BSU's Iyabode Sodipo Awarded Prestigious Boren Scholarship

Iyabode Oluwaranti Sodipo
Bowie State Women Tennis

BOWIE, Maryland  --   A Bowie State University undergraduate with dreams of becoming an immigration lawyer will travel to her childhood home of Nigeria in the fall to study the Yoruba language, as a recipient of the highly competitive Boren Scholarship.

Iyabode Sodipo, 20, a junior criminal justice major from Baltimore, was selected among hundreds of applicants around the nation as one of 160 students to receive the scholarship. Funded by the National Security Education Program, the award promotes international study in areas critical to U.S. interests. After completing the program, she must work for one year in a national security role with the federal government within three years of graduation.

This summer, Sodipo is enrolled in eight weeks of Yoruba classes at the University of Florida to prepare for international study. In Nigeria, she will immerse herself in the culture by living with a host family and studying the language at the University of Ibadan in the western part of the country. Yoruba is spoken by more than 28 million native speakers worldwide.

An international relations class at Bowie State University exposed her to differences between the U.S. government and laws around the world, but Sodipo has always wanted to work in immigration law and study the traditions of her home country.

“Growing up in a household where my parents and my brother spoke the language made me interested in learning about the language and the culture,” she said. “I know what it feels like to enter a new world and be unfamiliar with the culture or practice. That's why one of my desires is to help those are unable to help themselves due to language barriers. I also believe that the law has the ability to transform societies and strengthen relationships among nations, thus creating a safer world.”

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PV Volleyball Training Camp Underway

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  --  Volleyball training camp started on Saturday for the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers, and coach Alicia Pete is impressed with where her team stands after the first few days of organized practice.

 

Prairie View A&M returns five letter-winners, including starters Charae Caldwell, Kelsey Espinosa and LaKeisha Allen. Each played a pivotal role in the Lady Panthers claiming their fifth-consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship under Pete's direction.  

The roster will be lined with the names of seven newcomers, each of whom a competing in camp for a spot in the starting lineup or as a role player. The first few days of camp, which includes, at times, three practice sessions, have been used to form chemistry between new and returning teammates.

“
Right now I think we are heading in the right direction,” Pete said. “There are still a few glitches that we need to touch up on...Our defense is trying to adjust to the new hitters that we have. We have such a great team this year, and I'm really impressed with what everyone is doing at this point.” 

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TSU Media Day: Asberry Excited about the 2013 Season

HOUSTON, Texas  --  The media got an opportunity to meet some of the 2013 Texas Southern Tigers football team at BBVA Compass Stadium.   Head coach Darrell Asberry introduced his new defensive coordinator Michael Vite and 12 of his players to Houston during TSU Football media day.

Coach Vite talked about coaching against Asberry when he was a player and how they developed a relationship of mutual respect over the years.  "Coach Asberry and I have a long history and the timing was right for me to join him at Texas Southern," said Vite.  "I came here for a mission and that is to help him and the team accomplish his goals."

Vite said he likes what he sees on the field, and they are focused on teaching the guys how to play the game the right way.   He says their game plan is simple.

"We are going to stone the run first and everything else with take care of itself." Vite said. "Eleven guys running to the football, that's the key to our success.  If we have eleven guys running to the football good things will have for us."

Asberry believes good things are ahead for the entire team.   He's loaded with talent, but the depth is the concern.  "We have to practice smart and keep everyone healthy," said Asberry.  "The best thing we did was get 54 guys in summer school and summer workouts.  That's proved invaluable for us since we didn't have spring ball."

The quarterback spot is wide open but Shaw transfer Homer Causey is stepping-up to fill that void.  Freshman Jay Christophe is also making a run.  Coach Asberry says it's too early to tell who will get the starting job but he's pleased with the progress the players are making to this point.

 Overall, Asberry says he is excited about the season.  His team is working hard, the chemistry is developing and the competition level is high.

"If we get to August 31^st healthy, it's going to be exciting on that football field," Asberry said.  "If that happens, we'll let the chips fall where they may."

The Tigers host Prairie View A&M on August 31^st in the Labor Day Classic.  The game will be played at BBVA Compass Stadium at 7:00 pm.


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Delaware State Announces 2013 Athletics Hall of Fame Class

DOVER, Delaware  -- Delaware State University’s all-time leading baseball and softball home run hitters, along with the Hornets’ career-best pass catcher, top the list of new inductees into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

A total of seven former athletes and a coach will be enshrined during a ceremony on Fri., Nov. 1 at the Martin Luther King Student Center on the DSU campus. In addition, Delaware State’s 1956 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association co-champion football team and the school’s 1962 CIAA co-champion baseball team will be honored during the ceremony. The honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the Hornets’ football contest against Howard University the following day (Nov. 2).

The latest DSU Hall-of-Fame class includes baseball standout Scott Martin (2000-03), the Hornets’ all-time leader with 55 home runs and 221 runs batted in. A three-time All-MEAC First Team selection, Martin captured the conference “triple crown” in 2001, topping all league players in home runs (18), RBI (77) and batting average (.432). He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 2003 Major League Baseball draft. Prior to enrolling at Delaware State, Martin was a star player at Middletown (Del.) High School.

The Hornets’ Hall of Fame will also welcome its third softball player. Catrina Ansbach (2004-07), the MEAC’s all-time leader with 44 home runs, is also tops in school history in hits (224), runs batted in (164) and doubles (45). Ansbach was an All-MEAC First Team selection in 2005 and 06, a second-team pick in 2007 and was the league’s Rookie-of-the-Year in 2004. The former Caesar Rodney High School (Del.) star led the Hornets to two MEAC North softball titles and two MEAC Tournament championship game appearances.

The star receiver and head coach of the Hornets’ 2007 MEAC champion football team have also been selected to the school’s hall of fame.

Shaheer McBride (2004-07) is Delaware State’s career leader with 201 receptions and 3,007 receiving yards. McBride also shares the Hornets’ career record with 33 touchdown catches. He’s tied for second in MEAC history in touchdown receptions, fourth in receiving yards and fifth in receptions. McBride was a two-time All-MEAC First Team selection and was the league’s Rookie-of-the-Year in 2004. He was signed by NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles in 2008.

The head coach of Hornets’ 2007 MEAC championship team, Al Lavan, will join McBride in the 2013 DSU Hall of Fame class. Lavan was recognized as the Football Championship Subdivision Region II Coach of the Year and was runner-up for the Eddie Robinson Award for top FCS coach after leading Delaware State to the ’07 MEAC crown, the school’s first in 16 years. That season, the Hornets became the second team in MEAC to post an 8-0 league mark; and set a school record with 10 wins.

The 2013 DSU Hall of Fame class also includes football greats Dwight Williams and Stanley Burris, two-sport star Pedro Swann, Sr.; and basketball standout Paul Newman.

Williams (1967-70) was the top defensive back on the Hornets’ 1970 squad that led all NCAA Division II teams in total defense (103.5 ypg) and rushing defense (-4.9 ypg), which still stands as a national D-II record. He also ranks among the school leaders with 12 career interceptions.

Burris was a two-time All-MEAC and Black College All-America Third Team offensive lineman. A Division I-AA Academic All-America, he was a member of the Hornets’ 1991 MEAC championship team; and helped pave the way to a school-record 730 total yards vs. Morgan State in 1993.

Swann, a baseball and football standout, was Delaware State’s 1970 Male Athlete-of-the-Year. In baseball, he was tops in the CIAA and among the national Division II leaders with a .471 average to help lead the Hornets to a share of the conference championship in 1970. That same year, he was top receiver and punter on the Hornets’ football team.

Newman (1987-91) ranked fifth in DSU men’s basketball history with 1,485 points when he graduated in 1991. He averaged 17 points per game to help lead the Hornets to their first MEAC Tournament championship game appearance in 1991.

The 1956 Delaware State football team was the first in school history to share the CIAA title. That year, the Hornets were 7-1-1 overall and 5-0-1 in the CIAA, outscoring league opponents 208-39. The ’56 Hornets posted five shutouts, including three in a row.

The 1962 Hornet baseball team captured a share of the CIAA championship for the first time in school history. Led by eight .300 hitters, Delaware State was 10-3 overall and 7-2 in the CIAA that year.

2013 Delaware State University Athletic Hall of Fame Class: Catrina Ansbach – Softball Stanley Burris – Football Al Lavan – Coach (Football) Scott Martin – Baseball Shaheer McBride - Football Paul Newman – Basketball Pedro Swann, Sr. – Football, Baseball Dwight Williams – Football

Special Honors

1956 football team

1962 baseball team

 

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Quarterback competition resumes at ASU

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Daniel Duhart returned to practice Monday after a week off for a two-a-day session.

The sophomore quarterback sat out most of last week, as well as Saturday’s scrimmage, as a precautionary measure after colliding with a teammate.

“It bothered me because I like being out here,” Duhart said. “When you have something like that happen — a concussion on a play that’s a freak accident — it did bother me. But I’m glad to be back and ready to go.”

Duhart watched from the sideline Saturday as his chief competition for the starting job, Arsenio Favor, took all of the snaps with the first-team offense in a 76-play scrimmage.

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ASU NOTEBOOK: Ex-Miss. Valley State coach joins ASU staff

ALBANY, Georgia  —  Willie Totten glanced down at his brand new Albany State shirt and looked back up with a smile after Monday’s first full practice of the season.

 

“I like blue,” Totten said. “I’m a (Phi Beta Sigma), so that blue looks really good.”

 

Totten, who was a legend at Mississippi Valley State as both a head coach and player, is starting to grow quite fond of the Rams logo as well.

 

Totten joined the Albany State staff recently as the quarterbacks coach and was on the field Monday for the first time since stepping down as the MVSU head coach in 2009, and he walked away from Day 1 feeling right at home.

 

“Just listening to (the other ASU coaches) and how strongly they believe in this program, it’s a good feeling,” he said. “I did that when I was at Mississippi Valley. I gave Mississippi Valley all I had, but now I am a Ram and I am going to give the Rams all I have.”

 

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Albany State: 'Hard to be a Ram'

ALBANY, Georgia — Sometime between Victor Moli’s first climb up the Albany State sand dunes and Monday morning, he stopped counting.

The footprints left in the dunes just east of ASU’s campus by Moli and his teammates seem endless, especially for the Rams’ captain and star offensive lineman who has forged as big a path as anybody the past three years.

“You can’t count how many times you go up those,” Moli said, glancing to the top of the dune. “Your freshman year, you used to count them, but now you know you have to run a lot. And if you count them, it makes it seem even longer.”

Moli and the Rams kicked off official practices for the 2013 season at 6 a.m., sprinting up and down the daunting dune for 30 minutes. The annual conditioning began in the dark of night with shooting stars streaking across the sky and ended as the sun rose above the horizon.

Mike White, who is entering his 14th season as head coach of the Rams, said it’s a tradition that is decades in the making.

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Year of the Dragon: High hopes for Lane College

JACKSON, Tennessee  --  There are a few things Lane College's football team refuses to be content with. The first issue being last year's performance, and the second being their preseason rankings.

Since head coach Derrick Burroughs' emergence, Lane College has progressed towards a winning tradition. But the Dragons 5-5 finish last year was not what the team aimed for.

The football program understands that last year was a learning experience, and plans on using those blunders to their advantage.


"I think we have to beat people consistently for them to respect us," said coach Burroughs confidently. "No team really scares me. We don't fear anybody."

That high spirit from Coach Burroughs is generated by his venerable defense.  Lane's defensive unit finished last season leading the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in pass defense (5.7 yards per efficiency), while collecting 12 interceptions.

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Official Team Activities Begin for Fayetteville State Broncos

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  -- The 2013 Fayetteville State football team has settled in on campus and has begun official team activities (OTA's) for 108 student-athletes.

Registration for classes, physicals, concussion test, head shots, team meetings and equipment distribution are a few activities on the docket before the acclimation period can begin.

The Broncos will take the field on Thursday morning for their first practice in helmets and shorts. The routine will take a slight change on Saturday with the addition of shoulder pads. Practice will be at full tilt on Monday when the team participates in full gear. The program will conduct a modified two-a-day practice up until classes begin on August 22.

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Football Coach's Association predicted Fayetteville State to finish ninth overall in the conference. The Broncos are now under the helm of first-time head coach Lawrence Kershaw.

Coach Kershaw, a 1995 graduate of Virginia State, took over the program in January. He had the opportunity to evaluate approximately 65 returners during the spring football session.

Noteworthy returnees for the upcoming season are Free Safety Michael Johnson, Running Backs Colon Bailey Jr. and Andre Montgomery, Kicker Antonio Mayo, and Linebacker Marquel Gathers.

Michael Johnson (junior - Raleigh, NC) has recently been named to the Lindy's Sports Magazine All-Division II First Team and the USA College Football Division II Pre-season All-American Team after his 93-tackle (48 solo, 45 assisted) performance in 2012. He led the Broncos defense and ranked fifth in the CIAA in tackles.

Colon Bailey, Jr. (senior - Manteo, NC) was named Pre-season All-CIAA and USA College Football Division II All-American Second Team. He earned All-Conference honors last season after accumulating 1,015 yards of rushing. He finished 38th nationally and was fourth in the conference in rushing yards and touchdowns.

Andre Montgomery (sophomore - Goldsboro, NC) and Marquel Gathers (sophomore - Smithfield, NC) made the 2012 CIAA All-Rookie Team last season.

Antonio Mayo (junior - Jacksonville, NC) was added to the Watch List for the 2013 Fred Mitchell Award; for which he was recognized by twice last season. Mayo ranked second in the CIAA in field goals made.

Fayetteville State will open the season on Saturday, September 7th against Virginia State in Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium. The Trojans will also be under new leadership with Latrell Scott as the head coach.

Season tickets are currently on sale at a discount rate and can be purchased online at FSUBroncos.com or on campus at the university's Ticket Office located in Seabrook Auditorium.

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Meet S.C. State's Bulldogs Defensive Coordinator, Mike White

ORANGEBURG, North Carolina  --  There’s plenty Mike Adams has liked about working for the South Carolina State football team.

Arriving in Orangeburg in 2006 as a secondary coach, the Georgia native quickly moved up the ranks to become firmly entrenched the past five seasons as defensive coordinator. He’s overseen a group which ranked as high as first among Football Championship Subdivision teams in total defense during the 2010 season, produced numerous All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference talent and future NFL draft selections defensive back Phillip Adams and safety Christian Thompson.

Perhaps the best perk for Adams working for the Bulldogs is the staff stability. While this past offseason the offense witnessed an overall change from new hires to current coaches switching position responsibilities, the defensive coaching staff has remained virtually intact since 2009.

“It’s one of the reasons that I love being here,” Adams said. “We were able to keep our staff together and we always keep a good traffic of good players through here on our side. It’s enjoyable.



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Florida A&M College Color Day

Southern's Quinn quick with smile or big plays

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  There are two things you can count on from sophomore wide receiver Willie Quinn when on the football practice fields of the Southern University campus: energy and a smile.

The diminutive receiver has served as a spark in preseason camp, shredding defenders on the field while bringing a child-like enthusiasm to practice every day.

“Willie’s a little kid to us,” senior wide receiver Lee Doss said. “He has a lot of energy. We look to him when we’re down. We look to him when we need energy to pick us up.”

A native of Miami, Florida, Quinn is entering his second year at Southern after sitting out last year with academic issues, losing his first year of eligibility.

However, if Quinn is on pace to graduate as he approaches his senior season, he will regain that lost year of eligibility.

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Adjei's long journey leads to stardom at Delaware State

DOVER, Delaware  -- Delaware State University inside linebacker Ernest Adjei (senior; Woodbridge, Virginia) knows a thing or two about the long road to success. A native of the Republic of Ghana in West Africa, Adjei has developed into one of the top defensive players and scholar-athletes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

After a stellar career at Garfield High School (Virginia), Adjei was forced to sit out his freshman year at Delaware State in 2009 to concentrate on his studies. When eligible to compete in 2010, he was first used an as undersized defensive lineman due to a rash of injuries along the Hornets’ front wall.

Adjei returned to his natural position at linebacker in 2011. That season, he was third on the team with 59 total tackles. His 2011 season was highlighted by a career-high 14 tackles (12 solo) vs. Morgan State.

Last season, Adjei added All-MEAC First Team to his resume’. He earned the honor after finishing seventh in the league with 93 tackles (8.5 pg) while competing in all 11 games. His efforts helped lead the Hornets to a 6-5 overall record in 2012, their first winning season in five years; and a tie for third in the MEAC with a 5-3 mark.

Adjei enters his senior season with 165 career tackles (104 solo) at DSU.

“Ernest is a key to our defense as an inside linebacker because he’s such a smart and physical player,” said Hornet defensive coordinator Mike Ketchum. “We place a great deal of responsibility on him and he works extremely hard as one of our senior leaders. We need another big year from him if we are to have success on defense this season.”

Ernest Adjei

A 2013 preseason All-MEAC First Team selection, Adjei is more focused on team achievements than individual honors heading into the new season.

“We improved a great deal as a defense last season and have high expectations for this year,” he said.

“The key to good defense is communication and we are working hard in camp to get everyone on the same page. Our goal is to be the top defense in the MEAC this season.”

Adjei, a Health Promotion major, has also found success through hard work in the classroom. He has been recognized as a Delaware State University and MEAC scholar-athlete the last two years.

The Hornets continue their 2013 preseason camp with a 2:15 p.m. practice on Tuesday at Alumni Stadium.  The first camp scrimmage is set for Saturday (Aug. 17).

Delaware State kicks-off the 2013 season with the “First State Rivalry” at Delaware on Sep. 7. The contest starts at 3:30 p.m. and will be nationally televised by the NBC Sports Network.

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

Delaware State kicks-off the 2013 season with the “First State Rivalry” at Delaware on Sep. 7. The contest starts at 3:30 p.m. and will be nationally televised by the NBC Sports Network.

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

Delaware State kicks-off the 2013 season with the “First State Rivalry” at Delaware on Sep. 7. The contest starts at 3:30 p.m. and will be nationally televised by the NBC Sports Network.

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

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Day 7 of Preseason Camp: ASU Braves Begin First Day of Two-A-Days

LORMAN, Mississippi  --- The Alcorn State football team resumed practice after taking Sunday off and playing in their first scrimmage on Saturday. The Braves went through their first day of two-a-days to begin week two of preseason camp.

"I think we had a pretty good day in our first day of two-a-days," stated Head Coach Jay Hopson. "It's only the seventh day practice and we still have some areas we need to improve on before the first game of the season."

The Braves will pick it back up tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. as they continue to prep for Edward Waters on Aug. 31st at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.



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Ram Ramblings: Media seminar gives coaches some direction

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- The idea of a media seminar was born after a conversation between Coach Bobby Collins of Winston-Salem State and Leslie Winbush, who is the director of the office of continuing education at WSSU.

While high-profile football and basketball coaches in Division I get plenty of opportunities to learn how to deal with the media, there isn’t much out there for everybody else.

That’s where the two-day “CPR for Coaches” seminar comes into play.

The seminar, which was held this afternoon in Winston-Salem and will continue on Saturday at the Sundance Plaza Hotel, was attended by close to 15 coaches and administrators from around the CIAA and the MEAC.

Running the seminar was Donna Oldham, a communications expert who has worked as the director of communications for Duke Hospital and has been the senior communications manager for Dell Inc.



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A coaching potpouri: FAMU Holmes takes from his former coaches to develop his own style

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Practice was over on the second day of Earl Holmes first preseason camp as head football coach at FAMU. As usual the players gathered in a half circle around their coach for the obligatory speech.

It wasn’t a particularly good workout. Holmes didn’t like the lack of energy he’d seen. Too many players were lagging, he thought.

There wasn’t a single hint he wanted to get their attention by being philosophical. Holmes went right to the heart of the matter.

“This is not a pity party,” he said in tone loud enough to be heard across the practice field. “Don’t feel sorry for yourself because you’re tired. Heck, everybody is tired.”

It wasn’t a much different way than any other coach would have let his players know that they’ve got to try harder. But was coming from a young man who is already showing a coaching style that is very much old school.

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B-CU Wildcats offensive lineman stepping away from football

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Bethune-Cookman All-America offensive tackle Terrance Hackney will sit out the 2013 playing season, announced Monday afternoon by the B-CU Department of Athletics.

“Terrance [Hackney] and I have had several conversations, and we both agree that there are goals bigger than playing football,” said B-CU head coach Brian Jenkins. “We plan on providing him all the assistance needed in achieving his ultimate goal of graduating from Bethune-Cookman University.”

Hackney, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound rising senior from Chapel Hill, N.C., is listed on two 2013 preseason teams, including publications from Phil Steele’s College Football Preview and Lindy’s. Hackney was tabbed to numerous All-America teams following the 2012 campaign, including The Sports Network (Third Team), BSN (First Team) and SBN (First Team), in addition to being paraded as MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year.

“It is our intent to have Terrance remain a student at Bethune-Cookman University,” concluded Jenkins.

Due to privacy laws, B-CU does not publicly release personal information on its students.

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SIAC Releases Official Television Schedule

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference released its official 2013 football television schedule, which includes a record of nine SIAC contest slated to air on three different networks.

The television slate is highlighted by the recent announcement of the SIAC's new right's agreement deal with Bounce TV, the nation's fast-growing and only broadcast television network for African Americans. The network will broadcast five SIAC football games for the 2013 season.

Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS) will televise three games featuring SIAC teams, while ESPNU will broadcast another game, involving a conference team.

"We are very pleased that the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will have an unprecedented number of nine football games televised this fall," said SIAC Commissioner Moore. "I believe the selection of games is a testament to our outstanding brand of football and tremendous fan base."

The television lineup will commence on the opening weekend of the season, as two SIAC football teams will match up against Gulf South Conference opponents. Miles College will kickoff its season Thursday evening, September 5, on the road against North Alabama at 7:30 p.m.(EST) on CSS. On Saturday, September 7, Clark Atlanta University will travel to Livingston, Ala. to face West Alabama at 12 noon (EST), also on CSS. The following week, CSS will feature action from The Nation's Classic game between Morehouse and Howard, Saturday, September 14 at 12 noon (EST).

The SIAC football slate on Bounce TV will start on October 5, when Morehouse College will host rival Clark Atlanta University at B.T. Harvey Stadium for the annual Battle of the AUC at 7 pm. The following Saturday, October 12, the Maroon Tigers will face another rival, Tuskegee University, at the historic A.J. McClung Stadium in Columbus, Georgia for the 78th Annual Tuskegee/Morehouse Classic. Miles College will host SIAC West Division opponent Kentucky State for its homecoming at Albert J. Sloan Alumni Stadium in Fairfield, Alabama on October 19.



The 23rd Annual Fountain City Classic Game between Fort Valley State University and Albany State University will air on Bounce TV, as well as the 2013 SIAC Football Championship Game, played November 16 in Atlanta.

The SIAC television package will conclude on November, 29, when ESPNU will televise the 90th Annual Turkey Day Classic game between Stillman College and Alabama State University at New Hornets Stadium in Montgomery, Ala.



Game times and television Networks are Listed Below:

Thursday, September, 5
Miles at North Alabama, 7:30 p.m. (CSS)
Location: Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence Ala.

Saturday, September 7
Clark Atlanta at North Alabama, 12 noon (CSS)
Location: Tiger Stadium, Livingston, Ala.

Saturday, September 14
Morehouse v. Howards, Nation's Classic, 12 noon (CSS)
Location: RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
**Game will be played on Tape Delay from 9/7**

Saturday, October 5
Clark Atlanta at Morehouse College, 7 p.m. (Bounce TV)
Location: B.T. Harvey Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Saturday, October 12
Morehouse v. Tuskegee, 78th Tuskegee/Morehouse Classic, 2 p.m. (Bounce TV)
Location: AJ McClung Stadium, Columbus, GA

Saturday, October 19
Kentucky State at Miles College, 5 p.m. (Bounce TV)
Location: Albert J. Sloan Stadium, Fairfield, Ala.

Saturday, November 9
Albany State v. Fort Valley State, 23rd Fountain City Classic, 2 p.m. (Bounce TV)
Location: AJ McClung Stadium, Columbus, GA

Saturday, November 16
2013 SIAC Football Championship Game, 7 pm. (Bounce TV)
Location: Atlanta, GA

Saturday, November 28
Stillman v. Alabama State, 90th Turkey Day Classic, 3 p.m. (ESPNU)
Location: Hornets Stadium, Montgomery, Ala.


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Tight ends expect bigger roles in FAMU's offense

Gray installing pro-style offense in 2013
(Courtesy FAMU Athletics)

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Edwin Pata is seldom short on words on the practice field, but when he decided to let the tight ends on FAMU’s football team know their value, he got right to the point.

“I tell them there is nobody out here trying to run-block like you and (also) be a receiver,” Pata said.

Pata wasn’t just trying to amp up his small group of players. He wanted them to realize that they will be getting more touches now that offensive coordinator Quinn Gray has turned to a pro-style offense.

The expanded role calls for big, athletic players, and the two Rattlers that are being counted on have size. Senior Michael Etheridge is 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, while third-year sophomore Michael Morris is 6-foot-4, 230 pounds.

Morris and Etheridge said they are eager to get into the mix more often.

“Coach Gray, coming from the NFL, knows that tight ends slip through a whole lot of defenses so he’s put that in the playbook and we have more options now.”

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Trayvon Martin's father named honorary captain of Florida A&M football team

Tracy Martin recently delivered an inspirational speech to the Florida A&M football team.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  — Trayvon Martin’s father has been named honorary captain of the FAMU football team after delivering an inspirational speech to the team Sunday.

Florida A&M coach Earl Holmes said Tracy Martin, whose son’s shooting death in Sanford drew national attention, called him recently and the coach recently invited the grieving father to address his players.

 

“[We] talked and I told him I’d love him to talk to the team. He came out and he was very,  very encouraging,” Holmes said of Tracy Martin. “ . . . [He] got a standing ovation from our guys. He talked about just persevering and told the guys to keep on pushing through the hard times. The message he shared with the kids was very positive and they were very responsive.”  

 

Since George Zimmerman was ...

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TSU Tiger Camp Report: Day Eight

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  The Tennessee State football team opened its second week of fall camp on Monday with a two-hour practice that ended just before noon.

“It was great to come out today, after having yesterday off, and have a crisp practice,” head coach Rod Reed said. “I thought the intensity was high with the defense setting the tone, early. But the offense came back with a couple of big plays, so I’m excited about the energy level shown in today’s practice.”

Most of offense’s big plays came through the air as freshman quarterback Ronald Butler picked apart the TSU secondary for most of the team drills. The Tallahassee, Fla. native looked sharp, hitting receivers all around the field and making the right reads.

Early in the team session, Butler hit senior receiver Devin Wilson with a bomb that went right over the defender’s head and into his target’s arms. The score got the offense going after the defensive front-seven stymied TSU’s running backs early in the drills.

The offense struck again around ten plays later when Butler threaded the needle on a pass to freshman Michael Whitaker that inexplicably missed the outstretched arms of David Van Dyke and Martine Stevenson. Whitaker was left with a clear path to the end zone.

The final score of the day came from a straight go-route in which freshman Lavatiae Kelly beat his man and Butler laid the ball in perfectly down the sideline for a touchdown.

It wasn’t all good for the Tiger’s attack, as the defense held TSU’s backs in check for most of the day and Samquan Evans and Jack Ndem were in the quarterback’s face for much of the morning. Ndem even swatted a ball at the line to the delight of his defensive teammates.

TSU will look to continue to improve tomorrow, as the squad will take on Bethune-Cookman in the John Merritt Classic in just 19 days.

This Week's Practice ScheduleTUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 - 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #9 (FULLWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #10 (FULLTHURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013 - 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #11 (FULLFRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #12 (FULL
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013- 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #13 (FULLMONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2013- 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #14 (FULL)

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Tennessee State Tigers Women Basketball Coach Larry Inman Recaps the Summer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- Tennessee State University head women's basketball coach Larry Joe Inman sat down with TSUTigers.com to recap the summer for the Lady Tiger program.

Inman is going into his second year as head coach of TSU and will return four letter winners while adding nine newcomers into the mix.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Baltimore Ravens: PVAMU's OLB Adrian Hamilton improves chances of winning roster spot

Adrian Hamilton
 Prairie View A&M University
 

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  Ravens outside linebacker Adrian Hamilton appears to have played himself back into the mix for a roster spot with his performance during Thursday’s preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.         

During one three-play sequence early in the second quarter, Hamilton pressured Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon on first down, pressured and hit Glennon on second down and then sacked Glennon on third down.

But it was what Hamilton did in addition to generating pressure as a pass rusher that apparently most impressed Ravens coach John Harbaugh.

has been viewed as an intriguing pass rushing prospect since entering the NFL last year, but he’s going to have to show improvement in other areas of his game to win a reserve job with Baltimore.

Thursday appears to have been a positive step.

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Former JSU Receiver Rico Richardson is making a splash with the Kansas City Chiefs

ST. JOSEPH, Missouri — Each year, it seems, a young, unknown free agent receiver makes a splash in the Chiefs training camp and preseason games after the starters are replaced. A couple of years ago, it was Jeremy Horne. Remember Bobby Sippio?

This year’s version is Rico Richardson, an undrafted free agent from Jackson State, whose flapping ponytail and bursts of speed resemble veteran Dexter McCluster.

“When Rico first came in,” McCluster said, “Jon Baldwin asked, ‘Is that your brother?’ But it’s something about the hair.”


WATCH IN 1080p HD, WR Rico Richardson (JSU) #83

Richardson, the Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2012, is a long shot to make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster. But he’s overcome the odds before. Richardson wasn’t highly recruited coming out of Natchez, Miss., but enjoyed a productive career at Jackson State, where he was a big-play receiver.

“I guess it was my size, coming out of high school, coming out of college, I was under the radar,” Richardson said, “but all my life I’ve proven everyone wrong, and showed I could do it, and now I’m here.”



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Ravens lineman Ramon Harewood (Morehouse College) coming off solid preseason game

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Pulling to his right from the left guard position, Ravens offensive lineman Ramon Harewood rocked Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Jonathan Casillas with a block that snapped Casillas' head back.

Casillas was effectively jolted out of the way, creating a large pathway for running back Bernard Pierce to bounce out to the sideline and scoot into the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown run during the Ravens' 44-16 preseason victory Thursday night over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It was a key block for Harewood, a former sixth-round draft pick from Morehouse College who missed time earlier in training camp with swelling in his knee.

After starting four games last season before being replaced in the lineup, Harewood is in a reserve role this season behind left guard Kelechi Osemele and Pro Bowl right guard Marshal Yanda.

"I think I did pretty good," said Harewood, a 6-foot-6, 330-pound Barbados native. "Obviously, it was the first game. They say you get your best improvement from the first game to the second game.

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