NSU's Trail Named CFPA FCS Defensive Performer of the Year

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  Norfolk State junior linebacker Lynden Trail added to his impressive awards haul from the 2013 season Thursday when he was named the FCS National Defensive Performer of the Year by the College Football Performance Awards.

Started in 2008, the CFPA's goal is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. Twenty-one CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.



The 6-7, 260-pound Trail was at his best in the Spartans' victories this past season. He made two interceptions and also caught a scoring pass in the win over Morgan State, earning MEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. The following week against Savannah State, Trail amassed 10 tackles, a sack, another TD reception, two pass breakups and blocked the potential game-winning field goal in the closing seconds. But perhaps his signature moment came in NSU's 27-24 upset win over No. 12 Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 9. Trail racked up eight tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass deflection to earn MEAC and Co-National Defensive Player of the Week accolades.

Trail was second on the Spartans with 94 tackles this year, which ranked 16th in the conference. He added 12.5 tackles for loss (tied for eighth in MEAC), 8.5 sacks (fifth in MEAC), two interceptions, eight pass breakups, 10 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two blocked field goals. With 10 total passes defended, Trail was the only non-defensive back to rank in the MEAC's top 10 in that category (tied for ninth). Trail tied for first in the nation in forced fumbles per game (0.42). Lining up at receiver in red-zone packages, Trail also caught a team-high three touchdowns passes. Including a fumble recovery for a touchdown against Florida A&M, Trail tied with running back Rolandan Finch for the team-lead in TDs during the year, with four.

Trail has earned first-team All-America honors by The Sports Network, first-team all-state accolades by The Roanoke Times and was a first-team All-MEAC selection, to name a few.

A complete list of winners for the FBS and FCS levels can be found here.

By Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

TSU's Fitzpatrick Wins CFPA Defensive Back of the Year National Award

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- Tennessee State football player Daniel Fitzpatrick was named Defensive Back of the Year by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA), on Thursday.

The honor is one of many for Fitzpatrick who ranked first nationally in total interceptions with eight. The Fort Wayne, Ind. native also returned three of those interceptions for touchdowns, including a 50-yarder against Jackson State, a 20-yarder against UT Martin and a 26-yarder at Butler.

Fitzpatrick anchored a secondary that ranked third nationally in total passes intercepted (21) and a defense that was sixth nationally in total defense (296.9 yards/game) and seventh in scoring defense (18.1 points/game).

The strong safety finished the year with 75 tackles (52 solo), 5.5 TFL and eight pass breakups, leading TSU to a playoff victory for the first time since 1986.

About College Football Performance Awards:

The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. Twenty-one CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.

2013 CFPA FCS Awards:

National Performer of the Year -- Vernon Adams, Eastern Washington
National Defensive Performer of the Year -- Lynden Trail, Norfolk State
National Freshman Performer of the Year -- Drew Reed, Lafayette
All-Purpose Performer of the Year -- Diontae Spencer, McNeese State
Quarterback Award -- Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois
Running Back Award -- Terrance West, Towson
Wide Receiver Award -- Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
Tight End Award -- MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois
Defensive End Award -- Shaquille Riddick, Gardner-Webb & Zach Hodges, Harvard
Defensive Tackle Award -- Sullivan Grosz, Cal Poly
Linebacker Award -- Kevin Kintzel, Western Illinois & Stephon Robertson, James Madison
Defensive Back Award -- Daniel Fitzpatrick, Tennessee State
Placekicker Award -- Seth Sebastian, Southeastern Louisiana
Punter Award -- Kyle Loomis, Portland State
Kickoff Returner Award -- Xavier Roberson, Southeastern Louisiana
Punt Returner Award -- Kevin Johnson, Lamar
Elite Placekicker Award -- Tyler Sievertsen, Northern Iowa
Elite All-Purpose Award -- Kyle Harbridge, Saint Francis U
Elite Defensive End Award -- Davis Tull, Chattanooga
Elite Running Back Award -- Zach Zenner, South Dakota State
Elite Wide Receiver Award -- Erik Lora, Eastern Illinois
Elite Linebacker Award -- Jordan Tripp, Montana
Elite Kickoff Returner Award -- Adrian Wilkins, North Carolina Central
Elite Tight End Award -- Justin Perillo, Maine
Elite Defensive Performer Award -- Tyler Starr, South Dakota

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

205 ASU Student-Athletes Receive at Least 3.0 GPA's in Fall Semester

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- More than 200 Alabama State student-athletes earned at least a 3.0 GPA during the fall semester.

