Thorpe’s arrival fills VSU’s quarterback void

Former JMU and Varina star joins new VSU coach

ETTRICK, Virginia -- When quarterback LaMonta Green left the Virginia State football program, he left a void for new Trojans coach Latrell Scott. Green, who would have been a senior, played in four games last year before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Green’s departure meant that there were no veteran quarterbacks on VSU’s roster heading into fall camp.

“It was an unfortunate situation because LaMonta had a very solid spring,” Scott said. “From practice one to practice 15, he grew up a whole bunch. I think he played well enough during the spring game to try to help us win.

“But when he left, we kind of looked at transfer situations and started to think what we could do because I really didn’t want to put Niko (Johnson, Hermitage) in that situation to have to play as a true freshman.”

One phone call from Justin Thorpe helped Scott solve the quarterback dilemma.

“He called us and said that he ‘wanted to be with you guys,’ ” said Scott. “Our main focus was for him to finish up at James Madison, do what he needed to do to graduate and do things the right way.

“I’ve known Justin since he was ...

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TSU Big Blue to Play Three Games on ESPN3

(Courtesy TSU Athletics)

BRENTWOOD, Tennessee  – The Ohio Valley Conference has announced that the Tennessee State football team will play three contests on ESPN3.

The Tigers will open up in front of a national audience on Sept. 1 against Bethune-Cookman at LP Field. TSU’s other streaming games will be at Tennessee Tech on Sept. 21 and at Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 2.

The trio of games are part of a nine game OVC football "Game of the Week" package that will be carried exclusively on ESPN3 this fall.

The nine game schedule will feature each of the nine OVC football-playing institutions at least once during the season and includes eight Conference matchups and one non-conference game.

TSU’s opener will be the OVC’s only non-conference matchup of the agreed upon package.

The games will be produced by WebStream Sports, an Indianapolis-based company which is a proven leader in video production, streaming video and content creation. The company, founded in 2006, produces more than 1,000 events annually and has also served as a web streaming consultant for the OVC for the past year. The OVC and WebStream have agreed to a three-year production agreement that will feature at least eight football games over each of the next three years.

Kevin Ingram, host of "The Wake Up Zone" on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, will handle play-by-play duties while and Bob Belvin, Sports Director for 100.7 FM/AM 540 (ESPN Clarksville), will provide analysis. The duo worked together last year in the league's TV package.

ESPN3 is ESPN's live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of global sports events annually and accessible online via WatchESPN.com, on smart phones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members and on Apple TV. It is currently available in more than 85 million homes at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. It is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.

2013 OVC Football TV Game of the Week on ESPN3
Sept. 1 - Bethune-Cookman at Tennessee State, 7:00 p.m. CT
Sept. 21 - Tennessee State at Tennessee Tech, 7:00 p.m. CT
Sept. 28 - Eastern Kentucky at Eastern Illinois, 1:30 p.m. CT
Oct. 5 - Jacksonville State at UT Martin, 2:00 p.m. CT
Oct. 19 - Austin Peay at Murray State, 3:00 p.m. CT
Oct. 26 - Eastern Kentucky at Southeast Missouri, 1:00 p.m. CT
Nov. 2 - Tennessee State at Eastern Kentucky, 12:00 p.m. CT
Nov. 16 - Jacksonville State at Eastern Illinois, 12:00 p.m. CT
Nov. 23 - Eastern Illinois at UT Martin, 1:00 p.m. CT

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Bethune-Cookman names Tyree Price as assistant track coach

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Following consecutive seasons with program-best finishes at the conference championships, the Bethune-Cookman coaching staff has once again grown stronger in not only numbers, but in strength and experience, as Head Coach Donald Cooper announced the hiring of Tyree Price as an assistant coach on Wednesday (August 28) afternoon.

“Watching Bethune-Cookman from a rival’s perspective, I saw the progress that Coach Cooper has made with this team and program,” Price said. “It’s always great to have familiarity with a staff and a program; you know how everything is run, so there’s not too much of a change. You just have to make sure that you bring out his philosophies and convey them to the athletes.”

At B-CU, Price will coach with an emphasis on the men’s sprints and horizontal jumps, in addition to administrative duties.

Price comes to Bethune-Cookman after six seasons as the head track & field and cross country coach at South Carolina State (SCSU), and has developed a very long and strong relationship with Cooper as both a colleague and friend.

Before his arrival at B-CU, Cooper was the assistant head coach under Price at SCSU. However, their history began as college teammates at SCSU, later coaching together at Morris Brown and Fort Valley State.

“His presence definitely strengthens the program,” Cooper commented. “We’re at a point now that bringing on someone with such experience and knowledge gives us a unique advantage. His ability to recruit, motivate and prepare student-athletes is going to be a huge asset.”

Price’s experience in developing champions precedes him, producing 31 NCAA Regional qualifiers, one NCAA Indoor provisional qualifier, three USA Junior National qualifiers, 81 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) All-Conference athletes, over 50 MEAC Commissioner’s All-Academic Team honorees, 14 MEAC Champions, two MEAC record holders and 41 SCSU school record holders.

Price’s 2010 SCSU women’s cross country squad earned the highest placement in school history, finishing second overall at the MEAC Cross Country Championships.

Price joined the SC State staff after serving four seasons as the head men’s cross country/track & field coach, and three seasons as the head women’s cross country/track & field coach at Fort Valley State University. At FVSU, he produced 37 NCAA Division II National qualifiers (2004-07), 23 NCAA Division II All-Americans, 5 NCAA Division II Individual National Champions, 27 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Champions, 139 All-SIAC Conference athletes, the 2005 USTFCCCA South Region “Track Athlete of the Year”, the 2006 USTFCCCA South Region “Track Athlete of the Year”, the 2006 USTFCCCA South Region “Field Athlete of the Year”, and has guided the school to several top finishes at the SIAC Cross Country and Track & Field Championships as well as the NCAA Division II Championships.

Prior to his stint at Fort Valley, Price served three seasons as the assistant head coach at Morris Brown College in Atlanta. He also severed as an assistant with “In the Black Track Club”, which produced the 14th ranked 4x400m relay in the world, as well as the sixth place finisher in the triple jump in the 2001 USA Indoor Championships.

Price was a member of the SC State track & field team for four years (1995-98), and also was a member of the football team for one season (1995). Price received his Bachelor’s Degree from South Carolina State in 1998. In addition to his degree from SC State, the Summerville, S.C. native has done further study at Life University and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

His wife, Faith N. Price, will join him in Daytona Beach later this year.

For all the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow the official Twitter feeds at @BCUathletics and @CookmanTrack or "Like Us" on Facebook at BCUAthletics.
 
COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

CIAA teams trying to catch up to WSSU

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- There’s little doubt that any other CIAA team will have to go through fifth-ranked Winston-Salem State to win the conference championship.

The Rams, who rejoined the conference in 2010, have won the last two CIAA titles rather easily and catching them won’t be easy.

"What we have to do is start doing the things that got Winston where they are now,” Coach Robert Massey of Shaw said.

The Rams are 22-2 against CIAA teams (including two championship-game wins) in Coach Connell Maynor’s three seasons and were the preseason favorites in the coaches’ poll. They’ll be trying for the school’s 11th CIAA title overall and to become the first program to win three straight CIAA titles since Hampton did it from 1992 to 1994.

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Southern Jaguars Football to honor '93 team for Sept. 14 home opener

Former Jaguars Head Coach Pete Richardson
SU Record: 134-62 (1993-2009)
4 Black College National Championships

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  Twenty seasons of Southern football have passed since former head coach and Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Pete Richardson led his first team out of the tunnel of the Louisiana Superdome in 1993.

An emphatic 30-13 win over Northwestern State served as the start of a memorable 11-win season - the first double-digit win season since A.W. Mumford's 1954 team won ten games-producing the programs first outright SWAC championship since 1959.

Southern University athletics will commemorate the achievements of the 1993 Black College and SWAC champions during pregame of the Sept. 14 home opener against Prairie View A&M in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

In conjunction with the game's Alumni Day/Unite in White promotion, Southern is providing two free tickets to each member from the 1993 team and support staff along with a special pregame tailgate hosted by the Southern University Football Alumni Association. For more information about the pre-game festivities, contact SUFAA President Darryl Hurst at Darryl.Hurst@yahoo.com.

Former players, coaches and supports staff including trainers, equipment managers and strength coaches are required to contact Southern Athletics Director Will Broussard at 225-771-5930 or email him at will_broussard@subr.edu for verification purposes and to receive their tickets. Individuals wanting more than the allotted two tickets can purchase additional tickets for $30 in Sections 5W and 6W.

The 1993 team produced four All-SWAC first team selections including Sean Wallace, the SWAC's Defensive Player of the Year. Pete Richardson was also named the conference's coach of the year in 1993, the first of five awards the former coach received during his 17-year career at Southern.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Florida A&M's Holmes sees opportunities in Challenge

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Declining the invitation to play in Sunday’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge wasn’t an option this time for FAMU. The Rattlers believe the benefits are simply too good to pass on.

FAMU coach Earl Holmes pointed to the game’s television exposure on ESPN, its recruiting ramifications and the Rattlers’ large Central Florida alumni base.

FAMU makes its first appearance in the Challenge since 2007, facing Mississippi Valley State on Sunday in Orlando at the Citrus Bowl.

“It gives us a chance to reach out to the guys that we are trying to reach out to and bring into the program and fans don’t have to drive that far,” Holmes said on Tuesday during his first weekly news conference.

“If we can keep the games in the state, I think that’s a plus.”


Video is Courtesy of FAMU Athletics

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LET FREEDOM RING: The 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

WASHINGTON, D.C.  --  President Obama is joined by President Jimmy Carter and President Bill Clinton, members of the King family and other civil rights leaders and luminaries at the Let Freedom Ring Commemoration and Call to Action event at the Lincoln Memorial, to commemorate Dr. King's soaring speech and the 1963 March on Washington.


VIDEO STARTS AT 30:20 minute mark

B-CU Cats In Preseason Top 25 for First Time Under Coach Brian Jenkins

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats enter the 2013 season at No. 23 in The Sports Network FCS Preseason Top 25, it was announced by The Sports Network office in Philadelphia, Pa. This is the first time the Wildcats have been a member of TSN’s preseason poll under head coach Brian Jenkins.

With Brian Jenkins set to embark upon his fourth year in Daytona Beach, the Wildcats finished the 2012 campaign ranked No. 22 after winning their second Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title in three years with an overall record of 9-3 (8-0 MEAC). B-CU advanced to the opening round of the FCS Playoffs, hosting the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers to Municipal Stadium – the third time the Cats hosted a playoff game since 2003.

The poll's national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries confirmed North Dakota State as the preseason No. 1, giving the Bison 127 of the 134 first-place votes and 3,340 points. NDSU was followed by Montana State in second place; defending runners-up Sam Houston State at third; Eastern Washington in fourth; and Villanova rounds out the top five.

Bethune-Cookman opens the 2013 slate at Tennessee State this coming Sunday, September 1, as part of the John Merritt Classic at L.P. Field in Nashville, Tenn. At 8 p.m. The Tigers of TSU received 151 votes in the preseason poll, figuring them at No. 30, respectively.

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MEAC/SWAC Challenge tops in FCS Week 1

ROBERT SIMPSON, DL
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

ORLANDO, Florida  -- The ninth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney will feature Florida A&M and Mississippi Valley State on Sunday, Sept. 1 (11:45 a.m. ET on ESPN) at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla. This huge rivalry game between the two FCS historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) conferences will be the premier black college football game this weekend.

Although the MEAC certainly has the advantage in regards to wins in this series with a 6-2 record, the game always has some big-time players to watch. And this year is no exception. The MEAC/SWAC Challenge has arguably two of the best players in HBCU football in Florida A&M quarterback Damien Fleming and Mississippi Valley State defensive lineman Robert Simpson.

Fleming has a bundle of talent. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound junior, was selected preseason MEAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year. A year ago, he displayed a strong passing arm throwing the ball down the field. Fleming completed 214 of 308 passes for 2,157 yards including 16 touchdowns to just five interceptions.

He shows a lot of poise in the pocket. In last season’s 24-22 victory over Delaware State, he connected on 30 of 37 passes for 399 yards and three touchdowns. Fleming has a bright future.

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11 SIAC Teams in 11 Days: Central State University Marauders

WILBERFORCE, OHIO  --  When finding the recipe for success, Central State University head football coach EJ Junior should not have to look no further than two decades ago, when the program was the poster child of Black College Football. Under the direction of legendary head football coach Billy Joe and former Tuskegee head football coach Rick Comegy, the Marauder football team experienced much success in the NAIA and Division II during the 1980's through mid 1990's.  In 1983 the Marauders were Division II runner's up and NAIA National Champions in 1990 and 1992. The program also reached the same heights in 1995.

(COURTESY CSU ATHLETICS)

Consequently, the program was dropped in 1997, but returned in 2005. Now that Central State has taken off its training wheels, the program will look to place its stamp in its first season competing as a member of the SIAC.

"Being from the south and playing college football in the south, the style of play never left me," said Junior, who played his collegiate football at the University of Alabama. "I am very old school so our plan is to be very physical in all phases of the game."

Junior's philosophy should mirror the array of budding talent he has on his football team this season. Spearheaded by dual-threat quarterback Michael Wilson, a senior who accumulated over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns passing and rushing last season, Central State will offer many matchup problems for opposing defenses next season. Sophomore tight end Zach Thomas had 45 catches as a freshman and was named to the First Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) team. The 6-foot-5 phenom, along with receivers Steven Heard and Jeremy Turner will be primary targets for Wilson. Seniors Kyle Jackson and DeQuan Slaughter anchor the offensive line that will return all five players. Terrell Clement and Jordan Hughes will provide the team with a 1-2 combo out of the backfield for Central State.

Matching the prospect of the offense's success, Central State's swarming defense, which returns six starters. Defensive end Jorden Paige, a Preseason All-SIAC selection, along with Justin Wood-West will lead the defensive line that ranked 3rd in the GLVC last season. Safeties Joseph Blount, another Preseason All-SIAC selection and Derryon Smith will be impact players, who will shepherd the inexperience of Devin Polzot and Trezz Shipmon Jr. in the defensive backfield. The biggest void will come in the absence of 2012 GLVC Defensive Player of the Year Darius Wilson, who was lost to graduation. Robert Martin and Blake Riley return to give the team some experience at the linebacker position.

Senior Gracewell Mahbena K/P returns and will be challenge by redshirt freshman Dustin Bryan for the kicking duties and Sr. Special Teams captain Paul Sains returns with Sophomore Aaron Wade as kick and returners

2013 Marauders At Glace
Head Coach: EJ Junior (5th Season)
Last SIAC Championship: 1st Year in Conference
Last Playoff Appearance: 1995
Players to Watch: QB Michael Wilson, TE Zach Thomas, DL Jordan Page, DB Joseph Blount

Strengths: Wilson is arguably the best All-Around player in the conference and can be a human-highlight film if not contained.  The rest of the offense will be just as strong as their leader. The true testament will be how the team will be able to adjust to the style of play in the SIAC.

Schedule: The Marauders will travel 7 of their 11 games on the road with one of the toughest schedules since football returned to CSU.  Besides playing conference foes Benedict, Kentucky State, Morehouse, Miles, Lane, Tuskegee, and Stillman, CSU will also face the likes of Tennessee State, West Texas A&M, West Alabama and Johnson C. Smith.

Date	Time	Opponent	Location	H/A
The Dayton Classic
9/7/2013	1:30PM	Benedict College	McPherson Stadium	Home
9/14/2013	1:30PM	Kentucky State University	McPherson Stadium	Home
Chicago Classic
9/21/2013	4:00pm CT	Morehouse College	Chicago, IL	Neutral
Gateway Classic
9/28/2013	2:00pm CT	Tennessee State University	St. Louis, MO	Neutral
10/5/2013	3:00pm CT	West Texas A&M University	Canyon, TX	Away
10/12/2013	1:30PM	Miles College	McPherson Stadium	Home
10/19/2013	2:00pm CT	Lane College	Jackson, TN	Away
10/24/2013	6:30pm CT	Stillman College	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	Away
11/2/2013	1:00pm CT	Tuskegee University	Tuskegee, Alabama	Away
11/9/2013	1:30PM	Johnson C. Smith University	McPherson Stadium	Home
11/16/2013	6:00pm CT	University of West Alabama	Livingston, AL	Away

COURTESY CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS & THESIAC.COM

INDUCTION WILL BE AIRED LIVE ON ESPN3: UMES' Art Shell to be Inducted Into College Football Hall of Fame TODAY

ATLANTA, Georgia  --  University of Maryland Eastern Shore alumnus and Hall of Famer, Art Shell, will be inducted today in the College Football Hall of Fame in a ceremony held in Atlanta. Shell, an alumnus of then Maryland State College in 1968, is already an NFL Hall of Famer and the modern era's first African-American NFL head coach.

The event, in coordination with the National Football Foundation (NFF), will be broadcast live on ESPN3 at 7:30 p.m. ET., August 28, 2013.  A press conference starts the activities today at 11 a.m. It will be hosted by the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta and is sold out.

The event will be emceed by award-winning broadcaster Wes Durham. In addition to the enshrinement ceremonies, the show will feature a preview of the 2013 college football season by a panel of top television analysts, including Tony Barnhart, Desmond Howard (a 2010 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame), Mark Schlabach and Matt Stinchcomb (the 1998 recipient of the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy).

Hosted by the Atlanta Hall Management and the Atlanta Sports Council, in partnership with the NFF, the event marks the first time that Atlanta will preside over the Enshrinement Ceremony.  he celebration builds on the significant progress made on the construction of the new 94,256-square-foot home for the Hall, which will open in the fall of 2014 in the heart of Atlanta's sports, tourism and entertainment district surrounding Centennial Olympic Park.

Shell is being inducted as part of the Division College Football Hall of Fame, which, according to its mission statement, honors players and coaches from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III and NAIA. In the 1960s, UMES competed in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, a Division II conference.

Art Shell in his playing days at then,
Maryland State College
(Courtesy UMES Media Relations)

"This is a truly exceptional group of College Football Hall of Fame inductees from the divisional ranks," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning in the official press release.""We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments, and we applaud them for reaching the pinnacle of recognition in our great sport."

Shell played four seasons with the Hawks from 1964 to 1967. He was a two-time All-American as an offensive and defensive lineman in his junior and senior seasons plus earned All-CIAA honors his final three years. He would go on to have a strong professional career with the Oakland Raiders, being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after winning three Super Bowls and making eight Pro Bowls.

Shell is part of a seven-member 2013 Divisional College Football Hall of Fame Class along with Elby Jordan, Joe Micchia, Jeff Wittman, Frank Cignetti, James "Boots" Donnelly and Jess Dow.

He is one of 24 members of the overall class of 2013 and also includes:  Charles Alexander (LSU), Otis Armstrong (Purdue), Steve Bartkowski (California), Hal Bedsole (Southern California), Dave Casper (Notre Dame), coach Frank Cignetti (West Virginia, Indiana [Pa.]), Ty Detmer (BYU), coach James "Boots" Donnelly (Austin Peay State, Middle Tennessee State), coach Jess Dow (Southern Connecticut State), coach Phillip Fulmer (Tennessee), coach Jimmy Johnson (Oklahoma State, Miami [Fla.]), Shelby Jordan (Washington University in St. Louis [Mo.]), Tommy Kramer (Rice), Joe Micchia (Westminster College [Pa.]), Art Monk (Syracuse), Greg Myers (Colorado State), Jonathan Ogden (UCLA), Gabe Rivera (Texas Tech), Mark Simoneau (Kansas State), coach R.C. Slocum (Texas A&M), Scott Thomas (Air Force), Jeff Wittman (Ithaca College [N.Y.]) and John Wooten (Colorado).  

ABOUT ESPN3

ESPN3 is ESPN's live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of global sports events annually, and it is accessible online via WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members and Apple TV. It is currently available to more than 85 million households at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. The network is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers, smartphones and tablets connected to on-campus educational and on-base military broadband and Wi-Fi networks. A list of participating providers for ESPN3 can be found HERE. For questions, contact ESPN Customer Care at 1-888-549-3776 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET daily.

ABOUT ATLANTA HALL MANAGEMENT

Scheduled to open in the fall of 2014, the new College Football Hall of Fame will be a 94,256-square-foot attraction located in the heart of Atlanta's sports, entertainment and tourism district. Adjacent to the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park, the new Hall will provide visitors with a highly-immersive, interactive and engaging experience using a blend of historic college football artifacts and state-of-the-art, interactive multimedia exhibits. The National Football Foundation (NFF) launched the Hall in 1951 to stand as one of the nation's premier sports shrines, immortalizing the game's greatest players and coaches as positive role models for future generations. In 2009, Atlanta Hall Management, Inc., partnered with the NFF to construct and operate the new Hall of Fame facility, which will also provide a platform for community outreach, education and character development initiatives, as well as serve as one of Atlanta's premier special event spaces. For more information, please visit www.cfbhall.com.

ABOUT THE ATLANTA SPORTS COUNCIL

 The Atlanta Sports Council promotes the value of sports growth in Atlanta and Georgia by acting as an authority on the economic impact, visibility and quality of life issues associated with sports. Its mission is to lead, organize and support sports development. The Atlanta Sports Council was created in 1985 under the original name of Sports 2000, and is a division of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. For more information, visit www.AtlantaSportsCouncil.com.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME

Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame, the NFF Scholar-Athlete Award presented by Fidelity Investments, Play It Smart, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, and scholarships of more than $1.3 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF presents the MacArthur Bowl, the William V. Campbell Trophy endowed by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. NFF corporate partners include the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the BCS, Fidelity Investments, Herff Jones, Liberty Mutual Insurance, NCAA Football, and Under Armour. For more information, please visit www.footballfoundation.org.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION 

Oral Roberts University Opens 2013 Season at TSU Invitational

TULSA, Oklahoma  --  Oral Roberts University will open their 2013 volleyball season this weekend when they travel to Houston for three matches as the TSU Invitational. ORU will face host Texas Southern in their season-opener, a 1 pm CT first serve on Friday, August 30. One day later, the Golden Eagles will face Prairie View A&M at 9 am CT and Southern University at 1 pm CT to close the weekend.

Live statistical coverage of all three matches is available on Texas Southern’s official athletics website, athletics.tsu.edu.

Oral Roberts posted a 17-15 record in 2012, with an 11-7 record in Southland Conference play. The Golden Eagles return four starters and eight letter winners from last season’s team, while the roster includes six newcomers who could potentially make their debut for Sheera Sirola's team this weekend.

Game Notes

Last season, the Golden Eagles became the first No. 6 seed in Southland Conference history to advance to the SLC Tournament Championship Match when they swept No. 3 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and No. 2 seed Sam Houston State in the first two rounds. ORU was beaten by tournament host and No. 1 seed Central Arkansas in the SLC Championship Match, 3-1, to end their Cinderella run through the postseason.

Three of ORU's returners were named to the Preseason All-SLC 1st Team last week. Reigning SLC Libero of the Year Bruna Silva, Jessica Pancratz and Laura Taylor were all recognized among the league's top performers heading into the 2013 campaign.

Opinions were varied on the Golden Eagles in last week's Southland Conference Preseason Polls. SLC Coaches picked the Golden Eagles second, with two first place votes, while the league's media relations personnel slotted ORU in a tie for 5th.

Defending champion Central Arkansas was the preseason favorite in both SLC polls.

All three of ORU’s opponents at the TSU Invitational are members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Golden Eagles  are 5-0 all-time against SWAC members, with the most recent victory coming on September 9, 2011, a 3-1 win over Prairie View A&M in Lake Charles, La.

Texas Southern posted a 15-15 record in 2012 and finished the season with an RPI of 297. The Tigers went 6-2 in the SWAC West Division, good for a 2nd place finish. Sophomore Robyn Shannon led the Tigers as a freshman last season with 3.02 kills per set and a .275 hitting percentage.

Prairie View A&M was 14-21 in 2012, with an NCAA Division I RPI of 289. The Panthers were much stronger in SWAC play, going 7-1 to win the SWAC West Division regular season championship. Senior Kelsey Espinosa is Prairie View’s top returner after averaging 7.94 assists per set last season, 4th-best in the SWAC.

Southern struggled in 2012, posting a 4-25 record and finishing with an RPI of 324. The Jaguars were 1-7 in SWAC West Division play last season Junior Marisol Macias led Southern with 1.45 kills per set and 25 service aces last season, while senior Michelle Williams added a team-best 3.12 digs per set.

Oral Roberts is 15-10 all-time in the city of Houston, although they’ve made the trip to America’s 4th-largest city just once since 1981, going 2-1 at the 2007 Mizuno Invitational, hosted by Rice.

This is the eighth consecutive season that the Golden Eagles have opened the season on the road at a four-team tournament. ORU went 2-1 at the UB Invitational in Buffalo, N.Y., to open the 2012 season, and they last opened the season 3-0 in 2009, when they knocked off UT-Arlington, Gardner-Webb and Illinois State at the Redbird Classic in Normal, Ill.

Following the season-opening TSU Invitational, ORU will head back to Oklahoma for their first local appearance of 2013. The Golden Eagles will bus across town to face city rival Tulsa on Tuesday, September 3. First serve at the Reynolds Center is scheduled for 7 pm CT.

COURTESY ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

HBCU Football Preview: Arkansas Pine-Bluff Is Not To Here For Your Amusement

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  It’s important to keep in mind the intimacy of HBCU sports. You often hear the question of why the Southwestern Athletic Conference doesn’t send a team to the FCS playoffs, or why don’t black college sports compete on more of a national scale.

Wouldn’t it help them with recruiting, if players knew they could compete for a national title at the end of the season?

It all depends on whether a young, promising athlete can be sold on that localized fame appeal. You win the SWAC, MEAC or an HBCU classic, and it means just as much or more than a chance to take on Montana or North Dakota State in the FCS title game.

Unfortunately, most black colleges don’t have the resources that elite FCS programs do, so it’s an uneven playing field economically. Best to do like the south did for so long in Hip-Hop – keep the money and attraction local, then shine in any weather.

The college football season gets started this week with a lot of the writing on the HBCU football wall. Here’s a look at the black football college hierarchy of the moment.

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Winston-Salem State men’s basketball lands three frontcourt players

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- When 6-8 power forward Michel-Ofik Nzege left Winston-Salem State to transfer to East Carolina, Coach Bobby Collins of the Rams didn’t panic.

Instead, he and his staff went about finding frontcourt help and did so in a big way.

 

Center Brian Okam, a 7-footer from Appalachian State, has transferred to WSSU and so has 6-7 Stacy Caroway, who started his career at Morehead State. The Rams also picked up 6-10 post player Freddie Scott, a transfer from Delaware State.

“We needed help up front because … our two inside guys that were coming back this season were Wykevin (Bazemore) and Victor Holloway,” Collins said. “I’m a big believer in my faith and what our program needed and while we hated to see Ziggy go, we also recruited some young men who were intent on making good decisions for themselves.”

The Rams, who were 21-7 last season, lost eight players from that team. Collins said he has 13 new players on his roster to add to his seven returning players.

“Yeah, we have a few new guys but ...

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TSU Volleyball Welcomed Over A Hundred Fans at Meet and Greet

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  Over one hundred Tiger fans filled the upper level of the Floyd-Payne Campus Center Tuesday evening for the 2013 meet and greet.

 

The evening began with the Tigers entering before opening comments from TSU President Dr. Glenda Baskin-Glover. Fans then lined up to meet the team and get autographs on their Tiger Nation posters.

 

“I felt tonight was amazing,” head coach Kathy Roulhac said. “This is actually the best attendance we have had. I do not believe, until tonight, the girls knew how many people support Tiger volleyball. It is awesome for them, especially the new girls, to experience the TSU family.”

 

The Tigers open play on Friday, Aug. 30 at the Jaguar Invite hosted by the University of South Alabama.

 

“I feel we are ready,” said Roulhac. “We are just as ready as everybody else will be on Friday. For some of the girls this is their first college experience. I am expecting the first ten points to be kind of crazy, but after, to settle in and to accomplish many good things this weekend.”

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UAPB Golden Lions Dinged up, but Eager

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --  The season opener is just days away and the Golden Lions are making final preparations for Saturday's battle with Arkanas State.

Staying healthy has been a key concern for UAPB head coach Monte Coleman. That has been a chore for the defending SWAC champions. "We are a bit beat up, but things are going well," said Coleman. "Some of the back-ups have had to step up, but we will be ready on Saturday."

Coleman mentioned being inspired by the Biblical story of Gideon. "Gideon's army was outnumbered going into battle," season Coleman, "but they had faith against the odds to win."

And as the story goes, Gideon's army won....stay tuned.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

Game Notes: NCCU Football at Duke (Aug. 31)

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- Complete Game Notes 
THE GAME
North Carolina Central University "Eagles" vs. Duke University "Blue Devils"

THE KICKOFF
Saturday, August 31, 2013 – Kickoff at 4:00 p.m.

THE SITE
Wallace Wade Stadium (33,941 capacity/Natural Grass) - Durham, N.C.

THE RECORDS
N.C. Central (0-0 overall, 0-0 MEAC); Duke (0-0 overall, 0-0 ACC)

MEDIA COVERAGE
Audio: NCCU Sports Network mobile app (iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Kindle Fire HD); "GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com (audio internet stream); Satellite radio: XM 190/Sirius 110. Broadcast starts at 3:30 p.m. (Chris Hooks, play-by-play; Joe Simmons, color analyst; Anthony Sharp, sideline reporter)

Video: ESPN3 (http://es.pn/NCCUvsDUKE) #NCCUvsDUKE

QUICK HITS
• Saturday will be the third meeting between Durham foes NCCU and Duke.
• NCCU's projected starting quarterback Jordan Reid performed well off the bench in last year's game against Duke, earning the starting job the rest of the season and breaking the NCCU single-season record for pass completion percentage (62.3%).
• Both NCCU and Duke are coming off notable seasons, with the Eagles posting their first winning season since 2007 and the Blue Devils playing in their first bowl game since 1994.
• NCCU has three student-athletes from Durham that are expected to suit up against hometown opponent Duke on Saturday: Zachary Giles (Hillside H.S.), Micah Martin (Southern H.S.) and Jeremy Thompson (Southern H.S.).
• NCCU and Duke cross country teams will start Saturday's dual meet inside Wallace Wade Stadium at approximately 3:45 p.m., 15 minutes prior to the kickoff of the football game.

THE SERIES
This will be the third meeting between the Eagles of NCCU and the Blue Devils of Duke University. Duke leads the series 2-0 after a 49-14 win on Sept. 26, 2009 and a 54-17 victory on Sept. 15, 2012, both played inside Wallace Wade Stadium.

NCCU EAGLES NO STRANGERS TO WALLACE WADE STADUIM
Durham neighbors North Carolina Central University and Duke University will meet on the gridiron for just the third time on Saturday inside Wallace Wade Stadium, but the Eagles are no strangers to Duke's home field. NCCU has played football contests at Wallace Wade Stadium on five occasions, boasting a record of 2-3. The Eagles made their first known appearance at Wallace Wade Stadium on Nov. 18, 1972, in a game against rival North Carolina A&T that determined the MEAC championship. NCCU edged the Aggies 9-7. Two weeks later (Dec. 2, 1972), NCCU returned to Wallace Wade Stadium for the first Pelican Bowl against Grambling, in an event that was tagged as the National Black Championship game. The Tigers cruised to a 56-6 victory. On Nov. 23, 1974, the Eagles once again defeated rival North Carolina A&T, this time by a score of 29-18. NCCU faced Duke for the first time inside Wallace Wade Stadium on Sept. 26, 2009, which the Blue Devils won 49-14. Last season on Sept. 15, 2012, Duke beat the visiting Eagles on its home field 54-17.

ABOUT NCCU FOOTBALL
North Carolina Central University enters its third season of full NCAA Division I (FCS) athletic competition as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Eagles won back-to-back football conference championships and a Black College National Championship in their final two years in the Division II ranks (2005 and 2006) before starting the transition to Division I in 2007. During its storied gridiron tradition, NCCU has produced 131 all-conference selections, 64 all-Americans, 40 NFL draft picks, 10 conference championships and two Black College National Championships.

THE COACHES
North Carolina Central: Dwayne Foster (Delaware State, 1993) joined NCCU in 2011 as assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach, before being elevated to interim head coach prior to the 2013 season. Previously, he served as running backs coach at Prairie View A&M University (2005-10), tight ends and running backs coach at Catholic University (2004), and offensive line coach at Bowie State University (2003). Foster made his name on the high school level in Washington, D.C., as the head coach of Archbishop Carroll High School from 1997-2003. At Archbishop, Foster received coach of the year honors by the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Committee in 1998. Foster played college football at Delaware State University from 1989-93 and helped the Hornets capture two MEAC Championships during his freshmen and junior seasons before graduating in 1993. Foster is a member of the Black Coaches and American Football Coaches Associations, was part of the NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Program in 2010 with the Buffalo Bills and in 2012 with the Cincinnati Bengals, and participated in the NCAA Men's Football Coaching Academy in Indianapolis, Ind., in June 2006.

Duke: David Cutcliffe (Alabama, 1976), who was voted 2012 ACC Coach of the Year after leading the Blue Devils to the program's first bowl game appearance since 1994, was named Duke University's 21st head football coach on December 15, 2007. Cutcliffe is 21-40 in five seasons at Duke and owns an overall head coaching ledger of 65-69 in 11 seasons. Cutcliffe, born September 16, 1954, came to Duke after serving the previous two seasons as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee. His head coaching experience includes a six-year stint at the University of Mississippi from 1999-2004, where he compiled a 44-29 (.603) ledger with five winning seasons, five bowl game appearances and a share of the SEC Western Division championship in 2003. Cutcliffe was named the SEC Coach of the Year in 2003 after leading the Rebels to a 10-3 record, including a 31-28 victory over Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl. Cutcliffe has participated in 22 bowl games including the 1982 Peach, 1983 Florida Citrus, 1984 Sun, 1986 Sugar, 1986 Liberty, 1988 Peach, 1990 Cotton, 1991 Sugar, 1992 Fiesta, 1993 Hall of Fame, 1994 Florida Citrus, 1994 Gator, 1996 Florida Citrus, 1997 Florida Citrus, 1998 Orange, 1998 Independence, 1999 Independence, 2000 Music City, 2002 Independence, 2004 Cotton, 2007 Outback, 2008 Outback and 2012 Belk. He owns a 4-2 record as a head coach in bowl tilts with victories over Oklahoma, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. As a member of the coaching staff at Tennessee from 1982-98, Cutcliffe helped the Volunteers to four SEC championships, 16 bowl games in 17 seasons and the national title in 1998. His first tenure with the Vols featured the mentoring of quarterbacks Andy Kelly, Heath Shuler, Tee Martin and Peyton Manning.

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St. Aug Names Tony Sheals Head Men's Basketball Coach

HEAD COACH TONY SHEALS
MEN'S BASKETBALL
SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- The Saint Augustine's University athletics department announced the hiring of Tony Sheals as head men's basketball coach on Tuesday, August 27, 2013.

Sheals brings a wealth of experience to the St. Aug basketball program. He has coached on the high school, collegiate and professional levels for more than 20 years, including Florida State University, Bethune-Cookman University, Towson University and Delaware State University. Sheals spent the last three seasons at Florida A&M University, where he was the Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach. While at Florida A&M, the Rattlers reached the MEAC Tournament semifinals in the 2011-2012 season.

Sheals will take over a St. Aug team which finished 16-12 overall last season. At one point during the regular season, the Falcons led the CIAA Southern Division with an unbeaten division mark. Five players return from that squad.

"He is starting with a seasoned, talented team so we are looking for a big finish," St. Aug President Dianne Boardley Suber said.

Sheals is thrilled to coach at St. Aug. He is excited about competing in the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association), which is steeped in basketball tradition.

"I want to thank Dr. Suber, athletic director George Williams and the committee for selecting me to lead the basketball program at St. Aug," Sheals said. "It is a tremendous opportunity and honor to represent the Falcon community. I look forward to coaching in the CIAA and leading our program to success."

Sheals was head coach at Bethune-Cookman (1994-1997) and Delaware State (2000) during their most successful periods in basketball history. He finished with a conference record of .500 or better each season at Bethune-Cookman, where Sheals was named MEAC Coach of the Year in 1995 as the Wildcats established school marks for best overall regular-season record and conference finish.

Sheals enjoyed success as an assistant coach for several years in the traditionally strong Atlantic Coast Conference, considered one of, if not the best, collegiate basketball conference in the nation. He was Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Miami (2001-2002) and Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Florida State University (2002-2006).

Sheals was also an assistant coach at Towson State (1997-1999) of the America East Conference where he was primarily responsible for recruiting the No. 1 recruiting class in the league for two consecutive years.

During his time in Miami, the Hurricanes played in the NCAA Tournament four times in five years, earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament and won a then school-record 24 games. At Florida State, he helped assemble four of the top recruiting classes in school history, including the nation's No. 1-ranked class in 2003. The Seminoles defeated six nationally-ranked Division I teams with Sheals on the coaching staff.

Sheals began his coaching career at Kathleen High School (1984 -1990) in Lakeland, Fla., where he compiled a career record of 156-57. He led his teams to three state tournament finals appearances (1986,1987,1989), posting one 31-win season and two 29-win seasons during his tenure. His 1987 team was ranked 18th in the nation by USA Today and Sheals was named Class 4A Coach of the Year by the Central Florida Coaches Association. He was recently inducted into the Lakeland Sports Hall of Fame for his coaching achievements at Kathleen High School.

After coaching six years on the high school level, Sheals coached on the junior college level as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at South Florida Community College (1990-1992). At South Florida CC, he led the Panthers to a No. 8 ranking in the state, its first ever postseason tournament victory and a conference tournament final appearance.

Sheals also was the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Palm Beach Community College (2006-2009), the Assistant Basketball Coach of the Tampa Bay Thunder Dawg

Sheals holds a B.S. degree in health and physical education from Bethune-Cookman University (1980), where he finished Cum Laude. He and his wife Marian, have two children: a son, Drew, and a daughter, Marissa.

s (1999-2000) of the American Basketball Association and the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Florida A&M University Developmental Research School during his coaching career.

SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

St. Augs AD George Williams to be Inducted in the Raleigh Hall of Fame

COACH GEORGE WILLIAMS
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  Athletic Director George Williams will be inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame Class of 2013 on October 7 during a gala dinner at the Raleigh Convention Center. The Raleigh Hall of Fame recognizes individuals and non-profit organizations, past and present, who have made significant contributions to the City of Raleigh.

Williams is a member of six Halls of Fames: the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame, the Saint Augustine’s University Athletic Hall of Fame, the Booker T. Washington High School (Miami, Fla.) Hall of Fame and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame.

Coach Williams, who has built a dynasty in track and field and cross country at Saint Augustine’s University, began coaching in 1976. His track and field programs have won an astounding 33 national championships including the 2013 NCAA Division II Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

Williams has coached 39 Olympians, including three gold medalists. He has been the recipient of more than 100 track and field coach of the year honors, including the 2013 NCAA Division II National Indoor and Outdoor Men’s Coach of the Year Awards by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Under his leadership, the Falcons have amassed more than 150 CIAA track and field and cross country conference championships. Additionally, his scholarship student-athletes have a 95 percent graduation rate.

In 2012, Williams was selected 13th among the CIAA 100 Greatest Athletes and Coaches during the year of the conference’s 100th anniversary. On February 16, 2012, he was honored
with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Raleigh (N.C.) Sports Council. In 2008, Williams received the Bighouse Gaines Unsung Hero Award from the Winston-Salem State University Alumni Association.

Additionally, Williams has received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award three times - from Governor Jim Martin, Governor James Hunt in 1996 and Governor Michael Easley in 2004. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award is the highest civilian honor presented by the Governor of North Carolina. Coach Williams received this honor because of his career achievements, and his extraordinary service to the state and the community.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELAITONS

#5 WSSU Rams to face UNC-Pembroke on CBS Sports Network in Season Opener

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina --  If you can't make it to Pembroke, NC next Thursday to see the Winston-Salem State University Rams return to the gridiron to face the UNC Pembroke Braves at Grace P. Johnson Stadium, catch all the action on the CBS Sports Network in the first game of the NCAA Division II 2013 television package.

 

With a little over 10 days and a few hours before kickoff, make sure you do not miss a moment of the action in 2013 season opener. The game should be an exciting one as the two teams met in a thrilling contest last season as the Rams escaped last year's matchup with a 28-23 victory in Winston-Salem, N.C.

 

Fans can watch CBS Sports Network now on Time Warner Cable: Channel 537 and 1537(HD); Direct TV: Channel 613 and 613(HD); and the Dish Network: Channel 158 and 158(HD). You can also visit http://www.cbssportsnetwork.com/channel-finder to find the channel in your viewing area.

"This year's package of games offers a tremendous representation of Division II football," said Frank Condino, chair of the Division II Football Committee and athletics director at Indiana (Pa.).

 

"The quality of teams and talent included is top-notch across the country. Featuring last year's national runner-up (Winston-Salem State ), a game at Cowboys Stadium and a matchup pitting the defending Harlon Hill Trophy winner against last year's third-place finisher are just a few of the highlights that make this lineup special."

 

NCAA Division II enters the eighth year of its partnership with CBS Sports Network in 2013, with nearly 25 percent of the division's football-playing members having enjoyed national television exposure during the course of the agreement.

 

"Institutions from seven different conferences, plus one independent, are represented this year," NCAA Associate Director of Division II Josh Looney said. "Over the past seven years, national telecasts have originated from 35 different Division II football stadiums, and we're adding five new venues to that list this year. In addition, eight teams will make their first football appearance on CBS Sports Network. This partnership has provided incredible visibility for our division that only continues to grow."

 

The Rams and the Braves are scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. kickoff at Grace P. Johnson Stadium in Pembroke, North Carolina. For more information on Rams football, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143.

 

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU Rams Open Up Season Ranked #1 In Sheridan Poll

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania  -- The Winston-Salem State University Rams top the initial 2013 Sheridan Broadcasting Network Poll heading into the first college football weekend of the year.    The WSSU Rams have finished the past two seasons ranked #1 in the Sheridan Poll, which crowns the HBCU National Champion.

 

The WSSU Rams open up the 2013 season on the road next Thursday in Pembroke, NC taking on the Braves of UNC Pembroke.  The game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network. Fans can watch CBS Sports Network now on Time Warner Cable: Channel 537 and 1537(HD); Direct TV: Channel 613 and 613(HD); and the Dish Network: Channel 158 and 158(HD). You can also visit http://www.cbssportsnetwork.com/channel-finder to find the channel in your viewing area.

 

 

Team (First-place votes)	2012 Record	Points	Previous Rank
1. Winston-Salem State Rams (19)	14-1	235	1
2. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (9)	9-3	217	3
3. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (2)	10-2	204	2
4. Tuskegee Golden Tigers	10-2	182	4
5. Tennessee State Tigers	8-3	158	5
6. North Carolina A&T Aggies	7-4	124	10
7. Jackson State Tigers	7-5	95	6
8. Alabama State Hornets	7-4	52	7
9. Howard Bison	7-4	39	9
10. South Carolina State Bulldogs	5-6	26	NR
Others receiving votes (in order of points): Alabama A&M 23, Miles College 19, Elizabeth City State 17, Norfolk State 11, Fort Valley State 8.

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Bowie State's Coach Damon Wilson Gains Valuable Experience as NFL's St. Louis Rams Intern

DAMON WILSON
HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY

ST. LOUIS, Missouri  --  Bowie State Head Football Coach Damon Wilson recently completed a summer internship with St. Louis Rams as part of the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship. The annual program is administered by the NFL Management Council and NFL Player Engagement.

The program's objective is to use NFL Clubs' training camps, offseason workout program and minicamps to give talented minority coaches opportunities to observe, participate, gain experience and ultimately gain a full-time NFL coaching position.

"The Rams are a first class organization and Coach Fisher and his staff really continued to improve my development as a Head coach and the CEO of Bowie State University football program", said Wilson.

During his internship with the Rams, Wilson had the opportunity to participate in all of the offensive/Defensive and Special teams meetings along with personnel meetings. Wilson primarily worked with Coach Ben Sirmans (Running Backs) and Coach Brian Schottenheimer (Offensive Coordinator). "Coach Schottenheimer along with his offensive staff have a wealth of knowledge and have an excellent way of teaching their players", stated Wilson.

Designed as a vocational tool to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches, all 32 NFL Clubs participate in the program on an annual basis. Specific aspects of the program (including hiring, salary and coaching duties) are administered on a Club-by-Club basis. No elements of the Fellowship are mandated to the Clubs by the League office, but several "best practices" have been strongly recommended to the Club, including: Participants are hired for the duration of training camp, including all pre-season games. Clubs are encouraged to hire a minimum of four (4) participants.

As part of the programs' evolution, in 2012 the NFL announced the formation of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship Advisory Council, comprised of a distinguished group of NFL coaches and general managers.

"I believe this was the best possible organization for me to land an internship with because of the youth on their roster and the experience of the coaching staff, said Wilson. "The Rams have one of the youngest rosters in the NFL, which for me was great because it reminded me of a college atmosphere at practice and in meetings. I was also afforded the opportunity to meet with the Pro and College scouting department. This was great because it gave me the opportunity to confirm that what we are teaching and telling our student-athletes at Bowie State University is in line with what's being taught at the highest level. We are very fortunate with graduating our players and to have two players from BSU in the last four years remain on NFL rosters. In order to continue to prepare our players for the possible opportunity to play at the highest level, I believe that my coaching staff and I must take advantage of every opportunity that we receive to experience an internship like this one."

COURTESY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION