Just Sayin': UMES choice of Collins safe, unimaginative and wrong

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland --  Well, they did it again.

I almost can’t bring myself to talk about it, but the University of Maryland Eastern Shore has once again managed to take an opportunity to set off a boom across the Shore and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference that would cause people to take notice.

Instead they went with a great big plop — and everyone shrugged in indifference.
See, I’ve gone through this for a decade.

Ten years.

It feels like longer ...

Larry Lessett, Meredith Smith and Frankie Allen combined for a 59-242 record since my arrival on the Shore, leading me to think that good basketball and UMES would never mix.

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Maryland-Eastern Shore hires WSSU's Bobby Collins as head coach

COACH BOBBY COLLINS
Photo Courtesy: WSSU Athletics

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland  -- (April 8, 2014) – Bobby Collins, who leads men’s college basketball teams to conference championships and national tournament appearances, will be the next head coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Collins, 48, comes to Princess Anne from Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina, where he was named head coach in 2006. His last four Ram teams averaged nearly 20 wins per season and qualified for the NCAA Division II tournament in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

“It feels like I’m coming home, professionally,” Collins said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of re-engaging with some of my old friends and rivals in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.”

Collins is no stranger to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Before taking the Winston-Salem State job, he was head coach for four years at Hampton (Va.) University, where he was MEAC’s 2005 coach of the year. His team won the conference tournament the following season, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

“The university has an opportunity to hire an outstanding coach. He’s an even finer person,” UMES athletics director Keith Davidson said. “He has a proven record of success at his previous institutions.”

Collins was Hampton’s assistant head coach in 2001 when the 15^th-seeded Pirates pulled off one of the most memorable upsets in NCAA tournament history, defeating the 2^nd-seeded Iowa State Cyclones. Two years later, he was promoted to the head coaching position at Hampton and established a school record for most wins by a first-year coach.

“He’s had great coaching experiences where he’s worked previously,” Davidson said. “He’s an excellent recruiter who has great relationships with players and we believe he’s the right person for our program.”

The university and Collins agreed to a four-year contract with a base salary of $135,000.

Collins teaches an offense that puts a high value on fast-break scoring and he believes in employing man-to-man defense roughly two thirds of the time.

He told the UMES search committee he expects his players to be “the hardest working team in the country,” and to follow a strict code of conduct off the court, including taking caps off when indoors and when traveling.

“We are excited that Coach Collins has accepted the opportunity to lead our men’s basketball program,” President Juliette B. Bell said. “He has demonstrated that he is a proven winner and a role model when it comes to guiding student-athletes on and off the court. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore and its Hawk Nation welcome him to our ‘nest.’”

In his 12 years as a head coach at two universities, Collins has compiled a 181-171 record, including his first three years at Winston-Salem State when he was trying to position the basketball program to compete at the Division 1 level. He scheduled road games against the likes of Georgetown, Notre Dame, Kansas and cross-town neighbor, Wake Forest of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Collins graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and management, and was a four-year letterman on the Colonels’ basketball team. He was selected to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Freshmen team and was Honorable Mention All-Conference as a senior. After college, he played in the Helsinki, Finland Classic (tournament), earning MVP honors.

Collins was as an admissions counselor at his alma mater from 1992 to 1994 before joining the Old Dominion University basketball program as a restricted earnings coach.

He was on the Monarchs’ bench in 1995 when the Colonial Athletic Association champions shocked Villanova University during a first-round win in the NCAA basketball tournament.

Collins, the youngest of 10 siblings, is the son of two non-denominational ministers. He grew up in Southern Pines, N.C., where he graduated from Pinecrest High School and helped his team to 18-5 and 20-4 records during his junior and senior years. In 1984, he earned All-State honors and was conference Player of the Year.

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XU's Wright receives All-Louisiana honorable mention

MORRIS WRIGHT

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Morris Wright received honorable mention on the All-Louisiana collegiate men's basketball team announced late Saturday.

A Louisiana Sports Writers Association panel selected the team.

Wright -- a 5-foot-10 sophomore point guard from Zachary, La., a graduate of Zachary High School and a former Baton Rouge Community College standout -- is the only player in Xavier history to lead the team in scoring, assists, steals and 3-point accuracy in the same season. He's the third player in XU history -- the first in 23 seasons -- to reach 400 points, 40 made 3-pointers, 100 rebounds and 50 steals in the same season.

Wright averaged 13.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, three assists and 1.7 steals per game in 2013-14. He shot 47.9 percent from the floor, 43.5 percent from 3-point range (47-of-108) and 79.5 percent from the line. He was All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

Xavier finished 23-9 and won its third consecutive GCAC regular-season championship. The Gold Rush qualified for a fourth consecutive Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship and tied for 16th in the NAIA Division I coaches postseason poll.

2013-14 All-Louisiana Men's Basketball Team

FIRST TEAM
Jonathan Blount, senior, Centenary
Shawn Long, sophomore, Louisiana-Lafayette
Johnny O'Bryant, junior, LSU
Elfrid Payton, junior, Louisiana-Lafayette
Jalan West, sophomore, Northwestern State

SECOND TEAM
Louis Dabney, sophomore, Tulane
Brandon Davis, senior, LSU-Shreveport
Ledrick Eackles, senior, McNeese State
Jordan Mickey, freshman, LSU
Kenneth Smith, junior, Louisiana Tech

THIRD TEAM
Calvin Godfrey, junior, Southern
Alex Hamilton, sophomore, Louisiana Tech
Will Nelson, senior, LSU-Shreveport
Tylor Ongwae, junior, Louisiana-Monroe
McCall Tomeny, junior, Loyola

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Elfrid Payton, Louisiana-Lafayette
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Will Nelson, LSU-Shreveport
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Jordan Mickey, LSU
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bob Marlin, Louisiana-Lafayette

HONORABLE MENTION
DeQuan Hicks, senior, Northwestern State
Dantrell Thomas, senior, Nicholls State
Morris Wright, sophomore, Xavier

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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New-look Lane expects to keep improving

JACKSON, Tennessee --  The alarm clock doesn’t bother Lane quarterback T.J. Ayers.

Lane’s football team used to practice at 3:45 p.m., after classes, but this spring interim coach Malik Hoskins started conducting practices at 5:30 a.m.

Hoskins sees a positive sign in his players’ reception of the change, and Ayers participates willingly as he thinks about pushing toward a conference title and getting the city of Jackson more involved with the team.

“Honestly we feel like everybody in the SIAC is not up at 5:30 a.m.,” Ayers said.

After a 6-4 season last year, Lane
football closed its spring practices Saturday with a scrimmage at Lane Field. Approximately 100-150 supporters attended.

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Celtics' Robinson set to show he's up for Howard Bison college challenge

OCALA, Florida  -- All Alizah Robinson wants is a chance.  A chance to show he has the goods to succeed at the next level.

The Trinity Catholic defensive back knows he is undersized. But the confident senior also knows that what he lacks in height, he more than makes up for with speed, agility and instinct.

 

That much was evident on the football field last fall when Robinson earned a starting spot right out of the gate in his only year at Trinity.

The transfer from Lecanto put together enough solid game film to send away to colleges, and when Howard University came calling with a spot on its team, Robinson jumped.

 

"This opportunity has eliminated (the size issue) with me," the 5-foot-8, 150 pounder said. "I've never had my talent questioned. As long as I keep getting bigger, I know I have what it takes to perform at the college level."

 

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St. Aug sweeps ECSU to secure berth in CIAA baseball tourney

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina  —  Both Jeremy Sandifer (Jr./Virginia Beach, VA) and Bryan Rivera (Jr./Cidra, Puerto Rico) had masterful pitching performances as Saint Augustine’s University swept Elizabeth City State University 3-1 and 11-0 in a CIAA baseball doubleheader at Knobbs Creek Park on Saturday, April 12, 2014.

With the wins, the Falcons qualified for the CIAA Baseball Tournament, which will be held April 17-19 in Petersburg, Va. The Falcons entered the day two games ahead ECSU and needing two victories in the four-game series to gain the fourth seed in the tournament.

After Saturday, the Falcons are 8-10 in the CIAA and 16-26 overall. The Vikings are fifth at 4-14 in the CIAA and 7-19 overall.

Sandifer set the tone on the mound in the first game. He threw a one-hitter and struck out six batters with four walks in seven complete innings. Rivera followed with a five-hitter and 16 strikeouts for a seven-inning complete shutout. He did not walk a batter. After Saturday, Rivera leads the CIAA with 68 strikeouts and Sandifer is third in the conference with 54 strikeouts.

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10th-ranked Rush defeat 13th-ranked Crusaders 8-1

NEW ORLEANS -- Five from Xavier University of Louisiana won in doubles and singles Saturday in an 8-1 men's victory against William Carey at the XU Tennis Center.

It was the fifth victory of the season for the Gold Rush (7-9) against a ranked NAIA opponent. Xavier is ranked 10th, and William Carey (8-7) is 13th. Xavier is 2-0 against the Crusaders this season.

"Everyone played hard, which I was really proud of," XU coach Alan Green said. "We were ready to play, took charge from the beginning, played strong in doubles and never let up. I hope that will continue."

Nikita Soifer and Jordan Harrell, partners for the first time since the fall semester, gave Xavier a 1-0 lead when they defeated Aleksei Tumakov and Michael Vetter 8-3 at No. 3 doubles. Viktor Svoboda and Adam Albrecht followed with an 8-3 victory against Jose Ruda and Lukas Moritzen, and the Gold Rush completed the doubles sweep when Kevin Chaouat and Tushar Mandlekar beat Ricky Keppeler and Phillipp Mueller 8-4 at the top flight.

Chaouat and Mandlekar are 9-2 as a doubles team this semester.

Mandlekar gave Xavier a 4-0 lead with a 6-2, 6-0 decision against Vetter at No. 4 singles. Soifer, playing No. 1 singles, clinched for the Gold Rush when Keppeler retired after trailing Soifer 7-5, 1-0.

Chaouat defeated Ruda 6-2, 6-0, and Harrell and Svoboda won third-set super tiebreakers to give the Rush an 8-0 lead. Harrell beat Moritzen 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-3), and Svoboda defeated Mueller 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8).

Svoboda snapped his four-match singles losing streak and won for the first time since Feb. 28. It was the first time in eight opportunities this season that Svoboda won in doubles and singles in the same dual.

Both Xavier teams will travel to Jackson, Miss., to play Jackson State at 1 p.m. Sunday. Green announced an addition to the men's schedule -- 3 p.m. Wednesday at the University of New Orleans.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Purple Defeats Gold in Alcorn State 2014 Spring Game, 21-16

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LORMAN, Mississippi  --  It was a beautiful day on the "Reservation" as Head Coach Jay Hopson and his Alcorn State Braves strapped up for the 2014 Spring Game this afternoon at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.

The Braves gave the fans a little taste of what to expect this fall season.  Star quarterback John Gibbs, Jr. looked very impressive moving the chains and staying poised for the gold team while backup quarterback Lenorris Footman proved he could get the job done as well for the purple squad.

The gold team struck first on a 18 yard scamper by Robert Clay to go ahead 6-0.  A few minutes later kicker Haiden McCraney nailed a 41-yard field goal to extend the gold teams' lead to 9-0.

But the purple team went to work led by Footman who had a huge rush for 22 yards which set up a one-yard touchdown run by junior college transfer Darryan Ragsdale to cut the lead to 9-6.

Starkville native Billy Shed caught a three-yard dagger from Footman to give the purple sqaud the lead 14-9.

Second Team All-SWAC wide receiver Jordan Payne retook the lead for the gold team when Gibbs hit down the sideline for 64-yard touchdown making the score 16-14.

The defense played an outstanding spring game on both sides but it was the purple squad who came up big.  Jamil Cooks intercepted a pass in the second half for and returned it for the game-winning touchdown as purple defeated gold 21-16.

Defensive back, Kylan Johnson, also intercepted a pass for the purple squad.

"I thought we played very physical this afternoon and it was also a hard,clean scrimmage between our guys," stated Head Coach Jay Hopson.  "Certainly there are plenty of areas we need to clean up before we wrap spring practice but other than that our guys got after each other which shows the competitiveness in our ball club."

The Braves will practice for another week in and half before closing out spring practice as they continue to prepare for the 2014 season home opener on August 30th against Virginia University of Lynchburg.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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

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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
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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
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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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
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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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


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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.

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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).

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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.

 

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