UNIVERSITY PLACE, Washington -- Walter Payton's brother, Eddie, had been a hell of an athlete himself -- a football, baseball and basketball star who grew into a good enough NFL return man to once take back a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in the same game. He could zigzag his way around a golf course, too, ultimately playing to a 2 handicap and becoming one of the most successful college coaches in America at Jackson State.
Eddie Payton had seen a lot from tee to green by the early 1990s, but nothing quite like the high school recruit out of Savannah, Georgia, he scouted one day on an unsolicited tip, a kid named Tim O'Neal.
"He watched me hit my first tee shot and my second shot and just drove off," O'Neal recalled Tuesday as he prepared to play in the U.S. Open. "He didn't say anything. I had no idea where he went."
And there was a pretty good reason for that.
"I only needed to see those two swings to decide to offer him a scholarship," Payton said from his office at Jackson State. "I've never seen a swing that fluid and powerful. Everyone works toward creating one that will repeat over and over, and whenever you see it, you know it."
CONTINUE READING
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
SWAC Announces 2015 Football Media Day Roster
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Head coaches accompanied by a pair of student-athletes from all 10 Southwestern Athletic Conference schools will share in the 2015 SWAC Football Media Day.The annual event is set for July 17 at the Birmingham - Marriott in Birmingham, Ala.
Charles Ward will moderate the live coverage which will get underway at 10:00 a.m. CT live on the SWAC Digital Network.
SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp, Coordinator of Football Officials Harold Mitchell Sr. and other guest will be in attendance and available to the media upon request.
The SWAC’s official website, swac.org, will carry continuous coverage of MD15 via online video and audio broadcast stream.
The list of head coaches and student-athletes participating in SWAC Football Media Day include:
Alabama A&M
James Spady - Head Coach
Harvey Harris (RB • 5‐9 • 170 • So. • Montgomery, Ala.)
Bryan Bower (RB • 5‐10 • 205 • Jr. • Millbrook, Ala.)
Alabama State
Brian Jenkins - Head Coach
DeMario Bell (WR • 6‐3 • 180 • Sr. • Wetumpka, Ala.)
Kourtney Berry (LB • 6‐0 • 215 • Jr. • Merrillville, Ind.)
Alcorn State
Jay Hopson - Head Coach
John Gibbs Jr. (QB • 6‐6 • 220 • Sr. • Houston, Texas)
Damon Watkins (DL • 6‐1 • 235 • Sr. • Temecula, Calif.)
Grambling State
Broderick Fobbs - Head Coach
Jevonta Williams (DL • 6‐2 • 262 • Sr. • Zachary, La.)
Johathan Williams (QB • 5‐11 • 185 • Sr. • Tampa, Fla.)
Jackson State
Harold Jackson - Head Coach
Ryan Deising (K • 5‐8 • 170 • Sr. • Nashville, Tenn.)
Teddrick Terrell (OLB • 6‐2 • 230 • Sr. • Jackson, MS.)
Mississippi Valley State
Rick Comegy - Head Coach
Kahlil Young (DL• 6‐5 • 241 • Jr. • New Orleans, La.)
Quantavious Peterson (QB• 6‐1 • 205 • Jr. • Shelby, Miss.)
Prairie View A&M
Willie Simmons - Prairie View A&M
Courtney Brown (RB • 6‐0 • 200 • Sr. • Lake Charles, La.)
Damond Jackson (DB • 6‐0 • 195 • So. • New Orleans, La.)
Southern
Dawson Odums - Head Coach
Demetrius Carter (LB • 6‐0 • 225 • RSr. • Chicago, Ill.)
Anthony Mosley (OL • 6‐2 • 282 • Sr. • Cairo, Ga.)
Texas Southern
Darrell Asberry - Head Coach
Amir Bloom (DL • 6‐4 • 245 • Sr. • Miami, Fla.)
Malik Cross (WR • 5‐11 • 190 • Sr. • Fort Washington, Md.)
Arkansas‐Pine Bluff
Monte Coleman - Head Coach
Willie Young (WR • 6-1 • 185 • Jr. • New Orleans, La.)
Wille Duncan III (LB • 6-2 • 220 • Jr. • Southfield, Mich.)
COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS
FAMU's Rudy Hubbard on College Football Hall of Fame ballot
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| COACH RUDY HUBBARD Florida A&M University (1974-85) Hubbard captured back-to-back national championships in 1977 and 1978, including the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA (FCS) National Title in 1978. |
Hubbard, an Ohio native, was head football coach at FAMU from 1974 to 1985, compiling an 83-48-3 record, which was highlighted back-to-back national championships in 1977 and 1978. His 1977 club ended the campaign as the nation’s only undefeated team (11-0), while 1978 club posted a sterling 12-1 mark, capping the season with first-ever NCAA Division I FCS (I-AA) National Championship, thanks to a 35-28 win over the University of Massachusetts in the Pioneer Bowl at Wichita Falls, Texas. The following season (1979), the Rattlers pulled off a stunning upset of the University of Miami, 16-13 at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Hubbard’s tenure produced nearly a dozen All-American players, highlighted by three-time first team All-American guard Tyrone McGriff (1977-79), who in 1996, became the first FAMU player to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, as a member of the Hall's inaugural Divisional Class of players. Should Hubbard be elected, he would become the third coach in the Hall of Fame to have served at Florida A&M joining the legendary A.S. "Jake" Gaither (1975) and William “Billy” Joe (2007), and the fifth Rattler Football personality, which includes former All-Americans Tyrone McGriff (1996) and halfback Willie Galimore (1999).
BALLOT
COACH RUDY HUBBARD
Catherine Fakler, Devinn Rolland are Xavier University's first-ever first-team Academic All-Americans
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Catherine Fakler and Devinn Rolland added to their legacies Monday when they were named to the 2014-15 Capital One Academic All-America® College Division Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Team.
Fakler and Rolland, both seniors, are XU's first-ever first-team selections. They made the second team as sophomores.
Fakler, a distance runner from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory High School, graduated from Xavier in May with a cumulative 4.0 grade-point average as an English / English education major. She will attend graduate school at the University of Arizona.
Rolland, a sprinter/long-jumper from Harvey, La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School in New Orleans, has two more years in the College of Pharmacy before receiving her XU degree. She compiled a 3.91 GPA through her first seven semesters.
In track and field they won a combined 21 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference individual outdoor championships — 11 by Fakler, 10 by Rolland — and led the Gold Nuggets to GCAC team championships in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Rolland also was a three-time NAIA All-American in the long jump.
Fakler also excelled in cross country. As a junior in 2013, she won the GCAC individual title and was chosen Louisiana Runner of the Year. She helped the Gold Nuggets win four GCAC team titles.
"Catherine and Devinn are two exceptional young ladies who are very deserving of this honor," XU coach Joseph Moses said. "They excelled at Xavier in the classroom and in athletics. They will be successful throughout their lives because of their focus and commitment to hard work."
The Capital One Academic All-America® College Division Track & Field/Cross Country Teams are comprised of student-athletes from NAIA, Canadian and two-year institutions. The College Sports Information Directors of America has sponsored the Academic All-America program since 1952.
Xavier's All-Time List of Academic All-Americans
(chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America)
Year Name Sport Team
2008-09 Joe Drexler-Dreis Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Second Team
2011-12 Matt Pieri Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Second Team
2011-12 Javon Mead Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Third Team
2012-13 Taylor Reuther Women's Volleyball Third Team
2012-13 Matt Pieri Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Second Team
2012-13 Javon Mead Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Third Team
2012-13 Catherine Fakler Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Second Team
2012-13 Devinn Rolland Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Second Team
2014-15 Catherine Fakler Women's Track and Field/Cross Country First Team
2014-15 Devinn Rolland Women's Track and Field/Cross Country First Team
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.comXAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Recruiting Roundup: FAMU DRS' Jackson ready to bust out
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- FAMU DRS wide receiver Chris Jackson doesn't have the size desired by the elite Division-I football schools.
The Rattlers' rising senior is not 6-foot-4. He won't knock a cornerback to the ground in press coverage.
But what Jackson currently lacks in one area of his physical attributes, he makes up for in others.
Route-running. Speed. Sure hands. Tenacity.
Jackson has been touring this summer, such as recently at the Jimbo Fisher Football Camp, and participating in 7-on-7 tournaments. And wherever he goes, he's impressed those that unexpectedly caught a glimpse of his skill set.
CONTINUE READING
The Rattlers' rising senior is not 6-foot-4. He won't knock a cornerback to the ground in press coverage.
But what Jackson currently lacks in one area of his physical attributes, he makes up for in others.
Route-running. Speed. Sure hands. Tenacity.
Jackson has been touring this summer, such as recently at the Jimbo Fisher Football Camp, and participating in 7-on-7 tournaments. And wherever he goes, he's impressed those that unexpectedly caught a glimpse of his skill set.
CONTINUE READING
Overton ready to put leadership skills to the test at FAMU
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| MILTON OVERTON Director of Athletics FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITYCourtesy FAMU Athletics |
It won't be an easy job, and it certainly won't be done overnight (or even in one year), but Overton said he's confident he'll be able to implement a plan to improve the university's athletic department that will include students, administrators and FAMU fans.
He already has plenty of support.
Florida A&M baseball coach Jamey Shouppe, who was a member of a 10-person committee that gathered facts on the top three candidates for FAMU's athletic director last week, said Overton was impressive.
"I think this will prove to be one of the best hires in the history of athletic directors at FAMU," Shouppe said.
CONTINUE READING
TSU Men's Basketball Adds Eight for 2015-16
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- On Tuesday, Tennessee State men’s basketball coach Dana Ford announced the addition of eight student-athletes who will join the team this upcoming season.“This class makes our team bigger, stronger and faster, which are things that will improve our ability to score,” Ford said. “They are all very grounded and hard-working players that come from places that value basketball.
Thomas Davis (Lighthouse Christian HS/Antioch, Tenn.), Jalen Duke (Martin Luther King HS/Nashville, Tenn.), Neville Fincher (Navarro College/Teaneck, NJ), Wayne Martin (Navarro College/Brooklyn, NY), Samson Oyediran (Ancilla College/London, England), Jordan Reed (Binghamton/Philadelphia, Pa.), Khalil Spencer (Ridgeway HS/Memphis, Tenn.) and Johnny Woodard (North Dakota State College of Sc
ience/Duluth, MN) all signed and will be eligible to play in 2015-16.
“Last year we were one of the youngest teams in the country, and I felt that two of our best players were freshmen. This gives us a great foundation to build on, and this class has added experience as well as a little more youth,” Ford added.
Davis played high school ball at nearby Lighthouse Christian in Antioch, where he led his team to a national championship in 2015 by winning the National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) Tournament. “Tripp” was also named to the All-Midstate Second Team by The Tennessean as a senior. Davis scored over 2,000 points in his career at Lighthouse Christian, the first to accomplish that in school history, and is the son of TSU Professor Thomas L. Davis.
Duke was also his team’s all-time leading scorer after graduating from Martin Luther King HS. The 6-5 guard amassed over 1,600 points in his time at MLK and was named the District 10AA Player of the Year as a senior. He went on to lead his team to a fourth place finish in the District championships. MLK students have a history of coming to TSU, as Gerald Robinson signed with the Tigers in 2007.
Fincher spent the last two seasons at Navarro College in Texas, but was highly recruited coming out of prep school in 2013. Fincher averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds at Hargrave Military Academy as a senior. The 220-pounder was recruited heavily by Marshall, Seton Hall, Western Kentucky, Towson and Houston before committing with Kansas State University. At 6-10, Fincher should provide a significant post presence for TSU.
Martin was a teammate of Fincher at Navarro College before also committing to TSU. Martin played in 27 contests for the Bulldogs, averaging 15.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while leading them to a 22-8 record. The Brooklyn, NY native. spent 2013-14 with Saint Francis College, where he poured in an average of seven points in 16.9 minutes per game.
Oyediran, a 6-7 small forward from London, England signed with the Tigers after sitting out a season at Ancilla College in Indiana. Prior to attending the JUCO, Oyedrian starred at the Preston College basketball academy overseas. He is rated as a two-star prospect by verbalcommits.com.
Reed, a 6-4 two-time all-conference selection at Binghamton University, was the program's leading scorer and rebounder in each of his first two seasons. Last year, he led the American East Conference in rebounding (8.9 rpg) for the second straight season. He also came one point away in the regular-season finale of becoming the first freshman ever to lead the conference in scoring and rebounding during the 2012-13 season.
Spencer comes to TSU after leading Ridgeway HS to an 18-11 record in 2014-15 and a spot in the quarterfinals of the Region 8-AAA tournament. Spencer also played at Mitchell HS in Memphis and Booker T. Washington HS. The combo guard averaged 20 points per contest at Booker as a freshman and helped lead his team to a berth in the Class A State Tournament.
Woodard, a 6-4 wing, had spent the past two seasons at North Dakota State College of Science, where he averaged 19.6 points per game as a freshman and 22.2 in 2014-15. Woodard also helped lead the Wildcats to a 55-11 record during his two seasons. He was a Minnesota Mr. Basketball finalist as a senior at Duluth East HS after leading his team to the Class AAAA State Tournament.
The eight players join Armani Chaney, who previously signed his letter of intent, to round out TSU’s 2015-16 recruiting class.
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Florida A&M Names Milton Overton New Director of Athletics
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| COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION |
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., named Milton Overton as the new director of intercollegiate athletics.
Overton comes to FAMU after six years at the University of Alabama, where he served on the athletics executive team as the senior associate athletics director, and seven years at Texas A&M University, where he also served on the athletics executive team, and as an associate athletics director overseeing six sports teams and information technology. As a member of the athletics executive teams, he was a part of both institutions’ strategic planning efforts.
Mangum launched a national search to fill the position after the resignation of Kellen Winslow and death of Nelson Townsend. The director of the intercollegiate athletics oversees 16 intercollegiate programs, and the University's corrective action plan to improve academic progress for five teams that are currently on academic probation.
"Milton Overton demonstrates the level of excellence, academic leadership, and sound administrative experience needed to lead FAMU’s Department of Athletics," said President Mangum. "He comes to us with a wealth of knowledge, best practices, and a business acumen that will forge a new tomorrow for FAMU. I am impressed with his professional narrative and the type of role model that he can be to student-athletes and the FAMU community."
"Florida A&M University’s passion for excellence in academics and athletics clearly align with my personal mission to inspire young leaders to make a difference in our nation and around the globe. I believe that a first-class education combined with a great student-athlete experience helps mold champions in the classroom, in life, and on the field." Overton said. "FAMU has a great group of student-athletes, coaches, and staff in place, and I am eager to get to work. Also, I look forward to meeting the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, Rattler fans, and the Tallahassee community to see how we can collaborate to advance the mission of FAMU through athletics. I want to thank President Mangum for the opportunity to join the FAMU family. I can promise—confidently—to deliver the kind of results necessary to live up to the rich legacy of this premier University. Go Rattlers!”
About Milton Overton
Milton Overton’s career spans 20 years in intercollegiate athletics administration. At the University of Alabama, Milton provided oversight for $25 million in budgets and equipment, seven business units—including the No. 1 trademark licensing program for intercollegiate athletics, Crimson Tide Productions—including the ESPN SEC Network, marketing and branding, outbound ticket sales, photography, coaches film video group, athletics information and event technology, track and field, and cross country. Overton’s units completed more than 275 business goals for the department, including generating new revenue.
Overton is a 2009 graduate of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Pathway Program, which is formerly known as the NCAA’s Fellows Leadership Development Program. The Pathway Program provides senior-level athletics administrators with a rigorous curriculum and mentorship to prepare to become a director of athletics. As a 2007-2008 NCAA Fellow, Overton participated in a year-long, intensive learning opportunity for 12 selected senior leaders representing NCAA Divisions I, II, and III.
A four-year starter as an offensive lineman at the University of Oklahoma (OU), Overton earned a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1995. He then went on to earn two master's degrees in 1998, one in higher education and administration, and the other in human relations. Overton worked in academic services and as the CHAMPS/LifeSkills Coordinator for the OU Sooners before joining the Athletics Department at Texas Christian University (TCU) in 1999. Overton was director of Academic Support at TCU, where he also served as an adjunct professor.
Overton joined Texas A&M University (TAMU) as assistant athletics director for Academic Services in 2002 before being promoted to associate athletics director for Sports Administration and Technology Advancement in 2003. Milton raised $250,000 for men’s tennis facility upgrades and led the technology renovations and construction for several other facilities, including Kyle Field. He also provided oversight of seven TAMU sports programs.
Overton was the founder and CEO of Enki System Inc. from 2000-2011, which provided software solutions for athletic, academic support programs across the country generating over $1 million in gross sales.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Overton has two sons—Micaiah, 14, and Lebbeus, 10.
JIMMY MILLER, Vice President for Communications and External Relations
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Julius McDougal Tabbed as Next Baseball Coach at Stillman
McDougal has served as an assistant to the recently resigned Donny Crawford for the last two seasons. During his time as an assistant he has focused on infield drills and working with the batters on plate discipline and in-game adjustments between at bats. McDougal also evaluated the practice performances and generated daily reports for use by the coaching staff in establishing depth charts for each position. Utilizing his playing experience, McDougal has designed the in season and off season strength and conditioning programs.
"I am excited about the hiring of Coach McDougal to lead the baseball team here at Stillman College", announced Interim Athletic Director Cassandra Moorer. "He will continue to elevate our baseball team on and off the field and will be an excellent statesman for the community and the Stillman Family."
Prior to coming to Stillman, McDougal spent one season at SIAC foe Kentucky State as an assistant coach in the 2014 season. McDougal graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Claflin University in May 2012 where he was an All-SIAC centerfielder in 2010. McDougal finished his four-year career at Claflin batting .325 including .400 in 2010 and .321 in 2011 to rank in the top-80 each season in Division II. He totaled 117 hits and scored 102 runs with eight home runs and 87 career RBI.
"I am honored to be chosen as the next head baseball coach at Stillman College" stated McDougal. "I would like to thank God for bringing me to this moment and am very blessed to be in this position. I am grateful for the chance given to me by Coach Moorer and Dr. Millet. I look forward to continuing the winning tradition at this great institution and building upon it. I am excited about helping to develop young men athletically as well as academically. We will make sure our fans and alumni are not only happy with our Tigers on the field, but in the classroom and community. I look forward to serving as the head baseball coach at Stillman College."
The Tigers concluded the 2015 season with a loss in the SIAC Championship game to Albany State on April 28 to end the season 15-21 overall and 10-5 in SIAC action. Hunter Hood and Paul Winterbottom were selected to the 2015 All-SIAC Tournament Team. Hood and Winterbottom were joined by Fernando Tanaka and Nick Vitale on the All-SIAC Baseball Teams after the regular season.
CAREER PLAYING NUMBERS:
| Class | Year | G | AB | R | H | Avg | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | Slg % | RBI | SB | SBA | BB | SO | HBP | SH | SF |
| Fr. | 2008-09 | 12 | 37 | 10 | 13 | 0.351 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0.432 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| So. | 2009-10 | 30 | 75 | 27 | 30 | 0.400 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 46 | 0.613 | 27 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Jr. | 2010-11 | 39 | 134 | 36 | 43 | 0.321 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 58 | 0.433 | 32 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Sr. | 2011-12 | 37 | 114 | 29 | 31 | 0.272 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 49 | 0.430 | 23 | 9 | 11 | 25 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| - | - | 118 | 360 | 102 | 117 | 0.325 | 22 | 3 | 8 | 169 | 0.469 | 87 | 22 | 27 | 56 | 74 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
COURTESY STILLMAN COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION
Sunday, June 21, 2015
NSU Baseball to Offer 3 Summer Camps at Marty L. Miller Field
NORFOLK, Virginia -- The Norfolk State baseball program will host three camps at Marty L. Miller Field this summer aimed at providing instruction for aspiring baseball players, two for youth players and one for high school and junior college players.NSU will offer a pair of youth camps, the first running from June 29-July 2 and the second from July 20-23, open to boys and girls ages 6-12. The cost is $125 per camp, or $220 total if you register for both. The youth camps will run from 9 a.m. to noon daily and include base running and throwing instruction plus position-specific drills and games based on age groups. NSU baseball coaches, current and former Spartan players and local high school coaches will serve as the camp clinicians. A free campus tour will also be offered following the last day of each camp for those interested.
The third and final camp of the summer is the High School and Junior College Showcase on Aug. 14-15, open to rising ninth through 12th graders and all current junior college players. The showcase runs from 5:30-9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15. Day 1 will consist of a pro-style workout scouting combine. Each individual will have an opportunity to run the 60-yard dash, conducts drills at a primary and secondary position, hit (if position is primary) and record velocities if camper is a pitcher (primary OR secondary). Following the workout, there will be a 30-minute question-and-answer forum for all campers and parents with the college coaches.
Day 2 will give campers the ability to showcase their talents in a game setting. Each camper will be assigned a team and a game time where they will showcase their ability in their primary position as a priority. After each team completes their game, the coaches will provide them with an individual evaluation.
The cost for the High School and Junior College Showcase is $100 if registered by Aug. 1, or $125 after Aug. 1. The cost includes a T-shirt and individual written evaluation.
For more information or to register, log onto www.nsubaseballcamps.com.
Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
Bethune-Cookman GridIron Announces Three New Assistant Coaches
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman Football Head Coach Terry Sims officially announced the addition of three assistant coaches to the Wildcats coaching staff on Wednesday, May 27. All three coaches arrive to the Wildcats with prior Division I coaching talents from around the nation.In his first year on the job as head coach of the Wildcats, Sims set out to hire position coaches for receivers, safeties and a special teams coordinator. He found three assistant coaches that fit the bill in the form of Will Glover, Darrin Hayes and Aashon Larkins.
“I think we have three very knowledgeable, dynamic coaches that bring energy and life into the program,” said Sims.
Will Glover will take over as assistant coach in charge of receivers for the Maroon and Gold. He spent the previous two seasons at UCF assisting in a similar capacity while officially serving in areas of offensive quality control and as an offensive graduate assistant for the Knights. In his time at UCF, Glover helped coach a pair of All-American Conference receivers Breshad Perriman and J.J. Worton. Perriman was taken in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He also helped the Knights reach back-to-back bowl games, including the school’s first-ever BCS Bowl victory in a win over Baylor as part of the 2014 Fiesta Bowl.
“When you talk about Will Glover, you’re talking about a guy that played the position at a top level while attending Georgia Tech under a great coach like George O’Leary,” admitted Sims. “He is a young, enthusiastic and very knowledgeable coach who has gained trust and confidence in his position. He brings a nurturing atmosphere for his position and the guys in this program.”
A coach familiar with Sims from the past is new assistant coach in charge of safeties Darrin Hayes. He and Sims played together at Knoxville College, while Hayes went on to become one of the best and brightest defensive coordinators in the southeast. He arrives to B-CU after spending nine seasons in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) at both Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State, respectively. Hayes served as defensive coordinator for the MVSU Delta Devils a season ago, and formerly producing some of the most vaunted defenses in the SWAC at JSU from 2006-13. The 2011 JSU squad finished the season atop the NCAA and SWAC statistical category for pass defense efficiency, while also leading the Tigers to their third conference crown in his time with the program. While at Jackson State, Hayes coached a total of eight All-America performers, including three SWAC Defensive Player of the Year award winners – Qua Cox, Joseph LaBeau and Marcellas Speaks.
“I think Darrin Hayes is an experienced and skilled coach, and he brings a wealth of knowledge and ability to the defense and the program, as a whole, having served as a defensive coordinator and head coach over the years,” stated Sims. “He also brings a comfort level for the guys because he is a people person and can relate to the student-athletes. We played together in college, and this was a chance for us to finally work together as colleagues for a winning program.”
The final assistant coach added was a position very close to Sims, and one he wanted to expand upon when given the reigns of the program – the special teams coordinator. Aashon Larkins, formerly of Jacksonville State and The Citadel, will serve in this role for the Wildcats. While at JSU, he helped the Gamecocks to a national ranking, as well as a 10-2 overall record en route to the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. He was responsible for helping coach Jermaine Hough, who was recognized as an All-America performer in 2014 by The Sports Network. In his time at The Citadel, The Citadel was recognized has having one of the top special teams units in the country. . In his last three years at The Citadel, he saw Carl Robinson, Rah Muhammad, Tevin Floyd and James Riley each collect all-conference honors.
“Aashon Larkins is a young man that is all energy and a thoroughly-detailed individual with a high-tempo,” commented Sims. “He is just a great coach. He is a guy that takes coaching to another level. I look forward to him solidifying and elevating our special teams unit.”
The 2015 schedule features 11 games, including seven of those contests being played in the Sunshine State. The Wildcats open the 2015 slate on September 5, traveling to FBS opponent Miami at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The home-opener for the Wildcats is September 19, against Lane at 4 p.m. Homecoming is set for October 24 (vs. Norfolk State), while the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic game against Florida A&M will be held November 21, at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.
Season tickets for the 2015 season will be on sale soon at the B-CU Box Office, and may be purchased by calling (386) 481-2465. They can also be purchased through Ticketmaster, as well as online by clicking here.
For the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow us on Twitter, @BCUGridIron. For the most accurate and up to date information delivered to your phone, download the official Bethune-Cookman Wildcats app for your Droid or iPhone.
BCU 2015 Football Schedule
COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
NSU Football Opener at Rutgers to Air on ESPNews, ODU, Marshall Games to be Televised
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| NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY DICK PRICE STADIUM |
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State's 2015 football season-opener at Rutgers on Sept. 5 will kick off at noon and will be televised live on ESPNews, the Big Ten announced. The Spartans football team has picked up two additional televised games for the fall, as the American Sports Network announced that NSU's games at Conference USA foes Old Dominion (Sept. 12) and Marshall (Sept. 19) will be broadcast by the network.
Rutgers is the first of three non-conference road games for the Spartans this fall, all against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams.
This year marks the fourth meeting all-time between NSU and Rutgers, with the Scarlet Knights winning previous meetings in 2007, 2010 and 2013. This year's game at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, N.J., will also mark the debut of new Spartans' head coach Latrell Scott.
The NSU-ODU game on Sept. 12 will kick off at 7 p.m. at ODU's Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. In addition, the Spartans' game the following week at Marshall will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington, W.Va.
The American Sports Network is a division of the Sinclair Broadcast Group. ASN features games from Conference USA and nine other Division I conferences. ASN and its affiliates reach nearly 40 percent of American TV homes with syndicates in major markets such as Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago. Locally, ASN is available on WTVZ on broadcast, cable and satellite television.
This will be the third meeting all-time between the Spartans and their cross-town opponents from ODU. The teams met in the first round of the 2011 Division I FCS playoffs, with the Monarchs winning 35-18. In 2013 in the teams' only previous regular-season meeting, ODU topped NSU 27-24 at Dick Price Stadium on a last-second field goal. The 2015 meeting on the ODU campus marks the end of the schools' current home-and-home series.
This year marks the first-ever meeting between NSU and Marshall.
Game times for NSU's MEAC football games – beginning with the home opener with Hampton on Sept. 26 – have all been announced, pending the release of the conference television schedule. To view the Spartans' 2015 football schedule, click here.
With Monday's announcement, NSU's entire non-conference schedule this year will now be televised.
The MEAC television schedule will be announced at a later date.
2015 NSU Football Schedule
Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
Saturday, June 20, 2015
SC State family mourns the loss of one of its own
CBS VIDEO: Honoring the nine victims of Charleston church shooting
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Sharonda Coleman-Singleton was a beloved alumna of SC State University who earned a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology in 1991. She excelled in the classroom and was a stellar student-athlete, who helped lead the university’s track and field program to powerhouse status as a member of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship Team (1987-88). She was a member of the Lady Bulldog track and field team for four seasons.
As the Bulldog family mourns her death, we remember her for the unique gifts and talents she brought to the university as a student, and we celebrate the life she lived as an adult committed to faith, family and public service.
Dr. W. Franklin Evans
Acting President
SC State University
Former Southern coach Pete Richardson to enter Winston-Salem State sports hall of fame
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| COACH PETE RICHARDSON |
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Former Southern football coach Pete Richardson is going into another hall of fame.
Richardson, who already is in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Dayton Hall of Fame, has been selected for induction to the Clarence E. “Big House” Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame at Winston-Salem State University.
He’ll be inducted with six other individuals and one team in a ceremony Oct. 9 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The 2015 class also will be honored at halftime of Winston-Salem State’s home football game against Johnson C. Smith the next day.
Richardson coached WSSU from 1988-92, and they won three Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships (1988, ’90 and ’91). His record was 41-14-1.
“I was kind of surprised because that was a long time ago, but I’m excited,” Richardson said. “That’s where I started out and where I learned the core of an organization to be a successful coach.
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Friday, June 19, 2015
XU Produces GCAC-Best 37 Commissioner's Honor Roll Members in 2014-15
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has a league-best 37 members on the 2014-15 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Student-athletes qualified for the honor with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher over both semesters. Xavier accounted for one-fourth of the 147 honorees and had 10 more than any other school.
Among the Commissioner's Honor Roll members are Xavier's Brent Kitto from men's cross country/track and field, Catherine Fakler from women's cross country/track and field and Devinn Rolland and Terri Cunningham from women's track and field. Those four will learn Monday if they were selected to the Capital One Academic All-America team.
Women's volleyball led all XU sports with 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll members, followed by women's track/cross country with eight. Xavier's most prolific men's sport was tennis with five honorees.
Xavier's list of honorees:
Name Sport Year Hometown (High School)
Jarvis Thibodeaux Men's Basketball Junior Houston, Texas (St. Pius X)
Emoni Harvey Women's Basketball Junior Memphis, Tenn. (Briarcrest Christian)
Alesha Smith Women's Basketball Junior Athens, Ga. (Clarke Central)
Adam Albrecht Men's Tennis Sophomore Ladna, Czech Republic (Gymnasium Breclav)
Jeremiah Capdeville* Men's Tennis Freshman Jennings, La. (Jennings)
Manav Chakma Men's Tennis Junior Agartala, India (Kendriya Vidyalaya Maligaon)
Vincenzo Ciccone Men's Tennis Senior Brooklyn, N.Y. (Aspirations)
Nikita Soifer Men's Tennis Senior Beer Sheva, Israel (Hof Hasharon)
Sha'Nel Bruins Women's Tennis Sophomore Colfax, La. (Grant)
Simone-Alyse Ewell* Women's Tennis Junior Detroit, Mich. (The Roeper School)
Jordyn Goody* Women's Tennis Senior Lake Charles, La. (St. Louis Catholic)
Brandi Nelson Women's Tennis Sophomore Jonesboro, Ga. (Faith Academy)
Jana van der Walt Women's Tennis Junior Houston, Texas (de Aar)
Langston Adams Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Sophomore Baton Rouge, La. (Christian Life Academy)
Emmanuel Detiege Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Senior New Orleans, La (Brother Martin)
Brent Kitto Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Junior Chalmete, La. (Holy Cross)
Erwin Simmons Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Freshman St. James, La. (St. James)
Clarke Allen* Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Freshman Mendenhall, Miss. (Mendenhall)
Carlie Calais Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Freshman Breaux Bridge, La (Ceclia)
Drew Chatters* Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Freshman Lake Charles, La. (St. Louis Catholic)
Terri Cunningham Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Sophomore Nashville, Tenn. (Martin Luther King Magnet)
Catherine Fakler*# Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Senior Phoenix, Ariz (Xavier College Prep)
Hannah Finnegan Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Junior Pekin, Ill (Tremont)
Chelsea James Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Junior Gadsden, Ala. (Gadsden City)
Devinn Rolland* Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Senior Harvey, La. (Cabrini)
Jada Broussard Women's Volleyball Freshman Breaux Bridge, La. (Breaux Bridge)
Chinedu Echebelem* Women's Volleyball Senior Dallas, Texas (Duncanville)
Ralitsa Hadzhistoyanova Women's Volleyball Sophomore Razlog, Bulgaria (Kanazirevi)
Jodi Hill* Women's Volleyball Junior Prairieville, La. (Dutchtown)
Kayla Jones Women's Volleyball Freshman Kansas City, Kan. (Piper)
Franziska Pirkl* Women's Volleyball Junior Munich, Germany (Theodolinden Gymnasium)
Taylor Reuther* Women's Volleyball Junior Metairie, La. (Dominican)
Kaelan Temple* Women's Volleyball Freshman Houston, Texas (Lamar)
Jelena Vujicic Women's Volleyball Freshman Belgrade, Serbia (Beogradska Gimnazija)
Simone White Women's Volleyball Freshman Hot Springs, Ark. (Hot Springs)
CeCe Williams Women's Volleyball Junior Houma, La. (Vandebilt Catholic)
Aliyah Wilson Women's Volleyball Freshman Florissant, Mo. (Crossroads College Prep)
*indicates a GPA of 3.5 or higher #indicates a 4.0 GPA
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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WSSU's Wilhelmi is ready for rule changes
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- The NCAA rule changes for the 2015-16 basketball season will barely affect Winston-Salem State.The biggest change is the reduction of the shot clock from 35 to 30 seconds. The NCAA hopes it boosts scoring in Division I, where the average of 67.7 points per team per game was the third lowest since 1952. But the rule changes are also for Division II schools.
According to Coach James Wilhelmi of the Rams, who billed themselves as “shock and awe” last season, they never had to worry about too many shot-clock violations while averaging 81 points a game.
“I really think that the 30-second shot clock won’t lead to more scoring,” Wilhelmi said when talking about Division II. “I do believe it will lead to more possessions because the shot clock will run out sooner. The shots that end up being taken might not be quality shots, so the possessions might not add up to more points.”
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Camp Tour 2015: Defense key to Parker success
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| COACH ANDRE ROBINSON |
His pedigree is impressive. The former Grambling State University All-America and the SWAC’s Defensive Player of the Year — a sports writer for the school paper picked Robinson one of the top 11 defensive players all-time — also served as the Tigers defensive coordinator.
Players listen when he bellows about defensive urgency. It’ll be defense that carries the Thundering Herd in Year 2 of Robinson’s second stop at Parker.
“Defensively I think we’re going to be all right because we have seven starters back from last year,” Robinson said. “They understand the defense now. Last year they were learning the defense and they didn’t get a good grasp of it, but they played well not knowing the defense. We’re really looking forward to see how they play this year.”
Robinson first coached the Thundering Herd four seasons as defensive coordinator before taking over the head coaching position in 1997. He stayed seven seasons with a 39-37 mark that included a 10-2 record in 2002 with a team built on defense, allowing 7.6 points a game.
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Claflin University Softball Player Chelsea Hall Earns National Award
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| Chelsea Hall finished as the NCAA Division II softball statistical champion in runs per game and stolen bases |
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina — Claflin University's women's softball player Chelsea Hall earned two national awards as announced Wednesday (June 17) by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Lady Panthers picked up a national award for the second straight season.
Hall, who will be entering her junior season in 2015-16, finished as the NCAA Division II softball statistical champion in runs per game and stolen bases. She finished the season averaging 1.62 runs per game and 1.49 stolen bases per game. The Lady Panthers, who were the 2013-14 NCAA Division II softball statistical champion in runs per game and doubles per game, finished first in 2014-15 in stolen bases per game at 3.84 per outing.
In addition, Courtney Burns, who will be a senior next year for the Lady Panthers, finished second in in the nation in runs per game and third in batting average.
"It's a wonderful feeling to finish as the best in the nation," head coach Matisse Lee said. "To finish at the top two years in a row is not easy to do and this accomplishment just shows that hard work and dedication pays off in the end." Lee continued, "I'm extremely proud of Chelsea and Courtney, they both played multiple positions but never wavered and managed to stay solid throughout."
In addition the NCAA awards the Lady Panthers softball team earned the 2014-15 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) team academic award.
COURTESY CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Former FAMU Assistant Basketball Coach Donald L. Anderson Passes
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| COACH DONALD L. ANDERSON Courtesy: FAMU Athletics |
Anderson came to the Rattler program from Jacksonville (Fla.) University last summer, where he had been the Dolphins’ Director of Basketball Operations since July of 2012.
He served as head coach at Gettysburg College from 1985 to 1989, before moving to Mount Saint Mary’s College as senior assistant head coach from 1989 to 2002, where he helped them reached the NCAA Tournament in 1995 and 1999, as well as the National Invitational Tournament in 1996.
A graduate of Franklin and Marshall College (1982), Anderson also served a stint in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), as the senior
associate head coach at Coppin (Md.) State University under legendary firebrand Ron “Fang” Mitchell, from 2002 to 2006.
He helped guide the Eagles to the 2003-04 MEAC regular season title and a berth in the 2004 MEAC Tournament finals against FAMU.
Prior to landing at Jacksonville, Anderson turned in a five-year run as an assistant coach at Binghamton University (2007-2012), helping lead them to the 2009 NCAA Tournament. He also worked one season as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (2006-07).
FAMU head coach Byron Samuels expressed his sorrow at the news of the passing. "Don was a super human being. A gentle giant in many ways. He did a phenomenal job helping to mentor our student-athletes this year. I will greatly miss him as a friend and our profession will miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Don's family," he said.
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Avery Johnson: ‘My roots are still in Louisiana’
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| COACH AVERY JOHNSON |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Basketball courts dotted the city, spread in points from the Lafitte Projects in New Orleans like uneven spokes on a bicycle wheel.
Tonti Courts. Lemon Playground. Treme Center. Hike it to Algiers or City Park or Lawrence Square. Any place with a net and a hoop and a game.
And that’s all Avery Johnson and his friends in the 1970s in the heart of New Orleans needed: a bicycle and a basketball and a place to play.
Johnson kept finding courts, first the concrete ones at home and later the best courts in the world, hardwood that welcomed him into one town and one coliseum after another throughout a 16-year NBA playing career.
Metaphorically, as he did year-round as a boy looking for a place to play, he’s never quit pedaling. It’s been a passionate journey, one that’s led Johnson into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches, where he’ll be enshrined on Saturday, June 27.
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