FSU's Michael Johnson gets to play in front of pro scouts

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  --Michael Johnson's football career at Fayetteville State ended in early November, but the two-time All-CIAA safety hasn't taken a day off since.

"I've been in the gym or on the field constantly,'' Johnson said. "I've been playing football since I was 4 years old and I'm not ready to give it up just yet.''

Apparently, there are plenty of significant people who believe Johnson has the potential to keep playing - at the professional level.

The 6-foot-2, 196-pounder from Raleigh has been signed by the HOF Player Representatives out of Canton, Ohio, a sports agency that serves several NFL players, and he's been invited to participate in the 2015 College Gridiron Showcase on Jan. 31 in Arlington, Texas.

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Yonker: DSU's Collins finally the right man at the right time

DOVER, Delaware -- Ok.

Here goes.

Take a deep breath Shawn.

I was wrong …

Yeah, I know — that sounded just as weird in my head as I typed it. But wait for it …

I was wrong about the University of Maryland Eastern Shore basketball team.

Yeah, I didn't think I'd ever type that either. And during a decade of suffering on the sidelines at the Hytche Center, I'd never had to say it before.

Unless you are my wife who hears those first three words too often, I hardly ever have to say them — much less type them for the world to see.

But I was wrong about first-year head coach Bobby Collins.



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Lady Rattlers Make Strides In Final Meet At UF O'Connell Center

GAINESVILLE, Florida (Jan. 23) – The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers had a good showing at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational today at the final event at the indoor track at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on the campus of the University of Florida.

One of the highlights of the meet was the performance of Ashley Ivey. Ivey won the 55 meter hurdles in 7.98 to top the collegiate division. Ivey got stronger as the meet progressed, as she qualified for the finals nearly a full second slower.

Head coach, Darlene Moore, saw many positives in the meet. “It was a privilege to be able to compete in the last event at the historic O’Connell Center. It has been a big part of the track and field scene for the last quarter century. It was good to see our young ladies put on strong performances in this last meet,” Moore said.

Ashley Giacomucci took first place in the triple jump with a leap of 11.44m (37:06.50). Battling injuries, she performed well enough to win, which should bode well for the Lady Rattlers who are preparing for the MEAC Indoor Championship.



Sprinter Jharna Alston blazed to a second place finish in 57.27 in the 400m dash. Raven Diggs finished in sixth place (59.91) and Destiny Johnson finished in seventh (59.99). Alston also posted a third place finish in the 200m dash in 24.94

Andrea Aaron placed third in the shot put with a toss of 13.54m (46:05.25).

Ivey would also take fifth in the long jump, leaping 5.50m (17:04.25), while Jharna Alston placed 10th in 4.68m (15:11.75).

Quandra Shanks finished seventh in the mile run in 5:23.33. Newcomer Fridah Limo got a ninth place finish in 5:26.31.

Distance and middle distance runner Judith Kibii raced to a second place finish in the 3000m run, with a time of 10:19.25. She also navigated to a 2:25.25 finish in the 800m dash, good for 12th place overall.

Moore was pleased with the progress the team has made at this point in the season. “We saw some good things from the young ladies, but we also saw some areas we need to concentrate on. We’ll go back to work next week to make sure we can make the best of our talents in order to compete for a MEAC championship,” Moore said.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former NSU player Lynden Trail makes plays, shows versatility at Senior Bowl

MOBILE, Alabama -- When defensive end Lynden Trail arrived at Florida in 2010 he looked more like Corey Brewer than Jevon Kearse.

Trail was listed at 6-foot-7, weighing 203 pounds. The Gators were hopeful Trail would fill out into a disruptive defensive end.

Trail filled out, but at Norfolk State. He transferred after two years at UF in which he redshirted and then didn’t play his second season in 2011 as he struggled to add weight.

Three years later, Trail has morphed into one of the most impressive athletes at the Senior Bowl. During Tuesday’s official weigh-in, Trail was listed at a shade over 6-6 and checking in at 262 pounds. He has emerged as perhaps the most intriguing prospect from a Football Championship Subdivision school in the draft.

“I left Florida weighing around 225,” Trail said. “The thing that really helped me at Norfolk was my girlfriend. She changed my nutrition. I went from eating junk food and fast food to home-cooked meals. I’m not a greens guy, but she sneaks vegetables into dishes she makes. Slowly, I started to gain weight, it started to stick and form in the right ways.”



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Alcorn State Athletics Releases 2015 Football Schedule

LORMAN, Mississippi -- The Alcorn State athletics department announced the 2015 Braves football schedule today.

Fourth-year head coach, Jay Hopson and the 2014 SWAC and Black College National Champion Braves have a tough road ahead of them as they look to defend their title in 2015. The schedule consists of two non-conference opponents and as always a competitive nine-game SWAC schedule.

An early non-conference challenge kicks off the 2015 season as the Braves travel to Atlanta, Ga. on September 3rd for a Thursday night matchup against the 2014 Orange Bowl Champions, Georgia Tech, at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

After a nine-day rest period, the Braves hit the road once again on Sept. 12th to face their first SWAC Eastern Division opponent of the season, Alabama State.

Back-to-back home games wrap up the month of September with Mississippi Valley State coming to town on September. 19th followed by the Braves final non-conference game of the season against Concordia College (Selma) on Sept. 26th.

The Braves have only three games in October beginning with a trip to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Oct. 3rd. After an open date on Oct. 10th, Grambling State makes their way to Spinks-Casem Stadium on October 17th. October ends on Halloween Night with a rematch of the 2014 SWAC Championship game in Baton Rouge, La. as the Braves take on Southern University.

November will be full of excitement with Prairie View A&M coming to "Reservation" on Nov. 7th. On November 14th, the Braves travel to Houston to face Texas Southern before returning to Lorman, Miss. for their home finale against Alabama A&M on November 21st.

The 2015 regular season ends versus heated rival Jackson State on Nov. 28th at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Miss.

Coach Hopson had this to say about the 2015 schedule; "We are very excited about the schedule for the upcoming season, especially with the opportunity to open up against a very good Georgia Tech team from the ACC," said Hopson. "We encourage our alumni and fans to come out and support us this season as we look to defend our SWAC title.

Season ticket packages will be finalized within the next few weeks. For more information about ticket prices, call the ASU ticket office at 601.877.6822.



ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY BRAVES 2015 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date		Opponent	Location	Home/Away	Conf. Game	Location		Day

9/3/2015 Georgia Tech Atlanta, Ga. A Atlanta, Ga. Thu. 
9/12/2015 Alabama State Montgomery, Ala. A * Montgomery, Ala. Sat.
9/19/2015 Mississippi Valley State Lorman, Miss. H * Lorman, Miss. Sat. 
9/26/2015 Concordia College (Selma) Lorman, Miss. H Lorman, Miss. Sat. 
10/3/2015 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, Ark. A * Pine Bluff, Ark. Sat. 
10/10/2015 Open H Sat. 
10/17/2015 Grambling State Lorman, Miss. H * Lorman, Miss. Sat.
10/24/2015 Open H Sat.
10/31/2015 Southern Baton Rouge, La. A * Baton Rouge, La. Sat.
11/7/2015 Prairie View A&M Lorman, Miss. H * Lorman, Miss. Sat.  
11/14/2015 Texas Southern Houston, Texas A * Houston, Texas Sat. 
11/21/2015 Alabama A&M Lorman, Miss. H * Lorman, Miss. Sat. 
11/28/2015 Jackson State Jackson, Miss. A * Jackson, Miss. Sat.  


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COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

UDC Firebirds Fend off Spartans for Third Straight Win

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- University of the District of Columbia held St. Thomas Aquinas without a field goal for nearly the final five minutes of regulation as the Firebirds pulled away late to win their third straight game, 62-48 in East Coast Conference play Thursday night in the nation's capital.

The Firebirds, ranked No. 8 in the D2SIDA East Region poll this week, improved to 14-3 overall and 7-2 in ECC play. They are currently 3^rd in the league standings behind Queens and NYIT – who each have one loss in league play. STAC fell to 8-11 overall and 4-6 in league play with tonight's loss.

 

After shooting a paltry 30-percent (10-of-30) in the first half from the field, the Firebirds made up for it by shooting 48-percent (14-of-29) in the second half. UDC also owned a sizeable, 43-24 rebounding advantage thanks in large part to its two forwards, senior Denikka Brent (Mechanical Engineering – Chesapeake, VA/Booker T. Washington HS) and junior Tatyana Calhoun (Architecture – Disputanta, VA/Sussex Central HS) combining for 26 rebounds. Brent finished with a team-high 17 points and 10 rebounds while Calhoun hauled in a season and game-high 16 rebounds (nine on the offensive glass), scored 10 points and had three steals.

 

UDC outscored STAC 30-18 in the paint and 18-6 in second-chance points courtesy of 22 offensive rebounds. The Firebirds also forced 18 Spartan turnovers and cashed them in for 22 points.

 

STAC had just one scorer in double figures – guard Jenna Erickson with 13 points. Erickson shot 5-of-11 from the field and also registered four assists and three steals. Kaitlyn McCue had a game-high five assists for the guests and KC Sokolski pitched in with a team-high nine rebounds.

 

The first half featured three ties and three lead changes as the two ECC foes were never separated by more than five points the entire half. The Firebirds, led by Calhoun's six points and nine rebounds, took a 25-21 lead into halftime.

 

Still a five-point game halfway through the closing period, the Firebirds used a 6-0 run to take their first double-digit lead of the night, 47-36 just past the eight-minute mark. The Spartans came charging back with a 10-2 surge, highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers by Samantha Lane and consecutive layups by Erickson. The second of Erickson's layups brought STAC within three, 49-46 with 4:52 remaining.

 

On the ensuing Firebirds possession, UDC had the ball for 38 seconds including four shot attempts before junior guard Tajruba Baldwin-Kollore (Criminal Justice – Newport News, VA/Denbigh HS) converted a layup to put the Firebirds up five. Then, following a STAC turnover, Brent earned a trip to the free-throw line and converted a pair to extend the lead to seven with 3:45 left to play.

 

In the final 4:52, STAC managed only two free throws (on four attempts), shot  0-for-6 from the field and turned the ball over three times. Meanwhile, UDC made 7-of-8 free-throws and made its last two shots from the field, closing out the game on a 13-2 run to win by its largest margin of the night, 14.

 

Next up, UDC visits ECC foe Mercy in Dobbs Ferry, NY on Saturday, January 24^th at 12:30 p.m.

 

BOX SCORE

 

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPORTS INFORMATION

Shaq Roland ‘pretty excited’ about moving on to Prairie View

Roland considered going to Winston Salem State, West Georgia, West Alabama and Coastal Carolina before deciding on Prairie View.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- A local legend and would-be USC superstar will finish his collegiate career far away from his home state, and that’s probably where Shaq Roland should have started it, say some of the people closest to him.

Roland will play his senior season at Prairie View A&M, an FCS program 45 miles northwest of Houston, his mother told The State on Friday.

“He’s pretty excited,” Petina Etheredge said.

Roland played in 10 games for the Gamecocks in 2014 but left the team Dec. 23, the day his teammates departed Columbia for the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. It was a quiet and disappointing ending to a career that began with plenty of promise.

Roland was named a PARADE All-American after leading Lexington High to an 11-1 record while gaining more than 2,000 yards and scoring 24 touchdowns as a senior in 2011. He was tabbed a five-star recruiting prospect by Scout.com. Alabama, Florida and Georgia all wore out U.S. 1 making recruiting visits to Lexington, but Roland spurned them and became the state’s fourth straight “Mr. Football” to sign with the Gamecocks.

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College Basketball Teams Most Likely to Stay Undefeated in Conference Play: NCCU Eagles

Record: 14-5 (6-0)

Biggest Hurdles Remaining: at North Carolina A&T (Feb. 7)

Chance Undefeated: 54.7 percent

It's been more than a full year since North Carolina Central lost a game in one of the worst conferences in the nation. The Eagles opened MEAC play in 2013-14 with a three-point loss at Florida A&M before winning 18 straight—most of them in blowout fashion.

Even without last year's outstanding backcourt of Jeremy Ingram and Emanuel Chapman leading the way on both offense and defense, it's been more of the same this year.

Scoring has been much more balanced, but the Eagles are winning games thanks to the evolution of senior Jordan Parks and the addition of transfers Nimrod Hilliard (Lamar) and Anthony McDonald (Mississippi Valley State).

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Hoppers name PVAMU's Hollis to 2015 coaching staff

COACH SEAN HOLLIS

HOPKINSVILLE, Kentucky  --The Hoptown Hoppers have added Sean Hollis, a native of Boling, Texas, to their coaching staff for the 2015 season. He will work with the Hoppers’ pitching staff.

Hollis is currently a physical education teacher and multi-sport coach at Boyd High School located just northwest of Fort Worth, Texas. He serves on the coaching staffs for baseball, basketball, and football.

Hollis played collegiate baseball at two institutions as a pitcher, including Prairie View A&M University from 2011-2014, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Health and Human Performance in 2013.

On the field for the Panthers, Hollis played a big part in Prairie View’s latest trip to the NCAA tournament. In his junior season he was featured as a starting pitcher and helped lead the team to a SWAC championship, along with an appearance in the 2012 Rice Regional.

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Guard Waters leading ASU Hornets’ charge in SWAC

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State junior guard Jamel Waters can fill a stat sheet as well as anyone.

Last Saturday against Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Alabama A&M, Waters scored a team-high 18 points and had a career-high eight steals, along with five assists and six rebounds.

"We lost a game there last year so we definitely wanted to come out with a lot of intensity," Waters said. "We came out flat at first, but we able to get the W. It was really big."

Waters was named the SWAC player of the week for the second time this season after his performance, and said his work in practice has earned him such awards.

"It's such an honor," Waters said. "Every day, I work to the best of my abilities and just prepare to be my best every time I step on the floor."

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WSSU Baseball Returns to BB&T Ballpark in 2015

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- For the fifth consecutive season, Winston-Salem State University’s baseball program will suit up at BB&T Ballpark for the majority of their home games. The Rams will play 27 games at BB&T Ballpark from late January until mid-April.

Winston-Salem State has scheduled almost 100 games at BB&T Ballpark since the downtown facility opened in 2010. This season’s slate begins on Saturday, January 31, with a doubleheader against Mars Hill. The BB&T Ballpark schedule also includes nine games in February, 12 in March and four in April.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 12 and under. Fans can purchase their seats at the BB&T Ballpark Box Office, which is located under the scoreboard in right-center field. Outside food and beverages are not permitted, but concession stands will be open for each game.

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NCA&T Aggies Look Ahead To NCAAs With Meet At VT

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- The North Carolina A&T track and field teams will be competing at the Virginia Tech Invitational this weekend in Blacksburg, Va. The meet is scheduled to begin Friday at 5 p.m., and resume Saturday at 11 a.m.

This is the first banked or raised track the Aggies will compete on during the indoor season. With many athletes already qualified for the MEAC championships, the Aggies look forward to using this meet to continue improving times and prepare for the NCAA championships.

The last Aggie to compete at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships was Alexandria Spruiel back in 2009. Spruiel ran a 53.67 in the women’s 400 meter dash to place seventh overall. She is still the A&T record holder for indoor (53.60) and outdoor (51.59) 400 meter races.

“NCAA championships are run on a banked track,” says Duane Ross, director of track and field programs. “We believe in being prepared for everything, and we plan on having multiple athletes at these championships. This track, along with the competition will help us prepare for that.”

At the rate the Aggies have been performing thus far, many athletes chance to break the five-year gap of not having an Aggie at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Kentucky State University Partnering With Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates

FRANKFORT, Kentucky – The Kentucky State University Athletics Department will recognize the life-saving gifts of T'neil Martin during halftime of the women's and men's basketball games this Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Exum Center.
 
KSU alumni and parents of T'neil Martin, Denisha Henry and Dale Martin, unselfishly donated their daughter's organs, tissues, and corneas as part of the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) program. T'neil saved six lives through her organ donation, gave sight to two people through cornea donation, and enhanced the lives of countless others with tissue donation.
 
"We will never be able to count the number of people T'neil has truly touched. We know we have honored her legacy through her life-saving gifts," T'neil's mother Denisha Henry said.
 
During halftime of Saturday's basketball games, which will serve as the backdrop for Alumni Appreciation Day, the family of T'neil Martin will be given special recognition in order to bring awareness to the importance of organ donation.
 
Kentucky State University and Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) are collaborating to give students, alumni, faculty, staff, and fans the opportunity to give hope by registering as life-saving donors.  For those who are in critical need of the "Gift of Life" through organ donation, one life-saving registration with KODA means everything. On-site registration will be available during both of the Kentucky State University basketball games.
 
For more information about KODA or to become an organ donor, visit their website at http://www.kyorgandonor.org/.


COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Spring Hill Uses Late Run In Regulation To Stun Kentucky State In OT, 61-59

FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- The Spring Hill College Badgers used an 11-0 run at the end of regulation to propel them to a stunning 61-59 overtime victory against SIAC opponent Kentucky State University on Thursday night at the Exum Center.
 
Spring Hill (6-12, 5-4 SIAC) grabbed a fast 6-0 lead over Kentucky State (4-10, 4-5 SIAC), but it was the Thorobreds that controlled for most of Thursday's game. KSU held the lead for almost 32 minutes (71 percent) of the contest.
 
The Thorobreds built their lead to a many as 11 points in the first half when Ivan Hookerconnected on a jumper to push the score to 30-19 in favor of KSU at halftime.
 
In the second half, Kentucky State came out as the aggressor and pushed their lead to 14 whenDarrien Wilkins hit a layup to put the Thorobreds ahead 43-28 with 12:35 remaining. Spring Hill responded with a 9-0 run to cut the KSU lead to six before the momentum swung back to KSU who went on a 8-3 run of their own. When Ulysses Thomas III hit a 3-pointer with just under four minutes remaining to push KSU's lead back to 11, everything looked to be going the Thorobreds way.
 
Unfortunately for KSU, they wouldn't get on the scoreboard again in regulation. SHC went on an improbable 11-0 run to close out regulation and send the game into overtime.
 
Still reeling from the final minutes of the second half, Kentucky State was unable to bounce back in overtime. After a pair of free throws from Tryston Ford gave KSU a one-point advantage at 53-52, Spring Hill took the lead right back with a pair of free throws from center Dejan Stefanovic and never looked back.
 
Despite the loss, Kentucky State had several bright spots on Thursday. Ulysses Thomas IIIscored a game-high 18 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals. Point guardQuentin Henderson finished with seven points, a game-high seven assists and three steals.Darrien Wilkins finished with a team-high seven rebounds while also dropping in five points and picking up three steals. Ivan Hooker had some solid minutes off the bench with four points, a pair of boards and a steal.
 
Junior guard Wesley Pietri had 13 points to lead SHC while sophomore center Stefvanovic added 12 points to go along with five board. DeVaughn Hardrick also pitched in with 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds. SHC controlled the boards with a 43-34 edge in rebounding.
 
Kentucky State continues their current three-game home stand when they host Tuskegee on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Exum Center.

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COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

21 NSU-Athletes Earn Degrees at Winter Commencement

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Twenty-one Norfolk State University student-athletes received their bachelor's degrees at the university's winter commencement in December.

The graduates include 10 former Spartan football players, three from men's track and field, two each from the baseball, men's basketball and softball programs, and one each from women's basketball and women's track and field.

The graduates were:

Football
Noel Clarke, Sociology
Ramsey Henderson, Mass Communications
De'Marta Johnson, Health Fitness Instruction
Keenan Lambert, Management
Darrin Marrow, Sociology
Michael Privott, Sociology
Edwin Rogers, Mass Communications
Jairus Spain, Mass Communications
Nick Taylor, Accounting
Cameron Williams, Political Science

Baseball
Justin Bhatti, Marketing
Ryan Montgomery, Medical Technology

Softball
Kathy Cortez, Psychology
Jamie Schulle, Health Fitness Instruction

Women's Track & Field
Ashley Sessoms, Business

Women's Basketball
Rachel Gordon, Psychology

Men's Track & Field
Ian Copeland, Biology
Quentin Parker, Health Fitness Instruction
Quinten Walker, Kinesiotherapy

Men's Basketball
Calvin Brown, Tourism & Hospitality Management
Chris McEachin, Political Science

Congratulations to all of the graduates and good luck in your future endeavors!




By Matt Michalec, SID
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

Norfolk State Releases 2015 Football Schedule; Opens with 3 Games at FBS Teams

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State University head coach Latrell Scott announced the Spartans' 2015 football schedule on Thursday. Highlighting the slate are three non-conference games against Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents and four home games against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foes.

"We have a very challenging schedule this year, but I know it's one our coaches and players are excited about facing head-on," Scott said. "Playing three high-caliber FBS programs is a tremendous opportunity for our program."

The Spartans open the year with three straight FBS road games, starting with a Sept. 5 matchup at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights, now a member of the Big 10, have hosted NSU three times previously (2007, '10, '13), with Rutgers winning all three. Rutgers is coming off a 7-6 season and a win in the Quick Lane Bowl.

The following week, the Spartans face cross-town rival Old Dominion on Sept. 12 at ODU's Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. The game is a return matchup from a memorable 2013 game at NSU, which ODU won 27-24. It will be the third meeting all-time between the city of Norfolk's two Division I programs, including a 2011 matchup in the FCS playoffs. The Monarchs of Conference USA went 6-6 last season.

NSU's non-conference slate wraps up on Sept. 19 at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. It will mark the first-ever meeting between the teams. The Thundering Herd went 13-1, captured the C-USA championship and also won the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl this past season.

The remainder of the schedule consists of eight MEAC opponents. The league slate kicks off with NSU's home opener against Hampton in the annual Battle of the Bay on Sept. 26 at William "Dick" Price Stadium. NSU also has home games with North Carolina A&T (Oct. 10), Savannah State (Nov. 7 for Homecoming) and South Carolina State (Nov. 14). NSU travels for MEAC road contests at Howard (Oct. 3), Bethune-Cookman (Oct. 24), North Carolina Central (Oct. 31) and Morgan State (Nov. 21).

The Spartans face all five MEAC teams that shared the league title last year – N.C. A&T, N.C. Central, S.C. State, Bethune-Cookman and Morgan State. Florida A&M and Delaware State rotate off the Spartans' schedule this year. NSU will have its lone bye week of the season on Oct. 17.

2015 NSU Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time
9/5/2015 Rutgers Piscataway, N.J. TBA
9/12/2015 Old Dominion Norfolk, Va. (ODU) TBA
9/19/2015 Marshall Huntington, W.Va. TBA
9/26/2015 * Hampton Norfolk, Va. 4 p.m. 
10/3/2015 * Howard Washington, D.C. TBA
10/10/2015 * North Carolina A&T Norfolk, Va. 2 p.m.
10/24/2015 * Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA
10/31/2015 * North Carolina Central Durham, N.C. TBA
11/7/2015 * Savannah State (Homecoming) Norfolk, Va. 2 p.m.
11/14/2015 * South Carolina State Norfolk, Va. 1 p.m.
11/21/2015 * Morgan State Baltimore, Md. TBA

BOLD: Home Game
* Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Game

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

Decision by Division I athletic powers forces lower-level schools like NDSU to consider paying student-athletes

In an effort just to keep revenue flowing, some FCS schools are playing multiple FBS opponents for guaranteed money. Norfolk State (Va.), for instance, has Rutgers, Old Dominion and Marshall.

FARGO, North Dakota -- Now that the power players in Division I athletics have approved paying players funds in addition to scholarships, the question circulating among the lower levels of the division – “Will schools like North Dakota State pay its players?” – may have some in Division I FCS football on edge.

Bison athletic director Matt Larsen said Thursday that giving funds to student-athletes in addition to scholarship money – commonly called “cost of attendance” – is something his school will take a look at, but that’s as far as he’s willing to go. There are many unanswered questions, he said.

“What makes sense for us? What’s the cost?” Larsen said. “We still have to remain competitive and we have to allow our coaches to recruit against the schools we’re recruiting against now.”

The NCAA’s five major conferences, which include the Big Ten and Pac-12, approved a motion by a 79-1 vote last weekend allowing those universities to pay student-athletes funds in addition to scholarships to cover their general expenses. The range is expected to be between $2,000 and $6,000 per year per student-athlete.

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AAMU mourns the death of Assistant Men's Basketball Coach James Wright

JAMES WRIGHT
COURTESY ALABAMA A&M ATHLETICS

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- It is with great sadness Alabama A&M announces the death of Assistant Men's Basketball Coach James Wright.

Wright passed away Wednesday. He was 46.

Head Coach Willie Hayes and Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks spoke with the basketball team Wednesday evening.

"We ask that you pray for Coach Wright's family and keep them in your thoughts," Hicks said.

A tireless recruiter, this was Wright's fourth year with the Bulldogs.

"We've lost a great coach, a great man and a great person," said Hayes. "I've known him since high school … I've lost a great friend."

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Wright, a 1993 graduate of Jackson State, also coached at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the University of West Alabama.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern ready for baseball practice

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern baseball team doesn’t start practice until Friday, but already the Jaguars are ahead of where they were at this time last year.

Coach Roger Cador and his staff have a clearer idea of who will fill the most prominent roles. Most of the roles were determined during preseason last season.

Though positions can still be won and lost, Cador has a pretty good idea where things are headed. Most importantly, he hopes Southern is headed in the right direction after an uncharacteristic record of 10-26 last season, failing to qualify for the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.

“I feel good about the group because the kids feel good about the group themselves,” Cador said Wednesday.

He said he got a good feeling when he informed 11 seniors that they had the opportunity to transfer to another school and become eligible immediately because of Southern’s ongoing ban from NCAA post-season play.

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Southern’s Human Jukebox prepares for competition

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Rehearsal was supposed to begin at 7:30 p.m. but was pushed back to 8 p.m., and then even later.

“We won’t be going outside until 9:30,” Southern University’s Director of Bands Nathan Haymer says. “We have some class schedule conflicts, so we’re having to accommodate for that.”

“It’s worth it,” Wayne Matthews says.

Even on what had to be one of the coldest nights of the year, it was worth marching late into the night if it meant having a chance to win a second Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase championship.

“I’ve attended it before I got in the band, and I was able to see Southern perform,” Matthews says. “Now I’m a band member, and I know we have a lot of pressure on us.”

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Livingstone Women's Basketball 17-0 after romp over FSU

LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE AT #18 IN USA TODAY POLLS

SALISBURY, North Carolina — Livingstone guard Amber Curtis prefers passing to shooting. So she turns down good shots in the search for great shots.

“She’s very unselfish, so opponents leave her open a lot,” Livingstone coach Anita Howard said. “There are times when she has to show them she can shoot, and today she felt it.”

Curtis had 18 points by halftime. She finished 9-for-14 from the floor, including three 3-pointers, and scored 23 points as Livingstone blew out Fayetteville State 92-47 in Wednesday’s CIAA game at New Trent Gym.

Eleven Blue Bears scored. Cierra York (14 points), Precious Roberts (12) and Kyra Crosby (11) joined Curtis in double figures. Crosby had a game-high 11 rebounds. The Blue Bears (17-0, 8-0 CIAA), a runaway train all season, forced 24 turnovers and dominated the boards 52-24. The only negative was 21 Livingstone turnovers

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Culver column: FAMU Field House still a major topic of discussion

Bragg Stadium and Field House Aerial Views (2014)

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- One topic of discussion constantly on the minds of many Florida A&M sports enthusiasts is the state of the Galimore-Powell Field House.

The field house, originally built in 1983, has never been renovated. It’s certainly not ancient, but fans believe a new field house would be a major step in improving FAMU’s football image.

Of course, a major renovation would take cash, and FAMU’s athletic department is in short supply.

Tommy Mitchell, president of the university’s Alumni Association, proposed a $1 million fundraiser to renovate the field house in October, and during Wednesday’s 220 Quarterback Club meeting, he mentioned they’re still looking to break the $22,000 mark.

Angela Suggs, associate athletic director for external affairs, was also at Wednesday’s meeting. She said several groups will have to meet — they haven’t yet — in order to coordinate funds for a project like renovating the field house, which would take an estimated $2.5 million.

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LC men hang on, avoid FSU upset

SALISBURY, North Carolina -- Livingstone’s men’s basketball team won 90-87 over Fayetteville State at New Trent Gym on Wednesday.

Eric Dubose scored 22 points for the Blue Bears and made two clutch free throws with 40 seconds left and Livingstone clinging to a one-point lead.

Fayetteville State misfired on three 3-point attempts in the closing seconds that would’ve sent the game to overtime.

Livingstone (11-6, 5-3 CIAA) also got double-figure scoring from Ty Newman (19), Eric Mayo (16) and Hakeem Jackson (10).

Mayo had seven rebounds. Daryl Traynham had four assists.

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Why I should be JCSU's next coach

I love alma mater, will win in dream job ...

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- My name is Tim Newman and I love Johnson C. Smith University. I went to school there. I played football there, and was lucky and blessed enough to earn All-American honors there.

It’s always been my dream to come back and be a head coach at my school. I was an assistant there from 1988-90. And I don’t want to come back to Smith to go somewhere to use it as a stepping stone. I’m like Bobby Lutz when he was head coach at UNC Charlotte. That was his school, his love, his passion. He was willing to go above and beyond to make sure “his” school did well. I think Charlotte never should’ve let Bobby go. I’d imagine more than a few alumni might agree with me now.

When a man is passionate about something, he’ll give it his all. I’m passionate about Smith. I understand the type kid that goes there. I was that kid. I know the CIAA. I coached more than 50 players who went to CIAA schools when I coached a N.C. Tech Preparatory School. In seven years, our teams were 54-5. Several of my players eventually made the NFL, players like Cordarrelle Patterson (first round pick, Vikings), Greg Blair (free agent, Browns) and Antonio Brown (sixth round, Steelers).

Now, I’ve made some mistakes, too. ESPN did a feature video special and news story about...

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Winston-Salem State slips past Shaw

WINSTON-SALEM, Virginia -- Winston-Salem State keeps building momentum in the parity-driven CIAA. And it keeps winning along the way.

The Rams had another solid effort in a 74-69 win over Shaw on Wednesday night at the Gaines Center. It was a typical rough and rugged Southern Division game but the Rams held it together to win their third in a row.

Coach James Wilhelmi of the Rams refuses to acknowledge any win streak because he calls that “fool’s gold.” He’d rather take each game as it comes, and on Wednesday night he was proud of another balanced showing.

Center Donta Harper led the way with 17 points and point-guard C.J. Ford added 14 with Marquez Jones coming off the bench to score 13. But as they have done during the three-game win streak it was the bench that came through again getting 27 points out of seven players.



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