January 11: HBCU Basketball ScoreCard

NCAA Division I - Men

WAC
Chicago State 68, Missouri-Kansas City 66

OVC
Southeast Missouri State 102, Tennessee State 94

MEAC
Hampton 73, Delaware State 60
Norfolk State 66, Maryland Eastern Shore 62
Florida A&M 63, North Carolina Central 60
Morgan State 73, South Carolina State 56
North Carolina A&T 70, Bethune-Cookman 67
Savannah State 75, Coppin State 53

SWAC
Texas Southern 87, Prairie View A&M 83
Southern 73, Grambling State 49
Arkansas Pine Bluff 72, Alabama A&M 64
Alcorn State 64, Jackson State 51
Alabama State 93, Mississippi Valley 62

NAIA Division I - Men

GCAC
Talladega 103, Tougaloo 66
Philander Smith 91, Voorhees 84
Xavier 60, Southern - New Orleans

OTHERS
Wiley 89, Texas College 73
Harris-Stowe State 83, Mid-Continent (Ky.) 70
LSU Shreveport 83, Jarvis Christian 80
St. Thomas (Tx) 80, Huston-Tillotson 51
Our Lady of the Lake 125, Paul Quinn 77

NAIA Division II - Men

Milligan (Tn.) 92, Virginia University Lynchburg 71
Southeastern (Fl.) 78, Florida Memorial 66

NCAA Division II - Men

SIAC
Benedict 78, Kentucky State 73
Morehouse 62, Lemoyne-Owen 60
Fort Valley State 78, Stillman 61
Clark Atlanta 100, Tuskegee 99
Paine 89, Lane 69

CIAA
Lincoln (Pa.) 69, Saint Augustine's 48
Bowie State 60, Shaw 59
Johnson C. Smith 78, Elizabeth City State 75
Fayetteville State 94, Virginia Union 77
Virginia State 67, Livingstone 58
Winston-Salem State 64, Chowan 55


NCAA Division I - Women

WAC
Missouri - Kansas City 83, Chicago State 60

OVC
Tennessee State 75, Southeast Missouri State 67

MEAC
Hampton 79, Delaware State 39
Norfolk State 73, Maryland Eastern Shore 66
North Carolina Central 71, Florida A&M 64
North Carolina A&T 69, Bethune-Cookman 55
Coppin State 68, Savannah State 53
South Carolina State 80, Morgan State 53

SWAC
Mississippi Valley State 56, Alabama State 54
Alabama A&M 87, Arkansas Pine Bluff 63
Southern 100, Grambling State 92
Texas Southern 63, Prairie View A&M 59
Jackson State 64, Alcorn State 52

NAIA Division I - Women

GCAC
Philander Smith 72, Voorhees 63
Talladega 104, Tougaloo 80
Rust College 51, Fisk 49
Xavier 74, Southern - New Orleans 52

OTHERS
Wiley 104, Texas College 61
Harris-Stowe St. 71, Mid-Continent (Ky.) 44
Our Lady of the Lake (Tx) 82, Paul Quinn 43
LSU Shreveport 77, Jarvis Christian 69

NAIA Division II - Women

Southeastern (FL) 70, Florida Memorial 34
Virginia University Lynchburg vs. Milligan PPD

 NCAA Division II - Women

SIAC
Benedict 62, Kentucky State 50
Clark Atlanta 84, Tuskegee 63
Fort Valley State 71, Stillman 69 O.T.
Paine 87, Lane 68

CIAA
Lincoln (Pa.) 56, Saint Augustine's 50
Johnson C. Smith 59, Elizabeth City State 44
Shaw 69, Bowie State 58
Chowan 64, Winston-Salem State 58
Virginia State 63, Livingstone 49
Virginia Union 68, Fayetteville State 63

Rejuvenated Rattlers return to Lawson Center

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Practices for the FAMU women’s basketball team have been starting before the sun comes up.

But there wasn’t a single sign during one of their recent workouts that the Rattlers had been on a grueling road schedule heading into the holiday break. Just fresh legs tearing up and down the court.
Coach LeDawn Gibson attributed that to the Rattlers having a full week’s rest before resuming practice last Saturday. There was no obvious sign of rust — just a lot of energy.

By the time that FAMU gets on the floor to face North Carolina Central today, it will have been two weeks since its last game.

“I think they are more focused now,” Gibson said. “They were drained from the road trips and constantly traveling. I’m happy with where they are right now.

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Mangum has no plans to shake up FAMU leadership

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- New Florida A&M President Elmira Mangum said Friday she has no plans to clean house when she settles into Lee Hall later this year.

Mangum, the vice president for budget and planning at Cornell University, was selected by FAMU’s trustees on Thursday to be the university’s 11th president, the first female CEO in the school’s 126-year history.

Already back in Ithaca, N.Y., home to the land-grant Ivy League university where she has worked since 2010, Mangum said during a Friday phone interview that she will need time to assess the current leadership team at FAMU before she makes any decisions about who she wants working side by side with her.

“I need to understand the staff, what the current leaders’ strategic plan is and their willingness to continue the services they’ve been providing,” Mangum, 60, said. “The whole higher education community is on the drawing board. The first people on the drawing board are the people at FAMU.”

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Bethune-Cookman pushing for stadium renovations in Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- The stadium Bethune Cookman uses for its home football games may be getting a $1 million upgrade.

Channel 9's Roy Ramos spoke with Daytona Beach city leaders about what the renovation project means for the local economy.

The stadium is used by high schools and universities but it has clearly seen better days. The lighting alone is over 25 years old, but Ramos obtained documents that may have city commissioners approving the money for upgrades.

"We are excited about the possibilities of upgrading municipal stadium here in Daytona Beach," said Bethune Cookman director of athletics, Lynn Thompson.

Thompson said she has high hopes the stadium will get the much-needed upgrades the program has been pushing for two years.

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Mack Announces NCCU Football Coaching Staff

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- North Carolina Central University football head coach Jerry Mack has assembled his first coaching staff, the recently appointed head coach announced Friday (Jan. 10).

Mack was revealed as the Eagles' gridiron leader on Dec. 19 and officially took the reins on Jan. 6.

The head coach has retained the services of Mike Mendenhall (special teams coordinator/linebackers) and Andre George (cornerbacks) from the prior staff, and welcomes the return of former NCCU assistant coach and standout defensive back Adrian Jones (running backs).

Mack's new staff hires include Granville Eastman (defensive coordinator/safeties), Chris Buckner (recruiting coordinator/wide receivers), T.C. Taylor (quarterbacks), Jason Onyebuagu (offensive line), Mike McCarthy (tight ends), and Jon Bradley (assistant defensive line).

Jashell Mitchell has also been added to the staff as director of football operations.




In his first season on the job, Mack will serve as offensive coordinator, stating that he will be responsible for installing the offense and calling offensive plays on game day. Mack added that he will reevaluate that role at the end of the year.

In the near future, Mack plans to finalize his staff with the addition of one more position coach.

Mendenhall joined the NCCU coaching staff in 2011 to work with linebackers and serve as a special teams assistant. In the past two seasons with Mendenhall as special teams coordinator, the Eagles have been one of the nation's top kick return units with 12 kick return touchdowns.  Before moving to Durham, he coached at the University of New Mexico for two seasons. Mendenhall was a four-year starter at Temple University from 2002-05, earning first team all-Big East honors as a defensive end.

George, a four-year starter in the NCCU secondary (2002-03, 2005-06), has been with the Eagles' coaching staff since the 2010 campaign, working with defensive backs. Prior to the return to his alma-mater, he spent three seasons (2007-09) coaching defensive backs and assisting with outside linebackers at Southern High School (Durham, N.C.), helping the Spartans to three straight PAC-6 titles. As a student-athlete at NCCU, George amassed 150 tackles and 10 interceptions, including seven picks during his senior season in 2006, when he earned first team all-CIAA and first team all-region honors.

Jones, who roamed the Eagles' defensive backfield from 1994-97 and served as an assistant coach at NCCU from 2003-06, returns to his college alma-mater after leading his high school alma-mater to the NCHSAA 3-AA state championship title. In his seventh season as the head coach at Southern High School (Durham, N.C.), Jones led the Spartans to the state title in the program's seventh straight playoff appearance under his supervision. As a student-athlete at NCCU, Jones earned first team all-conference and second team all-region honors twice and remains among the school's career leaders in in passes defended (41) and interceptions (10). As an assistant coach at NCCU, he was a part of two CIAA championship teams (2005 and 2006), including the 2006 black college national championship squad. Jones played in the Arena Football League for four seasons (2000-03) with the Carolina Cobras, Augusta Stallions and Greensboro Prowlers. He also worked as the defensive coordinator for the South Georgia Wildcats of the AFL2 in 2006.

Eastman boasts 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, including the last nine seasons as the defensive coordinator at Austin Peay State University in Clarkesville, Tenn.  He has interned with five NFL teams since 2002, lending his services to the Detroit Lions (2002), Arizona Cardinals (2004), Tennessee Titans (2006), Indianapolis Colts (2011) and Minnesota Vikings (2012). During his 11 seasons at APSU, he coached defensive backs and linebackers, and also served as special teams coordinator (2003-04) and interim head coach (winter 2013). Eastman was also defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for three seasons at Tiffin (Ohio) University. A native of Toronto, Canada, Eastman secured his first coaching position at York University in his hometown, where he spent two seasons (1994-95) working with defensive backs. He then served as a defensive graduate assistant for three seasons (1996-98) at Arkansas State University, earning a master's degree in sociology in 1999. Eastman played defensive back at St. Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, from 1989-92.

Buckner comes to NCCU after serving as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Savannah State University during the 2013 campaign. He spent two seasons (2011-12) as the wide receivers/tight ends coach at Jackson State University, after working as a graduate assistant coach at JSU in 2010. In 2011, Jackson State boasted the most prolific offense in the nation, topping the NCAA Division I-FCS ranks with an average of 490 yards of total offense per game, including 348 yards through the air. A native of Arlington, Texas, Buckner played both wide receiver (2006-07) and defensive back (2008-09) at New Mexico State University.  In May 2010, he went through OTAs with the Dallas Cowboys.

Taylor has nine years of college coaching to his credit, including the past two seasons at Texas Southern University as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. He spent seven seasons (2005-11) at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Miss., serving as offensive coordinator in the final six years after a year as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach.  A native of McComb, Miss., Taylor played quarterback and wide receiver at Jackson State University from 1998-2001. As a senior, he broke the JSU single-season record with 84 receptions, earned FCS and black college all-America honors, and was the runner-up for the 2001 Conerly Trophy, presented to Mississippi's top college football player, behind Eli Manning. Taylor signed as a rookie free agent with the New England Patriots in 2002, played wide receiver for the NFL Europe World Bowl XI champion Frankfurt Galaxy in 2003, and participated in the 2003 NFL preseason with the Detroit Lions before a nagging injury ended his playing career.

Onyebuagu (pronounced On-yay, booah-gah) spent the previous three seasons on coaching staffs at Syracuse University (2013) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2011-12) as an assistant offensive line coach and offensive graduate assistant. His Syracuse stint ended with a win in the Texas Bowl, while the Tar Heels played in the 2011 Independence Bowl during his first year at North Carolina. He started his coaching career in 2010 as an assistant offensive line coach at his alma-mater Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Ind.  Onyebuagu was a standout offensive lineman at Northern Illinois University, where he played in all 51 games during his career (2006-09), including three bowl game appearances.  As a senior captain in 2009, he earned first team all-Mid-American Conference honors.  In 2010, he was invited to training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars and played for the Milwaukee Mustangs of the Arena Football League in 2011.

McCarthy joins NCCU after spending the past two seasons at Tulane University as an offensive graduate assistant. He also served as an offensive graduate assistant at Western Michigan University during the 2010-11 campaigns. McCarthy made one-year stops at the College of New Jersey as offensive line coach (2009), the New York Jets as scouting and coaching intern (2008), and Rutgers University as a video assistant (2007). He played outside linebacker and long snapper at Widener University in Chester, Pa.

Bradley, who played four seasons in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, spent the last two seasons on the Arkansas State University coaching staff as an assistant with the defensive and offensive lines.  During his two years with ASU, the Red Wolves captured back-to-back Sun Belt Conference titles and posted consecutive GoDaddy.com Bowl victories. A three-time all-conference defensive lineman at Arkansas State, Bradley garnered first team all-Sun Belt honors during his final two seasons after recording eight sacks in 2002 and a team-high four sacks in 2003. A native of West Helena, Ark., he played running back, fullback and defensive line in the NFL, spending three seasons with the Buccaneers (2004-06) and one season with the Lions (2007).

Prior to accepting the role as director of football operations at NCCU, Mitchell spent the past three years at the University of Memphis, working two seasons (2010-11) as the executive assistant to the head football coach and last year as administrative assistant to the deputy athletics director. She successfully completed her master's degree from Memphis in August 2013. From 2008-10, Mitchell served as academic coordinator for athletics and life skills director at her alma-mater Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla.  During her undergraduate career at B-CU, she was a three-year letterwinner in women's basketball and an administrative assistant for football (2003-04) and men's basketball (2004-05). From 2006-08, Mitchell was the coordinator of women's basketball operations at the University of Arizona.

For more information about NCCU football, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Sports Network mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

from THE EDITOR: NCCU – FAMU Look to Make A Statement

vs   
6:00 PM EST
Al Lawson Center, Tallahassee, Florida

Webcast: Rattler Vision

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Who has the best overall record in the MEAC? Who has played the toughest non-conference schedule by far? Who defeated the ACC Conference North Carolina State Wolfpack on the opponent’s home court? That would be the University of North Carolina Central Eagles, who sit tied for second place in the MEAC conference, but may be the best team in the MEAC this year? 

 

At 4-11 the Florida A&M Rattlers do not have as much to talk about. Coming off of their worst game this season against the SEC Auburn Tigers, the Rattlers are still looking to convince others they ...

 

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Fobbs First Staff at Grambling Has Tremendous Experience

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- Since being named the head football coach at Grambling State University, Broderick Fobbs has hit the ground running with recruiting, speaking to student-athletes and assembling a staff.

 Fobbs has had to multi-task as he also developed a recruiting plan. With the majority of the staff in place, Fobbs is concentrating on recruiting as he, the coaches and staff, sell his vision for the program to perspective student-athletes.

"We wanted to recruit coaches, we wanted to make sure that they were from different parts of the state of Louisiana," said Coach Fobbs. "We want to cover every part of the state and make sure we are getting the best student athletes to come to Grambling. It was important that we also found coaches that had the potential to be coordinators here at Grambling. With the way that the coaching industry is, you never know when a coach will earn an opportunity to move on so we wanted to make sure that we brought in coaches that could be promoted within."

On the offensive side of the ball, Eric Dooley will serve as the offensive coordinator and the quarterbacks coach. Dooley spent the 2012 campaign at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, where he helped the Golden Lions become 1^st in rushing and 2^nd in total offense in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

"Coach Dooley has a tremendous amount of experience," said Fobbs "He knows the SWAC, has played in the SWAC and has helped programs such as UAPB get into the top five in total offense, so he will be a tremendous asset."

Reginald Nelson will lead the offensive line. Nelson worked with Fobbs at McNeese State University. He was a consensus Associated Press All American at McNeese in 1998. Nelson served as the offensive line coach from 2007-2011. During the last two years he coached in the high school ranks.

Former Grambling State University quarterback Kendrick Nord will be over the tight ends and will assist the Tigers recruit the state of Alabama. Last season, Nord served as an assistant coach at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia.

Robert "Mickey" Joseph has been named associate head coach and wide receivers coach for the Tigers. He previously served as head coach at Langston University and was a four-year letterman for the University of Nebraska under coaching legend Tom Osborne. Joseph will assist the Tigers in recruiting south Louisiana.

Wayne Cordova will serve as the Director of Player Personnel and Running Backs Coach. Cordova comes to Grambling from Destrehan High School, where he served as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach. Cordova also served as the head coach at St. Augustine High High School in New Orleans, where brought in players like Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu and Lee Doss.

On the defensive side of the ball, Everett Todd will serve as coordinator and direct the defensive line. Todd served as the defensive line coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe the last four years. During the 2007 and 2008 seasons Todd served in the same capacity at the University of New Mexico.

"It was exciting for me to meet with Coach Todd." said Fobbs. "After speaking with Coach Todd I knew that I had to have him as part of the staff."

Nathaniel Brown will serve as the defensive backs coach. He was a graduate assistant under Todd in 2012 and then moved to Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. as the pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2013. Millsaps ended the campaign ranked in the top 25 in the NCAA Division II.

There will be two more staff members that will assist the football team and help the athletic department return to excellence. Grambling State University legend Lee Fobbs will serve as the director of football operations and recruiting coordinator. Lee Fobbs was a standout student-athlete under Grambling State University's Eddie Robinson, and he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from the division one level. He has served as an assistant coach at Baylor University, the University of Alabama and the University of Minnesota, and has been a head coach in the high school and college ranks.

Jarwarski Beckum will direct the student-athletes in the Grambling State University Athletic Department as the strength and conditioning coach. Beckum comes to Tigerland from the University of Alabama. He was a part of the Crimson Tide national championship coaching staff assisting the team with sports performance.

"Now that we have this core together, we can get to work." said Fobbs. "I've had a chance to meet with the student-athletes and let them know that we want 110 percent not only on the field, but in the classroom as well."

COURTESY GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Brian Jenkins declines Jackson State interview, B-CU AD says

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  -- Bethune-Cookman athletic director Lynn Thompson granted permission to Jackson State to talk with Wildcats football coach Brian Jenkins, but Jenkins informed the Southwestern Athletic Conference school that he was not interested in making a move, Thompson said.

“I received a call Tuesday night (from Jackson State athletic director Vivian Fuller) asking permission to talk to Brian, and we granted them permission,” Thompson said. “(Wednesday night) Brian informed me that he told them he was flattered, but he was happy where he is. I think he declined an opportunity to sit and talk to them.”

Jackson State, which fired coach Rick Comegy on ...

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Harold Jackson a primary target in Jackson State coaching search

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- Jackson State may be turning to its past for its next football coach.

Harold Jackson, a former JSU wide receiver who later starred in the NFL, has emerged as perhaps the leading candidate in Jackson State’s football coach search. Jackson, who has held assistant coaching jobs in the NFL and at major colleges, has applied for the opening and is expected to travel to Jackson today.

A source with knowledge of the search committee’s thinking has told The Clarion-Ledger that Jackson is expected to become the next Jackson State coach. Footballscoop.com also tweeted on Friday that Jackson would be hired by Jackson State, perhaps as early as Monday.

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Southern University settles lawsuits; rehires former employee, agrees to pay former athletic director

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- The Southern University Board of Supervisors Friday decided to end their fights with two employees, agreeing to settle out of court. The board decided to pay Greg LaFleur, the university’s former athletic director $150,000, roughly half of what was left on his contract.

Southern fired LaFleur in April 2011 after he allegedly solicited prostitution from an undercover police officer Houston. LaFleur was in Texas attending the NCAA Final Four tournament to recruit for Southern’s basketball team when he was arrested.

LaFleur, however, was found not guilty in Jan. 2012, and sued Southern for the remaining salary left on his contract. The university and LaFleur were scheduled to bring the case to the 19th Judicial Court in Baton Rouge on Jan. 22.

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SWAC upholds fine, road games for Grambling

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference on Thursday upheld the league’s decision to reprimand Grambling State stemming from an October forfeit against Jackson State.

Grambling will be required to pay a $50,000 fine, along with road trips to Jackson, Miss., in both 2014 and 2016 to help offset JSU’s lost revenue from the Oct. 19 game which Grambling’s players boycotted.

“The league is now looking forward to moving on to ensure this situation does not happen again,” SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp said in a statement.

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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 ...



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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.

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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 ...

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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.

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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