Tennessee State Tiger Camp Report: Day 15

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The Tennessee State football team started the third week of fall camp on Monday on the hottest day to date. The heat affected the players early on, but the Tigers persevered to finish a productive session.

“The sun came out for the first time today, and it finally felt like a real camp day,” head coach Rod Reed said. “I thought that the tempo picked up as practice went on and there was good competition between the offense and defense.”

The defense, especially senior defensive end Marquaveus Jackson and junior linebacker Mike West, made some big plays on Monday morning including several stops in the backfield.

On one play early in the team drills, the offense tried to set up a screen play that sucked in the defensive line. Quarterback Holt Claiborne found running back Tevin Spells wide open in the flat, but before he could turn around, West wrapped him up for a big loss.

The practice ended with a simulated overtime session in which quarterback

Ronald Butler threw a perfect pass to Lavatiae Kelly. Kelly located the ball between two defenders, contorted his body and made the back shoulder catch before falling to the turf. He was officially marked down at the one-yard line with a 23-yard gain.

Senior running back Tim Broughton capped off the drive and the day with a touchdown two plays after the big grab.

Big Blue will hold a late practice on Tuesday night from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. It will also serve as a scrimmage between the offense and defense.

This Week's Practice Schedule

TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013- 5:45-7:45 p.m. PRACTICE #15
(FULLWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2013- 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #16
(FULL\THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013- 5:45-7:45 p.m. PRACTICE #17
(FULLFRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013- 8:00-10:00 PRACTICE #18
(FULL) FAN DAY- SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2013- 4:00p.m.
PRACTICE #19(FULL)

 

 COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

High school football preview cover story: A hope for glory days - Past ASU players set sights high as four Montgomery prep head coaches

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- It has been 16 years since a Montgomery public school won a football championship, and 10 years since a team reached the title game.

But the new faces of the Montgomery public school teams plan to change that, and fast.

New hires Lee Carter at Jeff Davis, and C.J. Harris at Sidney Lanier, join G.W. Carver’s Billy Gresham and Robert E. Lee’s Tyrone Rogers as the four leaders of the Montgomery public school teams. But the four share more than a home field. All played at Cramton Bowl when they were at Alabama State.

Even though they are city rivals, all four have a common goal: bring Montgomery football back to the glory days.

“I was excited for those guys getting the opportunity,” Rogers said. “It just makes it more of ...

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The Heritage Sports Radio Network Releases 2013 HBCU Broadcast Schedule

HARTLY, Delaware  --  The Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN) will broadcast plenty of exciting HBCU football games. The broadcasts will be national on Sirius XM Satellite Radio and on local stations across the country.

HSRN 2013 HBCU Football Broadcast Schedule
Date	Game	Site	Time
8/30/13 (Fri)	Morgan State @ Army	West Point, NY	6:00pm (1st Time Army Has Played an HBCU)
8/31/13 (Sat)	North Carolina Central @ Duke	Durham, NC	3:00pm (Bull City Gridiron Classic)
9/1/13 (Sun)	FAMU vs. Mississippi Valley	Orlando, FL	11:45pm (MEAC/SWAC Challenge)
9/1/13 (Sun)	Bethune-Cookman @ Tennessee State	Nashville, TN	6:00pm (John Merritt Classic)
9/7/13 (Sat)	Delaware State @ Delaware	Newark, DE	5:00pm (Rival Game)
*9/14/13 (Sat)	Benedict vs. Virginia State	East Rutherford, NJ	2:00pm (New York Urban League Classic)
*9/14/13 (Sat)	Jackson State vs. Tennessee State	Memphis, TN	6:00pm (Southern Heritage Classic)
9/21/13 (Sat)	Winston-Salem vs. Tuskegee	Cleveland, OH	12:00pm (Cleveland Classic)
9/26/13 (Thu)	Howard @ N.C.A&T	Greensboro, NC	6:30pm (MEAC Match Up)
9/28/13 (Sat)	Fayetteville State vs. Elizabeth City State	Rocky Mount, NC	3:00pm (Down East Classic)
9/28/13 (Sat)	Jackson State @ Southern	Baton Rouge, LA	6:00pm (Battle of the Big Cats)
*10/5/13 (Sat)	N.C. A&T vs. South Carolina State	Atlanta, GA	3:00pm (Atlanta Football Classic)
10/10/13 (Thu)	S.C. State @ NCCU	Durham, NC	6:30pm (MEAC Match-Up)
*10/12/13 (Sat)	Morehouse vs. Tuskegee	Columbus, GA	1:00pm (Morehouse/Tuskegee Classic)
10/12/13 (Sat)	Texas Southern @ Arkansas Pine Bluff	Pine Bluff, AK	6:00pm (Conaway Cup Presentation)
10/19/13 (Sat)	Morgan State @ North Carolina Central	Durham, NC	1:00pm (NCCU Homecoming)
10/24/13 (Thu)	Lane @ Miles	Birmingham, AL	6:00pm (SIAC Encounter)
*10/26/13 (Sat)	Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M	Birmingham, AL	2:30pm (Magic City Classic)
11/2/13 (Sat)	Shaw @ WSSU	Winston-Salem, NC	12:30pm (CIAA Match-Up-1-Thousand Horns Classic)
11/9/13 (Sat)	Albany State vs. Ft. Valley State	Columbus, GA	1:00pm (Fountain City Classic)
11/14/13 (Thu)	Morgan State @ S.C. State	Orangeburg, SC	6:30pm (MEAC Battle)
11/16/13 (Sat)	CIAA Championship Game	Winston-Salem, NC	TBA (Conference Championship)
11/16/13 (Sat)	SIAC Championship Game	Atlanta, GA	6:00pm (Conference Championship)
*11/23/13 (Sat)	FAMU vs. Bethune-Cookman	Orlando, FL	TBA (Florida Blue Florida Classic)
11/28/13 (Thu)	Stillman @ Alabama State	Montgomery, AL	1:00pm (Turkey Day Classic)
*11/30/13 (Sat)	Southern vs. Grambling	New Orleans, LA	1:30pm (Bayou Classic)
12/7/13 (Sat)	SWAC Championship Game	Houston, TX	12:00pm

All times are (EST) 

Schedule is Subject to Change

Kameron Smith, former WSSU QB, signs with German team

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Quarterback Kam Smith, the career passing leader at Winston-Salem State, has signed to play for the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes of the German Football League.
         
Smith was a three-year starter for the Rams and last season led them to a school-best 14-1 finish, but he admitted that he didn’t know if he would ever play again.

"I really miss it,” Smith said by telephone on Friday night, “but now I get to put the pads on again.”

Smith left Sunday for Germany and will play Saturday in the Hurricanes’ final regular-season game.

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NOTE:  Smith received the 2012 Doug Williams Black College Offensive Player of the Year, 2012 Pigskin Club Offensive Player of the Year, 2012 CIAA Offensive Player of the Year/1st team All Conference, 2012 Don Hansen D2 football Gazette 2nd Team All Super Region 1, 2012 BoxToRow Offensive Player of the Year/1st team All American and 2012 AP Little America d2 2nd Team All American, amongst many other awards, during his elite career at Winston-Salem State University.  Smith joined the Rams in the spring of 2010, after playing a season at the U.S. Naval Academy where he spent two seasons with the Midshipmen. 

As John Dell, beat writer for the Winston-Salem Journal stated in December 2012, "all Smith did was go 31-4 as a starter and throw for 7,540 yards with an incredible 96 touchdown passes." No doubt, Kam Smith raised the bar very high for future Ram quarterbacks in both the classroom (Economics major) and playing field.

Florida A&M Rattlers' offensive line makes its push

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Offensive line coach Edwin Pata came into preseason camp with FAMU looking for five good men.

After two weeks, he thinks his need is met with a solid pool of backups.

“The good thing about this is now we are able to build depth and that’s positive,” Pata said.

“They’re getting reps and we can keep the same chemistry so in case we have to play a young guy we can have confidence in playing him.”

Pata is trying to establish an offensive line that he hopes will be more effective than it was last season, when quarterback Damien Fleming and his backup Tyler Bass were sacked 31 times.

While there were enough reasons to go around over the lack of offensive production last year when FAMU finished 4-7, the line took some pretty good hits.



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Hampton University Sailing Releases Fall Schedule

THE HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SAILING FLEET
(Courtesy Hampton University Athletics)

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton University head sailing coach Alessandro Ambrosi released the program's fall 2013 schedule on Friday, a slate that includes one home regatta.

Ambrosi is entering his fifth season with the program.

The Pirates will open the season on Sept. 14-15 with a pair of regattas: the Navy Radial Open in Annapolis, Maryland and the Old Dominion Riley Open in Norfolk, Virginia. Hampton will then host its lone regatta of the fall, the Edward Teach Memorial at Strawberry Banks on Sept. 21-22.

The Faye Bennett MAISA Women's Singlehanded will be held in Annapolis, Maryland on September 28-29, as will the William & Mary Colony Cup in Williamsburg, Virginia. Giuditta Di Laghi finished seventh in the Faye Bennett MAISA Women's Singlehanded last season.

The Pirates will be in St. Mary's City, Maryland on Oct. 5-6 for the South #1 Regatta hosted by Saint Mary's College, before heading to Alexandria, Virginia on Oct. 12-13 for the South #2 hosted by Georgetown University.

Hampton will be in Newport News, Virginia on October 26-27 for The Webb Open hosted by Christopher Newport University, and the War Memorial will be held Nov. 2-3 in Norfolk, Virginia.

The fall schedule will wrap up on November 8-10 with the Women's Singlehanded Nationals in Newport, Rhode Island.

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

Fall 2013 Sailing Schedule

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY PIRATES SPORTS INFORMATION

Defense dominates in GSU scrimmage

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — The offense found a little bit of running room in Saturday’s scrimmage, but junior quarterback D.J. Williams summed up the performance — “the defense dominated.”

“They came out and played fast football, flew to the ball, and made a lot of plays on our side of the football,” Williams said. “We can’t have that as an offense — tackles for loss, sacks and bad decisions by me.”

The defense forced only one turnover compared to the first scrimmage, but the first and second teams allowed fewer yards and first downs.

The defensive line supplied plenty of pressure, accounting for the majority of the team’s nine sacks. Quarterbacks wore no-contact jerseys and were whistled down upon contact.



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WSSU’s Carlos Fields Jr Named Preseason First Team All-America; Top Returning Linebacker In DII



CARLOS FIELDS, Jr.
(Courtesy WSSU Rams Athletics)

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State University senior linebacker, Carlos Fields Jr, has been named preseason first team Division II All-America by Phil Steele's College Football Preview.

This is another preseason honor for the Henderson, NC native and 2012 CIAA Defensive Player of the Year, as he was also recently tabbed first team HBCU All-America by Boxtorow.com, and was selected for the second consecutive season as a preseason first team All-CIAA selection.

Nate Hartung joins Fields on the team, as he was selected to the third team offensive line and defensive tackle, Donnie Owens, was selected to the fourth team. Offensive lineman, Chris Beardon, who has also been tabbed as a preseason selection on the fourth team, is sitting out this season after being diagnosed with lupus during the offseason.

Carlos Fields Jr (6-2, 235, Sr, Henderson, NC) was also selected by Phil Steele's College Football Preview as the top returning linebacker in NCAA Division II football. Nate Hartung (6-2, 380, Butler, PA) was tabbed as the fourth best retuning offensive guard, while Donnie Owens (6-3, 295, Sr, Fayetteville, NC) was ranked as the seventh best returning defensive tackle.

The Rams will open their season on a Thursday night at UNC Pembroke on Sept. 5 at 8 p.m.

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU’s Daren Hart Named to East Carolina All-Time Defensive Team

COACH DAREN HART
WINSTON-SALEM STATE FOOTBALL

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State University assistant football coach, Daren Hart, has been named to the East Carolina University All-Time Defensive Team as named by the fans as during a recent vote celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Daren Hart was selected to the All-Time Defensive second team as a defensive back.

Hart was a four-year letter winner and a three-time All-South Independent selection (1993-95). He earned second-team freshman All-America honors by Pro Football News and was named Defensive Most Valuable Player of the 1995 St. Jude Liberty Bowl, where he returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown. Hart was selected as a 1996 USA Today Player-of-the-Week for his 13 tackle, one sack and one interception performance against national football power Miami (FL).

Daren Hart is in his fourth season as a member of the Winston-Salem State University football coaching staff where he focuses on leading the safeties in the defensive backfield. Hart's arrival at WSSU was a homecoming of sorts, as he returned to the city of Winston-Salem where he played his high school football at nearby Carver High School.

"I am so honored that the fans of East Carolina noticed my career", says Daren Hart. "It was definitely some of the best years of my life."

"I like to coach with the same passion that I played with, and so far it has helped me develop some pretty good players. Thanks again for all the support and I hope to continue my rise to the top", added Hart.

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida A&M Rattler Fans Have Reason to Be Excited

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  It was the first full scrimmage by the 2013 FAMU Rattler football team on this, a rainy day. Before the rain started you could hear the Marching 100 practicing a quarter mile away. That might not seem important, but if you have grown up around Rattler Nation then you know that when performing at its best the band can be heard miles away. Given the smaller size of the band there is a concern about them sounding like a tinker toy. Not to worry! They haven’t created that earth-quaking sound just yet, but you will be able to hear them in the nosebleed section.

Yesterday, It seemed like everybody was on the field practicing, the players, referees, trainers in training, coaches, they were all there; so much so that a fan was heard asking “where is the band?” One strange gentlemen in a University of Georgia jersey paced around the practice area as if he was exercising. If he was there to support the team then someone please get him a Rattler jersey. Otherwise, if he is a spy for some other team then he shouldn’t be so obvious.

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Week 1: FAMU's "The Marching 100"

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- A total of 325 student musicians have auditioned for the 2013 band. The institution's certification process continues as does the rigors of returning Florida A&M University's Incomparable Marching 100 to its future days of glory.

Texas College holds intrasquad scrimmage

TYLER, Texas  --  The Texas College Steers will be opening eyes in the Central States Football League in the 2013 season.

Sound a bit improbable after a 2-7 year last season? Those two wins were more than Texas College had in the past two seasons combined.

The Texas College intrasquad scrimmage started to answer several questions.

“It’s a new year and it’s time to represent, show people that things are changing and how we do things at Texas College,” yelled Luis Castro, a projected defensive end starter from Gilmer, as the defense huddled just before the scrimmage started. “We are going to set the pace.”

Castro and his Gilmer teammate, defensive back Jeremey McMillan, were a few of local East Texans making big plays in the 15-play scrimmage. After a break, the Steers played a 15-minute quarter with a steady flow of replacements getting a look from the coaches.

Langston University got the preseason nod for the Red River Athletic Conference title and Texas College was voted in for a third-place finish.

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ASU's Crowell keeps his sights on NFL dream

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Former Georgia tailback Isaiah Crowell’s dream of playing in the NFL is still very much alive.

The 2011 SEC freshman of the year said he has put his off-field troubles behind him and is now comfortable at Alabama State.
 But his allegiance to the team where he briefly starred hasn’t changed since his dismissal from the Bulldogs in June 2012 following an arrest on felony weapons charges. Crowell said he’s still friends with ex-teammates, including his backfield successors Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, and has high hopes for the fifth-ranked Bulldogs -- and for his own Football Championship Subdivision Hornets. “I watch them ... CONTINUE READING

Clark Atlanta University Football Tickets are on SALE NOW

ATLANTA, Georgia  --  Are you ready some FOOTBALL???

Tickets for the Clark Atlanta University 2013 football season are on SALE NOW.

Individual and season tickets are $10 for each game except HOMECOMING which is $25. Season ticket packages are available in three levels this season and all include one (1) admission to all six (6) HOME games at Panther Stadium including HOMECOMING.

The RED level ($100) consists of a Panther Pride T-Shirt and parking pass while the BLACK level ($125) includes everything in the RED package with the addition of reserved seating at Panther Stadium throughout the season and one ticket to the CAU v. Southern University game in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

With the PANTHER level, two RED level packages can be purchased at a discounted price of $175, which is a $25 savings. Group rates are available for individual tickets at a group rate of $5 per ticket and all tickets must be purchased at the same time. Individual and season tickets must be purchased with cash, money order or cashier's check (made payable to CAU Athletics) through the main athletic office (located in Epps Gymnasium) prior to game day or at the ticket gate on game day.

For more information about season tickets, please CLICK HERE or call 404-880-8123 for all other ticket inquiries. BE A PANTHER FAN!!!

COURTESY CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Creekside High football player dies after being injured

High school football player dies after scrimmage: The Fulton County Medical Examiner determined 16-year-old De'Antre Turman died from a neck fracture sustained while tackling a receiver during Friday night's game.

COLLEGE PARK, Georgia  -- A Creekside High School football player has died after being injured in a scrimmage Friday night.

De’Antre Turman, an 11th grader and cornerback for the Seminoles, died after being hurt on the Banneker High School field in College Park, the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed on Saturday.

Turman, 16, died of a broken neck later Friday night at Grady Memorial Hospital. The Medical Examiner’s Office said Turman’s death resulted from his neck vertebrae being broken “due to blunt force trauma.”

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of this student,” Fulton County school system spokeswoman Samantha Evans said.

“This is a truly horrific way to begin a school year.”
 
Turman was one of the state’s top prospects for the 2015 class. Many colleges had planned on evaluating him this season. He got his first major-college scholarship offer in June from Kentucky.  

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Southern offense stepping up

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  The Southern football team convened on the practice fields Saturday morning to conduct its final intrasquad scrimmage — and to hopefully put a stamp on what has been a long, grueling and hot preseason camp.

In the time between last week’s scrimmage and Saturday, the offense displayed signs of significant progress in moving the ball effectively against the first-team defense.

Unofficially, quarterback Dray Joseph completed 19 of 28 passes for 157 yards to go along with an interception and a touchdown.

Sophomore wide receiver Willie Quinn continued to shine in camp. He led the receiving corps with four catches for 47 yards — including a 35-yard touchdown play, on which he ran a 5-yard hitch route, caught the ball, made two defenders miss and scampered down the sideline for the score.

“That’s the type of things we are going to need out of Willie,” Joseph said. “We need for him to be explosive.”

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SU Jaguars’ Williams happy to be back on field after scare

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  No player wants to be on the sideline. And certainly not on the brink of a senior season. And definitely not with the frightening thought of not knowing that the season could somehow be off the table.

Yet that’s where Southern senior cornerback Virgil Williams found himself little more than a week ago.

A bout of heat exhaustion led to dehydration, a diagnosis of a kidney infection and, fortunately as the situation played out, just the lost time during the feisty, 5-foot-9 cornerback’s final preseason camp.



“I was definitely scared,” Williams said. “The injury came, and it was really close to the season opener. And not just the season opener, but I didn’t know if I would have to get surgery or just sit out for a year. So I just prayed every night, stayed positive and believed that I would be better.”

Being positive is what Williams — with all 5-feet-9 of him setting the tone — and his secondary mates are all about.

First, Williams said his teammates supported him. Meanwhile, Williams saw his injury as a window of opportunity for newer players and liked how his teammates would rather support each other than focus on taking spots.

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Jackson State ready to defend SWAC East Division title

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  In the unpredictable Southwestern Athletic Conference, Jackson State has been one of the few consistently successful programs.

Eighth-year coach Rick Comegy says he feels "really good about this year's team" and sees no reason why that consistency would change.

The Tigers, who are coming off an Eastern Division title last season, return eight starters on offense and another seven on defense.

Returning starting quarterback Clayton Moore, who threw for 1,863 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, is battling freshman LaMontiez Ivy for the starting job. Running backs Tommy Gooden and Rakeem Sims are also back after combining to rush for nearly 1,400 yards last season.

Cornerback Qua Cox was named the SWAC's preseason defensive player of the year after grabbing five interceptions last season.

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Alcorn State tries to continue improvement in Jay Hopson's second season

LORMAN, Mississippi  --  Alcorn State was surprisingly competitive during coach Jay Hopson's first season.

Now the Braves are trying to become a real factor in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division after finishing 4-7 last season.

Alcorn State's trademark under Hopson was a stingy pass defense that gave up just 156 yards per game. The Braves return all four starters in the secondary.

But the Braves struggled badly on offense, averaging just 16 points per game. Hopson hopes another year of learning can help improve production. Quarterback John Gibbs returns after completing just 48.6 percent of his passes for 1,406 yards last season.

Alcorn State has a very tough September schedule, playing the SEC's Mississippi State in the opener before key conference games against Mississippi Valley, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alabama State.

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MVSU looking to rekindle offense to go with stingy defense

ITTA BENA, Mississippi  --  Mississippi Valley coach Karl Morgan is trying to keep his program's newfound momentum.

The fourth-year coach led the Delta Devils to a 5-6 record last season to gain some respect in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Mississippi Valley had a combined 1-20 record in 2010 and 2011.

The Delta Devils return several key players, including preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selections like defensive lineman Robert Simpson, defensive back Kevin Eugene and receiver Julian Stafford.

MVSU had one of the league's best defenses a year ago, but must continue to improve on offense. The Delta Devils were easily the league's worst passing team a year ago and have a three-man race for the job this fall between Patrick Ivy, Carl Davis and Grant Sims.

Here are five things to watch as Mississippi Valley tries to gain on its new momentum:

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A&T reinstates QB Lewis Kindle

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  --  A&T quarterback Lewis Kindle has been reinstated to the football team by athletics director Earl Hilton but will be required to sit out the season opener at Appalachian State at 6 p.m. Sept. 7.

Kindle, who was charged with driving while impaired by campus police on July 5 after blood-alcohol tests measured him three times above the North Carolina limit, also will serve as a speaker for area middle school students about the importance of good decision-making, according to A&T.

The charges against Kindle, considered a first-time offender, have been resolved through a student judicial committee and will result in him performing community service. Kindle had a court date scheduled for Aug. 26.

Kindle's appearances before students are a separate requirement by the athletics department.

Kindle practiced Monday for the first time. Kindle would be eligible to play in A&T's home opener, at 6 p.m. Sept. 14 against Elon.

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B-CU Hoops Announces 2013-14 Schedule

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Four teams that made the 2013 NCAA Tournament are on the 2013-14 Bethune-Cookman Men’s Basketball schedule, announced Friday by head coach Gravelle Craig.

In addition to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opponent North Carolina A&T, the Wildcats will face New Mexico State, who has won consecutive WAC Tournament Championships and made two NCAA Tournament appearances;  Colorado State,  who earned an at-large berth out of the Mountain West; and Akron, the MAC Tournament champion as part of its non-conference slate.

“It’s all about getting ready for March and our conference tournament. The best way to do that is play against teams with tournament experience,” said Craig, who begins his third season as B-CU’s head coach. “It’s a challenging schedule, and it’s one that will help our team improve as the season progresses.”

The New Mexico State and Colorado State games are part of the Colorado State Classic, which will include a stop in Greeley, Colo., with games against the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s (SWAC) Prairie View A&M and host institution Northern Colorado.

That tournament is also the start of a 50-day span between B-CU home games.

After opening the season at home against Trinity Baptist, the Wildcats travel to the University of South Florida on November 12, then return home to play two of their next three (Trinity College, Nov. 19 and FIU, Nov. 21)  in Historic Moore Gymnasium, but won’t play at home again until their MEAC home opener January 11, 2014 against North Carolina A&T.

Included in the 12-game road trip: stops in Ohio (Akron and Youngstown State), Virginia, (A MEAC swing with Norfolk State and Hampton),  Michigan (Detroit Mercy) and Illinois (Northern Illinois), in addition to in-state games against Stetson and North Florida.

“It’s going to be a lot of travel,” Craig said. “Hopefully, it’ll help us come together as a team.”

B-CU advanced to the MEAC Tournament semifinals for the third consecutive year in 2013 after winning the MEAC regular season title in 2011, and appearing in the championship game in 2012.

SCHEDULE NOTES: The team will log approximately 17,763 air miles this season, surpassing the 2010-11 team’s total of 13,956… The Ohio swing will mark the third time in four years the Wildcats have played in the Buckeye State; Four Ohio natives are on the roster, and the Akron game will be a homecoming for junior point guard Ricky Johnson who played at the same St. Vincent-St. Mary HS that produced LeBron James …  B-CU’s last game against a SWAC team was a 68-61 win over Texas Southern in 2009; this will be the first meeting with Prairie View A&M since 1981;  In MEAC play, the Wildcats are 14-10 on the road the past three seasons.

B-CU Men's Basketball - 2013-14 Schedule

COURTESY BETHUNE COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

HU men's basketball benefits from Bahamas trip

HAMPTON, Virginia --  Hampton University basketball's preseason trip to the Bahamas provided all of the benefits coach Ed Joyner Jr. hoped when he scheduled it.

A bridge from the Pirates' run at the end of last season. Evidence of the individual improvement players made over the summer. An early start defining roles for the upcoming season. And, oh yeah, team building and camaraderie.

"Our guys left hugging each other," Joyner said.

The Pirates played three games against Bahamian competition during a recent six-day trip and had 10 practice sessions leading up to the trip. The NCAA permits such international trips once every four years, and Joyner said the makeup of the present roster made for ideal timing.

"We felt that this year it would be more beneficial to us now so that we're not going into the season trying to figure anything out," he said. "We're building off of what we did last year. We thought that we finished strong, and we thought that this would be a perfect time to take a trip, to build off of what we did last year."

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Fort Valley State’s quarterback competition is crowded

FORT VALLEY, Georgia  -- The preseason at Fort Valley State has a familiar question to it: Who’s the quarterback?

Former Peach County, Ohio State and Georgia Southern quarterback Antonio Henton finally got in uniform two years ago only to get injured and miss part of 2011. He finished 2012 seventh in the SIAC in passing efficiency and first in yards (2,604) and touchdowns (20), helping the Wildcats to a division title and trip to the playoffs.

But fifth-year head coach Donald Pittman is back in search mode at the position. Adding to the concerns is the fact that the Wildcats are also basically starting over at wideout, a spot that has been fairly strong regardless of the quarterback. Inexperienced veteran Chris Broomfield is back, and freshmen Isaiah Spencer and Michael Eddy have joined the race. A familiar face is in uniform again with the return of Eugene Smith. The Wildcats were 8-2 in 2010, mostly with Smith taking the snaps until a midseason knee injury. CONTINUE READING

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/08/18/2611565/fort-valley-states-quarterback.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/08/18/2611565/fort-valley-states-quarterback.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/08/18/2611565/fort-valley-states-quarterback.html#storylink=cpy

Hampton U's McCorory, U.S. women second-best in 4x400 relay at worlds

MOSCOW, Russia — With international veterans Jessica Beard, Natasha Hastings and Hampton's Francena McCorory in the lineup, Team USA's chances in the women's 4x400 relay final at the track and field world championships on Saturday looked golden.

It was a rookie team member, Ashley Spencer, though, who got the Americans in trouble.



A relay-zone glitch — Spencer, running third leg, cut to the inside lane instead of maintaining her clear path ahead, as she neared McCorory, the Bethel High and Hampton University alumna running anchor. Only problem was that Russia's Kseniya Ryzhova got to the exchange area before Spencer and was able to get the baton off cleanly to Antonina Krivoshapka while McCorory lost critical ground in the process.

McCorory, an Olympic gold medalist in the event and a member of past world championship teams, gave chase but couldn't make up the lost ground. With the big home crowd screaming encouragement to Krivoshapka, McCorory simply couldn't ...

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