34 of 205 students- athletes attained a perfect 4.0 GPA, while 88 student-athletes attained a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

The football team led all sports 42 members, while the baseball team had 24 players to make the list. Men's cross country/track had 13 members and the men's golf team had 12.

The women's soccer team had 20 members, followed closely by the women's cross country/track team with 19 members. Women's basketball had 15 members and the volleyball teams had 13 members. The women's tennis team had 10 members as well.

Listed below are the student-athletes that attained at least a 3.0 GPA:

Baseball (24) - Richard Amion, Jahmal Brooks, Patrick Coffin, Joseph Camacho, Christian Cumberlander, Wesley Dismuke, Logan Dyer, Jose Figueroa, Ronald Frost, Joseph Hloska, Hunter McIntosh, Einar Muniz, Kevin Olemeda Dexter Price, T.J. Renda, Anthony Ricciardi, Edgaurdo Rivera, Manuel Rodriguez, Leo Rojas, Armado Ruiz, Michael Tellado, Ryan Thompson, Julian Shields, Taylor Singletary

Bowling (7) - Andriece Collins, Rebecca Hresko, Jessica Ledbetter, L'neisha Porter, Kaila Ryan, Danielle Walker, Briana Wells

Football (42)- Kristopher Abrams, Brandon Barnes, Kevin Bass, Kourtney Berry, Nathaniel Black, Le'Andre Crawford, Malcom Cyrus, Edmond Davis, Daniel Duhart, Arsenio Favor, James Graves II, Ronald Hall, Roderick Henderson, Nehemiah Henry, Demechery Hickingbottom, Antonio Humphrey, Sir Jackson, Carviss Jones, Landon Jones, Jamel Johnson, Alex Louthen, Damian Love, Carey McKight, Justin Mitchell, Akeem Moore, Edward Mosley, Brandon Napier, Marcus Owens, Shawan Parks, Nathiel Parker, Jr., Dionte Ponder, Therron Presley, Justin Robinson, Robert Roquemore, Chaz Sampson, Winton Stewart, Jylan Ware

Men's Basketball (8) - Brandon Graham, Eugene Johnson, Demarcus Robinson, Darius Scott II, DeAngelo Stewart, Maurice Strong, Kenderek Washington

Men's Cross Country/Track (13)- Devauntay Brown, Brandon Coombs, Justin Davis, Kaelestis Douglas, Carlos Flores, Jalen Floyd, Ryan Hall, Byron Kearney, Paul Pruitt, Dyrez Ribeiro, Deqarius Smith, lee Thrasher, Thomas Warren

Men's Golf (11) - Francis Berthiaume, Barry Davis, Branson Ferrier, Robert Grant, Joseph Killebrew, Ian Mmbando, Daniel Park, Yann Pfeiffer, Corey Price, Jose Rodriguez, Christopher Wilson

Men's Tennis (8) - Bobby Brand, Dylan Cleary, Adam Coyne, Kenneth Haley, Ronald Mataba, Alexsis Pierre, Jarred Thompson, Stefan Vojnic

Softball (13)- Ashley Cardiel, Valerie Centeno, Chontanee Combs, Amanda Gracia, Stephanie Hernadez, Rachel Mills, Diauna Nelson, Brittnei Price, Jazzmin Romero, Kimberly Ross, Makayla Webster, Brittney Wilson, Aleesa Yanez

Women's Basketball (14) - Taila Arrington, Jamesha Blake, Tabitha Bradshaw, Antoinette Brown, Daniele Ewert, Danielle Gazaway, Erica Henderson, Jamicia Lewis, Kierra Paige, Kendall Parker, Jasmine Peeples, Nakiya Smith, Kayla Tucker, Britney Wright

Women's Cross Country/Track (18)- Markia Bartley, Quinta Collier, Lori Davis, Chasin Gladdis, Chanti Harris, Artrailia Lesane, Jerrica Mahone, Mia Mike, Jasmine Pope, Paige Rankine, Tia Rolle, Summer Simmons, Soyong Smith, Jahneel Tyrell, Kimberly Wedderburn, Kawandra Wiggins, Shakalia Williams, Shantia Wilson

Women's Golf (6) - Mia Campbell, Brooklyn Kraakman, Jenelle Kraakman, Dismary Marquez, Lydsey Mccall, Shannon Spinuzzi

Women's Soccer (20)- Samantha Bruno, Jordan Creel, Kayla Edwards, Kylee Hathaway, Stephanie Howard, Lenna Lamas, Courtney Ledonne, Ariela Lewis, Anastasia McCleary, Allysa Murphy, Chelsea Nash, Iita Pienimaki, India Pleasant, Alena Salsberg, Franca Schauss, Alayna Smith, Mariel Smith, Helma Van Zandow, Kaedi Walther, Emily Ziolkowski

Women's Tennis (10)- Ma-tabe Akoachere, Mechelle Barton, Pauline Dennis, Brianna Fairley, Giovanna Lombardi, Nathalie Lorenco, Brankica Orlovic, Saravinder Pannu, Melissa Telfer, Arantxia Wijngaarde

Volleyball (11) - Brooke Beasley, Amber Bennett, Jamie Coleman, Angelica Gillispie, Luiza Griz, Ellyn Jones, Tiara Kelly, Khryssnee Madison, Myla Marshall, Chelsey Scott, Erika Thompson.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCCU's Winkins Earns CFPA National Award as Top FCS Kickoff Returner

Sophomore recognized after recording the top return specialist performance in the history of CFPA FCS Awards

DURHAM, North Carolina  –  North Carolina Central University return specialist Adrian Wilkins has earned College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Return Specialist of the Year honors. Wilkins was named the winner of the 2013 CFPA FCS Elite Kickoff Returner Award.

A sophomore out of Forest City, N.C., Wilkins contributed five total return touchdowns during the 2013 season. He averaged 30.3 yards per kickoff return with three touchdowns and 13.4 yards per punt return with two touchdowns.

"Congratulations to Adrian Wilkins on his nation-best return specialist performance in 2013," said CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith. "Wilkins produced the top overall return performance since the inception of the CFPA FCS Awards."

Wilkins joins an elite group of CFPA postseason winners, including Colin Kaepernick, Dez Bryant, Earl Thomas, Patrick Peterson, and Tyrann Mathieu. Twenty-one CFPA winners have already been first-round NFL Draft selections. This year, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston took home the CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy, while Eastern Washington's Vernon Adams earned the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy.

All CFPA winners are selected based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. Learn more at CollegeFootballPerformance.com and follow CFPA on Twitter @CFPerformance.


Adrian Wilkins Interview at 3:53 mark

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Golden Bulls win with new roster, second-year coach

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- After a rocky first season as Johnson C. Smith women’s basketball coach, Steve Joyner Jr. vowed his second would be better.

It’s working out pretty well so far.

The Golden Bulls are on a six-game win streak, unbeaten at home and 8-4 overall going into a Jan. 9 CIAA game at Chowan. Joyner, son of JCSU men’s coach Steve Joyner Sr. knew he had to get the program in gear after a six-win campaign last year.

“I made a promise to my president (Ronald Carter) when he told me he wanted me to be the man here at work that I would get him a winning program,” Joyner said. “That’s what we’re going to do.”

That was the expectation for Joyner, who grew up around Golden Bulls basketball and ...



CONTINUE READING

Savannah State Releases 2014 Football Schedule

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Savannah State University director of athletics Sterling Steward, Jr. and head football coach Earnest Wilson III have announced the Tigers 2014 football schedule. Highlighting the 12-game slate are three games against FBS opponents and five home games.

SSU will play eight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games in addition to games against teams from Conference USA, The Sun Belt, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and one Independent.

The Tigers will kick-off the season against a pair of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. SSU will travel to Conference USA member Middle Tennessee State University on August 30 and Sun Belt Conference newcomer Georgia Southern University on September 6. SSU has not played Middle Tennessee State since 1983.

The home opener will be Sept. 13 against Fort Valley State.

After an open date on Sept. 20, Savannah State will open conference play on the road against Delaware State University.

Norfolk State University will visit the Tigers on October 4 for SSU's 2014 Homecoming. That contest will be followed by a road game at Florida A&M University (Oct. 11). The Tigers will host Bethune-Cookman University (Oct. 18) followed by road games at North Carolina Central University (Oct. 25) and South Carolina State University (November 1).

SSU will play the next two games at home, hosting Howard (Nov. 8) and North Carolina A&T State University (Nov. 15).

Savannah State will close out the season at Brigham Young on Nov. 21. It will be the first ever meeting between the schools.

Two of the Tigers opponents played in bowl games this past season. MTSU played in the Armed Forces Bowl, and BYU participated in the Fight Hunger Bowl.

Game times will be announced at a later date.

SSU TIGERS 2014 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Event Location Home/Away Time

8/30 Middle Tennessee State, Murfreesboro, TN A TBA

9/06 Georgia Southern, Statesboro, GA A TBA

9/13 Fort Valley State, Savannah, Ga.-Ted Wright Stadium H TBA

9/20 OPEN

9/27 Delaware State, Dover, DE A TBA
10/4 Norfolk State,"Homecoming" Savannah, Ga.-Ted Wright Stadium TBA
10/11 Florida A&M, Tallahassee, FL A TBA

10/18 Bethune-Cookman, Savannah, Ga. - Ted Wright Stadium H TBA
10/25 North Carolina Central, Durham, NC A TBA

11/01 South Carolina State, Orangeburg, SC A TBA

11/08 Howard University, Savannah, Ga. - Ted Wright Stadium H TBA

11/15 North Carolina A&T, Savannah, Ga. - Ted Wright Stadium H TBA

11/22 Brigham Young University Provo, UT A TBA

BOLD Home Game

COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU names Elmira Mangum as new president

ELMIRA MANGUM, Ph.D.
BIO

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - FAMU trustees on Thursday chose Elmira Mangum, a vice president at an Ivy League college in New York, as the university's new president.

Mangum will be FAMU's 11th president and its first female president.

The decision came just weeks after Florida A&M University's accrediting body lifted the one-year probation that had been placed on it in 2012.

It was not immediately clear when Mangum, the vice president for budget and planning at Cornell University, will take over as the head administrator of Florida's only public, historically black university.

She was chosen even after several faculty members, trustees and alumni questioned the fast pace of the presidential selection process. Mangum herself submitted her application just last week.

A number of people, including the president of the FAMU National Alumni Association, made impassioned pleas for the hiring of the interim president, Larry Robinson. Trustees had asked Robinson not to apply for the position because they feared it would discourage talented administrators from applying during a national search.

CONTINUE READING

Former Grambling State coach makes quiet statement at BTW High

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana -- The old gymnasium at Booker T. Washington High School in Shreveport has seen its share of historic occasions through the years — big-time games, marquee players and memories that for some will last a lifetime.

The faces of players and coaches may have changed, but the close-knit confines, the echoes of the walls, the 10-foot height of a sometimes unforgiving rim have remained the same.

If the walls could talk, they’d likely tell the world what they think about the latest face to inhabit their confines. Donnita Rogers, a winner as a Division I women’s basketball coach, has assumed the head coaching job for the boys’ basketball team — something unheard of just a few years ago and still an anomaly at the high school level.

Standing on the well-seasoned gym floor one recent Tuesday evening, Rogers coaxed, cajoled, corrected and complimented the intrasquad actions of the 13 young men under her tutelage.

CONTINUE READING

JSU requested interview with Bethune-Cookman’s Brian Jenkins

BRIAN JENKINS
HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY
(COURTESY: BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS)



JACKSON, Mississippi -- The Clarion-Ledger confirmed that Jackson State requested to speak with Bethune-Cookman’s Brian Jenkins about its head football coaching vacancy.

Late Tuesday night, JSU athletic director Vivian Fuller contacted B-CU athletic director Lynn W. Thompson, who granted JSU permission.

“However, Coach Jenkins is in the first year of a new contract with us at B-CU,” Thompson said in a statement. “We recognize that his success has become attractive to other universities. However, based on our conversations, we feel that Coach Jenkins is committed to continue his quest towards winning a national championship here at Bethune-Cookman University.”

JSU is searching for a new head coach after firing Rick Comegy on Dec. 18...

CONTINUE READING

Gathright is Nuggets' first player of week in 2013-14

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Whitney Gathright was named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in women's basketball for Dec. 30-Jan. 5. She is the Gold Nuggets' first recipient of the 2013-14 season.

Gathright, a 5-foot-4 sophomore point guard from New Orleans and a graduate of John Curtis Christian School, averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals and made five 3-pointers during the Gold Nuggets' 3-0 week. Gathright scored 13 points in a 72-60 home victory against Mobile, had 15 points and a career-best seven rebounds in a 65-51 home victory Faulkner and had nine points and six rebounds in a 50-44 GCAC victory at Fisk.

Gathright has started all 18 games this season and leads Xavier with 11.7 points per game and 25 made 3-pointers.

Xavier will play GCAC and city rival SUNO at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Convocation Center to begin a four-game home stand.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

XULAATHLETICS

Southern H.S. Jones To North Carolina Central

DURHAM , North Carolina — Southern High School football coach Adrian Jones, fresh off winning the school’s first state football championship, has resigned to accept a position as running backs coach at his alma mater, N.C. Central University.

Jones informed Southern’s staff, administration and players of his decision on Wednesday morning, but declined to comment on his future plans in an interview Wednesday night. He said he preferred to await an announcement by N.C. Central on that issue. NCCU reportedly will not announce any new staff additions until new coach Jerry Mack has completed the staff.

Upon learning of Jones’ decision, Southern principal Kenneth Barnes named Southern defensive coordinator and athletic director Darius Robinson to replace Jones as head coach Wednesday.

CONTINUE READING

GSU announces new football coaching staff

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling has officially rounded out its football staff with the addition of seven assistant coaches, the school announced Wednesday in a news release.

Among the biggest names that will be teaming up with new head coach Broderick Fobbs are defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Everett Todd and defensive backs coach Nate Brown, whom both have ties to ULM.

Todd was fired by ULM on Dec. 2 after spending five seasons as the Warhawks’ defensive line coach. Todd’s hiring is his first coordinator position, and he will bring a 3-3-5 scheme to Grambling’s defense.

“We wanted to recruit coaches. We wanted to make sure that they were from different parts of the state of Louisiana,” Fobbs said. “We want to cover every part of the state and make sure we are getting the best student athletes to come to ...

CONTINUE READING

Morgan State to announce Maryland assistant Lee Hull as head football coach

HEAD COACH LEE HULL

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State will announce Thursday the hiring of Lee Hull as its new football coach. Hull had been serving as Maryland’s wide receivers coach.

Hull – who just completed his sixth season -- was the last remaining Maryland holdover from the staff of former Terps coach Ralph Friedgen, who was dismissed in 2010. The contract of another holdover, offensive line coach Tom Brattan, is not being renewed.

Hull is the second Terps assistant to claim a head coaching job since the regular season ended. Former defensive line coach Greg Gattuso is the new coach at Albany.

Morgan State announced in November that Donald Hill-Eley would not return as the program's coach. The university allowed Hill-Eley's contract to expire after the 44-year-old coach went 59-76 in 12 years.

CONTINUE READING

Press Conference to Announce Morgan State Bears Head Football Coach

WHAT: Press Conference to Announce Morgan State Bears Head Football Coach

WHEN: 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 9, 2014

WHERE: Rm. 316; Morgan State University Student Center (on campus)

WHO: Media Invited; Open to the public

CONTACT: Leonard Haynes, 443-885-3831

Morgan State University Vice President of Student Affairs Kevin Banks and Director of Athletics Floyd Kerr will hold a press conference, Thursday, January 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Rm. 316 of the MSU Student Center to introduce the Bears head football coach.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Brawnski Towns has been treasured icon for Alabama A&M football (Mark McCarter)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- There was a running joke I had going with Brawnski Towns. I'd make the offer to come into the coaches' booth at Alabama A&M, and he'd treat me like I needed to be in quarantine somewhere.

Back in 2005, I begged my way into the booth for a Magic City Classic, to do some inside-look column. I told head coach Anthony Jones I had done a similar story at a previous newspaper stop and he had only one question: "Did they win or lose that day?" When I assured him the team had indeed won, that was good enough.

My good-luck-charm time apparently had an expiration date.

Barely had I settled in alongside Towns, the defensive coordinator, and assistants Stanley Conner and David Arnsparger, Alabama A&M was in a 16-0 hole.

CONTINUE READING

Podcast: The Southern Athletics Report

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Advocate sportswriter Les East reviews the latest games by Southern's men's and women's basketball games, and previews this weekend's SWAC games against Grambling State (Saturday) and Jackson State (Monday) in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

CONTINUE READING

CNN analysis: Some college athletes play like adults, read like 5th-graders

CNN Video: College Sports Illiterates

Former basketball star Isiah Thomas responds to the investigation and discusses the state of black male college athletes on The Lead with Jake Tapper, today at 4 ET.

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina -- Early in her career as a learning specialist, Mary Willingham was in her office when a basketball player at the University of North Carolina walked in looking for help with his classwork.

He couldn't read or write.

"And I kind of panicked. What do you do with that?" she said, recalling the meeting.

Willingham's job was to help athletes who weren't quite ready academically for the work required at UNC at Chapel Hill, one of the country's top public universities.

But she was shocked that one couldn't read. And then she found he was not an anomaly.

Soon, she'd meet a student-athlete who couldn't read multisyllabic words. She had to teach him to sound out Wis-con-sin, as kids do in elementary school.

And then another came with this request: "If I could teach him to read well enough so he could read about himself in the news, because that was something really important to him," Willingham said.

Student-athletes who can't read well, but play in the money-making collegiate sports of football and basketball, are not a new phenomenon, and they certainly aren't found only at UNC-Chapel Hill.

A CNN investigation found ...

CONTINUE READING

What Social Media is saying about this story...

Problem is, academic ability doesn't generate many many millions for a school...athletic ability does. In the end money always wins. (Netflix Sux)

Schools adjust to new JUCO standards

Players need 2.5 GPA to qualify for FBS programs

JACKSON, Mississippi-- More than 50 Mississippi junior college players signed letters of intent with FBS schools this week.

But if you talk to junior college coaches around the state, those numbers will go down in the future.

No, the coaches aren’t expecting a sudden shortage of Division I talent. There will still be plenty of recruits capable of playing in the SEC. Instead, new NCAA academic requirements will make it more difficult than ever for junior college recruits to academically qualify at four-year institutions.

The NCAA passed legislation last spring which states by the start of the 2014 academic year, athletes must have a 2.5 grade-point average in their transferable credits to academically qualify. That is a significant jump from the previous 2.0 GPA requirement and higher than what is required of incoming high school student-athletes.

CONTINUE READING

WSSU Rams Announce Basketball Venue Changes

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- The Winston-Salem State University Department of Athletic has announced two changes to its basketball schedule for upcoming games.

Winston-Salem State will host St. Augustine's University at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, January 18th, at 5:00 p.m. for the women's game and 7:00 p.m. for men's game.

A special tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be at halftime, as well as recognizing winners of an essay contest from local Forsyth County middle schools about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Burke Singers will also be on hand to perform the National Anthem.

The Rams will also move their January 25th game versus Fayetteville State to Goldsboro, N.C. at Charles B. Aycock High School. The women's game will tip at 5:00 p.m. and the men at 7:00 p.m.

For more information on Winston-Salem State University Athletics, please visit www.wssurams.com or call 336-750-2152.

COURTESY WINSTON SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCCU comes up hot in MEAC 'preview' showdown

DURHAM, North Carolina -- A preview of coming attractions in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference ended with N.C. Central upstaging Hampton 74-61 in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium on Tuesday.

This one didn’t count in the MEAC standings. Hampton coach Ed Joyner Jr. and NCCU coach LeVelle Moton agreed before the season to have their teams meet on the court without the game being recorded as a conference matchup. The coaches needed a game to fill out their schedules.

“We treated it as a conference game,” Moton said. “I really had concerns about this Hampton team. They were really good on video. Once they get comfortable with you, they can kill you and attack you in so many different ways.”

So the Eagles kept switching up their defenses, keeping the Pirates guessing.

CONTINUE READING

5 Home Games, 7 in Virginia on Tap in Challenging 2014 NSU Football Schedule

NORFOLK, Virginia - The Norfolk State University Athletics Department announced its 2014 football schedule on Wednesday. The Spartans' 12-game slate includes five home games and seven total played within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

After playing one of the most challenging schedules in school history in 2013, the Spartans could have just as difficult a slate in 2014. The Spartans' four non-conference opponents next season went a combined 33-17 with one FBS bowl appearance, one FCS playoff appearance and two league titles among them. NSU's four 2013 non-conference opponents (Maine, Rutgers, Charleston Southern, Old Dominion) combined for a 34-17 record.

NSU opens up the year on Aug. 30 at defending Colonial Athletic Association champion Maine, which beat NSU 23-6 in Norfolk last fall en route to a 10-3 overall record. The Black Bears ended the year ranked No. 12 in the final Sports Network Poll Division I FCS top 25 poll.

The Spartans play their home opener on Sept. 6 when they welcome Liberty to Dick Price Stadium. The Flames are coming off an 8-4 Big South Conference co-championship season. This marks the sixth meeting all-time between the teams. The Flames lead the series 3-2, but NSU has won the last two contests, including a 31-24 win in Lynchburg in 2012.

The following week, NSU faces another tough CAA opponent when the Spartans travel west up Interstate 64 to face William & Mary on Sept. 13 in Williamsburg. The Tribe went 7-5 last fall and finished sixth in the others receiving votes category in the final Sports Network top 25 poll of the year. The teams have met four times previously, with the most recent meeting coming in 2009. W&M owns a 4-0 edge in the series.

NSU concludes its non-conference slate with its annual road game with an FBS opponent at the University of Buffalo on Sept. 20. The Bulls are coming off an 8-5 season in 2013, including a berth in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Buffalo went 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), placing second in the East Division. The teams have never met, though NSU played Ohio University of the MAC in 2012.

"We certainly have a very demanding schedule in 2014," NSU football coach Pete Adrian said. "I think our non-conference schedule should be as difficult as anyone in the FCS. But I know our players are looking forward to the challenges that await us."

NSU's final eight games of the year are against MEAC opponents. The Spartans will play the same eight conference teams as last year, though the home and road locations will be reversed from 2013. NSU welcomes Morgan State (Sept. 27), Delaware State (Oct. 11 for Homecoming), Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 8) and North Carolina Central (Nov. 15) to Dick Price Stadium. The Spartans' MEAC road slate takes them to Savannah State (Oct. 4), Hampton (Oct. 18), Florida A&M (Nov. 1) and South Carolina State (Nov. 22).

Season ticket information will also be released in the coming months.

2014 NSU Football Schedule (.PDF)

Date Opponent Location Time/Result
8/30/2014 Maine Orono, Maine TBA

9/6/2014 Liberty Norfolk, Va. 4 p.m.

9/13/2014 William & Mary Williamsburg, Va. TBA

9/20/2014 Buffalo Buffalo, N.Y. TBA

9/27/2014 * Morgan State Norfolk, Va. 4 p.m.

10/4/2014 * Savannah State Savannah, Ga. TBA

10/11/2014 * Delaware State (Homecoming) Norfolk, Va. 2 p.m.

10/18/2014 * Hampton Hampton, Va. TBA Details

11/1/2014 * Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla. TBA

11/8/2014 * Bethune-Cookman Norfolk, Va. 2 p.m.

11/15/2014 * North Carolina Central (Senior Day) Norfolk, Va. 2 p.m.

11/22/2014 * South Carolina State Orangeburg, S.C. TBA

COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Jackson State still searching for coach

JACKSON, Mississippi - It’s been about three weeks since Jackson State fired Rick Comegy as head football coach, and the school hasn’t named a hire.

“The search is ongoing, and we expect to name someone as soon as possible,” JSU spokesperson Eric Stringfellow said Monday afternoon.The seven-person search committee met Friday to discuss candidates, according to a source with knowledge of the hiring process. The committee came up with a short list of candidates and contacted them in the past few days, the source said.

Among the names linked to the Jackson State post are ...

CONTINUE READING 

Nucleus of Alabama A&M football staff won't be retained by new coach

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- New Alabama A&M football coach James Spady will not retain the nucleus of the coaching staff he inherited when he was hired last week, including a coach with nearly a half-century relationship with the university.

The freedom to structure his staff as needed within budgetary limitations was one of the assurances given Spady by director of athletics Bryan Hicks, who said he would have no influence on Spady's decisions.

Most notably, Brawnski Towns, who came to Alabama A&M as a player in 1965 and spent 34 years as an assistant coach at his alma mater, was not retained. Towns was the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach under Anthony Jones and worked for nine head coaches, including the legendary Louis Crews, who recruited Towns to A&M as a defensive back.

Others not retained are offensive coordinator and interim head coach Cedric Pearl, defensive line coach Gary Harper, receivers coach John McKenzie, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Jay Martin, secondary coach Knute Walker and kicking coach Richard Williams; the latter two were part-time coaches.

Spady will keep tight ends coach and video coordinator Andy Fuller as well as strength and conditioning coach James Hester and equipment and operations manager Henry Harris.

Last Friday, after he was introduced to media and Bulldog fans, Spady said that he had a list of assistant coaching candidates but would first meet with the current staff. The assurance he needed from the holdovers, he said then, was to assure they would be dedicated to the message of the new offensive philosophy.

Two incoming assistants were in transit on Tuesday and two more have committed to Spady and will come to A&M later in the month. Spady would not reveal the names of new coaches until they have the opportunity to meet with their current employers.

"My strategy is to surround myself with people I've coached with or coached, or who came recommended to me by coaches with whom I have a relationship," Spady said. "I want somebody who will carry my message and philosophy. I made the decision to bring in guys that are more comfortable to me.

"But this was a difficult thing. These guys (incumbent staff) are all good coaches. It was nothing personal."

Spady said he will meet with A&M players on Wednesday morning.

Towns coached the secondary at Alabama A&M after he completed his playing career, then spent eight years at Arkansas-Pine Bluff before returning to A&M in 1984. He was named defensive coordinator in 1989.

Pearl was at A&M for 11 seasons as offensive line coach, being named offensive coordinator in 2007. He played collegiately at Tuskegee and came to A&M from Morehouse, where he worked for Jones.

Harper spent one season at Alabama A&M but was a 28-year veteran of coaching. He had been assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Benedict College before coming to A&M.

Fuller, a Huntsville native and former Auburn standout, played seven years with the Tennessee Valley Vipers, a time in which he also worked as a graduate assistant at A&M before being promoted to tight ends and fullbacks coach.

Martin, son of the late Jim Martin, the former Alabama A&M director of athletics, spent 12 seasons on the football staff and for three seasons was also the school's head baseball coach. He played at Tuskegee, then coached at South Carolina State before coming to A&M.

McKenzie came to Alabama A&M in 2009 to coach receivers and oversee the academic program; A&M had the top APR in the conference. The former Jackson State quarterback had been offensive coordinator at North Carolina A&T, Alabama State and Alcorn State as well as head coach at Delaware State.

Walker, who earned Hall of Fame honors as an A&M cornerback, was an assistant for nine seasons and also served as assistant director of intramurals at A&M.

Williams, who has also coached at Lee High School, served as kicking coach on part-time status.

Hester, who came to Alabama A&M in 2002, was credited by Pro Bowl linebacker Robert Mathis for much of his development. He is the strength and conditioning coach for football, men's basketball, volleyball and softball. He previously worked at South Carolina and South Carolina State.

Harris, a former All-SEC defensive lineman for Georgia, has been affiliated with the A&M program for 23 years, first as defensive line coach for eight seasons, then as equipment and operations manager.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Reception for AAMU Coach James Spady

NORMAL, Alabama -- Everyone is cordially invited to join us for a reception welcoming James Spady the 20th head football coach at Alabama A&M University.

This event will also mark a celebration for the 2014 athletic season. It will take place on Thursday, January 9, 2014 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Embassy Suites at 600 Monroe Street Southwest in Huntsville, Alabama 35801.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern Poly ends Gold Nuggets' 8-game win streak

MARIETTA, Georgia -- Xavier University of Louisiana's eight-game winning streak in women's basketball ended Tuesday in a 73-63 loss to Southern Poly.

Shana Ward scored a season-high 17 points for the Hornets (7-4), and Sarah Ogoke had 14.

Whitney Gathright scored 19 points, Vinnie Briggs 18 and Danielle Tucker 13 for the Gold Nuggets (12-6).

Both teams had first-runs. Southern Poly led 11-2 through the first 3½ minutes, Xavier led 20-12 and 23-15, then the Hornets closed with an 8-1 run in the final 3:36 for a 32-29 halftime advantage.

There were nine ties and six lead changes in the second half. Tucker's basket with 8:15 remaining gave Xavier its final lead, 52-50. Ward's basket with eight minutes remaining tied the score at 52, then Quentessa Bullock's basket -- her first points of the game -- put the Hornets ahead to stay, 54-52, at 6:20.

It was still a one-possession game at 59-56 after Gathright's two free throws with 2:06 remaining, but Southern Poly made 10-of-13 free throws thereafter to preserve its lead and snap a four-game losing streak.

Southern Poly outshot Xavier 45.3 to 37.3 percent from the floor and won the rebound and turnover battles by narrow margins. The Hornets missed their only 3-point attempt but made five more field goals and three more free throws than the Nuggets.

Gathright and Briggs produced their highest-scoring games in more than a month. Gathright scored 13 second-half points.

Xavier blocked a season-high six shots.

It was the third road game in four days for the Gold Nuggets, who opened their Gulf Coast Athletic Conference schedule with victories on Saturday and Monday. Xavier will begin a four-game home stand at 5:30 p.m. Saturday against GCAC and city rival SUNO at the Convocation Center.

NOTES: The Nuggets received votes in the NAIA Division I coaches poll announced Tuesday but missed the top 25 for the second straight time after 45 consecutive appearances. Xavier received five points and was 34th. The Gold Nuggets ranked 15th and Southern Poly 20th in the preseason.

BOX SCORE

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Xavier-SUNO doubleheader will tip off 2½ hours later

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has pushed back by 2½ hours its starting times for a Saturday basketball doubleheader against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and city rival SUNO.

The new starting time of the women's game will be 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 at XU's Convocation Center.

"We respect that many of our fans want to watch the New Orleans Saints' playoff game this weekend," said Dannton Jackson, XU's interim athletics director and men's basketball coach. "We hope they'll enjoy watching a Saints victory in Seattle, then come out to the Convocation Center and support Xavier."

The Saints and the Seahawks will kick off their NFL divisional playoff at 3:35 p.m. Saturday.

Both Xavier teams are 2-0 in the GCAC and defending regular-season champions.

SUNO will be the first of six consecutive home games for the Gold Rush and the first of four consecutive home games for the Gold Nuggets.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Informaton Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA