Rush beat 20th-ranked Panthers to remain atop GCAC

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- Anthony Goode scored 14 points and keyed a late first-half run which helped Xavier University of Louisiana earn an 83-78 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Philander Smith in a matchup of ranked NAIA teams.

The Gold Rush (18-5, 7-1), ranked 13th, won for the ninth time in 10 games and snapped the five-game win streak of the Panthers (16-6, 5-2), ranked 20th. Philander Smith had not lost at home since Nov. 12.

Xavier is the only GCAC team with one loss and holds a 1½-game lead over Philander Smith, Talladega and Edward Waters. Talladega lost 89-84 in overtime at Voorhees.

Sydney Coleman scored 13 points for Xavier, and Morris Wright and RJ Daniels scored 10 apiece.

D'Alvin Brown, with 19 points, was the Panthers' lone double-figure scorer. Philander Smith entered the game averaging 93 points and had five players averaging in double figures.

Xavier, led by Goode's six points, outscored Philander Smith 17-2 in the final five minutes of the first half to turn a 35-27 deficit into a 44-37 lead at halftime. The Panthers tied the score three times in the second half, but a Daniels 3-pointer with 13:27 remaining put the Gold Rush ahead to stay, 54-51.

Xavier led by 11 points twice in the final five minutes.

Aquill Baynard missed a 3-pointer which would have tied the score with six seconds remaining. Coleman grabbed the rebound, was fouled and made two free throws to clinch Xavier's fifth consecutive road victory.

It was the first time since 2009 that the Gold Rush won on the road against a ranked opponent. It was Xavier's second victory this season against a ranked team.

Xavier outshot the Panthers 52 to 41.7 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 35-25. All 10 Gold Rush players scored. Lucas Martin-Julien, Xavier Rogers and Olivier Siewe scored nine points apiece, and Martin-Julien grabbed a career-best nine rebounds.

Xavier had three second-half turnovers after committing 13 in the opening half.

Xavier and Philander Smith will meet again Feb. 17 at XU's Convocation Center. The next Gold Rush game will start at 5 p.m. Saturday at conference and city rival SUNO.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Gold Nuggets lose for first time in conference this season

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- Jerricka Scott scored a season-high 30 points Monday and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Philander Smith to an 83-59 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball upset of NAIA No. 23 Xavier University of Louisiana.

The Lady Panthers (14-11, 5-2) ended the five-game win streak of the Gold Nuggets (17-7, 7-1).

Xavier never led. Philander Smith outscored the Gold Nuggets 28-6 in the first 13 minutes and led 36-19 at halftime. Xavier never got closer than 12 points in the second half, the last time after Whitney Gathright's basket with 13:37 remaining made it 49-37.

Gathright, with 21 points, was Xavier's only double-figure scorer. She also had six assists. Chelsea Broussard had eight points and five rebounds.

Scott, a junior forward and an All-GCAC selection a year ago, was 8-of-10 from the floor, made her only 3-point attempt and was 13-of-18 from the line. Caryan Jones scored 14 points for Philander Smith, and Kanesha Merritt had 12.

Philander Smith outshot the Gold Nuggets 51.8 to 31.9 percent from the floor. Xavier made its first 11 free throws and finished 11-of-12 -- Gathright made all eight of her attempts -- and Philander Smith was 22-of-30. The Lady Panthers committed 23 turnovers and gained 28.

The loss was the fifth in Xavier's last 60 GCAC games. It was the Gold Nuggets' first double-digit loss in a conference game since 2009 and largest loss in a conference game since 2000.

Xavier and Philander Smith will meet again Feb. 17 at XU's Convocation Center.

Xavier will visit GCAC and city rival SUNO at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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NCCU Eagles Releases 2014 Football Schedule

NCCU Announces 'Quality' Football Schedule in Mack's First year as Head Coach

Complete Schedule       Printable Football Schedule (PDF)  

DURHAM, North Carolina  --  North Carolina Central University's 12-game 2014 football schedule features six home games, an NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent, a program transitioning to the FBS level, and three teams that competed in the NCAA playoffs last season.

"This is a quality schedule," said first-year NCCU football head coach Jerry Mack. "We open up with East Carolina, who won a bowl game last year and is a high-caliber FBS program. We play a Charlotte team that is transitioning to the FBS level; and we face three opponents that participated in the NCAA playoffs last season (Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State and Towson), including a Towson squad that played in the national championship game.

"Our fans will be excited to see the level of competition we are playing in 2014," Mack said.

NCCU kicks off the 2014 season on Aug. 30 with its first gridiron meeting against East Carolina in Greenville, N.C. The Pirates will be playing in their first season in the American Athletic Conference after a 17-year run in Conference USA. ECU is coming off one of its best campaigns in school history, compiling a 10-3 overall record, including a win over Ohio in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl.

The Eagles' home-opener on Sept. 6 is against an old acquaintance from their CIAA days, Elizabeth City State. The contest is a rematch of the 2006 CIAA Championship Game, which NCCU won on a last-second field goal to cap a perfect 11-0 regular season. The Eagles lead the series with ECSU 19-8, including victories in nine of the last 11 meetings.

NCCU returns to O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Sept. 13 to host Charlotte for the first time. The 49ers ended last year's inaugural gridiron campaign with a 5-6 record, the first loss being handed to them by the Eagles in the Queen City. Charlotte will be playing in its final season as an FCS independent before moving to the FBS ranks as a member of Conference USA in 2015.

In week four, the Eagles leave their home state for the first time, travelling up to Maryland to challenge Towson on Sept. 20. The Tigers posted a 13-3 record last season, including a road win at NCCU, and advanced to the NCAA Division I-FCS national championship game.

After a bye week, NCCU begins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play by hosting Howard on Oct. 4. This will be the Bison's first visit to the Bull City since 1994. The Eagles beat Howard last season in the nation's capital, but the Bison still hold a 9-8-1 series advantage.

NCCU journeys to South Carolina State on Oct. 11 for the first of two straight road games. The Bulldogs posted a 9-4 overall record last season, including a 7-1 conference mark to earn a share of the MEAC title. SCSU has won eight of the last nine matchups with NCCU to take a 12-9 series lead. The Eagles have not won in Orangeburg, S.C., since 1972, their only win south of the border since the two teams first met in 1927.

On Oct. 18, NCCU continues its two-game road swing at Morgan State in Baltimore, Md. These two programs have ruined each other's homecoming festivities for the past two seasons. The Bears have won six of the last eight meetings with the Eagles to extend their series cushion to 23-13-2.

The Eagles return home on Oct. 25 to host Savannah State. NCCU has won the last two meetings with the Tigers, both in Georgia, to push its series advantage to 6-2-1. In the last match-up in Durham in 2011, Savannah State edged the Eagles 33-30.

The month of November begins with NCCU's longest road trip of the season, a 1,140-mile round-trip venture to Daytona Beach, Fla., to challenge last year's MEAC co-champion Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 1. In 2013, the Wildcats amassed a 10-3 overall record and a 7-1 league tally to advance to the NCAA playoffs. The Eagles defeated Bethune-Cookman in the first meeting back in 1994, but the Wildcats have beaten NCCU in each of the last four contests since 2010.

Homecoming festivities will surround the Nov. 8 home game against Hampton. The Eagles beat the Pirates in their last trip to Durham in 2012, but that is NCCU's only win during the last nine contests in the series, which Hampton leads 18-6.

NCCU's final regular-season road game is at Norfolk State on Nov. 15. The Eagles have not played the Spartans in Virginia since 1995. NCCU defeated Norfolk State 24-13 last season in Durham to earn a 6-5 edge in the series.

The Eagles close out the regular season at home with the 86th meeting against rival North Carolina A&T on Nov. 22. Two years ago in Durham, in front of a sellout crowd at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, the match-up ended in overtime for the fourth time in the past 17 contests between the in-state rivals. Last year's victory by the Aggies improved their series lead to 49-31-5.

NCCU will hold its spring football game on Friday, April 11 at 6 p.m. inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

Details about NCCU football season tickets will be announced at a later date.

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



COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Ex-NFL player joins staff of Jackson State

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- Another former NFL player expects to join Jackson State’s coaching staff.

Paul Spicer, who spent a majority of his playing career with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2000-09, is expected to be named the Tigers defensive line coach. Former Southern Methodist lineman Tommy Poynter is also expected to join the staff, likely as the offensive line coach. A university source confirmed the hires Friday to The Clarion-Ledger.

Spicer would work alongside head coach Harold Jackson and defensive coordinator Derrick Burroughs, both whom played in the NFL.

Spicer, who played defensive end, officially retired from the NFL in 2011 and served as an assistant defensive line coach for the Jaguars in 2012.

CONTINUE READING 

Ready for prime time? Alabama A&M hosting Prairie View on live ESPNU broadcast tonight

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama  -- Fresh from a thrilling one-point victory over Texas Southern, the Alabama A&M Bulldogs have some national television exposure tonight.

The Bulldogs (7-11 overall, 6-4 in the SWAC) host Prairie View A&M (6-14, 4-4) at 8:05 (C.T.), with ESPNU broadcasting the game live from Elmore Gymnasium. A&M officials have been encouraging fans to make banners and help create a festive atmosphere.

The A&M women (3-15, 1-7) hope to end a five-game losing streak as they host Prairie View at 5 p.m.

In Saturday's win over Texas Southern, Jeremy Crutcher was fouled on a ...

CONTINUE READING

Former Texas A&M assistant Bryan Cummings hired at AAMU

BRYAN CUMMINGS
COURTESY TEXAS A&M ATHLETICS

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama  -- A source has confirmed to Alabama Media Group that former Texas A&M football assistant Bryan Cummings has joined new Alabama A&M coach James Spady's staff.

 

Cummings spent one year in College Station in 2013 as a quality control special teams assistant as the Aggies went 9-4 and beat ACC runner-up Duke in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

He'll coach special teams as well as the defensive line under Spady, a first-time head coach and former Nevada assistant. 

 

A Cincinnati native, Cummings played linebacker at Buffalo (N.Y.). 

 

CONTINUE READING

A&M Signing Day Celebration set for Feb. 5

NORMAL, Alabama – Alabama A&M will hold the 2014 Football Signing Day Celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 5^th, at the Clyde Foster multipurpose room located in the School of Business Building.

Head coach James Spady and members of his staff will break down the Maroon & Whites' 2014 signees on the evening of National Signing Day.

The event is set to begin at 6 p.m. All Bulldog supporters and fans as well as the media are invited to attend.

