VSU suspends for semester football player charged in fight

RICHMOND, Virginia  -- Virginia State University has suspended for one semester the football player who was charged in the fight that led to the cancellation of the CIAA championship football game in November.

VSU running back Lamont Britt was charged with assault after the fight that left the opposing quarterback for Winston-Salem State University with cuts around his eye.

Michael M. Shackleford, VSU’s vice president for student affairs, said Britt’s case, which was scheduled to be heard this week in Forsyth County, N.C., was continued.

Shackleford announced the suspension at a meeting today of the board of visitors.

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Ex-Roosevelt High/UAPB star James “Red” Mack Allen, who died Friday at 73, was “brilliant” basketball player

LOXAHATCHEE, Florida — James “Red” Mack Allen was remembered Wednesday as a hot-shooting, yet humble, basketball superstar who pushed himself to the limit on every play.

Mr. Allen, an undersized shooting guard who starred at West Palm’s old Roosevelt High School and went on to set records at Arkansas AM&N College — now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff — died Friday at the age of 73. He lived in Loxahatchee.

Willie Goldsmith, Mr. Allen’s childhood friend, high school teammate and college roommate, recalled a quiet young man who excelled on the basketball court.

“He was the greatest shooter who ever lived,” Goldsmith said of Mr. Allen, who at 5-feet-10 and 155 pounds was significantly smaller than most of the players who defended him. “He was a legend in high school. There’s no question. He led us to the state championship our senior year. He was our leading scorer.”

Mr. Allen’s hot hand continued in college, where he led his team and conference in scoring all four years. He averaged 28.6 points per game for the Golden Lions and finished his career with more than 2,800 points.

He was inducted into the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2006.

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Photo: James “Red” Mack Allen, in a freshman yearbook photo from Roosevelt High School, was a star basketball player at the school. He went on to lead his Arkansas AM&N College team in scoring and was invited to the 1964 U.S. Olympic trials. Mr. Allen died Friday at the age of 73. (Photo provided by Willie Goldsmith)

Funeral services for Mr. Allen will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 17 at Palm Beach Lakes Church of Christ, 4067 Leo Lane, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Southern’s Hyder out indefinitely

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern starting point guard Christopher Hyder could miss the rest of the season because of a blood clot in his left shoulder.

Hyder, a sophomore from Dallas, played through pain in the shoulder the past two games. When the pain didn’t subside in the wake of the Jaguars’ 60-36 victory against Jackson State on Monday, Hyder underwent more thorough testing, which revealed the blood clot.

Coach Roman Banks said Wednesday tha
t one of Hyder’s ribs “is pinching on an artery,” which led to the clot.

Hyder is taking blood-thinning medication to treat the clot and will undergo surgery in the next two or three weeks to relieve the pressure on the artery.

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Alabama State guards Jamel Waters, DeMarcus Robinson forming dynamic duo

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- A combination that could've possibly led to infighting and a logjam at the point guard position do to a duplication of duties has worked out almost perfectly for Alabama State this season.

Led by a pair of 5-foot-10 guards sophomore Jamel Waters and junior college transfer DeMarcus Robinson, the Hornets (9-6) are 3-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, heading into their matchup against arch-rival Alabama State at home Saturday. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.

"We're both not selfish," said Waters, a Birmingham native who played prep ball at Ramsay High School. "If he's on one night, I'll keep feeding him. If I'm on, he'll keep feeding me and we feed off each other."

They've both been eating.



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Five: Breaking down Jackson State's coaching hire

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- Jackson State nearly went four weeks without a football coach. But the official announcement arrived this week — Harold Jackson is the guy. A former JSU football great with a storied NFL playing career and slew of coaching experiences, Jackson was lauded by many — but not all.

Others were left questioning the decision to hire the 68-year-old who’s spent the last year coaching football camps in Los Angeles. Let’s dive into the hire:

Was Harold Jackson the best candidate?

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Former Apopka RB Tom Smith confirms transfer from UT to Tennessee State

TOM SMITH 
(Courtesy: UT Athletics)
 

ORLANDO, Florida  -- Former Apopka running back Tom Smith, who graduated high school with the class of 2011, has decided to transfer to Tennessee State after being granted his scholarship release from the University of Tennessee last month.

Smith confirmed the transfer Thursday morning but was busy and will talk more about the move later.

Smith, who played sparingly his freshman season and redshirted his second year at UT, was a back-up this past season as a redshirt-sophomore, seeing limited action. He had 95 yards on 24 carries.

He entered college at the same time as fellow UT running back and former Daytona Beach Mainland star Marlin Lane, who has rushed for 1,536 yards and eight touchdowns during his first three seasons.

Smith, 5-11, 205, was the No. 8-ranked player in the Sentinel's 2011 Central Florida Super60, while Lane, who was coming off knee surgery for an injury during his junior year, was ranked No. 9.

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Ryan Griffin forgoes NFL draft, returns for JSU's 2014 season

RYAN GRIFFIN'
5'-11"  185 lbs. OLB
(Courtesy: JSU ATHLETICS)

 

JACKSON, Mississippi  - Ryan Griffin sat down with his family on Monday, needing to give them a decision — NFL draft or school?

The next day, the Michigan native was back on the Jackson State campus.

Griffin announced in December that he was declaring for the NFL draft. He had gone through the process and filled out the paperwork. But the feedback he received made the answer clear — he should return for his senior year.

“Most of the people who were talking to me said I was going to be a late draft pick, sixth or seventh, or even if, a projected free agent,” said Griffin, who is majoring in business.

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Punter/kicker Scandrett, offensive tackle Taylor early commits to S.C. State

ORANGEBURG, North Carolina  -- Looking to fill 16 vacancies created by graduation, the South Carolina State football team is in the early stages of putting together its newest freshman class.

The 2013 co-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions are scheduled to invite as many as 12 high school senior prospects next weekend for a campus visit. This includes two early verbal commitments in placekicker/punter Tyler Scandrett and offensive tackle Christian Taylor.

A three-year starter and All-State honorable mention at Lamar County High School in Barnesville, Ga., Scandrett was 23-28 in field goals for his career with the Trojans. His most important kick came this past December during the semifinals of the Georgia High School Association Class 2-A playoffs when he booted a game-winning 25-yard field goal to send Lamar County to the championship game at the Georgia Dome where it fell 14-7 to Lovett.

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Schaeffer joins FAMU baseball staff

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- He wanted to know why Shouppe, a former pitching coach at Florida State for more than two decades, didn’t want to do the job himself. And he wanted to know how his son, Matthew, a pitcher that Shouppe recruited during the off season, felt about having him as his coach.

Shouppe explained that his mission to upgrade the FAMU program wouldn’t allow him time enough to give the Rattlers’ pitching staff what it really needed. And Schaeffer’s son felt it was a golden opportunity for his dad to coach on the college level.

That was enough for Schaeffer, who has a track record for producing college prospects from his years with a successful travel team, to join Shouppe’s staff as a volunteer.

Now he has the task of turning around one of the nation’s least successful pitching staffs. FAMU ranked No. 291 in team ERA (7.19) among the 296 Division-I programs last season.

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Ram Ramblings: WSSU absolutely made the right move in hiring Boulware

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- If Kienus “Perez” Boulware is as organized as his opening remarks at his news conference on Tuesday then Winston-Salem State fans won’t have to worry.

Boulware sat down in between Athletics Director Bill Hayes and Chancellor Donald Reaves at a table and was prepared. He cheated a little bit while glancing at his iPad as he tried to thank everybody who helped him along the way.

For Boulware, a Thomasville native, you could tell it really meant a lot for him to be named a head coach for the first time.

He calmly went through the litany of ...




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Boulware says he's ready to take on new challenge

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- At some point, Kienus Boulware had to take the plunge.

After a long and very successful career as an assistant football coach, he said he is ready for the challenge of being a head coach. He’ll get that chance at Winston-Salem State, where he was promoted Tuesday from defensive coordinator.

Boulware, 40, spent 14 seasons as an assistant at four CIAA schools, staying in the background while helping Livingstone, Shaw, N.C. Central and WSSU combine to win seven conference titles.

“As far as my time in coaching, I’ve worked for four head coaches, and the last three of them went onto other jobs for more money,” Boulware said. “I had a choice to either continue to be on that path as an assistant or try to test my theories as a head coach — and that’s what I decided to do.”

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UAB granted permission to speak to Bethune-Cookman head coach Brian Jenkins

UPDATE: AL.com reporter Drew Champlin notes that Jenkins will indeed interview for the UAB head coaching job today, January 16.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - UAB has asked for and been granted permission to speak to Bethune-Cookman head coach Brian Jenkins.

Bethune-Cookman spokesperson Bryan Harvey, assistant athletics director for communications, said that UAB contacted athletics director Lynn W. Thompson on Sunday seeking permission to speak with Jenkins. Thompson granted UAB permission, but Harvey said that's all the information he had at this time.

It's unclear if there will be an interview at this point.

News of UAB's interest in Jenkins was first reported by CoachingSearch.com.

Jenkins has been at Bethune-Cookman for ...

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Academic Reform Hits NCAA Division II

SAN DIEGO, California -- A little more than two years ago, at the direction of National Collegiate Athletic Association President Mark Emmert, the college presidents who lead Division I approved an "academic reform" legislative package. The rules have been phased in since then and take full effect this year.

Now, Division II is taking a similar approach.

A series of proposals that will likely be approved at the Division II Board of Directors meeting, taking place here at the annual NCAA convention this week, increases the various academic requirements athletes must meet to participate in their sport.

The rules strongly resemble those passed in Division I, but are not an imitation of them, Division II leaders say. While Division II has been "reviewing" the progress in the more competitive athletic conferences during the 18 months it took to reach this point, "the timing was right" for change, said Maritza Jones, director of Division II for the NCAA.

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Tickets on sale for next week's XU-Dillard Crosstown Classic

NEW ORLEANS — Tickets for the Crosstown Classic, a basketball doubleheader involving city rivals Xavier University of Louisiana and Dillard, are on sale.
      

The Crosstown Classic will be played Saturday, Jan. 25 at XU's Convocation Center. The women's game will start at 5 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7.

Advance tickets cost $5 and are available:

•  Jan. 21-23 in room 322 (third floor) of the Convocation Center Annex (3775 Fern St., New Orleans LA 70125) between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m..
      
•  Online at the XU Alumni Relations page. Start by visiting xulaalumni.com. From the drop-down menu at the top of the page, click "Upcoming Events," then select "Purchase Tickets," then, on the new page, select "2014 Crosstown Classic." Major credit cards are accepted.
        
Students with a valid XU identification card can visit the Office of Student Services (room 305B, third floor of the University Center) and receive one free ticket with an ID card swipe on Friday (Jan. 17) or Jan. 21-23 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
      
Tickets will be available at the Convocation Center box office beginning at 4 p.m. the day of the game. Tickets purchased on game day will cost $10.
      
The Xavier-Dillard men's series dates to January 1948 and is the oldest college basketball rivalry involving two New Orleans teams. The Xavier-Dillard women's series began during the 1977-78 season.

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

Tuskegee Golden Tigers Releases 2014 Football Schedule

Five early season home games highlight Tuskegee schedule for next season

TUSKEGEE, Alabama  -- The Tuskegee University Department of Athletics released its 2014 Football Schedule today. The Golden Tigers finished 8-3 in 2013 while making history by making the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time, and will look to capitalize on that momentum.

An immediate benefit of the new schedule is the increase in home games played on the TU campus.  Director of Athletics Curtis Campbell directly addressed the issue of a relative lack of games played at home over the last couple of years, and Willie Slater's team will have five games at Cleve L. Abbott Stadium.  Four of those home games will take place during the first five weeks of the season.

Tuskegee opens up with Alabama A&M coming to Tuskegee to play the Golden Tigers.  After traveling to Huntsville to pick up the victory against the Division I SWAC member last season in a 23-7 victory, Tuskegee will welcome the Bulldogs in their first game on the gridiron in the historic town since the early '90's. 

The schedule will pick up the following week, as TU will play the defending SIAC Champion Albany State Rams at home.  Tuskegee was the only one of ASU's four opponents at home that was able to defeat the Rams, as the Golden Tigers earned a 19-13 victory in Week 2.

The third week of the season will see Tuskegee make their only road contest of the first five weeks. 

The Golden Tigers will look to get payback against the Winston-Salem State Rams, the only other HBCU in Division II to qualify for the NCAA Playoffs in 2013.  Tuskegee fought hard in the first half of the 2013 Cleveland Classic, before WSSU managed to pull away late in a 35-13 loss. 

Lane College will then travel to Tuskegee to wrap up the month of September, as Tuskegee will look to earn another win against the Dragons.  The Golden Tigers defeated Lane 42-14 in their largest margin of victory during a road game last year.

Fort Valley State will make the trip to Tuskegee during the first week of October, as the Wildcats will be the fourth team in five weeks to play inside Cleve L. Abbott Stadium.  The Golden Tigers were able to overcome key injuries during the road trip in 2013 to pull out a 21-13 victory against FVSU. 

The first of two road games after the Fort Valley State contest will take place the following week in Columbus, GA, as TU will partake in the annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic for their only neutral site game of the year.  Tuskegee earned their largest margin of victory during this past season against the Maroon Tigers, as Slater's offense scored early and often in a 54-10 victory.

A trip to Tuscaloosa will mark Tuskegee's final road trip before Homecoming, as a date with the Stillman Tigers awaits.  This will mark the first trip to Stillman since a regionally televised 16-0 victory two seasons ago; Tuskegee defeated their in-state rivals 35-7 this past season.

The Homecoming game in late October will feature Kentucky State for the second time in the past three seasons.  Over the past two years, the Golden Tigers have defeated the Thorobreds by an average of 33 points per game.

Road games at the end of the season will include Tuskegee's first-ever trip to Wilberforce, OH to play Central State University, and the annual SIAC West Division showdown in Fairfield, AL against Miles College.  Over the past two seasons, this very game has determined the champion of the SIAC West Division, with each team winning the game in the other team's home stadium.

2014 TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date		Opponent	Location	Time
9/6/2014		Alabama A&M University	Cleve L. Abbott Stadium	1:00 p.m.
9/13/2014		Albany State University	Cleve L. Abbott Stadium	1:00 p.m.
9/20/2014		Winston-Salem State University	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	1:30 p.m.
9/27/2014	*	Lane College	Cleve L. Abbott Stadium	1:00 p.m.
10/4/2014	*	Fort Valley State University	Cleve L. Abbott Stadium	1:00 p.m.
79th Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic
10/11/2014	*	Morehouse College	Columbus, Georgia	2:00 p.m.
10/18/2014	*	Stillman College	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	1:00 p.m.
90th Annual Tuskegee University Homecoming
10/25/2014	*	Kentucky State University	Cleve L. Abbott Stadium	1:00 p.m.
11/1/2014	*	Central State University	Wilberforce, Ohio	1:30 p.m.
11/8/2014	*	Miles College	Fairfield, Alabama	4:00 p.m.

Neutral Site Games are in italics

* denotes a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest

BY: Michael Stewart, Sports Information Director,

COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

ADVOCATE Podcast: The Southern Jaguars athletics report

In this edition of "The Southern athletics report" Advocate Online Sports Editor Pierce W. Huff and Advocate sportswriter Les East review past games and preview upcoming games played by the Southern men's and women's basketball teams.

READ MORE

Getting to know Tennessee State's Julie McCarthy

 

JULIE McCARTHY
Hometown: Honefoss, Norway
Major: Civil Engineering
(COURTESY: TSU ATHLETICS)

Julie McCarthy,  6-2 Freshman Center

What do you love most about TSU?

The energy

What are your expectations for this season?

To do as good as we can with all this potential

What will you do to help Tennessee State Women’s basketball be successful?

Bring energy to the court

What are you looking forward to most this season?

To feel how the level in basketball is in comparison to Norway

What can Lady Tiger fans expect to see from you on the court?

commitment

What do you do to get ready for a game?

Eat my favorite breakfast

What do you enjoy do outside of basketball?

Sleeping and reading

What is something unique about you that you want to tell Lady Tiger fans?

I don’t like fast food…apparently that is unique in America

What is your favorite food?

Soddsuppe (Norwegian tradition food that is really really good).

What is your favorite movie?

Seven

Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers  http://www.facebook.com/tsutigers,  Twitter @TSU_Tigers  http://www.twitter.com/tsu_tigers, Instagram http://instagram.com/tsutigers# and Youtube  http://www.youtube.com/tnstatetigers

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former Howard Bison Pep Hamilton a candidate for Vanderbilt job

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- To no surprise, Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton is in the running for a head coaching job.

Hamilton, who just completed his first season running the Colts' offense, is a candidate for the Vanderbilt head coaching job, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday night. Vanderbilt is looking for replacement for James Franklin, who left to coach Penn State last weekend.

Hamilton, who has college and NFL coaching experience, is a smart coach who the players easily gravitated to.

Did he deserve grief for some of his play calls last season?

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Former B-CU QB Pa'tell Troutman to coach Atlantic football

PORT ORANGE, Florida — Pa'tell Troutman will take over as Atlantic's new head football coach, athletic director Tim Smith said Thursday.

Troutman, 35, is a former Bethune-Cookman quarterback who served as offensive coordinator at DeLand during the 2012 season. He replaces Smith, who stepped down as football coach in November.

“I am a former Seabreeze guy, and I coached with Kerry Cramer back in the mid-'90s when Pa'tell played for us,” Smith said. “I got to know him through that, and I followed him from there ever since. I thought he would be a good fit for the kids.”

Troutman, who did not coach in 2013, said he was happy to land his first head coaching job.

“I was excited, nervous and overwhelmed,” he said of his reaction to the news. “I just had to sit back and think about how my life got to this point.”

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THE PA'TELL TROUTMAN FILE

• 5'11", 200 lbs., Age: 35
• BCU Quarterback 1997-2000: 1998 MEAC Rookie of the Year...In 1999, he threw for 1,042 yards and rushed for 1,023 for a combined 16 TDs...Finished career as the all-time rushing QB...
• Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 2001. Was released after rookie mini camp.
• 2002: Slotback, Quarterback with Canadian Football League Saskatchewan Roughriders...Saw action in six games.
• Played in Germany for the Munich Cowboys (2002) and Berlin Adler (2004).
• Spent 2006 on the practice squad of the Philadelphia Soul in the Arena Football League.
• 2012: Offensive Coordinator at Deland High School (Florida).
• 2014: Head Football Coach, Atlantic High School, Port Orange, Florida.

-beepbeep

B-CU safety Addison says he will forego senior season to try to play in the NFL

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Although he hasn’t gotten the feedback he had hoped for, Bethune-Cookman safety Nick Addison said Tuesday he plans to forego his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

“After the season, I did some thinking and I felt I was ready to make the next step,” Addison said. “I want to be able to better my future and help my family financially.”

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound junior from Rivierview Spoto High was a two-time All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference first-teamer. He was named to the Associated Press FCS All-America second team in 2013.

Addison tied for the MEAC lead in interceptions with five this season after intercepting four passes in 2012.

He returned one interception for a touchdown in 2013 and tied for second on the team with 64 tackles. He also had one fumble recovery and forced two fumbles.




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Former mentors say WSSU’s Boulware was destined to be a coach

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- When Kienus Boulware arrived at North Carolina in the early 1990s after a stellar career at Thomasville High School, he wasn’t intimidated by his surroundings, said Mack Brown, UNC’s coach at the time.

Brown, who went on to coach at Texas and recently retired, said he remembers Boulware as a hard-hitting linebacker.

“Perez (the name under which Boulware played in high school and college) was an outstanding player for us,” Brown said in a recent telephone interview from Austin, Texas. “He was a smart player and a good player and … he was even coaching when he was a player.”

Boulware played two seasons for the Tar Heels before a spinal-cord injury ended his career. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, Boulware — who was 20 at the time — took up Brown’s offer to become ...

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More votes for Nuggets, but still short of NAIA's top 25

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana received more support Tuesday in the NAIA Division I women's basketball coaches poll but still fell short of the top 25.

The Gold Nuggets (13-6) received 39 points and are 27th overall. They needed 60 points to reach the top 25. Xavier received five points and was 34th one week ago.

Helping Xavier's climb was a 74-52 home victory Saturday against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and city rival SUNO, which was tied for 28th last week.

It's the third poll in a row that Xavier is out of the top 25 after 45 consecutive appearances. The Gold Nuggets were 15sth in the preseason.

"If we keep winning, everything else will take care of itself," said XU coach Bo Browder, whose team has won nine of its last 10 games. "When we're ready to play, we can compete with anybody. When we're not ready to play, we can lose to anybody."

The GCAC's lone top-25 team is Talladega, which climbed from 12th to 10th. The Lady Tornadoes will visit Xavier at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Xavier will play host to Edward Waters at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Vanguard received 9-of-10 first-place votes and is No. 1 for the fourth time in as many polls this season.

The next rankings will be announced next Tuesday (Jan. 21).

The top 25:

1. Vanguard
2. Freed-Hardeman
3. Oklahoma City
4. Westminster (Utah)
5. MidAmerica Nazarene
6. Oklahoma Baptist
7. Georgetown (Ky.)
8. Campbellsville
9. The Master's
10. Talladega
11. Our Lady of the Lake
12. Westmont
13. Bethel (Tenn.)
14. Wiley
15. Montana State-Northern
16. Coastal Georgia
17. Columbia (Mo.)
18. Lewis-Clark State
19. John Brown
20. Hope International
21. Baker
22. Cumberlands
23. Benedictine (Kan.)
24. Martin Methodist
25. LSU-Shreveport

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

Gold Rush climb into tie for 22nd in NAIA coaches poll

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana continued its progress in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25. The Gold Rush climbed two places into a tie for 22nd Tuesday.

The Gold Rush (14-4) are in the top 25 for the 28th consecutive time -- the longest active streak in the division -- and the 41st time in the last 42 polls.

Xavier is tied with Lewis-Clark State in the rankings and is one of three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference teams in the top 25. Talladega is No. 8, and Philander Smith is tied for 16th.

Talladega will visit Xavier at 7:30 p.m. Monday and will be the second top-10 team to visit the Convocation Center this season. Xavier defeated the other top-10, William Carey, 90-80 in overtime on Dec. 3.

Xavier's next game will start at 5 p.m. Saturday at home against Edward Waters. The Gold Rush have won a season-high five straight and 9-of-10. Xavier allowed less than 60 points in each of its last five games, the first time that's happened since January 2009.

Pikeville received 9-of-10 first-place votes to earn the No. 1 ranking for the second consecutive week.

The next rankings will be announced next Tuesday (Jan. 21).

The top 25:

1. Pikeville
2. Southwestern Assemblies of God
3. Cal State San Marcos
4. Columbia (Mo.)
5. Evangel
6. Freed-Hardeman
7. Arizona Christian
8. Talladega
9. William Carey
10. Concordia (Calif.)
11. St. Gregory's
12. Wiley
13. Culver-Stockton
14. St. Catharine (Ky.)
15. Benedictine (Kan.)
16. (tie) Emmanuel (Ga.)
16. (tie) Philander Smith
18. Georgetown (Ky.)
19. Westminster (Utah)
20. Vanguard
21. Mid-America Christian
22. (tie) Xavier
22. (tie) Lewis-Clark State
24. Wayland Baptist
25. Hope International

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

It’s official: WSSU introduces Boulware as coach

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Kienus Boulware was introduced as Winston-Salem State’s next head football coach at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon at the Bowman Gray Stadium fieldhouse.

Boulware, 40, emerged from more than 200 applicants to be promoted from defensive coordinator, where he spent the last four seasons helping WSSU accumulate a 45-6 record and national-power status in NCAA Division II.

“This is a dream job and I’m at a dream school,” Boulware said. “I’m extremely happy that this day has come.”

Boulware, a Thomasville native and a former player at North Carolina, has spent 14 seasons as an ...


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Ex-FAMU football player's family files lawsuit in fatal police shooting

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Attorneys for the family of a former Florida A&M football player fatally shot by police in Charlotte, North Carolina, have filed a civil lawsuit against several parties connected to his death.

According to the complaint filed Monday by Jonathan Ferrell's mother, the family is targeting the city of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe and the shooter, Officer Randall Kerrick.

The mother, Georgia Ferrell, said Tuesday that she hopes the lawsuit will lead to changes in the way Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are trained.

"I don't know if it will bring peace, but I hope and pray that (in) doing this ... that they get the proper training," Ferrell said at a news conference, flanked by her two attorneys.

Kerrick shot an unarmed Ferrell, 24, in September after a woman -- home alone with her 1-year-old child -- called 911 and reported that someone was trying to break down her front door.


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