UMES Takes Third Place at the NCAA Bowling Championships

Hawks eliminate top-ranked Arkansas State before falling to Sam Houston State

WICKLIFFE, Ohio --   Sometimes a team just has your number. That was true today for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), who battled back from an opening loss to Sam Houston State, to face them in a rematch in the semi-final round that would end the Hawks' championship hopes in third place.

UMES returned from the lunch break firing on all cylinders. They were taking on the nation's top-ranked team and No. 2-seeded Arkansas State University (ASU). The Red Wolves battled with the Hawks, but in the end there was just too much fire power from UMES.

Coach Kayla Bandy inserted freshman Justyne Falbo (Greensburg, Pa.) into the lineup in the second spot for the match after seeing her warm-up well.  The move paid off. The Hawks took game one 247-174, tossing all strikes to just a pair of spares and an open, which came on the first frame and did no harm.

In game two UMES continued to bowl well, shooting a 202, but ASU took advantage of opens from Falbo and Tatiana Munoz (Ibague Tolima, Colombia) to gain the edge and tie the match at one game each.

The third game was all Hawks. So much so, that the only blemish was a wobbly 10-pin in the first frame by Megan Buja (Rockford, Ill.). After that, no one missed, and UMES shot a tournament high 290, easily rolling past ASU who put up a respectable 248.

Game four went to the Hawks again as they rode the momentum of the 290 all the way to a 244, opening just one frame on a split by Munoz and one on a split on the second and third balls of the tenth frame from anchor Mariana Alvarado (Leon, Mexico). That was significant because until then Alvarado hadn't missed, tossing 14 straight strikes in the match.

Game five saw the Red Wolves make a charge and roll a 226. UMES split twice, once from Falbo and once from Valerie Riggin (Vista, Calif.) and although the team covered them with eight strikes, their 215 total was 12 pins shy of the win.  The final game was clean for the Hawks who tossed six strikes and five spares (including the fill), to shoot 228 and top ASU's 206, taking the match 4-2 and eliminating the Red Wolves from the championship.

"We bowled really well that match," said Bandy. "We were really in the pocket and when we missed a little the team had each other's back." 

But the thorn in the side of the Hawks came a calling.  The Bearkats of Sam Houston State, who had a bye in the previous round, was ready for UMES. On the same lanes that the Hawks lost to them the first match of the day, they would defeat Maryland Eastern Shore 4-0 to advance to the television finals and become the first eight-seed to ever make it that far in the 11 years of the event.

Game one was close all the way. The Hawks were clean until the ninth frame when Munoz split and opened the frame.  Despite eight strikes and a pair of spares from Falbo, it was just enough for the Bearkats to take advantage of and win 230-221.

Game two wasn't pretty for either team. Sam Houston State shot just a 188, but the Hawks couldn't take advantage. The sure-firing Alvarado opened in the tenth, Falbo opened in the sixth and Munoz and Riggin both split but at least recovered to spare their frames. UMES mustered just a 166, tossing only three strikes and never stringing them together.

Game three was another nail-biter. Victoria Jones (Baltimore, Md.) subbed in for Falbo and tossed a strike and a spare.  The Hawks threw six strikes, but back-to-back opens in the fifth and sixth frames could not be recovered from and Sam Houston jumped out to a 224-212 win and went up 3-0 in the match.

Game four was more of the same as the Hawks opened just once and tossed five strikes and five spares, but the Bearkats could anticipate their first trip to the championship match and pulled away to win 223-196.

"I can't complain," said Bandy. "I wanted to win and it's hard to talk about right now, but I think overall we bowled the best weekend of the whole season. We were amazing on Thursday and today we really dominated in our wins, but for some reason Sam Houston State gets amped to bowl us and while we had a few tough games against them we never bowled bad.  But today was their day and I give them credit for making the finals, my hat is off to them."

The loss ends the NCAA Championship hopes of the Hawks in third-place in the semi-final round. It also ends the NCAA portion of the season for the lone senior Megan Buja. She had a pretty good run in the event, winning the title in 2011 and 2012 and this season shooting the high average and high game on the team games.  She finished third her other two appearances, collected three NCAA Elite 89 awards and an All-America honors along the way.

But it is not over for the Lady Hawks, who leave Sunday for Reno, Nev. to bowl in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships.  Last season, after being bounced in the semi-finals of the NCAA Championships, they went to the USBC Collegiate event and claimed their fifth National Championship in school history.

They have one senior that can think of no better way to finish her career than with a sixth title.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION

Joseph Webster Commentary: No black engineers, please! Just ballplayers

April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr. is killed helping garbage truck drivers in Tennessee.

April 4, 2014, Tallahassee Democrat: “Senate approves money for FSU engineering school.”

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- It’s ironic that, on the anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr., in Tallahassee, capital of the great state of Florida, we had a major university trying to roll back the hands of time to the unequal days of Jim Crow.

At a time when the country needs to come together and show a sense of unity, one should not have to fight to hold onto small gains that were made in an attempt to begin to rectify the 400 years of unequal treatment that blacks and other minorities have been subjected to in these United States of America.

What’s appalling is that state Sen. John Thrasher states a desire to “protect Florida A&M University by separating the schools of engineering” when he knows full well that Florida will never adequately and equitably fund two schools of engineering in the city. In almost poetic fashion, juxtaposed with the picture of Thrasher holding the microphone on Page 1A was a photo of Jameis Winston holding a football. Florida State University will go to all lengths to find black football players and has no problem with the football team that is mostly African-American, but it has significant difficulty in funding an engineering program that would allow African-Americans at least the opportunity to be exposed to the same level of engineering expertise as their white counterparts.

CONTINUE READING

Joseph Webster Sr. is a physician in Tallahassee and owner of Webster Surgical Center. He also is a past president of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association. Contact him at joeleeweb1@gmail.com .  Dr. Webster is the author of this commentary.

Howard To Hold Annual Spring Game Today at 1:30 PM



COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
(L)  Gary "Flea" Harrell



WASHINGTON, D.C.  -- The Howard University football team will officially end spring football practice with its Annual Spring Game on Saturday at 1:30 in Greene Stadium.  The game will be broadcast live on Heritage Sports Radio Network (www.hsrn.com), with Lamont Germany, Chuck Walton and Sarafina Hamer providing wall-to-wall coverage.

With a large contingent of players returning from last season, the Bison have looked sharp in practices and scrimmages.

"I have been pleased overall with the way things have gone," commented Howard head coach Gary "Flea" Harrell.  "We will be looking at the overall operations and team performance in the spring game.  We will evaluate the offense, defense and special teams in terms of coming together in a game format.  That will include play calling and discipline on all sides of the ball."

Offensively, much revolves around quarterback Greg McGhee, the 2013 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year and a three-year starter.  The offensive line returns four of the five starters while the running game features three outstanding backs in Anthony Philyaw, William Parker and Aquanius Freeman.

Defensively, Howard has talent and depth on the defensive front and one of the top safety combination in the MEAC in Julien David and Cameron Alston.

"Since this is the final phase, we want to know who's going to stand out and show what they can do.  We want to execute on offense and eliminate turnovers.  Defensively, we want to play fast and be physical."

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

Philip Gyau Named Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Howard U.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  -- Howard University alumnus Philip Gyau (B.A. '87) has been named head coach of the men’s soccer team. The announcement was made April 8, 2014 by Interim President Wayne A.I. Frederick and Louis “Skip” Perkins, director of athletics. Gyau brings more than 20 years of experience to the position as a respected coach and a former U.S. National Team Player.

“We are excited to bring an alumnus home,” said Perkins. “Philip Gyau is one of the most technically proficient coaches in the world and an extraordinary recruiter. We are fortunate to have someone of his caliber join our athletic program.”

Since 1998, Coach Gyau has placed 20 players on Youth National teams. He has played in six National Championships and won four of them. Gyau has several years of coaching experience. In 2007 and 2011, the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) named him Coach of the Year. In 2007, Gyau was inducted into the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame.

“I am so thrilled to return to Howard because it’s the place that molded me into the coach and player I am today,” said Gyau. “Howard taught me that the key ingredient to happiness and success is to never give less than your best. I am looking forward to giving back to the program that gave me so much. I will do my best to return this soccer program to prominence.”

Gyau is married to Leslie Amina Gyau. Their son, Joseph-Claude Gyau, and daughter, Mia-Irene Gyau, are both soccer players.

About Howard
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, two Truman Scholars, a Marshall Scholar, 30 Fulbright Scholars and 11 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, call 202-238-2330, or visit the University's Web site at http://www.howard.edu.

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Stud defender Jones happy he returned to Jackson State

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  Javancy Jones enrolled at Southwest Mississippi Community College in early January.

He settled in his new dorm room, took classes and worked out with the football team.

But it didn’t feel right.

“I didn’t have a roommate, so I used to go to my room by myself and just think about the pros and the cons of my decision,” Jones said. “Every time, I went to my room, it was like, ‘Why am I here?’

Like, I had it good at Jackson State, and I didn’t even give the new coaching staff a chance.”

CONTINUE READING

Tony Sheals Named Head Men's Basketball coach at VUU

RICHMOND, Virginia  --  Tony Sheals has been named the ninth Head Coach in the history of Virginia Union University men's basketball.

Sheals spent one season as the head men's basketball coach at Saint Augustine's University in 2013-14.

He has coached on the high school, collegiate and professional levels for more than 20 years, including Florida State University, Bethune-Cookman University, Towson University and Delaware State University. Sheals spent three seasons at Florida A&M University, where he was the Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach. While at Florida A&M, the Rattlers reached the MEAC Tournament semifinals in the 2011-2012 season.

Sheals was head coach at Bethune-Cookman (1994-1997) and Delaware State (2000) during their most successful periods in basketball history. He finished with a conference record of .500 or better each season at Bethune-Cookman, where Sheals was named MEAC Coach of the Year in 1995 as the Wildcats established school marks for best overall regular-season record and conference finish.



PHOTO GALLERY

Sheals enjoyed success as an assistant coach for several years in the traditionally strong Atlantic Coast Conference, considered one of, if not the best, collegiate basketball conference in the nation. He was Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Miami (2001-2002) and Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Florida State University (2002-2006).

Sheals was also an assistant coach at Towson State (1997-1999) of the America East Conference where he was primarily responsible for recruiting the No. 1 recruiting class in the league for two consecutive years.

During his time in Miami, the Hurricanes played in the NCAA Tournament four times in five years, earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament and won a then school-record 24 games. At Florida State, he helped assemble four of the top recruiting classes in school history, including the nation's No. 1-ranked class in 2003. The Seminoles defeated six nationally-ranked Division I teams with Sheals on the coaching staff.

Sheals began his coaching career at Kathleen High School (1984 -1990) in Lakeland, Fla., where he compiled a career record of 156-57. He led his teams to three state tournament finals appearances (1986, 1987, 1989), posting one 31-win season and two 29-win seasons during his tenure. His 1987 team was ranked 18th in the nation by USA Today and Sheals was named Class 4A Coach of the Year by the Central Florida Coaches Association. He was recently inducted into the Lakeland Sports Hall of Fame for his coaching achievements at Kathleen High School.

Sheals holds a B.S. degree in health and physical education from Bethune-Cookman University (1980), where he finished Cum Laude. He and his wife Marian, have two children: a son, Drew, and a daughter, Marissa.

COURTESY VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida A&M Rattlers' sluggers leading the way

RYAN KENNEDY
6'-3" 205 In Fielder
Hometown: Merritt Island, Florida (Brevard County)
High School: Merritt Island H.S.
Photo Courtesy: FAMU Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Jamey Shouppe couldn’t help but chuckle when he was asked about a brewing home run battle between FAMU infielders Ryan Kennedy and Bennie Robinson.

It wasn’t that the first-year Florida A&M baseball coach found the question funny, but more because he is happy the two sluggers are leading the MEAC in homers. They are motivating the rest of the Rattlers, who have been on a bit of a hot streak, Shouppe said.

“I just like to see kids compete,” said Shouppe, who has the Rattlers contending for the MEAC South Division title. “That’s fun. When they are successful, then we are successful as a team.”

That’s for sure. Robinson and Kennedy have been big contributors to FAMU (13-19) having the second-best team batting average (.277) in the MEAC.

CONTINUE READING

Edward Waters Joins Inaugural Sun Conference Football League

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The Sun Conference will begin sponsoring football beginning in the fall of 2014. The announcement was made by league Commissioner Mark Pope recently. The new football league will include four current members of the Sun Conference, as well as two additional schools that will join the league as single sport members. These six institutions will be able to compete for the inaugural Sun Conference Championship this fall.

Having six teams sponsoring football makes The Sun Conference champion eligible for NAIA postseason play and allows the league to appoint a rater, who will rate teams on the national level on a weekly basis.

"Football is a significant sport of interest in the Southeast and we are thrilled to offer football as a sponsored sport," Pope said. "In addition to the possibility of postseason play and the addition of a rater, our student-athletes will now compete for All-Conference honors. Adding football continues our primary goal of providing a great competitive and educational experience for our student-athletes."

The three league teams that currently sponsor football are Ave Maria, Warner and Webber International. Warner and Webber International have been TSC members since the league's inception, while Ave Maria joined the conference in 2010. Webber International has fielded a football team since 2004, competing as an independent for the last 10 seasons. Ave Maria started it football program in 2011, while Warner football completed its first season of competition in 2013.

In 2012, current league member Southeastern announced the addition of a football program on its campus. The Fire will play its first home game against Warner on Sept. 13, 2014 in the new Fire Football Stadium currently under construction.

The two single sport members are Edward Waters and Point University.  Edward Waters (Jacksonville, Fla.) is no stranger to The Sun Conference as the Tigers were members of the league before moving to the Gulf Coast Athletic in 2006.  Located in West Point, Ga., Point is a member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference and the Skyhawks' football team will be in their second season of competition in 2014.



“The move by the Sun Conference to sponsor football is a significant step toward legitimizing the NAIA football playing universities which now make up the Sun Conference,” Southeastern head coach Keith Barefield said in a statement. “This development, coupled with the recent announcement that the NAIA Football National Championship contest will be played at Daytona Beach starting in December, shines the national spotlight on the state of Florida as well as the Sun Conference.”

Football brings the number of sports sponsored by The Sun Conference to 16. The league also sponsors championships in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and women's volleyball.

COURTESY THE SUN CONFERENCE.COM

NOTE: Edward Waters will continue to play its eleven other men and women sports programs in the NAIA Division I, Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). Alvin Wyatt, Sr. is the New Head Football Coach at EWC.

Dillard University set to host 2014 GCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships

NEW ORLEANS  -- Dillard University is the host and Tad Gormley Stadium is the site for the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in New Orleans, April 12.  This is the second consecutive year that New Orleans will host the event, as Xavier University was the host last year.

The event kicks off at 8:45 am Saturday morning with the men's hammer throw, followed immediately by the women's.  At 9:30 am, the track portions of the championships start with the 3,000 meter steeplechase.  The day's final event is the 1,600 meter relays with the championship set to be completed with the awards presentations at 5:15 pm.

Seven men's and women's teams are scheduled to compete for individual and team titles in the meet's 38 events.  Edward Waters College will be seeking its third consecutive men's title while Xavier University will be attempting to capture back to back women's championships and their third title in the last four years.  Teams from Dillard, Edward Waters, Fisk, Philander Smith, Southern University at New Orleans, Voorhees and Xavier will be represented.

Standout performers and teams are plentiful among the competitors.  From the host university, Dillard who won the men's title in 2011 and finished second each of the past two seasons there are three All-Americans, Emory Nash, Tobyus Simmons and Jevonte Ezzard.  The Bleu Devils have some of the nation's most highly ranked sprint teams, qualifying nationally in the 4x400 and 4x100 meter relays.  The Lady Bleu Devils also finished second last season and are leaning on a trio of seniors;Mo'Nique Waiters, Destinee Showell and Courtney Henry to get themselves to the top.

Fisk University will look to Zae German of their women's team to challenge in the shot put, where she finished sixth at last year's championships.  For the men, big things are expected of sophomore sprinter Jayson Ambrose and freshman Justin Hamilton.

Voorhees College makes its first appearance at the outdoor championships looking to carve out its own place in the GCAC.  The young Tigers are led by seniors Raven Moore and William Suggs.  Suggs set a personal record in the shot put earlier this season with 46 feet.  Freshman Zaunce Simmons is another to watch, having qualified for nationals in the high jump with a best of 6 feet 8 inches.

Perhaps one of the most complete teams is fielded by Xavier University.  The women's team features four current or previous event champions including:Devinn Rolland(100m, 200m, long jump),
Catherine Fakler (3,000m steeple chase), Angelica Alexander (high jump) and Zahri Jackson (800m). Junior Kwame Jackson is a two-time champion in the 5,000 meters and is the defending champion in the 1,500 meters on the men's side.

"What makes track and field so compelling is the balance between the individual performance and those of the teams", said GCAC Commissioner Steve Martin.  "There is drama each time the starting gun is fired, with each jump, with each throw as we crown the very best performers and ultimately the top team in our conference.  I'm excited to be a part of the competition and I know that our teams and coaches are as well."

Admission for the championships is FREE to the general public.

Contact: Chuck Knight
(601) 310-4275
chuckknight@gcaconf.com

COURTESY DILLARD BLEU DEVILS OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION

GCAC Outdoors Track and Field Championships

NEW ORLEANS  -- Xavier's women and men will compete Saturday in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans. Field events will start at 8:45 a.m., track events at 9:30 a.m. The final event of the day, the 1,600 relay, will start at 4:45 p.m. Dillard is the host school.

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

XU sophomore Gathright voted to All-Louisiana 3rd team

WHITNEY GARTHRIGHT

 
 

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Whitney Gathright is third team on the All-Louisiana collegiate women's basketball team announced late Friday.

A Louisiana Sports Writers Association panel selected the team.

Gathright, a 5-foot-4 sophomore point guard from New Orleans and a graduate of John Curtis Christian School, was the only Louisiana collegiate female in 2013-14 with 40 made 3-pointers, 100 made free throws, 100 rebounds and 100 assists. She led the Gold Nuggets with 12.3 points per game, was All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and MVP of the GCAC Tournament, which Xavier won for the fourth time in five years.

Gathright averaged three points per game as a freshman.

"In my 15 years of coaching, Whitney Gathright made the most improvement from freshman year to sophomore year of anyone in our program," XU coach Bo Browder said. "She became the leader of our team. She greatly improved on both ends of the court. If there was a big shot to be taken, she was always willing to do it."

Gathright is the third XU sophomore to make All-Louisiana third team or higher. Jarryn Cleaves (2004-05) and Sherlett Hendy (1991-92) were the others.

Xavier finished 24-10 and ranked 19th in the NAIA Division I coaches postseason poll.

2013-14 All-Louisiana Women's Basketball Team

FIRST TEAM
Trudy Armstead, senior, Northwestern State
Allison Baggett, sophomore, McNeese State
Whitney Frazier, junior, Louisiana Tech
Theresa Plaisance, senior, LSU
Emani White, sophomore, Nicholls State

SECOND TEAM
Jasmine Brewer, senior, Loyola
Kendra Coleman, junior, Southern
Jamie Kaplan, junior, Tulane
Joanna Miller, senior, Grambling
Ashleigh Simmons, senior, Louisiana-Monroe

THIRD TEAM
Danielle Ballard, sophomore, LSU
Danielle Blagg, junior, Tulane
Jenna Diakos, senior, LSU-Shreveport
Whitney Gathright, sophomore, Xavier
Jeanne Kenney, senior, LSU

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Theresa Plaisance, LSU
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Chrisstasia Walter, Louisiana Tech
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Raigyne Moncrief, LSU
COACHES OF THE YEAR; Brooke and Scott Stoehr, Northwestern State

HONORABLE MENTION
Tiffany Dale, junior, Tulane
Aja Gibson, senior, Southeastern Louisiana
Keisha Lee, sophomore, Northwestern State
Raigyne Moncrief, freshman, LSU
Cecilia Okoye, senior, McNeese State
Nanna Pool, sophomore, Southeastern Louisiana
Chrisstasia Walter, junior, Louisiana Tech

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

XU, Carey to start at noon; Nuggets add Sunday match

 NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's tennis home dual match against William Carey will start at noon Saturday, two hours earlier than scheduled, XU coach Alan Green announced Friday.
    
It will be the second meeting of the season between the Gold Rush (6-9) and the Crusaders (8-6). Xavier won 6-3 in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Feb. 14. Xavier is ranked 10th in the NAIA, and William Carey is 13th.
    
Green said he added a dual to the women's schedule — 1 p.m. Sunday at Jackson State. The XU men already were scheduled to play the Tigers at that time.
    
The Gold Nuggets' next home dual will start at 3 p.m. Monday against Southern University of NCAA Division I.


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

 

Gray Offense Edges Maroon Defense in NCCU Spring Game

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- The Gray Offense edged the Maroon Defense in a tightly-contested scrimmage to wrap up spring practice for North Carolina Central University under first-year head coach Jerry Mack.

The Gray team scored three touchdowns, kicked two field goals and three extra points, and moved the chains 14 times to amass 41 points. The Maroon team made eight stops, including an interception and a 3-and-out to tally 34 points, while also adding 13 tackles for a loss with six sacks.

Junior wide receiver Adrian Wilkins, who garnered All-MEAC and All-America honors in 2013, continued to dazzle NCCU fans by making two trips to the end zone. His first touchdown catch was a 25-yard over-the-shoulder grab in the back of the end zone. His second was a screen pass that he broke off for a 25-yard score. Wilkins finished with a team-best six receptions for 87 yards.

Junior transfer quarterback Quinn Billerman, who was the triggerman on both of Wilkins' touchdowns, completed 14 of 22 passes for 150 yards with those two scores and an interception.

Sophomore quarterback Malcolm Bell completed his first three passes for 86 yards (25, 31, 30), finishing with 136 yards on 8-for-12 passing.3



Senior running back Andre Clarke topped the ground game with 30 yards on eight carries. Junior Deyonta Wright contributed 16 yards on nine rushes, while junior Kevin Thompson accounted for the Eagles' rushing touchdown with a seven-yard scamper.

The Maroon Defense was charged by senior Ty Brown, who has converted from linebacker to defensive end. Brown collected a team-high six tackles, including three hits for a loss with a sack.

Junior defensive back Theo Livingston recorded five stops, including a pair of tackles for a loss with a sack, senior defensive lineman Felix Small posted five tackles with a sack, redshirt-freshman defensive back Tariq Jacobs tallied five takedowns, including a hit for a loss, while sophomore linebacker Jeremy Thompson also had five tackles. Junior defensive back Haki Dennis had an interception and a pass break-up to go along with three tackles.

In the kicking game, sophomore Brandon McLaren was perfect on the day with field goals of 30 and 27 yards, as well as an extra-point kick. Senior Oleg Parent converted both of his PAT kicks.

NCCU opens the 2014 campaign at East Carolina on Aug. 30. The first of six NCCU home games will take place on Sept. 6 versus Elizabeth City State.

For on-the-go information about NCCU football, download the NCCU Sports Network app available in the App Store, Google Play and Amazon.

Final Score: Gray Offense 41, Maroon Defense 34
Scoring System:  Standard scoring for the offense, plus one point for each first down. For the defense, four points for each stopped drive, plus one point for an interception or fumble recovery and one point for a three-and-out.

Team Statistics
Passing:  22-of-34 for 286 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception
Rushing:  34 rushes for 28 yards and 1 touchdown
Defense:  1 interception, 13 tackles for a loss with 6 sacks

Statistical Leaders
Passing:
Quinn Billerman:  14-of-22 for 150 yards, 2 touchdowns (both 25 yards), 1 interception
Malcolm Bell:  8-of-12 for 136 yards (completed first three passes for 86 yards – 25, 31, 30)

Receiving:
#21 – Adrian Wilkins: 6 catches for 87 yards, 2 touchdowns (both 25 yards)
#26 – Kevin Staton: 3 catches for 54 yards
#8 – Quentin Atkinson: 3 catches for 34 yards
#28 – Deyonta Wright:  3 catches for 32 yards (also 9 rushes for 16 yards)

Rushing:
#5 – Andre Clarke:  8 carries for 30 yards
#28 – Deyonta Wright:  9 carries for 16 yards
#25 – Idreis Augustus: 3 carries for 12 yards
#27 – Kevin Thompson:  2 carries for 9 yards and 1 touchdown (7 yards)

Defense:
#6 – Ty Brown (DE):  6 tackles, including 3 tackles for a loss with a sack
#23 – Theo Livingston (DB):  5 tackles, including 2 tackles for a loss with a sack
#42 – Felix Small (DL):  5 tackles, including a sack
#19 – Tariq Jacobs (DB):  5 tackles, including a tackle for a loss
#7 – Jeremy Thompson (LB):  5 tackles
#1 – Michael Jones (DB):  4 tackles
#24 – Haki Dennis (DB):  3 tackles, interception, pass break-up

Kicking:
#43 – Brandon McLaren:  2-for-2 field goals (30 yards, 27 yards), 1-for-1 PAT kick
#36 – Oleg Parent:  2-for-2 PAT kicks


COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern's Banks granted permission to speak with Texas A&M

HEAD COACH ROMAN BANKS
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE JAGUARS
Courtesy: SU Athletics

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Head men's basketball coach Roman Banks has received permission to meet with Texas A&M basketball concerning filling a position on the Aggies' coaching staff, Southern University confirmed Friday.

Officials from Texas A&M contacted Southern athletics director William Broussard to request permission to speak with Banks about serving on the Aggies coaching staff under current coach Billy Kennedy.

Banks served as associate head coach under Kennedy during their stint at Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond.

"I am honored that Billy Kennedy and Texas A&M would consider me a qualified candidate to serve on the Aggies staff. Despite the outside interest, my focus remains centered on elevating the profile of Southern University men's basketball."

This past season, Banks guided Southern to the program's first regular season SWAC title since 2003 and is credited as the catalyst who helped restored the men's program to prominence after suffering through several losing seasons and NCAA imposed APR penalties.

Banks has been named the SWAC's Coach of the Year in two of his three seasons at Southern.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former Southwest Georgia prep stars leading Albany State baseball

ALBANY, Georgia  --  Allen Fender starts to tell the story, and then a smile begins to stretch across his face.

He beams as he recounts it, still shaking his head at the improbable ending.

 

Fender’s baseball career is back, and the story of its resurrection is one the Albany State sophomore and former Worth County star loves to tell.

 

“When I tell people the story, they look at me like, ‘Really?’ ” Fender said. “I was playing softball on a Sunday, and that’s how I got back in college baseball.”

 

CONTINUE READING

 

UMES Rolls Past FDU 4-0 To Advance To The Third Round

Updated Bracket

WICKLIFFE, Ohio - After the Hawks fell to the upstart Bearkats of Sam Houston State in the opening match of the 2014 NCAA Bowling Championships, they came back with balls a blazing and topped Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) 4-0 to advance to the third round of the tournament.

Coach Kayla Bandy regrouped the Hawks before the FDU match and made a change early. With Megan Buja (Rockford, Ill.) leading off, she inserted Sara Pelayo (Distrito Federal, Mexico) into the second spot just after the match start and it seemed to reenergize the team. With Valerie Riggin (Vista, Calif.), Tatiana Munoz (Ibague Tolima, Colombia) and Mariana Alvarado (Leon, Mexico) holding down the third through fifth spots, they dominated the Knights.

UMES took game one 206-191, tallying six strikes, including a two from Alvarado. The Knights made a valiant run, coming back from splitting in the second, third and fourth frames and forcing Alvarado to strike to win.

In game two the Knights made a run but Alvarado struck out and Buja tossed strikes in both frames to secure the win. The game was swung in the seventh frame when Pelayo shot at a rack without a nine pin. It was reset and the spare she left turned into a strike while FDU missed their spare in the matching frame.  Game three was all UMES. The Hawks tossed nine strikes, three coming from Alvarado's strike out and they rolled to a 256-199 win.

In game four the Hawks had the momentum. With Buja opening with a strike and Pelayo, Riggin and Alvarado each had a pair of strikes and UMES finished with a 226 before FDU even bowled the seventh frame and already unable to win. They would finish with a 158.

The win allows the Hawks to advance to a match up with the nation's No. 1 team Arkansas State, who lost to Nebraska 4-3 earlier in the day. That match is scheduled for a 5:40 p.m. (ET) start. If they win, they will face Sam Houston State again.

In that first match, Sam Houston State got there by beating Wisconsin-Whitewater and UMES. The Hawks started the opening match 2-0. They got a game one win 180-171 as Munoz converted a huge split in the ninth before Alvarado struck and spared to shoot 180. Sam Houston had to strike out to beat UMES, but they only got nine on the first ball, ensuring the UMES win.

UMES seemed in control after they rolled to a game two win 227-222. The match went to the anchors, both on spares with Sam Houston State leading 184-177. Alvarado proved her mettle as she struck out.

After that the two teams went back and forth in game three. There were a lot of strikes, but a couple key opens proved costly as UMES fell 219-213. That loss rattled the Hawks and they lost their line. Sam Houston State went on to win the next three games (195-159, 158-252, 187-204).

The Bearkats got just eight on their first ball and spared it. After that the two teams went back and forth in game three. There were a lot of strikes, but a couple key opens proved costly as UMES fell 219-213. That loss rattled the Hawks and they lost their line. Sam Houston State went on to win the next three games (195-159, 158-252, 187-204).

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION

A&M Bulldogs Take on Competition in the Boston Moon Classic

Meet Information

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- After their best performance of the season in which they dominated competition in the Murray State hosted meet, the Maroon & White will look to repeat the performance in Tennessee.

The Bulldogs will head to Nashville, Tennessee to participate in the Boston Moon Relays hosted by Tennessee State University.

The TSU event will take place on Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11, at the Edward S. Temple Track on the Tigers' campus.  

Action will begin with the Hammer throws at 3:00 p.m. Friday, while Saturday's events kick off at 9:00 a.m. with the men and women's shot put.

 

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama State football: Backup tackle in starting role for now

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Jylan Ware may have just one more game in his role as a starting offensive tackle, so the Alabama State junior is trying to make the most of it.

Ware has been “filling in” for starting right tackle Tovar Allen for most of the spring after serving as the second-team left tackle last season behind starter Matthew Bates.

“I feel like it’s a great opportunity for me to come in and show what I can do with our right tackle being out,” Ware said. “They moved me to the starting right tackle spot to see what I can do. Being a backup and a starter is two different things. Being in that starting spot is an honor, and I have to work to keep it. I like how I’m doing. I have definitely shown some improvement from the fall.”

CONTINUE READING

Grambling State Coach Cooper on ESPN 97.7

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  --  It's been a great week so far for Head Baseball Coach James Cooper and his team.  So far this week the Tigers have upset defending Southwestern Tournament Champion Jackson State University and now they get ready to hit the road this weekend to take on Prairie View A&M University.

Coach Cooper had an opportunity to talk with morning show hosts Aaron Dietrich and Nick White on ESPN 97.7 in north Louisiana to talk about the big win on the road during the week and what's coming up for the Tigers this weekend.  You can listen to the entire interview by clicking on the link below.

GSU Podcast

COURTESY GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Jackson State defensive backs adjust to new coach Burroughs

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  As often as they can, the Jackson State defensive backs meet in one of their teammates’ dorm rooms to go over the defense.

“We have a drawing board. We write plays up and make sure we go over it, because it’s a lot to learn,” safety Darreon Atkins said. “The spring, we have four weeks to learn an entire playbook.”

They’ve been given a playbook, about an inch thick, that includes packages and formations they’re expected to know by the season opener on Aug. 30 against Florida A&M. They know one mistake on the practice field will ignite a fury in defensive coordinator Derrick Burroughs.

CONTINUE READING

MVSU Green & White Game set for Saturday at 1 p.m.

ITTA BENA, Mississippi– Mississippi Valley State fans will get their first opportunity to get a glimpse of the new-look Delta Devil football team Saturday, April 12 during the Green & White Game at 1 p.m. at Rice-Totten Stadium.

Admission to the game is free. The MVSU band and cheerleaders will also be performing at the event.

MVSU began spring practice on April 1 and will continue following the spring game Saturday. Valley head coach Rick Comegy said some of the players have been fighting the injury bug, but the overall state of the program is well.

"I think there's a lot of will to win," said Comegy. "They want to win. I think they're hunger to win supercedes anything else about them. There's a big hunger to get on top and win some football games….I think they want to push the past aside and show what they really can do."



COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

                                                                                    

 

Grambling State: Reinventing the Game

Savannah John, British soccer player adjusts to life at Grambling State
Courtesy: GSU Athletics

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- The Lady Tigers soccer team did not qualify for the Southwest Athletic Conference tournament last season, and one freshman player is determined to reinvent their game to guarantee that the team will make the cut next season.

"I want to be different, be fit and be the star person on the field," said Savannah John, a freshman mass communication major from London. "My coach has seen a video of me playing in England, and it is not the person he sees here, and I see that too."

John has been playing soccer since she was 7, but has learned that there is a big difference between playing in England and in America.

"I thought I could come out here and be the same way I was in England," said John. "But, obviously I can't. It's not as easy here as it was in England. The players here are much more physical."

Although soccer is more popular in England, John learned she would have to change her game to be more compatible with the Lady Tigers. She knows she has to improve her acceleration, explosion and endurance skills to help her team be victorious in the future.

The Lady Tigers had a disappointing season, with a record of 0-10-2. They were unable to win a game and finished at the bottom of the SWAC.  John believes that the Lady Tigers are more than capable of performing better, but did not apply their talents effectively.

John used to dominate players when she played for the Fulham Girls Center of Excellence and Middlesex FA. For a 16-year-old, she was bigger and stronger than most girls she competed against. But the size and talent levels of players evened out when she came to Grambling State. The power moves she used in England didn't work as well against the stronger and more physical college-level players. Most of the time, John appeared to be just "playing with the ball" instead of making concise moves that would lead to goals.

Coach Totty O. Totty, GSU head soccer coach, explained that John must revamp her old moves and improve her execution and acceleration to pass her opponents. "She is what coaches call a 'Coach's Dream'," said Coach Totty. "A player that is coachable, someone who wants to learn. She is dedicated to work hard and committed to do all her school work."

In addition to skill development, John wants to improve her endurance and has created a strict daily workout. In high school, she was never the type of athlete who voluntarily went running or weight lifting, mostly because it wasn't required.

John changed her lifestyle: she runs the Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium steps with her teammates, does cardio and abdominal workouts in her room, watches what she eats, and participates on the bowling team for GSU.

"(This is) something I never had to do before, which is kind of bad for an athlete," said John. "I am happy. I am learning how to be fit and an all-around player."

John appreciates the opportunity to play soccer for Grambling State University because there was a time when she did not even want to come to the university.

Coach Totty had to win over not only John but her parents as well. Since John would be only 16 years old when she arrived at Grambling, he had to convince her parents she would be safe and well taken care off.

"Her parents were a little bit concerned if' she would be able to (survive) such a long distance from home," said Coach Totty. "Her father was familiar with the legend of Grambling, and wanted her to experience it."

He emphasized the importance of a quality education and the uniqueness of the opportunity.  Coach Totty wanted John to give Grambling a chance, and if she did not like it after a year, she could always return home.

"Originally, I did not want to come here at all," said John. She contemplated the idea for several months.

In her last year at Holland Park School in London, she hit her "lowest point" as an athlete. She injured her ankle, lost her passion for soccer, and began to focus more on other talents, like acting and radio hosting.

The opportunity to play for Grambling State was timed imperfectly. John's family had traveled to Grenada, a small island in the Caribbean, for her grandfather's funeral in 2012. While visiting, Coach Glean, a soccer coach from Grenada, contacted her on Facebook and wanted to meet with her and her father.

Coach Marlon Glean was good friends and old teammates of Coach Totty, who was then the new head soccer coach and needed players. Coach Glean remembered her playing when she was 11 at a soccer camp in Grenada, and watched her development over the years, and wanted to make his statement from six years earlier come true.

Coach Glean told John she had what it took to play at the collegiate level in the United States. Since she still had many years before that point, she returned to London and continued to improve.

When John returned to Grenada for the funeral nearly six years later, she wasn't thinking about a scholarship and an opportunity to play, but Coach Glean was.

Regardless of the high praises, John was filled with self-doubt.  Were it not for her father and high school advisor, Andrea James, she might not have decided to attend the university.

"Even roses have thorns," James John, her father, said in a telephone interview.  He said attending Grambling State University was an opportunity that John could not pass up, although she was going to have to tackle some hardships throughout her journey.

"(Savannah) is blessed to have this opportunity," James John said. "A lot of opportunities can come from this experience."

COURTESY GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UAPB to host Southern in three-game SWAC series this weekend

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  -- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Baseball Team gets set to take Southern University in a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division series with a doubleheader slated for Saturday, April 12 at Noon and a single on Sunday, April 13 at 1 p.m. at the Torii Hunter Baseball / Softball and Little League Complex.

UAPB comes into the weekend series with a 10-21 overall record and 10-4 in conference play with a half a game lead over Texas Southern in the SWAC Western Division.  TSU is currently 14-19 and9-4 in conference play.

"Our job now is to try to stay ahead of the competition, that's winning two out of three to win the series. Ultimately, that is what we want to do.   In order to get a sweep, a lot of thing have to fall in place," said UAPB Head Baseball Coach Carlos James.

 SU comes into the weekend series at 5-16 and 1-9 in conference play.

"Despite being 1-9 in conference play, I really do believe that Southern has a really good baseball team.  I have been in that position myself, where you are one play away or one pitch away from being 1-9 or being in the thick of things," James said.

In game one, the probable starter for the Golden Lions will be Jim Ploeger, who earned SWAC Pitcher of the Week honors this week for his performance against Prairie View A&M, this past Saturday.   Ploeger is currently 4-2 on the season with a 2.52 ERA in his nine appearances on the mound for UAPB.  He has logged 39.1 innings on the mound, allowing 34 hits and striking out 39 on the season.

The probable game one starter for the Jaguars will be Santos Saldivar, who is currently 2-0 on the season with a 2.76 ERA in his six appearance on the mound for SU.    He has pitched 32.2 innings and struck out 29 batters on the season for SU.

For UAPB, Isias Alcantar, a 6-0, 215 senior infielder from Alameda, Calif., has the hot bat for the Golden Lions, who currently batting .308 on the season with 34 hits, four doubles and two homers.

For SU, Jeremy Glore currently has the hot bat for the Jaguars as he is currently batting .351 with 13 hits and two doubles on the season.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION

PVAMU Spring Football Game, Student-Athlete Day Set To Take Place On Friday

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  -- The Prairie View A&M Panther football team will hold their annual spring football game on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. inside Blackshear Field.  Prior to the game, the Department of Athletics will celebrate National Student-Athlete Day from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. directly behind the field.

The Panthers will wrap up its 15th and final spring practice with their annual game that will feature an offense-defense format and a full, four-quarter scrimmage.   Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Heishma Northern, fans will once again witness the high-powered, high-scoring PVAMU offensive unit against a revamped defensive unit led by veteran defensive coordinator Cliff Yoshida. 

 

The PVAMU Marching Storm and cheerleaders will also be in attendance.

 

Before the game, fans are invited to interact with the PVAMU student-athletes, administration and coaching staff during its annual National Student-Athlete Day celebration from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  The student-athletes will participate in a variety of fun-filled mental and physical activities which range from a dunking booth to kickball.

 

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

Florida A&M Wants More Than $100 Million For Split

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- FAMU officials say they're just looking out for their own students.

The Herbert F. Morgan building houses both FAMU and FSU's college of engineering. But FAMU officials are planning for the future in case the two schools can't come to an agreement.

"We're not in favor of the split," said FAMU provost Rodner Wright.

President Elmira Mangum sent a letter to Florida Governor Rick Scott asking for $100 million to start a new school. Most of that money would go towards a new building on FAMU's campus.

"You have to hire new faculty. You have to have start up costs and you have to buy adequate equipment."

The joint college of engineering costs $16.5 million to operate on an annual basis.

Letter from Mangum to Gov Scott_4.10.2014

CONTINUE READING