Florida A&M Rattlers Open Spring Practice With Drills Today

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  (Mar. 31) -- There was a sense of urgency in the voices of FAMU coaches during the opening day of Spring football drills today at the Rattler practice fields.  While at most times, football teams merge their way into activity, the Rattlers jumped full head of steam into the beginning of the 2014 football campaign.  Head coach Earl Holmes was the leader of the pack, speaking to media briefly before practice.

“3-9 simply is not good enough.  We’ve grown as a coaching staff and we understand that we want to do better right now.  That means more emphasis on basic skills.  Blocking, tackling and catching will be at a premium this Spring, because all positions are open,” Holmes concluded.

On a sunny 77 degree day, the team went through a battery of drills, highlighted by stiff competition in 7-on-7 drills.  Carson Royal was leading the way, taking snaps at the No.1 position.  He was thrown into the fray last season against rival South Carolina State.  Without taking many reps all season, Royal was baptized in the fire as he would start the remainder of the season for the Rattlers.

Damien Fleming, the Rattlers’ star quarterback, was injured in the SCSU game, and was sidelined for the remainder of the season.  He was in practice in a protective boot, though he was in some drills throwing without restraint.  Fleming will have the boot removed this week and work his way into Spring drills.

“I’m ahead of schedule, and I just want to get back in there and start working to get things right for this year.  This is my last season, so I want to begin building our program back to where it needs to be.  I really want to flip our record from last season to more like 9-3 and get in the playoffs, “ Fleming said.

Offensive coordinator Quinn Gray and defensive coordinator Levon Kirkland were flying around the field like the season had already started.  The entire battery of coaches were in mid-season form, demanding perfection from the Rattlers from the start.

The feeling among the players is one of focus as well.  Royal spent much of his offseason with quarterback coaches.  “I have to be able to lead this team.  I set a goal for myself to help coach Gray guide this team as a leader,” Royal said.  “I spent a lot of time in the offseason with our receivers getting our timing down,” he added.




The Rattlers will continue Spring drills with the annual Orange 7 Green game slated for April 19^th.

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FAMU vs. B-CU Baseball FInale To Air Live on ESPN

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Final game of crucial MEAC Southern Division showdown to be televised liver nationally

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced Friday, that  ESPN3.com would broadcast the final game of this weekend’s FAMU vs. B-CU baseball series live nationally, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern from historic Jackie Robinson Stadium in downtown Daytona Beach, Florida.

Veteran broadcasters Joe Davis (play-by-play)and Jay Walker (analyst) will handle the on-air presentation for the game, which will also air on a taped delay basis at 6 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU.

This weekend’s Sunshine State series took on even more importance when the resurgent FAMU Rattlers (7-4 MEAC, 10-16 overall), under first-year head coach Jamey Shouppe, took over first place in the MEAC Southern Division after sweeping a three-game series at North Carolina A&T (6-6, 11-16) last weekend, to vault from fourth place to first.

The trade in places by FAMU moved the Rattlers past second place Bethune-Cookman (7-5, 15-14), which sits just one-half game behind their in-state rivals heading into the weekend.

In their previous meeting this season, the ‘Cats won three hard-fought games against FAMU in Tallahassee on March 1-2, highlighted by a marathon 15-inning 10-5 opening win, followed by 4-2 and 11-6 decisions in the final two games

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WSSU's Townsend switches from QB to tight end

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- “The Big Show” is taking his talents to another position at Winston-Salem State.

DeShean Townsend, who is 6-3 and close to 230 pounds, certainly deserves his nickname. But because he’s been a backup quarterback for three seasons he hasn’t been on the field much.

His only significant playing time in his career came in the final game last season in a 7-0 loss to Shepherd in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Townsend struggled after starter Rudy Johnson went out with an injured shoulder in the first half. Townsend couldn’t rally the Rams with a makeshift offensive line and a depleted wide-receiver corps as the season came to an abrupt end.

Johnson and the highly-touted Phillip Sims are the top quarterbacks in practice this spring; with redshirt freshman Justin Johnson also in the mix, there wasn’t room for Townsend at his old position.

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FAMU's Chase Jarrell And Bennie Robinson Take MEAC Honors

NORFOLK, Virginia  –  Florida A&M’s Bennie Robinson earned the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week honors, the conference announced on Monday.  

Florida A&M’s Chase Jarrell was selected Pitcher of the Week, while Bethune-Cookman’s Zach Olszewski earned Rookie of the Week accolades.

FAMU ATHLETICS

Robinson (1B, 6-3, Sr., Ocala, Fla.) hit .368 (7-for-22) in games against Jacksonville, Stetson and North Carolina A&T. Robinson registered seven hits, including a home run during the
week. Defensively, he also had 37 putouts and three assists.

Jarrell (P, 6-3, Fr., Winter Springs, Fla.) pitched eight innings and surrendered two runs (one earned). Jarrell scattered four hits and fanned five in a 5-2 win against North Carolina A&T.

Olszewski (C, 6-0, Fr., Bay City, Mich.) batted .300 (3-for-10) in games against Central Florida and Savannah State. Defensively, Olszewski recorded 15 putouts and assisted on three more.

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Rolland, Alexander are GCAC Performers of the Week

Angelica Alexander

Devinn Rolland

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Devinn Rolland and Angelica Alexander are the recipients of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Performer of the Week awards in women's track and field for March 24-30.
   
Rolland, from Harvey, La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School in New Orleans, won the track honor after meeting NAIA A-qualifying times in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the 400 relay at the Tulane Team Challenge on Saturday. She finished second in the 100 with a personal best of 11.83 seconds — the fastest outdoor time in the NAIA this season — placed second in the 200 in 24.97 and ran the second leg for the 400 relay team which finished third in 47.96. Rolland teamed with Kaylee Moore, Kailey Williams and Chelsea James.
   
Alexander, from Shreveport, La., and a graduate of Byrd High School, won the high jump at the Tulane meet and cleared 5 feet, 6 inches — an NAIA A-qualifying mark — for the second time this month. Her height ranks second this season on the NAIA's outdoor list.
   
Rolland is an 11-time GCAC weekly winner since the start of the 2013 season. She won the track award four times and the field award seven times. This is the second time this season that Alexander won the GCAC field award.
   
Both XU teams will compete Friday in the Pelican Relays at Baton Rouge, La. Field events will start at 10 a.m., and running events will start at 3 p.m. Southern University's Roscoe Moore Track at A.W. Mumford Stadium will be the venue.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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Texas Southern Tigers take Series from Division Leader

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  -- It took extra innings, but the Texas Southern Tigers got the job done on the road and walked away with the series win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The entire series was a war but the major battle happened in game three where the Tigers clawed their way to a 9-8 win.

"It was truly a total team effort," said head coach Michael Robertson.

TSU started in a hole after UAPB scored 2 runs in the bottom of the first inning.  The Tigers got on the board in the fourth inning when Zach Welz hit an RBI single to left center field. TSU was down 2-1.

Texas Southern tied the game 2-2 in the seventh inning when Chris Lopez hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

"It was a pitcher's duel for 7 innings and a slugfest the last 3 innings…a see-saw battle between two clubs that are evenly matched in every statistical area that matters," Robertson said.

TSU took their first lead of the game when they scored 2 runs in the eighth inning.  Terry Edwards hit a 2 run single to first base for a 4-2 advantage.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff responded and picked up 3 runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 5-4.

The Tigers tied the game 5-5 in the top of the ninth inning when Jerry Ford, II hit an RBI single to right field.

TSU held off a bases loaded threat by UAPB which sent the game into extra innings.

The Tigers' bats came alive in the tenth inning where they scored 4 runs.  Andrew Garza hit a 2 run single; Marquis Webb hit a sacrifice fly to left field and Garza scored on a sacrifice bunt by Chris DeLeon.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored 3 runs in the bottom of the inning but it was not enough, and TSU took the series 2-1.

This game was not won on today's actions alone.  It was set up by TSU's victorious play the day before.

"In the third game, we used 5 pitchers and I believe everybody got an outing and everybody was used," said pitching coach Ehren Moreno. "Because Darius [McClelland] pitched a complete game [Saturday], we were able to unload our bullpen today.  Without Darius throwing that complete game, we would not have been able to matchup against Pine Bluff like we did to win."

Michael Starkey started for the Tigers and pitched 6 innings with 4 strikeouts, 3 hits, 3 walks and 2 runs.  Larry Romero got the win after 2.1 innings on the mound, 3 strikeouts, 5 hits, 3 earned runs and 2 walks.  Rios Ryan picked up the save.

The Tigers had 13 hits and 8 men left on base.  Ford led the Tigers with 4 hits.  Edwards and Garza each had 2 RBIs.

"I thought our team took one huge step in the right direction by defeating a team that not only can pitch well and make plays, but they are very tough to beat at home," Robertson said.  "We showed a lot of heart to fight back late in the ball game to tie, take the lead, lose the lead, tie it and win it in the tenth."

The Tigers will play Dallas Baptist and Arlington Baptist College on the road this week before returning to conference play against Grambling State on Saturday, April 5th & 6th at MacGregor Park.    

Box Score  

Contact: Rodney Bush TSU Sports Information Director
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Georgetown Baseball Splits Doubleheader at Grambling State

WASHINGTON, D.C.  --  The Georgetown baseball team wrapped up its three-game series at Grambling State on Sunday, splitting a doubleheader with the host Tigers. Grambling State (7-21) took the first game 8-2, but the Hoyas (11-13) bounced back to take the nightcap, 5-3. Both games were played at Willis Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park in Grambling, La.

Game One...
Steve Anderson (Albany, N.Y./Northfield Mt. Hermon Prep (Mass.)/Guilderland) and Jake Kuzbel (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) each had a pair of hits, but Georgetown could only scratch together a couple of runs, falling 8-2 in the first game of the day.

Starting pitcher David Ellingson (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands College Park) went five innings, giving up six runs, five earned, on eight hits. He struck out one. Chris Giordano (Orlando, Fla./Lake Highland) threw three innings of relief, giving up two runs while striking out four.

Trailing 2-0, the Hoyas got their first run in the top of the third. Eric Webber (Stockton, Calif./St. Mary's) and Kuzbel each hit one-out singles to put runners on the corners. Ryan Busch (Falcon Heights, Minn./Roseville Area) grounded out to shortstop to score Webber and cut the deficit to 2-1.

After Grambling State scored in the bottom of the third, Georgetown again got within one run with in the top of the fourth as Nick Collins (Carthage, N.C./Union Pines), Anderson and AC Carter (Winter Park, Fla./Orangewood Christian) all hit consecutive singles to lead off the inning. Carter's base knock allowed Collins to cross the plate.

The Tigers pulled away with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.       

Game Two...
Will Brown (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) pitched 6.1 innings of one-run relief as the Hoyas bounced back for a 5-3 win in the second game.

Brown allowed just six hits and no walks while registering four strikeouts, picking up his first win of the season. Busch and Kuzbel each had two hits while Collins had three RBI without the benefit of a hit. Anderson homered and drove in two runs. Tim Davis (Vienna, Va./James Madison) threw the final 1.1 innings, not giving up a hit while striking out two, for his fourth save.

Georgetown got the bats going in the first inning. Collins reached on a two-out error and Anderson made the Tigers pay, blasting a two-run home run to right field.

Grambling State got a run back in the bottom half of the inning off of starting pitcher Nick Leonard (Washington, D.C./Maret). The Tigers tied the score with another run in the second, off of Joseph Bialkowski (Raleigh, N.C./Needham B. Broughton).

The Blue & Gray reclaimed the lead in the third with an unearned run. With Busch on second, the Grambling State first baseman booted a ground ball by Collins allowing him to reach and Busch to cross the plate, giving the Hoyas a 3-2 lead.

Georgetown added single runs in the fifth and seventh innings, both driven in by Collins. He hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth to score Kuzbel, who had doubled and gone to third on a single by Busch. In the seventh, Kuzbel again led off with a double and went to third on another Busch single. This time, Collins got the RBI by grounding out to third.

The Hoyas will play a midweek game on Tuesday against George Washington. The game, which is set to start at 3 p.m., will be played at the Colonials' home field, Barcroft Park, in Arlington, Va. Next weekend, Georgetown opens BIG EAST play with a three-game series against Xavier at Shirley Povich Field.

On Saturday, the Hoyas, in partnership with the St. Baldrick's Foundation, will shave their heads following their game with the Musketeers. GUGS will be at the game, serving food and the Blue & Gray will honor local kids who are fighting childhood cancer. The team has already raised over $35,000 for St. Baldrick's.

To donate to their efforts please click here.

Game 1 - Final Stats
Game 2 - Final Stats

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Alabama State football: Silmon expected to replace Baker at outside linebacker

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  There are just six spring practice dates left for Alabama State’s football team, but one of the nagging questions of the spring may have been answered on the defensive side of the ball.

Because the secondary will remain a question mark until it is tested against live competition, the biggest hole on the defensive side of the ball was at outside linebacker, where a replacement for the talented Leland Baker had to be found.

Deontrelle Silmon’s performance late in the season as a replacement for the injured Baker and Daerius Washington — he was second on the team among non-starters with 29 tackles, including five for loss — probably answered those questions, but it was nice to see him pick up in the spring where he had left off.

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FAMU Hosts Welcome Rally for President Mangum April 4

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- The month of April begins a new season at Florida A&M University (FAMU) as the campus welcomes its new leader, President Elmira Mangum. To commemorate the occasion and celebrate her in “true Rattler fashion,” FAMU will host a Welcome Rally on Friday, April 4 at 12:15 pm on the steps of Lee Hall, 1601 S. Martin L. King Jr. Blvd.

The event will include spirited tributes by student leaders, the Marching “100,” FAMU Cheerleaders and more. The event is free and open to the public.

On April 1, President Elmira Mangum will become FAMU’s 11th president and first permanent female president in the institution’s 126-year history. She previously served as vice president for planning and budget at Cornell University where she was the senior administrator responsible for the management of Cornell’s resources and the annual budgeting process.

After a thorough presidential search, the FAMU Board of Trustees selected Mangum to become president on Jan. 9. The Florida Board of Governors unanimously approved her appointment on Feb. 20.

For more information on the Welcome Rally, visit www.famu.edu/MangumWelcome.  

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Late Rally Lifts ASU Hornets Over North Carolina Central

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- A four-run eighth inning rally lifted the Alabama State baseball team to a 9-8 win over North Carolina Central Sunday at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

Trailing 7-5, Richard Amion led off the eighth with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball. Cesar Rivera beat out a grounder to the right side for an infield single, scoring Amion. After a sacrifice bunt by Richard Gonzalez moved Rivera to second base, Waldyvan Estrada's single to right field scored Rivera to tie the game at 7-7. Emmanuel Marrero then singled to right field, advancing Estrada to third. Branden Castro's perfectly executed safety squeeze bunt scored Estrada with the go-ahead run. Dexter Price then walked before Chase Waters' single into right field scored Marrero for a 9-7 lead.

Amion, Rivera, and Estrada each had three hits and scored two runs in the 19-hit attack for the Hornets (24-8), who won their sixth straight game in completing the three-game sweep.

"We sat on a five-run lead, and we know in baseball that's not enough," head coach Mervyl Melendez said of his team, which scored five runs in the first inning but did not score again until the late-game rally. "Teams at this level are going to be able to come back, they're going to make a run, and put some innings together. That was the case today. North Carolina Central did a very good job in doing just that to take the lead. I'm just extremely proud of our team. I've said it many times – when adversity hits, that's when we are at our strongest and play our best baseball. This is a very good victory, especially coming from behind."

Armando Ruiz (2-2) pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and a run in the ninth. With the tying run on third, he struck out Eric Kimber on a 1-2 pitch for the final out.

"You have to depend on guys who want the baseball," Melendez said of Ruiz. "I had every intention in the ninth inning to take him out the game, but he said 'I got it.' He was very firm about wanting the baseball with the game on the line. I stepped back, and watched him do his thing."

Alabama State scored five runs in the first inning to take an early lead. The Hornets began the game with four straight hits. Amion and Rivera each singled to right field, and Gonzalez' single to left scored Amion. Estrada then doubled to left center field, scoring Rivera and advancing Gonzalez to third. After an RBI groundout by Marrero scored Gonzalez for a 3-0 lead, Castro's sacrifice fly scored Estrada. Price then walked and later scored on a single up the middle by Einar Muniz for a 5-0 lead.

North Carolina Central (9-17-1) took the lead with three runs in the fourth and sixth innings, and a run in the seventh before the late-game rally by Alabama State, which improved to 8-0 on Sunday games this season.

"All the credit goes to this group of guys that believe in themselves," Melendez said. "They made a commitment last year, knowing they had to play better to win ball games. It's a true testament of the hard work they have put in during the offseason and early part of this season and I'm very happy for them."

The Hornets continue the five-game homestand Tuesday against Mercer and Wednesday against Jacksonville State, with first pitch both days at 6 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

Box Score

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Former FAMU band member gets 51 weeks in jail in hazing death case

ORLANDO, Florida -- A former Florida A&M band member was sentenced to jail time for his role in the hazing death of a drum major.

Prosecutors said Jessie Baskin was the "most enthusiastic participant," in Robert Champion's death.

Baskin faced nine years when sentenced Friday for participating in the beating death of Robert Champion in November 2011 during a hazing ritual aboard a bus parked outside an Orlando hotel. Judge Marc Lubet gave Baskin 51 weeks in jail.

Lubet said as he sentenced Baskin that he didn't want to destroy Baskin's life. But, he said, Baskin did have to pay something for what he did. Baskin had pleaded no contest to manslaughter.

Baskin broke into tears several times Friday afternoon as he listened to family members and friends beg the judge to be lenient.

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Quarterbacks struggle in S.C. State’s first spring scrimmage

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina --  Sunday’s rescheduled football scrimmage at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium for South Carolina State could be best described as incomplete.

The three quarterbacks vying for the starting position — TeDarius Wiley, Adrian Kollack and Joey Copeland — combined for 16 incompletions and no touchdown passes thrown during the 70-plus play scrimmage. Both Wiley and Kollack managed a rushing score along with running back Justin Taylor on a day when a familiar problem on offense reared its ugly head again.

“It went good at times and not so good at times,” S.C. State head football coach Buddy Pough said. “We’ve got a lot of operational things we’ve got to get done. It’s hard for things for our quarterbacks to really throw the football effectively and that kind of stuff. We were having protection problems and snap problems. But besides that, you saw some guys out really working hard and practicing hard and that kind of stuff and we’re developing the kind of personnel that we need for next year.”

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TSU Flying Tigers Soar in Weems-Baskin Relays Invite

COLUMBIA, South Carolina  -- The Flying Tigers had one of their best performances of the season at the 21^st annual Baskin-Weems Invitational, tallying 15 top-five finishes.  

 

For the Tigerbelles, Quanisha Sales notched a fourth-place finish in 100-meter dash with a time of 12.09, while Jerome Henderson finished third on the men’s side, running the event in 10.70 seconds.

 

With a final time of 24.41 seconds, Amber Hughes placed fourth in women’s 200-meter. Henderson was also the top Flying Tiger in the run, coming in at 21.59, good enough for sixth place.

 

Quamel Prince was second in the 800-meter dash with a finals time of 1:52.06 and Jaleel Michael came in fourth in the 400-meter hurdles (53.84 seconds).

 

In the relays, the Flying Tiger team of Prince, Michael Johnson, Jason Griffin and Emmanuel Thornton finished second in the 4x400 (3:13.92), while Tigerbelles Sales, Hughes, Breanna Adams and Clairwin Dameus won the women’s side (3:46.93).

 

In the field events, Daryl Rice leapt 2.05 meters, which put him in second place in the high jump, and Royce Dates’s jump of 7.04 meters in the long jump gave him a third-place finish.

 

The Flying Tigers continued their impressive showing as Kareem Nichols won the triple-jump with a best of 14.42 meters.

 

Britani Logan rounded out the events by tossing the shot-put 13.41, placing her second.

 

The TSU track and field teams will next travel to the University of Florida on April 3 for the Pepsi Relays.

 

Results

 

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FAMU Lady Rattlers Sweep Doubleheader With Savannah State

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Lady Rattlers Use Hot Bats To Shut Down Lady Tigers

SAVANNAH, Georgia  –  The FAMU Softball team shook off the offensive funk of the past four games Sunday, scoring 22 runs to sweep a MEAC doubleheader from Savannah State at Lady Tiger Field, 7-5 and 15-1.

FAMU (12-19, 2-1 in MEAC Southern) had struggled at the plate until Sunday’s second game, with 15 hits in their last five games before erupting for 14 hits in the five-inning, 15-1 romp.

Assistant coach, Lori Goodart, attributed the success at the plate to focus.  “I think our mentality at the plate was much better this weekend.  We had sort of a lapse as yesterday’s game was re-scheduled three different times due to the weather, but today we came out with a totlly different and aggressive attitude,” Goodart said.

Brielle Gordon led FAMU with three hits and four RBIs, with help from Denise Anderson, who had two hits and five RBIs. Both players homered in the game to key the FAMU offense, while Christina Robbs and Miesha McBride added two hits apiece.

Gordon belted a two-run homer in the second to extend FAMU’s 1-0 lead to 3-0, then Anderson’s three-run blast in the top of the fourth ignited an eight-run rally that pushed the visitor’s edge to 14-1.
Goodart attributed the big hits to a simple batting technique. 

“We hit the ball where it was pitched today.  Lately we have been trying to power hit, but today we placed it just where it needed to be placed.  In addition, our players were alert and did a good job on the base paths,” Goodart added.

Ashleigh Minter (7-7) was the winning pitcher for FAMU, allowing one unearned run on five hits in five innings of work Sunday.

In Sunday’s opener, the Lady Rattlers snapped a three-game skid with a 7-5 win, taking an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a steal of home by Alyssa Weaver, and a wild pitch, which scored Brielle Gordon.
Savannah State rallied for four runs in the bottom of the inning to barge ahead, 4-2, but that lead was short-lived, as FAMU scored two runs in the top of the second, as Raven Moseley and Brittany Speer both scored on an error by the Savannah first baseman to tie the game at 4-4.

Savannah State (17-15, 1-2 in MEAC) scored a run in the bottom of the second to regain the lead at 5-4, but FAMU took advantage of a bases loaded walk and a hit batter with the bases loaded, to move ahead, 6-5 in the top of the fifth, adding an insurance run in the top of the seventh on Denise Anderson’s RBI single for the 7-5 final count.

FAMU had four hits in the opener (Denise Anderson, Kieffi Myrick (double), Christina Robbs and Miesha McBride each had hits), but were aided in the win by Savannah State’s pitching meltdown, which saw nine walks issued to Lady Rattler hitters, and five hit batters, plus two errors.

Reliever Kenya Pererira (1-6) got the win in relief of starter Amber Fullwood, who was lifted with two outs in the first inning. Pererira worked the final six and one-third innings, scattering three hits, allowing one run, with four strikeouts.

“We really got good innings in the circle from Ashleigh and Kenya.  They did a solid job of keeping runners off the bases this weekend,” Goodart concluded.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Lady Rattlers are at Alabama State Tuesday (6 p.m. Central Time), then host North Carolina A&T in a three-game weekend series this Saturday and Sunday at the FAMu Softball Complex.

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SC State's Judge Earns 400th Career Tennis Coaching Victory

South Carolina State head coach Hardeep Judge
 earns 400th career victory.
Courtesy: SCSU Athletics
 

Bulldogs knock off FAMU to claim Southern Division; Lady Bulldogs tied for top spot

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — South Carolina State men's and women's tennis coach Hardeep Judge reached another illustrious milestone in Bulldog history, surpassing  his 400^th career victory over the weekend knocking off FAMU 4-3 (men), 5-2 (women) in MEAC tennis play at the Rattler Tennis Center.

The Bulldogs (8-4 overall, 4-0 in the MEAC) claimed the southern division with a 4-3 victory over host Florida A&M. Meanwhile, the Lady Bulldogs (8-5 overall, 5-1 MEAC) remained tied for first place in the southern division after a 5-2 triumph over the Lady Rattlers.

"Our girls played with a lot of heart today and they definitely didn't play their best but the windy conditions were hard to adjust to, "said SC State head coach Hardeep Judge. "Oleksandra played a lot better than her last outing as did Intissar."

The guys played very poorly today with two week layoff as well as the windy weather gave us some problems today," said Judge. "I am happy that we were able to win the Southern Division but we know that we will need to work extremely hard in these next few weeks for us to make an impact in the MEAC Championships."

In women's action, the Lady Bulldogs claimed the doubles point early on with an 8-3 and 8-2 victory over the Lady Rattlers to start the match. In singles action freshman Oleksandra def. Alexis Dean (6-2, 6-4);sophomore Klara Dohanlova def. Symone Townsend  in three sets (5-7,6-2, 6-1);freshman Intissar Rassif the MEAC Rookie of the Week def. Monet Graves (6-2, 6-3) and freshman Marketa Marcanikova knocked off Arrice Robinson 6-4,6-2 to claim the victory.

On the men's side, it was a battle from start to finish with the Bulldogs jumping out front to claim the doubles point at the No.2 position 8-7 and No.3 position 8-4. In singles it was all freshman earning wins with Martin Kobza at the No. 2 spot (6-4, 6-1); Daniel Vala at the No. 5 spot (6-3, 6-4) and Martin Figura at the No.6 spot (6-2, 6-2)

Judge stated, "Starting five freshmen and one sophomore we have continued to grow as a team, so it was great to get my 400th win against Florida A&M since we have battled them so much in my time at SC State.

Judge the winningest tennis coach in SC State history earned victory 401 with the wins over FAMU. He has guided the program to new heights with a total of 18 Mid-Eastern Athletic Championships (9 straight for the women, 9-of-10 for the men) in a 12-year span, making him among one of the few coaches in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) to reach 400 wins in a short time pan.

The Bulldogs return to action on Monday (March. 31) against Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, before both teams head to Buies Creek, NC to take on Campbell University in a Thursday (April 2.) non-conference matchup.

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Jackson State's Burroughs leans on safeties to help install the defense

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  Jackson State defensive coordinator Derrick Burroughs is putting a lot of pressure on Preston Hughes and Ryan Griffin.

The duo has gotten the most reps at safety during spring practice, and Burroughs expects them to lead on the field.

“This is a new defense for the both of us,” Burroughs said. “I’ve kind of put it on their shoulders, they’re the two guys that I always go to after practice and ... make sure they staying on their playbook.”

Along with those expectations comes ...

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Southern spring game showcases new quarterbacks

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  The Southern offense won’t be the same next season without All-Southwestern Athletic Conference quarterback Dray Joseph.

But that doesn’t mean it can’t be as good or even better just because it’s different.

Southern’s spring game Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium demonstrated how the offense will evolve with an inexperienced quarterback in either Deonte Shorts or Francis Kennah and a deep stable of running backs.

Shorts and Kennah were among 10 players to rush the ball, and Southern ran it 45 times and threw it 27. Unofficially, the Jaguars rushed for 258 yards and passed for 120.

“The quarterbacks’ ability to run will put some pressure on defenses,” coach Dawson Odums said. “They’re a lot more mobile than Dray was, and we didn’t ask Dray to be mobile, because he was a pretty good pocket passer.

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Savannah State Under The Morning Lights - 2014 SSU Spring Football Practice

SAVANNAH, Georgia  --  First-year coach Earnest Wilson, III, has the daunting task of turning around the misfortunes of the Tiger's football program. With that in mind, the Tigers now start their spring practice regiment with specific goals in mind for the upcoming season.

"I think we have the ability to win at least seven football games this season," said Wilson, as he addressed the squad at the conclusion of practice on this past Monday morning. "We have got to understand the work effort needed and learn how to play a game of intelligence."

Wilson has reached back into the Savannah State University history and sought out the services of former coach and athletic director Frank Ellis and former quarterback Chester Ellis. Both brothers were on hand to observe and then comment on what they saw and made recommendations to Wilson as practice concluded.

"All I want to do is win, because the Lord has given me a lot all ready," Wilson said. "I had a lot of success in arena football and I want to have that success in college football also."

At practice, on the first day back from spring break, 36 freshmen were on the roster. That is not counting more freshmen, who are still in high school. Those are some of the recruits signed by the team during national signing day.

"We have a lot of young players and they have got to understand what work effort is about," said Wilson. "They have got to learn how to check plays and be able to check into the right coverage."

The team has four quarterbacks attending spring drills and second-year player Leon Prunty logged in the most time for the Tigers last year, when now departed Antonio Bostick wasn't able to go.

A lot of the turnaround and attitude of players in the football program can be attributed to the team working out in the off-season. The athletic program now has a certified strength and conditioning coach.

In his initial interview when accepting the position as head football coach, Wilson indicated he had tried five previous times to land a spot here in Savannah.

"Back in 1994, when I was a coach at Alabama A&M, I remembered how wild and crazy the fans were here and I thought is was the best atmosphere I had ever been around," said Wilson.

"As I am getting older, I have given some thought of retirement and Savannah is not a bad place to live. I felt in the past, that I should have gotten the job, but all I want to do now is to build and establish a good program."

COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

XU's Rolland runs NAIA's fastest time this year in women's 100

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Devinn Rolland ran the NAIA's fastest time of the 2014 outdoor season in the women's 100-meter dash at the Tulane Team Challenge on Saturday.

Rolland, second in the event, ran a career-best 11.83 seconds at Tad Gormley Stadium to qualify automatically for the NAIA National Championships in May.

The Gold Nuggets met A-qualifying marks in four other events and B-qualifying marks in two. The

* Rolland in the 200 -- second place in 24.97 seconds and fourth-fastest in the NAIA this season.

* Hannah Finnegan in the 3,000 steeplechase -- second in 11:09.53 and fourth-fastest in the NAIA.

* The 400 relay team of Kaylee Moore, Rolland, Kailey Williams and Chelsea James -- third in 47.96 and ninth-fastest in the NAIA.

* Angelica Alexander in the high jump -- first place in 5 feet, 6 inches (1.68 meters). It's the second time in three meets that Alexander reached that best-in-the-NAIA mark.

James was fourth in the 100 in 12.12 for an NAIA B-qualifying mark. Rolland was fifth in the long jump with an NAIA B mark of 18-0 1/2 (5.50 meters) -- she reached the A mark in this event in the season opener.

For the XU men, Christopher Kennie, Christopher August and Brent Kitto produced top-7 finishes. Kennie was fifth in the long jump (6.30 meters), August was seventh in the 800 (2:04.74), and Kitto was seventh in the 1,500 (4:12.58).

Next meet for the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will be the Pelican Relays on Friday at Baton Rouge, La. Field events will start at 10 a.m., with running events at 3 p.m. Southern University's Roscoe Moore Track at A.W. Mumford Stadium will be the venue.
A marks:

Results:  Men    Women

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Second Missouri Classic Highlights Lincoln's 2014 Football Schedule

Blue Tigers Play Five Home Contests In Inaugural GLVC Season

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri  -- The second-ever Missouri Classic, five home contests and a brand new slate of conference opponents highlight the Lincoln football team's 2014 schedule. Lincoln, which is joining the Great Lakes Valley Conference as a football-only member starting next season, will play 10 total games in 2014.

The season will start on a neutral field in Kansas City, Mo. as, for the second year in a row, Lincoln will play in the Missouri Classic at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. Last season, the Blue Tigers won the inaugural Missouri Classic, leading from start to finish in a 47-34 win against Grambling State in front of over 20,000 fans. This season, the Blue Tigers will play Langston on Sept. 6 at 3:00 p.m. CT, renewing a rivalry that dates back to 1924.

The Blue Tigers will open their home slate the following week with their first-ever GLVC game, albeit against a familiar opponent. Lincoln's home opener will be vs. Southwest Baptist, another MIAA program joining the GLVC as a football-only member in 2014, on Sept. 13 at 2:00 p.m. CT. Lincoln will remain at home for its next contest, another league tilt against Quincy on Sept. 20 at 2:00 p.m. CT, before facing another former MIAA school, Truman State, in its first true road game of the season. Lincoln will square off against Truman, which is now a full member of the GLVC, in Kirksville, Mo. on Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m. CT.

LU will follow that contest with its second of three night games on it schedule, as the Blue Tigers will travel to Liberty, Mo. to play GLVC opponent William Jewell on Oct. 4 at 6:00 p.;m. CT. Two more home contests will then await the Blue Tigers, who will play another GLVC member, St. Joseph's, on Oct. 11 before stepping out of conference to host Texas College on Homecoming on Oct. 18. Both of those home games are scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. CT.

Lincoln will play its longest road game of the season on Oct. 25, as the Blue Tigers will resume GLVC play in Indianapolis, Ind. against Indianapolis at 6:00 p.m. CT. The Blue Tigers will have a BYE week on Nov. 1 before concluding the season against two more GLVC opponents. Lincoln hosts McKendree on Nov. 8 at 2:00 p.m. CT in its final home game of the year, with LU's annual Senior Day celebration taking place at halftime. The Blue Tigers then end their first season in the GLVC on the road, playing at Missouri S&T in Rolla, Mo. on Nov 15 at 1:00 p.m. CT.

All of Lincoln's home games will be played at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. Admission for all LU home games costs $10 for adults and $5 for non-Lincoln students and Lincoln faculty and staff members. Lincoln University students and children aged 12 and under are admitted for free. The Blue Tigers are led by head coach Mike Jones, who will begin his fourth season in 2014.

Downloadable 2014 Lincoln Football Schedule

2014 Lincoln Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Location	Time
Sept. 6	Langston (Missouri Classic)	Kansas City, Mo.	3:00 p.m.
Sept. 13	Southwest Baptist (GLVC)	Jefferson City, Mo.	2:00 p.m.
Sept. 20	Quincy (GLVC)	Jefferson City, Mo.	2:00 p.m.
Sept. 27	Truman State (GLVC)	Kirksville, Mo.	7:00 p.m.
Oct. 4	William Jewell (GLVC)	Liberty, Mo.	6:00 p.m.
Oct. 11	St. Joseph's College (GLVC)	Jefferson City, Mo.	2:00 p.m.
Oct. 18	Texas College (Homecoming)	Jefferson City, Mo.	2:00 p.m.
Oct. 25	Indianapolis (GLVC)	Indianapolis, Ind.	6:00 p.m.
Nov. 1	OPEN
Nov. 8	McKendree (GLVC, Senior Day)	Jefferson City, Mo.	2:00 p.m.
Nov. 15	Missouri S&T (GLVC)	Rolla, Mo.	1:00 p.m.

Notes on the 2014 Schedule
- Lincoln will join the Great Lakes Valley Conference after spending the past three seasons playing football in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association. This will be the fifth different conference in which Lincoln will be a football member, as the Blue Tigers were also previously members of the Mid-West Athletic Association, the Central States Football League and the Great Lakes Football Conference.

Sept. 6 - Langston
- After winning the inaugural Missouri Classic in 2013, the Blue Tigers will open their 2014 campaign with the second installment of the series, played at Arrowhead Stadium.

- This will be the 61st meeting between Lincoln and Langston, making Langston the opponent that the Blue Tigers have historically played the most times. The series dates back to 1924, but the two times have not met since 2010, when Langston pulled out a 31-21 win. Langston leads the all-time series, 38-20-2.

- After opening the 2012 and 2013 campaigns against league opponents, Lincoln will open a season against a non-conference opponent for the first time since beating Avila, 35-3, in the first game of 2011.

- Langston joins Texas College as one of two Historically Black Colleges and Universities on Lincoln's 2014 schedule. The last time LU was able to play multiple HBCUs in a season was in 2010.

- The Blue Tigers will be playing in an NFL stadium for the third time in four seasons when LU returns to Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. In addition to playing there for the 2013 Missouri Classic, Lincoln previously played Missouri Southern in the Edward Jones Dome, the home of the St. Louis Rams, back in 2011.

- This game, titled "The Missouri Classic," also marks the third classic Lincoln has played in over the past three seasons. The Blue Tigers' 2011 game in St. Louis against Missouri Southern was called "The Gateway Classic."

Sept. 13 - Southwest Baptist
- After closing its 2013 campaign with a 51-28 home win over Southwest Baptist, the Blue Tigers will now open their 2014 home slate with a rematch against SBU.

- The Blue Tigers are 1-5 all-time against Southwest Baptist, which joins Lincoln as MIAA programs joining the GLVC as football-only members in 2014.

- This will be the first-ever Great Lakes Valley Conference game for Lincoln.

Sept. 20 - Quincy
- This will be the first-ever meeting between Quincy and Lincoln, making Quincy one of three first-time opponents on Lincoln's 2014 schedule.

- Lincoln opens its conference slate with consecutive home games for the first time since 2008, when LU hosted Great Lakes Football Conference opponents St. Joseph's and Central State to begin its league slate that year. Unlike this season, however, those games were not played in back-to-back weeks.

Sept. 27 - Truman State
- The Blue Tigers renew their rivalry with Truman State, which was a member of the MIAA until 2013.

- Lincoln last played Truman State in 2012. Like this year, that game was both a night contest and the first true road game on Lincoln's schedule.

- While Lincoln's football records are incomplete, this is believed to be the latest in a season that LU will play its first true road game of a season.

- This will be the 25th meeting between Truman State and Lincoln in a series that dates back to 1968. Truman owns a 19-4-1 lead in the all-time series.

Oct. 4 - William Jewell
- William Jewell is the second first-time opponent on Lincoln's schedule.

Oct. 11 - St. Joseph's
- Like Southwest Baptist and Truman State, St. Joseph's is both a new and former conference rival for the Blue Tigers. St. Joseph's was also a member of the Great Lakes Football Conference, of which Lincoln was a member from 2007-2009. St. Joseph's is one of two former GLFC teams that later became current members of the GLVC, with the other being Missouri S&T.

- Lincoln first played St. Joseph's in 2002, and is 1-8 all-time in that series.

Oct. 18 - Texas College
- Texas College represents the second HBCU on Lincoln's schedule, joining Langston.

- Lincoln has played Texas College just once before, with Texas College winning, 23-12, back in 2004. This will be the first meeting between the two schools in Jefferson City.

- With the MIAA playing an almost-exclusively conference schedule the last two years, this will be the first time Lincoln will play two non-conference opponents in a season since playing Avila and Urbana in 2011.

- This game will be Lincoln's annual Homecoming contest. The Blue Tigers' last victory on Homecoming came in 2012, when LU defeated Nebraska-Kearney, 34-27.

Oct. 25 - Indianapolis
- This marks just the second all-time meeting between Indianapolis and Lincoln. The Greyhounds won the first meeting, 40-19, back in 1983.

Nov. 8 - McKendree
- This will be the first-ever meeting between Lincoln and McKendree, making the Bearcats the third first-time opponent on the Blue Tigers' 2014 schedule.

Nov. 15 - Missouri S&T
- Like St. Joseph's, Missouri S&T was a member of the Great Lakes Football Conference while the Blue Tigers were in the league. That makes the Miners the fourth "new" league opponent for LU that was previously a conference rival of the Blue Tigers.

- Lincoln and Missouri S&T will meet for the 30th time in a series that dates back to 1958. Missouri S&T has an 18-11 lead in the series.



By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU Rattler Baseballers Sweep NC A&T; Take First Place

COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS

FAMU now in sole possession of first place in the MEAC Southern Division after sweep

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  -- The FAMU Baseball team swept into first place in the MEAC Southern Division here Saturday evening, riding the pitching of starters Chase Jarrell and David Duncan to take down North Carolina A&T, 5-2 and 4-2 in Saturday’s rain-delayed action at War Memorial Stadium.

FAMU (9-16, 6-4 in MEAC) vaulted from fourth place into sole possession of the division lead by knocking the homestanding Aggies (11-15, 6-5) into a third place tie with idle North Carolina Central (6-5), and behind second place Bethune-Cookman (5-4), whose single game Saturday against Savannah State in Daytona Beach was suspended by thunderstorms in the seventh inning.

First-year FAMU coach Jamey Shouppe was elated as his team’s performance Saturday after the up-and-down play of recent weeks.

“Anytime you play two games and only give up two earned runs, you’re playing good ball and getting it done on the mound. Our pitching was probably the best today it has been all season. I kept telling the kids to mind their tempo,” Shouppe said.

Rattler pitching was indeed excellent Saturday, as Chase Jarrell (3-2), pitched eight innings of four-hit ball in the opener, allowing two runs, striking out five, while walking three. Brandon Fleming  came on in relief to work a scoreless ninth for his second save.

Senior David Duncan (2-2) worked six full innings in the nightcap, fanning seven Aggie hitters, while allowing one run on five hits, with two walks. Fleming came on in the seventh for his second save of the day, and third of the season, getting out of a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout and a line out to end the game after giving up a run.

In that second game, FAMU was leading 1-0 in the fifth when Jeremy Barlow and Bennie Robinson each belted solo home runs to extend the Rattler lead to 3-0, before the Aggies scratched out a run in the bottom of the fifth.

FAMU got that run back in the top of the seventh on Robinson’s RBI single, scoring Peter Jackson, who had reached on a one out double, for a 4-1 lead.

“We got key hits when we needed to.  We haven’t been getting the big hits when we needed them, but the hitters stood in today.  Thats to take nothing away from North Carolina A&T, they’re a good ballclub.  Our hitters had better at-bats.

“Jeremy Barlow couldn’t have picked a better time to hit his first home run of the season.  Another key situation was Bennie Robinson getting that hit in the seventh inning of the second game to give us a three run cushion.  That was huge," Shouppe said.

In the opener, FAMU trailed 1-0 after the first inning, but tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning, when Michael Birdsong led off with a double, then later  scored from third on Kendal Week’s sacrifice fly to center.

FAMU took a 2-1 lead in the third when Blake Quillin, who led off the inning with a double, scored from third on a throwing error by A&T pitcher Brian Poag.

The Rattlers extended their lead to 5-1 in the fourth, keyed by Bennie Robinson’s two-run single for a 4-1 cushion, before Birdsong drew a bases loaded walk to score Quillin from third.

Robinson led the FAMU attack with four hits and four RBI Saturday, getting hit support from Barlow, with his first homer of the year, along with Jared Walker, with three hits, plus Quillin and Birdsong with two hits each.

“In the end, we can’t be satisfied,” Shouppe said. “We’ve got to play better tomorrow and use same approach, because we didn’t come here just to win two games, we came to win them all,” Shouppe concluded.

The two teams will close the series here at War Memorial Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m.

MEAC NOTES: While FAMU plays its final game with A&T, Bethune-Cookman and Savannah State will conclude their suspended game from Saturday at 10 a.m., then play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Savannah State was leading B-CU, 3-0 in the top of the seventh before heavy weather moved in Saturday…. The MEAC announced Friday that next Sunday’s FAMU-Bethune-Cookman game at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Daytona Beach will be televised by ESPNU. 

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

New NCCU football coach Jerry Mack lays down the law

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- Spring ball at N.C. Central looked like fall ball.

Intense.

NCCU coach Jerry Mack, hired in December, set the tone at the beginning of Thursday’s practice at midfield of O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium by singling out two players at a time to knock the daylights out of each other.

“You can see the energy it generates,” Mack said. “That sets the tone to let guys know you have to show up and compete today.”

A year ago, Mack was coaching wide receivers at South Alabama. This is his debut as a head coach, putting him ultimately in charge of both sides of the ball and the special teams in between.


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Lincoln Spring Game and Alumni Game To Be Held On April 12

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri  --  The Lincoln football team's annual spring game will be held on Saturday, April 12, at 3:00 p.m. CDT with an alumni flag football game afterwards. Both events will take place at Dwight T. Reed Stadium with free admission. For the third straight year, a youth football camp will also be held prior to the spring game.

The spring game will be the culmination of the football team's spring practices, which began last Monday (March 17). The scrimmage will allow fans to get their first look at some of LU's newer players along with some returning favorites from last season.

Prior to the spring game, the Blue Tigers will host a youth football camp for area kids in second through eighth games. Members of the Blue Tiger football team, under the direction of head coach Mike Jones, will work with each attending student, teaching them basic fundamentals of the sport. Every participant will receive a camp t-shirt.

Following the spring game, all past Lincoln players are invited to participate in an alumni flag football game. For more information on that contest, as well as to register, contact defensive line coach Brandon Kirksey at Kirksey.Brandon@gmail.com.

The Lincoln football team is entering a new era, as the Blue Tigers will begin competing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference this fall. In addition to old MIAA rivals Southwest Baptist, which is also joining the GLVC in 2014, and Truman State, which left the MIAA in 2013, new league opponents on the Blue Tigers' docket include Missouri S&T, William Jewell, Quincy, McKendree, Saint Joseph's and Indianapolis.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS 

NCCU Football: The Eagle Storm is Coming

NCCU's Moton interviewing at Marshall, Florida Atlantic

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- North Carolina Central head men's basketball coach LeVelle Moton is interviewing for head coaching positions at Marshall and Florida Atlantic University, WRAL learned Friday.

The head coach has been contacted by other universities for assistant coaching positions.

Moton led the NC Central squad to a 28-6 record this past season and a MEAC tournament title. The title earned the Eagles their first ever trip to the NCAA tournament.

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