MEAC schools showing interest in WSSU's Collins

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Bobby Collins, the men’s basketball coach at Winston-Salem State, has been drawing interest from at least three Division I schools with coaching vacancies.

Collins confirmed that MEAC members Maryland Eastern-Shore, Delaware State and Coppin State have contacted him.

“There’s been interest,” Collins said by telephone Friday night from the Final Four near Dallas. “I’m not going to get into particulars but there’s interest from me, as well. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens — so I really don’t want to say anything more.”

Collins just completed his eighth season at WSSU and probably ...

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Former FAMU Rattler WR Harvey signs with NY Giants

TRAVIS HARVEY

Five things to know about Travis Harvey

NEW YORK  --  Former Florida A&M wide receiver Travis Harvey has signed a contract with the New York Giants, per the FAMU Athletics Department.

1. Wide receiver Travis Harvey, 6-2 and 188 pounds, went undrafted out of Florida A&M in 2013.

2. Harvey spent part of the 2013 preseason with the Tennessee Titans before being released in training camp.

3. In his final year of college in 2012, Harvey caught ...

>> VIEW TRAVIS HARVEY PHOTO GALLERY

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Joseph LeBeau signs with CFL team

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Former Jackson State defensive end Joseph LeBeau is back in the pros, this time with the Canadian Football League.

LeBeau, who played at JSU for two seasons, signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as a DE late in March. Following his 2012 senior season at Jackson State, the New Orleans native signed with the St. Louis Rams as a free agent but was waived last August.

According to the Tiger-Cats’ website, LeBeau is listed at 6-foot, 245-pounds, which is 26 more pounds than when he signed with the Rams as a linebacker.

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Lincoln Football Continues Spring Practice

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pennsylvania -- The Lions continued football drills throughout their second week of scheduled practice sessions, going through a two-hour workout at the LU Football Stadium.

The Lions, who return 14 starters (eight offensive, six defensive), opened the practice with position drills, before running play sets with the first-team offense going against the first-team defense.

Lincoln will conclude their Spring Practices on Friday, April 11th with the annual Spring Game at 7 pm.

Lincoln opens the 2014 season with a nationally televised home game against rival Cheyney in the annual "Battle of the First" on Thursday, September 4, 2014.

Here are the remaining practice dates and times (subject to change):

Practice No. 8: Thursday, April 3, 6:00 p.m.
Practice No. 9. Friday, April 4, 6:00 p.m.
Practice No.10 (Scrimmage): Saturday, April 5, 11:00 a.m.
Practice No. 11: Monday, April 7, 6:00 p.m.
Practice No. 12: Tuesday, April 8, 6:00 p.m.
Practice No. 13: Wednesday, April 9, 6:00 p.m.
Practice No. 14: Thursday, April 10, 6:00 p.m.
Practice No. 15 (Spring Game): Friday, April 11, 7:00 p.m.

COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Brown Named PVAMU Head Women's Basketball Coach

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Prairie View A&M University has officially named Dawn Brown as its head women's basketball coach. Brown, who served on an interim basis this past season, becomes Prairie View A&M's fifth head coach since the program moved to the NCAA Division I ranks in 1982.

"Coach Brown has done a tremendous job in continuing the overall success of the program on-and-off the court," said Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson. "She stepped into the position last summer and immediately proved herself as a solid motivator, teacher and recruiter. Coach Brown has the desire to move the Prairie View A&M women's basketball to another level in terms of its national profile after having an instrumental part in the program's success over the past four seasons."

Named the team's interim head coach on July 1, 2013, Brown led the Lady Panthers to their fourth consecutive NCAA Women's Basketball Division I Tournament appearance and the team's fourth straight SWAC Tournament Championship this past season. Under her watch, junior point guard Jeanette Jackson had a record-breaking season as she became the all-time single season scoring leader in PVAMU women's basketball history in addition to earning All-SWAC First Team and SWAC Tournament MVP Honors. Brown also developed senior guard LaReahn Washington into a scoring threat as the senior had a career season in her lone season as a starter while sophomore post Shamiya Brooks emerged as one of the top shot blockers in the SWAC.

In addition to the team's individual accolades, the Lady Panthers had a pair of five-game winning streaks under Brown over the course of the 2013-14 campaign and won 10-of-11 contests during a two-month span. Since joining the PVAMU women's basketball program as an assistant coach in 2010, the Lady Panthers are a perfect 12-0 in postseason play with Brown on the bench.

Prior to becoming interim head coach, Brown served as the team's assistant coach for three seasons along with adding the responsibilities of recruiting coordinator during the 2012-13 campaign. Brown recruited 2012 SWAC All-Tournament center Larissa Scott, 2013 SWAC Tournament MVP Kiara Etienne and do-it-all forward JaQuandria Williams, who contributed heavily to the Lady Panthers' SWAC Tournament Championships in 2012 and 2013.

Before coaching at Prairie View A&M, Brown spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Tougaloo College. At Tougaloo, Brown played a major part in turning the program around as the Lady Bulldogs finished the 2009-10 season with their best record in 12 years and advanced to the semifinal round of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.

A 2005 graduate of Jackson State University, she had a two-year career as a student-athlete with the Lady Tigers and helped capture the 2002-03 SWAC Regular Season Co-Championship and a SWAC Tournament semi-final berth.

Before her playing days at Jackson State, Brown a two-time captain at Atlanta Metropolitan College, led the team to two-straight GJCAA Tournament appearances as she was a part of the inaugural team in 2000.

Dawn knows the demands of a Division I student-athlete, as she also excelled in the classroom earning her Bachelor's degree in Sociology in 2005. She also holds memberships in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Order of Eastern Star, Black Colleges & Administrators and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

Brown is the proud daughter of William and Imelda Brown.

Prairie View A&M University has officially named Dawn Brown as its head women's basketball coach. Brown, who served on an interim basis this past season, becomes Prairie View A&M's fifth head coach since the program moved to the NCAA Division I ranks in 1982.

"Coach Brown has done a tremendous job in continuing the overall success of the program on-and-off the court," said Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson. "She stepped into the position last summer and immediately proved herself as a solid motivator, teacher and recruiter. Coach Brown has the desire to move the Prairie View A&M women's basketball to another level in terms of its national profile after having an instrumental part in the program's success over the past four seasons."

Named the team's interim head coach on July 1, 2013, Brown led the Lady Panthers to their fourth consecutive NCAA Women's Basketball Division I Tournament appearance and the team's fourth straight SWAC Tournament Championship this past season. Under her watch, junior point guard Jeanette Jackson had a record-breaking season as she became the all-time single season scoring leader in PVAMU women's basketball history in addition to earning All-SWAC First Team and SWAC Tournament MVP Honors. Brown also developed senior guard LaReahn Washington into a scoring threat as the senior had a career season in her lone season as a starter while sophomore post Shamiya Brooks emerged as one of the top shot blockers in the SWAC.

In addition to the team's individual accolades, the Lady Panthers had a pair of five-game winning streaks under Brown over the course of the 2013-14 campaign and won 10-of-11 contests during a two-month span. Since joining the PVAMU women's basketball program as an assistant coach in 2010, the Lady Panthers are a perfect 12-0 in postseason play with Brown on the bench.

Prior to becoming interim head coach, Brown served as the team's assistant coach for three seasons along with adding the responsibilities of recruiting coordinator during the 2012-13 campaign. Brown recruited 2012 SWAC All-Tournament center Larissa Scott, 2013 SWAC Tournament MVP Kiara Etienne and do-it-all forward JaQuandria Williams, who contributed heavily to the Lady Panthers' SWAC Tournament Championships in 2012 and 2013.

Before coaching at Prairie View A&M, Brown spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Tougaloo College. At Tougaloo, Brown played a major part in turning the program around as the Lady Bulldogs finished the 2009-10 season with their best record in 12 years and advanced to the semifinal round of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.

A 2005 graduate of Jackson State University, she had a two-year career as a student-athlete with the Lady Tigers and helped capture the 2002-03 SWAC Regular Season Co-Championship and a SWAC Tournament semi-final berth.

Before her playing days at Jackson State, Brown a two-time captain at Atlanta Metropolitan College, led the team to two-straight GJCAA Tournament appearances as she was a part of the inaugural team in 2000.

Dawn knows the demands of a Division I student-athlete, as she also excelled in the classroom earning her Bachelor's degree in Sociology in 2005. She also holds memberships in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Order of Eastern Star, Black Colleges & Administrators and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

Brown is the proud daughter of William and Imelda Brown.

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

In the FCS Huddle: Fobbs delivers healing at Grambling

HEAD COACH BRODERICK FOBBS
Courtesy: Grambling State Athletics

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania - Broderick Fobbs could sense Grambling State would be a part of his future even during the moment he was making it his past.

Shortly after he graduated from the university in 1997, he was off to discover the world. Yet as he drove over the hill that so many do while departing both campus and the tiny town in Louisiana, Fobbs looked into his car's rear-view mirror that day and told himself he would be back someday.

"I didn't know when," he remembers today, "didn't know what year or what, but I did know at some point that I'd be back."

Broderick Fobbs is indeed back and Grambling State really needs him now.

He's been hired to restore the legendary ...

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With options at QB, NSU coach seeks a clear choice

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- When Norfolk State conducts the first of 15 scheduled spring practices today, 10th-year coach Pete Adrian will have one top objective.

And it's no small task.

"We've got to find a starting quarterback," he said. "That's my main goal for the season, is to have a definite starter coming out of spring practice."

How definite that can be remains to be seen. In addition to rising juniors Tyler Clark, Malik Stokes and Omari Timmons, who split 11 of 12 starts last season, Adrian will have at least one more option after the spring.

Terrance Ervin, a 6-foot-3 incoming freshman who led Chesterfield's L.C. Bird High to consecutive state titles, will arrive for summer workouts in July. Ervin, who went 29-0 as a starter in high school, will be given a shot.

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Jacksonville University to interview TSU's Mike Davis

HOUSTON (FOX 26) -- College basketball sources told FOX 26 Sports Jacksonville University (Fla.) has received permission from Texas Southern to interview Tigers men's basketball coach Mike Davis.

Davis took over the TSU program two years ago and led the Tigers to the SWAC regular season championship while the program was on NCAA probation.

He led TSU to a 16-2 conference record in 2013, but the school was barred from postseason play.

Davis followed that success by leading the Tigers to the SWAC Postseason Tournament title in 2014, landing the school's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2003.

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Alcorn State 2014 Bravefest Set for April 12

LORMAN, Mississippi --  On Saturday, April 12, 2014, Alcorn State University Braves will host its' annual Bravefest on the "Reservation."

The day has a full slate of activities taking place which includes high school day that morning beginning at 9 a.m.

Head Coach Barrett Rey and the Braves baseball team host Alabama State in a key three-game weekend series.  First pitch begins Saturday with game one at 12 p.m. followed by game two at 3 p.m.  The Braves wrap up the weekend series with the Hornets on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Alcorn State football team will play its' annual Purple and Gold Spring game on Saturday at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.  The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite will be in attendance to "AMP" your day with their familiar hits such as "Funky Stuff" and "The Braves Fight Song."  Admission and tailgating is free of charge for the game which is set to begin at 2:00 p.m.

So come on out to the "Yard" and bring your families to support the Alcorn State
Football team as they prepare for the 2014 season and the Alcorn State Baseball teams as they look to sweep the first place Alabama State Hornets.  "You don't want to miss out on all the action."

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
 

PVAMU Panthers Hit Halfway Mark Of Spring Football Practice

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  --  The Prairie View A&M Panther football team is halfway through its spring practice sessions as the team will practice Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. followed by a situational scrimmage on Saturday morning at Blackshear Field beginning at 9:45 a.m.

Coming off a 6-6 season, the Panthers enter the spring looking to fine tune its offensive unit as the majority of their playmakers return from a unit that ranked as one of the nation's best.  Defensively, the Panthers underwent a leadership change right before spring ball as new defensive coordinator Clifford Yoshida takes charge. 

 

The Panthers will hold their annual Purple & Gold Game at Blackshear Stadium on Friday, April 11

at 6:30 p.m.

 

2014 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Thursday	April 3	4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday	April 5	9 a.m. – 11 a.m. (9:45 a.m. scrimmage)
Sunday	April 6	7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday	April 8	4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday	April 10	4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday	April 11	6:30 p.m. (PURPLE & GOLD GAME)

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

A&M defeats Samford Baseball, 5-3

NORMAL, Alabama – For the first time in school history Alabama A&M baseball defeated Samford University, 5-3 on "The Hill", Wednesday afternoon.

The Bulldogs shook off a slow start and broke up Samford's perfect game in the fourth inning. A&M answered with five runs in the next three frames to hold a lead they would never relinquish.

A&M improved to 11-19, while Samford dropped to 17-12 overall.

Samford charged back with two runs in the last two innings, but couldn't overtake the Bulldogs. AAMU finished the day with five runs on nine hits and one error, including a home run by Caleb Waddell. Samford had three runs on eight hits and an error, stranding 10 on-base.

Leadoff hitter Ramon Nelson led the way with a 2-for-4 performance, driving in three RBI's. Jordan Friend also notched two hits on the day.

Relief pitcher Ryan Ahrens picked up his second win, giving up just one run on four hits in five innings.

"Our pitching staff did a really great job today," said head coach Mitch Hill.  "We played defense well. This was a really big win for us."

Starting pitcher Derrick Winter allowed one earned run on two hits in three innings. Andrew Utterback was credited with his first career save, allowing just a run on two hits in an inning.

Cody Pugh took the loss for the Samford Bulldogs, giving up three earned runs on three hits in four innings.

Austin Hulsey broke up the Samford perfect game with a double in the fourth inning. Utterback then reached first base with a single, scoring Hulsey, to tie the contest at 1-1.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the fifth, when Caleb Waddell reached on an error by the third baseman. Dylan Johnson then singled to center field advancing Waddell.  Keyonta Welch was then walked to load the bases.  Later in the inning, Nelson's double to left field drove in all three runners to stretch the lead 4-1.

In the sixth inning, Waddell with two outs, went yard over left field wall giving the Bulldogs the insurance runs.

"I got a pretty good swing on it and I wanted to help my team win," said Waddell. "That was my first homerun in my A&M career, and it felt great."

Samford threaten in the eighth. An error by the Bulldogs allowed Filliben to score cutting the deficit 5-3.

Caleb Bryson scored in the ninth for Samford, but the Bulldog threat was halted with a Quinn strikeout out to end the game.

A&M will return to action on Saturday, April 5, when the Bulldogs open a three game road series against SWAC foe Alcorn State. The first pitch for Saturday's series opener is scheduled for 12 p.m.

 Box Score 

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama A&M Football set to open Spring Football Practice

NORMAL, Alabama – Head Coach James Spady has completed his staff, signed 25 players, taken the returning players through conditioning and moved his wife and kids to Huntsville, Alabama.

Now the fun begins as Spady and company open their 2014 spring football practices on Friday, April 4, at 7:00 p.m.

The first of 15 meetings has been designated as Friday Night Under the Lights.  Bulldog football has invited everyone as practice will be open.

On the offensive side of the ball Spady will have to replace running back Barrington Scott who rushed for 1,070 yards out of the 1,840 yards the team rushed for in 2013. Scott also led the team with 44 points scored.

On the defensive side Spady looks to replace five players who totaled 278 tackles out of the 861 the team posted last season.



All 15 practices will be open to the public as the complete list of all practices is listed below:

Friday; April 4, 2014 (7:00 PM) – Practice #1 (Helmets)
*Friday Night Under the Lights w/The Bulldogs (Alumni Invitation)

Saturday; April 5, 2014 (10:00 AM) – Practice #2 (Helmets)

Sunday; April 6, 2014 (2:00 PM) – Practice #3 (Full Pads)
@ J. O. Johnson High School (Taking our show to the community)

Monday; April 7, 2014 (7:00 PM) – Practice #4 (Full Pads)

Wednesday; April 9, 2014 (7:00 PM) – Practice #5 (Full Pads)

Friday; April 11, 2014 (4:00 PM) – Practice #6 (Shells)

Saturday; April 12, 2014 (1:00 PM) – Practice #7 (Scrimmage)
@ Huntsville High School (Taking our show to the community)

Sunday; April 13, 2014 (2:00 PM) – Practice #8 (Shells)

Monday; April 14, 2014 (7:00 PM) – Practice #9 (Full Pads)

Wednesday; April 16, 2014 (7:00 PM) – Practice #10 (Full Pads)
*High school coaches social/clinic-4:30 PM / Controlled scrimmage

Friday; April 18, 2014 (10:00 AM) – Practice #11 (Full Pads) (Good Friday)
@ Bob Jones High School (Taking our show to the community)

Monday; April 21, 2014 (7:00 PM) – Practice #12 (Full Pads)

Wednesday; April 23, 2014 (7:00 PM) – Practice #13 (Full Pads)

Friday; April 25, 2014 (4:00 PM) – Practice #14 (Helmets)

Saturday; April 26, 2014 (3:00 PM) – Practice #15 (Spring Game)

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

 

Southern set to host 2014 Pelican Relays April 4-5

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  The Southern University Track and Field team and the U.S. Express Track Club will host the 5th annual Rodney Milburn/Willie Davenport Pelican Relay on the Baton Rouge campus. 

The relays kick off with college and universities division on Friday, April 4 at 3 p.m. at Roscoe Moore Track inside A.W. Mumford Stadium. 

Friday’s event will also have a high school division where 13 local high schools will compete. Awards will be given to all first place finishers in all events.

The Relays will continue Saturday, April 5 as the U.S. Express Track Club invites all children 14 years and younger, middle school teams and adults 30 years and older to participate.

The event will be divided into three divisions-Youth Division, Middle School Divisions and Masters Division. The top 6 finishers of each division will receive awards. In addition, the middle school division will have a team trophy for the champion and runner up.

All teams wanting to participate for Friday’s event must register at www.directathletics.com by April 2. Entry fee is $200 per college team and $100 per high school team.

Entry Fee for youth division is $6 per athlete and $10 per athlete for master’s division. For middle school division, the entry fee is $6 per athlete for a max of $36 per team or $72 for schools with boys and girls team. School checks are accepted made out to U.S. Express Track Club.

To register, entries must submit application online at www.coacho.com no later than April 2nd at 10PM. No entries will be accepted after the deadline and no onsite registration.

The youth division will be awarded and scored based upon age groups-ages under 6, ages 7-8 division, ages 9-10, ages 11-12, and ages 13-14. In all youth events, there will be a limit of five participants per age group per team.

General admission is $5 for all events, but free for Coaches and spectators with valid proof of USATF membership.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Gold Nuggets, Gold Rush add home duals to schedules

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana announced changes to its men's and women's tennis schedules Wednesday.

Coach Alan Green said men's and women's dual matches at Alcorn State, scheduled for Sunday, were canceled. Instead, Alcorn State's men will visit Xavier at 2 p.m. on April 24.

The Gold Nuggets also picked up a home dual: 4 p.m. Friday against Southern Miss.

Xavier's women (11-5) are ranked second in the NAIA, and the men (6-9) are 10th.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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Gold Rush's No. 16 final rank is highest in 13 years

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana dropped four places to 16th in NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Postseason Top 25 poll on Wednesday, but the Gold Rush emerged with its highest ranking in the final poll of a season since 2001.

Xavier tied at its position with Rocky Mountain.

The Gold Rush were 23-9 in 2013-14, won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship for the third straight year and qualified for the national tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

This is the third straight year that the NAIA's final poll occurred after the national tournament. Xavier was 24th each of the previous two seasons.

The Gold Rush are in the top 25 for the 37th consecutive time -- the longest active streak in the division -- and the 50th time in the last 51 polls.

GCAC Tournament champion Talladega ranked 11th. National champion Vanguard was a unanimous No. 1.

The top 25:

NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Postseason Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through end of season) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Vanguard (10) 32-6 250 8 2 Emmanuel (Ga.) 33-4 242 7 3 Cal State San Marcos 32-2 230 1 4 MidAmerica Nazarene 26-11 225 19 5 Pikeville 31-3 216 2 6 St. Gregory's 24-10 206 18 7 William Carey 28-3 203 3 8 Freed-Hardeman 29-6 200 9 9 Columbia (Mo.) 32-3 185 4 10 Georgetown (Ky.) 24-11 171 16 11 Talladega 29-6 166 6 12 Southwestern Assemblies of God 26-6 163 5 13 Culver-Stockton 24-8 157 14 14 Benedictine (Kan.) 23-9 153 11 15 Hope International 23-11 135 22 16-tie Xavier 23-9 118 12 16-tie Rocky Mountain 23-8 118 10 18 St. Catharine (Ky.) 20-13 116 RV 19 Wiley 25-7 113 15 20 Cumberlands 20-12 96 24 21 LSU-Shreveport 21-9 94 13 22 Wayland Baptist 23-11 80 20 23 Arizona Christian 23-8 78 17 24 Westminster (Utah) 19-13 71 21 25 Montana State-Northern 23-9 56 23 Others receiving votes: St. Thomas (Texas) 48, Evangel 47, Life 38, Philander Smith 30, Lindenwood-Belleville 11, Belhaven (Miss.) 8.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Gold Nuggets climb to 19th in NAIA postseason rankings

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana moved up one spot to 19th in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Postseason Top 25 poll on Wednesday.

The Gold Nuggets were 24-10 in 2013-14, won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament and upset defending champion Westmont 66-53 in the opening round of the national tournament on March 19. Xavier lost 59-55 to Campbellsville in the second round.

This is the fifth consecutive year and the 11th time in the last 13 seasons that Xavier appears in the final top 25 of the season. This is the third straight year that the final poll occurred after the national tournament.

GCAC regular-season champion Talladega ranked 25th.

National champion Oklahoma City was a unanimous No. 1. Xavier lost 72-70 in overtime at Oklahoma City on Nov. 29.

The top 25:

NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Postseason Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through end of season) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Oklahoma City (10) 27-4 250 5 2 Freed-Hardeman 36-2 242 2 3 Vanguard 27-2 229 1 4 Westminster (Utah) 26-3 221 3 5 Campbellsville 32-4 219 4 6 Wiley 30-5 218 11 7 John Brown 28-8 200 19 8 Our Lady of the Lake 27-5 189 9 9 Oklahoma Baptist 29-6 183 6 10 Georgetown (Ky.) 21-9 175 8 11 Baker 27-7 166 12 12 The Master's 24-9 157 7 13 MidAmerica Nazarene 28-4 151 14 14 Columbia (Mo.) 26-8 141 10 15 Loyola 23-12 134 RV 16 Bethel (Tenn.) 23-11 133 RV 17 Lewis-Clark State 27-6 130 15 18 Westmont 20-10 117 13 19 Xavier 24-10 116 20 20 Montana State-Northern 22-10 96 21 21 Shawnee State 20-13 87 25 22 Hope International 23-10 82 16 23 Lyon 24-9 75 17 24 Wayland Baptist 20-12 62 18 25 Talladega 26-5 59 22 Others receiving votes: Cumberlands 47, Mobile 46, Langston 36, Southern Poly , William Woods 16, Martin Methodist 9.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Delta Devils kick off spring practice under new leadership

ITTA BENA, Mississippi – Mississippi Valley State kicked off spring practice Tuesday morning at Rice-Totten Stadium, marking the beginning of the Rick Comegy era.

The Delta Devils practiced in helmets only for roughly two hours, as the returning players and new staff participated in their first official practice of the offseason.

"Everything went according to our practice plan," said head coach Rick Comegy. "I was very happy to see the kids adjust to the style of practice that we run. I'm sure it was kind of foreign to a lot of them, but they adjusted well."3



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The first-year coach said he was pleased with his initial observance of the Delta Devils.

"We got a chance to see their agility and moving around," he said. "We're pretty athletic…..Once we get pads on, we can really find out where the heart lies."

MVSU will be back on the field Tuesday at 5:30 a.m. in preparation for the Green & White Game which is scheduled for April 12 at 1 p.m. at Rice-Totten Stadium.

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU's Holmes puts all position up for grabs

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- At the end of almost every football game that FAMU lost last season, coach Earl Holmes was left shaking his head in disbelief. The Rattlers finished the season with just three victories in 12 games.

On Monday when FAMU began spring practice for the 2014 season, Holmes was upbeat. He was obviously glad to be making a fresh start in his second season as head coach.

In a sense he is starting over, considering that he’s told his players that no matter their role last year, they’ll have to use the 15 days of workouts to prove they are worthy of being a starter.

“We don’t have a starter yet until we find 11 guys on offense and 11 guys on defense and special team,” Holmes said. “It’s all about building a team. We’ve got to do this the right way. As of now, we don’t have any starters so all of the positions are opened.”

CONTINUE READING 

Former SSU tennis star Phyllis L. Oliver-Mattox dies from cancer

SAVANNAH, Georgia  -- Phyllis Mattox, a former Savannah State tennis star who was inducted into the SSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011, died Saturday after a battle with cancer.

Mattox, 38, played for the Tiger tennis team from 1994-98. The Warner Robins native was a four-time All-SIAC player and was the conference player of the year after her undefeated senior season in 1997. Her teams won conference titles in her junior and senior seasons.

Mattox earned her bachelor and masters degrees from SSU and had worked the last nine years for the Duval County School System in Jacksonville, Fla., as a teacher and district reading coach before her recent promotion to vice principal.

CONTINUE READING 

LB Jones to transfer from Wake Forest to Benedict Tigers

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Kevis Jones’ considerable promise will never be realized at Wake Forest.

Jones, a highly athletic redshirt freshman who played a reserve role last season at outside linebacker, plans to transfer to Benedict College, a Division II program in Columbia, S.C. Jones said he is making the move because he wants to play quarterback, one of several positions he played as a star at Northeast High School in Oakland Park, Florida.

“I want to play quarterback,’’ Jones said Tuesday. “I have no hard feelings toward Wake Forest.’’



Dave Clawson, who succeeded Jim Grobe as head coach in December, said he understood Jones’ feelings and he wished him well.

Clawson also said that Ben Emert, a redshirt junior fullback, will graduate with his class and not return for his redshirt senior season. Emert played in 10 games last season, but did not start.

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DSU football: Obado take over at quarterback

HEAD COACH KERMIT BLOUNT
(Courtesy: DSU Hornets Athletics)

Esayah Obado has big shoes to fill as quarterback for the Delaware State football team

DOVER, Delaware  --  Esayah Obado has some awful big shoes to fill.

The Delaware State red-shirt sophomore is poised to become the Hornets' third starting quarterback in as many seasons. He follows in the footsteps of Nick Elko, the 2012 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference offensive player of the year, and Corey Murphy, who led the MEAC with 2,307 passing yards last season.

"We're looking forward to him taking the reins," said Delaware State coach Kermit Blount, who has a 14-19 record in his first three seasons with the Hornets. "We felt that he did a tremendous job when we put him in games last year. He managed games very well from the perspective that we had to play him."

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Obado appeared in four games last season, completing 21 of 40 pass attempts for 168 yards and two interceptions. He also rushed for 82 yards on 19 carries.

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LB Noble assuming new role on Jackson State's defense

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  Stacy Noble has pulled on a defensive linemen’s jerseys when they’re incorrectly aligned. He yells over at his fellow linebacker to move when he anticipates a running play.

On the field, Noble appears the vocal leader.

But that wasn’t defensive coordinator Derrick Burroughs’ first impression of him.

“When I first got here, I thought he was very quiet,” Burroughs said. “But he’s not. When he steps on the field, he just kind of lets loose.”

As spring practice continues, the Tigers want the sophomore Noble to transform into the instructive player they’ll need at inside linebacker. Noble played in 11 games last season as a freshman, but his duties were largely limited to special teams.

CONTINUE READING

SC State Bulldogs Continue Spring Workouts

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- During the   8^th of 15 scheduled spring workout sessions held Tuesday morning, South Carolina State continued to conduct team-style drills on offense and defense during a lively and very intense practice, according to head coach Buddy Pough

 "We have a lot of work to do and we have to figure out who can be in certain positions to help us moving forward," said Pough. "We are starting to move some guys around and put them in different positions to see how things work."

"It's about time for us to start showing some evidence of being able to go out and execute things," he continued. "So it will be interesting to see where we are at during this coming Saturday."

 Pough added, despite the success in the past it's not unusual that this team is where they are at during this point in spring drills.

SC State,  midway through spring workouts with seven dates left -- including the annual Spring Garnet & Blue game --, will play a 12-game schedule in 2014. The Bulldogs open the campaign on Aug. 30 when Pough's team battle intrastate rival Benedict College in the Palmetto Capital City Classic in Columbia.

 SC State will conduct their annual Pro Day Wednesday (Apr.2) with approximately 15 seniors from the 2013 team, which are scheduled to work out for pro scouts from National Football League teams.

Bulldog Pro Day Schedule

2014 Spring Practice Schedule
 Practice #                  Date                          Time
9                                  Wed, April 2                6:30 AM
10                                Fri, April 4                   6:30 AM       
11                                Sat, April 5                10:30 AM        Scrimmage
12                                Mon, April 7                6:30 AM
13                                Wed, April 9                6:30 AM
14                                Fri, April 11                 6:30 AM       
15                                Sat, April 12               1:00 PM          Spring Game

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU Rattlers Win Thriller 8-6 Over ASU Hornets

COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  – The FAMU Lady Rattlers pulled off a crushing upset to the Hornets of Alabama State, as they exploded for four runs in their final at-bat to take an 8-6 win at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex on the campus of ASU in Montgomery, Alabama.

ASU scored in the first inning after blanking FAMU in the opening frame, taking a 1-0 score into the second inning.  Both teams were scoreless in the second inning, but the Rattlers got on the board with two runs in the top of the third inning.  Second baseman Alyssa Weaver singled to first base, scoring Tashayla Irvis.  Weaver would then scored on an RBI by Amber Fullwood, making the score 2-1 in favor of FAMU.

The lead would not last as Valerie Centeno and Tamara Williams scored on a double by ASU second baseman Jazzmin Romero, bringing the game to a tie.  They would regain the outright lead  of 3-2, going into the fourth inning.

FAMU struck right back, plating two runs in the top of the fourth.  This time Amanda Weaver singled, scoring Irvis.  Fullwood would card another RBI as she singled in Alyssa Weaver, making the score 4-3 FAMU.

With three consecutive innings, scoring one run in each, ASU took a 6-4 lead into the seventh inning.

Naesha Lewis scored on a Kenya Pererira single, making the tally 5-6, in favor of ASU in the top of the seventh.  Kieifi Myrick hit a crushing three-run homer to give the Lady Rattlers the win, with an 8-6 final.

Myrick went 3-for-3 on the day, including three RBI.  Alyssa Weaver and Fullwood collected two hits and one RBI each for FAMU.

Pererira got the win on the mound as she went three innings, gave up six hits, three runs and one strikeout in the 15 batters she faced.  Ashleigh Minter, who started the game, went four innings, giving up three runs, four hits and two walks.

For the Hornets, Centeno and Raven Walker got two hits each, with Centeno adding two RBI to her line.  Melissa Christmann took the loss for ASU, going two-and-one-third innings, giving up five hits and four runs.  Rachel Mills also saw time on the mound, going four-and-two-third innings gicing up seven hits and four runs.

The Lady Rattlers return to Tallahassee for a weekend MEAC series against the Aggies of North Carolina A&T.  Saturday’s doubleheader games start at 1p.m., with the third gme of the series strting at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Nuggets still 2nd in NAIA but tied with Lindsey Wilson

NEW ORLEANS -- Two of the NAIA's premier women's tennis programs, Xavier University of Louisiana and Auburn Montgomery, will put their new national rankings on the line Saturday when they meet at 2 p.m. at XU Tennis Center.

The NAIA announced Tuesday its fifth coaches poll of the season. Xavier is tied for second with Lindsey Wilson, and Auburn Montgomery, the three-time defending champion, is fourth.

The Gold Nuggets (11-5) are in the top 10 for the 12th consecutive time and in the top five for the eight time in the last nine polls. They were second in the previous poll on March 18.

Xavier won 5-4 at then-No. 1 AUM on March 9 on the final day of the AUM Invitational. It was the first time the Gold Nuggets defeated a top-ranked team.

Xavier is 3-1 since the previous poll. The loss was 5-4 at Lindsey Wilson on March 21 in a dual which was not decided until a third-set tiebreaker in the final match on the court.

Xavier is 6-2 this season against ranked NAIA teams and has won eight of its last nine duals overall.

Admission is free to the Xavier-AUM matches. Both schools' men's teams, also ranked in the top 10, will play at the same time.

The next rankings will be announced April 15.

The top 25:

1. Georgia Gwinnett
2. (tie) Xavier
2. (tie) Lindsey Wilson
4. Auburn Montgomery
5. SCAD Savannah
6. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
7. Brenau
8. Northwood (Fla.)
9. Vanguard
10. Oklahoma Baptist
11. Westmont
12. Graceland
13. Concordia (Calif.)
14. Lewis-Clark State
15. Milligan
16. Indiana Wesleyan
17. Coastal Georgia
18. Davenport
19. Campbellsville
20. Cardinal Stritch
21. Marian (Ind.)
22. St. Thomas (Fla.)
23. Olivet Nazarene
24. SCAD Atlanta
25. Northwestern Ohio

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