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South Carolina State will test FAMU's defense

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- It's a small sample size against a statistically weak offense, but Florida A&M's defense showed flashes of dominance in its first game under interim head coach Corey Fuller.

Eight different players recorded tackles behind the line of scrimmage against Norfolk State. The defense also kept both of the Spartans' quarterbacks under duress and picked up six sacks.

Fuller said the defense was playing with more "personality" against the Spartans. He added that to him, the unit picked up more "big hits" on Saturday than it did over the last two seasons.

"You'll see the defense having a lot of fun and playing with a whole lot of energy," Fuller said.

"I played football like that. If you go anywhere and ask any of the coaches I've played for – I played with great passion. We've got to carry that on to this week right here. Coming off a tough loss, it's harder to get up.

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NCAA: Arkansas Pine Bluff improperly certified student-athletes

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Over five academic years, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff failed to monitor and control the administration of its athletics program, according to a decision issued by a Division I Committee on Infractions panel. The university wrongly certified 124 student-athletes for competition, including nine student-athletes that competed before the NCAA Eligibility Center certified their amateur status. The university learned of deficiencies in its eligibility certification process in 2009, but failed to correct the deficiencies, which allowed ineligible student-athletes to continue to compete until 2012.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF, PUBLIC INFRACTIONS DECISION
NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Penalties include five years of probation; a postseason ban for the football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball teams; a vacation of all wins in which ineligible student-athletes participated; and scholarship reductions for 11 of the university’s teams.

This case was resolved through the summary disposition process, a cooperative effort where the involved parties collectively submit the case to the Committee on Infractions in written form. The NCAA enforcement staff, university and involved individuals must agree to the facts of the case in order for this process to be utilized instead of having a formal hearing. An expedited penalty hearing was held because the university did not agree to all of the proposed penalties.

The university did not correctly apply progress-toward-degree, degree credit hour, non qualifier status and two-year transfer requirements when certifying student-athletes as eligible for competition. During the five years, 124 student-athletes practiced, competed or received athletics aid while ineligible, and a majority also received impermissible travel expenses.

From 2007-08 through 2009-10, 19 student-athletes from various teams competed when they did not appear on the official squad lists, contrary to NCAA rules. During the same time period, the university provided books to 15 student-athletes who did not have a book scholarship..

The university did not provide adequate NCAA rules education and training to staff members responsible for certifying student-athlete eligibility. The lack of education and training contributed to the improper eligibility certifications and resulted in ineligible student-athletes participating in hundreds of contests. It also did not establish a proper system to ensure compliance with NCAA eligibility rules. Because of this and the full scope of the violations, the university lacked institutional control and failed to monitor the administration of its athletics program.

Penalties and corrective measures include:

Public reprimand and censure.
Five years of probation from November 5, 2014 through November 4, 2019.

A 2014-15 postseason ban for the football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball teams.
A vacation of all wins in which ineligible student-athletes competed during the 2007-08 through 2011-12. The public report contains further details on the vacation.

A reduction in scholarships for baseball; women’s and men’s track and field; softball; women’s soccer; men’s golf; women’s volleyball; men’s and women’s basketball; women’s tennis; and football. The public report contains more details on the reductions.

A comprehensive compliance review by an outside agency with athletics compliance expertise.
Members of the Committee on Infractions are drawn from NCAA membership and members of the public. The members of the panel who reviewed this case are Greg Christopher, chief hearing officer and athletics director at Xavier University; Thomas Hill, senior vice president for student affairs at Iowa State University; Joel Maturi, former University of Minnesota athletics director; Jim O’Fallon, law professor and faculty athletics representative at the University of Oregon; and Greg Sankey, executive associate commissioner and chief operating officer for the Southeastern Conference.

COURTESY NCAA.ORG

Alabama A&M falls to top-seeded Howard in first round of SWAC women's soccer tournament

HOWARD UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM
2014 SWAC REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS
ROSTER
PHOTO COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Howard University showed in today's match why it was the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season champion and top seed in this weekend's SWAC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament.

The Lady Bison beat a young Alabama A&M squad 6-0 behind three goals from Nia Walcott, including one penalty kick. It was opening match in the tournament which runs through Sunday at John Hunt Park.

For the Lady Bulldogs, it was the final game for lone senior Gabby Huertas, the All-SWAC second-team midfielder. Huertas, who finished the season with 4 goals and 6 assists for a team-high 14 points, played her usual scrappy, no-holds-barred game.

Late in the game, Head Coach Frank Davies moved her to forward, hoping she would give a spark and possibly a goal in the final minutes.

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TONIGHT: ON ESPN3 -- Grambling takes 6-game win streak to Mississippi Valley

GAME TIME: 7:30 PM ET, LIVE ON ESPN3

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- Grambling has had plenty to celebrate this season after wrapping up its sixth straight win this past week with a 35-7 win at Texas Southern.

A year ago, though, the Tigers only did one victory dance all season when they beat Mississippi Valley State 47-40 in the aftermath of two interim head coaches, a player boycott and a forfeit.

Those program blunders seem far in the distance, though, as the G-Men get ready for a Thursday night game at none other than Mississippi Valley State when two first-year head coaches square off in SWAC action. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

“They are a very aggressive bunch,” Grambling head coach Broderick Fobbs said. “They have got a really good football coach who was at Jackson State last year in Rick Comegy, so we know what we are going to get. We are going to get a really tough opponent.”

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Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Motivated QB Brihm ready for B-CU’s Thursday night football

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Every Sunday and Monday, Bethune-Cookman’s Larry Brihm takes a late-night walk and listens to motivational speeches.

This week was a short one for Brihm and the 20th-ranked Wildcats, who play at Norfolk State at 7:30 Thursday night in an ESPNU game.

B-CU will get national TV exposure for the first time this season in what is essentially a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference elimination game. B-CU (7-2) and Norfolk State (4-5) are two of five teams tied for first place with 4-1 conference records. After this weekend, there will be no more than three teams sharing the lead.

“To have this many teams tied is kind of interesting but also kind of good, because it allows everyone to keep a focus on our league, and it shows how much our league has improved,” B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said.

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Xavier teams up with adidas in multi-year agreement

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's athletics department announced Wednesday it has entered into an exclusive apparel and shoe agreement with adidas.

The three-year agreement will outfit all of Xavier's varsity athletics programs in adidas apparel and footwear, provide the university substantial savings on game uniforms, practice apparel and shoes, and bring consistency to color, design and logo usage on Xavier’s uniforms and apparel.

The agreement with adidas marks the first time all of Xavier’s varsity athletics programs — men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, tennis and track and field, plus women's volleyball — have been included in an all-encompassing apparel agreement. Use of a single vendor for all programs will ensure consistency in image branding, particularly uniform and apparel colors and design elements, throughout the athletics department.

"We are excited to bring all of our teams under one umbrella and have better consistency with our branding; as well as provide some cost savings and some product enhancements for our student-athletes," said Jason Horn, XU's director of athletics and recreation. "We feel this is something the entire Xavier community will enjoy as we align with a global partner and look to get more Xavier apparel in the marketplace."

"We are proud to be working with Xavier and tickled to have them as part of the adidas family," said Paul Boudreaux, whose Opelousas, La.-based Boudreaux Athletics serves as XU's primary adidas supplier. "The American Football Coaches Association has rated adidas as No. 1 for quality. We believe our combination of quality, prices and service is the best. We are confident that adidas will serve Xavier well."

Xavier is a member of the NAIA and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

Norfolk State Spartans Welcome B-CU, ESPNU to Dick Price Stadium for 1st Place Clash

Game Notes | Watch Live | Live Stats | Live Audio | Twitter Updates |

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Two teams involved in a five-way tie for first place in the MEAC meet Thursday on national television when Norfolk State hosts No. 20/18 Bethune-Cookman for Educators Appreciation Night sponsored by The Virginia Lottery. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU, with a start time of 7:30 p.m. at Dick Price Stadium.

NSU and Bethune-Cookman both enter the game with 4-1 MEAC records. North Carolina A&T, Morgan State and South Carolina State are all also 4-1 entering the season's final three games.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
NSU (4-5 overall, 4-1 MEAC) won for the fourth time in its last five games and remained tied for first place in the MEAC with a dramatic 12-10 win at Florida A&M last Saturday. The Spartan defense registered two goal-line stands, one in the game's final minute, to preserve the win. Florida A&M's Damien Fleming tried to score on a quarterback sneak from the Spartans' 1-yard line in the game's final 15 seconds but was stopped short of the goal line by NSU's defensive line. FAMU, which had used all of its timeouts, could not get off another play before time expired.

Malik Stokes threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Isaac White with 6:20 left in the fourth quarter to give NSU a 12-10 lead. The play was set up by NSU linebacker Deon King, who forced and recovered a fumble on the Rattlers' 5-yard line.

NSU allowed an opposing offense to score one touchdown or less for the fourth straight game. The Spartans are third in the nation and second behind Bethune-Cookman among conference teams in total defense, allowing 254 yards per game. The linebacker quartet of King, Marcell Coke, Lynden Trail and Lamar Neal has been a big reason for that success, combining for 271 tackles, 24.5 for loss.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Bethune-Cookman (7-2, 4-1 MEAC) bounced back from its first conference loss with a 34-20 home victory over North Carolina Central last Saturday in Daytona Beach, Fla. Anthony Jordan scored three rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to help the Wildcats rally from a 20-13 deficit.

Michael D. Jones rushed for 117 yards and B-CU quarterback Larry Brihm ran for 104 for the Wildcats, who amassed 334 yards on the ground. Brihm and Jones also rushed for one touchdown apiece. The Eagles, meanwhile, could only manage 200 total yards against the Wildcats' defense, which leads the MEAC in fewest yards allowed (243.7).

Jordan has rushed for nine touchdowns this year for B-CU, which ranks third in the conference in rushing offense (194.8). Quarterback Quentin Williams, who has split time this year with Brihm, has passed for 1,072 yards. Jhomo Gordon is B-CU's top receiver, with 376 receiving yards and four TDs.

Defensive linemen LeBranden Richardson and Erik Williams have combined for 11 sacks to spearhead the stingy Wildcats' defense.

NOTE TO FANS
Due to classes and other University activities on Thursday, there will be no tailgating allowed for this game. On-campus parking will be very limited. A shuttle service from the Marie V. McDemmond Center will be available beginning at 6 p.m. Reserved parking will be available for President's guests only. All other campus parking is based on availability.

THE SERIES
• This will be the 25th all-time meeting between NSU and B-CU. The Wildcats lead the series, 16-8.
• NSU is 4-13 against the Wildcats since moving to Division I, a record which includes last season's 27-24 Spartan victory in Daytona Beach.

STANDINGS WATCHThe final month of the MEAC season figures to be a wild one, as there are no teams remaining with unbeaten conference records following Bethune-Cookman's 20-14 loss at South Carolina State on Oct. 25. There are five teams with one MEAC loss, including NSU. The Spartans, Bethune-Cookman, N.C. A&T, Morgan State and S.C. State are all 3-1.

Making matters more confusing is that N.C. A&T does not play NSU or B-CU. B-CU also does not play Morgan State.

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Morgan State-North Carolina A&T on Saturday could determine MEAC frontrunner

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Two games in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this week pit one league leader against another..

On Thursday, No. 20 Bethune-Cookman (7-2, 4-1) will visit Norfolk State (4-5 overall and 4-1 in the league). Two days later, Morgan State (5-4, 4-1) will tangle with North Carolina A&T (7-2, 4-1).

Both games – along with South Carolina State (6-3, 4-1) playing host to Florida A&M (2-7, 2-3) on Saturday – will go a long way toward sifting out the contenders from pretenders, and the significance of Saturday’s game is not lost on Bears first-year coach Lee Hull.

“It’s a very important game,” he said Tuesday during his weekly conference call organized by the MEAC. “Obviously, if we want to win the MEAC – which is our goal – North Carolina A&T right now is leading. They’re 7-2 and a very good football team. This is a very important game just like ...

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Rush to sponsor Warm Hands, Warm Hearts on Nov. 11

NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana men’s basketball program once again will demonstrate its support of the local community with its newly established Warm Hands, Warm Hearts program.

With winter quickly approaching, Warm Hands, Warm Hearts is designed to provide warm clothing to the homeless. At the Xavier-Loyola men's basketball game on Nov. 11 (next Tuesday) at XU's Convocation Center, fans can donate scarves, hats and gloves in exchange for free admission. Tip-off will be 7 p.m.

"Come out and cheer for the Gold Rush against Loyola while warming the hearts of fellow citizens in need," XU coach Dannton Jackson said.

Xavier will play twice at home before then: 6 p.m. Thursday against Albany State and 7 p.m. Saturday against Miles. The Gold Rush are 3-0 and ranked 13th in NAIA Division I.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

Tennessee StateTigers: Remembering Elbert Drungo, Jr.

COLUMBUS, Mississippi -- George Irby always knew Elbert Drungo Jr. could make an impact without saying a word.

Growing up in the same neighborhood in Columbus, Irby watched as Drungo Jr. matured into a 6-foot-4, 230-pound young man who earned the nickname "Hog" because he was so big and strong.

"He was kind of a legend in the neighborhood," Irby said.

Drungo Jr. used his teenage physical stature to his advantage to earn a job on a coal truck, which added to his reputation. That job was better than any training in a weight room Drungo Jr. could have gotten because it prepared him for the "work" he would put in Friday nights for the R.E. Hunt High School football team in Columbus.

Irby, a wide receiver on those Hunt High teams, was glad Drungo Jr. was a running back on his team so he didn't have to try to bring him down.

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Xavier's Hill, Goode selected GCAC Players of the Week

Jodi Hill

Anthony Goode

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Jodi Hill and Anthony Goode are Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Players of the Week for Oct. 27-Nov. 2.

Hill, a 5-foot-9 junior middle blocker from Prairieville, La., and a graduate of Dutchtown High School, won the women's volleyball award. Goode, a 6-foot senior guard from Baltimore, Md., and a graduate of Milford Mill Academy, is the inaugural winner in men's basketball for 2014-15.

Hill hit .480 during a 3-0 week with only two attack errors and helped Xavier clinch its fourth consecutive GCAC regular-season championship. Hill hit a season-best .600 with nine kills and two blocks at Edward Waters, then had five kills, three blocks and an ace in a home sweep of GCAC runner-up SUNO. She was part of a defensive effort which limited SUNO to a hitting percentage of .089. SUNO entered the match ranked 13th in the NAIA with a .253 hitting percentage and was hitting .326 in GCAC matches.

Hill capped her week by hitting .500 at Philander Smith with a match-high 12 kills.

Goode led Xavier in scoring in season-opening victories against Belhaven (20 points) and Carver (25). His points are the most by a Gold Rush player in the first two games of a season in the last 12 years. Against Carver, Goode matched his career scoring high and grabbed a career-best eight rebounds. He shot 60.9 percent from the floor, 50 percent from 3-point range and 86.7 percent from the line during the week.

This is Goode's second GCAC weekly award; he won in February last season.

Both XU teams will play Thursday. The Gold Nuggets (17-5, 13-0) will visit city and GCAC rival Dillard at 7 p.m. to close their regular season, and the Gold Rush — 3-0 and ranked 13th in the NAIA — will play NCAA Division II's Albany State at 6 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

If you love sports, Alabama A&M is the place this weekend

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- If you're a sports fan, then Alabama A&M is the place to be this weekend.

We've got SWAC Tournament soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball and it's all capped by a key SWAC East Division football showdown with a salute to our military.

The women's soccer team kicks off the SWAC tournament Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at John Hunt Park in Huntsville. The Lady Bulldogs take on Howard University in the first-round match. A&M fell to the Lady Bison 1-0 a couple of weeks ago.

Also Thursday, the Lady Bulldogs host in-state rival Alabama State in volleyball. The 7 p.m. match is at Elmore Gym and will be carried on the SWAC Digital Network. There is no charge for admission.

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Gold Rush are 3-0 after beating Belhaven again

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Morris Wright scored 17 points, and RJ Daniels and Jarvis Thibodeaux produced double-doubles to lead NAIA No. 13 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 78-55 men's basketball victory against Belhaven.

The Gold Rush (3-0) defeated the Blazers (0-2) for the second time in six days.

Wright, an All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference guard as a sophomore last season, and Anthony Goode scored 11 points apiece to help Xavier extend a 38-28 halftime advantage. Thibodeaux's basket with 35 seconds remaining closed the scoring and gave Xavier its biggest lead.

Wright made all seven of his free-throw attempts and had four assists, a block, three steals and no turnovers in 33 minutes.

Daniels produced 12 points and 10 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double -- he had none in his previous two XU seasons -- and Thibodeaux had 10 points and a career-best 12 rebounds for his first XU double-double.

Goode scored 16 points and made two of Xavier's four 3-pointers. Reserve guards Troy Salvant and Gary Smith had seven points apiece.

Jordan Bedford, with 18 points, was Belhaven's lone double-figure scorer. Bedford made 5-of-6 3-pointers and is 11-of-17 from long range through two games.

Xavier trailed 8-2 through the first 3 1/2 minutes, then took the lead for good with a 21-4 run. Wright's basket at 12:52 put the Gold Rush ahead to stay, 10-8, and Goode and Smith capped the run with 3-pointers for a 23-12 lead at 9:17.

Xavier outshot the Blazers 44.1 to 40 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 36-26. Xavier committed a season-low 10 turnovers and gained 19 for its largest turnover margin in nearly two years.

The winning margin is the Gold Rush's fifth largest in the series, which Xavier leads 49-13.

This was the lone road game in Xavier's first nine contests. The Gold Rush will play NCAA Division II's Albany State at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Convocation Center.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

Monday, November 3, 2014

Loyola sweeps XU to end Nuggets' 6-match win streak

NEW ORLEANS -- Lauren Brand had 11 kills and hit .400 Monday to lead Loyola to a 25-15, 25-21, 25-22 women's volleyball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana at The Den.

The Wolf Pack (12-17) gained a two-match season split with the Gold Nuggets (17-5) and snapped Xavier's six-match win streak.

CeCe Williams had nine kills and 10 digs for Xavier. Claudia Haywood had seven kills, Chinedu Echebelem had six kills and 11 digs, and Darian Harris had 13 digs.

Wren Overesch and Eva Allen had eight kills apiece for Loyola, and setter Daniela Lead had 25 assists, 10 digs and two blocks.

Xavier scored the first two points of the match, then the Wolf Pack won 13 of the next 14 points and closed the set on an Overesch kill. Xavier rallied from an 11-4 second-set deficit to a tie at 19 before two Overesch kills and three XU errors gave the Wolf Pack a two-set lead.

Loyola rallied from 14-9 and 19-15 deficits in the final set and closed the match with a 6-1 run.

Loyola outhit Xavier .248 to .151 and had advantages of 39-32 in kills and 4-2 in aces. The Gold Nuggets committed 40 errors, 13 more than the Wolf Pack.

Xavier will conclude its regular season with a 7 p.m. match at city and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference rival Dillard. The Gold Nuggets, who clinched the GCAC regular-season title on Saturday, will attempt to finish unbeaten in conference for the fourth consecutive year.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS