Rob Johnson helps lead red hot Norfolk State University

Senior known to hit the "big shot"

NORFOLK, Virginia (WAVY) - Once again, Norfolk State appears to be the team to beat in the MEAC. The Spartans will bring an undefeated record to Joe Echols this Saturday for the first of two contests with Hampton. One of the reasons for the Spartans success, the play of senior transfer, Rob Johnson. Sportswrap's Brian Parsons has the story.

Rob Johnson helps lead red hot NSU

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Alabama State Football: Crowell effect: Transfers cut Alabama State's signing class in half

Alabama State running back Isaiah Crowell  made a big impact for the Hornets last season after transferring from the University of Georgia

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Alabama State football coach Reggie Barlow called it the “Isaiah Crowell effect.”

Six months after the former University of Georgia tailback made national headlines with his decision to transfer to Alabama State University, nearly a dozen players have followed suit, enrolling in the school in early January with plans to play for the Hornets in 2013.

“Isaiah Crowell has started a phenomenon at Alabama State,” Barlow said. “Most coaches would say having one transfer is good. We played five games on television this year. I think that was the Isaiah Crowell effect and then there are positive things going on in our program — new facilities, we’re winning, a lot of buzz.”

While all of the transfers are currently enrolled at Alabama State, Barlow did not say all of them were on scholarship. The list includes two players who sat out 2012 for academic reasons, a pair of junior college transfers and seven players who transferred to Alabama State from major college programs.

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Urban Invitational set for return trip to Houston

Four historically black colleges and universities will compete at Minute Maid Park

NEW YORK -- With another season comes another chance to make an impact with the fans of tomorrow. Major League Baseball announced plans for the sixth annual Urban Invitational on Thursday, and the three-day tourney will feature four historically black colleges and universities.

One team -- longtime power Southern University from Baton Rouge, La. -- will be playing in its sixth straight Urban Invitational, but the other three schools (Alabama State University, Prairie View A&M University and Texas Southern University) will be back for just the second time.

The showcase, part of MLB's ongoing efforts to highlight the passion for baseball within the inner-city communities of America, will take place in Houston for the second straight season. It will begin on Friday, Feb. 22, and the round-robin tournament will conclude on Sunday the 24th.

All of this year's games are scheduled for the Astros’ Minute Maid Park, but the Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park will play host to a youth baseball clinic. Perhaps the best part for the teams involved? Saturday's games will air live on MLB Network and MLB.com.

Frank Robinson, one of the game's all-time great players and MLB's executive vice president of baseball development, said Thursday that the event is noteworthy for a number of reasons.

"Major League Baseball would like to congratulate the four teams and all the student-athletes who will be participating in this year’s Urban Invitational," said Robinson in a press release. "This annual event is an important and special opportunity for the sport to showcase the talent and skill level demonstrated by HBCU programs deserving of national attention. We are proud to work alongside the Astros organization to not only provide a wonderful experience for those playing the games on the field, but also offer opportunities away from the diamond for the Houston community."

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FAMU fans turn out to support Coach Earl Holmes

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Joe Bullard didn’t even bother to think when he was asked to recall the last time that there has been as much excitement about FAMU football as new head coach Earl Holmes is causing.

Right away, he harkened to 1978 when the Rattlers won their first NCAA national championship.
“I’m happy to say that back then we said, ‘The Rattlers are back,’ and they were,” said Bullard, a radio disc jockey who has been the voice of the Marching 100 for more than three decades. “Now it’s the Rattler nation and Earl Holmes. The excitement is back.”

Bullard was among the 200 or so who turned out at The Moon on Wednesday night for a community meet-and-greet with Holmes, who was named head coach almost two weeks ago. Since his hire, Holmes has repeatedly said he will campaign to get the community to rally behind him and a new-look Rattlers team.

Judging from the crowd that turned out Wednesday, folks are already buying in. Athletic Director Derek Horne said his phone has been constantly ringing with fans wanting information about season tickets and the 2013 schedule, which he said should be released in a week.

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Morehouse alum lead official for Super Bowl XLVII

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana - Former All-SIAC quarterback and 1977 Morehouse graduate Jerome Boger was named head referee and will become the second African-American in the history of the Super Bowl to serve as head official.

    

Boger was the highest-graded official by the NFL this season.

    

Boger, also a former SIAC official, worked 11 NFL games during the regular season. His crew averaged 94.1 penalty yards per game, the fourth-fewest of any referee who worked at least 10 games.

    

Boger was a four-year starter at Morehouse and worked high school and recreational league games before moving up to colleges. He spent 11 years as an official in the SIAC and five seasons (1996-2000) in the MEAC. He also officiated in Conference USA, the Arena Football League and NFL Europe.

    
He has been an NFL official since the 2004 season. He started in the league as a line judge and was promoted to referee in 2006 after only two seasons. He became the third African-American referee in the NFL after Johnny Grier and Mike Carey.

COURTESY THESIAC.COM 

Gold Nuggets 14th in NAIA after dropping 2 more places

NEW ORLEANS — Another loss resulted in another drop for the Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball team.

After losing 63-56 at home Jan. 14 to Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and city rival SUNO, the Gold Nuggets fell two places to 14th in the NAIA Division I Coaches' Top 25 Poll announced Tuesday afternoon. Voting was based on games through Sunday.
    
It's the second consecutive week that Xavier dropped after ranking ninth for two consecutive polls. Moving two spots ahead of the Gold Nuggets was Bethel (Tenn.), which lost 75-67 in double overtime at Xavier on Jan. 2.
    
The Gold Nuggets are in the top 25 for the 37th consecutive time dating to Jan. 25, 2010.
    
Since the loss to SUNO, Xavier defeated Philander Smith 65-47 on Saturday and Fisk 63-41 on Monday. The Gold Nuggets are 4-2 and tied for third place in the GCAC, one game behind leaders SUNO and Talladega. SUNO collected its most points of the season, 11, in the new poll and ranks 30th.
    
Xavier will visit GCAC and city rival Dillard at 5 p.m. Saturday and Mobile at 5:30 p.m. Monday. The next poll will be released Jan. 22.

NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Jan. 20)

Rank	Team	Record	Points	Last
1	Lubbock Christian (5)	18-1	275	2
2	Freed-Hardeman (4)	18-1	270	3
3	Vanguard	12-1	264	1
4	Oklahoma City (2)	14-2	261	4
5	Westminster (Utah)	18-2	245	5
6	Lee (Tenn.)	16-1	236	6
7	Cumberland	18-1	225	7
8	The Master's	17-0	220	8
9	Westmont	13-3	205	11
10-tie	MidAmerica Nazarene	18-2	198	10
10-tie	Campbellsville	15-4	198	9
12	Bethel (Tenn.)	15-4	181	tie-13
13	Georgetown (Ky.)	12-6	166	16
14	Xavier	13-4	164	12
15	Rogers State	15-5	151	tie-13
16	Benedictine (Kan.)	18-3	138	17
17	Wiley	17-1	133	18
18	Lyon	16-3	130	15
19	Shawnee State	15-5	120	20
20	William Woods	15-2	115	19
21	Our Lady of the Lake	18-1	103	23
22	Faulkner	17-4	95	24
23	Central Methodist	17-3	74	22
24	Columbia (Mo.)	14-5	72	RV
25	Auburn Montgomery	14-5	63	21
Others receiving votes: LSU-Shreveport 54, St. Catharine 53, Carroll (Mont.) 38, Robert Morris (Chicago) 31, SUNO 11, Lindsey Wilson 3, Southern Poly 3.

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

Ram Ramblings: Sam Hanger in the building at Gaines Center

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --   You never know who might be hanging around the Gaines Center watching basketball.

On Wednesday night I ran into Sam Hanger, a former WSSU basketball coach who lives in Greensboro and is semi-retired from coaching.

Hanger, who is 60-years-old and a grandfather, said he loved being back at the Gaines Center and seeing some familiar faces.

Hanger has been out of coaching since his seven-year stint at Fayetteville State ended after the 2008-09 season when he was fired. He said he doesn’t miss the grind of recruiting, and scouting but admits he misses the strategy on game days.

“I’m getting the itch again to coach,” said Hanger, who was the coach of the Rams for three seasons in the late 1990s. “I’ve done everything I can at home and done all the things my wife has asked me to do so I’m ready.”

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Grambling State Band at President Barack Obama 2013 Inaugural Parade & Peformance on CNN at the National Mall

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 20/21, 2013)-- The Grambling State University "World Famous" Tigers Marching Band represented all HBCU bands at the 2013 Presidential Inauguration Parade in Washington D.C. The band was also featured on CNN globally and had the opportunity to show the world why Grambling State Band is a top music program in the college ranks. Grambling was selected from over 2,000 organizations that applied for participation in the inaugural parade.

Grambling State was the only HBCU Band in this year's prestigious parade.  The Tigers also marched in President Obama's first inauguration parade in 2009.

 Go Grambling!!

WSSU wants to bring Division II football title game to city

BOWMAN-GRAY STADIUM
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
Photo Courtesy NASCAR

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  Athletics Director Bill Hayes of Winston-Salem State sees no reason why Winston-Salem can’t play host to the NCAA Division II football championship game. Hayes has started conversations with Visit Winston-Salem — the convention and visitors bureau for the city and Forsyth County — about going after the game.

“I think with the community behind it and the facilities at Bowman Gray Stadium, we could do a bang-up job,” Hayes said.

Hayes saw firsthand the outstanding job Florence, Ala., did as the championship-game host in December, when WSSU lost to Valdosta State in its first title-game appearance. It was the 27th year that the University of North Alabama was the host institution, but Hayes said that with North Alabama considering a move to Division I, the game most likely will move.

According to a report in the Florence TimesDaily, next season’s game will be in Florence, but the NCAA will be taking bids this year for 2014 and beyond.

Cameron Schuh, who works for the NCAA in public relations, said in an email that bids will be accepted this summer and that with future title-game sites will be announced in the fall.

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S.C. State gains 5 verbal football commitments

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  The first recruiting visit weekend held at South Carolina State University has produced five verbal commitments, four from the state of Georgia.

Tight end Zane Fields (6-2, 235 lbs.) of Lovejoy High School, defensive linemen Dayshawn Taylor (5-11, 240) of Lincoln County High School and Greg Newell (6-2, 220) of the Atlanta Sports Academy and wide receiver Chris Trimmings (5-11, 180) of Brunswick High School were the four Peach State natives who made tentative plans to sign with the Bulldogs.

The lone Palmetto State native out of the three who visited this weekend who gave a verbal commitment was Blythewood High School quarterback Kylen Binn. The 6-5, 210-pound North-South All-Star completed 123-215 passes for 1,386 yards and 13 interceptions and rushed for 248 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Bengals under former head coach and Bulldog alumnus Reggie Kennedy (now at Sumter High School).

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SU recognizes 82 students for academic excellence

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  Southern University Athletics recognized 82 student-athletes for their academic success, naming them to the newly established "Athletic Council List."

The list recognizes students who achieved a 3.0 or above in Fall 2012, or, maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA. The students will be recognized at a basketball doubleheader in the coming weeks.

"Beyond the accomplishments of these students in competition, folks rarely think of how hard they work to excel in the classroom and work toward graduation," said Director of Athletics Dr. William Broussard.

"Our academic advisement staff and faculty and administrators across campus share in this success."

The list includes individuals from every varsity sport and also varsity cheerleaders.

"I am extremely proud of these student-athletes who recognize the importance of excelling in the classroom as well as in their respective sports," Southern faculty athletics representative Dr. Doze Butler said.

"Recognition of their academic achievement in this way is long overdue. These young men and women clearly understand that as student-athletes, their roles as ‘students' come first. We will encourage them to continue to serve as role models for their student-athlete peers and the general student population."

FALL 2012 ATHLETIC COUNCIL LIST

Baseball
Luis Cruz
Jose De Leon
Chase Dicharry
Jose Francisco
Daniel Garcia
Camilo Godoy
Elliott Jones
Tyler Kirksey
Marcus Lewis
Leronn Morton
Brandon Oswald
John Pagan
Zephan Rochelle
Bryan RowrySantos Saldivar
Marcus Tomlin
Darryl Wesley

Cheer
Shelby Clayton
Henry Henderson
Antonio Jackson
Shartazia Warren
Tanisha Williams
Kim Butler
Duane Pigott
Caitlyn Woodard
Lonzetta Willis
Taylor Franklin
Bowling
Kaylene Adams

Football
Hansoni Alfred
Clinton Boyd
Zach Brown
Demetrius Carter
Darrius Coleman
John Douglas
Matthew Hill
Michael Jones
Devante Lawrence
Kadeem Lewis
Jamaal Martin
Dion Palmer
Gregory Pittman
Benay Pryor
Eddie Smith IV
Marlon SmithLenard Tillery
Richard Tuten
Men's Basketball
Brandon Moore

Men's Track and Field
Anthony Collins
Taylor Ferguson
Michael McCulloch
Victor Nicholls

Soccer
Courtney Bahadursingh
D'Nae Capron
Jazmine Harrell

Softball
Carla Arismendi
Alicia Barajas
Shabanese Brown
Whitney King
Jasmine Payne
Shawntall Steamer
Emily Wright

Tennis
Lois Alexis
Carlista Mohammed
Demetria Woods

Volleyball
Simone Beasley
Chanda Journet
Payton Mitchell
Michelle Williams

Women's Basketball
Joslyn Allen
Jasmine Jefferson
Jasmine King
Lechell Rush

Women's Track and Field Maya Anderson
Tershauna Broadnax
D'Ellionne Davenport
Deandra Deveaux
May Dozier
Shannon Jones-Butts
Brittany Lacy
Shariece Pinkston
Raquel Sims
Kashmia Weary

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Alabama A&M Releases 2013 Football Schedule

NORMAL, Alabama – The Alabama A&M Bulldogs has released their proposed 2013 football schedule.

