VUU to run the ball more in 2013

RICHMOND, Virginia  -- During the annual Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s football media day in July, an online viewer asked Virginia Union head coach Michael Bailey how VUU’s defense will look now having lost (Andre) Kates.

Bailey answered in part, “Kates is at the Ravens’ camp. The Ravens have to deal with him.”

Kates, a CIAA and second-team all-region player in 2012, was invited to the defending Super Bowl champions’ mini-camp as an undrafted free agent. Defensive end Kentrell Harris (Raiders) and defensive back Brian Smith (Jets) also attended mini-camps, although none of them advanced to training camp.

Forty-three former Panthers have played in the NFL or CFL, most recently two-time All-American David Mims, who is in camp with the Ravens.

CONTINUE READING

2013 SIAC Championship

Bowie State football expects a winning season

BOWIE, Maryland  -- Since Damon Wilson became Bowie State University’s football coach four years ago, he says he has instilled a fierce competitive drive amongst his players. And that mindset has carried over to his players’ dorm rooms — specifically their Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles.

“I’m the best [NCAA 14] player hands down,” said senior quarterback Jared Johnston, who plays with Oregon because he “loves” the Ducks’ zone read option attack. “I mean, I may lose a few games, but I’m the best.”

Redshirt junior running back and Suitland High School graduate Keith Brown has another take on the virtual competition.

“I can’t say who is the best because that may get me in trouble, but I am versatile,” he said with a hearty laugh and smile. Brown, who thinks he would be rated 88 or 89 overall with 91 speed, 90 acceleration and 94 stiff arm ratings in the game, plays with Clemson and Oregon in NCAA and with Washington in Madden. “But I can give you the five best. I’m one of them along with [fellow Suitland graduate and starting linebacker] Antoine Young, Jared’s one, our all-conference defensive back Curtis Pumphrey and our new lineman [Henry A. Wise grad] Anthony [McDaniel].

CONTINUE READING

SWAC moves Soccer Tournament to Houston

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- After announcing its football and basketball championships move to Houston, Texas, the Southwestern Athletic Conference relocated its soccer tournament to the city. The 2013 SWAC Soccer Tournament will be held at the Houston Amateur Sports Park from November 7 – 10.

The announcement was made on the day of the league's press conference formally celebrating its championship campaigns in Houston.

"We are pleased to join with the Houston Amateur Sports Park in moving the soccer championship to the city of Houston, said SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp. The city of Houston has played host to many professional soccer events. The support of the city's soccer fans, businesses and community, coupled with a world-class facility in the Houston Amateur Sports Park, can only result in a tournament with a meaningful experience for our student-athletes."

The Houston Amateur Sports Park is in its second year of operation and the offices at the park opened October 2012. It consists of six fields, five of which are Bermuda grass and one which is turf.

In addition to being the premier park in Houston, it has a seventh field which is the training field for the MLS Houston Dynamo. The facility hosted major tournaments including: Copa Univision, Futbolito, and Copa Alianza.  For a consecutive year, it will welcome back the U.S. Soccer Development Finals.

The Houston Amateur Sports Park fields soccer, football, flag football, lacrosse, field hockey, rugby, and Ultimate Frisbee. It is also the home facility for the University of St. Thomas, Houston Women’s Soccer Association, Houston Football Association, Houston Athletic Rugby Club, Space City Ultimate Frisbee, and the training site for the Houston Aces.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference becomes the first NCAA Division I conference to host its soccer tournament and championship at HASP.

"The Houston Amateur Sports Park is very excited to host the Southwestern Athletic Conference soccer championship," said Adrian Moses, HASP General Manager. "It is our first Division I intercollegiate tournament at the park and we look forward to building a lasting relationship with the conference."

The SWAC held its soccer tournament the past two seasons at the Johnny Downs Soccer Complex in Alexandria, Louisiana.

"We would like to thank the Johnny Downs Soccer Complex for hosting the Southwestern Athletic Conference soccer tournament the past two years," added SWAC Assistant Commissioner for Championships, LaKitha Murray. "Houston Amateur Sports Park is a great facility that will assist us in providing the best championship experience for our student-athletes. Houston has embraced the sport of soccer and we (SWAC) want the fan base to share that experience."

The SWAC's soccer tournament agreement with the Houston Amateur Sports Park is set on a year-to-year basis.

Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), established in 1920, is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., which is comprised of historically black universities in the Southern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for its 18 sports (8 - men, 10 - women) and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

COURTESY SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS

TSU Holds 2013 John Merritt Press Conference

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The Tennessee State athletic department held the John Merritt Press Conference on Thursday morning at LP Field in preparation of Big Blue’s game against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 1.

The event started with Howard Gentry welcoming the crowd of approximately 100 and introducing the emcee of the conference, Hope Hines.

Hines then opened the floor for TSU Director of Athletics Teresa Phillips to speak followed by Bethune-Cookman’s AD Lynn Thompson. The two exchanged playful barbs, but the amount of respect for each other’s program was evident.

Tiger head coach Rod Reed spoke next before BCU’s sports information director Bryan Harvey concluded the conference.

Reed and Thompson were later interviewed by a handful of Nashville’s media members and then lunch was provided by Jack’s BBQ.

The Tigers will square off against the Wildcats on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at LP Field for the first game of the 2013 season.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

JSU Season Tickets Still Available

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  The 2013 Jackson State football season tickets are still available at the JSU Athletic Ticket Office. Season tickets will be available until September 6. Contact the JSU Ticket Office at: 601- 979-2420 for information on any upcoming promotions.




COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU Rams are restocking wide-receivers corps

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  Winston-Salem State lost top receivers Jameze Massey, Jahuann Butler and Jamal Williams to spent eligibility after last season, and one of the coaching staff’s biggest challenges of the preseason has been finding the right replacements.

The three combined for 198 of the team’s 276 catches and 3,300 yards and 39 touchdowns during the run to the Division II championship game.
"We have some guys over there, but they haven’t quite caught on yet," Coach Connell Maynor said this week. "It’s a work in progress, and we’ve got a couple of guys with hamstring and ankle injuries, so that’s slowing us down a little bit."

Senior Tehvyn Brantley (28 catches, 4 touchdowns) will be expected to carry much of the load, but as a 5-8, 178-pound slot receiver, he’ll need help from others who can stretch the field.

CONTINUE READING

NC Central fires head football coach Henry Frazier III after arrest

DURHAM, North Carolina  — N.C. Central University has fired head football coach Henry Frazier III, who was arrested Monday and charged with violating a domestic violence protective order.

“Henry Frazier III’s contract was terminated effective today,” NCCU Athletic Director Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree said Thursday. “The University wants to thank coach Frazier for nearly three years of service to NCCU.”

Frazier was initially suspended with full pay, but his contract has been terminated and he is not entitled to any additional severance or a buyout of his remaining $450,000 for the two years left on his contract, according to the school.

The domestic violence protection order stated Frazier was not to have any contact with his ex-wife, including by phone, email and paper. Frazier’s lawyer has said it was a misunderstanding and that his client was trying to get a note to her saying he would pay for a ticket on their car.

CONTINUE READING  

North Carolina Central fires Frazier, installs Foster as interim head coach

DURHAM, North Carolina  — North Carolina Central University is announcing leadership changes in the Athletics Department's football program. Effective immediately, Henry Frazier III, has been terminated from his position as head football coach. Dwayne Foster, assistant head football coach, will serve as interim head football coach.

The personal issues Coach Frazier is facing have caused the university to shift its focus from the priorities of student-athletes, the Athletics Department and the university. NCCU does not condone alleged conduct or behaviors that are counter to the institution's culture of providing a nurturing environment that supports student learning and academic success.

"As we work through this transition, we will concentrate on the four goals of our athletics department: academic success, competitive success, institutional control and student-athlete well-being," said Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree, NCCU Athletics Director. "I have full confidence in Coach Foster and his abilities to successfully serve as an effective and knowledgeable leader for our students and our football program," said Wicker-McCree.

Foster joined NCCU in 2011 as assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach. Previously, he served as running backs coach at Prairie View A&M University, offensive line coach at Bowie State University and tight ends and running backs coach at Catholic University.

Dr. Debra Saunders-White, NCCU chancellor, said, "At NCCU, our No. 1 priority is student success, and for our student-athletes, we have an obligation to support them both inside the classroom and on the field. Our institution is committed to excellence and high ethical standards for our entire university community, and in particular, our campus leadership."

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former Godby star gets noticed at FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Montavius Williams is playing college football as a wide receiver at FAMU, a dream he thought was shattered twice.

First it was his left knee that required surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Three seasons later, his right knee required surgery because of a similar injury.

“I was wondering if I would play again, but when I got on my feet, I started working again,” said Williams, a former standout wide receiver at Godby. “I felt my feet back under me.”

Williams used them so well that he has earned a backup role, which he’s embracing at FAMU. It’s the reward for his hustle and consistency, said receivers coach Ernie Mills, who saw Williams work out for the first time when preseason camp started three weeks ago.

CONTINUE READING



Transfers could give FAMU Rattlers a big boost

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- FAMU offensive coordinator Quinn Gray didn’t have to say much when he received the phone call from wide receiver Casey Glines.

Glines, a 6-foot-6 junior college transfer from Utah, explained to Gray that he wanted to come play for the Rattlers. And once Gray confirmed that FAMU would have a scholarship waiting, Glines was ready to go.

“That’s all it took,” Gray said Tuesday, explaining how he got the junior college transfer to become a Rattler.

Linebacker Kevin Wilson wanted to transfer in to FAMU because it was closer to his home in Daphne, Ala. The move also was prompted after a coaching change at the University of Houston left him wondering about his football future, he said.

CONTINUE READING

DelState Hornet Fans Gear Up for Season Opener at Delaware

Date: Saturday, September 7, 2013 – 3:30 p.m.

Game will be televised live by NBC Sports Network

Game Time @ 3:30 pm

DSU vs UD Football

Delaware Stadium (Tubby Raymond Field)

DSU Hornets Fan Pride Tent

Saturday, September 7, 2013

University of Delaware

Hospitality Village

(Located off College Ave., near the Bob Carpenter Center)

1:00 – 3:00 pm

Game Time: 3:30 pm

Free admission, food and giveaways while supplies last!

Show your colors…assert your Hornet Pride!
For more information call 302.857.6050

Delaware State expects a big season for Gunter



RODNEY GUNTER



DOVER, Delaware — Kermit Blount has laid down a challenge for defensive lineman Rodney Gunter.

“I think he’s getting to the point where he is ready to dominate this conference,” Delaware State’s football coach said.

Blount makes sure to remind Gunter, a 6-foot-5, 305-pound junior, of that challenge and his lofty goals for him every practice.

“He tries to influence me every day to be great,” Gunter said.

With the Hornets preparing for their opener at Delaware on Sept. 7, Gunter is coming off a season where he finished seventh in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and first on the squad with 0.5 sacks per game (5.5 total).

He led the Hornet defensive line in unassisted tackles (27) and was named to the All-MEAC second team.

Those are impressive numbers, but Gunter and Blount know he has the potential for more.

CONTINUE READING

New signee Rashean Mathis (B-CU) already working with Detroit Lions' first team, replacing Bill Bentley

ALLEN PARK, Michigan -- Rashean Mathis was signed by the Detroit Lions on Friday.

Four days later, the defensive back is working with the first-team defense.

The longtime Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback got his first major reps with the first team on Tuesday at nickelback. He split time there with Bill Bentley, once the clear favorite to win that job.

He also has repped at corner and especially safety, providing a veteran versatility that could help him land a spot on the 53-man roster.

"We value versatility," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "He's a very experienced player and a very savvy player. It showed in his ability to pick things up quickly and be able to get him on the field."

Mathis was a standout safety at Bethune-Cookman, and played the position for 10 games as a rookie with the Jaguars before an injury to another player forced him to corner.

He found a home there, playing 10 years for the Jaguars and making one Pro Bowl in 2006.

CONTINUE READING

Le Bon Temps Bar and Grill to host The SU Jaguar Football Show

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Le Bon Temps Bar and Grill is the new home for The Jaguar Football Show with Coach Dawson Odums this fall. The show will air on three Cox cable channels, Southern University announced Monday.

The Jaguar Football Show with Coach Dawson Odums will recap the Jaguars’ highlights from their previous game, have player interviews, and will look ahead to the team’s next scheduled contest.

Fans are encouraged to visit Le Bon Temps in the Panache Plaza located at 8342 Perkins Road for the show’s live taping at 7 p.m. on Monday evenings.

Hosted by Todd Sterling, and produced by Alpha Media and Pelican Sports, the show will air for 15 weeks this fall starting Aug. 26 on Monday nights at 9 p.m. on Cox 4. A replay will be shown on Pelican Sports, Cox channel 113, at 9:30 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, and on Thursdays at 8 p.m. The show will also be streamed live on PelicanSportsTV.com during airings on the Pelican Sports channel.

The Jaguar Football Show with Coach Dawson Odums will also replay Wednesday’s at 5:30pm on Cox Sports Television (CST), Cox channel 37, and Saturday's on Cox 4 at 5pm baring a previously schedule football game. Lastly, you can catch the show on the Alpha Media – You Tube Channel.

“Producing the show has a been a labor of love,” said host and producer Todd Sterling. “We’ve had the pleasure of producing the coach’s show for 18 years now, and it never ceases to amaze me how much people, including women, love football, and SU Football in particular."

"We’re looking for a great year from Coach Odums and the Jaguars, and we’ll be along to show all the best plays and hear what Coach Odums and the players have to say about the 2013 season.”

Offering a unique twist on the Ameican sports bar featuring upscale Louisiana cuisine and a modern classy atmosphere, Le Bon Temps Bar and Grill will serve as the perfect compliment to a SU football program eager to establish a new era of winning football.

"We're not the typical sports bar," said Mike Sylvester, owner of Le Bon Temp bar and grill. "We are an upscale sports bar that aims to seperate itself from the other restaurants. "We have excellent service and wonderful food and are looking forward to this partnership with The Jaguar Football Show blossoming."

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Tiger Camp Report: Day 17

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State football team hit Hale Stadium on Wednesday morning in what turned out to be the hottest day of fall camp yet.

“I thought we fought through the heat a lot better than we did on Monday morning,” head coach Rod Reed said. “We have to continue to fight and guys have to get better every day regardless of the temperature.”

With starting linebackers Nick Thrasher and Wilson Robinson sitting out with minor injuries, junior Mike West took it upon himself to step up and the coaching staff took notice.



“Mike West was definitely one of the top guys out there on defense today. He was making a lot of great plays with some of the others banged up,” Reed said.

Notables from the defense also included senior safety David Van Dyke who hauled in a nice interception during the full team activities.

The offense, by and large, practiced against the second-team defense. The coaches also wanted to limit the hits, so ball carriers were ruled down when wrapped up by a defender.

The practice squad players also ran Bethune-Cookman’s offense and defense to prepare Big Blue as to what they might see come Sept. 1 at the John Merritt Classic.

This Week's Practice Schedule
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013- 5:45-7:45 p.m.
PRACTICE #17 (FULL)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013- 8:00-10:00
PRACTICE #18 (FULL)

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Comegy pleased with JSU Tigers progression

Southern’s Dawson Odums is seeking that killer instinct

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Maybe it’s fitting that the Southern football team will open its 2013 season on a Friday. Too bad it’s not Friday the 13th.

To relate a camplong message, coach Dawson Odums reached into the wayback machine and pulled out the villain from a famous 1980s horror franchise.

“He told us he needed a bunch of Jasons on defense and to be relentless,” Southern defensive back Virgil Williams said, referring to Jason Voorhees from the “Friday the 13th” movies. “That’s our goal in this camp and going into the season.”

If Southern fans start wearing hockey masks to games, it would mean the message got through and the Jaguars are playing just the way Odums wants.

CONTINUE READING

Southern’s Dray Joseph is crafting his own path

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  When he represented the Southern football team at Southwestern Athletic Conference media day last month, quarterback Dray Joseph may have been asked as many questions about his attire — a bright silver suit with a bow tie and pocket square — as he was his leadership skills or physical tools.

When he and his teammates moved into their dorm rooms at the start of fall camp, Joseph carried not an Xbox or PlayStation but “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.”

The senior’s haircut began as a mohawk but has grown into something harder to define.

“He sets his own path,” said West St. John coach Robert Valdez, who coached Joseph in high school. “He’s never been one to follow the crowd.”

CONTINUE READING

Aaron Hall takes long road back for Southern

BATON ROUGE --  As he looked down and panned his hand over a scarred right knee, Southern center Aaron Hall reminiscently pointed out the injury that ended his season in late October and then for all of spring practice, pushing him in front of one of the biggest obstacles he would have to face.

“See all these cuts? I was cut in about six places,” Hall said of the scars left from the surgery that came as the result of a rare and traumatic injury for any athlete: tears in all three stabilizing knee ligaments, the medial collateral ligament, the posterior collateral ligament and the anterior cruciate ligament.

“When you get hit like that, you don’t even see it coming,” Hall said. “I was hit from the side. It was just a little pain, but I knew it was serious once I got up and I couldn’t put any weight on it. It just gave out.”

CONTINUE READING

Jaguars’ White ready to hit field for second shot

BATON ROUGE -- Just two years ago, Corey White was wrapping up his first collegiate fall camp in making final preparations for the top-five showdown between LSU and Oregon in the Cowboys Classic in Dallas.

Fast forward to present day, and once again White finds himself preparing for a trip to Texas, yet this time wearing blue and gold rather than purple and gold.

Currently in competition for Southern’s right guard position, White is entering his sophomore season for the Jaguars after transferring from LSU following the 2011 season.

“I talked to my parents about Southern,” White said in reference to the transfer. “My parents supported it, saying that it would be a good option for me. It would be close to home, and there would be a lot of support around me.”

CONTINUE READING 

Savannah State To Host Miami Hurricanes December 19

SAVANNAH, Georgia  -- The Savannah State men's basketball team will welcome the University of Miami-FL to Tiger Arena for the first time when the Tigers and Hurricanes square off on December 19 at 7 p.m.

The contest will be the fourth match-up between the teams and the first meeting since the 2003-04 season. The teams have also met in 1989 and 2002. Miami holds a 3-0 lead in the series.

“It's always a great opportunity to bring a team to Savannah from one of the big five conferences,” said SSU head men's basketball coach Horace Broadnax. “Hopefully the fans from Savannah and the surrounding cities will come out to support the Tigers in our quest for an upset.”

SSU will travel to Miami for a game next season.

The Tigers are coming off a 19-15 season and earned a berth in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

Miami, who won the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), posted a 29-7 record last year and made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The Hurricanes will be the second ACC team to play SSU in Tiger Arena. The Tigers hosted Georgia Tech during the 2011-12 season.

Other major programs that have visited Tiger Arena are UMASS and Georgetown.

The game will be a homecoming for Hurricanes senior guard Rion Brown who is from nearby Hinesville, Georgia and played at Liberty County High School.

The full 2013-14 men's basketball schedule will be released at a later date.

COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Ram Ramblings: Some common sense to the WSSU-N.C. A&T argument

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- There’s been plenty of Internet discussion about the article I cobbled together on Winston-Salem State and N.C. A&T not playing each other in football in the foreseeable future.

Back when WSSU was making a transition to Division I and the MEAC a few years ago the rivalry was renewed and it was big fun. During those five years t
he Rams owned a 3-2 record over the Aggies but in the overall series the Aggies are in command at 37-12.

In the years I’ve covered WSSU athletics, this will be football season 18 for me, the excitement level of a WSSU-A&T game is different than anything else. The schools are close to each other, there’s a lot of history and from what I understand there hasn’t been that hatred between the two schools like some rivalries.

Regardless of how exciting the game would be for ...

CONTINUE READING

WSSU wants to revive rivalry with N.C. A&T

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State and N.C. A&T have one of the best college rivalries in the state. But in football, it’s on hold, possibly dead.

Administrators and coaches at WSSU have made no secret about their desire to play A&T in Greensboro, Charlotte or anywhere else. The same can’t be said for A&T.

As a Football Championship Subdivision program, A&T doesn’t benefit from scheduling a Division II program such as WSSU, despite the prospects for large crowds and big gates.

“Scheduling certainly requires a lot of attention,” Athletics Director Earl Hilton of A&T said.

Hilton said there have been no discussions about resuming the WSSU-A&T series.

Athletics Bill Hayes of WSSU, a former head football coach at both schools, says he would love to see the series revived. The last meeting was in 2010, a 21-14 Rams’ victory in Connell Maynor’s second game as a head coach.

“We would love to play A&T or (N.C.) Central any time or any place ...

CONTINUE READING

Howard Bison Have Good Showing in Scrimmage

Washington, D. C. -- With the season opener less than two weeks away, the Howard University football team is in its fine tuning in mode. The team had its first full intra-squad scrimmage on Saturday and head Coach Ray Petty came away pleased with the outcome.

"I thought that overall we did well in all three phases of the game," said Petty, in his first season as interim head coach. "On special teams, we got some good efforts including a 51-yard field goal from John Fleck. On offense, I thought Greg McGhee was especially sharp. The offensive line was an area of concern for us coming into the season because of inexperience, but I thought that the young guys did a good job out there today and showed improvement."

When assessing the play of the defense, Petty cited depth as the area that most pleases him.

"Our defensive line and the secondary are where we have the most depth," said Petty. "That's going to be a strong point for us. We will be able to rotate people and keep them fresh. That is something we lacked last season."

As for individuals who stood out, Petty says he was especially pleased with some of the newcomers who he expects to make an impact.

"On the offensive line, Toree Boyd looked very good out there," said Petty of the 6-4, 290-pound true freshman guard from Miami, FL. "He is going to start."

The Bison played without the services of running backs Aquanius Freeman and William Parker, who have been out with minor injuries. Meanwhile freshman Anthony Philyaw, a 6-1, 210-pound native of Los Angeles, CA and Terrance Tusan, a 5-6, 150-pound red-shirt sophomore from Dallas, TX, both showed well in the scrimmage.

"Philyaw is out there competing and both he and Tusan showed that they are prepared to help us when called on," said Petty.

On the defensive side of the ball, Petty singled out freshman defensive end Marquese Blanchard and sophomore linebacker Khari Brown. Blanchard is a 6-3, 245-pound native of Miami, FL while Brown is 6-2, 240-pound linebacker who transferred from the University of Buffalo.

The Bison open the season on August 31 against Eastern Michigan University in Yipsilati, MI.

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON SPORTS INFORMATION

2013 AT&T Nations Football Classic

HBCU Gametime: Top 5 Players to Watch -- Vol. 4

FUQUAY-VARINA, North Carolina -- Defense is definitely the theme in this year’s top five HBCU players to watch – Vol. 4. Five players (six players were ranked because of a tie) are on the defensive side of the ball and of those three are cornerbacks. This is the year of the defensive back.

When looking at the four conferences – CIAA, MEAC, SWAC, and SIAC – nine of the 17 defensive backs who were named preseason all-conference were first team all-conference last year. The preseason selections to the defensive backfield this year were very fortunate to make it, and if any of them are fortunate enough to make it to a postseason all-conference team this year, they will be amongst the elite defensive backs in the nation.

This could be a tough year for quarterbacks. There are some very good quarterbacks this year, but of those returning, none were close to putting up the numbers that Boxtorow All-American Kameron Smith of Winston-Salem State put up last year (completed 59 percent of his passes for 3,312 yards, 43 touchdowns, and 334 yards rushing).

CONTINUE READING   

Westlake graduates Florence, Jordan sign with CIAA’s Virginia Union

WALDORF, Maryland -- Since transferring from McDonough High School to Westlake as a junior, De’Ana Florence and Amber Jordan were always together like one union.

Both were on the Westlake varsity softball team under head coach Carl Bowman, and they had a close friendship and sister-like bond on and off the field.

Now, the two Wolverines will continue that bond to college. They recently signed to the Virginia Union University Panthers, an NCAA Division II outfit in Richmond, Va., a historically black university that competes in the Eastern Division of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Florence received a scholarship to play basketball and will walk on the softball team, where she will play with Jordan, who received a softball scholarship.

Florence said it felt great not only to continue her education and officially sign, but that it will be fun to go to school with her high school teammate.

“Me and Amber are very close, and we are even closer now that we are up here at school now,” Florence said. “We’ve been hanging out a lot, and we are living in the same dorm and are right next to each other. So we are close friends, and our families are becoming real close.”

CONTINUE READING

Howard Adds Mason and Gittens to Women's Basketball Staff

COACH TENICHA GITTENS

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Howard University has named Jonathan Mason and Tenicha Gittens to the women's basketball coaching staff.

Mason comes to the Hilltop from Towson University where he served as an assistant coach during the 2012-13 season. Prior to that, he was the Director of Operations for the Women's basketball team during the 2011-12 season.

As an assistant, Mason served as camp director, assisted with recruiting, scouting assignments and skill development instruction with the Tiger perimeter and post players. While in that capacity, he developed a second team All-CAA player and another player who was selected to the conference all-conference team.

As director of operations, Mason handled team practice and travel arrangements, coordinated various functions and served as a general point of contact for the women's basketball program.

COACH JONATHAN MASON

Prior to arriving at Towson, Mason was the head coach of the girls' basketball team at Meade High School for a year and a half. During his tenure, he directed the Lady Mustangs to a 19-6 record and its first county championship in 14 years.

Mason coached two All-County team selections, with one of them being named to the All-Met team by the Washington Post.

Mason's duties with the Lady Bison will include recruiting, scouting assignments and skill development instruction.
"I am very excited to have Jonathan join the Bison family," said Howard University first year head coach Tennille Adams. "I thought it was very important to bring someone to Howard who was familiar with the regional landscape. His ties to the DMV should have an immediate impact on our recruiting. I believe his energy and enthusiasm will resonate with our players."

Mason, who received his undergraduate and Masters' degrees in Health and Physical Education and Interdisciplinary Studies, respectively from Frostburg State, started his coaching career as a manager and worked his way up to a graduate assistant with the Bobcats' men's team.

During the 2008-09 season, Mason helped the Bobcats post their best overall and conference records in six seasons (17-10; 13-5 conference). He worked primarily with perimeter player development.

Gittens comes to Howard from St. Francis University of Pennsylvania where she served as an assistant there. She played an integral part in the success of the team which finished 17-16 last season and earned a post-season invitation to the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI).

Before St. Francis, Gittens worked at LaSalle University as the Director of Women's Basketball Operations from 2010 to 2012.

"I am pleased to have Tenicha become part of our Bison family," said Adams of her hire. "I believe Howard has the ability to recruit internationally and Tenicha can help us tap into that area. She was a great player at Hofstra and she is someone our players will be able to relate to on and off the court."

Prior to her time at La Salle, she spent one season as the women's assistant basketball coach at McGill University in Canada. Other coaching stops for Gittens included a season as the head varsity coach of the boys' team at St. George's High School and head coach of the Blue Hounds Under-17 and Under-15, AAU girls basketball teams.

Gittens played collegiately at Hofstra University, where she competed for two seasons. While there, she earned the honor of Sixth Player of the Year as a junior. Before coming to Hofstra, Gittens played one season of junior college basketball at Eastern Arizona College where she led the team to its best finish in school history. While there, she earned a first team all-star selection, averaging 13 points, four assists and three steals per game as a senior.

Originally from Montreal, Canada, Gittens played for Dawson and was also a member of the St. Vincent & the Grenadines women's national basketball team.

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON SPORTS INFORMATION