President Obama's 2015 State of the Union Address

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President Barack Obama delivers his sixth State of the Union address, at the United States Capitol, January 20, 2015.


Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address | January 20, 2015

U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C.

9:10 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans:

We are 15 years into this new century. Fifteen years that dawned with terror touching our shores; that unfolded with a new generation fighting two long and costly wars; that saw a vicious recession spread across our nation and the world. It has been, and still is, a hard time for many.

But tonight, we turn the page. Tonight, after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999. (Applause.) Our unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis. More of our kids are graduating than ever before. More of our people are insured than ever before. (Applause.) And we are as free from the grip of foreign oil as we’ve been in almost 30 years. (Applause.)

Tonight, for the first time since 9/11, our combat mission in Afghanistan is over. (Applause.) Six years ago, nearly 180,000 American troops served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, fewer than 15,000 remain. And we salute the courage and sacrifice of every man and woman in this 9/11 Generation who has served to keep us safe. (Applause.) We are humbled and grateful for your service.

America, for all that we have endured; for all the grit and hard work required to come back; for all the tasks that lie ahead, know this: The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong. (Applause.)

At this moment -- with a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry, booming energy production -- we have risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth. It’s now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next 15 years and for decades to come.

Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort? (Applause.)

Will we approach the world fearful and reactive, dragged into costly conflicts that strain our military and set back our standing? Or will we lead wisely, using all elements of our power to defeat new threats and protect our planet?

Will we allow ourselves to be sorted into factions and turned against one another? Or will we recapture the sense of common purpose that has always propelled America forward?

In two weeks, I will send this Congress a budget filled with ideas that are practical, not partisan. And in the months ahead, I’ll crisscross the country making a case for those ideas. So tonight, I want to focus less on a checklist of proposals, and focus more on the values at stake in the choices before us.

It begins with our economy. Seven years ago, Rebekah and Ben Erler of Minneapolis were newlyweds. (Laughter.) She waited tables. He worked construction. Their first child, Jack, was on the way. They were young and in love in America. And it doesn’t get much better than that. “If only we had known,” Rebekah wrote to me last spring, “what was about to happen to the housing and construction market.”

As the crisis worsened, Ben’s business dried up, so he took what jobs he could find, even if they kept him on the road for long stretches of time. Rebekah took out student loans and enrolled in community college, and retrained for a new career. They sacrificed for each other. And slowly, it paid off. They bought their first home. They had a second son, Henry. Rebekah got a better job and then a raise. Ben is back in construction -- and home for dinner every night.

“It is amazing,” Rebekah wrote, “what you can bounce back from when you have to…we are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.” We are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.

America, Rebekah and Ben’s story is our story. They represent the millions who have worked hard and scrimped, and sacrificed and retooled. You are the reason that I ran for this office. You are the people I was thinking of six years ago today, in the darkest months of the crisis, when I stood on the steps of this Capitol and promised we would rebuild our economy on a new foundation. And it has been your resilience, your effort that has made it possible for our country to emerge stronger.

We believed we could reverse the tide of outsourcing and draw new jobs to our shores. And over the past five years, our businesses have created more than 11 million new jobs. (Applause.)

We believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect our planet. And today, America is number one in oil and gas. America is number one in wind power. Every three weeks, we bring online as much solar power as we did in all of 2008. (Applause.) And thanks to lower gas prices and higher fuel standards, the typical family this year should save about $750 at the pump. (Applause.)

We believed we could prepare our kids for a more competitive world. And today, our younger students have earned the highest math and reading scores on record. Our high school graduation rate has hit an all-time high. More Americans finish college than ever before. (Applause.)

We believed that sensible regulations could prevent another crisis, shield families from ruin, and encourage fair competition. Today, we have new tools to stop taxpayer-funded bailouts, and a new consumer watchdog to protect us from predatory lending and abusive credit card practices. And in the past year alone, about 10 million uninsured Americans finally gained the security of health coverage. (Applause.)

At every step, we were told our goals were misguided or too ambitious; that we would crush jobs and explode deficits. Instead, we’ve seen the fastest economic growth in over a decade, our deficits cut by two-thirds, a stock market that has doubled, and health care inflation at its lowest rate in 50 years. (Applause.) This is good news, people. (Laughter and applause.)

So the verdict is clear. Middle-class economics works. Expanding opportunity works. And these policies will continue to work as long as politics don’t get in the way. We can’t slow down businesses or put our economy at risk with government shutdowns or fiscal showdowns. We can’t put the security of families at risk by taking away their health insurance, or unraveling the new rules on Wall Street, or refighting past battles on immigration when we’ve got to fix a broken system. And if a bill comes to my desk that tries to do any of these things, I will veto it. It will have earned my veto. (Applause.)

Today, thanks to a growing economy, the recovery is touching more and more lives. Wages are finally starting to rise again. We know that more small business owners plan to raise their employees’ pay than at any time since 2007. But here’s the thing: Those of us here tonight, we need to set our sights higher than just making sure government doesn’t screw things up; that government doesn’t halt the progress we’re making. We need to do more than just do no harm. Tonight, together, let’s do more to restore the link between hard work and growing opportunity for every American. (Applause.)

Because families like Rebekah’s still need our help. She and Ben are working as hard as ever, but they’ve had to forego vacations and a new car so that they can pay off student loans and save for retirement. Friday night pizza, that’s a big splurge. Basic childcare for Jack and Henry costs more than their mortgage, and almost as much as a year at the University of Minnesota. Like millions of hardworking Americans, Rebekah isn’t asking for a handout, but she is asking that we look for more ways to help families get ahead.

And in fact, at every moment of economic change throughout our history, this country has taken bold action to adapt to new circumstances and to make sure everyone gets a fair shot. We set up worker protections, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid to protect ourselves from the harshest adversity. We gave our citizens schools and colleges, infrastructure and the Internet -- tools they needed to go as far as their effort and their dreams will take them.

That’s what middle-class economics is -- the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their fair shot, everyone does their fair share, everyone plays by the same set of rules. (Applause.) We don’t just want everyone to share in America’s success, we want everyone to contribute to our success. (Applause.)

So what does middle-class economics require in our time?

First, middle-class economics means helping working families feel more secure in a world of constant change. That means helping folks afford childcare, college, health care, a home, retirement. And my budget will address each of these issues, lowering the taxes of working families and putting thousands of dollars back into their pockets each year. (Applause.)

Here’s one example. During World War II, when men like my grandfather went off to war, having women like my grandmother in the workforce was a national security priority -- so this country provided universal childcare. In today’s economy, when having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families, we need affordable, high-quality childcare more than ever. (Applause.)

It’s not a nice-to-have -- it’s a must-have. So it’s time we stop treating childcare as a side issue, or as a women’s issue, and treat it like the national economic priority that it is for all of us. (Applause.) And that’s why my plan will make quality childcare more available and more affordable for every middle-class and low-income family with young children in America -- by creating more slots and a new tax cut of up to $3,000 per child, per year. (Applause.)

Here’s another example. Today, we are the only advanced country on Earth that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave or paid maternity leave to our workers. Forty-three million workers have no paid sick leave -- 43 million. Think about that. And that forces too many parents to make the gut-wrenching choice between a paycheck and a sick kid at home. So I’ll be taking new action to help states adopt paid leave laws of their own. And since paid sick leave won where it was on the ballot last November, let’s put it to a vote right here in Washington. (Applause.) Send me a bill that gives every worker in America the opportunity to earn seven days of paid sick leave. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the right thing to do. (Applause.)

Of course, nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages. That’s why this Congress still needs to pass a law that makes sure a woman is paid the same as a man for doing the same work. (Applause.) It’s 2015. (Laughter.) It’s time. We still need to make sure employees get the overtime they’ve earned. (Applause.) And to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise. (Applause.)

Now, these ideas won’t make everybody rich, won’t relieve every hardship. That’s not the job of government. To give working families a fair shot, we still need more employers to see beyond next quarter’s earnings and recognize that investing in their workforce is in their company’s long-term interest. We still need laws that strengthen rather than weaken unions, and give American workers a voice. (Applause.)

But you know, things like childcare and sick leave and equal pay; things like lower mortgage premiums and a higher minimum wage -- these ideas will make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of families. That’s a fact. And that’s what all of us, Republicans and Democrats alike, were sent here to do.

Second, to make sure folks keep earning higher wages down the road, we have to do more to help Americans upgrade their skills. (Applause.) America thrived in the 20th century because we made high school free, sent a generation of GIs to college, trained the best workforce in the world. We were ahead of the curve. But other countries caught on. And in a 21st century economy that rewards knowledge like never before, we need to up our game. We need to do more.

By the end of this decade, two in three job openings will require some higher education -- two in three. And yet, we still live in a country where too many bright, striving Americans are priced out of the education they need. It’s not fair to them, and it’s sure not smart for our future. That’s why I’m sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college -- to zero. (Applause.)

Keep in mind 40 percent of our college students choose community college. Some are young and starting out. Some are older and looking for a better job. Some are veterans and single parents trying to transition back into the job market. Whoever you are, this plan is your chance to graduate ready for the new economy without a load of debt. Understand, you’ve got to earn it. You’ve got to keep your grades up and graduate on time.

Tennessee, a state with Republican leadership, and Chicago, a city with Democratic leadership, are showing that free community college is possible. I want to spread that idea all across America, so that two years of college becomes as free and universal in America as high school is today. (Applause.) Let’s stay ahead of the curve. (Applause.) And I want to work with this Congress to make sure those already burdened with student loans can reduce their monthly payments so that student debt doesn’t derail anyone’s dreams. (Applause.)

Thanks to Vice President Biden’s great work to update our job training system, we’re connecting community colleges with local employers to train workers to fill high-paying jobs like coding, and nursing, and robotics. Tonight, I’m also asking more businesses to follow the lead of companies like CVS and UPS, and offer more educational benefits and paid apprenticeships -- opportunities that give workers the chance to earn higher-paying jobs even if they don’t have a higher education.

And as a new generation of veterans comes home, we owe them every opportunity to live the American Dream they helped defend. Already, we’ve made strides towards ensuring that every veteran has access to the highest quality care. We’re slashing the backlog that had too many veterans waiting years to get the benefits they need. And we’re making it easier for vets to translate their training and experience into civilian jobs. And Joining Forces, the national campaign launched by Michelle and Jill Biden -- (applause) -- thank you, Michelle; thank you, Jill -- has helped nearly 700,000 veterans and military spouses get a new job. (Applause.) So to every CEO in America, let me repeat: If you want somebody who’s going to get the job done and done right, hire a veteran. (Applause.)

Finally, as we better train our workers, we need the new economy to keep churning out high-wage jobs for our workers to fill. Since 2010, America has put more people back to work than Europe, Japan, and all advanced economies combined. (Applause.)

Our manufacturers have added almost 800,000 new jobs. Some of our bedrock sectors, like our auto industry, are booming. But there are also millions of Americans who work in jobs that didn’t even exist 10 or 20 years ago -- jobs at companies like Google, and eBay, and Tesla.

So no one knows for certain which industries will generate the jobs of the future. But we do know we want them here in America. We know that. (Applause.) And that’s why the third part of middle-class economics is all about building the most competitive economy anywhere, the place where businesses want to locate and hire.

Twenty-first century businesses need 21st century infrastructure -- modern ports, and stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest Internet. Democrats and Republicans used to agree on this. So let’s set our sights higher than a single oil pipeline. Let’s pass a bipartisan infrastructure plan that could create more than 30 times as many jobs per year, and make this country stronger for decades to come. (Applause.) Let’s do it. Let’s get it done. Let’s get it done. (Applause.)

Twenty-first century businesses, including small businesses, need to sell more American products overseas. Today, our businesses export more than ever, and exporters tend to pay their workers higher wages. But as we speak, China wants to write the rules for the world’s fastest-growing region. That would put our workers and our businesses at a disadvantage. Why would we let that happen? We should write those rules. We should level the playing field. That’s why I’m asking both parties to give me trade promotion authority to protect American workers, with strong new trade deals from Asia to Europe that aren’t just free, but are also fair. It’s the right thing to do. (Applause.)

Look, I’m the first one to admit that past trade deals haven’t always lived up to the hype, and that’s why we’ve gone after countries that break the rules at our expense. But 95 percent of the world’s customers live outside our borders. We can’t close ourselves off from those opportunities. More than half of manufacturing executives have said they’re actively looking to bring jobs back from China. So let’s give them one more reason to get it done.

Twenty-first century businesses will rely on American science and technology, research and development. I want the country that eliminated polio and mapped the human genome to lead a new era of medicine -- one that delivers the right treatment at the right time. (Applause.)

In some patients with cystic fibrosis, this approach has reversed a disease once thought unstoppable. So tonight, I’m launching a new Precision Medicine Initiative to bring us closer to curing diseases like cancer and diabetes, and to give all of us access to the personalized information we need to keep ourselves and our families healthier. We can do this. (Applause.)

I intend to protect a free and open Internet, extend its reach to every classroom, and every community -- (applause) -- and help folks build the fastest networks so that the next generation of digital innovators and entrepreneurs have the platform to keep reshaping our world.

I want Americans to win the race for the kinds of discoveries that unleash new jobs -- converting sunlight into liquid fuel; creating revolutionary prosthetics, so that a veteran who gave his arms for his country can play catch with his kids again. (Applause.) Pushing out into the solar system not just to visit, but to stay. Last month, we launched a new spacecraft as part of a reenergized space program that will send American astronauts to Mars. And in two months, to prepare us for those missions, Scott Kelly will begin a year-long stay in space. So good luck, Captain. Make sure to Instagram it. We’re proud of you. (Applause.)

Now, the truth is, when it comes to issues like infrastructure and basic research, I know there’s bipartisan support in this chamber. Members of both parties have told me so. Where we too often run onto the rocks is how to pay for these investments. As Americans, we don’t mind paying our fair share of taxes as long as everybody else does, too. But for far too long, lobbyists have rigged the tax code with loopholes that let some corporations pay nothing while others pay full freight. They’ve riddled it with giveaways that the super-rich don’t need, while denying a break to middle-class families who do.

This year, we have an opportunity to change that. Let’s close loopholes so we stop rewarding companies that keep profits abroad, and reward those that invest here in America. (Applause.) Let’s use those savings to rebuild our infrastructure and to make it more attractive for companies to bring jobs home. Let’s simplify the system and let a small business owner file based on her actual bank statement, instead of the number of accountants she can afford. (Applause.) And let’s close the loopholes that lead to inequality by allowing the top one percent to avoid paying taxes on their accumulated wealth. We can use that money to help more families pay for childcare and send their kids to college. We need a tax code that truly helps working Americans trying to get a leg up in the new economy, and we can achieve that together. (Applause.) We can achieve it together.

Helping hardworking families make ends meet. Giving them the tools they need for good-paying jobs in this new economy. Maintaining the conditions of growth and competitiveness. This is where America needs to go. I believe it’s where the American people want to go. It will make our economy stronger a year from now, 15 years from now, and deep into the century ahead.

Of course, if there’s one thing this new century has taught us, it’s that we cannot separate our work here at home from challenges beyond our shores.

My first duty as Commander-in-Chief is to defend the United States of America. In doing so, the question is not whether America leads in the world, but how. When we make rash decisions, reacting to the headlines instead of using our heads; when the first response to a challenge is to send in our military -- then we risk getting drawn into unnecessary conflicts, and neglect the broader strategy we need for a safer, more prosperous world. That’s what our enemies want us to do.

I believe in a smarter kind of American leadership. We lead best when we combine military power with strong diplomacy; when we leverage our power with coalition building; when we don’t let our fears blind us to the opportunities that this new century presents. That’s exactly what we’re doing right now. And around the globe, it is making a difference.

First, we stand united with people around the world who have been targeted by terrorists -- from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris. (Applause.) We will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks, and we reserve the right to act unilaterally, as we have done relentlessly since I took office to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to us and our allies. (Applause.)

At the same time, we’ve learned some costly lessons over the last 13 years. Instead of Americans patrolling the valleys of Afghanistan, we’ve trained their security forces, who have now taken the lead, and we’ve honored our troops’ sacrifice by supporting that country’s first democratic transition. Instead of sending large ground forces overseas, we’re partnering with nations from South Asia to North Africa to deny safe haven to terrorists who threaten America.

In Iraq and Syria, American leadership -- including our military power -- is stopping ISIL’s advance. Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group. (Applause.) We’re also supporting a moderate opposition in Syria that can help us in this effort, and assisting people everywhere who stand up to the bankrupt ideology of violent extremism.

Now, this effort will take time. It will require focus. But we will succeed. And tonight, I call on this Congress to show the world that we are united in this mission by passing a resolution to authorize the use of force against ISIL. We need that authority. (Applause.)

Second, we’re demonstrating the power of American strength and diplomacy. We’re upholding the principle that bigger nations can’t bully the small -- by opposing Russian aggression, and supporting Ukraine’s democracy, and reassuring our NATO allies. (Applause.)

Last year, as we were doing the hard work of imposing sanctions along with our allies, as we were reinforcing our presence with frontline states, Mr. Putin’s aggression it was suggested was a masterful display of strategy and strength. That's what I heard from some folks. Well, today, it is America that stands strong and united with our allies, while Russia is isolated with its economy in tatters. That’s how America leads -- not with bluster, but with persistent, steady resolve. (Applause.)

In Cuba, we are ending a policy that was long past its expiration date. (Applause.) When what you’re doing doesn’t work for 50 years, it’s time to try something new. (Applause.) And our shift in Cuba policy has the potential to end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere. It removes a phony excuse for restrictions in Cuba. It stands up for democratic values, and extends the hand of friendship to the Cuban people. And this year, Congress should begin the work of ending the embargo. (Applause.)

As His Holiness, Pope Francis, has said, diplomacy is the work of “small steps.” These small steps have added up to new hope for the future in Cuba. And after years in prison, we are overjoyed that Alan Gross is back where he belongs. Welcome home, Alan. We're glad you're here. (Applause.)

Our diplomacy is at work with respect to Iran, where, for the first time in a decade, we’ve halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material. Between now and this spring, we have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran, secures America and our allies -- including Israel, while avoiding yet another Middle East conflict. There are no guarantees that negotiations will succeed, and I keep all options on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran.

But new sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails -- alienating America from its allies; making it harder to maintain sanctions; and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again. It doesn’t make sense. And that's why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress. (Applause.) The American people expect us only to go to war as a last resort, and I intend to stay true to that wisdom.

Third, we’re looking beyond the issues that have consumed us in the past to shape the coming century. No foreign nation, no hacker, should be able to shut down our networks, steal our trade secrets, or invade the privacy of American families, especially our kids. (Applause.) So we're making sure our government integrates intelligence to combat cyber threats, just as we have done to combat terrorism.

And tonight, I urge this Congress to finally pass the legislation we need to better meet the evolving threat of cyber attacks, combat identity theft, and protect our children’s information. That should be a bipartisan effort. (Applause.)

If we don’t act, we’ll leave our nation and our economy vulnerable. If we do, we can continue to protect the technologies that have unleashed untold opportunities for people around the globe.

In West Africa, our troops, our scientists, our doctors, our nurses, our health care workers are rolling back Ebola -- saving countless lives and stopping the spread of disease. (Applause.) I could not be prouder of them, and I thank this Congress for your bipartisan support of their efforts. But the job is not yet done, and the world needs to use this lesson to build a more effective global effort to prevent the spread of future pandemics, invest in smart development, and eradicate extreme poverty.

In the Asia Pacific, we are modernizing alliances while making sure that other nations play by the rules -- in how they trade, how they resolve maritime disputes, how they participate in meeting common international challenges like nonproliferation and disaster relief. And no challenge -- no challenge -- poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change. (Applause.)

2014 was the planet’s warmest year on record. Now, one year doesn’t make a trend, but this does: 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of this century.
I’ve heard some folks try to dodge the evidence by saying they’re not scientists; that we don’t have enough information to act. Well, I’m not a scientist, either. But you know what, I know a lot of really good scientists at NASA, and at NOAA, and at our major universities. And the best scientists in the world are all telling us that our activities are changing the climate, and if we don’t act forcefully, we’ll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heat waves, dangerous droughts and floods, and massive disruptions that can trigger greater migration and conflict and hunger around the globe. The Pentagon says that climate change poses immediate risks to our national security. We should act like it. (Applause.)

And that’s why, over the past six years, we’ve done more than ever to combat climate change, from the way we produce energy to the way we use it. That’s why we’ve set aside more public lands and waters than any administration in history. And that’s why I will not let this Congress endanger the health of our children by turning back the clock on our efforts. I am determined to make sure that American leadership drives international action. (Applause.)

In Beijing, we made a historic announcement: The United States will double the pace at which we cut carbon pollution. And China committed, for the first time, to limiting their emissions. And because the world’s two largest economies came together, other nations are now stepping up, and offering hope that this year the world will finally reach an agreement to protect the one planet we’ve got.

And there’s one last pillar of our leadership, and that’s the example of our values.

As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we’re threatened, which is why I have prohibited torture, and worked to make sure our use of new technology like drones is properly constrained. (Applause.) It’s why we speak out against the deplorable anti-Semitism that has resurfaced in certain parts of the world. (Applause.) It’s why we continue to reject offensive stereotypes of Muslims, the vast majority of whom share our commitment to peace. That’s why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. We do these things not only because they are the right thing to do, but because ultimately they will make us safer. (Applause.)

As Americans, we have a profound commitment to justice. So it makes no sense to spend $3 million per prisoner to keep open a prison that the world condemns and terrorists use to recruit. (Applause.) Since I’ve been President, we’ve worked responsibly to cut the population of Gitmo in half. Now it is time to finish the job. And I will not relent in my determination to shut it down. It is not who we are. It’s time to close Gitmo. (Applause.)

As Americans, we cherish our civil liberties, and we need to uphold that commitment if we want maximum cooperation from other countries and industry in our fight against terrorist networks. So while some have moved on from the debates over our surveillance programs, I have not. As promised, our intelligence agencies have worked hard, with the recommendations of privacy advocates, to increase transparency and build more safeguards against potential abuse. And next month, we’ll issue a report on how we’re keeping our promise to keep our country safe while strengthening privacy.

Looking to the future instead of the past. Making sure we match our power with diplomacy, and use force wisely. Building coalitions to meet new challenges and opportunities. Leading -- always -- with the example of our values. That’s what makes us exceptional. That’s what keeps us strong. That’s why we have to keep striving to hold ourselves to the highest of standards -- our own.

You know, just over a decade ago, I gave a speech in Boston where I said there wasn’t a liberal America or a conservative America; a black America or a white America -- but a United States of America. I said this because I had seen it in my own life, in a nation that gave someone like me a chance; because I grew up in Hawaii, a melting pot of races and customs; because I made Illinois my home -- a state of small towns, rich farmland, one of the world’s great cities; a microcosm of the country where Democrats and Republicans and Independents, good people of every ethnicity and every faith, share certain bedrock values.

Over the past six years, the pundits have pointed out more than once that my presidency hasn’t delivered on this vision. How ironic, they say, that our politics seems more divided than ever. It’s held up as proof not just of my own flaws -- of which there are many -- but also as proof that the vision itself is misguided, naïve, that there are too many people in this town who actually benefit from partisanship and gridlock for us to ever do anything about it.

I know how tempting such cynicism may be. But I still think the cynics are wrong. I still believe that we are one people. I still believe that together, we can do great things, even when the odds are long. (Applause.)

I believe this because over and over in my six years in office, I have seen America at its best. I’ve seen the hopeful faces of young graduates from New York to California, and our newest officers at West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, New London. I’ve mourned with grieving families in Tucson and Newtown, in Boston, in West Texas, and West Virginia. I’ve watched Americans beat back adversity from the Gulf Coast to the Great Plains, from Midwest assembly lines to the Mid-Atlantic seaboard. I’ve seen something like gay marriage go from a wedge issue used to drive us apart to a story of freedom across our country, a civil right now legal in states that seven in 10 Americans call home. (Applause.)

So I know the good, and optimistic, and big-hearted generosity of the American people who every day live the idea that we are our brother’s keeper and our sister’s keeper. And I know they expect those of us who serve here to set a better example.

So the question for those of us here tonight is how we, all of us, can better reflect America’s hopes. I’ve served in Congress with many of you. I know many of you well. There are a lot of good people here, on both sides of the aisle. And many of you have told me that this isn’t what you signed up for -- arguing past each other on cable shows, the constant fundraising, always looking over your shoulder at how the base will react to every decision.

Imagine if we broke out of these tired old patterns. Imagine if we did something different. Understand, a better politics isn’t one where Democrats abandon their agenda or Republicans simply embrace mine. A better politics is one where we appeal to each other’s basic decency instead of our basest fears. A better politics is one where we debate without demonizing each other; where we talk issues and values, and principles and facts, rather than “gotcha” moments, or trivial gaffes, or fake controversies that have nothing to do with people’s daily lives. (Applause.)

A politics -- a better politics is one where we spend less time drowning in dark money for ads that pull us into the gutter, and spend more time lifting young people up with a sense of purpose and possibility, asking them to join in the great mission of building America.

If we’re going to have arguments, let’s have arguments, but let’s make them debates worthy of this body and worthy of this country. We still may not agree on a woman’s right to choose, but surely we can agree it’s a good thing that teen pregnancies and abortions are nearing all-time lows, and that every woman should have access to the health care that she needs. (Applause.)

Yes, passions still fly on immigration, but surely we can all see something of ourselves in the striving young student, and agree that no one benefits when a hardworking mom is snatched from her child, and that it’s possible to shape a law that upholds our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. I’ve talked to Republicans and Democrats about that. That’s something that we can share.

We may go at it in campaign season, but surely we can agree that the right to vote is sacred; that it’s being denied to too many -- (applause) -- and that on this 50th anniversary of the great march from Selma to Montgomery and the passage of the Voting Rights Act, we can come together, Democrats and Republicans, to make voting easier for every single American. (Applause.)

We may have different takes on the events of Ferguson and New York. But surely we can understand a father who fears his son can’t walk home without being harassed. And surely we can understand the wife who won’t rest until the police officer she married walks through the front door at the end of his shift. (Applause.) And surely we can agree that it’s a good thing that for the first time in 40 years, the crime rate and the incarceration rate have come down together, and use that as a starting point for Democrats and Republicans, community leaders and law enforcement, to reform America’s criminal justice system so that it protects and serves all of us. (Applause.)

That’s a better politics. That’s how we start rebuilding trust. That’s how we move this country forward. That’s what the American people want. And that’s what they deserve.

I have no more campaigns to run. (Applause.) My only agenda -- (laughter) -- I know because I won both of them. (Applause.) My only agenda for the next two years is the same as the one I’ve had since the day I swore an oath on the steps of this Capitol -- to do what I believe is best for America. If you share the broad vision I outlined tonight, I ask you to join me in the work at hand. If you disagree with parts of it, I hope you’ll at least work with me where you do agree. And I commit to every Republican here tonight that I will not only seek out your ideas, I will seek to work with you to make this country stronger. (Applause.)

Because I want this chamber, I want this city to reflect the truth -- that for all our blind spots and shortcomings, we are a people with the strength and generosity of spirit to bridge divides, to unite in common effort, to help our neighbors, whether down the street or on the other side of the world.

I want our actions to tell every child in every neighborhood, your life matters, and we are committed to improving your life chances as committed as we are to working on behalf of our own kids. (Applause.) I want future generations to know that we are a people who see our differences as a great gift, that we’re a people who value the dignity and worth of every citizen -- man and woman, young and old, black and white, Latino, Asian, immigrant, Native American, gay, straight, Americans with mental illness or physical disability. Everybody matters. I want them to grow up in a country that shows the world what we still know to be true: that we are still more than a collection of red states and blue states; that we are the United States of America. (Applause.)

I want them to grow up in a country where a young mom can sit down and write a letter to her President with a story that sums up these past six years: “It’s amazing what you can bounce back from when you have to…we are a strong, tight-knit family who’s made it through some very, very hard times.”

My fellow Americans, we, too, are a strong, tight-knit family. We, too, have made it through some hard times. Fifteen years into this new century, we have picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and begun again the work of remaking America. We have laid a new foundation. A brighter future is ours to write. Let’s begin this new chapter together -- and let’s start the work right now. (Applause.)

Thank you. God bless you. God bless this country we love. Thank you. (Applause.)

END
10:11 P.M. EST

Delaware State ready to name new football coach

DOVER, Delaware -- Delaware State is expected to name its new football head coach at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

The event is slated for 2 p.m. in the administration building on campus. A press release said only that school president Harry Williams and athletic director Candy Young will “share the details concerning this important development in the Hornet football program.”

Delaware State has been without a full-time head football coach since Kermit Blount was fired on Dec. 16. In four seasons, Blount coached the Hornets to a 16-29 overall record, including a 13-19 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

“We’re looking for someone who can motivate our young men and teach them life skills,” Young said at the time. “We want a program that is successful on the field and off the field.”

CONTINUE READING

Gold Nuggets still receiving votes in NAIA coaches poll

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana received more support Tuesday in the NAIA Division I women's basketball coaches poll but still fell short of the top 25.

The Gold Nuggets (10-10, 3-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) collected 14 points and are 29th overall. They needed 56 points to reach the top 25. Xavier received nine points and was 31st one week ago.

Xavier is out of the top 25 for the third consecutive poll after ranking 18th in the preseason and 19th on Dec. 9.

Freed-Hardeman, defending champion Oklahoma City and Campbellsville rank 1-2-3 for the third consecutive week. Freed-Hardeman received 9-of-10 first-place votes to earn the top spot for the fourth straight poll.

Xavier lost 73-43 at home Monday to SUNO and will play its next game at 3 p.m. EST Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., against Edward Waters. The next XU home game will be Feb. 2.

NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through Jan. 18) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Freed-Hardeman (9) 17-1 250 1 2 Oklahoma City (1) 11-1 242 2 3 Campbellsville 18-1 234 3 4 Westminster (Utah) 12-2 221 5 5 Langston 15-0 218 6 6 Bethel (Tenn.) 16-2 214 7 7 Loyola 15-1 201 4 8 Oklahoma Baptist 12-3 192 8 9 Concordia (Calif.) 14-3 190 9 10 Montana State-Northern 19-1 178 11 11 Vanguard 12-4 167 13 12 Shawnee State 17-3 160 tie-14 13 Lewis-Clark State 16-3 146 tie-14 14 The Master's 14-4 144 16 15 Our Lady of the Lake 12-4 134 18 16 Westmont 16-3 131 17 17 Wiley 10-2 130 10 18 MidAmerica Nazarene 13-5 117 12 19 Lindsey Wilson 16-4 101 21 20 Lyon 13-4 99 20 21 Carroll (Mont.) 11-6 83 19 22 Great Falls 16-3 80 RV 23 Martin Methodist 15-3 73 25 24 Columbia (Mo.) 13-5 58 23 25 Georgetown (Ky.) 10-6 56 24 Others receiving votes: Benedictine (Kan.) 51, Texas Wesleyan 48, Baker 18, Xavier 14, Pikeville 12, Cumberlands 12, Cumberland 9, Wayland Baptist 7

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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Rush climb again, this time to 20th, in NAIA rankings

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana climbed for the second straight week in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25.

The Gold Rush (14-6 overall, 3-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) moved from 21st to 20th Tuesday. It is the highest rank for the XU men since the preseason poll, when they were 13th.

It is the 42nd consecutive appearance in the top 25 for the Gold Rush, and it's the longest active streak among NAIA DI men's teams. The XU men appeared in 55 of the last 56 top-25s.

For the fifth time in as many polls this season, the GCAC has three top-25 men's teams. Talladega is sixth and Philander Smith is 23rd, same as a week ago. Talladega leads the GCAC with a 4-0 conference record, and Xavier is tied for second place and one game behind.

Campbellsville is No. 1 for the third consecutive week. The Tigers received all 10 first-place votes after collecting six last week and five two weeks ago.

Xavier won 60-52 at home Monday against SUNO and will play at 5 p.m. EST Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., against Edward Waters. The next XU home game will be Feb. 2.

NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through Jan. 18) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Campbellsville (10) 19-1 250 1 2 Cal State San Marcos 19-2 240 3 3 Pikeville 18-1 230 4 4 Hope International 16-1 228 2 5 Martin Methodist 17-1 218 5 6 Talladega 17-3 208 6 7 Freed-Hardeman 15-2 194 8 8 Oklahoma Baptist 15-3 190 7 9-tie Montana Western 15-3 183 9 9-tie Benedictine (Kan.) 16-3 183 10 11 Our Lady of the Lake 12-1 170 tie-11 12 Concordia (Calif.) 17-3 165 15 13 Dalton State 15-2 155 14 14 Wayland Baptist 15-2 148 tie-11 15 Arizona Christian 16-4 134 13 16 Columbia (Mo.) 16-3 126 20 17 Georgetown (Ky.) 15-3 116 18 18 William Carey 12-4 113 16 19 Great Falls 14-4 98 RV 20 Xavier 13-6 97 21 21 Evangel 11-6 86 22 22 LSU-Alexandria 9-1 78 24 23 Philander Smith 12-4 74 23 24 Cumberlands 16-4 66 25 25 Mid-America Christian 12-6 53 NR Others receiving votes: Westmont 47, Montana Tech 24, Missouri Valley 22, Central Methodist 19, Bethel 15, St. Gregory's 15, Lewis-Clark State 13, Southwestern Assemblies of God 5, Vanguard 3

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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TSU Tigers get home win over Jackson State 67-54

HOUSTON, Texas -- Madarious Gibbs scored 19 points and Texas Southern built a big lead, held off a late charge and beat Jackson State 67-54 on Monday.

Texas Southern raced out to a 12-4 lead behind Deverell Biggs' 3-pointer just over four minutes in. A 9-0 run midway through the half extended the lead to 21-8 and Texas Southern led 38-21 at the break.

The lead reached 20 with 15:19 left on a pair of Malcolm Riley free throws. Jackson State got it to 10 with 4:31 left on Jaleel Queary's jumper, but Texas Southern reeled off the next 11 points to wrap up the win.

Biggs finished with 13 points and a trio of three pointers for Texas Southern. Chris Thomas had 12 points and Riley added 10.

Jackson State was led by Kaven Bernard with 14 points while Derrell Taylor added 12 points and six boards.

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

UTSA football to host the FCS Southern Jaguars in 2017

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The UTSA football program announced Tuesday that it will host the Southern Jaguars on Sept. 2, 2017.

The Roadrunners and Jaguars of the Southwestern Athletic Conference have never played.

Southern, a Football Championship Subdivision program located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, finished 9-4 and won the SWAC West Division with an 8-1 record last fall. The Jaguars suffered a 38-24 loss to Alcorn State in the conference title game.

UTSA is a member of Conference USA and was 4-8,(3-5 C-USA) in 2014. The Roadrunners home games are played at the Alamodome (65,000 seats).

UTSA now has three non-conference games scheduled for 2017, as it will play Baylor on Sept. 9 in Waco and Texas State on Sept. 23 in San Marcos.

 

The Roadrunners will open the 2015 slate against Arizona on Thursday, Sept. 3, in Tucson, Ariz., before returning home to host Kansas State on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Alamodome. UTSA also travels to Stillwater, Okla., for the second consecuitve season to play Oklahoma State one week later (Sept. 19) and it will host Colorado State on Sept. 26 in the final non-conference contest of its fifth year of football. All four opponents made bowl appearances and were ranked in both The Associated Press and Amway/USA Today Coaches Top 25 Polls at one point this past season.

 

Season tickets are on sale now. Orders can be made by calling (210-458-UTSA (8872) or clicking here.

Courtesy UTSA Athletics

N.C. Central comes back to defeat Hampton U. 59-52

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton University didn’t need much for what would have been a signature win – a couple of shots, a few defensive stops..

Instead, the Pirates squandered an opportunity at home for the second time in three days, this time against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference defending champs.

North Carolina Central weathered foul trouble and ghastly play, regrouping in the second half for a 59-52 win Monday at the HU Convocation Center.

“We said that we wanted to try to disrupt the rhythm of what they do,” HU coach Ed Joyner Jr., said. “We were able to do that the first half. The second half, it got away from us.”

N.C. Central (14-5, 6-0 MEAC) won its eighth consecutive game and sits alone in first place after a weekend trip to Hampton Roads in which it squeezed past Norfolk State on Saturday and the Pirates two nights later.



CONTINUE READING

UMES lets SCSU hang around, loses in OT

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- The UMES men’s basketball team struggled all night to find consistency on the offensive end, and let South Carolina State hang around.

“We kept getting the lead and they kept making big shots,” UMES coach Bobby Collins said. “I told out guys we gotta be able to sit down and defend and get stops when we need it and be grimy and we didn’t do that tonight.”

The Hawks paid a penance for letting the Bulldogs stay close.

When Devin Martin missed a free throw with nine seconds left in overtime the score was left tied. And when Michael Myers missed a free throw with 40 seconds left that could have given the Hawks a 3-point lead in overtime — it left the door open again.

After a timeout by South Carolina State, the Hawks played 27 seconds of good defense before allowing Edward Stephens to put up a desperation jumper with the shot clock running down.

CONTINUE READING

Coppin State men hand 18th straight loss to Florida A&M, 87-75

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Christian Kessee scored a career-high 23 points and the Coppin State men's basketball team extended the nation's longest losing streak by beating winless Florida A&M, 87-75, on Monday..

The visiting Rattlers lost their 18th straight this season, a school record. Central Arkansas (0-16) is the only other winless team in Division I.

Coppin State (2-16, 1-4 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) was up by 14 with 5:44 left in the first half and used a 14-2 run to push its lead to 49-23 at the break.

Florida A&M came out firing in the second half. A 21-2 run to start the frame — including 12 points from Jermaine Ruttley — made it a 10-point game at the midway mark.

The Rattlers got as close as six on Craig Bowman's 3-pointer with 28 seconds left.

CONTINUE READING

Prairie View sweeps Grambling men, women

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- The Grambling State women’s basketball team lost its second consecutive game on Monday night, falling 85-57 to Prairie View.

Prairie View built a 46-26 halftime lead. Grambling never got closer than 16 points in the final 20 minutes.

Grambling (5-12, 2-4) was led by Mariah Gilliam with 12 points. Klintisha Martin added 11 points and Kiana Jones had 10 for the Lady Tigers.

Prairie View, meanwhile, had four players score in double figures. Alexus Parker led the Panthers with 18 points. Jeanette Jackson added 15, Shamiya Brooks had 13 points and Monique Abbs had 10.

Prairie View (6-11, 3-2) enjoyed a hot shooting night from the floor as the Panthers made 50.7 percent of their field goal attempts.

CONTINUE READING

Southern men cruise past MVSU for their fourth straight victory

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  The Southern and Mississippi Valley State men’s basketball teams played at a fast-scoring pace in the first half Monday night.

Then, they played at a slower pace in the second half.

The Jaguars were better at both, and that led to a 79-55 victory in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

“We ran with them early,” Southern guard Christopher Hyder said. “Then, when we saw what the lead was and how the game was developing, we slowed things down, ran some clock and got some easy baskets late.”

The Jaguars outscored Valley 43-30 in the first half and 36-25 in the second as they won their fourth consecutive game.

Southern (8-12, 5-1 SWAC) plays at Alabama A&M on Saturday. The Delta Devils fell to 2-16 and 1-4.

CONTINUE READING

Hampton U. women cruise past N.C. Central 75-36

HAMPTON, Virginia — Hampton University's women attempted to make it as easy as possible on a difficult day for head coach David Six.

Six attended the funeral of friend and former colleague Darrin Donahoo on Monday afternoon, then watched as his Lady Pirates dismantled North Carolina Central 75-36 at the HU Convocation Center.

"It was a tough day for me," Six said. "I was there, but I wasn't there."

Hampton (9-9, 5-0 MEAC) was never threatened on the way to its 54th consecutive win against conference competition. The Lady Pirates jumped to an early 10-point lead, reached 50 before the Eagles hit 20, and 70 before NCCU got to 30.

HU sophomore guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas (30 points) nearly outscored NCCU by herself. The Eagles had almost as many turnovers (36) as shot attempts (40).

The Lady Pirates were on-point defensively in their most one-sided win of the season, and Six used his bench more liberally than in many previous games.



CONTINUE READING

Rush beat SUNO, and all is Goode and Wright again

Photo Gallery: XU men's basketball vs. SUNO
Photos by Yamlak Tsega
 

NEW ORLEANS -- Guards Anthony Goode and Morris Wright combined for 41 points Monday to lead NAIA No. 21 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 60-52 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against city rival SUNO.

Goode scored 23 points -- he made five 3-pointers to match his career high -- and Wright scored 18 to lead the Gold Rush (14-6, 3-1) to its third consecutive victory, all in conference. Goode and Wright combined to shoot 15-of-22 from the floor, 7-of-11 on 3-pointers.

Gary Smith had a career-high 10 assists for Xavier -- his previous best was five -- and Sydney Coleman grabbed a season-best 11 rebounds.

Justin Fairman made five 3-pointers for SUNO (3-11, 0-3) and was the Knights' only double-figure scorer with 17 points.

It was the fifth time this season that Xavier won after trailing at halftime. SUNO made six 3-pointers to grab a 31-29 halftime lead and extended its advantage to 38-31 on Thaddeus Fortune's 3-pointer with 15:58 remaining.

Wright scored six points during a 13-0 run which lasted nearly 7 1/2 minutes and turned SUNO's 50-45 lead into a 58-50 Xavier advantage with 1:30 remaining. Wright's 3-point play with 7:14 remaining put Xavier ahead to stay, 51-50.

Goode reached 20 points for a team-leading fourth time this season. Wright leads the Gold Rush with 16 games scoring in double figures.

The teams combined for 22 fouls and 16 turnovers. Xavier's 10 fouls were a season low, and its seven turnovers were its fewest in a game since Feb. 21, 2009. Xavier combined for 46 turnovers in its previous two games.

Xavier outshot the Knights 47.9 to 42 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 32-28. The low number of fouls resulted in few free-throw opportunities -- SUNO was 1-of-6, and Xavier was 7-of-14.

Xavier and Tougaloo moved into a tie for second place in the GCAC, one game behind Talladega. The Tornadoes improved to 4-0 in the conference with an 82-77 victory at Philander Smith.

SUNO has dropped three straight and 10 of its last 11 games.

The next Gold Rush game will start at 5 p.m. EST Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., against GCAC opponent Edward Waters. The next XU home game will be Feb. 2.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 

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SUNO leads wire-to-wire, defeats Nuggets 73-43 at XU

PHOTO GALLERY: XU women's basketball vs. SUNO

Photos by Yamlak Tsega
 

NEW ORLEANS -- Senior guard Brandy Broome, one of five SUNO double-figure scorers, had 21 points to lead the Lady Knights in a 73-43 women's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana at the Convocation Center.

The Lady Knights (8-2, 3-0) led wire-to-wire and took sole possession of first place in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

Broome, the NAIA leader in steals per game, had six steals along with five rebounds and three assists.

Rayvin Miller scored 15 points and Shonte Dillon 12 for SUNO, and Kishaun Williams and Breanna Wiley had 11 points apiece. Wiley grabbed eight rebounds.

Whitney Gathright scored 14 points for the Gold Nuggets (10-10, 3-1). Vinnie Briggs had 11 points and eight rebounds, and Donyeah Mayfield grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds.

Broome made consecutive 3-pointers to start a 12-3 run which gave SUNO a 25-15 lead at 5:38 of the first half. The Lady Knights led 32-23 at halftime and maintained a double-digit lead for the final 19:39.

Xavier suffered its second-largest home defeat of the Title IX era. The worst was a 97-63 loss to Auburn Montgomery on Nov. 4, 1995, at the Nuggets' previous home facility, The Barn. Xavier has lost four times at the Convocation Center in 2014-15, its most at home in one season since dropping five in 1999-2000.

SUNO shot 48.1 percent from the floor, the highest by an XU opponent this season, and limited the Nuggets to a season-low 23.1 percent. Xavier outrebounded the Lady Knights 52-42.

Xavier's next game will start at 3 p.m. EST Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., against GCAC opponent Edward Waters. The next XU home game will be Feb. 2.

Box score

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 

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Morgan State Pitch and Catch Still An All-Time Top 10 Play

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- During Morgan State's 21-7 win over Winston-Salem State on September 20, 2008, the Bears' Wide Receiver Edwin Baptiste made one of the greatest pass catches ever caught on tape. Lucky there was a video camera on the play, as only 3,066 fans were at Bowman-Gray Stadium on that particular afternoon.

Baptiste catch became an instant sensation on ESPN and was the #1 Play of the Week. "The Catch" has had over 4.99 million views since posted on YouTube in 2008, and is considered one of the ten greatest football catches of all time. 

But, who remember the name of the Morgan State QB that threw that pass to Baptiste?

B-CU Lady Wildcats Deliver Wire-to-Wire Victory at MSU, 55-48

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The Lady Wildcats (6-12, 3-3 MEAC) made it 2-for-2 on the trip to Baltimore, jumping out early on Morgan State (6-12, 3-3 MEAC) and holding the advantage throughout to top the Lady Bears, 55-48, Monday afternoon at Talmadge L. Hill Field House.

"Mentally we were tough. We came out offensively and hit our shots, developed a big lead and were able to hold onto it throughout Morgan State's runs," Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis said. "But defensively is where we really did a great job."

Set off by a trio of buckets for redshirt sophomore center Kailyn Williams, followed by a pair for Kendra Cooper, the Lady Wildcats jumped out to a 12-0 advantage. The B-CU defense stood strong early, allowing seven minutes to elapse before the Lady Bears touched the scoreboard on Braennan Farrar’s four-point play.

Farrar scored MSU’s first seven points and 10 of Morgan State’s 19 in the first half. As others got into the offensive mix, Emily Williams and Jasmine Knowles chipped in a pair of scores each to keep the Lady Bears at a safe distance, with B-CU carrying a 28-19 lead into the half.



BOX SCORE

After a hot first half, Cooper drained her lone second half shot to open the period’s scoring with just under two minutes played. With Cooper smothered by defenders, other Lady Wildcats took advantage of the opening, building up to a 13-point lead with 13:39 to go.

Making her first game appearance in the second half, MSU’s Torri Chestnut applied some pressure for the Lady Wildcats, going 3-for-3 from long distance and sparking a Lady Bears run that trimmed the deficit to just five points with 9:50 remaining.

However, free throw conversions from Terrenisha Hollis, Cooper and Knowles kept the lead hovering around double digits. As B-CU worked to burn the clock down the stretch, MSU was able to creep back into contention, but buckets from K. Williams and Emily Williams iced the game with under a minute to play, closing in a 55-48 Bethune-Cookman win at the final buzzer.

Cooper led all scorers with 18 points, shooting 62.5 percent from the field, 80 percent from the perimeter and 100 percent from the line for her 13th double-figure scoring game of the year. In addition, she logged a career-high seven (7) rebounds.

For the second time in a week, K. Williams pressed close to earning a triple-double, logging 12 points, 13 rebounds and eight (8) blocks in the contest, shooting 45.4 percent on the day.

Knowles had a banner day at point guard, drawing praise from the coaching staff.

"It's easy to play point when nobody's pressuring you, but she had pressure the entire game, and was still able to distribute the ball," Blair-Lewis said. "She was still able to attack offensively for her shots, and she defended the best player on the team."

Knowles scored 11 of her own on 44.4 percent shooting, but also dishing out seven (7) assists to match her career high.

Williams was also named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week just before tip-off this afternoon.

The Lady Wildcats return to Richard V. Moore Gymnasium on a win streak, taking on a home set with Maryland Eastern Shore and Howard next week.

For all the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats, follow the official Twitter feed at @BCUWBB on Twitter, and @BCUathletics as well. Be sure to "Like Us" on Facebook at BCUathletics.

To join the conversation about Bethune-Cookman Athletics, please tag your social media posts with the official hashtag of B-CU Athletics, #HailWildcats.

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FAMU President Dr. Elmira Mangum Directs Marching 100

KEEPING IT REAL...  On the last home game of the 2014 Rattler Football Season, New President Dr. Elmira Mangum Directs the Marching 100 Band.

Video Courtesy of Tony Leavell Band Photographer

Livingstone College Mark Thomas Honored at 2015 NCAA Convention with NCAA Top 10 Award

MARK THOMAS IS THE FIRST STUDENT-ATHLETE FROM AN HBCU TO BE PRESENTED AN NCAA TODAY'S TOP TEN AWARD IN THE AWARD'S 42 YEAR HISTORY. 

(Photo: Livingstone College President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. and LC Blue Bears Alumnus Mark Thomas)

NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland – Livingstone College graduate and former basketball standout Mark Thomas made history Friday by becoming the first student-athlete from an HBCU to receive an NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award in the award’s 42-year history.

During a well-choreographed, three-hour ceremony that featured former Major League pitcher Mike Mussina, a millionaire whose family once lived in a boxcar, and the Bowie State University Marching Band, Thomas stood on a stage he probably never imagined to accept his award and discuss his career at Livingstone.

“First of all I want to thank God,” Thomas said. “That’s the first thing. Attending Livingstone College gave me the opportunity to play basketball and get my education. Coming from a small HBCU and receiving an honor like this just shows all things are possible.”

Thomas was escorted on stage by Livingstone College President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. They stood together momentarily, posing with Thomas’ award, before Jenkins exited and Thomas chatted with Master of Ceremonies Jack Ford, a legal analyst for CBS News who played football at Yale University and is a former prosecutor and host of ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters II.”

When he returned to his seat inside a ballroom at The Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, where a capacity crowd enjoyed the awards dinner, Thomas was given a high-five by his brother, Lance Wilson, and a kiss from his mother, Leslie Thomas.



The NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award recognizes student-athletes, who completed their athletic eligibility during the 2013-14 academic year, for their success on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Previously, the NCAA recognized five students annually before increasing the number to eight and eventually 10.

Joining Thomas in receiving the Today’s Top 10 Award were Lauren Battista, Abbey D’Agostino, Joe Fletcher, Kristen Hixson, Gabe Ikard, Kim Jacob, Megan Light, Nicole Michmerhuizen and Shannon Vreeland.

Friday’s ceremony also featured Mussina and five other Silver Anniversary Award winners and came at a good time for Thomas, who graduated in May 2014 with a 3.7 GPA. He learned two months later he suffers from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and can no longer play basketball.

During a video that played Friday night, he acknowledged giving up basketball has been extremely difficult but said, “I guess if this had to happen to me this was the best time … after my college career ended.”

During his senior season at Livingstone, Thomas averaged 21.4 points, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He was named 2013-14 CIAA Player of the Year and led the Blue Bears to their first CIAA Championship – both firsts in school history. He also snagged a spot on the All-CIAA Tournament Team and Tournament MVP honors.

Despite his obvious pain over not being able to play basketball anymore – he’d hoped for a shot at playing overseas – Thomas is grateful for playing three seasons under Livingstone head coach James Stinson, Jr.

And though he’s appreciative of the many awards he’s received, particularly The NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award, he said he’s more concerned about making a difference in someone’s life.

“Every kid needs somebody to look up to,” Thomas said in his video. “If one kid can look up to me and say, ‘I want to be like him,’ that’d be great. That’d be better than winning all of the awards, honestly.”

Livingstone College athletic director Andre Springs wasn’t surprised to hear those words from Thomas, who he said is a perfect example of what can happen “when you give a kid a scholarship and he takes full advantage of it academically as well as athletically.”

Thomas’ humility also didn’t surprise Jenkins, who couldn’t praise him enough after the ceremony.

“This is a great night for Livingstone and an even greater night for Mark,” Jenkins said. “It really punctuates a stellar career, both academically and athletically. Mark is an exceptional human being. He’s very mannerly, very humble, very talented and very optimistic. I believe we’ve just begun to see the plateaus that he will reach in his life.”

During a dessert reception after the dinner, Thomas struggled to adequately express what the night meant to him.

“It was beyond my expectations,” he said. “I’m almost speechless. To be one of the Top 10 athletes in the country is pretty special.”

COURTESY LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE MEDIA RELATIONS

VSU Trojans Take Third Consecutive Win at Annual Freedom Classic

RICHMOND, Virginia -- The VSU men's basketball team took down the Virginia Union University Panthers for the third consecutive year at the annual Freedom Classic on January 18. The final score was 64-45.

The Trojans currently have a 11-5 overall record, 5-2 in the CIAA conference.

VSU shot 45.7 percent (21-46) from the field, 35.0 percent (7-20) from behind the arc and 75.0 percent (15-20) from the free throw line.

Senior Lamar Kearse took the helm of the game in scoring with 16 points while collecting 7 rebounds. Bringing in his fourth double-double of the season was senior Tyrece Little with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Both Trojans credit their teammates for having a great game.

The beginning of the first half started off slow for the Trojans. The Panthers leading scorer D'Andre Bullard made several baskets for his team, putting them up by five points. Sophomore Jamison Jeffers set the tone for the Trojans with two back-to-back shots from behind the arc. Kearse rounded out the half with a 3 pointer. VSU was in the lead at halftime with a score of 27-17.

VSU kept the lead and did not look back in the second half.  Basket after basket by the Trojans left the Panthers in the dust. Little wowed the crowd with a dunk as the team celebrated an early victory with 4:29 left in regulation. The Trojans finished the game with a final score of 64-45, a 19 point lead. VSU Head coach Lonnie Blow credits the "energizing shots" at the end of the first half for the great momentum in the second half.

The Trojans secured 13 points off of turnovers and 20 points in the paint.

The VSU men will go up against the Chowan University Hawks on Wednesday, January 21 in Daniel Gymnasium. In honor of gender equity and Title IX, tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

For more information on the VSU men's program, visit www.govsutrojans.com.

Box Score

COURTESY VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern men try to extend streak

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern men’s basketball team played 18 games before it managed to win two games in a row.

It extended that streak to three when it beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 70-60 on Saturday, and it will look to make it four in a row when it plays Mississippi Valley State on Monday in the F.G. Clark Activity Center. Tip-off if 8 p.m. and the game will be televised by CST.

“For the first time, we have a few wins in a row. And I think any time that happens, you start feeling good about yourselves,” Jaguars coach Roman Banks said. “We want to turn feeling good about ourselves into working to get better and not just being happy with where we are.”

Southern is 7-12 and 4-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Delta Devils are 2-15 and 1-3 after an 87-67 loss at Alcorn State on Saturday.

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Hampton University Sailing Releases Spring Schedule

SAILING  - A CO-ED SPORT AT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton University head sailing coach Alessandro Ambrosi announced his team's spring 2015 schedule on Friday, a slate that includes a pair of regattas to be held at Strawberry Banks.

The first of those regattas, the Pirates Team Race, will open the season on Feb. 28-March 1, before the team heads to Norfolk, Va. for the ODU Spring Open. Then the Pirates will head to Williamsburg, Va. on March 21-22 for the William & Mary Spring Open.

The Pirates will return to Strawberry Banks on March 28-29 for the MAISA/SAISA Intersectional. This will mark the seventh straight year in which Hampton has hosted this regatta.

On April 4-5, the Pirates will be in King's Point, N.Y. for the Team Race Challenge, and the top two teams in that event will qualify for the Prosser trophy, which will be held in King's Point, N.Y. on April 11-12, the following weekend.

Hampton will either be competing in the Thompson Trophy or the Navy Spring Open on April 18-19, before the MAISA Women's Championship takes place in Saint Mary's City, Md. on April 25-26.

The America Trophy will be held at ODU on May 2-3. The Pirates qualified for the America Trophy, which serves as the MAISA co-ed championship, for the first time last season – finishing 16th in the regatta.

For more information on Hampton University sailing, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com. 

Date		Opponent	Location	Time

2/28-3/1/2015		Pirate Team Racing	Hampton, Va.	All Day
3/7-8/2015		ODU Spring Open	Norfolk, Va.	All Day
3/21-22/2015		William and Mary Spring Open	Williamsburg, Va.	All Day
3/28-29/2015		MAISA/SAISA Intersectional	Hampton, Va.	All Day
4/4-5/2015		Team Race Challenge	King's Point, N.Y.	All Day
4/11-12/2015		Prosser Trophy	King's Point, N.Y.	All Day
4/18-19/2015		Thompson Trophy	TBA	All Day
4/18-19/2015		Navy Spring Open	Annapolis, Md.	All Day
4/25-26/2015		MAISA Women's Championship	Saint Mary's City, Md.	All Day
5/2-3/2015		America Trophy	Norfolk, Va.	All Day

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION