SAU Falcons Win Third Consecutive NCAA Men's Outdoor Crown To Give Williams Most NCAA Track and Field Titles

ALLENDALE, Michigan -- Saint Augustine's University displayed its superior depth once again in winning a third consecutive men's national crown at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships on the Grand Valley State University campus Saturday, May 23, 2015. The Falcons have claimed 36 men's and women's indoor and outdoor titles overall under legendary Head Coach George Williams, who now has the most NCAA track and field championships as a coach, regardless of division.

The Falcons clinched the victory in the men's 200-meter dash late in the meet. They trailed 50-47 to the University of Findlay heading into the event, but Burkheart Ellis, Jr. (Jr./Raleigh, NC) finished third in the 200 to give the Falcons a 53-50 lead with two events left. The lead held as the Falcons won their 13th NCAA Division II men's outdoor title. Ashland University placed third with 43 points.

The Lady Falcons tied for eighth among the women's teams with 26 points. Central Missouri won the women's outdoor title with 59 points followed by Lincoln (Mo.) University with 50 points and New Mexico Highlands University with 42 points.

Coach Williams was proud of both teams, especially his men's squad, who entered Saturday with 10 points after David Shaw, Jr. (Sr./Red Springs, NC) won the triple jump Friday. This was the first time in Williams' illustrious 39-year coaching career that the Falcons competed without a men's 4x400-meter relay team in the finals. The Falcons had won 21 of 28 men's mile-relay races at the NCAA outdoor championships, and were the three-time defending champs in their signature event.

The Falcons also competed without a high jumper or a 400-meter hurdler in the finals, but they had more than enough sprinters to take home another championship trophy.

"It was a blessing," Williams said about the Falcons' latest championship. "The kids did their jobs well and came through for the team. We are glad to be a part of the Mighty Falcons. The sons and daughters of Saint Augustine's University did what they were supposed to do."

The Falcons stepped up in the other men's events to quickly move up the leaderboard. The 4x100-meter relay team held off Pittsburg State University to finish second and Moussa Dembele (Sr./Dakar, Senegal) was seventh in the men's 110-meter hurdles early in the meet. The 4x100 squad consisted of JaQuan Demiel (Sr./Suffolk, VA), Ellis, Kevaughn Hewitt (Sr./Miramar, FL) and Daniel Jamieson (Jr./Windsor, CT).

The pivotal race was the men's 400-meter dash when the Falcons scored 19 points to take their first lead. Omar Johnson (Jr./St. Ann, Jamaica), ranked first in the 400 for the final five weeks of the regular season, won the national title in the event while Khari Herbert, Jr. (So./Coral Springs, FL) was third and Ellis placed sixth.

Several other Falcons scored critical points late. Jamieson placed sixth in the men's 100-meter finals and Immanuel Hutchinson (Jr./San Jacinto, CA) finished fourth in the men's 800-meter finals. Their points help the Falcons keep pace with Findlay, who re-gained the lead briefly before Ellis pushed the champs ahead for good in the 200.

In the women's events, Belle was the biggest highlight for the Lady Falcons on Saturday. She entered the meet as the top-ranked 400-meter hurdler for the last eight weeks and she did not disappoint. Belle ran a career-best 57.45 seconds to win the national title in an event she dominated during the regular season.

Belle also helped the Lady Falcons place second in the women's 4x400-meter relay and eighth in the women's 4x100-meter relay. The 4x400 relay team included Sherrie-Ann Ashman (Sr./Brooklyn, NY), Cherrisse Lynch (Sr./Bridgetown, Barbados) and Fanta Fofana (Sr./Amiens, France). The 4x100 relay squad included Ashman, Shakinah Brooks (So./Raleigh, NC) and Ornella Livingston (Jr./Christiana, Jamaica).

Coach Williams went into the meet tied with Texas A&M University Head Coach Pat Henry for the most NCAA track & field championships as a coach before surpassing him Saturday. Williams, also the Saint Augustine's University Athletic Director, has the most NCAA track & field titles for a coach at one school, regardless of division, and the most NCAA Division II track & field championships as a coach.

The Falcons and Lady Falcons will arrive at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Morrisville, N.C., on Southwest Airlines Sunday, May 24, at 9:55 p.m.

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4 Xavierites named Academic All-District

NEW ORLEANS -- Four from Xavier University of Louisiana, including repeat selections Catherine Fakler and Devinn Rolland, were named Friday to Capital One Academic All-District 2 teams in women's cross country/track and field.

Also chosen was teammate Terri Cunningham. Brent Kitto of the Gold Rush was a men's honoree.

Fakler and Rolland received the honor for the second time in three years.

All four Xavierites will advance to the Academic All-America ballot.

Rolland is a senior from Harvey, La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School. Kitto is a junior from Chalmette, La., and a graduate of Holy Cross High School. Cunningham is a sophomore from Nashville, Tenn., and a graduate of Martin Luther King Magnet High School. Fakler is a senior from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School.

Academic All-District nominees must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. They also must have completed at least one full calendar year at their current institution and reached sophomore athletic eligibility.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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During Baltimore riots, college coaches and ADs tried to persuade recruits to stay

CSU ATHLETICS

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The riots that gripped the city late last month were taking place just a few blocks away when Coppin State men's basketball player Christian Kessee received a phone call from his mother.

"She wanted to know how quickly I could get to the airport," the junior guard said.

Kessee said that he and his teammates stayed together on campus and vowed to "take care of each other and ride it out together," but despite attempts by coach Michael Grant to reassure members of Coppin's eight-player recruiting class, some future teammates made a different decision.

"The parents were very, very concerned," said Grant, whose team went 8-23 in his first season. "Some dealt with it pretty well, and a couple of kids we ended up losing because of the activity going on. They said that they didn't want their kids in that type of environment.

"We tried to explain to them that 'this can happen anywhere and by the time your kids get back here in late August, it all should be done.' But they just didn't want to deal with it at all. They know what's best for their kids and their families, and what environment they want their kids in."

CSU ATHLETICS

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Sammy Batten: Future is now for FSU athletics, on hunt for new AD

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- The future of Fayetteville State's athletic program is facing an important crossroad currently as it goes through the process of finding a new leader.

Since mid-March, when FSU's athletic director Ed McLean announced his plans to retire at the end of the academic year, the search for a replacement has generated interest from some well-qualified candidates, according to my sources.

By "well-qualified candidates,'' I mean they've met the basic requirements cited in the school's advertisement for the position: a Master's degree, a minimum of five years experience as an athletic administrator or head coach, and knowledge of NCAA and Title IX rules and regulations.

The last is an especially important skill for ...

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Ram Ramblings: The new top dog in the CIAA is Virginia State

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- It will pain a lot of Winston-Salem State fans, alumni, coaches, athletes and administrators to hear this.

“Winston-Salem State is not the top dog in the CIAA anymore.”

Now that I’ve got that out in the open maybe folks will keep reading to understand why.

Just a few short years ago WSSU was winning just about every CIAA title in just about every sport. That’s not the case anymore and because of that the new king of the conference is Virginia State.

You want further proof, how about the fact that Virginia State was recently named the winners of the men’s and women’s all-sports trophies in the CIAA.

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FAMU pitcher Brandon Fleming continues to impress on the mound

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M baseball coach Jamey Shouppe might have had trouble deciding which of his pitchers to put in the starting rotation early in the season, but he's never had to worry about one of his relievers.

Junior pitcher Brandon Fleming leads the Rattlers (23-23) with seven wins and was named the MEAC tournament's Most Outstanding Player after pitching 52/3 innings in Florida A&M's 7-4 win over Savannah State.

The Rattlers were down 4-3 when Fleming entered the game. He allowed just three hits and one run while striking out four, securing the win for the team in the first game of the tournament.

The way Fleming sees it, he was just doing his job.

"Our pitching staff has been great all year and we've had a great bullpen all year," Fleming said.



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Central Missouri survives near-upset from Lincoln (Mo.)

ALLENDALE, Michigan -- Madison Smith could hardly watch. It’s hard to blame her when her Central Missouri team didn't control it's own fate.

“I was so nervous going into the 4x4,” Smith said. “I wasn’t running in it, so it was hard to watch.”

Going into the final event at the 2015 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, Central Missouri led by nine points. Lincoln (Mo.) was in second place and needed to win the 4x400 relay to capture the title. They were leading the race, too, but a bad handoff forced a runner outside of her lane. When she returned, she bumped another runner and Lincoln was eventually disqualified.

So the Jennies are the 2015 outdoor national champions, a first for the school. They also won the indoor title this season.

WOMEN TEAM SCORES



“We have a team of amazing athletes,” junior Heavin Warner said. “It’s an honor to be on the same team as them. Crazy things happen at nationals. Some things go your way and some don’t. It’s surprising in that it was a nail-biter during the 4x4. I couldn’t watch.”

Central Missouri won with 59 points, Lincoln was second with 50 followed by New Mexico Highlands (42), host Grand Valley State (41) and Pittsburg State in fifth (31).

Warner got the team going on Thursday when she defended her title in the hammer throw with a toss of 211-1 feet (64.35 meters). But she wasn’t thrilled with her 20th place finish in the discus.

“Discus didn’t go my way,” Warner said. “And that’s OK. We had another girl in discus, who wasn’t even ranked [Brooke Swearingin] and she threw huge. It was awesome because she’s a senior.”

Swearingin finished sixth with a toss of 162-5 (49.52).

Kirk Pedersen, one of Central Missouri’s co-coaches, along with Kip Janvrin, said there were several pleasant surprises this week.

“Our pole vaulter [was a surprise],” Pedersen said of Brittany Kallenberger, who won the event with a leap of 13-1 1/2 (4.00 m). “I think she was seeded third coming in and she jumped really well on Thursday and that got the ball rolling for our team. Erika Kinsey jumped phenomenal and placed fourth. I think she was a little down about that. But she came back to win the high jump and she almost won the triple jump.”

Janvrin said Kallenberger and Warner’s wins were huge.

“We knew a lot of our good points were going to come on Thursday and Friday,” he said. “We had nothing on the track after 2 p.m. today. So we had this big lead and it was kind of an eery feeling watching everyone get closer and closer and not really knowing what was going to happen.”

Here are the nine members of the women’s team and their events: Nikki Douglas (400 hurdles), Megan Glamann (10,000), Victoria Jackson (heptathlon), Erika Kinsey (long jump, high jump), Kallenberger (pole vault), Zoe Sharplin (heptathlon, 100 hurdles), Smith (heptathlon, 100 hurdles, high jump), Swearingin (discus) and Warner (shot put, discus, hammer throw).

“Another big key for us was Megan Glamann,” Pedersen said. “She’s a girl that had never been to the national meet and she placed placed fifth in the 10,000 meters [in 34:54]. Those were very, very valuable points for us.”

Smith said she knew the Jennies had a shot at a title after last season.

“After outdoor nationals last year, when we finished sixth as a team, Kip told me ‘I think we have a shot at a trophy for outdoor nationals next year,’ ” said Smith, a native of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. “So going into indoor, we thought we had a shot at a trophy.”

Janvrin didn’t want to be over-confident, but he’s glad his team won.

“We’ve been ranked No. 1 for the past seven or eight weeks, so we knew we’d be in the mix to win,” he said. “Did we think we could? Probably not. But we have good athletes in good events. We knew we needed to make hay in the field events and get a big lead [in points] and hang on. Fortunately, we won.”

Pedersen said it was nice to have such a big fan base here in Michigan, on the campus of Grand Valley State.

“A big aspect of our success was the number of student-athletes, fans and family that came to cheer our team on,” he said. “It’s such a big motivator for our kids.”

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Saint Augustine's Men Track & Field Win 14th National Title; UCM Women Capture Program's First

Saint Augustine's overcomes two-day Findlay lead to earn third consecutive title

ALLENDALE,Michigan -- The men’s and women’s track & field national titles were awarded on Saturday afternoon at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, and the two champions had completely opposite closing days.

On the women’s side, Central Missouri, which entered the afternoon with a 27-point lead, scored just needed just eight points on day three to capture the program’s first title. For the men, two-time reigning outdoor national champion St. Augustine’s entered Saturday with a mere 10 points, 27 less than first-place Findlay. But the Falcons tallied a whopping 43 points on the final day of competition to win their third consecutive national crown.

Seven-time national champion Lincoln (Mo.) closed the gap significantly, scoring all 50 of its points on day three.

The Blue Tigers won three individual national titles and scored points in three other races to make things interesting.

MEN TEAM SCORES

WOMEN TEAM SCORES

In the women’s 4x100 meter relay, Lincoln’s team of Keja Christie, Yanique Ellington, Kimberly Bailey and Janae Johnson crossed first with a time of 44.62 seconds. Johnson went on to win the women’s 100 meters as well. Later on, Ladonna Richards edged New Mexico Highland’s Salcia Slack by a tenth of a second to win the 100 meter hurdles at 13.32 seconds.



Azusa Pacific claimed the javelin and 1,500 meter titles. Allison Updike took the former, shattering the old NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships record of 51.74 meters, which was set back in 2008. The junior’s throw soared 55.43 meters, while runner-up Estefania Lopez of Fort Hays State also broke the old record with a 52.03-meter throw. Senior Staci Foster took home the 1,500 title by over two seconds, winning with a time of 4:19.07.

The other individual champions were: Sara Wells of Wayne State (Neb.) in the shot put, Quanera Hayes of Livingstone in both the 400 and 200 meters, Simon Fraser’s Lindsey Butterworth in the 800 meters, Tia-Adana Belle, a sophomore at St. Augustine’s, in the 400 meter hurdles, and Emily Oren of Hillsdale in the 5,000 meters.

Texas A&M Kingsville took the final individual title of the day by winning with 4x400 meter relay with a time of 3:41.22.

While Central Missouri and Lincoln (Mo.) led the way, New Mexico Highlands accrued 42 points to finish third. One point behind, Grand Valley State, the host of this weekend’s festivities, earned fourth place. Pittsburg State rounded out the top five with 31 points.

To take the men’s title, the 14th its history, St. Augustine’s scored in six of the 10 running events on the closing day.

Nineteen of those points came in the men’s 400 meters, as Omar Johnson nabbed the national title at 45.78 seconds, Khari Herbert placed third and Burkheart Ellis Jr. finished sixth. Ellis Jr. went on to cross third in the 200 meters as well, earning six more points. An additional eight points came from a second-place finish in the men’s 4x100 meter relay, which saw Johnson C. Smith lock up the title with a time of 40.05 seconds.

Minnesota State’s Emmanuel Matadi won national titles in the 200 and 100 meters, posting times of 20.54 and 10.21 seconds, respectively.

Texas A&M Kingsville reigned in a pair of national titles in the field. In one of the most impressive feats of the day, Jeron Robinson was the only competitor to make it over 2.19 meters, successfully clearing each of the preceding heights in his first try. The other title came from Javan Gray, who won the javelin with a throw of 71.21 meters.

The final two field titles went to Justin Ellerbee of Cal Poly Pomona (pole vault, 5.35 meters) and Pittsburg State’s Garrett Appier (shot put, 18.51 meters).

All 13 of Findlay’s points on Saturday came in the shot put, as it boasted the second-place (Taylor Miller), fifth-place (Ben Hahler) and eighth-place (Mathieu Marcoccia) finishers.

On the track, Sean Wells of Grand Valley State captured the 110-meter hurdles crown with a time of 13.68 seconds. The other sprint event title -- 400-meter hurdles -- went to Maurice Jones of Hillsdale.

In the 800 meters, Drew Windle, a senior at Ashland, crossed in 1:48.89 seconds to win the event.

Adams State boasted a pair of individual champions, too. Oilver Atchison nabbed first in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:45.92, while Tabor Stevens outlasted the field in the 5,000 meters, posting a time of 14:14.42.

The final event of the competition saw Tarleton State complete a miraculous comeback to win the 4x400 meter relay.

Findlay finished a mere three points behind St. Augustine’s, ending the week with 50 points. Ashland took third with 43 points, Texas A&M Kingsville was fourth with 41, and Pittsburg State and Adams State tied for fifth with 40 points apiece.

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XU Rolland does the honors, earns All-America again

GULF SHORES, Alabama -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Devinn Rolland earned a pair of honors Friday, including All-America for the third time in four years in the long jump at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.

A senior from Harvey, La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School, Rolland finished sixth in the long jump with a season-best 18 feet, 9 3/4 inches (5.73 meters).

Earlier in the day, Rolland was one of four from Xavier named to Capital One Academic All-District 2 teams. It was the second time in three years that Rolland received that honor.

Elsewhere on the track, three from Xavier did not advance to Saturday's finals -- Chelsea James in the women's 100-meter dash (12.24 seconds), Joseph Moses III in the men's 100 (11.05) and Alex Xavier in the men's 110 hurdles (17.78). As a result, the Gold Nuggets' and Gold Rush's seasons ended Friday.

It was the final collegiate meet for Rolland, who will graduate from Xavier's College of Pharmacy in 2017.




Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Culver column: Don't stress about FAMU's Regional destination

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- It really doesn't matter where Florida A&M's baseball team travels to start the NCAA tournament.

Plenty of people want to see head coach Jamey Shouppe and pitching coach Bryan Henry return to Florida State to battle against the Seminoles, who will likely host a Regional.

Folks are intrigued by the idea of FAMU fans traveling somewhere like Miami or Gainesville – where the Rattlers already shocked the nation once by defeating the Gators last year in the regular season – for the Rattlers' first appearance in an NCAA Regional.

The "where" isn't the big deal, at least not to the players.

They're much more focused on the "what."

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WSSU's QB Phillip Sims in the Mix with Arizona Cardinals

PHOENIX, Arizona  -- Three rookies who participated in camp on a tryout basis were signed, including quarterback Phillip Sims.

Phillip Sims' pro career is only a few weeks old, but its already gone through a few transformations. The former Winston-Salem State quarterback has gone from being undrafted, to having to try out for the team to pushing for the third quarterback spot on the Arizona Cardinals roster.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians told AZCentral.com that Sims is in the mix for a spot on the team's opening week roster.

"He had no problem listening to (the play) and calling it without it being repeated to him two or three times," Arians said. "Most rookies, they'll get the shift and maybe the formation, then they will turn their head around and ask for the play (again) and everything else.

"He was able to get it. His reads were correct. He actually changed a protection once and I was like, 'Whoa, you're up to level five already. These guys can't do that.' And he was very accurate. He got my attention. He's in the mix."

There's still a long way to go before the season starts in September, but Sims looks like he has a legit shot at making an NFL roster. He'll likely have to beat out former Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas who saw some playing time due to injuries as a rookie in 2014.

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2015 NCAA Division II T&F Championship Recap: Day Two

ALLENDALE, Michigan -- Look back at all the excitement from the track at Day Two of the 2015 DII Men's & Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship. After the second day of competition, Central Missouri is in first place for the women, while Findlay is in for first for the men.

Men’s triple jump was the next final of the afternoon. Saint Augustine’s David Shaw captured the title with a leap of 15.82 meters. Findlay’s Demorrio Leggett was a close second, recording a jump of 15.70 meters. His teammate, junior Michael Bruce, took third with a mark of 15.55 meters.

A total of 27 events will take place on Saturday, all of which are finals. Competition will begin with the women’s javelin throw at 11:00 a.m. The championships are scheduled to conclude with the men’s 4x400 meter relay at 6:00 p.m.




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North Carolina A&T RB posts videos of amazing backflip catches

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- You probably have not heard of North Carolina A&T State running back Tarik Cohen, but he's becoming a social media star. Cohen, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year in 2013, is turning heads thanks to a couple of Instagram posts.

The 5-foot-6 rusher displays his freakish athleticism and changes the game when it comes to backflip catches with these two videos.

Time for North Carolina wide receiver Ryan Switzer and former Minnesota wideout Logan Hutton, among others, to step up their games.

TARIK COHEN INSTAGRAM PAGE


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SAU Falcons’ Shaw national triple jump champion

ALLENDALE, Michigan --  David Shaw of Saint Augustine’s University is the men’s national triple jump champion after leaping a career-best 51-11 in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships on the Grand Valley State University campus Friday, May 22, 2015.

Shaw won the triple jump on his first leap. He beat Demorrio Leggett of Findlay, who placed second with a jump of 51-61/4.

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Lincoln University Blue Tigers Qualifies Six More Entries on Day Two of Championships

ALLENDALE, Michigan -- The Lincoln women's and men's track & field teams combine to win two more preliminary races and qualify six more entries into event finals on the second day of the 2015 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships on Friday (May 22). The Blue Tigers have now qualified 12 entries into the finals of the three-day championships, hosted from Thursday through Saturday (May 21-23) by Grand Valley State University.

Yanique Ellington and Ladonna Richards were the two winners on the day, with Ellington emerging victorious in the prelims of the 200m in 23.63 while Richards claimed first place in the prelims of the 100m hurdles in 13.40. Janae Johnson also qualified for LU in the 200m, taking fourth during the preliminaries with a time of 23.76.

Jhevere Hall was responsible for two of LU's other qualifying times, as she placed fourth in the 800m (2:08.05) before teaming with Lovan Palmer, Willomena Williams and Ebony Rose to place second in the 4x400m relay in 3:41.96. Also representing the Lincoln women on Friday was Monique Thompson, who finished 15th in the 800m (2:11.74).

Miguel Barton was the men's team qualifier, finishing sixth in the prelims of the 200m in 21.27. The only Blue Tiger competing in a finals event on Friday was Owen Smith, who took 14th in the triple jump after turning in a top distance of 14.83m.

Both Blue Tiger track & field teams will close out the 2014-15 season on Saturday with the final day of the 2015 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS 

Grading Grambling’s 2014-15 athletic season

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Just one year ago, Grambling’s athletic department wrapped up a calendar year to forget with enough losses to fill Eddie Robinson Stadium and a player revolt to boot.

Grambling’s improvements were minimal at best on paper this past year, but fans can go to sleep at night knowing the Tigers are in a better place.

The News-Star took a look back at the Tigers’ 2014-15 year in sports, assigning letter grades based on overall record, statistics, postseason honors and historical context.

Grambling football coach Broderick Fobbs is one the people to thank for the turnaround. The Tigers were one of the few programs at Grambling to make noise during 2014-15 with a remarkable 7-5 record after finishing a combined 2-20 in the previous two years.

Not only did Fobbs win, he brought together ...

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Denzel Washington gives Dillard University students four life goals in commencement speech

NEW ORLEANS -- Denzel and Dillard: A successful partnership that on Saturday (May 9) made for a special commencement for Dillard University's Class of 2015.

The commencement took place at the university's Rosa Freeman Keller Avenue of the Oaks, where 218 students received diplomas for their degrees from the College of Business, College of Arts and Sciences, and Nursing. The highlight of the ceremony featured Academy and Tony award-winning actor Denzel Washington as the keynote speaker.

Introduced by senior class vice president Joy Semien, Washington took to the podium to impart four goals for graduating seniors, and for the audience, as well: "Congratulations to all of you... First: Put God first ... Second: Fail big ... a dream without goals, is just a dream ... Third: You will never see a U-Haul behind a hearse ... and Four: Say thank-you in advance for what is already yours." He concluded with, "Don't aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference." (Also during the speech, Washington very candidly said he once had a 1.7 grade point average in college.)

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VSU Athletics Sweeps Three Top Honors at CIAA End-of-Year Awards Reception

PEGGY DAVIS

RICHMOND, Virginia -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) held its annual Spring General Assembly Meeting and End-of-Year Awards Reception in Richmond, Virginia, where Virginia State University claimed three top awards.

VSU's Athletic Director, Peggy Davis, was name the CIAA 2015 Athletic Director of the Year as voted by the Athletics Director Association. This marks the fifth time, beginning in 2007, that Mrs. Davis has received this honor. The recipient is recognized for their commitment and administrative excellence within their campus, conference and community environment.

The Trojans also received the 2015 Loretta Taylor and the C.H. Williams All-Sports Awards for its women's and men's athletic programs, respectively. This is the second consecutive year VSU has received these honor. The award is given to the top female and male athletic programs within the conference based on championship finish.

This has been another great year for Trojan Athletics as they wrap up the year at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championship on May 21-23 in Allendale, MI.

The Trojans continue to stay true to their mission in "creating academic and athletic champions in the Conference and NCAA through excellence in: Scholarship, Sportsmanship, Ethical Behavior, Community Service, and Diversity."

For more information on VSU Athletics, visit www.govsutrojans.com.

COURTESY VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

Legendary SAU Coach Williams Wins Three CIAA Coach of the Year Awards

GEORGE WILLIAMS

RICHMOND, Virginia – Legendary Athletic Director and Head Coach George Williams of Saint Augustine's University (SAU) won CIAA Coach of the Year Awards in men's indoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field and women's outdoor track & field at the CIAA End-Of-Year Awards Reception at the DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel Richmond-Midlothian this week.

The CIAA accolades are the latest honors for Williams, who has won numerous conference, regional and national track & field coach of the year awards during an illustrious 39-year coaching career at Saint Augustine's University. He has guided the SAU men's and women's track & field teams to 35 NCAA Division II national championships combined which is the most NCAA titles in the sport at one school by a head coach regardless of division.

Williams led the Falcons to their 18th straight CIAA men's indoor and outdoor titles this season. The Lady Falcons captured their 14th CIAA crown in 19 years this season.

Both the Falcons and Lady Falcons will compete in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships starting Thursday, May 21, 2015. The Falcons are second in the men's national rankings and the Lady Falcons are fourth in the women's national rankings. The Falcons are the two-time defending men's outdoor champions.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Top-Ranked Johnson Runs Fastest 400-Meter Qualifying Time at NCAA Championships

ALLENDALE, Michigan -- Top-ranked Omar Johnson (Jr./St. Ann, Jamaica) of Saint Augustine's University ran the fastest qualifying time to reach the men's 400-meter finals in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships on the Grand Valley State University campus Thursday, May 21, 2015.
 

Johnson, who ran a time of 46.78 seconds, led three Falcons who qualified for the 400 finals. Burkheart Ellis, Jr.(Jr./Raleigh, NC) was third in 47.08 seconds and Khari Herbert, Jr. (So./Coral Springs, FL) placed sixth in 47.40 seconds.
 

Johnson and Ellis were also part of the men's 4x100-meter relay team which qualified for the finals. The 4x100 squad, which includes Kevaughn Hewitt (Sr./Miramar, FL) and Daniel Jamieson (Jr./Windsor, CT), ran the third-fastest preliminary time (40.32 seconds).

Tia-Adana Belle (So./St. George, Barbados) ran the second-fastest preliminary time to qualify for the women's 400-meter hurdles finals. The top-ranked hurdler in the event, Belle ran a time of 1:00.05.
 

The Lady Falcons qualified for the women's 4x100-meter relay finals after running the fifth-fastest time (46.45 seconds). The 4x100 squad consists of Sherrie-Ann Ashman (Sr./Brooklyn, NY), Belle, Shakinah Brooks (So./Raleigh, NC) and Ornella Livingston (Jr./Christiana, Jamaica). In the women's long jump, Brooks placed third with a career leap of 21-2¾, and teammate Amenze Uhunmwangho (Ebo, Nigeria) was eighth with a jump of 19-9½.
 

The three-day meet continues Friday, May 22, starting at 9:30 a.m. with the men's decathlon. The track and field events begin at 2 p.m. Watch the championship meet on NCAA.com. The live stats link is -http://www.primetimetiming.com/liveresults/2015/ncaad2outdoor/. 

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Circle City Classic, Kentucky State University and Central State University sign Multi-Year Deal

Courtesy Central State University Sports Information

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Indiana Black Expo announced today that Circle City Classic® will now make the long-term rivalry between the Central State University Marauders and Kentucky State University Thorobreds a new tradition in Indianapolis. Both teams have signed a 3-year agreement with 2 additional 1 year options to host their legendary game in Indianapolis. This year's game will take place on September 26, 2015.

"This is an exciting day for Circle City Classic®, said Tanya Bell, IBE president & Chief Executive Officer. "Classics across the country are evolving which requires unique approaches. The multi-year agreement with Midwest rival teams will help us better plan, avoid our traditional date bumping up against college homecomings and increase our chances for warmer weather," added Bell.



Statement from Harry Stinson, Kentucky State University Athletic Director
We are excited and thrilled to have our rivalry against Central State University showcased in the Circle City Classic®. This partnership with the Indiana Black Expo creates avenues for us to increase our student athlete experience by playing the game in an NFL stadium; it increases the exposure of our universities in the Indianapolis area and the Mid-West region and provides an unique opportunity for our fans, alumni and student bodies to have an awesome experience in Indianapolis.

The opportunity to market, promote and engage the communities in Indianapolis in a multi-year deal provides 365 day exposure for our university that cannot be quantified. It provides us exposure to the brightest stars and scholars in the high schools and provides a platform for them to get to know our universities. As we embark on a new era in higher education and athletics, generating partnerships that increase awareness, branding opportunities, exposure, and revenue are essential. This partnership speaks to all of the areas of today's higher education needs and surrounds that around a sporting event. We are excited about the future and look forward to us being victorious not only on the field of play but also in recruiting students to attend both of our universities.



Statement from Jahan Culbreath, Central State University Athletic Director
The Circle City Classic® is a fixture not only in Indianapolis but throughout the country as one of the premier classics. It gives the opportunity to showcase the talent of our students, and helps promote awareness of two tremendous HBCU institutions in the Midwest. It is also exciting to know that Central State and Kentucky State will continue their rivalry on this stage for at least the next three years. Central State is pleased to continue to work alongside KSU athletic director Harry Stinson III and the wonderful folks who organize the Circle City Classic. By committing to be part of the Circle City Classic® shows our dedication to enhance our brand and broaden our fan base. Most importantly, our presence in Indianapolis continues to help grow the quality collegiate experience for all of the CSU family.

The theme for Circle City Classic® is "Buy One. Send One." which reflects the purpose that Classic serves as a fundraiser to send Indiana students to college. "A ticket purchase will help pay for a student to attend college," Bell said. Since 1984, more than 3 million dollars in scholarships have been awarded to Indiana youth. The Circle City Classic® dates for 2015 – 2017 include:

2015: Saturday, September 26, 2015
2016: Saturday, September 24, 2016
2017: Saturday, September 23, 2017

The Circle City Classic® will also feature half-time celebrity performance and a pre-game Your Life Matters® – The Remix youth forum.

Tickets for Circle City Classic® officially go on sale Friday, May 8th. Tickets are available by calling the IBE Box Office at 317.925.2702, the Lucas Oil Stadium Ticket Office at 317.262.3389, online at www.ticketmaster.com or at any Ticket Master outlet.

To purchase tickets in the Kentucky State University block contact our box office at 502-597-6011.

COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Savannah State calls for Woodland hooper Deontae McClanahan

STOCKBRIDGE, Georgia — The story of how Deontae McClanahan locked up a basketball scholarship starts and ends in a gymnasium, but not in the way one would think.

About a month ago, McClanahan was shooting around in the Woodland gym when the high school’s head football coach, Steve Davenport, approached him.

“He asked me what schools were recruiting me at the time. I told him that a couple of small schools, a college in Tennessee, Clark Atlanta and Wingate,” he said. “He asked me if I would be interested in going to Savannah State and I was like, ‘Yeah!’”



The former Savannah State football coach whipped out his cellphone, called the basketball coach at his old school and put McClanahan on the line.

Two weeks later, McClanahan worked out for the Tigers in Savannah. A short time after that — specifically April 24, the day of prom — McClanahan received a phone call as he was in the middle of taking pictures. It was a Savannah State coach and he wanted to extend an offer.

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Wilson Adds Two To SSU Coaching Staff

Coach Andy Siegal
Offensive Coordinator

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- Savannah State University head football coach Earnest Wilson III has announced the addition of two new offensive assistant coaches. Andy Siegal will be the Tigers new offensive coordinator and Russell Demasi will be the quarterback coach.

SIEGAL
Siegal comes to Savannah State from the University of Nebraska-Kearne
y where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2012-2014.

He has over 25 years of coaching experience at the collegiate, professional and high school level.

His college coaching stops include East Mississippi Community College (2010-11), Southern Mississippi (2009-10), College of the Sequoias (2005-09), Dodge City Community College (1999-05), Southern Arkansas (1992-94) and Quincy University (1992).

In 2010, Siegal was offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for an East Mississippi team that led the nation in passing offense, passing touchdowns, passing attempts and passing yards and made the playoffs for a third season.
,

Coach Russell Demasi
Quarterback Coach

Five years earlier at the Sequoias, he coordinated an offense that also ranked number one nationally with 49 passing touchdowns, averaged 450 yards a game and 43 points a game. Every year at Sequoias, his offenses ranked in the top 20 in the nation.

He served in a variety of roles while at Dodge City, including interim head coach and offensive coordinator. His offense ranked first in the nation in 2002 and 2004.

At Southern Miss, Siegal did a variety of duties, including assistant offensive line coach and offensive quality control. He was part of a 2009 Eagles team that went 7-6 and advanced to the New Orleans Bowl.

Besides holding a B.S. in Physical Education from Winona State University, Siegal also has a Master's degree in Kinesiology from Southern Arkansas.

Siegal and his wife, Miriam, have three children; Taylor (17), Austin (15) and Bear Bryant (7).

DEMASI
Demasi comes to SSU from Shorter University. During the 2013 season he was a graduate assistant and worked with the quarterback and fullbacks and during the 2014 season he served as co-special teams coordinator.

The Savannah, Georgia native was a member of the Georgia Southern University football team (2008-12) where he went from being a preferred walk-on to earning a scholarship during his senior year. He was named Scout Team Player of the Year in 2011.

While in high school, Demasi was a 2006 and 2007 All-Greater Savannah first-team selection. DeMasi threw for 1,068 yards and 14 touchdowns in his senior season for Savannah Christian Preparatory School, leading them to a 10-2 record and the second round of the Class AA playoffs.

Demasi earned his bachelor's degree from GSU in general studies with a concentration in education, coaching and business in 2012 and earned his master's degree from Shorter in December 2014.

He is the son of Karl Demasi, who now serves as athletics director and head basketball coach at Islands High School in Savannah. Karl has served as head coach in football, basketball and baseball at various Savannah schools since 1995.

 COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Norfolk State Football Hires Kefense Hynson as New Wide Receivers Coach

Coach Kefense Hynson 

NORFOLK, Virginia – Norfolk State football coach Latrell Scott announced Thursday the hiring of
Kefense Hynson as the Spartans' new wide receivers coach.

Hynson has collegiate experience coaching receivers, quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends and defensive backs. He has worked at the Division I FBS and FCS and Division II levels in addition to several internships in the NFL.

"We took our time with the search for this position and we feel like we made a quality hire," Scott said. "Kefense's background speaks for itself. He has an excellent pedigree. We are excited to have him and his family join our program."

Hynson comes to NSU after spending three seasons at the University of Montana, including the last two years as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In his first season with the Grizzlies, he coached the tight ends and special teams.

In 2014, Hynson helped Montana finish 9-5 and reach the second round of the FCS playoffs. The Grizzlies finished the season ranked 11th (FCS Coaches) and 13th (Sports Network) in the two major Division I FCS polls. UM averaged 29.6 points and 226.6 passing yards per game behind quarterback Jordan Johnson, who earned honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference honors.

The previous year, Johnson passed for 32 touchdowns and 3,387 yards, both of which ranked among the top five single-season totals in school history.

Before joining the Montana staff, Hynson coached the wide receivers at Yale from 2009-11. That followed a three-year stint at Division II Western Washington (2006-08), where he served as offensive coordinator for the final two seasons. Hynson's offense in his final season at Western Washington averaged 404 total yards, nearly 30 points a game and had 29 touchdown passes.

Hynson was running backs coach at Minnesota State in 2005 and director of football operations at Boise State in 2004 when the Broncos went 11-1, won the WAC title and were ranked in both major polls. He has also had assistant coaching jobs at Quincy (defensive backs coach, 2004) and Willamette (assistant receivers coach, 2003) and completed NFL minority coaching fellowships with Seattle (2008), Oakland (2009), Kansas City (2010), Houston (2013) and Detroit (2014).

Hynson was selected to participate in the 2009 NCAA Football Coaches Academy and the 2011 NCAA Expert Forum.

Hynson was an honorable mention All-America defensive back at Willamette College in Oregon. He was a three-time Northwest Conference all-star and served as team captain before graduating with his bachelor's degree in history in 2003.

An Oakland, California native, Hynson and his wife, Shanina, have three children: Jade, Myles and Layla.

2015 Football Coaching Staff

NAME	TITLE
Latrell Scott	Head Football Coach
Jerry Holmes	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
Kevin Grisby	Assistant Head Coach/Cornerbacks Coach
Christian Parker	Safeties Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Keith Braxton	Defensive Line Coach
Aaron Corp	Quarterbacks Coach
Anthony Parker	Offensive Line Coach
Montario Hardesty	Running Backs Coach
Chris Neff	Assistant AD/Strength and Conditioning
Kefense Hynson	Wide Receivers Coach

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

Clark: Shouppe enjoying life at FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Jamey Shouppe doesn't want a story written about him.

The second-year Florida A&M baseball coach wants one written about his players and their accomplishments. It was their MEAC Championship last weekend. Not his. It's their first NCAA Tournament berth. Not his.

Shouppe doesn't want the spotlight. And he doesn't want the attention. But too bad. He deserves both.

The former Florida State pitching coach has taken a program that had back-to-back 7-45 seasons before he arrived to historic highs. And it took him less than 24 months to do it.

"I didn't go through seven-win seasons," Shouppe said. "So I came in with enthusiasm. It was a process, just like anything else, of trying to change attitudes, trying to change work ethics, trying to change excitement levels about coming to the baseball field and trying to get better every day."


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