suit up for the Stars team in Saturday's Raycom All-Star Classic at Cramton Bowl. "From being the starting running back to captain of the team to being at home not knowing what's going to happen next to going through the court stuff – it was real stressful."

Washington, who was 21 at the time, was sentenced to five years in prison. He would serve only 120 days as part of a "shock incarceration" program specially designed for first-time offenders.

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MEAC Announces 2013 Hall of Fame Class

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced today the five members of its 2013 Hall of Fame Class. The inductees will be enshrined during a brunch on Friday, March 15, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Sheraton Waterside Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Hall of Fame class will also be recognized during the 2013 MEAC Basketball Tournament, March 11-16 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Virginia.

"I'd like to applaud the 2013 Hall of Fame class for all of their accomplishments both athletically and professionally," said Dennis E. Thomas, MEAC Commissioner. "They have made significant contributions to their communities, institutions and the conference."

Tickets for the induction brunch are $35 per seat or $300 per table (10 persons). Tickets can be purchased by calling the MEAC office at 757-951-2055.

The MEAC Hall of Fame highlights former student-athletes, coaches, university and/or conference administrators as well as special contributors, who have enriched the legacy of the conference since its inception in 1970. Enshrinees were selected by a 13-person committee made up of administrators and representatives from member institutions.

The inaugural Hall of Fame class was inducted on May 29, 1981, during a 10-year anniversary banquet in Greensboro, North Carolina. Since its establishment, the Hall of Fame has enshrined 118 people, including the class of 2013.

The 2013 MEAC Hall of Fame Inductees are:

Inducted as Student-Athletes:

John H. Alford, South Carolina State - Alford led a South Carolina State football defense that ranked among the best in NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) during his junior and senior seasons. The Bulldogs won three MEAC titles during his tenure (1977, 1978, 1980). As part of the 1980 team that went 10-1 overall and 5-0 in the MEAC, the 1980 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year led his team in tackles and was named an All-MEAC first team honoree and was selected to the Black College All-Star Team.

Alford was also a member of the Bulldog wrestling team. He was drafted in the 12th round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Alford was inducted into the South Carolina State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and was named to the university's Centennial (1907-2007) football team in 2007. He is currently a member and Treasurer of the former South Carolina State Athletes Association.

LOUIS BREEDEN

Louis Breeden, North Carolina Central - Breeden was a four-year letterwinner at North Carolina Central. He is tied for fourth among NCCU's career interceptions leaders with 17 and led the team in interceptions for three straight seasons (1974-1976). Breeden holds the NCCU record for career punt return average with 20.2 yards per return. He is also tied for fourth in single season interceptions with seven for NCCU. He received All-MEAC second team honors in 1974 and was an All-MEAC first team selection in 1975 and 1976. The Cincinnati Bengals selected Breeden in the seventh round of the 1977 NFL Draft, where he played 11 seasons. On November 8, 1981, he set a club record with a 102 yard interception return against San Diego. He was named to the All-Pro first team in 1982 and inducted into the NCCU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985. He was named one of NCCU's Centennial 100 Sports Legends in 2009. Breeden is a co-founder of the Curtis-Breeden Foundation, which raises over $300,000 for local charities in Cincinnati.



YVETTE LEWIS

Yvette Lewis, Hampton - Lewis, a track and field student-athlete from 2004-2007, earned four All-MEAC first team selections, three All-MEAC second accolades and one All-MEAC Third Team honors during her tenure at Hampton. She was a four-time NCAA All-American in both indoor and outdoor track and field and holds MEAC indoor track and field records in the high jump (1.78m, 2005) and individual points (48, 2006). She also holds MEAC outdoor track and field records in the triple jump (13.34m, 2007) and individual points (58, 2006). She is Ethe Hampton record holder in the indoor 200m dash (23.82), indoor long jump (6.17m), indoor triple jump (13.21m), indoor pentathlon (3,852 points), indoor individual points (48), outdoor 100m hurdles (13.06), outdoor high jump (1.78m), outdoor long jump (6.26m), outdoor triple jump (13.73m), and outdoor individual points (58). Lewis is a two-time NCAA champion, winning the indoor triple jump in 2006 and the outdoor triple jump in 2007. She has represented the USA as a professional track runner since 2007, winning a gold medal in the 2011 Pan-American Games 100m hurdles and ranking eighth in the world.

Inducted As Coaches:

COACH SHARON D. BRUMMELL

Sharon D. Brummell, Maryland Eastern Shore - Brummell coached Maryland Eastern Shore's bowling team for 14 seasons. She became the first African-American and woman to win a woman's bowling national championship in 2008. The title was also the first for a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). In 2011, under Brummell's tutelage, the Lady Hawks repeated the feat to win the team's second NCAA title. During the same season, UMES won the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITC), becoming the first team to win two national championships during the same year. For her efforts, she was named National Coach of the Year in both 2008 and 2011.

Brummell is a five-time MEAC Coach of the Year (2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010). She won five MEAC titles and was named MEAC Outstanding Coach five times. From 2007-2012, she won 82-percent of her matches and amassed nearly 600 wins. She coached several MEAC Players of the Year, All-MEAC first and second team selections, National Tenpins Coaching Association (NTCA) All-Americans, and MEAC Women of the Year during her tenure.

COACH STEVE WILSON

Steve Wilson, Howard University - Wilson coached the Howard football team from 1989-2001. He led his team to an 8-3 overall record and was named MEAC Coach of the Year in his first season with the Bison. During the 1990's he recorded a 70-percent winning percentage and his team was named Black College national champions twice. His 1993 team recorded an 11-0 overall mark and competed in the NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) playoffs for the first time in school history. During that same year, Wilson earned MEAC Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his career. Wilson, Howard's winningest football coach, won the Heritage Bowl in 1996. Several of his players earned All-MEAC first and second team honors, All-American accolades and Player of the Year recognition. Wilson's former players, such as Roy Anderson (Indianapolis Colts), Pep Hamilton (Offensive Coordinator at Stanford), Gary Harrell (current Howard Head Football Coach), Jay Walker (ESPN analyst) and Ted White (current Offensive Coordinator/QB's at Howard, played professionally in the National Football League (NFL).

Wilson in a member of the Black College Hall of Fame and was named a MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legend in 2012.

By MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Alabama State hires Ramsey as defensive coordinator

COACH KEVIN RAMSEY

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Kevin Ramsey has been named Alabama State defensive coordinator, head football Reggie Barlow announced.

Ramsey joins the Hornets from SWAC rival Texas Southern University, where he spent nearly four seasons with the program. He served in the same capacity for the Tigers from 2009-10, and during most of the 2012 season, after a stint as interim head coach in 2011. Ramsey's Tigers led the FCS in total defense in both 2010 (204.9 ypg allowed) and 2011 (245.0 ypg allowed), and in fewest first downs allowed (140 in 2010, 141 in 2011).

His 2010 squad led the nation in six statistical categories: total defense, fewest first downs allowed, sacks (45), tackles for loss (112), lowest third down percentage allowed (22.5) and pass efficiency defense (78.9).

Prior to Texas Southern, Ramsey spent five seasons as defensive coordinator at Carson-Newman (2004-08), where his units ranked in the top 20 in several national categories each season.

Ramsey began his coaching career at Kansas State (1984-85) as a graduate assistant and junior varsity defensive coordinator at Mission High School in Mission, Texas (1986) before coaching at some of the nation's biggest schools - Kansas State (1987-89, outside linebackers), Northwestern (1990-92, defensive line/defensive backs), West Virginia (1993-94, defensive backs), Tennessee (1995-98, defensive backs), Georgia (1999, defensive coordinator) and Michigan State (2000, defensive backs).

Ramsey, who participated in NFL coaching internships with the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles, coached three seasons as secondary coach for the Arizona Cardinals (2000-02) before returning to the college ranks at Arizona State in 2003.

Teams that Ramsey has coached have been to a number of bowl games including the Outback Bowl with Georgia in 2000, the Carquest Bowl in 1995 and Sugar Bowl in 1994 with Big East Champion West Virginia and two trips to the Citrus Bowl in 1996 and 1997, the Orange Bowl in 1998 and the Fiesta Bowl National Championship Game with Tennessee in January of 1999.

“Hiring Kevin was huge for our program,” Barlow said. “Here's a guy who has coached on all levels. He has had much success at all stops. He has coordinated an SEC defense, and he was on a staff that has won a national championship. He brings an aggressive brand of football to Hornet Nation, and we're excited to have him.”

Ramsey was a three-time All-Missouri Valley pick at defensive back while playing at Indiana State from 1980-83. He was a second team All-American as a senior and also played baseball for the Sycamores. He graduated from Indiana State with a degree in Physical Education in 1984.


COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Finalist for FAMU Marching 100 band director job turns it down

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Florida A&M University interim President Larry Robinson says the school will start from scratch in its search for a new Marching 100 band director.

Robinson admitted that North Carolina Central University band director Jorim Reid was in Tallahassee Tuesday and that Robinson had expected to name Reid as the new band director during a morning press conference. The event was delayed, then cancelled, leaving a room full of FAMU students and supporters buzzing.

Reid ultimately turned down the job after he was unable to come to agreement with the university on the structure of the music department and the role of the marching band director, Robinson said this afternoon.

The university also issued a press release saying the search would be reopened and FAMU would consider hiring a search firm.

A search committee had interviewed four fiinalists for the job. One of them, Pompano Beach high school band director Richard Beckford was later taken out of the running because he failed to meet certain qualifications, Robinson said.

That leaves two finalists remaining: Penn State assistant band director Gregory Drane and Shelby Chipman, FAMU's associate band director who has been groomed to assume the top position.

READ MORE


2001: A Space Odyssey/ Carmina Burana by FAMU Marching 100;
Conductor: Dr. Shelby R. Chipman, Associate Professor and Associate Director of Bands, Florida A&M University

FAMU reopens search for director of Marching 100 band

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  FAMU announced this evening that it is reopening the search for a director of its famous marching band, which was suspended indefinitely after the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion.

Florida A&M University had been prepared Tuesday morning to name the new band director but abruptly canceled a press conference when it failed to reach an agreement with the finalist for the job.

Interim President Larry Robinson said Wednesday that there was a last-minute disagreement with finalist Jorim Reid, a FAMU graduate who is the director of bands for North Carolina Central University.

"We thought we were close to a decision on the band director and, turns out, there were some issues we didn't think we could get resolved," he said.

While Robinson did not go into detail about the disagreement, he said it had to do with the way the university was restructuring the music department in the wake of Champion's death in November, 2011.



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Tuskegee's Buford, Washington added to All-Star Classic roster

ATLANTA, Georgia  --  Tuskegee football players William Buford and Derrick Washington were selected to play in the Inaugural Raycom College Football All-Star Classic played Saturday, 2p.m. (CT) at the Crampton Bowl Stadium in Montgomery, AL.

The game, formerly known as the Blue-Gray game, will be broadcast live on the CBS Sports Network.

Washington, who was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, had a banner year, while leading the Golden Tigers to an 11-1 record and 2012 SIAC Football Championship. The 6-foot 215-pounder from Raymore, MO rushed for 1,679 and 14 touchdowns and was named the 2012 SIAC Player of the Year, in addition to being named to All-Region consensus All-American, among his other accolades.



Buford, a two-sport athlete, was one of the top players on the heralded Golden Tigers defense. As a First Team All-SIAC Defense selection, finished the season with 58 tackles, five interceptions, 10 passes defended, and three interception returns for touchdowns.

The Raycom College Football Classic will be a week long event that features elite college football seniors participating in NFL-formatted practices that are open to the public. Former NFL head coaches Jim Bates and Dan Reeves will also coach the game.

The tandem from Tuskegee will join Lane College cornerback Vernon Kearny competing on the “Stars” squad.

COURTESY SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Lakeland coach takes job at Hampton University

HAMPTON, Virginia  --  Lakeland High School head football coach Glenwood Ferebee has accepted an assistant coaching position at Hampton University in the MEAC after leading the Cavaliers to consecutive Eastern Region Division 5 playoff appearances.

A formal announcement is expected on Monday, but the coach announced the move to his team on Wednesday, and by the afternoon, the news had spread though social networking websites.

As part of Donovan Rose’s coaching staff with the Pirates of HU, Ferebee will serve as quarterback coach. The chance to move on to the next level was attractive to him.

“When I first got the Lakeland job, I really wasn’t thinking about college football, to be honest. Over the last three years though, it really hit me that was something I wanted to start heading towards,” Ferebee said.

“I talked to a couple of coaches that when they come in to recruit kids, tried to sit down and pick their brain a little and spoke with a couple of the guys from Hampton. They liked some of the things we did on film, complimented me and when the job came available I reached out to them.”

Ferebee, 35, grew up in Hampton Roads and was the starting quarterback at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, where he threw passes to Plaxico Burress, who later caught the game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLII. Ferebee played college football at Liberty University, transitioning from playing quarterback to wide receiver for the Flames.

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Ram Ramblings: Ziggy having an impressive freshman season

Michel-Ofik Nzege
Courtesy Winston-Salem State University Athletics
 

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  I wondered over to Winston-Salem State practice today at the Gaines Center and was able to catch up with freshman Michel-Ofik Nzege. We talked at length for a feature story that will be in Thursday’s Journal.

Nzege, who is most likely the first Swiss-born player to play for the Rams, has been holding his own this season. He’s made the transition from high school, where he played at Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham last season, look easy.

What I love about Nzege’s game is he plays hard – all the time. There’s never much wasted movement from him when he’s on the court. He can hit the 3-pointer, the mid-range jumper and he also has an uncanny nose for the basket.

One reason he isn’t playing at a Division I school is he fell two credits short of qualifying through the NCAA clearinghouse. Instead of going to junior college he elected to sign with WSSU where he could play right away at the Division II level.

“A lot of big schools came after me but unfortunately ...

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Valley View's Mengoni chooses Delaware State Hornets

SCRANTON, Pennsylvania  --  Anthony Mengoni is set to continue Valley View's run of football players who are continuing their athletic careers in college.

After a weekend visit, the three-year starting center for the Cougars verbally committed to Delaware State, which is a Football Championship Subdivision school.

He is the fifth player from Valley View in the last two seasons to commit to play Division I football.
"It's just incredible," Mengoni said. "To see all of the hard work that I put in over the last three years pay off is just great. It's nice to see that I was able to realize something that I dreamed of doing going back as far as junior football.



"I really think that the success that we have had as a team and the work that coach (George) Howanitz has put in to get us college attention is also very important."

As the anchor of the offensive line for the past two seasons, Mengoni has played a big part in the Cougars' powerful running game that helped produce two straight District 2 Class AAA playoff appearances and an Eastern Conference championship in his sophomore season.

In his junior year, Valley View had two running backs - Pat Jeffers and Tyler Phillips - surpass 1,000 yards on its way to the District 2 Class AAA championship. Mengoni earned Lackawanna Football Conference Division I coaches' second-team all-star honors at center.

Last season, the 6-foot-2, 265-pound Mengoni helped ...

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FAMU's Head Baseball Coach Brown to be dismissed

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  FAMU has informed baseball coach Willie Brown he will be fired, following allegations of sexual harassment by a walk-on infielder that he cut from the baseball team twice.

Brown was notified of the university’s decision in a letter dated Monday, Jan. 14, and signed by interim president Larry Robinson.

The letter was provided to the Democrat on Wednesday by Brown’s attorney, Steven Andrews, who received it a day earlier.

Andrews also released to the Democrat a letter he sent to FAMU on Wednesday requesting a hearing for Brown to state his case.

Andrews said he won’t attempt to have Brown reinstated as coach, but he wants his client’s name cleared. Andrews said he intends to take the case to court if needed.

Brown remains on administrative leave with pay pending a final written decision from the university.

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WSSU Rams climb to No. 11

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  The Winston-Salem State men’s basketball team climb ed six spots to No. 11 in this week’s Division II coaches poll. The Rams (13-2, 6-0 CIAA) are in the midst of a 12-game winning streak.

West Liberty (W.Va.) is the top-ranked team. No. 19 is Barton, located in Wilson.

Winston-Salem State will hold Earl Monroe Legacy Weekend on Feb. 1-2 in conjunction with men’s and women’s games against Livingstone College.

Six individuals and members of the 1963 CIAA men’s c hampionship team will be honored. The individuals are William English (‘69), Carlos Terry (’78; posthumously), Reggie Gaines (‘80), Keenan Menefee-Long (‘86), Carolyn Huntley (‘87) and Sandy Smith (‘73).

The WSSU alumni cheerleaders ...

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Hampton University Football Releases 2013 Schedule

HAMPTON, Va. –  The Hampton University Department of Athletics has released the 2013 football schedule, a 12-game slate that includes five home games. Moving forward, the program seeks to secure a minimum of six home games annually beginning with the 2014 season.

The Pirates will open the season, their fifth under head coach Donovan Rose, with two road games; on Aug. 29, Hampton will take on Western Illinois in Macomb, Ill., before heading to Williamsburg, Va. on Sept. 7 to take on William & Mary.

Hampton’s 2013 home debut will be on Sept. 14, when the Pirates square off against Tennessee Tech.

The Pirates will travel to Conway, S.C. on Sept .21 to take on Coastal Carolina, before opening MEAC play on Sept. 28 against South Carolina State. It will be Hampton’s first game against SCSU since 2009.

After a bye, Hampton will return home on Oct. 12 to take on North Carolina A&T, before heading to Norfolk, Va. on Oct. 19 for the annual Battle of the Bay against Norfolk State. A home game will follow on Oct. 26 against Delaware State, before the Pirates head to Baltimore, Md. on Nov. 2 to take on Morgan State.

After playing host to North Carolina Central on Nov. 9, the Pirates will head to Daytona Beach, Fla. on Nov. 16 to take on Bethune-Cookman. Hampton will close out the regular season on Nov. 23 at home, taking on Howard in the Battle for the Real HU.

For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.



Full Schedule

HAMPTON U. PIRATES 2013 CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

8/29   @ Western Illinois, Macomb, IL

9/7     @ William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA
9/14        Tennessee Tech, Hampton, VA
9/21   @ Coastal Carolina, Conway, SC
9/28   @ South Carolina State, Orangeburg, SC*

10/5        OPEN
10/12      North Carolina A&T,  Hampton, VA*
10/19  @ Norfolk State, Norfolk, VA*
10/26      Delaware State, Hampton, VA* 

11/2    @ Morgan State, Baltimore, MD*
11/9         North Carolina Central, Hampton, VA
11/16   @ Bethune-Cookman, Daytona Beach, FL*
11/23        Howard University, Hampton, VA

TBD         NCAA FCS Playoffs

*MEAC Games

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

XU Gold Nuggets drop three places to 12th in NAIA poll

NEW ORLEANS — After more than 40 days and three consecutive appearances in the top 10, Xavier University of Louisiana dropped three places to 12th Tuesday in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

Voting was based on games through Sunday. Xavier lost 63-56 at home to SUNO — the Gold Nuggets' second consecutive Monday defeat — to fall to 12-4 overall and 2-2 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. One week earlier, the Nuggets lost 68-65 at Talladega.
    
Nevertheless, the Gold Nuggets are in the top 25 for the 36th consecutive time dating to Jan. 25, 2010.
    
Xavier was one of four teams from last week's top 10 to drop, including Lubbock Christian, top-ranked in the first four polls of the season but No. 2 after its 79-68 home loss Thursday to defending national champion Oklahoma City. OCU climbed from sixth to fourth.
    
The Gold Nuggets will complete a four-game home stand with GCAC games against Philander Smith at 2 p.m. Saturday and Fisk at 3 p.m. Monday. Both games will be played at XU's new Convocation Center, and they'll follow XU men's games against those same schools.
    
The next poll will be announced Jan. 22.

NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Jan. 13) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Vanguard (11) 11-0 281 2 2 Lubbock Christian 17-1 271 1 3 Freed-Hardeman 17-1 261 3 4 Oklahoma City 12-2 250 6 5 Westminster (Utah) 16-2 249 4 6 Lee (Tenn.) 15-1 237 5 7 Cumberland 16-1 224 7 8 The Master's 15-0 221 8 9 Campbellsville 14-3 208 10 10 MidAmerica Nazarene 16-2 197 11 11 Westmont 11-3 192 12 12 Xavier 12-3 184 9 13-tie Bethel (Tenn.) 14-4 169 14 13-tie Rogers State 14-4 169 15 15 Lyon 14-2 150 19 16 Georgetown (Ky.) 11-6 140 23 17 Benedictine (Kan.) 15-3 120 21 18 Wiley 15-1 118 20 19 William Woods 12-2 117 16 20 Shawnee State 14-5 116 13 21 Auburn Montgomery 13-4 100 18 22 Central Methodist 16-2 94 17 23 Our Lady of the Lake 16-1 86 24 24 Faulkner 16-4 82 22 25 St. Catharine 11-4 69 RV Others receiving votes: Carroll (Mont.) 52, LSU-Shreveport 46, Columbia (Mo.) 32, Cumberlands 25, Coastal Georgia 11, Robert Morris (Chicago) 6, Biola 5, SUNO 3.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Reports: Lawrence Kershaw top candidate for Fayetteville State football coaching job

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  --  Lawrence Kershaw, Florida A&M's former offensive coordinator, has emerged as the top candidate to become Fayetteville State University's next head football coach, but hasn't been offered the job, according to the school's athletic director.

However, the school has called a special meeting of the Board of Trustees for Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Chancellor's Conference room to discuss a closed-session item. The hiring of a football coach would require a vote of the trustees.

Kershaw was on the FSU campus Monday and attended the school's basketball game against Bowie State. The Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat newspaper reported Monday in a story about Florida A&M's new head coach, Earl Holmes, that Kershaw was going to be Fayetteville State's next head coach.

And Aaron Taylor, son of former Florida A&M head coach Joe Taylor, posted on his Facebook page that he will be coming to Fayetteville to join Kershaw's staff. Taylor served as running backs coach for the A&M Rattlers the last four years.

FSU athletic director Edward McLean denied that Monday evening.

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Tennessee State Volleyball Adds Two for 2013 Season

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- Volleyball head coach Kathy Roulhac announced her 2013-14 incoming class. Arijana Anderson of Muncie, Ind. and Zoe Sostre of Puerto Rico have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Tigers this coming fall.

"With the combination of Arijana and Zoe we are very excited," Roulhac said. "This gives us a strong outside hitter and an experienced middle. These two will add to the depth of the program."

Anderson, a 5-10 outside hitter, is a four-year letter winner for Muncie Burris Laboratory School. She helped her team to three Mid-Eastern Conference Championships and two state titles, while being named to the All-Conference team in all four seasons. In her final two seasons, she was selected to the All-State team and earned a spot on the Plymouth Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Anderson was named as an AAU All-American while competing for ASICS Munciana club team. She helped pace her squad to third place finishes at the 2012 18U AAU Nationals in Orlando, as well as the JVA World Challenge in Houston. In 2009, Munciana finished second at AAU Nationals and at the JVDA Championship in Louisville, Ky.

"Arijana is one of the top recruits in the state of Indiana and it is a blessing for her to be a part of our program," Roulhac commented. "She is a great recruit for TSU volleyball that had interest from Top 25 schools. She was an attachment to assistant coach Peter Chang who came from the Muncie, Indiana program. She brings power and speed, but still has great control. She has been playing a high level of volleyball for a few years now and will bring experience."

Sostre, a 5-10 middle blocker, played her last two seasons for Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla. She was named 2nd Team All-conference as a freshman and 1st Team as a sophomore. Sostre recorded 243 kills with a .336 hitting percentage in 41 matches. She registered 111 blocks (40 block solos, 71 block assists) and 60 digs.

Sostre attended CIEM Private School in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

"We're real excited about the experience Zoe will bring to our program," Roulhac commented. In the OVC, the better the middle blocker, the better chance you have at winning. The focus this year was to bring in a strong middle and add to the depth to a position we were missing during the 2012 season. So we are really excited about her and the next two years with her in our program."

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Bills sign former SCSU's DB Dominique Ellis

ORCHARD PARK, NY – The Bills added two players to the roster Wednesday, signing TE Joe Sawyer and DB Dominique Ellis to Reserve/Future contracts.

Ellis entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012 and was released prior to the regular season. The 5-11, 195-pound defensive back was a two-time All-MEAC selection at South Carolina State where he made 65 tackles and three interceptions in 2011. Ellis transferred to South Carolina State after appearing in 13 games at North Carolina State in his 2008 freshman campaign.

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