For more information, contact the A&M football office at 256-372-4014.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

MEAC-leading NCCU trounces Howard on the road

WASHINGTON, D.C.  — N.C. Central University smothered Howard in a 79-65 victory in front of a near-packed house of 2,500 fans Saturday at Burr Gymnasium.

NCCU led 9-4 early after Karamo Jawara’s layup with 16:14 to go and from that point on the Eagles stretched the lead to double figures and never looked back, taking a 22-9 advantage through the first 11 minutes.

An Antonin Galaya 3-pointer from the right corner with 32 seconds left gave the maroon and gray their largest lead of the half at 17, 38-21, but the MEAC’s leading scorer, James Daniel, hit his only basket of the first half as time wound down, giving NCCU a 38-24 lead heading into the locker room.

The Eagles managed to add to the lead in the first half behind a hot Jeremy Ingram who scored eight quick points. The Eagles were hurt by early foul trouble to senior point guard Emanuel Chapman.

 CONTINUE READING

Texas Southern/NY Giants all-time sacks leader Michael Strahan headed to Pro Football Hall of Fame

MICHAEL STRAHAN
ALMA MATER: TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

NEW YORK  -- Michael Strahan never acted upset and shocked when he was snubbed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame last February. So maybe it was fitting that he when he did make it to Canton on Saturday night, he never acted as if it mattered.

The Giants’ all-time leader in sacks graciously accepted the honor. And then, he put a vicious swim move on everyone and headed elsewhere.

PHOTOS: GIANT HONOR AS STRAHAN GETS INTO HALL

Strahan was named to Canton’s Class of 2014 during the NFL Honors awards show at Radio City Music Hall, making it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility. He was joined by Tampa Bay Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks, Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Walter Jones, Buffalo Bills receiver Andre Reed and Cardinals cornerback Aeneas Williams in the modern-day class. Raiders legend Ray Guy, the first punter headed to Canton, and Falcons defensive end Claude Humphrey also made it as Veterans Committee candidates.

CONTINUE READING 

Two SWAC Legends Named to Pro Football Hall of Fame Class

Courtesy SWAC.org

 

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was announced Saturday at "NFL Honors," as seven all-time greats including two Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame enshrinees are to be inducted.

This was the first time the Hall of Famers were announced at the show.

Michael Strahan (Texas Southern) and Aeneas Williams (Southern) will join Andre Reed, Walter Jones, Derrick Brooks, Claude Humphrey (Tennessee State) and Ray Guy for enshrinement in Canton.

As a senior at Texas Southern, Strahan was selected All-America first team by The Sheridan Network, Edd Hayes Black College Sports Report and the Associated Press. He recorded 62 tackles with a school-record 19 quarterback sacks and 32 tackles, totaling 142 yards in losses.

He was also selected Division I-AA Defensive Player of the Year and was named first team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference and the SWAC's Player of the Year for a consecutive season. He was also named Black College Defensive Player of the Year. As a junior in 1991, Strahan led the SWAC with 14.5 quarterback sacks. His 41.5 career sacks is a Texas Southern record.

In 1993, he was selected in the second round by the New York Giants. During his tenure with the Giants, Strahan set a record for the most sacks in a single season in 2001 (22.5), and won a Super Bowl in his final season in 2007.

His resume consists of seven pro bowl appearances, four first-team All-Pro selections, two NFC Defensive Player of the Year awards, and Giants career sack record (141.5). Strahan was selected NFL Defensive MVP in 2001 and is currently listed fifth on the league's all-time career sack list. He helped the Giants capture Super Bowl XLII.

Williams did not play football until his senior and graduate-student year. That season, he tied the FCS (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) record for most interceptions.

He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round and led the NFL in interceptions twice, was tabbed to eight Pro Bowls and was a first-team All Pro selection four times. He was traded to the St. Louis Rams in 2001 and helped guide the organization to Super Bowl XXXVI.

Strahan and Williams were finalists last season for the NFL Hall of Fame but were not selected. Their induction now move the SWAC's all-time count of players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame to 14 including 23 from the HBCU ranks overall.

The 2014 Class will be formally enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014. The Enshrinement Ceremony takes place at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio and will be televised nationally by NFL Network.

The annual NFL/Hall of Fame Game which kicks off the NFL’s preseason will be played on Sunday, Aug. 3. Teams have not yet been announced. The Enshrinement Ceremony is the marquee event of the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival which features 24 events over two and a half weeks. 

 

SWAC Players Enshrined in the Pro Football of Hame
PLAYER	SWAC	POS	HOF CLASS
Lem Barney	Jackson State	CB	1992
Mel Blount	Southern	CB	1989
Willie Brown	Grambling State	DB	1984
Buck Buchanan	Grambling State	DT	1990
Willie Davis	Grambling State	DE	1981
Ken Houston	Prairie View A&M	SS	1986
Charlie Joiner	Grambling State	WR	1996
Deacon Jones	Mississippi Valley State	DE	1980
Walter Payton	Jackson State	RB	1993
Jackie Slater	Jackson State	OT	2001
John Stallworth	Alabama A&M	WR	2002
Emmitt Thomas	Bishop	CB	2008
Jerry Rice	Mississippi Valley State	WR	2010

COURTESY SWAC.ORG

Hampton Lady Pirates Survive Road Test at Coppin State

BALTIMORE, Maryland – The Hampton University women's basketball team used a run midway through the second half to pull away from Coppin State and escape the Physical Education Complex with an 83-75 win on Saturday.

The Lady Pirates (17-4, 8-0 MEAC) have won seven straight games. Hampton has also won its last 38 games against MEAC foes (including conference tournament games), as well as 24 straight on the road in conference play.

Junior guard Kenia Cole (Silver Spring, Md.) led four Lady Pirates in double figures with 23 points, while freshman guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas (Harrisburg, Pa.) added 19 points and seven rebounds. Senior forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.) added 16 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.

Senior guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.) scored 10 points, becoming the 24th player in program history to eclipse the career 1,000-point mark.

Coppin State cut Hampton's lead to 53-49 with 11:01 left to play after Kyra Coleman hit a jumper. But the Lady Pirates responded with a 15-0 run, taking a 68-49 lead with 6:48 to play after a pair of free throws from Bennett.

During that span, Coppin State went nearly five minutes without a field goal.

But the Lady Eagles had one more fight left in them; Jordan Swails hit a layup with 1:59 left to cut Hampton's lead to 75-68, and Amber Griffin hit a trey with 1:28 left to cut the Lady Pirates' lead to 78-71.

But Cole hit a 3-pointer between those baskets, and Tate-DeFreitas added a trey of her own at the 1:03 mark to put Hampton up 81-71. Ashle Craig hit a trey with 17 seconds left to cut Hampton's lead to 81-75, but Tate-DeFreitas iced the game with a pair of free throws with six seconds left.

The Lady Pirates jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead after a layup from redshirt-sophomore forward Brielle Ward (Baltimore, Md.) at the 16:22 mark of the first half. Coppin State answered with a 10-0 run to take a 12-9 lead after a Coleman 3-point play at the 13:23 mark.

It was the only lead of the game for the Lady Eagles.

Hampton scored the next seven points, taking a 16-12 lead with 12:00 left in the half after a 3-point play from Cole. Coppin State tied the game at 16-16 on a jumper from Larrisa Carter, before Hampton went on a 10-2 run to take a 26-18 lead on a Hamilton layup at the 7:44 mark.

Bennett hit a jumper at the 3:30 mark to give the Lady Pirates a 36-25 lead, but Coppin State closed the half on a 10-3 run to cut Hampton's lead to 39-35 at the break.

Cole had 12 points at the half.                                                                                               

The Lady Pirates shot 42.9 percent (27-for-63) from the floor and made seven of their 16 3pointers (43.8 percent). Hampton also held a decisive 51-37 edge on the glass.

Coppin State (9-11, 6-2 MEAC) shot 40.3 percent (27-for-67) from the floor, while also going 6-for-14 (42.9 percent) from behind the arc. But the Lady Eagles made just 15 of their 26 free throws (57.7 percent).

Coleman led Coppin State with 25 points, while Carter added 21 points.

The Lady Pirates will take on Morgan State on Monday at 4 p.m. to close out their four-game road swing. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Gold Rush use final-minute surge to prevail at Tougaloo

TOUGALOO, Mississippi -- Anthony Goode and RJ Daniels combined for six points in the final minute Saturday to help NAIA No. 13 Xavier University of Louisiana earn a 74-69 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Tougaloo.

It was the eighth victory in the last nine games for the Gold Rush (17-5, 6-1) and the fourth in a row on the road.

Xavier trailed by 10 points in each half but did not trail in the final 3:22. After Marcus Harper of Tougaloo (6-16, 2-5) made two free throws for a tie at 68 with 1:16 remaining, Xavier outscored the Bulldogs 6-1.

Goode -- who scored all nine of his points in the final 6:17 -- made a basket with 48 seconds remaining to put Xavier ahead to stay. Gary Love made 1-of-2 free throws for Tougaloo, then Daniels made it 72-69 with a basket with 15 seconds remaining.

Cordaryl Campbell missed a 3-pointer for Tougaloo with three seconds remaining. Goode rebounded, was fouled and made two free throws to close the scoring.

Sydney Coleman had 17 points and a career-best 16 rebounds, the most by a Gold Rush player since the start of the 2003-04 season. The double-double was his sixth of the season. Lucas Martin-Julien scored a career-best 16 points -- he made 10-of-11 free throws -- and Daniels scored 12.

Campbell scored 21 points, Love 14 and Harper 13 for the Bulldogs.

Denzel Hardy's basket capped a 17-3 run and gave Tougaloo a 38-28 lead at 1:06 of the first half, but Morris Wright passed to Coleman for a basket, then hit a 3-pointer at the close of the half to cut the Bulldogs' advantage to 39-33.

Tougaloo led 44-34 after the first 90 seconds of the second half, but Martin-Julien scored the next seven points to move Xavier back in contention.

Xavier shot 44.9 percent from the floor, made 28-of-36 free throws -- 19-of-22 in the second half -- and outrebounded the Bulldogs 47-19. Goode and Daniels grabbed six rebounds apiece.

The Gold Nuggets will stay on the road and visit NAIA No. 20 Philander Smith at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Little Rock, Ark.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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SU Aeneas Williams elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame

NEW YORK — After falling short for selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame a year ago, former Southern University All-America cornerback Aeneas Williams was upbeat rather than upset.

Williams didn’t gather enough support from the 46-person Hall of Fame Selection Committee when it met on the eve of Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans — a short drive from where he grew up.

“I didn’t make it in the Big Easy, so maybe I’ll make it in the Big Apple,” Williams said that evening. “I made the final 10 again, so I’m excited about that … no doubt.”

Williams did make it in the Big Apple as he was announced Saturday night as a member of the seven-man Class of 2014 that will be inducted into the Canton, Ohio, shrine later this summer.

Joining Williams will be two first-time eligible players, linebacker Derrick Brooks and tackle Walter Jones, as well as defensive ends Michael Strahan and Claude Humphrey, wide receiver Andre Reed and punter Ray Guy.

CONTINUE READING

Tennessee State Tigers/Atlanta Falcons great Claude Humphrey elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame

PHOTO COURTESY: TENNESSEE STATE U. ATHLETICS

NEW YORK — For defensive end Claude Humphrey, the Atlanta Falcons’ all-time sack leader, the decades-long wait is finally over.

 

On the eve of Super Bowl XLVIII between Seattle and Denver, Humphrey was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Humphrey, 69, will be the first long-time member from the early days of the Falcons to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.

It was an uphill climb for Humphrey, in part because the Falcons’ history of losing during his era. He retired from the NFL in 1981 and was an unsuccessful Hall of Fame finalist in 2003, 2005 and 2006, and also fell short in 2009 as a senior candidate.

Of his first 10 seasons in Atlanta (1968-77), only two were winning ones. Overall, those Falcons went 53-84-3. He played one season with the Philadelphia Eagles and reached the Super Bowl before retiring.

CONTINUE READING

Albany State's Ricardo Lockette completing 'life-long dream' by playing in Super Bowl

RICARDO LOCKETTE, WR
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Monroe grad Ricardo Lockette is one of the Seattle Seahawks’ top players on special teams

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — When Albany’s Earl Lockette talks about his son’s journey to Super Bowl XLVIII, he doesn’t start with the unstable and unpredictable ride Ricardo went on in the last six months when he bounced around to three different NFL teams.

 

He doesn’t even start with Ricardo’s playing days at Monroe High School, where the speedy receiver was barely used on offense and eventually stopped playing football for two years.

 

Instead, Earl’s story starts 20 years ago on a Little League football field, back when he was Ricardo’s first coach and first fan.  Back when he and his wife, Felita, would listen to their son talk about how he would be famous one day. Back when all Ricardo had was a dream.

 

That’s where Earl’s story starts, and that’s what has made ...

CONTINUE READING 

Richardson honored by Southern

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern University and Pete Richardson finally got together Saturday.

Richardson, whose 17-year tenure ended when he was fired after a 6-5 record in 2009, did not attend ceremonies earlier this academic year to honor teams that he coached to Black National Football Championships in 1993 and 2003.

But he was on hand as the men’s basketball program paid tribute to him and six other former university employees at halftime on the men’s 62-54 victory against Alcorn State in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

Richardson, who wore a suit featuring the school colors with a blue shirt and a yellow tie with blue stripes, preferred not to dwell on the past.

CONTINUE READING 

FAMU Lady Rattlers Outlast SCSU Bulldogs For 70-64 Win

Jasmine Grice led FAMU with 26 points.
Courtesy: Florida A&M Sports Information

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  The Florida A&M Women’s Basketball team won their second straight with a 70-64 win over South Carolina State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Contest, here Saturday afternoon at the Al Lawson Center.

SCSU jumped to a 15-8 lead capped off by a pair of Cabriel Duren free throws with 14:51 to go in the half.

FAMU would take their first lead of the game on a Taneka Rubin put back with 7:34 to in the first, capping a 13-5 run by the Lady Rattlers.

The Lady Rattlers closed the half with a 15-9 run to take a 35-29 lead into the half.

FAMU finished the first half shooting 38.1 percent (16-of-42), while SCSU shot 47.6 percent (10-of-21).

The Lady Rattlers opened the second half with a 14-5 run to take a 49-34 lead, capped off by a pair of Tierra Prothro free throws with 13:42 to go.

SCSU would answer with a 21-6 run as they tied the contest at 55-55 on a Lynasia Frazier layup with 7:30 to go in the game.

A pair of free throws and a Grice three-pointer would give the Lady Rattlers a 62-57 lead with 5:25 left in the game.

SCSU would tie the contest at 64-64 on a Duren jumper with 1:57 left in the game, capping a 9-2 run by the Lady Bulldogs.

The Lady Rattlers would connect on four free throws in the final minute of the contest to hold on for the 70-64 win.

FAMU finished the contest shooting 35.1 percent (26-of-74), whereas SCSU shot 39.6 percent (21-of-53).

The Lady Lady Rattlers (10-11, 4-4 MEAC) were led by Grice as she scored a game-high 26 points. Prothro recorded her second double-double on the season with 16 points and 14 boards; whereas Rubin recorded her first double-double in the contest with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Alicia Hines rounded out the cast of double-digit scorers with 10 points.

SCSU (5-13, 3-5 MEAC) was led by Mykala Jones with a team-high 24 points as she connected -on six treys in seven attempts from behind the arc, while Duren added 10 points on the night.  Both Cherisha Floyd and Persephone Goodwin finished with seven rebounds to lead the Lady Bulldogs on the boards. In addition, Goodwin recorded five blocks on the night.

FAMU will return to action on Monday, Feb. 3 as the Lady Rattlers will welcome Savannah State to the Al Lawson Center in a MEAC contest.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Gold Nuggets win at Tougaloo after trailing by 14

TOUGALOO, Mississippi -- Amara Person-Hampton's basket with 49 seconds remaining Saturday lifted NAIA No. 23 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 66-65 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Tougaloo.

The Gold Nuggets (17-6, 7-0) have won five straight and 13 of their last 14 games.

Tougaloo (7-12, 1-6) scored its final points on Chasity Kearney's basket for a 65-62 lead with 2:43 remaining. But the Lady Bulldogs missed their final six field-goal attempts.

Whitney Gathright's two free throws with 1:26 remaining cut Tougaloo's lead to 65-64, then Gathright passed to Person-Hampton for the winning basket after a Kearney missed shot.

Vinnie Briggs had 20 points and 10 rebounds and was Xavier's only player to score in double figures. Whitney Gaston-Loyd had nine points and five rebounds, and Gathright had eight points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Person-Hampton, a sophomore, was 4-of-6 from the floor and scored a career-best eight points.

Xavier's Paige Gauthier had seven points and 10 rebounds.

Kearney had 25 points and 16 rebounds for Tougaloo, and Portia Craft scored 16.

Tougaloo outscored Xavier 7-0 in the first two minutes and held its biggest lead, 34-20, after Craft made 1-of-2 free throws at 3:27. But the Gold Nuggets trimmed the margin to 38-31 by halftime.

Xavier's other lead was 60-59 when Gathright made two free throws with 6:14 remaining. The Gold Nuggets led for 77 seconds overall.

The Gold Nuggets will stay on the road and visit Philander Smith at 5:30 p.m. Monday in Little Rock, Ark.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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ASU sweeps Miles in season-opening doubleheader

ALBANY, Georgia — For Albany State’s baseball team there could not be a better way to start the 2014 season.

 

Winning both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, the Golden Rams proved that they have determination and focus to come from behind as they edged out Miles College, 10-9, in the opener, then they showed their ability to dominate both hitting and pitching as they drubbed the Golden Bears, 14-2, in the nightcap.

 

“This is a momentum builder and we are going to stick with winning,” catcher Robert Latner said of his team’s perfect start to the season. “We outplayed these guys because we were in better shape, and that’s all due to the coaches and players working hard.”

 

Latner, who went 3-for-4 in game two with five RBIs, was a big ...

 

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Track and Field Shines at TSU Invite

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Tennessee State track and field program returned home with a bang on Saturday at the TSU Invite, winning six events on the day.

Quanisha Sales led the way for the Tigerbelles claiming top spots in two sprint events, the 55 and the 200 meters. Sales time in the 55 meters set a new career best of 6.97 seconds. The junior crossed the line in the 200 meters with a time of 24.30 seconds a season’s best mark.

Junior Ashontae Jackson won the long jump with a leap of 6.16 meters. Not only did the mark beat the closest competitor by .20 meters. The jump set a career best for the Gordonville, Va. Native.

The Flying Tigers day was highlighted by the 4x400 relay teams. Tennessee State claimed the top two spots in the event, with the A team taking the crown crossing the line in 3:17.18. TSU’s B squad followed closely behind with a mark of 3:18.35. The winning group consisted of Emmanuel Thornton, Jason Griffin, Quamel Prince and Perry Stokes.

Big Blue locked up a similar performance in the long jump, sweeping the podium.  Senior Royce Dates claimed the top spot, clearing 7.56 meters. Dates was followed by Tyler Anderson (7.40 meters) and Kareem Nicholas (7.20 meters). Anderson’s mark of 7.40 meters set a new personal best for the junior.

The freshman Prince continues to show his dominance in his first season with the Tigers, taking top spot in the 400 meters, crossing the line in 48.63. The time set a new career best for the Nashville, Tenn. native.

The track and field teams return to action next weekend for the Samford Invitational in Birmingham, Ala.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Sunday Afternoon Football Punts

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• Former Mississippi Valley State University head football coach Karl Morgan is the new head football coach at Coahoma Community College, Clarksdale, Mississippi.  Morgan is a class act and did a reasonable job at the Valley, considering the many challenges tossed his way due to having the smallest athletic budget in Division I.  Morgan's recruiting budget was $8,800.00 per year to keep 63 roster spots filled with FCS level players. 
• Football Scoop is reporting Benedict College defensive coordinator Mike Fangoa has joined the staff as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. at Virginia Union.
• Prairie View A&M University has offered its defensive coordinator job to Terry Sims, current Bethune-Cookman University assistant head coach/defensive backs and special teams coach.
• CoachingSerch.com is reporting that Lawal McCray will remain at Bethune-Cookman.  He was offered the offensive coordinator/assistant head coach position at Virginia Union.  McCray is currently the recruiting coordinator/tight ends/tackles coach for B-CU.
• Southern University head football coach Dawson Odums signed a new four year contract that will keep him on the Bluff until 2017.  The new contract raises his pay to $175,000 yearly.  As a result of winning the 2013 SWAC Championship, SU football assistants and facilities upgrades are expected to be finalized by July 1, 2014. 
• Bishop Verot HS (FL) head  coach/athletic director Phil Dorn has accepted the offensive coordinator/offensive line job at Alabama A&M.
• Lane College offensive coordinator Malik Hoskins has been named interim head coach.
• Jackson State: Paul Spicer, former Jacksonville Jaguars assistant defensive line coach (2012) will join the Jackson State staff as defensive line coach, and Tommy Poynter will also come aboard, likely as offensive line coach, according to the Jackson (Ms.) Clarion-Ledger. 
• Texas A&M special teams quality control Bryan Cummings will be the new defensive line/special teams coordinator at Alabama A&M.
• SMU offensive grad assistant Timmy Chang officially accepted the offensive coordinator position at Jackson State., according to the Clarion-Ledger.  SMU offensive grad assistant Tommy Poynter also joined the Jackson State staff.

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Courtesy of the BGMM Media Team. Alabama A&M and South Carolina State University field shows from the Honda Battle of the Bands...

Former Southern Maryland legend hired as Assistant Head Coach/DL Coach at The Ohio State University



COACH LARRY JOHNSON
ALMA MATER: ELIZABETH CITY STATE ('73)

Larry Johnson coached at Charles County  (Md.) Lackey ('74 ) and McDonough High Schools ('75-'91) and Northern Virginia's T.C. Williams High School ('92-'93), prior to a long career at Penn State. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Larry Johnson, the highly regarded defensive line coach who has spent the past 18 years coaching talented student-athletes and recruiting the east coast as a member of the Penn State University coaching staff, was named assistant head coach and defensive line coach at The Ohio State University in early January, 2014.

"I am very pleased that Larry Johnson is an Ohio State Buckeye," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. "I have great respect for him as a family man, as a coach and mentor of young men, and as a recruiter. He is an outstanding addition to our coaching staff."

Johnson, who grew up in Williamston, N.C., and is a 1973 graduate of Elizabeth City (N.C.) State University with a degree in health and physical education, has coached along the defensive line for 18 years at Penn State, including the last 14 seasons (2000-13) overseeing the entire unit. He spent his first four seasons at Penn State - 1996-99 - as defensive ends coach and special team's coordinator.

Ohio State is Johnson's second collegiate coaching stop. His career includes 20 years of high school coaching in Maryland and Virginia.

"In just a few hours I can tell that Ohio State cares about football," Johnson said. "There is a winning tradition that is important here. They care about academics and they care about players, and I like the way Coach Urban Meyer approaches things. He's a great teacher. He is very organized and this is what I was looking for.

"And I am really impressed with the Ohio State players. I just met a group of players, walked out of the room and thought, 'wow,' these are the kinds of players I want to coach. They were really impressive."

Johnson's list of coaching accomplishments while at Penn State is also impressive:

• Six of his defensive linemen were first-round NFL draft picks, including No. 1 overall pick Courtney Brown in 2000 and also featuring Jimmy Kennedy (2002), Michael Haynes (2003), Tamba Hali (2006), Jared Odrick (2010) and Aaron Mabin (2009).
• Seven of his defensive linemen achieved first-team All-American status (the six in the first note above and Devon Still).
• PSU defensive linemen have earned 22 Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors.
• Three of his position players have been named Academic All-American (Tim Shaw in 2006 and Pete Massaro in 2010 and 2012).
• Fifteen Nittany Lion defensive linemen have been named first-team all-Big Ten Conference.
• No Big Ten team (since 1996) has had as many players from one position earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors than the five Nittany Lion honorees hat Johnson mentored.
• And in 2005-06 Rivals.com named Johnson its national college football recruiter of the year.

In addition, he coached on a Penn State defense that led the nation in sacks between 2005 and 2009 and was No. 5 nationally in rushing defense from 2004-10. And between 1996 and 2013 Penn State's defense was a Big Ten Conference statistical champion 14 times, including four times in quarterback sacks and three times in scoring defense.

"I'm a relationship guy and I think in order to get the best out of your players you have to develop relationships," Johnson said. "I'm also a teacher. I like to teach the basic fundamentals of football. I want guys who are fundamentally sound and have the ability to play fast and to play relentless."

Johnson spent the first 20 years of his career as a highly successful high school coach. Six times chosen as the Washington Metropolitan Area coach of the year, he guided McDonough High School in Pomfret, Md., to three Maryland state championships and to a 139-36 record between 1975-91, and he also was coach two seasons (1992-93) at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va. He started his coaching career in 1974 at Lackey High School in LaPlata, Md.

As a player, Johnson was an NAIA All-American and all-conference performer at Elizabeth City State University. He was inducted into the school's sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He played one year in the NFL, with the Washington Redskins in 1973.

Johnson and his wife, Christine, are the parents of two sons - Larry Jr. and Tony - and a daughter, Teresa. Larry Jr. and Tony both played football at Penn State with Larry Jr. rushing for a school record 2,087 yards in 2002 and later becoming a first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs and a two-time Pro Bowl selection. Teresa played softball for the Nittany Lions.

Larry Johnson Quick Facts
Hometown: Williamston, N.C.
Alma Mater: Elizabeth City State, 1973
Degree: Health & Physical Education
Years in Coaching: 38
Wife: Christine
Children: Sons Larry Jr., and Tony; daughter Teresa
Larry Johnson Coaching Assignments

2014-pres.	Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line	Ohio State University
2000-13	Defensive Line	Penn State University
1996-99	Defensive Ends/Special Team's Coordinator	Penn State Universisty
1992-93	Head Coach	T.C. Williams H.S.
1975-91	Head Coach	McDonough H.S.
1974	Assistant Coach	Lackey H.S.

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Today at 4 PM: Norfolk State vs. Miami -- ESPN3

Feb. 1, 2014  |  4 p.m. 
BankUnited Center | Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: ESPN3
Radio: 560 WQAM | 90.5 WVUM | Sirius 138 | XM 194
Webcast:  WQAM.com | wvum.org | ESPN3
Miami: 10-10 (2-6 ACC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes | Record Book

The Game
Miami takes time out from its ACC slate to face non-conference opponent Norfolk State on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. in the BankUnited Center.

The Series
Miami is 1-0 in the all-time series against Norfolk State, defeating the Spartans, 76-58, on Jan. 2, 2005 in Coral Gables.

The Broadcasts
Catch the game on ESPN3 with Mike Levine and Drew Nicholas making the call. Also check out the game on 560 WQAM Radio with Joe Zagacki and Josh Darrow, and on 90.5 WVUM, Miami’s student radio station.

The Coach
Head coach Jim Larrañaga has a 529-364 overall record in his 30th season as a head coach. He is 59-30 in his third season at the University of Miami.

The Polls (as of Jan. 30)
KenPom.com: Miami - 78, Norfolk State - 280. NCAA RPI: Miami - 88, Norfolk State - 281.

The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Coral Gables - 81/71. Norfolk - 53/46.

Up Next
Miami hosts a three-game homestand beginning with Norfolk State (Feb. 1), followed by No. 20/19 Pittsburgh (Feb. 5) and NC State (Feb. 8).

Miami vs. Norfolk State (1-0)
Since the rebirth of Miami basketball in 1985: 1-0
Since joining the ACC in 2004-05: 1-0
Since the arrival of Jim Larrañaga in 2011-12: 0-0

Stifling D by the Hurricanes

After playing man-to-man defense 95 percent of the time in his first 40 years of coaching, Jim Larrañaga’s team is now playing zone 95 percent of the game.

With the zone, Miami has held 12 of its last 13 opponents to less than 70 points, and only three teams overall this season have scored more than 70 points on the Canes: 80-Georgia Southern, 71-George Washington, 74-Maryland. Prior to the game vs. Florida State, UM held five-straight opponents to fewer than 60 points.

In five of the last six conference games, Miami has held Syracuse (twice), North Carolina, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Duke considerably below their offensive season scoring averages. Those six teams entered the game with the Canes averaging a combined 75.8 points per game, but have been held to an average of 57 ppg.

Wins vs. Losses for the Canes

In Miami’s 10 wins:
Six players average 7.5 ppg or better.
Miami scores 67.2 ppg, shooting 47.1% FG.
The Canes average 35.3 rpg, 13.0 apg and 6.1 spg.
Rion Brown shoots 46.8% FG and grabs 7.1 rpg.
Donnavan Kirk averages 11.1 ppg and Manu Lecomte 9.2 ppg.

In Miami’s 10 losses:
Three players average 7.5 ppg or more.
Miami scores 55.8 ppg, shooting 37.1% FG.
The Canes average 33.8 rpg, 9.0 apg and 4.5 spg.
Rion Brown shoots 39.5% FG and grabs 5.3 rpg.
Donnavan Kirk averages 8.1 ppg and Manu Lecomte 6.2 ppg.

Cardiac Canes
Miami leads all ACC schools having played nine games decided by five points-or-less or in overtime. Miami has played four overtime games and five others that were decided in the final minutes. Miami is 1-3 in overtime this season and 2-3 in close games that ended in regulation.

Rion Brown Rebounds
Senior Rion Brown, a 6-6 guard is averaging 6.3 rebounds, up from his 2.2 career average prior to the season. This season Brown has grabbed seven or more rebounds in 10 games. In his previous three seasons, he had only three games with 7+ boards. He pulled down seven once last year and had games with eight and seven as a rookie.

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First-place NCCU Eagles have full attention of MEAC foes

DURHAM, North Carolina — The target on N.C. Central’s back got bigger Monday night.

NCCU’s home win over Morgan State landed the Eagles in first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Last season, NCCU coach LeVelle Moton, who once played for the Eagles, talked about his alma mater being the school that all the other historically black colleges and universities love to beat. For whatever reason, everybody just wants a piece of NCCU, Moton said.

Once the hunters, the Eagles have assumed the role of the hunted, particularly now as they sit atop the MEAC.

“Every night is going to be a fight,” NCCU senior Jeremy Ingram said. “Everyone gives us their best shot, so every night we’ve got to come out with the same intensity as we did with Morgan. Whether it’s the top team or the bottom team, we’ve got to come out with the same fire.”

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Florida A&M Spring Homecoming 2014

Rattlers aim to contain Williams

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Not for one moment would coach Clemon Johnson or his FAMU basketball players pretend that they have the solution to contain South Carolina State’s center Hezekiah Williams.

Sure, the Rattlers beat the Bulldogs and Williams a week ago in Orangeburg, but not before he used all of his 6-foot-11, 225-pound frame to power to a double-double of 26 points and 12 rebounds.

For that reason, Williams is one of the biggest concerns for the Rattlers heading into tonight’s game at the Lawson Center.

“We have to push him and bump him away from the basketball because once he catches the basketball we could only stand there and watch him take the shot,” Johnson said.

Williams is averaging 5.9 rebounds per game. He has 118 on the season, with 74 of those coming on the defensive end. His counterpart Trey Kellum is averaging 6.4 rebounds per game for the Rattlers.

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