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METAIRIE, Louisiana -- The New Orleans Saints are getting rid of their best pass rusher.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the Saints will release Junior Galette, according to a source informed of the situation Friday. Galette recorded 22 sacks over the last two seasons, and was handed a four-year extension worth $41.3 million in September of last year. He received $17.95 million in the last year alone.
Galette recently met with NFL officials, according to Rapoport. The league is looking into two off-the-field incidents by Galette and the Saints have grown increasingly frustrated with him. Galette was arrested on domestic violence and simple battery charges in January; the charges were eventually dropped. Galette was also dealing with a torn pectoral muscle this offseason. Doctors were split regarding whether Galette required surgery.
In a conversation with Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune, Galette cNalled the move "the worst call they've ever made. It was a terrible call to kick me when I'm down.
ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana -- Southern University’s pride is wide across Louisiana.
That statement can be said in Central Louisiana as the Rapides Chapter of the Southern University Alumni Federation will host an event where fans and alumni can meet with school officials prior to the season.
“Meet the Jaguars” will take place Saturday at Best Western Inn as Jaguars coach Dawson Odums will be in attendance.
“The Southern fan base is huge in Central Louisiana,” city councilman Roosevelt Johnson said. “Most of the fan base here are prominent in the community as lawyers, teachers and businessmen.”
One of the key points of the event is to help benefit a scholarship fund for future prospective students who may want to attend the university.
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling’s Broderick Fobbs has come full circle to get where he’ll be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.
As a youngster, Fobbs sat in the Independence Stadium stands with his parents and watched his favorite college team beat up on an opponent. Flash forward a few years and Fobbs was a Grambling Tiger participating in the game and beating up on yet another opponent.
“I’m undefeated in that stadium,” Fobbs said at a news conference on Friday morning announcing the Red River State Fair Classic, featuring the Fobbs-coached Tigers against Texas Southern. The game will be held during the run of the Louisiana State Fair and ticket holders to the game will be admitted to fair at no additional charge.
The game will in essence replace the Port City Classic, a three-year venture that ...
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- On September 14, 2013, former Florida A&M football player Jonathan Ferrell lost his life on a Charlotte roadside. It's a script that now sounds too familiar. An unarmed black man. An armed police officer. And now, a contentious trial featuring two sides of the same story that always ends the same:
A life cut short. A life now recalled in twelve snapshots —one for every bullet fired toward Ferrell's body:
I. Ferrell fit the profile. Big and physical enough to play linebacker. Fast enough to play safety. Instinctive enough to grab a key interception in the Florida state championship game. A Florida A&M University High graduate with high-level D-I talent, but homebody tendencies, his heart Tallahassee-bound.
So naturally, Florida A&M’s college football program and then-defensive coordinator Earl Holmes saw Ferrell. And they took a shot.
II. September 14, 2013, in the dark hours past midnight:
Ferrell fit the profile from the panicked 911 call. A black man. Bleeding. Big enough to have filled the doorframe of Sarah McCartney’s Charlotte home.
According to Randall Kerrick’s attorneys, he ignored repeated police demands to hit the ground. He advanced.
So naturally, Officer Kerrick saw Ferrell. And he took a shot. Then he took eleven more. 12 bullets. Ten intercepted by Ferrell’s body. An 83.3 completion percentage. A body, touched down.
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's and women's cross country teams will take shots at a pair of conference team championships this year.
Joseph Moses, beginning his 11th season as head coach, announced Thursday the 2015 schedules of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets.
Xavier recently announced its affiliation with the Red River Athletic Conference for cross country only in 2015. The Red River men's and women's champions will qualify automatically for the NAIA National Championships. But Xavier's longtime conference home, the Gulf Coast Athletic, still will offer a league meet, even though it is not an NAIA automatic-qualifying conference this season.
The GCAC meet — which will be scored as part of the Choctaw Open in Clinton, Miss. — will be Oct. 17. The RRAC meet will be Nov. 6 in San Antonio, Texas.
Xavier is the nine-time defending GCAC men's and women's team champion.
For the second straight year, Xavier will begin the season at home in its Big Easy Opener Aug. 28 at nearby City Park. Xavier's other metro New Orleans competition will be Sept. 12 in the Louisiana Army National Guard / ROTC Wolf Pack Invitational in Metairie, La.
