UMES's Myers wins award for top DI transfer

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  -- For what has been a season filled with accolades, University of Maryland Eastern Shore senior forward Michael Myers added yet another honor to his resume.

Myers, on Friday, was named the Riley Wallace Player of the Year, which is presented annually to the top transfer player in Division I college basketball.

The award is named after legendary coach Riley Wallace, who, during his career at the University of Hawaii welcomed many transfers to his program, which propelled him to the winningest coach in Hawaii history.



"I am blessed to win this recognition," said Myers via social media posts from the event where he accepted the award. "I want to thank all the people who supported me throughout my career. I really appreciate it a lot. It is such an honor to win this award."

The award was presented at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet held in Indianapolis, the site of the 2015 men's final four.

CONTINUE READING

University of Maryland Eastern Shore's Bobby Collins Named Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year

Coach Bobby Collins
Courtesy UMES Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- University of Maryland Eastern UBanquet held in Indianapolis, the site of the 2015 men's final four. The banquet was held at the Hyatt Regency, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) headquarters hotel.

"I'm blessed to be the winner of the 2015 Ben Jobe Award," Collins posted on a social media account. "This is an honor, I have to thank God, my coaching staff, my team, and the UMES family for believing and trusting in me."

Collins was already piling up the hardware, having been named the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Coach of the Year. He was also named a finalist for the Hugh Durham Award, presented annually to the top mid-major coach in the nation. Collins led UMES to the best season in 41 years, the 1973-74 season when UMES amassed 27 wins and made a second round appearance in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). This season he guided the Hawks to an 18-15 record, third-place in the league with an 11-5 mark, up from 13th the previous season, and an appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Post Season Tournament. It was the first NCAA post-season appearance for UMES since that 73-74 campaign and the first of any kind in over 30 years.

The Hawks had more wins this season than the last three combined and posted a sold non-conference record as well with a 3-1 mark against the Atlantic-10. They were one of the top three teams in the nation in road wins.

The Jobe award was created in 2010 and is presented annually to the top minority coach in Division I basketball and voted on by a 30-person award committee consisting of five current DI head coaches, five retired head coaches, 10 athletic directors and/or conference administrators, five NBA scouts and/or administrators and five collegeinsider.com staff members. Coach Ben Jobe is the chairman of the awards committee.

Past recipients include Kevin Ollie of Connecticut in 2013, Sean Woods from Mississippi Valley State in 2012, Cuonzo Martin from Missouri State in 2011, Ed Cooley of Fairfield in 2010 and last year's winner, Willis Wilson of Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

Collins was one of 16 finalists for the 2015 award that included fellow MEAC coaches Robert Jones of Norfolk State and LeVelle Moton of North Carolina Central. Other nominees included: Tommy Amaker of Harvard, John Thompson III of Georgetown, Mike Davis of Texas Southern, Kevin Keatts of UNC Wilmington and Marvin Menzies of New Mexico State. Past winners Wilson and Cooley were also nominated.

The award is named after Coach Jobe, who spent the majority of his career coaching at historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs). He won 524 games in 31 seasons and is best known for his work at Southern University. During a ten-year stretch (1986-1995) he took the Jaguars to four NCAA Tournaments and one NIT appearance. He was 209-141 while at Southern. HE never posted a losing season while with the Jaguars. His resume includes five SIAC Championships, 11 SWAC titles and two NAIA Tournament Championships. One of his most memorable moments was a 93-78 win by Southern over Georgia Tech in the first round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament, one the most memorable upsets in tournament history.

He has also served as head coach at Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Talladega, Tuskegee and South Carolina State.

The following is provided by CollegeInsider.com:

"This is such an honor for me," said Jobe. "So many people have helped me throughout my career and they are the reason for this award. People like John McClendon, Clarence "Big House" Gaines and so many others have helped to get where I am today. I have been truly blessed. This is the biggest honor I have ever had," Jobe said at the time the award was established.

"Coach Jobe is one of the great coaches of our time," says CollegeInsider.com co-founder Joe Dwyer. "If he had coached at a high profile program he would be a household name. Today's game needs more people like Ben Jobe. He is a success as both a coach and a person. He truly is a legend in every sense of the word."

Jobe's coaching career began at Cameron High school in Nashville in 1959. His very first team won 24 games, a school record. One year later he went to West Africa to coach junior college ball. In Sierra Leone, his team posted back-to-back undefeated seasons.

He returned to the states to coach at Talladega in 1964. Throughout the 1960s and in the decades that followed, Jobe established himself as a program builder. He changed the fortunes of Alabama State and South Carolina State where he took the Bulldogs to five NAIA Tournaments in five seasons. In 1979 Jobe took over at the University of Denver. The program had suffered through 11 straight losing seasons, but under Jobe's guidance the Pioneers finished 15-12 in his first season. One year later Denver won 20 games and had its first postseason invite since 1947.

Jobe went on to the NBA's Denver Nuggets (assistant coach and director of player personnel, 1980-81); Georgia Tech University (assistant coach, 1981-82); and Alabama A&M University (head coach, 1982-86). At A&M he posted a record of 83-36 in four seasons, taking the Bulldogs to three SIAC championships and two NCAA Division II tournaments.

During the early 1970s Jobe was also a member of Frank McGuire's staff at the University of South Carolina, a staff that included Bobby Cremins and Donnie Walsh.

"It is an honor to be included in this prestigious panel to commemorate the impressive career of my friend, Ben Jobe," says Donnie Walsh, General Manager of the New York Knicks. "Ben was not only a great coach, but a wonderful mentor for generations of young athletes. I consider it a privilege to have a vote for Coach of the Year honors."

Walsh and Bobby Cremins are among the 30 members of the Ben Jobe Award selection committee, which includes Tony Bennett (Virginia), William Brown (Talladega), Tim Carter (formerly of South Carolina State), Paul Hewitt (George Mason), Arthur Hightower (San Diego Chargers), Avery Johnson (ESPN), Leon Kerry (CIAA Commissioner), Floyd Keith (Black Coaches Association), Jim Larranaga (Miami), Vann Pettaway (Alabama A&M), Tubby Smith (Texas A&M), Mike Wilson (Washington Wizards) and Steve Yoder (New York Knicks).

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern baseball team wins seventh straight with sweep of Prairie View

Courtesy: Herman Shelton, Sports Information Assistant

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — The Southern baseball team had to hang on for its latest victory Saturday, but its winning streak is intact and growing.

Heck, given the Jaguars’ early struggles, what does it really matter that an 8-7 win came after they bolted to an 8-0 lead at Prairie View? Nobody knows better the value of a “W,” no matter how it gets added to the table.

“At the end of the day, it’s better to get an ugly win,” Southern coach Roger Cador said.

The Jaguars pushed their winning streak to seven games as they hit the midway point through their Southwestern Athletic Conference schedule. Once 3-15 overall, SU stands at 10-15, including an 8-6 conference mark.

The Jaguars lost two of three to PV (8-22, 4-10) in late February, so sweeping the Panthers further punctuates the turnaround.

CONTINUE READING 

Xavier earns 4 more GCAC weekly awards

Have you visited Xavier's new athletics website? http://XULAgold.com  
launched March 26.

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana received four Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Athlete/Player of the Week awards for March 23-29: Joseph Moses III in men's outdoor track, Devinn Rolland in women's outdoor track, Carmen Nelson in women's tennis and Adam Albrecht in men's tennis. It's the fifth consecutive week and the eighth time in nine weeks that Xavier received multiple GCAC awards.

Moses was honored for third consecutive week and the third time overall. Rolland won the track honor for the first time this season and the seventh time in her career. Rolland also has 11 career GCAC field awards. Nelson and Albrecht are first-time honorees.

Moses, a freshman from Baton Rouge, La., and a graduate of Christian Life Academy, posted an NAIA B-qualifying time of 21.60 seconds in the Bobcat Invitational at San Marcos, Texas. Moses finished seventh and was faster than 11-of-14 sprinters from NCAA Division I schools.

Rolland, a senior from Harvey, La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School, produced a season-best of 24.93 in the Bobcat Invitational 200 and an NAIA B-qualifying mark. It's the fourth consecutive year that Rolland qualified for nationals in that event. Rolland also ran the leadoff segment of the 1,600 relay which recorded a season-best time of 3:59.56. Rolland's relay teammates were Tylor Row, Tramaine Shannon and Clarke Allen.



Nelson, a senior from Jonesboro, Ga., and a graduate of Faith Academy, was 3-0 in singles and 2-1 in doubles and helped the Gold Nuggets defeat NAIA No. 11 Westmont and No. 24 Northwestern Ohio on the road. Nelson beat Claudia Castella of NCAA DI Southern Miss in straight sets, then beat NAIA No. 40 Haley Strandness of Westmont and NAIA No. 48 Raquel Marques. Nelson teamed with Nour Abbes to defeat Strandness and Alyson Meyer, No. 8 in the NAIA West, in doubles.

Albrecht, a sophomore from Ladna, Czech Republic, and a graduate of Gymnasium Breclav, was one of two Xavier players to go 2-0 in doubles and 2-0 in singles in the Gold Rush's road victories against NAIA No. 8 Westmont and No. 10 Northwestern Ohio. Albrecht clinched Xavier's victory at Westmont. The next day against UNOH, Albrecht and Kevin Chaouat won 9-7 in doubles after trailing 6-3.

Xavier's spring teams are idle for Easter weekend. Next for track and field will be the GCAC Championships April 11 at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans. XU men's and women's tennis teams will play Auburn Montgomery — whose women are ranked second in the NAIA and men are ranked third — at 2:30 p.m. next Friday (April 10) at XU Tennis Center.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/

Offense gets upper hand in Bulldogs' second scrimmage of spring

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Defense dominated S.C. State’s first scrimmage of the spring, but just six days later, the Bulldogs’ offense was able to turn the tide.

Rising junior quarterback Adrian Kollock Jr. threw for a touchdown and ran for another as the Bulldogs’ first team moved down the field with ease Friday morning at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. The two units will have a rubber match in the April 11 Garnet and Blue Spring Game.



“I think we did some things at times that we can think we have a decent looking little offense,” S.C. State head coach Buddy Pough said. “You see some signs of life. You see us making some plays and stringing some drives together. We’ve got some guys where if you can put them together, and we’ll have a decent little offense.”

Lynard Jamison, Everette Shaw and Taquan West each pulled in 30-yard receptions Friday morning. Pough said he was particularly pleased with the work of Jamison. The redshirt freshman spent much of the scrimmage beating S.C. State’s secondary.

CONTINUE READING

Badgers mesmerize Magicians with DH sweep

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- The Spring Hill College (SHC) baseball team swept a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) road doubleheader away from the LeMoyne-Owen College Magicians by the scores of 11-4 and 11-0 at Bellevue Park on Friday in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Badgers benefited from home runs by catcher Alex Jones, third baseman Pete Spradlin and first baseman Willie Floros in the first victory over the Magicians (4-17, 4-6 SIAC) while senior pitcher Jack Howard (7-0) picked up the complete-game victory.

Senior starter Keller Douglas improved to 5-1 on the year as he pitched the first five innings before yielding the mound to senior leftie Brady Hitt for the final two innings of the combined shutout.

Senior right fielder Taylor Eads continued his tear through the season with five more hits for the Badgers lifting his total to 63 in 32 games played this season.

The Badgers (22-10, 13-0 SIAC) will wrap up ,,,

CONTINUE READING

Upset of Michigan State proves program-changing win for TSU

HOUSTON, Texas -- It didn't dawn on us how big it was to beat Michigan State until we were on the two-hour bus ride to Detroit to fly out the next day.

Everybody on the bus was getting text messages. I got over 500 of them. It was like "shock the world," but it really shocked college basketball that we won the game 71-64 in overtime Dec. 20 in East Lansing, Michigan.

I don't think anyone slept that night. I know I didn't, because we had to fly out of Detroit to Auburn, Ala., really early the next morning. It was like a cloud-nine deal.

It was a great program-changer for us. I think everyone who knows basketball knew that Texas Southern had beaten Michigan State, then ranked 25th in the Associated Press poll.

Heading into the game, we had just lost by 40 (94-54) to one of Mark Few's best Gonzaga teams ever. But I wasn't really concerned.



CONTINUE READING

UAPB rallies past Texas Southern in game two for sweep

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Baseball Team swept Texas Southern in a doubleheader with the Golden Lions winning game one, 11-9 and pulling out a 6-5 victory in game two, here Friday afternoon at the Torii Hunter Baseball, Softball and Little League Complex.
 
In game one, UAPB (13-12, 8-3 SWAC) scored 11 runs on 18 hits, while only committing one error.  The Golden Lions had four batters to record three hits in the contest inRashawn Tillman, Westin Hinkel, Chris Burns and Jerimiah Figueroa.
 
TSU scored nine runs on nine hits and committed two errors in the contest. Zach Welz led the Tigers from the plate with three hits in five at-bats, scoring four runs and driving in two.
 
Billy Olson (5-3) received the win for the Golden Lions, allowing eight hits, six earned runs and striking out six in six inning of work, while Kevin Walsh pitched three scoreless innings in relief and striking out four for his first save of the season.
 
Larry Romero (4-1) received the loss for the TSU, allowing six hits and striking out one earned run in one and one-third inning of relief.   Felix Gomez made the start for the Tigers, allowing 11 hits and five earned runs in three and two-third innings of work.  Also making an appearance on the mound for TSU was Ryan Rios, pitching three innings in relief, allowing one hit and striking out three.
 
TSU scored the first run of the contest on a Ryan Lazo single to left field scoring Welz, who doubled to center field to lead off the inning, giving the Tigers a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning.
 
UAPB reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the first with Hinkel homering to left field and Davis scoring on a Burns single to left field, giving the Golden Lions a 2-1 lead.
 
The Tigers regained the lead in the top of the third inning to take a 5-2 lead as TSU plated three runs in the inning.
 
UAPB plated five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 7-4 lead. 
 
TSU tied the contest at 7-7 in the top of the fifth inning as the Tigers plated three runs in the inning.
 
UAPB broke the tie with a four-run fifth inning to take an 11-7 advantage into the sixth inning.
 
The Tigers scored two more runs in their half of the sixth inning to cut UAPB's lead to 11-9.
 
In game number two, both teams finished with 10 hits apiece and one error each.
 
The Golden Lions where led by both Tommy Haas and Davis in game two as they both finished with two hits each for UAPB, while TSU had three player to finish with two hits each.
 
Davis (2-1) received the win for the Golden Lions, striking out two in two scoreless innings of work.  Humberto Medina made the start for UAPB, allowing 10 hits, four earned runs and striking out one in seven inning of work.
 
Seth Oliver (0-3) received the loss for the Tigers, allowing one hit and striking out one in one inning of relief.  Frank Cruz made the start for UAPB, allowing eight hits, four earned runs and striking out three in in seven innings of work.
 
TSU took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning.
 
UAPB scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning with Haas, who led off the inning with a triple, scoring on an Andre Davis double to right field.  Davis tied the contest at 5-5 as he scored on a passed ball, followed by Vladimir Gomez single to scoring Collin Drury, giving the Golden Lions, 6-5 victory.
 
The Golden Lions will return to action on Saturday, April 4 against Texas Southern in a 1 p.m. start at the Torii Hunter Baseball, Softball and Little League Complex. 


Box Score 

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

Hall of Fame profile: Cowboys legend Everson Walls a gifted athlete, compassionate friend

DALLAS, Texas -- On the field, Everson Walls was known for taking the ball away from the offense.

The former Dallas Cowboys cornerback picked off 57 passes in his illustrious career, and he and former Baltimore Ravens star Ed Reed are the only two players in NFL history to lead the league in interceptions in three different seasons.

Off the gridiron, Walls’ giving nature has often shined through, most notably in 2007 donated a kidney to Ron Springs and became the first athlete to give an organ to a former temamate.



Walls, who grew up two miles from the Cowboys’ practice facility in North Dallas, was considered too slow to play cornerback in the NFL coming out of Grambling State in the 1981 draft and wasn’t selected in the 12-round event.

He was picked up as a free agent and quickly showed incredible instincts and ball skills that allowed him to overcome his lack of top-end speed and made him one of the league’s top thieves during his 13-year career with the Cowboys, New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.

CONTINUE READING

Mandela Widow to Deliver Morgan State University’s 139th Commencement Address

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State University President David Wilson today announced that the Honorable Graca Machel will be the commencement speaker for the University’s 139th spring graduation ceremonies on May 16, 2015. Machel is the widow of former South African President Nelson Mandela.

“This is an extraordinary honor for Morgan and for our graduates,” said Dr. Wilson. “Madam Machel is an international leader in many respects and her work to improve the conditions of people around the world is inspirational for our students and fits well with the mission of this great university.”

As the widow of both Nelson Mandela and of former Mozambican President Samora Machel, Graca Machel is the only woman in history to have been first lady of two republics at different times. She served as first lady of Mozambique from 1975 until 1986 and, after marrying Mandela in July of 1998, served as the first lady of South Africa until 1999. She is known around the world for her humanitarian work and is a staunch advocate for the rights of women and children. She helped establish, Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage, and currently chairs the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. A graduate of the University of Lisbon, Machel was named among Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2010. She is author of the book, “The Impact of War on Children.”

Madam Machel will join her late husband, Nelson Mandela, in receiving an honorary doctorate at the Morgan Commencement. He will be posthumously awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters and she is to receive the Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree. The University will also honor Dr. James E. West, a research professor at Johns Hopkins University, who will receive the Honorary Doctor of Science degree for his ground breaking work developing the Electroacoustic Transducer Electret Microphone. Dr. West helped create the technology on which most microphones used today are based.

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie classified doctoral research institution offering more than 60 academic programs leading to bachelor’s degrees as well as programs at the master’s and doctoral levels. As Maryland’s public urban university, Morgan serves a multi-ethnic and multi-racial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information on Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

Rep. Clyburn recommends management team for SCSU

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- Congressman James Clyburn said Thursday that if he could wave a magic wand, the first thing he would do for South Carolina State University is put a three-person management team in place and let the board remain.

The three-member management team would be responsible for developing a management plan for the school, while the board would set policy, he said.

Two ideal candidates for the proposed management team would be Ronald Thompson, a Chrysler Group board member, and retired Maj. Gen. Clifford Stanley, who served as the U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Stanley is a 1969 graduate of S.C. State.

Clyburn discussed his alma mater’s recent problems Thursday during a 90-minute press conference in Columbia. State lawmakers are considering bills to remove the university’s entire board in the face of financial troubles.



The Democratic congressman chastised S.C. State’s trustees for not making substantial financial contributions to the institution.

“I bet if you looked at it, I bet the contributions of this board of trustees, if you add up all of the contributions (of members) that are on there today, … I bet you it’s hardly $10,000,” Clyburn said.

“That’s what’s wrong at the school, you’ve got a lot of people setting policy and they can barely spell policy,” Clyburn said of the trustees.

Clyburn said that he and his wife Emily have given almost $1.7 million to S.C. State over the past several decades.

CONTINUE READING 

Claflin University Exceeds Phase One Goal; Nearly $90 Million – Highest Ever – Raised for Endowment, Academic Programs, Facilities

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Claflin University recently announced that it has exceeded its phase one capital campaign goal, raising nearly $90 million – the largest amount raised in the history of the University. The funds have been used to build the endowment, strengthen academic programs and enhance facilities.

“When we launched the campaign, we were focused on making a strong university even stronger. We wanted to bolster Claflin’s capacity to serve as a resource for the state of South Carolina,” said Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, president at Claflin University. “This campaign is unique. It is big. It is the most ambitious campaign in the history of the University.”

The overall goal for the Campaign for Claflin University is $96.4 million, with an $80 million Phase One goal. To date, a staggering $89.6 million has been raised to achieve the University’s vision.

“It is bold, but we believe that the founding of the University was bold. In 1869, it took quite an imagination for those founders to believe that they could establish a degree-granting University to educate the newly freed slaves in the state of South Carolina. Therefore, we could do no less to try to continue achieving the dreams and the ambitions of the founders of the University. We’re just continuing to imagine and continuing to build on that vision for this great University.”

The campaign’s success can be attributed, in large part, to the generosity of Claflin University’s inner family – its Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors, alumni, administrators, faculty, staff, students and parents – which has contributed more than $19 million so far to the Campaign. One hundred percent of the trustees have given over the life of the campaign, and some 87 percent of alumni have done so.

“I have had the honor and privilege of serving on Claflin’s Board of Trustees for over 14 years and I have never been part of a more high-performing board,” said Paul Fant, chair of the Board of Trustees. “Together, we have given our time, talents and treasure to help make this campaign a success and we have done so not just because of our duties or obligations as board members, we have done so because of our belief in this great institution and the promise that it holds for the future of our state, nation and world.”

An astonishing 98 percent of Claflin’s administrators, faculty and staff have donated to the cause. The student body has surpassed its original $100,000 goal, raising $162,438, and is well on its way to achieving a new goal of giving $200,000 to the capital campaign. Claflin parents are also an integral part of the campaign, having surpassed their original $50,000 goal. They are closing in on a new goal of giving $100,000 to the capital campaign.

“This campaign was about individuals, and believing that those who were closest to the University would be willing to give first and give the most,” Tisdale said. “I think all who come to this University really share a vision and mission.”

Because of the fundraising efforts associated with the campaign, Claflin University made history in 2013 when it achieved a record 52.2 percent alumni giving rate – first among historically black colleges and universities and among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report.

“We have a culture of giving back on this campus – even among the students,” said Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton, vice president of Institutional Advancement. “That’s one of the reasons we have the highest alumni giving among HBCUs. A large number of our students are on some type of financial aid, but they are taught that if someone has helped you, then you must help someone else.”

There have also been a number of tremendous gifts from businesses and individuals who are not a part of Claflin’s inner family, including a $4.35 million gift from Sodexo Campus Services – the corporation that provides integrated food and facilities management services for Claflin – to support student scholarships, enhance facilities, and promote health and wellness on campus. Also, famed financier, philanthropist and South Carolina native Darla D. Moore donated $1,000,000 for the University’s Department of Music through The Rainwater Charitable Foundation.

“We’re not asking for a handout– we’re asking people to invest,” Middleton continued. “In this campaign we have received 15 gifts of one million dollars or more compared to five in the last campaign. People want to invest in something that is growing, that is multiplying, that is showing fruits, and when they can see that in our students – in the way that they walk and their confidence, and the way that they talk and the jobs that they’re getting – people don’t mind making the investment.”

James Bennett, University trustee and chairman of the Campaign for Claflin University, said the secret is out about Claflin.

“I think they (campaign donors) discovered what we always knew – how great of an institution Claflin is,” he said. “When we started the campaign, the good news and the bad news was that Claflin is the best-kept secret. If nothing else, we wanted to eradicate the fact that Claflin was a secret. During the campaign, that’s what we strived to do – to tell the Claflin story.

“We’re raising money to take Claflin to another level, to invest in the future. We’re really taking it to another level of imagining the possibilities.”

Of the $89.6 million raised, $20,271,565 has gone to build the University’s endowment – offering students more financial aid support than ever before. The number of endowed scholarships at Claflin has doubled, from 100 to more than 200 scholarships offering support to deserving students. Additionally, some $1,685,877 has gone to endow faculty chairs and professorships to continue building a world-class faculty at the University.

Nearly $7,947,599 has gone to strengthen academic programs by way of much-need technology upgrades both in the classroom and throughout the campus. Claflin’s wireless access and smart classrooms campus-wide make its learning and living environment second-to-none. The University has also joined Internet2, providing its faculty and students the opportunity to connect and share research with major institutions, government entities and industry officials around the world.

Two of the most significant changes to the physical plant – Claflin’s new Molecular Science Research Center and the James and Dorothy Z. Elmore Chapel – are products of the capital campaign, as well. These additions were possible because of the $21,396,000 that has been donated for upgrading facilities at the University. The MSRC has not only been designated a core research facility by the South Carolina Research Authority, but it also houses a 700 megahertz NMR – nuclear magnetic resonance – which, until recently, was the only one of its kind in the state of South Carolina.

The work at Claflin University isn’t done. The completion of phase one simply segues into the campaign’s final stretch.

“It’s an unfinished agenda, but we will complete that agenda and exceed the $96.4 million goal. We know we’ll do it,” Tisdale said. “We hope to end this campaign in such a way that that next campaign will be a little easier and more believable when they launch that next campaign.”

“We must remain competitive. We cannot rest on our laurels. Every year, we want to do more, we want to be more, we want to have a greater impact in serving our state and the nation.”

COURTESY CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS 

PGA TOUR matches Tiger Woods' UMES gift for new golf management scholarship fund

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- The Sifford Fund, UMES’ new scholarship created to support undergraduates studying PGA golf management, has gotten another boost – this time from the PGA TOUR.

The organization of touring golf professionals that operates six tours internationally, has presented a $10,000 donation to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

The PGA TOUR designated its gift go to the Sifford Fund acknowledging the passing of Dr. Charlie Sifford, the first black man to play regularly on TOUR in the early 1960s alongside some of the game’s greats of that era, including Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

PGA TOUR star Tiger Woods made the first individual donation to the Sifford Fund, which the late golfer’s family established as a tribute to his legacy as a sports pioneer. Sifford, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, died Feb. 3 at the age of 92.

“Dr. Sifford was a trailblazer and true role model who displayed tremendous dignity, courage and spirit throughout his career,” said Charlie Zink, Co-Chief Operating Officer of the PGA TOUR.

“He provided inspiration to aspiring players of diverse backgrounds and helped change our sport for the better. We are pleased to help continue his legacy by supporting this wonderful program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and assisting those who are passionate about pursuing a career in the golf industry,” Zink said.

UMES is among 19 universities with a PGA of America-accredited golf management program, where students earn a bachelor’s degree in a specialized field of hospitality-tourism studies with an emphasis on developing golf skills and knowledge of the industry.

“The gift from the PGA Tour, which represents a broad spectrum of golfers walking in the footsteps Dr. Sifford boldly trod many years ago, is an important boost to our program,” UMES President Juliette B. Bell said. “This contribution will help support deserving students in their pursuit of careers in the golf industry.”

UMES is the lone historically black institution offering this unique degree and is making important strides training the next generation of golf industry professionals who will diversify the game.

UMES hosted a reception Nov. 24 on Capitol Hill in Sifford honor following a White House ceremony where he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. Sifford, Palmer and Nicklaus are the only golfers to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor.

That event, where Sifford and his extended family met UMES students – many of them African-Americans pursuing careers in the golf industry, sparked a conversation about how the university could partner with Sifford to help those inspired by his story.

Motivated by a passage in Sifford’s autobiography, university leaders floated the idea of establishing a named scholarship fund.

"I want golf to reach out to people from all walks of life and to be the sport that puts itself above issues of race and class and economic levels,” Sifford wrote. “We should give everybody equal access to the game, with equal facilities to play and we should give them the same opportunities to pursue the game throughout their lives."

UMES’ PGA golf management program currently enrolls 44 students, more than half of whom are women and minorities. Upon graduation, they will be positioned for careers in recreational or competitive golf, business, marketing, media and hospitality.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE MEDIA RELATIONS

Clark Atlanta University Board Of Trustees Concludes Nationwide Search With Election Of Fourth President: Ronald A. Johnson, Ph.D., Takes Helm Of Historic Institution July 1

CAU President- Elect Ronald A. Johnson, Ph.D.

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Clark Atlanta (CAU) University Board of Trustees today concluded its nationwide search for the institution’s fourth president with the announcement of Texas Southern University’s (TSU) Ronald A. Johnson, Ph.D., as the historic university’s next leader. Johnson, who currently serves as dean of TSU’s Jesse H. Jones (JHJ) School of Business will assume this new role on July 1, 2015, succeeding Clark Atlanta’s current President Carlton E. Brown, Ed.D., who will retire on June 30.

Johnson, born in Brooklyn, N.Y., earned the B.A. in economics and the MBA in finance from Adelphi University. He earned the M.A and the Ph.D. degrees in economics from Stanford University. His professional success tracks through some of the nation’s foremost investment organizations, including Smith Graham & Company where he managed assets totaling $3 billion and Templeton Worldwide where he managed assets totaling $2 billion. His love of education, teaching and research, and his reverence for the nation’s HBCUs in particular, has kept him close to academic circles for much of his career, which includes leading two schools of business as dean and named professorships at some of the nation’s most respected institutions of higher education.

CAU Board Chairman Alexander B. Cummings Jr., executive vice president and chief administrative officer for The Coca-Cola Company, says “in Ronald Johnson, we have identified a scholar of tremendous intellect, a global financier with impeccable credentials, an institution-builder with a demonstrable record of successes, a fundraiser with highly developed strategic acumen and a compassionate role model whose obvious desire to engage and empower students is borne out of his own personal journey. I am honored to have Ron and his wife, Irene, become part of the CAU family.”

CAU Trustee Joe Laymon, vice president for human resources at Chevron Corp., led the Board’s 12-member Presidential Search Committee, supported by Washington, D.C.-based, AGB Search. “Our search was intentionally broad,” he notes. “We carefully reviewed more than 100 applications from across the United States. Our fundamental qualifications for the position were rooted in the University’s strategic plan, the realities of the current economic climate, the prevailing legislative environment and the increasingly competitive global student recruitment marketplace. One candidate, Ronald Johnson, consistently stood out during the intensive, very detailed vetting phases of the process. He possesses the skill, experience and vision necessary to provide the leadership and focus required to elevate Clark Atlanta and reposition it in the international arena.”

The president-elect says he is eager to join the Clark Atlanta University community and begin his term as president. “There are few institutions in the United States, HBCU or otherwise, with the rich dual history, the intellectual legacy and the tradition of scholar-activism that defines Clark Atlanta. Now the University will look to its future, harnessing a tremendous wealth of academic talent, a nation-wide expanse of passionate, multigenerational alumni and opportunities to create strategic alliances that will elevate its competitive advantage.”

Johnson emphasized that he and his wife are a team. “Irene and I want to be a part of the exciting efforts to sustain the relevancy and vibrancy of Clark Atlanta University as a premier institution of higher education and learning. We are looking forward to becoming part of the CAU community that is inspired by social purpose and fueled by intellectual vitality, cultural diversity, and global awareness.”

New President’s Leadership, Skills the Right Match for Elevating CAU

As the JHJ School of Business dean and full professor of finance since 2011, Johnson is intricately familiar with the rigors of the academic enterprise and, more important, how to sustain and strengthen connections between the academy and strategic partners to create substantive, relevant opportunities for students and faculty. Under his leadership, the School in 2014 was listed as one of The Princeton Review’s 295 best U.S. business schools, and GetEducated.com listed its eMBA programs as one of the best online buys. In 2015, U.S. News & World Report listed the school as one of the best graduate schools. Prior to serving as dean of the JHJ School of Business, Johnson served as dean of the Western Carolina University College of Business in Cullowhee, N.C., where the MBA program was included in The Princeton Review’s “Best Business Schools” in the nation, and its online master’s degree program in project management earned GetEducated.com’s distinction as the nation’s top-ranked online program in quality and affordability. The school’s online master of entrepreneurship program in 2007 was ranked as one of the five best online entrepreneurship programs in the nation.

Johnson built his career around teaching, mentoring and preparing future leaders in the investment, global financial management, international business, portfolio and securities analysis, economics and banking arenas, serving with distinction for two decades: BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism and professor of finance, Western Carolina University;
JP Morgan Chase Professor of Finance, Texas Southern University; visiting associate professor of finance in the School of Business and Industry at Florida A&M University; assistant professor of finance, Northeastern University; and visiting assistant professor of economics, Howard University.

As Clark Atlanta reinforces its capacity to prepare for the University’s first comprehensive capital fundraising campaign, Johnson’s credentials and corporate leadership experience will prove invaluable in articulating the University’s assets and positioning the institution as a solid investment. He served as president and chief investment officer of Smith Graham & Company, an institutional investment management company in Houston, Texas, where he managed $3 billion in assets. Prior to joining Smith Graham, he served as director of global fixed income research and senior portfolio manager for Templeton Worldwide Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he oversaw assets valued at $2 billion. Johnson also served as the chief strategist and chairman of the investment committee for Americas Trust Bank in Miami, Florida; division chief for domestic financial markets with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; and as an economist with the International Monetary Fund, as well as The Federal Reserve System Board of Governors in Washington, D.C. He has developed investment strategies, informed economic and financial policy decisions, consulted heads of government and their administrations on macroeconomic policy adjustments and led business development teams to more than 25 foreign nations during his career.

“Clark Atlanta, Johnson observes, has done a commendable job in sustaining itself over the past decade. Despite serious economic turbulence nationwide, compounded by constricting federal regulations and financial aid support, the University has managed to retain its enrollment of nearly 3,500, making it the largest of the nation’s UNCF 37 member institutions, as well as the largest among its affiliated United Methodist Church Global Higher Education Ministries HBCU institutions. I look forward to working with our talented faculty, dedicated staff, and engaged students to produce the next generation of global leaders, pioneer research and craft innovation that touches the lives of millions of people. By reinvigorating our business model, we are going to realize strategic advantages that will result in increased enrollment, enriched bases of graduate and undergraduate research, strengthened student support programs, and increased external funding support. These systemic components, once effectively and operationally interconnected, will ultimately define the brand of this great institution." “Today, we see in our midst a university that is poised to be a leading model for the 21st century in teaching, learning, and world-class research. "Our aim, he adds, is for the world community to see, embrace and share in the awesome mix of inspiration, value creation, and leadership that continues to be the mark of distinction for Clark Atlanta University.”\

COURTESY CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

TSU Football Concludes Week Three Under the Lights

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  – The Tennessee State football team wrapped up the third week of spring practice with a nighttime scrimmage at Hale Stadium, Thursday.

A large number of TSU supporters were on hand to witness the first scrimmage under the lights in decades, and they were treated to an evenly matched contest.

The offense showed marked improvement since last weekend and Osahy Ackermann-Carter led the unit right down the field on the opening possession and capped it off with a touchdown pass to Archie Dennard on a seam route.

The offensive line looked dominant at times at run-blocking, springing Marcus Deanes and other TSU backs for big gains.

Defensively, younger players such as Latrelle Lee and Marvin Maddox caused havoc up front, notching a couple of sacks and a few tackles for loss.

The linebacking core excelled in zone coverage and the secondary limited the offense’s potential deep passing plays.

The Tigers are off until Monday when they will re-take the field at 4 p.m.




COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

The Grambling State Baseball Team Adds Two Future Tigers

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The Grambling State Baseball Team Adds Two Future Tigers announced Head Coach James Cooper.

Head Coach James Cooper on Wheeler: "He is a big strong physical kid with a lot of pop in his bat. He has a football background, he was the starting linebacker at his high school, so toughness won't be an issue with him. We believe that he can be a middle of the order type guy and a really solid defender in the outfield. Nick has a really good arm and good instincts in the outfield. Nick also comes from the White Sox ACE program and plays at one of the top high schools in the Chicago area, so we believe he will be polished and ready to compete as a true freshman. I'm very excited about him and his family joining the Grambling Tiger Baseball Nation."

Cooper on Nunez: "Caleb has the size and arm strength to emerge as a significant contributor for this Tiger ball club as a true freshman. With a fastball that's from 86-88, the sky is the limit to how good Caleb can be. He has an advanced curveball, a good feel for pitching, and changing speeds. He has a tall, strong build with a lot of upside and room to fill in. He's an intense competitor with outstanding mound present. We are excited and feel good about adding him to our pitching staff. We're very excited about him and his family joining the Grambling Tiger Baseball Nation as well.

Name Position Height Weight Hometown/ HS
Caleb Nunez RHP 6'2 200 Baton Rouge, La./ Redemptorist HS
Nicholas Wheeler OF 5'11 205 Flossmoor, Ill./ Mt. Carmel HS



COURTESY GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU coach Alex Wood unfazed by heavy road schedule

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- First-year Florida A&M football coach Alex Wood didn’t plan this year’s football schedule, but he plans to make the most of it.

The Rattlers — who finished last season 3-9 and enter this season with an almost entirely-new coaching staff — start the season Sept. 5 against South Florida in Tampa and don’t return home until Sept. 26 against Tennessee State. FAMU hits the road again for a game against Savannah State, then starts a three-game home stand, beginning Oct. 10 with North Carolina Central.

In total, seven of the Rattlers 11 games are away from home, including the neutral-site Florida Classic against Bethune-Cookman at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

“You just make sure you win those games,” Wood said.



CONTINUE READING

2015 FAMU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 5 at University of South Florida+                Tampa, Fla.

Sept. 12 at Samford University**                          Birmingham, Ala.

Sept. 19 at South Carolina State* Orangeburg, S.C.

SEPT. 26 TENNESSEE STATE++     HOME

Oct. 3 at Savannah State* Savannah, Ga.

OCT. 10 NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL*     HOME

OCT. 17 DELAWARE STATE *      HOME

OCT. 31 NORTH CAROLINA A&T*       HOME

Nov. 7 at Hampton University* Hampton, Va.

Nov. 14 at Morgan State University* Baltimore, Md.

Nov. 21 Bethune-Cookman * Orlando, Fla. (Florida Blue/Florida Classic)

*Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Games
+ American Athletic Conference

 **Southern Conference
++Ohio Valley Conference 

Southern baseball team responds to a ‘softer’ Roger Cador

Coach Roger Cador

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Southern baseball team takes a four-game win streak into its series at Prairie View, beginning with a doubleheader at noon Friday.

The Jaguars were searching for answers barely a week ago when outfielder Tyler Kirksey stuck his head into coach Roger Cador’s office.

Cador told Kirksey he didn’t have time to talk because he had to get to “an important meeting.”

But Kirksey persisted.

“He said, ‘I need to talk,’ ” Cador recalled.

So Cador delayed his meeting and listened to what was on Kirksey’s mind — as well as that of his fellow upperclassmen.

CONTINUE READING 

Alabama A&M's former football star Stanford Chance Wilson passes at age 25

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Alumni and football star Stanford Chance Wilson died at the age of 25. He attended the university from 2009 to 2012. A kicker and punter for the Bulldogs football team, he set an A&M record with a 49-yard field goal, was named preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team Specialist and won the Phillip Steele All-SWAC 2nd team Specialist award.

He later started his own bail bonding company, Empire Bail Bond Co. Inc.

Wilson's funeral was Wednesday. Read his obituary here.

CONTINUE READING

Alabama A&M asks for prayers, support following week of tragedy

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- This past week has been a difficult one for Alabama A&M University. The students and faculty have been hit with not one, but three tragedies.

AAMU President Andrew Hugine Jr. said they will "prayerfully cope" with these events that have "impacted members of our immediate and extended university family." In a statement released Thursday, Hugine asked that the community continue to support and pray for Alabama A&M, which has "had to deal with three distinct tragedies, one of which received national attention."

This refers to last Saturday's spring break shooting at a Panama City Beach house party. Three of the seven victims were Alabama A&M students. An update on Wednesday revealed that Kearria Freed, Annesia Powell and Kelli Curry are showing signs of improvement. They still have a long road of recovery ahead. Freed and Powell remain hospitalized and in physical therapy. Freed was the shot in the head and suffered the most serious injuries. Her movements have been very restricted since but are improving, officials say.

"We are pleased that the young ladies are showing optimism and resilience," Hugine said. "To rally further support for the victims, we organized an effective candlelight vigil on Monday, March 30, where hundreds of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community supporters gathered and even offered financial assistance. We also have engaged our counseling personnel to provide services as needed to students and other members of the University family."



CONTINUE READING

2015 VUU Football Schedule Announced

RICHMOND, Virginia  -- The Virginia Union University Athletic Department has released it's 2015 Football Schedule. 

The nine-game schedule includes four home games and five away games; in Boiling Spring, N.C., vs. Gardner-Webb, in Raleigh, N.C., vs. Shaw, in Pennsylvania vs. Lincoln, in Bowie, Md., vs. Bowie State and Interstate 95 rival Virginia State.

"We are in negotiations for a tenth game, but the quick turnaround under first-year coach Mark James has created a challenge in acquiring that 10th game," said VUU Athletic Director Joe Taylor.

Homecoming is set for October 17 against Chowan University.



2015 VUU Panthers Football Schedule

DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME
SEPT. 5 BREVARD HOVEY FIELD 1:00 P.M.
SEPT. 12 OPEN TBA TBA
Sept. 19 at Gardner-Webb Boiling Springs, NC 6:00 p.m.
SEPT. 26 JOHNSON C. SMITH* HOVEY FIELD 1:00 P.M.
Oct. 3 at Shaw* Raleigh, NC 1:00 p.m.
OCT. 10 at Lincoln (PA)* Lincoln University, PA 1:00 p.m.
OCT. 17 CHOWAN* HOVEY FIELD 1:00 p.m.
HOMECOMING 2015
Oct. 24 at Bowie State* Bowie, MD 1:00 p.m.
OCT. 31 ELIZABETH CITY STATE* HOVEY FIELD 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 7 at Virginia State* Petersburg, VA 2:00 p.m.
NOV. 14 CIAA CHAMPIONSHIP TBA TBA
* CIAA GAME


COURTESY VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alcorn opens spring football

COURTESY ALCORN STATE ATHLETICS

NATCHEZ, Mississippi — For Alcorn State head coach Jay Hopson, turning something negative into something positive is always important. So turning multiple injuries in 2014 into multiple returners in 2015 in the form of medical redshirts certainly makes the spring more enjoyable for Hopson.

As the Alcorn State Braves revved up spring practice Tuesday afternoon, Hopson looked around and saw many players taking on starter roles that weren’t starters last season. Most of those players, however, have previous experience but missed last season because of an injury.

“Offensively, we’ve got pretty much everybody back,” Hopson said. “And for the guys we lost, we have some experienced players filling in for them. For instance, we lost running back Anthony Williams, but we have Joe (Price) back.  Last year, we had four or five injuries before August, so we had to redshirt those guys.  But it’s been a good thing now, because now, they’re back. We have a lot of guys that have played a lot.”

CONTINUE READING

Texas Southern Athletics Move to New Domain: tsusports.com

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION