S.C. State’s Buddy Pough answers 5 questions

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  Today marks the beginning of the 12th season as South Carolina State head football coach for Buddy Pough. Since taking over the program from the legendary Willie Jeffries in 2001, Pough has posted the second-most wins (88) in his alma mater’s history to go with four Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships and three Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearances.

Despite the success, the disappointment of last year’s 5-6 record stands out as glaring on Pough’s resumé. A season which started with promise ended in disappointment with the first losing campaign under Pough and first for the program since 2000.

A new year saw Pough make various changes from bringing back Joseph Blackwell as offensive line coach and offensive coordinator to shifting around responsibilities for nearly every position on offense. The Bulldogs will also avoid the challenges of traveling long distances for several games last season as 10 of the 12 games this season will take place exclusively within the Carolinas and Georgia.

Pough discussed the changes and upcoming season through a series of questions.

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Bethune-Cookman, Grambling State Football Announce Home-and-Home Series for 2014-15

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida –  Bethune-Cookman and Grambling State announced a future home-and-home football series for 2014-15, renewing an HBCU rivalry that began in 1947.

Bethune-Cookman will host Grambling on Sept. 13, 2014, while the second game will be held on Sept. 12, 2015, with the Wildcats traveling to Grambling, Louisiana.

“We are elevating the non-conference portion of our schedule, and as we complete the schedule for the next few years, it will be sprinkled with opponents from BCS conferences as well as FCS power conferences in our attempt to improve the out-of-conference experience for our student-athletes,” said B-CU Director of Athletics Lynn W. Thompson.

With the addition of the series, Bethune-Cookman’s non-conference schedule for 2014 is nearly complete. One additional game contract is being worked out before the schedule announcement expected in February 2014, with the Wildcats once again playing a 12-game slate. Already on the schedule is another trip to Miami against Florida International University.

The last time the Cats played Grambling State was in 2004 as part of the Proctor & Gamble Ohio Classic in Cincinnati. A crowd of 35,608 saw the Tigers escape by the slimmest of margins, 24-23, with B-CU going on to win its next three games consecutively. Prior to that contest, the two teams played each other regularly, competing against one another four times from 1984-88.  During that span, B-CU traveled to Grambling twice, and the Tigers returned the favor with trips to face B-CU as part of the Gateway Classic in Jacksonville, Florida.

The first game between the two schools occurred on Dec. 6, 1947, as first-year B-CU head coach Rudolph “Bunky” Matthews suffered a 46-7 setback against fifth-year head coach Eddie Robinson of then what was known as Grambling College. The game was played as part of the Lions Bowl in Ruston, La.

“To renew this longtime relationship is great for both institutions and our fans,” continued Thompson. “Doug Williams is fondly remembered by Florida fans for his stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And reverse of that, Brian Jenkins honed is coaching skills at Louisiana-Lafayette. Both coaches were elated to reach this agreement.”

For the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow us on Twitter, @BCUGridIron, and make sure to ‘Like Us’ on Facebook at BCUathletics. Join the conversation for all things related to B-CU Football in 2013 by using the official hashtag #NeverSatisfied in all tweets.

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Alabama State football: Hornets hold first practice today

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State football coach Reggie Barlow welcomed the 2013 version of the Hornets to the Houston Markham Football Complex on Thursday for the start of preseason camp

“It’s really an exciting time to see all of the athletes coming back to campus,” Barlow said. “We are ready to get them through all of things they need to do today and get them out on the field Friday.

Alabama State will hold its first practice at 3:30 p.m. today at old Hornet Stadium. The Hornets are looking to build on last season’s 7-4 campaign which saw them tie for first in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Eastern Division with a 7-2 record. It was the third consecutive season the Hornets have finished tied atop the division.

ASU returns six starters on the offensive side of the ball, which will be the foundation of an offense that led the conference in scoring last season with 353 points. The Hornets return five starters on defense, and has 34 returning lettermen from last season.

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Times set for all 2013 DSU Football Contests

DOVER, Delaware  --  Delaware State University’s 2013 football season opener at the University of Delaware on Sep. 7 has been moved to 3:30 p.m. to accommodate the NBC Sports Network, which will broadcast the game live. This marks the second straight year that the network has scheduled to televise the “Route 1 Rivalry” contest between the state’s two Division I football programs. This will be the fifth meeting the Hornets and Blue Hens. Delaware State is seeking its first win in the series.

