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TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The chalkboard works just fine when Chris Cash wants to illustrate plays for the safeties he coaches on the FAMU football team.
But there is just no drawing up the bigger part of what the Rattlers’ assistant believes his players have to know when it comes to life choices and persevering in the face of adversity.
Cash just tells them about that.
Cash grew up in a single-parent household in a California neighborhood where drugs and gangs were right outside his door. He had to cope with the murder of a sibling. Another one is doing time in prison and another overcame prison time to earn a college degree.
Cash, who had a successful collegiate career at USC before spending five years in the NFL, said he doesn’t mind telling his story because some of his players might be facing similar challenges.
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama | The Stillman College women’s and men’s tennis teams have accomplished goal one of the 2013 season: to finish atop the conference standings. Now, the teams look to accomplish goal two: to win the conference tournament.
Both the Tigers and Lady Tigers are the No. 1 seed entering the SIAC tournament Thursday in Atlanta.
The men are 24-2 with a perfect 11-0 conference mark. The women are 28-1 and 11-0 in league play. The women are on a 25-match win streak and the men are on a 23-match win streak.
“This is going to be a tough tournament. There are some good teams who can win on any given day,” coach Will E. Riley said. “It is up to us to play well in each match if we are going to win the whole thing.”
In men’s singles, player of the year candidate ...
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – The eight-team field competing for the 2013 National Collegiate Women’s Bowling Championship was announced Wednesday by the NCAA Women’s Bowling Committee. The seeded field includes the following teams, all selected at large:
NC WOMEN'S BOWLING CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD
1. Central Missouri
2. Maryland Eastern Shore 3. Nebraska 4. Arkansas State 5. Vanderbilt 6. Sam Houston State 7. Wisconsin-Whitewater 8. Fairleigh Dickinson
Competition begins with qualifying rounds in which each team bowls one five-person regular team game against each of the other seven teams participating in the championship for a total of seven games. Teams will be seeded for bracket play based on their win-loss record during the qualifying rounds. Teams will then compete in best-of-seven-games Baker matches in a double elimination tournament. In the Baker format, each of the five team members, in order, bowls a complete frame until a complete (10-frame) game is bowled. A Baker match tied 3½ games to 3½ games after seven games will be decided by a tiebreaker using the Modified Baker format.
UMES SEEKS THIRD STRAIGHT NCAA NATIONAL TITLE
The University of Detroit Mercy and the Detroit Sports Commission will host the championship, which will be held April 11-13 at Super Bowl Lanes in Canton, Michigan. Tickets can be purchased on www.NCAA.com prior to the championship.
Maryland-Eastern Shore won its second consecutive National Collegiate Women’s Bowling Championship in 2012 at Freeway Lanes in Wickliffe, Ohio defeating Fairleigh Dickinson in six games, winning the final game 203-176. With the victory, Maryland Eastern Shore became the first team since 2004-05 to win back-to-back national titles.
The championship finals will air on ESPNU Saturday, April 13 at 8 p.m. ET. A tape delay broadcast of the championship finals will air on ESPN Sunday, April 14 from 2 – 3:30 p.m. ET.
NASHVILLE, Tennesee — Two-time defending national champion Maryland-Eastern Shore is back on top in the latest poll released Tuesday by the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA). This is the final poll of the regular season and marks the first time the Hawks are on top since October when they were No. 1.
UMES, currently standing at 110-21, has had a dominating season and was recently named the No. 2 overall seed in the upcoming national championships. The Hawks are coming off of a sixth Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship and a first-place finish in the Music City Classic. They have won 10 of the 13 events they have bowled in this season, finishing second in the other three.
Right below the Hawks is second-ranked Nebraska (69-22) with 694 points, trailing UMES’s 724 points. Nebraska earned six first-place votes while the Hawks got 15. Central Missouri (97-23), the new third-ranked team, got the other six votes and 689 points. The Jennies, who led the poll for several months, were ahead of Arkansas State (86-28) and Vanderbilt (85-38) who had 604 and 550 points, respectively.
Sam Houston State and Wisconsin-Whitewater traded places for sixth and seventh place and Fairleigh Dickinson (72-37; 408 points) stayed in the eighth spot. The top eight rankings mirror the recent NCAA announcement for the national championships in Canton, Mich.
Stephen F. Austin kept the No. 9 position, but Adelphi jumped from 14th after winning the Northeast Conference Tournament to complete the poll’s top 10.
Alabama A&M was the only newcomer, finishing in a tie for 20th place with Bethune-Cookman. Norfolk State and Delaware State represented the MEAC in 14th and 19th places, respectively.
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Playing football games in Arizona, Texas and Indiana this past season helped South Carolina State defensive back Jakar Hamilton become well-accustomed to long distance trips around the country.
The frequent flyer miles continue to add up for the University of Georgia transfer as he seeks to impress prospective NFL teams. The past week has seen Hamilton hop on flights destined to three different states to visit with the Dallas Cowboys, followed by San Diego and this past Monday in Green Bay.
At each visit, Hamilton has come away more optimistic about his chances of becoming the fourth straight former S.C. State player selected in the NFL draft which runs this year April 25-27 in New York City.
CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina -- When Lamonte Armstrong stopped in a drug store early one Sunday last month, he watched curiously as the clerks hovered over the pages of a newspaper.
The 62-year-old peer-support counselor had just finished up a graveyard shift at Freedom House, the recovery center he's worked at since 2012. He was tired but intrigued as he approached the counter.
The clerks were engrossed in The News & Observer's story of Joseph Sledge, whose murder conviction 34 years ago seems to be unraveling with recanted testimony and new DNA evidence bolstering his claims of innocence.
"I looked at the clerks, and I said, 'I know that man,'" Armstrong recounted. "You know how I know him, because the same thing happened to me.'"
Armstong was wrongfully convicted of murdering an N.C. A&T University professor found dead in her Greensboro home in 1988. He maintained his innocence throughout--from the first time Greensboro police interviewed him to a Guilford County jury returning a guilty verdict to his arduous appeals of his life-sentence.
PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland --Millicent Van Norden has been named the new head coach of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's women's volleyball team, Director of Athletics Keith Davidson announced today.
In 11 seasons as a collegiate head coach at Alcorn State, North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State and most recently Coppin State, Van Norden has amassed a career record of 176-206, earning 20 wins in a season three times and receiving two Coach of the Year honors.
"We are extremely excited to have Coach Van Norden start the next chapter of UMES Volleyball," said Davidson. "She is a proven winner in this conference and has national experience as well; we know we can look to her to continue our expectations of being at the top of the MEAC each season."
"I am very excited to become a part of the UMES family," said Van Norden. "The commitment to a successful volleyball program by the university, athletic administration, the student body, and the student-athletes is a rare commodity that I have always seen and admired at UMES. I am happy to become a part of the Hawk culture and to have the opportunity to continue the legacy of success."
Last season under former head coach Don Metil, who recently left to take the reins at Towson University, the Hawks went 28-6 and captured their second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship. Under Metil's tutelage, the Hawks currently have the nation's longest home-winning streak, standing at 30-straight won matches at the Hytche Athletic Center.
"We thank Coach Metil for his contributions," said Davidson. "He took the Hawks to new heights and helped us experience unparalleled success in the volleyball program. We wish him the best in his new endeavor."
Last season, Van Norden served as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh under former Hawks head man Toby Rens. The Panthers went 17-14, falling in the Big East Tournament Quarterfinal round.
She was at Coppin State for the 2011 season and South Carolina State from 2007-2010. There, she transformed the Bulldogs from the bottom of the league to a MEAC Championship in 2010. SCSU defeated Delaware State in the title game 3-1, the first MEAC Volleyball title at South Carolina State since 1990. Her team was turned around from 1-7 in league play in 2007 to an impressive 6-2 in 2010.
Van Norden led South Carolina State to a .500 or better record in conference play in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons. She was named the MEAC Coach of the Year in 2008.
"What I learned most from coaching the program at South Carolina State is that it is not about all that you have, but what you do with the opportunity in front of you. I taught discipline and sacrifice to my team and expected everything that they did to reflect the future success that they wanted," Van Norden said.
Prior to her stint at South Carolina State, Van Norden was the head coach at North Carolina A&T for three seasons. She compiled an overall record of 49-52 and was 23-7 in the MEAC and was named the conference Coach of the Year in 2005 after guiding the Aggies to a 9-1 record.
Van Norden began her coaching career at her alma mater Alcorn State.
In three seasons, she posted a record of 71-42 and won two Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Eastern Division titles and made two SWAC Tournament championship match appearances.
Van Norden was a highly decorated student-athlete at Alcorn State where she earned letters in volleyball and track and field. On the volleyball court, she was a two-time All-SWAC selection and was named the pre-season volleyball SWAC Player of the Year in 2000.
On the track, Sylvan-Van Norden was a 2000 USA Track and Field Indoor National Participant and a provisional qualifier in the long jump and the 100-meter hurdles in that same year. She currently owns the school and SWAC record in the heptathlon with 5,071 points.
During her time as a student-athlete she was a member several student organizations including the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, SWAC Student-Athlete Association and the Alcorn State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. A four-year SWAC scholar athlete, Van Norden was a two-time recipient of the NCAA Leadership Award and a recipient of the Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar Athlete Award in 2000.
She earned both her bachelor's in education (2000), and a master's degree in secondary education (2003) from Alcorn State. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and was involved in the NYSP Extended program.
(The Coppin State sports information staff contributed to this release.)
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana collected five Gulf Coast Athletic
Conference Athlete/Performer of the Week awards Monday: Catherine Fakler in
women's outdoor track, Devinn Rolland in women's outdoor field, Christopher
Kennie in men's outdoor field, Amanda Materre in women's tennis and Kyle Montrel
in men's tennis. All were honored for performances from April 1-7.
Fakler, a sophomore from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College
Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, was a double-winner Friday in the
Mississippi College Twilight Invitational at Clinton, Miss. She recorded
personal bests of 4 minutes, 48.87 seconds in the 1,500-meter run and 18:23.24
in the 5,000. This is Fakler's first GCAC weekly award in track after winning
twice in cross country this past fall.
Rolland, a sophomore from Harvey,
La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School, reached the NAIA Championships
A-qualifying standard in the long jump for the fourth time in five meets. She
placed third out of 19 competitors at Mississippi College with a season-best of
5.77 meters (18 feet, 11¼ inches). She also ran the second leg of the 400-meter
relay which placed sixth in 47.99 and reached the NAIA A-standard. This is her
fifth GCAC field award of the season; she's also won the track award
twice.
Kennie, a freshman from New Orleans and a graduate of Holy Cross
High School, earned his second GCAC award after a season-best 7.03 meters (23
feet, 0¾ inches) in the long jump which placed him fifth out of 22 at
Mississippi College. He is the No. 5 NAIA performer in that event this outdoor
season.
Materre, a sophomore from Richmond, Texas, and a graduate of
Westside High School, won her second GCAC award of the season after going 2-0 in
singles and 2-0 in doubles in the Gold Nuggets' dual-match victories against
NAIA No. 2 William Carey and No. 3 Auburn Montgomery. Materre won 6-3, 6-2 on
the road Friday against William Carey's Maja Vuzem, the Intercollegiate Tennis
Association's 22nd-ranked singles player. Materre is ranked 39th.
Montrel, a freshman from Atlanta and a graduate of Southwest Atlanta Christian
Academy, was 2-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles against No. 6 William Carey and
No. 1 Auburn Montgomery. The Gold Rush won 5-4 at Carey, and Montrel's 6-1, 6-4
victory against Robin Semal tied the dual at 4. This is the third time this
season Montrel has won the GCAC award, which matches the conference's season
record set by XU's Terry Richardson in 2009 and tied by XU's Zach Taylor in 2011
and 2012 and teammate Viktor Svoboda a week ago.
Xavier will be the host
school for the GCAC Championships on Saturday at Tad Gormley Stadium in New
Orleans. It's a one-day meet with field events starting at 8:45 a.m. and track
events beginning at 9:30. The XU men's tennis team will conclude its regular
season with an 11 a.m. Sunday dual against Jackson State at the new XU Tennis
Center. The Gold Nuggets have nothing else on their regular-season schedule, but
coach Alan Green said that could change.
GREENBELT, Maryland -- Eleanor Roosevelt senior Emmanuel Matey spent part of spring break discussing his plans for next year with his family, and late in the week, the 6-foot point guard offered an oral commitment to play at Morgan State, accepting his first and only Division I scholarship offer.
With Morgan State Coach Todd Bozeman headed to Atlanta for the Final Four, Matey had to delay his official visit to the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference school last week. But he expects to take the short trip to Baltimore sometime in the next two weeks and make his pledge official when the regular signing period begins on April 17.
Though Matey, who helped the Raiders win the Maryland 4A title last month, had been in contact with Towson, Cornell and American, none of those schools had yet come through with a firm offer.
A transfer who played at McNamara and North County last year, he had several Division II opportunities, but Morgan State stood out from the pack with its recruiting efforts. Bozeman personally attended a handful of Eleanor Roosevelt games, including the Feb. 28 win at DuVal after which he extended the scholarship offer.
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA -- Jason Baytop (Fr./Manchester, Md.) collected three RBIs and four runs to lead Saint Augustine's University to a 13-6 CIAA baseball victory over Lincoln (Pa.) University at Lincoln University Baseball Field on Sunday, April 7, 2013.
The Falcons (25-15 overall) swept the three-game weekend series from the Lions (4-21 overall) to remain in second place in the CIAA. They battle conference leader Winston-Salem State University in a single nine-inning game on Monday, April 8, at USA Baseball Complex in Cary, N.C., at 1 p.m. The Rams are 13-1 in the division and the Falcons are 12-2.
Against Lincoln, Baytop was 2-for-5 at the plate including a home run and double. He also recorded three stolen bases. Both Baytop and Jeremy Wilkins (Sr./Smithfield, N.C.) paced the Falcons with two hits apiece. Ariel Polanco (Sr./Harlem, N.Y.) and Pat Hall (Sr./Virginia Beach, Va.) each added two RBIs while Jamie Scott (Jr./Hampton, Va.), Sterling James (So./New Castle, Del.) and Calvin Butcher (Jr./New Castle, Del.) each scored two runs for the Falcons.
Alex Edwards (Jr./Chicago, Ill.) gained the win after scattering five hits in six innings. He struck out eight batters and walked four to improve to 3-0 on the season. Both Chris Rogers (Sr./Chicago, Ill.) and Daveed Todd (Sr./Chicago, Ill.) pitched in relief in the final three innings to finish off the Lions.
Hall got the Falcons on the scoreboard first with a two-run single which scored Baytop in the first inning. The Lions came back to tie the game 2-2 in the same inning, but Baytop hit an RBI grounder to score James and Scott smacked an RBI double to score Butcher in the second inning. The Lions stayed close early by scoring one run in the second inning to slice the Falcons' lead to 4-3.
The Falcons opened a sizable lead in the fourth inning, scoring five runs for a 9-3 margin. Baytop's RBI double scored James, and both Baytop and Butcher scored on a fielding error. Clarence Peace (Jr./Creedmoor, N.C.) hit an RBI single to score Scott and Wilkins singled in Peace.
The Falcons padded their lead to 11-3 in the fifth inning. Polanco hit a two-run homer to left field that scored him and Baytop. Lincoln scored three runs in the eighth inning, but Ricky Martin (Jr./Raleigh, N.C.) had a sacrifice fly which scored Darren Burks (Jr./Matteson, Ill.) and Baytop hit a solo homer in the ninth for the final score.
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Stillman College is bigger and it's visibly evident.
You can see it along the offensive and defensive lines, in the physical stature of its running backs and the height of its wide receivers.
It's something coach Teddy Keaton is hoping will make them better in the fall, following an ultra-competitive spring game, which the White team won 14-0 against the Blue team, at Stillman Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Keaton and his coaching crew mixed up the squads as evenly as possible in order to get a longer look at players vying to make the fall roster and for the most part he was pleased with the results.
"The majority of the white team on offense was the starting 'O'. The majority of the blue team on defense was the starting defense," Keaton said. "The white defense was the second-string defense and the blue offense was the second-string defense. We're just trying to find that depth. I think our (No.) 1s were solid."
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama State football team wrapped up the first week of spring practice with a controlled, situational practice Saturday morning at Hornet Stadium.
The Hornets ran approximately 70 plays in full pads on the first of four scheduled Saturday practices, which lead into the annual Black and Gold Game Saturday, April 27 at 1 p.m. at The New ASU Stadium.
“It was a good opportunity to see the guys compete and get 70+ plays in to give us something to evaluate,” head coach Reggie Barlow said. “Offensively, we had six explosive plays of 20+ yards. Defensively, we had some guys do some good things, getting to the ball, particularly Lawrence Henderson who had several sacks. Overall, it was a good first week.”
Quarterbacks Daniel Duhart, Arsenio Favor, and Sam Gibson took equal reps running the offense, which worked specifically on down and distance situations – 1st and 10, 2nd and 8, 3rdrd and 12 from various locations on the field.
“You're going to have a lot of those situations in every game,” Barlow said. “The quicker we can adjust our minds to them, the better off we'll be. We were thinking crumb (smaller) blessings today. It wasn't so much about moving the ball up and down the field, but situational. If it's first down, we want to figure out how to make it 2nd and 5. If it's third and 8 and we're on the opponent 30-yard line, we want to figure out how we can get it in field goal range for Bobby Wenzig. So, it's a mindset behind all of it to work those key situations. We know it will come up every week.
The Hornets return to practice Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Hornet Stadium.
and 8, and 3
COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Bragg Memorial Stadium was filled with anticipation up until 2 p.m. on
Saturday. Loyal Rattler fans were wondering if the team could show more promise
in just a short five months since completing a challenging 4-7 campaign.
Players were wondering if they could execute their assignments after just 15
days of practice in a totally new system. Media was curious as to whether FAMU
was making any marked improvements. And finally, head coach Earl Holmes wondered how well the slew of
personnell, concept and program decisions he had made over the five months would
gel. Corporately, the anxiety yielded to excitement as the new-look Rattlers,
from head-to-toe, appear to be moving in the right direction.
In front of about 1,500 people inside Bragg Stadium and hundreds more who
enjoyed the atmosphere from the North end zone parking lot, the Florida A&M
offense and defense displayed portions of their new playbooks and concepts.
On the first series of the game, the offense, under the direction of new
offensive coordinator Quinn Gray, displayed what Holmes had preached all
Spring. The Rattlers pounded the ball between the tackles play after play.
Demont Buice, a redshirt-junior transfer, who began his collegiate playing at
Clemson University, showed why Gray and Holmes were touting his progress since
arriving on campus in January. Several times he plunged in the middle and
carried the pile with him. All Spring Holmes said that the goal was to control
the game by controlling the ball.
“Wherever I played football on a successful team, we’ve always had a big
back. We’ve got that in Demont and we will concentrate our efforts on a solid
running game,” Holmes said. Buice carried the ball 14 times in the scrimmage,
gaining 57 yards. Running backs James Owens and Omaria Albert also combined for
another 50 yards on the ground in 15 carries.
As expected, there were hiccups in the game. Confusion between quarterback
and receivers cost quarterback Damien Fleming an uncharacteristic early
interception, that was picked off by William Small. Small would grab another off of
backup Jerry Caplan later in the game. Fleming would settle in and complete
8-of-14 for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Fleming’s favorite target for the Orange and Green game was tight end Michael Morris, who showed spectacular hands, making
two touchdowns on three catches for 66 yards. Morris had one of the most
thrilling plays of the day as he went up and grabbed a pass out of the air on a
seam route for 35 yards. Dennis Hall and Victor Goins made strides in the
rebuilt receivers corps, making two catches each for 39 and 25 yards
respectively.
Fleming spoke of getting the first test of the 2013 Rattlers out of the way.
“I felt like we did pretty well as an offense. Everybody new we had coming in
and adjusting to the offense. The no huddle and with us (quarterbacks) calling
plays…I believe everybody did pretty well today. There's a lot of playbook
time, a lot of studying and getting out there on our own to get it. Overall I
was just happy to see the guys get it today, not just with us but with the fans
there as well,” Fleming said.
Holmes liked the pace at which the whole team absorbed the new concepts.
“Looking back at it, you're talking about 15 days to prepare for today. We had
some young guys and some older guys, but at the end of the day, you're talking
about learning a new system on offense and some defense and new coaches.
Overall, I'm pleased with it.
Defensively, Smalls stole the show. He not only grabbed the two
interceptions, be he led the team in tackles with five solos and three assists.
He gained 69 yards on his two returns. Curtis Alexander finished with three
solos and three assists. Brandon Denmark and David White finished with four
solo tackles each. Akil Blount also tallied four tackles with three solos and
one assist.
Defensive coordinator Levon Kirkland was encouraged about what he saw on the
field. “When guys put that orange and green on and they step on that field,
when we go 9-on-9 or 7-on-7 or team, it's game speed, so when you get out here
in a game it's not a problem. That's what we're teaching. If we can do the
little things. I was pretty impressed with the guys today…not bad,” Kirkland
said.
All-American kicker Chase Varnadore was his usual efficient self, making
two of three field goals under windy conditions. He nailed field goals of 25
and 44 yards, while just pushing the third attempt to the right. New punter
Colby Blanton, who takes over duties from graduating senior Branden Holdren, made some impressive kicks. Coach
Juan Vasquez says he is developing him in phases.
“Currently we’re working on conditioning him to the technique we want him to
have in the Fall. From now until then, he’ll get adjusted to the speed we need
to him operate at on game days,” Vasquez said. Blanton hit some booming kicks,
averaging 39 yards-per-punt on five kicks for 195 yards and a long of 53
yards.
The old saying says, “Defense wins championships, but offense fills the
seats.” With the background of the head coach and defensive coordinator, you
can expect defense to be solid, which Kirkland echoes. “We've got to recognize
as far as coverages go as fronts go, we have to understand what we're going
against. They got us a little bit on the play-action pass. Basically our
linebackers have to get a little depth and making sure they are checking out the
pass first. When you're aggressive like we're going to be, they're going to try
to play-action pass you to throw you off, so we have to be aware of certain
situations. If we can get that done, we can do some good things,” he said.
Several positives came out of the scrimmage, officially teeing off the Earl Holmes era as head coach. He got his coaches,
he got his offense and he has his dream job. No one is more impressed with the
running back situation than Fleming, who saw some good things out of Buice.
“Buice sticks out. A lot of times we have linebackers come off the edge, but
now it causes them to think. I saw him pick up one of our best linebackers,
Brandon Denmark, and that makes me feel comfortable because if he can do it to
him, he can do it to anybody,” Fleming said.
Overall, the fans got an entertaining game, the media got to ask all of their
questions and the coaches got to see what the players retained. The Orange and
Green Game was played on a chamber of commerce beautiful day, with temperatures
between 65-75 degrees for the duration.
Holmes can now turn his attention from
anxiety to focus on Mississippi Valley State. He has a plan for that date and
the season and it starts now. He concluded, “I think the guys came and played their hearts out and that's what we're
asking them for and they gave us great effort. When it comes to the mistakes, I
think we really improved from last week to this week and that's another positive
step. Now, we've got to shape this thing up and finish strong in the classroom
the rest of the Spring and Summer and get ready for August.
We start Monday
preparing for the Sept.1 game. We'll look at it (film) and we've got some guys
coming in and we've got some calls from some transfer kids that we've signed so
far, so we'll look at it to make sure we get those missing pieces. Overall, I
thought looking back at it, in 15 days with a new coaching staff and a new
mindset, it was not bad. What was pleasing to me was that we really cut down on
the penalties.”
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Bethune-Cookman football team held
its eighth practice of the spring and fifth in full pads with a two-hour workout
Friday afternoon at the Wildcat Practice Fields. The practice extended just over
12 periods with heavy emphasis on offensive and defensive sets.
With the team more than halfway through thBrian Jenkins noticed the increased
intensity on the field during Friday’s practice.
e originally slated 13-practice
schedule of the spring, head coach
The Maroon and Gold spent much of practice focused on both 7-on-7 and
11-on-11 action amongst the first and second team units. Additionally, the
offensive and defensive lines did some individual workouts with their position
coaches.
The Wildcats endured light rain at the start of practice before precipitation
moved out of the area midway through. From that point on, the team worked out in
temperatures ranging from the low-to-mid 60s, while the skies were cloudy and
winds blew in from the ocean less than two miles east of campus at 8-10 mph.
B-CU returns to the Wildcat Practice Fields on Saturday, April 6.
Bethune-Cookman’s 13 spring practices conclude with the annual Spring
Showcase on Saturday, April 20. The time and location for the event should be
finalized early next week. Fans are encouraged to attend the event as it’s free
to the public.
The first edition of the CatEye Network original series First Down
aired Tuesday, April 2, going behind the scenes with the B-CU football team. The series will feature
six episodes throughout the course of spring practice leading into and beyond
the Spring Showcase on April 20.
For the latest information on Bethune-Cookman Football, follow @BCUathletics
on Twitter. Join the conversation for all things related to B-CU Football in
2013 by using the official hashtag #NeverSatisfied in all tweets.
COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Charlotte 49ers’ third game of their inaugural season on September 14 will see them taking on a second FCS team. That team is the Eagles of N.C. Central out of the MEAC, and will be the final game of a three-game home stretch before the Niners hit the road and head to Presbyterian.
N.C. Central Eagles September 14, 2013 McColl-Richardson Field Last year: 6-5 (5-3 MEAC) Head Coach: Henry Frazier III (3rd season)
After a season that saw them bounce back nicely after a 2-9 (1-7 MEAC) showing in 2011, the Eagles hope to carry over some success from 2012. It won’t be easy, though. The good news: Jordan Reid, who threw for 1,594 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, returns for a final year, and he and Matt Goggins should challenge each other for the starting quarterback position.
But leading receiver Geovonie Irvine are gone, as are classmates Decona Roberts and Arthur Goforth (a running back), leaving Marvin Poole as the top returning wideout (yardage-wise) for a less than stellar receiving corps. Goforth’s graduation leaves several questions to be answered as far as the running game is concerned; Andre Clarke, a viable red zone threat (9 TDs) will need to prepare for a greater load this season.
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Claflin University swept a SIAC doubleheader from Fort Valley State at home on Saturday afternoon to improve to 26-12, 16-6 in SIAC play.
Game 1: Claflin 3, Fort Valley State 1
Claflin was led offensively by Alice Boone, 2-4 with an RBI, and Amaris Gilchrease 2-2 with a double. On the mound, it was the Kristin Spearman (11-4) show as the senior pitched a complete-game 3-hitter, striking out 2 Fort Valley State batters. Kierra Johnson took the loss on the mound for Fort Valley State.
Game 2: Claflin 3, Fort Valley State 2
Claflin was led at the plate by Amanda Evans, who went 2-4 with the game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the 7th to score Markea Sheppard, who had a 2-2 day at the plate with a double.
Freshman Erin Lipps (7-2) turned in one of her better performances of the year to pick up the win on the mound for the Lady Panthers, Lipps scattered 6 hits while striking out 8 batters. Ashley Parmer took the loss for Fort Valley State.
COACH ALAN GREEN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's women's tennis team extended its
unbeaten streak against ranked NAIA opponents with a 6-3 victory Saturday
against No. 3 Auburn Montgomery at the new XU Tennis Center.
It was the
third consecutive victory during the past 10 days for the Gold Nuggets (13-7)
against a top-10 opponent. The XU women, who are ranked sixth, are 9-0 this
season against top-25 NAIA opponents.
Auburn Montgomery's men defeated
Xavier 6-3.
The Gold Nuggets took advantage of an AUM team which had
just four available players. AUM's Jade Curtis, the Intercollegiate Tennis
Association's top-ranked NAIA singles player and winner of her last 53 singles
matches, did not play because of an injury. Morgane Zowczak, ranked 34th in
singles, did not play because of illness. AUM forfeits at No. 3 doubles and No.
5 and 6 singles were the result, and Xavier clinched its first-ever tennis
victory against AUM by winning two doubles matches.
"It was a
bittersweet victory," XU coach Alan Green said. "We think we could've matched up
well against AUM if they had a full lineup available. But I think we have proven
to everyone that we have played the toughest schedule in the NAIA and we have
not lost to anyone we played (in the NAIA).
Our team has earned the right to be
considered for No. 1. But it only matters to me if we can finish the season that
way."
Kourtney Howell and Brion Flowers defeated Chanel Cunningham and
Maria Fernanda Vargas 8-4 at No. 1 doubles, then Amanda Materre and Simone-Alyse
Ewell clinched the dual at No. 2 with their 8-2 victory against Tiffany William
and Hagar Caro.
The Nuggets picked up just one more point thereafter in
a match which was played: Materre's 6-3, 6-3 victory against Vargas at No. 3
singles.
The XU women have won five straight and nine of their last 11
duals. AUM is 9-7. The Nuggets were 0-8 against AUM from 2004-12 and never won a
contested match against the Warhawks before Saturday.
The victory also
resulted in a plaque for the Nuggets. Xavier and AUM were the only teams to go
unbeaten during the AUM Invitational in early March, and AUM coach Rolando
Vargas and Green agreed to let Saturday's match decide the championship of that
tournament. Vargas was true to his word and presented the plaque to Green before
departing.
The Gold Rush (11-7) also won two doubles matches — Loic
Didavi and Kyle Montrel defeated Tim Hewitt and Bence Toth 8-4, and Nikita
Soifer and Viktor Svoboda beat Nicolas Pinones-Haltenhoff and Othmane Lalami 8-5
— but managed only one singles victory, Montrel's 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) decision
against Miguel Grifol. Toth clinched for AUM (13-3) with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
decision against Svoboda which snapped Svoboda's nine-match singles win
streak.
The Rush will conclude the regular season with an 11 a.m. home
dual against Jackson State on April 14. The Nuggets have nothing else on their
regular-season schedule, but Green said that could change. Both XU teams will
compete April 19-20 in an NAIA unaffiliated group tournament at Jonesboro, Ga.,
and attempt to earn automatic bids to next month's NAIA National Championship at
Mobile, Ala.
WINSTON-SALEM North Carolina -- The Winston-Salem State University Rams scored two runs in the fourth and four runs in the fifth inning to bust open a close game to defeat the Trojans of Virginia State, 8-1 in game one of a double header at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem, NC.
With the win, the WSSU Rams improve to 29-8 overall and 11-1 in the CIAA, while the Trojans of Virginia State fall to 16-10 overall and 9-4 in the CIAA.
The Rams got on the board in the first inning when Travis Moore started the inning with a bunt single and stole second base, and then stole third base. Levi Grassley singled home Moore on a shot to center field, to gtive WSSU the early 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, Paco Martin started the inning with a walked and would steal both second and third base, before scoring on a Virginia State wild pitch.
Tyler Hickernell's masterful pitching job would keep the Trojans at bay, and WSSU would continue to pound the baseball and score runs.
In the fourth inning, WSSU would plate two more runs, as Travis Moore would reach on an error by the first baseman, and German Reyes would get them both home on a home run to deep left field, to give the Rams a 4-0 advantage.
Virginia State would finally get on the board in the fifth inning on a rbi single by Tyler Coleman, plating Nick Christopher, and cutting the Rams lead to 4-1.
But the WSSU Rams would explode for four run in the bottom half of the fifth, when Levi Grassley doubled down the left field line to start the inning. After an out and two hit batsmen, Brandon Harrison singled to center field scoring Grassley and Conner Andrus. Paco Martin and Brandon Harrison would pull off a double steal before Travis Moore walked to load the bases again. German Reyes grounded out, scoring Martin, and Harrison would eventually score on a wild pitch, to close out the scoring and give the WSSU Rams a 8-1 win.
Levi Grassley led the Rams by going three for four with one run scored and a rbi, while German Reyes was the man with the timely at-bat, as he went one for four with one run scored and a game high three runs batted in. Brandon Harrison finished one for two with one run scored and two runs batted in. Travis Moore finished one for two with two runs scored.
Tyler Hickernell (5-4) picked up the win for the Rams, going a complete seven innings, surrendering just three hits and a single unearned run, while striking out six and walking just one batter.
Josh Markins, John McCarty and Corey Grant each finished one for three, and Tyler Coleman picked up the Trojans lone rbi, with Nick Christopher scoring the lone run.
David Fitzpatrick took the loss for Virginia State, going 4.1 innings, giving up seven runs, of which six were earned. He also walked four and struck out three while hitting two batters.
Big Inning Pushes WSSU Past Virginia State Trojans, 4-2 in Game Two Of Double Header
WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- Winston-Salem State's Aaron Jones had two rbi's and Levi Grassley hit his third home run of the season as the Rams scored three third inning runs to take game two of today's double header, 4-2 at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem, NC.
With the win, the WSSU Rams improve to 30-8 overall and 12-1 in the Virginia State Trojans fall to 16-11 overall and 9-5 in the CIAA.
Virginia State scored in the first inning off of two hits and helped out by a WSSU error to put the Rams back on the heels early.
The Trojans Colton Gunn would keep the Rams' hot bats silent for the first two innings, but in the third, the bats came alive and WSSU would plate three runs on two timely hits.
Conner Andrus was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and after a pop out, Brandon Harrison tripled home Andrus with a shot to deep center field to tie the game at 1-1. Travis Moore would be hit by a pitch, and after a strikeout, Moore would steal second base putting runners at second and third with two outs. Aaron Jones would single to center field, scoring both Harrison and Moore to push the Rams out in front 3-1.
WSSU would get a little more breathing room in the fourth inning, when Levi Grassley would lead off the inning with a deep solo blast to left center field.
Virginia State was not done, and tried to claw back with a home run of their own with a shot off the bat of Stephen Brown to bring the score to 4-2.
But the Ram pitchers would shut down the Trojans the rest of the way and WSSU secure their 30th win of the season.
Levi Grassley went one for three with a run scored and one rbi, including a home run, while Aaron Jones went one for two with two rbi's to lead the Rams' hitters. German Reyes and Rafael Gonzalez each were one for three, and Brandon Harrison finished one for two with a run scored and a run batted in.
Four Ram pitchers combined to limit Virginia State to two runs on six hits, with John Markley (2-0) picking up the win and Seth Mahaffey picking up the save (4).
Tyler Coleman and Percy Evans, Jr. each finished two for three, with Evans also picking up an rbi. Nick Christopher went one for three, and Stephen Brown went one for three with a run scored and one rbi. Brown had a solo home run for the Trojans.
Colton Gunn picked up the loss Virginia State, going a complete 6.0 innings, allowing four runs, while striking out six WSSU batters.
The Winston-Salem State University Rams will go for the series sweep Sunday at 1:00pm in a nine inning game at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- After announcing a decision in February to continue a national search for a new Director of Marching and Pep Bands, Florida A&M University will interview two candidates for the position next week.
The search committee will meet with Sylvester Young, a former professor of music at Ohio University, on April 8 and 9. Don Roberts, instrumental music coordinator for Dekalb County School District, will interview on April 9 and 10. All sessions are open to public.
Dr. Sylvester Young, a Florida native, received a bachelor's degree in music education from Florida A&M University in 1969, and in 1986 was recognized as one of that institution's "100 Most Outstanding Graduates." He earned his master's degree in music from Bowling Green State University in 1973.
Young completed all course work for the Ph.D. program in music education at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. While at Missouri, he performed in select ensembles, including the famous MOSSPAC Symphony (Missouri Symphony Society Performing Arts Center). Young has also taught music in several states, including South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, and Virginia where he conducted the Hampton University Marching "Force," a 220-piece band.
The Marching 110 was under Young's direction from 1990 through 1996. Currently, Young is a member of the instrumental music education faculty of the Ohio University School of Music.
Don Roberts, Creator and Director
Mr. Don P. Roberts, M.M.ED. served as the Executive Band Consultant for the Twentieth Century Fox
hit movie, “Drumline”. He was responsible for training the actors, writing the precision drills,
rehearsing the band, etc. As the chief band consultant, he played a vital role in the making of
“Drumline” and its success. The movie received national and international acclaim. In 2003, it was
nominated by the NAACP as “Most Outstanding Motion Picture” and also nominated for an
“American Choreography Award” for outstanding achievement in a feature film.
Most recently, Mr. Roberts was appointed as the Associate Producer and Executive Band Consultant
for the ESPNU Television series, “The Battle”, which features some of America’s best Historically
Black College and University (HBCU) Marching Bands. The five series weekly show debuts in the
fall of 2010.
Mr. Roberts also serves as the President and Musical Director of the company, Halftime
Live, which has provided the official drum line for the Atlanta Hawks from 2007-Present, and the
Atlanta Falcons in 2007. The Halftime Live Marching Band was featured on worldwide television as
they performed with Grammy award winning artist, Ne-Yo, as a part of the 2008 National Hockey
League All-Star Game halftime show.
In 2009, Mr. Roberts served as the Musical Director and
Executive Band Consultant for the “Black College Football Xperience” video game by Neriyzed Game
Studios (bcfxgame.com). Mr. Roberts also choreographed the drills and routines for the popular
Nature’s Own Whitewheat Bread commercial, which featured marching bands and debuted during the
2005 Super Bowl.
In 2005, Mr. Roberts also worked as the Executive Band Consultant on the Missy
Elliot hit song, “Bad Man”, from her album, “The Cookbook”.
Don P. Roberts received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Florida Agricultural
and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida. While at FAMU, he served as drum
major, student conductor, and student arranger in what is considered to be one of the finest band
programs in America.
He received a Master's Degree in Music Education from Jacksonville State
University in Jacksonville, Alabama.
Presently, Mr. Roberts is pursuing a Doctorate Degree in
Administration from Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida.
As an educator, Mr. Roberts has served as the Instrumental Music Coordinator of the DeKalb County
School System (26th largest school system in America) since 1996. He served as the Chairman of the Music Department and Director of
Bands at Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur, Georgia from 1990 through 1996. He was
appointed to a dual role from 1998-2004 as DeKalb County Instrumental Music Coordinator and
Southwest DeKalb High School Co-Director of Bands. With the assistance of six chairmen (3 band
and 3 orchestra), Mr. Roberts supervises approximately 100 instrumental music directors, 19 high
schools, 19 middle schools, and 88 elementary schools. There are more than 15,000 students
participating in band and orchestra in DeKalb schools.
Under the guidance of Mr. Roberts, the DeKalb
County School System has one of the largest, most active and innovative music programs in the state
of Georgia. The DeKalb School System was recognized as one of the “Top 100 Communities in Music
Education in America” in 2005 and 2008.
Mr. Roberts' bands (Southwest DeKalb High School and McNair Middle School) received superior
ratings for fifteen consecutive years from the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA). The
Southwest DeKalb High School band was the first African American high school band to ever perform
for the Georgia Music Educators Association Convention in state history (1996). Under Mr. Roberts'
tutelage the band was invited to perform in the 1997 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York
City. The band also recorded the compact discs, "We Rock the House", in 1996 and “Band of the
90’s” in 2000.
One of Mr. Roberts’ greatest accomplishments as a music educator was the Southwest
DeKalb Panthers being the only band in America selected to perform in the Opening Ceremonies of
the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games where he worked with world renown “Super Producers” Kenny
Ortega (High School Musical and This Is It) and Don Mischner (Prince Super Bowl Halftime 2007).
Additionally, he served as Assistant Band Director of the Atlanta Olympic Band, which performed in
the Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games.
His 300 member Panther Marching Band was
also the hero band in the movie, “Drumline”. They have performed all across the United States.
In
2008, Mr. Roberts was recognized by the Dallas Austin Foundation as its 2008 “Maestro of the Year in
Music Education”. He was also recognized as a 2008 Black History Living Legend by Atherton
Elementary School in DeKalb County.
Mr. Roberts has served as a clinician, adjudicator, and arranger for many different organizations
throughout the Southeast. He was Multicultural Chairman for the Georgia Music Educators
Association for four years (1998 – 2001). In addition to his membership in GMEA and Phi Beta Mu
International Bandmaster’s Fraternity, Mr. Roberts is a member of the 100 Black Men of America,
Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Music Educators National
Conference.
He is Co-Founder of Precision Incorporated (Summer Band Camp), Chief Consultant for
the Metro Atlanta Battle of the Bands, and former Executive Producer of DeKalb Schools Television
Show, "Music in Motion".
SALISBURY, NC – Tommy Amaker of Harvard University and James Stinson of Livingstone College (NC) have been named the winners of the third annual Clarence 'Big House' Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year Awards, presented to the top minority college basketball coach in NCAA Division I (Amaker) and II (Stinson). The announcement was made today by Dave Goren, executive director of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association & Hall of Fame.
In the six seasons since taking over as head coach of Harvard's century-old men's basketball program, Amaker has reinvented the Crimson into an Ivy League and regional power. He has directed Harvard to a period of unprecedented prosperity in the form of back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, three consecutive Ivy League championships and four 20-win seasons in a row.
Amaker's 2012-13 Crimson squad—New England's only representative in the NCAA tournament—was the talk of the nation after knocking off third-seeded New Mexico, but his Harvard teams have long been making headlines, with each season bringing more program milestones. Some of the highlights:
112-66 record (.639 win percentage), including an Ivy League-best 90-30 (.750) the last four seasons
54-30 Ivy League record (.642), including an Ivy League-best 45-11 (.804) the last four seasons
First three Ivy League championships in school history (2011, '12, '13)
Consecutive NCAA tournament appearances (2012, '13), including Harvard's first since 1946
Four straight seasons with 20 wins and a postseason appearance
Harvard's first appearance in a major national poll, ranking as high as No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll
The four highest single-season wins totals in program history (26-5 in 2011-12, 23-7 in 2010-11, 21-8 in 2009-10 and 20-10 in 2012-13)
Amaker owns a 288-205 career record: 112-66 at Harvard, 108-84 at Michigan and 68-55 at Seton Hall.
A 1987 graduate of Duke with a bachelor's degree in economics, Amaker was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1987 NBA draft. He is a former member of the board of directors for USA Basketball and was a member of the Men's Collegiate and Men's Senior National Committees with USA Basketball, where he helped select members of the gold-medal-winning 1996 U.S. Olympic team.
Stinson's recently-completed ninth season as head coach at Livingstone was the best in Blue Bears' history. The Blue Bears won their first CIAA Southern Division Championship, set a school record for most wins (22), reached the championship game of the CIAA Tournament, and qualified for their first NCAA Tournament appearance.
In 2010-11, the men's team broke another barrier by winning the CIAA's highest GPA award and advancing to the CIAA championship game for the first time in school history. Stinson was named CIAA Coach of the Year, and former Mayor Susan Kluttz proclaimed March 9, 2011, Livingstone Men's Basketball Day in the City of Salisbury.
Prior to his tenure at Livingstone, Stinson coached at his alma mater, Barber-Scotia College, where he brought much needed discipline and fire to the Barber-Scotia men's basketball program. Stinson organized outreach campus programs, spoke at various churches and gave free basketball clinics. Stinson also spent four years as a NAIA Division I basketball rater.
While at Barber-Scotia College, Stinson led the Sabers to eight 20-win seasons, four regular season championships, three EIAC tournament championships and two NAIA Elite Eight appearances.
Stinson was voted Coach of the Year three times and was a three-time EIAC Top Tournament Coach.
Stinson accepted a basketball scholarship to Barber-Scotia in 1983. He was named All-Conference in the EIAC in 1985-86 and was named to the Dean's list from 1985-1987. He earned his degree in 1987.
The Gaines Awards will be presented as part of the 53rd Annual NSSA Awards Banquet, June 11th, at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC.
CLARENCE E. “BIG HOUSE” GAINES
The Gaines Awards are named for legendary Winston-Salem State University head men's basketball coach Clarence 'Big House' Gaines. During 47 seasons as WSSU's head coach, Gaines's teams won 828 games, including the 1967 NCAA Division Two national championship (the first team from a historically black college or university to do so). A former President of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Gaines was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. He died in 2005.
**Courtesy ofNational Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association & Hall of Fame (NSSA)