Xavier will compete in two meets hosted by NCAA Division I schools: Sept. 4 in the Southern Miss Invitational and Sept. 19 in the LSU Invitational.
Charlotte, N.C., will be the site of this year's NAIA national meet. Lawrence, Kan., was the site the previous two years.
Xavier returns 2014 All-GCAC runners Christopher August and Brent Kitto from the men's team and Hannah Finnegan and Briana Simms from the women's. August and Finnegan were GCAC second-place finishers a year ago.
Xavier University of Louisiana 2015 Men's and Women's Cross Country Schedule Friday, Aug. 28 XAVIER BIG EASY OPENER, City Park, 5:30 p.m. women, 6 p.m. men Friday, Sept. 4
Southern Miss Invitational, Hattiesburg, Miss., 5:30 p.m. men, 6 p.m. women Saturday, Sept. 12
Louisiana Army National Guard / ROTC Wolf Pack Invitational, Metairie, La., 7:50 a.m. women, 8:25 a.m. men Saturday, Sept. 19
LSU Invitational, Baton Rouge, La., times to be announced Friday, Oct. 9
Mississippi College / Watson Ford Invitational, Clinton, Miss., 4:30 p.m. women, 5:15 p.m. men Saturday, Oct. 17
Choctaw Open / Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships, Clinton, Miss., 8:30 a.m. women, 9:15 a.m. men Friday, Nov. 6
Red River Athletic Conference Championships, San Antonio, Texas, times to be announced Saturday, Nov. 21
NAIA National Championships, Charlotte, N.C., 10:30 a.m. EST men, 11:45 a.m. EST women Home meets in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS All times are Central except where noted Schedules are subject to change
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Brian Jenkins now walks with a noticeable limp.
It's not a result from pacing up and down the football sidelines for several years. Something else happened and in a split second did more than just change the manner in which he gets around.
For Jenkins, it changed his life.
Earlier this month, Jenkins said he was hit by an RV while sitting on his motorcycle on the side of the road on I-95 outside of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Jenkins said he was in the hospital for two days.
"As I laid there in the road, I thought I was dead," Jenkins said. "The grace of God kept me alive."
That's how Jenkins responded to a question at SWAC Media Day about his job security as it relates to allegations about ASU football and his time at Bethune-Cookman. This isn't to say he hasn't or isn't concerned or shouldn't be concerned about his future because there are reasons for him to be.
CARY, North Carolina — N.C. Central football coach Jerry Mack displayed the confidence on Thursday at the the 13th annual Pigskin Preview luncheon he expects from his team when they open their season in about six weeks against St. Augustine's.
Mack's confidence has been built by years of playing and coaching, while the second edition of his Eagles will have the confidence that grew immensely during the last half of last season. After a rough 1-4 start, N.C. Central rebounded to win six of its last eight games and grab a share of the MEAC football championship.
Oh yeah, there was that season-ending victory over North Carolina A&T that capped it all off for a 7-5 overall mark and a 4-2 MEAC record.
On Thursday with Mack on the stage with the area's other Division I coaches David Cutcliffe, Larry Fedora, Dave Doeren and Ruffin McNeill, he said he will have plenty of experience players back to count on.
DURHAM, North Carolina — The CIAA held its annual football media day Thursday, announcing its predicted order of finish and preseason All-CIAA selections. Heading into the 2015 season, here are the top story lines for Shaw and St. Augustine’s:
Running toward history
Shaw and St. Aug’s are coming off turbulent 3-7 seasons and were predicted to finish eighth and 11th, respectively, in the 12-team league, but both teams have weapons in the backfield that will give them a chance to compete.
Shaw running back Marquise Grizzle enters his senior season 333 yards from the team’s all-time rushing record. He missed three games last season with an injury but still ran for 750 yards and is closing in on 3,000 yards.
Grizzle was not named to the preseason All-CIAA team, but his coach wouldn’t hand off to anybody else.
“Marquise Grizzle hands down is the best running back in this conference – I’ll go to my grave with that off the last four years he’s been in this conference running the ball,” Shaw coach Robert Massey said. “Maybe the injury took (preseason all-conference honors) away from him.”
DURHAM, North Carolina - The bus ride from Petersburg, Virginia to Fayetteville is about three hours, and the Fayetteville Broncos put that time to good use last September.
The Broncos had just suffered a 21-point loss against Virginia State to start the 2014 season with an 0-4 record. Second-year head coach Lawrence Kershaw didn't wait to get back to Fayetteville before engaging in a stern discussion with his team.
"We were on the bus ride back and Coach got up to talk to us," running back Andre Montgomery recalled. "We talked about how and why our season was going down the way it was. We were making too many errors and sometimes we were loafing.
"But talking about it on that bus ride, and again the next day in another meeting, it seemed like everyone got on the same page after that."
The result saw the rejuvenated Broncos win five of their final six games and for a second straight season come within a victory of advancing to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic championship game.
LOWER OXFORD, Pennsylvania -- For the second time in four months, one of Lincoln’s three most prominent head coaches has volunteered to leave the university.
Women’s basketball mentor Jessica Kern resigned her position earlier this month to accept an assistant’s position at Division I Furman (S.C.) following a four-season stint with the Lions. Football coach Ramon Flanigan exited in March amidst a very public rebuke of athletic director Darryl Pope.
“I will forever be indebted to Lincoln,” said Kern, who apparently left on better terms. “It will always be a special place to me.”
The move reportedly shocked and saddened many of the current members of the Lincoln women’s basketball squad -- who are coming off a 22-9 season, which established a new single season record for victories.
“I was contacted by the basketball parents and it was reported to me that the girls are devastated about how they received ...
DURHAM, North Carolina -- It's a new day for football at Johnson C. Smith as Kermit Blount takes over as head coach, but once again, the Golden Bulls get low marks in the conference preseason rankings.
Today at CIAA Football Media Day, they were picked to finish 5th in the 6 team Southern Division. Winston-Salem State was picked to win the Southern Division.
Speaking of W-S State, coach Blount saw great success at his alma mater as he won 91 games as their head coach and won 2 CIAA titles. He knows the conference very well and knows preseason polls don't mean a thing.
"They can pick me #14 if they want to I really don't care," said coach Blount. "The bottom line is I know I have some young men who are really going to go to war and battle. That's the only thing that matters to me."
DURHAM, North Carolina -- The Winston-Salem State University Rams football team is picked to win the CIAA Southern Division and to take home the 2015 CIAA Title, it was announced at the CIAA Football Media Day held at the Research Triangle Park Marriott in Durham on Thursday.
Winston-Salem State University finished the 2014 season with a 9-2 overall record, and for the first time in four seasons, missed out on the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Coach, Kienus Boulware, is now in his second season at the helm of the WSSU Rams, and after a solid recruiting season, looks to get the Rams back to the top tier of NCAA Division II football.
Three Rams were also selected to the preseason All-CIAA team, d
efensive lineman Michael Bloomfield , offensive lineman Jac'que Polite and punter/kicker William Johnson.
Hampton, Virginia -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in conjunction with its Football Coaches Association has announced the 2015 Predicted Order of Finish and the preseason all-conference team. The announcement was made during the annual football media day held in Durham, North Carolina.
Winston-Salem State University has been selected the front runner for the upcoming season. The Rams finished 9-2 overall last season with a 7-0 conference record. The defending CIAA Champions Virginia State University, under first-year head coach Byron Thweatt, was selected to finish second. The Trojans advanced to the second round of the NCAA DII playoffs with a 10-3 overall record.
In addition to the predicted order, the Preseason All-CIAA was also announced during the event. 2014 CIAA Offensive Player of the Year Jalen Hendricks (Livingstone) will highlight the preseason team. Twelve of the honorees named were members of the 2014 All-CIAA Team.
The predicted order and preseason team was announced as follows:
1st - Winston-Salem State University
2nd - Virginia State University
3rd - Virginia Union University
4th - Fayetteville State University
5th - Bowie State University
6th - Elizabeth City State University
7th - Livingstone College
8th - Shaw University
9th - Chowan University
10th - Johnson C. Smith University
11th - Saint Augustine's University
12th - The Lincoln University
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The 2015 Pan American Games Women’s Volleyball competition is down the final rounds of play, and two of the talented performers in the pre-Olympic competition have ties to the FAMU Women’s Volleyball program – middle Ginna Lopez and libero Susan Egoavil for the Peruvian National team.
Thursday, both players played a key role in Peru’s 3-2 win over Canada in the seventh place game in the Games.
Lopez, a 6-3 junior honor student in FAMU’s School of Business and Industry, is a two-time All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection, and a preseason 2015 All-MEAC pick, scored 11 points, with five (5) kills and six (6) blocks in Thursday’s victory, including a critical kill in the fifth set that put Peru ahead, 14-13.
SUSAN EGOAVIL Peruvian National Team FAMU Women's Volleyball Alumna SUSAN'S TWITTER PAGE
Egoavil, a 2008 FAMU graduate, who recently completed her MBA, had 19 digs in Thursday’s finale, and has ranked among the top liberos in the Pan Am Games.
FAMU head coach Tony Trifonov was elated over the performances of the two players. “We are so proud to have those kids representing their countries on the world stage, and representing FAMU at the same time.
Washington, D.C. -- The MLB All Star Game is always going to be more about pageantry than the actual baseball game. For one three (or four, in this year's case) day stretch, the entire baseball world comes together in one city. While part of the reason that they do that is to showcase some of the most talented players in today's game, it's also an opportunity for baseball to celebrate its rich history. This season, MLB decided that their celebration of history was going to focus on each franchise's four most iconic players.... a Mount Rushmore of sorts.
At the All Star Game, the four players chosen to represent the Washington franchise were announced. Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Vladimir Guerrero, and Tim Raines were honored. All four were Montreal Expos. While I would have liked to see Zimmerman on there to represent the current incarnation of the franchise, it's difficult to argue with any of the choices.
The Hawk was the Expos second Hall of Famer, despite his stated preference to go into the Hall donning a Chicago Cubs cap. Dawson was an eight time All Star. He also won eight Gold Gloves, four Silver Slugger Awards, and the 1987 MVP as a member of the Chicago Cubs. Despite winning the MVP when he was with the Cubs, Dawson's four best seasons (by far) in terms of fWAR came when he was still a member of the Expos (1980-83). He spent his first ten full seasons in Montreal, bashing 225 HR and stealing 252 bases in that time. As a Montreal Expo, Andre Dawson averaged a 20/20 season for a decade.
*While Dawson is a product of Southwest Miami High School and Florida A&M University, Tim Raines built a potential hall of fame skill-set 250 miles north in Sanford, Florida. Raines went straight from Seminole High School (drafted in the 5th Round of the 1977 MLB amateur draft) to the Montreal Expos. He made his major league debut in September 1979. Known as the "Rock," Raines was a 3-sports super-star in high school track, football and baseball. In football, the Rock averaged 10.5 yards per carry as a running back for the Sanford Seminoles.
*Tim also has a son (Timothy Raines, Jr.) that graduated from the same high school and played in the major leagues 2001-2004 for Baltimore, Washington, Arizona and Kansas City. Sanford Seminole High School has produced four MLB players with the 5'-8/160 Rock at the top of the heap. The connection to this story is the Rock, the Hawk and I share the same alma maters, and that I had the good fortune to see each play baseball long before MLB became a reality for them. In fact, the Hawk became a legend for knocking home runs across traffic on Wahnish Way on the FAMU campus. What a headache he created for all SIAC pitchers.
The Rock has a couple of shots left at the Hall of Fame, but he's not there yet. Raines was a seven time All Star, a one time Silver Slugger, the 1986 NL Batting Champ, and led the NL in Stolen Bases four times. With his ability to hit for average, his patience at the plate, and his speed, there's actually not a bad argument that Tim Raines was the second best leadoff man of all-time. Unfortunately, he played in the same era as the greatest leadoff man ever. Solely as an Expo, Raines ranks second to Gary Carter in all-time WAR by both Baseball Reference (48.9) and Fangraphs (49.3). His career WAR total (69.1 rWAR, 66.4 fWAR) by both sites ranks well ahead of former teammate and Hall of Famer Andre Dawson as well. Raines played his first ten full seasons with the Expos organization.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- During last week’s 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star game in Cincinnati, former Southern University legend Lou Brock was announced as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals’ ‘Franchise Four.’
According to MLB.com, Franchise Four winners were selected from a list of eight nominees from each franchise as chosen by official MLB historian John Thorn plus representatives from the Elias Sports Bureau, MLB.com, MLB Network and the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Brock joined fellow Cardinals Bob Gipson, Rogers Hornsby and Stan Musial during the pregame festivities as the Franchise Four from all 30 franchises. Three other foursome – Greatest Living Players, Greatest Negro League Players and Greatest Pioneers – were also honored.
Lou Brock delivers his speech after being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.
Brock attended high school in Mer Rouge and enjoyed a stellar three-year career as member of the Jaguar baseball program. As a junior, Brock helped lead a star-studded team to a NAIA National Championship in 1959.
Lou Brock signed with the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent in 1960 before making his big league debut on September 10, 1961. The Cubs traded Brock on June 15, 1964, to the Cardinals where the Arkansas native would help the St. Louis to three World Series appearances in the 60s.
Brock played 19 seasons in the majors before retiring with 3023 career hits, 149 home runs, 900 runs batted in, and 938 stolen bases. At the time of his retirement, Brock, a six time all-star, held the career record in stolen bases.
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COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
ORLANDO, Florida -- Lawyers for the family of Robert Champion want $8 million from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University to settle the wrongful-death lawsuit in the fatal hazing of the former drum major..
University officials and FAMU's board of trustees were not immediately available to comment on the proposed settlement, obtained by the Orlando Sentinel through a public-records request Wednesday, But any payment greater than $300,000 would have to be approved by the Florida Legislature.
The university, Florida's only publicly funded, historically black college, has 30 days to accept or reject the offer.
Champion, 26, was beaten to death Nov. 19, 2011, by fellow members of the Marching 100 during a hazing ritual on a bus parked at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando after the pre-eminent ensemble performed at the Citrus Bowl as part of the Florida Classic weekend with Bethune-Cookman University.
The settlement offer, if accepted, would cover all damage claims arising from the drum major's death.
CONTINUE READING Note: The Chestnut Firm, also represented the family of former FAMU student-athlete Jonathan Ferrell (age 24) who was gunned down by 10 of 12 shots from Charlotte-Mecklenburg County (N.C.) police officer Randall Kerrick. The civil settlement of $2.25 million was the city's largest payout in 10 years. Kerrick's criminal trial is currently underway.
HAMMOND, Louisiana – Rick Fremin has been named the head softball coach at Southeastern Louisiana University, SLU Director of Athletics Jay Artigues announced on Wednesday.
Fremin's hire is subject to approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. The Belle Chasse, Louisiana native will be the seventh head coach in program history.
Fremin comes to Hammond after spending the previous five seasons at Jackson State. Artigues believes Fremin can lead the Lady Lions to success.
"My goal for all of our student-athletes is that when they walk across the stage to receive their diplomas that they do so with a Southland Conference championship ring on their fingers," Artigues said. "In the past couple of years, football, baseball, soccer and track have all won conference championships and we feel that Rick has the right experience, energy and work ethic to help our softball program reach that next level. We're very excited to have Rick join the Lion Nation."
Fremin is eager to get started with his new team.
"I'm excited about coming home," Fremin said. "Southeastern Louisiana is a dream job for me and my goal is to build our program into a regional and national power. It will be a lot of hard work and it won't happen overnight, but we're extremely excited about the challenge. My family and I are very thankful for the opportunity. We are excited to become a part of the Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond and Louisiana community."
Fremin has led JSU to the last three Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East Division championships – the first three in school history. During his five years in Jackson, Fremin has led the Tigers to 137 victories, including a 67-16 record in league contests. In his first season at Jackson State, he led his team to the first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
He was named the 2014 SWAC Coach of the Year and helped JSU set 70 school records during his five years at JSU. Fremin's squad led the nation with 163 stolen bases in 2012. During his tenure, Fremin's teams won games over Ole Miss, Arkansas, Houston and Texas Tech among others. Fremin was also a member of the NCAA Central Regional Advisory Committee from 2012-14.
Prior to his time at Jackson State, Fremin spent five seasons at Belhaven University, accumulating a 186-95 record. His 2010 squad made the program's first NAIA National Tournament appearance and finished the season ranked sixth in the final national poll. During his time with the Blazers, he coached eight NAIA All-Americans.
Fremin was an assistant coach at Millsaps in 2005, helping the Majors to a SCAC West Division championship. Fremin's teams have also consistently excelled in the classroom, being recognized by the NFCA with Academic All-American team honors on eight different occasions.
Fremin started his coaching career at his alma mater Belle Chasse High School, where he was named District 11-3A Coach of the Year twice after leading BCHS to district titles in each of his two seasons at the helm. The 1995 Belle Chasse graduate was a four-year letterman in football, baseball, and golf at BCHS.
A 2007 inductee in the Belhaven Sports Hall of Fame, Fremin was a three-year team captain and quarterback for the Blazers. Fremin earned his bachelor's degree in sport administration from Belhaven in 1999 and earned his master's in sports science from Jackson State in 2013.
Fremin and his wife, Alana, are the parents of two daughters, Brelan and Cambre.
Fremin replaces Pete Langlois, who vacated the position last month after accepting the role of Assistant to the Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations.
Fremin will host three "Meet and Greet" sessions in the area early next month with area high school coaches, travel ball coaches and alumni all invited. Fremin will be in the Northshore area on Aug. 3, Baton Rouge on Aug. 4 and New Orleans on Aug. 5. The "meet and greets" will be held from 7-8 p.m. with locations to be announced.
COURTESY SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Today brings another installment of The Clarion-Ledger's game-by-game breakdown of Jackson State's 2015 schedule.
Earlier this week we looked at JSU's opening game against Middle Tennessee State and the Southern Heritage Classic against Tennessee State.
This post examines the Tigers' SWAC opener against Southern.
This game, which will be played in Baton Rouge and broadcast live on ESPN 3, will be the last of three consecutive games away from home to begin the season for Jackson State.
It'll provide the chance for JSU to make a statement, too. Southern, which beat the Tigers last season and in the 2013 SWAC title game, has appeared in the conference title game two years in a row and will have another solid team this year.
LORMAN, Mississippi — In the bowels of the university’s Whitney Athletics Complex, the defense of Alcorn State’s Southwestern Athletic Conference football championship has already begun.
Players thundered through the empty ground floor corridors like runaway horses before disappearing into the weight room for an hourlong workout Wednesday afternoon. Afterward, they shifted to the practice fields — far away from the eyes of coaches who aren’t allowed to supervise — to throw the ball around and run plays as mid-afternoon temperatures approached 100 degrees. It’s still two weeks away from the official start of practice and about six from the season opener at Georgia Tech.
Success, though, does not come to those willing to rest on their laurels, and the Braves are not about to give up their crown without a fight. “We’re definitely trying to bring everything back,” said senior tight end Jordan Payne, who earlier this month was named to the STATS FCS All-America team.
“Pick up where we left off and keep everything going, not be too complacent. Keep pushing, keep striving, and realize that we are the ones that everybody’s gunning for. We’re going to get everybody’s A-game, so we’ve got to make sure we bring ours.”
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State football team was picked to finish fifth at the Ohio Valley Conference Media Day, Monday.
The Tigers received 66 total points, behind Jacksonville State (128), Eastern Illinois (107), Eastern Kentucky (106) and UT Martin (78). TSU is picked to finish ahead of Southeast Missouri (63), Tennessee Tech (45), Murray State (38) and Austin Peay (17).
Tennessee State completed its third consecutive non-losing campaign under Rod Reed. Now in his sixth season as head coach, Reed returns 58 players from last year's team including five offensive and three defensive starters. The Tigers will need to replace six members of a defense that ranked 11th nationally in total defense (306.5 yards/game).
Senior defensive end Gabe Terry was the lone Tiger to be named to the preseason All-OVC team. Terry registered 11.5 sacks and forced two fumbles as a junior. The Palm Beach, Fla. native earned Second Team All-OVC honors for his efforts.
Offensively, junior Ronald Butler and red-shirt freshman O’Shay Ackerman-Carter will look to handle the offense behind center. Butler was named Second Team All-OVC as a freshman and looks to repeat his success, while Ackerman-Carter hopes to see time after an impressive spring season.
The Tigers will report for fall camp on Aug. 7 in preparation of the John Merritt Classic on Sept. 6.
2015 OVC Preseason Football Predicted Order of Finish
1.Jacksonville State (16 first-place votes) – 128
2.Eastern Illinois – 107
3.Eastern Kentucky (2) – 106
4.UT Martin – 78 5.Tennessee State – 66
6.Southeast Missouri – 63
7.Tennessee Tech – 45
8.Murray State – 38
9.Austin Peay – 17
Note: 8 points awarded for a first-place vote, 7 for second, etc. - Coaches and SID’s could not vote for their own teams
2015 Preseason All-OVC Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Dy’Shawn Mobley (RB), Eastern Kentucky
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Devaunte Sigler (DL), Jacksonville State
OFFENSE
QB - Eli Jenkins, Jacksonville State
RB - Dy’Shawn Mobley, Eastern Kentucky
RB - DeMichael Jackson, Southeast Missouri
WR - Paul McRoberts, Southeast Missouri
WR - Josh Barge, Jacksonville State
WR - Janawski Davis, Murray State
TE - Bo Brummel, Jacksonville State
C - Casey Dunn, Jacksonville State
OG - Adam Wright, Jacksonville State
OG - Trey Shelton, Eastern Kentucky
OT - Brett Eyckmans, Eastern Kentucky
OT - Justin Lea, Jacksonville State
OT - Evan Kanz, Eastern Illinois
DEFENSE
DL - Devaunte Sigler, Jacksonville State
DL - LaMichael Fanning, Jacksonville State
DL - Dino Fanti, Eastern Illinois
DL - Chris Landrum, Jacksonville State DL - Gabe Terry, Tennessee State
LB - Kamu Grugier-Hill, Eastern Illinois
LB - Jonathan Jackson, Murray State
LB - Roper Garrett, Southeast Missouri
LB - Tra’Darius Goff, Tennessee Tech
DB - Jourdan Wickliffe, Eastern Illinois
DB - Jermaine Hough, Jacksonville State
DB - Stanley Absanon, Eastern Kentucky
DB - DeBarriaus Miller, Jacksonville State
SPECIALISTS
K - Ryan McCrum, Southeast Missouri
P - Hamish MacInnes, Jacksonville State
RS - Pokey Harris, Murray State
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
DURHAM, North Carolina -- Though Nimrod Hilliard’s to-do list is short, checking each item off the list before August 14 is incredibly important — life-changing, even.
First, finish and pass three classes to earn his psychology degree. Then, continue to work out to increase his strength.
And finally, perhaps the most urgent matter on his list: get his passport — because in less than a month, the former N.C. Central point guard will board a plane and cross the Atlantic to join his new professional squad, Horsens IC, in Denmark.
“I had a lot of offers from overseas and that was the place I felt most comfortable with,” said Hilliard, who was a first team All-MEAC selection and averaged 12 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in his lone season with NCCU. “I talked to my parents and my coach and my agent, and it was the one that was the best place to start overseas.”
Alabama State junior linebacker Kourtney Berry seems to be everywhere on the football field.
"He makes it tough on me," said Alcorn State senior quarterback John Gibbs Jr., the 2014 SWAC co-offensive player of the year. "He makes it tough on me. I was talking to him and I said, 'You're on every tackle.' I'm trying to figure out how did he get over there when he was just over here seconds ago. He's a tough ball player."
Berry arrived in Montgomery as a walk-on from Merrillville, Indiana who didn't receive a football scholarship offer from any NCAA school. Two years and 233 tackles later, Berry is the premier defender in the SWAC.
"I had to make a statement that you guys missed out on me," Berry said. "I've been playing these last two years with a chip on my shoulder. I could have played, but no one actually took a chance on me except for Alabama State. I can't thank the coaching staff from beforehand enough. They gave me an opportunity to get out on the field and be able to play on a collegiate level."
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Former Tennessee State University sports information director and longtime HBCU administrator Wallace Dooley, Jr. passed away on Tuesday.
Dooley served as the associate athletic director for media relations at Tennessee State from 2006-2012.
"We are so saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague Wallace Dooley," said TSU athletics director Teresa Phillips. "He and his family have been a prominent part of TSU athletics for decades. He was a treasure chest of information and history for our programs. The TSU family sends our prayers and love to his wife Bridgette and his children."
In a 28-year span, Dooley held positions in sports information/media relations at several schools and two conference offices. He completed a full circle when he returned to his alma mater, Tennessee State University to finish his career.
In 2012, he was honored with the CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Lifetime Achievement. After retiring from TSU, Dooley maintained connection to the field working as the media contact (radio/internet) in support of HBCU student-athletes and programs through BoxtoRow and HSRN Radio.
His interest in sports information began as an undergraduate student at TSU. He assisted the intramural director with compiling statistics for football and basketball games. In 1978, and after working as a part-time sportswriter at The Tennessean and as an assistant in the sports information office at then-Memphis State, he was named the first full-time sports information director at Alabama A&M.
Dooley won 11 CoSIDA publications awards during his career in addition to earning the CoSIDA 25-Year Award. He counted the Lifetime Achievement Award and its recognition as one of his most cherished of his career.
His many years in the profession included tenures as SID at the University of District of Columbia (1981-1984), Virginia State (1984-88) and North Carolina Central (1988-92). He served the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1992-96) as public relations director and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (2001-2006) as assistant commissioner for media relations before returning to Nashville.
Dooley also supported athletics off campus. In 1996, he worked with the Atlanta Olympics as a venue press chief. He also worked in the sports information office for the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football and assisted with game day operations for the Tennessee Titans.
Along the way, he had an opportunity to promote some great teams and athletes, picking up honors and accolades for his work in the process.
While volunteering at Tennessee State in 1970, the Tiger football team finished 11-0 and the men’s basketball squad went 24-3. From 1970 through 1975, TSU’s football team was 55-8 with two undefeated seasons and the basketball teams were 111-32 while making four appearances in the NCAA tournament. During Dooley's second tenure at TSU, the basketball team won back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference football titles in 1997-98, including an undefeated regular season, and during his final years, TSU women’s track team won three league titles.
In 1982, Dooley joined several other SIDs from HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) to partner with the National Association for Women’s Sports (NAWS) in recognizing female student-athletes as All-Americans.
In 1984 at the CoSIDA workshop in St. Louis, he teamed with 11 other SIDs to form the Black College Sports Information Directors Association (BCSIDA).
Dooley worked with and trained a number of former assistants who earned their niche in the profession, including Monique Morgan Smith (former Associate Commissioner, CIAA), Tonya Walker (Athletic Director, Winston-Salem State), Greg Goings (Bowie State SID and President of CoSIDA's Division II-SIDA group), William Bright (HBCU administrator), Zena Lewis (Washington Redskins PR) and Zekeya Harrison (assistant athletic director media relations, Tennessee State).
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
COACH TORY WOODBURY OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Johnson C. Smith University head football coach Kermit Blount has hired Tory Woodbury as offensive coordinator.
Woodbury, a Winston-Salem, N.C. native and former quarterback for Winston-Salem State, comes to JCSU after spending the previous four seasons on Blount's staff at Delaware State.
While with the Hornets, Woodbury coached the running backs and under his leadership, more than doubled their rushing yardage in 2012, finishing with 1,088 yards. In 2014, he coached three players that averaged 100 yards rushing.
As a player for the Rams, he passed for 1,823 yards during his junior season, leading WSSU to the CIAA Championship. For his efforts, he was selected as the Black College Player of the Year, All-CIAA First Team, and was named as the MVP of the Pioneer Bowl. During that season, he also finished just four completions short of the NCAA Division II record. He did not throw an interception during that season.
During his senior campaign for the Rams, he was named to the All-CIAA Second team after helping WSSU to its second consecutive CIAA title with a 10-3 overall record. He was also named MVP of the Pioneer Bowl for the second straight season.
Following his collegiate career he was elected in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL draft by the New York Jets. In three seasons with the Jets, he was a back-up to QBs Chad Pennington and Vinny Testaverde and a standout special teams performer. He also competed as a wide receiver for the Jets.
Additionally, Woodbury's professional football career includes stints with the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills, the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League, the Cologne Centurions (NFL Europe) and the Arena Football League's New Orleans Voodoo.
In addition to his collegiate coaching career, he has served on the coaching staffs at Providence High School and Garinger High School.
COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
