3 from Xavier earn GCAC Player of the Week awards

Caroline Vernet: Wins in first week of eligibility



Nikita Soifer: Fourth GCAC award of his career

Morris Wright: Third GCAC award this season

NEW ORLEANS — The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference announced Tuesday that three from Xavier University of Louisiana received Player of the Week awards for Feb. 2-8: Morris Wright in men's basketball, Nikita Soifer in men's tennis and Caroline Vernet in women's tennis.

Wright, a 5-foot-10 junior guard from Zachary, La., and a former Zachary High School and Baton Rouge Community College standout, won the award for the third time this season, the most in 2014-15 GCAC men's basketball. He led Xavier in scoring (18.0 points per game), assists (4.0), steals (3.0) and made 3-pointers (6) during a 2-0 week which extended Xavier's win streak to eight — its longest win streak in four years. Wright had 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals against Edward Waters, then had 16 points — 11 in the second half — four rebounds, five assists and two steals against Voorhees.

Wright made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to help Xavier rally from an 8-point deficit in the final six minutes against Voorhees. For the season, he leads Xavier in scoring (13.8), assists (3.8) and steals (1.7).

Soifer, a senior from Beer Sheva, Israel, and a graduate of Hof Hasharon, remained unbeaten for the spring semester. He won in singles and doubles at NCAA Division I Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday and again Saturday in a home victory against NAIA No. 10 Belhaven.

Soifer's GCAC award is his first this season and the fourth of his career.

Vernet, a home-schooled freshman from Lyon, France, won her GCAC award in her first week of eligibility. She made her collegiate debut during the weekend with a doubles victory against Belhaven and doubles and singles victories against LSU-Alexandria.

Xavier men's basketball will compete at 4 p.m. Saturday against Philander Smith in Little Rock, Ark. Xavier women's tennis will visit Louisiana-Lafayette at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, and the Gold Nuggets will join the men's team for home duals at 11 a.m. Saturday against William Carey. All three teams are ranked among the NAIA's top 25.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Ackerman-Carter's Journey to TSU

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE ATHLETICS

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- There have been many different paths taken to become a member of the Tennessee State football team. Some have come from high schools around the country and some have transferred from FBS universities or JUCOs. However, there is perhaps not a more unique journey than that of Oshay Ackerman-Carter.

Ackerman-Carter starred at Trinity HS in the middle of the recruiting hotbed of Florida. As the starting quarterback, he threw for 2,607 yards during his junior and senior campaigns and completed 58.1 percent of his passes. He also tossed 36 touchdowns and only 14 interceptions, including a 22-4 ratio as a senior.

The Jacksonville native’s production had colleges lining up from far-and-wide to be their quarterback of the future.

“Tennessee State was the third team to offer me a scholarship in my sophomore year,” Ackerman-Carter remembers. “Coach Osita Alaribe really wanted me to commit, but some of the bigger offers came rolling in during my junior season. I got looks from teams like Florida Atlantic, Troy, Central Florida and Mississippi State, and I was just really excited to play at the highest level.”

One offer came from Georgia State, an up-start program in Atlanta, Ga. Ackerman-Carter committed to play for the Panthers despite the school having a team for just two seasons and a 1-10 record during his senior year.



Ackerman-Carter’s pledge was to be one of the hallmarks of legendary head coach Bill Curry’s tenure at Georgia State, until Curry announced his retirement following the 2012 season.

Curry’s departure coupled with academic concerns weighed on Ackerman-Carter and caused him to waver on his decision.

“I committed to Curry, and the new GSU coaches kept in touch with me, but the only downfall was my ACT score,” Ackerman-Carter said.

Ackerman-Carter, who was an A-B student in high school and once had Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) aspirations, was now left in limbo. His decisions came down to: go to a prep-school, enroll in a junior college or quit football.

Not wanting to end his career before it even started, Ackerman-Carter chose option A so that he could become eligible faster (Prep Schools require one year of play while JUCOs require two). Ackerman-Carter enrolled at Georgia Prep Sports Academy in Atlanta.

“Everything was so new to me,” Ackerman-Carter said. “It was like a college set-up where we woke up early to lift and do conditioning and practiced in the evening. Once I stepped foot on campus, the recruitment process started all over again and some of those schools that originally offered me, offered me again.”

The most consistent looks came from TSU’s Alaribe whose interest never waned in the 6-foot-2 pocket passer he visited as a sophomore. It also helped that one of the Sports Academy’s coaches was legendary TSU quarterback Brian Ransom.

Alaribe could point to Ransom, among many others, who parlayed a spot on the Big Blue into lifelong success.

“A lot of things attracted me to Tennessee State including its history. I met Claude Humphrey, Golden Tate and Richard Dent and heard stories of Ed “Too Tall” Jones. It was something that I wanted to be a part of,” Ackerman-Carter said.

Ackerman-Carter decided to put his name alongside those greats and sign with TSU in 2013. Having endured a tumultuous path to get to a Div. I program, Ackerman-Carter’s journey was still not over.

Entering the 2014 season, the Tigers had two proven quarterbacks in Mike German and Ronald Butler. Ackerman-Carter eventually became the odd-man-out and was forced to redshirt last year.

“There was always a chance that if one or both of those guys went down, that I would get the call to play. That opportunity never came, but I got the chance to learn and get better.

“Growing up, I was never the kid that sat on the bench, so this was a humbling process. In the end, I think redshirting benefitted me because I could mature.”

Ackerman-Carter got to see German break the school-record for career passing yards with 8,664 and Butler play in six games.

German has exhausted his eligibility but Butler will be back this upcoming season, setting up what is sure to be a contested competition between the junior and Ackerman-Carter.

“I expect a really good battle from Ron. He has a lot of game experience and is very athletic, so he is dangerous to opposing defenses. I am more of a pocket passer and I like to throw the ball down-field,” Ackerman-Carter said.

After so much waiting, Ackerman-Carter is just ready for the upcoming season and a chance to be on the field. That does not mean that he has not begun acting like a leader.

“I feel like having a good relationship with every single player can only make this team better because positivity carries over. If we are all a family then we can get the job done. I want to be cool with every one of my teammates,” Ackerman-Carter.

Ackerman-Carter has also been a leader in the classroom as well.

“In high school I was a little bit lazy, but I buckled down after under-performing on my ACTs. My mom told me ‘grades first and football second’, so I feel like if you get it done in the classroom, then you can get it done on the field,” Ackerman-Carter said.

From a highly-touted high schooler, to grayshirting, then to redshirting, Ackerman-Carter has been through a lot. Where he goes from here is up to him, but he wants to accomplish the same goal that his mentor Brian Ransom was able to– win an OVC Championship.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Tornadoes rally in final 10 minutes, end Rush win streak

Facebook photos

NEW ORLEANS -- Brandon Peters had 17 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals Monday to help Talladega rally for a 78-69 victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in a matchup of ranked NAIA Division I men's basketball teams.

The Tornadoes (22-3, 9-0 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) have won 17 in a row, the longest active streak in the division. They snapped the season-high eight-game win streak of the Gold Rush (19-7, 8-2).

Talladega is ranked third, and Xavier is 18th.

Peters, the GCAC Player of the Year last season, scored five points during a six-minute run which turned Talladega's 51-50 deficit into a 68-56 advantage with 3:59 remaining. The Tornadoes made three 3-pointers during the surge, two by Darrian Provost.

Shondel Stewart had 15 points and seven rebounds for Talladega, and Courtney Mack had 14 points and eight rebounds.

Anthony Goode made four 3-pointers and scored 19 points for Xavier, and Gary Smith scored 16 to match his career best. Wesley Pluviose-Philip grabbed seven rebounds.

Xavier shot 61.5 percent from the floor and got nine points from Goode and eight from Smith to take a 40-34 halftime lead. In the second half, Xavier shot 47.6 percent and committed 14 turnovers.

For the game, Xavier outshot Talladega 55.3 to 47.3 percent from the floor. Both teams made seven 3-pointers. Talladega made 19-of-29 free throws to Xavier's 10-of-16. The Tornadoes committed 12 turnovers and gained 22.

Xavier had not lost since its GCAC opener Jan. 5, a 93-78 decision at Talladega.

The next Gold Rush game will start at 4 p.m. Saturday against Philander Smith in Little Rock, Ark. Xavier's next home game will start at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 against Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at XU's Convocation Center.

Box score

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Morgan State releases 2015 football schedule, featuring season-opener with Air Force

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The Morgan State Bears 2015 football schedule features an 11-game slate, four games in Hughes Stadium, an NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent and a return to the New York Urban League Whitney Young Classic.

The Bears non-conference opponents in 2015 are Air Force, Illinois State and Virginia-Lynchburg. The Bears will not play Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponents Florida A&M or Norfolk State in the regular season.

MSU, the reigning MEAC champions, will open its 2015 slate with a Saturday road game on Sept. 5 at Troy Calhoun's Air Force Falcons team, marking the first meeting between the teams.

The Bears next travel to Normal, Ill., on Sept. 12 to take on an Illinois State Redbirds team that earned a share of the Missouri Valley Conference title and played in the FCS National Championship game.

MSU welcomes Virginia-Lynchburg for the Bears' home-opener at Hughes Stadium on Sept. 19.

MSU then begins MEAC play with the first of three road trips starting with a clash versus Howard at the Whitney Young Classic at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 26. After facing the Bison, MSU will travel to take on South Carolina State on Oct. 3, followed by a trip to North Carolina Central on Oct. 7.

MSU returns to Hughes Stadium to play Delaware State on Oct. 17 for Homecoming.

The Bears next travel to face Savannah State on Oct. 24 for its first meeting with the Tigers since 2012, followed by a meeting at Hampton on Oct. 31.

Morgan State concludes its regular season by hosting Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 7 and North Carolina A&T on Nov. 14.

Game times and television plans for Morgan State's 2015 games will be announced at a later date.

Picked last (9th) in the MEAC preseason poll, Morgan State captured a share of the MEAC Title with a 6-2 conference record, marking its first conference championship since 1979. The Bears also made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs when they faced #16/18 Richmond.

The Bears also completed the season ranked 31st in the final FCS poll – its highest ranking in school history.

2015 Morgan State Schedule
Sept. 5 at Air Force
Sept. 12 at Illinois State
Sept. 19 VIRGINIA-LYNCHBURG
Sept. 26 vs. Howard (NY Urban League Classic - MetLife Stadium)*
Oct. 3 at South Carolina State*
Oct. 7 at North Carolina Central*
Oct. 17 DELAWARE STATE (MSU Homecoming)*
Oct. 24 at Savannah State*
Oct. 31 at Hampton*
Nov. 7 BETHUNE-COOKMAN*
Nov. 14 NORTH CAROLINA A&T*

BOLD: Home Game
*MEAC Game



COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

South Carolina State athletics in jeopardy as school faces closure

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- South Carolina State is dangerously close to sitting out two years of athletics.

The South Carolina House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Higher Education voted 3 to 1 on Tuesday to close the school for two years, according to The State. That would extend to athletics as well.

The school currently has $10 million worth of debt, and its enrollment has dropped sharply in recent years. The plan, which would shutter the school for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years, needs approval from the full House and Senate.

he college's board of trustees, administrators, faculty and staff all would be fired, and the school likely would lose its accreditation.

South Carolina State is a member of Division I and plays at the FCS level in football. The team won a share of the MEAC football title in 2014 and made the FCS playoffs in 2013.

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House budget panel votes to close SC State for two years

COLUMBIA, South Carolina — A S.C. House budget panel voted Tuesday to close S.C. State University for two years to help the school end its financial troubles.

The state’s only historically black public college has a $10 million deficit from unpaid bills to food and maintenance vendors. S.C. State’s enrollment has dropped sharply in recent years and just 14 percent of students graduate within four years.

The vote by the House panel that oversees funding for state colleges shows the frustration that S.C. State was not doing enough to recover its financial footing, said Rep. Jim Merrill, a Berkeley Republican who heads the panel.

House budget writers said they were frustrated the school sought $6 million from lawmakers this year to pay off a state loan given last year.

S.C. State also is receiving another $12 million from the state to help with crisis. S.C. State leaders said they could not cut curriculum, faculty or athletics, Merrill said.

Then administrators suggested $50 million in new funding over the next few years to improve the school’s academic programs.

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Subcommittee South Carolina State University Proviso:

19.so. (SCSU: Suspend Operations) For Fiscal Year 2015-16, all operations and programs of the South Carolina State University shall be suspended as of July 1, 2015. It is the intent of the General Assembly that all athletic programs shall be suspended, the president shall be terminated, faculty and staff shall be dismissed, and the board of trustees shall be terminated. The university shall remain closed for one year during which time the Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee will establish a plan to reconstitute South Carolina State University by January 1, 2017; to re-hire necessary faculty, reconstitute athletic programs, and set curriculum to be offered as approved by the Commission on Higher Education so that applications for the 2017-18 school year can be accepted and the school year can begin in the fall of 2017.

The State of South Carolina shall assume all debt and pay off all outstanding bonded indebtedness, debt to vendors, and loans made from the Contingency Reserve Fund. To effectuate this payment the Executive Budget Office, in conjunction with the Comptroller General shall utilize the General Funds appropriated to the institution along with any other funds the institution carried forward from the prior fiscal year. The order in which outstanding debt shall be paid is as follows: vendors, then bonded indebtedness, then Contingency Reserve Fund.

Current South Carolina State University students who have a 2.5 GPA or higher and qualify to transfer to another in-state public institution or South Carolina historically black university, shall have their tuition paid for by the State of South Carolina, for up to four years from this date. All lottery scholarships and federal assistance currently awarded to the student shall be factored into the amount of tuition paid for by the State of South Carolina. If the student falls below a 2.5 GPA during any of the remaining semesters, the tuition shall be terminated and the school may dismiss the student at its discretion.

The Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee must submit the entire plan to the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee before final approval by the General Assembly.

Thorobrettes Push Winning Streak to Eight With Victory at Lane, 71-61

JACKSON, Tennessee -- Playing SIAC opponent Lane College for the second time in five days, the Kentucky State University women's basketball team picked up their second straight win over the Lady Dragons with a, 71-61, victory on Monday evening to extend their winning streak to eight games.

With the victory, the Thorobrettes move to 16-4 overall and 11-2 in SIAC action. Lane falls to 3-16 overall and 3-10 in conference play.

Next up for KSU is a home game against LeMoyne-Owen (14-6, 9-3 SIAC) on Thursday, Feb. 12. Tip-off at the Exum Center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

2015 Preseason All-CIAA Softball Team and Predicted Order of Finish

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Hampton, Virginia - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is pleased to announce its 2015 Preseason Softball All-Conference Team and Predicted Order of Finish as selected by the CIAA Softball Coaches Association.

In the Northern Division, the Trojans of Virginia State were picked to win the division while the Lady Rams of Winston-Salem State were selected to be the best in the South.

WSSU got the overall championship nod which will decided at this year's Softball Championship from April 20 - May 2, 2015 in Raleigh. North Carolina.

2015 Preseason All-CIAA Team

Pitcher:
#33 Mercedes Hargett | WSSU | SO | 6'3 | San Diego, CA

Catcher:
#3 Shanice Anderson | SU | JR | 5'7 | Oceanside, CA

Utility:
#6 Deja White | SAU | JR | 5'11 | Leland, NC

First Base:
#23 Allison Woodbury | WSSU | SO | 5'9 | Mount Airy, NC

Second Base:
#2 Jameshia Smith | VSU | SR | Halifax, VA

Third Base:
#6 Katrina Bartlett | WSSU | SR | 5'8 | Greensboro, NC

Short Stop:
#8 Monet Daly | WSSU | SR | 5'2 | Lithonia, GA

Right Fielder:
#13 Sade Holmes | VSU | SR | 5'6 | Caroline County, VA

Center Fielder:
#35 Cassandra Clayborne | BSU | SR | 5'6 | Damascus, MD

Left Fielder:
# 7 Verlisha Brandon | VSU | JR | 5'3 | Halifax, VA

Predicted Order of Finish

North
Virginia State University
Chowan University
Virginia Union University
Bowie State University
Elizabeth City State University
The Lincoln University

South
Winston-Salem State University
Saint Augustine's University
Johnson C. Smith University
Fayetteville State University
Shaw University
Livingstone College

Conference
Winston-Salem State University
Virginia State University
Chowan University
Saint Augustine's University
Virginia Union University
Johnson C. Smith University
Fayetteville State University
Bowie State University
Shaw University
Elizabeth City State University
Livingstone College
The Lincoln University

COURTESY CIAA.COM

FAMU Marching 100 growing after return from suspension

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Sylvester Young, a FAMU alum, took over and the band returned Fall 2013. He continues to have a difficult task ahead: rebuilding the band while shaking a reputation of hazing and severe mismanagement. 

"We're in the middle of that process and its working. This is a totally different group of students from what they had five years ago," Young said. There were more than 400 members on the band during the scandal, including students from other schools and some with low GPAs. 

Now, Young says, there are about 170 members and they hope to bring that number closer to 300 by next year. 

"There's a lot of pressure, people want to see a huge band," he added. 

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NOTE: Dr. Julian E. White was not fired as stated in this video story.  Dr. White retired (May 2012) after nearly 40 years of service to the FAMU Department of Music, at age 71.  

Hampton U. women pull away from Howard 80-61

HAMPTON, Virginia — It's no secret that the strength of Hampton University's women's basketball team is on the perimeter. When the Lady Pirates get inside production, it makes their lives much easier.

The interior tandem of Kaylah Lupoe and Brielle Ward complemented guards Kyani White and Malia Tate-DeFreitas, and Hampton weathered a second-half run to bounce Howard 80-61 Monday at the Hampton Convocation Center.

"You've got to be able to go inside and get something," HU coach David Six said, "and I thought we did a good job of that tonight."

Hampton (12-11, 8-2 MEAC) won its second game in a row after improbably losing two of three to tighten the conference race.

Lupoe, the 6-foot-2 freshman from Arizona, recorded her first career double-double, with 10 points and 11 rebounds, in addition to six blocks. Ward grabbed 10 of her 13 rebounds in the first half and added six points.

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Big second half lifts UMES past NSU Spartans, 82-64

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Devin Martin scored 25 points Monday and Maryland Eastern Shore thoroughly dismantled Norfolk State in the second half of an 82-64 come-from-behind victory.

The Hawks (14-12, 7-4 MEAC) quickly erased an early 12-point deficit and seized control, using a 12-2 first-half run to narrow the gap and a 22-4 second-half outburst to grow it in the other direction.

Often hoisting barely contested layups against a chronically late defense, UMES shot a scorching 62.1 percent from the floor in the second half and 48.3 percent for the game.

RaShid Gaston scored 24 points for the Spartans (16-10, 9-2), who retain sole possession of second place in the MEAC.

The Spartans started like gangbusters, with Gaston’s three-point play on an alley-oop dunk starting a 12-2 run to open the game.

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Battle for 1st with Rush, Tornadoes is just part of the fun

NEW ORLEANS -- Two of the NAIA's hottest men's basketball teams, Xavier University of Louisiana and Talladega, will meet at 7:30 p.m. at XU's Convocation Center to cap an event-filled Monday.

Also scheduled that day are:

# Free food on the Yard (University Center lawn) at noon with performances by the XU cheerleaders.

# A 6 p.m. beauty fair, sponsored by the Office of Campus Activities, on the Convocation Center upper concourse.

# A chance for fans to win $250 in adidas gear at the men's game and the 5:30 p.m. women's game between XU and Talladega.

Xavier's men are 19-6, ranked 18th in NAIA Division I and have won eight straight since a 93-78 loss Jan. 5 at Talladega in their Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opener. The Tornadoes are 21-3, ranked third and have NAIA DI's longest active win streak, 16 games.

Talladega is 8-0 in the GCAC, and the Gold Rush are 8-1. The Tornadoes are the highest ranked opponent to visit the Rush since 2008. An XU victory would clinch a fifth consecutive 20-win season.

In the women's game, XU's Gold Nuggets (14-11, 7-2) will try to strengthen their hold on second place in the GCAC and move four victories above .500 for the first time this season. The Nuggets opened their GCAC schedule with a 67-60 victory at Talladega.

The Nuggets will wear pink accessories as part of their annual game dedicated to awareness of women's cancers.

XU faculty, staff and students will receive free admission to the doubleheader.

The games will be Xavier's last at home before the Feb. 28 Crosstown Classic against Dillard. After Talladega, the Rush and Nuggets will play three straight on the road.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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Nuggets defeat LSUA, a first-year NAIA program, 9-0

Facebook photos

NEW ORLEANS -- LSU-Alexandria's first-year women's tennis program brought some preseason buzz Sunday to Xavier University of Louisiana, but the Gold Nuggets won every set but one in a 9-0 victory.

Xavier (3-2), ranked third in the NAIA and a national semifinalist in 2014 and 2013, won for the second straight day, this time against a team which received votes in the NAIA's preseason coaches poll and ranked 28th overall.

"LSUA may be a new program, but they had our full attention," XU coach Alan Green said.

The Gold Nuggets won 24-of-29 games to sweep the doubles, then surrendered two games or fewer in nine singles sets.

LSUA's Sara Andrade forced a third-set tiebreaker at No. 4 singles by beating Brion Flowers 6-0, but Flowers won the match by prevailing 13-11 in a super-tiebreaker. Flowers won the first set 6-3.

Flowers, Nour Abbes, Caroline Vernet, Carmen Nelson and Sha'Nel Bruins won in doubles and singles. Abbes, the NAIA's No. 1 singles player, beat Liz Arens 6-0, 6-0. Bruins clinched the dual with a 6-2, 6-2 decision against Betsabe Vasquez.

Abbes and Nelson, the NAIA's No. 7 doubles team, beat Arens and Sabina Mardarenko 8-1. Nelson's and Jana van der Walt's singles victories included 6-0 first sets.

The Generals, who won Saturday at Loyola, are 1-1.

"We had a good weekend," said Green, whose women won 5-0 at home Saturday against Belhaven. "The team is getting healthier. We are starting to figure out some things with the lineup. We're just trying to keep working hard and make good decisions. Overall we are headed in a good direction."

The Gold Nuggets' next dual will start at 4:30 p.m. We
dnesday at NCAA Division I's Louisiana-Lafayette. The Gold Nuggets and Gold Nuggets will play host to William Carey at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Results

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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from THE EDITOR: It Was Good for My Dear Father

DWIGHT FLOYD
THE EDITOR
http://sportsedit.org/?p=1849

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- When he was born the midwife attempted to name him Willow, after the tree, but somehow the spelling became Willer. Such a unique name it was, perhaps even backwards by way of intent, yet in his life Willer Aldrich Floyd brought dignity to the name. One of nine children, son of a sharecropper, he married the girl of his dreams, served in the military, graduated from college, and taught life skills throughout his professional career.

Willer was blessed to have others in his corner from childhood forward. As he told the story his teacher went out into the field and asked his father if Willer could go to school full time and skip tending to the family farm. Willer was a little guy and his younger brother, K.P., who would grow to be much bigger than him, told their dad that in exchange he’d skip school and carry my father’s load. It was a tremendous sacrifice by K.P., but truth is even without a primary education the younger brother was able to own and run a successful automobile towing and mechanics business.

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TSU Tigers Defeat Memphis For First Win

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Tennessee State Softball scored in each of the first three innings to earn its first win of the season on Sunday morning. The Tigers revenged a loss from a day ago, as they claimed a 4-1 win over Memphis. TSU improved to 1-4, while Memphis dropped to 1-3.

 

Taylor Green (1-0), in her first outing as a Tiger, earned the win allowing one unearned run on seven hits and a walk. Memphis left runners on base each inning until the seventh, when Green and the Tigers clinched the game by sitting UM down in order.

 

The offensive support came early as Courtney Gearlds led off the game with a walk and proceeded to steal second. The sophomore would score two batters later as Kailey Richard drove a ball through the right side of the infield.

 

In the second inning, the Tigers added to its 1-0 lead by taking advantage of a Memphis error. With Lindsey Burgess on second, Tayler Shimizu ripped a single up the middle to chase home Burgess. Shimizu would take second on the throw, setting up a run-producing single by Savannah Womack, giving TSU a 3-0 lead after two.

 

Shimizu would strike again in the third with an RBI single, plating Joselynn Yates, who led off the inning with a single to center. The 4-0 lead would hold up until Memphis scratched a run in the bottom of the fifth, creating the final score.

 

The Tigers will travel to Huntsville for a double header at Alabama A&M on Friday, Feb. 13. Follow tsutigers.com for full coverage.
 

  

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

At college football's lowest rung, games are matter of faith and creative financing

All games aren't equal:  The 2015 Faith Colleges Schedule show two SWAC programs under contract for the 2015 football season.

• Oct 3, 2015: Prairie View A&M host University of Faith at Waller, Texas, Waller ISD Stadium
• Oct. 31, 2015: Texas Southern host College of Faith at BBVA Compass Stadium  (Homecoming)

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida -- Earlier this fall, someone posted a question on reddit.com: Are there two fake schools operating on the periphery of college football? One was called the College of Faith, in Charlotte, N.C., and the other was called the University of Faith, here in St. Petersburg.

The websites looked hastily made. The teams were losing lopsided games. How could just-opened, online-only institutions be participating in intercollegiate athletics?

Sometimes it's hard to discern what's real when tethered to a computer.


Not quite a month later, though, on an evening in Lakeland, in front of a few thousand ticket buyers at Southeastern University's Victory Field, the host team called the Fire received the opening kickoff from its opponents from the University of Faith.

Up in the press box, rosters listed the names of 56 Faith players, and corresponding positions, heights, weights and hometowns, all but four in Florida, most of them around Tampa Bay. There were no class years.

Down on the new AstroTurf field, the Faith players wore gray uniforms with green helmets that said UFaith on the back and jerseys with "GLORY EAGLES" on the front.

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Eleven Signed to EWC Tiger Football Program on National Signing Day

Jacksonville, Florida  --  Edward Waters College (EWC) head football coach Alvin B. Wyatt, Sr. announced that 11 high school student-athletes have signed letters of intent to play college football at Edward Waters College. “We are overjoyed about our second recruiting class here at the great Edward Waters College”, said Wyatt.

The class is highlighted by Cory Brooks, a 6’2, 200 defensive back from Delray Beach, Florida/Atlantic High School. In 2014, Brooks was a First Team All-Palm Beach County selection and a Second Team All-Conference member as a safety.

Benjamin Kettler, Jr. is a 6’0, 240, linebacker from Riverdale, Georgia and Charles Drew High School. While at Charles Drew, he was the Georgia Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year and an All-GHSA selection.

Joedell Murray, III, 6’0, 185 quarterback also from Charles Drew High School in Riverdale, was a First Team All-Class 5A selection and was the Clayton County High School All-Star Game Most Valuable Player.

Defensive End Raequan Bond, 6’2, 220 lbs, Riverdale, Georgia, Charles Drew High School is a two-time First Team All-5A Region Selection, as well as a Clayton County Senior Bowl Selection and a rivals.com Impact Player, and a GHSA Scholar Athlete.

Offensive Tackle Larry Blue, 6’3, 300 lbs., Crescent City, Florida, Crescent City High School is a First Team All-State Selection, three-time All-Putnam County selection, Georgia/Florida All-Star Game Selection, All-District Second Team Selection.

Patchouco Mettelus, 6’5, 275lbs, Offensive Tackle from Boynton Beach, Florida and Boynton Beach High School was a four-year starter and will look to bolster an already solid offensive line at Edward Waters.

“These selected student athletes will be ready to believe in themselves as they have never believed in anything else before in their lives” added Wyatt. “They are ready to excel in academics and athletics.” This is Alvin Wyatt, Sr.’s second year serving as the head coach of the Edward Waters College Tigers football team. (Pictured: Cory Brooks, Defensive Back from Delray Beach, Florida)

2015 Edward Waters College Football Signees

Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Hometown/Previous School
Justin Slaughter	OL	6’1	290	Orlando, Florida/Jones HS
Sterling Henry	OL	6’2	270	Miami, Florida/Miami Edison HS
Larry Blue	OL	6’3	300	Crescent City, Florida/Crescent City HS
Patchouco Mettelus	OL	6’5	275	Boynton Beach, Florida/Boynton Beach HS
Joedell Murray, III	QB	6’0	185	Riverdale, Georgia/Charles Drew HS
Delious Johnson	LB	6’1	210	Ocala, Florida/North Marion HS
Benjamin Kettler, Jr.	LB	6’0	240	Riverdale, Georgia/Charles Drew HS
Glovesky Peralate	K	5’11	170	Fort Lauderdale, Florida/Boyd Anderson HS
Shaun Davis	DT	6’3	280	Madison, Florida/Madison County HS
Cory Brooks	DB	6’2	200	Delray Beach, Florida/Atlantic HS
Raequan Bond	DE	6’2	220	Riverdale, Georgia/Charles Drew HS

COURTESY EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

Defense keeps Southern Jaguars in SWAC race

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern men’s basketball coach Roman Banks insists on his teams being tough-minded defensively, and this year’s version is obliging.

The Jaguars are allowing the fewest points per game (56.2) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and are limiting conference opponents to the lowest field-goal percentage (34.6) and lowest 3-point percentage (24.4).

That defense is the primary reason Southern (8-2 and 11-13 overall) remains in the thick of the conference race as it hosts Jackson State (5-5, 7-16) about 8 p.m. Monday in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

“Our team identity is a defensive team,” center Keith Davis said. “We’re scrappy, we’re physical. For us to win it’s going to be won on the defensive end before the offensive end.”

Still, Banks would like to see a little more offensive consistency so the team is a little less dependent on exceptional defense.

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Alabama A&M's 2015 football schedule features visits to Cincinnati and Coastal Carolina

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The Alabama A&M football team faces a schedule in the upcoming season that features visits to a bowl participant and a Football Championship Subdivision playoff team.

Bulldogs Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks and Head Football Coach James Spady announced the schedule Tuesday, on the eve of National Signing Day.

Cincinnati of the American Athletic Conference and Coastal Carolina of the Big South Conference are the only non-conference games in the Bulldogs' 11-game schedule, which includes four home games.

"This is a very exciting and competitive schedule," said Hicks. "Our opening game at Cincinnati will show our players a level of football they should strive for.

"Coastal Carolina was a quarterfinalist in the FCS playoffs who lost by just a touchdown (39-32) to the eventual national champions. This is a good measuring stick for our players."

After opening at Cincinnati on Sept. 5, the Bulldogs have a bye then visit Prairie View A&M on Sept. 19.

"I'm looking forward to this challenging schedule," Spady said. "The reason you play a Division I schedule is to play the best."

The home schedule kicks off Sept. 26 with Homecoming and the Louis Crews Classic as Arkansas-Pine Bluff visits. On Oct. 17, Jackson State comes to Louis Crews Stadium.

The 74th annual Magic City Classic is ticketed for Oct. 31.

Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 7 and Texas Southern on Nov. 28 round out the home schedule.

"To play schools like Cincinnati and Coastal Carolina with our conference schedule, we should have an exciting year," Spady said.



2015 Alabama A&M Bulldogs football schedule
Sept. 5 at Cincinnati
Sept. 12 Bye
Sept. 19 at Prairie View A&M
Sept. 26 (H) Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Homecoming/Louis Crews Classic)
Oct. 3 at Coastal Carolina
Oct. 10 at Grambling State
Oct. 17 (H) Jackson State
Oct. 24 Bye
Oct. 31 Alabama State (Magic City Classic in Birmingham)
Nov. 7 (H) Mississippi Valley State
Nov. 14 at Southern University
Nov. 21 at Alcorn State
Nov. 28 (H) Texas Southern

BOLD (H) Home Game




COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION  

Alabama A&M softball team off to 6-0 start

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
ROSTER

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Alabama A&M head softball coach Nakeya Hall was planning to use the opening weekend as a gauge to see how her young team would respond and play on the collegiate level.

Well, the Lady Bulldogs are 6-0 after sweeping through the four-game Hampton Jordan Softball Classic and a doubleheader at South Carolina State of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

So, coach, what do you think?

"I'm very pleased with the way the team performed," Hall said. "Today (Sunday) was competitive ... we're a pretty good team."

The Lady Bulldogs lightly challenged in the tournament but faced tougher competition at SC State.

"Defensively, we played an outstanding game," Hall said of Sunday morning's 5-4 extra-inning win. "We were up 4-0 and, by far, in control of the game but they hit a grand slam to tie it."

Hall said Jordan Bradley started the game and "pitched great." But she brought in Rachel Sanders to close the door.

"She faced her sister (Nicole) and then scored the winning run," Hall said. "It was absolutely exciting.

"They showed a lot of heart."

In the afternoon game, SC State had a 3-2 lead and Taiya McInnes came off the bench with the game-winning hit to score Ariel Smith.

"I told them we didn't come her just to beat the teams in the tournament, but to get six wins," said Hall, a graduate and former assistant coach at SC State. "It was a great homecoming for me and it feels even better coming back with the wins."

The Lady Bulldogs open at home on Friday when Tennessee State visits for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

AAMU 2015 SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Location Time/Result Details
Claflin University Tournament
2/6/2015 Clark Atlanta University Orangeburg, SC W 11-3
2/6/2015 Virginia Union University Orangeburg, SC W 16-7
2/7/2015 Edward Waters (Fla.) Orangeburg, SC W 12-0
2/7/2015 Benedict College Orangeburg SC 5 p.m.
2/8/2015 South Carolina State University (DH) Orangeburg, SC 10 a.m.
2/13/2015 Tennessee State University Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 1 p.m.
2/14/2015 Tuskegee University Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field Noon
2/15/2015 Belmont University Nashville, TN 2 p.m.
2/24/2015 Tennessee State University Nashville, TN 3 p.m.
Frost Classic
2/27/2015 Wright State University Chattanooga TN 11 a.m.
2/27/2015 Belmont University Chattanooga TN 1:30 p.m.
2/28/2015 Eastern Kentucky University Chattanooga, TN 11 a.m.
2/28/2015 Tennessee Tech University Chattanooga, TN. 4 p.m.
3/1/2015 South Dakota State University Chattanooga, TN 11 a.m.
Tiny Laster HBCU Classic (SWAC vs. MEAC)
3/6/2015 Tennessee State University Birmingham, AL 5 p.m.
3/7/2015 North Carolina Central University Birmingham, AL. 9 a.m.
3/7/2015 Savannah State University Birmingham, AL 3:45 p.m.
3/8/2015 Morgan State University Birmingham, AL 11:15 a.m.
3/12/2015 Northern Kentucky University Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 1 p.m.
Mercer University
3/13/2015 Michigan State University Macon, GA. 1:15 p.m.
3/13/2015 Mercer University Macon, GA 5:45 p.m.
3/14/2015 Youngstown State Macon, GA. 10 a.m.
3/14/2015 Michigan State University Macon, GA 12:15 p.m.
SWAC Roundup
3/20/2015 * University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff Longview, TX. 4 p.m.
3/21/2015 * Southern University Longview, TX 10 a.m.
3/21/2015 * Prairie View A&M University Longview, TX 3 p.m.
3/22/2015 * Grambling State University Longview, TX 10 a.m.
3/22/2015 * Texas Southern University Longview, TX 12:30 p.m.
3/27/2015 * Alcorn State University Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 3 p.m.
3/28/2015 * Alcorn State University (DH) Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 1 p.m.
4/8/2015 LeMoyne-Owen College Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 1 p.m.
4/10/2015 * Jackson State University Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 3 p.m.
4/11/2015 * Jackson State University (DH) Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 1 p.m.
4/14/2015 LeMoyne-Owen College Memphis, TN 1 p.m.
4/17/2015 * Alabama State University Montgomery, AL 6 p.m.
4/18/2015 * Alabama State University (DH) Montgomery, AL 1 p.m.
4/24/2015 * Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, MS 6 p.m.
4/25/2015 * Mississippi Valley State (DH) Itta Bena, MS 1 p.m.
SWAC Tournament
5/6/2015 * TBA Decatur AL
5/7/2015 * TBA Decatur, AL
5/8/2015 * TBA Decatur, AL
5/9/2015 * TBA Decatur, AL

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

ASU pulls away in OT to top Benedict 76-69

ALBANY, Georgia — It’s going to take more than just the starting five to get the Albany State Lady Rams back into postseason play.

Saturday afternoon in a key SIAC game with Benedict, the Lady Rams’ bench came through in the clutch to help them defeat Benedict College 76-69 in overtime at the HPER Gymnasium.

It was junior Kyasha Wilson that hit a pair of 3-pointers late in the second half to keep the Lady Rams in the game. Zuri Frost knocked down two free throws with 0.3 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, and it was Jillian Anderson who scored five of ASU’s first six points in the overtime period to extend the lead.

Head coach Robert Skinner said he was proud of the production he got from his team, and he said it was one of the most-complete games his team has played this season.

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Hampton Pirates rally to beat UMES Hawks

HAMPTON, Virginia -- In scratching out a 64-61 win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday evening at the HU Convocation Center, the Hampton University men's basketball team snapped its six-game losing streak. The Pirates improved to 9-14 overall and 5-5 in the MEAC on the season. Head coach Edward Joyner Jr. won his 91st career game in the process, becoming the program's all-time winningest Div. I coach – surpassing Steve Merfeld.

Junior guard Reginald Johnson registered his second straight 20-point game, leading all Pirate scorers with 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting. Redshirt junior guard/forward Dwight Meikle added 16 points and a team-high 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Junior guard Deron Powers added 11 points and four assists.

The Pirates shot 44.2 percent (23-for-52) from the floor – thanks in large part to a 14-for-25 effort (56.0 percent) in the second half. Hampton scored 25 points off of 16 UMES turnovers, and Hampton held a 26-22 edge in points in the paint. A layup from Devin Martin with 2:14 left in the game tied the contest at 58-58, before Johnson answered with 1:11 left by converting an acrobatic 3-point play to put the Pirates up 61-58. Dominique Elliott cut that lead to 61-60 with a jumper with 55 seconds left.



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Hampton Lady Pirates beat UMES

HAMPTON, Virginia - For the second straight home game, the Hampton University women's basketball team turned its opponent over 36 times, stifling Maryland Eastern Shore en route to a 71-43 win at the HU Convocation Center on Saturday. The Lady Pirates (11-11, 7-2 MEAC) remain atop the conference standings.

Sophomore guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas, the reigning MEAC Player of the Week, led three Lady Pirates in double figures with 23 points – to go along with six assists, five rebounds, and five steals. Senior guard Kyani White added 13 points, while also dishing out six assists, while junior guard Ryan Jordan chipped in 10 points. Redshirt junior forward Brielle Ward grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

he Lady Pirates shot 41.2 percent (28-for-68) from the floor – including a 44.4 percent clip (16-for-36) in the first half – all while turning those 36 Hawk turnovers into 35 points. Hampton also held a 32-14 edge in points in the paint. Both teams had 35 rebounds. The Hawks opened the game with turnovers in each of their first six possessions, and the Lady Pirates sprinted out to a 19-0 lead – taking that lead at the 12:03 mark after a 3-point play from senior guard, Kenia Cole.

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