Track team speed boosts North Carolina A&T Aggies in football

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T ATHLETICS

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  — Speed.  Some teams have it, some just think they have it.

At N.C. A&T, it’s the cornerstone of the program. In fact, it’s the cornerstone of two programs.

“Track and football,” Aggies wide receiver Desmond Lawrence said. “We’ve got a lot of both here. We have some guys who can really run.”

So many that sometimes an A&T football game can quickly turn into a track meet.

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UR seeks bounce-back win against Hampton

RICHMOND, Virginia --If jest is required to rouse the football team he captains, Austin Gund has no problem playing the fool. The University of Richmond senior center sings at 7 a.m. on Tuesdays.

The Spiders practiced on Tuesday morning before last week’s game at Virginia because of high heat that afternoon. Coach Danny Rocco liked the results, and determined Tuesday drills would start at 7 a.m. for the rest of the season.

“Sometimes those morning practices get to be a little dull. Everybody’s still kind of asleep,” said Gund, a captain for three years.

>So he sings, a way to loosen up the Spiders and get them talking, even if they’re talking about how badly Gund sings. Gund believes a wake-up call will not be necessary Saturday evening for UR (1-1) when Hampton (0-2) visits.

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3 things you should know: Grambling State (0-2) at Bethune-Cookman (1-0)

KICKOFF: 4 p.m. Saturday

SITE: Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach
RADIO: WELE (1380 AM)

THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Depreciating 'G' Force
The 'G' on Grambling's helmets represents the “mecca” of black-college football, B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said. Grambling's Eddie Robinson was the first college coach to win 400 games, and the Tigers have won 14 black-college national titles and 24 SWAC titles (most recently in 2011). But, those days seem nostalgic. Grambling was 1-11 last year, including a forfeit caused by a player protest over coach Doug Williams' firing and deteriorating facilities. Broderick Fobbs is the team's fourth head coach in two years.

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Strothers joins MVSU men's basketball staff

ITTA BENA, Mississippi  -- Mississippi Valley State University head men's basketball coach Andre Payne has announced the hiring of assistant coach Eric Strothers, a 20-year veteran coach in the SWAC.

He joins the MVSU program following a successful 20-year career at rival Jackson State, where he served as associate head men's basketball coach for the Tigers. Strothers' responsibilities will include recruiting, scouting, managing the student-athlete academic program, supervising study hall, directing the off-season conditioning program and various administrative duties with the team.

"I am really pleased to be a part of MVSU as a member of the coaching staff," said Strothers, who helped lead JSU to three NCAA Tournament appearances. "I look forward to working closely with coach Payne to ensure we have the best and most sound basketball program in the SWAC. Coaching is my passion, something I live and breathe, and being part of this institution brings forth many exciting opportunities."

The Vicksburg, Miss. native has been recognized several times for his work, including being voted one of the best mid-major assistant coaches in NCAA Division I basketball by the collegeinsider.com. Then, in 2010, he was tabbed the SWAC Assistant Basketball Coach of the Year.

Strothers has recruited a plethora of talent including former NBA guard Trey Johnson, who starred at JSU and was named the SWAC MVP.

He graduated from Vicksburg High School and came to Jackson State as a basketball hopeful. Strothers was an All-County football player in high school, but had less than one year of basketball experience as he saw action in only two games his senior year.

He was a walk-on player when then-assistant coach Chris Giles (former Tigers associate head coach) discovered the package of tremendous potential Strothers possessed. By the time Strothers left Jackson State, he was a first-team All-SWAC forward who led Jackson State to a regular season conference title; a SWAC tournament title and a chance to play in the NCAA tournament play-in game against Coastal Carolina.

He was voted the team's Most Valuable Player his junior and senior seasons and garnered a SWAC Player-of-the-Week and Black Entertainment Television (BET) Player-of-the-Week honors during his senior campaign. His 17.4 points per game average during his senior year put him in the Jackson State 1,000 point Club as he finished his collegiate career with 1,251 total points.

Strothers graduated from Jackson State with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Sioux Falls franchise of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and played in the exhibition season for the South Dakota team before deciding to play overseas. Strothers started in the Holland Pro League for a season before playing in Hong Kong where he led his team to second place in division play, the team's best finish.

Strothers has a master's degree in Physical Education from Jackson State. He has two children, Eric II and Ericia.    

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Game Preview: Jackson State vs. Tennessee State

GAME INFO
When: Today, 6:07 p.m.
Where: Liberty Bowl, Memphis
TV: SportSouth
Radio: 95.5 FM
Last meeting: Tennessee State 26, Jackson State 16 (2013)
All-time series: TSU leads 26-20-2
THE SETUP
Jackson State (2-0, 0-0 SWAC) faces arguably its toughest opponent on the schedule to date.
Tennessee State (1-1, 0-0 OVC) is coming off an FCS playoff appearance and was named the HBCU National Champion.

But what seems to matter for today is momentum. JSU enters with a 2-0 record and confidence from a 59-0 blowout of small-school Virginia-Lynchburg. TSU is coming off a surprising 27-21 loss to Alabama State, and despite its 58-6 score against NAIA school Edward Waters on Aug. 30, TSU struggled offensively.

It's the final matchup for both teams before they open conference play next week.

Stopping the run
Jackson State defensive coordinator Derrick Burroughs described TSU's offensive line as a group that will "maul you." Although his front line may be outmatched in size, he hopes its speed will make up ground and stop TSU's running game.

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Week 3: HBCU Football Schedule

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
All Games Shown in Eastern Time Zone

MEAC
Florida A&M (Bye Week)
Bowie State (0-1) at Morgan State (0-2), 1 PM
Towson (0-2) at Delaware State (0-2), 2 PM
Morehouse (0-1) at Howard (0-2), 3:30 PM
Grambling State (0-2) at Bethune-Cookman (1-0), 4 PM
Charlotte (1-1) at North Carolina Central (1-1), 5 PM
Hampton (0-2) at Richmond (1-1), 6 PM
North Carolina A&T(1-1) at Elon (0-1), 6 PM
South Carolina State (1-1) at Coastal Carolina (2-0), 6 PM
Fort Valley State (0-1) at Savannah State (0-2), 6 PM
Norfolk State (0-2) at William and Mary, (1-1) 7 PM

OVC
Jackson State (2-0) vs. Tennessee State (1-1) at Memphis, 7 PM   (SportSouth)

SWAC
Louisiana at Alcorn State (1-1), 3 PM
Alabama A&M (1-1) at Alabama-Birmingham (1-1), 3:30 PM
Grambling State (0-2) at Bethune-Cookman (1-0). 4 PM
Mississippi Valley State (1-1) at Alabama State (1-1), 6 PM  WATCH LIVE
Texas Southern (2-0) vs. Central State (Ohio) (1-0) at Nassau, Bahamas, 6 PM
Prairie View A&M (0-1) at McNeese State (0-1), 7 PM
Jackson State (2-0) vs, Tennessee State (1-1), 7 PM
Northwestern State (0-2) at Southern (1-1), 7 PM  (Cox Sports)

CIAA
Chowan at Alderson Broaddus, 12 Noon
North Carolina Wesleyan at Lincoln (Pa.), 1 PM  Streaming Video
Charleston (W.V.) at Virginia Union, 1 PM
Bowie State at Morgan State, 1 PM
Wingate at Saint Augustine's, 1:30 PM
Kentucky State at Johnson C. Smith, 2 PM, Eddie C. McGirt Classic
Lenoir-Rhyne at Virginia State, 2 PM
Tusculum at Elizabeth City State, 4 PM
Livingstone at Paine 4 PM 2
Winston-Salem State at Valdosta State, 4 PM
Fayetteville State at UNC - Pembroke, 6 PM, Two Rivers Classic, Streaming Video 
Shaw at West Alabama, 7 PM

SIAC
Samford 52, Stillman 0  (Thursday) 
Albany State vs. Tuskegee at Phenix City, AL, 2 PM
Kentucky State at Johnson C. Smith, 2 PM
Lane at Clark-Atlanta, 2 PM
Morehouse vs. Howard, Nation's Classic. 3 PM
Paine vs. Livingston, 4 PM
Central State (Ohio) vs. Texas Southern, 4 PM, HBCUX Classic, Nassau, Bahamas
Fort Valley State at Savannah State, 6 PM
Miles vs. West Georgia, 7 PM

OTHER CONFERENCES
Concord at West Virginia State, 1 PM
Charleston W.V. at Virginia Union, 1 PM
Gannon at Cheyney, 1 PM
Edward Waters at Pikeville, 1:30 PM
Southwest Baptist at Lincoln (Mo.), 3 PM
Texas College at Lamar U., 7 PM
Langston at Truman State, 8 PM

Situations similar as undefeated Charlotte 49ers take on N.C. Central

DURHAM, North Carolina  --  One season ago, the Charlotte 49ers were 2-0 after beating a pair of over-matched opponents.

Then came N.C. Central. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's Eagles beat the 49ers 40-13 the following week, handing Charlotte its first loss in program history and giving the 49ers a taste of what Division I football really is like.

The scenario is similar this week. Charlotte has won its first two games --- against non-scholarship Campbell (33-9) and Division II Johnson C. Smith (56-0) --- with Saturday's game at N.C. Central (1-1) looming.

"We're a year older, our guys are another year more mature," 49ers coach Brad Lambert said Tuesday. "We were coming off two wins last year and playing our first full-scholarship (Football Championship Subdivision) team and were stepping up another level. That's no different this week."

There were plenty of lessons to be learned for the ..

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FCS Game of the Week: South Carolina State at Coastal Carolina

South Carolina State (1-1) at No. 5 Coastal Carolina (2-0)

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Series Record: Coastal Carolina leads, 3-0

Last Meeting: Coastal Carolina won, 27-20, last year

Television: Big South Network

What to Know: This is a classic matchup of offense versus defense. Coastal puts up points (31 in each of its first two wins; 41-point average last season) while South Carolina State has kept eight of its last 13 sub-FBS opponents under 10 points.

With Alex Glover (four tackles for loss), Javon Hargraves (four quarterback hurries) and talented but slumping defensive end Andrew Carter, SCSU features a highly productive defensive line. The secondary has been picked on, and Coastal quarterback Alex Ross is capable of doing the same.

The Bulldogs, two wins shy of giving coach Buddy Pough the 100th of his 13-year career at his alma mater, thrashed Benedict in their season opener before taking on similar punishment at Clemson last Saturday. Their offense still needs consistency out of its quarterbacks, Adrian Kollock and TeDarrius Wiley. The run game is a strength with Dondre Lewis-Freeman, Jalen Simmons and Justin Taylor.

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Georgia Regents University Men's Golf Joins MEAC As Associate Member

AUGUSTA, Georgia -- The GRU Augusta men's golf program joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as an associate member for men's golf, the MEAC announced Wednesday morning from their league headquarters in Norfolk, Va.

"We are really excited about our men's golf program joining the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as an associate member," Director of Athletics Clint Bryant said. "It has been increasingly more difficult to make it as a Division I Independent in recent years and the MEAC invite couldn't have come at a better time. Georgia Regents University Augusta is honored to be a member and we look forward to competing against the fine institutions that make up the MEAC."

Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC consists of historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Savannah State University and South Carolina State University.

The MEAC sponsors 16 Division I (FCS) sports with automatic qualifying bids for NCAA postseason competition in men's golf, baseball, bowling, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field,
softball, and volleyball.

GRU Augusta starts its second season under head coach Jack O'Keefe when they tee off at the Tar Heel Intercollegiate, hosted by the University of North Carolina, at UNC Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill, N.C.

"We are looking forward to being in an athletic conference," O'Keefe said. "It's a great opportunity for our team to step into the end of the year to compete for a conference championship and help us springboard in regional and NCAA play."

The UNC Finley Golf Course is a par-72, 7,242 yard course that will feature a three day, 54-hole tournament with 18 holes to be played Friday through Sunday. Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. each day off No. 1 and No. 10. Live scoring will be available on www.Golfstat.com and www.GoHeels.com.

The MEAC will host the 2014 Men's Golf Championship from April 25-27, 2014 at the Crosswinds Golf Club in Savannah, Ga.

COURTESY GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY JAGUARS MEDIA RELATIONS

Jackson State ready to end losing skid at Southern Heritage Classic

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  Jackson State plans to end its two-game losing streak in the Southern Heritage Classic. The two sets of Tigers clash on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Memphis' Liberty Bowl for the 25th time.

Tennessee State has a slight edge in the series, winning 13 of the 24 meetings. Jackson State, however, has won its first two games under first-year coach Harold Jackson and is considered the better team on paper.

Mississippi Valley State at Alabama State, 5 p.m.: Senior Patrick Ivy has regained his starting quarterback position after a few weeks of alternating with Charles Davis. With Ivy under center, Valley (1-1) has the best chance of winning its SWAC opener in the Hornets' on-campus, $62 million stadium that opened two years ago.

"He's done a pretty good job for us," Delta Devils coach Rick Comegy said. "He throws the deep ball for us and puts the ball on the money."

Louisiana College at Alcorn State, 2 p.m.: Alcorn (1-1) has the perfect opponent to recover from its loss at Southern Miss when Louisiana College invades Spinks-Casem Stadium.

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Fakler sets GCAC record, Jackson close to another

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana cross country standout Catherine Fakler set a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's record Tuesday when she was named GCAC Runner of the Week for the ninth time in her career.

XU's Kwame Jackson won his 11th career GCAC Runner of the Week award and needs two more to tie the men's career record.

Fakler, a senior from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, broke a tie with teammate Zahri Jackson and Spring Hill's Kate Imwalle for GCAC career weekly awards. Fakler matched the record a week ago. Saturday she won for the fourth time in her last five meets, and her 5,000-meter time of 18 minutes, 13.71 seconds at the Louisiana Army National Guard/ROTC Wolf Pack Invitational in Metairie, La., was the second fastest in Gold Nuggets history. Fakler set the record of 18:08.32 last year in a victory at the GCAC Championships.

Jackson, a senior from the Houston suburb of Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School, broke a 14-year-old XU men's record when he ran 5,000 meters in 15:30.90 in a second-place finish at the Wolf Pack meet. Farris Gransberry set the previous mark of 15:46.80 at the Tulane Invitational in 2000.

Like Fakler, Jackson has won a pair of GCAC weekly awards this season. Former teammate Matt Pieri holds the GCAC men's career record of 13 awards.

Xavier will compete Saturday at the Southern Miss Invitational at Pine Belt National Golf Course in Moselle, Miss. The men's race will begin at 8 a.m., followed by the women at 8:30. The length of both races will be 5K.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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Echebelem leads Xavier past Wiley in 4 sets

NEW ORLEANS -- Chinedu Echebelem, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, had a season-high 19 kills and a career-best 28 digs Tuesday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 29-27, 25-22, 23-25, 25-17 women's volleyball victory against Wiley.

The Gold Nuggets (3-2) have won three straight and completed a two-match season sweep of the Lady Wildcats (4-9).

Darian Harris had 31 digs, the most in a match by a Xavier player since the program resumed in 2010. Claudia Haywood had 10 kills, Jodi Hill nine and Jada Broussard a career-high seven for the Gold Nuggets. Kayla Jones had 13 digs, Franziska Pirkl had a season-high-tying 50 assists, and Haywood had a season-high six blocks.

Rebecca Moustapha had 14 kills and AnJonee Mathis nine for Wiley, and Diana Castaneda had 24 digs.

Xavier rallied from a 24-22 first-set deficit and scored the final three points on kills by Echebelem and Haywood and blocks by Pirkl and Haywood. The Gold Nuggets scored the final six points of the second set and clinched on Pirkl's kill.

CeCe Williams, limited to one kill and a minus-.153 hitting percentage in the first three sets, had five kills and hit .417 to lead the Nuggets in the deciding set.

Echebelem's kills and Harris' digs also are Convocation Center records. This is Xavier's second volleyball season in the facility, which replaced The Barn.

Echebelem's kill total was one less than her career high. Her previous best in digs was 22.

Xavier outhit Wiley .146 to .053 -- .326 to .083 in the final set -- and had advantages of 57-44 in kills, 98-90 in digs and 8-6 in blocks.

The victory was Xavier's 42nd in a row and its third this season against HBCUs.

It was Wiley's second match of the day. The Lady Wildcats won 25-16, 25-18, 25-18 at SUNO.

Xavier will visit Tougaloo at 5 p.m. Monday and play its next home match at noon on Sept. 20 against Philander Smith. Both opponents are GCAC members.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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UAB looking to avoid letdown against Alabama A&M

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - UAB didn't lack for motivation as it faced Mississippi State last Saturday. The Blazers were taking on an SEC opponent on its field with the thought of silencing the chorus of cowbells that rang every time the Bulldogs made a play.

This week, coach Bill Clark's team will be back in the friendly confines of Legion Field, hosting Alabama A&M. And, the coach and players said, the approach can be no different.

"We're going to treat them like any other opponent," junior right guard Cameron Blankenship said. "We're going to perform just like we always do. We don't take any opponent lightly."

That said, the offensive lineman said the Blazers are going to have to create some of their own fire against a team of FCS Bulldogs that doesn't generate the fan excitement of the one they faced last week in Mississippi.



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Southern University looking for better result in this year's game against Northwestern State

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern University started in the hole against Northwestern State University in 2013 before the Jaguars ever stepped foot in Natchitoches. Jaguars' linebacker Anthony Balancier, a senior last season, made some disparaging comments early in the week about the Demons that, in the age of social media, spread quickly to Northwestern's campus.

It was bulletin board material that had Northwestern fired up and ready to go when the game began.

The Demons jumped to a 31-0 lead and went on to a 55-14 lead in which they dominated the Jaguars in every category. Afterward, Demon players mentioned the comments as fuel for their fire.

Southern and Northwestern get together again this week, this time in Baton Rouge and A.W. Mumford Stadium on Saturday at 6 p.m. So you'd think Jaguars coach Dawson Odums would tell his squad mum's the word this week.

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Another week, another secondary shakeup for ASU

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State will play its third game of the season Saturday with its third different lineup in the secondary.

This time, it's because of a sprained foot suffered by safety Nagee Bright, which will push Ka'Ra Stewart back into a starting role against Mississippi Valley State.

Stewart was the starter in the season opener before a shakeup of the secondary moved Bright from cornerback to safety, benching Stewart in the process.

But after giving up 396 passing yards to Sam Houston State and 340 to Tennessee State, Hornets coach Reggie Barlow knows what to expect Saturday from the football program that made Willie Totten and Jerry Rice household names.

"Think about Mississippi Valley and what they've always been," Barlow said. "That's been their game. They're going to throw it. That's something we have to be ready for. We knew Tennessee State wanted to run the ball, and it's kind of like a gift and a curse. Do we really want to stop the run because now we're going to make them pass.

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North Carolina A&T State University Blue & Gold Marching Machine 9/6/14

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Saint Augustine's University Releases Costa as Head Football Coach

PHOTO COURTESY: SAU ATHLETICS

RALEIGH, North Carolina  -- Michael Costa has been released as Head Football Coach at Saint Augustine's University effective September 8, 2014. Tremayne Henry has also been relieved of his duties as Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator at the University.

Costa was in his 13th season as head coach with a 39-63 record at Saint Augustine's University.

"We appreciate what Coach Costa has done for the team and Saint Augustine's University," Athletic Director George Williams said. "At this time, we feel it's best to go in another direction."

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Michael Morand has been elevated to Interim Head Football Coach. He has over 14 years of coaching experience on the professional and collegiate levels.

Morand was selected for the NCAA Expert Coaches Forum in Orlando, Fla., in 2009. The Forum teaches upcoming coaches how to become effectiv
e Head Football Coaches. Morand also participated in an internship with the NFL Houston Texans in 2009 and worked closely with Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan. The Texans ranked fourth in total offense and first in passing offense in the NFL that season.

In 2008, Morand was selected to attend the NCAA Coaches Academy in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Academy is developed to train minorities for head coaching positions. He is also a member of the American Football Coaches Association, in which he serves on the AFCA committee for Professional Development.

Before coming to Saint Augustine's University, Morand worked in the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles training camp as an intern in the scouting department during the summer of 2014. In 2013, he was the defensive coach for the Omaha Beef of the Championship Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL), where he helped guide the team to the playoffs.

An Atlanta, Ga. native, Morand was the Defensive Quality Control Coach/Linebacker Coach in 2012 and the Offensive Quality Control/ Assistant Wide Receiver Coach in 2011 for the Omaha Nighthawks in the United Football League. He was the co-Offensive coordinator, Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers Coach at North Carolina A&T State University during the 2009-2010 season. He also served as the Director of Football Operations at A&T.

During his time at North Carolina A&T, Morand guided one of the top rushing attacks in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Before arriving at A&T, Morand served as the Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers Coach at Virginia State University in 2007 and 2008.

Under his direction in the 2007 season, the Trojans ranked second in scoring offense, total offense, red zone offense, and passing efficiency, and first in fourth down conversions in the CIAA. In the 2008 season, Morand coached the top-ranked running back and top-ranked wide receiver in the CIAA. Both players were ranked in the top 10 of their respective categories in NCAA Division II. During his two years as offensive coordinator, Morand produced six All-CIAA players, one third-team Don Hansen All-American and one CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Prior to his stint at Virginia State, Morand served as Running Backs Coach at Wingate University from 2004-2006. During his tenure at Wingate, Morand helped guide the team to a 21-11 record and several national Top 25 rankings.

In 2003, Morand helped start the Barber-Scotia College football program. He was the Assistant Head Football Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator for the team. In 2002, Morand was the Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers Coach at Livingstone College in addition to serving as Recruiting Coordinator and Strength and Conditioning Coach. He coached two players to All-CIAA honors that season.

In 2001, Morand was at the University of West Georgia where he coached Harlon Hill candidate running back Nick Price. Morand also gained valuable experience coaching the complex West Coast Offense that season as the team compiled an 8-3 overall record.

During his collegiate playing days, Morand was the quarterback at Florida A&M University from 1996-1999. He was coached by the legendary Billy Joe, the fourth winningest NCAA Division I football head coach. With Morand at quarterback, Florida A&M won the MEAC Championship in 1996, the Co-MEAC Championship in 1998 and the Black College National Championship in 1998. The Rattlers participated in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs each year during Morand's career. In high school, Morand helped Southwest DeKalb High School win the Georgia state championship and earn a No. 11 national ranking in the USA Today poll.

Morand received a Bachelor of Science Degree at Florida A&M University and a Master of Science in Specialization Sports Management at Nova Southeastern University. Morand is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program for Educational Leadership at Nova Southeastern University.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hotels, tickets seal CIAA deal

Reduced rates part of long-term pact with city

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The CIAA is making its home and basketball tournament long-term Charlotte residents.

The league, Charlotte Hornets and Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority officials signed off on the deal at a Wednesday press conference at Time Warner Cable Arena, where the championship will be contested through 2020. Included in the pact is $100,000 to relocate the CIAA’s offices from Hampton, Va., in 2016, reduced rates for downtown hotel rooms and tournament tickets. On the basketball side, early-round games will be shifted to Bojangles Coliseum starting in 2017, which increases scheduling flexibility for the NBA Hornets.

Because the CIAA tournament has been here so long, it seems like this is where it should be in perpetuity,” Mecklenburg County commissioners Chair Trevor Fuller said. “We’ll settle for six years.”

Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams conceded the reduction of hotel rates were key to the deal. Fans consistently groused Center City hotel prices were too expensive, and the league sought concessions, which should top out around $250 per night during tournament week. The agreement gives the league control of 3,000 hotel rooms for the week.




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CIAA to move early games to Bojangles’ Coliseum in 2017

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  In a one-on-one battle against costs, the CIAA will trade some uptown exposure for a smaller price tag in its future basketball tournaments.

The conference, in a cost-cutting move, announced Wednesday that early round games in its men’s and women’s basketball tournament will be played at Bojangles’ Coliseum instead of Time Warner Cable Arena, starting in 2017.

The late-round games – including the championship – will stay uptown.

The CIAA and the city have said that uptown remains a major draw for the tournament because fans can watch games and go to bars and restaurants without getting in their cars.

But moving early games to the older, smaller venue on Independence Boulevard will save money, which is a high priority for the collection of historically black colleges and universities.

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Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/09/03/5147537/ciaa-to-move-early-games-to-bojangles.html#.VA5DtfldU_g#storylink=cpy

Albany State vows to clean things up

Rams meet Tuskegee Saturday in Phenix City, Ala., in White Water Classic

ALBANY, Georgia -- Jessie Atkins stood outside the Albany State University dressing room, still in somewhat disbelief after Valdosta State’s 38-10 victory over the Rams Saturday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

It wasn’t so much about the lopsided score that Atkins was shaking his head over. It was more about the turnovers Albany State committed - five total, including four fumbles. Three of the turnovers led directly to 21 Valdosta State points.

None were more painful than on the opening possession of the second half. Trailing 17-0, the Rams faced second-and-9 from its 24, only to cough the ball up. It was the Rams’ third fumble at the time, and the Blazers turned the fumble recovery into a touchdown two plays later and built an insurmountable lead.

Atkins knows the Rams are going to have a hard time winning if they can’t corral the turnovers.

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UD Hens top DSU Hornets in rare Sunday clash

NEWARK, Delaware -- The day may have been unique. The outcome was quite familiar.

Delaware continued its domination of Delaware State, winning a rare Sunday college football matchup 27-9 at sun-drenched Delaware Stadium in front of more than 5,000 fans.

Sophomore tailback Jalen Randolph rushed for 118 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns and earned the Nate Beasley Award as game MVP.

PHOTO GALLERY: UD 27, DSU 9

UD FOOTBALL: Quick Hits

Quarterback Trent Hurley completed 17 of 21 passes for 172 yards for Delaware, with Michael Johnson's seven catches covering 67 yards. Johnson also became Delaware's career leader in kickoff returns and yardage.

The Blue Hens built a 20-3 halftime lead, then extended that when Randolph rumbled 46 yards for a touchdown on Delaware's third play of the second half. They enjoyed a 450-325 final edge in total yards.

Malcolm Williams' 14-yard run with 5:16 left accounted for the Hornets' lone touchdown. Williams had 100 yards on 18 carries.

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Five Southern football players likely to miss entire season

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana --  Five Southern players, including preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference guard Anthony Mosley, are likely to miss the season because they have not been academically certified.

Athletic Director William Broussard confirmed the status of the players prior to Southern’s 56-14 victory in its home opener against Central Methodist on Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Three other starters — LB Daniel Brown, S Renaldo Thomas and WR Nico Talbert — as well as reserve LB Detrane Lindsey are also out for the season, “as of right now,” Broussard said. DB Jaleel Richardson was held out for a second straight game but could be reinstated, Broussard said.

Two other players who were withheld from the 45-6 loss at Louisiana-Lafayette in the season opener last week because they had not been certified — RB Malcolm Crockett and OL Terrell Lee — were reinstated for Saturday’s game. Crockett rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown, and Lee entered the game at center in the first quarter after Brandon Thibodeaux was injured.



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Southern runs over Central Methodist 56-14

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- The first two weeks of Southern’s football season have featured a constantly changing cast of characters.

Eight Jaguars missed the season-opening 45-6 loss at Louisiana-Lafayette last week because they weren’t certified academically. Two of them — running back Malcolm Crockett and offensive lineman Terrell Lee — were found qualified for the home opener Saturday night, and Crockett introduced himself to the A.W. Mumford Stadium crowd by rushing for 108 yards and a touchdown in a 56-14 victory against Central Methodist.

Lee was thrust into the game unexpectedly when center Brandon Thibodeaux was injured in the first quarter, the latest in a series of developments that led to a rearranging of the offensive line. The changes didn’t seem harmful against the outmanned Eagles as the Jaguars gained 651 yards, including 395 on the ground.

“We’re an explosive offense,” Southern coach Dawson Odums said. “You’ve got to pick your poison against us, but it all starts with the running game. I don’t know too many teams that rush for 300 yards and lose.”



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Jackson shatters record; Fakler, XU Nuggets champs again

METAIRIE, Louisiana — Xavier University of Louisiana's Kwame Jackson broke a 14-year-old school record, and Catherine Fakler and her teammates extended their winning streaks at the Louisiana Army National Guard/ROTC Wolf Pack Invitational cross country meet on Saturday at Lafreniere Park.

Jackson ran 5,000 meters in 15 minutes, 30.90 seconds to break the XU men's mark of 15:46.80 set by Farris Gransberry in 2000. Jackson finished second in the race, and teammate Brent Kitto was fourth in 15:48.14. Kitto's time is the Gold Rush's second fastest of the last 12 seasons.

It's the first time that Jackson — a two-time Gulf Coast Athletic Conference individual champion and All-Louisiana selection — has held one of the Gold Rush's timing records.

"Glad to get that weight off my shoulders," said Jackson, a senior from the Houston suburb of Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School. "My teammates had been pushing me all week to try and break the record. This is a victory for all of us."

Fakler, the 2013 GCAC women's champion and Louisiana Runner of the Year, won her 5K race in 18:13.71, the second-fastest time in Gold Nuggets history. Fakler won by less than a second over Southeastern Louisiana freshman Celia Zaeringer. Fakler has won four of her last five cross country races dating to Sept. 21, 2013.

"I'm a morning person, so this was good for me," said Fakler — from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School — of the 7:50 a.m. start. "I woke up three hours before the race, ate a Clif Bar and a banana, went back to sleep, then woke up again to go to the meet. It felt nice out there. It was a good run."

The Gold Nuggets had five of the top seven finishers and won the women's division with 23 points. Southeastern Louisiana, an NCAA Division I member, was second with 40 points. It's the first time in the history of Xavier's women's program, which dates to 1994, that the Gold Nuggets opened the season with consecutive victories. The team championship is the 18th in Joseph Moses' 10 seasons as coach of the Nuggets.

The Gold Nuggets' other finishers were Briana Simms (fourth place, 19:40.29), Ashley Flournoy (fifth, 20:54.59), Hannah Finnegan (sixth, 20:55.86), Hali Yarmush (seventh, 21:55.69), Carlee Calais (13th, 22:26.42) and Zahri Jackson (14th, 22:35.46). Simms' time is No. 14 on the Nuggets' all-time list.

The Gold Rush did not qualify for team scoring. Christopher August was ninth in 16:13.00 — the Gold Rush's fourth-fastest 5K of the last 12 seasons — and Emmanuel Detiege was 22nd in 17:57.29.

SLU's Harry Wiggins won the men's race in 15:13.68 and led the Lions to the team title with 15 points.

Xavier will compete at the Southern Miss Invitational at Pine Belt National Golf Course in Moselle, Miss., next Saturday. The men's race will begin at 8 a.m., followed by the women at 8:30. Distance for both will be 5K.

NOTES: The Gold Nuggets won the team title of this meet for the second time in three years . . . Zahri Jackson, Kwame's younger sister, competed in cross country for the first time since 2012, the year she won her second consecutive GCAC individual title.

Results:  Men    Women
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Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold
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TSU's Reed Coach's Show to Air Mondays on 94.9

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The Tennessee State athletic department has announced that the Rod Reed Coach’s Show will air every Monday night on local radio 94.9 The Game 2.

The show will start at 7 p.m. CT and will be hosted by Greg Pogue, who many Tiger fans will remember from Reed’s weekly morning call-in segment when Pogue was on 102.5 The Game.

Segments in the show will include a recap of last week’s game, a discussion about a famous event in TSU history, a player spotlight and a preview of that Saturday’s upcoming game.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION