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TU Golden Tigers Clinch 2014 SIAC Football Championship

COURTESY: THE SIAC

MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- The Tuskegee University Golden Tigers earned the 2014 SIAC Football Championship in a 47-41 nail-biter victory over the Golden Rams of Albany State University in Montgomery, Alabama.

The game started with Albany State's Adrian Alexander returning the opening kickoff 98-yards for a touchdown. Zachary Gayden's point after attempt was good. Down 7-0, Tuskegee rallied back with an 18-yard rush by Hoderick Lowe on 3^rd and 16. Trevor Wylie's point after was good to tie the game 7-7. On the next possession, Albany State was forced to punt after they were unable to convert on a 3^rd and 8 situation.

On this possession, Lowe rushed for a 56-yard touchdown, Wylie landed the PAT to take Tuskegee up 14-7. The Golden Rams went three and out on their next drive and were forced to punt. After a fair catch by Devozea Gaines, the Golden Tigers took over on their own 48-yardline. Larry Cobb was in perfect position for a 58-yard pass from Kevin Lacey to enter the end zone. Wylie once again landed the point after, taking the score to 21-7.

Albany State unsuccessfully attempted a 47-yard field goal on their next drive. The first quarter ended during the Golden Tigers' next possession.

Unable to convert on a 3^rd and 5, Tuskegee was forced to punt. Albany State faced with a third and long and were unable to reach the first down marker was forced to punt on their possession. Progress was suspended, as Tuskegee had to punt on their next drive. On their next drive, the Golden Rams' Frank Rivers connected with Quadrey Simmons for a 14-yard touchdown and Gayden's PAT was good. The score was 21-14 with 5:57 remaining in the first half.

The remainder of the half saw failed attempts on behalf of both teams. Going into the locker rooms at halftime, the score remained 21-14.

The second half saw Tuskegee with the opening kickoff, however Lacey was sacked for a loss of nine yards, fumbled in the end zone, the fumble was recovered by ASU's Tavarius Washington to score. The two-point conversion attempt by Devonta Osborne failed; the Golden Tigers' held a narrow 21-20 lead with 13:04 remaining in the third. Lacey threw an interception on the next Tuskegee drive.

On their next drive, the Golden Rams' Jarvis Small rushed for a two-yard touchdown to take the lead. Gayden's kick was good for the point after, taking Albany State to a 27-21 lead. Tuskegee's Wylie nailed a 48-yard field goal on the next TU possession with 6:11 remaining in the third to bring the score to 27-24. Albany State couldn't make any progress with their drive and were forced to punt.

Justin Nared entered the game as the play caller for the Golden Tigers and connected with Marquel Gardner for an 84-yard touchdown; Wylie's PAT was good. With a 31-27 lead, the Tuskegee defense reentered the contest with 0:52 remaining in the quarter. The third ended with the Golden Rams in possession on their own 41-yardline.

With a close contest, the fourth quarter began and 15:00 separated the champions from the runner-ups. ASU was unable to score; therefore they were forced to punt. The Golden Tigers were unable to score and were forced to punt as well. It all came down to the final eight minutes of the contest. The Golden Rams' Rivers completed a five-yard stinger to Leonard Walker for a touchdown and Gayden's point after was successful.

Down 34-31 the Tuskegee offense entered the contest to shift the momentum of the game. Kaleep Williams made a brilliant 42-yard catch from Nared to add points in the Tuskegee column. Wylie made the point after to place the Golden Tigers up 38-34. Undeterred Albany State's Rivers once again connected with Simmons on a ten-yard touchdown. Gayden pushed ASU up further by landing the point after. TU was down 41-38 with 1:42 remaining in the game.

With a final chance to clinch the contest, the Golden Tigers started on their own 36-yardline after an 18-yard kickoff return by Lowe. Tuskegee marched the ball down the field and Michael J. Thornton scored on a two-yard dash and Wylie added the point after. The next kickoff saw the Golden Rams give up a safety. With 32 clicks remaining the Golden Tigers were in possession of the ball. With a quarterback knell the time ran down and Tuskegee earned the 2014 SIAC Championship.

The season does not end here for the Golden Tigers. With their fate in the air Tuskegee awaits their destiny for the 2014 Division II Football Playoffs. The selection show is scheduled for Sunday, November 16, 2014 at 5:00 PM EST. It can be viewed at: http://www.ncaa.com/live/player?vid=2014/1829&date=2014/11/16).

BOX SCORE

COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Howard's McGhee sets record in win over Central Connecticut St.

New Britain, Connecticut– Greg McGhee rushed for 80 yards and three touchdowns in the second half to lead Howard University to a 28-25 come-from behind win over Central Connecticut State University in a non-conference game at Arute Field.

In the process, McGhee became the all-time career leader in total offense for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The senior from Pittsburgh, PA now has 9,913 yards. The old mark was 9,846 held by former Howard quarterback Ted White from 1994-98.

"It feels good; I am definitely blessed to be in this position I am in. We still have one game, so we will celebrate today and get back to work tomorrow," said McGhee.

With his team trailing, 25-7 early in the third quarter, McGhee began to take over the game. First he capped off a 40-yard drive with a two-yard run with 4:03 in the third quarter.

"We came out slow in the first half and I think we left a lot of points on the table," said Howard Head Coach Gary Harrell. "Twice we were on the goal line in a position to go in for the score and we came up with nothing. We had two field goal opportunities and didn't capitalize on them. So we came into halftime, regrouped, set the score at zero to zero, declared it a new game and made a commitment to come out and win the second half."

After the Bison defense stopped the Blue Devils, McGhee capitalized by capping off a short drive with a 12-yard sprint that cut the deficit to 25-20 to start the fourth quarter. The conversion failed.

The Bison defense, which surrendered big plays all day, again made a key stop on fourth down and paved the way for McGhee to put together the game-winning drive. The senior capped off the 50-yard drive with a seven-yard weaving run that made it, 26-25 with 10:27 still left. McGhee connected with William Parker on the two-point conversion to make it 28-25. But Central Connecticut State, which amassed almost 500 yards of offense, still had time.

"As far as adjustments, we said we had to eliminate the big plays that happened in the first half," said Howard linebacker Devin Rollins, who had 11 tackles. "That's what killed us, those big plays. We made a conscious effort to get off the field on third and fourth downs and that was the key to the second half. We have a number of people playing positions that they don't usually play but they stepped up and hung in there."

The Blue Devils were able to move the ball, it when it mattered, the Bison defense came up big when cornerback Kenneth Russ broke up a pass intended for Tyrell Holmes that turned the ball over on downs to the bison.

From there, McGhee displayed the poise and leadership that has been his trademark during his four-year career. Mixing up plays with Parker (93 yards on 18 carries), Howard was able to pick up three first downs and run out the clock to its third straight game.

"Greg came out and made some key plays in the second half," noted Harrell. "I think he trusted his teammates a little too much in the first half and wanted them to make more plays. In the second half he came out got more aggressive and made the plays when we needed them."

McGhee rushed for 119 yards and three TDs and was 15 of 33 passing for 216 yards and a TD.

Defensively, Ghafona Iduwe (11 tackles), Devin Rollins (11 tackles), Khari Brown (8 tackles) and Kenneth Russ (6 tackles) all came up big in the second half during the comeback.

Central Connecticut State received a game-high 124 yards rushing yards and 1909 yards receiving and a TD from Rob Holloway and 20 of 28 passing for 279 yards and three TDs from Nick Sangiacomo in a losing effort.

The Bison close out the season next Saturday when they host rival Hampton University at 12:30 pm in Greene Stadium. It will be senior day for McGhee, Malcolm Rutledge, Richard Aiyegoro, Khari Brown and Stewart Hartman will be playing their last home game in a Bison uniform.

"Hampton is a tough team; they have a good solid quarterback who we have to contain," explained Harrell. "You can throw out the records and the prior wins. This game is all about pride and the reputation of both universities. WE want to come out and represent the university well. We've been successful three straight years; we want to keep that winning streak going and continue to give our alumni the bragging rights for another 365 days."

"We got one more week, then it's our senior game. Like I said, we will celebrate toGreg McGhee.
day and we're back to business tomorrow," said

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Fleming powers FAMU Rattlers to big win over DSU Hornets

DOVER, Delaware -- Sometimes all it takes is one extremely well-played half of football.

Senior quarterback Damien Fleming put together one of his best games of the season — even though he did most of his damage in the first half — and led the Rattlers to a decisive 41-7 victory over the Delaware State Hornets.

Fleming's first half pretty much sealed the victory for the Rattlers. The senior quarterback completed 13 of 16 passes for 261 yards with three touchdowns to three different receivers. He also had a touchdown run and an interception while the Rattlers took a 31-0 lead into halftime.

