Dillard Bleu Devils dominate competition and claim men's GCAC Track and Field Championship

Dillard University's men's track and field team is crowned 2014 GCAC champions.
Photo Courtesy By R. Costanza

NEW ORLEANS -- The Dillard Bleu Devils track and field team scored 178 points en route to a 2014 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Track and Field Championship at Tad Gormley Stadium. The win marked the second GCAC Track and Field Championship in the last four years for the men's team.

Junior runner Jevonte Ezzard (JR/College Park, GA) kicked things off with a first place finish in the Men's 3000 Meter Steeplechase with a time of 11:02.78, a personal best, as Dillard proceeded to have runners finish third, fourth and fifth respectively in the same event. The men's 4x100 meter relay team also earned a first place finish, posting a time of 42.06. Seniors Matthew Jones, Wendell Collins (SR/New Orleans, LA), and juniors Tobyus Simmons (JR/Chattanooga, TN) and Kermit Buggage rounded out Dillard's relay team.

Jones also finished first place overall in the Men's 400 Meter Dash with a time of 49.32 while Simmons finished second in the men's 100 Meter Dash, posting a time of 10.66, virtually tying the first place finisher (Stanley Johnson-Voorhees) who also produced a time of 10.66.

Edward Waters College finished second overall with 153 points while GCAC newcomer Voorhees College finished in third with 106 points. In the previous two seasons, the Bleu Devils ended up on the short end of the stick with two second place finishes as Edward Waters earned back to back championships.

For Dillard, senior Sean Wilson (JR/New Orleans, LA) finished first in the Men's 110 Meter Hurdles with a time of 16.41 while junior Rudy Garza (JR/Rosenberg, TX) placed second with a time of 17.32. Senior Emory Nash (SR/Ft. Worth, TX) finished first place overall in the Men's 800 Meter Run, posting a time of 2:01.00.

The Bleu Devils will now participate in Friday's track meet at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond as they prepare for NAIA Nationals in Gulf Shores, AL, which begin on May 22.

COURTESY THE GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (GCAC)

Florida A&M Defeats Savannah State 9-8, Wins Series

RYAN KENNEDY

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  – Florida A&M (15-20, 10-7 MEAC) scored eight of nine runs with two outs en route to a 9-8 weekend series clinching victory over Savannah State (13-24, 4-11 MEAC) Sunday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field. Ryan Kennedy’s three-run home run in the sixth gave the Rattlers the lead for good while William Carrasco earned his first save of the season.

The win marks the fifth win of the season for FAMU over the defending MEAC Champions.

Marlon Gibbs and Logan Seymour both went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to help pace the Rattler offense. Brandon Fleming (2-3) earned the win while pitching 4.1 innings of middle relief. Fleming gave up two runs on four hits while striking out two Tiger batters. Carrasco worked the final scoreless inning and a third for the save.

Following a two-out single by Zachary Brigham, Brian Miller came in as a pinch runner in the bottom of the ninth for Savannah State representing the tying run at first base. Lee Moore roped a single deep into left field and Miller was going to attempt to score from first. Miller had rounded third base but changed his mind and was thrown out at third as he tried to get back to the base.

Savannah State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Todd Hagen and Hector Benitez recorded back-to-back hits to start the inning and David Richards drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Charles Sikes then grounded into a double play that scored Hagen from third. Benitez later came home on a wild pitch from Montague for the second Tiger run of the inning.

The Tigers added an unearned run, to make the score 3-0, in the third inning on a misplayed ball by Devin Perry at third base that would have ended the inning for the Rattlers.

FAMU took the lead 4-3 as the bats came alive with four hits in the home half of the third inning. Seymour singled to left and Gibbs bunt single put runners on first and second with one out. Both runners advanced a base after a balk from Savannah State starter Zach McCormack and Ryan Kennedy drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Michael Birdsong’s hard hit single to left brought home Seymour and Gibbs , but the ball got past Tiger left fielder Parker Nix allowing Kennedy to score all the way from first. Perry’s RBI single plated Birdsong for the go-ahead run.

Savannah State answered back with three runs in the fourth to regain the lead by a score of 6-4. Nix had the only hit of the inning for the Tigers, an RBI single, that tied the game at 4-4. SSU scored two more unearned runs, courtesy of a pair of Rattler errors, to take the lead.

The Rattlers wouldn’t be denied, scoring four runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, for an 8-6 advantage. The sixth inning was highlighted by Kennedy’s three-run home run, his sixth of the season. FAMU had four hits in the inning as Birdsong, Jeremy Barlow and Taylor Strauss each had singles for the Rattler offense.

Florida A&M added what proved to be an important insurance run in the seventh as Bennie Robinson grounded into a double play, but still scored Seymour for the score of 9-6.

SSU got within one, at 9-8, as they added two more runs in the eighth. Devin McHugh’s RBI groundout plated Lee Moore and Hagen’s RBI single back up the middle scored Nix.

Savannah State’s starter Zach McCormack (2-2) took the loss after giving up eight runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings of work. McCormack struck out two with four walks.

Florida A&M continues its six games in six day stretch as it travels to face Central Florida (22-15, 10-2 AAC) on Tuesday, April 15. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 pm at Jay Bergman Field.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Rush, Nuggets earn 5-2 victories at Jackson State

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Kyle Montrel and Amber Brown delivered clinching singles victories Sunday in Xavier University of Louisiana's 5-2 men's and women's tennis decisions over Jackson State.

It was the first victory of the season for the Gold Rush (8-9), ranked 10th in the NAIA, against an NCAA Division I opponent, and the second such victory for the Gold Nuggets (12-6), who are ranked second.

Montrel's 6-1, 6-3 victory against Hernan Geria at the top flight gave Xavier a 5-0 lead. Jordan Harrell, Tushar Mandlekar and Kevin Chaouat earned straight-set singles victories for the Rush.

The Rush swept all three double matches and clinched that point when Montrel and Nikita Soifer beat Ryan Swanier and Geria 8-2.

Brown gave the Gold Nuggets a 4-2 lead in their dual when she defeated Rebekah Adewumi 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 6-1. It was Brown's seventh consecutive singles victory and the second straight time she won in three sets.

Also extending XU streaks were Nour Abbes and Simone-Alyse Ewell. Abbes is 12-0 in singles this season after her 6-0, 6-0 victory against Angela Condorelli at the top flight. Ewell teamed with Abbes for an 8-3 victory against Anastasia Zviahintseva and Julie Angermann which clinched the doubles point. It was Ewell's 13th consecutive doubles victory and her sixth in a row with Abbes. 

Kourtney Howell and Brion Flowers won in doubles and singles for the Nuggets.

It was the second consecutive year that both XU teams won at Jackson State. JSU's men are 3-13, and the women are 4-14.

Next for the Nuggets will be a 3 p.m. Monday dual against Southern at the XU Tennis Center. The Rush will visit the University of New Orleans at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

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

ASU Black Team Wins Black and Gold Game

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Alabama State brought its spring football campaign to a close today with the annual Black and Gold Game.  It was a game which pitted the defense (Black) against the offense (White) with the black team taking advantage of several point gaining plays to defeat the white team 82-18.

"For us this spring this was our finale, the spring game," Head Coach Reggie Barlow said.  "It's an opportunity for our fans to see where the team is and see where these guys have done and accomplished over the spring."

"For us it was more about letting these kids get out there and playing without the coaches actually being on the field and ultimately trying to keep everybody healthy.  All-in-all it was a pretty good spring and we have some things to evaluate on and go from here."



ASU's defense returns nine starters from last year's team and it showed all spring as the defense turned in big play after big play.  In the 81-play game ASU's offense only managed 222 yards and scored two touchdowns, while also getting a field goal.

The scoring system which heavily favored the defense awarded five points for an interception and three points for any three-and-out, sacks and fumble recoveries.  Tackles for lost yardage awarded the defense with two points.

The defense recorded eight sacks led by Chris Terry and Marcus Owens who had two each.  There was a total of 18 tackles for lost yardage as Owens led the way with four and Terry and Roderick Henderson recording three each.



Kourtney Berry picked up a fumble which he returned 27 yards for a score and Justin Mitchell also fell on a loose ball.  JaQuez Bowser had a first half interception for the Black team and Henderson finished off an outstanding spring game when he picked off the game's final pass for the defense's fourth turnover of the game.

"Obviously I went and discussed the scoring system with the defensive coaches because I wanted to make sure I was fair to them and of course they were all like yea, yea a sack should be three points and a loss of yardage should be this and it kind of got out of hand," Barlow said jokingly.

The White team did manage a touchdown pass from Quinteris Toppings to Earl Lucas which covered 35 yards in the opening half.  In the second half Andre Kincey ran in from 10 yards out for the White team's second score and the final three points came off the foot of kicker Alex Louthan who booted a 21 yard field goal in the final quarter of play.



Toppings completed 11 of 19 passes for 82 yards and the scoring toss to Lucas who had 40 yards on two receptions.  The game's leading rusher was Kincey who finished the game with 37 yards on 11 carries including his 10 yard sprint to the end zone.

"Obviously, I was a bit disappointed in the (offensive) performance today," Barlow said. "The game of football has to be played with emotion and energy and excitement and when you don't have that, it shows. Even if you don't have all the ability, if you play with energy and effort you'll make some plays. I just didn't think our guys displayed that from an offensive standpoint."

"Yeah, we know our defense is good but our offense is good. We've got the same guys who averaged 30 points except for Crowell and Edmond. You've still got Damian, you've still got Bell, you've still got Cyrus. There's no reason for us not to be able to put on a better show. They lacked energy and it showed on the field."



The coaching staff handed out their spring awards following the game which were;
"Peter Rabbit" Award: JaQuez Bowzer
Rico Wells Award:  Marcus Owens
Most Improved Defensive Player:  Antonio Humphreys
Most Improved Offensive Player:  Andre Hammond
Most Valuable Defensive Player:  Trey Jenkins
Most Valuable Offensive Player:  Damian Love

The Hornets will begin preparations for the 2014 season in August with the team's first game against Football Championship Series (FCS) power Sam Houston State, Saturday August 30 in Huntsville, Texas.



COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

MVSU Delta Devils showcase skills at Green & White Game

ITTA BENA, Mississippi  --   The White team, consisting of the Mississippi Valley State offense, came away with a 51-25 win Saturday over the Green squad (MVSU defense) at the Green and White scrimmage game at Rice-Totten.

One of the largest spring game crowds in school history flocked to campus to witness what the Delta Devils would be like under new head coach Rick Comegy. 

"I was very pleased with the crowd," said Comegy. "I want to thank the crowd for coming…..They came out and supported these guys and I'm happy about that."

The first-year head coach said he saw some positive things Saturday, especially on the defensive side of the ball. 

"I saw some good things from a defensive stand point of view," said Comegy," and I saw us score some points. And I saw some running backs that could run the football pretty good."

MVSU alternated running backs throughout the game, with John Johnson, Jeremy Dobson, Cody Gilchrist and Dwayne Springs sharing carries. Dobson, a sophomore from Byram, exploded for a 21-yard gain midway through the game. 

Patrick Ivy, Carl Davis, Marcus Reed and Rashad Jones all split time at quarterback. Davis, a senior Mobile, Ala. native, connected with Trey Ford on a 50-yard TD to give the White team a 21-6 lead. Ivy threw a late TD pass to Joshua Rice to give the White squad a 44-19 advantage. 

Defensive linemen Byron Scott, Sean Fugate and Jeremiah Russell along with linebacker Brandon Powe all played well and did a great job of getting to the quarterback. 

Although the spring game is over, the Delta Devils will continue spring practice this upcoming week.

 

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Pharrell Williams has key to being "happy" but not one to city?

WATCH IN 720p HD, WIDE SCREEN FOR MAX ENJOYMENT

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia -- Gymnast Gabby Douglas has one. So does Super Bowl champ Plaxico Burress. (That was before he did a stint in prison on gun charges.)

But homegrown singer, songwriter and superstar Pharrell Williams?

No key. Not even a key ring.

While the whole world is dancing to Pharrell's infectious hit "Happy," Virginia Beach City Hall is barely tapping its feet.

"We're very proud of Pharrell and we look forward to honoring him when the opportunity is right," a city spokesman replied by email Friday after I inquired about honors - past or present - for the Princess Anne High School grad. "In fact, we would be very HAPPY to do so!"


WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN FOR MAX ENJOYMENT

CONTINUE READING 

Rolland, Fakler lead XU Nuggets to repeat as GCAC champ

NEW ORLEANS -- Led again by juniors Devinn Rolland and Catherine Fakler, Xavier University of Louisiana repeated as women's team champion at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium on Saturday.

Rolland won three individual events -- the long jump and the 100- and 200-meter dashes -- for the third consecutive year. Fakler won the 1,500, 3,000 steeplechase and 5,000 and anchored the Gold Nuggets to victory in the 3,200 relay by nearly 46 seconds.

Fakler won the 1,500 for the third consecutive year, repeated as steeplechase and 5,000 champion and finished second in the 800. She won the 5,000 by nearly 90 seconds.

The Gold Nuggets, No. 14 in the NAIA National Team Computer Rankings, scored 213 points and won the conference team championship for the third time in four years. Dillard was second with 168 points, followed by Edward Waters with 143, SUNO with 26 and Voorhees with 19.

In the men's division, Xavier's Kwame Jackson won the 5,000 for the third consecutive year, and Brent Kitto won the 1,500. The Gold Rush were fifth of six teams with 34 points; Dillard outscored Edward Waters 178-153 for the title.

Xavier got meet records from Fakler in the steeplechase (12:01.53) and 5,000 (19:50.14) and Rolland in the 100 (11.66). Rolland's 100 time was a personal best.

The Gold Nuggets scored 30 more points than they did in their 2013 title run. They scored in 16-of-19 events, and 18 individuals scored. Xavier took the top four places in the 1,500 and 5,000.

Also winning for Xavier were Angelica Alexander, a repeat champion in the high jump, and freshman Terri Cunningham in the 400 hurdles. Cunningham scored in four events and was the Nuggets' No. 3 scorer with 21 1/2 points. Fakler scored 40 1/2 points, and Rolland scored 32.

Joining Fakler on the champion 3,200 relay were Briana Simms, Ashley Flournoy and Zahri Jackson.

Also finishing second for the Nuggets were Hannah Finnegan in the 5,000, Simms in the steeplechase, Tramaine Shannon in the 400, Flournoy in the 1,500 and the 400 relay team of Kaylee Moore, Rolland, Shannon and Chelsea James.

The women's team championship is the 19th on the conference level in coach Joseph Moses' nine seasons at Xavier. Moses led the Rush and Nuggets to eight GCAC cross country titles apiece from 2006-13.

Xavier's next event will be the Southeastern Invitational at Hammond, La., on Friday.

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

With choices to sort out at QB, Spartans add an option

COURTESY NSU ATHLETICS

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian is weighing his options in more ways than one.

As he spends a good chunk of the spring identifying a frontrunner at quarterback, he's installing a modified offense that includes an option wrinkle as a second read.

But don't confuse the Spartans for Navy; the option is in the playbook, but it's not anywhere near the front page.

"We might go three weeks and not run an option," Adrian said Saturday morning at Dick Price Stadium, after NSU's seventh practice of the spring and its first with full contact. "It all depends what the defense is going to give you."

The scheme, which will operate under new offensive coordinator Donald Hill-Eley, sends a man in motion through a one-back backfield and gives the quarterback the true option of pitching the ball if necessary.

CONTINUE READING

Curtis High School's Mohamed Bah accepts track and field scholarship to Howard University (video)

STATEN ISLAND, New York  --  Curtis High School assistant track and field coach Donald Pierce has a vision of senior Mohamed Bah returning to the school years down the road with a new title.

"I definitely can see myself calling him ‘Dr. Bah,’ ” Pierce said. “These sort of student-athletes just don’t come along very often.”

Bah signed a national-letter-of-intent this week to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., on a full athletic scholarship, but that significant news was almost a backdrop to the West Brighton resident’s impressive overall resume.

Bah said he plans on entering the pre-med program at Howard with an eye on ...



CONTINUE READING

New athletic director Jason Horn couldn't be happier at Xavier

JASON HORN
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
Photo Courtesy: XU Athletics

NEW ORLEANS  --  New Xavier athletic director Jason Horn has bounced around the college world at schools both large and small.

Horn, who started on Monday, said he enjoys smaller athletic departments. Xavier is his smallest college athletic department yet and he couldn’t be happier.

 

“I remember talking to the last athletic director at Arizona State and he had about 225 employees,” Horn said. “How do you get to know 225 employees? It’s just a big moving machine.” 

 

And how many employees does Xavier have in its athletic department? Horn pulled out a small piece of paper with names and telephone numbers and quickly counted them up.

 

“About 20,” he said.

 

CONTINUE READING

Tennessee State Dominates Boston/Moon Relays

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  The Tennessee State track and field teams recorded 13 first-place finishes during the two-day Boston/Moon Relays in the sole home outdoor meet of the season.

Amber Hughes started the day with a win in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 13.92 and Oetia Prince continued the trend by clocking a 13:44.83 in the 3000 meter steeplechase.

In the field events, Brittani Logan recorded the longest throw in the shot put with a toss of 13.59 while Angel Davis placed first in the discus (39.90).

 Hughes, Ashontae Jackson, Quanisha Sales and Clairwin Dameus came in first in both the 4x100 (45.75) and 4x400 (3:52.30) in two of the final relays of the day.

Jerome Henderson took home titles in the 100 (10.73) and 200 meters (21.20) and Quamel Prince followed suit in the 800 meter (1:53.64).

The Flying Tigers were tops in the 400-meter events, too, as Michael Johnson won the dash (48.43) and Jaleel Michael bested everyone in the hurdles (53.48).

Prince, Johnson, Michael and Emmanuel Thornton easily won the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 3:15.31 and Tyler Anderson rounded out the winners with a leap of 7.39 meters in the long jump.

TSU will next travel to Lexington for the Kentucky Relays on April 18 as a final preparation before the OVC Outdoor Championship on May 2.

Results (,pdf)

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

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.

CONTINUE READING 

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.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION

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
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold 

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.

CONTINUE READING

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."

 

CONTINUE READING

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.

CONTINUE READING

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
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold

Purple Defeats Gold in Alcorn State 2014 Spring Game, 21-16

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

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.

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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