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MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- There won't be too much love in the Acadome on Saturday.
Alabama State will look to maintain its lead in the SWAC as they host rival Alabama A&M at 5 p.m.
With the second half of the season upon them, Hornets men's basketball coach Lewis Jackson said his team has to continue to be hungry.
"Overall, we've played pretty good basketball," Jackson said. "It's because the guys are buying in to what we want to do. Our biggest thing now is respect every opponent, because they've all seen us once before."
The Hornets (14-6, 10-1 SWAC) are coming off a 65-57 win over Mississippi Valley State, their third in a row. ASU shot 46.2 percent in the second half to pull away.
BILOXI, Mississippi -- Former Biloxi High School football coach John Shannon is getting back into the college game.
Shannon said Friday that he has accepted the offensive coordinator job at Texas Southern University after stepping down from the head coaching job at Biloxi in December.
"I have some friends on the staff there that I've coached with before," Shannon said. "They asked if I'd be interested in it. I thought about it a little bit and I looked at it as if it was a great opportunity to go help some friends and get back into college coaching.
"Houston is a great place to live and it's a pro town. That kind of enticed me."
Shannon spent the past five seasons as the head coach at Biloxi, but he has plenty of experience on the college level.
COOKEVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team won its third straight contest after defeating Tennessee Tech, 66-57, Thursday evening in the Eblen Center.
TSU (11-12, 8-4 OVC) shook off a slow start and never trailed in the second half against TTU (5-20, 2-10 OVC).
Despite only playing 25 minutes, Chelsea Hudson led the Lady Tigers with 15 points and eight rebounds. Brianna Lawrence finished the game with 13 points and six boards while I’mani Davis just missed double-digits with nine points.
Tech had two players reach double-figures led by Candace Parson’s 20 points and 13 rebounds. Samaria Howard tallied 15 points for the Golden Eagles.
TSU shot 23.1 percent (3-of-13) from the field through the first eight and a half minutes of the game and fell behind 15-8.
The offense saw a little light after Diamond Beatty found Jayda Johnson in the paint to end a five minute scoring drought at the 10:38 mark. The bucket sparked a 7-1 run that pulled the Lady Tigers to within one.
TSU managed to pull even just before the four-minute media and went into the locker room with a slight, 29-26, lead.
In the second frame, Rachel Allen knocked down a triple from the top of the key before LaTeasha Hill scored in the paint to put TSU on top, 38-31.
The Lady Tiger offense picked up momentum as a rally fueled by post play made the score, 44-33, in favor of TSU and forced a Tech timeout.
A couple of free-throws by Chelsea Hudson increased the advantage to, 51-37, with 8:36 left to play. The Golden Eagles scored the next five points but the Lady Tigers maintained their composure.
Briana Morrow connected in the paint to give TSU a 62-48 cushion but Tech used a spurt to cut the deficit down to single digits with 1:55 on the clock.
With just over one minute remaining, an old fashioned three-point play by Chelsea Hudson put the Lady Tigers back up by double-digits and they never looked back.
TSU shot 48.4 percent from the field in the second half and scored 38 points in the paint.
Tennessee State returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 14 against Eastern Kentucky. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Gentry Center.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Chase Jerrell knows his first appearance on the mound will set the tone for Florida A&M’s season.
The 6-foot-3, 170 pound sophomore right-handed pitcher was named the Rattlers’ opening day starter, and although he led all FAMU pitchers in wins (five), innings pitched (79) and had the lowest ERA on the team (3.42) in 2014, he understands this year is a different ball game.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t excited to be the one fans see staring down batters when FAMU opens its season 4 p.m. Friday at Moore-Kittles Field against Marshall.
“It’s really an honor, honestly.” he said. “We’ve got a lot of really good pitchers. We had a lot of kids going for the opening job and I happened to just work hard and win the job. I’m hoping I can lead the team to victory.”
GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- North Carolina A&T released its 11-game 2015 football schedule on Wednesday.
The schedule includes the return of Bethune-Cookman, who has won at least a share of the MEAC title four out of the last five seasons. It also includes a game against the University of North Carolina for the first time.
A&T, who won a share of the MEAC title in 2014, opens the season at Aggie Stadium on Sept. 5 (6 p.m.) against old CIAA rival Shaw University. The Aggies will meet the Bears on the football field for the 21st time, but for the first time since 1963 when the Aggies came away with a 69-0 win in Greensboro.
The following week will see the Aggies travel to Chapel Hill to face the North Carolina Tar Heels for the first time in school history. The Tar Heels will be the first ACC team the Aggies have faced since losing to Wake Forest 42-3 on Sept. 18, 2004. The Tar Heels are the first FBS school on the Aggies schedule since Louisiana-Lafayette in 2006. A&T head coach Rod Broadway is a 1977 graduate of UNC.
Non-conference play ends when the Aggies renew their Piedmont rivalry against Elon on Sept. 19. For the second straight season, the Aggies will travel to Elon where they were 17-12 winners in 2014. The Aggies have won the first two games in the current four-year series scheduled to conclude in 2016. A&T holds the all-time series lead, 6-4.
Conference play begins Oct. 3 as the Aggies travel to face the Hampton Pirates at Armstrong Stadium. The Aggies ended an eight-game losing streak to the Pirates last season with a 31-14 win at Aggie Stadium. A&T has not won at Armstrong Stadium in 15 years. The Aggies return to the Tidewater area the following week to face Norfolk State in Norfolk, Va., at 2 p.m. The Aggies and the Spartans have not played since 2012 when the Aggies earned a 30-9 Greatest Homecoming On Earth win.
Bethune-Cookman is also on the schedule for the first time in three years as the Wildcats face the Aggies at 1 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Aggie Stadium. It is B-CU’s first trip to Aggie Stadium since 2011. One of Greensboro’s biggest annual events returns as the Aggies host Howard University for the Greatest Homecoming On Earth at 1 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 24. A&T has won four straight homecomings.
After homecoming the Aggies will play two consecutive road games to close out their travel for 2015. A&T goes to Florida A&M on Oct. 31 before facing S.C. State in Orangeburg, S.C., on Nov. 7.
The Aggies final two games are at Aggie Stadium. Delaware State comes to Greensboro on Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. The Aggies then close out the regular-season against rival N.C. Central at 1 p.m.
The Eagles defeated the 24th-ranked Aggies 21-14 in Durham in 2014 to end the Aggies hopes of making the NCAA FCS Playoffs. The loss also put the Aggies (9-3, 6-2 MEAC) in a five-way tie for the MEAC crown. It was the Aggies first conference title in 11 years.
The Aggies have also put together three straight winning seasons for the first time since accomplishing the feat from 1999-01.
2015 AGGIES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME (ET) Sat, Sep 05 Shaw University Aggie Stadium 6:00 PM
Sat, Sep 12 North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C. TBA
Sat, Sep 19 Elon at Elon, N.C. TBA
Sat, Oct 03 Hampton * at Hampton, Va. TBA
Sat, Oct 10 Norfolk State * at Norfolk, Va. 2:00 PM Sat, Oct 17 Bethune-Cookman * Aggie Stadium 1:00 PM Sat, Oct 24 Howard (Homecoming) * Aggie Stadium 1:00 PM
Sat, Oct 31 Florida A&M * at Tallahassee, Fla. TBA
Sat, Nov 07 S.C. State * at Orangeburg, S.C. TBA Sat, Nov 14 Delaware State * Aggie Stadium 1:00 PM Sat, Nov 21 N.C. Central * Aggie Stadium 1:00 PM BOLD
* Conference Games:
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- New Florida A&M head football coach Alex Wood has plenty of ideas in store for a team that lost nine games last season. But he has one clear mission on his mind heading in to spring football.
Wood wants to make sure FAMU’s 2015 team is packed with players with high academic standards.
At a meeting of the 220 Quarterback Club at New Times Country Buffet on Monroe Street Wednesday, Wood detailed his academic standards for the Rattlers. He spoke to about 70 luncheon attendees for about half an hour, and said his plan is to graduate freshman players in no more than nine semesters.
“We’re trying to do this in nine semesters and we’re trying to do it over a period of time, not just one time,” he said.
LAFAYETTE, Louisiana -- Louisiana-Lafayette won all five completed matches Wednesday and prevented Nour Abbes from scoring in a 4-0 women's tennis victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.
The Ragin' Cajuns (2-0) snapped the two-dual win streak of the Gold Nuggets (3-3), who are ranked third in the NAIA. All three XU losses are to NCAA Division I opponents.
It was the third consecutive year that the Cajuns beat the Nuggets.
Kelly Drew and Alexandra Way won in doubles and singles for the Cajuns, who opened their spring season earlier in the day with a 4-1 home victory against Southern University.
Elena Sava's 6-2, 6-2 victory against Caroline Vernet ended the dual. Still on the court was Abbes, the NAIA's top-ranked singles player, who was leading Nelo Phiri 6-3, 5-1.
Way defeated Brion Flowers, playing in her hometown, 6-3, 6-1, and Drew defeated Carmen Nelson 6-3, 6-1.
The Cajuns clinched the doubles point with victories at the second and third flights. Melissa Burckhartt and Drew beat Vernet and Flowers 6-2, and Way and Abby Johnson defeated Brandi Nelson and Sha'Nel Bruins 6-3.
Vernet's losses were her first of the season. She had won twice in doubles and once in singles during the weekend and was named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday.
Next for Xavier's women and men will be William Carey at 11 a.m. Saturday at XU Tennis Center. XU's men are ranked eighth, and William Carey's men are ranked 22nd. William Carey's women received votes in the preseason poll.
NOTE: Coach Alan Green said Xavier's men's and women's duals Feb. 24 against Alcorn State have been moved to XU Tennis Center. Starting time was moved up one hour to 2 p.m.
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman Football will host five games at newly renovated Municipal Stadium aka “The Cage” this fall, as the 2015 football schedule was released Wednesday afternoon by head coach Terry Sims and Director of Athletics Lynn W. Thompson.
Bethune-Cookman, co-champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) a season ago, will travel to FBS opponent Miami (Fla.) to begin the season September 5. After that, B-CU travels to Grambling State (Sept. 12) for a return game in Grambling, Louisiana.
The first two home games of the year for the three-time defending MEAC champion Wildcats will be September 19, as Bethune-Cookman hosts Lane to Municipal Stadium, followed by the conference-opener against Savannah State (Sept. 26).
B-CU then goes home/away in consecutive weekends the rest of the way, beginning with a trip to 2015 MEAC Co-Champions North Carolina Central on October 3, in Durham, North Carolina. The Cats return home against MEAC Co-Champions South Carolina State on October 10, before returning to the Tar Heel State for a matchup with another of the five MEAC co-champions from last year, North Carolina A&T, on October 17.
Homecoming for Bethune-Cookman is set for October 24, when Norfolk State comes to Daytona Beach. The Spartans defeated the Wildcats in 2013, marking the first home defeat in conference for the Cats in more than two years.
B-CU wraps up the road portion of the schedule October 31, with a trip to Delaware State, before hosting Senior Appreciation Day on November 7, welcoming 2015 MEAC Co-Champions Morgan State to “The Cage”.
The final regular season game occurs on November 21, when the Wildcats meet the Rattlers of Florida A&M in the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic at the brand-new Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
All home games are set for 4 p.m. kickoffs, while times for the road games will be set later in the spring prior to the beginning of the campaign.
For a printable version of the 2015 schedule, please click here. You may also access the schedule via internet by clicking here.
For the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow us on Twitter, @BCUGridIron. For the most accurate and up to date information delivered to your phone, download the official Bethune-Cookman Wildcats app for your Droid or iPhone.
BOWIE, Maryland -- The Bowie State University football program has announced the 2015 schedule. The Bulldogs, led by head coach Damon Wilson, will have four home games and six road contests next season.
The Bulldogs kicks-off the 2015 season at Merrimack College on September 5th in first of three straight non-conference games. Bowie State will travel to Brevard College on September 12th and close out the non-conference portion of their schedule at Division I-A Central Connecticut State University on September 19th.
After opening the season with a trio of road contests, the Bulldogs begin CIAA crossover play with their home opener on September 26th against Livingstone College. After taking on the Blue Bears, Bowie State will make a trip to Charlotte (N.C.) to face Johnson C. Smith University on October 3rd.
Bowie State returns to Bulldogs Stadium on October 10th to host Chowan University for Homecoming 2015 followed by a road contest at Virginia State University on October 17th.
The Bulldogs welcome Virginia Union University to the cozy confines of Bulldogs Stadium on October 24th and close out their home schedule on October 31st against The Lincoln University.
The regular season finale for the Bulldogs will be a road contest against Elizabeth City State University on November 7th.
Bowie State posted a 5-5 overall record in 2014 and finished 5-2 in CIAA play.
Saturday, September 5 at Merrimack 1 pm, (North Andover, Mass.)
Saturday, September 12 at Brevard 1 pm, (Brevard, N.C.)
Saturday, September 19 at Central Connecticut State 1 pm, (New Britain, Conn.) Saturday, September 26 LIVINGSTONE * 6 pm
Saturday, October 3 at Johnson C. Smith * TBD. (Charlotte, N.C.) Saturday, October 10 CHOWAN * 4 pm, Homecoming
Saturday, October 17 at Virginia State * TBD, (Petersburg, Va.) Saturday, October 24 VIRGINIA UNION * 1 pm Saturday, October 31 LINCOLN * 1 pm
Saturday, November 7 at Elizabeth City State * TBD, (Elizabeth City, N.C.)
Home Games Listed in BOLDFACE CAPS
* Conference
COURTESY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Quickly rallying around their president and campus leaders, the South Carolina State University community gathered outside an auditorium Tuesday night to say no.
The group was calling for a measure to shutter the university's doors for a fiscal year to be killed.
"I think one thing is clear," said President Thomas Elzey. "South Carolina State University will not close."
A South Carolina House subcommittee on higher education voted 3-1 Tuesday afternoon to cease operations at South Carolina State university in Orangeburg.
Democratic Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg cast the "no" vote.
Elzey went on to say the problems with the university's finances did not happen overnight, and they won't be fixed immediately either.
Meanwhile, SC State's Twitter account said it was vowing to fight the measure. A Facebook post by the university called for everyone to stay calm.
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State head football coach Latrell Scott announced three more additions to his new staff at NSU on Tuesday in defensive line coach Keith Braxton, assistant head coach/cornerbacks coach Kevin Grisby and safeties coach/recruiting coordinator Christian Parker.
The new trio of coaches, each of whom worked with Scott at Virginia State, fills out the Spartans' defensive staff, joining defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jerry Holmes.
"We are excited to finalize our defensive staff. It consists of a group of men I had a chance to win championships with at Virginia State," Scott said. "Bringing these fine coaches to NSU allows us to keep continuity on a defense that had great success over the past two seasons and we look forward to having similar success here at NSU."
Braxton and Parker spent both 2013 and 2014 with Scott at VSU and Grisby joined the staff in 2014. This past season, the trio helped the Trojans to their historic 10-3 season that included the 2014 CIAA championship and the school's first-ever victory in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Braxton has 14 years of coaching experience. His line was a big reason for the Trojans' success the last two years, leading VSU to a pair of top-20 national rankings in total defense. The 2013 Trojan defense finished 12th nationally and featured the Richmond Touchdown Club's Co-Defensive Linemen of the year for Division II in Ronald Lewis and Bryant Frazier.
Prior to his time at VSU, Braxton was defensive line coach from 2006-12 at Edinboro University (Pa.). In seven seasons at Edinboro, he coached six All-PSAC West performers and helped Edinboro reach the Division II playoffs in 2009. Braxton also coached the defensive linemen for five seasons at his alma mater, VMI (2001-05).
A native of Beaverdam, Va., Braxton was a three-year letterwinner as a defensive lineman for the Keydets, finishing his career with 195 tackles in 35 games played. He earned his bachelor's degree in history from VMI in 1998 and his master's in history from Norwich University in 2010.
Grisby, who is embarking on his 20th year of collegiate coaching, coached the safeties at VSU in 2014. One of his pupils, Devonte Piggott, earned second-team All-CIAA honors during VSU's CIAA championship run this past season. The VSU secondary coached by Grisby and Parker led the CIAA with 18 interceptions, which ranked 12th in the nation.
Prior to his one year at VSU, Grisby coached at the Trojans' CIAA rival, Virginia Union University, as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and secondary coach from 2011-13. His defense ranked second in the CIAA in pass defense and total defense in 2012, and fourth in total defense in 2013.
Grisby also had a lengthy tenure at St. Paul's College from 2004-11, serving as the school's associate head coach for his first five seasons before ascending to head coach for the 2010 season. While at SPC, Grisby helped develop Greg Toler, a starting defensive back this past season for the Indianapolis Colts and one of many players Grisby has helped reach the ranks of professional football.
A native of Miami, Fla., Grisby played collegiately as a defensive back at Bethune-Cookman, where he earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 1990. He had professional stints with the Philadelphia Eagles (1990) and the San Antonio Riders (1991) of the World League of American Football.
Parker was cornerbacks coach at VSU in 2014 after serving as a defensive graduate assistant in 2013. In addition to VSU's CIAA-leading 18 interceptions last year, the Trojans also ranked 18th in the nation in passing defense, allowing 174 yards per game. Parker coached an All-CIAA first-team performer in both of his years with the Trojans, mentoring Sean Smith in 2013 and Darion Thomas in 2014.
A native of Glen Allen, Va., Parker is a 2013 graduate of the University of Richmond with a degree in political science. He was a wide receiver and cornerback for the Spiders and was a member of CAA championship teams in 2009 and 2012. He also ran track for UR.
Scott also announced Wednesday that running backs coach Paul Macklin has accepted another employment opportunity outside of the university and will not return to the staff. Scott will announce more hirings to his staff at NSU in the coming weeks.
By Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Alonzo Lee, one of the best defensive minds in Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as I-AA), has been named by head football coach Harold Jackson as Jackson State's defensive coordinator on Monday.
“I am excited to welcome Alonzo Lee as our new defensive coordinator,” said Jackson. “His years of championship level experience will make him a tremendous addition to our staff.”
Over his career, Lee has proven that defense wins championships and he has won seven MEAC titles at four different schools. At two of the schools – North Carolina A&T and Hampton – Lee served as the defensive coordinator.
Lee has been defensive coordinator at Morgan State (2011-12, 2007-09), North Carolina A&T (2003-06), and Hampton (1997-03). During his first stint as defensive coordinator at Morgan State, Lee defenses ranked among the top two in the FCS. In 2008, the Bears led the nation in total defense.
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Last season, the Alabama A&M baseball had a historic year with the first 20-win season in the program's Division I history.
The Bulldogs finished 21-32 and qualified for the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament, winning a tournament game for the first time since 2000, before being eliminated.
This year, Head Coach Mitch Hill has a wealth of senior experience among 11 position players and six pitchers - including a returning SWAC Hitter of the Year who ranked in the top 10 nationally.
"I hope our experience will play a huge factor this season," he said. "It all depends on their mindset. But it should give us a chance to win the conference championship."
Among his returnees are four all-SWAC players: Seniors Andrew Utterback, Julio Nunez and Brandyn Crutcher and junior Andrew Hulsey.
NEW ORLEANS — It's another week and another gain for Xavier University of Louisiana in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
The Gold Rush (19-7 overall, 8-2 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) moved from 18th to 17th Tuesday. It was the fifth consecutive week that Xavier climbed in the rankings.
The Gold Rush are in the top 25 for the 45th consecutive time. That's the longest active streak among NAIA DI men's teams. Xavier appeared in 58 of the last 59 top-25s.
Xavier's eight-game win streak ended Monday in a 78-69 home loss to Talladega. The Tornadoes, who have NAIA DI's longest active win streak — 17 games — climbed from No. 3 to No. 2 and received a first-place vote. Talladega is the first GCAC team to reach the NAIA's top two since LSU-Shreveport was second on Feb. 20, 2008.
GCAC member Philander Smith remained out of the top 25 for the second straight week but received enough votes to rank 27th. Xavier will travel to Little Rock, Ark., to play Philander Smith at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Cal State San Marcos received 9-of-10 first-place votes and is No. 1 for the third straight week.
NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches'
Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through Feb. 8)
Rank
Team
Record
Points
Last
1
Cal State San Marcos (9)
22-2
250
1
2
Talladega (1)
21-3
237
3
3
Freed-Hardeman
21-2
231
4
4
Pikeville
22-2
230
5
5
Hope International
21-2
219
2
6
Campbellsville
22-3
212
6
7
Arizona Christian
20-5
196
10
8
Dalton State
19-3
191
12
9
Georgetown (Ky.)
21-3
176
13
10
Concordia (Calif.)
20-5
174
tie-8
11
Benedictine (Kan.)
19-5
171
7
12-tie
Columbia (Mo.)
20-4
154
15
12-tie
Martin Methodist
21-3
154
16
14
LSU-Alexandria
15-2
149
19
15
Montana Western
18-6
148
11
16
Mid-America Christian
16-8
130
14
17
Xavier
19-6
122
18
18
Wayland Baptist
19-4
117
21
19
Bethel (Tenn.)
19-5
116
tie-8
20
Great Falls
17-6
98
20
21
Our Lady of the Lake
16-4
88
22
22
Evangel
14-8
71
23
23
Oklahoma City
12-6
60
NR
24
Southwestern Assemblies of God
17-7
58
25
25
Cumberlands
18-6
55
24
Others receiving votes: Westmont 53, Philander Smith 37, Lewis-Clark State 35, William Carey 21, Central Methodist 12, Oklahoma Baptist 11, Missouri Valley 10, Wiley 10, Rocky Mountain 4
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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. CONTINUE READING CONTINUE READING 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, 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.
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. CONTINUE READING
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- There won't be too much love in the Acadome on Saturday.