"We've got the best quarterback in FCS when it comes down to it, in my opinion," said interim head coach Corey Fuller.

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Alabama State Hornets Win At Grambling

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Malcolm Cyrus rushed for 180 yards and one touchdown while Daniel Duhart threw three touchdown passes as the Alabama State football team rallied from a 13-point first quarter deficit to win at Grambling 37-23.

Alabama State (6-5 overall, 5-4 SWAC) gained 266 of its 495 yards on the ground to defeat the SWAC Western Division leading Tigers (7-4, 7-1).

"I couldn't be prouder of these guys," Alabama State head football coach Reggie Barlow said. "We had great energy level as a team, the coaches did a great job of preparing them, and we just played with the type of energy and effort you need to win."

A blocked extra point after Grambling's second touchdown sparked the Hornets. A seven-play, 56-yard drive ended with the first of two Ephraim Henderson touchdown receptions to cut the Alabama State deficit to 13-7 late in the first quarter.

The Hornets took the lead for good in the second quarter. Cyrus' eight-yard touchdown run capped a five-play, 70-yard drive that gave the Hornets a 14-13 advantage with 5:23 to play until halftime.

The defense got on the board when Kourtney Berry recovered a fumble and scored with less than two minutes to play to give Alabama State a 21-13 lead. Grambling converted a field goal on the final play of the half as the Hornets led 21-16 at halftime.

"There were some run plays we've had in the past that have worked well for us, but we changed some things up," Barlow said. "It was positive to see us moving the ball. Once you know you can move the ball, every once in a while things happen (in regards to three turnovers). But, the guys kept fighting, kept working hard, the O-line kept blocking, and it worked out in our favor. The defense stood up, forced three turnovers and played well. It was a good team win for us."

In the third quarter, defensive end Edward Mosley caught an 18-yard touchdown pass to give Alabama State a 28-16 led it would take to the fourth quarter.

After Grambling scored to cut the Hornet lead to 28-23 less than a minute into the fourth quarter, the Hornets answered less than a minute later. Henderson got behind the GSU defense on a 40-yard touchdown reception to push the lead to 34-23.

"I'm so proud of E.J.," Barlow said. "All he does is come to work every day for the last few years and work hard. He's been our holder on field goals and extra points, and playing as the fourth or fifth receiver. He's just one of those guys that doesn't complain and works all the time. When his number was called, he made the plays."

Preston Clark's 44-yard field goal with 6:25 remaining in the game capped a 12-play, 50-yard drive that consumed nearly six minutes off the clock for the final margin.

The win by the Hornets in the final SWAC game of the season is the fourth consecutive over Grambling in the series. The Hornets conclude the regular season in the 91^st Turkey Day Classic against Stillman at 1 p.m. next Saturday.

"It's one of the things we talked to the team about," Barlow said. "There are not a lot of teams anywhere that can say they've won against Grambling four years in a row. It's big for us. I commend our players and coaches. The guys bought into the plan. We had a great week of practice and great energy, and we brought it here."

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Freshman QB helps VSU Trojans end WSSU Rams’ CIAA reign

DURHAM, North Carolina — There have been quarterbacks of all makes and models who have tried to beat Winston-Salem State over the last five seasons. Few people anticipated it would be a freshman making his first college start that would derail the Rams Express.

Freshman Niko Johnson, starting in the place of suspended Tarrian Ayers, guided Virginia State to an improbable 21-17 victory over 10th-ranked WSSU on Saturday afternoon.

The Trojans (9-2) won their first CIAA championship since 1996, and they also halted the Rams (9-2) 31-game conference win streak. The Rams, the two-time defending champions, could never get into the rhythm thanks to a Trojans’ defense that was up to the task.

“It was a hard-fought football game —

Photo Gallery

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Week 12, HBCU Football ScoreCard

CIAA Championship Game
Virginia State 21, Winston-Salem State 17

SIAC Championship Game
Tuskegee 47, Albany State 41

SWAC
Prairie View A&M 38, Alabama A&M 35
Alabama State 37, Grambling State 23
Alcorn State 56, Arkansas Pine Bluff 6
Southern 44, Mississippi Valley 13
Jackson State 15, Texas Southern 10

MEAC
Hampton 40, Bethune-Cookman 35 (Thur.) Watch Replay

North Carolina A&T 34, Savannah State 0
Morgan State 24, South Carolina State 21
North Carolina Central 19, Norfolk State 14
Howard 28, Central Connecticut State 25
Florida A&M 41, Delaware State 7

OTHER CONFERENCES
#17 Langston 27, Bacone 14
Glenville State 30, West Virginia State 7
Missouri S&T 14, Lincoln (Mo.) 9
Seton Hill 56, Cheyney 18
Southwest Assemblies of God 48, Texas College 0

UMES Mascot Named Nation's No. 1 College Basketball Mascot

HARRY THE HAWK
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE ATHLETICS

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- Harry The Hawk, the 9-foot tall air-filled mascot of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) has been selected by College Court Report as the nation's number one college basketball mascot.

College Court Report, who on their website states they are, "providing you with unique perspectives on anything and everything College Basketball," created a Mascot Mayhem contest. Its objective was to try to predict who has the best mascot in all of NCAA Basketball.

UMES says Harry T. won the online bracket-style competition styled after the NCAA's tournament, March Madness. Collectively, UMES says Harry T. tallied 76.3 percent of votes in defeating six opponents head-to-head.

On College Court Report's website they stated the contest rules, "We selected our Top 64 mascots and used computer software to generate a tournament bracket for all 64 mascots. Via Twitter, using the hashtags designed specifically for each mascot, or the polls on this page, individuals are able to vote for their favorite mascot!" Harry's hashtag was #CCRHarry.

UMES says Harry bested ...

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FAMU women's X-country captures third consecutive MEAC title

SMYRNA, Delaware -- When Judith Kibii crossed the finish line at Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's Cross Country championship in after battling sleet, shifting terrain and 40-degree temperatures, she didn't even bother to check what place she finished in.

She placed second, but that really didn't matter. Kibii, in her first year running cross country for Florida A&M, turned around an looked for her teammates. Where they finished, she said, would determine whether or not the team won the championship.

The team's collective finish is what really counted, she said.

"I was not thinking of myself," the Eldoret, Kenya, native said.

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Friday, November 14, 2014

XU hits .419, rolls to another GCAC Tournament final

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana hit .419 Friday and got seven kills apiece from Claudia Haywood, Jodi Hill and CeCe Williams in a 25-14, 25-11, 25-8 women's volleyball victory against Talladega in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.

The Gold Nuggets (19-5), seeded first in the tournament, will play second-seeded SUNO (25-9) for the championship at noon Saturday at the Convocation Center. It's the second consecutive year and the third time in four years that Xavier and the Lady Knights will meet in the final.

Xavier seeks its fourth consecutive GCAC Tournament title. The champion will earn an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship, which will begin Nov. 22.

The Gold Nuggets committed four attack errors, their fewest in a match since the program restarted in 2010, and had 10 kills in each set. They hit .526 in a third set in which they built a 24-3 lead.

"It was the first time this season that every time I went into a huddle, I didn't have anything to say," second-year XU coach Hannah Lawing said. "There were no adjustments to make or any feedback to give them because they did everything we've been telling them to do all season."

Neither Haywood nor Hill, the Nuggets' best middle blockers, committed an attack error. Haywood hit .875 in eight attempts, and Hill hit .467 in 15 swings. Williams hit .400 and had six kills in the final set.

Darian Harris and Ralitsa Hadzhistoyanova served three aces apiece for Xavier. Franziska Pirkl had 26 assists and 11 digs in her eighth double-double of the season but her first in more than a month.

"Fran Pirkl played like an aggressive setter who wanted to play defense," Lawing said. "She was offensive and she was defensive. That's what any coach wants from the setter."

GCAC Player of the Year Chinedu Echebelem had nine digs, and Harris had eight.

Talladega -- the No. 5 seed and the tournament's lone upset winner with a quarterfinal sweep of No. 4 Philander Smith -- had more attack errors than kills in every set and finished at minus-.124 for the match. Carla Novaes and Tanaria Rounds had nine kills apiece for the Lady Tornadoes (13-17).

At SUNO, the Lady Knights beat Edward Waters 25-20, 25-10, 25-11 in the quarterfinals, then rallied for a 25-27, 25-16, 20-25, 25-22, 15-13 semifinal victory against third-seeded Dillard. Xavier had a quarterfinal bye because eighth-seeded Voorhees withdrew from the tournament Wednesday.

Tickets for the championship match will cost $5 for ages 13 and older. There will be free admission for ages 12 and younger and for GCAC-member students with valid school identification cards.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

Xavier's Echebelem, Lawing capture GCAC's top awards

Chinedu Echebelem

Hannah Lawing

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana picked up two more Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's volleyball awards when Chinedu Echebelem was named Player of the Year and Hannah Lawing received Coach of the Year.

The awards, voted on by the league's head coaches, were announced Thursday at a banquet on the eve of the GCAC Tournament. Xavier, the regular-season champion and tournament's No. 1 seed, will play at 3 p.m. Friday in the semifinals at its Convocation Center against the winner of a noon match between Philander Smith and Talladega.

Echebelem, a 5-foot-6 senior outside hitter from Dallas and a graduate of Duncanville High School, will enter the tournament with 187 kills, a .208 hitting percentage, 217 digs and 14 blocks. She has seven kill-dig double-doubles this season.

"I am very thankful and grateful for this award," said Echebelem, who on Wednesday was named All-GCAC for the third time. "Behind every great player is a great team. I could not have won this award without them. I dedicate this award to my teammates and both my coaches."

Last week Echebelem was named to the Capital One Academic All-District 2 college division team.

"Nay (Echebelem) earned Player of the Year," Lawing said. "She deserved it. I'm happiest for her."

Lawing, in her third year at Xavier and second as head coach, led the Gold Nuggets to a 14-0 GCAC record and 18-5 overall. The regular-season championship is Xavier's fourth in a row.

"I could not have received this award without the people surrounding me," Lawing said. "My team, my assistant coach, Hilary Lobenstein, our trainer, Allie Wood, our staff and fellow coaches at Xavier and my boss, Jason Horn. I owe it all to them."

Lawing, 25, is 44-13 as the Nuggets' coach. Lobenstein joined the staff this summer.

"I want to emphasize how important Hilary is to me and the girls," Lawing said. "She is a blessing to everyone in our program, and I'm so grateful she is with us."

Xavier won Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons and Coach of the Year for the third time in four years. Taylor Reuther, who is redshirting this season, was the 2012 Player of the Year. Christabell Hamilton won Coach of the Year in her only seasons at Xavier, 2011 and 2012.

Xavier will enter the tournament with a 57-match win streak against GCAC opponents -- including 11 consecutive tournament victories the past three seasons -- and a 55-match win streak against HBCUs.

The championship match will start at noon Saturday at Xavier.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

Meet The Women At The Helm Of The CIAA Football Championship

DURHAM, North Carolina -- Imagine going to college to play basketball. Then graduating to become a collegiate coach. Then moving from the court to the front office to take command of an athletic program, or even an entire conference.

This isn't some dream scenario; it's the real story of the three women in the spotlight at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football championship, which takes place Saturday in Durham, North Carolina. Former collegiate athletes Tonia Walker (Hampton University) and Peggy Davis (Howard Payne University) are now athletic directors at Winston-Salem State and Virginia State University, respectively, while Walker's former teammate Jacqie McWilliams is the commissioner of the CIAA, which is made up of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and is the oldest African American athletic conference in the nation. The three are the first African American women in CIAA history to lead a football championship in senior administrative roles.

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Rams and Trojans to finally square off for CIAA title

DURHAM, North Carolina -- There is little doubt to the identity of the two best teams this season in the CIAA. Today, we will see which one is the best.

Winston-Salem State, the two-time defending league champion, will take on a talented Virginia State team at 1:30 p.m. at Durham County Stadium in the conference championship game.

It’s a game that’s been two years in the making. The same two teams were scheduled to meet in last year’s title game. But that game was canceled because of an altercation during a banquet before the game; former Virginia State player Lamont Britt later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge in the case.

“Last year was last year,” said quarterback Rudy Johnson of the Rams, who made national headlines because of his injuries suffered during the altercation in a bathroom at WSSU’s Anderson Center. “We want to settle it on the field.”

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Tuskegee set to battle for SIAC championship Saturday against Albany State

What: Tuskegee Golden Tigers (8-2, 7-0) vs. Albany State Golden Rams (7-2, 7-0)

When: Sat., Nov. 15, at 7 p.m.

Where: The Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala.

What's at stake:
Everything! This matchup between Tuskegee and Albany State is for all the marbles in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Coming into the game:
Tuskegee won the SIAC western division, and is coming off a 48-33 win over Miles last week.
Albany State is the eastern division champ and won last week 32-21 over Fort Valley State. The Golden Rams got one of its two overall losses at the hands of Tuskegee, 20-12, back on Sept. 13.

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Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015 Announced

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) announced its Class of 2015 today. Seven inductees were selected from a list of 25 Finalists who had been determined earlier by the BCFHOF Selection Committee.

The Class includes Roger Brown (University of Maryland Eastern Shore), Richard Dent (Tennessee State University), L.C. Greenwood (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd (Grambling State University), Ken Riley (Florida A&M University), Donnie Shell (South Carolina State University) and Coach W.C. Gorden (Jackson State University).

Votes were tallied from the 13-member Selection Committee, comprised of prominent journalists, commentators and historians, as well as former NFL General Managers and executives, and from previous BCFHOF inductees to determine the Class of 2015.

Inductees will be honored at the Sixth Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony, Presented by the Atlanta Falcons. The event will take place at the recently opened College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia on February 28, 2015. For more information please visit www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org.

CLASS OF 2015

ROGER BROWN (Player)

Defensive Tackle … University of Maryland Eastern Shore … Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame (2009) … NAIA All-American (1958, 1959) … Detroit Lions (1960-1966), Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (1967-1969) … 10 seasons in NFL … Selected by Lions in 4th round, 42nd player overall (1960 NFL Draft) … NFL Pro Lineman of the Year (1962) … Elected to six Pro Bowls … Member of the Rams “Fearsome Foursome” … Born May 1, 1937 in Surry County, VA.

RICHARD DENT (Player)

Defensive End … Tennessee State University … Chicago Bears (1983-1993), San Francisco 49ers (1994), Chicago Bears (1995), Indianapolis Colts (1996), Philadelphia Eagles (1997) … 15 seasons … Selected by Bears in 8th round, 203rd player overall (1983 NFL Draft) … Named All-Pro five times … Elected to four Pro Bowls … Two time Super Bowl Champion (XX, XXIX) … Super Bowl XX MVP … Member of 100 sacks club (137.5 career sacks) … Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame (2011) … Born December 13, 1960 in Atlanta, GA.

L.C. GREENWOOD (Player)

Defensive End … University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff … 1968 Ebony All-American defensive lineman in the Southwestern Athletic Conference … Pittsburgh Steelers (1969-1981) … 13 seasons … Selected by Steelers in 10th round 238th player overall (1969 NFL Draft) … Named All-Pro two times … Elected to six Pro Bowls … Four time Super Bowl Champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV) … Named to Super Bowl’s Silver Anniversary team (1991) … Named to the 1970s NFL All-Decade Team … Born September 8, 1946 in Canton, MS … Died September 29, 2013.

ERNIE "BIG CAT" LADD (Player)

Defensive Tackle … Grambling State University … Attended Grambling State University on a basketball scholarship before playing football … San Diego Chargers (1961-1965), Houston Oilers (1966-1967), Kansas City Chiefs (1967-1968) … 8 seasons … Selected by Chargers in 15th round 119th player overall (1961 AFL Draft) … AFL Title (1963) … Four time AFL All-Star … Named All-Pro three times … Member of Chargers Hall of Fame … Inducted into WWE Hall of Fame (1995) … Born November 28, 1938 in Rayville, LA … Died March 10, 2007.

KEN RILEY (Player)

Defensive Back … Florida A&M University … Played quarterback for FAMU … Rhodes Scholarship candidate … Cincinnati Bengals (1969-1983) … 14 seasons … Selected by Bengals in 6th round 135th player overall (1969 NFL Draft) … Converted to DB … Named All-Pro four times … Retired with fourth most career interceptions (65) … 65 interceptions and five TD returns are Bengals team records … Florida High School Association All-Century Team member … Born August 6, 1947 in Bartow, FL.

DONNIE SHELL (Player)

Strong Safety … South Carolina State University … All-American and All-Conference as member of SCSU Bulldogs … Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame (1998) … Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-1987) … Signed by Steelers as undrafted free agent … Elected to five Pro Bowls … Named All-Pro four times … Steelers team MVP (1980) … Four time Super Bowl Champion (IX, X, XII, XIV) … Retired with most interceptions by a strong safety (51) … Named to Black College 100-year team … Born August 26, 1952 in Whitmire, SC.

W.C. GORDEN (Coach)

Coach … Jackson State University (1977-1991) … Won 8 SWAC Championships (1980-1982, 1985-1988, 1990) … Played college football at Tennessee State University (1948-1952) … Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a Coach (2008) … Career coaching record is 118 wins, against 47 losses with 5 ties … Born June 30, 1930 in Nashville, TN.

About the Black College Football Hall of Fame
The Black College Football Hall of Fame was established in October 2009 to honor the greatest football players and coaches from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Its trustees are football legends Mel Blount, James Harris, Willie Lanier, Art Shell and Doug Williams. The Black College Football Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Shack Harris & Doug Williams Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization.

COURTESY BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME MEDIA RELATIONS

Florida A&M's Ken Riley to be enshrined in Black College Football Hall of Fame

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Ken Riley deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He deserves to be in the Ring of Honor, when the Bengals decide to invest in their legends, history and traditions. He deserves complete recognition.

He will get it this February, though not in the NFL.

Riley was one of six that were named to the 2015 class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame. Riley, who will be enshrined on Feb. 28, will be joined by Roger Brown, Richard Dent, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd, Donnie Shell and former Jackson State head coach W.C. Gordon.

Riley played quarterback for Florida A&M University, posting a starting record of 23-7 in college -- even leading his team to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles each season that he started.

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Dr. Elmira Mangum, President
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Since her arrival in April 2014, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., has spent countless hours traveling the country to raise the University’s profile. Her efforts have shown a sizeable return on investment as giving during the first five months of the current fiscal year is at a record pace.

Since June of this year, FAMU has received more than $3 million in cash donations as compared to $1.1 million for the same period last year. In addition, nearly $4 million in pledges has been made to the University, bringing the total amount of donations through November to almost $7 million.

“The outpouring of donations and pledges shows the renewed faith that people have in the University and the direction it is headed,” said Mangum. “As I travel the nation, I have been overwhelmed by the positive response that I have received and by the high esteem to which people hold the University.”

“People are beginning to see how important giving is to the lifeblood of the institution and that their contributions, no matter how small, can help the University to achieve its mission,” Mangum added.

According to Thomas Haynes, Ph.D., vice president for University Advancement, a renewed spirit of giving has ignited across the University community.

“Grassroots support from Rattlers and friends like Cecka Rose Green, John Crossman, Thomas Bolen, and the family of Hubert Reddick, as well as alumni chapters across the nation, and FAMU students, faculty, and staff demonstrates how people are willing to give their time and resources to help FAMU continue its legacy of providing access and opportunity for underserved students,” Haynes said.

“From $10 to $1,000 to $100,000 our supporters understand that every dollar counts when it comes to ensuring that the students we serve are provided with a quality and affordable education,” Haynes added.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Southern University football vs. Mississippi Valley State game capsule

When/Where: Saturday at 6 p.m. at A. W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge.

Television: There will be a live stream on gojagsports.com for Saturday's game, but Cox Sports will also have it on tape delay at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Radio: WYNK 97.7

Coaches: Southern — Dawson Odums (second season as head coach, was interim in 2012, 20-12). Mississippi Valley State — Rick Comegy (first season, 2-8).

About Southern: The Jaguars (7-3) extended their current winning streak to five games with a 30-20 victory against Texas Southern last weekend, and running back Lenard Tillery was the star.

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Cal men’s basketball hosts Alcorn State in first game of the season

BERKELEY, California -- As the head coach at Tennessee, Cuonzo Martin built a team centered on an aggressive defense, a system successful enough to take the Vols into last year’s Sweet Sixteen. So when Martin was announced as the Cal men’s basketball head coach in April, many fans hoped Martin’s style of play would help get the Bears get back to the NCAA tournament after a disappointing trip to the NIT.

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At home at 7 p.m. on Friday, Cal will take on Alcorn State in the first game of the season and the 2K Classic. It will be the first real look at this new Bears team — a team that will be without last year’s stars, Justin Cobb and Richard Solomon.

“This year, coach Martin has kind of shaped all of our games to kind of just play as the game goes. His whole thing is ‘Don’t be good at one thing, be good at all things,’ ” said sophomore guard Jordan Mathews. “He tells us, ‘If you’re not going 100 (percent) all game, you’re coming right out.’”

Season preview: Brent relishes underdog role for Jackson State

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Despite a promising start, the Jackson State men's basketball team didn't end on a good note in coach Wayne Brent's first year.

The Tigers dropped their last three regular season games and were knocked out of the first round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship by last-seeded Grambling State.

With that, as well as the loses of Julysses Nobles and Brandon West, expectations are low for JSU this year, as it was predicted to finish eighth.

Brent doesn't mind that, saying it leaves more room for surprises.

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IU Hoosiers open tonight against Mississippi Valley

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana -- James Blackmon and Robert Johnson face their college basketball debut with a veteran’s burden. They are young, expected to play fast, required to play smart.

Granted, this is Mississippi Valley State and not, say, Louisville, which looms in a couple of weeks. Tonight’s competition should not rattle them into non-stop mistakes, which doesn’t mean it will be easy.

IU has multiple keys to restore national relevance and one of the biggest is limiting turnovers. When you start two freshmen, as the Hoosiers will tonight with Blackmon and Johnson, mistakes happen. When you play fast, when your offense emphasizes full-throttle pace and attack-the-basket ruthlessness, mistakes happen.

Combine the two and you get … what?

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Grambling women missing critical parts

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- When Nadine Domond accepted the Grambling State women’s basketball coaching position in August, she gave Lincoln Parish colleges an all-new coaching staff as she joined Lady Techsters coach Tyler Summitt as new kids on the block.

Domond, who had a brief WNBA career before playing overseas for several seasons, is tasked with rebuilding the Lady Tigers, who finished 11-20 last season. She will do it without a lot of firepower in the lineup. Joanna Miller, the SWAC’s second leading scorer in 2013-14 at 18.8 points per game, graduated, along with Victoya Ricks (10.6 ppg) and Jasmine Godbolt (10.6 ppg).

Also missing will be former Benton All-Stater and Times Female Athlete of the Year Dennisha Chambers for an undisclosed reason. Chambers was the SWAC’s 14th best scorer at 11.4 per outing.

The Lady Tigers open the season with ...

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Hampton U. upsets Bethune-Cookman 40-35 on Senior Night

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
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HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton University’s frustrating football season included all manner of losses – high scoring and low scoring, red-zone snafus and defensive collapses, breakdowns early and late.

Facing yet another potential meltdown against perhaps the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s premier program, the Pirates stood tall in the waning minutes and came away with a signature win.

Hampton carved up Bethune-Cookman’s nationally-ranked defense, and the Pirates’ own depleted defensive group made necessary plays as they held on for a 40-35 win on a raw, chilly Thursday night before a sparse Armstrong Stadium crowd and a national TV audience.

“We don’t have any quit in us,” HU coach Connell Maynor said. “What we always say is that we’ve got to find a way to win a game in the fourth quarter, and make plays late and finish, and that’s what we did today.”

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Thursday, November 13, 2014

Gold Nuggets lead wire-to-wire, defeat No. 22 Mobile

NEW ORLEANS -- Vinnie Briggs' 15 points Wednesday led Xavier University of Louisiana to a wire-to-wire 71-66 women's basketball victory against Mobile in a matchup of ranked NAIA Division I teams.

The Gold Nuggets (1-2), ranked 18th, won for the 23rd consecutive time in a home opener and extended their home winning streak to 20. The Lady Rams (1-1) are ranked 22nd.

Briggs, Xavier's scoring leader in every game this season, also led her team with six rebounds. Teammate Whitney Gathright had 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals, and Alesha Smith and Kelsey Joseph reached career highs with 11 and nine points, respectively.

Jammieca Hudson had 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Mobile, and Kali Koenig scored 14 points.

Xavier led 6-0 after 46 seconds -- two baskets by Smith and another by Briggs -- and never lost the lead. The Gold Nuggets led 42-27 at halftime and took their biggest lead, 46-27, on a Briggs basket with 18:27 remaining.

Three-pointers by Hudson and Koenig in the final minute twice cut Xavier's lead to five points, but the Lady Rams never got closer.

Both teams shot 41 percent from the floor, but Xavier made five more field goals than Mobile. The Gold Nuggets blocked eight shots -- more than they did in any game last season -- and outrebounded Mobile 41-33. Eleven of Xavier's 12 active players scored, and all of them grabbed at least one rebound.

"I liked the way we played in the first half after two tough losses to start the season," XU coach Bo Browder said. "We were fresh. We played outstanding defense. It was a great team effort in the first half.

"But we've got to get better and find a way to put two good halves together."

Xavier will play 11th-ranked Our Lady of the Lake at 2 p.m. Saturday in the LSUS Classic at Shreveport, La. It will be the Gold Nuggets' fourth consecutive game against a ranked NAIA opponent to start the season.

Box score

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS