A&M Bulldogs Football Kickoff Luncheon Set for Aug. 13

NORMAL, Alabama  -- Alabama A&M University is set to host its inaugural Alabama A&M Bulldogs Football Kickoff Luncheon on August 13.

The luncheon will feature head coach James Spady.  Fans attending the luncheon will have the opportunity to meet and interact with Alabama A&M football personnel and student-athletes.

The luncheon is scheduled to be held Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 12 p.m. at the Knight Center on the campus in Normal, Alabama. This event serves as the first major event of Alabama A&M football for the fall season.

The doors will open at 11:15 a.m., and general admission tickets are $10 each. A reserved table is $80. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Bulldogs ticket office at 256-372-4700 and can be picked up ONLY on Wednesday-Friday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. or online at aamutix.com.

AAMU opens the 2014 season against North Carolina A&T State University.  The game, slated to be televised on ESPN Sunday, Aug. 31, at 11:45 a.m. ET, and will be played for the first time at Bright House Networks Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Florida (UCF), while the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium undergoes renovations.

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Grambling-Prairie View A&M football game poised to remain a State Fair tradition through 2025

DALLAS, Texas  -- The Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic, the annual football game between Prairie View A&M University and Grambling State University, is poised to stay at the Cotton Bowl through 2025.

The Dallas Park and Recreation Board on Thursday will consider a five-year extension to the city’s agreement with the two historically black universities. The current deal runs through 2020.

Under the proposed extension, there would be no changes to the financial terms. The city pays each school $75,000 a year to participate in the game, which is played during the State Fair of Texas.

This year’s State Fair Classic kicks off at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 27.

The Prairie View A&M-Grambling game is one of two marquee gridiron battles during the State Fair. The other, of course, is the Red River Showdown between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma.

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Mississippi Valley Delta Devils practice in full pads

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- The Mississippi Valley State football team suited up in full gear for the first time of training camp during Friday's three-hour practice.

During Friday's practice, position players battled each other for starting spots as the Delta Devils prepare for the 2014 season.

"That's why we got this recruiting class in because this spring there was no competition, but the competition's on now," said first-year MVSU head coach Rick Comegy. "And I'm happy to see these guys going at it real good because they all want to get on the bus. You can only take 63 on away games and regardless of how they get on the bus -- special teams, offense, defense -- they have to earn a job to get on that bus."



At quarterback, a crop of newcomers -- Dontrinell Scott, Marcus Key and Quantavius Peterson -- along with returning seniors Patrick Ivy and Carl Davis are all currenlty battling for the starting job. Ivy is the most experienced of the group, passing for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

But nothing is promised.

"Right now, it's up for grabs. Pat has to compete like everyone else," said Comegy. "And we're not going to give him anything....If he wants that job he has to earn it."

The Delta Devils will be back on the practice field Saturday from 8-11 a.m. and on Sunday from 8-10:30 a.m. and 3:30-6 p.m.

To view a photo gallery from Friday's practice, click here.

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Ram Ramblings: Football practice is almost here

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- I spoke briefly with Kienus Boulware, who is getting ready for his first season as a head coach. He was well aware that next week will be "go time" for he and the WSSU Rams.

The team's first practice will be Wednesday at 9 a.m., and he said he's looking forward to getting into a weekly routine.

"I think it's easier when the guys and the coaches all know what's in front of them," Boulware said. "And next week we'll get it going and I think everybody is excited."

The Rams, who have already been picked as the No. 13 team in the country in Division II by one preseason poll, have a lot of good players coming back. They were picked to win the CIAA for the third straight season in the coaches power poll that came out in late July at the conference's media day.

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Prairie View A&M Football Training Camp Central 2014

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Prairie View A&M had an intense practice which featured big plays on both sides of the ball on Thursday night. Interview conducted by Michael Prince.

Day Three Photo Gallery

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Dawson Odums OK with Southern scrimmage

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern tried to simulate a football game as best it could for its first scrimmage of preseason camp Saturday morning.

A modest-sized crowd turned out, providing the largest group of spectators during the first nine days of practice.

The coaches tried to give their headsets a dry run, though the reception didn’t work as well at the Jaguars practice field as it does next door inside A.W. Mumford Stadium.

An officiating crew was on hand, helping the players get closer to being game ready three weeks before their season opener at Louisiana-Lafayette.

And football-wise, things pretty much went according to plan. The Jaguars ran about 120 plays in stifling heat and humidity and appeared to escape any serious injuries, though a few players did leave after being nicked up.

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Frontier Communications Kanawha Classic Pits WVSU Against University of Charleston

CHARLESTON, West Virginia -- The annual football rivalry game between the University of Charleston and West Virginia State University has been jazzed up a bit for this season.

The game at University of Charleston Stadium has been switched from its original date of Saturday, Oct. 18, to Thursday, Oct. 16 and has been dubbed the Frontier Communications Kanawha Classic.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The teams will vie for local bragging rights and a trophy.

“That’s exciting,’’ said Jon Anderson, the Yellow Jackets’ second-year coach. “We’ve worked together with Frontier to make it a big event. We’re looking forward to that game for sure."

The game between the neighboring rivals, separated by less than 12 miles, is also a league contest in the second-year Mountain East Conference.

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Pough prefers S.C. State meet goals in one practice a day

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- When it comes to relying on “two-a-day” practices preparing college football players for the regular season, South Carolina State head coach Buddy Pough is a contrarian.

While many of his coaching peers hold as many sessions as possible during the “dog days” of August, Pough sees them as valuable only when necessary.

“My philosophy is that you do them as you need to,” he said. “This is a situation here where if we can go to one-a-days, if we can do most of our work in one attempt and if we seem to be gathering the information the right way, then we can maybe cut it back to less two-a-days. But at the same time, if we have days where we’re still struggling to get lined up and have issues, of course, you’ve got to come out to do two.”

After what Pough saw was a ...




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Despite weather, SCSU manages to hold Media Day

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- The morning hours Saturday for the South Carolina State football began with rainfall, which pushed back the starting time for Media and Picture Day at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

Lightning flashes accompanied by more rain also delayed the team’s first scrimmage for about 40 minutes. In both cases, the Bulldogs persevered to remain on schedule for the preseason.

“We practiced hard, which is what really makes the difference,” S.C. State head football coach Buddy Pough said. “It’s not necessarily the weather, but it’s whether you get enough reps and enough hard reps at it and we do seem to be getting that. So, the fact that we’re getting enough work is what really probably is the most important part of the whole deal.”

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Former Texas A&M linebacker Darian Claiborne to enroll at Texas Southern

HOUSTON, Texas  -- Darian Claiborne, dismissed from Texas A&M on June 3, will enroll at Texas Southern and be immediately eligible to play football.

The former Port Allen star and SEC All-Freshman Team linebacker will receive a second college chance at the SWAC school after running into off-field issues on multiple occasion, Port Allen Coach Guy Blanchard said.

"He ended up at Texas Southern, and we're excited about it, about him getting a chance to go and show people he's not a terrible -- he just made some silly mistakes," Blanchard said. "We're excited he's getting the opportunity to show he can overcome those things. It's a fresh start. It's a clean start and a second chance to show he's a good person, and that's what we're excited about."

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Hornet Report: DSU Completes First Day of Football Training Camp

DOVER, Delaware  -- Delaware State's Benjamin Bullock reports for www.dsuhornets.com, as head coach Kermit Blount, quarterback Esayah Obado  and defensive tackle Rodney Gunter give their takes on the first day of training camp to being the 2014 season. 



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Lincoln Chosen Seventh in GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll

Blue Tigers Are Beginning Their First Season in the League

LEBANON, Illinois - The Lincoln football team was picked seventh in the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason coaches poll, announced on Friday (Aug. 1) as part of the league's kickoff event.

The Blue Tigers, in their first season in the GLVC, received 27 votes to rank seventh in the nine-team poll. Lincoln, along with Southwest Baptist, are joining the GLVC as football-only members in 2014 while remaining full members of the MIAA in all other sports. Southwest Baptist received 28 votes to edge LU for sixth in the GLVC preseason coaches poll.

Two-time defending GLVC champion Indianapolis was the unanimous favorite, garnering eight first-place votes to lead the poll with 64 points. Truman State, in its second season in the GLVC after leaving the MIAA in 2013, was selected second with 56 points. St. Joseph's (Ind.) claimed third with 50 points, including earning the final first-place vote, as coaches were not allowed to rank their own program.

Missouri S&T was selected fourth with 38 points while McKendree was picked fifth with 32 points. Rounding out the GLVC preseason coaches poll were Quincy, which received 15 points to check in at eighth, and William Jewell, which tallied 14 points points to be selected ninth.

Lincoln went 3-8 in its final season in the MIAA in 2013, including defeating NCAA Division I Grambling State, 47-34, in the inaugural Missouri Classic. The Blue Tigers return 12 starters from that squad, including senior running back Morris Henderson, a Don Hansen All-American third team selection; senior offensive lineman J.J. Johnson, a USA College Football preseason second team All-American; and senior quarterback Jacob Morris, an All-MIAA honorable mention in 2013.

The Blue Tigers begin 2014 on Sept. 6 by playing Langston in the second Missouri Classic, held in Kansas City, Mo. at historic Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CDT.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
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Hampton Pirates MEAC Media Day 2014

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MEAC Announces the 2014 Football Television Schedule

NORFOLK, Virginia --The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its 2014 television football lineup featuring eight appealing matchups scheduled to telecast on the ESPN networks- including ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN Classic and ESPN3. The nationally televised games highlight the continued partnership between the MEAC and ESPN.

“The MEAC is proud of its continued partnership with ESPN, the Worldwide Leader in Sports,” said MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas.  “We are excited about these competitive matchups and look forward to highlighting our great and talented student-athletes, coaches and institutions on a global landscape.”

The 2014 schedule kicks off with the 10th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, Sunday, August 31 in Orlando, Fla. The game will air live at 11:45 a.m. on ESPN.  This year's game will feature the MEAC’s North Carolina A&T State against the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Alabama A&M.  The matchup will pose the first ever meeting between the two institutions.

The Thursday night slate features three live conference matchups on ESPNU.  Hampton will face North Carolina A&T in the first Thursday night matchup on October 9 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina. Norfolk State will host defending MEAC Co-Champion Bethune-Cookman on November 6 at 7:30 p.m.  The B-CU Wildcats will also meet Hampton during a telecast at 7:30 p.m. on November 13. 

Saturday televised games will feature MEAC conference rivals Morgan State against Howard in the NY Urban League Classic.  The game will telecast live on ESPN3 and taped delayed at 10 p.m. on ESPNU. 

In a battle of the Carolina’s, defending Co-Champion South Carolina State will face North Carolina A&T in the Atlanta Football Classic on Saturday, October 4.  The game will air live on ESPN3 and will re-air later that day at 10 p.m. on ESPNU. 

Hampton will face local foe Norfolk State in the annual Battle of the Bay Classic during a televised contest on October 18 in Hampton, Virginia.  The game will air live at 1 p.m. on ESPN3 and will telecast taped-delayed at 10 p.m. on ESPNU. 

The 2014 televised schedule wraps up with the annual Florida Classic featuring Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M on Saturday, November 22.  The game will air live at 2 p.m. on ESPN Classic and ESPN3.  The game will re-air on ESPNU during a time slot to be determined and announced at a later time. 

All games will also be available for viewing on computers, smartphones, tablets, Xbox and Apple TV via the WatchESPN application.  

Sun., August 31
North Carolina A&T v. Alabama A&M (MEAC/SWAC Challenge)
ESPN/WatchESPN
11:45 a.m.

Sat., Sept. 20
Morgan State v. Howard
(NY Urban League)
ESPNU/ESPN3
4 p.m.*

Sat., Oct. 4 
South Carolina State v. North Carolina A&T
(Atlanta Football Classic)
ESPNU/ESPN3
3:30 p.m.**

Thurs., Oct. 9
Hampton at North Carolina A&T
ESPNU/WatchESPN
7:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 18
Norfolk State at Hampton
ESPNU/ESPN3
1 p.m.***

Thur., Nov. 6
Bethune-Cookman at Norfolk State
ESPNU/WatchESPN
7:30 p.m.

Thurs., Nov. 13
Bethune-Cookman at Hampton
ESPNU/WatchESPN
7:30 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 22
Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M
(Florida Classic)
ESPN Classic/ESPN3/ESPNU
2 p.m. on ESPN Classic and ESPN3

TD on ESPNU**

*Game will air live on ESPN3 at time listed; will air on ESPNU taped-delayed Sept. 20 at 10 p.m.
**Game will air live on ESPN3 at time listed; will air on ESPNU taped-delayed Oct. 4 at 10 p.m.
***Game will air live on ESPN3 at time listed; will air on ESPNU taped-delayed Oct. 18 at 10 p.m.

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Hampton Athletics Hire Jackson as Assistant AD for Compliance & Student-Services

HAMPTON, Virginia  --  The Hampton University Department of Athletics has hired Paula Jackson as the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance & Student-Services/Senior Woman Administrator, two roles with which she is familiar.

Jackson comes to Hampton after a career in which she has worked at such schools as Alabama State, Mississippi Valley State, Savannah State, Lincoln (Mo.), Morehead State and Clark Atlanta. She is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA).
 
After her tenure at Savannah State, Jackson became the Director of Athletics at Lincoln (Mo.) University in 2008, before heading to Mississippi Valley State in 2009 to serve as assistant athletic director. At Lincoln, she developed and implemented a five-year marketing and promotions initiative.
 
Jackson was also SWA at Alabama State.
 
Jackson joined Savannah State's staff in 2005, where she was as the assistant athletic director for compliance and SWA – while also serving as interim athletics director from Oct. 2007-May 2008. Prior to that, she held compliance and SWA positions at both Morehead State University and Clark Atlanta University.
 
She is the founder of Sports EnFocus, Inc., a public relations and development firm dedicated to sports entities and personalities. She has also served on public relations game day staff for the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL.
 
Some of her other work include account manager for Paladin Public Relations in Atlanta, marketing and sales manager for MTV Networks in Georgia, and deputy campaign manager of the Committee to Re-elect Mayor Bill Campbell.
 
A native of Baton Rouge, La., Jackson is a member of the Georgia Women's Intersport Network, Women in Sports and Events, Black Women's Sports Foundation, Women's Sports Foundation and Sports Divas.
 
Jackson also completed the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Females.
 
For more information on Hampton University athletics, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

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Jackson State QB Ivy rusty in first practice back

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- In a way, offensive coordinator Timmy Chang was happy LaMontiez Ivy did not complete every pass.

“There’d be nothing to coach,” Chang joked.

Pegged as Jackson State’s starting quarterback, Ivy showed signs of rust on Tuesday afternoon when the team held its first practice.

But his performance wasn’t anything alarming, especially considering he missed nearly the entire 2013 season due to an ankle injury.

“Well, like I said, all this stuff is a work in progress, especially for him because he get any spring,” coach Harold Jackson said. “He threw the ball, but there wasn’t any contact or anything like that . But I tell you, I think by the time we’re ready to tee off, I think he’ll be ready.”

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Tennessee State Tiger Camp Update: Day 5

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  In Saturday’s first full scrimmage for the Tennessee State University football team the offense made a few plays but the defense held the spotlight.

“It was a defensively dominated scrimmage,” head coach Rod Reed said. “I think there were nine or 10 punts today which tells me the defense did a good job of getting off the field.”

Freshman defensive lineman Latrelle Lee and junior linebacker Vantavious Williams had great days. Lee had a handful of tackles and added a few sacks. Williams recovered a fumble and ran it all the way back for a touchdown as well as made his presence felt on a number of passing plays.

“I thought Lee did some good things. He sacked the quarterback a couple of times and made some good tackles. Van Williams was playing fast and seemed to be in on every tackle.”

Sophomore wide receiver Chris Sanders-McCollum grabbed a couple of long passes, including one in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown from 25 yards out. Redshirt-sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Freeman also had a handful of catches and created separation from defenders with his route running.

TSU worked on the mental aspect of the game, as well, on Saturday as they had an officiating team from the OVC come in and call the scrimmage just as they would a normal game.

“Jim Jackson, the OVC director of officials, does a great job of getting guys out and schooling us on what we need to do. I had them call it tight today and we ended up with 11 penalties. We were one of the worst penalized teams in the league last season so we will definitely need to improve before this season starts.”

The Tigers will be off tomorrow. Practice will resume Monday at 9:15 a.m.

Schedule:
Sunday, Aug. 10 – Off
Monday, Aug. 11 – 9:15-11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 12 – 7:30-9:55 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 13 – 9:15-11:40 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 14 – 7:30-9:55 a.m.

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The Impact of Florida Football on TSU

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  Florida has been known for producing top flight talent on the football field and Tennessee State University has tapped into that vein.

The Tigers have made the Sunshine State a priority in their recruiting lately. The coaching staff continually brings in top talent on offense, defense, and special teams like: Mike German, De’Ante Saunders, Dinsdale Jackson, and Tevin Spells.

“Florida is one of the areas we concentrate on,” Co-offensive Coordinator Jeff Parker said. “We’ve been successful in bringing in guys who have really helped out the team in multiple areas.”

Last season Michael German, and A. C. Leonard were standout performers who hailed from Florida. German completed 60% of his pass attempts on the year and threw 13 touchdowns without throwing an interception. A standout at tight end, Leonard was second on the team in both receptions (34) and receiving yards (441).

Along with Leonard, De’ Ante Saunders, and Jessamen Dunker have all transferred to TSU from the University of Florida. The impact of those three transfers, along with a number of other recruits from the state of Florida, is due in large part to the coaches on the staff from Florida who brought them in.



 “When I’m talking to recruits from Florida, I try to sell them on my experience,” defensive backs coach Mikhal Kornegay said. “I’m a Florida guy, through and through, but to get out and make a name for yourself outside of the state is something special.”

Coach Kornegay has played for and learned from a few of the top coaches in college football. Playing under legendary head coach Bobby Bowden and defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, Kornegay saw the effectiveness of intensity. As a graduate assistant for the Seminoles, he learned the strategy and cerebral aspect of coaching from current Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher and now Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops. While he was there, Kornegay coached current New Orleans Saints cornerback Patrick Robinson and 2010 sixth round pick of the Tennessee Titans Myron Rolle.

Head coach Rod Reed has built a strong recruiting network by having his assistants recruit the areas they know and grew up in.

“We’ve been able to bring in some good players through the relationships that our coaches have,” coach Parker said. “They’re able to bring in these guys because of the connections with their community where another coach, who doesn’t have any connections, may not be so successful.”

Florida recruits who come in to Nashville can feel at ease with the well meshed community that has been created by the Florida coaches and upper classmen. Some guys say they don’t even feel the difference.

“It just felt like home to me,” redshirt junior defensive lineman Dinsdale Jackson said. “They fit me right in to the team and took care of me.”

TSU’s coaching staff has done a terrific job of combining players from all over the country. With 22 players from the state of Florida on the team, some guys may feel they have something to prove against the Sunshine State but the coaches are able to take that and mold it into a working team dynamic that drives the team throughout the season.

“Being from there and having experienced it myself, some guys think the Florida guys are kind of cocky,” coach Kornegay said. “They feel like the Florida guys believe they’re coming from the mecca of football and that they have to prove themselves. It’s great to see the guys we bring in from Florida mesh well with the team.”

Florida recruits continue to add depth to the Tigers with newcomers such as quarterback Oshay Ackerman-Carter and cornerback Terrell Bonds making an impact in camp. Sunshine State seniors like German and Darion Hall will help pave the way to a successful campaign in 2014.

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Former Big Ten head coach and NBA assistant coach to lead Tuskegee University's basketball program

COACH JERRY M. DUNN
COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

TUSKEGEE, Alabama  -- Tuskegee University has announced the hiring of its new men's basketball coach. President Brian Johnson, Ph.D. and Athletic Director Curtis Campbell, have selected former New York Knicks assistant coach, Jerry M. Dunn, to lead the Golden Tigers basketball team. Dunn replaces Leon Douglas, who resigned in July.
 
Dunn has more than 30 years  of combined experience as a men's basketball head coach, associate head coach and assistant coach of NBA and Division I men's basketball programs. He has a successful track record of recruiting, scouting and developing young talent. He is committed to the academic success of his players. He achieved an average 98 percent graduation rate per season, with several students continuing a career in both U.S. and international professional basketball leagues.
 
"We are excited about the new addition of Coach Dunn to the Tuskegee University family. He is a coach with influence beyond basketball," Tuskegee University president, Dr. Brian L. Johnson said. "His accomplishments within the Big Ten Conference as well as the NBA are the types of achievement and success that we look forward to as Tuskegee's well-known tradition is propelled into its new trajectory."
 
Dunn has served the New York Knicks since 2012 and was instrumental in the team advancing to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Dunn created and implemented individual workouts for on court skill development. He also was an instructor for the Tim Grgurich NBA Skills Development Camp.
 
From 2007 to 2010, he served as the associate head men's basketball coach for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he helped lead the men's basketball team to an appearance in the 2009 NCAA tournament after an 11-year absence.
 
From 2003 to 2007, he served as an assistant men's basketball coach at West Virginia University in Morgantown and helped the team win the 2007 National Invitational Tournament (NIT). In 2006, the team placed 3rd in the Big East Regular Season, and advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.  In 2005, the team was runner up in the Big East Tournament, and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.
 
From 1995 to 2003, he was the head men's basketball coach at Penn State University. Coach Dunn led his team to its first Top Ten ranking and an NCAA tournament appearance in his first season. In 2001 he led Penn State to the Big Ten Tournament semi-finals and to a number 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament; Penn State beat number 2 seed, North Carolina, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in over half a century. Coach Dunn reached 50 wins and 100 wins faster than any other head men's basketball coach in Penn State history.
 
"I am very excited to have the opportunity to be Tuskegee University's head basketball coach," Dunn said. "My staff and family look forward to doing special things at a very special place. I am proud to represent the great Tuskegee brand and tradition."
 
Dunn has a bachelor's degree in science and education from George Mason University. 

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Alcorn State Hires Derek Horne as Director of Athletics

DEREK HORNE
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY
(PHOTO COURTESY: FAMU ATHLETICS)

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State University President Dr. Alfred Rankins Jr. named Derek Horne as the University's new intercollegiate athletic director during a news conference Friday, August 8, at the Vicksburg Expansion Center.

Horne previously served as director of athletics at Florida A&M where he negotiated the largest guaranteed football contract ($900,000) for a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Prior to that post, he had an impressive 15-year tenure at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi, in athletics administration.

As a student athlete at the University of Mississippi, Horne earned Academic All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) accolades as a senior and led his squad as team captain.

President Rankins stressed the importance of identifying final candidates who would balance academic and athletic success—be a champion for the student athlete.

"Horne's background and accomplishments as an athletic director also demonstrates his strong leadership abilities and his commitment to develop leaders in-and-out of the classroom," said President Rankins.

For Horne, returning to Mississippi is like coming home and being named Alcorn's new intercollegiate athletic director is an opportunity he couldn't resist.

"I am grateful to the search committee and President Rankins for entrusting me with this great honor," said Horne. "I will give you my best and expect the same in return. Our focus will be working together to do what is best for Alcorn."

Search committee member Dr. John Walls Jr. of Vicksburg said he is excited about the future of Alcorn's athletics program under the direction of Horne.

"His reputation as a leader and motivator coupled with his strategic planning and fundraising abilities made him stand out," said Dr. Walls.

Horne will report to Alcorn later this month and begin to provide administrative direction and oversight for Alcorn's 17-sport athletic programs and activities and supervise the control and compliance with applicable National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), and University rules and regulations governing all facets of intercollegiate athletics.

Horne is a 1987 graduate of the University of Mississippi. He is a native of Quitman, Ga. Horne is married to the former Sheila Mosley of New Albany, Miss., and they have one son, Christopher. 

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ASU's Hopson Signed to Three-Year Contract Extension

COACH JAY HOPSON

ALCORN  Mississippi (August 7, 2014) – It didn't take Alcorn President Alfred Rankins Jr. long to award Braves head football coach Jay Hopson for his exceptional leadership of the University's football program.

"We really appreciate what Coach Hopson has done in elevating our football program to the next level. It feels good to be recognized as one of the top teams in the SWAC," said President Rankins.

Hopson signed a three-year contract extension Thursday that will keep him in charge of leading the Braves to prominence for the next three seasons.

Hopson is in his 3^rd season as the Braves head football coach. Since his arrival at Alcorn, Hopson has led the Braves to a 13-10 record over a two-year span (11-7 in SWAC games), which included a 9-3 (first time winning nine games since 1974) record in 2013. He was nominated for the Eddie Robinson Award (best head coach in the FCS) and has coached more than 10 players who have earned All-SWAC honors (the most in school history).

Hopson expressed his pleasure with the contract extension:

"This is truly an honor. We have a lot of work that we have to do in order to bring this school a championship. My coaches and I plan to put in our best effort to get our players in championship form," said Hopson.

The Braves will kick off the 2014 season at home, which will be the first of seven this season, against Virginia University at Lynchburg Saturday, August 30 at 4 p.m.

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Freshman receiver turning heads at FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Almost every day during volunteer 7-on-7 workouts, someone was asking who that guy is making big catches with the FAMU receiving corps.

Pre-season camp has started and the onlooker are just as curious about Brandon Norwood. He is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound receiver out of Atlanta's Cedar Grove High School.

He didn't get a single inquiry for a scholarship offer.

During signing day, he watched as some of his teammates signed letters to play for schools like South Carolina.

"Everybody was getting offers and I was still trying to figure what I would do after high school," said Norwood, who was one of coach Earl Holmes' last signees.

The offer puts him in a place that he didn't think was possible. He sees it as an opportunity that he can't squander.

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Humphries says FAMU's cash woes could be fixed

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M could begin to put a dent into its nagging athletic budget deficit in a short time if the Marching 100 band and the football program are given top priority, Frederick Humphries said Friday at the 220 Quarterback Club's luncheon.

But Humphries, president at FAMU from 1985 to 2001, said such a strategy would only work if alumni return to supporting the university the way they did during the 16 years that he served.

Their support helped his administration turn around an athletic department that was also struggling with a financial shortfall when he became president, he said.

Humphries left FAMU with a $3 million surplus in its athletic budget.

"The best indicators for black colleges; two things give the greatest visibility that they have," he said. "It's the athletic program and the marching band.

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Southern passing game crowded

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  The Southern passing game has featured a large cast of characters so far in preseason camp.

Even though three top receivers are sidelined, the permutations are nearly countless.

The Jaguars are trying to give four quarterbacks — Deonte Shorts, Francis Kanneh, Austin Howard and Jarrad Hayes — a fair opportunity to see what each can do before choosing a starter for the season opener at Louisiana-Lafayette on Aug. 30. So the reps are being divided four ways, and the quarterbacks are floating up and down the depth chart in the early days of preseason camp.

Wide receiver is arguably the deepest position on the team and that depth has been on display during the first eight days of practice. The sidelined veterans are Willie Quinn, who has yet to practice because of a jaw injury, Randall Menard (foot) and Justin Morgan (ankle), who were hurt earlier in camp.

“You just have to make sure you have the timing down because you get used to guys, then they get hurt,” Shorts said. “The new guys are stepping up. We just have to get used to them.”

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S.C. State men’s basketball to play only 10 home games

Orangeburg, South Carolina --  The South Carolina State University men’s basketball program has released its 2014-15 schedule, a slate that includes 10 home games and 19 road contests.

“We are excited to announce this year’s schedule. It’s one of the most challenging schedules in recent years for the Bulldogs,” S.C. State head coach Murray Garvin said. “We open the season on a Northwest/West Coast swing against University of Washington (Nov. 14) and San Francisco (Nov. 16) before cutting back across the country to face ACC Champion the Virginia Cavaliers (Nov. 18).”

The Bulldogs open up at home against Columbia International on Nov. 25, before heading to Statesboro, Ga., to take on Georgia Southern on Nov. 29.

SCSU then returns to the Palmetto State to battle defending Big South Champion Coastal Carolina on Dec. 2 in Conway. Garvin and the Bulldogs made their mark last season sweeping the Chanticleers in a home-and-home series for the first time in school history.

The Bulldogs have early MEAC battles with Florida A&M on Dec. 6 and Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 8 at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. SC State takes on College of Charleston in Charleston on Dec. 11 before, closing out their home-and-home series with Coastal Carolina on Dec. 14.

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