St. Aug Men Repeat As CIAA Outdoor Track & Field Champions

PETERSBURG, Virginia – The names may change but the winning never stops for the Saint Augustine's University men's track & field team.

The Falcons cruised to their 17^th consecutive men's conference title at the 2014 CIAA Outdoor Championships at Rogers Stadium on the Virginia State University campus Saturday, April 19. They scored 193 points for an 89-point victory margin. Virginia State University was second with 104 points and Virginia Union was third with 94 points.

Coupled with 18 straight CIAA Indoor men's titles, the Falcons have dominated league competition for nearly two decades. And they show no signs of slowing down.

"They just keep continuing to work hard," said legendary Head Coach George Williams, who has guided the St. Aug men's and women's teams to 34 NCAA Division II national titles and over 150 CIAA championships during his illustrious coaching career. "We get a new group every year, and every four years we graduate them. The new ones come in and try to keep the legacy up. It's something that we do."

The St. Aug women's team almost made it a sweep, losing by one point to Johnson C. Smith 132-131. The Lady Falcons led by one point heading into the final event, but they finished second to JCSU by approximately two seconds in the 4x400 meter relay.

"The women had a good run [at the meet]," Williams said. "I feel sorry for them. We lost points in some events because we had a couple of young ladies injured who already qualified for nationals. They couldn't score because of their injuries.

"But you are going to win some and lose some. They fought hard and left it all out there but Smith had a little more left."

St. Aug still won five of the six CIAA men's and women's track & field and cross country championships for the second straight season. The Falcons claimed the men's cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field titles. The Lady Falcons took home the women's cross country and indoor track & field crowns.

The Falcons also claimed the NCAA Division II men's indoor track & field championship for the second straight year. The defending Division II outdoor champs as well, the Falcons are ranked No. 1 nationally in the men's outdoor rankings.

This weekend, St. Aug breezed by its opponents in the men's division with talent and depth. They claimed eight of the 17 events with two Falcons finishing among the top three in six events.

The men's individual winners for the Falcons were Eddie Shelton (Sr./Deltona, FL) in the high jump, DeJon Wilkinson (Sr./Summerville, SC) in the triple jump, Ty'reak Murray (Sr./Portsmouth, VA) in the 110 meter hurdles, James Quarles (Sr./Washington, DC) in the 400 meter dash, Roxroy Cato (Sr./St. Mary's, Jamaica) in the 400 meter hurdles and Torion Bailey (Sr./Compton, CA) in the 800 meter run.

Saint Augustine's won the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays. The quartet of Jermaine Jones (Sr./Wilmington, NC), Quarles, Daniel Jamieson (Soph./Windsor, CT) and Taffawee Johnson (Sr./St. Ann, Jamaica) were on the 4x100 squad, and the foursome of Joshua Edmonds (Sr./Jacksonville, FL), Quarles, Kevaughn Hewitt (Fr./Miamar, FL) and Cato were on the winning 4x400 team.

Among the women, Shakinah Brooks (Fr./Raleigh, NC) captured the long jump and Tia-Adana Belle won the 400 meter hurdles. The 4x100 team of Shamia Lassiter (Soph./Chesapeake, VA), Ornella Livingston (Fr./Jamaica), Brooks and Kandace Thomas (Canton, OH) and the 4x400 squad of Belle, Akeisha Dumont (Jr./Brooklyn, NY), Brittany Brown (Sr./Akron, OH) and Cherrisse Lynch (Jr./St. Lawrence, Barbados) placed second. One Lady Falcon placed among the top three in seven of the 16 events which helped the team stay in contention.

After outstanding performances by both the men's and women's teams, St. Aug will make its annual trek to Philadelphia, Pa., for the Penn Relays. The prestigious meet will be held Thursday, April 24 thru Saturday, April 26, at Franklin Field.

Results

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

JCSU Women's Outdoor Track and Field Crowned 2014 CIAA Champions

ETTRICK, Virginia  – The Johnson C. Smith University women's outdoor track and field team wins the 2014 CIAA Championship during the Spring Sports Festival held Saturday, April 19th on the campus of VSU. JCSU recorded 132 team points to edge Saint Augustine's University, who had 131 points. This is the second consecutive championship for the Golden Bulls and the team's third title in four years (2011, 2013, and 2014).

"It was a very tough championship for us, St. Aug had a lot of talented athletes, but we dug deep and pulled it out; it was a total team effort," said JCSU head coach Lennox Graham. "I'm very proud of the whole team: the student-athletes, my assistant coaches, the athletic training staff, and our massage therapist; again it was a total team effort."

Senior sprinter Danielle Williams (St. Andrew, Jamaica) was named the 2014 Women's Outdoor Track MVP. The Golden Bulls won six overall events, including four individual event titles en route to the championship victory. Williams won the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 100 meters hurdles events. She had a time of 11.71 in the 100m dash, 23.49 in the 200m dash, and 14.09 in the 100m hurdles. Those victories produced 30 points towards the team score.



Junior thrower Imeshia Jones (Reidsville, NC) won the javelin event with a toss of 37.06m. Jones has won the javelin event for the third consecutive season. She also placed sixth in the shot put event with a throw of 11.11m.

The Golden Bulls also won the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay events. In the 4x100m relay, the team of sophomore Shamaz Quince (West Palm Beach), Williams, sophomore Trudy-Ann Richards (St. Thomas, Jamaica), and senior Samantha Elliott (Kingston, Jamaica) finished first with a time of 45.09. The 4x400m relay team of senior A'Tyan Kennedy (Rock Hill, SC), sophomore Tovea Jenkins (St. James, Jamaica), freshman Crystal Campbell (St. Catherine, Jamaica), and Williams ran a season best 3:40.68 to win the event.

In addition to Williams winning the 100m hurdles, Elliott (14.11) and Kennedy (15.01) finished second and fourth, respectively in the event. Richards finished sixth in both the 100m (12.28) and the 200m (25.02) events.

Jenkins set a new JCSU school record with her second place time of 53.48 in the 400m. Elliott placed fourth in the 400m with a time of 54.70. Elliott ran 1:00.27 for second in the 400m hurdles. Campbell and Kennedy placed fifth (1:03.22) and sixth (1:03.99), respectively in the 400m hurdles.

Freshman Domenique Julius-Williams (Ontario, Canada) placed third in the 1500m (4:52.57) and fifth in the 800m (2:19.03) for her conference championship debut.

In the field, senior Shaquitta Anderson (Orangeburg, SC) and freshman Sara Louis (West Palm Beach, FL) placed sixth and seventh in the javelin. Anderson had a throw of 28.10m, followed by Louis' toss of 25.95m in the event. Senior Bianca Parker (New Castle, DE) had a heave of 29.99m in the discus for eighth place.

In addition to 4x100m relay duty, Quince also impressively finished fifth (11.14m) in the triple jump and eighth (5.40m) in the long jump. Anderson also competed in the high jump and placed eighth (1.44m).

Team points were assessed based on the following finishes:
1st place (10 points), 2nd place (8 points), 3rd place (6 points), 4th place (5 points), 5th place (4 points), 6th place (3 points), 7th place (2 points), and 8th place (1 point).

The Golden Bulls will travel to Philadelphia, PA for the 2014 Penn Relays held at Franklin Field. Events are scheduled for April 24-26.

COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

From College Drop Out to Medical School Acceptance, Life is full of Second Chances for TSU Graduate

Jonathan Fitzgerald
Photo Courtesy TSU Media Relations

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- Life is about second chances. Just ask Jonathan Fitzgerald.

The soon-to-be Tennessee State University graduate has gone from college dropout to graduating with top honors as a biology major. He has already been accepted to medical school and will start in the fall of 2015.

But Fitzgerald readily admits, his journey was not always easy, and eventually found out what he was looking for was already in his own back yard.

Along the way, he attended numerous colleges, started a career and family, and ultimately dropped out of school to adopt his two-week old niece to raise as his own daughter.

“I knew I had the potential to do something great with my life,” Fitzgerald said. “My educational journey has truly been a long and arduous journey.”

The journey started in 1996 at McGavock High School for the Nashville native. He graduated with honors and was ranked in the top 11 percent of his class, while his senior class voted him “Most Likely to Succeed.”

“My goal was to go to college to become a physician and follow in the footsteps of my uncle,” said the 36 year-old Fitzgerald. “It has been a dream of mine from a very early age. I always wanted to specialize in internal medicine.”

The first leg of his journey took him to Atlanta where he attended Morehouse College and majored in pre-med. He lasted a year because he was not prepared for life so far away from home.

“I had no role model for what it took to go through pre-med classes or college life,” Fitzgerald added. “I returned home because I just didn’t have the support system I needed in Atlanta.”

His next stop was Volunteer State Community College, where he took general education classes, then transferred to Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Instead of pre-med, he changed his major to music.

“I always loved music and was a musician in high school,” he said. “I played viola and was in the band, so I thought I could pursue a career in music.”

But he quickly found out that working full-time and going to school was not easy. After a series of life-changing events, he eventually dropped out of school to adopt his two-week old niece, leaving a 1.9 grade point average in his wake.

“It was not a hard decision to make to drop out of school to take care of my daughter and my family,” he said. “She needed me and, at that point, my family came first.”

For seven years, Fitzgerald continued to raise his family, adding two more children along the way, and concentrating on his business career. But there was always a “monkey on his back” nagging at him to go back to school.

In 2009, dressed in his best suit, he made the drive to Tennessee State University, a university that was right in his backyard, and one he never really considered.

“While I was growing up my father would bring me to the football games and I remember singing, ‘I’m so glad,’ and watching the band perform,” Fitzgerald said. “But I heard negative things so I didn’t give TSU a good look.”

But that first walk through the doors, he said, was like a second chance at pursuing the dream of becoming a doctor. Giving it the “old college try,” he walked into Dr. Lois Harlston’s office and told her he wanted to give his dream another shot.

Harlston, chair of the Pre-Professional Students in Health Services, helped Fitzgerald get into the dual Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Medicine (BS/MD) fast-track program with Meharry Medical College. The program prepares students to go to medical school by allowing them to study three years at TSU then enter Meharry as a first-year student. Fitzgerald was one of five students to be admitted into the program that year.

“He was very serious and had his entire education mapped out,” Harlston said. “He told me about his life struggles, but also told me he would do whatever he needed to accomplish his goals. Jonathan has far exceeded my expectations and has performed at the top-tier level.”

During his four years, Fitzgerald’s hard work has paid off. He has been named to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, been the recipient of three TSU scholarships and, most recently, been named the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Biology by the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences. He is also graduating with a 3.907 GPA.

It has been a very long journey for Fitzgerald to realize his educational dream and will graduate with nearly 1,000 other candidates Saturday, May 10. He is also keeping a promise he made to his mother who passed away in 2012.

“Before she died, I promised her that I would press on and become the doctor that she and my father always knew I could become,” he said. “I know she will be smiling down on me when I finally receive my diploma. All it took was a second chance, and TSU was
willing to give that to me.”


About Tennessee State University
With nearly 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Shaw Bears Claim CIAA Championship With 5-1 Win Over Chowan

COURTESY: SHAW ATHLETICS

PETERSBURG, Virginia --  Shaw University reclaimed their spot atop the CIAA Men's Tennis Championship with a 5-1 win over Chowan Saturday afternoon at the Virginia State University Tennis Complex.  The championship is the ninth in ten years for the Bears.

With the win, the Bears improve to 14-5 overall and qualify for the NCAA regional tennis tournament.  The Hawks fall to 17-9, but could still qualify for the NCAA tournament. 

Shaw's Charles Silva and Sergio Cuartes recorded the first win of the match with an 8-4 win over Danilo Galovic and Pedro Aiala at number one doubles, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead.

At number two doubles, Chowan's Ivan Doubograev and Farid Hajizada evened up the score with an 8-3 win over Andre Monti and Gafur Sirojiddinov.

In a hotly contested match at number three doubles, Bach Tran and Juan Sanchez of Shaw downed Tristan Martin and Sasha Kirsanov 9-8 - 7-3 in the tiebreaker, giving Shaw a 2-1 lead going into the singles matches.

Sanchez brought in a point for Shaw at number four singles as he downed Martin 6-0, 6-0 to give the Bears a 3-1 lead.

The win for the Bears came as Sergio Cuartes at number two singles and Bach Tran at number three recorded near simultaneous victories.  Cuartes defeated Aiala 6-1, 6-2, and Tran downed Kirsonov 6-2, 6-2.

Both teams now await the NCAA Division II Tennis Selection Show to determine where they might be heading in tournament play.  The show will air on ncaa.com at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 29.

Box Score

 

COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION

James Wilhelmi Named WSSU Interim Men's Head Basketball Coach

James Wilhelmi
Interim Head Men's Basketball Coach
Winston-Salem State University Rams

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Interim Director of Athletics, Tonia Walker, has appointed James Wilhelmi as the Interim Head Coach of the WSSU Men's Basketball Program following Bobby Collins move to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Wilhelmi joined the Rams coaching staff in the summer of 2011 as associate head men's basketball coach under Collins.

"James brings a wealth of experience and a strong knowledge of the game to the WSSU sidelines after several coaching stints," said Walker. "Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in the recruitment and development of several players who have gone on to compete at the professional levels. Coach Wilhelmi has served the WSSU program with passion and integrity. I am confident that he will manage the program in that same manner."

"It is an honor and a blessing to have been chosen to continue to serve WSSU, where we believe in graduating student-athletes and winning championships", says Wilhelmi. "We are continuing to work hard in preparation for another exciting season of Ram basketball".

Prior to WSSU, Wilhelmi had been an assistant coach at the University of North Alabama and spent five seasons at Howard University in Washington, D.C. During his time at Howard, he played an integral role in recruiting some of the top players in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), including a pair of MEAC All-Rookie Team players. He also spent time as an assistant men's basketball coach at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md.

His other coaching stops include the University of Evansville, Texas Southern, the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Hampton, Northeastern Illinois, and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. During his time at Evansville, he was the team's offensive coordinator where he guided the Evansville Purple Aces to ranking second in the Missouri Valley Conference in field goal percentage and an upset of a top ten opponent when the team defeated the Creighton Blue Jays, who were led by NBA star Kyle Korver. He also recruited former Texas Southern great Sean Walker, who went on to lead the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in scoring. Wilhelmi was also instrumental in teams' successes as he helped guide the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Fighting Hawks to their first winning MEAC record in 10 seasons and helped the Hampton Pirates to a turnaround season that saw the team win nine more games during the 1999-2000 season representing one of the top ten turnarounds for NCAA Division I teams. He also helped guide the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers to an elite eight appearance in the NCAA Division III National Basketball Tournament. Additionally, Wilhelmi spent a year as a head boys' basketball coach at Sussux Central High School in Georgetown, Del.

Wilhelmi is a 1995 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and he earned a Master of Science degree in human development and community resources from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (1997). He is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and spent several years on the Mid-Major Top 25 voting panel for CollegeInsider.com.

As an athlete, Wilhelmi played high school basketball at La Follette High School in Madison, Wis. and went on to letter in football at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for three years.

"We are prepared to conduct a national search" Walker said. "Realizing this is a time sensitive matter due to recruiting, I am working to post the position to build a quality pool of applicants and we will be prepared to move forward with the process once a permanent director of athletics is named."

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

HBCU Students & Faculty Kaleidoscope of "Happy" to Pharrell Williams Song

Winston-Salem State Tops Virginia State for the 2014 CIAA Baseball Championship

Winston-Salem State University Rams wins their fourth consecutive title.
Photo Courtesy: WSSU Athletics

ETTRICK, Virginia  -- The Rams of Winston-Salem State University are the CIAA Baseball Champions for the fourth consecutive season after a 9-5 victory against Virginia State University in the championship game held on Saturday, April 19^th at Whaley Colbert Field on the campus of VSU.

With the win, WSSU improves their overall record to 33-14 and will await their seeding for the 2014
NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament with today's automatic berth.

The Rams held a lead in this contest from wire to wire. Despite location and based on tournament seeding, Virginia State was the visiting team in the game and batted first. In the top of the first, the Trojans produced one hit, but failed to score a run in the inning.

WSSU delivered one run along with a hit in the bottom of the first, starting with Gavin Culler, who headed to first base after being hit by a pitch. CIAA Player of the Year, Ray Crawford, followed up with a single to center field, advancing Culler to second. An error by the third baseman put Colby Keene on first and brought home Culler for the initial score of the contest. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Rams until the bottom of the fourth.

In the fourth, Winston-Salem State exploded with seven hits and six runs to expand their lead to 7-0. VSU allowed an additional run in the sixth inning. Crawford smacked a RBI double in bottom of the sixth to bring Culler for a score. The Trojans trailed 8-0 and were held scoreless until the top of seventh.

In the top of the seventh, an error in right field by Crawford opened the door for a VSU comeback. Tyshaun Taylor loaded the bases after the error in right field. Colton Gunn crossed home plate off a fielder's choice from Jamison Griffin. Nicholas Christopher hit a RBI double to score Griffin two batters later. Tyler Coleman scored off an errant throw at third base. Christopher eventually came home for the fourth and final run of the inning.

Neither team scored again until the bottom of the eighth. The Rams put up two hits and one run in the eighth, including a RBI single by Colby Keene. Heading into the ninth inning, the score was 9-4 in favor of the Rams. VSU made their last attempt at a rally with two hits and one run in the ninth.

Zachery Jordan singled to right field for a run batted in (RBI) to score James Goodwin from third.
However, that would be the last run scored as Joshua Markins grounded out to second base to close the game. Scott Wells was charged with the victory on the mound for WSSU. He pitched eight innings, including six scoreless innings. Wells finished with eight hits and four runs allowed (all unearned) along with three strikeouts.

Ray Crawford adds Tournament MVP and All-Tournament Team honors to his list of season accolades.

Winston-Salem State still has two regular season games remaining, as tune ups for the NCAA Regional. The Rams will travel to Milledgeville, GA on Tuesday for a matchup with West Georgia, before returning home on Friday to take on Bluefield State.

A complete list of the 2014 CIAA All-Tournament Team is below:

2014 CIAA Baseball All-Tournament Team
Colton Gunn - Third Base/Pitcher - Virginia State
Nicholas Christopher - Utility - Virginia State
Alex Grubb - Designated Hitter - Winston-Salem State
Jeremy Sandifer - Pitcher - Saint Augustine's
Colby Wiggins - Short Stop - Chowan
Tashaun Taylor - Outfield - Virginia State
Blake Eure - Second Base - Chowan
Devin McLemore - First Base - Winston-Salem State
Conner Andrus - Catcher - Winston-Salem State
Ray Crawford - Outfield - Winston-Salem State
David Markins - Catcher - Virginia State
Scott Wells - Pitcher - Winston-Salem State

 

2014 CIAA Baseball Tournament MVP
Ray Crawford - Outfield - Winston-Salem State

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

PVAMU Marching Storm & Black Foxes 2013/2014 Highlights

Woodward to host 2014 SIAC Golf Champoinships

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference today announced that the 2014 SIAC Golf Championships will be held from April 21-23 at Woodward Golf & Country Club.

"It is with great pleasure that we bring the 2014 SIAC Golf Championships to Woodward Golf & Country Club," said SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore. "We look forward to having a great tournament as we continue to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of the SIAC."

Established in 1916, Woodward Golf & Country Club is a private, 18-hole, Par 71 course which features 6,552 yards of golf on Bermuda grass. Located in Bessemer, Alabama, the course was designed by Ward Nothrup.

"Woodward Golf & Country Club is excited to host the 2014 SIAC Golf Championships," said Martha Hudson, Woodward's Head Golf Professional. " Woodward has been a supporter of amateur golf and continues to promote and grow the game for players of all ages."

All three rounds of the three-day championships will begin at 8:00 a.m. (CT). General admission is free to the public.

COURTESY THESIAC.COM

Toppings: We (ASU) just have to be more aggressive'

PHOTO COURTESY: ASU ATHLETICS

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  The Alabama State offense struggled through many of the 15 spring practices, but the recent Black and Gold Game isn't indicative of what fans will see this fall, head coach Reggie Barlow and his players insisted.

Clearly, the loss of starting quarterback Daniel Duhart was a big blow for the spring game. Backup Quinteris Toppings struggled with the passing game, but that should be expected from a guy who was thrust into action in one game last season because of injuries.

And if you're using the Black and Gold Game as a gauge, keep in mind the third-string quarterback, Sir Jackson, had been moved to receiver and the fourth-string quarterback, a walk-on named Dashawn Blow, wasn't even on campus this time a year ago.

CONTINUE READING

Miss FAMU Nicole Bowden for Ebony HBCU Campus Queens

Campus Queens 2014

HERE COME THE EBONY HBCU CAMPUS QUEENS! VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE.

We are pleased to announce EBONY's annual HBCU Campus Queens online competition. The reigning beauties from Historically Black Colleges and Universities from around the country are featured here and awaiting your votes. The Top 10 vote getters will grace the pages of the September 2014 issue of EBONY magazine. Read all about these campus winners, view their videos and cast your votes for your favorite Queen, listed alphabetically below. Campus Queen voting is sponsored by Nielsen.

READ MORE at EBONY http://www.ebony.com/campusqueens#ixzz2zOgz442Z
Follow us: @EbonyMag on Twitter | EbonyMag on Facebook

Orange Nips Green 30-27 In FAMU Orange & Green Game

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  A late surge from the offense despite misty conditions Saturday at Bragg Stadium pushed the Orange team past the Green team, 30-27 in the annual FAMU Spring Football Game.

 

Saturday’s format pitted the offense (Orange) against the defense (Green), and based on some early domination by the defensive front, the Green grabbed a 21-6 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Orange team found its’ balance, loosening the Green unit with a variety of runners to fuel a ground attack, that opened the passing game.

The backfield trio of Woodly Oralus (77 yards on nine carries), Omari Albert (60 yards on eight carries) and Willie Thomas (50 yards on eight carries) led a ground game that rolled up close to 200 yards.

Quarterbacks Carson Royal and Brian Blackburn, along with Shazzan Mumphrey all took their lumps early against the Green pass rush, but once the ground game got going in the second half, they had time to find open receivers. 

Royal, who started several games down the stretch last season, finished six of 11 passing for 115 yards and one TD, while Blackburn was six of 10 passing for 94 yards and two TDs. 

Receiving leaders Saturday featured wideout Casey Glines, who had three catches for 41 yards, and one TD, a five-yard pass from Royal; tight end Desmond Noird, who had four catches for 36 yards, and one TD, a 21 yards strike from Blackburn; and receiver Montavious Williams, who had three catches for 69 yards, one TD, a 35-yard aerial from Blackburn. 

ORANGE AND GREEN MOMENTS: The fans in attendance at Bragg were treated to a halftime touch football game between a bevy of former players from the 1980s and 1990s… Near the game’s end, new FAMU President Elmira Mangum walked the sidelines on the West Side of the stadium to warm applause…. A small contingent of the Marching 100 Band entertained fans gathered under cloudy skies, which briefly gave way to a chilly mist. 

 

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Highlights and recap of Prairie View A&M's 2014 spring football game

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama State Hornets Sweep Alabama A&M, Win East Title

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- The Alabama State baseball team won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division title with a doubleheader sweep of Alabama A&M Saturday at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

The Hornets won game one 11-1 in seven innings, and game two 6-2 to win the division title for the first time since 1994. Alabama State will be the number one divisional seed in the SWAC Tournament beginning May 14 in Fort Worth, Texas.

"It is important to win the division and get a number one seed, whether you have the bye or not," said head coach Mervyl Melendez, whose team has now posted back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time in school history. "You are setting the tone and meeting the expectations you have as a team and the goals you have set.  We still have a lot of work to do. Winning the division is part of what we wanted to do, but we still have a game tomorrow that we really need to concentrate on."

Game three of the Hornets-Bulldogs series is Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

Game 1 - Hornets 11, Alabama A&M 1: The Bulldogs had two runners on with one out in the top of the first, but T.J. Renda pitched out of the jam without allowing a run.

In the bottom of the inning, the first eight Hornets reached base en route to a seven-run inning that set the tone for the day.

Cesar Rivera and Richard Gonzalez walked to start the inning. Waldyvan Estrada doubled down the left field line to score Rivera. Emmanuel Marrero then doubled to right center to score Gonzalez for a 2-0 Hornet lead. Branden Castro then hit an infield single, scoring Estrada. Dexter Price followed with a single through the right side, scoring  Marrero to extend to a 4-0 lead. Marcus Swint singled to shortstop to load the bases, and Raul Perez' fielder's choice grounder scored Castro. Einar Muniz' sacrifice fly scored Price, and Rivera's sacrifice fly scored Swint for a 7-0 Alabama State lead.

"We did a magnificent job in setting the tone," Melendez said. "The guys were eager to get back on the field to rectify what happened in during the mid-week games. The key was really T.J. getting out of the first inning jam. He pitched very well, got the strikeout to end the inning, and that was very important."

Leading 8-1, the Hornets ended the game with a three-run seventh. Muniz, Rivera, Gonzalez and Estrada walked to lead off the inning, scoring Muniz. Marrero then singled to shortstop, scoring Rivera. Castro's single to left field scored Gonzalez for the final margin.

Renda (5-3) threw his fourth complete game of the season, allowing only five singles and one run, with two walks and four strikeouts, throwing 62 of his 94 pitches for strikes. Every Hornet starter had a hit, RBI or run scored, led by Swint's career-high three-hit game. Marrero, Castro, and Price each had two hits, scored one run, and combined to drive in five runs.

Game 2 – Hornets 6, Alabama A&M 2: Camacho improved to 8-1 on the season, winning his sixth straight decision, and Estrada and Marrero each drove in two runs as the Hornets improved to 10-0 in the second game of doubleheaders this season.

Camacho went eight innings, allowed seven hits, two runs, walked four and struck out five. He induced three double plays in the game.

The Hornets took advantage of first-inning walks to score in the first inning. Rivera and Gonzalez walked, and Estrada singled to center field to load the bases. Marrero's sacrifice fly to right, scored Rivera. With two outs, Swint walked to force home Gonzalez for a 2-0 Alabama State lead.

Leading 2-1 in the fourth, the Hornets scored four times on a two-out rally. Perez singled down the left field line, Muniz was hit by a pitch, and Rivera walked to load the bases. Gonzalez walked to force home Perez. Estrada then singled through the left side, scoring Muniz and Rivera, advancing Gonzalez to second. Marrero then singled to right field, scoring Gonzalez for a 6-1 Alabama State lead.

"Both were magnificent today," said Melendez of his starting pitchers. "T.J. is getting stronger as the season as gone on. He had been steady the first two years but now he is getting better, and I'm glad to see him bounce back and be himself again after the slow start. Joe has done a great job the entire year. He didn't have his best stuff today, but he battled and gave us great innings."

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU's Covington Named NBADL Rookie of the Year

 Robert Covington
HOUSTON ROCKETS

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Houston Rockets rookie Robert Covington, who has played on assignment with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, was today named the 2014 NBA Development League Rookie of the Year, as voted on by the league’s 17 head coaches. 

The award recognizes the first-year professional who most significantly contributed to his team’s success during the course of the season.

Covington  played in 42 of the Vipers 50 regular season games on assignment from the Rockets, 41 as a starter. He averaged a team-high 23.2 points, good for second-best in the NBA D-League, while shooting 44 percent from the field. He rounded out his stat line averaging a Vipers-best 9.2 rebounds and 2.4 steals, second-highest in the league.

During the regular season, Covington led the team in scoring 21 times and was the Vipers leading rebounder in 13 contests. He scored in double figures in 41 of his 42 games in Rio Grande Valley, recording two 40-plus point games and four additional 30-plus point outings.

A 2014 NBA D-League All-Star, Covington scored an NBA D-League All-Star record 33 points, 22 of which came in the game’s final six minutes, en route to earning MVP honors in the game. He connected on 12 of his 23 shots, including four-of-eight three-pointers at NBA All-Star festivities in New Orleans.

“Robert has had an excellent rookie season on assignment with the Vipers,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. “He embraced the opportunity to develop all aspects of his game in the NBA D-League and proved that he is able to perform at a professional level. I congratulate him on such a successful start to his career and look forward to watching his progress with the Houston Rockets.”

Covington helped the Vipers secure the fifth seed in the 2014 NBA D-League Playoffs, averaging 18.3 points in Rio Grande Valley’s first-round match-up against the Iowa Energy, a series the Vipers won in three games. He will re-join the Vipers tonight in Texas for the team’s game second-round playoff game against the Santa Cruz Warriors. Rio Grande Valley currently trails the Warriors 1-0 in the best-of-three series.

Undrafted in 2013, Covington has appeared in seven games with the Rockets this season.

All-Time NBA D-League Rookie of the Year winners:
2012-13: Tony Mitchell, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2011-12: Edwin Ubiles, Dakota Wizards
2010-11: DeShawn Sims, Maine Red Claws
2009-10: Alonzo Gee,* Austin Toros
2008-09: Othyus Jeffers,* Iowa Energy
2007-08: Blake Ahearn, Dakota Wizards
2006-07: Louis Amundson,* Colorado 14ers
2005-06: Will Bynum,* Roanoke Dazzle
2004-05: James Thomas, Roanoke Dazzle
2003-04: Desmond Penigar, Asheville Altitude
2002-03: Devin Brown, Fayetteville Patriots
2001-02: Fred House, Charleston Lowgators

Courtesy NBA
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
 

Rain halts play at 2014 MEAC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships

CAYCE, South Carolina — Inclement weather halted Saturday’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships at the Cayce Tennis & Fitness Center.

The women’s final between Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State will begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 20. Bethune-Cookman reached the championship with 4-0 wins over Hampton and Morgan State. South Carolina State, the defending MEAC Tournament Champions, reached the finals with 4-0 and 4-1 victories over Delaware State and Howard, respectively.

The men’s final between South Carolina State and Norfolk State will begin at Noon. South Carolina State, the defending MEAC Tournament Champions, got to the finals with 4-0 and 4-1 wins over Howard and Florida A&M. Norfolk State advanced to championship with back-to-back 4-0 victories against Coppin State and Bethune-Cookman.

For the latest on the 2014 MEAC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships, long on to www.MEACsports.com.

COURTESY MEACSPORTS.COM

Howard University Gospel Choir: "All In His Hands"

WASHINGTON, D.C. --  Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University sings "All In His Hands" in Detroit, Michigan.  Happy Easter 2014!



COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY GOSPEL CHOIR

Bussie Named PVAMU Assistant Women's Basketball Coach

ASST. COACH LANDON BUSSIE
Photo Courtesy: Xavier University
of Louisiana Athletics



 

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  -- Prairie View A&M head women's basketball coach Dawn Brown announced today that Landon Bussie will join the staff as an assistant coach.  Bussie will be involved with the day-to-day operations of the program, with a special emphasis on recruiting and guard development.

Prior to his time at Prairie View A&M, Bussie spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball team, and completed two years as a graduate assistant.  At Xavier, Bussie helped guide the squad to three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Regular-Season Conference Championships (2012, 2013, and 2014), with four consecutive appearances at the NAIA National Championship Tournament. In addition, six Gold Rush players added all-conference honors to their resumes' during Bussie's tenure.

 

Bussie was a two-year letterman as a forward for the men's basketball team at Xavier University of Louisiana, graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2010. He later earned a master's degree in educational leadership in 2014.

 

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Bussie is a graduate of Woodlawn High School and went on to play two seasons for Livingstone College of the CIAA (NCAA Division II) before transferring to Xavier.

 

Bussie is the son of Loretta Bussie and the late Gerald Bussie and has two siblings, brother, Gerald, and sister Asya. Asya was an All-American standout at West Virginia University before being drafted by the Minnesota Lynx as the 15th-overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft.

 

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida Classic Consortium Begins Prep for 2014 Game

(L) FAMU Athletics Director Kellen Winslow, Sr., FAMU president Dr. Elmira
Mangum; (R) B-CU president Dr. Edison O Jackson, B-CU Director of Athletics
Lynn W. Thompson, and Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan. 
Photo Courtesy: B-CU Athletics
 

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The Florida Classic Consortium met Wednesday, April 16, kicking off plans for the 2014 Florida Blue Florida Classic game between Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M University. This year’s game will take place November 22 at the reconstructed Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

The consortium, consisting of several members from both institutions including the presidents and athletics directors, met with members from Florida Citrus Sports on a number of topics to begin planning for the 2014 Florida Blue Florida Classic weekend.

Plans for the renovated Citrus Bowl indicate construction is on schedule and is expected to be fully functional by game day.

Fans can get a live look-in on stadium development by visiting the Turner Construction page dedicated to the stadium (http://turnerwzc.workzonecam.com).

We’re so excited to open Orlando’s brand-new stadium with a game that has a deep history in this region,” said Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan. “The Florida Blue Florida Classic has resulted in some of the best games – and biggest crowds – that the old Citrus Bowl hosted. There’s no better event to commemorate the opening of the new building.”

During the meeting, Hogan presented each institution with a check for the proceeds from last year’s event. Bethune-Cookman won the 2013 Florida Blue Florida Classic, 29-10.

Afterward, Hogan, B-CU president Dr. Edison O Jackson, FAMU president Dr. Elmira Mangum, B-CU Director of Athletics Lynn W. Thompson and FAMU Athletics Director Kellen Winslow, Sr. paused for a photo officially kicking off the 2014 campaign.

For more information on the Florida Blue Florida Classic, please log on FloridaClassic.org.

COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU's Johnson: No Regrets

CLEMON JOHNSON
Courtesy FAMU Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Clemon Johnson said he didn’t see his firing Friday as the head men’s basketball coach at FAMU coming, but he had no regrets about taking the job at his alma mater three years ago.

An hour before FAMU released a terse press release concerning Johnson’s firing, he told the Tallahassee Democrat that he was placed on administrative leave with pay until July 29, his effective termination date.

Johnson, 57, said he was informed of the decision in a letter hand-delivered by former interim athletic director Michael Smith.

“It was definitely a joy and a thrill to give back to the university that that I love and grew up with, and helped raise me,” Johnson said.

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Fans Invited to Tailgate and After-Party at Norfolk State Spartans Final Spring Football Scrimmage on April 26

COURTESY NSU ATHLETICS

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  The Norfolk State athletics department is inviting fans to attend the Spartans' final football scrimmage of the spring on Saturday, April 26 and enjoy a festive day free of charge.

NSU's final scrimmage will run from 10 a.m. to noon on April 26 at William "Dick" Price Stadium. Admission is free. Fans will be allowed to tailgate in the Community Hospital lot on campus, also free of charge. Fans are also invited to meet and greet the players and enjoy live music and games on the field after the scrimmage. The Spartan Legion Marching Band will be in attendance, and fans can also register or renew memberships in the NSU Athletics Foundation.

The tailgating area must be cleaned up and cleared by 3:30 p.m.

After the football scrimmage, fans are also encouraged to attend the Spartan softball team's doubleheader against North Carolina Central at the NSU Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and admission to the softball games is also free.

By Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
 

NSU Men Advance to MEAC Tennis Championship with 4-0 Semifinal Win over B-CU

CAYCE, South Carolina  – Norfolk State, the MEAC south No. 2 seed, has advanced to the finals of the 2014 MEAC Men's Tennis Championship after posting a 4-0 win in the semifinals over the southern division's No. 4 seed, Bethune-Cookman, on Friday morning at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center. The win marks the first time that NSU's men's tennis program has advanced to the MEAC finals.

The Spartans (14-6) will play the MEAC south No. 1 seed and reigning MEAC champion, South Carolina State, in the finals on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs have won the last seven MEAC championships. S.C. State defeated the southern division's No. 3 seed, Florida A&M, 4-1, on Friday morning to advance to the title match.

NSU took the doubles point in the first and second positions. Sophomore Dzmitry Zyhmantovich and senior Peter Ramstromer-Pello upended Gilbert Rotich and Greg Almeida, 8-3. Also picking up a win were sophomore Robin Riethmueller and junior Igor Braga. They defeated Walid Gtari and Alvaro Barrero, 8-3. The No. 3 match featuring juniors Pascal Domnik and Daniel Grauel against Santiago Lobelo and Diego Garavito was abandoned after the Spartans clinched the point.

The Spartans picked up wins in singles play at the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 spots. Zyhmantovich improved to 14-4 on the season with his 6-3, 6-2 victory against Gtari. Riethmueller (11-5) claimed a 6-1, 6-3 win over Rotich. Braga closed things out for NSU with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Garavito. The other singles matches were abandoned because the Spartans won the match.

The men's championship title match begins at 12 p.m. on Saturday.

Complete Match Results

By Chaundrea Lee, Media Relations Assistant
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Coaching Carousel: Clemon Johnson Fired at Florida A&M

Courtesy FAMU Athletics

Former NFL star Kellen Winslow has made his first big move as the athletic director at Florida A&M as he'll replace basketball coach Clemon Johnson.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- When you visit our mid-major transfer list one of the things that will standout to you are the amount of transfers for the Florida A&M Rattlers. FAMU currently has six players on our list and that number was expected to grow. FAMU's new athletic director, former NFL star Kellen Winslow, has made his first big move and is expected to replace Clemon Johnson as the Rattler's head coach.

Johnson will leave FAMU with a 32-64 mark after three seasons at the Tallahassee based school. Johnson is a former ten year NBA veteran.

 

Florida A&M has not had a winning season since 2006-07 when the Rattlers went to the NCAA Tournament. The Rattlers are the fourth MEAC school to make a coaching change this year joining Coppin State, Delaware State, and Maryland Eastern Shore.

 

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FAMU Men's Basketball Coach Clemon Johnson Fired

FAMU president Dr. Elmira Mangum and
athletics director Kellen Winslow.
Photo Courtesy FAMU Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Florida A&M Director of Athletics, Kellen Winslow, today announced the release of men's basketball coach Clemon Johnson and his staff.

"We thank Coach Johnson and his staff for their efforts over the past three years to improve our men's basketball program. However, we have decided to seek new leadership of this program in order to achieve our academic and athletic goals," Winslow said.

Johnson was hired in 2011 and in three seasons at FAMU, compiled a ...

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Alabama A&M football putting product on display in first spring under James Spady

NORMAL, Alabama  --  New Alabama A&M football coach James Spady isn't hiding anything.

In fact, during his spring training, the former Nevada assistant is inviting any and everyone out to see what the Bulldogs have going on. 

 

Wednesday, Spady invited local high school coaches along with their players to checkout his team's 10th practice of the spring, a controlled scrimmage during which the Bulldogs simulated real-game situations such as third-down conversion plays and long-yardage packages. 

 

"Yeah, I'm so looking forward to cultivating those relationships," Spady said. "Just a chance to meet those guys and be in a social setting with them is really cool, especially since I'm new here. We want to try and recruit all the best athletes we can get from our local area. Having those conversations with those guys is really enlightening, telling us who they think are the players and we want to continue that and do as much as we can to outreach the area coaches." 

 

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