For more information on the Southern Heritage Classic click here.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Southern Heritage Classic Tickets On Sale
MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- Tickets are still on sale for the 24th Annual Southern Heritage Classic. Don't miss TSU in action against Jackson State on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. in Memphis, Tenn. Purchase your tickets today by visiting the TSU Ticket Office. Contact the Ticket Office at (615) 963-5841.
ODU Monarchs Host Howard Bison in Home Opener on Saturday
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Old Dominion University football Monarchs host Howard on Saturday, Sept. 14 in the home opener.
Notes about the Game • After facing the first two FBS opponents in school history, Old Dominion comes to Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium for the 2013 home opener against Howard.
• Junior Cam Boyd gave the Monarchs a boost off the bench, rushing for a team-best 58 yards and scoring the only TD of the game for ODU. On that scoring drive, Boyd carried the ball seven times for 41 yards.
• Wide receivers Melvin Vaughn and Gerard Shillow caught their first career passes for ODU. Vaughan caught a pass over the middle and broke several tackles before being brought down after a gain of 30 yards.
• Junior Cam Boyd gave the Monarchs a boost off the bench, rushing for a team-best 58 yards and scoring the only TD of the game for ODU. On that scoring drive, Boyd carried the ball seven times for 41 yards.
• Wide receivers Melvin Vaughn and Gerard Shillow caught their first career passes for ODU. Vaughan caught a pass over the middle and broke several tackles before being brought down after a gain of 30 yards.
• For the first time in school history, Old Dominion played its first two games of the season away from home. ODU is 3-1 in home openers, the only loss coming in 2010, a 35-25 setback to Jacksonville.
• Old Dominion is 8-0 against schools from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. ODU has a pair of wins over Savannah State and North Carolina Central and a win over Norfolk State in the 2011 playoffs. ODU is 3-0 against Hampton. This will be ODU's first ever meeting with Howard
• ODU is 38-12 under head coach Bobby Wilder, appearing in the FCS playoffs the only two years they were eligible for a postseason bid.
• After never catching more than six passes in a game, Larry Pinkard caught eight in the opener at ECU and a team-best seven for 96 yards last week at Maryland. Pinkard has just missed a 100-yard receiving game both times. On the field for the First Time ODU had 19 players play a collegiate game for the first time last Saturday at East Carolina. Seven more Monarchs saw their first collegiate action in week two at Maryland.
COURTESY OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Notes about the Game • After facing the first two FBS opponents in school history, Old Dominion comes to Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium for the 2013 home opener against Howard.
• Junior Cam Boyd gave the Monarchs a boost off the bench, rushing for a team-best 58 yards and scoring the only TD of the game for ODU. On that scoring drive, Boyd carried the ball seven times for 41 yards.
• Wide receivers Melvin Vaughn and Gerard Shillow caught their first career passes for ODU. Vaughan caught a pass over the middle and broke several tackles before being brought down after a gain of 30 yards.
• Junior Cam Boyd gave the Monarchs a boost off the bench, rushing for a team-best 58 yards and scoring the only TD of the game for ODU. On that scoring drive, Boyd carried the ball seven times for 41 yards.
• Wide receivers Melvin Vaughn and Gerard Shillow caught their first career passes for ODU. Vaughan caught a pass over the middle and broke several tackles before being brought down after a gain of 30 yards.
• For the first time in school history, Old Dominion played its first two games of the season away from home. ODU is 3-1 in home openers, the only loss coming in 2010, a 35-25 setback to Jacksonville.
• Old Dominion is 8-0 against schools from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. ODU has a pair of wins over Savannah State and North Carolina Central and a win over Norfolk State in the 2011 playoffs. ODU is 3-0 against Hampton. This will be ODU's first ever meeting with Howard
• ODU is 38-12 under head coach Bobby Wilder, appearing in the FCS playoffs the only two years they were eligible for a postseason bid.
• After never catching more than six passes in a game, Larry Pinkard caught eight in the opener at ECU and a team-best seven for 96 yards last week at Maryland. Pinkard has just missed a 100-yard receiving game both times. On the field for the First Time ODU had 19 players play a collegiate game for the first time last Saturday at East Carolina. Seven more Monarchs saw their first collegiate action in week two at Maryland.
COURTESY OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Southern U wants to reverse fortunes in Week 3
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern football coach Dawson Odums identified three key facets the Jaguars will emphasize this week as they prepare for Saturday’s Southwestern Conference opener against Prairie View:Rushing offense, rushing defense and special teams play.
The Jaguars’ ground game has accumulated a meager 165 yards rushing in their first two games, while the defense has been gashed for 564 yards rushing.
Freshman punter Paul Randall Soden averaged just 27.7 yards on nine punts in Saturday’s 55-14 loss to Northwestern State.
“If we correct those three areas, I think it would really improve our chances of winning football games,” Odums said.
CONTINUE READING
Grambling State completes buyout of head coach Doug Williams' contract
 |
| Coach George Ragsdale |
Ragsdale becomes interim head coach as the Tigers head to the Missouri Classic in Kansas City with a 0-2 record. The G-Men finished the 2012 season with a record of 1-10. Head football coach Doug Williams was released from his position, effective immediately. The university has decided to move in another direction, buying out the remainder of his contract.
“We recognize Doug Williams’ many contributions to our football legacy,” said Pogue, “and we express our deep appreciation for his service to Grambling State University and we wish him well in the future.”
Ragsdale has coached in the SWAC and MEAC, including coaching at North Carolina A&T State University, Norfolk State University, Morris Brown College and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He was a four-year letterman at A&T, his alma mater, and he still holds the school’s all-time rushing record and he helped the school reach its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship in 1975.
Ragsdale played with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Redskins. He also played in the United States Football League (USFL) with the Oklahoma Outlaws.
The university will have no further comment at this time.
COURTESY GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS
SHSU: Texas Southern Tigers & Ocean of Soul Coming Saturday
LAST WEEK GAME: SHSU Bearkats at Texas A&M Aggies
Texas Southern Tigers at Sam Houston State Bearkats
HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- The Texas Southern Tigers from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the renowned TSU “Ocean of Soul” marching band both invade Elliott T. Bowers Stadium Saturday.
The Tigers and the Bearkats kick off at 2:07 p.m. Saturday in a game being televised regionally by Comcast SportsNet Houston (CSN).
Sam Houston stands 1-1 for the year, defeating Houston Baptist 74-0 in the home opener August 31 and falling to FBS No. 6 Texas A&M 65-28 last week in College Station. Texas Southern stands 0-1 after a 37-13 loss to Prairie View A&M in the annual Labor Day Classic at Reliant Stadium two weeks ago.
At halftime both the Ocean of Soul and the Bearkat Marching Band will perform.
The Tigers and the Bearkats are battling for the 15th time in their football histories. Sam Houston holds a 9-5 advantage in the series with victories in the pair’s last two meetings. The first meeting between the two came in 1973 at the Astrodome in Houston with Texas Southern winning 24-14.
Sam Houston owns a 6-1 record against the Tigers at Bowers Stadium. Last year the Kats won 50-6 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
Sam Houston’s victory over HBU two weeks ago extended the Bearkats’ home winning streak to a school record tying 15 games. The streak stands as the current longest home mark by an FCS team.
The Kats’ 25-5 record in 2011 and 2012, the back-to-back league titles and consecutive NCAA Division I FCS No. 2 final national rankings represent the most successful consecutive seasons in the university’s history.
Last year, the Bearkats defeated Texas Southern 50-6 in Houston at BBVA Compass Stadium on Sept. 27, 2012.
The Bearkats rolled up 558 yards total offense while holding the Tigers to 165 yards.
Dax Swanson picked off his 12th career interception and Kenneth Jenkins scored only the second defensive PAT return in SHSU history, picking up a blocked extra point after TSU’s only touchdown and running all the way to the other end zone.
Freshman wide receiver Chance Nelson caught three passes for 127 yards including a 61-yard touchdown pass from Brian Bell for SHSU’s first tally.
Keshawn Hill led the Bearkats in rushing with six carries for 74 yards including a 36-yard scoring run. Bell completed 10 of 15 passes for 208 yards.
Linebacker Darius Taylor totaled eight tackles including two quarterback sacks. Andrew Weaver and Jesse Beauchamp each totaled six stops.
An interception return by Steven White to the SHSU 14 set up a 16 yard scoring pass from Justice Jones to James Davis to give the Tigers their only points of the game with 12:11 to go in the second quarter.
0:00 - Get Lucky 1:24 - Memories Back Then
3:26 - Crooked Smile 5:20 - I'm So Glad...
6:36 - How You Gonna Act Like That 6:59 - Don't Let Go
WATCH ALL VIDEOS IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN
Tickets for the Texas Southern game as well as the remaining five other home contests at Bowers Stadium this season plus the 88th “Battle of the Piney Woods” versus SFA at Reliant Stadium Nov. 2 are available online now at www.gobearkats.com .
Fans also may purchase tickets at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium. The ticket office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
Saturday, the Bowers Stadium west side ticket office (located under the press box) will open at 10 a.m. for game day sales. Bearkat Alley Tailgate will begin at 12 noon. Gates will open at 12:30 p.m.
COURTESY SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY GoBearkats.com
Texas Southern Tigers at Sam Houston State Bearkats
HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- The Texas Southern Tigers from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the renowned TSU “Ocean of Soul” marching band both invade Elliott T. Bowers Stadium Saturday.
The Tigers and the Bearkats kick off at 2:07 p.m. Saturday in a game being televised regionally by Comcast SportsNet Houston (CSN).
Sam Houston stands 1-1 for the year, defeating Houston Baptist 74-0 in the home opener August 31 and falling to FBS No. 6 Texas A&M 65-28 last week in College Station. Texas Southern stands 0-1 after a 37-13 loss to Prairie View A&M in the annual Labor Day Classic at Reliant Stadium two weeks ago.
At halftime both the Ocean of Soul and the Bearkat Marching Band will perform.
The Tigers and the Bearkats are battling for the 15th time in their football histories. Sam Houston holds a 9-5 advantage in the series with victories in the pair’s last two meetings. The first meeting between the two came in 1973 at the Astrodome in Houston with Texas Southern winning 24-14.
Sam Houston owns a 6-1 record against the Tigers at Bowers Stadium. Last year the Kats won 50-6 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
Sam Houston’s victory over HBU two weeks ago extended the Bearkats’ home winning streak to a school record tying 15 games. The streak stands as the current longest home mark by an FCS team.
The Kats’ 25-5 record in 2011 and 2012, the back-to-back league titles and consecutive NCAA Division I FCS No. 2 final national rankings represent the most successful consecutive seasons in the university’s history.
Last year, the Bearkats defeated Texas Southern 50-6 in Houston at BBVA Compass Stadium on Sept. 27, 2012.
The Bearkats rolled up 558 yards total offense while holding the Tigers to 165 yards.
Dax Swanson picked off his 12th career interception and Kenneth Jenkins scored only the second defensive PAT return in SHSU history, picking up a blocked extra point after TSU’s only touchdown and running all the way to the other end zone.
Freshman wide receiver Chance Nelson caught three passes for 127 yards including a 61-yard touchdown pass from Brian Bell for SHSU’s first tally.
Keshawn Hill led the Bearkats in rushing with six carries for 74 yards including a 36-yard scoring run. Bell completed 10 of 15 passes for 208 yards.
Linebacker Darius Taylor totaled eight tackles including two quarterback sacks. Andrew Weaver and Jesse Beauchamp each totaled six stops.
An interception return by Steven White to the SHSU 14 set up a 16 yard scoring pass from Justice Jones to James Davis to give the Tigers their only points of the game with 12:11 to go in the second quarter.
0:00 - Get Lucky 1:24 - Memories Back Then
3:26 - Crooked Smile 5:20 - I'm So Glad...
6:36 - How You Gonna Act Like That 6:59 - Don't Let Go
WATCH ALL VIDEOS IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN
Tickets for the Texas Southern game as well as the remaining five other home contests at Bowers Stadium this season plus the 88th “Battle of the Piney Woods” versus SFA at Reliant Stadium Nov. 2 are available online now at www.gobearkats.com .
Fans also may purchase tickets at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium. The ticket office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
Saturday, the Bowers Stadium west side ticket office (located under the press box) will open at 10 a.m. for game day sales. Bearkat Alley Tailgate will begin at 12 noon. Gates will open at 12:30 p.m.
COURTESY SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY GoBearkats.com
Samford Bulldogs Turns Attention To Florida A&M Rattlers Game
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — The Samford football team practiced for about two hours in full pads Tuesday afternoon at Seibert Stadium. The Bulldogs began implementing their game plan for Saturday afternoon's game at Florida A&M.
The Bulldogs enter Saturday's game with a record of 1-1 on the young season after dropping a 31-21 decision at Arkansas last Saturday night. Samford co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Travis Trickett said the players came out ready to work during Tuesday's practice.
"Our guys came out with their minds made up that they wanted to work," Trickett said. "I think they still have a bad taste in their mouth from Saturday, but our guys came out focused today and got after it."
Florida A&M also enters the week with a record of 1-1 after falling to Tennessee State, 27-7, last weekend. Trickett said he has been impressed with what he has seen so far from the Rattlers.
"They have good athletes, they're aggressive," Trickett said. "Their defensive coordinator is Levon Kirkland, their head coach is Earl Holmes, two NFL All-Pro linebackers, so their mentality is to attack and get after you. We have to go to Tallahassee, to their home, their fans will be excited for them, so we have a great challenge."
Trickett talked about some of the keys to Samford coming away with a win Saturday afternoon.
"We have to make sure we execute our offense, because they are going to bring a lot of stuff that we aren't used to seeing on a day-to-day basis," Trickett said.
Samford will practice again on Wednesday. The workout is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. at Seibert Stadium.
Samford's game against Florida A&M is scheduled for a 1 p.m. (CT) kickoff Saturday from Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. The can be heard locally on FM-99.5 The Vibe, or worldwide on the internet at www.995thevibe.com. Any fans who will be in attendance at Bragg Memorial Stadium Saturday, but would still like to listen to the Samford radio broadcast can hear it in the stadium by tuning their radios to 96.9 FM.
COURTESY SAMFORD UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
The Bulldogs enter Saturday's game with a record of 1-1 on the young season after dropping a 31-21 decision at Arkansas last Saturday night. Samford co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Travis Trickett said the players came out ready to work during Tuesday's practice.
"Our guys came out with their minds made up that they wanted to work," Trickett said. "I think they still have a bad taste in their mouth from Saturday, but our guys came out focused today and got after it."
Florida A&M also enters the week with a record of 1-1 after falling to Tennessee State, 27-7, last weekend. Trickett said he has been impressed with what he has seen so far from the Rattlers.
"They have good athletes, they're aggressive," Trickett said. "Their defensive coordinator is Levon Kirkland, their head coach is Earl Holmes, two NFL All-Pro linebackers, so their mentality is to attack and get after you. We have to go to Tallahassee, to their home, their fans will be excited for them, so we have a great challenge."
Trickett talked about some of the keys to Samford coming away with a win Saturday afternoon.
"We have to make sure we execute our offense, because they are going to bring a lot of stuff that we aren't used to seeing on a day-to-day basis," Trickett said.
Samford will practice again on Wednesday. The workout is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. at Seibert Stadium.
Samford's game against Florida A&M is scheduled for a 1 p.m. (CT) kickoff Saturday from Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. The can be heard locally on FM-99.5 The Vibe, or worldwide on the internet at www.995thevibe.com. Any fans who will be in attendance at Bragg Memorial Stadium Saturday, but would still like to listen to the Samford radio broadcast can hear it in the stadium by tuning their radios to 96.9 FM.
COURTESY SAMFORD UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Weekly Press Conference: Liberty Flames vs. Morgan State
LYNCHBURG, Virginia -- Liberty Head Football Coach Turner Gill held his weekly press conference on Tuesday afternoon in the Donor Room of the Williams Football Operations Center.
During the event, Gill recapped the Flames' 45-15 home-opening victory over Monmouth, plus looked ahead to this weekend's Hall of Fame game against Morgan State. During the contest, Liberty's fifth Athletics Hall of Fame class will be honored.
Saturday's game against the Bears will mark the fourth meeting in the series between the two programs, but the first matchup since 1996. The home team has won each game in the previous three meetings, with Liberty posting wins in 1992 (55-27) and 1995 (48-17) at Williams Stadium.
| Sep 14, 2013 | 7:00 PM | Morgan State TV: LFSN - Radio: LFSN Lynchburg, Va. Hall of Fame Weekend |
Live Audio 
Live Stats 
Live Video (Weekly Press Conference 9/10/13)
Buy Tickets COURTESY LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
GAME DAY CENTRAL: Charlotte 49ers (2-0) vs. NCCU Eagles(1-1)
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Following two home victories to start of their Inaugural Season the Charlotte 49ers return to action once again on McColl-Richardson Field at Jerry Richardson Stadium to take on the North Carolina Central Eagles in their third game of the season on Saturday, September 14. Game time is 12 p.m. Ticket Information
FSL season tickets and non-FSL season tickets are SOLD OUT for the 2013 season. With the success of FSLs and season tickets, single game tickets are not available for advance purchase. If any tickets are returned, they will be released for sale at a later date (possibly the week of each game).
Want to be added to our ticket information distribution list? Simply click ADD MY EMAIL to complete a short questionnaire. When updated ticket information becomes available, you will be notified via email.
Admission for UNC Charlotte students is FREE. Students must visit http://www.ticketreturn.com/49ers to request, claim, and print their ticket. Students are able to request tickets for this game beginning Sunday, September 8 at 8am. The claim period begins Tuesday, September 10 at 9am. The student ticket allotment is 7,500. Upon exceeding 7,500 tickets requested a lottery will be activated.
THE SITE
Jerry Richardson Stadium (15,314 capacity/Turf) - Charlotte, N.C.
Football Ticket Information | UNC Charlotte Student Tickets | Fan Guide | Roster | 2013 Schedule Complete Game Notes (PDF)
Charlotte Statistics | NCCU Statistics | Facebook | @49erGameDay | Instagram
MEDIA COVERAGE
Audio: NCCU Sports Network mobile app (iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Kindle Fire HD); "GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com (audio internet stream). Broadcast starts at 11:30 a.m. (Chris Hooks, play-by-play).
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.
Charlotte: Brad Lambert (Kansas State, 1987) is in his first season as a college head coach with the first-year Charlotte 49ers. Lambert spent 10 years as an assistant coach at Wake Forest, and also had coaching stints at Georgia and Marshall. He served as defensive coordinator for the Demon Deacons the last three years. He served as linebackers coach and special teams coach at Wake Forest from 2001-2009. He served as secondary, linebackers, special teams and defensive ends coach while at Georgia and a secondary and defensive ends coach at Marshall. A 1987 graduate of Kansas State, Lambert was a four-year letterwinner who earned second-team all-Big Eight honors as a defensive back in 1984. He was an Academic all-Big Eight choice from 1984-86.
COURTESY NCCU AND UNC-CHARLOTTE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Fakler, Jackson repeat as GCAC Runners of the Week
| NEW ORLEANS — For the second time in as many weeks, Xavier University of Louisiana's Catherine Fakler and Kwame Jackson are the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Runners of the Week in cross country. Both were honored for Sept. 2-8 after standout performances Saturday in the Loyola Wolf Pack Invitational at Metairie, La. Fakler, a junior from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory High School, ran 5,000 meters in 20 minutes, 15.90 seconds to finish third for the second straight week. Fakler was the first collegiate finisher, behind two unattached runners, and she produced her 11th career top-10 finish and her eighth in the top five. Fakler's time is No. 24 on the Nuggets' all-time list. Jackson, a junior from Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School, also produced his second consecutive top-3 finish. He ran the men's 5K in 17:25.56 to place third. Jackson has 11 career top-10 finishes and seven in the top five. Jackson has won six career GCAC Runner of the Week honors, and Fakler has won four. |  Catherine Fakler |  Kwame Jackson |
Both XU teams will compete Saturday in the Gulf Coast Stampede at Escambia County Equestrian Center in Pensacola, Fla. The women's 5K will start at 7:15 a.m., followed by the men's 8K at 8. It will be the third of five regular-season meets for Xavier.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
SWAC Approves Howard Women's Soccer Membership
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference has entered a membership agreement welcoming Howard University into the league for the sport of women’s soccer. The announcement was made following the approval of the league’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors.
The Lady Bison will compete in 2013 season as an independent before officially joining the SWAC during the fall of 2014.
Having previously played in the Great West Conference, HU will be eligible to compete for the SWAC Soccer Championship and have an opportunity to earn the conference's NCAA automatic qualifier in 2015. With the addition of Howard, the SWAC will now feature 11 soccer teams eliminating divisional play. Each team will play an overall conference schedule alternating home games each season.
Howard will play its SWAC home games in Birmingham, Ala. at a venue to be determined at a later date.
“We are pleased to welcome Howard University and its women’s soccer team to the Southwestern Athletic Conference,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp added. “They are an amazing university with a strong academic and athletic history. Howard’s athletic programs have strong fan support and the program fits well with the goals we have in place for the sport.”
Howard’s women soccer program started in 1995. Under current head coach Brent Leiba, Howard advanced to the championship game of the 2012 GWC Soccer Tournament as a No. 6 seed. For 2013 season, Howard will face a pair of schools currently in the SWAC. The Lady Bison will travel to Texas Southern for a match-up on September 20 before facing Prairie View A&M on September 22.
“I’m extremely happy to see relationships developing between the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference,” said SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors Chairman Dr. John Rudley.
“HBCU fans will have the opportunity to see some of the best in collegiate athletics showcased by these two top tier conferences. Since the inception of women’s soccer in the SWAC, our programs have all made significant strides towards building programs that can compete on both regional and national levels. The addition of Howard University in women’s soccer will undoubtedly enhance the SWAC’s stature and overall visibility in the current competitive landscape of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I soccer.”
“HBCU fans will have the opportunity to see some of the best in collegiate athletics showcased by these two top tier conferences. Since the inception of women’s soccer in the SWAC, our programs have all made significant strides towards building programs that can compete on both regional and national levels. The addition of Howard University in women’s soccer will undoubtedly enhance the SWAC’s stature and overall visibility in the current competitive landscape of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I soccer.”
The SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors voted unanimously making Howard the first University to join the conference in one sport outside of the league’s original footprint.
"We are excited about our women's soccer team joining the Southwestern Athletic Conference," said Howard University Director of Athletics Louis “Skip” Perkins. "SWAC has been recognized for its competitiveness and commitment to academic excellence. Howard looks forward to entering the conference and contributing to SWAC's traditions of top performance on the field and in the classroom.”
Howard University remains a full active member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in 15 sports while holding memberships with other conferences in women's lacrosse (Atlantic Sun) and men and women's swimming (Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association). Howard men's soccer competes as an independent.
Howard University remains a full active member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in 15 sports while holding memberships with other conferences in women's lacrosse (Atlantic Sun) and men and women's swimming (Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association). Howard men's soccer competes as an independent.
COURTESY SWAC.org.
SU Jaguars have more questions than answers after slow start
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- After a disappointing start to the season, Southern coach Dawson Odums and his Jaguars football team are left with more questions than answers.
The Jaguars, who lost to Houston in the opener 62-13 and Saturday 55-14 to Northwestern State, open Southwestern Athletic Conference play this weekend at home against Prairie View.
The two disappointing losses would lead most coaches to wonder if the philosophies they are using are the correct strategies.
“The Northwestern State game was pretty bad,” Odums said. “We didn’t play well in all phases of the football game.”
Southern rushed for a mere 61 yards on 35 carries and surrendered 554 total yards of offense to the Demons.
CONTINUE READING
Monday morning rewind: Southern
Coming Up
Prairie View, which visits Southern at 6 p.m. Saturday, is 1-1 after losing Saturday to Texas State 28-3. The Panthers, who are undefeated in the SWAC at 1-0, have long since turned the pages since suffering through an 80-game losing streak from 1989-1998 — the longest streak in college football. The Jaguars are looking to bounce back from two horrifying losses in the team’s conference and home opener for the 2013 season.
Looking Back
On six of the first seven possessions of a 55-14 loss Saturday at Northwestern State, the Jaguars elected to run the ball on the first play from scrimmage on each drive, netting a total of 5 yards.
Coach Dawson Odums hinted in his postgame news conference there could be a change of philosophy in the Jaguars’ offensive approach from this point on.
CONTINUE READING
The Jaguars, who lost to Houston in the opener 62-13 and Saturday 55-14 to Northwestern State, open Southwestern Athletic Conference play this weekend at home against Prairie View.
The two disappointing losses would lead most coaches to wonder if the philosophies they are using are the correct strategies.
“The Northwestern State game was pretty bad,” Odums said. “We didn’t play well in all phases of the football game.”
Southern rushed for a mere 61 yards on 35 carries and surrendered 554 total yards of offense to the Demons.
CONTINUE READING
Monday morning rewind: Southern
Coming Up
Prairie View, which visits Southern at 6 p.m. Saturday, is 1-1 after losing Saturday to Texas State 28-3. The Panthers, who are undefeated in the SWAC at 1-0, have long since turned the pages since suffering through an 80-game losing streak from 1989-1998 — the longest streak in college football. The Jaguars are looking to bounce back from two horrifying losses in the team’s conference and home opener for the 2013 season.
Looking Back
On six of the first seven possessions of a 55-14 loss Saturday at Northwestern State, the Jaguars elected to run the ball on the first play from scrimmage on each drive, netting a total of 5 yards.
Coach Dawson Odums hinted in his postgame news conference there could be a change of philosophy in the Jaguars’ offensive approach from this point on.
CONTINUE READING
Texas Southern Women's Basketball releases 2013-14 schedule
HOUSTON, Texas -- The Texas Southern Lady Tigers basketball team has released their 2013-14 schedule highlighted by eleven non-conference games including a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico over the Thanksgiving holiday break.TSU will begin the 2013-14 campaign at Tulsa (Nov. 8) and Rice (Nov. 11). The reigning 2012-13 regular season champions will make their home debut at H&PE Arena on November 14 against Houston Baptist. After a few days off the Lady Tigers will play their second consecutive home game as they host McNeese State (Nov. 19).
Texas Southern will take a quick trip to Louisiana to face Nicholls State (Nov. 23) and then the Lady Tigers will travel to Puerto Rico to participate in the San Juan Thanksgiving Tournament. The Lady Tigers will face Maryland (Nov. 29) and Illinois-Chicago (Nov. 30) in tournament play.
Upon their return the Lady Tigers will start to wind down with the last few games of their non-conference slate by traveling to face UM-Kansas City (Dec. 15) before returning home to host Texas A&M Corpus Christi (Dec. 19). The Lady Tigers last non-conference regular season game will be against the UTEP Miners on the road (Dec. 29).
Texas Southern will open up conference play with three home games starting on January 4th versus Alcorn State followed by a meeting versus the Southern Lady Jaguars on January 6th. The final contest of the three-game home stand will be against cross-town rival Prairie View A&M (Jan. 11).
TSU will face Grambling State and Jackson State on the road on January 18th and 20th respectively. The Lady Tigers return to the friendly confines of the H&PE Arena on January 25th and 27th as they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State respectively.
The Lady Tigers next three games will all be on the road versus Alabama A&M (Feb.1), Alabama State (Feb. 3), and Prairie View A&M (Feb. 8). TSU returns home on February 15th and 17th against Grambling State and Jackson State respectively.
Rounding out their regular season schedule will be road outings versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Feb. 22), Mississippi Valley State (Feb. 24), Alcorn State (Mar. 6), and Southern (Mar. 8).
Texas Southern's final home games of the season will take place on March 1st and 3rd against Alabama State and Alabama A&M respectively. Senior Day is slated for the Lady Tigers home finale against Alabama A&M.
"We're really excited about our upcoming schedule," said TSU head women's basketball coach Johnetta Hayes-Perry. "Our team will get the opportunity to play a wide variety of teams from different conferences. We're excited about starting practice in the upcoming weeks and getting ready to compete."
TSU 2013-14 Schedule
COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
ASU band spells 'Trayvon' as they play 'Amazing Grace'
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- It wasn’t a political statement, but a “call to conscience.”
That was the position Alabama State University band director James Oliver took on Monday, explaining why ASU’s Mighty Marching Hornets spelled out “Trayvon” during its halftime performance Saturday at Jackson State.
“Trayvon” was a reference to Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen who was killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in a highly publicized case.
The ASU band spelled out Martin’s name as it played “Amazing Grace.”
“ASU’s Mighty Marching Hornets Band’s halftime show utilized the tragic death of Trayvon Martin as a symbolic recognition that far too many young men die of senseless gun violence,” Oliver said in a statement provided by the university.
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Alabama State Releases Band Statement
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The following is a statement from James Oliver, the director of Alabama State University's Mighty Marching Hornets Band about it spelling out the name "Trayvon" while playing ”Amazing Grace" during its halftime show at last Saturday's football game.
"ASU's Mighty Marching Hornets Band's halftime show utilized the tragic death of Trayvon Martin as a symbolic recognition that far too many young men die of senseless gun violence.
Ours was a call to conscience of all those who wish to protect our children and to build community.
We spelled out the name 'Trayvon' while the band played 'Amazing Grace' as a tribute to all the families who have lost their children. It had nothing to do with a jury's verdict, but everything to do with the sanctity of life and the amazing grace that only God can give as we deal with tragedies such as the loss of a child."
By: James Oliver, Director of Alabama State University's Mighty Marching Hornets Band.
COURTESY SWAC.ORG
That was the position Alabama State University band director James Oliver took on Monday, explaining why ASU’s Mighty Marching Hornets spelled out “Trayvon” during its halftime performance Saturday at Jackson State.
“Trayvon” was a reference to Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen who was killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in a highly publicized case.
The ASU band spelled out Martin’s name as it played “Amazing Grace.”
“ASU’s Mighty Marching Hornets Band’s halftime show utilized the tragic death of Trayvon Martin as a symbolic recognition that far too many young men die of senseless gun violence,” Oliver said in a statement provided by the university.
CONTINUE READING
Alabama State Releases Band Statement
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The following is a statement from James Oliver, the director of Alabama State University's Mighty Marching Hornets Band about it spelling out the name "Trayvon" while playing ”Amazing Grace" during its halftime show at last Saturday's football game.
"ASU's Mighty Marching Hornets Band's halftime show utilized the tragic death of Trayvon Martin as a symbolic recognition that far too many young men die of senseless gun violence.
Ours was a call to conscience of all those who wish to protect our children and to build community.
We spelled out the name 'Trayvon' while the band played 'Amazing Grace' as a tribute to all the families who have lost their children. It had nothing to do with a jury's verdict, but everything to do with the sanctity of life and the amazing grace that only God can give as we deal with tragedies such as the loss of a child."
By: James Oliver, Director of Alabama State University's Mighty Marching Hornets Band.
COURTESY SWAC.ORG
'Go-to Man': Pendleton embraces leadership role, dominates for Jackson State
JACKSON, Mississippi -- After Zachary Pendleton finished his post-game interview and made his way out of the media room, he hugged coach Rick Comegy.It was Comegy’s way of praising the Jackson State wide receiver for his role in the Tigers’ conference-opening 30-23 against Alabama State on Saturday.
“He’s our go-to man,” Comegy said. “We already have him in that kind of (leadership) position. He knows we need him for big plays, and he stepped up.”
The Forest Hill High School graduate caught six passes for 177 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown to wake up the Tigers’ offense in a game it needed to win. After Week 2, the Tigers (1-1, 1-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) seem to have found consistency, thanks in part to the reliable Pendleton.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Ram Ramblings: The sky is not falling - it just seems that way
PEMBROKE, North Carolina -- It was a strange post-game on Thursday night after fifth-ranked Winston-Salem State failed to win its opener in a 25-21 loss to UNC Pembroke.Veteran players, who I have seen for the last three seasons after a lot of victories, had a stunned look on their faces. They almost didn’t know how to react after losing in the regular-season for the first time in 21 games.
Not since November of 2010 had the Rams tasted defeat in the regular-season. That was way back in Coach Connell Maynor’s first season and they lost 31-27 to Shaw on the road. Sure, there have been losses in the playoffs the last two seasons but this was different.
As Maynor gathered his team afterwards he was ...
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In the FCS Huddle: SWAC not showing enough progress
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- Strange as it may sound, the Southwestern Athletic Conference makes the right decision when it comes to the postseason by not sending its champion to the FCS playoffs. There's too much to gain financially by staging a conference championship and too much to lose by trying to beat other FCS opponents in what inevitably would be first-round defeats year after year.
Sadly, the SWAC stands with the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League at the bottom of FCS conference rankings.
A turnaround is long overdue for a conference boasting so many past college football greats, including Walter Payton, Buck Buchanan, Jerry Rice and Eddie Robinson - whom the four major awards in the FCS are named after.
Not only has the SWAC fallen behind the other historically black conference in the FCS - the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, as evidenced by its seventh loss in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge to start the season - but it's already a mere 1-12 in out-of-conference games this season, including a pair of losses this weekend to Division II opponents, Alabama A&M against Tuskegee and Mississippi Valley State against Delta State.
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Hearne emerges as leader for WSSU Rams
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Dependable Larry Hearne is the only starter from last season back in the Winston-Salem State secondary, and the defense more than held its own in last week’s opener, a four-point loss to UNC Pembroke.The unit allowed 300 yards and just one touchdown, and Hearne contributed a big interception.
"Larry really started being a leader last year," Coach Connell Maynor said.
Hearne, a junior from Lumberton, led the Rams with five interceptions and 12 pass break-ups in 2012, and he said he’s expecting bigger things this season.
Hearne banged his right elbow pretty good against UNCP but wouldn’t allow trainers to look at it, telling them he was fine. He’s the kind of player who wants to be on the field as much as possible.
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Bethune-Cookman adds former Hofstra forward Daquan Brown
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- With the top three rebounders from last season’s team gone, Bethune-Cookman head coach Gravelle Craig can use the extra help in the paint as the Wildcats look to improve on their 14-20 (7-9 MEAC) record of a year ago. On Friday the school announced the addition of graduate transfer Daquan Brown, who joins the program after spending the 2012-13 campaign at Hofstra.
Brown played just over ten minutes per game in his lone season at Hofstra, averaging 2.7 points and 1.4 rebounds per game for the Pride. Prior to that stop in Hempstead, Brown played two seasons at Barstow College in California. Brown averaged a double-double in both seasons, accounting for 17 points and ten rebounds as a freshman and following that up with averages of 14 and ten as a sophomore.
The hope for Bethune-Cookman is that Brown can come close to replicating that production during his final season of collegiate eligibility.
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Brown played just over ten minutes per game in his lone season at Hofstra, averaging 2.7 points and 1.4 rebounds per game for the Pride. Prior to that stop in Hempstead, Brown played two seasons at Barstow College in California. Brown averaged a double-double in both seasons, accounting for 17 points and ten rebounds as a freshman and following that up with averages of 14 and ten as a sophomore.
The hope for Bethune-Cookman is that Brown can come close to replicating that production during his final season of collegiate eligibility.
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Ram Ramblings: WSSU players, coaches choosing to look ahead
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- I didn’t quite know what I would find at this morning’s football practice. For the first time since the 2010 season the Rams held a practice after a loss. That’s rare for Coach Connell Maynor and he said as much when I talked to him after practice.
The Rams, who dropped from fifth to 20th in the AFCA coaches poll after last week’s 25-21 loss to UNC Pembroke, will catch a break this week by playing light-weight Virginia College of Lynchburg at Bowman Gray Stadium at 6 p.m.
The Dragons, a third-year program, have only 15 scholarships and about 50 players. They have a great nickname but that’s about it so the Rams will get a chance to fine-tune their offense.
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Q&A with NCCU quarterback Jordan Reid
DURHAM, North Carolina -- Question: Why did you choose NCCU?
Jordan Reid: "Coming out of high school, I chose Winston Salem State over NCCU (which I still hear comments from people to this day). Unfortunately there was a coaching change at WSSU in 2010 and I was affected. Coach Mose Rison gave me a chance to walk-on to the NCCU football team in 2010 and he invited me to training camp. It was a blessing in disguise. That very next semester, in the spring, I earned a full scholarship. I thank him for giving me that opportunity because I don't know where I would be today without NCCU."
Q: What is your major? What do you want to do after NCCU?
JR: "Recreation Administration with a concentration in Sport Management. I plan to go to graduate school and pursue a master's degree in Sport Management. I plan to become a Sports Information Director, Sports Journalist or Broadcaster. My ultimate goal in the sports area is to become a General Manager of a professional sports organization."
Q: What is your favorite part of game day at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium?
JR: "There's nothing like leading the team out of the tunnel, seeing a sea of maroon and gray cheering us on, hearing the band and smelling all of the food from tailgaters and food vendors surrounding the stadium. Those things just give jitters and chills."
Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
JR: "Chris Hooks, our play-by-play radio voice, is one of the few individuals that actually knew about this and he calls me the "Rubber Band Man" because of it. My pre-game ritual or superstition is to wear a rubber band in my right sock. It's something that I've been doing since I played AAU basketball when I was 10 years old. When I was younger they didn't allow players to wear rubber bands during AAU basketball games. I had a rubber band on just before the tip off and I didn't have anywhere to put it, so I stuffed it in my right sock. It was the best game I ever had in my basketball career. I stuffed the stat sheet that game and I believe I had a quadruple-double (almost). To this day I wear a rubber band in my right sock, even during practices."
Q: Tell me something interesting about yourself that others may not know.
JR: "I am a diehard Minnesota Vikings fan and I have been one since 1998. Skol Vikes!"
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Jordan Reid: "Coming out of high school, I chose Winston Salem State over NCCU (which I still hear comments from people to this day). Unfortunately there was a coaching change at WSSU in 2010 and I was affected. Coach Mose Rison gave me a chance to walk-on to the NCCU football team in 2010 and he invited me to training camp. It was a blessing in disguise. That very next semester, in the spring, I earned a full scholarship. I thank him for giving me that opportunity because I don't know where I would be today without NCCU."
Q: What is your major? What do you want to do after NCCU?
JR: "Recreation Administration with a concentration in Sport Management. I plan to go to graduate school and pursue a master's degree in Sport Management. I plan to become a Sports Information Director, Sports Journalist or Broadcaster. My ultimate goal in the sports area is to become a General Manager of a professional sports organization."
Q: What is your favorite part of game day at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium?
JR: "There's nothing like leading the team out of the tunnel, seeing a sea of maroon and gray cheering us on, hearing the band and smelling all of the food from tailgaters and food vendors surrounding the stadium. Those things just give jitters and chills."
Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
JR: "Chris Hooks, our play-by-play radio voice, is one of the few individuals that actually knew about this and he calls me the "Rubber Band Man" because of it. My pre-game ritual or superstition is to wear a rubber band in my right sock. It's something that I've been doing since I played AAU basketball when I was 10 years old. When I was younger they didn't allow players to wear rubber bands during AAU basketball games. I had a rubber band on just before the tip off and I didn't have anywhere to put it, so I stuffed it in my right sock. It was the best game I ever had in my basketball career. I stuffed the stat sheet that game and I believe I had a quadruple-double (almost). To this day I wear a rubber band in my right sock, even during practices."
Q: Tell me something interesting about yourself that others may not know.
JR: "I am a diehard Minnesota Vikings fan and I have been one since 1998. Skol Vikes!"
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TSU Stevenson Named OVC Co-Specialist of the Week
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Brentwood, Tennessee – The Ohio Valley Conference announced Sunday that Tennessee State redshirt junior kick returner Martin Stevenson was named Co-Specialist of the Week for his play against Florida A&M.
Stevenson had two kick returns for 111 yards including a 95-yard touchdown during Saturday’s 27-7 drilling of the Rattlers in Tallahassee.
The Detriot, Mich. native’s special team’s touchdown was TSU’s first since Weldon Garlington’s 100-yard return on Oct. 1, 2011 versus Austin Peay.
Stevenson’s first return of the season went for 43 yards in week one against Bethune-Cookman and he is now second on the team in all-purpose yards with 154. He is averaging 51.3 yards per return in 2013.
Chad Zinchini of Tennessee Tech shared this week’s award with Stevenson.
Stevenson and the rest of the Tigers will take on Jackson State on Sept. 14 in the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Whew! Central survives D-II St. Aug's 23-20 in double OT
DURHAM, North Carolina — N.C. Central needed double overtime and a 19-yard field goal from Oleg Parent to finally put away a visiting Saint Augustine’s team that showed up at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Saturday with a lot of swagger and backed it up.
NCCU won 23-20.
“Somebody said we were supposed to lose 45 to nothing,” Saint Augustine’s coach Michael Costa said, alluding to the Falcons’ NCAA Division II status.
NCCU plays Division I ball on the Football Championship Subdivision level, a notch above Saint Augustine’s, although the Falcons were in the driver’s seat for much of the fourth quarter until the last minutes when Eagles quarterback Jordan Reid grabbed the wheel, steering with his feet.
“The fight was outstanding by him in leading us to victory late in the overtime,” NCCU interim coach Dwayne Foster said moments after his first win as a college head coach. “Jordan Reid is special.”
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NCCU won 23-20.
“Somebody said we were supposed to lose 45 to nothing,” Saint Augustine’s coach Michael Costa said, alluding to the Falcons’ NCAA Division II status.
NCCU plays Division I ball on the Football Championship Subdivision level, a notch above Saint Augustine’s, although the Falcons were in the driver’s seat for much of the fourth quarter until the last minutes when Eagles quarterback Jordan Reid grabbed the wheel, steering with his feet.
“The fight was outstanding by him in leading us to victory late in the overtime,” NCCU interim coach Dwayne Foster said moments after his first win as a college head coach. “Jordan Reid is special.”
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