Also, Delaware State’s Sep. 14 contest at Towson University will kick-off at 7:30 p.m.

The Hornets will also visit two-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State (Sep. 21) and Savannah State (Sep. 28) in the MEAC opener before playing at home.

The Hornets’ 2013 home opener is Oct. 5 against Bethune-Cookman. Game time is 2:00 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.

Delaware State will welcome Norfolk State to Alumni Stadium for the annual homecoming contest on Oct. 12.

The Hornets will also entertain MEAC rivals Howard (Nov. 2) and Morgan State (Nov. 23) at home.

2013 Delaware State University Football Schedule

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Alabama A&M Football Camp Notes #1

Normal, Alabama – The players have moved in, the physicals have been completed, and most of the paper work has been done.  Now it's time to play some football.

After over 85 players were welcomed on "The Hill" for preseason camp for the fall of 2013 the Bulldogs hit the field looking excited to get some work in.  But sometimes the elements in the Tennessee Valley have other ideas as they were soon exiting the field heading inside due to lighting in the area that did not move out.

Starting his 12^th season at the helm of the A&M program coach Anthony Jones had to make adjustment as the Thursday and Friday practices was just helmets.  Saturday and Sunday will be shells while the Bulldogs start clickin on Monday.

"The first two practices went well, we are getting a lot of work done but it's hard to evaluate people when you have just helmets on," Jones commented.  "The good thing is the guys are starting to pick up plays and defensive schemes. We are throwing a lot at them early and everyone is beginning to understand what we're trying to do."



"We have some good competition across the board and we will see how this thing progresses," Jones continued.

"It's hard to tell who is ready to play football with just helmets on. As we get a little more into this and we start hitting then the guys will start to emerge and we will have a better picture of where we are," Jones said.

A&M will practice on Saturday morning then shoot their team pictures in Louis Crews stadium that afternoon.

Season and single game tickets as well as tailgating spots are available by calling 256-372-4700 or visiting AAMUTIX.com.For more information on A&M Athletics, visit aamusports.com. Fans can also find the Bulldogs on Twitter at @aamubulldogsor on Facebook at Facebook.com/Alabama-AM-Bulldogs.

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Five storylines may determine SCSU’s season

HEAD COACH BUDDY POUGH

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  The 106th preseason camp could not arrive soon enough for the South Carolina State football team.

With players reporting today for the start of practice Saturday at 9:30 a.m., the focus can finally turn away from last year’s 5-6 record. The first losing season in 12 years and first under head coach Buddy Pough prompted various staff changes and a return to the program’s roots in terms of a recommitment to the running game.

Heading into the Aug. 31 season opener at home against Coastal Carolina, the Bulldogs find themselves with more questions than immediate answers. Here are five potential storylines which could play themselves out this year.

1. Aberration or trend?
Not since the 3-8 season of 2000 had a Bulldogs’ team finished under .500. It happened for the first time in the Buddy Pough era as a combination of factors from offensive struggles, a formidable schedule which included two Top 25 Football Bowl Subdivision teams (one of whom in Texas A&M was led by eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel) and hectic travel both in MEAC and non-conference games proved too daunting to overcome.

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SSU gets early start, puts in new offense

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- As the clock struck midnight welcoming a new day in a damp Savannah summer, Earnest Wilson III and his Savannah State Tigers were working to create a new day, and era, in Savannah State football.

Wilson, in his first season as the head coach of the Tigers, began his first full practice at midnight on Thursday. The Tigers enter 2013 off of three straight 1-10 seasons.

Why did he do it?

“I just thought it would be a change of pace for the young men — something fun,” he said Thursday afternoon. “When we got going, we actually enjoyed it. Everyone was saying how fun it was. We wish we had more fans out there to watch it.”

Senior wide receiver Simon Heyward, who was the only Tiger selected to the 2013 MEAC All-Conference first team agreed.

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The History behind "TSU We Run the 90's "

HOUSTON, Texas  -- It wasn't that long ago that a team from what some would consider a small historically black university in Houston started to gain national attention. The following video segment takes an in depth look at the Texas Southern University men's basketball team under the direction of Robert Moreland in the 90's.



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Southern football team takes first step toward season

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  There soon will be all sorts of signs that football is back at Southern.

Coach Dawson Odums will be wearing the sweatshirt he sports every August to make sure he sweats as much as his players.

Quarterback Dray Joseph will be throwing darts to Lee Doss on third-down crossing routes.

A crowd of fans — the same usual faces — will be gathered to watch the Jaguars practice.
“In their spot over there by the tree, right there between the Subway and the practice field,” Odums said.
T
he scene Wednesday was the surest sign yet that football is back: droves of burly young men in T-shirts and shorts toting appliances into their Southern dorm rooms.

On the day before they would hit the practice field for the first time, the Jaguars welcomed 95 players who ...

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Southern notebook: Jaguars have strength in numbers

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana --  Most of the players who checked in Wednesday at Southern didn’t have much catching up to do.

First-year coach Dawson Odums said more than 70 of the 95 players who reported for fall camp were active members of Southern’s conditioning and weight program this summer. Odums said the number was in the 20s last year.

“I’m excited about it,” Odums said. “I think it creates a lot of excitement for our football program and really gives us a chance to create some continuity with all those guys having been here this summer.”

Odums said he believes the increase in participation will show when Southern conducts conditioning tests Thursday morning. Quarterback Dray Joseph said he thinks it will show on game day as well.

“When you get on the field and it’s fourth-and-1 and you see that player that you worked out with all summer, you understand you have been there before and you’re grinding together,” he said. “So let’s get it done.”

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Two Alabama State kickoff times changed

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  In the world of television, everything is subject to change.

 

A pair of Alabama State kickoff times for the 2013 season have been altered to accommodate broadcast schedules. 

 

The Hornets' (7-4, 7-2) Sept. 7th meeting on the road against last year's SWAC runner-up Jackson State (Miss.) has been moved up to 5 p.m. and their tilt at reigning league champion Arkansas-Pine Bluff the following week will get going at 4 p.m., according to a release sent out by the school. 

 

Each of those contests will be shown live on ESPN3 and broadcasted on tape delay at 9:30 p.m. the same day. 

 

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Tennessee State Tigers Set to Open Fall Camp on Aug. 5

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Monday Aug.5 will mark the first day of fall camp for the Tennessee State football team. All practices are scheduled to be held at Hale Stadium and are open to the public.

The first week of practices will run from 6-8 a.m. and the squad will start in just helmets but progress to full pads by the following week on Aug. 12.

Fall camp will kick off the Tigers’ 2013 campaign, a year removed from their most successful season since 2001 (8-3). Despite the team’s success from a year ago, this year’s club feels it still has a lot to prove to get into the National Playoff picture.

TSU was recently pegged to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference and seven Tigers were named to the league’s All-Preseason Team. Included on that list was cornerback Stephen Godbolt III who was also named the conference’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Fall camp will mark the first time that the entire team will be together since spring practices and will serve as the first opportunity for Big Blue’s No. 1 Ranked HBCU recruiting class to back up its distinction.

TSUTigers.com will be providing updates from camp up until the Tigers’ first contest on Sept. 1 in the John Merritt Classic against Bethune-Cookman.

Tentative Fall Practice Schedule (all times a.m. unless otherwise noted):
MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013 - 6:00-8:00  PRACTICE #1 (HELMETS)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2013 - 6:00-8:00  PRACTICE #2 (HELMETS)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2013 - 6:00-8:00 PRACTICE #3 (SHELLS)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2013 - 6:00-8:00 PRACTICE #4 (SHELLS)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 - 6:00-8:00 PRACTICE #5 (SHELLS)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2013 - 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #6 (SHELLS)
MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #8 (FULL)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 - 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #9 (FULL)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #11 (FULL)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013 - 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #12 (FULL)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #14 (FULL)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013 - 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #15 (FULL)
MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #17 (FULL)    
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013 - 5:45-7:45 (P.M.) PRACTICE #19(FULL)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #20 (FULL)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013 - 5:45-7:45 (P.M.) PRACTICE #22 (FULL)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013 - 8:00-10:00 PRACTICE #23 (FULL)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013 - 4:00-6:00 (P.M.) PRACTICE #24 (FULL)



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CLC's College Colors Day set for Aug. 30

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- With the kickoff of the 2013 football season less than a month away, Southern University is encouraging Jaguars fans to pledge their allegiance by supporting the school on Aug. 30 as a part of College Colors Day.

College Colors Day is an annual celebration dedicated to promoting the traditions and spirit that embody the college experience by encouraging fans across America to wear their favorite college or university apparel throughout the day on Friday, August 30.

The Jaguars open its 2013 schedule on College Colors Day against the University of Houston in Reliant Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. and the game will stream live on ESPN 3.

Fans can visit GoJagsGear.com, the official online store for SU athletics, to purchase licensed Jaguar apparel. By downloading a custom designed SU Facebook cover, fans can also display their passion for SU sports on social media.

Southern is scheduled to send weekly College Colors Day reminders to fans via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Since its inception in 2005, College Colors Day has grown rapidly across the country. Thousands of organizations and millions of individuals participate annually by donning their team colors and sharing in the college spirit with friends and colleagues.

Additionally, College Colors Day, which coincides with “back to school” and the kick-off of intercollegiate athletics, strives to advocate higher education through increased public awareness, and celebrates the achievements of colleges and universities, acknowledging their fundamental importance.

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B-CU Wildcats look to defend their MEAC championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  The way Bethune-Cookman coach Brian Jenkins handles interviews might make Bill Belichick envious.

Belichick, the New England Patriots coach, is renowned for employing “coach speak” — the art of answering questions without divulging much pertinent information at all — when dealing with the media.

Jenkins might be better at it.

So, heading into Bethune-Cookman’s first day of fall practice, Jenkins, not surprisingly, was not about to give too much away.

“We will see (what we have),” he said. “Our expectations are that we will have a good football team. And our expectations are that we had a good summer.”

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St. Aug Starts Football Practice On Wednesday, Aug. 7

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  Saint Augustine's University will hold its first football practice of the 2013 season on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at SAU Stadium at 6:30 p.m.

"It's another year and another opportunity to work on what we strive to do each year, which is to play for the CIAA Championship," said Head Coach Michael Costa, who has guided the Falcons to two winning records the past three seasons. "Our goal is to be in Winston-Salem."

The Falcons return 58 players including 14 offensive and defensive starters. They also bring back their placekicker and punter. The returnees and a 36-player recruiting class will report to campus on Monday, Aug. 5.

The Falcons are picked to finish second in the Southern Division and have the third-best team in the CIAA. Two players – defensive end Javarous Faulk (Sr./Macon, Ga.) and linebacker Chaz Robinson (Sr./Hampton, Va.) – were named to the Pre-season All-CIAA Team.

The Falcons, 6-4 overall in 2012, open the regular season at Division I North Carolina Central University on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Durham, N.C. at 2 p.m. The contest is the first of a 10-game schedule for the Falcons, who host Stillman College in their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 21. The slate includes home games against two-time CIAA champion Winston-Salem State University and two-time CIAA runner-up Elizabeth City State University.

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JCSU Lennox Graham Selected to the Coaching Staff for 2013 IAAF World Championships

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  Johnson C. Smith University head men's and women's track and field coach Lennox Graham has been selected to join the coaching staff for the Jamaican National Team at the 2013 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Moscow, Russia. Graham will be working with the Jamaican hurdlers on technique during their preparation.

Graham, in his sixth season with the JCSU program, led the women's team to its highest outdoor national finish in program history in a narrow runner-up finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with 54 team points between just eight entries behind Academy of Art's winning total of 60.

Graham also guided the Golden Bulls to a CIAA Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships title; their second in three seasons (2011, 2013). He has been named USTFCCCA National and CIAA Outdoor Track and Field Women's Coach of the Year this outdoor season. Graham also won coach of the year honors from the USTFCCCA Atlantic Region and CIAA for the women's indoor season.

"This is a great honor and a privilege to join the coaching staff for the (Jamaican) national team," said Graham. "I value this chance to share my knowledge with the athletes, as well as gain coaching experience. This is truly an invaluable professional development opportunity."

Moscow 2013 marks the 14th IAAF World Championship and it will be particularly exciting as it will be exactly a year after the 2012 Summer Games in London have concluded and will provide a timely opportunity for many of those athletes to meet again. The dates of competition have been set from August 10-18, 2013, and main competition will have a one day break in the middle of the schedule.

Senior and 2013 USTFCCCA National Women's Outdoor Track Athlete Danielle Williams (St. Andrew, Jamaica) will be competing in the 100m hurdles (Round 1 - August 16th). Her sister and JCSU alumna Shermaine Williams will also be competing in the same event.

JCSU alumnus Leford Green will also be on hand, competing in the 400m hurdles (Round 1 – August 12th) events.

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St. Aug's Faulk Selected Pre-Season Football All-American

RALEIGH, North Carolina  -- Rising senior Javarous Faulk of Saint Augustine's University was named to the USA College Football Division II Pre-Season All-America Second Team entering the 2013 season. Click HERE to view the USA Pre-Season All-America teams.

This is the third pre-season honor for Faulk, who is considered one of top defensive ends in the nation. A Macon, Ga., native, Faulk was chosen Pre-season Honorable Mention All-American by Beyond Sports Network in June and named to the Pre-season All-CIAA Team in July.

Faulk, who is hearing impaired, is coming off a banner 2012 season. He ranked second in Division II with 1.3 sacks per game. His 13 sacks ranked second in the CIAA and tied a school single-season record.

His outstanding play led to three postseason accolades last season. Faulk was named to the Black College Sports Page All-America Third Team, the Don Hansen All-Super Region One Third Team and the All-CIAA First Team. He was a nominee for the Gene Upshaw Award which goes to the Division II lineman of the year. For his career, Faulk has 17.5 sacks at St. Aug.

SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Detroit Lions release two, including Hampton's Ricardo Silva

ALLEN PARK, Michigan -- The Detroit Lions released safety Ricardo Silva and defensive tackle Spencer Nealy on Thursday morning, signing defensive tackle Xavier Proctor and safety Trevor Coston.

An undrafted rookie out of Hampton in 2011, Silva earned a spot on the Lions practice squad after an impressive preseason. He spent parts of the past two seasons on Detroit's main roster, appearing in 14 games and starting six.

In 2012, Silva tallied 40 tackles and intercepted a pass in the Lions' win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Nealy signed with Detroit at the end of May as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M.

To fill the two roster openings, the Lions added Proctor and Coston, two players who had been previously been with the team.



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Alcorn State's Giles - Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  --  Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame enshrinee and Alcorn State football standout, Jimme Giles, is among six inductees slated to be enshrined in Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame during The 51st annual BanCorpSouth Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Induction.

The weekend of events is slated for August 2-3, highlighted by the induction banquet at the Jackson Hilton on Friday night, August 2, and include activities at the Hall of Fame Museum on Saturday.

Giles, a native of Greenville and a former standout for SWAC and Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer, Marino Casem at Alcorn State, was inducted into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor in 2011.

He was named to the All-Time Tampa Bay Buccaneer team in 2004 and the All-Time NFC Central Division team in 2001. Giles, a tight end, played in 188 NFL games. Giles recorded 350 receptions for 5,084 yards and 41 touchdowns. He was selected and played in four Pro Bowls.

Jimmy Giles speech during his Ring of Honor Ceremony at Buccaneers Throwback game 12/4/2011.

Giles was All-SWAC in football and baseball at Alcorn State for two seasons and was enshrined in the league's Hall of Fame in 2008.

He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1977 in the third round with the 70th overall pick. Giles played with the Buccaneers along side SWAC Hall of Famer and current Grambling State football coach Doug Williams from 1978-1982 before joining the Detroit Lions in 1986 for one season. He closed out his career with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1987-1989

The reception will be held Friday night at the Hilton beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by the banquet at 7 p.m. Saturday’s activities include a meet and greet with Hall of Famers starting at 9:30 followed by the annual Drawdown of Champions, sponsored by Wells Moore Simmons & Hubbard and Puckett Machinery. In addition to the Drawdown, there is a silent auction of sports memorabilia and other items.

All times are central.

With an enshrinement into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Giles will join a long list of SWAC notable and conference Hall of Famers which include: Lemuel “Lem” Barney, Willie Brown, Rober Brazile, Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Willie Totten, W.C. Gorden, Jack Spinks, Jackie Slater, T.B. Ellis and L.C. Greenwood.

More on Jimmie Giles - Giles, Here's to All the Great Memories, and the Pain

 

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Legendary Alcorn Men's Basketball Coach Davey L. Whitney Hospitalized

GULFPORT, Mississippi  --  Former men's head basketball coach, Davey L. Whitney, was hospitalized earlier this week in Gulfport, Mississippi.  Whitney suffered two mild strokes and was rushed to the hospital by his family on Monday afternoon.  Whitney is returned home the same day and doing well.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.

Whitney coached the Braves from 1969 to 1989.  He returned in 1996 and retired in 2003.  He has an overall record of 566 wins and 356 losses.  He coached the Braves to 12 SWAC Championships and five NCAA appearances.

 

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AAMU's Anthony Jones speaking on the 2013 Preseason Camp

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FAMU's Shouppe hustles to beef up roster

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Jamey Shouppe knew he was getting into the recruiting fray a little late to land players to fit the blueprint he outlined two weeks ago when he was named head baseball coach at FAMU.

He set out at warp speed anyway, realizing today would be the cutoff for signing the junior college players that he hoped would give a young Rattlers team some experience. As of Wednesday, he and his assistants were still frantically pushing to fill some of the team’s immediate needs.

The fact that several of the possible targets fell short of academic requirements has made it tough.

“It’s been impossible to basically fill all of our needs,” Shouppe said. “The unfortunate thing is at this stage there are less guys in the pool than we can choose, and (we have) to find the best players that are academically eligible.”

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Former Virginia Union University Women's Basketball Coach Lou Hearn Dies at Age 73

RICHMOND, Virginia -- Lou Hearn, who guided the Virginia Union University women's basketball team to the 1983 National Championship, passed away on Monday, July 29, at the age of 73.

Hearn, who coached the Lady Panthers from 1982-88, compiled a 96-61 record during his time as head coach.

Hearn also coached VUU to a school record 27 wins in 29 games in the 1982-83 season, including a 73-60 win over previously unbeaten Cal Poly-Pomona in the 1983 NCAA Division II Championship Game.

He was preceded in death by his son, Louis Nelson Hearn, II. Surviving are his wife, Andrea C. Hearn; son, Eric A. Hearn (Dionne);two granddaughters, Erin and London Hearn and two brothers, Robert (Ruby) and George Hearn.

Memorial services will held 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, at Garland Avenue Baptist Church, 2700 Garland Ave. Rev. Willie Woddson, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Virginia Union University Women's Basketball Team, 1500 Lombardy St. Richmond, Va., 23220.


VUU Lady Panthers Winning 1983 National Championship

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Former JSU coach Judge Hughes passes away

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  Former Jackson State football coach, Robert “Judge” Hughes passed away this morning following complications of diabetes. Hughes, who has been in and out of the hospital over the last several months, will be remembered by JSU fans as one of the great football players and coaches in the history of Tigers football.

In 1999, Hughes was named as JSU’s 15th head football coach. In his first season, he led the team to a 9-3 record. That season JSU won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division title and played Southern in the Inaugural SWAC Championship game in Birmingham, Alabama. The game was played on December 10 in front of a crowd of 47,621 fans (the largest crowd ever to watch a SWAC championship football game) at Legion Field. The Tigers fell 31-30 in a heartbreaker to the Jaguars.

The following season, Hughes’ Tigers finished with a 7-4 record and matched that 7-4 mark in 2001. 2002 was the final year that Hughes led the Tigers and the team finished with a 7-4 record. During his four year coaching career at JSU, Hughes finished with a 30-15 record (.667 winning percentage).

During his tenure at JSU his teams won a SWAC Eastern Division title, set the NCAA D-IAA (now FCS) record for highest passing efficiency rating in a game (389.9 rating by Mark Washington vs. Alcorn St. in 1999), was named NCAA Rushing Defense Champions (allowing only 67.8 rushing yards per game in 1999), was named NCAA Passing Champions (averaged 344.4 passing yds per game in 2001), set single game passing yards mark (Robert Kent passed for 668 yards against Alabama St.) and was named the NCAA Total Offense Champion (the team averaged 485.5 yards per game in 2002).

As a player, Hughes was named to the JSU All-Century team in 2011 as a defensive lineman. Information regarding funeral services for coach Hughes will be made available upon receipt.

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XU Gold Nuggets announce tryouts, two schedule changes

Xavier in 2012 repeated as GCAC regular-season and tournament champion.

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana women's volleyball coach Hannah Lawing announced Wednesday a date for walk-on tryouts and two changes to her team's 2013 schedule.
    
The Gold Nuggets will conduct tryouts from noon-2 p.m. on Aug. 25 at the Convocation Center for students enrolled at Xavier during the fall 2013 semester. For more information, contact assistant coach Kenneth Marroccoli at (504) 520-5344 or kmarrocc@xula.edu.
    
Lawing said the Nuggets' Sept. 23 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference home match against Tougaloo was moved to Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. Added to the schedule was a 4 p.m. match Oct. 5 against St. Thomas (Texas) at the Convocation Center. It will be one of 10 home matches this season.

The Gold Nuggets will begin their season Aug. 23 with matches against Spring Hill at 2 p.m. and Asbury at 4 p.m. in the UMobile/Spring Hill Tournament at Mobile, Ala. The Gold Nuggets' first home match will start at 1 p.m. on Sept. 14 against GCAC newcomer Voorhees in the Convocation Center.

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