Head coach Anthony Jones 12^th season will include non-conference contests versus Tuskegee University, South Carolina State and Georgia Tech University.

Bulldog fans will have the opportunity to see the 103^rd edition of football on “The Hill” five times in Louis Crews stadium.

The Maroon & White football teams’ game with Georgia Tech will be the second year in a row against a Bowl Championship Subdivision opponent.

Future BCS opponents will include the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2014 and the University of Cincinnati in 2015.

"The opportunity to compete against top competition, BCS schools, not only provides more exposure to Alabama A&M University, the football program, and Alabama A&M Athletics, but it’s vital to our growth as a Division I athletics program,” Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks mentioned.

A&M will travel to Grambling, LA on Aug. 31^st for their earliest meeting with the Tigers. They will return home on September 7^th for their first home game of 2013 welcoming in-state rival Tuskegee University.

Two straight trips on the road will see AAMU in Orangeburg, South Carolina on Sept. 14^th and Prairie View, Texas on Sept. 21^st. They then return home for two dates on Sept. 28^th versus Texas Southern then Homecoming versus Mississippi Valley on Oct. 5^th.

The state of Louisiana awaits one more visit from the Bulldogs as they travel to Baton Rouge, LA on Oct. 12^th.

The 72^nd annual Magic City Classic falls on Oct. 26^th then A&M will venture to the reservation on Nov. 2^nd for a date with Alcorn State. The final two home games will be played on Nov. 9^th vs. Jackson State and Nov. 16^th versus the 2012 SWAC football champions Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The final game of the regular season will see the Bulldogs in Atlanta, Georgia for another historic meeting this time versus the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech on Nov. 23^rd.

“As always we feel it is a tough schedule as our three non-conference games include opponents who have competed for championship,” said coach Jones. “A schedule like this will give our student-athletes a chance to compete against the best competition in the country.”





2013 Football Schedule

August 31^st -         AWAY vs.     Grambling University

September 7^th -   HOME vs.     Tuskegee

September 14^th- AWAY vs.      South Carolina State University

September 21^st - AWAY vs.      Prairie View A&M University

September 28^th - HOME vs.    Texas Southern University

October 5^th -         HOME vs.     Mississippi Valley State University
(HOMECOMING)

October 12^th -       AWAY vs.     Southern University

October 19^th -       OPEN

October 26^th -       AWAY vs.     Alabama State University (MCC)

November 2^nd-     AWAY vs.     Alcorn State University

November 9^th -     HOME vs.    Jackson State University

November 16^th -   HOME vs.   University of Arkansas Pine Bluff

November 23^rd -   Away vs.     Georgia Tech

December 7^th -      SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME


COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

PVAMU Baseball Announces 2013 Schedule

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  --  The 2012 SWAC Champion Prairie View A&M University baseball team will begin defense of its championship in February with a 48-game slate highlighted by three games in the Houston Astros' Minute Maid Park for the annual MLB Urban Invitational.

The season kicks off with a rematch of last year's SWAC Tournament Championship as the Panthers will travel to Itta Bena, Miss. to battle Mississippi Valley State on Feb. 16-17 in a four-game series. Prairie View A&M will remain on the road for a quick trip to Houston on Tuesday, Feb. 19 against Houston Baptist at 2 p.m. followed by three games in the annual MLB Urban Invitational at Minute Maid Park in Houston from Feb. 22-24. This year's invitational will be an All-SWAC affair as the Panthers will face Alabama State, Texas Southern and Southern. The TSU contest will once again be a prime time affair on Saturday, Feb. 23 as it'll be broadcast live on the MLB network for the second straight year.

“We are excited to be participating in the MLB urban invitational at Minute Maid Park for consecutive years,” said head coach Waskyla Cullivan. “This event brings national exposure to the university thanks to MLB network broadcasting the games.”

After a midweek home-opening doubleheader versus Texas College on Feb. 26, SWAC play begins on Saturday, March 2 as the Panthers will host Grambling State in a three-game series. Following the GSU series, Prairie View A&M will hit the road for quite some time as they'll travel to Texas A&M on March 5, Lamar on March 12, Texas Southern (March 16-17) and Huston-Tillotson (March 19). The Panthers briefly return home for a SWAC series versus Southern on March 23-24 and a midweek doubleheader versus Jarvis Christian on Jan. 26.

Prairie View A&M closes out the first half of SWAC play on March 30-31 with a three-game set at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The team kicks off the month of April at Texas State on Apr. 2 before beginning the second half of SWAC play at Grambling State on Apr. 6-7. PV returns home for a midweek affair versus Huston-Tillotson on Apr. 9 and a weekend series against Wiley on Apr. 14. PV travels to Sam Houston State on Apr. 17 and will return back to campus to host TSU on Apr. 20-21 followed by Houston Baptist on Apr. 23.

The Panthers head to Southern for SWAC Western Division showdown on Apr. 27-28 in Baton Rouge, La.  They'll return to the state of Texas on Apr. 30 to face the University of Texas in Austin on Apr. 30.  The Panthers will close out the 2013 regular season at home versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff on May 4-5.

The 2013 SWAC Tournament is scheduled for May 15-19 in Baton Rouge, La.

 2013 Panthers Baseball Schedule 

 

Day	Date	Opponent	Location / Stadium	Time/Result	TV	Live Stats
Sat.	2/16/2013	Mississippi Valley State (DH)	Itta Bena, Miss.	12 p.m.
Sun.	2/17/2013	Mississippi Valley State (DH)	Itta Bena, Miss.	12 p.m.
Tue.	2/19/2013	Houston Baptist University	Houston, Texas	2 p.m.
Fri.	2/22/2013	Alabama State	Houston, TX - Minute Maid Park	6:30 p.m.
Sat.	2/23/2013	Texas Southern University	Houston, TX - Minute Maid Park	7:30 p.m.
Sun.	2/24/2013	Southern University	Houston, TX - Minute Maid Park	3:30 p.m.
Tue.	2/26/2013	Texas College (DH)	Prairie View	1 p.m.		Live Stats
Sat.	3/2/2013	Grambling State University (DH)	Prairie View	12 p.m.		Live Stats
Sun.	3/3/2013	Grambling State University	Prairie View	1 p.m.		Live Stats
Tue.	3/5/2013	Texas A&M University	College Station, Texas	6 p.m.
Tue.	3/12/2013	Lamar	Beaumont, Texas	4 p.m.
Sat.	3/16/2013	Texas Southern University	Houston, Texas	12 p.m.
Sun.	3/17/2013	Texas Southern University	Houston, Texas	1 p.m.
Tue.	3/19/2013	Huston-Tillotson College (Texas) (DH)	Austin, Texas	1 p.m.
Sat.	3/23/2013	Southern University (DH)	Prairie View	12 p.m.		Live Stats
Sun.	3/24/2013	Southern University	Prairie View	1 p.m.		Live Stats
Tue.	3/26/2013	Jarvis Christian College (Texas) (DH)	Prairie View	1 p.m.		Live Stats
Sat.	3/30/2013	University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff (DH)	Pine Bluff, Ark.	12 p.m.
Sun.	3/31/2013	University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff	Pine Bluff, Ark.	1 p.m.
Tue.	4/2/2013	Texas State University	San Marcos, Texas	6 p.m.
Sat.	4/6/2013	Grambling State University	Grambling, La.	12 p.m.
Sun.	4/7/2013	Grambling State University	Grambling, La.	1 p.m.
Tue.	4/9/2013	Huston-Tillotson College (Texas) (DH)	Prairie View	1 p.m.		Live Stats
Sun.	4/14/2013	Wiley College (Texas) (DH)	Prairie View	1 p.m.		Live Stats
Wed.	4/17/2013	Sam Houston State University	Huntsville, Texas	6:30 p.m.
Sat.	4/20/2013	Texas Southern University (DH)	Prairie View	12 p.m.		Live Stats
Sun.	4/21/2013	Texas Southern University	Prairie View	12 p.m.		Live Stats
Tue.	4/23/2013	Houston Baptist University	Prairie View	2 p.m.		Live Stats
Sat.	4/27/2013	Southern University	Baton Rouge, La.	12 p.m.
Sun.	4/28/2013	Southern University	Baton Rouge, La.	1 p.m.
Tue.	4/30/2013	University of Texas	Austin, Texas	6 p.m.
Sat.	5/4/2013	University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff (DH)	Prairie View	12 p.m.		Live Stats
Sun.	5/5/2013	University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff	Prairie View	1 p.m.		Live Stats
Wed.	5/15/2013	TBA	TBA	TBA		Live Stats

  COURTESY PRAIRE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION